Ⅲ 冰雨的风暴 Chapter38 提利昂

TYRION

身后传来一声马嘶，来自于道路两旁列队的某位金袍子不耐烦的坐骑。提利昂还听见盖尔斯伯爵的咳嗽。盖尔斯伯爵、亚当爵士、贾拉巴·梭尔等人并非他渴望的同伴，但父亲大人以为，单要侏儒来护送道朗亲王过黑水河实在不成体统。

A horse whickered impatiently behind him, from amidst the ranks of gold cloaks drawn up across the road. Tyrion could hear Lord Gyles coughing as well. He had not asked for Gyles, no more than he’d asked for Ser Addam or Jalabhar Xho or any of the rest, but his lord father felt Doran Martell might take it ill if only a dwarf came out to escort him across the Blackwater.

乔佛里应该亲自来迎接才对，他边等边想，不过这小子铁定把一切都搞砸，所以父亲才派我。前两天，他们还听见国王大声谈论从梅斯·提利尔的部下那儿听来的关于多恩人的笑话。“给马儿上蹄铁需要几个多恩人？不多不少，正好九个。一人工作，八人抬马。”提利昂知道这样的话不能在道朗·马泰尔耳边提起。

Joffrey should have met the Dornishmen himself, he reflected as he sat waiting, but he would have mucked it up, no doubt. Of late the king had been repeating little jests about the Dornish that he’d picked up from Mace Tyrell’s men-at-arms. How many Dornishmen does it take to shoe a horse? Nine. One to do the shoeing, and eight to lift the horse up. Somehow Tyrion did not think Doran Martell would find that amusing.

他们来了，旗帜逐渐从远处残余的绿森林中出现，伴随着阵阵尘埃。从那儿一路过来，直到河流，唯有焦黑的树桩，这是上次战役中他的杰作。好多旗帜啊，他乖僻地想，无数马儿扬腿掀起漫天灰烬，就如当日提利尔的前锋从侧翼粉碎史坦尼斯的情景。看来，马泰尔将多恩一半的大贵族都带来了君临。他试着想象这代表什么意义，越想越觉得不安。“你瞧有几家旗帜？”他询问波隆。

He could see their banners flying as the riders emerged from the green of the living wood in a long dusty column. From here to the river, only bare black trees remained, a legacy of his battle. Too many banners, he thought sourly, as he watched the ashes kick up under the hooves of the approaching horses, as they had beneath the hooves of the Tyrell van as it smashed Stannis in the flank. Martell’s brought half the lords of Dorne, by the look of it. He tried to think of some good that might come of that, and failed. “How many banners do you count?” he asked Bronn.

佣兵骑士眯眼仔细观察。“八家……不，九家。”

The sellsword knight shaded his eyes. “Eight … no, nine.”

提利昂回头，“波德，过来，给我形容每面旗帜，并说出它们属于哪个家族。”

Tyrion turned in his saddle. “Pod, come up here. Describe the arms you see, and tell me which houses they represent.”

波德瑞克·派恩催他的小马靠近。他是今目的王家掌旗官，举着乔佛里的雄鹿狮子旗，有些不堪重负。波隆则举着提利昂自己的旗帜，绯红底面上的兰尼斯特金狮。

Podrick Payne edged his gelding closer. He was carrying the royal standard, Joffrey’s great stag-and-lion, and struggling with its weight. Bronn bore Tyrion’s own banner, the lion of Lannister gold on crimson.

他长高了。当波德站到马镫上竭力探望时，提利昂心想。很快，他就和其他人一样，身材比我高了。在提利昂的关照下，波德这小子仔细研究过多恩人的纹章系谱，但说话紧张的老习惯却改不掉。“我看不清，风一直吹呢……”

He’s getting taller, Tyrion realized as Pod stood in his stirrups for a better look. He’ll soon tower over me like all the rest. The lad had been making a diligent study of Dornish heraldry, at Tyrion’s command, but as ever he was nervous. “I can’t see. The wind is flapping them.”

“波隆，告诉这小子你看到什么。”

“Bronn, tell the boy what you see.”

波隆今天穿着新外衣和披风，胸前是着火锁链徽纹，像极了故事中的骑士，“橙底上一个红色的太阳，”他叫道，“被一柄长矛所贯穿。”

Bronn looked very much the knight today, in his new doublet and cloak, the flaming chain across his chest. “A red sun on orange,” he called, “with a spear through its back.”

“马泰尔，”波德瑞克·派恩迫不及待地说，显然舒了一口气，“阳戟城的马泰尔家族，大人，这是多恩领亲王的旗帜。”

“Martell,” Podrick Payne said at once, visibly relieved. “House Martell of Sunspear, my lord. The Prince of Dorne.”

“这连我的马都知道，”提利昂干巴巴地说，“换一个，波隆。”

“My horse would have known that one,” said Tyrion dryly. “Give him another, Bronn.”

“紫色旗面上一堆黄球。”

“There’s a purple flag with yellow balls.”

“你指柠檬？”波德满怀希望地问，“紫色旗面上的柠檬？这是柠檬林的……达特家族？”

“Lemons?” Pod said hopefully. “A purple field strewn with lemons? For House Dalt? Of, of Lemonwood.”

“是么？……下一个是黄色旗面上的大黑鸟，爪子上有个白色或粉色的东西……风吹得晃，看不清楚。”

“Might be. Next’s a big black bird on yellow. Something pink or white in its claws, hard to say with the banner flapping.”

“那是布莱蒙的秃鹰，爪子上抓的是婴儿，”波德道，“这是布莱蒙城的布莱蒙家族，爵士先生。”

“The vulture of Blackmont grasps a baby in its talons,” said Pod. “House Blackmont of Blackmont, ser.”

波隆笑道：“小子，又读书啦？读书坏眼睛的，这样就用不好剑了。下一个，黑旗上的白骷髅。”

Bronn laughed. “Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy. I see a skull too. A black banner.”

