Ⅳ 群鴉的盛宴 Chapter24 瑟曦

CERSEI

國(guó)王不高興地撅起嘴巴银舱”衲洌“我想坐上鐵王座，”他告訴她寻馏，“你讓小喬坐棋弥，憑什么不讓我坐？”

The king was pouting. “I want to sit on the Iron Throne,” he told her. “You always let Joff sit up there.”

“小喬十二歲了诚欠，你呢顽染？”

“Joffrey was twelve.”

“可我是國(guó)王！國(guó)王理當(dāng)坐在王座上轰绵！”

“But I’m the king. The throne belongs to me.”

“誰(shuí)跟你講這些的粉寞？”瑟曦深吸一口氣，讓多卡莎把束腰束得更緊左腔。多卡莎是個(gè)胖女孩唧垦，比塞蕾娜強(qiáng)壯，卻沒(méi)那么靈巧液样。

“Who told you that?” Cersei took a deep breath, so Dorcas could lace her up more tightly. She was a big girl, much stronger than Senelle, though clumsier as well.

托曼臉紅了振亮，“沒(méi)人跟我講”廾В”

Tommen’s face turned red. “No one told me.”

“沒(méi)人双炕？你尊貴的王后是空氣嗎？”從這次叛逆中撮抓，太后完完全全嗅得出瑪格麗·提利爾的味道∫》妫“你敢對(duì)我撒謊丹拯，我只好把佩特找來(lái)站超，打個(gè)皮開(kāi)肉綻了」猿辏”佩特從前是喬佛里的替身兒童死相，現(xiàn)下成了托曼的∫瘢”你想我這樣做嗎算撮？”

“No one? Is that what you call your lady wife?” The queen could smell Margaery Tyrell all over this rebellion. “If you lie to me, I will have no choice but to send for Pate and have him beaten till he bleeds.” Pate was Tommen’s whipping boy, as he had been Joffrey’s. “Is that what you want?”

“不∠匕海”國(guó)王悶悶不樂(lè)地咕噥道肮柜。

“No,” the king muttered sullenly.

“誰(shuí)跟你講這些的？”

“Who told you?”

國(guó)王怏怏地變換著雙腳重心倒彰，“瑪格麗夫人审洞。”他已經(jīng)曉得別在母親面前提起“王后”這頭銜待讳。

He shuffled his feet. “Lady Margaery.” He knew better than to call her queen in his mother’s hearing.

“這就對(duì)了芒澜，托曼。聽(tīng)著创淡，我要處理國(guó)家大事痴晦，這些東西你人還小，弄不明白琳彩，而我不許小孩子在王座上坐臥不寧地用幼稚的問(wèn)題打攪我誊酌。讓我猜猜，瑪格麗還慫恿你參加我的御前會(huì)議汁针，對(duì)嗎术辐？”

“That is better. Tommen, I have grave matters to decide, matters that you are far too young to understand. I do not need a silly little boy fidgeting on the throne behind me and distracting me with childish questions. I suppose Margaery thinks you ought to be at my council meetings too?”

“是的，”男孩承認(rèn)施无，“她要我學(xué)會(huì)王者之風(fēng)辉词。”

“Yes,” he admitted. “She says I have to learn to be king.”

“等你長(zhǎng)大了猾骡，想?yún)⒓佣嗌贂?huì)議都行瑞躺，”瑟曦告訴兒子，“我向你保證兴想，到時(shí)候你厭煩都還來(lái)不及幢哨。勞勃開(kāi)會(huì)時(shí)幾乎都在打瞌睡∩┍悖”如果他舍得出席的話捞镰。“他喜歡打獵放鷹，把冗煩的國(guó)政交給老公爵艾林打理——你還記得這老頭子吧岸售？”

“When you are older, you can attend as many councils as you wish,” Cersei told him. “I promise you, you will soon grow sick of them. Robert used to doze through the sessions.” When he troubled to attend at all. “He preferred to hunt and hawk, and leave the tedium to old Lord Arryn. Do you remember him?”

“他因?yàn)槲竿炊∷懒思！！?/p>

“He died of a bellyache.”

“是啊凸丸，可憐的人拷邢。瞧你這么勤奮好學(xué)，不如先去背誦維斯特洛所有的國(guó)王和首相的姓名吧屎慢，明天早上我來(lái)檢查功課瞭稼。”

“So he did, poor man. As you are so eager to learn, perhaps you should learn the names of all the kings of Westeros and the Hands who served them. You may recite them to me on the morrow.”

“是腻惠，母親环肘。”男孩溫順地答應(yīng)妖枚。

“Yes, Mother,” he said meekly.

“真是我的好孩子廷臼。”她是當(dāng)今攝政王太后绝页，在托曼成年之前荠商，不準(zhǔn)備交出一絲一毫的權(quán)力。既然我可以等续誉，等了半輩子莱没，他自然也可以等。她扮演過(guò)盡職盡責(zé)的女兒酷鸦，扮演過(guò)臉紅害羞的新娘饰躲，扮演過(guò)乖巧順從的妻子；她忍受了勞勃爛醉如泥后的摸索臼隔，忍受了詹姆熔巖爆發(fā)般的妒意嘹裂，忍受了藍(lán)禮無(wú)所不在的玩笑，忍受了瓦里斯假惺惺的竊竊私語(yǔ)摔握，忍受了史坦尼斯鐵青著臉磨牙霍霍寄狼；她戰(zhàn)勝了瓊恩·艾林、戰(zhàn)勝了奈德·史塔克泊愧，還戰(zhàn)勝了自己邪惡、奸詐删咱、殺人不眨眼的侏儒弟弟痰滋。她一直在心中對(duì)自己承諾：笑到最后的笑得最好，總有一天即寡，總有一天我的時(shí)辰會(huì)到來(lái)。瑪格麗·提利爾妄想在我如日中天時(shí)發(fā)起挑戰(zhàn)，我定要將其化為灰燼著蟹。

“That’s my good boy.” The rule was hers; Cersei did not mean to give it up until Tommen came of age. I waited, so can he. I waited half my life. She had played the dutiful daughter, the blushing bride, the pliant wife. She had suffered Robert’s drunken groping, Jaime’s jealousy, Renly’s mockery, Varys with his titters, Stannis endlessly grinding his teeth. She had contended with Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, and her vile, treacherous, murderous dwarf brother, all the while promising herself that one day it would be her turn. If Margaery Tyrell thinks to cheat me of my hour in the sun, she had bloody well think again.

