TYRION

31 提利昂

As he stood in the predawn chill watching Chiggen butcher his horse, Tyrion Lannister chalked up one more debt owed the Starks. Steam rose from inside the carcass when the squat sellsword opened the belly with his skinning knife. His hands moved deftly, with never a wasted cut; the work had to be done quickly, before the stink of blood brought shadowcats down from the heights.

提利昂·蘭尼斯特站在天光未現(xiàn)的清冷曉色里洞就，看著契根宰殺他的坐騎拂蝎，暗暗在心里把史塔克家欠他的債再添上一筆。那傭兵用剝皮的刀割開馬肚惠遏，蒸汽立刻從尸骸里冒出。他兩手并用躺彬，熟練操作乎折，一刀也不浪費(fèi)。這事本當(dāng)迅速完成帝美，以免山上的影子山貓嗅到血腥聞香而來。

“None of us will go hungry tonight,” Bronn said. He was near a shadow himself; bone thin and bone hard, with black eyes and black hair and a stubble of beard.

“今晚咱們都不會(huì)挨餓了晤硕〉刻叮”波隆道。他瘦得像骨頭一樣舞箍，也堅(jiān)毅得像骨頭舰褪，黑眼黑發(fā)，加上短短的胡子疏橄，活像是團(tuán)黑影占拍。

“Some of us may,” Tyrion told him. “I am not fond of eating horse. Particularly my horse.”

“不見得∩悠龋”提利昂告訴他晃酒。“我可對(duì)馬肉沒興趣窄绒，尤其沒興趣吃自己的馬贝次。”

“Meat is meat,” Bronn said with a shrug. “The Dothraki like horse more than beef or pork.”

“反正都是肉彰导，”波隆聳肩道蛔翅，“跟牛肉和豬肉相比，多斯拉克人還更愛馬肉呢位谋∩轿觯”

“Do you take me for a Dothraki?” Tyrion asked sourly. The Dothraki ate horse, in truth; they also left deformed children out for the feral dogs who ran behind their khalasars. Dothraki customs had scant appeal for him.

“你覺得我像多斯拉克人嗎？”提利昂冷冷地說掏父。多斯拉克人吃馬肉是千真萬確的事笋轨，他們還放任畸形兒自生自滅，留給跟在卡拉薩后面的野狗吃。他們的習(xí)俗委實(shí)不怎么吸引他翩腐。

Chiggen sliced a thin strip of bloody meat off the carcass and held it up for inspection. “Want a taste, dwarf?”

契根從馬尸上割下一薄片血淋淋的肉鸟款，舉在半空中仔細(xì)瞧看∶裕“矮個(gè)子，要不要先來一口组哩？”

“My brother Jaime gave me that mare for my twenty-third name day,” Tyrion said in a flat voice.

“這匹母馬是我老哥詹姆送給我的二十三歲命名日禮物等龙。”提利昂用平板的口氣說伶贰。

“Thank him for us, then. If you ever see him again.” Chiggen grinned, showing yellow teeth, and swallowed the raw meat in two bites. “Tastes well bred.”

“那如果你還能活著見到他蛛砰，代我們道聲謝∈蜓茫”契根嘻嘻一笑泥畅，露出滿嘴黃牙，然后兩口就把那塊生肉吞下肚去琅翻∥蝗剩“這馬挺不錯(cuò)》阶担”

“Better if you fry it up with onions,” Bronn put in.

“配洋蔥煎著吃更棒聂抢。”波隆建議棠众。

Wordlessly, Tyrion limped away. The cold had settled deep in his bones, and his legs were so sore he could scarcely walk. Perhaps his dead mare was the lucky one. He had hours more riding ahead of him, followed by a few mouthfuls of food and a short, cold sleep on hard ground, and then another night of the same, and another, and another, and the gods only knew how it would end. “Damn her,” he muttered as he struggled up the road to rejoin his captors, remembering, “damn her and all the Starks.”

提利昂一言不發(fā)琳疏，跛著腳走開。他只覺寒意徹骨闸拿，兩腿酸痛得幾乎無法走動(dòng)空盼。或許他的母馬死了反而幸運(yùn)新荤，因?yàn)樗约哼€有得走咧揽趾。每天晚上吃點(diǎn)東西，在堅(jiān)硬又寒冷的巖地上小睡片刻迟隅，便又上路但骨，如此日復(fù)一日，只有天上諸神知道何時(shí)才是盡頭智袭”疾“去她的，”他喃喃道吼野，一邊掙扎著上坡回到綁架他的人身邊校哎，一邊憶起發(fā)生過的事。“姓史塔克的都該死闷哆⊙埽”

The memory was still bitter. One moment he’d been ordering supper, and an eye blink later he was facing a room of armed men, with Jyck reaching for a sword and the fat innkeep shrieking, “No swords, not here, please, m’lords.”

之前的經(jīng)過，現(xiàn)在回想起來抱怔，依然很不好受劣坊。前一秒他才剛點(diǎn)晚餐，一眨眼全屋子的人卻都拔刀相向屈留，杰克也準(zhǔn)備抽出武器局冰，肥胖的老板娘則尖叫道：“各位大人，求求你們別在這兒動(dòng)刀動(dòng)槍灌危】刀”

Tyrion wrenched down Jyck’s arm hurriedly, before he got them both hacked to pieces. “Where are your courtesies, Jyck? Our good hostess said no swords. Do as she asks.” He forced a smile that must have looked as queasy as it felt. “You’re making a sad mistake, Lady Stark. I had no part in any attack on your son. On my honor...”

提利昂趕在他們兩個(gè)一起被剁成肉塊前抓住杰克的胳膊∮买“杰克沫勿，你的禮貌哪兒去了？咱們好心的老板娘不是說別動(dòng)刀動(dòng)槍嗎味混？還不快照辦产雹。”他勉強(qiáng)擠出一絲微笑惜傲，心想在別人眼里一定難看洽故。“史塔克夫人盗誊，我想您一定是弄錯(cuò)了时甚，我跟貴公子的事一點(diǎn)關(guān)系也沒有骄呼。我以我的榮譽(yù)起誓——”

“Lannister honor,” was all she said. She held up her hands for all the room to see. “His dagger left these scars. The blade he sent to open my son’s throat.”

“蘭尼斯特的榮譽(yù)吕漂±螅”她只說了這句俗慈，便舉起手讓全屋子的人看隘梨〈骼裕“這傷疤是他的匕首留下的究抓。他派人用那把刀來割我兒子的喉嚨屋灌⌒安疲”

Tyrion felt the anger all around him, thick and smoky, fed by the deep cuts in the Stark woman’s hands. “Kill him,” hissed some drunken slattern from the back, and other voices took up the call, faster than he would have believed. Strangers all, friendly enough only a moment ago, and yet now they cried for his blood like hounds on a trail.

提利昂只感覺周遭人眾的怒火上升陕壹，被那史塔克女人手上的傷煽動(dòng)得簡(jiǎn)直要冒煙∈鞑海“宰了他糠馆。”身后一個(gè)喝醉的妓女說怎憋，接著其他人也同聲附和又碌，速度快得使他不敢相信九昧。大家素昧平生，剛才還頗為友善毕匀，如今竟像緊咬不放的嗜血獵犬般要他償命铸鹰。

Tyrion spoke up loudly, trying to keep the quaver from his voice. “If Lady Stark believes I have some crime to answer for, I will go with her and answer for it.”

提利昂提高音量，一邊努力掩飾聲音里的顫抖：“假如史塔克夫人認(rèn)定我要為某些罪行負(fù)責(zé)皂岔，那我很樂意跟她去好好解釋蹋笼。”

It was the only possible course. Trying to cut their way out of this was a sure invitation to an early grave. A good dozen swords had responded to the Stark woman’s plea for help: the Harrenhal man, the three Brackens, a pair of unsavory sellswords who looked as though they’d kill him as soon as spit, and some fool field hands who doubtless had no idea what they were doing. Against that, what did Tyrion have? A dagger at his belt, and two men. Jyck swung a fair enough sword, but Morrec scarcely counted; he was part groom, part cook, part body servant, and no soldier. As for Yoren, whatever his feelings might have been, the black brothers were sworn to take no part in the quarrels of the realm. Yoren would do nothing.

