Ⅲ 冰雨的风暴 Chapter54 戴佛斯

DAVOS

一开始，国王仿佛没听见。对这个消息，史坦尼斯既不表示高兴，也没有愤怒和怀疑，甚至毫无欣慰之感。他瞪着绘彩桌案，咬紧牙关。“你肯定？”他问。

For a moment it seemed as though the king had not heard. Stannis showed no pleasure at the news, no anger, no disbelief, not even relief. He stared at his Painted Table with teeth clenched hard. “You are certain?” he asked.

“显然，我没看到尸体，国王陛下，”萨拉多·桑恩说，“然而城里到处都是神气活现的狮子。百姓们称之为‘红色婚礼’，他们发誓说，佛雷侯爵砍下那男孩的首级，缝上冰原狼的脑袋取而代之，还给它戴上王冠。他母亲也被杀了，赤身裸体地扔进河里。”

“I am not seeing the body, no, Your Kingliness,” said Salladhor Saan. “Yet in the city, the lions prance and dance. The Red Wedding, the smallfolk are calling it. They swear Lord Frey had the boy’s head hacked off, sewed the head of his direwolf in its place, and nailed a crown about his ears. His lady mother was slain as well, and thrown naked in the river.”

在婚礼上，戴佛斯心想，在主人的餐桌上，主人的屋檐下。践踏宾客权利，佛雷家必将遭到诅咒。他仿佛再次闻到血液焚烧的气味，听见水蛭在火盆中滚烫的木炭上嘶嘶作响的声音。

At a wedding, thought Davos. As he sat at his slayer’s board, a guest beneath his roof. These Freys are cursed. He could smell the burning blood again, and hear the leech hissing and spitting on the brazier’s hot coals.

“这是真主的愤怒，”亚赛尔爵士断言，“拉赫洛出手了！”

“It was the Lord’s wrath that slew him,” Ser Axell Florent declared. “It was the hand of R’hllor!”

“赞美光之王！”赛丽丝王后颂唱，她是个瘦削的女人，长着一对招风耳，上唇毛茸茸的。

“Praise the Lord of Light!” sang out Queen Selyse, a pinched thin hard woman with large ears and a hairy upper lip.

“拉赫洛的手有没有老人斑，会不会颤抖呢？”史坦尼斯反问，“这听起来出自瓦德·佛雷的手笔，而非什么真主的力量。”

“Is the hand of R’hllor spotted and palsied?” asked Stannis. “This sounds more Walder Frey’s handiwork than any god’s.”

“拉赫洛依照需要选取工具。”梅莉珊卓喉际的宝石闪着红光。“手段隐秘，但没人能阻挡他的意愿。”

“R’hllor chooses such instruments as he requires.” The ruby at Melisandre’s throat shone redly. “His ways are mysterious, but no man may withstand his fiery will.”

“没人能阻挡！”王后高喊。

“No man may withstand him!” the queen cried.

“安静，女人，你现下不是在夜火前祈祷。”史坦尼斯凝视着绘彩桌案，一边思考。“狼仔没有继承人，海怪又分支太多，狮子会把他们全吞了，除非……桑恩，我要你派出手下最快的船，载着使节前往铁群岛和白港，宣布我的赦免令。”他咬牙切齿的样子显示出他有多痛恨这句话。“肯忏悔叛国行为，并宣誓效忠于真正国王的，都完全予以宽恕。他们一定会……”

“Be quiet, woman. You are not at a nightfire now.” Stannis considered the Painted Table. “The wolf leaves no heirs, the kraken too many. The lions will devour them unless … Saan, I will require your fastest ships to carry envoys to the Iron Islands and White Harbor. I shall offer pardons.” The way he snapped his teeth showed how little he liked that word. “Full pardons, for all those who repent of treason and swear fealty to their rightful king. They must see …”

“他们不会的，”梅莉珊卓语调轻柔，“很抱歉，陛下，这并非事情的结束。很快会有更多伪王捡起先代遗留的王冠。”

“They will not.” Melisandre’s voice was soft. “I am sorry, Your Grace. This is not an end. More false kings will soon rise to take up the crowns of those who’ve died.”

“更多？”史坦尼斯看起来仿佛想掐死她，“更多篡夺者？更多逆贼？”

“More?” Stannis looked as though he would gladly have throttled her. “More usurpers? More traitors?”

