Chapter 第十九章 戴弗斯
DAVOS
“伯爵大人将会接见你，走私者。”
His lordship will hear you now, smuggler.”
骑士身穿银盔，他的护胫甲和臂铠上镶嵌着黑金，组成了海藻的波动叶片的图案。双臂下的护肘是人鱼王的头部，它头戴一顶珍珠母王冠，蓄着黑玉和翡翠制成的尖胡子。而他本人的胡子则是和冬日海洋一样的灰色。
The knight wore silver armor, his greaves and gauntlet inlaid with niello to suggest flowing fronds of seaweed. The helm beneath his arm was the head of the merling king, with a crown of mother-of-pearl and a jutting beard of jet and jade. His own beard was as grey as the winter sea.
戴佛斯站起来，“请问您的名字是什么，爵士？”
Davos rose. “May I know your name, ser?”
“玛龙·曼德勒爵士。”他比戴佛斯高一个头，重了三石。长着一双石板灰色的眼睛，说话态度傲慢不逊。“我非常荣幸是威曼伯爵的表弟，也是他的侍卫队长。跟我来。”
“Ser Marlon Manderly.” He was a head taller than Davos and three stones heavier, with slate-grey eyes and a haughty way of speaking. “I have the honor to be Lord Wyman’s cousin and commander of his garrison. Follow me.”
戴佛斯本来是作为一名使节来到白港，但现在被他们搞得成了一名俘虏。他的房间宽敞通风，装修得漂亮气派，但门外却站着守卫。透过窗户，他能看见城堡高墙之下的白港街道，但却不能走在上面。他也能看见港口，还看到快乐接生婆号离开。Casso Mogat在等了四天之后终于离去——他们原本约好的是三天。而从那往后，又是两周过去了。
Davos had come to White Harbor as an envoy, but they had made him a captive. His chambers were large, airy, and handsomely furnished, but there were guards outside his doors. From his window he could see the streets of White Harbor beyond the castle walls, but he was not allowed to walk them. He could see the harbor too, and had watched Merry Midwife make her way down the firth. Casso Mogat had waited four days instead of three before departing. Another fortnight had passed since then.
曼德勒伯爵的家族卫队身披蓝绿色的羊毛披风，手执银色的三叉戟而非普通长矛。一个卫兵走在他前面，一个走在他身后，两侧还各有一名。他们经过了褪色的旗子，破损的的盾牌，和在过去赢取过一百次胜利的锈剑，还有一堆木制图画，它们破旧而爬满虫子，只能用来装饰船头。
Lord Manderly’s household guard wore cloaks of blue-green wool and carried silver tridents in place of common spears. One went before him, one behind, and one to either side. They walked past the faded banners, broken shields, and rusted swords of a hundred ancient victories, and a score of wooden figures, cracked and worm-riddled, that could only have adorned the prows of ships.
两尊大理石的男性人鱼雕像侧立于伯爵大人的议事大厅两侧，他们是鱼脚的表弟。当卫兵推开大门时，传令官把权杖的末端重重顿在陈旧的厚地板上砰砰作响，“席渥斯家族的戴佛斯爵士。”他响亮地喊道。
Two marble mermen flanked his lordship’s court, Fishfoot’s smaller cousins. As the guards threw open the doors, a herald slammed the butt of his staff against an old plank floor. “Ser Davos of House Seaworth,” he called in a ringing voice.
虽然曾经无数次造访白港，戴佛斯却从未走进过这座新城堡，比去人鱼厅的次数还少。城堡的墙壁、地板和天花板是用厚木板巧妙地拼接而成，上面装饰着各种各样的海洋生物。当他们靠近台子的时候，戴佛斯就踩在画出来的螃蟹、蛤蜊和海星上，它们在海藻纠结缠绕的黑色叶片和溺死的水手骨头之间若隐若现。另一边的墙面上，白色鲨鱼潜游于蓝绿色深海之中，同时，鳗鱼和八爪鱼穿梭潜行于岩石和沉船之间。一群鲱鱼和大鳕鱼在高大的拱形窗户上游来游去。再向高处，画的是海面，旁边则是旧渔网沿着椽子垂下来。在他右边，一艘战船逆着朝阳打破了平静；在他左边，一艘旧船正在逃离风暴，而船帆已经破烂不堪。在台子的后方，一只海怪和一头灰色巨兽在战斗中被锁在画出来的波浪之下。
As many times as he had visited White Harbor, Davos had never set foot inside the New Castle, much less the Merman’s Court. Its walls and floor and ceiling were made of wooden planks notched cunningly together and decorated with all the creatures of the sea. As they approached the dais, Davos trod on painted crabs and clams and starfish, half-hidden amongst twisting black fronds of seaweed and the bones of drowned sailors. On the walls to either side, pale sharks prowled painted blue-green depths, whilst eels and octopods slithered amongst rocks and sunken ships. Shoals of herring and great codfish swam between the tall arched windows. Higher up, near where the old fishing nets drooped down from the rafters, the surface of the sea had been depicted. To his right a war galley stroked serene against the rising sun; to his left, a battered old cog raced before a storm, her sails in rags. Behind the dais a kraken and grey leviathan were locked in battle beneath the painted waves.
戴佛斯本期望能与威曼·曼德勒单独会面，结果他发现大厅里挤满了人。沿着墙壁看过去，女人比男人多五倍；少数几个看见的男人，要么留着长长的灰胡子，要么太年轻还没蓄须。他还看见了修士，以及身穿白色和灰色长袍的修女。大厅上方站着一群身穿蓝色和银灰色衣服的佛雷。他们的长相就连瞎子都能看出来是如此相似；其中一些佩戴着挛河城的徽章——两座高塔中间连接着一座桥。
Davos had hoped to speak with Wyman Manderly alone, but he found a crowded court. Along the walls, the women outnumbered the men by five to one; what few males he did see had long grey beards or looked too young to shave. There were septons as well, and holy sisters in white robes and grey. Near the top of the hall stood a dozen men in the blue and silver-grey of House Frey. Their faces had a likeness a blind man could have seen; several wore the badge of the Twins, two towers connected by a bridge.
