“海盗，”戴佛斯说，“你哪有什么妻子，通通是姘妇，何况你出的每一分力气都有重酬。”
“Pirate,” said Davos. “You have no wives, only concubines, and you have been well paid for every day and every ship.”
“我得到的只有承诺，”萨拉多·桑恩哀怨地说，“亲爱的爵士先生，我想要的是金子，并非白纸黑字啊。”他又丢颗葡萄进嘴巴。
“Only in promises,” said Salladhor Saan mournfully. “Good ser, it is gold I crave, not words on papers.” He popped a grape into his mouth.
“等我们夺下君临的国库，你就会拿到金子。史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩是七国上下最讲信用的人，他会履行诺言。”戴佛斯一边说，心里一边想：这个世界真是颠倒失序了，竟要出身低贱的走私者来为国王的信用作保。
“You’ll have your gold when we take the treasury in King’s Landing. No man in the Seven Kingdoms is more honorable than Stannis Baratheon. He will keep his word.” Even as Davos spoke, he thought, This world is twisted beyond hope, when lowborn smugglers must vouch for the honor of kings.
“这话我听他说过好多次啦，所以我跟他讲：咱们干脆马上就来大干一场。我的老友啊，时机已经成熟，比这葡萄还成熟呢。”
“So he has said and said. And so I say, let us do this thing. Even these grapes could be no more ripe than that city, my old friend.”
女侍把麦酒送了过来，戴佛斯给她一枚铜板。“就算如你所言，我们拿下君临，”他边说边举起酒杯，“又能守多久呢？泰温·兰尼斯特大人手握重兵，驻守在赫伦堡，而蓝礼大人……”
The serving girl returned with his ale. Davos gave her a copper. “Might be we could take King’s Landing, as you say,” he said as he lifted the tankard, “but how long would we hold it? Tywin Lannister is known to be at Harrenhal with a great host, and Lord Renly …”
“噢，对了，说起这个弟弟嘛，”萨拉多·桑恩道，“可就不太妙喽，我的朋友。蓝礼陛下他已经动身，噢，不，在这里要说蓝礼‘大人’，真对不住，这年头国王一堆，连我的舌头都讲累了。总之这个蓝礼弟弟呢，已经带着他年轻貌美的王后，那群花草诸侯和闪亮骑士，以及大批步兵，从高庭出发啦。他正沿着玫瑰大道朝咱们刚说的这座大城而去呢。”
“Ah, yes, the young brother,” said Salladhor Saan. “That part is not so good, my friend. King Renly bestirs himself. No, here he is Lord Renly, my pardons. So many kings, my tongue grows weary of the word. The brother Renly has left Highgarden with his fair young queen, his flowered lords and shining knights, and a mighty host of foot. He marches up your road of roses toward the very same great city we were speaking of.”
“他带着他的新娘一起？”
“He takes his bride?”
桑恩耸耸肩，“他没跟我解释原因，或许他一夜也舍不得她两腿间温暖的小穴吧，又或者他认为自己胜券在握。”
The other shrugged. “He did not tell me why. Perhaps he is loath to part with the warm burrow between her thighs, even for a night. Or perhaps he is that certain of his victory.”
“这事一定要让陛下知道。”
“The king must be told.”
“我的好爵士，我早报上去啦。虽然陛下他每次见了我就皱眉头，害我想起要见他，就忍不住发愁。如果我改穿乞丐帮的粗衣，脸上不带笑容，你觉得他会不会喜欢我？算啦，反正我也不会那么做，我这个人言行一致，恐怕他得忍受我这身绫罗绸缎啰，否则我就带着船跑到我比较受欢迎的地方去。我的朋友，那把剑可不是‘光明使者’。”
“I have attended to it, good ser. Though His Grace frowns so whenever he does see me that I tremble to come before him. Do you think he would like me better if I wore a hair shirt and never smiled? Well, I will not do it. I am an honest man, he must suffer me in silk and samite. Or else I shall take my ships where I am better loved. That sword was not Lightbringer, my friend.”
突如其来的话题转变令戴佛斯觉得不适，“什么剑？”
The sudden shift in subject left Davos uneasy. “Sword?”
“噢，就是从火里面拔出来的那把剑啰。我向来笑容可掬，所以人人都愿意把事情告诉我。我说一把烧烂的剑，对史坦尼斯有什么用呢？”
“A sword plucked from fire, yes. Men tell me things, it is my pleasant smile. How shall a burnt sword serve Stannis?”
