EDDARD

艾德

?? The summons came in the hour before the dawn, when the world was still and grey.

國王傳喚他時响蓉，天還未亮柴底，世界一片寂靜汗盘，灰蒙蒙的检碗。

?? Alyn shook him roughly from his dreams and Ned stumbled into the predawn chill, groggy from sleep, to find his horse saddled and the king already mounted. Robert wore thick brown gloves and a heavy fur cloak with a hood that covered his ears, and looked for all the world like a bear sitting a horse. “Up, Stark!” he roared. “Up, up! We have matters of state to discuss.”

埃林輕輕地將他自夢中搖醒，奈德睡意未消便踉蹌著跌入曙光未露前的清晨署恍，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的坐騎已經(jīng)鞍轡妥當(dāng)，而國王本人早已騎乘馬上。勞勃戴著棕色厚手套喻喳，身披厚重的套頭毛皮斗篷，看起來活像只騎在馬上的大熊困曙”砺祝“史塔克，起床了慷丽！”他吼道蹦哼，“還不快醒醒，咱們有國家大事要商量哪要糊「傺”

?? “By all means,” Ned said. “Come inside, Your Grace.” Alyn lifted the flap of the tent.

“遵命，”奈德說锄俄，“陛下局劲，請進(jìn)帳∧淘”埃林聞言掀起簾幕鱼填。

?? “No, no, no,” Robert said. His breath steamed with every word. “The camp is full of ears. Besides, I want to ride out and taste this country of yours.” Ser Boros and Ser Meryn waited behind him with a dozen guardsmen, Ned saw. There was nothing to do but rub the sleep from his eyes, dress, and mount up.

“不不不，”勞勃的呼吸在冷氣里蒸騰：“營地里閑雜人等太多毅戈，只怕隔墻有耳苹丸。況且我想出去走走，順便體驗(yàn)一下你的北地風(fēng)光苇经√铬耍”奈德這才瞧見柏洛斯爵士和馬林爵士率領(lǐng)十?dāng)?shù)護(hù)衛(wèi)跟在國王身后∷芰辏看來除了揉揉惺忪睡眼感憾，更衣上馬之外，別無他法了令花。

?? Robert set the pace, driving his huge black destrier hard as Ned galloped along beside him, trying to keep up. He called out a question as they rode, but the wind blew his words away, and the king did not hear him. After that Ned rode in silence. They soon left the kingsroad and took off across rolling plains dark with mist. By then the guard had fallen back a small distance, safely out of earshot, but still Robert would not slow.

勞勃騎著他那匹黑色戰(zhàn)馬一路狂奔阻桅，奈德也只好跟上。他邊騎邊問了一句兼都，但朔風(fēng)吹散了他的話音嫂沉，國王沒有聽見。之后奈德不再發(fā)話扮碧，只靜靜地騎馬趟章。他們旋即離開國王大道杏糙，奔進(jìn)黑霧濃郁的遼闊平原。此時護(hù)衛(wèi)已離他們有段距離蚓土，再聽不見兩人交談宏侍，但勞勃仍未減速。

?? Dawn broke as they crested a low ridge, and finally the king pulled up. By then they were miles south of the main party. Robert was flushed and exhilarated as Ned reined up beside him. “Gods,” he swore, laughing, “it feels good to get out and ride the way a man was meant to ride! I swear, Ned, this creeping along is enough to drive a man mad.” He had never been a patient man, Robert Baratheon. “That damnable wheelhouse, the way it creaks and groans, climbing every bump in the road as if it were a mountain?.?.?.?I promise you, if that wretched thing breaks another axle, I’m going to burn it, and Cersei can walk!”

直到他們登上一道低緩山脊蜀漆，晨曦初露谅河，國王方才慢下腳步，此時他們已在營地南方數(shù)里之遙确丢。奈德跟上勞勃绷耍，只見他滿臉通紅，神采飛揚(yáng)鲜侥」邮迹“媽的，”他笑著咒道描函，“到野外像個男人一樣騎他媽一段可真痛快崎苗！我告訴你，奈德赘阀，那慢吞吞的牛步會把人給逼瘋的益缠∧缘欤”勞勃·拜拉席恩向來不是個有耐性的人基公。“瞧那天殺的輪宮嘰嘰嘎嘎的呻吟模樣宋欺，遇到石子都一副爬山的樣子……那鬼東西敢再給我斷根車軸轰豆，我保證放火燒了它，然后叫瑟曦跟著走路齿诞！”

?? Ned laughed. “I will gladly light the torch for you.”

奈德笑道：“那我很樂意為您點(diǎn)火酸休。”

?? “Good man!” The king clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve half a mind to leave them all behind and just keep going.”

“說得好祷杈！”國王拍拍他肩膀斑司，“我還真想丟下他們，就這樣騎下去呢但汞∷薰危”

?? A smile touched Ned’s lips. “I do believe you mean it.”

一抹笑意浮上奈德嘴角∷嚼伲“我相信您是認(rèn)真的僵缺。”

?? “I do, I do,” the king said. “What do you say, Ned? Just you and me, two vagabond knights on the kingsroad, our swords at our sides and the gods know what in front of us, and maybe a farmer’s daughter or a tavern wench to warm our beds tonight.”

