EDDARD
27 艾德
”It’s the Hand’s
tourney that’s the cause of all the trouble, my lords,” the Commander of the
City Watch complained to the king’s council.
“諸位大人树瞭，這些麻煩都是首相的比武大會(huì)帶來(lái)的焦影∨倚颍”都城守備隊(duì)的司令官向御前會(huì)議抱怨作儿。
“The king’s tourney,” Ned corrected, wincing. “I assure you, the Hand
wants no part of it.”
“國(guó)王的比武大會(huì)朽色，”奈德皺著眉頭糾正他，“我跟你保證熏瞄，首相對(duì)這事一點(diǎn)興趣都沒(méi)有葱绒。”
“Call it what you will, my lord. Knights have been arriving from all
over the realm, and for every knight we get two freeriders, three craftsmen,
six men-at-arms, a dozen merchants, two dozen whores, and more thieves than I
dare guess. This cursed heat had half the city in a fever to start, and now
with all these visitors?.?.?.?last night we had a drowning, a tavern riot,
three knife fights, a rape, two fires, robberies beyond count, and a drunken
horse race down the Street of the Sisters. The night before a woman’s head was
found in the Great Sept, floating in the rainbow pool. No one seems to know how
it got there or who it belongs to.”
“您怎么說(shuō)都行门扇，大人雹有，可事實(shí)是全國(guó)各地的騎士陸陸續(xù)續(xù)都來(lái)了哪。而每來(lái)一個(gè)騎士呢臼寄，跟著就來(lái)兩個(gè)自由騎手霸奕、三個(gè)工匠、六個(gè)大兵吉拳、一打生意人质帅、兩打妓女，至于小偷留攒，多到我猜都不敢猜煤惩。這該死的熱天已經(jīng)害城里半數(shù)人熱得暈頭轉(zhuǎn)向，現(xiàn)在又來(lái)這么多家伙……昨兒晚上就有人溺死炼邀，外加一起酒館暴亂魄揉，三起持刀械斗，一起強(qiáng)奸案汤善，兩場(chǎng)火災(zāi)什猖，搶劫數(shù)不清啦，還有匹喝醉的馬沖到修女街去了红淡。前天呢，則有個(gè)女人的頭被人發(fā)現(xiàn)漂在大圣堂的彩虹池里降铸，沒(méi)人知道那顆頭是打哪兒來(lái)的在旱，也沒(méi)人知道那是誰(shuí)的頭⊥频В”
“How dreadful,” Varys said with a shudder.
“真是嚇人喲桶蝎∽そ觯”瓦里斯打著哆嗦。
Lord Renly
Baratheon was less sympathetic. “If you cannot keep the king’s peace, Janos,
perhaps the City Watch should be commanded by someone who can.”
藍(lán)禮·拜拉席恩公爵可沒(méi)他這么好心登渣≡敕“我說(shuō)啊，杰諾斯胜茧，你要是連城里的秩序都無(wú)法維持粘优，恐怕都城守衛(wèi)隊(duì)得換個(gè)有辦法的人來(lái)當(dāng)司令啰∩胪纾”
Stout, jowly
Janos Slynt puffed himself up like an angry frog, his bald pate reddening.
“Aegon the Dragon himself could not keep the peace, Lord Renly. I need more
men.”
史林特生得高頭大馬雹顺，一副雙下巴，他聽(tīng)了這話(huà)立刻變得跟青蛙一樣氣鼓鼓的廊遍，光頭頓時(shí)紅了起來(lái)嬉愧。“藍(lán)禮大人喉前，就算龍王伊耿再世也管不住没酣。我需要人手÷延兀”
“How many?” Ned asked, leaning forward. As ever, Robert had not
troubled himself to attend the council session, so it fell to his Hand to speak
for him.
“你要多少人四康？”奈德傾身向前問(wèn)。依慣例狭握，勞勃又沒(méi)參加會(huì)議闪金，所以他這個(gè)“國(guó)王之手”只好代為發(fā)言。
“As many as can be gotten, Lord Hand.”
“首相大人论颅，當(dāng)然是越多越好哎垦。”
“Hire fifty new men,” Ned told him. “Lord Baelish will see that you
get the coin.”
“那就雇五十個(gè)新兵恃疯，”奈德告訴他漏设，“錢(qián)的事交給貝里席大人打點(diǎn)〗裢”
“I will?” Littlefinger said.
“我打點(diǎn)郑口？”小指頭說(shuō)。
“You will. You found forty thousand golden dragons for a champion’s
purse, surely you can scrape together a few coppers to keep the king’s peace.”
Ned turned back to Janos Slynt. “I will also give you twenty good swords from
my own household guard, to serve with the Watch until the crowds have left.”
“沒(méi)錯(cuò)盾鳞。既然你連比武冠軍的四萬(wàn)金龍賞金都籌得出犬性，多弄幾個(gè)銅板維持城里秩序想必不成問(wèn)題√诮觯”奈德轉(zhuǎn)頭對(duì)杰諾斯·史林特道乒裆，“我再?gòu)奈业馁N身護(hù)衛(wèi)中撥二十個(gè)人給你，直到城里這批人離開(kāi)為止推励『姿＃”
“All thanks, Lord Hand,” Slynt said, bowing. “I promise you, they
shall be put to good use.”
“非常感謝肉迫，首相大人「寤疲”史林特鞠躬喊衫，“我向您保證，一定讓他們派上用場(chǎng)杆怕∽骞海”
When the
Commander had taken his leave, Eddard Stark turned to the rest of the council.
“The sooner this folly is done with, the better I shall like it.” As if the
expense and trouble were not irksome enough, all and sundry insisted on salting
Ned’s wound by calling it “the Hand’s tourney,” as if he were the cause of it.
And Robert honestly seemed to think he should feel honored!
司令官離開(kāi)后，奈德轉(zhuǎn)向在場(chǎng)重臣：“這場(chǎng)鬧劇早一天結(jié)束财著，我就早一天安心联四。”仿佛籌措經(jīng)費(fèi)和接踵而至的麻煩還不夠他受撑教，所有的閑雜人等都把這叫做“首相的比武大會(huì)”朝墩，這無(wú)疑是在傷口上灑鹽，好像他才是罪魁禍?zhǔn)孜敖恪６鴦诓巩?dāng)真以為他應(yīng)該為此感到光榮收苏！
“The realm prospers from such events, my lord,” Grand Maester Pycelle
said. “They bring the great the chance of glory, and the lowly a respite from
their woes.”
“王國(guó)就是因?yàn)檫@種事才興盛的啊，大人愤兵÷拱裕”派席爾國(guó)師說(shuō)，“對(duì)上等階級(jí)而言秆乳，這是求取榮耀的大好時(shí)機(jī)懦鼠。至于窮苦老百姓嘛，也能因此暫時(shí)忘憂(yōu)解愁屹堰「匾保”
“And put coins in many a pocket,” Littlefinger added. “Every inn in
the city is full, and the whores are walking bowlegged and jingling with each
step.”
