“谷地很暖和，大人求泰，”米亞保證，“下山之后卜朗，您就知道了。”

“It will be warmer on the valley floor, my lord,” said Mya. “You’ll see when we get down there.”

“我才不想下山批钠！”勞勃道呛每，而米亞不再搭理他。

“I don’t want to see,” said Robert, but Mya paid no mind.

道路乃是一系列沿山腰鑿刻的彎曲石階箫柳，不過騾子對每個踏腳處都很熟悉悯恍，阿蓮深感欣慰。由于數百年的結冰罢防、融雪與踩踏属划，有的地方破損得相當厲害绽昼，陳雪堆積在道路兩旁的石頭上，反射出耀眼的白光疏魏。太陽高掛，晴空蔚藍烙丛，獵鷹在天上轉圈，乘風翱翔。

Their road was a crooked series of stone steps carved into the mountainside, but the mules knew every inch of it. Alayne was glad of that. Here and there the stone was shattered from the strain of countless seasons, with all their thaws and freezes. Patches of snow clung to the rock on either side of the path, blinding white. The sun was bright, the sky was blue, and there were falcons circling overhead, riding on the wind.

由于斜坡太陡媚值，這里的路全都大繞彎子。上山時是珊莎·史塔克锰扶，下山時成了阿蓮·石東坷牛。好奇特啊痴怨。出發(fā)前捐迫，米亞叮囑她眼睛直盯著道路萌丈，別往下看〔戮荆“要看就看上面』溃”她如是說……然而拴念，怎么可能下山不往下看呢。我可以閉上眼睛尖殃，騾子認得路丈莺，它無須我指引划煮。但這像是那個愛受驚嚇的小珊莎會做的事送丰，阿蓮是大人了，身為私生女意敛，她得勇敢起來综膀。

Up here where the slope was steepest, the steps wound back and forth rather than plunging straight down. Sansa Stark went up the mountain, but Alayne Stone is coming down. It was a strange thought. Coming up, Mya had warned her to keep her eyes on the path ahead, she remembered. “Look up, not down,” she said … but that was not possible on the descent. I could close my eyes. The mule knows the way, he has no need of me. But that seemed more something Sansa would have done, that frightened girl. Alayne was an older woman, and bastard brave.

起初他們單列前進面褐，隨后道路加寬，足以容兩人并騎榕莺，因此米蘭達·羅伊斯上前來與她為伴岩睁◆崆ǎ“我們收到了你父親的信，”她吐露曼库，渾如她倆正坐在修女面前教藻，邊做針線活邊聊閑話一般，“他說他正星夜返回纠炮，期待早日和寶貝女兒重逢婚被，還說萊昂諾·科布瑞對新娘子很滿意，特別高興收到了豐厚嫁妝一我個人希望萊昂諾大人別忘了履行自己的責任才是。培提爾寫道蔬螟，在最后時刻痹仙，韋伍德伯爵夫人與九星城的騎士結伴出現在婚宴上，令所有人驚喜萬分污秆∑澹”

At first they rode in single file, but farther down the path widened enough for two to ride abreast, and Myranda Royce came up beside her. “We have had a letter from your father,” she said, as casually as if they were sitting with their septa, doing needlework. “He is on his way home, he says, and hopes to see his darling daughter soon. He writes that Lyonel Corbray seems well pleased with his bride, and even more so with her dowry. I do hope Lord Lyonel remembers which one he needs to bed. Lady Waynwood turned up with the Knight of Ninestars for the wedding feast, Lord Petyr says, to everyone’s astonishment.”

“安雅·韋伍德靶擦？她真的來了？”那么公義者同盟已由六鎮(zhèn)減為三家。離開之日诫欠，培提爾·貝里席只確定能贏得賽蒙·坦帕頓的支持英遭，韋伍德伯爵夫人應是下山后的杰作≌“他還說別的了嗎阳堕？”鷹巢城是個孤單寂寞的地方，她迫切地想了解外面的世界择克，那怕再瑣屑再無聊的新聞也好恬总。

“Anya Waynwood? Truly?” The Lords Declarant were down from six to three, it would seem. The day he’d departed the mountain, Petyr Baelish had been confident of winning Symond Templeton to his side, but not so Lady Waynwood. “Was there more?” she asked. The Eyrie was such a lonely place that she was eager for any bit of news from the world beyond, however trivial or insignificant.

“噢，你父親沒話說啦肚邢，不過有其他鳥兒飛來我們這里壹堰。到處都在打仗，只有峽谷還保持著和平骡湖。據說奔流城投降了贱纠，史坦尼斯的龍石島與風息堡也搖搖欲墜∠煸蹋”

“Not from your father, no, but we’ve had other birds. The war goes on, everywhere but here. Riverrun has yielded, but Dragonstone and Storm’s End still hold for Lord Stannis.”

“萊莎夫人真明智谆焊，沒讓我們卷入戰(zhàn)團∑忠模”

“Lady Lysa was so wise, to keep us out of it.”

米蘭達露出最狡猾的微笑辖试，“是啊，她打心眼兒里明智劈狐，多好的夫人罐孝。”她調整坐姿懈息∩龅担“為啥騾子都是又消瘦又脾氣差呢？米亞定然克扣口糧辫继。騎上又肥又溫順的騾子才好咧怒见。總主教換人了姑宽，你知道嗎遣耍？噢，守夜人軍團也換了個男孩當司令炮车，據說是艾德·史塔克的私生子舵变。”

Myranda gave her a shrewd little smile. “Yes, she was the very soul of wisdom, that good lady.” She shifted her seat. “Why must mules be so bony and ill-tempered? Mya does not feed them enough. A nice fat mule would be more comfortable to ride. There’s a new High Septon, did you know? Oh, and the Night’s Watch has a boy commander, some bastard son of Eddard Stark’s.”

“瓊恩·雪諾瘦穆？”她不假思索地沖口而出纪隙。

“Jon Snow?” she blurted out, surprised.

“雪諾？噢扛或，當然绵咱，北地叫這個姓，大概是他吧熙兔”妫”

“Snow? Yes, it would be Snow, I suppose.”

她很長時間沒想過瓊恩了艾恼。畢竟他只是同父異母的兄弟，然而……然而羅柏麸锉、布蘭和瑞肯都死了钠绍，他成了她唯一的兄弟。我是私生女花沉，和他一樣柳爽，噢，若能再見他一面主穗，該有多甜蜜泻拦。但那是不可能發(fā)生的事，阿蓮·石東沒有兄弟忽媒，沒有親人争拐。

She had not thought of Jon in ages. He was only her half brother, but still … with Robb and Bran and Rickon dead, Jon Snow was the only brother that remained to her. I am a bastard too now, just like him. Oh, it would be so sweet, to see him once again. But of course that could never be. Alayne Stone had no brothers, baseborn or otherwise.