這是惟一的辦法凤薛。試圖殺出重圍無異自掘墳?zāi)剐战āＳ惺畞韨€(gè)人應(yīng)那史塔克女人的請(qǐng)求拔了劍：那名赫倫堡的武士，三個(gè)布雷肯家的人缤苫，還有兩個(gè)一副吐口痰就可以把他干掉模樣的討厭傭兵，以及一群根本不知道自己在做什么的莊稼漢墅拭。提利昂拿什么對(duì)付這些人活玲？杰克的劍使得還不賴，但莫里斯就完全不行谍婉，他身兼馬夫舒憾、廚子和照顧起居的隨從三職，原本就不是打仗的料穗熬。至于尤倫镀迂，無論他自己想法為何，黑衣弟兄可是發(fā)過誓唤蔗，與王國(guó)內(nèi)任何爭(zhēng)執(zhí)都無涉探遵。尤倫只會(huì)袖手旁觀。

And indeed, the black brother stepped aside silently when the old knight by Catelyn Stark’s side said, “Take their weapons,” and the sellsword Bronn stepped forward to pull the sword from Jyck’s fingers and relieve them all of their daggers. “Good,” the old man said as the tension in the common room ebbed palpably, “excellent.” Tyrion recognized the gruff voice; Winterfell’s master-at-arms, shorn of his whiskers.

果不其然妓柜，當(dāng)凱特琳·史塔克身邊的老騎士喝道“沒收他們的武器”時(shí)箱季，黑衣弟兄便靜靜地站到一邊。傭兵波隆走上前來棍掐，從杰克手中拿下劍藏雏，并且搜出他們所有的匕首∽骰停“很好掘殴。”老人說粟誓。房間里的緊張氣氛明顯緩和下來奏寨。“干得不錯(cuò)努酸》”提利昂認(rèn)出那粗硬的聲音，是臨冬城的教頭，只是剃了胡子仍源。

Scarlet-tinged spittle flew from the fat innkeep’s mouth as she begged of Catelyn Stark, “Don’t kill him here!”

胖老板娘向凱特琳·史塔克苦苦哀求心褐，嘴里噴出一串腥紅的唾沫：“別在這兒殺他！”

“Don’t kill him anywhere,” Tyrion urged.

“到哪兒都別殺他笼踩《旱”提利昂提議。

“Take him somewheres else, no blood here, m’lady, I wants no high lordlin’s quarrels.”

“夫人嚎于，要?dú)⒁舱?qǐng)您到別的地方殺掘而，別把我這兒弄得到處是血，我不想惹上官家的麻煩事兒啊于购∨鬯”

“We are taking him back to Winterfell,” she said, and Tyrion thought, Well, perhaps?.?.?.?By then he’d had a moment to glance over the room and get a better idea of the situation. He was not altogether displeased by what he saw. Oh, the Stark woman had been clever, no doubt of it. Force them to make a public affirmation of the oaths sworn her father by the lords they served, and then call on them for succor, and her a woman, yes, that was sweet. Yet her success was not as complete as she might have liked. There were close to fifty in the common room by his rough count. Catelyn Stark’s plea had roused a bare dozen; the others looked confused, or frightened, or sullen. Only two of the Freys had stirred, Tyrion noted, and they’d sat back down quick enough when their captain failed to move. He might have smiled if he’d dared.

“我們要把他帶回臨冬城去±呱”她說斑胜，提利昂聽了心想：要是這樣的話，或許……當(dāng)時(shí)他已趁短暫余暇環(huán)顧四周嫌吠，對(duì)當(dāng)下情形更有掌握止潘。眼前所見不至于讓他絕望。噢辫诅，那史塔克女人反應(yīng)倒是機(jī)敏凭戴，這無庸置疑。她先逼他們公開承認(rèn)自家主子對(duì)她父親的誓約炕矮，然后再請(qǐng)他們拔刀相助么夫，何況她又是區(qū)區(qū)一個(gè)弱女子。沒錯(cuò)吧享，這招厲害魏割。然而她也沒有贏得太徹底。據(jù)他約略估算钢颂，飯廳里將近有五十個(gè)人钞它。凱特琳·史塔克不過說動(dòng)了十來個(gè)，其他人有的困惑殊鞭，有的害怕遭垛，還有的冷漠。提利昂注意到操灿，佛雷家那群人只有兩個(gè)準(zhǔn)備響應(yīng)锯仪，而他們眼看帶頭的沒動(dòng)靜，便又很快坐回去了趾盐。若不是不敢庶喜，否則他還真想偷笑小腊。

“Winterfell it is, then,” he said instead. That was a long ride, as he could well attest, having just ridden it the other way. So many things could happen along the way. “My father will wonder what has become of me,” he added, catching the eye of the swordsman who’d offered to yield up his room. “He’ll pay a handsome reward to any man who brings him word of what happened here today.” Lord Tywin would do no such thing, of course, but Tyrion would make up for it if he won free.

“臨冬城，去就去久窟≈雀裕”他說。這會(huì)是趟漫長(zhǎng)的旅途斥扛，他自己剛從反方向走來入问，有著切身的體會(huì)。誰也說不準(zhǔn)途中會(huì)有什么變數(shù)稀颁》沂В“不過我不告而別，我老爸可能會(huì)擔(dān)心我匾灶，”他補(bǔ)充道棱烂，一邊看著剛才那個(gè)自愿把房間讓給他的流浪劍客〗着“誰把今天發(fā)生的事告訴他垢啼，他定將重重賞賜≌派觯”泰溫公爵當(dāng)然不會(huì)如此，提利昂打算等自己脫身后再想辦法補(bǔ)償锚扎。

Ser Rodrik glanced at his lady, his look worried, as well it might be. “His men come with him,” the old knight announced. “And we’ll thank the rest of you to stay quiet about what you’ve seen here.”

羅德利克爵士憂心忡忡地看看他的女主人吞瞪，這老家伙也沒什么高招〖菘祝“他的人跟他一起走芍秆。”老騎士宣布翠勉，“剛才發(fā)生的事妖啥，還請(qǐng)諸位不要張揚(yáng)《月担”

It was all Tyrion could do not to laugh. Quiet? The old fool. Unless he took the whole inn, the word would begin to spread the instant they were gone. The freerider with the gold coin in his pocket would fly to Casterly Rock like an arrow. If not him, then someone else. Yoren would carry the story south. That fool singer might make a lay of it. The Freys would report back to their lord, and the gods only knew what he might do. Lord Walder Frey might be sworn to Riverrun, but he was a cautious man who had lived a long time by making certain he was always on the winning side. At the very least he would send his birds winging south to King’s Landing, and he might well dare more than that.

提利昂好容易才忍住笑荆虱。不要張揚(yáng)？老糊涂蛋朽们。除非把整間旅店里的人都抓起來怀读，否則前腳剛踏出門，后腳消息就會(huì)散播開去骑脱。那個(gè)口袋里裝了金幣的流浪武士一定會(huì)心急火燎地飛速趕往凱巖城通風(fēng)報(bào)信菜枷，就算他沒去，別人也一定會(huì)去叁丧。尤倫將把消息帶往南方啤誊，而那個(gè)愚蠢的歌手說不定還會(huì)為此寫首歌謠岳瞭。佛雷家的手下會(huì)回報(bào)他們主子，他下一步會(huì)怎么做蚊锹，只有天上諸神知道瞳筏。瓦德·佛雷男爵雖然是奔流城的臣屬，但他活了這么大把年紀(jì)枫耳，靠的就是小心謹(jǐn)慎乏矾，永遠(yuǎn)站在贏家那邊。至少他會(huì)派鳥兒送信息到君臨迁杨，很可能還不只這樣钻心。

Catelyn Stark wasted no time. “We must ride at once. We’ll want fresh mounts, and provisions for the road. You men, know that you have the eternal gratitude of House Stark. If any of you choose to help us guard our captives and get them safe to Winterfell, I promise you shall be well rewarded.” That was all it took; the fools came rushing forward. Tyrion studied their faces; they would indeed be well rewarded, he vowed to himself, but perhaps not quite as they imagined.

凱特琳·史塔克一點(diǎn)時(shí)間也沒浪費(fèi)∏π“我們馬上動(dòng)身捷沸，我們需要精力充足的馬，還有路上必須的糧食狐史。你們幾位痒给，史塔克家族永遠(yuǎn)感激你們。假如你們?cè)敢鈪f(xié)助我們押送犯人前往臨冬城骏全，我保證有重賞苍柏。”那些個(gè)蠢蛋就等這句話姜贡，聽了立刻一擁而上试吁。提利昂一個(gè)接一個(gè)地審視他們的臉龐：你們的確會(huì)得到重賞，他發(fā)誓楼咳，只怕不是你們想像的那種熄捍。

Yet even as they were bundling him outside, saddling the horses in the rain, and tying his hands with a length of coarse rope, Tyrion Lannister was not truly afraid. They would never get him to Winterfell, he would have given odds on that. Riders would be after them within the day, birds would take wing, and surely one of the river lords would want to curry favor with his father enough to take a hand. Tyrion was congratulating himself on his subtlety when someone pulled a hood down over his eyes and lifted him up onto a saddle.

