CATELYN

凱特琳

?? We will make King’s Landing within thehour.”

“一個小時之內(nèi)，咱們便到君臨啦！”

?? Catelyn turned away from the rail and forcedherself to smile. “Your oarmen have done well by us, Captain. Each one of themshall have a silver stag, as a token of my gratitude.”

　凱特琳從桅欄處轉(zhuǎn)過頭，強作歡顏道：“船長先生，您的水手表現(xiàn)得非常稱職，我要給他們每人一枚銀鹿，以表達我的感激?！?/p>

?? Captain Moreo Turnitis favored her with ahalf bow. “You are far too generous, Lady Stark. The honor of carrying a greatlady like yourself is all the reward they need.”

莫里歐·圖密提斯船長半鞠躬答謝道：“史塔克夫人，您實在是太慷慨了。有幸為您這樣的官家夫人服務(wù)，就是最好的報酬。”

?? “But they’ll take the silver anyway.”

“我總是要給他們的。”

?? Moreo smiled. “As you say.” He spoke theCommon Tongue fluently, with only the slightest hint of a Tyroshi accent. He’dbeen plying the narrow sea for thirty years, he’d told her, as oarman,quartermaster, and finally captain of his own trading galleys. The Storm Dancerwas his fourth ship, and his fastest, a two-masted galley of sixty oars.

莫里歐微笑：“那就恭敬不如從命?！彼耐ㄓ谜Z講得十分流利，只帶極輕微的泰洛西口音。他在狹海上討生活已足足有三十年，據(jù)他所說，他最初只是個劃槳的水手，繼而當(dāng)上大副，最后才終于有了自己的商船隊。雙桅帆船“暴風(fēng)舞者號”是他的第四艘船，共有六十條槳、兩根桅桿，也是他最快的一艘。

?? She had certainly been the fastest of theships available in White Harbor when Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel had arrivedafter their headlong gallop downriver. The Tyroshi were notorious for theiravarice, and Ser Rodrik had argued for hiring a fishing sloop out of the ThreeSisters, but Catelyn had insisted on the galley. It was good that she had. Thewinds had been against them much of the voyage, and without the galley’s oarsthey’d still be beating their way past the Fingers, instead of skimming towardKing’s Landing and journey’s end.

至少當(dāng)凱特琳和羅德利克·凱索爵士馬不停蹄地順流奔波，抵達白港的時候，她是港灣里最快的一艘。泰洛西人的貪婪惡名遠播，羅德利克爵士原本主張雇艘無槳單桅漁船出三姐妹群島，然而凱特琳堅持要這艘大帆船。這是個明智的選擇。一路上，風(fēng)向都與他們作對，倘若沒有這些劃槳好手，恐怕他們現(xiàn)在還在五指半島掙扎，遑論駛向旅程的終點君臨了。

?? So close, she thought. Beneath the linenbandages, her fingers still throbbed where the dagger had bitten. The pain washer scourge, Catelyn felt, lest she forget. She could not bend the last twofingers on her left hand, and the others would never again be dexterous. Yetthat was a small enough price to pay for Bran’s life.

就快到了啊，她心想。包扎在棉布繃帶中的手指上，被匕首割傷的地方仍在隱隱作痛，凱特琳覺得，痛楚是在提醒她別忘記發(fā)生過的事。她左手的小指和無名指沒法彎曲，而其他三根手指也永遠不可能恢復(fù)靈活動作。然而，若能換得布蘭性命，這算得了什么？

?? Ser Rodrik chose that moment to appear ondeck. “My good friend,” said Moreo through his forked green beard. The Tyroshiloved bright colors, even in their facial hair. “It is so fine to see youlooking better.”

這時羅德利克爵士走上甲板?！拔业暮门笥寻?，”一臉分岔綠胡子的莫里歐說。泰洛西人熱愛各種鮮明色彩，連他們的胡須睫毛都不放過。“看到你氣色好多了，真替你高興?！?/p>

?? “Yes,” Ser Rodrik agreed. “I haven’t wantedto die for almost two days now.” He bowed to Catelyn. “My lady.”

“哦，”羅德利克附和?！斑@兩天我的確舒服了點，不會那么想尋短見了?！闭f完他向凱特琳鞠躬?！胺蛉四??！?/p>

?? He was looking better. A shade thinner thanhe had been when they set out from White Harbor, but almost himself again. Thestrong winds in the Bite and the roughness of the narrow sea had not agreedwith him, and he’d almost gone over the side when the storm seized themunexpectedly off Dragonstone, yet somehow he had clung to a rope until three ofMoreo’s men could rescue him and carry him safely below decks.

他的氣色真的好多了，雖然比起他們自白港啟程時，整個人瘦了一小圈，但差不多恢復(fù)了原有的神采。他適應(yīng)不了咬人灣的勁風(fēng)和狹海的猛浪，行經(jīng)龍石島時暴風(fēng)驟臨，他還差點落海，總算是死命抓住一根纜繩，三名莫里歐手下的水手才把他安然救回船艙。

?? “The captain was just telling me that ourvoyage is almost at an end,” she said.

“船長剛才說，我們的旅程快結(jié)束了?！彼f。

?? Ser Rodrik managed a wry smile. “So soon?”He looked odd without his great white side whiskers; smaller somehow, lessfierce, and ten years older. Yet back on the Bite it had seemed prudent tosubmit to a crewman’s razor, after his whiskers had become hopelessly befouledfor the third time while he leaned over the rail and retched into the swirlingwinds.

羅德利克爵士勉強擠出一絲笑容?！斑@么快？”少了雪白的鬢角和胡須，他看起來有些不對勁，仿佛突然間老了十歲，個頭變小，往日的威猛也不復(fù)見。這是沒辦法的事，途經(jīng)嚙咬灣時，他趴在桅欄邊朝狂風(fēng)中吐個不休，到得第三次，胡子已經(jīng)臟得無可救藥，只好乖乖讓水手用剃刀把胡子理干凈。

?? “I will leave you to discuss your business,”Captain Moreo said. He bowed and took his leave of them.

