EDDARD

25 奈德

Lord Arryn’s

death was a great sadness for all of us, my lord,” Grand Maester Pycelle said.

“I would be more than happy to tell you what I can of the manner of his

passing. Do be seated. Would you care for refreshments? Some dates, perhaps? I

have some very fine persimmons as well. Wine no longer agrees with my

digestion, I fear, but I can offer you a cup of iced milk, sweetened with

honey. I find it most refreshing in this heat.”

“大人短绸，艾林公爵的死對我們是個沉重的打擊颅筋∑靶唬”派席爾國師說氛魁，“我自然很樂意告訴您他過世的情形邦投。請坐次酌。您要不要吃些點心辖所？來幾顆棗子如何惰说？我這兒還有些上好的柿子。我這把年紀(jì)雖然不能喝酒缘回，倒是可以幫您弄杯冰牛奶吆视，加過蜂蜜的。大熱天里喝這個正合適酥宴±舶桑”

There was no

denying the heat; Ned could feel the silk tunic clinging to his chest. Thick,

moist air covered the city like a damp woolen blanket, and the riverside had

grown unruly as the poor fled their hot, airless warrens to jostle for sleeping

places near the water, where the only breath of wind was to be found. “That

would be most kind,” Ned said, seating himself.

天氣的確很熱，奈德的絲質(zhì)外衣貼緊前胸拙寡∈谧遥空氣郁窒而潮濕，像條濕羊毛毯般覆蓋整個城市肆糕。窮人紛紛逃離他們悶熱窒息的住所般堆，想在河畔搶個位子歇息，只有那里才有些許微風(fēng)诚啃，結(jié)果河邊被擠得壅塞不堪淮摔。“那就謝謝您了始赎『统龋”奈德說著坐了下來。

Pycelle lifted a

tiny silver bell with thumb and forefinger and tinkled it gently. A slender

young serving girl hurried into the solar. “Iced milk for the King’s Hand and

myself, if you would be so kind, child. Well sweetened.”

派席爾用拇指和食指揀起一個精巧的小銀鈴造垛，輕輕搖了兩下魔招。一名清瘦的女侍急忙趕進(jìn)來〗畈“我的好孩子仆百，請你幫首相大人和我各弄一杯冰牛奶，多加點蜂蜜奔脐《碇埽”

As the girl went

to fetch their drinks, the Grand Maester knotted his fingers together and

rested his hands on his stomach. “The smallfolk say that the last year of

summer is always the hottest. It is not so, yet ofttimes it feels that way,

does it not? On days like this, I envy you northerners your summer snows.” The

heavy jeweled chain around the old man’s neck chinked softly as he shifted in

his seat. “To be sure, King Maekar’s summer was hotter than this one, and near

as long. There were fools, even in the Citadel, who took that to mean that the

Great Summer had come at last, the summer that never ends, but in the seventh

year it broke suddenly, and we had a short autumn and a terrible long winter.

Still, the heat was fierce while it lasted. Oldtown steamed and sweltered by

day and came alive only by night. We would walk in the gardens by the river and

argue about the gods. I remember the smells of those nights, my lord, perfume

and sweat, melons ripe to bursting, peaches and pomegranates, nightshade and

moonbloom. I was a young man then, still forging my chain. The heat did not

exhaust me as it does now.” Pycelle’s eyes were so heavily lidded he looked

half-asleep. “My pardons, Lord Eddard. You did not come to hear foolish

meanderings of a summer forgotten before your father was born. Forgive an old

man his wanderings, if you would. Minds are like swords, I do fear. The old

ones go to rust. Ah, and here is our milk.” The serving girl placed the tray

between them, and Pycelle gave her a smile. “Sweet child.” He lifted a cup, tasted, nodded. “Thank you.

You may go.”

女孩去取飲料之后，國師叉起指頭髓迎，把手放在肚子上峦朗。“老百姓說夏天的最后一年是最熱的年頭排龄。當(dāng)然啦波势，這只是民間的說法，可有時候還真讓人產(chǎn)生這種錯覺，您說是不尺铣？每到這種天氣拴曲，我就羨慕你們北方人還有夏雪×莘蓿”老人脖子上掛的那串寶石項鏈隨著他挪動身體而發(fā)出輕響澈灼。“遠(yuǎn)的不說店溢，梅卡國王那時的夏天就比現(xiàn)在還熱叁熔，持續(xù)時間也差不多。有些傻瓜還以為永不結(jié)束的‘永夏’已經(jīng)降臨床牧，就連學(xué)城里也有這種人荣回，結(jié)果呢？到得第七年突然就變了天戈咳，緊接著短短的秋天心软，就是恐怖而漫長的冬季。但無可否認(rèn)除秀，那時候還真是夠熱糯累。舊鎮(zhèn)上上下下熱氣四溢算利，暑氣逼人册踩，到了晚上才稍稍扭轉(zhuǎn)。那時我們常在河濱花園里散步效拭，一邊爭論各種宗教觀點暂吉。首相大人，直到現(xiàn)在我還記得那些個夜晚的味道——香水缎患、汗味慕的，各種瓜果熟得快裂開，桃子與石榴挤渔，顛茄和月花肮街。當(dāng)時我還年輕，正在打造我的項鏈判导，再熱都不以為意嫉父，哪像現(xiàn)在，受不了啰眼刃∪葡剑”派席爾眼瞼低垂，看上去仿佛就要睡著擂红∫羌剩“艾德大人，真對不住，您不是來聽我絮絮叨叨什么早被遺忘的夏季的树碱，當(dāng)年連令尊都沒出生呢肯适。就請您多多包涵我這老人家的羅嗦罷。思想這東西成榜，就跟寶劍一樣疹娶，放久了自然就生銹嘍。啊伦连，我們的牛奶來了雨饺。”女侍在他們中間放上一個托盤惑淳，派席爾朝她微微一笑额港。“真是個好孩子歧焦∫普叮”他拿起一杯嘗了兩口，點點頭绢馍∠虼桑“謝謝你，你下去罷舰涌〔危”