“那是燃烧之剑。”戴佛斯纠正。
“A burning sword,” corrected Davos.
“烧烂的剑，”萨拉多·桑恩说，“我的朋友，对此你该感到庆幸才对。你可知真正的‘光明使者’如何铸成？让我来说给你听。那是一个黑暗笼罩世界的时代，为了抵抗黑暗，英雄自然要有一把英雄专用的武器，噢，而且要是前所未见。于是呢，亚梭尔·亚亥在神殿里不眠不休地劳动了三十天三十夜，用圣火锻造宝剑，加热、敲打、叠层，加热、敲打、叠层，噢，直到宝剑铸造完毕。可当他把剑插入水中冷却时，剑却轰地一声碎了。”
“Burnt,” said Salladhor Saan, “and be glad of that, my friend. Do you know the tale of the forging of Lightbringer? I shall tell it to you. It was a time when darkness lay heavy on the world. To oppose it, the hero must have a hero’s blade, oh, like none that had ever been. And so for thirty days and thirty nights Azor Ahai labored sleepless in the temple, forging a blade in the sacred fires. Heat and hammer and fold, heat and hammer and fold, oh, yes, until the sword was done. Yet when he plunged it into water to temper the steel it burst asunder.
“身为英雄，他当然不能和我一样，耸耸肩膀，去找这种甜葡萄吃，所以他重头再来。这次他花了五十天五十夜，最后的成品比上次更精良。亚梭尔·亚亥抓了一头雄狮，准备把剑插进野兽的红心，藉此冷却剑身，没想到剑还是断裂粉碎。他不仅难过，更加悲伤，因为他终于知道该怎么做了。”
“Being a hero, it was not for him to shrug and go in search of excellent grapes such as these, so again he began. The second time it took him fifty days and fifty nights, and this sword seemed even finer than the first. Azor Ahai captured a lion, to temper the blade by plunging it through the beast’s red heart, but once more the steel shattered and split. Great was his woe and great was his sorrow then, for he knew what he must do.
“第三次，他总共花了百日百夜铸剑，最后当圣火洗涤下，剑身成白热状时，他唤来了妻子。‘妮莎·妮莎，’他对她说，‘敞开你的胸膛，记住，世上我最爱的就是你。’我不知道她为什么那么听话，总之她照办了，然后亚梭尔·亚亥将冒烟的剑插进了她仍在跳动的心脏。据说就是她混杂痛楚和狂喜的呐喊，使月亮裂开了一道凹痕，但她的血液、灵魂、力量和勇气全部注入了那把剑。这就是英雄之红剑，‘光明使者’的故事。”
“A hundred days and a hundred nights he labored on the third blade, and as it glowed white-hot in the sacred fires, he summoned his wife. ‘Nissa Nissa,’ he said to her, for that was her name, ‘bare your breast, and know that I love you best of all that is in this world.’ She did this thing, why I cannot say, and Azor Ahai thrust the smoking sword through her living heart. It is said that her cry of anguish and ecstasy left a crack across the face of the moon, but her blood and her soul and her strength and her courage all went into the steel. Such is the tale of the forging of Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes.
“你听懂了没？你应该庆幸，因为陛下从火中拔出的是一把烧烂的剑。太亮会伤害眼睛，我的朋友，火焰会四处延烧。”萨拉多·桑恩吃完最后一颗葡萄，咂了咂嘴。“亲爱的爵士先生，你觉得陛下他什么时候会下令出航呢？”
“Now do you see my meaning? Be glad that it is just a burnt sword that His Grace pulled from that fire. Too much light can hurt the eyes, my friend, and fire burns.” Salladhor Saan finished the last grape and smacked his lips. “When do you think the king will bid us sail, good ser?”
“我想应该很快，”戴佛斯说，“如果他的神这么希望的话。”
“Soon, I think,” said Davos, “if his god wills it.”
“他的神？爵士老兄，难道不是你的神吗？请问洋葱骑士戴佛斯·席渥斯爵士的神是谁啊？”
“His god, ser friend? Not yours? Where is the god of Ser Davos Seaworth, knight of the onion ship?”
戴佛斯啜了口酒，为自己争取时间。酒馆里人很多，而你可不等于萨拉多·桑恩，他提醒自己，你一定要小心回答。“史坦尼斯陛下是我的神，他造就了我，他用信任来荣宠我。”
Davos sipped his ale to give himself a moment. The inn is crowded, and you are not Salladhor Saan, he reminded himself. Be careful how you answer. “King Stannis is my god. He made me and blessed me with his trust.”
