Ⅲ 冰雨的風(fēng)暴 Chapter63 戴佛斯
DAVOS
他們的嗓音跟柴堆的火星一起盤旋升騰，涌向紫色的夜空，“……帶領(lǐng)我們走出黑暗，哦，真主啊，請用火焰填充我們的心房，好讓我們奉承您明光照耀。”
Their voices rose like cinders, swirling up into purple evening sky. “Lead us from the darkness, O my Lord. Fill our hearts with fire, so we may walk your shining path.”
夜火于逐漸凝聚的黑暗之中燃燒，如一頭鮮亮巨怪，變換閃爍的橙光為它在院子里投射出二十尺長的影子。龍石島城墻上，那怪物與異獸的軍團(tuán)遙相呼應(yīng)、蠢蠢欲動。
The nightfire burned against the gathering dark, a great bright beast whose shifting orange light threw shadows twenty feet tall across the yard. All along the walls of Dragonstone the army of gargoyles and grotesques seemed to stir and shift.
戴佛斯從長廊的拱窗望下來，看見梅莉珊卓高舉雙臂，仿佛要擁抱搖曳的火苗?！啊章澹彼穆曊{(diào)清晰嘹亮，“你是我們眼中的光，你是我們心中的火，你是我們腹中的熱。你的光是白晝溫暖我們的太陽，你的光是黑夜守護(hù)我們的群星?！?/p>
Davos looked down from an arched window in the gallery above. He watched Melisandre lift her arms, as if to embrace the shivering flames. “R’hllor,” she sang in a voice loud and clear, “you are the light in our eyes, the fire in our hearts, the heat in our loins. Yours is the sun that warms our days, yours the stars that guard us in the dark of night.”
“光之王，守護(hù)我等。長夜黑暗，處處險惡?！辟慃惤z王后領(lǐng)著大家應(yīng)和，尖細(xì)的臉上滿是熱忱。史坦尼斯國王站在她身邊，咬緊牙關(guān)，赤金王冠上的尖刺隨頭部移動而反射光芒。他雖跟他們在一起，卻不是他們中的一員，戴佛斯心想。希琳公主站在父母中間，臉頰和頸部的灰斑在火光中幾近于黑。
“Lord of Light, defend us. The night is dark and full of terrors.” Queen Selyse led the responses, her pinched face full of fervor. King Stannis stood beside her, jaw clenched hard, the points of his red-gold crown shimmering whenever he moved his head. He is with them, but not of them, Davos thought. Princess Shireen was between them, the mottled grey patches on her face and neck almost black in the firelight.
“光之王，守護(hù)我等?！蓖鹾箜灣跷锤嗳艘黄饝?yīng)和。他凝視著火焰，戴佛斯不知他在其中看到了什么。所謂“即將到來的大戰(zhàn)”的景象？或是更貼近現(xiàn)實(shí)生活的事情？
“Lord of Light, protect us,” the queen sang. The king did not respond with the others. He was staring into the flames. Davos wondered what he saw there. Another vision of the war to come? Or something closer to home?
“我們感謝您，拉赫洛，您帶來生命，”梅莉珊卓頌唱，“我們感謝您，拉赫洛，您帶來白晝?！?/p>
“R’hllor who gave us breath, we thank you,” sang Melisandre. “R’hllor who gave us day, we thank you.”
“感謝您派來溫暖我們的太陽，”賽麗絲王后和其他人輕聲回應(yīng)，“感謝您派來守護(hù)我們的群星。感謝您賜予我們壁爐與火炬，以抵擋無情的黑暗。”戴佛斯感覺應(yīng)和的聲音比前天晚上要弱一些，橙光映照出的激動臉龐也變少了。明天會更少嗎……還是增多？
“We thank you for the sun that warms us,” Queen Selyse and the other worshipers replied. “We thank you for the stars that watch us. We thank you for our hearths and for our torches, that keep the savage dark at bay.” There were fewer voices saying the responses than there had been the night before, it seemed to Davos; fewer faces flushed with orange light about the fire. But would there be fewer still on the morrow … or more?
亞賽爾·佛羅倫爵士的聲調(diào)像高音喇叭，他寬厚的胸膛和外彎的雙腿在人群中十分醒目，火光如同巨大的橙色舌頭舔舐他的臉。戴佛斯不知道事后亞賽爾爵士會如何對付他，今晚他們打算干的事可以讓其成為國王之手，圓遂夢想。
The voice of Ser Axell Florent rang loud as a trumpet. He stood barrel-chested and bandy-legged, the firelight washing his face like a monstrous orange tongue. Davos wondered if Ser Axell would thank him, after. The work they did tonight might well make him the King’s Hand, as he dreamed.
梅莉珊卓高喊，“感謝您賜給我們史坦尼斯，正直的國王陛下。感謝您賜予他如純凈烈焰般的心志，感謝您賜予他正義的英雄之紅劍，感謝您賜予他對忠實(shí)子民的無盡熱愛。請您引導(dǎo)他，請您守護(hù)他，拉赫洛，請您賜予他討伐敵人的力量?！?/p>
Melisandre cried, “We thank you for Stannis, by your grace our king. We thank you for the pure white fire of his goodness, for the red sword of justice in his hand, for the love he bears his leal people. Guide him and defend him, R’hllor, and grant him strength to smite his foes.”