“你們談?wù)?，我不打擾了。”莫里歐說完鞠躬離去。

?? The galley skimmed the water like adragonfly, her oars rising and falling in perfect time. Ser Rodrik held therail and looked out over the passing shore. “I have not been the most valiantof protectors.”

帆船像蜻蜓般在水面漂浮，槳葉整齊劃一地起起落落。羅德利克爵士拉住欄桿，朝飛馳的陸地遠眺?！拔覍嵲诓皇莻€稱職的護衛(wèi)?！?/p>

?? Catelyn touched his arm. “We are here, SerRodrik, and safely. That is all that truly matters.” Her hand groped beneathher cloak, her fingers stiff and fumbling. The dagger was still at her side.She found she had to touch it now and then, to reassure herself. “Now we mustreach the king’s master-at-arms, and pray that he can be trusted.”

凱特琳拍拍他的臂膀，“羅德利克爵士，我們安然抵達了目的地，這樣就夠了?！彼牧硪恢皇衷诙放竦紫旅?，指頭僵硬而笨拙。匕首依然在腰際，她發(fā)現(xiàn)自己必須不時碰觸它才能安心?！敖酉聛砦覀儽闳フ覈醯慕填^，諸神保佑，希望他值得信賴?！?/p>

?? “Ser Aron Santagar is a vain man, but anhonest one.” Ser Rodrik’s hand went to his face to stroke his whiskers anddiscovered once again that they were gone. He looked nonplussed. “He may knowthe blade, yes?.?.?.?but, my lady, the moment we go ashore we are at risk. Andthere are those at court who will know you on sight.”

“艾倫·桑塔加爵士人雖然虛榮了點，卻非常正直。”羅德利克爵士伸手欲捻胡須，卻撲了個空。他有些不知所措地說：“他很可能認(rèn)得出那把刀……?？墒欠蛉?，上岸之后，我們便有暴露身份的危險，更何況宮中有人一眼就可認(rèn)出您?！?/p>

?? Catelyn’s mouth grew tight. “Littlefinger,”she murmured. His face swam up before her; a boy’s face, though he was a boy nolonger. His father had died several years before, so he was Lord Baelish now,yet still they called him Littlefinger. Her brother Edmure had given him thatname, long ago at Riverrun. His family’s modest holdings were on the smallestof the Fingers, and Petyr had been slight and short for his age.

凱特琳抿緊嘴唇?！靶≈割^，”她喃喃道。他的臉浮現(xiàn)在她眼前，一張男孩子的臉，然而他早已不是個孩子了。他的父親幾年前剛過世，如今他是貝里席伯爵，但大家仍喚他作小指頭。這綽號是她弟弟艾德慕很久以前在奔流城幫他取的，起因是他家族封地狹小，且位于五指半島中最小的半島上，而培提爾在同齡孩子間又特別瘦小的緣故。

?? Ser Rodrik cleared his throat. “Lord Baelishonce, ah?.?.?.?” His thought trailed off uncertainly in search of the politeword.

羅德利克爵士清清喉嚨。“貝里席大人以前是，呃……”他結(jié)結(jié)巴巴，試圖找出比較禮貌的用詞。

?? Catelyn was past delicacy. “He was myfather’s ward. We grew up together in Riverrun. I thought of him as a brother,but his feelings for me were?.?.?.?more than brotherly. When it was announcedthat I was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged for the right to my hand. Itwas madness. Brandon was twenty, Petyr scarcely fifteen. I had to beg Brandonto spare Petyr’s life. He let him off with a scar. Afterward my father sent himaway. I have not seen him since.” She lifted her face to the spray, as if thebrisk wind could blow the memories away. “He wrote to me at Riverrun afterBrandon was killed, but I burned the letter unread. By then I knew that Nedwould marry me in his brother’s place.”

凱特琳顧不得什么稱謂?！八俏腋赣H的養(yǎng)子，我們在奔流城一起長大。我視他為兄弟，但他卻……不只把我當(dāng)成姐妹。當(dāng)我和布蘭登·史塔克將要成親的消息宣布時，他要求決斗，勝者才能娶我為妻。那根本就是瘋狂之舉，布蘭登當(dāng)時已經(jīng)二十歲，培提爾才不過十五。我求布蘭登放他一馬，結(jié)果他只在他身上留了個疤。事后我父親把他送走，我至今沒和他再見面?！彼樏嫦蚶嘶?，仿佛輕快的海風(fēng)可以吹走回憶?！安继m登死后，他寄信到奔流城給我，但我沒拆就通通燒掉。因為那時候，我已經(jīng)知道奈德會代替他哥哥娶我為妻?！?/p>

?? Ser Rodrik’s fingers fumbled once again fornonexistent whiskers. “Littlefinger sits on the small council now.”

羅德利克爵士伸手想摸胡子，又撲了個空?！靶≈割^如今是御前會議的成員。”

?? “I knew he would rise high,” Catelyn said.“He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever andanother to be wise. I wonder what the years have done to him.”

“我早知道他會大有發(fā)展。”凱特琳說，“他打小就很機靈。可機靈和睿智是兩回事，真不知道這些年他有多大改變。”

?? High overhead, the far-eyes sang out fromthe rigging. Captain Moreo came scrambling across the deck, giving orders, andall around them the Storm Dancer burst into frenetic activity as King’s Landingslid into view atop its three high hills.

