Ⅱ 列王的紛爭 Chapter3 提利昂

TYRION

曼登·穆爾爵士一身御林鐵衛(wèi)的雪白制服，活像一具裹布的尸體?！疤笥辛睿簳?huì)議途中不得打擾?！?/p>

In the chilly white raiment of the Kingsguard, Ser Mandon Moore looked like a corpse in a shroud. “Her Grace left orders, the council in session is not to be disturbed.”

“爵士先生，我不過就一樁小事，”提利昂從袖子里取出羊皮紙?！斑@是我父親泰溫·蘭尼斯特，也就是當(dāng)今首相寫的信，上面有他的印章?！?/p>

“I would be only a small disturbance, ser.” Tyrion slid the parchment from his sleeve. “I bear a letter from my father, Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King. There is his seal.”

“太后不希望有人打擾?！甭蔷羰柯龡l斯理地重復(fù)一遍，彷佛當(dāng)提利昂是蠢蛋，聽不懂他剛才說的話。

“Her Grace does not wish to be disturbed,” Ser Mandon repeated slowly, as if Tyrion were a dullard who had not heard him the first time.

詹姆曾說，御林鐵衛(wèi)中最危險(xiǎn)的角色非穆爾莫屬——當(dāng)然，除了他自己——因?yàn)檫@家伙面無表情，誰也料不透他心中的打算。提利昂此刻真想從他臉上看出一點(diǎn)端倪。倘若真要刀劍相向，此人當(dāng)然不是波隆和提魅的對手，但剛一上任就宰了喬佛里的護(hù)衛(wèi)，以后怎么得了？但話說回來，假如就這么讓他得逞，自己還有何權(quán)威可言？于是他逼自己露出微笑?！奥蔷羰?，我想您一定還沒見過我的伙伴。這位是提魅之子提魅，他是明月山脈灼人部的‘紅手’將軍。這位則是波隆，您應(yīng)該還記得艾林大人的侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長瓦狄斯·伊根爵士吧？”

Jaime had once told him that Moore was the most dangerous of the Kingsguard—excepting himself, always—because his face gave no hint as what he might do next. Tyrion would have welcomed a hint. Bronn and Timett could likely kill the knight if it came to swords, but it would scarcely bode well if he began by slaying one of Joffrey’s protectors. Yet if he let the man turn him away, where was his authority? He made himself smile. “Ser Mandon, you have not met my companions. This is Timett son of Timett, a red hand of the Burned Men. And this is Bronn. Perchance you recall Ser Vardis Egen, who was captain of Lord Arryn’s household guard?”

“這人我知道?！甭蔷羰垦凵珳\灰，目光異常呆滯，毫無生氣。

“I know the man.” Ser Mandon’s eyes were pale grey, oddly flat and lifeless.

“你知道的他，已經(jīng)不存在了?！辈\淺一笑，出聲糾正。

“Knew,” Bronn corrected with a thin smile.

曼登爵士彷佛充耳不聞。

Ser Mandon did not deign to show that he had heard that.

“總之呢，”提利昂輕快地說，“我真的想見見我那好姐姐，順便把這封信傳進(jìn)去，爵士先生，可否請您行行好，幫我們開個(gè)門？”

“Be that as it may,” Tyrion said lightly, “I truly must see my sister and present my letter, ser. If you would be so kind as to open the door for us?”

白騎士無動(dòng)于衷。就在提利昂忍無可忍，打算來硬的的時(shí)候，曼登爵士突然往旁邊一站?！澳憧梢赃M(jìn)去，但他們不行?！?/p>

The white knight did not respond. Tyrion was almost at the point of trying to force his way past when Ser Mandon abruptly stood aside. “You may enter. They may not.”

雖然只是小小的勝利，果實(shí)卻依舊甜美，他心想。他已經(jīng)通過了第一道測驗(yàn)。提利昂·蘭尼斯特推開門，走進(jìn)大廳，頓時(shí)覺得自己高大起來。原本正在討論國事的五位重臣見狀紛紛停下。“是你！”姐姐瑟曦的語氣中一半是難以置信，另一半則是極度嫌惡。

A small victory, he thought, but sweet. He had passed his first test. Tyrion Lannister shouldered through the door, feeling almost tall. Five members of the king’s small council broke off their discussion suddenly. “You,” his sister Cersei said in a tone that was equal parts disbelief and distaste.

“我總算知道喬佛里的好禮貌是從哪兒學(xué)來的了?！碧崂和Ｏ履_步，欣賞一左一右把守大門的兩只瓦雷利亞獅身人面獸雕像，流露出全然的自信。瑟曦對虛弱極為敏感，就像狗兒可以嗅出恐懼。

“I can see where Joffrey learned his courtesies.” Tyrion paused to admire the pair of Valyrian sphinxes that guarded the door, affecting an air of casual confidence. Cersei could smell weakness the way a dog smells fear.

“你來這里做什么？”姐姐用那雙漂亮碧眼審視著他，不帶一絲感情。

“What are you doing here?” His sister’s lovely green eyes studied him without the least hint of affection.

“幫咱們親愛的父親大人送信啰?！彼斡朴频刈叩阶h事桌邊，把卷得緊緊的羊皮紙放在兩人中間。

“Delivering a letter from our lord father.” He sauntered to the table and placed the tightly rolled parchment between them.

太監(jiān)瓦里斯伸出那雙灑了脂粉的纖纖玉手，拿起信在手中把玩?！疤卮笕藢?shí)在太周到了，連封蠟都像黃澄澄的金子?！蓖呃锼棺屑?xì)檢查封印?！安徽搹哪姆矫婵矗枷袷钦娴?。”

The eunuch Varys took the letter and turned it in his delicate powdered hands. “How kind of Lord Tywin. And his sealing wax is such a lovely shade of gold.” Varys gave the seal a close inspection. “It gives every appearance of being genuine.”

“當(dāng)然是真的。”瑟曦一把搶過，揭起封蠟，展開信紙。

“Of course it’s genuine.” Cersei snatched it out of his hands. She broke the wax and unrolled the parchment.

提利昂看著她讀信。此刻姐姐大大方方地端坐于王位之上——他推測喬佛里大概也和勞勃一樣，甚少出席御前會(huì)議——既然如此，提利昂便也當(dāng)仁不讓，爬上了首相的位子。

Tyrion watched her read. His sister had taken the king’s seat for herself—he gathered Joffrey did not often trouble to attend council meetings, no more than Robert had—so Tyrion climbed up into the Hand’s chair. It seemed only appropriate.

“真是豈有此理！”最后太后總算開口，“家父派我弟弟入宮接管他的職務(wù)，他叮囑我們視提利昂為國王之手，直到他能親自上朝輔政為止?！?/p>

“This is absurd,” the queen said at last. “My lord father has sent my brother to sit in his place in this council. He bids us accept Tyrion as the Hand of the King, until such time as he himself can join us.”

派席爾大學(xué)士捻捻他瀑布般的白胡須，若有所思地點(diǎn)頭道：“如此說來，我們得正式歡迎他了?！?/p>

Grand Maester Pycelle stroked his flowing white beard and nodded ponderously. “It would seem that a welcome is in order.”

“正是，”杰諾斯·史林特是個(gè)雙下巴，頭頂幾乎全禿，看起來活像只青蛙，一只一朝得勢，自命不凡的青蛙。“大人，我們正需要您。眼下叛亂四起，天際又有兇象，城里大街小巷都在暴動(dòng)……”

“Indeed.” Jowly, balding Janos Slynt looked rather like a frog, a smug frog who had gotten rather above himself. “We have sore need of you, my lord. Rebellion everywhere, this grim omen in the sky, rioting in the city streets …”

“杰諾斯大人，敢問這是誰的錯(cuò)？”瑟曦厲聲道，“該由你手下的金袍衛(wèi)士負(fù)起維持秩序的責(zé)任。至于你，提利昂，你上戰(zhàn)場殺敵想必對我們更有幫助?！?/p>

“And whose fault is that, Lord Janos?” Cersei lashed out. “Your gold cloaks are charged with keeping order. As to you, Tyrion, you could better serve us on the field of battle.”

