席恩技巧地避開去黑竞，“謝謝你寿谴∷遥”

Theon turned deftly aside. “You have my thanks.”

“求求您，”她說，“大人咏瑟，我是真心愛著您啊拂到。”

“Please,” she said, “I do love you well, milord.”

“我得走了码泞⌒盅”叔父已沿碼頭走開老遠(yuǎn)，席恩連忙三步并作兩步跟上余寥×祛恚“叔叔，我沒想到是您宋舷。經(jīng)過這十年罐孝，我本以為父親母親會親自來接我，或者派達(dá)格摩率榮譽(yù)護(hù)衛(wèi)來肥缔×ぃ”

“I must go.” He hurried after his uncle, who was already well down the pier. Theon caught him with a dozen long strides. “I had not looked for you, Uncle. After ten years, I thought perhaps my lord father and lady mother might come themselves, or send Dagmer with an honor guard.”

“你沒資格質(zhì)疑派克島掠奪者之首的命令⌒牛”僧侶的語氣冷冷冰冰改艇，完全不像席恩印象中那個(gè)人。伊倫·葛雷喬伊本是他最親切的叔叔坟岔，個(gè)性玩世不恭谒兄，開朗愛笑，喜好音樂社付、美酒和女人承疲。“至于達(dá)格摩鸥咖，‘裂顎’奉你父親之命前往老威克島燕鸽，召喚斯通浩斯和卓鼓兩家√淅保”

“It is not for you to question the commands of the Lord Reaper of Pyke.” The priest’s manner was chilly, most unlike the man Theon remembered. Aeron Greyjoy had been the most amiable of his uncles, feckless and quick to laugh, fond of songs, ale, and women. “As to Dagmer, the Cleftjaw is gone to Old Wyk at your father’s behest, to roust the Stonehouses and the Drumms.”

“這是為什么啊研？長船為什么在此集結(jié)？”

“To what purpose? Why are the longships hosting?”

“長船集結(jié)還會為什么鸥拧？”先前叔叔把兩匹馬栓在岸邊的旅店前党远。他們一走到那里，他便轉(zhuǎn)身面對席恩富弦」涤椋“好侄兒，你跟我說實(shí)話腕柜，你是不是信了狼仔們的神济似？”

“Why have longships ever hosted?” His uncle had left the horses tied up in front of the waterside inn. When they reached them, he turned to Theon. “Tell me true, nephew. Do you pray to the wolf gods now?”

事實(shí)上席恩很少祈禱矫废，但這種事可不能在僧侶面前談，即使是親叔叔碱屁×赘“奈德·史塔克信的是棵樹。不娩脾，我才不屑史塔克的神赵誓。”

Theon seldom prayed at all, but that was not something you confessed to a priest, even your father’s own brother. “Ned Stark prayed to a tree. No, I care nothing for Stark’s gods.”

“很好柿赊。跪下俩功。”

“Good. Kneel.”

地上滿是石頭和泥濘碰声，“叔叔诡蜓，我——”

The ground was all stones and mud. “Uncle, I—”

“我叫你跪下！怎么胰挑，你該不會成了個(gè)綠地少爺吧蔓罚，太尊貴了？”

“Kneel. Or are you too proud now, a lordling of the green lands come among us?”

席恩跪下來瞻颂。他此行有更重要的目標(biāo)豺谈，說不定還需要伊倫助他一臂之力备绽。為了王冠抑进，褲子上多點(diǎn)泥巴和馬糞也值得，他心想慢叨。

Theon knelt. He had a purpose here, and might need Aeron’s help to achieve it. A crown was worth a little mud and horseshit on his breeches, he supposed.

“低頭盖矫±霾眩”叔叔舉起水袋，打開塞子辈双，將里面的海水朝席恩當(dāng)頭倒下责掏。海水浸濕了他的頭發(fā)，從額頭流進(jìn)眼睛辐马，自雙頰淋下拷橘，滲進(jìn)他的披風(fēng)和外衣，淌到背上喜爷，宛如一條冰冷小河直下背脊。海鹽刺痛了他的眼睛萄唇，他只能拚命忍住不叫出聲檩帐。唇上，他嘗到海洋的味道另萤∨让埽“讓您的仆人席恩如您一般自海中重生诅挑！”伊倫·葛雷喬伊吟誦，“給予他海鹽的祝福泛源，給予他堅(jiān)石的祝福拔妥，給予他鋼鐵的祝福。侄兒达箍，你可還記得禱詞没龙？”

“Bow your head.” Lifting the skin, his uncle pulled the cork and directed a thin stream of seawater down upon Theon’s head. It drenched his hair and ran over his forehead into his eyes. Sheets washed down his cheeks, and a finger crept under his cloak and doublet and down his back, a cold rivulet along his spine. The salt made his eyes burn, until it was all he could do not to cry out. He could taste the ocean on his lips. “Let Theon your servant be born again from the sea, as you were,” Aeron Greyjoy intoned. “Bless him with salt, bless him with stone, bless him with steel. Nephew, do you still know the words?”

“逝者不死《忻担”席恩想了起來硬纤。

“What is dead may never die,” Theon said, remembering.

“逝者不死，”叔叔應(yīng)道赃磨，“必將再起筝家，其勢更烈。起來吧邻辉∠酰”

“What is dead may never die,” his uncle echoed, “but rises again, harder and stronger. Stand.”

席恩站起身，眨眼忍住淚水值骇。叔叔一言不發(fā)地塞上水袋莹菱，解開馬韁，騎了上去雷客。席恩也跟著做芒珠。兩人離開旅店和碼頭，經(jīng)過波特利頭領(lǐng)的城堡搅裙，進(jìn)入巖石丘陵皱卓。僧侶一句話也沒再說過。

Theon stood, blinking back tears from the salt in his eyes. Wordless, his uncle corked the waterskin, untied his horse, and mounted. Theon did the same. They set off together, leaving the inn and the harbor behind them, up past the castle of Lord Botley into the stony hills. The priest ventured no further word.

“我半輩子遠(yuǎn)離家園部逮，”最后席恩忍不住了娜汁，“島上是不是變了很多？”

“I have been half my life away from home,” Theon ventured at last. “Will I find the islands changed?”

“男人從大海捕魚在土地耕作然后死掉兄朋，女人躺在鮮血與苦痛的床鋪上擠出短命的孩子掐禁。日升月落，風(fēng)潮依舊颅和，諸島便是神所創(chuàng)造的模樣傅事。”

“Men fish the sea, dig in the earth, and die. Women birth children in blood and pain, and die. Night follows day. The winds and tides remain. The islands are as our god made them.”

