Ⅱ 列王的紛爭 Chapter31 凱特琳
CATELYN
談判地點乃是一片點綴著灰白蘑菇和新伐樹樁的青綠草地。
The meeting place was a grassy sward dotted with pale grey mushrooms and the raw stumps of felled trees.
“我們來得最早，夫人，”當他們騎行到樹樁之間，孤立于兩軍當中時，哈里斯·莫蘭評論道。史塔克家族的冰原狼旗幟在他緊握的長槍頂端飛舞雀躍。從這里，凱特琳望不到大海，但她清楚地感覺到大海的存在。晨風中彌漫著濁重的海鹽味，從東方不絕而來。
“We are the first, my lady,” Hallis Mollen said as they reined up amidst the stumps, alone between the armies. The direwolf banner of House Stark flapped and fluttered atop the lance he bore. Catelyn could not see the sea from here, but she could feel how close it was. The smell of salt was heavy on the wind gusting from the east.
史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩的部下把樹木砍倒以搭建攻城塔和投石機。十幾年一個輪回，凱特琳不禁思量這片樹林究竟長了多高，不知奈德南下解風息堡之圍時是否也在此觀望。那天，他贏得了一次偉大的勝利，一場不流血的勝利。
Stannis Baratheon’s foragers had cut the trees down for his siege towers and catapults. Catelyn wondered how long the grove had stood, and whether Ned had rested here when he led his host south to lift the last siege of Storm’s End. He had won a great victory that day, all the greater for being bloodless.
但愿諸神保佑，我也能獲得同樣的成功，凱特琳默默地禱告。她手下的人都以為她瘋了。“這場戰爭和我們無關，夫人，”文德爾·曼德勒說。“我更明白，國王陛下不希望自己的母親去親身冒險。”
Gods grant that I shall do the same, Catelyn prayed. Her own liege men thought she was mad even to come. “This is no fight of ours, my lady,” Ser Wendel Manderly had said. “I know the king would not wish his mother to put herself at risk.”
“我們一直在冒險，”她告訴他，或許語氣尖刻了些。“你以為我想來這里嗎，爵士？”我屬于奔流城垂死的老父，我屬于臨冬城幼弱的兒子。“羅柏既然派我到南方來為他發言，那我就要實實在在地負起發言的責任。”凱特琳深知，要在兩弟兄間打造和平幾乎是不可能完成的任務，但為了王國的未來，她必須一試。
“We are all at risk,” she told him, perhaps too sharply. “Do you think I wish to be here, ser?” I belong at Riverrun with my dying father, at Winterfell with my sons. “Robb sent me south to speak for him, and speak for him I shall.” It would be no easy thing to forge a peace between these brothers, Catelyn knew, yet for the good of the realm, it must be tried.
越過細雨浸染的田野和多石崎嶇的山岡，她遙遙望見巨大的風息堡屹立于蒼天，完全遮蔽了其后的汪洋。在那些淺灰色的巨石下，史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩公爵的軍隊看起來如此渺小和無助，活像舉著旗幟的老鼠。
Across rain-sodden fields and stony ridges, she could see the great castle of Storm’s End rearing up against the sky, its back to the unseen sea. Beneath that mass of pale grey stone, the encircling army of Lord Stannis Baratheon looked as small and insignificant as mice with banners.
歌謠相傳，風息堡乃是古代第一位風暴國王杜倫所建，他贏得了美麗的依妮的愛情，而她是海神和風之女神愛的結晶。在他們新婚之夜，依妮將她的貞潔獻給了一位凡人，從此便須像凡人一樣承受生老病死。她的雙親對女兒的決定悲憤無比，將怒火發泄于杜倫的城郭。他們招來狂風和巨浪。那一夜，他的朋友、兄弟和婚宴賓客統統被卷走，要么砸死在城墻，要么淹沒于汪洋，只有依妮用她的雙臂勇敢地護衛著杜倫，保護他免遭傷害。最后，天亮了，風暴終于停息，這時杜倫向神靈們宣戰，他發誓要重建城堡。
The songs said that Storm’s End had been raised in ancient days by Durran, the first Storm King, who had won the love of the fair Elenei, daughter of the sea god and the goddess of the wind. On the night of their wedding, Elenei had yielded her maidenhood to a mortal’s love and thus doomed herself to a mortal’s death, and her grieving parents had unleashed their wrath and sent the winds and waters to batter down Durran’s hold. His friends and brothers and wedding guests were crushed beneath collapsing walls or blown out to sea, but Elenei sheltered Durran within her arms so he took no harm, and when the dawn came at last he declared war upon the gods and vowed to rebuild.
他的城堡重建了五次，一次比一次高大，一次比一次堅固，但當那呼嘯的狂風和滔天的巨浪從破船灣中咆哮而出時，城墻都被一一粉碎。他的封臣紛紛懇求他遷到內地筑城；他的牧師告訴他為了安撫神靈的怒氣應把依妮歸還于大海；甚至他的屬民百姓也請求他別再斗爭。杜倫通通置之不理。他終于建成了第七座城堡，最雄偉的城堡。傳說中這座城堡乃是由森林之子幫助修建，巨石中充溢著他們的魔法；另一種說法是城堡的筑法得自于一位小男孩之口——這個孩子就是日后的筑城者布蘭登。不過無論故事的說法怎樣，結局總是相同：盡管憤怒的神靈一次又一次將風暴投擲到那第七座城堡，它依舊巍然聳立，被神憎恨的杜倫和美麗的依妮幸福地生活在一起，直到他們終歸塵土。
Five more castles he built, each larger and stronger than the last, only to see them smashed asunder when the gale winds came howling up Shipbreaker Bay, driving great walls of water before them. His lords pleaded with him to build inland; his priests told him he must placate the gods by giving Elenei back to the sea; even his smallfolk begged him to relent. Durran would have none of it. A seventh castle he raised, most massive of all. Some said the children of the forest helped him build it, shaping the stones with magic; others claimed that a small boy told him what he must do, a boy who would grow to be Bran the Builder. No matter how the tale was told, the end was the same. Though the angry gods threw storm after storm against it, the seventh castle stood defiant, and Durran Godsgrief and fair Elenei dwelt there together until the end of their days.
