当一切细节都被谈及，争论直到决定以后，赛门·斯崔普拜克提出了最关键的一点：“作为曾经的渊凯奴隶，我曾代表过贤主去和佣兵团讨价还价，了解他们的胃口，而且我知道渊凯是无法说服佣兵们直面龙息的。所以我问一句…倘若和谈失败而战端需要，巨龙们是否会来？加入战斗？”
And when all that had been discussed, debated, and decided, Symon Stripeback raised one final point. “As a slave in Yunkai I helped my master bargain with the free companies and saw to the payment of their wages. I know sellswords, and I know that the Yunkai’i cannot pay them near enough to face dragonflame. So I ask you … if the peace should fail and this battle should be joined, will the dragons come? Will they join the fight?”
会来的，巴利斯坦本想说。嘈杂会吸引他们，哭喊和尖叫，血腥的气息，这些都会把他们引上战场，正如Daznak穴的咆哮会把龙吸引到血红的沙地上。但一旦它们来到，又如何让它们不误伤无辜呢？他认为这不可能。所以他只说了：“巨龙只会按巨龙的方式行事。如果它们来了，就单单是它们挥舞的双翼的阴影就足矣吓退那群奴隶。”然后他感谢了大家并宣布散会。
They will come, Ser Barristan might have said. The noise will bring them, the shouts and screams, the scent of blood. That will draw them to the battlefield, just as the roar from Daznak’s Pit drew Drogon to the scarlet sands. But when they come, will they know one side from the other? Somehow he did not think so. So he said only, “The dragons will do what the dragons will do. If they do come, it may be that just the shadow of their wings will be enough to dishearten the slavers and send them fleeing.” Then he thanked them and dismissed them all.
灰虫子最后一个走，“一旦火焰升起，无垢者就将预备好战斗。但女王之手您必须确信无论何时我们发起攻击，渊凯人都将会杀害人质。”
Grey Worm lingered after the others had left. “These ones will be ready when the beacon fire is lit. But the Hand must surely know that when we attack, the Yunkai’i will kill the hostages.”
“我将竭尽所能的营救，我的朋友。我有一个…打算。但请原谅我下，是时候让多恩人知道他们的王子的死讯了。”
“I will do all I can to prevent that, my friend. I have a … notion. But pray excuse me. It is past time the Dornishmen heard that their prince is dead.”
灰虫子点头：“我将遵从。”
Grey Worm inclined his head. “This one obeys.”
巴利斯坦带上两个新近的骑士下到地牢。众所周知，悲伤与内疚是会把人逼向疯狂。而阿奇博尔德·伊伦伍德和格里斯·郡克沃特均参与了他们的挚友的死亡。但当他们来到牢室，他让图姆和红羔羊在外面守护，他独自一人将王子的挣扎已经了结的消息告诉多恩人。
Ser Barristan took two of his new-made knights with him down into the dungeons. Grief and guilt had been known to drive good men into madness, and Archibald Yronwood and Gerris Drinkwater had both played roles in their friend’s demise. But when they reached the cell, he told Tum and the Red Lamb to wait outside whilst he went in to tell the Dornish that the prince’s agony was over.
阿奇博尔德爵士，高个秃顶的那个，沉默无语。独自坐在床边，直勾勾的盯着自己缠满亚麻绷带的烧伤的手。格里斯爵士则挥拳撞墙，“我告诫了他这是愚蠢的，我央求他回家。
Ser Archibald, the big bald one, had nothing to say. He sat on the edge of his pallet, staring down at his bandaged hands in their linen wrappings. Ser Gerris punched a wall. “I told him it was folly. I begged him to go home. Your bitch of a queen had no use for him, any man could see that. He crossed the world to offer her his love and fealty, and she laughed in his face.”
你那女王婊子对他毫无用途，这是明摆的事情。他穿越了世界来表达他的挚爱与忠诚，然而她却当众取笑了他。”
“She never laughed,” said Selmy. “If you knew her, you would know that.”
