EDDARD
30 艾德
”I stood last vigil for him myself,” Ser Barristan Selmy said as they looked down at the body in the back of the cart. “He had no one else. A mother in the Vale, I am told.”
“昨晚是我親自替他守的靈，”巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士道，他們看著推車后面載著的遺體。“這孩子無依無靠，連個親朋好友都沒有，聽說就只有艾林谷家里的母親?！?/p>
In the pale dawn light, the young knight looked as though he were sleeping. He had not been handsome, but death had smoothed his rough-hewn features and the silent sisters had dressed him in his best velvet tunic, with a high collar to cover the ruin the lance had made of his throat. Eddard Stark looked at his face, and wondered if it had been for his sake that the boy had died. Slain by a Lannister bannerman before Ned could speak to him; could that be mere happenstance? He supposed he would never know.
蒼白的晨光中，年輕騎士看上去仿佛正在沉睡。他算不上英俊，但死亡撫平了他粗糙的面容，靜默修女會的姐妹則為他穿上了料子最好的天鵝絨外衣，高高的領(lǐng)口恰好遮住喉嚨上被長槍戳出的大洞。艾德·史塔克看著他的臉，暗忖這男孩不知是否因為自己而丟了性命。奈德還不及和他談?wù)?，他便死于蘭尼斯特封臣槍下。這真的只是巧合？他大概永遠不會知道。
“Hugh was Jon Arryn’s squire for four years,” Selmy went on. “The king knighted him before he rode north, in Jon’s memory. The lad wanted it desperately, yet I fear he was not ready.”
“修夫在瓊恩·艾林身邊當了四年的侍從，”賽爾彌繼續(xù)說，“國王為了紀念瓊恩，在北行前封他做了騎士。這孩子想當騎士想得不行，只可惜他恐怕還沒準備好。”
Ned had slept badly last night and he felt tired beyond his years. “None of us is ever ready,” he said.
奈德昨晚睡得很差，現(xiàn)在的他和身邊的老人一樣疲累。“我們不也一樣？”他說。
“For knighthood?”
“我們也沒準備好當騎士？”
“For death.” Gently Ned covered the boy with his cloak, a bloodstained bit of blue bordered in crescent moons. When his mother asked why her son was dead, he reflected bitterly, they would tell her he had fought to honor the King’s Hand, Eddard Stark. “This was needless. War should not be a game.” Ned turned to the woman beside the cart, shrouded in grey, face hidden but for her eyes. The silent sisters prepared men for the grave, and it was ill fortune to look on the face of death. “Send his armor home to the Vale. The mother will want to have it.”
“沒準備好面對死亡”。奈德輕輕地為那孩子蓋上他繡著彎月的染血藍披風(fēng)。當他的母親問起兒子死因時，他苦澀地想，他們會說他是為了首相的榮譽而獻身?！八静辉撍兔?。戰(zhàn)爭豈是兒戲？”奈德轉(zhuǎn)身面對站在推車邊的灰衣女人，她全身上下包裹得嚴嚴實實，臉上只露出眼睛。靜默姐妹專門處理死者后事，而見著死亡的面容是不吉利的事。“把他的盔甲也送回艾林谷家里去，讓母親留作紀念吧。”
“It is worth a fair piece of silver,” Ser Barristan said. “The boy had it forged special for the tourney. Plain work, but good. I do not know if he had finished paying the smith.”
“這東西值不少錢，”巴利斯坦爵士道，“這孩子是特別為了比武會訂做的。不花俏，但實在，不知道他付清鐵匠的錢沒有?！?/p>
“He paid yesterday, my lord, and he paid dearly,” Ned replied. And to the silent sister he said, “Send the mother the armor. I will deal with this smith.” She bowed her head.
“他昨天已經(jīng)付出慘痛的代價了。”奈德回答，接著他對靜默姐妹說，“把盔甲送給他母親。鐵匠這邊我會處理?！彼c點頭。
Afterward Ser Barristan walked with Ned to the king’s pavilion. The camp was beginning to stir. Fat sausages sizzled and spit over firepits, spicing the air with the scents of garlic and pepper. Young squires hurried about on errands as their masters woke, yawning and stretching, to meet the day. A serving man with a goose under his arm bent his knee when he caught sight of them. “M’lords,” he muttered as the goose honked and pecked at his fingers. The shields displayed outside each tent heralded its occupant: the silver eagle of Seagard, Bryce Caron’s field of nightingales, a cluster of grapes for the Redwynes, brindled boar, red ox, burning tree, white ram, triple spiral, purple unicorn, dancing maiden, blackadder, twin towers, horned owl, and last the pure white blazons of the Kingsguard, shining like the dawn.
隨后巴利斯坦爵士陪著奈德走向國王的帳篷。營地正在恢復(fù)生氣，肥美的烤香腸在火堆上嘶嘶作響，滴著油汁，空氣中充滿蒜頭和胡椒的香味。年輕侍從跑來跑去，而他們的主子剛剛睡醒，打著呵欠伸著懶腰，準備迎接新的一天。一個腋下夾了只鵝的廚子看見他們趕忙單膝跪下?！按笕四鷤冊??！彼?，鵝嘎嘎叫著啄他手指。陳列在每個帳篷外的盾牌刻畫著居住其中的貴族家徽，有海疆城的銀色飛鷹，布萊斯·卡倫的夜鶯與田野，雷德溫家族的葡萄串，還有花斑野豬、紅色公牛、燃燒之樹、白色公羊、三重螺旋、紫色獨角獸、跳舞少女、黑蛇、雙塔、長角貓頭鷹，最后是御林鐵衛(wèi)如黎明般閃亮的純白紋章。
“The king means to fight in the melee today,” Ser Barristan said as they were passing Ser Meryn’s shield, its paint sullied by a deep gash where Loras Tyrell’s lance had scarred the wood as he drove him from his saddle.
“國王打算今天參加團體比武，”他們經(jīng)過馬林爵士的盾牌時，巴利斯坦說。盾牌上的漆被刮了深深的一劃，正是昨天洛拉斯·提利爾將他刺下馬時留的印記。
“Yes,” Ned said grimly. Jory had woken him last night to bring him that news. Small wonder he had slept so badly.
“是啊?！蹦蔚卤砬槟氐卣f。喬里昨天夜里把他叫醒，向他通報了這個消息，難怪他睡不好。
Ser Barristan’s look was troubled. “They say night’s beauties fade at dawn, and the children of wine are oft disowned in the morning light.”
巴利斯坦爵士一臉愁容。“俗話說天亮后黑夜的美要消散，酒醒后說過的話就不算?！?/p>
“They say so,” Ned agreed, “but not of Robert.” Other men might reconsider words spoken in drunken bravado, but Robert Baratheon would remember and, remembering, would never back down.
“話是這么說，”奈德同意，“但對勞勃沒用?！睋Q做其他人，或許還會重新考慮酒后許下的豪言壯語，可勞勃·拜拉席恩會記得牢牢的，而且絕不反悔。
The king’s pavilion was close by the water, and the morning mists off the river had wreathed it in wisps of grey. It was all of golden silk, the largest and grandest structure in the camp. Outside the entrance, Robert’s warhammer was displayed beside an immense iron shield blazoned with the crowned stag of House Baratheon.
國王的營帳靠近水濱，包圍在灰色的河面晨霧里。帳篷用金絲織成，乃是整個營地里最大也最華麗的建筑。勞勃的戰(zhàn)錘和一面巨大的鐵盾放在入口外，盾牌上紋飾著拜拉席恩家族的寶冠雄鹿。
Ned had hoped to discover the king still abed in a wine-soaked sleep, but luck was not with him. They found Robert drinking beer from a polished horn and roaring his displeasure at two young squires who were trying to buckle him into his armor. “Your Grace,” one was saying, almost in tears, “it’s made too small, it won’t go.” He fumbled, and the gorget he was trying to fit around Robert’s thick neck tumbled to the ground.
奈德原本希望國王宿醉未醒，一切便迎刃而解，可惜他們運氣不好，正碰上用光滑角制酒杯喝啤酒的勞勃，他還一邊對兩個手忙腳亂替他穿鎧甲的年輕侍從大呼小叫?！皣醣菹?，”其中一個眼淚都快掉下來了。“這鎧甲太小，穿不上的?！彼忠换菊囍走M勞勃粗脖子的頸甲便摔到地上。
“Seven hells!” Robert swore. “Do I have to do it myself? Piss on the both of you. Pick it up. Don’t just stand there gaping, Lancel, pick it up!” The lad jumped, and the king noticed his company. “Look at these oafs, Ned. My wife insisted I take these two to squire for me, and they’re worse than useless. Can’t even put a man’s armor on him properly. Squires, they say. I say they’re swineherds dressed up in silk.”
“七層地獄??！”勞勃咒罵，“難道我非得親自動手不可？你兩個都是他媽的飯桶。把東西撿起來，不要光張著嘴呆在那兒。藍賽爾，快給我撿起來！”那小伙子嚇得跳將起來，國王這才注意到新來的訪客?！澳蔚?，快瞧瞧這些笨蛋。我老婆堅持要我收他們當侍從，結(jié)果他們比廢物還不如。連幫人穿鎧甲都不會，這算哪門子侍從，這叫穿了衣服的豬頭。”
Ned only needed a glance to understand the difficulty. “The boys are not at fault,” he told the king. “You’re too fat for your armor, Robert.”
奈德只需一眼便看出問題所在。“這不是他們的錯，”他告訴國王，“勞勃，是你太胖了，這才穿不下?！?/p>
Robert Baratheon took a long swallow of beer, tossed the empty horn onto his sleeping furs, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said darkly, “Fat? Fat, is it? Is that how you speak to your king?” He let go his laughter, sudden as a storm. “Ah, damn you, Ned, why are you always right?”
