Chapter 34 Chapter 34 James

The brass trumpets played loudly, stirring up the melancholy and lonely air at dusk.Josmine Paxton stood up in response, fumbling for her master's sword belt. This kid has instincts. "Bandits don't know how to blow horns," Jaime told him. "No swords. This must be my cousin, the new Warden of the West." When he came out of the tent, the guests had dismounted, including six knights, forty cavalry and horse archers. "Jaime!" shouted a bearded man in gilt mail and a fox-fur cloak. "You're thin and pale! And you've grown a beard!" "Is that hair? It's nothing compared to you, old cousin." Ser Davon's bristling sideburns, thick as a hedge, covered his entire chin, and his head was a mess of yellow hair—the one that pushed him up. The helmet that had just been taken off was flattened.A snub nose and a pair of piercing hazel eyes protruded from the hair all over his face, "Tut, tsk, has your razor been stolen by bandits?"

"I swore a poisonous oath that I would never shave my face before I avenged my father." Davon Lannister looked like the Lion King, but his tone was very casual, "But unfortunately, the young wolf lord killed Kasta before me K, deprive me of the right to revenge." He handed the helmet to the squire, and combed the shapeless hair with his fingers. "Turns out I like these furs. The nights are getting colder, just as a tree needs leaves, and a few more hairs will keep it warm. And Aunt Gina says my jaw is like a brick, ha!" He grabbed Jen with both hands. Tom's arm. "After the Whispering Forest, we are all worried about you. We heard that Stark's direwolf tore out your throat."

"You cried a lot for me, old cousin?" "Half Lannisport is mourning—the female half." Davon stared at Jaime's severed limb. "But it's true, those bastards took your sword hand." "Sorry, I have a novice, made of pure gold. In fact, one hand has many advantages. For example, if you are afraid of knocking over the cup and making a fool of yourself, you have to drink less. For example, I am less likely to scratch my ass when going to court." "Haha, it makes sense, maybe one day I will cut off my own hand too." My cousin laughed. "What did Catelyn Stark do?"

"Wag Hoot did it." How did it get out? "The people of Qhorhor?" spat Ser Davon. "Fuck the Bravery! I told your father I could go down to the country and gather forage for him, but he refused me and insisted on sending mercenaries. He said, Some tasks are suitable for lions, but robbery is still for goats and mad dogs." That's what Lord Tywin said, James knew, his father's words still ringing in his ears. "Come in, old cousin, let's talk." Garrett had lit the brazier, and the burning coals made the tent steamy.Ser Davon shook off his cloak and threw it to Little Lou. "You're from the Pipers, boy?" he cried. "You're so short."

"I am Lynce Piper, at your lord's service." "I beat your brother badly in a joust once. That stupid thing was a dwarf too, and he flew into a rage when I asked if the naked girl dancing on his shield was his sister." "That is the coat of arms of our family. My brother and I have no sisters." "It's a pity, the woman with the coat of arms has the most beautiful nipples. How can a man hide behind a naked woman? Hell, every time I knock your brother's shield, I don't feel like a decent knight." "Enough," Jaime laughed, "you get out." Pia was warming the two Lannisters, stirring the jug with a spoon. "I need to know exactly what happened."

Cousin shrugged. "Endless siege. Blackfish sits inside the castle and we sit outside. Honestly, it's fucking boring." Sir Davon pulled up a camp chair and sat down. "Tulley is a coward, and has never even fought a battle. As a result, the Frey family can't get nervous at all, which adds to the chaos. For example, that Lyman doesn't do anything but drink. Well, oh, Edwin is worse, he is not as fat as his father, but his belly is full of bad water, like a pustule. As for our Ser Emmon... oh, no, it should be called Lord Emmon, Bless the Seven Gods, how did he get this title... Our new Lord of Riverrun babbles and instructs me every day on how to attack the city. He wants me to take the castle, but don't hurt a single hair of it, because it's his domain .”

"Is the wine ready?" James asked Pia over his shoulder. "Okay, my lord." When the girl spoke, she deliberately covered her mouth with her hands.Pie brought the wine on a gilt plate, and Ser Davon took off his gloves and grabbed a glass. "Thank you, boy. And who are you?" "Josmine Piketon, I am willing to serve you." "Pie is a hero on the Blackwater," Jaime put in. "Killed two knights and captured two." "You must be more dangerous than you look, boy. Is that a beard, or did you forget to wash your face? I hear Stannis Baratheon's wife grows a beard. How old are you?"

