Ⅳ 群鴉的盛宴 Chapter18 鐵船長
THE IRON CAPTAIN
北風(fēng)吹拂，無敵鐵種號繞過陸岬，駛?cè)胧サ啬荣u籃灣。
The wind was blowing from the north as the Iron Victory came round the point and entered the holy bay called Nagga’s Cradle.
維克塔利昂來到站在船頭的“理發(fā)師”紐特身邊。前方隱約可見老威克島的神圣海岸，上方是荒草遍布的山嶺，娜伽的肋骨從地底冒出來，仿佛巨大的白色樹干，跟大帆船的桅桿一般粗細(xì)，高度則有桅桿的兩倍。
Victarion joined Nute the Barber at her prow. Ahead loomed the sacred shore of Old Wyk and the grassy hill above it, where the ribs of Nagga rose from the earth like the trunks of great white trees, as wide around as a dromond’s mast and twice as tall.
灰海王大廳的骨骼。維克塔利昂能感受到此處的魔力?！鞍吐〉谝淮巫粤橥鯐r，就站在這些骨頭底下，”他邊回憶邊說道，“他發(fā)誓為我們贏回自由，‘三淹人’塔勒便將一頂浮木王冠戴到他頭上?！吐。 F民們高喊，‘巴??！巴隆國王！’”
The bones of the Grey King’s Hall. Victarion could feel the magic of this place. “Balon stood beneath those bones, when first he named himself a king,” he recalled. “He swore to win us back our freedoms, and Tarle the Thrice-Drowned placed a driftwood crown upon his head. ‘BALON!’ they cried. ‘BALON! BALON KING!’ ”
“他們呼喊你的名字時也會一樣響亮。”紐特評論。
“They will shout your name as loud,” said Nute.
維克塔利昂點點頭，但沒“理發(fā)師”那么肯定。畢竟，巴隆有過三個兒子，還有一個非常寵愛的女兒。
Victarion nodded, though he did not share the Barber’s certainty. Balon had three sons, and a daughter he loved well.
他在卡林灣對自己的船長們也是這么說的，他們都敦促他盡早下手奪取海石之位?！鞍吐〉膬鹤铀拦饬?，”紅拉弗·斯通浩斯?fàn)庌q，“而阿莎是女人，你是你兄長的得力助手，必須由你撿起他的劍?！本S克塔利昂提醒他們，巴隆明令他扼守卡林灣，抵御北方人的反撲，拉弗·肯寧說，“狼仔們經(jīng)受了數(shù)次重創(chuàng)，已不足為患，大人。而您若枯守著這片沼澤，聽任鐵群島落入別人手中，有什么意義呢？”“跛子”拉弗補充道，“鴉眼是外人，他不了解我們?！?/p>
He had said as much to his captains at Moat Cailin, when first they urged him to claim the Seastone Chair. “Balon’s sons are dead,” Red Ralf Stonehouse had argued, “and Asha is a woman. You were your brother’s strong right arm, you must pick up the sword that he let fall.” When Victarion reminded them that Balon had commanded him to hold the Moat against the northmen, Ralf Kenning said, “The wolves are broken, lord. What good to win this swamp and lose the isles?” And Ralf the Limper added, “The Crow’s Eye has been too long away. He knows us not.”
攸倫·葛雷喬伊，鐵群島之王和北境之王。只需想想，便能喚醒他心中舊日的怒火，但是……
Euron Greyjoy, King of the Isles and the North. The thought woke an old rage in his heart, but still …
“言語就像風(fēng)，”維克塔利昂告訴他們，“鼓動船帆的才有用。你們要我跟鴉眼開戰(zhàn)？兄弟對兄弟，鐵種對鐵種？”無論他倆之間有多少嫌怨，攸倫畢竟是他的兄長。弒親者將遭到永世詛咒。
“Words are wind,” Victarion told them, “and the only good wind is that which fills our sails. Would you have me fight the Crow’s Eye? Brother against brother, ironborn against ironborn?” Euron was still his elder, no matter how much bad blood might be between them. No man is as accursed as the kinslayer.
但濕發(fā)發(fā)出選王會的號召之后，一切就不同了。伊倫是淹神的代言人，維克塔利昂提醒自己，假如淹神要我坐上海石之位……消息傳來的第二天，他便將卡林灣的指揮權(quán)交給拉弗·肯寧，自己忙不迭地前往熱浪河，鐵島艦隊就停泊在河邊的蘆葦和楊柳叢中。波濤洶涌的大海和變幻無常的風(fēng)浪拖延了他回師的速度，但回到家鄉(xiāng)時，他只損失了一艘船。
But when the Damphair’s summons came, the call to kingsmoot, then all was changed. Aeron speaks with the Drowned God’s voice, Victarion reminded himself, and if the Drowned God wills that I should sit the Seastone Chair … The next day he gave command of Moat Cailin to Ralf Kenning and set off overland for the Fever River where the Iron Fleet lay amongst the reeds and willows. Rough seas and fickle winds had delayed him, but only one ship had been lost, and he was home.
悲傷號和復(fù)仇鐵種號緊跟著無敵鐵種號繞過陸岬，后面是強手號、鐵風(fēng)號、灰靈號、科倫大王號、維肯大王號、達(dá)袞大王號等等，這些大船占了鐵島艦隊的十分之一，其他較小的船只趁著晚潮航行，排成參差不齊的一列縱隊，向后延伸好幾里格。望著那些船帆，維克塔利昂·葛雷喬伊意氣風(fēng)發(fā)。艦隊司令愛他的艦隊更甚于男人愛妻子。
Grief and Iron Vengeance were close behind as Iron Victory passed the headland. Behind came Hardhand, Iron Wind, Grey Ghost, Lord Quellon, Lord Vickon, Lord Dagon, and the rest, nine-tenths of the Iron Fleet, sailing on the evening tide in a ragged column that extended back long leagues. The sight of their sails filled Victarion Greyjoy with content. No man had ever loved his wives half as well as the Lord Captain loved his ships.
已抵達(dá)的長船沿老威克島的神圣海灘一字排開，延伸至目力極限，桅桿如長矛林立。深水處?？恐鴳?zhàn)利品：平底貨船，寬身帆船，大帆船……都是劫掠或戰(zhàn)斗中贏來的，它們吃水深體積大，無法靠近岸邊。各船船頭、船尾和桅桿上飄蕩著熟悉的旗幟。
Along the sacred strand of Old Wyk, longships lined the shore as far as the eye could see, their masts thrust up like spears. In the deeper waters rode prizes: cogs, carracks, and dromonds won in raid or war, too big to run ashore. From prow and stern and mast flew familiar banners.
“理發(fā)師”紐特瞇起眼睛，“那是哈爾洛大人的海歌號？”“理發(fā)師”體格粗壯，羅圈腿，長胳膊，但他的眼神不如年輕時那么銳利了。當(dāng)年他的飛斧非常精準(zhǔn)，人們說他可以用斧子替人刮胡子。
Nute the Barber squinted toward the strand. “Is that Lord Harlaw’s Sea Song?” The Barber was a thickset man with bandy legs and long arms, but his eyes were not so keen as they had been when he was young. In those days he could throw an axe so well that men said he could shave you with it.
