Ⅱ 列王的紛爭 Chapter7 凱特琳
CATELYN
在凱特琳·史塔克眼中，兒子羅柏新鑄的王冠，宛如一頂重擔，沉沉地壓在他頭上。
Her son’s crown was fresh from the forge, and it seemed to Catelyn Stark that the weight of it pressed heavy on Robb’s head.
冬境之王的古老王冠早在三百年前托倫·史塔克向征服者伊耿臣服時便已失傳。他把王冠獻給了伊耿，而伊耿對之如何處置，無人知曉。今天，憑著霍斯特公爵手下鐵匠的優(yōu)良手藝，羅柏的王冠正如故事中形容的那樣，宛如史塔克先王：青銅鑄造的冠冕，上刻先民的符文，九根長劍形狀的黑鐵尖刺挺立其中。這頂王冠沒有黃金、沒有白銀、沒有珠寶裝飾，惟有鋼鐵和青銅，沉暗而堅硬，正是對抗嚴寒的冬之金屬。
The ancient crown of the Kings of Winter had been lost three centuries ago, yielded up to Aegon the Conqueror when Torrhen Stark knelt in submission. What Aegon had done with it no man could say. Lord Hoster’s smith had done his work well, and Robb’s crown looked much as the other was said to have looked in the tales told of the Stark kings of old; an open circlet of hammered bronze incised with the runes of the First Men, surmounted by nine black iron spikes wrought in the shape of longswords. Of gold and silver and gemstones, it had none; bronze and iron were the metals of winter, dark and strong to fight against the cold.
他們在奔流城的大廳里靜待囚犯。她見羅柏把王冠往后推，安放在蓬厚的棕發(fā)上。沒過多久，他又往前拉，接著轉(zhuǎn)了轉(zhuǎn)，好像這能讓他戴得更舒服。戴王冠不是件容易事啊，凱特琳邊看邊想，對一個年僅十五的孩子而言，尤其如此。
As they waited in Riverrun’s Great Hall for the prisoner to be brought before them, she saw Robb push back the crown so it rested upon the thick auburn mop of his hair; moments later, he moved it forward again; later he gave it a quarter turn, as if that might make it sit more easily on his brow. It is no easy thing to wear a crown, Catelyn thought, watching, especially for a boy of fifteen years.
等犯人帶入，羅柏便命取劍。奧利法·佛雷劍柄在前，遞了上去，兒子抽出寶劍，橫放于膝，威壓的意圖非常明顯。“陛下，這就是您要的人?！蓖嚼业氖绦l(wèi)隊長羅賓·萊格爵士高聲宣布。
When the guards brought in the captive, Robb called for his sword. Olyvar Frey offered it up hilt first, and her son drew the blade and laid it bare across his knees, a threat plain for all to see. “Your Grace, here is the man you asked for,” announced Ser Robin Ryger, captain of the Tully household guard.
“蘭尼斯特！見了國王還不快快跪下？”席恩·葛雷喬伊大喝，羅賓·萊格爵士把囚犯按倒。
“Kneel before the king, Lannister!” Theon Greyjoy shouted. Ser Robin forced the prisoner to his knees.
他絲毫沒有獅子的模樣，凱特琳暗忖。這位克里奧·佛雷爵士的母親是泰溫·蘭尼斯特的妹妹吉娜夫人，但他半分都沒遺傳蘭尼斯特家著名的美貌和金發(fā)碧眼，他反而繼承了父親艾蒙·佛雷爵士——瓦德·佛雷老侯爵的次子——的體征，生得一頭纖細棕發(fā)，下巴短小，臉形削瘦，一雙眼睛蒼白無色，水汪汪的，還眨個不停?；蛟S這是光線的關系吧，奔流城下的地牢陰暗潮濕……近來又格外擁擠。
He did not look a lion, Catelyn reflected. This Ser Cleos Frey was a son of the Lady Genna who was sister to Lord Tywin Lannister, but he had none of the fabled Lannister beauty, the fair hair and green eyes. Instead he had inherited the stringy brown locks, weak chin, and thin face of his sire, Ser Emmon Frey, old Lord Walder’s second son. His eyes were pale and watery and he could not seem to stop blinking, but perhaps that was only the light. The cells below Riverrun were dark and damp … and these days crowded as well.
“克里奧爵士，起來吧。”兒子的聲音雖不若乃父那么冰冷，卻也不像十五歲的孩子。是戰(zhàn)爭，迫使他提早成年。橫放膝上的那把劍映著晨光，刃緣微微閃亮。
“Rise, Ser Cleos.” Her son’s voice was not as icy as his father’s would have been, but he did not sound a boy of fifteen either. War had made a man of him before his time. Morning light glimmered faintly against the edge of the steel across his knees.
然而使克里奧·佛雷爵士焦慮的并非寶劍，而是那頭冰原狼。兒子將它取名為“灰風”，它的身軀大如獵鹿犬，身無贅肉，毛色煙黑，眼瞳宛若熔金。他緩步向前，踱到被俘的騎士身邊嗅了嗅。大廳里的所有人都能聞到恐懼的氣息?？死飱W爵士是在囈語森林一役中被俘，是役灰風共咬斷了五六個敵兵的咽喉。
Yet it was not the sword that made Ser Cleos Frey anxious; it was the beast. Grey Wind, her son had named him. A direwolf large as any elkhound, lean and smoke-dark, with eyes like molten gold. When the beast padded forward and sniffed at the captive knight, every man in that hall could smell the scent of fear. Ser Cleos had been taken during the battle in the Whispering Wood, where Grey Wind had ripped out the throats of half a dozen men.
騎士踉蹌站起，慌忙后退，引得幾名觀者哈哈大笑?！爸x謝您，大人。”
The knight scrambled up, edging away with such alacrity that some of the watchers laughed aloud. “Thank you, my lord.”
“‘陛下’！”外號“大瓊恩”的安柏伯爵怒叱。在羅柏的北方諸將中，屬他嗓門最大……也最為忠誠勇猛，至少他自己這么堅持。他是尊兒子為北境之王的第一人，自然容不下任何對自己新王的不敬之舉。
“Your Grace,” barked Lord Umber, the Greatjon, ever the loudest of Robb’s northern bannermen … and the truest and fiercest as well, or so he insisted. He had been the first to proclaim her son King in the North, and he would brook no slight to the honor of his new-made sovereign.
“陛下，”克里奧爵士連忙改口，“請您原諒?！?/p>
“Your Grace,” Ser Cleos corrected hastily. “Pardons.”
此人并不勇敢啊，凱特琳心想，說真的，他比較像佛雷家的人，而非蘭尼斯特。換作他表哥“弒君者”，想必是另一番態(tài)度。他們絕對無法逼詹姆·蘭尼斯特爵士那張俏嘴吐出陛下二字。
He is not a bold man, this one, Catelyn thought. More of a Frey than a Lannister, in truth. His cousin the Kingslayer would have been a much different matter. They would never have gotten that honorific through Ser Jaime Lannister’s perfect teeth.
