Ⅳ 群鴉的盛宴 Chapter39 瑟曦

CERSEI

早在她剛認(rèn)識(shí)他時(shí)，派席爾大學(xué)士就已是個(gè)老人了烧栋，但過(guò)去的三個(gè)夜晚写妥，讓他似乎又老了一百歲。在她面前审姓，他慢吞吞珍特、顫巍巍地彎下嘰嘎作響的膝蓋，若非奧斯蒙爵士來(lái)扶魔吐，他還站不起來(lái)扎筒。

Grand Maester Pycelle had been old for as long as she had known him, but he seemed to have aged another hundred years in the past three nights. It took him an eternity to bend his creaky knee before her, and once he had he could not rise again until Ser Osmund jerked him to his feet.

瑟曦厭惡地審視著他，“科本大人告訴我画畅，蓋爾斯伯爵已因咳嗽而逝世砸琅？”

Cersei studied him with displeasure. “Lord Qyburn informs me that Lord Gyles has coughed his last.”

“是的，陛下轴踱，我盡了全力減輕他的痛苦症脂。”

“Yes, Your Grace. I did my best to ease his passing.”

“是嗎淫僻？”太后轉(zhuǎn)向瑪瑞魏斯夫人诱篷，“我說(shuō)‘不準(zhǔn)’羅斯比死，對(duì)吧雳灵？”

“Did you?” The queen turned to Lady Merryweather. “I did say I wanted Rosby alive, did I not?”

“是的棕所，陛下∶跽蓿”

“You did, Your Grace.”

“奧斯蒙爵士琳省，你可還記得？”

“Ser Osmund, what is your recollection of the conversation?”

“陛下您命令派席爾國(guó)師拯救他躲撰，我們?nèi)悸犚娏苏氡帷！?/p>

“You commanded Grand Maester Pycelle to save the man, Your Grace. We all heard.”

派席爾的嘴巴張張合合拢蛋，“陛下桦他，您得明白，我為那可憐人做了力所能做的一切……”

Pycelle’s mouth opened and closed. “Your Grace must know, I did all that could be done for the poor man.”

“就像對(duì)喬佛里那樣谆棱？就像對(duì)他父親快压，對(duì)我親愛的夫君那樣？勞勃乃是七大王國(guó)最強(qiáng)壯的男子垃瞧，你卻聽任他死在野豬手上蔫劣。噢，別忘了瓊恩·艾林个从，毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)拦宣，如果我把奈德·史塔克交給你照管，你還會(huì)斷送他的性命。告訴我鸵隧，大學(xué)士绸罗，在學(xué)城你只學(xué)會(huì)了如何絞手掌和如何道歉嗎？”

“As you did for Joffrey? And his father, my own beloved husband? Robert was as strong as any man in the Seven Kingdoms, yet you lost him to a boar. Oh, and let us not forget Jon Arryn. No doubt you would have killed Ned Stark as well, if I had let you keep him longer. Tell me, maester, was it at the Citadel that you learned to wring your hands and make excuses?”

她的質(zhì)問(wèn)令老人退縮豆瘫，“沒人能做得更多珊蟀，陛下，我……我一直盡忠外驱、效勞育灸、服務(wù)￡怯睿”

Her voice made the old man flinch. “No man could have done more, Your Grace. I … I have always given leal service.”

“盡忠磅崭？盡忠就是當(dāng)我父親大人兵臨城下時(shí)，哄騙伊里斯王打開城門瓦哎？”

“When you counseled King Aerys to open his gates as my father’s host approached, was that your notion of leal service?”

“我……我……”

“That … I misjudged the …”

“那便是你忠誠(chéng)的諫言嗎砸喻？”

“Was that good counsel?”

“陛下，您很清楚蒋譬，當(dāng)時(shí)……”

“Your Grace must surely know …”

“我清楚的是當(dāng)我兒子被毒死時(shí)你就跟月童一樣沒用割岛！我清楚的是在國(guó)庫(kù)最需要錢財(cái)時(shí)你卻讓我們的國(guó)庫(kù)經(jīng)理死了！”

“What I know is that when my son was poisoned you proved to be of less use than Moon Boy. What I know is that the crown has desperate need of gold, and our lord treasurer is dead.”

老蠢豬抓住她這句話犯助⊙⑵幔“我……我可以列出名單，推舉其他人來(lái)接替蓋爾斯大人剂买』菟”

The old fool seized upon that. “I … I shall draw up a list of men suitable to take Lord Gyles’s place upon the council.”

“名單？”瑟曦覺得挺有趣瞬哼，“我能想象得出你的名單婚肆。無(wú)非就是白胡子們、貪婪的蠢豬們——還有粗胖的加爾斯倒槐，對(duì)嗎？”她嘴巴一抿附井，“最近讨越，你上瑪格麗那邊去的次數(shù)太多了∮酪悖”

“A list.” Cersei was amused by his presumption. “I can well imagine the sort of list you would provide me. Greybeards and grasping fools and Garth the Gross.” Her lips tightened. “You have been much in Lady Margaery’s company of late.”

“是把跨，是，我……瑪格麗王后憂心洛拉斯爵士沼死，幾乎發(fā)了狂着逐，我為陛下調(diào)制安眠藥，以及……其他藥劑∷时穑”

“Yes. Yes, I … Queen Margaery has been most distraught about Ser Loras. I provide Her Grace with sleeping draughts and … other sorts of potions.”

“那當(dāng)然健芭，說(shuō)，是不是咱們的小王后唆使你毒害蓋爾斯伯爵的秀姐？”

“No doubt. Tell me, was it our little queen who commanded you to kill Lord Gyles?”

“毒——毒害慈迈？”派席爾大學(xué)士的眼睛瞪得像煮雞蛋，“陛下您怎能……諸神在上省有。他的哮喘病根子已有好多年痒留，我……王后陛下……她對(duì)蓋爾斯大人絕對(duì)沒有惡意……瑪格麗王后為什么要他……”

“K-kill?” Grand Maester Pycelle’s eyes grew as big as boiled eggs. “Your Grace cannot believe … it was his cough, by all the gods, I … Her Grace would not … she bore Lord Gyles no ill will, why would Queen Margaery want him …”

“……要他死？很簡(jiǎn)單蠢沿，為了在托曼的御前會(huì)議里安插新棋子舷蟀，她什么都做得出來(lái)。你究竟是瞎了還是被收買了雪侥？羅斯比擋了她的路速缨，她便出手捏死了他锌妻，在你的縱容之下旬牲≡”

“… dead? Why, to plant another rose on Tommen’s council. Are you blind or bought? Rosby stood in her way, so she put him in his grave. With your connivance.”

“陛下擂橘，我指天發(fā)誓朗若，蓋爾斯大人是因?yàn)榭人运赖模劳鲈虿o(wú)奇異遣总∪荽铮”他說(shuō)話時(shí)嘴唇不住顫抖董饰，“我一直對(duì)國(guó)王，對(duì)王國(guó)……對(duì)蘭——蘭尼斯特家族忠誠(chéng)不渝也祠。”你心中真是這個(gè)順位奖亚？

“Your Grace, I swear to you, Lord Gyles perished from his cough.” His mouth was quivering. “My loyalty has always been to the crown, to the realm … t-to House Lannister.”

她已把派席爾嚇傻了，果實(shí)成熟作郭，下面該壓榨汁水∮匠ⅲ“如果是你宣稱的這樣，那你為何還對(duì)我撒謊呢蒙谓？不用否認(rèn)，早在洛拉斯爵士前往龍石島之前谤专，你便開始列席這位‘處女’瑪格麗的舞會(huì)，噢蜡坊，省省編故事的工夫吧，別跟我說(shuō)什么去安慰我悲傷的媳婦徒溪。你三天兩頭前往處女居，所謂何來(lái)汉规？你和瑪格麗有什么好聊？你跟她那個(gè)麻子臉的修女搞上了悟民？還是看中了咱們的小布爾威？你是不是做了她的線人智润，為她監(jiān)視著我的一舉一動(dòng)？”

In that order? Pycelle’s fear was palpable. He is ripe enough. Time to squeeze the fruit and taste the juice. “If you are as leal as you claim, why are you lying to me? Do not trouble to deny it. You began to dance attendance on Maid Margaery before Ser Loras went to Dragonstone, so spare me further fables about how you want only to console our good-daughter in her grief. What brings you to the Maidenvault so often? Not Margaery’s vapid conversation, surely? Are you courting that pox-faced septa of hers? Diddling little Lady Bulwer? Do you play the spy for her, informing on me to serve her plots?”

“我……我只是遵命行事攘残。學(xué)士發(fā)誓服務(wù)……”

“I … I obey. A maester takes an oath of service …”

“大學(xué)士要為國(guó)家服務(wù)〔≡”

“A grand maester swears to serve the realm.”