神靈沒有寬恕他，千鈞的狂風依舊時時從狹海吹來。風息堡日復一日地承受著風暴，幾個紀元幾十個世紀轉瞬而過，而這城堡紋絲不動。它那偉岸的外墻足足有百尺之高，其上既無箭孔亦無暗門，巨石之間鑲嵌精巧，處處渾圓一體，彎曲平滑，無角無縫，風雨難侵。外墻最窄的地方據說是四十尺厚，而臨海一面將近有八十尺，城墻由內外兩層巨石夾著中間的沙礫和碎石。在這偉岸的城墻之內，不論廚房、馬廄還是庭院都不會受到一絲一毫風暴和波濤的影響。至于塔樓，這座城只有獨一無二的一座，一座巨型的鐘鼓樓。它臨海的一面無有窗戶，整個塔把風息堡的谷倉、兵營、宴會廳以及貴族居所都裝在里面，令人驚嘆于它的龐大。厚實的城垛環繞著它的頂部，遠遠看去，猶如一只擎天巨臂上張開的無數手指。
Gods do not forget, and still the gales came raging up the narrow sea. Yet Storm’s End endured, through centuries and tens of centuries, a castle like no other. Its great curtain wall was a hundred feet high, unbroken by arrow slit or postern, everywhere rounded, curving, smooth, its stones fit so cunningly together that nowhere was crevice nor angle nor gap by which the wind might enter. That wall was said to be forty feet thick at its narrowest, and near eighty on the seaward face, a double course of stones with an inner core of sand and rubble. Within that mighty bulwark, the kitchens and stables and yards sheltered safe from wind and wave. Of towers, there was but one, a colossal drum tower, windowless where it faced the sea, so large that it was granary and barracks and feast hall and lord’s dwelling all in one, crowned by massive battlements that made it look from afar like a spiked fist atop an upthrust arm.
“夫人，”哈爾·莫蘭喊道。在城堡下那整齊而渺小的營壘外出現了兩個騎手，他們緩步而來。“那應該是史坦尼斯國王。”
“My lady,” Hal Mollen called. Two riders had emerged from the tidy little camp beneath the castle, and were coming toward them at a slow walk. “That will be King Stannis.”
“不錯。”凱特琳打量著他們。那肯定是史坦尼斯，不過旗號卻不是拜拉席恩家族的徽章。那是嫩黃，而非藍禮營中的金黃，尤其是上面的圖案，似乎是紅的，凱特琳看不清它的形狀。
“No doubt.” Catelyn watched them come. Stannis it must be, yet that is not the Baratheon banner. It was a bright yellow, not the rich gold of Renly’s standards, and the device it bore was red, though she could not make out its shape.
藍禮鐵定會最后到來。她動身前他便告知她：他要等老哥出發后才會上馬，因為早到的將等待晚到的，而他藍禮決不當那個等待者。這是國王之間玩的又一種游戲，她告訴自己。好在她自己不是國王，所以她可以擺脫這些游戲。而對于等待，凱特琳早已習以為常。
Renly would be last to arrive. He had told her as much when she set out. He did not propose to mount his horse until he saw his brother well on his way. The first to arrive must wait on the other, and Renly would do no waiting. It is a sort of game kings play, she told herself. Well, she was no king, so she need not play it. Catelyn was practiced at waiting.
直等他走近，她才看清史坦尼斯戴著一頂赤金的王冠，邊緣刻意弄成火焰的形狀。他的腰帶上鑲著石榴石和黃玉，一顆四四方方的大紅寶石嵌在他的佩劍柄上。他身上的其他裝束卻很樸素：棉上衣外罩鑲釘皮背心，一雙磨舊的靴子，織工粗糙的棕色馬褲。他那艷陽般色澤的旗幟上，畫了一顆火紅之心，由一圈橙色火焰所環繞。寶冠雄鹿的標記也還在上面，還在……不過卻大大縮小，并被勾勒在火心之中。更奇怪的是，他挑選的掌旗官不僅是個女的，還一身火紅裝束，面容隱藏在猩紅色的兜帽里不得而知。似乎是域外的紅袍女祭司，凱特琳好奇地想。這個教派分支繁多，根深葉茂，不過一直都在自由貿易城邦和遙遠的東方活動，向來不大涉足七大王國。
As he neared, she saw that Stannis wore a crown of red gold with points fashioned in the shape of flames. His belt was studded with garnets and yellow topaz, and a great square-cut ruby was set in the hilt of the sword he wore. Otherwise his dress was plain: studded leather jerkin over quilted doublet, worn boots, breeches of brown roughspun. The device on his sun-yellow banner showed a red heart surrounded by a blaze of orange fire. The crowned stag was there, yes … shrunken and enclosed within the heart. Even more curious was his standard bearer—a woman, garbed all in reds, face shadowed within the deep hood of her scarlet cloak. A red priestess, Catelyn thought, wondering. The sect was numerous and powerful in the Free Cities and the distant east, but there were few in the Seven Kingdoms.
“史塔克夫人，”史坦尼斯勒住坐騎，帶著冷冷的禮數打了聲招呼。他微微點頭，頭發比她記憶中更少了。
“Lady Stark,” Stannis Baratheon said with chill courtesy as he reined up. He inclined his head, balder than she remembered.
“史坦尼斯大人，”她回應。
“Lord Stannis,” she returned.
在齊整的胡須下，他那巨大的下巴收緊起來，不過他并未在頭銜問題上當即發難。對此她相當感激。“沒想到能在風息堡遇見你。”
Beneath the tight-trimmed beard his heavy jaw clenched hard, yet he did not hector her about titles. For that she was duly grateful. “I had not thought to find you at Storm’s End.”
“我也沒想到自己會來這兒。”
“I had not thought to be here.”
他那雙深陷的眼睛瞧得她不自在。這不是一個談吐優雅，風度翩翩的人。“對于你丈夫的死我很遺憾，”他說，“雖然艾德·史塔克并不是我的朋友。”
His deepset eyes regarded her uncomfortably. This was not a man made for easy courtesies. “I am sorry for your lord’s death,” he said, “though Eddard Stark was no friend to me.”
“他也從來不是您的敵人，大人。當您被提利爾大人和雷德溫大人困在這座城堡，饑餓待斃時，正是艾德·史塔克為您解除了危機。”
“He was never your enemy, my lord. When the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne held you prisoned in that castle, starving, it was Eddard Stark who broke the siege.”
“那是由于我哥哥的命令，并非出于對我的愛護，”史坦尼斯答道。“史塔克公爵履行了他的職責，這點我不否認。可我做的難道就不夠嗎？成為勞勃首相的本該是我。”
“At my brother’s command, not for love of me,” Stannis answered. “Lord Eddard did his duty, I will not deny it. Did I ever do less? I should have been Robert’s Hand.”
“那是您哥哥的意思。奈德從未貪圖榮華。”
“That was your brother’s will. Ned never wanted it.”
“可他仍舊接受了。而那應當是我的。即便如此，我還是向你保證，我會為這次謀殺主持正義。”
“Yet he took it. That which should have been mine. Still, I give you my word, you shall have justice for his murder.”
這些想當國王的人，多喜歡拿人頭來做承諾啊。“您弟弟也向我作了同樣的承諾。但說實話，我只想要回我的女兒，而把正義和公道留給不朽的神靈去主宰。我的珊莎還在瑟曦手中，而自勞勃駕崩那天起，我便再沒聽到關于艾莉亞的只字片語。”
How they loved to promise heads, these men who would be king. “Your brother promised me the same. But if truth be told, I would sooner have my daughters back, and leave justice to the gods. Cersei still holds my Sansa, and of Arya there has been no word since the day of Robert’s death.”
“倘若我拿下都城之后找著你的女兒，我會立刻把她們送還于你。”不論死活，這一句他倒沒說出口。
“If your children are found when I take the city, they shall be sent to you.” Alive or dead, his tone implied.