“她鄙视他，他为她献上了心，她却顺手就丢了回来接着干她那佣兵姘头。”
“She spurned him. He offered her his heart, and she threw it back at him and went off to fuck her sellsword.”
“你最好小心你的舌头，阁下。”巴利斯坦既不喜欢格里斯·郡克沃特，又很愤怒他对于女王的中伤。“昆汀王子的死亡是他自己的责任，以及你们的。”
“You had best guard that tongue, ser.” Ser Barristan did not like this Gerris Drinkwater, nor would he allow him to vilify Daenerys. “Prince Quentyn’s death was his own doing, and yours.”
“我们的？这怎么成了我们的罪过，阁下？昆汀是我们的朋友，是的。有点愚莽，你大概会说，但又有哪个梦想不需要勇敢。但无论如何，他都是我们的王子，我们遵从他的指挥。”
“Ours? How are we at fault, ser? Quentyn was our friend, yes. A bit of a fool, you might say, but all dreamers are fools. But first and last he was our prince. We owed him our obedience.”
巴利斯坦·赛尔弥无法拒绝这话中的真理。他最好的岁月就花费在听从醉汉和疯子的指令上。“他来的太晚了。”
Barristan Selmy could not dispute the truth of that. He had spent the best part of his own life obeying the commands of drunkards and madmen. “He came too late.”
“他献上了他的心。”格里斯爵士又重复道，
“He offered her his heart,” Ser Gerris said again.
“她只需要宝剑，而非真爱。”
“She needed swords, not hearts.”
“他本还会为她献上多恩的长枪。”
“He would have given her the spears of Dorne as well.”
“他本应该的。”再没人比巴利斯坦·赛尔弥更期待丹妮莉丝能青睐并爱上多恩的王子。“他来得太迟了，而且，这傻子…雇了佣兵，放了两条巨龙在城里…这以不仅仅是疯狂，这是背叛！”
“Would that he had.” No one had wanted Daenerys to look with favor on the Dornish prince more than Barristan Selmy. “He came too late, though, and this folly … buying sellswords, loosing two dragons on the city … that was madness and worse than madness. That was treason.”
“他的所作所为都是出于对丹妮莉丝女王的热爱，”格里斯·郡克沃特坚持着，“来以此证明他配得上她。”
“What he did he did for love of Queen Daenerys,” Gerris Drinkwater insisted. “To prove himself worthy of her hand.”
老骑士听够了。“昆汀王子所做都是为了多恩。你以为我真的老糊涂了吗？我这辈子都在侍奉国王、王后和王子们。阳戟城会发动武装叛乱来对抗铁王座。不，不用费心辩解。道朗马泰尔是不见兔儿是不会撒鹰的那种人。责任引领昆汀王子来到此处。责任，荣誉，对于建功立业的渴望…没有爱情。昆汀是逐龙而来，而非丹妮莉丝。”
The old knight had heard enough. “What Prince Quentyn did he did for Dorne. Do you take me for some doting grandfather? I have spent my life around kings and queens and princes. Sunspear means to take up arms against the Iron Throne. No, do not trouble to deny it. Doran Martell is not a man to call his spears without hope of victory. Duty brought Prince Quentyn here. Duty, honor, thirst for glory … never love. Quentyn was here for dragons, not Daenerys.”
“你不了解他的，阁下。他—”
“You did not know him, ser. He—”
“他死了，沃特。”伊伦伍德抬起了他的腿，“再多的话语也无法挽救他。克里图斯和威尔也死了。所以在我把拳头灌进你那破嘴前，闭口吧。”高个骑士转向赛尔弥“你会如何发落我们？”
“He’s dead, Drink.” Yronwood rose to his feet. “Words won’t fetch him back. Cletus and Will are dead too. So shut your bloody mouth before I stick my fist in it.” The big knight turned to Selmy. “What do you mean to do with us?”