“很多人還能藉此大撈一筆，”小指頭補(bǔ)充扯键，“城里的旅店通通客滿(mǎn)睦袖，妓女接客接到腳都合不攏，走起路來(lái)口袋里的銅板響叮當(dāng)荣刑∠隗希”
Lord Renly
laughed. “We’re fortunate my brother Stannis is not with us. Remember the time
he proposed to outlaw brothels? The king asked him if perhaps he’d like to
outlaw eating, shitting, and breathing while he was at it. If truth be told, I
ofttimes wonder how Stannis ever got that ugly daughter of his. He goes to his
marriage bed like a man marching to a battlefield, with a grim look in his eyes
and a determination to do his duty.”
藍(lán)禮公爵哈哈大笑：“還好我二哥史坦尼斯不在。記不記得那次他提議查禁妓院厉亏？結(jié)果國(guó)王問(wèn)他說(shuō)要不要順便連吃飯董习、拉屎、呼吸也統(tǒng)統(tǒng)禁了算了叶堆。老實(shí)講阱飘，有時(shí)候我真懷疑史坦尼斯那個(gè)丑女兒是怎么來(lái)的。老哥他上床簡(jiǎn)直跟上戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)一樣虱颗，眼神莊嚴(yán)肅穆沥匈，打定主意要履行他的責(zé)任⊥妫”
Ned had not
joined the laughter. “I wonder about your brother Stannis as well. I wonder
when he intends to end his visit to Dragonstone and resume his seat on this
council.”
奈德沒(méi)有跟著笑高帖。“我也在想你哥哥史坦尼斯的事畦粮，不知他何時(shí)才會(huì)結(jié)束龍石島的探訪(fǎng)散址，重新回到崗位⌒猓”
“No doubt as soon as we’ve scourged all those whores into the sea,”
Littlefinger replied, provoking more laughter.
“只要我們把妓女統(tǒng)統(tǒng)趕進(jìn)海里预麸，他就會(huì)馬上回來(lái)了罷∪褰”小指頭此話(huà)一出吏祸，其他人笑得更厲害了。
“I have heard quite enough about whores for one day,” Ned said,
rising. “Until the morrow.”
“關(guān)于妓女的事钩蚊，我今天也聽(tīng)夠了贡翘〖岵龋”奈德起身說(shuō)梨与，“就到此為止∈跷停”
Harwin had the
door when Ned returned to the Tower of the Hand. “Summon Jory to my chambers
and tell your father to saddle my horse,” Ned told him, too brusquely.
奈德回到首相塔時(shí)蝠咆，守門(mén)的是哈爾溫踊东。“叫喬里到我房間來(lái)刚操，然后叫你爹幫我備好馬鞍闸翅。”奈德告訴他赡茸，口氣稍沖了點(diǎn)缎脾。
“As you say, my lord.”
“是的，老爺占卧∫挪ぃ”
The Red Keep and
the “Hand’s tourney” were chafing him raw, Ned reflected as he climbed. He
yearned for the comfort of Catelyn’s arms, for the sounds of Robb and Jon
crossing swords in the practice yard, for the cool days and cold nights of the
north.
紅堡里的御前會(huì)議和這所謂“首相的比武大會(huì)”讓他滿(mǎn)心不耐，奈德邊爬樓梯邊想华蜒。此刻他好想念凱特琳的懷抱辙纬，想念羅柏和瓊恩在場(chǎng)子里練劍的聲音，想念北方的涼爽白晝和清寒冷夜叭喜。
In his chambers
he stripped off his council silks and sat for a moment with the book while he
waited for Jory to arrive. The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of
the Seven Kingdoms, With Descliptions of Many High Lords and Noble Ladies and
Their Children, by Grand Maester Malleon. Pycelle had spoken truly; it made for
ponderous reading. Yet Jon Arryn had asked for it, and Ned felt certain he had
reasons. There was something here, some truth buried in these brittle yellow
pages, if only he could see it. But what? The tome was over a century old.
Scarcely a man now alive had yet been born when Malleon had compiled his dusty
lists of weddings, births, and deaths.
進(jìn)房后他褪去重臣穿的正式絲衣贺拣，坐著看了會(huì)兒書(shū)，等待喬里。這本書(shū)全名是《七國(guó)主要貴族之世家譜系與歷史（內(nèi)附關(guān)于許多爵爺夫人和他們子女的描述）》譬涡，由梅利恩國(guó)師所撰闪幽。派席爾說(shuō)得沒(méi)錯(cuò)，這東西還真是枯燥乏味涡匀。但瓊恩·艾林既然找來(lái)讀了盯腌，奈德相信必有其原因。在這些泛黃的脆弱書(shū)頁(yè)間陨瘩，肯定埋藏著重要的線(xiàn)索腕够，問(wèn)題只在于他是否能鉆研出其中深意。那究竟是什么呢舌劳？這本書(shū)冊(cè)的歷史已經(jīng)超過(guò)百年帚湘。當(dāng)梅利恩收集這份蒙塵的婚喪喜慶清單時(shí)，目前活在世上的人幾乎都還沒(méi)出生呢甚淡。
He opened to the
section on House Lannister once more, and turned the pages slowly, hoping
against hope that something would leap out at him. The Lannisters were an old
family, tracing their descent back to Lann the Clever, a trickster from the Age
of Heroes who was no doubt as legendary as Bran the Builder, though far more
beloved of singers and taletellers. In the songs, Lann was the fellow who
winkled the Casterlys out of Casterly Rock with no weapon but his wits, and
stole gold from the sun to brighten his curly hair. Ned wished he were here
now, to winkle the truth out of this damnable book.
他再度翻到蘭尼斯特家族的部分大诸，刻意慢慢翻頁(yè)，雖然明知不可能材诽，卻仍希望藉此靈光乍現(xiàn)底挫。蘭尼斯特家族歷史悠久，向上可以追溯到英雄紀(jì)元時(shí)的騙術(shù)高手“機(jī)靈的”蘭尼脸侥。他和“筑城者”布蘭登一樣同富傳奇色彩建邓，卻更受歌手和說(shuō)書(shū)人的愛(ài)戴。歌謠中的蘭尼不靠刀劍睁枕，光憑他的機(jī)智就把凱斯德利家族趕出凱巖城官边，又從太陽(yáng)那里偷來(lái)黃金為他的卷發(fā)增光。奈德真希望他此刻就在自己身邊外遇，幫他把書(shū)中那該死的秘密趕出來(lái)注簿。
A sharp rap on
the door heralded Jory Cassel. Ned closed Malleon’s tome and bid him enter.
“I’ve promised the City Watch twenty of my guard until the tourney is done,” he
told him. “I rely on you to make the choice. Give Alyn the command, and make
certain the men understand that they are needed to stop fights, not start
them.” Rising, Ned opened a cedar chest and removed a light linen undertunic.
“Did you find the stableboy?”
一陣急促的敲門(mén)聲宣告了喬里·凱索的到來(lái)。奈德闔上梅利恩的巨著跳仿，傳他進(jìn)來(lái)诡渴。“我答應(yīng)從我的衛(wèi)隊(duì)里抽二十個(gè)人給都城守衛(wèi)隊(duì)菲语，直到比武大會(huì)結(jié)束妄辩。”他告訴他山上，“挑人的事就交給你眼耀。讓埃林領(lǐng)隊(duì)，但務(wù)必讓他們明白佩憾，首要任務(wù)是平息紛爭(zhēng)哮伟，而非制造沖突干花。”奈德起身楞黄，打開(kāi)雪松木箱池凄，拿出一件輕制亞麻布上衣×吕保“找到那個(gè)馬僮了嗎修赞？”
“The watchman, my lord,” Jory said. “He vows he’ll never touch
another horse.”
