Ⅳ 群鸦的盛宴 Chapter18 铁船长

THE IRON CAPTAIN

北风吹拂，无敌铁种号绕过陆岬，驶入圣地娜伽摇篮湾。

The wind was blowing from the north as the Iron Victory came round the point and entered the holy bay called Nagga’s Cradle.

维克塔利昂来到站在船头的“理发师”纽特身边。前方隐约可见老威克岛的神圣海岸，上方是荒草遍布的山岭，娜伽的肋骨从地底冒出来，仿佛巨大的白色树干，跟大帆船的桅杆一般粗细，高度则有桅杆的两倍。

Victarion joined Nute the Barber at her prow. Ahead loomed the sacred shore of Old Wyk and the grassy hill above it, where the ribs of Nagga rose from the earth like the trunks of great white trees, as wide around as a dromond’s mast and twice as tall.

灰海王大厅的骨骼。维克塔利昂能感受到此处的魔力。“巴隆第一次自立为王时，就站在这些骨头底下，”他边回忆边说道，“他发誓为我们赢回自由，‘三淹人’塔勒便将一顶浮木王冠戴到他头上。‘巴隆！’铁民们高喊，‘巴隆！巴隆国王！’”

The bones of the Grey King’s Hall. Victarion could feel the magic of this place. “Balon stood beneath those bones, when first he named himself a king,” he recalled. “He swore to win us back our freedoms, and Tarle the Thrice-Drowned placed a driftwood crown upon his head. ‘BALON!’ they cried. ‘BALON! BALON KING!’ ”

“他们呼喊你的名字时也会一样响亮。”纽特评论。

“They will shout your name as loud,” said Nute.

维克塔利昂点点头，但没“理发师”那么肯定。毕竟，巴隆有过三个儿子，还有一个非常宠爱的女儿。

Victarion nodded, though he did not share the Barber’s certainty. Balon had three sons, and a daughter he loved well.

他在卡林湾对自己的船长们也是这么说的，他们都敦促他尽早下手夺取海石之位。“巴隆的儿子死光了，”红拉弗·斯通浩斯争辩，“而阿莎是女人，你是你兄长的得力助手，必须由你捡起他的剑。”维克塔利昂提醒他们，巴隆明令他扼守卡林湾，抵御北方人的反扑，拉弗·肯宁说，“狼仔们经受了数次重创，已不足为患，大人。而您若枯守着这片沼泽，听任铁群岛落入别人手中，有什么意义呢？”“跛子”拉弗补充道，“鸦眼是外人，他不了解我们。”

He had said as much to his captains at Moat Cailin, when first they urged him to claim the Seastone Chair. “Balon’s sons are dead,” Red Ralf Stonehouse had argued, “and Asha is a woman. You were your brother’s strong right arm, you must pick up the sword that he let fall.” When Victarion reminded them that Balon had commanded him to hold the Moat against the northmen, Ralf Kenning said, “The wolves are broken, lord. What good to win this swamp and lose the isles?” And Ralf the Limper added, “The Crow’s Eye has been too long away. He knows us not.”

攸伦·葛雷乔伊，铁群岛之王和北境之王。只需想想，便能唤醒他心中旧日的怒火，但是……

Euron Greyjoy, King of the Isles and the North. The thought woke an old rage in his heart, but still …

“言语就像风，”维克塔利昂告诉他们，“鼓动船帆的才有用。你们要我跟鸦眼开战？兄弟对兄弟，铁种对铁种？”无论他俩之间有多少嫌怨，攸伦毕竟是他的兄长。弑亲者将遭到永世诅咒。

“Words are wind,” Victarion told them, “and the only good wind is that which fills our sails. Would you have me fight the Crow’s Eye? Brother against brother, ironborn against ironborn?” Euron was still his elder, no matter how much bad blood might be between them. No man is as accursed as the kinslayer.

但湿发发出选王会的号召之后，一切就不同了。伊伦是淹神的代言人，维克塔利昂提醒自己，假如淹神要我坐上海石之位……消息传来的第二天，他便将卡林湾的指挥权交给拉弗·肯宁，自己忙不迭地前往热浪河，铁岛舰队就停泊在河边的芦苇和杨柳丛中。波涛汹涌的大海和变幻无常的风浪拖延了他回师的速度，但回到家乡时，他只损失了一艘船。

But when the Damphair’s summons came, the call to kingsmoot, then all was changed. Aeron speaks with the Drowned God’s voice, Victarion reminded himself, and if the Drowned God wills that I should sit the Seastone Chair … The next day he gave command of Moat Cailin to Ralf Kenning and set off overland for the Fever River where the Iron Fleet lay amongst the reeds and willows. Rough seas and fickle winds had delayed him, but only one ship had been lost, and he was home.

悲伤号和复仇铁种号紧跟着无敌铁种号绕过陆岬，后面是强手号、铁风号、灰灵号、科伦大王号、维肯大王号、达衮大王号等等，这些大船占了铁岛舰队的十分之一，其他较小的船只趁着晚潮航行，排成参差不齐的一列纵队，向后延伸好几里格。望着那些船帆，维克塔利昂·葛雷乔伊意气风发。舰队司令爱他的舰队更甚于男人爱妻子。

Grief and Iron Vengeance were close behind as Iron Victory passed the headland. Behind came Hardhand, Iron Wind, Grey Ghost, Lord Quellon, Lord Vickon, Lord Dagon, and the rest, nine-tenths of the Iron Fleet, sailing on the evening tide in a ragged column that extended back long leagues. The sight of their sails filled Victarion Greyjoy with content. No man had ever loved his wives half as well as the Lord Captain loved his ships.

已抵达的长船沿老威克岛的神圣海滩一字排开，延伸至目力极限，桅杆如长矛林立。深水处停靠着战利品：平底货船，宽身帆船，大帆船……都是劫掠或战斗中赢来的，它们吃水深体积大，无法靠近岸边。各船船头、船尾和桅杆上飘荡着熟悉的旗帜。

Along the sacred strand of Old Wyk, longships lined the shore as far as the eye could see, their masts thrust up like spears. In the deeper waters rode prizes: cogs, carracks, and dromonds won in raid or war, too big to run ashore. From prow and stern and mast flew familiar banners.

“理发师”纽特眯起眼睛，“那是哈尔洛大人的海歌号？”“理发师”体格粗壮，罗圈腿，长胳膊，但他的眼神不如年轻时那么锐利了。当年他的飞斧非常精准，人们说他可以用斧子替人刮胡子。

Nute the Barber squinted toward the strand. “Is that Lord Harlaw’s Sea Song?” The Barber was a thickset man with bandy legs and long arms, but his eyes were not so keen as they had been when he was young. In those days he could throw an axe so well that men said he could shave you with it.

