Ⅲ 冰雨的風(fēng)暴 Chapter67 詹姆
JAIME
白色的房間里，一本白色的大書放在一張白色的桌子上。
A white book sat on a white table in a white room.
這間會議室是圓形，刷白的石墻上掛著許多白羊毛織錦。這是白劍塔的底樓，整個(gè)建筑共分四層，十分促窄，靠在城墻邊，恰好俯瞰海灣。樓底的地下室陳列著武器和鎧甲，二樓與三樓則是御林鐵衛(wèi)其他六名兄弟起居的小房間。
The room was round, its walls of whitewashed stone hung with white woolen tapestries. It formed the first floor of White Sword Tower, a slender structure of four stories built into an angle of the castle wall overlooking the bay. The undercroft held arms and armor, the second and third floors the small spare sleeping cells of the six brothers of the Kingsguard.
他曾在二樓住了十八年，直到今天早上，才把東西搬到頂樓——御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長專屬的樓層。房間雖然大了，仍極樸素，好在高過外墻一截，可以時(shí)時(shí)觀看外海的景色。我會喜歡的，他心想，喜歡這景色，喜歡這一切。
One of those cells had been his for eighteen years, but this morning he had moved his things to the topmost floor, which was given over entirely to the Lord Commander’s apartments. Those rooms were spare as well, though spacious; and they were above the outer walls, which meant he would have a view of the sea. I will like that, he thought. The view, and all the rest.
詹姆穿著和會議室色調(diào)一致的全身白甲，讀著那本白書，等待他的白騎士兄弟們。一柄長劍懸于臀間。卻是在錯誤的一邊。他愛把劍掛在左邊，好趁拔劍之機(jī)順勢出擊。今天，他將劍掛到右邊，企圖必要時(shí)用左手復(fù)制同樣的招式?？上ЯΧ炔粔?，實(shí)驗(yàn)起來，整個(gè)動作笨拙而不連貫。連衣服也不搭調(diào)，雖然特意換上御林鐵衛(wèi)的冬裝，包括漂白羊毛馬褲和上衣，外罩厚重的白披風(fēng)，卻總覺得不夠威嚴(yán)，沒有氣勢。
As pale as the room, Jaime sat by the book in his Kingsguard whites, waiting for his Sworn Brothers. A longsword hung from his hip. From the wrong hip. Before he had always worn his sword on his left, and drawn it across his body when he unsheathed. He had shifted it to his right hip this morning, so as to be able to draw it with his left hand in the same manner, but the weight of it felt strange there, and when he had tried to pull the blade from the scabbard the whole motion seemed clumsy and unnatural. His clothing fit badly as well. He had donned the winter raiment of the Kingsguard, a tunic and breeches of bleached white wool and a heavy white cloak, but it all seemed to hang loose on him.
這幾天來，詹姆參加了弟弟的審判，但只遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)站在大廳底部，所以毫不奇怪地，提利昂沒有看到他，更不知道他來過。其實(shí)，宮里一大半人都不太在意他。連我自己的族親都把我當(dāng)成陌生人。兒子死了，父親正在氣頭上，而姐姐……姐姐自從他回來當(dāng)天，與他在王家圣堂里、在喬佛里的棺材邊做愛之后，就不肯見他。連將小喬安葬于貝勒大圣堂墳?zāi)沟膬x式上，她也小心翼翼地和他保持距離。
Jaime had spent his days at his brother’s trial, standing well to the back of the hall. Either Tyrion never saw him there or he did not know him, but that was no surprise. Half the court no longer seemed to know him. I am a stranger in my own House. His son was dead, his father had disowned him, and his sister … she had not allowed him to be alone with her once, after that first day in the royal sept where Joffrey lay amongst the candles. Even when they bore him across the city to his tomb in the Great Sept of Baelor, Cersei kept a careful distance.
他再度環(huán)顧圓形會議室。白羊毛織錦覆蓋墻壁，壁爐上掛著一面白盾和兩柄交叉的白劍。桌后有張黑色老橡木椅，鋪的漂白牛皮墊，業(yè)已磨得厲害。這張椅子，骨瘦矍鑠的巴利斯坦坐過，在他之前，有杰洛·海塔爾爵士、龍騎士伊蒙王子與萊安·雷德溫爵士，有戴瑞家的戴莫、“高個(gè)”鄧肯爵士和“白獅鷲”埃林·克林頓……和這些光輝形象相比，弒君者真是格格不入。
He looked about the Round Room once more. White wool hangings covered the walls, and there was a white shield and two crossed longswords mounted above the hearth. The chair behind the table was old black oak, with cushions of blanched cowhide, the leather worn thin. Worn by the bony arse of Barristan the Bold and Ser Gerold Hightower before him, by Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryam Redwyne, and the Demon of Darry, by Ser Duncan the Tall and the Pale Griffin Alyn Connington. How could the Kingslayer belong in such exalted company?
但他卻坐在他們的椅子上。
Yet here he was.
桌子本身由古老的魚梁木制成，灰白如骨，雕成三匹駿馬支撐一面巨盾的形狀。根據(jù)傳統(tǒng)，鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長坐在盾牌后面，六位兄弟則于三匹駿馬兩側(cè)分居——當(dāng)然，很少出現(xiàn)七人全部到場的情形。躺在他肘邊的這本書極為龐大，兩尺長，一尺半寬，厚度則有一千多頁，黃金的鉸鏈和絲線將上等白牛皮紙與漂白皮革封面裝訂在一起。它的正式名稱是《白騎士之書》，一般簡稱為“白典”。
The table itself was old weirwood, pale as bone, carved in the shape of a huge shield supported by three white stallions. By tradition the Lord Commander sat at the top of the shield, and the brothers three to a side, on the rare occasions when all seven were assembled. The book that rested by his elbow was massive; two feet tall and a foot and a half wide, a thousand pages thick, fine white vellum bound between covers of bleached white leather with gold hinges and fastenings. The Book of the Brothers was its formal name, but more often it was simply called the White Book.
《白騎士之書》保存著御林鐵衛(wèi)的全部歷史，每個(gè)加入鐵衛(wèi)的騎士都在書中留有一頁，用來記載名姓與事跡。每頁左上方繪有該頁的主人加入御林鐵衛(wèi)前使用的紋章，而右下方無一例外都是御林鐵衛(wèi)的徽記：空曠而純凈的雪白盾牌。上面的紋章頁頁不同，下面的符號張張相似，中間是騎士們的生活記錄。繪制紋章由貝勒大圣堂的修士負(fù)責(zé)，他們一年拜訪三次，但書寫文字是鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長的職責(zé)。
Within the White Book was the history of the Kingsguard. Every knight who’d ever served had a page, to record his name and deeds for all time. On the top left-hand corner of each page was drawn the shield the man had carried at the time he was chosen, inked in rich colors. Down in the bottom right corner was the shield of the Kingsguard; snow-white, empty, pure. The upper shields were all different; the lower shields were all the same. In the space between were written the facts of each man’s life and service. The heraldic drawings and illuminations were done by septons sent from the Great Sept of Baelor three times a year, but it was the duty of the Lord Commander to keep the entries up to date.
我的職責(zé)。我得盡快學(xué)會用左手寫字。白典已荒廢了一年多，它沒有記載普列斯頓·格林菲爾爵士和曼登·穆爾爵士的死，也沒有記載桑鐸·克里岡短暫而血腥的服役，還有新的頁碼得為巴隆·史文爵士、奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士和百花騎士填加。我要盡快召修士們前來繪制。
My duty, now. Once he learned to write with his left hand, that is. The White Book was well behind. The deaths of Ser Mandon Moore and Ser Preston Greenfield needed to be entered, and the brief bloody Kingsguard service of Sandor Clegane as well. New pages must be started for Ser Balon Swann, Ser Osmund Kettleblack, and the Knight of Flowers. I will need to summon a septon to draw their shields.