想到灰燼墩蔓，早餐也沒(méi)味道了，其后發(fā)生的事件也未能轉(zhuǎn)變她的心情萧豆。早晨剩下的時(shí)間奸披，瑟曦與蓋爾斯大人和他的賬簿為伴，聽(tīng)對(duì)方在咳嗽間歇中談?wù)摻瘕堜汤住y鹿與銅星阵面。隨后覲見(jiàn)的是維水大人，他報(bào)告說(shuō)有三艘大帆船即將竣工洪鸭，并請(qǐng)求撥付更多預(yù)算样刷，好讓它們看起來(lái)雄偉華貴，符合王家威儀览爵。太后欣然應(yīng)諾置鼻。接著她一邊觀賞月童的跳躍表演，一邊和商人公會(huì)的代表們共進(jìn)午餐蜓竹，傾聽(tīng)對(duì)方抱怨麻雀?jìng)冊(cè)诮质兄兴奶幱问幓福€睡滿了廣場(chǎng)。我是不是該讓金袍子把他們轟出城去俱济？她正思考時(shí)嘶是，派席爾來(lái)了。

Still, it was an ill way to break her fast, and Cersei’s day did not soon improve. She spent the rest of the morning with Lord Gyles and his ledger books, listening to him cough about stars and stags and dragons. After him Lord Waters arrived, to report that the first three dromonds were nearing completion and beg for more gold to finish them in the splendor they deserved. The queen was pleased to grant him his request. Moon Boy capered as she took her midday meal with members of the merchant guilds and listened to them complain about sparrows wandering the streets and sleeping in the squares. I may need to use the gold cloaks to chase these sparrows from the city, she was thinking, when Pycelle intruded.

大學(xué)士最近在御前會(huì)議上難得地激動(dòng)了幾回蛛碌。比如上次開(kāi)會(huì)聂喇，他強(qiáng)烈抗議奧雷恩·維水新任命的大帆船船長(zhǎng)人選——維水想把位子留給年輕人，派席爾看中的則是經(jīng)驗(yàn)授帕，堅(jiān)持要任用自黑水河一戰(zhàn)幸存的船長(zhǎng)跛十〗嬗常“他們不僅老練坞嘀，而且在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上證明了自己的忠誠(chéng)丽涩。”國(guó)師評(píng)價(jià)矮男，但瑟曦認(rèn)為這幫人都太老朽毡鉴，表示支持維水大人的意見(jiàn)〕怕荩“他們證明了自己精于游泳，”太后說(shuō)线婚，“做母親的應(yīng)該舍身衛(wèi)子塞弊，當(dāng)船長(zhǎng)的應(yīng)該與船俱沉【魇颍”對(duì)此枣宫，派席爾很不服氣也颤。

The Grand Maester had been especially querulous in council of late. At the last session he had complained bitterly about the men that Aurane Waters had chosen to captain her new dromonds. Waters meant to give the ships to younger men, whilst Pycelle argued for experience, insisting that the commands should go to those captains who had survived the fires of the Blackwater. “Seasoned men of proven loyalty,” he called them. Cersei called them old, and sided with Lord Waters. “The only thing these captains proved was that they know how to swim,” she’d said. “No mother should outlive her children, and no captain should outlive his ship.” Pycelle had taken the rebuke with ill grace.

可他今天似乎心情不錯(cuò)，甚至擠出來(lái)一點(diǎn)顫巍巍的笑容故觅∪酰“陛下躲查，好消息啊义钉，”他宣布胯府，“威曼·曼德勒遵照您的命令骂因，砍了史坦尼斯大人那洋蔥騎士的頭乘盼〕裾ぃ”

He seemed less choleric today, and even managed a sort of tremulous smile. “Your Grace, glad tidings,” he announced. “Wyman Manderly has done as you commanded, and beheaded Lord Stannis’s onion knight.”

“你確定勺阐？”

“We know this for a certainty?”

“千真萬(wàn)確。走私販的人頭和手臂被掛在白港的高墻上示眾懒闷，威曼保證就是他愤估，而佛雷家的人證實(shí)其所言非虛。他們見(jiàn)過(guò)那顆腦袋——嘴里含著一顆洋蔥——還見(jiàn)到了那雙手昔园，其中一只手的指節(jié)全被削去了默刚。”

“The man’s head and hands have been mounted above the walls of White Harbor. Lord Wyman avows this, and the Freys confirm. They have seen the head there, with an onion in its mouth. And the hands, one marked by his shortened fingers.”

“很好邪锌，”瑟曦道，“派一只烏鴉去曼德勒大人處舶胀，褒揚(yáng)他的忠誠(chéng)，聲明我們立即釋放他兒子轩端』穑”看來(lái)白港很快會(huì)回歸國(guó)王治下弥臼，而盧斯·波頓和他的私生子將毫無(wú)阻礙地南北夾擊卡林灣径缅，只等要塞陷落，波頓的軍團(tuán)便將蕩平托倫方城與深林堡的鐵民氏堤，最后再聯(lián)合奈德·史塔克的諸侯們丽猬，進(jìn)攻史坦尼斯大人谬以。

“Very good,” said Cersei. “Send a bird to Manderly and inform him that his son will be returned forthwith, now that he has demonstrated his loyalty.” White Harbor would soon return to the king’s peace, and Roose Bolton and his bastard son were closing in on Moat Cailin from south and north. Once the Moat was theirs, they would join their strength and clear the ironmen out of Torrhen’s Square and Deepwood Motte as well. That should win them the allegiance of Ned Stark’s remaining bannermen when the time came to march against Lord Stannis.

與此同時(shí)，在南方剪廉，梅斯·提利爾的重兵已然把風(fēng)息堡團(tuán)團(tuán)圍住，并伐木興建了二十多臺(tái)投石機(jī)日夜不停地轟擊那雄偉的城墻泉沾。迄今為止，效果不佳俊马。提利爾大元帥解寝，瑟曦輕蔑地想，他的紋章應(yīng)該是坐在地上嘉抓、一籌莫展的胖子才對(duì)。

To the south, meanwhile, Mace Tyrell had raised a city of tents outside Storm’s End and had two dozen mangonels flinging stones against the castle’s massive walls, thus far to small effect. Lord Tyrell the warrior, the queen mused. His sigil ought to be a fat man sitting on his arse.