我今早上注意到您了“我记住了。”萨拉多·桑恩起身，“不好意思，这些葡萄我是越吃越饿，而晚餐正在‘瓦雷利亚人号’上等着我呢，今天有胡椒碎羊肉和装了蘑菇、茴香与洋葱的烤海鸥。哈，过不了多久，咱哥俩便能在君临同桌用饭了吧？就让咱们在红堡大快朵颐，然后叫侏儒唱一曲欢乐小调。你面见史坦尼斯陛下时，麻烦帮我提醒他：等到下次新月，他欠我的又得添上二万三千金龙。他该把那些雕像给我才对，那么漂亮，烧了多可惜，运到潘托斯或密尔没准能卖个好价钱。哎，如果他让我和瑟曦太后睡一晚，我就打点折。”里斯海盗拍拍戴佛斯的背，大摇大摆地走出旅店，彷佛店是他开的。
“I will remember.” Salladhor Saan got to his feet. “My pardons. These grapes have given me a hunger, and dinner awaits on my Valyrian. Minced lamb with pepper and roasted gull stuffed with mushrooms and fennel and onion. Soon we shall eat together in King’s Landing, yes? In the Red Keep we shall feast, while the dwarf sings us a jolly tune. When you speak to King Stannis, mention if you would that he will owe me another thirty thousand dragons come the black of the moon. He ought to have given those gods to me. They were too beautiful to burn, and might have brought a noble price in Pentos or Myr. Well, if he grants me Queen Cersei for a night I shall forgive him.” The Lyseni clapped Davos on the back, and swaggered from the inn as if he owned it.
戴佛斯·席渥斯爵士在酒馆里继续坐了一会儿，一边喝酒，一边想起了一年前的往事。当时他和史坦尼斯都在君临，劳勃国王为庆祝乔佛里王子的命名日，特别举办了一场比武大会。他记得密尔的红袍僧索罗斯在团体比武时，便是挥舞着一把冒火的剑。那人的装束可真是五彩缤纷，红袍在风中抖动，手中长剑则缠绕着淡绿的火焰，但每个人都清楚那并非魔法所致。最后他的火焰果真熄灭，而他也被青铜约恩·罗伊斯手中的钉头锤敲中头颅，摔下马背。
Ser Davos Seaworth lingered over his tankard for a good while, thinking. A year ago, he had been with Stannis in King’s Landing when King Robert staged a tourney for Prince Joffrey’s name day. He remembered the red priest Thoros of Myr, and the flaming sword he had wielded in the melee. The man had made for a colorful spectacle, his red robes flapping while his blade writhed with pale green flames, but everyone knew there was no true magic to it, and in the end his fire had guttered out and Bronze Yohn Royce had brained him with a common mace.
若今天这把是真的火焰剑，可称得上足以倚赖的奇物了，但付出的代价未免也太……他想到妮莎·妮莎，脑中浮现的却是妻子玛瑞亚。她是个好心肠的女人，有些胖，乳房下垂，笑容和蔼，是全世界最好的女人。他试图想像自己把宝剑刺进她心口的画面，不禁浑身颤抖。我果然不是做英雄的料啊，他下了结论。倘若欲得魔剑必须付出如此高昂的代价，那他可办不到。
A true sword of fire, now, that would be a wonder to behold. Yet at such a cost … When he thought of Nissa Nissa, it was his own Marya he pictured, a good-natured plump woman with sagging breasts and a kindly smile, the best woman in the world. He tried to picture himself driving a sword through her, and shuddered. I am not made of the stuff of heroes, he decided. If that was the price of a magic sword, it was more than he cared to pay.
戴佛斯喝干麦酒，推开酒杯，离开旅店。途中他又拍拍石像鬼的头，喃喃自语：“好运。”我们都需要。
Davos finished his ale, pushed away the tankard, and left the inn. On the way out he patted the gargoyle on the head and muttered, “Luck.” They would all need it.
入夜后，戴冯牵着一头备好鞍的雪白骏马前来黑贝莎号，“父亲大人，”他宣布，“陛下命令您到图桌厅去见他，请您骑上这匹马，即刻出发。”
It was well after dark when Devan came down to Black Betha, leading a snow-white palfrey. “My lord father,” he announced, “His Grace commands you to attend him in the Chamber of the Painted Table. You are to ride the horse and come at once.”