前任隊(duì)長乃“無畏的”巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士，他的頁面上繪有賽爾彌家的紋章：棕褐底色上三束金黃小麥。詹姆饒有興致，但并不吃驚地發(fā)現(xiàn)巴利斯坦爵士在逃亡前連自己的離職緣故都一一記錄在案：
Ser Barristan Selmy had preceded Jaime as Lord Commander. The shield atop his page showed the arms of House Selmy: three stalks of wheat, yellow, on a brown field. Jaime was amused, though unsurprised, to find that Ser Barristan had taken the time to record his own dismissal before leaving the castle.
賽爾彌家族的巴利斯坦爵士。豐收廳萊昂諾·賽爾彌伯爵之長子。幼年時(shí)代為曼佛德·史文爵士的侍從。十歲那年，穿著借來的盔甲，打扮成神秘騎士，匿名參加于黑港舉辦的比武會，在其中贏得“無畏的”外號，但最終為龍芙萊王子鄧肯所敗，并被挑開面甲。十六歲那年，匿名參加于君臨舉辦的冬季大比武會，連續(xù)大敗“矮個(gè)”鄧肯王子和御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長“高個(gè)”鄧肯爵士之后，由國王伊耿·坦格利安五世親手冊封為騎士。隨后，在“九銅板王之戰(zhàn)”中，一對一決斗殺死末代黑火“兇暴的”馬里斯。曾打敗“長槍”羅梅勒和銅門城的私生子塞德克·風(fēng)暴。二十三歲那年，由御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長杰洛·海塔爾爵士引薦為御林鐵衛(wèi)。之后，在銀橋城舉辦的比武會上，打敗所有挑戰(zhàn)者；在女泉城的比武會上，贏得團(tuán)體比武的勝利；暮谷城反叛期間，在胸膛中箭的情形下，仍堅(jiān)持護(hù)送國王伊里斯·坦格利安二世回到安全地帶；為鐵衛(wèi)兄弟加爾溫·戈特爵士報(bào)仇；從御林兄弟會手中營救出簡妮·史文夫人和她的修女，擊敗西蒙·托因和微笑騎士，并殺了前者；在舊鎮(zhèn)比武會上，打敗神秘的黑盾騎士，挑開對方面甲，揭示其為高地的私生子；在史蒂芬公爵于風(fēng)息堡舉辦的比武會上，成為獨(dú)一無二的冠軍，相繼打敗勞勃·拜拉席恩、奧柏倫·馬泰爾親王、雷頓·海塔爾伯爵、瓊恩·克林頓伯爵、杰森·梅利斯特伯爵和王太子雷加·坦格利安；三叉戟河一戰(zhàn)中，與鐵衛(wèi)兄弟們和龍石島親王雷加并肩奮戰(zhàn)，身負(fù)多處箭傷、矛傷和劍傷。之后，被國王勞勃·拜拉席恩一世赦免，隨即任命為御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長。有幸擔(dān)任榮譽(yù)護(hù)衛(wèi)，護(hù)送蘭尼斯特家族的瑟曦小姐前往君臨與勞勃國王完婚。在巴隆·葛雷喬伊之亂中，率軍攻打老威克島。五十七歲那年，成為君臨比武大會的冠軍。六十一歲那年，被國王喬佛里·拜拉席恩一世解職，理由是年老體衰。
Ser Barristan of House Selmy. Firstborn son of Ser Lyonel Selmy of Harvest Hall. Served as squire to Ser Manfred Swann. Named “the Bold” in his 10th year, when he donned borrowed armor to appear as a mystery knight in the tourney at Blackhaven, where he was defeated and unmasked by Duncan, Prince of Dragonflies. Knighted in his 16th year by King Aegon V Targaryen, after performing great feats of prowess as a mystery knight in the winter tourney at King’s Landing, defeating Prince Duncan the Small and Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Slew Maelys the Monstrous, last of the Blackfyre Pretenders, in single combat during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Defeated Lormelle Long Lance and Cedrik Storm, the Bastard of Bronzegate. Named to the Kingsguard in his 23rd year, by Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower. Defended the passage against all challengers in the tourney of the Silver Bridge. Victor in the mêlée at Maidenpool. Brought King Aerys II to safety during the Defiance of Duskendale, despite an arrow wound in the chest. Avenged the murder of his Sworn Brother, Ser Gwayne Gaunt. Rescued Lady Jeyne Swann and her septa from the Kingswood Brotherhood, defeating Simon Toyne and the Smiling Knight, and slaying the former. In the Oldtown tourney, defeated and unmasked the mystery knight Blackshield, revealing him as the Bastard of Uplands. Sole champion of Lord Steffon’s tourney at Storm’s End, whereat he unhorsed Lord Robert Baratheon, Prince Oberyn Martell, Lord Leyton Hightower, Lord Jon Connington, Lord Jason Mallister, and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Wounded by arrow, spear, and sword at the Battle of the Trident whilst fighting beside his Sworn Brothers and Rhaegar Prince of Dragonstone. Pardoned, and named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, by King Robert I Baratheon. Served in the honor guard that brought Lady Cersei of House Lannister to King’s Landing to wed King Robert. Led the attack on Old Wyk during Balon Greyjoy’s Rebellion. Champion of the tourney at King’s Landing, in his 57th year. Dismissed from service by King Joffrey I baratheon in his 61st year, for reasons of advanced age.
巴利斯坦爵士身世的前面部分由杰洛·海塔爾爵士那強(qiáng)健、剛勁的字體所書寫，從三叉戟河一戰(zhàn)起，才換為賽爾彌纖細(xì)而優(yōu)雅的筆鋒。
The earlier part of Ser Barristan’s storied career had been entered by Ser Gerold Hightower in a big forceful hand. Selmy’s own smaller and more elegant writing took over with the account of his wounding on the Trident.
與之相比，詹姆的記錄很簡單：
Jaime’s own page was scant by comparison.
蘭尼斯特家族的詹姆爵士。凱巖城泰溫·蘭尼斯特公爵和喬安娜夫人所生之長子。少年時(shí)代擔(dān)任薩姆納·克雷赫伯爵的侍從，隨其清剿御林兄弟會。十五歲那年，因作戰(zhàn)英勇，被御林鐵衛(wèi)的亞瑟·戴恩爵士親手冊封為騎士。同年，被國王伊里斯·坦格利安二世選入御林鐵衛(wèi)。君臨城陷時(shí)，在鐵王座下殺害國王伊里斯·坦格利安二世，由此得到“弒君者”的外號。之后，被國王勞勃·拜拉席恩一世赦免。有幸擔(dān)任榮譽(yù)護(hù)衛(wèi)，護(hù)送其姐蘭尼斯特家族的瑟曦小姐前往君臨與勞勃國王完婚，并在為慶?；槎Y而舉辦的比武大會上，贏得冠軍。
Ser Jaime of House Lannister. Firstborn son of Lord Tywin and Lady Joanna of Casterly Rock. Served against the Kingswood Brotherhood as squire to Lord Summer Crakehall. Knighted in his 15th year by Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard, for valor in the field. Chosen for the Kingsguard in his 15th year by King Aerys II Targaryen. During the Sack of King’s Landing, slew King Aerys II at the foot of the Iron Throne. Thereafter known as the “Kingslayer.” Pardoned for his crime by King Robert I Baratheon. Served in the honor guard that brought his sister the Lady Cersei Lannister to King’s Landing to wed King Robert. Champion in the tourney held at King’s Landing on the occasion of their wedding.