“賜予他力量，”賽麗絲王后、亞賽爾爵士、戴馮和其他人回應(yīng)，“賜予他勇氣，賜予他智慧?！?/p>
“Grant him strength,” answered Queen Selyse, Ser Axell, Devan, and the rest. “Grant him courage. Grant him wisdom.”
小時候，修士們教導(dǎo)他向鐵匠祈禱力量，向戰(zhàn)士祈禱勇氣，向老嫗祈禱智慧?，F(xiàn)今他向圣母祈禱，求她讓他可愛的兒子戴馮免遭紅袍女的魔神毒害。
When he was a boy, the septons had taught Davos to pray to the Crone for wisdom, to the Warrior for courage, to the Smith for strength. But it was the Mother he prayed to now, to keep his sweet son Devan safe from the red woman’s demon god.
“戴佛斯大人？該行動了，”安德魯爵士輕碰他手肘，“伯爵大人？”
“Lord Davos? We’d best be about it.” Ser Andrew touched his elbow gently. “My lord?”
這一頭銜在他耳中至今仍顯怪異，但戴佛斯轉(zhuǎn)身離開窗口?！皩Γ菚r候了?！笔诽鼓崴埂⒚防蛏鹤考昂簏h人士還要再祈禱一個小時，甚至更久。紅袍祭司每天日落時分都燃起火堆，為即將結(jié)束的一日感謝拉赫洛，并請求他第二天重新帶回太陽，驅(qū)逐凝聚的黑暗。走私者必須了解海潮，懂得捕捉風(fēng)向。說到底，那是唯一適合他的身份：走私者戴佛斯。傷殘的手伸向喉嚨的幸運(yùn)符，卻什么也沒找到。他甩開胳膊，加快步伐。
The title still rang queer in his ears, yet Davos turned away from the window. “Aye. It’s time.” Stannis, Melisandre, and the queen’s men would be at their prayers an hour or more. The red priests lit their fires every day at sunset, to thank R’hllor for the day just ending, and beg him to send his sun back on the morrow to banish the gathering darkness. A smuggler must know the tides and when to seize them. That was all he was at the end of the day; Davos the smuggler. His maimed hand rose to his throat for his luck, and found nothing. He snatched it down and walked a bit more quickly.
伙伴們緊隨在后，跟上他的腳程。夜歌城的私生子有張被麻疹破壞的臉龐，也帶著邋遢的騎士風(fēng)度；杰拉德·高爾爵士一頭金發(fā)，身形寬闊，直率粗魯；安德魯·伊斯蒙爵士比旁人高一頭，鐵鏟形的胡子，濃密的棕眉毛。他們性情各異，卻都是好人，戴佛斯心想，但若今晚之事有所差池，全都難逃一死。
His companions kept pace, matching their strides to his own. The Bastard of Nightsong had a pox-ravaged face and an air of tattered chivalry; Ser Gerald Gower was broad, bluff, and blond; Ser Andrew Estermont stood a head taller, with a spade-shaped beard and shaggy brown eyebrows. They were all good men in their own ways, Davos thought. And they will all be dead men soon, if this night’s work goes badly.
“圣火是有生命的，”當(dāng)初戴佛斯要紅袍女教他如何透過火焰瞥見未來，她解釋道，“它變化雀躍，從不靜止……就像一本不停翻動的書，想看也看不清。首先需要多年刻苦訓(xùn)練，才能目睹火焰中的形影，而后又需更多年，才能分辨哪些影子屬于將來，哪些影子屬于現(xiàn)在，哪些影子屬于過去。無論如何，過程相當(dāng)艱難，應(yīng)該說很難。你們是不明白的，你們?nèi)章鋰鹊娜藦膩砭筒幻靼?。”戴佛斯不依不饒地追問，亞賽爾爵士如何能很快領(lǐng)悟其中訣竅，對此，她只神秘地微笑，“任何一只凝視火焰的貓都會看到嬉戲的紅老鼠?！?/p>
“Fire is a living thing,” the red woman told him, when he asked her to teach him how to see the future in the flames. “It is always moving, always changing … like a book whose letters dance and shift even as you try to read them. It takes years of training to see the shapes beyond the flames, and more years still to learn to tell the shapes of what will be from what may be or what was. Even then it comes hard, hard. You do not understand that, you men of the sunset lands.” Davos asked her then how it was that Ser Axell had learned the trick of it so quickly, but to that she only smiled enigmatically and said, “Any cat may stare into a fire and see red mice at play.”
這些話，以及相關(guān)的一切，他都沒對手下王黨人士隱瞞。“紅袍女或能預(yù)知我們的意圖?！彼娲蠹摇?/p>
He had not lied to his king’s men, about that or any of it. “The red woman may see what we intend,” he warned them.
“先宰了她便是，”“漁婦”林斯建議，“我知道一個伏擊的好地方，數(shù)人仗劍同時出動……”
“We should start by killing her, then,” urged Lewys the Fishwife. “I know a place where we could waylay her, four of us with sharp swords …”
“你會毀了大家，”戴佛斯說，“克禮森學(xué)士想除掉她，而她立刻知道了，我猜是從火焰里看見的。依我之見，她對于指向自身的威脅感應(yīng)靈敏，但肯定無法知曉所有事情。若我們打一開始便徹底忽略她，或許可以躲過注意?！?/p>
“You’d doom us all,” said Davos. “Maester Cressen tried to kill her, and she knew at once. From her flames, I’d guess. It seems to me that she is very quick to sense any threat to her own person, but surely she cannot see everything. If we ignore her, perhaps we might escape her notice.”
