这只是让他咯咯而笑，“多斯拉克马族领主称拉扎林人为羊民。当你拿剪刀对着他们，他们能做的只有咩咩而叫。他们不是用来作战的人。”

That only made him chuckle. “The Dothraki horselords call the Lhazarene the Lamb Men. When you shear them, all they do is bleat. They are not a martial people.”

即使是羊民朋友也好过没有朋友。“贤主大人应该学习羊民。我之前宽恕过渊凯，但是我不会再犯同样的错误。如果他们敢来攻击我，这次我会将黄城夷为平地。”

Even a sheepish friend is better than none. “The Wise Masters should follow their example. I spared Yunkai before, but I will not make that mistake again. If they should dare attack me, this time I shall raze their Yellow City to the ground.”

“但是，当你夷平渊凯之时，我的甜心，弥林将会在你背后站起。不要对危险视而不见，丹妮莉丝。你的太监们是好战士，但是他们太少了，不足以对抗渊凯派来攻击你的军队，一旦阿斯塔波沦陷。”

“And whilst you are razing Yunkai, my sweet, Meereen shall rise behind you. Do not close your eyes to your peril, Daenerys. Your eunuchs are fine soldiers, but they are too few to match the hosts that Yunkai will send against you, once Astapor has fallen.”

“我的自由民——”丹妮开始。

“My freedman—” Dany started.

“床奴，剃头人，砖匠没有赢过战斗。”

“Bedslaves, barbers, and brickmakers win no battles.”

他这么说是错的，她希望。自由民曾经是乌合之众，但是她挑选出达到战斗年龄的人加入军团，命令灰虫子把他们训练成战士。随便他怎么想吧。“你忘了？我有龙。”

He was wrong in that, she hoped. The freedmen had been a rabble once, but she had organized the men of fighting age into companies and commanded Grey Worm to make them into soldiers. Let him think what he will. “Have you forgotten? I have dragons.”

“有吗？在魁尔斯，很少看到没有一条龙在你肩上……然而现在，姣美的肩头和你的甜美乳房一样白皙与光秃，我看到。”

“Do you? In Qarth, you were seldom seen without a dragon on your shoulder … yet now that shapely shoulder is as fair and bare as your sweet breast, I observe.”

“我的龙长大了，而肩膀没有。他们出没到很远的野外捕猎。”Hazzea（孩子被龙吃了那位），原谅我。她想知道札罗知道多少，他听到过多少传言。“问阿斯塔波的善主大人关于我的龙，要是你不相信。”我看到一个奴隶贩子的眼睛熔化从面颊流下。“告诉我实话，老朋友，如果不是为了贸易而来，你找我所为何事？”

“My dragons have grown, my shoulders have not. They range far afield, hunting.” Hazzea, forgive me. She wondered how much Xaro knew, what whispers he had heard. “Ask the Good Masters of Astapor about my dragons if you doubt them.” I saw a slaver’s eyes melt and go running down his cheeks. “Tell me true, old friend, why did you seek me out if not to trade?”

“带来一件礼物，给我心爱的女王。”

“To bring a gift, for the queen of my heart.”

“继续说，”这是什么陷阱，现在？

“Say on.” What trap is this, now?

“你在魁尔斯苦苦向我乞求的礼物——船。十三条战船停在水湾。你的，只要你想要它们。我带来一支舰队，运送你回到家乡——维斯特洛。”

“The gift you begged of me in Qarth. Ships. There are thirteen galleys in the bay. Yours, if you will have them. I have brought you a fleet, to carry you home to Westeros.”

一支舰队。远远超过她的预期，所以，当然地也让她警惕。在魁尔斯，札罗曾经提供给她三十艘船……换一头龙。“那么，你为这些船开价多少？”

A fleet. It was more than she could hope for, so of course it made her wary. In Qarth, Xaro had offered her thirty ships … for a dragon. “And what price do you ask for these ships?”

“零。我不再奢望龙。在我来这儿的路上，当我的‘绸云’号下水之时，我看到了他们的杰作。这些船是你的，甜后，十三艘战船，还有浆手。”

“None. I no longer lust for dragons. I saw their work at Astapor on my way here, when my Silken Cloud put in for water. The ships are yours, sweet queen. Thirteen galleys, and men to pull the oars.”