“我在圣火中看见了。”

“I have seen it in the flames.”

赛丽丝王后走到国王身边。“光之王派遣梅莉珊卓前来指引您通往荣耀的顶点，请听从她的意见吧，我恳求您，陛下。拉赫洛的圣火中没有谎言。”

Queen Selyse went to the king’s side. “The Lord of Light sent Melisandre to guide you to your glory. Heed her, I beg you. R’hllor’s holy flames do not lie.”

“在我看来，都是谎言加上谎言！即使火焰讲的有真实，其中也布满陷阱。”

“There are lies and lies, woman. Even when these flames speak truly, they are full of tricks, it seems to me.”

“蚂蚁无法理解伟人的话，”梅莉珊卓说，“而所有人类在烈火真主面前全都是蚂蚁。我有时会把警告当做预言，或把预言当做警告，但过错在于解读者，而非神灵。但有一点我很确定——使节和赦免令派不上大用场，就跟水蛭一样。您必须给天下一个信号。一个证明您实力的信号！”

“An ant who hears the words of a king may not comprehend what he is saying,” Melisandre said, “and all men are ants before the fiery face of god. If sometimes I have mistaken a warning for a prophecy or a prophecy for a warning, the fault lies in the reader, not the book. But this I know for a certainty—envoys and pardons will not serve you now, no more than leeches. You must show the realm a sign. A sign that proves your power!”

“实力？”国王哼了一声。“我在龙石岛有一千三百人，另有三百士兵驻防风息堡。”他的手扫过绘彩桌案。“维斯特洛其余的部分都在敌人手中，而除了萨拉多·桑恩的船，我的舰队已告覆灭。此外，我没钱雇佣兵，没有掠夺或荣耀的前景来吸引自由骑手投奔。”

“Power?” The king snorted. “I have thirteen hundred men on Dragonstone, another three hundred at Storm’s End.” His hand swept over the Painted Table. “The rest of Westeros is in the hands of my foes. I have no fleet but Salladhor Saan’s. No coin to hire sellswords. No prospect of plunder or glory to lure freeriders to my cause.”

“夫君，”赛丽丝王后道，“你的人比三百年前伊耿的还多，缺的只有龙。”

“Lord husband,” said Queen Selyse, “you have more men than Aegon did three hundred years ago. All you lack are dragons.”

史坦尼斯阴沉沉地看着她。“九大法师渡海来孵伊耿三世储藏的龙蛋，‘受神爱护的’贝勒则对着蛋祈祷了半年，伊耿四世发明木铁神龙，而‘明焰’伊利昂喝下野火药，妄图让自己成龙。法师失败了，贝勒王的祈祷没有得到回应，木龙被烧毁，而伊利昂王子在尖叫中死去。”

The look Stannis gave her was dark. “Nine mages crossed the sea to hatch Aegon the Third’s cache of eggs. Baelor the Blessed prayed over his for half a year. Aegon the Fourth built dragons of wood and iron. Aerion Brightflame drank wildfire to transform himself. The mages failed, King Baelor’s prayers went unanswered, the wooden dragons burned, and Prince Aerion died screaming.”

赛丽丝王后态度坚决。“他们都不是拉赫洛的选民。当年没有红色彗星划过天际，宣告预言的实现；当年没有人拥有‘光明使者’，英雄之红剑。他们也都没有付出代价，梅莉珊卓女士会告诉您，陛下，唯有死亡方能换取生命。”

Queen Selyse was adamant. “None of these was the chosen of R’hllor. No red comet blazed across the heavens to herald their coming. None wielded Lightbringer, the red sword of heroes. And none of them paid the price. Lady Melisandre will tell you, my lord. Only death can pay for life.”

“那男孩？”国王几乎是充满愤懑地吐出这几个字。

“The boy?” The king almost spat the words.

“那男孩。”王后赞同。

“The boy,” agreed the queen.

“那男孩。”亚赛尔爵士也跟进。

“The boy,” Ser Axell echoed.

“这肮脏的孩子出生前就令我深恶痛绝，”国王哀叹，“他的名字在我耳中犹如轰鸣，仿佛是覆盖灵魂的一片乌云。”

“I was sick unto death of this wretched boy before he was even born,” the king complained. “His very name is a roaring in my ears and a dark cloud upon my soul.”

