TYRION

38 提利昂

”You want eat?” Mord asked, glowering. He had a plate of oiled beans in one thick, stub-fingered hand.

“你想不想吃？”手指粗大的莫德拿著一盤煮豆子，瞪著他問。

Tyrion Lannister was starved, but he refused to let this brute see him cringe. “A leg of lamb would be pleasant,” he said, from the heap of soiled straw in the corner of his cell. “Perhaps a dish of peas and onions, some fresh baked bread with butter, and a flagon of mulled wine to wash it down. Or beer, if that’s easier. I try not to be overly particular.”

提利昂·蘭尼斯特雖然饑腸轆轆，卻不愿讓這粗漢享受到虐待的快感?！坝懈蛲纫欢ê馨簦彼诶畏拷锹渑K兮兮的稻草堆上說，“或許再來一碟青豆和洋蔥，上點(diǎn)剛出爐的奶油面包，再配一壺溫過的葡萄酒把食物沖下肚。如果不方便的話，啤酒也行，我這個(gè)人向來不太挑剔?！?/p>

“Is beans,” Mord said. “Here.” He held out the plate.

“只有豆子?！蹦抡f：“拿去?！彼f出盤子。

Tyrion sighed. The turnkey was twenty stone of gross stupidity, with brown rotting teeth and small dark eyes. The left side of his face was slick with scar where an axe had cut off his ear and part of his cheek. He was as predictable as he was ugly, but Tyrion was hungry. He reached up for the plate.

提利昂嘆口氣。這名獄卒既肥又笨，滿口褐色爛牙，細(xì)小的深色眼睛。他左半邊臉都是傷疤，那是之前被斧頭削去耳朵和部分臉頰所留下的痕跡。雖然他愚蠢又丑陋，但提利昂肚子真是餓了。他伸手去拿盤子。

Mord jerked it away, grinning. “Is here,” he said, holding it out beyond Tyrion’s reach.

莫德嘻嘻笑著挪開盤子?！霸谶@兒?！彼f，一邊把盤子舉到提利昂夠不著的地方。

The dwarf climbed stiffly to his feet, every joint aching. “Must we play the same fool’s game with every meal?” He made another grab for the beans.

侏儒僵硬地爬起身，每個(gè)關(guān)節(jié)都在叫痛?！拔覀兠看纬燥埗嫉猛孢@笨游戲嗎？”他又伸手去拿。

Mord shambled backward, grinning through his rotten teeth. “Is here, dwarf man.” He held the plate out at arm’s length, over the edge where the cell ended and the sky began. “You not want eat? Here. Come take.”

莫德蹣跚著后退，露出爛牙嘻笑道：“小矮人，在這兒。”他伸直了手，把盤子放到牢房盡頭的半空上?！澳悴幌氤?？在這，來拿啊?！?/p>

Tyrion’s arms were too short to reach the plate, and he was not about to step that close to the edge. All it would take would be a quick shove of Mord’s heavy white belly, and he would end up a sickening red splotch on the stones of Sky, like so many other prisoners of the Eyrie over the centuries. “Come to think on it, I’m not hungry after all,” he declared, retreating to the corner of his cell.

提利昂的手臂太短，夠不到盤子，更何況他不打算靠近牢房邊緣。莫德只需用他白白的大肚子一推，他就會(huì)變成長天堡巖頂上的一癱惡心紅漬，像幾世紀(jì)以來鷹巢城的許多犯人一樣?！白屑?xì)想想，我并不太餓哩?！彼迹滞嘶乇O(jiān)獄的角落。

Mord grunted and opened his thick fingers. The wind took the plate, flipping it over as it fell. A handful of beans sprayed back at them as the food tumbled out of sight. The turnkey laughed, his gut shaking like a bowl of pudding.

莫德咕噥著松開他肥胖的手指。強(qiáng)風(fēng)吹走盤子，墜落的途中不斷翻滾。食物飛出視線，還有幾顆豆子被吹回來。獄卒哈哈大笑，肚子像一碗布丁似地?fù)u晃。

Tyrion felt a pang of rage. “You fucking son of a pox-ridden ass,” he spat. “I hope you die of a bloody flux.”

提利昂只覺怒火中燒。“你這操他媽狗娘養(yǎng)的爛貨，”他啐道，“祝你早日七孔流血而死。”

For that, Mord gave him a kick, driving a steel-toed boot hard into Tyrion’s ribs on the way out. “I take it back!” he gasped as he doubled over on the straw. “I’ll kill you myself, I swear it!” The heavy iron-bound door slammed shut. Tyrion heard the rattle of keys.

因?yàn)樗@番話，莫德出去的時(shí)候，狠狠踢了他一腳，鋼靴正中提利昂的肋骨?！拔沂栈貏傉f的話！”他倒在稻草堆上，喘著氣說，“我要親自宰了你，我發(fā)誓！”厚重的鐵門轟地關(guān)上，提利昂聽見鑰匙轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)的聲音。

For a small man, he had been cursed with a dangerously big mouth, he reflected as he crawled back to his corner of what the Arryns laughably called their dungeon. He huddled beneath the thin blanket that was his only bedding, staring out at a blaze of empty blue sky and distant mountains that seemed to go on forever, wishing he still had the shadowskin cloak he’d won from Marillion at dice, after the singer had stolen it off the body of that brigand chief. The skin had smelled of blood and mold, but it was warm and thick. Mord had taken it the moment he laid eyes on it.

對(duì)他這樣的小個(gè)子而言，他很不幸地生了張非常危險(xiǎn)的大嘴巴，他一邊爬回角落一邊想，艾林家的人竟把這稱為他們的“地牢”，真叫人哭笑不得。他蜷縮在薄薄的氈子下——那是他惟一的被褥——向外望著那片刺眼的空虛藍(lán)天，以及好似漫無邊際的縹緲峰巒，暗想著如果還保有那件影子山貓皮披風(fēng)，不知該有多好。披風(fēng)是馬瑞里安從山賊頭目的尸首上扒去的，后來歌手和他賭骰子輸了，便落入他手中。山貓皮雖然散發(fā)著霉味和血腥，卻很溫暖厚實(shí)?？上乱豢吹奖惆阉鼡屪吡?。

The wind tugged at his blanket with gusts sharp as talons. His cell was miserably small, even for a dwarf. Not five feet away, where a wall ought to have been, where a wall would be in a proper dungeon, the floor ended and the sky began. He had plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and the moon and stars by night, but Tyrion would have traded it all in an instant for the dankest, gloomiest pit in the bowels of the Casterly Rock.

尖如利爪的勁風(fēng)扯著他的毛毯。即使對(duì)他這個(gè)侏儒來說，牢房也嫌太小。倘若這里真是“地牢”，那么不到五英尺外，原本應(yīng)該有墻。相反，那里卻是地板盡頭和天空的交界。雖然這里白天空氣新鮮，陽光耀眼，夜里也有繁星與明月，提利昂卻寧可拿凱巖城底部最陰暗潮濕的坑洞來交換。

“You fly,” Mord had promised him, when he’d shoved him into the cell. “Twenty day, thirty, fifty maybe. Then you fly.”