早在他从派洛斯学士那里学会认字之前，他就学会了察言观色。这些佛雷会很乐意看着我去死，只是一瞥之间他就看出来这一点。
Davos had learned to read men’s faces long before Maester Pylos had taught him to read words on paper. These Freys would gladly see me dead, he realized at a glance.
他从威曼·曼德勒那双淡蓝色眼睛里也没看出一丁点欢迎的意思。伯爵大人的靠垫宝座非常宽，足以容纳三个普通体型的人，但是曼德勒仍然快从里面溢了出来。伯爵大人坠进座位，双肩下垂、双腿摊开，双手搁在宝座的双臂上，就像这双手重得抬不起来一样。诸神慈悲，当看到威曼伯爵的脸时，戴佛斯心想，这人看起来就像已经死了一半。他的皮肤也是灰暗中透着苍白。
Nor did he find any welcome in the pale blue eyes of Wyman Manderly. His lordship’s cushioned throne was wide enough to accommodate three men of common girth, yet Manderly threatened to overflow it. His lordship sagged into his seat, his shoulders slumped, his legs splayed, his hands resting on the arms of his throne as if the weight of them were too much to bear. Gods be good, thought Davos, when he saw Lord Wyman’s face, this man looks half a corpse. His skin was pallid, with an undertone of grey.
国王和死人身边的侍从最多，他想起了那句老话。曼德勒伯爵就是这样。宝座的左边站着一位跟伯爵大人一样肥胖的学士，长着玫瑰色双颊、厚嘴唇和一头金色卷发。玛龙爵士占据了他的领主大人右手边的荣誉位置。伯爵脚边的垫子凳子上坐着一位丰满的粉红女士。威曼伯爵的身后则是两位年轻一些的女士，看起来像是一对姐妹。年长的把棕色头发扎成长长的辫子。年轻的那个，还不到十五岁，留着更长的辫子，染成了夸张俗气的绿色。
Kings and corpses always draw attendants, the old saying went. So it was with Manderly. Left of the high seat stood a maester nigh as fat as the lord he served, a rosy-cheeked man with thick lips and a head of golden curls. Ser Marlon claimed the place of honor at his lordship’s right hand. On a cushioned stool at his feet perched a plump pink lady. Behind Lord Wyman stood two younger women, sisters by the look of them. The elder wore her brown hair bound in a long braid. The younger, no more than fifteen, had an even longer braid, dyed a garish green.
没有一个人向戴佛斯通报姓名。首先开口的是学士：“你面前是威曼·曼德勒，白港伯爵及白刃河守护者，教会庇护者，无依无靠之人的防护者，曼德河元帅，绿手任命的骑士。”他说，“在人鱼厅，臣属和请愿者照例是应该跪下的。”
None chose to honor Davos with a name. The maester was the first to speak. “You stand before Wyman Manderly, Lord of White Harbor and Warden of the White Knife, Shield of the Faith, Defender of the Dispossessed, Lord Marshal of the Mander, a Knight of the Order of the Green Hand,” he said. “In the Merman’s Court, it is customary for vassals and petitioners to kneel.”
洋葱骑士本该跪下，但国王之手却不行。一旦他照做，就意味着他效劳的国王比不上眼前这个肥伯爵。“我并非作为一名请愿者而来，”戴佛斯回答，“我也有一串头衔——雨林伯爵，狭海的海军上将，以及国王之手。”
The onion knight would have bent his knee, but a King’s Hand could not; to do so would suggest that the king he served was less than this fat lord. “I have not come as a petitioner,” Davos replied. “I have a string of titles too. Lord of the Rainwood, Admiral of the Narrow Sea, Hand of the King.”
凳子上的肥女人转了转眼珠，“没船的海军上将，没手指的国王之手，效忠于没有王座的国王。说的是我们面前这位骑士还是小孩子猜谜的答案？”
The plump woman on the stool rolled her eyes. “An admiral without ships, a hand without fingers, in service to a king without a throne. Is this a knight who comes before us, or the answer to a child’s riddle?”
“他是个使者，我的好女儿。”威曼伯爵说，“厄运洋葱。史坦尼斯不喜欢乌鸦带去的回答，所以他派出了这个……这个走私者。”他用那双一半埋在脂肪里的眼睛斜瞥了一眼戴佛斯。“你以前曾来过我们的城市，我想，从我们的口袋里掏走钱币，从我们的桌子上拿走食物。你从我这里偷走过多少东西？我倒是挺想知道。”
“He is a messenger, good-daughter,” Lord Wyman said, “an onion of ill omen. Stannis did not like the answer his ravens brought him, so he has sent this … this smuggler.” He squinted at Davos through eyes half-buried in rolls of fat. “You have visited our city before, I think, taking coin from our pockets and food off our table. How much did you steal from me, I wonder?”
还不如你少吃一顿省下来的多。“我在风息堡已经为走私付出了代价，大人。”戴佛斯拉掉手套，举起左手，四个手指都短了一截。
Not enough that you ever missed a meal. “I paid for my smuggling at Storm’s End, my lord.” Davos pulled off his glove and held up his left hand, with its four shortened fingers.
“四个指节，就想抵销一辈子偷窃的价值？”凳子上的女人说。她一头黄发，脸又圆又粉，肉呼呼的。“你脱身的代价太低廉了，洋葱骑士。”
“Four fingertips, for a lifetime’s worth of theft?” said the woman on the stool. Her hair was yellow, her face round and pink and fleshy. “You got off cheaply, Onion Knight.”
戴佛斯没有否认。“如果大人乐意，我想请求一次单独谒见。”
Davos did not deny it. “If it please my lord, I would request a privy audience.”
