Chapter 第三十五章 瓊恩（七）

JON

在七天的陰天和陣雪之后，太陽在將近中午的時候突破云層旁舰。一些雪堆超過了人的高度，事務(wù)官幾乎鏟了一整天的積雪才使得通道一如最初時干凈。反光照亮了長城恤筛，每個缺口縫隙都閃耀著暗淡的藍(lán)色。

The sun had broken through near midday, after seven days of dark skies and snow flurries. Some of the drifts were higher than a man, but the stewards had been shoveling all day and the paths were as clean as they were like to get. Reflections glimmered off the Wall, every crack and crevice glittering pale blue.

瓊恩·雪諾在七百尺之上俯視著鬼影森林芹橡。一陣北風(fēng)打著旋穿過下面的樹毒坛，從頂端的枝條吹落羽毛般的雪花，有如冰霜的橫幅林说。此外煎殷，一切靜謐。毫無生機腿箩。但這并不能使他完全消除恐懼豪直。他所害怕的并非活著的事物。所以即便如此寂靜……

Seven hundred feet up, Jon Snow stood looking down upon the haunted forest. A north wind swirled through the trees below, sending thin white plumes of snow crystals flying from the highest branches, like icy banners. Elsewise nothing moved. Not a sign of life. That was not entirely reassuring. It was not the living that he feared. Even so …

太陽出來珠移，雪業(yè)已停弓乙。大概這也是月相轉(zhuǎn)變前我們唯一的機會，之后钧惧，那將又是一季暇韧。“Emmett**好他的新兵沒有浓瞪？”他告訴憂郁的艾迪懈玻，“我們需要一次護送，十名游騎兵乾颁，裝備有龍晶武器涂乌。我需要他們準(zhǔn)備好在一小時之內(nèi)出發(fā)∨シ酰”

The sun is out. The snow has stopped. It may be a moon’s turn before we have another chance as good. It may be a season. “Have Emmett assemble his recruits,” he told Dolorous Edd. “We’ll want an escort. Ten rangers, armed with dragonglass. I want them ready to leave within the hour.”

“是骂倘，大人，誰來指揮巴席？”

“Aye, m’lord. And to command?”

“我親自來历涝。”

“That would be me.”

艾迪的嘴張地比平時小一點漾唉∮猓“某人認(rèn)為如果指揮官大人能待在安全溫暖的長城南邊會更好。這并非我自己要這樣說赵刑，而是某人分衫。”

Edd’s mouth turned down even more than usual. “Some might think it better if the lord commander stayed safe and warm south of the Wall. Not that I’d say such myself, but some might.”

瓊恩微笑般此◎秸剑“某人最好不要在我面前這么說牵现。”

Jon smiled. “Some had best not say so in my presence.”

一陣疾風(fēng)使得艾迪的斗篷劈啪作響邀桑∠固郏“還是下去吧，大人壁畸。這風(fēng)似乎要把我們推下長城贼急，我可從未學(xué)過如何飛行∧笃迹”

A sudden gust of wind set Edd’s cloak to flapping noisily. “Best go down, m’lord. This wind’s like to push us off the Wall, and I never did learn the knack of flying.”

他們坐絞車回到地面太抓。風(fēng)刮地猛烈，一如老奶媽在瓊恩幼時告訴他的故事里的冰龍般寒冷令杈。沉重的籠子搖動著走敌。籠子時時刻刻刮擦著長城这揣，生成在陽光下光亮閃爍的透明的冰雨悔常，有如尖利的玻璃碎片。

They rode the winch lift back to the ground. The wind was gusting, cold as the breath of the ice dragon in the tales Old Nan had told when Jon was a boy. The heavy cage was swaying. From time to time it scraped against the Wall, starting small crystalline showers of ice that sparkled in the sunlight as they fell, like shards of broken glass.

玻璃给赞，瓊恩沉思机打，也許在這里有用。黑城堡有自己的玻璃花園片迅，正如臨冬城的玻璃花園残邀。依靠玻璃花園，我們甚至可以在深冬種植蔬菜柑蛇。最好的玻璃來自密爾芥挣，可是一個上等的透明玻璃片的價值幾乎與等重的香料無異，而綠玻璃和黃玻璃又不能達到如此效果耻台。我們需要的是錢空免，有了足夠的錢，我們可以在密爾找到學(xué)徒和工人盆耽，把他們帶來這里蹋砚，給他們提供自由以使他們傳授技藝給一些我們的兄弟。這是實現(xiàn)這一計劃的唯一方法摄杂。如果我們有錢坝咐，可事實恰恰相反。

Glass, Jon mused, might be of use here. Castle Black needs its own glass gardens, like the ones at Winterfell. We could grow vegetables even in the deep of winter. The best glass came from Myr, but a good clear pane was worth its weight in spice, and green and yellow glass would not work as well. What we need is gold. With enough coin, we could buy ’prentice glassblowers and glaziers in Myr, bring them north, offer them their freedom for teaching their art to some of our recruits. That would be the way to go about it. If we had the gold. Which we do not.

在長城底部析恢，他發(fā)現(xiàn)白靈正在路邊積雪里翻滾墨坚。這只巨大的白狼似乎喜愛新鮮的雪。當(dāng)它看到瓊恩映挂，它立即朝瓊恩飛奔而來泽篮。憂郁的艾迪問盗尸，“他和你同去？”

At the base of the Wall he found Ghost rolling in a snowbank. The big white direwolf seemed to love fresh snow. When he saw Jon he bounded back onto his feet and shook himself off. Dolorous Edd said, “He’s going with you?”

“是啊咪辱≌窭停”

“He is.”

“一只聰明的狼椎组，和我油狂？”

“A clever wolf, him. And me?”

“你不用去〈绨”

“You’re not.”

“大人明智专筷。白靈當(dāng)然是更好的選擇。我毫無利齒來撕咬野人蒸苇×子迹”

“A clever lord, you. Ghost’s the better choice. I don’t have the teeth for biting wildlings anymore.”

“如果諸神仁慈，我們不會遭遇任何野人溪烤。我需要灰馬味咳。”

“If the gods are good, we won’t encounter any wildlings. I’ll want the grey gelding.”

言語在黑城堡很快散去檬嘀。當(dāng)波文馬爾錫踏步穿越院子來到瓊恩面前時槽驶，艾迪仍在馬舍為灰馬配鞍≡蓿“大人掂铐，我希望你能再次考慮。新人同樣可以在修士面前立下誓言揍异∪桑”

Word spread fast at Castle Black. Edd was still saddling the grey when Bowen Marsh stomped across the yard to confront Jon at the stables. “My lord, I wish you would reconsider. The new men can take their vows in the sept as easily.”

“修士屬于新神，而舊神居住在森林里衷掷，信仰舊神的人在魚梁木前立下誓言辱姨。你和我對此同樣清楚∑菪幔”

“The sept is home to the new gods. The old gods live in the wood, and those who honor them say their words amongst the weirwoods. You know that as well as I.”

“Satin來自舊鎮(zhèn)雨涛，Arron和Emrick來自西境。舊神并非他們的信仰渡处【迪ぃ”

“Satin comes from Oldtown, and Arron and Emrick from the westerlands. The old gods are not their gods.”

“我沒有強求他們的信仰，他們可以信仰七神甚至紅袍女的光之王医瘫。然而他們卻選擇了舊神”

“I do not tell men which god to worship. They were free to choose the Seven or the red woman’s Lord of Light. They chose the trees instead, with all the peril that entails.”

“哭泣者可能還在那里渣叛，小心點”

“The Weeping Man may still be out there, watching.”

“小樹林在兩小時騎乘之內(nèi)碉碉，即便是雪天。我們也能在午夜之前回來利凑。”

“The grove is no more than two hours’ ride, even with the snow. We should be back by midnight.”