當(dāng)天下午敞斋，古板的布拉佛斯使節(jié)再度求見(jiàn)植捎。太后已經(jīng)忽悠了他半個(gè)月舌剂，很想再拖個(gè)一年半載霍转，但蓋爾斯大人說(shuō)自己再也應(yīng)付不了了……哎低滩，蓋爾斯除了會(huì)咳嗽均驶，還會(huì)什么呢？

That afternoon the dour Braavosi envoy turned up for his audience. Cersei had put him off for a fortnight and would have gladly put him off another year, but Lord Gyles claimed he could no longer deal with the man … though the queen was starting to wonder if Gyles was capable of doing anything but coughing.

布拉佛斯人自稱納霍·第米提斯妇穴。惡心的人配上惡心的名字爬虱，連他的嗓門也很惡心隶债。瑟曦在座椅上挪動(dòng)著身體，揣度到底要聽(tīng)這虛張聲勢(shì)的家伙聒噪多久跑筝？鐵王座聳立于她身后死讹，無(wú)數(shù)倒刺與糾結(jié)灑下扭曲的陰影，籠罩了王座廳赞警。只有國(guó)王或首相才能坐上王座祖凫，瑟曦只是落座于階梯底部一把堆滿緋紅墊子的金木座椅上。

Noho Dimittis, the Braavosi named himself. An irritating name for an irritating man. His voice was irritating too. Cersei shifted in her seat as he went on, wondering how long she must endure his hectoring. Behind her loomed the Iron Throne, its barbs and blades throwing twisted shadows across the floor. Only the king or his Hand could sit upon the throne itself. Cersei sat by its foot, in a seat of gilded wood piled with crimson cushions.

趁布拉佛斯人換口氣的機(jī)會(huì)弊知，她連忙道：“你的問(wèn)題似乎該與我們的國(guó)庫(kù)經(jīng)理討論哪降盹〗狍”

When the Braavosi paused for breath, she saw her chance. “This is more properly a matter for our lord treasurer.”

尊貴的納霍不為所動(dòng)掌测。“我與蓋爾斯伯爵談了六次技俐，他朝我咳嗽仇穗，給我道歉，可是陛下怀骤，卻沒(méi)有還我一分錢呀研叫∷砀啵”

That answer did not please the noble Noho, it would seem. “I have spoken with Lord Gyles six times. He coughs at me and makes excuses, Your Grace, but the gold is not forthcoming.”

“再和他談一次，”瑟曦愉快地建議鸭津，“七在我們國(guó)家是個(gè)幸運(yùn)數(shù)字岩梳〗呋洌”

“Speak to him a seventh time,” Cersei suggested pleasantly. “The number seven is sacred to our gods.”

“陛下似乎很喜歡開(kāi)玩笑。”

“It pleases Your Grace to make a jest, I see.”

“如果我開(kāi)玩笑，我會(huì)笑的灿意。你看見(jiàn)我笑了嗎？聽(tīng)見(jiàn)我笑了嗎削茁？我跟你保證，當(dāng)我開(kāi)玩笑的時(shí)候链患，男人們都會(huì)跟著笑∑磕”

“When I make a jest I smile. Do you see me smiling? Do you hear laughter? I assure you, when I make a jest, men laugh.”

“好吧麻捻，勞勃國(guó)王——”

“King Robert—”

“——早已進(jìn)了墳?zāi)梗碧蠹饪痰刂赋鲅礁ぃ捌脚阎竺潮希F金庫(kù)自會(huì)得到金子∫拐裕”

“—is dead,” she said sharply. “The Iron Bank will have its gold when this rebellion has been put down.”

他竟然傲慢地朝她皺眉頭明棍，“陛下——”

He had the insolence to scowl at her. “Your Grace—”

“會(huì)見(jiàn)到此結(jié)束】苌”今天摊腋，瑟曦已受夠了⊥裨祝“馬林爵士歌豺，護(hù)送尊貴的納霍·第米提斯出去。奧斯蒙爵士心包，送我回住所类咧。”客人們很快就要到來(lái)蟹腾，她得抓緊時(shí)間沐浴更衣——今天的晚餐注定會(huì)很無(wú)聊痕惋，由此可見(jiàn)，統(tǒng)治王國(guó)是件多么麻煩的事情娃殖，尤其是統(tǒng)治“七大”王國(guó)值戳。

“This audience is at an end.” Cersei had suffered quite enough for one day. “Ser Meryn, show the noble Noho Dimittis to the door. Ser Osmund, you may escort me back to my apartments.” Her guests would soon arrive, and she had to bathe and change. Supper promised to be a tedious affair as well. It was hard work to rule a kingdom, much less seven of them.

下樓梯時(shí)，奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士刻意靠過(guò)來(lái)炉爆，他身穿御林鐵衛(wèi)的白衣白甲堕虹，顯得高高瘦瘦卧晓。等確定周圍無(wú)人之后，瑟曦挽住了他赴捞，“喂逼裆，你的小弟進(jìn)展如何？”

Ser Osmund Kettleblack fell in beside her on the steps, tall and lean in his Kingsguard whites. When Cersei was certain they were quite alone, she slid her arm through his. “How is your little brother faring, pray?”

奧斯蒙爵士有些猶豫赦政，“噢……他啊胜宇，他進(jìn)展不錯(cuò)，只是……”

Ser Osmund looked uneasy. “Ah … well enough, only …”

“只是恢着？”太后往聲調(diào)里滲入一絲惱怒桐愉，“我得承認(rèn)，對(duì)咱們親愛(ài)的奧斯尼我快失去耐心了掰派。他早該騎上那匹小母馬才對(duì)从诲。我任命他為托曼的貼身護(hù)衛(wèi)，好讓他每天都能見(jiàn)到瑪格麗碗淌，他應(yīng)該快快替我把那朵玫瑰摘下來(lái)盏求。難道說(shuō)……我們的小王后對(duì)他的魅力視若無(wú)睹？”

“Only?” The queen let a hint of anger edge her words. “I must confess, I am running short of patience with dear Osney. It is past time he broke in that little filly. I named him Tommen’s sworn shield so he could spend part of every day in Margaery’s company. He should have plucked the rose by now. Is the little queen blind to his charms?”