勞勃·拜拉席恩灌了一大口啤酒，把空角杯扔到獸皮睡鋪上，用手背抹抹嘴，然后陰陰地說：“太胖？太胖，是嗎？你對國王是這樣講話的嗎？”突然他像暴風(fēng)來襲一樣哈哈大笑?！鞍。ツ愕?，奈德，為什么你說的永遠都沒錯？”
The squires smiled nervously until the king turned on them. “You. Yes, both of you. You heard the Hand. The king is too fat for his armor. Go find Ser Aron Santagar. Tell him I need the breastplate stretcher. Now! What are you waiting for?”
兩個侍從露出緊張的微笑，國王又轉(zhuǎn)向他們?！澳銈?，對，你們兩個，聽見首相說的話了嗎？國王太胖了，所以穿不下鎧甲。去把艾倫·桑塔加爵士找來，跟他說我需要撐開胸甲的鉗子?？烊グ?！還等什么？”
The boys tripped over each other in their haste to be quit of the tent. Robert managed to keep a stern face until they were gone. Then he dropped back into a chair, shaking with laughter.
男孩們慌忙跑出帳篷，途中還互相絆了一跤。勞勃裝出一副嚴峻的表情直到他們離開，然后轟地坐回椅子，大笑不已。
Ser Barristan Selmy chuckled with him. Even Eddard Stark managed a smile. Always, though, the graver thoughts crept in. He could not help taking note of the two squires: handsome boys, fair and well made. One was Sansa’s age, with long golden curls; the other perhaps fifteen, sandy-haired, with a wisp of a mustache and the emerald-green eyes of the queen.
巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士跟著呵呵笑了，就連艾德·史塔克也露出了微笑。然而，他沒法不在意那兩個侍僮：他們都是漂亮小伙子，皮膚白晰，體態(tài)勻稱。生著金色卷發(fā)的那個年紀和珊莎差不多，另外那個約莫十五，黃棕色頭發(fā)，一點小胡子，有著和王后一樣的翡翠綠眸。
“Ah, I wish I could be there to see Santagar’s face,” Robert said. “I hope he’ll have the wit to send them to someone else. We ought to keep them running all day!”
“啊，我真想瞧瞧桑塔加聽了臉上是什么表情”。勞勃道，“他如果有點腦子，就會支他們?nèi)フ覄e人。我們就讓他倆成天跑個沒完！”
“Those boys,” Ned asked him. “Lannisters?”
“這兩個小伙子，”奈德問他，“是蘭尼斯特家的人？”
Robert nodded, wiping tears from his eyes. “Cousins. Sons of Lord Tywin’s brother. One of the dead ones. Or perhaps the live one, now that I come to think on it. I don’t recall. My wife comes from a very large family, Ned.”
勞勃點頭，一邊擦掉笑出的眼淚?！八膬蓚€堂弟，泰溫大人他老弟的兒子，那些個死掉的老弟，我想想，又好像是活著的那個，我不記得了。奈德，我老婆來自一個很大的家族?！?/p>
A very ambitious family, Ned thought. He had nothing against the squires, but it troubled him to see Robert surrounded by the queen’s kin, waking and sleeping. The Lannister appetite for offices and honors seemed to know no bounds. “The talk is you and the queen had angry words last night.”
也是一個野心勃勃的家族，奈德心想。他對這兩個侍從本身并無意見，但看到勞勃身邊日夜都是王后的親戚，卻不免擔(dān)心。蘭尼斯特家對權(quán)位和榮耀真是貪得無厭?！奥犝f您昨晚和王后鬧不愉快了？”
The mirth curdled on Robert’s face. “The woman tried to forbid me to fight in the melee. She’s sulking in the castle now, damn her. Your sister would never have shamed me like that.”
勞勃臉上的歡樂頓時結(jié)凍。“那死女人想阻止我參加今天的團體比武，這會兒她還窩在城堡里生悶氣，氣死算了。你妹妹絕不會這樣羞辱我。”
“You never knew Lyanna as I did, Robert,” Ned told him. “You saw her beauty, but not the iron underneath. She would have told you that you have no business in the melee.”
“勞勃，你對萊安娜的了解沒我深，”奈德告訴他，“你只見到她的美，卻不知道她真正的硬脾氣。倘若她還活著，她會告訴你，你和團體比武毫無瓜葛?！?/p>
“You too?” The king frowned. “You are a sour man, Stark. Too long in the north, all the juices have frozen inside you. Well, mine are still running.” He slapped his chest to prove it.
“怎么你也來這套？”國王皺眉，“史塔克，你這家伙真討厭，我看你在北方待得太久，體內(nèi)的血都凍成冰啦。告訴你，老子可還熱血沸騰哩?！彼呐男馗允咀C明。
“You are the king,” Ned reminded him.
“別忘了你是國王?！蹦蔚绿嵝阉?。
“I sit on the damn iron seat when I must. Does that mean I don’t have the same hungers as other men? A bit of wine now and again, a girl squealing in bed, the feel of a horse between my legs? Seven hells, Ned, I want to hit someone.”
“我該坐的時候坐坐那張該死的鐵椅子，難道就不能跟其他人一樣有七情六欲嗎？難道我不能沒事喝點小酒，找個女孩樂一樂，享受騎馬的快感嗎？下七層地獄去，奈德，我不過是想打打人罷了?！?/p>
Ser Barristan Selmy spoke up. “Your Grace,” he said, “it is not seemly that the king should ride into the melee. It would not be a fair contest. Who would dare strike you?”
巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士開了口：“陛下，”他說，“國王加入團體比武并不恰當，因為這樣一來，比賽就不公平了。試問誰敢對您動手呢？”
Robert seemed honestly taken aback. “Why, all of them, damn it. If they can. And the last man left standing?.?.?.?”
勞勃真是沒料到這層?！鞍Γl都行啊，他媽的。只要他們有那能耐。反正最后站著的……”
“?.?.?.?will be you,” Ned finished. He saw at once that Selmy had hit the mark. The dangers of the melee were only a savor to Robert, but this touched on his pride. “Ser Barristan is right. There’s not a man in the Seven Kingdoms who would dare risk your displeasure by hurting you.”
“一定會是您?！蹦蔚陆涌凇Ｋ⒖贪l(fā)現(xiàn)賽爾彌點到了關(guān)鍵。若是強調(diào)比武的危險，只會更刺激勞勃，而這樣說來便事關(guān)他的自尊?！鞍屠固咕羰空f得沒錯，七國上下絕沒有人敢冒著惹您生氣的危險對您動手?！?/p>
The king rose to his feet, his face flushed. “Are you telling me those prancing cravens will let me win?”
國王滿臉通紅，霍地站起，“你的意思是那些沒用的膽小鬼會故意失手？”
“For a certainty,” Ned said, and Ser Barristan Selmy bowed his head in silent accord.
“可想而知?！蹦蔚碌?。巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士靜靜地點頭同意。
For a moment Robert was so angry he could not speak. He strode across the tent, whirled, strode back, his face dark and angry. He snatched up his breastplate from the ground and threw it at Barristan Selmy in a wordless fury. Selmy dodged. “Get out,” the king said then, coldly. “Get out before I kill you.”
有好一陣子，勞勃氣得說不出話。他從帳篷的這邊走到那邊，旋身，又走回來，一臉陰沉的怒氣。隨即他從地上抓起胸甲，氣沖沖地朝巴利斯坦擲去。賽爾彌躲開了?！俺鋈ィ边@時國王才冷冷地發(fā)話，“免得我宰了你?！?/p>
Ser Barristan left quickly. Ned was about to follow when the king called out again. “Not you, Ned.”
巴利斯坦爵士立刻離開，奈德正準備跟進，國王卻又叫道：“奈德，你不用走?！?/p>
Ned turned back. Robert took up his horn again, filled it with beer from a barrel in the corner, and thrust it at Ned. “Drink,” he said brusquely.
奈德轉(zhuǎn)身，只見勞勃再度拿起他的角杯，從角落里的酒桶裝滿啤酒，然后塞給奈德?！昂劝??！彼仆坏卣f。
“I’ve no thirst...”
“我不渴——”
“Drink. Your king commands it.”
“快喝。這是國王的命令。”
Ned took the horn and drank. The beer was black and thick, so strong it stung the eyes.
于是奈德接過角杯喝了下去，啤酒又黑又濃，濃烈得令眼睛刺痛。
Robert sat down again. “Damn you, Ned Stark. You and Jon Arryn, I loved you both. What have you done to me? You were the one should have been king, you or Jon.”
勞勃又坐下來?！叭ツ愕?，奈德·史塔克。你和瓊恩·艾林，我這么愛你們，結(jié)果你們是怎么對我的？你或瓊恩才應(yīng)該來當國王?！?/p>
“You had the better claim, Your Grace.”
“陛下，您名正言順，最有資格稱王?！?/p>
“I told you to drink, not to argue. You made me king, you could at least have the courtesy to listen when I talk, damn you. Look at me, Ned. Look at what kinging has done to me. Gods, too fat for my armor, how did it ever come to this?”
“我叫你喝酒，沒叫你頂嘴。媽的，你既然讓我做了國王，好歹我說話的時候?qū)Ｐ穆犘邪?。奈德，你看看我，看看我當了國王之后變成什么樣子。諸神在上，我竟然胖得穿不下自己的鎧甲，怎么會搞成這樣？”
“Robert?.?.?.?”
“勞勃……”
“Drink and stay quiet, the king is talking. I swear to you, I was never so alive as when I was winning this throne, or so dead as now that I’ve won it. And Cersei?.?.?.?I have Jon Arryn to thank for her. I had no wish to marry after Lyanna was taken from me, but Jon said the realm needed an heir. Cersei Lannister would be a good match, he told me, she would bind Lord Tywin to me should Viserys Targaryen ever try to win back his father’s throne.” The king shook his head. “I loved that old man, I swear it, but now I think he was a bigger fool than Moon Boy. Oh, Cersei is lovely to look at, truly, but cold?.?.?.?the way she guards her cunt, you’d think she had all the gold of Casterly Rock between her legs. Here, give me that beer if you won’t drink it.” He took the horn, upended it, belched, wiped his mouth. “I am sorry for your girl, Ned. Truly. About the wolf, I mean. My son was lying, I’d stake my soul on it. My son?.?.?.?you love your children, don’t you?”