When the girl

had taken her leave, Pycelle peered at Ned through pale, rheumy eyes. “Now

where were we? Oh, yes. You asked about Lord Arryn?.?.?.?”

女孩離開后，派席爾用他那雙蒼白而濕潤的眼睛打量奈德瓷耙，“我們說到哪兒了朱躺？噢，您問起艾林大人……”

“I did.” Ned sipped politely at the iced milk. It was pleasantly

cold, but oversweet to his taste.

“是的搁痛〕げ螅”奈德很有禮貌地啜著牛奶，冰涼涼的很爽口鸡典，只是對他而言太甜了源请。

“If truth be told, the Hand had not seemed quite himself for some

time,” Pycelle said. “We had sat together on council many a year, he and I, and

the signs were there to read, but I put them down to the great burdens he had

borne so faithfully for so long. Those broad shoulders were weighed down by all

the cares of the realm, and more besides. His son was ever sickly, and his lady

wife so anxious that she would scarcely let the boy out of her sight. It was

enough to weary even a strong man, and the Lord Jon was not young. Small wonder

if he seemed melancholy and tired. Or so I thought at the time. Yet now I am

less certain.” He gave a ponderous shake of his head.

“說實話，前首相大人之前就常常心神不寧彻况∷”派席爾道，“我和他共事這么多年疗垛，還有什么征兆看不出來症汹？我認(rèn)為這是來源于他長久以來默默承受的重責(zé)大任。他那對寬闊的肩膀都快被國家大事和別的心事給壓垮了贷腕。尤其是他兒子身體孱弱背镇，夫人為此憂心忡忡咬展，幾乎不敢讓他離開視線范圍。這樣的壓力連身強體壯的人尚且難以負(fù)荷瞒斩，何況瓊恩大人他年紀(jì)也已不輕破婆。若他為此身心俱疲，實在不足為奇胸囱。至少我當(dāng)時是這樣想的〉灰ǎ現(xiàn)在我卻不敢妄下斷論∨氡剩”他若有所思地?fù)u搖頭裳扯。

“What can you tell me of his final illness?”

“他到底生了什么病谤职？”

The Grand

Maester spread his hands in a gesture of helpless sorrow. “He came to me one

day asking after a certain book, as hale and healthy as ever, though it did

seem to me that something was troubling him deeply. The next morning he was

twisted over in pain, too sick to rise from bed. Maester Colemon thought it was

a chill on the stomach. The weather had been hot, and the Hand often iced his

wine, which can upset the digestion. When Lord Jon continued to weaken, I went

to him myself, but the gods did not grant me the power to save him.”

國師攤開手饰豺，做出無可奈何的悲傷姿勢≡黍冢“有天他來找我要一本書冤吨，身子骨和平時一樣，硬朗得沒話說饶套，但我看得出他心頭在掛慮什么漩蟆。隔天早晨，他便周身疼痛妓蛮，連床也起不來了怠李。柯蒙學(xué)士認(rèn)為他只是腸胃受了寒仔引，這些日子天氣熱扔仓，首相大人常在葡萄酒里加冰塊，很有可能影響消化咖耘。然而瓊恩大人的病情卻持續(xù)惡化，于是我親自出馬撬码，只是諸神不肯賜予我拯救他的力量儿倒。”

“I have heard that you sent Maester Colemon away.”

“聽說您當(dāng)時把柯蒙師傅給遣開了呜笑》蚍瘢”

The Grand

Maester’s nod was as slow and deliberate as a glacier. “I did, and I fear the

Lady Lysa will never forgive me that. Maybe I was wrong, but at the time I

thought it best. Maester Colemon is like a son to me, and I yield to none in my

esteem for his abilities, but he is young, and the young ofttimes do not

comprehend the frailty of an older body. He was purging Lord Arryn with wasting

potions and pepper juice, and I feared he might kill him.”

