Ⅱ 列王的紛爭 Chapter66 席恩

THEON

頭一批斥候在城下出現(xiàn)時，魯溫學(xué)士來找他翼岁。“親王殿下榆俺，”他說，“您必須投降碾盐。”

Maester Luwin came to him when the first scouts were seen outside the walls. “My lord prince,” he said, “you must yield.”

席恩盯著面前一盤燕麥餅付枫、蜂蜜和血腸發(fā)呆阐滩，這是他的早餐继效。又一個無眠之夜讓他渾身酸痛瑞信，看見食物只想作嘔凡简。“我叔叔還沒回話溉仑？”

Theon stared at the platter of oakcakes, honey, and blood sausage they’d brought him to break his fast. Another sleepless night had left his nerves raw, and the very sight of food sickened him. “There has been no reply from my uncle?”

“沒有浊竟，”學(xué)士道，“派克島令尊那兒也沒有消息后频”跋В”

“None,” the maester said. “Nor from your father on Pyke.”

“再派幾只鳥『梁郏”

“Send more birds.”

“沒有用的。這些鳥還沒到達您就——”

“It will not serve. By the time the birds reach—”

“派出去臊泰！”他一拳砸在餐盤上因宇，掀開毯子打厘，裸著身體户盯，怒氣沖天地從奈德·史塔克的床上爬起來×蛘＃“你是不是想我死礁阁？是不是？魯溫棚品，你給我說實話铜跑！”

“Send them!” Knocking the platter of food aside with a swipe of his arm, he pushed off the blankets and rose from Ned Stark’s bed naked and angry. “Or do you want me dead? Is that it, Luwin? The truth now.”

灰色的小個子面不改色∩」悖“我的職責是服務(wù)减拭∨》啵”

The small grey man was unafraid. “My order serves.”

“沒錯魄鸦。為誰服務(wù)旺罢？”

“Yes, but whom?”

“為國家扁达，”魯溫學(xué)士道，“為臨冬城叉讥。席恩节吮，過去我孜孜不倦地教你計算和書寫，歷史與戰(zhàn)略帚豪。若你更勤奮好學(xué)，我本想教會你更多烛亦。我不敢吹噓自己有多么愛你，不檬果，但我也無法恨你杭抠。再說偏灿，就算我恨你，只要你占有臨冬城一天沮峡，我受誓言的約束就必須給你忠誠的諫言。現(xiàn)在疟游，我建議您開城投降×砑ǎ”

“The realm,” Maester Luwin said, “and Winterfell. Theon, once I taught you sums and letters, history and warcraft. And might have taught you more, had you wished to learn. I will not claim to bear you any great love, no, but I cannot hate you either. Even if I did, so long as you hold Winterfell I am bound by oath to give you counsel. So now I counsel you to yield.”

席恩彎腰拾起一件臟斗篷，抖掉上面的燈芯草，披在肩上侍芝。火留量，我要升火，還要干凈衣服可岂。威克斯上哪兒去了？我不能臟兮兮地進墳?zāi)埂?/p>

Theon stooped to scoop a puddled cloak off the floor, shook off the rushes, and draped it over his shoulders. A fire, I’ll have a fire, and clean garb. Where’s Wex? I’ll not go to my grave in dirty clothes.

“您不可能守住，”師傅續(xù)道绘面，“倘若令尊大人打算施以援手，救兵早就到了瘦馍，但他關(guān)心的只有頸澤。征服卡林灣之后呻惕，他才會揮師北上”舫郑”

“You have no hope of holding here,” the maester went on. “If your lord father meant to send you aid, he would have done so by now. It is the Neck that concerns him. The battle for the north will be fought amidst the ruins of Moat Cailin.”

“你說的有理，”席恩說，“因此只要我占據(jù)臨冬城奶赔，就能鉗制羅德利克爵士和史塔克的封臣諸侯們另伍，使他們無力南下夾擊我叔叔《楣”我可不像你想像的那樣對戰(zhàn)略一無所知，老頭晃琳【世剩“必要的話，我手中的存糧足以支撐一年圍城蝎土∈友疲”

“That may be so,” said Theon. “And so long as I hold Winterfell, Ser Rodrik and Stark’s lords bannermen cannot march south to take my uncle in the rear.” I am not so innocent of warcraft as you think, old man. “I have food enough to stand a year’s siege, if need be.”

“不會有什么圍城誊涯。起初一兩天挡毅，他們或許會扎營下來加工云梯，捆扎爪鉤暴构。一旦準備完畢跪呈，您的城墻會在上百個地點被同時突破。您也許可以退到主堡固守一時取逾，但其他地方會在一個小時之內(nèi)淪陷耗绿。與其那樣，您還不如打開城門砾隅，請求——”

“There will be no siege. Perhaps they will spend a day or two fashioning ladders and tying grapnels to the ends of ropes. But soon enough they will come over your walls in a hundred places at once. You may be able to hold the keep for a time, but the castle will fall within the hour. You would do better to open your gates and ask for—”

“——他們發(fā)發(fā)慈悲误阻？他們會給什么慈悲我清楚得很∏绻。”

“—mercy? I know what kind of mercy they have for me.”

“這不失為一種選擇究反。”

“There is a way.”

“我是天生的鐵種儒洛，”席恩提醒對方精耐。“我有自己的選擇琅锻。他們給過我選擇嗎卦停？不向胡，不用回答，我已經(jīng)聽夠了你的‘諫言’惊完。照我的命令去辦僵芹，放出渡鴉，叫羅倫來見我专执。還有威克斯，讓他把我的盔甲擦拭干凈郁油。通知守衛(wèi)在廣場上全體集合本股。”

“I am ironborn,” Theon reminded him. “I have my own way. What choice have they left me? No, don’t answer, I’ve heard enough of your counsel. Go and send those birds as I commanded, and tell Lorren I want to see him. And Wex as well. I’ll have my mail scoured clean, and my garrison assembled in the yard.”

片刻之間他以為學(xué)士就要抗命桐腌，但魯溫最終只僵硬的一鞠躬拄显，“遵命“刚荆”

For a moment he thought the maester was going to defy him. But finally Luwin bowed stiffly. “As you command.”

他的隊伍小得可憐：寥寥無幾的鐵民躬审，空曠寂寞的廣場◇⊙危“入夜之前承边，北方人就要到了，”他告訴他們石挂〔┲“羅德利克爵士帶著所有應(yīng)召的諸侯一起殺來，但我決不臨陣脫逃痹愚。我奪下了這里富岳，我要守住這里，無論是生是死拯腮，我都是臨冬城的親王窖式。然而，我不勉強任何人為我而死动壤，趁羅德利克爵士的主力部隊尚未到達萝喘，想走的人趕緊撤退，應(yīng)該有逃命的機會琼懊⊙鸦遥”他拔出長劍，在地上劃了道橫線肩碟∏拷眩“想留下來作戰(zhàn)的人，請上前削祈〕崮纾”

They made a pitifully small assembly; the ironmen were few, the yard large. “The northmen will be on us before nightfall,” he told them. “Ser Rodrik Cassel and all the lords who have come to his call. I will not run from them. I took this castle and I mean to hold it, to live or die as Prince of Winterfell. But I will not command any man to die with me. If you leave now, before Ser Rodrik’s main force is upon us, there’s still a chance you may win free.” He unsheathed his longsword and drew a line in the dirt. “Those who would stay and fight, step forward.”