“斯卡哈兹 剃头者希望你们绞死。你扭断了他四个手下的脖子，四个女王的，两个从阿斯塔波就跟随她的自由民。”
“Skahaz Shavepate wants you hanged. You slew four of his men. Four of the queen’s men. Two were freedmen who had followed Her Grace since Astapor.”
伊伦伍德看上去并不吃惊，“那种野兽头盔，嗯。我只杀了一个，蛇头的那个。佣兵们干掉了其它人。不过无所谓了，我知道。”
Yronwood did not seem surprised. “The beast men, aye. I only killed the one, the basilisk head. The sellswords did the others. Don’t matter, though, I know that.”
“我们是保护昆汀，”郡克沃特说，“我们——”
“We were protecting Quentyn,” said Drinkwater. “We—”
“静下来，喝你的水。他知道。”高个转向巴利斯坦继续，“若是要绞死我们，你就没必要来了，所以不是，对吗？”
“Be quiet, Drink. He knows.” To Ser Barristan the big knight said, “No need to come and talk if you meant to hang us. So it’s not that, is it?”
“对。”这家伙不像他看上去那么不灵光。“你们活着对我更有意义。服务我，不久之后我将安排用船把你们带回多恩并带上你们的昆汀王子的遗骨给他的亲王父亲。”
“No.” This one may not be as slow-witted as he seems. “I have more use for you alive than dead. Serve me, and afterward I will arrange a ship to take you back to Dorne and give you Prince Quentyn’s bones to return to his lord father.”
阿奇博尔德苦笑道：“怎么又是船？总会有人愿把昆汀魂归故里。为什么挑我们，阁下？”
Ser Archibald grimaced. “Why is it always ships? Someone needs to take Quent home, though. What do you ask of us, ser?”
“你们的宝剑”
“Your swords.”
“你手下有无数军队”
“You have thousands of swords.”
“女王的自由民们血统各异。雇佣兵们不值得信赖。无垢者是勇敢的士兵…但不是战士。不是骑士。”他停了一口气，“你们尝试驯龙时究竟发生了什么？告诉我。”
“The queen’s freedmen are as yet unblooded. The sellswords I do not trust. Unsullied are brave soldiers … but not warriors. Not knights.” He paused. “What happened when you tried to take the dragons? Tell me.”
多恩人交换了下眼神，郡克沃特接着说到，“昆汀告诉破烂王他能控制它们，那来自于他的血脉，他说，他有坦格利安的血脉。”
The Dornishmen exchanged a look. Then Drinkwater said, “Quentyn told the Tattered Prince he could control them. It was in his blood, he said. He had Targaryen blood.”
“龙之血脉。”
“Blood of the dragon.”
“是的，佣兵团本该帮我们把龙锁好，以便我们偷运上船。”
“Yes. The sellswords were supposed to help us get the dragons chained up so we could get them to the docks.”
“拉格斯安排好了艘船，”郡克沃特说着，“一艘大的，以便我们抓住多只。而昆汀将骑上一只。”他看了看缠满绷带的手，“然而我们一进去就发现，这一切都不管用。巨龙太狂野了。链子…链子的碎片到处都是，巨大的锁链，和你头般大小混在各种头骨和碎骨中。而昆汀，愿七神怜悯他，看样子就要尿在他的马裤里了。卡戈和梅里斯可不瞎，他们也看见它们了。于是一个十字弩手掉头就跑。或许他们一直只想着屠龙，并一直利用我们找到它们。你永远了解不了塔特斯的想法。无论如何向龙射箭都不是聪明的做法。挑衅只会令巨龙愤怒，而它们却从未如此感兴致的。接下来…接下来一切都变得糟糕。”
“Rags arranged for a ship,” said Yronwood. “A big one, in case we got both dragons. And Quent was going to ride one.” He looked at his bandaged hands. “The moment we got in, though, you could see none of it was going to work. The dragons were too wild. The chains … there were bits of broken chain everywhere, big chains, links the size of your head mixed in with all these cracked and splintered bones. And Quent, Seven save him, he looked like he was going to shit his smallclothes. Caggo and Meris weren’t blind, they saw it too. Then one of the crossbowmen let fly. Maybe they meant to kill the dragons all along and were only using us to get to them. You never know with Tatters. Any way you hack it off, it weren’t clever. The quarrel just made the dragons angry, and they hadn’t been in such a good mood to start with. Then … then things got bad.”