大學(xué)士慢慢而鄭重地點了點頭，有如緩緩流動的冰河叫胁』舜龋“是啊，只怕萊莎夫人永遠(yuǎn)也不會原諒我驼鹅∥⑽剑或許我做得不對森篷，然而當(dāng)時我覺得這是最好的選擇。我把柯蒙師傅當(dāng)自己兒子一般看待豺型，對他的能力我也絕對有信心仲智，然而他太年輕，年輕人往往無法體會老年人的身體有多虛弱姻氨。他讓艾林大人喝下清腸劑和胡椒液钓辆，本意是想嘔出毒素，怕只怕這反而會害了公爵肴焊∏傲”

“Did Lord Arryn say anything to you during his final hours?”

“艾林大人病危時跟您說過些什么棚愤？”

Pycelle wrinkled

his brow. “In the last stage of his fever, the Hand called out the name Robert

several times, but whether he was asking for his son or for the king I could

not say. Lady Lysa would not permit the boy to enter the sickroom, for fear

that he too might be taken ill. The king did come, and he sat beside the bed

for hours, talking and joking of times long past in hopes of raising Lord Jon’s

spirits. His love was fierce to see.”

派席爾皺起眉頭吗浩，“在他最后高燒彌留的階段，首相大人多次高呼‘勞勃’這個名字镜硕，我不確定他是叫他的愛子還是國王陛下茂浮。萊莎夫人不準(zhǔn)孩子進(jìn)病房双谆，怕他被傳染。國王陛下倒是來過席揽，在病床邊坐了好長時間顽馋，跟瓊恩大人談起往日的美好時光，希望能提振他的精神幌羞。他對前首相的敬愛非常明顯寸谜。”

“Was there nothing else? No final words?”

“沒有別的嗎属桦？沒有遺言熊痴？”

“When I saw that all hope had fled, I gave the Hand the milk of the

poppy, so he should not suffer. Just before he closed his eyes for the last

time, he whispered something to the king and his lady wife, a blessing for his

son. The seed is strong, he said. At the end, his speech was too slurred to

comprehend. Death did not come until the next morning, but Lord Jon was at

peace after that. He never spoke again.”

“我眼看首相大人康復(fù)無望，便給他喝了罌粟花奶聂宾，好讓他不再受苦果善。他在闔眼之前，向夫人和國王陛下說了句為愛子祈福的話系谐。他說‘種性強韌’巾陕。末了，他的吐詞已經(jīng)含糊不清纪他，難辨其意鄙煤。雖然隔天清晨人才故去，但瓊恩大人在那之后已經(jīng)平靜下來茶袒，沒再開口梯刚。”

Ned took another

swallow of milk, trying not to gag on the sweetness of it. “Did it seem to you

that there was anything unnatural about Lord Arryn’s death?”

奈德又喝了口牛奶薪寓，努力忍受膩人的甜味亡资±焦玻“那，依您之見沟于，瓊恩·艾林大人的死有無蹊蹺咳胃？”

“Unnatural?” The aged maester’s voice was thin as a whisper. “No, I

could not say so. Sad, for a certainty. Yet in its own way, death is the most

natural thing of all, Lord Eddard. Jon Arryn rests easy now, his burdens lifted

at last.”

“有無蹊蹺？”老師傅的聲音輕得像是悄悄話旷太，“不展懈，我認(rèn)為沒有。艾德大人供璧，死亡固然令人悲傷存崖，但從另一方面講，卻也是最自然不過的事睡毒。瓊恩·艾林大人如今已卸下所有重?fù)?dān)来惧，長眠于地底了⊙莨耍”

“This illness that took him,” said Ned. “Had you ever seen its like

before, in other men?”

“奪走他性命的這種病供搀，”艾德說，“您以前見過嗎钠至？在其他病人身上葛虐？”

“Near forty years I have been Grand Maester of the Seven Kingdoms,”

Pycelle replied. “Under our good King Robert, and Aerys Targaryen before him,

and his father Jaehaerys the Second before him, and even for a few short months

under Jaehaerys’s father, Aegon the Fortunate, the Fifth of His Name. I have

seen more of illness than I care to remember, my lord. I will tell you this:

Every case is different, and every case is alike. Lord Jon’s death was no

stranger than any other.”

“我做七國的國師已近四十年，”派席爾回答棉钧，“服侍過我們的好國王勞勃屿脐，在他之前的伊里斯·坦格利安，伊里斯的父親杰赫里斯二世宪卿，甚至還在杰赫里斯的父親‘幸運的’伊耿五世手下做過幾個月的诵。首相大人，我見過的疾病不勝枚舉佑钾，讓我告訴您罷：每種疾病雖不一樣西疤，卻都有共通之處。瓊恩大人的死并不比其他人來得離奇次绘”窀螅”

“His wife thought otherwise.”

“他的夫人可不這么認(rèn)為∮寿耍”

The Grand

Maester nodded. “I recall now, the widow is sister to your own noble wife. If

an old man may be forgiven his blunt speech, let me say that grief can derange

even the strongest and most disciplined of minds, and the Lady Lysa was never

that. Since her last stillbirth, she has seen enemies in every shadow, and the death

of her lord husband left her shattered and lost.”

