她乖乖照辦，首先監督廚子溫酒，接著找來一大輪白奶酪，并令下人烤好二十人份的面包，以防諸侯們帶的隨從過多。吃了我們的面包與食鹽，他們就是賓客，再也不能傷害我們。雖說在孿河城，佛雷家族公然踐踏關于賓客的律法，謀殺了她的母親大人和哥哥，但她不相信高貴的約恩·羅伊斯會墮落到那種程度。

She did indeed. She saw to the mulling of the wine first, found a suitable wheel of sharp white cheese, and commanded the cook to bake bread enough for twenty, in case the Lords Declarant brought more men than expected. Once they eat our bread and salt they are our guests and cannot harm us. The Freys had broken all the laws of hospitality when they’d murdered her lady mother and her brother at the Twins, but she could not believe that a lord as noble as Yohn Royce would ever stoop to do the same.

隨后她開始布置書房。書房已鋪有密爾地毯，沒必要再撒香草，阿蓮吩咐兩名男仆抬來擱板桌，再端來八張沉重的橡木皮革座椅——若是尋常宴席，該把兩張椅子分別放在桌子首尾，再左右各放上三張，可這次不一樣，阿蓮另有主意，她在桌子的一面放了六張椅子，另一面放上兩張。

The solar next. Its floor was covered by a Myrish carpet, so there was no need to lay down rushes. Alayne asked two serving men to erect the trestle table and bring up eight of the heavy oak-and-leather chairs. For a feast she would have placed one at the head of the table, one at the foot, and three along each side, but this was no feast. She had the men arrange six chairs on one side of the table, two on the other. By now the Lords Declarant might have climbed as far as Snow. It took most of a day to make the climb, even on muleback. Afoot, most men took several days.

同盟的諸侯們應該到達雪山堡了吧，爬山十分辛苦，騎騾子需騎上一天，走路得花好多日子了。會談將在夜間舉行，蠟燭必不可少。于是等瑪迪燃好爐火后，阿蓮又叫她取來若干熏香蜂蠟，這是魏克利伯爵送給萊莎夫人的求婚禮物。隨后她又回去廚房，確保面包和葡萄酒準備妥當。一切都很順利，還有時間留給她梳洗換裝。

It might be that the lords would talk late into the night. They would need fresh candles. After Maddy laid the fire, she sent her down to find the scented beeswax candles Lord Waxley had given Lady Lysa when he sought to win her hand. Then she visited the kitchens once again, to make certain of the wine and bread. All seemed well in hand, and there was still time enough for her to bathe and wash her hair and change.

她首先看中一件純紫的絲裙服，接著又為一件暗藍色鑲銀絲的天鵝絨裙服著迷，最后她想起阿蓮不過是私生女，打扮不能招搖醒目。結果她換上一件羊毛裙服，暗棕色，做工樸素，胸前與衣袖上繡了藤蔓與枝葉的裝飾，還鑲有金邊。這件裙服舒適體貼，卻幾乎可算是仆女的服裝。培提爾將前妻的珠寶也盡數給了她，此刻她拿許多項鏈試了又試，覺得它們都過于華麗，最后只系了一條天鵝絨緞帶，鍛帶是秋天的金色。吉思爾將萊莎的銀鏡端來，她發現這個顏色與阿蓮蓬松的深棕色頭發很配。羅伊斯伯爵認不出我來的，她心想，連我自己都認不出自己。

There was a gown of purple silk that gave her pause, and another of dark blue velvet slashed with silver that would have woken all the color in her eyes, but in the end she remembered that Alayne was after all a bastard, and must not presume to dress above her station. The dress she picked was lambswool, dark brown and simply cut, with leaves and vines embroidered around the bodice, sleeves, and hem in golden thread. It was modest and becoming, though scarce richer than something a serving girl might wear. Petyr had given her all of Lady Lysa’s jewels as well, and she tried on several necklaces, but they all seemed ostentatious. In the end she chose a simple velvet ribbon in autumn gold. When Gretchel fetched her Lysa’s silvered looking glass, the color seemed just perfect with Alayne’s mass of dark brown hair. Lord Royce will never know me, she thought. Why, I hardly know myself.

自覺具備了培提爾·貝里席的信心之后，阿蓮·石東戴上微笑，跑去迎接客人。

Feeling near as bold as Petyr Baelish, Alayne Stone donned her smile and went down to meet their guests.

鷹巢城是七大王國里唯一一座需要客人從地下進入的城堡。蜿蜒的石階穿過雪山堡和危巖堡，在長天堡終結。最后六百尺是垂直的懸崖，迫使來客放棄坐騎，作出選擇：要么和蘿卜一起搭乘搖搖晃晃的木籃子上山，要么在山腹中攀登鑿刻的搭手。

The Eyrie was the only castle in the Seven Kingdoms where the main entrance was underneath the dungeons. Steep stone steps crept up the mountainside past the waycastles Stone and Snow, but they came to an end at Sky. The final six hundred feet of the ascent were vertical, forcing would-be visitors to dismount their mules and make a choice. They could ride the swaying wooden basket that was used to lift supplies, or clamber up a rocky chimney using handholds carved into the rock.