“現(xiàn)在國王在說話，你閉上嘴乖乖喝酒。我跟你發(fā)誓，我這輩子再沒比在戰(zhàn)場廝殺、贏得王位那時候更快活，也不會比現(xiàn)在得了王位更死氣沉沉。至于瑟曦……這全都要感謝瓊恩·艾林。本來在失去萊安娜之后，我根本不打算結(jié)婚，但瓊恩說王國需要繼承人。他告訴我瑟曦·蘭尼斯特是個好對象，因為若是韋賽里斯·坦格利安想奪回王位，和她結(jié)婚可以確保泰溫公爵支持我的事業(yè)?！眹鯎u搖頭。“我敢對天發(fā)誓我很敬愛那老頭子，可我現(xiàn)在卻覺得他比月童還笨。噢，瑟曦是很標致，這沒錯，但冷冰冰的……瞧她那副守身如玉的德行，好像兩腳間藏了凱巖城所有黃金似的。呵，你如果不喝，把酒給我?！彼舆^角杯，一飲而盡，打了聲響嗝，然后抹抹嘴。“奈德，你女兒的事我很抱歉，我說真的。就是狼的那件事。我兒子在撒謊，我敢拿我的靈魂打賭。我兒子……你很愛你的孩子，對吧？”
“With all my heart,” Ned said.
“我全心全意地愛他們。”奈德說。
“Let me tell you a secret, Ned. More than once, I have dreamed of giving up the crown. Take ship for the Free Cities with my horse and my hammer, spend my time warring and whoring, that’s what I was made for. The sellsword king, how the singers would love me. You know what stops me? The thought of Joffrey on the throne, with Cersei standing behind him whispering in his ear. My son. How could I have made a son like that, Ned?”
“奈德，讓我偷偷告訴你。我不止一次夢想放棄王位，帶著我的駿馬和戰(zhàn)錘，坐船到自由貿(mào)易城邦去，整天打仗歷險、歌舞青樓，那才是我該過的生活。做個傭兵國王，到時候吟游詩人不愛死我才怪。你知道我為什么沒有真那樣干嗎？就因為我想到喬佛里坐上王位，瑟曦在旁邊嘰嘰喳喳。那是我兒子，奈德，我怎么會養(yǎng)出這種兒子？”
“He’s only a boy,” Ned said awkwardly. He had small liking for Prince Joffrey, but he could hear the pain in Robert’s voice. “Have you forgotten how wild you were at his age?”
“他還是個孩子，”奈德尷尬地說。他自己也不喜歡喬佛里王子，但他聽得出勞勃語中的痛苦?！澳耍覀冊谒@年紀有多野？”
“It would not trouble me if the boy was wild, Ned. You don’t know him as I do.” He sighed and shook his head. “Ah, perhaps you are right. Jon despaired of me often enough, yet I grew into a good king.” Robert looked at Ned and scowled at his silence. “You might speak up and agree now, you know.”
“奈德，他要真是野，我就不擔(dān)心了。你沒我了解他。”他嘆口氣，然后搖搖頭，“啊，或許你說得對，雖然瓊恩常對我絕望，我終究是成了個好國王?！眲诓茨蔚虏话l(fā)話，皺了皺眉頭?！斑@種時候你該出聲附和?！?/p>
“Your Grace?.?.?.?” Ned began, carefully.
“國王陛下……”奈德謹慎地開口。
Robert slapped Ned on the back. “Ah, say that I’m a better king than Aerys and be done with it. You never could lie for love nor honor, Ned Stark. I’m still young, and now that you’re here with me, things will be different. We’ll make this a reign to sing of, and damn the Lannisters to seven hells. I smell bacon. Who do you think our champion will be today? Have you seen Mace Tyrell’s boy? The Knight of Flowers, they call him. Now there’s a son any man would be proud to own to. Last tourney, he dumped the Kingslayer on his golden rump, you ought to have seen the look on Cersei’s face. I laughed till my sides hurt. Renly says he has this sister, a maid of fourteen, lovely as a dawn?.?.?.?”
勞勃拍拍奈德的背。“啊，你就說我跟伊里斯比起來是個好國王不就結(jié)了？奈德·史塔克，我知道你沒辦法說謊，不管是為了愛還是為了榮譽。反正我還年輕，如今又有你輔佐，一切都會改觀的。咱們一起來創(chuàng)造讓后世歌頌的太平盛世，然后把蘭尼斯特家的人通通打下第七層地獄。我聞到了培根的味道。你覺得今天的冠軍會是誰？你見到梅斯·提利爾的孩子了嗎？大家都叫他百花騎士，有這種兒子誰都會驕傲。上次比武會，他可讓‘弒君者’的金屁股好好摔了一跤，你真該來瞅瞅瑟曦當時的表情，我笑到肚子痛。藍禮說他還有個十四歲的妹妹，漂亮得跟曙光一樣……”
They broke their fast on black bread and boiled goose eggs and fish fried up with onions and bacon, at a trestle table by the river’s edge. The king’s melancholy melted away with the morning mist, and before long Robert was eating an orange and waxing fond about a morning at the Eyrie when they had been boys. “?.?.?.?had given Jon a barrel of oranges, remember? Only the things had gone rotten, so I flung mine across the table and hit Dacks right in the nose. You remember, Redfort’s pock-faced squire? He tossed one back at me, and before Jon could so much as fart, there were oranges flying across the High Hall in every direction.” He laughed uproariously, and even Ned smiled, remembering.
他們坐在河邊的折疊桌前吃早餐，有黑面包，水煮鵝蛋，還有洋蔥培根煎魚。國王先前的感傷隨晨霧散去，片刻之后，勞勃便一邊吃著柑子，一邊開心地說起他們在鷹巢城的童年趣事?！坝洸挥浀媚莻€誰送了瓊恩一桶這種柑？可是都放爛了，所以我把我那份朝戴克斯扔去，正中他鼻梁。你記得吧？就是雷德佛那個麻臉侍從。他也扔了一個過來，結(jié)果瓊恩連屁都來不及放，整個鷹巢城大廳就柑子滿天飛了?！彼_懷大笑，奈德想起往事，也不禁微笑。
This was the boy he had grown up with, he thought; this was the Robert Baratheon he’d known and loved. If he could prove that the Lannisters were behind the attack on Bran, prove that they had murdered Jon Arryn, this man would listen. Then Cersei would fall, and the Kingslayer with her, and if Lord Tywin dared to rouse the west, Robert would smash him as he had smashed Rhaegar Targaryen on the Trident. He could see it all so clearly.
這才是那個和他一起長大的男孩，他心想，這才是那個他認識而深愛的勞勃·拜拉席恩。如果他能證實蘭尼斯特家是殘害布蘭的幕后主謀，證實他們是謀殺瓊恩·艾林的兇犯，這個人一定會聽進去。屆時瑟曦必將受到制裁，“弒君者”也會跟著完蛋，倘若泰溫公爵膽敢興兵作亂，勞勃會像當年在三叉戟河上敲碎雷加·坦格利安一樣，毫不留情地將他徹底擊滅。他可以清楚地看到這一切。
That breakfast tasted better than anything Eddard Stark had eaten in a long time, and afterward his smiles came easier and more often, until it was time for the tournament to resume.
艾德·史塔克已經(jīng)很久沒有吃過這么愉快的一頓飯，之后他的笑容也變得輕松自如，直到比武大會繼續(xù)進行。
Ned walked with the king to the jousting field. He had promised to watch the final tilts with Sansa; Septa Mordane was ill today, and his daughter was determined not to miss the end of the jousting. As he saw Robert to his place, he noted that Cersei Lannister had chosen not to appear; the place beside the king was empty. That too gave Ned cause to hope.
奈德隨同國王走進比武會場。他先前已經(jīng)答應(yīng)陪珊莎一起觀賞冠軍決勝戰(zhàn)。茉丹修女今天身體不適，而他女兒心意已決，不想錯過最后的長槍比試。當他護送勞勃到主位坐下時，發(fā)現(xiàn)瑟曦·蘭尼斯特故意缺席，國王旁邊的座位是空的。這更增添了他的希望。
He shouldered his way to where his daughter was seated and found her as the horns blew for the day’s first joust. Sansa was so engrossed she scarcely seemed to notice his arrival.
他推擠著穿過人群，走到女兒身邊時，當天第一場比武的號角正好吹響。珊莎聚精會神地看著武場，沒注意他的到來。
Sandor Clegane was the first rider to appear. He wore an olive- green cloak over his soot-grey armor. That, and his hound’s-head helm, were his only concession to ornament.
桑鐸·克里岡首先出現(xiàn)在場子上，他穿著煙灰色的戰(zhàn)甲，外罩橄欖綠披風(fēng)。那件披風(fēng)和他的獵犬頭盔是他全身上下惟一的裝飾。
“A hundred golden dragons on the Kingslayer,” Littlefinger announced loudly as Jaime Lannister entered the lists, riding an elegant blood bay destrier. The horse wore a blanket of gilded ringmail, and Jaime glittered from head to heel. Even his lance was fashioned from the golden wood of the Summer Isles.
“一百枚金龍幣賭弒君者贏。”詹姆·蘭尼斯特騎著優(yōu)雅的血棕色戰(zhàn)馬進場時，小指頭高聲宣布。這匹馬披著鍍金環(huán)甲，詹姆本人也是從頭到腳金光閃閃，他的長槍則是用盛夏群島出產(chǎn)的金木所削制。
“Done,” Lord Renly shouted back. “The Hound has a hungry look about him this morning.”
“我跟，”藍禮公爵喊回去，“我看‘獵狗’今兒早上特別餓?！?/p>
“Even hungry dogs know better than to bite the hand that feeds them,” Littlefinger called dryly.
“狗就算肚餓，也知道不能咬主人的手?！毙≈割^冷冷地回敬。
Sandor Clegane dropped his visor with an audible clang and took up his position. Ser Jaime tossed a kiss to some woman in the commons, gently lowered his visor, and rode to the end of the lists. Both men couched their lances.
