EDDARD

33 艾德

Robert, I beg of

you,” Ned pleaded, “hear what you are saying. You are talking of murdering a

child.”

“勞勃，求求你羹蚣，”奈德懇求块攒，“請(qǐng)你仔細(xì)想清楚陪白，你這是謀害幼兒啊惰匙！”

“The whore is pregnant!” The king’s fist slammed down on the council

table loud as a thunderclap. “I warned you this would happen, Ned. Back in the

barrowlands, I warned you, but you did not care to hear it. Well, you’ll hear

it now. I want them dead, mother and child both, and that fool Viserys as well.

Is that plain enough for you? I want them dead.”

“那賤貨懷孕了豺总！”國王重重一拳捶在議事桌上羡榴，聲響如雷匀归】幼剩“奈德，這事我早警告過你穆端，記得嗎袱贮？還在荒冢地的時(shí)候我就說過，可你不肯聽徙赢。那好字柠，現(xiàn)在你給我聽清楚：我要他們死，母子兩個(gè)一起死狡赐，外加那個(gè)笨蛋韋賽里斯窑业。這樣說夠明白了吧？我要他們死枕屉〕１”

The other

councillors were all doing their best to pretend that they were somewhere else.

No doubt they were wiser than he was. Eddard Stark had seldom felt quite so

alone. “You will dishonor yourself forever if you do this.”

其余重臣正竭盡所能假裝不在現(xiàn)場。他們這么做搀擂，無疑比他聰明得多西潘。艾德·史塔克極少感到如此孤獨(dú)∩谒蹋“假如你真這樣做喷市，你將遺臭萬年⊥眨”

“Then let it be on my head, so long as it is done. I am not so blind

that I cannot see the shadow of the axe when it is hanging over my own neck.”

“要怪就盡量怪到我頭上來吧品姓，只要事情能辦成。我還沒盲目到斧頭的影子都在脖子上晃了自己還看不到的地步箫措「贡福”

“There is no axe,” Ned told his king. “Only the shadow of a shadow,

twenty years removed?.?.?.?if it exists at all.”

“根本沒有什么斧頭，”奈德告訴他的國王：“只有二十年前的陳年舊事斤蔓，你這是在捕風(fēng)捉影……而且究竟有沒有影子還未可知植酥。”

“If?” Varys asked softly, wringing powdered hands together. “My lord,

you wrong me. Would I bring ties to king and council?”

“還未可知弦牡？”瓦里斯輕聲問友驮，一邊扭著他那雙灑滿香粉的手±“大人喊儡，您錯(cuò)怪我了。難道我會(huì)編造假消息來欺騙國王陛下和諸位大人嗎稻据？”

Ned looked at

the eunuch coldly. “You would bring us the whisperings of a traitor half a

world away, my lord. Perhaps Mormont is wrong. Perhaps he is lying.”

奈德冷冷地看著太監(jiān)艾猜÷蛐“大人，您的消息來源于千里之外的叛徒匆赃∮倜或許莫爾蒙弄錯(cuò)了，或許他在撒謊算柳〉偷”

“Ser Jorah would not dare deceive me,” Varys said with a sly smile.

“Rely on it, my lord. The princess is with child.”

“喬拉爵士想必不敢騙我，”瓦里斯露出狡猾的笑容瞬项≌崽＃“請(qǐng)放心吧，大人囱淋，公主懷孕的事不會(huì)錯(cuò)的猪杭。”

“So you say. If you are wrong, we need not fear. If the girl

miscarries, we need not fear. If she births a daughter in place of a son, we

need not fear. If the babe dies in infancy, we need not fear.”

“這可是你說的妥衣。若你弄錯(cuò)了皂吮，我們無須害怕；若那女孩流產(chǎn)税手，我們無須害怕蜂筹；若她生的是女兒，并非兒子芦倒，我們無須害怕艺挪；若那孩子還未長大就死于襁褓，我們也無須害怕兵扬」胧簦”

“But if it is a boy?” Robert insisted. “If he lives?”

“但萬一真是個(gè)兒子呢？”勞勃堅(jiān)持周霉，“萬一他活下來了呢？”

“The narrow sea would still lie between us. I shall fear the Dothraki

the day they teach their horses to run on water.”

“狹海依舊隔在中間亚皂。等多斯拉克人教會(huì)他們的馬在水上走路的那一天俱箱，我才會(huì)害怕∶鸨兀”

The king took a

swallow of wine and glowered at Ned across the council table. “So you would

counsel me to do nothing until the dragonspawn has landed his army on my

shores, is that it?”

國王灌了口葡萄酒狞谱，然后從議事桌的那邊狠狠地瞪著這一頭的奈德〗欤“你的意思就是讓我什么也別做跟衅，干等惡龍的孽種帶著兵馬登岸了再說，是嗎播歼？”

“This ‘dragonspawn’ is in his mother’s belly,” Ned said. “Even Aegon

did no conquering until after he was weaned.”