“曼伍笛家族的宝冠骷髅，黑底上戴金冠的头骨。”每说对一个，波德就变得更自信，“他们来自王冢城。”

“The crowned skull of House Manwoody, bone and gold on black.” Pod sounded more confident with every correct answer. “The Manwoodys of Kingsgrave.”

“三只黑蜘蛛？”

“Three black spiders?”

“那是蝎子，爵士。沙石城的科格尔家族，他们的旗帜是红底上三只黑蝎子。”

“They’re scorpions, ser. House Qorgyle of Sandstone, three scorpions black on red.”

“上黄下红，中间弯弯曲曲。”

“Red and yellow, a jagged line between.”

“狱门堡的火焰纹章，属于乌勒家族。”

“The flames of Hellholt. House Uller.”

提利昂有些吃惊。这孩子不傻嘛，尽管说话结巴。“继续，波德，”他催促，“如果能得满分，我就送你一件礼物。”

Tyrion was impressed. The boy’s not half stupid, once he gets his tongue untied. “Go on, Pod,” he urged. “If you get them all, I’ll make you a gift.”

“黑红相间的饼子，”波隆说，“中间一只金手。”

“A pie with red and black slices,” said Bronn. “There’s a gold hand in the middle.”

“神恩城的艾利昂家族。”

“House Allyrion of Godsgrace.”

“呃……一只红色的鸡……啄一条蛇，似乎是这样。”

“A red chicken eating a snake, looks like.”

“盐海岸的戈根勒斯家族。对不起，爵士先生，那不是鸡，是鸡蛇，由蛇孵公鸡所生，身体红红的，嘴巴上叼一条长长的黑蛇。”

“The Gargalens of Salt Shore. A cockatrice. Ser. Pardon. Not a chicken. Red, with a black snake in its beak.”

“非常好！”提利昂赞道，“小子，还有最后一个。”

“Very good!” exclaimed Tyrion. “One more, lad.”

波隆扫视逼近的多恩旗帜。“棋盘状的绿色旗面上一根金色的羽毛。”

Bronn scanned the ranks of the approaching Dornishmen. “The last’s a golden feather on green checks.”

“准确地说，是鹅毛笔，爵士先生，这是托尔城乔戴恩家族的纹章。”

“A golden quill, ser. Jordayne of the Tor.”

提利昂哈哈大笑：“九个全对，连我自己也做不到。”这当然是谎话，但可以给小子一些自信，何乐而不为呢。

Tyrion laughed. “Nine, and well done. I could not have named them all myself.” That was a lie, but it would give the boy some pride, and that he badly needed.

看来，马泰尔家拉上一大帮权贵作陪。波德刚才所指名的家族，个个根深叶茂，领地辽阔，绝非等闲。多恩的九大家族由族长或继承人领队，一齐前来，提利昂心知他们决不是来看跳舞熊的。其中定然蕴涵着什么信息。我不会喜欢的信息。他开始觉得将弥赛菈送去阳戟城是个错误了。

Martell brings some formidable companions, it would seem. Not one of the houses Pod had named was small or insignificant. Nine of the greatest lords of Dorne were coming up the kingsroad, them or their heirs, and somehow Tyrion did not think they had come all this way just to see the dancing bear. There was a message here. And not one I like. He wondered if it had been a mistake to ship Myrcella down to Sunspear.

“大人，”波德有点害羞地说，“队伍里没有轿子。”

“My lord,” Pod said, a little timidly, “there’s no litter.”

提利昂猛然回头望去。果然，这小子说得对。

Tyrion turned his head sharply. The boy was right.

“道朗·马泰尔向来坐轿子出行，”小子道，“那是一顶雕饰精细、悬挂丝帘的轿子，丝帘上绣有无数太阳。”

“Doran Martell always travels in a litter,” the boy said. “A carved litter with silk hangings, and suns on the drapes.”

这个提利昂也知道。据说道朗亲王年过五十，且患有痛风病。莫非这次他想加快赶路？他自忖，莫非怕轿子成为盗匪的打劫目标？或者不便于通过骨路的山口要道？莫非对方的痛风病好了？

Tyrion had heard the same talk. Prince Doran was past fifty, and gouty. He may have wanted to make faster time, he told himself. He may have feared his litter would make too tempting a target for brigands, or that it would prove too cumbersome in the high passes of the Boneway. Perhaps his gout is better.

不祥的预感油然升起。

So why did he have such a bad feeling about this?

等待让人心焦。“旗帜前进，”他下令，“去会他们。”他踢马行进，波隆和波德分列两边，紧紧跟随。多恩人发现他们的行动后，也放马奔驰，旗帜在风中招展。雕饰繁复的马鞍上挂着他们最爱的圆铁盾、捆捆投掷用的短矛及他们惯用于马上骑射的双弧多恩弓。

This waiting was intolerable. “Banners forward,” he snapped. “We’ll meet them.” He kicked his horse. Bronn and Pod followed, one to either side. When the Dornishmen saw them coming, they spurred their own mounts, banners rippling as they rode. From their ornate saddles were slung the round metal shields they favored, and many carried bundles of short throwing spears, or the double-curved Dornish bows they used so well from horseback.

国王戴伦一世记载到，多恩人分为三大族群：居于海边的“盐人”，居于沙漠和狭长河谷中的“沙人”，居于赤红山脉上的高山和隘口中的“石人”。“盐人”和罗伊拿人混血最严重，“石人”则基本保持本地风貌。

There were three sorts of Dornishmen, the first King Daeron had observed. There were the salty Dornishmen who lived along the coasts, the sandy Dornishmen of the deserts and long river valleys, and the stony Dornishmen who made their fastnesses in the passes and heights of the Red Mountains. The salty Dornishmen had the most Rhoynish blood, the stony Dornishmen the least.