“是的，海歌號?！笨磥?，就連“讀書人”羅德利克也離開了他的書本，前來湊熱鬧了?！斑€有老卓鼓的怒吼者號和布萊克泰斯的夜行者號?！本S克塔利昂的眼睛一如既往的尖銳——他是鐵島艦隊總司令，即便對方收起船帆，耷拉著旗幟，他也統(tǒng)統(tǒng)認(rèn)得出來。“還有‘銀鰭號’，它屬于沙汶·波特利的某位親戚?！本S克塔利昂聽說鴉眼淹死了波特利頭領(lǐng)，而他的繼承人死在卡林灣，但他還有兄弟和別的兒子。有多少？四個？不，五個，而他們中沒人有理由喜歡鴉眼。
“Sea Song, aye.” Rodrik the Reader had left his books, it would seem. “And there’s old Drumm’s Thunderer, with Blacktyde’s Nightflyer beside her.” Victarion’s eyes were as sharp as they had ever been. Even with their sails furled and their banners hanging limp, he knew them, as befit the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. “Silverfin too. Some kin of Sawane Botley.” The Crow’s Eye had drowned Lord Botley, Victarion had heard, and his heir had died at Moat Cailin, but there had been brothers, and other sons as well. How many? Four? No, five, and none with any cause to love the Crow’s Eye.
然后他看到了那艘單桅戰(zhàn)艦，暗紅色船身細(xì)長低矮，船帆漆黑猶如無星的夜空，此刻已然收卷起來。即使在停泊中，寧靜號仍舊顯得無情、殘忍而迅捷。船頭是一尊黑鐵處女像，單臂向外伸展。她腰身細(xì)窄，胸脯高傲地挺起，大腿修長而勻稱，濃密的黑鐵長發(fā)在腦后飄蕩，她的眼睛由珍珠母制成，可她沒有嘴巴。
And then he saw her: a single-masted galley, lean and low, with a dark red hull. Her sails, now furled, were black as a starless sky. Even at anchor Silence looked both cruel and fast. On her prow was a black iron maiden with one arm outstretched. Her waist was slender, her breasts high and proud, her legs long and shapely. A windblown mane of black iron hair streamed from her head, and her eyes were mother-of-pearl, but she had no mouth.
維克塔利昂雙手緊握成拳——他曾用這雙手打死四個男人和一個老婆。盡管星星點點的白發(fā)已從他頭上冒出來，但他一如既往的強壯，擁有公牛般寬闊的胸膛和年輕人的平肚子。弒親者將遭到神和人的永世詛咒，巴隆趕走鴉眼那天提醒過他。
Victarion’s hands closed into fists. He had beaten four men to death with those hands, and one wife as well. Though his hair was flecked with hoarfrost, he was as strong as he had ever been, with a bull’s broad chest and a boy’s flat belly. The kinslayer is accursed in the eyes of gods and men, Balon had reminded him on the day he sent the Crow’s Eye off to sea.
“他來了，”維克塔利昂告訴“理發(fā)師”，“收帆，劃槳。傳令下去，悲傷號和復(fù)仇鐵種號出列，隔斷寧靜號出海的通道。其余艦隊封鎖海灣。沒有我的允許，不管人還是烏鴉都不準(zhǔn)離開?！?/p>
“He is here,” Victarion told the Barber. “Drop sail. We proceed on oars alone. Command Grief and Iron Vengeance to stand between Silence and the sea. The rest of the fleet to seal the bay. None is to leave save at my command, neither man nor crow.”
岸上的人看見了他們的帆，朋友親人們隔著水面互相吆喝打招呼，但寧靜號甲板上形形色色的啞巴和混血雜種一言不發(fā)。無敵鐵種號漸漸靠近，他不僅目睹了皮膚暗如瀝青的黑人，還有矮小多毛，仿佛索斯羅斯猿猴般的家伙。一群怪物，維克塔利昂心想。
The men upon the shore had spied their sails. Shouts echoed across the bay as friends and kin called out greetings. But not from Silence. On her decks a motley crew of mutes and mongrels spoke no word as the Iron Victory drew nigh. Men black as tar stared out at him, and others squat and hairy as the apes of Sothoros. Monsters, Victarion thought.
他們在距離寧靜號二十碼處拋錨?！胺艞l小船。我要上岸?！睒謧儨?zhǔn)備的同時，他扣上劍帶；長劍懸在一側(cè)腰間，另一邊是一把匕首?！袄戆l(fā)師”紐特系緊司令官肩頭的披風(fēng)，它由九層金絲織就，縫成葛雷喬伊家族的海怪形狀，海怪之臂懸垂至靴。披風(fēng)下面，他穿著沉重的灰鎖甲，內(nèi)襯黑色熟皮甲。在卡林灣，他不得不日夜穿戴盔甲，腰酸背痛總比腸穿肚爛好。沼澤深處住的是魔鬼，只要被他們的毒箭擦破一點皮，幾小時之后，就會在號叫中送命，伴隨著兩腿之間止不住的一團(tuán)團(tuán)紅色與褐色的排泄物。不管誰贏得海石之位，我都要回去解決那些沼澤魔鬼。
They dropped anchor twenty yards from Silence. “Lower a boat. I would go ashore.” He buckled on his swordbelt as the rowers took their places; his longsword rested on one hip, a dirk upon the other. Nute the Barber fastened the Lord Captain’s cloak about his shoulders. It was made of nine layers of cloth-of-gold, sewn in the shape of the kraken of Greyjoy, arms dangling to his boots. Beneath he wore heavy grey chain mail over boiled black leather. In Moat Cailin he had taken to wearing mail day and night. Sore shoulders and an aching back were easier to bear than bloody bowels. The poisoned arrows of the bog devils need only scratch a man, and a few hours later he would be squirting and screaming as his life ran down his legs in gouts of red and brown. Whoever wins the Seastone Chair, I shall deal with the bog devils.
維克塔利昂戴上一頂高聳的黑色戰(zhàn)盔，鐵盔打制成海怪形狀，海怪之臂環(huán)繞臉頰，在下巴底下相連。小船準(zhǔn)備好了?！拔野严渥咏唤o你保管，”他一邊吩咐紐特一邊跨過船沿，“不得有誤。”這些箱子事關(guān)重大。
Victarion donned a tall black warhelm, wrought in the shape of an iron kraken, its arms coiled down around his cheeks to meet beneath his jaw. By then the boat was ready. “I put the chests into your charge,” he told Nute as he climbed over the side. “See that they are strongly guarded.” Much depended on the chests.
“遵命，陛下?！?/p>
“As you command, Your Grace.”
對此，維克塔利昂不快地皺起眉頭?！拔疫€不是國王?！彼肋M(jìn)小船。
Victarion returned a sour scowl. “I am no king as yet.” He clambered down into the boat.
伊倫·濕發(fā)站在波浪中等他，水袋懸在一條胳膊底下。牧師又瘦又高，但比維克塔利昂要矮一些，他的鼻子仿佛鯊魚的鰭，從瘦骨嶙岣的臉上冒出來，他的眼睛猶如鋼鐵，胡須垂至腰間，一束束繩索般的長發(fā)隨風(fēng)拍打著大腿背后?！案绺?，”冰冷的白色浪花沖擊著他們的腳踝，“逝者不死。”
Aeron Damphair was waiting for him in the surf with his waterskin slung beneath one arm. The priest was gaunt and tall, though shorter than Victarion. His nose rose like a shark’s fin from a bony face, and his eyes were iron. His beard reached to his waist, and tangled ropes of hair slapped at the back of his legs when the wind blew. “Brother,” he said as the waves broke white and cold around their ankles, “what is dead can never die.”