寥寥可數(shù)的幾句，他的生命竟如此貧乏和空虛。至少，詹姆認(rèn)為杰洛爵士應(yīng)該少記錄幾句巴利斯坦的比武經(jīng)歷，而提到他隨亞瑟·戴恩爵士一舉平定御林兄弟會的事跡。其實(shí)，當(dāng)“大肚子”本恩要撞碎薩姆納伯爵的頭顱時(shí)，正是他救了伯爵的命——雖然沒能抓住兇手。他曾獨(dú)斗微笑騎士，但了結(jié)對方的卻是亞瑟爵士。啊，那是多么光榮的戰(zhàn)斗，多么偉大的敵人。微笑騎士有些瘋癲，處事雖殘酷，卻又帶著騎士風(fēng)度，關(guān)鍵是他全不知恐懼為何物。而當(dāng)年的戴恩，黎明在手的戴恩……眼見土匪的劍破了無數(shù)豁口，便主動停手，要對方取把新的?！捌鋵?shí)我想要你那把白劍，”繼續(xù)開打時(shí)，強(qiáng)盜騎士不顧全身十幾處傷口，依舊輕松地說。“很好，我給你，爵士先生。”拂曉神劍回答，隨后一劍殺了他。
Summed up like that, his life seemed a rather scant and mingy thing. Ser Barristan could have recorded a few of his other tourney victories, at least. And Ser Gerold might have written a few more words about the deeds he’d performed when Ser Arthur Dayne broke the Kingswood Brotherhood. He had saved Lord Sumner’s life as Big Belly Ben was about to smash his head in, though the outlaw had escaped him. And he’d held his own against the Smiling Knight, though it was Ser Arthur who slew him. What a fight that was, and what a foe. The Smiling Knight was a madman, cruelty and chivalry all jumbled up together, but he did not know the meaning of fear. And Dayne, with Dawn in hand … The outlaw’s longsword had so many notches by the end that Ser Arthur had stopped to let him fetch a new one. “It’s that white sword of yours I want,” the robber knight told him as they resumed, though he was bleeding from a dozen wounds by then. “Then you shall have it, ser,” the Sword of the Morning replied, and made an end of it.
那個(gè)時(shí)候，世界多么單純，詹姆心想，身邊的人都如新鑄的長劍，鋒利而明亮。我的十五歲，畢竟是一場夢幻么？大家都進(jìn)了墳?zāi)梗悍鲿陨駝?、微笑騎士、白牛、勒文親王、愛來點(diǎn)黑色幽默的奧斯威爾·河安爵士、古道熱腸的瓊恩·戴瑞爵士、西蒙·托因和他的御林兄弟會、甚至直率的老薩姆納·克雷赫……他們都不在了。而我呢，那個(gè)曾經(jīng)的少年……他，又在何時(shí)進(jìn)了墳?zāi)?？穿上白袍時(shí)？割開伊里斯的喉嚨時(shí)？那個(gè)少年，從小想當(dāng)亞瑟·戴恩，但不知怎地，生命拐了個(gè)彎，最后成為了微笑騎士。
The world was simpler in those days, Jaime thought, and men as well as swords were made of finer steel. Or was it only that he had been fifteen? They were all in their graves now, the Sword of the Morning and the Smiling Knight, the White Bull and Prince Lewyn, Ser Oswell Whent with his black humor, earnest Jon Darry, Simon Toyne and his Kingswood Brotherhood, bluff old Sumner Crakehall. And me, that boy I was … when did he die, I wonder? When I donned the white cloak? When I opened Aerys’s throat? That boy had wanted to be Ser Arthur Dayne, but someplace along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead.
開門聲傳來，他立刻闔上白典，起立迎接兄弟。首先抵達(dá)的是奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士，他沖詹姆咧嘴一笑，好似彼此是多年共事的戰(zhàn)友?！罢材肪羰浚彼?，“當(dāng)日您若有今天這么精神，我就不會錯認(rèn)啦?！?/p>
When he heard the door open, he closed the White Book and stood to receive his Sworn Brothers. Ser Osmund Kettleblack was the first to arrive. He gave Jaime a grin, as if they were old brothers-in-arms. “Ser Jaime,” he said, “had you looked like this t’other night, I’d have known you at once.”
“是嗎？”詹姆很懷疑。連日來，仆人為他沐浴、修面、梳洗頭發(fā)。對鏡查看，已找不到那個(gè)隨布蕾妮穿越河間地的男子……但也找不到從前的自己。臉龐變得細(xì)瘦，眼角出現(xiàn)皺紋。我好像一夜間老了十幾歲?！罢堊?，爵士。”
“Would you indeed?” Jaime doubted that. The servants had bathed him, shaved him, and washed and brushed his hair. When he looked in a glass, he no longer saw the man who had crossed the riverlands with Brienne … but he did not see himself either. His face was thin and hollow, and he had lines under his eyes. I look like some old man. “Stand by your seat, ser.”
凱特布萊克遵命。其他兄弟也一個(gè)接一個(gè)地走進(jìn)來?！熬羰肯壬鷤儯碑?dāng)六人齊集后，詹姆開始儀式，“誰在守護(hù)國王？”
Kettleblack complied. The other Sworn Brothers filed in one by one. “Sers,” Jaime said in a formal tone when all five had assembled, “who guards the king?”
“我弟弟奧斯尼爵士和奧斯佛利爵士?！眾W斯蒙爵士回答。
“My brothers Ser Osney and Ser Osfryd,” Ser Osmund replied.
“我哥哥加蘭爵士?！卑倩T士說。
“And my brother Ser Garlan,” said the Knight of Flowers.
“他們能否保護(hù)陛下周全？”
“Will they keep him safe?”
“誓死捍衛(wèi)，大人！”
“They will, my lord.”
“請坐?！眱x式結(jié)束——御林鐵衛(wèi)開會期間，也必須確保國王安全。
“Be seated, then.” The words were ritual. Before the seven could meet in session, the king’s safety must be assured.
柏洛斯爵士和馬林爵士坐在他右手，中間隔著一個(gè)位子，為現(xiàn)在多恩的亞歷斯·奧克赫特爵士所留。左手則有奧斯蒙爵士、巴隆爵士和洛拉斯爵士。新舊兩派，詹姆惴惴地想。歷史上，御林鐵衛(wèi)曾數(shù)度分裂，其中最為著名的當(dāng)數(shù)“血龍狂舞”時(shí)期那對孿生兄弟高貴而苦澀的決斗?，F(xiàn)今我的隊(duì)伍可也有危機(jī)？
Ser Boros and Ser Meryn sat to his right, leaving an empty chair between them for Ser Arys Oakheart, off in Dorne. Ser Osmund, Ser Balon, and Ser Loras took the seats to his left. The old and the new. Jaime wondered if that meant anything. There had been times during its history where the Kingsguard had been divided against itself, most notably and bitterly during the Dance of the Dragons. Was that something he needed to fear as well?
十幾年來，他看著無畏的巴利斯坦坐在首座，如今換他來坐，感覺頗為古怪。最古怪的莫過于我是個(gè)殘廢。但不管怎么說，位置已經(jīng)屬于了他，必須管好手下弟兄們。他們，共同組成托曼的七鐵衛(wèi)。
It seemed queer to him to sit in the Lord Commander’s seat where Barristan the Bold had sat for so many years. And even queerer to sit here crippled. Nonetheless, it was his seat, and this was his Kingsguard now. Tommen’s seven.
詹姆和馬林·特蘭、柏洛斯·布勞恩同事多年，此二人武藝尚可，但特蘭狡猾而殘忍，布勞恩則色厲內(nèi)荏。新派中，巴隆·史文素以武藝高強(qiáng)聞名，百花騎士無疑是少年英雄的典范，只有第五個(gè)，奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克，他全然陌生。
Jaime had served with Meryn Trant and Boros Blount for years; adequate fighters, but Trant was sly and cruel, and Blount a bag of growly air. Ser Balon Swann was better suited to his cloak, and of course the Knight of Flowers was supposedly all a knight should be. The fifth man was a stranger to him, this Osmund Kettleblack.