“陛下，她……她是七大王國(guó)的王后啊……”

“Your Grace, she … she is the queen …”

“我是太后∑渥觯”

“I am the queen.”

“我的意思是……她是國(guó)王的妻子，也是……”

“I meant … she is the king’s wife, and …”

“我明白她是誰(shuí)蹈胡。我只想知道她要你做什么，她究竟哪里‘不舒服’？”

“I know who she is. What I want to know is why she has need of you. Is my good-daughter unwell?”

“不舒服源织？”老人摸向胡子——那只是他下巴下面折皺的粉色皮膚上生出來(lái)的幾叢稀疏白發(fā)∠莱穑“她沒——沒不舒服踢代，陛下饼疙，不是這樣的屏积。我的誓言禁止我泄露……”

“Unwell?” The old man plucked at the thing he called a beard, that patched growth of thin white hair sprouting from the loose pink wattles under his chin. “N-not unwell, Your Grace, not as such. My oaths forbid me to divulge …”

“你的誓言會(huì)讓你進(jìn)黑牢，”她警告他，“你要么說(shuō)實(shí)話奕枝，要么被捕。”

“Your oaths will be of small comfort in the black cells,” she warned him. “I’ll hear the truth, or you’ll wear chains.”

派席爾“撲通”一聲跪下激捏。“我求求您……我是您父親大人的人，即便艾林大人當(dāng)朝為相時(shí)爆办，我也做您的朋友……若再有牢獄之災(zāi)余佃，我這條老命就保不住了，我……”

Pycelle collapsed to his knees. “I beg you … I was your lord father’s man, and a friend to you in the matter of Lord Arryn. I could not survive the dungeons, not again …”

“瑪格麗要你干嗎？”

“Why does Margaery send for you?”

“她要……她……她……”

“She desires … she … she …”

“說(shuō)！”

“Say it!”

他屈服了倔矾。“月茶，”他低聲呢喃隙笆，“月茶，為了……”

He cringed. “Moon tea,” he whispered. “Moon tea, for …”

“我當(dāng)然知道為什么，”成了檀训±缆叮“很好命锄，給我爬起來(lái)镐侯，有點(diǎn)男子漢的樣子好不好？”派席爾費(fèi)力地起身怜俐，花了太長(zhǎng)時(shí)間贴谎，她不得不令?yuàn)W斯蒙·凱特布萊克再去幫忙≈亵幔“至于蓋爾斯伯爵嘛浓恶，相信天父會(huì)公正地裁判他湿镀。他沒留下孩子嗎？”

“I know what moon tea is for.” There it is. “Very well. Get off those saggy knees and try to remember what it was to be a man.” Pycelle struggled to rise, but took so long about it that she had to tell Osmund Kettleblack to give him another yank. “As to Lord Gyles, no doubt our Father Above will judge him justly. He left no children?”

“沒有親生孩子，但有一個(gè)養(yǎng)子……”

“No children of his body, but there is a ward …”

“……此人不是他的血脈廓脆，”瑟曦?fù)]揮手，表示不在意這點(diǎn)小麻煩席赂，“蓋爾斯最清楚我們當(dāng)下資金的缺口有多大掠拳，毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)喊熟，他臨終前會(huì)把自己的領(lǐng)地和財(cái)富統(tǒng)統(tǒng)捐獻(xiàn)給托曼國(guó)王聂使∩壬蹋”羅斯比的金子可解燃眉之急，羅斯比的領(lǐng)地和城堡則可封賞給效忠她的人。或許街佑，就賞給維水大人吧。奧雷恩曾暗示想要有座家堡褒侧，否則伯爵只是個(gè)虛銜——他盯著龍石島呢统诺，但瑟曦不會(huì)把這個(gè)給他婿失，羅斯比城更適合他的出身與地位这难。

“… not of his blood.” Cersei dismissed that annoyance with a flick of her hand. “Gyles knew of our dire need for gold. No doubt he told you of his wish to leave all his lands and wealth to Tommen.” Rosby’s gold would help refresh their coffers, and Rosby’s lands and castle could be bestowed upon one of her own as a reward for leal service. Lord Waters, perhaps. Aurane had been hinting at his need for a seat; his lordship was only an empty honor without one. He had his eye on Dragonstone, Cersei knew, but there he aimed too high. Rosby would be more suitable to his birth and station.

“蓋爾斯大人全心全意地愛著國(guó)王陛下姻乓，”派席爾提出，“但……但他的養(yǎng)子眯牧，這……”

“Lord Gyles loved His Grace with all his heart,” Pycelle was saying, “but … his ward …”

“……當(dāng)蓋爾斯伯爵的養(yǎng)子聽你親口復(fù)述伯爵大人的遺囑時(shí)蹋岩，想必能理解大人的心意和苦衷。去吧学少，不要令我失望“嫒罚”

“… will doubtless understand, once he hears you speak of Lord Gyles’s dying wish. Go, and see it done.”

“遵命扣囊。”派席爾大學(xué)士急匆匆逃走绒疗，幾乎被自己的袍子絆倒侵歇。

“If it please Your Grace.” Grand Maester Pycelle almost tripped over his own robes in his haste to leave.

瑪瑞魏斯夫人關(guān)上房門∠拍ⅲ“月茶惕虑，”她轉(zhuǎn)頭面對(duì)太后，緩緩地說(shuō)，“她好蠢啊健提。她為何要這么做酒唉，為何冒這么大風(fēng)險(xiǎn)矩桂？”

Lady Merryweather closed the door behind him. “Moon tea,” she said, as she turned back to the queen. “How foolish of her. Why would she do such a thing, take such a risk?”

“咱們的小王后嫌托曼太‘小’了吧』韭祝”教成年女人嫁給孩子侄榴，總是會(huì)發(fā)生這種事。對(duì)寡婦而言就更要命了网沾。她說(shuō)藍(lán)禮沒碰她癞蚕，我可不信。月茶對(duì)女人來(lái)說(shuō)只有一個(gè)用途辉哥，反正處女是絕不需要的桦山。“我兒子被人欺騙了〈椎瑪格麗有了情人恒水。這是叛國(guó)，理當(dāng)處死饲齐《ち瑁”她希望瑪格麗·提利爾那老不死的丑陋祖母能親眼目睹這場(chǎng)審判——你以為逼托曼盡快迎娶瑪格麗就是高招？哼捂人，你把你心愛的小玫瑰送上了斷頭臺(tái)御雕∷岣伲“詹姆把伊林·派恩帶走了，我們得再找個(gè)劊子手疾嗅。”

“The little queen has appetites that Tommen is as yet too young to satisfy.” That was always a danger, when a grown woman was married to a child. Even more so with a widow. She may claim that Renly never touched her, but I will not believe it. Women only drank moon tea for one reason; maidens had no need for it at all. “My son has been betrayed. Margaery has a lover. That is high treason, punishable by death.” She could only hope that Mace Tyrell’s prune-faced harridan of a mother lived long enough to see the trial. By insisting that Tommen and Margaery be wed at once, Lady Olenna had condemned her precious rose to a headsman’s sword. “Jaime made off with Ser Ilyn Payne. I suppose I shall need to find a new King’s Justice to snick her head off.”

“我來(lái)吧穿仪，”奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克帶著輕淺的笑容提出，“瑪格麗那漂亮的小脖子紫谷，是揮刀的好去處。”

“I’ll do it,” offered Osmund Kettleblack, with an easy grin. “Margaery’s got a pretty little neck. A good sharp sword will go right through it.”

“話雖如此崇裁，”坦妮婭道，“但提利爾家在風(fēng)息堡和女泉城都駐扎了重兵，他們也有刀逼侦。”

“It would,” said Taena, “but there is a Tyrell army at Storm’s End and another at Maidenpool. They have sharp swords as well.”

朝廷被玫瑰們包圍了。這讓太后煩惱掖鱼，雖然她仇恨他女兒，但她確實(shí)還需要梅斯·提利爾拆檬。清除史坦尼斯之后，我可以回頭對(duì)付他屑那。眼下，該怎么來(lái)堵住這位父親的嘴呢？“叛國(guó)罪不可恕芒填，”她宣布，“但我們需要證據(jù)，比月茶更確鑿的證據(jù)凯砍，以證實(shí)她的不貞，令她父親無(wú)從開脫——否則他便會(huì)自己蒙羞座泳。”

I am awash in roses. It was vexing. She still had need of Mace Tyrell, if not his daughter. At least until such time as Stannis is defeated. Then I shan’t need any of them. But how could she rid herself of the daughter without losing the father? “Treason is treason,” she said, “but we must have proof, something more substantial than moon tea. If she is proved to be untrue, even her own lord father must condemn her, or her shame becomes his own.”

凱特布萊克捻捻胡須，“我們是要捉奸在床嘍香拉？”

Kettleblack chewed on one end of his mustache. “We need to catch them during the deed.”

