艾德慕从城堡里骑马出来会她，身旁陪着三位父亲的部属——挺着大肚子的教头戴斯蒙·格瑞尔爵士，总管乌瑟莱斯·韦恩，以及侍卫队长罗宾·莱格爵士，后者是个大光头。他们三人都和霍斯特公爵一般年纪，他们都将自己的一生献给了她父亲。他们都老了，凯特琳意识到。
Edmure rode out from the castle to meet her, surrounded by three of her father’s sworn men—great-bellied Ser Desmond Grell the master-at-arms, Utherydes Wayn the steward, and Ser Robin Ryger, Riverrun’s big bald captain of guards. They were all three of an age with Lord Hoster, men who had spent their lives in her father’s service. Old men, Catelyn realized.
艾德慕披着红蓝披风，外衣上绣着银鱼纹章。从他的面容看来，似乎自她南下后就没修过胡子，火红的胡须长满了下巴。“凯特，你平安归来真是太好了。当我们听说蓝礼死讯时，着实为你的安危担忧。眼下，泰温公爵也开始了行动。”
Edmure wore a blue-and-red cloak over a tunic embroidered with silver fish. From the look of him, he had not shaved since she rode south; his beard was a fiery bush. “Cat, it is good to have you safely back. When we heard of Renly’s death, we feared for your life. And Lord Tywin is on the march as well.”
“我听说了。父亲情况如何？”
“So I am told. How fares our father?”
“时好时坏，反复无常……”他摇摇头。“他在找你。我不知怎么跟他解释。”
“One day he seems stronger, the next …” He shook his head. “He’s asked for you. I did not know what to tell him.”
“我立刻去见他，”她保证。“蓝礼死后，风息堡方面有消息传来吗？苦桥那边呢？”渡鸦难以送信给路上的旅人，而凯特琳急着想知道走后到底发生了什么。
“I will go to him soon,” she vowed. “Has there been word from Storm’s End since Renly died? Or from Bitterbridge?” No ravens came to men on the road, and Catelyn was anxious to know what had happened behind her.
“苦桥那边没有消息。风息堡的代理城主，科塔奈·庞洛斯爵士，倒是一连派了三只鸟过来，全是恳求援助的呼吁。史坦尼斯已从陆地和海洋上把他团团包围。庞洛斯宣称无论哪个国王，只要帮他打破围攻，他就投效于谁。他信里说，他害怕史坦尼斯会对孩子不利。到底是什么孩子，你知道吗？”
“Nothing from Bitterbridge. From Storm’s End, three birds from the castellan, Ser Cortnay Penrose, all carrying the same plea. Stannis has him surrounded by land and sea. He offers his allegiance to whatsoever king will break the siege. He fears for the boy, he says. What boy would that be, do you know?”
“艾德瑞克·风暴，”布蕾妮告诉他们。“劳勃的私生子。”
“Edric Storm,” Brienne told them. “Robert’s bastard son.”
艾德慕好奇地回望她。“史坦尼斯已经担保，只要守备队在两周内献出城堡，并将孩子交到他手中，他就既往不咎，准许他们自由离开。但看来科塔奈爵士不会接受。”
Edmure looked at her curiously. “Stannis has sworn that the garrison might go free, unharmed, provided they yield the castle within the fortnight and deliver the boy into his hands, but Ser Cortnay will not consent.”
为一个并非自身血脉的私生男孩，他竟甘愿做这一切，凯特琳想。“你给他回复了吗？”
He risks all for a baseborn boy whose blood is not even his own, Catelyn thought. “Did you send him an answer?”
艾德慕再次摇头。“怎么给？依目前的情形，我们帮不了他，也给不了他任何希望。再说，史坦尼斯也不是咱们的敌人。”
Edmure shook his head. “Why, when we have neither help nor hope to offer? And Stannis is no enemy of ours.”
罗宾·莱格爵士开口：“夫人，您能否告知蓝礼大人死亡的真相？我们听到各种离奇的谣传。”
Ser Robin Ryger spoke. “My lady, can you tell us the manner of Lord Renly’s death? The tales we’ve heard have been queer.”
“凯特，”弟弟说，“有人说你杀了蓝礼，还有人说下手的是某个南方女人。”他的目光停在布蕾妮身上。
“Cat,” her brother said, “some say you killed Renly. Others claim it was some southron woman.” His glance lingered on Brienne.