他試圖想象亞瑟·戴恩爵士看到這支隊(duì)伍會作何反應(yīng)。“御林鐵衛(wèi)竟淪落到這般地步了?。 倍喟肴绱烁袊@。“都是我的錯，”我只好回答，“是我先走了后門，讓無良之輩紛紛爬了進(jìn)來?！?/p>
He wondered what Ser Arthur Dayne would have to say of this lot. “How is it that the Kingsguard has fallen so low,” most like. “It was my doing,” I would have to answer. “I opened the door, and did nothing when the vermin began to crawl inside.”
“先王已逝，”詹姆開始講話，“他是我姐姐的兒子，年僅十三，卻被人在婚宴進(jìn)行中途謀殺在自己的廳堂。當(dāng)時(shí)你們五人全部在場，你們五人宣誓守護(hù)他，然而陛下還是死了。”他頓了一頓，借機(jī)觀察聽眾的反應(yīng)。他們連清喉嚨的工夫都省了，但我看得出，提利爾這孩子有些忿怒，巴隆·史文帶著羞愧，其他三人則完全無動于衷?！斑@次謀殺，是我弟弟干的嗎？”他單刀直入地問，“是提利昂毒死了我外甥？”
“The king is dead,” Jaime began. “My sister’s son, a boy of thirteen, murdered at his own wedding feast in his own hall. All five of you were present. All five of you were protecting him. And yet he’s dead.” He waited to see what they would say to that, but none of them so much as cleared a throat. The Tyrell boy is angry, and Balon Swann’s ashamed, he judged. From the other three Jaime sensed only indifference. “Did my brother do this thing?” he asked them bluntly. “Did Tyrion poison my nephew?”
巴隆爵士不安地在座位上挪動。柏洛斯爵士捏緊拳頭。奧斯蒙爵士懶洋洋地一聳肩。最后開口的是馬林·特蘭，“喬佛里陛下死前曾喝了您弟弟斟的酒，估計(jì)他就在那時(shí)下了毒?！?/p>
Ser Balon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Ser Boros made a fist. Ser Osmund gave a lazy shrug. It was Meryn Trant who finally answered. “He filled Joffrey’s cup with wine. That must have been when he slipped the poison in.”
“你確定毒藥下在酒里面？”
“You are certain it was the wine that was poisoned?”
“還會在哪兒？”柏洛斯·布勞恩爵士道，“事后，小惡魔連忙把杯子倒空，不就為掩蓋證據(jù)么？”
“What else?” said Ser Boros Blount. “The Imp emptied the dregs on the floor. Why, but to spill the wine that might have proved him guilty?”
“他知道杯中有毒?！瘪R林爵士解釋。
“He knew the wine was poisoned,” said Ser Meryn.
巴隆·史文爵士皺緊眉頭，“高臺上人很多，遠(yuǎn)不止小惡魔一人。當(dāng)時(shí)已是婚宴末尾，不斷有人走來走去，交換座位、上廁所等等，仆人們更是進(jìn)出忙碌……國王與王后切開餡餅時(shí)，所有人的目光都放在他們和那些該死的鴿子身上，無暇關(guān)注酒杯。”
Ser Balon Swann frowned. “The Imp was not alone on the dais. Far from it. That late in the feast, we had people standing and moving about, changing places, slipping off to the privy, servants were coming and going … the king and queen had just opened the wedding pie, every eye was on them or those thrice-damned doves. No one was watching the wine cup.”
“高臺上究竟有哪些人？”詹姆問。
“Who else was on the dais?” asked Jaime.
馬林爵士答道：“國王的親族，王后的親族，派席爾大學(xué)士，總主教……”
Ser Meryn answered. “The king’s family, the bride’s family, Grand Maester Pycelle, the High Septon …”
“哈，一定是這家伙下的毒，”奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士咧嘴一笑，“老不死，自以為虔誠，我啊，從來就不喜歡他?！彼^續(xù)自己的玩笑。
“There’s your poisoner,” suggested Ser Oswald Kettleblack with a sly grin. “Too holy by half, that old man. Never liked the look o’ him, myself.” He laughed.
“不對，”百花騎士正色道，“依我看，珊莎·史塔克才是真兇。你們都忘了，那酒杯不止國王陛下用，我妹妹也在用，而整個(gè)大廳里，只怕唯有珊莎·史塔克才希望將瑪格麗和國王一起毒死。在酒杯中下毒，便能一箭雙雕。瞧，若非自承犯罪，她干嗎逃走呢？”
“No,” the Knight of Flowers said, unamused. “Sansa Stark was the poisoner. You all forget, my sister was drinking from that chalice as well. Sansa Stark was the only person in the hall who had reason to want Margaery dead, as well as the king. By poisoning the wedding cup, she could hope to kill both of them. And why did she run afterward, unless she was guilty?”
這孩子有點(diǎn)眼光。提利昂很可能是無辜的。現(xiàn)在的難題在于，他老婆竟如土遁一般，消失得無影無蹤?；蛟S此事我該親自接管，首先弄清她打哪里逃走。就從查問瓦里斯開始吧。世上沒有人對紅堡地形的了解有瓦里斯那么深。
The boy makes sense. Tyrion might yet be innocent. No one was any closer to finding the girl, however. Perhaps Jaime should look into that himself. For a start, it would be good to know how she had gotten out of the castle. Varys may have a notion or two about that. No one knew the Red Keep better than the eunuch.
但眼下他還做不了那么多，眼下他有更重要的責(zé)任。你說你是御林鐵衛(wèi)的隊(duì)長，父親言道，我就不耽誤你履行公務(wù)了。這五位兄弟，并非他親手挑選，但他只有這五個(gè)人，必須將其一一收服。
That could wait, however. Just now Jaime had more immediate concerns. You say you are the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, his father had said. Go do your duty. These five were not the brothers he would have chosen, but they were the brothers he had; the time had come to take them in hand.
“不管誰下的手，”他總結(jié)，“喬佛里終歸已死，鐵王座傳給了托曼。我要他牢牢地坐江山，直到頭發(fā)變白，牙齒疏松，絕不能再受毒藥之流的危害?！闭材忿D(zhuǎn)向柏洛斯·布勞恩爵士，此人近年來日益肥胖，且勢頭不減?！鞍芈逅咕羰浚磥砟泐H喜美食。從今往后，托曼吃的每道菜、喝的每杯酒，都由你先行品嘗?！?/p>
“Whoever did it,” he told them, “Joffrey is dead, and the Iron Throne belongs to Tommen now. I mean for him to sit on it until his hair turns white and his teeth fall out. And not from poison.” Jaime turned to Ser Boros Blount. The man had grown stout in recent years, though he was big-boned enough to carry it. “Ser Boros, you look like a man who enjoys his food. Henceforth you’ll taste everything Tommen eats or drinks.”
奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士捧腹大笑，百花騎士也忍俊不禁，柏洛斯爵士臉色轉(zhuǎn)為深紅，“我不是品酒師！我是御林鐵衛(wèi)的騎士！”
Ser Osmund Kettleblack laughed aloud and the Knight of Flowers smiled, but Ser Boros turned a deep beet red. “I am no food taster! I am a knight of the Kingsguard!”
