CATELYN

40 凱特琳

The eastern sky was rose and gold as the sun broke over the Vale of Arryn. Catelyn Stark watched the light spread, her hands resting on the delicate carved stone of the balustrade outside her window. Below her the world turned from black to indigo to green as dawn crept across fields and forests. Pale white mists rose off Alyssa’s Tears, where the ghost waters plunged over the shoulder of the mountain to begin their long tumble down the face of the Giant’s Lance. Catelyn could feel the faint touch of spray on her face.

艾林谷的日出，將東方的天空染成玫瑰和金黃少梁。凱特琳·史塔克雙手?jǐn)R在窗外雕飾華麗的欄桿上，凝望著逐漸散溢的光輝妨马。黎明爬過田野和森林脂崔，世界在她腳下由漆黑轉(zhuǎn)為靛青，再變成茵綠。幽魂般的水沖出山脊笔喉，開始它們騰涌直落巨人之槍的漫長旅程作谭，阿萊莎之淚上白霧激蕩。凱特琳隱約可以感覺水花濺到臉上锐秦。

Alyssa Arryn had seen her husband, her brothers, and all her children slain, and yet in life she had never shed a tear. So in death, the gods had decreed that she would know no rest until her weeping watered the black earth of the Vale, where the men she had loved were buried. Alyssa had been dead six thousand years now, and still no drop of the torrent had ever reached the valley floor far below. Catelyn wondered how large a waterfall her own tears would make when she died. “Tell me the rest of it,” she said.

阿萊莎·艾林生前眼睜睜地見到丈夫羊赵、兄弟和兒女慘遭殺害，卻從未掉過一滴眼淚昧捷。于是諸神諭令，死后她將淚流不止靡挥，直到流下的淚水澆灌至峽谷平原的黑色沃野，因為她所愛的人們都葬在那里鸯绿。阿萊莎已經(jīng)死了六千年幔烛，然而至今沒有一滴河水流到谷底。凱特琳不禁揣測聚霜，等自己死后弟劲，她的淚水又會變成多大的瀑布±呀妫“還有什么消息兔乞？”她說。

“The Kingslayer is massing a host at Casterly Rock,” Ser Rodrik Cassel answered from the room behind her. “Your brother writes that he has sent riders to the Rock, demanding that Lord Tywin proclaim his intent, but he has had no answer. Edmure has commanded Lord Vance and Lord Piper to guard the pass below the Golden Tooth. He vows to you that he will yield no foot of Tully land without first watering it with Lannister blood.”

“弒君者正在凱巖城集結(jié)軍隊凉唐，”身后的房間里庸追，羅德利克爵士回答，“您哥哥信上說他派人去凱巖城台囱，要求泰溫大人表明意圖淡溯，但至今沒有回應(yīng)。艾德慕已命凡斯大人和派柏大人把守金牙城下的隘口簿训，并向您發(fā)誓咱娶，他決不放棄徒利家族的每一寸土地米间，若蘭尼斯特敢來進犯，就用他們的血來澆灌膘侮∏”

Catelyn turned away from the sunrise. Its beauty did little to lighten her mood; it seemed cruel for a day to dawn so fair and end so foul as this one promised to. “Edmure has sent riders and made vows,” she said, “but Edmure is not the Lord of Riverrun. What of my lord father?”

凱特琳移開視線，不再觀看日出喻喳。朝陽再美另玖，也難以振奮她的心緒。想到一日之始如此美麗表伦，卻注定將以慘劇收場谦去，她愈發(fā)感慨造物者的殘酷”暮撸“艾德慕派了人也發(fā)了誓鳄哭，”她說：“但他不是奔流城公爵。我父親大人有消息嗎纲熏？”

“The message made no mention of Lord Hoster, my lady.” Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. They had grown in white as snow and bristly as a thornbush while he was recovering from his wounds; he looked almost himself again.

“夫人妆丘，信上沒提到霍斯特大人【志ⅲ”羅德利克爵士捻捻胡須勺拣。他養(yǎng)傷期間，胡子又重新色白如雪鱼填，林立如叢∑煌瑁現(xiàn)在的他，模樣與從前幾無二致了赘理。

“My father would not have given the defense of Riverrun over to Edmure unless he was very sick,” she said, worried. “I should have been woken as soon as this bird arrived.”

“父親若非病重，決不會把奔流的防務(wù)交給艾德慕奠旺。”她憂心忡忡地說施流，“鳥兒捎信來的時候，你應(yīng)該立刻叫醒我才對√苏拢”

“Your lady sister thought it better to let you sleep, Maester Colemon told me.”

“柯蒙學(xué)士告訴我蚓土，您妹妹想讓您好好休息蜀漆∪范”

“I should have been woken,” she insisted.

“應(yīng)該叫醒我褂始∑槊纾”她堅持胆数。

“The maester tells me your sister planned to speak with you after the combat,” Ser Rodrik said.

“學(xué)士他還說必尼，您妹妹準(zhǔn)備在比武之后再和您談?wù)勔任椤骂租！?/p>

“Then she still plans to go through with this mummer’s farce?” Catelyn grimaced. “The dwarf has played her like a set of pipes, and she is too deaf to hear the tune. Whatever happens this morning, Ser Rodrik, it is past time we took our leave. My place is at Winterfell with my sons. If you are strong enough to travel, I shall ask Lysa for an escort to see us to Gulltown. We can take ship from there.”

“這么說來，她真打算把這出鬧劇演下去互站？”凱特琳皺眉胡桃〈湟龋“那侏儒拿她當(dāng)?shù)炎哟抵埃约哼€蒙在鼓里满力。羅德利克爵士油额，無論今天早上結(jié)果如何悔耘，我們都該動身衬以。我的職責(zé)是在臨冬城陪伴兒子們看峻。假如你體力還撐得住，我這就請萊莎派人護送我們到海鷗鎮(zhèn)冯勉，我們從那里搭船回去灼狰〗慌撸”

“Another ship?” Ser Rodrik looked a shade green, yet he managed not to shudder. “As you say, my lady.”

“又要坐船蝴簇？”羅德利克臉色發(fā)青，但還是忍耐住沒有發(fā)抖荡澎∧︶＃“夫人或衡，就照您吩咐∑绿郏”

The old knight waited outside her door as Catelyn summoned the servants Lysa had given her. If she spoke to her sister before the duel, perhaps she could change her mind, she thought as they dressed her. Lysa’s policies varied with her moods, and her moods changed hourly. The shy girl she had known at Riverrun had grown into a woman who was by turns proud, fearful, cruel, dreamy, reckless, timid, stubborn, vain, and, above all, inconstant.

凱特琳喚來萊莎派給她差遣的仆人柄瑰，老騎士則候在門外。她一邊更衣授翻，一邊想著如果趕在決斗開始前與妹妹談?wù)効疤疲蛟S能讓她改變心意。萊莎行事全依心情而定兜材，偏偏她的個性又陰晴不定曙寡。她所認(rèn)識的举庶，昔日奔流城那位羞怯少女镀琉，已經(jīng)長成了時而傲慢屋摔，時而憂懼钓试，又或殘忍，甚至空幻不切實際挽鞠，粗心大意信认、怯懦怕事狮杨、好大喜功的婦人，最糟糕的是她還變化無常护蝶。

When that vile turnkey of hers had come crawling to tell them that Tyrion Lannister wished to confess, Catelyn had urged Lysa to have the dwarf brought to them privately, but no, nothing would do but that her sister must make a show of him before half the Vale. And now this?.?.?.?

