按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
gue it flickered in and out； feinting low and landing high； jabbing at groin； shield； eyes。 The Mountain makes for a big target； at the least； Tyrion thought。 Prince Oberyn could scarcely miss； though none of his blows was penetrating Ser Gregor's heavy plate。 The Dornishman kept circling； jabbing； then darting back again； forcing the bigger man to turn and turn again。 Clegane is losing sight of him。 The Mountain's helm had a narrow eyeslit； severely limiting his vision。 Oberyn was making good use of that； and the length of his spear； and his quickness。
It went on that way for what seemed a long time。 Back and forth they moved across the yard； and round and round in spirals； Ser Gregor slashing at the air while Oberyn's spear struck at arm； and leg； twice at his temple。 Gregor's big wooden shield took its share of hits as well； until a dog's head peeped out from under the star； and elsewhere the raw oak showed through。 Clegane would grunt from time to time； and once Tyrion heard him mutter a curse； but otherwise he fought in a sullen silence。
Not Oberyn Martell。 〃You raped her；〃 he called； feinting。 〃You murdered her；〃 he said； dodging a looping cut from Gregor's greatsword。 〃You killed her children；〃 he shouted； slamming the spearpoint into the giant's throat； only to have it glance off the thick steel gorget with a screech。
〃Oberyn is toying with him；〃 said Ellaria Sand。
That is fool's play； thought Tyrion。 〃The Mountain is too bloody big to be any man's toy。〃
All around the yard； the throng of spectators was creeping in toward the two batants； edging forward inch by inch to get a better view。 The Kingsguard tried to keep them back； shoving at the gawkers forcefully with their big white shields； but there were hundreds of gawkers and only six of the men in white armor。
〃You raped her。〃 Prince Oberyn parried a savage cut with his spearhead。 〃You murdered her。〃 He sent the spearpoint at Clegane's eyes； so fast the huge man flinched back。 〃You killed her children。〃 The spear flickered sideways and down； scraping against the Mountain's breastplate。 〃You raped her。 You murdered her。 You killed her children。〃 The spear was two feet longer than Ser Gregor's sword； more than enough to keep him at an awkward distance。 He hacked at the shaft whenever Oberyn lunged at him； trying to lop off the spearhead； but he might as well have been trying to hack the wings off a fly。 〃You raped her。 You murdered her。 You killed her children。〃 Gregor tried to bull rush； but Oberyn skipped aside and circled round his back。 〃You raped her。 You murdered her。 You killed her children。〃
〃Be quiet。〃 Ser Gregor seemed to be moving a little slower； and his greatsword no longer rose quite so high as it had when the contest began。 〃Shut your bloody mouth。〃
〃You raped her；〃 the prince said； moving to the right。
〃Enough！〃 Ser Gregor took two long strides and brought his sword down at Oberyn's head； but the Domishman backstepped once more。 〃You murdered her；〃 he said。
〃SHUT UP〃 Gregor charged headlong； right at the point of the spear； which slammed into his right breast then slid aside with a hideous steel shriek。 Suddenly the Mountain was close enough to strike； his huge sword flashing in a steel blur。 The crowd was screaming as well。 Oberyn slipped the first blow and let go of the spear； useless now that Ser Gregor was inside it。 The second cut the Domishman caught on his shield。 Metal met metal with an ear…splitting clang sending the Red Viper reeling。 Ser Gregor followed； bellowing。 He doesn't use words； he just roars like an animal； Tyrion thought。 Oberyn's retreat became a headlong backward flight mere inches ahead of the greatsword as it slashed at his chest； his arms； his head。
The stable was behind him。 Spectators screamed and shoved at each other to get out of the way。 One stumbled into Oberyn's back。 Ser Gregor hacked down with all his savage strength。 The Red Viper threw himself sideways； rolling。 The luckless stableboy behind him was not so quick。 As his arm rose to protect his face； Gregor's sword took it off between elbow and shoulder。 〃Shut UP！〃 the Mountain howled at the stableboy's scream； and this time he swung the blade sideways； sending the top half of the lad's head across the yard in a spray of blood and brains。 Hundreds of spectators suddenly seemed to lose all interest in the guilt or innocence of Tyrion Lannister； judging by the way they pushed and shoved at each other to escape the yard。
But the Red Viper of Dome was back on his feet； his long spear in hand。 〃Elia；〃 he called at Ser Gregor。 〃You raped her。 You murdered her。 You killed her children。 Now say her name。〃