"Fifteen, sir." Ser Davon snorted. "You know what a hero is, Jaime? A fool who dies young and leaves the beauty to us." He tossed the cup back to the squire. "One more drink and I'll call you a hero, boy. I'm thirsty." James raised his glass with his left hand and took a sip.A gust of hot air suddenly spread in the chest. "It seems that you hate these Freys, Lyman, Edwin, Emmon..." "And Walder Rivers," said Davon, "a veritable son of a bitch. He hates himself for being a bastard, and hates others who aren't. Besides, Ser Perwyn is more normal, at least bearable, The women in their family are ugly, though. I'm told I'm going to marry one of them. Your father should have discussed this with me, by the way. My father told Paxter for me before he died in Oxford. Redwyne proposed, do you know? Their family's dowry is very generous..."

"Desmera?" James smiled. "Do you like freckles?" "If I had to choose between Foyle and Freckleface, hehe... Half of Lord Walder's species look like weasels." "Half? Honey, I just met Lancel's wife in Darry City." "By gods, it's Ali the Porter, isn't it? I can't believe Lancel picked her. Is there something wrong with that kid?" "He's become religious," Jaime confided, "but he really can't blame him for picking a wife. Lady Ariel's mother is from the Darry family, and my uncle thinks Ali can help Lancel stabilize Darry's domain." People's hearts."

"How steady, fuck her? Do you know how she got her nickname 'The Porter'? They say she'll open the gates for every knight that comes near. Ha, Lancel should go find a weapon Master builds a green helmet for himself." "No. Our old cousin has gone to King's Landing to take an oath of service to the Archbishop." Ser Davon could not have been more surprised if Jaime had told him that Lancel was going to be a monkey on a juggler's shoulder. "It's not true, is it? You must be joking with me. How can the concierge, Ali, be so capable, to let that kid...?"

In fact, when James bid farewell to Lady Arielie, she just wept softly, watched Lancel break off the engagement, and let Lile Crakeher console her.It wasn't her tears that worried James, though, but the looks of her relatives in the yard. "I hope you won't regret it, old cousin," he told Davon. "The Freys take engagement very seriously, and I don't want to disappoint them any longer." Ser Davon snorted, "Don't worry, I'll marry my weasel home, I know exactly what happened to Robb Stark. Judging from what Edwin revealed, I'd better pick one who hasn't A girl with menarche, or sooner or later you'll find yourself eating the scraps of Black Walder. I'll bet he's been up to Porter Ali a lot, and maybe that explains Lancel's odd behavior and his father's reaction." "Have you seen Ser Kevan?" "Yes. He passed by Daying on his way back to the west. I invited him to help attack the city, but he was flatly rejected. He was depressed all the time, and he didn't know what to think. Although he seemed to take good care of everyone, his attitude was cold. I swear, I didn't want to be the guardian of the western region, the honor should belong to him, but he said that he has no opinion on me-you can't hear it from his tone. He stayed here for three days, and what he said to me is not true. More than three sentences. Well, if only he had stayed, not only would I be able to count on him, but our Frey friends would never dare to slight Ser Kevan as he has slighted me." "What's going on?" James asked. "What, where did it start? Well, while I was busy building rams and siege towers, Lyman built a gallows. Every morning, he took Edmure Tully up , put a noose around his neck, and threatened to hang their duke unless the castle surrendered. Blackfish was so indifferent to his farce that he couldn't get off the stage, so he had to take Edmure up every morning and let him down again at night. By the way, do you know that Edmure's wife is pregnant?" ah? "Could it be that after the red wedding, Edmure still has the leisure and elegance to sleep with her?" "He budged her during the Red Wedding. Roslin is a sweet little thing, not at all like a weasel, and it's strange that she's really in love with Edmure. Perwyn heard her praying for her own birth." daughter." James thought for a while, "So, if Edmure has a son, Lord Walder won't need him." "Exactly. Our uncle Lord Ammon... er, Lord Ammon, misspoken again... insisted on hanging Edmure immediately. The fact that the Lord Tully existed was a pain in