“這太久了已旧。毫不明智。”

“Too long. This is not wise.”

“不明智拗盒，”瓊恩重復(fù)道，“但這卻很必要锥债。他們將發(fā)誓成為守夜人陡蝇，加入數(shù)千年未被破壞過的兄弟聯(lián)盟。誓言很重要哮肚，傳統(tǒng)更重要登夫。它們使我們緊密凝聚在一起，高貴和低賤允趟，年輕和年老恼策，平民和貴族。它們使得我們成為兄弟潮剪』量”

“Unwise,” said Jon, “but necessary. These men are about to pledge their lives to the Night’s Watch, joining a brotherhood that stretches back in an unbroken line for thousands of years. The words matter, and so do these traditions. They bind us all together, highborn and low, young and old, base and noble. They make us brothers.” He clapped Marsh on his shoulder. “I promise you, we shall return.”

“是，大人抗碰，”Lord Steward說狮斗，“但當(dāng)你發(fā)現(xiàn)哭泣者時，他的頭會只是個掛在矛上頭嗎改含？你將進入黑夜情龄。積雪在某些地方深及腰部。我看見你帶了經(jīng)驗豐富的人捍壤，這很好骤视，但是Black Jack Bulwer熟悉那里一草一木。就連班揚史塔克鹃觉，你叔叔专酗，他……”

“Aye, my lord,” said the Lord Steward, “but will it be as living men or heads on spears with your eyes scooped out? You will be returning through the black of night. The snowdrifts are waist deep in places. I see that you are taking seasoned men with you, that is good, but Black Jack Bulwer knew these woods as well. Even Benjen Stark, your own uncle, he—”

“我有他們所沒有的東西，”瓊恩回頭吹聲口哨盗扇〉豢希“白靈，到我這來疗隶∮铀瘢”這匹白狼搖搖背上的積雪然后小跑到瓊恩邊上。游騎兵四散讓避斑鼻，盡管Rory猛拉韁繩蒋纬，他的母馬還是嘶叫著逃開了。“長城是你的了蜀备，波文大人关摇。”他執(zhí)著馬韁走過大門碾阁，走過長城下蜿蜒曲折的冰隧道输虱。

“I have something they did not.” Jon turned his head and whistled. “Ghost. To me.” The direwolf shook the snow from his back and trotted to Jon’s side. The rangers parted to let him through, though one mare whinnied and shied away till Rory gave her reins a sharp tug. “The Wall is yours, Lord Bowen.” He took his horse by the bridle and walked him to the gate and the icy tunnel that snaked beneath the Wall.

在冰墻之后，樹木高而靜地挺立脂凶，如被厚厚的白披風(fēng)所包裹宪睹。游騎兵和新兵形成隊形后，白靈闊步到瓊恩的馬旁艰猬，停下嗅了嗅横堡，他的呼吸在空氣里結(jié)霜」谔遥“什么？”瓊恩問道宅，“那有人嗎食听？”可他所目及的樹林里空無一物，即便目及的距離并不遠(yuǎn)污茵。

Beyond the ice, the trees stood tall and silent, huddled in the thick white cloaks. Ghost stalked beside Jon’s horse as the rangers and recruits formed up, then stopped and sniffed, his breath frosting in the air. “What is it?” Jon asked. “Is someone there?” The woods were empty as far as he could see, but that was not very far.

白靈快步?jīng)_向樹木樱报，滑向兩株白松之間，消失在雪團之中泞当。它想打獵迹蛤，但獵什么呢？瓊恩并不為它可能遭遇野人而擔(dān)心襟士。一匹白狼在白樹之中盗飒，靜如影，野人們永遠(yuǎn)不知道它將到來陋桂。他知道不必追趕它逆趣，白靈總會在瓊恩需要時返回，不早不遲嗜历。瓊恩輕踢馬腹宣渗，其他人落在后面，馬蹄踩碎軟雪下的冰層梨州。他們以平穩(wěn)的速度向心樹行進痕囱，長城在他們后面不斷縮小。

Ghost bounded toward the trees, slipped between two white-cloaked pines, and vanished in a cloud of snow. He wants to hunt, but what? Jon did not fear for the direwolf so much as for any wildlings he might encounter. A white wolf in a white wood, silent as a shadow. They will never know he’s coming. He knew better than to go chasing him. Ghost would return when he wanted to and not before. Jon put his heels into his horse. His men fell in around them, the hooves of their garrons breaking through the icy crust to the softer snow beneath. Into the woods they went, at a steady walking pace, as the Wall dwindled behind them.

士卒松和哨兵樹披上厚厚的白色外套暴匠，冰柱懸掛在光禿禿的闊葉樹的棕色枝干上鞍恢。瓊恩派Tom Barleycorn走在前面為他們偵查，去往神木林的路已被行進過太多次而為人所熟悉。Big Liddle和Luke of Longtown在灌木叢中左右穿行有序，他們?yōu)殛犖榈膫?cè)翼提供警戒抹腿。所有人都是老道的游騎兵，配備有黑曜石和鋼鐵旭寿，戰(zhàn)號掛在他們的鞍上警绩，需要時便可吹響求助。

The soldier pines and sentinels wore thick white coats, and icicles draped the bare brown limbs of the broadleafs. Jon sent Tom Barleycorn ahead to scout for them, though the way to the white grove was oft trod and familiar. Big Liddle and Luke of Longtown slipped into the brush to east and west. They would flank the column to give warning of any approach. All were seasoned rangers, armed with obsidian as well as steel, warhorns slung across their saddles should they need to summon help.

其他人也很優(yōu)秀盅称，至少肩祥，在戰(zhàn)斗中優(yōu)秀，忠于弟兄缩膝。瓊恩說不出在他們來長城前做過什么混狠，但是他深信大部分人經(jīng)歷過如同黑披風(fēng)般的黑暗。在這疾层，他們是各種他所需要來支持他的人将饺。他們拉起兜帽以對抗刺骨的寒風(fēng)，一些人用圍巾裹住他們的臉痛黎，藏起他們的面貌予弧。即便這樣，瓊恩也能認(rèn)出他們湖饱。他們每個名字都鐫刻在他心里掖蛤。他們是他的人，他的弟兄井厌。

The others were good men too. Good men in a fight, at least, and loyal to their brothers. Jon could not speak for what they might have been before they reached the Wall, but he did not doubt that most had pasts as black as their cloaks. Up here, they were the sort of men he wanted at his back. Their hoods were raised against the biting wind, and some had scarves wrapped about their faces, hiding their features. Jon knew them, though. Every name was graven on his heart. They were his men, his brothers.

此行有六人和他們同去——有老有少蚓庭，有壯實的有瘦弱的，有經(jīng)驗豐富的也有新手仅仆。六個人將立下誓言器赞。Horse在鼴鼠村出生長大，Arron和Emrick來自仙女島蝇恶，Satin來自遠(yuǎn)在維斯特洛另一端的舊鎮(zhèn)的妓院拳魁。他們所有人都是男孩。Leathers和Jax是成年人撮弧，已有四十歲潘懊，鬼影森林的子孫后代。他們是六十三個和瓊恩雪諾帶回到長城的野人中的其中兩個贿衍，至少是唯一愿意穿上黑衣的兩個授舟。Iron Emmett說他們都準(zhǔn)備好了，或者快準(zhǔn)備好了贸辈。他和瓊恩還有波文馬爾錫輪流評估過每個人释树，然后將他們?nèi)绱朔峙洌篖eathers， Jax 和 Emrick成為游騎兵，Horse成為工匠奢啥，Arron 和 Satin成為事務(wù)官秸仙。立下誓言的時刻到來了。

Six more rode with them—a mix of young and old, large and small, seasoned and raw. Six to say the words. Horse had been born and raised in Mole’s Town, Arron and Emrick came from Fair Isle, Satin from the brothels of Oldtown at the other end of Westeros. All of them were boys. Leathers and Jax were older men, well past forty, sons of the haunted forest, with sons and grandsons of their own. They had been two of the sixty-three wildlings who had followed Jon Snow back to the Wall the day he made his appeal, so far the only two to decide they wanted a black cloak. Iron Emmett said they all were ready, or as ready as they were ever going to be. He and Jon and Bowen Marsh had weighed each man in turn and assigned him to an order: Leathers, Jax, and Emrick to the rangers, Horse to the builders, Arron and Satin to the stewards. The time had come for them to take their vows.