“他很有魅力亿眠，您忘了嗎碎罚？他是個(gè)凱特布萊克啊。不過(guò)纳像，請(qǐng)?jiān)彙眾W斯蒙爵士揉了揉油膩的黑發(fā)荆烈，“——問(wèn)題在于女方【怪海”

“His charms is fine. He’s a Kettleblack, ain’t he? Begging your pardon.” Ser Osmund ran his fingers through his oily black hair. “It’s her that’s the trouble.”

“怎么說(shuō)憔购？”太后開(kāi)始懷疑奧斯尼爵士并非合適人選，或許別的男人更合瑪格麗的胃口吧岔帽。比如銀發(fā)的奧雷恩·維水玫鸟？高大魁梧的塔拉德爵士？　“咱們的處女王后情有所鐘犀勒？莫非你弟弟的臉勾不起她的興趣屎飘？”

“And why is that?” The queen had begun to nurse doubts about Ser Osney. Perhaps another man would have been more to Margaery’s liking. Aurane Waters, with that silvery hair, or a big strapping fellow like Ser Tallad. “Would the maid prefer someone else? Does your brother’s face displease her?”

“她喜歡那張臉，兩天前才剛剛摸過(guò)他的傷疤贾费。弟弟告訴我钦购，她當(dāng)時(shí)還說(shuō)，‘哪個(gè)女人這么狠心呢褂萧？’奧斯尼沒(méi)說(shuō)是女人做的押桃，但她就是知道，也許派人打探過(guò)哦导犹。他倆談話時(shí)唱凯，她喜歡觸碰他羡忘，要么替他整理披風(fēng)搭扣，要么替他梳理頭發(fā)磕昼，諸如此類壳坪。有一回，在靶場(chǎng)上掰烟，她甚至讓他教她如何使用長(zhǎng)弓，他趁此機(jī)會(huì)抱住了她沐批。奧斯尼給她講很多色迷迷的笑話纫骑，她放聲大笑，回以更色情的玩笑九孩。不先馆，她想要他，這很明顯躺彬，只是——”

“She likes his face. She touched his scars two days ago, he told me. ‘What woman gave you these?’ she asked. Osney never said it was a woman, but she knew. Might be someone told her. She’s always touching him when they talk, he says. Straightening the clasp on his cloak, brushing back his hair, and like that. One time at the archery butts she had him show her how to hold a longbow, so he had to put his arms around her. Osney tells her bawdy jests, and she laughs and comes back with ones that are even bawdier. No, she wants him, that’s plain, but …”

“只是煤墙？”瑟曦急切地追問(wèn)。

“But?” Cersei prompted.

“只是他們從未獨(dú)處宪拥。大部分時(shí)間仿野，國(guó)王在場(chǎng)，國(guó)王不在的時(shí)候她君，是形形色色的其他人士脚作。她的兩位女伴輪流與她同床，另兩位女伴負(fù)責(zé)安排她的早餐和替她更衣缔刹。她與她的修士一起禱告球涛，與表親埃蘿一起讀書(shū)，與表親雅蘭一起唱歌校镐，與表親梅歌一起縫紉亿扁。她有時(shí)候跟潔娜·佛索威、梅內(nèi)狄斯·克連恩一道外出鷹狩鸟廓，有時(shí)候和小布爾威玩城堡游戲从祝。她騎馬外出時(shí)總是帶著大批隨從，至少四五名騎士和十多個(gè)衛(wèi)兵肝箱。而且哄褒，就連平日在處女居里，她身邊也有男人煌张∧派模”

“They are never alone. The king’s with them most all the time, and when he’s not, there’s someone else. Two of her ladies share her bed, different ones every night. Two others bring her breakfast and help her dress. She prays with her septa, reads with her cousin Elinor, sings with her cousin Alla, sews with her cousin Megga. When she’s not off hawking with Janna Fossoway and Merry Crane, she’s playing come-into-my-castle with that little Bulwer girl. She never goes riding but she takes a tail, four or five companions and a dozen guards at least. And there’s always men about her, even in the Maidenvault.”

“男人，”有蹊蹺骏融×脆郑可以做文章萌狂？“說(shuō)清楚，什么男人怀泊？”

“Men.” That was something. That had possibilities. “What men are these, pray tell?”

奧斯蒙爵士聳聳肩茫藏，“歌手唄。這女孩無(wú)可救藥地寵愛(ài)歌手與雜耍藝人之流霹琼，她的表親則吸引了眾多騎士——尤其是塔拉德爵士务傲，奧斯尼說(shuō)這大呆瓜都無(wú)法決定自己想要埃蘿還是雅蘭，或者兩個(gè)都要枣申。雷德溫的雙胞胎經(jīng)常應(yīng)邀作陪售葡，流口水爵士會(huì)帶來(lái)鮮花和水果，恐怖爵士則彈奏豎琴——據(jù)奧斯尼形容忠藤，他的表演讓你想起被掐死的貓挟伙。盛夏群島的王子也常來(lái)參加聚會(huì)∧：ⅲ”

Ser Osmund shrugged. “Singers. She’s a fool for singers and jugglers and such. Knights, come round to moon over her cousins. Ser Tallad’s the worst, Osney says. That big oaf don’t seem to know if it’s Elinor or Alla he wants, but he knows he wants her awful bad. The Redwyne twins come calling too. Slobber brings flowers and fruit, and Horror’s taken up the lute. To hear Osney tell it, you could make a sweeter sound strangling a cat. The Summer Islander’s always underfoot as well.”

