Ⅳ 群鴉的盛宴 Chapter38 詹姆

JAIME

布林登·徒利爵士用一尾黃金和黑曜石精工打造的黑魚系住披風，他的鎖甲是暗灰色，護手、護喉、護脛、護肩和護膝均由黑鐵制成，但這些加在一起都不及他的臉黑。他在吊橋盡頭等待詹姆·蘭尼斯特，胯下一匹紅藍服飾的栗色戰馬。

The brooch that fastened Ser Brynden Tully’s cloak was a black fish, wrought in jet and gold. His ringmail was grim and grey. Over it he wore greaves, gorget, gauntlets, pauldron, and poleyns of blackened steel, none half so dark as the look upon his face as he waited for Jaime Lannister at the end of the drawbridge, alone atop a chestnut courser caparisoned in red and blue.

他恨我。徒利的臉棱角分明，一窩亂蓬蓬的硬直灰發下，飽經風霜的面容被鑿刻出深深的線條，但其中的神韻仍在，令詹姆不敢忘懷，他忘不了當初那位以九銅板王的故事迷住了年輕侍從的偉大騎士。榮譽的馬蹄不安地踩踏吊橋木板，發出“咯噠咯噠”的聲響，詹姆費盡思量，猶豫談判時穿黃金甲還是白袍，最終他選擇了皮夾克和緋紅披風。

He loves me not. Tully had a craggy face, deeply lined and windburnt beneath a shock of stiff grey hair, but Jaime could still see the great knight who had once enthralled a squire with tales of the Ninepenny Kings. Honor’s hooves clattered against the planks of the drawbridge. Jaime had thought long and hard about whether to wear his gold armor or his white to this meeting; in the end, he’d chosen a leather jack and a crimson cloak.

他在布林登爵士身前一碼處勒馬停下，朝老人點頭致意?！皬s君者?！蓖嚼f。

He drew up a yard from Ser Brynden, and inclined his head to the older man. “Kingslayer,” said Tully.

他和詹姆無所不談，但這是第一次說出這個詞，詹姆強忍情緒?！昂隰~，”詹姆應道，“感謝你答應我談判的請求。”

That he would make that name the first word from his mouth spoke volumes, but Jaime was resolved to keep his temper. “Blackfish,” he responded. “Thank you for coming.”

“我之所以會來，只是以為你要履行對我侄女的諾言，”黑魚說，“倘若我記得沒錯，你曾答應凱特琳，用她的兩個女兒來交換自由。”他嘴巴抿緊，“人呢？兩個女孩在哪里？”

“I assume you have returned to fulfill the oaths you swore my niece,” Ser Brynden said. “As I recall, you promised Catelyn her daughters in return for your freedom.” His mouth tightened. “Yet I do not see the girls. Where are they?”

你非逼我說出口？“我沒找到她們?！?/p>

Must he make me say it? “I do not have them.”

“真遺憾。這么說，你是回來繼續做俘虜的嘍？你的牢房我們還留著，并且新換了稻草?！?/p>

“Pity. Do you wish to resume your captivity? Your old cell is still available. We have put fresh rushes on the floor.”

連糞桶也換了吧？“謝謝關心，爵士先生，但我必須拒絕這份邀請。住自己的帳篷好歹要舒服許多?！?/p>

And a nice new pail for me to shit in, I don’t doubt. “That was thoughtful of you, ser, but I fear I must decline. I prefer the comforts of my pavilion.”

“而凱特林舒舒服服地進了墳墓?！?/p>

“Whilst Catelyn enjoys the comforts of her grave.”

我與凱特琳夫人之死毫無瓜葛，詹姆想說，而她的女兒早在我回到君臨之前便已不見蹤影。他幾乎將派遣布蕾妮、并把配劍給她的事和盤托出，但黑魚看的眼神就跟當年他殺了瘋王、提著血淋淋的長劍坐在鐵王座上時，艾德·史塔克看他的眼神一模一樣?！拔襾碚勁惺菫榱松?，非為死人。我是為了拯救能活下去的人，不過……”

I had no hand in Lady Catelyn’s death, he might have said, and her daughters were gone before I reached King’s Landing. It was on his tongue to speak of Brienne and the sword he’d given her, but the Blackfish was looking at him the way that Eddard Stark had looked at him when he’d found him on the Iron Throne with the Mad King’s blood upon his blade. “I came to speak of the living, not the dead. Of those who need not die, but shall …”

“……不過前提是我把奔流城交給你。艾德慕就是籌碼嘍？”濃眉底下，黑魚的雙目剛硬如石?！盁o論我怎么做，我外甥都難逃一死，所以，請你快快吊死他吧。我猜艾德慕已經厭倦了無休止地站在絞架下，正如我厭倦了看他?！?/p>

“… unless I hand you Riverrun. Is this where you threaten to hang Edmure?” Beneath his bushy brows, Tully’s eyes were stone. “My nephew is marked for death no matter what I do. So hang him and be done with it. I expect that Edmure is as weary of standing on those gallows as I am of seeing him there.”

那是萊曼·佛雷的愚蠢。這場艾德慕與絞架的拙劣表演只會使黑魚更頑固。“你手上有希蓓兒·維斯特林夫人和她的三個孩子，我愿用你外甥來與他們交換?！?/p>

Ryman Frey is a bloody fool. His mummer’s show with Edmure and the gallows had only made the Blackfish more obdurate, that was plain. “You hold Lady Sybelle Westerling and three of her children. I’ll return your nephew in exchange for them.”

“是嗎？就像你愿用凱特琳夫人的女兒來交換自由？”

“As you returned Lady Catelyn’s daughters?”

鎮靜，詹姆告誡自己?！耙粋€老婦人外加三個小孩子交換你的封君，你決不可能從別人那里得到這樣的條件?！?/p>

Jaime did not allow himself to be provoked. “An old woman and three children for your liege lord. That’s a better bargain than you could have hoped for.”

布林登爵士擠出一絲微笑，“你把天下人也看得恁低！弒君者，我告訴你，和背誓之人談條件好比在流沙上蓋房子。凱特根本不該信任你?！?/p>

Ser Brynden smiled a hard smile. “You do not lack for gall, Kingslayer. Bargaining with oathbreakers is like building on quicksand, though. Cat should have known better than to trust the likes of you.”

她信任的是提利昂，詹姆想說，結果小惡魔才在故意蒙騙她?！拔沂窃诶麆γ{迫之下答應凱特琳夫人的。”

It was Tyrion she trusted in, Jaime almost said. The Imp deceived her too. “The promises I made to Lady Catelyn were wrung from me at swordpoint.”

“正如你對伊里斯發的誓？”

“And the oath you swore to Aerys?”

幻影手指開始抽搐，“這與伊里斯無關。你愿不愿用維斯特林家族的成員來交換艾德慕？”

He felt his phantom fingers twitching. “Aerys is no part of this. Will you exchange the Westerlings for Edmure?”

“不。我的國王將他的王后信托于我，我發誓護得她平安無恙，決不會將她交給佛雷的絞索。”

“No. My king entrusted his queen to my keeping, and I swore to keep her safe. I will not hand her over to a Frey noose.”

“這女孩已被赦免了，沒人會傷害她。我以我的榮譽向你保證?！?/p>

“The girl has been pardoned. No harm will come to her. You have my word on that.”

“你以你的榮譽向我保證？”布林登爵士抬起一邊眉毛，“你知道榮譽是什么嗎？”

“Your word of honor?” Ser Brynden raised an eyebrow. “Do you even know what honor is?”