“你飛，”之前莫德一把推他進(jìn)來時(shí)，曾向他保證?！敖?jīng)過二十天，三十天，最多五十天，你就會(huì)飛。”

The Arryns kept the only dungeon in the realm where the prisoners were welcome to escape at will. That first day, after girding up his courage for hours, Tyrion had lain flat on his stomach and squirmed to the edge, to poke out his head and look down. Sky was six hundred feet below, with nothing between but empty air. If he craned his neck out as far as it could go, he could see other cells to his right and left and above him. He was a bee in a stone honeycomb, and someone had torn off his wings.

放眼七國全境，只有艾林家族的地牢鼓勵(lì)犯人逃脫。進(jìn)來的第一天，提利昂花了好幾個(gè)小時(shí)，才鼓起勇氣趴在地上，慢慢爬到山崖邊，探出頭往下望。正下方六百英尺，坐落著長天堡，與他的囚室之間除了空氣，什么也沒有。如果他伸長脖子，可以看到在他左右兩方的其他牢房。他是石頭蜂窩里的一只蜜蜂，還被人折了翅膀。

It was cold in the cell, the wind screamed night and day, and worst of all, the floor sloped. Ever so slightly, yet it was enough. He was afraid to close his eyes, afraid that he might roll over in his steep and wake in sudden terror as he went sliding off the edge. Small wonder the sky cells drove men mad.

囚室極冷，山風(fēng)日夜呼嘯，最糟的是地板竟然向外傾斜。雖然幅度不大，但也夠他受了。他不敢閉眼，害怕沉睡時(shí)會(huì)滾落懸崖，然后驚恐地在半空中醒來。難怪天牢會(huì)把人逼瘋。

Gods save me, some previous tenant had written on the wall in something that looked suspiciously like blood, the blue is calling. At first Tyrion wondered who he’d been, and what had become of him; later, he decided that he would rather not know.

諸神救救我，某個(gè)之前住在這里的囚犯，用疑似血液的東西在地上涂寫了如是的文字，藍(lán)天呼喚著我。起先提利昂還猜測(cè)這人是誰，以及他下場(chǎng)如何；后來再想想，覺得自己還是別知道的好。

If only he had shut his mouth?.?.?.?

要是他閉上嘴巴就好了……

The wretched boy had started it, looking down on him from a throne of carved weirwood beneath the moon-and-falcon banners of House Arryn. Tyrion Lannister had been looked down on all his life, but seldom by rheumy-eyed six-year-olds who needed to stuff fat cushions under their cheeks to lift them to the height of a man. “Is he the bad man?” the boy had asked, clutching his doll.

一切都是從那高高坐在魚梁木雕刻的王座上，頭頂飄揚(yáng)著艾林家族的新月獵鷹旗幟，睥睨著他的該死小鬼開始的。提利昂這輩子經(jīng)常被人輕賤，然而被眼睛濕黏黏，得坐在厚厚的墊子上才有正常人高度的六歲小鬼如此看待，還是頭一遭?！八褪悄莻€(gè)壞人嗎？”小鬼抱著玩偶問。

“He is,” the Lady Lysa had said from the lesser throne beside him. She was all in blue, powdered and perfumed for the suitors who filled her court.

“就是他?！比R莎夫人坐在他旁邊一張較小的王座上，一襲藍(lán)衣，為了滿足追求者，特別撲了粉又噴了香水。

“He’s so small,” the Lord of the Eyrie said, giggling.

“他好小一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)呀。”鷹巢城公爵咯咯笑著說。

“This is Tyrion the Imp, of House Lannister, who murdered your father.” She raised her voice so it carried down the length of High Hall of the Eyrie, ringing off the milk-white walls and the slender pillars, so every man could hear it. “He slew the Hand of the King!”

“這是蘭尼斯特家的小惡魔提利昂，謀害你父親的就是他?！彼岣咭袅?，所講的話傳遍整個(gè)鷹巢城大廳，在乳白色墻壁和纖細(xì)的柱子間回蕩，讓每個(gè)人都聽得到?！八λ懒藝醯氖紫?！”

“Oh, did I kill him too?” Tyrion had said, like a fool.

“哦，原來他也是我殺的？”提利昂像個(gè)蠢蛋似地反問。

That would have been a very good time to have kept his mouth closed and his head bowed. He could see that now; seven hells, he had seen it then. The High Hall of the Arryns was long and austere, with a forbidding coldness to its walls of blue-veined white marble, but the faces around him had been colder by far. The power of Casterly Rock was far away, and there were no friends of the Lannisters in the Vale of Arryn. Submission and silence would have been his best defenses.

那個(gè)時(shí)候，他本應(yīng)當(dāng)?shù)拖骂^顱，乖乖閉緊嘴巴。他早該想到的，七層地獄，其實(shí)他當(dāng)時(shí)又何嘗不知。艾林家的議事廳堂碩長而儉樸，藍(lán)紋的白色大理石墻，有股令人難以親近的寒意，然而周遭眾人的臉色，才真叫人心寒。此處凱巖城勢(shì)力鞭長莫及，艾林谷中也少有親蘭尼斯特人士?？偟恼f來，態(tài)度屈從，保持沉默，實(shí)是他最佳防御。

But Tyrion’s mood had been too foul for sense. To his shame, he had faltered during the last leg of their day-long climb up to the Eyrie, his stunted legs unable to take him any higher. Bronn had carried him the rest of the way, and the humiliation poured oil on the flames of his anger. “It would seem I’ve been a busy little fellow,” he said with bitter sarcasm. “I wonder when I found the time to do all this slaying and murdering.”

然而那時(shí)提利昂心情正惡，哪還顧得了理智。在上鷹巢城長達(dá)一整天的攀爬之行最后，他發(fā)育缺陷的雙腿實(shí)在無法行走，只好很丟臉地讓波隆背他上山。此刻所受的羞辱，無疑對(duì)他本已熾烈的怒意火上添油?！翱磥砦疫€真是個(gè)忙碌的小家伙，”他口氣酸苦地譏諷道，“連自己都不知道哪來的時(shí)間殺這殺那?！?/p>

He ought to have remembered who he was dealing with. Lysa Arryn and her half-sane weakling son had not been known at court for their love of wit, especially when it was directed at them.

他早該想起自己面對(duì)的是誰。萊莎·艾林和她那半瘋的虛弱小鬼對(duì)耍弄機(jī)智向無好感，尤其是針對(duì)他們的時(shí)候，這在宮里是人盡皆知的事。

“Imp,” Lysa said coldly, “you will guard that mocking tongue of yours and speak to my son politely, or I promise you will have cause to regret it. Remember where you are. This is the Eyrie, and these are knights of the Vale you see around you, true men who loved Jon Arryn well. Every one of them would die for me.”

“小惡魔，”萊莎冷冷地說，“你最好管緊你那張碎嘴，對(duì)我兒子客氣點(diǎn)，否則保證你后悔。不要忘記自己身在何處，這里是鷹巢城，你周圍的人都是艾林谷的騎士，個(gè)個(gè)忠貞不貳，對(duì)瓊恩·艾林敬愛有加，他們每個(gè)人都愿意為我犧牲性命?！?/p>

“Lady Arryn, should any harm come to me, my brother Jaime will be pleased to see that they do.” Even as he spat out the words, Tyrion knew they were folly.

“艾林夫人，我要有什么不測(cè)，我老哥詹姆絕對(duì)很樂意料理他們?！痹挸隹诘膭x那，提利昂發(fā)覺這么說實(shí)在愚蠢。

“Can you fly, my lord of Lannister?” Lady Lysa asked. “Does a dwarf have wings? If not, you would be wiser to swallow the next threat that comes to mind.”