“请把那男孩交给我，您就再也不用听到他的名字。”梅莉珊卓许诺。

“Give the boy to me and you need never hear his name spoken again,” Melisandre promised.

也许没错，但当她焚烧他时，您会听见他的尖叫。戴佛斯保持沉默。在国王叫他发言之前，先不开口比较明智。

No, but you’ll hear him screaming when she burns him. Davos held his tongue. It was wiser not to speak until the king commanded it.

“让我把那男孩献给拉赫洛，”红袍女说，“古老的预言将会实现。您的龙将被唤醒，展开石头翅膀，为您赢得七大王国。”

“Give me the boy for R’hllor,” the red woman said, “and the ancient prophecy shall be fulfilled. Your dragon shall awaken and spread his stony wings. The kingdom shall be yours.”

亚赛尔爵士单膝跪倒。“我跪求陛下，唤醒石头中的魔龙，让乱臣贼子们颤栗吧。跟伊耿一样，您将从龙石岛出发；跟伊耿一样，您将征服维斯特洛。让伪君子和背信弃义的人都感受您的烈焰与怒火！”

Ser Axell went to one knee. “On bended knee I beg you, sire. Wake the stone dragon and let the traitors tremble. Like Aegon you begin as Lord of Dragonstone. Like Aegon you shall conquer. Let the false and the fickle feel your flames.”

“您的妻子也同样恳求您，夫君老爷。”赛丽丝王后在国王面前双膝跪下，双手像祈祷时一样合拢。“劳勃和狄丽娜污染了我们的婚床，为我们的结合投下诅咒。这孩子是通奸的肮脏果实，将他的阴影从我的身子移除，我将为您怀上许多嫡子，我保证。”她双臂环抱住他的腿。“他不过是个孩子，出自您兄长的欲望和我堂妹的羞耻。”

“Your own wife begs as well, lord husband.” Queen Selyse went down on both knees before the king, hands clasped as if in prayer. “Robert and Delena defiled our bed and laid a curse upon our union. This boy is the foul fruit of their fornications. Lift his shadow from my womb and I will bear you many trueborn sons, I know it.” She threw her arms around his legs. “He is only one boy, born of your brother’s lust and my cousin’s shame.”

“他是我的血亲。别抓着我，女人。”史坦尼斯国王一只手搭在妻子肩上，别扭地挣脱她的环抱。“也许劳勃的确让我们的婚床受到诅咒，不过他曾指天发誓，说绝不是要羞辱我，只是喝醉了而已，而且那天晚上根本不知自己进的哪间卧房。但这些有什么关系？不管真相如何，孩子没有过错。”

“He is mine own blood. Stop clutching me, woman.” King Stannis put a hand on her shoulder, awkwardly untangling himself from her grasp. “Perhaps Robert did curse our marriage bed. He swore to me that he never meant to shame me, that he was drunk and never knew which bedchamber he entered that night. But does it matter? The boy was not at fault, whatever the truth.”

梅莉珊卓将手搭上国王胳膊。“光之王珍视贞洁，惩罚堕落，所以没有比这更为合适的献祭。魔龙将自国王的鲜血和纯净的圣火之中诞生。”

Melisandre put her hand on the king’s arm. “The Lord of Light cherishes the innocent. There is no sacrifice more precious. From his king’s blood and his untainted fire, a dragon shall be born.”

史坦尼斯没有像对待他的王后那样抽身远离梅莉珊卓。红袍女跟赛丽丝完全不同：年轻，丰满，有种奇异的美，心形的脸蛋，红铜色头发，神秘的红眼睛。“岩石获得生命将是件神奇的事，”他勉强承认，“而骑上真龙……记得父亲第一次带我上朝，劳勃还得牵着我的手。当时我不超过四岁，他则是五岁或六岁。退朝之后，我们一致同意，国王很威严，而巨龙很可怕。”史坦尼斯哼了一声。“若干年后，父亲告诉我们，伊里斯那天早晨在王座上割伤了自己，因此由首相代为发言，让我们印象如此深刻的其实是泰温·兰尼斯特。”他的手指触摸桌面，轻轻划过富于光泽的山丘。“劳勃称王后撤下了那些头颅，但实在难以下手将它们销毁。巨龙在维斯特洛上空展翅翱翔……那是多么的……”