十三。可以肯定的是，札罗只是其中之一。不用怀疑，他说服他的每一位商会会员放弃一艘船。她太了解这个商人巨子了，他绝不会牺牲自己的十三艘船。“我一定会考虑此事。我可以检查这些船吗？”

Thirteen. To be sure. Xaro was one of the Thirteen. No doubt he had convinced each of his fellow members to give up one ship. She knew the merchant prince too well to think that he would sacrifice thirteen of his own ships. “I must consider this. May I inspect these ships?”

“你变的多疑了，丹妮莉丝。”

“You have grown suspicious, Daenerys.”

一直就是。“是我变聪明了，札罗。”

Always. “I have grown wise, Xaro.”

“随你检查。等你感到满意了，对我发誓：你会即刻返回维斯特洛，然后这些船就是你的了。用你的龙，你的七神，你父亲的骨灰发誓。去吧。”

“Inspect all you wish. When you are satisfied, swear to me that you shall return to Westeros forthwith, and the ships are yours. Swear by your dragons and your seven-faced god and the ashes of your fathers, and go.”

“如果我决定等一年，或者三年？”

“And if I should decide to wait a year, or three?”

一抹哀痛的神情从札罗脸上一闪而过，“那会让我很伤心，我的甜美的最爱……因为看起来如此年轻、强壮的你将会活不久长。离开这里。”

A mournful look crossed Xaro’s face. “That would make me very sad, my sweet delight … for young and strong as you now seem, you shall not live so long. Not here.”

他一手送上蜂巢，一手举着皮鞭。“渊凯人不至于那么可怕。”

He offers the honeycomb with one hand and shows the whip with the other. “The Yunkai’i are not so fearsome as all that.”

“不是你全部的敌人都在黄城，小心那些冷心蓝唇的人。你离开魁尔斯不到两周，俳雅？菩厉就派出三个男巫去潘托斯找你。”

“Not all your enemies are in the Yellow City. Beware men with cold hearts and blue lips. You had not been gone from Qarth a fortnight when Pyat Pree set out with three of his fellow warlocks, to seek for you in Pentos.”

丹妮更多的是感到好笑而不是害怕，“那么正好我避开了，潘托斯离弥林有半个世界之远。”

Dany was more amused than afraid. “It is good I turned aside, then. Pentos is half a world from Meereen.”

“确实如此，”他承认，“然而，龙后在奴隶湾的消息迟早会传到他们耳朵。”

“This is so,” he allowed, “yet soon or late word must reach them of the dragon queen of Slaver’s Bay.”

“这是想恐吓我吗？我在恐惧中生活了十四年，我的大人。我每天早晨害怕着醒来，每个夜晚害怕着入睡……但是，自从我从烈火中重生那天起，我的恐惧就燃烧殆尽。如今，只有一件事让我害怕。”

“Is that meant to frighten me? I lived in fear for fourteen years, my lord. I woke afraid each morning and went to sleep afraid each night … but my fears were burned away the day I came forth from the fire. Only one thing frightens me now.”

“是什么事让你害怕，我的甜后？”

“And what is it that you fear, sweet queen?”

“害怕自己只是个愚蠢的少女。”丹妮踮起脚尖吻他的脸颊，“但是也不至于蠢到告诉你这些。我的人会检查这些船，然后你会收到我的答复。”

“I am only a foolish young girl.” Dany rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “But not so foolish as to tell you that. My men shall look at these ships. Then you shall have my answer.”

“遵命。”他轻轻地抚摸她裸露的乳房，喃喃低语，“让我留下说服你吧。”

“As you say.” He touched her bare breast lightly, and whispered, “Let me stay and help persuade you.”

有那么一刻她想要他，可能是舞者们激起了她的欲望。我可以闭上眼睛，假装他是达里奥。梦中的达里奥比真实的达里奥更可靠。但是她把这想法推到一边，“不，我的大人，我感谢你，但是不。”丹妮从他的怀抱里滑脱出来，“改天夜里，或许。”

For a moment she was tempted. Perhaps the dancers had stirred her after all. I could close my eyes and pretend that he was Daario. A dream Daario would be safer than the real one. But she pushed the thought aside. “No, my lord. I thank you, but no.” Dany slipped from his arms. “Some other night, perhaps.”

“改天夜里。”他的话语满是哀伤，但他的眼里更多的似乎是宽慰而不是失望。

“Some other night.” His mouth was sad, but his eyes seemed more relieved than disappointed.