當(dāng)初她那陰狠的獄吏連走帶爬，跑來告訴她們提利昂·蘭尼斯特有意認(rèn)罪堤魁，凱特琳便力勸萊莎私下會審侏儒妥泉，然而妹妹非得在峽谷貴族面前大肆炫耀一番不可，結(jié)果竟演變至此……

“Lannister is my prisoner,” she told Ser Rodrik as they descended the tower stairs and made their way through the Eyrie’s cold white halls. Catelyn wore plain grey wool with a silvered belt. “My sister must be reminded of that.”

“蘭尼斯特是我的犯人刽沾，”他們步上高塔樓梯锅尘，朝鷹巢城冰冷蒼白的大廳走去時鉴象，她這么對羅德利克爵士說。凱特琳穿了一件樸素的灰羊毛外衣，系上一條鍍銀的腰帶隔盛∷笨唬“我妹妹不能忘記這點■”

At the doors to Lysa’s apartments, they met her uncle storming out. “Going to join the fool’s festival?” Ser Brynden snapped. “I’d tell you to slap some sense into your sister, if I thought it would do any good, but you’d only bruise your hand.”

他們在萊莎居所外遇見叔叔怒氣沖沖地沖出來√父停“這群傻瓜過節(jié)呢，你也去干嘛劫恒？”布林登爵士斥道两嘴，“本來我想叫你甩你妹妹兩個耳光贰您，把她打清醒，可這沒用，你只會打痛自己的手∪郑”

“There was a bird from Riverrun,” Catelyn began, “a letter from Edmure?.?.?.?”

“有只鳥兒從奔流城過來油湖，”凱特琳開口胧瓜，“艾德慕寫信……”

“I know, child.” The black fish that fastened his cloak was Brynden’s only concession to ornament. “I had to hear it from Maester Colemon. I asked your sister for leave to take a thousand seasoned men and ride for Riverrun with all haste. Do you know what she told me? The Vale cannot spare a thousand swords, nor even one, Uncle, she said. You are the Knight of the Gate. Your place is here.” A gust of childish laughter drifted through the open doors behind him, and her uncle glanced darkly over his shoulder. “Well, I told her she could bloody well find herself a new Knight of the Gate. Black fish or no, I am still a Tully. I shall leave for Riverrun by evenfall.”

“孩子孔轴，我知道帽氓，”布林登斗篷上的黑魚漫仆，是他全身上下惟一稱得上裝飾的東西懂扼。“我從柯蒙師傅那兒聽到了消息逝撬。我請你妹妹撥給我一千精兵，火速馳援奔流城回官，結(jié)果你知道她說了些什么？她說“叔叔诀豁，鷹巢城的守軍少不了一個舷胜，更別提一千吨岭，再說你是血門騎士，理應(yīng)留守于此甩恼≈耄”他身后敞開的大門內(nèi)傳出一陣充滿稚氣的笑聲，叔叔沉著臉回頭看了一眼÷碜颍“好吧，反正我告訴她大可再找個新的血門騎士笛谦。無論我是不是黑魚，我到底是徒利家的人灶轰。今天傍晚我就回奔流城。”

Catelyn could not pretend to surprise. “Alone? You know as well as I that you will never survive the high road. Ser Rodrik and I are returning to Winterfell. Come with us, Uncle. I will give you your thousand men. Riverrun will not fight alone.”

凱特琳難掩驚訝之情非凌。“就你一個人喉悴？你我都很清楚一個人走山路根本是找死。正好羅德利克爵士和我也準(zhǔn)備回臨冬城去起惕。叔叔惹想，跟我們一道走罷，那一千精兵我來給。奔流城絕不會孤軍作戰(zhàn)娃磺。”

Brynden thought a moment, then nodded a brusque agreement. “As you say. It’s the long way home, but I’m more like to get there. I’ll wait for you below.” He went striding off, his cloak swirling behind him.

布林登沉吟半晌，然后唐突地點點頭晌梨。“那就這樣掌逛。雖然是繞遠路篓像，但我抵達的機會卻也比較大盒粮。我在下面等你丹皱《恃ǎ”說完他大跨步離去，披風(fēng)在背后飄蕩摊崭。

Catelyn exchanged a look with Ser Rodrik. They went through the doors to the high, nervous sound of a child’s giggles.

凱特琳與羅德利克爵士交換了個眼色讼油，接著穿過大門，朝那一片高亢尖銳呢簸，卻又焦慮不安的孩童嘻笑聲走去。

Lysa’s apartments opened over a small garden, a circle of dirt and grass planted with blue flowers and ringed on all sides by tall white towers. The builders had intended it as a godswood, but the Eyrie rested on the hard stone of the mountain, and no matter how much soil was hauled up from the Vale, they could not get a weirwood to take root here. So the Lords of the Eyrie planted grass and scattered statuary amidst low, flowering shrubs. It was there the two champions would meet to place their lives, and that of Tyrion Lannister, into the hands of the gods.

萊莎的居所位于一座小花園之上根时，花園呈圓圈狀瘦赫，白色高塔環(huán)繞四周「蛴花園的泥土和青草上種植著藍色花朵确虱，當(dāng)初工匠的原意是要栽培神木林，然而鷹巢城立基于山巔堅硬的磐石之上替裆，無論自艾林谷運來多少沃壤校辩，依舊不能讓魚梁木在此生根茁長。于是歷任公爵改種草坪扎唾，并在花朵繁茂的矮樹叢間放置雕像召川。兩位決斗者與提利昂·蘭尼斯特的性命，便將在此交付天上諸神胸遇，做出最后決斷荧呐。

Lysa, freshly scrubbed and garbed in cream velvet with a rope of sapphires and moonstones around her milk-white neck, was holding court on the terrace overlooking the scene of the combat, surrounded by her knights, retainers, and lords high and low. Most of them still hoped to wed her, bed her, and rule the Vale of Arryn by her side. From what Catelyn had seen during her stay at the Eyrie, it was a vain hope.

萊莎剛梳洗完畢，換了身奶油色的天鵝絨外衣纸镊，乳白的頸項間戴了一串青玉和月長石倍阐，這時正在露天陽臺上主持集會。該處視野恰好可將決斗過程盡收眼底逗威，萊莎身邊圍滿了隨從峰搪、騎士、以及大小領(lǐng)主凯旭。其中大部分人依舊懷著希望概耻，想娶她睡她，然后與她并肩統(tǒng)治艾林谷罐呼。但就凱特琳這些天來在鷹巢城所見判斷鞠柄，他們的希望不大。

A wooden platform had been built to elevate Robert’s chair; there the Lord of the Eyrie sat, giggling and clapping his hands as a humpbacked puppeteer in blue-and-white motley made two wooden knights hack and slash at each other. Pitchers of thick cream and baskets of blackberries had been set out, and the guests were sipping a sweet orange-scented wine from engraved silver cups. A fool’s festival, Brynden had called it, and small wonder.