his throat, and he did not wish to have another, either. One. He came to me every day to ask me to let Sir Lyman play for real, and he never tires of it. Lord Gavin Westerling firmly opposed it—his wife was detained in the city by the black fish, and their three sick children, he was afraid If the Freys hang Edmure, the Tullys will have their revenge on him. His daughter was the Young Wolf Lord's wife." James had met Jeyne Westerling, but could no longer remember what she looked like.She must be beautiful, for she alone brought down a kingdom. "Brynden Tully would never lay hands on a child," James assured his cousin. "He's nicknamed the Blackfish, and he's not dark at heart." He began to see why he couldn't stand it. "Tell me about your deployment, old cousin." "Our troops have surrounded the castle. Ser Ryman and the Freys are stationed north of Tumblestone; the south bank of the Red Fork is under Lord Ammon's command, and Ser Fleur-Prest and your old army is under his control. , plus the princes of the three rivers who defected after the red wedding - I must admit that many of them were not happy, but fortunately so far, their antipathy has only been stuffed in their hearts; between the Lihe is my camp, facing the moat and Riverrun. By the way, we set up a barrage on the Red Fork River, downstream of the castle, with Manfred Yu and Leonard Rutger to make sure no one can escape by water. I also prepared some fishing nets , hand it over to them to catch a few more fish in their spare time.” "So, can you come down to Riverrun hungry?" Sir Davon shook his head, "Heiyu drove out all the idlers who had nothing to do with defense, and searched the outside of the city. The food and grass he currently stores is estimated to last for two full years." "What about us?" "As long as there's fish in the river, we'll make it, but what about the horses, I don't know. The Freys keep bringing in food from the Twins, but Ser Lyman claims he can't even feed his own men." If they are not satisfied, our army has to find another way. Half of the people I sent to recruit did not come back, some became deserters, and some were hanged on trees.” "I saw this the day before yesterday," said James.It was discovered by Adam Marbrand's scouts. There were blackened corpses hanging from a huge apple tree.They were naked, and each had an apple in his mouth.No one was hurt, apparently all surrendered beforehand, only to die like screaming pigs.Seeing this situation, Zhuang Zhu was furious, and vowed to wipe out the gangsters who insulted the soldiers. "Maybe it was bandits," Davon guessed after James finished speaking, "probably not. Small remnants of the Northern Army are still wandering around, and in my opinion, even if the lords of the Riverlands bent their knees , their hearts... are still towards wolves." James glanced at his two squires, who were huddled around the brazier, pretending not to hear.Lyns Piper and Garrett Paige were sons of the Lords of Three Rivers, he had taken a liking to them, and would be sorry if he had to hand them over to Ser Ilyn one day. "The twisted rope sounds like Dondarrion's idea." "The Lightning King is not the only one who knows how to tie a rope, and I don't want to just focus on Earl Bailey. Rumors are flying, he is here and there for a while, and he is everywhere, but every time he sends troops to encircle him, his team will go back and forth. Melted like dew. The lords of the three rivers are secretly assisting him, no doubt, it is unbelievable that they should assist a damned count of the frontier! One day you hear that he is dead, and the next day the news is that Call him immortal." Ser Davon put down his glass. "My scouts reported that there would be fire lights on the highlands in the river at night, most likely it was a signal... These guys almost surrounded our army. The village is also burning at night, it seems to be used to express respect for a certain new god. worship of..." Not some new god. "Thoros follows Dondarrion, the fat monk from Myr who used to drink with Robert." The golden hand was on the table, and James touched it, watching the gold reflect the dim firelight. "When we have to, we can launch a big raid to find Dondarryen, but we must deal with Heiyu first. He must be made clear that his career has failed. Didn't you negotiate with him?" "Sir Lyman volunteered to talk. Half drunk, he rode up to the city gate, yelling threats. Blackfish stood on the battlements, but