这次道朗的队伍里面，三大族群悉数到场。他们特征明显：“盐人”柔软黝黑，有橄榄色的光滑皮肤和风中飘荡的黑长发；“沙人”黑的程度更甚，他们不堪多恩领日光的强烈照射，因此惯于在头盔上扎明亮的长围巾；“石人”在三者中身材最棒、也最美丽，他们是安达尔人和先民的后代，棕发或金发，不过面孔稍因多恩的日照而显得粗糙。

All three sorts seemed well represented in Doran’s retinue. The salty Dornishmen were lithe and dark, with smooth olive skin and long black hair streaming in the wind. The sandy Dornishmen were even darker, their faces burned brown by the hot Dornish sun. They wound long bright scarfs around their helms to ward off sunstroke. The stony Dornishmen were biggest and fairest, sons of the Andals and the First Men, brown-haired or blond, with faces that freckled or burned in the sun instead of browning.

来访的诸侯穿着丝绸或缎子长袍，长袖飘动，宝石腰带束身，盔甲上密密麻麻地装饰或镶嵌着磨光铜片、闪亮银子和红色软金，跨下的骏马有的枣红、有的金色，还有的洁白如雪，个个苗条迅捷，脖子纤细，面容姣好。生于多恩沙漠的名马或比北马个小，也不能支撑全身铠甲，但传说可以奔跑两日一夜，丝毫不感疲累。

The lords wore silk and satin robes with jeweled belts and flowing sleeves. Their armor was heavily enameled and inlaid with burnished copper, shining silver, and soft red gold. They came astride red horses and golden ones and a few as pale as snow, all slim and swift, with long necks and narrow beautiful heads. The fabled sand steeds of Dorne were smaller than proper warhorses and could not bear such weight of armor, but it was said that they could run for a day and night and another day, and never tire.

对方头领骑一匹炭黑骏马，鬓毛和尾巴却是火红。骑手高大、苗条而优雅，仿与坐骑融为一体。他的肩头飘动淡红丝袍，衬衣上装饰着层层叠叠的铜片，奔驰起来好似千千明亮的新铜板在发光。高高的镀金头盔前方饰有一个铜制太阳，马后挂一面圆盾，磨亮的表面纹饰着马泰尔家族的金枪贯日家徽。

The Dornish leader forked a stallion black as sin with a mane and tail the color of fire. He sat his saddle as if he’d been born there, tall, slim, graceful. A cloak of pale red silk fluttered from his shoulders, and his shirt was armored with overlapping rows of copper disks that glittered like a thousand bright new pennies as he rode. His high gilded helm displayed a copper sun on its brow, and the round shield slung behind him bore the sun-and-spear of House Martell on its polished metal surface.

年轻十岁的马泰尔太阳，提利昂边勒马边想，他正如传说中的健壮，而且比传说中更凶猛。他知道自己将要面对的对手，俗话怎说来着？“多恩壮士密如沙，唯此一人甲天下”。他逼自己微笑。“幸会，大人们。乔佛里国王陛下得知您们到来的消息后，特派我等前来，代表他致以热烈的问候和欢迎。我父亲大人——当今国王之手——同样热烈欢迎诸位大人的到来。”接着他装腔作势地问，“请问诸位大人，谁是道朗亲王殿下呀？”

A Martell sun, but ten years too young, Tyrion thought as he reined up, too fit as well, and far too fierce. He knew what he must deal with by then. How many Dornishmen does it take to start a war? he asked himself. Only one. Yet he had no choice but to smile. “Well met, my lords. We had word of your approach, and His Grace King Joffrey bid me ride out to welcome you in his name. My lord father the King’s Hand sends his greetings as well.” He feigned an amiable confusion. “Which of you is Prince Doran?”

“我哥哥道朗亲王身体有恙，暂时不便出行，”对方头领取下头盔。这是张长而忧郁的脸，细拱眉下一双黑亮如煤油池塘的大眼睛，额头和鼻子同样尖，富于光泽的黑发中只有少许银丝。一个地地道道的“盐人”。“他特派我前来作代表，列席国王的御前会议——倘若陛下准许的话。”

“My brother’s health requires he remain at Sunspear.” The princeling removed his helm. Beneath, his face was lined and saturnine, with thin arched brows above large eyes as black and shiny as pools of coal oil. Only a few streaks of silver marred the lustrous black hair that receded from his brow in a widow’s peak as sharply pointed as his nose. A salty Dornishmen for certain. “Prince Doran has sent me to join King Joffrey’s council in his stead, as it please His Grace.”

“有多恩的奥柏伦亲王这样的大英雄在身边顾问，陛下一定深感欣慰。”提利昂满腹思量地说，果然坏了，这下君临城里有好戏看。“陛下同样欢迎您带来的这些贵宾。”

“His Grace will be most honored to have the counsel of a warrior as renowned as Prince Oberyn of Dorne,” said Tyrion, thinking, This will mean blood in the gutters. “And your noble companions are most welcome as well.”

“请允许我向您介绍我的同伴，兰尼斯特大人。这位是柠檬林的丹泽尔·达特爵士。这位是崔蒙德·戈根勒斯爵爷。这两位是哈曼·乌勒爵爷和他弟弟乌里克爵士。这两位是罗热·艾利昂爵士和他的私生子戴蒙·沙德爵士，他们来自神恩城。这几位是达苟士·曼伍笛爵爷和他弟弟米斯爵士、他儿子莫尔斯与狄肯。这位是亚隆·科格尔爵士。噢，还有尊贵的女士们，这位是密蕊·乔戴恩小姐，托伦城的继承人。这三位是劳拉·布莱蒙伯爵夫人和她女儿乔妮莎、她儿子彭罗斯。”他举起纤细的右手，示意队伍后方一位黑发女子上前。“这是艾拉莉亚·沙德，我的情妇。”

“Permit me to acquaint you with them, my lord of Lannister. Ser Deziel Dalt, of Lemonwood. Lord Tremond Gargalen. Lord Harmen Uller and his brother Ser Ulwyck. Ser Ryon Allyrion and his natural son Ser Daemon Sand, the Bastard of Godsgrace. Lord Dagos Manwoody, his brother Ser Myles, his sons Mors and Dickon. Ser Arron Qorgyle. And never let it be thought that I would neglect the ladies. Myria Jordayne, heir to the Tor. Lady Larra Blackmont, her daughter Jynessa, her son Perros.” He raised a slender hand toward a black-haired woman to the rear, beckoning her forward. “And this is Ellaria Sand, mine own paramour.”

