Ⅲ 冰雨的風(fēng)暴 Chapter76 瓊恩

JON

瓊恩手握長劍魂迄，緩緩繞紗丁游走对竣，逼迫對方轉(zhuǎn)身庇楞。“舉起盾來否纬÷郎危”他說。

Jon prowled around Satin in a slow circle, sword in hand, forcing him to turn. “Get your shield up,” he said.

“它太重了临燃【Σ担”舊鎮(zhèn)的男孩抱怨。

“It’s too heavy,” the Oldtown boy complained.

“正因為重膜廊，才能抵擋攻擊乏沸，”瓊恩道，“快舉起來爪瓜〉旁荆”他前跨劈砍。紗丁及時提起盾牌铆铆，剛好用邊緣架住長劍蝶缀，然后向瓊恩肋下反擊，“很好薄货，”瓊恩感覺到自己盾牌上的力道后稱許翁都，“這樣很好。但你需要把身體壓上去谅猾，用體重作為鋼劍的后盾柄慰，而不單用手臂，才能造成更大傷害税娜。來坐搔，再試一次，朝我攻擊敬矩，記得一直舉好盾概行，否則休怪我拿你腦袋當(dāng)鐘敲……”

“It’s as heavy as it needs to be to stop a sword,” Jon said. “Now get it up.” He stepped forward, slashing. Satin jerked the shield up in time to catch the sword on its rim, and swung his own blade at Jon’s ribs. “Good,” Jon said, when he felt the impact on his own shield. “That was good. But you need to put your body into it. Get your weight behind the steel and you’ll do more damage than with arm strength alone. Come, try it again, drive at me, but keep the shield up or I’ll ring your head like a bell …”

紗丁反而退開一步，掀起面甲谤绳≌季猓“瓊恩∷跎福”他憂慮不安地說消略。

Instead Satin took a step backward and raised his visor. “Jon,” he said, in an anxious voice.

他轉(zhuǎn)過身，發(fā)現(xiàn)她正站在背后瞎抛，周圍跟著五六個后黨人士艺演。難怪院子里這么安靜。他見過梅莉珊卓在夜火旁祈禱桐臊，見過她在城堡中走動胎撤，但從未近距離接觸。她很美麗断凶，他心想……她卻又令人不安伤提，那不僅僅是因為紅色的眼睛，“夫人认烁≈啄校”

When he turned, she was standing behind him, with half a dozen queen’s men around her. Small wonder the yard grew so quiet. He had glimpsed Melisandre at her nightfires, and coming and going about the castle, but never so close. She’s beautiful, he thought … but there was something more than a little unsettling about red eyes. “My lady.”

“國王想跟你談?wù)劊偠鳌ぱ┲Z却嗡〔芭妫”

“The king would speak with you, Jon Snow.”

瓊恩將練習(xí)用的鈍劍插入泥土，“我能先換下衣服嗎窗价？這樣子不適合參見國王如庭。”

Jon thrust the practice sword into the earth. “Might I be allowed to change? I am in no fit state to stand before a king.”

“好撼港，我們在長城頂上談話坪它。”梅莉珊卓說餐胀。我們哟楷，瓊恩聽得很清楚，不只是他否灾。正如傳言卖擅，這才是他真正的王后，而非留在東海望那個墨技。

“We shall await you atop the Wall,” said Melisandre. We, Jon heard, not he. It’s as they say. This is his true queen, not the one he left at Eastwatch.

他將鎖甲和板甲掛在軍械庫里惩阶，回到房間，脫下沾染汗?jié)n的衣服扣汪，穿上一套新洗的黑衣断楷。他知道鐵籠里寒風(fēng)凜冽，冰墻之上則更為凄冷崭别，風(fēng)力也大冬筒，因此加了一件帶兜帽的厚重斗篷恐锣。最后，他拿起佩劍長爪舞痰，掛在背后土榴。

He hung his mail and plate inside the armory, returned to his own cell, discarded his sweat-stained clothes, and donned a fresh set of blacks. It would be cold and windy in the cage, he knew, and colder and windier still on top of the ice, so he chose a heavy hooded cloak. Last of all he collected Longclaw, and slung the bastard sword across his back.

梅莉珊卓在長城腳下等他，她已把后黨人士統(tǒng)統(tǒng)打發(fā)走了响牛＄枨荩“陛下有什么需要我效勞的？”走進鐵籠時呀打，瓊恩問矢赁。

Melisandre was waiting for him at the base of the Wall. She had sent her queen’s men away. “What does His Grace want of me?” Jon asked her as they entered the cage.

“他需要你付出一切，瓊恩·雪諾贬丛，他是你的國王撩银。”

“All you have to give, Jon Snow. He is a king.”