not wanting to waste time with such a fool, he shot Lehman with an arrow." Man's ass of the war horse, the horse threw Foyle into the mud, and I couldn't breathe from laughing, and I almost peed out of laughter. Haha, if I was in the city, I would definitely shoot through Lyman's dog who knew Lying throat." "Looks like I'll have to wear a throatguard when I go to negotiate," James said with a half-smile. Lee family. "You may try, my lord, but I think it is a waste of saliva. We have no choice but to attack." Once upon a time, or not so long ago, James would not hesitate to approve of his cousin's approach.After all, he couldn't sit and wait for two years in order to starve the black fish out. "Whatever is done, it must be done at once," he told Ser Davon. "I need to get back to King's Landing, to the king, as soon as possible." "Yes," said the cousin, "I know your sister needs you. How did she drive Kevan away? I always thought she would make him Prime Minister." "He won't take it." Unlike me, he's not blind. "In terms of qualifications, Kevan or you should be the Guardian of the West Territory. Let me remind you, this is not to say that I don't like this honor, but my cousin is twice my age and has far more commanding experience than me. I hope He figured out that I never competed for the honor." "He knows it." "How's Cersei? Is she as pretty as ever?" "She was beautiful," capricious, "golden," and yet hypocritical.Last night he had dreamed that his sister was making love to Moonboy, and he had killed the Fool, and smashed his sister's teeth to pieces with the golden hand, just as Gregor Clegane had done to poor Pia.In his dreams, Jaime always had two hands, one of which was made of gold, but he could use it freely. "The sooner I get rid of Riverrun, the sooner I can return to Cersei." At that time, James has no idea what to do. They talked for another hour before the Warden of the Westland took his leave.After the talk, James put on his golden hands and brown cloak, and went to inspect the camp. To be honest, this is the life he likes.On the battlefield, walking among soldiers is much more comfortable than staying in the palace.His subordinates love him very much.Before a campfire, three crossbowmen invited him to share a captured hare, and a young knight asked him to teach him how to defend against a hammer attack.Walking downstream along the river, he saw two washerwomen riding on the shoulders of two soldiers, fighting in the shallows.The two girls, half drunk and disheveled, giggled and grabbed each other's disheveled clothes, while a dozen other soldiers gathered around to cheer.Jaime bet a bronze star on the blond woman on Sweet Raff's back, and the pair flipped in the reeds, costing him his money. Across the river, the wolves were still howling, and the willow bushes billowed and murmured in the bitter autumn wind.Jaime found Ser Ilyn Payne sitting alone outside his tent, sharpening his sword with a whetstone. "Come," he said, and the silent knight stood up and followed him with a faint smile on his face.He enjoyed the moments, James realized, and the satisfaction of being able to humiliate me every night was even more satisfying than killing me.James believed he was improving, but progress was slow and costly.Beneath the iron armor, woolen coat, and leather armor, Jaime Lannister's skin was a tapestry of wounds, cuts, and bruises. When they led the horses to leave the camp, the sentinel came up to question him, and James patted the other's shoulder with his golden hand, "Stand still, there are wolves outside." Then the two rode along the Red Fork River to a burned village. Passed by here.It was here that the two engaged in their daily midnight swordfights, surrounded by charred stone and cold ashes.For a while, James actually had the upper hand, as if the old skills were coming back—he allowed himself to think that maybe it was Pyne's turn to go back to sleep today, bruised and bruised. Ser Ilyn seemed to read his thoughts.He parried Jaime's blow lazily, then fought back hard enough to drive Jaime into the river, sinking his shoes into the wet mud.And in a moment, Jaime was on his knees, the sword was blown away, and the silent knight held the sword to his throat.The pock marks on Pyne's face looked like pits in the moonlight, and he made that gruff sound that seemed to be mocking again, and raised his sword up to James' lips.Finally, he took a step back and put his sword