“是的，海歌号。”看来，就连“读书人”罗德利克也离开了他的书本，前来凑热闹了。“还有老卓鼓的怒吼者号和布莱克泰斯的夜行者号。”维克塔利昂的眼睛一如既往的尖锐——他是铁岛舰队总司令，即便对方收起船帆，耷拉着旗帜，他也统统认得出来。“还有‘银鳍号’，它属于沙汶·波特利的某位亲戚。”维克塔利昂听说鸦眼淹死了波特利头领，而他的继承人死在卡林湾，但他还有兄弟和别的儿子。有多少？四个？不，五个，而他们中没人有理由喜欢鸦眼。

“Sea Song, aye.” Rodrik the Reader had left his books, it would seem. “And there’s old Drumm’s Thunderer, with Blacktyde’s Nightflyer beside her.” Victarion’s eyes were as sharp as they had ever been. Even with their sails furled and their banners hanging limp, he knew them, as befit the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. “Silverfin too. Some kin of Sawane Botley.” The Crow’s Eye had drowned Lord Botley, Victarion had heard, and his heir had died at Moat Cailin, but there had been brothers, and other sons as well. How many? Four? No, five, and none with any cause to love the Crow’s Eye.

然后他看到了那艘单桅战舰，暗红色船身细长低矮，船帆漆黑犹如无星的夜空，此刻已然收卷起来。即使在停泊中，宁静号仍旧显得无情、残忍而迅捷。船头是一尊黑铁处女像，单臂向外伸展。她腰身细窄，胸脯高傲地挺起，大腿修长而匀称，浓密的黑铁长发在脑后飘荡，她的眼睛由珍珠母制成，可她没有嘴巴。

And then he saw her: a single-masted galley, lean and low, with a dark red hull. Her sails, now furled, were black as a starless sky. Even at anchor Silence looked both cruel and fast. On her prow was a black iron maiden with one arm outstretched. Her waist was slender, her breasts high and proud, her legs long and shapely. A windblown mane of black iron hair streamed from her head, and her eyes were mother-of-pearl, but she had no mouth.

维克塔利昂双手紧握成拳——他曾用这双手打死四个男人和一个老婆。尽管星星点点的白发已从他头上冒出来，但他一如既往的强壮，拥有公牛般宽阔的胸膛和年轻人的平肚子。弑亲者将遭到神和人的永世诅咒，巴隆赶走鸦眼那天提醒过他。

Victarion’s hands closed into fists. He had beaten four men to death with those hands, and one wife as well. Though his hair was flecked with hoarfrost, he was as strong as he had ever been, with a bull’s broad chest and a boy’s flat belly. The kinslayer is accursed in the eyes of gods and men, Balon had reminded him on the day he sent the Crow’s Eye off to sea.

“他来了，”维克塔利昂告诉“理发师”，“收帆，划桨。传令下去，悲伤号和复仇铁种号出列，隔断宁静号出海的通道。其余舰队封锁海湾。没有我的允许，不管人还是乌鸦都不准离开。”

“He is here,” Victarion told the Barber. “Drop sail. We proceed on oars alone. Command Grief and Iron Vengeance to stand between Silence and the sea. The rest of the fleet to seal the bay. None is to leave save at my command, neither man nor crow.”

岸上的人看见了他们的帆，朋友亲人们隔着水面互相吆喝打招呼，但宁静号甲板上形形色色的哑巴和混血杂种一言不发。无敌铁种号渐渐靠近，他不仅目睹了皮肤暗如沥青的黑人，还有矮小多毛，仿佛索斯罗斯猿猴般的家伙。一群怪物，维克塔利昂心想。

The men upon the shore had spied their sails. Shouts echoed across the bay as friends and kin called out greetings. But not from Silence. On her decks a motley crew of mutes and mongrels spoke no word as the Iron Victory drew nigh. Men black as tar stared out at him, and others squat and hairy as the apes of Sothoros. Monsters, Victarion thought.

他们在距离宁静号二十码处抛锚。“放条小船。我要上岸。”桨手们准备的同时，他扣上剑带；长剑悬在一侧腰间，另一边是一把匕首。“理发师”纽特系紧司令官肩头的披风，它由九层金丝织就，缝成葛雷乔伊家族的海怪形状，海怪之臂悬垂至靴。披风下面，他穿着沉重的灰锁甲，内衬黑色熟皮甲。在卡林湾，他不得不日夜穿戴盔甲，腰酸背痛总比肠穿肚烂好。沼泽深处住的是魔鬼，只要被他们的毒箭擦破一点皮，几小时之后，就会在号叫中送命，伴随着两腿之间止不住的一团团红色与褐色的排泄物。不管谁赢得海石之位，我都要回去解决那些沼泽魔鬼。

They dropped anchor twenty yards from Silence. “Lower a boat. I would go ashore.” He buckled on his swordbelt as the rowers took their places; his longsword rested on one hip, a dirk upon the other. Nute the Barber fastened the Lord Captain’s cloak about his shoulders. It was made of nine layers of cloth-of-gold, sewn in the shape of the kraken of Greyjoy, arms dangling to his boots. Beneath he wore heavy grey chain mail over boiled black leather. In Moat Cailin he had taken to wearing mail day and night. Sore shoulders and an aching back were easier to bear than bloody bowels. The poisoned arrows of the bog devils need only scratch a man, and a few hours later he would be squirting and screaming as his life ran down his legs in gouts of red and brown. Whoever wins the Seastone Chair, I shall deal with the bog devils.

维克塔利昂戴上一顶高耸的黑色战盔，铁盔打制成海怪形状，海怪之臂环绕脸颊，在下巴底下相连。小船准备好了。“我把箱子交给你保管，”他一边吩咐纽特一边跨过船沿，“不得有误。”这些箱子事关重大。

Victarion donned a tall black warhelm, wrought in the shape of an iron kraken, its arms coiled down around his cheeks to meet beneath his jaw. By then the boat was ready. “I put the chests into your charge,” he told Nute as he climbed over the side. “See that they are strongly guarded.” Much depended on the chests.

“遵命，陛下。”

“As you command, Your Grace.”

对此，维克塔利昂不快地皱起眉头。“我还不是国王。”他爬进小船。

Victarion returned a sour scowl. “I am no king as yet.” He clambered down into the boat.

