Ⅱ 列王的纷争 Chapter20 提利昂
TYRION
他们告诫他要穿暖一点，于是提利昂·兰尼斯特地穿上厚重的软垫长裤、羊毛外衣，罩上从明月山脉得来的影子山猫皮披风。那件披风原本是为他两倍身高的人穿用的，所以他穿起来长得夸张。下马后，唯一的穿法便是把披风在身上缠个好几圈，他看起来活像个斑纹毛球。
They had warned him to dress warmly. Tyrion Lannister took them at their word. He was garbed in heavy quilted breeches and a woolen doublet, and over it all he had thrown the shadowskin cloak he had acquired in the Mountains of the Moon. The cloak was absurdly long, made for a man twice his height. When he was not ahorse, the only way to wear the thing was to wrap it around him several times, which made him look like a ball of striped fur.
虽然如此，他还是很高兴自己接受了建议。漫长的地窖阴湿黑暗，寒气彻骨。提魅没走几步，稍稍感受寒意，便决定退回上层去。他们位于雷妮丝丘陵地底深处，就在练金术士的公会大厅下方。潮湿的石墙上遍布硝石，唯一的光源来自火术士哈林小心翼翼地提着的那盏密封的铁条玻璃油灯。
Even so, he was glad he had listened. The chill in the long dank vault went bone deep. Timett had chosen to retreat back up to the cellar after a brief taste of the cold below. They were somewhere under the hill of Rhaenys, behind the Guildhall of the Alchemists. The damp stone walls were splotchy with nitre, and the only light came from the sealed iron-and-glass oil lamp that Hallyne the Pyromancer carried so gingerly.
小心翼翼……一定是为了这些罐子吧。提利昂拿起一个仔细端详，火红的圆罐，有如一个陶制的胖柚子。对他的手掌来说稍大，但他知道常人握起来刚好。陶土很薄很脆，所以术士告诫他不要用力，以免捏破。此外，陶土摸起来也很粗糙，掺了石子。哈林告诉他这是有意为之：“表面若是光滑，容易从手中滑落。”
Gingerly indeed … and these would be the ginger jars. Tyrion lifted one for inspection. It was round and ruddy, a fat clay grapefruit. A little big for his hand, but it would fit comfortably in the grip of a normal man, he knew. The pottery was thin, so fragile that even he had been warned not to squeeze too tightly, lest he crush it in his fist. The clay felt roughened, pebbled. Hallyne told him that was intentional. “A smooth pot is more apt to slip from a man’s grasp.”
提利昂稍微倾斜罐子，“野火”溶剂缓缓地向瓶口流动。他知道液体应呈浑浊的绿色，但光线太暗，此刻无法确定。“很稠，”他评论道。
The wildfire oozed slowly toward the lip of the jar when Tyrion tilted it to peer inside. The color would be a murky green, he knew, but the poor light made that impossible to confirm. “Thick,” he observed.
“大人，这是因为地底的冷气，”哈林说。他是个脸色苍白的人，一双手又软又湿，态度极为谄媚。他穿着镶貂皮边的黑红条纹长袍，可毛皮看来有点稀疏，似乎还被蛾啃过。“温度升高之后，这种物质便会顺畅流动，就像灯油。”
“That is from the cold, my lord,” said Hallyne, a pallid man with soft damp hands and an obsequious manner. He was dressed in striped black-and-scarlet robes trimmed with sable, but the fur looked more than a little patchy and moth-eaten. “As it warms, the substance will flow more easily, like lamp oil.”
“这种物质”，是火术士对野火的称呼。他们彼此间以“智者”相称，他们也习惯不断暗示自己学识广博，希望别人认为他们是饱学之士，这令提利昂十分不耐。的确，他们的公会曾盛极一时，但在最近几个世纪，学城的学士已经渐渐取代了各地的练金术士。如今这个古老组织的成员寥寥无几，也不再伪称有方子炼化金属……
The substance was the pyromancers’ own term for wildfire. They called each other wisdom as well, which Tyrion found almost as annoying as their custom of hinting at the vast secret stores of knowledge that they wanted him to think they possessed. Once theirs had been a powerful guild, but in recent centuries the maesters of the Citadel had supplanted the alchemists almost everywhere. Now only a few of the older order remained, and they no longer even pretended to transmute metals …
……但他们确能制造野火。“听说，这东西水浇不熄？”
… but they could make wildfire. “Water will not quench it, I am told.”
我们只在夜间行动“正是。一旦着火，这种物质便会剧烈燃烧，直至燃尽。而且，它会渗进布料、木材、皮革、甚至钢铁，并使它们也着火。”
“That is so. Once it takes fire, the substance will burn fiercely until it is no more. More, it will seep into cloth, wood, leather, even steel, so they take fire as well.”
提利昂想起密尔的红袍僧索罗斯和他那把火焰剑：涂上薄薄一层的野火，长剑便可燃烧一小时。索罗斯每次比武都要换把新剑。劳勃很喜欢那家伙，甚至乐于提供新剑给他。“它们为什么不渗进陶土？”
Tyrion remembered the red priest Thoros of Myr and his flaming sword. Even a thin coating of wildfire could burn for an hour. Thoros always needed a new sword after a melee, but Robert had been fond of the man and ever glad to provide one. “Why doesn’t it seep into the clay as well?”
“噢，怎么不会？”哈林道，“这下面还有个地窖，是我们专门存放旧罐子的地方。那些都是伊里斯国王在位时留下的东西——把罐子做成水果形状就是他的主意。这些水果真是非常危险呀，首相大人，而且，嘿嘿嘿，比过去更‘成熟’啰，如果您懂我的意思。我们已把这些罐子蜡封，并在下层地窖灌满了水，即使这样……嘿，它们实在应该销毁，但君临城陷时我们有好多智者遇害，只剩少数助手，无法胜任这个工作。说实话，由于当时的混乱，我们为伊里斯王制作的东西有不少下落不明。去年我们刚在贝勒大圣堂下一间储藏室发现了两百罐，谁也记不得这些东西怎么会放在那里，但不用我说，您也可以想见总主教大人有多惊慌失措。后来是我亲自监督，方才把东西安全转运出来。我把推车装满沙子，派出最得力的助手。我们只在夜间行动，我们——”
“Oh, but it does,” said Hallyne. “There is a vault below this one where we store the older pots. Those from King Aerys’s day. It was his fancy to have the jars made in the shapes of fruits. Very perilous fruits indeed, my lord Hand, and, hmmm, riper now than ever, if you take my meaning. We have sealed them with wax and pumped the lower vault full of water, but even so … by rights they ought to have been destroyed, but so many of our masters were murdered during the Sack of King’s Landing, the few acolytes who remained were unequal to the task. And much of the stock we made for Aerys was lost. Only last year, two hundred jars were discovered in a storeroom beneath the Great Sept of Baelor. No one could recall how they came there, but I’m sure I do not need to tell you that the High Septon was beside himself with terror. I myself saw that they were safely moved. I had a cart filled with sand, and sent our most able acolytes. We worked only by night, we—”
“——干得漂亮，我明白，”提利昂把罐子放回去。桌上全是这种罐子，整整齐齐，四个一排，朝幽暗的地底深处延伸。由近至远，有很多张这种桌子。“这些，呃，伊里斯先王的‘水果’，还能使用吗？”
“—did a splendid job, I have no doubt.” Tyrion placed the jar he’d been holding back among its fellows. They covered the table, standing in orderly rows of four and marching away into the subterranean dimness. And there were other tables beyond, many other tables. “These, ah, fruits of the late King Aerys, can they still be used?”