“老爺婶恼，您說(shuō)的這個(gè)都城守衛(wèi)桑阶，”喬里道，“他發(fā)誓這輩子再也不碰別的馬了勾邦◎悸迹”
“What did he have to say?”
“為什么？”
“He claims he knew Lord Arryn well. Fast friends, they were.” Jory
snorted. “The Hand always gave the lads a copper on their name days, he says.
Had a way with horses. Never rode his mounts too hard, and brought them carrots
and apples, so they were always pleased to see him.”
“他說(shuō)自己很了解艾林大人眷篇，說(shuō)什么兩人一拍即合萎河。”喬里哼了一聲蕉饼，“他說(shuō)每逢小伙子們命名日虐杯，首相大人總不忘賞幾個(gè)小錢(qián)。還說(shuō)首相大人熟悉馬性昧港，從不讓坐騎過(guò)分勞累擎椰，還每每帶胡蘿卜和蘋(píng)果給馬兒吃，所以它們都很喜歡他创肥〈锸妫”
“Carrots and apples,” Ned repeated. It sounded as if this boy would
be even less use than the others. And he was the last of the four Littlefinger
had turned up. Jory had spoken to each of them in turn. Ser Hugh had been
brusque and uninformative, and arrogant as only a new-made knight can be. If
the Hand wished to talk to him, he should be pleased to receive him, but he
would not be questioned by a mere captain of guards?.?.?.?even if said captain
was ten years older and a hundred times the swordsman. The serving girl had at
least been pleasant. She said Lord Jon had been reading more than was good for
him, that he was troubled and melancholy over his young son’s frailty, and
gruff with his lady wife. The potboy, now cordwainer, had never exchanged so
much as a word with Lord Jon, but he was full of oddments of kitchen gossip:
the lord had been quarreling with the king, the lord only picked at his food,
the lord was sending his boy to be fostered on Dragonstone, the lord had taken
a great interest in the breeding of hunting hounds, the lord had visited a
master armorer to commission a new suit of plate, wrought all in pale silver
with a blue jasper falcon and a mother-of-pearl moon on the breast. The king’s
own brother had gone with him to help choose the design, the potboy said. No,
not Lord Renly, the other one, Lord Stannis.
“胡蘿卜和蘋(píng)果√局叮”奈德跟著念了一遍巩搏。聽(tīng)起來(lái)這小子能幫上的忙比其他幾個(gè)人還要有限，而他已經(jīng)是小指頭所說(shuō)那四人之中最后的一個(gè)了趾代。喬里和每個(gè)人都分別談過(guò)贯底。修夫爵士脾氣火爆，不肯多說(shuō)撒强，剛當(dāng)上騎士就已經(jīng)很驕傲禽捆。照他的話(huà)，倘若首相大人有意和他談?wù)勀蛲剩軜?lè)于接見(jiàn)睦擂，但區(qū)區(qū)一個(gè)侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長(zhǎng)可沒(méi)資格盤(pán)問(wèn)他……就算這個(gè)侍衛(wèi)隊(duì)長(zhǎng)大他十歲，劍術(shù)強(qiáng)他一百倍也沒(méi)戲杖玲。那個(gè)廚房小妹總算還好溝通顿仇，她說(shuō)瓊恩大人讀書(shū)讀過(guò)頭啦，還說(shuō)他為小兒子的孱弱病體傷神擔(dān)憂(yōu)，對(duì)夫人又很粗暴臼闻。至于那個(gè)現(xiàn)在靠拉車(chē)維生的跑堂小廝鸿吆，則從來(lái)沒(méi)跟瓊恩大人說(shuō)過(guò)話(huà)。不過(guò)他倒是知道一堆廚房里的閑話(huà)：聽(tīng)說(shuō)老爺近來(lái)常跟國(guó)王吵架述呐，老爺嫌?xùn)|西不好吃惩淳，老爺打算送他兒子到龍石島當(dāng)養(yǎng)子，老爺對(duì)養(yǎng)獵犬突然有了興趣乓搬，老爺去找了個(gè)高明的武器師傅思犁，委托他打造一副全新的鎧甲，整件鍍上白銀进肯，胸前安上一只藍(lán)玉雕的獵鷹和珍珠母做的月亮激蹲。跑堂小弟說(shuō)，是國(guó)王的弟弟親自陪他去挑選材料和花樣江掩，喔不学辱，不是藍(lán)禮大人，是另外那個(gè)环形，史坦尼斯大人策泣。
“Did our watchman recall anything else of note?”
“這守衛(wèi)有沒(méi)有提到什么值得留意的事？”
“The lad swears Lord Jon was as strong as a man half his age. Often
went riding with Lord Stannis, he says.”
“小伙子發(fā)誓說(shuō)瓊恩大人同年紀(jì)小他一半的人一樣健壯抬吟，還常跟史坦尼斯大人外出騎馬萨咕。”
Stannis again,
Ned thought. He found that curious. Jon Arryn and he had been cordial, but
never friendly. And while Robert had been riding north to Winterfell, Stannis
had removed himself to Dragonstone, the Targaryen island fastness he had
conquered in his brother’s name. He had given no word as to when he might return.
“Where did they go on these rides?” Ned asked.
又是史坦尼斯拗军，奈德心想任洞。這可奇了，瓊恩·艾林和他固然禮尚往來(lái)发侵，卻從不親近交掏。當(dāng)勞勃北訪(fǎng)臨冬城時(shí)，史坦尼斯也躲回了龍石島——那座多年前他以哥哥的名義刃鳄，從坦格利安家族手中奪來(lái)的海島要塞——并只字未提何時(shí)歸來(lái)盅弛。“他們都騎馬上哪兒叔锐？”奈德問(wèn)挪鹏。
“The boy says that they visited a brothel.”
“那小子說(shuō)上妓院去∮淅樱”
“A brothel?” Ned said. “The Lord of the Eyrie and Hand of the King
visited a brothel with Stannis Baratheon?” He shook his head, incredulous,
wondering what Lord Renly would make of this tidbit. Robert’s lusts were the
subject of ribald drinking songs throughout the realm, but Stannis was a
different sort of man; a bare year younger than the king, yet utterly unlike
him, stern, humorless, unforgiving, grim in his sense of duty.
“上妓院讨盒？”奈德道，“鷹巢城公爵步责、御前首相和史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩一起上妓院返顺？”他難以置信地?fù)u頭禀苦，心里暗想要是藍(lán)禮大人聽(tīng)了不知會(huì)作何反應(yīng)。勞勃性好漁色舉國(guó)皆知遂鹊，成天有人拿來(lái)編歌取笑振乏，但史坦尼斯可不一樣。他雖只比國(guó)王小一歲秉扑，個(gè)性卻是天壤之別：嚴(yán)峻慧邮、缺乏幽默感，從不輕易寬恕他人舟陆，重視責(zé)任到幾近冷酷的地步误澳。
“The boy insists it’s true. The Hand took three guardsmen with him,
and the boy says they were joking of it when he took their horses afterward.”