“我把你從牢里放出來，是要你幫我送信到君臨，給你表姐瑟曦·蘭尼斯特。你將打著和平的旗幟，并且我將派出三十名得力手下負責護送?！?/p>
“I brought you from your cell to carry my message to your cousin Cersei Lannister in King’s Landing. You’ll travel under a peace banner, with thirty of my best men to escort you.”
克里奧爵士顯然松了口氣，“我很樂意替陛下送信給太后?！?/p>
Ser Cleos was visibly relieved. “Then I should be most glad to bring His Grace’s message to the queen.”
“但你要知道，”羅柏說，“我可沒放你自由。你的祖父瓦德大人率領佛雷全族上下歸順于我，你的堂兄弟和叔舅們更在囈語森林之戰(zhàn)中英勇奮斗，可你卻選擇為獅子旗而戰(zhàn)。既然如此，你就是蘭尼斯特家的人，而非佛雷。我要你以騎士之名譽立誓，一旦將信送達，不日即攜帶太后的答覆返回此地，繼續(xù)作俘虜?！?/p>
“Understand,” Robb said, “I am not giving you your freedom. Your grandfather Lord Walder pledged me his support and that of House Frey. Many of your cousins and uncles rode with us in the Whispering Wood, but you chose to fight beneath the lion banner. That makes you a Lannister, not a Frey. I want your pledge, on your honor as a knight, that after you deliver my message you’ll return with the queen’s reply, and resume your captivity.”
請問要我?guī)裁纯谛趴死飱W爵士立刻回答：“我在此立誓?！?/p>
Ser Cleos answered at once. “I do so vow.”
“你的話，大廳里每個人都聽見了，”凱特琳的弟弟艾德慕·徒利爵士警告對方。由于父親病危，現(xiàn)在由他代表奔流城和三河諸侯發(fā)言?！叭裟闳ザ环担e國上下都會唾棄你出爾反爾的行徑。”
“Every man in this hall has heard you,” warned Catelyn’s brother Ser Edmure Tully, who spoke for Riverrun and the lords of the Trident in the place of their dying father. “If you do not return, the whole realm will know you forsworn.”
“我這個人說到做到。”克里奧爵士倔強地回答，“請問要我?guī)裁纯谛?？?/p>
“I will do as I pledged,” Ser Cleos replied stiffly. “What is this message?”
“我的和平條件。”羅柏手握長劍，站了起來，灰風立刻跑回他身邊。整個大廳寂靜無聲?！澳闳μ髷z政王說，只要她同意我的條件，我就收起這柄劍，結(jié)束彼此的紛爭?！?/p>
“An offer of peace.” Robb stood, longsword in hand. Grey Wind moved to his side. The hall grew hushed. “Tell the Queen Regent that if she meets my terms, I will sheath this sword, and make an end to the war between us.”
凱特琳瞥見大廳后方，高大而憔悴的瑞卡德·卡史塔克伯爵推開一排守衛(wèi)，默默地走了出去。其他人則一動不動。對這些騷動，羅柏不予理會。“奧利法，拿信來?！彼铝?。侍從取走長劍，遞上一卷羊皮紙。
In the back of the hall, Catelyn glimpsed the tall, gaunt figure of Lord Rickard Karstark shove through a rank of guards and out the door. No one else moved. Robb paid the disruption no mind. “Olyvar, the paper,” he commanded. The squire took his longsword and handed up a rolled parchment.
羅柏展開信紙，“第一，太后必須釋放我的兩個妹妹，并讓她們經(jīng)由海路，從君臨安全返回白港。我在此宣告，珊莎與喬佛里·拜拉席恩的婚約正式解除。一伺我收到代理城主的通報，確定她們已安然抵達臨冬城，我便會立刻釋放太后的兩位表弟，侍從威廉·蘭尼斯特和你弟弟提恩·佛雷，并護送他們安全抵達凱巖城，或者是任何她要求的地方?！?/p>
Robb unrolled it. “First, the queen must release my sisters and provide them with transport by sea from King’s Landing to White Harbor. It is to be understood that Sansa’s betrothal to Joffrey Baratheon is at an end. When I receive word from my castellan that my sisters have returned unharmed to Winterfell, I will release the queen’s cousins, the squire Willem Lannister and your brother Tion Frey, and give them safe escort to Casterly Rock or wheresoever she desires them delivered.”
凱特琳·史塔克真希望能讀出隱藏在每張臉龐、每雙起皺的眉頭和每對緊抿的嘴唇之后的心緒。
Catelyn Stark wished she could read the thoughts that hid behind each face, each furrowed brow and pair of tightened lips.
“第二，立即歸還先父遺骸，我們將遂先父所愿，將他安葬于臨冬城的墓窖，讓他和兄妹們一同長眠于地下。追隨他死于君臨的衛(wèi)士們的遺體也必須歸還?！?/p>
“Secondly, my lord father’s bones will be returned to us, so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell, as he would have wished. The remains of the men of his household guard who died in his service at King’s Landing must also be returned.”
活人南下，枯骨北歸。奈德說得沒錯，她心想，他屬于臨冬城，他一再重復，可我聽進去了嗎？不，我對他說：你一定要去，去作勞勃的首相，不僅是為了我們家族，更為了我們的孩子……都是我的錯，我一個人的錯……
Living men had gone south, and cold bones would return. Ned had the truth of it, she thought. His place was at Winterfell, he said as much, but would I hear him? No. Go, I told him, you must be Robert’s Hand, for the good of our House, for the sake of our children … my doing, mine, no other …
“第三，家父的巨劍‘寒冰’必須送來奔流城，交于我手?！?/p>
“Third, my father’s greatsword Ice will be delivered to my hand, here at Riverrun.”
她看著弟弟艾德慕·徒利爵士，他站在一旁，拇指勾著劍柄，面色凝重如石。
She watched her brother Ser Edmure Tully as he stood with his thumbs hooked over his swordbelt, his face as still as stone.
“第四，太后必須曉諭其父泰溫公爵釋放自綠叉河之役中俘虜?shù)奈曳津T士和領主。他照辦之后，我也會立刻釋放所有在囈語森林和奔流城之戰(zhàn)中扣押的人質(zhì)。詹姆·蘭尼斯特爵士除外，我會留著他，以確保他父親表現(xiàn)良好?！?/p>
“Fourth, the queen will command her father Lord Tywin to release those knights and lords bannermen of mine that he took captive in the battle on the Green Fork of the Trident. Once he does so, I shall release my own captives taken in the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps, save Jaime Lannister alone, who will remain my hostage for his father’s good behavior.”
她審視著席恩·葛雷喬伊促狹的微笑，心中納悶那代表著什么。這位青年的神色總像在享受什么秘密的玩笑，凱特琳向來不喜歡這種調(diào)調(diào)。
She studied Theon Greyjoy’s sly smile, wondering what it meant. That young man had a way of looking as though he knew some secret jest that only he was privy to; Catelyn had never liked it.
