TYRION

42 提利昂

They had taken shelter beneath a copse of aspens just off the high road. Tyrion was gathering deadwood while their horses took water from a mountain stream. He stooped to pick up a splintered branch and examined it critically. “Will this do? I am not practiced at starting fires. Morrec did that for me.”

他們在緊鄰山路的山楊樹叢下稍事休息涂邀。提利昂撿拾枯枝悬嗓，馬匹則啜飲山泉览妖。他俯身拿起一根斷裂的枝干仔細審視它呀。“這個行嗎皂吮？我對生火這事兒不在行辆沦，以前都是莫里斯幫我弄的权烧。”

“A fire?” Bronn said, spitting. “Are you so hungry to die, dwarf? Or have you taken leave of your senses? A fire will bring the clansmen down on us from miles around. I mean to survive this journey, Lannister.”

“生火檐束？”波隆啐了口唾沫商佑，“侏儒，你急著找死不成厢塘？還是你走得連理智都沒啦茶没？生火會把方圓好幾里的原住民通通吸引過來。蘭尼斯特晚碾，我還想活著走完這趟路呢抓半。”

“And how do you hope to do that?” Tyrion asked. He tucked the branch under his arm and poked around through the sparse undergrowth, looking for more. His back ached from the effort of bending; they had been riding since daybreak, when a stone-faced Ser Lyn Corbray had ushered them through the Bloody Gate and commanded them never to return.

“那你倒是打算怎么辦格嘁？”提利昂問笛求。他把樹枝夾在腋下，繼續(xù)在稀疏的灌木叢中翻找。天剛亮探入，林恩·科布瑞爵士便鐵青著臉把他們送出血門狡孔，并明令禁止他們再度出現(xiàn)，從那時起蜂嗽，他倆便快馬加鞭地趕路苗膝，直到現(xiàn)在還沒歇息，害得他腰酸背痛植旧。

“We have no chance of fighting our way back,” Bronn said, “but two can cover more ground than ten, and attract less notice. The fewer days we spend in these mountains, the more like we are to reach the riverlands. Ride hard and fast, I say. Travel by night and hole up by day, avoid the road where we can, make no noise and light no fires.”

“靠蠻干殺出重圍是別想了辱揭，”波隆道，“但兩個人輕裝便行病附，總比大批人馬速度快问窃，也較不會引人注意。我們在山里停留的時間越短完沪，就越有機會安全抵達河間地帶域庇。所以我說咱們應該加緊趕路，白天躲藏覆积，夜間行動听皿，道路能避就避，不要發(fā)出噪音技健，更不要生火《韫埃”

Tyrion Lannister sighed. “A splendid plan, Bronn. Try it, as you like?.?.?.?and forgive me if I do not linger to bury you.”

提利昂·蘭尼斯特嘆道：“波隆雌贱，這計劃真是好極了。那你就自己去試試罷……到時候可別怪我沒停下來幫你挖墳偿短⌒拦拢”

“You think to outlive me, dwarf?” The sellsword grinned. He had a dark gap in his smile where the edge of Ser Vardis Egen’s shield had cracked a tooth in half.

“你這侏儒想活得比我久？”傭兵嘿嘿笑道昔逗。他的笑容有個缺口降传，正是瓦狄斯·伊根爵士的盾牌撞掉他一顆牙齒的地方。

Tyrion shrugged. “Riding hard and fast by night is a sure way to tumble down a mountain and crack your skull. I prefer to make my crossing slow and easy. I know you love the taste of horse, Bronn, but if our mounts die under us this time, we’ll be trying to saddle shadowcats?.?.?.?and if truth be told, I think the clans will find us no matter what we do. Their eyes are all around us.” He swept a gloved hand over the high, wind-carved crags that surrounded them.

提利昂聳聳肩勾怒∑排牛“你要在夜間加緊趕路，這簡直就是想摔破腦袋笔链。我寧可慢慢走段只，舒舒服服地走。波隆鉴扫，我知道你愛吃馬肉赞枕，但這回要是我的馬死了，咱倆就只剩影子山貓可騎了……老實說，我認為不管我們怎么做炕婶，原住民都會找上我們姐赡。這里四處都是他們的眼線∧啵”他伸出戴了手套的手项滑，朝周圍風蝕的高聳峭壁揮揮。

Bronn grimaced. “Then we’re dead men, Lannister.”

波隆皺眉道：“蘭尼斯特陪踩，那我們就跟死人沒兩樣了杖们。”

“If so, I prefer to die comfortable,” Tyrion replied. “We need a fire. The nights are cold up here, and hot food will warm our bellies and lift our spirits. Do you suppose there’s any game to be had? Lady Lysa has kindly provided us with a veritable feast of salt beef, hard cheese, and stale bread, but I would hate to break a tooth so far from the nearest maester.”

“真那樣的話肩狂，我也寧愿死得舒服點摘完。”提利昂回答傻谁，“我們需要生個火孝治，這里入夜之后冷死人，熱騰騰的食物不僅可以溫暖咱們的肚皮审磁，還可以提振精神谈飒。你覺得這附近能打到什么野味？萊莎夫人好心地給我們準備了豐盛的咸牛肉态蒂、硬乳酪和干面包大餐杭措，但我實在不想在這里咬斷牙齒，你知道钾恢，要找學士還有得走咧手素。”

“I can find meat.” Beneath a fall of black hair, Bronn’s dark eyes regarded Tyrion suspiciously. “I should leave you here with your fool’s fire. If I took your horse, I’d have twice the chance to make it through. What would you do then, dwarf?”