“噢，当然，当然能用……但要小心啊，大人，千万小心。存放时间一久，这种物质就会变得……嘿嘿嘿，不妨说‘变幻莫测’吧。只需一丁点火，哪怕一点火星，都会立刻燃烧。即便只是温度升高，罐子也可能自行起火，所以绝不要让它们受日光照射，时间很短也不行。内部一旦起火，高热会使这种物质剧烈膨胀，陶罐顷刻间炸成碎片。如果旁边恰巧还有其他罐子，便会引起连锁反应，然后——”
“Oh, yes, most certainly … but carefully, my lord, ever so carefully. As it ages, the substance grows ever more, hmmmm, fickle, let us say. Any flame will set it afire. Any spark. Too much heat and jars will blaze up of their own accord. It is not wise to let them sit in sunlight, even for a short time. Once the fire begins within, the heat causes the substance to expand violently, and the jars shortly fly to pieces. If other jars should happen to be stored in the same vicinity, those go up as well, and so—”
“目前你有多少罐？”
“How many jars do you have at present?”
“今早蒙西特智者刚把统计结果告诉我：眼下我们共拥有七千八百四十罐，这其中包括伊里斯王时代存留的四千罐。”
“This morning the Wisdom Munciter told me that we had seven thousand eight hundred and forty. That count includes four thousand jars from King Aerys’s day, to be sure.”
“那些烂熟的水果？”
“Our overripe fruits?”
哈林点头，“梅利亚德智者坚信我们一定能实现对太后的承诺——提供整整一万罐。我也深信不疑。”火术士得意洋洋，表情近乎猥亵。
Hallyne bobbed his head. “Wisdom Malliard believes we shall be able to provide a full ten thousand jars, as was promised the queen. I concur.” The pyromancer looked indecently pleased with that prospect.
那得敌人给你们时间。火术士严守野火的配方秘密，但想也知道，那是一道繁复危险且耗时的程序。他原本估计一万罐的承诺是吹牛，就如诸侯向领主发誓带一万兵力驰援，最后上战场的却只有一两百人一样。话说回来，倘若他们真能提供一万罐……
Assuming our enemies give you the time. The pyromancers kept their recipe for wildfire a closely guarded secret, but Tyrion knew that it was a lengthy, dangerous, and time-consuming process. He had assumed the promise of ten thousand jars was a wild boast, like that of the bannerman who vows to marshal ten thousand swords for his lord and shows up on the day of battle with a hundred and two. If they can truly give us ten thousand …
他不知该兴奋还是恐惧，或许两者皆有吧。“智者，希望你公会的弟兄们不要无谓地加班赶工，毕竟我们不需要一万罐有瑕疵的野火，一罐都不要……我们非常在意，不允许任何意外发生。”
He did not know whether he ought to be delighted or terrified. Perhaps a smidge of both. “I trust that your guild brothers are not engaging in any unseemly haste, Wisdom. We do not want ten thousand jars of defective wildfire, nor even one … and we most certainly do not want any mishaps.”
“首相大人，请您尽管放心，绝对没有意外。这种物质都由训练有素的助手制作，操作地点乃是一串空旷的石室，每完成一瓶，即刻交学徒下送到此处。每间工作室上方都有一个装满沙的房间，天花板上则施展了，嘿嘿嘿，最强力的保护法术。石室一旦起火，天花板便会落下，沙将立刻熄灭火势。”
“There will be no mishaps, my lord Hand. The substance is prepared by trained acolytes in a series of bare stone cells, and each jar is removed by an apprentice and carried down here the instant it is ready. Above each work cell is a room filled entirely with sand. A protective spell has been laid on the floors, hmmm, most powerful. Any fire in the cell below causes the floors to fall away, and the sand smothers the blaze at once.”
“粗心助手的下场就不用说了。”提利昂认为哈林口中的“法术”指的是“机关”，他很想亲自调查这种屋顶开闭的工作室，看看究竟如何运作，但现在时机不对，还是等战争胜利后再说吧。
“Not to mention the careless acolyte.” By spell Tyrion imagined Hallyne meant clever trick. He thought he would like to inspect one of these false-ceilinged cells to see how it worked, but this was not the time. Perhaps when the war was won.
“我的弟兄们绝不会粗心大意，”哈林坚持，“不过呢，如果能允许我，嘿嘿嘿，实话实说……”
“My brethren are never careless,” Hallyne insisted. “If I may be, hmmmm, frank …”
“啊，请便。”
“Oh, do.”
“这种物质流贯我的血液，存在于每个火术士的心中。我们敬畏它的力量，但普通士兵……嘿嘿嘿，打起仗来往往头脑发热，只想大干一场，例如太后手下喷火弩的操作员便有可能……但是，任何一点小差错都会酿成灾难，在此，我务必再三强调。先父曾多次提醒伊里斯国王，我的祖父也是这么向老王杰赫里斯说的。”
“The substance flows through my veins, and lives in the heart of every pyromancer. We respect its power. But the common soldier, hmmmm, the crew of one of the queen’s spitfires, say, in the unthinking frenzy of battle … any little mistake can bring catastrophe. That cannot be said too often. My father often told King Aerys as much, as his father told old King Jaehaerys.”
“想必他们幸然接受，”提利昂道，“如果连都城都被他们烧了，总有人告诉我这个故事。好了，你建议我们多加小心？”
“They must have listened,” Tyrion said. “If they had burned the city down, someone would have told me. So your counsel is that we had best be careful?”
“务必非常小心，”哈林说，“非常非常小心。”
“Be very careful,” said Hallyne. “Be very very careful.”
“这些陶罐……制作罐子的材料可充裕？”
“These clay jars … do you have an ample supply?”
“很充裕，大人，感谢您的关心。”
“We do, my lord, and thank you for asking.”