“怎么捉？科本日日夜夜盯著她僚楞，她的仆人收了我的錢，提供的卻只有無(wú)聊瑣事。沒人見過(guò)她的情人，從她房門內(nèi)傳出的是歌聲疲眷、嬉笑哗总、閑話蛋哭，別的就沒了哈蝇。”

“How? Qyburn has eyes on her day and night. Her serving men take my coin, but bring us only trifles. Yet no one has seen this lover. The ears outside her door hear singing, laughter, gossip, nothing of any use.”

“瑪格麗狡猾得緊性芬，沒那么容易被逮住峭拘。”瑪瑞魏斯夫人道彭沼“唇牛“她的女伴就是她的城墻。她們和她睡覺烂翰，為她更衣，陪她祈禱蚤氏，跟她讀書甘耿，同她縫紉。她沒去騎馬放鷹時(shí)竿滨，會(huì)和小亞莉珊·布爾威一起玩城堡游戲佳恬；只要男人出現(xiàn)贰剥，她身邊要么有修女，要么有表妹們鹉勒。”

“Margaery is too shrewd to be caught so easily,” said Lady Merryweather. “Her women are her castle walls. They sleep with her, dress her, pray with her, read with her, sew with her. When she is not hawking or riding she is playing come-into-my-castle with little Alysanne Bulwer. Whenever men are about, her septa will be with her, or her cousins.”

“她總得找機(jī)會(huì)拋下這群小雞，”太后堅(jiān)持旦委，她忽然靈光一現(xiàn)……“難道說(shuō)她的女伴也參與其中……也許不是全部，但有幾個(gè)同謀遣铝。”

“She must rid herself of her hens sometime,” the queen insisted. A thought struck her. “Unless her ladies are part of it as well … not all of them, perhaps, but some.”

“您指那三位表妹？”連坦妮婭也不敢相信，“可她們不僅比小王后還小，而且看起來(lái)都那么純真。”

“The cousins?” Even Taena sounded doubtful. “All three are younger than the little queen, and more innocent.”

“她們是裹著處女白袍的蕩婦膨疏，罪行駭人聽聞，必將為世人唾棄。”太后嘗到了甜頭扛拨〖坪校“坦妮婭批钠，你夫君是我的裁判法官贷屎，今晚罢防，你們來(lái)同我共進(jìn)晚餐，不可缺席唉侄，知道嗎咒吐？”此事得盡快處理，若是教瑪格麗的小腦瓜察覺属划，她很可能逃回高庭恬叹，也可能前往龍石島為哥哥送終，到時(shí)候就鞭長(zhǎng)莫及了同眯≌乐纾“我會(huì)讓大廚烤上一只野豬，我們還要聽聽音樂(lè)须蜗，以助消化硅确。”

“Wantons clad in maiden’s white. That only makes their sins more shocking. Their names will live in shame.” Suddenly the queen could almost taste it. “Taena, your lord husband is my justiciar. The two of you must sup with me, this very night.” She wanted this done quickly, before Margaery took it in her little head to return to Highgarden, or sail to Dragonstone to be with her wounded brother at death’s door. “I shall command the cooks to roast a boar for us. And of course we must have some music, to help with our digestion.”

坦妮婭立時(shí)反應(yīng)過(guò)來(lái)明肮，“音樂(lè)菱农，我懂了∈凉溃”

Taena was very quick. “Music. Just so.”

“告訴你夫君循未，將歌手準(zhǔn)備好，”瑟曦催促官份，“奧斯蒙爵士只厘，你留下。我們還有事要談舅巷，去把科本也找來(lái)羔味。”

“Go and tell your lord husband and make arrangements for the singer,” Cersei urged. “Ser Osmund, you may remain. We have much and more to discuss. I shall have need of Qyburn too.”

遺憾的是钠右，廚房里沒有現(xiàn)成的野豬赋元，派獵人也來(lái)不及了，廚師只好宰殺了城堡飼養(yǎng)的母豬飒房，用丁香做火腿搁凸，再撒上蜂蜜和干櫻桃。這并非瑟曦想要的食物狠毯，但她只能將就护糖。飯后他們配著戧口的白奶酪吃烤蘋果，坦妮婭夫人小口小口地享受嚼松，奧頓·瑪瑞魏斯則大不同嫡良，肉湯和奶酪他都全力以赴锰扶，黏糊糊地沾了一臉。他喝得太多寝受，不時(shí)偷偷瞅瞅歌手坷牛。

Sad to say, the kitchens proved to have no wild boar on hand, and there was not time enough to send out hunters. Instead, the cooks butchered one of the castle sows, and served them ham studded with cloves and basted with honey and dried cherries. It was not what Cersei wanted, but she made do. Afterward they had baked apples with a sharp white cheese. Lady Taena savored every bite. Not so Orton Merryweather, whose round face remained blotched and pale from broth to cheese. He drank heavily and kept stealing glances at the singer.

“蓋爾斯大人真可憐，”瑟曦最后才說(shuō)正事很澄，“不過(guò)京闰，我想沒有人會(huì)懷念他的咳嗽∷粒”

“A great pity about Lord Gyles,” Cersei said at last. “I daresay none of us will miss his coughing, though.”

“是蹂楣，是，正是如此浪藻【杵龋”

“No. No, I’d think not.”

“國(guó)庫(kù)經(jīng)理空缺乾翔。若非谷地如此動(dòng)蕩爱葵，我本想召回培提爾·貝里席，現(xiàn)在嘛……我倒有意讓哈瑞斯爵士去試試反浓。反正他不會(huì)比蓋爾斯更糟糕了嘛萌丈，而且他不咳嗽±自颍”

“We shall have need of a new lord treasurer. If the Vale were not so unsettled, I would bring back Petyr Baelish, but … I am minded to try Ser Harys in the office. He can do no worse than Gyles, and at least he does not cough.”

“哈瑞斯爵士乃是御前首相啊辆雾。”坦妮婭指出月劈。

“Ser Harys is the King’s Hand,” said Taena.

哈瑞斯爵士乃是我的人質(zhì)度迂，連做這個(gè)他也很不稱職〔戮荆“托曼應(yīng)該有一位更強(qiáng)有力的首相惭墓。”

Ser Harys is a hostage, and feeble even at that. “It is time that Tommen had a more forceful Hand.”

奧頓大人從酒盞間抬起眼睛而姐±靶祝“強(qiáng)有力，當(dāng)然啦拴念，”他狐疑地問(wèn)钧萍，“誰(shuí)……”

Lord Orton lifted his gaze from his wine cup. “Forceful. To be sure.” He hesitated. “Who …?”

“正是你啊，我的好大人政鼠，你天生就有這個(gè)資格风瘦，記得嗎，你祖父便接替我父親擔(dān)任伊里斯的首相公般⊥蛏Γ”用歐文·瑪瑞魏斯取代泰溫·蘭尼斯特器躏，好比把驢子當(dāng)戰(zhàn)馬驅(qū)馳，不過(guò)歐文當(dāng)時(shí)已老朽不堪蟹略，態(tài)度雖然恭順和藹登失，腦子卻不太靈光。他孫子更年輕挖炬，而且……而且他至少有個(gè)強(qiáng)有力的老婆揽浙。坦妮婭不能親自擔(dān)任她的首相，實(shí)在可惜意敛，她至少比她丈夫能干三倍馅巷，也有趣多了。然而她是密爾女人草姻，非得打奧頓的幌子不可钓猬。“毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)撩独，你會(huì)比哈瑞斯爵士干得出色敞曹。”哈瑞斯爵士連給我倒夜壺都不配综膀“钠龋“你愿意接受職位嗎？”

“You, my lord. It is in your blood. Your grandsire took my own father’s place as Hand to Aerys.” Replacing Tywin Lannister with Owen Merryweather had proved to be akin to replacing a destrier with a donkey, to be sure, but Owen had been an old done man when Aerys raised him, amiable if ineffectual. His grandson was younger, and … Well, he has a strong wife. It was a pity Taena could not serve as Hand. She was thrice the man her husband was, and far more amusing. She was also Myrish-born and female, however, so Orton must needs suffice. “I have no doubt that you are more able than Ser Harys.” The contents of my chamber pot are more able than Ser Harys. “Will you consent to serve?”

“我……是剧劝，當(dāng)然橄登，陛下給了我莫大的榮譽(yù)〖ゴ耍”

“I … yes, of course. Your Grace does me great honor.”

一份你不配得到的榮譽(yù)拢锹。“大人萄喳，在裁判法官任上卒稳，你做得很好，相信你會(huì)繼續(xù)努力……時(shí)局艱難哪取胎，眼下有很多棘手的麻煩事展哭。”等瑪瑞魏斯意識(shí)到她語(yǔ)中暗示之后闻蛀，太后微笑著轉(zhuǎn)向歌手匪傍，“我也要獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)你，你用美妙的歌謠來(lái)為我們解悶兒助興觉痛。贊美諸神役衡，它們賜給你甜美的嗓門⌒桨簦”

A greater one than you deserve. “You have served me ably as justiciar, my lord. And will continue to do so through these … trying times ahead.” When she saw that Merryweather had grasped her meaning, the queen turned to smile at the singer. “And you must be rewarded as well, for all the sweet songs you have played for us whilst we ate. The gods have given you a gift.”