頭頂?shù)牟t望員從繩索上高聲呼喝，莫里歐船長在甲板上來回走動下達命令，隨著位于三座丘陵之上的都城君臨映入眼簾，整個“暴風(fēng)舞者號”立刻陷入一片忙亂的活動中。

?? Three hundred years ago, Catelyn knew, thoseheights had been covered with forest, and only a handful of fisherfolk hadlived on the north shore of the Blackwater Rush where that deep, swift riverflowed into the sea. Then Aegon the Conqueror had sailed from Dragonstone. Itwas here that his army had put ashore, and there on the highest hill that hebuilt his first crude redoubt of wood and earth.

凱特琳知道三百年前這片高地完全被森林覆蓋，只有零星的漁夫在水流湍急、深涌入海的黑水河北岸定居。后來征服者伊耿自龍石島渡海而來，他的軍隊便是在此處登陸，隨后他在最高的丘陵頂端用木材和泥土筑起了他第一座粗糙的防御堡壘。

?? Now the city covered the shore as far asCatelyn could see; manses and arbors and granaries, brick storehouses andtimbered inns and merchant’s stalls, taverns and graveyards and brothels, allpiled one on another. She could hear the clamor of the fish market even at thisdistance. Between the buildings were broad roads lined with trees, wanderingcrookback streets, and alleys so narrow that two men could not walk abreast.Visenya’s hill was crowned by the Great Sept of Baelor with its seven crystaltowers. Across the city on the hill of Rhaenys stood the blackened walls of theDragonpit, its huge dome collapsing into ruin, its bronze doors closed now fora century. The Street of the Sisters ran between them, straight as an arrow.The city walls rose in the distance, high and strong.

而今凱特琳視線所及，皆已成為繁華城區(qū)，豪宅、涼亭、谷倉、磚砌倉庫、木屋旅店和市集攤位，酒館、墓園和妓院，一座接著一座。即使距離尚遠，她仍可聽見漁市里的喧鬧。寬闊的林蔭大道，蜿蜒的曲折小街，還有窄得無法容納兩人并肩通行的巷弄穿梭在建筑物之間。圣貝勒大教堂的大理石墻環(huán)繞著維桑尼亞丘陵頂，七座水晶塔樓聳立其中。彼端的雷妮絲丘陵上，坐落著龍穴焦黑的殘垣斷壁，倒塌的巨大圓頂廢墟，緊閉一世紀(jì)之久的青銅大門。兩丘之間，靜默姐妹街筆直如箭，堅實的圍城高墻則環(huán)繞在外。

?? A hundred quays lined the waterfront, andthe harbor was crowded with ships. Deepwater fishing boats and river runnerscame and went, ferrymen poled back and forth across the Blackwater Rush,trading galleys unloaded goods from Braavos and Pentos and Lys. Catelyn spiedthe queen’s ornate barge, tied up beside a fat-bellied whaler from the Port ofIbben, its hull black with tar, while upriver a dozen lean golden warshipsrested in their cribs, sails furled and cruel iron rams lapping at the water.

百余座碼頭羅列水濱，港口里停泊著無數(shù)船只。深水漁船和河流渡筏絡(luò)繹不絕，船夫撐篙往來于黑水灣，商船則源源不斷卸下來自布拉佛斯、潘托斯和里斯的貨物。凱特琳瞥見王后裝飾華麗的游艇，停泊在一艘吃水頗深、船身涂滿黑色焦油、從伊班港來的捕鯨船旁邊。上游處有十來艘狹長的黃金戰(zhàn)船，船帆卷起，鐵制撞錘輕輕拍打水面。

?? And above it all, frowning down from Aegon’shigh hill, was the Red Keep; seven huge drum-towers crowned with iron ramparts,an immense grim barbican, vaulted halls and covered bridges, barracks anddungeons and granaries, massive curtain walls studded with archers’ nests, allfashioned of pale red stone. Aegon the Conqueror had commanded it built. Hisson Maegor the Cruel had seen it completed. Afterward he had taken the heads ofevery stonemason, woodworker, and builder who had labored on it. Only the bloodof the dragon would ever know the secrets of the fortress the Dragonlords hadbuilt, he vowed.

睥睨這一切的是伊耿丘陵上的紅堡。它包括七棟加固鋼鐵工事的巨大鼓塔，一座碩大無比而冷酷的堡樓，圓頂大廳與密閉橋梁、軍營、地牢和谷倉，以及開滿箭口的厚重護墻，全是淺紅色石頭砌成。征服者伊耿當(dāng)年下令建造這座城堡，他的兒子“殘酷梅葛”將之完成?？⒐ひ院?，他將每位參與筑城的石匠、木工和建筑師全部斬首，誓言惟有真龍傳人方能掌握龍王堡壘的秘密。

?? Yet now the banners that flew from itsbattlements were golden, not black, and where the three-headed dragon had oncebreathed fire, now pranced the crowned stag of House Baratheon.

不想如今，飄揚在城墻上的旗幟卻是金黃而非墨黑，三頭龍曾經(jīng)怒吐烈焰的地方，成了拜拉席恩家族的寶冠雄鹿奔馳昂揚的疆域。

?? A high-masted swan ship from the SummerIsles was beating out from port, its white sails huge with wind. The StormDancer moved past it, pulling steadily for shore.

一艘來自盛夏群島的高桅天鵝船，正乘風(fēng)張滿白帆，駛離港口。暴風(fēng)舞者號從她身邊駛過，穩(wěn)穩(wěn)地準(zhǔn)備靠岸。

?? “My lady,” Ser Rodrik said, “I have thoughton how best to proceed while I lay abed. You must not enter the castle. I willgo in your stead and bring Ser Aron to you in some safe place.”

“夫人，”羅德利克爵士說，“我趁躺在床上休養(yǎng)這段時間，仔細考慮過下一步該如何行動。首先，您絕對不能進城，由我一個人去把艾倫帶到安全的地方見您就好?！?/p>

?? She studied the old knight as the galleydrew near to a pier. Moreo was shouting in the vulgar Valyrian of the FreeCities. “You would be as much at risk as I would.”