“既然如此，你不介意我带走几个吧。事实上，我想要几千个。”
“You won’t mind if I take some, then. A few thousand.”
“几‘千’个？”
“A few thousand?”
“在不影响制作进程的前提下，能给多少就给多少。听清楚，我只要空罐。请把东西分头交给各城门的守卫队长。”
“Or however many your guild can spare, without interfering with production. It’s empty pots I’m asking for, understand. Have them sent round to the captains on each of the city gates.”
“是，大人，可为什么……？”
“I will, my lord, but why …?”
提利昂朝他微微一笑，“你要我穿暖一点，我就穿暖一点。你要我务必小心，所以啰……”他耸耸肩，“我也瞧够了，麻烦你送我回轿？”
Tyrion smiled up at him. “When you tell me to dress warmly, I dress warmly. When you tell me to be careful, well …” He gave a shrug. “I’ve seen enough. Perhaps you would be so good as to escort me back up to my litter?”
“首相大人，我，嘿嘿嘿，乐意之至。”哈林举起油灯，领路走向阶梯，“您能亲自来访真是太好了，这是我们，嘿嘿嘿，莫大的荣幸。这里已经很久不曾有首相造访，往上要数罗萨特大人，他本人就是我们组织的人呢。那是伊里斯王在位时的事，伊里斯国王对我们的工作向来很感兴趣。”
“It would be my great, hmmm, pleasure, my lord.” Hallyne lifted the lamp and led the way back to the stairs. “It was good of you to visit us. A great honor, hmmm. It has been too long since the King’s Hand graced us with his presence. Not since Lord Rossart, and he was of our order. That was back in King Aerys’s day. King Aerys took a great interest in our work.”
伊里斯国王利用你们来烧烤对头。詹姆老哥跟他提过几个疯王和他那群火术士走狗的故事。“相信乔佛里国王陛下一定也会深表关注。”所以我才想尽办法不让你们接近他。
King Aerys used you to roast the flesh off his enemies. His brother Jaime had told him a few stories of the Mad King and his pet pyromancers. “Joffrey will be interested as well, I have no doubt.” Which is why I’d best keep him well away from you.
“我们衷心期盼陛下也能莅临敝会视察。我向您尊贵的姐姐提过，我们将举办一场盛大的宴席……”
“It is our great hope to have the king visit our Guildhall in his own royal person. I have spoken of it to your royal sister. A great feast …”
恩准你们享用死尸他们越往上爬，便越觉温暖。“在取得胜利之前，陛下禁止举办任何宴席。”这当然是我的坚持。“陛下认为，倘若百姓未得温饱，任何人都无权独享美食。”
It was growing warmer as they climbed. “His Grace has prohibited all feasting until such time as the war is won.” At my insistence. “The king does not think it fitting to banquet on choice food while his people go without bread.”
“大人，此议实乃，嘿嘿嘿，仁爱之举。那不妨……由我们几位智者代表众弟兄进红堡参见陛下，我们可以玩点小花活，让日理万机的陛下也能稍事休息一晚。本会历史悠久，野火只是我们诸多恐怖秘术之一。我们将呈给朝中诸君看的奇观可是庞杂繁复，数不胜数呢。”
“A most, hmmm, loving gesture, my lord. Perhaps instead some few of us might call upon the king at the Red Keep. A small demonstration of our powers, as it were, to distract His Grace from his many cares for an evening. Wildfire is but one of the dread secrets of our ancient order. Many and wondrous are the things we might show you.”
“这事我会和我姐姐商量。”如果只是变变魔术，那他不反对，然而乔佛里每次当朝理事都爱叫人斗个“至死方休”，他不可想让这小鬼动起火烧活人的主意。
“I will take it up with my sister.” Tyrion had no objection to a few magic tricks, but Joff’s fondness for making men fight to the death was trial enough; he had no intention of allowing the boy to taste the possibilities of burning them alive.
走完楼梯后，提利昂甩开山猫皮披风，缠在手臂。炼金术士的公会大厅是一座黑石砌成的大迷宫，哈林领他左弯右拐，最后来到“铁炬长廊”。这是一个漫长而回音缭绕的大房间，青绿的火焰在高达二十尺的黑铁梁柱周边雀跃舞动。亮泽的黑色大理石墙和天花板上鬼火闪烁，整个大厅浸沐在一片翡翠色的光芒中。这些巨型“铁炬”是为了欢迎他的到来，今天早上才点燃的，等他离开后，便会立刻熄灭——倘若他不知此事，印象定会更加深刻。野火非常昂贵，不容任意挥霍。
When at last they reached the top of the steps, Tyrion shrugged out of his shadowskin fur and folded it over his arm. The Guildhall of the Alchemists was an imposing warren of black stone, but Hallyne led him through the twists and turns until they reached the Gallery of the Iron Torches, a long echoing chamber where columns of green fire danced around black metal columns twenty feet tall. Ghostly flames shimmered off the polished black marble of the walls and floor and bathed the hall in an emerald radiance. Tyrion would have been more impressed if he hadn’t known that the great iron torches had only been lit this morning in honor of his visit, and would be extinguished the instant the doors closed behind him. Wildfire was too costly to squander.
他们从面朝静默修女街的弯曲大阶梯上走出来，已近维桑尼亚丘陵底部。他向哈林道别后，便摇摇摆摆地走下台阶，与等候多时的提魅之子提魅和随行的其余灼人部众会合。为达今天的意图，挑他们作护卫再合适不过。此外，他们身上的伤疤可以吓退城里聚集的贫民，在这非常时期尤为关键。因为三天前，刚有一群暴民聚集到红堡门前，叫嚷着分配食物。乔佛里的回应是万箭齐放，一下杀死了四个，之后他从城上叫道：“恩准你们享用死尸。”我们真是越来越受爱戴了。
They emerged atop the broad curving steps that fronted on the Street of the Sisters, near the foot of Visenya’s Hill. He bid Hallyne farewell and waddled down to where Timett son of Timett waited with an escort of Burned Men. Given his purpose today, it had seemed a singularly appropriate choice for his guard. Besides, their scars struck terror in the hearts of the city rabble. That was all to the good these days. Only three nights past, another mob had gathered at the gates of the Red Keep, chanting for food. Joff had unleashed a storm of arrows against them, slaying four, and then shouted down that they had his leave to eat their dead. Winning us still more friends.
提利昂看到波隆也在轿子旁，有些吃惊。“你来做什么？”
Tyrion was surprised to see Bronn standing beside the litter as well. “What are you doing here?”
“给你送口信。”波隆道，“铁手报告诸神门那儿有急事，但他不肯细说。还有，梅葛楼也在召你。”
“Delivering your messages,” Bronn said. “Ironhand wants you urgently at the Gate of the Gods. He won’t say why. And you’ve been summoned to Maegor’s too.”