我的老天峡扩，他真是變了一個(gè)人蹭越，席恩心想〗探欤“姐姐和母親還住在派克响鹃？”

Gods, he has grown grim, Theon thought. “Will I find my sister and my lady mother at Pyke?”

“不驾霜。你母親現(xiàn)在跟她妹妹住在哈爾洛島，她為咳嗽所苦买置，而那里的氣候不那么惡劣粪糙。你姐姐則奉你父親之命，乘‘黑風(fēng)號’到大威克島傳信去了忿项。不過你放心蓉冈，不用多久她就會回來【肼簦”

“You will not. Your mother dwells on Harlaw, with her own sister. It is less raw there, and her cough troubles her. Your sister has taken Black Wind to Great Wyk, with messages from your lord father. She will return e’er long, you may be sure.”

席恩一聽便知黑風(fēng)號是阿莎的長船洒擦，他已有十年不見姐姐，但對她至少還有這點(diǎn)了解怕膛。想來真有趣熟嫩，她為自己的座艦取了這樣的名字，而羅柏·史塔克則有只叫“灰風(fēng)”的狼褐捻〉“史塔克家是灰色，葛雷喬伊家是黑色柠逞，”他微笑著喃喃自語昧狮，“但兩家似乎都喜歡風(fēng)“遄常”

Theon did not need to be told that Black Wind was Asha’s longship. He had not seen his sister in ten years, but that much he knew of her. Odd that she would call it that, when Robb Stark had a wolf named Grey Wind. “Stark is grey and Greyjoy’s black,” he murmured, smiling, “but it seems we’re both windy.”

對此僧侶沒有表示意見逗鸣。

The priest had nothing to say to that.

“叔叔，那您呢绰精？”席恩問撒璧，“當(dāng)年我離開派克城時(shí)，您還沒出家笨使。我常常想起您站在桌子上卿樱，手拿裝麥酒的角杯，放聲高唱古代掠奪戰(zhàn)歌的樣子硫椰》钡鳎”

“And what of you, Uncle?” Theon asked. “You were no priest when I was taken from Pyke. I remember how you would sing the old reaving songs standing on the table with a horn of ale in hand.”

“那時(shí)我還年輕，愛慕虛榮靶草√阋龋”伊倫·葛雷喬伊道，“大海洗去了我的愚昧和虛妄奕翔。侄兒烤送，過去的我已經(jīng)淹死了，他的肺里灌滿海水糠悯，魚兒吃掉了他眼睛上的鱗帮坚。當(dāng)我再次站起，眼睛便看得清楚了互艾∈院停”

“Young I was, and vain,” Aeron Greyjoy said, “but the sea washed my follies and my vanities away. That man drowned, nephew. His lungs filled with seawater, and the fish ate the scales off his eyes. When I rose again, I saw clearly.”

他不只是性情乖張，簡直是瘋了纫普！席恩比較喜歡記憶中那個(gè)伊倫·葛雷喬伊阅悍。“叔叔昨稼，父親他為何集結(jié)軍隊(duì)和艦船节视？”

He is as mad as he is sour. Theon had liked what he remembered of the old Aeron Greyjoy. “Uncle, why has my father called his swords and sails?”

我們奉命絕不可說與外人“等你到了派克城，他自然會告訴你假栓⊙靶校”

“Doubtless he will tell you at Pyke.”

“我現(xiàn)在就想知道他的計(jì)劃為何∝揖＃”

“I would know his plans now.”

“從我這里拌蜘，你不可能知道。我們奉命絕不可說與外人牙丽〖蛭裕”

“From me, you shall not. We are commanded not to speak of this to any man.”

“連我也不行？”席恩勃然大怒烤芦。他帶過兵打過仗举娩，曾與國王一同捕獵，在比武大會中贏得優(yōu)勝构罗，并和黑魚布林登铜涉、安柏家的大瓊恩并肩作戰(zhàn)，參與囈語森林大捷绰播，睡過的女人多到記不清骄噪，小叔竟然還把他當(dāng)成十歲小孩！“如果父親有意出兵蠢箩，我一定要知道链蕊。我可不是‘外人’，我是派克和鐵群島的繼承人谬泌！”

“Even to me?” Theon’s anger flared. He’d led men in war, hunted with a king, won honor in tourney melees, ridden with Brynden Blackfish and Greatjon Umber, fought in the Whispering Wood, bedded more girls than he could name, and yet this uncle was treating him as though he were still a child of ten. “If my father makes plans for war, I must know of them. I am not ‘a(chǎn)ny man,’ I am heir to Pyke and the Iron Islands.”

“這個(gè)嘛滔韵，”叔叔說，“還不一定掌实∨泸撸”

“As to that,” his uncle said, “we shall see.”

這句話像是一記火辣辣的巴掌〖牵“還不一定宴卖？我的哥哥們?nèi)懒俗探赣H大人就剩我這一個(gè)兒子！”

The words were a slap in the face. “We shall see? My brothers are both dead. I am my lord father’s only living son.”

“還有你姐姐症昏∷婷觯”

“Your sister lives.”

阿莎！他有些不知所措肝谭，她比席恩大三歲掘宪，但是……“除非男性直系血親斷絕，否則女人沒有繼承權(quán)攘烛！”他大聲強(qiáng)調(diào)魏滚，“我警告你，誰也別想搶走我的權(quán)利坟漱！”

Asha, he thought, confounded. She was three years older than Theon, yet still … “A woman may inherit only if there is no male heir in the direct line,” he insisted loudly. “I will not be cheated of my rights, I warn you.”

叔叔哼了一聲鼠次，“小子，你膽敢‘警告’侍奉淹神的人靖秩？我看你忘本忘得可真徹底须眷。如果你以為你父親會把鐵群島拱手讓給史塔克，那就大錯(cuò)特錯(cuò)」低唬現(xiàn)在給我閉嘴花颗，路還很長，沒工夫聽你像鳥鵲一樣嘰嘰喳喳惠拭！”

His uncle grunted. “You warn a servant of the Drowned God, boy? You have forgotten more than you know. And you are a great fool if you believe your lord father will ever hand these holy islands over to a Stark. Now be silent. The ride is long enough without your magpie chatterings.”

席恩強(qiáng)自按捺怒火扩劝，閉起嘴巴。原來如此职辅，他心想棒呛，他們以為我在臨冬城住了十年，就變成史塔克家的人了嗎域携？艾德公爵雖讓他和自己的兒女一起成長簇秒，但席恩始終不是他們的一份子。全城上下秀鞭，從史塔克夫人到最低賤的廚房小弟趋观，都知道他是用來確保他父親“表現(xiàn)良好”的人質(zhì)，并都如此待他锋边。就連那私生子瓊恩·雪諾所受的待遇都比他好皱坛。

Theon held his tongue, though not without struggle. So that is the way of it, he thought. As if ten years in Winterfell could make a Stark. Lord Eddard had raised him among his own children, but Theon had never been one of them. The whole castle, from Lady Stark to the lowliest kitchen scullion, knew he was hostage to his father’s good behavior, and treated him accordingly. Even the bastard Jon Snow had been accorded more honor than he had.