帆船駛近碼頭，她仔細端詳著老騎士。莫里歐正用自由貿(mào)易城邦粗野的瓦雷利亞方言大聲喝令。“你冒的風(fēng)險不比我少。”

?? Ser Rodrik smiled. “I think not. I looked atmy reflection in the water earlier and scarcely recognized myself. My motherwas the last person to see me without whiskers, and she is forty years dead. Ibelieve I am safe enough, my lady.”

羅德利克爵士微笑道：“我看不然。早些時候我朝水里的倒影瞧了瞧，差點認(rèn)不出自己。我母親是這世上最后一個見過我沒留胡子模樣的人，而她已經(jīng)過世了四十年。夫人，我相信我一定安全。”

?? Moreo bellowed a command. As one, sixty oarslifted from the river, then reversed and backed water. The galley slowed.Another shout. The oars slid back inside the hull. As they thumped against thedock, Tyroshi seamen leapt down to tie up. Moreo came bustling up, all smiles.“King’s Landing, my lady, as you did command, and never has a ship made a swifteror surer passage. Will you be needing assistance to carry your things to thecastle?”

莫里歐大聲吆喝，六十支槳整齊劃一地自水中拉起，然后朝反方向劃去。船速減緩，又是一聲大喝，槳葉便都縮回船殼里面。船靠碼頭之后，泰洛西水手立即跳下船拴住纜繩。莫里歐滿臉堆笑地跑過來?！胺蛉?，照您吩咐，咱們抵達君臨了，我敢打賭從沒有一艘船能這么迅速、這么平順地抵達目標(biāo)。您可需要派人幫忙把行李搬去城堡？”

?? “We shall not be going to the castle.Perhaps you can suggest an inn, someplace clean and comfortable and not too farfrom the river.”

“我們不去城堡，你倒是可以推薦幾家干凈舒適的旅館，離河不要太遠?！?/p>

?? The Tyroshi fingered his forked green beard.“Just so. I know of several establishments that might suit your needs. Yetfirst, if I may be so bold, there is the matter of the second half of thepayment we agreed upon. And of course the extra silver you were so kind as topromise. Sixty stags, I believe it was.”

泰洛西船長捻捻綠色的八字胡，“那敢情好，我倒是知道幾個符合您要求的店家。不過首先嘛，恕我無禮，咱們約定的旅費還剩一半沒付清呢。還有您慷慨答應(yīng)的額外小費，如果我沒記錯的話，好像是六十枚銀幣。”

?? “For the oarmen,” Catelyn reminded him.

“那是給船員的。”凱特琳提醒他。

?? “Oh, of a certainty,” said Moreo. “Thoughperhaps I should hold it for them until we return to Tyrosh. For the sake oftheir wives and children. If you give them the silver here, my lady, they willdice it away or spend it all for a night’s pleasure.”

　　“噢，那當(dāng)然，”莫里歐道，“不過還是我先幫他們保管，等咱們回到泰洛西再分配好了。這可是為他們妻小著想啊，想想看，若是現(xiàn)在就給他們，夫人，他們肯定會賭個精光或拿去買一夜之歡呀?！?/p>

?? “There are worse things to spend money on,”Ser Rodrik put in. “Winter is coming.”

“花花錢也無可厚非，”羅德利克爵士插話，“因為凜冬將至?！?/p>

?? “A man must make his own choices,” Catelynsaid. “They earned the silver. How they spend it is no concern of mine.”

“人應(yīng)該為自己的行為負責(zé)。”凱特琳說，“這是他們辛苦掙來的血汗錢，怎么花我無足置喙?！?/p>

?? “As you say, my lady,” Moreo replied, bowingand smiling.

“那就照您吩咐，夫人?！蹦餁W一邊打躬作揖一邊笑著回答。

?? Just to be sure, Catelyn paid the oarmenherself, a stag to each man, and a copper to the two men who carried theirchests halfway up Visenya’s hill to the inn that Moreo had suggested. It was arambling old place on Eel Alley. The woman who owned it was a sour crone with awandering eye who looked them over suspiciously and bit the coin that Catelynoffered her to make sure it was real. Her rooms were large and airy, though,and Moreo swore that her fish stew was the most savory in all the SevenKingdoms. Best of all, she had no interest in their names.

為以防萬一，凱特琳把錢當(dāng)面賞給水手，每人一枚銀鹿，至于幫她搬行李的兩位海員，則額外多加了兩個銅幣。他們把東西搬到莫里歐推薦的旅館，位于維桑尼亞丘陵半腰，據(jù)說是鰻魚巷里的老字號。老板娘是個壞脾氣的老婦，先是滿腹狐疑地上下打量他們倆，又把凱特琳付的錢幣用牙齒咬了又咬，大概在審是不是真的。雖然如此，房間倒是挺寬敞，通風(fēng)也好，而且莫里歐說她煮的魚湯七國上下無人能及。最棒的是，她完全不過問客人的名姓。

?? “I think it best if you stay away from thecommon room,” Ser Rodrik said, after they had settled in. “Even in a place likethis, one never knows who may be watching.” He wore ringmail, dagger, andlongsword under a dark cloak with a hood he could pull up over his head. “Iwill be back before nightfall, with Ser Aron,” he promised. “Rest now, mylady.”

“我想您最好別待在大廳里，”安頓妥當(dāng)之后，羅德利克爵士說，“即便在這種地方，還是小心為妙?！彼┝谁h(huán)甲，配上匕首和長劍，外面再套上黑斗篷，拉起兜帽?！拔姨旌谝郧鞍寻瑐惥羰繋怼！彼ＷC，“夫人，您好好休息?！?/p>

?? Catelyn was tired. The voyage had been longand fatiguing, and she was no longer as young as she had been. Her windowsopened on the alley and rooftops, with a view of the Blackwater beyond. She watchedSer Rodrik set off, striding briskly through the busy streets until he was lostin the crowds, then decided to take his advice. The bedding was stuffed withstraw instead of feathers, but she had no trouble falling asleep.