如果我是龙，我就能飞往维斯特洛。他走时，她想到。我就会不需要札罗或他的船。丹妮想知道十三艘战船能装下多少人。她和跟随她从魁尔斯来到阿斯塔波的卡拉萨需要三艘；但是这是在她得到8000无垢者，1000佣兵和一大群自由民之前。还有龙，我应该拿它们怎么办？“卓耿，”她轻声呢喃，“你在哪里？”有一会儿，她好像能看到他划过天空，黑色的翅膀遮挡住了群星。

If I were a dragon, I could fly to Westeros, she thought when he was gone. I would have no need of Xaro or his ships. Dany wondered how many men thirteen galleys could hold. It had taken three to carry her and her khalasar from Qarth to Astapor, but that was before she had acquired eight thousand Unsullied, a thousand sellswords, and a vast horde of freedmen. And the dragons, what am I to do with them? “Drogon,” she whispered softly, “where are you?” For a moment she could almost see him sweeping across the sky, his black wings swallowing the stars.

她转身面向黑暗中静静地站立在阴影里的巴利斯坦？赛尔弥。“我哥哥曾经告诉我一个维斯特洛谜语：偏听每个声音的人却什么也听不到？”

She turned her back upon the night, to where Barristan Selmy stood silent in the shadows. “My brother once told me a Westerosi riddle. Who listens to everything yet hears nothing?”

“来自一个御林铁卫的骑士。”赛尔弥用郑重的声音回答。

“A knight of the Kingsguard.” Selmy’s voice was solemn.

“你听到札罗的提议了？”

“You heard Xaro make his offer?”

“是的，陛下。”老骑士跟她说话时还要不看她裸露的乳房，这让他很痛苦。

“I did, Your Grace.” The old knight took pains not to look at her bare breast as he spoke to her.

乔拉爵士不会移开他的目光。他爱我，把我当做女人；而巴利斯坦爱我，只是把我当做他的女王。莫尔蒙是个告密者，向她的维斯特洛敌人汇报，然而他也给过她好的建议。“你怎么看这个提议？还有他？”

Ser Jorah would not turn his eyes away. He loved me as a woman, where Ser Barristan loves me only as his queen. Mormont had been an informer, reporting to her enemies in Westeros, yet he had given her good counsel too. “What do you think of it? Of him?”

“关于他，我知之甚少。这些船，然而……陛下，有了这些船，我们或许年底前就能回家。”

“Of him, little and less. These ships, though … Your Grace, with these ships we might be home before year’s end.”

丹妮从来不知道有家。在布拉佛斯，有一所有着红色大门的房子，但是仅此而已。“小心魁尔斯人携带的礼物，特别是十三个商人巨子。肯定有陷阱在里面，可能这些船用的是腐烂的木料，或者……”

Dany had never known a home. In Braavos, there had been a house with a red door, but that was all. “Beware of Qartheen bearing gifts, especially merchants of the Thirteen. There is some trap here. Perhaps these ships are rotten, or …”

“这些船要是如此经不起海浪，它们也不能从魁尔斯穿越大海而来。”巴利斯坦爵士指出，“但是陛下坚持检查它们是明智之举。天一亮我就带海军司令格罗莱和他的船长们，还有他的40个水手登上这些战船。我们可以翻遍它们的每一英寸。”

“If they were so unseaworthy, they could not have crossed the sea from Qarth,” Ser Barristan pointed out, “but Your Grace was wise to insist upon inspection. I will take Admiral Groleo to the galleys at first light with his captains and two score of his sailors. We can crawl over every inch of those ships.”

好的建议。“是的，就这么定了。”维斯特洛，家。但是，如果她离开，她的城市会发生什么？弥林从来不是你的城市，她哥哥的声音似乎在低声耳语。你的城市在对面，你属于你的七大王国，你的敌人在那里等着你。你生来就是为了带给他们血与火。

It was good counsel. “Yes, make it so.” Westeros. Home. But if she left, what would happen to her city? Meereen was never your city, her brother’s voice seemed to whisper. Your cities are across the sea. Your Seven Kingdoms, where your enemies await you. You were born to serve them blood and fire.