歌手鞠躬手蝎，“陛下過(guò)獎(jiǎng)了榕莺。”

The singer bowed. “Your Grace is kind to say so.”

“沒有棵介，”瑟曦道钉鸯，“我不過(guò)是實(shí)話實(shí)說(shuō)。對(duì)了邮辽，坦妮婭告訴我唠雕，你叫藍(lán)詩(shī)人？”

“Not kind,” said Cersei, “merely truthful. Taena tells me that you are called the Blue Bard.”

“是的吨述，陛下岩睁。”歌手身穿柔軟的藍(lán)色小牛皮靴揣云，上等藍(lán)羊毛馬褲捕儒，淡藍(lán)絲衣以閃亮的藍(lán)綢緞鑲邊，甚至連頭發(fā)都染成藍(lán)色——那是泰洛西人的樣式邓夕，又長(zhǎng)又卷刘莹，披散在肩，還用玫瑰水洗過(guò)翎迁。大概也是藍(lán)玫瑰水吧栋猖，虧得他牙齒不是藍(lán)的。那兩排整齊潔白的牙齒汪榔，沒有一點(diǎn)瑕疵。

“I am, Your Grace.” The singer’s boots were supple blue calfskin, his breeches fine blue wool. The tunic he wore was pale blue silk slashed with shiny blue satin. He had even gone so far as to dye his hair blue, in the Tyroshi fashion. Long and curly, it fell to his shoulders and smelled as if it had been washed in rosewater. From blue roses, no doubt. At least his teeth are white. They were good teeth, not the least bit crooked.

“你的真名呢肃拜？”

“You have no other name?”

一輪紅暈在他臉上擴(kuò)散開來(lái)痴腌。“我小時(shí)候叫渥特燃领，農(nóng)家孩子的名字士聪，卻不適合歌手∶捅危”

A hint of pink suffused his cheeks. “As a boy, I was called Wat. A fine name for a plowboy, less fitting for a singer.”

藍(lán)詩(shī)人的眼睛很像勞勃剥悟，單憑這個(gè)，她就有理由整治他曼库∏冢“你生得這么俊，難怪最討瑪格麗王后的歡心毁枯。”

The Blue Bard’s eyes were the same color as Robert’s. For that alone, she hated him. “It is easy to see why you are Lady Margaery’s favorite.”

“陛下是個(gè)大好人，她呈嫖夸我取悅了她∪块埽”

“Her Grace is kind. She says I give her pleasure.”

“噢，這當(dāng)然啦娱节。我能瞧瞧你的琵琶么挠蛉？”

“Oh, I’m certain of it. Might I see your lute?”

“陛下請(qǐng)看∫蘼”藍(lán)詩(shī)人的禮數(shù)之下碌秸，隱隱有一絲不安，但他克制住情緒悄窃，恭恭敬敬地將琵琶交了出來(lái)讥电。沒人敢違抗太后的命令。

“If it please Your Grace.” Beneath the courtesy, there was a faint hint of unease, but he handed her the lute all the same. One does not refuse the queen’s request.

瑟曦?fù)芰艘幌屡迷梗Φ溃骸皭矍檎媸羌忍鹈塾謧械氖露鞯校嬖V我，渥特……當(dāng)你第一回跟瑪格麗上床時(shí)横媚，她和我兒子結(jié)婚沒有熬琅凇？”

Cersei plucked a string and smiled at the sound. “Sweet and sad as love. Tell me, Wat … the first time you took Margaery to bed, was that before she wed my son, or after?”

片刻間灯蝴，對(duì)方根本沒反應(yīng)過(guò)來(lái)恢口，他的眼睛慢慢睜大∏钤辏“陛下聽了奸人誣告……我發(fā)誓耕肩，我沒有——”

For a moment he did not seem to understand. When he did, his eyes grew large. “Your Grace has been misinformed. I swear to you, I never—”

“叛徒！”瑟曦操起琵琶狠狠地砸向歌手的臉问潭，彩繪木頭被打成了碎片猿诸。“奧頓大人狡忙，拿下他梳虽，關(guān)進(jìn)地牢≡肿拢”

“Liar!” Cersei smashed the lute across the singer’s face so hard the painted wood exploded into shards and splinters. “Lord Orton, summon my guards and take this creature to the dungeons.”

奧頓·瑪瑞魏斯也嚇傻了窜觉，“這……噢，這太丑惡……您是說(shuō)他引誘王后北专？”

Orton Merryweather’s face was damp with fear. “This … oh, infamy … he dared seduce the queen?”

“我認(rèn)為情況恰好相反禀挫，但不管怎么說(shuō)，他都是個(gè)叛徒逗余。讓他去為科本大人表演吧特咆。”

“I fear it was the other way around, but he is a traitor all the same. Let him sing for Lord Qyburn.”

藍(lán)詩(shī)人臉色慘白∧甯瘢“不画拾！”琵琶打碎了他的嘴唇，鮮血流淌下來(lái)菜职∏嗯祝“我絕對(duì)沒有……”瑪瑞魏斯揪住他的胳膊，他放聲尖叫酬核∶哿恚“圣母慈悲啊。不要嫡意！”

The Blue Bard went white. “No.” Blood dripped from his lip where the lute had torn it. “I never …” When Merryweather seized him by the arm, he screamed, “Mother have mercy, no.”

“我不是你的圣母举瑰。”瑟曦冷冷地說(shuō)蔬螟。

“I am not your mother,” Cersei told him.

然而在黑牢里此迅，藍(lán)詩(shī)人交代的也盡是廢話，他不斷祈禱旧巾，懇求慈悲耸序。沒多久，鮮血止不住地從他打碎的牙齒間流出來(lái)鲁猩，流滿整個(gè)下巴坎怪，他尿了三次，把馬褲染成暗藍(lán)色廓握，卻還始終拿謊話搪塞搅窿。“有沒可能抓錯(cuò)了歌手疾棵？”瑟曦忍不住問(wèn)戈钢。

Even in the black cells, all they got from him were denials, prayers, and pleas for mercy. Before long, blood was streaming down his chin from all his broken teeth, and he wet his dark blue breeches three times over, yet still the man persisted in his lies. “Is it possible we have the wrong singer?” Cersei asked.

“一切皆有可能。陛下是尔，請(qǐng)放心，我管教他在日出之前說(shuō)出真相开仰∧饷叮”黑牢里的科本穿粗羊毛外衣，圍了鐵匠的皮圍裙众弓。他轉(zhuǎn)向藍(lán)詩(shī)人恩溅，“很抱歉，衛(wèi)兵們的手段有些粗魯谓娃，實(shí)在欠缺教養(yǎng)脚乡，”他的聲音慈藹又親切，“我們只想知道事情的真相∧坛恚”

“All things are possible, Your Grace. Have no fear. The man will confess before the night is done.” Down here in the dungeons, Qyburn wore roughspun wool and a blacksmith’s leather apron. To the Blue Bard he said, “I am sorry if the guards were rough with you. Their courtesies are sadly lacking.” His voice was kind, solicitous. “All we want from you is the truth.”

“我說(shuō)的就是真相啊俯艰。”歌手啜泣道锌订，堅(jiān)固的鐵環(huán)將他扣在冷硬的石墻上竹握。

“I’ve told you the truth,” the singer sobbed. Iron shackles held him hard against the cold stone wall.

“還是招了吧，”科本拿出一把剃刀辆飘，刀子在火炬下閃著寒光啦辐。他割開藍(lán)詩(shī)人的衣裳，只留下那雙藍(lán)色高筒皮靴蜈项。瑟曦饒有興味地發(fā)現(xiàn)芹关，此人兩腿間的陰毛是褐色的〗糇洌“告訴我們侥衬，你怎么取悅小王后〕Ｕ欤”她命令浇冰。

“We know better.” Qyburn had a razor in his hand, its edge gleaming faintly in the torchlight. He cut away the Blue Bard’s clothing, until the man was naked but for his high blue boots. The hair between his legs was brown, Cersei was amused to see. “Tell us how you pleasured the little queen,” she commanded.

“我沒有……我只是，只是唱歌聋亡，而已肘习。我唱歌，表演坡倔。王后的女伴們可以作證漂佩，她們從頭到尾都看在眼里。她的罪塔，表妹們投蝉。”

“I never … I sang, was all, I sang and played. Her ladies will tell you. They were always with us. Her cousins.”