凱特琳真的累了。這趟旅途漫長而疲憊，況且她年紀(jì)也已不輕。房間的窗戶面向一條屋頂之間的小巷，恰可看到遠方的黑水灣。她目送羅德利克爵士快步走進熙來攘往的街道，消失在人群當(dāng)中，最后決定順從他的建議。床鋪塞的是稻草并非羽毛，但她還是頭一沾枕便進入夢鄉(xiāng)。

?? She woke to a pounding on her door.

她被砰砰的敲門聲吵醒。

?? Catelyn sat up sharply. Outside the window,the rooftops of King’s Landing were red in the light of the setting sun. Shehad slept longer than she intended. A fist hammered at her door again, and avoice called out, “Open, in the name of the king.”

凱特琳立時坐起，窗外，夕陽殘照把君臨的屋頂灑得通紅。她睡得比預(yù)期的長。房門再度響起敲門聲，人聲傳進屋內(nèi)：“以國王之名，開門！”

?? “A moment,” she called out. She wrappedherself in her cloak. The dagger was on the bedside table. She snatched it upbefore she unlatched the heavy wooden door.

“等等?！彼贿厬?yīng)聲，一邊趕緊用斗篷裹住自己。那把匕首躺在床邊桌上，她匆忙拾起，然后才打開厚重木門的門閂。

?? The men who pushed into the room wore theblack ringmail and golden cloaks of the City Watch. Their leader smiled at thedagger in her hand and said, “No need for that, m’lady. We’re to escort you tothe castle.”

蜂擁進房的人都穿著都城守衛(wèi)隊的制服：黑色環(huán)甲和金色披風(fēng)。為首之人一見她手中利刃，便笑道：“夫人，不必如此。我們是特地來護送您進城的?！?/p>

?? “By whose authority?” she said.

“是誰的命令？”她問。

?? He showed her a ribbon. Catelyn felt herbreath catch in her throat. The seal was a mockingbird, in grey wax. “Petyr,”she said. So soon. Something must have happened to Ser Rodrik. She looked atthe head guardsman. “Do you know who I am?”

他拿出一條緞帶，凱特琳一看，頓時喉頭一緊。灰蠟上蓋有一只仿聲鳥?！芭嗵釥?，”她說。想不到他動作這么快，羅德利克爵士肯定出了事。她望著帶頭的守衛(wèi)，“你知道我是誰？”

?? “No, m’lady,” he said. “M’lord Littlefingersaid only to bring you to him, and see that you were not mistreated.”

“不知道，夫人?！彼卮?，“小指頭大人只吩咐我們帶您去見他，而且絕不能讓您受到一點委屈。”

?? Catelyn nodded. “You may wait outside whileI dress.”

凱特琳點點頭：“你去門外等，我換好衣服便來?！?/p>

?? She bathed her hands in the basin andwrapped them in clean linen. Her fingers were thick and awkward as shestruggled to lace up her bodice and knot a drab brown cloak about her neck. Howcould Littlefinger have known she was here? Ser Rodrik would never have toldhim. Old he might be, but he was stubborn, and loyal to a fault. Were they toolate, had the Lannisters reached King’s Landing before her? No, if that weretrue, Ned would be here too, and surely he would have come to her. How?.?.?.? ?

她在水盆里洗了手，又用干凈的麻布擦干。她的手指仍然僵硬而不靈活，好容易才穿上胸衣，在頸間系好那件褐色的粗布斗篷。小指頭怎么知道她在這里？這絕不會是羅德利克爵士說的。他雖然一把年紀(jì)，脾氣卻倔得緊，忠心耿耿到頑固的地步。難道他們來得太遲，蘭尼斯特家已經(jīng)搶先一步抵達了君臨？不可能，倘若真是如此，那么奈德一定也在，他會親自來接她。這到底是怎么回事？

?? Then she thought, Moreo. The Tyroshi knewwho they were and where they were, damn him. She hoped he’d gotten a good pricefor the information.

她恍然大悟：莫里歐。這該死的泰洛西人知道他們的身份，也知道他們下榻處所。她不僅揣摩他為這則消息開了多少價。

?? They had brought a horse for her. The lampswere being lit along the streets as they set out, and Catelyn felt the eyes ofthe city on her as she rode, surrounded by the guard in their golden cloaks.When they reached the Red Keep, the portcullis was down and the great gatessealed for the night, but the castle windows were alive with flickering lights.The guardsmen left their mounts outside the walls and escorted her through anarrow postern door, then up endless steps to a tower.

他們?yōu)樗齻浜昧笋R。動身出發(fā)時，街上已經(jīng)點起了燈，凱特琳左右圍繞著肩披金色披風(fēng)的守衛(wèi)，只覺全城的目光都集中在自己身上。當(dāng)他們抵達紅堡時，鐵閘已經(jīng)降下，入夜后大門也已緊閉，但城堡的窗戶里火光搖曳，生氣依舊。守衛(wèi)們把坐騎留在城墻外，護送她從一道狹窄的邊門進入，踏著級級階梯，登上高塔。

?? He was alone in the room, seated at a heavywooden table, an oil lamp beside him as he wrote. When they ushered her inside,he set down his pen and looked at her. “Cat,” he said quietly.

房里只有他一個人，坐在一張大木桌邊，就著一盞油燈寫字。他們把她送進屋內(nèi)，他便擱下筆望著她。“凱特。”他靜靜地說。

?? “Why have I been brought here in thisfashion?”