“賈拉巴·梭爾嗎尖阔？”瑟曦不屑地哼了一聲，“多半又在乞求給予軍隊(duì)和金錢榨咐，以收復(fù)故土了介却。”梭爾固然衣著華貴块茁，但在那身羽毛和珠寶裝飾底下筷笨，他不過(guò)是個(gè)高級(jí)乞丐。勞勃本可以堅(jiān)定地說(shuō)“不”龟劲，就此終結(jié)他的希望胃夏，結(jié)果她這醉醺醺的蠢笨丈夫卻為征服盛夏群島的榮耀所吸引，始終下不了決心昌跌。毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)仰禀，他妄想睡那些黃褐皮膚、炭黑乳頭蚕愤、只穿羽毛斗篷的賤女人答恶。勞勃沒(méi)說(shuō)“不”，他每每回應(yīng)梭爾的是“等明年吧萍诱，”就這樣年復(fù)一年地拖下來(lái)悬嗓。

“Jalabhar Xho?” Cersei gave a derisive snort. “Begging her for gold and swords to win his homeland back, most like.” Beneath his jewels and feathers, Xho was little more than a wellborn beggar. Robert could have put an end to his importuning for good with one firm “No,” but the notion of conquering the Summer Isles had appealed to her drunken lout of a husband. No doubt he dreamt of brown-skinned wenches naked beneath feathered cloaks, with nipples black as coal. So instead of “No,” Robert always told Xho, “Next year,” though somehow next year never came.

“我不確定他是否在乞求，陛下裕坊，”奧斯蒙爵士回答包竹，“奧斯尼認(rèn)為他在教她們盛夏群島話。哦，沒(méi)教奧斯尼周瞎，是教王——教小母馬和她的表親苗缩。”

“I couldn’t say if he was begging, Your Grace,” Ser Osmund answered. “Osney says he’s teaching them the Summer Tongue. Not Osney, the quee—the filly and her cousins.”

“會(huì)說(shuō)話的馬是珍稀動(dòng)物声诸，”太后干巴巴地道酱讶，“告訴你弟弟，把馬刺磨亮點(diǎn)彼乌，我會(huì)想辦法盡快讓他騎上去的泻肯，我保證∥空眨”

“A horse that speaks the Summer Tongue would make a great sensation,” the queen said dryly. “Tell your brother to keep his spurs well honed. I shall find some way for him to mount his filly soon, you may rely on that.”

“是软免，陛下，其實(shí)他早已經(jīng)等不及了焚挠，迫不及待呢。呵呵漓骚，那匹小母馬真是個(gè)可愛(ài)的尤物蝌衔。”

“I’ll tell him, Your Grace. He’s eager for that ride, don’t think he ain’t. She’s a pretty little thing, that filly.”

白癡蝌蹂，他想要的是我噩斟，太后心想，瑪格麗唯一能吸引他的只是兩腿間的領(lǐng)主授封狀孤个。她雖寵愛(ài)奧斯蒙剃允，但也覺(jué)得對(duì)方就跟勞勃一樣遲鈍。希望他的手比腦袋瓜快齐鲤，遲早托曼會(huì)需要他大打出手斥废。

It is me he’s eager for, fool, the queen thought. All he wants of Margaery is the lordship between her legs. As fond as she was of Osmund, at times he seemed as slow as Robert. I hope his sword is quicker than his wits. The day may come that Tommen has some need of it.

走到燒毀的首相塔的陰影下時(shí)，突然響起一陣歡呼给郊，原來(lái)在院子對(duì)面牡肉，某位侍從結(jié)結(jié)實(shí)實(shí)地刺中了槍靶，令橫木飛速旋轉(zhuǎn)淆九。歡呼聲是由瑪格麗·提利爾和她那群小雞帶領(lǐng)著發(fā)出的统锤。她們幾個(gè)叫得這么歡，好像那小屁孩得了比武冠軍炭庙！緊接著饲窿，瑟曦驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)騎馬沖鋒的竟是身穿鍍金板甲的托曼。

They were crossing beneath the shadow of the broken Tower of the Hand when the sound of cheers swept over them. Across the yard, some squire had made a pass at the quintain and sent the crossarm spinning. The cheers were being led by Margaery Tyrell and her hens. A lot of uproar for very little. You would think the boy had won a tourney. Then she was startled to see that it was Tommen on the courser, clad all in gilded plate.

太后別無(wú)選擇焕蹄，只好滿臉堆歡逾雄，跑去祝賀自己的兒子。等百花騎士把兒子扶下馬，她立即捉住了他嘲驾。男孩興奮得喘不過(guò)氣來(lái)淌哟。“你們看見(jiàn)了嗎辽故？”他問(wèn)大家徒仓，“我就像洛拉斯爵士那樣英勇。你看見(jiàn)了嗎誊垢，奧斯尼爵士掉弛？”

The queen had little choice but to don a smile and go to see her son. She reached him as the Knight of Flowers was helping him from his horse. The boy was breathless with excitement. “Did you see?” he was asking everyone. “I did it just the way Ser Loras said. Did you see, Ser Osney?”

“看見(jiàn)了，”奧斯尼·凱特布萊克贊道喂走，“您真厲害殃饿。”

“I did,” said Osney Kettleblack. “A pretty sight.”

“您的身手比我強(qiáng)呢芋肠，陛下乎芳。”　德莫特爵士加入道帖池。

“You have a better seat than me, sire,” put in Ser Dermot.

“我還折斷了長(zhǎng)槍哦奈惑！洛拉斯爵士，你聽(tīng)見(jiàn)了嗎睡汹？”

“I broke the lance too. Ser Loras, did you hear it?”

“是的肴甸，聲若雷霆∏舭停”翡翠與黃金制成的玫瑰鉤扣扣住了洛拉斯爵士的披風(fēng)原在，秋風(fēng)吹動(dòng)他飄逸的褐色鬈發(fā)⊥妫“你騎得漂亮庶柿，但請(qǐng)記住，這只是你第一次成功秽浇，明天又得重新上路澳泵。你必須每日反復(fù)操練，直到每一記突刺都同樣準(zhǔn)確有力兼呵，直到長(zhǎng)槍成為你手臂的一部分兔辅。”

“As loud as a crack of thunder.” A rose of jade and gold clasped Ser Loras’s white cloak at the shoulder, and the wind was riffling artfully through his brown locks. “You rode a splendid course, but once is not enough. You must do it again upon the morrow. You must ride every day, until every blow lands true and straight, and your lance is as much a part of you as your arm.”

“我會(huì)的击喂！”

“I want to.”