显然伯爵大人并不乐意。“我和我的亲戚们之间没有秘密，跟我忠诚的封臣和骑士，以及所有好朋友们也一样。”
It did not please the lord. “I keep no secrets from my kin, nor from my leal lords and knights, good friends all.”
“大人，”戴佛斯说，“我不想我们之间的对话传入陛下的敌人之耳……或者是您的敌人之耳。”
“My lord,” said Davos, “I would not want my words to be heard by His Grace’s enemies … or by your lordship’s.”
“史坦尼斯在这大厅里也许会有敌人。我可没有。”
“Stannis may have enemies in this hall. I do not.”
“连那些杀害你儿子的人也不算吗？”戴佛斯指出，“红色婚礼上他可是这些佛雷们的宾客呢。”
“Not even the men who slew your son?” Davos pointed. “These Freys were amongst his hosts at the Red Wedding.”
一个佛雷前行几步——他是个四肢瘦长的骑士，胡子修得很干净，只留了一层密尔短剑那么薄的髭须。“红色婚礼可是少狼主的杰作。他在众目睽睽之下化身野兽，撕裂了我表弟铃铛响的喉咙，而他只是个无害的傻子。他本来也想害死我父亲大人，要不是文德尔爵士挡在中间的话。”
One of the Freys stepped forward, a knight long and lean of limb, clean-shaved but for a grey mustache as thin as a Myrish stiletto. “The Red Wedding was the Young Wolf’s work. He changed into a beast before our eyes and tore out the throat of my cousin Jinglebell, a harmless simpleton. He would have slain my lord father too, if Ser Wendel had not put himself in the way.”
威曼伯爵眼中泛着泪光。“文德尔一直是个勇敢的孩子，我毫不意外他会死得这么英雄。”
Lord Wyman blinked back tears. “Wendel was always a brave boy. I was not surprised to learn he died a hero.”
这弥天大谎令戴佛斯倒吸一口冷气，“你声称罗柏·史塔克杀了文德尔·曼德勒？”他质问那个佛雷。
The enormity of the lie made Davos gasp. “Is it your claim that Robb Stark killed Wendel Manderly?” he asked the Frey.
“还有很多。我的亲生儿子泰陀斯也在其中，还有我女婿。史塔克化身为狼的时候，那些北方佬也一样。他们身上都有狼的印记。狼灵通过啃咬催生新的狼灵，这可是众所周知的。为了在我们被杀光之前放倒他们，我和我的兄弟们只能那么做。”
“And many more. Mine own son Tytos was amongst them, and my daughter’s husband. When Stark changed into a wolf, his northmen did the same. The mark of the beast was on them all. Wargs birth other wargs with a bite, it is well-known. It was all my brothers and I could do to put them down before they slew us all.”
这家伙编故事的时候会傻笑。戴佛斯真想一刀割掉他的嘴唇。“爵士，我能问问你的名字吗？”
The man was smirking as he told the tale. Davos wanted to peel his lips off with a knife. “Ser, may I have your name?”
“我是佛雷家族的杰瑞爵士。”
“Ser Jared, of House Frey.”
“佛雷家的杰瑞，我称你为骗子。”
“Jared of House Frey, I name you liar.”
杰瑞爵士看起来被逗乐了。“有些人切洋葱的时候会哭，但我从不那么软弱。”当他拔剑的时候，剑刃在剑鞘上摩擦得嗡嗡作响。“如果你真是个骑士，爵士，挺身而出为你对我的诋毁进行辩护吧。”
Ser Jared seemed amused. “Some men cry when slicing onions, but I have never had that weakness.” Steel whispered against leather as he drew his sword. “If you are indeed a knight, ser, defend that slander with your body.”
威曼伯爵睁开双眼，“我可不会允许人鱼厅里出现流血事件。收好你的剑，杰瑞爵士，不然我只好请你从我面前消失。”
Lord Wyman’s eyes fluttered open. “I’ll have no bloodshed in the Merman’s Court. Put up your steel, Ser Jared, else I must ask you to leave my presence.”
杰瑞爵士还剑入鞘。“既然在伯爵大人的屋顶之下，您的话就是法律……但是这个洋葱大人，离开之前我会跟他算清这笔账。”
Ser Jared sheathed his sword. “Beneath your lordship’s roof, your lordship’s word is law … but I shall want a reckoning with this onion lord before he leaves this city.”
“流血！”凳子上的女人咆哮，“这正是这个烂洋葱想给我们的，大人。看他是怎么挑起事端的？让他走，我求你。他想要你的人民流血，想要你英勇的儿子们流血。让他走。万一太后知道你接见了这个叛徒，她会怀疑我们的忠心。她可能……她会……她……”
“Blood!” howled the woman on the stool. “That’s what this ill onion wants of us, my lord. See how he stirs up trouble? Send him away, I beg you. He wants the blood of your people, the blood of your brave sons. Send him away. Should the queen hear that you gave audience to this traitor, she may question our own loyalty. She might … she could … she …”
“不会到那个地步，我的好女儿。”威曼伯爵说。“铁王座没有怀疑我们的理由。”
“It will not come to that, good-daughter,” Lord Wyman said. “The Iron Throne shall have no cause to doubt us.”
戴佛斯不喜欢那个声音。“铁王座上的男孩是个篡夺者，”他说，“还有，我不是叛徒，我是史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩一世——维斯特洛真正国王的首相，”
Davos misliked the sound of that, but he had not come all this way to hold his tongue. “The boy on the Iron Throne is a usurper,” he said, “and I am no traitor, but the Hand of Stannis Baratheon, the First of His Name, the trueborn King of Westeros.”
胖学士清了清喉咙。“史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩是先王劳勃——请天父公正的审判他——的弟弟。托曼是劳勃的骨肉。继承法在这件事上规定的很明确，儿子的顺位在弟弟之前。”
The fat maester cleared his throat. “Stannis Baratheon was brother to our late King Robert, may the Father judge him justly. Tommen is the issue of Robert’s body. The laws of succession are clear in such a case. A son must come before a brother.”