“于是风吹团如风般溃散了，”格里斯接着说到，“昆汀在尖叫，全身是火，而他们都走了，卡戈，美人梅里斯，所有活着的。”
“And the Windblown blew away,” said Ser Gerris. “Quent was screaming, covered in flames, and they were gone. Caggo, Pretty Meris, all but the dead one.”
“噢，那你还盼望着什么，沃特？猫会抓老鼠，猪会在泥里打滚，而佣兵从来都在最需要他们的时候逃跑。不能怪他们，野兽的天性。”
“Ah, what did you expect, Drink? A cat will kill a mouse, a pig will wallow in shit, and a sellsword will run off when he’s needed most. Can’t be blamed. Just the nature of the beast.”
“他说的没错。”巴利斯坦说，“那昆汀王子又对破烂王允诺了什么以答谢这些帮助？”
“He’s not wrong,” Ser Barristan said. “What did Prince Quentyn promise the Tattered Prince in return for all this help?”
一片沉默。格里斯看着阿奇博尔德，而阿奇博尔德看着他的手，地面以及牢门。
He got no answer. Ser Gerris looked at Ser Archibald. Ser Archibald looked at his hands, the floor, the door.
“潘托斯，”巴利斯坦说，“他答应给他潘托斯了，是不是？说吧，你们的言语已经无法危害昆汀王子了。”
“Pentos,” said Ser Barristan. “He promised him Pentos. Say it. No words of yours can help or harm Prince Quentyn now.”
“是，”阿奇博尔德不情愿的说，“是潘托斯，他们在纸上达成了交易，他们俩个。”
“Aye,” said Ser Archibald unhappily. “It was Pentos. They made marks on a paper, the two of them.”
这是一个机遇。“我们仍扣着些风吹团在地牢里。那些假装的逃兵。”
There is a chance here. “We still have Windblown in the dungeons. Those feigned deserters.”
“我记得，”阿奇博尔德说，“亨格福德，斯达鲁，还有些。以佣兵标准而言他们中的一些不算太坏。其它的，他们都快死了吧，不是么？”
“I remember,” said Yronwood. “Hungerford, Straw, that lot. Some of them weren’t so bad for sellswords. Others, well, might be they could stand a bit of dying. What of them?”
“我是指把他们派回破烂王。而你们将跟随他们。你俩将淹没在人群中，所以你们在渊凯军营地的出现将无人注意。我要你们送条消息给破烂王。告诉他，是我指派的你们，以女王的名义。告诉他如果他把人质安全送来，我们愿开好价，当然是完整无伤的。”
“I mean to send them back to the Tattered Prince. And you with them. You will be two amongst thousands. Your presence in the Yunkish camps should pass unnoticed. I want you to deliver a message to the Tattered Prince. Tell him that I sent you, that I speak with the queen’s voice. Tell him that we’ll pay his price if he delivers us our hostages, unharmed and whole.”
阿奇博尔德苦着脸“拉格斯和塔特斯可能更愿意把我俩送给美人梅里斯，他不会答应的。”
Ser Archibald grimaced. “Rags and Tatters is more like to give the two of us to Pretty Meris. He won’t do it.”
“为什么不？任务很简单。”相对于偷龙。“我曾将疯王从暮谷城救出。”
“Why not? The task is simple enough.” Compared to stealing dragons. “I once brought the queen’s father out of Duskendale.”
“那是维斯特洛，”格里斯·郡克沃特说
“That was Westeros,” said Gerris Drinkwater.
“而这是弥林。”
“This is Meereen.”