伊伦·湿发站在波浪中等他，水袋悬在一条胳膊底下。牧师又瘦又高，但比维克塔利昂要矮一些，他的鼻子仿佛鲨鱼的鳍，从瘦骨嶙岣的脸上冒出来，他的眼睛犹如钢铁，胡须垂至腰间，一束束绳索般的长发随风拍打着大腿背后。“哥哥，”冰冷的白色浪花冲击着他们的脚踝，“逝者不死。”

Aeron Damphair was waiting for him in the surf with his waterskin slung beneath one arm. The priest was gaunt and tall, though shorter than Victarion. His nose rose like a shark’s fin from a bony face, and his eyes were iron. His beard reached to his waist, and tangled ropes of hair slapped at the back of his legs when the wind blew. “Brother,” he said as the waves broke white and cold around their ankles, “what is dead can never die.”

“必将再起，其势更烈。”维克塔利昂摘掉头盔，跪了下来。海水灌满他的靴子，浸透他的长裤，伊伦将盐水倒在他额头上。他们继续祷告。

“But rises again, harder and stronger.” Victarion lifted off his helm and knelt. The bay filled his boots and soaked his breeches as Aeron poured a stream of salt water down upon his brow. And so they prayed.

完毕之后，司令官问湿发伊伦，“我们的哥哥鸦眼何在？”

“Where is our brother Crow’s Eye?” the Lord Captain demanded of Aeron Damphair when the prayers were done.

“他住在巨大的金丝帐篷内，里面嘈杂喧闹。他身边尽是些不敬神的人和蛮夷番邦的怪物，比以前更糟糕。我们父亲的血在他体内变了质。”

“His is the great tent of cloth-of-gold, there where the din is loudest. He surrounds himself with godless men and monsters, worse than before. In him our father’s blood went bad.”

“还有我们母亲的血。”站在娜伽的肋骨和灰海王大厅底下的这片圣地，维克塔利昂不愿提及弑亲的话题，但许多个夜晚，他都梦见自己用铁拳砸向攸伦微笑的脸，砸烂血肉，令对方变质的鲜血喷涌而出。不行。我向巴隆立过誓。“都来了？”他问担任牧师的弟弟。

“Our mother’s blood as well.” Victarion would not speak of kinslaying, here in this godly place beneath the bones of Nagga and the Grey King’s Hall, but many a night he dreamed of driving a mailed fist into Euron’s smiling face, until the flesh split and his bad blood ran red and free. I must not. I pledged my word to Balon. “All have come?” he asked his priestly brother.

“有地位的人都来了。所有的船长和头领。”在铁群岛，船长与头领是一回事，每个船长都必须是自己船上的国王，而每一个头领都必须是船长。“你是来继承兄长的王冠的吗？”

“All who matter. The captains and the kings.” On the Iron Islands they were one and the same, for every captain was a king on his own deck, and every king must be a captain. “Do you mean to claim our father’s crown?”

维克塔利昂想象自己坐在海石之位上的模样，“假如那是淹神的意旨的话。”

Victarion imagined himself seated on the Seastone Chair. “If the Drowned God wills it.”

“浪涛会传达淹神的意旨，”湿发伊伦背转身去，“仔细倾听大海的声音，哥哥。”

“The waves will speak,” said Aeron Damphair as he turned away. “Listen to the waves, brother.”

“是。”他想象自己的名字经由海浪轻声道出是什么样，由船长们喊出又是什么样。如果杯子传到我手里，我不会推辞。

“Aye.” He wondered how his name would sound whispered by waves and shouted by the captains and the kings. If the cup should pass to me, I will not set it by.

人群在他四周聚集，祝他好运，企图博取好感。每座岛上的人都来了：布莱克泰斯、陶尼、奥克伍、斯通垂、温奇，还有其他许多家族。老威克岛的古柏勒，大威克岛的古柏勒和橡岛的古柏勒齐聚一堂。连考德家的人也在，尽管每个体面人都鄙视他们。次等的谢牧德家族、维纺家族或奈特立家族的人跟古老骄傲的世家成员肩并肩挤在一起，人群中甚至有卑微的汉博利家族，他们是奴工与盐妾的后代。某位沃马克家的人拍拍他肩膀，两个斯帕家的人则将一袋酒塞入他手中。他深深啜饮，擦了擦嘴，让人们簇拥着来到篝火边，谈论战争、王冠和战利品，谈论在他统治之下的荣耀与自由。

A crowd had gathered round to wish him well and seek his favor. Victarion saw men from every isle: Blacktydes, Tawneys, Orkwoods, Stonetrees, Wynches, and many more. The Goodbrothers of Old Wyk, the Goodbrothers of Great Wyk, and the Goodbrothers of Orkmont all had come. The Codds were there, though every decent man despised them. Humble Shepherds, Weavers, and Netleys rubbed shoulders with men from Houses ancient and proud; even humble Humbles, the blood of thralls and salt wives. A Volmark clapped Victarion on the back; two Sparrs pressed a wineskin into his hands. He drank deep, wiped his mouth, and let them bear him off to their cookfires, to listen to their talk of war and crowns and plunder, and the glory and the freedom of his reign.

当晚，铁舰队的人们在潮线上搭起一座帆布大帐篷，好让维克塔利昂用烤乳羊、腌鳕鱼和龙虾宴请数十位著名的船长。伊伦也来了，但他吃鱼喝水，不若船长们大口灌下的麦酒似乎足以让铁舰队漂浮起来。许多人一口答应支持他：“强健的”弗拉莱格，“聪明的”艾文·夏普，“驼背”何索·哈尔洛——何索提出把女儿嫁给他当王后。“我无幸娶妻。”维克塔利昂告诉他。他的元配死在产床上，留下一个死产的女儿，续弦妻染上麻疹，而第三任……

That night the men of the Iron Fleet raised a huge sailcloth tent above the tideline, so Victarion might feast half a hundred famous captains on roast kid, salted cod, and lobster. Aeron came as well. He ate fish and drank water, whilst the captains quaffed enough ale to float the Iron Fleet. Many promised him their voices: Fralegg the Strong, clever Alvyn Sharp, humpbacked Hotho Harlaw. Hotho offered him a daughter for his queen. “I have no luck with wives,” Victarion told him. His first wife died in childbed, giving him a stillborn daughter. His second had been stricken by a pox. And his third …

“国王必须有子嗣，”何索坚持，“鸦眼就带来了三个儿子，准备在选王会上展示。”

“A king must have an heir,” Hotho insisted. “The Crow’s Eye brings three sons to show before the kingsmoot.”

“一群混血杂种。你女儿究竟多大？”

“Bastards and mongrels. How old is this daughter?”

“十二岁，”何索说，“美丽丰饶，刚刚初潮，头发是蜂蜜的颜色。她的胸脯现在还小，但臀部很好。她更像她母亲，不像我。”

“Twelve,” said Hotho. “Fair and fertile, newly flowered, with hair the color of honey. Her breasts are small as yet, but she has good hips. She takes after her mother, more than me.”