“偷偷摸摸、躲來躲去有何榮譽(yù)可言，”符山城的崔斯頓爵士提出反對，他一直為桑格拉斯家效勞，岡瑟伯爵卻被送上梅莉珊卓的火堆。
“There is no honor in hiding and sneaking,” objected Ser Triston of Tally Hill, who had been a Sunglass man before Lord Guncer went to Melisandre’s fires.
“被燒死就有榮譽(yù)了嗎？”戴佛斯反問?！澳阋部吹缴８窭勾笕说南聢?，急著想步他的后塵？我現(xiàn)下不需要榮譽(yù)，只需要走私者，你們怎么說？”
“Is it so honorable to burn?” Davos asked him. “You saw Lord Sunglass die. Is that what you want? I don’t need men of honor now. I need smugglers. Are you with me, or no?”
他們同意。諸神保佑，他們都同意。
They were. Gods be good, they were.
當(dāng)戴佛斯推門而入時，派洛斯學(xué)士正教艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴做算術(shù)。安德魯爵士緊跟在后，余人留守樓梯和入口。學(xué)士停頓下來，“差不多了，艾德瑞克?！?/p>
Maester Pylos was leading Edric Storm through his sums when Davos pushed open the door. Ser Andrew was close behind him; the others had been left to guard the steps and cellar door. The maester broke off. “That will be enough for now, Edric.”
男孩對來客的闖入迷惑不解?！按鞣鹚勾笕?，安德魯爵士。我們正在做算術(shù)?！?/p>
The boy was puzzled by the intrusion. “Lord Davos, Ser Andrew. We were doing sums.”
安德魯爵士微笑，“我在你這個年紀(jì)時最討厭算術(shù)，老表。”
Ser Andrew smiled. “I hated sums when I was your age, coz.”
“我不介意算術(shù)，但最喜歡歷史。歷史書里都是故事。”
“I don’t mind them so much. I like history best, though. It’s full of tales.”
“艾德瑞克，”派洛斯學(xué)士說，“快去把斗篷拿來。你得跟戴佛斯大人一起走?！?/p>
“Edric,” said Maester Pylos, “run and get your cloak now. You’re to go with Lord Davos.”
“我？”艾德瑞克站起來，“上哪兒去？”他把嘴巴倔強(qiáng)地抿起，“我才不向光之王祈禱。我信仰戰(zhàn)士，跟父親一樣。”
“I am?” Edric got to his feet. “Where are we going?” His mouth set stubbornly. “I won’t go pray to the Lord of Light. I am a Warrior’s man, like my father.”
“我們知道，”戴佛斯說，“來吧，孩子，時間不容耽擱?！?/p>
“We know,” Davos said. “Come, lad, we must not dawdle.”
艾德瑞克披上一件帶兜帽未經(jīng)染色的羊毛厚斗篷。派洛斯學(xué)士幫他系緊，并拉起兜帽遮住他的臉?！澳阋黄饋韱?，學(xué)士？”男孩問。
Edric donned a thick hooded cloak of undyed wool. Maester Pylos helped him fasten it, and pulled the hood up to shadow his face. “Are you coming with us, Maester?” the boy asked.
“不?！迸陕逅姑弊由显S多金屬條串成的頸鏈?！拔业膷徫辉谶@里，在龍石島?？旄鞣鹚勾笕俗甙?，照他說的去做。記住，他是國王之手，關(guān)于國王之手，我教過你什么？”
“No.” Pylos touched the chain of many metals he wore about his neck. “My place is here on Dragonstone. Go with Lord Davos now, and do as he says. He is the King’s Hand, remember. What did I tell you about the King’s Hand?”
“首相代表國王發(fā)號施令?！?/p>
“The Hand speaks with the king’s voice.”
年輕的學(xué)士微微一笑，“正是如此?？熳甙伞！?/p>
The young maester smiled. “That’s so. Go now.”
戴佛斯曾經(jīng)不大信任派洛斯，也許是怨恨他取代了老克禮森的位置，現(xiàn)下卻十分敬佩對方的勇氣。他很可能為此送命。
Davos had been uncertain of Pylos. Perhaps he resented him for taking old Cressen’s place. But now he could only admire the man’s courage. This could mean his life as well.
學(xué)士房間外面，杰拉德·高爾爵士等在樓梯邊。艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴好奇地看看他，下樓時，終于開口問，“我們究竟上哪兒去，戴佛斯大人？”
Outside the maester’s chambers, Ser Gerald Gower waited by the steps. Edric Storm looked at him curiously. As they made their descent he asked, “Where are we going, Lord Davos?”
“去海上。一艘船在等您?！?/p>
“To the water. A ship awaits you.”
男孩突然停下，“一艘船？”
The boy stopped suddenly. “A ship?”
“薩拉多·桑恩的船。薩拉是我的好朋友。”
“One of Salladhor Saan’s. Salla is a good friend of mine.”
“我會陪在你身邊，孩子，”安德魯爵士向他保證，“沒什么好怕的?！?/p>
“I shall go with you, Cousin,” Ser Andrew assured him. “There’s nothing to be frightened of.”
“我才不怕，”艾德瑞克惱怒地聲明，“只不過……希琳會來嗎？”
“I am not frightened,” Edric said indignantly. “Only … is Shireen coming too?”
“不，”戴佛斯說，“公主得留在這兒，跟父母一起?！?/p>
“No,” said Davos. “The princess must remain here with her father and mother.”