Iron Emmett騎在隊伍的前端桩盲，騎在一匹瓊恩所見的最為丑陋的馬上寂纪。那是一個看上去只有毛和蹄子的毛茸野獸《慕幔“有傳言說昨晚Harlot’s Tower（注：妓女塔）有些麻煩捞蛋，”士官長說。

Iron Emmett rode at the head of the column, mounted on the ugliest horse Jon had ever seen, a shaggy beast that looked to be all hair and hooves. “Talk is there was some trouble at Harlot’s Tower last night,” the master-at-arms said.

“是Hardin’s Tower柬姚∧馍迹”瓊恩說。六十三個和他從鼴鼠村返回的人里量承，十九個是女人和女孩搬设。瓊恩把她們安置在瓊恩曾居住過的廢棄塔樓里。十二個矛婦宴合，她們有足夠的能力為自己和其他年輕女孩提供防御以防止黑衣兄弟騷擾焕梅。正是這些她們不愿面對的男人給了Hardin’s Tower這個新的令人惱火的名字。瓊恩不打算原諒這些玩笑卦洽。“三個愚蠢的醉漢把Hardin’s當(dāng)成妓院斜棚。他們現(xiàn)在被關(guān)進了冰牢里阀蒂，檢討他們自己的錯誤〉苁矗”

“Hardin’s Tower.” Of the sixty-three who had come back with him from Mole’s Town, nineteen had been women and girls. Jon had housed them in the same abandoned tower where he had once slept when he had been new to the Wall. Twelve were spearwives, more than capable of defending both themselves and the younger girls from the unwanted attentions of black brothers. It was some of the men they’d turned away who’d given Hardin’s Tower its new, inflammatory name. Jon was not about to condone the mockery. “Three drunken fools mistook Hardin’s for a brothel, that’s all. They are in the ice cells now, contemplating their mistake.”

Iron Emmett做個鬼臉蚤霞。“男人是人义钉，誓言是話昧绣，而話語如風(fēng)。你應(yīng)該在那些女人旁邊安排守衛(wèi)捶闸∫钩耄”

Iron Emmett grimaced. “Men are men, vows are words, and words are wind. You should put guards around the women.”

“而誰又看著這些守衛(wèi)呢？”你什么都不懂删壮，瓊恩雪諾贪绘。他已經(jīng)吸取過這個教訓(xùn)，耶哥瑞特是他的老師央碟。如果他不能守住自己的誓言税灌，他怎么能指望其他兄弟？但是把這些女野人視同兒戲亦充滿危險。男人可以擁有女人菱涤，也可以擁有一把刀苞也，耶哥瑞特曾告訴他，但是沒有人能同時擁有兩者粘秆。波文馬爾錫并沒有全錯如迟。Hardin’s Tower是個一觸即發(fā)的炸藥》埽“我打算再啟用三個城堡氓涣。”瓊恩說陋气±头停“深湖居，黑貂廳和長車樓巩趁。他們都由自由民駐守痒玩，由我們的人管理。屆時议慰，長車樓將全是女人蠢古，總司令和總務(wù)長也會對她們束手無策”鸢迹”他堅信會有男女混住發(fā)生草讶，不過至少如此遠(yuǎn)的距離使這種事很難發(fā)生。

“And who will guard the guards?” You know nothing, Jon Snow. He had learned, though, and Ygritte had been his teacher. If he could not hold to his own vows, how could he expect more of his brothers? But there were dangers in trifling with wildling women. A man can own a woman, and a man can own a knife, Ygritte had told him once, but no man can own both. Bowen Marsh had not been all wrong. Hardin’s Tower was tinder waiting for a spark. “I mean to open three more castles,” Jon said. “Deep Lake, Sable Hall, and the Long Barrow. All garrisoned with free folk, under the command of our own officers. The Long Barrow will be all women, aside from the commander and chief steward.” There would be some mingling, he did not doubt, but the distances were great enough to make that difficult, at least.

“哪個可憐的傻子會得到那個管理機會呢炉菲？”

“And what poor fool will get that choice command?”

“我正騎行在那個傻子身后堕战。”

“I am riding beside him.”

Iron Emmett臉上的表情混合著驚恐與幸福拍霜，甚于得到一大袋黃金嘱丢。“我做了什么蠢事如此得罪你祠饺，大人越驻？”

The look of mingled horror and delight that passed across Iron Emmett’s face was worth more than a sack of gold. “What have I done to make you hate me so, my lord?”

瓊恩大笑道〉劳担“別害怕缀旁，你并不是一個人。我打算派憂郁的艾迪做你的副手和事務(wù)官试疙∷锌茫”

Jon laughed. “Have no fear, you won’t be alone. I mean to give you Dolorous Edd as your second and your steward.”

“這是矛婦們的榮幸。但如果可以的話祝旷，你還是把城堡贈予那個馬格那比較好履澳∷徽”

“The spearwives will be so happy. You might do well to bestow a castle on the Magnar.”

瓊恩的笑容消失了【啻“如果我能信任他的話我也許會柄冲。Sigorn把他父親的死歸咎于我，這令我很害怕忠蝗。更糟的是现横，他只會給出命令而非接受命令。不要把Thenns和自由民混為一談阁最。就我所知戒祠，馬格那在古語里是首領(lǐng)的意思，而Styr對于他的人來說更像是神速种。他的孩子和他是一丘之貉姜盈。我并非是要他們下跪，可他們并不服從我配阵×笏蹋”

Jon’s smile died. “I might if I could trust him. Sigorn blames me for his father’s death, I fear. Worse, he was bred and trained to give orders, not to take them. Do not confuse the Thenns with free folk. Magnar means lord in the Old Tongue, I am told, but Styr was closer to a god to his people, and his son is cut from the same skin. I do not require men to kneel, but they do need to obey.”

“是的，大人棋傍，但是你最好為馬格那做點什么救拉。如果你一直忽視他們，你會在Thenns那遇上麻煩瘫拣∫谛酰”

“Aye, m’lord, but you had best do something with the Magnar. You’ll have trouble with the Thenns if you ignore them.”

惹麻煩就是總司令的命，瓊恩本想這樣回答麸拄。他的鼴鼠村之行已為他帶來足夠多的麻煩壹无，正如現(xiàn)在發(fā)生的那樣，而那些女人僅僅是眾多麻煩中的最小一部分感帅。Halleck被證實如他所擔(dān)憂的那般殘忍，而且有一些黑衣兄弟對自由民恨到了骨子里地淀。一個Halleck的追隨者在院子里切掉一個工匠的耳朵失球，仿佛這一切只是那人在娛樂而已。他不得不盡快開放舊的堡壘帮毁，這樣哈爾瑪?shù)娜司涂梢耘扇ヱv守深湖居或者黑貂廳实苞。盡管那些地方之前都還不適合人居住，Othell Yarwyck和他的工匠仍在嘗試重建長夜堡烈疚。很多晚上瓊恩雪諾都在想阻止史坦尼斯屠殺野人是否是一個嚴(yán)重的錯誤黔牵。我什么都不懂，耶哥瑞特爷肝，他想猾浦，也許永遠(yuǎn)也不會懂陆错。

Trouble is the lord commander’s lot, Jon might have said. His visit to Mole’s Town was giving him plenty, as it happened, and the women were the least of it. Halleck was proving to be just as truculent as he had feared, and there were some amongst the black brothers whose hatred of the free folk was bone deep. One of Halleck’s followers had already cut off a builder’s ear in the yard, and like as not that was just a taste of the bloodshed to come. He had to get the old forts open soon, so Harma’s brother could be sent off to garrison Deep Lake or Sable Hall. Just now, though, neither of those was fit for human habitation, and Othell Yarwyck and his builders were still off trying to restore the Nightfort. There were nights when Jon Snow wondered if he had not made a grievous mistake by preventing Stannis from marching all the wildlings off to be slaughtered. I know nothing, Ygritte, he thought, and perhaps I never will.