無人回話脑漫。穿著鎖甲、皮衣和鑲釘皮甲的眾人咙崎，紋絲不動优幸，好似石雕。少數(shù)幾個人交換著眼神褪猛。烏茲的腳挪了挪重心网杆。迪克·哈爾洛清清喉嚨，吐出一口痰伊滋。清風的手指弄亂了安德哈整潔的長發(fā)碳却。

No one spoke. The men stood in their mail and fur and boiled leather, as still as if they were made of stone. A few exchanged looks. Urzen shuffled his feet. Dykk Harlaw hawked and spat. A finger of wind ruffled Endehar’s long fair hair.

席恩覺得自己正是下沉溺斃中的人。干嘛吃驚笑旺？他凄涼地想昼浦。父親遺棄了我，姐姐筒主、叔叔关噪、連那個狡猾的怪物臭佬，他們統(tǒng)統(tǒng)都拋棄了我乌妙。既然如此使兔，我的手下又何必對我忠誠？沒什么可說的了藤韵，沒什么可做的了火诸。我只好站在這雄偉高大的灰城墻下，在這嚴酷蒼白的晴空底下荠察，手握長劍置蜀，等著，等著……

Theon felt as though he were drowning. Why am I surprised? he thought bleakly. His father had forsaken him, his uncles, his sister, even that wretched creature Reek. Why should his men prove any more loyal? There was nothing to say, nothing to do. He could only stand there beneath the great grey walls and the hard white sky, sword in hand, waiting, waiting …

頭一個越線的是威克斯悉盆，他快走三步盯荤，垂頭站在席恩身旁』烂耍或許是因男孩的行為而羞愧秋秤，黑羅倫愁容滿面地跟了上來〗徘蹋“還有誰灼卢？”席恩詢問。紅拉夫走上前来农，接著是科蒙鞋真，魏拉格，泰莫和他兩個兄弟沃于，“病人”烏夫涩咖，“偷羊賊”哈拉格海诲，四個哈爾洛和兩個波特里，最后是“鯨魚”肯德檩互。一共十七人特幔。

Wex was the first to cross the line. Three quick steps and he stood at Theon’s side, slouching. Shamed by the boy, Black Lorren followed, all scowls. “Who else?” he demanded. Red Rolfe came forward. Kromm. Werlag. Tymor and his brothers. Ulf the Ill. Harrag Sheepstealer. Four Harlaws and two Botleys. Kenned the Whale was the last. Seventeen in all.

沒動的人包括烏茲，斯提吉闸昨，阿莎從深林堡帶來的十個人不出意料地無動于衷蚯斯。“好饵较，你們走吧拍嵌，”席恩對他們說提鸟，“逃到我姐姐那邊去。我向你們保證肝集，她一定會熱烈歡迎格嘁。”

Urzen was among those who did not move, and Stygg, and every man of the ten that Asha had brought from Deepwood Motte. “Go, then,” Theon told them. “Run to my sister. She’ll give you all a warm welcome, I have no doubt.”

斯提吉至少還知道臉紅严拒，其他人則是一言不發(fā)地掉頭離開。席恩望向留下來的十七個人∧即“上城墻。假如神靈開眼僻弹，得以生還阿浓，我將永不忘記諸位√Ｕ溃”

Stygg had the grace at least to look ashamed. The rest moved off without a word. Theon turned to the seventeen who remained. “Back to the walls. If the gods should spare us, I shall remember every man of you.”

其他人走后黑羅倫多待了一會兒芭毙，“戰(zhàn)事一開，城里的人就會反叛卸耘⊥硕兀”

Black Lorren stayed when the others had gone. “The castle folk will turn on us soon as the fight begins.”

“我知道。你要我怎么做蚣抗？”

“I know that. What would you have me do?”

“宰掉侈百，”羅倫說，“統(tǒng)統(tǒng)宰掉翰铡《塾颍”

“Put them out,” said Lorren. “Every one.”

席恩搖搖頭，“吊繩準備好了嗎锭魔？”

Theon shook his head. “Is the noose ready?”

“好了例证。您真打算用這個？”

“It is. You mean to use it?”

“你有更好的法子迷捧？”

“Do you know a better way?”

“有战虏。請讓我拿起斧子上吊橋拣宰，放他們來打我。一次來一個烦感、兩個巡社、三個都無所謂。只要我一息尚存手趣，誰也別想過去晌该÷淘”

“Aye. I’ll take my axe and stand on that drawbridge, and let them come try me. One at a time, two, three, it makes no matter. None will pass the moat while I still draw breath.”

他這是找死姜胖，席恩想慢蜓，并非尋求勝利郭膛，他要的只是死后受人歌頌晨抡。“我們還是用吊繩则剃≡胖”

He means to die, thought Theon. It’s not victory he wants, it’s an end worthy of a song. “We’ll use the noose.”

“遵命，”羅倫回答棍现，眼里卻含著輕蔑调煎。

“As you say,” Lorren replied, contempt in his eyes.

威克斯為他著裝準備戰(zhàn)斗。在黑色的外衣和金色的披風下轴咱，席恩穿著一件上好油的鎖甲衫汛蝙，其內(nèi)還套了一層硬皮甲。他全副披掛之后朴肺，拿起武器窖剑，登上東墻與南墻交匯處的了望塔，好親眼見證自己的毀滅戈稿。北方人正散開隊形西土，包圍城堡。從這里很難判斷他們的總?cè)藬?shù)鞍盗，不過至少有一千——或許是這個數(shù)字的兩倍需了。兩千對十七跳昼。他們帶來投石機和弩炮。雖然他還沒看見攻城塔自國王大道隆隆而來肋乍，但狼林里的木材取之不盡鹅颊，需要多少就有多少。

Wex helped garb him for battle. Beneath his black surcoat and golden mantle was a shirt of well-oiled ringmail, and under that a layer of stiff boiled leather. Once armed and armored, Theon climbed the watchtower at the angle where the eastern and southern walls came together to have a look at his doom. The northmen were spreading out to encircle the castle. It was hard to judge their numbers. A thousand at least; perhaps twice that many. Against seventeen. They’d brought catapults and scorpions. He saw no siege towers rumbling up the kingsroad, but there was timber enough in the wolfswood to build as many as were required.

席恩用魯溫學(xué)士的密爾透鏡察著對方旗幟墓造。不論轉(zhuǎn)到哪個方向堪伍，都能看到賽文家的戰(zhàn)斧旗迎風飛揚，還有陶哈家的三樹旗觅闽，白港的美人魚旗帝雇，間或還有菲林特家和卡史塔克家的徽記，他甚至還看見一兩面霍伍德家的駝鹿旗蛉拙。但沒有葛洛佛家的蹤影——阿莎消滅了他們尸闸，沒有恐怖堡的波頓家族，也沒有長城邊安柏家的部眾孕锄。不過眼前的部隊已經(jīng)完全足夠吮廉。不一會兒，克雷·賽文那小子用長竿打著和平的旗幟來到城門前硫惕，宣稱羅德利克·凱索爵士希望和“變色龍”席恩當面對話茧痕。

Theon studied their banners through Maester Luwin’s Myrish lens tube. The Cerwyn battle-axe flapped bravely wherever he looked, and there were Tallhart trees as well, and mermen from White Harbor. Less common were the sigils of Flint and Karstark. Here and there he even saw the bull moose of the Hornwoods. But no Glovers, Asha saw to them, no Boltons from the Dreadfort, no Umbers come down from the shadow of the Wall. Not that they were needed. Soon enough the boy Cley Cerwyn appeared before the gates carrying a peace banner on a tall staff, to announce that Ser Rodrik Cassel wished to parley with Theon Turncloak.