提利昂吞了吞口水。他的情妇！还是个私生女，要让她参加婚礼，瑟曦不大发雷霆才怪。姐姐一定会千方百计将其排除在外，难以想象，有她坐在高位上，会把同席的贵妇人们全得罪光。莫非道朗亲王的目的是要弟弟来挑起纷争？

Tyrion swallowed a groan. His paramour, and bastard-born, Cersei will pitch a holy fit if he wants her at the wedding. If she consigned the woman to some dark corner below the salt, his sister would risk the Red Viper’s wrath. Seat her beside him at the high table, and every other lady on the dais was like to take offense. Did Prince Doran mean to provoke a quarrel?

奥柏伦亲王介绍完毕后，面朝他的多恩同伴们勒马。“艾拉莉亚，大人们，女士们，爵士先生们，你们都瞧见了吧？咱们的好国王乔佛里陛下有多宠爱咱们，竟然派出自己的亲舅舅小恶魔负责接待呢！”

Prince Oberyn wheeled his horse about to face his fellow Dornishmen. “Ellaria, lords and ladies, sers, see how well King Joffrey loves us. His Grace has been so kind as to send his own Uncle Imp to bring us to his court.”

波隆扑哧一笑，提利昂则佯作欢颜，“大人们，能来迎接您们，我感到非常荣幸，但我并非独自一人。您们不觉得，对这样一个小人儿而言，担子有些太重么？”他自己的队伍也跟了上来，于是他一一唱名以为回敬。“请允许我向您们介绍我的队伍。这位是佛列蒙·布拉克斯爵士，角谷城的继承人。这位是罗斯比城的盖尔斯爵爷。这位是亚当·马尔布兰爵士，现任都城守备队司令。这位是贾拉巴·梭尔王子，来自红花谷岛。这位是哈瑞斯·史威佛爵士，我叔叔凯冯爵士的岳父。这位是梅隆·克雷赫爵士。这两位分别是菲利普·福特爵士和黑水的波隆爵士，皆是在平定逆贼史坦尼斯的战争中涌现出来的英雄。这位是我的侍从，年轻的波德瑞克，来自派恩家族。”提利昂将各人姓名娓娓道出，但这些人远没奥柏伦亲王的同伴那么显赫响亮的来头。双方对此都心知肚明。

Bronn snorted back laughter, and Tyrion perforce must feign amusement as well. “Not alone, my lords. That would be too enormous a task for a little man like me.” His own party had come up on them, so it was his turn to name the names. “Let me present Ser Flement Brax, heir to Hornvale. Lord Gyles of Rosby. Ser Addam Marbrand, Lord Commander of the City Watch. Jalabhar Xho, Prince of the Red Flower Vale. Ser Harys Swyft, my uncle Kevan’s good father by marriage. Ser Merlon Crakehall. Ser Philip Foote and Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, two heroes of our recent battle against the rebel Stannis Baratheon. And mine own squire, young Podrick of House Payne.” The names had a nice ringing sound as Tyrion reeled them off, but the bearers were nowise near as distinguished nor formidable a company as those who accompanied Prince Oberyn, as both of them knew full well.

“兰尼斯特大人，”布莱蒙伯爵夫人道，“我们风尘仆仆、长途旅行，此刻极想作点休息，用些便饭。请问可以即时入城吗？”

“My lord of Lannister,” said Lady Blackmont, “we have come a long dusty way, and rest and refreshment would be most welcome. Might we continue on to the city?”

“当然，我的夫人。”提利昂调转马头，向亚当·马尔布兰爵士下令。于是占荣誉护卫主体的金袍骑兵们行动起来，护送队伍前往黑水河及对岸的君临城。

“At once, my lady.” Tyrion turned his horse’s head, and called to Ser Addam Marbrand. The mounted gold cloaks who formed the greatest part of his honor guard turned their horses crisply at Ser Addam’s command, and the column set off for the river and King’s Landing beyond.

奥柏伦·纳梅洛斯·马泰尔，提利昂低吟着对方的姓名，直到亲王本人骑到身边。多恩的红毒蛇，七层地狱啊，我该怎么来应付他？

Oberyn Nymeros Martell, Tyrion muttered under his breath as he fell in beside the man. The Red Viper of Dorne. And what in the seven hells am I supposed to do with him?

当然，提利昂对他的了解只是传闻……但这些传闻实在可怕。据说奥柏伦亲王未满十六岁时被人发现与伊伦伍德老爵爷的情妇偷情。这老人身体强壮，素以暴躁凶悍出名，于是要求决斗，但碍于亲王的出身与年龄，约定见血即止。决斗的结果是两败俱伤，双方的荣誉都得以保持，但不久之后，奥柏伦亲王康复如初，伊伦伍德伯爵却伤口化脓，死于非命。人们认为奥柏伦在剑上涂毒，从此往后，无论他的对手还是朋友都称他为“红毒蛇”。

He knew the man only by reputation, to be sure … but the reputation was fearsome. When he was no more than sixteen, Prince Oberyn had been found abed with the paramour of old Lord Yronwood, a huge man of fierce repute and short temper. A duel ensued, though in view of the prince’s youth and high birth, it was only to first blood. Both men took cuts, and honor was satisfied. Yet Prince Oberyn soon recovered, while Lord Yronwood’s wounds festered and killed him. Afterward men whispered that Oberyn had fought with a poisoned sword, and ever thereafter friends and foes alike called him the Red Viper.