勞勃坐在高高的椅子上嫉柴，座位下方搭了個木臺厌杜，眼前有個穿著藍白弄臣服的駝背木偶師，正操縱兩個木頭騎士相互砍殺，逗得鷹巢城公爵咯咯直笑夯尽，不停鼓掌瞧壮。陽臺上擺了一罐罐濃乳酪，以及一籃籃黑莓匙握，賓客們正手拿雕花銀杯咆槽，啜飲一種摻了橙香的甜葡萄酒。傻瓜過節(jié)肺孤，難怪布林登這么說嗜傅。

Across the terrace, Lysa laughed gaily at some jest of Lord Hunter’s, and nibbled a blackberry from the point of Ser Lyn Corbray’s dagger. They were the suitors who stood highest in Lysa’s favor?.?.?.?today, at least. Catelyn would have been hard-pressed to say which man was more unsuitable. Eon Hunter was even older than Jon Arryn had been, half-crippled by gout, and cursed with three quarrelsome sons, each more grasping than the last. Ser Lyn was a different sort of folly; lean and handsome, heir to an ancient but impoverished house, but vain, reckless, hot-tempered?.?.?.?and, it was whispered, notoriously uninterested in the intimate charms of women.

陽臺上强戴，杭特伯爵說了個笑話噪矛，引得萊莎開懷大笑放可，然后她又從林恩·科布瑞爵士的匕首上咬過一顆黑莓。眾位追求者中茫叭，便數(shù)他倆最得萊莎歡心……至少酬屉，今天的情形是如此。若問凱特琳他們誰比較不適合揍愁，她還真無從答起呐萨。伊恩·杭特的年紀(jì)比瓊恩·艾林更大，害了痛風(fēng)莽囤，走起路來有些跛谬擦，膝下還有三個爭吵不休的兒子，一個比一個貪婪朽缎。林恩爵士則是另一番荒唐相惨远，他苗條英俊，是古老而衰敗的科布瑞家族的繼承人话肖，但他性好虛榮北秽，脾氣暴躁，行事又不加思考……有人更謠傳最筒，他對男文之間的親密關(guān)系出了名的沒興趣贺氓。

When Lysa espied Catelyn, she welcomed her with a sisterly embrace and a moist kiss on the cheek. “Isn’t it a lovely morning? The gods are smiling on us. Do try a cup of the wine, sweet sister. Lord Hunter was kind enough to send for it, from his own cellars.”

萊莎遠遠望見凱特琳，立即起身熱情擁抱床蜘，還在她頰上印下濕濕一吻辙培。“早上天氣可真好邢锯，你說是不是扬蕊？天上諸神都在對我們微笑呢。親愛的姐姐弹囚，快嘗嘗這酒，這是杭特大人特意從他自家酒窖里送來的领曼∨葛模”

“Thank you, no. Lysa, we must talk.”

“謝謝蛮穿，不用了。萊莎毁渗，我要跟你談?wù)劶酢！?/p>

“After,” her sister promised, already beginning to turn away from her.

“等下再說灸异「剩”妹妹剛出口保證，就轉(zhuǎn)身準(zhǔn)備離開肺樟。

“Now.” Catelyn spoke more loudly than she’d intended. Men were turning to look. “Lysa, you cannot mean to go ahead with this folly. Alive, the Imp has value. Dead, he is only food for crows. And if his champion should prevail here...”

“現(xiàn)在要談檐春。”凱特琳不自覺地提高音量么伯，引來旁人轉(zhuǎn)頭觀望疟暖。“萊莎田柔，你不能這樣胡鬧下去俐巴。小惡魔活著才有價值，死了就只能喂烏鴉硬爆。若是他的代理騎士打贏——”

“Small chance of that, my lady,” Lord Hunter assured her, patting her shoulder with a liver-spotted hand. “Ser Vardis is a doughty fighter. He will make short work of the sellsword.”

“夫人欣舵，我看沒這可能∽嚎模”杭特爵士伸出布滿老人斑的手拍拍她肩膀缘圈，向她保證∨捌铮“瓦狄斯爵士武藝超群准验，三兩下便可把那傭兵解決掉⊥⒚唬”

“Will he, my lord?” Catelyn said coolly. “I wonder.” She had seen Bronn fight on the high road; it was no accident that he had survived the journey while other men had died. He moved like a panther, and that ugly sword of his seemed a part of his arm.

“大人糊饱，你就這么有把握？”凱特琳冷冷地說颠黎，“我可不敢說另锋。”她在山路上親眼見識過波隆的身手狭归，他之所以能活到現(xiàn)在夭坪，絕非偶然。他行動靈敏宛如獵豹过椎，那柄丑陋的劍更仿佛與他手臂合為一體室梅。

Lysa’s suitors were gathering around them like bees round a blossom. “Women understand little of these things,” Ser Morton Waynwood said. “Ser Vardis is a knight, sweet lady. This other fellow, well, his sort are all cowards at heart. Useful enough in a battle, with thousands of their fellows around them, but stand them up alone and the manhood leaks right out of them.”

萊莎的追求者們紛紛聚集過來，如同圍繞花朵的蜜蜂⊥鍪螅“女人家哪懂這種事赏殃？”莫頓·韋伍德爵士道，“親愛的夫人间涵，瓦狄斯爵士乃堂堂騎士仁热。至于那家伙嘛，呵勾哩，他那種人骨子里都是懦夫抗蠢。打仗的時候，幾千個聚在一起思劳，還管點用迅矛，可叫他一對一與人單打獨斗，諒他沒這能耐敢艰∥芷颍”

“Say you have the truth of it, then,” Catelyn said with a courtesy that made her mouth ache. “What will we gain by the dwarf’s death? Do you imagine that Jaime will care a fig that we gave his brother a trial before we flung him off a mountain?”

“就算是這樣，”凱特琳硬裝出來的禮貌口吻钠导，連自己都受不了震嫉。“敢問侏儒死了對我們有何好處牡属？只要我們把他丟下山崖票堵，您覺得詹姆會在乎我們有沒有事先舉行審判嗎？”

“Behead the man,” Ser Lyn Corbray suggested. “When the Kingslayer receives the Imp’s head, it will be a warning to him,”

“干脆把他腦袋砍了逮栅，”林恩·科布瑞爵士提議悴势，“再把首級送給弒君者，當(dāng)作給他的警告措伐√叵耍”

Lysa gave an impatient shake of her waist-long auburn hair. “Lord Robert wants to see him fly,” she said, as if that settled the matter. “And the Imp has only himself to blame. It was he who demanded a trial by combat.”

萊莎不耐煩地甩甩及腰的紅棕長發(fā)〗募樱“勞勃大人想要看他飛捧存，”她的語氣仿佛在為這場爭執(zhí)劃下句點〉０埽“要怪也只能怪小惡魔自己昔穴，當(dāng)初要求比武審判的也是他√崆埃”

“Lady Lysa had no honorable way to deny him, even if she’d wished to,” Lord Hunter intoned ponderously.

“即使萊莎夫人想拒絕吗货，也無法在兼顧禮數(shù)的前提下辦到”吠”杭特伯爵語氣沉重地發(fā)言宙搬。

Ignoring them all, Catelyn turned all her force on her sister. “I remind you, Tyrion Lannister is my prisoner.”

凱特琳不理睬他們笨腥，把所有的力氣都用來對付妹妹∮露猓“容我提醒你扇雕，提利昂·蘭尼斯特是我的犯人】悖”

“And I remind you, the dwarf murdered my lord husband!” Her voice rose. “He poisoned the Hand of the King and left my sweet baby fatherless, and now I mean to see him pay!” Whirling, her skirts swinging around her, Lysa stalked across the terrace. Ser Lyn and Ser Morton and the other suitors excused themselves with cool nods and trailed after her.