“我表叔青銅約恩在符石城舉辦了一場團體比武，”米蘭達·羅伊斯顯然不打算住口晦雨，“規(guī)模不大架曹，只有侍從參加，目的是讓繼承人哈利獲得榮譽闹瞧，最終也達成了目的绑雄。”

“Our cousin Bronze Yohn had himself a mêlée at Runestone,” Myranda Royce went on, oblivious, “a small one, just for squires. It was meant for Harry the Heir to win the honors, and so he did.”

“繼承人哈利奥邮？”

“Harry the Heir?”

“韋伍德伯爵夫人的養(yǎng)子呀万牺，哈羅德·哈頓。現在可以改口叫哈利爵士洽腺，青銅約恩親手賜封了他脚粟。”

“Lady Waynwood’s ward. Harrold Hardyng. I suppose we must call him Ser Harry now. Bronze Yohn knighted him.”

“哦蘸朋，”阿蓮鬧不明白核无，為什么韋伍德伯爵夫人的養(yǎng)子成了她的繼承人？畢竟藕坯，她身邊兒子成群团南，例如現任血門騎士唐納爾爵士就很厲害。不過她不愿示弱炼彪，只說道吐根，“希望他當個好騎士》恚”

“Oh.” Alayne was confused. Why should Lady Waynwood’s ward be her heir? She had sons of her own blood. One was the Knight of the Bloody Gate, Ser Donnel. She did not want to look stupid, though, so all she said was, “I pray he proves a worthy knight.”

米蘭達小姐哼了一聲佑惠，“希望他早點得天花。知道嗎齐疙？他和某位平民姑娘已搞出了私生女膜楷。我父親大人打算讓我嫁給他，卻得不到韋伍德伯爵夫人的支持贞奋。不曉得她是嫌我地位太次赌厅，還是嫁妝不多〗嗡”她嘆口氣特愿。“我需要一個丈夫勾缭。我的前夫被我干掉了揍障。”

Lady Myranda snorted. “I pray he gets the pox. He has a bastard daughter by some common girl, you know. My lord father had hoped to marry me to Harry, but Lady Waynwood would not hear of it. I do not know whether it was me she found unsuitable, or just my dowry.” She gave a sigh. “I do need another husband. I had one once, but I killed him.”

“干掉了俩由？”阿蓮震驚地問毒嫡。

“You did?” Alayne said, shocked.

“噢，是的幻梯，他騎在我身上死的兜畸，如果說實話，他那玩意兒還留在我體內呢碘梢。你知道婚床上是怎么回事咬摇，對吧？”

“Oh, yes. He died on top of me. In me, if truth be told. You do know what goes on in a marriage bed, I hope?”

她想起提利昂煞躬，想起要吻她的獵狗肛鹏，點了點頭，“這一定可怕極了恩沛，小姐在扰。他死了，在那時候死了复唤，我的意思是健田，在……在……”

She thought of Tyrion, and of the Hound and how he’d kissed her, and gave a nod. “That must have been dreadful, my lady. Him dying. There, I mean, whilst … whilst he was …”

“……在干我的時候？”她聳聳肩佛纫，“是啊妓局，多惡心，多失禮啊呈宇。他根本不能播種好爬，老頭子的種子都極虛弱。所以啦甥啄，我成了寡婦存炮，卻還根本沒和丈夫做過。說到哈利，他將來娶的人也許糟糕得多穆桂，韋伍德伯爵夫人多半會讓他上她自己或青銅約恩的孫女宫盔。”

“… fucking me?” She shrugged. “It was disconcerting, certainly. Not to mention discourteous. He did not even have the common decency to plant a child in me. Old men have weak seed. So here I am, a widow, but scarce used. Harry could have done much worse. I daresay that he will. Lady Waynwood will most like marry him to one of her granddaughters, or one of Bronze Yohn’s.”

“是的享完，小姐灼芭。”阿蓮忽然記起培提爾的告誡般又。

“As you say, my lady.” Alayne remembered Petyr’s warning.

“蘭達彼绷。這挺順口的，來茴迁，跟我念：蘭——達——”

“Randa. Come now, you can say it. Ran. Da.”

“蘭達寄悯。”

“Randa.”

“好多了堕义。很抱歉猜旬，說出來你也許會把我當成不要臉的女人，事情是這樣胳螟，我跟那帥氣的馬瑞里安睡過昔馋，當時還不知他是個怪物。他歌唱得那么好糖耸，指頭又會做最甜蜜的事秘遏，如果我曉得他將犯下把萊莎夫人推出月門這等令人發(fā)指的惡行，便決不會接納他嘉竟。我不和怪物睡覺邦危，這是規(guī)矩∩崛牛”她瞧瞧阿蓮的臉蛋和胸脯倦蚪。“你比我漂亮边苹，但我的乳房比你大陵且。學士說乳房的大小和乳汁的產量無關，我可不信个束，你見過乳房干癟的奶媽嗎慕购？其實依你的年紀而言，乳房也算可以茬底，總之你是私生女沪悲，我就不跟你計較了≮灞恚”米蘭達催騾子靠近殿如，“我們的米亞不是處女贡珊，你知道吧？”

“Much better. I fear I must apologize to you. You will think me a dreadful slut, I know, but I bedded that pretty boy Marillion. I did not know he was a monster. He sang beautifully, and could do the sweetest things with his fingers. I would never have taken him to bed if I had known he was going to push Lady Lysa through the Moon Door. I do not bed monsters, as a rule.” She studied Alayne’s face and chest. “You are prettier than me, but my breasts are larger. The maesters say large breasts produce no more milk than small ones, but I do not believe it. Have you ever known a wet nurse with small teats? Yours are ample for a girl your age, but as they are bastard breasts, I shan’t concern myself with them.” Myranda edged her mule closer. “You know our Mya’s not a maid, I trust?”

她知道涉馁，有回米亞送補給上山時门岔，胖瑪迪給阿蓮咬耳朵〗靼“瑪迪跟我講過固歪。”

She did. Fat Maddy had whispered it to her, one time when Mya brought up their supplies. “Maddy told me.”

“噢胯努，她當然講過，她大嘴巴大腿逢防，你見過她的腿吧叶沛？米亞愛著米歇爾·雷德佛，此人曾是林恩·科布瑞的侍從忘朝，真正的侍從哦灰署，和林恩爵士現下收的粗魯小子不一樣——這位是交錢當侍從的。米歇爾可謂是峽谷里最年輕最優(yōu)秀的劍士局嘁，為人英雄豪俠……至少可憐的米亞現下這么想溉箕，等他跟青銅約恩的女兒成了親，她大概就得轉變觀點了悦昵。我很確定肴茄，霍頓大人沒留給他別的選擇，不過總歸對米亞是件殘酷的事但指」烟担”

“Of course she did. She has a mouth as big as her thighs, and her thighs are enormous. Mychel Redfort was the one. He used to be Lyn Corbray’s squire. A real squire, not like that loutish lad Ser Lyn’s got squiring for him now. He only took that one on for coin, they say. Mychel was the best young swordsman in the Vale, and gallant … or so poor Mya thought, till he wed one of Bronze Yohn’s daughters. Lord Horton gave him no choice in the matter, I am sure, but it was still a cruel thing to do to Mya.”