“為什么帶我來這兒？”

?? He rose and gestured brusquely to theguards. “Leave us.” The men departed. “You were not mistreated, I trust,” hesaid after they had gone. “I gave firm instructions.” He noticed her bandages.“Your hands?.?.?.?”

他起身朝守衛(wèi)粗魯?shù)財[擺手。“你們可以走了。”守衛(wèi)離開，“沒事吧，”待他們走后他才開口，“我可是再三告誡過的。”他注意到她的繃帶?！澳愕氖帧?/p>

?? Catelyn ignored the implied question. “I amnot accustomed to being summoned like a serving wench,” she said icily. “As aboy, you still knew the meaning of courtesy.”

　凱特琳故意忽略這個含蓄的問題。“我可不習(xí)慣被人當(dāng)成女傭一般呼來喚去?！彼淅涞卣f，“小時候的你多少還懂得一點禮貌?！?/p>

?? “I’ve angered you, my lady. That was nevermy intent.” He looked contrite. The look brought back vivid memories forCatelyn. He had been a sly child, but after his mischiefs he always lookedcontrite; it was a gift he had. The years had not changed him much. Petyr hadbeen a small boy, and he had grown into a small man, an inch or two shorterthan Catelyn, slender and quick, with the sharp features she remembered and thesame laughing grey-green eyes. He had a little pointed chin beard now, andthreads of silver in his dark hair, though he was still shy of thirty. Theywent well with the silver mockingbird that fastened his cloak. Even as a child,he had always loved his silver.

“夫人，我絕對沒有冒犯你的意思?！彼此瞥錆M悔意，這個神情也勾起凱特琳歷歷如繪的回憶。他是個狡猾機靈的孩子，但每次闖了禍總會一副悔不當(dāng)初的模樣，他就有這種天生的本事?？磥磉@些年來他沒什么改變。培提爾從前是個瘦小的男孩，如今長成一個瘦小的男子，比凱特琳還要矮上一兩寸，但纖細敏捷，容貌一如她記憶中那般銳利，還有那雙滿是笑意的灰綠眼睛。他下巴留了點胡子，黑發(fā)間也有幾抹銀絲，其實人還不到三十。這個特質(zhì)和他系住披風(fēng)的銀白仿聲鳥倒是挺配，他從小就得意自己的少年白。

?? “How did you know I was in the city?” sheasked him.

“你怎么知道我在城里？”她問。

?? “Lord Varys knows all,” Petyr said with asly smile. “He will be joining us shortly, but I wanted to see you alone first.It has been too long, Cat. How many years?”

“因為瓦里斯消息靈通?！迸嗵釥柭冻鲆荒ù侏M的微笑。“他馬上就來，我只是想先單獨見見你。凱特，我們好久不見，算算，多少年了？”

?? Catelyn ignored his familiarity. There weremore important questions. “So it was the King’s Spider who found me.”

凱特琳不理睬他的親昵，如今她有比這更重要的事情要問?！霸瓉硎前俗χ┲胝业轿业??！?/p>

?? Littlefinger winced. “You don’t want to callhim that. He’s very sensitive. Comes of being an eunuch, I imagine. Nothinghappens in this city without Varys knowing. Oftimes he knows about it before ithappens. He has informants everywhere. His little birds, he calls them. One ofhis little birds heard about your visit. Thankfully, Varys came to me first.”

小指頭皺眉道：“可別當(dāng)面這樣叫他喲。他這人敏感得很，大概和身為太監(jiān)有關(guān)吧。城里的事，瓦里斯不但都知道，還常常未卜先知。到處都有他的眼線，他稱呼他們作他的小小鳥兒。他的一只小小鳥聽說了你抵達的消息。謝天謝地，瓦里斯知道以后，第一個找的人是我?！?/p>

?? “Why you?”

“為什么第一個找你？”

?? He shrugged. “Why not me? I am master ofcoin, the king’s own councillor. Selmy and Lord Renly rode north to meetRobert, and Lord Stannis is gone to Dragonstone, leaving only Maester Pycelleand me. I was the obvious choice. I was ever a friend to your sister Lysa,Varys knows that.”

他聳聳肩?！盀槭裁床荒?？我是財政大臣，也是國王的御前顧問。賽爾彌和藍禮公爵到北邊去迎接勞勃，史坦尼斯大人回了龍石島，只剩下派席爾國師和我。我是當(dāng)然的選擇，何況瓦里斯知道我還是你妹妹萊莎的朋友?！?/p>

?? “Does Varys know about?.?.?.?”

“那瓦里斯知不知道……”

?? “Lord Varys knows everything?.?.?.?exceptwhy you are here.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you here?”

“瓦里斯大人什么都知道……惟獨不知道你為什么造訪?！彼鹨贿吤济??！澳愕降诪槭裁丛煸L？”

?? “A wife is allowed to yearn for her husband,and if a mother needs her daughters close, who can tell her no?”

“作妻子的想念丈夫，作母親的掛念女兒。我來拜訪，有何不妥？”

?? Littlefinger laughed. “Oh, very good, mylady, but please don’t expect me to believe that. I know you too well. Whatwere the Tully words again?”

小指頭笑道：“呵呵，我說夫人，這借口不賴，可惜我不相信。我太了解你了。你們徒利家族的箴言是什么來著？”

?? Her throat was dry. “Family, Duty, Honor,”she recited stiffly. He did know her too well.

她喉嚨一干?！凹易澹?zé)任，榮譽?！彼┯驳貜?fù)誦。他的確是太了解她了。

?? “Family, Duty, Honor,” he echoed. “All ofwhich required you to remain in Winterfell, where our Hand left you. No, mylady, something has happened. This sudden trip of yours bespeaks a certainurgency. I beg of you, let me help. Old sweet friends should never hesitate torely upon each other.” There was a soft knock on the door. “Enter,”Littlefinger called out.