“那要等到什么時候，史坦尼斯大人？君臨和您的龍石島近在咫尺，可我發現您偏偏來了這里。”
“And when shall that be, Lord Stannis? King’s Landing is close to your Dragonstone, but I find you here instead.”
“你很坦率，史塔克夫人，這再好不過，讓我也坦率地回答你。要拿下都城，我需要原野對面那些強大的南方諸侯的兵力。眼下他們追隨著我弟弟，因此我必須從他手中奪過來。”
“You are frank, Lady Stark. Very well, I’ll answer you frankly. To take the city, I need the power of these southron lords I see across the field. My brother has them. I must needs take them from him.”
“大人，天下的律法是，人們要對自己的封君效忠。這些貴族宣誓效忠的對象是勞勃和拜拉席恩家族。如果您和您弟弟之間能停止爭執——”
“Men give their allegiance where they will, my lord. These lords swore fealty to Robert and House Baratheon. If you and your brother were to put aside your quarrel—”
“我和藍禮之間不存在爭執，而是他如何表示忠順的問題。我是他的兄長，也是他的國王。我要的只是根據權利屬于我的東西。藍禮理應忠順于我、服從于我。我要的只有這個。當然，不僅是他，還包括其他各路諸侯。”史坦尼斯審視著她的面孔。“夫人，你又為何而來？難道說史塔克家族已經把自己拴在了我弟弟的馬車上，是嗎？”
“I have no quarrel with Renly, should he prove dutiful. I am his elder, and his king. I want only what is mine by rights. Renly owes me loyalty and obedience. I mean to have it. From him, and from these other lords.” Stannis studied her face. “And what cause brings you to this field, my lady? Has House Stark cast its lot with my brother, is that the way of it?”
此人絕不會妥協讓步，她想，但她依舊不能放棄努力。太多的東西關系于此。“在貴族和平民的共同擁戴下，我兒已加冕為北境之王。他不會向任何人臣服，但愿意向所有人伸出友誼之手。”
This one will never bend, she thought, yet she must try nonetheless. Too much was at stake. “My son reigns as King in the North, by the will of our lords and people. He bends the knee to no man, but holds out the hand of friendship to all.”
“國王沒有朋友，”史坦尼斯粗直地說，“只有臣民和敵人。”
“Kings have no friends,” Stannis said bluntly, “only subjects and enemies.”
“還有兄弟嘛，”一個歡快的聲音從她身后傳來。凱特琳回頭看去，只見藍禮漂亮的母馬在樹樁之間悠閑地挑選路徑。年輕的拜拉席恩身穿綠天鵝絨上衣，披著鑲松鼠皮的綢緞披風，看起來十分光鮮。裝點著金玫瑰的王冠戴在他頭上，前額處有頭碧玉的雄鹿，他長長的黑發則披散于王冠之下。他的劍鞘上鑲點了無數磨工精巧的大塊黑鉆石，一條翡翠金項鏈掛在頸項。
“And brothers,” a cheerful voice called out behind her. Catelyn glanced over her shoulder as Lord Renly’s palfrey picked her way through the stumps. The younger Baratheon was splendid in his green velvet doublet and satin cloak trimmed in vair. The crown of golden roses girded his temples, jade stag’s head rising over his forehead, long black hair spilling out beneath. Jagged chunks of black diamond studded his swordbelt, and a chain of gold and emeralds looped around his neck.
藍禮也選擇了一位女性來為他掌旗，不過身穿重甲的布蕾妮掩蓋了面容和身段，無從透露性別。在她手中十二尺的長槍上，黑色的寶冠雄鹿騰躍于金色的面底，海上吹來的風劃出無垠的波紋。
Renly had chosen a woman to carry his banner as well, though Brienne hid face and form behind plate armor that gave no hint of her sex. Atop her twelve-foot lance, the crowned stag pranced black-on-gold as the wind off the sea rippled the cloth.
對他，他哥哥的問候也同樣簡潔。“藍禮公爵。”
His brother’s greeting was curt. “Lord Renly.”
“藍禮國王啦。這東西真是你的旗，史坦尼斯？”
“King Renly. Can that truly be you, Stannis?”
史坦尼斯皺起眉頭。“不然還是誰？”
Stannis frowned. “Who else should it be?”
藍禮疏懶地聳聳肩。“遠遠看見，我還不大確定呢。你到底打著哪家的旗號？”
Renly gave an easy shrug. “When I saw that standard, I could not be certain. Whose banner do you bear?”
“我自己的。”
“Mine own.”
紅袍女開了口：“國王陛下的徽章乃是真主光之王的烈焰紅心。”
The red-clad priestess spoke up. “The king has taken for his sigil the fiery heart of the Lord of Light.”
藍禮似乎覺得很有趣。“我舉雙手贊成。如果咱倆打著同樣的旗幟，打起來不弄混才怪。”
Renly seemed amused by that. “All for the good. If we both use the same banner, the battle will be terribly confused.”
凱特琳適時插話：“仗還是別打的好。我們三方應該好好研究如何對付共同的敵人，否則它要把我們大家全部摧毀。”
Catelyn said, “Let us hope there will be no battle. We three share a common foe who would destroy us all.”
史坦尼斯再次審視她的面孔，依舊一點笑意也無。“按照律法，鐵王座屬于我。否認這點的都是我的敵人。”
Stannis studied her, unsmiling. “The Iron Throne is mine by rights. All those who deny that are my foes.”
“全國都在否認你啊，老哥，”藍禮說，“糟老頭子臨死時念叨著否認，未出生的嬰兒在媽媽肚子里踢鬧著否認。多恩人否認你，長城上的人否認你。沒有一個人想讓你當他的國王。非常遺憾。”
“The whole of the realm denies it, brother,” said Renly. “Old men deny it with their death rattle, and unborn children deny it in their mothers’ wombs. They deny it in Dorne and they deny it on the Wall. No one wants you for their king. Sorry.”
史坦尼斯咬緊下巴，面孔格外緊繃。“我曾發誓，只要你還戴著那頂叛逆的冠冕，我就絕不和你打交道。我早該遵守誓言。”
Stannis clenched his jaw, his face taut. “I swore I would never treat with you while you wore your traitor’s crown. Would that I had kept to that vow.”
“這一切是多么可笑啊，”凱特琳尖銳地指出。“泰溫公爵率領兩萬大軍屯駐于赫倫堡，弒君者的殘部在金牙城重整旗鼓，而在凱巖城的陰影下，蘭尼斯特正加緊編制新軍，同時瑟曦和她兒子還占有著君臨以及你們那寶貝的鐵椅子。你們都自稱為王，眼下王國正分崩流血，除了我兒子，難道就沒人肯拔劍而出、捍衛王國了么？”
“This is folly,” Catelyn said sharply. “Lord Tywin sits at Harrenhal with twenty thousand swords. The remnants of the Kingslayer’s army have regrouped at the Golden Tooth, another Lannister host gathers beneath the shadow of Casterly Rock, and Cersei and her son hold King’s Landing and your precious Iron Throne. You each name yourself king, yet the kingdom bleeds, and no one lifts a sword to defend it but my son.”