“讓我也提醒你，侏儒謀害的是我丈夫础淤！”她提高音量崭放。“他毒害了國王的首相鸽凶，讓我寶貝小小年紀(jì)就沒了父親币砂，現(xiàn)在我要他付出代價！”萊莎旋身玻侥，裙裾跟著飛揚决摧，她昂首闊步地走到陽臺的一邊。林恩爵士凑兰、莫頓爵士和其他追求者冷冰冰地點頭致意掌桩，跟在她身后離去。

“Do you think he did?” Ser Rodrik asked her quietly when they were alone again. “Murder Lord Jon, that is? The Imp still denies it, and most fiercely?.?.?.?”

“您認(rèn)為真的是他干的嗎姑食？”只剩他們倆后波岛，羅德利克爵士悄聲問她∫舭耄“謀害瓊恩大人的事则拷，是真的嗎？小惡魔始終否認(rèn)曹鸠，堅決否認(rèn)……”

“I believe the Lannisters murdered Lord Arryn,” Catelyn replied, “but whether it was Tyrion, or Ser Jaime, or the queen, or all of them together, I could not begin to say.” Lysa had named Cersei in the letter she had sent to Winterfell, but now she seemed certain that Tyrion was the killer?.?.?.?perhaps because the dwarf was here, while the queen was safe behind the walls of the Red Keep, hundreds of leagues to the south. Catelyn almost wished she had burned her sister’s letter before reading it.

“我相信謀害艾林大人的是蘭尼斯特家的人煌茬，”凱特琳回答：“但究竟是提利昂，還是詹姆爵士彻桃，抑或王后坛善，甚至三人都有份，我就不敢說了叛薯』胍鳎”當(dāng)初萊莎送到臨冬城的信上指稱瑟曦為兇手，而現(xiàn)在她似乎又認(rèn)定提利昂才是真兇……這難道因為侏儒近在眼前耗溜，王后卻在好幾百里格以外的南方组力，安全地躲在紅堡高墻之后？凱特琳不禁希望自己當(dāng)初在沒拆信之前抖拴，就先把它燒掉燎字。

Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. “Poison, well?.?.?.?that could be the dwarf’s work, true enough. Or Cersei’s. It’s said poison is a woman’s weapon, begging your pardons, my lady. The Kingslayer, now?.?.?.?I have no great liking for the man, but he’s not the sort. Too fond of the sight of blood on that golden sword of his. Was it poison, my lady?”

羅德利克爵士捻捻胡須腥椒。“若用毒藥候衍，那么……的確有可能是侏儒下的手笼蛛，或者瑟曦。夫人蛉鹿，我無意冒犯滨砍，但人們不都說毒藥是女人的武器嗎？至于弒君者妖异，呃……我對此人無甚好感惋戏，但他不像是會做這種事的人。他太喜歡看自己那把黃金寶劍染血了他膳。夫人响逢，真的是用毒藥？”

Catelyn frowned, vaguely uneasy. “How else could they make it look a natural death?” Behind her, Lord Robert shrieked with delight as one of the puppet knights sliced the other in half, spilling a flood of red sawdust onto the terrace. She glanced at her nephew and sighed. “The boy is utterly without discipline. He will never be strong enough to rule unless he is taken away from his mother for a time.”

凱特琳有些不安地皺皺眉：“不然還有什么能造成自然死亡的假象棕孙？”身后舔亭，勞勃公爵眼見一個傀儡騎士把另外一個砍成兩半，灑了一地紅木屑蟀俊，開心得興奮尖叫钦铺。她瞄了外甥一眼，不禁嘆氣肢预≈奥眨“那孩子一點教養(yǎng)都沒有。除非讓他離開母親身邊一段時間误甚，否則他永遠不會有統(tǒng)治的能力缚甩。”

“His lord father agreed with you,” said a voice at her elbow. She turned to behold Maester Colemon, a cup of wine in his hand. “He was planning to send the boy to Dragonstone for fostering, you know?.?.?.?oh, but I’m speaking out of turn.” The apple of his throat bobbed anxiously beneath the loose maester’s chain. “I fear I’ve had too much of Lord Hunter’s excellent wine. The prospect of bloodshed has my nerves all a-fray?.?.?.?”

“他的先父也有同感窑邦∩猛”身旁有個聲音接口。她轉(zhuǎn)過頭冈钦，看見手拿酒杯的柯蒙學(xué)士郊丛。“事實上瞧筛，他原本打算送這孩子去龍石島做養(yǎng)子厉熟，您知道……唉，我這是說了不該說的話较幌∽嵘”他的喉結(jié)在松垂的學(xué)士鎖鏈下方焦慮地起伏≌“恐怕我喝多了杭特大人的好酒绢片。流血之事總教我緊張……”

“You are mistaken, Maester,” Catelyn said. “It was Casterly Rock, not Dragonstone, and those arrangements were made after the Hand’s death, without my sister’s consent.”

“學(xué)士滤馍，你一定是弄錯了，”凱特琳道底循，“是凱巖城巢株，不是龍石島，而且還是首相死后熙涤，未經(jīng)我妹妹同意安排的阁苞。”

The maester’s head jerked so vigorously at the end of his absurdly long neck that he looked half a puppet himself. “No, begging your forgiveness, my lady, but it was Lord Jon who...”

學(xué)士的頭猛地一抖祠挫，配上他長得出奇的脖子猬错，看起來活像個木偶∪灼纾“不，請您原諒显沈，夫人软瞎，這是瓊恩大人他自己——”

A bell tolled loudly below them. High lords and serving girls alike broke off what they were doing and moved to the balustrade. Below, two guardsmen in sky-blue cloaks led forth Tyrion Lannister. The Eyrie’s plump septon escorted him to the statue in the center of the garden, a weeping woman carved in veined white marble, no doubt meant to be Alyssa.

他們下方鈴聲大作。貴族和侍女都不約而同放下手邊的事拉讯，走到欄桿旁邊涤浇。臺下，兩名身著天藍色披風(fēng)的衛(wèi)兵領(lǐng)著提利昂·蘭尼斯特出來魔慷。鷹巢城的臃腫修士伴他走到花園中央的石像旁只锭。那是一座用帶紋理的白色大理石雕刻出的、正在哭泣的女人院尔，無疑便是阿萊莎蜻展。

“The bad little man,” Lord Robert said, giggling. “Mother, can I make him fly? I want to see him fly.”

“小壞蛋來了，”勞勃公爵咯咯笑道邀摆，“媽咪纵顾，我可以讓他飛了嗎？我想看他飛栋盹∈┯猓”

“Later, my sweet baby,” Lysa promised him.

“再等一等，小寶貝例获『憾睿”萊莎向他保證。

“Trial first,” drawled Ser Lyn Corbray, “then execution.”

“先審判榨汤，”林恩·科布瑞爵士慢條斯理地說蠕搜，“再處決∈蘸荆”

A moment later the two champions appeared from opposite sides of the garden. The knight was attended by two young squires, the sellsword by the Eyrie’s master-at-arms.

片刻之后讥脐，兩名決斗者也從花園兩邊進場遭居。騎士身邊跟了兩個年輕侍從，傭兵則由兩位鷹巢城的士兵侍候旬渠。

Ser Vardis Egen was steel from head to heel, encased in heavy plate armor over mail and padded surcoat. Large circular rondels, enameled cream-and-blue in the moon-and-falcon sigil of House Arryn, protected the vulnerable juncture of arm and breast. A skirt of lobstered metal covered him from waist to midthigh, while a solid gorget encircled his throat. Falcon’s wings sprouted from the temples of his helm, and his visor was a pointed metal beak with a narrow slit for vision.

