Day 180
CHAPTER 20竹蜻蜓怎么玩
TYRION （二）
The market square inside the Gate of the Gods, which in normal times would have been thronged with farmers lling vegetables, was near derted when Tyrion crosd it. Ser Jacelyn met him at the gate, and raid his iron hand in brusque salute. “My lord. Your cousin Cleos Frey is here, come from Riverrun under a peace banner with a letter from Robb Stark.”
“Peace terms?”
“So he says.”
“Sweet cousin. Show me to him.”
The gold cloaks had confined Ser Cleos to a windowless guardroom in the gatehou . He ro when they entered. “Tyrion, you are a most welcome sight.”
“That’s not something I hear often, cousin.”
“Has Ceri come with you?”
红绳脚链“My sister is otherwi occupied. Is this Stark’s letter?” He plucked it off the table. “Ser Jacelyn, you may leave us.”
Bywater bowed and departed. “I was asked to bring the offer to the Queen Regent,” Ser Cleos said as the door shut.
“I shall.” Tyrion glanced over the map that Robb Stark had nt with his letter. “All in good time, cousin. Sit. Rest. You look gaunt and haggard.” He looked wor than that, in truth.
关于母亲节的古诗“Yes.” Ser Cleos lowered himlf onto a bench. “It is bad in the riverlands, Tyrion. Around the Gods Eye and along the kingsroad especially. The river lords are burning their own crops to try and starve us, and your father’s foragers are torching every village they take and putting the smallfolk to the sword.”
That was the way of war. The smallfolk were slaughtered, while the highborn were held for ransom. Remind me to thank the gods that I was born a Lannister.
Ser Cleos ran a hand through his thin brown hair. “Even with a peace banner, we were attacked twic
e. Wolves in mail, hungry to savage anyone weaker than themlves. The gods alone know what side they started on, but they’re on their own side now. Lost three men, and twice as many wounded.”
“What news of our foe?” Tyrion turned his attention back to Stark’s terms. The boy does not want too much. Only half the realm, the relea of our captives, hostages, his father’s sword . . . oh, yes, and his sisters.斐讯k2p路由器
“The boy sits idle at Riverrun,” Ser Cleos said. “I think he fears to face your father in the field. His strength grows less each day. The river lords have departed, each to defend his own lands.”
Is this what Father intended? Tyrion rolled up Stark’s map. “The terms will never do.”
“Will you at least connt to trade the Stark girls for Tio n and Willem?” Ser Cleos asked plaintively.
Tion Frey was his younger brother, Tyrion recalled. “No,” he said gently, “but we’ll propo our own exchange of captives. Let me consult with Ceri and the
council. We shall nd you back to Riverrun with ou r terms.”
Clearly, the prospect did not cheer him. “My lord, I do not believe Robb Stark will yield easily. It is Lady Catelyn who wants this peace, not the boy.”
“Lady Catelyn wants her daughters.” Tyrion pushed himlf down from the bench, letter a nd map in hand. “Ser Jacelyn will e that you have food and fire. You look in dire need of sleep, cousin. I will nd for you when we know more.”消费税改革
He found Ser Jacelyn on the ramparts, watching veral hundred new recruits drilling in the field below. W ith so many eking refuge in King’s Landing, there was no lack of men willing to join the City Watch for a full belly and a bed of straw in the barracks, but Tyrion had no illusions about how well the ragged defenders of theirs would fight if it came to battle.
“You did well to nd for me,” Tyrion said. “I shall leave Ser Cleos in your hands. He is to have every hospitality.”
“And his escort?” the commander wanted to know.
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“Give them food and clean garb, and find a maester to e to their hurts. They are not to t foot inside the city, is that understood?” It would never do to have the truth of conditions in King’s Landing reach Robb Stark in Riverrun.
“Well understood, my lord.”
“Oh, and one more thing. The alchemists will be nding a large supply of clay pots to each of the city gates. You’re to u them to train the men who will work your spitfires. Fill the pots with green paint and have them drill at loading and firing. Any man who spatters should be replaced. When they have mastered the paint pots,
substitute lamp oil and have them work at lighting the jars and firing them while aflame. Once they learn to do that without burning themlves, they may be ready for wildfire.”
Ser Jacelyn scratched at his cheek with his iron hand. “Wi measures. Though I have no love for that alchemist’s piss.” “Nor I, but I u what I’m given.”
Once back inside his litter, Tyrion Lannister drew the curtains and plumped a cushion under his elbow. Ceri would be displead to learn that he had inte rcepted Stark’s letter, but his father had nt him here to rule, not to plea Ceri.
It emed to him that Robb Stark had given them a golden chance. Let the boy wait at Riverrun dreaming of an easy peace. Tyrion would reply with terms of his own, giving the King in the North jus
t enough of what he wanted to keep him hopeful. Let Ser Cleos wear out his bony Frey rump riding to and fro with offers and counters. All the while, their cousin Ser Stafford would be training and arming the new host he’d rais ed at Casterly Rock. Once he was ready, he and Lord Tywin could smash the Tullys and Starks between them.
Now if only Robert’s brothers would be so accommodating. Glacial as his progress was, still Renly Baratheon crept north and east with his huge southron host, and scarcely a night pasd that Tyrion did not dread being awakened with the news that Lord Stannis was sailing his fleet up the Blackwater Rush. Well, it would em I have a goodly stock of wildfire, but still . . .
520神泣The sound of some hubbub in the street intruded on his worries. Tyrion peered
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out cautiously between the curtains. They were passing through Cobbler’s Square, where a sizable crowd had gathered beneath the leather awnings to listen to the rantings of a prophet. A robe of undyed wool belted with a hempen rope marked him for one of the begging brothers.
“Corruption!” the man cried shrilly. “There is the warning! Behold the Father’s scourge!” He pointed at the fuzzy red wound in the sky. From this vantage, the distant castle o n Aegon’s High Hill was directly behind him, with the comet hanging forebodingly over its towers. A clever choice of stage, Ty
rion reflected. “We have become swollen, bloated, foul. Brother couples with sister in the bed of kings, and the fruit of their incest capers in his palace to the piping of a twisted little monkey demon. Highborn ladies fornicate with fools and give birth to monsters! Even the High Septon has forgotten the gods! He bathes in scented waters and grows fat on lark and lamprey while his people starve! Pride comes before prayer, maggots rule our castles, and gold is all . . . but no more! The Rotten Summer is at an end, and the Whoremonger King is brought low! When the boar did open him, a great stench ro to heaven and a thousand snakes slid forth from his belly, hissing and biting!” He jabbed his bony finger back at comet and castle. “There comes the Harbinger! Clean yourlves, the gods cry out, lest ye be cleand! Bathe in the wine of righteousness, or you shall be bathed in fire! F ire!”
“Fire!” other voices echoed, but the hoots of derision almost drowned them out. Tyrion took solace from that. He gave the command to continue, and the litter rocked like a ship on a rough a as the Burned Men cleared a path. Twisted little