“召我？”提利昂知道只有一个人敢用这个字眼。“瑟曦找我何事？”
“Summoned?” Tyrion knew of only one person who would presume to use that word. “And what does Cersei want of me?”
波隆耸肩，“太后命你即刻返回城堡，到她的居室面见她。是你那乳臭未干的堂弟传的口信。呵，嘴上长了几根毛，就自以为成熟了。”
Bronn shrugged. “The queen commands you to return to the castle at once and attend her in her chambers. That stripling cousin of yours delivered the message. Four hairs on his lip and he thinks he’s a man.”
“几根毛，一个爵位。别忘了，他现下可是蓝赛尔‘爵士’。”提利昂知道除非事关重大，杰斯林爵士不会轻易催他过去。“我最好先瞧瞧拜瓦特那边。通知我老姐，我回来立刻去见她。”
“Four hairs and a knighthood. He’s Ser Lancel now, never forget.” Tyrion knew that Ser Jacelyn would not send for him unless the matter was of import. “I’d best see what Bywater wants. Inform my sister that I will attend her on my return.”
“她可不会喜欢。”波隆警告他。
“She won’t like that,” Bronn warned.
“很好。瑟曦等得越久，就会越恼怒，越恼怒就会越犯蠢。与其在她好整以暇、狡计盘算的时候见她，不如等她恼怒犯蠢以后。”提利昂把摺好的披风扔进轿子，随后提魅扶他上轿。
“Good. The longer Cersei waits, the angrier she’ll become, and anger makes her stupid. I much prefer angry and stupid to composed and cunning.” Tyrion tossed his folded cloak into his litter, and Timett helped him up after it.
提利昂穿过诸神门里的市集广场，平日里，这里总是挤满叫卖蔬果的农民，如今却一片空荡。杰斯林爵士在城门口等他，举起铁手粗率地行了个礼。“大人，您的表弟克里奥·佛雷爵士刚从奔流城赶到，打着和平的旗帜，带来罗柏·史塔克的信件。”
The market square inside the Gate of the Gods, which in normal times would have been thronged with farmers selling vegetables, was near deserted when Tyrion crossed it. Ser Jacelyn met him at the gate, and raised his iron hand in brusque salute. “My lord. Your cousin Cleos Frey is here, come from Riverrun under a peace banner with a letter from Robb Stark.”
“和平条件？”
“Peace terms?”
“他是这么说的。”
“So he says.”
“真是我的好表弟，快带我去见他。”
“Sweet cousin. Show me to him.”
金袍卫士把克里奥爵士拘留在城门楼中一间无窗的警卫室里，一见他们进来，他立刻起身：“提利昂，见到你真是太高兴了。”
The gold cloaks had confined Ser Cleos to a windowless guardroom in the gatehouse. He rose when they entered. “Tyrion, you are a most welcome sight.”
“表弟，这话对我可真是稀罕哟。”
“That’s not something I hear often, cousin.”
“瑟曦也来了吗？”
“Has Cersei come with you?”
“我姐姐刚巧有别的事要忙。这是史塔克的信？”他从桌上拿起来。“杰斯林爵士，请你退下。”
“My sister is otherwise occupied. Is this Stark’s letter?” He plucked it off the table. “Ser Jacelyn, you may leave us.”
拜瓦特点头离开。“我的使命是将议和条件呈给摄政太后，”关门之后，克里奥爵士道。
Bywater bowed and departed. “I was asked to bring the offer to the Queen Regent,” Ser Cleos said as the door shut.
“我会亲自呈上，”提利昂瞄了一眼罗柏·史塔克随信附上的地图，“我们不要着急，一件一件慢慢来。表弟你先坐，休息片刻，你看起来面色不佳，有些憔悴哪。”事实上，他的状况的确糟糕。
“I shall.” Tyrion glanced over the map that Robb Stark had sent with his letter. “All in good time, cousin. Sit. Rest. You look gaunt and haggard.” He looked worse than that, in truth.
“可不是嘛。”克里奥爵士在一张长凳上坐下。“提利昂，河间地区一片混乱，尤其是神眼湖和国王大道周围。河间地的领主烧掉自己的作物，企图困死、饿死我们，令尊的征粮队则每到一座村落就纵火焚烧，并追杀其中的百姓。”
“Yes.” Ser Cleos lowered himself onto a bench. “It is bad in the riverlands, Tyrion. Around the Gods Eye and along the kingsroad especially. The river lords are burning their own crops to try and starve us, and your father’s foragers are torching every village they take and putting the smallfolk to the sword.”
这就是战争之道：贵族被俘等人来赎，百姓却只能引颈待屠。感谢诸神，让我生为兰尼斯特。
That was the way of war. The smallfolk were slaughtered, while the highborn were held for ransom. Remind me to thank the gods that I was born a Lannister.
克里奥爵士伸手拨拨稀疏的棕发，“即便打着和平的旗帜，我们还是两次遭到攻击。都是些披盔甲的豺狼，饥肠辘辘，只等着蹂躏弱小。他们原本是哪一边的人，恐怕只有上天知道，总之眼下这帮家伙是独立行动了。我的队伍死了三人，还有六个人受伤。”
Ser Cleos ran a hand through his thin brown hair. “Even with a peace banner, we were attacked twice. Wolves in mail, hungry to savage anyone weaker than themselves. The gods alone know what side they started on, but they’re on their own side now. Lost three men, and twice as many wounded.”
“敌方动向如何？”提利昂把目光转回史塔克的条件。这孩子要的可不少嘛，半壁河山，释放俘虏，索要人质，父亲的剑……喔，当然，还有两个妹妹。
“What news of our foe?” Tyrion turned his attention back to Stark’s terms. The boy does not want too much. Only half the realm, the release of our captives, hostages, his father’s sword … oh, yes, and his sisters.
“那小鬼在奔流城无所事事，”克里奥爵士道，“想必他不敢与你父亲照面。他的兵力日渐减少，河间领主都回去保卫各自的属地了。”
“The boy sits idle at Riverrun,” Ser Cleos said. “I think he fears to face your father in the field. His strength grows less each day. The river lords have departed, each to defend his own lands.”
这就是父亲的意图？提利昂卷起史塔克的地图。“这些条件不成的。”
Is this what Father intended? Tyrion rolled up Stark’s map. “These terms will never do.”
“可否请你至少同意用史塔克家的女儿交换提恩和威廉？”克里奥爵士痛苦地问。
“Will you at least consent to trade the Stark girls for Tion and Willem?” Ser Cleos asked plaintively.