藍禮聳肩，“您兒子贏了幾場戰斗。我將贏得整個戰爭。一步一步來，到時候我自然會處理蘭尼斯特。”
Renly shrugged. “Your son has won a few battles. I shall win the war. The Lannisters can wait my pleasure.”
“你有什么建議，趕快提出來，”史坦尼斯唐突地喊道，“不然我馬上離開。”
“If you have proposals to make, make them,” Stannis said brusquely, “or I will be gone.”
“非常好，”藍禮道，“我建議你立刻下馬，單膝跪下，宣誓效忠。”
“Very well,” said Renly. “I propose that you dismount, bend your knee, and swear me your allegiance.”
史坦尼斯強抑怒火。“你永遠得不到。”
Stannis choked back rage. “That you shall never have.”
“你既然可以為勞勃效勞，為什么對我就不行？”
“You served Robert, why not me?”
“勞勃是我長兄。你不過是我的小弟。”
“Robert was my elder brother. You are the younger.”
“是啊，我比你年輕，勇敢，標致……”
“Younger, bolder, and far more comely …”
“……小偷！篡奪者！”
“… and a thief and a usurper besides.”
藍禮又聳聳肩。“坦格利安家也管勞勃叫篡奪者，不過這指責對他毫無影響。所以我也無所謂。”
Renly shrugged. “The Targaryens called Robert usurper. He seemed to be able to bear the shame. So shall I.”
這樣是不行的。“聽聽你們說的話！如果你們是我兒子，我要把你們兩個的頭狠狠撞在一起，然后鎖進一間臥室，直到你們認清彼此是兄弟為止。”
This will not do. “Listen to yourselves! If you were sons of mine, I would bang your heads together and lock you in a bedchamber until you remembered that you were brothers.”
史坦尼斯朝她皺眉。“你假設得太過火了，史塔克夫人。我是合法的國王，而你兒子和我弟弟一樣都只是叛徒。他也有末日來臨的那一天。”
Stannis frowned at her. “You presume too much, Lady Stark. I am the rightful king, and your son no less a traitor than my brother here. His day will come as well.”
這赤裸裸的威脅煽起了她的怒火。“大人，您有這個自由去隨意指稱別人為‘叛徒’或‘篡奪’，可瞧瞧您自己有什么區別？您說您是合法的國王，但我還沒忘記勞勃留下兩個兒子。不論依照七國上下何處的律法，喬佛里王子才是他的法定繼承人，其后是托曼……我們都是叛徒，不管各家有什么好理由。”
The naked threat fanned her fury. “You are very free to name others traitor and usurper, my lord, yet how are you any different? You say you alone are the rightful king, yet it seems to me that Robert had two sons. By all the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, Prince Joffrey is his rightful heir, and Tommen after him … and we are all traitors, however good our reasons.”
藍禮笑道：“你得原諒史塔克夫人哦，史坦尼斯。她從奔流城這么一路長途跋涉，大半時間都在馬背上，恐怕來不及收看你那小小的信件喲。”
Renly laughed. “You must forgive Lady Catelyn, Stannis. She’s come all the way down from Riverrun, a long way ahorse. I fear she never saw your little letter.”
“喬佛里不是我哥哥的種，”史坦尼斯開門見山地說。“托曼也不是。他們都是私生子，包括那女孩在內，三個都是亂倫產下的孽種。”
“Joffrey is not my brother’s seed,” Stannis said bluntly. “Nor is Tommen. They are bastards. The girl as well. All three of them abominations born of incest.”
瑟曦真的如此瘋狂？凱特琳一時語塞。
Would even Cersei be so mad? Catelyn was speechless.
“這故事可精彩，夫人？”藍禮笑問。“我在角陵扎營時，塔利大人正好收到信，我承認，看得我大為贊嘆啊。”他對著哥哥笑。“我從來不知道，你還會這么聰明的法門，史坦尼斯。如果這個能當真，你就是勞勃合法的繼承人嘍。”
“Isn’t that a sweet story, my lady?” Renly asked. “I was camped at Horn Hill when Lord Tarly received his letter, and I must say, it took my breath away.” He smiled at his brother. “I had never suspected you were so clever, Stannis. Were it only true, you would indeed be Robert’s heir.”
“如果當真？難道你懷疑我說謊？”
“Were it true? Do you name me a liar?”
“你有任何證據來證明這個神話嗎？”
“Can you prove any word of this fable?”
史坦尼斯咬緊了牙關。
Stannis ground his teeth.
或許連勞勃自己都不知道，凱特琳想，不然瑟曦早就腦袋搬家了。“史坦尼斯大人，”她詢問，“您既已得知王后犯下滔天罪行，為何一直保持緘默？”
Robert could never have known, Catelyn thought, or Cersei would have lost her head in an instant. “Lord Stannis,” she asked, “if you knew the queen to be guilty of such monstrous crimes, why did you keep silent?”
“我并沒有保持緘默，”史坦尼斯。“我將自己的懷疑告訴了瓊恩·艾林。”
“I did not keep silent,” Stannis declared. “I brought my suspicions to Jon Arryn.”
“而非告訴自己的兄長？”
“Rather than your own brother?”
“我哥哥對我的要求除了忠誠盡責再沒有其他，”史坦尼斯說。“何況從我的角度，這樣的指控只可能顯得自私和不妥，別人會以為我的目的是想把自己放到繼承順序的首位。我相信勞勃會更傾向于聽取艾林公爵的意見，因為他敬愛艾林公爵。”
“My brother’s regard for me was never more than dutiful,” said Stannis. “From me, such accusations would have seemed peevish and self-serving, a means of placing myself first in the line of succession. I believed Robert would be more disposed to listen if the charges came from Lord Arryn, whom he loved.”
“啊哈，”藍禮道，“所以我們的證據在一個死人的嘴里。”
“Ah,” said Renly. “So we have the word of a dead man.”
“你以為他真是偶然病逝，你這不長眼睛的蠢貨？瑟曦毒死了他！惟恐他揭發她的丑行。瓊恩大人已經搜集到確鑿的證據，那些證據無疑——”
“Do you think he died by happenstance, you purblind fool? Cersei had him poisoned, for fear he would reveal her. Lord Jon had been gathering certain proofs—”
“——和他一起進了棺材。你瞧，多為難呀。”
“—which doubtless died with him. How inconvenient.”
凱特琳開始明白了，她試著將碎片拼湊起來。“我妹妹萊莎在一封送到臨冬城的密信里指控王后謀殺了她丈夫，”她承認，“其后，在鷹巢城，她又把這項指控轉嫁到王后的弟弟提利昂身上。”
Catelyn was remembering, fitting pieces together. “My sister Lysa accused the queen of killing her husband in a letter she sent me at Winterfell,” she admitted. “Later, in the Eyrie, she laid the murder at the feet of the queen’s brother Tyrion.”