“小伙子堅(jiān)持說(shuō)這是真的。首相大人隨身帶了三個(gè)侍衛(wèi)吨娜，小伙子說(shuō)事后幫他們牽馬時(shí)脓匿，聽(tīng)見(jiàn)他們拿這事開(kāi)玩笑』略”
“Which brothel?” Ned asked.
“是哪家妓院？”奈德問(wèn)米母。
“The boy did not know. The guards would.”
“小伙子也不知道勾扭，那幾個(gè)侍衛(wèi)應(yīng)該知道√鳎”
“A pity Lysa carried them off to the Vale,” Ned said dryly. “The gods
are doing their best to vex us.Lady Lysa, Maester Colemon, Lord
Stannis?.?.?.?everyone who might actually know the truth of what happened to
Jon Arryn is a thousand leagues away.”
“只可惜萊莎把他們都帶回艾林谷去了妙色。”奈德干澀地說(shuō)慧耍，“諸神真是想盡辦法阻撓我們身辨。萊莎夫人、柯蒙學(xué)士芍碧，還有史坦尼斯大人……每一個(gè)可能知道真相的人都在千里之外煌珊。”
“Will you summon Lord Stannis back from Dragonstone?”
“您要不要把史坦尼斯大人從龍石島給召回來(lái)泌豆？”
“Not yet,” Ned said. “Not until I have a better notion of what this
is all about and where he stands.” The matter nagged at him. Why did Stannis
leave? Had he played some part in Jon Arryn’s murder? Or was he afraid? Ned
found it hard to imagine what could frighten Stannis Baratheon, who had once
held Storm’s End through a year of siege, surviving on rats and boot leather
while the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne sat outside with their hosts, banqueting in
sight of his walls.
“還不是時(shí)候定庵，”奈德道，“等我進(jìn)一步了解內(nèi)情踪危，并弄清楚他站在哪一邊再說(shuō)蔬浙。”這事真教他心煩贞远。史坦尼斯為何離開(kāi)畴博？難道謀害瓊恩·艾林他也有份？難道他在害怕蓝仲？奈德很難想像有什么能?chē)樧∈诽鼓崴埂ぐ堇骶悴。?dāng)年他曾堅(jiān)守風(fēng)息堡長(zhǎng)達(dá)一年之久蜜唾，到最后提利爾公爵和雷德溫伯爵的軍隊(duì)圍在城外，成天飲酒作樂(lè)庶艾，城里卻只能靠吃老鼠肉和鞋皮支撐袁余。
“Bring me my doublet, if you would. The grey, with the direwolf
sigil. I want this armorer to know who I am. It might make him more forthcoming.”
“麻煩你幫我把背心拿來(lái)，就灰色有冰原狼飾樣的那件咱揍。我要讓這個(gè)武器師傅知道我是誰(shuí)颖榜，這樣他或許會(huì)比較容易開(kāi)口∶喝梗”
Jory went to the
wardrobe. “Lord Renly is brother to Lord Stannis as well as the king.”
喬里走到衣櫥邊掩完。“藍(lán)禮大人也是國(guó)王和史坦尼斯大人的弟弟硼砰∏遗睿”
“Yet it seems that he was not invited on these rides.” Ned was not
sure what to make of Renly, with all his friendly ways and easy smiles. A few
days past, he had taken Ned aside to show him an exquisite rose gold locklet.
Inside was a miniature painted in the vivid Myrish style, of a lovely young
girl with doe’s eyes and a cascade of soft brown hair. Renly had seemed anxious
to know if the girl reminded him of anyone, and when Ned had no answer but a
shrug, he had seemed disappointed. The maid was Loras Tyrell’s sister Margaery,
he’d confessed, but there were those who said she looked like Lyanna. “No,” Ned
had told him, bemused. Could it be that Lord Renly, who looked so like a young
Robert, had conceived a passion for a girl he fancied to be a young Lyanna?
That struck him as more than passing queer.
“但他們騎馬卻沒(méi)找他作伴，”雖然藍(lán)禮態(tài)度友善又笑口常開(kāi)题翰，奈德仍舊摸不清他的立場(chǎng)恶阴。前幾天，他把奈德拉到一邊豹障，向他展示一個(gè)精雕細(xì)琢的黃金玫瑰墜子冯事，里面有張密爾畫(huà)風(fēng)的鮮活肖像，畫(huà)中人是個(gè)生著雌鹿般眸子和一頭柔軟棕發(fā)的可愛(ài)少女血公。藍(lán)禮似乎急于知道女孩是否讓他聯(lián)想起什么人昵仅，當(dāng)奈德答不上來(lái)，只聳了聳肩時(shí)累魔，他似乎相當(dāng)失望摔笤。女孩是洛拉斯·提利爾的妹妹瑪格麗，后來(lái)他坦承垦写，不過(guò)有人說(shuō)她長(zhǎng)得像萊安娜吕世。“不像啊梯澜∧耄”奈德困惑地告訴他。難道說(shuō)長(zhǎng)得像勞勃年輕時(shí)的藍(lán)禮晚伙，暗中愛(ài)慕著這位在他看來(lái)長(zhǎng)得像年輕的萊安娜的女孩吮龄？真是怪事一樁。
Jory held out
the doublet, and Ned slid his hands through the armholes. “Perhaps Lord Stannis
will return for Robert’s tourney,” he said as Jory laced the garment up the
back.
喬里遞過(guò)背心咆疗，奈德把手穿進(jìn)臂口漓帚。“或許史坦尼斯大人會(huì)回來(lái)參加勞勃的比武大會(huì)午磁〕⒍叮”他邊說(shuō)邊讓喬里替他將衣服帶子在后腰處系上結(jié)毡们。
“That would be a stroke of fortune, my lord,” Jory said.
“那可就真是諸神眷顧了，老爺昧辽⊙萌郏”喬里說(shuō)。
Ned buckled on a
longsword. “In other words, not bloody likely.” His smile was grim.
奈德系上一柄長(zhǎng)劍搅荞『炻龋“換言之，大概他媽的不可能咕痛×「剩”他無(wú)奈地笑笑。
Jory draped
Ned’s cloak across his shoulders and clasped it at the throat with the Hand’s
badge of office. “The armorer lives above his shop, in a large house at the top
of the Street of Steel. Alyn knows the way, my lord.”
喬里把奈德的披風(fēng)搭上他的肩膀茉贡，在喉嚨的地方用首相的徽章扣住塞栅。“這武器師傅住在他店面樓上腔丧，就鋼鐵街頂?shù)囊粭澊蠓孔臃乓０Ａ终J(rèn)得路，老爺悔据∽玻”
Ned nodded. “The
gods help this potboy if he’s sent me off haring after shadows.” It was a slim
enough staff to lean on, but the Jon Arryn that Ned Stark had known was not one
to wear jeweled and silvered plate. Steel was steel; it was meant for
protection, not ornament. He might have changed his views, to be sure. He would
scarcely have been the first man who came to look on things differently after a
few years at court?.?.?.?but the change was marked enough to make Ned wonder.