國師點點頭∫謇瑁“我想起來了禾进，他的遺孀是尊夫人的妹妹。如果您不嫌我這老人家說話莽撞廉涕，容我這么說泻云，即便最堅強艇拍、最自制的人，往往也容易被悲傷所影響宠纯，何況萊莎夫人本不是那樣的人卸夕。她自上次流產(chǎn)之后，便疑神疑鬼婆瓜，處處以為有人要與她為敵快集，想必首相大人的死讓她心都碎了×祝”

“So you are quite certain that Jon Arryn died of a sudden illness?”

“所以你確信瓊恩·艾林死于突發(fā)性疾哺龀酢？”

“I am,” Pycelle replied gravely. “If not illness, my good lord, what

else could it be?”

“是的猴蹂≡耗纾”派席爾沉重地回答，“若非疾病磅轻，我的好大人珍逸，還會是什么呢？”

“Poison,” Ned suggested quietly.

“毒藥聋溜∽簧牛”奈德靜靜地提示。

Pycelle’s sleepy

eyes flicked open. The aged maester shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “A

disturbing thought. We are not the Free Cities, where such things are common.

Grand Maester Aethelmure wrote that all men carry murder in their hearts, yet

even so, the poisoner is beneath contempt.” He fell silent for a moment, his eyes

lost in thought. “What you suggest is possible, my lord, yet I do not think it

likely. Every hedge maester knows the common poisons, and Lord Arryn displayed

none of the signs. And the Hand was loved by all. What sort of monster in man’s

flesh would dare to murder such a noble lord?”

派席爾的惺忪睡眼猛地睜大勤婚，這位老師傅不安地在座位上挪動身子摹量。“這想法真叫人不寒而栗馒胆。我們并非身在自由貿(mào)易城邦缨称，只有在那里，這種事才是家常便飯祝迂。雖說伊薩穆爾國師提醒我們每個人心里都有謀殺的種子睦尽，即便如此，下毒還是太令人不齒型雳〉狈玻”他沉默了一會兒，眼神若有所思纠俭⊙亓浚“大人，您所提出的這種可能性冤荆，我認(rèn)為不存在朴则。隨便雇一個鄉(xiāng)野學(xué)士都能看出常見的中毒癥狀，艾林大人卻沒有任何類似跡象钓简。更何況人人都愛戴首相大人乌妒，怎么會有禽獸膽敢毒害如此高貴的好人呢汹想？”

“I have heard it said that poison is a woman’s weapon.”

“我倒聽說毒藥是女人的武器〕肺茫”

Pycelle stroked

his beard thoughtfully. “It is said. Women, cravens?.?.?.?and eunuchs.” He

cleared his throat and spat a thick glob of phelm onto the rushes. Above them,

a raven cawed loudly in the rookery. “The Lord Varys was born a slave in Lys,

did you know? Put not your trust in spiders, my lord.”

派席爾沉吟著捻胡須古掏。“是有這種說法侦啸。包括女人槽唾、懦夫……還有太監(jiān)∑ブ校”他清清喉嚨夏漱，朝草席吐口濃痰。在他們頭頂上方顶捷，有只烏鴉在巢里大聲怪叫挂绰。“您可知道服赎，瓦里斯伯爵原本是里斯的奴隸葵蒂？大人，千萬不能信任蜘蛛啊重虑〖叮”

That was

scarcely anything Ned needed to be told; there was something about Varys that

made his flesh crawl. “I will remember that, Maester. And I thank you for your

help. I have taken enough of your time.” He stood.

這話奈德不用他提醒，瓦里斯有種能讓他渾身起雞皮疙瘩的本事缺厉∮栏撸“我會記住的，師傅提针。謝謝您的協(xié)助命爬，只怕我已經(jīng)占用您太多時間了》保”他站起身饲宛。

Grand Maester Pycelle

pushed himself up from his chair slowly and escorted Ned to the door. “I hope I

have helped in some small way to put your mind at ease. If there is any other

service I might perform, you need only ask.”

派席爾國師緩緩?fù)崎_椅子，送奈德到門邊嗜价⊥Э伲“希望我這一點綿薄之力能讓您安心。如果還有別的地方幫得上忙久锥，您盡管開口家淤。”

“One thing,” Ned told him. “I should be curious to examine the book

that you lent Jon the day before he fell ill.”

“還有一件事瑟由，”奈德對他說媒鼓，“我對瓊恩生病前天跟您借的那本書很好奇，不知可否拿來一閱错妖？”

“I fear you would find it of little interest,” Pycelle said. “It was

a ponderous tome by Grand Maester Malleon on the lineages of the great houses.”

“恐怕您會覺得很無趣绿鸣，”派席爾道，“那是梅利恩國師所寫的一本大部頭暂氯，里面講的全是各大家族的歷代譜系潮模。”

“Still, I should like to see it.”