桑鐸·克里岡“鏗”地一聲，把面罩蓋上，然后就位。詹姆爵士向群眾里某位女士拋出個飛吻，方才輕輕拉下面罩，騎到場子邊。兩人放低長槍。
Ned Stark would have loved nothing so well as to see them both lose, but Sansa was watching it all moist-eyed and eager. The hastily erected gallery trembled as the horses broke into a gallop. The Hound leaned forward as he rode, his lance rock steady, but Jaime shifted his seat deftly in the instant before impact. Clegane’s point was turned harmlessly against the golden shield with the lion blazon, while his own hit square. Wood shattered, and the Hound reeled, fighting to keep his seat. Sansa gasped. A ragged cheer went up from the commons.
奈德最樂于見到的莫過于兩人都輸，珊莎則睜大眼睛急切觀看。兩匹馬開始全速奔跑，臨時搭建的看臺也隨之震動。獵狗騎在馬上，身體前傾，他的長槍穩(wěn)若磐石，但詹姆在交擊前的一刻把身體一挪，結(jié)果克里岡的槍尖被他的獅紋黃金盾毫發(fā)無傷地卸開，自己反被刺個正著。木片四散，“獵狗”在馬背上搖晃，差點跌了下去。珊莎倒抽一口冷氣。群眾里響起一陣粗聲的叫好。
“I wonder how I ought spend your money,” Littlefinger called down to Lord Renly.
“我該想想怎么來花你的錢了?！毙≈割^對藍禮公爵說。
The Hound just managed to stay in his saddle. He jerked his mount around hard and rode back to the lists for the second pass. Jaime Lannister tossed down his broken lance and snatched up a fresh one, jesting with his squire. The Hound spurred forward at a hard gallop. Lannister rode to meet him. This time, when Jaime shifted his seat, Sandor Clegane shifted with him. Both lances exploded, and by the time the splinters had settled, a riderless blood bay was trotting off in search of grass while Ser Jaime Lannister rolled in the dirt, golden and dented.
獵狗總算還是穩(wěn)住身子沒掉下去，他猛地勒馬轉(zhuǎn)身，騎回場邊準備第二回合。詹姆·蘭尼斯特拋下斷槍，抓起一支新矛，還跟侍從開了個玩笑。獵狗用力一夾馬肚，策騎前奔，蘭尼斯特也騎馬相迎。這回當詹姆挪動身子時，桑鐸·克里岡也跟著軀體一側(cè)。兩枝長槍同時爆裂，但等木片落地，那匹紅棕色的馬卻少了主人，獨自跑開去吃草了。詹姆·蘭尼斯特爵士在泥地里打滾，金光閃閃，頭盔卻給打凹。
Sansa said, “I knew the Hound would win.”
珊莎說：“我就知道獵狗會贏?！?/p>
Littlefinger overheard. “If you know who’s going to win the second match, speak up now before Lord Renly plucks me clean,” he called to her. Ned smiled.
這話給小指頭聽到了?！澳阋侵赖诙龅内A家，趕快告訴我，免得藍禮大人把我拔得一毛不剩?！彼?。奈德聽了不禁微笑。
“A pity the Imp is not here with us,” Lord Renly said. “I should have won twice as much.”
“只可惜小惡魔不在，”藍禮公爵道，“不然我還可以多贏一倍。”
Jaime Lannister was back on his feet, but his ornate lion helmet had been twisted around and dented in his fall, and now he could not get it off. The commons were hooting and pointing, the lords and ladies were trying to stifle their chuckles, and failing, and over it all Ned could hear King Robert laughing, louder than anyone. Finally they had to lead the Lion of Lannister off to a blacksmith, blind and stumbling.
詹姆·蘭尼斯特爬了起來，但他裝飾繁復(fù)的獅頭盔被打歪了一邊，摔下來的時候又給撞凹了進去，結(jié)果他無法把頭盔摘下來。觀眾指指點點，噓聲連連，貴族老爺夫人們也忍不住笑，眾聲喧嘩中，奈德聽得最清楚的便是勞勃國王的陣陣哄笑，比誰都大聲。最后只好派人領(lǐng)著目不視物、跌跌撞撞的“蘭尼斯特雄獅”去找鐵匠。
By then Ser Gregor Clegane was in position at the head of the lists. He was huge, the biggest man that Eddard Stark had ever seen. Robert Baratheon and his brothers were all big men, as was the Hound, and back at Winterfell there was a simpleminded stableboy named Hodor who dwarfed them all, but the knight they called the Mountain That Rides would have towered over Hodor. He was well over seven feet tall, closer to eight, with massive shoulders and arms thick as the trunks of small trees. His destrier seemed a pony in between his armored legs, and the lance he carried looked as small as a broom handle.
這時格雷果·克里岡已經(jīng)在場邊就位。他是艾德·史塔克生平所見最為高大壯碩的人。勞勃·拜拉席恩和他兩個弟弟塊頭都不小，“獵狗”也是大個子，臨冬城里更有個頭腦簡單的馬僮阿多，比他們還要高出不少，可跟眼前這個人稱“魔山”的騎士比起來，通通都矮了一大截。他高近八尺，肩膀?qū)捄?，手臂粗得像小樹干。他的坐騎在他穿護甲的雙腳下簡直像匹玩具馬，手中長槍也仿如掃把棍。
Unlike his brother, Ser Gregor did not live at court. He was a solitary man who seldom left his own lands, but for wars and tourneys. He had been with Lord Tywin when King’s Landing fell, a new-made knight of seventeen years, even then distinguished by his size and his implacable ferocity. Some said it had been Gregor who’d dashed the skull of the infant prince Aegon Targaryen against a wall, and whispered that afterward he had raped the mother, the Dornish princess Elia, before putting her to the sword. These things were not said in Gregor’s hearing.
格雷果爵士不像他弟弟那樣在宮廷生活。他是個獨居的人，非遇戰(zhàn)事或比武大會，鮮少離開自己的領(lǐng)地。君臨城陷時他跟在泰溫公爵身邊，年方十七，雖然才剛當上騎士，卻已經(jīng)因為高大的體型和無可匹敵的兇暴而遠近馳名。有人說把當時還是小嬰兒的伊耿·坦格利安王子一頭砸墻、活活撞死的人正是格雷果，又說他之后強暴了嬰兒的母親，即多恩領(lǐng)的伊莉亞公主，最后才一劍殺死她。當然，這些話誰也不敢在他面前提起。
Ned Stark could not recall ever speaking to the man, though Gregor had ridden with them during Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion, one knight among thousands. He watched him with disquiet. Ned seldom put much stock in gossip, but the things said of Ser Gregor were more than ominous. He was soon to be married for the third time, and one heard dark whisperings about the deaths of his first two wives. It was said that his keep was a grim place where servants disappeared unaccountably and even the dogs were afraid to enter the hall. And there had been a sister who had died young under queer circumstances, and the fire that had disfigured his brother, and the hunting accident that had killed their father. Gregor had inherited the keep, the gold, and the family estates. His younger brother Sandor had left the same day to take service with the Lannisters as a sworn sword, and it was said that he had never returned, not even to visit.
奈德·史塔克不記得自己跟他說過話，但當年平定巴隆·葛雷喬伊叛亂時，格雷果倒曾與其他幾千個騎士一起，和他共同作戰(zhàn)。他不安地看著他。奈德自己不輕易相信謠言，然而與格雷果爵士有關(guān)的傳言實在不像空穴來風(fēng)。他即將結(jié)第三次婚，他前兩任妻子的死因背后都有種種恐怖的傳聞。據(jù)說他的城堡是個陰森恐怖的地方，仆人莫名失蹤，連狗都不大敢進大廳。他妹妹年輕時離奇死亡，弟弟遭火殘傷，還有死于打獵意外的父親。格雷果繼承了家族古堡、財產(chǎn)以及房舍田莊。接收遺產(chǎn)當天，弟弟桑鐸便離開家，投效蘭尼斯特家當武士，聽說他再沒回去過，連路過拜訪都沒有。
When the Knight of Flowers made his entrance, a murmur ran through the crowd, and he heard Sansa’s fervent whisper, “Oh, he’s so beautiful.” Ser Loras Tyrell was slender as a reed, dressed in a suit of fabulous silver armor polished to a blinding sheen and filigreed with twining black vines and tiny blue forget-me-nots. The commons realized in the same instant as Ned that the blue of the flowers came from sapphires; a gasp went up from a thousand throats. Across the boy’s shoulders his cloak hung heavy. It was woven of forget-me-nots, real ones, hundreds of fresh blooms sewn to a heavy woolen cape.
百花騎士進場時，人群中響起一陣低語喧嘩，他聽見珊莎熱切地悄聲說：“噢，他好美啊?！甭謇埂ぬ崂麪柧羰坷w瘦得像根蘆葦，穿著一身華麗無比的銀色甲胄，擦得銀亮刺眼，上面還鑲了成對的黑色藤蔓和小小的藍色勿忘我。奈德和其他觀眾驚覺藍色的花乃是用藍寶石制成，幾千個喉嚨同時倒抽一口氣。少年肩頭的披風(fēng)沉甸甸的，披風(fēng)上織滿了真的勿忘我，羊毛披風(fēng)就這么縫上了幾百朵鮮花。
His courser was as slim as her rider, a beautiful grey mare, built for speed. Ser Gregor’s huge stallion trumpeted as he caught her scent. The boy from Highgarden did something with his legs, and his horse pranced sideways, nimble as a dancer. Sansa clutched at his arm. “Father, don’t let Ser Gregor hurt him,” she said. Ned saw she was wearing the rose that Ser Loras had given her yesterday. Jory had told him about that as well.
他的坐騎與馬上的人兒同樣纖細，那是匹漂亮的灰母馬，動作敏捷迅速。格雷果爵士的大公馬一嗅到她的氣味便嘶叫起來。高庭來的少年兩腳輕輕一撥弄，他的坐騎便像個靈動的舞者般左右輕躍。珊莎抓住他的手臂。“父親，別讓格雷果爵士傷了他?！彼f。奈德看見她配戴著洛拉斯爵士昨天送她的那朵玫瑰。喬里把昨天發(fā)生的事都告訴他了。
“These are tourney lances,” he told his daughter. “They make them to splinter on impact, so no one is hurt.” Yet he remembered the dead boy in the cart with his cloak of crescent moons, and the words were raw in his throat.