他關(guān)上門豺憔，拉了傳喚鈴蜒蕾，絞盤便開始轉(zhuǎn)動，帶動籠子上升焕阿。天氣晴朗咪啡，長城哭泣，水滴在冰墻表面流淌暮屡，拖著長長的軌跡撤摸，在陽光下閃爍。鐵籠狹窄的空間內(nèi)褒纲，他清晰而強烈地覺察到紅袍女的壓迫力准夷。她聞起來都是紅色。那氣味讓他聯(lián)想起密肯的爐子莺掠，熾熱的鋼鐵淬火的味道衫嵌。火吻而生彻秆，他不由得又記起耶哥蕊特楔绞。瓊恩就在梅莉珊卓身旁，寒風(fēng)吹得她長長的紅袍在他腳邊拍打鼓動唇兑【贫洌“您不冷嗎，夫人扎附？”他問她蔫耽。

He shut the door and pulled the bell cord. The winch began to turn. They rose. The day was bright and the Wall was weeping, long fingers of water trickling down its face and glinting in the sun. In the close confines of the iron cage, he was acutely aware of the red woman’s presence. She even smells red. The scent reminded him of Mikken’s forge, of the way iron smelled when red-hot; the scent was smoke and blood. Kissed by fire, he thought, remembering Ygritte. The wind got in amongst Melisandre’s long red robes and sent them flapping against Jon’s legs as he stood beside her. “You are not cold, my lady?” he asked her.

她報以微笑×粢梗“從不匙铡，”她喉際的血紅寶石仿佛隨心跳而脈動图甜，“真主之火在我體內(nèi)燃燒，瓊恩·雪諾鳖眼，感受一下具则。”她伸手貼在他臉頰上具帮，讓他感覺她身體的溫度〉驼“生命即是火熱蜂厅，”她告訴他，“冰冷屬于死亡膊畴【蛟常”

She laughed. “Never.” The ruby at her throat seemed to pulse, in time with the beating of her heart. “The Lord’s fire lives within me, Jon Snow. Feel.” She put her hand on his cheek, and held it there while he felt how warm she was. “That is how life should feel,” she told him. “Only death is cold.”

史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩獨自站在長城邊緣沉思，面對著他獲勝的平原和遠處綠色的大森林唇跨。他身穿黑色的上衣稠通、馬褲和靴子，幾乎與守夜人弟兄毫無二致买猖，只有披風(fēng)醒目改橘；那是件厚重的金色披風(fēng)，邊緣鑲黑毛皮玉控，用烈焰紅心的胸針別住飞主。“我把臨冬城的私生子帶來了高诺，陛下碌识。”梅莉珊卓道虱而。

They found Stannis Baratheon standing alone at the edge of the Wall, brooding over the field where he had won his battle, and the great green forest beyond. He was dressed in the same black breeches, tunic, and boots that a brother of the Night’s Watch might wear. Only his cloak set him apart; a heavy golden cloak trimmed in black fur, and pinned with a brooch in the shape of a flaming heart. “I have brought you the Bastard of Winterfell, Your Grace,” said Melisandre.

史坦尼斯轉(zhuǎn)身打量他筏餐。濃密的眉毛下，他有一對如藍色水池般深不見底的眼睛牡拇，凹陷的顴骨和棱角分明的方下巴覆蓋著一層又短又齊的藍黑胡子魁瞪，卻難以掩蓋面容的憔悴。他咬緊牙關(guān)惠呼，右手成拳佩番，連脖子和肩膀也繃緊，令瓊恩不由得記起唐納·諾伊的評價：如果說勞勃是真鋼罢杉，那史坦尼斯就是純鐵趟畏，又黑又硬又堅強，卻也容易損壞滩租，和鐵一樣赋秀，彎曲之前就會先斷掉利朵。他不安地跪下，尋思這個倔強的純鐵國王需要他做什么猎莲。

Stannis turned to study him. Beneath his heavy brow were eyes like bottomless blue pools. His hollow cheeks and strong jaw were covered with a short-cropped blue-black beard that did little to conceal the gauntness of his face, and his teeth were clenched. His neck and shoulders were clenched as well, and his right hand. Jon found himself remembering something Donal Noye once said about the Baratheon brothers. Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, but brittle, the way iron gets. He’ll break before he bends. Uneasily, he knelt, wondering why this brittle king had need of him.

“起來绍弟。我聽說過你諸多事跡，雪諾大人著洼≌燎玻”

“Rise. I have heard much and more of you, Lord Snow.”

“我不是大人，陛下身笤””瓊恩站起身，“我知道您聽說了什么液荸。我是個變色龍和膽小鬼瞻佛；我殺了自己的弟兄‘?dāng)嗾啤屏郑员Ｈ悦壳晃腋埂だ椎乱黄痱T行伤柄，還娶了個野人老婆∥穆В”

“I am no lord, sire.” Jon rose. “I know what you have heard. That I am a turncloak, and craven. That I slew my brother Qhorin Halfhand so the wildlings would spare my life. That I rode with Mance Rayder, and took a wildling wife.”