他們立刻來到屋外，冒著雨給馬備鞍母怜。他們用粗繩綁住提利昂的手余耽，他卻不怎么害怕。他敢打賭苹熏，他們絕對(duì)無法把他押回臨冬城碟贾，不出一天，定會(huì)有人騎馬追來柜裸，這有什么好奇怪呢缕陕？鳥兒會(huì)送出訊息，屆時(shí)必有河間地區(qū)的領(lǐng)主插手疙挺，借機(jī)討好他老爸扛邑。提利昂正對(duì)自己的精打細(xì)算感到得意，就被人蓋上兜帽铐然，遮住眼睛蔬崩，放上馬鞍恶座。

They set out through the rain at a hard gallop, and before long Tyrion’s thighs were cramped and aching and his butt throbbed with pain. Even when they were safely away from the inn, and Catelyn Stark slowed them to a trot, it was a miserable pounding journey over rough ground, made worse by his blindness. Every twist and turn put him in danger of falling off his horse. The hood muffled sound, so he could not make out what was being said around him, and the rain soaked through the cloth and made it cling to his face, until even breathing was a struggle. The rope chafed his wrists raw and seemed to grow tighter as the night wore on. I was about to settle down to a warm fire and a roast fowl, and that wretched singer had to open his mouth, he thought mournfully. The wretched singer had come along with them. “There is a great song to be made from this, and I’m the one to make it,” he told Catelyn Stark when he announced his intention of riding with them to see how the “splendid adventure” turned out. Tyrion wondered whether the boy would think the adventure quite so splendid once the Lannister riders caught up with them.

他們快馬加鞭地冒雨出發(fā)，沒過多久提利昂便已兩腿酸疼沥阳，屁股也磨得難受跨琳。雖然安然遠(yuǎn)離旅店之后，凱特琳·史塔克便放慢速度桐罕，但這仍舊是一趟崎嶇難行的艱苦旅程脉让，蒙住眼睛更是雪上加霜。每次轉(zhuǎn)彎他都有墜馬的危險(xiǎn)功炮。透過頭套聽見的聲音很模糊溅潜，所以他不清楚身邊的人在說什么。細(xì)雨浸濕布料薪伏，頭套緊貼臉龐滚澜，后來連呼吸都有困難。粗繩磨破他的手腕嫁怀，隨著夜色漸深设捐，似乎越來越緊。他本來是要好好坐下塘淑，在火爐邊取暖萝招，享用剛烤出來的鳥肉的，只怪那該死的歌手偏偏要張開他的烏鴉嘴存捺，他可憐兮兮地想即寒。這該死的歌手竟然也在隊(duì)伍里≌儇“這件事值得大加傳頌，我當(dāng)然義不容辭啰逸爵【叩危”當(dāng)他宣布和他們一道，好瞧瞧這趟“精彩的冒險(xiǎn)”會(huì)有什么結(jié)果時(shí)师倔，他對(duì)凱特琳·史塔克這么說构韵。提利昂不禁心想：等蘭尼斯特家的騎士追上他們，你小子再來瞧瞧這趟冒險(xiǎn)精不精彩趋艘。

The rain had finally stopped and dawn light was seeping through the wet cloth over his eyes when Catelyn Stark gave the command to dismount. Rough hands pulled him down from his horse, untied his wrists, and yanked the hood off his head. When he saw the narrow stony road, the foothills rising high and wild all around them, and the jagged snowcapped peaks on the distant horizon, all the hope went out of him in a rush. “This is the high road,” he gasped, looking at Lady Stark with accusation. “The eastern road. You said we were riding for Winterfell!”

凱特琳·史塔克下令暫時(shí)休息時(shí)疲恢，雨總算停了，曙光從濕布間的縫隙滲進(jìn)眼簾瓷胧。他被人粗手粗腳地拉下馬显拳，解開腕上的粗繩，拉掉頭罩搓萧。當(dāng)他看見眼前狹窄的石頭路杂数，四周愈見陡峭險(xiǎn)惡的丘陵地勢(shì)宛畦，以及遠(yuǎn)方地平線上呈鋸齒狀的覆雪峰巒，心中一切希望頓時(shí)化為烏有揍移〈魏停“這是上坡路，”他用控訴的神情看著史塔克夫人那伐，失聲道踏施，“是朝東邊的路。你說我們要去臨冬城罕邀！”

Catelyn Stark favored him with the faintest of smiles. “Often and loudly,” she agreed. “No doubt your friends will ride that way when they come after us. I wish them good speed.”

凱特琳·史塔克帶著輕淺的笑意看著他畅形。“說了很多次燃少，而且很大聲束亏。”她同意阵具，“想必你的朋友們會(huì)打那邊追趕我們碍遍。祝他們一路順風(fēng)⊙粢海”

Even now, long days later, the memory filled him with a bitter rage. All his life Tyrion had prided himself on his cunning, the only gift the gods had seen fit to give him, and yet this seven-times-damned she-wolf Catelyn Stark had outwitted him at every turn. The knowledge was more galling than the bare fact of his abduction.

即使過了這么些天怕敬，現(xiàn)在回想起來，他還是惱怒不已帘皿。提利昂這輩子向來以機(jī)敏自豪东跪，因?yàn)槟鞘翘焐现T神賜給他的惟一禮物，沒想到這該死七次的母狼凱特琳·史塔克卻魔高一丈鹰溜，想到自己每一著棋都被她識(shí)破虽填，簡(jiǎn)直比他被綁架這件事還叫他難過。

They stopped only as long as it took to feed and water the horses, and then they were off again. This time Tyrion was spared the hood. After the second night they no longer bound his hands, and once they had gained the heights they scarcely bothered to guard him at all. It seemed they did not fear his escape. And why should they? Up here the land was harsh and wild, and the high road little more than a stony track. If he did run, how far could he hope to go, alone and without provisions? The shadowcats would make a morsel of him, and the clans that dwelt in the mountain fastnesses were brigands and murderers who bowed to no law but the sword.

他們只停下來讓馬兒吃草喝水曹动，便又匆匆上路斋日。這次他們放過了提利昂，沒再給他戴上頭套墓陈，兩天后更松開綁住他雙手的繩子恶守，等進(jìn)入高山區(qū)，更是連派人看守都免了贡必。他們似乎不怕他逃走兔港，有什么好怕的？這里地勢(shì)崎嶇險(xiǎn)惡仔拟，所謂的大道不過是條石頭小徑衫樊。就算他真的脫逃成功，在沒有糧食又只身一人的情況下利花，能跑多遠(yuǎn)橡伞？影子山貓會(huì)拿他當(dāng)點(diǎn)心盒揉，而蟄居山間的氏族部落更是些殺人越貨的法外兇徒，惟有刀劍能叫他們臣服兑徘。

Yet still the Stark woman drove them forward relentlessly. He knew where they were bound. He had known it since the moment they pulled off his hood. These mountains were the domain of House Arryn, and the late Hand’s widow was a Tully, Catelyn Stark’s sister?.?.?.?and no friend to the Lannisters. Tyrion had known the Lady Lysa slightly during her years at King’s Landing, and did not look forward to renewing the acquaintance.

雖然如此刚盈，史塔克家的女人還是無情地催促他們趕路。此行目的地為何挂脑，早在頭套被摘下那一刻藕漱，他便一清二楚。此間山區(qū)是艾林家族的領(lǐng)地崭闲，而前任首相的遺孀也是徒利家人肋联，正是凱特琳·史塔克的妹妹……換言之，對(duì)蘭尼斯特家無甚好感刁俭。在萊莎夫人待在君臨的那些年里橄仍，提利昂跟她算是點(diǎn)頭之交，此時(shí)此刻實(shí)在不想再續(xù)前緣牍戚。

His captors were clustered around a stream a short ways down the high road. The horses had drunk their fill of the icy cold water, and were grazing on clumps of brown grass that grew from clefts in the rock. Jyck and Morrec huddled close, sullen and miserable. Mohor stood over them, leaning on his spear and wearing a rounded iron cap that made him look as if he had a bowl on his head. Nearby, Marillion the singer sat oiling his woodharp, complaining of what the damp was doing to his strings.

綁架他的人們聚集在離山坡不遠(yuǎn)的小溪邊侮繁。馬兒們喝飽了冰冷的山泉，正啃食著從巖縫里長(zhǎng)出的褐色雜草如孝。杰克和莫里斯可憐兮兮地窩在一起宪哩，摩霍爾拄著長(zhǎng)槍站在他們旁邊，頭戴一頂圓形鐵盔第晰，活像扣了個(gè)大碗锁孟。馬瑞里安坐在他身邊，正幫木頭豎琴上油茁瘦，一邊抱怨?jié)駳鈱?duì)琴弦有害品抽。

“We must have some rest, my lady,” the hedge knight Ser Willis Wode was saying to Catelyn Stark as Tyrion approached. He was Lady Whent’s man, stiff-necked and stolid, and the first to rise to aid Catelyn Stark back at the inn.