“他們拿的是比武用槍，”他告訴女兒，“一碰撞就會裂成碎片，所以不會有人受傷的?！弊焐线@么講，他卻想起了貨車里那個蓋著彎月披風(fēng)的少年尸體，這番話也因而顯得空洞。
Ser Gregor was having trouble controlling his horse. The stallion was screaming and pawing the ground, shaking his head. The Mountain kicked at the animal savagely with an armored boot. The horse reared and almost threw him.
格雷果爵士不太能控制自己的坐騎。駿馬尖叫嘶啼，不斷跺腳搖頭。魔山惡狠狠地用套鋼甲的腳踢它，馬兒后腿站立，差點把他摔下去。
The Knight of Flowers saluted the king, rode to the far end of the list, and couched his lance, ready. Ser Gregor brought his animal to the line, fighting with the reins. And suddenly it began. The Mountain’s stallion broke in a hard gallop, plunging forward wildly, while the mare charged as smooth as a flow of silk. Ser Gregor wrenched his shield into position, juggled with his lance, and all the while fought to hold his unruly mount on a straight line, and suddenly Loras Tyrell was on him, placing the point of his lance just there, and in an eye blink the Mountain was failing. He was so huge that he took his horse down with him in a tangle of steel and flesh.
百花騎士向國王行過禮，騎到場子邊緣，然后放低長槍，就定位。格雷果爵士拉韁扯繩好半天，好不容易才將馬帶到起跑線，然后一切就突然開始。魔山的駿馬大步急馳，猛烈地向前狂奔，小母馬則流暢如滑絲般開步?jīng)_刺。格雷果爵士扭過盾牌放定，調(diào)整長槍，自始至終努力讓他不聽話的馬跑直線，突然間，洛拉斯·提利爾已經(jīng)迎面殺至，槍尖突擊恰到好處，只一眨眼功夫，魔山便倒了下去。由于他委實太過龐大，因此連帶把馬也拉倒，人馬鎧甲滾成一團。
Ned heard applause, cheers, whistles, shocked gasps, excited muttering, and over it all the rasping, raucous laughter of the Hound. The Knight of Flowers reined up at the end of the lists. His lance was not even broken. His sapphires winked in the sun as he raised his visor, smiling. The commons went mad for him.
奈德聽見喝彩聲，歡呼聲，口哨聲，驚駭?shù)拇瓪饴暎d奮的低語聲，尤其是“獵狗”粗啞刺耳的笑聲。百花騎士在場子對面勒住韁繩，連長槍都沒折斷。當他掀開面罩，露出微笑的時候，一身的藍寶石在陽光下眨眼，全體觀眾為他而瘋狂。
In the middle of the field, Ser Gregor Clegane disentangled himself and came boiling to his feet. He wrenched off his helm and slammed it down onto the ground. His face was dark with fury and his hair fell down into his eyes. “My sword,” he shouted to his squire, and the boy ran it out to him. By then his stallion was back on its feet as well.
場子中間，格雷果·克里岡爵士總算松開韁繩和馬鐙，怒氣沖天地站起來。他猛地扯下頭盔往地上一摔，臉色陰沉，滿是怒意，頭發(fā)垂下，蓋住眼睛?！澳脛?。”他朝侍從大喊，那孩子趕忙跑上前遞給他。這時他的坐騎也站起來了。
Gregor Clegane killed the horse with a single blow of such ferocity that it half severed the animal’s neck. Cheers turned to shrieks in a heartbeat. The stallion went to its knees, screaming as it died. By then Gregor was striding down the lists toward Ser Loras Tyrell, his bloody sword clutched in his fist. “Stop him!” Ned shouted, but his words were lost in the roar. Everyone else was yelling as well, and Sansa was crying.
格雷果·克里岡一劍砍殺了他的馬，力道之猛烈，幾乎把馬頭整個剁下。歡呼瞬間轉(zhuǎn)為尖叫。馬兒慘叫著跪地而死，格雷果握著滴血的長劍朝場邊的洛拉斯·提利爾爵士走去?！白プ∷ 蹦蔚麓蠼?，但他的話音淹沒在吼叫聲中。每個人都在大吼大叫，珊莎則泣不成聲。
It all happened so fast. The Knight of Flowers was shouting for his own sword as Ser Gregor knocked his squire aside and made a grab for the reins of his horse. The mare scented blood and reared. Loras Tyrell kept his seat, but barely. Ser Gregor swung his sword, a savage two-handed blow that took the boy in the chest and knocked him from the saddle. The courser dashed away in panic as Ser Loras lay stunned in the dirt. But as Gregor lifted his sword for the killing blow, a rasping voice warned, “Leave him be,” and a steel-clad hand wrenched him away from the boy.
一切都發(fā)生得好快。百花騎士也喊著要劍，但格雷果爵士把他的侍從推開，伸手抓住韁繩。小母馬聞到血腥味，嚇得后腳站立，洛拉斯·提利爾差點摔下馬去。格雷果爵士雙手握劍，猛力朝少年的胸部揮擊，立刻把他從馬鞍上轟飛出去。受驚的坐騎立即跑開，洛拉斯爵士則昏倒在泥地上。正當格雷果舉劍準備致命一擊時，一個嘶啞的聲音警告他：“不要碰他。”緊接著，一只戴了鋼護腕的手便將他自少年身邊硬生生地扭開。
The Mountain pivoted in wordless fury, swinging his longsword in a killing arc with all his massive strength behind it, but the Hound caught the blow and turned it, and for what seemed an eternity the two brothers stood hammering at each other as a dazed Loras Tyrell was helped to safety. Thrice Ned saw Ser Gregor aim savage blows at the hound’s-head helmet, yet not once did Sandor send a cut at his brother’s unprotected face.
“魔山”無聲地憤怒轉(zhuǎn)身，使盡他驚人的力氣狠命攻擊，但獵狗接下這招，卸開攻勢。其后不知有多長時間，他們兩個就站在那里你來我往，余人則趕緊攙扶頭暈?zāi)垦５穆謇埂ぬ崂麪柕桨踩牡胤健Ｄ蔚驴吹礁窭坠羰坑腥纬琼敨C犬頭盔猛擊，但桑鐸一次也沒有攻擊他哥哥毫無保護的頭部。
It was the king’s voice that put an end to it?.?.?.?the king’s voice and twenty swords. Jon Arryn had told them that a commander needs a good battlefield voice, and Robert had proved the truth of that on the Trident. He used that voice now. “STOP THIS MADNESS,” he boomed, “IN THE NAME OF YOUR KING!”
最后是國王的聲音平息了這場混亂……國王的聲音和二十名武士。瓊恩·艾林曾說指揮官需要一副能在戰(zhàn)場上發(fā)揮功效的好嗓門，當年勞勃在三叉戟河上已證實過這點，如今他又用上了這副嗓門?！耙阅銈兊膰踔?，”他吼道，“立刻給我住手！”
The Hound went to one knee. Ser Gregor’s blow cut air, and at last he came to his senses. He dropped his sword and glared at Robert, surrounded by his Kingsguard and a dozen other knights and guardsmen. Wordlessly, he turned and strode off, shoving past Barristan Selmy. “Let him go,” Robert said, and as quickly as that, it was over.
獵狗聞言立刻單膝跪下，格雷果爵士的揮砍撲了空，這才恢復(fù)理性。他拋下劍，瞪了勞勃一眼。國王身邊圍繞著御林鐵衛(wèi)，還有十來個騎士和衛(wèi)兵。他推開巴利斯坦·賽爾彌，一言不發(fā)地轉(zhuǎn)身大跨步離去。“讓他去吧?！眲诓?。事情就這么結(jié)束了。
“Is the Hound the champion now?” Sansa asked Ned.
“獵狗現(xiàn)在是冠軍了嗎？”珊莎問奈德。
“No,” he told her. “There will be one final joust, between the Hound and the Knight of Flowers.”
“不是，”他告訴她，“獵狗和百花騎士還得再比一場?！?/p>
But Sansa had the right of it after all. A few moments later Ser Loras Tyrell walked back onto the field in a simple linen doublet and said to Sandor Clegane, “I owe you my life. The day is yours, ser.”
但珊莎說對了。幾分鐘后，洛拉斯·提利爾爵士穿著一件樸素的亞麻外衣走回場內(nèi)，對桑鐸·克里岡說：“我欠您一條命，勝利是您的了，爵士閣下。”
“I am no ser,” the Hound replied, but he took the victory, and the champion’s purse, and, for perhaps the first time in his life, the love of the commons. They cheered him as he left the lists to return to his pavilion.
“我不是什么‘爵士閣下’。”獵狗回答，但他還是接受了勝利、獎金，以及或許是他這輩子頭一遭的群眾愛戴。當他離開場子返回營帳的時候，眾人歡聲雷動，為他喝彩。
As Ned walked with Sansa to the archery field, Littlefinger and Lord Renly and some of the others fell in with them. “Tyrell had to know the mare was in heat,” Littlefinger was saying. “I swear the boy planned the whole thing. Gregor has always favored huge, ill-tempered stallions with more spirit than sense.” The notion seemed to amuse him.
奈德和珊莎正走在前往射箭場的路上，小指頭、藍禮公爵和其他幾位人物跟了過來?！疤崂麪栆欢ㄖ滥悄格R正在發(fā)情，”小指頭說，“我敢對天發(fā)誓那小子是事先計劃好的。格雷果向來偏好個頭大、脾氣壞、野性有余而紀律不足的馬。”他饒富興味地推論。
It did not amuse Ser Barristan Selmy. “There is small honor in tricks,” the old man said stiffly.
巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士不以為然。“耍這種伎倆毫無榮譽可言。”老人固執(zhí)地說。
“Small honor and twenty thousand golds.” Lord Renly smiled.
