Chapter 第五十九章 被拋棄的騎士（巴利斯坦二）
THE DISCARDED KNIGHT
“偉大的希茲達爾·佐·洛拉克陛下，高貴的第十四代坎達克、彌林之王，吉斯神的化身、安達爾及先民之王、斯卡扎丹河之主、龍之母，駕到，全體行禮！”傳禮官吼道。他的聲音在大理石地面和石柱間回響。
All kneel for His Magnificence Hizdahr zo Loraq, Fourteenth of That Noble Name, King of Meereen, Scion of Ghis, Octarch of the Old Empire, Master of the Skahazadhan, Consort to Dragons and Blood of the Harpy,” roared the herald. His voice echoed off the marble floor and rang amongst the pillars.
巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士收劍回鞘單手挽袍。國王面前除守衛外禁止刀械。盡管已被解職，但似乎他仍被默認為守衛之一。起碼，他的劍還在。
Ser Barristan Selmy slipped a hand beneath the fold of his cloak and loosened his sword in its scabbard. No blades were allowed in the presence of the king save those of his protectors. It seemed as though he still counted amongst that number despite his dismissal. No one had tried to take his sword, at least.
丹妮莉絲·坦格利安喜歡坐在锃亮的烏檀木長椅上上朝，平和又簡單，鋪滿巴利斯坦認為用來便于舒適的軟墊。斯卡哈茲王卻把長椅換成兩把鍍金的高大木王座，王座背后被雕成龍形。陛下坐在右手邊的王座，頭戴黃金寶冠，手持寶石權杖。另一個王座卻空空如也。
Daenerys Targaryen had preferred to hold court from a bench of polished ebony, smooth and simple, covered with the cushions that Ser Barristan had found to make her more comfortable. King Hizdahr had replaced the bench with two imposing thrones of gilded wood, their tall backs carved into the shape of dragons. The king seated himself in the right-hand throne with a golden crown upon his head and a jeweled sceptre in one pale hand. The second throne remained vacant.
那個更重要，巴利斯坦想著，在精巧的龍椅也取代不了真龍。
The important throne, thought Ser Barristan. No dragon chair can replace a dragon no matter how elaborately it’s carved.
王座右側站著巨人戈哈（Goghor），一個滿臉傷疤的殘暴的龐然大物。左側是斑點貓，一襲豹皮披肩。他們之后是碎骨者貝拉喬和冷眼卡拉茲。都是些老道的殺手，賽爾彌總結道，但找出隱藏的殺手并行動，與在競技場下迎擊伴著號角與戰鼓而來襲的敵人是兩碼事。
To the right of the twin thrones stood Goghor the Giant, a huge hulk of a man with a brutal, scarred face. To the left was the Spotted Cat, a leopard skin flung over one shoulder. Back of them were Belaquo Bonebreaker and the cold-eyed Khrazz. Seasoned killers all, thought Selmy, but it is one thing to face a foe in the pit when his coming is heralded by horns and drums and another to find a hidden killer before he can strike.
雖然時間還很早，但他卻疲憊入骨，仿佛他奮戰過一夜。歲數增長著，但睡眠卻減少著。當侍從的歲月里，他一夜要睡十個鐘頭，卻依然在步入操練場時哈欠連天。然而63歲得他卻發覺，5個小時用于睡眠都綽綽有余。昨夜，他壓根沒有睡。他的寢室緊鄰女王寢宮，本是奴隸營房。他的家具不過一張床、夜壺、衣柜，以及一把他從未坐過的椅子。在床頭柜上，他放著蠟燭和戰士的小雕像。雖然他不虔誠，但這雕像能讓他在這異鄉少點孤獨，這也是他值夜崗的緣由。讓我免于被滋生的懷疑所擾吧，他祈求道，賜予我力量去做正義之事。但無論是祈禱還是黎明都沒有給予他信心。
The day was young and fresh, and yet he felt bone-tired, as if he’d fought all night. The older he got, the less sleep Ser Barristan seemed to need. As a squire he could sleep ten hours a night and still be yawning when he stumbled out onto the practice yard. At three-and-sixty he found that five hours a night was more than enough. Last night, he had scarce slept at all. His bedchamber was a small cell off the queen’s apartments, originally slave quarters; his furnishings consisted of a bed, a chamber pot, a wardrobe for his clothing, even a chair should he want to sit. On a bedside table he kept a beeswax candle and a small carving of the Warrior. Though he was not a pious man, the carving made him feel less alone here in this queer alien city, and it was to that he had turned in the black watches of night. Shield me from these doubts that gnaw at me, he had prayed, and give me the strength to do what is right. But neither prayer nor dawn had brought him certainty.