“最后，喬佛里國王和攝政太后必須公告全國，放棄對北境和三河地區(qū)的統(tǒng)治權。從今往后，我國與其不再有任何瓜葛，而是一個自由獨立的王國，與古時無異。我國領土包括頸澤以北所有史塔克家族的封地，以及三叉戟河及其支流流經(jīng)的地區(qū)，西起金牙城，東迄明月山脈?！?/p>
“Lastly, King Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claims to dominion over the north. Henceforth we are no part of their realm, but a free and independent kingdom, as of old. Our domain shall include all the Stark lands north of the Neck, and in addition the lands watered by the River Trident and its vassal streams, bounded by the Golden Tooth to the west and the Mountains of the Moon in the east.”
“北境之王萬歲！”大瓊恩·安柏高喊，揮舞起豬腿般粗大的拳頭?！笆匪巳f歲！史塔克萬歲！北境之王萬歲！”
“THE KING IN THE NORTH!” boomed Greatjon Umber, a ham-sized fist hammering at the air as he shouted. “Stark! Stark! The King in the North!”
羅柏卷起羊皮紙，“韋曼學士已經(jīng)畫好地圖，上面標示著我國主權范圍。我們會讓你帶上一張去交給太后。泰溫大人必須立即自我國邊界內(nèi)撤軍，并停止種種燒殺劫掠。攝政太后母子不能向我的子民抽取稅收、索討貢賦或徵求勞役，必須立即解除我國領主與騎士向鐵王座、拜拉席恩家族或蘭尼斯特家族所立下之各種效忠、誓言、抵押、債務及義務。此外，在雙方同意的名單中，蘭尼斯特家應挑選十名出身顯赫的貴族，前來奔流城作為和平的擔保。我將依據(jù)他們的身份地位，以貴賓之禮相待。只要對方信守條約，我將每年釋放兩名人質(zhì)，護送他們安然返家?！绷_柏把卷軸丟到騎士腳邊，“這就是我的條件。如果她接受，我就給她和平，若是她不接受，”——他吹聲口哨，灰風立刻咆哮趨前——“我就讓她再嘗嘗囈語森林的滋味。”
Robb rolled up the parchment again. “Maester Vyman has drawn a map, showing the borders we claim. You shall have a copy for the queen. Lord Tywin must withdraw beyond these borders, and cease his raiding, burning, and pillage. The Queen Regent and her son shall make no claims to taxes, incomes, nor service from my people, and shall free my lords and knights from all oaths of fealty, vows, pledges, debts, and obligations owed to the Iron Throne and the Houses Baratheon and Lannister. Additionally, the Lannisters shall deliver ten highborn hostages, to be mutually agreed upon, as a pledge of peace. These I will treat as honored guests, according to their station. So long as the terms of this pact are abided with faithfully, I shall release two hostages every year, and return them safely to their families.” Robb tossed the rolled parchment at the knight’s feet. “There are the terms. If she meets them, I’ll give her peace. If not”—he whistled, and Grey Wind moved forward snarling—“I’ll give her another Whispering Wood.”
“史塔克萬歲！”大瓊恩再次大喊，此時其他人也齊聲附和，“史塔克萬歲！史塔克萬歲！北境之王萬歲！”冰原狼往后甩頭，放聲長號。
“Stark!” the Greatjon roared again, and now other voices took up the cry. “Stark, Stark, King in the North!” The direwolf threw back his head and howled.
克里奧爵士臉上血色盡失，“我會把您的信件帶給太后，大——陛下?！?/p>
Ser Cleos had gone the color of curdled milk. “The queen shall hear your message, my—Your Grace.”
“很好?！绷_柏說，“羅賓爵士，讓他飽餐一頓，換上干凈衣物，明天天明時分出發(fā)?！?/p>
“Good,” Robb said. “Ser Robin, see that he has a good meal and clean clothing. He’s to ride at first light.”
“遵命，陛下?！绷_賓·萊格爵士答道。
“As you command, Your Grace,” Ser Robin Ryger replied.
“那么，今天的會議到此為止。”羅柏轉(zhuǎn)身離去，灰風緊隨在后，在場騎士及諸侯紛紛屈膝下跪，奧利法·佛雷快步跑到前面開門。凱特琳姐弟也跟著一同出去。
“Then we are done.” The assembled knights and lords bannermen bent their knees as Robb turned to leave, Grey Wind at his heels. Olyvar Frey scrambled ahead to open the door. Catelyn followed them out, her brother at her side.
“你表現(xiàn)得很好?！痹诖髲d后的走廊上，她對兒子說，“但放狼嚇唬人不是國君應有的舉動，倒像小孩子把戲?！?/p>
“You did well,” she told her son in the gallery that led from the rear of the hall, “though that business with the wolf was japery more befitting a boy than a king.”
羅柏搔搔灰風耳根，“母親，你沒見他剛才什么表情？”他微笑著問。
Robb scratched Grey Wind behind the ear. “Did you see the look on his face, Mother?” he asked, smiling.
“我只看到卡史塔克大人走了出去?！?/p>
“What I saw was Lord Karstark, walking out.”
“我也看到了。”羅柏雙手摘下王冠，交給奧利法?！鞍阉没嘏P室。”
“As did I.” Robb lifted off his crown with both hands and gave it to Olyvar. “Take this thing back to my bedchamber.”
“陛下，我這就去辦?！笔虖募纯屉x去。
“At once, Your Grace.” The squire hurried off.
“我敢打賭，今天在場的有不少人和卡史塔克大人看法相同?！钡艿馨履奖硎?，“如今蘭尼斯特軍像瘟疫一般四散在我父親的領土各處，燒殺劫掠，無惡不作，怎么可以談和？我再重申一次，應該立刻向赫倫堡進軍?！?/p>
“I’ll wager there were others who felt the same as Lord Karstark,” her brother Edmure declared. “How can we talk of peace while the Lannisters spread like a pestilence over my father’s domains, stealing his crops and slaughtering his people? I say again, we ought to be marching on Harrenhal.”
“我們兵力不夠?！绷_柏怏怏地說。
“We lack the strength,” Robb said, though unhappily.
艾德慕堅持己見：“難道我們坐守城中，士兵就會增多嗎？我們的部隊正日漸削弱。”
Edmure persisted. “Do we grow stronger sitting here? Our host dwindles every day.”