“我的国王的确遭到谋杀，”女孩平静地答道，“但并非为凯特琳夫人所害。我以我宝剑之名起誓，请新旧诸神作证。”
“My king was murdered,” the girl said quietly, “and not by Lady Catelyn. I swear it on my sword, by the gods old and new.”
“这位是塔斯的布蕾妮，暮之星塞尔温伯爵的女儿，曾是蓝礼的彩虹护卫之一。”凯特琳告诉他们。“布蕾妮，我很荣幸地向你引见我的弟弟艾德慕·徒利爵士，奔流城的继承人。这位是他的总管乌瑟莱斯·韦恩。这两位分别是罗宾·莱格爵士和戴斯蒙·格瑞尔爵士。”
“This is Brienne of Tarth, the daughter of Lord Selwyn the Evenstar, who served in Renly’s Rainbow Guard,” Catelyn told them. “Brienne, I am honored to acquaint you with my brother Ser Edmure Tully, heir to Riverrun. His steward Utherydes Wayn. Ser Robin Ryger and Ser Desmond Grell.”
“非常荣幸，”戴斯蒙爵士应道，其他人也打了招呼。女孩羞红了脸，这平凡的礼仪也让她困窘不安。如果艾德慕以为她是个奇女子，至少他还有礼貌管住嘴巴。
“Honored,” said Ser Desmond. The others echoed him. The girl flushed, embarrassed even at this commonplace courtesy. If Edmure thought her a curious sort of lady, at least he had the grace not to say so.
“蓝礼身亡之时，布蕾妮正好在他身边，我也一样，”凯特琳续道，“但他的死和我们没有任何关系。”她还不敢谈论影子的事，尤其是在公开场合，许多人在场的情况下，所以她指指城墙上的悬尸。“你们吊死了谁？”
“Brienne was with Renly when he was killed, as was I,” said Catelyn, “but we had no part in his death.” She did not care to speak of the shadow, here in the open with men all around, so she waved a hand at the bodies. “Who are these men you’ve hanged?”
艾德慕抬头，不安地望着那些尸首。“克里奥爵士的随从，他带着太后对我们的答复赶回来。”
Edmure glanced up uncomfortably. “They came with Ser Cleos when he brought the queen’s answer to our peace offer.”
凯特琳无比震惊。“你把使节杀了？”
Catelyn was shocked. “You’ve killed envoys?”
“他们哪是什么使节，”艾德慕声明。“他们保证会遵守和平，同时交出了武器，所以我允许他们在城堡内自由活动。前三个晚上，他们高高兴兴地同我们吃肉喝酒，我还陪那个克里奥爵士畅谈了一番，谁知到第四天夜里，这些人竟去营救弑君者，”他愤愤地说，“那个人高马大的畜生赤手空拳格杀了两个守卫，他用胳膊扣住他们的喉咙，把他们脑袋撞个粉碎。随后他身边那个瘦骨伶仃的小猴子用半截金属线打开兰尼斯特的牢门，诸神诅咒他。那边那个不知打哪儿来的挨千刀的戏子，居然扮出我的声音去命令守卫打开水门。恩格，德普和长人卢三个都发誓是这样。你瞧，我就不信有人的声音能和我一样，只怪这些呆子还是开了闸门。”
“False envoys,” Edmure declared. “They pledged me their peace and surrendered their weapons, so I allowed them freedom of the castle, and for three nights they ate my meat and drank my mead whilst I talked with Ser Cleos. On the fourth night, they tried to free the Kingslayer.” He pointed up. “That big brute killed two guards with naught but those ham hands of his, caught them by the throats and smashed their skulls together while that skinny lad beside him was opening Lannister’s cell with a bit of wire, gods curse him. The one on the end was some sort of damned mummer. He used my own voice to command that the River Gate be opened. The guardsmen swear to it, Enger and Delp and Long Lew, all three. If you ask me, the man sounded nothing like me, and yet the oafs were raising the portcullis all the same.”
这是小恶魔的把戏，凯特琳揣测，早在鹰巢城时他便显出同样的狡黠。她一度以为提利昂是最不构成威胁的一个兰尼斯特，如今可没那么确定。“你怎么抓住他们的？”
This was the Imp’s work, Catelyn suspected; it stank of the same sort of cunning he had displayed at the Eyrie. Once, she would have named Tyrion the least dangerous of the Lannisters. Now she was not so certain. “How is it you caught them?”