巴利斯坦爵士清清喉咙说道，“商人说到那个男巫……”

Ser Barristan cleared his throat and said, “This warlock that the merchant spoke of …”

“俳雅？菩厉。”她试图回忆起他的脸，但是她能想起的只有他的嘴唇。男巫之酒让他们的嘴唇变成蓝色。黑夜之影，人们这么称呼他们。“要是男巫的咒语能杀死我，我早就死了。我把他们的宫殿变成了灰烬。”是龙救了我，当他们要吸取我的生命力时。龙烧了他们所有。

“Pyat Pree.” She tried to recall his face, but all she could see were his lips. The wine of the warlocks had turned them blue. Shade-of-the-evening, it was called. “If a warlock’s spell could kill me, I would be dead by now. I left their palace all in ashes.” Drogon saved me when they would have drained my life from me. Drogon burned them all.

“如你所说，陛下。不过，我会时刻保持警惕。”

“As you say, Your Grace. Still. I will be watchful.”

她在他的脸颊上吻了一下，“我知道你会的。来，陪我走回去参加宴会。”

She kissed him on the cheek. “I know you will. Come, walk me back down to the feast.”

第二天早上，丹妮满怀希望的醒来，就像她第一次来奴隶湾时那样。达里奥不久就会再次回到她的身边，然后他们将一起航向维斯特洛。回家。她的年轻人质中的一个给她送来早餐，一个丰满害羞的女孩，叫Mezzara，她的父亲掌管着Merreq金字塔。丹妮给她一个幸福的拥抱，并用一个吻感谢她。

The next morning Dany woke as full of hope as she had been since first she came to Slaver’s Bay. Daario would soon be at her side once more, and together they would sail for Westeros. For home. One of her young hostages brought her morning meal, a plump shy girl named Mezzara, whose father ruled the pyramid of Merreq, and Dany gave her a happy hug and thanked her with a kiss.

“札罗？赞旺？达梭斯提供给我十三艘战船，”她告诉伊丽和姬琪，当她们为她出席廷会着装时。

“Xaro Xhoan Daxos has offered me thirteen galleys,” she told Irri and Jhiqui as they were dressing her for court.

“13是个糟糕的数字，卡丽熙，”姬琪用多斯拉克语嘀咕，“人所周知。”

“Thirteen is a bad number, Khaleesi,” murmured Jhiqui, in the Dothraki tongue. “It is known.”

“人所周知，”伊丽同意。

“It is known,” Irri agreed.

“30会好点儿，”丹妮莉丝同意，“而300会更好。但是十三艘船也足够载我们回维斯特洛。”

“Thirty would be better,” Daenerys agreed. “Three hundred better still. But thirteen may suffice to carry us to Westeros.”

两个多斯拉克女孩交换了个眼神。“毒水是被诅咒的，卡丽熙，”姬琪说，“马儿门不能喝它。”

The two Dothraki girls exchanged a look. “The poison water is accursed, Khaleesi,” said Irri. “Horses cannot drink it.”

“我没有打算喝它，”丹妮向她们保证。

“I do not intend to drink it,” Dany promised them.

那天早上只有四个请愿者等着她。像往常一样，伽尔大人第一个站出来，看起来甚至比以往更沮丧。“殿下，”他抱怨道，当他在大理石地板上匍匐在她脚下时，“渊凯的军队袭击了阿斯塔波，我祈求您，动用你所有的军队南下吧！”

Only four petitioners awaited her that morning. As ever, Lord Ghael was the first to present himself, looking even more wretched than usual. “Your Radiance,” he moaned, as he fell to the marble at her feet, “the armies of the Yunkai’i descend on Astapor. I beg you, come south with all your strength!”

“我警告过你的国王，他的这场战争是愚蠢的，”丹妮提醒他，“他不听。”

“I warned your king that this war of his was folly,” Dany reminded him. “He would not listen.”

“克里昂伟主只是力图打倒卑鄙的渊凯奴隶主。”

“Great Cleon sought only to strike down the vile slavers of Yunkai.”

“克里昂伟主自己就是奴隶主。”

“Great Cleon is a slaver himself.”

“我知道龙之母不会抛弃处于危险时刻的我们，借给我们你的无垢者来保卫我们的城墙吧。”

“I know that the Mother of Dragons will not abandon us in our hour of peril. Lend us your Unsullied to defend our walls.”

如果我借给你，谁来保卫我的城墙？“许多我的自由民就是阿斯塔波的奴隶，或许其中有些人会乐于帮助保卫你的国王。那是他们的选择，作为自由民。我给了阿斯塔波自由，应当由你们去保卫它。”

And if I do, who will defend my walls? “Many of my freedmen were slaves in Astapor. Perhaps some will wish to help defend your king. That is their choice, as free men. I gave Astapor its freedom. It is up to you to defend it.”