虽然看到戴冯一身漂亮的侍从装束很令他欢喜，但对这个召唤本身，戴佛斯却颇感不安。莫非他要下令出航？他暗忖。其实除了萨拉多·桑恩，还有很多船长认为时机已然成熟，应该立刻出兵攻打君临，但做走私者的首先必须具备耐心。回龙石岛的当天我便对克礼森师傅说过，我们胜利无望，而情况至今毫无改变，我们兵力太少，而敌人则太多，一旦划桨入水，便必死无疑。唉，不管怎样，还是上马去了再说。
It was good to see Devan looking so splendid in his squire’s raiment, but the summons made Davos uneasy. Will he bid us sail? he wondered. Salladhor Saan was not the only captain who felt that King’s Landing was ripe for an attack, but a smuggler must learn patience. We have no hope of victory. I said as much to Maester Cressen, the day I returned to Dragonstone, and nothing has changed. We are too few, the foes too many. If we dip our oars, we die. Nonetheless, he climbed onto the horse.
戴佛斯抵达石鼓楼时，十几位诸侯和骑士正要离开。赛提加和瓦列利安伯爵唐突地向他点了个头，其他人则完全置之不理，倒是亚赛尔·佛罗伦爵士停步跟他说话。
When Davos arrived at the Stone Drum, a dozen highborn knights and great bannermen were just leaving. Lords Celtigar and Velaryon each gave him a curt nod and walked on while the others ignored him utterly, but Ser Axell Florent stopped for a word.
赛丽丝王后的伯伯简直像个大酒桶，他双臂粗壮，腿脚弯曲，生着佛罗伦家著名的招风耳，比他侄女的更大，但那粗密的耳毛并不妨碍城中大小事情纷纷传进他耳中。从前，当史坦尼斯在君临担任劳勃的朝廷重臣时，亚赛尔爵士便担任龙石岛的代理城主，长达十年之久，近来则成了后党首脑人物。“戴佛斯爵士，和从前一样，真高兴见到您。”他说。
Queen Selyse’s uncle was a keg of a man with thick arms and bandy legs. He had the prominent ears of a Florent, even larger than his niece’s. The coarse hair that sprouted from his ears did not stop him hearing most of what went on in the castle. For ten years Ser Axell had served as castellan of Dragonstone while Stannis sat on Robert’s council in King’s Landing, but of late he had emerged as the foremost of the queen’s men. “Ser Davos, it is good to see you, as ever,” he said.
“大人，我也是。”
“And you, my lord.”
“我今早上注意到您了，虚伪的诸神烧起来可真令人愉悦，您说是不？”
“I made note of you this morning as well. The false gods burned with a merry light, did they not?”
“烧起来的确明亮耀眼。”对方固然多礼，戴佛斯却不信任他，更何况佛罗伦家族早已投靠蓝礼。
“They burned brightly.” Davos did not trust this man, for all his courtesy. House Florent had declared for Renly.
“据梅丽珊卓夫人说，有时拉赫洛会容许他虔诚的仆人自圣火中瞥见未来。今天早上，看着火堆，我似乎看到十来个身穿黄丝衣裳的美丽少女在一个伟大君王周围翩翩起舞。爵士先生，我觉得这个预兆假不了，这是我们收复君临，为陛下取回应得的王座之后，将得到的诸多荣耀之一。”
“The Lady Melisandre tells us that sometimes R’hllor permits his faithful servants to glimpse the future in flames. It seemed to me as I watched the fire this morning that I was looking at a dozen beautiful dancers, maidens garbed in yellow silk spinning and swirling before a great king. I think it was a true vision, ser. A glimpse of the glory that awaits His Grace after we take King’s Landing and the throne that is his by rights.”
史坦尼斯对舞蹈可没兴趣，戴佛斯心想，但他不敢冒犯王后的伯伯。“我只见到火焰，”他说，“烟薰得我一直流泪。爵士先生，请您原谅，陛下还在等我。”他挤向前去，心中纳闷亚赛尔爵士为何如此大费周章。他是后党的人，可我属于国王啊。
Stannis has no taste for such dancing, Davos thought, but he dared not offend the queen’s uncle. “I saw only fire,” he said, “but the smoke was making my eyes water. You must pardon me, ser, the king awaits.” He pushed past, wondering why Ser Axell had troubled himself. He is a queen’s man and I am the king’s.