back into its sheath. I might as well carry a whore and joust Sweet Raff, Jaime thought as he shook the mud off King's hands.There was an impulse in his heart, and he wanted to tear off this useless hand and throw it into the river viciously, leaving it without a trace.But it doesn't work, and it's impossible to make the left hand stronger.Ser Ilyn walked back to the horse, leaving him to look for shoes.Damn, at least I'm not crippled. The journey on the last day was cold and windy, the autumn wind blew non-stop, the branches were whirling in the bare brown forest, and the reeds by the Red Fork River were bent over.Even in the white wool winter clothes of the Kingsguard, Jaime could feel the icy teeth of the wind.His cousin Ser Daven rode beside him as the sun was about to set before he came into sight of Riverrun at the tip of the delta where Tumblestone emptied into the Red Fork.Tully's castle was like a giant stone ship plowing through the waves of a surging river. The sandstone walls were bathed in golden and red sunlight, and they seemed taller and thicker than ever.Fortified, he thought gloomily, but if Blackfish refused to negotiate, he would have to break his oath to Catelyn Stark—his oath to the King first, anyway. The river dam and the three camps of the besieging army are just as my cousin described.Ryman Frey's camp on the north bank of the Tumshi was the largest, but also the most chaotic.Above the camp towered a gray gallows as high as a trebuchet, and beneath it stood a lone figure with a rope around his neck.Edmure Tully, James suddenly felt very sad, let him stand there day after day with a rope... It would be better to beheaded. But below the gallows, the tents and campfires were so disorganized and sprawling that the Freys and their knights pitched their tents comfortably upstream of the urinal, and downstream were filthy tents, wagons and ox carts. . "Sir Lyman couldn't bear to teach his soldiers the boring life of the army, so he specially prepared camp prostitutes, cockfights and wild boar games," Sir Davon explained. "He even found himself a goddamn singer. Can you believe it? Just because our aunt brought 'White Smile' Walter from Lannisport, and he's up for comparison. Can we drown these Foyles, old man?" Jaime saw archers going back and forth between the merlons, the banner of House Tully waving in the wind, and silver trout prancing fearlessly above their red and blue stripes.From the tallest tower, however, another banner flew—a long white banner embroidered with Stark's Wolf Runners. "I was green as summer grass when I first came to Riverrun," Jaime told his cousin, "and old Sumner Crakehall sent me a letter, and he said it meant too much to trust a crow. After the letter was delivered, Lord Horst delayed for half a month in the name of carefully replying, and every meal, he let his daughter Lysa sit beside me." "No wonder you put on a white robe, and I would do the same." "Oh, Lysa wasn't the same back then." She was beautiful then, with a delicate dimpled face and long auburn hair.However, she was too shy to talk, only secretly giggling, without Cersei's passion at all.Her older sister, Catelyn, was more attractive, yet betrothed to a Northman, Heir of Winterfell... But at that age, Jaime wasn't as interested in any girl as he was in Hoster's famous brother , Brynden Tully just made a contribution in the Battle of the Nine Copper Kings in the Stone Steps, so at the dinner table, James always ignored poor Lisa, chasing Brynden to ask about the "violent" Maris and the Ebony Prince s story.Ser Brynden was younger than I am now, James remembered, and I was younger than Pie. The nearest ford of the Red Fork was up the castle, and to Ser Fon's quarters it was past Emmon Frey's camp, past the tents of the Lords of the Three Rivers who had bowed their knees back to the king's rule.James found the banners of Leicester, Vance, Root, and Gubler, and the Acorns of House Smallwood and Lord Piper's Dancing Maiden, but what he really cared about were the ones he didn't see. Chapters: The Silver Eagle of House Mallister, the Red Horse of House Bracken, the Weeping Willow of House Lyger, and the Twin Entangling Serpents of House Peggy.Although these families have repeatedly reiterated their allegiance to the Iron Throne, they are unwilling to send troops to participate in the siege.James knew that the Bracken family was at war with the Blackwood family, and it was understandable