榮譽是我騎的馬。“如果你不信，我可以當眾立誓。”

A horse. “I will swear any oath that you require.”

“饒了我吧，弒君者?！?/p>

“Spare me, Kingslayer.”

“我會饒了你，只要你降下叛旗，打開城門，我會饒了全城老小的性命。愿意留在奔流城服侍艾蒙伯爵的均可留下，其他人交出武器與盔甲后自行離開?！?/p>

“I want to. Strike your banners and open your gates and I’ll grant your men their lives. Those who wish to remain at Riverrun in service to Lord Emmon may do so. The rest shall be free to go where they will, though I will require them to surrender their arms and armor.”

“交出武器？我很懷疑，在被‘土匪’屠殺之前他們能走多遠。夠了，你我都很清楚，你是不會允許他們投奔貝里大人的。至于我呢？你莫非要把我綁赴君臨游街，然后像宰艾德·史塔克那樣宰了我？”

“I wonder, how far will they get, unarmed, before ‘outlaws’ set upon them? You dare not allow them to join Lord Beric, we both know that. And what of me? Will I be paraded through King’s Landing to die like Eddard Stark?”

“我允許你穿上黑衣，你可以在艾德·史塔克的私生子麾下效力。”

“I will permit you to take the black. Ned Stark’s bastard is the Lord Commander on the Wall.”

黑魚瞇起眼睛，“他？他也是你父親安排的嗎？記得凱特琳從不信任那小子，就跟她不信任席恩·葛雷喬伊一樣。她的疑慮向來很有道理。不，爵士，謝謝你，要死的話，我寧愿暖暖和和地死去，手握沾滿獅血的鮮紅長劍?！?/p>

The Blackfish narrowed his eyes. “Did your father arrange for that as well? Catelyn never trusted the boy, as I recall, no more than she ever trusted Theon Greyjoy. It would seem she was right about them both. No, ser, I think not. I’ll die warm, if you please, with a sword in hand running red with lion blood.”

“徒利的血也同樣鮮紅，”詹姆提醒對方，“若你不肯投降，我只好強行攻城，城中幾百人眾都無法幸免?！?/p>

“Tully blood runs just as red,” Jaime reminded him. “If you will not yield the castle, I must storm it. Hundreds will die.”

“我死幾百人，你死幾千人?！?/p>

“Hundreds of mine. Thousands of yours.”

“最終你的部隊將被屠殺殆盡。”

“Your garrison will perish to a man.”

“哼，你是在談判之前復習了《卡斯特梅的雨季》，好一句一句地唱給我聽？弒君者，我的人寧可死于劍下，也不會跪在劊子手面前，任其宰割?！?/p>

“I know that song. Do you sing it to the tune of ‘The Rains of Castamere’? My men would sooner die upon their feet fighting than on their knees beneath a headsman’s axe.”

不妙?！皠e說氣話，爵士。戰爭結束了，你們的少狼主已經過世。”

This is not going well. “This defiance serves no purpose, ser. The war is done, and your Young Wolf is dead.”

“過世？他是被喪盡天良的人謀殺的，你們這幫人無視神圣的賓客律法，必遭天譴。”

“Murdered in breach of all the sacred laws of hospitality.”

“佛雷干的，不是我。”

“Frey’s work, not mine.”

“你怎么說都行，反正里面有泰溫·蘭尼斯特的臭味?！?/p>

“Call it what you will. It stinks of Tywin Lannister.”

詹姆無法否認，“我父親也死了?！?/p>

Jaime could not deny that. “My father is dead as well.”

“愿天父公正地裁判他。”

“May the Father judge him justly.”

看樣子他是一心要抬杠了?！霸趪艺Z森林，我本想親手殺了羅柏·史塔克，如果教我撞上，我一定做得到——只不過當時有幾個傻瓜擋路而已。說實話，那孩子怎么死的就如此重要？形勢擺在眼前，他尸骨已寒，而他的王國也隨之消亡。”

Now, there’s an awful prospect. “I would have slain Robb Stark in the Whispering Wood, if I could have reached him. Some fools got in my way. Does it matter how the boy perished? He’s no less dead, and his kingdom died when he did.”

“看來你不僅殘廢還瞎了眼睛，爵士。抬頭看看吧，冰原狼旗正在城上高高飄揚?！?/p>

“You must be blind as well as maimed, ser. Lift your eyes, and you will see that the direwolf still flies above our walls.”

“我看見了，它似乎孤單得緊。為什么不呢？赫倫堡、海疆城和女泉城紛紛易幟，布雷肯家族屈膝投降，還發兵包圍了泰陀斯·布萊伍德的鴉樹城。派柏、凡斯、莫頓……你們徒利家所有的封臣都倒戈了，只剩這座奔流城還在負隅頑抗，而城下的軍隊少說也有城內的二十倍。”

“I’ve seen him. He looks lonely. Harrenhal has fallen. Seagard and Maidenpool. The Brackens have bent the knee, and they’ve got Tytos Blackwood penned up in Raventree. Piper, Vance, Mooton, all your bannermen have yielded. Only Riverrun remains. We have twenty times your numbers.”

“二十倍的軍隊需要二十倍的糧草。你的人馬能堅持多久，大人？”

“Twenty times the men require twenty times the food. How well are you provisioned, my lord?”

“堅持到世界末日，直到城墻之內的你們統統餓死?！彼敛华q豫地撒謊，期望表情沒有出賣自己。

“Well enough to sit here till the end of days if need be, whilst you starve inside your walls.” He told the lie as boldly as he could and hoped his face did not betray him.

黑魚嗤之以鼻，“那是你的末日，我們的補給充足得很，很遺憾沒給客人留下什么禮物?！?/p>

The Blackfish was not deceived. “The end of your days, perhaps. Our own supplies are ample, though I fear we did not leave much in the fields for visitors.”

“我會從孿河城運來給養，”詹姆道，“若情勢所迫，還可越過丘陵自西境得到補充?！?/p>

“We can bring food down from the Twins,” said Jaime, “or over the hills from the west, if it comes to that.”

“那是當然，我可沒資格質疑一位重榮譽的好騎士。”

“If you say so. Far be it from me to question the word of such an honorable knight.”

他的輕蔑終于令詹姆按耐不住，“我有辦法迅速解決爭端，以免生靈涂炭。一對一決斗，我的代理騎士跟你或你的代理騎士比武?！?/p>

The scorn in his voice made Jaime bristle. “There is a quicker way to decide the matter. A single combat. My champion against yours.”

“我剛才一直納悶，你到底什么時候才會把這話說出口，”布林登爵士輕笑，“你會派誰？壯豬？亞當·馬爾布蘭？黑瓦德·佛雷？”他傾身向前，“何不就你和我呢，爵士？”

“I was wondering when you would get to that.” Ser Brynden laughed. “Who will it be? Strongboar? Addam Marbrand? Black Walder Frey?” He leaned forward. “Why not you and me, ser?”

若在從前，這是一場好斗，詹姆心想，值得歌手為之譜寫樂章?！皠P特琳夫人釋放我時，要我發誓不得再拿起武器反對史塔克家族或徒利家族?！?/p>

That would have been a sweet fight once, Jaime thought, fine fodder for the singers. “When Lady Catelyn freed me, she made me swear not to take arms again against the Starks or Tullys.”