變色龍野来！這個稱號和膽汁一樣苦澀恼除。他記得自己回派克本是要率父親的長船艦隊襲擊蘭尼斯港的÷眨“我馬上出來豁辉，”他朝下面嚷道，“就我一個人舀患』占叮”

Turncloak. The name was bitter as bile. He had gone to Pyke to lead his father’s longships against Lannisport, he remembered. “I shall be out shortly,” he shouted down. “Alone.”

黑羅倫不贊同×那常“血債都得血償餐抢，”他勸道，“這些騎士或許跟同輩之間講什么仁義道德低匙，可我們在他們眼中只是強盜旷痕，只怕下手會不顧榮譽信條⊥缫保”

Black Lorren disapproved. “Only blood can wash out blood,” he declared. “Knights may keep their truces with other knights, but they are not so careful of their honor when dealing with those they deem outlaw.”

席恩發(fā)火了：“我是臨冬城的親王和鐵群島的繼承人欺抗，不能瞻前顧后，怕東怕西强重！你別管绞呈，去把那女孩找來贸人，照我說的做〉枭”

Theon bristled. “I am the Prince of Winterfell and heir to the Iron Islands. Now go find the girl and do as I told you.”

黑羅倫狠狠地瞪了他一眼艺智。“是圾亏，親王殿下力惯。”

Black Lorren gave him a murderous look. “Aye, Prince.”

連他也反對我召嘶，席恩意識到父晶。臨冬城的一磚一瓦都在反抗他。假如我現(xiàn)在就死弄跌，一定孤孤零零甲喝，被人遺忘。所以我必須活下去铛只，還有什么選擇埠胖？

He’s turned against me too, Theon realized. Of late it seemed to him as if the very stones of Winterfell had turned against him. If I die, I die friendless and abandoned. What choice did that leave him, but to live?

他頭戴王冠，策馬騎出城門樓淳玩。一位婦女正在井邊汲水直撤，大廚蓋奇站在廚房門邊，他們空白如板巖的面孔和陰郁沉悶的表情隱藏了無窮的恨意蜕着，但席恩還是感覺得到谋竖。

He rode to the gatehouse with his crown on his head. A woman was drawing water from the well, and Gage the cook stood in the door of the kitchens. They hid their hatred behind sullen looks and faces blank as slate, yet he could feel it all the same.

吊橋放下，刺骨的寒風嘆息著越過河溝承匣，撲面而來蓖乘。令他它渾身顫抖。只是有點冷韧骗，不要緊嘉抒，席恩告訴自己，只是打顫袍暴，并非發(fā)抖些侍，再勇敢的人遇冷也會打顫。他漸行漸遠政模，騎進狂風的利齒中岗宣，走出閘門，越過吊橋览徒。外墻城門在面前開啟狈定，走在城下，他感覺到孩子們正用空洞的眼眶注視他。

When the drawbridge was lowered, a chill wind sighed across the moat. The touch of it made him shiver. It is the cold, nothing more, Theon told himself, a shiver, not a tremble. Even brave men shiver. Into the teeth of that wind he rode, under the portcullis, over the drawbridge. The outer gates swung open to let him pass. As he emerged beneath the walls, he could sense the boys watching from the empty sockets where their eyes had been.

羅德利克爵士騎著他的斑點馬纽什，在市集廣場等他措嵌，年輕的克雷·賽文是掌旗官史塔克的冰原狼在他們頭頂飄揚。廣場內(nèi)只有他們兩人芦缰，然而席恩注意到周圍擁擠的房屋頂上站滿了弓箭手企巢，左邊有矛兵，右邊則是長長一列騎士让蕾，打著曼德勒家族手握三叉戟的美人魚旗幟浪规。每個人都要我死。他們中的很多人打小和他一起喝酒探孝，一起賭博笋婿，甚至一起嫖妓，但只要他此刻落入敵手顿颅，這一切都不能挽救他分毫缸濒。

Ser Rodrik waited in the market astride his dappled gelding. Beside him, the direwolf of Stark flapped from a staff borne by young Cley Cerwyn. They were alone in the square, though Theon could see archers on the roofs of surrounding houses, spearmen to his right, and to his left a line of mounted knights beneath the merman-and-trident of House Manderly. Every one of them wants me dead. Some were boys he’d drunk with, diced with, even wenched with, but that would not save him if he fell into their hands.

“羅德利克爵士×荒澹”席恩勒住韁繩庇配，“今日我們沙場相見，甚為遺憾绍些±袒牛”

“Ser Rodrik.” Theon reined to a halt. “It grieves me that we must meet as foes.”

“我惟一的遺憾就是不能立刻吊死你〖砼”老騎士朝塵土飛揚的地面啐了口唾沫啸澡。“變色龍席恩萝快《亡”

“My own grief is that I must wait a while to hang you.” The old knight spat onto the muddy ground. “Theon Turncloak.”

“我生來是派克的葛雷喬伊著角，”席恩提醒他揪漩，“在我出生之日，父親給我裹的襁褓是金色海怪吏口，不是冰原狼奄容。”

“I am a Greyjoy of Pyke,” Theon reminded him. “The cloak my father swaddled me in bore a kraken, not a direwolf.”

“十年以來产徊，你都是史塔克家的養(yǎng)子昂勒。”

“For ten years you have been a ward of Stark.”

“人質(zhì)和囚犯舟铜，我是這么看戈盈。”

“Hostage and prisoner, I call it.”

“艾德公爵若地下有知，早該把你拴在地牢塘娶。他不僅沒這么做归斤，反而把你和他自己的孩子一視同仁，這些可愛的孩子如今遭你殘害刁岸。對我而言脏里，這一生永難磨滅的恥辱就是當年曾教授你戰(zhàn)斗的技藝。若能時光倒流虹曙，我寧愿戳穿你的肚腸迫横，也決不會把劍交到你手中≡吞迹”

“Then perhaps Lord Eddard should have kept you chained to a dungeon wall. Instead he raised you among his own sons, the sweet boys you have butchered, and to my undying shame I trained you in the arts of war. Would that I had thrust a sword through your belly instead of placing one in your hand.”

“我是來談判的矾踱，沒工夫聽你的侮辱。說說條件疏哗，老頭子介返，你要我怎樣？”

“I came out to parley, not to suffer your insults. Say what you have to say, old man. What would you have of me?”

“很簡單沃斤，就兩條圣蝎。”老人道衡瓶，“臨冬城徘公，你的命。命你部下打開城門哮针，扔下武器关面，只要能證明和謀殺孩童無關(guān)的人可以自由離開，但你必須留下來接受羅柏國王的制裁十厢。等國王歸來等太，你就祈求諸神憐憫吧÷牛”

“Two things,” the old man said. “Winterfell, and your life. Command your men to open the gates and lay down their arms. Those who murdered no children shall be free to walk away, but you shall be held for King Robb’s justice. May the gods take pity on you when he returns.”