大廳里從未這么擁擠過，但那些確實的面孔才是巴利斯坦·賽爾彌最懷念的：彌桑黛、貝沃斯、灰蟲子、阿戈和喬戈以及卡拉洛，伊莉和姬琪，達里奧·納哈里斯。站在剃頭者位置的是個帶著獅面塑形胸甲的胖子他沉重的腿幾乎撐破了皮帶；馬哈茲·莫·坎達克，國王的表親，銅盔野獸的新指揮官，打從賽爾彌看見他的第一眼就對他產生了輕蔑的印象。在君臨他就如此，媚上欺下這套他做不到，不僅出于驕傲，更出于自豪。
The hall was as crowded as the old knight had ever seen it, but it was the missing faces that Barristan Selmy noted most: Missandei, Belwas, Grey Worm, Aggo and Jhogo and Rakharo, Irri and Jhiqui, Daario Naharis. In the Shavepate’s place stood a fat man in a muscled breastplate and lion’s mask, his heavy legs poking out beneath a skirt of leather straps: Marghaz zo Loraq, the king’s cousin, new commander of the Brazen Beasts. Selmy had already formed a healthy contempt for the man. He had known his sort in King’s Landing—fawning to his superiors, harsh to his inferiors, as blind as he was boastful and too proud by half.
斯卡哈茲應該也在廳內，賽爾彌意識到，他那臭臉隱藏在面具之后。四十個銅盔野獸站在柱子間，火炬之光在他們的面具上閃耀。那個剃頭者可能是他們中的任意一個。
Skahaz could be in the hall as well, Selmy realized, that ugly face of his concealed behind a mask. Two score Brazen Beasts stood between the pillars, torchlight shining off the polished brass of their masks. The Shavepate could be any one of them.
大廳內齊聲響起數百個低鳴，回響在大理石板和石柱之間。這使預兆之音變得憤惱。這讓賽爾彌聯想到成群的大黃蜂來到前的那一只警戒蜂的轟鳴，而他在聚集的人群臉上看見了憤怒、悲哀、懷疑、恐懼。
The hall thrummed to the sound of a hundred low voices, echoing off the pillars and the marble floor. It made an ominous sound, angry. It reminded Selmy of the sound a hornets’ nest might make an instant before hornets all came boiling out. And on the faces in the crowd he saw anger, grief, suspicion, fear.
在這丑陋開始前，國王的傳禮官差點來不及肅靜廳堂。一個女子為她在達茲納卡競技場里死去的兄弟哀嚎，還有她的轎子。一個胖子揭開繃帶展示依舊鮮血淋漓的燒傷。當一個戴著藍金色托卡的家伙說著英雄的哈戈茲時，他身后的一位自由民將他推倒。花了六個銅盔野獸將他們分開帶離廳堂。狐貍、老鷹、海豹、蝗蟲、獅子、蟾蜍。賽爾彌不禁設想面具和面具之后的人是否有關聯。他們是成天戴著一種面具，還是每天早上換一個？
Hardly had the king’s new herald called the court to order than the ugliness began. One woman began to wail about a brother who had died at Daznak’s Pit, another of the damage to her palanquin. A fat man tore off his bandages to show the court his burned arm, where the flesh was still raw and oozing. And when a man in a blue-and-gold tokar began to speak of Harghaz the Hero, a freedman behind him shoved him to the floor. It took six Brazen Beasts to pull them apart and drag them from the hall. Fox, hawk, seal, locust, lion, toad. Selmy wondered if the masks had meaning to the men who wore them. Did the same men wear the same masks every day, or did they choose new faces every morning?
“安靜下”雷茲納克·莫·雷茲卡懇求著，“行么！我將挨個解決如果…”
“Quiet!” Reznak mo Reznak was pleading. “Please! I will answer if you will only …”
“是不是真的？”一個自由民呼喊道“我們的母親真的死了？”
“Is it true?” a freedwoman shouted. “Is our mother dead?”
“不，不，不”雷茲納克尖叫道，“丹妮莉絲女王將帶著她的威儀和權勢在她認為合適的時候回歸彌林。在那以前，希茲達爾陛下將——”
“No, no, no,” Reznak screeched. “Queen Daenerys will return to Meereen in her own time in all her might and majesty. Until such time, His Worship King Hizdahr shall—”
“他可不是我們的王。”一個自由民高喊道。
“He is no king of mine,” a freedman yelled.
人群開始推搡。“女王陛下沒死”管家強調道，“她的血盟衛已經散布于斯卡扎丹河兩岸尋覓她，將她帶回給她摯愛而忠誠的王。每隊都有十個精挑細選的騎手，每個騎手都有三匹備馬，以備于盡快找到陛下。丹妮莉絲陛下必將回來”
Men began to shove at one another. “The queen is not dead,” the seneschal proclaimed. “Her bloodriders have been dispatched across the Skahazadhan to find Her Grace and return her to her loving lord and loyal subjects. Each has ten picked riders, and each man has three swift horses, so they may travel fast and far. Queen Daenerys shall be found.”
一個高個身著棉袍的吉斯人接著說，聲調高到冰涼。希茲達爾王挪了挪王座，他面無表情，盡力做著關心的樣子，但事實上卻毫不在意。又一次，他的管家做出了裁決。
A tall Ghiscari in a brocade robe spoke next, in a voice as sonorous as it was cold. King Hizdahr shifted on his dragon throne, his face stony as he did his best to appear concerned but unperturbed. Once again his seneschal gave answer.
