EDDARD

45 艾德

Pain is a gift from the gods, Lord Eddard,” Grand Maester Pycelle told him. “It means the bone is knitting, the flesh healing itself. Be thankful.”

“艾德大人，痛覺是天上諸神的恩賜啊，”派席爾大學(xué)士告訴他，“這代表骨頭正在逐漸接合锐膜，傷口也快要痊愈假夺，您該心存感激才是蒸其。”

“I will be thankful when my leg stops throbbing.”

“等何時我腳不痛了暇检，再來感激也不遲款熬∩盍龋”

Pycelle set a stoppered flask on the table by the bed. “The milk of the poppy, for when the pain grows too onerous.”

派席爾把塞上瓶蓋的藥罐放在床邊的桌上∠团＃“這是罌粟花奶翩迈，痛得太厲害的時候喝】梗”

“I sleep too much already.”

“我已經(jīng)睡得太多。”

“Sleep is the great healer.”

“睡眠是最好的醫(yī)生喂链》凳”

“I had hoped that was you.”

“我以為好醫(yī)生是你⊥治ⅲ”

Pycelle smiled wanly. “It is good to see you in such a fierce humor, my lord.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “There was a raven this morning, a letter for the queen from her lord father. I thought you had best know.”

派席爾滿臉倦容地微笑洞坑。“大人蝇率，很高興看到您還這么幽默迟杂。”他靠過來低聲說本慕，“今天早上來了只渡鴉排拷，帶來王后她父親大人的信。我想最好讓您知道锅尘〖嗲猓”

“Dark wings, dark words,” Ned said grimly. “What of it?”

“黑色的翅膀，黑色的消息藤违±烁”奈德陰沉地說：“信上怎么說？”

“Lord Tywin is greatly wroth about the men you sent after Ser Gregor Clegane,” the maester confided. “I feared he would be. You will recall, I said as much in council.”

“泰溫大人對您派人去逮捕格雷果·克里岡一事極為憤概顿乒∫榻郑”大學(xué)士悄聲對他說，“這正好印證我的擔(dān)心璧榄，您應(yīng)該記得特漩，當(dāng)初我在朝廷上也提醒過您∮塘猓”

“Let him be wroth,” Ned said. Every time his leg throbbed, he remembered Jaime Lannister’s smile, and Jory dead in his arms. “Let him write all the letters to the queen he likes. Lord Beric rides beneath the king’s own banner. If Lord Tywin attempts to interfere with the king’s justice, he will have Robert to answer to. The only thing His Grace enjoys more than hunting is making war on lords who defy him.”

“讓他去憤概拾稳。”奈德說腊脱。每當(dāng)他腳傷抽痛访得，他便會想起詹姆·蘭尼斯特的微笑，以及喬里死在他懷中的景況陕凹『芬郑“他愛寫什么給王后是他的事。貝里伯爵打的是國王的旗號杜耙，執(zhí)行的是國王的律法搜骡，要是泰溫大人敢插手干預(yù)，那他就得向勞勃負(fù)責(zé)佑女。如果說這世上還有什么比打獵更能吸引陛下记靡，莫過于率軍討伐違抗命令的臣下了谈竿。”

Pycelle pulled back, his maester’s chain jangling. “As you say. I shall visit again on the morrow.” The old man hurriedly gathered up his things and took his leave. Ned had little doubt that he was bound straight for the royal apartments, to whisper at the queen. I thought you had best know, indeed?.?.?.?as if Cersei had not instructed him to pass along her father’s threats. He hoped his response rattled those perfect teeth of hers. Ned was not near as confident of Robert as he pretended, but there was no reason Cersei need know that.

派席爾抽回身子摸吠，脖子上的鎖鏈吭啷作響空凸。“如您所言寸痢。我明天再來看看呀洲。”老人收拾東西很快離去啼止。奈德想也知道他八成會直奔王家居室道逗，把他的反應(yīng)通報王后。好個“我想最好讓您知道”……說得一副瑟曦沒有特別吩咐他把她父親的恐嚇說出來似的献烦。他希望自己的回答能讓她咬牙切齒滓窍。實際上奈德對勞勃并不如他表面上顯示的那么有信心，但沒必要讓瑟曦知道仿荆。

When Pycelle was gone, Ned called for a cup of honeyed wine. That clouded the mind as well, yet not as badly. He needed to be able to think. A thousand times, he asked himself what Jon Arryn might have done, had he lived long enough to act on what he’d learned. Or perhaps he had acted, and died for it.