“羅柏回不了臨冬城缩抡，”席恩保證，“他會在卡林灣碰得頭破血流包颁，一萬年來每支北上的軍隊都落得這個下場瞻想。北境是我們的，爵士娩嚼∧⑾眨”

“Robb will never look on Winterfell again,” Theon promised. “He will break himself on Moat Cailin, as every southron army has done for ten thousand years. We hold the north now, ser.”

“三座孤城是你們的，”羅德利克爵士答道岳悟，“而這一座很快會被我奪回佃迄，變色龍泼差。”

“You hold three castles,” replied Ser Rodrik, “and this one I mean to take back, Turncloak.”

席恩佯作不理呵俏∷┩裕“以下是我的條件：日落之前解散部隊。愿意宣誓效忠柴信，承認巴隆套啤。葛雷喬伊為國王，承認我為臨冬城親王的人随常，他們的權(quán)利和財產(chǎn)將得到承認潜沦，不受任何傷害；膽敢違抗的人將遭到徹底毀滅绪氛∷艏Γ”

Theon ignored that. “Here are my terms. You have until evenfall to disperse. Those who swear fealty to Balon Greyjoy as their king and to myself as Prince of Winterfell will be confirmed in their rights and properties and suffer no harm. Those who defy us will be destroyed.”

年輕的賽文難以置信≡娌欤“你瘋了争占，葛雷喬伊？”

Young Cerwyn was incredulous. “Are you mad, Greyjoy?”

羅德利克爵士搖頭道：“他只是自負罷了序目，小伙子臂痕。席恩總是自視過高，只怕本性難改猿涨∥胀”老人伸出一根手指指著他，“千萬別幻想我要等待羅柏突破頸澤叛赚，與我合兵一處后才奈何得了你澡绩。我手中有近兩千士兵……而若消息非虛，你那邊還不到五十人俺附》士ǎ”

Ser Rodrik shook his head. “Only vain, lad. Theon has always had too lofty an opinion of himself, I fear.” The old man jabbed a finger at him. “Do not imagine that I need wait for Robb to fight his way up the Neck to deal with the likes of you. I have near two thousand men with me … and if the tales be true, you have no more than fifty.”

只有十七個。席恩強裝笑臉事镣〔郊“我有比士兵更好的王牌÷耄”他握拳過頂唠叛，這是與黑羅倫約定的信號。

Seventeen, in truth. Theon made himself smile. “I have something better than men.” And he raised a fist over his head, the signal Black Lorren had been told to watch for.

他身后是臨冬城的高墻沮稚，羅德利克爵士正對著他們，看得一清二楚册舞。席恩審視他的面孔蕴掏，當老人拘謹?shù)幕ò缀毢蟮南掳烷_始顫抖時，席恩明白他瞧見了。他并不驚訝盛杰，席恩悲哀地想挽荡，他只是恐懼。

The walls of Winterfell were behind him, but Ser Rodrik faced them squarely and could not fail to see. Theon watched his face. When his chin quivered under those stiff white whiskers, he knew just what the old man was seeing. He is not surprised, he thought with sadness, but the fear is there.

“懦夫的行為即供，”羅德利克爵士道定拟，“居然利用孩童……太卑鄙了《旱眨”

“This is craven,” Ser Rodrik said. “To use a child so … this is despicable.”

“噢青自，我很清楚，”席恩說驱证，“這種滋味我也嘗過延窜。您難道忘了？我十歲那年就被活生生地從父親房里帶走抹锄，就為了確保他不再叛亂逆瑞。”

“Oh, I know,” said Theon. “It’s a dish I tasted myself, or have you forgotten? I was ten when I was taken from my father’s house, to make certain he would raise no more rebellions.”

“這不是一回事伙单！”

“It is not the same!”

席恩表情冷漠获高。“不錯吻育，套在我脖子上的并非粗糙的麻繩谋减，但它給我的感覺卻分毫未差。它勒我扫沼，羅德利克爵士出爹，勒得我好痛《谐”在此之前他從沒這么說過严就，話一出口，卻陡然領(lǐng)悟到這是事實器罐。

Theon’s face was impassive. “The noose I wore was not made of hempen rope, that’s true enough, but I felt it all the same. And it chafed, Ser Rodrik. It chafed me raw.” He had never quite realized that until now, but as the words came spilling out he saw the truth of them.

“沒有人傷害過你梢为。”

“No harm was ever done you.”

“也不會有人傷害貝絲轰坊，只要你——”

“And no harm will be done your Beth, so long as you—”

羅德利克爵士讓他說完铸董。“毒蛇肴沫！”騎士高喊粟害，白須下的臉因暴怒而通紅〔遥“我給你機會拯救部下悲幅，然后帶著僅存的一點榮譽去死套鹅，變色龍！我早該知道和殘殺兒童的人之間沒什么好說的汰具∽柯梗”他手按劍柄，“我真該立時將你砍翻在地留荔，就此終止這無窮無盡的謊言與欺騙吟孙。以天上諸神之名，我辦得到聚蝶！”

Ser Rodrik never gave him the chance to finish. “Viper,” the knight declared, his face red with rage beneath those white whiskers. “I gave you the chance to save your men and die with some small shred of honor, Turncloak. I should have known that was too much to ask of a childkiller.” His hand went to the hilt of his sword. “I ought cut you down here and now and put an end to your lies and deceits. By the gods, I should.”

席恩并不害怕一個搖搖晃晃的老頭杰妓，但附近凝神觀望的弓箭手和騎兵隊列不是鬧著玩的。只要刀劍一現(xiàn)既荚，他活著回城的希望便蕩然無存稚失。“你就違約謀殺我吧恰聘！你的小貝絲就會被吊繩活活勒死句各〖嫒铮”

Theon did not fear a doddering old man, but those watching archers and that line of knights were a different matter. If the swords came out his chances of getting back to the castle alive were small to none. “Forswear your oath and murder me, and you will watch your little Beth strangle at the end of a rope.”

羅德利克爵士的指關(guān)節(jié)捏成了慘白亚情，良久土浸，他終于放開劍柄毅舆≡眉矗“老實講，我活得夠長了◇φ鳎”

Ser Rodrik’s knuckles had gone white, but after a moment he took his hand off the swordhilt. “Truly, I have lived too long.”

“深有同感内列，爵士。您接不接受我的條件翻翩？”

“I will not disagree, ser. Will you accept my terms?”

“我對凱特琳夫人和史塔克家族負有責任案狠。”

“I have a duty to Lady Catelyn and House Stark.”

“對您自己的家族呢伸辟？貝絲可是您最后的血脈匈辱≌裢澹”

“And your own House? Beth is the last of your blood.”

老騎士挺直腰板⊥隽常“我愿用自己來交換女兒押搪。放了她，拿我當人質(zhì)浅碾。臨冬城代理城主肯定比一個小孩價值大大州。”

The old knight drew himself up straight. “I offer myself in my daughter’s place. Release her, and take me as your hostage. Surely the castellan of Winterfell is worth more than a child.”