that they couldn't escape, but other... Our new friends aren't friends at all.Their loyalty is only superficial.Riverrun must be taken as soon as possible, and to delay is to encourage resistance, to men like Tytos Blackwood. At the ferry, Sir Kenros of Ketche blew the horn of Herlock.This will probably attract Heiyu to go to the top of the city to observe.Ser Hugo and Ser Dermot walked first through the muddy red-brown water, raising the white banner of the Kingsguard and Tommen's stag and lion.Jaime followed, and then the main force. The Lannister camp was filled with the sound of hammers and a new siege tower was being built.Two more have been erected, half covered with raw horse hides.Between the two towers, there is a ram made of the trunk of a big tree, fixed with iron cables, sharpened at the top and hardened with fire, and covered with a wooden roof.It seems that the old cousin is not idle. "My lord," asked Pie, "where are you camping?" "Here, on this high ground," he pointed with a golden finger—though it wasn't quite suited for the task. "Separate the baggage from the horses, and make good use of the urinal that my kind cousin dug for us. Sir Adam, check the perimeter carefully after setting up camp, and make sure there are no omissions." Once bitten by a snake, he was afraid of well ropes for ten years, What happened in the Whispering Forest must never happen again. "Shall I summon the weasels for a war council?" Davon asked. "No, wait until I talk to Blackfish," James greeted "beardless" Jon Bentley, "declare the banner of peace, and send a message to the castle to tell Sir Brynden Tully: Tomorrow morning, I negotiate with him. I will come to the moat myself and meet him on the drawbridge." "My lord, the crossbowmen in the city..." Xiao Pai warned. "It's all right." James got off his horse. "Raise the tent and hoist my banner." Let's see who will arrive first and how quickly. Did not keep him waiting.Pia took out the brazier and was busy lighting the coals when Pie ran to help her.Lately, what accompanied James to sleep was the sound of them making love huddled in a corner of the tent.The tent door flew open as Garrett undid the greaves for him. "You're here at last, aren't you?" cried the aunt.Her body filled the door, and her husband Frey peeked in behind. "Don't you want to give your fat old aunt a warm hug after seeing you again?" she said, opening her arms. James could only accept it. When she was young, Gina Lannister was quite a physical woman, and she liked to joke that she would gain weight one day.Today her figure is boxy, with a broad, flat face, a neck like a pink beam, and a high chest.All in all, she should weigh twice as much as her husband.James held her dutifully, waiting for his aunt to pinch his ears, which she had loved to pinch his ears for as long as he could remember.But today she held back and only pressed a wet and soft kiss on his face. "I'm so sorry for what you lost." "I have a novice, made of pure gold." He showed her. "It's pretty, but can you make yourself a new father out of pure gold?" asked Aunt Gina tartly. "I mean Tywin." "Tywin Lannister is a once-in-a-thousand-year legend," my uncle declared.Emmon Frey was a nervous man, with his hands twitching uncomfortably.His weight is at most ten stones... and it must be under the premise that he is covered in armor and has been soaked in water.Wearing a woolen sweater, he looked like a reed, with no chin, and his protruding Adam's apple was ridiculous.Before the age of thirty, half of his hair had fallen out. Now that he is forty, there are only a few sparse white strands left on the top of his head. "There's been a lot of strange rumors lately," said Aunt Gina, after Jaime dismissed Pia and his entourage, "teach me the old woman to believe it. How could Tyrion have killed Tywin? Is it your sister's slander?" Slander?" "The thing is true." The golden hand was getting heavier and heavier, and he fumbled for the strap used to fix his wrist. "A son murdered his father," said Ser Emmon, "a heinous crime. This is the darkest age in Westeros, and Lord Tywin is gone. I am really worried for everyone." "If he is here now, you should worry about everyone." Gina put her plump buttocks on a folding chair, and the chair suddenly made a dangerous "squeaky" sound. "Nephew, tell us about our son, Sir Cleo, and how he died." Jaime undid the last noose and set the golden hand down. "We met a bandit on the road, and