艾德公爵每每試圖扮演父親的角色，然而席恩總提醒自己豆巨，對方正是為派克城帶來血腥殺戮剩辟，并迫使他遠(yuǎn)離家園的人。小的時(shí)候，他一直活在史塔克的嚴(yán)峻面容和那把恐怖巨劍的陰影中贩猎，他的妻子則更是疏離而猜疑熊户。

Lord Eddard had tried to play the father from time to time, but to Theon he had always remained the man who’d brought blood and fire to Pyke and taken him from his home. As a boy, he had lived in fear of Stark’s stern face and great dark sword. His wife was, if anything, even more distant and suspicious.

至于他們的兒女，年紀(jì)小的幾與嬰兒無異融欧，只有羅柏和他的異母弟弟瓊恩·雪諾稍長敏弃，能引起他注意。那私生子性情陰沉噪馏，對任何奚落均十分敏感，尤其嫉妒席恩的高貴出身和羅柏對他的重視绿饵。對羅柏本人欠肾，席恩倒有幾分感情，一種對弟弟的感情……不過這話最好別說出口拟赊〈烫遥看來在派克城里，戰(zhàn)爭的傷痛仍未止息吸祟。他不該感到意外瑟慈，諸島活在過去，因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)實(shí)太嚴(yán)苛也太痛苦屋匕，令人難以承受葛碧。更何況父親和叔叔們都老了，年老貴族就是這副德行过吻，至死牢記陳年舊帳进泼，不忘記任何糾葛，更無原恕可能纤虽。

As for their children, the younger ones had been mewling babes for most of his years at Winterfell. Only Robb and his baseborn half brother Jon Snow had been old enough to be worth his notice. The bastard was a sullen boy, quick to sense a slight, jealous of Theon’s high birth and Robb’s regard for him. For Robb himself, Theon did have a certain affection, as for a younger brother … but it would be best not to mention that. In Pyke, it would seem, the old wars were still being fought. That ought not surprise him. The Iron Islands lived in the past; the present was too hard and bitter to be borne. Besides, his father and uncles were old, and the old lords were like that; they took their dusty feuds to the grave, forgetting nothing and forgiving less.

梅利斯特家正是如此乳绕。從奔流城到海疆城的路上，他與他們?yōu)榘楸浦健Ｅ纱蘅恕っ防固厥莻€(gè)還不錯(cuò)的伙伴洋措，兩人對女孩、美酒和放鷹狩獵有相同的興趣杰刽，可老杰森伯爵眼見自己繼承人和席恩越來越要好菠发，便把派崔克拉到一邊，提醒他不要忘本专缠。他們的家堡海疆城正是為防守海岸雷酪，抵御鐵民劫掠而建——尤其是提防派克島的葛雷喬伊。城中的“洪鐘塔”因塔上的巨大青銅鐘而得名涝婉，古時(shí)每當(dāng)長船出現(xiàn)在西方洋面哥力，他們便會敲響警鐘，呼告村鎮(zhèn)居民和田里農(nóng)人速速入城避難。

It had been the same with the Mallisters, his companions on the ride from Riverrun to Seagard. Patrek Mallister was not too ill a fellow; they shared a taste for wenches, wine, and hawking. But when old Lord Jason saw his heir growing overly fond of Theon’s company, he had taken Patrek aside to remind him that Seagard had been built to defend the coast against reavers from the Iron Islands, the Greyjoys of Pyke chief among them. Their Booming Tower was named for its immense bronze bell, rung of old to call the townsfolk and farmhands into the castle when longships were sighted on the western horizon.

“也不想想三百年來總共就敲過一次吩跋∧洌”翌日，派崔克拿一罐青蘋果酒來找席恩锌钮，一邊喝一邊把父親的教誨告訴他桥温。

“Never mind that the bell has been rung just once in three hundred years,” Patrek had told Theon the day after, as he shared his father’s cautions and a jug of green-apple wine.

“就我老哥突襲海疆城那次×呵穑”席恩說侵浸。此役杰森伯爵在城下斬殺了羅德利克·葛雷喬伊，并將鐵島掠奪者趕回海里氛谜，“如果你父親認(rèn)為我因此而對他懷有敵意掏觉，那他顯然不認(rèn)識羅德利克≈德”

“When my brother stormed Seagard,” Theon said. Lord Jason had slain Rodrik Greyjoy under the walls of the castle, and thrown the ironmen back into the bay. “If your father supposes I bear him some enmity for that, it’s only because he never knew Rodrik.”

說完兩人哈哈大笑澳腹，然后快馬加鞭去找一個(gè)和派崔克相好的磨坊少婦。現(xiàn)在和我同行的是派崔克就好了杨何。管他是不是梅利斯特家的人酱塔，跟他作伴總比眼前這個(gè)曾是伊倫叔叔的怪老僧有趣得多。

They had a laugh over that as they raced ahead to an amorous young miller’s wife that Patrek knew. Would that Patrek were with me now. Mallister or no, he was a more amiable riding companion than this sour old priest that his uncle Aeron had turned into.

他們越行越高危虱，進(jìn)入荒脊的巖石丘陵羊娃。很快大海便消失在視線之外，但潮濕的空氣中鹽味依然強(qiáng)烈槽地。他們以穩(wěn)定的速度緩緩前進(jìn)迁沫，經(jīng)過一塊牧羊人的地，以及一座廢棄的礦坑捌蚊。眼前這個(gè)伊倫·葛雷喬伊信仰虔誠集畅，不愛說話，所以兩人幾乎一語不發(fā)缅糟。席恩實(shí)在按捺不住挺智。“臨冬城現(xiàn)在由羅柏·史塔克當(dāng)家窗宦，”他開口赦颇。

The path they rode wound up and up, into bare and stony hills. Soon they were out of sight of the sea, though the smell of salt still hung sharp in the damp air. They kept a steady plodding pace, past a shepherd’s croft and the abandoned workings of a mine. This new, holy Aeron Greyjoy was not much for talk. They rode in a gloom of silence. Finally Theon could suffer it no longer. “Robb Stark is Lord of Winterfell now,” he said.

伊倫繼續(xù)騎，“新狼換舊狼赴涵，有何差別媒怯？”

Aeron rode on. “One wolf is much like the other.”

“羅柏已與鐵王座決裂，自封北境之王髓窜。島外到處都在打仗扇苞∑鄣睿”

“Robb has broken fealty with the Iron Throne and crowned himself King in the North. There’s war.”