“對我來說并非如此垂谢∠没”高貴而英勇的舉動，老頭子，但我不是傻瓜根暑×κ裕“我敢打賭，對曼德勒伯爵和蘭巴德·陶哈來說也并非如此排嫌』眩”你這身老骨頭對他們而言不值一哂□锫剩“不躯畴，我會留著女孩……并保證她的安全民鼓，只要你遵命行事薇芝。記住，她的性命取決于你丰嘉『坏剑”

“Not to me.” A valiant gesture, old man, but I am not that great a fool. “Not to Lord Manderly or Leobald Tallhart either, I’d wager.” Your sorry old skin is worth no more to them than any other man’s. “No, I’ll keep the girl … and keep her safe, so long as you do as I’ve commanded you. Her life is in your hands.”

“諸神在上，席恩饮亏，你怎忍心做出這種事耍贾？你明知我非攻城不可，我宣誓……”

“Gods be good, Theon, how can you do this? You know I must attack, have sworn …”

“日落之時路幸，你還在城下磨刀霍霍荐开，我就吊死貝絲〖螂龋”席恩說晃听，“若繼續(xù)不退，明天天亮前我處死第二名人質(zhì)砰识，日落時處死第三名能扒。從今往后，每一個清晨辫狼，每一個黃昏初斑，都意味一個人質(zhì)的死亡，直到你撤軍為止膨处。你知道见秤，我手中人質(zhì)多的是≌娲唬”他不等對方回答鹃答，便掉轉(zhuǎn)笑星的馬頭，返回城堡瀑粥。起初他騎得較慢搞挣，隨即想到身后大群的弓箭手，便忍不住踢馬開跑谁撼。兩個幼小的頭顱依然在遠處的槍尖守望他，隨著距離接近舟肉，那剝?nèi)ツ樒び纸^焦油的面孔越變越大——小貝絲就站在他們之間，頸套繩索查库，哭泣不止路媚。席恩狠狠夾緊笑星，狂奔入城樊销，馬蹄踏在吊橋上“嗒嗒”作響整慎，猶如敲打的鼓點。

“If this host is still in arms before my gate when the sun sets, Beth will hang,” said Theon. “Another hostage will follow her to the grave at first light, and another at sunset. Every dawn and every dusk will mean a death, until you are gone. I have no lack of hostages.” He did not wait for a reply, but wheeled Smiler around and rode back toward the castle. He went slowly at first, but the thought of those archers at his back soon drove him to a canter. The small heads watched him come from their spikes, their tarred and flayed faces looming larger with every yard; between them stood little Beth Cassel, noosed and crying. Theon put his heel into Smiler and broke into a hard gallop. Smiler’s hooves clattered on the drawbridge, like drumbeats.

他在院子里翻身下馬围苫，將韁繩扔給威克斯裤园。“希望能阻止他們輕舉妄動剂府，”他告訴黑羅倫拧揽，“反正日落之前會有答案。把那女孩帶下來吧腺占，送到安全的地方淤袜。”在層層的皮革衰伯、鋼鐵和羊毛之下铡羡，他已經(jīng)周身汗?jié)瘛意鲸！拔乙咸丫品持埽詈脕硪煌啊临扮！?/p>

In the yard he dismounted and handed his reins to Wex. “It may stay them,” he told Black Lorren. “We’ll know by sunset. Take the girl in till then, and keep her somewhere safe.” Under the layers of leather, steel, and wool, he was slick with sweat. “I need a cup of wine. A vat of wine would do even better.”

奈德·史塔克的臥室升起了火论矾。席恩坐在壁爐邊，倒上一杯從酒窖取出的夏日紅杆勇，只覺酒液和他的心情一樣酸敗贪壳。他們會進攻，他望著火焰蚜退，陰郁地想闰靴。羅德利克爵士固然疼愛他的女兒，但畢竟身為代理城主钻注，畢竟是個騎士蚂且。今天若換成席恩套著繩子在上，巴隆大王指揮軍隊在下幅恋，只怕進攻的號角早就吹響杏死，他對此毫不懷疑。感謝神靈，羅德利克爵士并非鐵種淑翼，青綠之地的人乃是用柔弱質(zhì)材所塑造——但他不確定他們是否柔弱到屈服的程度腐巢。

A fire had been laid in Ned Stark’s bedchamber. Theon sat beside it and filled a cup with a heavy-bodied red from the castle vaults, a wine as sour as his mood. They will attack, he thought gloomily, staring at the flames. Ser Rodrik loves his daughter, but he is still castellan, and most of all a knight. Had it been Theon with a noose around his neck and Lord Balon commanding the army without, the warhorns would already have sounded the attack, he had no doubt. He should thank the gods that Ser Rodrik was not ironborn. The men of the green lands were made of softer stuff, though he was not certain they would prove soft enough.

如果他錯了，如果老頭子不顧一切地發(fā)動進攻玄括，臨冬城將立刻陷落——席恩對此不抱幻想冯丙。他的十七個部下或能干掉三倍、四倍遭京、乃至五倍于己的敵人胃惜，但終究寡不敵眾。

If not, if the old man gave the command to storm the castle regardless, Winterfell would fall; Theon entertained no delusions on that count. His seventeen might kill three, four, five times their own number, but in the end they would be overwhelmed.

席恩凝視著映在酒杯邊緣的火光哪雕，冥想一切的不公船殉。“我和羅柏·史塔克在囈語森林并肩奮戰(zhàn)呢热监，”他低語道捺弦。那個晚上，他其實很害怕孝扛，卻遠不如今天這么強烈。和朋友共赴沙場是一回事幽崩，在眾人的鄙夷中孤獨地毀滅是另一回事苦始。發(fā)發(fā)慈悲吧，他凄涼地想慌申。

Theon stared at the flames over the rim of his wine goblet, brooding on the injustice of it all. “I rode beside Robb Stark in the Whispering Wood,” he muttered. He had been frightened that night, but not like this. It was one thing to go into battle surrounded by friends, and another to perish alone and despised. Mercy, he thought miserably.

空洞的美酒帶不來慰藉陌选，于是席恩叫威克斯取出弓箭，陪他去老內(nèi)院——那是臨冬城擴建前的中庭蹄溉。他站在那里咨油，瞄準靶子一箭又一箭地射，直到肩膀酸痛柒爵，手指滴血役电。他停了一會兒，把箭從靶標上拔出棉胀，又開始新一輪射擊法瑟。我靠這張弓救過布蘭的命，他提醒自己唁奢，也一定能拯救自己霎挟。間或有婦女來井邊打水，卻無人停留——看見席恩的表情麻掸，人人掉頭走避酥夭。

When the wine brought no solace, Theon sent Wex to fetch his bow and took himself to the old inner ward. There he stood, loosing shaft after shaft at the archery butts until his shoulders ached and his fingers were bloody, pausing only long enough to pull the arrows from the targets for another round. I saved Bran’s life with this bow, he reminded himself. Would that I could save my own. Women came to the well, but did not linger; whatever they saw on Theon’s face sent them away quickly.

在他身后，殘塔矗立，很久以前熬北，烈火焚盡了它的上層千所，留下鋸齒狀的尖端，猶如一頂王冠蒜埋。太陽移動淫痰，高塔的陰影亦步亦趨，逐漸拉長整份，如一支黑手伸向席恩待错。日頭還沒落到墻后，他已完全落入黑手掌握烈评。假如我吊死女孩火俄，北方人會立刻攻城，他邊射邊想讲冠，假如我就此罷休瓜客，他們便會把我的威脅當耳邊風。他又搭上一支箭竿开。進退兩難谱仪，無路可走。

Behind him the broken tower stood, its summit as jagged as a crown where fire had collapsed the upper stories long ago. As the sun moved, the shadow of the tower moved as well, gradually lengthening, a black arm reaching out for Theon Greyjoy. By the time the sun touched the wall, he was in its grasp. If I hang the girl, the northmen will attack at once, he thought as he loosed a shaft. If I do not hang her, they will know my threats are empty. He knocked another arrow to his bow. There is no way out, none.