“這是誰的責任？”凱特琳斥責弟弟。當初正由于艾德慕堅持，羅柏才同意讓河間諸侯在他加冕之后便即離開奔流城，回去防守各自的領土。馬柯·派柏爵士和卡列爾·凡斯伯爵率先離去。杰諾斯·布雷肯伯爵緊隨其后，臨走時發(fā)誓奪回燒成廢墟的家堡并安葬死者。眼下，就連杰森·梅利斯特伯爵也暗示要返回海疆城，諸神保佑，該城可是至今未遭戰(zhàn)火波及啊。
“And whose doing is that?” Catelyn snapped at her brother. It had been at Edmure’s insistence that Robb had given the river lords leave to depart after his crowning, each to defend his own lands. Ser Marq Piper and Lord Karyl Vance had been the first to go. Lord Jonos Bracken had followed, vowing to reclaim the burnt shell of his castle and bury his dead, and now Lord Jason Mallister had announced his intent to return to his seat at Seagard, still mercifully untouched by the fighting.
這孩子做得沒錯“你總不能要求我的河間諸侯枯坐城中，無所事事，活活看著自己的領地慘遭掠奪，子民被屠殺吧？”艾德慕爵士道，“但卡史塔克大人是北方人，他若是離開，對我們震動極大?！?/p>
“You cannot ask my river lords to remain idle while their fields are being pillaged and their people put to the sword,” Ser Edmure said, “but Lord Karstark is a northman. It would be an ill thing if he were to leave us.”
“我會跟他談談，”羅柏說，“他兩個兒子戰(zhàn)死在囈語森林，他不愿和殺子仇人談和，誰能怪他呢？……換做是我……”
“I’ll speak with him,” said Robb. “He lost two sons in the Whispering Wood. Who can blame him if he does not want to make peace with their killers … with my father’s killers …”
“死再多人也無法讓你父親或瑞卡德大人的兒子起死回生?！眲P特琳道，“我們必須談和——你若睿智的話，還應該多給對方一點甜頭?！?/p>
“More bloodshed will not bring your father back to us, or Lord Rickard’s sons,” Catelyn said. “An offer had to be made—though a wiser man might have offered sweeter terms.”
“再給他們甜頭，我就要噎死了?！眱鹤雍毜念伾阮^發(fā)更紅。羅柏似乎覺得留胡子可以讓自己看起來更威猛，更有王者風范……也更成熟。但不管有沒有胡子，他終究只是個十五歲的男孩，他對復仇的渴望并不亞于瑞卡德·卡史塔克，說服他提出和平條件已非易事，遑論條款優(yōu)厚與否。
“Any sweeter and I would have gagged.” Her son’s beard had grown in redder than his auburn hair. Robb seemed to think it made him look fierce, royal … older. But bearded or no, he was still a youth of fifteen, and wanted vengeance no less than Rickard Karstark. It had been no easy thing to convince him to make even this offer, poor as it was.
“瑟曦·蘭尼斯特絕不會同意用你兩個妹妹來交換她兩個表親，你很清楚，她要的是她弟弟。”這話她說了好幾遍，但凱特琳發(fā)現(xiàn)作國王的遠不如作兒子的聽話。
“Cersei Lannister will never consent to trade your sisters for a pair of cousins. It’s her brother she’ll want, as you know full well.” She had told him as much before, but Catelyn was finding that kings do not listen half so attentively as sons.
“我不能釋放弒君者，就算我想放也放不了，我的諸侯絕不會同意?！?/p>
“I can’t release the Kingslayer, not even if I wanted to. My lords would never abide it.”
“你的諸侯擁護你登基為王?！?/p>
“Your lords made you their king.”
“也同樣可以奪走我的王位。”
“And can unmake me just as easy.”
“假如你的王冠能換得艾莉亞和珊莎平安歸來，那真是謝天謝地。想想看，你手下多少諸侯巴不得將蘭尼斯特在牢里就地正法，萬一他在獄中有個三長兩短，別人一定認為——”
“If your crown is the price we must pay to have Arya and Sansa returned safe, we should pay it willingly. Half your lords would like to murder Lannister in his cell. If he should die while he’s your prisoner, men will say—”
“——他是罪有應得?！绷_柏接口。
“—that he well deserved it,” Robb finished.
“那你妹妹呢？”凱特琳尖銳地反問，“她們也是罪有應得？我向你保證，倘若她弟弟出了意外，瑟曦必定會血債血——”
“And your sisters?” Catelyn asked sharply. “Will they deserve their deaths as well? I promise you, if any harm comes to her brother, Cersei will pay us back blood for blood—”
“蘭尼斯特不會死。”羅柏道?！拔唇?jīng)我允許，無人能和他交流。他有食物和飲水，還有干凈的稻草床，照說他根本沒資格過這么舒服。但是，我決不放他走，即便為了艾莉亞和珊莎也不行。”
“Lannister won’t die,” Robb said. “No one so much as speaks to him without my warrant. He has food, water, clean straw, more comfort than he has any right to. But I won’t free him, not even for Arya and Sansa.”
凱特琳突然發(fā)覺兒子正“低頭”看她。是戰(zhàn)爭使他飛速成長，還是他們放在他額上的王冠使他心驕氣傲？凱特琳捫心自問?！澳闩屡c詹姆·蘭尼斯特在戰(zhàn)場上重逢，是不是？”
Her son was looking down at her, Catelyn realized. Was it war that made him grow so fast, she wondered, or the crown they had put on his head? “Are you afraid to have Jaime Lannister in the field again, is that the truth of it?”
灰風出聲咆哮，彷佛察覺了羅柏的怒意。艾德慕·徒利連忙出手，兄弟似地拍拍凱特琳的肩膀?！皠P特，別這樣，這孩子做得沒錯。”
Grey Wind growled, as if he sensed Robb’s anger, and Edmure Tully put a brotherly hand on Catelyn’s shoulder. “Cat, don’t. The boy has the right of this.”
“不準叫我‘孩子’！”羅柏旋身面對舅舅，把滿腔怒氣都往可憐的艾德慕身上發(fā)泄，天知道對方只是想幫他解圍?！拔壹磳⒊赡?，而且我是國王——爵士先生，我是你的國王。我鄭重聲明：我不怕詹姆·蘭尼斯特。我既然打敗過他一次，再來一次也無不可。只是……”他撥開遮眼頭發(fā)，搖了搖頭，“我本想拿弒君者去交換父親，可……”
“Don’t call me the boy,” Robb said, rounding on his uncle, his anger spilling out all at once on poor Edmure, who had only meant to support him. “I’m almost a man grown, and a king—your king, ser. And I don’t fear Jaime Lannister. I defeated him once, I’ll defeat him again if I must, only …” He pushed a fall of hair out of his eyes and gave a shake of the head. “I might have been able to trade the Kingslayer for Father, but …”
“……可換你妹妹就不行？”她冰冷地低語，“你妹妹不夠重要，是不是？”
“… but not for the girls?” Her voice was icy quiet. “Girls are not important enough, are they?”
羅柏沒有回答，但他眼里有受傷的神色。那雙徒利家族的藍眼睛啊，是她的遺傳。她傷害了他，但他實在太像他父親，因此不肯承認。
Robb made no answer, but there was hurt in his eyes. Blue eyes, Tully eyes, eyes she had given him. She had wounded him, but he was too much his father’s son to admit it.