瓦狄斯·伊根爵士穿了鎖甲和加墊外衣俱萍，其外從頭到腳都被厚重的鋼甲所覆蓋。許多金屬圓碟保護著手臂和胸膛間鎧甲的交接處告丢，它們都被涂成藍白相間的艾林家族新月獵鷹紋章的式樣枪蘑。腰部到大腿罩著一件龍蝦甲殼狀的金屬裙，脖子上則有一道堅固的頸甲岖免。他的頭盔兩側(cè)展出鷹翼岳颇，面罩是尖銳的鷹喙形狀，只留一條細縫容他觀察颅湘。

Bronn was so lightly armored he looked almost naked beside the knight. He wore only a shirt of black oiled ringmail over boiled leather, a round steel halfhelm with a noseguard, and a mail coif. High leather boots with steel shinguards gave some protection to his legs, and discs of black iron were sewn into the fingers of his gloves. Yet Catelyn noted that the sellsword stood half a hand taller than his foe, with a longer reach?.?.?.?and Bronn was fifteen years younger, if she was any judge.

輕裝便甲的波隆话侧，站在騎士身旁簡直渾似赤身裸體。他只穿了件硬皮衣闯参，外罩上好油的黑環(huán)甲瞻鹏，戴上金屬頭套和帶護鼻的半罩圓盔。他挑了雙高統(tǒng)皮靴鹿寨，前端有鋼制護腿新博，手套的指頭部分縫上了黑鐵環(huán)。凱特琳注意到傭兵足足比他的對手高出一頭脚草，手也較長……更別提兩人的年齡差距了赫悄，根據(jù)她的目測，波隆起碼年輕十五歲馏慨。

They knelt in the grass beneath the weeping woman, facing each other, with Lannister between them. The septon removed a faceted crystal sphere from the soft cloth bag at his waist. He lifted it high above his head, and the light shattered. Rainbows danced across the Imp’s face. In a high, solemn, singsong voice, the septon asked the gods to look down and bear witness, to find the truth in this man’s soul, to grant him life and freedom if he was innocent, death if he was guilty. His voice echoed off the surrounding towers.

他們在哭泣女人雕像腳下的草坪上面對面單膝跪地埂淮，蘭尼斯特站在兩人中間。修士從腰間的軟布袋里取出一個多面水晶写隶，高舉過頭同诫，光線隨即散射開來。七彩虹光輕躍過小惡魔的臉龐樟澜。修士以高亢误窖、莊嚴(yán)，近乎歌唱的聲調(diào)秩贰，請求天上諸神作見證霹俺，找出這人靈魂中的真相，若他無辜毒费，則還其自由丙唧，若其有罪，則賜之以死觅玻。他的聲音在四周的塔樓間回蕩想际。

When the last echo had died away, the septon lowered his crystal and made a hasty departure. Tyrion leaned over and whispered something in Bronn’s ear before the guardsmen led him away. The sellsword rose laughing and brushed a blade of grass from his knee.

當(dāng)最后一抹余音散去培漏，修士放下水晶，快步離去胡本。提利昂在衛(wèi)兵將他帶走前牌柄，湊到波隆耳邊低聲說了幾句，傭兵聽了哈哈大笑侧甫，起身拍拍膝蓋上的草珊佣。

Robert Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale, was fidgeting impatiently in his elevated chair. “When are they going to fight?” he asked plaintively.

鷹巢城公爵與峽谷守護者勞勃·艾林此時正不耐煩地在高高的座椅上扭來扭去∨冢“他們什么時候開打咒锻？”他哀怨地問。

Ser Vardis was helped back to his feet by one of his squires. The other brought him a triangular shield almost four feet tall, heavy oak dotted with iron studs. They strapped it to his left forearm. When Lysa’s master-at-arms offered Bronn a similar shield, the sellsword spat and waved it away. Three days growth of coarse black beard covered his jaw and cheeks, but if he did not shave it was not for want of a razor; the edge of his sword had the dangerous glimmer of steel that had been honed every day for hours, until it was too sharp to touch.

瓦狄斯爵士的侍從之一扶他起身守屉，另一個則為他拿來長近四尺惑艇，厚重橡木所制，表面有鐵釘?shù)娜切味芘颇捶骸晌皇虖膮f(xié)力替他把盾綁在左臂前端滨巴。萊莎的士兵遞給波隆一面類似的護盾，但傭兵啐了口唾沫碰镜，揮手拒絕。三天沒刮的粗黑胡子蓋住了他的下巴和兩頰习瑰，但他決非沒有剃刀绪颖。他的劍鋒閃著致命的光澤，看得出每天都花好幾個小時打磨甜奄，直到鋒利得血肉難近為止柠横。

Ser Vardis held out a gauntleted hand, and his squire placed a handsome double-edged longsword in his grasp. The blade was engraved with a delicate silver tracery of a mountain sky; its pommel was a falcon’s head, its crossguard fashioned into the shape of wings. “I had that sword crafted for Jon in King’s Landing,” Lysa told her guests proudly as they watched Ser Vardis try a practice cut. “He wore it whenever he sat the Iron Throne in King Robert’s place. Isn’t it a lovely thing? I thought it only fitting that our champion avenge Jon with his own blade.”

瓦狄斯爵士伸出一只戴著鐵護腕的手，他的侍從遞過一把漂亮的课兄、兩面開刃的長劍牍氛。劍身用銀線雕鏤出山間長空的紋理，劍柄如獵鷹的頭烟阐，護手則是兩只翅膀搬俊。“這把劍是我在君臨的時候特意叫人為瓊恩鑄的蜒茄，”萊莎驕傲地告訴她的賓客唉擂，他們都看著瓦狄斯爵士嘗試揮舞√锤穑“每當(dāng)他代替勞勃國王坐上鐵王座玩祟，他總會配戴這柄劍。你們說它漂不漂亮屿聋？我認(rèn)為讓我們的騎士手持瓊恩的劍替他復(fù)仇空扎，是再恰當(dāng)也不過了藏鹊。”

The engraved silver blade was beautiful beyond a doubt, but it seemed to Catelyn that Ser Vardis might have been more comfortable with his own sword. Yet she said nothing; she was weary of futile arguments with her sister.

雕花銀劍固然漂亮转锈，但在凱特琳看來盘寡，若讓瓦狄斯爵士用他自己的武器會更稱手『诔溃可她深知與妹妹爭執(zhí)徒勞無功宴抚，因此什么也沒說。

“Make them fight!” Lord Robert called out.

“叫他們快打甫煞！”勞勃公爵大喊菇曲。

Ser Vardis faced the Lord of the Eyrie and lifted his sword in salute. “For the Eyrie and the Vale!”

瓦狄斯爵士轉(zhuǎn)身面向鷹巢城公爵，舉劍致敬抚吠〕３保“為鷹巢城和艾林谷而戰(zhàn)！”

Tyrion Lannister had been seated on a balcony across the garden, flanked by his guards. It was to him that Bronn turned with a cursory salute.

提利昂·蘭尼斯特被安排坐在花園對面的露天陽臺上楷力，身邊圍滿了守衛(wèi)喊式。波隆轉(zhuǎn)身漫不經(jīng)心地朝他做了個敬禮的動作。

“They await your command,” Lady Lysa said to her lord son.

“他們就等你命令了萧朝〔砹簦”萊莎夫人告訴她的公爵兒子。

“Fight!” the boy screamed, his arms trembling as they clutched at his chair.