“很遺憾，你說得對?！鄙厣米詣儕Z鐵衛(wèi)的白袍是不對，但父親將他召回來則是可恥?！拔医憬銓⒛闳绾伟盐彝馍廊怀鲑u給提利昂的手下的事跡告訴了我。好，既然如此，那你就換種活法，胡蘿卜和豌豆沒那么可怕。往后，當(dāng)兄弟們在院子里操練長劍盾牌時(shí)，你就在廚房內(nèi)操練盤子湯勺。托曼喜歡蘋果蛋糕，千萬別讓傭兵偷吃了它。”
“Sad to say, you are.” Cersei should never have stripped the man of his white cloak. But their father had only compounded the shame by restoring it. “My sister has told me how readily you yielded my nephew to Tyrion’s sellswords. You will find carrots and pease less threatening, I hope. When your Sworn Brothers are training in the yard with sword and shield, you may train with spoon and trencher. Tommen loves applecakes. Try not to let any sellswords make off with them.”
“你！……你敢這樣對我說話？”
“You speak to me thus? You?”
“你應(yīng)該誓死保護(hù)托曼的?！?/p>
“You should have died before you let Tommen be taken.”
“正如你誓死保護(hù)伊里斯，爵士？”柏洛斯爵士霍地起立，抓住劍柄?！拔摇也唤邮苓@個(gè)指示。照我看，當(dāng)品酒師的該是你才對，你……你不能用劍，還能做什么？”
“As you died protecting Aerys, ser?” Ser Boros lurched to his feet, and clasped the hilt of his sword. “I won’t … I won’t suffer this. You should be the food taster, it seems to me. What else is a cripple good for?”
詹姆笑道：“同意，看來我和你一樣，都不適合保護(hù)國王。那好吧，請拔劍，跟我做個(gè)了斷，看看兩只手能不能打過一只。我們中誰倒下，算是給御林鐵衛(wèi)掃清垃圾?！彼舱酒饋恚叭绻悴幌氪虻脑?，就乖乖履行公務(wù)去。”
Jaime smiled. “I agree. I am as unfit to guard the king as you are. So draw that sword you’re fondling, and we shall see how your two hands fare against my one. At the end one of us will be dead, and the Kingsguard will be improved.” He rose. “Or, if you prefer, you may return to your duties.”
“呸！”柏洛斯爵士將一大泡綠痰吐到詹姆腳邊，頭也不回地走了，始終沒敢拔劍。
“Bah!” Ser Boros hawked up a glob of green phlegm, spat it at Jaime’s feet, and walked out, his sword still in its sheath.
此人果然膽怯，我過了第一關(guān)。柏洛斯爵士雖然年長、肥胖、武藝中庸，但擊敗現(xiàn)在的他仍舊綽綽有余。好在柏洛斯不知道實(shí)情，我也不會讓其他人知道。他們害怕曾經(jīng)的我，如今的我會令他們輕視。
The man is craven, and a good thing. Though fat, aging, and never more than ordinary, Ser Boros could still have hacked him into bloody pieces. But Boros does not know that, and neither must the rest. They feared the man I was; the man I am they’d pity.
詹姆坐下來，望向凱特布萊克。“奧斯蒙爵士，咱倆竟然素昧平生，對此我深感詫異。你知道，我曾踏遍七國上下，四處參加比武會和真正的戰(zhàn)斗，任何有過一點(diǎn)表現(xiàn)的雇傭騎士、自由騎手和嶄露頭角的侍從，都有所耳聞?？蔀槭裁淳陀洸坏媚隳?，奧斯蒙爵士？”
Jaime seated himself again and turned to Kettleblack. “Ser Osmund. I do not know you. I find that curious. I’ve fought in tourneys, mêlées, and battles throughout the Seven Kingdoms. I know of every hedge knight, freerider, and upjumped squire of any skill who has ever presumed to break a lance in the lists. So how is it that I have never heard of you, Ser Osmund?”
“這問題我無法回答，大人，”奧斯蒙爵士夸張地笑笑，好像在跟詹姆分享老友間獨(dú)有的樂子，“我是個(gè)堂堂正正的兵，不是只會比武的騎士?！?/p>
“That I couldn’t say, my lord.” He had a great wide smile on his face, did Ser Osmund, as if he and Jaime were old comrades in arms playing some jolly little game. “I’m a soldier, though, not no tourney knight.”
“那么，被我姐姐發(fā)掘之前，你在哪里做事？”
“Where had you served, before my sister found you?”
“四處云游，有時(shí)在這里，有時(shí)在那里，大人。”
“Here and there, my lord.”
“我剛才說過，我曾踏遍七國上下，北至臨冬城，南達(dá)舊鎮(zhèn)，西起蘭尼斯港，東到君臨。但我從沒去過‘這里’，也沒到過‘那里’。”詹姆習(xí)慣性地舉起斷肢，指著奧斯蒙爵士的鷹鉤鼻?！拔以賳柲阋淮危耗阍谀睦镒鍪?？”
“I have been to Oldtown in the south and Winterfell in the north. I have been to Lannisport in the west, and King’s Landing in the east. But I have never been to Here. Nor There.” For want of a finger, Jaime pointed his stump at Ser Osmund’s beak of a nose. “I will ask once more. Where have you served?”
“在石階列島。那些島嶼屬于爭議之地，戰(zhàn)爭不斷。我加入了俠客團(tuán)，有時(shí)為里斯人打仗，有時(shí)為泰洛西人打仗?！?/p>
“In the Stepstones. Some in the Disputed Lands. There’s always fighting there. I rode with the Gallant Men. We fought for Lys, and some for Tyrosh.”
反正是為錢打仗?！澳阍趺串?dāng)上騎士的？”
You fought for anyone who would pay you. “How did you come by your knighthood?”
“因?yàn)樽鲬?zhàn)勇猛?！?/p>
“On a battlefield.”
“由誰冊封？”
“Who knighted you?”
“勞勃……石東爵士。不過，他已經(jīng)死了，大人?！?/p>
“Ser Robert … Stone. He’s dead now, my lord.”
“毫無疑問?！被蛟S真有勞勃·石東爵士這么個(gè)人，他心想，身為谷地的私生子，流落到石階列島當(dāng)傭兵；又或許這不過是奧斯蒙爵士拿死去的國王和石頭這名詞胡謅的。給這種人披上白袍，瑟曦到底在想什么？
“To be sure.” Ser Robert Stone might have been some bastard from the Vale, he supposed, selling his sword in the Disputed Lands. On the other hand, he might be no more than a name Ser Osmund cobbled together from a dead king and a castle wall. What was Cersei thinking when she gave this one a white cloak?
但至少，這凱特布萊克有些能耐，傭兵雖無榮譽(yù)心，防身之術(shù)卻不可少，否則早在戰(zhàn)斗中送了命?！昂芎?，爵士先生，”詹姆說，“你可以走了。”
At least Kettleblack would likely know how to use a sword and shield. Sellswords were seldom the most honorable of men, but they had to have a certain skill at arms to stay alive. “Very well, ser,” Jaime said. “You may go.”
對方恢復(fù)了笑容，大搖大擺地離開。
The man’s grin returned. He left swaggering.
“馬林爵士，”詹姆微笑著望向陰郁的騎士，只見對方眼袋下垂，發(fā)如鐵銹?！拔衣犝f喬佛里陛下命你懲罰珊莎·史塔克，”他單手將白典調(diào)了個(gè)頭，“請看看書，并告訴我，我們的誓言中可有準(zhǔn)許毆打婦女和兒童?！?/p>
“Ser Meryn.” Jaime smiled at the sour knight with the rust-red hair and the pouches under his eyes. “I have heard it said that Joffrey made use of you to chastise Sansa Stark.” He turned the White Book around one-handed. “Here, show me where it is in our vows that we swear to beat women and children.”
“我只是遵命行事。您知道，我們發(fā)誓服從國王。”
“I did as His Grace commanded me. We are sworn to obey.”