“您真有志氣维苔。”瑪格麗單膝跪地懂昂，吻了國(guó)王的臉頰介时，并用一只胳膊環(huán)住他。“哥哥沸柔，小心哦循衰，”她警告洛拉斯，“過(guò)不了幾年褐澎，我英勇的夫君就會(huì)把你打下馬來(lái)会钝。”她的三位表親紛紛附和工三，那討厭的小布爾威甚至邊跳邊唱：“托曼是冠軍迁酸，是冠軍，是冠軍啦俭正！”

“You were glorious.” Margaery went to one knee, kissed the king upon his cheek, and put an arm around him. “Brother, take care,” she warned Loras. “My gallant husband will be unhorsing you in a few more years, I think.” Her three cousins all agreed, and the wretched little Bulwer girl began to hop about, chanting, “Tommen will be the champion, the champion, the champion.”

“他長(zhǎng)大以后才能上場(chǎng)奸鬓。”瑟曦道掸读。

“When he is a man grown,” said Cersei.

人們的笑容猶如冰霜摧殘下的玫瑰般統(tǒng)統(tǒng)枯萎串远。臉上長(zhǎng)滿痘子的老修女首先跪下，其他人跟著跪儿惫，只有小王后和她哥哥站著沒(méi)動(dòng)澡罚。

Their smiles withered like roses kissed by frost. The pock-faced old septa was the first to bend her knee. The rest followed, save for the little queen and her brother.

托曼沒(méi)注意到突然轉(zhuǎn)變的氣氛，“母親姥闪，你看見(jiàn)了嗎？”他還在歡樂(lè)地叫喊砌烁，“我在盾牌上折斷了長(zhǎng)槍筐喳，卻沒(méi)給沙包打中喲！”

Tommen did not seem to notice the sudden chill in the air. “Mother, did you see me?” he burbled happily. “I broke my lance on the shield, and the bag never hit me!”

“我在院子對(duì)面瞧見(jiàn)了函喉。你做得很好避归，托曼，就和我心目中一樣棒管呵。你天生是校場(chǎng)上的好手梳毙，總有一天，你會(huì)成為比武大會(huì)上的常勝將軍捐下，像你父親那樣账锹。”

“I was watching from across the yard. You did very well, Tommen. I would expect no less of you. Jousting is in your blood. One day you shall rule the lists, as your father did.”

“無(wú)人能與他匹敵坷襟〖榧恚”瑪格麗·提利爾朝太后羞澀地微笑，“可是陛下婴程，恕我孤陋寡聞廓奕，勞勃先王贏得過(guò)哪次比武大會(huì)的冠軍呢？他把哪位好騎士打下馬來(lái)過(guò)呢？我想桌粉，國(guó)王應(yīng)該好好聽(tīng)聽(tīng)他父親的英雄事跡蒸绩，以為榜樣×蹇希”

“No man will stand before him.” Margaery Tyrell gave the queen a coy smile. “But I never knew that King Robert was so accomplished at the joust. Pray tell us, Your Grace, what tourneys did he win? What great knights did he unseat? I know the king should like to hear about his father’s victories.”

紅暈頓時(shí)爬上瑟曦的頸項(xiàng)患亿，這女孩讓她語(yǔ)塞。事實(shí)上缘薛，勞勃·拜拉席恩不喜歡長(zhǎng)槍比武窍育，他參加的都是團(tuán)體戰(zhàn)，這樣才能用鈍斧或鈍錘打個(gè)痛快宴胧，將對(duì)手揍得落花流水漱抓。她開(kāi)口時(shí)，心里想著詹姆恕齐，不由自主地說(shuō)出了心里話乞娄。這可不像我∠云纾“勞勃贏得了三叉戟河的大比武仪或，”她勉強(qiáng)應(yīng)道，“他戰(zhàn)勝雷加王子士骤，尊我為他愛(ài)與美的皇后范删。我的好兒媳，你連這都不知道嗎拷肌？”她沒(méi)給瑪格麗回應(yīng)的時(shí)間到旦，“奧斯蒙爵士，麻煩你巨缘，替我兒子脫下板甲添忘。洛拉斯爵士，請(qǐng)隨我來(lái)若锁，我有話跟你講搁骑。”

A flush crept up Cersei’s neck. The girl had caught her out. Robert Baratheon had been an indifferent jouster, in truth. During tourneys he had much preferred the mêlée, where he could beat men bloody with blunted axe or hammer. It had been Jaime she had been thinking of when she spoke. It is not like me to forget myself. “Robert won the tourney of the Trident,” she had to say. “He overthrew Prince Rhaegar and named me his queen of love and beauty. I am surprised you do not know that story, good-daughter.” She gave Margaery no time to frame a reply. “Ser Osmund, help my son from his armor, if you would be so good. Ser Loras, walk with me. I need a word with you.”

百花騎士只好像條小狗似的跟著她走——他本來(lái)就是條乳臭未干的小狗又固。上了螺旋梯后仲器，瑟曦方才開(kāi)口：“說(shuō)，這是誰(shuí)的主意仰冠？”

The Knight of Flowers had no recourse but to follow at her heels like the puppy he was. Cersei waited until they were on the serpentine steps before she said, “Whose notion was that, pray?”

“我妹妹的娄周，”他承認(rèn)，“當(dāng)時(shí)我們看著塔拉德爵士沪停、德莫特爵士和波提菲爵士輪流上陣煤辨，王后提出要陛下也去試試裳涛。”

“My sister’s,” he admitted. “Ser Tallad, Ser Dermot, and Ser Portifer were riding at the quintain, and the queen suggested that His Grace might like to have a turn.”

他稱她為王后众辨，想要刺激我端三。“你呢鹃彻？你做了些什么郊闯？”

He calls her that to irk me. “And your part?”

“我為陛下穿上板甲，并指導(dǎo)他如何夾緊長(zhǎng)槍蛛株⊥帕蓿”鐵衛(wèi)照實(shí)回答。

“I helped His Grace to don his armor and showed him how to couch his lance,” he answered.

“那匹馬對(duì)他而言太大了谨履，如果他摔下來(lái)怎么辦欢摄？如果沙包砸中他腦袋怎么辦？”

“That horse was much too large for him. What if he had fallen off? What if the sandbag had smashed his head in?”