“席奥默学士说的没错。”威曼伯爵说，“无论什么情况，他总是那么睿智，总能给我最好的建议。”
“Maester Theomore speaks truly,” said Lord Wyman. “He is wise in all such matters, and has always given me good counsel.”
“亲生儿子的顺位在弟弟之前，”戴佛斯表示赞同，“但是所谓的托曼·拜拉席恩只是个私生子，就像他哥哥乔佛里一样。他们都是弑君者的种，他们的存在就是对诸神之法和世人的挑战。”
“A trueborn son comes before a brother,” Davos agreed, “but Tommen-called-Baratheon is bastard-born, as his brother Joffrey was before him. They were sired by the Kingslayer, in defiance of all the laws of gods and men.”
另一个佛雷开口道：“他满口大逆不道之言，大人。史坦尼斯切掉了他偷窃的手指，您应该割掉他说谎的舌头。”
Another of the Freys spoke up. “He speaks treason with his own lips, my lord. Stannis took his thieving fingers. You should take his lying tongue.”
“倒不如砍掉他的脑袋更好。”杰瑞爵士建议。“或者让他和我来个荣誉的决斗。”
“Take his head, rather,” suggested Ser Jared. “Or let him meet me on the field of honor.”
“佛雷会知道什么叫荣誉吗？”戴佛斯扔回一句话。
“What would a Frey know of honor?” Davos threw back.
四个佛雷开始向前逼近，直到威曼伯爵举起手来制止了他们。“退回去，我的朋友们。我会听他说完……然后再解决他。”
Four of the Freys started forward until Lord Wyman halted them with an upraised hand. “Step back, my friends. I will hear him out before I … before I deal with him.”
“你能为这个乱伦提供任何证据吗，爵士？”席奥默学士问道，柔软的双手交叠放在肚子上。
“Can you offer any proof of this incest, ser?” Maester Theomore asked, folding his soft hands atop his belly.
艾德瑞克·风暴，戴佛斯想。但我让他穿过狭海远远离开了，为了保住他不被梅丽珊卓的火焰烧死。“正如史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩所说，我刚才讲的一切都是真的。”
Edric Storm, thought Davos, but I sent him far away across the narrow sea, to keep him safe from Melisandre’s fires. “You have the word of Stannis Baratheon that all I’ve said is true.”
“言语就像风，”威曼伯爵高高座位背后的年轻女人——留着长长的棕色发辫比较漂亮的那个说到。“而人们会为了达到目的撒谎，就连随便哪个少女都知道。”
“Words are wind,” said the young woman behind Lord Wyman’s high seat, the handsome one with the long brown braid. “And men will lie to get their way, as any maid could tell you.”
“比起某位公爵无法证实的话，我们需要更多证据。”席奥默学士宣布。“史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩不会是第一个为了赢得王座而说过谎的人。”
“Proof requires more than some lord’s unsupported word,” declared Maester Theomore. “Stannis Baratheon would not be the first man who ever lied to win a throne.”
粉红女人伸出一根胖胖的手指指向戴佛斯。“你听着，我们不会参与任何叛国行动。我们是白港的好市民，守法又忠诚。别想用谎言荼毒我们的耳朵，不然我的好父亲会把你丢进狼穴。”
The pink woman pointed a plump finger down at Davos. “We want no part of any treason, you. We are good people in White Harbor, lawful, loyal people. Pour no more poison in our ears, or my good-father will send you to the Wolf’s Den.”
我是怎么触怒这家伙的？“我有荣幸知道小姐的名字吗？”
How have I offended this one? “Might I have the honor of my lady’s name?”
粉红女人气冲冲地嗤之以鼻，然后示意学士回答。“里雅夫人是威曼伯爵之子、威里斯爵士的妻子，威里斯爵士目前是兰尼斯特的俘虏。”
The pink woman gave an angry sniff and let the maester answer. “The Lady Leona is wife to Lord Wyman’s son Ser Wylis, presently a captive of the Lannisters.”
她的愤怒之言来源于恐惧。如果白港向史坦尼斯宣布效忠，他们就会用她丈夫来回应妻子。我怎么能让威曼伯爵把自己的儿子送上死路？如果我处在他的位置上，而戴冯是人质，我会怎么办？“大人，”戴佛斯说，“我祈祷您的儿子平安无恙，或者说白港的每个人都平安无恙。”
She speaks from fear. If White Harbor should declare for Stannis, her husband would answer with his life. How can I ask Lord Wyman to condemn his son to death? What would I do in his place if Devan were a hostage? “My lord,” said Davos, “I pray no harm will come to your son, or to any man of White Harbor.”
“又在撒谎。”里雅夫人在凳子上说。
“Another lie,” said Lady Leona from her stool.
戴佛斯觉得最好不要理她。“当罗柏·史塔克振臂一呼反对所谓的乔佛里·拜拉席恩这个私生子的时候，白港曾随他一起出兵。史塔克公爵虽然倒下了，但他的战争还在继续。”
Davos thought it best to ignore her. “When Robb Stark took up arms against the bastard Joffrey-called-Baratheon, White Harbor marched with him. Lord Stark has fallen, but his war goes on.”
“罗柏·史塔克是我的封君，”威曼伯爵说。“史坦尼斯算老几？他凭什么来烦我？就我尽可能的回忆，他以前从来感觉不到北境的需求。可是现在轮到他，像一个抱着头盔的落魄败将，跑来乞求施舍。”
“Robb Stark was my liege lord,” said Lord Wyman. “Who is this man Stannis? Why does he trouble us? He never felt the need to journey north before, as best I can recall. Yet he turns up now, a beaten cur with his helm in his hand, begging for alms.”
“他是来拯救整个王国的，大人。”戴佛斯坚称，“是来保护你的领土不被铁种和野人入侵的。”
“He came to save the realm, my lord,” Davos insisted. “To defend your lands against the ironborn and the wildlings.”