史坦尼斯哼了一聲，“若你掉進毒蛇窩，被哪條先咬到有什么區別？”
Stannis snorted. “If you step in a nest of snakes, does it matter which one bites you first?”
“這些毒蛇呀亂倫呀都挺有趣，但什么也改變不了。說到底，你的要求的確更合理合法，史坦尼斯，不過我的軍隊卻多得多。”藍禮把手伸進披風下。史坦尼斯見狀立刻握緊劍柄，不過在拔劍之前他弟弟卻拿出了……一顆桃子。“要來一個嗎，老哥？”藍禮一臉笑意地發問，“高庭產的哦，我保證，你從沒嘗過這么可口的東西。”他咬了一口，汁液從嘴角流下。
“All this of snakes and incest is droll, but it changes nothing. You may well have the better claim, Stannis, but I still have the larger army.” Renly’s hand slid inside his cloak. Stannis saw, and reached at once for the hilt of his sword, but before he could draw steel his brother produced … a peach. “Would you like one, brother?” Renly asked, smiling. “From Highgarden. You’ve never tasted anything so sweet, I promise you.” He took a bite. Juice ran from the corner of his mouth.
“我不是來吃水果的。”史坦尼斯怒不可遏。
“I did not come here to eat fruit.” Stannis was fuming.
“大人們！”凱特琳高喊，“我們應該協力打造聯盟，而不是惡言相交啊。”
“My lords!” Catelyn said. “We ought to be hammering out the terms of an alliance, not trading taunts.”
“一個人實在不該拒絕品嘗新桃子，”藍禮邊扔掉果核邊評論。“誰知道以后還有沒有機會？人生苦短啊，史坦尼斯。知道史塔克家怎么說嗎？凜冬將至啊。”他用手背擦掉嘴邊的果汁。
“A man should never refuse to taste a peach,” Renly said as he tossed the stone away. “He may never get the chance again. Life is short, Stannis. Remember what the Starks say. Winter is coming.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“我也不是來聽你威脅的。”
“I did not come here to be threatened, either.”
“我可沒威脅你，”藍禮反擊，“如果發出威脅，我會堂堂正正。說真的，我從來沒有喜歡過你，史坦尼斯，可你畢竟是我的手足，我一點也不想傷害你。所以啦，如果你要的是風息堡，就拿去吧……權當兄弟之間的饋贈。就像勞勃當初賜予我一樣，如今我將它賜予你。”
“Nor were you,” Renly snapped back. “When I make threats, you’ll know it. If truth be told, I’ve never liked you, Stannis, but you are my own blood, and I have no wish to slay you. So if it is Storm’s End you want, take it … as a brother’s gift. As Robert once gave it to me, I give it to you.”
“輪不到你來賜予。照權利它本就屬于我。”
“It is not yours to give. It is mine by rights.”
藍禮嘆了口氣，微微轉身，“我要拿這個老哥怎么辦呢，布蕾妮？他拒絕了我的桃子，拒絕了我的城堡，甚至還不肯來參加我的婚禮……”
Sighing, Renly half turned in the saddle. “What am I to do with this brother of mine, Brienne? He refuses my peach, he refuses my castle, he even shunned my wedding …”
“好了，你我都心知肚明，你那婚禮不過是出拙劣的鬧劇。一年前你還計劃讓那女孩變成勞勃的又一個婊子。”
“We both know your wedding was a mummer’s farce. A year ago you were scheming to make the girl one of Robert’s whores.”
“一年前我計劃讓那女孩成為勞勃的王后，”藍禮說，“可這有什么關系？野豬帶走了勞勃而我帶走了瑪格麗。她嫁給我時還是個處女，你該替我高興才是。”
“A year ago I was scheming to make the girl Robert’s queen,” Renly said, “but what does it matter? The boar got Robert and I got Margaery. You’ll be pleased to know she came to me a maid.”
“和你同床，她寧肯選擇勞勃的下場。”
“In your bed she’s like to die that way.”
“啊，是嘛，跟你說，我期望和她今年便來個胖小子哦。天哪，你有幾個兒子，史坦尼斯？啊，不錯——一個也沒有。”藍禮無邪地笑道。“至于你女兒的事嘛，我其實挺理解的。如果我老婆長得跟你老婆一樣丑，那我也寧可叫個弄臣去服侍她。”
“Oh, I expect I’ll get a son on her within the year. Pray, how many sons do you have, Stannis? Oh, yes—none.” Renly smiled innocently. “As to your daughter, I understand. If my wife looked like yours, I’d send my fool to service her as well.”
“夠了！”史坦尼斯咆哮起來，“我絕不允許誰當面侮辱我，你聽清楚了沒？我絕不允許！”他猛然抽出長劍。在蒼白的目光下，劍身閃著詭異的光芒，一會兒紅，一會兒黃，又一會兒變成熾烈的白芒。就連周遭的空氣也似乎感應到劍刃四射的熱力，跟著變換發光。
“Enough!” Stannis roared. “I will not be mocked to my face, do you hear me? I will not!” He yanked his longsword from its scabbard. The steel gleamed strangely bright in the wan sunlight, now red, now yellow, now blazing white. The air around it seemed to shimmer, as if from heat.
凱特琳的坐騎嘶叫著退開一步。布蕾妮則策馬插進兄弟之間，撥劍在手，“把劍放下！”她呼喝史坦尼斯。
Catelyn’s horse whinnied and backed away a step, but Brienne moved between the brothers, her own blade in hand. “Put up your steel!” she shouted at Stannis.
只怕瑟曦要笑得喘不過氣來，凱特琳無力地想。
Cersei Lannister is laughing herself breathless, Catelyn thought wearily.
史坦尼斯提起閃亮的寶劍，指著他的弟弟。“我不是個嚴酷寡恩的人，”這個以嚴酷寡恩舉世著稱的人大吼。“我也不想用親兄弟的鮮血來玷污‘光明使者’的劍刃。為著哺育我們的母親的緣故，今晚上我就給你最后一次機會反省你的過錯，藍禮。降下叛旗，在天亮之前投效于我，我將封你為風息堡公爵，并保留你在御前會議中的重臣席位，甚至在我兒子出生前，我仍舊把你指定為我的繼承人。你若不照辦，別怪我不客氣。”
Stannis pointed his shining sword at his brother. “I am not without mercy,” thundered he who was notoriously without mercy. “Nor do I wish to sully Lightbringer with a brother’s blood. For the sake of the mother who bore us both, I will give you this night to rethink your folly, Renly. Strike your banners and come to me before dawn, and I will grant you Storm’s End and your old seat on the council and even name you my heir until a son is born to me. Otherwise, I shall destroy you.”
藍禮大笑，“史坦尼斯，你這寶劍可真漂亮，我很羨慕你，不過我懷疑這玩意兒的光芒是不是影響你的視力。你仔細看看前方的平原，老哥。看到那些旗幟了嗎？”
Renly laughed. “Stannis, that’s a very pretty sword, I’ll grant you, but I think the glow off it has ruined your eyes. Look across the fields, brother. Can you see all those banners?”