“你跟其中幾個(gè)發(fā)生了關(guān)系征堪？”

“How many of them did you have carnal knowledge of?”

“沒有瘩缆，沒有，絕對(duì)沒有……我只是個(gè)歌手佃蚜，真的庸娱，求求您⌒乘悖”

“None of them. I’m just a singer. Please.”

科本嘆道：“陛下熟尉，或許當(dāng)瑪格麗偷情時(shí)，這可憐蟲只是在旁邊表演洲脂〗锒”

Qyburn said, “Your Grace, mayhaps this poor man only played for Margaery whilst she entertained other lovers.”

“不，求求您，她沒有……是往果，我表演疆液，我只是唱歌表演……”

“No. Please. She never … I sang, I only sang …”

科本大人的手自藍(lán)詩(shī)人的胸口緩緩地向上撫摸，“你表演的時(shí)候棚放，她有沒有把這個(gè)含在嘴里懊墩场？”他用拇指和食指捏住一邊乳頭飘蚯，輕輕一擰馍迄。“有的男人就喜歡這樣局骤，他們的奶頭比女人還騷攀圈。”刀光閃過(guò)峦甩，歌手厲聲尖叫赘来，胸口多了一顆血紅的眼睛。瑟曦有些惡心凯傲，心里的一部分只想閉上雙眼犬辰，掉頭離開，或是制止拷問(wèn)冰单，但她畢竟是太后幌缝，要處理的又是叛國(guó)大罪，容不得絲毫心軟诫欠。泰溫公爵是決不會(huì)心軟的涵卵。

Lord Qyburn ran a hand up the Blue Bard’s chest. “Does she take your nipples in her mouth during your love play?” He took one between his thumb and forefinger, and twisted. “Some men enjoy that. Their nipples are as sensitive as a woman’s.” The razor flashed, the singer shrieked. On his chest a wet red eye wept blood. Cersei felt ill. Part of her wanted to close her eyes, to turn away, to make it stop. But she was the queen and this was treason. Lord Tywin would not have turned away.

藍(lán)詩(shī)人將他的一生斷斷續(xù)續(xù)地和盤托出，從命名日開始荒叼。他父親是個(gè)蠟燭販子轿偎，小渥特從小也跟著賣蠟燭，直到有一天被廓，他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在琵琶上的天賦坏晦。十二歲那年，市集里有場(chǎng)劇團(tuán)表演嫁乘，他便偷偷跟他們跑了英遭，從此走遍了半個(gè)河灣地，最終來(lái)到君臨亦渗，企望能得到宮中貴人的寵幸。

In the end the Blue Bard told them his whole life, back to his first name day. His father had been a chandler and Wat was raised to that trade, but as a boy he found he had more skill at making lutes than barrels. When he was twelve he ran off to join a troupe of musicians he had heard performing at a fair. He had wandered half the Reach before coming to King’s Landing in hopes of finding favor at court.

“寵幸汁尺？”科本咯咯笑道法精，“女人的寵幸吧？恐怕你是太貪心了，我的朋友……而且找錯(cuò)了對(duì)象搂蜓。站在你眼前這位狼荞，才是真正君臨七大王國(guó)的太后陛下“锱觯”

“Favor?” Qyburn chuckled. “Is that what women call it now? I fear you found too much of it, my friend … and from the wrong queen. The true one stands before you.”

是的相味。全是瑪格麗·提利爾的錯(cuò)，她誤了渥特一生殉挽，他本可以活得瀟瀟灑灑丰涉，將來(lái)頤養(yǎng)天年，唱唱小曲斯碌，睡睡豬倌女孩和農(nóng)夫之女一死，如今卻落得身陷囹圄的下場(chǎng)。這全是她的奸情和叛逆傻唾，須怪不得我投慈。

Yes. Cersei blamed Margaery Tyrell for this. If not for her, Wat might have lived a long and fruitful life, singing his little songs and bedding pig girls and crofter’s daughters. Her scheming forced this on me. She has soiled me with her treachery.

臨到清晨，歌手的藍(lán)色高筒皮靴里已盛滿了血冠骄，他娓娓道來(lái)伪煤，活靈活現(xiàn)地講述瑪格麗是如何一面欣賞幾位表妹用嘴巴取悅他，一面自己撫慰自己的凛辣。有時(shí)候抱既，她和其他情人調(diào)情，他則演唱助興蟀给◎觯“都有誰(shuí)呢？”太后逼問(wèn)跋理，可憐的渥特依次揭發(fā)了高個(gè)塔拉德爵士择克、藍(lán)柏特·特拔瑞、賈拉巴·梭爾前普、雷德溫的雙胞胎肚邢、奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克、修夫·克萊夫頓和百花騎士拭卿。

By dawn the singer’s high blue boots were full of blood, and he had told them how Margaery would fondle herself as she watched her cousins pleasuring him with their mouths. At other times he would sing for her whilst she sated her lusts with other lovers. “Who were they?” the queen demanded, and the wretched Wat named Ser Tallad the Tall, Lambert Turnberry, Jalabhar Xho, the Redwyne twins, Osney Kettleblack, Hugh Clifton, and the Knight of Flowers.

她不高興了÷夂現(xiàn)下她不敢玷污龍石島英雄的名聲，再說(shuō)峻厚，只要稍微了解洛拉斯爵士的人响蕴，都決計(jì)不會(huì)相信這種事。雷德溫的雙胞胎也不應(yīng)當(dāng)牽扯其中惠桃，沒了青亭島的艦隊(duì)浦夷，還說(shuō)什么對(duì)付鴉眼攸倫和該死的鐵民辖试？“你只不過(guò)是把在她房里認(rèn)識(shí)的達(dá)官貴人們一股腦兒背誦出來(lái)。我們要真相劈狐！”

That displeased her. She dare not besmirch the name of the hero of Dragonstone. Besides, no one who knew Ser Loras would ever believe it. The Redwynes could not be a part of it either. Without the Arbor and its fleet, the realm could never hope to rid itself of this Euron Crow’s Eye and his accursed ironmen. “All you are doing is spitting up the names of men you saw about her chambers. We want the truth!”

“真相罐孝。真相》实蓿”渥特用科本留給他的那顆藍(lán)眼睛看著她莲兢，缺了門牙的嘴流下如注鮮血⌒牛“我改艇，我可能……記錯(cuò)了一些」每恚”

“The truth.” Wat looked at her with the one blue eye that Qyburn had left him. Blood bubbled through the holes where his front teeth had been. “I might have … misremembered.”

“霍拉斯和霍柏并未參與遣耍，對(duì)嗎？”

“Horas and Hobber had no part of this, did they?”

“對(duì)炮车，”他立刻承認(rèn)舵变，“沒有他們兩位∈菽拢”

“No,” he admitted. “Not them.”

“至于洛拉斯爵士纪隙，我敢肯定瑪格麗費(fèi)了不少心機(jī)，方才瞞過(guò)自己的親哥哥扛或∶嘣郏”

“As for Ser Loras, I am certain Margaery took pains to hide what she was doing from her brother.”

“是，我記起來(lái)了熙兔。有一回洛拉斯來(lái)訪時(shí)悲伶，她不得不把我藏在被窩里。一定不能讓他知道住涉，她特意囑咐過(guò)麸锉。”

“She did. I remember now. Once I had to hide under the bed when Ser Loras came to see her. He must never know, she said.”

“原來(lái)如此舆声』ǔ粒”幾位關(guān)鍵人物沒參與其中，這樣就好媳握。其他人嘛碱屁，哼……塔拉德爵士只不過(guò)是個(gè)雇傭騎士，賈拉巴·梭爾是個(gè)被流放的乞丐蛾找，而克萊夫頓是小王后的衛(wèi)士娩脾。奧斯尼是我的棋子〈蛎“說(shuō)出真相晦雨，感覺好多了吧架曹？等瑪格麗受審時(shí)，你一定要記得今天的話闹瞧。到時(shí)候你敢再撒謊……”

“I prefer this song to the other.” Leave the great lords out of it, that was for the best. The others, though … Ser Tallad had been a hedge knight, Jalabhar Xho was an exile and a beggar, Clifton was the only one of the little queen’s guardsman. And Osney is the plum that makes the pudding. “I know you feel better for having told the truth. You will want to remember that when Margaery comes to trial. If you were to start lying again …”

“不敢，不敢展辞，我會(huì)把真相說(shuō)出來(lái)奥邮。等，等審?fù)辍?/p>

“I won’t. I’ll tell it true. And after …”

“……我會(huì)準(zhǔn)你披上黑衣罗珍，不必?fù)?dān)心洽腺。”瑟曦轉(zhuǎn)向科本覆旱，“把他的傷口清理干凈蘸朋，再換好衣服，給他罌粟花奶扣唱，以止住疼痛藕坯。”

“… you will be allowed to take the black. You have my word on that.” Cersei turned to Qyburn. “See that his wounds are cleaned and dressed, and give him milk of the poppy for the pain.”