“很好，你還記得誓言，今后把服從對象稍作調(diào)整。我姐姐是太后攝政王，我父親是國王之手，我是御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長。服從我們?nèi)?，別的不用管?！?/p>
“Henceforth you will temper that obedience. My sister is Queen Regent. My father is the King’s Hand. I am Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Obey us. None other.”
馬林爵士表情頑固，“您竟要我們別服從國王？”
Ser Meryn got a stubborn look on his face. “Are you telling us not to obey the king?”
“國王只有八歲，當(dāng)務(wù)之急是保護(hù)他，‘保護(hù)’包括保護(hù)陛下不受自己的傷害。今后多用用你頭盔里的玩意兒，倘若托曼要你備馬，你照辦，倘若托曼要你殺馬，來找我?！?/p>
“The king is eight. Our first duty is to protect him, which includes protecting him from himself. Use that ugly thing you keep inside your helm. If Tommen wants you to saddle his horse, obey him. If he tells you to kill his horse, come to me.”
“是，遵命，大人?！?/p>
“Aye. As you command, my lord.”
“你也可以走了?！彼吆?，詹姆轉(zhuǎn)向巴隆·史文爵士，“巴隆爵士，我多次目睹你在比武場上的英姿，也親自于團(tuán)隊(duì)比武中跟你結(jié)盟或敵對，外加最近大家都交口稱贊你在黑水河一戰(zhàn)中的武功?？磥碛骤F衛(wèi)有你加入，真是莫大榮幸?！?/p>
“Dismissed.” As he left, Jaime turned to Ser Balon Swann. “Ser Balon, I have watched you tilt many a time, and fought with and against you in mêlées. I’m told you proved your valor a hundred times over during the Battle of the Blackwater. The Kingsguard is honored by your presence.”
“這是我的榮幸，大人?！卑吐【羰烤璧鼗卮稹?/p>
“The honor’s mine, my lord.” Ser Balon sounded wary.
“對你，我只有一個(gè)問題。你忠心耿耿，大家都知道……可另一方面，瓦里斯告訴我，你哥哥相繼追隨過藍(lán)禮和史坦尼斯，而你父親大人疏于整軍，一直坐待于家堡石盔城觀望，不曾有勤王之舉?！?/p>
“There is only one question I would put to you. You served us loyally, it’s true … but Varys tells me that your brother rode with Renly and then Stannis, whilst your lord father chose not to call his banners at all and remained behind the walls of Stonehelm all through the fighting.”
“家父已經(jīng)老了，大人，他年過四旬，且又多病，早不堪沙場馳騁。”
“My father is an old man, my lord. Well past forty. His fighting days are done.”
“你哥哥呢？”
“And your brother?”
“不瞞您說，大人，我哥哥唐納爾在黑水河一戰(zhàn)中負(fù)了傷，為埃伍德·哈特爵士所俘，之后他像眾人一樣付了贖金，并宣誓為喬佛里國王效命?！?/p>
“Donnel was wounded in the battle and yielded to Ser Elwood Harte. He was ransomed afterward and pledged his fealty to King Joffrey, as did many other captives.”
“是嘛，”詹姆道，“但我不得不提醒你，在短短一年中，你哥哥已經(jīng)走馬燈似地?fù)Q了藍(lán)禮、史坦尼斯、喬佛里、托曼……四個(gè)國王，而這會兒國內(nèi)恰好還有兩大叛逆，他該不會想成為七大王國歷史上頭一個(gè)服膺六位國王的騎士吧？”
“So he did,” said Jaime. “Even so … Renly, Stannis, Joffrey, Tommen … how did he come to omit Balon Greyjoy and Robb Stark? He might have been the first knight in the realm to swear fealty to all six kings.”
巴隆爵士極為不安，“唐納爾犯了錯，但業(yè)已洗心革面，死心塌地為托曼陛下效命，我向您擔(dān)保。”
Ser Balon’s unease was plain. “Donnel erred, but he is Tommen’s man now. You have my word.”
“我關(guān)心的不是這位‘死心塌地的’爵士，而是你，”詹姆傾身靠前，“如果咱們英勇的唐納爾某天又加入叛黨，并帶著軍隊(duì)沖進(jìn)王座廳，你怎么做？身為御林鐵衛(wèi)，在國王和親族之間，你該如何選擇？”
“It’s not Ser Donnel the Constant who concerns me. It’s you.” Jaime leaned forward. “What will you do if brave Ser Donnel gives his sword to yet another usurper, and one day comes storming into the throne room? And there you stand all in white, between your king and your blood. What will you do?”
“我……大人，這事太瘋狂，不可能發(fā)生的?！?/p>
“I … my lord, that will never happen.”
“這事在我身上就發(fā)生過?！?/p>
“It happened to me,” Jaime said.
史文用白衣袖擦拭額頭。
Swann wiped his brow with the sleeve of his white tunic.
“你沒有答案？”
“You have no answer?”
“大人，”巴隆爵士挺直身子，“我以我的寶劍、我的榮譽(yù)和家父之名起誓……我不會重蹈您的覆轍?！?/p>
“My lord.” Ser Balon drew himself up. “On my sword, on my honor, on my father’s name, I swear … I shall not do as you did.”
詹姆縱聲長笑，“很好，你走吧……記得建議唐納爾爵士為自己的紋章加上風(fēng)向標(biāo)?！?/p>
Jaime laughed. “Good. Return to your duties … and tell Ser Donnel to add a weathervane to his shield.”
這下，由他單獨(dú)面對百花騎士。
And then he was alone with the Knight of Flowers.
洛拉斯·提利爾爵士纖細(xì)得像把長劍，體態(tài)雖柔弱，但肌肉健實(shí)。他穿雪白的亞麻布外衣和白羊毛馬褲，腰纏一條金腰帶，用一朵金玫瑰扣住精致的絲披風(fēng)。他有柔軟的棕色卷發(fā)，眼睛也是棕色，閃爍著傲氣的光芒。他以為我在主持比武會，現(xiàn)在輪到他上場了?！澳陜H十七，就成為御林鐵衛(wèi)的一員，”詹姆道，“一定倍感驕傲。你知道嗎？龍騎士伊蒙王子也是十七歲那年當(dāng)上御林鐵衛(wèi)的?！?/p>
Slim as a sword, lithe and fit, Ser Loras Tyrell wore a snowy linen tunic and white wool breeches, with a gold belt around his waist and a gold rose clasping his fine silk cloak. His hair was a soft brown tumble, and his eyes were brown as well, and bright with insolence. He thinks this is a tourney, and his tilt has just been called. “Seventeen and a knight of the Kingsguard,” said Jaime. “You must be proud. Prince Aemon the Dragonknight was seventeen when he was named. Did you know that?”
“我很清楚，大人?！?/p>
“Yes, my lord.”
“那你可清楚我是十五歲時(shí)當(dāng)上鐵衛(wèi)的？”
“And did you know that I was fifteen?”
“也很清楚，大人?！睂Ψ叫Φ?。
“That as well, my lord.” He smiled.
詹姆痛恨這種笑，“當(dāng)年的我比你強(qiáng)，洛拉斯爵士。我比你結(jié)實(shí)，比你強(qiáng)壯，比你敏捷?！?/p>
Jaime hated that smile. “I was better than you, Ser Loras. I was bigger, I was stronger, and I was quicker.”
“而現(xiàn)在您比我老，”這孩子說，“大人?！?/p>
“And now you’re older,” the boy said. “My lord.”
他逼自己微笑。太荒謬了。若提利昂在場，看到我和這未歷世事的孩子爭口舌之長，怕是會笑得背過氣去。“不錯，爵士，我比你年長，也更有智慧，你應(yīng)該接受我的指導(dǎo)?！?/p>
He had to laugh. This is too absurd. Tyrion would mock me unmercifully if he could hear me now, comparing cocks with this green boy. “Older and wiser, ser. You should learn from me.”