维克塔利昂明白他的意思是指那女孩并非驼背。然而当他想象她的模样，看见的却是被自己亲手杀死的妻子。他一拳一拳地打她，自己却一直在哭泣，事后他抱她走下海滩，放到岩石之间，将她交付给螃蟹。“加冕后，我很乐意见见那女孩。”他说。何索最多也只敢期望这样的回答，于是心满意足地蹒跚着走开了。

Victarion knew that to mean the girl did not have a hump. Yet when he tried to picture her, he only saw the wife he’d killed. He had sobbed each time he struck her, and afterward carried her down to the rocks to give her to the crabs. “I will gladly look at the girl once I am crowned,” he said. That was as much as Hotho dared hope for, and he shambled off, content.

贝勒·布莱克泰斯更难满足。他坐在维克塔利昂身边，身穿羔羊毛黑绿皮纹外套，光滑的脸颇显得几分俊俏，黑貂皮披风别了一颗银制七芒星。由于在旧镇当过八年人质，他回来时成了青绿之地七神的信徒。“巴隆是个疯子，伊伦也是，而攸伦比他们两个更疯狂，”贝勒头领评论，“你呢，总司令大人？如果我喊出你的名字，你会不会终止这场疯狂的战争？”

Baelor Blacktyde was more difficult to please. He sat by Victarion’s elbow in his lambswool tunic of black-and-green vairy, smooth-faced and comely. His cloak was sable, and pinned with a silver seven-pointed star. He had been eight years a hostage in Oldtown, and had returned a worshiper of the seven green land gods. “Balon was mad, Aeron is madder, and Euron is maddest of them all,” Lord Baelor said. “What of you, Lord Captain? If I shout your name, will you make an end of this mad war?”

维克塔利昂皱起眉头。“你要我屈膝下跪？”

Victarion frowned. “Would you have me bend the knee?”

“假如有必要的话。听着，我们无法对抗全维斯特洛——劳勃国王已经证明了这点——那将是一场灾难。巴隆说愿意为了自由‘付铁钱’，但结果呢？结果我们的女人用空床换来巴隆的王冠。我母亲就是受害者之一，面对现实吧，古道已经消逝，不会再回来了。”

“If need be. We cannot stand alone against all Westeros. King Robert proved that, to our grief. Balon would pay the iron price for freedom, he said, but our women bought Balon’s crowns with empty beds. My mother was one such. The Old Way is dead.”

“逝者不死，必将再起，其势更烈。百年之后，人们将歌颂‘勇者’巴隆。”

“What is dead can never die, but rises harder and stronger. In a hundred years men will sing of Balon the Bold.”

“最好叫他‘寡妇制造者’。我宁愿用他的自由换回我的父亲。你能给我吗？”见维克塔利昂不答，布莱克泰斯哼了一声，自行离开了。

“Balon the Widowmaker, call him. I will gladly trade his freedom for a father. Have you one to give me?” When Victarion did not answer, Blacktyde snorted and moved off.

帐篷里的温度逐渐升高，烟雾腾腾。葛欧得·古柏勒的两个儿子打架时撞翻了一张桌子；威尔·汉博利赌输了，只好吃自己的靴子；小伦伍德·陶尼拉起提琴，而罗姆尼·维纺唱着《血杯》、《铁雨》等古代掠夺者们的歌谣；“处女”科尔和艾德里德·考德要手指舞，当艾德里德的一根手指落进“跛子”拉弗的酒杯时，人群爆发出一阵哄笑。

The tent grew hot and smoky. Two of Gorold Goodbrother’s sons knocked a table over fighting; Will Humble lost a wager and had to eat his boot; Little Lenwood Tawney fiddled whilst Romny Weaver sang “The Bloody Cup” and “Steel Rain” and other old reaving songs. Qarl the Maid and Eldred Codd danced the finger dance. A roar of laughter went up when one of Eldred’s fingers landed in Ralf the Limper’s wine cup.

笑声中有个女人。维克塔利昂霍地起身，看到她在帐篷的布帘边，正凑在“处女”科尔的耳边低语，使得对方也跟着大笑起来。他原本希望她不要愚蠢地闯进他的大帐，然而见到她仍旧不自禁地露出几丝微笑。“阿莎，”他以威严的口吻喊道。“侄女。”

A woman was amongst those laughing. Victarion rose and saw her by the tent flap, whispering something in the ear of Qarl the Maid that made him laugh as well. He had hoped she would not be fool enough to come here, yet the sight of her made him smile all the same. “Asha,” he called in a commanding voice. “Niece.”

她应声走到他身边，精瘦柔韧的身材，脚踏浸透盐渍的高筒皮靴，身穿绿羊毛马裤，褐色加垫上衣，无袖紧身背心的索带松开一半。“阿叔，”阿莎·葛雷乔伊在女人中算是高个子，但她得踮起脚尖才能吻到他的脸颊，“很高兴在我的女王会上看到你。”

She made her way to his side, lean and lithe in high boots of salt-stained leather, green woolen breeches, and brown quilted tunic, a sleeveless leather jerkin half-unlaced. “Nuncle.” Asha Greyjoy was tall for a woman, yet she had to stand on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I am pleased to see you at my queensmoot.”

“女王会？”维克塔利昂哈哈大笑，“你喝醉了吗，侄女？坐下。我在海滩上没看到你的黑风号。”

“Queensmoot?” Victarion laughed. “Are you drunk, niece? Sit. I did not spy your Black Wind on the strand.”

“我将她停在纽恩·古柏勒的城堡下面，然后骑马横穿这座岛。”她坐到板凳上，问也没问便径自拿过“理发师”纽特的酒。纽特没有抗议，他早已喝醉睡着了。“你留谁镇守卡林湾？”

“I beached her beneath Norne Goodbrother’s castle and rode across the island.” She sat upon a stool and helped herself unasked to Nute the Barber’s wine. Nute raised no objection; he had passed out drunk some time ago. “Who holds the Moat?”

“拉弗·肯宁。少狼主死了之后，只剩下沼泽魔鬼骚扰我们。”

“Ralf Kenning. With the Young Wolf dead, only the bog devils remain to plague us.”

“史塔克家并非唯一的北方佬。铁王座已任命恐怖堡领主为北境守护。”

“The Starks were not the only northmen. The Iron Throne has named the Lord of the Dreadfort as Warden of the North.”

“你要教我打仗？你吃奶的时候我就已经上战场了。”

“Would you lesson me in warfare? I was fighting battles when you were sucking mother’s milk.”

“而且打输了。”阿莎喝下一口酒。

“And losing battles too.” Asha took a drink of wine.