雷德佛伯爵和韋伍德伯爵夫人是同盟中的長者，眾人將吊籃讓給他倆坐，籃子回來時又載了肥胖的貝爾摩伯爵上去。其他諸侯自行攀登。阿蓮在新月堂溫暖的壁爐前以勞勃公爵之名歡迎他們，奉上面包、奶酪和盛在銀杯中溫熱的葡萄酒。

Lord Redfort and Lady Waynwood, the most elderly of the Lords Declarant, chose to be drawn up by the winch, after which the basket was lowered once more for fat Lord Belmore. The other lords made the climb. Alayne met them in the Crescent Chamber beside a warming fire, where she welcomed them in Lord Robert’s name and served them bread and cheese and cups of hot mulled wine in silver cups.

先前培提爾給她一張紋章卷軸加以研習，因而她能通過紋章辨認出所有人。顯然，胸前繡有紅色城堡的是雷德佛，他身材矮小，灰胡子修剪整齊，慈眉善目；安雅夫人是公義者同盟中唯一的女性，深綠外套上用黑玉鑲有韋伍德家族的破碎車輪徽章；紫衣上繡六只銀鈴的是貝爾摩，梨形肚子，圓肩膀，多肉的下巴伸出無數淡黃間灰的短須；賽蒙·坦帕頓與他剛好相反，胡子又黑又尖，外加尖鼻子和冰藍色眼睛，使得這位九星城騎士猶如天上的猛禽；小杭特伯爵的白貂皮披風乍看上去沒有特色，直到她發現系外套的別針——五根呈扇形散開的銀箭。此人年過四十，阿蓮私下覺得他已接近五旬，乃父統治長弓廳近六十年之久，最近突然暴病身亡，謠傳是做兒子的迫不及待要繼承權位。小杭特的臉跟鼻子紅得像蘋果似的，無疑是貪杯的緣故，她決心多給他倒幾杯酒。

Petyr had given her a roll of arms to study, so she knew their heraldry if not their faces. The red castle was Redfort, plainly; a short man with a neat grey beard and mild eyes. Lady Anya was the only woman amongst the Lords Declarant, and wore a deep green mantle with the broken wheel of Waynwood picked out in beads of jet. Six silver bells on purple, that was Belmore, pear-bellied and round of shoulder. His beard was a ginger-grey horror sprouting from a multiplicity of chins. Symond Templeton’s, by contrast, was black and sharply pointed. A beak of a nose and icy blue eyes made the Knight of Ninestars look like some elegant bird of prey. His doublet displayed nine black stars within a golden saltire. Young Lord Hunter’s ermine cloak confused her till she spied the brooch that pinned it, five silver arrows fanned. Alayne would have put his age closer to fifty than to forty. His father had ruled at Longbow Hall for nigh on sixty years, only to die so abruptly that some whispered the new lord had hastened his inheritance. Hunter’s cheeks and nose were red as apples, which bespoke a certain fondness for the grape. She made certain to fill his cup as often as he emptied it.

來客中最年輕者胸前繡有三只烏鴉，每只爪下都抓著一顆血紅的心臟，此人褐色的頭發披到肩膀，前額垂下一綹散亂的發卷。這便是林恩·科布瑞爵士，阿蓮一邊想，一邊警惕地掃視著對方剛硬的唇形和令人不安的眼神。

The youngest man in the party had three ravens on his chest, each clutching a blood-red heart in its talons. His brown hair was shoulder length; one stray lock curled down across his forehead. Ser Lyn Corbray, Alayne thought, with a wary glance at his hard mouth and restless eyes.

羅伊斯兄弟走在最后，奈斯特子爵陪伴著青銅約恩。符石城伯爵如獵狗般高大，縱然頭發灰白，面容滄桑，仍有說不出的魄力，那雙糾結的巨掌仿佛隨時能將年輕人的脖子輕輕折斷。看他嚴肅的神情，珊莎不由得憶起臨冬城的往事，憶起伯爵大人坐在桌邊和母親低語；憶起他外出打獵，收獲了一只雄鹿，歡呼吶喊聲震城堡；憶起他在校場里以比武用的鈍劍將她父親打倒在地，還打敗了羅德利克爵士。不行，他一定能認出我來，他怎么可能不認識我？阿蓮猶豫要不要跪在對方面前尋求庇護。他沒為羅柏而戰，怎會為我而戰呢？戰爭已告結束，臨冬城成了廢墟。“羅伊斯大人，”她怯生生地問，“您需要美酒以驅除寒意嗎？”

Last of all came the Royces, Lord Nestor and Bronze Yohn. The Lord of Runestone stood as tall as the Hound. Though his hair was grey and his face lined, Lord Yohn still looked as though he could break most younger men like twigs in those huge gnarled hands. His seamed and solemn face brought back all of Sansa’s memories of his time at Winterfell. She remembered him at table, speaking quietly with her mother. She heard his voice booming off the walls when he rode back from a hunt with a buck behind his saddle. She could see him in the yard, a practice sword in hand, hammering her father to the ground and turning to defeat Ser Rodrik as well. He will know me. How could he not? She considered throwing herself at his feet to beg for his protection. He never fought for Robb, why should he fight for me? The war is finished and Winterfell is fallen. “Lord Royce,” she asked timidly, “will you have a cup of wine, to take the chill off?”