他笑了，“不不不，我殺敵殺夠了，還是敬謝不敏的好。坐椅子，總比騎馬安穩(wěn)得多，更何況我寧愿端酒杯，也不要拿戰(zhàn)斧。不是都說戰(zhàn)場上鼓聲雷動(dòng)，金甲奪目，馬鳴蕭蕭嗎？唉，戰(zhàn)鼓敲得我頭疼，穿盔甲都快被太陽烤焦，簡直跟豐收宴會(huì)上的烤鵝沒兩樣，至于馬嘛，它們就知道四處拉屎！不過呢，我也不該抱怨，跟在艾林谷受到的盛情款待相比，鼓聲、馬糞和蒼蠅已經(jīng)沒話說啦?！?/p>

He laughed. “No, I’m done with fields of battle, thank you. I sit a chair better than a horse, and I’d sooner hold a wine goblet than a battle-axe. All that about the thunder of the drums, sunlight flashing on armor, magnificent destriers snorting and prancing? Well, the drums gave me headaches, the sunlight flashing on my armor cooked me up like a harvest day goose, and those magnificent destriers shit everywhere. Not that I am complaining. Compared to the hospitality I enjoyed in the Vale of Arryn, drums, horseshit, and fly bites are my favorite things.”

他畢竟是在打仗嘛小指頭哈哈大笑：“說得好，蘭尼斯特大人，您這番話真是深得我心?！?/p>

Littlefinger laughed. “Well said, Lannister. A man after my own heart.”

提利昂對他微微一笑，心中想起了某把龍骨刀柄、瓦雷利亞鋼刀身的匕首。咱們得盡快找個(gè)時(shí)間談?wù)勥@事。到時(shí)不知培提爾伯爵還會(huì)不會(huì)覺得有趣。“所以，”他對眾人說，“還請各位務(wù)必容我效勞，即便微不足道的小事也好?！?/p>

Tyrion smiled at him, remembering a certain dagger with a dragonbone hilt and a Valyrian steel blade. We must have a talk about that, and soon. He wondered if Lord Petyr would find that subject amusing as well. “Please,” he told them, “do let me be of service, in whatever small way I can.”

瑟曦把信又讀過一遍?！澳銕矶嗌偃耍俊?/p>

Cersei read the letter again. “How many men have you brought with you?”

“總有幾百個(gè)吧，多半是我自己的人。老爸說什么也不肯抽調(diào)人手，怎么說，他畢竟是在打仗嘛。”

“A few hundred. My own men, chiefly. Father was loath to part with any of his. He is fighting a war, after all.”

“倘若藍(lán)禮兵臨城下，或者史坦尼斯從龍石島渡海攻來，你這幾百人有什么用？我要的是一支軍隊(duì)，父親卻送來一個(gè)侏儒。首相由國王選擇，經(jīng)重臣同意后方能任命。喬佛里任命的是我們父親大人。”

“What use will your few hundred men be if Renly marches on the city, or Stannis sails from Dragonstone? I ask for an army and my father sends me a dwarf. The king names the Hand, with the consent of council. Joffrey named our lord father.”

“而父親大人任命了我。”

“And our lord father named me.”

“他無權(quán)這么做，除非得到小喬的同意。”

“He cannot do that. Not without Joff’s consent.”

“你想親口質(zhì)問他的話，泰溫大人此刻正率軍駐扎于赫倫堡?！碧崂罕虮蛴卸Y地說，“諸位大人，可否容我和姐姐私下說幾句？”

“Lord Tywin is at Harrenhal with his host, if you’d care to take it up with him,” Tyrion said politely. “My lords, perchance you would permit me a private word with my sister?”

瓦里斯滑溜地站起來，露出那一貫阿諛諂媚的笑容?！傲罱闾鹈赖穆曊{(diào)想必讓您倍感思念。諸位大人，我們就讓他們小聚片刻如何？這動(dòng)蕩不安的國事待會(huì)兒再來處理也不遲嘛。”

Varys slithered to his feet, smiling in that unctuous way he had. “How you must have yearned for the sound of your sweet sister’s voice. My lords, please, let us give them a few moments together. The woes of our troubled realm shall keep.”

雖然杰諾斯·史林特動(dòng)作有些遲疑，派席爾大學(xué)士則步履蹣跚，但他們到底是起身了。小指頭是最后站起來的?！拔沂遣皇沁@就去請總管在梅葛樓里為您收拾幾個(gè)房間？”

Janos Slynt rose hesitantly and Grand Maester Pycelle ponderously, yet they rose. Littlefinger was the last. “Shall I tell the steward to prepare chambers in Maegor’s Holdfast?”

“培提爾大人，感謝您的好意，不過我要住首相塔里史塔克大人先前的居所?！?艾莉亞憤恨不平地照辦后，他又說：“站到那里，靠著那棵橡樹。對，就這樣。”她雙臂環(huán)住樹干，臉頰緊貼粗糙的樹皮?！澳憬邪?，你給我大聲叫?！?/p>

“My thanks, Lord Petyr, but I will be taking Lord Stark’s former quarters in the Tower of the Hand.”

小指頭笑道：“蘭尼斯特大人，您膽子可比我大多了。您總該知道咱們前兩任首相的下場吧？”

Littlefinger laughed. “You’re a braver man than me, Lannister. You do know the fate of our last two Hands?”

“兩任？你想嚇唬我，為何不干脆說四任？”

“Two? If you mean to frighten me, why not say four?”

“四任么？”小指頭眉毛一揚(yáng)?！半y道艾林大人之前的兩位首相也在塔里遭遇不測？恐怕我當(dāng)時(shí)年紀(jì)還小，沒有多加留意?！?/p>

“Four?” Littlefinger raised an eyebrow. “Did the Hands before Lord Arryn meet some dire end in the Tower? I’m afraid I was too young to pay them much mind.”

“伊里斯·坦格利安的最后一任首相在君臨城陷時(shí)被殺，我懷疑他根本還來不及搬進(jìn)塔里，前后不過只當(dāng)了十四天的首相。他之前那位呢，則是被活活燒死。再往前嘛，有兩位被剝奪了領(lǐng)地和頭銜，死于流放途中，死時(shí)身無長物，一貧如洗，還自覺走運(yùn)呢。我相信家父是最后一位從君臨全身而退的首相?！?/p>

“Aerys Targaryen’s last Hand was killed during the Sack of King’s Landing, though I doubt he’d had time to settle into the Tower. He was only Hand for a fortnight. The one before him was burned to death. And before them came two others who died landless and penniless in exile, and counted themselves lucky. I believe my lord father was the last Hand to depart King’s Landing with his name, properties, and parts all intact.”

“真有意思?！毙≈割^道，“我越聽越覺得睡地牢比較安全?！?/p>

“Fascinating,” said Littlefinger. “And all the more reason I’d sooner bed down in the dungeon.”

說不定你會(huì)如愿以償喲，提利昂心想，但他嘴上卻說：“我聽說勇氣和愚蠢往往只有一線之隔。無論首相塔到底受了什么詛咒，但愿我這小個(gè)子可以逃過它的魔掌?！?/p>

Perhaps you’ll get that wish, Tyrion thought, but he said, “Courage and folly are cousins, or so I’ve heard. Whatever curse may linger over the Tower of the Hand, I pray I’m small enough to escape its notice.”

杰諾斯·史林特哈哈大笑，小指頭嘴角微揚(yáng)，派席爾大學(xué)士則面色凝重地點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，隨兩人出去了。

Janos Slynt laughed, Littlefinger smiled, and Grand Maester Pycelle followed them both out, bowing gravely.

“父親大老遠(yuǎn)派你來，希望不是讓你來給我們上歷史課?！迸匀穗x去后，姐姐開口嚷道。

“I hope Father did not send you all this way to plague us with history lessons,” his sister said when they were alone.

“你不知道我有多思念你那甜美的聲調(diào)?！碧崂簩λ龂@道。

“How I have yearned for the sound of your sweet voice,” Tyrion sighed to her.

“你不知道我有多想用滾燙的鉗子把那太監(jiān)的舌頭拔出來?！鄙鼗?fù)??！案赣H昏了頭不成？還是說信是你偽造的？”她把信又讀一次，越看越氣惱?！八麨槭裁窗涯銇G給我？我要他本人過來?！彼杖酄€泰溫公爵的信?！拔沂菃谭鹄锏臄z政太后，我對他下達(dá)了王家諭令！”

“How I have yearned to have that eunuch’s tongue pulled out with hot pincers,” Cersei replied. “Has father lost his senses? Or did you forge this letter?” She read it once more, with mounting annoyance. “Why would he inflict you on me? I wanted him to come himself.” She crushed Lord Tywin’s letter in her fingers. “I am Joffrey’s regent, and I sent him a royal command!”

