CATELYN
凯特琳
We will make King’s Landing within thehour.”
“一个小时之内，咱们便到君临啦！”
Catelyn turned away from the rail and forcedherself to smile. “Your oarmen have done well by us, Captain. Each one of themshall have a silver stag, as a token of my gratitude.”
凯特琳从桅栏处转过头，强作欢颜道：“船长先生，您的水手表现得非常称职，我要给他们每人一枚银鹿，以表达我的感激。”
Captain Moreo Turnitis favored her with ahalf bow. “You are far too generous, Lady Stark. The honor of carrying a greatlady like yourself is all the reward they need.”
莫里欧·图密提斯船长半鞠躬答谢道：“史塔克夫人，您实在是太慷慨了。有幸为您这样的官家夫人服务，就是最好的报酬。”
“But they’ll take the silver anyway.”
“我总是要给他们的。”
Moreo smiled. “As you say.” He spoke theCommon Tongue fluently, with only the slightest hint of a Tyroshi accent. He’dbeen plying the narrow sea for thirty years, he’d told her, as oarman,quartermaster, and finally captain of his own trading galleys. The Storm Dancerwas his fourth ship, and his fastest, a two-masted galley of sixty oars.
莫里欧微笑：“那就恭敬不如从命。”他的通用语讲得十分流利，只带极轻微的泰洛西口音。他在狭海上讨生活已足足有三十年，据他所说，他最初只是个划桨的水手，继而当上大副，最后才终于有了自己的商船队。双桅帆船“暴风舞者号”是他的第四艘船，共有六十条桨、两根桅杆，也是他最快的一艘。
She had certainly been the fastest of theships available in White Harbor when Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel had arrivedafter their headlong gallop downriver. The Tyroshi were notorious for theiravarice, and Ser Rodrik had argued for hiring a fishing sloop out of the ThreeSisters, but Catelyn had insisted on the galley. It was good that she had. Thewinds had been against them much of the voyage, and without the galley’s oarsthey’d still be beating their way past the Fingers, instead of skimming towardKing’s Landing and journey’s end.
至少当凯特琳和罗德利克·凯索爵士马不停蹄地顺流奔波，抵达白港的时候，她是港湾里最快的一艘。泰洛西人的贪婪恶名远播，罗德利克爵士原本主张雇艘无桨单桅渔船出三姐妹群岛，然而凯特琳坚持要这艘大帆船。这是个明智的选择。一路上，风向都与他们作对，倘若没有这些划桨好手，恐怕他们现在还在五指半岛挣扎，遑论驶向旅程的终点君临了。
So close, she thought. Beneath the linenbandages, her fingers still throbbed where the dagger had bitten. The pain washer scourge, Catelyn felt, lest she forget. She could not bend the last twofingers on her left hand, and the others would never again be dexterous. Yetthat was a small enough price to pay for Bran’s life.
就快到了啊，她心想。包扎在棉布绷带中的手指上，被匕首割伤的地方仍在隐隐作痛，凯特琳觉得，痛楚是在提醒她别忘记发生过的事。她左手的小指和无名指没法弯曲，而其他三根手指也永远不可能恢复灵活动作。然而，若能换得布兰性命，这算得了什么？
Ser Rodrik chose that moment to appear ondeck. “My good friend,” said Moreo through his forked green beard. The Tyroshiloved bright colors, even in their facial hair. “It is so fine to see youlooking better.”
这时罗德利克爵士走上甲板。“我的好朋友啊，”一脸分岔绿胡子的莫里欧说。泰洛西人热爱各种鲜明色彩，连他们的胡须睫毛都不放过。“看到你气色好多了，真替你高兴。”
“Yes,” Ser Rodrik agreed. “I haven’t wantedto die for almost two days now.” He bowed to Catelyn. “My lady.”
“哦，”罗德利克附和。“这两天我的确舒服了点，不会那么想寻短见了。”说完他向凯特琳鞠躬。“夫人您好。”
He was looking better. A shade thinner thanhe had been when they set out from White Harbor, but almost himself again. Thestrong winds in the Bite and the roughness of the narrow sea had not agreedwith him, and he’d almost gone over the side when the storm seized themunexpectedly off Dragonstone, yet somehow he had clung to a rope until three ofMoreo’s men could rescue him and carry him safely below decks.
他的气色真的好多了，虽然比起他们自白港启程时，整个人瘦了一小圈，但差不多恢复了原有的神采。他适应不了咬人湾的劲风和狭海的猛浪，行经龙石岛时暴风骤临，他还差点落海，总算是死命抓住一根缆绳，三名莫里欧手下的水手才把他安然救回船舱。
“The captain was just telling me that ourvoyage is almost at an end,” she said.
“船长刚才说，我们的旅程快结束了。”她说。
Ser Rodrik managed a wry smile. “So soon?”He looked odd without his great white side whiskers; smaller somehow, lessfierce, and ten years older. Yet back on the Bite it had seemed prudent tosubmit to a crewman’s razor, after his whiskers had become hopelessly befouledfor the third time while he leaned over the rail and retched into the swirlingwinds.
罗德利克爵士勉强挤出一丝笑容。“这么快？”少了雪白的鬓角和胡须，他看起来有些不对劲，仿佛突然间老了十岁，个头变小，往日的威猛也不复见。这是没办法的事，途经啮咬湾时，他趴在桅栏边朝狂风中吐个不休，到得第三次，胡子已经脏得无可救药，只好乖乖让水手用剃刀把胡子理干净。
“I will leave you to discuss your business,”Captain Moreo said. He bowed and took his leave of them.