“蘭尼斯特大人，敢問您會(huì)飛嗎？”萊莎夫人問，“侏儒有沒有長翅膀?。咳绻麤]有，您最好乖乖地把其他威脅都吞下肚去?！?/p>

“I made no threats,” Tyrion said. “That was a promise.”

“我這不是威脅，”提利昂道，“而是保證?！?/p>

Little Lord Robert hopped to his feet at that, so upset he dropped his doll. “You can’t hurt us,” he screamed. “No one can hurt us here. Tell him, Mother, tell him he can’t hurt us here.” The boy began to twitch.

一聽這話，小勞勃公爵跳將起來，氣得連玩偶都丟了?！澳悴荒軐?duì)我們?cè)鯓?，”他尖叫，“沒有人敢在這里亂來。媽咪，你告訴他，跟他說誰也別想來這里撒野?！毙∧泻㈤_始渾身痙攣。

“The Eyrie is impregnable,” Lysa Arryn declared calmly. She drew her son close, holding him safe in the circle of her plump white arms. “The Imp is trying to frighten us, sweet baby. The Lannisters are all liars. No one will hurt my sweet boy.”

“沒有人能攻破鷹巢城?！比R莎·艾林冷靜地宣布。她把兒子拉過去，用她豐滿白皙的臂膀抱住他。“小寶貝，小惡魔只是虛張聲勢(shì)，蘭尼斯特家的人通通是騙子。誰也別想欺負(fù)我的小親親。”

The hell of it was, she was no doubt right. Having seen what it took to get here, Tyrion could well imagine how it would be for a knight trying to fight his way up in armor, while stones and arrows poured down from above and enemies contested with him for every step. Nightmare did not begin to describe it. Small wonder the Eyrie had never been taken.

她雖然可惡，但說得的確沒錯(cuò)。親眼目睹這里的險(xiǎn)要地勢(shì)之后，提利昂可以想像叫全副武裝的騎士，冒著從山上傾注而下的落石箭雨，每走一步階梯還得對(duì)付迎面而來的敵人，會(huì)是件多么困難的事。說那是場(chǎng)夢(mèng)魘，恐怕還不足以形容，難怪鷹巢城自古以來從未陷落。

Still, Tyrion had been unable to silence himself. “Not impregnable,” he said, “merely inconvenient.”

即使這樣，提利昂的舌頭還是停不下來?！安皇枪ゲ黄疲彼f，“而是不太好攻破?！?/p>

Young Robert pointed down, his hand trembling. “You’re a liar. Mother, I want to see him fly.” Two guardsmen in sky-blue cloaks seized Tyrion by the arms, lifting him off his floor.

小勞勃伸出顫抖的手指著他：“你是個(gè)騙子。媽咪，我想看他飛。”兩個(gè)穿天藍(lán)色披風(fēng)的衛(wèi)士抓住提利昂雙手，把他架離地面。

The gods only know what might have happened then were it not for Catelyn Stark. “Sister,” she called out from where she stood below the thrones, “I beg you to remember, this man is my prisoner. I will not have him harmed.”

若不是凱特琳·史塔克，恐怕只有天上諸神才知道接下來會(huì)發(fā)生什么。“妹妹，”她站在王座下方，朝萊莎喊，“請(qǐng)你記得，他是我的犯人，請(qǐng)不要傷害他。”

Lysa Arryn glanced at her sister coolly for a moment, then rose and swept down on Tyrion, her long skirts trailing after her. For an instant he feared she would strike him, but instead she commanded them to release him. Her men shoved him to the floor, his legs went out from under him, and Tyrion fell.

萊莎·艾林冷冷地看了她姐姐一會(huì)兒，然后起身走向提利昂，她的長裙拖在身后。他原本怕她會(huì)動(dòng)手打人，但她卻下令放開他。兩個(gè)衛(wèi)士把提利昂丟到地上，他雙腳撲空，摔倒在地。

He must have made quite a sight as he struggled to his knees, only to feel his right leg spasm, sending him sprawling once more. Laughter boomed up and down the High Hall of the Arryns.

他出丑的模樣想必難看得很；不料他正掙扎著要站起來，右腳竟然抽筋，結(jié)果再度癱在地上。艾林家的大廳里響起哄堂大笑。

“My sister’s little guest is too weary to stand,” Lady Lysa announced. “Ser Vardis, take him down to the dungeon. A rest in one of our sky cells will do him much good.”

“我姐姐的小客人累了，連站都站不穩(wěn)?！比R莎夫人宣布，“瓦狄斯爵士，麻煩你帶他到地牢去。在天上休息休息，想必對(duì)他的健康大有助益?！?/p>

The guardsmen jerked him upright. Tyrion Lannister dangled between them, kicking feebly, his face red with shame. “I will remember this,” he told them all as they carried him off.

衛(wèi)兵猛地把他拉起。提利昂·蘭尼斯特在兩人中間雙腳懸空，虛弱地踢打，羞得滿臉通紅?！霸蹅冏咧?。”被架走前，他對(duì)全廳的人說。

And so he did, for all the good it did him.

到目前為止，他還瞧不出有什么解決辦法。

At first he had consoled himself that this imprisonment could not last long. Lysa Arryn wanted to humble him, that was all. She would send for him again, and soon. If not her, then Catelyn Stark would want to question him. This time he would guard his tongue more closely. They dare not kill him out of hand; he was still a Lannister of Casterly Rock, and if they shed his blood, it would mean war. Or so he had told himself.

起先他安慰自己，認(rèn)為監(jiān)禁不會(huì)太久。萊莎·艾林不過是想羞辱他。她一定會(huì)很快再傳他過去。就算她沒有，凱特琳·史塔克也會(huì)來盤問他。這次他會(huì)小心措辭、不亂說話。他們不可能現(xiàn)在就殺他，再怎么說，他都是凱巖城的蘭尼斯特家人，他們?nèi)舾覛⑺?，便意味著開戰(zhàn)。至少，他是這么告訴自己。

Now he was not so certain.

然而現(xiàn)在他卻不那么確定了。

Perhaps his captors only meant to let him rot here, but he feared he did not have the strength to rot for long. He was growing weaker every day, and it was only a matter of time until Mord’s kicks and blows did him serious harm, provided the gaoler did not starve him to death first. A few more nights of cold and hunger, and the blue would start calling to him too.

或許他們只打算讓他爛在這里，怕只怕自己連爛久點(diǎn)的力氣都沒有。他日漸虛弱，距離莫德把他踢成重傷，只是時(shí)間的問題。這還得以獄卒沒先把他餓死為前提。再來幾個(gè)饑寒交迫的夜晚，藍(lán)天就會(huì)呼喚他了。

He wondered what was happening beyond the walls (such as they were) of his cell. Lord Tywin would surely have sent out riders when the word reached him. Jaime might be leading a host through the Mountains of the Moon even now?.?.?.?unless he was riding north against Winterfell instead. Did anyone outside the Vale even suspect where Catelyn Stark had taken him? He wondered what Cersei would do when she heard. The king could order him freed, but would Robert listen to his queen or his Hand? Tyrion had no illusions about the king’s love for his sister.