我這是在干什么？她對自己說。諸神在上，我到底怎么了？他不就是盡力想當個好國王嗎？這些我都知道，這些我日夜所見，可是……我已經(jīng)失去了奈德，失去了我生命的基石，若是連女兒也沒了，我受不了……
That was unworthy of me, she told herself. Gods be good, what is to become of me? He is doing his best, trying so hard, I know it, I see it, and yet … I have lost my Ned, the rock my life was built on, I could not bear to lose the girls as well …
“我會為妹妹盡最大努力，”羅柏說，“只要太后還有一絲理智，她就會接受我的條件。否則，我將讓后悔她的決定?！彼@然不愿繼續(xù)這個話題?！澳赣H，您真的不肯去孿河城居住？您應當遠離前線，同時多多了解佛雷大人的女兒，等戰(zhàn)爭結(jié)束，便可為我挑選妻子?！?/p>
“I’ll do all I can for my sisters,” Robb said. “If the queen has any sense, she’ll accept my terms. If not, I’ll make her rue the day she refused me.” Plainly, he’d had enough of the subject. “Mother, are you certain you will not consent to go to the Twins? You would be farther from the fighting, and you could acquaint yourself with Lord Frey’s daughters to help me choose my bride when the war is done.”
他不要我，凱特琳虛弱地想，看來做國王的果真不能有母親啊，何況我還總說些不中聽的話?！傲_柏，你長這么大，中意瓦德大人哪個女兒可以自己決定，用不著我?guī)兔?。?/p>
He wants me gone, Catelyn thought wearily. Kings are not supposed to have mothers, it would seem, and I tell him things he does not want to hear. “You’re old enough to decide which of Lord Walder’s girls you prefer without your mother’s help, Robb.”
“那您和席恩一起走罷。他明天動身，首先協(xié)助梅利斯特押送部分戰(zhàn)俘去海疆城，隨后搭船前往鐵群島。你也可以找條船，如果風向順遂，不出一月便能返回臨冬城。布蘭和瑞肯需要你?！?/p>
“Then go with Theon. He leaves on the morrow. He’ll help the Mallisters escort that lot of captives to Seagard and then take ship for the Iron Islands. You could find a ship as well, and be back at Winterfell with a moon’s turn, if the winds are kind. Bran and Rickon need you.”
而你不需要？“你外公的時日所剩無多，只要他還活在世上一日，我就要留在奔流城守著他?！?/p>
And you do not, is that what you mean to say? “My lord father has little enough time remaining him. So long as your grandfather lives, my place is at Riverrun with him.”
“我是國王，我可以命令你走。”
“I could command you to go. As king. I could.”
凱特琳不理他，“我再說一遍，我希望你把席恩留在身邊，派別人去派克島?！?/p>
Catelyn ignored that. “I’ll say again, I would sooner you sent someone else to Pyke, and kept Theon close to you.”
“和巴隆·葛雷喬伊周旋，派誰比他兒子更合適呢？”
“Who better to treat with Balon Greyjoy than his son?”
“杰森·梅利斯特，”凱特琳提議，“泰陀斯·布萊伍德，史提夫倫·佛雷，誰都成……惟獨席恩不行。”
“Jason Mallister,” offered Catelyn. “Tytos Blackwood. Stevron Frey. Anyone … but not Theon.”
兒子在灰風身旁蹲下，撥弄冰原狼的毛皮，藉此逃避她的目光?！跋鳛槲覀兞⑾虏簧俟?，我跟你說過他在狼林里從野人手中拯救布蘭的事。而一旦與蘭尼斯特家和談不成，我就必須得到葛雷喬伊大王的長船艦隊。”
Her son squatted beside Grey Wind, ruffling the wolf’s fur and incidentally avoiding her eyes. “Theon’s fought bravely for us. I told you how he saved Bran from those wildlings in the wolfswood. If the Lannisters won’t make peace, I’ll have need of Lord Greyjoy’s longships.”
“想得到他的艦隊，最好的辦法就是把他兒子留作人質(zhì)，?！?/p>
“You’ll have them sooner if you keep his son as hostage.”
“他已經(jīng)作了半輩子人質(zhì)?！?/p>
“He’s been a hostage half his life.”
“那不是沒有原因的?！眲P特琳說，“巴隆·葛雷喬伊這種人不能信任。別忘了，雖說僅僅為期一季，可他畢竟曾自立為王。哪天他揪準機會，說不定又會再度作亂?！?/p>
“For good reason,” Catelyn said. “Balon Greyjoy is not a man to be trusted. He wore a crown himself, remember, if only for a season. He may aspire to wear one again.”
羅柏起身，“我不跟他計較這個。我是北境之王，滿足他的愿望，讓他當鐵島之王又如何？只要他助我擊敗蘭尼斯特，我很樂意將王冠奉上。”
Robb stood. “I will not grudge him that. If I’m King in the North, let him be King of the Iron Islands, if that’s his desire. I’ll give him a crown gladly, so long as he helps us bring down the Lannisters.”
“羅柏——”
“Robb—”
“我決定派席恩。日安，母親?；绎L，我們走。”羅柏快步離去，冰原狼亦步亦趨。
“I’m sending Theon. Good day, Mother. Grey Wind, come.” Robb walked off briskly, the direwolf padding beside him.
凱特琳只能目送他離開，那是她的兒子，也是她的主君，好奇怪的感覺啊。想當初在卡林灣，她敦矚他要“發(fā)號施令”，如今他果然照辦?！拔胰タ纯锤赣H，”她唐突地說，“艾德慕，跟我一起來吧?！?/p>
Catelyn could only watch him go. Her son and now her king. How queer that felt. Command, she had told him back in Moat Cailin. And so he did. “I am going to visit Father,” she announced abruptly. “Come with me, Edmure.”
似乎一天天虛弱下去“戴斯蒙正在訓練新募的弓箭手，我得去講兩句。晚些時候再去看他?！?/p>
“I need to have a word with those new bowmen Ser Desmond is training. I’ll visit him later.”
晚些時候說不定他就不在人世了，凱特琳心想，卻沒有說出口。弟弟寧可上戰(zhàn)場，也不愿進病房。
If he still lives, Catelyn thought, but she said nothing. Her brother would sooner face battle than that sickroom.
垂危父親的病房位于主堡，穿越神木林是最佳捷徑。神木林里長滿青草、野花、榆樹和紅木，濃密的葉片依然貪戀著枝干，對兩周前白鴉帶來的消息渾然不覺。秋季已至，樞機會雖已宣布，但諸神似乎還不愿把這個消息告訴清風和密林，為此凱特琳深覺感激。秋天，是個讓人懼怕的季節(jié)，只因凜冬的陰影徘徊在前。一個人，無論睿智還是駑鈍，都無法判斷這次秋收會不會是今生最后的農(nóng)獲。
The shortest way to the central keep where her father lay dying was through the godswood, with its grass and wildflowers and thick stands of elm and redwood. A wealth of rustling leaves still clung to the branches of the trees, all ignorant of the word the white raven had brought to Riverrun a fortnight past. Autumn had come, the Conclave had declared, but the gods had not seen fit to tell the winds and woods as yet. For that Catelyn was duly grateful. Autumn was always a fearful time, with the specter of winter looming ahead. Even the wisest man never knew whether his next harvest would be the last.