“你们谈正事，我不打扰了。”莫里欧说完鞠躬离去。
The galley skimmed the water like adragonfly, her oars rising and falling in perfect time. Ser Rodrik held therail and looked out over the passing shore. “I have not been the most valiantof protectors.”
帆船像蜻蜓般在水面漂浮，桨叶整齐划一地起起落落。罗德利克爵士拉住栏杆，朝飞驰的陆地远眺。“我实在不是个称职的护卫。”
Catelyn touched his arm. “We are here, SerRodrik, and safely. That is all that truly matters.” Her hand groped beneathher cloak, her fingers stiff and fumbling. The dagger was still at her side.She found she had to touch it now and then, to reassure herself. “Now we mustreach the king’s master-at-arms, and pray that he can be trusted.”
凯特琳拍拍他的臂膀，“罗德利克爵士，我们安然抵达了目的地，这样就够了。”她的另一只手在斗篷底下摸索，指头僵硬而笨拙。匕首依然在腰际，她发现自己必须不时碰触它才能安心。“接下来我们便去找国王的教头，诸神保佑，希望他值得信赖。”
“Ser Aron Santagar is a vain man, but anhonest one.” Ser Rodrik’s hand went to his face to stroke his whiskers anddiscovered once again that they were gone. He looked nonplussed. “He may knowthe blade, yes?.?.?.?but, my lady, the moment we go ashore we are at risk. Andthere are those at court who will know you on sight.”
“艾伦·桑塔加爵士人虽然虚荣了点，却非常正直。”罗德利克爵士伸手欲捻胡须，却扑了个空。他有些不知所措地说：“他很可能认得出那把刀……。可是夫人，上岸之后，我们便有暴露身份的危险，更何况宫中有人一眼就可认出您。”
Catelyn’s mouth grew tight. “Littlefinger,”she murmured. His face swam up before her; a boy’s face, though he was a boy nolonger. His father had died several years before, so he was Lord Baelish now,yet still they called him Littlefinger. Her brother Edmure had given him thatname, long ago at Riverrun. His family’s modest holdings were on the smallestof the Fingers, and Petyr had been slight and short for his age.
凯特琳抿紧嘴唇。“小指头，”她喃喃道。他的脸浮现在她眼前，一张男孩子的脸，然而他早已不是个孩子了。他的父亲几年前刚过世，如今他是贝里席伯爵，但大家仍唤他作小指头。这绰号是她弟弟艾德慕很久以前在奔流城帮他取的，起因是他家族封地狭小，且位于五指半岛中最小的半岛上，而培提尔在同龄孩子间又特别瘦小的缘故。
Ser Rodrik cleared his throat. “Lord Baelishonce, ah?.?.?.?” His thought trailed off uncertainly in search of the politeword.
罗德利克爵士清清喉咙。“贝里席大人以前是，呃……”他结结巴巴，试图找出比较礼貌的用词。
Catelyn was past delicacy. “He was myfather’s ward. We grew up together in Riverrun. I thought of him as a brother,but his feelings for me were?.?.?.?more than brotherly. When it was announcedthat I was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged for the right to my hand. Itwas madness. Brandon was twenty, Petyr scarcely fifteen. I had to beg Brandonto spare Petyr’s life. He let him off with a scar. Afterward my father sent himaway. I have not seen him since.” She lifted her face to the spray, as if thebrisk wind could blow the memories away. “He wrote to me at Riverrun afterBrandon was killed, but I burned the letter unread. By then I knew that Nedwould marry me in his brother’s place.”
凯特琳顾不得什么称谓。“他是我父亲的养子，我们在奔流城一起长大。我视他为兄弟，但他却……不只把我当成姐妹。当我和布兰登·史塔克将要成亲的消息宣布时，他要求决斗，胜者才能娶我为妻。那根本就是疯狂之举，布兰登当时已经二十岁，培提尔才不过十五。我求布兰登放他一马，结果他只在他身上留了个疤。事后我父亲把他送走，我至今没和他再见面。”她抬脸面向浪花，仿佛轻快的海风可以吹走回忆。“布兰登死后，他寄信到奔流城给我，但我没拆就通通烧掉。因为那时候，我已经知道奈德会代替他哥哥娶我为妻。”
Ser Rodrik’s fingers fumbled once again fornonexistent whiskers. “Littlefinger sits on the small council now.”
罗德利克爵士伸手想摸胡子，又扑了个空。“小指头如今是御前会议的成员。”
“I knew he would rise high,” Catelyn said.“He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever andanother to be wise. I wonder what the years have done to him.”
“我早知道他会大有发展。”凯特琳说，“他打小就很机灵。可机灵和睿智是两回事，真不知道这些年他有多大改变。”
High overhead, the far-eyes sang out fromthe rigging. Captain Moreo came scrambling across the deck, giving orders, andall around them the Storm Dancer burst into frenetic activity as King’s Landingslid into view atop its three high hills.