“是的适刀。所有這些，還有更多煤蹭。他們說你是個狼靈蔗彤，易形者，披著狼皮在夜間行走疯兼∪欢簦”史坦尼斯國王的笑容十分生硬，“其中有多少真實成分吧彪？”

“Aye. All that, and more. You are a warg too, they say, a skinchanger who walks at night as a wolf.” King Stannis had a hard smile. “How much of it is true?”

“我有過一頭叫白靈的冰原狼待侵，但在灰衛(wèi)堡附近攀爬長城時，我們被迫分開姨裸，從此再未相聚秧倾；加入野人是‘?dāng)嗾啤屏值拿睿浪麄儠覛⑺酰宰C明忠誠那先，所以事先囑咐我不管做什么，都不準違抗赡艰，統(tǒng)統(tǒng)照辦售淡；女野人名叫耶哥蕊特，我為她打破了誓言，但我以父親的名義發(fā)誓揖闸，自己絕沒有反對過王國和兄弟揍堕。”

“I had a direwolf, Ghost. I left him when I climbed the Wall near Greyguard, and have not seen him since. Qhorin Halfhand commanded me to join the wildlings. He knew they would make me kill him to prove myself, and told me to do whatever they asked of me. The woman was named Ygritte. I broke my vows with her, but I swear to you on my father’s name that I never turned my cloak.”

“我相信你汤纸●萌祝”國王說。

“I believe you,” the king said.

他暗暗吃驚贮泞，“為什么楞慈？”

That startled him. “Why?”

史坦尼斯哼了一聲】胁粒“我了解杰諾斯·史林特囊蓝，也了解艾德·史塔克。你父親非我之友议惰，但只有傻瓜才會懷疑他的榮譽和忠誠。你繼承了他的容貌乡恕⊙匝”史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩高高在上，聳立在瓊恩上方傲宜，但他如此憔悴运杭，看上去比實際年齡老十歲『洌“我知道的事比你想象的多得多辆憔，瓊恩·雪諾。我知道是你找到了龍晶匕首报嵌，藍道·塔利的兒子用它來殺死異鬼虱咧。”

Stannis snorted. “I know Janos Slynt. And I knew Ned Stark as well. Your father was no friend of mine, but only a fool would doubt his honor or his honesty. You have his look.” A big man, Stannis Baratheon towered over Jon, but he was so gaunt that he looked ten years older than he was. “I know more than you might think, Jon Snow. I know it was you who found the dragonglass dagger that Randyll Tarly’s son used to slay the Other.”

“是白靈找到的锚国。匕首包在游騎兵的斗篷里腕巡，埋在先民拳峰底下，里面還有其他武器……矛尖血筑，箭頭绘沉，統(tǒng)統(tǒng)由龍晶制成〔蜃埽”

“Ghost found it. The blade was wrapped in a ranger’s cloak and buried beneath the Fist of the First Men. There were other blades as well … spearheads, arrowheads, all dragonglass.”

“我知道是你守住了城門车伞，”史坦尼斯國王說，“沒有這份功勞喻喳，我的軍隊根本來不及上場另玖。”

“I know you held the gate here,” King Stannis said. “If not, I would have come too late.”

“是唐納·諾伊守住了城門。他和巨人的國王同歸于盡日矫，雙雙戰(zhàn)死在下面的隧道中赂弓。”

“Donal Noye held the gate. He died below in the tunnel, fighting the king of the giants.”

史坦尼斯扮個鬼臉哪轿∮“我這輩子用的第一把劍便是諾伊鑄的，勞勃那著名的戰(zhàn)錘也是窃诉。假如諸神慈悲杨耙，留他一條性命，他會是很好的總司令飘痛，比那幫勾心斗角的笨蛋們都強珊膜。”

Stannis grimaced. “Noye made my first sword for me, and Robert’s warhammer as well. Had the god seen fit to spare him, he would have made a better Lord Commander for your order than any of these fools who are squabbling over it now.”

“卡特·派克和丹尼斯·梅利斯特爵士不是笨蛋宣脉，陛下车柠，”瓊恩說，“他們優(yōu)秀能干塑猖，懷有熱情竹祷。奧賽爾也有獨到之處。莫爾蒙大人信任他們?nèi)搜蚬丁塑陵！?/p>

“Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister are no fools, sire,” Jon said. “They’re good men, and capable. Othell Yarwyck as well, in his own way. Lord Mormont trusted each of them.”

“你的莫爾蒙大人太輕信，否則就不會死了蜡励。算了令花，還是說你的問題。我沒忘記凉倚，是你給我們帶來了那魔法號角兼都，并俘虜了曼斯·雷德的妻兒』”

“Your Lord Mormont trusted too easily. Else he would not have died as he did. But we were speaking of you. I have not forgotten that it was you who brought us this magic horn, and captured Mance Rayder’s wife and son.”