距離樹林僅有半里，紅而長的秋日陽光傾瀉在無葉的枝條間金赦，把積雪染成粉色音瓷。騎手們在兩個穿猶如戴了冰盔的巖石之間穿越凍結(jié)的溪流，然后跟隨曲折的獵物蹤跡行向東北夹抗。風(fēng)吹起時绳慎，飛沫般的軟雪占據(jù)了空氣，阻隔了他們的視線漠烧。瓊恩把圍巾拉過口鼻杏愤，戴上披風(fēng)的兜帽∫雅В“不遠(yuǎn)了珊楼，”他告訴其他人。沒有人回答摆舟。

Half a mile from the grove, long red shafts of autumn sunlight were slanting down between the branches of the leafless trees, staining the snowdrifts pink. The riders crossed a frozen stream, between two jagged rocks armored in ice, then followed a twisting game trail to the northeast. Whenever the wind kicked up, sprays of loose snow filled the air and stung their eyes. Jon pulled his scarf up over his mouth and nose and raised the hood on his cloak. “Not far now,” he told the men. No one replied.

瓊恩在看到Tom Barleycorn之前已經(jīng)嗅到他的味道亥曹。或者是白靈嗅到了他的味道恨诱？最近瓊恩常常覺得好像他和白靈共用一體媳瞪，即便在清醒的情況下也是。這頭大白狼最先出現(xiàn)照宝，搖掉身上的雪蛇受。一會之后，Tom也到了厕鹃，他輕聲告訴瓊恩：“樹林里有野人兢仰。”

Jon smelled Tom Barleycorn before he saw him. Or was it Ghost who smelled him? Of late, Jon Snow sometimes felt as if he and the direwolf were one, even awake. The great white wolf appeared first, shaking off the snow. A few moments later Tom was there. “Wildlings,” he told Jon, softly. “In the grove.”

瓊恩停下隊伍剂碴“呀“他們有多少人？”

Jon brought the riders to a halt. “How many?”

“有9個忆矛。沒有守衛(wèi)察蹲。一些人像是死了或是睡著了。大部分看上去像女人催训。一個小孩洽议，但那里同時也有巨人，我明確看到了漫拭。他們生了火堆亚兄，煙霧在林間升起。這真是愚蠢的行為采驻∩笈撸”

“I counted nine. No guards. Some dead, might be, or sleeping. Most look to be women. One child, but there’s a giant too. Just the one that I saw. They got a fire burning, smoke drifting through the trees. Fools.”

九個匈勋，而我有十七個人。雖然瓊恩的人里僅有四個是青澀的男孩菲盾，可是颓影，他沒有巨人。

Nine, and I have seven-and-ten. Four of his were green boys, though, and none were giants.

然而瓊恩并不打算退回長城懒鉴。如果這些野人還活著诡挂，或許我們可以把他們帶回去。如果他們都死了……這些尸體也有用临谱×祝“我們步行前進，”他說道悉默，輕輕下馬城豁。積雪沒及腳踝〕危“Rory唱星， Pate，你們看守馬匹跟磨〖淞模”他本可以把這項任務(wù)交給新兵們，可新兵們遲早要浴血奮戰(zhàn)抵拘。和平時一樣哎榴。“散開僵蛛，新月隊形尚蝌。我們從3個方向接近樹林，你們把隊友把持在自己的余光范圍里充尉，這樣你們之間的間隙將不會變大飘言。飛雪會隱蔽我們的行動，如果他們都沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)我們驼侠，我們就不會有流血的風(fēng)險热凹。”

Jon was not of a mind to fall back to the Wall, however. If the wildlings are still alive, it may be we can bring them in. And if they are dead, well … a corpse or two could be of use. “We’ll continue on foot,” he said, dropping lightly to the frozen ground. The snow was ankle deep. “Rory, Pate, stay with the horses.” He might have given that duty to the recruits, but they would need to be blooded soon enough. This was as good a time as any. “Spread out and form a crescent. I want to close in on the grove from three sides. Keep the men to your right and left in sight, so the gaps do not widen. The snow should muffle our steps. Less chance of blood if we take them unawares.”

黑夜很快降臨泪电。當(dāng)最后一絲太陽沒入西邊的樹林時，光束消失的無影無蹤纪铺。粉色的積雪重歸純白相速，當(dāng)世界變得黑暗時，白色也沒濾去鲜锚。夜空變成有如那歷經(jīng)反復(fù)洗滌的舊披風(fēng)般的褪色的灰突诬，隨后一顆暗淡的星星升起苫拍。

Night was falling fast. The shafts of sunlight had vanished when the last thin slice of the sun was swallowed beneath the western woods. The pink snow drifts were going white again, the color leaching out of them as the world darkened. The evening sky had turned the faded grey of an old cloak that had been washed too many times, and the first shy stars were coming out.

他瞄了下前面籠罩于暗紅手狀樹葉下的魚梁木的蒼白樹干。瓊恩雪諾從背后的劍鞘里抽出長抓旺隙。他左右環(huán)顧绒极，朝Satin和Horse輕輕點頭示意，然后看著他們向前面的人轉(zhuǎn)達這個命令蔬捷。他們同時向樹林發(fā)起沖鋒垄提，踢起地上的積雪。一片寂靜周拐，唯有呼吸的聲音铡俐。白靈和他們一同奔跑，有如瓊恩身旁的白色影子妥粟。

Ahead he glimpsed a pale white trunk that could only be a weirwood, crowned with a head of dark red leaves. Jon Snow reached back and pulled Longclaw from his sheath. He looked to right and left, gave Satin and Horse a nod, watched them pass it on to the men beyond. They rushed the grove together, kicking through drifts of old snow with no sound but their breathing. Ghost ran with them, a white shadow at Jon’s side.

魚梁木在空地的邊緣形成環(huán)狀审丘。它們有九株，大小和樹齡相差無幾勾给。每棵樹上都鐫刻著臉滩报，各不相同的臉。有的在微笑播急，有的在尖叫脓钾，還有一些在向他咆哮÷迷瘢火光之中惭笑，他們的眼睛看起來都是深黑，然而在白天生真，這些眼睛如血一般紅沉噩。瓊恩知道，就像白靈的眼睛那般柱蟀。

The weirwoods rose in a circle around the edges of the clearing. There were nine, all roughly of the same age and size. Each one had a face carved into it, and no two faces were alike. Some were smiling, some were screaming, some were shouting at him. In the deepening glow their eyes looked black, but in daylight they would be blood-red, Jon knew. Eyes like Ghost’s.