Sir Cleo stepped forward and tried to lure him away, but something happened unexpectedly." The lie was easy to utter, especially when it clearly comforted the couple in front of us. "The boy is brave, I always say so. It is in his blood." Ser Ammon spattered pink as he spoke, and he liked to chew sourgrass leaves. "His bones should lie in the Hall of Heroes below Casterly Rock," Aunt Gina declared. "Where does he lie?" Nowhere to rest.The blood mummers stripped his body and left the flesh for the crows to eat. "By a stream," he lied, "and I'll take him home when the war's over." These days, there's only bones that nobody wants. "The war is over..." Hearing these words, the future Lord Ammon suddenly regained his spirits, he cleared his throat, his protruding Adam's apple went up and down, "You saw the siege equipment outside: rams, trebuchets, siege machines Tower. Don't do it, Jaime, Davon is going to tear down my walls, smash my gates, and he says he's going to throw barrels of pitch into it and set the castle on fire. That's my castle!" He reached into his coat. Pulling his sleeve, he took out a piece of parchment and held it in front of James. "I have a grant signed by the king. Look, it is Tommen's autograph, the king's seal, stag and lion. I am the rightful lord of Riverrun, and I will not allow anyone to damage my property." "Oh, get that stupid thing off," cried his wife, "as long as the Blackfish is in town, you'll have to wipe your ass with this piece of paper." Aunt Gina had been married to the Freys for fifty years, but Still a Lannister at heart.A true Lannister. "Jaime will give you the castle." "Of course, of course," admitted Lord Ammon, "Ser Jaime, your lord father has good reason to trust me. You see, I will keep my vassals in check, but not too harshly. Whether Blackwood, Bracken, Jason Mallister, Vance or Piper, they will all know that I, Emmon Frey, is a just lord. Oh, and my father - he is the Ferry Lord, yes, but I am Lord of Riverrun now. A son is bound to obey his father, yes, but a vassal is even more bound to obey his lord." Oh, be merciful to the gods... "You are not your father's lord, ser. Read carefully the paper in your hand, which grants you and your lady castles, fiefs, and taxes, and nothing more. Petyr Baelish is the Governor of the Riverlands, and Riverrun must submit to the jurisdiction of Harrenhal." Lord Ammon was not pleased. "Harrenhal is nothing but a haunted ruin, a cursed place," he objected, "and Baelish...can only count pennies, what kind of governor can he be? His birth..." "If you are not satisfied, please go directly to King's Landing and complain to my dear old sister." There is no doubt that Cersei can swallow the emaciated Emmon Frey in a few mouthfuls, and he can't even squeeze the gap between his teeth—— Unless, unless she was too busy making love to Osmund Kettleblack to answer. Aunt Gina snorted, "There's no need to bother Her Majesty the Queen Mother with such nonsense, Amon, can't you go out first and get some fresh air?" "A breath of fresh air?" "Or take a pee, will it work? My nephew wants to discuss housework with me." Lord Ammon blushed. "Yes, it's too hot inside, I'd better go outside for a stroll. Ma'am, ser." He carefully rolled up the parchment, bowed to James, and stepped out of the tent tremblingly. In truth, it was hard not to be contemptuous of Emmon Frey.He came to Casterly Rock when he was fourteen and married a lioness half his age.Tyrion often said that the wedding gift that Duke Tywin gave him was "losing meat"-Amon couldn't eat anything because of nervousness, and became thinner and thinner.Gina is also involved in this.I remember that at several banquets, Ammon could only fiddle with the food sullenly, while his wife happily made dirty jokes with the knight sitting on her left—whoever it was—and their conversations were always accompanied by sudden explosions. laugh.She had, of course, given Frey four sons, or so she claimed them to be his.No one in Casterly Rock dared question Gena, least of all Ser Emmon. When the husband left, the wife rolled her eyes. "This is my lord. What on earth did your father consider to make him Lord of Riverrun?" "I guess he's thinking about your sons." "I'm also planning for them. Amon can't become a qualified lord, but Xiaotai can try, as long as he knows how to imitate me instead of imitating his father." She glanced at the tent. "Is there any wine?" James fetched the flagon and