城堡頂層的房間里，奔流城公爵霍斯特·徒利臥病在床，床位朝東，騰石河和紅叉河匯流處盡收眼底。凱特琳進來時，他正在熟睡，須發(fā)皆白，色澤竟和羽毛床褥無異，那曾經(jīng)魁偉的身軀，如今已被逐漸擴散的死亡之氣消磨得又瘦又小。
Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun, lay abed in his solar, with its commanding view to the east where the rivers Tumblestone and Red Fork met beyond the walls of his castle. He was sleeping when Catelyn entered, his hair and beard as white as his featherbed, his once portly frame turned small and frail by the death that grew within him.
床邊，靜坐著她的叔叔黑魚，他依然穿戴鎖甲，一身風塵仆仆的斗篷，長靴蒙塵，滿是干泥。“叔叔，你回來了，羅柏知道嗎？”布林登·徒利爵士掌管著羅柏的偵察部隊，等于是他的耳目。
Beside the bed, still dressed in mail hauberk and travel-stained cloak, sat her father’s brother, the Blackfish. His boots were dusty and spattered with dried mud. “Does Robb know you are returned, Uncle?” Ser Brynden Tully was Robb’s eyes and ears, the commander of his scouts and outriders.
“還沒有。我一進馬廄，聽他們說國王正在主持朝政，就直接過來了。我想我的消息應該私下報告給陛下?！焙隰~一頭灰發(fā)，身形瘦長，動作精準，他刮得干凈的臉上滿是皺紋和風傷。“他情形如何？”他問，她知道他問的不是羅柏。
“No. I came here straight from the stables, when they told me the king was holding court. His Grace will want to hear my tidings in private first, I’d think.” The Blackfish was a tall, lean man, grey of hair and precise in his movements, his clean-shaven face lined and windburnt. “How is he?” he asked, and she knew he did not mean Robb.
“還是老樣子。學士給他喝夢酒和罌粟花奶止痛，所以他大部分時間都在睡。他吃得太少，似乎一天天虛弱下去了?！?/p>
“Much the same. The maester gives him dreamwine and milk of the poppy for his pain, so he sleeps most of the time, and eats too little. He seems weaker with each day that passes.”
“說過話沒？”
“Does he speak?”
“有……可越來越?jīng)]條理。他常說起自己的悔恨，說起沒完成的任務，還有過世很久的人和陳年往事。有時候他連季節(jié)都分辨不清，甚至把我當成我母親。”
“Yes … but there is less and less sense to the things he says. He talks of his regrets, of unfinished tasks, of people long dead and times long past. Sometimes he does not know what season it is, or who I am. Once he called me by Mother’s name.”
“他一直想念她。”布林登爵士答道，“你和你母親很像，從顴骨就看得出，這下巴……”
“He misses her still,” Ser Brynden answered. “You have her face. I can see it in your cheekbones, and your jaw …”
“你記得比我清楚，這都是好久以前的事了?！彼诖策呑?，伸手拂開一小撮垂落父親臉龐的華發(fā)。
“You remember more of her than I do. It has been a long time.” She seated herself on the bed and brushed away a strand of fine white hair that had fallen across her father’s face.
“每次我出城，都不知道回來時他是不是還活著。”雖然父親當年和弟弟爭執(zhí)不下，但兩人的感情依然十分緊密。
“Each time I ride out, I wonder if I shall find him alive or dead on my return.” Despite their quarrels, there was a deep bond between her father and the brother he had once disowned.
“好在你們和好了?！?/p>
“At least you made your peace with him.”
他們靜坐半晌，最后凱特琳抬起頭：“你有消息告訴羅柏？”霍斯特公爵呻吟一聲，翻過身去，彷佛聽見了他們的談話。
They sat for a time in silence, until Catelyn raised her head. “You spoke of tidings that Robb needed to hear?” Lord Hoster moaned and rolled onto his side, almost as if he had heard.
布林登站起來，“到外面說吧，別吵醒了他?！?/p>
Brynden stood. “Come outside. Best if we do not wake him.”
她隨他走上石制陽臺，陽臺呈三角造型，好似巨艦船首。叔叔朝天空瞄了一眼，皺眉道：“連白天都看得見，我的人喚它作‘紅信使’……可它帶來的，到底是什么信息呢？”
She followed him out onto the stone balcony that jutted three-sided from the solar like the prow of a ship. Her uncle glanced up, frowning. “You can see it by day now. My men call it the Red Messenger … but what is the message?”
凱特琳抬眼望去，彗星淡紅的軌跡劃過蔚藍的天空，彷佛天神臉上的一記悠長的抓痕?！按蟓偠鲗α_柏說，這是舊神為奈德展開的復仇火旗；艾德慕則認為那是奔流城勝利的預兆——他看到一條長尾巴的魚，藍底透紅，正是徒利家的徽章?！彼龂@口氣。“我真希望自己也像他那般有信心。緋紅，可是蘭尼斯特的色彩啊。”
Catelyn raised her eyes, to where the faint red line of the comet traced a path across the deep blue sky like a long scratch across the face of god. “The Greatjon told Robb that the old gods have unfurled a red flag of vengeance for Ned. Edmure thinks it’s an omen of victory for Riverrun—he sees a fish with a long tail, in the Tully colors, red against blue.” She sighed. “I wish I had their faith. Crimson is a Lannister color.”
“那東西既不是緋紅，”布林登爵士道，“也不是徒利家河泥的的褐紅，而是血紅。孩子，那是橫跨天際的一抹血跡?！?/p>
“That thing’s not crimson,” Ser Brynden said. “Nor Tully red, the mud red of the river. That’s blood up there, child, smeared across the sky.”
“我們的還是敵人的？”
“Our blood or theirs?”
“打仗哪有單方面流血的呢？”叔叔搖搖頭，“神眼湖周圍的河間地成了一片火海，四處血流成河。眼下戰(zhàn)事南延至黑水河，往北則越過三叉戟河，幾乎就要波及到孿河城。馬柯·派柏和卡列爾·凡斯小勝了幾仗，南境的貴族貝里·唐德利恩則專心對付掠奪者，不斷偷襲泰溫大人派出的劫掠隊，攻擊后便閃電般地躲進森林。據(jù)報勃頓·克雷赫爵士大肆吹噓殺死了唐德利恩，結(jié)果沒多久他的隊伍就被貝里大人騙進陷阱，最后全軍覆沒。”
“Was there ever a war where only one side bled?” Her uncle gave a shake of the head. “The riverlands are awash in blood and flame all around the Gods Eye. The fighting has spread south to the Blackwater and north across the Trident, almost to the Twins. Marq Piper and Karyl Vance have won some small victories, and this southron lordling Beric Dondarrion has been raiding the raiders, falling upon Lord Tywin’s foraging parties and vanishing back into the woods. It’s said that Ser Burton Crakehall was boasting that he’d slain Dondarrion, until he led his column into one of Lord Beric’s traps and got every man of them killed.”