“陛下太好心了噪沙，”科本將血淋淋的剃刀扔進(jìn)醋桶里面，“瑪格麗定會(huì)懷疑寵愛的歌手失蹤一事正歼》恚”

“Your Grace is good.” Qyburn dropped the bloody razor into a pail of vinegar. “Margaery may wonder where her bard has gone.”

“歌手總是浪蕩天涯，來(lái)去匆匆局义，她有什么好奇怪的喜爷。”

“Singers come and go, they are infamous for it.”

瑟曦踏著漆黑的石階萄唇，走出黑牢檩帐，只覺氣喘吁吁。我得休息一會(huì)兒穷绵。發(fā)掘真相真是件累人的工作轿塔，而接下來(lái)的事更難辦。我必須堅(jiān)強(qiáng)仲墨，為了托曼勾缭，為了王國(guó)。真可惜目养，“蛤蟆”巫姬已經(jīng)死了俩由。去你的鬼預(yù)言吧，老巫婆癌蚁。小王后是比我年輕幻梯，但她決不可能比我美兜畸，況且她就要完蛋了。

The climb up the dark stone steps from the black cells left Cersei feeling breathless. I must rest. Getting to the truth was wearisome work, and she dreaded what must follow. I must be strong. What I must do I do for Tommen and the realm. It was a pity that Maggy the Frog was dead. Piss on your prophecy, old woman. The little queen may be younger than I, but she has never been more beautiful, and soon she will be dead.

瑪瑞魏斯夫人在臥室里等她〉馍遥現(xiàn)在正是黎明前最黑暗的．時(shí)刻咬摇，喬斯琳和多卡莎睡得正香，但坦妮婭精神飽滿煞躬「嘏簦“情況是不是很糟？”她問(wèn)恩沛。

Lady Merryweather was waiting in her bedchamber. It was the black of night, closer to dawn than to dusk. Jocelyn and Dorcas were both asleep, but not Taena. “Was it terrible?” she asked.

“不說(shuō)了在扰，不說(shuō)了。我想睡覺雷客，可又怕做夢(mèng)芒珠。”

“You cannot know. I need to sleep, but fear to dream.”

坦妮婭撫摸她的頭發(fā)搅裙，“這都是為了托曼啊皱卓。”

Taena stroked her hair. “It was all for Tommen.”

“是啊呈宇，我知道好爬，”瑟曦不禁發(fā)抖，“我喉嚨干得要命甥啄。親愛的存炮，給我倒點(diǎn)酒吧◎诶欤”

“It was. I know it was.” Cersei shuddered. “My throat is raw. Be a sweet and pour me some wine.”

“沒問(wèn)題穆桂，只要能取悅您，叫我做什么都行融虽∠硗辏”

“If it please you. That is all that I desire.”

騙子。她心知肚明坦妮婭想要什么有额。算了般又，裝裝糊涂，有助于穩(wěn)住這女人跟她丈夫的心巍佑。在這個(gè)爾虞我詐的世界里茴迁，一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)好意，無(wú)論出處如何萤衰，總值得幾個(gè)吻吧堕义。反正她不比絕大多數(shù)男人糟糕，她也不可能讓我懷孩子脆栋。

Liar. She knew what Taena desired. So be it. If the woman was besotted with her, that would help ensure that she and her husband remained loyal. In a world so full of treachery, that was worth a few kisses. She is no worse than most men. At least there is no danger of her ever getting me with child.

葡萄美酒讓她平靜了些倦卖，但還不夠洒擦。“我想吐怕膛∈炷郏”太后站在窗邊，手握酒杯抱怨嘉竟。

The wine helped, but not enough. “I feel soiled,” the queen complained as she stood beside her window, cup in hand.

“親愛的邦危，您先去洗洗澡，很快就會(huì)好了舍扰。”瑪瑞魏斯夫人喚醒多卡莎和喬斯琳希坚，吩咐她們準(zhǔn)備熱水边苹，等澡盆注滿后，她親自為太后寬衣裁僧，用靈巧的手指解開裙帶个束，將裙服褪下肩膀。接著她也脫了自己的衣服聊疲，扔在地上茬底。

“A bath will set you right, my sweet.” Lady Merryweather woke Dorcas and Jocelyn and sent them for hot water. As the tub was filled, she helped the queen disrobe, undoing her laces with deft fingers and easing the gown off her shoulders. Then she slipped out of her own dress and let it puddle on the floor.

她們兩人一起洗浴，瑟曦靠在坦妮婭的懷抱中获洲≮灞恚“一定不能讓托曼聽見這些丑聞，他還小贡珊，”她告訴密爾女人最爬，“瑪格麗直到現(xiàn)在還日日帶他去圣堂，一起為他哥哥祈禱门岔“拢”與期望的相反，洛拉斯爵士始終不肯斷氣寒随】访酰“他也喜歡上了她的表妹們。一下子失去三人妻往，他會(huì)難過(guò)的互艾。”

The two of them shared the bath together, with Cersei lying back in Taena’s arms. “Tommen must be spared the worst of this,” she told the Myrish woman. “Margaery still takes him to the sept every day, so they can ask the gods to heal her brother.” Ser Loras still clung to life, annoyingly. “He is fond of her cousins as well. It will go hard on him, to lose them all.”

“也許這三人并非都有罪蒲讯，”瑪瑞魏斯夫人提出忘朝，“您說(shuō)呢？或許其中某位申明大義判帮，抵擋住了誘惑局嘁；也或許她為目睹的事情深感羞恥溉箕，因而……”

“All three may not be guilty,” suggested Lady Merryweather. “Why, it might well be that one of them took no part. If she was shamed and sickened by the things she saw …”

“……因而愿意站出來(lái)你踩，大義滅親妆距。是了，定然是這樣偏形，你說(shuō)最純潔的是誰(shuí)但指？”

“… she might be persuaded to bear witness against the others. Yes, very good, but which one is the innocent?”

“雅蘭寡痰。”

“Alla.”

“最害羞的那個(gè)棋凳？”

“The shy one?”

“是的……不過(guò)呢拦坠，她這人其實(shí)機(jī)靈得很。交給我就是了剩岳，親愛的贞滨。”

“So she seems, but there is more of sly than shy in her. Leave her to me, my sweet.”

“很好拍棕∠”單憑藍(lán)詩(shī)人的一面之詞，原難以扳倒提利爾绰播，畢竟歌手們的話向來(lái)要打三分折扣骄噪。若坦妮婭出馬說(shuō)動(dòng)雅蘭·提利爾，情勢(shì)就大不相同蠢箩×慈铮“我們還有奧斯尼爵士的證詞。其他人也得明白忙芒，只有懺悔示弓，才能求取國(guó)王的寬恕，發(fā)配長(zhǎng)城呵萨∽嗍簦”賈拉巴·梭爾是個(gè)搖尾乞憐的軟骨頭，其他人嘛……相信科本自有辦法潮峦。

“Gladly.” Alone, the Blue Bard’s confession would never suffice. Singers lied for their living, after all. Alla Tyrell would be of great help, if Taena could deliver her. “Ser Osney shall confess as well. The others must be made to understand that only through confession can they earn the king’s forgiveness, and the Wall.” Jalabhar Xho would find the truth attractive. About the rest she was less certain, but Qyburn was persuasive …

她們爬出浴盆時(shí)囱皿，陽(yáng)光已普照君臨，太后的肌膚洗得白白凈凈忱嘹≈鲂龋“留下來(lái)陪我，”她吩咐坦妮婭拘悦，“我不想獨(dú)睡齿兔。”爬進(jìn)被窩之前，她甚至小聲祈禱了一句分苇，祈禱圣母賜她好夢(mèng)添诉。

Dawn was breaking over King’s Landing when they climbed from the tub. The queen’s skin was white and wrinkled from her long immersion. “Stay with me,” she told Taena. “I do not want to sleep alone.” She even said a prayer before she crawled beneath her coverlet, beseeching the Mother for sweet dreams.

結(jié)果不管用，諸神一如既往地裝聾作啞医寿。瑟曦夢(mèng)見自己又回到黑牢栏赴，這回被鎖在墻上的不是歌手，卻是她自己靖秩。她什么也沒穿须眷，被小惡魔咬掉乳頭的地方不住往外冒血」低唬“求求你花颗，”她懇求，“求求你惠拭，不要傷害我的孩子捎稚，不要傷害我的孩子∏箝希”提利昂只是淫褻地望著她，他也什么都沒穿葡公，渾身粗毛罐农，仿佛是個(gè)畸形小魔猴〈呤玻“你會(huì)看著他們一個(gè)接一個(gè)戴上王冠涵亏，”他說(shuō)，“也會(huì)看著他們一個(gè)接一個(gè)死去蒲凶∑睿”說(shuō)罷他含住她鮮血淋漓的乳房，大口吸吮旋圆，疼痛猶如紅熱的匕首宠默，刺穿她全身。

It proved a waste of breath; as ever, the gods were deaf. Cersei dreamt that she was down in the black cells once again, only this time it was her chained to the wall in place of the singer. She was naked, and blood dripped from the tips of her breasts where the Imp had torn off her nipples with his teeth. “Please,” she begged, “please, not my children, do not harm my children.” Tyrion only leered at her. He was naked too, covered with coarse hair that made him look more like a monkey than a man. “You shall see them crowned,” he said, “and you shall see them die.” Then he took her bleeding breast into his mouth and began to suck, and pain sawed through her like a hot knife.