“你以為幾根裹著毛料的桿子就能讓你稱王？”
“Do you think a few bolts of cloth will make you king?”
“提利爾的寶劍能讓我稱王。羅宛，塔利和卡倫能讓我稱王，用的是他們的戰斧、槌杖和戰錘。塔斯的弓箭和龐洛斯的長槍能讓我稱王。佛索威家族，庫伊家族，穆倫道爾家族，伊斯蒙家族，塞爾彌家族，海塔爾家族，奧克赫特家族，克連恩家族，卡斯威爾家族，布萊巴爾家族，梅里維勒家族，畢斯柏里家族，希梅家族，杜恩家族，傅德利家族……甚至佛羅倫家族，你老婆的娘家，他們通通支持我稱王。整個南方的騎士都隨我而來，而這還只是我麾下大軍中較少的一部分。我的步兵還在后面，整整十萬拿劍提槍端矛的大兵。你說要對我不客氣？憑什么，憑嘴巴祈禱？憑城墻下那群亂七八糟的烏合之眾？給你點面子，我也頂多說那有五千人。什么鱈魚大人、洋蔥騎士和流浪傭兵湊在一塊，至少有一半仗一開打就要往我這邊跑。我的斥候告訴我，你的騎兵還不滿四百——何況你我都知道，穿皮甲的自由騎手在重甲長槍的沖擊下根本不堪一擊。我不管你自以為多么身經百戰、驍勇無敵，史坦尼斯，事實擺在眼前——只待我的前鋒剛一沖擊，你的部隊就得全部完蛋。”
“Tyrell swords will make me king. Rowan and Tarly and Caron will make me king, with axe and mace and warhammer. Tarth arrows and Penrose lances, Fossoway, Cuy, Mullendore, Estermont, Selmy, Hightower, Oakheart, Crane, Caswell, Blackbar, Morrigen, Beesbury, Shermer, Dunn, Footly … even House Florent, your own wife’s brothers and uncles, they will make me king. All the chivalry of the south rides with me, and that is the least part of my power. My foot is coming behind, a hundred thousand swords and spears and pikes. And you will destroy me? With what, pray? That paltry rabble I see there huddled under the castle walls? I’ll call them five thousand and be generous, codfish lords and onion knights and sellswords. Half of them are like to come over to me before the battle starts. You have fewer than four hundred horse, my scouts tell me—freeriders in boiled leather who will not stand an instant against armored lances. I do not care how seasoned a warrior you think you are, Stannis, that host of yours won’t survive the first charge of my vanguard.”
“我們走著瞧，弟弟。”當史坦尼斯收劍入鞘時，天地間似乎失去了幾許光輝。“天明之時，我們走著瞧。”
“We shall see, brother.” Some of the light seemed to go out of the world when Stannis slid his sword back into its scabbard. “Come the dawn, we shall see.”
“我只希望你的新神慈悲為懷，老哥。”
“I hope your new god’s a merciful one, brother.”
史坦尼斯鼻子一哼，絕塵而去，神色間充滿了輕蔑。紅袍女逗留了一會兒。“記住你自己的罪孽，藍禮大人，”她驅策坐騎，邊繞圈子邊說。
Stannis snorted and galloped away, disdainful. The red priestess lingered a moment behind. “Look to your own sins, Lord Renly,” she said as she wheeled her horse around.
之后，凱特琳隨藍禮回到營區，藍禮的大軍和凱特琳的小隊伍正等著他們。“那玩意兒挺有趣，弄不好還真有些價值，”他評論，“不知上哪兒弄得到那種劍來玩玩？是了，等仗一打完，洛拉斯鐵定會把它當禮物獻給我。哎，寶物居然從此得來，我倒是有點悲哀啊。”
Catelyn and Lord Renly returned together to the camp where his thousands and her few waited their return. “That was amusing, if not terribly profitable,” he commented. “I wonder where I can get a sword like that? Well, doubtless Loras will make me a gift of it after the battle. It grieves me that it must come to this.”
“你悲哀的方式倒也蠻開朗，”凱特琳說，她自己的苦惱已然無法隱藏。
“You have a cheerful way of grieving,” said Catelyn, whose distress was not feigned.
“是么？”藍禮聳肩，“大概是吧。我得承認，史坦尼斯在我們兄弟之間向來不大討喜歡。嘿，你覺得他那個故事有沒有可能？如果喬佛里是弒君者的——”
“Do I?” Renly shrugged. “So be it. Stannis was never the most cherished of brothers, I confess. Do you suppose this tale of his is true? If Joffrey is the Kingslayer’s get—”
“——你哥哥就是法定繼承人。”
“—your brother is the lawful heir.”
“如果他活著，”藍禮承認。“這算那門子傻瓜律法，你不這么認為么？為什么要選最老的，而不是最好的？王冠正適合我，正如它從未適合勞勃，更不會適合史坦尼斯。我能當個偉大的國王，強大而慷慨，聰明，公正又勤勉，對我的朋友我無比忠誠，對我的敵人我決不寬恕，我有寬大的胸懷，耐心——”
“While he lives,” Renly admitted. “Though it’s a fool’s law, wouldn’t you agree? Why the oldest son, and not the best-fitted? The crown will suit me, as it never suited Robert and would not suit Stannis. I have it in me to be a great king, strong yet generous, clever, just, diligent, loyal to my friends and terrible to my enemies, yet capable of forgiveness, patient—”
“——以及謙遜？”凱特琳補充。
“—humble?” Catelyn supplied.
藍禮哈哈大笑：“你總得允許國王有幾個缺點嘛，好夫人。”
Renly laughed. “You must allow a king some flaws, my lady.”
凱特琳疲倦得無以復加。最終我還是一事無成。這對拜拉席恩兄弟即將骨肉相殘，她兒子仍舊只能孤軍面對蘭尼斯特，而她什么也勸說不了，怎么也阻止不住。是我返回奔流城為爸爸闔眼的時候了，她心想，至少我能做到這個。我也許是個糟糕的使節，但我能當個挺好的悼亡人，諸神保佑我。
Catelyn felt very tired. It had all been for nothing. The Baratheon brothers would drown each other in blood while her son faced the Lannisters alone, and nothing she could say or do would stop it. It is past time I went back to Riverrun to close my father’s eyes, she thought. That much at least I can do. I may be a poor envoy, but I am a good mourner, gods save me.
他們的營地精心構建在一條南北走向、低矮多石的山岡上。營區雖然只有曼德河畔那座大營的四分之一左右，卻要整齊有序得多。當藍禮得知哥哥突襲風息堡的消息之后，立刻將部隊分開，正如羅柏當日在孿河城下之所為。他把龐大的步兵軍團留在苦橋保護他的王后、車輛、輜重、牲畜、以及那堆笨重的攻城機器，然后率領手下的騎士和自由騎手星夜揮師東進。
Their camp was well sited atop a low stony ridge that ran from north to south. It was far more orderly than the sprawling encampment on the Mander, though only a quarter as large. When he’d learned of his brother’s assault on Storm’s End, Renly had split his forces, much as Robb had done at the Twins. His great mass of foot he had left behind at Bitterbridge with his young queen, his wagons, carts, draft animals, and all his cumbersome siege machinery, while Renly himself led his knights and freeriders in a swift dash east.