提利昂想起来，提恩·佛雷是对方的弟弟。“不行，”他温和地说，“但请你放心，我们会提出相应的战俘交换。就让我和重臣们及瑟曦商量一番，然后让你带着我们的条件返回奔流城。”
Tion Frey was his younger brother, Tyrion recalled. “No,” he said gently, “but we’ll propose our own exchange of captives. Let me consult with Cersei and the council. We shall send you back to Riverrun with our terms.”
显然，他的情绪并未好转，“大人，我认为罗柏·史塔克不会轻易屈服。想要和平的是凯特琳夫人，不是那小鬼。”
Clearly, the prospect did not cheer him. “My lord, I do not believe Robb Stark will yield easily. It is Lady Catelyn who wants this peace, not the boy.”
“而凯特琳夫人心中所想惟有她的女儿。”提利昂从板凳上起身，手拿信件和地图。“我让杰斯林爵士帮你张罗食物和衣物。表弟，你看起来委实需要恶补一觉。等我们商议有了结果，我再来通知你。”
“Lady Catelyn wants her daughters.” Tyrion pushed himself down from the bench, letter and map in hand. “Ser Jacelyn will see that you have food and fire. You look in dire need of sleep, cousin. I will send for you when we know more.”
提利昂在城墙上找到杰斯林爵士，他正观看着下方广场上操演中的数百新兵。由于大量难民涌入君临，许多人自愿加入都城守备队，藉以换取温饱和军营里的一张稻草床。等战争开始，这群乌合之众能有多少战力，提利昂可不抱任何幻想。
He found Ser Jacelyn on the ramparts, watching several hundred new recruits drilling in the field below. With so many seeking refuge in King’s Landing, there was no lack of men willing to join the City Watch for a full belly and a bed of straw in the barracks, but Tyrion had no illusions about how well these ragged defenders of theirs would fight if it came to battle.
“你找我来，做得很对。”提利昂道，“我把克里奥爵士交给你了，请满足他一切需要。”
“You did well to send for me,” Tyrion said. “I shall leave Ser Cleos in your hands. He is to have every hospitality.”
“他的随从呢？”都城守备队司令问。
“And his escort?” the commander wanted to know.
“给他们提供食物和干净衣服，找个学士替他们疗伤。但不准他们踏进城里一步，清楚吗？”君临城的现况绝不能传到罗柏·史塔克耳中。
“Give them food and clean garb, and find a maester to see to their hurts. They are not to set foot inside the city, is that understood?” It would never do to have the truth of conditions in King’s Landing reach Robb Stark in Riverrun.
“非常清楚，大人。”
“Well understood, my lord.”
“喔，还有一事。炼金术士公会将把大批陶罐送到各个城门，你就用这些罐子来训练喷火弩和弩炮的操作员。将罐子装满绿色颜料，操练装填和发射。谁把颜料洒出来，就把谁撤掉。等他们熟悉了颜料罐，就改装灯油，叫他们先点燃油罐，之后再发射。待他们运用自如，不伤自身，打仗时就可使用野火。”
“Oh, and one more thing. The alchemists will be sending a large supply of clay pots to each of the city gates. You’re to use them to train the men who will work your spitfires. Fill the pots with green paint and have them drill at loading and firing. Any man who spatters should be replaced. When they have mastered the paint pots, substitute lamp oil and have them work at lighting the jars and firing them while aflame. Once they learn to do that without burning themselves, they may be ready for wildfire.”
杰斯林爵士用铁手挠挠脸颊，“高明。不过我对炼金术士的屎尿没有好感。”
Ser Jacelyn scratched at his cheek with his iron hand. “Wise measures. Though I have no love for that alchemist’s piss.”
“彼此彼此，但我有什么用什么。”
“Nor I, but I use what I’m given.”
回轿之后，提利昂·兰尼斯特拉上廉幕，又拿个靠垫枕着。瑟曦若知他拦截了史塔克的信件，一定大为不满，但父亲派他进城是来管事的，不是来哄瑟曦开心的。
Once back inside his litter, Tyrion Lannister drew the curtains and plumped a cushion under his elbow. Cersei would be displeased to learn that he had intercepted Stark’s letter, but his father had sent him here to rule, not to please Cersei.
在他看来，罗柏·史塔克实在给了他们一个黄金机会。就让那孩子坐等在奔流城，梦想着和平可以轻易换取罢。提利昂会提出自己的和平条件，刚好足以让北境之王保持希望。就让克里奥爵士磨破他瘦小的佛雷屁股，充任信使来回奔波。与此同时，他们的堂叔史戴佛爵士正在凯岩城整备兵器，训练新军，等他准备完毕，便可与泰温大人前后夹击徒利和史塔克。
It seemed to him that Robb Stark had given them a golden chance. Let the boy wait at Riverrun dreaming of an easy peace. Tyrion would reply with terms of his own, giving the King in the North just enough of what he wanted to keep him hopeful. Let Ser Cleos wear out his bony Frey rump riding to and fro with offers and counters. All the while, their cousin Ser Stafford would be training and arming the new host he’d raised at Casterly Rock. Once he was ready, he and Lord Tywin could smash the Tullys and Starks between them.
若劳勃的两个弟弟也这么听话就好了。虽然蓝礼·拜拉席恩军队的行进速度慢如冰川，但他那支南境大军仍旧日渐朝东北逼近。除此之外，提利昂每夜都睡不安稳，惟恐接到史坦尼斯公爵的舰队驶进黑水湾的消息。哈，如今野火还算充裕，然而……
Now if only Robert’s brothers would be so accommodating. Glacial as his progress was, still Renly Baratheon crept north and east with his huge southron host, and scarcely a night passed that Tyrion did not dread being awakened with the news that Lord Stannis was sailing his fleet up the Blackwater Rush. Well, it would seem I have a goodly stock of wildfire, but still …
街上的喧哗打断了他的思虑。提利昂谨慎地从廉幕间向外看去，他们正行经鞋匠广场，大批民众聚集在皮制天蓬下，倾听一位“先知”大放厥词。从那身未经染色的羊毛衣和当腰带系着的麻绳看来，他不过是乞丐帮的弟兄。
The sound of some hubbub in the street intruded on his worries. Tyrion peered out cautiously between the curtains. They were passing through Cobbler’s Square, where a sizable crowd had gathered beneath the leather awnings to listen to the rantings of a prophet. A robe of undyed wool belted with a hempen rope marked him for one of the begging brothers.