“原來如此，你保留了最便利的誓言，爵士。”

“A most convenient oath, ser.”

詹姆臉一沉，“你言下之意，我是個懦夫？”

His face darkened. “Are you calling me a coward?”

“不，我說你是個殘廢，”黑魚朝詹姆的金手點頭，“你我都清楚那東西不管用?！?/p>

“No. I am calling you a cripple.” The Blackfish nodded at Jaime’s golden hand. “We both know you cannot fight with that.”

“我有兩只手，”你想為了驕傲而斷送性命嗎？他心中有個聲音說，“對觀眾而言，殘廢和老頭不正是一對？把我從對凱特琳夫人的誓言中釋放出來吧，我很樂意與你決斗。若我勝，奔流城立即投降；若你殺了我，我軍罷兵便是?！?/p>

“I had two hands.” Would you throw your life away for pride? a voice inside him whispered. “Some might say a cripple and an old man are well matched. Free me from my vow to Lady Catelyn and I will meet you sword to sword. If I win, Riverrun is ours. If you slay me, we’ll lift the siege.”

布林登爵士再度大笑，“雖然我很樂意卸下你的黃金劍，再挖出你的黑心臟，但有什么用呢？你的保證毫無價值，你的死除了能解我心頭之恨，別無益處，因此我不會冒險……再小的風險也不值得。”

Ser Brynden laughed again. “Much as I would welcome the chance to take that golden sword away from you and cut out your black heart, your promises are worthless. I would gain nothing from your death but the pleasure of killing you, and I will not risk my own life for that … as small a risk as that may be.”

幸虧詹姆手中沒有武器，否則他便會動手了——結果很明顯，不是給布林登爵士殺死，便是命喪城頭的弓箭手之手?！澳愕臈l件呢？”他質問黑魚。

It was a good thing that Jaime wore no sword; elsewise he would have ripped his blade out, and if Ser Brynden did not slay him, the archers on the walls most surely would. “Are there any terms you will accept?” he demanded of the Blackfish.

“對你？”布林登爵士聳聳肩，“我不跟你談條件?！?/p>

“From you?” Ser Brynden shrugged. “No.”

“那你還來談判作甚？”

“Why did you even come to treat with me?”

“圍城枯燥得要命，我是來欣賞你的斷肢，并且聽聽你要如何掩飾自己新一輪丑行的。結果很遺憾，你的表現不及格。弒君者，你總是教我失望。”黑魚掉轉馬頭，朝奔流城跑去。鐵閘門轟然降下，門底尖刺深深刺入爛泥之中。

“A siege is deadly dull. I wanted to see this stump of yours and hear whatever excuses you cared to offer up for your latest enormities. They were feebler than I’d hoped. You always disappoint, Kingslayer.” The Blackfish wheeled his mare and trotted back toward Riverrun. The portcullis descended with a rush, its iron spikes biting deep into the muddy ground.

詹姆也撥轉榮譽的馬頭，騎過長長的路程，返回蘭尼斯特軍的封鎖線。他感覺到眾人的目光：城上的徒利家部眾，河對面的佛雷。除非是瞎子，誰都明白我遭到了嚴詞回絕。只能強攻。弒君者又得打破誓言了，對嗎？反正是往屎堆上再拉一堆屎。詹姆決定頭一個攀上城墻，由于金手的緣故，我會是頭一個摔下來的吧。

Jaime turned Honor’s head about for the long ride back to the Lannister siege lines. He could feel the eyes on him; the Tully men upon their battlements, the Freys across the river. If they are not blind, they’ll all know he threw my offer in my teeth. He would need to storm the castle. Well, what’s one more broken vow to the Kingslayer? Just more shit in the bucket. Jaime resolved to be the first man on the battlements. And with this golden hand of mine, most like the first to fall.

回到營地，小個子盧為他牽馬，小派前來攙扶。媽的，你們以為我殘廢到連馬也下不了了嗎？“如何，大人？”表弟達馮打趣地問。

Back at camp, Little Lew held his bridle whilst Peck gave him a hand down from the saddle. Do they think I’m such a cripple that I cannot dismount by myself? “How did you fare, my lord?” asked his cousin Ser Daven.

“很好啊，沒人放箭，我比萊曼爵士受歡迎?！彼肿煨Φ?，“對方的意思，不惜把紅又河染得更紅?！倍脊帜?，布林登，你讓我別無選擇?！罢匍_作戰會議，召集亞當爵士、壯豬與佛勒·普萊斯特，召集三河諸侯……和我們的佛雷朋友。萊曼爵士，艾蒙伯爵，他們愿意帶誰來就都來吧?！?/p>

“No one put an arrow in my horse’s rump. Elsewise, there was little to distinguish me from Ser Ryman.” He grimaced. “So now he must needs turn the Red Fork redder.” Blame yourself for that, Blackfish. You left me little choice. “Assemble a war council. Ser Addam, Strongboar, Forley Prester, those river lords of ours … and our friends of Frey. Ser Ryman, Lord Emmon, whoever else they care to bring.”

他們很快便來了。派柏大人和兩位凡斯大人被倒戈的三河諸侯們推為代表，西境人列席的有達馮爵士、壯豬、亞當·馬爾布蘭和佛勒·普萊斯特，艾蒙·佛雷伯爵和他的夫人跟在西境人后面，吉娜姑媽一瞪眼便占了把凳子，沒人質疑，沒人敢跟她爭。佛雷家派出瓦德·河文——外號“雜種瓦德”——與萊曼爵士的長子、蒼白苗條的艾德溫，他鼻子窄，黑發平直，藍羔羊毛披風下套著上等小牛皮革做的灰夾克，上面裝飾有繁復的渦旋花紋。“我代表佛雷家族發言，”他宣布，“我父親今早上不舒服。”

They gathered quickly. Lord Piper and both Lords Vance came to speak for the repentant lords of the Trident, whose loyalties would shortly be put to the test. The west was represented by Ser Daven, Strongboar, Addam Marbrand, and Forley Prester. Lord Emmon Frey joined them, with his wife. Lady Genna claimed her stool with a look that dared any man there to question her presence. None did. The Freys sent Ser Walder Rivers, called “Bastard Walder,” and Ser Ryman’s firstborn Edwyn, a pallid, slender man with a pinched nose and lank dark hair. Under a blue lambswool cloak, Edwyn wore a jerkin of finely tooled grey calfskin with ornate scrollwork worked into the leather. “I speak for House Frey,” he announced. “My father is indisposed this morning.”

達馮爵士哼了一聲，“他是早上喝多了，還是晚上的酒沒醒？”

Ser Daven gave a snort. “Is he drunk, or just greensick from last night’s wine?”

艾德溫像土財主似的抿緊嘴巴?！罢材反笕?，”他叫喊，“您能容許別人對我如此放肆？”

Edwyn had the hard mean mouth of a miser. “Lord Jaime,” he said, “must I suffer such discourtesy?”

“是真的？”詹姆問他，“你父親真的喝醉了？”

“Is it true?” Jaime asked him. “Is your father drunk?”

佛雷不敢搭話，只拿眼睛瞥瞥伊林·派恩爵士，御前執法官身穿生銹的鎖甲站在帳門邊，長劍劍柄從他瘦骨瞵岣的肩頭伸出來。“我……我父親腸胃不好，大人，紅酒有助于消化。”

Frey pressed his lips together and eyed Ser Ilyn Payne, who was standing beside by the tent flap in his rusted mail, his sword poking up above one bony shoulder. “He … my father has a bad belly, my lord. Red wine helps with his digestion.”