“那當(dāng)然踩叭，那當(dāng)然磕潮〈湟龋”國王道，“奈德自脯，你覺得怎樣之景？就咱兩個游俠騎士仗劍闖江湖，兵來將擋冤今，水來土淹闺兢。晚上便找個農(nóng)夫女兒或是酒店侍女幫咱們溫床∠钒眨”

?? “Would that we could,” Ned said, “but we have duties now, my liege?.?.?.?to the realm, to our children, I to my lady wife and you to your queen. We are not the boys we were.”

“果真如此倒好屋谭，”奈德說，“但是陛下龟糕，如今我們有責(zé)任在身……不只是對整個王國桐磁，更要對我們的子女負(fù)責(zé)，何況我有我的夫人讲岁，您有您的王后我擂，我們已經(jīng)不再是當(dāng)年的年輕小伙了』貉蓿”

?? “You were never the boy you were,” Robert grumbled. “More’s the pity. And yet there was that one time?.?.?.?what was her name, that common girl of yours? Becca? No, she was one of mine, gods love her, black hair and these sweet big eyes, you could drown in them. Yours was?.?.?.? Aleena? No. You told me once. Was it Merryl? You know the one I mean, your bastard’s mother?”

“你小子從來也沒年輕過校摩，”勞勃咕噥，“也罷阶淘。不過有那么一回……你那小妞兒叫什么來著衙吩？蓓卡？不對溪窒，她是我的坤塞，老天保佑她，那頭黑亮秀發(fā)和甜美的大眼睛澈蚌，一不小心就教人難以自拔摹芙。你那個叫……雅莉娜？你跟我提過一次宛瞄，還是叫梅莉兒浮禾？你知道我說的哪一個吧？就你私生子的娘份汗∮纾”

?? “Her name was Wylla,” Ned replied with cool courtesy, “and I would sooner not speak of her.”

“她叫薇拉÷阌埃”奈德有禮卻冷冷說挣轨，“我不想談她⌒桑”

?? “Wylla. Yes.” The king grinned. “She must have been a rare wench if she could make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor, even for an hour. You never told me what she looked like?.?.?.?”

　　“對卷扮，就叫薇拉荡澎。”勞勃嘿嘿直笑晤锹，“能讓艾德·史塔克公爵暫時忘卻榮譽(yù)摩幔，即使只是短短一個小時，她一定不是個簡單的姑娘鞭铆。你倒是一直沒告訴我她生什么模樣……或衡？”

?? Ned’s mouth tightened in anger. “Nor will I. Leave it be, Robert, for the love you say you bear me. I dishonored myself and I dishonored Catelyn, in the sight of gods and men.”

奈德憤怒地抿嘴道：“以后也不會告訴你。勞勃车遂，不要再說了封断，就算是看在我倆的情分上罷。我當(dāng)著諸神和世人的面羞辱了我自己舶担，也羞辱了凱特琳坡疼。”

?? “Gods have mercy, you scarcely knew Catelyn.”

“諸神在上衣陶，你那時根本就沒跟凱特琳見幾次面柄瑰。”

?? “I had taken her to wife. She was carrying my child.”

“我已娶她為妻剪况，她也懷了我的孩子教沾。”

?? “You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants Baelor the Blessed in her bed.” He slapped a hand on his knee. “Well, I’ll not press you if you feel so strong about it, though I swear, at times you’re so prickly you ought to take the hedgehog as your sigil.”

“奈德译断，你律己太嚴(yán)了授翻。你老是這德行，他媽的镐作，不會有女人想跟圣貝勒上床的藏姐÷÷幔”他拍了拍膝蓋该贾，“算了，既然你不想說捌臊，我也不勉強(qiáng)杨蛋。但有時候看你渾身帶刺，我覺得你真該拿刺猬來當(dāng)家徽理澎〕蚜Γ”

?? The rising sun sent fingers of light through the pale white mists of dawn. A wide plain spread out beneath them, bare and brown, its flatness here and there relieved by long, low hummocks. Ned pointed them out to his king. “The barrows of the First Men.”

東升旭日的金黃指頭探進(jìn)清晨的朦朧白霧，一片遼闊原野在兩人眼前展開糠爬，其中除了長而低緩的零星小丘寇荧，盡是片片光禿禿的褐色平地。奈德指給國王看执隧，“這里就是‘先民墳诳眨’户侥。”

?? Robert frowned. “Have we ridden onto a graveyard?”

勞勃皺眉道：“我們騎到墳?zāi)苟牙飦砹藛崧袜停俊?/p>

?? “There are barrows everywhere in the north, Your Grace,” Ned told him. “This land is old.”

“陛下蕊唐，北方遍地都是墳?zāi)拱　烁设！蹦蔚赂嬖V他替梨，“這是塊古老的土地∽昂冢”

?? “And cold,” Robert grumbled, pulling his cloak more tightly around himself. The guard had reined up well behind them, at the bottom of the ridge. “Well, I did not bring you out here to talk of graves or bicker about your bastard. There was a rider in the night, from Lord Varys in King’s Landing. Here.” The king pulled a paper from his belt and handed it to Ned.