“喔，事情发生时，我恰巧不在城里。我去腾石河对面……喔……”
“Ah, as it happened, I was not in the castle. I’d crossed the Tumblestone to, ah …”
“混妓院还是去偷情？继续刚才的故事。”
“You were whoring or wenching. Get on with the tale.”
艾德慕的脸变得跟胡子一般红。“那天我回来得早，天亮前一个小时便从外面赶回。长人卢远远看到我的船，认出我的面容，终于开始怀疑昨晚到底是谁在城下发号施令，便发出警报。”
Edmure’s cheeks flamed as red as his beard. “It was the hour before dawn, and I was only then returning. When Long Lew saw my boat and recognized me, he finally thought to wonder who was standing below barking commands, and raised a cry.”
“告诉我，你没有让弑君者跑掉。”
“Tell me the Kingslayer was retaken.”
“没有，但我们付出了巨大的代价。詹姆有剑，他杀了保罗·彭福德和戴斯蒙爵士的侍从米斯，重伤德普，韦曼师傅说他也活不了几天了。真是血战一场。打斗之中，许多红袍卫士跑来加入战团，有的空手，有的带了武器。我把他们和那四个奸细一起吊死，余人打入地牢。詹姆也被关了进去。我们不会再让他逃掉了，这一次，他被关进黑牢，戴上手铐脚镣，拴在墙上。”
“Yes, though not easily. Jaime got hold of a sword, slew Poul Pemford and Ser Desmond’s squire Myles, and wounded Delp so badly that Maester Vyman fears he’ll soon die as well. It was a bloody mess. At the sound of steel, some of the other red cloaks rushed to join him, barehand or no. I hanged those beside the four who freed him, and threw the rest in the dungeons. Jaime too. We’ll have no more escapes from that one. He’s down in the dark this time, chained hand and foot and bolted to the wall.”
“克里奥·佛雷呢？”
“And Cleos Frey?”
“他发誓一点也不知情。谁知道？他一半是兰尼斯特，一半是佛雷，两者都是骗子。我把他关进詹姆以前在塔里的囚室。”
“He swears he knew naught of the plot. Who can say? The man is half Lannister, half Frey, and all liar. I put him in Jaime’s old tower cell.”
“你不是说他带着和平条件归来吗？”
“You say he brought terms?”
“如果你能称其为‘和平条件’的话。我敢保证，你会和我一样对之深恶痛绝。”
“If you can call them that. You’ll like them no more than I did, I promise.”
“我们不能指望任何来自南方的援助了么，史塔克夫人？”父亲的总管乌瑟莱斯·韦恩问。“关于乱伦的指控……泰温公爵连最微小的侮辱都不会容忍，他一定会寻求用控告者的血来洗清女儿所受的玷污。史坦尼斯公爵应该看得很清楚才对。他别无选择，只能和我们达成协议。”
“Can we hope for no help from the south, Lady Stark?” asked Utherydes Wayn, her father’s steward. “This charge of incest … Lord Tywin does not suffer such slights lightly. He will seek to wash the stain from his daughter’s name with the blood of her accuser, Lord Stannis must see that. He has no choice but to make common cause with us.”
他和一种更强大更黑暗的势力达成了协议。“这个问题我们以后再谈。”她策马跑过吊桥，不再注视那排令人毛骨悚然的尸首。弟弟紧跟在后。他们奔进奔流城的上层庭院，只见四处一片杂乱。一个赤裸身子的男孩跑过前方，凯特琳连忙用力拉缰，以免撞到他。她惊慌地四处打量，成百上千的平民获准躲进城堡，在城墙边搭起陋室暂居。小孩子到处嬉闹，中庭挤满了牛、羊和鸡。“这都是些什么人？”
Stannis has made common cause with a power greater and darker. “Let us speak of these matters later.” Catelyn trotted over the drawbridge, putting the grisly row of dead Lannisters behind her. Her brother kept pace. As they rode out into the bustle of Riverrun’s upper bailey, a naked toddler ran in front of the horses. Catelyn jerked her reins hard to avoid him, glancing about in dismay. Hundreds of smallfolk had been admitted to the castle, and allowed to erect crude shelters against the walls. Their children were everywhere underfoot, and the yard teemed with their cows, sheep, and chickens. “Who are all these folk?”