“那我得先去見她，”艾德瑞克解釋，“向她道別。否則她會傷心的?！?/p>
“I have to see her then,” Edric explained. “To say my farewells. Otherwise she’ll be sad.”
若你被燒死，她會更傷心的?！皼]時間了，”戴佛斯道，“我會把您的意思轉(zhuǎn)達(dá)給公主陛下。等您到達(dá)目的地后，還可以寫信給她。”
Not so sad as if she sees you burn. “There is no time,” Davos said. “I will tell the princess that you were thinking of her. And you can write her, when you get to where you’re going.”
男孩皺起眉頭，“你肯定我必須走嗎？叔叔為何要我離開龍石島？我惹惱他了嗎？我敢說自己絕不是故意的?！彼致冻瞿欠N固執(zhí)的表情?！拔乙娛迨?。我要見史坦尼斯國王?！?/p>
The boy frowned. “Are you sure I must go? Why would my uncle send me from Dragonstone? Did I displease him? I never meant to.” He got that stubborn look again. “I want to see my uncle. I want to see King Stannis.”
安德魯爵士和杰拉德爵士交換了一個眼神。“沒時間了，孩子?！卑驳卖斁羰看叽佟?/p>
Ser Andrew and Ser Gerald exchanged a look. “There’s no time for that, Cousin,” Ser Andrew said.
“我要見他！”艾德瑞克更為響亮地堅(jiān)持。
“I want to see him!” Edric insisted, louder.
“他不想見你?！贝鞣鹚贡仨氄f點(diǎn)什么，好讓孩子繼續(xù)前行?！拔沂撬氖紫?，他的代表。難道非得要我稟報國王，你不肯服從命令嗎？你知道那會讓他多生氣嗎？你根本沒見過他生氣的樣子！”他摘下手套，將四根被削去一截的手指露出來，“可我見過?！?/p>
“He does not want to see you.” Davos had to say something, to get the boy moving. “I am his Hand, I speak with his voice. Must I go to the king and tell him that you would not do as you were told? Do you know how angry that will make him? Have you ever seen your uncle angry?” He pulled off his glove and showed the boy the four fingers that Stannis had shortened. “I have.”
這當(dāng)然是謊言：史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩削掉洋蔥騎士的手指尖時，絲毫不帶感情，只有鐵一般的公正。但那時艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴還沒出生，不可能清楚。威脅取得了期望的效果，“他不該這么做?！蹦泻⒛坏?，容許戴佛斯?fàn)克呦聵翘荨?/p>
It was all lies; there had been no anger in Stannis Baratheon when he cut the ends off his onion knight’s fingers, only an iron sense of justice. But Edric Storm had not been born then, and could not know that. And the threat had the desired effect. “He should not have done that,” the boy said, but he let Davos take him by the hand and draw him down the steps.
夜歌城的私生子在地窖門口加入隊(duì)伍。他們迅速前進(jìn)，穿越陰暗的庭院，走下石龍尾構(gòu)成的若干樓梯?！皾O婦”林斯和歐麥·布萊伯利等在邊門，腳邊有兩名捆起來的衛(wèi)兵。“舟呢？”戴佛斯詢問。
The Bastard of Nightsong joined them at the cellar door. They walked quickly, across a shadowed yard and down some steps, under the stone tail of a frozen dragon. Lewys the Fishwife and Omer Blackberry waited at the postern gate, two guards bound and trussed at their feet. “The boat?” Davos asked them.
“在那兒，”林斯道，“四個槳手。大船則泊于陸岬之旁，名叫‘瘋狂普蘭多號’?！?/p>
“It’s there,” Lewys said. “Four oarsmen. The galley is anchored just past the point. Mad Prendos.”
戴佛斯咯咯竊笑。以瘋子命名的船，是的，很合適。薩拉富有海盜的黑色幽默。
Davos chuckled. A ship named after a madman. Yes, that’s fitting. Salla had a streak of the pirate’s black humor.
他單膝跪在艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴面前?！拔覀兊梅珠_了，”他說，“有一艘小舟正等著您，載您上外海的大船，然后揚(yáng)帆啟航。您是勞勃之子，不論發(fā)生什么，我相信您的勇氣?！?/p>
He went to one knee before Edric Storm. “I must leave you now,” he said. “There’s a boat waiting, to row you out to a galley. Then it’s off across the sea. You are Robert’s son so I know you will be brave, no matter what happens.”
“我會的。只不過……”男孩猶豫道。
“I will. Only …” The boy hesitated.
“把它當(dāng)做一次冒險，大人，”戴佛斯試圖令語氣顯得興奮愉快，“這是您人生偉大冒險的開始。愿戰(zhàn)士守護(hù)你。”
“Think of this as an adventure, my lord.” Davos tried to sound hale and cheerful. “It’s the start of your life’s great adventure. May the Warrior defend you.”
“愿天父公正地裁判你，戴佛斯大人?！蹦泻⑴c他的親戚安德魯爵士結(jié)伴出了邊門，余人跟在后面，只有夜歌城的私生子留下。愿天父公正地裁判我，戴佛斯可憐兮兮地想，他現(xiàn)在擔(dān)心的是國王的裁判。
“And may the Father judge you justly, Lord Davos.” The boy went with his cousin Ser Andrew out the postern gate. The others followed, all but the Bastard of Nightsong. May the Father judge me justly, Davos thought ruefully. But it was the king’s judgment that concerned him now.