“也是個冷死人的地方副瀑。”勞勃拉緊斗篷埋怨道恋谭，隨從在他們后方停韁勒馬俗扇，停在山脊上』穑“也罷铜幽，我把你找到這里可不是來討論墳?zāi)购湍闼缴拥摹Ｗ蛲硗呃锼共舨钊藦木R送了封信來串稀，喏除抛。”國王從腰帶上抽出一張紙遞給奈德母截。

?? Varys the eunuch was the king’s master of whisperers. He served Robert now as he had once served Aerys Targaryen. Ned unrolled the paper with trepidation, thinking of Lysa and her terrible accusation, but the message did not concern Lady Arryn. “What is the source for this information?”

太監(jiān)瓦里斯是國王的情報總管到忽，從前服侍伊里斯·坦格利安，如今改事勞勃清寇。奈德畏懼地打開卷軸喘漏，心里想起萊莎和她那駭人的控訴，所幸內(nèi)容與艾林夫人無關(guān)华烟◆媛酰“這消息的來源是？”

?? “Do you remember Ser Jorah Mormont?”

“你還記得喬拉·莫爾蒙爵士嗎盔夜？”

?? “Would that I might forget him,” Ned said bluntly. The Mormonts of Bear Island were an old house, proud and honorable, but their lands were cold and distant and poor. Ser Jorah had tried to swell the family coffers by selling some poachers to a Tyroshi slaver. As the Mormonts were bannermen to the Starks, his crime had dishonored the north. Ned had made the long journey west to Bear Island, only to find when he arrived that Jorah had taken ship beyond the reach of Ice and the king’s justice. Five years had passed since then.

“我一輩子也忘不了那家伙负饲∪虿希”奈德脫口便道软族。熊島的莫爾蒙家族歷史悠久，驕傲而講究榮譽(yù)肛捍，但他們的領(lǐng)地位置偏遠(yuǎn)椭微，酷寒貧瘠洞坑。喬拉爵士為增加收入，打算把抓到的盜獵者賣給泰洛西的奴隸販子蝇率。由于莫爾蒙是史塔克的封臣迟杂，如此一來等于玷污了整個北方的名聲匈仗。于是奈德千里迢迢西行前往熊島，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)喬拉早已搭船潛逃逢慌，逃到“寒冰”和國王的法律制裁之外的番邦異地去了悠轩。事發(fā)至今一轉(zhuǎn)眼已經(jīng)五年。

?? “Ser Jorah is now in Pentos, anxious to earn a royal pardon that would allow him to return from exile,” Robert explained. “Lord Varys makes good use of him.”

“喬拉爵士現(xiàn)下人在潘托斯攻泼，正焦急地等著王家特赦好渡夯鸺埽回國∶Σぃ”勞勃解釋何鸡，“瓦里斯伯爵妥善運(yùn)用了這個優(yōu)勢∨；叮”

?? “So the slaver has become a spy,” Ned said with distaste. He handed the letter back. “I would rather he become a corpse.”

“人口販子這下又成了間諜骡男？”奈德嫌惡地說，一邊把信件交還傍睹「羰ⅲ“我倒是寧愿他變成一具尸體∈拔龋”

?? “Varys tells me that spies are more useful than corpses,” Robert said. “Jorah aside, what do you make of his report?”

“瓦里斯認(rèn)為間諜比尸體有用得多吮炕，”勞勃道，“不過撇開喬拉不談访得，你對此事有何看法龙亲？”

?? “Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horselord. What of it? Shall we send her a wedding gift?”

“丹妮莉絲嫁給一個多斯拉克馬王，那又如何悍抑？難不成我們該送份結(jié)婚賀禮過去鳄炉？”

?? The king frowned. “A knife, perhaps. A good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.”

國王皺眉：“我看送把刀更好。一把銳利的好刀搜骡，拿在一個有膽量的人手里拂盯。”

?? Ned did not feign surprise; Robert’s hatred of the Targaryens was a madness in him. He remembered the angry words they had exchanged when Tywin Lannister had presented Robert with the corpses of Rhaegar’s wife and children as a token of fealty. Ned had named that murder; Robert called it war. When he had protested that the young prince and princess were no more than babes, his new-made king had replied, “I see no babes. Only dragonspawn.” Not even Jon Arryn had been able to calm that storm. Eddard Stark had ridden out that very day in a cold rage, to fight the last battles of the war alone in the south. It had taken another death to reconcile them; Lyanna’s death, and the grief they had shared over her passing.