“他们是我的子民，凯特，”艾德慕回答，“他们很害怕。”
“My people,” Edmure answered. “They were afraid.”
围城在即，只有我这可爱的傻弟弟才会收罗一堆无用的嘴巴。凯特琳知道艾德慕心肠软，有时她甚至觉得他头脑更软。说实话，她喜欢他的正是这点，可眼下……
Only my sweet brother would crowd all these useless mouths into a castle that might soon be under siege. Catelyn knew that Edmure had a soft heart; sometimes she thought his head was even softer. She loved him for it, yet still …
“能否用信鸦联络罗柏？”
“Can Robb be reached by raven?”
“陛下正在野外行军，夫人，”戴斯蒙爵士回答。“鸟儿无法找到他。”
“He’s in the field, my lady,” Ser Desmond replied. “The bird would have no way to find him.”
乌瑟莱斯·韦恩咳嗽一声。“史塔克夫人，年轻的国王陛下启程之前，指示我们等您归来后，即刻送您去孪河城。他请您去预先了解瓦德大人的女儿们，一旦时机成熟，便可为他挑选新娘。”
Utherydes Wayn coughed. “Before he left us, the young king instructed us to send you on to the Twins upon your return, Lady Stark. He asks that you learn more of Lord Walder’s daughters, to help him select his bride when the time comes.”
“我们将为你提供上好的骏马和充足的供应，”弟弟保证。“离开之前，你要好好准——”
“We’ll provide you with fresh mounts and provisions,” her brother promised. “You’ll want to refresh yourself before—”
“我要留下，”凯特琳道，说罢翻身下马。她可不愿丢下奔流城和垂死的父亲，只为了去挑选罗柏未来的妻子。罗柏想保我平安，我不能责怪他，只是他的借口也太俗套。“孩子，”她唤道，一个小顽童从马厩奔出来接过她的缰绳。
“I’ll want to stay,” Catelyn said, dismounting. She had no intention of leaving Riverrun and her dying father to pick Robb’s wife for him. Robb wants me safe, I cannot fault him for that, but his pretext is growing threadbare. “Boy,” she called, and an urchin from the stables ran out to take the reins of her horse.
艾德慕也一跃下马。他比她高了足足一头，但永远是她的小弟弟。“凯特，”他不高兴地说，“泰温公爵正——”
Edmure swung down from his saddle. He was a head taller than she was, but he would always be her little brother. “Cat,” he said unhappily, “Lord Tywin is coming—”
“他正率军西进，前去保卫自己的领地。我们只需紧闭城门，好好地把守城池，应该就能相安无事。”
“He is making for the west, to defend his own lands. If we close our gates and shelter behind the walls, we can watch him pass with safety.”
“这里是徒利的土地，”艾德慕宣布。“泰温·兰尼斯特若想肆无忌惮地穿过去，我就要好好给他上一课。”
“This is Tully land,” Edmure declared. “If Tywin Lannister thinks to cross it unbloodied, I mean to teach him a hard lesson.”
就像你给他儿子上的课？一旦触及自尊，弟弟会变得跟河石一般顽固。他们彼此都清楚上次艾德慕邀战时，他的军队是如何被詹姆爵士撕成了血淋淋的碎片。“在战场上面对泰温公爵，赢，我们得不到什么，输，却要失去一切，”凯特琳改变了策略。
The same lesson you taught his son? Her brother could be stubborn as river rock when his pride was touched, but neither of them was likely to forget how Ser Jaime had cut Edmure’s host to bloody pieces the last time he had offered battle. “We have nothing to gain and everything to lose by meeting Lord Tywin in the field,” Catelyn said tactfully.
“院子不是讨论作战计划的地方。”
“The yard is not the place to discuss my battle plans.”
“对，我们该去哪儿讨论？”
“As you will. Where shall we go?”
弟弟的脸沉了下来。一时间她还以为他控制不住脾气了，不过最后他突然道，“去神木林。如果你坚持要谈的话。”
Her brother’s face darkened. For a moment she thought he was about to lose his temper with her, but finally he snapped, “The godswood. If you will insist.”
她随他走过长廊，来到神木林的入口。艾德慕发火时总是阴沉着脸，闷闷不乐。凯特琳为自己伤害到他感到很抱歉，但如今事态严重，也顾不得他的自尊了。当林木间只剩下姐弟俩，艾德慕回头看她。
She followed him along a gallery to the godswood gate. Edmure’s anger had always been a sulky, sullen thing. Catelyn was sorry she had wounded him, but the matter was too important for her to concern herself with his pride. When they were alone beneath the trees, Edmure turned to face her.