“快打检柬！”男孩尖叫献联，兩手緊握座椅扶手，不住地顫抖何址。

Ser Vardis swiveled, bringing up his heavy shield. Bronn turned to face him. Their swords rang together, once, twice, a testing. The sellsword backed off a step. The knight came after, holding his shield before him. He tried a slash, but Bronn jerked back, just out of reach, and the silver blade cut only air. Bronn circled to his right. Ser Vardis turned to follow, keeping his shield between them. The knight pressed forward, placing each foot carefully on the uneven ground. The sellsword gave way, a faint smile playing over his lips. Ser Vardis attacked, slashing, but Bronn leapt away from him, hopping lightly over a low, moss-covered stone. Now the sellsword circled left, away from the shield, toward the knight’s unprotected side. Ser Vardis tried a hack at his legs, but he did not have the reach. Bronn danced farther to his left. Ser Vardis turned in place.

瓦狄斯爵士立刻旋身里逆，舉起重盾。波隆也轉(zhuǎn)過來面對他用爪。兩人的長劍交鋒一次原押，兩次，彼此試探偎血。傭兵后退一步诸衔，騎士舉盾在前追趕。他揮出一劍颇玷，但波隆猛地后跳署隘，躲到攻擊范圍之外，銀劍劃過空氣亚隙。波隆轉(zhuǎn)向右邊磁餐，瓦狄斯爵士跟過去，依然高舉護盾。騎士向前逼近诊霹，一步一步羞延、小心翼翼地踩在不平坦的地面上。傭兵嘴邊掛著淡淡的微笑脾还，不斷后退伴箩。瓦狄斯爵士揮劍猛攻，可波隆跳得更快鄙漏，輕盈地躍過一塊長滿青苔的低矮石頭嗤谚。然后傭兵往左邊繞，遠離盾牌怔蚌，朝騎士沒有保護的那方而去巩步。瓦狄斯爵士想砍他的腿，然而距離太遠桦踊。波隆再往左跳椅野，瓦狄斯爵士也跟著轉(zhuǎn)身。

“The man is craven,” Lord Hunter declared. “Stand and fight, coward! “ Other voices echoed the sentiment.

“這家伙是個懦夫籍胯，”杭特伯爵道竟闪，“膽小鬼，有種就光明正大地打杖狼！”其他人也同聲附和炼蛤。

Catelyn looked to Ser Rodrik. Her master-at-arms gave a curt shake of his head. “He wants to make Ser Vardis chase him. The weight of armor and shield will tire even the strongest man.”

凱特琳望向羅德利克爵士。她的教頭簡短地搖頭道：“他故意讓瓦狄斯爵士追他蝶涩。全副武裝加上盾牌理朋，再強壯的人也會很快疲累∽釉ⅲ”

She had seen men practice at their swordplay near every day of her life, had viewed half a hundred tourneys in her time, but this was something different and deadlier: a dance where the smallest misstep meant death. And as she watched, the memory of another duel in another time came back to Catelyn Stark, as vivid as if it had been yesterday.

其實暗挑，她幾乎是看著他人練劍長大胁编，觀賞過的比武競技不只半百轻掩，然而眼前這場決斗卻與之殊異蠕趁，更為致命：一招棋錯，便在劫難逃鲜屏。看著這番場景国拇，凱特琳·史塔克卻憶起了在不同時間洛史，不同地點，曾經(jīng)發(fā)生過的另一場決斗酱吝，在腦海中歷歷如繪也殖，恍如昨日。

They met in the lower bailey of Riverrun. When Brandon saw that Petyr wore only helm and breastplate and mail, he took off most of his armor. Petyr had begged her for a favor he might wear, but she had turned him away. Her lord father promised her to Brandon Stark, and so it was to him that she gave her token, a pale blue handscarf she had embroidered with the leaping trout of Riverrun. As she pressed it into his hand, she pleaded with him. “He is only a foolish boy, but I have loved him like a brother. It would grieve me to see him die.” And her betrothed looked at her with the cool grey eyes of a Stark and promised to spare the boy who loved her.

那是在奔流城的下層庭院。布蘭登眼見培提爾只穿戴頭盔忆嗜、護胸和鎖甲己儒，便也脫去自己的大半護具。當(dāng)時培提爾懇求她以信物相贈捆毫，卻被她拒絕闪湾。既然她被父親大人許配給布蘭登·史塔克，她的信物自然歸他所有绩卤。那是由她親手縫制的淡藍手帕途样，上面繡著奔流城的飛躍鱒魚。當(dāng)她把手帕塞進他手中時濒憋，她向他懇求：“他只是個傻孩子何暇，但我把他當(dāng)?shù)艿芤粯犹蹛邸Ｋ羰撬懒税峡唬視茈y過赖晶。”她的未婚夫聽了辐烂，便用那雙史塔克家的冷靜灰眸看著她遏插，并答應(yīng)饒那瘋狂愛著她的小子一命。

That fight was over almost as soon as it began. Brandon was a man grown, and he drove Littlefinger all the way across the bailey and down the water stair, raining steel on him with every step, until the boy was staggering and bleeding from a dozen wounds. “Yield!” he called, more than once, but Petyr would only shake his head and fight on, grimly. When the river was lapping at their ankles, Brandon finally ended it, with a brutal backhand cut that bit through Petyr’s rings and leather into the soft flesh below the ribs, so deep that Catelyn was certain that the wound was mortal. He looked at her as he fell and murmured “Cat” as the bright blood came flowing out between his mailed fingers. She thought she had forgotten that.

決斗才剛開始便告結(jié)束纠修。已經(jīng)成年的布蘭登逼得小指頭節(jié)節(jié)后退胳嘲，從城堡庭院一直退到臨水階梯，攻勢猛烈扣草，劍如雨下了牛，打得那男孩腳步踉蹌，渾身是傷辰妙∮セ觯“快投降！”他不止一次呼喊密浑，但培提爾總是搖搖頭蛙婴，執(zhí)拗地繼續(xù)奮戰(zhàn)。最后在水深及踝的地方尔破，布蘭登終于做出了斷街图，他反手一記猛烈的揮砍，穿透培提爾的護胸環(huán)甲和皮革懒构，劃破肋骨下方的柔軟血肉餐济，傷口之深，凱特琳以為必定致命胆剧。他倒在血泊中絮姆，一邊凝望著她，喃喃念著“凱特”，同時明艷的鮮血從他鐵手套間汩汩涌出篙悯。這一切冤灾，她以為自己早已遺忘。

That was the last time she had seen his face?.?.?.?until the day she was brought before him in King’s Landing.

那是她最后一次見到他的臉龐……直到那天他們在君臨重逢辕近。

A fortnight passed before Littlefinger was strong enough to leave Riverrun, but her lord father forbade her to visit him in the tower where he lay abed. Lysa helped their maester nurse him; she had been softer and shyer in those days. Edmure had called on him as well, but Petyr had sent him away. Her brother had acted as Brandon’s squire at the duel, and Littlefinger would not forgive that. As soon as he was strong enough to be moved, Lord Hoster Tully sent Petyr Baelish away in a closed litter, to finish his healing on the Fingers, upon the windswept jut of rock where he’d been born.