奈德點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭】坪梗“要是這拉車(chē)小廝撒謊绷雏，就只有天上諸神能救他了头滔。”雖然這實(shí)在不像是條可靠的線(xiàn)索涎显，但奈德·史塔克所認(rèn)識(shí)的瓊恩·艾林可不會(huì)穿什么鑲珠寶的銀鎧甲坤检。他說(shuō)過(guò)：鎧甲就是鎧甲，用來(lái)防身期吓，而非裝飾早歇。當(dāng)然，他也有可能改變想法讨勤，在宮里待過(guò)十幾年箭跳，再怎么也不可能和從前一模一樣……然而這個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)變未免太大，奈德實(shí)在無(wú)法釋?xiě)选?/p>
“Is there any other service I might perform?”
“還有什么需要我效勞潭千？”
“I suppose you’d best begin visiting whorehouses.”
“你可以準(zhǔn)備上妓院了谱姓。”
“Hard duty, my lord.” Jory grinned. “The men will be glad to help.
Porther has made a fair start already.”
“老爺刨晴，這是苦差事啊屉来÷贩”喬里嘻嘻笑道，“我想大伙兒都會(huì)很樂(lè)意幫忙茄靠，波瑟早就迫不及待茂契，自己先去了】”
Ned’s favorite
horse was saddled and waiting in the yard. Varly and Jacks fell in beside him
as he rode through the yard. Their steel caps and shirts of mail must have been
sweltering, yet they said no word of complaint. As Lord Eddard passed beneath
the King’s Gate into the stink of the city, his grey and white cloak streaming
from his shoulders, he saw eyes everywhere and kicked his mount into a trot.
His guard followed.
奈德最心愛(ài)的坐騎已經(jīng)上好馬鞍掉冶，正在庭院里等他。他穿過(guò)場(chǎng)子儡蔓，瓦利和杰克斯一左一右跟了上來(lái)郭蕉。在這種大熱天，穿戴鋼頭盔和鎧甲一定汗流浹背喂江，但他們半聲怨言也無(wú)召锈。艾德公爵身披灰白相間的長(zhǎng)披風(fēng)，策馬穿過(guò)國(guó)王大門(mén)获询，進(jìn)入臭氣四溢的城區(qū)涨岁，立時(shí)感覺(jué)到四處都是眼線(xiàn)。他一踢馬肚吉嚣，絕塵而去梢薪，兩名侍衛(wèi)緊跟在后。
He looked behind
him frequently as they made their way through the crowded city streets. Tomard
and Desmond had left the castle early this morning to take up positions on the
route they must take, and watch for anyone following them, but even so, Ned was
uncertain. The shadow of the King’s Spider and his little birds had him
fretting like a maiden on her wedding night.
他們?cè)趽頂D的街道間穿梭尝哆，他頻頻回頭秉撇。雖說(shuō)托馬德和戴斯蒙今天一大早便離開(kāi)城堡，守在他們必經(jīng)之路上秋泄，負(fù)責(zé)注意是否有人跟蹤琐馆，但奈德還是不放心『阈颍活在國(guó)王的八腳蜘蛛及其鷹犬的陰影下瘦麸，他就像洞房花燭夜的新嫁娘一樣害怕。
The Street of
Steel began at the market square beside the River Gate, as it was named on
maps, or the Mud Gate, as it was commonly called. A mummer on stilts was
striding through the throngs like some great insect, with a horde of barefoot
children trailing behind him, hooting. Elsewhere, two ragged boys no older than
Bran were dueling with sticks, to the loud encouragement of some and the
furious curses of others. An old woman ended the contest by leaning out of her
window and emptying a bucket of slops on the heads of the combatants. In the
shadow of the wall, farmers stood beside their wagons, bellowing out, “Apples,
the best apples, cheap at twice the price,” and “Blood melons, sweet as honey,”
and “Turnips, onions, roots, here you go here, here you go, turnips, onions,
roots, here you go here.”
鋼鐵街從臨河門(mén)旁的市集廣場(chǎng)開(kāi)始延伸歧胁。這臨河門(mén)乃是地圖上標(biāo)記的名字滋饲，老百姓平常都喚它作“爛泥門(mén)”。街上喊巍，有個(gè)戲子正踩著高蹺屠缭，像只巨型怪蟲(chóng)般大跨步走在人群里，后面跟了一大群光著腳丫的小孩玄糟，尖聲怪叫著勿她。另外一邊則有兩個(gè)衣衫襤褸，年紀(jì)跟布蘭差不多的男孩正拿著木棍來(lái)往比劃阵翎，圍觀(guān)群眾有的大聲喝采逢并，有的氣惱咒罵之剧。最后一名老太婆從窗戶(hù)里探出頭，把一桶洗腳水倒在兩個(gè)男生頭上砍聊，才算終止了這場(chǎng)打斗背稼。農(nóng)民們躲在城墻的陰影下，站在他們的貨車(chē)旁高聲吆喝著：“蘋(píng)果玻蝌，上好的蘋(píng)果喲蟹肘，價(jià)錢(qián)再高一倍你都會(huì)覺(jué)得便宜喲，”或是“來(lái)買(mǎi)血甜瓜喔俯树，甜得跟蜂蜜一樣喔帘腹！”以及“大頭菜、洋蔥许饿、馬鈴薯阳欲，來(lái)來(lái)來(lái)，大頭菜陋率、洋蔥球化、馬鈴薯喲，來(lái)來(lái)來(lái)喔瓦糟！”
The Mud Gate was
open, and a squad of City Watchmen stood under the portcullis in their golden
cloaks, leaning on spears. When a column of riders appeared from the west, the
guardsmen sprang into action, shouting commands and moving the carts and foot
traffic aside to let the knight enter with his escort. The first rider through
the gate carried a long black banner. The silk rippled in the wind like a
living thing; across the fabric was blazoned a night sky slashed with purple
lightning. “Make way for Lord Beric!” the rider shouted. “Make way for Lord
Beric!” And close behind came the young lord himself, a dashing figure on a
black courser, with red-gold hair and a black satin cloak dusted with stars.
“Here to fight in the Hand’s tourney, my lord?” a guardsman called out to him.
“Here to win the Hand’s tourney,” Lord Beric shouted back as the crowd cheered.
爛泥門(mén)大大敞開(kāi)筒愚，一小隊(duì)都城守衛(wèi)肩披制式的金色披風(fēng)，拄著長(zhǎng)矛站在閘門(mén)下菩浙。眼看西邊來(lái)了一群排成縱隊(duì)騎馬飛奔的人巢掺，守衛(wèi)們急忙發(fā)號(hào)施令，把擋路的推車(chē)和行人趕開(kāi)劲蜻，好讓騎士和他的隨從通過(guò)址遇。當(dāng)先穿過(guò)大門(mén)的人高舉一面長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的黑旗，絲織的旌旗在風(fēng)中飛揚(yáng)斋竞，仿如活物。旗幟上繡著一道劃過(guò)夜空的紫色閃電秃殉“映酰“貝里大人駕到！速速回避钾军！”來(lái)者高喊鳄袍，“貝里大人駕到！速速回避吏恭！”緊跟在后的正是那位金紅頭發(fā)的年輕貴族拗小，他身披黑緞星紋披風(fēng)，騎匹黑色駿馬樱哼，十足浮華模樣哀九〗伺洌“您是來(lái)參加首相比武大會(huì)的嗎，大人阅束？”一名守衛(wèi)在他身后叫道呼胚。“我是來(lái)拿比武大會(huì)冠軍的息裸！”貝里伯爵在群眾歡呼聲中高聲回應(yīng)蝇更。
Ned turned off
the square where the Street of Steel began and followed its winding path up a
long hill, past blacksmiths working at open forges, freeriders haggling over
mail shirts, and grizzled ironmongers selling old blades and razors from their
wagons. The farther they climbed, the larger the buildings grew. The man they
wanted was all the way at the top of the hill, in a huge house of timber and
plaster whose upper stories loomed over the narrow street. The double doors
showed a hunting scene carved in ebony and weirwood. A pair of stone knights
stood sentry at the entrance, armored in fanciful suits of polished red steel
that transformed them into griffin and unicorn. Ned left his horse with Jacks and
shouldered his way inside.