奈德沒有故作驚訝浆兰。勞勃對坦格利安家族的恨意幾近瘋狂磕仅，他至今都還記憶猶新珊豹，當(dāng)年泰溫·蘭尼斯特獻(xiàn)上雷加妻兒們的尸體以示效忠時簸呈，兩人所發(fā)生的激烈口角。奈德認(rèn)為這是謀殺店茶，勞勃卻說是戰(zhàn)爭中難免的慘劇蜕便。當(dāng)他辯稱年幼的王子和公主與嬰兒無異時，甫登上王位的勞勃應(yīng)道：“我可沒看到什么嬰兒贩幻，只見到惡龍的孽種轿腺×阶欤”就連瓊恩·艾林也無法平息那場紛爭。艾德·史塔克當(dāng)天便憤然拂袖而去族壳，獨(dú)自領(lǐng)兵前往南方打最后的一場仗憔辫。后來是因?yàn)槿R安娜的死，兩人才言歸于好仿荆。

?? This time, Ned resolved to keep his temper. “Your Grace, the girl is scarcely more than a child. You are no Tywin Lannister, to slaughter innocents.” It was said that Rhaegar’s little girl had cried as they dragged her from beneath her bed to face the swords. The boy had been no more than a babe in arms, yet Lord Tywin’s soldiers had torn him from his mother’s breast and dashed his head against a wall.

但這次奈德沒有發(fā)火贰您。“陛下拢操，她不過是個孩子锦亦，您總不會像泰溫·蘭尼斯特那樣濫殺無辜罷？”據(jù)說他們把雷加的小女兒從床上硬拖出去受死的時候令境，她哭得淚眼汪汪杠园。他的兒子根本只是個襁褓中的嬰兒，但泰溫公爵的手下照樣把他從母親胸膛上扯開來舔庶，一頭撞死在墻上抛蚁。

?? “And how long will this one remain an innocent?” Robert’s mouth grew hard. “This child will soon enough spread her legs and start breeding more dragonspawn to plague me.”

“誰知道她還能天真無邪多久？”勞勃語音漸揚(yáng)惕橙，“這個‘孩子’過不了多久就會張開雙腿篮绿，繁殖一堆惡龍遺毒來找我麻煩了÷榔”

?? “Nonetheless,” Ned said, “the murder of children?.?.?.?it would be vile?.?.?.?unspeakable?.?.?.?”

“話雖如此亲配，”奈德道，“但謀殺孩子卻是很……令人發(fā)指……”

?? “Unspeakable?” the king roared. “What Aerys did to your brother Brandon was unspeakable. The way your lord father died, that was unspeakable. And Rhaegar?.?.?.?how many times do you think he raped your sister? How many hundreds of times?” His voice had grown so loud that his horse whinnied nervously beneath him. The king jerked the reins hard, quieting the animal, and pointed an angry finger at Ned. “I will kill every Targaryen I can get my hands on, until they are as dead as their dragons, and then I will piss on their graves.”

“令人發(fā)指惶凝？”國王一聲怒喝吼虎，“伊里斯對你哥哥布蘭登干的那些事，那才叫令人發(fā)指苍鲜。想想你先父如何慘死思灰，那才叫令人發(fā)指。還有雷加……你覺得他強(qiáng)暴了你妹妹幾次混滔？干了她幾百次洒疚？”他的暴跳使得鞍下坐騎不安地嘶叫起來，國王猛地一扯韁繩坯屿，教馬兒安靜油湖，然后憤怒地指著奈德，“我要親手宰掉每一個坦格利安家的人领跛，斬盡殺絕乏德；我要教他們像龍一樣死得干凈徹底，最后在他們墳上撒尿『袄ǎ”

?? Ned knew better than to defy him when the wrath was on him. If the years had not quenched Robert’s thirst for revenge, no words of his would help. “You can’t get your hands on this one, can you?” he said quietly.

奈德很清楚不能在國王氣頭上頂撞他胧瓜。如果這么多年的時間都無法澆熄他復(fù)仇的烈焰，只怕他的話也起不了什么作用郑什「“你沒法親手宰掉這一個，對吧蘑拯？”他輕聲說劫拢。

?? The king’s mouth twisted in a bitter grimace. “No, gods be cursed. Some pox-ridden Pentoshi cheesemonger had her brother and her walled up on his estate with pointy-hatted eunuchs all around them, and now he’s handed them over to the Dothraki. I should have had them both killed years ago, when it was easy to get at them, but Jon was as bad as you. More fool I, I listened to him.”

國王憤恨地撇撇嘴∏恳龋“是沒辦法舱沧，天殺的。有個操他媽的潘托斯小販把他們兄妹倆藏在圍墻后面偶洋，還派了一堆尖帽子太監(jiān)看守熟吏，這會兒又把他們賣給多斯拉克人。幾年前不容易殺他們的時候玄窝，我早該動手了牵寺，但瓊恩跟你一樣壞心眼。不過我更傻恩脂，我聽了他的話帽氓。”

?? “Jon Arryn was a wise man and a good Hand.”

“瓊恩·艾林是個英明睿智的首相俩块±栊荩”

?? Robert snorted. The anger was leaving him as suddenly as it had come. “This Khal Drogo is said to have a hundred thousand men in his horde. What would Jon say to that?”