“你没有和泰温大人正面对阵的兵力，”她直率地说。
“You do not have the strength to meet the Lannisters in the field,” she said bluntly.
“我聚集了我家所有的势力，一共八千步兵，三千马队，”艾德慕道。
“When all my strength is marshaled, I should have eight thousand foot and three thousand horse,” Edmure said.
“这意味着泰温大人的军队几乎是你的两倍。”
“Which means Lord Tywin will have near twice your numbers.”
“罗柏在更艰苦的情况下尚能赢得胜利，”艾德慕回答，“而我有周密的计划。你忘了我们还有卢斯·波顿，泰温公爵在绿叉河畔打败了他，却没乘胜追击。现在，当泰温公爵离开赫伦堡后，波顿重新占领了红宝石滩和十字路口。他手中有一万士兵。我已给赫曼·陶哈下令，让他带着罗柏留驻孪河城的部队南下会合——”
“Robb’s won his battles against worse odds,” Edmure replied, “and I have a plan. You’ve forgotten Roose Bolton. Lord Tywin defeated him on the Green Fork, but failed to pursue. When Lord Tywin went to Harrenhal, Bolton took the ruby ford and the crossroads. He has ten thousand men. I’ve sent word to Helman Tallhart to join him with the garrison Robb left at the Twins—”
“艾德慕，罗柏让这些人留守孪河城，确保瓦德大人不生二心。”
“Edmure, Robb left those men to hold the Twins and make certain Lord Walder keeps faith with us.”
“他没有二心，”艾德慕固执地说。“在呓语森林，佛雷家的人英勇奋战，我们还听说，老爵士史提夫伦在牛津战死疆场。莱曼爵士、黑瓦德及其他人随罗柏西征，马丁留在这里，出色地完成斥候任务，而派温爵士又护送你平安地去了蓝礼那边。诸神在上，我们还能要求他们什么？罗柏已和瓦德大人的女儿订了婚，听说卢斯·波顿也娶了一个。对了，你不是还收他两个孙子在临冬城当养子么？”
“He has,” Edmure said stubbornly. “The Freys fought bravely in the Whispering Wood, and old Ser Stevron died at Oxcross, we hear. Ser Ryman and Black Walder and the rest are with Robb in the west, Martyn has been of great service scouting, and Ser Perwyn helped see you safe to Renly. Gods be good, how much more can we ask of them? Robb’s betrothed to one of Lord Walder’s daughters, and Roose Bolton wed another, I hear. And haven’t you taken two of his grandsons to be fostered at Winterfell?”
“必要时，养子就是人质。”她还不知史提夫伦爵士的死讯，也不知波顿的婚事。
“A ward can easily become a hostage, if need be.” She had not known that Ser Stevron was dead, nor of Bolton’s marriage.
“那我们有了两个，这不更保险了？听我说，凯特，波顿需要佛雷的人马，也需要赫曼爵士的人。我已明令他进军夺回赫伦堡。”
“If we’re two hostages to the good, all the more reason Lord Walder dare not play us false. Bolton needs Frey’s men, and Ser Helman’s as well. I’ve commanded him to retake Harrenhal.”
“这任务可不简单。”
“That’s like to be a bloody business.”
“没错，但只要此城陷落，泰温公爵便无处可退。我自己的军队将在红叉河的渡口顽强抗击他的渡河企图。他若打算强渡，下场将和当年三叉戟河畔的雷加一样。他若退回去，则被夹在奔流城和赫伦堡之间进退维谷，只等罗柏回师，我们便能干净彻底地消灭他。”
“Yes, but once the castle falls, Lord Tywin will have no safe retreat. My own levies will defend the fords of Red Fork against his crossing. If he attacks across the river, he’ll end as Rhaegar did when he tried to cross the Trident. If he holds back, he’ll be caught between Riverrun and Harrenhal, and when Robb returns from the west we can finish him for good and all.”
弟弟的声音里有无比的自信，但凯特琳是多么希望罗柏没把布林登叔叔也带走啊。黑鱼一生经历大小数十场战斗，艾德慕只经历过一次，这惟一的一次还是一败涂地。
Her brother’s voice was full of brusque confidence, but Catelyn found herself wishing that Robb had not taken her uncle Brynden west with him. The Blackfish was the veteran of half a hundred battles; Edmure was the veteran of one, and that one lost.