“我能弄到肉瘩蚪，”一綹黑發(fā)之下泉懦，波隆的黑眼睛狐疑地打量著提利昂≌钍荩“但我首先應該把你和這堆笨柴火丟在這里崩哩，如果我把你的馬也帶走，那我逃脫的機會就會加倍言沐。到時候你會怎么做呢邓嘹，侏儒先生？”

“Die, most like.” Tyrion stooped to get another stick.

“八成是死啰险胰∥獬”提利昂彎腰撿起另一根木棍。

“You don’t think I’d do it?”

“你覺得我不會這么做鸯乃？”

“You’d do it in an instant, if it meant your life. You were quick enough to silence your friend Chiggen when he caught that arrow in his belly.” Bronn had yanked back the man’s head by the hair and driven the point of his dirk in under the ear, and afterward told Catelyn Stark that the other sellsword had died of his wound.

“如果攸關性命鲸阻，你會毫不猶豫這么做跋涣。當初你朋友契根肚子中箭，你不就動作飛快鸟悴，一刀把他宰了陈辱？”當時波隆抓住他的頭發(fā)往后一扯，匕首從他耳朵貫穿而進细诸，事后他卻對凱特琳·史塔克說他的傭兵同伴死于箭傷沛贪。

“He was good as dead,” Bronn said, “and his moaning was bringing them down on us. Chiggen would have done the same for me?.?.?.?and he was no friend, only a man I rode with. Make no mistake, dwarf. I fought for you, but I do not love you.”

“反正他也活不成，”波隆道震贵，“更何況他大呼小叫個不停利赋，把敵人都引來了。那天受傷的換做我猩系，契根也會同樣行為……何況他算不上朋友媚送，只是同行的伙伴。侏儒寇甸，你給我搞清楚塘偎，我?guī)湍銡⑷耍遣淮砦蚁矚g你拿霉∫髦龋”

“It was your blade I needed,” Tyrion said, “not your love.” He dumped his armful of wood on the ground.

“我也只需要你幫我殺人，”提利昂說绽淘，“用不著你喜歡我涵防。”他把懷中的木材扔到地上沪铭。

Bronn grinned. “You’re bold as any sellsword, I’ll give you that. How did you know I’d take your part?”

波隆嘿嘿一笑壮池。“我得承認伦意，你膽子夠大火窒，不輸咱們傭兵硼补。你怎么知道我會替你出場驮肉？”

“Know?” Tyrion squatted awkwardly on his stunted legs to build the fire. “I tossed the dice. Back at the inn, you and Chiggen helped take me captive. Why? The others saw it as their duty, for the honor of the lords they served, but not you two. You had no lord, no duty, and precious little honor, so why trouble to involve yourselves?” He took out his knife and whittled some thin strips of bark off one of the sticks he’d gathered, to serve as kindling. “Well, why do sellswords do anything? For gold. You were thinking Lady Catelyn would reward you for your help, perhaps even take you into her service. Here, that should do, I hope. Do you have a flint?”

“我哪兒知道？”提利昂瘸著腿試圖生火已骇±攵郏“我是孤注一擲。之前在旅店里褪储，你和契根跟他們一道把我抓住卵渴，圖什么？其他人要么是因為職責所在鲤竹，要么是為了主子的名譽浪读，但你倆不是昔榴。你既沒有主子，也沒有義務碘橘，更沒有什么寶貝榮譽互订，何苦沒事找事？”他取出刀子痘拆，削掉一根木棍的樹皮仰禽，用來當引信》那“喏吐葵，傭兵是為什么做事啊桥氏？還不是為了錢温峭。你們以為凱特琳夫人會獎賞你們的協(xié)助，甚至給你們謀個差事识颊。好了诚镰，我想這樣應該就行了。你有沒有打火石祥款？”

Bronn slid two fingers into the pouch at his belt and tossed down a flint. Tyrion caught it in the air.

波隆伸出兩根手指滑進腰間的小袋清笨，丟出一塊打火石过蹂。提利昂在半空中接住涮毫。

“My thanks,” he said. “The thing is, you did not know the Starks. Lord Eddard is a proud, honorable, and honest man, and his lady wife is worse. Oh, no doubt she would have found a coin or two for you when this was all over, and pressed it in your hand with a polite word and a look of distaste, but that’s the most you could have hoped for. The Starks look for courage and loyalty and honor in the men they choose to serve them, and if truth be told, you and Chiggen were lowborn scum.” Tyrion struck the flint against his dagger, trying for a spark. Nothing.

“謝啦畏铆≌悖”他說娜亿，“問題在于你不了解史塔克家的人稽犁。艾德大人既驕傲熔号，又正直依痊，凡事講求榮譽蛙酪，而他夫人嘛就更別提了齐苛。喏，等事情結(jié)束后她當然會賞你兩個小錢桂塞，帶著嫌惡的眼神凹蜂，一邊把錢塞到你手里，一邊說幾句禮貌的話阁危，但別指望她會給更多啦玛痊。史塔克家要的是有忠誠有勇氣，還得講究榮譽的人狂打，而你和契根嘛擂煞，老實說，不過是出身低賤的人渣趴乡《允。”提利昂拿燧石敲擊匕首想生火蝗拿，卻什么也沒弄出來。

Bronn snorted. “You have a bold tongue, little man. One day someone is like to cut it out and make you eat it.”