“對(duì)騎士來(lái)說(shuō)笋粟，淤傷和流血是稀松平常的事怀挠。”

“Bruises and bloody lips are all part of being a knight.”

“所以你哥哥才成了殘廢吧害捕？”她高興地發(fā)現(xiàn)绿淋，這話從那張俊俏的臉龐上抹去了所有笑容〕⑴危“或許是我哥哥忘了給你講解職責(zé)吞滞，爵士，現(xiàn)在聽(tīng)好了盾沫，你的唯一使命就是保護(hù)好我兒子裁赠。至于訓(xùn)練，那是教頭的事疮跑∽楹兀”

“I begin to understand why your brother is a cripple.” That wiped the smile off his pretty face, she was pleased to see. “Perhaps my brother failed to explain your duties to you, ser. You are here to protect my son from his enemies. Training him for knighthood is the province of the master-at-arms.”

“艾倫·桑塔加死后凸舵，紅堡沒(méi)有教頭了祖娘。”洛拉斯的語(yǔ)氣里隱約透著不忿啊奄，“國(guó)王陛下已經(jīng)快滿九歲渐苏，他渴望受訓(xùn)，九歲的孩子可以當(dāng)侍從菇夸，受人指教了琼富。”

“The Red Keep has had no master-at-arms since Aron Santagar was slain,” Ser Loras said, with a hint of reproach in his voice. “His Grace is almost nine, and eager to learn. At his age he should be a squire. Someone has to teach him.”

有人會(huì)指教他庄新，但決不是你鞠眉∈硎螅“你當(dāng)年是誰(shuí)的侍從，爵士械蹋？”她甜甜地問(wèn)出皇，“我記得，是藍(lán)禮大人吧哗戈？”

Someone will, but it will not be you. “Pray, who did you squire for, ser?” she asked sweetly. “Lord Renly, was it not?”

“我很榮幸郊艘。”

“I had that honor.”

“是的唯咬，我也這么想纱注。”從這兩人的例子來(lái)看胆胰，瑟曦很明白侍從和主人之間可能發(fā)展出多緊密的聯(lián)系狞贱，因此她不允許托曼親近洛拉斯·提利爾。沒(méi)錯(cuò)煮剧，百花騎士決不能成為兒子模仿的偶像斥滤。“好了勉盅，怪我失查佑颇。我不僅要統(tǒng)治王國(guó)，指揮戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)草娜，還要哀悼父親挑胸，打理內(nèi)務(wù)，恍惚間便忘了指定新任教頭宰闰，真是可責(zé)茬贵。放心吧，我會(huì)立刻彌補(bǔ)過(guò)失移袍〗庠澹”

“Yes, I thought as much.” Cersei had seen how tight the bonds grew between squires and the knights they served. She did not want Tommen growing close to Loras Tyrell. The Knight of Flowers was no sort of man for any boy to emulate. “I have been remiss. With a realm to rule, a war to fight, and a father to mourn, somehow I overlooked the crucial matter of naming a new master-at-arms. I shall rectify that error at once.”

洛拉斯爵士掃開(kāi)一綹垂下前額的褐色發(fā)卷∑系粒“單論使槍或使劍的技藝螟左，我認(rèn)為陛下找不到能及我一半功力的人選了∶俟唬”

Ser Loras pushed back a brown curl that had fallen across his forehead. “Your Grace will not find any man half so skilled with sword and lance as I.”

你還真謙虛啊胶背。“托曼是你的國(guó)王喘先，不是你的侍從钳吟。你會(huì)為他而戰(zhàn)，為他而死窘拯，僅此而已红且“泳ィ”

Humble, aren’t we? “Tommen is your king, not your squire. You are to fight for him and die for him, if need be. No more.”

太后在吊橋前跟百花騎士分開(kāi)，獨(dú)自越過(guò)插滿尖刺的的干涸護(hù)城河暇番，朝梅葛樓走去景东。找誰(shuí)當(dāng)教頭呢？她一路思索著回到住所奔誓。拒絕了洛拉斯斤吐，就沒(méi)理由挑選其他鐵衛(wèi)，否則便成了明目張膽地挑釁高庭厨喂。塔拉德爵士和措？德莫特爵士？托曼似乎喜歡上了自己的貼身護(hù)衛(wèi)蜕煌，然則在處女瑪格麗一事上派阱，奧斯尼很讓她失望，而奧斯佛利她還另有安排斜纪。獵狗發(fā)了狂贫母，實(shí)在是可惜，記得托曼一直很害怕桑鐸·克里岡粗嘎的嗓門和燒傷的面孔盒刚，用他來(lái)教導(dǎo)國(guó)王腺劣，正好可以打消洛拉斯·提利爾那些不著邊際的騎士夢(mèng)。

She left him on the drawbridge that spanned the dry moat with its bed of iron spikes and entered Maegor’s Holdfast alone. Where am I to find a master-at-arms? she wondered as she climbed to her apartments. Having refused Ser Loras, she dare not turn to any of the Kingsguard knights; that would be salt in the wound, certain to anger Highgarden. Ser Tallad? Ser Dermot? There must be someone. Tommen was growing fond of his new sworn shield, but Osney was proving himself less capable than she had hoped in the matter of Maid Margaery, and she had a different office in mind for his brother Osfryd. It was rather a pity that the Hound had gone rabid. Tommen had always been frightened of Sandor Clegane’s harsh voice and burned face, and Clegane’s scorn would have been the perfect antidote to Loras Tyrell’s simpering chivalry.

艾倫·桑塔加是多恩人因块，瑟曦突然想起橘原，我應(yīng)該寫(xiě)信給多恩。幾世紀(jì)以來(lái)的流血沖突在陽(yáng)戟城和高庭之間畫(huà)出了一道深深的鴻溝涡上。是了趾断，一個(gè)多恩人正合我意。不是說(shuō)“多恩壯士密如沙”么吩愧？

Aron Santagar was Dornish, Cersei recalled. I could send to Dorne. Centuries of blood and war lay between Sunspear and Highgarden. Yes, a Dornishman might suit my needs admirably. There must be some good swords in Dorne.

科本大人正在她書(shū)房的窗前邊讀書(shū)邊等她芋酌。“陛下雁佳，我接到些報(bào)告脐帝。”

When she entered her solar, Cersei found Lord Qyburn reading in a window seat. “If it please Your Grace, I have reports.”