Stannis did not pull away from Melisandre’s touch as he had from his queen’s. The red woman was all Selyse was not; young, full-bodied, and strangely beautiful, with her heart-shaped face, coppery hair, and unearthly red eyes. “It would be a wondrous thing to see stone come to life,” he admitted, grudging. “And to mount a dragon … I remember the first time my father took me to court, Robert had to hold my hand. I could not have been older than four, which would have made him five or six. We agreed afterward that the king had been as noble as the dragons were fearsome.” Stannis snorted. “Years later, our father told us that Aerys had cut himself on the throne that morning, so his Hand had taken his place. It was Tywin Lannister who’d so impressed us.” His fingers touched the surface of the table, tracing a path lightly across the varnished hills. “Robert took the skulls down when he donned the crown, but he could not bear to have them destroyed. Dragon wings over Westeros … there would be such a …”

“陛下！”戴佛斯跨步上前。“我能谏言几句吗？”

“Your Grace!” Davos edged forward. “Might I speak?”

史坦尼斯猛然闭嘴，紧咬牙齿。“雨林伯爵，若非为听取谏言，我怎会任命你做首相呢？”国王摆摆手。“尽管直说。”

Stannis closed his mouth so hard his teeth snapped. “My lord of the Rainwood. Why do you think I made you Hand, if not to speak?” The king waved a hand. “Say what you will.”

战士，请赐予我勇气。“我不了解巨龙，更不了解神灵……但王后提到诅咒，天下皆知，无论以诸神或凡人的标准，弑亲者都会受到永远的诅咒。”

Warrior, make me brave. “I know little of dragons and less of gods … but the queen spoke of curses. No man is as cursed as the kinslayer, in the eyes of gods and men.”

“除了拉赫洛与凡人不可道也的远古异神，世上没有其他神祗。”梅莉珊卓的嘴抿成一条红线，“而渺小的人类诅咒他们所无法理解的东西。”

“There are no gods save R’hllor and the Other, whose name must not be spoken.” Melisandre’s mouth made a hard red line. “And small men curse what they cannot understand.”

“我是个渺小的人类，”戴佛斯承认，“因此劳您解释清楚，为何需要这个名叫艾德瑞克·风暴的男孩来唤醒岩石中的魔龙，女士。”他决定尽可能多地提那男孩的名字。

“I am a small man,” Davos admitted, “so tell me why you need this boy Edric Storm to wake your great stone dragon, my lady.” He was determined to say the boy’s name as often as he could.

“唯有死亡方能换取生命，大人，而伟大的恩赐需要伟大的牺牲。”

“Only death can pay for life, my lord. A great gift requires a great sacrifice.”

“一个庶出孩童有何伟大之处？”

“Where is the greatness in a baseborn child?”

“他血管里流着国王之血。你自己亲眼看到了，甚至一点点就足以——”

“He has kings’ blood in his veins. You have seen what even a little of that blood could do—”

“我看到你烧死几条水蛭。”

“I saw you burn some leeches.”

“两个伪王因此而死。”

“And two false kings are dead.”

“罗柏·史塔克被河渡口领主瓦德侯爵谋杀，而据说巴隆·葛雷乔伊是从桥上掉下去摔死的。这和您的水蛭有什么关系？”

“Robb Stark was murdered by Lord Walder of the Crossing, and we have heard that Balon Greyjoy fell from a bridge. Who did your leeches kill?”

“你怀疑拉赫洛的力量？”

“Do you doubt the power of R’hllor?”

不，我不怀疑。那晚在风息堡底下，活生生的阴影伸出黑色的双手攫住她的大腿，从子宫里蠕动爬出，戴佛斯记得太清楚……我必须小心行事，不然或许会成为阴影的目标。“即使走私洋葱的人也可以分辨两个洋葱和三个洋葱的区别。你还缺一个国王，女士。”

No. Davos remembered too well the living shadow that had squirmed from out her womb that night beneath Storm’s End, its black hands pressing at her thighs. I must go carefully here, or some shadow may come seeking me as well. “Even an onion smuggler knows two onions from three. You are short a king, my lady.”

史坦尼斯哼出一声冷笑，“他逮到你痛处了，女士，两个跟三个不同。”

Stannis gave a snort of laughter. “He has you there, my lady. Two is not three.”