这是多年以前的事了，当初那个青春少年如今已年过四十，唯一不变的是围绕他的传闻变得越来越可怕。据说他周游九大自由贸易城邦，与毒剂师交易，习得各种黑暗伎俩；他就读于学城，在厌倦并辍学以前，已打造了六根链条；他在狭海对面的争议之地当佣兵，起初效力于次子团，后来又组建了自己的团队。关于他的比武，他的战争，他的决斗，他的坐骑，乃至他性趣的传闻多如牛毛……谣传他男人女人都睡，多恩领全境都有他的私生女，这些女孩被称为“沙蛇”。据提利昂所知，奥柏伦亲王一个儿子也没有。

That was many years ago, to be sure. The boy of sixteen was a man past forty now, and his legend had grown a deal darker. He had traveled in the Free Cities, learning the poisoner’s trade and perhaps arts darker still, if rumors could be believed. He had studied at the Citadel, going so far as to forge six links of a maester’s chain before he grew bored. He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the narrow sea, riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own company. His tourneys, his battles, his duels, his horses, his carnality … it was said that he bedded men and women both, and had begotten bastard girls all over Dorne. The sand snakes, men called his daughters. So far as Tyrion had heard, Prince Oberyn had never fathered a son.

最棘手的是，正是他弄残了高庭的继承人。

And of course, he had crippled the heir to Highgarden.

在这场与提利尔家的联姻中，他真是七国上下最不受欢迎的客人了。将奥柏伦亲王带进如今招待着梅斯·提利尔公爵，公爵的两个儿子和数千高庭将士的君临城，简直就是柴堆里浇油。一个错误的词语，一句不合适的玩笑，甚至一个多余的眼神，争斗马上就会爆发，我们家族的同盟者们将翻脸干起来。

There is no man in the Seven Kingdoms who will be less welcome at a Tyrell wedding, thought Tyrion. To send Prince Oberyn to King’s Landing while the city still hosted Lord Mace Tyrell, two of his sons, and thousands of their men-at-arms was a provocation as dangerous as Prince Oberyn himself. A wrong word, an ill-timed jest, a look, that’s all it will take, and our noble allies will be at one another’s throats.

“我们见过面，”他们并肩在国王大道上前行，越过烧焦的田野和树干，多恩亲王轻声地说，“但我想你已记不得了。那时的你比现在更矮咧。”

“We have met before,” the Dornish prince said lightly to Tyrion as they rode side by side along the kingsroad, past ashen fields and the skeletons of trees. “I would not expect you to remember, though. You were even smaller than you are now.”

提利昂讨厌他嘲讽的语气，但告诫自己，不可为对方所激。“什么时候的事，大人？”他用礼貌而有兴致的口吻发问。

There was a mocking edge to his voice that Tyrion misliked, but he was not about to let the Dornishman provoke him. “When was this, my lord?” he asked in tones of polite interest.

“噢，好多好多年以前啦，当时我母亲统治着多恩，而你父亲当着另一位国王的首相。”

“Oh, many and many a year ago, when my mother ruled in Dorne and your lord father was Hand to a different king.”

他和当今国王的差异，只怕比你以为的小，提利昂酸酸地想。

Not so different as you might think, reflected Tyrion.

“我和我母亲、她的男人、我姐姐伊莉亚等一起造访凯岩城时，只有……噢，十四五岁吧，大致如此，伊莉亚则大我一岁。记得你哥哥和姐姐那时八九岁，而你刚刚出生。”

“It was when I visited Casterly Rock with my mother, her consort, and my sister Elia. I was, oh, fourteen, fifteen, thereabouts, Elia a year older. Your brother and sister were eight or nine, as I recall, and you had just been born.”

你们的来访真会挑时间。提利昂的母亲生他时难产而死，所以马泰尔家是在凯岩城举家戴孝时到来的。尤其他父亲，当时一定五内俱焚。泰温公爵很少提起自己的夫人，但提利昂听几位叔叔谈过父母之间的恋爱。当年，父亲长期担任伊里斯王的首相，人们都说泰温·兰尼斯特大人统治着七大王国，而乔安娜夫人统治着泰温大人。“你母亲去世之后，泰温就不再是从前那个他啦，小家伙，”吉利安叔叔曾告诉他，“他的情怀也随之而逝。”吉利安是泰陀斯·兰尼斯特公爵四个儿子中的幼子，也是提利昂最喜欢的叔叔。

A queer time to come visiting. His mother had died giving him birth, so the Martells would have found the Rock deep in mourning. His father especially. Lord Tywin seldom spoke of his wife, but Tyrion had heard his uncles talk of the love between them. In those days, his father had been Aerys’s Hand, and many people said that Lord Tywin Lannister ruled the Seven Kingdoms, but Lady Joanna ruled Lord Tywin. “He was not the same man after she died, Imp,” his Uncle Gery told him once. “The best part of him died with her.” Gerion had been the youngest of Lord Tytos Lannister’s four sons, and the uncle Tyrion liked best.

而今物逝人非，小叔叔出海失踪，乔安娜夫人则因提利昂而死。“您觉得凯岩城怎样呢，亲王殿下？”

But he was gone now, lost beyond the seas, and Tyrion himself had put Lady Joanna in her grave. “Did you find Casterly Rock to your liking, my lord?”