“他喝下去的紅酒足夠消化長毛象了！”達馮爵士說。壯豬哈哈大笑，吉娜姑媽也忍俊不禁。

“He must be digesting a bloody mammoth,” said Ser Daven. Strongboar laughed, and Lady Genna chuckled.

“行了，”詹姆制止，“討論城堡吧?！备赣H主持作戰會議時，總是讓將領們先發言，他決定依樣畫葫蘆?！按蠹艺f說，該怎么辦？”

“Enough,” said Jaime. “We have a castle to win.” When his father sat in council, he let his captains speak first. He was resolved to do the same. “How shall we proceed?”

“首先吊死艾德慕·徒利，”艾蒙·佛雷老爺提出，“作為給布林登爵士的教訓，最好的教訓。我們把他侄兒的人頭送上，想必會嚇得他心膽俱裂，開城投降?！?/p>

“Hang Edmure Tully, for a start,” urged Lord Emmon Frey. “That will teach Ser Brynden that we mean what we say. If we send Ser Edmure’s head to his uncle, it may move him to yield.”

“黑魚布林登沒那么好嚇唬，”旅息城伯爵卡列爾·凡斯憂心忡忡地說，酒紅色胎記橫跨他半邊脖子和一邊臉頰，“他親哥哥一輩子都沒說服他上婚床?！?/p>

“Brynden Blackfish is not moved so easily.” Karyl Vance, the Lord of Wayfarer’s Rest, had a melancholy look. A winestain birthmark covered half his neck and one side of his face. “His own brother could not move him to a marriage bed.”

達馮搖了搖滿頭亂發，“正如我一直說的那樣，我們不得不攻城。塔樓、云梯、撞錘……立刻操辦吧。”

Ser Daven shook his shaggy head. “We have to storm the walls, as I’ve been saying all along. Siege towers, scaling ladders, a ram to break the gate, that’s what’s needed here.”

“我來打頭陣，”壯豬請纓，“讓鱒魚嘗嘗鋼鐵與烈火的滋味。”

“I will lead the assault,” said Strongboar. “Give the fish a taste of steel and fire, that’s what I say.”

“那是我的城墻！”艾蒙老爺抗議，“那是我的城門！”他又從衣袖里抽出授權狀，“托曼國王——”

“They are my walls,” protested Lord Emmon, “and that is my gate you would break.” He drew his parchment out of his sleeve again. “King Tommen himself has granted me—”

“這張紙大家都見過，阿叔，”艾德溫·佛雷打斷道，“你以為拿它在黑魚面前揮舞，他就會尊重你的財產嗎？”

“We’ve all seen your paper, nuncle,” snapped Edwyn Frey. “Why don’t you go wave it at the Blackfish for a change?”

“攻城代價過于高昂，”亞當·馬爾布蘭建議，“不如等個月黑風高的夜晚，派十幾個好手坐船過河，蒙住槳葉以免發出聲響，待接近之后，用抓鉤和繩索爬墻，從內部打開城門。諸位同意的話，我將親自率隊。”

“Storming the walls will be a bloody business,” said Addam Marbrand. “I propose we wait for a moonless night and send a dozen picked men across the river in a boat with muffled oars. They can scale the walls with ropes and grapnels, and open the gates from the inside. I will lead them, if the council wishes.”

“愚蠢！”雜種瓦德·河文叫道，“這把戲都能成功，他就不是黑魚了。”

“Folly,” declared the bastard, Walder Rivers. “Ser Brynden is no man to be cozened by such tricks.”

“黑魚很棘手，”艾德溫·佛雷同意，“不過他頭盔頂上有條黑色鱒魚，很容易辨認，我建議咱們一邊把載滿十字弓手的攻城塔移近，一邊假裝攻打城門。等黑魚披掛整齊地出現，就萬箭齊發，對了，先叫十字弓手在箭上涂抹糞便，以此為標記。布林登爵士一死，奔流城就是我們的了?！?/p>

“The Blackfish is the obstacle,” agreed Edwyn Frey. “His helm bears a black trout on its crest that makes him easy to pick out from afar. I propose that we move our siege towers close, fill them full of bowmen, and feign an attack upon the gates. That will bring Ser Brynden to the battlements, crest and all. Let every archer smear his shafts with night soil, and make that crest his mark. Once Ser Brynden dies, Riverrun is ours.”

“我的，”艾蒙老爺堅持，“奔流城是我的。”

“Mine,” piped Lord Emmon. “Riverrun is mine.”

卡列爾大人的胎記漲紅了，“糞？你自己的糞嗎，艾德溫？那玩意兒能毒死人，我不懷疑?！?/p>

Lord Karyl’s birthmark darkened. “Will the night soil be your own contribution, Edwyn? A mortal poison, I don’t doubt.”

“黑魚應該堂堂正正地死，讓我去打敗他吧，”壯豬一拳砸在桌子上，“一對一決斗，釘頭錘、斧頭還是長劍，隨便。那老頭不是我的對手。”

“The Blackfish deserves a nobler death, and I’m the man to give it to him.” Strongboar thumped his fist on the table. “I will challenge him to single combat. Mace or axe or longsword, makes no matter. The old man will be my meat.”

“他憑什么接受你的挑戰，爵士？”佛勒·普萊斯特質問，“他能從決斗中得到什么好處？難道他贏了我們就會退兵不成？我不相信，他也不會相信，一對一決斗對他毫無利益可言?！?/p>

“Why would he deign to accept your challenge, ser?” asked Ser Forley Prester. “What could he gain from such a duel? Will we lift the siege if he should win? I do not believe that. Nor will he. A single combat would accomplish nought.”

“我和布林登·徒利是老交情，小時候一起在戴瑞大人手下做過侍從，”亞蘭城伯爵，瞎子諾勃特·凡斯道。“若諸位不嫌棄，我愿出面解斗，督促他看清形勢?！?/p>

“I have known Brynden Tully since we were squires together, in service to Lord Darry,” said Norbert Vance, the blind Lord of Atranta. “If it please my lords, let me go and speak with him and try to make him understand the hopelessness of his position.”

“他看得很清楚，”派柏大人說，此人矮小圓胖，羅圈腿，一頭凌亂紅發，他是詹姆的侍從的父親，父子倆長得很像。“他不是傻瓜，諾勃特！他可沒瞎……他自己知道不能向這幫家伙屈服。”派柏粗魯地指指艾德溫·佛雷和瓦德·河文的方向。

“He understands that well enough,” said Lord Piper. He was a short, rotund, bowlegged man with a bush of wild red hair, the father of one of Jaime’s squires; the resemblance to the boy was unmistakeable. “The man’s not bloody stupid, Norbert. He has eyes … and too much sense to yield to such as these.” He made a rude gesture in the direction of Edwyn Frey and Walder Rivers.

艾德溫眉毛一挑，“派柏大人是暗示——”

Edwyn bristled. “If my lord of Piper means to imply—”

“我沒有暗示，佛雷，我是個正派人，怎么想就怎么說。話說回來，你這種家伙會明白正派人的想法嗎？反復無常、滿嘴謊話的黃鼠狼，我寧愿喝尿也不想聽佛雷家的人噴糞?！彼谧郎蟽A身向前?！盎卮鹞遥R柯在哪里？你們對我兒子做了些什么？媽的，他是你們家婚禮的賓客啊！”

“I don’t imply, Frey. I say what I mean straight out, like an honest man. But what would you know of the ways of honest men? You’re a treacherous lying weasel, like all your kin. I’d sooner drink a pint of piss than take the word of any Frey.” He leaned across the table. “Where is Marq, answer me that? What have you done with my son? He was a guest at your bloody wedding.”