“破獲了更多的陰謀甘穿？”瑟曦問(wèn)腮恩，“今天我很累很煩了梢杭，快點(diǎn)說(shuō)吧温兼。”

“More plots and treasons?” Cersei asked. “I have had a long and tiring day. Tell me quickly.”

他和藹地笑笑：“如您所愿武契。首先募判，據(jù)說(shuō)泰洛西的大君主動(dòng)向里斯人提出條件荡含，希望終止目前愈演愈烈的貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。謠言還稱密爾準(zhǔn)備加入泰洛西一方届垫，但沒(méi)有黃金團(tuán)撐腰……”

He smiled sympathetically. “As you wish. There is talk that the Archon of Tyrosh has offered terms to Lys, to end their present trade war. It had been rumored that Myr was about to enter the war on the Tyroshi side, but without the Golden Company the Myrish did not believe they …”

“密爾與我無(wú)關(guān)释液。”自由貿(mào)易城邦常年戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)不斷装处，它們彼此無(wú)休止地結(jié)盟與背叛對(duì)維斯特洛影響甚微误债。“你有要緊事嗎妄迁？”

“What the Myrish believe does not concern me.” The Free Cities were always fighting one another. Their endless betrayals and alliances meant little and less to Westeros. “Do you have any news of more import?”

“阿斯塔波的奴隸暴動(dòng)擴(kuò)散到了彌林寝蹈。十幾條船上的水手在談?wù)擙垺?/p>

“The slave revolt in Astapor has spread to Meereen, it would seem. Sailors off a dozen ships speak of dragons …”

“你搞錯(cuò)了，彌林人崇拜的是鷹身女妖登淘◇锢希”這是從哪里讀到的？算了黔州，不管他耍鬓，彌林遠(yuǎn)在世界的盡頭，甚至比瓦雷利亞更遙遠(yuǎn)流妻∩瘢“奴隸暴動(dòng)就暴動(dòng)好了，關(guān)我什么事绅这？況且維斯特洛是廢除了奴隸制的各薇。還有別的事嗎？”

“Harpies. It is harpies in Meereen.” She remembered that from somewhere. Meereen was at the far end of the world, out east beyond Valyria. “Let the slaves revolt. Why should I care? We keep no slaves in Westeros. Is that all you have for me?”

“來(lái)自多恩的新聞也許陛下會(huì)更關(guān)注君躺。道朗親王剛剛收押了戴蒙·沙德爵士峭判，這私生子從前是紅毒蛇的侍從∽亟校”

“There is some news from Dorne that Your Grace may find of more interest. Prince Doran has imprisoned Ser Daemon Sand, a bastard who once squired for the Red Viper.”

“我記得這個(gè)人林螃。”　戴蒙爵士曾隨奧柏倫親王一道前來(lái)君臨俺泣×迫希“他做了什么？”

“I recall him.” Ser Daemon had been amongst the Dornish knights who had accompanied Prince Oberyn to King’s Landing. “What did he do?”

“他想釋放奧柏倫親王的女兒們伏钠『崧”

“He demanded that Prince Oberyn’s daughters be set free.”

“蠢貨∈斓啵”

“More fool him.”

“還有缎浇，”科本大人續(xù)道，“據(jù)我們?cè)诙喽鞯呐笥鸦貓?bào)赴肚，斑木林騎士的女兒很奇特地與伊斯蒙大人訂了婚素跺，并在訂婚當(dāng)晚便前往綠石城二蓝，現(xiàn)在應(yīng)已完婚了≈秆幔”

“Also,” Lord Qyburn said, “the daughter of the Knight of Spottswood was betrothed quite unexpectedly to Lord Estermont, our friends in Dorne inform us. She was sent to Greenstone that very night, and it is said she and Estermont have already wed.”

“這有什么好奇怪刊愚？她肚子里懷了野種唄〔妊椋”瑟曦把玩著一綹發(fā)卷鸥诽，“這位被開(kāi)過(guò)苞的新娘有多大呢？”

“A bastard in the belly would explain that.” Cersei toyed with a lock of her hair. “How old is the blushing bride?”

“二十三歲箕憾，陛下衙传，而伊斯蒙大人——”

“Three-and-twenty, Your Grace. Whereas Lord Estermont—”

“——已經(jīng)七十多了。我很清楚厕九”痛罚”按勞勃這邊的血緣計(jì)算，伊斯蒙是她的親族扁远，哼俊鱼，勞勃他老爸不曉得是瘋了還是欲火焚身，竟會(huì)找上他們家的女人畅买。瑟曦嫁給勞勃時(shí)并闲，丈母娘已去世了好多年，但卡珊娜夫人在世的兩位兄弟不僅前來(lái)參加婚禮谷羞，還在宮中住了半年帝火。隨后勞勃堅(jiān)持還禮，親率王室前往風(fēng)怒角外那個(gè)多山的小島上湃缎，于伊斯蒙的家堡盤(pán)桓犀填，以示榮寵。在綠石城度過(guò)的潮濕陰冷的兩星期嗓违，堪稱瑟曦生命中最漫長(zhǎng)的兩星期九巡。詹姆打第一眼起，便嘲笑這里是“綠屎城”蹂季，瑟曦認(rèn)為恰如其分冕广。由于結(jié)了婚噪奄，她便陪著王夫放鷹臊泰、打獵端朵、和兩位舅舅拼酒稿蹲，還看著他在綠石城的校場(chǎng)里把各路親戚打得不省人事。

“—must be seventy. I am aware of that.” The Estermonts were her good-kin through Robert, whose father had taken one of them to wife in what must have been a fit of lust or madness. By the time Cersei wed the king, Robert’s lady mother was long dead, though both of her brothers had turned up for the wedding and stayed for half a year. Robert had later insisted on returning the courtesy with a visit to Estermont, a mountainous little island off Cape Wrath. The dank and dismal fortnight Cersei spent at Greenstone, the seat of House Estermont, was the longest of her young life. Jaime dubbed the castle “Greenshit” at first sight, and soon had Cersei doing it too. Elsewise she passed her days watching her royal husband hawk, hunt, and drink with his uncles, and bludgeon various male cousins senseless in Greenshit’s yard.