“您說的這個(gè)‘惡龍的孽種’伶跷，如今還在娘胎里，”奈德道，“即便是伊耿叭莫，也是等斷奶之后才南征北討的蹈集。”

“Gods! You are stubborn as an aurochs, Stark.” The king looked around

the council table. “Have the rest of you mislaid your tongues? Will no one talk

sense to this frozen-faced fool?”

“諸神在上雇初！史塔克拢肆，你老是這副牛脾氣！”國王環(huán)顧議事桌靖诗」郑“怎么，都啞巴啦刊橘？誰來跟這凍糊涂了的傻瓜講講道理鄙才？”

Varys gave the

king an unctuous smile and laid a soft hand on Ned’s sleeve. “I understand your

qualms, Lord Eddard, truly I do. It gave me no joy to bring this grievous news

to council. It is a terrible thing we contemplate, a vile thing. Yet we who

presume to rule must do vile things for the good of the realm, howevermuch it

pains us.”

瓦里斯朝國王膩膩一笑，然后伸出軟綿綿的手放在奈德的袖子上伤为≈溲“艾德大人，憑良心說绞愚，我真的能體會(huì)您的顧慮叙甸。將這消息帶給諸位，我自己也不好受位衩。我們討論的是件可怕的事裆蒸，是件卑鄙的事，可我們這些冒昧為政的人糖驴，凡事必須以全國百姓福祉為優(yōu)先考量僚祷，而不論自身感受如何≈疲”

Lord Renly

shrugged. “The matter seems simple enough to me. We ought to have had Viserys

and his sister killed years ago, but His Grace my brother made the mistake of

listening to Jon Arryn.”

藍(lán)禮公爵聳肩：“對(duì)我來說辙谜，這事很簡單。韋賽里斯和他妹妹早就該殺感昼，只怪王兄陛下從前錯(cuò)信了瓊恩·艾林的話装哆。”

“Mercy is never a mistake, Lord Renly,” Ned replied. “On the Trident,

Ser Barristan here cut down a dozen good men, Robert’s friends and mine. When

they brought him to us, grievously wounded and near death, Roose Bolton urged

us to cut his throat, but your brother said, ‘I will not kill a man for

loyalty, nor for fighting well,’ and sent his own maester to tend Ser

Barristan’s wounds.” He gave the king a long cool look. “Would that man were

here today.”

“藍(lán)禮大人定嗓，慈悲為懷絕不是錯(cuò)誤蜕琴。”奈德答道宵溅，“當(dāng)年在三叉戟河上凌简，眼下在座的巴利斯坦爵士獨(dú)自一人砍倒十幾個(gè)優(yōu)秀的勇士，其中有的是勞勃的朋友恃逻，有的是我的雏搂。當(dāng)他被押到我們面前時(shí)藕施，已經(jīng)渾身是傷，瀕臨死亡畔派，盧斯·波頓力主割了他喉嚨铅碍，但你哥哥卻說：‘我不會(huì)因?yàn)橐粋€(gè)人忠心耿耿、英勇作戰(zhàn)而殺他线椰“福’隨后他派出自己的學(xué)士為巴利斯坦療傷『┯洌”他冰冷卻意味深長地看了國王一眼烦绳。“如果今天在場的是那個(gè)人就好了配紫【睹埽”

Robert had shame

enough to blush. “It was not the same,” he complained. “Ser Barristan was a

knight of the Kingsguard.”

勞勃還知道紅臉√尚ⅲ“那不一樣享扔，”他抱怨，“巴利斯坦爵士是御林鐵衛(wèi)的騎士植袍【迕撸”

“Whereas Daenerys is a fourteen-year-old girl.” Ned knew he was

pushing this well past the point of wisdom, yet he could not keep silent.

“Robert, I ask you, what did we rise against Aerys Targaryen for, if not to put

an end to the murder of children?”

“而丹妮莉絲只是個(gè)十四歲的小女孩∮诟觯”奈德知道這樣步步進(jìn)逼很不理智氛魁，然而他無法保持緘默√ǎ“勞勃秀存，我問你，當(dāng)初我們興兵對(duì)抗伊里斯·坦格利安羽氮，不就是為了要阻止他繼續(xù)謀害孩童嗎或链？”

“To put an end to Targaryens!” the king growled.

“我們是要?dú)⒐馓垢窭布业娜耍　眹跖叵?/p>

“Your Grace, I never knew you to fear Rhaegar.” Ned fought to keep

the scorn out of his voice, and failed. “Have the years so unmanned you that

you tremble at the shadow of an unborn child?”

“陛下档押，記得從前連雷加也嚇不倒你株扛，”奈德努力克制口氣中的輕蔑，卻失敗了汇荐。“難道經(jīng)過這么些年盆繁，您的膽子卻變得如此之小掀淘，連個(gè)還未出生的孩子的陰影都能讓您顫抖了么？”

Robert purpled.