派席爾走后贰您，奈德要來一杯摻蜂蜜的酒。這東西喝了同樣會干擾神智拢操，卻沒那么嚴(yán)重锦亦。他必須保持思緒明晰。他問過自己一千遍：假如瓊恩令境。艾林得知真相后沒被人害死杠园，他接下來會采取什么行動？話說回來舔庶，說不定他采取過行動抛蚁，卻因此而喪命。

It was queer how sometimes a child’s innocent eyes can see things that grown men are blind to. Someday, when Sansa was grown, he would have to tell her how she had made it all come clear for him. He’s not the least bit like that old drunken king, she had declared, angry and unknowing, and the simple truth of it had twisted inside him, cold as death. This was the sword that killed Jon Arryn, Ned thought then, and it will kill Robert as well, a slower death but full as certain. Shattered legs may heal in time, but some betrayals fester and poison the soul.

說來奇怪惕橙，有時候孩子無知的眼睛瞧甩，反而能看到成年人視而不見的事實∶逐校總有一天肚逸，等珊莎長大，他一定要告訴她彬坏，她的一句話是如何為他撥開了重重疑云朦促。她在一無所知的情況下，說出“他一點(diǎn)都不像那酒鬼國王”這句氣話栓始，單純的真相頓時在他胸口翻涌务冕，冰冷一如死亡。這就是殺死瓊恩·艾林的那把劍幻赚，當(dāng)時奈德便想禀忆，這把劍同樣也會殺死勞勃臊旭，或許比較慢，但絕對是遲早的事油湖。斷腿終會愈合巍扛，然而某些背叛卻會逐漸腐蝕靈魂。

Littlefinger came calling an hour after the Grand Maester had left, clad in a plum-colored doublet with a mockingbird embroidered on the breast in black thread, and a striped cloak of black and white. “I cannot visit long, my lord,” he announced. “Lady Tanda expects me to lunch with her. No doubt she will roast me a fatted calf. If it’s near as fatted as her daughter, I’m like to rupture and die. And how is your leg?”

國師離開后不到一小時乏德，小指頭身穿胸前用黑線繡有仿聲鳥的李子色外衣，披著黑白相間的條紋披風(fēng)前來造訪吠昭『袄ǎ“大人，我不能久留矢棚，”他進(jìn)門便說郑什，“坦妲伯爵夫人等著我共進(jìn)午餐，想必會特地為我烤只肥牛蒲肋。呵蘑拯，如果那只牛跟她女兒一樣肥，我吃了八成會活活脹死兜粘。您的腳可還好申窘？”

“Inflamed and painful, with an itch that is driving me mad.”

“又痛又癢，快把我逼瘋了孔轴√攴ǎ”

Littlefinger lifted an eyebrow. “In future, try not to let any horses fall on it. I would urge you to heal quickly. The realm grows restive. Varys has heard ominous whispers from the west. Freeriders and sellswords have been flocking to Casterly Rock, and not for the thin pleasure of Lord Tywin’s conversation.”

小指頭抬起一邊眉毛÷酚ィ“從今往后贷洲，沒事別讓馬壓到。我勸你趕緊好起來晋柱，國內(nèi)情勢越來越不安定优构。瓦里斯聽到不少從西邊傳來的壞消息，流浪武士和自由騎手正朝凱巖城蜂擁而去雁竞，他們可不是和泰溫大人聊天去的钦椭。”

“Is there word of the king?” Ned demanded. “Just how long does Robert intend to hunt?”

“國王那邊有消息嗎浓领？”奈德問玉凯，“勞勃到底要打獵到什么時候？”

“Given his preferences, I believe he’d stay in the forest until you and the queen both die of old age,” Lord Petyr replied with a faint smile. “Lacking that, I imagine he’ll return as soon as he’s killed something. They found the white hart, it seems?.?.?.?or rather, what remained of it. Some wolves found it first, and left His Grace scarcely more than a hoof and a horn. Robert was in a fury, until he heard talk of some monstrous boar deeper in the forest. Then nothing would do but he must have it. Prince Joffrey returned this morning, with the Royces, Ser Balon Swann, and some twenty others of the party. The rest are still with the king.”

“若是依他的意联贩，我想他會待在森林里漫仆，等你和王后都老死了才回來±峄希”培提爾淺淺一笑盲厌∈鹫眨“既然這不可能，大概等殺到獵物他就會回來罷吗浩。他們找到了那只白鹿……噢建芙，應(yīng)該說找到了白鹿的殘骸。有些狼捷足先登懂扼，只留給國王陛下一只鹿蹄和一只鹿角禁荸。勞勃?dú)鈮牧耍S后他聽說森林深處有只怪物般的大熊阀湿，這時怎么也攔不住他啦赶熟。喬佛里王子，羅伊斯家的人陷嘴，巴隆·史文映砖，以及其他二十幾號人今早上回來了。其他人陪著國王繼續(xù)打獵灾挨∫赝耍”

“The Hound?” Ned asked, frowning. Of all the Lannister party, Sandor Clegane was the one who concerned him the most, now that Ser Jaime had fled the city to join his father.

“獵狗呢？”奈德皺眉問劳澄。眼下詹姆爵士業(yè)已逃出城去和他父親會師地技，蘭尼斯特家的人里面，就數(shù)桑鐸·克里岡最教他擔(dān)心浴骂。

“Oh, returned with Joffrey, and went straight to the queen.” Littlefinger smiled. “I would have given a hundred silver stags to have been a roach in the rushes when he learned that Lord Beric was off to behead his brother.”