“結(jié)果他不理你，”提利昂指出，“他重兵在握，自然有恃無恐。反正他也不是第一個(gè)違抗你的人，對吧？”

“And he ignored you,” Tyrion pointed out. “He has quite a large army, he can do that. Nor is he the first. Is he?”

瑟曦嘴唇一抿，面露怒色。“假如我說這封信是假的，叫他們把你扔進(jìn)地牢，我保證，沒人敢違抗我?！?/p>

Cersei’s mouth tightened. He could see her color rising. “If I name this letter a forgery and tell them to throw you in a dungeon, no one will ignore that, I promise you.”

提利昂很清楚自己此刻如履薄冰，稍有失足，便會(huì)萬劫不復(fù)?！暗拇_，”他親切地贊同，“尤其是我們那握有大軍的父親?？墒牵矣H愛的好姐姐，我這么千里迢迢，不辭辛勞跑來幫你的忙，你何苦把我扔進(jìn)地牢里呢？”

He was walking on rotten ice now, Tyrion knew. One false step and he would plunge through. “No one,” he agreed amiably, “l(fā)east of all our father. The one with the army. But why should you want to throw me into a dungeon, sweet sister, when I’ve come all this long way to help you?”

“我不要你來幫倒忙，我只命令父親奉旨上朝?！?/p>

“I do not require your help. It was our father’s presence that I commanded.”

“是么？”他平靜地說，“你想要的是詹姆。”

“Yes,” he said quietly, “but it’s Jaime you want.”

姐姐自以為精明老練，然而提利昂自小與她一同長大，早把她的個(gè)性摸得一清二楚，讀她臉上的表情就跟讀自己喜愛的書一樣容易，此刻他讀出的是憤怒，恐懼，還有絕望?！罢材匪?/p>

His sister fancied herself subtle, but he had grown up with her. He could read her face like one of his favorite books, and what he read now was rage, and fear, and despair. “Jaime—”

“——再怎么說，也是我哥哥?！碧崂捍驍嗨！爸灰阒С治?，我向你保證，我會(huì)讓詹姆平安歸來，毫發(fā)無傷?！?/p>

“—is my brother no less than yours,” Tyrion interrupted. “Give me your support and I promise you, we will have Jaime freed and returned to us unharmed.”

“這怎么可能？”瑟曦質(zhì)問，“史塔克家那小鬼跟他娘可不會(huì)忘記我們砍了艾德大人的頭?！?/p>

“How?” Cersei demanded. “The Stark boy and his mother are not like to forget that we beheaded Lord Eddard.”

“的確，”提利昂同意，“可你手上依舊握有他兩個(gè)女兒，對吧？我看見那個(gè)姐姐和喬佛里一起在廣場上?！?/p>

“True,” Tyrion agreed, “yet you still hold his daughters, don’t you? I saw the older girl out in the yard with Joffrey.”

“那是珊莎，”太后說，“我對外宣稱她妹妹那個(gè)野東西也在我手上，但事實(shí)并非如此。勞勃死的時(shí)候，我派馬林·特蘭爵士去抓她，可她那該死的舞蹈老師從中作梗，她便藉機(jī)脫逃，此后再?zèng)]人見過。那天城里死了很多人，我看她八成也沒命了?！?/p>

“Sansa,” the queen said. “I’ve given it out that I have the younger brat as well, but it’s a lie. I sent Meryn Trant to take her in hand when Robert died, but her wretched dancing master interfered and the girl fled. No one has seen her since. Likely she’s dead. A great many people died that day.”

提利昂原本打算以兩個(gè)史塔克女孩作為交換籌碼，如今只剩一個(gè)，也只好將就?！案艺f說，咱們這幾位重臣朋友是怎么回事?！?/p>

Tyrion had hoped for both Stark girls, but he supposed one would have to do. “Tell me about our friends on the council.”

姐姐朝大門口瞄了一眼。“他們怎么了？”

His sister glanced at the door. “What of them?”

“父親似乎不喜歡他們。我動(dòng)身時(shí)，他還說：如果把這幾個(gè)家伙的頭砍下來，插上槍尖，跟史塔克大人的首級并排掛在城墻上，不知是什么光景?！彼雷訉γ鎯A身。“你肯定他們靠得住嗎？你信任他們嗎？”

“Father seems to have taken a dislike to them. When I left him, he was wondering how their heads might look on the wall beside Lord Stark’s.” He leaned forward across the table. “Are you certain of their loyalty? Do you trust them?”

“我誰也不信，”瑟曦斥道，“但我需要他們。父親認(rèn)為他們心懷不軌？”

“I trust no one,” Cersei snapped. “I need them. Does Father believe they are playing us false?”

“不妨說，他是這么懷疑吧?！?/p>

“Suspects, rather.”

“憑什么？他知道什么內(nèi)情？”

“Why? What does he know?”

提利昂聳聳肩。“他知道你兒子雖然才當(dāng)國王沒幾天，闖出的禍卻已經(jīng)多得數(shù)不完，由此可見，一定有人把喬佛里給教壞了。”

Tyrion shrugged. “He knows that your son’s short reign has been a long parade of follies and disasters. That suggests that someone is giving Joffrey some very bad counsel.”

瑟曦審視了他一眼。“小喬不缺忠言良見，可他性子本就固執(zhí)，現(xiàn)在當(dāng)了國王，更覺得自己應(yīng)該隨心所欲，不要任人擺布?！?/p>

Cersei gave him a searching look. “Joff has had no lack of good counsel. He’s always been strong-willed. Now that he’s king, he believes he should do as he pleases, not as he’s bid.”

“任誰戴了王冠，腦筋都會(huì)不清楚?！碧崂罕硎就狻！鞍隆な匪诉@件事……真是喬佛里的意思？”

“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them,” Tyrion agreed. “This business with Eddard Stark … Joffrey’s work?”

太后皺眉道：“我仔細(xì)叮囑過他，按計(jì)劃他本該網(wǎng)開一面，讓史塔克穿上黑衣。如此一來，不但永絕后患，和他兒子議和也不是沒有可能。結(jié)果喬佛里認(rèn)為自己有責(zé)任讓觀眾看場好戲，我能怎么辦？他當(dāng)著全城居民的面說要砍艾德大人的頭，杰諾斯·史林特和伊林爵士更是急不可奈，樂得照辦，完全沒過問我一聲！”她握緊拳頭。“這會(huì)兒總主教罵我們先是瞞著他，接著又用鮮血玷污貝勒大圣堂?！?/p>

The queen grimaced. “He was instructed to pardon Stark, to allow him to take the black. The man would have been out of our way forever, and we might have made peace with that son of his, but Joff took it upon himself to give the mob a better show. What was I to do? He called for Lord Eddard’s head in front of half the city. And Janos Slynt and Ser Ilyn went ahead blithely and shortened the man without a word from me!” Her hand tightened into a fist. “The High Septon claims we profaned Baelor’s Sept with blood, after lying to him about our intent.”

“沒錯(cuò)，”提利昂道，“這么說來，這位史林特‘大人’有分啰？告訴我，究竟誰出了這么個(gè)妙主意，把赫倫堡封給他，又任命他為朝廷重臣？”

“It would seem he has a point,” said Tyrion. “So this Lord Slynt, he was part of it, was he? Tell me, whose fine notion was it to grant him Harrenhal and name him to the council?”

“小指頭安排的。我們需要史林特的金袍軍。當(dāng)時(shí)艾德·史塔克正與藍(lán)禮密謀奪權(quán)，他還寫信給史坦尼斯，表示愿將王位拱手讓渡。我們差點(diǎn)就要全盤皆輸?，F(xiàn)在看來，雖然化險(xiǎn)為夷，卻也贏得驚險(xiǎn)，若非珊莎跑來找我，說出她父親的計(jì)劃……”

“Littlefinger made the arrangements. We needed Slynt’s gold cloaks. Eddard Stark was plotting with Renly and he’d written to Lord Stannis, offering him the throne. We might have lost all. Even so, it was a close thing. If Sansa hadn’t come to me and told me all her father’s plans …”

提利昂大感意外。“真的？是他親生女兒說的？”珊莎一直是個(gè)溫柔有禮的好孩子啊。

Tyrion was surprised. “Truly? His own daughter?” Sansa had always seemed such a sweet child, tender and courteous.