“No more, Ned,” he warned, pointing. “Not another word. Have you forgotten who

is king here?”

勞勃臉色發(fā)紫油昂「锫Γ“奈德倾贰，不要再說了±雇铮”他指著他發(fā)出警告匆浙，“一個(gè)字都不許再說。莫非你忘了誰才是國王厕妖？”

“No, Your Grace,” Ned replied. “Have you?”

“啟稟陛下首尼，我沒忘⊙越眨”奈德回答软能，“敢情您也沒忘吧？”

“Enough!” the king bellowed. “I am sick of talk. I’ll be done with

this, or be damned. What say you all?”

“夠了举畸！”國王大吼查排，“我懶得再費(fèi)口舌。我要是不殺她抄沮，必遭天譴跋核。你們意見如何？”

“She must be killed,” Lord Renly declared.

“該殺叛买∩按”藍(lán)禮公爵表示。

“We have no choice,” murmured Varys. “Sadly, sadly?.?.?.?”

“我們別無選擇聪全，”瓦里斯喃喃道泊藕，“可惜啊，可惜……”

Ser Barristan

Selmy raised his pale blue eyes from the table and said, “Your Grace, there is

honor in facing an enemy on the battlefield, but none in killing him in his

mother’s womb. Forgive me, but I must stand with Lord Eddard.”

巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士從桌上揚(yáng)起那雙淡藍(lán)色的眼睛难礼，“陛下娃圆，在戰(zhàn)場上與敵人交鋒是件光榮的事，但人還沒出生就動(dòng)手卻不光彩蛾茉。請(qǐng)您原諒讼呢，我必須站在艾德大人這邊∏妫”

Grand Maester

Pycelle cleared his throat, a process that seemed to take some minutes. “My

order serves the realm, not the ruler. Once I counseled King Aerys as loyally

as I counsel King Robert now, so I bear this girl child of his no ill will. Yet

I ask you this, should war come again, how many soldiers will die? How many

towns will burn? How many children will be ripped from their mothers to perish

on the end of a spear?” He stroked his luxuriant white beard, infinitely sad,

infinitely weary. “Is it not wiser, even kinder, that Daenerys Targaryen should

die now so that tens of thousands might live?”

派席爾大學(xué)士花了好幾分鐘清喉嚨悦屏。“我的組織旨在為全國謀福利键思，而非只為統(tǒng)治者础爬。我曾經(jīng)忠心耿耿地輔佐伊里斯國王，一如我現(xiàn)在輔佐勞勃國王吼鳞，所以我對(duì)他這個(gè)女兒沒有惡感看蚜。但是我請(qǐng)問您——倘若戰(zhàn)事再起，會(huì)有多少士兵喪命荒野赔桌？多少村莊付之一炬供炎？多少孩子被從母親懷里硬生生抓走渴逻，死于槍下？”他捻捻大把白胡須音诫，一副悲天憫人惨奕、疲累不堪的模樣〗叨郏“倘若死了丹妮莉絲一個(gè)梨撞，能夠拯救萬千生靈，那會(huì)不會(huì)是比較明智蜓氨，甚或比較仁慈的做法呢聋袋？”

“Kinder,” Varys said. “Oh, well and truly spoken, Grand Maester. It

is so true. Should the gods in their caprice grant Daenerys Targaryen a son,

the realm must bleed.”

“比較仁慈，”瓦里斯道穴吹，“噢幽勒，國師大人，說得真好港令，實(shí)在是再正確不過了啥容。的確如此啊，若是天上諸神一個(gè)疏忽顷霹，給了丹妮莉絲·坦格利安一個(gè)兒子咪惠，王國就難免血光之災(zāi)×艿恚”

Littlefinger was

the last. As Ned looked to him, Lord Petyr stifled a yawn. “When you find

yourself in bed with an ugly woman, the best thing to do is close your eyes and

get on with it,” he declared. “Waiting won’t make the maid any prettier. Kiss

her and be done with it.”

小指頭最后發(fā)言遥昧。奈德朝他望去時(shí)，培提爾伯爵正忍住呵欠朵纷√砍簦“若你發(fā)現(xiàn)跟自己上床的原來是個(gè)丑女，最好的做法就是閉上眼睛袍辞，趕緊辦事鞋仍。”他高聲宣布搅吁，“反正等下去她也不會(huì)變漂亮威创，所以還是親一親了事啰』雅常”

“Kiss her?” Ser Barristan repeated, aghast.

“親一親肚豺？”巴利斯坦爵士駭然地重復(fù)。

“A steel kiss,” said Littlefinger.

“用刀用劍親哪界拦∠昃妫”小指頭道。

Robert turned to

face his Hand. “Well, there it is, Ned. You and Selmy stand alone on this

matter. The only question that remains is, who can we find to kill her?”