“沒有榮譽，但足以贏得兩萬金龍?！彼{禮公爵微笑道。
That afternoon a boy named Anguy, an unheralded commoner from the Dornish Marches, won the archery competition, outshooting Ser Balon Swann and Jalabhar Xho at a hundred paces after all the other bowmen had been eliminated at the shorter distances. Ned sent Alyn to seek him out and offer him a position with the Hand’s guard, but the boy was flush with wine and victory and riches undreamed of, and he refused.
當天下午，有個來自多恩邊疆，名叫安蓋的升斗小民在淘汰其他射程較短的對手后，在百步射擊的決賽中擊敗巴隆·史文爵士和賈拉巴·梭爾，摘下箭術(shù)冠軍。奈德派埃林去問他有沒有興趣在首相的侍衛(wèi)隊里謀個職位，但那男孩正沉浸在美酒、勝利以及作夢都想像不到的財富中，因此拒絕了這份差事。
The melee went on for three hours. Near forty men took part, freeriders and hedge knights and new-made squires in search of a reputation. They fought with blunted weapons in a chaos of mud and blood, small troops fighting together and then turning on each other as alliances formed and fractured, until only one man was left standing. The victor was the red priest, Thoros of Myr, a madman who shaved his head and fought with a flaming sword. He had won melees before; the fire sword frightened the mounts of the other riders, and nothing frightened Thoros. The final tally was three broken limbs, a shattered collarbone, a dozen smashed fingers, two horses that had to be put down, and more cuts, sprains, and bruises than anyone cared to count. Ned was desperately pleased that Robert had not taken part.
團體比武則打了三個小時。總共有近四十人參加，多半是有意謀求功名的自由騎手、雇傭騎士和剛受策封的侍從。他們手持鈍器，在爛泥四濺、鮮血噴飛的場地里相互拼殺，一會兒組成小隊聯(lián)手抗敵，轉(zhuǎn)眼間又鬧起內(nèi)訌自相殘殺，同盟才剛組成便告破裂，直到最后只剩一人站立。勝利者是密爾來的索羅斯，就是那個手持火焰劍，剃了光頭，十足狂人模樣的紅袍僧。他以前也拿過比武冠軍，因為其他騎士的馬兒都怕極了他那把火焰劍，可他自己卻什么都不怕。最后的傷亡名單包括兩只斷腿，一條碎掉的鎖骨，十幾根打爛的手指，兩匹不得不處理掉的馬，以及多到大家懶得數(shù)的割傷、扭傷和擦傷。奈德萬分慶幸勞勃沒有參加。
That night at the feast, Eddard Stark was more hopeful than he had been in a great while. Robert was in high good humor, the Lannisters were nowhere to be seen, and even his daughters were behaving. Jory brought Arya down to join them, and Sansa spoke to her sister pleasantly. “The tournament was magnificent,” she sighed. “You should have come. How was your dancing?”
當天晚宴席間，艾德·史塔克對未來感到前所未有的樂觀與希望。勞勃興致正好，蘭尼斯特家的人則通通缺席，連他兩個女兒的表現(xiàn)也令人欣喜。喬里把艾莉亞帶過來跟他們同坐，珊莎開心地主動跟妹妹說話。“比武大會真是棒透了，”她驚嘆道，“你真該一起來的。你舞跳得怎么樣了？”
“I’m sore all over,” Arya reported happily, proudly displaying a huge purple bruise on her leg.
“練得渾身酸痛呢?！卑騺嗛_心地報告進度，并且驕傲地展示腿上一大塊紫色瘀傷。
“You must be a terrible dancer,” Sansa said doubtfully.
“我看你舞跳得一定很糟。”珊莎滿腹狐疑地說。
Later, while Sansa was off listening to a troupe of singers perform the complex round of interwoven ballads called the “Dance of the Dragons,” Ned inspected the bruise himself. “I hope Forel is not being too hard on you,” he said.
之后珊莎去聽一個歌手團隊演唱一組由許多敘事詩構(gòu)成，名叫“血龍狂舞”的組曲，奈德則親自檢查了小女兒的瘀傷。“我希望佛瑞爾沒對你太過嚴苛。”
Arya stood on one leg. She was getting much better at that of late. “Syrio says that every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better.”
艾莉亞單腳站立，近來她越來越擅長此道?！拔骼麣W說每次受傷都是一次教訓(xùn)，而每次教訓(xùn)都讓我們更強?！?/p>
Ned frowned. The man Syrio Forel had come with an excellent reputation, and his flamboyant Braavosi style was well suited to Arya’s slender blade, yet still?.?.?.?a few days ago, she had been wandering around with a swatch of black silk tied over her eyes. Syrio was teaching her to see with her ears and her nose and her skin, she told him. Before that, he had her doing spins and back flips. “Arya, are you certain you want to persist in this?”
奈德聽了不禁皺眉。西利歐·佛瑞爾頗具盛名，而他夸張華麗的布拉佛斯風(fēng)格也很適合艾莉亞纖細的劍，然而……幾天前她綁了條黑絲巾遮住眼睛，到處晃來晃去，告訴他說西利歐教她要用耳朵、鼻子和皮膚去感知四周環(huán)境。在那之前，他又叫她練習(xí)前后滾翻?！鞍騺啠阏娴囊^續(xù)學(xué)下去？”
She nodded. “Tomorrow we’re going to catch cats.”
她點點頭。“明天我們開始抓貓?！?/p>
“Cats.” Ned sighed. “Perhaps it was a mistake to hire this Braavosi. If you like, I will ask Jory to take over your lessons. Or I might have a quiet word with Ser Barristan. He was the finest sword in the Seven Kingdoms in his youth.”
“抓貓?！蹦蔚聡@道，“或許我不該雇這布拉佛斯人來教你。你愿意的話，我就請喬里接手，由他來教。不然我也可以跟巴利斯坦說一聲，他年輕時是七國上下最優(yōu)秀的使劍好手?！?/p>
“I don’t want them,” Arya said. “I want Syrio.”
“我不要他們，”艾莉亞說，“我只要西利歐?！?/p>
Ned ran his fingers through his hair. Any decent master-at-arms could give Arya the rudiments of slash-and-parry without this nonsense of blindfolds, cartwheels, and hopping about on one leg, but he knew his youngest daughter well enough to know there was no arguing with that stubborn jut of jaw. “As you wish,” he said. Surely she would grow tired of this soon. “Try to be careful.”
奈德伸手撥撥頭發(fā)。其實，隨便一個還過得去的教頭，都可以教艾莉亞基礎(chǔ)的砍劈和擋格，用不著這些蒙眼睛走路、翻跟斗和單腳跳躍的把戲。但他太了解自己小女兒的個性，知道跟她那固執(zhí)的下巴爭吵毫無用處?！澳蔷臀骼麣W吧?！狈凑t早也會玩膩?！安贿^你一定要小心?！?/p>
“I will,” she promised solemnly as she hopped smoothly from her right leg to her left.
“我會的?！彼槐菊?jīng)地向他保證，然后平順地從右腳跳到左腳。
Much later, after he had taken the girls back through the city and seen them both safe in bed, Sansa with her dreams and Arya with her bruises, Ned ascended to his own chambers atop the Tower of the Hand. The day had been warm and the room was close and stuffy. Ned went to the window and unfastened the heavy shutters to let in the cool night air. Across the Great Yard, he noticed the flickering glow of candlelight from Littlefinger’s windows. The hour was well past midnight. Down by the river, the revels were only now beginning to dwindle and die.
當天晚上，在他帶女兒們回到城里，送她們上床，看著滿腦子白日夢的珊莎和渾身是傷的艾莉亞分別安然入夢之后，奈德這才步上首相塔頂，返回自己的起居室。白天氣候暖和，因此房里現(xiàn)在顯得十分郁窒。奈德走到窗邊，打開沉重的扣鎖，讓清涼的晚風(fēng)吹進室內(nèi)。隔著廣大的中庭，他注意到小指頭窗里的搖曳燭光。時間已過午夜，但在遠處河邊，喧鬧聲才剛開始稍稍減退。
He took out the dagger and studied it. Littlefinger’s blade, won by Tyrion Lannister in a tourney wager, sent to slay Bran in his sleep. Why? Why would the dwarf want Bran dead? Why would anyone want Bran dead?
他取出匕首，仔細檢視。小指頭的刀，在比武大會上打賭輸給提利昂·蘭尼斯特，被用來對熟睡的布蘭痛下殺手。為什么？為什么那侏儒要置布蘭于死地？怎么會有人要置布蘭于死地？
The dagger, Bran’s fall, all of it was linked somehow to the murder of Jon Arryn, he could feel it in his gut, but the truth of Jon’s death remained as clouded to him as when he had started. Lord Stannis had not returned to King’s Landing for the tourney. Lysa Arryn held her silence behind the high walls of the Eyrie. The squire was dead, and Jory was still searching the whorehouses. What did he have but Robert’s bastard?
他隱約覺得這把短刀、布蘭墜樓都與謀害瓊恩·艾林有所牽連，但瓊恩的死亡真相像個謎團，他依舊毫無頭緒。史坦尼斯公爵并未返回君臨參加比武大會，萊莎·艾林則躲在鷹巢城高墻之后，噤若寒蟬。瓊恩的侍從已死，喬里仍在一家家妓院里逡巡。除了勞勃的私生子，他手上究竟還有什么線索？
That the armorer’s sullen apprentice was the king’s son, Ned had no doubt. The Baratheon look was stamped on his face, in his jaw, his eyes, that black hair. Renly was too young to have fathered a boy of that age, Stannis too cold and proud in his honor. Gendry had to be Robert’s.
毫無疑問，武器師傅那個臉色陰沉的學(xué)徒正是國王的兒子，這點奈德很清楚。拜拉席恩家族的特征清楚地印在他臉上，他的下巴、眼睛和黑發(fā)無一不是明證。藍禮太年輕，不可能有那么大的兒子，史坦尼斯則是太冷酷也太重視榮譽，不會做出這種事。詹德利一定是勞勃的種。
Yet knowing all that, what had he learned? The king had other baseborn children scattered throughout the Seven Kingdoms. He had openly acknowledged one of his bastards, a boy of Bran’s age whose mother was highborn. The lad was being fostered by Lord Renly’s castellan at Storm’s End.