“堕落啊！”那人厉声尖叫，“这就是警告！这就是天父之鞭！”他指着空中那道模糊的红色伤痕。从这个角度看去，远处伊耿高丘上的城堡正好在他身后，彗星则如预兆般高悬于塔楼上。真会营造舞台，提利昂心想。“我们变得臃肿、肮脏、腐化。姐弟在国王的寝床上苟合，乱伦的后代在王宫里随着畸形小魔猴的笛声翩翩起舞。高贵的淑女与小丑通奸，生下恐怖恶物！就连总主教也忘记了诸神！他用香水泡澡，享用鳗鱼和云雀，越吃越胖，却坐视他的子民挨饿！傲慢先于祈祷，蛆虫统治城堡，黄金就是一切……这些都必须终止！腐烂的夏天即将结束，嫖客国王受到天罚！他被野猪开膛破肚，可怕的臭气直冲云霄，一千条蛇从肚子里钻出，嘶嘶叫着咬人！”他再度伸出干瘦的手指指着彗星和城堡。“看哪，那就是上天的预示！诸神在呐喊，要我们自我净化，否则便把我们自世间完全抹除！沐浴正义之酒，否则便会烈火焚身！烈火焚身！”
“Corruption!” the man cried shrilly. “There is the warning! Behold the Father’s scourge!” He pointed at the fuzzy red wound in the sky. From this vantage, the distant castle on Aegon’s High Hill was directly behind him, with the comet hanging forebodingly over its towers. A clever choice of stage, Tyrion reflected. “We have become swollen, bloated, foul. Brother couples with sister in the bed of kings, and the fruit of their incest capers in his palace to the piping of a twisted little monkey demon. Highborn ladies fornicate with fools and give birth to monsters! Even the High Septon has forgotten the gods! He bathes in scented waters and grows fat on lark and lamprey while his people starve! Pride comes before prayer, maggots rule our castles, and gold is all … but no more! The Rotten Summer is at an end, and the Whoremonger King is brought low! When the boar did open him, a great stench rose to heaven and a thousand snakes slid forth from his belly, hissing and biting!” He jabbed his bony finger back at comet and castle. “There comes the Harbinger! Cleanse yourselves, the gods cry out, lest ye be cleansed! Bathe in the wine of righteousness, or you shall be bathed in fire! Fire!”
“烈火焚身！”虽然有人附和，却被嘲笑的声浪掩盖。提利昂听了稍觉安心，下令继续前进。灼人部众趋前清出走道，轿子则像暴风雨中的船只般剧烈摇晃。好个“畸形小魔猴”。不过那混蛋对总主教的评价倒没错，上次月童怎么说他来着？“主教大人敬拜七神，信仰虔诚，难怪一旦腹饥，便要为七神各吃一餐。”想起弄臣的笑话，提利昂不禁微笑。
“Fire!” other voices echoed, but the hoots of derision almost drowned them out. Tyrion took solace from that. He gave the command to continue, and the litter rocked like a ship on a rough sea as the Burned Men cleared a path. Twisted little monkey demon indeed. The wretch did have a point about the High Septon, to be sure. What was it that Moon Boy had said of him the other day? A pious man who worships the Seven so fervently that he eats a meal for each of them whenever he sits to table. The memory of the fool’s jape made Tyrion smile.
让他欣慰的是此后直到红堡，都没碰上其他事故。提利昂爬楼梯回塔顶房间，觉得比晨间多了几分希望。时间啊，我需要的就是时间，把事情拼凑起来的时间，只等铁链完工……他打开书房门。
He was pleased to reach the Red Keep without further incident. As he climbed the steps to his chambers, Tyrion felt a deal more hopeful than he had at dawn. Time, that’s all I truly need, time to piece it all together. Once the chain is done … He opened the door to his solar.
瑟曦从窗边旋身，裙裾在纤细的臀旁摆荡，“我召你，你竟敢不来！”
Cersei turned away from the window, her skirts swirling around her slender hips. “How dare you ignore my summons!”
“谁准你进我的塔？”
“Who admitted you to my tower?”
“你的塔？这是我儿的城堡！”
“Your tower? This is my son’s royal castle.”
“算是吧，”提利昂很不高兴。待会儿定要教训克劳恩，今天负责把守的是他的月人部战士。“事实上，我正准备去找你。”
“So they tell me.” Tyrion was not amused. Crawn would be even less so; his Moon Brothers had the guard today. “I was about to come to you, as it happens.”
“是吗？”
“Were you?”
他关上门，“怎么，不相信我啊？”
He swung the door shut behind him. “You doubt me?”
“当然不相信，而且我有充足的理由。”
“Always, and with good reason.”
“我好伤心。”提利昂一瘸一拐地走去餐具柜倒酒。他不知还有什么事比和瑟曦谈话更容易让人口干舌燥。“如果我冒犯了你，我想知道原因。”
“I’m hurt.” Tyrion waddled to the sideboard for a cup of wine. He knew no surer way to work up a thirst than talking with Cersei. “If I’ve given you offense, I would know how.”
“行了，你这恶心的烂蛆！弥赛拉是我唯一的女儿，你以为我真的会任你把她当作一包燕麦般的卖掉吗？”
“What a disgusting little worm you are. Myrcella is my only daughter. Did you truly imagine that I would allow you to sell her like a bag of oats?”
弥赛拉，他想，好啊，既然蛋已经孵化，咱们就来瞧瞧鸡是什么颜色。“怎么叫当作一包燕麦呢？弥赛拉是堂堂公主，从某种意义上讲，她生来就要做这种事。你该不会打算把她嫁给托曼吧？”
Myrcella, he thought. Well, that egg has hatched. Let’s see what color the chick is. “Hardly a bag of oats. Myrcella is a princess. Some would say this is what she was born for. Or did you plan to marry her to Tommen?”
她一挥手，打翻他手中的酒杯，酒洒了一地。“光凭这句话，我就该拔了你舌头，管你是不是我弟弟。乔佛里的摄政王是我，不是你，而我绝不同意把弥赛拉装船送给这个多恩人，就像当年我被送给劳勃·拜拉席恩一样！”
Her hand lashed out, knocking the wine cup from his hand to spill on the floor. “Brother or no, I should have your tongue out for that. I am Joffrey’s regent, not you, and I say that Myrcella will not be shipped off to this Dornishman the way I was shipped to Robert Baratheon.”
这是你最后一次动手提浪昂甩甩手指上的酒滴，叹道：“有何不可？去多恩总比留在这里安全。”
Tyrion shook wine off his fingers and sighed. “Why not? She’d be a deal safer in Dorne than she is here.”
“你是笨到无可救药，还是真的丧心病狂？你我都很清楚，马泰尔家族不喜欢我们。”
“Are you utterly ignorant or simply perverse? You know as well as I that the Martells have no cause to love us.”