她渾身顫抖著在坦妮婭懷中驚醒灵巧〔蠼茫“是噩夢(mèng)，”她虛弱地解釋刻肄，“我剛才叫喚了嗎瓤球？很抱歉……”

She woke shuddering in Taena’s arms. “A bad dream,” she said weakly. “Did I scream? I’m sorry.”

“夢(mèng)只是夢(mèng)。又夢(mèng)見侏儒啦敏弃？不過(guò)是個(gè)小矮人卦羡，怕他作甚？”

“Dreams turn to dust in light of day. Was it the dwarf again? Why does he frighten you so, this silly little man?”

“他要來(lái)殺我。這是我十歲時(shí)的預(yù)言绿饵。我當(dāng)時(shí)只想知道自己將來(lái)會(huì)嫁給誰(shuí)欠肾，結(jié)果她說(shuō)……”

“He is going to kill me. It was foreseen when I was ten. I wanted to know who I would marry, but she said …”

“她？”

“She?”

“巫魔女蝴罪《茫”她不由自主地脫口而出。當(dāng)年梅拉雅·赫斯班說(shuō)不去談?wù)撘牛A(yù)言便不會(huì)成真的話言猶在耳虏肾。哎，可她在井中也沒有沉默啊欢搜，她又叫又鬧又詛咒封豪。“提利昂是我的VALONQAR炒瘟，”她說(shuō)吹埠，“你們密爾人知道這個(gè)詞嗎？在高等瓦雷利亞語(yǔ)中疮装，這是兄弟的意思缘琅。”她把梅拉雅淹死后廓推，便向薩拉妮亞修女請(qǐng)教過(guò)刷袍。

“The maegi.” The words came tumbling out of her. She could still hear Melara Hetherspoon insisting that if they never spoke about the prophecies, they would not come true. She was not so silent in the well, though. She screamed and shouted. “Tyrion is the valonqar,” she said. “Do you use that word in Myr? It’s High Valyrian, it means little brother.” She had asked Septa Saranella about the word, after Melara drowned.

坦妮婭執(zhí)起她的手，輕輕拍了拍樊展，“沒事呻纹，她只是個(gè)滿懷怨毒的老太婆，丑陋又惡心专缠；您年輕貌美雷酪，充滿生命和驕傲。你說(shuō)她住在蘭尼斯港涝婉，所以她曉得侏儒哥力，曉得他如何害了你母親大人，這并不奇怪嘁圈。礙于您的身份省骂，惡婆不敢公然毀謗，便拿您弟弟來(lái)傷害您最住〕模”

Taena took her hand and stroked it. “This was a hateful woman, old and sick and ugly. You were young and beautiful, full of life and pride. She lived in Lannisport, you said, so she would have known of the dwarf and how he killed your lady mother. This creature dared not strike you, because of who you were, so she sought to wound you with her viper’s tongue.”

是嗎？瑟曦希望自己能相信涨缚≡冢“不過(guò)梅拉雅當(dāng)晚就死了策治，正如她預(yù)言的那樣。我也沒嫁給雷加王子兰吟。而喬佛里……侏儒在我面前殺了我兒子通惫。”

Could it be? Cersei wanted to believe it. “Melara died, though, just as she foretold. I never wed Prince Rhaegar. And Joffrey … the dwarf killed my son before my eyes.”

“您的一個(gè)兒子不幸夭亡混蔼，”瑪瑞魏斯夫人道履腋，“可您還有另一個(gè)呢，他強(qiáng)壯又甜美惭嚣，再也不會(huì)有人能傷害他遵湖。”

“One son,” said Lady Merryweather, “but you have another, sweet and strong, and no harm will ever come to him.”

“不會(huì)的晚吞，只要我還活著延旧。”說(shuō)出這話槽地，她的信心堅(jiān)定了幾分迁沫。是的，夢(mèng)只是夢(mèng)捌蚊。陽(yáng)光在薄云中閃爍集畅，瑟曦滑出毯子，“今天我要與國(guó)王共進(jìn)早餐缅糟，我想看看我兒子牡整。”我所做的一切溺拱，都是為了他。

“Never, whilst I live.” Saying it helped her believe that it was so. Dreams turn to dust in light of day, yes. Outside the morning sun was shining through a haze of cloud. Cersei slipped out from under the blankets. “I will break my fast with the king this morning. I want to see my son.” All I do, I do for him.

托曼讓她很欣慰谣辞，她從沒像今天早晨這么珍愛他迫摔。她跟他討論小貓咪，國(guó)王把蜂蜜滴到剛從烤爐中端出來(lái)泥从、熱騰騰的新鮮黑面包上句占。“突擊爵士抓到一只老鼠躯嫉，”他告訴媽媽纱烘，“但胡須小姐搶了它的戰(zhàn)利品∑聿停”

Tommen helped restore her to herself. He had never been more precious to her than he was that morning, chattering about his kittens as he dribbled honey onto a chunk of hot black bread fresh from the ovens. “Ser Pounce caught a mouse,” he told her, “but Lady Whiskers stole it from him.”

我從來(lái)沒有如此純真甜美過(guò)擂啥，瑟曦心想，然而將來(lái)他要如何來(lái)統(tǒng)治這個(gè)殘酷的世界帆阳？作為母親哺壶，她只想好好保護(hù)他；但身為太后，她必須讓他堅(jiān)強(qiáng)起來(lái)山宾，否則鐵王座一定會(huì)吞噬他至扰。“突擊爵士得學(xué)會(huì)保護(hù)自己的權(quán)利资锰，”她告訴他敢课，“弱肉強(qiáng)食是個(gè)規(guī)律”炼牛”

I was never so sweet and innocent, Cersei thought. How can he ever hope to rule in this cruel realm? The mother in her wanted only to protect him; the queen in her knew he must grow harder, or the Iron Throne was certain to devour him. “Ser Pounce must learn to defend his rights,” she told him. “In this world the weak are always the victims of the strong.”

國(guó)王邊想邊從指頭上舔蜂蜜直秆，“等洛拉斯爵士回來(lái)，我就拜他為師接剩，學(xué)習(xí)長(zhǎng)槍切厘、寶劍和流星錘，我會(huì)和他一樣棒懊缺∫吒澹”

The king considered that, licking honey off his fingers. “When Ser Loras comes back I’m going to learn to fight with lance and sword and morningstar, the same way he does.”

“你會(huì)習(xí)得一身本領(lǐng)，”太后承諾鹃两，“但并非從洛拉斯爵士身上遗座。托曼，他不會(huì)回來(lái)了俊扳⊥窘”

“You will learn to fight,” the queen promised, “but not from Ser Loras. He will not be coming back, Tommen.”

“瑪格麗說(shuō)他一定會(huì)回來(lái)的。我們一直在為他祈禱呢馋记，祈求圣母慈悲号坡，祈求戰(zhàn)士給他力量。埃蘿說(shuō)這是洛拉斯爵士一生中最大的挑戰(zhàn)梯醒】矶眩”

“Margaery says he will. We pray for him. We ask for the Mother’s mercy, and for the Warrior to give him strength. Elinor says that this is Ser Loras’s hardest battle.”

她為兒子撫平頭發(fā)，柔軟的金色發(fā)卷令她想起了小喬茸习⌒罅ィ“下午，你又要跟你妻子和她表親們一塊兒玩嗎号胚？”

She smoothed his hair back, the soft golden curls that reminded her so much of Joff. “Will you be spending the afternoon with your wife and her cousins?”

“今天不會(huì)籽慢。她說(shuō)她今天要焚香絕食∶ㄐ玻”

“Not today. She has to fast and purify herself, she said.”