他不禁猜想囚室圍墻（雖然根本沒有圍墻）之外是怎樣一番情形。泰溫公爵接獲消息后一定會(huì)派出使者。說不定這會(huì)兒詹姆已帶著軍隊(duì)，穿越明月山脈而來……或者他直接對(duì)付臨冬城？峽谷之外，誰會(huì)猜到凱特琳·史塔克把他綁架到這里呢？他很好奇，瑟曦得知消息后會(huì)采取何種行動(dòng)。國王自可下令釋放他，但勞勃究竟會(huì)聽他王后的話，還是他首相的話呢？國王對(duì)姐姐的感情有多深，提利昂可是一清二楚。

If Cersei kept her wits about her, she would insist the king sit in judgment of Tyrion himself. Even Ned Stark could scarcely object to that, not without impugning the honor of the king. And Tyrion would be only too glad to take his chances in a trial. Whatever murders they might lay at his door, the Starks had no proof of anything so far as he could see. Let them make their case before the Iron Throne and the lords of the land. It would be the end of them. If only Cersei were clever enough to see that?.?.?.?

若瑟曦肯仔細(xì)盤算，她應(yīng)該堅(jiān)持要國王親自審判提利昂。這樣一來，連奈德·史塔克也沒法反對(duì)，否則便有損國王名譽(yù)。對(duì)提利昂來說，能有公開審判的機(jī)會(huì)，自是求之不得。無論他們給他安上什么罪名，到目前為止，他看不出他們能提出任何有力證據(jù)。就讓他們當(dāng)著鐵王座和全國諸侯的面審理這個(gè)案子吧，那么他們鐵定完蛋。如果瑟曦真有這么機(jī)靈就好了……

Tyrion Lannister sighed. His sister was not without a certain low cunning, but her pride blinded her. She would see the insult in this, not the opportunity. And Jaime was even worse, rash and headstrong and quick to anger. His brother never untied a knot when he could slash it in two with his sword.

提利昂·蘭尼斯特嘆了口氣。姐姐是有些許小聰明，卻常常被她的傲慢所蒙蔽。她只會(huì)把這件事當(dāng)成奇恥大辱，卻看不到里面蘊(yùn)藏的機(jī)會(huì)。至于剛愎輕率又沖動(dòng)易怒的詹姆，那就更別提了。遇到繩結(jié)，只要能用劍斬成兩段，哥哥是決計(jì)不會(huì)動(dòng)腦筋解開的。

He wondered which of them had sent the footpad to silence the Stark boy, and whether they had truly conspired at the death of Lord Arryn. If the old Hand had been murdered, it was deftly and subtly done. Men of his age died of sudden illness all the time. In contrast, sending some oaf with a stolen knife after Brandon Stark struck him as unbelievably clumsy. And wasn’t that peculiar, come to think on it?.?.?.?

他倒想知道派小賊去殺那史塔克小鬼滅口的，究竟是哥哥還是姐姐，也很好奇艾林大人的死，到底與他們有沒有關(guān)系。倘若老首相當(dāng)真是被害死，還真是干得干凈利落。像他那年紀(jì)的人突然染病身亡本就稀松平常。反過來講，找個(gè)呆頭鵝拿著偷來的刀去殺布蘭登·史塔克，卻是笨得不像話的作法。仔細(xì)想想，還真是奇怪……

Tyrion shivered. Now there was a nasty suspicion. Perhaps the direwolf and the lion were not the only beasts in the woods, and if that was true, someone was using him as a catspaw. Tyrion Lannister hated being used.

提利昂打了個(gè)冷顫。這是個(gè)下流的可能性?；蛟S冰原狼和獅子并非森林里僅有的猛獸，果真如此，那肯定是有人拿他當(dāng)替死鬼。提利昂·蘭提斯特最恨被人利用。

He would have to get out of here, and soon. His chances of overpowering Mord were small to none, and no one was about to smuggle him a six-hundred-foot-long rope, so he would have to talk himself free. His mouth had gotten him into this cell; it could damn well get him out.

他得離開這鬼地方，越快越好。跟莫德以力相搏是不用想了，大概也不會(huì)有人拿來六百英尺長的繩子助他脫逃，所以他只能靠三寸不爛之舌脫身。他這張碎嘴害他進(jìn)了大牢，一定也他媽的能讓他重獲自由。

Tyrion pushed himself to his feet, doing his best to ignore the slope of the floor beneath him, with its ever-so-subtle tug toward the edge. He hammered on the door with a fist. “Mord!” he shouted. “Turnkey! Mord, I want you!” He had to keep it up a good ten minutes before he heard footsteps. Tyrion stepped back an instant before the door opened with a crash.

提利昂站起來，努力不去注意腳下輕輕把他拖向懸崖邊的傾斜地面。他握拳敲門。“莫德！”他喊道，“看門的！莫德，我要跟你談?wù)?！”他足足捶了十分鐘才聽見腳步聲。鐵門轟然打開的前一刻，提利昂及時(shí)跳開。

“Making noise,” Mord growled, with blood in his eyes. Dangling from one meaty hand was a leather strap, wide and thick, doubled over in his fist.

“好吵?！蹦聺M眼血絲地咆哮道。他一只肥手里握著一條又粗又寬的皮帶，對(duì)折了抓在掌心。

Never show them you’re afraid, Tyrion reminded himself. “How would you like to be rich?” he asked.

別讓他們知道你害怕，提利昂提醒自己?！澳阆氩幌氚l(fā)財(cái)？”他問。

Mord hit him. He swung the strap backhand, lazily, but the leather caught Tyrion high on the arm. The force of it staggered him, and the pain made him grit his teeth. “No mouth, dwarf man,” Mord warned him.

莫德揍他。他反手懶懶地?fù)]出皮帶，打中提利昂上臂。力道震得他腳步不穩(wěn)，痛得他咬緊牙根?！鞍?，別吵。”莫德警告他。

“Gold,” Tyrion said, miming a smile. “Casterly Rock is full of gold?.?.?.?ahhhh?.?.?.?” This time the blow was a forehand, and Mord put more of his arm into the swing, making the leather crack and jump. It caught Tyrion in the ribs and dropped him to his knees, wimpering. He forced himself to look up at the gaoler. “As rich as the Lannisters,” he wheezed. “That’s what they say, Mord...”

“金子，”提利昂裝出笑，“凱巖城里到處都是金子……啊啊啊……”這回莫德用了力，皮帶一聲爆裂，自他手中蹦跳到提利昂肋骨上，痛得他當(dāng)即跪下呻吟。他強(qiáng)迫自己抬頭看著獄卒?！案m尼斯特家一樣有錢，”他呼吸困難地說，“他們不都這樣說么？莫德——”

Mord grunted. The strap whistled through the air and smashed Tyrion full in the face. The pain was so bad he did not remember falling, but when he opened his eyes again he was on the floor of his cell. His ear was ringing, and his mouth was full of blood. He groped for purchase, to push himself up, and his fingers brushed against?.?.?.?nothing. Tyrion snatched his hand back as fast as if it had been scalded, and tried his best to stop breathing. He had fallen right on the edge, inches from the blue.