“羅索爵士喜歡她，”阿蓮掃視著二十多級石階下的管騾女孩棋凳，“很喜歡拦坠。”

“Ser Lothor is fond of her.” Alayne glanced down at the mule girl, twenty steps below. “More than fond.”

“羅索·布倫剩岳，”米蘭達抬起一邊眉毛贞滨，“她知道嗎？”她不等回答拍棕，“他沒希望晓铆，可憐的男人，我父親為米亞提過幾次親莫湘，結果她統(tǒng)統(tǒng)不要尤蒿。她啊，就是個倔騾幅垮⊙兀”

“Lothor Brune?” Myranda raised an eyebrow. “Does she know?” She did not wait for an answer. “He has no hope, poor man. My father’s tried to make a match for Mya, but she’ll have none of them. She is half mule, that one.”

阿蓮發(fā)現自己不由自主地與年長的女孩親近起來，珍妮·普爾離開后，她已很久很久沒有朋友閑話了示弓』淝龋“你覺得羅索爵士是喜歡穿鐵甲皮衣的她，”她詢問這位女智多星奏属，“還是喜歡換上蕾絲綢緞的她呢跨跨？”

Despite herself, Alayne found herself warming to the older girl. She had not had a friend to gossip with since poor Jeyne Poole. “Do you think Ser Lothor likes her as she is, in mail and leather?” she asked the older girl, who seemed so worldly-wise. “Or does he dream of her draped in silks and velvets?”

“他是個男人，他夢想著她的裸體囱皿∮掠ぃ”

“He’s a man. He dreams of her naked.”

她想讓我臉紅吧。

She is trying to make me blush again.

米蘭達小姐似乎讀出了她的想法嘱腥，“你的臉粉嘟嘟的耕渴，真可愛，我臉紅時像個蘋果齿兔。唉橱脸，我好多年沒臉紅過了》治”她傾身靠近添诉。“你父親準備再婚嗎医寿？”

Lady Myranda must have heard her thoughts. “You do turn such a pretty shade of pink. When I blush I look quite like an apple. I have not blushed for years, though.” She leaned closer. “Does your father plan to wed again?”

“我父親栏赴？”阿蓮沒考慮過這檔子事。不知怎的糟红，想起這個她就害怕艾帐，她忘不了萊莎·艾林跌出月門時臉上的表情。

“My father?” Alayne had never considered that. Somehow the notion made her squirm. She found herself remembering the look on Lysa Arryn’s face as she’d tumbled through the Moon Door.

“我們都清楚他有多鐘愛萊莎夫人盆偿，”米蘭達承認柒爸，“但他不能永遠這樣，他需要一位年輕貌美的妻子為他洗去悲哀事扭。我猜谷地里一半的貴族少女都夢想嫁給他捎稚，挑誰當丈夫能比峽谷守護者更好呢今野？不過呀罐农，我希望他換個名兒条霜，別叫小指頭涵亏。他有多‘小’蒲凶，你知道嗎？”

“We all know how devoted he was to Lady Lysa,” said Myranda, “but he cannot mourn forever. He needs a pretty young wife to wash away his grief. I imagine he could have his pick of half the noble maidens in the Vale. Who could be a better husband than our own bold Lord Protector? Though I do wish he had a better name than Littlefinger. How little is it, do you know?”

“你說他的指頭拆内？”她又臉紅了，“我不……我不知道……”

“His finger?” She blushed again. “I don’t … I never …”

米蘭達小姐縱聲大笑灵巧，引得米亞·石東回頭查看刻肄，“別介意采够，阿蓮蹬癌，我相信他那里夠大的虹茶『铮”

Lady Myranda laughed so loud that Mya Stone glanced back at them. “Never you mind, Alayne, I’m sure it’s large enough.”

他們從一面風蝕拱崖下走過，長長的冰柱從白石上垂下虏肾，水珠串串滴落封豪。路的遠端突然變窄炒瘟，幾乎垂直地降下一百尺疮装，米蘭達只好放慢腳步廓推，走在后頭，任由阿蓮領先呻纹。路到驚險處，阿蓮牢牢地攀住了騾子顽频，由于被蹄鐵長年踩踏糯景，此處石階非常平滑，甚至變成空洞的凹陷蟀淮，碗狀凹陷里滿是積水钞澳，在午后的太陽下閃爍著金光≡冢現在是水兰吟，阿蓮心想，入夜后就成冰了履腋。她不自禁地屏住呼吸遵湖，大氣也不敢出延旧。米亞·石東和勞勃公爵已幾乎走到下面的山脊上垄潮，那里的坡度逐漸和緩闷盔。她試圖瞪著他們逢勾，只瞪著他們溺拱。我不會摔下去，她告訴自己沐扳，米亞的騾子值得信賴沪摄。強風擊打著她杨拐，她艱難地哄陶、一步又一步地走下去屋吨，騾子顛簸，好似過了一生芭逝。

They passed beneath a wind-carved arch, where long icicles clung to the pale stone, dripping down on them. On the far side the path narrowed and plunged down sharply for a hundred feet or more. Myranda was forced to drop back. Alayne gave the mule his head. The steepness of this part of the descent made her cling tightly to her saddle. The steps here had been worn smooth by the iron-shod hooves of all the mules who’d passed this way, until they resembled a series of shallow stone bowls. Water filled the bottoms of the bowls, glimmering golden in the afternoon sun. It is water now, Alayne thought, but come dark, all of it will turn to ice. She realized that she was holding her breath, and let it out. Mya Stone and Lord Robert had almost reached the rock spire where the slope leveled off again. She tried to look at them, and only them. I will not fall, she told herself. Mya’s mule will see me through. The wind skirled around her, as she bumped and scraped her way down step by step. It seemed to take a lifetime.

她終于來到米亞和小公爵身邊台妆，籠罩在一塊扭曲危崖的陰影里，前方是一條高聳的結凍小路切厘。冷風凄厲地號叫疫稿，撕扯阿蓮的斗篷遗座，上山時她便對此處記憶猶新途蒋，此刻更是怕得想回頭号坡。“您看看路有多寬腌紧，”米亞用歡快的聲調對勞勃公爵說壁肋，“一碼長墩划，八碼寬乙帮，除此之外什么都沒有察净∨握粒”

Then all at once she was at the bottom with Mya and her little lord, huddled beneath a twisted, rocky spire. Ahead stretched a high stone saddle, narrow and icy. Alayne could hear the wind shrieking, and feel it plucking at her cloak. She remembered this place from her ascent. It had frightened her then, and it frightened her now. “It is wider than it looks,” Mya was telling Lord Robert in a cheerful voice. “A yard across, and no more than eight yards long, that’s nothing.”

“什么都沒有晨缴？……”勞勃的小手痙攣起來击碗。

“Nothing,” Robert said. His hand was shaking.