勞勃哼了一聲∮窨“傳說這個卓戈卡奧手下有十萬大軍势腮，瓊恩聽了會作何感想？”

?? “He would say that even a million Dothraki are no threat to the realm, so long as they remain on the other side of the narrow sea,” Ned replied calmly. “The barbarians have no ships. They hate and fear the open sea.”

“他會說只要多斯拉克人待在狹海對岸漫仆，即便百萬大軍又有何懼捎拯？”奈德平靜地答道，“那些野蠻人沒有船盲厌，他們對一望無際的汪洋又懼又怕署照。”

?? The king shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. “Perhaps. There are ships to be had in the Free Cities, though. I tell you, Ned, I do not like this marriage. There are still those in the Seven Kingdoms who call me Usurper. Do you forget how many houses fought for Targaryen in the war? They bide their time for now, but give them half a chance, they will murder me in my bed, and my sons with me. If the beggar king crosses with a Dothraki horde at his back, the traitors will join him.”

國王不安地在馬鞍上挪了挪吗浩〗ㄜ剑“或許如此，不過自由貿(mào)易城邦有的是船拓萌。奈德岁钓，我老實(shí)告訴你，我一點(diǎn)也不喜歡這樁婚事微王。到現(xiàn)在王國里還有人叫我‘篡奪者’屡限，你難道忘了當(dāng)年有多少豪門望族起兵為坦格利安家族而戰(zhàn)嗎？他們現(xiàn)在按兵不動炕倘，但要是逮著機(jī)會钧大，等不及要取我和我兒子的性命哪！倘若哪天這乞丐國王帶著多斯拉克大軍渡海而來罩旋，這些叛徒一定會擁護(hù)他啊央。”

?? “He will not cross,” Ned promised. “And if by some mischance he does, we will throw him back into the sea. Once you choose a new Warden of the East...”

“他渡不了海的涨醋」霞ⅲ”奈德保證，“就算他真來了浴骂，我們也能協(xié)力把他趕回去乓土。等你任命好新的東境守護(hù)——”

?? The king groaned. “For the last time, I will not name the Arryn boy Warden. I know the boy is your nephew, but with Targaryens climbing in bed with Dothraki, I would be mad to rest one quarter of the realm on the shoulders of a sickly child.”

國王呻吟道：“我說最后一遍，我不會讓艾林家那小毛頭繼任東境守護(hù)溯警。我知道那孩子是你外甥趣苏，但現(xiàn)在坦格利安家和多斯拉克人上了床，我瘋了才會把統(tǒng)領(lǐng)王國四分之一軍隊的重任交給一個體弱多病的小男孩來扛梯轻∈晨模”

?? Ned was ready for that. “Yet we still must have a Warden of the East. If Robert Arryn will not do, name one of your brothers. Stannis proved himself at the siege of Storm’s End, surely.”

奈德早知他會有此答復(fù)≡簦“但必須有人出來擔(dān)任東境守護(hù)不可彬伦。假如勞勃·艾林不足以勝任，那就讓你的兄弟之一來接手罷伊诵。史坦尼斯在風(fēng)息堡之圍一役中已經(jīng)展現(xiàn)出他的才能媚朦，相信他應(yīng)該沒問題∪崭辏”

?? He let the name hang there for a moment. The king frowned and said nothing. He looked uncomfortable.

他讓史坦尼斯的名字在空氣中懸宕了一會兒询张，國王皺皺眉，沒有答腔浙炼，看起來不太舒服份氧。

?? “That is,” Ned finished quietly, watching, “unless you have already promised the honor to another.”

“當(dāng)然，”奈德輕聲續(xù)道弯屈，靜觀其變蜗帜。“倘若你已把這個職位許給了別人资厉，那就另當(dāng)別論厅缺。”

?? For a moment Robert had the grace to look startled. Just as quickly, the look became annoyance. “What if I have?”

起初勞勃露出吃驚的神色，但隨即轉(zhuǎn)為不悅：“假如真是這樣呢湘捎？”

?? “It’s Jaime Lannister, is it not?”

“詹姆·蘭尼斯特诀豁，對吧？”

?? Robert kicked his horse back into motion and started down the ridge toward the barrows. Ned kept pace with him. The king rode on, eyes straight ahead. “Yes,” he said at last. A single hard word to end the matter.

勞勃一夾馬肚窥妇，朝山瘠下的荒冢馳去舷胜，奈德緊隨在旁。國王徑自騎行活翩，兩眼直視前方烹骨。“對材泄【诨溃”最后他總算開了口，仿佛要用這一個字來結(jié)束議題拉宗。

?? “Kingslayer,” Ned said. The rumors were true, then. He rode on dangerous ground now, he knew. “An able and courageous man, no doubt,” he said carefully, “but his father is Warden of the West, Robert. In time Ser Jaime will succeed to that honor. No one man should hold both East and West.” He left unsaid his real concern; that the appointment would put half the armies of the realm into the hands of Lannisters.