“那当然，陛下。一个国王或许是碰巧，甚至两个……但三个全部？如果乔佛里在他如日中天之时，于千军万马和御林铁卫的保护下也相应死去，这样能不能说服您相信真主的力量呢？”

“To be sure, Your Grace. One king might die by chance, even two … but three? If Joffrey should die in the midst of all his power, surrounded by his armies and his Kingsguard, would not that show the power of the Lord at work?”

“也许可以。”国王说得仿佛每个字都并非心甘情愿。

“It might.” The king spoke as if he grudged each word.

“这根本不会发生。”戴佛斯极力掩饰自己的恐惧。

“Or not.” Davos did his best to hide his fear.

“乔佛里一定要死。”赛丽丝王后平静而自信地宣告。

“Joffrey shall die,” Queen Selyse declared, serene in her confidence.

“可能他已经死了。”亚赛尔爵士补充。

“It may be that he is dead already,” Ser Axell added.

史坦尼斯厌恶地看着他们。“你们是训练有素的乌鸦吗，轮流朝我聒噪？够了。”

Stannis looked at them with annoyance. “Are you trained crows, to croak at me in turns? Enough.”

“夫君，听我说——”王后恳求。

“Husband, hear me—” the queen entreated.

“说什么？两个跟三个不同。国王跟走私者一样会数数。你们都退下吧。”史坦尼斯转身背对他们。

“Why? Two is not three. Kings can count as well as smugglers. You may go.” Stannis turned his back on them.

梅莉珊卓扶王后起身。赛丽丝迅速而僵硬地走出房间，红袍女跟在后面。亚赛尔爵士逗留片刻，最后瞪了戴佛斯一眼。丑陋的眼神，丑陋的脸，他对上他的视线，心里想。

Melisandre helped the queen to her feet. Selyse swept stiffly from the chamber, the red woman trailing behind. Ser Axell lingered long enough to give Davos one last look. An ugly look on an ugly face, he thought as he met the stare.

其他人走后，戴佛斯清清嗓子。国王抬头，“你怎么还在？”

After the others had gone, Davos cleared his throat. The king looked up. “Why are you still here?”

“陛下，关于艾德瑞克·风暴……”

“Sire, about Edric Storm …”

史坦尼斯手一挥，“饶了我吧。”

Stannis made a sharp gesture. “Spare me.”

戴佛斯坚持不懈，“您女儿每天跟他一起上课，跟他一起在伊耿花园做游戏。”

Davos persisted. “Your daughter takes her lessons with him, and plays with him every day in Aegon’s Garden.”

“这我知道。”

“I know that.”

“倘若他有什么不幸，她会伤心——”

“Her heart would break if anything ill should—”

“这我也知道。”

“I know that as well.”

“只要您见过他——”

“If you would only see him—”

“我见过他。他很像劳勃，是的，而且崇拜着父亲。我该不该告诉他，他那亲爱的老爸根本没怎么想过他？我哥到处留种，生出来之后又不闻不问。”

“I have seen him. He looks like Robert. Aye, and worships him. Shall I tell him how often his beloved father ever gave him a thought? My brother liked the making of children well enough, but after birth they were a bother.”

“他每天都问起你，他——”

“He asks after you every day, he—”

“你快把我惹火了，戴佛斯，我不要再听这个私生子的事。”

“You are making me angry, Davos. I will hear no more of this bastard boy.”

“他的名字是艾德瑞克·风暴，陛下。”

“His name is Edric Storm, sire.”

“我知道他的名字。有比这更合适的名字吗？既表明他的私生身份和高贵出身，又隐喻着他所带来的混乱。艾德瑞克·风暴，好吧，我已经念了这个名字。你满意了么，首相大人？”

“I know his name. Was there ever a name so apt? It proclaims his bastardy, his high birth, and the turmoil he brings with him. Edric Storm. There, I have said it. Are you satisfied, my lord Hand?”

“艾德瑞克——”他继续。

“Edric—” he started.