“學(xué)士的信鴉飛過咸水汪洋，迅如飛石鳖敷。這是又冰又冷的舊聞脖苏。”

“The maester’s ravens fly over salt as soon as rock. This news is old and cold.”

“叔叔定踱，這意味著新日子即將來臨棍潘。”

“It means a new day, Uncle.”

“每天太陽升起崖媚，都是新日子的來臨亦歉，和舊日子卻也差不多≈寥牛”

“Every morning brings a new day, much like the old.”

“我在奔流城聽到的可不是這樣鳍徽，人人都說紅彗星象征新紀(jì)元到來，它是諸神的信使敢课。”

“In Riverrun, they would tell you different. They say the red comet is a herald of a new age. A messenger from the gods.”

“是預(yù)兆沒錯(cuò)绷杜，”僧侶表示同意直秆，“不過是來自我們的神，而非他們的諸神鞭盟。那是一個(gè)燃燒中的火炬圾结，與我族古時(shí)所持者無異。那是淹神自海中帶來的火炬齿诉，預(yù)示著即將高漲的海潮筝野。此刻我們自當(dāng)集結(jié)船隊(duì)，讓刀劍和烈火降臨人世粤剧，一如他過去所作所為歇竟。”

“A sign it is,” the priest agreed, “but from our god, not theirs. A burning brand it is, such as our people carried of old. It is the flame the Drowned God brought from the sea, and it proclaims a rising tide. It is time to hoist our sails and go forth into the world with fire and sword, as he did.”

席恩微微一笑抵恋，“完全同意焕议。”

Theon smiled. “I could not agree more.”

“對神而言弧关，你的意見就如暴風(fēng)中的一滴雨盅安。”

“A man agrees with god as a raindrop with the storm.”

老頭子世囊，這滴雨有朝一日會成為一方霸主别瞭。席恩已經(jīng)受夠了叔叔的陰郁，于是他腳踢馬刺株憾，快步前驅(qū)蝙寨，臉上掛著微笑。

This raindrop will one day be a king, old man. Theon had suffered quite enough of his uncle’s gloom. He put his spurs into his horse and trotted on ahead, smiling.

接近日落時(shí)分，他們抵達(dá)派克城下籽慢，城墻如一道黑石新月連綴兩邊峭壁浸遗，中間是城門樓，兩邊各有三座方形高塔箱亿。席恩仍舊能辨認(rèn)出當(dāng)年勞勃·拜拉席恩的投石機(jī)所炸出的傷痕跛锌。被毀的南塔業(yè)已重建，用了淡灰石材届惋，尚未被地衣覆蓋髓帽。當(dāng)年勞勃便從這里攻破城堡，揮舞著手中戰(zhàn)錘脑豹，跨越亂石和尸體郑藏，殺將進(jìn)來，奈德·史塔克跟在他身旁瘩欺。那時(shí)席恩遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)從海中塔望著這一切必盖，至今仍時(shí)時(shí)夢見火炬熊熊，聽到城樓崩塌的轟然巨響俱饿。

It was nigh on sunset when they reached the walls of Pyke, a crescent of dark stone that ran from cliff to cliff, with the gatehouse in the center and three square towers to either side. Theon could still make out the scars left by the stones of Robert Baratheon’s catapults. A new south tower had risen from the ruins of the old, its stone a paler shade of grey, and as yet unmarred by patches of lichen. That was where Robert had made his breach, swarming in over the rubble and corpses with his warhammer in hand and Ned Stark at his side. Theon had watched from the safety of the Sea Tower, and sometimes he still saw the torches in his dreams, and heard the dull thunder of the collapse.

大人歌粥，他五年前就死了城門大開，生銹的鐵閘早已升起拍埠，城墻上的衛(wèi)兵用陌生的眼光打量著回家的席恩·葛雷喬伊失驶。

The gates stood open to him, the rusted iron portcullis drawn up. The guards atop the battlements watched with strangers’ eyes as Theon Greyjoy came home at last.

過了外圍石墻，便是廣達(dá)五十畝的陸岬枣购，連亙海天嬉探。馬廄和狗舍都位于此，還有一些外屋棉圈。成群豬羊各自擠在圈里涩堤，城里的狗則四處奔跑。南邊是懸崖迄损，以及通往主堡的寬闊石橋定躏。席恩翻身下馬，聽見熟悉的浪濤拍岸聲芹敌。一名馬廄小廝過來牽走他的坐騎痊远。兩個(gè)骨瘦如柴的小孩和幾名農(nóng)奴呆呆地望著他，但完全不見父親蹤影氏捞，也沒有任何他兒時(shí)記憶里的人物碧聪。回家竟是碰上這樣的場面液茎，真是既黯然又辛酸啊逞姿，他心想辞嗡。

Beyond the curtain wall were half a hundred acres of headland hard against the sky and the sea. The stables were here, and the kennels, and a scatter of other outbuildings. Sheep and swine huddled in their pens while the castle dogs ran free. To the south were the cliffs, and the wide stone bridge to the Great Keep. Theon could hear the crashing of waves as he swung down from his saddle. A stableman came to take his horse. A pair of gaunt children and some thralls stared at him with dull eyes, but there was no sign of his lord father, nor anyone else he recalled from boyhood. A bleak and bitter homecoming, he thought.

僧侶沒有下馬，“叔叔滞造，您不留下來過夜续室，和我們共進(jìn)晚餐嗎？”

The priest had not dismounted. “Will you not stay the night and share our meat and mead, Uncle?”

“我的任務(wù)是把你帶來谒养，現(xiàn)在你來了挺狰，我便要回去為淹神服務(wù)÷蚩撸”伊倫·葛雷喬伊調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭丰泊，緩緩從鐵閘門滿是泥濘的尖刺之下穿過，騎了出去始绍。

“Bring you, I was told. You are brought. Now I return to our god’s business.” Aeron Greyjoy turned his horse and rode slowly out beneath the muddy spikes of the portcullis.

一名身穿平凡灰布裙服的駝背老嫗小心翼翼朝他走來瞳购，“大人，我奉命帶您到房間休息亏推⊙”

A bentback old crone in a shapeless grey dress approached him warily. “M’lord, I am sent to show you to chambers.”

“誰的命令？”

“By whose bidding?”

“是您父親大人的命令吞杭，大人罢屈。”

“Your lord father, m’lord.”

席恩脫下手套篇亭，“所以你還真認(rèn)得我。為什么我父親沒有來迎接我锄贷？”

Theon pulled off his gloves. “So you do know who I am. Why is my father not here to greet me?”

“大人译蒂，他在海中塔里等您。請您先稍事休息谊却∪嶂纾”

“He awaits you in the Sea Tower, m’lord. When you are rested from your trip.”