“弒君者峦树。”奈德道簿废。這么說來空入，所有的謠言都屬實(shí)了。他很清楚自己此刻措辭務(wù)必小心謹(jǐn)慎族檬⊥嵊“他有能力，也不缺勇氣单料，這毋庸置疑埋凯。”他小心翼翼地說扫尖，“但是勞勃白对，他父親是世襲的西境守護(hù)，詹姆爵士遲早要繼承父職换怖，東西諸國的大權(quán)不應(yīng)落入同一個人手里甩恼。”他沒把真正想說的話說出來：如此一來王國一半的兵力將會落入蘭尼斯特家族的手中沉颂。

?? “I will fight that battle when the enemy appears on the field,” the king said stubbornly. “At the moment, Lord Tywin looms eternal as Casterly Rock, so I doubt that Jaime will be succeeding anytime soon. Don’t vex me about this, Ned, the stone has been set.”

“等敵人出現(xiàn)了再打也不遲条摸，”國王執(zhí)拗地說，“眼下泰溫公爵好端端地待在凱巖城铸屉，我想詹姆還不至于太快繼承職位钉蒲。奈德，這事兒別跟我爭彻坛，說出去的話顷啼，覆水難收了踏枣。”

?? “Your Grace, may I speak frankly?”

“陛下钙蒙，請恕我直言不諱茵瀑。”

?? “I seem unable to stop you,” Robert grumbled. They rode through tall brown grasses.

“反正我也阻止不了你仪搔●觯”勞勃咕噥著蜻牢。他們騎過棕褐長草烤咧。

?? “Can you trust Jaime Lannister?”

“你真信任詹姆·蘭尼斯特？”

?? “He is my wife’s twin, a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, his life and fortune and honor all bound to mine.”

“他是我老婆的孿生弟弟抢呆，又是發(fā)過誓的御林鐵衛(wèi)煮嫌，他的生死榮辱都維系在我身上”埃”

?? “As they were bound to Aerys Targaryen’s,” Ned pointed out.

“當(dāng)年他的生死榮辱不也全維系在伊里斯·坦格利安身上昌阿？”奈德不客氣地指出。

?? “Why should I mistrust him? He has done everything I have ever asked of him. His sword helped win the throne I sit on.”

“我有什么理由不信任他恳邀？我叫他辦的事他沒有一次讓我失望懦冰，就連我現(xiàn)在的王位都是靠他的寶劍贏來的咧∫シ校”

?? His sword helped taint the throne you sit on, Ned thought, but he did not permit the words to pass his lips. “He swore a vow to protect his king’s life with his own. Then he opened that king’s throat with a sword.”

正是他的寶劍玷污了你的王位啊刷钢，奈德心想，但沒讓自己說出口乳附∧诘兀“他發(fā)誓以性命守護(hù)國王，結(jié)果卻一劍割了國王的喉嚨赋除≮寤海”

?? “Seven hells, someone had to kill Aerys!” Robert said, reining his mount to a sudden halt beside an ancient barrow. “If Jaime hadn’t done it, it would have been left for you or me.”

“媽的，總得有人動手吧举农？”勞勃道荆针，他在一座古老的荒墳邊勒住馬韁“湓悖“要是他沒殺掉伊里斯航背，那么不是你殺就是我殺」鐾＃”

?? “We were not Sworn Brothers of the Kingsguard,” Ned said. The time had come for Robert to hear the whole truth, he decided then and there. “Do you remember the Trident, Your Grace?”

“我們可不是宣誓效死的御林鐵衛(wèi)沃粗。”奈德道键畴，當(dāng)下他決定是該讓勞勃聽聽實(shí)話的時候了最盅⊥谎“陛下，您可還記得三叉戟河之戰(zhàn)涡贱？”

?? “I won my crown there. How should I forget it?”

“我頭上的王冠就是在那兒掙來的咏删，怎么可能忘記？”

?? “You took a wound from Rhaegar,” Ned reminded him. “So when the Targaryen host broke and ran, you gave the pursuit into my hands. The remnants of Rhaegar’s army fled back to King’s Landing. We followed. Aerys was in the Red Keep with several thousand loyalists. I expected to find the gates closed to us.”

“您在和雷加的決斗中負(fù)了傷问词，”奈德提醒他督函，“因此當(dāng)坦格利安軍潰散后，您將追擊的任務(wù)托付于我激挪。雷加的殘兵逃回君臨辰狡，我們尾隨而至。伊里斯和幾千名死士守在紅堡垄分，我本以為城門一定是緊緊關(guān)閉宛篇。”

?? Robert gave an impatient shake of his head. “Instead you found that our men had already taken the city. What of it?”

勞勃不耐煩地?fù)u頭接口：“結(jié)果你發(fā)現(xiàn)我們的人已經(jīng)占領(lǐng)了城堡薄湿，那又如何叫倍？”

?? “Not our men,” Ned said patiently. “Lannister men. The lion of Lannister flew over the ramparts, not the crowned stag. And they had taken the city by treachery.”