莫德咕噥一聲，皮帶劃破空氣，正中提利昂面門。他天旋地轉(zhuǎn)，連自己是如何摔倒都不記得。再睜眼時(shí)，他發(fā)現(xiàn)人躺在牢房地上，耳鳴不已，滿嘴是血。他伸手想找個(gè)支撐爬起來，結(jié)果手指摸到的卻是……什么也沒有。提利昂飛快地抽回手，仿佛被燙到似的，憋氣不敢呼吸。他剛好落在山崖邊，距離藍(lán)天只有幾寸之遙。

“More to say?” Mord held the strap between his fists and gave it a sharp pull. The snap made Tyrion jump. The turnkey laughed.

“還要說嗎？”莫德雙手各握皮帶一端，猛力一扯，啪的一聲把提利昂嚇得跳腳，獄卒樂得哈哈大笑。

He won’t push me over, Tyrion told himself desperately as he crawled away from the edge. Catelyn Stark wants me alive, he doesn’t dare kill me. He wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, grinned, and said, “That was a stiff one, Mord.” The gaoler squinted at him, trying to decide if he was being mocked. “I could make good use of a strong man like you.” The strap flew at him, but this time Tyrion was able to cringe away from it. He took a glancing blow to the shoulder, nothing more. “Gold,” he repeated, scrambling backward like a crab, “more gold than you’ll see here in a lifetime. Enough to buy land, women, horses?.?.?.?you could be a lord. Lord Mord.” Tyrion hawked up a glob of blood and phlegm and spat it out into the sky.

他不敢把我推下去，提利昂一邊從崖邊爬回來，一邊絕望地告訴自己。凱特琳·史塔克要留我活口，他絕對(duì)不敢殺我。他用手背抹抹唇上的血，嘻嘻笑道：“莫德，剛剛那下可真帶勁。”獄卒瞇眼看他，不知這是諷刺還是真心話。“我用得著你這么強(qiáng)壯的人?！逼Т蜻^來，但這回提利昂縮身閃過?！拔艺f的可是金子，”他像只螃蟹似地爬回來，重復(fù)道，“你一輩子都用不完的金子，買土地、女人、好馬都不成問題……你還可以當(dāng)個(gè)貴族老爺?！麓笕恕?，聽起來不賴吧？”提利昂咳出一大口血和黏黏的東西，朝天空吐去。

“Is no gold,” Mord said.

“沒有金子。”莫德說。

He’s listening! Tyrion thought. “They relieved me of my purse when they captured me, but the gold is still mine. Catelyn Stark might take a man prisoner, but she’d never stoop to rob him. That wouldn’t be honorable. Help me, and all the gold is yours.” Mord’s strap licked out, but it was a halfhearted, desultory swing, slow and contemptuous. Tyrion caught the leather in his hand and held it prisoned. “There will be no risk to you. All you need do is deliver a message.”

他上鉤了！提利昂心想。“他們抓我的時(shí)候把我的錢包搜走了，但錢還是我的。凱特琳·史塔克抓的是我的人，不至于紆尊降貴，搶我的錢。干那種事不光彩。只要你肯幫我，里面所有的金子都是你的了?！蹦碌钠г俣葥鋪?，但只是漫不經(jīng)心地一揮，動(dòng)作緩慢，充滿輕蔑。提利昂伸手抓住皮帶，這下他成了他的囚犯?！澳阃耆挥妹帮L(fēng)險(xiǎn)，只要幫我傳個(gè)口信就成?！?/p>

The gaoler yanked his leather strap free of Tyrion’s grasp. “Message,” he said, as if he had never heard the word before. His frown made deep creases in his brow.

獄卒把皮帶從提利昂手中抽回?！翱谛?？”他說，就好像以前從沒聽過這兩個(gè)字。他一皺眉，額頭上便現(xiàn)出許多深陷的凹痕。

“You heard me, my lord. Only carry my word to your lady. Tell her?.?.?.?” What? What would possibly make Lysa Anyn relent? The inspiration came to Tyrion Lannister suddenly. “?.?.?.?.tell her that I wish to confess my crimes.”

“是的，莫德大人，你聽我說什么，就去跟你家夫人說什么。告訴她……”告訴她什么？如何才能打動(dòng)萊莎·艾林？提利昂·蘭尼斯特突然靈光一現(xiàn)。“……告訴她我打算認(rèn)罪。”

Mord raised his arm and Tyrion braced himself for another blow, but the turnkey hesitated. Suspicion and greed warred in his eyes. He wanted that gold, yet he feared a trick; he had the look of a man who had often been tricked. “Is lie,” he muttered darkly. “Dwarf man cheat me.”

莫德舉起手，提利昂做好挨打的準(zhǔn)備，但獄卒遲遲沒有下手。懷疑和貪婪在他眼里交戰(zhàn)。他想要金子，卻怕被騙；看來他以前似乎常被人戲弄。“騙人，”他陰沉地喃喃道，“矮冬瓜騙我。”

“I will put my promise in writing,” Tyrion vowed.

“要不咱們白紙黑字寫清楚。”提利昂發(fā)誓。

Some illiterates held writing in disdain; others seemed to have a superstitious reverence for the written word, as if it were some sort of magic. Fortunately, Mord was one of the latter. The turnkey lowered the strap. “Writing down gold. Much gold.”

有些文盲對(duì)文字特別厭惡，有些則迷信般地將其奉若神明，仿佛那是種魔法。幸運(yùn)的是，莫德屬于后者。獄卒放下皮帶：“寫下金子，很多金子。”

“Oh, much gold,” Tyrion assured him. “The purse is just a taste, my friend. My brother wears armor of solid gold plate.” In truth, Jaime’s armor was gilded steel, but this oaf would never know the difference.

“喔，很多很多，”提利昂向他擔(dān)保，“親愛的好朋友，我的錢包只是開胃小菜。我老哥連鎧甲都是從頭到尾用金子打的?！笔聦?shí)上，詹姆的盔甲是鋼做的，只是鍍上一層金，但這驢蛋反正也分不出來。

Mord fingered his strap thoughtfully, but in the end, he relented and went to fetch paper and ink. When the letter was written, the gaoler frowned at it suspiciously. “Now deliver my message,” Tyrion urged.

莫德把玩著皮帶，不過最后還是妥協(xié)地取來紙和墨水。寫好之后，獄卒狐疑地皺眉看著那張紙?！艾F(xiàn)在去幫我傳口信罷。”提利昂催促。

He was shivering in his sleep when they came for him, late that night. Mord opened the door but kept his silence. Ser Vardis Egen woke Tyrion with the point of his boot. “On your feet, Imp. My lady wants to see you.”

當(dāng)天深夜，他們來找他時(shí)，他正在睡夢(mèng)中發(fā)抖。莫德打開門，沒有作聲。瓦狄斯·伊根爵士用靴尖弄醒提利昂。“小惡魔，快起來，我家夫人要見你?！?/p>

Tyrion rubbed the sleep from his eyes and put on a grimace he scarcely felt. “No doubt she does, but what makes you think I wish to see her?”

提利昂揉去眼中睡意，故意裝出一副不悅的神情?！八?dāng)然想，可你怎么知道我想見她呢？”

Ser Vardis frowned. Tyrion remembered him well from the years he had spent at King’s Landing as the captain of the Hand’s household guard. A square, plain face, silver hair, a heavy build, and no humor whatsoever. “Your wishes are not my concern. On your feet, or I’ll have you carried.”