小指頭足足休養(yǎng)了兩個星期韵吨，才有體力離開奔流城，然而她的父親大人卻禁止她到塔里的病房去探望移宅。是萊莎協(xié)助學(xué)士照顧他归粉，當(dāng)年的她溫柔得多，也害羞得多漏峰。艾德慕也去探望過糠悼，然而培提爾不愿見他。弟弟在決斗中擔(dān)任布蘭登的助手浅乔，小指頭說什么也不能原諒倔喂。待他體力稍稍恢復(fù)，霍斯特·徒利公爵便派人將培提爾·貝里席放進一個密閉小轎靖苇，將他抬回五指半島強風(fēng)呼嘯的嶙峋巨巖席噩，回到他的誕生地繼續(xù)療養(yǎng)。

The ringing clash of steel on steel jarred Catelyn back to the present. Ser Vardis was coming hard at Bronn, driving into him with shield and sword. The sellsword scrambled backward, checking each blow, stepping lithely over rock and root, his eyes never leaving his foe. He was quicker, Catelyn saw; the knight’s silvered sword never came near to touching him, but his own ugly grey blade hacked a notch from Ser Vardis’s shoulder plate.

刀劍的金屬交擊將凱特琳拉回現(xiàn)實贤壁。瓦狄斯爵士劍盾并用悼枢，攻勢猛烈。傭兵不斷后退脾拆，擋下道道攻勢馒索，腳步輕靈地跳過石塊與樹根，眼睛卻從未離開對手名船。凱特琳發(fā)現(xiàn)他的動作極其靈敏绰上，騎士的銀劍始終碰不到他，而他那把丑惡的灰劍卻在瓦狄斯爵士的肩甲上劃了一道渠驼。

The brief flurry of fighting ended as swiftly as it had begun when Bronn sidestepped and slid behind the statue of the weeping woman. Ser Vardis lunged at where he had been, striking a spark off the pale marble of Alyssa’s thigh.

突然蜈块，波隆溜到哭泣女人的雕像背后。瓦狄斯爵士收勢不及渴邦，一劍朝他剛才的位置揮去疯趟，阿萊莎的白色大理石腿上火花迸發(fā)拘哨，兩人這場迅捷的過招才開始沒多久谋梭，便就暫告段落。

“They’re not fighting good, Mother,” the Lord of the Eyrie complained. “I want them to fight.”

“媽咪倦青，他們打得不好看瓮床，”鷹巢城主抱怨，“我要看他們打真的“”

“They will, sweet baby,” his mother soothed him. “The sellsword can’t run all day.”

“寶貝乖踢步，他們馬上就打給你看〕蟛簦”他母親安慰他获印，“傭兵跑不了一整天的〗种荩”

Some of the lords on Lysa’s terrace were making wry jests as they refilled their wine cups, but across the garden, Tyrion Lannister’s mismatched eyes watched the champions dance as if there were nothing else in the world.

萊莎所在的陽臺上兼丰，有些貴族一邊對波隆冷嘲熱諷，一邊斟酒笑鬧唆缴，然而在花園對面鳍征，提利昂-蘭尼斯特那雙大小不一的眼睛卻全神貫注地看著兩位決斗者你來我往，似乎身邊一切都已消失面徽。

Bronn came out from behind the statue hard and fast, still moving left, aiming a two-handed cut at the knight’s unshielded right side. Ser Vardis blocked, but clumsily, and the sellsword’s blade flashed upward at his head. Metal rang, and a falcon’s wing collapsed with a crunch. Ser Vardis took a half step back to brace himself, raised his shield. Oak chips flew as Bronn’s sword hacked at the wooden wall. The sellsword stepped left again, away from the shield, and caught Ser Vardis across the stomach, the razor edge of his blade leaving a bright gash when it bit into the knight’s plate.

波隆倏地自雕像后竄出艳丛，依舊向左，雙手擎劍朝騎士沒有盾牌保護的那邊猛砍趟紊。瓦狄斯爵士雖然擋下氮双，但擋得很勉強。傭兵的劍順勢往上一彈霎匈，朝對方的頭部撲去眶蕉。只聽鏗鏘一聲，獵鷹的一只翅膀應(yīng)聲而斷唧躲。瓦狄斯爵士后退半步造挽，穩(wěn)住身子，然后又舉起盾牌弄痹。波隆的劍攻向這道木墻饭入，砍得木屑四濺。傭兵再度向左肛真，避開盾牌谐丢，一劍正中瓦狄斯爵士腹部，在騎士的鎧甲上留下一道鮮明的裂口蚓让。

Ser Vardis drove forward off his back foot, his own silver blade descending in a savage arc. Bronn slammed it aside and danced away. The knight crashed into the weeping woman, rocking her on her plinth. Staggered, he stepped backward, his head turning this way and that as he searched for his foe. The slit visor of his helm narrowed his vision.

瓦狄斯爵士后腳一蹬乾忱，手中銀劍凌空揮出一道兇猛的圓弧。波隆硬是把它撥開历极，然后跳出去窄瘟。騎士撞上哭泣的女人，震得她在基座上搖晃趟卸。他踉蹌著退開蹄葱，左顧右盼搜索對手氏义，面罩上的細縫限制了他的視線。

“Behind you, ser!” Lord Hunter shouted, too late. Bronn brought his sword down with both hands, catching Ser Vardis in the elbow of his sword arm. The thin lobstered metal that protected the joint crunched. The knight grunted, turning, wrenching his weapon up. This time Bronn stood his ground. The swords flew at each other, and their steel song filled the garden and rang off the white towers of the Eyrie.

“爵士先生图云，在你后面惯悠！”杭特伯爵大喝，可惜為時已晚竣况。波隆雙手舉劍克婶，狠狠往下一斬，正中瓦狄斯爵士的右手肘丹泉。保護關(guān)節(jié)的細薄圓碟響聲大作鸠补。騎士悶哼著轉(zhuǎn)身，托起長劍嘀掸。這回波隆守在原地紫岩，兩人你來我往，刀劍交織出的金屬歌聲響徹花園睬塌，回蕩在鷹巢城的七座白塔之間泉蝌。

“Ser Vardis is hurt,” Ser Rodrik said, his voice grave.

“瓦狄斯爵士受傷了】纾”羅德利克爵士語氣沉重地說勋陪。

Catelyn did not need to be told; she had eyes, she could see the bright finger of blood running along the knight’s forearm, the wetness inside the elbow joint. Every parry was a little slower and a little lower than the one before. Ser Vardis turned his side to his foe, trying to use his shield to block instead, but Bronn slid around him, quick as a cat. The sellsword seemed to be getting stronger. His cuts were leaving their marks now. Deep shiny gashes gleamed all over the knight’s armor, on his right thigh, his beaked visor, crossing on his breastplate, a long one along the front of his gorget. The moon-and-falcon rondel over Ser Vardis’s right arm was sheared clean in half, hanging by its strap. They could hear his labored breath, rattling through the air holes in his visor.

不需他說，凱特琳也看得見鮮血正如無數(shù)手指硫兰，從他前臂緩緩流下诅愚，她還看得見他手肘關(guān)節(jié)的黏濕。他的每記擋格越來越慢劫映，越來越低违孝。瓦狄斯爵士側(cè)身面對敵人，想用盾牌抵擋攻勢泳赋，然而波隆也跟著側(cè)移雌桑，行動靈敏如貓。而今祖今，傭兵似乎愈發(fā)強壯校坑，他的揮砍陸續(xù)留下痕跡。騎士的鎧甲千诬、右腿耍目、喙?fàn)蠲嬲趾妥o胸，甚至頸甲都印上了深陷的閃亮凹痕徐绑。瓦狄斯爵士右臂的新月獵鷹圓碟被砍成兩截邪驮，掛在皮帶上。他們可以聽見從他面罩里傳出的沉重呼吸泵三。

Blind with arrogance as they were, even the knights and lords of the Vale could see what was happening below them, yet her sister could not. “Enough, Ser Vardis!” Lady Lysa called down. “Finish him now, my baby is growing tired.”