我還嫌奈德·史塔克冷漠呢⊙妆妫“你又是誰捕透？”

And I thought Ned Stark cold. “And who are you?”

“海莉亞，我為您父親大人管理城堡碴萧∫亦郑”

“Helya, who keeps this castle for your lord father.”

“總管是西拉斯才對吧？大家叫他‘臭嘴’破喻』⑿唬”即便現(xiàn)在，席恩都還記得老頭口中的酒臭曹质。

“Sylas was steward here. They called him Sourmouth.” Even now, Theon could recall the winey stench of the old man’s breath.

“大人婴噩，他五年前就死了擎场。”

“Dead these five years, m’lord.”

“魁倫學(xué)士呢几莽？他人在哪兒迅办？”

“And what of Maester Qalen, where is he?”

“長眠于海底。現(xiàn)在照顧信鴉的是溫達(dá)米爾章蚣≌酒郏”

“He sleeps in the sea. Wendamyr keeps the ravens now.”

我好像成了這里的陌生人啊，席恩心想究驴，明明什么都沒變镊绪，卻又好像什么都不一樣了∪饔牵“那就帶我去房間吧蝴韭，女人∥跏蹋”他命令榄鉴。她僵硬地鞠個(gè)躬，領(lǐng)著他穿過陸岬蛉抓，走到橋邊庆尘。這里總算和記憶中相符：老舊的石橋因浪花而滑溜，爬滿地衣巷送，腳下的怒濤有如兇猛巨獸驶忌，帶著鹽味的海風(fēng)貼緊衣服。

It is as if I were a stranger here, Theon thought. Nothing has changed, and yet everything has changed. “Show me to my chambers, woman,” he commanded. Bowing stiffly, she led him across the headland to the bridge. That at least was as he remembered; the ancient stones slick with spray and spotted by lichen, the sea foaming under their feet like some great wild beast, the salt wind clutching at their clothes.

過去他想像自己回家的情景笑跛，腦中浮現(xiàn)的總是海中塔里他以前那間舒適臥房付魔，沒想到老婦卻帶他進(jìn)了“血堡”。這里的廳堂較為寬敞飞蹂，裝潢也較佳几苍，但還是一樣濕冷。分給席恩的套房屋頂極高陈哑，竟因陰暗的關(guān)系看不到天花板妻坝，里面寒氣襲人。倘若他不知“血堡”正因這組套房而得名惊窖，對此的印象可能會好些刽宪。千年以前，某個(gè)河流王所有的兒子全部在此慘遭屠殺爬坑，他們熟睡時(shí)被活活砍成碎片纠屋，再送回大陸給他們父親。

Whenever he’d imagined his homecoming, he had always pictured himself returning to the snug bedchamber in the Sea Tower, where he’d slept as a child. Instead the old woman led him to the Bloody Keep. The halls here were larger and better furnished, if no less cold nor damp. Theon was given a suite of chilly rooms with ceilings so high that they were lost in gloom. He might have been more impressed if he had not known that these were the very chambers that had given the Bloody Keep its name. A thousand years before, the sons of the River King had been slaughtered here, hacked to bits in their beds so that pieces of their bodies might be sent back to their father on the mainland.

至于葛雷喬伊家的人盾计，雖從未在自家城中遭他人謀害售担，但兄弟鬩墻是常有的事赁遗，好在他的哥哥們?nèi)妓懒恕Ｋ訍旱丨h(huán)顧四周族铆，并非因?yàn)榕鹿硌宜模灰驂ι系谋跉珠L滿青霉，床墊凹陷哥攘、聞起來有霉味剖煌，燈心草席則老舊而開裂。這些房間已有多年不曾使用逝淹，透著徹骨的濕意耕姊。“給我弄缸熱水栅葡，趕緊給爐子生火茉兰。”他吩咐老嫗欣簇，“記得把其他房間的火盆也點(diǎn)燃规脸，多少能驅(qū)走寒意。還有熊咽，看在諸神的份上莫鸭，趕快找個(gè)人把這些破草席都清掉『崤梗”

But Greyjoys were not murdered in Pyke except once in a great while by their brothers, and his brothers were both dead. It was not fear of ghosts that made him glance about with distaste. The wall hangings were green with mildew, the mattress musty-smelling and sagging, the rushes old and brittle. Years had come and gone since these chambers had last been opened. The damp went bone deep. “I’ll have a basin of hot water and a fire in this hearth,” he told the crone. “See that they light braziers in the other rooms to drive out some of the chill. And gods be good, get someone in here at once to change these rushes.”

“是被因，大人，就照您的意思衫仑∈仙恚”她連忙逃走。

“Yes, m’lord. As you command.” She fled.

過了一會惑畴，他們果真照他的要求弄來熱水。雖然水溫不高航徙，很快就變涼了如贷，而且還是海水，但洗去旅途風(fēng)塵已然足夠到踏。他一邊看著兩名奴工燃起火盆杠袱，一邊脫去沾滿塵土的衣裳，準(zhǔn)備換裝去見父親窝稿。他挑了柔韌的黑皮靴楣富，銀灰色的羊毛軟褲，胸前繡有葛雷喬伊家金色海怪的黑天鵝絨外衣伴榔，又在脖子上戴了一串細(xì)金鏈厢呵，腰間系上一條漂白的皮帶恰画，再配上一把短刀和黑金劍鞘的長劍逗载。他抽出短刀，用拇指測試刀鋒糠涛，又從腰袋里拿出磨刀石擦了幾下。他對自己保養(yǎng)武器的習(xí)慣頗感自豪兼犯∪碳瘢“在我回來以前，把房間弄暖和切黔，鋪好新席砸脊。”他取出一雙有金線渦形裝飾的黑絲手套戴上纬霞，同時(shí)警告奴工凌埂。

After some time, they brought the hot water he had asked for. It was only tepid, and soon cold, and seawater in the bargain, but it served to wash the dust of the long ride from his face and hair and hands. While two thralls lit his braziers, Theon stripped off his travel-stained clothing and dressed to meet his father. He chose boots of supple black leather, soft lambswool breeches of silvery-grey, a black velvet doublet with the golden kraken of the Greyjoys embroidered on the breast. Around his throat he fastened a slender gold chain, around his waist a belt of bleached white leather. He hung a dirk at one hip and a longsword at the other, in scabbards striped black-and-gold. Drawing the dirk, he tested its edge with his thumb, pulled a whetstone from his belt pouch, and gave it a few licks. He prided himself on keeping his weapons sharp. “When I return, I shall expect a warm room and clean rushes,” he warned the thralls as he drew on a pair of black gloves, the silk decorated with a delicate scrollwork tracery in golden thread.