维克塔利昂不喜欢别人提起仙女岛的事，“每个人年轻时都应该吃一次败仗，以免老了以后再失败。我希望，你不是来争夺王位的吧？”

Victarion did not like to be reminded of Fair Isle. “Every man should lose a battle in his youth, so he does not lose a war when he is old. You have not come to make a claim, I hope.”

她以微笑揶揄他，“假如我是呢？”

She teased him with a smile. “And if I have?”

“很多人仍记得你小时候光着身子在海中游泳，记得你玩布娃娃。”

“There are men who remember when you were a little girl, swimming naked in the sea and playing with your doll.”

“我也玩斧头。”

“I played with axes too.”

“没错。”他不得不承认，“但女人的归属是丈夫，不是王冠。等我当上国王，会给你找一个。”

“You did,” he had to grant, “but a woman wants a husband, not a crown. When I am king I’ll give you one.”

“阿叔对我真好。等我成为女王，要不要给你找个漂亮老婆？”

“My nuncle is so good to me. Shall I find a pretty wife for you, when I am queen?”

“我无幸娶妻。你返回群岛多长时间了？”

“I have no luck with wives. How long have you been here?”

“相当长，足以发现湿发叔叔唤醒的比他最初设想的多得多。知道吗？卓鼓家族企图夺取王位，还有人听‘三淹人’塔勒说马伦·沃马克才是黑心王真正的后嗣。”

“Long enough to see that Uncle Damphair has woken more than he intended. The Drumm means to make a claim, and Tarle the Thrice-Drowned was heard to say that Maron Volmark is the true heir of the black line.”

“瞎掰，国王必须在海怪家族中产生。”

“The king must be a kraken.”

“鸦眼正属于海怪家族，而长兄优先于幼弟。”阿莎俯身靠近。“但我是巴隆国王的亲生骨肉，因此排在你们俩之前。听我说，阿叔……”

“The Crow’s Eye is a kraken. The elder brother comes before the younger.” Asha leaned close. “But I am the child of King Balon’s body, so I come before you both. Hear me, nuncle …”

沉默突然降临。歌声消失了，小伦伍德·陶尼放下提琴，人们纷纷转过头去。甚至匕首和盘子相碰的嗒嗒声也平息下来。

But then a sudden silence fell. The singing died, Little Lenwood Tawney lowered his fiddle, men turned their heads. Even the clatter of plates and knives was hushed.

十几个新来的人走进宴会帐篷。维克塔利昂看到“长脸”琼恩·密瑞，“褐牙”托沃德，“左手”卢卡斯·考德，吉蒙德·波特利双臂环抱在镀金胸甲前——那是巴隆第一次起兵期间，他从一个兰尼斯特船长身上扒下来的——橡岛的奥克伍站在他身旁。后面是“石手”、科伦·汉博利，火红的头发编成一根根辫子的“红桨手”，“牧羊人”拉弗，君王港的拉弗，以及“奴工”科尔。

A dozen newcomers had entered the feast tent. Victarion saw Pinchface Jon Myre, Torwold Browntooth, Left-Hand Lucas Codd. Germund Botley crossed his arms against the gilded breastplate he had taken off a Lannister captain during Balon’s first rebellion. Orkwood of Orkmont stood beside him. Behind them were Stonehand, Quellon Humble, and the Red Oarsman with his fiery hair in braids. Ralf the Shepherd too, and Ralf of Lordsport, and Qarl the Thrall.

还有鸦眼，攸伦·葛雷乔伊。

And the Crow’s Eye, Euron Greyjoy.

他看上去一点没变，维克塔利昂心想，他看上去跟嘲笑我之后离开那天一模一样。攸伦的长相在科伦大王几个儿子中最为英俊，三年的流放生活并没改变这点。他的头发仍如午夜汪洋般漆黑，没有一根白丝，而他的脸依然平整白皙，留着整洁的黑胡子。一片黑皮革遮住攸伦的左眼，但他的右眼像盛夏的天空一样湛蓝。

He looks unchanged, Victarion thought. He looks the same as he did the day he laughed at me and left. Euron was the most comely of Lord Quellon’s sons, and three years of exile had not changed that. His hair was still black as a midnight sea, with never a whitecap to be seen, and his face was still smooth and pale beneath his neat dark beard. A black leather patch covered Euron’s left eye, but his right was blue as a summer sky.

他那只微笑的眼睛，维克塔利昂心想。“鸦眼。”他招呼。

His smiling eye, thought Victarion. “Crow’s Eye,” he said.

“是鸦眼国王，弟弟。”攸伦微笑道。他的嘴唇在灯光下又黑又蓝，好似淤青。

“King Crow’s Eye, brother.” Euron smiled. His lips looked very dark in the lamplight, bruised and blue.

“选王会才能决定谁是国王，”湿发站起来，“而不敬神的人将永不能——”

“We shall have no king but from the kingsmoot.” The Damphair stood. “No godless man—”

“——坐上海石之位。说得好。”攸伦环视帐内。“巧的是最近我天天坐在海石之位上，却没人提出异议。”他那只微笑的眼睛烁烁闪光。“瞧，有谁比我更了解神灵呢？马神，火神，镶宝石眼睛的黄金神，雪松木雕的神，刻在山岩上的神，没有形体的神……我通通知道。我见到人们向他们献花，以他们的名义宰杀山羊、公牛和儿童。我听到人们用几十种不同的语言祈祷：治愈我萎缩的腿，让那位处女爱上我，给我一个健康的儿子……保护我！保护我免遭敌人的伤害，保护我免受黑暗的侵袭，保护我，在马王、雇佣兵、奴隶贩子和我肚子里的螃蟹面前保护我！保护我免受宁静号的掠夺。”他狂笑不止。“不敬神？天哪，伊伦，我是世上最最敬神的水手！你侍奉的只是一个神，湿发，但我侍奉着成千上万个神。从伊班到亚夏，无论是谁，看见我的船帆就会祈祷。”

“—may sit the Seastone Chair, aye.” Euron glanced about the tent. “As it happens I have oft sat upon the Seastone Chair of late. It raises no objections.” His smiling eye was glittering. “Who knows more of gods than I? Horse gods and fire gods, gods made of gold with gemstone eyes, gods carved of cedar wood, gods chiseled into mountains, gods of empty air … I know them all. I have seen their peoples garland them with flowers, and shed the blood of goats and bulls and children in their names. And I have heard the prayers, in half a hundred tongues. Cure my withered leg, make the maiden love me, grant me a healthy son. Save me, succor me, make me wealthy … protect me! Protect me from mine enemies, protect me from the darkness, protect me from the crabs inside my belly, from the horselords, from the slavers, from the sellswords at my door. Protect me from the Silence.” He laughed. “Godless? Why, Aeron, I am the godliest man ever to raise sail! You serve one god, Damphair, but I have served ten thousand. From Ib to Asshai, when men see my sails, they pray.”