無論在場的眾峽谷騎士和貴族多么高傲自大耕捞，他們都很清楚下面情勢如何，只有妹妹依舊看不到真相烫幕“吵椋“瓦狄斯爵士，打夠了较曼，”萊莎夫人向下高喊磷斧，“快收拾他，我的寶貝等得不耐煩了捷犹〕诜梗”

And it must be said of Ser Vardis Egen that he was true to his lady’s command, even to the last. One moment he was reeling backward, half-crouched behind his scarred shield; the next he charged. The sudden bull rush caught Bronn off balance. Ser Vardis crashed into him and slammed the lip of his shield into the sellsword’s face. Almost, almost, Bronn lost his feet?.?.?.?he staggered back, tripped over a rock, and caught hold of the weeping woman to keep his balance. Throwing aside his shield, Ser Vardis lurched after him, using both hands to raise his sword. His right arm was blood from elbow to fingers now, yet his last desperate blow would have opened Bronn from neck to navel?.?.?.?if the sellsword had stood to receive it.

瓦狄斯·伊根爵士的確是忠心耿耿，至死不渝萍歉。原本他還蹣跚后退侣颂，半蹲著躲在他那傷痕累累的盾牌后面，聽了這話枪孩，他轉(zhuǎn)而向前沖鋒憔晒。這陣突如其來的猛攻大出波隆意外。瓦狄斯爵士跟他撞在一起蔑舞，并將盾牌狠狠地朝傭兵面部砸去拒担，差一點，差一點就把波隆打倒在地……傭兵踉蹌后退攻询，被一塊石頭絆到从撼，趕忙扶住哭泣的女人維持重心。瓦狄斯爵士拋下盾牌钧栖，雙手舉劍猛撲上去低零。他的右手從肘部到指尖全都是血，但他最后的死命一擊足以將波隆從頭到腳劈成兩半……如果傭兵跟他硬碰硬的話拯杠。

But Bronn jerked back. Jon Arryn’s beautiful engraved silver sword glanced off the marble elbow of the weeping woman and snapped clean a third of the way up the blade. Bronn put his shoulder into the statue’s back. The weathered likeness of Alyssa Arryn tottered and fell with a great crash, and Ser Vardis Egen went down beneath her.

反之毁兆，波隆箭步向后跳開。瓊恩·艾林漂亮的雕花銀劍砍到哭泣女人的大理石手肘阴挣，劍身三分之一處應(yīng)聲而斷气堕。這時波隆用肩膀拼命朝雕像背部撞去，飽經(jīng)風(fēng)雨摧殘的阿萊莎·艾林雕像搖晃幾下之后轟然倒下畔咧，將瓦狄斯·伊根爵士壓在下面茎芭。

Bronn was on him in a heartbeat, kicking what was left of his shattered rondel aside to expose the weak spot between arm and breastplate. Ser Vardis was lying on his side, pinned beneath the broken torso of the weeping woman. Catelyn heard the knight groan as the sellsword lifted his blade with both hands and drove it down and in with all his weight behind it, under the arm and through the ribs. Ser Vardis Egen shuddered and lay still.

轉(zhuǎn)瞬間波隆已踏上他身體，踢開殘余的金屬圓碟碎片誓沸，暴露出手臂和胸甲間的脆弱部位梅桩。瓦狄斯爵士側(cè)身躺臥，被斷裂的哭泣女人雕像壓住的軀體無法動彈拜隧。凱特琳聽見騎士不住呻吟宿百。傭兵雙手握劍高舉趁仙，用盡全身力氣，狠命刺進垦页，劃過手臂雀费，穿透肋骨。瓦狄斯·伊根爵士抖了一下痊焊，便不再動彈盏袄。

Silence hung over the Eyrie. Bronn yanked off his halfhelm and let it fall to the grass. His lip was smashed and bloody where the shield had caught him, and his coal-black hair was soaked with sweat. He spit out a broken tooth.

一陣死寂籠罩著鷹巢城。波隆拔掉半罩頭盔薄啥，扔在草坪上辕羽。剛才被盾牌撞到的嘴唇，此刻正流著血垄惧，炭黑色的頭發(fā)也被汗水完全浸濕刁愿。他吐出一顆打落的牙齒。

“Is it over, Mother?” the Lord of the Eyrie asked.

“媽咪到逊，結(jié)束了嗎酌毡？”鷹巢城公爵問。

No, Catelyn wanted to tell him, it’s only now beginning.

不蕾管，凱特琳想告訴他枷踏，一切才剛剛開始。

“Yes,” Lysa said glumly, her voice as cold and dead as the captain of her guard.

“是的掰曾⌒袢洌”萊莎郁悶地說，聲音一如她的侍衛(wèi)隊長那般冰冷而死寂旷坦。

“Can I make the little man fly now?”

“現(xiàn)在我可以讓那個小壞蛋飛了嗎掏熬？”

Across the garden, Tyrion Lannister got to his feet. “Not this little man,” he said. “This little man is going down in the turnip hoist, thank you very much.”

花園的另一頭，提利昂站起身秒梅∑旆遥“總之飛的不會是我這個小壞蛋，”他說捆蜀，“這個小壞蛋打算跟蘿卜一起搭籃子下山去疮丛，感謝您的關(guān)照×舅”

“You presume...” Lysa began.

“你以為——”萊莎開口誊薄。

“I presume that House Arryn remembers its own words,” the Imp said. “As High as Honor.”

“我以為艾林家族還記得他們的族語，”小惡魔道锰茉，“高如榮譽呢蔫。”

“You promised I could make him fly,” the Lord of the Eyrie screamed at his mother. He began to shake.

“你答應(yīng)我可以讓他飛的飒筑∑酰”鷹巢城公爵對他母親尖叫绽昏，然后開始顫抖。

Lady Lysa’s face was flushed with fury. “The gods have seen fit to proclaim him innocent, child. We have no choice but to free him.” She lifted her voice. “Guards. Take my lord of Lannister and his?.?.?.?creature here out of my sight. Escort them to the Bloody Gate and set them free. See that they have horses and supplies sufficient to reach the Trident, and make certain all their goods and weapons are returned to them. They shall need them on the high road.”

萊莎夫人氣得滿臉通紅俏脊∪“孩子，天上諸神認(rèn)為這人無辜联予，除了放他走啼县，我們別無選擇材原》芯茫”她提高音量，“來人余蟹，把蘭尼斯特家的大人和他……那只怪物給我?guī)ё呔砜琛Ｗo送他們到血門，然后放他們自由威酒。要為他們準(zhǔn)備足以維持到三叉戟河的馬匹和糧食窑睁，同時務(wù)必歸還他們一切行李和武器。他們走山路葵孤，想必會很需要這些裝備担钮。”

“The high road,” Tyrion Lannister said. Lysa allowed herself a faint, satisfied smile. It was another sort of death sentence, Catelyn realized. Tyrion Lannister must know that as well. Yet the dwarf favored Lady Arryn with a mocking bow. “As you command, my lady,” he said. “I believe we know the way.”

“走山路尤仍？”提利昂·蘭尼斯特道箫津。萊莎嘴角泛起一絲細小但得意的微笑。凱特琳忽然明白過來宰啦，這不啻另一種死刑苏遥。提利昂·蘭尼斯特想必也很清楚。然而侏儒僅故作禮貌地朝萊莎·艾林鞠了個躬赡模√锾浚“遵命，夫人漓柑〗塘颍”他說，“我們認(rèn)得這條路辆布《霸ィ”