“夫人，我們真的需要休息甜熔∩０”提利昂走近時(shí)，雇傭騎士維里·渥德正對(duì)凱特琳·史塔克說話纺非。他是河安伯爵夫人的手下，看來一副硬漢模樣赘方，麻木無情烧颖，卻是旅店里頭一個(gè)響應(yīng)凱特琳·史塔克的人。

“Ser Willis speaks truly, my lady,” Ser Rodrik said. “This is the third horse we have lost...”

“夫人窄陡，維里爵士說得對(duì)炕淮，”羅德利克爵士道，“這已經(jīng)是我們損失的第三匹馬了——”

“We will lose more than horses if we’re overtaken by the Lannisters,” she reminded them. Her face was windburnt and gaunt, but it had lost none of its determination.

“如果我們被蘭尼斯特家的手下追上跳夭，損失的可就不只是馬啦涂圆∶蔷担”她提醒他們。她的臉飽經(jīng)風(fēng)吹雨打润歉，面容憔悴模狭，但堅(jiān)毅果決絲毫不減。

“Small chance of that here,” Tyrion put in.

“在這里不太可能踩衩〗鲤模”提利昂插嘴。

“The lady did not ask your views, dwarf,” snapped Kurleket, a great fat oaf with short-cropped hair and a pig’s face. He was one of the Brackens, a man-at-arms in the service of Lord Jonos. Tyrion had made a special effort to learn all their names, so he might thank them later for their tender treatment of him. A Lannister always paid his debts. Kurleket would learn that someday, as would his friends Lharys and Mohor, and the good Ser Willis, and the sellswords Bronn and Chiggen. He planned an especially sharp lesson for Marillion, him of the woodharp and the sweet tenor voice, who was struggling so manfully to rhyme imp with gimp and limp so he could make a song of this outrage.

“侏儒驱富，夫人可沒問你意見锚赤。”庫雷凱特斥道褐鸥。他是個(gè)頭腦簡(jiǎn)單的胖子线脚，一頭短發(fā)，生了張豬臉叫榕，是布雷肯家那幾人之一浑侥，在裘諾斯伯爵手下當(dāng)兵。為了記住這些名字翠霍，提利昂特別下過功夫锭吨，以便將來好好感謝他們的禮遇。蘭尼斯特有債必還寒匙，庫雷凱特總有一天會(huì)知道這句話可不是說著玩的零如，他的朋友拉利斯和摩霍爾，好心的維里爵士锄弱，以及那兩個(gè)傭兵波隆和契根也一樣考蕾。至于馬瑞里安，這個(gè)成天撥弄豎琴会宪，有副甜膩的高嗓音肖卧，正努力地要把“小惡魔”和“腳跛”、“走不動(dòng)”等字押韻掸鹅，好為這件事寫首歌的渾小子塞帐，他打算特別給他點(diǎn)苦頭嘗嘗。

“Let him speak,” Lady Stark commanded.

“讓他說罷巍沙】眩”史塔克夫人下令。

Tyrion Lannister seated himself on a rock. “By now our pursuit is likely racing across the Neck, chasing your lie up the kingsroad?.?.?.?assuming there is a pursuit, which is by no means certain. Oh, no doubt the word has reached my father?.?.?.?but my father does not love me overmuch, and I am not at all sure that he will bother to bestir himself.” It was only half a lie; Lord Tywin Lannister cared not a fig for his deformed son, but he tolerated no slights on the honor of his House. “This is a cruel land, Lady Stark. You’ll find no succor until you reach the Vale, and each mount you lose burdens the others all the more. Worse, you risk losing me. I am small, and not strong, and if I die, then what’s the point?” That was no lie at all; Tyrion did not know how much longer he could endure this pace.

提利昂·蘭尼斯特找了塊石頭坐下句携±菩遥“現(xiàn)在我們的追兵大概已經(jīng)趕到頸澤，按照您撒的謊沿國(guó)王大道一路追過去了……當(dāng)然，這是假設(shè)真的有追兵削咆，事實(shí)上有沒有還不知道牍疏。喔，家父毫無疑問已經(jīng)聽說了消息……但家父對(duì)我不甚疼愛拨齐，所以我說不準(zhǔn)他是否大動(dòng)干戈鳞陨。”這不完全是說謊奏黑，泰溫·蘭尼斯特公爵固然不管他畸形兒子死活炊邦，但他絕對(duì)無法忍受家族榮譽(yù)受損∈焓罚“史塔克夫人馁害，這是個(gè)殘酷的地方，我相信在你們抵達(dá)艾林谷以前都不會(huì)有追兵趕來蹂匹，但您每損失一匹馬碘菜，便是加重其他人的負(fù)擔(dān)。更糟的是限寞，您還有可能連我的命也保不住忍啸。我個(gè)子小，身體又不強(qiáng)壯履植，若是死了计雌，這豈不是白跑一趟？”這句可完全屬實(shí)玫霎，提利昂真不知道如此折磨下去凿滤，他還能撐多久。

“It might be said that your death is the point, Lannister,” Catelyn Stark replied.

“蘭尼斯特庶近，跑這一趟的目的就是要你死翁脆。”凱特琳·史塔克答道鼻种。

“I think not,” Tyrion said. “If you wanted me dead, you had only to say the word, and one of these staunch friends of yours would gladly have given me a red smile.” He looked at Kurleket, but the man was too dim to taste the mockery.

“我不這樣想反番，”提利昂道，“您真要我死叉钥，只消說一聲罢缸，您這群忠心耿耿的朋友立刻會(huì)自告奮勇上來取我性命⊥抖樱”他看看庫雷凱特枫疆，但那家伙智能太低，聽不出其中的譏諷蛾洛。

“The Starks do not murder men in their beds.”

“史塔克家的人不會(huì)乘人之危。”

“Nor do I,” he said. “I tell you again, I had no part in the attempt to kill your son.”

“我也不會(huì)轧膘〕”他說：“我再跟您說一遍，意圖謀害貴公子的事與我毫無瓜葛谎碍×郾酰”

“The assassin was armed with your dagger.”

“刺客手里拿的是你的匕首◇〉恚”

Tyrion felt the heat rise in him. “It was not my dagger,” he insisted. “How many times must I swear to that? Lady Stark, whatever you may believe of me, I am not a stupid man. Only a fool would arm a common footpad with his own blade.”

提利昂胸中的怒火直往上冒拯啦。“那不是我的東西熔任“矗”他強(qiáng)調(diào)，“你到底要我發(fā)多少次誓才肯相信疑苔？史塔克夫人甫匹，無論你信不信，總之我不是笨蛋惦费，把自己的武器交給普通小賊用兵迅，這種事只有笨蛋才干得出來⌒狡叮”

Just for a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes, but what she said was, “Why would Petyr lie to me?”

一時(shí)間他似乎看到懷疑閃過她眼底恍箭，但她卻說：“培提爾為什么要對(duì)我撒謊？”

“Why does a bear shit in the woods?” he demanded. “Because it is his nature. Lying comes as easily as breathing to a man like Littlefinger. You ought to know that, you of all people.”

“狗熊為什么要在森林里拉屎瞧省？”他質(zhì)問扯夭，“那是天性。對(duì)小指頭那種人來說臀突，撒謊跟呼吸一樣自然勉抓。不說別人，你應(yīng)該特別了解才對(duì)候学∨航睿”

She took a step toward him, her face tight. “And what does that mean, Lannister?”

她向他走近一步，繃緊了臉梳码∫“你什么意思，蘭尼斯特掰茶？”

Tyrion cocked his head. “Why, every man at court has heard him tell how he took your maidenhead, my lady.”

提利昂昂頭道：“這個(gè)嘛暇藏，我說夫人，您是怎么被他開苞的濒蒋，這事宮里每個(gè)人都聽他說過哪盐碱“淹茫”

“That is a lie!” Catelyn Stark said.

“根本沒這回事！”凱特琳·史塔克怒道瓮顽。

“Oh, wicked little imp,” Marillion said, shocked.

“哎县好，你這小惡魔真是壞到骨子里去了∨欤”馬瑞里安顯然嚇了一跳缕贡。

Kurleket drew his dirk, a vicious piece of black iron. “At your word, m’lady, I’ll toss his lying tongue at your feet.” His pig eyes were wet with excitement at the prospect.