“這小丫頭情竇初開，只盼能和喬佛里在一起，叫她做什么都愿意。沒料到他竟然砍了她父親的頭，還把這稱為‘手下留情’，這下她的愛情夢可破滅了?！?/p>

“The girl was wet with love. She would have done anything for Joffrey, until he cut off her father’s head and called it mercy. That put an end to that.”

“哈，陛下他贏得愛戴的方式可真是獨(dú)樹一幟。”提利昂咧嘴笑道，“將巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士從御林鐵衛(wèi)中革職，想必也是喬佛里的意思啰？”

“His Grace has a unique way of winning the hearts of his subjects,” Tyrion said with a crooked smile. “Was it Joffrey’s wish to dismiss Ser Barristan Selmy from his Kingsguard too?”

瑟曦嘆道：“喬佛里想找人為勞勃的死負(fù)責(zé)，瓦里斯便提議拿巴利斯坦爵士開刀，這也沒什么不好，一方面，詹姆得以指揮御林鐵衛(wèi)，并躋身朝廷重臣，另一方面，小喬也有了喂狗的骨頭。他很喜歡桑鐸·克里岡。我們本打算賞給賽爾彌一點(diǎn)封地，一座塔堡，那一無是處的老頭子本不配這種待遇?！?/p>

Cersei sighed. “Joff wanted someone to blame for Robert’s death. Varys suggested Ser Barristan. Why not? It gave Jaime command of the Kingsguard and a seat on the small council, and allowed Joff to throw a bone to his dog. He is very fond of Sandor Clegane. We were prepared to offer Selmy some land and a towerhouse, more than the useless old fool deserved.”

“我聽說史林特手下兩個(gè)金袍子想在爛泥門逮捕他，結(jié)果被這一無是處的老頭子給宰了。”

“I hear that useless old fool slew two of Slynt’s gold cloaks when they tried to seize him at the Mud Gate.”

姐姐一臉不悅，“杰諾斯該多派些人去，他的辦事能力實(shí)在不如預(yù)期。”

His sister looked very unhappy. “Janos should have sent more men. He is not as competent as might be wished.”

“巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士是勞勃·拜拉席恩的御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長，”提利昂刻意提醒她，“當(dāng)初伊里斯·坦格利安的七鐵衛(wèi)中，只有他和詹姆存活在世。老百姓說起他，就像‘鏡盾’薩文和‘龍騎士’伊蒙王子再世一般。倘若他們看到‘無畏的’巴利斯坦與羅柏·史塔克或史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩并肩作戰(zhàn)，你覺得他們會(huì)作何感想？”

“Ser Barristan was the Lord Commander of Robert Baratheon’s Kingsguard,” Tyrion reminded her pointedly. “He and Jaime are the only survivors of Aerys Targaryen’s seven. The smallfolk talk of him in the same way they talk of Serwyn of the Mirror Shield and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight. What do you imagine they’ll think when they see Barristan the Bold riding beside Robb Stark or Stannis Baratheon?”

瑟曦別過頭去，“我沒想到這一層?！?/p>

Cersei glanced away. “I had not considered that.”

“父親卻想到了，”提利昂道，“所以才派我來，終止這些荒唐鬧劇，讓你兒子乖乖聽話?！?/p>

“Father did,” said Tyrion. “That is why he sent me. To put an end to these follies and bring your son to heel.”

“小喬連我的話也不愛聽，他更不會(huì)聽你的?！?/p>

“Joff will be no more tractable for you than for me.”

“這可未必?！?/p>

“He might.”

“他為什么要聽你的？”

“Why should he?”

“因?yàn)樗滥憬^不會(huì)傷害他。”

“He knows you would never hurt him.”

瑟曦瞇起雙眼，“如果你認(rèn)為我會(huì)任由你欺負(fù)我兒子，那你就是病得無可救藥了。”

Cersei’s eyes narrowed. “If you believe I’d ever allow you to harm my son, you’re sick with fever.”

提利昂嘆了口氣，像以前一樣，她完全抓不住重點(diǎn)?！皢谭鹄锔揖秃透阋粯影踩?，”他向她保證，“但如果讓他感覺到威脅，就會(huì)比較容易聽話?！彼麍?zhí)起她的手?！霸僭趺凑f，我們畢竟姐弟一場，不管你承不承認(rèn)，你的確需要我；你兒子想要保住那張丑陋的鐵椅子，他也需要我。”

Tyrion sighed. She’d missed the point, as she did so often. “Joffrey is as safe with me as he is with you,” he assured her, “but so long as the boy feels threatened, he’ll be more inclined to listen.” He took her hand. “I am your brother, you know. You need me, whether you care to admit it or no. Your son needs me, if he’s to have a hope of retaining that ugly iron chair.”

對于他竟然出手碰她，姐姐似乎大感驚訝。“你向來很機(jī)靈?！?/p>

His sister seemed shocked that he would touch her. “You have always been cunning.”

“不過就是一點(diǎn)小聰明嘛?！彼Φ?。

“In my own small way.” He grinned.

“這么說來，倒是值得一試……不過，提利昂，你可別搞錯(cuò)，我接納你，但你只是名義上的御前首相，實(shí)際上是我的首相。你采取任何行動(dòng)之前，都必須把計(jì)劃和意圖事先同我商量。未經(jīng)我的同意，不得擅自行動(dòng)，清楚了嗎？”

“It may be worth the trying … but make no mistake, Tyrion. If I accept you, you shall be the King’s Hand in name, but my Hand in truth. You will share all your plans and intentions with me before you act, and you will do nothing without my consent. Do you understand?”

“哎，一清二楚?！?/p>

“Oh, yes.”

“你同意嗎？”

“Do you agree?”

“那當(dāng)然啰，”他撒個(gè)謊，“親愛的姐姐，我任你差遣?！钡辉谖倚枰臅r(shí)候?！昂美?，現(xiàn)在既然我們目標(biāo)一致，彼此就不該再有秘密。你說喬佛里下令殺害艾德大人，瓦里斯趕走巴利斯坦，小指頭找來史林特大人，那么瓊恩·艾林又是誰殺的？”

“Certainly,” he lied. “I am yours, sister.” For as long as I need to be. “So, now that we are of one purpose, we ought have no more secrets between us. You say Joffrey had Lord Eddard killed, Varys dismissed Ser Barristan, and Littlefinger gifted us with Lord Slynt. Who murdered Jon Arryn?”

瑟曦抽回手。“我怎知道？”

Cersei yanked her hand back. “How should I know?”

“鷹巢城里那個(gè)傷心的寡婦似乎認(rèn)為是我下的手，我實(shí)在不明白，她如何得出這個(gè)結(jié)論？”

“The grieving widow in the Eyrie seems to think it was me. Where did she come by that notion, I wonder?”

“你想找明白人，那也絕不是我。艾德·史塔克這蠢才把同樣的罪名扣到我頭上，他暗示艾林大人懷疑……唉，或者說堅(jiān)信……”

“I’m sure I don’t know. That fool Eddard Stark accused me of the same thing. He hinted that Lord Arryn suspected or … well, believed …”

“你和咱們的好詹姆相親相愛？”

“That you were fucking our sweet Jaime?”

她甩了他一記耳光。

She slapped him.

“你以為我和老爸一樣瞎了眼？”提利昂揉揉臉頰，“你和誰上床不干我的事……只是你對一個(gè)弟弟張開雙腿，卻不肯對另一個(gè)比照辦理，這好像不太公平喲?！?/p>

“Did you think I was as blind as Father?” Tyrion rubbed his cheek. “Who you lie with is no matter to me … although it doesn’t seem quite just that you should open your legs for one brother and not the other.”

她又甩了他一記耳光。

She slapped him.

“溫柔點(diǎn)，瑟曦，我不過開開玩笑。說實(shí)話，我還寧愿找個(gè)漂亮的妓女玩玩。我真不明白，除了能欣賞自己的倒影，詹姆究竟看上你哪一點(diǎn)?！?/p>

“Be gentle, Cersei, I’m only jesting with you. If truth be told, I’d sooner have a nice whore. I never understood what Jaime saw in you, apart from his own reflection.”

她再甩他一記耳光。

She slapped him.