“不怎样。我们造访期间，你父亲一直避而不见，只让凯冯爵士负责打点。他分给我的房问里有张羽床，还有密尔地毯，可又黑又没窗户，我告诉伊莉亚，与其说这是客房，倒不如说是地牢。你们那边的天空过于灰暗，酒水过于甜腻，女人过于朴素，食物过于清淡……而你，最让我们失望。”

“Scarcely. Your father ignored us the whole time we were there, after commanding Ser Kevan to see to our entertainment. The cell they gave me had a featherbed to sleep in and Myrish carpets on the floor, but it was dark and windowless, much like a dungeon when you come down to it, as I told Elia at the time. Your skies were too grey, your wines too sweet, your women too chaste, your food too bland … and you yourself were the greatest disappointment of all.”

“那时候我才刚生出来，请问如何让您失望呢？”

“I had just been born. What did you expect of me?”

“你是众人口中的孽物，”黑发亲王回答，“没错，当年还是小小一团肉，却已经名闻天下。你出生时，我们正在旧镇，全城人都在谈论首相大人得到的怪物，大家都认为这是国家前途的恶兆。”

“Enormity,” the black-haired prince replied. “You were small, but far-famed. We were in Oldtown at your birth, and all the city talked of was the monster that had been born to the King’s Hand, and what such an omen might foretell for the realm.”

“是啊，随之而来的就是饥荒、瘟疫和战争，”提利昂酸溜溜地笑道，“饥荒、瘟疫和战争，噢，还有冬天，以及永不终结的长夜，这些都是我带来的。”

“Famine, plague, and war, no doubt.” Tyrion gave a sour smile. “It’s always famine, plague, and war. Oh, and winter, and the long night that never ends.”

“呵呵，”奥柏伦亲王道，“你的出生的确带来了你父亲的失势。我曾听乞丐帮的兄弟布道，说你父亲将自己变得比伊里斯王更伟大，可只有诸神才能位于国王之上，所以他们送出你作为诅咒，教训你父亲：没有凡人可以和他们平起平坐。”

“All that,” said Prince Oberyn, “and your father’s fall as well. Lord Tywin had made himself greater than King Aerys, I heard one begging brother preach, but only a god is meant to stand above a king. You were his curse, a punishment sent by the gods to teach him that he was no better than any other man.”

“我很努力地去做啦，可惜他不吸取教训，”提利昂装腔作势地叹道，“您继续讲吧，我喜欢听故事。”

“I try, but he refuses to learn.” Tyrion gave a sigh. “But do go on, I pray you. I love a good tale.”

“我们发现你生得无甚特异，因此深感失望。一路过来，人们都说你像猪似的长了一根硬硬的卷尾巴，头大得出奇，几乎有身体的一半那么大，而你生下来就有厚厚的黑发和胡子，一只邪恶的眼睛与狮爪。你牙齿很长，因此不能闭嘴，而你双腿之间，不仅有男人的命根子，还有女子的阴道。”

“And well you might, since you were said to have one, a stiff curly tail like a swine’s. Your head was monstrous huge, we heard, half again the size of your body, and you had been born with thick black hair and a beard besides, an evil eye, and lion’s claws. Your teeth were so long you could not close your mouth, and between your legs were a girl’s privates as well as a boy’s.”

“是嘛，要一个人能自己操自己，可就省却不少烦恼，您说对吧？而尖牙和狮爪时不时也能派用场的。算啦，我已经明白您的失望了。”

“Life would be much simpler if men could fuck themselves, don’t you agree? And I can think of a few times when claws and teeth might have proved useful. Even so, I begin to see the nature of your complaint.”

波隆笑出声来，但奥柏伦皮笑肉不笑。“若非你亲爱的姐姐，我们根本见不着你。那时候，你们家的人从不将你带出来，更不用说向客人展示了，我们只常在夜间听见从凯岩城深处传来婴儿的哭嚎。我得承认，你那时候的哭声真了不起，可以哭上好几个钟头，除了女人的奶子，什么也治不住。”

Bronn gave out with a chuckle, but Oberyn only smiled. “We might never have seen you at all but for your sweet sister. You were never seen at table or hall, though sometimes at night we could hear a baby howling down in the depths of the Rock. You did have a monstrous great voice, I must grant you that. You would wail for hours, and nothing would quiet you but a woman’s teat.”

“这点嘛，到现在也没改。”

“Still true, as it happens.”

这回奥柏伦亲王终于放声大笑，“咱俩真是口味相投。戈根勒斯大人曾告诉我，他梦想长剑在手，马革裹尸，我回答他我梦想乳房在口，醉死温柔乡。”

This time Prince Oberyn did laugh. “A taste we share. Lord Gargalen once told me he hoped to die with a sword in his hand, to which I replied that I would sooner go with a breast in mine.”

提利昂咧嘴一笑，“您刚才提到我姐姐？”

Tyrion had to grin. “You were speaking of my sister?”

“瑟曦答应伊莉亚，一定会满足我们的好奇心。我们临走的前一天，我母亲和你父亲在一起商议事情，她和詹姆则将我们带去你的房间。你奶妈想把我们赶出去，但你姐姐三言两句就把她打发。‘他是我的，’她说，‘而你不过是头奶牛，没资格干涉我。不闭嘴的话，我就叫父亲把你舌头拔掉，反正奶牛只需要乳房，不需要舌头的。’”

“Cersei promised Elia to show you to us. The day before we were to sail, whilst my mother and your father were closeted together, she and Jaime took us down to your nursery. Your wet nurse tried to send us off, but your sister was having none of that. ‘He’s mine,’ she said, ‘and you’re just a milk cow, you can’t tell me what to do. Be quiet or I’ll have my father cut your tongue out. A cow doesn’t need a tongue, only udders.’ ”

“不错，太后陛下她从小就是魅力非凡，”提利昂饶有兴味地说。姐姐居然说出“他是我的”，真想不到，可惜从此之后，她大概再没有这样的想法了。

“Her Grace learned charm at an early age,” said Tyrion, amused by the notion of his sister claiming him as hers. “She’s never been in any rush to claim me since, the gods know.