“阿奇以那双手甚至都没法拿剑。”
“Arch cannot even hold a sword with those hands.”
“他应该不用。你将会跟着这些佣兵，除非我看错了人。”
“He ought not need to. You will have the sellswords with you, unless I mistake my man.”
格里斯·郡克沃特倒梳了下他那干瘪的金发，“能让我们有点时间私下讨论下吗？”
Gerris Drinkwater pushed back his mop of sun-streaked hair. “Might we have some time to discuss this amongst ourselves?”
“不！”赛尔弥说。
“No,” said Selmy.
“那我来，”阿奇博尔德请愿，“只要没有见鬼的船就好。沃特也会干的。”他微笑道，“他暂时还不知道，但他会干的。”
“I’ll do it,” offered Ser Archibald, “just so long as there’s no bloody boats involved. Drink will do it too.” He grinned. “He don’t know it yet, but he will.”
于是就这么定了。
And that was done.
这是轻松的部分，起码吧。巴利斯坦·赛尔弥在爬回到金字塔顶的路上这么想着。艰难的部分他留在了多恩。他的祖父将会大吃一惊。多恩人是骑士，起码名义上是。虽然只有伊伦伍德的真铁般的性格让他有这样的印象。郡克沃特只有张漂亮的脸蛋，灵巧的舌头，以及那一头好头发。
The simple part, at least, thought Barristan Selmy, as he made the long climb back to the summit of the pyramid. The hard part he’d left in Dornish hands. His grandfather would have been aghast. The Dornishmen were knights, at least in name, though only Yronwood impressed him as having the true steel. Drinkwater had a pretty face, a glib tongue, and a fine head of hair.
当老骑士返回塔顶女王的寝室之时，昆汀王子的遗骸已经被移走。他进门遇见六个年轻的送盘侍童在玩儿童游戏，围坐在一圈在地上轮流挨个转动匕首。当匕首停下指定某位，他就切下一缕头发。巴利斯坦幼年时在丰收厅也曾和他的表兄妹玩过这游戏…虽然是在维斯特洛，而且据他回忆，游戏的最后还涉及亲吻。“巴哈卡兹，”他召唤到，“请倒一杯酒，如果你乐意。格兰兹达尔，亚扎克，请看好门。我只等待绿衣仁者，她一来就请把她带到这里，至于其它，我不希望被打搅了。”
By the time the old knight returned to the queen’s rooms atop the pyramid, Prince Quentyn’s corpse had been removed. Six of the young cupbearers were playing some child’s game as he entered, sitting in a circle on the floor as they took turns spinning a dagger. When it wobbled to a stop they cut a lock of hair off whichever of them the blade was pointing at. Ser Barristan had played a similar game with his cousins when he was just a boy at Harvest Hall … though in Westeros, as he recalled, kissing had been involved as well. “Bhakaz,” he called. “A cup of wine, if you would be so good. Grazhar, Azzak, the door is yours. I am expecting the Green Grace. Show her in at once when she arrives. Elsewise, I do not wish to be disturbed.”
亚扎克屈膝道，“如你所愿，首相大人。”
Azzak scrambled to his feet. “As you command, Lord Hand.”
巴利斯坦转头来到阳台。雨已经停了，虽然天空中仍有大块的乌云遮日就好像它沉在了奴隶湾一样。Hazdar的黑废墟上依旧冒出缕缕青烟，被风吹拂成丝带一般。在城墙之外的极东方向，他看见苍白翅影飘过远处的丘陵。是韦赛里昂。也许是在捕猎，也许就是在自由的飞翔。他不禁想知道雷哥在哪儿，虽然迄今为止，；绿色的那只要比白色的危险得多。
Ser Barristan went out onto the terrace. The rain had stopped, though a wall of slate-grey clouds hid the setting sun as it made its descent into Slaver’s Bay. A few wisps of smoke still rose from the blackened stones of Hazdar, twisted like ribbons by the wind. Far off to the east, beyond the city walls, he saw pale wings moving above a distant line of hills. Viserion. Hunting, mayhaps, or flying just to fly. He wondered where Rhaegal was. Thus far the green dragon had shown himself to be more dangerous than the white.