“这是个很棒的计划，”他总结。“泰陀斯大人这么说，杰诺斯大人也这么说。你想想，布莱伍德和布雷肯什么时候就不确定的事达成过一致呢？”
“The plan’s a good one,” he concluded. “Lord Tytos says so, and Lord Jonos as well. When did Blackwood and Bracken agree about anything that was not certain, I ask you?”
“该怎样就怎样吧。”她突然觉得很疲惫。或许她不该反对他，或许这真是个了不起的计划，而她怀有的不过是妇人之虑。她只希望奈德能在这里，或是布林登叔叔，或是……“你问过父亲的意见吗？”
“Be that as it may.” She was suddenly weary. Perhaps she was wrong to oppose him. Perhaps it was a splendid plan, and her misgivings only a woman’s fears. She wished Ned were here, or her uncle Brynden, or … “Have you asked Father about this?”
“父亲现在的情形，怎能操劳这些战略问题？两天之前，他还计划让你嫁给布兰登·史塔克呢！你不信就自己去瞧瞧。这计划会奏效的，凯特，你等着瞧。”
“Father is in no state to weigh strategies. Two days ago he was making plans for your marriage to Brandon Stark! Go see him yourself if you do not believe me. This plan will work, Cat, you’ll see.”
“我希望如此，艾德慕。我真心希望。”她吻了弟弟，让他了解她的心意，接着便去找父亲。
“I hope so, Edmure. I truly do.” She kissed him on the cheek, to let him know she meant it, and went to find her father.
霍斯特·徒利公爵和她离他南下那天没什么差别——卧病在床，形容枯槁，皮肤苍白粘湿。屋里充满疾病的味道，这股气息混合着病人的尿汗和药品的气味，令人作呕。她拉开床幔，父亲发出一声低吟，颤抖着张开眼睛。他久久凝视她，仿佛弄不懂她是谁，或是怀疑她要干什么。
Lord Hoster Tully was much as she had left him—abed, haggard, flesh pale and clammy. The room smelled of sickness, a cloying odor made up in equal parts of stale sweat and medicine. When she pulled back the drapes, her father gave a low moan, and his eyes fluttered open. He stared at her as if he could not comprehend who she was or what she wanted.
“爸爸。”她亲吻他，“我回来了。”
“Father.” She kissed him. “I am returned.”
他似乎记起她来。“你走了啊，”他喃喃地说，嘴唇几乎不能移动。
He seemed to know her then. “You’ve come,” he whispered faintly, lips barely moving.
“是的，”她说。“罗柏派我去了南方，不过我很快便回来了。”
“Yes,” she said. “Robb sent me south, but I hurried back.”
“南方……哪儿……是南方的鹰巢城吧，亲爱的？我记不得了……噢，我的心肝宝贝，我害怕……你原谅我了吗，孩子？”老人的泪水静静地从脸颊滑落。
“South … where … is the Eyrie south, sweetling? I don’t recall … oh, dear heart, I was afraid … have you forgiven me, child?” Tears ran down his cheeks.
“你没做什么需要我原谅的事，爸爸。”她把他软塌的白发向后一拢，抚摸他的额头。不管学士用了多少药，他体内仍有高热燃烧。
“You’ve done nothing that needs forgiveness, Father.” She stroked his limp white hair and felt his brow. The fever still burned him from within, despite all the maester’s potions.
“这安排再好不过，”父亲低语。“琼恩是个好人，好人……强壮，善良……照顾你……他会好好照顾……况且他出生高贵，听我说，你一定要去，我是你的父亲……你的父亲……你要和凯特一起结婚，是的，你要和……”
“It was best,” her father whispered. “Jon’s a good man, good … strong, kind … take care of you … he will … and well born, listen to me, you must, I’m your father … your father … you’ll wed when Cat does, yes you will …”
他以为我是莱莎，凯特琳意识到。诸神慈悲，他说起话来当我俩都还没结婚。
He thinks I’m Lysa, Catelyn realized. Gods be good, he talks as if we were not married yet.