勞勃轉(zhuǎn)身面對(duì)他的首相∏好眨“你看，奈德枪萄，就這樣了隐岛。對(duì)這件事的看法，只有你和賽爾彌持有異議瓷翻。剩下的問題是聚凹，我們派誰去殺她？”

“Mormont craves a royal pardon,” Lord Renly reminded them.

“莫爾蒙極度渴望王家特赦齐帚《恃溃”藍(lán)禮提醒他們。

“Desperately,” Varys said, “yet he craves life even more. By now, the

princess nears Vaes Dothrak, where it is death to draw a blade. If I told you

what the Dothraki would do to the poor man who used one on a khaleesi, none of

you would sleep tonight.” He stroked a powdered cheek. “Now, poison?.?.?.?the

tears of Lys, let us say. Khal Drogo need never know it was not a natural

death.”

“一心一意哪对妄，”瓦里斯道湘今，“但他更渴望生命。如今公主已抵達(dá)維斯·多斯拉克剪菱，在那里拔劍可是會(huì)沒命的摩瞎。若有哪個(gè)笨蛋敢在圣城對(duì)卡麗熙動(dòng)刀動(dòng)槍，他會(huì)有什么下場孝常，我要是說出來旗们，各位今晚就不用睡了」咕模”他輕撫撲過粉的臉頰上渴。“除此之外喜颁，就是下毒……不如就用里斯之淚稠氮。沒必要讓卓戈卡奧知道是否是自然死亡÷宄玻”

Grand Maester

Pycelle’s sleepy eyes flicked open. He squinted suspiciously at the eunuch.

派席爾國師昏昏欲睡的眼睛登時(shí)睜得老大括袒，他一臉懷疑地瞇眼看著太監(jiān)。

“Poison is a coward’s weapon,” the king complained.

“毒藥是懦夫的武器稿茉∏旅蹋”國王抱怨。

Ned had heard

enough. “You send hired knives to kill a fourteen-year-old girl and still

quibble about honor?” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Do it yourself,

Robert. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Look her in the

eyes before you kill her. See her tears, hear her last words. You owe her that

much at least.”

奈德受夠了漓库∈鸦郏“你雇人去殺一個(gè)十四歲的小女孩，還嫌手段不夠光明正大渺蒿？”他把椅子往后一推痢士，站起來∶埃“勞勃怠蹂，您親自動(dòng)手罷善延。判人死刑的應(yīng)該親自操刀，殺她之前好好注視她的眼睛城侧，看她流淚易遣，聆聽她的臨終遺言，最起碼您應(yīng)該做到這樣嫌佑《姑＃”

“Gods,” the king swore, the word exploding out of him as if he could

barely contain his fury. “You mean it, damn you.” He reached for the flagon of

wine at his elbow, found it empty, and flung it away to shatter against the

wall. “I am out of wine and out of patience. Enough of this. Just have it

done.”

“諸神在上，”國王咒道屋摇。這句話從他嘴里炸出來揩魂，仿佛他幾乎無法包容怒氣∨谖拢“該死火脉，你真想跟我作對(duì)嗎？”他伸手拿起肘邊的酒壺茅特，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)是空的忘分，便狠狠將之朝墻上摔去“仔蓿“我的酒沒了妒峦，耐性也沒了，別再婆婆媽媽兵睛，快把事情辦妥吧肯骇。”

“I will not be part of murder, Robert. Do as you will, but do not ask

me to fix my seal to it.”

“勞勃祖很，我決不當(dāng)謀殺共犯笛丙。您要怎么隨便您，但休想叫我在上面蓋印假颇∨哐欤”

For a moment

Robert did not seem to understand what Ned was saying. Defiance was not a dish

he tasted often. Slowly his face changed as comprehension came. His eyes narrowed

and a flush crept up his neck past the velvet collar. He pointed an angry

finger at Ned. “You are the King’s Hand, Lord Stark. You will do as I command

you, or I’ll find me a Hand who will.”

起初勞勃似乎沒聽懂奈德的話，他很少嘗到被人抗拒的滋味笨鸡。等他明白過來之后姜钳，慢慢變了臉色。他瞇起眼睛形耗，一陣紅暈爬上脖子哥桥，高過天鵝絨領(lǐng)口。他憤怒地伸手指著奈德道：“史塔克大人激涤，你是御前首相拟糕，你要么照我說的去做，不然我就另請(qǐng)高明∷椭停”

“I wish him every success.” Ned unfastened the heavy clasp that

clutched at the folds of his cloak, the ornate silver hand that was his badge

of office. He laid it on the table in front of the king, saddened by the memory

of the man who had pinned it on him, the friend he had loved. “I thought you a

better man than this, Robert. I thought we had made a nobler king.”