波隆哼了一聲蒿涎∮蓟牵“小家伙，我看你這舌頭挺毒的同仆，小心哪天給人割了叫你吞下肚去萤捆。”

“Everyone tells me that.” Tyrion glanced up at the sellsword. “Did I offend you? My pardons?.?.?.?but you are scum, Bronn, make no mistake. Duty, honor, friendship, what’s that to you? No, don’t trouble yourself, we both know the answer. Still, you’re not stupid. Once we reached the Vale, Lady Stark had no more need of you?.?.?.?but I did, and the one thing the Lannisters have never lacked for is gold. When the moment came to toss the dice, I was counting on your being smart enough to know where your best interest lay. Happily for me, you did.” He slammed stone and steel together again, fruitlessly.

“別人都這么說俗批∷谆颍”提利昂瞄瞄傭兵∷晖“我冒犯到你了嗎辛慰？那還真對不住……不過哩，波隆干像，你也搞清楚帅腌，你的的確確是個人渣。責任感麻汰、榮譽心速客、友誼，哪一樣是你有的五鲫？哼溺职，不用費工夫想了，答案咱倆都知道位喂±嗽牛可你不蠢，我們抵達峽谷之后塑崖，史塔克夫人就用不著你了……但我用得著七冲，何況蘭尼斯特家的人從不吝惜金子。所以规婆，當我需要孤注一擲時澜躺，我就是猜你夠機靈，知道怎么做對你最有利聋呢。讓我很高興的是苗踪，你的確夠機靈颠区∠髅蹋”他將打火石和刀刃再度撞擊，卻依舊徒勞無功毕莱。

“Here,” said Bronn, squatting, “I’ll do it.” He took the knife and flint from Tyrion’s hands and struck sparks on his first try. A curl of bark began to smolder.

“拿來器贩，”波隆蹲下身颅夺，“讓我來∮忌裕”他從提利昂手里接過短刀和燧石吧黄，一打便擦出火花。一塊卷起的樹皮開始冒煙唆姐。

“Well done,” Tyrion said. “Scum you may be, but you’re undeniably useful, and with a sword in your hand you’re almost as good as my brother Jaime. What do you want, Bronn? Gold? Land? Women? Keep me alive, and you’ll have it.”

“干得好拗慨。”提利昂道奉芦，“你雖然是個人渣赵抢，但不可否認你很有用。手里再拿把劍声功，你就跟我老哥詹姆差不多厲害烦却。波隆，你想要什么先巴？金子其爵？土地？還是女人伸蚯？只要想辦法保全我性命摩渺，你要什么有什么〖劣剩”

Bronn blew gently on the fire, and the flames leapt up higher. “And if you die?”

波隆朝火堆輕輕吹氣证逻，火焰頓時躍得老高】菇铮“萬一你死了怎么辦囚企？”

“Why then, I’ll have one mourner whose grief is sincere,” Tyrion said, grinning. “The gold ends when I do.”

“那樣嘛，起碼有了個真心誠意為我哀悼的人瑞眼×辏”提利昂嘻嘻笑道，“我掛了伤疙，金子也就沒啰银酗。”

The fire was blazing up nicely. Bronn stood, tucked the flint back into his pouch, and tossed Tyrion his dagger. “Fair enough,” he said. “My sword’s yours, then?.?.?.?but don’t go looking for me to bend the knee and m’lord you every time you take a shit. I’m no man’s toady.”

這時火已經(jīng)燒得很旺徒像。波隆起身黍特，把燧石塞進口袋，然后將匕首拋回給提利昂锯蛀∶鹬裕“算你公道，”他說旁涤，“我的劍是你的了……但別叫我來卑躬屈膝翔曲、滿口老爺大人那套迫像，我不當別人的仆從⊥椋”

“Nor any man’s friend,” Tyrion said. “I’ve no doubt you’d betray me as quick as you did Lady Stark, if you saw a profit in it. If the day ever comes when you’re tempted to sell me out, remember this, Bronn, I’ll match their price, whatever it is. I like living. And now, do you think you could do something about finding us some supper?”

“你也不當別人的朋友闻妓，”提利昂道，“我很清楚一旦有利可圖掠械，你會義無返顧地背叛我由缆，就跟你背叛史塔克夫人一樣。波隆猾蒂，要是哪天真有人引誘你出賣我犁功，請你記住——不管對方出價多少，我都付得起婚夫。說穿了浸卦，就是我很愛惜我這條命。好啦案糙，那你現(xiàn)在到底能不能幫咱們弄點好吃的限嫌？”

“Take care of the horses,” Bronn said, unsheathing the long dirk he wore at his hip. He strode into the trees.

“你把馬照顧好∈卑疲”波隆說著解開系在身后的獵刀怒医，大步走進樹林。

An hour later the horses had been rubbed down and fed, the fire was crackling away merrily, and a haunch of a young goat was turning above the flames, spitting and hissing. “All we lack now is some good wine to wash down our kid,” Tyrion said.