瓦狄斯爵士皺起眉頭。他早些年曾在君臨擔(dān)任首相的侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長，提利昂對(duì)他印象深刻。這家伙生了張相貌平凡的寬臉，銀發(fā)，身材粗壯，毫無幽默感可言。“你怎么想不干我事?？炱饋恚蝗晃医腥税涯慵茏??！?/p>

Tyrion clambered awkwardly to his feet. “A cold night,” he said casually, “and the High Hall is so drafty. I don’t wish to catch a chill. Mord, if you would be so good, fetch my cloak.”

提利昂笨拙地爬起身?！敖裢砜烧胬洌彼魺o其事地說，“大廳里又那么通風(fēng)，我可不想著涼。莫德，你行行好，把我的斗篷拿來罷?！?/p>

The gaoler squinted at him, face dull with suspicion.

獄卒瞇眼看他，一臉大惑不解的表情。

“My cloak,” Tyrion repeated. “The shadowskin you took from me for safekeeping. You recall.”

“我的斗篷，”提利昂重復(fù)，“就你幫我保管的那件山貓皮披風(fēng)，還記得吧？”

“Get him the damnable cloak,” Ser Vardis said.

“快把他媽的斗篷拿來?！蓖叩宜咕羰康?。

Mord did not dare grumble. He gave Tyrion a glare that promised future retribution, yet he went for the cloak. When he draped it around his prisoner’s neck, Tyrion smiled. “My thanks. I shall think of you whenever I wear it.” He flung the trailing end of the long fur over his right shoulder, and felt warm for the first time in days. “Lead on, Ser Vardis.”

莫德不敢吭聲。他瞪了提利昂一眼，那神情似乎在向他保證將來一定會(huì)報(bào)復(fù)，但他還是照辦了。當(dāng)他為犯人披上斗篷時(shí)，提利昂微笑道：“多謝，以后我一穿上它就會(huì)想起你?！彼严麓沟拈L邊圍上右肩，多日以來，第一次感覺到溫暖?！巴叩宜咕羰?，請(qǐng)帶路?！?/p>

The High Hall of the Arryns was aglow with the light of fifty torches, burning in the sconces along the walls. The Lady Lysa wore black silk, with the moon-and-falcon sewn on her breast in pearls. Since she did not look the sort to join the Night’s Watch, Tyrion could only imagine that she had decided mourning clothes were appropriate garb for a confession. Her long auburn hair, woven into an elaborate braid, fell across her left shoulder. The taller throne beside her was empty; no doubt the little Lord of the Eyrie was off shaking in his sleep. Tyrion was thankful for that much, at least.

艾林家的大廳燈火通明，五十支火炬在墻壁的臺(tái)座上熠熠發(fā)亮。萊莎夫人身著黑紗禮服，胸前配著珍珠繡的新月獵鷹紋章。既然她沒打算加入守夜人軍團(tuán)，提利昂猜想，只怕她覺得聽人認(rèn)罪時(shí)惟一適合的就是喪服。她的紅棕色長發(fā)扎成一個(gè)精巧的辮子，斜斜地垂在左肩。她旁邊那個(gè)較高的王座是空的，想必鷹巢城的小公爵此刻正在睡夢(mèng)中發(fā)抖罷。少了他總是好的。

He bowed deeply and took a moment to glance around the hall. Lady Arryn had summoned her knights and retainers to hear his confession, as he had hoped. He saw Ser Brynden Tully’s craggy face and Lord Nestor Royce’s bluff one. Beside Nestor stood a younger man with fierce black side-whiskers who could only be his heir, Ser Albar. Most of the principal houses of the Vale were represented. Tyrion noted Ser Lyn Corbray, slender as a sword, Lord Hunter with his gouty legs, the widowed Lady Waynwood surrounded by her sons. Others sported sigils he did not know; broken lance, green viper, burning tower, winged chalice.

他深深一鞠躬，借機(jī)環(huán)顧在場(chǎng)人等。艾林夫人果然如他所愿，將麾下的騎士和隨從召集來聽他認(rèn)罪。他看見布林登·徒利爵士歷盡風(fēng)霜的臉，以及好脾氣的奈斯特·羅伊斯男爵。奈斯特身旁站了個(gè)年紀(jì)較輕的人，生了對(duì)銳利的黑色八字胡，定是他的繼承人艾爾拔爵士。峽谷的首要貴族多半有代表到場(chǎng)。提利昂看到瘦得像把劍的林恩·科布瑞爵士，腿生痛風(fēng)的杭特伯爵，以及身邊兒子成群的寡婦韋伍德伯爵夫人。還有些家徽他不認(rèn)識(shí)，如斷裂長槍，綠色毒蛇，燃燒塔樓，以及粉紅底上的帶翅膀圣杯等等。

Among the lords of the Vale were several of his companions from the high road; Ser Rodrik Cassel, pale from half-healed wounds, stood with Ser Willis Wode beside him. Marillion the singer had found a new woodharp. Tyrion smiled; whatever happened here tonight, he did not wish it to happen in secret, and there was no one like a singer for spreading a story near and far.

峽谷眾貴族間有幾個(gè)是與他一道來的同伴。羅德利克·凱索爵士傷勢(shì)未愈，臉色蒼白，身旁站了維里·渥德爵士。吟游歌手馬瑞里安弄到一把新的木頭豎琴。提利昂不禁微笑，無論今晚會(huì)發(fā)生什么，他都不希望私下進(jìn)行，而若要把事情傳播開去，再?zèng)]有比吟游歌手更適合的了。

In the rear of the hall, Bronn lounged beneath a pillar. The freerider’s black eyes were fixed on Tyrion, and his hand lay lightly on the pommel of his sword. Tyrion gave him a long look, wondering?.?.?.?

大廳后方，波隆慵懶地躺臥在一根柱子下。這名流浪武士的黑眼睛盯著提利昂，手輕輕地?cái)R在劍柄上。提利昂意味深長地看著他，心里盤算……

Catelyn Stark spoke first. “You wish to confess your crimes, we are told.”

凱特琳·史塔克率先啟齒：“聽說你有意公開認(rèn)罪?！?/p>

“I do, my lady,” Tyrion answered.

“是的，夫人。”提利昂回答。

Lysa Arryn smiled at her sister. “The sky cells always break them. The gods can see them there, and there is no darkness to hide in.”

萊莎·艾林朝她姐姐微笑?！疤炖慰梢宰屓魏稳饲?。在天牢里，天上諸神看得一清二楚，沒有暗處可供躲藏。”

“He does not look broken to me,” Lady Catelyn said.

“可他看起來并不像屈服的樣子?！眲P特琳夫人道。

Lady Lysa paid her no mind. “Say what you will,” she commanded Tyrion.

萊莎夫人沒理睬她。“你說吧?！彼钐崂?。

And now to roll the dice, he thought with another quick glance back at Bronn. “Where to begin? I am a vile little man, I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting, my lords and ladies. I have lain with whores, not once but hundreds of times. I have wished my own lord father dead, and my sister, our gracious queen, as well.” Behind him, someone chuckled. “I have not always treated my servants with kindness. I have gambled. I have even cheated, I blush to admit. I have said many cruel and malicious things about the noble lords and ladies of the court.” That drew outright laughter. “Once I...”