席恩經(jīng)由一條封頂石砌走廊回到主堡，腳步回音應(yīng)著下方不休的怒濤险领。海中塔位于一座歪曲的海柱上侨舆，欲達(dá)該處，需經(jīng)三座橋梁绢陌，且一橋比一橋窄挨下。最后一座橋僅以木材與繩索做成，在海風(fēng)吹拂下?lián)u晃不止脐湾，彷若活物臭笆。席恩才走到一半，心便似跳了出來秤掌。遙遠(yuǎn)的下方惡浪襲岸愁铺，激起層層水花。小時(shí)候他可以快步跑過此橋闻鉴，即使夜半時(shí)分也行茵乱。小孩子天不怕地不怕，他的懷疑悄聲說孟岛，成年人則不然瓶竭。

Theon returned to the Great Keep through a covered stone walkway, the echoes of his footsteps mingling with the ceaseless rumble of the sea below. To get to the Sea Tower on its crooked pillar, he had to cross three further bridges, each narrower than the one before. The last was made of rope and wood, and the wet salt wind made it sway underfoot like a living thing. Theon’s heart was in his mouth by the time he was halfway across. A long way below, the waves threw up tall plumes of spray as they crashed against the rock. As a boy, he used to run across this bridge, even in the black of night. Boys believe nothing can hurt them, his doubt whispered. Grown men know better.

門是灰色的木料，上面鑲了鐵釘渠羞。席恩發(fā)覺它從內(nèi)拴上斤贰，便握拳敲門，誰知木屑竟刺穿手套次询，扎得他忍不住咒罵荧恍。木頭潮濕長霉，鐵釘早已銹蝕屯吊。

The door was grey wood studded with iron, and Theon found it barred from the inside. He hammered on it with a fist, and cursed when a splinter snagged the fabric of his glove. The wood was damp and moldy, the iron studs rusted.

過了半晌送巡，有個(gè)身穿黑鐵胸甲和圓形頭盔的衛(wèi)兵開了門摹菠，“你就是那個(gè)兒子？”

After a moment the door was opened from within by a guard in a black iron breastplate and pothelm. “You are the son?”

“滾開授艰，否則要你好看辨嗽！”那人往旁邊站開。席恩爬上蜿蜒的樓梯來到塔頂淮腾，發(fā)現(xiàn)父親正坐在火盆邊糟需，身穿發(fā)霉的海豹皮連身長袍，從下巴到腳都包在里面谷朝。鐵島之王聽見石階上的腳步聲洲押，便抬頭看他唯一在世的兒子。他比席恩印象中要渺小得多圆凰，瘦削不堪杈帐。巴隆·葛雷喬伊一向很瘦，如今更彷佛被神靈放進(jìn)大鍋专钉，煮干了全身每一寸肌肉挑童，僅余膚發(fā)。他體瘦如柴跃须，一副硬骨架站叼，而那張臉簡直就像用燧石鑿出，惟獨(dú)一雙黑眼十分銳利菇民。父親的頭發(fā)歷經(jīng)歲月和海風(fēng)摧殘尽楔，成了冬日大海的灰色，其間綴了幾朵白浪第练，未經(jīng)扎理阔馋，垂下過肩。

“Out of my way, or you’ll learn who I am.” The man stood aside. Theon climbed the twisting steps to the solar. He found his father seated beside a brazier, beneath a robe of musty sealskins that covered him foot to chin. At the sound of boots on stone, the Lord of the Iron Islands lifted his eyes to behold his last living son. He was smaller than Theon remembered him. And so gaunt. Balon Greyjoy had always been thin, but now he looked as though the gods had put him in a cauldron and boiled every spare ounce of flesh from his bones, until nothing remained but hair and skin. Bone thin and bone hard he was, with a face that might have been chipped from flint. His eyes were flinty too, black and sharp, but the years and the salt winds had turned his hair the grey of a winter sea, flecked with whitecaps. Unbound, it hung past the small of the back.

“九年了娇掏？”最后巴隆大王開口呕寝。

“Nine years, is it?” Lord Balon said at last.

“十年∮の啵”席恩回答壁涎，脫下被刺破的手套。

“Ten,” Theon answered, pulling off his torn gloves.

“你被他們帶走時(shí)是個(gè)孩子志秃，”父親說，“現(xiàn)在呢嚼酝？”

“A boy they took,” his father said. “What are you now?”

“我已長大成人浮还，”席恩答道，“我是您的親生骨肉闽巩，也是您的繼承人钧舌〉Ｌ溃”

“A man,” Theon answered. “Your blood and your heir.”

那是好久以前的事了巴隆大王哼了一聲，“這我可不敢確定洼冻≌钙纾”

Lord Balon grunted. “We shall see.”

“我會讓您確定∽怖危”席恩向他保證率碾。

“You shall,” Theon promised.

“你說十年？史塔克那家伙養(yǎng)你的時(shí)間和我一樣長屋彪，你現(xiàn)在更成了他的使節(jié)所宰。”

“Ten years, you say. Stark had you as long as I. And now you come as his envoy.”

“不畜挥∽兄啵”席恩道，“艾德大人已死蟹但，他被蘭尼斯特家的太后斬首示眾躯泰。”

“Not his,” Theon said. “Lord Eddard is dead, beheaded by the Lannister queen.”

“史塔克和那個(gè)砸破我城墻的勞勃华糖，他們兩個(gè)都死了麦向。我發(fā)過誓一定要親眼見他們進(jìn)墳?zāi)梗F(xiàn)在果真如愿以償缅阳】纳撸”他皺起眉頭，“可遇上濕冷天氣十办，我的關(guān)節(jié)還是會痛秀撇，和他們在世時(shí)沒兩樣。所以到頭來這有什么意義呢向族？”

“They are both dead, Stark and that Robert who broke my walls with his stones. I vowed I’d live to see them both in their graves, and I have.” He grimaced. “Yet the cold and the damp still make my joints ache, as when they were alive. So what does it serve?”

“當(dāng)然有意義呵燕，”席恩走上前，“我?guī)硪环庑拧?/p>

“It serves.” Theon moved closer. “I bring a letter—”

“是奈德·史塔克教你穿成這樣件相？”父親瞇起眼睛再扭，打斷他的話，“他喜歡你穿天鵝絨和絲衣服夜矗，當(dāng)他的乖女兒泛范？”

“Did Ned Stark dress you like that?” his father interrupted, squinting up from beneath his robe. “Was it his pleasure to garb you in velvets and silks and make you his own sweet daughter?”

席恩只覺血?dú)馍嫌浚拔也挪皇撬畠何伤海∧幌矚g我的衣服罢荡，我換就是。”

Theon felt the blood rising to his face. “I am no man’s daughter. If you mislike my garb, I will change it.”