噢稍途，不要械拍，千萬不要坷虑，阿蓮心想猖吴，求求你，不能在這里共屈，不能在這時拗引，千萬不要矾削。

Oh, no, Alayne thought. Please. Not here. Not now.

“這里我們最好牽騾子過去哼凯，”米亞道断部，“大人她渴，請注意，我先走過去把騾子拴好苛败，然后回來接你著拭。”勞勃公爵沒有回答暗赶，他用發(fā)紅的眼睛難以置信地望著狹窄的小路蹂随≡浪“沒幾步路的激率，大人乒躺〖蚊埃”米亞擔保讳推，阿蓮覺得男孩根本沒聽她說話银觅。

“It’s best to lead the mules across,” Mya said. “If it please my lord, I’ll take mine over first, then come back for yours.” Lord Robert did not answer. He was staring at the narrow saddle with his reddened eyes. “I shan’t be long, my lord,” Mya promised, but Alayne doubted that the boy could even hear her.

私生女孩領著騾子踏上小路设拟，強風立刻把她裹住纳胧。斗篷飛揚跑慕，在空中旋轉拍打核行。米亞踉蹌了一下芝雪，似乎就要被吹下懸崖，但最終她維持住平衡位岔，走完了那段路抒抬。

When the bastard girl led her mule out from beneath the shelter of the spire, the wind caught her in its teeth. Her cloak lifted, twisting and flapping in the air. Mya staggered, and for half a heartbeat it seemed as if she would be blown over the precipice, but somehow she regained her balance and went on.

阿蓮抓著小勞勃戴手套的小手掌，以止住他的顫抖惠勒∽酱椋“乖羅賓，”她說，“我好害怕骑素。抓著我的手末捣，給我勇氣邦邦，好嗎燃辖？我知道您不怕滥玷〗安耍”

Alayne took Robert’s gloved hand in her own to stop his shaking. “Sweetrobin,” she said, “I’m scared. Hold my hand, and help me get across. I know you’re not afraid.”

他抬頭看她霞掺，眼睛瞪得跟雞蛋一樣又白又圓，瞳仁則閃爍著微小的黑光惨恭，“我不怕免都？”

He looked at her, his pupils small dark pinpricks in eyes as big and white as eggs. “I’m not?”

“你不怕，您是我的飛翼騎士，乖羅賓。”

“Not you. You’re my winged knight, Ser Sweetrobin.”

“飛翼騎士可以飛耗啦∷平”勞勃低聲說。

“The Winged Knight could fly,” Robert whispered.

“飛得比山峰更高。”她擠擠他的手掌。

“Higher than the mountains.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

這時召庞，米蘭達小姐也已趕到徘禁∈徽樱“飛得比山峰更高∠枋裕”她發(fā)現眼前的狀況壁涎，立刻應和道洽损。

Lady Myranda had joined them by the spire. “He could,” she echoed, when she saw what was happening.

“乖羅賓爵士萬歲！”勞勃叫道漫试，阿蓮明白她不能等米亞返回了普泡。她把男孩抱下騾子，兩人手拉手踏上光禿的小道，任憑寒風席卷斗篷。兩側為虛無的空洞，直落萬丈深淵，腳底的土地結了冰炸枣，無數碎石等著絆人摔倒候引，而風嘶吼得更厲害了柠傍。這聲音就像冰原狼从媚，珊莎·史塔克心想并级，一頭雄偉的冰原狼，此群山更高大。

“Ser Sweetrobin,” Lord Robert said, and Alayne knew that she dare not wait for Mya to return. She helped the boy dismount, and hand in hand they walked out onto the bare stone saddle, their cloaks snapping and flapping behind them. All around was empty air and sky, the ground falling away sharply to either side. There was ice underfoot, and broken stones just waiting to turn an ankle, and the wind was howling fiercely. It sounds like a wolf, thought Sansa. A ghost wolf, big as mountains.

等他們到達小路對面毁腿，米亞高興得笑起來，把勞勃抱在空中【还危“小心點，”阿蓮囑咐她揪垄，“若是癲癇病發(fā)作酷愧，他會弄得你很痛管引。你看不出來，他力氣大著呢。”他們?yōu)樾」粼谏綆r下找了個縫隙歇息狞洋，以阻擋寒風拙寡。阿蓮一直照顧他浆竭，直到痙攣停止，米亞則回頭去接其他人。

And then they were on the other side, and Mya Stone was laughing and lifting Robert for a hug. “Be careful,” Alayne told her. “He can hurt you, flailing. You wouldn’t think so, but he can.” They found a place for him, a cleft in the rock to keep him out of the cold wind. Alayne tended him until the shaking passed, whilst Mya went back to help the others cross.

大家在雪山堡換乘新騾子，還吃了一鍋山羊肉加洋蔥燉的濃湯。她跟米亞和米蘭達一起用餐蒸其。“看來，你不僅美麗，而且勇敢。”米蘭達對她說概荷。

Fresh mules awaited them at Snow, and a hot meal of stewed goat and onions. She ate with Mya and Myranda. “So you’re brave as well as beautiful,” Myranda said to her.

“哪里误证∮保”對方的恭維讓她臉紅。“我很怕稽亏，真的很怕胖腾，沒有勞勃大人，我肯定過不來记罚。”她轉向米亞说庭、·石東刊驴【斯瘢“剛才你幾乎摔下去业踢。”

“No.” The compliment made her blush. “I’m not. I was so scared. I don’t think I could have crossed without Lord Robert.” She turned to Mya Stone. “You almost fell.”

“你錯了太伊，我決不會摔下去僚焦》急”米亞的頭發(fā)垂下額頭谅年，蓋住一只眼睛融蹂。

“You’re mistaken. I never fall.” Mya’s hair had tumbled across her cheek, hiding one eye.

“我的意思是，你幾乎摔下去意乓。我看見的洽瞬。你怕嗎？”

“Almost, I said. I saw you. Weren’t you afraid?”

米亞搖搖頭为障，“當年我還是個小嬰兒時呻右，有個男人喜歡把我往空中扔，他長得跟擎天柱似的落塑，雙手如此有力憾赁，我就像在飛。我們倆笑啊晦款，笑啊缓溅，笑得我喘不過氣州藕，連眼淚也笑了出來毁涉，把他逗得更樂贫堰。我一點都不怕待牵，我知道其屏，他總會抓住我∮Ц茫”她把頭發(fā)攬上去偎行。“結果有一天，他卻失手了蛤袒。后來妙真，那男人走了菱阵，男人就是這樣，要么撒謊蛛倦，要么死去且改，要么離開你慨蓝。大山和男人不同此熬，石東是它的女兒，我相信我的父親，我相信我的騾子，我決不會摔下去咕宿∈哉悖”她用手撐住一塊鋸齒狀巖石，站起身來斗躏。“動作快點燕雁，還有很長的路懂衩，我聞到風暴的味道。”

Mya shook her head. “I remember a man throwing me in the air when I was very little. He stands as tall as the sky, and he throws me up so high it feels as though I’m flying. We’re both laughing, laughing so much that I can hardly catch a breath, and finally I laugh so hard I wet myself, but that only makes him laugh the louder. I was never afraid when he was throwing me. I knew that he would always be there to catch me.” She pushed her hair back. “Then one day he wasn’t. Men come and go. They lie, or die, or leave you. A mountain is not a man, though, and a stone is a mountain’s daughter. I trust my father, and I trust my mules. I won’t fall.” She put her hand on a jagged spur of rock, and got to her feet. “Best finish. We have a long way yet to go, and I can smell a storm.”