“是的，马泰尔家族极端憎恨我们。即便如此，我依然认为他们会同意。道朗亲王对兰尼斯特家族的恨意只能追溯到上一代，可多恩人与风息堡、高庭间的战争已经持续了上千年。对我们尤其有利的是，蓝礼把多恩领的支持视作理所当然。弥赛拉现年九岁，崔斯丹·马泰尔则是十一岁，我已经提议，等她年满十四，两人即刻成婚。在此之前，她以贵宾的身份留在阳戟城，受到道朗亲王妥善的保护。”
“The Martells have every cause to hate us. Nonetheless, I expect them to agree. Prince Doran’s grievance against House Lannister goes back only a generation, but the Dornishmen have warred against Storm’s End and Highgarden for a thousand years, and Renly has taken Dorne’s allegiance for granted. Myrcella is nine, Trystane Martell eleven. I have proposed they wed when she reaches her fourteenth year. Until such time, she would be an honored guest at Sunspear, under Prince Doran’s protection.”
“这是人质，”瑟曦抿紧嘴巴。
“A hostage,” Cersei said, mouth tightening.
“是贵宾，”提利昂坚持，“说穿了，我想马泰尔对弥赛拉绝对比乔佛里对珊莎·史塔克要好。我有意安排亚历斯·奥克赫特爵士作她的护卫，有御林铁卫随侍在旁，相信谁也不敢轻视她的身份。”
“An honored guest,” Tyrion insisted, “and I suspect Martell will treat Myrcella more kindly than Joffrey has treated Sansa Stark. I had in mind to send Ser Arys Oakheart with her. With a knight of the Kingsguard as her sworn shield, no one is like to forget who or what she is.”
“若哪天道朗·马泰尔决意要我女儿的性命来为妹妹复仇，亚历斯爵士又有何用？”
“Small good Ser Arys will do her if Doran Martell decides that my daughter’s death would wash out his sister’s.”
“马泰尔是个重荣誉的人，绝不会加害九岁女孩，尤其是如此天真甜美的弥赛拉。只要她在他手上，他定会信赖我们履行承诺，何况我们的条件很优厚，谅他无法拒绝。弥赛拉只是其中之一，我还向他提议交出杀害他妹妹的凶手，允诺他重臣之位，边疆地上数座城堡……”
“Martell is too honorable to murder a nine-year-old girl, particularly one as sweet and innocent as Myrcella. So long as he holds her he can be reasonably certain that we’ll keep faith on our side, and the terms are too rich to refuse. Myrcella is the least part of it. I’ve also offered him his sister’s killer, a council seat, some castles on the Marches …”
“太多了。”瑟曦自他身边踱开，裙裾婆娑，焦躁有如母狮。“你不但给得太多，而且未经我同意，决无效力可言。”
“Too much.” Cersei paced away from him, restless as a lioness, skirts swirling. “You’ve offered too much, and without my authority or consent.”
“我们急需拉拢多恩亲王，若是给得少了，只怕他会不屑一顾啊。”
“This is the Prince of Dorne we are speaking of. If I’d offered less, he’d likely spit in my face.”
“太多了！”瑟曦坚持，旋身回来。
“Too much!” Cersei insisted, whirling back.
“换你怎么给？你两腿中间那个洞？”提利昂也火了。
“What would you have offered him, that hole between your legs?” Tyrion said, his own anger flaring.
这一回他瞧清楚了掴来的耳光，啪地一声，他的头打歪到一边。“亲爱的好姐姐，”他说，“我向你保证，这是你最后一次动手。”
This time he saw the slap coming. His head snapped around with a crack. “Sweet sweet sister,” he said, “I promise you, that was the last time you will ever strike me.”
姐姐笑道：“小家伙，少来威胁我。你以为有父亲那封信就万事无恙？不过一张薄纸，艾德·史塔克也有过一张，你瞧他什么下场。”
His sister laughed. “Don’t threaten me, little man. Do you think Father’s letter keeps you safe? A piece of paper. Eddard Stark had a piece of paper too, for all the good it did him.”
艾德·史塔克可没有都城守备队撑腰，提利昂心想，也没有高山氏族，更没有波隆召募的佣兵，我却三者皆有。至少他心里这么希望，因为这意味着信任瓦里斯、杰斯林·拜瓦特爵士和波隆三人。史塔克大人当初可能也抱着同样的感觉。
Eddard Stark did not have the City Watch, Tyrion thought, nor my clansmen, nor the sellswords that Bronn has hired. I do. Or so he hoped. Trusting in Varys, in Ser Jacelyn Bywater, in Bronn. Lord Stark had probably had his delusions as well.
但他什么也没有说。聪明人不往火盆上浇野火，于是他又倒一杯酒。“你倒是想想，倘若君临不幸城破，弥赛拉岂会安全？届时，只怕蓝礼和史坦尼斯会把她的头跟你的头挂在一起。”
Yet he said nothing. A wise man did not pour wildfire on a brazier. Instead he poured a fresh cup of wine. “How safe do you think Myrcella will be if King’s Landing falls? Renly and Stannis will mount her head beside yours.”
瑟曦哭了。
And Cersei began to cry.
就算征服者伊耿当下骑着巨龙冲进房间，手中还抛着柠檬派耍把戏，提利昂·兰尼斯特也不会更惊讶了。打他们在凯岩城的孩提时代过后，他便再没见姐姐哭过。他有些笨拙地向她靠近一步。姐姐哭时，作弟弟的就该安慰她……但这……这是瑟曦啊！他试探性地伸手拍她肩膀。
Tyrion Lannister could not have been more astonished if Aegon the Conqueror himself had burst into the room, riding on a dragon and juggling lemon pies. He had not seen his sister weep since they were children together at Casterly Rock. Awkwardly, he took a step toward her. When your sister cries, you were supposed to comfort her … but this was Cersei! He reached a tentative hand for her shoulder.
“不准碰我！”她边说边扭身躲开。他不该觉得难受，可是，这却比任何一记耳光更教他疼痛。瑟曦满脸通红，难过又恼怒，她喘着气，“不准看我，不准……这样看我……不准你这样！”
“Don’t touch me,” she said, wrenching away. It should not have hurt, yet it did, more than any slap. Red-faced, as angry as she was grief-stricken, Cersei struggled for breath. “Don’t look at me, not … not like this … not you.”
提利昂恭敬地转头，“我不是想吓你。真的，我跟你保证，弥赛拉决不会出事。”
Politely, Tyrion turned his back. “I did not mean to frighten you. I promise you, nothing will happen to Myrcella.”
“骗子，”她在他背后说，“我不是三岁小孩，少拿空洞的承诺来敷衍我。你不是号称能救出詹姆吗？哼，他人在哪里？”
“Liar,” she said behind him. “I’m not a child, to be soothed with empty promises. You told me you would free Jaime too. Well, where is he?”
“在奔流城吧，我想。他有专人看守，安全无虞，正等着我想法子救他出来呢。”
“In Riverrun, I should imagine. Safe and under guard, until I find a way to free him.”