巴利斯坦無視了雷茲納克的油滑。他的御林鐵衛的歲月造就了他聽而不聞的能力，尤其是當說話的專心證明話語如風。在廳堂后方，他發現了那個多恩王子和他的兩個伙伴。他們不該來。昆汀沒意識到他的危險。在這庭上丹妮莉絲是他唯一的的朋友。而她卻不在。他懷疑他們對于所聽的語言究竟能理解幾分。即使是他也不完全理解這些奴隸所說的混雜的吉斯腔調，尤其當他們語速如飛的時候。
Ser Barristan let Reznak’s oily words wash over him. His years in the Kingsguard had taught him the trick of listening without hearing, especially useful when the speaker was intent on proving that words were truly wind. Back at the rear of the hall, he spied the Dornish princeling and his two companions. They should not have come. Martell does not realize his danger. Daenerys was his only friend at this court, and she is gone. He wondered how much they understood of what was being said. Even he could not always make sense of the mongrel Ghiscari tongue the slavers spoke, especially when they were speaking fast.
至少昆汀王子在專心聽。簡直就是他父親的翻版。矮小精壯，長相樸實，看著是個正直的小伙，冷靜、敏感、本分……卻不能讓那女孩一見鐘情。而丹妮莉絲·坦格利安，無論名諱如何，仍舊是少女懷春，就如她天真爛漫的那面一樣。作為女王她把她的子民放在首位——否則她也不會嫁給希茲達爾·佐·洛拉克——但她內心依舊渴望浪漫、激情與愛意。她想要熱情似火，可多恩人卻給她送來沉穩如泥。
Prince Quentyn was listening intently, at least. That one is his father’s son. Short and stocky, plain-faced, he seemed a decent lad, sober, sensible, dutiful … but not the sort to make a young girl’s heart beat faster. And Daenerys Targaryen, whatever else she might be, was still a young girl, as she herself would claim when it pleased her to play the innocent. Like all good queens she put her people first—else she would never have wed Hizdahr zo Loraq—but the girl in her still yearned for poetry, passion, and laughter. She wants fire, and Dorne sent her mud.
你可以從泥沼里提取藥膏治療熱病，你也可以在泥土里植下種子生長成莊家來滋養你的孩童，泥土會滋養你，而烈火只會燒盡你。但是傻子、孩子和少女卻總被熱情所誤導。
You could make a poultice out of mud to cool a fever. You could plant seeds in mud and grow a crop to feed your children. Mud would nourish you, where fire would only consume you, but fools and children and young girls would choose fire every time.
王子背后，杰瑞斯·德林克沃在朝克萊特·伊倫伍德低語。杰瑞斯爵士和他的王子長的迥然相反：高大精瘦標志，有著軍人的威儀和政客的智慧。賽爾彌毫不懷疑再多恩，少女輕撫滑過那黃金的順發，親吻在那戲謔笑容的嘴唇上。如果他是王子，事情就簡單多了，他不經意的想……但德林克沃特在塔看來有點可愛過頭了。劣幣，老騎士尋思著，他接觸過這類人。
Behind the prince, Ser Gerris Drinkwater was whispering something to Yronwood. Ser Gerris was all his prince was not: tall and lean and comely, with a swordsman’s grace and a courtier’s wit. Selmy did not doubt that many a Dornish maiden had run her fingers through that sun-streaked hair and kissed that teasing smile off his lips. If this one had been the prince, things might have gone elsewise, he could not help but think … but there was something a bit too pleasant about Drinkwater for his taste. False coin, the old knight thought. He had known such men before.
他竊語了不知什么趣事，引得他的高個禿頂家伙突然笑出了聲，響到足以把國王的注意也吸引了去。而他看見多恩王子，立即皺了皺眉。
Whatever he was whispering must have been amusing, for his big bald friend gave a sudden snort of laughter, loud enough so that the king himself turned his head toward the Dornishmen. When he saw the prince, Hizdahr zo Loraq frowned.
巴利斯坦對眉頭感覺不妙。而國王召喚他侄子馬格哈茲近前彎頭低語，他預感到更糟糕了。
Ser Barristan did not like that frown. And when the king beckoned his cousin Marghaz closer, leaned down, and whispered in his ear, he liked that even less.
我對多恩沒有誓言，巴利斯坦對自己說。但多恩親王勒文·馬泰爾曾是他的誓言兄弟，在那個御林鐵衛里手足情誼還濃厚的歲月。在三叉河畔我辜負了勒文親王，但今天我能幫他的侄子以贖過。那個馬泰爾在赴鴻門宴，卻對危險視而不見。他不斷的求見，即使在丹妮莉絲在眾神和大庭廣眾之下出走消失之后，必將激起任何丈夫的怒火，而昆汀又沒了女王做擋箭牌。雖然……
I swore no oath to Dorne, Ser Barristan told himself. But Lewyn Martell had been his Sworn Brother, back in the days when the bonds between the Kingsguard still went deep. I could not help Prince Lewyn on the Trident, but I can help his nephew now. Martell was dancing in a vipers’ nest, and he did not even see the snakes. His continued presence, even after Daenerys had given herself to another before the eyes of gods and men, would provoke any husband, and Quentyn no longer had the queen to shield him from Hizdahr’s wroth. Although …
忽然一個念頭竄上他的腦海。昆汀是土生土長的多恩人。詭計和毒藥對他來說在熟悉不過，他叔叔勒文親王亦是如此。他還是紅毒蛇的親戚。丹妮莉絲已經有了配偶，但一旦希茲達爾死了，她又從婚姻中解放了出來。難道剃頭者是錯的？誰能保證那蝗蟲是給丹妮莉絲的？那是在國王自己的盒子里。如果他才是受害者？希茲達爾的死必將打破脆弱的和平。鷹身女妖之子必將尋求報復，還有淵凱人的戰爭。丹妮莉絲別無選擇只能接受昆汀他的婚姻。
The thought hit him like a slap across the face. Quentyn had grown up amongst the courts of Dorne. Plots and poisons were no strangers to him. Nor was Prince Lewyn his only uncle. He is kin to the Red Viper. Daenerys had taken another for her consort, but if Hizdahr died, she would be free to wed again. Could the Shavepate have been wrong? Who can say that the locusts were meant for Daenerys? It was the king’s own box. What if he was meant to be the victim all along? Hizdahr’s death would have smashed the fragile peace. The Sons of the Harpy would have resumed their murders, the Yunkishmen their war. Daenerys might have had no better choice than Quentyn and his marriage pact.