青銅約恩瓦灰色的眼珠半隱藏在她所熟悉的濃眉毛下面，當他們目光交匯時，那雙眉毛不禁一皺，“姑娘，我們會過面嗎？”

Bronze Yohn had slate-grey eyes, half-hidden beneath the bushiest eyebrows she had ever seen. They crinkled when he looked down at her. “Do I know you, girl?”

阿蓮驚得幾乎把舌頭吞下去，幸好奈斯特子爵替她解了圍，“阿蓮是峽谷守護者的私生女兒。”他粗聲告訴表兄。

Alayne felt as though she had swallowed her tongue, but Lord Nestor rescued her. “Alayne is the Lord Protector’s natural daughter,” he told his cousin gruffly.

“小指頭的小指頭折騰得挺歡的嘛。”林恩·科布瑞掛著一絲惡作劇的微笑評論道，貝爾摩聽了哈哈大笑，阿蓮只覺紅暈爬上臉頰。

“Littlefinger’s little finger has been busy,” said Lyn Corbray, with a wicked smile. Belmore laughed, and Alayne could feel the color rising in her cheeks.

“你多大了，孩子？”韋伍德伯爵夫人問。

“How old are you, child?” asked Lady Waynwood.

“十四歲，夫人，”她差點忘了阿蓮的年齡，“我已經不是孩子了，我是有過月事的女人。”

“Four-fourteen, my lady.” For a moment she forgot how old Alayne should be. “And I am no child, but a maiden flowered.”

“是嗎？還沒開苞吧？”小杭特伯爵的大胡子將他的表情完全遮住。

“But not deflowered, one can hope.” Young Lord Hunter’s bushy mustache hid his mouth entirely.

“現下還沒有，”林恩·科布瑞接嘴，當她不在場一樣，“不過我瞧這妞兒是含苞欲放了。”

“Yet,” said Lyn Corbray, as if she were not there. “But ripe for plucking soon, I’d say.”

“心宿城的操守規矩已淪落至此了嗎？”安雅·韋伍德也是頭發花白的老人，眼角皺紋斑斑，下巴皮膚松弛，可語氣中的尊貴令人肅然起敬，“這姑娘年紀輕輕，溫順知禮，卻不幸經歷過恐怖的事件。注意你的言辭，爵士。”

“Is that what passes for courtesy at Heart’s Home?” Anya Waynwood’s hair was greying and she had crow’s-feet around her eyes and loose skin beneath her chin, but there was no mistaking the air of nobility about her. “The girl is young and gently bred, and has suffered enough horrors. Mind your tongue, ser.”

“我的言辭我自己知道關心，”科布瑞反唇相譏，“夫人您注意自個兒就好了。許多死人可以告訴您，我可不是喜歡聽人教訓的騎士。”

“My tongue is my concern,” Corbray replied. “Your ladyship should take care to mind her own. I have never taken kindly to chastisement, as any number of dead men could tell you.”

韋伍德伯爵夫人不再理他，“帶我們去見你父親，阿蓮，這里的事越早處理完越好。”

Lady Waynwood turned away from him. “Best take us to your father, Alayne. The sooner we are done with this, the better.”

“峽谷守護者在書房等候大家，請大人們移步。”眾人出了新月堂，爬上一段大理石階梯，途經地窖和三個殺人洞——諸侯們假裝對頂上的機關不聞不問。等到達頂端，貝爾摩已是氣喘吁吁，如同鐵匠的風箱，而雷德佛的臉色變得跟他的頭發一樣灰敗。守衛們打開閘門，“這邊走，大人們，請隨我來。”阿蓮引大家穿過一條掛有無數華麗織錦的拱廊，來到羅索·布倫爵士把守的書房門口。他為大家開門，并跟著進去。

“The Lord Protector awaits you in the solar. If my lords would follow me.” From the Crescent Chamber they climbed a steep flight of marble steps that bypassed both undercrofts and dungeons and passed beneath three murder holes, which the Lords Declarant pretended not to notice. Belmore was soon puffing like a bellows, and Redfort’s face turned as grey as his hair. The guards atop the stairs raised the portcullis at their coming. “This way, if it please my lords.” Alayne led them down the arcade past a dozen splendid tapestries. Ser Lothor Brune stood outside the solar. He opened the door for them and followed them inside.

培提爾坐在擱板桌前，一只手握著一杯葡萄酒，另一只手翻弄著一張脆弱的白卷軸。當公義者同盟的諸侯們進入時，他翻起眼睛打量大家。“大人們，歡迎之至，還有您，我的好夫人。啊，登山使人勞累，快請落座。阿蓮，親愛的，給我們的貴客倒酒。”

Petyr was seated at the trestle table with a cup of wine to hand, looking over a crisp white parchment. He glanced up as the Lords Declarant filed in. “My lords, be welcome. And you as well, my lady. The ascent is wearisome, I know. Please be seated. Alayne, my sweet, more wine for our noble guests.”