雖然兩頰發(fā)紅，火辣作痛，他還是微笑道：“你再打下去，我可會(huì)生氣喔。”

His cheeks were red and burning, yet he smiled. “If you keep doing that, I may get angry.”

這話教她住了手?！澳阆朐鯓?？”

That stayed her hand. “Why should I care if you do?”

“我有好些個(gè)新朋友，”提利昂說，“你絕不會(huì)喜歡。你是怎么殺掉勞勃的？”

“I have some new friends,” Tyrion confessed. “You won’t like them at all. How did you kill Robert?”

聽說街上挺危險(xiǎn)哪“那是他自找的，我們只是送他早點(diǎn)上路。藍(lán)賽爾一見勞勃緊追野豬不放，便拿烈酒給他。那酒雖是他最喜歡的酸紅酒，卻是加過度的，比平常喝的烈上三倍，結(jié)果那酒鬼愛死了。其實(shí)只要他有心，什么時(shí)候都可以停下來不喝，可他偏偏一袋喝完又叫藍(lán)賽爾再拿一袋。其余的部分讓野豬幫我們辦成了。提利昂，那場晚宴你真該在場，我這輩子沒吃過這么美味的野豬肉——蘑菇和蘋果燒的，吃起來滿嘴勝利的滋味。”

“He did that himself. All we did was help. When Lancel saw that Robert was going after boar, he gave him strongwine. His favorite sour red, but fortified, three times as potent as he was used to. The great stinking fool loved it. He could have stopped swilling it down anytime he cared to, but no, he drained one skin and told Lancel to fetch another. The boar did the rest. You should have been at the feast, Tyrion. There has never been a boar so delicious. They cooked it with mushrooms and apples, and it tasted like triumph.”

“姐姐，說真的，你實(shí)在天生作寡婦的料。”提利昂倒還挺喜歡勞勃·拜拉席恩那粗聲粗氣的莽漢……毫無疑問，其中部分原因是由于姐姐恨他入骨。“你打夠了么，我可要先告辭了?！彼?dòng)雙腿，笨拙地從椅子上爬下來。

“Truly, sister, you were born to be a widow.” Tyrion had rather liked Robert Baratheon, great blustering oaf that he was … doubtless in part because his sister loathed him so. “Now, if you are done slapping me, I will be off.” He twisted his legs around and clambered down awkwardly from the chair.

瑟曦皺眉，“不準(zhǔn)走。我要知道你打算怎么救出詹姆。”

Cersei frowned. “I haven’t given you leave to depart. I want to know how you intend to free Jaime.”

“等我想明白了，自然會(huì)告訴你。計(jì)謀就像水果，需要時(shí)間醞釀才會(huì)成熟?，F(xiàn)在嘛，我打算騎馬到街上晃晃，熟悉熟悉城里的狀況?！碧崂喊咽址旁陂T邊的獅身人面獸頭上?！拔易咧埃€有一事相告。請你無論如何千萬別讓珊莎·史塔克出岔子，若是兩個(gè)女兒都保不住，那你的詹姆可就真麻煩了。”

“I’ll tell you when I know. Schemes are like fruit, they require a certain ripening. Right now, I have a mind to ride through the streets and take the measure of this city.” Tyrion rested his hand on the head of the sphinx beside the door. “One parting request. Kindly make certain no harm comes to Sansa Stark. It would not do to lose both the daughters.”

出了議事廳，提利昂向曼登爵士點(diǎn)頭致意，穿過長長的拱頂大廳。波隆跟了上來，提魅之子提魅則不見蹤影?！霸蹅兊募t手將軍跑哪兒去啦？”提利昂問。

Outside the council chamber, Tyrion nodded to Ser Mandon and made his way down the long vaulted hall. Bronn fell in beside him. Of Timett son of Timett there was no sign. “Where’s our red hand?” Tyrion asked.

“他想四處瞧瞧，他們族里的人不習(xí)慣在廳里干等?！?/p>

“He felt an urge to explore. His kind was not made for waiting about in halls.”

“希望他別要?dú)⒘耸裁磳m中要人才好?！边@些提利昂自明月山脈中的聚落帶下來的原住民雖以自己的方式誓死效忠于他，卻也心高氣傲，脾氣火爆，一旦有人出言不遜，無論是否有意，他們必定刀劍相向。“想辦法把他找到，順便確定其他人都有地方住有東西吃。我要他們駐在首相塔下的軍營里，切記別讓總管把石鴉部和月人部放在一起，哦，告訴他，灼人部要有獨(dú)立的營房。”

“I hope he doesn’t kill anyone important.” The clansmen Tyrion had brought down from their fastnesses in the Mountains of the Moon were loyal in their own fierce way, but they were proud and quarrelsome as well, prone to answer insults real or imagined with steel. “Try to find him. And while you are at it, see that the rest have been quartered and fed. I want them in the barracks beneath the Tower of the Hand, but don’t let the steward put the Stone Crows near the Moon Brothers, and tell him the Burned Men must have a hall all to themselves.”

“你上哪兒去？”

“Where will you be?”

“我回破鐵砧?！?/p>

“I’m riding back to the Broken Anvil.”

波隆肆無忌憚地嘿嘿笑道：“需不需要護(hù)送??？聽說街上挺危險(xiǎn)哪?！?/p>

Bronn grinned insolently. “Need an escort? The talk is, the streets are dangerous.”

“我會(huì)叫上姐姐的侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長，順便提醒他，我也是不折不扣的蘭尼斯特。這家伙大概忘了自己效忠的對象是凱巖城，而非瑟曦或喬佛里?！?/p>

“I’ll call upon the captain of my sister’s household guard, and remind him that I am no less a Lannister than she is. He needs to recall that his oath is to Casterly Rock, not to Cersei or Joffrey.”

一小時(shí)后，在十來個(gè)肩披深紅披風(fēng)，頭戴獅紋半盔的蘭尼斯特衛(wèi)士護(hù)送下，提利昂騎馬出了紅堡。由閘門下經(jīng)過時(shí)，他注意到懸掛在城墻上的人頭，雖然浸過瀝青，卻早已腐爛發(fā)黑，不堪辨識?！熬S拉爾隊(duì)長，”他叫道，“明天以前，將這些頭取下來，交靜默修女會(huì)清洗?！彪m然把首級和身體重新配對困難重重，但該做的還是得做。即便戰(zhàn)時(shí)，有些規(guī)矩也必須遵守。

An hour later, Tyrion rode from the Red Keep accompanied by a dozen Lannister guardsmen in crimson cloaks and lion-crested halfhelms. As they passed beneath the portcullis, he noted the heads mounted atop the walls. Black with rot and old tar, they had long since become unrecognizable. “Captain Vylarr,” he called, “I want those taken down on the morrow. Give them to the silent sisters for cleaning.” It would be hell to match them with the bodies, he supposed, yet it must be done. Even in the midst of war, certain decencies needed to be observed.

維拉爾顯得猶豫。“陛下說要把叛徒的頭掛在城墻上，直到最后三根空槍也插上人頭為止。”

Vylarr grew hesitant. “His Grace has told us he wishes the traitors’ heads to remain on the walls until he fills those last three empty spikes there on the end.”

“讓我猜猜，一個(gè)是羅柏·史塔克，另外兩個(gè)是史坦尼斯大人和藍(lán)禮大人，對不對？”

“Let me hazard a wild stab. One is for Robb Stark, the others for Lords Stannis and Renly. Would that be right?”

“是的，大人?！?/p>

“Yes, my lord.”

“維拉爾，我外甥今年不過十三歲，麻煩你牢牢記住。明天我就要這些頭拿下來，否則其中一根空槍就會(huì)有東西可掛，你懂我的意思嗎，隊(duì)長？”

“My nephew is thirteen years old today, Vylarr. Try and recall that. I’ll have the heads down on the morrow, or one of those empty spikes may have a different lodger. Do you take my meaning, Captain?”

“是，大人，我會(huì)親自監(jiān)督?！?/p>

“I’ll see that they’re taken down myself, my lord.”

“很好?！碧崂弘p腿一夾，策馬前奔，讓后面的紅袍衛(wèi)士自行跟上。

“Good.” Tyrion put his heels into his horse and trotted away, leaving the red cloaks to follow as best they could.