牧师伸出一根瘦骨嶙岣的手指，“他们向树木，黄金做的偶像和羊头怪物祈祷。那些是虚伪的神……”

The priest raised a bony finger. “They pray to trees and golden idols and goat-headed abominations. False gods …”

“就是这样，”攸伦说，“为这不敬神的罪恶，我把他们杀光了。我让他们血洒大海，然后把自己的种子播进他们哭叫着的女人体内。你说得对，他们那些微不足道的、虚伪的神无法阻止我，你瞧瞧，我比你更虔诚，伊伦。或许你应该跪下向我祈福。”

“Just so,” said Euron, “and for that sin I kill them all. I spill their blood upon the sea and sow their screaming women with my seed. Their little gods cannot stop me, so plainly they are false gods. I am more devout than even you, Aeron. Perhaps it should be you who kneels to me for blessing.”

“红桨手”纵声长笑，其余人也跟着笑。

The Red Oarsman laughed loudly at that, and the others took their lead from him.

“傻瓜，”牧师说，“一群傻瓜、恶仆和瞎子。你们就看不清站在你们面前的是个什么东西吗？”

“Fools,” said the priest, “fools and thralls and blind men, that is what you are. Do you not see what stands before you?”

“是国王。”科伦·汉博利说。

“A king,” said Quellon Humble.

湿发啐了一口，大步踏入夜色之中。

The Damphair spat, and strode out into the night.

等他走后，鸦眼将微笑的眼睛转向维克塔利昂，“司令大人，你不向许久不见的哥哥问好？还有你，阿莎？你母亲还好吗？”

When he was gone, the Crow’s Eye turned his smiling eye upon Victarion. “Lord Captain, have you no greeting for a brother long away? Nor you, Asha? How fares your lady mother?”

“不好，”阿莎说，“有人让她做了寡妇。”

“Poorly,” Asha said. “Some man made her a widow.”

攸伦耸耸肩，“我只听说风暴之神卷走了巴隆。他是谁杀的？告诉我，侄女，我会亲自替他复仇。”

Euron shrugged. “I had heard the Storm God swept Balon to his death. Who is this man who slew him? Tell me his name, niece, so I might revenge myself on him.”

阿莎也站起身，“这个人的名字你跟我一样清楚。你离开了三年，然而我父亲大人去世才一天，宁静号就回来了。”

Asha got to her feet. “You know his name as well as I. Three years you were gone from us, and yet Silence returns within a day of my lord father’s death.”

“你是在指控我吗？”攸伦和蔼地问。

“Do you accuse me?” Euron asked mildly.

“我需要指控你吗？”阿莎尖锐的语气令维克塔利昂皱眉。如此对鸦眼讲话很危险，即便他的眼睛仍在微笑，仍然兴味盎然地闪烁着。

“Should I?” The sharpness in Asha’s voice made Victarion frown. It was dangerous to speak so to the Crow’s Eye, even when his smiling eye was shining with amusement.

“我能操控风向？”鸦眼询问他的党羽。

“Do I command the winds?” the Crow’s Eye asked his pets.

“不能，陛下。”橡岛的奥克伍说。

“No, Your Grace,” said Orkwood of Orkmont.

“没人能控制风。”吉蒙德·波特利道。

“No man commands the winds,” said Germund Botley.

“若是您能就好了，”“红桨手”道，“想去哪里就去哪里，永不停航。”

“Would that you did,” the Red Oarsman said. “You would sail wherever you liked and never be becalmed.”

“你听到了吧，这是三位勇士的证词，”攸伦说，“巴隆去世时，宁静号正在海上。你若不相信叔叔的话，叔叔准许你询问船员。”

“There you have it, from the mouths of three brave men,” Euron said. “The Silence was at sea when Balon died. If you doubt an uncle’s word, I give you leave to ask my crew.”

“询问一群哑巴？天啊，真他妈管用。”

“A crew of mutes? Aye, that would serve me well.”

“你应该找个管用的丈夫。”攸伦再次转向他的追随者们。“托沃德，我忘了，你有老婆吗？”

“A husband would serve you well.” Euron turned to his followers again. “Torwold, I misremember, do you have a wife?”

“只有一个。”“褐牙”托沃德咧嘴一笑，揭示出他的外号由何而来。

“Only the one.” Torwold Browntooth grinned, and showed how he had won his name.

“我还没结婚。”“左手”卢卡斯·考德宣布。

“I am unwed,” announced Left-Hand Lucas Codd.

“那是有理由的，”阿莎说，“女人们也鄙视考德家族。别那么伤心地看着我，卢卡斯，你还有一只手嘛。”她的手握成管状前后蠕动。

“And for good reason,” Asha said. “All women do despise the Codds as well. Don’t look at me so mournful, Lucas. You still have your famous hand.” She made a pumping motion with her fist.

考德咒骂起来，鸦眼用一只手抵住他胸口，“这就是你的礼貌吗，阿莎？取笑卢卡斯的缺陷？”

Codd cursed, till the Crow’s Eye put a hand upon his chest. “Was that courteous, Asha? You have wounded Lucas to the quick.”

“缺陷？哼，都怪我，我没法把他的小鸡鸡剁下来，一劳永逸地帮上忙。论扔斧子，我不比任何男人差，但目标这么小……”

“Easier than wounding him in the prick. I throw an axe as well as any man, but when the target is so small …”

“这女孩简直忘了自己的身份，”“长脸”琼恩·弥瑞吼道，“巴隆让她以为自己是男人——”

“This girl forgets herself,” snarled Pinchface Jon Myre. “Balon let her believe she was a man.”

“对你，你父亲也犯了同样的错误。”阿莎说。

“Your father made the same mistake with you,” said Asha.

“把她交给我，攸伦，”“红桨手”提议，“让我打她几顿屁股，打得跟我的头发一样红。”

“Give her to me, Euron,” suggested the Red Oarsman. “I’ll spank her till her arse is as red as my hair.”

“来试试看，”阿莎说，“不怕当‘红太监’的话就试试看。”她手中忽然出现了一把飞斧。她将它抛到空中，然后灵巧地接住。“这就是我的丈夫，阿叔，谁想要我，先过他这关。”

“Come try,” said Asha, “and hereafter we can call you the Red Eunuch.” A throwing axe was in her hand. She tossed it in the air and caught it deftly. “Here is my husband, Nuncle. Any man who wants me should take it up with him.”

维克塔利昂一拳砸在桌子上。“我不允许在这里发生流血事件。攸伦，带着你的……狐朋狗党……离开。”

Victarion slammed his fist upon the table. “I’ll have no blood shed here. Euron, take your … pets … and go.”