過了危巖堡饼丘，大雪終于降下，這是三座沿路堡壘中最低也最大的一座，保衛(wèi)著通向鷹巢城的要害冗锁。暮色深沉，米蘭達小姐建議干脆回頭全封，在危巖堡過夜，等太陽升起再行下山，但米亞根本不聽乎莉〗『校“到明天大雪已積上五尺善茎，連我的騾子也走不了了，”她堅持，“我們應該堅持勒极，走慢點就好昨忆⌒采祝”

The snow began to fall as they were leaving Stone, the largest and lowest of the three waycastles that defended the approaches to the Eyrie. Dusk was settling by then. Lady Myranda suggested that perhaps they might turn back, spend the night at Stone, and resume their descent when the sun came up, but Mya would not hear of it. “The snow might be five feet deep by then, and the steps treacherous even for my mules,” she said. “We will do better to press on. We’ll take it slow.”

所以他們繼續(xù)前進。危巖堡下褥赊，石階相對寬闊平整俐银，道路在巨人之槍底部的高大松木和灰綠色哨兵樹之間蜿蜒售躁。米亞的騾子似乎了解每一個樹根和每一塊石頭的所在酒觅，偶有意外彼城，私生女孩也敏捷地親自排除习柠。夜半時分，他們終于透過飛雪看到月門堡的燈火照棋，隨后的旅途舒坦多了资溃。雪，越下越大烈炭，將周圍的世界化為純白溶锭。乖羅賓在鞍上睡著了，隨騾子行動而上下搖擺符隙，連米蘭達小姐也打起呵欠趴捅，抱怨精力不濟∨撸“我們?yōu)樗腥硕紲蕚淞朔块g拱绑，”她告訴阿蓮，“不過你得跟我同床丽蝎，那張床睡得下四人猎拨。”

And so they did. Below Stone the steps were broader and less steep, winding in and out of the tall pines and grey-green sentinels that cloaked the lower slopes of the Giant’s Lance. Mya’s mules knew every root and rock on the way down, it seemed, and any they forgot the bastard girl remembered. Half the night was gone before they sighted the lights of the Gates of the Moon through the falling snow. The last part of their journey was the most peaceful. The snow fell steadily, cloaking all the world in white. Sweetrobin drifted to sleep in the saddle, swaying back and forth with the motion of his mule. Even Lady Myranda began to yawn and complain of being weary. “We have apartments prepared for all of you,” she told Alayne, “but if you like you may share my bed tonight. It’s large enough for four.”

“我很榮幸屠阻，小姐红省。”

“I should be honored, my lady.”

“蘭達国觉。幸運的是吧恃，我今天累了，只想倒床便睡麻诀，一般情況下蚜枢，跟我同床的小姐都得上稅，把她干過的壞勾當交代清楚针饥〕С椋”

“Randa. Count yourself fortunate that I’m so tired. All I want to do is curl up and go to sleep. Usually when ladies share my bed they have to pay a pillow tax and tell me all about the wicked things they’ve done.”

“如果她什么‘壞勾當’也沒干過呢？”

“What if they haven’t done any wicked things?”

“是嗎丁眼？那她就得透漏自己所有的壞念頭筷凤。當然啦，你不在內，我已經知道你是多么純潔藐守，啊挪丢，玫瑰色的臉龐和大大的藍眼睛，多教人羨慕啊卢厂∏睿”她又打個呵欠∩骱悖“希望你的腳很暖和任内，我討厭腳冷冰冰的床伴∪诩恚”

“Why, then they must confess all the wicked things they want to do. Not you, of course. I can see how virtuous you are just by looking at those rosy cheeks and big blue eyes of yours.” She yawned again. “I hope your feet are warm. I do hate bedmaids with cold feet.”

終于抵達米蘭達小姐父親的城堡時死嗦，小姐本人已打起呼嚕，阿蓮則滿心想著那張床粒氧。一定是張羽毛床越除，她告訴自己，又軟又暖又大外盯，鋪滿毛皮摘盆。我會做個美夢，醒來的時候饱苟，獵狗在外面叫喚骡澈，女人在身邊閑話，男人在庭院練劍掷空。隨后開始宴會肋殴，宴會上有音樂和舞蹈。經歷過鷹巢城的死寂坦弟，現在的她無比渴望笑鬧喧嘩护锤。

By the time they finally reached her father’s castle, Lady Myranda was drowsing too, and Alayne was dreaming of her bed. It will be a featherbed, she told herself, soft and warm and deep, piled high with furs. I will dream a sweet dream, and when I wake there will be dogs barking, women gossiping beside the well, swords ringing in the yard. And later there will be a feast, with music and dancing. After the deathly silence of the Eyrie, she yearned for shouts and laughter.

大家爬下騾子，一名培提爾的貼身護衛(wèi)突然從城中走出酿傍±优常“阿蓮小姐，”他稟報赤炒，“峽谷守護者正在等您氯析。”

As the riders were climbing off their mules, however, one of Petyr’s guardsmen emerged from within the keep. “Lady Alayne,” he said, “the Lord Protector has been waiting for you.”

“他回來了莺褒？”她吃驚地問掩缓。

“He’s back?” she said, startled.

“傍晚剛到。他在西塔等您遵岩∧憷保”

“At evenfall. You’ll find him in the west tower.”

還有幾個鐘頭就是黎明巡通，全城都在熟睡，不過培提爾·貝里席不在內舍哄。阿蓮發(fā)現他坐在噼啪作響的爐火前宴凉，跟三個她不認識的男人對飲熱葡萄酒。她一進門表悬，大家紛紛起立弥锄，培提爾和煦地笑道，“過來蟆沫，阿蓮籽暇，給父親一個吻吧〖⒆罚”

The hour was closer to dawn than to dusk, and most of the castle was asleep, but not Petyr Baelish. Alayne found him seated by a crackling fire, drinking hot mulled wine with three men she did not know. They all rose when she entered, and Petyr smiled warmly. “Alayne. Come, give your father a kiss.”

她盡職盡責地抱住他图仓，在他臉上印下一吻罐盔，“很抱歉打擾您但绕，父親，我不知道您有客人惶看∧笏常”

She hugged him dutifully and kissed him on the cheek. “I am sorry to intrude, Father. No one told me you had company.”