头顶的瞭望员从绳索上高声呼喝，莫里欧船长在甲板上来回走动下达命令，随着位于三座丘陵之上的都城君临映入眼帘，整个“暴风舞者号”立刻陷入一片忙乱的活动中。
Three hundred years ago, Catelyn knew, thoseheights had been covered with forest, and only a handful of fisherfolk hadlived on the north shore of the Blackwater Rush where that deep, swift riverflowed into the sea. Then Aegon the Conqueror had sailed from Dragonstone. Itwas here that his army had put ashore, and there on the highest hill that hebuilt his first crude redoubt of wood and earth.
凯特琳知道三百年前这片高地完全被森林覆盖，只有零星的渔夫在水流湍急、深涌入海的黑水河北岸定居。后来征服者伊耿自龙石岛渡海而来，他的军队便是在此处登陆，随后他在最高的丘陵顶端用木材和泥土筑起了他第一座粗糙的防御堡垒。
Now the city covered the shore as far asCatelyn could see; manses and arbors and granaries, brick storehouses andtimbered inns and merchant’s stalls, taverns and graveyards and brothels, allpiled one on another. She could hear the clamor of the fish market even at thisdistance. Between the buildings were broad roads lined with trees, wanderingcrookback streets, and alleys so narrow that two men could not walk abreast.Visenya’s hill was crowned by the Great Sept of Baelor with its seven crystaltowers. Across the city on the hill of Rhaenys stood the blackened walls of theDragonpit, its huge dome collapsing into ruin, its bronze doors closed now fora century. The Street of the Sisters ran between them, straight as an arrow.The city walls rose in the distance, high and strong.
而今凯特琳视线所及，皆已成为繁华城区，豪宅、凉亭、谷仓、砖砌仓库、木屋旅店和市集摊位，酒馆、墓园和妓院，一座接着一座。即使距离尚远，她仍可听见渔市里的喧闹。宽阔的林荫大道，蜿蜒的曲折小街，还有窄得无法容纳两人并肩通行的巷弄穿梭在建筑物之间。圣贝勒大教堂的大理石墙环绕着维桑尼亚丘陵顶，七座水晶塔楼耸立其中。彼端的雷妮丝丘陵上，坐落着龙穴焦黑的残垣断壁，倒塌的巨大圆顶废墟，紧闭一世纪之久的青铜大门。两丘之间，静默姐妹街笔直如箭，坚实的围城高墙则环绕在外。
A hundred quays lined the waterfront, andthe harbor was crowded with ships. Deepwater fishing boats and river runnerscame and went, ferrymen poled back and forth across the Blackwater Rush,trading galleys unloaded goods from Braavos and Pentos and Lys. Catelyn spiedthe queen’s ornate barge, tied up beside a fat-bellied whaler from the Port ofIbben, its hull black with tar, while upriver a dozen lean golden warshipsrested in their cribs, sails furled and cruel iron rams lapping at the water.
百余座码头罗列水滨，港口里停泊着无数船只。深水渔船和河流渡筏络绎不绝，船夫撑篙往来于黑水湾，商船则源源不断卸下来自布拉佛斯、潘托斯和里斯的货物。凯特琳瞥见王后装饰华丽的游艇，停泊在一艘吃水颇深、船身涂满黑色焦油、从伊班港来的捕鲸船旁边。上游处有十来艘狭长的黄金战船，船帆卷起，铁制撞锤轻轻拍打水面。
And above it all, frowning down from Aegon’shigh hill, was the Red Keep; seven huge drum-towers crowned with iron ramparts,an immense grim barbican, vaulted halls and covered bridges, barracks anddungeons and granaries, massive curtain walls studded with archers’ nests, allfashioned of pale red stone. Aegon the Conqueror had commanded it built. Hisson Maegor the Cruel had seen it completed. Afterward he had taken the heads ofevery stonemason, woodworker, and builder who had labored on it. Only the bloodof the dragon would ever know the secrets of the fortress the Dragonlords hadbuilt, he vowed.
睥睨这一切的是伊耿丘陵上的红堡。它包括七栋加固钢铁工事的巨大鼓塔，一座硕大无比而冷酷的堡楼，圆顶大厅与密闭桥梁、军营、地牢和谷仓，以及开满箭口的厚重护墙，全是浅红色石头砌成。征服者伊耿当年下令建造这座城堡，他的儿子“残酷梅葛”将之完成。竣工以后，他将每位参与筑城的石匠、木工和建筑师全部斩首，誓言惟有真龙传人方能掌握龙王堡垒的秘密。
Yet now the banners that flew from itsbattlements were golden, not black, and where the three-headed dragon had oncebreathed fire, now pranced the crowned stag of House Baratheon.
不想如今，飘扬在城墙上的旗帜却是金黄而非墨黑，三头龙曾经怒吐烈焰的地方，成了拜拉席恩家族的宝冠雄鹿奔驰昂扬的疆域。
A high-masted swan ship from the SummerIsles was beating out from port, its white sails huge with wind. The StormDancer moved past it, pulling steadily for shore.
一艘来自盛夏群岛的高桅天鹅船，正乘风张满白帆，驶离港口。暴风舞者号从她身边驶过，稳稳地准备靠岸。
“My lady,” Ser Rodrik said, “I have thoughton how best to proceed while I lay abed. You must not enter the castle. I willgo in your stead and bring Ser Aron to you in some safe place.”
“夫人，”罗德利克爵士说，“我趁躺在床上休养这段时间，仔细考虑过下一步该如何行动。首先，您绝对不能进城，由我一个人去把艾伦带到安全的地方见您就好。”
She studied the old knight as the galleydrew near to a pier. Moreo was shouting in the vulgar Valyrian of the FreeCities. “You would be as much at risk as I would.”