“瑟曦亲手解开你的襁褓让我们仔细观看，”多恩亲王续道，“你的确有只邪恶的眼睛，头皮上长黑色的绒毛，脑袋也比多数新生儿要大……但你没尾巴，没胡子，没尖牙，没狮爪，两腿之间也只有一点粉红的小突起。听了这许多离奇传说，结果泰温大人的祸根不过竟只是一位红通通、腿脚有点畸形的丑陋婴儿！伊莉亚见到你就像小女生见到猫咪小狗似的尖叫起来，我想你一定听见了，尽管你长得很丑，她还多想抚养你呢。我告诉你姐姐，你真是个可怜的怪物，她回答：‘谁说的？这家伙杀了我妈妈。’然后用力拧你的小命根子，像要把它扯下来。你厉声惨叫，但她充耳不闻，最后你哥哥詹姆发话：‘住手！你弄痛他了！’，瑟曦方才停止。‘有什么关系？’她向我们保证，‘大家都说他活不长，他这玩意儿反正也长不大’。”

“Cersei even undid your swaddling clothes to give us a better look,” the Dornish prince continued. “You did have one evil eye, and some black fuzz on your scalp. Perhaps your head was larger than most … but there was no tail, no beard, neither teeth nor claws, and nothing between your legs but a tiny pink cock. After all the wonderful whispers, Lord Tywin’s Doom turned out to be just a hideous red infant with stunted legs. Elia even made the noise that young girls make at the sight of infants, I’m sure you’ve heard it. The same noise they make over cute kittens and playful puppies. I believe she wanted to nurse you herself, ugly as you were. When I commented that you seemed a poor sort of monster, your sister said, ‘He killed my mother,’ and twisted your little cock so hard I thought she was like to pull it off. You shrieked, but it was only when your brother Jaime said, ‘Leave him be, you’re hurting him,’ that Cersei let go of you. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she told us. ‘Everyone says he’s like to die soon. He shouldn’t even have lived this long.’ ”

头顶艳阳高照，秋日炎热，但提利昂·兰尼斯特听到这一切之后，只觉冰冷彻骨。我亲爱的姐姐，他摸摸鼻子上的伤疤，用那只“邪恶的眼睛”瞪着多恩人。他为何告诉我这些？考验我？像瑟曦一样嘲弄我？想听听我的尖叫？“这故事不错，您定要给我父亲讲，我保证他听过之后会和我一样开心的。尤其是关于尾巴的部分，您知道，我本来有尾巴，却是被老爸亲手切掉。”

The sun was shining bright above them, and the day was pleasantly warm for autumn, but Tyrion Lannister went cold all over when he heard that. My sweet sister. He scratched at the scar of his nose and gave the Dornishman a taste of his “evil eye.” Now why would he tell such a tale? Is he testing me, or simply twisting my cock as Cersei did, so he can hear me scream? “Be sure and tell that story to my father. It will delight him as much as it did me. The part about my tail, especially. I did have one, but he had it lopped off.”

奥柏伦亲王嘿嘿一笑，“你真是越长越有趣了。”

Prince Oberyn had a chuckle. “You’ve grown more amusing since last we met.”

“是吗？可我想长高呢。”

“Yes, but I meant to grow taller.”

“说到有趣……我刚从布克勒大人的侍从那儿听到个奇怪的传闻，据说你专门设立针对女性的税？”

“While we are speaking of amusement, I heard a curious tale from Lord Buckler’s steward. He claimed that you had put a tax on women’s privy purses.”

“准确地说，是对娼妓行业征税，”提利昂不安地回答，该死，这与我何干？明明是给父亲逼的！“呃……做一次一个铜板。首相大人认为如此可以提升都城的道德水准。”真实目的是为乔佛里的婚礼筹款。不消说，作为财政大臣，人民所有的不满都会发泄到提利昂身上。据波隆讲，大街小巷都将这称为“侏儒的铜板”。“张开双腿吧，婊子，为了半人！”妓院和酒馆里，人们如此笑骂。

“It is a tax on whoring,” said Tyrion, irritated all over again. And it was my bloody father’s notion. “Only a penny for each, ah … act. The King’s Hand felt it might help improve the morals of the city.” And pay for Joffrey’s wedding besides. Needless to say, as master of coin, Tyrion had gotten all the blame for it. Bronn said they were calling it the dwarf’s penny in the streets. “Spread your legs for the Halfman, now,” they were shouting in the brothels and wine sinks, if the sellsword could be believed.

“看来我得带上一荷包铜板，亲王与庶民都要守法嘛。”

“I will make certain to keep my pouch full of pennies. Even a prince must pay his taxes.”

“您用得着劳师动众地去那种地方？”提利昂瞥瞥身后和其他女人走在一起的艾拉莉亚·沙德，“莫非您在旅途中厌倦了她？”

“Why should you need to go whoring?” He glanced back to where Ellaria Sand rode among the other women. “Did you tire of your paramour on the road?”

“怎么可能？我和她亲密无间，有福同享，”奥柏伦耸耸肩，“说真的，我们还没同享过漂亮的金发妞儿呢，艾拉莉亚对此一直耿耿于怀，你知道上哪儿去找这路货色吗？”

“Never. We share too much.” Prince Oberyn shrugged. “We have never shared a beautiful blonde woman, however, and Ellaria is curious. Do you know of such a creature?”

“我是个结了婚的人。”虽然没有圆房。“可不会上妓院鬼混。”除非想见她们给吊死。

“I am a man wedded.” Though not yet bedded. “I no longer frequent whores.” Unless I want to see them hanged.

奥柏伦突然转变话题，“据说，国王的婚宴上有七十七道大餐？”

Oberyn abruptly changed the subject. “It’s said there are to be seventy-seven dishes served at the king’s wedding feast.”