“喔乓土，他跟喬佛里一道回來，他們直接奔王后那兒去了溯警∪に眨”小指頭微笑，“等他知道貝里大人帶兵去殺他老哥的時候梯轻，我寧可花一百枚銀鹿變成草叢里的蟑螂食磕。”

“Even a blind man could see the Hound loathed his brother.”

“就算瞎子也看得出獵狗恨透他哥哥喳挑”蚵祝”

“Ah, but Gregor was his to loathe, not yours to kill. Once Dondarrion lops the summit off our Mountain, the Clegane lands and incomes will pass to Sandor, but I wouldn’t hold my water waiting for his thanks, not that one. And now you must forgive me. Lady Tanda awaits with her fatted calves.”

“是啊，可是格雷果也只有他能恨伊诵，輪不到你殺单绑。待唐德利恩削平魔山的山峰，克里岡家族的領(lǐng)地與稅賦自然會傳給桑鐸曹宴，但別奢望他跟你道謝啦搂橙，絕對不會。抱歉笛坦，我真的該走了区转，坦妲伯爵夫人和她的肥牛還等著我呢苔巨。”

On the way to the door, Lord Petyr spied Grand Maester Malleon’s massive tome on the table and paused to idly flip open the cover. “The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, With Descriptions of Many High Lords and Noble Ladies and Their Children,“ he read. “Now there is tedious reading if ever I saw it. A sleeping potion, my lord?”

還沒到門邊废离，培提爾瞥見桌上那本梅利恩國師的厚重巨著侄泽，便停下來，隨意翻開封面蜻韭〉课玻“《七國主要貴族之世家譜系與歷史（內(nèi)附許多關(guān)于爵爺夫人和他們子女的描述）》，”他念道肖方，“這可真是我見過的最無聊的東西了诀豁。大人，敢情您用這來幫助入眠窥妇？”

For a brief moment Ned considered telling him all of it, but there was something in Littlefinger’s japes that irked him. The man was too clever by half, a mocking smile never far from his lips. “Jon Arryn was studying this volume when he was taken sick,” Ned said in a careful tone, to see how he might respond.

有那么一瞬間，奈德猶豫要不要把實情告訴他娩践，但小指頭的玩笑令他生厭活翩。這家伙老是自以為機(jī)靈，那抹促狹的微笑從來不離唇邊翻伺〔男梗“瓊恩·艾林生病時讀的就是這本書《至耄”奈德謹(jǐn)慎地說拉宗，打算試探對方的反應(yīng)。

And he responded as he always did: with a quip. “In that case,” he said, “death must have come as a blessed relief.” Lord Petyr Baelish bowed and took his leave.

他果然一如既往地耍了個嘴皮子辣辫〉┦拢“若是這樣，”他說急灭，“那死還真算得上解脫姐浮。”語畢培提爾·貝里席伯爵鞠躬離去葬馋。

Eddard Stark allowed himself a curse. Aside from his own retainers, there was scarcely a man in this city he trusted. Littlefinger had concealed Catelyn and helped Ned in his inquiries, yet his haste to save his own skin when Jaime and his swords had come out of the rain still rankled. Varys was worse. For all his protestations of loyalty, the eunuch knew too much and did too little. Grand Maester Pycelle seemed more Cersei’s creature with every passing day, and Ser Barristan was an old man, and rigid. He would tell Ned to do his duty.

艾德·史塔克容許自己咒罵了一句卖鲤。除了自己的手下，城里無人可以信任畴嘶。小指頭雖曾幫忙藏匿凱特琳蛋逾，也協(xié)助奈德明查暗訪，然而當(dāng)詹姆和他手下出現(xiàn)時窗悯，他那幅急于自保的嘴臉区匣，至今依舊歷歷如繪。瓦里斯更糟蟀瞧。他成天強(qiáng)調(diào)自己忠心耿耿沉颂，事實上他知道的太多条摸，真正去做的卻太少。派席爾國師越看越像瑟曦的走狗铸屉，巴利斯坦爵士則年事已高钉蒲，又食古不化，多半會告訴奈德管好份內(nèi)之事即可彻坛。

Time was perilously short. The king would return from his hunt soon, and honor would require Ned to go to him with all he had learned. Vayon Poole had arranged for Sansa and Arya to sail on the Wind Witch out of Braavos, three days hence. They would be back at Winterfell before the harvest. Ned could no longer use his concern for their safety to excuse his delay.