“假如您麾下有一百位和您一樣出色的弓箭手否彩，或能守住城堡疯攒，”一個聲音輕輕地說。

“If you had a hundred archers as good as yourself, you might have a chance to hold the castle,” a voice said softly.

他回頭一看列荔，魯溫師傅正在身后敬尺。“走開贴浙，”席恩告訴他砂吞，“我受夠了你的諫言∑槔＃”

When he turned, Maester Luwin was behind him. “Go away,” Theon told him. “I have had enough of your counsel.”

? “您的生命呢蜻直？您覺得自己活夠了嗎，親王殿下笨奠？”

“And life? Have you had enough of that, my lord prince?”

他抬起弓袭蝗，“再敢多言，休怪我將你一箭穿心般婆〉叫龋”

He raised the bow. “One more word and I’ll put this shaft through your heart.”

“您不會這么做∥蹬郏”

“You won’t.”

席恩拉滿弓弦乡范，灰色的鵝毛羽翎拉到頰邊配名。“打賭晋辆？”

Theon bent the bow, drawing the grey goose feathers back to his cheek. “Care to make a wager?”

“我是你最后的希望渠脉，席恩∑考眩”

“I am your last hope, Theon.”

我沒有希望了芋膘，他心想，但還是將弓放低一寸：“我不會逃走霸饲∥螅”

I have no hope, he thought. Yet he lowered the bow half an inch and said, “I will not run.”

“我并非建議你逃走。穿上黑衣吧厚脉∠按纾”

“I do not speak of running. Take the black.”

“當守夜人？”席恩緩緩松開弓弦傻工，箭尖指地霞溪。

“The Night’s Watch?” Theon let the bow unbend slowly and pointed the arrow at the ground.

“羅德利克爵士將畢生奉獻給史塔克家族，而史塔克家族一直是守夜人軍團的盟友中捆，他無法拒絕這個提議鸯匹。請打開城門，放下武器轨香，公開答應(yīng)他的條件忽你，您一定能得到穿上黑衣的機會”廴荩”

“Ser Rodrik has served House Stark all his life, and House Stark has always been a friend to the Watch. He will not deny you. Open your gates, lay down your arms, accept his terms, and he must let you take the black.”

成為守夜人軍團的兄弟。那意味著沒有王冠根蟹，沒有兒子脓杉，沒有老婆……同時也意味著生命，擁有榮譽的生命简逮。奈德·史塔克的弟弟不就選擇當守夜人么球散？瓊恩·雪諾也一樣。

A brother of the Night’s Watch. It meant no crown, no sons, no wife … but it meant life, and life with honor. Ned Stark’s own brother had chosen the Watch, and Jon Snow as well.

我的黑衣服很多散庶，只要把上面的海怪紋章撕掉就成蕉堰，連我的馬也是黑的。憑我的能力悲龟。足以在守夜人中出人頭地——成為首席游騎兵屋讶，甚至當上總司令。就讓阿莎保有那些鳥不生蛋的島嶼吧须教，它們跟她一樣乏味皿渗。如果我去東海望當差斩芭，說不定還能指揮自己的船。在長城之外打獵也一定很棒乐疆。至于女人嘛划乖，哪個女野人不幻想跟親王作愛呢？微笑在他臉上緩緩地擴散挤土，穿上黑衣就能洗清“變色龍”的稱號琴庵，一切重新開始……

I have black garb aplenty, once I tear the krakens off. Even my horse is black. I could rise high in the Watch—chief of rangers, likely even Lord Commander. Let Asha keep the bloody islands, they’re as dreary as she is. If I served at Eastwatch, I could command my own ship, and there’s fine hunting beyond the Wall. As for women, what wildling woman wouldn’t want a prince in her bed? A slow smile crept across his face. A black cloak can’t be turned. I’d be as good as any man …

“席恩親王殿下！”突如其來的一聲大喊粉碎了他的白日夢仰美∶缘睿科蒙大步奔過院子⊥舱迹“北方人——”

“PRINCE THEON!” The sudden shout shattered his daydream. Kromm was loping across the ward. “The northmen—”

無邊的恐懼讓他動彈不得贪庙。“進攻了翰苫？”

He felt a sudden sick sense of dread. “Is it the attack?”

魯溫學(xué)士抓住他的手止邮。“趁現(xiàn)在還有時間奏窑，趕緊升起和平的旗幟——”

Maester Luwin clutched his arm. “There’s still time. Raise a peace banner—”

“他們在自相殘殺导披，”科蒙上氣不接下氣地說，“起初有另一只軍隊趕到埃唯，約莫數(shù)百士兵撩匕，加入圍城的隊伍。現(xiàn)在墨叛，他們突然打起自己人來止毕！”

“They’re fighting,” Kromm said urgently. “More men came up, hundreds of them, and at first they made to join the others. But now they’ve fallen on them!”

“是阿莎？”她最后還是來救他了漠趁？

“Is it Asha?” Had she come to save him after all?

科蒙的頭搖得像撥浪鼓扁凛。“不是闯传，我敢肯定不是谨朝，他們是北方佬，旗幟上有個血人甥绿∽直遥”

But Kromm gave a shake of his head. “No. These are northmen, I tell you. With a bloody man on their banner.”

恐怖堡的剝皮人。席恩想起來共缕，臭佬被俘前效命于波頓的私生子洗出。真難以置信，像他這么卑劣的怪物不知用什么辦法骄呼，竟讓波頓家族轉(zhuǎn)變了效忠對象共苛。但與結(jié)果相比判没，這都不重要了，“我要自己看隅茎，”席恩說澄峰。

The flayed man of the Dreadfort. Reek had belonged to the Bastard of Bolton before his capture, Theon recalled. It was hard to believe that a vile creature like him could sway the Boltons to change their allegiance, but nothing else made sense. “I’ll see this for myself,” Theon said.

魯溫學(xué)士緊跟在后。到達城墻時辟犀，死人和垂死的馬已塞滿城門外的市集廣場俏竞。他看不出戰(zhàn)斗的陣線，只有一團混亂交織的旗幟和刀劍堂竟，呼喊和尖叫絮繞于秋日的冷氣中魂毁。羅德利克爵士的部隊人數(shù)雖多，但恐怖堡的士兵有更堅強的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)出嘹，況且是偷襲不備席楚，因此占了上風。他們沖鋒税稼、廝殺烦秩、再沖鋒，調(diào)度靈活郎仆。在擁擠的房屋間只祠，大隊人馬每次整隊的企圖都是徒勞，龐大的兵力被沖散為可憐的碎片扰肌。垂死戰(zhàn)馬發(fā)出的可怖嘶叫中抛寝，傳來鐵斧敲擊橡木盾的巨響。他發(fā)現(xiàn)旅店也在燃燒曙旭。

Maester Luwin trailed after him. By the time they reached the battlements, dead men and dying horses were strewn about the market square outside the gates. He saw no battle lines, only a swirling chaos of banners and blades. Shouts and screams rang through the cold autumn air. Ser Rodrik seemed to have the numbers, but the Dreadfort men were better led, and had taken the others unawares. Theon watched them charge and wheel and charge again, chopping the larger force to bloody pieces every time they tried to form up between the houses. He could hear the crash of iron axeheads on oaken shields over the terrified trumpeting of a maimed horse. The inn was burning, he saw.