樹林中的營火是微小而可憐的東西川蒙，灰燼，余燼和少許斷枝緩慢而多煙地燃燒长已。盡管那樣畜眨，這營火也比它周圍蜷縮的野人更有生命力。當(dāng)瓊恩踏出灌木叢時术瓮，僅有一人對他們的出現(xiàn)作出反映康聂。那是一個小孩，哭嚎著僅僅抓住他母親的爛披風(fēng)胞四。那位母親乍一驚睜開眼恬汁。此時，游騎兵已經(jīng)包圍了這片樹林辜伟，滑過蒼白如骨的樹氓侧，鋼鐵在黑色手套里閃著寒光脊另，等待殺戮降臨。

The fire in the center of the grove was a small sad thing, ashes and embers and a few broken branches burning slow and smoky. Even then, it had more life than the wildlings huddled near it. Only one of them reacted when Jon stepped from the brush. That was the child, who began to wail, clutching at his mother’s ragged cloak. The woman raised her eyes and gasped. By then the grove was ringed by rangers, sliding past the bone-white trees, steel glinting in black-gloved hands, poised for slaughter.

巨人最后注意到他們的存在约巷。他之前在沉睡著偎痛，在營火旁片蜷縮一團，是孩子的哭泣驚醒了他独郎。雪的聲音掩蓋住守夜人靴子的動靜踩麦。巨人驚醒就好像是一塊巨石有了生命，著實令人倒吸一口涼氣囚聚。他蹲坐著哼氣靖榕，用大如火腿的手揉揉雙眼來消除睡意。直到他發(fā)現(xiàn)了Iron Emmett顽铸，Iron Emmett的劍在手中閃爍寒光茁计。巨人立馬咆哮著躍起，抄起一柄長柄重錘谓松。

The giant was the last to notice them. He had been asleep, curled up by the fire, but something woke him—the child’s cry, the sound of snow crunching beneath black boots, a sudden indrawn breath. When he stirred it was as if a boulder had come to life. He heaved himself into a sitting position with a snort, pawing at his eyes with hands as big as hams to rub the sleep away … until he saw Iron Emmett, his sword shining in his hand. Roaring, he came leaping to his feet, and one of those huge hands closed around a maul and jerked it up.

白靈齜牙以示準(zhǔn)備攻擊星压。瓊恩擎住白靈的頸項」砥“我們不打算在這里戰(zhàn)斗娜膘。”他知道他的人可以毫無代價地?fù)魯【奕擞胖省Ａ餮⑻埃粫挂叭讼萑肟謶帧Ｗ罱K野人全軍覆沒巩螃，而他的兄弟也將蒙受傷亡演怎。“這里是神圣的地方避乏，而我們只是——”

Ghost showed his teeth in answer. Jon grabbed the wolf by the scruff of the neck. “We want no battle here.” His men could bring the giant down, he knew, but not without cost. Once blood was shed, the wildlings would join the fray. Most or all would die here, and some of his own brothers too. “This is a holy place. Yield, and we—”

巨人再次咆哮爷耀，聲音使樹的枝葉顫動。巨人用重錘敲地拍皮，重錘的柄乃是六尺長的橡木樹干歹叮，頂端有一塊面包這么大的巨石。重錘落地的撞擊使得大地晃動铆帽。其他野人迅速奔向自己的武器咆耿。

The giant bellowed again, a sound that shook the leaves in the trees, and slammed his maul against the ground. The shaft of it was six feet of gnarled oak, the head a stone as big as a loaf of bread. The impact made the ground shake. Some of the other wildlings went scrambling for their own weapons.

當(dāng)Leathers發(fā)話時，瓊恩雪諾已經(jīng)做好準(zhǔn)備掏出長抓爹橱。他的聲音聽起來粗啞刺耳票灰，但瓊恩聽懂了這些古語，并覺得其簡直有如天籟。Leathers說了很久屑迂。當(dāng)他說完，巨人答復(fù)冯键。巨人的聲音聽起來就像隆隆的轟鳴并充滿咕隆惹盼，瓊恩一個字也沒聽懂。Leathers指向樹又說了些什么惫确，接著巨人也指了指樹手报，然后閉上嘴放下武器。

Jon Snow was about to reach for Longclaw when Leathers spoke, from the far side of the grove. His words sounded gruff and guttural, but Jon heard the music in it and recognized the Old Tongue. Leathers spoke for a long while. When he was done, the giant answered. It sounded like growling, interspersed with grunts, and Jon could not understand a word of it. But Leathers pointed at the trees and said something else, and the giant pointed at the trees, ground his teeth, and dropped his maul.

“搞定了改化，”Leathers說掩蛤。“他們也不想戰(zhàn)斗陈肛∽崮瘢”

“It’s done,” said Leathers. “They want no fight.”

“干得好。你給他說了些什么句旱？”

“Well done. What did you tell him?”

“我說我們也信仰舊神阳藻，我們前來祈禱√溉觯”

“That they were our gods too. That we came to pray.”

“我們會祈禱的腥泥。大家都放下武器，今晚這里不會流血啃匿』淄猓”

“We shall. Put away your steel, all of you. We will have no blood shed here tonight.”

9個人，Tom Barleycorn曾告訴他溯乒，現(xiàn)在9個人都在那夹厌，但是2個已經(jīng)死了寓娩，1個奄奄一息熬不到明天早上禁筏。剩下的6個包括一個母親和孩子，兩個老人玛歌，一個在戰(zhàn)場受傷的Thenn灯帮，和一個硬足民崖技，硬足民的光腳嚴(yán)重凍傷，瓊恩掃了一眼便得出他已經(jīng)無法行動的結(jié)論钟哥。瓊恩意識到迎献，他們來到這片樹林時，大部分都對彼此陌生腻贰。當(dāng)史坦尼斯擊潰了曼斯雷德的軍隊吁恍，他們便逃入樹林以躲過屠殺。他們在荒野漫游，在饑荒和寒冷中失去親人和朋友冀瓦。最終他們抵達這里伴奥，已經(jīng)虛弱疲勞到無法繼續(xù)逃荒∫砻觯“神在這里拾徙，”其中一個老人說「芯郑“這是個再好不過的等待死亡降臨的地方尼啡。”

Nine, Tom Barleycorn had said, and nine there were, but two were dead and one so weak he might have died by morning. The six who remained included a mother and child, two old men, a wounded Thenn in battered bronze, and one of the Hornfoot folk, his bare feet so badly frostbitten that Jon knew at a glance he would never walk again. Most had been strangers to one another when they came to the grove, he learned subsequently; when Stannis broke Mance Rayder’s host, they had fled into the woods to escape the carnage, wandered for a time, lost friends and kin to cold and starvation, and finally washed up here, too weak and weary to go on. “The gods are here,” one of the old men said. “This was as good a place to die as any.”

“長城距此僅有數(shù)小時路程询微，”瓊恩說崖瞭。“你們?yōu)楹尾蝗ツ抢飳で蟊幼o撑毛？其他野人都屈服了书聚，甚至曼斯〈”

“The Wall is only a few hours south of here,” said Jon. “Why not seek shelter there? Others yielded. Even Mance.”

野人相互交換眼神寺惫。最終有個人說，“我們聽說蹦疑，黑烏鴉們燒死了那些屈服的野人西雀。”

The wildlings exchanged looks. Finally one said, “We heard stories. The crows burned all them that yielded.”

“甚至曼斯本人歉摧，”那個女人補充道艇肴。

“Even Mance hisself,” the woman added.

梅麗珊卓，瓊恩想叁温，你和你的紅神現(xiàn)在還要為此事也給個說法再悼。“那些愿意的人膝但，我們歡迎他們加入到我們身邊冲九。黑城堡可以提供食物和庇護，長城可以為你們提供安全跟束，使你們免受森林里游蕩的鬼魂威脅莺奸。我發(fā)誓，不會有人來燒死你們”

Melisandre, Jon thought, you and your red god have much and more to answer for. “All those who wish are welcome to return with us. There is food and shelter at Castle Black, and the Wall to keep you safe from the things that haunt these woods. You have my word, no one will burn.”