“那么，我们都会死，你是给我们死亡，而不是自由。”伽尔猛地跳起来，一口啐到她的脸上。

“We are all dead, then. You gave us death, not freedom.” Ghael leapt to his feet and spat into her face.

壮汉贝沃斯抓住他的肩膀，砰的把他击倒在大理石地板上，如此用力丹妮听到牙齿碎裂的声音。剃顶之人还想再去补上几脚，但是丹妮阻止了他。

Strong Belwas seized him by the shoulder and slammed him down onto the marble so hard that Dany heard Ghael’s teeth crack. The Shavepate would have done worse, but she stopped him.

“够了，”她说，一边用托卡的领子轻拭脸颊，“没有人会被唾沫啐死，让他走。”

“Enough,” she said, dabbing at her cheek with the end of her tokar. “No one has ever died from spittle. Take him away.”

他们抓起他的双脚拖着他出去，身后留下一些碎牙和一串鲜血。丹妮会很乐意把其他请愿者也赶出去……但她仍然是他们的女王，所以她听完他们的请愿，尽最大努力给他们以公平。

They dragged him out feet first, leaving several broken teeth and a trail of blood behind. Dany would gladly have sent the rest of the petitioners away … but she was still their queen, so she heard them out and did her best to give them justice.

直到那天傍晚，格罗莱舰长和巴利斯坦爵士才检查完战船归来。丹妮召集她的御前会议听取他们汇报。灰虫子代表无垢者；斯卡哈兹？莫？坎达克代表铜面兽；她的血盟卫不在，一个干瘦的叫做Rommo的jaqqa rhan的人，斜眼睛罗圈腿，作为她的多斯拉克的代言人；她的自由民由她组建的三个军团的团长代表——坚盾团的Mollono Yos Dob，自由兄弟团的Symon Stripe-back，母之子团的弥赛伦；雷兹纳克？莫？雷兹纳克在女王身侧走来走去；壮汉贝沃斯站在女王身后，巨大的武器交叉而立。丹妮不会缺少顾问。

Late that afternoon Admiral Groleo and Ser Barristan returned from their inspection of the galleys. Dany assembled her council to hear them. Grey Worm was there for the Unsullied, Skahaz mo Kandaq for the Brazen Beasts. In the absence of her bloodriders, a wizened jaqqa rhan called Rommo, squint-eyed and bowlegged, came to speak for her Dothraki. Her freedmen were represented by the captains of the three companies she had formed—Mollono Yos Dob of the Stalwart Shields, Symon Stripeback of the Free Brothers, Marselen of the Mother’s Men. Reznak mo Reznak hovered at the queen’s elbow, and Strong Belwas stood behind her with his huge arms crossed. Dany would not lack for counsel.

自从他们为了帮女王攻下弥林拆散格罗莱的船建造攻城车以来，他一直是最不开心的人。丹妮试图任命他为她的海军司令以示安慰，但是这只是个空头衔。丹妮的军队一到达弥林，弥林舰队就航向渊凯，所以老潘托斯人只是个没有战舰的海军司令。然而现在，他参差不齐的盐渍条纹的胡须里都透出笑意，丹妮记忆中好像从没见他这么笑过。

Groleo had been a most unhappy man since they had broken up his ship to build the siege engines that won Meereen for her. Dany had tried to console him by naming him her lord admiral, but it was a hollow honor; the Meereenese fleet had sailed for Yunkai when Dany’s host approached the city, so the old Pentoshi was an admiral without ships. Yet now he was smiling through his ragged salt-streaked beard in a way that the queen could scarce remember.

“那些船很健全，是吗？”她说，怀着希望。

“The ships are sound, then?” she said, hoping.

“足够健全，陛下。它们是旧船，恩，但是多数都保养的很好。‘纯种王子’号的船体被蛀虫蛀过，我不想让她远离陆地；‘Narraqqa’号需要换上新的船舵和缆绳；‘斑纹蜥蜴’号有的船浆有裂缝，不过还能凑合着用；操船者都是奴隶，但是如果我们给他们提供一份有诚意的工资，大多数会留下来，因为他们只会划船。离开的那部分人可以从我自己的船员里补充。去维斯特洛是一个漫长而艰苦的航程，但是根据我的判断，这些船足够健全能带我们到达那里。”

“Sound enough, Your Grace. They are old ships, aye, but most are well maintained. The hull of the Pureborn Princess is worm-eaten. I’d not want to take her beyond the sight of land. The Narraqqa could stand a new rudder and lines, and the Banded Lizard has some cracked oars, but they will serve. The rowers are slaves, but if we offer them an honest oarsman’s wage, most will stay with us. Rowing’s all they know. Those who leave can be replaced from my own crews. It is a long hard voyage to Westeros, but these ships are sound enough to get us there, I’d judge.”