“家族，責(zé)任，榮譽。”他應(yīng)道，“這每一項都要求你遵照首相囑咐留在臨冬城。夫人哪，我看事情沒這么簡單。若非事關(guān)緊要，你不會這樣突然來訪。就請你把話說出來吧，讓我為你效勞，老朋友本該戮力相助?！边@時門上傳來一聲輕響?！罢堖M?！毙≈割^叫道。

?? The man who stepped through the door wasplump, perfumed, powdered, and as hairless as an egg. He wore a vest of wovengold thread over a loose gown of purple silk, and on his feet were pointedslippers of soft velvet. “Lady Stark,” he said, taking her hand in both of his,“to see you again after so many years is such a joy.” His flesh was soft andmoist, and his breath smelled of lilacs. “Oh, your poor hands. Have you burnedyourself, sweet lady? The fingers are so delicate?.?.?.?Our good MaesterPycelle makes a marvelous salve, shall I send for a jar?”

進來的的男子體態(tài)豐腴，脂粉味十足，頭上光溜得像顆蛋。他身著一件寬松的紫色絲質(zhì)長袍，外罩金絲線縫制的背心，腳踏前尖后寬的天鵝絨軟拖鞋?！笆匪朔蛉耍彼p掌執(zhí)起她的手，“闊別多年，不料今日相見，真是叫人歡欣鼓舞?！彼钠つw柔軟而濕潤，呼吸有丁香花的味道?！鞍パ?，您的手是怎么了？親愛的夫人，敢情您不小心給燙到了？如此纖纖玉手竟然……咱們派席爾大學(xué)士調(diào)制的藥膏療效一流，要不我這就差人給您送一罐？”

?? Catelyn slid her fingers from his grasp. “Ithank you, my lord, but my own Maester Luwin has already seen to my hurts.”

凱特琳從他掌心抽回手，“伯爵大人，感謝您的美意，不過我這傷口已經(jīng)讓家里的魯溫師傅處理過了。”

?? Varys bobbed his head. “I was grievous sadto hear about your son. And him so young. The gods are cruel.”

瓦里斯低頭道：“您公子的事，我深感遺憾。一想到他小小年紀(jì)，就覺得天上諸神真是殘酷?！?/p>

?? “On that we agree, Lord Varys,” she said.The title was but a courtesy due him as a council member; Varys was lord of nothingbut the spiderweb, the master of none but his whisperers.

瓦里斯伯爵，我們總算有點共識?！八f。瓦里斯的伯爵頭銜只是虛位，這也是為了顧及他朝廷重臣的身份，其實瓦里斯根本不是任何封邑的領(lǐng)主，他統(tǒng)御的不過是手下那批眼線。

?? The eunuch spread his soft hands. “On morethan that, I hope, sweet lady. I have great esteem for your husband, our newHand, and I know we do both love King Robert.”

太監(jiān)把手軟軟地一攤?！昂梅蛉?，相信我們不只是有這點共識。我對您丈夫，也就是咱們新任首相，懷著極高的敬意，同時我也知道我們大家都非常愛戴勞勃國王?！?/p>

?? “Yes,” she was forced to say. “For acertainty.”

“是的，”她不得不說，“毫無疑問。”

?? “Never has a king been so beloved as ourRobert,” quipped Littlefinger. He smiled slyly. “At least in Lord Varys’shearing.”

“要找咱們勞勃這么受愛戴的國王，恐怕很難啰?！毙≈割^露出促狹的微笑，酸溜溜地說，“最起碼瓦里斯大人聽到是這樣?！?/p>

?? “Good lady,” Varys said with greatsolicitude. “There are men in the Free Cities with wondrous healing powers. Sayonly the word, and I will send for one for your dear Bran.”

“好夫人，”瓦里斯憂心忡忡地道，“自由貿(mào)易城邦有不少精通醫(yī)術(shù)的奇人異士。只消您點個頭，我即刻去找這樣的人來醫(yī)治您的小布蘭?！?/p>

?? “Maester Luwin is doing all that can be donefor Bran,” she told him. She would not speak of Bran, not here, not with thesemen. She trusted Littlefinger only a little, and Varys not at all. She wouldnot let them see her grief. “Lord Baelish tells me that I have you to thank forbringing me here.”

　“能做的魯溫師傅都做了?！彼嬖V他。此時此地她不愿談布蘭的事，尤其是和這些人。她不太信任小指頭，更何況瓦里斯。她絕不能讓他們看見她悲傷的模樣?！柏惱锵笕藙偛鸥嬖V我，我現(xiàn)在能在這里，全都要歸功于您?！?/p>

?? Varys giggled like a little girl. “Oh, yes.I suppose I am guilty. I hope you forgive me, kind lady.” He eased himself downinto a seat and put his hands together. “I wonder if we might trouble you toshow us the dagger?”

瓦里斯像個小女孩般咯咯直笑。“呵呵，可不是嘛。我看我是難辭其咎了，好心的夫人，希望您原諒我吧?！彼崎e地找了張椅子坐下，雙手交握，“我在想，不知能否請您讓我們瞧瞧那把匕首吶？”

?? Catelyn Stark stared at the eunuch instunned disbelief. He was a spider, she thought wildly, an enchanter or worse.He knew things no one could possibly know, unless?.?.?.?“What have you done toSer Rodrik?” she demanded.

凱特琳·史塔克驚愕地看著他，不敢相信自己所聽到的話。他真的是只無孔不入的蜘蛛，說不定還是個懂得妖術(shù)的魔法師，她不禁狂亂地暗想。他竟然知道沒有人會知道的事，除非……“你把羅德利克爵士怎樣了？”她質(zhì)問。

?? Littlefinger was lost. “I feel rather likethe knight who arrives at the battle without his lance. What dagger are wetalking about? Who is Ser Rodrik?”