“必將再起，其勢更烈?！本S克塔利昂摘掉頭盔，跪了下來。海水灌滿他的靴子，浸透他的長褲，伊倫將鹽水倒在他額頭上。他們繼續(xù)禱告。
“But rises again, harder and stronger.” Victarion lifted off his helm and knelt. The bay filled his boots and soaked his breeches as Aeron poured a stream of salt water down upon his brow. And so they prayed.
完畢之后，司令官問濕發(fā)伊倫，“我們的哥哥鴉眼何在？”
“Where is our brother Crow’s Eye?” the Lord Captain demanded of Aeron Damphair when the prayers were done.
“他住在巨大的金絲帳篷內(nèi)，里面嘈雜喧鬧。他身邊盡是些不敬神的人和蠻夷番邦的怪物，比以前更糟糕。我們父親的血在他體內(nèi)變了質(zhì)?！?/p>
“His is the great tent of cloth-of-gold, there where the din is loudest. He surrounds himself with godless men and monsters, worse than before. In him our father’s blood went bad.”
“還有我們母親的血。”站在娜伽的肋骨和灰海王大廳底下的這片圣地，維克塔利昂不愿提及弒親的話題，但許多個夜晚，他都夢見自己用鐵拳砸向攸倫微笑的臉，砸爛血肉，令對方變質(zhì)的鮮血噴涌而出。不行。我向巴隆立過誓。“都來了？”他問擔(dān)任牧師的弟弟。
“Our mother’s blood as well.” Victarion would not speak of kinslaying, here in this godly place beneath the bones of Nagga and the Grey King’s Hall, but many a night he dreamed of driving a mailed fist into Euron’s smiling face, until the flesh split and his bad blood ran red and free. I must not. I pledged my word to Balon. “All have come?” he asked his priestly brother.
“有地位的人都來了。所有的船長和頭領(lǐng)。”在鐵群島，船長與頭領(lǐng)是一回事，每個船長都必須是自己船上的國王，而每一個頭領(lǐng)都必須是船長?！澳闶莵砝^承兄長的王冠的嗎？”
“All who matter. The captains and the kings.” On the Iron Islands they were one and the same, for every captain was a king on his own deck, and every king must be a captain. “Do you mean to claim our father’s crown?”
維克塔利昂想象自己坐在海石之位上的模樣，“假如那是淹神的意旨的話。”
Victarion imagined himself seated on the Seastone Chair. “If the Drowned God wills it.”
“浪濤會傳達(dá)淹神的意旨，”濕發(fā)伊倫背轉(zhuǎn)身去，“仔細(xì)傾聽大海的聲音，哥哥?！?/p>
“The waves will speak,” said Aeron Damphair as he turned away. “Listen to the waves, brother.”
“是?！彼胂笞约旱拿纸?jīng)由海浪輕聲道出是什么樣，由船長們喊出又是什么樣。如果杯子傳到我手里，我不會推辭。
“Aye.” He wondered how his name would sound whispered by waves and shouted by the captains and the kings. If the cup should pass to me, I will not set it by.
人群在他四周聚集，祝他好運，企圖博取好感。每座島上的人都來了：布萊克泰斯、陶尼、奧克伍、斯通垂、溫奇，還有其他許多家族。老威克島的古柏勒，大威克島的古柏勒和橡島的古柏勒齊聚一堂。連考德家的人也在，盡管每個體面人都鄙視他們。次等的謝牧德家族、維紡家族或奈特立家族的人跟古老驕傲的世家成員肩并肩擠在一起，人群中甚至有卑微的漢博利家族，他們是奴工與鹽妾的后代。某位沃馬克家的人拍拍他肩膀，兩個斯帕家的人則將一袋酒塞入他手中。他深深啜飲，擦了擦嘴，讓人們簇?fù)碇鴣淼襟艋疬?，談?wù)搼?zhàn)爭、王冠和戰(zhàn)利品，談?wù)撛谒y(tǒng)治之下的榮耀與自由。
A crowd had gathered round to wish him well and seek his favor. Victarion saw men from every isle: Blacktydes, Tawneys, Orkwoods, Stonetrees, Wynches, and many more. The Goodbrothers of Old Wyk, the Goodbrothers of Great Wyk, and the Goodbrothers of Orkmont all had come. The Codds were there, though every decent man despised them. Humble Shepherds, Weavers, and Netleys rubbed shoulders with men from Houses ancient and proud; even humble Humbles, the blood of thralls and salt wives. A Volmark clapped Victarion on the back; two Sparrs pressed a wineskin into his hands. He drank deep, wiped his mouth, and let them bear him off to their cookfires, to listen to their talk of war and crowns and plunder, and the glory and the freedom of his reign.
當(dāng)晚，鐵艦隊的人們在潮線上搭起一座帆布大帳篷，好讓維克塔利昂用烤乳羊、腌鱈魚和龍蝦宴請數(shù)十位著名的船長。伊倫也來了，但他吃魚喝水，不若船長們大口灌下的麥酒似乎足以讓鐵艦隊漂浮起來。許多人一口答應(yīng)支持他：“強健的”弗拉萊格，“聰明的”艾文·夏普，“駝背”何索·哈爾洛——何索提出把女兒嫁給他當(dāng)王后?！拔覠o幸娶妻?！本S克塔利昂告訴他。他的元配死在產(chǎn)床上，留下一個死產(chǎn)的女兒，續(xù)弦妻染上麻疹，而第三任……
That night the men of the Iron Fleet raised a huge sailcloth tent above the tideline, so Victarion might feast half a hundred famous captains on roast kid, salted cod, and lobster. Aeron came as well. He ate fish and drank water, whilst the captains quaffed enough ale to float the Iron Fleet. Many promised him their voices: Fralegg the Strong, clever Alvyn Sharp, humpbacked Hotho Harlaw. Hotho offered him a daughter for his queen. “I have no luck with wives,” Victarion told him. His first wife died in childbed, giving him a stillborn daughter. His second had been stricken by a pox. And his third …
“國王必須有子嗣，”何索堅持，“鴉眼就帶來了三個兒子，準(zhǔn)備在選王會上展示?！?/p>
“A king must have an heir,” Hotho insisted. “The Crow’s Eye brings three sons to show before the kingsmoot.”
“一群混血雜種。你女兒究竟多大？”
“Bastards and mongrels. How old is this daughter?”
“十二歲，”何索說，“美麗豐饒，剛剛初潮，頭發(fā)是蜂蜜的顏色。她的胸脯現(xiàn)在還小，但臀部很好。她更像她母親，不像我。”
“Twelve,” said Hotho. “Fair and fertile, newly flowered, with hair the color of honey. Her breasts are small as yet, but she has good hips. She takes after her mother, more than me.”