“沒關(guān)系痴施，我只想看看擎厢。”

The old man

opened the door. “As you wish. I have it here somewhere. When I find it, I

shall have it sent to your chambers straightaway.”

老人打開門辣吃《猓“如您所愿，我好像就放在這哪兒神得，總之書一找到厘惦，我即刻差人送到您房間去×ú荆”

“You have been most courteous,” Ned told him. Then, almost as an

afterthought, he said, “One last question, if you would be so kind. You

mentioned that the king was at Lord Arryn’s bedside when he died. I wonder, was

the queen with him?”

“您真是太周到了宵蕉。”奈德告訴他节榜。接著羡玛，他像突然想到什么似地說，“請您見諒宗苍，我還有最后一個問題稼稿。您剛才說艾林大人臨終時國王在他床邊，呃讳窟，不知當(dāng)時王后在不在場让歼？”

“Why, no,” Pycelle said. “She and the children were making the

journey to Casterly Rock, in company with her father. Lord Tywin had brought a

retinue to the city for the tourney on Prince Joffrey’s name day, no doubt

hoping to see his son Jaime win the champion’s crown. In that he was sadly

disappointed. It fell to me to send the queen word of Lord Arryn’s sudden

death. Never have I sent off a bird with a heavier heart.”

“唉，不在哪挪钓∈窃剑”派席爾說，“當(dāng)時她正帶著公主王子碌上，陪著她父親倚评，前往凱巖城。先前泰溫大人帶上大隊人馬前來都城參加喬佛里王子的命名日比武大會馏予，無疑是想看他兒子詹姆贏得冠軍天梧，可惜沒能如愿。通知王后陛下艾林大人死訊的事霞丧，便落到了我身上呢岗。我這輩子從沒有懷著如此沉重的心情送出一只鳥兒。”

“Dark wings, dark words,” Ned murmured. It was a proverb Old Nan had

taught him as a boy.

“黑色的翅膀后豫，帶來黑色的消息悉尾。”奈德喃喃道挫酿。這是小時候老奶媽教他的一句諺語构眯。

“So the fishwives say,” Grand Maester Pycelle agreed, “but we know it

is not always so. When Maester Luwin’s bird brought the word about your Bran,

the message lifted every true heart in the castle, did it not?”

“民間是這么說的，”派席爾總師同意早龟，“但我們知道也不盡然惫霸。魯溫學(xué)士的鳥兒捎來貴公子布蘭的好消息時，可不是讓城里每個人都?xì)g欣雀躍么葱弟？”

“As you say, Maester.”

“大學(xué)士壹店，您說得對≈ゼ樱”

“The gods are merciful.” Pycelle bowed his head. “Come to me as often

as you like, Lord Eddard. I am here to serve.”

“諸神慈悲硅卢，”派席爾點點頭⊙欤“艾德大人老赤，有什么事請盡管來找我，我隨時聽候差遣制市√”

Yes, Ned thought

as the door swung shut, but whom?

是啊，奈德在門關(guān)上時想著祥楣，但是聽候誰的差遣呢开财？

On the way back

to his chambers, he came upon his daughter Arya on the winding steps of the

Tower of the Hand, windmilling her arms as she struggled to balance on one leg.

The rough stone had scuffed her bare feet. Ned stopped and looked at her.

“Arya, what are you doing?”

回房途中，他見到女兒艾莉亞單腳站在首相塔的螺旋梯上误褪，兩手不斷揮舞保持平衡责鳍。粗糙的石地面磨破了她的腳丫。奈德停下來看她兽间±穑“艾莉亞，你這是在做什么嘀略？”

“Syrio says a water dancer can stand on one toe for hours.” Her hands

flailed at the air to steady herself.

“西利歐說水舞者可以用一只腳趾站好幾個小時恤溶。”她兩手在空中拚命揮舞帜羊，以保持平衡咒程。

Ned had to

smile. “Which toe?” he teased.

奈德忍俊不禁∷嫌“哪只腳趾頭帐姻？”他揶揄道稠集。

“Any toe,” Arya said, exasperated with the question. She hopped from

her right leg to her left, swaying dangerously before she regained her balance.

“隨便哪一只都可以〖⒋桑”艾莉亞為這個問題而惱怒剥纷。她從右腳跳到左腳，顫巍巍地來回晃動扛伍，最后才重新找到平衡筷畦。

“Must you do your standing here?” he asked. “It’s a long hard fall

down these steps.”

“你非站在這里不可？”他問刺洒，“又高又陡，跌下去可不好玩吼砂∧婧剑”

“Syrio says a water dancer never falls.” She lowered her leg to stand

on two feet. “Father, will Bran come and live with us now?”

“西利歐說水舞者絕不會跌倒∮婕纾”她放下腳因俐，兩腿站立≈苜耍“爸爸抹剩，布蘭現(xiàn)在會來跟我們一起住了嗎？”

“Not for a long time, sweet one,” he told her. “He needs to win his

strength back.”