“是，父親。”她欣慰地發現，香蠟已然點起，書房中彌漫著豆蔻與其他貴重香料的味道。她取酒壺時，客人們一個接一個地落座……奈斯特·羅伊斯猶豫半晌，最終不得不坐到培提爾公爵身旁的空位子上，林恩·科布瑞則站在壁爐旁邊，伸手取暖，劍柄的心形紅寶石映照出耀眼的紅光。阿蓮看見他沖羅索·布倫爵士微微一笑。以“老男人”的標準而論，林恩爵士長得挺俊，她心想，可我一點也不喜歡他的笑容。

“As you say, Father.” The candles had been lighted, she was pleased to see; the solar smelled of nutmeg and other costly spices. She went to fetch the flagon whilst the visitors arranged themselves side by side … all save Nestor Royce, who hesitated before walking around the table to take the empty chair beside Lord Petyr, and Lyn Corbray, who went to stand beside the hearth instead. The heart-shaped ruby in the pommel of his sword shone redly as he warmed his hands. Alayne saw him smile at Ser Lothor Brune. Ser Lyn is very handsome, for an older man, she thought, but I do not like the way he smiles.

“我正在閱讀諸位大人的嚴正聲明。”培提爾開口，“寫得真好，操刀的學士深諳筆墨之道。諸位，什么時候讓我也聯名簽署呢？”

“I have been reading this remarkable declaration of yours,” Petyr began. “Splendid. Whatever maester wrote this has a gift for words. I only wish you had invited me to sign as well.”

他的話大大出乎來客們的意料。“你？”貝爾摩說，“簽字？”

That took them unawares. “You?” said Belmore. “Sign?”

“我的筆墨功夫雖不及這位淵博的學士，書寫文字卻也綽綽有余，況且最關心勞勃大人的難道不是區區在下嗎？至于這幫‘宵小奸臣’，讓我們齊心協力地挖出來。大人們，我全心全意地支持您們的事業，懇請您們即刻賜教簽署盟約的手續。”

“I wield a quill as well as any man, and no one loves Lord Robert more than I do. As for these false friends and evil counselors, by all means let us root them out. My lords, I am with you, heart and hand. Show me where to sign, I beg you.”

阿蓮一邊倒酒，一邊聽見旁邊的林恩·科布瑞“嗤嗤”發笑。其他人則倍感困惑，直到青銅約恩·羅伊斯清脆地捏了捏指節，道：“我們此行的目的不是要你在盟約上簽字，也不是來跟你玩文字游戲的，小指頭。”

Alayne, pouring, heard Lyn Corbray chuckle. The others seemed at a loss till Bronze Yohn Royce cracked his knuckles, and said, “We did not come for your signature. Nor do we mean to bandy words with you, Littlefinger.”

“是嗎？真可惜，游戲乃是生活的調料，”培提爾把卷軸放到一邊，“好吧，讓我們直入正題，大人們，夫人，您們想把我怎樣呢？”

“What a pity. I do so love a nicely bandied word.” Petyr set the parchment to one side. “As you wish. Let us be blunt. What would you have of me, my lords and lady?”

“我們不想把你怎樣，”賽蒙·坦帕頓用冰藍色眼珠瞪著峽谷守護者，“我們要你滾。”

“We will have naught of you.” Symond Templeton fixed the Lord Protector with his cold blue stare. “We will have you gone.”

“滾？”培提爾佯作驚訝，“我能上哪兒去？”

“Gone?” Petyr feigned surprise. “Where would I go?”

“國王給了你赫倫堡，”小杭特伯爵指出，“任何人都該滿足了。”

“The crown has made you Lord of Harrenhal,” Young Lord Hunter pointed out. “That should be enough for any man.”

“河間地正需要有人統治，”老霍頓·雷德佛說，“奔流城被圍，布雷肯和布萊伍德公開交戰，三叉戟河兩岸的土匪氣焰囂張，殺人放火，到處都有未及掩埋的尸首。”

“The riverlands have need of a lord,” old Horton Redfort said. “Riverrun stands besieged, Bracken and Blackwood are at open war, and outlaws roam freely on both sides of the Trident, stealing and killing as they will. Unburied corpses litter the landscape everywhere you go.”

“好一幅誘人圖畫，雷德佛大人，”培提爾應道，“不過很可惜，我在谷地身肩重責。況且勞勃大人目前還算安穩，難道要我把這病弱的孩子帶往一片混亂血腥中去嗎？”

“You make it sound so wonderfully attractive, Lord Redfort,” Petyr answered, “but as it happens I have pressing duties here. And there is Lord Robert to consider. Would you have me drag a sickly child into the midst of such carnage?”

“公爵大人留下，”約恩·羅伊斯宣布，

“His lordship will remain in the Vale,” declared Yohn Royce.

“我將把他帶去符石城，讓他成為一個能令瓊恩·艾林驕傲的騎士。”

“I mean to take the boy with me to Runestone, and raise him up to be a knight that Jon Arryn would be proud of.”

“符石城？”培提爾好奇地問，“為何不是鐵橡城或紅壘？為何不是長弓廳？”

“Why Runestone?” Petyr mused. “Why not Ironoaks or the Redfort? Why not Longbow Hall?”