維克塔利昂明白他的意思是指那女孩并非駝背。然而當(dāng)他想象她的模樣，看見的卻是被自己親手殺死的妻子。他一拳一拳地打她，自己卻一直在哭泣，事后他抱她走下海灘，放到巖石之間，將她交付給螃蟹?！凹用岷螅液軜芬庖娨娔桥??！彼f。何索最多也只敢期望這樣的回答，于是心滿意足地蹣跚著走開了。
Victarion knew that to mean the girl did not have a hump. Yet when he tried to picture her, he only saw the wife he’d killed. He had sobbed each time he struck her, and afterward carried her down to the rocks to give her to the crabs. “I will gladly look at the girl once I am crowned,” he said. That was as much as Hotho dared hope for, and he shambled off, content.
貝勒·布萊克泰斯更難滿足。他坐在維克塔利昂身邊，身穿羔羊毛黑綠皮紋外套，光滑的臉頗顯得幾分俊俏，黑貂皮披風(fēng)別了一顆銀制七芒星。由于在舊鎮(zhèn)當(dāng)過八年人質(zhì)，他回來時成了青綠之地七神的信徒?！鞍吐∈莻€瘋子，伊倫也是，而攸倫比他們兩個更瘋狂，”貝勒頭領(lǐng)評論，“你呢，總司令大人？如果我喊出你的名字，你會不會終止這場瘋狂的戰(zhàn)爭？”
Baelor Blacktyde was more difficult to please. He sat by Victarion’s elbow in his lambswool tunic of black-and-green vairy, smooth-faced and comely. His cloak was sable, and pinned with a silver seven-pointed star. He had been eight years a hostage in Oldtown, and had returned a worshiper of the seven green land gods. “Balon was mad, Aeron is madder, and Euron is maddest of them all,” Lord Baelor said. “What of you, Lord Captain? If I shout your name, will you make an end of this mad war?”
維克塔利昂皺起眉頭?！澳阋仪ハ鹿?？”
Victarion frowned. “Would you have me bend the knee?”
“假如有必要的話。聽著，我們無法對抗全維斯特洛——勞勃國王已經(jīng)證明了這點——那將是一場災(zāi)難。巴隆說愿意為了自由‘付鐵錢’，但結(jié)果呢？結(jié)果我們的女人用空床換來巴隆的王冠。我母親就是受害者之一，面對現(xiàn)實吧，古道已經(jīng)消逝，不會再回來了?！?/p>
“If need be. We cannot stand alone against all Westeros. King Robert proved that, to our grief. Balon would pay the iron price for freedom, he said, but our women bought Balon’s crowns with empty beds. My mother was one such. The Old Way is dead.”
“逝者不死，必將再起，其勢更烈。百年之后，人們將歌頌‘勇者’巴隆?！?/p>
“What is dead can never die, but rises harder and stronger. In a hundred years men will sing of Balon the Bold.”
“最好叫他‘寡婦制造者’。我寧愿用他的自由換回我的父親。你能給我嗎？”見維克塔利昂不答，布萊克泰斯哼了一聲，自行離開了。
“Balon the Widowmaker, call him. I will gladly trade his freedom for a father. Have you one to give me?” When Victarion did not answer, Blacktyde snorted and moved off.
帳篷里的溫度逐漸升高，煙霧騰騰。葛歐得·古柏勒的兩個兒子打架時撞翻了一張桌子；威爾·漢博利賭輸了，只好吃自己的靴子；小倫伍德·陶尼拉起提琴，而羅姆尼·維紡唱著《血杯》、《鐵雨》等古代掠奪者們的歌謠；“處女”科爾和艾德里德·考德要手指舞，當(dāng)艾德里德的一根手指落進(jìn)“跛子”拉弗的酒杯時，人群爆發(fā)出一陣哄笑。
The tent grew hot and smoky. Two of Gorold Goodbrother’s sons knocked a table over fighting; Will Humble lost a wager and had to eat his boot; Little Lenwood Tawney fiddled whilst Romny Weaver sang “The Bloody Cup” and “Steel Rain” and other old reaving songs. Qarl the Maid and Eldred Codd danced the finger dance. A roar of laughter went up when one of Eldred’s fingers landed in Ralf the Limper’s wine cup.
笑聲中有個女人。維克塔利昂霍地起身，看到她在帳篷的布簾邊，正湊在“處女”科爾的耳邊低語，使得對方也跟著大笑起來。他原本希望她不要愚蠢地闖進(jìn)他的大帳，然而見到她仍舊不自禁地露出幾絲微笑?！鞍⑸?，”他以威嚴(yán)的口吻喊道?！爸杜??！?/p>
A woman was amongst those laughing. Victarion rose and saw her by the tent flap, whispering something in the ear of Qarl the Maid that made him laugh as well. He had hoped she would not be fool enough to come here, yet the sight of her made him smile all the same. “Asha,” he called in a commanding voice. “Niece.”
她應(yīng)聲走到他身邊，精瘦柔韌的身材，腳踏浸透鹽漬的高筒皮靴，身穿綠羊毛馬褲，褐色加墊上衣，無袖緊身背心的索帶松開一半?！鞍⑹?，”阿莎·葛雷喬伊在女人中算是高個子，但她得踮起腳尖才能吻到他的臉頰，“很高興在我的女王會上看到你?！?/p>
She made her way to his side, lean and lithe in high boots of salt-stained leather, green woolen breeches, and brown quilted tunic, a sleeveless leather jerkin half-unlaced. “Nuncle.” Asha Greyjoy was tall for a woman, yet she had to stand on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I am pleased to see you at my queensmoot.”
“女王會？”維克塔利昂哈哈大笑，“你喝醉了嗎，侄女？坐下。我在海灘上沒看到你的黑風(fēng)號?！?/p>
“Queensmoot?” Victarion laughed. “Are you drunk, niece? Sit. I did not spy your Black Wind on the strand.”
“我將她停在紐恩·古柏勒的城堡下面，然后騎馬橫穿這座島?！彼桨宓噬?，問也沒問便徑自拿過“理發(fā)師”紐特的酒。紐特沒有抗議，他早已喝醉睡著了。“你留誰鎮(zhèn)守卡林灣？”
“I beached her beneath Norne Goodbrother’s castle and rode across the island.” She sat upon a stool and helped herself unasked to Nute the Barber’s wine. Nute raised no objection; he had passed out drunk some time ago. “Who holds the Moat?”
“拉弗·肯寧。少狼主死了之后，只剩下沼澤魔鬼騷擾我們?！?/p>
“Ralf Kenning. With the Young Wolf dead, only the bog devils remain to plague us.”
“史塔克家并非唯一的北方佬。鐵王座已任命恐怖堡領(lǐng)主為北境守護(hù)?！?/p>
“The Starks were not the only northmen. The Iron Throne has named the Lord of the Dreadfort as Warden of the North.”
“你要教我打仗？你吃奶的時候我就已經(jīng)上戰(zhàn)場了?！?/p>
“Would you lesson me in warfare? I was fighting battles when you were sucking mother’s milk.”
“而且打輸了?！卑⑸认乱豢诰啤?/p>
“And losing battles too.” Asha took a drink of wine.
維克塔利昂不喜歡別人提起仙女島的事，“每個人年輕時都應(yīng)該吃一次敗仗，以免老了以后再失敗。我希望，你不是來爭奪王位的吧？”
Victarion did not like to be reminded of Fair Isle. “Every man should lose a battle in his youth, so he does not lose a war when he is old. You have not come to make a claim, I hope.”