“那我祝他勝任愉快侠草。”奈德說罷解開扣住斗篷犁嗅、象征他身份地位的雕花銀手徽章梦抢。他把徽章放在國王面前的桌上，想起那個(gè)為自己配上這枚徽章的人愧哟，那個(gè)他所深愛的朋友，不禁難過起來哼蛆∪镂啵“勞勃，我以為您不是這種人腮介。我以為我們擁立了一個(gè)更高貴的國王肥矢。”

Robert’s face

was purple. “Out,” he croaked, choking on his rage. “Out, damn you, I’m done

with you. What are you waiting for? Go, run back to Winterfell. And make

certain I never look on your face again, or I swear, I’ll have your head on a

spike!”

勞勃臉色發(fā)紫叠洗』忱ⅲ“給我滾戒努！”他嘶聲道，氣得差點(diǎn)說不出話∏筇“快給我滾出去，你這該死的家伙蟀悦，我受夠你了崭捍。你還等什么？滾案腺，快滾回臨冬城去庆冕。你這輩子最好再也別叫我瞧見你那張臉，否則……否則我發(fā)誓一定把你的頭砍下來掛在槍上劈榨》玫荩”

Ned bowed, and

turned on his heel without another word. He could feel Robert’s eyes on his

back. As he strode from the council chambers, the discussion resumed with

scarcely a pause. “On Braavos there is a society called the Faceless Men,”

Grand Maester Pycelle offered.

奈德鞠躬，然后一言不發(fā)地離開同辣。他感覺得到勞勃的目光看著自己的背拷姿。他還沒走出議事廳，討論便繼續(xù)進(jìn)行邑闺〉埃“聽說布拉佛斯有個(gè)叫‘無面者’的組織《妇耍”派席爾大學(xué)士提議抵乓。

“Do you have any idea how costly they are?” Littlefinger complained.

“You could hire an army of common sellswords for half the price, and that’s for

a merchant. I don’t dare think what they might ask for a princess.”

“你到底知不知道他們的行情？”小指頭抱怨：“光半價(jià)就夠你雇一支尋常傭兵組成的軍隊(duì)，而且行刺對(duì)象只是尋常商人灾炭。暗殺公主要花多少茎芋，我連想都不敢想◎诔觯”

The closing of

the door behind him silenced the voices. Ser Boros Blount was stationed outside

the chamber, wearing the long white cloak and armor of the Kingsguard. He gave

Ned a quick, curious glance from the corner of his eye, but asked no questions.

門在他身后關(guān)上田弥，隔絕了聲音。柏洛斯·布勞恩爵士守在議事廳外铡原，穿著御林鐵衛(wèi)的純白長披風(fēng)和鎧甲偷厦。他用眼角飛快又狐疑地瞄了奈德一眼，但沒有多問燕刻。

The day felt

heavy and oppressive as he crossed the bailey back to the Tower of the Hand. He

could feel the threat of rain in the air. Ned would have welcomed it. It might

have made him feel a trifle less unclean. When he reached his solar, he

summoned Vayon Poole. The steward came at once. “You sent for me, my lord

Hand?”

天色陰沉而壓抑只泼，奈德穿過城堡外庭，回到首相塔卵洗。他感覺得出空氣中彌漫濕意请唱，仿佛山雨欲來，若真下起雨过蹂，他倒會(huì)很高興十绑，或許一場雨，會(huì)讓他稍稍覺得自己不那么污穢酷勺。他進(jìn)了書房本橙，傳維揚(yáng)·普爾過去∨赣。總管立刻趕來勋功。“首相大人库说，您有何吩咐狂鞋？”

“Hand no longer,” Ned told him. “The king and I have quarreled. We

shall be returning to Winterfell.”

“我已經(jīng)不是首相了∏钡模”奈德告訴他骚揍，“我跟國王吵了一架。我們準(zhǔn)備回臨冬城啰挪⌒挪唬”

“I shall begin making arrangements at once, my lord. We will need a

fortnight to ready everything for the journey.”

“那我這就去準(zhǔn)備，老爺亡呵。我們需要兩個(gè)星期的時(shí)間安排旅途抽活。”

“We may not have a fortnight. We may not have a day. The king

mentioned something about seeing my head on a spike.” Ned frowned. He did not

truly believe the king would harm him, not Robert. He was angry now, but once

Ned was safely out of sight, his rage would cool as it always did.

“只怕我們沒有兩個(gè)星期锰什，連有沒有一天我都不敢確定下硕。國王甚至說要把我的頭掛在槍上丁逝。”奈德皺眉梭姓。他并不真正相信國王會(huì)傷害他霜幼，勞勃絕對(duì)不會(huì)。他當(dāng)時(shí)在氣頭上誉尖，但等奈德離開他的視線罪既，他的怒意自會(huì)冷卻，從前每次都這樣铡恕。

Always?

Suddenly, uncomfortably, he found himself recalling Rhaegar Targaryen. Fifteen

years dead, yet Robert hates him as much as ever. It was a disturbing

notion?.?.?.?and there was the other matter, the business with Catelyn and the

dwarf that Yoren had warned him of last night. That would come to light soon,

as sure as sunrise, and with the king in such a black fury?.?.?.?Robert might

not care a fig for Tyrion Lannister, but it would touch on his pride, and there

was no telling what the queen might do.