小指頭一頭霧水?！拔矣X得自己像個上了戰(zhàn)場卻沒帶長槍的騎士。這匕首是怎么回事？羅德利克爵士又是何方神圣？”

?? “Ser Rodrik Cassel is master-at-arms at Winterfell,”Varys informed him. “I assure you, Lady Stark, nothing at all has been done tothe good knight. He did call here early this afternoon. He visited with SerAron Santagar in the armory, and they talked of a certain dagger. About sunset,they left the castle together and walked to that dreadful hovel where you werestaying. They are still there, drinking in the common room, waiting for yourreturn. Ser Rodrik was very distressed to find you gone.”

“羅德利克·凱索爵士是臨冬城的教頭，”瓦里斯告訴他，“史塔克夫人，您大可放心，這位好騎士平安無事。他今天下午的確來過一趟，到兵器庫去拜訪了艾倫·桑塔加爵士，兩人談及一把匕首。約莫日落時分，他們結(jié)伴離開城堡，徒步返回您下榻的那間粗陋房舍。這會兒他們還在那里，正在大廳里喝酒，等您回去。羅德利克爵士發(fā)現(xiàn)您不在，可是焦慮得緊哪。”

?? “How could you know all that?”

“你怎么會知道這些事？”

?? “The whisperings of little birds,” Varyssaid, smiling. “I know things, sweet lady. That is the nature of my service.”He shrugged. “You do have the dagger with you, yes?”

“小小鳥兒嘰嘰喳喳傳來的唄?！蓖呃锼刮⑿Φ溃昂梅蛉?，我的職責(zé)所在便是打聽消息，所以我才知道不少。”他聳聳肩。“不過您確實把匕首帶在了身上，對吧？”

?? Catelyn pulled it out from beneath her cloakand threw it down on the table in front of him. “Here. Perhaps your littlebirds will whisper the name of the man it belongs to.”

凱特琳從斗篷里抽出匕首，扔到他面前的桌上?！澳萌タ戳T，或許你的小小鳥也會告訴你這匕首的主人是誰?！?/p>

?? Varys lifted the knife with exaggerateddelicacy and ran a thumb along its edge. Blood welled, and he let out a squealand dropped the dagger back on the table.

瓦里斯用夸張的優(yōu)雅姿勢拿起短刀，然后伸出拇指滑過刀鋒，沒想到立時見血，他驚呼一聲，手一松，匕首掉回桌上。

?? “Careful,” Catelyn told him, “it’s sharp.”

“小心，”凱特琳告訴他，“這匕首很利?！?/p>

?? “Nothing holds an edge like Valyrian steel,”Littlefinger said as Varys sucked at his bleeding thumb and looked at Catelynwith sullen admonition. Littlefinger hefted the knife lightly in his hand,testing the grip. He flipped it in the air, caught it again with his otherhand. “Such sweet balance. You want to find the owner, is that the reason forthis visit? You have no need of Ser Aron for that, my lady. You should havecome to me.”

　　“世上最鋒利的莫過于瓦雷利亞鋼?！毙≈割^道。瓦里斯一邊吸吮血流不止的拇指，一邊面帶慍色地瞪著凱特琳。小指頭拿起利刃，輕輕地把玩，測試稱手的程度。隨后把匕首拋至半空，再用另一只手接住?！拜p重恰到好處。您這次來訪的目的，便是想查出匕首的主人？夫人，那您大可不必去找艾倫爵士，您應(yīng)該直接來問我。”

?? “And if I had,” she said, “what would youhave told me?”

“假如我直接問你，”她說，“你怎么說？”

?? “I would have told you that there was onlyone knife like this at King’s Landing.” He grasped the blade between thumb andforefinger, drew it back over his shoulder, and threw it across the room with apracticed flick of his wrist. It struck the door and buried itself deep in theoak, quivering. “It’s mine.”

“我會告訴你這種刀全君臨只有一把，”他用拇指和食指夾起刀刃，舉過肩頭，手腕一抖，熟練地將匕首朝房間對面射去。短刀正中房門，深深地插進橡木板，隨著殘余的勁道晃動不止?！八俏业??！?/p>

?? “Yours?” It made no sense. Petyr had notbeen at Winterfell.

“這是你的刀？”不可能，培提爾根本沒去臨冬城。

?? “Until the tourney on Prince Joffrey’s nameday,” he said, crossing the room to wrench the dagger from the wood. “I backedSer Jaime in the jousting, along with half the court.” Petyr’s sheepish grinmade him look half a boy again. “When Loras Tyrell unhorsed him, many of usbecame a trifle poorer. Ser Jaime lost a hundred golden dragons, the queen lostan emerald pendant, and I lost my knife. Her Grace got the emerald back, butthe winner kept the rest.”

“一直到喬佛里王子命名日那天的比武大會為止，”他穿過房間，從木門上拔出匕首?！拔液桶霐?shù)的廷臣都賭詹姆爵士會贏得長槍比試，”培提爾露出羞怯的笑，突然又顯得孩子氣。“所以當(dāng)洛拉斯·提利爾爵士把他一槍刺下馬時，我們都輸了點小東西。詹姆爵士輸?shù)粢话倜督瘕垘?，王后賠上一條翡翠首飾，而我則是這把刀。贏家放過了王后陛下的翡翠，但把其他東西都留下了。”

?? “Who?” Catelyn demanded, her mouth dry withfear. Her fingers ached with remembered pain.

“此人是誰？”凱特琳質(zhì)問，她的嘴巴因恐懼而干澀，手指頭則因回憶而隱隱作痛。

?? “The Imp,” said Littlefinger as Lord Varyswatched her face. “Tyrion Lannister.”

“小惡魔，”小指頭說。瓦里斯伯爵在一旁看著她的臉?！疤崂骸ぬm尼斯特?！?/p>