帆船驶近码头，她仔细端详着老骑士。莫里欧正用自由贸易城邦粗野的瓦雷利亚方言大声喝令。“你冒的风险不比我少。”
Ser Rodrik smiled. “I think not. I looked atmy reflection in the water earlier and scarcely recognized myself. My motherwas the last person to see me without whiskers, and she is forty years dead. Ibelieve I am safe enough, my lady.”
罗德利克爵士微笑道：“我看不然。早些时候我朝水里的倒影瞧了瞧，差点认不出自己。我母亲是这世上最后一个见过我没留胡子模样的人，而她已经过世了四十年。夫人，我相信我一定安全。”
Moreo bellowed a command. As one, sixty oarslifted from the river, then reversed and backed water. The galley slowed.Another shout. The oars slid back inside the hull. As they thumped against thedock, Tyroshi seamen leapt down to tie up. Moreo came bustling up, all smiles.“King’s Landing, my lady, as you did command, and never has a ship made a swifteror surer passage. Will you be needing assistance to carry your things to thecastle?”
莫里欧大声吆喝，六十支桨整齐划一地自水中拉起，然后朝反方向划去。船速减缓，又是一声大喝，桨叶便都缩回船壳里面。船靠码头之后，泰洛西水手立即跳下船拴住缆绳。莫里欧满脸堆笑地跑过来。“夫人，照您吩咐，咱们抵达君临了，我敢打赌从没有一艘船能这么迅速、这么平顺地抵达目标。您可需要派人帮忙把行李搬去城堡？”
“We shall not be going to the castle.Perhaps you can suggest an inn, someplace clean and comfortable and not too farfrom the river.”
“我们不去城堡，你倒是可以推荐几家干净舒适的旅馆，离河不要太远。”
The Tyroshi fingered his forked green beard.“Just so. I know of several establishments that might suit your needs. Yetfirst, if I may be so bold, there is the matter of the second half of thepayment we agreed upon. And of course the extra silver you were so kind as topromise. Sixty stags, I believe it was.”
泰洛西船长捻捻绿色的八字胡，“那敢情好，我倒是知道几个符合您要求的店家。不过首先嘛，恕我无礼，咱们约定的旅费还剩一半没付清呢。还有您慷慨答应的额外小费，如果我没记错的话，好像是六十枚银币。”
“For the oarmen,” Catelyn reminded him.
“那是给船员的。”凯特琳提醒他。
“Oh, of a certainty,” said Moreo. “Thoughperhaps I should hold it for them until we return to Tyrosh. For the sake oftheir wives and children. If you give them the silver here, my lady, they willdice it away or spend it all for a night’s pleasure.”
“噢，那当然，”莫里欧道，“不过还是我先帮他们保管，等咱们回到泰洛西再分配好了。这可是为他们妻小着想啊，想想看，若是现在就给他们，夫人，他们肯定会赌个精光或拿去买一夜之欢呀。”
“There are worse things to spend money on,”Ser Rodrik put in. “Winter is coming.”
“花花钱也无可厚非，”罗德利克爵士插话，“因为凛冬将至。”
“A man must make his own choices,” Catelynsaid. “They earned the silver. How they spend it is no concern of mine.”
“人应该为自己的行为负责。”凯特琳说，“这是他们辛苦挣来的血汗钱，怎么花我无足置喙。”
“As you say, my lady,” Moreo replied, bowingand smiling.
“那就照您吩咐，夫人。”莫里欧一边打躬作揖一边笑着回答。
Just to be sure, Catelyn paid the oarmenherself, a stag to each man, and a copper to the two men who carried theirchests halfway up Visenya’s hill to the inn that Moreo had suggested. It was arambling old place on Eel Alley. The woman who owned it was a sour crone with awandering eye who looked them over suspiciously and bit the coin that Catelynoffered her to make sure it was real. Her rooms were large and airy, though,and Moreo swore that her fish stew was the most savory in all the SevenKingdoms. Best of all, she had no interest in their names.
为以防万一，凯特琳把钱当面赏给水手，每人一枚银鹿，至于帮她搬行李的两位海员，则额外多加了两个铜币。他们把东西搬到莫里欧推荐的旅馆，位于维桑尼亚丘陵半腰，据说是鳗鱼巷里的老字号。老板娘是个坏脾气的老妇，先是满腹狐疑地上下打量他们俩，又把凯特琳付的钱币用牙齿咬了又咬，大概在审是不是真的。虽然如此，房间倒是挺宽敞，通风也好，而且莫里欧说她煮的鱼汤七国上下无人能及。最棒的是，她完全不过问客人的名姓。
“I think it best if you stay away from thecommon room,” Ser Rodrik said, after they had settled in. “Even in a place likethis, one never knows who may be watching.” He wore ringmail, dagger, andlongsword under a dark cloak with a hood he could pull up over his head. “Iwill be back before nightfall, with Ser Aron,” he promised. “Rest now, mylady.”