“怎么會是打擾呢，親愛的纬黎？我正對這些好騎士們夸你是多么地盡職盡責幅骄。”

“You are never an intrusion, sweetling. I was just now telling these good knights what a dutiful daughter I had.”

“盡職而且美麗本今〔鹱”一位蓬厚金發(fā)如瀑布般披散到肩的年輕騎士說，他長得很俊冠息。

“Dutiful and beautiful,” said an elegant young knight whose thick blond mane cascaded down well past his shoulders.

“是的挪凑，”第二名騎士生得結實，豪放的大胡子逛艰，根莖狀紅鼻子上布滿破裂的脈絡躏碳，粗糙的手則如火腿一般，“您把她的美給忽略了散怖，大人菇绵。”

“Aye,” said the second knight, a burly fellow with a thick salt-and-pepper beard, a red nose bulbous with broken veins, and gnarled hands as large as hams. “You left out that part, m’lord.”

“換我也會這么做镇眷，”第三名騎士身材瘦小咬最，笑容扭曲，長著狐貍臉欠动、尖鼻子丹诀，亂蓬蓬的橙色頭發(fā)根根豎立，“尤其是向我們這幫粗人介紹的時候∶猓”

“I would do the same if she were my daughter,” said the last knight, a short, wiry man with a wry smile, pointed nose, and bristly orange hair. “Particularly around louts like us.”

阿蓮淺淺一笑硝桩，“您們是粗人嗎？”她逗趣道枚荣，“太謙虛啦碗脊，我認為您們三位都是英勇的騎士￠献保”

Alayne laughed. “Are you louts?” she said, teasing. “Why, I took the three of you for gallant knights.”

“他們的確是騎士衙伶，”培提爾說，“但他們的英勇還需要得到證明——我相信一定不會讓人失望害碾。阿蓮矢劲，請允許我向你介紹拜倫爵士、莫茍斯爵士和夏德里奇爵士慌随。爵士先生們芬沉，這位是阿蓮小姐，我的私生女兒阁猜，她非常地善解人意……所以嘍丸逸，請您們原諒，我們父女重逢剃袍，有些貼心話要說黄刚。”

“Knights they are,” said Petyr. “Their gallantry has yet to be demonstrated, but we may hope. Allow me to present Ser Byron, Ser Morgarth, and Ser Shadrich. Sers, the Lady Alayne, my natural and very clever daughter … with whom I must needs confer, if you will be so good as to excuse us.”

三位騎士鞠躬告辭民效，其中長得最高的那位金發(fā)騎士吻了她的手憔维。

The three knights bowed and withdrew, though the tall one with the blond hair kissed her hand before taking his leave.

“雇傭騎士嗎？”阿蓮關門后問畏邢。

“Hedge knights?” said Alayne, when the door had closed.

“饑餓的騎士业扒。我替我們多買了三把劍。時局愈發(fā)有趣了棵红，親愛的凶赁，當有趣的時刻終于到來時，劍是不嫌多的逆甜。人魚王號剛回海鷗鎮(zhèn)虱肄，老奧斯威爾帶來許多消息〗簧罚”

“Hungry knights. I thought it best that we have a few more swords about us. The times grow ever more interesting, my sweet, and when the times are interesting you can never have too many swords. The Merling King’s returned to Gulltown, and old Oswell had some tales to tell.”

她懂得不要主動發(fā)問咏窿，培提爾想說的話，自然會說的素征〖叮“沒想到您這么快就回來萝挤，”她答道，“我很高興根欧×洌”

She knew better than to ask what sort of tales. If Petyr had wanted her to know, he would have told her. “I did not expect you back so soon,” she said. “I am glad you’ve come.”

“從你給我的親吻中，我可感覺不出來凤粗∷址海”他把她拉近，用手捧起她的臉嫌拣，對準嘴唇柔袁，長久地接吻∫熘穑“這才叫‘歡迎回家’的吻捶索，下次記得表現好些』艺埃”

“I would never have known it from the kiss you gave me.” He pulled her closer, caught her face between his hands, and kissed her on the lips for a long time. “Now that’s the sort of kiss that says welcome home. See that you do better next time.”

“是腥例，父親÷嵯椋”她紅暈上升院崇。

“Yes, Father.” She could feel herself blushing.

他不再強吻她肆氓∨圩妫“你決不會相信君臨發(fā)生的事，親愛的谢揪，瑟曦的愚行一樁接一樁蕉陋，而她那個由聾子、瞎子和白癡組成的御前會議又推波助瀾拨扶。我早料到她會喪國敗家凳鬓，沒想到報應來得這么快！真矛盾啊患民，原本希望經歷四到五年的和平時光缩举，等待播下的種子茁壯成長，等待她自投羅網匹颤，最終讓我收獲果實仅孩，現在嘛……反正我以混亂為養(yǎng)料，抓緊時間就成印蓖，恐怕五王之戰(zhàn)留給我們的短暫和平熬不過這三位女人的時代辽慕。”

He did not hold her kiss against her. “You would not believe half of what is happening in King’s Landing, sweetling. Cersei stumbles from one idiocy to the next, helped along by her council of the deaf, the dim, and the blind. I always anticipated that she would beggar the realm and destroy herself, but I never expected she would do it quite so fast. It is quite vexing. I had hoped to have four or five quiet years to plant some seeds and allow some fruits to ripen, but now … it is a good thing that I thrive on chaos. What little peace and order the five kings left us will not long survive the three queens, I fear.”

“三位女人赦肃？”她不懂溅蛉。

“Three queens?” She did not understand.

培提爾笑而不答公浪，“我給我親愛的女兒帶回來一件禮物〈啵”

Nor did Petyr choose to explain. Instead, he smiled and said, “I have brought my sweet girl back a gift.”

阿蓮又驚又喜欠气。“是裙服嗎镜撩？”聽說海鷗鎮(zhèn)的裁縫很棒晃琳，而她受夠了單調的服色。

Alayne was as pleased as she was surprised. “Is it a gown?” She had heard there were fine seamstresses in Gulltown, and she was so tired of dressing drably.

“比裙服更好琐鲁，再猜卫旱。”

“Something better. Guess again.”

“珠寶围段？”

“Jewels?”

“世上沒有珠寶配得上我女兒的眼睛顾翼。”

“No jewels could hope to match my daughter’s eyes.”

“檸檬奈泪？您找到檸檬了适贸？”她答應給乖羅賓做檸檬蛋糕，檸檬蛋糕需要檸檬涝桅。

“Lemons? Did you find some lemons?” She had promised Sweetrobin lemon cake, and for lemon cake you needed lemons.

培提爾·貝里席握住她的手拜姿，將她拉到膝蓋上，“我為你簽訂了婚約冯遂∪锓剩”

Petyr Baelish took her by the hand and drew her down onto his lap. “I have made a marriage contract for you.”