時間異常緊迫顷啼，待國王游獵歸來，出于榮譽(yù)昌屉，奈德非得向他吐露實情不可钙蒙。維揚(yáng)·普爾已經(jīng)安排好珊莎和艾莉亞三天后搭乘布拉佛斯的風(fēng)之巫女號離開，奈德再也無法以她們的安危作為自己拖延的借口间驮。

Yet last night he had dreamt of Rhaegar’s children. Lord Tywin had laid the bodies beneath the Iron Throne, wrapped in the crimson cloaks of his house guard. That was clever of him; the blood did not show so badly against the red cloth. The little princess had been barefoot, still dressed in her bed gown, and the boy?.?.?.?the boy?.?.?.?

然而昨夜他卻夢見了雷加的孩子躬厌。泰溫公爵將尸首用他侍衛(wèi)的紅披風(fēng)裹好，放在鐵王座下竞帽。這么做頗為聰明扛施，因為包著紅布，血跡便不太明顯屹篓。小公主死時光著腳疙渣，身上穿著睡衣，而那男孩……那男孩……堆巧。

Ned could not let that happen again. The realm could not withstand a second mad king, another dance of blood and vengeance. He must find some way to save the children.

奈德絕不能讓類似的事情重演妄荔。王國再不能出現(xiàn)第二個喪心病狂的國王，更經(jīng)不起又一次充滿仇恨的腥風(fēng)血雨谍肤。他得想辦法保護(hù)那幾個孩子啦租。

Robert could be merciful. Ser Barristan was scarcely the only man he had pardoned. Grand Maester Pycelle, Varys the Spider, Lord Balon Greyjoy; each had been counted an enemy to Robert once, and each had been welcomed into friendship and allowed to retain honors and office for a pledge of fealty. So long as a man was brave and honest, Robert would treat him with all the honor and respect due a valiant enemy.

勞勃是很可以表現(xiàn)仁慈的人。巴利斯坦爵士并非他惟一赦免的對象谣沸。派席爾國師刷钢，“八爪蜘蛛”瓦里斯，巴隆·葛雷喬伊……他們個個曾與勞勃為敵乳附，然而一旦宣誓效忠内地，也都能得到友誼的擁抱，保留自己的榮譽(yù)赋除。只要對方表現(xiàn)英勇阱缓，行事正直，勞勃便會將他當(dāng)成勇敢的對手举农，尊敬有加荆针。

This was something else: poison in the dark, a knife thrust to the soul. This he could never forgive, no more than he had forgiven Rhaegar. He will kill them all, Ned realized.

然而這次情況有別：暗中下毒，背后捅刀，這種事他絕對無法原諒航背，就像他始終無法原諒雷加喉悴。我要教他們像龍一樣死得干凈徹底，奈德想起勞勃的話玖媚。

And yet, he knew he could not keep silent. He had a duty to Robert, to the realm, to the shade of Jon Arryn?.?.?.?and to Bran, who surely must have stumbled on some part of the truth. Why else would they have tried to slay him?

即便如此箕肃，他依舊無法保持沉默。他要對勞勃負(fù)責(zé)今魔，更要對整個國家勺像，對死去的瓊恩·艾林……對布蘭負(fù)責(zé)。那孩子肯定是無意之中聽見部分事實错森，否則他們何必殺他滅口吟宦？

Late that afternoon he summoned Tomard, the portly guardsman with the ginger-colored whiskers his children called Fat Tom. With Jory dead and Alyn gone, Fat Tom had command of his household guard. The thought filled Ned with vague disquiet. Tomard was a solid man; affable, loyal, tireless, capable in a limited way, but he was near fifty, and even in his youth he had never been energetic. Perhaps Ned should not have been so quick to send off half his guard, and all his best swords among them.

當(dāng)天傍晚，他把身材粗壯涩维，留著淡黃胡須殃姓，被他的孩子們戲稱為“胖湯姆”的守衛(wèi)托馬德找來。由于喬里已死瓦阐，埃林又出門在外辰狡，胖湯姆便成了他的侍衛(wèi)隊長。想到這奈德覺得些微不安垄分，托馬德是個很可靠的人，待人和藹可親娃磺，忠心耿耿薄湿，不辭辛勞，某些地方還算能干偷卧，但他已年近五十豺瘤，而即使年輕時也算不上精力充沛√睿或許奈德不該這么輕易地送走半數(shù)侍衛(wèi)坐求，那些可都是他手下最精良的戰(zhàn)士。

“I shall require your help,” Ned said when Tomard appeared, looking faintly apprehensive, as he always did when called before his lord. “Take me to the godswood.”

“我需要你幫忙晌梨，”托馬德進(jìn)門時桥嗤，奈德對他說。胖湯姆每當(dāng)被主人傳喚仔蝌，總有些惴惴不安泛领，這回也不例外×簿“扶我去神木林渊鞋。”

“Is that wise, Lord Eddard? With your leg and all?”

“艾德大人，這樣好嗎锡宋？您腳這個樣子……”

“Perhaps not. But necessary.”

“或許不好儡湾，但我必須這么做≈戳”

Tomard summoned Varly. With one arm around each man’s shoulders, Ned managed to descend the steep tower steps and hobble across the bailey. “I want the guard doubled,” he told Fat Tom. “No one enters or leaves the Tower of the Hand without my leave.”