当巴哈卡兹端来酒，老骑士一口长饮而尽又派男孩去装点水来。几杯下肚正好帮助他睡眠，但还需要他的智慧一旦迦菈札·迦菈莉和敌人们达成了协议归来。他身心疲惫，充满怀疑。多恩人，哈兹达尔国王，雷兹纳克，进攻…他的选择都是正确的吗？他所做的是不是丹妮莉丝期望他做的呢？我不是干这个的料。其它的御林铁卫在他之前也曾出任首相，不多，也不少。他在白典上读到过这些。现在他却想知道当年他们是否也和他一样失落与困惑。
When Bhakaz brought his wine, the old knight took one long swallow and sent the boy for water. A few cups of wine might be just the thing to help him sleep, but he would need his wits about him when Galazza Galare returned from treating with the foe. So he drank his wine well watered, as the world grew dark around him. He was very tired, and full of doubts. The Dornishmen, Hizdahr, Reznak, the attack … was he doing the right things? Was he doing what Daenerys would have wanted? I was not made for this. Other Kingsguard had served as Hand before him. Not many, but a few. He had read of them in the White Book. Now he found himself wondering whether they had felt as lost and confused as he did.
”首相大人，”格兰兹达尔站在门边，手捧蜡烛，“绿衣仁者回来了，按您的要求来通报。”
“Lord Hand.” Grazhar stood in the door, a taper in his hand. “The Green Grace has come. You asked to be told.”
“带她过来，把蜡烛都点上。”
“Show her in. And light some candles.”
迦菈札·迦菈莉由四位粉红侍女陪同。智慧与典雅的光环环绕着她，让巴利斯坦情不自禁好生钦佩。她不仅是个强势的女人，也是丹妮莉丝忠贞的朋友。“首相大人，”她说，她的脸庞隐藏在绿光闪闪的面纱之后，“请允许我坐下？一把老骨头又酸又累。”
Galazza Galare was attended by four Pink Graces. An aura of wisdom and dignity seemed to surround her that Ser Barristan could not help but admire. This is a strong woman, and she has been a faithful friend to Daenerys. “Lord Hand,” she said, her face hidden behind shimmering green veils. “May I sit? These bones are old and weary.”
“格兰兹达尔，给绿衣仁者搬张椅子。”粉红侍女环绕在她背后，目光低垂，双手交叉于身前。“需要给您上点心吗？”巴利斯坦问到。
“Grazhar, a chair for the Green Grace.” The Pink Graces arrayed themselves behind her, with eyes lowered and hands clasped before them. “May I offer you refreshment?” asked Ser Barristan.
“恭敬不如从命，巴利斯坦阁下。我的喉咙因交谈而干渴。一杯果汁，行么？”
“That would be most welcome, Ser Barristan. My throat is dry from talking. A juice, perhaps?”
“如您所愿。”他叫来凯兹玛雅为女祭司点了杯柠檬汁，并加了点蜂蜜。为了饮用方便，女祭司将摘下面纱，而赛尔弥又记起她的岁数了。大我约20岁，甚至更多。“如果女王还在这，她也一定会和我一起感激您为我们所做的一切。”
“As you wish.” He beckoned to Kezmya and had her fetch the priestess a goblet of lemon juice, sweetened with honey. To drink it, the priestess had to remove her veil, and Selmy was reminded of just how old she was. Twenty years my elder, or more. “If the queen were here, I know she would join me in thanking you for all that you have done for us.”
“女王陛下的壮景一直都亲切。”迦菈札·迦菈莉迅速喝完饮品又戴上了面纱，“我们挚爱的王后陛下有更进一步的消息了吗？”
“Her Magnificence has always been most gracious.” Galazza Galare finished her drink and fastened up her veil again. “Have there been any further tidings of our sweet queen?”