一個小時后奢讨，馬匹已經(jīng)刷洗喂飽稚叹，營火也燒得劈啪作響，火上的烤架正轉(zhuǎn)著一只小山羊拿诸，滴下油汁扒袖，香氣四溢∧堵耄“現(xiàn)在只差一瓶好酒配著下肚啦季率。”提利昂說描沟。

“That, a woman, and another dozen swords,” Bronn said. He sat cross-legged beside the fire, honing the edge of his longsword with an oilstone. There was something strangely reassuring about the rasping sound it made when he drew it down the steel. “It will be full dark soon,” the sellsword pointed out. “I’ll take first watch?.?.?.?for all the good it will do us. It might be kinder to let them kill us in our sleep.”

“還要來個女人飒泻，最好再多十來個士兵保護我們±袅”波隆道泞遗。他兩腳盤坐在火邊，正拿油石磨長劍席覆。石頭和金屬摩擦所發(fā)出的刺耳聲響有種怪異的安全感史辙。“很快天就要全黑，”傭兵表示髓霞，“第一班我來值……雖然沒什么用，好歹待會兒我可以死在睡夢中畦戒》娇猓”

“Oh, I imagine they’ll be here long before it comes to sleep.” The smell of the roasting meat made Tyrion’s mouth water.

“喔，我看用不著等到睡著障斋，他們就會過來了纵潦。”聞著烤肉的香氣垃环，提利昂不禁口水直流邀层。

Bronn watched him across the fire. “You have a plan,” he said flatly, with a scrape of steel on stone.

波隆隔著營火盯著他∷熳“你有打算寥院。”他平板地說涛目，石頭又磨了劍一下秸谢。

“A hope, call it,” Tyrion said. “Another toss of the dice.”

“不妨說有一絲希望罷，”提利昂道霹肝，“又到孤注一擲的時候了估蹄。”

“With our lives as the stake?”

“你拿咱倆的性命當賭注沫换？”

Tyrion shrugged. “What choice do we have?” He leaned over the fire and sawed a thin slice of meat from the kid. “Ahhhh,” he sighed happily as he chewed. Grease ran down his chin. “A bit tougher than I’d like, and in want of spicing, but I’ll not complain too loudly. If I were back at the Eyrie, I’d be dancing on a precipice in hopes of a boiled bean.”

提利昂聳聳肩臭蚁。“難道有別的選擇讯赏？”他伸手從火上割下一小片羊肉垮兑。“啊漱挎∩牵”他一邊咀嚼，一邊開心地感嘆识樱。油汁從他兩頰滴下嗤无。“雖然有點硬怜庸，又沒有醬料当犯，但我還是不抱怨的好。之前在鷹巢城割疾，我在斷崖邊跳來跳去嚎卫，連一粒煮豆子都吃不到哩。”

“And yet you gave the turnkey a purse of gold,” Bronn said.

“結(jié)果你卻給了那獄卒一袋金子拓诸∏值瑁”波隆說。

“A Lannister always pays his debts.”

“蘭尼斯特有債必還奠支〔霰玻”

Even Mord had scarcely believed it when Tyrion tossed him the leather purse. The gaoler’s eyes had gone big as boiled eggs as he yanked open the drawstring and beheld the glint of gold. “I kept the silver,” Tyrion had told him with a crooked smile, “but you were promised the gold, and there it is.” It was more than a man like Mord could hope to earn in a lifetime of abusing prisoners. “And remember what I said, this is only a taste. If you ever grow tired of Lady Arryn’s service, present yourself at Casterly Rock, and I’ll pay you the rest of what I owe you.” With golden dragons spilling out of both hands, Mord had fallen to his knees and promised that he would do just that.

當提利昂把裝了金子的皮袋扔給莫德時，連莫德自己都難以置信倍谜。獄卒松開袋口的繩子迈螟，看到耀眼黃金，兩眼睜得像煮蛋那么大尔崔〈鸷粒“我把銀幣留了下來，”提利昂對他歪嘴一笑季春∠绰В“我們本來就說好給金子，所以就成交啰载弄〔显啵”那筆錢是莫德欺負一輩子犯人都掙不到的數(shù)目≌炀猓“還有驼鞭，別忘記我說過，這些只是開胃小菜尺碰。哪天你要是覺得煩挣棕，不想繼續(xù)為艾林夫人做事，就到凱巖城來亲桥，到時候我再把欠你的算清洛心。”眼看兩手盛滿金龍幣题篷，莫德當場就雙腳跪下词身，保證他一定會照辦。

Bronn yanked out his dirk and pulled the meat from the fire. He began to carve thick chunks of charred meat off the bone as Tyrion hollowed out two heels of stale bread to serve as trenchers. “If we do reach the river, what will you do then?” the sellsword asked as he cut.

波隆抽出匕首番枚，將肉從火堆上拿下法严，開始從骨頭上切下一塊塊烤得焦黑的肉，提利昂則挖空兩塊硬面包充當盤子葫笼∩钇。“假如我們真能回到河間地，你打算做什么路星？”傭兵邊切邊問溯街。

“Oh, a whore and a featherbed and a flagon of wine, for a start.” Tyrion held out his trencher, and Bronn filled it with meat. “And then to Casterly Rock or King’s Landing, I think. I have some questions that want answering, concerning a certain dagger.”

“喏，先找個妓女，弄張羽毛床呈昔，來壺好酒再說挥等。”提和昂遞出盤子堤尾，波隆將之裝滿肉塊肝劲。“然后再決定去凱巖城或者君臨哀峻，等我想想涡相，關于某把匕首哲泊，可有好些問題要問呢剩蟀。”

The sellsword chewed and swallowed. “So you were telling it true? It was not your knife?”