“我本来期待得到你更热情的欢迎，弟弟。我比你年长……很快就是你法定的国王了。”

“I had looked for a warmer welcome from you, brother. I am your elder … and soon, your rightful king.”

维克塔利昂的脸沉下来。“选王会召开后，我们来看看谁将戴上浮木王冠。”

Victarion’s face darkened. “When the kingsmoot speaks, we shall see who wears the driftwood crown.”

“这点我们意见一致。”攸伦伸出两根手指碰碰左眼上的眼罩，告辞离去。其他人像群杂种狗一样紧跟着他。他们走后，一片沉默，直到小伦伍德·陶尼继续拉起提琴，人们才又开始畅饮葡萄酒与麦酒，但许多宾客已然失去了胃口。艾德里德·考德抱着血淋淋的手首先溜了出去，接着是威尔·汉博利，何索·哈尔洛，以及好几个古柏勒。

“On that we can agree.” Euron lifted two fingers to the patch that covered his left eye, and took his leave. The others followed at his heels like mongrel dogs. Silence lingered behind them, till Little Lenwood Tawney took up his fiddle. The wine and ale began to flow again, but several guests had lost their thirst. Eldred Codd slipped out, cradling his bloody hand. Then Will Humble, Hotho Harlaw, a goodly lot of Goodbrothers.

“阿叔。”阿莎将一只手搭到他肩膀上，“跟我一起走走，要是你愿意的话。”

“Nuncle.” Asha put a hand upon his shoulder. “Walk with me, if you would.”

帐外起风了。云层掠过月亮苍白的脸，犹如战舰，竞相奋力冲刺，达到撞锤速度。星星稀少而黯淡。无数长船沿海滩停歇，桅杆高耸，仿佛岸边的森林。维克塔利昂听见搁在沙滩上的船壳发出吱吱嘎嘎的声响，船上的绳索在风中呜咽，旗帜猎猎飘荡。远处深水海湾里，停泊的大船上下摇晃，雾气缭绕中只能看见阴沉沉的影子。

Outside the tent the wind was rising. Clouds raced across the moon’s pale face. They looked a bit like galleys, stroking hard to ram. The stars were few and faint. All along the strand the longships rested, tall masts rising like a forest from the surf. Victarion could hear their hulls creaking as they settled on the sand. He heard the keening of their lines, the sound of banners flapping. Beyond, in the deeper waters of the bay, larger ships bobbed at anchor, grim shadows wreathed in mist.

他们沿海岸行走，行在潮线边，远离营地与篝火。“告诉我实情，阿叔，”阿莎道，“为何攸伦走得如此突兀？”

They walked along the strand together just above the surf, far from the camps and the cookfires. “Tell me true, nuncle,” Asha said, “why did Euron go away so suddenly?”

“鸦眼经常出去打劫。”

“The Crow’s Eye oft went reaving.”

“但从没离开那么久。”

“Never for so long.”

“他驾驶宁静号去了东方，那是一段漫长的航程。”

“He took the Silence east. A lengthy voyage.”

“我问的是他为什么离开，不是他去了哪里。”见他不答，阿莎续道，“宁静号起航时我不在，我率黑风号绕过青亭岛，前往石阶列岛，去跟里斯海盗竞争。当我回家，攸伦已经离开，而你的新婚妻子却死了。”

“I asked why he went, not where.” When he did not answer, Asha said, “I was away when Silence sailed. I had taken Black Wind around the Arbor to the Stepstones, to steal a few trinkets from the Lyseni pirates. When I came home, Euron was gone and your new wife was dead.”

“她只是个盐妾。”但自从将她交付给螃蟹之后，他没碰过别的女人。等当上国王，我必须娶妻。娶一个真正的岩妻，做我的王后，为我生子。国王必须有子嗣。

“She was only a salt wife.” He had not touched another woman since he gave her to the crabs. I will need to take a wife when I am king. A true wife, to be my queen and bear me sons. A king must have an heir.

“我父亲拒绝提起她。”阿莎说。

“My father refused to speak of her,” said Asha.

“提那些无可挽回的事毫无益处。”他对这个话题感到厌烦，“我看见了‘读书人’的长船。”

“It does no good to speak of things no man can change.” He was weary of the subject. “I saw the Reader’s longship.”

“我施尽浑身解数才把他拉出藏书塔。”

“It took all my charm to winkle him out of his Book Tower.”

那么，她至少获得了哈尔洛家族的支持。维克塔利昂的眉头越皱越紧。“你不可能统治铁群岛。你是个女人。”

She has the Harlaws, then. Victarion’s frown grew deeper. “You cannot hope to rule. You are a woman.”

“原来铁岛之王是比赛撒尿决出的？”阿莎大笑，“阿叔，听你这么说我很难过，不过你也许是对的。我跟船长和头领们喝了四天四夜的酒，倾听他们说的话……还有他们不愿意讲出口的东西。我的手下坚定地支持我，外加许多哈尔洛家的人，我还得到了特里斯·波特利，以及其他少数人的支持。但这不够，远远不够。”她踢起一块岩石，溅入两艘长船之间的水中。“我考虑呼喊阿叔的名字。”

“Is that why I always lose the pissing contests?” Asha laughed. “Nuncle, it grieves me to say so, but you may be right. For four days and four nights, I have been drinking with the captains and the kings, listening to what they say … and what they will not say. Mine own are with me, and many Harlaws. I have Tris Botley too, and some few others. Not enough.” She kicked a rock, and sent it splashing into the water between two longships. “I am of a mind to shout my nuncle’s name.”

“哪一个？”他问，“你有三个叔叔。”

“Which uncle?” he demanded. “You have three.”

“加上舅舅一共四个。阿叔，听我说，我会亲自把浮木王冠戴到你头上……只要你同意跟我共治。”

“Four. Nuncle, hear me. I will place the driftwood crown upon your brow myself … if you will agree to share the rule.”

“共治？那怎么可能？”这女人什么意思？她想当我的王后？维克塔利昂发现自己以一种前所未过的方式看待阿莎，命根子也随之变硬。她是巴隆的女儿，他提醒自己，他还记得她小时候朝一扇门反复扔斧子。于是他双臂环抱胸前，“海石之位上只能坐一人。”

“Share the rule? How could that be?” The woman was not making sense. Does she want to be my queen? Victarion found himself looking at Asha in a way he had never looked at her before. He could feel his manhood beginning to stiffen. She is Balon’s daughter, he reminded himself. He remembered her as a little girl, throwing axes at a door. He crossed his arms against his chest. “The Seastone Chair seats but one.”