她以微笑揶揄他，“假如我是呢？”
She teased him with a smile. “And if I have?”
“很多人仍記得你小時候光著身子在海中游泳，記得你玩布娃娃?！?/p>
“There are men who remember when you were a little girl, swimming naked in the sea and playing with your doll.”
“我也玩斧頭?！?/p>
“I played with axes too.”
“沒錯?！彼坏貌怀姓J(rèn)，“但女人的歸屬是丈夫，不是王冠。等我當(dāng)上國王，會給你找一個。”
“You did,” he had to grant, “but a woman wants a husband, not a crown. When I am king I’ll give you one.”
“阿叔對我真好。等我成為女王，要不要給你找個漂亮老婆？”
“My nuncle is so good to me. Shall I find a pretty wife for you, when I am queen?”
“我無幸娶妻。你返回群島多長時間了？”
“I have no luck with wives. How long have you been here?”
“相當(dāng)長，足以發(fā)現(xiàn)濕發(fā)叔叔喚醒的比他最初設(shè)想的多得多。知道嗎？卓鼓家族企圖奪取王位，還有人聽‘三淹人’塔勒說馬倫·沃馬克才是黑心王真正的后嗣?！?/p>
“Long enough to see that Uncle Damphair has woken more than he intended. The Drumm means to make a claim, and Tarle the Thrice-Drowned was heard to say that Maron Volmark is the true heir of the black line.”
“瞎掰，國王必須在海怪家族中產(chǎn)生。”
“The king must be a kraken.”
“鴉眼正屬于海怪家族，而長兄優(yōu)先于幼弟?！卑⑸┥砜拷??！暗沂前吐醯挠H生骨肉，因此排在你們倆之前。聽我說，阿叔……”
“The Crow’s Eye is a kraken. The elder brother comes before the younger.” Asha leaned close. “But I am the child of King Balon’s body, so I come before you both. Hear me, nuncle …”
沉默突然降臨。歌聲消失了，小倫伍德·陶尼放下提琴，人們紛紛轉(zhuǎn)過頭去。甚至匕首和盤子相碰的嗒嗒聲也平息下來。
But then a sudden silence fell. The singing died, Little Lenwood Tawney lowered his fiddle, men turned their heads. Even the clatter of plates and knives was hushed.
十幾個新來的人走進(jìn)宴會帳篷。維克塔利昂看到“長臉”瓊恩·密瑞，“褐牙”托沃德，“左手”盧卡斯·考德，吉蒙德·波特利雙臂環(huán)抱在鍍金胸甲前——那是巴隆第一次起兵期間，他從一個蘭尼斯特船長身上扒下來的——橡島的奧克伍站在他身旁。后面是“石手”、科倫·漢博利，火紅的頭發(fā)編成一根根辮子的“紅槳手”，“牧羊人”拉弗，君王港的拉弗，以及“奴工”科爾。
A dozen newcomers had entered the feast tent. Victarion saw Pinchface Jon Myre, Torwold Browntooth, Left-Hand Lucas Codd. Germund Botley crossed his arms against the gilded breastplate he had taken off a Lannister captain during Balon’s first rebellion. Orkwood of Orkmont stood beside him. Behind them were Stonehand, Quellon Humble, and the Red Oarsman with his fiery hair in braids. Ralf the Shepherd too, and Ralf of Lordsport, and Qarl the Thrall.
還有鴉眼，攸倫·葛雷喬伊。
And the Crow’s Eye, Euron Greyjoy.
他看上去一點沒變，維克塔利昂心想，他看上去跟嘲笑我之后離開那天一模一樣。攸倫的長相在科倫大王幾個兒子中最為英俊，三年的流放生活并沒改變這點。他的頭發(fā)仍如午夜汪洋般漆黑，沒有一根白絲，而他的臉依然平整白皙，留著整潔的黑胡子。一片黑皮革遮住攸倫的左眼，但他的右眼像盛夏的天空一樣湛藍(lán)。
He looks unchanged, Victarion thought. He looks the same as he did the day he laughed at me and left. Euron was the most comely of Lord Quellon’s sons, and three years of exile had not changed that. His hair was still black as a midnight sea, with never a whitecap to be seen, and his face was still smooth and pale beneath his neat dark beard. A black leather patch covered Euron’s left eye, but his right was blue as a summer sky.
他那只微笑的眼睛，維克塔利昂心想。“鴉眼?！彼泻?。
His smiling eye, thought Victarion. “Crow’s Eye,” he said.
“是鴉眼國王，弟弟?！必鼈愇⑿Φ?。他的嘴唇在燈光下又黑又藍(lán)，好似淤青。
“King Crow’s Eye, brother.” Euron smiled. His lips looked very dark in the lamplight, bruised and blue.
“選王會才能決定誰是國王，”濕發(fā)站起來，“而不敬神的人將永不能——”
“We shall have no king but from the kingsmoot.” The Damphair stood. “No godless man—”
“——坐上海石之位。說得好?！必鼈惌h(huán)視帳內(nèi)?！扒傻氖亲罱姨焯熳诤Ｊ簧?，卻沒人提出異議?！彼侵晃⑿Φ难劬q爍閃光。“瞧，有誰比我更了解神靈呢？馬神，火神，鑲寶石眼睛的黃金神，雪松木雕的神，刻在山巖上的神，沒有形體的神……我通通知道。我見到人們向他們獻(xiàn)花，以他們的名義宰殺山羊、公牛和兒童。我聽到人們用幾十種不同的語言祈禱：治愈我萎縮的腿，讓那位處女愛上我，給我一個健康的兒子……保護(hù)我！保護(hù)我免遭敵人的傷害，保護(hù)我免受黑暗的侵襲，保護(hù)我，在馬王、雇傭兵、奴隸販子和我肚子里的螃蟹面前保護(hù)我！保護(hù)我免受寧靜號的掠奪。”他狂笑不止。“不敬神？天哪，伊倫，我是世上最最敬神的水手！你侍奉的只是一個神，濕發(fā)，但我侍奉著成千上萬個神。從伊班到亞夏，無論是誰，看見我的船帆就會祈禱。”
“—may sit the Seastone Chair, aye.” Euron glanced about the tent. “As it happens I have oft sat upon the Seastone Chair of late. It raises no objections.” His smiling eye was glittering. “Who knows more of gods than I? Horse gods and fire gods, gods made of gold with gemstone eyes, gods carved of cedar wood, gods chiseled into mountains, gods of empty air … I know them all. I have seen their peoples garland them with flowers, and shed the blood of goats and bulls and children in their names. And I have heard the prayers, in half a hundred tongues. Cure my withered leg, make the maiden love me, grant me a healthy son. Save me, succor me, make me wealthy … protect me! Protect me from mine enemies, protect me from the darkness, protect me from the crabs inside my belly, from the horselords, from the slavers, from the sellswords at my door. Protect me from the Silence.” He laughed. “Godless? Why, Aeron, I am the godliest man ever to raise sail! You serve one god, Damphair, but I have served ten thousand. From Ib to Asshai, when men see my sails, they pray.”