他的舉手投足多像他哥哥勞勃啊，連行為方式也那么相似……只是勞勃有奈德伴隨左右，每每以謹慎調和他的沖動。如果今天在這里的是勞勃和奈德，奈德一定會堅持把整個大軍盡數遣來，包圍史坦尼斯，圍攻圍攻者。可藍禮輕率地否定了這一選擇，急急忙忙跑來對付他的哥哥。他完全不顧補給，把食物和草料，還有他全部的貨車，騾子和馱牛統統拋在身后。現在他要么速戰速決，要么就只有饑餓潰散。
How like his brother Robert he was, even in that … only Robert had always had Eddard Stark to temper his boldness with caution. Ned would surely have prevailed upon Robert to bring up his whole force, to encircle Stannis and besiege the besiegers. That choice Renly had denied himself in his headlong rush to come to grips with his brother. He had outdistanced his supply lines, left food and forage days behind with all his wagons and mules and oxen. He must come to battle soon, or starve.
凱特琳吩咐哈爾·莫蘭照顧馬匹，自己跟隨藍禮回到營地中央的王家大帳。在那高聳的綠絲綢帳篷內，他麾下的將領和諸侯正等著談判的消息。“我哥還是老樣子，”他們年輕的國王道，同時布蕾妮為他解掉披風，自他額頭除下金玉王冠。“城堡和禮貌他都置之不理，他只要流血。那好，我很樂意替他達成愿望。”
Catelyn sent Hal Mollen to tend to their horses while she accompanied Renly back to the royal pavilion at the heart of the encampment. Inside the walls of green silk, his captains and lords bannermen were waiting to hear word of the parley. “My brother has not changed,” their young king told them as Brienne unfastened his cloak and lifted the gold-and-jade crown from his brow. “Castles and courtesies will not appease him, he must have blood. Well, I am of a mind to grant his wish.”
“陛下，我以為不必在此作戰，”馬圖斯·羅宛伯爵插話。“這座城堡固若金湯，供應充足，科塔奈爵士更是身經百戰的老戰士，何況全天下有什么地方造得出足以擊垮風息堡城壁的投石機？史坦尼斯大人想圍就任他圍，沒他好果子吃。而當他又饑又冷地待在這里無所事事時，我們早已拿下君臨。”
“Your Grace, I see no need for battle here,” Lord Mathis Rowan put in. “The castle is strongly garrisoned and well provisioned, Ser Cortnay Penrose is a seasoned commander, and the trebuchet has not been built that could breach the walls of Storm’s End. Let Lord Stannis have his siege. He will find no joy in it, and whilst he sits cold and hungry and profitless, we will take King’s Landing.”
“要我從此背上懼怕史坦尼斯的罵名？”
“And have men say I feared to face Stannis?”
“只有不懂事的傻瓜才這么說，”馬圖斯伯爵爭辯。
“Only fools will say that,” Lord Mathis argued.
藍禮望向其他人。“你們也這么以為？”
Renly looked to the others. “What say you all?”
“我認為史坦尼斯對您是一大威脅，”藍道·塔利伯爵宣稱。“讓他不受傷害的留在這里，只能讓他的勢力增強，而您的兵力將在接連的戰斗中逐次削弱。蘭尼斯特可不是一朝一夕就能打敗的，等您終于擊敗了他們，說不定史坦尼斯大人已經變得和您一樣……或許還更強。”
“I say that Stannis is a danger to you,” Lord Randyll Tarly declared. “Leave him unblooded and he will only grow stronger, while your own power is diminished by battle. The Lannisters will not be beaten in a day. By the time you are done with them, Lord Stannis may be as strong as you … or stronger.”
其他人紛紛附和。國王看來很滿意。“那么，我們就開戰吧。”
Others chorused their agreement. The king looked pleased. “We shall fight, then.”
正如當初我讓奈德失望，而今我也讓羅柏失望了，凱特琳心想。“大人，”她朗聲道，“如果您決意開戰，我的使命就已告終。請準許我返回奔流城。”
I have failed Robb as I failed Ned, Catelyn thought. “My lord,” she announced. “If you are set on battle, my purpose here is done. I ask your leave to return to Riverrun.”
“哎，眼下您不能走。”藍禮找張折椅坐下。
“You do not have it.” Renly seated himself on a camp chair.
她楞住了。“我帶著打造和平的愿望而來，大人，并非前來助陣。”
She stiffened. “I had hoped to help you make a peace, my lord. I will not help you make a war.”
藍禮聳聳肩，“我敢說，不仰仗您那二十五個伴當，我們也能獲勝。夫人，我不需要您參加戰斗，只想要您在一旁觀看。”
Renly gave a shrug. “I daresay we’ll prevail without your five-and-twenty, my lady. I do not mean for you to take part in the battle, only to watch it.”
“囈語森林之役我就在場，大人。我已經看夠了屠戮。我身為使節而來——”
“I was at the Whispering Wood, my lord. I have seen enough butchery. I came here an envoy—”
“也將作為使節離開，”藍禮說，“而且比來時更明智。您將用自己的眼睛好好看看叛徒是什么下場，如此您的兒子才能聽您親口轉述。千萬別害怕，我們會保護您絕對安全。”他轉過身去下達部署。“馬圖斯大人，你指揮中央部隊。布萊斯，你指揮左翼。右翼由我親自指揮。伊斯蒙大人，后備部隊交給你。”
“And an envoy you shall leave,” Renly said, “but wiser than you came. You shall see what befalls rebels with your own eyes, so your son can hear it from your own lips. We’ll keep you safe, never fear.” He turned away to make his dispositions. “Lord Mathis, you shall lead the center of my main battle. Bryce, you’ll have the left. The right is mine. Lord Estermont, you shall command the reserve.”
“陛下，我不會讓您失望，”伊斯蒙伯爵應道。
“I shall not fail you, Your Grace,” Lord Estermont replied.
馬圖斯伯爵再次開口：“誰指揮前鋒？”
Lord Mathis Rowan spoke up. “Who shall have the van?”
“陛下，”瓊恩·佛索威爵士喊，“我請求這一榮譽。”
“Your Grace,” said Ser Jon Fossoway, “I beg the honor.”
“盡管去請求，”綠衣衛古德說，“依慣例，應由七衛之一來打頭陣。”
“Beg all you like,” said Ser Guyard the Green, “by rights it should be one of the seven who strikes the first blow.”
“沖垮長長的盾墻靠張可愛的披風可辦不到，”藍道·塔利伯爵宣告，“你小子吃奶的時候我就是梅斯·提利爾大人的先鋒官了，古德。”
“It takes more than a pretty cloak to charge a shield wall,” Randyll Tarly announced. “I was leading Mace Tyrell’s van when you were still sucking on your mother’s teat, Guyard.”