瑟曦吸吸鼻子，“我是男人就好了，那样我根本就不需要你们，也不会发生这些事。詹姆是怎么回事，竟然落入那小鬼手中？还有父亲，算我蠢苯，居然信任他，眼下需要他的时候，他究竟在哪里？究竟在做什么？”
Cersei sniffed. “I should have been born a man. I would have no need of any of you then. None of this would have been allowed to happen. How could Jaime let himself be captured by that boy? And Father, I trusted in him, fool that I am, but where is he now that he’s wanted? What is he doing?”
“他在打仗。”
“Making war.”
“躲在赫伦堡的高墙后打？”她轻蔑地说，“真是奇怪的战法。说穿了，这是逃避！”
“From behind the walls of Harrenhal?” she said scornfully. “A curious way of fighting. It looks suspiciously like hiding.”
“你应该多动脑子。”
“Look again.”
“那你说是怎么回事？为何父亲和罗柏·史塔克两人各据一座城池，却什么也不做！”
“What else would you call it? Father sits in one castle, and Robb Stark sits in another, and no one does anything.”
“他们不就在等嘛？”提利昂道，“双方都在等对手行动。等待有两种，狮子是摇着尾巴好整以暇，小鹿却是吓得不敢动弹，怕得魂飞魄散。不管朝哪边跑，最后都会被狮子吃掉，而且它自己心知肚明。”
“There is sitting and there is sitting,” Tyrion suggested. “Each one waits for the other to move, but the lion is still, poised, his tail twitching, while the fawn is frozen by fear, bowels turned to jelly. No matter which way he bounds, the lion will have him, and he knows it.”
“你敢确定，父亲就是那只狮子？”
“And you’re quite certain that Father is the lion?”
提利昂嘻嘻一笑，“喏，不就画在咱家旗帜上吗？”
Tyrion grinned. “It’s on all our banners.”
她没笑，“若今天被俘的是父亲，我敢跟你保证，詹姆绝不会坐视不管。”
She ignored the jest. “If it was Father who’d been taken captive, Jaime would not be sitting by idly, I promise you.”
詹姆会不顾一切浪掷兵力，派他们去奔流城的坚壁下白白送死，异鬼都知道那不可能成功。他从没耐性，跟你一样，我亲爱的姐姐。“咱们凡夫俗子，总不能个个都像詹姆那么英勇，好在赢得战争还有别的办法。你瞧，赫伦堡固若金汤，且位置极佳。”
Jaime would be battering his host to bloody bits against the walls of Riverrun, and the Others take their chances. He never did have any patience, no more than you, sweet sister. “Not all of us can be as bold as Jaime, but there are other ways to win wars. Harrenhal is strong and well situated.”
“而你我都清楚，君临并非如此。当父亲和那史塔克小鬼玩狮子捉鹿的游戏时，蓝礼正率军从玫瑰大道杀来，随时可能兵临城下！”
“And King’s Landing is not, as we both know perfectly well. While Father plays lion and fawn with the Stark boy, Renly marches up the roseroad. He could be at our gates any day now!”
“都城这么宏伟，总不会甫一交战就告陷落。从赫伦堡到此，是笔直迅捷的国王大道。蓝礼还来不及架好攻城器械，父亲便会从后夹击。打个比方，父亲的军队好似铁锤，我们则是铁砧，光想想都觉得美妙。”
“The city will not fall in a day. From Harrenhal it is a straight, swift march down the kingsroad. Renly will scarce have unlimbered his siege engines before Father takes him in the rear. His host will be the hammer, the city walls the anvil. It makes a lovely picture.”
瑟曦用一双碧眼盯着他，虽然仍有戒心，却渴望相信他的保证。“若罗柏·史塔克出兵呢？”
Cersei’s green eyes bored into him, wary, yet hungry for the reassurance he was feeding her. “And if Robb Stark marches?”
“赫伦堡离三叉戟河的渡口很近，正好阻止卢斯·波顿率北军步兵渡河与少狼主的骑兵会师。不拿下赫伦堡，史塔克军便到不了君临，而即使加上波顿的步兵，要攻下这座噩梦般的城堡，他的兵力也不够。”提利昂露出最迷人的微笑，“而与此同时呢，父亲将在肥沃的河间地休养生息，我们的史戴佛叔叔则在凯岩城集结新军。”
“Harrenhal is close enough to the fords of the Trident so that Roose Bolton cannot bring the northern foot across to join with the Young Wolf’s horse. Stark cannot march on King’s Landing without taking Harrenhal first, and even with Bolton he is not strong enough to do that.” Tyrion tried his most winning smile. “Meanwhile Father lives off the fat of the riverlands, while our uncle Stafford gathers fresh levies at the Rock.”
嘿，要来个翁中捉鳖瑟曦怀疑地看着他，“这些事，你又怎么知道？父亲把他的打算全给你说了？”
Cersei regarded him suspiciously. “How could you know all this? Did Father tell you his intentions when he sent you here?”
“不，我只是看了看地图。”
“No. I glanced at a map.”
她的眼神立刻转为嫌恶，“你这小恶魔，刚才这些花言巧语全是你这颗畸形脑袋掰出来的，对吧？”
Her look turned to disdain. “You’ve conjured up every word of this in that grotesque head of yours, haven’t you, Imp?”
提利昂啧了一声，“亲爱的姐姐，我倒是问你，若不是我军节节胜利，史塔克怎会请求停战呢？”他拿出克里奥·佛雷爵士送来的信。“你看，少狼主开出了条件。当然，这些条件不能接受，但好歹是个开始。你要不要过目？”
Tyrion tsked. “Sweet sister, I ask you, if we weren’t winning, would the Starks have sued for peace?” He drew out the letter that Ser Cleos Frey had brought. “The Young Wolf has sent us terms, you see. Unacceptable terms, to be sure, but still, a beginning. Would you care to see them?”
“当然。”转眼她又变回了太后。“信怎么落会到你手上？应该给我才对。”
“Yes.” That fast, she was all queen again. “How do you come to have them? They should have come to me.”
“哎，首相这双手是做什么用的？不就是为陛下您排忧解难吗？”提利昂递出信，刚被瑟曦打过的脸颊还隐隐作痛。随她去打吧，只要她肯同意与多恩的婚事，这又算得了什么？他有预感，此事会成。
“What else is a Hand for, if not to hand you things?” Tyrion handed her the letter. His cheek still throbbed where Cersei’s hand had left its mark. Let her flay half my face, it will be a small price to pay for her consent to the Dornish marriage. He would have that now, he could sense it.
除此之外，告密者也水落石出了……嘿，要来个翁中捉鳖。
And certain knowledge of an informer too … well, that was the plum in his pudding.