庫雷凱特抽出他那黑鐵打造的鋒利短刀〖鸩ィ“夫人晾咪，您點(diǎn)個(gè)頭，我就把這家伙的爛舌頭割下來贮配〉耄”一想到割舌頭的情景，他那對(duì)豬眼睛便興奮地睜得老大牧嫉。

Catelyn Stark stared at Tyrion with a coldness on her face such as he had never seen. “Petyr Baelish loved me once. He was only a boy. His passion was a tragedy for all of us, but it was real, and pure, and nothing to be made mock of. He wanted my hand. That is the truth of the matter. You are truly an evil man, Lannister.”

凱特琳·史塔克用一種提利昂從未見過的冷酷神情瞪著他剂跟。“培提爾·貝里席曾經(jīng)愛過我酣藻。當(dāng)時(shí)他還只是個(gè)孩子曹洽。他的愛雖然對(duì)我們彼此都是個(gè)錯(cuò)誤，但卻是千真萬確辽剧、純潔無瑕的小兒女之情送淆，不是拿給你尋開心的。他想牽我的手怕轿、娶我為妻谬擦，這才是事情的真相尿这。蘭尼斯特质涛，你真是個(gè)無可救藥的惡魔皱蹦。”

“And you are truly a fool, Lady Stark. Littlefinger has never loved anyone but Littlefinger, and I promise you that it is not your hand that he boasts of, it’s those ripe breasts of yours, and that sweet mouth, and the heat between your legs.”

“那你就是無可救藥的笨蛋了诀紊，史塔克夫人谒出。小指頭除了他自己，從沒愛過別人邻奠。我敢跟您保證笤喳，他對(duì)我們吹噓的絕不是您那雙纖纖玉手，而是您那對(duì)脹鼓鼓的乳房碌宴，那張嬌艷欲滴的櫻桃小嘴杀狡，還有您兩腿間那團(tuán)熱呼呼的火》×停”

Kurleket grabbed a handful of hair and yanked his head back in a hard jerk, baring his throat. Tyrion felt the cold kiss of steel beneath his chin. “Shall I bleed him, my lady?”

庫雷凱特猛地一把攫住他頭發(fā)呜象，使勁將頭往后一拉膳凝，露出他的喉嚨。提利昂感覺出刀鋒冰冷地吻著下巴恭陡○睿“夫人，要不我給他放點(diǎn)血子姜？”

“Kill me and the truth dies with me,” Tyrion gasped.

“殺了我，真相也就永遠(yuǎn)埋沒楼入「绮叮”提利昂喘息著說。

“Let him talk,” Catelyn Stark commanded.

“讓他說完嘉熊∫Ｗ”凱特琳·史塔克下令。

Kurleket let go of Tyrion’s hair, reluctantly.

庫雷凱特很不情愿地放手阐肤。

Tyrion took a deep breath. “How did Littlefinger tell you I came by this dagger of his? Answer me that.”

提利昂深吸一口氣凫佛。“根據(jù)小指頭的說法孕惜，我是怎么拿到他匕首的愧薛？告訴我∩阑”

“You won it from him in a wager, during the tourney on Prince Joffrey’s name day.”

“你在喬佛里王子命名日那天的比武大會(huì)上毫炉，打賭贏了他∠髡郑”

“When my brother Jaime was unhorsed by the Knight of Flowers, that was his story, no?”

“是在家兄詹姆被百花騎士刺下馬的時(shí)候瞄勾。這就是他的故事，對(duì)不對(duì)弥激？”

“It was,” she admitted. A line creased her brow.

“是的进陡。”她坦承微服。她的眉間閃過一抹疑慮趾疚。

“Riders!”

“騎兵！”

The shriek came from the wind-carved ridge above them. Ser Rodrik had sent Lharys scrambling up the rock face to watch the road while they took their rest.

尖叫聲自上方的風(fēng)蝕山脊間傳來职辨。休息之前盗蟆，羅德利克爵士派拉利斯爬上去守望。

For a long second, no one moved. Catelyn Stark was the first to react. “Ser Rodrik, Ser Willis, to horse,” she shouted. “Get the other mounts behind us. Mohor, guard the prisoners...”

一時(shí)之間大家全愣住了舒裤。凱特琳·史塔克是第一個(gè)采取行動(dòng)的人喳资。“羅德利克爵士腾供，維里爵士仆邓，請(qǐng)你們趕快上馬備戰(zhàn)鲜滩，”她喊道，“把其他馬牽到后面节值。摩霍爾徙硅，你負(fù)責(zé)看守犯人……”

“Arm us!” Tyrion sprang to his feet and seized her by the arm. “You will need every sword.”

“給我們武器！”提利昂一躍起身搞疗，抓住她的手嗓蘑，“多一個(gè)人就多一分力量∧淠耍”

She knew he was right, Tyrion could see it. The mountain clans cared nothing for the enmities of the great houses; they would slaughter Stark and Lannister with equal fervor, as they slaughtered each other. They might spare Catelyn herself; she was still young enough to bear sons. Still, she hesitated.

提利昂看得出她知道他說得對(duì)桩皿，高山氏族部落才不管貴族間的糾葛——不管殺史塔克還是蘭尼斯特家，都會(huì)像自相殘殺一樣毫不留情幢炸。他們或許只會(huì)放過凱特琳泄隔，因?yàn)樗€年輕，可以替他們傳宗接代宛徊。明知如此佛嬉，她仍舊猶豫不決。

“I hear them!” Ser Rodrik called out. Tyrion turned his head to listen, and there it was: hoofbeats, a dozen horses or more, coming nearer. Suddenly everyone was moving, reaching for weapons, running to their mounts.

“我聽見他們了闸天！”羅德利克爵士大喊暖呕。提利昂側(cè)耳傾聽，果然聽到十來匹馬的蹄聲快速逼近苞氮。突然間大家都行動(dòng)起來缰揪，有的抽出武器，有的朝坐騎跑去葱淳。

Pebbles rained down around them as Lharys came springing and sliding down the ridge. He landed breathless in front of Catelyn Stark, an ungainly-looking man with wild tufts of rust-colored hair sticking out from under a conical steel cap. “Twenty men, maybe twenty-five,” he said, breathless. “Milk Snakes or Moon Brothers, by my guess. They must have eyes out, m’lady?.?.?.?hidden watchers?.?.?.?they know we’re here.”

拉利斯連跑帶跳地翻下山脊钝腺，碎石如雨般朝他們?nèi)鰜怼Ｋ蠚獠唤酉職獾靥絼P特琳·史塔克面前赞厕。他生得很丑艳狐，滿頭鐵銹色的亂發(fā)從錐形鋼盔下方爆出∶笊＃“我看到二十個(gè)毫目，可能有二十五個(gè)，”他氣喘吁吁地說诲侮，“我猜是白蛇部或月人部镀虐。夫人，路上一定有斥候……躲起來觀察……他們?cè)绨l(fā)現(xiàn)了我們沟绪」伪悖”

Ser Rodrik Cassel was already ahorse, a longsword in hand. Mohor crouched behind a boulder, both hands on his iron-tipped spear, a dagger between his teeth. “You, singer,” Ser Willis Wode called out. “Help me with this breastplate.” Marillion sat frozen, clutching his woodharp, his face as pale as milk, but Tyrion’s man Morrec bounded quickly to his feet and moved to help the knight with his armor.

羅德利克·凱索爵士已經(jīng)上馬，手握長(zhǎng)劍绽慈。摩霍爾蹲伏在一塊巨石后恨旱，雙手握住他的鐵尖長(zhǎng)矛辈毯，牙間咬著一把短刀∷严停“喂谆沃，唱歌的，”維里·渥德爵士叫道仪芒，“過來幫我穿盔甲唁影。”馬瑞里安僵在原地掂名，抱緊他的木頭豎琴夭咬，臉色像牛奶一般蒼白。結(jié)果是提利昂的仆人莫里斯跳起來铆隘，上前幫騎士穿上護(hù)甲。

Tyrion kept his grip on Catelyn Stark. “You have no choice,” he told her. “Three of us, and a fourth man wasted guarding us?.?.?.?four men can be the difference between life and death up here.”

提利昂抓著凱特琳·史塔克不放南用“蚰疲“你別無選擇，”他告訴她裹虫，“我們有三個(gè)肿嘲，你還得浪費(fèi)第四個(gè)人作看守……眼下，四個(gè)人足以決定全體生死筑公■撸”

“Give me your word that you will put down your swords again after the fight is done.”

“向我保證事后你會(huì)歸還武器∠宦牛”

“My word?” The hoofbeats were louder now. Tyrion grinned crookedly. “Oh, that you have, my lady?.?.?.?on my honor as a Lannister.”