“我們仍待之為上賓，”艾德溫宣稱，“直到你證明對當今王上，托曼陛下忠誠不渝為止?！?/p>

“And our honored guest he shall remain,” said Edwyn, “until you prove your loyalty to His Grace, King Tommen.”

“五位騎士和二十位士兵護送馬柯前往孿河城，”派柏不依不饒，“他們又算不算賓客呢，佛雷？”

“Five knights and twenty men-at-arms went with Marq to the Twins,” said Piper. “Are they your guests as well, Frey?”

“或許，有的騎士算是座上賓，其他人不過得到應得的懲罰罷。派柏，你最好也把你那叛徒的舌頭管好，否則你的繼承人就保不住了?！?/p>

“Some of the knights, perhaps. The others were served no more than they deserved. You’d do well to guard your traitor’s tongue, Piper, unless you want your heir returned in pieces.”

父親的作戰會議決不會演變至此，詹姆心想，只見派柏跳將起來，“你再說一遍，把劍握在手里再說一遍，佛雷，”矮子咆哮，“你莫非只會噴糞不會打仗？”

My father’s councils never went like this, Jaime thought, as Piper came lurching to his feet. “Say that with a sword in your hand, Frey,” the small man snarled. “Or do you only fight with smears of shit?”

佛雷蒼白的窄臉變得沒有一絲血色，而瓦德·河文也站起來，“艾德溫劍術不精……你跟我練練，派柏。我們一起出去，來個痛快了斷?！?/p>

Frey’s pinched face went pale. Beside him Walder Rivers rose. “Edwyn is no man of the sword … but I am, Piper. If you have more remarks to make, come outside and make them.”

“這是作戰會議，不是作戰，”詹姆提醒眾人，“你兩個都給我坐下?！睕]人聽命?！白?！”

“This is a war council, not a war,” Jaime reminded them. “Sit down, the both of you.” Neither man moved. “Now!”

瓦德·河文應聲坐下，派柏大人卻沒那么好打發，他喃喃地詛咒著，大步離開營帳?！耙遗扇税阉セ貋韱?，大人？”達馮爵士請示。

Walder Rivers seated himself. Lord Piper was not so easy to cow. He muttered a curse and strode from the tent. “Shall I send men after him to drag him back, my lord?” Ser Daven asked Jaime.

“派伊林爵士去，”艾德溫·佛雷敦促，“我們只要他的腦袋。”

“Send Ser Ilyn,” urged Edywn Frey. “We only need his head.”

卡列爾·凡斯向詹姆求情，“派柏大人過度悲傷，難以自抑，畢竟馬柯是他的長子，那些陪同前往孿河城的騎士則是他的外甥和表親。”

Karyl Vance turned to Jaime. “Lord Piper spoke from grief. Marq is his firstborn son. Those knights who accompanied him to the Twins were nephews and cousins all.”

“叛臣賊子?！卑聹亍し鹄椎?。

“Traitors and rebels all, you mean,” said Edwyn Frey.

詹姆冷冷地瞪了佛雷一眼?！皩\河城也支持過少狼主謀反，”他提醒對方，“結果你們背叛了他，比派柏有過之而無不及。”他滿意地看到艾德溫的淺笑消失了，嘴巴抿緊。我受夠了這堆“諫言”，詹姆不想聽了，“散會，你們各自做好準備，大人們，明天一大早進攻?！?/p>

Jaime gave him a cold look. “The Twins took up the Young Wolf’s cause as well,” he reminded the Freys. “Then you betrayed him. That makes you twice as treacherous as Piper.” He enjoyed seeing Edwyn’s thin smile curdle up and die. I have endured sufficient counsel for one day, he decided. “We’re done. See to your preparations, my lords. We attack at first light.”

朔風自北方吹來，詹姆聞到騰石河邊佛雷家營地的臭氣，河對面，艾德慕·徒利仍孤零零地站在高高的灰絞架下，被繩索套著脖子。

The wind was blowing from the north as the lords filed from the tent. Jaime could smell the stink of the Frey encampments beyond the Tumblestone. Across the water Edmure Tully stood forlorn atop the tall grey gallows, with a rope around his neck.

姨媽最后離開，她丈夫陪在她身邊，“外甥大人，”艾蒙抗議，“攻打我的居城……你不能這么做。”他緊張地吞口水，喉結上上下下，“你不能……我……我禁止你這么做?！彼纸肋^酸草葉，嘴唇閃著淡紅的泡沫?！俺潜な俏业?，我有國王簽署的授權狀，有小托曼的親筆簽名。我是奔流城的合法領主，我是……”

His aunt departed last, her husband at her heels. “Lord nephew,” Emmon protested, “this assault on my seat … you must not do this.” When he swallowed, the apple in his throat moved up and down. “You must not. I … I forbid it.” He had been chewing sourleaf again; pinkish froth glistened on his lips. “The castle is mine, I have the parchment. Signed by the king, by little Tommen. I am the lawful lord of Riverrun, and …”

“只要艾德慕·徒利還活著，你就不是，”吉娜姑媽打斷道，“艾德慕心腸好，人也好，我都明白，可畢竟他活在世上一天，咱們就多一分威脅。你打算怎么做，詹姆？”

“Not so long as Edmure Tully lives,” said Lady Genna. “He is soft of heart and soft of head, I know, but alive, the man is still a danger. What do you mean to do about that, Jaime?”

我們的威脅來自于黑魚，并非艾德慕。“交給我處理吧。李勒爵士，伊林爵士，請隨我來，我要造訪北岸的絞架。”

It’s the Blackfish who is the danger, not Edmure. “Leave Edmure to me. Ser Lyle, Ser Ilyn. Attend me, if you would. It’s time I paid a visit to those gallows.”

騰石河比紅叉河深，也更為洶涌，最近的渡口在上游數里格處。詹姆等人趕到時，渡船剛載瓦德·河文與艾德溫·佛雷過去，等待期間，詹姆將計劃和盤托出。昕完之后，伊林爵士朝河里吐了口唾沫。

The Tumblestone was deeper and swifter than the Red Fork, and the nearest ford was leagues upstream. The ferry had just started across with Walder Rivers and Edwyn Frey when Jaime and his men arrived at the river. As they awaited its return, Jaime told them what he wanted. Ser Ilyn spat into the river.

三人剛踏上北岸，一名醉醺醺的營妓便沖到壯豬面前，提出用嘴巴滿足他?！叭ィM足我的朋友吧?！崩罾站羰窟呎f邊把女人推給伊林爵士。妓女笑著去吻派恩的嘴巴，看到他的眼神之后，立時嚇得退開。

When the three of them stepped off the ferry on the north bank, a drunken camp follower offered to pleasure Strongboar with her mouth. “Here, pleasure my friend,” Ser Lyle said, shoving her toward Ser Ilyn. Laughing, the woman moved to kiss Payne on the lips, then saw his eyes and shrank away.