高座边，玛龙·曼德勒爵士轻蔑的哼了一声。“白港已经几个世纪没见到过野人了，铁民也从不骚扰这边的海岸线。难道史坦尼斯大人也提出要支援我们抵御蛇鲨和龙？”
Next to the high seat, Ser Marlon Manderly gave a snort of disdain. “It has been centuries since White Harbor has seen any wildlings, and the ironmen have never troubled this coast. Does Lord Stannis propose to defend us from snarks and dragons too?”
一阵大笑席卷了人鱼厅，但是在威曼伯爵的脚下，里雅夫人抽泣了起来。“铁群岛上的铁民，长城以外的野人……现在又来了个带着一群罪犯，造反派和巫师的叛国国王。”她伸出一根指头指着戴佛斯，“我们听说了你的红色女巫，是的。她会强迫我们背叛七神，向一个火焰魔鬼弯腰屈膝！”
Laughter swept the Merman’s Court, but at Lord Wyman’s feet, Lady Leona began to sob. “Ironmen from the isles, wildlings from beyond the Wall … and now this traitor lord with his outlaws, rebels, and sorcerers.” She pointed a finger at Davos. “We have heard of your red witch, oh yes. She would turn us against the Seven to bow before a fire demon!”
戴佛斯也不喜欢这位红祭司，但是他不敢不回答里雅夫人的问题。“梅丽珊卓夫人是红色神灵的女祭司。赛丽丝王后和不少人一起改信了光之神，但是陛下更多的追随者仍然信奉七神。我就是其中之一。”他祈祷着不会有人让他解释龙石岛七神雕像和风息堡神木林怎么会被焚毁。如果他们问，我必须得说实话。史坦尼斯不希望我撒谎。
Davos had no love for the red priestess, but he dare not let Lady Leona go unanswered. “Lady Melisandre is a priestess of the red god. Queen Selyse has adopted her faith, along with many others, but more of His Grace’s followers still worship the Seven. Myself among them.” He prayed no one would ask him to explain about the sept at Dragonstone or the godswood at Storm’s End. If they ask, I must needs tell them. Stannis would not have me lie.
“七神守卫着白港。”里雅夫人声明。“我们不怕你的红色王后或是她的神灵。让她把想用的咒语都用上吧，虔诚的人的祈祷会像盾牌一样为我们抵挡恶魔。”
“The Seven defend White Harbor,” Lady Leona declared. “We do not fear your red queen or her god. Let her send what spells she will. The prayers of godly men will shield us against evil.”
“没错。”威曼伯爵拍了拍里雅夫人的肩膀。“戴佛斯伯爵，如果你还算是个伯爵，我知道你那所谓的国王想从我这儿得到什么。钢剑，金钱和屈膝效忠。”他靠在扶手上转换重心，“泰温公爵被杀死之前，已经完全赦免了白港支持少狼主的行动。他让我交三千金龙的赎金，并且宣誓绝对的忠诚，这样我的儿子就能立刻回到我身边。卢斯·波顿，我们的新任北境守护，让我放弃索要霍伍德大人的土地和城堡，而我其他的封地会原封不动的保留。瓦德·佛雷，他的好父亲，让他的一个女儿做了我妻子，还送给站在我后面的孙女们一人一个丈夫。这些条约对我来说都很慷慨，是公平和长久和平的良好基石。你现在让我抛弃它们，那我要问问你了——洋葱骑士——史坦尼斯大人对于我的忠诚的回报是什么呢？“战争，悲伤，和被烧着的人们的尖叫声，戴佛斯几乎脱口而出。“履行你的责任的机会。”然而他这样回答。这是史坦尼斯会给威曼·曼德勒的回答。一个首相应该用国王的声音来说话。
“Indeed.” Lord Wyman gave Lady Leona a pat on the shoulder. “Lord Davos, if you are a lord, I know what your so-called king would have of me. Steel and silver and a bended knee.” He shifted his weight to lean upon an elbow. “Before he was slain, Lord Tywin offered White Harbor full pardon for our support of the Young Wolf. He promised that my son would be returned to me once I paid a ransom of three thousand dragons and proved my loyalty beyond a doubt. Roose Bolton, who is named our Warden of the North, requires that I give up my claim to Lord Hornwood’s lands and castles but swears my other holdings shall remain untouched. Walder Frey, his good-father, offers one of his daughters to be my wife, and husbands for my son’s daughters here behind me. These terms seem generous to me, a good basis for a fair and lasting peace. You would have me spurn them. So I ask you, Onion Knight—what does Lord Stannis offer me in return for my allegiance?”
威曼伯爵又陷回他的座位里。“责任，我知道了。”
War and woe and the screams of burning men, Davos might have said. “The chance to do your duty,” he replied instead. That was the answer Stannis would have given Wyman Manderly. The Hand should speak with the king’s voice.
“白港没有独立支撑的能力。你对陛下的需要和他对你的需要一样多。你们可以一起打败共同的敌人。”
Lord Wyman sagged back in his chair. “Duty. I see.”
“大人，”玛龙爵士说，镀银的盔甲闪闪发光，“能允许我向戴佛斯大人提几个问题吗？”
“White Harbor is not strong enough to stand alone. You need His Grace as much as he needs you. Together you can defeat your common enemies.”
“当然，表弟。”威曼伯爵闭上了眼睛。
“My lord,” said Ser Marlon, in his ornate silver armor, “will you permit me to ask a few questions of Lord Davos?”
玛龙爵士转向戴佛斯。“已经有多少北方领主向史坦尼斯大人臣服？告诉我们。”
“As you wish, cousin.” Lord Wyman closed his eyes.
“阿尔夫·卡史塔克已经宣誓加入陛下。”
Ser Marlon turned to Davos. “How many northern lords have declared for Stannis? Tell us that.”
“阿尔夫不是真正的领主，只是个城堡主。那么，史坦尼斯大人现在拥有多少城堡？”
“Arnolf Karstark has vowed to join His Grace.”