“哦？正如您從前也接受柏洛斯爵士或馬林爵士的指導(dǎo)？”
“As you learned from Ser Boros and Ser Meryn?”
這一次太過分?！拔医邮馨着：汀疅o畏的’巴利斯坦的指導(dǎo)，”詹姆反擊，“我接受‘拂曉神劍’亞瑟·戴恩的指導(dǎo)——告訴你，他可以一邊用右手撒尿，一邊以左手使劍，砍翻你們五個(gè)廢物——我也接受多恩的勒文親王、奧斯威爾·河安爵士和瓊恩·戴瑞爵士的指導(dǎo)。他們個(gè)個(gè)都是頂呱呱的好人。”
That arrow hit too close to the mark. “I learned from the White Bull and Barristan the Bold,” Jaime snapped. “I learned from Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, who could have slain all five of you with his left hand while he was taking a piss with the right. I learned from Prince Lewyn of Dorne and Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Jonothor Darry, good men every one.”
“死人，一群死人?！?/p>
“Dead men, every one.”
他就是從前的我，詹姆突然意識到，有著我那自以為是的勇氣和不切實(shí)際的騎士精神。我在和自己對話。年輕人，你唯一的問題就是太年輕。
He’s me, Jaime realized suddenly. I am speaking to myself, as I was, all cocksure arrogance and empty chivalry. This is what it does to you, to be too good too young.
在武場上，拿不下對手就得變換節(jié)奏?！奥犝f你在黑水河一役中表現(xiàn)杰出……還與藍(lán)禮的鬼魂并肩作戰(zhàn)。御林鐵衛(wèi)的兄弟在他們的隊(duì)長面前沒有秘密，告訴我，爵士，到底是誰穿上了藍(lán)禮的盔甲？”
As in a swordfight, sometimes it is best to try a different stroke. “It’s said you fought magnificently in the battle … almost as well as Lord Renly’s ghost beside you. A Sworn Brother has no secrets from his Lord Commander. Tell me, ser. Who was wearing Renly’s armor?”
洛拉斯·提利爾起初打算拒絕回答，但最終守住了誓言?！笆俏腋绺?，”他不高興地說，“藍(lán)禮比我高，胸膛也比我寬闊，他的盔甲我穿不上，但對加蘭很合適?！?/p>
For a moment Loras Tyrell looked as though he might refuse, but in the end he remembered his vows. “My brother,” he said sullenly. “Renly was taller than me, and broader in the chest. His armor was too loose on me, but it suited Garlan well.”
“喬裝的計(jì)策是你，還是你哥哥提出的？”
“Was the masquerade your notion, or his?”
“是小指頭大人的建議，他說對史坦尼斯手下那些無知士兵而言，這是最管用的招數(shù)?！?/p>
“Lord Littlefinger suggested it. He said it would frighten Stannis’s ignorant men-at-arms.”
“的確，”對許多領(lǐng)主和騎士也管用，“干得不錯，歌手將傳唱你們兄弟的事跡，這是理所應(yīng)得的榮譽(yù)。對了，藍(lán)禮的遺體是被你帶走的么？”
“And so it did.” And some knights and lordlings too. “Well, you gave the singers something to make rhymes about, I suppose that’s not to be despised. What did you do with Renly?”
“是，我親手埋葬了他，那個(gè)地方我從前在風(fēng)息堡當(dāng)侍從時(shí)和他單獨(dú)去過，沒有別人知道，沒有別人可以打攪他的安息。”他剛硬地望著詹姆，“我向您保證，會用自己的全部力量來守護(hù)托曼國王，獻(xiàn)出生命也在所不惜。但藍(lán)禮將永遠(yuǎn)在我心中占有一席之地，不管在言語還是行動上，我都決不會背叛他。因?yàn)樗钣型跽唢L(fēng)范，他才是最好的國王?！?/p>
“I buried him with mine own hands, in a place he showed me once when I was a squire at Storm’s End. No one shall ever find him there to disturb his rest.” He looked at Jaime defiantly. “I will defend King Tommen with all my strength, I swear it. I will give my life for his if need be. But I will never betray Renly, by word or deed. He was the king that should have been. He was the best of them.”
不對，他只是最會打扮的國王，詹姆心想，但沒說出口。談起藍(lán)禮，年輕的洛拉斯爵士臉上的傲氣一掃而空，他變得誠懇。這孩子雖然狂妄、沖動、乳臭未干，但并不虛偽。至少還沒學(xué)會虛偽?！罢\如你所言，藍(lán)禮是個(gè)好人。我還有最后一件事，說完你就可以回去繼續(xù)工作了?！?/p>
The best dressed perhaps, Jaime thought, but for once he did not say it. The arrogance had gone out of Ser Loras the moment he began to speak of Renly. He answered truly. He is proud and reckless and full of piss, but he is not false. Not yet. “As you say. One more thing, and you may return to your duties.”
“大人，什么事？”
“Yes, my lord?”
“塔斯的布蕾妮還被我關(guān)在塔樓房間。”
“I still have Brienne of Tarth in a tower cell.”
對方抿緊嘴唇，“您該把她投進(jìn)黑牢?！?/p>
The boy’s mouth hardened. “A black cell would be better.”
“你認(rèn)為這是她應(yīng)得的懲罰？”
“You are certain that’s what she deserves?”
“她應(yīng)得的懲罰是死。我警告過藍(lán)禮，女人無權(quán)加入彩虹護(hù)衛(wèi)，況且她全靠下流詭計(jì)才贏得團(tuán)體比武的勝利?！?/p>
“She deserves death. I told Renly that a woman had no place in the Rainbow Guard. She won the mêlée with a trick.”
“是么？我倒認(rèn)識一位詭計(jì)多端的騎士。某天，他騎著發(fā)情的母馬，去迎戰(zhàn)騎壞脾氣公馬的對手。說到底，布蕾妮究竟做了什么呢？”
“I seem to recall another knight who was fond of tricks. He once rode a mare in heat against a foe mounted on a bad-tempered stallion. What sort of trickery did Brienne use?”
洛拉斯爵士的臉“刷”地一下紅了，“她撞過來……算了，沒關(guān)系，我承認(rèn)是她贏。藍(lán)禮陛下為此親手替她披上彩虹披風(fēng)，但她竟然殺了他，至少是聽?wèi){別人害了他?！?/p>
Ser Loras flushed. “She leapt … it makes no matter. She won, I grant her that. His Grace put a rainbow cloak around her shoulders. And she killed him. Or let him die.”
“這兩者有天壤之別?！鼻罢呤俏业谋池?fù)，后者是柏洛斯·布勞恩的無恥。
“A large difference there.” The difference between my crime and the shame of Boros Blount.
“她發(fā)誓用生命來守護(hù)國王。埃蒙·庫伊爵士、羅拔·羅伊斯爵士、帕門·克連恩爵士，他們也都發(fā)了誓。您倒說說，有她在帳內(nèi)，其他三人在帳外，怎么可能有人進(jìn)得去？毫無疑問，就是他們的陰謀?！?/p>
“She had sworn to protect him. Ser Emmon Cuy, Ser Robar Royce, Ser Parmen Crane, they’d sworn as well. How could anyone have hurt him, with her inside his tent and the others just outside? Unless they were part of it.”
“喬佛里的婚宴，你們五人還一起在場呢，”詹姆指出，“國王怎么死的？難不成你也參加了陰謀？”
“There were five of you at the wedding feast,” Jaime pointed out. “How could Joffrey die? Unless you were part of it?”