“非換不可区赵〔宴郑”巴隆大王甩開皮袍，站起身來笼才。他沒有席恩印象中那么高漱受。“你脖子上戴的東西——用金子還是用鐵換來骡送？”

“You will.” Throwing off the furs, Lord Balon pushed himself to his feet. He was not so tall as Theon remembered. “That bauble around your neck—was it bought with gold or iron?”

席恩摸摸金鏈昂羡，他竟然忘了。那是好久以前的事了啊……依照古道各谚，女人可以花錢買裝飾品打扮自己紧憾，然而戰(zhàn)士所穿戴的飾品，必得從自己殺死的敵人身上奪來昌渤，所謂“付鐵錢”是也赴穗。

Theon touched the gold chain. He had forgotten. It has been so long … In the Old Way, women might decorate themselves with ornaments bought with coin, but a warrior wore only the jewelry he took off the corpses of enemies slain by his own hand. Paying the iron price, it was called.

“席恩，你臉紅得跟閨女一樣膀息。我再問你一遍：你付的是金子般眉，還是鐵錢？”

“You blush red as a maid, Theon. A question was asked. Is it the gold price you paid, or the iron?”

“是金子潜支〉樵撸”席恩坦承。

“The gold,” Theon admitted.

父親伸手抓住項(xiàng)鏈猛力一扯冗酿，差點(diǎn)沒把席恩的脖子扭斷埠对，幸好鏈子先掉〔锰妫“我女兒的愛人是把斧頭项玛，”巴隆大王說，“我絕不準(zhǔn)我兒子打扮得跟個(gè)婊子似的弱判！”他把項(xiàng)鏈丟進(jìn)火盆襟沮，斷鏈滑入燃燒的炭火〔“果不出我所料开伏，青綠之地上你養(yǎng)尊處優(yōu)，史塔克家把你變成跟他們一個(gè)樣遭商！”

His father slid his fingers under the necklace and gave it a yank so hard it was like to take Theon’s head off, had the chain not snapped first. “My daughter has taken an axe for a lover,” Lord Balon said. “I will not have my son bedeck himself like a whore.” He dropped the broken chain onto the brazier, where it slid down among the coals. “It is as I feared. The green lands have made you soft, and the Starks have made you theirs.”

“你錯(cuò)了固灵，奈德·史塔克是囚禁我的獄卒，而我體內(nèi)仍然流著海鹽與鋼鐵的血脈劫流∥撞＃”

“You’re wrong. Ned Stark was my gaoler, but my blood is still salt and iron.”

巴隆轉(zhuǎn)過身暑认，伸手到火盆上取暖〈笊螅“話雖如此，史塔克家那小鬼可把你當(dāng)成訓(xùn)練有素的信鴉座哩，乖乖帶著他的小紙條來見我徒扶。”

Lord Balon turned away to warm his bony hands over the brazier. “Yet the Stark pup sends you to me like a well-trained raven, clutching his little message.”

“這絕非什么紙條根穷，”席恩道姜骡，“他開的條件是我提議的！”

“There is nothing small about the letter I bear,” Theon said, “and the offer he makes is one I suggested to him.”

“這么說來屿良，小狼很聽你話圈澈，是不是？”巴隆大王似乎頗覺有趣尘惧。

“This wolf king heeds your counsel, does he?” The notion seemed to amuse Lord Balon.

“沒錯(cuò)康栈，他聽我的。我和他一起打獵喷橙，一起練劍啥么，一起吃飯，一起打仗贰逾，我已經(jīng)贏得了他的信賴悬荣，他把我當(dāng)作哥哥一樣，他——”

“He heeds me, yes. I’ve hunted with him, trained with him, shared meat and mead with him, warred at his side. I have earned his trust. He looks on me as an older brother, he—”

“住口疙剑！”父親指著他的臉氯迂，“不準(zhǔn)你在這里，在派克城中言缤，在我的面前說你是他‘哥哥’嚼蚀，你真正的哥哥就是被這個(gè)人的父親殺的，難道你忘了你的親哥哥羅德利克和馬倫轧简？”

“No.” His father jabbed a finger at his face. “Not here, not in Pyke, not in my hearing, you will not name him brother, this son of the man who put your true brothers to the sword. Or have you forgotten Rodrik and Maron, who were your own blood?”

“我什么也沒忘驰坊。”老實(shí)講哮独，哥哥根本不是奈德·史塔克所殺拳芙。羅德利克在海疆城死在杰森·梅利斯特伯爵手里，馬倫則葬身于崩塌的南塔之中……不過倘若命運(yùn)使他們碰上史塔克皮璧，想必他也會毫不遲疑地殺了他們吧舟扎。“哥哥們的樣子我記得很清楚悴务《孟蓿”席恩堅(jiān)持譬猫，他當(dāng)然記得羅德利克酒后賞他的耳光，以及馬倫惡毒的嘲弄和無休無止的謊言羡疗∪痉“我同時(shí)還記得，我的父親原本是個(gè)國王叨恨×危”他拿出羅柏的信，向前一推痒钝”牛“信在這里……陛下，請您過目送矩〔仙”

“I forget nothing.” Ned Stark had killed neither of his brothers, in truth. Rodrik had been slain by Lord Jason Mallister at Seagard, Maron crushed in the collapse of the old south tower … but Stark would have done for them just as quick had the tide of battle chanced to sweep them together. “I remember my brothers very well,” Theon insisted. Chiefly he remembered Rodrik’s drunken cuffs and Maron’s cruel japes and endless lies. “I remember when my father was a king too.” He took out Robb’s letter and thrust it forward. “Here. Read it … Your Grace.”

巴隆大王揭去封蠟，展開羊皮紙栋荸，那雙黑眼來回掃視菇怀。“所以這小鬼想要再給我一頂王冠蒸其，”他說敏释，“只要我?guī)退魯橙恕摸袁！彼谋〈铰冻鲆荒ㄎ⑿Α?/p>

Lord Balon broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. His black eyes flicked back and forth. “So the boy would give me a crown again,” he said, “and all I need do is destroy his enemies.” His thin lips twisted in a smile.