黑羅倫來到身邊盗舰，靜靜地站了一會兒。夕陽西垂桂躏，給田野和房屋鍍上一層紅光岭皂。一聲細微而顫抖的慘叫回蕩在城墻之上，一陣綿長的號角在燃燒的房屋背后悠悠奏響沼头。席恩望見一個傷兵拖著身子，痛苦萬分地爬過戰(zhàn)場书劝，掙扎著前往市集中心的水井进倍，生命之血在污泥塵土中留下一條細長的紅線。爬到之前购对，他便死了猾昆。此人穿著皮甲和圓錐形的半盔，但看到不到徽章骡苞，不知他為誰而戰(zhàn)垂蜗。

Black Lorren appeared beside him and stood silently for a time. The sun was low in the west, painting the fields and houses all a glowing red. A thin wavering cry of pain drifted over the walls, and a warhorn sounded off beyond the burning houses. Theon watched a wounded man drag himself painfully across the ground, smearing his life’s blood in the dirt as he struggled to reach the well that stood at the center of the market square. He died before he got there. He wore a leather jerkin and conical halfhelm, but no badge to tell which side he’d fought on.

烏鴉迎著夜晚的星光楷扬，飛向藍色的土地√“多斯拉克人相信群星是勇敢者的靈魂烘苹。”席恩說片部。很久很久以前镣衡，魯溫師傅如此教誨他。

The crows came in the blue dusk, with the evening stars. “The Dothraki believe the stars are spirits of the valiant dead,” Theon said. Maester Luwin had told him that, a long time ago.

“多斯拉克人档悠？”

“Dothraki?”

“狹海對岸的馬族廊鸥。”

“The horselords across the narrow sea.”

“啊辖所，是他們惰说，”黑羅倫眉頭皺成一團，“野蠻人就信蠢事缘回∵菏樱”

“Oh. Them.” Black Lorren frowned through his beard. “Savages believe all manner of foolish things.”

夜色漸濃，煙霧彌漫切诀，下方的戰(zhàn)況愈來愈混沌揩环，只聽金鐵交擊聲逐漸減低，呼喝和號聲讓位于呻吟與哀嚎幅虑。最后丰滑，一隊人馬從濃霧中奔出，為首的騎士全身黑甲倒庵，頭頂?shù)膱A盔閃著暗紅的光芒褒墨，淡紅披風在肩頭飛舞。此人在城門前勒馬擎宝，他的一位手下高聲叫門郁妈。

As the night grew darker and the smoke spread it was harder to make out what was happening below, but the din of steel gradually diminished to nothing, and the shouts and warhorns gave way to moans and piteous wailing. Finally a column of mounted men rode out of the drifting smoke. At their head was a knight in dark armor. His rounded helm gleamed a sullen red, and a pale pink cloak streamed from his shoulders. Outside the main gate he reined up, and one of his men shouted for the castle to open.

“你們是敵是友？”黑羅倫朝下吼绍申。

“Are you friend or foe?” Black Lorren bellowed down.

“敵人會送這種大禮嗎噩咪？”紅盔騎士把手一揮，三具尸體扔在大門前极阅。他讓人舉著火把胃碾，在尸體上方揮舞，好讓城上守軍看清死者的臉筋搏。

“Would a foe bring such fine gifts?” Red Helm waved a hand, and three corpses were dumped in front of the gates. A torch was waved above the bodies, so the defenders upon the walls might see the faces of the dead.

“是老騎士仆百，”黑羅倫說。

“The old castellan,” said Black Lorren.

“以及蘭巴德·陶哈與克雷·賽文奔脐《碇埽”年輕的領(lǐng)主單眼中箭吁讨，羅德利克爵士則是左臂齊肘而斷。魯溫學(xué)士發(fā)出一聲無言的驚叫峦朗，從城垛別開頭去建丧，跌倒在地，狂嘔不休甚垦。

“With Leobald Tallhart and Cley Cerwyn.” The boy lord had taken an arrow in the eye, and Ser Rodrik had lost his left arm at the elbow. Maester Luwin gave a wordless cry of dismay, turned away from the battlements, and fell to his knees sick.

“大肥豬曼德勒沒膽量茶鹃，不敢離開白港，否則我把他一起獻上艰亮”蒸妫”紅盔騎士夸口。

“The great pig Manderly was too craven to leave White Harbor, or we would have brought him as well,” shouted Red Helm.

? ? 我得救了迄埃，席恩想疗韵，為何心里卻如此空虛？這是勝利啊侄非，甜美的勝利蕉汪，是我日夜祈禱的奇跡。他瞥瞥魯溫學(xué)士逞怨，剛才只差一步就要投降者疤，穿上黑……

I am saved, Theon thought. So why did he feel so empty? This was victory, sweet victory, the deliverance he had prayed for. He glanced at Maester Luwin. To think how close I came to yielding, and taking the black …

“為我們的盟友打開城門〉猓”或許今夜驹马，我能沉睡安眠，不再噩夢纏身除秀。

“Open the gates for our friends.” Perhaps tonight Theon would sleep without fear of what his dreams might bring.

恐怖堡的部隊跨越護城河糯累，穿過內(nèi)城門。席恩同黑羅倫和魯溫學(xué)士一道去院子里迎接册踩。對方只舉著幾根淡紅旗幟泳姐，多數(shù)人拿著戰(zhàn)斧、巨劍和砍得破爛不堪的盾牌暂吉∨置耄“你損失了多少人？”紅盔騎士下馬時席恩問他慕的。

The Dreadfort men made their way across the moat and through the inner gates. Theon descended with Black Lorren and Maester Luwin to meet them in the yard. Pale red pennons trailed from the ends of a few lances, but many more carried battle-axes and greatswords and shields hacked half to splinters. “How many men did you lose?” Theon asked Red Helm as he dismounted.

“二三十個吧扒怖。”火炬的光芒映在他面甲破損的瓷釉上业稼。他的頭盔和頸甲被鍛成人臉人肩的形狀——剝?nèi)テつw，鮮血淋漓蚂蕴，張開的大口似乎在發(fā)出極端痛苦的無聲狂嘯低散。

“Twenty or thirty.” The torchlight glittered off the chipped enamel of his visor. His helm and gorget were wrought in the shape of a man’s face and shoulders, skinless and bloody, mouth open in a silent howl of anguish.

“羅德利克的軍隊是你的好幾倍俯邓。”

“Ser Rodrik had you five-to-one.”

“是啊熔号，可他以為我們是盟友稽鞭。一個常人易犯的錯誤。這老笨蛋朝我伸手時引镊，我一刀把它宰成兩半朦蕴，然后讓他看了我的臉〉芡罚”騎士雙手舉起頭盔吩抓，高抬過頂，夾在腋下赴恨。

“Aye, but he thought us friends. A common mistake. When the old fool gave me his hand, I took half his arm instead. Then I let him see my face.” The man put both hands to his helm and lifted it off his head, holding it in the crook of his arm.