“你要我的保證封救？”馬蹄聲越來越大，提利昂嘻嘻笑道捣作，“唉誉结，那有什么問題，夫人券躁，我以蘭尼斯特的榮譽(yù)為名……向你保證惩坑。”

For a moment he thought she would spit at him, but instead she snapped, “Arm them,” and as quick as that she was pulling away. Ser Rodrik tossed Jyck his sword and scabbard, and wheeled to meet the foe. Morrec helped himself to a bow and quiver, and went to one knee beside the road. He was a better archer than swordsman. And Bronn rode up to offer Tyrion a double-bladed axe.

他原以為她會(huì)朝自己吐口水也拜，結(jié)果她只丟下一句：“把武器給他們以舒，”便快步離開。羅德利克爵士把杰克的武器連劍帶鞘丟還給他慢哈，然后調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭投入戰(zhàn)斗蔓钟。莫里斯自己弄了張弓和一筒箭，單膝跪在路上卵贱。他射箭比用劍在行多了奋刽。波隆則騎馬過來瓦侮，給了提利昂一把雙刃斧。

“I have never fought with an axe.” The weapon felt awkward and unfamiliar in his hands. It had a short haft, a heavy head, a nasty spike on top.

“我沒用過斧頭佣谐《抢簦”武器在手的感覺怪異而陌生。它的握柄很短狭魂，斧刃則極重罚攀，前端還有根嚇人的尖釘。

“Pretend you’re splitting logs,” Bronn said, drawing his longsword from the scabbard across his back. He spat, and trotted off to form up beside Chiggen and Ser Rodrik. Ser Willis mounted up to join them, fumbling with his helmet, a metal pot with a thin slit for his eyes and a long black silk plume.

“就當(dāng)是劈柴雌澄≌梗”波隆邊說邊從背上的鞘里抽出長(zhǎng)劍。他啐了口唾沫镐牺，飛奔至契根和羅德利克爵士旁邊炫掐。維里爵士也上馬加入他們，一邊撥弄著他那頂開了條細(xì)眼縫睬涧，上面插了根黑絲羽毛的金屬鍋形頭盔募胃。

“Logs don’t bleed,” Tyrion said to no one in particular. He felt naked without armor. He looked around for a rock and ran over to where Marillion was hiding. “Move over.”

“木頭可不會(huì)流血∑枧ǎ”提利昂自言自語痹束。沒有盔甲，他覺得自己好像沒穿衣服讶请。他環(huán)顧四周祷嘶，想找塊石頭，最后跑到馬瑞里安躲著的地方夺溢÷畚。“靠過去一點(diǎn)》缦欤”

“Go away!” the boy screamed back at him. “I’m a singer, I want no part of this fight!”

“走開环壤！”男孩朝他尖叫，“我是唱歌的钞诡，打打殺殺跟我無關(guān)郑现！”

“What, lost your taste for adventure?” Tyrion kicked at the youth until he slid over, and not a moment too soon. A heartbeat later, the riders were on them.

“怎么，不想冒險(xiǎn)啦荧降？”提利昂抬腳踢他接箫，直到他不敢拖延，乖乖爬開朵诫。一個(gè)心跳的間隔之后辛友，敵人便騎馬沖過來了。

There were no heralds, no banners, no horns nor drums, only the twang of bowstrings as Morrec and Lharys let fly, and suddenly the clansmen came thundering out of the dawn, lean dark men in boiled leather and mismatched armor, faces hidden behind barred halfhelms. In gloved hands were clutched all manner of weapons: longswords and lances and sharpened scythes, spiked clubs and daggers and heavy iron mauls. At their head rode a big man in a striped shadowskin cloak, armed with a two-handed greatsword.

這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)斗沒有傳令官，沒有旗幟废累，沒有號(hào)角吹響邓梅，也沒有鼓聲隆隆，只聽見莫里斯和拉利斯放箭時(shí)的弓弦砰然聲邑滨，轉(zhuǎn)眼間原住民的鐵蹄便踏破黎明日缨，轟然而至。他們個(gè)個(gè)皮膚黝黑掖看，身形精瘦匣距，穿著硬皮革和搶來的不合身的護(hù)甲，面容隱藏在半罩頭盔里哎壳。他們戴著手套毅待，手里拿著形形色色的武器，有老朽的長(zhǎng)劍归榕、長(zhǎng)槍尸红，磨利的鐮刀，還有狼牙棒刹泄、匕首和重鐵錘外里。騎在最前面的人穿了一件花斑影子山貓皮做成的披風(fēng)，握著一把雙手巨劍循签。

Ser Rodrik shouted “Winterfell!” and rode to meet him, with Bronn and Chiggen beside him, screaming some wordless battle cry. Ser Willis Wode followed, swinging a spiked morningstar around his head. “Harrenhal! Harrenhal!” he sang. Tyrion felt a sudden urge to leap up, brandish his axe, and boom out, “Casterly Rock!” but the insanity passed quickly and he crouched down lower.

羅德利克爵士大喊一聲：“臨冬城萬歲！”然后迎上前去疙咸，波隆和契根也一左一右沖殺出去县匠，嘴里喊著含混不清的口號(hào)。維里爵士跟在后面撒轮，頭上揮舞著一把釘刺流星錘乞旦。“赫倫堡萬歲题山！赫倫堡萬歲兰粉！”他叫道。提利昂突然間也有股沖動(dòng)顶瞳，想跳起來揮動(dòng)斧頭玖姑，然后大叫：“凱巖城萬歲！”但他很快打消了這瘋狂的念頭慨菱，反而蹲得更低焰络。

He heard the screams of frightened horses and the crash of metal on metal. Chiggen’s sword raked across the naked face of a mailed rider, and Bronn plunged through the clansmen like a whirlwind, cutting down foes right and left. Ser Rodrik hammered at the big man in the shadowskin cloak, their horses dancing round each other as they traded blow for blow. Jyck vaulted onto a horse and galloped bareback into the fray. Tyrion saw an arrow sprout from the throat of the man in the shadowskin cloak. When he opened his mouth to scream, only blood came out. By the time he fell, Ser Rodrik was fighting someone else.

他聽見馬兒受驚的尖叫，以及金屬碰撞的聲音符喝。契根的劍削開一個(gè)人的臉闪彼，那人穿了鎧甲，但沒戴頭盔协饲。波隆則像一陣龍卷風(fēng)般沖入敵陣畏腕，左劈右砍缴川，切菜似地掀倒對(duì)手。羅德利克爵士則徑自朝那個(gè)披影子山貓皮披風(fēng)的大漢攻去描馅，兩匹馬相互繞圈把夸，兩人你來我往。杰克跳上一匹馬流昏，連馬鞍都沒用就飛奔進(jìn)亂軍之中扎即。提利昂看見一枝利箭自那披山貓披風(fēng)的人喉頭刺出，他張嘴欲喊况凉，卻只有鮮血涌出谚鄙。等他倒地，羅德利克爵士已找到了新對(duì)手刁绒。

Suddenly Marillion shrieked, covering his head with his woodharp as a horse leapt over their rock. Tyrion scrambled to his feet as the rider turned to come back at them, hefting a spiked maul. Tyrion swung his axe with both hands. The blade caught the charging horse in the throat with a meaty thunk, angling upward, and Tyrion almost lost his grip as the animal screamed and collapsed. He managed to wrench the axe free and lurch clumsily out of the way. Marillion was less fortunate. Horse and rider crashed to the ground in a tangle on top of the singer. Tyrion danced back in while the brigand’s leg was still pinned beneath his fallen mount, and buried the axe in the man’s neck, just above the shoulder blades.

馬瑞里安忽然尖叫起來闷营，拿他的木頭豎琴遮住頭，只見一匹馬自他們躲藏的巖石上方跳過知市。提利昂見狀趕忙起身傻盟，來人調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭，舉起一柄帶刺的大錘嫂丙，回來收拾他們娘赴。提利昂雙手握斧揮出，正砍中沖刺的馬的喉嚨跟啤，錚地發(fā)出結(jié)實(shí)的一聲诽表。馬兒慘叫倒地，提利昂的武器險(xiǎn)些脫手隅肥。他好不容易即時(shí)拔出斧頭竿奏，踉蹌地閃開。馬瑞里安可沒這么好運(yùn)腥放，對(duì)方連人帶馬朝他摔去泛啸，一團(tuán)砸在他身上。趁著這匪徒的腿還被馬壓住秃症，提利昂溜過去補(bǔ)上一斧候址，恰好砍在肩胛骨上方的脖子處。

As he struggled to yank the blade loose, he heard Marillion moaning under the bodies. “Someone help me,” the singer gasped. “Gods have mercy, I’m bleeding.”