“陛下占领了长夜堡。在南方，他拥有风息堡和龙石岛。”
“Arnolf is no true lord, only a castellan. What castles does Lord Stannis hold at present, pray?”
席奥默学士清了清嗓子。“只是暂时而已。风息堡和龙石岛已经被攻打得摇摇欲坠了。长夜堡是个闹鬼的废墟，阴森而恐怖。”
“His Grace has taken the Nightfort for his seat. In the south, he holds Storm’s End and Dragonstone.”
玛龙爵士继续说：“史坦尼斯能投入多少兵力来战斗，你能告诉我们吗？有多少骑士和他并肩而行，有多少弓箭手，有多少自由骑手，有多少有武器的战士？”
Maester Theomore cleared his throat. “Only for the nonce. Storm’s End and Dragonstone are lightly held and must soon fall. And the Nightfort is a haunted ruin, a drear and dreadful place.”
太少了，戴佛斯知道。史坦尼斯带着不足一千五百人来了北方……但是如果他告诉他们真相，他的任务就失败了。他笨拙的搜索着词汇，但是一个合适的也没找到。
Ser Marlon went on. “How many men can Stannis put into the field, can you tell us that? How many knights ride with him? How many bowmen, how many freeriders, how many men-at-arms?”
“你的沉默就是我需要的所有答案，爵士。你的国王只给我们带来了敌人。”玛龙爵士转向他的伯爵表哥。“大人问洋葱骑士史坦尼斯会带给我们什么。我代他回答吧。他带给我们失败和死亡。他只会让你骑上一匹空气之马，挥舞一把轻风之剑。”
Too few, Davos knew. Stannis had come north with no more than fifteen hundred men … but if he told them that, his mission here was doomed. He fumbled for words and found none.
胖伯爵慢慢睁开眼睛，像是做这种努力对他来说都很困难似的。“像以往一样，我的表弟一语中的。你还有什么要对我说的吗，洋葱骑士？还是我们就这样结束这场小丑般的闹剧？我对你这张脸已经生厌了。”
“Your silence is all the answer I require, ser. Your king brings us only enemies.” Ser Marlon turned to his lord cousin. “Your lordship asked the onion knight what Stannis offers us. Let me answer. He offers us defeat and death. He would have you mount a horse of air and give battle with a sword of wind.”
戴佛斯感觉被一阵失望击中了。陛下应该派别人来，一个领主或骑士或学士，一个为他说话的时候不会舌头打结的人。 “死亡。”他听见自己说，“是的，那是会带来死亡。伯爵大人在红色婚礼上失去了一个儿子，我在黑水河之战里失去了四个。为什么？因为兰尼斯特偷走了王位。如果你怀疑我，那就去君临，用自己的眼睛看看托曼吧。就是瞎子也能看出来。史坦尼斯能给你什么？复仇。为你我的儿子们复仇，为那些丈夫们，父亲们，兄弟们复仇。为你被谋杀的领主，为你被谋杀的国王，为你被残杀的王子们，复仇！”
The fat lord opened his eyes slowly, as if the effort were almost too much for him. “My cousin cuts to the bone, as ever. Do you have any more to say to me, Onion Knight, or can we put an end to this mummer’s farce? I grow weary of your face.”
“是的！”一个女孩尖细的声音响起，单薄却高亢。
Davos felt a stab of despair. His Grace should have sent another man, a lord or knight or maester, someone who could speak for him without tripping on his own tongue. “Death,” he heard himself say, “there will be death, aye. Your lordship lost a son at the Red Wedding. I lost four upon the Blackwater. And why? Because the Lannisters stole the throne. Go to King’s Landing and look on Tommen with your own eyes, if you doubt me. A blind man could see it. What does Stannis offer you? Vengeance. Vengeance for my sons and yours, for your husbands and your fathers and your brothers. Vengeance for your murdered lord, your murdered king, your butchered princes. Vengeance!”
是那个半大孩子，是那个有金色眉毛和长长的绿色发辫的孩子。“他们杀了艾德大人，凯特琳夫人和罗柏国王，”她说，“他是我们的国王！他既勇敢又善良， 但是佛雷家谋杀了他。如果史坦尼斯大人要替他报仇，我们应当加入史坦尼斯这一边。”
“Yes,” piped a girl’s voice, thin and high.
曼德勒把她拉到身边。“薇拉，每次你张嘴说话的时候，都让我想把你送到静默姐妹那儿去。”
It belonged to the half-grown child with the blond eyebrows and the long green braid. “They killed Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn and King Robb,” she said. “He was our king! He was brave and good, and the Freys murdered him. If Lord Stannis will avenge him, we should join Lord Stannis.”
“我只是说——”
Manderly pulled her close. “Wylla, every time you open your mouth you make me want to send you to the silent sisters.”
“我们听到你说什么了，”年长一些的女孩说到，那是她的姐姐。“孩子的蠢话罢了。不准说我们的朋友佛雷家的坏话。他们中的一位很快就要成为你的主人和夫君了。”
“I only said—”
“不，”女孩宣布，猛力摇着头，“我不会的。我永远也不会的。他们杀了国王！”
“We heard what you said,” said the older girl, her sister. “A child’s foolishness. Speak no ill of our friends of Frey. One of them will be your lord and husband soon.”
威曼伯爵脸红了。“你会的。当预定的日子到来时，你将会念诵结婚的誓词，要不你就去加入静默姐妹，从此不再说话。”
“No,” the girl declared, shaking her head. “I won’t. I won’t ever. They killed the king.”
可怜的女孩看起来被吓坏了。“爷爷，求你……”“安静，孩子。”里雅夫人说。“你听见你的祖父大人怎么说了。住嘴吧！你什么都不懂。”
Lord Wyman flushed. “You will. When the appointed day arrives, you will speak your wedding vows, else you will join the silent sisters and never speak again.”