雷兹纳克？莫？雷兹纳克哀怨地叹口气，“那么是真的了，阁下（Your Worship）想要抛弃我们。”他拧绞着双手，“一旦你离开，渊凯人就会重建伟主制度，而且我们这些忠诚服务你的事业的人将会被杀死，我们甜美的妻子、处女女儿会被强奸和奴役。”

Reznak mo Reznak gave a piteous moan. “Then it is true. Your Worship means to abandon us.” He wrung his hands. “The Yunkai’i will restore the Great Masters the instant you are gone, and we who have so faithfully served your cause will be put to the sword, our sweet wives and maiden daughters raped and enslaved.”

“我的不会，”剃顶之人斯卡哈兹嘀咕，“我会先杀死他们，用我自己的双手。”他拍打着他剑柄。

“Not mine,” grumbled Skahaz Shavepate. “I will kill them first, with mine own hand.” He slapped his sword hilt.

丹妮感到他好像拍打在自己脸上。“如果你们害怕我走后会发生的事情，那就跟我去维斯特洛。”

Dany felt as if he had slapped her face instead. “If you fear what may follow when I leave, come with me to Westeros.”

“无论龙之母去哪里，母之子们就会跟到哪里，”弥赛伦宣称，弥桑黛幸存的哥哥。

“Wherever the Mother of Dragons goes, the Mother’s Men will go as well,” announced Marselen, Missandei’s remaining brother.

“怎么去？”Symon Stripeback问道，因他肩背隆起的乱糟糟的脊状伤疤而得名，这罪证提醒人们他曾是阿斯塔波受尽折磨的奴隶。“十三艘船……根本不够，一百艘船可能也不够。”

“How?” asked Symon Stripeback, named for the tangle of scars that ridged his back and shoulders, a reminder of the whippings he had suffered as a slave in Astapor. “Thirteen ships … that’s not enough. A hundred ships might not be enough.”

“木头马一点儿也不好，”Rommo反对，老jaqqa rhan，“多斯拉克人要骑马。”

“Wooden horses are no good,” objected Rommo, the old jaqqa rhan. “Dothraki will ride.”

“这些人可以沿着海岸从陆上进军，”灰虫子建议，“让船队保持步行的速度，并给陆上部队以补给。”

“These ones could march overland along the shore,” suggested Grey Worm. “The ships could keep pace and resupply the column.”

“这在到达Bhorash毁坏地之前可行，”剃顶之人说，“再往外走，船队需要转向南穿过脱罗斯和雪松岛，沿着瓦雷利亚航行，而步行部队只能继续走古老的巨龙之路到玛塔里斯。”

“That might serve until you reached the ruins of Bhorash,” said the Shavepate. “Beyond that, your ships would need to turn south past Tolos and the Isle of Cedars and sail around Valyria, whilst the foot continued on to Mantarys by the old dragon road.”

“魔鬼之路，如今他们这么称呼它，”Mollono Yos Dob说，肥胖的坚盾团团长看起来更像一个抄写员而不是战士，有着油墨般的双手和沉重的大肚子，但他和在座的同样聪明。“许多，更多我们的人会死。”

“The demon road, they call it now,” said Mollono Yos Dob. The plump commander of the Stalwart Shields looked more like a scribe than a soldier, with his inky hands and heavy paunch, but he was as clever as they came. “Many and more of us would die.”

“那些留在弥林的人会羡慕他们能够容易地死去。”雷兹纳克悲叹，“他们会让我们做奴隶，或者把我们扔到角斗场，所有人都是这下场，或者更糟。”

“Those left behind in Meereen would envy them their easy deaths,” moaned Reznak. “They will make slaves of us, or throw us in the pits. All will be as it was, or worse.”

“你们的勇气呢？”巴利斯坦爵士严厉地斥责，“陛下解除你们身上的锁链给了你们自由。当她离开之后，应该由你们磨快你们的剑保卫你们自己的自由。”

“Where is your courage?” Ser Barristan lashed out. “Her Grace freed you from your chains. It is for you to sharpen your swords and defend your own freedom when she leaves.”