史坦尼斯坐在地图桌前，派洛斯学士随侍在旁，两人面前堆了厚厚一叠纸。“爵士，”国王一见他进来便说，“过来看看信。”
Stannis sat at his Painted Table with Maester Pylos at his shoulder, an untidy pile of papers before them. “Ser,” the king said when Davos entered, “come have a look at this letter.”
他恭敬地任意拣起一封，“陛下，这信看起来很好，只可惜我不识字。”地图和海图对戴佛斯来说不成问题，但信札和其他文件他就无能为力了。但我儿戴冯识字，他的小弟弟史蒂芬和史坦尼斯亦然。
Obediently, he selected a paper at random. “It looks handsome enough, Your Grace, but I fear I cannot read the words.” Davos could decipher maps and charts as well as any, but letters and other writings were beyond his powers. But my Devan has learned his letters, and young Steffon and Stannis as well.
“我忘了。”国王眉露不悦之色。“派洛斯，念给他听。”
“I’d forgotten.” A furrow of irritation showed between the king’s brows. “Pylos, read it to him.”
“遵命。”学士拿起一张羊皮纸，清清喉咙，“众人皆知吾乃风息堡公爵史蒂芬·拜拉席恩与其妻伊斯蒙家族的卡珊娜夫人所生之嫡子，吾在此以家族之荣誉起誓，吾所深深敬爱之兄长劳勃，亦即吾人故王，过世后并未留下嫡系后裔。盖男童乔佛里、男童托曼与女童弥赛拉实乃瑟曦·兰尼斯特与其弟‘弑君者’詹姆乱伦所生之孽种。根据继承与血统的律法，吾于今日声明，吾乃维斯特洛七大王国铁王座之所有人。勤王者应立刻宣誓效忠。奉承真主明光照耀，安达尔人、洛伊拿人与先民的国王，七国统治者，拜拉席恩家族的史坦尼斯一世封印手书。”念完后派洛斯搁下信，羊皮纸轻声作响。
“Your Grace.” The maester took up one of the parchments and cleared his throat. “All men know me for the trueborn son of Steffon Baratheon, Lord of Storm’s End, by his lady wife Cassana of House Estermont. I declare upon the honor of my House that my beloved brother Robert, our late king, left no trueborn issue of his body, the boy Joffrey, the boy Tommen, and the girl Myrcella being abominations born of incest between Cersei Lannister and her brother Jaime the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Let all true men declare their loyalty. Done in the Light of the Lord, under the sign and seal of Stannis of House Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.” The parchment rustled softly as Pylos laid it down.
“改成弑君者詹姆‘爵士’，”史坦尼斯皱眉道，“不论此人行径为何，他终究是个骑士。除此之外，我也不明白为何要把劳勃说成‘吾所深深敬爱之兄长’，我跟他之间没什么感情。”
“Make it Ser Jaime the Kingslayer henceforth,” Stannis said, frowning. “Whatever else the man may be, he remains a knight. I don’t know that we ought to call Robert my beloved brother either. He loved me no more than he had to, nor I him.”
“陛下，这不过是表示敬意，无伤大雅。”派洛斯说。
“A harmless courtesy, Your Grace,” Pylos said.
我随时任您差遣“这是撒谎，把这段去掉。”史坦尼斯转向戴佛斯，“学士跟我说了，我们手上共有一百一十七只信鸦，我准备把它们全部用光。一百一十七只信鸦能把一百一十七封抄本带到全国各个角落，从青亭岛直到长城。我想，总有一百只可以穿越暴风、猎鹰和弓箭的袭击。这样的话，便会有一百位学士将我的信带进书房和寝室，念给他们的主子听……然后不是信被烧掉，就是听者守口如瓶。诸侯们爱的是乔佛里、蓝礼，或者罗柏·史塔克，我虽是他们合法的国王，他们却会装聋作哑。所以我需要你。”
“A lie. Take it out.” Stannis turned to Davos. “The maester tells me that we have one hundred seventeen ravens on hand. I mean to use them all. One hundred seventeen ravens will carry one hundred seventeen copies of my letter to every corner of the realm, from the Arbor to the Wall. Perhaps a hundred will win through against storm and hawk and arrow. If so, a hundred maesters will read my words to as many lords in as many solars and bedchambers … and then the letters will like as not be consigned to the fire, and lips pledged to silence. These great lords love Joffrey, or Renly, or Robb Stark. I am their rightful king, but they will deny me if they can. So I have need of you.”