叫嚷聲剎時充滿整個營帳，形形色色的人都爭相宣布自己的請求。好一群夏天的騎士，凱特琳想。藍禮舉起一只手，“好了，大人們。如果我能封的話，我很樂意把你們全都封為先鋒官，但最偉大的榮耀理當屬于最偉大的騎士。先鋒部隊將由洛拉斯·提利爾爵士統率。”
A clamor filled the pavilion, as other men loudly set forth their claims. The knights of summer, Catelyn thought. Renly raised a hand. “Enough, my lords. If I had a dozen vans, all of you should have one, but the greatest glory by rights belongs to the greatest knight. Ser Loras shall strike the first blow.”
“陛下，此刻我懷著無比感激的心情。”百花騎士在國王面前單膝跪下。“祝福我吧，君王，并賜予我一個騎士，在我身邊執掌您的旗幟，讓雄鹿和玫瑰并肩作戰。”
“With a glad heart, Your Grace.” The Knight of Flowers knelt before the king. “Grant me your blessing, and a knight to ride beside me with your banner. Let the stag and rose go to battle side by side.”
藍禮掃視一眼。“布蕾妮。”
Renly glanced about him. “Brienne.”
“陛下？”她還穿著那身藍甲，不過已經脫去了頭盔。人頭攢動的帳篷內相當悶熱，汗水使她柔和的黃發打了卷兒，搭在寬大平庸的臉龐上。“我的職責是在您身邊保護您。我是誓言守護您的……”
“Your Grace?” She was still armored in her blue steel, though she had taken off her helm. The crowded tent was hot, and sweat plastered limp yellow hair to her broad, homely face. “My place is at your side. I am your sworn shield …”
“七衛之一，”國王提醒她。“別擔心，你的四位同僚將在戰斗中隨侍我左右。”
“One of seven,” the king reminded her. “Never fear, four of your fellows will be with me in the fight.”
布蕾妮猛地跪下。“陛下，如果我真的必須和您分別，就請您給予我在戰斗前為您穿戴盔甲的榮譽吧。”
Brienne dropped to her knees. “If I must part from Your Grace, grant me the honor of arming you for battle.”
凱特琳聽見身后有人竊笑。她愛他，可憐的人，她悲傷地想，她扮演侍從就為了能碰碰他，絲毫不在意在別人眼底她是個多么可笑的傻瓜。
Catelyn heard someone snigger behind her. She loves him, poor thing, she thought sadly. She’d play his squire just to touch him, and never care how great a fool they think her.
“我準了，”藍禮說。“現在解散吧，全體解散。國王在打仗前也是需要休息的。”
“Granted,” Renly said. “Now leave me, all of you. Even kings must rest before a battle.”
“大人，”凱特琳道，“我們來時經過的最后一個村莊有間小小的圣堂。如果您不準我返回奔流城，就請您準許我到那里去禱告吧。”
“My lord,” Catelyn said, “there was a small sept in the last village we passed. If you will not permit me to depart for Riverrun, grant me leave to go there and pray.”
“如您所愿。羅拔爵士，請把史塔克夫人平安地護送到那間圣堂……并在黎明前將她帶回來。”
“As you will. Ser Robar, give Lady Stark safe escort to this sept … but see that she returns to us by dawn.”
“您自己也應該禱告。”凱特琳補充道。
“You might do well to pray yourself,” Catelyn added.
“為了勝利？”
“For victory?”
“為了理智。”
“For wisdom.”
藍禮大笑：“洛拉斯，請先留下，幫我作禱告。很久沒祈禱，恐怕都忘記該怎么說嘍。至于其他人，我要求你們在第一縷晨光出現之時準備就緒，穿戴盔甲，拿好武器，翻身上馬。明早將成為史坦尼斯永生難忘的一個清晨。”
Renly laughed. “Loras, stay and help me pray. It’s been so long I’ve quite forgotten how. As to the rest of you, I want every man in place by first light, armed, armored, and horsed. We shall give Stannis a dawn he will not soon forget.”
凱特琳離開大帳時，日頭已降下大半。羅拔·羅伊斯爵士和她并轡而行。他的身世她略微有些了解——青銅約恩的兒子之一，總體來看長得還算不錯，在各地比武會里是個小有名氣的角色。藍禮賜予他彩虹披風和一套血紅鎧甲，封他為彩虹護衛之一。“你離開谷地很遠了呢，爵士，”她告訴他。
Dusk was falling when Catelyn left the pavilion. Ser Robar Royce fell in beside her. She knew him slightly—one of Bronze Yohn’s sons, comely in a rough-hewn way, a tourney warrior of some renown. Renly had gifted him with a rainbow cloak and a suit of blood red armor, and named him one of his seven. “You are a long way from the Vale, ser,” she told him.
“您自己離開臨冬城不也很遠么，夫人。”
“And you far from Winterfell, my lady.”
“我知道自己來此所為何事，那么你呢？這不是你的戰爭，正如它不是我的。”
“I know what brought me here, but why have you come? This is not your battle, no more than it is mine.”
“從我承認藍禮是我的國王那一刻起，這已經是我的戰爭。”
“I made it my battle when I made Renly my king.”
“羅伊斯家族可是艾林家族的封臣。”
“The Royces are bannermen to House Arryn.”
“我的父親大人固然該向萊莎夫人效忠，他的繼承人亦然。然而，他的次子卻必須去別處追尋榮譽。”羅拔爵士聳聳肩。“我只是厭倦了比武會。”
“My lord father owes Lady Lysa fealty, as does his heir. A second son must find glory where he can.” Ser Robar shrugged. “A man grows weary of tourneys.”
他最多只有二十一二歲，凱特琳暗想，和他的國王一般大……不過她的國王，她的羅柏，雖只弱冠十五，卻比眼前這個年輕人懂事得多。至少她如此祈禱。
He could not be older than one-and-twenty, Catelyn thought, of an age with his king … but her king, her Robb, had more wisdom at fifteen than this youth had ever learned. Or so she prayed.
在凱特琳的小小營區內，夏德正往罐里削蘿卜，哈爾·莫蘭和三個臨冬城的兵丁賭色子，而盧卡斯·布萊伍德坐著磨匕首。“史塔克夫人，”盧卡斯一見她便喊，“莫蘭說天亮時便要開戰？”
In Catelyn’s small corner of the camp, Shadd was slicing carrots into a kettle, Hal Mollen was dicing with three of his Winterfell men, and Lucas Blackwood sat sharpening his dagger. “Lady Stark,” Lucas said when he saw her, “Mollen says it is to be battle at dawn.”
“哈爾說的沒錯，”她答道。我倒忘了，他實在是個多嘴的家伙。
“Hal has the truth of it,” she answered. And a loose tongue as well, it would seem.
“我們是打還是走？”
“Do we fight or flee?”
“我們祈禱，盧卡斯，”她回答他，“我們祈禱。”
“We pray, Lucas,” she answered him. “We pray.”