托馬德叫來瓦利徐钠，奈德一手扶一人的肩膀，勉強(qiáng)走下高塔陡峭的樓梯奠滑，跛著腳穿過內(nèi)城丹皱。“將守衛(wèi)班次加倍宋税，”他告訴胖湯姆轧膘《耍“未經(jīng)我允許，任何人不準(zhǔn)進(jìn)出首相塔“邕叮”

Tom blinked. “M’lord, with Alyn and the others away, we are hard-pressed already...”

湯姆眨眨眼×荆“老爺病梢，眼下少了埃林他們，我們的人手很吃緊——”

“It will only be a short while. Lengthen the watches.”

“不用多久辰晕。暫時延長值班時間蛤迎。”

“As you say, m’lord,” Tom answered. “Might I ask why...”

“遵命含友，老爺替裆。”湯姆回答窘问，“我能否詢問——”

“Best not,” Ned answered crisply.

“最好不要辆童。”奈德立時回答惠赫。

The godswood was empty, as it always was here in this citadel of the southron gods. Ned’s leg was screaming as they lowered him to the grass beside the heart tree. “Thank you.” He drew a paper from his sleeve, sealed with the sigil of his House. “Kindly deliver this at once.”

神木林里空無一人把鉴，信仰南方諸神的城堡中，向來如此儿咱。等他們在心樹旁的草地把他放下庭砍，他的腳已經(jīng)痛得撕心裂肺』觳海“謝謝逗威。”他從袖子里取出一張用家徽印章封好的紙岔冀】瘢“麻煩你們立刻把它送去概耻。”

Tomard looked at the name Ned had written on the paper and licked his lips anxiously. “My lord?.?.?.?”

托馬德望見奈德寫在紙上的名字罐呼，不安地舔舔嘴唇鞠柄。“老爺……”

“Do as I bid you, Tom,” Ned said.

“湯姆嫉柴，你照辦就是厌杜。”奈德說计螺。

How long he waited in the quiet of the godswood, he could not say. It was peaceful here. The thick walls shut out the clamor of the castle, and he could hear birds singing, the murmur of crickets, leaves rustling in a gentle wind. The heart tree was an oak, brown and faceless, yet Ned Stark still felt the presence of his gods. His leg did not seem to hurt so much.

他不知自己在神木林的靜謐中等了多久夯尽。這里安詳而寧靜。厚重的圍墻阻隔了城堡里的人馬喧騰登馒，他聽見蟲鳴鳥叫匙握，聽見葉子在風(fēng)中瑟瑟作響。此地的心樹是一棵棕色橡木陈轿，雖然沒有刻臉圈纺，但奈德依舊可以感覺他所信仰的無名諸神的存在。腳也似乎不那么痛了麦射。

She came to him at sunset, as the clouds reddened above the walls and towers. She came alone, as he had bid her. For once she was dressed simply, in leather boots and hunting greens. When she drew back the hood of her brown cloak, he saw the bruise where the king had struck her. The angry plum color had faded to yellow, and the swelling was down, but there was no mistaking it for anything but what it was.

日落時分她才姍姍來臨蛾娶，塔樓高墻上的云朵已經(jīng)披上紅霞。她依約獨(dú)自前來潜秋，難得地衣著樸素蛔琅，只穿了皮靴和綠色獵衣。當(dāng)她掀開棕色斗篷的兜帽峻呛，他看見國王打她的地方揍愁。原本怒放的李子色已經(jīng)褪為黃色，腫也消去杀饵，然而她的遭遇依舊一目了然。

“Why here?” Cersei Lannister asked as she stood over him.

“為什么在這里谬擦？”瑟曦·蘭尼斯特站在他面前切距，高高在上地問。

“So the gods can see.”

“好讓天上諸神作見證惨远∶瘴颍”

She sat beside him on the grass. Her every move was graceful. Her curling blond hair moved in the wind, and her eyes were green as the leaves of summer. It had been a long time since Ned Stark had seen her beauty, but he saw it now. “I know the truth Jon Arryn died for,” he told her.

她在他身畔的草地坐下，一舉一動都優(yōu)雅異常北秽。她蜷曲的金發(fā)在風(fēng)中輕舞葡幸，碧綠雙眸一如盛夏的繁葉。奈德·史塔克已有許久不曾見識她的美貌贺氓，如今又再度喚起蔚叨。“我知道瓊恩·艾林是為什么死的∶锼”他告訴她邢锯。

“Do you?” The queen watched his face, wary as a cat. “Is that why you called me here, Lord Stark? To pose me riddles? Or is it your intent to seize me, as your wife seized my brother?”