每次都是嗎琢感？突然間，他不安地發(fā)覺自己想起了雷加·坦格利安探熔。都死了十五年了猩谊，勞勃還像當(dāng)初那么恨他。這念頭真叫他心煩意亂……還有別的麻煩事祭刚，首當(dāng)其沖就是昨晚尤倫警告他的凱特琳和那侏儒的糾紛。不消說墙牌，這消息很快就會(huì)傳開涡驮，國王現(xiàn)在又氣成這樣……勞勃或許不在乎提利昂·蘭尼斯特死活，但此事觸及他的自尊喜滨，更別提王后方面會(huì)有什么舉動(dòng)捉捅。

“It might be safest if I went on ahead,” he told Poole. “I will take

my daughters and a few guardsmen. The rest of you can follow when you are

ready. Inform Jory, but tell no one else, and do nothing until the girls and I

have gone. The castle is full of eyes and ears, and I would rather my plans

were not known.”

“看來我提前動(dòng)身會(huì)比較安全，”他告訴普爾虽风，“我就帶女兒和幾個(gè)侍衛(wèi)先走棒口，你們其他人等準(zhǔn)備好了再跟上。將消息通知喬里辜膝，但別讓其他人知道无牵，在我和我女兒離開以前，也不要有任何動(dòng)作厂抖。城堡里到處是監(jiān)視的眼線茎毁，我不希望自己的計(jì)劃泄漏出去〕栏ǎ”

“As you command, my lord.”

“老爺七蜘，依您吩咐∏蕉”

When he had

gone, Eddard Stark went to the window and sat brooding. Robert had left him no

choice that he could see. He ought to thank him. It would be good to return to

Winterfell. He ought never have left. His sons were waiting there. Perhaps he

and Catelyn would make a new son together when he returned, they were not so

old yet. And of late he had often found himself dreaming of snow, of the deep

quiet of the wolfswood at night.

他走后橡卤，艾德·史塔克踱到窗邊，坐下來沉思损搬。是勞勃讓他別無選擇碧库。其實(shí)他倒該感謝他柜与，能回臨冬城是件好事，他打一開始便不該離開谈为。兒子們都在那兒等他旅挤。回去以后伞鲫，他說不定可以跟凱特琳再生個(gè)兒子粘茄，他們都還不老呢。近來他時(shí)常夢見雪秕脓，以及狼林夜間深沉的靜謐柒瓣。

And yet, the

thought of leaving angered him as well. So much was still undone. Robert and

his council of cravens and flatterers would beggar the realm if left

unchecked?.?.?.?or, worse, sell it to the Lannisters in payment of their loans.

And the truth of Jon Arryn’s death still eluded him. Oh, he had found a few

pieces, enough to convince him that Jon had indeed been murdered, but that was

no more than the spoor of an animal on the forest floor. He had not sighted the

beast itself yet, though he sensed it was there, lurking, hidden, treacherous.

可另一方面，想到離開卻又叫他惱怒吠架。好多事都還未完成芙贫。若不加以管束，勞勃和他滿朝的懦夫和馬屁精會(huì)鬧得民窮國枯……甚至可能為了還債傍药，把國家都賣給蘭尼斯特磺平。至于瓊恩·艾林的死亡之謎，則始終困擾著他拐辽。噢拣挪，他的確找到些線索，足以讓他相信瓊恩確是遭人謀害俱诸，但那不過是林中野獸留下的一鱗半爪菠劝。他還未親眼目睹野獸本身，然而他感覺得到睁搭，它就在那里赶诊，潛伏、躲藏园骆、狡詐舔痪。

It struck him

suddenly that he might return to Winterfell by sea. Ned was no sailor, and

ordinarily would have preferred the kingsroad, but if he took ship he could

stop at Dragonstone and speak with Stannis Baratheon. Pycelle had sent a raven

off across the water, with a polite letter from Ned requesting Lord Stannis to

return to his seat on the small council. As yet, there had been no reply, but

the silence only deepened his suspicions. Lord Stannis shared the secret Jon

Arryn had died for, he was certain of it. The truth he sought might very well

be waiting for him on the ancient island fortress of House Targaryen.

他突然想到，或許自己應(yīng)該走海路回臨冬城锌唾。奈德不諳水性辙喂，正常狀況下寧可走國王大道，但他若是乘船鸠珠，則可在龍石島臀『模靠，和史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩談?wù)劷ヅ拧Ｅ上癄栆呀?jīng)送了只烏鴉飛越狹海炬太，帶上奈德的一封信，信中禮貌地請(qǐng)求史坦尼斯公爵回到朝中奉職驯耻，卻至今沒有回音亲族。對(duì)方的沉默只加深了他的懷疑炒考。史坦尼斯一定知道瓊恩·艾林何以喪命的秘密，這點(diǎn)他很確定霎迫。他所冀求的事實(shí)真相斋枢，很可能就在坦格利安家族的古老島嶼要塞里等著他。

And when you

have it, what then? Some secrets are safer kept hidden. Some secrets are too

dangerous to share, even with those you love and trust. Ned slid the dagger

that Catelyn had brought him out of the sheath on his belt. The Imp’s knife.