“——不过是个孩子！就算他是有史以来最优秀的男孩，但那也没什么关系。我要向国家负责。”他的手扫过绘彩桌案。“维斯特洛有多少男孩？多少女孩？多少男人，多少女人？她说到黑暗将把他们全部吞没，永不终结的长夜；她说到预言……沸腾的海洋里诞生的英雄，无机的石头中孵出活生生的魔龙……她说到各种征兆和预示，统统指向我。我从没要求过这些，就像我从没要求过当国王一样，但我能不能忽略她的话？”他咬紧牙关。“我们无法选择命运，但必须……必须履行职责，对不对？伟大抑或渺小，人人都必须履行自己的职责。梅莉珊卓发誓在圣火中看到我高举‘光明使者’，抵抗恐怖的黑暗。嘿！这个‘光明使者’！”史坦尼斯嘲弄般地哼了一声。“它光彩夺目，我向你保证，但在黑水河上，这柄魔法剑并不比普通钢剑给我更大的帮助。然而一头龙，一头巨龙足以扭转战局。伊耿曾站在这里，跟我现在一样，俯视着这张桌子。如果他没有龙，还能够成为‘征服者’吗？”

“—is one boy! He may be the best boy who ever drew breath and it would not matter. My duty is to the realm.” His hand swept across the Painted Table. “How many boys dwell in Westeros? How many girls? How many men, how many women? The darkness will devour them all, she says. The night that never ends. She talks of prophecies … a hero reborn in the sea, living dragons hatched from dead stone … she speaks of signs and swears they point to me. I never asked for this, no more than I asked to be king. Yet dare I disregard her?” He ground his teeth. “We do not choose our destinies. Yet we must … we must do our duty, no? Great or small, we must do our duty. Melisandre swears that she has seen me in her flames, facing the dark with Lightbringer raised on high. Lightbringer!” Stannis gave a derisive snort. “It glimmers prettily, I’ll grant you, but on the Blackwater this magic sword served me no better than any common steel. A dragon would have turned that battle. Aegon once stood here as I do, looking down on this table. Do you think we would name him Aegon the Conqueror today if he had not had dragons?”

“陛下，”戴佛斯说，“付出的代价……”

“Your Grace,” said Davos, “the cost …”

“我知道代价！昨天晚上，我凝视着壁炉，也看到了火焰中的景象。我看到一个国王，额上戴着烈火王冠，不停地燃烧……燃烧！戴佛斯，他的王冠正在消蚀他的血肉，将他化为灰烬。你认为我需要梅莉珊卓告诉我那是什么意思吗？或者需要你告诉我吗？”国王挪了一下，他的影子洒在君临城头。“如果乔佛里真的死了……一个私生男孩的生命相对于一个王国的前途又算什么呢？”

“I know the cost! Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning … burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?” The king moved, so his shadow fell upon King’s Landing. “If Joffrey should die … what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?”

“一切。”戴佛斯轻声说。

“Everything,” said Davos, softly.

史坦尼斯看着他，咬紧牙关。“走，快走，”国王最后道，“免得说话太多，又害自己被关进黑牢。”

Stannis looked at him, jaw clenched. “Go,” the king said at last, “before you talk yourself back into the dungeon.”

有时候风暴实在强烈，你别无选择，只能收起船帆。“是，陛下。”戴佛斯颔首道，但史坦尼斯似乎已忘了他。

Sometimes the storm winds blow so strong a man has no choice but to furl his sails. “Aye, Your Grace.” Davos bowed, but Stannis had seemingly forgotten him already.

离开石鼓楼时，庭院十分寒冷。一阵强风从东方吹来，城墙上排列的旗帜被刮得翻卷飞扬，哗哗直响。戴佛斯闻到空气中的咸味。大海的气息。他喜爱这种气息。一时间，只想再度踏上甲板，升起风帆，航向南方，去找玛瑞亚和他的两个小家伙。现在他几乎每天都会想起他们，夜里思念得更为厉害，心底的一部分只盼带上戴冯一起回家。我不能这么做。现在还不能。我当上了领主和国王之手，“人人都必须履行自己的职责”，我不能辜负他。

It was chilly in the yard when he left the Stone Drum. A wind blew briskly from the east, making the banners snap and flap noisily along the walls. Davos could smell salt in the air. The sea. He loved that smell. It made him want to walk a deck again, to raise his canvas and sail off south to Marya and his two small ones. He thought of them most every day now, and even more at night. Part of him wanted nothing so much as to take Devan and go home. I cannot. Not yet. I am a lord now, and the King’s Hand, I must not fail him.