“是嗎？”王后審視著他的臉搀别，如靈貓一般小心翼翼丹擎。“史塔克大人歇父，您就為這把我叫來蒂培？跟我猜謎語？還是您想學(xué)尊夫人挾持我弟弟一樣挾持我榜苫？”

“If you truly believed that, you would never have come.” Ned touched her cheek gently. “Has he done this before?”

“你真這樣以為护戳，就不會來了〉サ螅”奈德輕輕碰觸她臉頰灸异。“他以前打過你嗎羔飞？”

“Once or twice.” She shied away from his hand. “Never on the face before. Jaime would have killed him, even if it meant his own life.” Cersei looked at him defiantly. “My brother is worth a hundred of your friend.”

“有一兩次肺樟，”她別過去÷咛剩“但沒打過臉么伯，否則就算是自身難保，詹姆也會跟他拼命卡儒√锶幔”瑟曦神情挑釁地看著他，“我弟弟勝過你朋友一百倍骨望∮脖”

“Your brother?” Ned said. “Or your lover?”

“你弟弟？”奈德說擎鸠，“還是你愛人缀磕？”

“Both.” She did not flinch from the truth. “Since we were children together. And why not? The Targaryens wed brother to sister for three hundred years, to keep the bloodlines pure. And Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We are one person in two bodies. We shared a womb together. He came into this world holding my foot, our old maester said. When he is in me, I feel?.?.?.?whole.” The ghost of a smile flitted over her lips.

“兩者都是×庸猓”面對真相袜蚕，她臉上毫無異色【钗校“我們從小就在一起牲剃。有何不可？坦格利安家三百年來都是兄妹通婚雄可，以保持血統(tǒng)純正凿傅。詹姆和我不只是姐弟缠犀，我們根本是分成兩半的同一個生命，我們共享同一子宮狭归。據(jù)我們家老師傅說夭坪，他托著我的腳方才來到人世。當(dāng)我倆結(jié)合的時候过椎，我才……覺得自己完整室梅。”她的唇上隱約掠過一抹微笑疚宇。

“My son Bran?.?.?.?”

“我兒子布蘭他……亡鼠？”

To her credit, Cersei did not look away. “He saw us. You love your children, do you not?”

瑟曦坦然面對，沒有回避敷待〖浜“他看見我們在一起。你很愛你的孩子榜揖，對不對勾哩？”

Robert had asked him the very same question, the morning of the melee. He gave her the same answer. “With all my heart.”

團(tuán)體比武當(dāng)天早上，勞勃問過他一模一樣的問題举哟。他給了她相同的答案思劳。“我全心全意地愛他們妨猩∏迸眩”

“No less do I love mine.”

“我也是這么愛著自己的孩子『瑁”

Ned thought, If it came to that, the life of some child I did not know, against Robb and Sansa and Arya and Bran and Rickon, what would I do? Even more so, what would Catelyn do, if it were Jon’s life, against the children of her body? He did not know. He prayed he never would.

奈德心想：倘若換成別的小孩威脅到羅柏威兜、珊莎、艾莉亞庐椒、布蘭或瑞肯的生命椒舵，他會怎么做？甚或约谈，倘若瓊恩威脅到她親生孩子的性命笔宿，凱特琳又會怎么辦？他不知道窗宇，他祈禱自己永遠(yuǎn)不要知道。

“All three are Jaime’s,” he said. It was not a question.

“他們?nèi)齻€都是詹姆的孩子特纤【。”他說，這并非提問捧存。

“Thank the gods.”

“感謝天上諸神粪躬〉０埽”

The seed is strong, Jon Arryn had cried on his deathbed, and so it was. All those bastards, all with hair as black as night. Grand Maester Malleon recorded the last mating between stag and lion, some ninety years ago, when Tya Lannister wed Gowen Baratheon, third son of the reigning lord. Their only issue, an unnamed boy described in Malleon’s tome as a large and lusty lad born with a full head of black hair, died in infancy. Thirty years before that a male Lannister had taken a Baratheon maid to wife. She had given him three daughters and a son, each black-haired. No matter how far back Ned searched in the brittle yellowed pages, always he found the gold yielding before the coal.

種性強(qiáng)韌，瓊恩·艾林臨死前如此大喊镰官，事實的確如此提前。每一個私生子的頭發(fā)都漆黑如夜。梅利恩記錄了九十多年前雄鹿和獅子間最后一次結(jié)合泳唠，蒂亞·蘭尼斯特嫁給葛文·拜拉席恩——他在本家排行老三狈网。他們惟一的孩子是個無有名字的早夭男嬰，梅利恩的書中如此描述：“個頭大笨腥，食量佳拓哺，滿頭黑發(fā)〔蹦福”再往前三十年士鸥，一位蘭尼斯特家的男性娶了拜拉席恩家的女孩為妻。她為他生了三個女兒谆级、一個兒子烤礁，全部皆為黑發(fā)。不管奈德在薄脆的泛黃書頁間如何向前追溯肥照，金黃一遇炭黑永遠(yuǎn)只有屈服的份脚仔。

“A dozen years,” Ned said. “How is it that you have had no children by the king?”