“妲娜死了俯抖，”瓊恩仍然為此悲哀，“瓦邇是她妹妹瓦胎。她和孩子不需俘虜芬萍，陛下，當(dāng)時您擊潰了野人搔啊，而那只鷹燃燒起來時柬祠，曼斯留下來保護王后的易形者也發(fā)了瘋「河螅”瓊恩望向梅莉珊卓漫蛔∈扔“有人說那是您的手筆∶Ч辏”

“Dalla died.” Jon was saddened by that still. “Val is her sister. She and the babe did not require much capturing, Your Grace. You had put the wildlings to flight, and the skinchanger Mance had left to guard his queen went mad when the eagle burned.” Jon looked at Melisandre. “Some say that was your doing.”

她微微一笑蠕嫁，紅銅色的長發(fā)在臉上拂過√河“光之王有火焰利爪剃毒，瓊恩·雪諾÷Ц常”

She smiled, her long copper hair tumbling across her face. “The Lord of Light has fiery talons, Jon Snow.”

瓊恩點點頭赘阀，轉(zhuǎn)回國王這邊，“陛下脑奠，您說到瓦邇基公，她求見曼斯·雷德，想把兒子抱給他看看宋欺。這是一種……一種仁慈轰豆。”

Jon nodded, and turned back to the king. “Your Grace, you spoke of Val. She has asked to see Mance Rayder, to bring his son to him. It would be a … a kindness.”

“這個人是你們的逃兵齿诞，你的弟兄全都堅持將其立即處死酸休。我為什么要給予仁慈≌浦浚”

“The man is a deserter from your order. Your brothers are all insisting on his death. Why should I do him a kindness?”

瓊恩無言以答雨席，“不為了他菩咨，也為了瓦邇吠式。還為了她姐姐，孩子的母親抽米√卣迹”

Jon had no answer for that. “If not for him, for Val. For her sister’s sake, the child’s mother.”

“你喜歡這個瓦邇？”

“You are fond of this Val?”

“幾乎不認識云茸∈悄浚”

“I scarcely know her.”

“他們說她長得標(biāo)致”贽啵”

“They tell me she is comely.”

“非常標(biāo)致懊纳。”瓊恩承認亡容。

“Very,” Jon admitted.

“注意嗤疯，美貌是件變化難測的事物，我哥哥從瑟曦·蘭尼斯特那兒得到了教訓(xùn)闺兢。不用懷疑茂缚，她謀殺了他，還謀殺了你父親跟瓊恩·艾林〗拍遥”史坦尼斯皺緊眉頭龟糕。“你曾跟野人一起騎行悔耘。你覺得他們有沒有榮譽讲岁？”

“Beauty can be treacherous. My brother learned that lesson from Cersei Lannister. She murdered him, do not doubt it. Your father and Jon Arryn as well.” He scowled. “You rode with these wildlings. Is there any honor in them, do you think?”

“有，”瓊恩說淮逊，“但他們對榮譽有自己的定義催首，陛下⌒古簦”

“Yes,” Jon said, “but their own sort of honor, sire.”

“譬如曼斯·雷德郎任？”

“In Mance Rayder?”

“有。我認為他有备籽〔爸危”

“Yes. I think so.”

“骸骨之王呢？”

“In the Lord of Bones?”

瓊恩猶豫半晌车猬，“我們叫他‘叮當(dāng)衫’霉猛，此人陰險嗜血。如果他也有榮譽珠闰，一定被骨甲所掩蓋惜浅，不復(fù)得見》龋”

Jon hesitated. “Rattleshirt, we called him. Treacherous and blood-thirsty. If there’s honor in him, he hides it down beneath his suit of bones.”

“那擁有許多綽號的托蒙德如何坛悉？他逃脫了追捕。請誠實地回答我承绸÷阌埃”

“And this other man, this Tormund of the many names who eluded us after the battle? Answer me truly.”

“我覺得巨人克星托蒙德那樣的人，當(dāng)朋友是好朋友军熏，作敵人則非承桑可怕，陛下荡澎【”

“Tormund Giantsbane seemed to me the sort of man who would make a good friend and a bad enemy, Your Grace.”

史坦尼斯略略點頭∧︶＃“你父親珍視榮譽彤委，雖非我之友，但我明白他的為人热鞍；你哥哥發(fā)動叛亂葫慎，企圖攫取我半壁江山衔彻，但其英勇毋庸質(zhì)疑。你呢偷办？”

Stannis gave a curt nod. “Your father was a man of honor. He was no friend to me, but I saw his worth. Your brother was a rebel and a traitor who meant to steal half my kingdom, but no man can question his courage. What of you?”