巴利斯坦還在猜疑尋思中，卻聽到廳堂之后石階傳來沉重的靴步聲。淵凱人來了。三個善主帶著隊伍從黃色之城而來，每位都有自己的武裝隨侍，一個奴隸穿著鑲金邊的栗色絲綢托卡，一個是橘色條紋鴨皮，第三個穿著華麗的胸甲，上面用墨黑、翡翠及珍珠母繪著情色之景。紅胡子的傭兵團長緊隨之后，肩披巨大的皮質口袋，面露殺戮的快感。
Ser Barristan was still wrestling with that suspicion when he heard the sound of heavy boots ascending the steep stone steps at the back of the hall. The Yunkishmen had come. Three Wise Masters led the procession from the Yellow City, each with his own armed retinue. One slaver wore a tokar of maroon silk fringed with gold, one a striped tokar of teal and orange, the third an ornate breastplate inlaid with erotic scenes done in jet and jade and mother-of-pearl. The sellsword captain Bloodbeard accompanied them with a leathern sack slung across one massive shoulder and a look of mirth and murder on his face.
沒有破爛王，賽爾彌注意到。沒有布朗·本·普拉姆。巴利斯坦冷眼看著紅胡子。給我半點理由來會會你，看誰能笑道最后。
No Tattered Prince, Selmy noted. No Brown Ben Plumm. Ser Barristan eyed Bloodbeard coolly. Give me half a reason to dance with you, and we will see who is laughing at the end.
雷茲納克。莫。雷茲納克挪步向前。“善主大人們，你的駕到蓬蓽生輝。尊貴的希茲達爾陛下必然期待著淵凱而來的貴賓。我們理解。”
Reznak mo Reznak wormed his way forward. “Wise Masters, you honor us. His Radiance King Hizdahr bids welcome to his friends from Yunkai. We understand—”
“理解這個！”紅胡子從麻袋里丟出個頭顱在總管面前。
“Understand this.” Bloodbeard pulled a severed head from his sack and flung it at the seneschal.
雷茲納克驚恐的躲閃開來。頭顱擦過他，在王室廳大理石地面上彈跳著滾到希茲達爾王德龍座前，留下一路血跡。整個大廳里，銅盔野獸都握起長矛。巨人戈哈沉步上前擋在王座之前。斑點貓和卡拉茲緊隨他旁組成人墻。
Reznak gave a squeak of fright and leapt aside. The head bounced past him, leaving spots of blood on the purple marble floor as it rolled until it fetched up against the foot of King Hizdahr’s dragon throne. Up and down the length of the hall, Brazen Beasts lowered their spears. Goghor the Giant lumbered forward to place himself before the king’s throne, and the Spotted Cat and Khrazz moved to either side of him to form a wall.
紅胡子笑道：“他死了，死人才不會動。”
Bloodbeard laughed. “He’s dead. He won’t bite.”
小心翼翼，顫顫巍巍，總管靠近了頭顱，從頭發拎起。“格羅萊船長。”
Gingerly, so gingerly, the seneschal approached the head, lifted it delicately by the hair. “Admiral Groleo.”
巴利斯坦瞟了眼王座。他侍奉過不少帝王，這樣的挑釁引起的反應讓他好奇猜測。伊里斯該會驚恐的退縮，估計又要被鐵王座的倒刺劃傷，然后尖呼侍衛砍翻這些淵凱人。勞勃估計會拿起大錘直接招呼上紅胡子。即使公認懦弱的杰赫里斯二世，也會下令逮捕紅胡子和這些淵凱人。
Ser Barristan glanced toward the throne. He had served so many kings, he could not help but imagine how they might have reacted to this provocation. Aerys would have flinched away in horror, likely cutting himself on the barbs of the Iron Throne, then shrieked at his swordsmen to cut the Yunkishmen to pieces. Robert would have shouted for his hammer to repay Bloodbeard in kind. Even Jaehaerys, reckoned weak by many, would have ordered the arrest of Bloodbeard and the Yunkish slavers.
希茲達爾傻坐在王座上，呆若木雞。雷茲納克放下個滑枕在國王腳下，就驚慌跑開，滿是厭惡惡心的表情。幾尺之外巴利斯坦就能聞到管家熏鼻的香水氣味。
Hizdahr sat frozen, a man transfixed. Reznak set the head on a satin pillow at the king’s feet, then scampered away, his mouth twisted up in a moue of distaste. Ser Barristan could smell the seneschal’s heavy floral perfume from several yards away.