“你們結(jié)婚十多年，”奈德道建峭，“怎么會沒有孩子玻侥？”

She lifted her head, defiant. “Your Robert got me with child once,” she said, her voice thick with contempt. “My brother found a woman to cleanse me. He never knew. If truth be told, I can scarcely bear for him to touch me, and I have not let him inside me for years. I know other ways to pleasure him, when he leaves his whores long enough to stagger up to my bedchamber. Whatever we do, the king is usually so drunk that he’s forgotten it all by the next morning.”

她倔傲地抬起頭∫谡簦“你那勞勃讓我懷過一次孕凑兰，”她的口氣充滿輕蔑”咚“我弟弟找了個女人幫我把孩子清理掉姑食。他根本不知道這回事。真要我說茅坛，我完全無法忍受他碰我一根汗毛音半。我們已經(jīng)很多年沒有行房了。他要是稍微遠(yuǎn)離他那些婊子贡蓖，喝完酒還能跌跌撞撞地找到我房間曹鸠，我也有其他方法滿足他。反正不管我們做些什么斥铺，國王通常爛醉如泥彻桃，隔天就忘得一干二凈×乐”

How could they have all been so blind? The truth was there in front of them all the time, written on the children’s faces. Ned felt sick. “I remember Robert as he was the day he took the throne, every inch a king,” he said quietly. “A thousand other women might have loved him with all their hearts. What did he do to make you hate him so?”

他們怎能如此盲目邻眷？事實從頭到尾擺在眼前眠屎，清清楚楚寫在孩子們的臉上，而他們卻視若無睹肆饶。奈德覺得一陣反胃改衩。“我記得勞勃初登王位那天的模樣驯镊，完全是翩翩王者風(fēng)范葫督。”他靜靜地說阿宅，“成千上萬的女人都會全心全意愛他候衍，他到底做了什么，讓你恨成這樣洒放？”

Her eyes burned, green fire in the dusk, like the lioness that was her sigil. “The night of our wedding feast, the first time we shared a bed, he called me by your sister’s name. He was on top of me, in me, stinking of wine, and he whispered Lyanna.”

她的雙眼燃起暮色中的綠火蛉鹿，宛如她家徽的母獅⊥“我們新婚當(dāng)晚妖异，初次同床共枕，他叫的卻是你妹妹的名字领追。他壓在我身上他膳，進(jìn)到我體內(nèi)，渾身酒臭绒窑，他竟然悄悄念著‘萊安娜’棕孙。”

Ned Stark thought of pale blue roses, and for a moment he wanted to weep. “I do not know which of you I pity most.”

奈德·史塔克想起碧藍(lán)的玫瑰些膨，一時間只覺泫然欲泣蟀俊。“我真不知該可憐你還是可憐他订雾≈ぃ”

The queen seemed amused by that. “Save your pity for yourself, Lord Stark. I want none of it.”

王后似乎覺得這話頗為有趣⊥莅ィ“史塔克大人烫映，省省力氣可憐你自己罷。我不需要噩峦《Ч担”

“You know what I must do.”

“你很清楚我必須怎么做∈恫梗”

“Must?” She put her hand on his good leg, just above the knee. “A true man does what he will, not what he must.” Her fingers brushed lightly against his thigh, the gentlest of promises. “The realm needs a strong Hand. Joff will not come of age for years. No one wants war again, least of all me.” Her hand touched his face, his hair. “If friends can turn to enemies, enemies can become friends. Your wife is a thousand leagues away, and my brother has fled. Be kind to me, Ned. I swear to you, you shall never regret it.”

“必須怎么做族淮？”她朝他沒受傷的腳伸出手，擱在剛過膝蓋的地方∏粕福“一個真實的人做他想做的事，而不是他必須做的事导盅〗匣希”她的手指輕輕拂過他的大腿，帶著最溫柔的暗示白翻≌“離小喬成年還有好些年，國家需要一個強(qiáng)有力的首相滤馍。沒人想重啟戰(zhàn)端岛琼，我尤其不想〕仓辏”她的手拂過他的臉龐和頭發(fā)槐瑞，“倘若朋友可以反目成仇，我們?yōu)楹尾荒芑瘮碁橛迅蟀孔鸱蛉诉h(yuǎn)在千里之外困檩，我弟弟也不在城中。奈德那槽，對我好一點(diǎn)悼沿，我發(fā)誓絕不讓你后悔∩Ь模”

“Did you make the same offer to Jon Arryn?”

“你當(dāng)初也是這么向瓊恩·艾林提議嗎糟趾？”

She slapped him.

她甩了他一個耳光。

“I shall wear that as a badge of honor,” Ned said dryly.