“我懂得誓言。”女孩坚持道，“席奥默大人，告诉他们！征服者到来之前一千年，我们在狼穴，在新神和旧神面前，立下了一个誓言。当我们被悲惨的围攻的时候，当我们举目无亲的时候，当我们被赶出家园，生命受到严重威胁的时候，是狼家接纳了我们，支持了我们，保护了我们不受敌人侵扰。这座城市，就是在他们赐给我们的土地上建起的。为了报答他们，我们发誓永远忠于他们。忠于史塔克家族！”
The poor girl looked stricken. “Grandfather, please …”
学士摸索着颈上的项链。“我们确实向临冬城的史塔克家立下了庄重的誓言，是的。但是临冬城已经倒了，史塔克家族也已经灭绝。”
“Hush, child,” said Lady Leona. “You heard your lord grandfather. Hush! You know nothing.”
“那是因为他们把人都杀了！”
“I know about the promise,” insisted the girl. “Maester Theomore, tell them! A thousand years before the Conquest, a promise was made, and oaths were sworn in the Wolf’s Den before the old gods and the new. When we were sore beset and friendless, hounded from our homes and in peril of our lives, the wolves took us in and nourished us and protected us against our enemies. The city is built upon the land they gave us. In return we swore that we should always be their men. Stark men!”
另一个佛雷说话了。“威曼大人，我能说两句吗？”
The maester fingered the chain about his neck. “Solemn oaths were sworn to the Starks of Winterfell, aye. But Winterfell has fallen and House Stark has been extinguished.”
威曼·曼德勒对他点点头。“雷加，我们总是乐于听取你高贵的建议。”
“That’s because they killed them all!”
雷加·佛雷对这样的褒奖微微鞠了一躬，表示感谢。他年方三十，或者还不到，拥有滚圆的肩膀和茶壶般突出的肚子，但是他仍然穿了一件紧身衣，柔软的灰色羊毛华丽的镶嵌着银丝。他的斗篷也是银丝织成的，上有松鼠皮的纹路，在领口由一枚孪河城双塔形状的搭扣扣上。“薇拉小姐，”他对绿色发辫的女孩说，“忠诚是一种美德。我希望当你和小瓦德因婚姻的契约结合时，也能如此忠诚。至于史塔克家，只是男性子嗣断绝了。艾德大人的儿子们死了，但是女儿们还活着，而且小女儿正在北上，准备和勇敢的拉姆斯·波顿结婚。”
Another Frey spoke up. “Lord Wyman, if I may?”
“拉姆斯·雪诺，”薇拉曼德勒顶了回去。
Wyman Manderly gave him a nod. “Rhaegar. We are always pleased to hear your noble counsel.”
“随便你怎么叫吧。无论他叫什么，他马上就要和艾莉亚·史塔克成婚了。如果你想遵守你的誓言的话，向他效忠，因为他将要成为你的临冬城公爵。”
Rhaegar Frey acknowledged the compliment with a bow. He was thirty, or nigh unto, round-shouldered and kettle-bellied, but richly dressed in a doublet of soft grey lambswool trimmed in cloth-of-silver. His cloak was cloth-of-silver too, lined with vair and clasped at the collar with a brooch in the shape of the twin towers. “Lady Wylla,” he said to the girl with the green braid, “loyalty is a virtue. I hope you will be as loyal to Little Walder when you are joined in wedlock. As to the Starks, that House is extinguished only in the male line. Lord Eddard’s sons are dead, but his daughters live, and the younger girl is coming north to wed brave Ramsay Bolton.”
“他永远不会成为我的领主！他和霍伍德夫人结婚，然后把她锁在地下室里，逼得她吃掉自己的手指。”
“Ramsay Snow,” Wylla Manderly threw back.
人鱼厅里响起一片轻微的赞同之声。“女孩说的是真的。”一个身材结实的男子说道，他的衣服由白色和紫色组成，披风纽扣是一对交叉的铜钥匙。
“Have it as you will. By any name, he shall soon be wed to Arya Stark. If you would keep faith with your promise, give him your allegiance, for he shall be your Lord of Winterfell.”
“卢斯·波顿冷酷而狡猾，是的。但是人们还是有办法和卢斯相处。我们都见过更坏的情况。但是他这个私生子……他们说他疯狂且残酷，是个怪物。”
“He won’t ever be my lord! He made Lady Hornwood marry him, then shut her in a dungeon and made her eat her fingers.”
“他们说？”雷加·佛雷玩弄着一根银色的胡须，露出讥讽的笑容。“他的敌人说，是的……但是真实情况是少狼主才是怪物。那个家伙更像一头野兽，而不是一个男孩，趾高气昂而冲动血腥。而且他言而无信，这是我的祖父大人从自身的悲惨遭遇体会到的。”他摊开双手。“我不怪罪白港支持过他。我的祖父也犯下过同样悲惨的错误。在少狼主指挥的所有战斗中，白港和孪河城都在他的旗帜下并肩战斗。然而罗柏史塔克背叛了我们所有人。为了沿着三叉戟河开辟出一个属于他自己的王国，他把北境留给了残暴的铁民胡作非为。之后他又抛弃了那些花费了更大代价为他出生入死的河间地诸侯，打破了对我爷爷立下的婚约，和他见到的第一个西境妞儿结了婚。少狼主？他就是一条野狗，而且死得也跟条野狗似的。”
A murmur of assent swept the Merman’s Court. “The maid tells it true,” declared a stocky man in white and purple, whose cloak was fastened with a pair of crossed bronze keys. “Roose Bolton’s cold and cunning, aye, but a man can deal with Roose. We’ve all known worse. But this bastard son of his … they say he’s mad and cruel, a monster.”