“陛下，我随时任您差遣。”
“I am yours to command, my king. As ever.”
史坦尼斯点点头，“我要你驾驶黑贝莎号往北走，途经海鸥镇、五指半岛、三姐妹群岛，甚至远达白港。你儿子戴尔则开着海灵号向南，越过风怒角和断臂角，沿着多恩海岸，直到青亭岛。你们各带一箱信，每座港口，每间庄园和每个渔村都发上一封，把信钉在圣堂和旅店的门上，让识字的人都能看到。”
Stannis nodded. “I mean for you to sail Black Betha north, to Gulltown, the Fingers, the Three Sisters, even White Harbor. Your son Dale will go south in Wraith, past Cape Wrath and the Broken Arm, all along the coast of Dorne as far as the Arbor. Each of you will carry a chest of letters, and you will deliver one to every port and holdfast and fishing village. Nail them to the doors of septs and inns for every man to read who can.”
戴佛斯说：“恐怕没几个人。”
Davos said, “That will be few enough.”
“陛下，戴佛斯爵士说得没错，”派洛斯学士道，“把信念出来效果更好。”
“Ser Davos speaks truly, Your Grace,” said Maester Pylos. “It would be better to have the letters read aloud.”
“好是好，却也更危险。”史坦尼斯说，“我这都是些不中听的话。”
“Better, but more dangerous,” said Stannis. “These words will not be kindly received.”
“请派骑士给我，让他们来念，”戴佛斯说，“这样比我说什么都有份量。”
“Give me knights to do the reading,” Davos said. “That will carry more weight than anything I might say.”
史坦尼斯对这建议似乎很满意，“好，我就给你几个人。反正我手下有的是宁愿念信不想打仗的骑士。安全的地方就公开行事，危险的时刻则掩人耳目，用上你所知的一切走私伎俩：黑帆、隐密海湾，等等。如果缺信，就抓几个修士，叫他们多抄几份。你二儿子我也有用，我要他驾着玛瑞亚夫人号横渡狭海，抵达布拉佛斯及其他自由贸易城邦，将这些信带给那里的统治者。我要让全世界知道我的宣言，以及瑟曦的恶行。”
Stannis seemed well satisfied with that. “I can give you such men, yes. I have a hundred knights who would sooner read than fight. Be open where you can and stealthy where you must. Use every smuggler’s trick you know, the black sails, the hidden coves, whatever it requires. If you run short of letters, capture a few septons and set them to copying out more. I mean to use your second son as well. He will take Lady Marya across the narrow sea, to Braavos and the other Free Cities, to deliver other letters to the men who rule there. The world will know of my claim, and of Cersei’s infamy.”
你当然可以告诉他们，戴佛斯心想，但他们会信吗？他若有所思地瞥了派洛斯学士一眼。国王察觉到他的目光。“学士，去写信吧，时间紧迫，我们还需要很多信。”
You can tell them, Davos thought, but will they believe? He glanced thoughtfully at Maester Pylos. The king caught the look. “Maester, perhaps you ought get to your writing. We will need a great many letters, and soon.”
“遵命。”派洛斯鞠躬离开。
“As you will.” Pylos bowed, and took his leave.
国王等他离开之后方才开口，“戴佛斯，你有什么话不愿在学士面前说？”
The king waited until he was gone before he said, “What is it you would not say in the presence of my maester, Davos?”
“陛下，派洛斯人很好，但每当我看见他脖子上的颈链，就忍不住为克礼森师傅哀悼。”
“My liege, Pylos is pleasant enough, but I cannot see the chain about his neck without mourning for Maester Cressen.”
“老头的死难道是他的错？”史坦尼斯望进炉火，“我根本没打算让克礼森参加宴会。没错，他是惹恼了我，给我一堆糟糕的建言，但我没要他死的意思。我本想让他安养天年，那也是他应得的补偿，结果”——他牙齿一咬——“结果他死了。派洛斯很能干。”
“Is it his fault the old man died?” Stannis glanced into the fire. “I never wanted Cressen at that feast. He’d angered me, yes, he’d given me bad counsel, but I did not want him dead. I’d hoped he might be granted a few years of ease and comfort. He had earned that much, at least, but”—he ground his teeth together—“but he died. And Pylos serves me ably.”
“派洛斯不是重点，这封信……我很好奇，您的诸侯对此有什么看法？”
“Pylos is the least of it. The letter … What did your lords make of it, I wonder?”