“臭佬疹娶！”席恩有些不安。一個仆人怎能擁有如此光鮮的鎧甲伦连？

“Reek,” Theon said, disquieted. How did a serving man get such fine armor?

對方哈哈大笑雨饺。“那可憐蟲早死了惑淳《罡郏”他踱上一步∑缃梗“都是那女孩的錯移斩，她不跑那么快，他的馬便不會折腿倚舀，我們就可以成功脫逃叹哭。我看見山坡頂上騎兵出現(xiàn)，便把自己的馬讓給了他痕貌。當時我先干完风罩，輪到他，他喜歡趁溫熱的時候動手舵稠，結(jié)果我不得不強行將他推開超升，并把自己的衣服交到他手中——小牛皮靴、天鵝絨上衣哺徊、銀絲劍帶以及黑貂披風室琢。快回恐怖堡落追，我吩咐他盈滴，把能找到的救兵都帶來。‘快來巢钓，騎我的馬病苗，它跑得快；這個戴上症汹，這是父親給我的指環(huán)硫朦，如此部下們準能相信你受我委托”痴颍’他沒多問咬展，知道我的話不容置疑。于是我一面看著他被射殺瞒斩，一面用女孩的污穢為自己制造氣味破婆，并穿上他的爛衣服。其實我也知道济瓢，他們很可能當即吊死我荠割，但這畢竟是惟一的機會⊥”他用手背擦擦嘴蔑鹦。“現(xiàn)在嘛箕宙，我親愛的親王殿下嚎朽，您不是許給我一個姑娘么？——假如我?guī)韮砂僭脑捈砼痢：呛怯慈蹋缃裎規(guī)砣兜娜耸郑麄兛刹皇鞘裁葱率植锁B或鄉(xiāng)野匹夫陷寝，全是父親留下的精銳部隊哪锅很。”

The man laughed. “The wretch is dead.” He stepped closer. “The girl’s fault. If she had not run so far, his horse would not have lamed, and we might have been able to flee. I gave him mine when I saw the riders from the ridge. I was done with her by then, and he liked to take his turn while they were still warm. I had to pull him off her and shove my clothes into his hands—calfskin boots and velvet doublet, silver-chased swordbelt, even my sable cloak. Ride for the Dreadfort, I told him, bring all the help you can. Take my horse, he’s swifter, and here, wear the ring my father gave me, so they’ll know you came from me. He’d learned better than to question me. By the time they put that arrow through his back, I’d smeared myself with the girl’s filth and dressed in his rags. They might have hanged me anyway, but it was the only chance I saw.” He rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “And now, my sweet prince, there was a woman promised me, if I brought two hundred men. Well, I brought three times as many, and no green boys nor fieldhands neither, but my father’s own garrison.”

席恩話已出口凤跑，現(xiàn)在無法反悔爆安。先給他點甜頭嘗嘗，以后再收拾他仔引∪硬郑“哈拉格，”他說咖耘，“去狗舍翘簇，把帕拉帶來給……？”

Theon had given his word. This was not the time to flinch. Pay him his pound of flesh and deal with him later. “Harrag,” he said, “go to the kennels and bring Palla out for …?”

“拉姆斯——”他豐厚的嘴唇帶著笑意儿倒，那雙淡白的眼睛里卻一點也無版保。“——波頓先生。告訴你找筝，我老婆啃手指之前蹈垢，居然敢叫我雪諾⌒湓＃”他的笑容凝住了「绕浚“那么急鳄，對我出色的服務(wù)，您就打算賞個狗舍小妹作犒勞堰酿，不太公平罷疾宏？”

“Ramsay.” There was a smile on his plump lips, but none in those pale pale eyes. “Snow, my wife called me before she ate her fingers, but I say Bolton.” His smile curdled. “So you’d offer me a kennel girl for my good service, is that the way of it?”

他的聲音里有股席恩討厭的腔調(diào)，正如他討厭周圍恐怖堡的士兵看他時那種傲慢無禮的眼神触创】裁辏“我許給你的只有她『甙螅”

There was a tone in his voice Theon did not like, no more than he liked the insolent way the Dreadfort men were looking at him. “She was what was promised.”

“她一身狗屎味岩馍。事實上，我受夠了臭氣抖韩。我在想蛀恩，我還是收下那個替您暖床的女人吧。她叫什么來著茂浮？凱拉双谆？”

“She smells of dogshit. I’ve had enough of bad smells, as it happens. I think I’ll have your bedwarmer instead. What do you call her? Kyra?”

“你瘋了？”席恩憤怒地說席揽，“我要把你——”

“Are you mad?” Theon said angrily. “I’ll have you—”

私生子反手狠狠一掌顽馋，厚重鋼拳下，頰骨“噶啦噶啦”地碎裂幌羞。席恩暈了過去寸谜，整個世界消失在一片紅色的痛苦咆哮中。

The Bastard’s backhand caught him square, and his cheekbone shattered with a sickening crunch beneath the lobstered steel. The world vanished in a red roar of pain.

不知過了多久新翎，席恩醒來程帕，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己躺在廣場上。他翻過身地啰，咽下一口鮮血愁拭。關(guān)城門！他想高喊亏吝，但一切都遲了南缓〕貌停恐怖堡的人砍倒紅拉夫和肯德使碾，魚貫而入盔沫，好似甲胄與利劍的洪流。他的耳朵一片狂響凫海，內(nèi)心則充滿恐怖。黑羅倫拔劍在手，卻在四個對手的進逼下節(jié)節(jié)敗退混聊。他見烏夫朝大廳逃竄，途中被十字弓一箭射穿肚皮乾巧，釘在地上句喜。魯溫師傅想過來幫他，但一人騎馬奔去沟于，手執(zhí)長矛戳進學(xué)士雙肩之間咳胃，然后調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭，踩踏人體旷太。另一人將火炬高舉過頂展懈，旋轉(zhuǎn)幾圈，朝馬廄的茅草屋頂擲去供璧〈嫜拢“留下佛雷家的孩子，”火焰熊熊嗜傅，私生子聲若洪鐘地喊金句，“其他的都燒掉。燒吕嘀！燒违寞！燒光！”

Sometime later, Theon found himself on the ground. He rolled onto his stomach and swallowed a mouthful of blood. Close the gates! he tried to shout, but it was too late. The Dreadfort men had cut down Red Rolfe and Kenned, and more were pouring through, a river of mail and sharp swords. There was a ringing in his ears, and horror all around him. Black Lorren had his sword out, but there were already four of them pressing in on him. He saw Ulf go down with a crossbow bolt through the belly as he ran for the Great Hall. Maester Luwin was trying to reach him when a knight on a warhorse planted a spear between his shoulders, then swung back to ride over him. Another man whipped a torch round and round his head and then lofted it toward the thatched roof of the stables. “Save me the Freys,” the Bastard was shouting as the flames roared upward, “and burn the rest. Burn it, burn it all.”

席恩所見的最后一件事物是他的笑星偶房。馬兒踢打著趁曼，從燃燒的馬廄里沖出，鬃毛著火棕洋，慘叫不休挡闰，抬腿人立……

The last thing Theon Greyjoy saw was Smiler, kicking free of the burning stables with his mane ablaze, screaming, rearing …