“奈德帶去君臨的衛(wèi)士中有一些就跟著這個貝里大人，”凱特琳想起來，“愿諸神眷顧他們?！?/p>
“Some of Ned’s guard from King’s Landing are with this Lord Beric,” Catelyn recalled. “May the gods preserve them.”
“倘若傳聞屬實，這個唐德利恩和跟隨他的紅袍僧挺機靈，尚足以照顧自己?！笔迨逭f：“你父親麾下的諸侯可就凄慘了，羅柏實在不該放他們離開。他們四處分居，各自為戰(zhàn)，真是荒唐啊，凱特，荒唐透頂。杰諾斯·布雷肯為保衛(wèi)燒成廢墟的家堡，身負重傷，他的外甥亨德利戰(zhàn)死沙場。泰陀斯·布萊伍德雖將蘭尼斯特軍逐出自己的領地，卻被敵軍帶走了所有牲畜和糧草，只留給他鴉樹空城和一片焦土。戴瑞家的部隊起初進展順利，輕易奪回了他們的城堡，可不到半月，格雷果·克里岡便率兵攻至，把守軍殺個一干二凈，連他們的領主也不放過?！?/p>
“Dondarrion and this red priest who rides with him are clever enough to preserve themselves, if the tales be true,” her uncle said, “but your father’s bannermen make a sadder tale. Robb should never have let them go. They’ve scattered like quail, each man trying to protect his own, and it’s folly, Cat, folly. Jonos Bracken was wounded in the fighting amidst the ruins of his castle, and his nephew Hendry slain. Tytos Blackwood’s swept the Lannisters off his lands, but they took every cow and pig and speck of grain and left him nothing to defend but Raventree Hall and a scorched desert. Darry men recaptured their lord’s keep but held it less than a fortnight before Gregor Clegane descended on them and put the whole garrison to the sword, even their lord.”
凱特琳聽了大驚失色，“戴瑞還是個孩子?。 ?/p>
Catelyn was horrorstruck. “Darry was only a child.”
“是啊，而且是戴瑞家最后的傳人。用那孩子原本可換一筆高額贖金，可對格雷果·克里岡這種瘋狗來說，黃金有什么用呢？我發(fā)誓，這個畜生的頭是獻給全國百姓最好的禮物?！?/p>
“Aye, and the last of his line as well. The boy would have brought a fine ransom, but what does gold mean to a frothing dog like Gregor Clegane? That beast’s head would make a noble gift for all the people of the realm, I vow.”
凱特琳知道克里岡爵士惡名昭彰，但這未免也太……“叔叔，不要提起頭。瑟曦把奈德的頭挑在槍尖，掛在紅堡墻上，任由烏鴉和蒼蠅糟蹋?！钡搅爽F(xiàn)在，她還是很難相信他就這么走了。有時她夜里醒來，半夢半醒之間，恍惚以為他就在身旁?！翱死飳贿^是泰溫大人的走狗罷了?！碧亍ぬm尼斯特——凱巖城公爵、西境守護，瑟曦太后、“弒君者”詹姆爵士和“小惡魔”提利昂的父親，新登基的幼王喬佛里·拜拉席恩的祖父——才是真正的亂源，凱特琳堅信。
Catelyn knew Ser Gregor’s evil reputation, yet still … “Don’t speak to me of heads, Uncle. Cersei has mounted Ned’s on a spike above the walls of the Red Keep, and left it for the crows and flies.” Even now, it was hard for her to believe that he was truly gone. Some nights she would wake in darkness, half-asleep, and for an instant expect to find him there beside her. “Clegane is no more than Lord Tywin’s catspaw.” For Tywin Lannister—Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, father to Queen Cersei, Ser Jaime the Kingslayer, and Tyrion the Imp, and grandfather to Joffrey Baratheon, the new-crowned boy king—was the true danger, Catelyn believed.
“很正確，”布林登爵士同意，“泰溫·蘭尼斯特精明著呢，他安穩(wěn)地守在赫倫堡重重高墻后，拿咱們的糧食喂他的兵丁，拿不走的就燒掉。他放出的走狗不只格雷果一條，亞摩利·洛奇爵士也出馬了，此外還有群科霍爾傭兵，這幫家伙性情殘忍，愛把人弄成殘廢。我見過他們留下的景觀：全村焚毀，婦女被奸淫后支解，遭屠殺的孩子暴尸荒野，不得埋葬，任由狼群和野狗競食……這種場面連死人都受不了?！?/p>
“True enough,” Ser Brynden admitted. “And Tywin Lannister is no man’s fool. He sits safe behind the walls of Harrenhal, feeding his host on our harvest and burning what he does not take. Gregor is not the only dog he’s loosed. Ser Amory Lorch is in the field as well, and some sellsword out of Qohor who’d sooner maim a man than kill him. I’ve seen what they leave behind them. Whole villages put to the torch, women raped and mutilated, butchered children left unburied to draw wolves and wild dogs … it would sicken even the dead.”
赫倫堡的故事“艾德慕若是知道，準會氣瘋的。”
“When Edmure hears this, he will rage.”
“那正合泰溫大人的意。凱特，散播恐怖自有其目的，蘭尼斯特軍要激我們與之決戰(zhàn)。”
“And that will be just as Lord Tywin desires. Even terror has its purpose, Cat. Lannister wants to provoke us to battle.”
“只怕羅柏還求之不得，”凱特琳焦躁地說，“困守此地，他像籠子里的貓一樣極不耐煩，可以想見，艾德慕、大瓊恩及其他人必定日夜力促他出戰(zhàn)?！眱鹤又淮蛄藘蓤鰟僬?，一次在囈語森林偷襲詹姆·蘭尼斯特，另一次是擊潰包圍奔流城的無主散軍，但在他的諸侯們口中，他已經(jīng)儼然是征服者伊耿再世了。
“Robb is like to give him that wish,” Catelyn said, fretful. “He is restless as a cat sitting here, and Edmure and the Greatjon and the others will urge him on.” Her son had won two great victories, smashing Jaime Lannister in the Whispering Wood and routing his leaderless host outside the walls of Riverrun in the Battle of the Camps, but from the way some of his bannermen spoke of him, he might have been Aegon the Conqueror reborn.