“目前没有。”
“None as yet.”
“我会为她祈祷。那哈兹达尔王呢？恕我斗胆问一句。能允许我觐见下陛下他吗？”
“I shall pray for her. And what of King Hizdahr, if I may be so bold? Might I be permitted to see His Radiance?”
“快了，我希望。他没事，我向你保证。”
“Soon, I hope. He is unharmed, I promise you.”
“这些消息让我十分荣幸。渊凯的贤主议会要求他的出席。他们要求立刻释放高贵的哈兹达尔并恢复他的所有权利，对此我相信您不感到吃惊吧。”
“I am pleased to hear that. The Wise Masters of Yunkai asked after him. You will not be surprised to hear that they wish the noble Hizdahr to be restored at once to his rightful place.”
“他会的，一旦我们确信他与刺杀女王陛下无关。但在此之前，弥林还是由忠诚与公正的御前会议管理。您也将列席会议。我相信您还有许多要与我们分享。仁慈的殿下，我们需要您的智慧指引。”
“He shall be, if it can be proved that he did not try to kill our queen. Until such time, Meereen will be ruled by a council of the loyal and just. There is a place for you on that council. I know that you have much to teach us all, Your Benevolence. We need your wisdom.”
“这些都是您的过誉，首相大人，”迦菈札·迦菈莉说，“如果您真相信我的智慧，听我一言。立即释放并还给哈兹达尔王他的王座。”
“I fear you flatter me with empty courtesies, Lord Hand,” the Green Grace said. “If you truly think me wise, heed me now. Release the noble Hizdahr and restore him to his throne.”
“只有女王陛下才有资格这么做。”
“Only the queen can do that.”
面纱之后，迦菈札·迦菈莉叹息道：“我们与之艰辛争取的和平却如同深秋的落叶在风中飘荡，那是悲惨的时节。死亡袭击了街道，将传染病从被三重诅咒的阿斯塔波传染而来。天空又有巨龙出没，以孩子的血肉为食。人民在逃离，逃往渊凯，逃往托罗斯，逃往魁尔斯，逃往任何他们能避难的地方。Hazkar金字塔已化作冒烟废墟，而许多古老的线索就隐藏在乱石之下。Uhlez和Yherizan巨金字塔已是那野兽的巢穴，它们的主人却是无家可归的乞丐。我的人民已经失去了信仰和希望，整夜花天酒地，酒池肉林。”
Beneath her veils, the Green Grace sighed. “The peace that we worked so hard to forge flutters like a leaf in an autumn wind. These are dire days. Death stalks our streets, riding the pale mare from thrice-cursed Astapor. Dragons haunt the skies, feasting on the flesh of children. Hundreds are taking ship, sailing for Yunkai, for Tolos, for Qarth, for any refuge that will have them. The pyramid of Hazkar has collapsed into a smoking ruin, and many of that ancient line lie dead beneath its blackened stones. The pyramids of Uhlez and Yherizan have become the lairs of monsters, their masters homeless beggars. My people have lost all hope and turned against the gods themselves, giving over their nights to drunkenness and fornication.”
“还有谋杀，鹰身女妖之子一夜就犯下了30条人命。”
“And murder. The Sons of the Harpy slew thirty in the night.”
“对此我深表悲伤。这都是需要立即释放高贵的希兹达尔·佐·洛拉克原因，他能阻止这一切。”
“I grieve to hear this. All the more reason to free the noble Hizdahr zo Loraq, who stopped such killings once.”
他又如何做到的，除非他就是鹰身女妖？“女王把自己交给了希兹达尔·佐·洛拉克，让他成为了她的伴侣与国王，就如他恳求的那样恢复了凡人的礼仪。然而他却以下毒作为回报。”
And how did he accomplish that, unless he is himself the Harpy? “Her Grace gave her hand to Hizdahr zo Loraq, made him her king and consort, restored the mortal art as he beseeched her. In return he gave her poisoned locusts.”