“隨便哪里都可以，”貝爾摩叫道，“公爵大人會輪流造訪每家的城堡。”

“Any of these would serve as well,” declared Lord Belmore, “and his lordship will visit each in turn, in due time.”

“是嗎？”培提爾的語氣中充滿懷疑。

“Will he?” Petyr’s tone seemed to hint at doubts.

韋伍德伯爵見狀嘆了口氣，“培提爾大人，別再使小兒科的離間計了。我們大家說好了，乃是同氣連聲的盟友。就我看，符石城相當合適，約恩大人培養出了三位好男兒，沒有誰比他更適合教導小公爵，那里的亨威格師傅比您的柯蒙師傅年長，經驗更豐富，也更適合調養勞勃大人的身體；那里強壯的山姆·石東乃是全天下最棒的教頭，可以教導這孩子戰爭之道；那里的盧科斯修士潛心于七神信仰。此外，符石城還有許多同齡孩子，比老女仆或傭兵更適合與勞勃大人做伴。”

Lady Waynwood sighed. “Lord Petyr, if you think to set us one against the other, you may spare yourself the effort. We speak with one voice here. Runestone suits us all. Lord Yohn raised three fine sons of his own, there is no man more fit to foster his young lordship. Maester Helliweg is a good deal older and more experienced than your own Maester Colemon, and better suited to treat Lord Robert’s frailties. In Runestone the boy will learn the arts of war from Strong Sam Stone. No man could hope for a finer master-at-arms. Septon Lucos will instruct him in matters of the spirit. At Runestone he will also find other boys his own age, more suitable companions than the old women and sellswords that presently surround him.”

培提爾·貝里席輕捻胡子，“我不否認，公爵大人需要伙伴，然而您們仔細瞧瞧，阿蓮她能算是老女人嗎？您們不清楚，勞勃大人很喜歡我女兒，待會兒您們可以親自問他。此外，我已邀請格拉夫森伯爵和林德利伯爵各遣一子歸我收養，兩人均與勞勃年紀相仿。”

Petyr Baelish fingered his beard. “His lordship needs companions, I do not disagree. Alayne is hardly an old woman, though. Lord Robert loves my daughter dearly, he will be glad to tell you so himself. And as it happens, I have asked Lord Grafton and Lord Lynderly to send me each a son to ward. Each of them has a boy of an age with Robert.”

林恩·科布瑞笑道：“呦，兩只小狗的狗崽子。”

Lyn Corbray laughed. “Two pups from a pair of lapdogs.”

“當然啦，勞勃也需要年長的孩子為伴，最好是前途光明、表現利索的侍從，以便小公爵當成榜樣觀摩學習。”培提爾轉向韋伍德伯爵夫人，“好夫人，聽說您的鐵橡城中正有這么一位上上之選。您能遣哈羅德·哈頓前來與勞勃大人作陪嗎？”

“Robert should have an older boy about him too. A promising young squire, say. Someone he could admire and try to emulate.” Petyr turned to Lady Waynwood. “You have such a boy at Ironoaks, my lady. Perhaps you might agree to send me Harrold Hardyng.”

安雅·韋伍德似乎頗感有趣，“培提爾大人，您真是我所見過的最大膽的強盜了。”

Anya Waynwood seemed amused. “Lord Petyr, you are as bold a thief as I’d ever care to meet.”

“喲，我可不是要偷走那孩子，”培提爾擔保，“只希望他能與勞勃成為朋友。”

“I do not wish to steal the boy,” said Petyr, “but he and Lord Robert should be friends.”

青銅約恩·羅伊斯傾身向前，“勞勃大人和年輕的哈利理當成為朋友……他們將聯袂在符石城做我的養子與侍從，在我的照應下成長。”

Bronze Yohn Royce leaned forward. “It is meet and proper that Lord Robert should befriend young Harry, and he shall … at Runestone, under my care, as my ward and squire.”

“把男孩交出來，”貝爾摩伯爵叫喊，“我們保你平安無恙地離開谷地，去做你的赫倫堡公爵。”

“Give us the boy,” said Lord Belmore, “and you may depart the Vale unmolested for your proper seat at Harrenhal.”

培提爾稍帶責難地回望向他，“您的意思莫非是：若我不肯照辦，就要動粗嘍，大人？實在太奇怪了，我尊貴的前妻尚且認定我職責所在，應當守護谷地，須臾不得離開，諸君反倒苦苦相逼，竟然容不下我。”

Petyr gave him a look of mild reproach. “Are you suggesting that elsewise I might come to harm, my lord? I cannot think why. My late wife seemed to think this was my proper seat.”

“貝里席大人，”韋伍德伯爵夫人朗聲道，“萊莎·徒利乃是瓊恩·艾林的寡婦和勞勃·艾林的母親，身為攝政統治谷地，咱們敬她是主。你呢……直說了吧，你沒有艾林家族的血統，與勞勃大人更無親屬關系，憑什么坐在山上使喚大家？”

“Lord Baelish,” Lady Waynwood said, “Lysa Tully was Jon Arryn’s widow and the mother of his child, and ruled here as his regent. You … let us be frank, you are no Arryn, and Lord Robert is no blood of yours. By what right do you presume to rule us?”