poured for his aunt with one hand. "Why are you here, Auntie? Logically, you should stay in Casterly Rock until the castle falls." "As soon as Amon heard that he had become the lord, he couldn't wait to come to claim his rights." Aunt Gina took a big gulp of wine and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Your father should have given us Darry. Remember? Cleo's wife was a peasant woman, and now the sad widow is angry that her son won't inherit her father's lands. Ali, porter." But from the matriarchal point of view, she has Darry's blood, and my daughter-in-law Jenny is the younger sister of her mother, Mrs. Maria, and she is Ariel's aunt in terms of seniority, so she is a real Darry family." "You also know that she is a younger sister," James reminded the other party, "and Xiaotai will inherit Riverrun City in the future. This reward is much richer than Darry City." "It's a poisoned reward. The Darrys are extinct males, the Tullys are just the opposite. That fool Ser Ryman put a rope around Edmure's neck but didn't dare hang him seriously, and Roslin with a young trout in his arms. My children and grandchildren will not be safe as long as the heir of the Tully family lives." She hits the nail on the head, James thought. "If Roselyn is pregnant with a daughter—" "—just marry her to Ty. Yes, I've thought of that, but I'll have to talk to Mr. Walder first. On the other hand, if it's a boy, his little dick will cause trouble in the future." Ser Bryndon has to take it into consideration, if he gets out of trouble, he may claim Riverrun in the name of himself... or little Robert Arryn." 詹姆记得在君临见过的小劳勃，四岁时还吸老妈的奶子，“艾林不会活到生育年龄。再说，鹰巢城公爵千里迢迢索要奔流城做什么？” “为何有了一罐金子的人还想要另一罐？贪心不足蛇吞象哪，詹姆，泰温本该把奔流城给凯冯，戴瑞城留给我的阿蒙。如果他舍得来问我，我一定会劝他，不过你父亲除了凯冯之外还会跟谁商量呢？”她长叹口气。“算了，我不能责怪凯冯想为自己的儿子找个安全窝，我太了解他了。” “原来如此……不过凯冯想要的和蓝赛尔想要的似乎是两码事。”他把蓝赛尔弃绝妻子、封地和爵位，加入教会骑士团的事和盘托出。“你想要戴瑞城，只管写信向瑟曦请求。” 吉娜姑妈挥挥杯子，以示否定。“不行，离弦之箭收不回来了。如今阿蒙那颗尖脑袋里已经装满了统治河间地的幻想，而蓝赛尔……我看这事不妙。献身于总主教和当御林铁卫没区别，恐怕凯冯会大为光火，就跟你一时冲动披上白袍后激怒了泰温一样。好在凯冯至少还有马丁做继承人，他可以用马丁去娶门房阿丽，以代替蓝赛尔。七神保佑。”姑妈又叹口气，“说到七神，瑟曦为何准许教会重新武装呢？” 詹姆耸肩，“大概她自有道理吧。” “道理？”吉娜姑妈粗鲁地喷了口鼻息，“不晓得她有什么好道理！连坦格利安王朝都难以应付圣剑骑士团和星辰武士团。征服者伊耿对待教会十分谨慎，处处小心，生怕出事。伊耿死后，维斯特洛的领主们蜂拥而起，来造他儿子的反，这两大教团武装正是叛乱的中坚力量，虔诚的领主纷纷倒戈，更吸引了无数平民百姓。如果我的历史记得不差，梅葛王不仅宣布他们为非法，还悬赏通缉，一颗战士之子的首级值一枚金龙，一张穷人集会成员的头皮值一枚银鹿。数千人因之被杀，但更多人在七国上下继续反抗，如燎原之势，直到铁王座杀掉了梅葛，杰赫里斯王登基后大赦天下，宣布只要放下武器，一律既往不咎，这才渐渐平息了动乱。” “这些故事我都快忘光了。”詹姆承认。 “你和你姐姐都没长记性。”她又喝了一口酒。“听说泰温躺在棺材里面笑了，是真的吗？” “他在棺材里面腐烂，嘴巴扭曲罢了。” “如此而已？”听他这样说，姑妈有些悲哀。“人们都说泰温从来不笑，这不是真的。和你母亲成婚那一天，还有被伊里斯任命为首相的那一天，他都笑得十分开心。提盖还跟我讲，当塔贝克厅坍塌崩溃，埋葬了那狡诈的婆娘艾莲夫人时，泰温笑了。在你出生的时候，詹姆，他也笑过，这是我亲眼所见，绝无虚假。你和瑟曦，两个粉红色的小东西，完美无瑕，犹如一个豆荚里的两颗豌豆……呵呵，只有两腿间不同。你那时候的嗓门就很大！” “听我怒吼嘛，”詹姆咧嘴笑道，“下回你就要称赞他是多么喜欢笑了。” “不，泰温不信任笑容，他见过太多人嘲笑你祖父。”姑妈皱起眉头。“告诉你，这场围城的闹剧若给他瞧见，不大发雷霆才怪。现在你来了，说说，想怎么做？” “跟黑鱼谈判。” “谈判不管用。” “我会向他提出慷慨的条件。” “达成条件需以信任为基础。然而佛雷在自家屋檐下谋害宾客，你呢，好吧……我没别的意思，亲爱的，但你确实杀了自己宣誓守护的国王。” “如果黑鱼不投降，我还会杀了他。”他抑制不住尖刻的语调，他现下可没心情听人把自己和伊里斯·坦格利安扯在一起。 “怎么杀，用你这条毒舌吗？”姑妈责难道，“我是个肥胖的老妇人，但耳朵没毛病，我敢打赌，黑鱼也一样。听着，空洞的威胁毫无意义。” "what do you want me to do?" 她沉重地一耸肩，“阿蒙想要艾德慕的脑袋，这回我倾向于支持他，再怎么说，莱曼爵士的绞架已成了笑柄。你必须让布林登爵士看到你的利齿，事情才有转机。” “依我看，杀害艾德慕只可能坚定布林登爵士守城的决心。” “关于决心，黑鱼布林登从来不缺，已故的霍斯特·徒利对此体会最深。”吉娜姑妈干了杯中酒。“嗯，本来也不当由我来指导你作战，你好自为之吧，我清楚自己的位置……不像你姐姐。瑟曦真的烧了红堡？” “她只烧了首相塔。” 姑妈翻翻白眼。“她应该将她的首相烧死，把塔留下。哈瑞斯·史威佛？诸神在上，如果说有谁最像自己的纹章，非哈瑞斯爵士莫属。还有盖尔斯·罗斯比，天哪，我还以为他八百年前就进了坟墓。玛瑞魏斯……我告诉你，你父亲称此人的祖父为'傻笑的痴呆'，他说老玛瑞魏斯大人唯一能做的就是在国王说俏皮话时咯咯傻笑。如果我没记错，这位大人最终因为不合时宜的傻笑而遭到流放。瑟曦还在御前会议里安插进一个私生子，用什么凯特克领导御林铁卫，重新武装了教会，拒绝偿付布拉佛斯人的债务——以上种种倒行逆施，只要她简单地任命她叔叔当首相，都是绝不会发生的。” “凯冯爵士拒绝担任国王之手。” “是的，但他没说为什么。他一定有难言之隐，难以开口的想法。”吉娜姑妈扮个鬼脸。“凯冯从来都是尽心尽职地完成托付，拒绝承担责任，这不是他的性格。我嗅得出来，里面不对劲。” “他说他累了。”他知道，那晚在父亲的尸身前面，瑟曦告诉他，他知道了我们的秘密。 “累了？”姑妈撅起嘴唇。“好吧，他有权喊累。凯冯活得很辛苦，一辈子笼罩在泰温的阴影下，实际上，我的哥哥弟弟们都有这份困扰。泰温洒下长长的黑影，其他人只得在影子中挣扎着寻求阳光。提盖特想凭自个儿闯出一片天地，但始终比不上你父亲，结果越来越烦躁；吉利安喜欢开玩笑，因为嘲笑游戏本身总比认输好受些；凯冯打一开始就明白自己的位置，他认准方向，终其一生尽力辅佐你父亲。” “你呢？”詹姆问她。 “这场游戏并非女人的游戏。我是我父亲最珍爱的小公主……也是泰温的小公主，直到我让他失望。我哥不允许别人令他失望。”她说罢站起身来。“我把要说的话说完了，不想再占用你的时间。你就照着泰温会做的那样去做吧。” “你爱他吗？”詹姆听见自己问。 姑妈用奇特的眼光打量他，“当年瓦德·佛雷替阿蒙向我父亲大人求婚时，我才七岁，然而阿蒙是次子，连继承人都不是。我父亲本来排行老三，他知道做弟弟的有多渴望证明自己，佛雷正是嗅到他这一弱点，才用次子来做交易。我的订婚是在一场西境半数诸侯列席的大宴会上宣布的，听罢消息，艾莲·塔贝克哈哈大笑，而那红狮子愤然离席。其他人沉默不语，只有泰温站起来坚决反对——十岁的他，言辞激烈，吵得父亲大人脸色惨白如马奶，而瓦德·佛雷浑身打颤。”姑妈微微一笑，“经历了这件事，我怎能不爱他呢？当然，我爱他不代表我就赞成他做的所有事情，或者欣赏他后来变成的那个样子……但每个小姑娘心中总是希望有大哥哥保护的。泰温从小就是个巨人。”她发出第三次叹息，“今天，谁来保护我们呢？” 詹姆吻了她的脸，“他留下一个儿子。” “是啊，他的确留下一个。但说实话，这才是最让我担心的。” 她的说法很奇怪。“有什么好担心的呢？” “詹姆，”姑妈伸手拉住他耳朵，“亲爱的，我是看着你在乔安娜的奶子上吸奶，一点一点长大的。你笑的模样像吉利安，打起仗来像提盖，你身上还有某些属于凯冯的精神，否则就不会披上白袍了……但提利昂才是泰温的儿子，不是你。这话我对你父亲说过一次，之后他整整半年没有理睬我。男人就是这样顽固的傻瓜，即便像他这么千年一遇的人物也不例外。”