“真是豪言壮语，出自想要航向日落之地的人之口，”Symon Stripeback吼回去，“你会回头看看我们待死之人吗？”

“Brave words, from one who means to sail into the sunset,” Symon Stripeback snarled back. “Will you look back at our dying?”

“陛下——”

“Your Grace—”

“殿下——”

“Magnificence—”

“阁下——”

“Your Worship—”

“够了。”丹妮用力拍打桌面，“没有人会留下来送死。你们都是我的子民。”回家与爱情的梦想让她盲目。“我不会抛弃弥林，让它走上阿斯塔波的毁灭之路。这么说让我悲痛，但是维斯特洛必须等。”

“Enough.” Dany slapped the table. “No one will be left to die. You are all my people.” Her dreams of home and love had blinded her. “I will not abandon Meereen to the fate of Astapor. It grieves me to say so, but Westeros must wait.”

格莱罗吓的目瞪口呆，“我们必须接受这些船，如果我们拒绝这份礼物……”

Groleo was aghast. “We must accept these ships. If we refuse this gift …”

巴利斯坦爵士单膝跪在她面前，“我的女王，你的王国需要你。这里不欢迎你，但是在维斯特洛，数千的民众等着聚集到你的旗下，包括大领主和高贵骑士。‘她回来了，’他们会用欢喜的声音一传十、十传百，‘雷加王子的妹妹终于回家了。’”

Ser Barristan went to one knee before her. “My queen, your realm has need of you. You are not wanted here, but in Westeros men will flock to your banners by the thousands, great lords and noble knights. ‘She is come,’ they will shout to one another, in glad voices. ‘Prince Rhaegar’s sister has come home at last.’ ”

“要是他们这么爱我，他们会等着我。”丹妮站起来，“雷兹纳克，宣召札罗？赞旺？达梭斯。”

“If they love me so much, they will wait for me.” Dany stood. “Reznak, summon Xaro Xhoan Daxos.”

她单独接见了商人巨子，坐在磨光的乌木长椅上，垫了巴利斯坦爵士找给她的坐垫。四个魁尔斯水手跟随他而来，卷成一卷儿的绣帷分跨在他们肩上。“我给我心爱的女王带来另一份礼物，”札罗宣称，“自从古瓦雷利亚毁灭之日，就一直保存在我们家族的宝库里。”

She received the merchant prince alone, seated on her bench of polished ebony, on the cushions Ser Barristan had brought her. Four Qartheen sailors accompanied him, bearing a rolled tapestry upon their shoulders. “I have brought another gift for the queen of my heart,” Xaro announced. “It has been in my family vaults since before the Doom that took Valyria.”

水手们在地板上展开绣帷。古老，尘污，褪色……还有巨大。丹妮必须绕到札罗那边才能看清图案的全貌。“一张地图？太美了。”它铺满了半个地板，大海是蓝色，陆地是绿色，山脉是黑色或棕色，城镇标记成用金线或银线绣成的星。上面没有烟海，她注意到，瓦雷利亚还不是一个岛屿。

The sailors unrolled the tapestry across the floor. It was old, dusty, faded … and huge. Dany had to move to Xaro’s side before the patterns became plain. “A map? It is beautiful.” It covered half the floor. The seas were blue, the lands were green, the mountains black and brown. Cities were shown as stars in gold or silver thread. There is no Smoking Sea, she realized. Valyria is not yet an island.

“那里你可以看到阿斯塔波、渊凯和弥林。”札罗指着蓝色的奴隶湾边上的三个银星说，“维斯特洛在……那边下方的某处。”他抬手大致地指向厅角，“你需要先向南向西航行，然后转向北穿越夏日之海，不过有了我的礼物，用不了多久你就会回到属于你的那个地方。用快乐的心情接受我的舰队吧，然后划动你的船桨向西。”

“There you see Astapor, and Yunkai, and Meereen.” Xaro pointed at three silver stars beside the blue of Slaver’s Bay. “Westeros is … somewhere down there.” His hand waved vaguely toward the far end of the hall. “You turned north when you should have continued south and west, across the Summer Sea, but with my gift you shall soon be back where you belong. Accept my galleys with a joyful heart, and bend your oars westward.”