孤注一擲的時(shí)候到了，他一邊想，一邊回頭看了波隆一眼?！霸搹暮握f起呢？我承認(rèn)我是個(gè)小壞蛋。各位老爺夫人，我犯下的罪過數(shù)不勝數(shù)。我跟婊子睡過，不是一回而是好幾百回。我曾暗自希望我父親大人去死，也對(duì)我姐姐，亦即咱們美麗溫柔的王后陛下，有過相同的念頭。”身后傳來輕笑，“我有時(shí)候?qū)ο氯藗儾惶谩Ｎ屹€過錢，更教我臉紅的是，我還耍老千。我說過許多關(guān)于朝廷里高貴的老爺夫人們的壞話，開過他們?cè)S多下流玩笑?！贝嗽捯怀?，眾人哄堂大笑。“有次我——”

“Silence!” Lysa Arryn’s pale round face had turned a burning pink. “What do you imagine you are doing, dwarf?”

“住嘴！”萊莎·艾林蒼白的圓臉氣得通紅?！百?，你以為你在干什么？”

Tyrion cocked his head to one side. “Why, confessing my crimes, my lady...”

提利昂歪頭：“唉，我在認(rèn)罪啊，夫人?！?/p>

Catelyn Stark took a step forward. “You are accused of sending a hired knife to slay my son Bran in his bed, and of conspiring to murder Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King.”

凱特琳·史塔克向前一步?！澳惚豢嘏扇诵写涛遗P病在床的兒子布蘭，以及密謀害死國王的首相，瓊恩·艾林大人。”

Tyrion gave a helpless shrug. “Those crimes I cannot confess, I fear. I know nothing of any murders.”

提利昂愛莫能助地聳聳肩?！翱峙挛覜]辦法承認(rèn)這些罪名。我對(duì)殺人可是一竅不通?！?/p>

Lady Lysa rose from her weirwood throne. “I will not be made mock of. You have had your little jape, Imp. I trust you enjoyed it. Ser Vardis, take him back to the dungeon?.?.?.?but this time find him a smaller cell, with a floor more sharply sloped.”

萊莎夫人霍地從魚梁木王座上站起。“你別想尋我開心。小惡魔，你鬧也鬧夠了，想必你玩得很愉快。瓦狄斯爵士，帶他回地牢……這次找個(gè)房間更小，地板更斜的給他。”

“Is this how justice is done in the Vale?” Tyrion roared, so loudly that Ser Vardis froze for an instant. “Does honor stop at the Bloody Gate? You accuse me of crimes, I deny them, so you throw me into an open cell to freeze and starve.” He lifted his head, to give them all a good look at the bruises Mord had left on his face. “Where is the king’s justice? Is the Eyrie not part of the Seven Kingdoms? I stand accused, you say. Very well. I demand a trial! Let me speak, and let my truth or falsehood be judged openly, in the sight of gods and men.”

“艾林谷里到底還有沒有天理？”提利昂大聲怒吼，連瓦狄斯爵士都愣了一下?！半y道說血門之內(nèi)就連一點(diǎn)榮譽(yù)都沒有了？你控告，我否認(rèn)，你就把我扔進(jìn)天牢挨餓受凍?！彼痤^，讓眾人清楚地看見莫德在他臉上留下的傷痕?！罢?qǐng)問國王的正義到哪里去了？你說有人告我有罪，那好，我要求公平審判！讓我有機(jī)會(huì)為自己辯護(hù)，讓天上諸神和地上人民來決定我說話的真?zhèn)??！?/p>

A low murmuring filled the High Hall. He had her, Tyrion knew. He was highborn, the son of the most powerful lord in the realm, the brother of the queen. He could not be denied a trial. Guardsmen in sky-blue cloaks had started toward Tyrion, but Ser Vardis bid them halt and looked to Lady Lysa.

大廳里四處都在竊竊私語。提利昂知道自己逮著她了。他出身既高，是全國最權(quán)勢(shì)的貴族之子，更是當(dāng)今王后的弟弟。無論如何，沒有人能拒絕他的審判要求。幾個(gè)穿天藍(lán)色披風(fēng)的衛(wèi)兵朝提利昂走去，但瓦狄斯爵士示意他們停手，回頭看著萊莎夫人。

Her small mouth twitched in a petulant smile. “If you are tried and found to be guilty of the crimes for which you stand accused, then by the king’s own laws, you must pay with your life’s blood. We keep no headsman in the Eyrie, my lord of Lannister. Open the Moon Door.”

她的小嘴浮現(xiàn)一絲微笑?！耙菍徟薪Y(jié)果證明你的確有罪，那么依照國王的律法，你只有死路一條。不過呢，蘭尼斯特大人，在鷹巢城里我們可沒有劊子手。打開月門！”

The press of spectators parted. A narrow weirwood door stood between two slender marble pillars, a crescent moon carved in the white wood. Those standing closest edged backward as a pair of guardsmen marched through. One man removed the heavy bronze bars; the second pulled the door inward. Their blue cloaks rose snapping from their shoulders, caught in the sudden gust of wind that came howling through the open door. Beyond was the emptiness of the night sky, speckled with cold uncaring stars.

圍觀人群向兩邊退開。只見兩根纖細(xì)的大理石柱中間有扇狹窄的魚梁木門，上面用白木雕著新月的形狀。兩個(gè)衛(wèi)兵大跨步走過去，靠近門邊的人趕忙向后退。其中一個(gè)衛(wèi)兵搬開沉重的青銅門閂，另一個(gè)則把門向內(nèi)拉開。兩人的藍(lán)披風(fēng)立時(shí)被狂嘯而進(jìn)的強(qiáng)風(fēng)吹得飛上肩頭，啪啪作響。門外，綴滿了冰冷的無情繁星，是一片虛無夜空。

“Behold the king’s justice,” Lysa Arryn said. Torch flames fluttered like pennons along the walls, and here and there the odd torch guttered out.

“依照國王的律法，我們舉行審判。”萊莎·艾林道。沿著墻壁，無數(shù)的火炬如旌旗般獵獵晃動(dòng)，被風(fēng)吹熄的火把此起彼落。

“Lysa, I think this unwise,” Catelyn Stark said as the black wind swirled around the hall.

“萊莎，我認(rèn)為這是不智之舉?！眲P特琳·史塔克道。黑風(fēng)在大廳內(nèi)翻騰。

Her sister ignored her. “You want a trial, my lord of Lannister. Very well, a trial you shall have. My son will listen to whatever you care to say, and you shall hear his judgment. Then you may leave?.?.?.?by one door or the other.”

她妹妹沒有理會(huì)。“蘭尼斯特大人，您要審判，那好，就讓您接受審判。你想說什么，我兒子都會(huì)傾聽，接著你將接受他的判決。然后呢……你要么走大門，不然就從這個(gè)門出去。”

She looked so pleased with herself, Tyrion thought, and small wonder. How could a trial threaten her, when her weakling son was the lord judge? Tyrion glanced at her Moon Door. Mother, I want to see him fly! the boy had said. How many men had the snot-nosed little wretch sent through that door already?

她看來好生得意，提利昂心想。這也難怪，既然審判是由她那體弱多病的兒子主持，哪還能忤她的意？提利昂瞟了瞟那個(gè)月門。媽咪，我想看他飛！那小鬼是這么說的。這鼻涕都擦不干凈的毛頭小子，到底送了多少人從那門出去？

“I thank you, my good lady, but I see no need to trouble Lord Robert,” Tyrion said politely. “The gods know the truth of my innocence. I will have their verdict, not the judgment of men. I demand trial by combat.”