“若您記憶不差，可知萊莎封我為峽谷守護者？”

“Lysa named me Lord Protector, I do seem to recall.”

小杭特伯爵接口道：“萊莎·徒利并非谷地人，她沒資格安排峽谷的事務。”

Young Lord Hunter said, “Lysa Tully was never truly of the Vale, nor had she the right to dispose of us.”

“那勞勃大人呢？”培提爾反問，“萊莎夫人連自己親生兒子的事也安排不了了？”

“And Lord Robert?” Petyr asked. “Will your lordship also claim that Lady Lysa had no right to dispose of her own son?”

奈斯特·羅伊斯一直保持沉默，此刻大聲說道：“我曾滿心希望迎娶萊莎夫人，杭特大人的先父與安雅夫人之子也有此打算，科布瑞更有整整半年待在山上。想想看，若夫人選的是我們中的一位，諸位決不會質疑他峽谷守護者的權威。說到底，萊莎夫人只不過剛巧挑了小指頭大人，并將兒子交其關照罷了。”

Nestor Royce had been silent all this while, but now he spoke up loudly. “I once hoped to wed Lady Lysa myself. As did Lord Hunter’s father and Lady Anya’s son. Corbray scarce left her side for half a year. Had she chosen any one of us, no man here would dispute his right to be the Lord Protector. It happens that she chose Lord Littlefinger, and entrusted her son to his care.”

“他也是瓊恩·艾林的兒子，表弟，”青銅約恩朝月門堡的守護者皺眉，“他屬于谷地。”

“He was Jon Arryn’s son as well, cousin,” Bronze Yohn said, frowning at the Keeper. “He belongs to the Vale.”

培提爾提出解答：“鷹巢城與符石城一樣，都在谷地的范圍之內，難道爬上山就升天了嗎？”

Petyr feigned puzzlement. “The Eyrie is as much a part of the Vale as Runestone. Unless someone has moved it?”

“盡管說你的笑話，小指頭，”貝爾摩伯爵咆哮，“我們要男孩。”

“Jape all you like, Littlefinger,” Lord Belmore blustered. “The boy shall come with us.”

“雖然很不愿令您失望，貝爾摩大人，可我不得不遺憾地通知您，我不能與我的繼子分開。您們都很清楚，他身子有些纖弱，經不得長途奔波。身為他的繼父和峽谷守護者，我不能容許他有任何意外發生。”

“I am loath to disappoint you, Lord Belmore, but my stepson will be remaining here with me. He is not a robust child, as all of you know well. The journey would tax him sorely. As his stepfather and Lord Protector, I cannot permit it.”

賽蒙·坦帕頓清清嗓子，“我們每人帶來一千精兵，此刻兵士都駐扎在山腳下，小指頭。”

Symond Templeton cleared his throat, and said, “Each of us has a thousand men at the foot of this mountain, Littlefinger.”

“希望他們住得舒服。”

“What a splendid place for them.”

“如果必要，我們能召集更多人手。”

“If need be, we can summon many more.”

“想用戰爭來威脅我嗎，爵士？”培提爾的語氣中沒有一絲恐懼。

“Are you threatening me with war, ser?” Petyr did not sound the least afraid.

青銅約恩吼道：“我們要帶走勞勃大人！”

Bronze Yohn said, “We shall have Lord Robert.”

會談陷入了沉寂。這時，林恩·科布瑞忽然從壁爐邊不耐煩地轉過身，“鬧夠了沒有？聽得我起雞皮疙瘩，蠢貨們，論嘴皮功夫，小指頭可以說到你們個個支撐不住，眼皮打架！跟他這路貨色有什么好廢話的……爽快點，靠家伙決定吧。”他拔出劍來。

For a moment it seemed as though they had come to an impasse, until Lyn Corbray turned from the fire. “All this talk makes me ill. Littlefinger will talk you out of your smallclothes if you listen long enough. The only way to settle his sort is with steel.” He drew his longsword.

培提爾連忙攤開雙手，“我沒有武器，爵士。”

Petyr spread his hands. “I wear no sword, ser.”

“這個問題好解決，”燭光在科布瑞的煙灰色劍刃上跳躍，沉暗的金屬令珊莎想起了父親的巨劍寒冰。“你的蘋果食客帶了刀，叫他給你，或者把你自己的匕首找出來比畫比畫。”

“Easily remedied.” Candlelight rippled along the smoke-grey steel of Corbray’s blade, so dark that it put Sansa in mind of Ice, her father’s greatsword. “Your apple-eater holds a blade. Tell him to give it to you, or draw that dagger.”

她看見羅索·布倫摸向劍柄，但劍未出鞘，青銅約恩便暴跳如雷地站起來，“放下武器，爵士！你到底姓科布瑞還是姓佛雷？我們是這里的客人！”

She saw Lothor Brune reach for his own sword, but before the blades could meet Bronze Yohn rose in wrath. “Put up your steel, ser! Are you a Corbray or a Frey? We are guests here.”

韋伍德伯爵夫人抿緊嘴唇，“實在太不成體統了。”

Lady Waynwood pursed her lips, and said, “This is unseemly.”