“不是我們的人，”奈德耐著性子豺瘤，“是蘭尼斯特家的人吆倦。當(dāng)時城垛上飄揚(yáng)的是蘭尼斯特家族的怒吼雄獅，并非寶冠雄鹿坐求。城池乃是他們靠詭計奪下的蚕泽。”

?? The war had raged for close to a year. Lords great and small had flocked to Robert’s banners; others had remained loyal to Targaryen. The mighty Lannisters of Casterly Rock, the Wardens of the West, had remained aloof from the struggle, ignoring calls to arms from both rebels and royalists. Aerys Targaryen must have thought that his gods had answered his prayers when Lord Tywin Lannister appeared before the gates of King’s Landing with an army twelve thousand strong, professing loyalty. So the mad king had ordered his last mad act. He had opened his city to the lions at the gate.

當(dāng)時戰(zhàn)火已經(jīng)蔓燒將近一年瞻赶，大小貴族紛紛投至勞勃旗下赛糟，也有不少仍舊忠于坦格利安家族。勢力龐大砸逊，世代擔(dān)任西境守護(hù)的凱巖城蘭尼斯特家族璧南，卻始終遠(yuǎn)離戰(zhàn)場，不理會叛黨和保王人士的呼喚师逸。最后司倚，當(dāng)泰溫·蘭尼斯特公爵親率一萬兩千精兵出現(xiàn)在君臨城下，表示勤王意圖時篓像，伊里斯·坦格利安想必以為自己命不該絕罷动知。于是瘋狂的國王下了他最后一道瘋狂的命令，大開城門员辩，引獅入室盒粮。

?? “Treachery was a coin the Targaryens knew well,” Robert said. The anger was building in him again. “Lannister paid them back in kind. It was no less than they deserved. I shall not trouble my sleep over it.”

“坦格利安同樣也與詭計為伍，”勞勃道奠滑，他的怒氣又漸漸升起丹皱《恃ǎ“蘭尼斯特不過是以其人之道，還治其人之身罷了摊崭。天要亡坦格利安讼油，他們死不足惜∧佤ぃ”

?? “You were not there,” Ned said, bitterness in his voice. Troubled sleep was no stranger to him. He had lived his lies for fourteen years, yet they still haunted him at night. “There was no honor in that conquest.”

“你當(dāng)時并不在場矮台，”奈德語帶苦澀。這個謊言已經(jīng)伴隨他十四年根时，至今仍時常在夢中騷擾他瘦赫。“那場仗毫無榮譽(yù)可言啸箫∷时耄”

?? “The Others take your honor!” Robert swore. “What did any Targaryen ever know of honor? Go down into your crypt and ask Lyanna about the dragon’s honor!”

“去你媽的榮譽(yù)伞芹！”勞勃破口大罵忘苛，“坦格利安懂什么狗屁榮譽(yù)？去你老家墓窖里問問萊安娜唱较，問她什么叫惡龍的榮譽(yù)扎唾！”

?? “You avenged Lyanna at the Trident,” Ned said, halting beside the king. Promise me, Ned, she had whispered.

“三叉戟河一役，你已經(jīng)為她報了仇南缓⌒赜觯”奈德在國王身旁停下馬。奈德汉形，答應(yīng)我纸镊，當(dāng)年，她死前如此低語概疆。

?? “That did not bring her back.” Robert looked away, off into the grey distance. “The gods be damned. It was a hollow victory they gave me. A crown?.?.?.?it was the girl I prayed them for. Your sister, safe?.?.?.?and mine again, as she was meant to be. I ask you, Ned, what good is it to wear a crown? The gods mock the prayers of kings and cowherds alike.”

“卻不能讓她起死回生逗威，”勞勃別轉(zhuǎn)頭去，望向灰暗的遠(yuǎn)方岔冀】瘢“諸神都該死，我只求得到你妹妹使套，他們卻硬塞給我一頂狗屁王冠……贏得戰(zhàn)爭又如何罐呼？我只要她平平安安……重回我的懷抱，一切都和原本一樣侦高。奈德嫉柴，我問你，當(dāng)國王有什么好奉呛？管你是國王還是放牛郎计螺，諸神不都一樣嘲弄你么期奔？”

?? “I cannot answer for the gods, Your Grace?.?.?.?only for what I found when I rode into the throne room that day,” Ned said. “Aerys was dead on the floor, drowned in his own blood. His dragon skulls stared down from the walls. Lannister’s men were everywhere. Jaime wore the white cloak of the Kingsguard over his golden armor. I can see him still. Even his sword was gilded. He was seated on the Iron Throne, high above his knights, wearing a helm fashioned in the shape of a lion’s head. How he glittered!”

“陛下，我沒法替神靈回答您的問題……我只知道當(dāng)我騎馬進(jìn)入紅堡大廳時危尿，”奈德道呐萌，“伊里斯倒臥血泊，墻上龍骨冷冷地看著他谊娇。四處都是蘭尼斯特的手下肺孤，詹姆穿著亮金戰(zhàn)甲，外罩御林鐵衛(wèi)的白披風(fēng)济欢，還有金色的寶劍赠堵，那景象直到現(xiàn)在還歷歷在目。他坐在鐵王座上法褥，高聳于眾武士之中茫叭，獅頭面罩下，威風(fēng)凜凜半等，好不意氣風(fēng)發(fā)揍愁！”

?? “This is well known,” the king complained.