“烏鴉的誓言冀宴，”女人抱孩子更緊了灭贷，“而誰又可以保證你能守誓？你到底是誰略贮？”

“A crow’s word,” the woman said, hugging her child close, “but who’s to say that you can keep it? Who are you?”

“守夜人司令甚疟，臨冬城艾德史塔克之子仗岖。”瓊恩接著轉(zhuǎn)向Tom Barleycorn览妖≡簦“叫Rory和Pate把馬匹帶來了。我不想在這哪怕多待一會讽膏〗襞粒”

“Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and a son of Eddard Stark of Winterfell.” Jon turned to Tom Barleycorn. “Have Rory and Pate bring up the horses. I do not mean to stay here one moment longer than we must.”

“如你所愿，大人桅打。”

“As you say, m’lord.”

他們離開前做的最后一件事：即他們此行的目的愈案。Iron Emmett喚出那幾個新兵挺尾，當(dāng)其余的人在一個敬畏的距離上觀望時，這幾個人跪在魚梁木前站绪。之后遭铺，那天最后的光亮消失了，天上的星星和林間微弱暗紅的營火成了唯一的光源恢准。

One last thing remained before they could depart: the thing that they had come for. Iron Emmett called forth his charges, and as the rest of the company watched from a respectful distance, they knelt before the weirwoods. The last light of day was gone by then; the only light came from the stars above and the faint red glow of the dying fire in the center of the grove.

六個人穿著厚重的黑色兜帽和黑斗篷魂挂，他們好似由影子雕刻而成。他們的聲音聚集到一起馁筐，和無邊的長夜相較顯得無比藐小涂召。“長夜將至敏沉，我從今開始守望果正。”他們說著誓言盟迟，在他們之前有成千上萬的人曾這樣說過秋泳。Satin的聲音甜美得像歌，Horse的嗓音沙啞攒菠，Arron的聲音則焦慮而尖銳迫皱。“至死方休辖众∽科穑”

With their black hoods and thick black cowls, the six might have been carved from shadow. Their voices rose together, small against the vastness of the night. “Night gathers, and now my watch begins,” they said, as thousands had said before them. Satin’s voice was sweet as song, Horse’s hoarse and halting, Arron’s a nervous squeak. “It shall not end until my death.”

死亡會很遠(yuǎn)嗎？瓊恩雪諾單膝沒入雪中赵辕。父親的神啊既绩，保護這些人吧，還有艾麗婭还惠，我的小妹饲握，無論她在哪。我祈求，讓曼斯找到她然后把她安全地帶給我吧救欧。

May those deaths be long in coming. Jon Snow sank to one knee in the snow. Gods of my fathers, protect these men. And Arya too, my little sister, wherever she might be. I pray you, let Mance find her and bring her safe to me.

“我將不娶妻衰粹、不封地、不生子笆怠，”新兵們發(fā)誓铝耻，聲音猶如在此回蕩過無數(shù)滄桑〉潘ⅲ“我將不戴寶冠瓢捉，不爭榮寵。我將盡忠職守办成，生死於斯泡态。”

“I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children,” the recruits promised, in voices that echoed back through years and centuries. “I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post.”

樹木的神靈啊迂卢，給我力量讓我也能遵守誓言吧某弦，瓊恩雪諾靜靜祈禱。給我智慧讓我明白該做什么而克，也給我勇氣讓我去做那些事靶壮。

Gods of the wood, grant me the strength to do the same, Jon Snow prayed silently. Give me the wisdom to know what must be done and the courage to do it.

“我是黑暗中的利劍，”六個人說员萍，瓊恩覺得腾降，他們的聲音似乎愈發(fā)強壯和堅定〕浠睿“長城中的守衛(wèi)蜂莉。我是抵御寒冷的烈焰，破曉時分的光線混卵，喚醒死者的號角映穗，守護王國的鐵衛(wèi)∧凰妫”

“I am the sword in the darkness,” said the six, and it seemed to Jon as though their voices were changing, growing stronger, more certain. “I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men.”

守護王國的鐵衛(wèi)蚁滋。白靈用鼻觸觸瓊恩的肩膀，瓊恩把手臂搭在他身上赘淮。它可以嗅出Horse沒有洗過的臀部辕录，Satin精心梳理過的胡須的甜膩的氣味，難聞刺鼻的恐懼的味道梢卸，巨大的壓倒性的麝香味走诞。他能聽到自己的心跳「蚋撸可當(dāng)他透過樹林望向女人和孩子蚣旱，兩個老人碑幅，殘疾的硬足民時，他看到的只有人塞绿。

The shield that guards the realms of men. Ghost nuzzled up against his shoulder, and Jon draped an arm around him. He could smell Horse’s unwashed breeches, the sweet scent Satin combed into his beard, the rank sharp smell of fear, the giant’s overpowering musk. He could hear the beating of his own heart. When he looked across the grove at the woman with her child, the two greybeards, the Hornfoot man with his maimed feet, all he saw was men.

“我將生命與榮耀獻給守夜人沟涨，今夜如此，夜夜皆然异吻」埃”

“I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”

瓊恩雪諾最先起立【骼耍“起來你們就是守夜人的漢子了棋返。”他向Horse伸出手拉他起來雷猪。

Jon Snow was the first onto his feet. “Rise now as men of the Night’s Watch.” He gave Horse a hand to pull him up.

起風(fēng)了懊昨。是時候回去了。

The wind was rising. It was time to go.

回程比來時更漫長春宣。盡管巨人有著那樣巨大的腿，他的腳步卻依然沉重嫉你，他總是停下用低懸的手臂和錘子踢起雪月帝。女人和Rory同騎，她的孩子和Tom Barleycorn一起幽污，老人們和Horse與Satin同騎嚷辅。Thenn害怕馬匹，盡管傷勢嚴(yán)重距误，他還是愿意跛足而行簸搞。硬足民無法坐在馬鞍上，他不得不像一袋麥子一樣被捆在馬背上准潭。白臉干癟的老太婆也被這樣運輸趁俊，他們已經(jīng)無法醒來。

The journey back took much longer than the journey to the grove. The giant’s pace was a ponderous one, despite the length and girth of those legs, and he was forever stopping to knock snow off low-hanging limbs with his maul. The woman rode double with Rory, her son with Tom Barleycorn, the old men with Horse and Satin. The Thenn was frightened of the horses, however, and preferred to limp along despite his wounds. The Hornfoot man could not sit a saddle and had to be tied over the back of a garron like a sack of grain; so too the pale-faced crone with the stick-thin limbs, whom they had not been able to rouse.

他們對另外兩具尸體也這么做刑然，這讓Iron Emmett感到費解寺擂。“它們只會拖慢我們的速度泼掠，大人怔软，”他對瓊恩說≡裾颍“我們應(yīng)該把它們燒掉挡逼。”

They did the same with the two corpses, to the puzzlement of Iron Emmett. “They will only slow us, my lord,” he said to Jon. “We should chop them up and burn them.”

“不腻豌，”瓊恩說家坎≈瞿埽“帶上它們，我要用這些尸體乘盖⊙骈荩”

“No,” said Jon. “Bring them. I have a use for them.”