奈德離開(kāi)廣場(chǎng)，轉(zhuǎn)進(jìn)鋼鐵街呼盆，沿著蜿蜒小路騎上長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的維桑尼亞丘陵年扩，沿途經(jīng)過(guò)在鍛爐前干活的鐵匠，拿著盔甲討價(jià)還價(jià)的自由騎手访圃，以及頭發(fā)灰白厨幻，兜售著馬車(chē)上各種舊鐵陳刀的鐵器販子。他們?cè)脚涝礁咄燔ㄖ镆哺@高大克胳，城里絕大多數(shù)鐵匠都在此地。他們要找的人住在丘頂圈匆，有一棟用木材和石膏搭成漠另、樓層足以俯瞰下方狹窄巷道的巨大屋子。房子的兩扇大門(mén)乃是黑檀木和魚(yú)梁木所制跃赚，上面刻畫(huà)著一幅打獵圖笆搓，一對(duì)石雕騎士守在入口兩側(cè)，披掛著造型天馬行空的紅鋼鎧甲纬傲，使他們有了鷹頭獅和獨(dú)角獸的形態(tài)满败。奈德把馬交給杰克斯，側(cè)身走進(jìn)屋內(nèi)叹括。
The slim young
serving girl took quick note of Ned’s badge and the sigil on his doublet, and
the master came hurrying out, all smiles and bows. “Wine for the King’s Hand,”
he told the girl, gesturing Ned to a couch. “I am Tobho Mott, my lord, please,
please, put yourself at ease.” He wore a black velvet coat with hammers
embroidered on the sleeves in silver thread, Around his neck was a heavy silver
chain and a sapphire as large as a pigeon’s egg. “If you are in need of new
arms for the Hand’s tourney, you have come to the right shop.” Ned did not
bother to correct him. “My work is costly, and I make no apologies for that, my
lord,” he said as he filled two matching silver goblets. “You will not find
craftsmanship equal to mine anywhere in the Seven Kingdoms, I promise you.
Visit every forge in King’s Landing if you like, and compare for yourself. Any
village smith can hammer out a shirt of mail; my work is art.”
瘦小的女侍眼尖算墨，立刻認(rèn)出奈德的徽章和背心上的家徽，沒(méi)過(guò)多久屋主便急急忙忙出來(lái)迎接汁雷，滿(mǎn)臉堆笑净嘀，忙著打躬作揖∠姥叮“快幫首相大人倒酒挖藏。”他對(duì)女孩說(shuō)厢漩，然后示意奈德在長(zhǎng)椅落座膜眠。“大人，我叫托布·莫特宵膨，您請(qǐng)坐架谎，把這兒當(dāng)自個(gè)兒家罷”ぃ”他穿著黑天鵝絨外套狐树，袖子上用銀線(xiàn)繡了鐵錘的圖案，頸項(xiàng)間則戴了條沉重的銀鏈鸿脓，上面那顆藍(lán)寶石有鴿子蛋那么大抑钟。“如果您需要在首相比武大會(huì)上穿的新鎧甲野哭，那您可來(lái)對(duì)地方了在塔。”奈德已經(jīng)懶得糾正了拨黔』桌＃“大人，我做的東西要價(jià)很高篱蝇，這我自己也承認(rèn)贺待，”他邊說(shuō)邊把兩只成對(duì)的銀制高腳杯斟滿(mǎn)酒×憬兀“不過(guò)我敢跟您保證麸塞，七國(guó)上下再找不到手藝能跟我比的人。您若是不信涧衙，大可把君臨每一家打鐵鋪都走過(guò)一遍哪工，自己比較比較。其實(shí)打件盔甲弧哎，隨便一個(gè)鄉(xiāng)下鐵匠都會(huì)雁比。我打出來(lái)的是藝術(shù)品〕纺郏”
Ned sipped his
wine and let the man go on. The Knight of Flowers bought all his armor here,
Tobho boasted, and many high lords, the ones who knew fine steel, and even Lord
Renly, the king’s own brother. Perhaps the Hand had seen Lord Renly’s new
armor, the green plate with the golden antlers? No other armorer in the city
could get that deep a green; he knew the secret of putting color in the steel
itself, paint and enamel were the crutches of a journeyman. Or mayhaps the Hand
wanted a blade? Tobho had learned to work Valyrian steel at the forges of Qohor
as a boy. Only a man who knew the spells could take old weapons and forge them
anew. “The direwolf is the sigil of House Stark, is it not? I could fashion a
direwolf helm so real that children will run from you in the street,” he vowed.
奈德啜著酒偎捎，聽(tīng)他繼續(xù)往下說(shuō)。照托布吹噓序攘，不僅百花騎士整套鎧甲都是在這里買(mǎi)的鸭限，許多真正識(shí)貨的官家老爺也都是常客两踏，更別提國(guó)王陛下的親弟弟藍(lán)禮大人了。不知首相大人可曾見(jiàn)過(guò)藍(lán)禮大人的新行頭兜喻？就是那件綠甲和黃金鹿角盔梦染。除了他，城里沒(méi)有別的武器師傅能做出那么深的綠色，因?yàn)樗r(shí)候在科霍爾當(dāng)學(xué)徒時(shí)學(xué)會(huì)了將顏色滲進(jìn)精鋼里的秘訣帕识，相較之下泛粹，涂漆或上釉根本只是小孩子把戲。還是首相大人要把好劍肮疗？托布說(shuō)他在科霍爾也習(xí)得了打造瓦雷利亞鋼的技術(shù)晶姊，只有知道正確咒語(yǔ)的人才有辦法使老舊的武器煥然一新∥被酰“史塔克家族的紋章是冰原狼们衙，對(duì)不對(duì)？我可以幫您打頂冰原狼頭盔碱呼，保管走在路上小孩看了就跑蒙挑。”他拍胸脯保證愚臀。
Ned smiled. “Did
you make a falcon helm for Lord Arryn?”
奈德微微一笑忆蚀。“這么說(shuō)來(lái)姑裂，你也幫艾林大人打了頂獵鷹頭盔馋袜？”
Tobho Mott
paused a long moment and set aside his wine. “The Hand did call upon me, with
Lord Stannis, the king’s brother. I regret to say, they did not honor me with
their patronage.”
托布·莫特聞言，停頓了很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間舶斧，最后他放下酒杯：“首相大人他是找過(guò)我欣鳖，跟國(guó)王陛下的大弟史坦尼斯大人一起來(lái)的。遺憾的是我沒(méi)那個(gè)榮幸捧毛，不曾為他們效勞观堂。”
Ned looked at
the man evenly, saying nothing, waiting. He had found over the years that
silence sometimes yielded more than questions. And so it was this time.