“這是眾人皆知的事嘛！”國王抱怨杀饵。

?? “I was still mounted. I rode the length of the hall in silence, between the long rows of dragon skulls. It felt as though they were watching me, somehow. I stopped in front of the throne, looking up at him. His golden sword was across his legs, its edge red with a king’s blood. My men were filling the room behind me. Lannister’s men drew back. I never said a word. I looked at him seated there on the throne, and I waited. At last Jaime laughed and got up. He took off his helm, and he said to me, ‘Have no fear, Stark. I was only keeping it warm for our friend Robert. It’s not a very comfortable seat, I’m afraid.’ ”

“當(dāng)時我人在馬上莽囤，騎進(jìn)正殿，穿過一排排巨龍顱骨切距，我有種感覺朽缎，仿佛他們正看著我。最后我停在王座之前谜悟，抬頭望他话肖。他把黃金寶劍橫陳于大腿之上，國王的血從劍尖不斷滴落葡幸。這時我的人也涌進(jìn)大廳最筒，蘭尼斯特的部隊則不斷后退。我半個字也沒說礼患，只靜靜地盯著他坐在王位上的模樣，耐心等待缅叠。最后他笑著站起來悄泥，摘下頭盔對我說：‘史塔克，可別瞎擔(dān)心喲肤粱，我只是先幫咱們勞勃暖暖位子罷了弹囚。不過這把椅子恐怕坐起來不大舒服哪！’”

?? The king threw back his head and roared. His laughter startled a flight of crows from the tall brown grass. They took to the air in a wild beating of wings. “You think I should mistrust Lannister because he sat on my throne for a few moments?” He shook with laughter again. “Jaime was all of seventeen, Ned. Scarce more than a boy.”

國王仰頭大笑领曼，笑聲驚起棲息在附近棕褐長草叢里的烏鴉群鸥鹉，它們嘎嘎驚叫蛮穿，振翅騰空』偕“只因?yàn)樘m尼斯特那小子在我的王位上坐了幾分鐘践磅，你就叫我別信任他？”他再度放聲狂笑灸异，“得了罷府适，奈德，詹姆當(dāng)年才十七歲肺樟，還是個大孩子檐春。”

?? “Boy or man, he had no right to that throne.”

“不管他是孩子還是成人么伯，都無權(quán)坐上王位疟暖。”

?? “Perhaps he was tired,” Robert suggested. “Killing kings is weary work. Gods know, there’s no place else to rest your ass in that damnable room. And he spoke truly, it is a monstrous uncomfortable chair. In more ways than one.” The king shook his head. “Well, now I know Jaime’s dark sin, and the matter can be forgotten. I am heartily sick of secrets and squabbles and matters of state, Ned. It’s all as tedious as counting coppers. Come, let’s ride, you used to know how. I want to feel the wind in my hair again.” He kicked his horse back into motion galloped up over the barrow, raining earth down behind him.

“或許他累了田柔，”勞勃幫他開脫：“殺國王可不是件輕松差事俐巴，那該死的大廳里又沒別的地方擺屁股。其實(shí)凯楔，他說的一點(diǎn)不錯窜骄，不管從哪方面來看，那都是張既猙獰又不舒服的椅子摆屯。”國王搖搖頭糠亩，“好了虐骑，如今我知道詹姆不為人知的惡行了，以后就忘了此事赎线。奈德廷没，我對管理國政和機(jī)心巧詐實(shí)在反胃透頂，全是些跟數(shù)銅板沒兩樣的無聊事垂寥。來颠黎，咱們來好好騎上一段，你從前可是很會騎馬的滞项，咱們再嘗嘗大風(fēng)在發(fā)梢奔馳的爽勁兒狭归。”說完他再度策馬前驅(qū)文判，揚(yáng)長而去过椎，越過墳冢，馬蹄在身后濺起如雨泥花戏仓。

?? For a moment Ned did not follow. He had run out of words, and he was filled with a vast sense of helplessness. Not for the first time, he wondered what he was doing here and why he had come. He was no Jon Arryn, to curb the wildness of his king and teach him wisdom. Robert would do what he pleased, as he always had, and nothing Ned could say or do would change that. He belonged in Winterfell. He belonged with Catelyn in her grief, and with Bran.

奈德并未立即跟上疚宇。他已經(jīng)費(fèi)盡唇舌亡鼠，此刻只覺得心中充滿無邊的無助感。他不止一次地質(zhì)疑自己到底在做什么敷待，走這一遭又究竟所為何事间涵。他不是瓊恩·艾林，無法約束國王的野性榜揖，教導(dǎo)他以智慧浑厚。勞勃終究會任性而為，一如既往根盒，奈德不論好說歹說都改變不了事實(shí)钳幅。他的歸宿是臨冬城，是哀傷的凱特琳炎滞，是他的愛子布蘭啊敢艰。

?? A man could not always be where he belonged, though. Resigned, Eddard Stark put his boots into his horse and set off after the king.

但凡事畢竟不可能盡如人意。艾德·史塔克心意已決册赛，便一踢馬肚钠导，朝國王奔去。