“我想您最好别待在大厅里，”安顿妥当之后，罗德利克爵士说，“即便在这种地方，还是小心为妙。”他穿了环甲，配上匕首和长剑，外面再套上黑斗篷，拉起兜帽。“我天黑以前把艾伦爵士带来。”他保证，“夫人，您好好休息。”
Catelyn was tired. The voyage had been longand fatiguing, and she was no longer as young as she had been. Her windowsopened on the alley and rooftops, with a view of the Blackwater beyond. She watchedSer Rodrik set off, striding briskly through the busy streets until he was lostin the crowds, then decided to take his advice. The bedding was stuffed withstraw instead of feathers, but she had no trouble falling asleep.
凯特琳真的累了。这趟旅途漫长而疲惫，况且她年纪也已不轻。房间的窗户面向一条屋顶之间的小巷，恰可看到远方的黑水湾。她目送罗德利克爵士快步走进熙来攘往的街道，消失在人群当中，最后决定顺从他的建议。床铺塞的是稻草并非羽毛，但她还是头一沾枕便进入梦乡。
She woke to a pounding on her door.
她被砰砰的敲门声吵醒。
Catelyn sat up sharply. Outside the window,the rooftops of King’s Landing were red in the light of the setting sun. Shehad slept longer than she intended. A fist hammered at her door again, and avoice called out, “Open, in the name of the king.”
凯特琳立时坐起，窗外，夕阳残照把君临的屋顶洒得通红。她睡得比预期的长。房门再度响起敲门声，人声传进屋内：“以国王之名，开门！”
“A moment,” she called out. She wrappedherself in her cloak. The dagger was on the bedside table. She snatched it upbefore she unlatched the heavy wooden door.
“等等。”她一边应声，一边赶紧用斗篷裹住自己。那把匕首躺在床边桌上，她匆忙拾起，然后才打开厚重木门的门闩。
The men who pushed into the room wore theblack ringmail and golden cloaks of the City Watch. Their leader smiled at thedagger in her hand and said, “No need for that, m’lady. We’re to escort you tothe castle.”
蜂拥进房的人都穿着都城守卫队的制服：黑色环甲和金色披风。为首之人一见她手中利刃，便笑道：“夫人，不必如此。我们是特地来护送您进城的。”
“By whose authority?” she said.
“是谁的命令？”她问。
He showed her a ribbon. Catelyn felt herbreath catch in her throat. The seal was a mockingbird, in grey wax. “Petyr,”she said. So soon. Something must have happened to Ser Rodrik. She looked atthe head guardsman. “Do you know who I am?”
他拿出一条缎带，凯特琳一看，顿时喉头一紧。灰蜡上盖有一只仿声鸟。“培提尔，”她说。想不到他动作这么快，罗德利克爵士肯定出了事。她望着带头的守卫，“你知道我是谁？”
“No, m’lady,” he said. “M’lord Littlefingersaid only to bring you to him, and see that you were not mistreated.”
“不知道，夫人。”他回答，“小指头大人只吩咐我们带您去见他，而且绝不能让您受到一点委屈。”
Catelyn nodded. “You may wait outside whileI dress.”
凯特琳点点头：“你去门外等，我换好衣服便来。”
She bathed her hands in the basin andwrapped them in clean linen. Her fingers were thick and awkward as shestruggled to lace up her bodice and knot a drab brown cloak about her neck. Howcould Littlefinger have known she was here? Ser Rodrik would never have toldhim. Old he might be, but he was stubborn, and loyal to a fault. Were they toolate, had the Lannisters reached King’s Landing before her? No, if that weretrue, Ned would be here too, and surely he would have come to her. How?.?.?.? ?
她在水盆里洗了手，又用干净的麻布擦干。她的手指仍然僵硬而不灵活，好容易才穿上胸衣，在颈间系好那件褐色的粗布斗篷。小指头怎么知道她在这里？这绝不会是罗德利克爵士说的。他虽然一把年纪，脾气却倔得紧，忠心耿耿到顽固的地步。难道他们来得太迟，兰尼斯特家已经抢先一步抵达了君临？不可能，倘若真是如此，那么奈德一定也在，他会亲自来接她。这到底是怎么回事？
Then she thought, Moreo. The Tyroshi knewwho they were and where they were, damn him. She hoped he’d gotten a good pricefor the information.
她恍然大悟：莫里欧。这该死的泰洛西人知道他们的身份，也知道他们下榻处所。她不仅揣摩他为这则消息开了多少价。
They had brought a horse for her. The lampswere being lit along the streets as they set out, and Catelyn felt the eyes ofthe city on her as she rode, surrounded by the guard in their golden cloaks.When they reached the Red Keep, the portcullis was down and the great gatessealed for the night, but the castle windows were alive with flickering lights.The guardsmen left their mounts outside the walls and escorted her through anarrow postern door, then up endless steps to a tower.
他们为她备好了马。动身出发时，街上已经点起了灯，凯特琳左右围绕着肩披金色披风的守卫，只觉全城的目光都集中在自己身上。当他们抵达红堡时，铁闸已经降下，入夜后大门也已紧闭，但城堡的窗户里火光摇曳，生气依旧。守卫们把坐骑留在城墙外，护送她从一道狭窄的边门进入，踏着级级阶梯，登上高塔。
He was alone in the room, seated at a heavywooden table, an oil lamp beside him as he wrote. When they ushered her inside,he set down his pen and looked at her. “Cat,” he said quietly.
房里只有他一个人，坐在一张大木桌边，就着一盏油灯写字。他们把她送进屋内，他便搁下笔望着她。“凯特。”他静静地说。
“Why have I been brought here in thisfashion?”