返程路上沒有月光指引，只有零星的星星订框。世界黑白混雜析苫。返程是一次冗長而緩慢無盡的跋涉。雪緊緊地附在靴子和背上穿扳，風(fēng)使得松樹發(fā)出嘎嘎的響聲衩侥，斗篷在身后打旋拍打。瓊恩瞄著頭上紅色的走獸矛物，當(dāng)瓊恩一行在下面行進時他發(fā)現(xiàn)它們正在穿越大樹無葉的枝干茫死。The Thief，自由民如此稱呼它履羞。耶歌瑞特總是說偷取女人的最好時間是the Thief出現(xiàn)在Moonmaid之時峦萎。她卻從沒有告訴他什么是偷取巨人或是倆尸體的最好時間。

They had no moon to guide them home, and only now and then a patch of stars. The world was black and white and still. It was a long, slow, endless trek. The snow clung to their boots and breeches, and the wind rattled the pines and made their cloaks snap and swirl. Jon glimpsed the red wanderer above, watching them through the leafless branches of great trees as they made their way beneath. The Thief, the free folk called it. The best time to steal a woman was when the Thief was in the Moonmaid, Ygritte had always claimed. She never mentioned the best time to steal a giant. Or two dead men.

當(dāng)他們再次看到長城時已接近拂曉忆首。

It was almost dawn before they saw the Wall again.

當(dāng)他們靠近時爱榔，哨兵吹響號角。從高處所傳來的聲音聽起來好似巨大的深喉鳥的悲鳴糙及，一聲長音意為游騎兵返回详幽。Big Liddle解開并吹響自己的戰(zhàn)號以示回應(yīng)。在大門前浸锨，他們不得不等待憂郁的艾迪拔開門閂轉(zhuǎn)開鐵條唇聘。當(dāng)艾迪看到襤褸的野人隊伍時，他努努嘴并盯著巨人柱搜〕倮桑“巨人通過隧道前需要我們在隧道里抹油潤滑嗎，大人聪蘸，或者我該派人拿來梯子谎亩？”

A sentry’s horn greeted them as they approached, sounding from on high like the cry of some huge, deep-throated bird, a single long blast that meant rangers returning. Big Liddle unslung his own warhorn and gave answer. At the gate, they had to wait a few moments before Dolorous Edd Tollett appeared to slide back the bolts and swing open the iron bars. When Edd caught sight of the ragged band of wildlings, he pursed his lips and gave the giant a long look. “Might need some butter to slide that one through the tunnel, m’lord. Shall I send someone to the larder?”

“噢，我覺得他大小合適宇姚。不用潤滑匈庭。”

“Oh, I think he’ll fit. Unbuttered.”

他確實大小合適……在隧道里手和膝蓋并用爬行浑劳。這個大塊頭阱持，至少十四尺。甚至比巨人之王馬格還大魔熏。馬格死于這片冰的下方衷咽，死于唐納諾伊的致命抵抗鸽扁。守夜人失去了太多優(yōu)秀的人。瓊恩走到Leathers旁邊镶骗⊥跋郑“你負(fù)責(zé)管理他，你也說古語鼎姊。你要確保他能吃好并為他找個有火的溫暖之處骡和。你要和他待在一起，確保沒人激怒他相寇∥坑冢”

So he did … on hands and knees, crawling. A big boy, this one. Fourteen feet, at least. Even bigger than Mag the Mighty. Mag had died beneath this very ice, locked in mortal struggle with Donal Noye. A good man. The Watch has lost too many good men. Jon took Leathers aside. “Take charge of him. You speak his tongue. See that he is fed and find him a warm place by the fire. Stay with him. See that no one provokes him.”

“是的』缴溃”Leathers有些猶豫婆赠，“大人〖牙”

“Aye.” Leathers hesitated. “M’lord.”

瓊恩安排好那些幸存的野人使他們的傷能得到充分照料休里。他希望熱食和溫暖的衣物可以使他們恢復(fù)，只不過硬足民可能會失去雙腳赃承。此外份帐，尸體被他放進冰牢里。

The living wildlings Jon sent off to have their wounds and frostbites tended. Some hot food and warm clothes would restore most of them, he hoped, though the Hornfoot man was like to lose both feet. The corpses he consigned to the ice cells.

Clydas來了又走楣导，當(dāng)他把披風(fēng)掛在門后時瓊恩點了點頭。白天來的一封信被放在了桌子上畜挨。東海望筒繁，或是影子塔，他發(fā)現(xiàn)時暗暗猜想巴元。但封蠟是金色的毡咏，并非黑色，圖案是燃燒的心里的寶冠雄鹿逮刨。史坦尼斯呕缭。瓊恩拆開堅硬的封蠟，展平羊皮紙卷閱讀修己。出自學(xué)士之手恢总，國王之口。

Clydas had come and gone, Jon noted as he was hanging his cloak on the peg beside the door. A letter had been left on the table in his solar. Eastwatch or the Shadow Tower, he assumed at first glance. But the wax was gold, not black. The seal showed a stag’s head within a flaming heart. Stannis. Jon cracked the hardened wax, flattened the roll of parchment, read. A maester’s hand, but the king’s words.

史坦尼斯已經(jīng)入駐深湖居睬愤，山地部落也加入了他片仿。Flint， Norrey尤辱， Wull砂豌， Liddle厢岂，他們?nèi)俊?/p>

Stannis had taken Deepwood Motte, and the mountain clans had joined him. Flint, Norrey, Wull, Liddle, all.

我們也得到了其他幫助，最令人始料未及而受人歡迎的是來自熊島的女兒的幫助阳距。艾麗珊莫爾蒙塔粒，她被手下稱作為She-Bear。她把戰(zhàn)士們藏在單桅漁船里筐摘，在鐵民們登陸時出其不意地展開襲擊卒茬。葛雷喬伊的長船悉數(shù)被焚或是被占，船員不是被殺就是投降蓄拣。船長扬虚，騎士，著名的戰(zhàn)士球恤，還有其他貴族用以換取贖金辜昵，剩下的人則被我直接吊死。

And we had other help, unexpected but most welcome, from a daughter of Bear Island. Alysane Mormont, whose men name her the She-Bear, hid fighters inside a gaggle of fishing sloops and took the ironmen unawares where they lay off the strand. Greyjoy’s longships are burned or taken, her crews slain or surrendered. The captains, knights, notable warriors, and others of high birth we shall ransom or make other use of, the rest I mean to hang …

守夜人發(fā)過誓不介入王國內(nèi)的任何紛爭咽斧。然而此刻堪置，瓊恩雪諾確實感到某種莫名的滿足感。他繼續(xù)讀下去张惹。

The Night’s Watch was sworn to take no side in the quarrels and conflicts of the realm. Nonetheless, Jon Snow could not help but feel a certain satisfaction. He read on.

隨著勝利的消息傳出舀锨，越來越多的北方人加入了我們。自由民宛逗，自由騎手坎匿，山區(qū)居民，佃農(nóng)們雷激，從狼林深處的人到磐石海岸為逃避鐵民放棄村莊的人替蔬，從臨冬城大門外戰(zhàn)斗的幸存者到曾向霍伍德城、賽文城屎暇、Tallharts宣誓效忠的人們承桥。當(dāng)我書寫這封信時，我們的力量已經(jīng)達到5000人根悼，我們的隊伍日漸壯大凶异。我聽說盧斯波頓正傾其所有力量進軍臨冬城，在那里讓他的私生子和你的小妹結(jié)婚挤巡，他一定會重建城堡使其恢復(fù)到最初的樣子剩彬。而我們將向他進軍。Arnolf卡史塔克和Mors安柏和我們一起矿卑。如果能的話我必將救回你妹妹襟衰，我也會為她找到一個比拉姆斯雪諾更好的婚配。你和你的兄弟們務(wù)必堅守長城直到我返回。

… more northmen coming in as word spreads of our victory. Fisherfolk, freeriders, hillmen, crofters from the deep of the wolfswood and villagers who fled their homes along the stony shore to escape the ironmen, survivors from the battle outside the gates of Winterfell, men once sworn to the Hornwoods, the Cerwyns, and the Tallharts. We are five thousand strong as I write, our numbers swelling every day. And word has come to us that Roose Bolton moves toward Winterfell with all his power, there to wed his bastard to your half sister. He must not be allowed to restore the castle to its former strength. We march against him. Arnolf Karstark and Mors Umber will join us. I will save your sister if I can, and find a better match for her than Ramsay Snow. You and your brothers must hold the Wall until I can return.