傭兵咀嚼吞咽著滿口烤肉切威∮兀“這么說來你沒撒謊？那真不是你的刀子先朦？”

Tyrion smiled thinly. “Do I look a liar to you?”

提利昂擠出一絲微笑缰冤。“你覺得我看起來可像個騙子喳魏？”

By the time their bellies were full, the stars had come out and a halfmoon was rising over the mountains. Tyrion spread his shadowskin cloak on the ground and stretched out with his saddle for a pillow. “Our friends are taking their sweet time.”

待他們填飽肚子棉浸，夜空已群星密布，一彎新月升上山頭刺彩。提利昂將他的山貓皮披風鋪在地上迷郑，拿馬鞍當枕頭〈淳螅“等啊等啊嗡害，咱們朋友還沒動靜，真是好事多磨畦攘“悦茫”

“If I were them, I’d fear a trap,” Bronn said. “Why else would we be so open, if not to lure them in?”

“換做是我，也會擔心其中有詐知押，”波隆道叹螟，“要不是有陷阱，干嘛這樣大刺刺的台盯？”

Tyrion chuckled. “Then we ought to sing and send them fleeing in terror.” He began to whistle a tune.

提利昂咯咯笑道：“那我們豈不更該唱歌跳舞首妖，好把他們通通嚇跑啰∫遥”說完他哼起了小調(diào)有缆。

“You’re mad, dwarf,” Bronn said as he cleaned the grease out from under his nails with his dirk.

“侏儒，你真是瘋了∨锉冢”波隆邊說邊用匕首剔除指甲縫里的油脂杯矩。

“Where’s your love of music, Bronn?”

“波隆，你對音樂的喜好都到哪兒去啦袖外？”

“If it was music you wanted, you should have gotten the singer to champion you.”

“你要音樂史隆，當初干嘛不叫那唱歌的當你打手？”

Tyrion grinned. “That would have been amusing. I can just see him fending off Ser Vardis with his woodharp.” He resumed his whistling. “Do you know this song?” he asked.

提利昂嘻笑道：“那一定很有趣曼验。想想他拿豎琴對付瓦狄斯爵士會是什么情景泌射。”他繼續(xù)哼唱著鬓照∪劭幔“知不知道這曲兒？”他問豺裆。

“You hear it here and there, in inns and whorehouses.”

“聽得煩了拒秘，在旅店或妓院里常聽到〕舨拢”

“Myrish. ‘The Seasons of My Love.’ Sweet and sad, if you understand the words. The first girl I ever bedded used to sing it, and I’ve never been able to put it out of my head.” Tyrion gazed up at the sky. It was a clear cold night and the stars shone down upon the mountains as bright and merciless as truth. “I met her on a night like this,” he heard himself saying. “Jaime and I were riding back from Lannisport when we heard a scream, and she came running out into the road with two men dogging her heels, shouting threats. My brother unsheathed his sword and went after them, while I dismounted to protect the girl. She was scarcely a year older than I was, dark-haired, slender, with a face that would break your heart. It certainly broke mine. Lowborn, half-starved, unwashed?.?.?.?yet lovely. They’d torn the rags she was wearing half off her back, so I wrapped her in my cloak while Jaime chased the men into the woods. By the time he came trotting back, I’d gotten a name out of her, and a story. She was a crofter’s child, orphaned when her father died of fever, on her way to?.?.?.?well, nowhere, really.

“這是密爾的歌謠躺酒，叫做‘我的戀愛季節(jié)’。如果你知道歌詞蔑歌，就會明白寫得有多么甜美哀怨羹应。我睡過的第一個女孩子以前常唱這首歌，想忘也忘不掉次屠≡捌ィ”提利昂抬頭仰視星空。這是個清朗的寒夜帅矗，群星的光輝灑在山間偎肃，明亮無情有如真理』氪耍“我遇見她的那晚就和現(xiàn)在一模一樣累颂，”他聽見自己說，“當時詹姆和我正從蘭尼斯港騎馬回來凛俱，只聽一聲尖叫紊馏，就見她朝路上跑來，后面跟了兩個大呼小叫的男人蒲犬。我老哥拔劍去對付他們朱监，我則下馬保護女孩。她只大我不到一歲原叮，黑頭發(fā)赫编，很纖細巡蘸，那張臉教你看了就心碎。最起碼我的心碎了擂送。雖然她出身低賤悦荒，又一副營養(yǎng)不良的樣子，也很久沒洗澡……但就是討人喜歡嘹吨。那兩個男的先前已經(jīng)扯開了她穿的破布搬味，背幾乎都露了出來，所以我用自己的斗篷裹住她蟀拷，詹姆則把那兩個家伙趕回森林里碰纬。等他跑回來，我已經(jīng)問出了她的名字和身世问芬。她是個農(nóng)夫的女兒悦析，自從她爹發(fā)燒病死后就孤伶伶一個人，正準備去……唉愈诚，其實要去哪兒她自己也不知道她按∨Ｓ纾”

“Jaime was all in a lather to hunt down the men. It was not often outlaws dared prey on travelers so near to Casterly Rock, and he took it as an insult. The girl was too frightened to send off by herself, though, so I offered to take her to the closest inn and feed her while my brother rode back to the Rock for help.