Why would the dwarf want Bran dead? To silence him, surely. Another secret, or

only a different strand of the same web?

就算你查出真相知给，又能怎么樣呢瓤帚？有些秘密最好永遠(yuǎn)埋藏，有些秘密太危險(xiǎn)涩赢，不能與他人分享戈次，即便是那些你所深愛和相信的人。奈德從腰際的刀鞘里抽出凱特琳帶來的那把匕首筒扒。小惡魔的刀怯邪。那侏儒為何會(huì)要置布蘭于死地？想必是為了叫他永遠(yuǎn)閉嘴花墩。這是又一個(gè)秘密悬秉，還是同一張蛛網(wǎng)上不同的絲線？

Could Robert be

part of it? He would not have thought so, but once he would not have thought

Robert could command the murder of women and children either. Catelyn had tried

to warn him. You knew the man, she had said. The king is a stranger to you. The

sooner he was quit of King’s Landing, the better. If there was a ship sailing

north on the morrow, it would be well to be on it.

這其中勞勃有份嗎冰蘑？他不會(huì)這么想搂捧，但從前他也不會(huì)想到勞勃竟干得出謀害婦孺的事。凱特琳警告過他懂缕，你清楚的是過去的他。當(dāng)時(shí)她說王凑，現(xiàn)在的國王對(duì)你而言搪柑，已經(jīng)成了陌生人∷髋耄看來他越快離開君臨越好工碾，假如明天剛好有北上的船只，能搭上是再好不過百姓。

He summoned

Vayon Poole again and sent him to the docks to make inquiries, quietly but

quickly. “Find me a fast ship with a skilled captain,” he told the steward. “I

care nothing for the size of its cabins or the quality of its appointments, so

long as it is swift and safe. I wish to leave at once.”

于是他再次找來維揚(yáng)·普爾渊额，吩咐他去港口詢問，不能張揚(yáng)但動(dòng)作要快垒拢⊙＃“幫我找條快船，得有經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富的船長求类”伎眩”他告訴管家，“我不在乎船艙大小或豪華與否尸疆，只要迅速安全就成椿猎。我打算即刻動(dòng)身惶岭。”

Poole had no sooner

taken his leave than Tomard announced a visitor. “Lord Baelish to see you,

m’lord.”

普爾剛奉命離開犯眠，托馬德便宣告有訪客到來按灶。“大人筐咧，貝里席大人想見您鸯旁。”

Ned was

half-tempted to turn him away, but thought better of it. He was not free yet;

until he was, he must play their games. “Show him in, Tom.”

奈德很想把他趕走嗜浮，但最后還是作罷羡亩。他還未脫身，在重獲自由之前危融，必須照他們的游戲規(guī)則來玩畏铆。“湯姆吉殃，請(qǐng)他進(jìn)來吧辞居。”

Lord Petyr

sauntered into the solar as if nothing had gone amiss that morning. He wore a

slashed velvet doublet in cream-and-silver, a grey silk cloak trimmed with

black fox, and his customary mocking smile.

培提爾伯爵若無其事地踱進(jìn)書房蛋勺，渾若上午無事發(fā)生瓦灶。他穿了件乳白和銀色相間的天鵝絨上衣，以及滾著黑狐貍皮邊的灰色絲披風(fēng)抱完，臉上則掛著一慣的嘲弄笑容贼陶。

Ned greeted him

coldly. “Might I ask the reason for this visit, Lord Baelish?”

奈德冷淡地問候他：“貝里席大人，請(qǐng)問您此次來訪有何目的巧娱？”

“I won’t detain you long, I’m on my way to dine with Lady Tanda.

Lamprey pie and roast suckling pig. She has some thought to wed me to her

younger daughter, so her table is always astonishing. If truth be told, I’d

sooner marry the pig, but don’t tell her. I do love lamprey pie.”

“我不會(huì)打擾您太久的碉怔，我正要去參加坦妲伯爵夫人安排的晚餐，這是碰巧路過禁添。七鰓鰻派和烤乳豬撮胧。她有意把小女兒嫁給我，所以桌上的菜總是很出彩老翘。不過說實(shí)話芹啥，我還寧愿娶頭豬。噢铺峭，這事可別告訴她墓怀，我可是真心喜歡鰻魚派哪∥兰”

“Don’t let me keep you from your eels, my lord,” Ned said with icy

disdain. “At the moment, I cannot think of anyone whose company I desire less

than yours.”