“为什么带我来这儿？”
He rose and gestured brusquely to theguards. “Leave us.” The men departed. “You were not mistreated, I trust,” hesaid after they had gone. “I gave firm instructions.” He noticed her bandages.“Your hands?.?.?.?”
他起身朝守卫粗鲁地摆摆手。“你们可以走了。”守卫离开，“没事吧，”待他们走后他才开口，“我可是再三告诫过的。”他注意到她的绷带。“你的手……”
Catelyn ignored the implied question. “I amnot accustomed to being summoned like a serving wench,” she said icily. “As aboy, you still knew the meaning of courtesy.”
凯特琳故意忽略这个含蓄的问题。“我可不习惯被人当成女佣一般呼来唤去。”她冷冷地说，“小时候的你多少还懂得一点礼貌。”
“I’ve angered you, my lady. That was nevermy intent.” He looked contrite. The look brought back vivid memories forCatelyn. He had been a sly child, but after his mischiefs he always lookedcontrite; it was a gift he had. The years had not changed him much. Petyr hadbeen a small boy, and he had grown into a small man, an inch or two shorterthan Catelyn, slender and quick, with the sharp features she remembered and thesame laughing grey-green eyes. He had a little pointed chin beard now, andthreads of silver in his dark hair, though he was still shy of thirty. Theywent well with the silver mockingbird that fastened his cloak. Even as a child,he had always loved his silver.
“夫人，我绝对没有冒犯你的意思。”他看似充满悔意，这个神情也勾起凯特琳历历如绘的回忆。他是个狡猾机灵的孩子，但每次闯了祸总会一副悔不当初的模样，他就有这种天生的本事。看来这些年来他没什么改变。培提尔从前是个瘦小的男孩，如今长成一个瘦小的男子，比凯特琳还要矮上一两寸，但纤细敏捷，容貌一如她记忆中那般锐利，还有那双满是笑意的灰绿眼睛。他下巴留了点胡子，黑发间也有几抹银丝，其实人还不到三十。这个特质和他系住披风的银白仿声鸟倒是挺配，他从小就得意自己的少年白。
“How did you know I was in the city?” sheasked him.
“你怎么知道我在城里？”她问。
“Lord Varys knows all,” Petyr said with asly smile. “He will be joining us shortly, but I wanted to see you alone first.It has been too long, Cat. How many years?”
“因为瓦里斯消息灵通。”培提尔露出一抹促狭的微笑。“他马上就来，我只是想先单独见见你。凯特，我们好久不见，算算，多少年了？”
Catelyn ignored his familiarity. There weremore important questions. “So it was the King’s Spider who found me.”
凯特琳不理睬他的亲昵，如今她有比这更重要的事情要问。“原来是八爪蜘蛛找到我的。”
Littlefinger winced. “You don’t want to callhim that. He’s very sensitive. Comes of being an eunuch, I imagine. Nothinghappens in this city without Varys knowing. Oftimes he knows about it before ithappens. He has informants everywhere. His little birds, he calls them. One ofhis little birds heard about your visit. Thankfully, Varys came to me first.”
小指头皱眉道：“可别当面这样叫他哟。他这人敏感得很，大概和身为太监有关吧。城里的事，瓦里斯不但都知道，还常常未卜先知。到处都有他的眼线，他称呼他们作他的小小鸟儿。他的一只小小鸟听说了你抵达的消息。谢天谢地，瓦里斯知道以后，第一个找的人是我。”
“Why you?”
“为什么第一个找你？”
He shrugged. “Why not me? I am master ofcoin, the king’s own councillor. Selmy and Lord Renly rode north to meetRobert, and Lord Stannis is gone to Dragonstone, leaving only Maester Pycelleand me. I was the obvious choice. I was ever a friend to your sister Lysa,Varys knows that.”
他耸耸肩。“为什么不呢？我是财政大臣，也是国王的御前顾问。赛尔弥和蓝礼公爵到北边去迎接劳勃，史坦尼斯大人回了龙石岛，只剩下派席尔国师和我。我是当然的选择，何况瓦里斯知道我还是你妹妹莱莎的朋友。”
“Does Varys know about?.?.?.?”
“那瓦里斯知不知道……”
“Lord Varys knows everything?.?.?.?exceptwhy you are here.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you here?”
“瓦里斯大人什么都知道……惟独不知道你为什么造访。”他抬起一边眉毛。“你到底为什么造访？”
“A wife is allowed to yearn for her husband,and if a mother needs her daughters close, who can tell her no?”
“作妻子的想念丈夫，作母亲的挂念女儿。我来拜访，有何不妥？”
Littlefinger laughed. “Oh, very good, mylady, but please don’t expect me to believe that. I know you too well. Whatwere the Tully words again?”
小指头笑道：“呵呵，我说夫人，这借口不赖，可惜我不相信。我太了解你了。你们徒利家族的箴言是什么来着？”
Her throat was dry. “Family, Duty, Honor,”she recited stiffly. He did know her too well.
她喉咙一干。“家族，责任，荣誉。”她僵硬地复诵。他的确是太了解她了。
“Family, Duty, Honor,” he echoed. “All ofwhich required you to remain in Winterfell, where our Hand left you. No, mylady, something has happened. This sudden trip of yours bespeaks a certainurgency. I beg of you, let me help. Old sweet friends should never hesitate torely upon each other.” There was a soft knock on the door. “Enter,”Littlefinger called out.