即便如此，他又能從中發(fā)現(xiàn)什么？國王所生的孩子遍及七國全境。他曾公開承認過一個和布蘭年紀相仿的私生子，男孩的母親是貴族，現(xiàn)在交由藍禮公爵的風(fēng)息堡代理城主收養(yǎng)。
Ned remembered Robert’s first child as well, a daughter born in the Vale when Robert was scarcely more than a boy himself. A sweet little girl; the young lord of Storm’s End had doted on her. He used to make daily visits to play with the babe, long after he had lost interest in the mother. Ned was often dragged along for company, whether he willed it or not. The girl would be seventeen or eighteen now, he realized; older than Robert had been when he fathered her. A strange thought.
奈德也記得勞勃的第一個孩子，是他還在艾林谷時所生的女兒，當時他自己都還稚氣未脫。那是個可愛的小女孩，風(fēng)息堡的年輕領(lǐng)主對她寵愛有加，即便他早就對孩子的母親失去了興趣，那陣子還是天天去逗女兒玩。而且不論奈德愿意與否，每每被抓去作伴。他突然想到，那女孩現(xiàn)在該有十七八歲了，比勞勃生她時的年紀還大，想來真有些怪異。
Cersei could not have been pleased by her lord husband’s by-blows, yet in the end it mattered little whether the king had one bastard or a hundred. Law and custom gave the baseborn few rights. Gendry, the girl in the Vale, the boy at Storm’s End, none of them could threaten Robert’s trueborn children?.?.?.?
對于她主君到處留種的行徑，瑟曦想必不會高興，但到頭來不論國王有一個私生子還是一百個都沒有差別，畢竟根據(jù)法律和習(xí)俗，庶出的子嗣享有的權(quán)利極為有限。不管詹德利，艾林谷的女孩，或者是風(fēng)息堡那小子，全都不可能威脅到勞勃與王后所生的孩子……
His musings were ended by a soft rap on his door. “A man to see you, my lord,” Harwin called. “He will not give his name.”
他的思緒被門上一陣輕敲打斷?！按笕?，有人想見您，”哈爾溫喊，“他不肯通報姓名?！?/p>
“Send him in,” Ned said, wondering.
“讓他進來?！蹦蔚录{悶地說。
The visitor was a stout man in cracked, mud-caked boots and a heavy brown robe of the coarsest roughspun, his features hidden by a cowl, his hands drawn up into voluminous sleeves.
訪客體格粗壯，穿著沾滿泥濘的破爛靴子，披著用極粗糙的料子制成的厚重褐色長袍，面容被蒙頭斗篷遮住，兩手藏在重重疊疊的袖子里。
“Who are you?” Ned asked.
“請問您是？”奈德問。
“A friend,” the cowled man said in a strange, low voice. “We must speak alone, Lord Stark.”
“我是您的朋友。”蒙面人用怪異的低沉腔調(diào)說，“史塔克大人，我們得單獨談?wù)?。?/p>
Curiosity was stronger than caution. “Harwin, leave us,” he commanded. Not until they were alone behind closed doors did his visitor draw back his cowl.
好奇勝過了警戒心?！肮枩兀阆韧讼隆！彼睢５乳T關(guān)上，房里只剩他們兩人之后，這位訪客方才掀開斗篷。
“Lord Varys?” Ned said in astonishment.
“瓦里斯大人？”奈德驚訝地說。
“Lord Stark,” Varys said politely, seating himself. “I wonder if I might trouble you for a drink?”
“史塔克大人，”瓦里斯彬彬有禮地道，然后自己坐了下來。“不知可否麻煩您給我點喝的？”
Ned filled two cups with summerwine and handed one to Varys. “I might have passed within a foot of you and never recognized you,” he said, incredulous. He had never seen the eunuch dress in anything but silk and velvet and the richest damasks, and this man smelled of sweat instead of lilacs.
奈德倒了兩杯夏日紅，遞給瓦里斯一杯。“打扮成這樣，恐怕我在你鼻子底下也認不出來?！彼y以置信地說。除了絲綢、天鵝絨和最上等的錦緞，他從來沒見太監(jiān)穿過其他質(zhì)料的衣服。太監(jiān)向來一身紫丁香味，然而眼前此人卻渾身汗臭。
“That was my dearest hope,” Varys said. “It would not do if certain people learned that we had spoken in private. The queen watches you closely. This wine is very choice. Thank you.”
“我正希望如此。”瓦里斯道，“絕不能讓別人知道我們私下密談的事。您的一舉一動，王后都監(jiān)視得很緊。這酒好極了，謝謝您?！?/p>
“How did you get past my other guards?” Ned asked. Porther and Cayn had been posted outside the tower, and Alyn on the stairs.
“你是怎么通過我其他守衛(wèi)的？”奈德問。波瑟和凱恩派駐塔外，埃林則守在樓梯口。
“The Red Keep has ways known only to ghosts and spiders.” Varys smiled apologetically. “I will not keep you long, my lord. There are things you must know. You are the King’s Hand, and the king is a fool.” The eunuch’s cloying tones were gone; now his voice was thin and sharp as a whip. “Your friend, I know, yet a fool nonetheless ?.?.?.?and doomed, unless you save him. Today was a near thing. They had hoped to kill him during the melee.”
“紅堡里有些密道只有幽靈和蜘蛛才知道?！蓖呃锼骨溉晃⑿Γ拔也粫驍_您太久，大人，不過有些事您必須知情。您是御前首相，但國王卻是蠢才一個?！碧O(jiān)從前的甜膩語調(diào)不再，取而代之的是輕細且銳利如鞭的口氣。“我知道他是您的摯友，但蠢才就是蠢才……而且恐怕是個注定要完蛋的蠢才，除非您能救他。今天差一點就讓他們得逞，他們原本計劃在團體比武時謀害他?！?/p>
For a moment Ned was speechless with shock. “Who?”
好半晌奈德震驚得說不出話?！八麄冎刚l？”
Varys sipped his wine. “If I truly need to tell you that, you are a bigger fool than Robert and I am on the wrong side.”
瓦里斯啜了口酒，“如果連這個都還要我告訴你，那我看你比勞勃還蠢，而我顯然站錯了隊?！?/p>
“The Lannisters,” Ned said. “The queen?.?.?.?no, I will not believe that, not even of Cersei. She asked him not to fight!”
“蘭尼斯特，”奈德道，“王后……不，我不相信，即使瑟曦也不可能做出這種事，她明明就叫他不要參加！”
“She forbade him to fight, in front of his brother, his knights, and half the court. Tell me truly, do you know any surer way to force King Robert into the melee? I ask you.”
“她禁止他參加，而且是當著他弟弟，當著他手下騎士，以及半數(shù)廷臣的面說的。說真的，敢問您知道什么更好的方法，可以逼得國王不得不參加團體比武？您倒是說說看?！?/p>
Ned had a sick feeling in his gut. The eunuch had hit upon a truth; tell Robert Baratheon he could not, should not, or must not do a thing, and it was as good as done. “Even if he’d fought, who would have dared to strike the king?”
奈德只覺得反胃。太監(jiān)說得沒錯，叫勞勃不準做這，不該做那，絕對不可以如此這般，那就跟催促他沒兩樣?！熬退闼娴南聢?，誰敢動手打國王？”
Varys shrugged. “There were forty riders in the melee. The Lannisters have many friends. Amidst all that chaos, with horses screaming and bones breaking and Thoros of Myr waving that absurd firesword of his, who could name it murder if some chance blow felled His Grace?” He went to the flagon and refilled his cup. “After the deed was done, the slayer would be beside himself with grief. I can almost hear him weeping. So sad. Yet no doubt the gracious and compassionate widow would take pity, lift the poor unfortunate to his feet, and bless him with a gentle kiss of forgiveness. Good King Joffrey would have no choice but to pardon him.” The eunuch stroked his cheek. “Or perhaps Cersei would let Ser Ilyn strike off his head. Less risk for the Lannisters that way, though quite an unpleasant surprise for their little friend.”
瓦里斯聳聳肩?！翱偣灿兴氖畞韨€家伙參加，蘭尼斯特家勢力又大。場子里亂成那樣，馬叫個不停，到處有人折手斷腳，再加上索羅斯揮著他那把怪里怪氣的火焰劍，要真有人不小心碰到國王陛下，你能說那是蓄意謀殺嗎？”他起身去拿酒壺，替自己再度斟滿?！暗壬字蟪墒祜垼瑑词挚隙ㄊ且桓北吹秒y以自已的模樣。我連他怎么哭都可以想像。真叫人難過喲。不過那位雍容華貴又慈悲為懷的寡婦一定會同情他，攙扶這可憐蟲站起來，然后輕輕一吻給予原諒，到時候咱們好心腸的喬佛里國王除了寬恕他還能怎么辦呢。”太監(jiān)抓抓臉頰?！盎蛘呱貢幸亮志羰堪阉念^給砍了。這樣蘭尼斯特家比較保險，只是可憐了他們的同伙?！?/p>
Ned felt his anger rise. “You knew of this plot, and yet you did nothing.”
奈德怒火中燒。“你既然知道這起陰謀，為何一聲不吭？”
“I command whisperers, not warriors.”
“我的手下是打聽消息的探子，不是舞刀弄劍的武士哪?！?/p>
“You might have come to me earlier.”
“那至少也該早點跟我說?！?/p>
“Oh, yes, I confess it. And you would have rushed straight to the king, yes? And when Robert heard of his peril, what would he have done? I wonder.”
“哦，是嘛？這我承認。不過就算我說了又如何，好讓您立刻沖到國王面前向他稟報，是不是？等勞勃聽說了這些詭計他又會怎么做呢？我倒是挺好奇。”
Ned considered that. “He would have damned them all, and fought anyway, to show he did not fear them.”