牧師伸出一根瘦骨嶙岣的手指，“他們向樹木，黃金做的偶像和羊頭怪物祈禱。那些是虛偽的神……”
The priest raised a bony finger. “They pray to trees and golden idols and goat-headed abominations. False gods …”
“就是這樣，”攸倫說，“為這不敬神的罪惡，我把他們殺光了。我讓他們血灑大海，然后把自己的種子播進(jìn)他們哭叫著的女人體內(nèi)。你說得對，他們那些微不足道的、虛偽的神無法阻止我，你瞧瞧，我比你更虔誠，伊倫?；蛟S你應(yīng)該跪下向我祈福?！?/p>
“Just so,” said Euron, “and for that sin I kill them all. I spill their blood upon the sea and sow their screaming women with my seed. Their little gods cannot stop me, so plainly they are false gods. I am more devout than even you, Aeron. Perhaps it should be you who kneels to me for blessing.”
“紅槳手”縱聲長笑，其余人也跟著笑。
The Red Oarsman laughed loudly at that, and the others took their lead from him.
“傻瓜，”牧師說，“一群傻瓜、惡仆和瞎子。你們就看不清站在你們面前的是個什么東西嗎？”
“Fools,” said the priest, “fools and thralls and blind men, that is what you are. Do you not see what stands before you?”
“是國王?！笨苽悺h博利說。
“A king,” said Quellon Humble.
濕發(fā)啐了一口，大步踏入夜色之中。
The Damphair spat, and strode out into the night.
等他走后，鴉眼將微笑的眼睛轉(zhuǎn)向維克塔利昂，“司令大人，你不向許久不見的哥哥問好？還有你，阿莎？你母親還好嗎？”
When he was gone, the Crow’s Eye turned his smiling eye upon Victarion. “Lord Captain, have you no greeting for a brother long away? Nor you, Asha? How fares your lady mother?”
“不好，”阿莎說，“有人讓她做了寡婦。”
“Poorly,” Asha said. “Some man made her a widow.”
攸倫聳聳肩，“我只聽說風(fēng)暴之神卷走了巴隆。他是誰殺的？告訴我，侄女，我會親自替他復(fù)仇?！?/p>
Euron shrugged. “I had heard the Storm God swept Balon to his death. Who is this man who slew him? Tell me his name, niece, so I might revenge myself on him.”
阿莎也站起身，“這個人的名字你跟我一樣清楚。你離開了三年，然而我父親大人去世才一天，寧靜號就回來了?！?/p>
Asha got to her feet. “You know his name as well as I. Three years you were gone from us, and yet Silence returns within a day of my lord father’s death.”
“你是在指控我嗎？”攸倫和藹地問。
“Do you accuse me?” Euron asked mildly.
“我需要指控你嗎？”阿莎尖銳的語氣令維克塔利昂皺眉。如此對鴉眼講話很危險，即便他的眼睛仍在微笑，仍然興味盎然地閃爍著。
“Should I?” The sharpness in Asha’s voice made Victarion frown. It was dangerous to speak so to the Crow’s Eye, even when his smiling eye was shining with amusement.
“我能操控風(fēng)向？”鴉眼詢問他的黨羽。
“Do I command the winds?” the Crow’s Eye asked his pets.
“不能，陛下。”橡島的奧克伍說。
“No, Your Grace,” said Orkwood of Orkmont.
“沒人能控制風(fēng)?！奔傻隆げㄌ乩馈?/p>
“No man commands the winds,” said Germund Botley.
“若是您能就好了，”“紅槳手”道，“想去哪里就去哪里，永不停航?！?/p>
“Would that you did,” the Red Oarsman said. “You would sail wherever you liked and never be becalmed.”
“你聽到了吧，這是三位勇士的證詞，”攸倫說，“巴隆去世時，寧靜號正在海上。你若不相信叔叔的話，叔叔準(zhǔn)許你詢問船員?！?/p>
“There you have it, from the mouths of three brave men,” Euron said. “The Silence was at sea when Balon died. If you doubt an uncle’s word, I give you leave to ask my crew.”
“詢問一群啞巴？天啊，真他媽管用?！?/p>
“A crew of mutes? Aye, that would serve me well.”
“你應(yīng)該找個管用的丈夫?！必鼈愒俅无D(zhuǎn)向他的追隨者們。“托沃德，我忘了，你有老婆嗎？”
“A husband would serve you well.” Euron turned to his followers again. “Torwold, I misremember, do you have a wife?”
“只有一個?！薄昂盅馈蓖形值逻肿煲恍?，揭示出他的外號由何而來。
“Only the one.” Torwold Browntooth grinned, and showed how he had won his name.
“我還沒結(jié)婚?！薄白笫帧北R卡斯·考德宣布。
“I am unwed,” announced Left-Hand Lucas Codd.
“那是有理由的，”阿莎說，“女人們也鄙視考德家族。別那么傷心地看著我，盧卡斯，你還有一只手嘛?！彼氖治粘晒軤钋昂笕鋭?。
“And for good reason,” Asha said. “All women do despise the Codds as well. Don’t look at me so mournful, Lucas. You still have your famous hand.” She made a pumping motion with her fist.
考德咒罵起來，鴉眼用一只手抵住他胸口，“這就是你的禮貌嗎，阿莎？取笑盧卡斯的缺陷？”
Codd cursed, till the Crow’s Eye put a hand upon his chest. “Was that courteous, Asha? You have wounded Lucas to the quick.”
“缺陷？哼，都怪我，我沒法把他的小雞雞剁下來，一勞永逸地幫上忙。論扔斧子，我不比任何男人差，但目標(biāo)這么小……”
“Easier than wounding him in the prick. I throw an axe as well as any man, but when the target is so small …”
“這女孩簡直忘了自己的身份，”“長臉”瓊恩·彌瑞吼道，“巴隆讓她以為自己是男人——”
“This girl forgets herself,” snarled Pinchface Jon Myre. “Balon let her believe she was a man.”
“對你，你父親也犯了同樣的錯誤?！卑⑸f。
“Your father made the same mistake with you,” said Asha.
“把她交給我，攸倫，”“紅槳手”提議，“讓我打她幾頓屁股，打得跟我的頭發(fā)一樣紅。”
“Give her to me, Euron,” suggested the Red Oarsman. “I’ll spank her till her arse is as red as my hair.”
“來試試看，”阿莎說，“不怕當(dāng)‘紅太監(jiān)’的話就試試看?！彼种泻鋈怀霈F(xiàn)了一把飛斧。她將它拋到空中，然后靈巧地接住?！斑@就是我的丈夫，阿叔，誰想要我，先過他這關(guān)?！?/p>
“Come try,” said Asha, “and hereafter we can call you the Red Eunuch.” A throwing axe was in her hand. She tossed it in the air and caught it deftly. “Here is my husband, Nuncle. Any man who wants me should take it up with him.”
維克塔利昂一拳砸在桌子上?！拔也辉试S在這里發(fā)生流血事件。攸倫，帶著你的……狐朋狗黨……離開。”
Victarion slammed his fist upon the table. “I’ll have no blood shed here. Euron, take your … pets … and go.”
“我本來期待得到你更熱情的歡迎，弟弟。我比你年長……很快就是你法定的國王了?！?/p>
“I had looked for a warmer welcome from you, brother. I am your elder … and soon, your rightful king.”