“收劍，科布瑞，”小杭特伯爵應和，“你的行為讓大家蒙羞。”

“Sheathe your sword, Corbray,” Young Lord Hunter echoed. “You shame us all with this.”

“是的，林恩，”雷德佛用和緩的語氣勸道，“這對我們沒好處，讓‘空寂女士’歇息去吧。”

“Come, Lyn,” chided Redfort in a softer tone. “This will serve for nought. Put Lady Forlorn to bed.”

“我的女士口渴著呢，”林恩爵士不肯讓步，“她若出鞘，見血方休。”

“My lady has a thirst,” Ser Lyn insisted. “Whenever she comes out to dance, she likes a drop of red.”

“口渴就沖我來！”青銅約恩結結實實地擋在科布瑞身前。

“Your lady must go thirsty.” Bronze Yohn put himself squarely in Corbray’s path.

“好個公義者同盟！”林恩·科布瑞惡狠狠地咒道，“瞻前顧后，難成大事，不如改名叫老婦人同盟！”他將沉暗的劍收回鞘內，推開布倫，旁若無人地大步離開。阿蓮聽見腳步聲清徹地回響。

“The Lords Declarant.” Lyn Corbray snorted. “You should have named yourselves the Six Old Women.” He slid the dark sword back into its scabbard and left them, shouldering Brune aside as if he were not there. Alayne listened to his footsteps recede.

安雅·韋伍德與霍頓·雷德佛交換了一個眼色，杭特干了杯中酒，伸出杯子讓阿蓮滿上。“貝里席大人，”賽蒙爵士鄭重其事地說，“請您原諒剛才的意外事件。”

Anya Waynwood and Horton Redfort exchanged a look. Hunter drained his wine cup and held it out to be refilled. “Lord Baelish,” Ser Symond said, “you must forgive us that display.”

“原諒？”小指頭冷冰冰地道，“是誰把他帶來的，大人們？”

“Must I?” Littlefinger’s voice had grown cold. “You brought him here, my lords.”

青銅約恩解釋，“我們并非有意——”

Bronze Yohn said, “It was never our intent—”

“是您們把他帶來的！這太荒唐了，簡直是公然蔑視律法，我有權召喚守衛，大人們——”

“You brought him here. I would be well within my rights to call my guards and have all of you arrested.”

杭特匆忙起立，差點撞翻阿蓮手中的酒壺，“你保證過我們的安全！”

Hunter lurched to his feet so wildly that he almost knocked the flagon out of Alayne’s hands. “You gave us safe conduct!”

“……是的，您們應該心存感激，我總還有榮譽感，與某些人不同。”培提爾的聲音中蘊涵有她從未聽過的惱怒，“我讀了您們的聲明，也聽了您們的要求，現在請聽聽我的：即刻從山下撤軍回家，別再騷擾我兒子。我不否認，從前是有統治不善的地方，可那是萊莎干的，非出于我。給我一年時間，我將與奈斯特大人攜手整治，一年之后，諸君將不會有任何委屈。”

“Yes. Be grateful that I have more honor than some.” Petyr sounded as angry as she had ever heard him. “I have read your declaration and heard your demands. Now hear mine. Remove your armies from this mountain. Go home and leave my son in peace. Misrule there has been, I will not deny it, but that was Lysa’s work, not mine. Grant me but a year, and with Lord Nestor’s help I promise that none of you shall have any cause for grievance.”

“空口無憑，”貝爾摩說，“我們憑什么信任你呢？”

“So you say,” said Belmore. “Yet how shall we trust you?”

“您居然質疑我的人品？到底是誰在會議上亮家伙，啊？您們自稱要保護勞勃大人，卻不給他吃的，令他營養不良，這樁樁悖行應該畫上句號了。告訴您，大人，我不懂如何帶兵打仗，但假若真被逼上絕路，也會奮起抵御。峽谷里并非只有你們六鎮諸侯，君臨的王室更是支持我的統治。如果你們想要戰爭，盡管直說，只怕谷地將血流成河。”

“You dare call me untrustworthy? It was not me who bared steel at a parley. You write of defending Lord Robert even as you deny him food. That must end. I am no warrior, but I will fight you if you do not lift this siege. There are other lords besides you in the Vale, and King’s Landing will send men as well. If it is war you want, say so now and the Vale will bleed.”

阿蓮察覺到公義者們眼中逐漸擴散的猶疑。“一年時間并不太長，”雷德佛大人遲緩道，“或許……如果您保證……”

Alayne could see the doubt blooming in the eyes of the Lords Declarant. “A year is not so long a time,” Lord Redfort said uncertainly. “Mayhaps … if you gave assurances …”

“沒人想要戰爭，”韋伍德伯爵夫人確認，“秋天即將結束，大家要準備過冬。”

“None of us wants war,” acknowledged Lady Waynwood. “Autumn wanes, and we must gird ourselves for winter.”

貝爾摩清清喉嚨，“在年底之前……”

Belmore cleared his throat. “At the end of this year …”

“……若我不能滿足諸位，便自動放棄峽谷守護者的稱號。”培提爾對諸侯們保證。

“… if I have not set the Vale to rights, I shall willingly step down as Lord Protector,” Petyr promised them.