那個死人頭滿眼責備。他棕色的胡須上還有血塊，但頸脖上仍滲出血滴。從這慘樣看來，砍了這家伙的頭費了不知一刀，大廳后部，請愿人群開始散去，一個銅盔野獸摘下自己的鷹面模具，嘔吐起早飯。
The dead man stared up reproachfully. His beard was brown with caked blood, but a trickle of red still leaked from his neck. From the look of him, it had taken more than one blow to part his head from his body. In the back of the hall, petitioners began to slip away. One of the Brazen Beasts ripped off his brass hawk’s mask and began to spew up his breakfast.
巴利斯坦。塞爾彌對這死人不陌生。這個就是…他跨越了半個世界和這老水手，從潘托斯到魁爾斯再到阿斯塔波。格羅菜是個好人。他不該就這樣死去。他所想的不過是回家。騎士感到緊張，等候著。
Barristan Selmy was no stranger to severed heads. This one, though … he had crossed half the world with the old seafarer, from Pentos to Qarth and back again to Astapor. Groleo was a good man. He did not deserve this end. All he ever wanted was to go home. The knight tensed, waiting.
”這，“希茲達爾王終于說話，”這不是…撈們不能接受，這這什么意思？這…? ”
“This,” King Hizdahr said at last, “this is not … we are not pleased, this … what is the meaning of this … this …”
栗色昆卡的那個善主遞上一張羊皮紙，“我很榮幸傳達善主議會的決議。”他鋪開紙卷。字都寫在有七位彌林簽署和平條約并出席達茲那卡競掛場的紀念儀式。為了他們的安全，必須的交換七名人質給我們。淵凱為它高野民尤卡哈茲。卓。云扎卡哀悼，他來彌林做客卻被冷酷殺害。血債必須血償。”
The slaver in the maroon tokar produced a parchment. “I have the honor to bear this message from the council of masters.” He unrolled the scroll. “It is here written, ‘Seven entered Meereen to sign the peace accords and witness the celebratory games at the Pit of Daznak. As surety for their safety, seven hostages were tendered us. The Yellow City mourns its noble son Yurkhaz zo Yunzak, who perished cruelly whilst a guest of Meereen. Blood must pay for blood.’ ”
格羅萊在潘托斯還有老婆孩子孫子。為什么是他，在這些人質中？喬戈，哈洛，和達里奧納哈里斯都是戰士，但格羅萊不過是水手。他們難道是抓鬮，還是他們認為格羅菜對我們最沒價值，最不可能引起報復？騎士問著自己……但提問卻比解答輕松。我對此毫無頭緒。
Groleo had a wife back in Pentos. Children, grandchildren. Why him, of all the hostages? Jhogo, Hero, and Daario Naharis all commanded fighting men, but Groleo had been an admiral without a fleet. Did they draw straws, or did they think Groleo the least valuable to us, the least likely to provoke reprisal? the knight asked himself … but it was easier to pose that question than to answer it. I have no skill at unraveling such knots.
“陛下。”巴利斯坦大聲說道，“不知你還記得否，高貴的云扎卡死于意外，他在逃離巨龍時被石階絆倒，摔在他自己的隨從和奴隸中，這些，再加上他被驚嚇心跳過速，他已經年長，”
“Your Grace,” Ser Barristan called out. “If it please you to recall, the noble Yurkhaz died by happenstance. He stumbled on the steps as he tried to flee the dragon and was crushed beneath the feet of his own slaves and companions. That, or his heart burst in terror. He was old.”
“誰能未經陛下的允許發言？”淵凱的條紋托卡的善主問道，一個矮子有著窄下巴和齙牙，他讓賽爾彌想起了兔子。”淵凱的善主要和侍衛瞎扯了嗎？“他搖了搖托卡流蘇上的珍珠。
“Who is this who speaks without the king’s leave?” asked the Yunkish lord in the striped tokar, a small man with a receding chin and teeth too big for his mouth. He reminded Selmy of a rabbit. “Must the lords of Yunkai attend to the natterings of guards?” He shook the pearls that fringed his tokar.
希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克還呆盯著頭顱，當雷茲納克在他耳邊低語了幾句才緩過神來。“尤卡哈茲。卓。云扎卡曾是你們的執政官，”他說，“現在誰來為淵凱做決定？”
Hizdahr zo Loraq could not seem to look away from the head. Only when Reznak whispered something in his ear did he finally bestir himself. “Yurkhaz zo Yunzak was your supreme commander,” he said. “Which of you speaks for Yunkai now?”
“我們所有的，”兔子接口，“善主會議。”
“All of us,” said the rabbit. “The council of masters.”
希茲達爾忽然來了精神，“那么你們都要為和平的破裂負責。”
King Hizdahr found some steel. “Then all of you bear the responsibility for this breach of our peace.”
穿胸鎧的淵凱人說道，“撈們的和平沒被違背。以血還血，一命換命。為了展現我們的善意，我們將釋放三名人質。”他身后的衛士散開。三個彌林人被推上來，抓著他們的托卡一兩女男。
The Yunkishman in the breastplate gave answer. “Our peace has not been breached. Blood pays for blood, a life for a life. To show our good faith, we return three of your hostages.” The iron ranks behind him parted. Three Meereenese were ushered forward, clutching at their tokars—two women and a man.