“這兩個衛(wèi)兵怎么辦？”身為守衛(wèi)隊(duì)長，羅蘭德爵士一邊插上門閂，一邊問。
“These two?” asked Ser Rolland of the guards, when he had closed and barred the gate.
“拖去地窖，”戴佛斯道，“等艾德瑞克安全上路后，再給他們松綁?！?/p>
“Drag them into a cellar,” said Davos. “You can cut them free when Edric’s safely under way.”
私生子略一點(diǎn)頭。多說無益，這不過是最簡單的部分。戴佛斯戴好手套，暗暗希望自己沒失去幸運(yùn)符，有那袋指骨掛在脖子上，感覺更踏實(shí)、更安定。他用削短的手指梳理細(xì)棕發(fā)，不禁疑惑自己該不該先理發(fā)，面對國王的時候，外表必須像模像樣。
The Bastard gave a curt nod. There were no more words to say; the easy part was done. Davos pulled his glove on, wishing he had not lost his luck. He had been a better man and a braver one with that bag of bones around his neck. He ran his shortened fingers through thinning brown hair, and wondered if it needed to be cut. He must look presentable when he stood before the king.
龍石島從未如此黑暗恐怖。他緩緩走路，腳步聲在黑色的墻壁和石龍之間回蕩。但愿石頭中的魔龍永遠(yuǎn)不要醒來。石鼓塔高聳在前，走近后，門口的守衛(wèi)連忙分開交叉的長矛。不是為洋蔥騎士，而是為國王之手。至少戴佛斯進(jìn)門時還是首相，不知出來時會是什么。假如我真能出來的話……
Dragonstone had never seemed so dark and fearsome. He walked slowly, his footsteps echoing off black walls and dragons. Stone dragons who will never wake, I pray. The Stone Drum loomed huge ahead of him. The guards at the door uncrossed their spears as he approached. Not for the onion knight, but for the King’s Hand. Davos was the Hand going in, at least. He wondered what he would be coming out. If I ever do …
樓梯似乎比以前更長更陡，或許只是因?yàn)樗哿?。圣母啊，我不是做這種事的料。他爬得太高也太快，在高高的山峰上，空氣稀薄，難以呼吸。小時候，他夢想成為大富翁，但那是很久以前的事，長大以后，只想要幾畝良田，一棟養(yǎng)老的屋宅，并為兒子們安排好前程?！跋寡垭s種”曾告訴他，聰明的走私者不會把手伸得太長，不會讓自己受到太多關(guān)注。幾畝良地，一座木堡，爵士稱號，我早該滿足了。若能活過今晚，他決意帶戴馮航回風(fēng)怒角，回到溫柔的瑪瑞亞身邊。我們一起悼念死去的兒子們，并把活著的撫養(yǎng)長大，再不理會國王與權(quán)力。
The steps seemed longer and steeper than before, or perhaps it was just that he was tired. The Mother never made me for tasks like this. He had risen too high and too fast, and up here on the mountain the air was too thin for him to breathe. As a boy he’d dreamed of riches, but that was long ago. Later, grown, all he had wanted was a few acres of good land, a hall to grow old in, a better life for his sons. The Blind Bastard used to tell him that a clever smuggler did not overreach, nor draw too much attention to himself. A few acres, a timbered roof, a “ser” before my name, I should have been content. If he survived this night, he would take Devan and sail home to Cape Wrath and his gentle Marya. We will grieve together for our dead sons, raise the living ones to be good men, and speak no more of kings.
戴佛斯進(jìn)入圖桌廳時，內(nèi)里陰郁空洞，國王仍在夜火邊，跟梅莉珊卓和后黨人士一起。他跪在壁爐邊生火，以將寒氣逐出圓形房間，把陰影趕回角落之中。完成之后，他繞著屋子，依次走到每扇窗前，拉起厚重的天鵝絨窗簾，打開木窗戶。風(fēng)吹進(jìn)來，充滿海水的咸味，撩動他樸素的綠棕色披風(fēng)。
The Chamber of the Painted Table was dark and empty when Davos entered; the king would still be at the nightfire, with Melisandre and the queen’s men. He knelt and made a fire in the hearth, to drive the chill from the round chamber and chase the shadows back into their corners. Then he went around the room to each window in turn, opening the heavy velvet curtains and unlatching the wooden shutters. The wind came in, strong with the smell of salt and sea, and pulled at his plain brown cloak.
走到北方，他斜倚在窗臺上，呼吸夜晚冰冷的空氣，希望瞥到“瘋狂普蘭多號”升起的風(fēng)帆，但目力所及，盡是黑暗與空曠。他已離開了嗎？他只能祈禱。半個月亮在高高的稀疏云層中穿進(jìn)穿出，戴佛斯看到熟悉的群星?！皯?zhàn)艦座”航往西方，“老嫗之燈座”乃四顆明星圍住一片金色光暈，烏云遮住“冰龍座”的大部分，除了那顆標(biāo)志正北的明亮藍(lán)星。這些是屬于走私者的星星，是他的老朋友，戴佛斯希望這意味著好運(yùn)。
At the north window, he leaned against the sill for a breath of the cold night air, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mad Prendos raising sail, but the sea seemed black and empty as far as the eye could see. Is she gone already? He could only pray that she was, and the boy with her. A half moon was sliding in and out amongst thin high clouds, and Davos could see familiar stars. There was the Galley, sailing west; there the Crone’s Lantern, four bright stars that enclosed a golden haze. The clouds hid most of the Ice Dragon, all but the bright blue eye that marked due north. The sky is full of smugglers’ stars. They were old friends, those stars; Davos hoped that meant good luck.