“條件很公平。”奈斯特·羅伊斯子爵插話。

“I call that more than fair,” Lord Nestor Royce put in.

“不許有任何報復行為，”坦帕頓堅稱，“不許指名誰為叛逆或亂黨。對此您得發誓。”

“There must be no reprisals,” insisted Templeton. “No talk of treason or rebellion. You must swear to that as well.”

“很好，”培提爾承諾，“我要的是朋友，不是敵人。您們愿意的話，我即刻為大家各寫一張赦免狀，連同林恩·科布瑞在內，不管怎么說，他哥哥是個實在人，我不會讓尊貴的科布瑞家族蒙上污點。”

“Gladly,” said Petyr. “It is friends I want, not foes. I shall pardon all of you, in writing if you wish. Even Lyn Corbray. His brother is a good man, there is no need to bring down shame upon a noble House.”

韋伍德伯爵夫人轉向同伴們，“大人們，我們可否加以考慮？”

Lady Waynwood turned to her fellow Lords Declarant. “My lords, perhaps we might confer?”

“沒什么好考慮的，事情很清楚，他贏了。”青銅約恩用灰色的眼睛久久地打量著培提爾·貝里席。“我不喜歡這安排，但看來不得不給你一年時間。抓緊享受吧，大人。記住，并非所有人都是傻瓜。”他猛地掀開門，幾乎把它扯了下來。

“There is no need. It is plain that he has won.” Bronze Yohn’s grey eyes considered Petyr Baelish. “I like it not, but it would seem you have your year. Best use it well, my lord. Not all of us are fooled.” He opened the door so forcefully that he all but wrenched it off its hinges.

接下來舉辦了一場簡單的宴席，培提爾忙不迭地為樸素的食物道歉。勞勃穿一件乳白與天藍相間的外套跑出來，很稱職地扮演著小公爵的角色。青銅約恩沒有列席，他直接下山去了，林恩·科布瑞走得更快，其他人做客到第二天清晨方才告辭。

Later there was a feast of sorts, though Petyr was forced to make apologies for the humble fare. Robert was trotted out in a doublet of cream and blue, and played the little lord quite graciously. Bronze Yohn was not there to see; he had already departed from the Eyrie to begin the long descent, as had Ser Lyn Corbray before him. The other lords remained with them till morn.

他操縱了這場會議，當晚，阿蓮躺在床上，聽著窗外呼嘯的風聲，靜靜地想。她不明白，也不知懷疑因何而生，總覺得有那么一點線索，令人無法入睡。她翻來覆去地想，好像一只叼著老骨頭的狗，最后她起身換好衣服，離開熟睡的吉思爾。

He bewitched them, Alayne thought as she lay abed that night listening to the wind howl outside her windows. She could not have said where the suspicion came from, but once it crossed her mind it would not let her sleep. She tossed and turned, worrying at it like a dog at some old bone. Finally, she rose and dressed herself, leaving Gretchel to her dreams.

培提爾還在燈下寫信。“阿蓮，”他說，“親愛的，這么晚了，還不睡呢？”

Petyr was still awake, scratching out a letter. “Alayne,” he said. “My sweet. What brings you here so late?”

“我想知道實情，一年之內會發生什么？”

“I had to know. What will happen in a year?”

他擱下筆，“雷德佛和韋伍德老了，一年之內，或許死一個，甚至死倆；杰伍德·杭特將被他的弟弟們殺掉，多半是小哈蘭動手，他也是謀害老伊恩爵爺的元兇——瞧，這就是我常說的，‘一不做二不休’嘛；至于貝爾摩，此人生活腐化，容易收買；坦帕頓我會結之為友；遺憾的是，青銅約恩將繼續與我為敵，不過還好，只需將其孤立，便不能構成威脅。”

He put down his quill. “Redfort and Waynwood are old. One or both of them may die. Gilwood Hunter will be murdered by his brothers. Most likely by young Harlan, who arranged Lord Eon’s death. In for a penny, in for a stag, I always say. Belmore is corrupt and can be bought. Templeton I shall befriend. Bronze Yohn Royce will continue to be hostile, I fear, but so long as he stands alone he is not so much a threat.”

“林恩·科布瑞爵士呢？”

“And Ser Lyn Corbray?”

燭光在公爵眼中閃爍，“林恩爵士將成為我不共戴天的仇敵，他將以最惡毒最輕蔑的語言來詆毀我，并參與每一個針對我的密謀。”

The candlelight was dancing in his eyes. “Ser Lyn will remain my implacable enemy. He will speak of me with scorn and loathing to every man he meets, and lend his sword to every secret plot to bring me down.”

這下她的懷疑終于得到了證實，“為這份服務，您準備怎樣獎勵他？”

That was when her suspicion turned to certainty. “And how shall you reward him for this service?”

小指頭撫掌大笑，“有什么，不過是金子、男孩和承諾唄。林恩爵士的胃口不大，親愛的，他只要錢財、孩童與殺戮。”

Littlefinger laughed aloud. “With gold and boys and promises, of course. Ser Lyn is a man of simple tastes, my sweetling. All he likes is gold and boys and killing.”