營火之間布滿褐色爛泥和馬糞，它們被馬蹄人腳踩得稀爛。盾牌上、旗幟上，到處是佛雷家族灰底藍色的雙塔紋章，其間夾雜著效忠于河渡口領主的小諸侯：恩佛德家族的蒼鷺、海伊家族的草叉、查爾頓伯爵的三叢槲寄生。弒君者駕臨引起了騷動，一個提籃子買豬崽的老婦人張口結舌地望著他，一位有些面熟的騎士單膝跪下，兩名正在撒尿的士兵同時回頭，結果尿在了彼此身上?！罢材肪羰俊！庇腥私袉?，但他沒回頭，只管大步向前走。周圍這些臉，很多是他在囈語森林想干掉的敵人，當時佛雷家族還在羅柏·史塔克的冰原狼旗下作戰。他的金手越來越沉。

The paths between the cookfires were raw brown mud, mixed with horse dung and torn up by hooves and boots alike. Everywhere Jaime saw the twin towers of House Frey displayed on shield and banners, blue on grey, along with the arms of lesser Houses sworn to the Crossing: the heron of Erenford, the pitchfork of Haigh, Lord Charlton’s three sprigs of mistletoe. The arrival of the Kingslayer did not go unnoticed. An old woman selling piglets from a basket stopped to stare at him, a knight with a half-familiar face went to one knee, and two men-at-arms pissing in a ditch turned and sprayed each other. “Ser Jaime,” someone called after him, but he strode on without turning. Around him he glimpsed the faces of men he’d done his best to kill in the Whispering Wood, where the Freys had fought beneath the direwolf banners of Robb Stark. His golden hand hung heavy at his side.

萊曼·佛雷的長方形營帳無疑是營地中最大的帳篷，塊塊方形灰帆布縫在一起，看起來就像塊石頭，而兩個尖頂代表孿河城的雙塔。很明顯，萊曼爵士沒有不舒服，他正享受呢，帳內飄出女人醉酒后的嬉笑，還有木豎琴彈奏與歌手演唱。我待會再來收拾你，爵士，詹姆心想。瓦德·河文站在自己樸素的帳篷前，跟兩個軍官交談，他盾牌上的雙塔紋章是藍底灰色，并有紅色斜紋。他看見詹姆，便皺起眉頭，目光中是冰冷的懷疑。這家伙比佛雷家的其他壞蛋都要可怕。

Ryman Frey’s great rectangular pavilion was the largest in the camp; its grey canvas walls were made of sewn squares to resemble stonework, and its two peaks evoked the Twins. Far from being indisposed, Ser Ryman was enjoying some entertainment. The sound of a woman’s drunken laughter drifted from within the tent, mingled with the strains of a woodharp and a singer’s voice. I will deal with you later, ser, Jaime thought. Walder Rivers stood before his own modest tent, talking with two men-at-arms. His shield bore the arms of House Frey with the colors reversed, and a red bend sinister across the towers. When the bastard saw Jaime, he frowned. There’s a cold suspicious look if ever I saw one. That one is more dangerous than any of his trueborn brothers.

絞架平臺離地十尺，由兩名長矛兵專職守衛?！拔唇浫R曼爵士允許，您不能上去?！逼渲幸粋€告訴詹姆。

The gallows had been raised ten feet off the ground. Two spearmen were posted at the foot of the steps. “You can’t go up without Ser Ryman’s leave,” one told Jaime.

“我當然能上去，”詹姆用一根指頭碰碰劍柄，“問題只在于，我要不要跨過你們的尸體上去？”

“This says I can.” Jaime tapped his sword hilt with a finger. “The question is, will I need to step over your corpse?”

兩名長矛兵站開了。

The spearmen moved aside.

絞架下，奔流城的主人呆呆地望著麻繩。他雙腳黑黑的，全是泥巴，只穿了短褲，身上徒利家的紅藍絲衣沾滿污垢。聽到腳步聲，他緩緩抬頭，舔了舔干裂的嘴唇。“弒君者？”看到伊林爵士，他眼睛瞪大，“好，好，長劍比繩子干脆，來吧，派恩。”

Atop the gallows, the Lord of Riverrun stood staring at the trap beneath him. His feet were black and caked with mud, his legs bare. Edmure wore a soiled silken tunic striped in Tully red and blue, and a noose of hempen rope. At the sound of Jaime’s footsteps, he raised his head and licked his dry, cracked lips. “Kingslayer?” The sight of Ser Ilyn widened his eyes. “Better a sword than a rope. Do it, Payne.”

“伊林爵士，”詹姆說，“你聽到徒利大人的話了?？烊グ??！?/p>

“Ser Ilyn,” said Jaime. “You heard Lord Tully. Do it.”

啞巴騎士雙手舉劍。這柄巨劍雖是普通鋼鐵，卻又長又沉，鋒利無比，伊林爵士夜夜打磨。艾德慕干裂的嘴唇發出無聲的念誦，他閉上了眼睛。這一擊派恩用上全力……

The silent knight gripped his greatsword with both hands. Long and heavy it was, sharp as common steel could be. Edmure’s cracked lips moved soundlessly. As Ser Ilyn drew the blade back, he closed his eyes. The stroke had all Payne’s weight behind it.

“不！停下，不！”艾德溫·佛雷氣喘吁吁地趕來。已然遲了?！拔腋赣H馬上就到，馬上就到，詹姆，你不能……”

“No! Stop. NO!” Edwyn Frey came panting into view. “My father comes. Fast as he can. Jaime, you must …”

“你該稱我為‘大人’，佛雷，”詹姆冷冷地道，“而且‘不’這種話別對我說?！?/p>

“My lord would suit me better, Frey,” said Jaime. “And you would do well to omit must from any speech directed at me.”

萊曼爵士果真立馬現身，沉重地踏上絞架臺階，身邊是一位稻草色頭發，和他醉得一樣厲害的妓女。妓女的裙服是前扣式，但肚臍以上都沒扣，兩只大乳房跳將出來，堅挺的棕色大乳頭晃來晃去。她頭上歪歪斜斜地戴著一頂刻有符文的青銅王冠，若干小黑劍挺立其中?？匆娬材?，女人嬉笑道，“七層地獄，這位大人是誰？”

Ser Ryman came stomping up the gallows steps in company with a straw-haired slattern as drunk as he was. Her gown laced up the front, but someone had undone the laces to the navel, so her breasts were spilling out. They were large and heavy, with big brown nipples. On her head a circlet of hammered bronze sat askew, graven with runes and ringed with small black swords. When she saw Jaime, she laughed. “Who in seven hells is this one?”

“我是御林鐵衛的隊長，”詹姆帶著冰冷的禮數說，“你又是誰呢，夫人？”

“The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard,” Jaime returned with cold courtesy. “I might ask the same of you, my lady.”

“夫人？我不是夫人，我是王后！”

“Lady? I’m no lady. I’m the queen.”

“這話要給我老姐聽見就好了。”

“My sister will be surprised to hear that.”

“萊曼大人親手為我加冕的，”女人搖了搖肥屁股，“我是妓女之后?！?/p>

“Lord Ryman crowned me his very self.” She gave a shake of her ample hips. “I’m the queen o’ whores.”

不對，詹姆心想，這個頭銜也屬于我老姐。

No, Jaime thought, my sweet sister holds that title too.

萊曼爵士終于找回了聲音，“閉嘴，婊子，不準在詹姆大人面前胡謅。”佛雷家的繼承人臉寬體胖，眼睛小，下巴是一團晃動的軟肉，呼吸里有濃重的葡萄酒和洋蔥氣味。

Ser Ryman found his tongue. “Shut your mouth, slut, Lord Jaime doesn’t want to hear some harlot’s nonsense.” This Frey was a thickset man with a broad face, small eyes, and a soft fleshy set of chins. His breath stank of wine and onions.