父亲用双手紧紧攥住她的手，颤抖的手掌活像一对受惊的白鸽。“那小子……无耻之徒……不准再提那个名字，你的责任……你的母亲，她若在世……”一阵疼痛的痉挛突然穿透全身，霍斯特大人不禁叫喊起来。“噢，诸神饶恕我吧，饶恕我，饶恕我。我的药……”
Her father’s hands clutched at hers, fluttering like two frightened white birds. “That stripling … wretched boy … not speak that name to me, your duty … your mother, she would …” Lord Hoster cried as a spasm of pain washed over him. “Oh, gods forgive me, forgive me, forgive me. My medicine …”
韦曼师傅当下便闪进门内，端着杯子给他灌药。霍斯特公爵像个吃奶的婴儿一般急切地吮吸稠白的饮料。宁静终于回到他的身躯。“他马上就会睡着了，夫人，”药杯喝干之后，学士对她说。残存的罂粟奶汁在父亲唇边围成又黏又白的圆圈，韦曼师傅用衣袖替他擦拭。
And then Maester Vyman was there, holding a cup to his lips. Lord Hoster sucked at the thick white potion as eager as a babe at the breast, and Catelyn could see peace settle over him once more. “He’ll sleep now, my lady,” the maester said when the cup was empty. The milk of the poppy had left a thick white film around her father’s mouth. Maester Vyman wiped it away with a sleeve.
凯特琳看不下去了。霍斯特·徒利曾是个多么坚强而骄傲的人，如今变成这副模样，真让她心中隐隐作痛。她走出去，站在阳台上。下方的庭院挤满难民，人来人往，十分嘈杂；但城墙之外，大河悠悠，纯粹不染，亘古长流。这是他的大河，再过不久，它们将送他踏上最后一段旅程，领他回归于它们之中。
Catelyn could watch no more. Hoster Tully had been a strong man, and proud. It hurt her to see him reduced to this. She went out to the terrace. The yard below was crowded with refugees and chaotic with their noises, but beyond the walls the rivers flowed clean and pure and endless. Those are his rivers, and soon he will return to them for his last voyage.
韦曼学士随她出来。“夫人，”他轻柔地说，“我已尽了全力，但只怕他撑不了多久。派信使通知他弟弟吧，叫布林登爵士回来。”
Maester Vyman had followed her out. “My lady,” he said softly, “I cannot keep the end at bay much longer. We ought send a rider after his brother. Ser Brynden would wish to be here.”
“好的，”凯特琳说，声音因悲伤而粗浊。
“Yes,” Catelyn said, her voice thick with her grief.
“是不是把莱莎夫人也请来？”
“And the Lady Lysa as well, perhaps?”
“莱莎不会来。”
“Lysa will not come.”
“如果您给她写封亲笔信，也许……”
“If you wrote her yourself, perhaps …”
“唉，你认为有效，我就写吧。”她不禁揣测莱莎的那个“无耻小子”到底是谁。大概是某个年轻侍从或雇佣骑士……不过从父亲这么激烈的反应看来，也许只是个商人之子或低贱的学徒一类，甚至是个歌手。莱莎最喜欢歌手。我不想责怪她，不管琼恩·艾林有多高贵，毕竟他比父亲都还整整大出二十岁。
“I will put some words to paper, if that please you.” She wondered who Lysa’s “wretched stripling” had been. Some young squire or hedge knight, like as not … though by the vehemence with which Lord Hoster had opposed him, he might have been a tradesman’s son or baseborn apprentice, even a singer. Lysa had always been too fond of singers. I must not blame her. Jon Arryn was twenty years older than our father, however noble.
弟弟把她与莱莎在少女时代同居的塔楼清扫出来给她住。想到能再睡上那张羽毛床，这感觉实在是太好了。壁炉必定早早燃起温暖的火焰，躺上那床，整个世界便不再黯淡。
The tower her brother had set aside for her use was the very same that she and Lysa had shared as maids. It would feel good to sleep on a featherbed again, with a warm fire in the hearth; when she was rested the world would seem less bleak.
然而在卧室门口等她的却是乌瑟莱斯·韦恩，在他身边还有两个灰衣女人，面容藏在兜帽之内，只露出两只眼睛。凯特琳当下便明白过来。“奈德？”
But outside her chambers she found Utherydes Wayn waiting with two women clad in grey, their faces cowled save for their eyes. Catelyn knew at once why they were here. “Ned?”
静默修女们垂下目光。乌瑟莱斯道，“克里奥爵士把他从君临带回来了，夫人。”
The sisters lowered their gaze. Utherydes said, “Ser Cleos brought him from King’s Landing, my lady.”