正當(dāng)他奮力拔出斧頭种柑，他聽見埋在尸體下面的馬瑞里安發(fā)出的呻吟宗雇。“誰來救救我莹规，”歌手喘著氣說赔蒲，“天上諸神可憐我，我要流血而死了∥枋”

“I believe that’s horse blood,” Tyrion said. The singer’s hand came crawling out from beneath the dead animal, scrabbling in the dirt like a spider with five legs. Tyrion put his heel on the grasping fingers and felt a satisfying crunch. “Close your eyes and pretend you’re dead,” he advised the singer before he hefted the axe and turned away.

“我相信那是馬的血欢际。”提利昂道矾兜。吟游詩人的手從死馬底下伸出來损趋，在泥地里亂摳，活像只五條腳的蜘蛛椅寺。提利昂伸出腳跟狠踩在狂抓的手指上浑槽，聽到一聲令人滿意的喀啦響》蹬粒“閉上眼睛桐玻，假裝你已經(jīng)死了吧【Ｓ”他如此建議歌手镊靴，然后抽出斧頭，轉(zhuǎn)身走開链韭。

After that, things ran together. The dawn was full of shouts and screams and heavy with the scent of blood, and the world had turned to chaos. Arrows hissed past his ear and clattered off the rocks. He saw Bronn unhorsed, fighting with a sword in each hand. Tyrion kept on the fringes of the fight, sliding from rock to rock and darting out of the shadows to hew at the legs of passing horses. He found a wounded clansman and left him dead, helping himself to the man’s halfhelm. It fit too snugly, but Tyrion was glad of any protection at all. Jyck was cut down from behind while he sliced at a man in front of him, and later Tyrion stumbled over Kurleket’s body. The pig face had been smashed in with a mace, but Tyrion recognized the dirk as he plucked it from the man’s dead fingers. He was sliding it through his belt when he heard a woman’s scream.

在那之后偏竟，戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)的情形亂成一團(tuán)。這個(gè)清晨充滿了吶喊和尖叫敞峭，空氣中彌漫著血腥踊谋，世界一片混沌。利箭咻咻飛過他耳際旋讹，在石頭上彈開殖蚕。他看到波隆被打下馬，兩手各持一劍繼續(xù)作戰(zhàn)骗村。提利昂在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)邊緣游走嫌褪，穿梭于巖石間呀枢，偶爾從躲藏的陰影里跳出來砍路過馬匹的腿胚股。他找到一個(gè)負(fù)傷的原住民，了結(jié)了他裙秋，并把他的半罩頭盔拿來穿戴琅拌。頭盔太緊，但只要能提供保護(hù)摘刑，提利昂就很高興进宝。杰克正和面前的敵人纏斗，卻被人從后面捅了一刀枷恕。不一會(huì)兒提利昂又絆在了庫雷凱特的尸體上党晋，那張豬臉被釘頭錘打得稀爛，但提利昂認(rèn)得他手中的短刀，他把它從死人的指間拔出未玻。他正要插進(jìn)腰帶時(shí)灾而，聽到了女人的尖叫。

Catelyn Stark was trapped against the stone face of the mountain with three men around her, one still mounted and the other two on foot. She had a dagger clutched awkwardly in her maimed hands, but her back was to the rock now and they had penned her on three sides. Let them have the bitch, Tyrion thought, and welcome to her, yet somehow he was moving. He caught the first man in the back of the knee before they even knew he was there, and the heavy axehead split flesh and bone like rotten wood. Logs that bleed, Tyrion thought inanely as the second man came for him. Tyrion ducked under his sword, lashed out with the axe, the man reeled backward?.?.?.?and Catelyn Stark stepped up behind him and opened his throat. The horseman remembered an urgent engagement elsewhere and galloped off suddenly.

凱特琳·史塔克被三個(gè)人圍在山壁邊扳剿，其中一個(gè)騎馬旁趟，另外兩個(gè)則是徒步。她受傷的手姿勢(shì)怪異地握著一把匕首庇绽，但她已經(jīng)退到山壁邊緣锡搜，被三面團(tuán)團(tuán)包圍。這婊子就給他們吧瞧掺，提利昂心想耕餐，愛怎么搞隨他們?nèi)ィ恢趺纯涿耍麉s采取了行動(dòng)蛾方。他在對(duì)方發(fā)覺之前砍中一個(gè)人的膝蓋后方，沉重的斧刃劈開血肉和骨頭上陕，好像劈的不過是腐朽的爛木桩砰。會(huì)流血的木頭，提利昂心不在焉地想释簿，接著第二個(gè)人朝他攻來亚隅。提利昂彎身躲開他的劍，揮出斧頭庶溶，那人連忙后退……結(jié)果凱特琳·史塔克剛好走到他背后煮纵，割了他喉嚨。騎馬那人似乎想起別處有更重要的戰(zhàn)斗偏螺，突然就快速跑開了行疏。

Tyrion looked around. The enemy were all vanquished or vanished. Somehow the fighting had ended when he wasn’t looking. Dying horses and wounded men lay all around, screaming or moaning. To his vast astonishment, he was not one of them. He opened his fingers and let the axe thunk to the ground. His hands were sticky with blood. He could have sworn they had been fighting for half a day, but the sun seemed scarcely to have moved at all.

提利昂環(huán)顧四周，敵人不是被殺便是逃走套像，總之戰(zhàn)斗在他沒注意到的時(shí)候已經(jīng)結(jié)束酿联。遍地都是瀕死的馬和負(fù)傷的人，發(fā)出慘叫和呻吟夺巩。最令他驚訝的是自己竟安然無恙贞让。他松開手指，斧頭鏘一聲落在地上柳譬，忽然發(fā)現(xiàn)自己滿手是血喳张。他相信他們起碼打了半天之久，但太陽卻紋絲未動(dòng)美澳。

“Your first battle?” Bronn asked later as he bent over Jyck’s body, pulling off his boots. They were good boots, as befit one of Lord Tywin’s men; heavy leather, oiled and supple, much finer than what Bronn was wearing.

“第一次上戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)销部？”過了一會(huì)兒摸航，波隆站在杰克的尸體上一邊彎身脫靴子，一邊問舅桩。那是雙好靴子忙厌，厚實(shí)的皮革，上過油江咳，柔軟異常逢净，正配泰溫公爵手下的身份，比起波隆穿的要好太多了歼指。

Tyrion nodded. “My father will be so proud,” he said. His legs were cramping so badly he could scarcely stand. Odd, he had never once noticed the pain during the battle.

提利昂點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭爹土。“我老爸應(yīng)該會(huì)驕傲踩身≌鸵穑”他說。他的腳抽筋得厲害挟阻，幾乎無法站立琼娘。奇怪，剛才打斗時(shí)卻一點(diǎn)不覺得疼附鸽。

“You need a woman now,” Bronn said with a glint in his black eyes. He shoved the boots into his saddlebag. “Nothing like a woman after a man’s been blooded, take my word.”

“你需要找個(gè)女人脱拼，”波隆眨著黑眼睛，順手將靴子扔進(jìn)自己的馬鞍袋坷备∠ㄅǎ“相信我，流過血之后省撑，找個(gè)女人最來勁赌蔑。”

Chiggen stopped looting the corpses of the brigands long enough to snort and lick his lips.

聽見這話竟秫，契根停下對(duì)土匪尸體的搜刮娃惯，哼了一聲，舔舔舌頭肥败。

Tyrion glanced over to where Lady Stark was dressing Ser Rodrik’s wounds. “I’m willing if she is,” he said. The freeriders broke into laughter, and Tyrion grinned and thought, There’s a start.

提利昂瞄了一眼正幫羅德利克爵士包扎的史塔克夫人趾浅。“她說好我就上拙吉〕蹦酰”他說揪荣。兩個(gè)流浪武士聽了哈哈大笑筷黔，提利昂一邊跟著樂一邊想：這是個(gè)好的開始。

Afterward he knelt by the stream and washed the blood off his face in water cold as ice. As he limped back to the others, he glanced again at the slain. The dead clansmen were thin, ragged men, their horses scrawny and undersized, with every rib showing. What weapons Bronn and Chiggen had left them were none too impressive. Mauls, clubs, a scythe?.?.?.?He remembered the big man in the shadowskin cloak who had dueled Ser Rodrik with a two-handed greatsword, but when he found his corpse sprawled on the stony ground, the man was not so big after all, the cloak was gone, and Tyrion saw that the blade was badly notched, its cheap steel spotted with rust. Small wonder the clansmen had left nine bodies on the ground.