維克塔利昂的臉沉下來?！斑x王會召開后，我們來看看誰將戴上浮木王冠?！?/p>
Victarion’s face darkened. “When the kingsmoot speaks, we shall see who wears the driftwood crown.”
“這點我們意見一致。”攸倫伸出兩根手指碰碰左眼上的眼罩，告辭離去。其他人像群雜種狗一樣緊跟著他。他們走后，一片沉默，直到小倫伍德·陶尼繼續(xù)拉起提琴，人們才又開始暢飲葡萄酒與麥酒，但許多賓客已然失去了胃口。艾德里德·考德抱著血淋淋的手首先溜了出去，接著是威爾·漢博利，何索·哈爾洛，以及好幾個古柏勒。
“On that we can agree.” Euron lifted two fingers to the patch that covered his left eye, and took his leave. The others followed at his heels like mongrel dogs. Silence lingered behind them, till Little Lenwood Tawney took up his fiddle. The wine and ale began to flow again, but several guests had lost their thirst. Eldred Codd slipped out, cradling his bloody hand. Then Will Humble, Hotho Harlaw, a goodly lot of Goodbrothers.
“阿叔。”阿莎將一只手搭到他肩膀上，“跟我一起走走，要是你愿意的話?！?/p>
“Nuncle.” Asha put a hand upon his shoulder. “Walk with me, if you would.”
帳外起風(fēng)了。云層掠過月亮蒼白的臉，猶如戰(zhàn)艦，競相奮力沖刺，達(dá)到撞錘速度。星星稀少而黯淡。無數(shù)長船沿海灘停歇，桅桿高聳，仿佛岸邊的森林。維克塔利昂聽見擱在沙灘上的船殼發(fā)出吱吱嘎嘎的聲響，船上的繩索在風(fēng)中嗚咽，旗幟獵獵飄蕩。遠(yuǎn)處深水海灣里，停泊的大船上下?lián)u晃，霧氣繚繞中只能看見陰沉沉的影子。
Outside the tent the wind was rising. Clouds raced across the moon’s pale face. They looked a bit like galleys, stroking hard to ram. The stars were few and faint. All along the strand the longships rested, tall masts rising like a forest from the surf. Victarion could hear their hulls creaking as they settled on the sand. He heard the keening of their lines, the sound of banners flapping. Beyond, in the deeper waters of the bay, larger ships bobbed at anchor, grim shadows wreathed in mist.
他們沿海岸行走，行在潮線邊，遠(yuǎn)離營地與篝火?！案嬖V我實情，阿叔，”阿莎道，“為何攸倫走得如此突兀？”
They walked along the strand together just above the surf, far from the camps and the cookfires. “Tell me true, nuncle,” Asha said, “why did Euron go away so suddenly?”
“鴉眼經(jīng)常出去打劫。”
“The Crow’s Eye oft went reaving.”
“但從沒離開那么久。”
“Never for so long.”
“他駕駛寧靜號去了東方，那是一段漫長的航程。”
“He took the Silence east. A lengthy voyage.”
“我問的是他為什么離開，不是他去了哪里。”見他不答，阿莎續(xù)道，“寧靜號起航時我不在，我率黑風(fēng)號繞過青亭島，前往石階列島，去跟里斯海盜競爭。當(dāng)我回家，攸倫已經(jīng)離開，而你的新婚妻子卻死了?！?/p>
“I asked why he went, not where.” When he did not answer, Asha said, “I was away when Silence sailed. I had taken Black Wind around the Arbor to the Stepstones, to steal a few trinkets from the Lyseni pirates. When I came home, Euron was gone and your new wife was dead.”
“她只是個鹽妾?！钡詮膶⑺桓督o螃蟹之后，他沒碰過別的女人。等當(dāng)上國王，我必須娶妻。娶一個真正的巖妻，做我的王后，為我生子。國王必須有子嗣。
“She was only a salt wife.” He had not touched another woman since he gave her to the crabs. I will need to take a wife when I am king. A true wife, to be my queen and bear me sons. A king must have an heir.
“我父親拒絕提起她。”阿莎說。
“My father refused to speak of her,” said Asha.
“提那些無可挽回的事毫無益處?！彼麑@個話題感到厭煩，“我看見了‘讀書人’的長船?！?/p>
“It does no good to speak of things no man can change.” He was weary of the subject. “I saw the Reader’s longship.”
“我施盡渾身解數(shù)才把他拉出藏書塔?！?/p>
“It took all my charm to winkle him out of his Book Tower.”
那么，她至少獲得了哈爾洛家族的支持。維克塔利昂的眉頭越皺越緊?！澳悴豢赡芙y(tǒng)治鐵群島。你是個女人?！?/p>
She has the Harlaws, then. Victarion’s frown grew deeper. “You cannot hope to rule. You are a woman.”
“原來鐵島之王是比賽撒尿決出的？”阿莎大笑，“阿叔，聽你這么說我很難過，不過你也許是對的。我跟船長和頭領(lǐng)們喝了四天四夜的酒，傾聽他們說的話……還有他們不愿意講出口的東西。我的手下堅定地支持我，外加許多哈爾洛家的人，我還得到了特里斯·波特利，以及其他少數(shù)人的支持。但這不夠，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不夠?！彼咂鹨粔K巖石，濺入兩艘長船之間的水中?！拔铱紤]呼喊阿叔的名字。”
“Is that why I always lose the pissing contests?” Asha laughed. “Nuncle, it grieves me to say so, but you may be right. For four days and four nights, I have been drinking with the captains and the kings, listening to what they say … and what they will not say. Mine own are with me, and many Harlaws. I have Tris Botley too, and some few others. Not enough.” She kicked a rock, and sent it splashing into the water between two longships. “I am of a mind to shout my nuncle’s name.”
“哪一個？”他問，“你有三個叔叔。”
“Which uncle?” he demanded. “You have three.”
“加上舅舅一共四個。阿叔，聽我說，我會親自把浮木王冠戴到你頭上……只要你同意跟我共治?！?/p>
“Four. Nuncle, hear me. I will place the driftwood crown upon your brow myself … if you will agree to share the rule.”
“共治？那怎么可能？”這女人什么意思？她想當(dāng)我的王后？維克塔利昂發(fā)現(xiàn)自己以一種前所未過的方式看待阿莎，命根子也隨之變硬。她是巴隆的女兒，他提醒自己，他還記得她小時候朝一扇門反復(fù)扔斧子。于是他雙臂環(huán)抱胸前，“海石之位上只能坐一人。”
“Share the rule? How could that be?” The woman was not making sense. Does she want to be my queen? Victarion found himself looking at Asha in a way he had never looked at her before. He could feel his manhood beginning to stiffen. She is Balon’s daughter, he reminded himself. He remembered her as a little girl, throwing axes at a door. He crossed his arms against his chest. “The Seastone Chair seats but one.”
“那就阿叔坐吧，”阿莎說，“我站在你身后，警衛(wèi)你的后背，并在你耳邊低語諫言。沒有哪個國王能獨自統(tǒng)治，即使是鐵王座上的龍王也需要有人輔佐。國王之手。任命我為你的國王之手，阿叔?！?/p>
“Then let my nuncle sit,” Asha said. “I will stand behind you, to guard your back and whisper in your ear. No king can rule alone. Even when the dragons sat the Iron Throne, they had men to help them. The King’s Hands. Let me be your Hand, Nuncle.”