“带我去见他，”她命令。
“Take me to him,” she commanded.
他们让他躺在一张搁板桌上，用一面旗帜覆盖他的身躯，那是史塔克家族的白底灰色冰原奔狼旗。“我想看看他，”凯特林说。
They had laid him out on a trestle table and covered him with a banner, the white banner of House Stark with its grey direwolf sigil. “I would look on him,” Catelyn said.
“只有骨骼存留了，夫人。”
“Only the bones remain, my lady.”
“我想看看他，”她重复。
“I would look on him,” she repeated.
一名静默修女掀开旗帜。
One of the silent sisters turned down the banner.
骨骼，凯特琳想，这不是奈德，这不是她深爱的男人，不是她孩子的父亲。他的双手在胸前交握，枯骨的指头扣着一柄长剑，然而那并非奈德的手，那双无比强壮充满生机的手。他们给骨骼穿上奈德的衣服，做工精细的白天鹅绒外套，在心脏部位绣着冰原狼纹章，然而衣料之下却没有丝毫温暖的血肉，她枕着度过多少夜晚的血肉和胳膊啊。头颅用上好的银线缝在躯体上，但所有的头骨看起来都一样，从空洞的深窝里，她找不到丈夫深灰眼眸的一丝片影，那双眼眸像薄雾一般轻柔同磐石一样坚强。他们让乌鸦吃掉了他的眼睛，她知道。
Bones, Catelyn thought. This is not Ned, this is not the man I loved, the father of my children. His hands were clasped together over his chest, skeletal fingers curled about the hilt of some longsword, but they were not Ned’s hands, so strong and full of life. They had dressed the bones in Ned’s surcoat, the fine white velvet with the direwolf badge over the heart, but nothing remained of the warm flesh that had pillowed her head so many nights, the arms that had held her. The head had been rejoined to the body with fine silver wire, but one skull looks much like another, and in those empty hollows she found no trace of her lord’s dark grey eyes, eyes that could be soft as a fog or hard as stone. They gave his eyes to crows, she remembered.
凯特琳转身。“这不是他的剑。”
Catelyn turned away. “That is not his sword.”
“‘寒冰’尚未归还，夫人，”乌瑟莱斯道，“只有艾德大人的遗骨回了家。”
“Ice was not returned to us, my lady,” Utherydes said. “Only Lord Eddard’s bones.”
“即使这样，我还是该答谢太后。”
“I suppose I must thank the queen for even that much.”
“答谢小恶魔吧，夫人。这是他的命令。”
“Thank the Imp, my lady. It was his doing.”
总有一天我要好好答谢他们所有人。“我很感激你们所做的一切，姐妹们。”凯特琳说，“然而我不得不托付你们另一项任务。艾德公爵是史塔克家族的人，他的遗骨应当安息在临冬城下。”将来他们会为他造好雕像，一尊和他容颜相仿的石头静坐在黑暗之中，脚边靠着冰原狼，膝上放有宝剑。“务必为姐妹们准备脚力上好的马，提供路途所需的一切事物，”她告诉乌瑟莱斯·韦恩。“此去临冬城，由哈尔·莫兰负责护送，身为临冬城侍卫队长，这是他的职责。”她回头凝望那堆骨骼，那是她的夫君和挚爱仅存的一切。“现在走吧，都走吧。今晚我要好好陪陪奈德。”
One day I will thank them all. “I am grateful for your service, sisters,” Catelyn said, “but I must lay another task upon you. Lord Eddard was a Stark, and his bones must be laid to rest beneath Winterfell.” They will make a statue of him, a stone likeness that will sit in the dark with a direwolf at his feet and a sword across his knees. “Make certain the sisters have fresh horses, and aught else they need for the journey,” she told Utherydes Wayn. “Hal Mollen will escort them back to Winterfell, it is his place as captain of guards.” She gazed down at the bones that were all that remained of her lord and love. “Now leave me, all of you. I would be alone with Ned tonight.”
灰衣女人朝她鞠躬敬礼。据说，静默姐妹们从不和活人交谈，凯特琳迟钝地忆起，她们只与死者对话。现在，她好嫉妒啊……
The women in grey bowed their heads. The silent sisters do not speak to the living, Catelyn remembered dully, but some say they can talk to the dead. And how she envied that …