“大人捺疼，那就別讓我耽誤了你的鰻魚美食∮婪＃”奈德帶著冷冷的嫌惡道啤呼，“此時(shí)此刻卧秘，我想不出還有誰更讓我不愿與之為伍」倏郏”

“Oh, I’m certain if you put your mind to it, you could come up with a

few names. Varys, say. Cersei. Or Robert. His Grace is most wroth with you. He

went on about you at some length after you took your leave of us this morning.

The words insolence and ingratitude came into it frequently, I seem to recall.”

“噢翅敌，我相信你只要努力想，一定可以想出幾個(gè)惕蹄。比方說蚯涮，瓦里斯，瑟曦卖陵，或是勞勃遭顶。陛下他很生你的氣，今早上你走之后泪蔫，他還接著罵了一通棒旗。倘若我沒記錯(cuò)的話，他的話中反復(fù)出現(xiàn)傲慢無禮撩荣、忘恩負(fù)義這些字眼喲铣揉。”

Ned did not

honor that with a reply. Nor did he offer his guest a seat, but Littlefinger

took one anyway. “After you stormed out, it was left to me to convince them not

to hire the Faceless Men,” he continued blithely. “Instead Varys will quietly

let it be known that we’ll make a lord of whoever does in the Targaryen girl.”

奈德根本不屑回答餐曹，也不打算請(qǐng)來客落座逛拱。不過小指頭倒是大咧咧地主動(dòng)坐了下來√ê铮“在你發(fā)完脾氣后朽合，就只剩下我來打消他們雇用無面者的念頭”タ瘢”他開心地續(xù)道曹步，“還好收回了成命，只是讓瓦里斯悄悄放出消息嗡官，誰做掉坦格利安家那女孩，我們就封誰當(dāng)貴族毯焕⊙苄龋”

Ned was

disgusted. “So now we grant titles to assassins.”

奈德覺得惡心透頂∧擅ǎ“所以我們要讓刺客當(dāng)貴族了婆咸。”

Littlefinger

shrugged. “Titles are cheap. The Faceless Men are expensive. If truth be told,

I did the Targaryen girl more good than you with all your talk of honor. Let

some sellsword drunk on visions of lordship try to kill her. Likely he’ll make

a botch of it, and afterward the Dothraki will be on their guard. If we’d sent

a Faceless Man after her, she’d be as good as buried.”

小指頭聳聳肩芜辕∩薪荆“反正封號(hào)挺便宜，無面者卻花消不起侵续。說實(shí)話倔丈，比起你滿嘴仁義道德憨闰，我?guī)吞垢窭布夷桥⒌拿κ遣皇沁€要大些？就讓哪個(gè)滿腦子貴族夢的傭兵喝醉酒去殺殺看吧需五，八成會(huì)失手鹉动，往后多斯拉克人定會(huì)多加提防。假如我們派去的是無面者宏邮，那他們就只能收尸了泽示。”

Ned frowned.

“You sit in council and talk of ugly women and steel kisses, and now you expect

me to believe that you tried to protect the girl? How big a fool do you take me

for?”

奈德皺眉蜜氨⌒瞪福“我可沒忘，你在會(huì)議上說到丑女和‘親吻’飒炎，到現(xiàn)在你反過來指望我相信你是在想辦法保護(hù)那女孩埋哟？你把我當(dāng)大白癡了？”

“Well, quite an enormous one, actually,” said Littlefinger, laughing.

“這個(gè)嘛厌丑，事實(shí)上定欧，你是個(gè)笨透了的大白癡∨停”小指頭笑道砍鸠。

“Do you always find murder so amusing, Lord Baelish?”

“貝里席大人，敢問你覺得謀殺之事如此有趣耕驰？”

“It’s not murder I find amusing, Lord Stark, it’s you. You rule like

a man dancing on rotten ice. I daresay you will make a noble splash. I believe

I heard the first crack this morning.”

“史塔克大人爷辱，我覺得有趣的不是謀殺，而是你朦肘。你辦起事來還真是如履薄冰饭弓，我敢說你總有一天會(huì)啪啦一聲摔下去的。我相信今兒早上我已經(jīng)聽到第一次開裂的聲音啦媒抠〉芏希”

“The first and last,” said Ned. “I’ve had my fill.”

“這是第一次，也是最后一次趴生》浚”奈德道，“我受夠了苍匆×跫保”

“When do you mean to return to Winterfell, my lord?”

“大人，請(qǐng)問您打算什么時(shí)候回臨冬城敖取叔汁？”

“As soon as I can. What concern is that of yours?”

“越快越好。此事與你何干？”

“None?.?.?.?but if perchance you’re still here come evenfall, I’d be

pleased to take you to this brothel your man Jory has been searching for so

ineffectually.” Littlefinger smiled. “And I won’t even tell the Lady Catelyn.”

“與我無關(guān)……不過明天傍晚您若碰巧還留在城里据块，我倒是很樂意帶您去那家您的手下喬里遍尋不著的妓院码邻。”小指頭微笑瑰钮，“這件事我連凱特琳也不會(huì)說冒滩。”