“當時詹姆一心只想逮著那兩個人炕柔。強盜居然敢在距離凱巖城這么近的地方攻擊行人，這可不是件尋常事媒佣，他把這當成奇恥大辱匕累。那女孩驚慌失措，不敢一個人走路默伍，于是我提議帶她到附近的旅館欢嘿，弄點東西給她吃，而我老哥則回凱巖城討救兵也糊×侗模”

“She was hungrier than I would have believed. We finished two whole chickens and part of a third, and drank a flagon of wine, talking. I was only thirteen, and the wine went to my head, I fear. The next thing I knew, I was sharing her bed. If she was shy, I was shyer. I’ll never know where I found the courage. When I broke her maidenhead, she wept, but afterward she kissed me and sang her little song, and by morning I was in love.”

“她比我原先料想的更餓。我倆足足吃了兩只半烤雞狸剃，又喝干了一整壺酒掐隐，邊吃邊聊很愉快。那年我才十三歲钞馁，只怕一喝酒就亂了性虑省。總之等我回過神來僧凰，已經(jīng)跟她躺在床上探颈。她很害羞，但我更害羞训措，真不知我是打哪兒來的勇氣伪节？我給她開苞的時候她哭了光羞，但事后她吻了我，然后悄聲唱起那首歌怀大，到第二天清晨狞山，我已經(jīng)愛上她了〔婕牛”

“You?” Bronn’s voice was amused.

“你愛上她了萍启？”波隆的語氣聽來饒富興味。

“Absurd, isn’t it?” Tyrion began to whistle the song again. “I married her,” he finally admitted.

“很可笑屏鳍，對不對勘纯？”提利昂又哼起那首歌〉霾t！昂髞砦疫€娶了她驳遵。”最后他終于承認山涡。

“A Lannister of Casterly Rock wed to a crofter’s daughter,” Bronn said. “How did you manage that?”

“蘭尼斯特家的人娶個農(nóng)家女堤结？”波隆說，“真有你的鸭丛【呵睿”

“Oh, you’d be astonished at what a boy can make of a few lies, fifty pieces of silver, and a drunken septon. I dared not bring my bride home to Casterly Rock, so I set her up in a cottage of her own, and for a fortnight we played at being man and wife. And then the septon sobered and confessed all to my lord father.” Tyrion was surprised at how desolate it made him feel to say it, even after all these years. Perhaps he was just tired. “That was the end of my marriage.” He sat up and stared at the dying fire, blinking at the light.

“唉，講幾句謊話鳞溉，口袋里裝上五十枚銀幣瘾带，再找個喝醉酒的修士，一個小男孩能干些什么熟菲，說了你大概都不相信看政。我不敢把我的新娘帶回凱巖城，就把她安頓在她自己的小屋里抄罕，咱倆過了兩個星期的夫妻生活允蚣。最后那修士酒醒，便把事情前后通通稟報給我公爵老爸呆贿∪峦茫”過了這么多年，講起這件事竟依舊讓提利昂倍感孤寂榨崩，他實在大感意外谴垫。或許只是旅途困頓的關系罷母蛛◆婕簦“我的婚姻到此結(jié)束〔式迹”他坐起身前弯，凝視著逐漸熄滅的篝火蚪缀，就著光亮眨眼。

“He sent the girl away?”

“他把那女孩趕走了恕出？”

“He did better than that,” Tyrion said. “First he made my brother tell me the truth. The girl was a whore, you see. Jaime arranged the whole affair, the road, the outlaws, all of it. He thought it was time I had a woman. He paid double for a maiden, knowing it would be my first time.

“他做得更漂亮询枚，”提利昂道，“他先要我老哥跟我說實話浙巫。其實……那女孩是個妓女金蜀。從那條路到那兩個強盜，整件事都是詹姆安排好的的畴。他認為讓我體驗男女之事的時刻到了渊抄，便精心策劃了這一切。這是我的第一次丧裁，所以他特意付了雙倍的價錢找了個處女护桦。”

“After Jaime had made his confession, to drive home the lesson, Lord Tywin brought my wife in and gave her to his guards. They paid her fair enough. A silver for each man, how many whores command that high a price? He sat me down in the corner of the barracks and bade me watch, and at the end she had so many silvers the coins were slipping through her fingers and rolling on the floor, she?.?.?.?” The smoke was stinging his eyes. Tyrion cleared his throat and turned away from the fire, to gaze out into darkness. “Lord Tywin had me go last,” he said in a quiet voice. “And he gave me a gold coin to pay her, because I was a Lannister, and worth more.”

“詹姆說完之后煎娇，為了讓我牢牢記取教訓二庵，泰溫大人把我老婆叫進來，交給他手下的衛(wèi)兵缓呛。說實話催享，他們出的價挺公道，一人一枚銀幣强经，你說多少妓女值這個價睡陪？他叫我坐在軍營的角落寺渗，逼我全程觀賞匿情，到后來她賺的銀幣多得拿不完，白花花的銀子順著指縫灑了一地信殊，而她……”濃煙刺痛了他的眼睛炬称。提利昂清清喉嚨，從火邊轉(zhuǎn)開涡拘，朝黑暗的夜空望去玲躯。“泰溫大人讓我最后一個上鳄乏□纬担”他輕聲說，“他還遞給我一枚金幣橱野，因為我是蘭尼斯特家的人朽缴，身價不同∷”

After a time he heard the noise again, the rasp of steel on stone as Bronn sharpened his sword. “Thirteen or thirty or three, I would have killed the man who did that to me.”