他對瑟曦說打算熟悉一下城里的情形，并不全然是撒謊。提利昂·蘭尼斯特一點(diǎn)也不喜歡眼前的景象：君臨的街道向來是熙來攘往，人馬喧騰，但此刻卻充滿了他從未見過的危險(xiǎn)。紡織街邊，一具尸體躺臥水溝，全身赤裸，正被一群野狗撕咬，卻無人在意。兩兩成對的金袍衛(wèi)士隨處可見，他們穿著黑環(huán)甲，在大街小巷巡邏，鐵棍從不離手。市集里滿是衣著破爛，變賣家產(chǎn)的人，有人肯出價(jià)他們就賣……卻幾乎沒有賣肉菜的農(nóng)夫，少數(shù)幾個(gè)擺出食物的攤位要價(jià)竟高達(dá)一年前的三倍。有個(gè)小販沿街叫賣串在肉叉上的烤老鼠。“新鮮老鼠哪！”他高聲喊著，“新鮮老鼠哪！”新鮮的老鼠當(dāng)然比腐爛的老鼠要可口，可令人心驚的是，那些老鼠看起來竟比屠夫賣的肉更誘人。到了面粉街，提利昂只見家家店門都有守衛(wèi)站崗，他不禁心想：看來在非常時(shí)期，花錢雇傭兵都比面包來得便宜。

He had told Cersei he intended to take the measure of the city. That was not entirely a lie. Tyrion Lannister was not pleased by much of what he saw. The streets of King’s Landing had always been teeming and raucous and noisy, but now they reeked of danger in a way that he did not recall from past visits. A naked corpse sprawled in the gutter near the Street of Looms, being torn at by a pack of feral dogs, yet no one seemed to care. Watchmen were much in evidence, moving in pairs through the alleys in their gold cloaks and shirts of black ringmail, iron cudgels never far from their hands. The markets were crowded with ragged men selling their household goods for any price they could get … and conspicuously empty of farmers selling food. What little produce he did see was three times as costly as it had been a year ago. One peddler was hawking rats roasted on a skewer. “Fresh rats,” he cried loudly, “fresh rats.” Doubtless fresh rats were to be preferred to old stale rotten rats. The frightening thing was, the rats looked more appetizing than most of what the butchers were selling. On the Street of Flour, Tyrion saw guards at every other shop door. When times grew lean, even bakers found sellswords cheaper than bread, he reflected.

“莫非沒糧食運(yùn)進(jìn)城？”他對維拉爾說。

“There is no food coming in, is there?” he said to Vylarr.

“少得可憐，”侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長承認(rèn)，“河間地區(qū)戰(zhàn)事連連，藍(lán)禮大人又在高庭興兵作亂，西、南兩條大路都被封鎖了。”

“Little enough,” the captain admitted. “With the war in the riverlands and Lord Renly raising rebels in Highgarden, the roads are closed to south and west.”

“我那親愛的姐姐有何應(yīng)對之道？”

“And what has my good sister done about this?”

“她正逐步恢復(fù)國內(nèi)治安，”維拉爾向他保證，“史林特大人將都城守備隊(duì)的人數(shù)增加到以前的三倍，太后則派了一千名工匠興建防御工事。石匠負(fù)責(zé)加厚城墻，木匠制作上百的巨弩和投石車，制箭匠忙著造箭，鐵匠則鍛造刀劍，煉金術(shù)士公會(huì)也愿意提供一萬罐野火?！?/p>

“She is taking steps to restore the king’s peace,” Vylarr assured him. “Lord Slynt has tripled the size of the City Watch, and the queen has put a thousand craftsmen to work on our defenses. The stonemasons are strengthening the walls, carpenters are building scorpions and catapults by the hundred, fletchers are making arrows, the smiths are forging blades, and the Alchemists’ Guild has pledged ten thousand jars of wildfire.”

提利昂一聽這話，略感不安地在馬鞍上動(dòng)了動(dòng)。他很高興瑟曦并未置身事外，但燃燒劑著實(shí)不牢靠，一萬罐這種東西足以把君臨燒成灰燼。“我姐姐哪有錢買這么多？”勞勃國王死后給王室留下巨額債務(wù)，這已經(jīng)不是秘密，而練金術(shù)士又絕非大公無私。

Tyrion shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. He was pleased that Cersei had not been idle, but wildfire was treacherous stuff, and ten thousand jars were enough to turn all of King’s Landing into cinders. “Where has my sister found the coin to pay for all of this?” It was no secret that King Robert had left the crown vastly in debt, and alchemists were seldom mistaken for altruists.

“大人，小指頭大人總有辦法弄到錢。他規(guī)定進(jìn)城的人都得繳稅。”

“Lord Littlefinger always finds a way, my lord. He has imposed a tax on those wishing to enter the city.”

“嗯，行之有效，”提利昂嘴上輕描淡寫，心里卻想：聰明，好個(gè)既聰明又殘酷的辦法。成千上萬的人為了躲避戰(zhàn)事，紛紛逃往君臨，以為這里比較安全。他在國王大道上親眼見到?jīng)坝咳顺保耗赣H帶著小孩，憂慮的父親則用貪婪的眼神盯著他的坐騎和馬車。等這些人抵達(dá)城外，一定會(huì)散盡家財(cái)，換取高聳的城墻以為屏障……但他們?nèi)糁酪盎疬@回事，或許就會(huì)重新考慮。

“Yes, that would work,” Tyrion said, thinking, Clever. Clever and cruel. Tens of thousands had fled the fighting for the supposed safety of King’s Landing. He had seen them on the kingsroad, troupes of mothers and children and anxious fathers who had gazed on his horses and wagons with covetous eyes. Once they reached the city they would doubtless pay over all they had to put those high comforting walls between them and the war … though they might think twice if they knew about the wildfire.

我今晚在此過夜高掛破鐵砧招牌的旅店位于城墻的視線范圍內(nèi)，靠近諸神門，他們早上就是從此處進(jìn)城。一進(jìn)庭院，便有個(gè)小男孩跑來扶提利昂下馬?！皫愕娜嘶爻潜?，”他對維拉爾說，“我今晚在此過夜?！?/p>

The inn beneath the sign of the broken anvil stood within sight of those walls, near the Gate of the Gods where they had entered that morning. As they rode into its courtyard, a boy ran out to help Tyrion down from his horse. “Take your men back to the castle,” he told Vylarr. “I’ll be spending the night here.”

侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長有些猶豫?！按笕耍@里安全嗎？”

The captain looked dubious. “Will you be safe, my lord?”

“這個(gè)嘛，我告訴你，隊(duì)長，今兒早上我從這里離開時(shí)，里面已經(jīng)住滿了黑耳部的山民。跟齊克之女齊拉住在一起，沒人能絕對安全。”說完提利昂跛著腳朝大門走去，留下一頭霧水的維拉爾。

“Well, as to that, Captain, when I left the inn this morning it was full of Black Ears. One is never quite safe when Chella daughter of Cheyk is about.” Tyrion waddled toward the door, leaving Vylarr to puzzle at his meaning.

他擠進(jìn)旅店大廳，一陣歡笑便迎面襲來。他認(rèn)出齊拉的嘶聲大笑和雪伊銀鈴般的輕笑。女孩坐在爐邊，正就著一張圓木桌啜飲葡萄酒，身旁是三個(gè)他留下來保護(hù)她的黑耳部眾，還有一個(gè)背向他的胖子。他以為是旅店老板……但當(dāng)雪伊叫出提利昂的名字，來客卻立刻起身?！坝H愛的大人，真高興見到你。”太監(jiān)臉上撲了粉，嘴角掛著一抹溫軟的微笑，裝腔作勢地說。

A gust of merriment greeted him as he shoved into the inn’s common room. He recognized Chella’s throaty chuckle and the lighter music of Shae’s laughter. The girl was seated by the hearth, sipping wine at a round wooden table with three of the Black Ears he’d left to guard her and a plump man whose back was to him. The innkeeper, he assumed … until Shae called Tyrion by name and the intruder rose. “My good lord, I am so pleased to see you,” he gushed, a soft eunuch’s smile on his powdered face.

提利昂絆了一跤。“瓦里斯大人？沒想到會(huì)在這里遇見你。”異鬼把這家伙抓去吧！他怎么這么快就找到他們？

Tyrion stumbled. “Lord Varys. I had not thought to see you here.” The Others take him, how did he find them so quickly?