“我會把這當(dāng)成榮譽(yù)的獎?wù)律跎义郑！蹦蔚吕淅涞卣f。

“Honor,” she spat. “How dare you play the noble lord with me! What do you take me for? You’ve a bastard of your own, I’ve seen him. Who was the mother, I wonder? Some Dornish peasant you raped while her holdfast burned? A whore? Or was it the grieving sister, the Lady Ashara? She threw herself into the sea, I’m told. Why was that? For the brother you slew, or the child you stole? Tell me, my honorable Lord Eddard, how are you any different from Robert, or me, or Jaime?”

“去你的榮譽(yù)鳖藕，”她啐道魔慷，“少給我道貌岸然！你把我當(dāng)什么了著恩？你自己也有個私生子院尔，我親眼見過。我很好奇他的母親是誰喉誊？是不是哪個家園被你放火燒掉邀摆，隨后被你強(qiáng)奸的多恩農(nóng)家女？還是個婊子伍茄？或者是那個哀傷的妹妹栋盹，亞夏拉小姐？我聽說敷矫，當(dāng)你將拂曉神劍那把‘黎明’送還給她后例获，她便從城墻投海自盡汉额，這到底是什么緣故啊榨汤？是因為被你所殺的哥哥蠕搜，還是被你偷走的孩子？告訴我啊收壕，最講究榮譽(yù)的艾德大人妓灌，你和勞勃，或是我蜜宪，或是詹姆虫埂，究竟有什么差別？”

“For a start,” said Ned, “I do not kill children. You would do well to listen, my lady. I shall say this only once. When the king returns from his hunt, I intend to lay the truth before him. You must be gone by then. You and your children, all three, and not to Casterly Rock. If I were you, I should take ship for the Free Cities, or even farther, to the Summer Isles or the Port of Ibben. As far as the winds blow.”

“別的不說圃验，”奈德說掉伏，“至少我不殺孩子。夫人澳窑，請您聽好岖免，我話只說一遍。等國王打獵歸來照捡，我準(zhǔn)備把事情原原本本地告訴他颅湘。在這之前你一定得走，帶著孩子一起走栗精，三個都帶闯参。不要回凱巖城，如果我是你悲立，我會搭船去自由貿(mào)易城邦鹿寨，或是走得更遠(yuǎn)，到盛夏群島或伊班港薪夕，能跑多遠(yuǎn)就跑多遠(yuǎn)脚草。”

“Exile,” she said. “A bitter cup to drink from.”

“你要我自我放逐原献，”她說馏慨，“這是杯難以下咽的苦酒」糜纾”

“A sweeter cup than your father served Rhaegar’s children,” Ned said, “and kinder than you deserve. Your father and your brothers would do well to go with you. Lord Tywin’s gold will buy you comfort and hire swords to keep you safe. You shall need them. I promise you, no matter where you flee, Robert’s wrath will follow you, to the back of beyond if need be.”

“比起令尊給雷加小孩的那杯写隶，算是好的了，”奈德道讲仰，“也比你原本應(yīng)得的好慕趴。令尊和你弟弟最好也能一起走，泰溫大人的財產(chǎn)足夠讓你們過舒服日子，還可以雇人保你們安全冕房。你會需要的躏啰。我跟你保證，無論你逃得多遠(yuǎn)耙册，勞勃的怒火都會尾隨而至丙唧，追你到天涯海角∶俨＃”

The queen stood. “And what of my wrath, Lord Stark?” she asked softly. Her eyes searched his face. “You should have taken the realm for yourself. It was there for the taking. Jaime told me how you found him on the Iron Throne the day King’s Landing fell, and made him yield it up. That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.”

王后站起來∨嗦“那我的怒火又怎么辦溪厘，史塔克大人？”她輕聲問牌柄，目光在他臉上搜索畸悬。“王位近在咫尺珊佣，你只需伸手便可奪取天下蹋宦。詹姆跟我說過，君臨城陷那天咒锻，你發(fā)現(xiàn)他坐在鐵王座上冷冗，便要求他交出王位。那是你千載難逢的機(jī)會惑艇，你只需爬上階梯蒿辙，坐上王位”醢停可悲啊思灌，可悲的錯誤」。”

“I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine,” Ned said, “but that was not one of them.”

“我這輩子犯過的錯泰偿，超乎你的想像◎诳澹”奈德說耗跛，“然而這卻不是其中之一≡芊ⅲ”

“Oh, but it was, my lord,” Cersei insisted. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”

“噢课兄，大人，這當(dāng)然是晨继，”瑟曦堅持烟阐，“在權(quán)力的游戲之中，你不當(dāng)贏家，就只有死路一條蜒茄，沒有中間地帶唉擂。”

She turned up her hood to hide her swollen face and left him there in the dark beneath the oak, amidst the quiet of the godswood, under a blue-black sky. The stars were coming out.

她拉上兜帽檀葛，遮住浮腫的臉玩祟，快步離開，留下他獨(dú)自坐在橡樹的陰影下屿聋，置身神木林的靜謐之中空扎。頭頂?shù)暮谒{(lán)天空里，星星逐漸出來了润讥。