他要我承認愛戴他嗎艰额？瓊恩僵硬刻板地道：“我是誓言效命的守夜人漢子〗费模”

Does he want me to say I love him? Jon’s voice was stiff and formal as he said, “I am a man of the Night’s Watch.”

“誓言柄沮。誓言就像風(fēng)。你以為我為什么放棄龍石島废岂，前來長城呢祖搓，雪諾大人？”

“Words. Words are wind. Why do you think I abandoned Dragonstone and sailed to the Wall, Lord Snow?”

“我不是大人湖苞，陛下拯欧。您來想必是因為我們的求救信，然而我說不準您為什么這么晚才到财骨「渥鳎”

“I am no lord, sire. You came because we sent for you, I hope. Though I could not say why you took so long about it.”

令人驚訝的是招拙，聽到這話洞斯，史坦尼斯竟微笑起來朗徊，“你膽大直率报慕，不愧為史塔克家的后代。是的缘回，我早該趕到秽誊，然而若非我的首相提醒错览，也許根本不會來理澎。席渥斯大人出身低微逞力，但他提醒我自己的職責(zé)，當(dāng)時我滿腦子所想的只有權(quán)位矾端。戴佛斯說掏击，我把馬車放在了馬前面卵皂，是啊秩铆，靠贏取王座來拯救國家，根本是本末倒置灯变，我應(yīng)該拯救國家殴玛，從而贏取王座√砘觯”史坦尼斯指向北方滚粟。“那兒刃泌，那兒有我命中注定要與之搏斗的敵人凡壤∈鹩龋”

Surprisingly, Stannis smiled at that. “You’re bold enough to be a Stark. Yes, I should have come sooner. If not for my Hand, I might not have come at all. Lord Seaworth is a man of humble birth, but he reminded me of my duty, when all I could think of was my rights. I had the cart before the horse, Davos said. I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne.” Stannis pointed north. “There is where I’ll find the foe that I was born to fight.”

“它的名字凡人不可道也，”梅利珊卓輕輕補充亚侠，“他是黑夜與恐懼的神曹体，瓊恩·雪諾，雪地中行走的形影是他的傀儡硝烂』穑”

“His name may not be spoken,” Melisandre added softly. “He is the God of Night and Terror, Jon Snow, and these shapes in the snow are his creatures.”

“他們告訴我，你曾殺過其中一個滞谢，救了莫爾蒙大人的命串稀，”史坦尼斯道，“這狮杨，或許這也是你的戰(zhàn)爭母截，雪諾大人，倘若你愿意幫我的話橄教∥⒊辏”

“They tell me that you slew one of these walking corpses to save Lord Mormont’s life,” Stannis said. “It may be that this is your war as well, Lord Snow. If you will give me your help.”

“我的劍已發(fā)誓為守夜人軍團效命，陛下颤陶】殴埽”瓊恩·雪諾謹慎地回答。

“My sword is pledged to the Night’s Watch, Your Grace,” Jon Snow answered carefully.

國王對這個回答并不滿意滓走，他咬緊牙關(guān)垦江，“我不僅需要你的劍〗练剑”

That did not please the king. Stannis ground his teeth and said, “I need more than a sword from you.”

瓊恩不明所以比吭，“大人？”

Jon was lost. “My lord?”

“我需要北境的支持姨涡●锰伲”

“I need the north.”

北境√纹“我……我哥哥羅柏是北境之王……”

The north. “I … my brother Robb was King in the North …”

“你哥哥依法乃臨冬城公爵赏表。如果他待在家里盡忠職守，而非戴上叛逆的冠冕匈仗，前去征服三河流域瓢剿，如今多半還活著。算了悠轩，你不是羅柏间狂，正如我不是勞勃』鸺埽”

“Your brother was the rightful Lord of Winterfell. If he had stayed home and done his duty, instead of crowning himself and riding off to conquer the riverlands, he might be alive today. Be that as it may. You are not Robb, no more than I am Robert.”

這番刺耳的話掃去了瓊恩對史坦尼斯尚存的一絲同情鉴象∶Σぃ“我愛我哥哥》谋祝”他說只搁。

The harsh words had blown away whatever sympathy Jon might have had for Stannis. “I loved my brother,” he said.