“如有打擾之處，還請您見諒?！蓖呃锼拐f，“我突然想來瞧瞧您這位年輕小姐?！?/p>

“Forgive me if I intrude,” Varys said. “I was taken by a sudden urge to meet your young lady.”

“年輕小姐，”雪伊重復(fù)一遍，玩味著這幾個(gè)字?！按笕?，您只說對了一半，我只是年輕。”

“Young lady,” Shae repeated, savoring the words. “You’re half right, m’lord. I’m young.”

十八歲，提利昂心想，你才十八歲，還是個(gè)妓女，但腦筋轉(zhuǎn)得快，在床上靈活得像只小貓，一雙烏黑發(fā)亮的大眼睛，一頭柔順滑溜的黑秀發(fā)，還有一張又甜又軟又饑又渴的小嘴……這都是屬于我的！你這太監(jiān)真可惡！“瓦里斯大人，我看打擾的人是我。”他勉力顧及禮節(jié)，“剛才進(jìn)門時(shí)，您似乎正有說有笑?！?/p>

Eighteen, Tyrion thought. Eighteen, and a whore, but quick of wit, nimble as a cat between the sheets, with large dark eyes and fine black hair and a sweet, soft, hungry little mouth … and mine! Damn you, eunuch. “I fear I’m the intruder, Lord Varys,” he said with forced courtesy. “When I came in, you were in the midst of some merriment.”

“瓦里斯大人稱贊齊拉的耳朵，說她一定殺了很多人，才能得到這么漂亮的項(xiàng)鏈?！毖┮两忉尅Ｂ犓Q呼瓦里斯“大人”令他很氣惱，因?yàn)槟鞘撬磉吋?xì)語時(shí)所用的語氣?！暗R拉說殺人的都是懦夫。”

“M’lord Varys complimented Chella on her ears and said she must have killed many men to have such a fine necklace,” Shae explained. It grated on him to hear her call Varys m’lord in that tone; that was what she called him in their pillow play. “And Chella told him only cowards kill the vanquished.”

“勇者會(huì)留敵人一命，讓他將來有機(jī)會(huì)洗清恥辱，憑本事贏回耳朵?！饼R拉是個(gè)皮膚黝黑的瘦小女人，脖子上掛著一條恐怖的項(xiàng)練，提利昂找機(jī)會(huì)數(shù)過，不多不少，足足用四十六只風(fēng)干起皺的耳朵串連而成?！爸挥羞@樣，才能證明自己無所畏懼?！?/p>

“Braver to leave the man alive, with a chance to cleanse his shame by winning back his ear,” explained Chella, a small dark woman whose grisly neckware was hung with no less than forty-six dried, wrinkled ears. Tyrion had counted them once. “Only so can you prove you do not fear your enemies.”

雪伊笑道：“接著大人又說如果他是黑耳部的人，大概別想睡覺了，否則夢里全都是只剩一只耳的人。”

Shae hooted. “And then m’lord says if he was a Black Ear he’d never sleep, for dreams of one-eared men.”

“我倒沒這個(gè)困擾，”提利昂說，“我很怕敵人，只好把他們通通殺光?！?/p>

“A problem I will never need face,” Tyrion said. “I’m terrified of my enemies, so I kill them all.”

瓦里斯嘻嘻笑道：“大人，您要不要同我們喝兩杯？”

Varys giggled. “Will you take some wine with us, my lord?”

“我就喝一點(diǎn)吧?！碧崂涸谘┮辽磉呑?。他很清楚整件事意味著什么，可惜齊拉和女孩似乎不懂。瓦里斯此行是來傳達(dá)訊息的，他說：“我突然想來瞧瞧您這位年輕小姐”，實(shí)際的意思卻是：你想把她藏起來，可我不但知道她是誰，還知道她在哪里，現(xiàn)在我不就找上門了？他很納悶究竟是誰出賣了自己，旅店老板？馬廄小廝？城門守衛(wèi)？還是……他手下的人？

“I’ll take some wine.” Tyrion seated himself beside Shae. He understood what was happening here, if Chella and the girl did not. Varys was delivering a message. When he said, I was taken by a sudden urge to meet your young lady, what he meant was, You tried to hide her, but I knew where she was, and who she was, and here I am. He wondered who had betrayed him. The innkeeper, that boy in the stable, a guard on the gate … or one of his own?

“每次回城啊，我都愛走諸神門?！蓖呃锼挂贿厼榇蠹艺寰?，一邊告訴雪伊，“城門樓雕刻得真漂亮，每回見了都教我掉眼淚。那些眼睛……真是栩栩如生，你說是吧？彷佛注視著你從閘門下走過。”

“I always like to return to the city through the Gate of the Gods,” Varys told Shae as he filled the wine cups. “The carvings on the gatehouse are exquisite, they make me weep each time I see them. The eyes … so expressive, don’t you think? They almost seem to follow you as you ride beneath the portcullis.”

“大人，這我就沒留意了，”雪伊回答，“既然您這么說，明兒一早我專門去瞧瞧。”

“I never noticed, m’lord,” Shae replied. “I’ll look again on the morrow, if it please you.”

你就省省力氣吧，小寶貝。提利昂一邊想，一邊晃著杯中的酒。他才不在乎什么狗屁雕刻，他吹噓的是自己那雙眼睛。他話中的意思是：他正密切監(jiān)視著我們，我們剛一進(jìn)城，便已被他掌握了動(dòng)向。

Don’t bother, sweetling, Tyrion thought, swirling the wine in the cup. He cares not a whit about carvings. The eyes he boasts of are his own. What he means is that he was watching, that he knew we were here the moment we passed through the gates.

“出門的話要多留心啊，好孩子，”瓦里斯說，“君臨最近不怎么安全。我雖對這里的街巷了若指掌，可要我像今天這樣孤身一人，手無寸鐵，還差點(diǎn)不敢來呢。唉，眼下時(shí)局危殆，法外兇徒四處橫行，手中刀劍冰冷，心地更是冷酷無情啊?！边@話的意思是：既然我可以孤身一人，手無寸鐵地來到這里，其他人當(dāng)然更可以手提刀劍找上門來啰。

“Do be careful, child,” Varys urged. “King’s Landing is not wholly safe these days. I know these streets well, and yet I almost feared to come today, alone and unarmed as I was. Lawless men are everywhere in this dark time, oh, yes. Men with cold steel and colder hearts.” Where I can come alone and unarmed, others can come with swords in their fists, he was saying.

雪伊卻只笑笑，“他們要敢騷擾我，就等著少只耳朵，被齊拉轟出去吧！”

Shae only laughed. “If they try and bother me, they’ll be one ear short when Chella runs them off.”

瓦里斯聽了放聲怪笑，彷佛這是他這輩子所聽過最有趣的事，然而當(dāng)他轉(zhuǎn)頭面對提利昂時(shí)，眼中卻毫無笑意?！澳@位年輕小姐真是和藹可親得緊，換作是我，我會(huì)非常小心地照顧她。”

Varys hooted as if that was the funniest thing he had ever heard, but there was no laughter in his eyes when he turned them on Tyrion. “Your young lady has an amiable way to her. I should take very good care of her if I were you.”

“我正打算這么做。誰要敢對她不利——哎，可憐我個(gè)子這么小，實(shí)在不夠格當(dāng)黑耳部人，也不好妄稱勇敢?！甭牭搅税桑克捞O(jiān)，我也會(huì)玩這套，你要是敢動(dòng)她一根汗毛，我就要你的命。

“I intend to. Any man who tries to harm her—well, I’m too small to be a Black Ear, and I make no claims to courage.” See? I speak the same tongue you do, eunuch. Hurt her, and I’ll have your head.

“我就不打擾你們了?！蓖呃锼蛊鹕?，“大人，我想您一定累壞了，我只想表示歡迎之意，讓您知道，我很高興您回來。朝廷正亟需著您。您看到那顆慧星了沒？”

“I will leave you.” Varys rose. “I know how weary you must be. I only wished to welcome you, my lord, and tell you how very pleased I am by your arrival. We have dire need of you on the council. Have you seen the comet?”

“我個(gè)子矮，眼睛可沒瞎。”提利昂道。在國王大道上，慧星幾乎占據(jù)了半面天空，完全遮蔽了新月的光芒。

“I’m short, not blind,” Tyrion said. Out on the kingsroad, it had seemed to cover half the sky, outshining the crescent moon.