奈德平靜地看著他呀忧，什么也不說(shuō)师痕，只靜靜地等待。這些年來(lái)而账，他發(fā)現(xiàn)沉默常常比發(fā)問(wèn)更有效胰坟，眼下正是如此。
“They asked to see the boy,” the armorer said, “so I took them back
to the forge.”
“他們說(shuō)要見(jiàn)見(jiàn)那孩子泞辐，”武器師傅道笔横，“所以我?guī)麄內(nèi)チ隋憼t「篮穑”
“The boy,” Ned echoed. He had no notion who the boy might be. “I
should like to see the boy as well.”
“那孩子吹缔，”奈德跟著重復(fù)。他根本不知道那孩子是誰(shuí)锯茄∠崽粒“我也想見(jiàn)見(jiàn)那孩子茶没。”
Tobho Mott gave
him a cool, careful look. “As you wish, my lord,” he said with no trace of his
former friendliness. He led Ned out a rear door and across a narrow yard, back
to the cavernous stone barn where the work was done. When the armorer opened
the door, the blast of hot air that came through made Ned feel as though he
were walking into a dragon’s mouth. Inside, a forge blazed in each corner, and
the air stank of smoke and sulfur. Journeymen armorers glanced up from their
hammers and tongs just long enough to wipe the sweat from their brows, while
bare-chested apprentice boys worked the bellows.
托布·莫特冷靜而謹(jǐn)慎地看了他一眼晚碾∽グ耄“遵命，大人格嘁〉亚螅”他先前的友善語(yǔ)氣已經(jīng)消失無(wú)蹤。他領(lǐng)著奈德走出后門(mén)糕簿，穿越一個(gè)狹長(zhǎng)的庭院探入，進(jìn)入寬敞的石砌谷倉(cāng)，鐵匠鋪的實(shí)際工作就是在這里進(jìn)行冶伞。武器師傅剛開(kāi)門(mén)新症，一股熱氣便向外噴涌而出，教奈德覺(jué)得自己仿佛要步入火龍口中响禽。每個(gè)角落都有一座熊熊燃燒的鍛爐徒爹，空氣里充溢著煙硝和硫磺的臭味。鐵匠工頭抬頭瞄了一眼芋类，只來(lái)得及抹抹額際汗珠隆嗅，便又繼續(xù)揮舞鐵錘和鉗子，打著赤膊的學(xué)徒則努力鼓動(dòng)風(fēng)爐侯繁。
The master
called over a tall lad about Robb’s age, his arms and chest corded with muscle.
“This is Lord Stark, the new Hand of the King,” he told him as the boy looked
at Ned through sullen blue eyes and pushed back sweat-soaked hair with his
fingers. Thick hair, shaggy and unkempt and black as ink. The shadow of a new
beard darkened his jaw. “This is Gendry. Strong for his age, and he works hard.
Show the Hand that helmet you made, lad.” Almost shyly, the boy led them to his
bench, and a steel helm shaped like a bull’s head, with two great curving
horns.
武器師傅把一個(gè)年齡大約與羅柏相若胖喳，兩臂和胸膛都是結(jié)實(shí)肌肉的高大男孩叫過(guò)來(lái)≈梗“這就是史塔克大人丽焊，國(guó)王新任的首相」颈穑”男孩一邊聽(tīng)他說(shuō)技健，一邊以他那雙陰沉的藍(lán)眼睛打量奈德，并用手指把汗水浸濕的頭發(fā)往后撥惰拱。他的頭發(fā)又粗又厚雌贱，亂成一團(tuán)，如墨水般漆黑偿短。他下巴剛長(zhǎng)出點(diǎn)黑胡渣欣孤。“這是詹德利昔逗，以他這年紀(jì)算得強(qiáng)壯盛嘿，干起活來(lái)也挺勤快达椰。小子鸿市，讓首相大人瞧瞧你打的那頂頭盔罷〕⒔”男孩有些害羞地領(lǐng)他們走到他休息的長(zhǎng)凳，將一頂狀如牛頭漱牵，還有兩只弧形牛角的頭盔拿給奈德看戳杀。
Ned turned the
helm over in his hands. It was raw steel, unpolished but expertly shaped. “This
is fine work. I would be pleased if you would let me buy it.”
奈德拿來(lái)反復(fù)把玩，這頭盔是粗鋼制成卡乾，未經(jīng)雕琢翼悴，但造型卻是行家里手♂７粒“做得很好鹦赎，不知你可否愿意賣(mài)給我？”
The boy snatched
it out of his hands. “It’s not for sale.”
男孩一把從他手中搶過(guò)頭盔误堡」呕埃“這不是拿來(lái)賣(mài)的∷”
Tobho Mott
looked horror-struck. “Boy, this is the King’s Hand. If his lordship wants this
helm, make him a gift of it. He honors you by asking.”
托布·莫特一臉驚恐陪踩。“小子悉抵，這可是首相大人哪肩狂，大人他看得上眼，你還不快送給他姥饰，他光開(kāi)口問(wèn)已經(jīng)很給你面子了傻谁。”
“I made it for me,” the boy said stubbornly.
“我做了給自己戴的列粪∩蟠牛”男孩倔強(qiáng)地說(shuō)。
“A hundred pardons, my lord,” his master said hurriedly to Ned. “The
boy is crude as new steel, and like new steel would profit from some beating.
That helm is journeyman’s work at best. Forgive him and I promise I will craft
you a helm like none you have ever seen.”
“大人岂座，真是千萬(wàn)個(gè)對(duì)不起态蒂，”他的主人急忙對(duì)奈德說(shuō)：“這小子倔得跟生鐵似的，生鐵就是欠打掺逼。不過(guò)這頭盔也不是什么值錢(qián)家什吃媒，若您肯原諒他，我保證為您打一頂前所未有的上等貨色吕喘∽改牵”
“He’s done nothing that requires my forgiveness. Gendry, when Lord
Arryn came to see you, what did you talk about?”
“他又沒(méi)做錯(cuò)事，我沒(méi)什么好原諒的氯质。詹德利募舟，艾林大人來(lái)看你時(shí)，你們都說(shuō)了些什么闻察？”
“He asked me questions is all, m’lord.”
“大人拱礁，他不過(guò)就問(wèn)了些問(wèn)題琢锋。”
“What sort of questions?”
“什么問(wèn)題呢灶？”
The boy
shrugged. “How was I, and was I well treated, and if I liked the work, and
stuff about my mother. Who she was and what she looked like and all.”
男孩聳肩道：“問(wèn)我過(guò)得好不好啊吴超，主人待我如何啊，我喜不喜歡這差事啊鸯乃，還有我媽的事鲸阻，問(wèn)她是誰(shuí)、長(zhǎng)得怎么樣這些缨睡∧胥玻”
“What did you tell him?” Ned asked.
“你怎么回答？”
The boy shoved a
fresh fall of black hair off his forehead. “She died when I was little. She had
yellow hair, and sometimes she used to sing to me, I remember. She worked in an
alehouse.”
男孩撥開(kāi)一撮新垂下的黑發(fā)奖年∠钢睿“我還小的時(shí)候她就死了。我只記得她的頭發(fā)是黃色的陋守，有時(shí)會(huì)唱歌給我聽(tīng)震贵。她在酒館里做事⌒嵋澹”
“Did Lord Stannis question you as well?”