The Mountain whirled。 Helm； shield； sword； surcoat； he was spattered with gore from head to heels。 〃You talk too much；〃 he grumbled。 〃You make my head hurt。〃
〃I will hear you say it。 She was Elia of Dome。〃
The Mountain snorted contemptuously； and came on 。 。 。 and in that moment； the sun broke through the low clouds that had hidden the sky since dawn。
The sun of Dorne； Tyrion told himself； but it was Gregor Clegane who moved first to put the sun at his back。 This is a dim and brutal man； but he has a warrior's instincts。
The Red Viper crouched； squinting； and sent his spear darting forward again。 Ser Gregor hacked at it； but the thrust had only been a feint。 Off balance； he stumbled forward a step。
Prince Oberyn tilted his dinted metal shield。 A shaft of sunlight blazed blindingly off polished gold and copper； into the narrow slit of his foe's helm。 Clegane lifted his own shield against the glare。 Prince Oberyn's spear flashed like lightning and found the gap in the heavy plate； the joint under the arm。 The point punched through mail and boiled leather。 Gregor gave a choked grunt as the Domishman twisted his spear and yanked it free。 〃Elia。 Say it！ Elia。 of Dome！〃 He was circling spear poised for another thrust。 〃Say it！〃
Tyrion had his own prayer。 Fall down and die； was how it went。 Damn you； fall down and die！ The blood trickling from the Mountain's armpit was his own now； and he must be bleeding even more heavily inside the breastplate。 When he tried to take a step； one knee buckled。 Tyrion thought he was going down。
Prince Oberyn had circled behind him。 〃ELIA OF DORNE！〃 he shouted。 Ser Gregor started to turn； but too slow and too late。 The spearhead went through the back of the knee this time； through the layers of chain and leather between the plates on thigh and calf。 The Mountain reeled； swayed； then collapsed face first on the ground。 His huge sword went flying from his hand。 Slowly； ponderously； he rolled onto his back。
The Dornishman flung away his ruined shield； grasped the spear in both hands； and sauntered away。 Behind him the Mountain let out a groan； and pushed himself onto an elbow。 Oberyn whirled cat…quick； and ran at his fallen foe。 〃EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA！〃 he screamed； as he drove the spear down with the whole weight of his body behind it。 The crack of the ashwood shaft snapping was almost as sweet a sound as Cersei's wail of fury； and for an instant Prince Oberyn had wings。 The snake has vaulted over the Mountain。 Four feet of broken spear jutted from Clegane's belly as Prince Oberyn rolled； rose； and dusted himself off。 He tossed aside the splintered spear and claimed his foe's greatsword。 〃If you die before you say her name； ser； I will hunt you through all seven hells；〃 he promised。
Ser Gregor tried to rise； The broken spear had gone through him； and was pinning him to the ground。 He wrapped both hands about the shaft； grunting； but could not pull it out。 Beneath him was a spreading pool of red。 〃I am feeling more innocent by the instant；〃 Tyrion told Ellaria Sand beside him。
Prince Oberyn moved closer。 〃Say the name！〃 He put a foot on the Mountain's chest and raised the greatsword with both hands。 Whether he intended to hack off Gregor's head or shove the point through his eyeslit was something Tyrion would never know。
Clegane's hand shot up and grabbed the Dornishman behind the knee。 The Red Viper brought down the greatsword in a wild slash； but he was off…balance； and the edge did no more than put another dent in the Mountain's vambrace。 Then the sword was forgotten as Gregor's hand tightened and twisted； yanking the Dornishman down on top of him。 They wrestled in the dust and blood； the broken spear wobbling back and forth。 Tyrion saw with horror that the Mountain had wrapped one huge arm around the prince； drawing him tight against his chest； like a lover。
〃Elia of Dorne；〃 they all heard Ser Gregor say； when they were close enough to kiss。 His deep voice boomed within the helm。 〃I killed her screaming whelp。〃 He thrust his free hand into Oberyn's unprotected face； pushing steel fingers into his eyes。 〃Then I raped her。〃 Clegane slammed his fist into the Dornishman's mouth； making splinters of his teeth。 〃Then I smashed her fucking head in。 Like this。〃 As he drew back his huge fist； the blood on his gauntlet seemed to smoke in the cold dawn air。 There was a sickening crunch。 Ellaria Sand wailed in terror； and Tyrion's breakfast came boiling back up。 He found himself on his knees retching bacon and sausage and applecakes； and that double helping of fried eggs cooked up with onions and f