落款出自不同字跡瀑晒。以光之王之名绍坝，史坦尼斯拜拉希恩，安達爾人苔悦，Rhoynar和先民之王轩褐，七國之君，兼全境守護玖详。

Done in the Light of Lord, under the sign and seal of Stannis of House Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.

那一刻瓊恩把信放到一邊把介，羊皮紙又自動卷起，好像它渴望于保守自己的秘密一樣蟋座。他不知道他讀這封信時到底什么感覺拗踢。無數(shù)戰(zhàn)斗曾經(jīng)在臨冬城打響過，但是戰(zhàn)斗總有一方會是史塔克家向臀〕彩“城堡只是一個空殼，”他喃喃道券膀，“不再是臨冬城了君纫，只不過是臨冬城的魂魄而已∏郾颍”想到這令他悲痛蓄髓，而且……

The moment Jon set the letter aside, the parchment curled up again, as if eager to protect its secrets. He was not at all sure how he felt about what he had just read. Battles had been fought at Winterfell before, but never one without a Stark on one side or the other. “The castle is a shell,” he said, “not Winterfell, but the ghost of Winterfell.” It was painful just to think of it, much less say the words aloud. And still …

他不清楚老鴉食會帶多少人去打仗，也不知道Arnolf會帶去多少劍舒帮。安柏家一半的人將由妓靨帶領(lǐng)会喝，在剝皮人的恐怖堡戰(zhàn)斗，然而這些封臣們很大一部分力量都跟著羅柏去往南方再也沒有回來玩郊。就算被毀肢执，臨冬城本身也能為占領(lǐng)它的人帶來不可忽視的優(yōu)勢。若是勞勃拜拉希恩瓦宜，想必他定當(dāng)憑借其所著稱的日夜兼程強行軍迅速趕往并保衛(wèi)城堡。他的兄弟也會如此無畏么岭妖？

He wondered how many men old Crowfood would bring to the fray, and how many swords Arnolf Karstark would be able to conjure up. Half the Umbers would be across the field with Whoresbane, fighting beneath the flayed man of the Dreadfort, and the greater part of the strength of both houses had gone south with Robb, never to return. Even ruined, Winterfell itself would confer a considerable advantage on whoever held it. Robert Baratheon would have seen that at once and moved swiftly to secure the castle, with the forced marches and midnight rides for which he had been famous. Would his brother be as bold?

不大可能临庇。史坦尼斯是一個謹(jǐn)慎的指揮官，況且他的部隊乃是部落自由民昵慌、南方騎士假夺、國王的部隊、王后的部隊的大雜燴斋攀，伙著幾個北方領(lǐng)主已卷。他要么應(yīng)當(dāng)迅速進軍臨冬城，要么應(yīng)當(dāng)采取完全相反的策略——謹(jǐn)慎進軍淳蔼，瓊恩想侧蘸〔妹校可他并沒有權(quán)利為國王諫言，不過……

Not likely. Stannis was a deliberate commander, and his host was a half-digested stew of clansmen, southron knights, king’s men and queen’s men, salted with a few northern lords. He should move on Winterfell swiftly, or not at all, Jon thought. It was not his place to advise the king, but …

他再次掃視史坦尼斯的來信讳癌〈┪龋“如果能的話我必將救回你妹妹∩卫ぃ”史坦尼斯竟也有如此柔情傷感逢艘，不過隨后這種氣氛即被殘酷無情的其他部分所削弱，“如果能的話”骤菠，以及附加的內(nèi)容“我也會為她找到一個比拉姆斯雪諾更好的婚配”但如果艾麗婭并沒有在那被救回來呢它改？如果梅麗珊卓女士的火焰中所見為真？他的妹妹能真正逃離捕捉者嗎商乎？她會怎么做央拖？艾麗婭從小敏捷機靈，到最后卻終是一個小女孩截亦，盧斯波頓也不是那種對如此大好機會毫不在乎的人爬泥。

He glanced at the letter again. I will save your sister if I can. A surprisingly tender sentiment from Stannis, though undercut by that final, brutal if I can and the addendum and find a better match for her than Ramsay Snow. But what if Arya was not there to be saved? What if Lady Melisandre’s flames had told it true? Could his sister truly have escaped such captors? How would she do that? Arya was always quick and clever, but in the end she’s just a little girl, and Roose Bolton is not the sort who would be careless with a prize of such great worth.

倘若波頓根本沒有得到他妹妹？這場婚禮不過是為了誘惑史坦尼斯進入陷進的陰謀崩瓤。至少就瓊恩所知袍啡，雖然恐怖堡伯爵從未讓艾德史塔克失望過，艾德卻從未信任過他却桶，信任過那低聲細(xì)氣的聲音和那蒼白的眼珠境输。

What if Bolton never had his sister? This wedding could well be just some ruse to lure Stannis into a trap. Eddard Stark had never had any reason to complain of the Lord of the Dreadfort, so far as Jon knew, but even so he had never trusted him, with his whispery voice and his pale, pale eyes.

一個瘦弱的小女孩在一匹瀕死的馬上，逃離著自己的婚姻颖系。憑借著這些字句嗅剖，他在北方放了曼斯雷德和六個矛婦∴叶螅“年輕漂亮的女子信粮，”曼斯曾說過。這個未被點燃的國王提供了一些名字趁啸，憂郁的艾迪完成了剩下部分强缘，偷偷從鼴鼠村帶走他們。這簡直是瘋狂的行為不傅。當(dāng)曼斯在瓊恩面前時旅掂，他本可以出色地?fù)舻孤埂－偠鲗@位塞外之王有著莫名的欽佩访娶，雖然這個人是一個背誓者和變色龍商虐。比之曼斯雷德，他卻更不信任梅麗珊卓。然而現(xiàn)在秘车，他信任曼斯他們典勇，把希望寄托者他們身上。傾盡全力找到妹妹鲫尊，哪怕守夜人不該有姐妹痴柔。

A grey girl on a dying horse, fleeing from her marriage. On the strength of those words he had loosed Mance Rayder and six spearwives on the north. “Young ones, and pretty,” Mance had said. The unburnt king supplied some names, and Dolorous Edd had done the rest, smuggling them from Mole’s Town. It seemed like madness now. He might have done better to strike down Mance the moment he revealed himself. Jon had a certain grudging admiration for the late King-Beyond-the-Wall, but the man was an oathbreaker and a turncloak. He had even less trust in Melisandre. Yet somehow here he was, pinning his hopes on them. All to save my sister. But the men of the Night’s Watch have no sisters.

當(dāng)瓊恩還是個在臨冬城的小孩時，他的英雄是Young Dragon疫向，那是個在14歲便征服多恩的年輕國王咳蔚。不論私生子血統(tǒng)，也許也正是因為這一點搔驼，瓊恩雪諾夢想成為一個擁有King Daeron的那般光榮的領(lǐng)袖谈火，成為一個征服者。而現(xiàn)在舌涨，他已是成人糯耍，坐守長城。而他有的卻盡是懷疑囊嘉，他甚至不能征服當(dāng)下温技。

When Jon had been a boy at Winterfell, his hero had been the Young Dragon, the boy king who had conquered Dorne at the age of fourteen. Despite his bastard birth, or perhaps because of it, Jon Snow had dreamed of leading men to glory just as King Daeron had, of growing up to be a conqueror. Now he was a man grown and the Wall was his, yet all he had were doubts. He could not even seem to conquer those.