“喲，開始封后啦，萊曼爵士？”詹姆輕柔地問，“蠢貨，這事就跟處理艾德慕大人的事一樣蠢。”

“Making queens, Ser Ryman?” Jaime asked softly. “Stupid. As stupid as this business with Lord Edmure.”

“我是為了警告黑魚啊，我警告他不投降就吊死艾德慕。建起絞架，是為了表明我萊曼·佛雷爵士言出必踐，在海疆城，我兒子瓦德拿派崔克·梅利斯特要挾，杰森大人便屈膝投降?？伞蛇@黑魚是個冷血動物，他不肯投降，所以……”

“I gave the Blackfish warning. I told him Edmure would die unless the castle yielded. I had this gallows built, to show them that Ser Ryman Frey does not make idle threats. At Seagard my son Walder did the same with Patrek Mallister and Lord Jason bent the knee, but … the Blackfish is a cold man. He refused us, so …”

“……所以你會吊死艾德慕大人？”

“… you hanged Lord Edmure?”

對方臉一紅?！拔易娓复笕苏f……吊死他就沒有人質了，爵士，您考慮過這點嗎？”

The man reddened. “My lord grandfather … if we hang the man we have no hostage, ser. Have you considered that?”

“蠢貨才會提出自己不能實現的威脅。假如我說，你不閉嘴，我就給你一巴掌，你怎么做？”

“Only a fool makes threats he’s not prepared to carry out. If I were to threaten to hit you unless you shut your mouth, and you presumed to speak, what do you think I’d do?”

“爵士，您不明白——”

“Ser, you do not unders—”

詹姆反手就是一巴掌，用金手打的，但足以令萊曼爵士踉蹌踉蹌地跌進妓女懷中?！昂?，瞧你頭大脖子粗。伊林爵士，需要幾劍才能劈開它？”

Jaime hit him. It was a backhand blow delivered with his golden hand, but the force of it sent Ser Ryman stumbling backward into the arms of his whore. “You have a fat head, Ser Ryman, and a thick neck as well. Ser Ilyn, how many strokes would it take you to cut through that neck?”

伊林爵士伸出一根指頭抵住鼻子。

Ser Ilyn laid a single finger against his nose.

詹姆笑道，“吹牛。我說至少三劍?！?/p>

Jaime laughed. “An empty boast. I say three.”

萊曼·佛雷“撲通”一聲跪下，“我沒犯軍令……”

Ryman Frey went to his knees. “I have done nothing …”

“……除了酗酒與嫖妓，對嗎？”

“… but drink and whore. I know.”

“我是河渡口領主的繼承人，您不能……”

“I am heir to the Crossing. You can’t …”

“我已經警告過你了?！闭材窛M意地看到對方臉色頓時煞白。酒鬼、蠢貨、懦夫。如果瓦德大人活不過他，佛雷家族便算完蛋?！澳惚唤饴毩?，爵士。”

“I warned you about talking.” Jaime watched the man turn white. A sot, a fool, and a craven. Lord Walder had best outlive this one, or the Freys are done. “You are dismissed, ser.”

“解職？”

“Dismissed?”

“你耳朵沒壞。滾吧。”

“You heard me. Go away.”

“可……可我該上哪兒去？”

“But … where should I go?”

“滾回家還是下地獄，隨便，但若明日太陽升起時你還逗留在營地，休怪我不客氣！把你的妓女之后帶走，王冠留下。”詹姆的視線轉向萊曼爵士的兒子，“艾德溫，你爹的軍隊交由你指揮，別表現得跟他一樣愚蠢。”

“To hell or home, as you prefer. See that you are not in camp when the sun comes up. You may take your queen of whores, but not that crown of hers.” Jaime turned from Ser Ryman to his son. “Edwyn, I am giving you your father’s command. Try not to be so stupid as your sire.”

“沒問題，沒問題，大人。”

“That ought not pose much difficulty, my lord.”

“最后，傳信瓦德大人，國王要他把俘虜盡數送來奔流城?！闭材窊]揮金手?！袄罾站羰浚瑤聛?。”

“Send word to Lord Walder. The crown requires all his prisoners.” Jaime waved his golden hand. “Ser Lyle, bring him.”

伊林爵士將麻繩斬斷后，艾德慕·徒利便面朝下暈倒在絞架臺上，一尺長的繩子仍掛在他脖子上。壯豬扯住繩子，拉他起來?！疤醉椚Φ聂~，”他咯咯笑道，“我還沒見過這個紋章呢?！?/p>

Edmure Tully had collapsed facedown on the scaffold when Ser Ilyn’s blade sheared the rope in two. A foot of hemp still dangled from the noose about his neck. Strongboar grabbed the end of it and pulled him to his feet. “A fish on a leash,” he said, chortling. “There’s a sight I never saw before.”

佛雷家的人站開讓他們通過，絞架下已圍了很多觀眾，其中至少有十多個衣服不整的營妓。詹姆看見有人懷抱木豎琴，“你，唱歌的，你隨我來?！?/p>

The Freys stepped aside to let them pass. A crowd had gathered below the scaffold, including a dozen camp followers in various states of disarray. Jaime noticed one man holding a woodharp. “You. Singer. Come with me.”

對方摘下帽子，夸張地一鞠躬，“如您所愿，大人。”

The man doffed his hat. “As my lord commands.”

回船途中，沒人說話，萊曼爵士的歌手亦乖乖跟上。但等他們一離河岸，劃向騰石河南，艾德慕·徒利便抓住詹姆的胳膊追問，“為什么？”

No one said a word as they walked back to the ferry, with Ser Ryman’s singer trailing after them. But as they shoved off from the riverbank and made for the south side of the Tumblestone, Edmure Tully grabbed Jaime by the arm. “Why?”

因為蘭尼斯特有債必還，詹姆心想，因為你是我唯一能做的補償了?！鞍堰@當成我送你的結婚禮物吧?！?/p>

A Lannister pays his debts, he thought, and you’re the only coin that’s left to me. “Consider it a wedding gift.”

艾德慕警戒地望著他，“結……結婚禮物？”

Edmure stared at him with wary eyes. “A … wedding gift?”

“你老婆一定很漂亮，別人也都這么說，不這樣的話，你怎么會睡她睡得連你老姐和國王被宰了都不知道?！?/p>

“I am told your wife is pretty. She’d have to be, for you to bed her while your sister and your king were being murdered.”

“我是真不知道，”艾德慕舔舔干裂的嘴唇，“洞房外安排有提琴演奏……”

“I never knew.” Edmure licked his cracked lips. “There were fiddlers outside the bedchamber …”

“洞房內有蘿絲琳小姐?！?/p>

“And Lady Roslin was distracting you.”

“她……她是無辜的。瓦德大人和佛雷家的其他人逼她這么做，并非蘿絲琳的本意……她一直在哭，可我以為……”

“She … they made her do it, Lord Walder and the rest. Roslin never wanted … she wept, but I thought it was …”

“以為她是被你的命根子嚇壞了？噢，為什么不呢。”

“The sight of your rampant manhood? Aye, that would make any woman weep, I’m sure.”

“她懷了我的孩子?！?/p>

“She is carrying my child.”