“我也愛我的兄長。但他們是他們俭尖，我們是我們氢惋。如今我乃維斯特洛真正的國王，唯一的繼承人稽犁，天南地北焰望，都應(yīng)由我統(tǒng)治；而你是艾德·史塔克的私生子已亥⌒芾担”史坦尼斯用那雙深藍的眼睛打量他÷亲担“泰溫·蘭尼斯特任命盧斯·波頓為北境守護震鹉，以獎賞他背叛你哥哥。自巴隆·葛雷喬伊死后捆姜，鐵民一直在自相殘殺传趾，然而他們?nèi)哉莆罩譃场⑸盍直つ嗉肌⑼袀惙匠羌芭褪０兜拇蟛糠纸肌Ｄ愀赣H的土地正在流血，而我沒有力量和時間去加以制止∩罕現(xiàn)在需要一個新的臨冬城公爵簸呈，一個忠誠的臨冬城公爵〉瓴瑁”

“And I mine. Yet they were what they were, and so are we. I am the only true king in Westeros, north or south. And you are Ned Stark’s bastard.” Stannis studied him with those dark blue eyes. “Tywin Lannister has named Roose Bolton his Warden of the North, to reward him for betraying your brother. The ironmen are fighting amongst themselves since Balon Greyjoy’s death, yet they still hold Moat Cailin, Deepwood Motte, Torrhen’s Square, and most of the Stony Shore. Your father’s lands are bleeding, and I have neither the strength nor the time to stanch the wounds. What is needed is a Lord of Winterfell. A loyal Lord of Winterfell.”

他在考慮我蜕便。瓊恩頭暈?zāi)垦！贩幻！芭R冬城已經(jīng)不在了轿腺，它被席恩·葛雷喬伊付之一炬《沃保”

He is looking at me, Jon thought, stunned. “Winterfell is no more. Theon Greyjoy put it to the torch.”

“花崗巖不會燒毀吃溅，”史坦尼斯說溶诞，“城堡可以慢慢重建鸯檬。再說，領(lǐng)主并非墻壘所能造就螺垢，關(guān)鍵是人心喧务。你們北方人不了解我赖歌，沒有理由愛戴我，然而在即將來臨的戰(zhàn)斗中功茴，我需要他們的力量庐冯。我需要艾德·史塔克的兒子將他們團結(jié)起來】泊”

“Granite does not burn easily,” Stannis said. “The castle can be rebuilt, in time. It’s not the walls that make a lord, it’s the man. Your northmen do not know me, have no reason to love me, yet I will need their strength in the battles yet to come. I need a son of Eddard Stark to win them to my banner.”

他要封我為臨冬城公爵展父。疾風(fēng)陣陣，瓊恩暈眩得厲害玲昧，甚至擔(dān)心被吹下長城栖茉。“陛下孵延，”他說吕漂，“您忘了。我是雪諾尘应，不是史塔克惶凝。”

He would make me Lord of Winterfell. The wind was gusting, and Jon felt so light-headed he was half afraid it would blow him off the Wall. “Your Grace,” he said, “you forget. I am a Snow, not a Stark.”

“忘了的是你犬钢〔韵剩”史坦尼斯國王回答。

“It’s you who are forgetting,” King Stannis replied.

梅莉珊卓一只溫?zé)岬氖执钌檄偠鞲觳茬栌蹋皣跤脛p拍一下就可以將私生子化歸正統(tǒng)坡贺，雪諾大人∠湮瑁”

Melisandre put a warm hand on Jon’s arm. “A king can remove the taint of bastardy with a stroke, Lord Snow.”

雪諾大人遍坟。這是艾里沙·索恩爵士取的外號，以嘲笑他的出身晴股。許多弟兄也喜歡這個稱呼愿伴，有的出于友情，有的則為了傷害他电湘。但突然之間隔节，它在瓊恩的耳中有了不同的感覺。它竟然……成真了寂呛≡踅耄“是的，”他猶猶豫豫贷痪，“以前有國王讓私生子成為合法繼承人幻妓，但……但我是守夜人的漢子。我跪在心樹前發(fā)誓劫拢，不封地肉津，不生子强胰。”

Lord Snow. Ser Alliser Thorne had named him that, to mock his bastard birth. Many of his brothers had taken to using it as well, some with affection, others to wound. But suddenly it had a different sound to it in Jon’s ears. It sounded … real. “Yes,” he said, hesitantly, “kings have legitimized bastards before, but … I am still a brother of the Night’s Watch. I knelt before a heart tree and swore to hold no lands and father no children.”

“瓊恩妹沙，”梅莉珊卓靠得如此之近偶洋，他甚至能感覺她溫?zé)岬暮粑袄章宀攀俏ㄒ坏恼嬷骶嗵牵瑢σ豢脴浒l(fā)誓跟對鞋子發(fā)誓一樣沒有效力玄窝。敞開心房，擁抱光之王的力量吧悍引。燒毀魚梁木哆料，接受臨冬城，它是真主賜予你的禮物吗铐《啵”

“Jon.” Melisandre was so close he could feel the warmth of her breath. “R’hllor is the only true god. A vow sworn to a tree has no more power than one sworn to your shoes. Open your heart and let the light of the Lord come in. Burn these weirwoods, and accept Winterfell as a gift of the Lord of Light.”