過了一會兒密强，他又聽見波隆拿石頭磨劍的聲音茅郎。“管我十三歲或渤、三十歲還是三歲系冗，有人敢這樣對我，我非宰了他不可薪鹦≌凭矗”

Tyrion swung around to face him. “You may get that chance one day. Remember what I told you. A Lannister always pays his debts.” He yawned. “I think I will try and sleep. Wake me if we’re about to die.”

提利昂轉(zhuǎn)頭面對他〕卮牛“說不定哪天你會有機會涝开。記得我跟你說過的話，蘭尼斯特有債必還框仔，有仇必報舀武。”他伸個懶腰离斩∫眨“我試著睡一會兒好了。咱們要死的時候記得叫醒我跛梗⊙傲螅”

He rolled himself up in the shadowskin and shut his eyes. The ground was stony and cold, but after a time Tyrion Lannister did sleep. He dreamt of the sky cell. This time he was the gaoler, not the prisoner, big, with a strap in his hand, and he was hitting his father, driving him back, toward the abyss?.?.?.?

他用山貓皮披風裹住身子，閉上眼睛核偿。地面凹凸不平诚欠，又冷又硬，但沒過多久漾岳，提利昂·蘭尼斯特竟真的睡著了轰绵。他夢見了天牢，但這回他是獄卒，并非犯人，而且他身軀高大循榆，手握皮帶，正抽打著父親液样，逼他后退，逐漸靠近無盡深淵……

“Tyrion.” Bronn’s warning was low and urgent.

“提利昂巧还”廾В”波隆的警告低沉而急促。

Tyrion was awake in the blink of an eye. The fire had burned down to embers, and the shadows were creeping in all around them. Bronn had raised himself to one knee, his sword in one hand and his dirk in the other. Tyrion held up a hand: stay still, it said. “Come share our fire, the night is cold,” he called out to the creeping shadows. “I fear we’ve no wine to offer you, but you’re welcome to some of our goat.”

提利昂立時清醒麸祷。營火僅剩余燼澎怒，人影正從四面八方朝他們進逼。波隆單膝起立摇锋，一手持劍一手握著匕首丹拯。提利昂捉住傭兵的手：安靜站超，別輕舉妄動」猿辏“今晚夜風寒冷死相，諸位何妨過來一起烤烤火？”他對周圍鬼鬼崇祟的人影喊咬像，“雖然我們無酒可以招待算撮，但歡迎各位前來品嘗羊肉∠匕海”

All movement stopped. Tyrion saw the glint of moonlight on metal. “Our mountain,” a voice called out from the trees, deep and hard and unfriendly. “Our goat.”

所有的動作都停了下來肮柜。就著月色，提利昂瞥見金屬反射的光澤倒彰∩蠖矗“山是我們的，”樹叢里傳來一個低沉待讳、堅毅而不友善的聲音芒澜。“羊肉也是我們的创淡〕栈蓿”

“Your goat,” Tyrion agreed. “Who are you?”

“羊肉是你們的沒錯，”提利昂附和：“你是誰琳彩？”

“When you meet your gods,” a different voice replied, “say it was Gunthor son of Gurn of the Stone Crows who sent you to them.” A branch cracked underfoot as he stepped into the light; a thin man in a horned helmet, armed with a long knife.

“當你升天去見你的神的時候誊酌，”另一個聲音回答，“告訴他送你上天的是石鴉部的岡恩之子岡梭爾露乏”套牵”他踏開樹叢，走進光線范圍內(nèi)施无。來人個子很瘦辉词，帶著個牛角盔，手里握著獵刀猾骡。

“And Shagga son of Dolf.” That was the first voice, deep and deadly. A boulder shifted to their left, and stood, and became a man. Massive and slow and strong he seemed, dressed all in skins, with a club in his right hand and an axe in his left. He smashed them together as he lumbered closer.

“還有多夫之子夏嘎》筇拢”這是頭一個聲音兴想，低沉而致命。只見一塊巨石朝他們左邊挪動赡勘，然后立起身嫂便，變成了人。他的身軀魁梧強壯闸与，看似動作遲緩毙替，全身穿著獸皮岸售，右手拿了根木棍，左手則握著一柄斧頭厂画。他腳步笨重地朝他們走來凸丸，邊走邊猛力把兩樣武器對撞了一下。

Other voices called other names, Conn and Torrek and Jaggot and more that Tyrion forgot the instant he heard them; ten at least. A few had swords and knives; others brandished pitchforks and scythes and wooden spears. He waited until they were done shouting out their names before he gave them answer. “I am Tyrion son of Tywin, of the Clan Lannister, the Lions of the Rock. We will gladly pay you for the goat we ate.”

其他的聲音跟著喊出名字袱院，有康恩屎慢、托瑞克、賈戈特忽洛，還有些名字提利昂記不完全腻惠，但對方一共有十人以上。有些拿了刀劍欲虚，其他人則揮舞著干草叉集灌、鐮刀和樹木削的長矛。他直等他們通通報完姓名之后方才回答：“我是蘭尼斯特部落的泰溫之子提利昂复哆，他是住在凱巖城的獅子酋長绝页。我們很樂意支付吃羊肉的賠償〖盘瘢”

“What do you have to give us, Tyrion son of Tywin?” asked the one who named himself Gunthor, who seemed to be their chief.