但當(dāng)視線從天空轉(zhuǎn)向城堡的墻頭，他就沒那么確定了。夜火照耀下，巖石龍的翅膀投下巨大的黑影。他試圖告訴自己，它們不過是雕塑，冷冰死寂，沒有生命。然而這里曾屬于他們，屬于魔龍和龍王，屬于坦格利安家族。坦格利安家族有古老的瓦雷利亞血統(tǒng)……
But when he lowered his gaze from the sky to the castle ramparts, he was not so certain. The wings of the stone dragons cast great black shadows in the light from the nightfire. He tried to tell himself that they were no more than carvings, cold and lifeless. This was their place, once. A place of dragons and dragonlords, the seat of House Targaryen. The Targaryens were the blood of old Valyria …
寒風(fēng)呼嘯著刮過房間，壁爐里火焰盤旋跳躍，木柴噼啪作響。戴佛斯離開窗口，影子卻走在人前，如一把又長又細(xì)的劍，落于繪彩桌案上。他在桌前站了許久，等待，等待。他們終于上樓了，靴子踏著石階梯，人未到，聲先至?！啊瓫]有三個?！眹跽谡f。
The wind sighed through the chamber, and in the hearth the flames gusted and swirled. He listened to the logs crackle and spit. When Davos left the window his shadow went before him, tall and thin, and fell across the Painted Table like a sword. And there he stood for a long time, waiting. He heard their boots on the stone steps as they ascended. The king’s voice went before him. “… is not three,” he was saying.
“一定會有三個，”梅莉珊卓的回答傳進(jìn)來，“我向您發(fā)誓，陛下，我看到他的死，聽到他母親的哀嚎?！?/p>
“Three is three,” came Melisandre’s answer. “I swear to you, Your Grace, I saw him die and heard his mother’s wail.”
“你是在夜火里看到的?！笔诽鼓崴购兔防蛏鹤恳黄疬M(jìn)門?！盎鹧嬷谐錆M陷阱。什么是現(xiàn)在，什么是將來，什么是可能。你無法確定……”
“In the nightfire.” Stannis and Melisandre came through the door together. “The flames are full of tricks. What is, what will be, what may be. You cannot tell me for a certainty …”
“陛下。”戴佛斯踱步上前，“梅莉珊卓女士所見是實(shí)。你侄子喬佛里已經(jīng)死了。”
“Your Grace.” Davos stepped forward. “Lady Melisandre saw it true. Your nephew Joffrey is dead.”
即使國王對于他候在繪彩桌案跟前感到吃驚，也沒表露出來。“戴佛斯大人，”他說，“他不是我侄子。盡管多年來我一直以為如此?！?/p>
If the king was surprised to find him at the Painted Table, he gave no sign. “Lord Davos,” he said. “He was not my nephew. Though for years I believed he was.”
“他是在自己婚宴上被食物噎死的，”戴佛斯說，“也可能遭別人下了毒?！?/p>
“He choked on a morsel of food at his wedding feast,” Davos said. “It may be that he was poisoned.”
“他正是第三個。”梅莉珊卓說。
“He is the third,” said Melisandre.
“我會數(shù)數(shù)，女人?！笔诽鼓崴寡刈栗獠?，經(jīng)過舊鎮(zhèn)與青亭島，走向盾牌列島和曼德河口。“看來，在這個時代，婚禮竟變得比戰(zhàn)爭更危險了。誰下的毒？有消息嗎？”
“I can count, woman.” Stannis walked along the table, past Oldtown and the Arbor, up toward the Shield Islands and the mouth of the Mander. “Weddings have become more perilous than battles, it would seem. Who was the poisoner? Is it known?”
“據(jù)說是他舅舅，小惡魔。”
“His uncle, it’s said. The Imp.”
史坦尼斯咬緊牙關(guān)，“他是個危險的家伙，我在黑水河上得到了教訓(xùn)。消息由誰通報？”
Stannis ground his teeth. “A dangerous man. I learned that on the Blackwater. How do you come by this report?”
“里斯人仍在君臨城內(nèi)做生意。薩拉多·桑恩沒理由對我撒謊?！?/p>
“The Lyseni still trade at King’s Landing. Salladhor Saan has no reason to lie to me.”
“我想也是?！眹醯氖种竸澾^桌面。“喬佛里……記得城堡廚房里有只貓……廚子們常拿些殘羹剩飯和魚頭喂它，其中一位告訴那孩子，它就要生小貓了，以為他會想要一只。結(jié)果喬佛里用匕首將那可憐的動物開膛破肚，看看是不是真的。找到小貓之后，他把它們拿給父親看，卻被勞勃狠揍一頓，幾乎給打死。”國王摘下王冠，放到桌上?！安还苁琴暹€是水蛭干的，反正于國于民是樁好事。他們一定會派人來迎接我了?！?/p>
“I suppose not.” The king ran his fingers across the table. “Joffrey … I remember once, this kitchen cat … the cooks were wont to feed her scraps and fish heads. One told the boy that she had kittens in her belly, thinking he might want one. Joffrey opened up the poor thing with a dagger to see if it were true. When he found the kittens, he brought them to show to his father. Robert hit the boy so hard I thought he’d killed him.” The king took off his crown and placed it on the table. “Dwarf or leech, this killer served the kingdom well. They must send for me now.”