“家族，责任，荣誉。”他应道，“这每一项都要求你遵照首相嘱咐留在临冬城。夫人哪，我看事情没这么简单。若非事关紧要，你不会这样突然来访。就请你把话说出来吧，让我为你效劳，老朋友本该戮力相助。”这时门上传来一声轻响。“请进。”小指头叫道。
The man who stepped through the door wasplump, perfumed, powdered, and as hairless as an egg. He wore a vest of wovengold thread over a loose gown of purple silk, and on his feet were pointedslippers of soft velvet. “Lady Stark,” he said, taking her hand in both of his,“to see you again after so many years is such a joy.” His flesh was soft andmoist, and his breath smelled of lilacs. “Oh, your poor hands. Have you burnedyourself, sweet lady? The fingers are so delicate?.?.?.?Our good MaesterPycelle makes a marvelous salve, shall I send for a jar?”
进来的的男子体态丰腴，脂粉味十足，头上光溜得像颗蛋。他身着一件宽松的紫色丝质长袍，外罩金丝线缝制的背心，脚踏前尖后宽的天鹅绒软拖鞋。“史塔克夫人，”他双掌执起她的手，“阔别多年，不料今日相见，真是叫人欢欣鼓舞。”他的皮肤柔软而湿润，呼吸有丁香花的味道。“哎呀，您的手是怎么了？亲爱的夫人，敢情您不小心给烫到了？如此纤纤玉手竟然……咱们派席尔大学士调制的药膏疗效一流，要不我这就差人给您送一罐？”
Catelyn slid her fingers from his grasp. “Ithank you, my lord, but my own Maester Luwin has already seen to my hurts.”
凯特琳从他掌心抽回手，“伯爵大人，感谢您的美意，不过我这伤口已经让家里的鲁温师傅处理过了。”
Varys bobbed his head. “I was grievous sadto hear about your son. And him so young. The gods are cruel.”
瓦里斯低头道：“您公子的事，我深感遗憾。一想到他小小年纪，就觉得天上诸神真是残酷。”
“On that we agree, Lord Varys,” she said.The title was but a courtesy due him as a council member; Varys was lord of nothingbut the spiderweb, the master of none but his whisperers.
瓦里斯伯爵，我们总算有点共识。“她说。瓦里斯的伯爵头衔只是虚位，这也是为了顾及他朝廷重臣的身份，其实瓦里斯根本不是任何封邑的领主，他统御的不过是手下那批眼线。
The eunuch spread his soft hands. “On morethan that, I hope, sweet lady. I have great esteem for your husband, our newHand, and I know we do both love King Robert.”
太监把手软软地一摊。“好夫人，相信我们不只是有这点共识。我对您丈夫，也就是咱们新任首相，怀着极高的敬意，同时我也知道我们大家都非常爱戴劳勃国王。”
“Yes,” she was forced to say. “For acertainty.”
“是的，”她不得不说，“毫无疑问。”
“Never has a king been so beloved as ourRobert,” quipped Littlefinger. He smiled slyly. “At least in Lord Varys’shearing.”
“要找咱们劳勃这么受爱戴的国王，恐怕很难啰。”小指头露出促狭的微笑，酸溜溜地说，“最起码瓦里斯大人听到是这样。”
“Good lady,” Varys said with greatsolicitude. “There are men in the Free Cities with wondrous healing powers. Sayonly the word, and I will send for one for your dear Bran.”
“好夫人，”瓦里斯忧心忡忡地道，“自由贸易城邦有不少精通医术的奇人异士。只消您点个头，我即刻去找这样的人来医治您的小布兰。”
“Maester Luwin is doing all that can be donefor Bran,” she told him. She would not speak of Bran, not here, not with thesemen. She trusted Littlefinger only a little, and Varys not at all. She wouldnot let them see her grief. “Lord Baelish tells me that I have you to thank forbringing me here.”
“能做的鲁温师傅都做了。”她告诉他。此时此地她不愿谈布兰的事，尤其是和这些人。她不太信任小指头，更何况瓦里斯。她绝不能让他们看见她悲伤的模样。“贝里席大人刚才告诉我，我现在能在这里，全都要归功于您。”
Varys giggled like a little girl. “Oh, yes.I suppose I am guilty. I hope you forgive me, kind lady.” He eased himself downinto a seat and put his hands together. “I wonder if we might trouble you toshow us the dagger?”
瓦里斯像个小女孩般咯咯直笑。“呵呵，可不是嘛。我看我是难辞其咎了，好心的夫人，希望您原谅我吧。”他悠闲地找了张椅子坐下，双手交握，“我在想，不知能否请您让我们瞧瞧那把匕首呐？”
Catelyn Stark stared at the eunuch instunned disbelief. He was a spider, she thought wildly, an enchanter or worse.He knew things no one could possibly know, unless?.?.?.?“What have you done toSer Rodrik?” she demanded.
凯特琳·史塔克惊愕地看着他，不敢相信自己所听到的话。他真的是只无孔不入的蜘蛛，说不定还是个懂得妖术的魔法师，她不禁狂乱地暗想。他竟然知道没有人会知道的事，除非……“你把罗德利克爵士怎样了？”她质问。
Littlefinger was lost. “I feel rather likethe knight who arrives at the battle without his lance. What dagger are wetalking about? Who is Ser Rodrik?”