洛拉斯爵士氣鼓鼓地挺直身子，“當(dāng)時(shí)我們無能為力。”
Ser Loras drew himself up stiffly. “There was nothing we could have done.”
“妞兒也這么對我說。她和你一樣，都深深地為藍(lán)禮哀悼——而我向你保證，我對伊里斯可沒有一絲一毫的感情。布蕾妮丑是丑，又長了個(gè)頑固的豬腦袋，可她說不了謊，對使命盲目地忠誠。你瞧，她發(fā)誓把我?guī)Щ鼐R，所以我才能坐在這里和你談話，除了手少了一只……但這個(gè)事故我和她有同樣的責(zé)任。依路上種種見聞判斷，我肯定她會拼死保護(hù)藍(lán)禮，然而看不到敵人該怎么打？”詹姆搖搖頭，“把劍拔出來，洛拉斯爵士，讓我看看你怎么和影子打。說實(shí)話，我還真的不會?！?/p>
“The wench says the same. She grieves for Renly as you do. I promise you, I never grieve for Aerys. Brienne’s ugly, and pighead stubborn. But she lacks the wits to be a liar, and she is loyal past the point of sense. She swore an oath to bring me to King’s Landing, and here I sit. This hand I lost … well, that was my doing as much as hers. Considering all she did to protect me, I have no doubt that she would have fought for Renly, had there been a foe to fight. But a shadow?” Jaime shook his head. “Draw your sword, Ser Loras. Show me how you’d fight a shadow. I should like to see that.”
洛拉斯爵士沒有動作。“但她逃了，”他說，“她和凱特琳·史塔克一起逃之夭夭，將他扔在血泊之中。如果沒有參與，干嗎心虛逃竄呢？”他瞪著桌子。“藍(lán)禮要我擔(dān)任前鋒，否則為他穿戴盔甲的該是我，這個(gè)任務(wù)一直屬于我。我們那天晚上一起……一起作禱告，隨后我把他交給了她，并安排帕門爵士和埃蒙爵士把守帳門，羅拔·羅伊斯爵士在附近警衛(wèi)。埃蒙爵士臨死前發(fā)誓是布雷妮……可……”
Ser Loras made no move to rise. “She fled,” he said. “She and Catelyn Stark, they left him in his blood and ran. Why would they, if it was not their work?” He stared at the table. “Renly gave me the van. Otherwise it would have been me helping him don his armor. He often entrusted that task to me. We had … we had prayed together that night. I left him with her. Ser Parmen and Ser Emmon were guarding the tent, and Ser Robar Royce was there as well. Ser Emmon swore Brienne had … although …”
“嗯？”詹姆提示，他察覺到對方語中的懷疑。
“Yes?” Jaime prompted, sensing a doubt.
“整個(gè)護(hù)喉鋼甲都被切開，只一刀！便干凈利落地切開了鋼板。藍(lán)禮的鎧甲防護(hù)精良，用的是上等材料，她怎么做到的？后來我自己試過，無論如何都不行。她雖有一身非人的蠻力，但依我看，就算魔山也得拿戰(zhàn)斧才能劈動。更何況……要?dú)⑺脑?，為何又先替他穿上鎧甲？”他煩惱地望向詹姆，“但如果不是她，如果……影子又是怎么回事？”
“The gorget was cut through. One clean stroke, through a steel gorget. Renly’s armor was the best, the finest steel. How could she do that? I tried myself, and it was not possible. She’s freakish strong for a woman, but even the Mountain would have needed a heavy axe. And why armor him and then cut his throat?” He gave Jaime a confused look. “If not her, though … how could it be a shadow?”
“你自己去當(dāng)面問個(gè)清楚，”詹姆下了決心，“去吧，去塔樓房間，提出你的問題，聽取她的回答。如果事后你仍相信是她殺害了藍(lán)禮大人，我便將主持審判。總之，繼續(xù)指控，還是放了她，決定權(quán)操于你手，我唯一的要求是你必須公平處理這件事，以你身為騎士的榮譽(yù)發(fā)誓?！?/p>
“Ask her.” Jaime came to a decision. “Go to her cell. Ask your questions and hear her answers. If you are still convinced that she murdered Lord Renly, I will see that she answers for it. The choice will be yours. Accuse her, or release her. All I ask is that you judge her fairly, on your honor as a knight.”
洛拉斯爵士站起來，“我以我的榮譽(yù)發(fā)誓?！?/p>
Ser Loras stood. “I shall. On my honor.”
“那么，咱們的談話就到此為止?！?/p>
“We are done, then.”
年輕人朝外走去，走到門邊又轉(zhuǎn)過身，“藍(lán)禮說她是個(gè)可笑的女人，竟然穿著男人的鎧甲，妄想當(dāng)騎士?！?/p>
The younger man started for the door. But there he turned back. “Renly thought she was absurd. A woman dressed in man’s mail, pretending to be a knight.”
“若他見過穿粉紅綢緞和密爾蕾絲的她，相信會改變看法?！?/p>
“If he’d ever seen her in pink satin and Myrish lace, he would not have complained.”
“我問他，既然認(rèn)為她如此可笑，為何還留她在身邊。他告訴我，其他騎士追隨他都有所企圖，要么為土地、要么為榮譽(yù)、要么為錢財(cái)，只有布蕾妮，唯一的愿望是為他而死。當(dāng)日，我看到他倒在血泊中，她則逃得不見蹤影，另外三名護(hù)衛(wèi)面面相覷……如果她是無辜的，那羅拔和埃蒙……”他說不下去了。
“I asked him why he kept her close, if he thought her so grotesque. He said that all his other knights wanted things of him, castles or honors or riches, but all that Brienne wanted was to die for him. When I saw him all bloody, with her fled and the three of them unharmed … if she’s innocent, then Robar and Emmon …” He could not seem to say the words.
詹姆正在考慮這件事，“換我也會這么做，爵士?！币粋€(gè)便宜的謊言，但足以安慰洛拉斯爵士。
Jaime had not stopped to consider that aspect of it. “I would have done the same, ser.” The lie came easy, but Ser Loras seemed grateful for it.
五名鐵衛(wèi)全部離開后，隊(duì)長獨(dú)坐在純白的會議室中，陷入沉思。百花騎士眼見藍(lán)禮被殺，悲痛得發(fā)狂，甚至出手?jǐn)懒藘擅难孕值?；我呢？我是不是也該殺了這五位辜負(fù)喬佛里的鐵衛(wèi)？他可是我親兒子，是我不為人知的寶貝……莫非我就沒勇氣為自己的血脈和親人復(fù)仇嗎？至少，我該宰掉柏洛斯爵士，他是個(gè)全然的廢物。
When he was gone, the Lord Commander sat alone in the white room, wondering. The Knight of Flowers had been so mad with grief for Renly that he had cut down two of his own Sworn Brothers, but it had never occurred to Jaime to do the same with the five who had failed Joffrey. He was my son, my secret son … What am I, if I do not lift the hand I have left to avenge mine own blood and seed? He ought to kill Ser Boros at least, just to be rid of him.
他望著斷肢，扮個(gè)鬼臉。得想辦法彌補(bǔ)才行。已故的拜瓦特·杰斯林爵士能裝鐵手，我就能裝金手。瑟曦會喜歡的。我要用金手撫摸她的金發(fā)，并將她牢牢擁緊，不再分離。
He looked at his stump and grimaced. I must do something about that. If the late Ser Jacelyn Bywater could wear an iron hand, he should have a gold one. Cersei might like that. A golden hand to stroke her golden hair, and hold her hard against me.
真美妙。但手的事可以先等等，還有別的問題等著處理，還有筆債需要償還。
His hand could wait, though. There were other things to tend to first. There were other debts to pay.