“恐怕要等一段時間蓉坎，小寶貝澳眷。”他對她說蛉艾，“他得先恢復(fù)體力才成钳踊。”

Arya bit her

lip. “What will Bran do when he’s of age?”

艾莉亞咬咬嘴唇勿侯⊥氐桑“布蘭長大以后要做什么呢？”

Ned knelt beside

her. “He has years to find that answer, Arya. For now, it is enough to know that

he will live.” The night the bird had come from Winterfell, Eddard Stark had

taken the girls to the castle godswood, an acre of elm and alder and black

cottonwood overlooking the river. The heart tree there was a great oak, its

ancient limbs overgrown with smokeberry vines; they knelt before it to offer

their thanksgiving, as if it had been a weirwood. Sansa drifted to sleep as the

moon rose, Arya several hours later, curling up in the grass under Ned’s cloak.

All through the dark hours he kept his vigil alone. When dawn broke over the

city, the dark red blooms of dragon’s breath surrounded the girls where they

lay. “I dreamed of Bran,” Sansa had whispered to him. “I saw him smiling.”

“艾莉亞助琐，他有好多年的時間來尋找答案祭埂。而現(xiàn)在，我們只要知道他會活下去就好了兵钮∏穑”鳥兒從臨冬城捎來訊息的那天晚上，艾德·史塔克帶著女兒們來到城堡的神木林矢空。那是片足有一畝之廣的森林航罗，種滿榆樹、柏樹和黑色三葉楊屁药，俯瞰著河流粥血。那里的心樹是棵大橡木柏锄，古老的枝干上爬滿煙莓藤蔓，他們在樹前跪下感謝神靈复亏，一如在家鄉(xiāng)的魚梁木底趾娃。待到月亮升起，珊莎已經(jīng)睡著缔御，艾莉亞則多撐了幾個小時抬闷，最后也蜷縮在草地上，蓋著奈德的斗篷沉沉睡去耕突。漫漫長夜笤成，他獨自靜默禱告。翌日清晨眷茁，天光乍現(xiàn)炕泳，只見龍息草暗紅色的花圍繞著兩個躺臥的女兒∩掀恚“我夢見了布蘭喔培遵，”珊莎偷偷對他說，“還看見他笑呢登刺∽淹螅”

“He was going to be a knight,” Arya was saying now. “A knight of the

Kingsguard. Can he still be a knight?”

“他以后會當(dāng)上騎士，”這會兒艾莉亞說纸俭，“當(dāng)上御林鐵衛(wèi)的騎士皇耗。他還能當(dāng)騎士嗎？”

“No,” Ned said. He saw no use in lying to her. “Yet someday he may be

the lord of a great holdfast and sit on the king’s council. He might raise

castles like Brandon the Builder, or sail a ship across the Sunset Sea, or

enter your mother’s Faith and become the High Septon.” But he will never run

beside his wolf again, he thought with a sadness too deep for words, or lie

with a woman, or hold his own son in his arms.

“不行掉蔬±认埽”奈德自覺說謊無益∨危“有朝一日他或能身居高位箭启，成為國王的重臣。他可能會像‘筑城者’布蘭登那樣興建城堡蛉迹，可能乘船橫渡日落之海傅寡，或是皈依你母親的信仰，當(dāng)上總主教北救〖霾伲”然而他再也不能和他的狼一并奔馳，他沉痛地想珍策，這悲傷無言可喻托启，他也無法和女人同床共枕、抱著自己親生孩兒了攘宙。

Arya cocked her

head to one side. “Can I be a king’s councillor and build castles and become

the High Septon?”

艾莉亞歪著頭屯耸」涨ǎ“那我可以當(dāng)國王的重臣，蓋城堡疗绣，當(dāng)大主教嗎线召？”

“You,” Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, “will marry a king

and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and,

yes, perhaps even a High Septon.”

“你啊，”奈德說著輕輕吻了她的眉毛多矮』貉停“你會嫁給某個國王，管理他的城堡塔逃，你的兒子們則會當(dāng)上騎士讯壶、王子或領(lǐng)主，或許也能當(dāng)上大主教患雏∨羲荩”

Arya screwed up

her face. “No,” she said, “that’s Sansa.” She folded up her right leg and

resumed her balancing. Ned sighed and left her there.

艾莉亞臉色一變⊙吐兀“不要，”她說肺孵，“珊莎才會那樣匀借。”她右腳離地平窘，繼續(xù)練習(xí)單腳平衡吓肋。奈德嘆了口氣，留下她走了瑰艘。

Inside his

chambers, he stripped off his sweat-stained silks and sluiced cold water over

his head from the basin beside the bed. Alyn entered as he was drying his face.

“My lord,” he said, “Lord Baelish is without and begs audience.”

進(jìn)到房間是鬼，他脫下汗水浸濕的絲質(zhì)上衣，從床邊的水盆里掬起冷水當(dāng)頭淋下紫新。正當(dāng)他擦臉的時候均蜜，埃林進(jìn)來說：“老爺，貝里席大人在外求見芒率《诙”

“Escort him to my solar,” Ned said, reaching for a fresh tunic, the

lightest linen he could find. “I’ll see him at once.”