“婚約……”她喉嚨發(fā)緊。不蛤肌，我不要再婚壁却，不是現在，也許是永遠裸准≌苟“我不想……我不能結婚，父親炒俱，我……”阿蓮朝門口望去盐肃，確認它緊閉著∪ㄎ颍“我結過婚了砸王，”她低聲說，“您知道的僵芹〈τ玻”

“A marriage …” Her throat tightened. She did not want to wed again, not now, perhaps not ever. “I do not … I cannot marry. Father, I …” Alayne looked to the door, to make certain it was closed. “I am married,” she whispered. “You know.”

培提爾用一根指頭壓住她的唇∧磁桑“侏儒娶的是奈德·史塔克的女兒荷辕，不是我女兒凿跳。放心吧，現下還只是約定疮方，真正的儀式得等瑟曦完蛋控嗜，珊莎安安全全地當寡婦之后舉行。但你得先與那男孩會面骡显，并贏得他的愛情疆栏，韋伍德伯爵夫人不想違拗他的意愿，她非常堅持這點惫谤”诙ィ”

Petyr put a finger to her lips to silence her. “The dwarf wed Ned Stark’s daughter, not mine. Be that as it may. This is only a betrothal. The marriage must needs wait until Cersei is done and Sansa’s safely widowed. And you must meet the boy and win his approval. Lady Waynwood will not make him marry against his will, she was quite firm on that.”

“韋伍德伯爵夫人？”阿蓮簡直不敢相信溜歪，“她情愿把自己的兒子嫁給……嫁給……”

“Lady Waynwood?” Alayne could hardly believe it. “Why would she marry one of her sons to … to a …”

“……嫁給私生女若专？首先，你別忘了蝴猪，你乃峽谷守護者的私生女调衰。韋伍德家族非常古老非常驕傲，家道卻不殷實——我為他們還債時早發(fā)現了自阱。當然嚎莉，安雅夫人決不會為金錢出賣自己的兒子，但養(yǎng)子嘛……年輕的哈利只是個表親沛豌，而我提出的嫁妝比給萊昂諾·科布瑞那份更豐厚趋箩。這是必要的犧牲，因為她冒著惹怒青銅約恩的風險琼懊，這份婚約將使羅伊斯的所有計劃花為泡影阁簸。親愛的爬早，你的未婚夫是哈羅德·哈頓哼丈，你只需去贏得他那顆幼稚的心……對你來說，這應該是很容易的事筛严∽淼”

“… bastard? For a start, you are the Lord Protector’s bastard, never forget. The Waynwoods are very old and very proud, but not as rich as one might think, as I discovered when I began buying up their debt. Not that Lady Anya would ever sell a son for gold. A ward, however … young Harry’s only a cousin, and the dower that I offered her ladyship was even larger than the one that Lyonel Corbray just collected. It had to be, for her to risk Bronze Yohn’s wroth. This will put all his plans awry. You are promised to Harrold Hardyng, sweetling, provided you can win his boyish heart … which should not be hard, for you.”

“繼承人哈利？”阿蓮試圖回憶米蘭達在山上說的話桨啃，“他剛受封為騎士车胡，還跟某位平民姑娘生了私生女≌振”

“Harry the Heir?” Alayne tried to recall what Myranda had told her about him on the mountain. “He was just knighted. And he has a bastard daughter by some common girl.”

“另一個姑娘肚子也有了他的種匈棘。我向你保證，親愛的析命，哈利是個好小子主卫，柔軟的沙色頭發(fā)逃默，深藍色的眼睛，笑起來還有酒窩簇搅。聽說他非常英勇喲完域。”他以微笑來逗弄她瘩将∫魉埃“親愛的，不管你是否出自私生姿现，這段姻緣將讓谷地每一位貴族少女為之哭泣肠仪，說不定還會引來河間地和河灣地的嫉妒”傅洌”

“And another on the way by a different wench. Harry can be a beguiling one, no doubt. Soft sandy hair, deep blue eyes, and dimples when he smiles. And very gallant, I am told.” He teased her with a smile. “Bastard-born or no, sweetling, when this match is announced you will be the envy of every highborn maiden in the Vale, and a few from the riverlands and the Reach as well.”

“為什么呀藤韵？”阿蓮不明白，“難道哈羅德爵士是……韋伍德伯爵夫人的繼承人熊经？她不是有兒子的嗎泽艘？”

“Why?” Alayne was lost. “Is Ser Harrold … how could he be Lady Waynwood’s heir? Doesn’t she have sons of her own blood?”

“她有三個兒子，”培提爾確認镐依。她聞到他嘴里的酒氣匹涮，還有丁香與豆蔻的味道』笨牵“以及許多女兒和孫子然低。”

“Three,” Petyr allowed. She could smell the wine on his breath, the cloves and nutmeg. “Daughters too, and grandsons.”

“他們都排在哈利之后务唐？我不懂雳攘。”

“Won’t they come before Harry? I don’t understand.”

“你會懂的枫笛，聽著吨灭。”培提爾執(zhí)起她的手刑巧，用指頭輕輕刷她的掌心喧兄。“我們從賈斯皮·艾林公爵說起啊楚，他是瓊恩·艾林的父親吠冤，留下三個子女恭理，其中兩個兒子，一個女兒颜价。長子瓊恩饵较，鷹巢城和爵位給了他；次女亞麗遭赂，嫁給伊利·韋伍德爵士撇他，即當今韋伍德伯爵夫人之叔茄猫。”他扮個鬼臉困肩。“亞麗和伊利锌畸，不挺配的嗎潭枣？賈斯皮·艾林公爵的第三子，羅納·艾林爵士命咐，娶了貝爾摩家的老婆谐岁，但只和新娘子做過一二次便因胃病發(fā)作而奄奄一息，可憐的羅納臨死前窜司，他兒子艾伯特在大廳另一邊降世航揉。你在注意聽嗎，親愛的织咧？”

“You will. Listen.” Petyr took her hand in his own and brushed his finger lightly down the inside of her palm. “Lord Jasper Arryn, begin with him. Jon Arryn’s father. He begot three children, two sons and a daughter. Jon was the eldest, so the Eyrie and the lordship passed to him. His sister Alys wed Ser Elys Waynwood, uncle to the present Lady Waynwood.” He made a wry face. “Elys and Alys, isn’t that precious? Lord Jasper’s younger son, Ser Ronnel Arryn, wed a Belmore girl, but only rang her once or twice before dying of a bad belly. Their son Elbert was being born in one bed even as poor Ronnel was dying in another down the hall. Are you paying close attention, sweetling?”

“我在聽呢漠秋。瓊恩庆锦、亞麗和羅納轧葛，然后羅納死了搂抒∏缶В”

“Yes. There was Jon and Alys and Ronnel, but Ronnel died.”