黑魚布林登皺起他的灰色濃眉，“這正是他們愚昧之處。我作戰(zhàn)的首要原則，凱特——是絕不讓對方稱心如意。泰溫大人巴不得在他選擇的地點與我們決戰(zhàn)，他希望我們朝赫倫堡進軍?！?/p>
Brynden Blackfish arched a bushy grey eyebrow. “More fool they. My first rule of war, Cat—never give the enemy his wish. Lord Tywin would like to fight on a field of his own choosing. He wants us to march on Harrenhal.”
“赫倫堡?！比恿饔虻拿课缓⑼悸犨^赫倫堡的故事。這是三百年前由“黑心”赫倫王在神眼湖邊建造的巨大堡壘。那個時代，七國境內(nèi)真是七國分立，而河間地區(qū)由鐵群島的“鐵民”所統(tǒng)治。驕傲的赫倫想擁有全維斯特洛最大的殿堂和最高的塔樓，所以他前后耗費四十年修建此城。巨大的陰影在湖邊不斷拔高，赫倫王的軍隊則四處劫掠，從鄰國搶來石頭、木材、黃金和工人。在采石場中，在拖木橇上，在修建那五座巨人般的高塔時，成千上萬的奴工力竭而死。人們冬天挨餓受凍，夏天汗流浹背，風風雨雨，勞作不息。為籌備足夠的梁柱和椽木，生長三千年的魚梁木橫遭砍伐，赫倫竭盡河間全境和鐵群島的一切資源，只為達成一己迷夢。最后赫倫堡終告竣工，然而就在赫倫王進駐城中的當日，征服者伊耿也率軍登陸君臨。
“Harrenhal.” Every child of the Trident knew the tales told of Harrenhal, the vast fortress that King Harren the Black had raised beside the waters of Gods Eye three hundred years past, when the Seven Kingdoms had been seven kingdoms, and the riverlands were ruled by the ironmen from the islands. In his pride, Harren had desired the highest hall and tallest towers in all Westeros. Forty years it had taken, rising like a great shadow on the shore of the lake while Harren’s armies plundered his neighbors for stone, lumber, gold, and workers. Thousands of captives died in his quarries, chained to his sledges, or laboring on his five colossal towers. Men froze by winter and sweltered in summer. Weirwoods that had stood three thousand years were cut down for beams and rafters. Harren had beggared the riverlands and the Iron Islands alike to ornament his dream. And when at last Harrenhal stood complete, on the very day King Harren took up residence, Aegon the Conqueror had come ashore at King’s Landing.
凱特琳還記得以前在臨冬城，老奶媽是怎么把這個故事說給她的孩子們聽的?！昂諅愅醢l(fā)現(xiàn)厚墻和高塔無法對抗巨龍，”故事總在這里結(jié)束，“因為龍會飛?！饼堁嫱淌闪诉@座怪物般的堡壘，赫倫全族盡死其間。而從此之后，獲得赫倫堡的每位家族都會遭遇不幸。赫倫堡雖然固若金湯，卻是個陰暗而遭詛咒的地方。
Catelyn could remember hearing Old Nan tell the story to her own children, back at Winterfell. “And King Harren learned that thick walls and high towers are small use against dragons,” the tale always ended. “For dragons fly.” Harren and all his line had perished in the fires that engulfed his monstrous fortress, and every house that held Harrenhal since had come to misfortune. Strong it might be, but it was a dark place, and cursed.
“我決不會讓羅柏在那座堡壘的陰影下作戰(zhàn)，”凱特琳承諾，“可是叔叔，我們總得采取行動，扭轉(zhuǎn)局面啊?！?/p>
“I would not have Robb fight a battle in the shadow of that keep,” Catelyn admitted. “Yet we must do something, Uncle.”
“而且要快，”叔叔同意，“孩子，我還沒把最壞的消息告訴你。據(jù)我派往西方的探子回報，一支新軍正在凱巖城集結(jié)。”
“And soon,” her uncle agreed. “I have not told you the worst of it, child. The men I sent west have brought back word that a new host is gathering at Casterly Rock.”
一只蘭尼斯特新軍，她惶惶不安?！斑@個消息必須立刻報告羅柏。這支部隊由誰帶領？”
Another Lannister army. The thought made her ill. “Robb must be told at once. Who will command?”
“據(jù)說是史戴佛·蘭尼斯特爵士?！彼麑⒁暰€轉(zhuǎn)往雙河匯流處，紅藍相間的斗篷在微風中輕擺。
“Ser Stafford Lannister, it’s said.” He turned to gaze out over the rivers, his red-and-blue cloak stirring in the breeze.
“又是他侄子？”凱巖城的蘭尼斯特家族實在枝葉茂盛，盤根錯節(jié)。
“Another nephew?” The Lannisters of Casterly Rock were a damnably large and fertile house.
“是他堂哥，”布林登爵士糾正，“泰溫大人亡妻的哥哥，所以是親上加親。但此人已老，腦袋又向來不太好使?？伤袀€兒子達馮爵士，據(jù)說驍勇善戰(zhàn)。”
“Cousin,” Ser Brynden corrected. “Brother to Lord Tywin’s late wife, so twice related. An old man and a bit of a dullard, but he has a son, Ser Daven, who is more formidable.”
“就讓我們祈禱領軍的是父親，而非兒子吧?！?/p>
“Then let us hope it is the father and not the son who takes this army into the field.”
“不管怎樣，他們暫時不構(gòu)成威脅。這支軍隊由流浪武士、自由騎手和蘭尼斯港的小巷里召募的新手組成，史戴佛爵士必須首先武裝他們，訓練他們，之后才敢出兵……然而我們別心存幻想，泰溫大人不是弒君者，他決不會沒頭沒腦地出擊，他一定會耐心等候，直到史戴佛爵士進軍后，方才離開赫倫堡?！?/p>
“We have some time yet before we must face them. This lot will be sellswords, freeriders, and green boys from the stews of Lannisport. Ser Stafford must see that they are armed and drilled before he dare risk battle … and make no mistake, Lord Tywin is not the Kingslayer. He will not rush in heedless. He will wait patiently for Ser Stafford to march before he stirs from behind the walls of Harrenhal.”
“除非……”凱特琳道。
“Unless …” said Catelyn.
“怎樣？”布林登爵士詢問。
“Yes?” Ser Brynden prompted.
“除非他迫不得已，必須離開赫倫堡，”她說，“去應付其他威脅?！?/p>
“Unless he must leave Harrenhal,” she said, “to face some other threat.”
叔叔若有所思地看著她，“藍禮大人?！?/p>
Her uncle looked at her thoughtfully. “Lord Renly.”
“藍禮‘陛下’?！奔热灰笏麕兔?，便得用他自封的頭銜相稱。
“King Renly.” If she would ask help from the man, she would need to grant him the style he had claimed for himself.
“這倒有可能，”黑魚露出一抹危險的微笑，“不過，他會要求回報。”
“Perhaps.” The Blackfish smiled a dangerous smile. “He’ll want something, though.”
“國王要的東西都一樣，”她說，“臣服?！?/p>
“He’ll want what kings always want,” she said. “Homage.”