“把他請到我書房去∨忌郑”奈德邊說邊伸手拿起他質(zhì)料最薄的亞麻布干衣充择。“我馬上就來匪蟀∽德螅”

Littlefinger was

perched on the window seat when Ned entered, watching the knights of the

Kingsguard practice at swords in the yard below. “If only old Selmy’s mind were

as nimble as his blade,” he said wistfully, “our council meetings would be a

good deal livelier.”

當(dāng)奈德跨進(jìn)書房，發(fā)現(xiàn)小指頭正坐在窗邊材彪，望著在下方廣場練劍的御林鐵衛(wèi)观挎∏俣“老賽爾彌的腦袋瓜要跟他的劍一樣靈光就好了，”他滿懷渴望地說键兜，“那樣開會會有趣許多凤类。”

“Ser Barristan is as valiant and honorable as any man in King’s

Landing.” Ned had come to have a deep respect for the aged, white-haired Lord

Commander of the Kingsguard.

“巴利斯坦爵士的武勇和操守普气，不輸給君臨的任何人谜疤。”經(jīng)過這些日子的相處现诀，奈德對這位德高望重夷磕，白發(fā)蒼蒼的御林鐵衛(wèi)隊長抱持著崇高的敬意。

“And as tiresome,” Littlefinger added, “though I daresay he should do

well in the tourney. Last year he unhorsed the Hound, and it was only four

years ago that he was champion.”

“他的死氣沉沉也同樣不落人后仔沿∽”小指頭補充道，“不過我相信他在比武大會上應(yīng)該還能老當(dāng)益壯封锉，發(fā)揮余熱绵跷。去年他把獵狗一槍刺下馬，距離他上次摘下冠軍也不過四年成福∧刖郑”

The question of

who might win the tourney interested Eddard Stark not in the least. “Is there a

reason for this visit, Lord Petyr, or are you here simply to enjoy the view

from my window?”

對于誰會奪得比武大會冠軍，艾德·史塔克一點興趣也沒有奴艾【坏保“培提爾大人，請問您這次來訪有何目的蕴潦，還是單只來欣賞我窗邊景致像啼？”

Littlefinger

smiled. “I promised Cat I would help you in your inquiries, and so I have.”

小指頭微笑：“我答應(yīng)凱特幫你明查暗訪，而我說到做到潭苞『龆常”

That took Ned

aback. Promise or no promise, he could not find it in him to trust Lord Petyr

Baelish, who struck him as too clever by half. “You have something for me?”

奈德大感意外。不論對方有無承諾萄传，他都不打算相信培提爾·貝里席伯爵甚颂，他的機靈狡詐讓他很不習(xí)慣⌒懔猓“你查到了什么事振诬？”

“Someone,” Littlefinger corrected. “Four someones, if truth be told.

Had you thought to question the Hand’s servants?”

“我查到的是人，不是事衍菱「厦矗”小指頭糾正他〖勾“事實上辫呻，是四個人清钥。你有沒有想過去盤查首相的仆人？”

Ned frowned.

“Would that I could. Lady Arryn took her household back to the Eyrie.” Lysa had

done him no favor in that regard. All those who had stood closest to her

husband had gone with her when she fled: Jon’s maester, his steward, the

captain of his guard, his knights and retainers.

奈德皺眉道：“如果我能就好了放闺。艾林夫人把她全家上下都帶回了鷹巢城祟昭。”在這方面萊莎一點忙也沒幫上怖侦，所有跟她丈夫親近的人都隨她一道逃走：包括瓊恩的學(xué)士篡悟、總管、侍衛(wèi)隊長匾寝，以及手下的騎士和仆從搬葬。

“Most of her household,” Littlefinger said, “not all. A few remain. A

pregnant kitchen girl hastily wed to one of Lord Renly’s grooms, a stablehand

who joined the City Watch, a potboy discharged from service for theft, and Lord

Arryn’s squire.”

“不對，是大部分的人艳悔，”小指頭說急凰，“并非全部。有幾個人留了下來猜年。有個肚子被搞大的廚房小妹匆匆忙忙跟藍(lán)禮大人的馬夫成了親抡锈，一個馬僮加入了都城守衛(wèi)隊，一個跑堂小弟因為偷竊被炒了魷魚乔外，留下來的還有艾林大人的侍從企孩。”

“His squire?” Ned was pleasantly surprised. A man’s squire often knew

a great deal of his comings and goings.

“他的侍從袁稽？”奈德喜出望外，做侍從的對主子的進(jìn)出動向往往一清二楚擒抛。

“Ser Hugh of the Vale,” Littlefinger named him. “The king knighted

the boy after Lord Arryn’s death.”

“峽谷的修夫爵士推汽，”小指頭說出他的名字，“艾林大人死后歧沪，國王封那小子做了騎士歹撒。”

“I shall send for him,” Ned said. “And the others.”