“親愛的夫人，非常感謝您的美意，但我覺得無需驚動(dòng)勞勃大人?！碧崂河卸Y地說：“天上諸神會(huì)還我清白，我愿讓他們做出裁判，非經(jīng)世人之手。我要求比武審判?！?/p>

A storm of sudden laughter filled the High Hall of the Arryns. Lord Nestor Royce snorted, Ser Willis chuckled, Ser Lyn Corbray guffawed, and others threw back their heads and howled until tears ran down their faces. Marillion clumsily plucked a gay note on his new woodharp with the fingers of his broken hand. Even the wind seemed to whistle with derision as it came skirling through the Moon Door.

艾林家的大廳里響起如雷般的笑聲。奈斯特·羅伊斯男爵嗤之以鼻，維里爵士呵呵直樂，林恩·科布瑞爵士捧腹大笑，其他人則是笑得前仰后合，涕淚橫流。馬瑞里安笨拙地伸出斷了指頭的那只手，在新豎琴上撥下一個(gè)愉悅的音符。就連從月門外呼嘯而進(jìn)的狂風(fēng)，聽起來也充滿嘲弄之意。

Lysa Arryn’s watery blue eyes looked uncertain. He had caught her off balance. “You have that right, to be sure.”

只有萊莎·艾林水汪汪的藍(lán)眼睛里充滿了疑惑，顯然他再度讓她大感意外?！澳惝?dāng)然有這個(gè)權(quán)利?！?/p>

The young knight with the green viper embroidered on his surcoat stepped forward and went to one knee. “My lady, I beg the boon of championing your cause.”

外衣上繡了綠色毒蛇的那個(gè)年輕騎士，此時(shí)跨步向前，單膝跪下道：“夫人，求您恩準(zhǔn)我為您而戰(zhàn)。”

“The honor should be mine,” old Lord Hunter said. “For the love I bore your lord husband, let me avenge his death.”

“這份榮幸應(yīng)該歸我所有，”老杭特伯爵說，“看在我對(duì)您夫君敬愛有加的份上，讓我替他報(bào)仇罷?！?/p>

“My father served Lord Jon faithfully as High Steward of the Vale,” Ser Albar Royce boomed. “Let me serve his son in this.”

“我父親忠心耿耿地服侍瓊恩大人，為其擔(dān)任峽谷大總管之職?！卑瑺柊巍ち_伊斯朗聲道，“請(qǐng)讓我為他的兒子而戰(zhàn)?！?/p>

“The gods favor the man with the just cause,” said Ser Lyn Corbray, “yet often that turns out to be the man with the surest sword. We all know who that is.” He smiled modestly.

“凡是立場(chǎng)純正的人，諸神必定加以眷顧，”林恩·科布瑞爵士說，“這樣的人也是最好的劍客。而我們都知道這個(gè)人是誰。”他謙虛地笑笑。

A dozen other men all spoke at once, clamoring to be heard. Tyrion found it disheartening to realize so many strangers were eager to kill him. Perhaps this had not been such a clever plan after all.

十來個(gè)人同聲發(fā)話，搶著想壓過別人。見到這么多人迫不及待想取他性命，提利昂深感沮喪。或許到頭來，這主意并不如原先預(yù)期的那么聰明。

Lady Lysa raised a hand for silence. “I thank you, my lords, as I know my son would thank you if he were among us. No men in the Seven Kingdoms are as bold and true as the knights of the Vale. Would that I could grant you all this honor. Yet I can choose only one.” She gestured. “Ser Vardis Egen, you were ever my lord husband’s good right hand. You shall be our champion.”

萊莎夫人舉手示意眾人靜聲?！爸T位大人，我衷心地感謝你們，相信我兒若是在場(chǎng)，也同樣會(huì)深懷感激。放眼七國全境，無人可比咱們峽谷騎士的忠誠勇武。如果我能讓諸位都擁有這份榮耀，不知該有多好。可惜我只能選出一個(gè)?！彼龀鍪謩?shì)。“瓦狄斯·伊根爵士，您向來是我丈夫倚重的左右手。請(qǐng)您擔(dān)任我的代理騎士?！?/p>

Ser Vardis had been singularly silent. “My lady,” he said gravely, sinking to one knee, “pray give this burden to another, I have no taste for it. The man is no warrior. Look at him. A dwarf, half my size and lame in the legs. It would be shameful to slaughter such a man and call it justice.”

瓦狄斯爵士一直保持著沉默?！胺蛉耍彼ス蛳?，口氣凝重地說，“還請(qǐng)將此重?fù)?dān)交付他人，我實(shí)在無心出戰(zhàn)。此人并非武士，看看他，侏儒一個(gè)，只有我一半高，又瘸了腿，宰殺這種人，還叫主持正義，那太可恥了?！?/p>

Oh, excellent, Tyrion thought. “I agree.”

喔，太棒了，提利昂心想?！拔彝?。”

Lysa glared at him. “You demanded a trial by combat.”

萊莎怒視著他。“要求比武裁判的也是你。”

“And now I demand a champion, such as you have chosen for yourself. My brother Jaime will gladly take my part, I know.”

“這會(huì)兒我還要像你一樣，給自己找個(gè)代理騎士。就我所知嘛，我老哥詹姆會(huì)很樂意替我出戰(zhàn)?！?/p>

“Your precious Kingslayer is hundreds of leagues from here,” snapped Lysa Arryn.

“你偉大的弒君者離此有幾百里格?！比R莎·艾林斥道。

“Send a bird for him. I will gladly await his arrival.”

“派只鳥把他找來。我很樂意等他?！?/p>

“You will face Ser Vardis on the morrow.”

“你明天就得跟瓦狄斯爵士決斗?！?/p>

“Singer,” Tyrion said, turning to Marillion, “when you make a ballad of this, be certain you tell them how Lady Arryn denied the dwarf the right to a champion, and sent him forth lame and bruised and hobbling to face her finest knight.”

“唱歌的，”提利昂轉(zhuǎn)身對(duì)馬瑞里安說，“等你把這事編成曲子，別忘了說艾林夫人是怎樣不準(zhǔn)侏儒找代理騎士，逼他一瘸一拐，渾身是傷地去對(duì)付她手下最優(yōu)秀的騎士?！?/p>

“I deny you nothing!” Lysa Arryn said, her voice peeved and shrill with irritation. “Name your champion, Imp?.?.?.?if you think you can find a man to die for you.”

“我哪有不準(zhǔn)？”萊莎·艾林道。她語氣尖銳，顯然惱怒已極?！靶耗?，有本事你就挑個(gè)代理騎士啊……如果你認(rèn)為有人會(huì)愿意為你送命的話。”

“If it is all the same to you, I’d sooner find one to kill for me.” Tyrion looked over the long hall. No one moved. For a long moment he wondered if it had all been a colossal blunder.

“說實(shí)話，我是找個(gè)人來替我殺人?！碧崂簰咭曢L廳。無人動(dòng)作。過了好長一段時(shí)間，他不禁懷疑這是不是個(gè)天大的錯(cuò)誤。

Then there was a stirring in the rear of the chamber. “I’ll stand for the dwarf,” Bronn called out.

接著，大廳后面起了陣騷動(dòng)。“我?guī)唾迳蠄?chǎng)吧，”波隆叫道。