奈德仔細想想?！八麜渌麄兺ㄍL蛋，然后照樣參賽，讓他們知道他不怕?！?/p>
Varys spread his hands. “I will make another confession, Lord Eddard. I was curious to see what you would do. Why not come to me? you ask, and I must answer, Why, because I did not trust you, my lord.”
瓦里斯一攤手：“艾德大人，我再向您承認一件事吧。我想看看您聽了會有何反應(yīng)。您問我怎么不事先跟您說，我的回答是：因為我不信任您，大人?！?/p>
“You did not trust me?” Ned was frankly astonished.
“你不信任我？”這次奈德真的大吃一驚。
“The Red Keep shelters two sorts of people, Lord Eddard,” Varys said. “Those who are loyal to the realm, and those who are loyal only to themselves. Until this morning, I could not say which you might be?.?.?.?so I waited to see?.?.?.?and now I know, for a certainty.” He smiled a plump tight little smile, and for a moment his private face and public mask were one. “I begin to comprehend why the queen fears you so much. Oh, yes I do.”
“艾德大人，紅堡里住了兩種人?！蓖呃锼沟?，“一種忠于王國，一種忠于自己。今天早上以前，我不敢判定您屬于哪一種……所以我等著瞧……現(xiàn)在我清清楚楚地知道了?！彼麥\淺一笑，剎那間他私下的表情和在公眾場合的表情合而為一。“我漸漸開始了解王后為何這么怕您了。呵，我總算見識到了。”
“You are the one she ought to fear,” Ned said.
“你才是她應(yīng)該怕的人?！蹦蔚碌馈?/p>
“No. I am what I am. The king makes use of me, but it shames him. A most puissant warrior is our Robert, and such a manly man has little love for sneaks and spies and eunuchs. If a day should come when Cersei whispers, ‘Kill that man,’ Ilyn Payne will snick my head off in a twinkling, and who will mourn poor Varys then? North or south, they sing no songs for spiders.” He reached out and touched Ned with a soft hand. “But you, Lord Stark?.?.?.?I think?.?.?.?no, I know?.?.?.?he would not kill you, not even for his queen, and there may lie our salvation.”
“不，我的身份很清楚。國王利用我，但他為此感到羞恥。咱們勞勃是個雄赳赳氣昂昂的大勇士，這種男子氣概的人最不屑的就是雞鳴狗盜和太監(jiān)之流。要是哪天瑟曦在他耳邊嘀咕說‘把他殺了吧’，伊林·派恩轉(zhuǎn)眼間就會砍了我這顆頭，到時候誰會替可憐的瓦里斯哀傷呢？天南地北，沒有人會為蜘蛛歌唱啊?！彼斐鲕浘d綿的手碰碰奈德?！翱墒匪舜笕四筒灰粯恿恕也孪搿?，我很清楚……他決不會殺您，即使是為了王后，這或許便是我們的救贖所在喲。”
It was all too much. For a moment Eddard Stark wanted nothing so much as to return to Winterfell, to the clean simplicity of the north, where the enemies were winter and the wildlings beyond the Wall. “Surely Robert has other loyal friends,” he protested. “His brothers, his...”
這真是太過火了。有好一會兒艾德·史塔克只想回到臨冬城，只想要北方的簡單明了，那里的敵人就是寒冬和長城外的野人?！皠诓欢ㄟ€有其他值得信賴的盟友，”他辯駁道，“比如他親弟弟，還有他——”
“...wife?” Varys finished, with a smile that cut. “His brothers hate the Lannisters, true enough, but hating the queen and loving the king are not quite the same thing, are they? Ser Barristan loves his honor, Grand Maester Pycelle loves his office, and Littlefinger loves Littlefinger.”
“——他老婆？”瓦里斯替他說完，同時露出銳利傷人的微笑?！八麅蓚€弟弟是痛恨蘭尼斯特沒錯，但恨王后和愛國王不見得是同一回事，您說是罷？巴利斯坦爵士愛的是他的榮譽，派席爾國師愛惜他得來不易的職位，小指頭呢，小指頭只愛小指頭他自己?！?/p>
“The Kingsguard...”
“那御林鐵衛(wèi)——”
“A paper shield,” the eunuch said. “Try not to look so shocked, Lord Stark. Jaime Lannister is himself a Sworn Brother of the White Swords, and we all know what his oath is worth. The days when men like Ryam Redwyne and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight wore the white cloak are gone to dust and song. Of these seven, only Ser Barristan Selmy is made of the true steel, and Selmy is old. Ser Boros and Ser Meryn are the queen’s creatures to the bone, and I have deep suspicions of the others. No, my lord, when the swords come out in earnest, you will be the only true friend Robert Baratheon will have.”
“不過是紙老虎罷了，”太監(jiān)說，“史塔克大人，您就別一副震驚的模樣了。詹姆·蘭尼斯特固然是個宣過誓的白騎士，但我們都知道他發(fā)的誓有幾分斤兩。萊安·雷德溫和龍騎士伊蒙王子披白袍的日子早過去啦。如今的七鐵衛(wèi)里，只有巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士有真本領(lǐng)，然而賽爾彌老矣。柏洛斯爵士和馬林爵士都是王后死心塌地的走狗，另外幾個我看也好不到哪里去。是的，大人，若真要動刀動槍，您將會是勞勃·拜拉席恩惟一的朋友。”
“Robert must be told,” Ned said. “If what you say is true, if even a part of it is true, the king must hear it for himself.”
“我得讓勞勃知道，”奈德道，“假如你所言非虛，即便只有一半屬實，國王本人都應(yīng)該立刻知情。”
“And what proof shall we lay before him? My words against theirs? My little birds against the queen and the Kingslayer, against his brothers and his council, against the Wardens of East and West, against all the might of Casterly Rock? Pray, send for Ser Ilyn directly, it will save us all some time. I know where that road ends.”
“那請問咱們的證據(jù)何在？難道要我和他們當面對質(zhì)？要我的小小鳥兒與王后、弒君者，與國王的親弟弟和他滿朝重臣，東西境守護，以及凱巖城所有的勢力為敵？您干脆直接叫伊林爵士來砍我頭吧，那樣比較省事。我知道說了會有什么下場?！?/p>
“Yet if what you say is true, they will only bide their time and make another attempt.”
“若你所言屬實，他們只會靜待時機，準備再次發(fā)難?！?/p>
“Indeed they will,” said Varys, “and sooner rather than later, I do fear. You are making them most anxious, Lord Eddard. But my little birds will be listening, and together we may be able to forestall them, you and I.” He rose and pulled up his cowl so his face was hidden once more. “Thank you for the wine. We will speak again. When you see me next at council, be certain to treat me with your accustomed contempt. You should not find it difficult.”
“那還用說，”瓦里斯道，“只怕會很快。艾德大人，您讓他們寢食難安哪。但我的小小鳥兒會仔細傾聽，咱們倆聯(lián)手，或許能洞燭先機，就你我兩個?！彼酒鹕?，拉上斗篷遮住臉。“謝謝您的酒，今天就到此為止，其他以后再談。下次您在朝廷里見到我，請千萬別忘了用上您以前那種輕蔑的態(tài)度。我想這應(yīng)該很容易?！?/p>
He was at the door when Ned called, “Varys.” The eunuch turned back. “How did Jon Arryn die?”
他走到門邊時，奈德叫道：“瓦里斯，”太監(jiān)回過頭。“瓊恩·艾林是怎么死的？”
“I wondered when you would get around to that.”
“我還在想你什么時候才會問起這個?！?/p>
“Tell me.”
“告訴我。”
“The tears of Lys, they call it. A rare and costly thing, clear and sweet as water, and it leaves no trace. I begged Lord Arryn to use a taster, in this very room I begged him, but he would not hear of it. Only one who was less than a man would even think of such a thing, he told me.”
“那東西叫‘里斯之淚’，非常罕見，價格高昂。其味道清甜如水，不留一點痕跡。當時我就在這個房間里懇求艾林大人叫人先嘗過食物，自己再吃，可他不肯聽，還告訴我：只有不配做人的東西才會想到這種事?！?/p>
Ned had to know the rest. “Who gave him the poison?”
奈德急切地想知道事情始末?！罢l下的毒？”
“Some dear sweet friend who often shared meat and mead with him, no doubt. Oh, but which one? There were many such. Lord Arryn was a kindly, trusting man.” The eunuch sighed. “There was one boy. All he was, he owed Jon Arryn, but when the widow fled to the Eyrie with her household, he stayed in King’s Landing and prospered. It always gladdens my heart to see the young rise in the world.” The whip was in his voice again, every word a stroke. “He must have cut a gallant figure in the tourney, him in his bright new armor, with those crescent moons on his cloak. A pity he died so untimely, before you could talk to him?.?.?.?”
“顯然是某個與他很親近，常和他一起同桌共餐的朋友，噢，但是哪一個呢？可疑的對象太多了。艾林大人是個和藹可親又值得信賴的人哪?！碧O(jiān)嘆道：“不過倒確有這么個孩子，他的一切都是瓊恩·艾林給的，但當艾林的寡婦帶著一家大小逃回鷹巢城時，他卻選擇了留在君臨，并很快飛黃騰達。看到年輕人有發(fā)展，我總是高興的?！彼脑掍h重歸銳利，每個字都像揮出的一鞭。“他在比武大會上想必塑造了自己英勇的形象，穿著那身閃亮的新盔甲，還有那件彎月披風(fēng)。只可惜他死不逢時，您還來不及問他就……”
Ned felt half-poisoned himself. “The squire,” he said. “Ser Hugh.” Wheels within wheels within wheels. Ned’s head was pounding. “Why? Why now? Jon Arryn had been Hand for fourteen years. What was he doing that they had to kill him?”
奈德覺得自己仿佛也給下了毒。“原來是那個侍從，”他說，“修夫爵士?！闭媸侵i中有謎，錯綜復(fù)雜。奈德腦中怦怦作響?！盀槭裁?？為什么選在這個時候？瓊恩·艾林已經(jīng)當了十四年的首相，他到底做了什么，逼得他們非殺他不可？”
“Asking questions,” Varys said, slipping out the door.
“他問得太多了?！蓖呃锼拐f著溜出門。