隨后他跪在溪邊仗颈，用冰冷刺骨的溪水洗去臉上血跡佛舱。他瘸著腿走回去時(shí)椎例，又看了看地上的死人。戰(zhàn)死的原住民都是些衣衫襤褸请祖、瘦骨嶙峋的家伙订歪，他們的坐騎也是又瘦又小，根根肋骨清楚可見肆捕。波隆和契根挑剩下的武器都不怎么起眼刷晋，大錘、棍棒慎陵，還有一把鐮刀……他想起那個(gè)穿了影子山貓皮披風(fēng)眼虱、拿雙手巨劍和羅德利克爵士對(duì)打的大漢，但當(dāng)他看到那人四肢伸展躺在石地上的尸首時(shí)席纽，他看起來一點(diǎn)也不高大捏悬。他的披風(fēng)沒了蹤影，提利昂發(fā)現(xiàn)他的劍鋒早就布滿缺口润梯，廉價(jià)鋼鐵銹得厲害过牙。難怪原住民倒下九個(gè)。

They had only three dead; two of Lord Bracken’s men-at-arms, Kurleket and Mohor, and his own man Jyck, who had made such a bold show with his bareback charge. A fool to the end, Tyrion thought.

他們這邊只死了三人：兩個(gè)布雷肯伯爵的手下——庫雷凱特和摩霍爾纺铭，還有他自己的護(hù)衛(wèi)杰克寇钉，他奮不顧身的沖鋒充分顯示了他的愚勇。到死都還是傻子一個(gè)舶赔，提利昂心想摧莽。

“Lady Stark, I urge you to press on, with all haste,” Ser Willis Wode said, his eyes scanning the ridgetops warily through the slit in his helm. “We drove them off for the moment, but they will not have gone far.”

“史塔克夫人，我請(qǐng)求您立刻動(dòng)身顿痪，加緊趕路镊辕。”維里·渥德爵士道蚁袭，他透過頭盔上那道細(xì)縫征懈，小心翼翼地掃視著附近山脊】模“我們雖然暫時(shí)趕跑了他們卖哎，但他們不會(huì)走遠(yuǎn)∩拘裕”

“We must bury our dead, Ser Willis,” she said. “These were brave men. I will not leave them to the crows and shadowcats.”

“維里爵士亏娜，我們應(yīng)該先安葬死者〉磐Γ”她說维贺，“他們英勇殉難，我不能把他們留在這里給烏鴉和山貓?jiān)闾０桶铩溯泣！?/p>

“This soil is too stony for digging,” Ser Willis said.

“這里土地多石虐秋，沒法挖的±伲”維里爵士道客给。

“Then we shall gather stones for cairns.”

“那我們就搬石頭堆石冢≈荆”

“Gather all the stones you want,” Bronn told her, “but do it without me or Chiggen. I’ve better things to do than pile rocks on dead men?.?.?.?breathing, for one.” He looked over the rest of the survivors. “Any of you who hope to be alive come nightfall, ride with us.”

“要怎么搬隨你便靶剑，”波隆告訴她，“但我和契根可不干池充。比起在死人身上堆石頭抬虽，我還有更要緊的事情……比如呼吸∽菥”他環(huán)視其余的生還者阐污。“你們要是還想活過今晚咱圆，就跟我們走笛辟。”

“My lady, I fear he speaks the truth,” Ser Rodrik said wearily. The old knight had been wounded in the fight, a deep gash in his left arm and a spear thrust that grazed his neck, and he sounded his age. “If we linger here, they will be on us again for a certainty, and we may not live through a second attack.”

“夫人序苏，恐怕他說的沒錯(cuò)手幢。”羅德利克爵士虛弱地說忱详。老騎士在打斗中負(fù)了傷围来，左臂被深深割了一道，脖子也被擲出的標(biāo)槍擦傷匈睁，如今老態(tài)盡露监透。“若是在此逗留航唆，他們一定會(huì)再次攻擊胀蛮，到時(shí)候我們可能就頂不住了∨锤疲”

Tyrion could see the anger in Catelyn’s face, but she had no choice. “May the gods forgive us, then. We will ride at once.”

提利昂看出凱特琳臉上的憤怒粪狼，但她別無選擇∪伟叮“那就祈禱天上諸神原諒我們罷再榄。我們這就動(dòng)身∠砬保”

There was no shortage of horses now. Tyrion moved his saddle to Jyck’s spotted gelding, who looked strong enough to last another three or four days at least. He was about to mount when Lharys stepped up and said, “I’ll take that dirk now, dwarf.”

現(xiàn)在馬倒是不缺困鸥。提利昂把他的馬鞍移到杰克的花斑公馬背上，因?yàn)樗雌饋磉€算強(qiáng)壯米碰，再撐個(gè)三四天應(yīng)該沒問題窝革。他正準(zhǔn)備上馬，只見拉利斯往前一站道：“侏儒吕座，把你的匕首交給我虐译。”

“Let him keep it.” Catelyn Stark looked down from her horse. “And see that he has his axe back as well. We may have need of it if we are attacked again.”

“讓他留著吧吴趴∑岱蹋”凱特琳·史塔克從馬上往下俯看，“斧頭也還給他锣枝，若是再遇攻擊厢拭，可能還用得著∑踩”

“You have my thanks, lady,” Tyrion said, mounting up.

“夫人供鸠，謝謝您≡赡郑”提利昂說著爬上馬楞捂。

“Save them,” she said curtly. “I trust you no more than I did before.” She was gone before he could frame a reply.

“省省吧，”她唐突地說趋厉，“我跟以前一樣不信任你寨闹。”他還來不及回嘴君账，她便拍馬離開繁堡。

Tyrion adjusted his stolen helm and took the axe from Bronn. He remembered how he had begun the journey, with his wrists bound and a hood pulled down over his head, and decided that this was a definite improvement. Lady Stark could keep her trust; so long as he could keep the axe, he would count himself ahead in the game.

提利昂整了整偷來的頭盔，然后從波隆手中接過斧頭乡数。他想起這趟旅程剛開始時(shí)椭蹄，自己兩手被綁，戴著頭罩净赴，如今堪稱大有進(jìn)展塑娇。史塔克夫人不信任他沒關(guān)系，只要他能留住斧頭劫侧，他就有信心在這場(chǎng)游戲里勝過對(duì)手埋酬。

Ser Willis Wode led them out. Bronn took the rear, with Lady Stark safely in the middle, Ser Rodrik a shadow beside her. Marillion kept throwing sullen looks back at Tyrion as they rode. The singer had broken several ribs, his woodharp, and all four fingers on his playing hand, yet the day had not been an utter loss to him; somewhere he had acquired a magnificent shadowskin cloak, thick black fur slashed by stripes of white. He huddled beneath its folds silently, and for once had nothing to say.

維里·渥德領(lǐng)隊(duì)，波隆負(fù)責(zé)殿后烧栋，史塔克夫人安全地騎在隊(duì)伍中間写妥，羅德利克爵士則如影隨形跟在她身旁。途中审姓，馬瑞里安帶著怨恨的眼光珍特，不斷回頭看他，他的幾根肋骨魔吐，木頭豎琴扎筒，還有用來彈奏的四根指頭通通斷了莱找，但他還不算倒楣到極點(diǎn)：他弄來一件漂亮的影子山貓皮披風(fēng)，厚實(shí)的黑毛皮嗜桌，點(diǎn)綴著白線奥溺。他沉默地縮在斗篷里，難得地閉上了嘴巴骨宠。

They heard the deep growls of shadowcats behind them before they had gone half a mile, and later the wild snarling of the beasts fighting over the corpses they had left behind. Marillion grew visibly pale. Tyrion trotted up beside him. “Craven,” he said, “rhymes nicely with raven.” He kicked his horse and moved past the singer, up to Ser Rodrik and Catelyn Stark.

行不到半里浮定，他們便聽見背后影子山貓低沉的吼叫，稍后又傳來它們爭(zhēng)食尸體的咆哮层亿。馬瑞里安的臉色愈加蒼白桦卒，提利昂騎馬跑到他旁邊∧溆郑“‘黑鳥’方灾，”他道，“恰好跟‘膽子小’押韻碌更∮常”說完他一踢馬肚，丟下吟游詩人针贬，跑到羅德利克爵士和凱特琳·史塔克身邊击费。

She looked at him, lips pressed tightly together.

她抿緊嘴唇看著他。

“As I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted,” Tyrion began, “there is a serious flaw in Littlefinger’s fable. Whatever you may believe of me, Lady Stark, I promise you this, I never bet against my family.”

“剛才我話說到一半桦他，就被人無禮地打斷了蔫巩。”提利昂開口道快压，“小指頭編的故事里有個(gè)很嚴(yán)重的疏漏圆仔。史塔克夫人寒锚，無論你信不信邑狸，我可以向你保證——我跟別人賭的時(shí)候，只把注下在自家人身上侣监÷龃保”