不對，詹姆，她懷了你的死亡?；氐綆づ?，他遣開壯豬與伊林爵士，留下歌手?！按龝河姓埬惬I藝，”他吩咐對方，“盧，去為我們的客人燒洗澡水；皮雅，拿幾件干凈衣服來，上面莫要有獅子標記；小派，給徒利大人斟酒壓驚。你餓不餓，大人？”

No, Jaime thought, that’s your death she has growing in her belly. Back at his pavilion, he dismissed Strongboar and Ser Ilyn, but not the singer. “I may have need of a song shortly,” he told the man. “Lew, heat some bathwater for my guest. Pia, find him some clean clothing. Nothing with lions on it, if you please. Peck, wine for Lord Tully. Are you hungry, my lord?”

艾德慕點頭，眼中仍充滿懷疑。

Edmure nodded, but his eyes were still suspicious.

徒利洗澡時，詹姆搬把凳子坐下。污垢將騰騰蒸汽染成灰色。“吃完飯我派人護送你回奔流城。之后怎么做，你自己決定?！?/p>

Jaime settled on a stool while Tully had his bath. The filth came off in grey clouds. “Once you’ve eaten, my men will escort you to Riverrun. What happens after that is up to you.”

“什么意思？”

“What do you mean?”

“你叔叔老了，沒錯，人還是很英勇，但他的黃金歲月已經消逝。他沒有悲傷的新娘子，也沒有需要保護的嬰兒，黑魚只求痛快一死……但你還有好多年可活，艾德慕，而且你才是徒利家家主，不是他，他必須服從你。應當由你來決定奔流城的命運?！?/p>

“Your uncle is an old man. Valiant, yes, but the best part of his life is done. He has no bride to grieve for him, no children to defend. A good death is all the Blackfish can hope for … but you have years remaining, Edmure. And you are the rightful lord of House Tully, not him. Your uncle serves at your pleasure. The fate of Riverrun is in your hands.”

艾德慕凝視著詹姆，“奔流城的命運……”

Edmure stared. “The fate of Riverrun …”

“獻城投降，我將秋毫無犯。城內居民可以自由離開，也可留下來伺候艾蒙伯爵。布林登爵士和愿意追隨他的守衛將穿上黑衣，你也一樣，當然，你也可以去凱巖城當俘虜，我們將遵照公爵的標準，以禮相待。我還會把你妻子送到你身邊，若她生下男孩，將被收養在蘭尼斯特家族擔任侍酒和侍從，將來可以成為騎士，獲得封地，若她生下女孩，成年后我會送她豐厚嫁妝，給她挑戶好人家。等戰爭結束，甚至你自己也可能被釋放。一切的一切，只需你獻城投降。”

“Yield the castle and no one dies. Your smallfolk may go in peace or stay to serve Lord Emmon. Ser Brynden will be allowed to take the black, along with as many of the garrison as choose to join him. You as well, if the Wall appeals to you. Or you may go to Casterly Rock as my captive and enjoy all the comforts and courtesy that befits a hostage of your rank. I’ll send your wife to join you, if you like. If her child is a boy, he will serve House Lannister as a page and a squire, and when he earns his knighthood we’ll bestow some lands upon him. Should Roslin give you a daughter, I’ll see her well dowered when she’s old enough to wed. You yourself may even be granted parole, once the war is done. All you need do is yield the castle.”

艾德慕從木桶內抬起胳膊，看著水流滴下指頭，“假如我不投降呢？”

Edmure raised his hands from the tub and watched the water run between his fingers. “And if I will not yield?”

你非要我說出來嗎？皮雅抱著一大堆衣服站在門口，侍從們和歌手也在聽。讓他們去聽，詹姆心想，讓全世界都聽到，我不在乎。他強迫自己微笑，“你見過我麾下的大軍，艾德慕，你見識了那些云梯、塔樓、投石機和攻城錘。只需我一句話，我表弟便會填平你的護城河，砸開你的城門。成百上千的人會死——但別抱任何幻想，其中絕大部分將是你們自家的子民。攻擊的第一波將由三河諸侯組成，你將從屠殺那些在孿河城為你而死的人的父兄們開始；第二波是佛雷家族，我手下的佛雷正愁太多；等你的弓箭手用完了箭只，等你的騎士連劍都舉不動的時候，我的西境部隊才會出現。城堡陷落后，男女老少，統統殺光，連牲畜也不放過。我還要砍伐你的神木林，焚毀塔樓與碉堡，拉倒城墻和營壘，改變騰石河的水道，淹沒奔流城的廢墟。事成之后，世人將不會記得徒利家族的家堡曾經矗立于此?！闭材氛酒鹕韥?，“你老婆或許在城陷之前就會生育，你想要孩子，我滿足你。用投石機?！?/p>

Must you make me say the words? Pia was standing by the flap of the tent with her arms full of clothes. His squires were listening as well, and the singer. Let them hear, Jaime thought. Let the world hear. It makes no matter. He forced himself to smile, “You’ve seen our numbers, Edmure. You’ve seen the ladders, the towers, the trebuchets, the rams. If I speak the command, my coz will bridge your moat and break your gate. Hundreds will die, most of them your own. Your former bannermen will make up the first wave of attackers, so you’ll start your day by killing the fathers and brothers of men who died for you at the Twins. The second wave will be Freys, I have no lack of those. My westermen will follow when your archers are short of arrows and your knights so weary they can hardly lift their blades. When the castle falls, all those inside will be put to the sword. Your herds will be butchered, your godswood will be felled, your keeps and towers will burn. I’ll pull your walls down, and divert the Tumblestone over the ruins. By the time I’m done no man will ever know that a castle once stood here.” Jaime got to his feet. “Your wife may whelp before that. You’ll want your child, I expect. I’ll send him to you when he’s born. With a trebuchet.”

沉默。艾德慕站在木桶里，皮雅把衣服抓在胸前，歌手的指頭懸于琴弦上，小子盧取出一截老面包裝盤，假裝不在意。用投石機。詹姆心想，如果姑媽在這里，她還會說提利昂是泰溫的兒子嗎？

Silence followed his speech. Edmure sat in his bath. Pia clutched the clothing to her breasts. The singer tightened a string on his harp. Little Lew hollowed out a loaf of stale bread to make a trencher, pretending that he had not heard. With a trebuchet, Jaime thought. If his aunt had been there, would she still say Tyrion was Tywin’s son?

終于，艾德慕·徒利找回了聲音，“我想爬出來殺了你，弒君者。”

Edmure Tully finally found his voice. “I could climb out of this tub and kill you where you stand, Kingslayer.”

“你可以試試，”詹姆靜靜地等待，結果對方沒動?！昂煤糜蔑?。歌手，替我招待客人，嗯，你會唱那首歌的吧？”

“You could try.” Jaime waited. When Edmure made no move to rise, he said, “I’ll leave you to enjoy your food. Singer, play for our guest whilst he eats. You know the song, I trust.”

“那首雨的歌？啊，大人，我想我很熟悉?！?/p>

“The one about the rain? Aye, my lord. I know it.”

艾德慕似乎直到此時才第一次看見歌手，“不，不，不要是他，快把他趕出去……”

Edmure seemed to see the man for the first time. “No. Not him. Get him away from me.”

“怎么，不過是首歌嘛，”詹姆道，“我保證，他唱得沒那么壞啦?！?/p>

“Why, it’s just a song,” said Jaime. “He cannot have that bad a voice.”