“那就阿叔坐吧，”阿莎说，“我站在你身后，警卫你的后背，并在你耳边低语谏言。没有哪个国王能独自统治，即使是铁王座上的龙王也需要有人辅佐。国王之手。任命我为你的国王之手，阿叔。”

“Then let my nuncle sit,” Asha said. “I will stand behind you, to guard your back and whisper in your ear. No king can rule alone. Even when the dragons sat the Iron Throne, they had men to help them. The King’s Hands. Let me be your Hand, Nuncle.”

铁群岛之王从不需要国王之手，遑论女人了。船长和头领们醉酒时会笑死我的。“当我的国王之手？你想干什么？”

No King of the Isles had ever needed a Hand, much less one who was a woman. The captains and the kings would mock me in their cups. “Why would you wish to be my Hand?”

“终结这场战争，以免被战争所终结。我们已经赢得了一切能赢得的东西……若不见好就收，转眼间，所有战利品都可能化为乌有。我对葛洛佛夫人极尽礼数，她发誓她的夫君会跟我们讲和，倘若我们交还深林堡、托伦方城和卡林湾，她保证北方人将割让海龙角和整个磐石海岸。那里虽然地广人稀，却比整个铁群岛加起来还大十倍。和约缔结时将交换人质，从此双方互为犄角，以防铁王座干涉——”

“To end this war before this war ends us. We have won all that we are like to win … and stand to lose all just as quick, unless we make a peace. I have shown Lady Glover every courtesy, and she swears her lord will treat with me. If we hand back Deepwood Motte, Torrhen’s Square, and Moat Cailin, she says, the northmen will cede us Sea Dragon Point and all the Stony Shore. Those lands are thinly peopled, yet ten times larger than all the isles put together. An exchange of hostages will seal the pact, and each side will agree to make common cause with the other should the Iron Throne—”

维克塔利昂哑然失笑，“这个葛洛佛夫人把你当白痴耍，侄女。海龙角和磐石海岸已在我们手中，换什么换呢？临冬城燃烧焚毁，化为灰烬，少狼主丢了脑袋，腐烂成泥。我们即将占有整个北境，正如你父亲大人梦想的那样。”

Victarion chuckled. “This Lady Glover plays you for a fool, niece. Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore are ours. Why hand back anything? Winterfell is burnt and broken, and the Young Wolf rots headless in the earth. We will have all the north, as your lord father dreamed.”

“等到长船能在森林里行驶的那天，你的话才能成为现实。听着，一个渔夫或许能钓到灰色海怪，但他若不割断绳线，就会被拖进海底。北境实在太大，又住满了仇视我们的北方人，我们无法控制。”

“When longships learn to row through trees, perhaps. A fisherman may hook a grey leviathan, but it will drag him down to death unless he cuts it loose. The north is too large for us to hold, and too full of northmen.”

“回去玩你的布娃娃吧，侄女，让战士们来赢取胜利。”维克塔利昂给她看看自己的拳头。“我的两只手可是完好无缺，不多也不少。”

“Go back to your dolls, niece. Leave the winning of wars to warriors.” Victarion showed her his fists. “I have two hands. No man needs three.”

“有个人需要哈尔洛家族。”

“I know a man who needs House Harlaw, though.”

“驼背何索提出把女儿嫁给我当王后。只要我答应，便拥有了哈尔洛家族。”

“Hotho Humpback has offered me his daughter for my queen. If I take her, I will have the Harlaws.”

这话似乎让那女孩吃了一惊，“哈尔洛家族属于罗德利克大人。”

That took the girl aback. “Lord Rodrik rules House Harlaw.”

“罗德利克没有女儿，只有书籍。何索将成为他的继承人，而我将成为国王。”大声讲出来，这话显得很真实。“鸦眼离开得太久了。”

“Rodrik has no daughters, only books. Hotho will be his heir, and I will be the king.” Once he had said the words aloud, they sounded true. “The Crow’s Eye has been too long away.”

“有的人离得越远便显得越可怕，”阿莎警告，“有胆你就去篝火间走走、听听。人们讲的故事中既没提及你的力量，也没赞美我的美貌。他们谈论的只有鸦眼，谈论他见识的远方土地，谈论他强暴过的女子，谈论他杀死的男人，谈论被他洗劫的城市，谈论他在兰尼斯港焚烧泰温公爵舰队的手段……”

“Some men look larger at a distance,” Asha warned. “Walk amongst the cookfires if you dare, and listen. They are not telling tales of your strength, nor of my famous beauty. They talk only of the Crow’s Eye; the far places he has seen, the women he has raped and the men he’s killed, the cities he has sacked, the way he burnt Lord Tywin’s fleet at Lannisport …”

“狮子的舰队是我烧的，”维克塔利昂强调，“我亲手将第一支火炬扔上他的旗舰。”

“I burnt the lion’s fleet,” Victarion insisted. “With mine own hands I flung the first torch onto his flagship.”

“但整个计划由鸦眼制订。”阿莎把手搭上他胳膊。“他杀了你妻子……对吗？”

“The Crow’s Eye hatched the scheme.” Asha put her hand upon his arm. “And killed your wife as well … did he not?”

巴隆严令不准提及此事，但巴隆已死。“他让她怀了孩子，我不得不下手。我也想杀了他，可巴隆不准在自家厅堂里发生弑亲行为。他放逐了攸伦，永远不准回来……”

Balon had commanded them not to speak of it, but Balon was dead. “He put a baby in her belly and made me do the killing. I would have killed him too, but Balon would have no kinslaying in his hall. He sent Euron into exile, never to return …”

“……只要巴隆活着？”

“… so long as Balon lived?”

维克塔利昂望向自己的拳头。“她给我戴绿帽子。我别无选择。”消息传出去，人们会笑话我，就像我跟鸦眼对质时，他嘲笑我那样。“她是心甘情愿的，她那儿湿得要命，”他炫耀道，“看来，咱们的维克塔利昂浑身上下都高大，除了最关键的地方。”但他不能告诉她这些。

Victarion looked at his fists. “She gave me horns. I had no choice.” Had it been known, men would have laughed at me, as the Crow’s Eye laughed when I confronted him. “She came to me wet and willing,” he had boasted. “It seems Victarion is big everywhere but where it matters.” But he could not tell her that.

“我为你难过，”阿莎说，“更为她难过……可惜，你也让我别无选择，只能靠自己的力量去夺取海石之位。”

“I am sorry for you,” said Asha, “and sorrier for her … but you leave me small choice but to claim the Seastone Chair myself.”

你办不到。“你要浪费口舌是你自己的事，女人。”

You cannot. “Your breath is yours to waste, woman.”

“我们走着瞧吧，”她说，然后离开了他。

“It is,” she said, and left him.