“他們不會，”梅莉珊卓道，“喬佛里還有個弟弟?！?/p>
“They will not,” said Melisandre. “Joffrey has a brother.”
“托曼?！眹醪磺椴辉傅卣f出名字。
“Tommen.” The king said the name grudgingly.
“他們會給托曼加冕，以他之名繼續(xù)統(tǒng)治?！?/p>
“They will crown Tommen, and rule in his name.”
史坦尼斯捏起一只拳頭?！巴新男郧楸葐谭鹄餃仨?，但同樣出自亂倫。他是又一只成長中的怪物，又一條寄生于王國上的水蛭。時間所剩無幾，維斯特洛需要一個真正的男人站出來，孩子不成的?！?/p>
Stannis made a fist. “Tommen is gentler than Joffrey, but born of the same incest. Another monster in the making. Another leech upon the land. Westeros needs a man’s hand, not a child’s.”
梅莉珊卓曳步移近，“那就快快拯救他們吧，陛下，讓我喚醒巖石中的魔龍。我已經(jīng)達(dá)成了三個國王的目標(biāo)，把那男孩給我。”
Melisandre moved closer. “Save them, sire. Let me wake the stone dragons. Three is three. Give me the boy.”
“艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴?！贝鞣鹚沟?。
“Edric Storm,” Davos said.
史坦尼斯帶著令人顫栗的怒氣轉(zhuǎn)過來?！拔抑浪拿?。饒了我吧，別再說了。我跟你一樣，不喜歡這樣，但我必須向國家負(fù)責(zé)。我的職責(zé)……”他轉(zhuǎn)回梅莉珊卓那邊，“你發(fā)誓，沒有其他方法？以你的性命起誓，撒謊的話，我保證讓你生不如死?！?/p>
Stannis rounded on him in a cold fury. “I know his name. Spare me your reproaches. I like this no more than you do, but my duty is to the realm. My duty …” He turned back to Melisandre. “You swear there is no other way? Swear it on your life, for I promise, you shall die by inches if you lie.”
“您是那個命中注定要抵御遠(yuǎn)古異神的人選，應(yīng)和著五千年前的預(yù)言。紅色彗星宣告了您的到來，您就是亞梭爾·亞亥轉(zhuǎn)世重生，預(yù)言中的王子，如果您失敗，整個世界將一起消亡?！泵防蛏鹤肯蛩邅?，張開紅色的嘴唇，喉頭的大紅寶石陣陣悸動?！敖o我那男孩，”她低聲說，“我將把您的王國交還于您?！?/p>
“You are he who must stand against the Other. The one whose coming was prophesied five thousand years ago. The red comet was your herald. You are the prince that was promised, and if you fail the world fails with you.” Melisandre went to him, her red lips parted, her ruby throbbing. “Give me this boy,” she whispered, “and I will give you your kingdom.”
“辦不到，”戴佛斯說，“艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴不在了?！?/p>
“He can’t,” said Davos. “Edric Storm is gone.”
“不在了？”史坦尼斯轉(zhuǎn)身，“什么意思，不在了？”
“Gone?” Stannis turned. “What do you mean, gone?”
“此刻他搭乘一條里斯戰(zhàn)艦，安全地?fù)P帆出海。”戴佛斯凝視著梅莉珊卓蒼白的心形臉蛋，看見沮喪與困惑交迭閃過。她沒有看到！
“He is aboard a Lyseni galley, safely out to sea.” Davos watched Melisandre’s pale, heart-shaped face. He saw the flicker of dismay there, the sudden uncertainty. She did not see it!
國王的雙目如深藍(lán)的淤青，嵌在凹陷的眼窩里，“私生子在未經(jīng)我準(zhǔn)許的情況下，被帶離了龍石島？一艘里斯戰(zhàn)艦，是嗎？那里斯海盜以為可用這孩子詐騙我的錢財——”
The king’s eyes were dark blue bruises in the hollows of his face. “The bastard was taken from Dragonstone without my leave? A galley, you say? If that Lysene pirate thinks to use the boy to squeeze gold from me—”
“是您的首相干的，陛下?！泵防蛏鹤啃恼詹恍鼗赝鞣鹚挂谎?，“你快把他帶回來，大人，趕快。”
“This is your Hand’s work, sire.” Melisandre gave Davos a knowing look. “You will bring him back, my lord. You will.”
“那男孩已不在我掌握中，”戴佛斯說，“也不在你掌握中，女士?！?/p>
“The boy is out of my reach,” said Davos. “And out of your reach as well, my lady.”
她的紅眼睛令他局促不安，“我該把你留在黑暗之中，爵士，你知道自己干了什么嗎？”
Her red eyes made him squirm. “I should have left you to the dark, ser. Do you know what you have done?”
“我履行了自己的職責(zé)?！?/p>
“My duty.”
“這是背叛?！笔诽鼓崴棺叩酱斑?，凝視著外面的夜晚。他在找那艘船？“我把你從賤民中提拔上來，戴佛斯，”國王語中的疲倦更甚于憤怒，“難道忠誠有這么難？”
“Some might call it treason.” Stannis went to the window to stare out into the night. Is he looking for the ship? “I raised you up from dirt, Davos.” He sounded more tired than angry. “Was loyalty too much to hope for?”