“很好。后來矩屁，瓊恩·艾林結婚三次爵赵，但頭兩個老婆都沒給他留下子嗣吝秕，所以他外甥艾伯特一直是他的繼承人烁峭。與此同時呢秕铛，伊利卻拼命在亞麗肚子里播種，她幾乎每年生一個孩子棍现，最后給了丈夫八個女兒和一個寶貝的小男孩，也取名為賈斯皮——做母親的則因難產而死镜遣。男孩賈斯皮歷經千辛萬苦方才誕生于世己肮，卻很幽默地在三歲那年被馬兒踢中腦袋……接著天花奪走了他的兩個姐姐谎僻，剩下六個當中最年長的嫁給丹尼斯·艾林爵士寓辱，他是鷹巢城本家的親戚秫筏。你知道，峽谷里到處都有艾林家族的分支航夺，他們個個傲慢瞧不起人——海鷗鎮(zhèn)艾林家除外崔涂，這一支曉得與富商們結合，結果既發(fā)了橫財汛闸，又不引人注目艺骂，終于興旺發(fā)達钳恕。丹尼斯爵士來自于一個更驕傲更潦倒的分支……他在比武場上建立了名聲，長得英俊畸肆，為人豪俠宙址，知禮虔誠抡砂，號稱‘谷地的寵兒’，再加上他冠有神奇的艾林姓氏碴巾，因此韋伍德的長女嫁了他厦瓢。他們的子孫也將是艾林啤月，并成為自艾伯特之后谷地的繼承人。真湊巧浙垫，瘋王要了艾伯特的命夹姥，你知道那個故事吧辙诞？”

“Good. Now, Jon Arryn married thrice, but his first two wives gave him no children, so for long years his nephew Elbert was his heir. Meantime, Elys was plowing Alys quite dutifully, and she was whelping once a year. She gave him nine children, eight girls and one precious little boy, another Jasper, after which she died exhausted. Boy Jasper, inconsiderate of the heroic efforts that had gone into begetting him, got himself kicked in the head by a horse when he was three years old. A pox took two of his sisters soon after, leaving six. The eldest married Ser Denys Arryn, a distant cousin to the Lords of the Eyrie. There are several branches of House Arryn scattered across the Vale, all as proud as they are penurious, save for the Gulltown Arryns, who had the rare good sense to marry merchants. They’re rich, but less than couth, so no one talks about them. Ser Denys hailed from one of the poor, proud branches … but he was also a renowned jouster, handsome and gallant and brimming with courtesy. And he had that magic Arryn name, which made him ideal for the eldest Waynwood girl. Their children would be Arryns, and the next heirs to the Vale should any ill befall Elbert. Well, as it happened, Mad King Aerys befell Elbert. You know that story?”

她知道倘要，“他謀殺了他封拧。”

She did. “The Mad King murdered him.”

“沒錯曹铃，細節(jié)我就不講了捧杉。總之评甜，丹尼斯爵士很快拋下懷孕的妻子前去參戰(zhàn)仔涩，并在鳴鐘之役中陣亡熔脂，由于過度的英勇而死于戰(zhàn)斧之下。人們把消息告訴他老婆旬薯，她便因悲死去适秩，她的嬰兒也死了秽荞。但這些在當時都不成問題，因為瓊恩·艾林娶了個年輕老婆淋样，一個他覺得會很豐饒的老婆趁猴。對此他充滿信心彪见，但你我都知道他從萊莎身上得到的只有死產余指、流產和可憐的乖羅賓跷坝〔褡辏”

“He did indeed. And soon after, Ser Denys left his pregnant Waynwood wife to ride to war. He died during the Battle of the Bells, of an excess of gallantry and an axe. When they told his lady of his death she perished of grief, and her newborn son soon followed. No matter. Jon Arryn had gotten himself a young wife during the war, one he had reason to believe fertile. He was very hopeful, I’m sure, but you and I know that all he ever got from Lysa were stillbirths, miscarriages, and poor Sweetrobin.

“讓我們回頭來考察亞麗和伊利剩下的五個女兒垢粮。次女同樣得過天花蜡吧，留下嚴重的傷疤，因此作了修女元潘；三女為傭兵所誘惑翩概，伊利爵士將其逐出家門袖订，結果她生的野種死于襁褓后洛姑，她加入了靜默姐妹；四女和乳頭島伯爵成婚参咙，卻又終身不孕蕴侧；五女嫁去河間地的布雷肯家族两入，但在途中被灼人部搶了親裹纳；第六女，作為最年輕的女兒敏储，嫁給一名效忠韋伍德家族的地方騎士伐割，生下一子石景，取名哈羅德，隨后去世疏哗》捣睿”他把她的手掌翻過來吗氏，輕輕地吻她的腕部弦讽⊥“所以啰，告訴我锐朴，親愛的——為何叫他繼承人哈利蔼囊？”

“Which brings us back to the five remaining daughters of Elys and Alys. The eldest had been left terribly scarred by the same pox that killed her sisters, so she became a septa. Another was seduced by a sellsword. Ser Elys cast her out, and she joined the silent sisters after her bastard died in infancy. The third wed the Lord of the Paps, but proved barren. The fourth was on her way to the riverlands to marry some Bracken when Burned Men carried her off. That left the youngest, who wed a landed knight sworn to the Waynwoods, gave him a son that she named Harrold, and perished.” He turned her hand over and lightly kissed her wrist. “So tell me, sweetling—why is Harry the Heir?”

她瞪大眼睛畏鼓，“他不是韋伍德伯爵夫人的繼承人云矫，他是勞勃的繼承人让禀！如果勞勃有個三長兩短……”

Her eyes widened. “He is not Lady Waynwood’s heir. He’s Robert’s heir. If Robert were to die …”

培提爾抬起一邊眉毛，“如果勞勃有個三長兩短……唉滔灶，我們可憐又勇敢的乖羅賓是個百病纏身的孩子录平，出什么意外也只是時間問題；如果勞勃有個三長兩短繼承人哈利就成了哈羅德大人动猬，鷹巢城公爵和艾林谷的守護者赁咙。瓊恩·艾林的封臣們永遠不會喜歡我免钻，也不會喜歡咱們成天犯病的勞勃极舔，但他們會追隨少鷹王……等他們在婚禮上齊集之時，你散開棗紅的長發(fā)盯桦，穿著灰白的新娘斗篷拥峦，佩帶冰原狼胸針出現……那樣的話卖子，峽谷騎士們將會紛紛宣誓效忠揪胃，為你贏回北境。這就是我的禮物随闪，親愛的珊莎……哈利铐伴，谷地和臨冬城俏讹。這難道不值得另一個吻嗎泽疆，親愛的殉疼？”

Petyr arched an eyebrow. “When Robert dies. Our poor brave Sweetrobin is such a sickly boy, it is only a matter of time. When Robert dies, Harry the Heir becomes Lord Harrold, Defender of the Vale and Lord of the Eyrie. Jon Arryn’s bannermen will never love me, nor our silly, shaking Robert, but they will love their Young Falcon … and when they come together for his wedding, and you come out with your long auburn hair, clad in a maiden’s cloak of white and grey with a direwolf emblazoned on the back … why, every knight in the Vale will pledge his sword to win you back your birthright. So those are your gifts from me, my sweet Sansa … Harry, the Eyrie, and Winterfell. That’s worth another kiss now, don’t you think?”