鐵群島之王從不需要國王之手，遑論女人了。船長和頭領(lǐng)們醉酒時會笑死我的?！爱?dāng)我的國王之手？你想干什么？”
No King of the Isles had ever needed a Hand, much less one who was a woman. The captains and the kings would mock me in their cups. “Why would you wish to be my Hand?”
“終結(jié)這場戰(zhàn)爭，以免被戰(zhàn)爭所終結(jié)。我們已經(jīng)贏得了一切能贏得的東西……若不見好就收，轉(zhuǎn)眼間，所有戰(zhàn)利品都可能化為烏有。我對葛洛佛夫人極盡禮數(shù)，她發(fā)誓她的夫君會跟我們講和，倘若我們交還深林堡、托倫方城和卡林灣，她保證北方人將割讓海龍角和整個磐石海岸。那里雖然地廣人稀，卻比整個鐵群島加起來還大十倍。和約締結(jié)時將交換人質(zhì)，從此雙方互為犄角，以防鐵王座干涉——”
“To end this war before this war ends us. We have won all that we are like to win … and stand to lose all just as quick, unless we make a peace. I have shown Lady Glover every courtesy, and she swears her lord will treat with me. If we hand back Deepwood Motte, Torrhen’s Square, and Moat Cailin, she says, the northmen will cede us Sea Dragon Point and all the Stony Shore. Those lands are thinly peopled, yet ten times larger than all the isles put together. An exchange of hostages will seal the pact, and each side will agree to make common cause with the other should the Iron Throne—”
維克塔利昂啞然失笑，“這個葛洛佛夫人把你當(dāng)白癡耍，侄女。海龍角和磐石海岸已在我們手中，換什么換呢？臨冬城燃燒焚毀，化為灰燼，少狼主丟了腦袋，腐爛成泥。我們即將占有整個北境，正如你父親大人夢想的那樣?！?/p>
Victarion chuckled. “This Lady Glover plays you for a fool, niece. Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore are ours. Why hand back anything? Winterfell is burnt and broken, and the Young Wolf rots headless in the earth. We will have all the north, as your lord father dreamed.”
“等到長船能在森林里行駛的那天，你的話才能成為現(xiàn)實。聽著，一個漁夫或許能釣到灰色海怪，但他若不割斷繩線，就會被拖進(jìn)海底。北境實在太大，又住滿了仇視我們的北方人，我們無法控制?！?/p>
“When longships learn to row through trees, perhaps. A fisherman may hook a grey leviathan, but it will drag him down to death unless he cuts it loose. The north is too large for us to hold, and too full of northmen.”
“回去玩你的布娃娃吧，侄女，讓戰(zhàn)士們來贏取勝利。”維克塔利昂給她看看自己的拳頭?！拔业膬芍皇挚墒峭旰脽o缺，不多也不少?！?/p>
“Go back to your dolls, niece. Leave the winning of wars to warriors.” Victarion showed her his fists. “I have two hands. No man needs three.”
“有個人需要哈爾洛家族?！?/p>
“I know a man who needs House Harlaw, though.”
“駝背何索提出把女兒嫁給我當(dāng)王后。只要我答應(yīng)，便擁有了哈爾洛家族?！?/p>
“Hotho Humpback has offered me his daughter for my queen. If I take her, I will have the Harlaws.”
這話似乎讓那女孩吃了一驚，“哈爾洛家族屬于羅德利克大人?！?/p>
That took the girl aback. “Lord Rodrik rules House Harlaw.”
“羅德利克沒有女兒，只有書籍。何索將成為他的繼承人，而我將成為國王?！贝舐曋v出來，這話顯得很真實?！傍f眼離開得太久了?！?/p>
“Rodrik has no daughters, only books. Hotho will be his heir, and I will be the king.” Once he had said the words aloud, they sounded true. “The Crow’s Eye has been too long away.”
“有的人離得越遠(yuǎn)便顯得越可怕，”阿莎警告，“有膽你就去篝火間走走、聽聽。人們講的故事中既沒提及你的力量，也沒贊美我的美貌。他們談?wù)摰闹挥续f眼，談?wù)撍娮R的遠(yuǎn)方土地，談?wù)撍麖姳┻^的女子，談?wù)撍麣⑺赖哪腥耍務(wù)摫凰唇俚某鞘?，談?wù)撍谔m尼斯港焚燒泰溫公爵艦隊的手段……”
“Some men look larger at a distance,” Asha warned. “Walk amongst the cookfires if you dare, and listen. They are not telling tales of your strength, nor of my famous beauty. They talk only of the Crow’s Eye; the far places he has seen, the women he has raped and the men he’s killed, the cities he has sacked, the way he burnt Lord Tywin’s fleet at Lannisport …”
“獅子的艦隊是我燒的，”維克塔利昂強調(diào)，“我親手將第一支火炬扔上他的旗艦?！?/p>
“I burnt the lion’s fleet,” Victarion insisted. “With mine own hands I flung the first torch onto his flagship.”
“但整個計劃由鴉眼制訂?！卑⑸咽执钌纤觳病！八麣⒘四闫拮印瓕幔俊?/p>
“The Crow’s Eye hatched the scheme.” Asha put her hand upon his arm. “And killed your wife as well … did he not?”
巴隆嚴(yán)令不準(zhǔn)提及此事，但巴隆已死?！八屗龖蚜撕⒆?，我不得不下手。我也想殺了他，可巴隆不準(zhǔn)在自家廳堂里發(fā)生弒親行為。他放逐了攸倫，永遠(yuǎn)不準(zhǔn)回來……”
Balon had commanded them not to speak of it, but Balon was dead. “He put a baby in her belly and made me do the killing. I would have killed him too, but Balon would have no kinslaying in his hall. He sent Euron into exile, never to return …”
“……只要巴隆活著？”
“… so long as Balon lived?”
維克塔利昂望向自己的拳頭?！八o我戴綠帽子。我別無選擇?！毕鞒鋈?，人們會笑話我，就像我跟鴉眼對質(zhì)時，他嘲笑我那樣?！八切母是樵傅模莾簼竦靡?，”他炫耀道，“看來，咱們的維克塔利昂渾身上下都高大，除了最關(guān)鍵的地方?！钡荒芨嬖V她這些。
Victarion looked at his fists. “She gave me horns. I had no choice.” Had it been known, men would have laughed at me, as the Crow’s Eye laughed when I confronted him. “She came to me wet and willing,” he had boasted. “It seems Victarion is big everywhere but where it matters.” But he could not tell her that.
“我為你難過，”阿莎說，“更為她難過……可惜，你也讓我別無選擇，只能靠自己的力量去奪取海石之位?！?/p>
“I am sorry for you,” said Asha, “and sorrier for her … but you leave me small choice but to claim the Seastone Chair myself.”
你辦不到?！澳阋速M口舌是你自己的事，女人?！?/p>
You cannot. “Your breath is yours to waste, woman.”
“我們走著瞧吧，”她說，然后離開了他。
“It is,” she said, and left him.