“姐妹，”希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克生硬的說道，“侄子。”他指了指流血的頭領。“把那擦干凈吧．”
“Sister,” said Hizdahr zo Loraq, stiffly. “Cousins.” He gestured at the bleeding head. “Remove that from our sight.”
“船長是屬于海洋的。”巴利斯坦提醒道。“尊請陛下能向淵凱人要回他的遺體，以便我們將他葬于大海。”
“The admiral was a man of the sea,” Ser Barristan reminded him. “Mayhaps Your Magnificence might ask the Yunkai’i to return his body to us, so we may bury him beneath the waves?”
齙牙的那位揮了揮手，“若是能取悅陛下，已經準備好了，以表敬意。”
The rabbit-toothed lord waved a hand. “If it please Your Radiance, this shall be done. A sign of our respect.”
斯卡哈茲。莫。坎達克高聲清了清嗓子，“恕我冒昧，在我來尊責的丹尼莉絲女王陛下派了…嗯……七個人質。其它的三個…”
Reznak mo Reznak cleared his throat noisily. “Meaning no offense, yet it seems to me that Her Worship Queen Daenerys gave you … ah … seven hostages. The other three …”
其它人仍是我們的客人。”穿胸甲的淵凱人宣布道，“直到巨龍被屠。”
“The others shall remain our guests,” announced the Yunkish lord in the breastplate, “until the dragons have been destroyed.”
廳內迅速寂靜了下來，又接著充斥低語，低聲咒罵，祈禱。仿若黃蜂歸巢。“至于龍…”希茲達爾說。
A hush fell across the hall. Then came the murmurs and the mutters, whispered curses, whispered prayers, the hornets stirring in their hive. “The dragons …” said King Hizdahr.
“是怪物，大家都在達茲那卡競掛場目睹了。他們不死就沒真正的和平可言。“
“… are monsters, as all men saw in Daznak’s Pit. No true peace is possible whilst they live.”
雷茲納克回復到，“尊責的丹妮莉絲女王是龍之母。只有她才可以——“
Reznak replied. “Her Magnificence Queen Daenerys is Mother of Dragons. Only she can—”
紅胡子打斷了他，“她死了。燒焦咬爛了。野草在她的破碎頭顱上生長。”
Bloodbeard’s scorn cut him off. “She is gone. Burned and devoured. Weeds grow through her broken skull.”
—聲咆哮報之以回應。一些人開始呼喊咒罵。其它的卻緊閉雙腿用口哨表示贊許。銅盔野獸不得下以矛背鋤地來肅靜廳內。
A roar greeted those words. Some began to shout and curse. Others stamped their feet and whistled their approval. It took the Brazen Beasts pounding the butts of their spears against the floor before the hall quieted again.
巴利斯坦目不離紅胡于。他來洗劫城市，而希茲達爾用和平欺騙了他。他會竭盡所能挑起沖突。
Ser Barristan never once took his eyes off Bloodbeard. He came to sack a city, and Hizdahr’s peace has cheated him of his plunder. He will do whatever he must to start the bloodshed.
希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克緩慢的的從龍椅上起身。“我要和御前會議討論，今天的謁見到此結束。”
Hizdahr zo Loraq rose slowly from his dragon throne. “I must consult my council. This court is done.”
“全體迎送，偉大的希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克陛下，第十四代高貴的坎達克，彌林之王，吉斯神的化身，古老帝國的繼承，斯卡扎丹河之主，龍脈之伴侶，鷹身女妖的血脈。”傳禮官吼道。銅盔野獸揮動長矛組成一線，然后緩慢的將請愿人群推搡出大廳。
“All kneel for His Magnificence Hizdahr zo Loraq, Fourteenth of That Ancient Name, King of Meereen, Scion of Ghis, Octarch of the Old Empire, Master of the Skahazadhan, Consort to Dragons and Blood of the Harpy,” the herald shouted. Brazen Beasts swung out amongst the pillars to form a line, then began a slow advance in lockstep, ushering the petitioners from the hall.
多恩人不像大多數人那樣有許多路要走。為了貼合他的地位和身份，昆汀。馬泰爾被安排住在大金字塔內，兩層之下，一套漂亮的套間有自己單獨的秘密有墻的陽臺。或許這就是他和他的同伴磨蹭直到侍衛推搡上來才離開。
The Dornishmen did not have as far to go as most. As befit his rank and station, Quentyn Martell had been given quarters within the Great Pyramid, two levels down—a handsome suite of rooms with its own privy and walled terrace. Perhaps that was why he and his companions lingered, waiting until the press had lessened before beginning to make their way toward the steps.
巴利斯坦看著他們，滿心思緒。丹尼莉絲想要什么？他自問。他以為他知道。老騎士大步穿過廳堂，他的白袍在身后揮揚。他在石階最高處追上了多恩人。“你爹的聽會從沒這么有意思。”他聽到德林克沃特嘲弄著。
Ser Barristan watched them, thoughtful. What would Daenerys want? he asked himself. He thought he knew. The old knight strode across the hall, his long white cloak rippling behind him. He caught the Dornishmen at the top of the steps. “Your father’s court was never half so lively,” he heard Drinkwater japing.
“昆汀王子，”賽爾彌呼喚道，“能借步一句。”
“Prince Quentyn,” Selmy called. “Might I beg a word?”