“羅柏現(xiàn)下正準(zhǔn)備攻打金牙城钥顽，”席恩道，“攻陷之后靠汁，他只需一天時(shí)間便可穿越丘陵蜂大。泰溫大人的軍隊(duì)目前駐于赫倫堡，完全與西部隔絕蝶怔，弒君者則被關(guān)在奔流城奶浦。西境只剩史戴佛·蘭尼斯特爵士和他那群剛募集的新兵與羅柏作對。史戴佛爵士會將兵力部署在羅柏和蘭尼斯港之間踢星，也就是說澳叉，我們?nèi)魪暮Ｉ线M(jìn)犯，蘭尼斯港將無力反抗沐悦。倘若神靈眷顧成洗，我們很可能在蘭尼斯特軍尚未發(fā)覺前便拿下凱巖城〔胤瘢”

“By now Robb is at the Golden Tooth,” Theon said. “Once it falls, he’ll be through the hills in a day. Lord Tywin’s host is at Harrenhal, cut off from the west. The Kingslayer is a captive at Riverrun. Only Ser Stafford Lannister and the raw green levies he’s been gathering remain to oppose Robb in the west. Ser Stafford will put himself between Robb’s army and Lannisport, which means the city will be undefended when we descend on it by sea. If the gods are with us, even Casterly Rock itself may fall before the Lannisters so much as realize that we are upon them.”

巴隆大王哼了一聲瓶殃，“從沒人能攻陷凱巖城「鼻”

Lord Balon grunted. “Casterly Rock has never fallen.”

“除了我們遥椿』”席恩微笑道。多么美妙冠场！

“Until now.” Theon smiled. And how sweet that will be.

可惜父親沒笑家浇，“羅柏·史塔克讓你回來就為了這個(gè)？要你說服我同意他的計(jì)劃碴裙？”

His father did not return the smile. “So this is why Robb Stark sends you back to me, after so long? So you might win my consent to this plan of his?”

“這是我的計(jì)劃蓝谨，不是羅柏的∏嗤牛”席恩驕傲地說。沒錯(cuò)咖楣，接下來的勝利也會是我的督笆，還有最后的王冠∮栈撸“如果您同意娃肿，我將親自領(lǐng)軍。待我軍自蘭尼斯特手中拿下凱巖城珠十，請您將之賜給我作為獎(jiǎng)賞料扰，我將在那里建立根據(jù)地”翰洌”有了凱巖城晒杈，他便能吞并蘭尼斯港和西部富庶的黃金領(lǐng)地，那將是葛雷喬伊家族從未有過的財(cái)富與榮耀孔厉。

“It is my plan, not Robb’s,” Theon said proudly. Mine, as the victory will be mine, and in time the crown. “I will lead the attack myself, if it please you. As my reward I would ask that you grant me Casterly Rock for my own seat, once we have taken it from the Lannisters.” With the Rock, he could hold Lannisport and the golden lands of the west. It would mean wealth and power such as House Greyjoy had never known.

“就憑這幾個(gè)字拯钻，你的胃口倒不小∽颍”父親又把信讀過一遍粪般，“這狼崽子可沒提獎(jiǎng)賞的事，他只說你代表他污桦，要我乖乖聽話亩歹，派出艦隊(duì)和大軍為他作戰(zhàn)，然后給我一頂王冠凡橱⌒∽鳎”他抬起燧石般的眼睛，直視兒子梭纹《愣瑁“他會‘給’我一頂王冠”涑椋”他復(fù)誦一遍础拨，語氣尖銳了許多氮块。

“You reward yourself handsomely for a notion and a few lines of scribbling.” His father read the letter again. “The pup says nothing about a reward. Only that you speak for him, and I am to listen, and give him my sails and swords, and in return he will give me a crown.” His flinty eyes lifted to meet his son’s. “He will give me a crown,” he repeated, his voice growing sharp.

“那只是措辭不佳，實(shí)際上——”

“A poor choice of words, what is meant is—”

“實(shí)際上就是這個(gè)意思诡宗。那小鬼要‘給’我一頂王冠滔蝉，既然是給的，就可以再收回去塔沃◎鹨”巴隆公爵手一揮，把信丟進(jìn)火盆蛀柴，正好落在項(xiàng)鏈上螃概。羊皮紙四角卷起，發(fā)黑鸽疾，起火燃燒吊洼。

“What is meant is what is said. The boy will give me a crown. And what is given can be taken away.” Lord Balon tossed the letter onto the brazier, atop the necklace. The parchment curled, blackened, and took flame.

席恩簡直不敢相信，“你瘋了嗎制肮？”

Theon was aghast. “Have you gone mad?”

父親反手便是一記耳光冒窍，“注意你的言辭。這里可不是臨冬城豺鼻，我也不是羅柏那小毛頭综液，你沒資格對我這樣說話。我是派克島掠奪者之首儒飒，海鹽王與磐巖王谬莹，海風(fēng)之子，我不需任何人施舍王冠桩了，我付出鐵錢届良，親自奪取，就和五千年前的‘血手’烏倫一樣圣猎∈亢”

His father laid a stinging backhand across his cheek. “Mind your tongue. You are not in Winterfell now, and I am not Robb the Boy, that you should speak to me so. I am the Greyjoy, Lord Reaper of Pyke, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, and no man gives me a crown. I pay the iron price. I will take my crown, as Urron Redhand did five thousand years ago.”

席恩后退幾步，遠(yuǎn)離父親突如其來的暴怒口吻送悔÷裕“那你就去拿吧！”他吼道欠啤，臉頰隱隱作痛荚藻。“你就自封鐵島之王吧洁段，沒人會理睬你……等戰(zhàn)爭結(jié)束应狱，勝利者只會看到一個(gè)頭戴鐵冠的蠢老頭祠丝，傻笑著站在海邊！”

Theon edged backward, away from the sudden fury in his father’s tone. “Take it, then,” he spat, his cheek still tingling. “Call yourself King of the Iron Islands, no one will care … until the wars are over, and the victor looks about and spies the old fool perched off his shore with an iron crown on his head.”

他們也只有這條路可走巴隆大王哈哈大笑：“不錯(cuò)岸蜗，起碼你不是懦夫尉咕，同樣地我也不蠢璃岳。你以為我召集艦隊(duì)是為了好看？我打算用刀劍與烈焰打出一片江山……但不是從西部铃慷，更不能照著小鬼國王羅柏的意思单芜。凱巖城太堅(jiān)固，何況泰溫大人精明無比缓溅。對赁温，我們是可能攻下蘭尼斯港淤齐，但絕對守不住更啄。我屬意的是另一顆果實(shí)……或許沒那么甜，可是一樣成熟番透内狗，高掛枝頭义锥，無人摘采拌倍。”

Lord Balon laughed. “Well, at the least you are no craven. No more than I’m a fool. Do you think I gather my ships to watch them rock at anchor? I mean to carve out a kingdom with fire and sword … but not from the west, and not at the bidding of King Robb the Boy. Casterly Rock is too strong, and Lord Tywin too cunning by half. Aye, we might take Lannisport, but we should never keep it. No. I hunger for a different plum … not so juicy sweet, to be sure, yet it hangs there ripe and undefended.”

是哪里呢数初？席恩剛想開口泡孩，卻驀然得到了答案寺谤。

Where? Theon might have asked, but by then he knew.