人鱼厅变得鸦雀无声。戴佛斯都能感觉到空气中刺骨的寒冷。威曼伯爵向下看着雷加，好像他是一只需要狠踩一脚的大蟑螂……但是忽然的，他猛地点了点头，下巴上的肉都随之抖动起来。“一条狗，是的。他只给我们带来了悲伤和死亡。真是一条野狗。说下去。”
“They say?” Rhaegar Frey sported a silky beard and a sardonic smile. “His enemies say, aye … but it was the Young Wolf who was the monster. More beast than boy, that one, puffed up with pride and bloodlust. And he was faithless, as my lord grandfather learned to his sorrow.” He spread his hands. “I do not fault White Harbor for supporting him. My grandsire made the same grievous mistake. In all the Young Wolf’s battles, White Harbor and the Twins fought side by side beneath his banners. Robb Stark betrayed us all. He abandoned the north to the cruel mercies of the ironmen to carve out a fairer kingdom for himself along the Trident. Then he abandoned the riverlords who had risked much and more for him, breaking his marriage pact with my grandfather to wed the first western wench who caught his eye. The Young Wolf? He was a vile dog and died like one.”
雷加·佛雷接着开口了。“悲伤和死亡，是的……而这位洋葱大人会用他关于复仇的言论带给你更多的悲伤和死亡。睁开眼睛吧，就像我祖父大人一样。五王之战已经结束了。托曼是我们的国王，我们唯一的国王。我们必须帮助他缝合这场悲怆战争的伤口。作为劳勃的亲血肉，雄鹿和金狮的继承人，铁王座应该依法传给他。”
The Merman’s Court had grown still. Davos could feel the chill in the air. Lord Wyman was looking down at Rhaegar as if he were a roach in need of a hard heel … yet then, abruptly, he gave a ponderous nod that set his chins to wobbling. “A dog, aye. He brought us only grief and death. A vile dog indeed. Say on.”
“明智之言，而且货真价实。”威曼·曼德勒伯爵说。
Rhaegar Frey went on. “Grief and death, aye … and this onion lord will bring you more with his talk of vengeance. Open your eyes, as my lord grandsire did. The War of the Five Kings is all but done. Tommen is our king, our only king. We must help him bind up the wounds of this sad war. As Robert’s trueborn son, the heir of stag and lion, the Iron Throne is his by rights.”
“根本不是！”薇拉·曼德勒跺起脚来。
“Wise words, and true,” said Lord Wyman Manderly.
“安静，讨厌的孩子。”里雅夫人责备道。“年轻女孩应该是眼睛的享受，而不是耳边的聒噪。”她抓住女孩的发辫，把尖叫着的孩子拖出大厅。我在这里唯一的朋友走了，戴佛斯想。
“They weren’t.” Wylla Manderly stamped her foot.
“薇拉一直是个任性的孩子，”她的姐姐抱歉的说。“我怕她还会成为一个任性的妻子。”
“Be quiet, wretched child,” scolded Lady Leona. “Young girls should be an ornament to the eye, not an ache in the ear.” She seized the girl by her braid and pulled her squealing from the hall. There went my only friend in this hall, thought Davos.
雷加耸耸肩。“婚姻会把她磨平的，对这一点我毫不怀疑。一只强有力的手，一句简单的话就行。”
“Wylla has always been a willful child,” her sister said, by way of apology. “I fear that she will make a willful wife.”
“如果不行，还有静默姐妹。”威曼伯爵在椅子里动了动。“至于你，洋葱骑士，今天我已经听够了叛国之言了。你我把我的城市置于一个错误的国王和一个错误的神灵的威胁之下。你会令我牺牲唯一幸存的儿子，帮助史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩把他发皱的屁股安置到不属于他的王座上去。我不会这么做的。不会为你这么做。不会为你的大人这么做。也不会为任何人这么做。”
Rhaegar shrugged. “Marriage will soften her, I have no doubt. A firm hand and a quiet word.”
白港伯爵用力起身。这个剧烈的动作让他脖子都红了。“你仍然是一个走私犯，爵士，想来偷走我的金子和血液。你还想要我儿子的脑袋。不过相反的，我觉得我应该要了你的脑袋。守卫！把这个人给我绑了！”
“If not, there are the silent sisters.” Lord Wyman shifted in his seat. “As for you, Onion Knight, I have heard sufficient treason for one day. You would have me risk my city for a false king and a false god. You would have me sacrifice my only living son so Stannis Baratheon can plant his puckered arse upon a throne to which he has no right. I will not do it. Not for you. Not for your lord. Not for any man.” The Lord of White Harbor pushed himself to his feet. The effort brought a red flush to his neck. “You are still a smuggler, ser, come to steal my gold and blood. You would take my son’s head. I think I shall take yours instead. Guards! Seize this man!”
戴佛斯还没反应过来要做任何动作，已经被一圈银色的三叉戟包围。“大人，”他说，“我只是个使节。”
Before Davos could even think to move, he was surrounded by silver tridents. “My lord,” he said, “I am an envoy.”
“是吗？你跟一个走私犯似的偷偷摸摸潜进我的城市。我敢说你根本不是个领主，不是个骑士，不是个使节，只是个小偷和密探，只是一个说谎和谋反的小贩。我应该用滚烫的钳子把你的舌头拔出来，然后把你送到恐怖堡剥皮。但是圣母慈悲，我也一样。”他对玛龙爵士示意。“表弟，把这东西带到狼穴里，脑袋和手都砍了。我希望在晚餐前看到它们。要是我看不到这个走私犯的脑袋插在长枪上，并且牙齿还含着一颗洋葱，我一口晚饭都吃不下去。”
“Are you? You came sneaking into my city like a smuggler. I say you are no lord, no knight, no envoy, only a thief and a spy, a peddler of lies and treasons. I should tear your tongue out with hot pincers and deliver you to the Dreadfort to be flayed. But the Mother is merciful, and so am I.” He beckoned to Ser Marlon. “Cousin, take this creature to the Wolf’s Den and cut off his head and hands. I want them brought to me before I sup. I shall not be able to eat a bite until I see this smuggler’s head upon a spike, with an onion shoved between his lying teeth.”