“泰溫之子提利昂续誉，你能給我們什么東西呢？”叫岡梭爾的人問初肉。他似乎是這群人的頭目酷鸦。

“There is silver in my purse,” Tyrion told them. “This hauberk I wear is large for me, but it should fit Conn nicely, and the battle-axe I carry would suit Shagga’s mighty hand far better than that wood-axe he holds.”

“我錢包里有些銀幣，”提利昂告訴他們牙咏，“我身上這件鎖甲對我來說太大臼隔，但康恩穿起來應該很合身。另外呢妄壶，我這把戰(zhàn)斧要是握在夏嘎那雙強壯的手里摔握，肯定會比他那柄木頭斧威猛得多《〖模”

“The halfman would pay us with our own coin,” said Conn.

“半人想拿我們的東西當賠償氨淌。”康恩道伊磺。

“Conn speaks truly,” Gunthor said. “Your silver is ours. Your horses are ours. Your hauberk and your battle-axe and the knife at your belt, those are ours too. You have nothing to give us but your lives. How would you like to die, Tyrion son of Tywin?”

“康恩說得對盛正。”岡梭爾說屑埋，“你的銀幣是我們的豪筝，你的馬是我們的，你的鎖甲和你的戰(zhàn)斧，還有你腰上的刀子也都是我們的续崖。你只有一條命可以拿來賠償敲街。泰溫之子提利昂，你想要怎么個死法严望？”

“In my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a maiden’s mouth around my cock, at the age of eighty,” he replied.

“我想活到八十歲多艇，喝飽一肚子酒，找個處女陪著我著蟹，這才死在自己的暖床上墩蔓。”他回答萧豆。

The huge one, Shagga, laughed first and loudest. The others seemed less amused. “Conn, take their horses,” Gunthor commanded. “Kill the other and seize the halfinan. He can milk the goats and make the mothers laugh.”

壯碩的夏嘎第一個發(fā)笑奸披，聲響如雷。其他人則不若他這么覺得有趣涮雷≌竺妫“康恩，去牽馬洪鸭，”岡梭爾下令样刷，“把另外那家伙宰了，然后把半人抓起來览爵。我們可以讓他擠羊奶置鼻，順便討孩子的媽開心◎阎瘢”

Bronn sprang to his feet. “Who dies first?”

波隆一躍起身箕母。“誰想先死俱济？”

“No!” Tyrion said sharply. “Gunthor son of Gurn, hear me. My House is rich and powerful. If the Stone Crows will see us safely through these mountains, my lord father will shower you with gold.”

“住手嘶是！”提利昂厲聲喝道，“岡恩之子岡梭爾蛛碌，聽我說聂喇。我的家族既有錢又有勢，只要石鴉部能保我們平安出山蔚携，我那公爵老爸賞你們的金子會多到可以拿來洗澡希太。”

“The gold of a lowland lord is as worthless as a halfman’s promises,” Gunthor said.

“低地領主的金子跟半人說的話一樣不值錢浮梢□耸”岡梭爾道。

“Half a man I may be,” Tyrion said, “yet I have the courage to face my enemies. What do the Stone Crows do, but hide behind rocks and shiver with fear as the knights of the Vale ride by?”

“我雖然只是半個人秕硝，”提利昂說，“卻有勇氣面對敵人。石鴉部呢远豺？等峽谷騎士來了奈偏，你們還不是只敢躲在石頭后面，害怕得發(fā)抖躯护？”

Shagga gave a roar of anger and clashed club against axe. Jaggot poked at Tyrion’s face with the fire-hardened point of a long wooden spear. He did his best not to flinch. “Are these the best weapons you could steal?” he said. “Good enough for killing sheep, perhaps?.?.?.?if the sheep do not fight back. My father’s smiths shit better steel.”

夏嘎怒吼一聲惊来，將手中的棍棒和斧頭再度撞擊。賈戈特用他那根前端淬過火的木矛戳了戳提利昂的臉棺滞。他極盡所能不畏縮裁蚁。“你們就只偷得到這種貨色继准？”他說枉证，“殺羊或許可以……還得那羊乖乖認命讓你們殺。我老爸的鐵匠拉出的屎都比這高級移必∈已瑁”

“Little boyman,” Shagga roared, “will you mock my axe after I chop off your manhood and feed it to the goats?”

“臭小子，”夏嘎吼道崔泵，“等我把你的命根子剁下來喂山羊秒赤，瞧你還敢嘲笑我的斧頭？”

But Gunthor raised a hand. “No. I would hear his words. The mothers go hungry, and steel fills more mouths than gold. What would you give us for your lives, Tyrion son of Tywin? Swords? Lances? Mail?”

然而岡梭爾舉起手憎瘸∪肜海“不，我要聽聽他怎么說幌甘。孩子的媽現(xiàn)在都在挨餓潮售，有了家伙比拿金子更有用。泰溫之子提利昂含潘，你要拿什么來換你的命饲做？劍？長槍遏弱？還是盔甲盆均？”

“All that, and more, Gunthor son of Gurn,” Tyrion Lannister replied, smiling. “I will give you the Vale of Arryn.”

“岡恩之子岡梭爾，這些都不成問題漱逸，我給你的遠不止于此泪姨，”提利昂·蘭尼斯特微笑著回答，“我會把整個艾林谷都送給你饰抒“估”