“我的四個兒子在黑水河為您而死，我自己也差點(diǎn)陣亡。今生今世，我對您的忠誠始終不渝?！奔磳⒌恼f辭，戴佛斯·席渥斯已經(jīng)過一番深思熟慮，他知道自己的性命有賴于此?！氨菹?，您讓我發(fā)誓給予您誠實(shí)的諫言，保護(hù)您的權(quán)利和您的國家，懲罰您的敵人，照顧您的子民。艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴難道不是您的臣民嗎？不是我發(fā)誓要保護(hù)的人嗎？我信守誓言，怎能稱為背叛呢？”
“Four of my sons died for you on the Blackwater. I might have died myself. You have my loyalty, always.” Davos Seaworth had thought long and hard about the words he said next; he knew his life depended on them. “Your Grace, you made me swear to give you honest counsel and swift obedience, to defend your realm against your foes, to protect your people. Is not Edric Storm one of your people? One of those I swore to protect? I kept my oath. How could that be treason?”
史坦尼斯再度咬緊牙齒，“我從沒有要求過這頂王冠，黃金戴在頭上又冷又沉，但只要我還當(dāng)國王一天，就有責(zé)任……假如我必須犧牲一個孩子，把他獻(xiàn)給火焰，以拯救千百萬人民，免遭黑暗的侵襲……犧牲……從來不是件容易事，戴佛斯，否則就不成其為犧牲了。你來解釋，女士?！?/p>
Stannis ground his teeth again. “I never asked for this crown. Gold is cold and heavy on the head, but so long as I am the king, I have a duty … If I must sacrifice one child to the flames to save a million from the dark … Sacrifice … is never easy, Davos. Or it is no true sacrifice. Tell him, my lady.”
梅莉珊卓道，“亞梭爾·亞亥用來給‘光明使者’淬火的，乃是他愛妻的心血。一個擁有千頭肥牛的富人，把其中一頭獻(xiàn)給神靈，不算什么，但獻(xiàn)出自己唯一一頭牛的……”
Melisandre said, “Azor Ahai tempered Lightbringer with the heart’s blood of his own beloved wife. If a man with a thousand cows gives one to god, that is nothing. But a man who offers the only cow he owns …”
“她說的是牛，”戴佛斯告訴國王，“我說的是人，你女兒的朋友，你兄長的兒子?！?/p>
“She talks of cows,” Davos told the king. “I am speaking of a boy, your daughter’s friend, your brother’s son.”
“他是國王的兒子，血管里有王者之血的力量?！泵防蛏鹤亢眍^的大紅寶石像紅色的星星一樣閃耀?！澳阋詾樽约壕攘诉@個孩子，是嗎，洋蔥騎士？大錯特錯！不管躲至天涯海角，當(dāng)長夜降臨時，艾德瑞克·風(fēng)暴仍將和其他人一起死去。到時候，黑暗與嚴(yán)寒將籠罩整個世界，連你自己的兒子們也統(tǒng)統(tǒng)逃不掉。知道嗎？你干預(yù)了自己所不能理解的偉業(yè)！”
“A king’s son, with the power of kingsblood in his veins.” Melisandre’s ruby glowed like a red star at her throat. “Do you think you’ve saved this boy, Onion Knight? When the long night falls, Edric Storm shall die with the rest, wherever he is hidden. Your own sons as well. Darkness and cold will cover the earth. You meddle in matters you do not understand.”
“我不能理解的事情很多，”戴佛斯承認(rèn)，“也從未不懂裝懂。我了解大洋與河流，了解海岸的走向，了解礁石與淺灘，了解哪里有隱密海灣，以便讓小船悄悄登陸。我也了解國王必須保護(hù)子民，否則便算不上國王?！?/p>
“There’s much I don’t understand,” Davos admitted. “I have never pretended elsewise. I know the seas and rivers, the shapes of the coasts, where the rocks and shoals lie. I know hidden coves where a boat can land unseen. And I know that a king protects his people, or he is no king at all.”
史坦尼斯的臉沉下來，“你敢當(dāng)面嘲笑我？我得從一個走私洋蔥的人那里學(xué)習(xí)國王的職責(zé)嗎？”
Stannis’s face darkened. “Do you mock me to my face? Must I learn a king’s duty from an onion smuggler?”
戴佛斯跪下，“倘若我有所冒犯，只管砍頭，無論生死，我都是您的忠臣。但我還有幾句話，為了我?guī)Ыo您的洋蔥，為了您削下的手指，請聽我說完。”
Davos knelt. “If I have offended, take my head. I’ll die as I lived, your loyal man. But hear me first. Hear me for the sake of the onions I brought you, and the fingers you took.”
史坦尼斯拔出光明使者，它的光亮填滿房間?！跋胝f什么就說，但別拖延時間?！眹醪弊由系募∪庀窭K索一般突起。
Stannis slid Lightbringer from its scabbard. Its glow filled the chamber. “Say what you will, but say it quickly.” The muscles in the king’s neck stood out like cords.
戴佛斯從斗篷里摸出那張皺巴巴的羊皮紙。它又薄又脆，卻是他此刻唯一的護(hù)盾?！皣踔謶?yīng)該能讀會寫，所以我求派洛斯學(xué)士指教?！彼麑⒓垞崞接谙?，在魔劍的光亮之下念誦。
Davos fumbled inside his cloak and drew out the crinkled sheet of parchment. It seemed a thin and flimsy thing, yet it was all the shield he had. “A King’s Hand should be able to read and write. Maester Pylos has been teaching me.” He smoothed the letter flat upon his knee and began to read by the light of the magic sword.