“史坦尼斯大人也問(wèn)過(guò)你問(wèn)題嗎屏歹？”
“The bald one? No, not him. He never said no word, just glared at me,
like I was some raper who done for his daughter.”
“光頭的那個(gè)？沒(méi)之碗，他沒(méi)問(wèn)蝙眶。他都不說(shuō)話(huà)，光盯著我瞧褪那，好像我上了他女兒似的幽纷。”
“Mind your filthy tongue,” the master said. “This is the King’s own
Hand.” The boy lowered his eyes. “A smart boy, but stubborn. That helm?.?.?.?
the others call him bullheaded, so he threw it in their teeth.”
“講話(huà)當(dāng)心點(diǎn)博敬，”師傅說(shuō)友浸，“你是在和國(guó)王的首相大人說(shuō)話(huà)∑眩”男孩低下頭收恢。“這孩子聰明祭往，偏偏就是拗伦意。瞧這頭盔……別人罵他牛脾氣，他就打頂牛頭盔來(lái)氣他們硼补⊥匀猓”
Ned touched the
boy’s head, fingering the thick black hair. “Look at me, Gendry.” The
apprentice lifted his face. Ned studied the shape of his jaw, the eyes like
blue ice. Yes, he thought, I see it. “Go back to your work, lad. I’m sorry to
have bothered you.” He walked back to the house with the master. “Who paid the
boy’s apprentice fee?” he asked lightly.
奈德摸摸男孩的頭，輕搓著他粗黑的頭發(fā)已骇±攵郏“詹德利票编，看著我÷芽剩”小學(xué)徒抬起頭慧域，奈德仔細(xì)審視著他下巴的輪廓，還有那對(duì)冷若冰霜的藍(lán)眼睛浪读。是了吊趾，他心想，我知道了瑟啃。“去干活罷揩尸，小伙子蛹屿。抱歉打擾你⊙矣埽”他隨武器師傅走回屋里错负。“這孩子的見(jiàn)習(xí)費(fèi)是誰(shuí)付的勇边？”他輕描淡寫(xiě)地問(wèn)犹撒。
Mott looked
fretful. “You saw the boy. Such a strong boy. Those hands of his, those hands
were made for hammers. He had such promise, I took him on without a fee.”
莫特看上去相當(dāng)害怕×０“您自己也看到了识颊，這孩子強(qiáng)壯得很，還有他那雙手奕坟，天生就是打鐵的料祥款，這孩子有潛力，所以我沒(méi)收見(jiàn)習(xí)費(fèi)月杉∪絮耍”
“The truth now,” Ned urged. “The streets are full of strong boys. The
day you take on an apprentice without a fee will be the day the Wall comes
down. Who paid for him?”
“跟我說(shuō)實(shí)話(huà)，”奈德催促他苛萎，“強(qiáng)壯的小伙子滿(mǎn)街都是桨昙。除非長(zhǎng)城倒塌，否則你不可能不收見(jiàn)習(xí)費(fèi)腌歉。到底是誰(shuí)付的蛙酪？”
“A lord,” the master said reluctantly. “He gave no name, and wore no
sigil on his coat. He paid in gold, twice the customary sum, and said he was
paying once for the boy, and once for my silence.”
“是個(gè)官家老爺，”武器師傅很不情愿地說(shuō)究履，“他沒(méi)說(shuō)自己的名姓滤否，外衣上也沒(méi)有家徽。他拿出手的是金子最仑，而且付了平常的雙倍藐俺，說(shuō)一半是孩子的見(jiàn)習(xí)費(fèi)炊甲，另一半是要我別說(shuō)出去∮郏”
“Describe him.”
“說(shuō)說(shuō)他長(zhǎng)什么樣卿啡。”
“He was stout, round of shoulder, not so tall as you. Brown beard,
but there was a bit of red in it, I’ll swear. He wore a rich cloak, that I do
remember, heavy purple velvet worked with silver threads, but the hood shadowed
his face and I never did see him clear.” He hesitated a moment. “My lord, I
want no trouble.”
“他很粗壯菱父，寬肩膀颈娜，但沒(méi)您高。棕色的胡子浙宜，似乎還雜了點(diǎn)紅官辽。我倒是記得他穿的披風(fēng)，高檔貨粟瞬，扎實(shí)的紫天鵝絨料子同仆，滾了銀邊，可兜帽遮住了他的臉裙品，我看不清楚俗批。”他遲疑了一下市怎∷晖“大人，我不想惹麻煩区匠「上瘢”
“None of us wants trouble, but I fear these are troubled times, Master
Mott,” Ned said. “You know who the boy is.”
“誰(shuí)都不想惹麻煩∪柚荆可是莫特師傅蝠筑，恐怕這是個(gè)麻煩的年代】粒”奈德道什乙，“你很清楚這孩子是誰(shuí)∫亚颍”
“I am only an armorer, my lord. I know what I’m told.”
“大人臣镣，我只是個(gè)武器師傅，不知道什么我不該知道的事智亮∫淠常”
“You know who the boy is,” Ned repeated patiently. “That is not a
question.”
“你很清楚這孩子是誰(shuí)，”奈德耐心地重復(fù)一遍阔蛉∑妫“我可不是問(wèn)你知不知道。”
“The boy is my apprentice,” the master said. He looked Ned in the
eye, stubborn as old iron. “Who he was before he came to me, that’s none of my
concern.”
“這孩子是我的學(xué)徒聋呢，”武器師傅說(shuō)苗踪。他迎視奈德的目光，眼神固執(zhí)得如鋼鐵一般削锰⊥ú“他來(lái)我這兒以前是誰(shuí)，那不干我的事器贩÷幔”
Ned nodded. He
decided that he liked Tobho Mott, master armorer. “If the day ever comes when
Gendry would rather wield a sword than forge one, send him to me. He has the
look of a warrior. Until then, you have my thanks, Master Mott, and my promise.
Should I ever want a helm to frighten children, this will be the first place I
visit.”
奈德點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，覺(jué)得自己還挺喜歡托布·莫特這位武器大師蛹稍“苫疲“哪天要是詹德利不想繼續(xù)鑄劍，想要實(shí)際弄把刀玩玩的話(huà)唆姐，叫他來(lái)找我稚字，我看他是塊當(dāng)兵的料。在那之前呢厦酬，莫特師傅，我謝謝你照顧他瘫想。我跟你保證仗阅，若是我想弄頂頭盔來(lái)嚇嚇小孩，一定第一個(gè)找你国夜〖踉耄”
His guard was
waiting outside with the horses. “Did you find anything, my lord?” Jacks asked
as Ned mounted up.
他的侍衛(wèi)牽馬等在外面〕荡担“老爺筹裕，您查出什么了嗎？”奈德上馬時(shí)窄驹，杰克斯開(kāi)口問(wèn)朝卒。
“I did,” Ned told him, wondering. What had Jon Arryn wanted with a
king’s bastard, and why was it worth his life?
“有的±植海”奈德告訴他抗斤，自己卻思緒滿(mǎn)懷。瓊恩·艾林找國(guó)王的私生子做什么丈咐？到底什么事值得他連命都賠上瑞眼？