“街上的老百姓稱之為‘紅信使’，”瓦里斯道，“他們說這顆慧星宣示著新王現(xiàn)世，并警告隨之而來的血與火?！碧O(jiān)搓搓撲過粉的雙手，“提利昂大人，我走之前，可否給您猜個(gè)謎語？”他沒等對方回答，“三位地位顯赫之人坐在一個(gè)房間，一位是國王，一位是僧侶，最后一位則是富翁。有個(gè)傭兵站在他們中間，此人出身寒微，亦無甚才具。每位顯赫之人都命令他殺死另外兩人。國王說：”我是你合法的君王，我命令你殺了他們?！畟H說：“我以天上諸神之名，要求你殺了他們?！晃虅t說：”殺了他們，我所有的金銀珠寶都給你?！埜嬖V我——究竟誰會(huì)死，誰會(huì)活呢？“說完太監(jiān)深深一鞠躬，踩著軟底拖鞋，匆匆離開旅店大廳。

“In the streets, they call it the Red Messenger,” Varys said. “They say it comes as a herald before a king, to warn of fire and blood to follow.” The eunuch rubbed his powdered hands together. “May I leave you with a bit of a riddle, Lord Tyrion?” He did not wait for an answer. “In a room sit three great men, a king, a priest, and a rich man with his gold. Between them stands a sellsword, a little man of common birth and no great mind. Each of the great ones bids him slay the other two. ‘Do it,’ says the king, ‘for I am your lawful ruler.’ ‘Do it,’ says the priest, ‘for I command you in the names of the gods.’ ‘Do it,’ says the rich man, ‘a(chǎn)nd all this gold shall be yours.’ So tell me—who lives and who dies?” Bowing deeply, the eunuch hurried from the common room on soft slippered feet.

活下來的是富翁他離開之后，齊拉哼了一聲，雪伊則柳眉一皺，“活下來的是富翁，對不對？”

When he was gone, Chella gave a snort and Shae wrinkled up her pretty face. “The rich man lives. Doesn’t he?”

提利昂若有所思地啜著酒，“可能是，也可能不是，我想得視那個(gè)傭兵而定?！彼畔戮票白甙?，我們上樓?！?/p>

Tyrion sipped at his wine, thoughtful. “Perhaps. Or not. That would depend on the sellsword, it seems.” He set down his cup. “Come, let’s go upstairs.”

他們同時(shí)起步，可到頭來她卻得在樓梯頂端等他，因?yàn)樗且浑p腿纖細(xì)敏捷，他卻是兩腿奇短，發(fā)育不良，走起路來痛得要命。但當(dāng)他上樓時(shí)，她卻笑盈盈地揶揄他：“有沒有想我?。俊彼呎f邊牽起他的手。

She had to wait for him at the top of the steps, for her legs were slim and supple while his were short and stunted and full of aches. But she was smiling when he reached her. “Did you miss me?” she teased as she took his hand.

“想得發(fā)瘋?！碧崂撼姓J(rèn)。雪伊身高僅略過五尺，但他依舊得抬頭仰望……好在看的是她，他倒不在乎，因?yàn)樗龑?shí)在太可愛了。

“Desperately,” Tyrion admitted. Shae only stood a shade over five feet, yet still he must look up to her … but in her case he found he did not mind. She was sweet to look up at.

“等您住進(jìn)紅堡，您會(huì)一天到晚想我的。”她領(lǐng)他進(jìn)房，一邊說。“尤其是您孤伶伶一個(gè)人睡在首相塔冰冷的床上的時(shí)候?！?/p>

“You’ll miss me all the time in your Red Keep,” she said as she led him to her room. “All alone in your cold bed in your Tower of the Hand.”

“可不是嘛?！碧崂汉薏坏媚軒?，卻被父親大人明令禁止。泰溫公爵很明白地命令他：“不準(zhǔn)你帶那個(gè)妓女入宮”，帶她進(jìn)城已是他違抗的最大限度。她必須了解，他所有的權(quán)威都來自于父親?！澳悴粫?huì)離我太遠(yuǎn)，”他保證，“你會(huì)有一棟房子，還有守衛(wèi)和仆人，我一有機(jī)會(huì)就來找你?！?/p>

“Too true.” Tyrion would gladly have kept her with him, but his lord father had forbidden it. You will not take the whore to court, Lord Tywin had commanded. Bringing her to the city was as much defiance as he dared. All his authority derived from his father, the girl had to understand that. “You won’t be far,” he promised. “You’ll have a house, with guards and servants, and I’ll visit as often as I’m able.”

雪伊把門踢上。透過結(jié)霧的窄窗玻璃，他分辨出坐落于維桑尼亞丘陵頂?shù)呢惱沾笫ヌ茫嬲崂旱膮s是眼前另一番景象。雪伊彎身，抓住外衣裙擺，上拉過頭，脫下丟到一旁。她從不穿內(nèi)衣。“那您可就別想休息啦，”她邊說邊站到他面前，一手?jǐn)R在屁股上，渾身赤裸，肌膚粉嫩，委實(shí)秀色可餐。“您一上床就想著我，然后硬起來，卻沒人幫你解決，最后連覺也睡不著，除非——”她露出提利昂最喜歡的邪惡微笑，“——哎喲，我說大人啊，難不成首相塔是手淫塔嗎？”

Shae kicked shut the door. Through the cloudy panes of the narrow window, he could make out the Great Sept of Baelor crowning Visenya’s Hill, but Tyrion was distracted by a different sight. Bending, Shae took her gown by the hem, drew it over her head, and tossed it aside. She did not believe in smallclothes. “You’ll never be able to rest,” she said as she stood before him, pink and nude and lovely, one hand braced on her hip. “You’ll think of me every time you go to bed. Then you’ll get hard and you’ll have no one to help you and you’ll never be able to sleep unless you”—she grinned that wicked grin Tyrion liked so well—“is that why they call it the Tower of the Hand, m’lord?”

“把嘴巴閉上，過來親一個(gè)。”他命令她。

“Be quiet and kiss me,” he commanded.

他嘗到她唇上余留的酒香，感覺到她小而堅(jiān)挺的雙乳貼上自己胸膛，她靈動(dòng)的指頭朝他褲帶移動(dòng)?！拔业莫{子，”他暫停接吻，以脫下自己的衣服時(shí)，她說，“我親愛的大人，我的蘭尼斯特巨人?！碧崂喊阉葡虼采?，當(dāng)他進(jìn)入她體內(nèi)時(shí)，她的尖叫聲大得足以吵醒墳?zāi)估锏氖ヘ惱?，指甲則在他背上留下一道道疤痕，但他覺得沒有任何疼痛能比這更愉悅。

He could taste the wine on her lips, and feel her small firm breasts pressed against him as her fingers moved to the lacings of his breeches. “My lion,” she whispered when he broke off the kiss to undress. “My sweet lord, my giant of Lannister.” Tyrion pushed her toward the bed. When he entered her, she screamed loud enough to wake Baelor the Blessed in his tomb, and her nails left gouges in his back. He’d never had a pain he liked half so well.

笨蛋，完事之后，兩人躺在凹陷的床墊上，蓋著亂成一團(tuán)的被單，他心里暗想，你這笨蛋侏儒，難道永遠(yuǎn)也學(xué)不乖嗎？媽的，她是個(gè)婊子，她愛的是你的錢，不是你的老二。你難道忘了泰莎？然而，當(dāng)他的手指輕輕滑過她一邊乳頭，乳頭立即變硬，他可以清楚地看見自己激情時(shí)在她胸部留下的咬痕。

Fool, he thought to himself afterward, as they lay in the center of the sagging mattress amidst the rumpled sheets. Will you never learn, dwarf? She’s a whore, damn you, it’s your coin she loves, not your cock. Remember Tysha? Yet when his fingers trailed lightly over one nipple, it stiffened at the touch, and he could see the mark on her breast where he’d bitten her in his passion.

“大人，如今你成了御前首相，有什么打算呢？”當(dāng)他捧起那團(tuán)溫暖誘人的軟肉，雪伊問。

“So what will you do, m’lord, now that you’re the Hand of the King?” Shae asked him as he cupped that warm sweet flesh.

“我打算做點(diǎn)瑟曦絕對料想不到的事，”提利昂在她粉頸邊輕聲呢喃，“我要……主持正義?！?/p>

“Something Cersei will never expect,” Tyrion murmured softly against her slender neck. “I’ll do … justice.”