焚香絕食箱亿？……噢，我差點(diǎn)忘了弃秆，今天是處女節(jié)啊极景。瑟曦已有若干年不曾守過(guò)此節(jié)察净。哼，結(jié)了三次婚盼樟，居然有臉說(shuō)自己是處女氢卡。小王后一定會(huì)全身白袍，帶著那群小雞去貝勒大圣堂晨缴，在少女腳邊點(diǎn)起長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的白蠟燭译秦，再將羊皮花環(huán)套在神靈的脖子上。她至少會(huì)帶幾只親信的小雞去击碗。按照習(xí)俗筑悴，在處女節(jié)，所有寡婦稍途、母親和妓女都不得前往圣堂阁吝，男人也不能去，以免他們褻瀆純潔的圣歌詠唱械拍。只有沒被破身的處子……

Fast and purify … oh, for Maiden’s Day. It had been years since Cersei had been required to observe that particular holy day. Thrice wed, yet she still would have us believe she is a maid. Demure in white, the little queen would lead her hens to Baelor’s Sept to light tall white candles at the Maiden’s feet and hang parchment garlands about her holy neck. A few of her hens, at least. On Maiden’s Day widows, mothers, and whores alike were barred from the septs, along with men, lest they profane the sacred songs of innocence. Only virgin maids could …

“母親突勇？我說(shuō)錯(cuò)什么了嗎？”

“Mother? Did I say something wrong?”

瑟曦吻了兒子的額頭坷虑〖撞觯“不，你很聰明迄损，我親愛的定躏。去吧，去陪你的小貓咪玩會(huì)兒吧芹敌∪叮”

Cersei kissed her son’s brow. “You said something very wise, sweetling. Now run along and play with your kittens.”

她趕緊召奧斯尼·凱特布萊克到書房覲見。只見他從校場(chǎng)中昂首闊步地趕來(lái)氏捞，全身大汗淋漓拗引，單膝跪下時(shí)用眼睛脫她的衣服——他一貫如此。

Afterward she summoned Ser Osney Kettleblack to her solar. He came in sweaty from the yard and swaggering, and as he took a knee he undressed her with his eyes, the way he always did.

“起來(lái)吧幌衣，爵士，來(lái)壤玫，坐我旁邊豁护。你為我辦事很是勇敢，現(xiàn)在欲间，我有一項(xiàng)艱巨任務(wù)要托付于你楚里。”

“Rise, ser, and sit here next to me. You did me a valiant service once, but now I have a harder task for you.”

“啊猎贴，我已經(jīng)為您‘堅(jiān)’班缎、‘巨’起來(lái)了蝴光。”

“Aye, and I have something hard for you.”

“那個(gè)可以等等达址，”她用指尖輕輕梳理他的傷疤蔑祟，“還記得傷你的婊子嗎？等你從長(zhǎng)城回來(lái)沉唠，我就把她給你疆虚。你喜歡嗎？”

“That must wait.” She traced his scars lightly with the tips of her fingers. “Do you recall the whore who gave these to you? I’ll give her to you when you come back from the Wall. Would you like that?”

“我要的是你满葛【恫荆”

“It’s you I want.”

這是她想聽的答案∴秩停“首先篇亭，你必須坦承叛國(guó)罪行〕苦海無(wú)邊译蒂，回頭是岸啊，我知道肃叶，這對(duì)你來(lái)說(shuō)有些艱難蹂随，但只有拋開羞恥，才能走向新生因惭≡浪”

That was the right answer. “First you must confess your treason. A man’s sins can poison his soul if left to fester. I know it must be hard for you to live with what you’ve done. It is past time that you rid yourself of your shame.”

“羞恥？”奧斯尼說(shuō)不出話來(lái)蹦魔〖ぢ剩“我告訴奧斯蒙，瑪格麗只是逗弄我而已勿决，她根本不讓我逾越……”

“Shame?” Osney sounded baffled. “I told Osmund, Margaery just teases. She never lets me do any more than …”

“你本著騎士精神保護(hù)她乒躺，”瑟曦打斷，“但身為騎士低缩，不應(yīng)該活在欺騙中嘉冒。去吧，今晚就去貝勒大圣堂咆繁，找總主教大人懺悔讳推。如此深重的罪孽，只有總主教大人方能為你免除地獄的折磨玩般。告訴他银觅，你是如何與瑪格麗及其表親們通奸的』滴”

“It is chivalrous of you to protect her,” Cersei broke in, “but you are too good a knight to go on living with your crime. No, you must take yourself to the Great Sept of Baelor this very night and speak with the High Septon. When a man’s sins are so black, only His High Holiness himself can save him from hell’s torments. Tell him how you bedded Margaery and her cousins.”

奧斯尼眨眨眼睛究驴，“什么镊绪，她表親也在內(nèi)？”

Osney blinked. “What, the cousins too?”

“梅歌與埃蘿洒忧，”她決定了蝴韭，“雅蘭沒參與∨苣剑”加點(diǎn)小細(xì)節(jié)有助于讓整個(gè)故事更可信万皿。“雅蘭她邊看邊哭泣核行，懇請(qǐng)同伴們別再造孽牢硅。”

“Megga and Elinor,” she decided, “never Alla.” That little detail would make the whole story more plausible. “Alla would sit weeping, and plead with the others to stop their sinning.”

“只有梅歌與埃蘿芝雪？瑪格麗參加了嗎减余？”

“Just Megga and Elinor? Or Margaery too?”

“瑪格麗是關(guān)鍵。一切都是她造成的惩系∥徊恚”

“Margaery, most certainly. She was the one behind it all.”

她把想法和盤托出，奧斯尼一邊聽堡牡，一邊緩緩露出理解的表情抒抬。等她說(shuō)完后，他道晤柄，“等您砍了她的頭擦剑，我要她給我那個(gè)她從未給過(guò)的吻〗婢保”

She told him all she had in mind. As Osney listened, apprehension slowly spread across his face. When she finished he said, “After you cut her head off, I want to take that kiss she never gave me.”

“你想要什么都可以惠勒。”

“You may take all the kisses you like.”

“然后就去長(zhǎng)城爬坑？”

“And then the Wall?”

“只是暫避一時(shí)纠屋。托曼是個(gè)仁慈心腸的好國(guó)王《芗疲”

“For just a little while. Tommen is a forgiving king.”

奧斯尼撓了撓臉上的傷疤售担，“一般來(lái)說(shuō)，當(dāng)我撒有關(guān)女人的謊時(shí)署辉，總是說(shuō)自己沒碰她們族铆，而她們指認(rèn)我是個(gè)淫賊。這回……對(duì)總主教大人撒謊涨薪，將來(lái)一定會(huì)下地獄§排遥”

Osney scratched at his scarred cheek. “Usually if I lie about some woman, it’s me saying how I never fucked them and them saying how I did. This … I never lied to no High Septon before. I think you go to some hell for that. One o’ the bad ones.”

太后吃了一驚刚夺，沒料到凱特布萊克這莽夫竟有如此虔誠(chéng)献丑。“你拒絕我侠姑？”

The queen was taken aback. The last thing she expected was piety from a Kettleblack. “Are you refusing to obey me?”

“不创橄，”奧斯尼伸手撫摩她的金發(fā)，“我的意思是莽红，要讓這個(gè)謊撒得天衣無(wú)縫妥畏，其中得有幾分真實(shí)……方能取信于人，明白嗎安吁？您得讓我了解跟王后做愛的滋……”

“No.” Osney touched her golden hair. “The thing is, the best lies have some truth in ’em … to give ’em flavor, as it were. And you want me to go tell how I fucked a queen …”

她真想給他一巴掌醉蚁。但她已走得太遠(yuǎn)，太多太多東西系于此舉鬼店，不能回頭了网棍。我所做的一切，都是為了托曼妇智。于是她扭過(guò)頭滥玷，抓住奧斯尼爵士的手，吻他的指頭巍棱。他的指頭粗糙又堅(jiān)硬惑畴，布滿練劍留下的繭疤。就像勞勃的手航徙，她心想如贷。

She almost slapped his face. Almost. But she had gone too far, and too much was at stake. All I do, I do for Tommen. She turned her head and caught Ser Osney’s hand with her own, kissing his fingers. They were rough and hard, callused from the sword. Robert had hands like that, she thought.

瑟曦?fù)ёP特布萊克的脖子，“我怎能讓你去撒謊呢捉偏？”她用沙啞的聲音湊在他耳邊低語(yǔ)倒得，“一小時(shí)后，來(lái)我臥室夭禽∠疾簦”

Cersei wrapped her arms about his neck. “I would not want it said I made a liar of you,” she whispered in a husky voice. “Give me an hour, and meet me in my bedchamber.”

“我等不了那么久，”他把手伸進(jìn)她的胸衣讹躯，一把撕開菩彬，絲綢發(fā)出“噶拉”聲響，瑟曦覺得半個(gè)紅堡都聽見了潮梯∑睿“在我動(dòng)手之前，把其他的也脫了吧秉馏，”他說(shuō)耙旦，“留著王冠，我喜歡看你戴王冠的樣子萝究∶舛迹”

“We waited long enough.” He thrust his fingers inside the bodice of her gown and yanked, and the silk parted with a ripping sound so loud that Cersei was afraid that half of the Red Keep must have heard it. “Take off the rest before I tear that too,” he said. “You can keep the crown on. I like you in the crown.”