他抬眼凝望城墙。上千只狰狞石兽代替了普通城垛，向下俯视着他，每只都各不相同：双足飞龙、狮鹫、恶魔、蝎尾兽、牛头怪、石蜥、地狱犬、鸡蛇及其他千种更为诡异的怪物都从城头上冒出，仿佛生长于斯。龙则到处都是。大厅是一头贴地躺卧的龙，人们从它张开的巨口进入；厨房是一头蜷缩成团的龙，烤炉散发的烟雾和蒸汽从它鼻孔排出；塔楼是盘踞城头或者振翅欲飞的龙：飞龙塔上的尖啸藐视一切，海龙塔则平静地凝视外海波涛。较小的龙装饰着门洞框架，墙上伸出的龙爪是火炬台，巨大的石翼包含铁匠铺和兵器库，龙尾则构成拱门、桥梁和室外楼梯。

He raised his eyes to gaze up at the walls. In place of merlons, a thousand grotesques and gargoyles looked down on him, each different from all the others; wyverns, griffins, demons, manticores, minotaurs, basilisks, hellhounds, cockatrices, and a thousand queerer creatures sprouted from the castle’s battlements as if they’d grown there. And the dragons were everywhere. The Great Hall was a dragon lying on its belly. Men entered through its open mouth. The kitchens were a dragon curled up in a ball, with the smoke and steam of the ovens vented through its nostrils. The towers were dragons hunched above the walls or poised for flight; the Windwyrm seemed to scream defiance, while Sea Dragon Tower gazed serenely out across the waves. Smaller dragons framed the gates. Dragon claws emerged from walls to grasp at torches, great stone wings enfolded the smith and armory, and tails formed arches, bridges, and exterior stairs.

戴佛斯常听人说，瓦雷利亚巫师不像石匠那样亲手雕琢，而用火焰和魔咒加以形塑，好比制陶工人塑造黏土器物。现在的他不由得疑惑：难道它们就是真龙，出于某种原因而被石化？

Davos had often heard it said that the wizards of Valyria did not cut and chisel as common masons did, but worked stone with fire and magic as a potter might work clay. But now he wondered. What if they were real dragons, somehow turned to stone?

“我在想，假如红袍女真能让它们复活，城堡就会立刻坍塌。房间、楼梯、家具……呵呵，还有窗户、烟囱和厕所，到处都是龙。”

“If the red woman brings them to life, the castle will come crashing down, I am thinking. What kind of dragons are full of rooms and stairs and furniture? And windows. And chimneys. And privy shafts.”

戴佛斯扭头发现萨拉多·桑恩就在身边，“这意味着你原谅我了么，萨拉？”

Davos turned to find Salladhor Saan beside him. “Does this mean you have forgiven my treachery, Salla?”

老海盗朝他晃晃手指。“原谅，是的。遗忘，没有。蟹岛上那许多金银财宝本来都是我的喽，想来就令人寝食难安、疲惫衰老，假如我死的时候穷困潦倒，家里的妻子们定会诅咒你，洋葱大人。赛提加伯爵有许多上等葡萄酒，现在却品尝不到，他还有一只训练有素、能从手腕上起飞的海鹰，一支能够召唤海底深处海怪的魔法号角。这样一支号角会很管用，可以用来打击泰洛西人及其他可恶的东西。但我现在有没有它呢？没有！因为国王让我的朋友当了首相。”他勾住戴佛斯的胳膊，“后党人士不喜欢你，我的老友，听说首相正在结交自己的朋友，是也不是啊，嗯？”

The old pirate wagged a finger at him. “Forgiving, yes. Forgetting, no. All that good gold on Claw Isle that might have been mine, it makes me old and tired to think of it. When I die impoverished, my wives and concubines will curse you, Onion Lord. Lord Celtigar had many fine wines that now I am not tasting, a sea eagle he had trained to fly from the wrist, and a magic horn to summon krakens from the deep. Very useful such a horn would be, to pull down Tyroshi and other vexing creatures. But do I have this horn to blow? No, because the king made my old friend his Hand.” He slipped his arm through Davos’s and said, “The queen’s men love you not, old friend. I am hearing that a certain Hand has been making friends of his own. This is true, yes?”