但愿我能。“我的大人，我非常高兴能拥有这些战船，但是我不能给你想要的保证。她拉过他的手，“给我舰队，我发誓魁尔斯会保有弥林的友谊直到天上的群星熄灭。让我们用这些船从事贸易，你会得到其中的大部分利润。”

Would that I could. “My lord, I will gladly have those ships, but I cannot give you the promise that you ask.” She took his hand. “Give me the galleys, and I swear that Qarth will have the friendship of Meereen until the stars go out. Let me trade with them, and you will have a good part of the profits.”

札罗愉快的笑容僵死在他的唇上，“你在说什么？你要告诉我你不去维斯特洛？”

Xaro’s glad smile died upon his lips. “What are you saying? Are you telling me you will not go?”

“我不能去。”

“I cannot go.”

眼泪从他的双眼涌出，从他的鼻子滑下，滑过祖母绿、紫水晶、黑钻石。“我告诉十三巨子，你会听从我的明智建议。知道自己错了真的让我伤心。登上这些船扬帆起航吧，否则你必定会尖叫着死去。你不知道你招来了多少敌人。”

Tears welled from his eyes, creeping down his nose, past emeralds, amethysts, and black diamonds. “I told the Thirteen that you would heed my wisdom. It grieves me to learn that I was wrong. Take these ships and sail away, or you will surely die screaming. You cannot know how many enemies you have made.”

我知道现在有一个正站在我的面前，流着伶人的眼泪哭泣。想到这让她悲伤。

I know one stands before me now, weeping mummer’s tears. The realization made her sad.

“当我去‘千座之殿’乞求王族们放你一条生路，我说你只是个孩子。”札罗继续，“但是‘优雅的’艾耿？艾摩若站起来说，‘她是个愚蠢的孩子，疯狂、不听劝告、让她活着太危险。’你的龙小的时候是奇迹；长大了，他们就是死亡和毁灭，悬在这个世界之上的一把火焰之剑。”他擦去眼泪，“我应该在魁尔斯就杀死你。”

“When I went to the Hall of a Thousand Thrones to beg the Pureborn for your life, I said that you were no more than a child,” Xaro went on, “but Egon Emeros the Exquisite rose and said, ‘She is a foolish child, mad and heedless and too dangerous to live.’ When your dragons were small they were a wonder. Grown, they are death and devastation, a flaming sword above the world.” He wiped away the tears. “I should have slain you in Qarth.”

“那时我是你的客人，住在你的屋檐下享用你提供的肉和蜜酒。”她说，“铭记着所有你为做的这一切，我原谅你刚才的话……仅只一次……但是永远不要威胁我第二次。”

“I was a guest beneath your roof and ate of your meat and mead,” she said. “In memory of all you did for me, I will forgive those words … once … but never presume to threaten me again.”

“札罗？赞旺？达梭斯没有威胁。他保证。”

“Xaro Xhoan Daxos does not threaten. He promises.”

她的悲伤转为愤怒，“而且我向你保证，如果你们在太阳升起之前没有离开，我们会得知一头狮子的眼泪怎么扑熄巨龙之火。退下，札罗，马上。”

Her sadness turned to fury. “And I promise you that if you are not gone before the sun comes up, we will learn how well a liar’s tears can quench dragonfire. Leave me, Xaro. Quickly.”

他走了但他的世界地图留下了。丹妮又坐回她的长椅，凝视的目光穿过蓝色丝绸的大海，到达遥远的维斯特洛。总有一天，她向自己保证。

He went but left his world behind. Dany seated herself upon her bench again to gaze across the blue silk sea, toward distant Westeros. One day, she promised herself.

第二天早上，札罗的舰队离开了，但是他带给她的那份“礼物”仍留在了奴隶湾。十三艘魁尔斯战船的旗杆上，红色长条旗在风中翻飞。当丹妮莉丝下来主持廷会，船队的一个信使正在等她。他一句话没说只把一个黑缎子枕头扔在她的脚下，上面躺着一只血污的手套。

The next morning Xaro’s galleas was gone, but the “gift” that he had brought her remained behind in Slaver’s Bay. Long red streamers flew from the masts of the thirteen Qartheen galleys, writhing in the wind. And when Daenerys descended to hold court, a messenger from the ships awaited her. He spoke no word but laid at her feet a black satin pillow, upon which rested a single bloodstained glove.

“这是什么？”斯卡哈兹问道，“一只血手套……”

“What is this?” Skahaz demanded. “A bloody glove …”

“……意味着战争。”女王说。

“… means war,” said the queen.