史坦尼斯哼了一声，“赛提加断言信写得好，即使我让他去瞧我的便池，他也照样会说好。其他人只会像鹅一样点头。瓦列利安例外，他说事态要靠武力解决，而不是白纸黑字。这还用得着他来告诉我？他们全叫异鬼给抓走吧，我要听听你的意见。”
Stannis snorted. “Celtigar pronounced it admirable. If I showed him the contents of my privy, he would declare that admirable as well. The others bobbed their heads up and down like a flock of geese, all but Velaryon, who said that steel would decide the matter, not words on parchment. As if I had never suspected. The Others take my lords, I’ll hear your views.”
“您这封信话直截了当，措辞激烈。”
“Your words were blunt and strong.”
“我说的可是实话。”
“And true.”
“没错，但您和去年一样，没有找到乱伦的证据，。”
“And true. Yet you have no proof. Of this incest. No more than you did a year ago.”
“也不是没有，但人证在风息堡，就是劳勃的私生子，那个他在我结婚之夜，在我的喜床上搞出来的私生子。狄丽娜是佛罗伦家的人，被他临幸时还是处女，所以后来劳勃公开承认了那孩子。大家叫他艾德瑞克·风暴，据说和我哥长得一模一样。我想，只要让百姓们看看他，再看看乔佛里和托曼，真相就不辩自明了。”
“There’s proof of a sort at Storm’s End. Robert’s bastard. The one he fathered on my wedding night, in the very bed they’d made up for me and my bride. Delena was a Florent, and a maiden when he took her, so Robert acknowledged the babe. Edric Storm, they call him. He is said to be the very image of my brother. If men were to see him, and then look again at Joffrey and Tommen, they could not help but wonder, I would think.”
“可是，倘若他人在风息堡，又怎么能让全国百姓看到呢？”
“Yet how are men to see him, if he is at Storm’s End?”
史坦尼斯用手指敲打地图桌，“这是个难题，众多难题中的一个。”他抬起眼，“关于这封信，我知道你还有看法，快说。我封你为骑士，可不是要你学花言巧语的道道儿，我手下那批诸侯难道还不够吗？戴佛斯，有话直说。”
Stannis drummed his fingers on the Painted Table. “It is a difficulty. One of many.” He raised his eyes. “You have more to say about the letter. Well, get on with it. I did not make you a knight so you could learn to mouth empty courtesies. I have my lords for that. Say what you would say, Davos.”
戴佛斯微微鞠躬，“信的末尾，有一句话，怎么念的？奉承上主明光照耀……”
Davos bowed his head. “There was a phrase at the end. How did it go? Done in the Light of the Lord …”
“是。”国王咬紧牙关。
“Yes.” The king’s jaw was clenched.
“您的子民恐怕不会喜欢这句。”
“Your people will mislike those words.”
“都像你一样？”史坦尼斯尖刻地问。
“As you did?” said Stannis sharply.
“您或许可以改成‘以天上诸神与地上凡人为见证’或者‘以新旧诸神之名’……”
“If you were to say instead, Done in the sight of gods and men, or By the grace of the gods old and new …”
“走私者，你倒虔诚起来了？”
“Have you gone devout on me, smuggler?”
“陛下，这正是我想问您的。”
“That was to be my question for you, my liege.”
“是吗？听起来你不但不喜欢我的新学士，连我新信仰的神也不喜欢。”
“Was it now? It sounds as though you love my new god no more than you love my new maester.”
“我对这个光之王所知不多，”戴佛斯承认，“但对我们早上烧掉的诸神却是很熟悉。铁匠长年保佑我船只平安，而圣母给了我七个身强力壮的儿子。”
“I do not know this Lord of Light,” Davos admitted, “but I knew the gods we burned this morning. The Smith has kept my ships safe, while the Mother has given me seven strong sons.”
“是你妻子给了你七个身强力壮的儿子，你可有向她祈祷？我们今早上烧掉的不过是些木头。”
“Your wife has given you seven strong sons. Do you pray to her? It was wood we burned this morning.”
“或许如此，”戴佛斯道，“我小时候，在跳蚤窝沿街乞讨，修士们偶尔会给我东西吃。”
“That may be so,” Davos said, “but when I was a boy in Flea Bottom begging for a copper, sometimes the septons would feed me.”
“如今给你东西吃的人不就是我？”
“I feed you now.”