小時侯，瓊恩還不懂私生子的意思時唬渗，經(jīng)常夢想有一天典阵，臨冬城會成為自己的城堡。長大以后镊逝，他為這些夢想而羞愧壮啊。臨冬城該由羅柏和他的子嗣繼承，假如他沒有后代撑蒜，便輪到布蘭或瑞肯歹啼，他們之后還有珊莎和艾莉亞。小時候的夢座菠，現(xiàn)今想一想似乎也成了叛逆狸眼，好像在心底背叛了兄弟姐妹們，期望他們死掉浴滴。我沒想到能當(dāng)上公爵拓萌，他站在藍眼睛的國王和紅袍女面前尋思。我愛羅柏升略，愛他們所有人……不希望他們受到任何傷害微王。但他們?nèi)匀皇艿搅藗Γ罱K只剩下我品嚣。他只需說出那個字炕倘，就能成為瓊恩·史塔克，再也不是雪諾翰撑。他只需向這個國王宣誓效忠罩旋，臨冬城就是他的。他只需……

When Jon had been very young, too young to understand what it meant to be a bastard, he used to dream that one day Winterfell might be his. Later, when he was older, he had been ashamed of those dreams. Winterfell would go to Robb and then his sons, or to Bran or Rickon should Robb die childless. And after them came Sansa and Arya. Even to dream otherwise seemed disloyal, as if he were betraying them in his heart, wishing for their deaths. I never wanted this, he thought as he stood before the blue-eyed king and the red woman. I loved Robb, loved all of them … I never wanted any harm to come to any of them, but it did. And now there’s only me. All he had to do was say the word, and he would be Jon Stark, and nevermore a Snow. All he had to do was pledge this king his fealty, and Winterfell was his. All he had to do …

……再次打破誓言。

… was forswear his vows again.

而這一次不再是偽裝瘸恼。為了獲得父親的城堡劣挫，他需要背棄父親的神靈册养。

And this time it would not be a ruse. To claim his father’s castle, he must turn against his father’s gods.

史坦尼斯國王再度凝望北方东帅，金色披風(fēng)在肩頭飄蕩∏蚶梗“我也許會看錯你靠闭，瓊恩·雪諾，我們都清楚世人對私生子的看法坎炼。你沒有父親的名譽愧膀，也沒有哥哥的戰(zhàn)功，但我相信你是真主給我的武器谣光。我發(fā)現(xiàn)了你檩淋，正如你在先民拳峰底下發(fā)現(xiàn)那批龍晶。不管怎么說萄金，我打算讓你派上用場蟀悦，亞梭爾·亞亥也不是獨立作戰(zhàn)的。前次戰(zhàn)役氧敢，我軍殺死上千名野人日戈，又俘虜了上千名，其余的紛紛逃散孙乖，但我知道浙炼，他們會回來的。梅莉珊卓在圣火里看到這番景象唯袄。此時此刻弯屈，那個‘雷拳’托蒙德很可能正在集結(jié)部隊，策劃新一輪攻擊恋拷。而我們彼此血流得越多季俩，等真正的敵人來襲時，就更為虛弱梅掠∽米。”

King Stannis gazed off north again, his gold cloak streaming from his shoulders. “It may be that I am mistaken in you, Jon Snow. We both know the things that are said of bastards. You may lack your father’s honor, or your brother’s skill in arms. But you are the weapon the Lord has given me. I have found you here, as you found the cache of dragonglass beneath the Fist, and I mean to make use of you. Even Azor Ahai did not win his war alone. I killed a thousand wildlings, took another thousand captive, and scattered the rest, but we both know they will return. Melisandre has seen that in her fires. This Tormund Thunderfist is likely re-forming them even now, and planning some new assault. And the more we bleed each other, the weaker we shall all be when the real enemy falls upon us.”

瓊恩同樣意識到了這一點，“正是如此阎抒，陛下酪我。”他不知國王如何解決且叁。

Jon had come to that same realization. “As you say, Your Grace.” He wondered where this king, was going.

“當(dāng)你的弟兄們彼此爭奪時都哭，我跟曼斯·雷德談過。”他咬緊牙關(guān)欺矫∩葱拢“那家伙固執(zhí)又高傲，我別無選擇穆趴，只能將他送進火堆脸爱。但我們也抓到其他俘虜，其他首領(lǐng)未妹，包括那個‘骸骨之王’簿废、一些部落酋長和瑟恩人的新馬格拿。我要做的事络它，你的弟兄們不會喜歡族檬，你父親麾下的領(lǐng)主也不會，我打算允許野人穿過長城……條件是對我宣誓效忠化戳，維護王國的和平单料，遵守律法，并將光之王奉為唯一真主点楼。哪怕是巨人扫尖，只要肯彎下那對大膝蓋，我也會加以接受盟步。等你們的新任總司令選出來藏斩，我就讓他們在贈地定居。當(dāng)冷風(fēng)吹起却盘，大家應(yīng)當(dāng)同生共死狰域，聯(lián)合起來對付共同的敵人』崎伲”他看著瓊恩兆览。“你同意嗎塞关？”