昆汀，馬泰爾回過頭，“巴利斯坦爵士，當然，我的套房在一層之下。”
Quentyn Martell turned. “Ser Barristan. Of course. My chambers are one level down.”
“不。雖然我沒資格建議你，昆汀王子。但我若是你，我不會回套房。你和你的朋友們該沿著這些石階離開。”
No. “It is not my place to counsel you, Prince Quentyn … but if I were you, I would not return to my chambers. You and your friends should go down the steps and leave.”
昆汀王子盯著，“離開金字塔？”
Prince Quentyn stared. “Leave the pyramid?”
“離開彌林，回多恩去。”
“Leave the city. Return to Dorne.”
多恩人互換了下眼神，“我們的武器和盔甲還在房里，”杰瑞斯。德林克沃特說道，“更別說我們大部分細軟。“
The Dornishmen exchanged a look. “Our arms and armor are back in our apartments,” said Gerris Drinkwater. “Not to mention most of the coin that we have left.”
“武器可以更換，”巴利斯坦爵士說道“我可以給你們提供足夠回多恩的錢財。昆汀王子，國王注意到你了，他不高興。”
“Swords can be replaced,” said Ser Barristan. “I can provide you with coin enough for passage back to Dorne. Prince Quentyn, the king made note of you today. He frowned.”
杰瑞斯。德林克沃特笑道，“我們會怕希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克？你方才也看到他那囧樣。他在淵凱人面前顫抖。他們用頭威嚇他，他卻毫無反應。”
Gerris Drinkwater laughed. “Should we be frightened of Hizdahr zo Loraq? You saw him just now. He quailed before the Yunkishmen. They sent him a head, and he did nothing.”
昆汀。馬泰爾點頭附和，“王子都謀而后定。這王？我不了解他。女王警告過我遠離他，確實，但…”
Quentyn Martell nodded in agreement. “A prince does well to think before he acts. This king … I do not know what to think of him. The queen warned me against him as well, true, but …”
“她警告過你？”賽爾彌皺眉，“那你們還在這？”
“She warned you?” Selmy frowned. “Why are you still here?”
昆汀王子激動道，“那紙婚約…”
Prince Quentyn flushed. “The marriage pact—”
“由兩個死人簽署而且既沒有提到女王又沒有你。他是由你姐姐和女王的哥哥達成的，又是個逝者。這毫無效果。在你出現之前，女王陛下壓根沒提及過。你父親非常善于保守秘密，昆汀王子。過猶不及，我恐怕。倘若當初在魁尓斯，女王就知道這紙婚約，她恐怕不會來奴隸灣的。但你來得太晚了。不是要在你傷口上撒鹽，女王陛下她已經有了新的丈夫和舊的情人，而且貌似比你更偏愛他們。”
“—was made by two dead men and contained not a word about the queen or you. It promised your sister’s hand to the queen’s brother, another dead man. It has no force. Until you turned up here, Her Grace was ignorant of its existence. Your father keeps his secrets well, Prince Quentyn. Too well, I fear. If the queen had known of this pact in Qarth, she might never have turned aside for Slaver’s Bay, but you came too late. I have no wish to salt your wounds, but Her Grace has a new husband and an old paramour, and seems to prefer the both of them to you.”
王子深色的眼光中流露怒火，“這個吉斯小貴族才配不上七國的皇后。”
Anger flashed in the prince’s dark eyes. “This Ghiscari lordling is no fit consort for the queen of the Seven Kingdoms.”
“這不是你說了算。”巴利斯坦緩了口氣，考慮自己是不是已經說得太多了。不，都告訴他吧。“在達茲那卡責技場那天，皇室的食盒里被下了毒。幸虧是壯漢貝沃斯都吃了。藍衣仁者說多虧了他的體型和強壯才救了他，但那也是九死一生。他差點就死了。”
“That is not for you to judge.” Ser Barristan paused, wondering if he had said too much already. No. Tell him the rest of it. “That day at Daznak’s Pit, some of the food in the royal box was poisoned. It was only chance that Strong Belwas ate it all. The Blue Graces say that only his size and freakish strength have saved him, but it was a near thing. He may yet die.”
昆汀王子臉露震驚。“毒藥？下給丹妮莉絲的？”
The shock was plain on Prince Quentyn’s face. “Poison … meant for Daenerys?”
“她或者希茲達爾，或許都是。和子是他的，雖然。陛下他安排了一切。如果下毒的是他？ 那，他就要個替罪羊了。這廳里還有比從遙遠地方來的對手更合適的嗎？還有哪個被女王拒絕的求婚者更有嫌疑？”
“Her or Hizdahr. Perhaps both. The box was his, though. His Grace made all the arrangements. If the poison was his doing … well, he will need a scapegoat. Who better than a rival from a distant land who has no friends at this court? Who better than a suitor the queen spurned?”
昆汀。馬泰爾一臉蒼白。“我？我絕不會。你不會也認為我會…”
Quentyn Martell went pale. “Me? I would never … you cannot think I had any part in any …”
這就是真相，除非他是演技高手。“其他人會的，”巴利斯坦爵士說，“紅毒蛇是你叔叔。你又有殺希茲達爾王的好動機。”
That was the truth, or he is a master mummer. “Others might,” said Ser Barristan. “The Red Viper was your uncle. And you have good reason to want King Hizdahr dead.”