“您让我身居高位，而我给您的回报便是实事求是、实话实说。假如您把百姓长久以来信奉的诸神全部推翻，硬塞给他们一个连名字都念不好的神，恐怕他们是不会爱戴您的。”
“You have given me an honored place at your table. And in return I give you truth. Your people will not love you if you take from them the gods they have always worshiped, and give them one whose very name sounds queer on their tongues.”
史坦尼斯倏地起身，“‘拉赫洛’念起来有这么难？百姓不会爱戴我？你倒是说说看，他们什么时候爱过我了？既然如此，他们爱不爱我又有什么差别？”他走到面南的窗户，远眺月夜里的海洋。“从我亲眼目睹‘傲风号’触礁沉没的那天起，我便不再信神。我指天发誓，绝不敬拜任何淹死我双亲的残酷神只。在君临时，总主教成天对我唠叨世间一切公理正义均来自于七神，但我见到的种种‘公理正义’，却都是人力所为。”
Stannis stood abruptly. “R’hllor. Why is that so hard? They will not love me, you say? When have they ever loved me? How can I lose something I have never owned?” He moved to the south window to gaze out at the moonlit sea. “I stopped believing in gods the day I saw the Windproud break up across the bay. Any gods so monstrous as to drown my mother and father would never have my worship, I vowed. In King’s Landing, the High Septon would prattle at me of how all justice and goodness flowed from the Seven, but all I ever saw of either was made by men.”
那为何又找个新神“既然您不信神——”
“If you do not believe in gods—”
“——那为何又找个新神？”史坦尼斯打断他，“这话我也问过自己。我对神灵所知不多，更不想理会，但我知道，这个红袍女祭司握有力量。”
“—why trouble with this new one?” Stannis broke in. “I have asked myself as well. I know little and care less of gods, but the red priestess has power.”
是啊，然而是何种力量呢？“从前，克礼森有智慧。”
Yes, but what sort of power? “Cressen had wisdom.”
“走私者，我相信他的智慧，也相信你的机灵，可这有什么用呢？风息堡下属的诸侯对你不理不睬，我低声下气向他们请求，得到的却是嘲笑。总之我再也不会如此窝囊，谁也别想再嘲笑我。铁王座于法应属于我，但我要如何夺得？国内有四个王，其他三个都比我有钱，兵力也比我多，我手中只有船……还有她。红袍女。你知道吗？我手下一半以上的骑士连她的名字都不敢念，就算她除此之外别无所长，仅仅作为一个散播恐慌的女巫便已很有价值。人一胆寒便先输了一半。更何况她说不定真有其他本领，我打算查个清楚。”
“I trusted in his wisdom and your wiles, and what did they avail me, smuggler? The storm lords sent you packing. I went to them a beggar and they laughed at me. Well, there will be no more begging, and no more laughing either. The Iron Throne is mine by rights, but how am I to take it? There are four kings in the realm, and three of them have more men and more gold than I do. I have ships … and I have her. The red woman. Half my knights are afraid even to say her name, did you know? If she can do nothing else, a sorceress who can inspire such dread in grown men is not to be despised. A frightened man is a beaten man. And perhaps she can do more. I mean to find out.
“我告诉你，我年轻时，曾在野外发现一只受伤的苍鹰。我为它细心疗养，替它取名‘傲翼’。它会停在我肩上，会跟着我来来去去，还会吃我手上的食物，但它从不肯展翅遨翔。我多次带它外出打猎，然而它始终飞不到树梢之上。劳勃笑话它是‘衰翼’。他自己有只矛隼叫‘响雷’，从未漏失一只猎物。某天我们的叔公哈伯特爵士要我换只鸟养，他说，继续养傲翼会让我变成笑柄，这话没错。”史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩转身背离窗户，背离南海的幽影。“既然七神连只麻雀都不曾给我，现在是我换只猎鹰的时候了，戴佛斯，换一只红色的猎鹰。”
“When I was a lad I found an injured goshawk and nursed her back to health. Proudwing, I named her. She would perch on my shoulder and flutter from room to room after me and take food from my hand, but she would not soar. Time and again I would take her hawking, but she never flew higher than the treetops. Robert called her Weakwing. He owned a gyrfalcon named Thunderclap who never missed her strike. One day our great-uncle Ser Harbert told me to try a different bird. I was making a fool of myself with Proudwing, he said, and he was right.” Stannis Baratheon turned away from the window, and the ghosts who moved upon the southern sea. “The Seven have never brought me so much as a sparrow. It is time I tried another hawk, Davos. A red hawk.”