小指头一头雾水。“我觉得自己像个上了战场却没带长枪的骑士。这匕首是怎么回事？罗德利克爵士又是何方神圣？”
“Ser Rodrik Cassel is master-at-arms at Winterfell,”Varys informed him. “I assure you, Lady Stark, nothing at all has been done tothe good knight. He did call here early this afternoon. He visited with SerAron Santagar in the armory, and they talked of a certain dagger. About sunset,they left the castle together and walked to that dreadful hovel where you werestaying. They are still there, drinking in the common room, waiting for yourreturn. Ser Rodrik was very distressed to find you gone.”
“罗德利克·凯索爵士是临冬城的教头，”瓦里斯告诉他，“史塔克夫人，您大可放心，这位好骑士平安无事。他今天下午的确来过一趟，到兵器库去拜访了艾伦·桑塔加爵士，两人谈及一把匕首。约莫日落时分，他们结伴离开城堡，徒步返回您下榻的那间粗陋房舍。这会儿他们还在那里，正在大厅里喝酒，等您回去。罗德利克爵士发现您不在，可是焦虑得紧哪。”
“How could you know all that?”
“你怎么会知道这些事？”
“The whisperings of little birds,” Varyssaid, smiling. “I know things, sweet lady. That is the nature of my service.”He shrugged. “You do have the dagger with you, yes?”
“小小鸟儿叽叽喳喳传来的呗。”瓦里斯微笑道，“好夫人，我的职责所在便是打听消息，所以我才知道不少。”他耸耸肩。“不过您确实把匕首带在了身上，对吧？”
Catelyn pulled it out from beneath her cloakand threw it down on the table in front of him. “Here. Perhaps your littlebirds will whisper the name of the man it belongs to.”
凯特琳从斗篷里抽出匕首，扔到他面前的桌上。“拿去看罢，或许你的小小鸟也会告诉你这匕首的主人是谁。”
Varys lifted the knife with exaggerateddelicacy and ran a thumb along its edge. Blood welled, and he let out a squealand dropped the dagger back on the table.
瓦里斯用夸张的优雅姿势拿起短刀，然后伸出拇指滑过刀锋，没想到立时见血，他惊呼一声，手一松，匕首掉回桌上。
“Careful,” Catelyn told him, “it’s sharp.”
“小心，”凯特琳告诉他，“这匕首很利。”
“Nothing holds an edge like Valyrian steel,”Littlefinger said as Varys sucked at his bleeding thumb and looked at Catelynwith sullen admonition. Littlefinger hefted the knife lightly in his hand,testing the grip. He flipped it in the air, caught it again with his otherhand. “Such sweet balance. You want to find the owner, is that the reason forthis visit? You have no need of Ser Aron for that, my lady. You should havecome to me.”
“世上最锋利的莫过于瓦雷利亚钢。”小指头道。瓦里斯一边吸吮血流不止的拇指，一边面带愠色地瞪着凯特琳。小指头拿起利刃，轻轻地把玩，测试称手的程度。随后把匕首抛至半空，再用另一只手接住。“轻重恰到好处。您这次来访的目的，便是想查出匕首的主人？夫人，那您大可不必去找艾伦爵士，您应该直接来问我。”
“And if I had,” she said, “what would youhave told me?”
“假如我直接问你，”她说，“你怎么说？”
“I would have told you that there was onlyone knife like this at King’s Landing.” He grasped the blade between thumb andforefinger, drew it back over his shoulder, and threw it across the room with apracticed flick of his wrist. It struck the door and buried itself deep in theoak, quivering. “It’s mine.”
“我会告诉你这种刀全君临只有一把，”他用拇指和食指夹起刀刃，举过肩头，手腕一抖，熟练地将匕首朝房间对面射去。短刀正中房门，深深地插进橡木板，随着残余的劲道晃动不止。“它是我的。”
“Yours?” It made no sense. Petyr had notbeen at Winterfell.
“这是你的刀？”不可能，培提尔根本没去临冬城。
“Until the tourney on Prince Joffrey’s nameday,” he said, crossing the room to wrench the dagger from the wood. “I backedSer Jaime in the jousting, along with half the court.” Petyr’s sheepish grinmade him look half a boy again. “When Loras Tyrell unhorsed him, many of usbecame a trifle poorer. Ser Jaime lost a hundred golden dragons, the queen lostan emerald pendant, and I lost my knife. Her Grace got the emerald back, butthe winner kept the rest.”
“一直到乔佛里王子命名日那天的比武大会为止，”他穿过房间，从木门上拔出匕首。“我和半数的廷臣都赌詹姆爵士会赢得长枪比试，”培提尔露出羞怯的笑，突然又显得孩子气。“所以当洛拉斯·提利尔爵士把他一枪刺下马时，我们都输了点小东西。詹姆爵士输掉一百枚金龙币，王后赔上一条翡翠首饰，而我则是这把刀。赢家放过了王后陛下的翡翠，但把其他东西都留下了。”
“Who?” Catelyn demanded, her mouth dry withfear. Her fingers ached with remembered pain.
“此人是谁？”凯特琳质问，她的嘴巴因恐惧而干涩，手指头则因回忆而隐隐作痛。
“The Imp,” said Littlefinger as Lord Varyswatched her face. “Tyrion Lannister.”
“小恶魔，”小指头说。瓦里斯伯爵在一旁看着她的脸。“提利昂·兰尼斯特。”