“我這就找他來诊胞，”奈德說暖夭，“還有其他人∧旃拢”

Littlefinger

winced. “My lord, step over here to the window, if you would be so kind.”

小指頭畏縮著說：“大人迈着，勞煩您，悄悄地走到窗邊邪码≡２ぃ”

“Why?”

“做什么？”

“Come, and I’ll show you, my lord.”

“過來罷闭专，大人奴潘，我讓您瞧瞧旧烧。”

Frowning, Ned

crossed to the window. Petyr Baelish made a casual gesture. “There, across the

yard, at the door of the armory, do you see the boy squatting by the steps

honing a sword with an oilstone?”

奈德皺起眉頭画髓，走到窗邊掘剪。培提爾·貝里席若無其事地做了個手勢∧蜗海“那兒夺谁，廣場過去，兵器庫門口愚墓，您可看見一個蹲在樓梯上磨刀的小子予权？”

“What of him?”

“他怎么了？”

“He reports to Varys. The Spider has taken a great interest in you

and all your doings.” He shifted in the window seat. “Now glance at the wall.

Farther west, above the stables. The guardsman leaning on the ramparts?”

“他是瓦里斯的眼線浪册∩ㄏ伲‘八爪蜘蛛’對您的一舉一動都很有興趣〈逑螅”他在窗邊動了動笆环。“現(xiàn)在再瞧瞧城墻上厚者，西邊最遠(yuǎn)處躁劣，馬廄上面，有沒有看見那個靠在墻上的守衛(wèi)库菲？”

Ned saw the man.

“Another of the eunuch’s whisperers?”

奈德看到了账忘。“這人也是太監(jiān)的走狗熙宇？”

“No, this one belongs to the queen. Notice that he enjoys a fine view

of the door to this tower, the better to note who calls on you. There are

others, many unknown even to me. The Red Keep is full of eyes. Why do you think

I hid Cat in a brothel?”

“不鳖擒，這家伙是王后的人。請您注意烫止，他的視線正好落在這座塔的門上蒋荚，誰進(jìn)誰出一清二楚。他們倆遠(yuǎn)不是全部馆蠕，很多連我都不知曉期升。紅堡里到處是各種眼線。否則我干嘛把凱特藏在妓院互躬？”

Eddard Stark had

no taste for these intrigues. “Seven hells,” he swore. It did seem as though

the man on the walls was watching him. Suddenly uncomfortable, Ned moved away

from the window. “Is everyone someone’s informer in this cursed city?”

艾德·史塔克對這種種機心巧詐頗感不耐播赁。“天殺的吨铸，”他咒道行拢。城墻上那個人看起來的確像在監(jiān)視他。奈德頓時覺得渾身不自在，既便離開窗邊舟奠〗叻欤“難道這該死的城里每個人都是別人的眼線？”

“Scarcely,” said Littlefinger. He counted on the fingers on his hand.

“Why, there’s me, you, the king?.?.?.?although, come to think on it, the king

tells the queen much too much, and I’m less than certain about you.” He stood

up. “Is there a man in your service that you trust utterly and completely?”

“那可不沼瘫，”小指頭說抬纸。他開始掰手指」⑵荩“唉湿故，讓我算算，他們得監(jiān)視我膜蛔、你坛猪、國王……不過國王把太多事都告訴了王后，而我對你更不敢放心皂股∥枋”他站起來愈魏〗┏郏“你手下可有讓你完全充边、徹底地信任的人？”

“Yes,” said Ned.

“有蘑辑⊙蠡”奈德回答。

“In that case, I have a delightful palace in Valyria that I would

dearly love to sell you,” Littlefinger said with a mocking smile. “The wiser

answer was no, my lord, but be that as it may. Send this paragon of yours to

Ser Hugh and the others. Your own comings and goings will be noted, but even

Varys the Spider cannot watch every man in your service every hour of the day.”

He started for the door.

“若真是如此洋魂，那我還有一座建在瓦雷利亞绷旗，愛不釋手的漂亮皇宮想賣給您呢「笨常”小指頭一臉嘲諷地笑道刁标，“聰明的回答是：沒有，大人址晕，不過既然說了就算了。您得派您這位模范部下去找修夫爵士和其他人顿锰，因為您自己的行蹤會引人注目谨垃，但就算‘八爪蜘蛛’瓦里斯也沒法無時無刻、成天盯住你的每位手下硼控×跆眨”他朝門走去。

“Lord Petyr,” Ned called after him. “I?.?.?.?am grateful for your

help. Perhaps I was wrong to distrust you.”

“培提爾大人牢撼，”奈德叫住他匙隔，“我……很感激你的鼎力相助⊙妫或許我不應(yīng)該不信任你纷责『床簦”

Littlefinger

fingered his small pointed beard. “You are slow to learn, Lord Eddard. Distrusting me was the wisest

thing you’ve done since you climbed down off your horse.”

小指頭輕捻胡須：“艾德大人，您實在學(xué)得太慢再膳。不信任我挺勿，是你跳下馬背以來所做過的最明智的事∥蛊猓”