“Whilst your brothers have been struggling to decide who shall lead them, I have been speaking with this Mance Rayder.” He ground his teeth. “A stubborn man, that one, and prideful. He will leave me no choice but to give him to the flames. But we took other captives as well, other leaders. The one who calls himself the Lord of Bones, some of their clan chiefs, the new Magnar of Thenn. Your brothers will not like it, no more than your father’s lords, but I mean to allow the wildlings through the Wall … those who will swear me their fealty, pledge to keep the king’s peace and the king’s laws, and take the Lord of Light as their god. Even the giants, if those great knees of theirs can bend. I will settle them on the Gift, once I have wrested it away from your new Lord Commander. When the cold winds rise, we shall live or die together. It is time we made alliance against our common foe.” He looked at Jon. “Would you agree?”

“我父親曾計劃重新安置贈地抬探，”瓊恩承認，“他和我叔叔班揚討論過帆赢⌒⊙梗”但他沒想過讓野人來定居……另一方面，他不了解野人椰于，不是嗎怠益？瓊恩拒絕自欺欺人，自由民將成為難以駕馭的臣民和危險的鄰居瘾婿，但拿耶哥蕊特的紅發(fā)跟尸鬼湛藍的眼睛相比蜻牢，作出選擇其實很容易烤咧。“我同意抢呆≈笙樱”

“My father dreamed of resettling the Gift,” Jon admitted. “He and my uncle Benjen used to talk of it.” He never thought of settling it with wildlings, though … but he never rode with wildlings, either. He did not fool himself; the free folk would make for unruly subjects and dangerous neighbors. Yet when he weighed Ygritte’s red hair against the cold blue eyes of the wights, the choice was easy. “I agree.”

“很好，”史坦尼斯國王說抱虐，“結(jié)盟最有效的辦法是聯(lián)姻昌阿。我打算讓我的臨冬城公爵跟野人公主成親√萋耄”

“Good,” King Stannis said, “for the surest way to seal a new alliance is with a marriage. I mean to wed my Lord of Winterfell to this wildling princess.”

也許是瓊恩跟野人一起騎行的時間太久了宝泵，他忍不住笑出來好啰⌒ⅲ“陛下，”他說框往，“瓦邇是自由的也好鳄抒，被抓了也罷，如果您認為一句話就可以把她許給我椰弊，只怕是不了解野人的風(fēng)俗许溅。不管是誰，想娶她的話秉版，多半得爬上塔樓窗戶贤重，用劍將她帶走……”

Perhaps Jon had ridden with the free folk too long; he could not help but laugh. “Your Grace,” he said, “captive or no, if you think you can just give Val to me, I fear you have a deal to learn about wildling women. Whoever weds her had best be prepared to climb in her tower window and carry her off at swordpoint …”

“不管是誰？”史坦尼斯用揣度的目光看他清焕，“就是說你不愿跟她結(jié)婚嘍并蝗？我警告你，如果你想要父親的姓氏和城堡秸妥，這是必須付出的代價之一滚停。達成這場婚配，才能保證我的新臣民的忠誠粥惧。你要拒絕我嗎键畴，瓊恩·雪諾？”

“Whoever?” Stannis gave him a measuring look. “Does this mean you will not wed the girl? I warn you, she is part of the price you must pay, if you want your father’s name and your father’s castle. This match is necessary, to help assure the loyalty of our new subjects. Are you refusing me, Jon Snow?”

“不突雪∑鹛瑁”瓊恩趕緊說。國王指的是臨冬城咏删，臨冬城可不是輕易能拒絕的惹想。“我的意思是……這一切實在來得太突然饵婆，陛下勺馆，能否給我點時間考慮戏售？”

“No,” Jon said, too quickly. It was Winterfell the king was speaking of, and Winterfell was not to be lightly refused. “I mean … this has all come very suddenly, Your Grace. Might I beg you for some time to consider?”

“行，但要抓緊時間草穆。我向來沒什么耐心——這一點灌灾，你的黑衣弟兄們很快就會發(fā)現(xiàn)了””史坦尼斯將一只消瘦的手搭在瓊恩肩頭锋喜。“我們今天討論的事不要外傳豌鸡，不要對任何人說嘿般。當(dāng)你回來時，只需彎下膝蓋涯冠，將劍放在我腳邊炉奴，宣誓為我效忠，等站起來蛇更，你就成了瓊恩·史塔克瞻赶，臨冬城公爵∨扇危”

“As you wish. But consider quickly. I am not a patient man, as your black brothers are about to discover.” Stannis put a thin, fleshless hand on Jon’s shoulder. “Say nothing of what we’ve discussed here today. To anyone. But when you return, you need only bend your knee, lay your sword at my feet, and pledge yourself to my service, and you shall rise again as Jon Stark, the Lord of Winterfell.”