“其他人也有，”杰瑞靳德林克沃特爭辯道，“納咭里靳，譬如，女王的? ? ”
“So do others,” suggested Gerris Drinkwater. “Naharis, for one. The queen’s …”
“ 妍頭，”巴利靳坦接口，在多恩騎士說出任何個玷污女王的詞匯前。“這就是你們在多恩的叫法，是嗎？”他沒等答案。“勒文親王是我的誓言兄弟。那段歲月里，御林鐵衛間沒啥秘密。我知道他有個妍頭。他并沒有以此為恥。”
“… paramour,” Ser Barristan finished, before the Dornish knight could say anything that might besmirch the queen’s honor. “That is what you call them down in Dorne, is it not?” He did not wait for a reply. “Prince Lewyn was my Sworn Brother. In those days there were few secrets amongst the Kingsguard. I know he kept a paramour. He did not feel there was any shame in that.”
“不，”昆汀紅著臉說道，“但……”
“No,” said Quentyn, red-faced, “but …”
“達里奧他敢早就殺了希茲達爾，”巴利斯坦繼續，“但不會下毒，絕不。況且達里奧并不在場。希茲達爾會很樂于把蝗蟲嫁禍給他的，類似…但國王他還需要風鴉團，但一旦他和團長之死有關那就不行了。所以，王子殿下。如果他要嫁禍，他最有可能找你。”他盡最安全的方式說了。再過幾天，若諸神有幸，希茲達爾。佐。洛拉克將不再統治彌林。但在將到來的大屠殺里昆汀王子被捕就壞事了。“如果你堅持呆在彌林，你最好避開集會寄希望于希茲達爾忘了你，”巴利斯坦結束道，“但前往瓦蘭提斯的船票更的船票更明智，王子殿下。無論你選那條，祝你好運。”
“Daario would kill Hizdahr in a heartbeat if he dared,” Ser Barristan went on. “But not with poison. Never. And Daario was not there in any case. Hizdahr would be pleased to blame him for the locusts, all the same … but the king may yet have need of the Stormcrows, and he will lose them if he appears complicit in the death of their captain. No, my prince. If His Grace needs a poisoner, he will look to you.” He had said all that he could safely say. In a few more days, if the gods smiled on them, Hizdahr zo Loraq would no longer rule Meereen … but no good would be served by having Prince Quentyn caught up in the bloodbath that was coming. “If you must remain in Meereen, you would do well to stay away from court and hope Hizdahr forgets you,” Ser Barristan finished, “but a ship for Volantis would be wiser, my prince. Whatever course you choose, I wish you well.”
他轉身還沒有走出三步，昆汀。馬泰爾召喚道，“無畏的巴利斯坦，他們這么稱呼你。”
Before he had gone three steps, Quentyn Martell called out to him. “Barristan the Bold, they call you.”
“有些，”賽爾彌在他十歲的時候贏得了這個稱號，新晉侍從，卻那么無所畏懼的莽撞，自以為可以和浸過油的騎士一較高下。于是他從唐德利恩爵士那借了匹戰馬和一套盔甲，以神秘騎士的身份參加了黑港的比武。盡管通令官笑了。我的胳膊太細了以至于當我低下長槍，我所能做的就是不拿它犁在地上。唐德利恩爵士本有權利把他拉下馬扇他巴掌，但龍弗萊王子同情了這個身穿不合體盔甲愚蠢男孩，并給予他自信去迎接挑戰。一點指引就是他所要的。之后鄧肯王子幫他下馬并脫下他的頭盔。”他朝圍觀的群眾宣布道，“一個無畏的孩子。”五十載已逝，當年黑港的故人又還有多少在世？
“Some do.” Selmy had won that name when he was ten years old, a new-made squire, yet so vain and proud and foolish that he got it in his head that he could joust with tried and proven knights. So he’d borrowed a warhorse and some plate from Lord Dondarrion’s armory and entered the lists at Blackhaven as a mystery knight. Even the herald laughed. My arms were so thin that when I lowered my lance it was all I could do to keep the point from furrowing the ground. Lord Dondarrion would have been within his rights to pull him off the horse and spank him, but the Prince of Dragonflies had taken pity on the addlepated boy in the ill-fitting armor and accorded him the respect of taking up his challenge. One course was all that it required. Afterward Prince Duncan helped him to his feet and removed his helm. “A boy,” he had proclaimed to the crowd. “A bold boy.” Fifty-three years ago. How many men are still alive who were there at Blackhaven?
“那你認為當我沒帶回丹妮莉絲到多恩，他們會怎么特呼我？”昆汀王子質問道，“謹謹的昆汀？懦夫昆汀？怯懦的昆汀？”
“What name do you think they will give me, should I return to Dorne without Daenerys?” Prince Quentyn asked. “Quentyn the Cautious? Quentyn the Craven? Quentyn the Quail?”
遲到的王子，老騎士想。但多年的御林鐵衛歲月沒教會他別的，就是管好自己的舌頭。“明智的昆汀。”他說到，并期望成真。”
The Prince Who Came Too Late, the old knight thought … but if a knight of the Kingsguard learns nothing else, he learns to guard his tongue. “Quentyn the Wise,” he suggested. And hoped that it was true.