“他还以和平。别忘了这个，阁下。我恳求您，和平无价可沽。希兹达尔是个洛拉克。他绝对不会干下毒之事，他是无辜的。”
“In return he gave her peace. Do not cast it away, ser, I beg you. Peace is the pearl beyond price. Hizdahr is of Loraq. Never would he soil his hands with poison. He is innocent.”
“您为何如此肯定？”除非你就是下毒者，
“How can you be certain?” Unless you know the poisoner.
“吉斯神告诉我的。”
“The gods of Ghis have told me.”
“我只信七神，而七神对此却保持缄默。智慧的殿下，您提交了我的提议吗？”
“My gods are the Seven, and the Seven have been silent on this matter. Your Wisdom, did you present my offer?”
“告诉了渊凯的贤主和佣兵团长们，正如您所命…但我不确信您会对回复满意。”
“To all the lords and captains of Yunkai, as you commanded me … yet I fear you will not like their answer.”
“他们拒绝了？”
“They refused?”
“是的，赎金换不回人质，我被告知。只有龙血才行。”
“They did. No amount of gold will buy your people back, I was told. Only the blood of dragons may set them free again.”
不出巴利斯坦所料，虽不是他期望的结果。他闭紧了嘴唇。
It was the answer Ser Barristan had expected, if not the one that he had hoped for. His mouth tightened.
“我知道这不是您所期望的答复，”迦菈札·迦菈莉说，“然而对我而言，我理解。那些龙是毁灭象征。渊凯人害怕他们…出于恰如其分缘由，这您无法否认。我们的历史里记载了可怕的瓦雷利亚龙领主，以及他们给古吉斯人造成的毁灭。即使是您那年轻的女王，美丽的丹妮莉丝陛下也自称龙之母…我们看见的她在燃烧，那天在剧场里…即使她也不能幸免于龙息的。”
“I know these were not the words you wished to hear,” said Galazza Galare. “Yet for myself, I understand. These dragons are fell beasts. Yunkai fears them … and with good cause, you cannot deny. Our histories speak of the dragonlords of dread Valyria and the devastation that they wrought upon the peoples of Old Ghis. Even your own young queen, fair Daenerys who called herself the Mother of Dragons … we saw her burning, that day in the pit … even she was not safe from the dragon’s wroth.”
“陛下她没…她…”
“Her Grace is not … she …”
“…死了。愿神灵赐予她安息。”面纱之后她眼含泪光，“让她的龙也陪葬吧。”
“… is dead. May the gods grant her sweet sleep.” Tears glistened behind her veils. “Let her dragons die as well.”
听见沉重脚步声，赛尔弥不禁回头。门被撞开，斯卡哈兹·莫·坎达克冲了进来，紧跟着铜盔野兽。格兰兹达尔企图阻止他，却被他推开。
Selmy was groping for an answer when he heard the sound of heavy footsteps. The door burst inward, and Skahaz mo Kandaq stormed in with four Brazen Beasts behind him. When Grazhar tried to block his path, he slammed the boy aside.
巴利斯坦又站了起来，“怎么了？”
Ser Barristan was on his feet at once. “What is it?”
“抛石机，”剃头者咆哮着，“所有的六具。”
“The trebuchets,” the Shavepate growled. “All six.”
迦菈札·迦菈莉也起立，“这就是渊凯给您的回应，阁下。我告诫了您可能不喜欢这答复。”
Galazza Galare rose. “Thus does Yunkai make reply to your offers, ser. I warned you that you would not like their answer.”
他们选择战争，那，就开战吧。巴利斯坦反而感到如释重负。战争他懂，“如果他们认为砸开弥林就靠丢些石头——”
They choose war, then. So be it. Ser Barristan felt oddly relieved. War he understood. “If they think they will break Meereen by throwing stones—”
“不是石头，”那个老女人的话语充满悲哀，惊恐，“是尸体！”
“Not stones.” The old woman’s voice was full of grief, of fear. “Corpses.”