“您可是饿了，亲王殿下？”

“Are you hungry, my prince?”

“我饿了很久，但不是为吃的。请你告诉我，你们许诺的‘正义’何时才能实现？”

“I have hungered for a long time. Though not for food. Pray tell me, when will the justice be served?”

“正义。”没错，他当然是为这个来的，我早该明白。“想必您和令姐很要好？”

“Justice.” Yes, that is why he’s here, I should have seen that at once. “You were close to your sister?”

“我和伊莉亚从小就在一起，形影不离，就像你哥哥和你姐姐。”

“As children Elia and I were inseparable, much like your own brother and sister.”

是吗？希望不要。“奥柏伦亲王殿下，这阵子，战争和婚姻的事让我们忙得不可开交，暂时无暇顾及十六年前那桩可怕的谋杀，如有怠慢之处，鄙人深表歉意。我保证，只等时机合适，会即刻作出处理。同时，多恩领主为维护王国统一所作出的任何贡献，都将有助于提升我父亲大人查案的精力和速度——”

Gods, I hope not. “Wars and weddings have kept us well occupied, Prince Oberyn. I fear no one has yet had the time to look into murders sixteen years stale, dreadful as they were. We shall, of course, just as soon as we may. Any help that Dorne might be able to provide to restore the king’s peace would only hasten the beginning of my lord father’s inquiry—”

“侏儒，”红毒蛇深沉而冷淡地叫道，“我对你们兰尼斯特的谎言毫无兴趣。你以为我们是好欺负的绵羊，还是没脑袋的傻瓜？我哥哥并不嗜血，但这十六年来，他也并非在睡大觉。劳勃夺取王位的第二年，琼恩·艾林前来阳戟城，我们上百遍地责难他、质询他。我告诉你！要由我做主，才不关心什么调查作戏，只要为伊莉亚和她的孩子们复仇，复仇！首先宰了那蠢笨如牛的格雷果·克里冈……但是，事情并非到此为止。杀掉这混账以前，我要问出幕后主使，告诉你，最好不要让我知道是你父亲，”他笑了，“有个老修士曾说，我的出生真是诸神的大慈悲，你知道这什么意思吗，小恶魔大人？”

“Dwarf,” said the Red Viper, in a tone grown markedly less cordial, “spare me your Lannister lies. Is it sheep you take us for, or fools? My brother is not a bloodthirsty man, but neither has he been asleep for sixteen years. Jon Arryn came to Sunspear the year after Robert took the throne, and you can be sure that he was questioned closely. Him, and a hundred more. I did not come for some mummer’s show of an inquiry. I came for justice for Elia and her children, and I will have it. Starting with this lummox Gregor Clegane … but not, I think, ending there. Before he dies, the Enormity That Rides will tell me whence came his orders, please assure your lord father of that.” He smiled. “An old septon once claimed I was living proof of the goodness of the gods. Do you know why that is, Imp?”

“不知道。”提利昂小心翼翼地回答。

“No,” Tyrion admitted warily.

“哼，如果诸神想要作弄世人，就该让我成为长子，而道朗当三子。你也看见了，我是嗜血如命的。怎么样，你要对付的是我，而不是我那多病、谨慎、衰老的哥哥。”

“Why, if the gods were cruel, they would have made me my mother’s firstborn, and Doran her third. I am a bloodthirsty man, you see. And it is me you must contend with now, not my patient, prudent, and gouty brother.”

前方半里处，阳光在黑水河上照耀，也洒在河对岸君临城的墙垒、塔堡和殿堂上。提利昂回头，望着沿国王大道跟随而行的大队人马。“听您口气，倒像手握重兵的元帅，”他说，“但我仔细数了数，您不过带来三百人。请您瞧瞧河对面，看见什么了吗？”

Tyrion could see the sun shining on the Blackwater Rush half a mile ahead, and on the walls and towers and hills of King’s Landing beyond. He glanced over his shoulder, at the glittering column following them up the kingsroad. “You speak like a man with a great host at his back,” he said, “yet all I see are three hundred. Do you spy that city there, north of the river?”

“看什么？看这个名叫君临的粪堆？”

“The midden heap you call King’s Landing?”

“不错。”

“That’s the very one.”

“哼，我不仅看到了，还闻得出来。”

“Not only do I see it, I believe I smell it now.”

“您应该好好闻闻，亲王殿下，仔细地闻。五十万人发出的臭气当然比三百人身上的强，这您总该知道。闻到金袍子的味道了吗？他们约有五千。我父亲大人自己的部队则将近两万。您可别忘了，城内实力最强的是玫瑰。玫瑰闻起来很香甜，对不对？尤其是这么多合在一起，确实不一般。五万、六万，甚至多达七万枝玫瑰，插在城市内，或城郊的旷野上，其中有一些正在外面打仗，但留下来的，也数不胜数。”

“Then take a good sniff, my lord. Fill up your nose. Half a million people stink more than three hundred, you’ll find. Do you smell the gold cloaks? There are near five thousand of them. My father’s own sworn swords must account for another twenty thousand. And then there are the roses. Roses smell so sweet, don’t they? Especially when there are so many of them. Fifty, sixty, seventy thousand roses, in the city or camped outside it, I can’t really say how many are left, but there’s more than I care to count, anyway.”

马泰尔不屑一顾地耸耸肩。“在古多恩——我们还没和戴伦结亲之前——有句俗话叫‘繁花需为艳阳折腰’。倘若这些玫瑰竟来烦恼我，我很乐意把它们统统踩碎。”

Martell gave a shrug. “In Dorne of old before we married Daeron, it was said that all flowers bow before the sun. Should the roses seek to hinder me I’ll gladly trample them underfoot.”

“正如您踩碎维拉斯·提利尔？”

“As you trampled Willas Tyrell?”

多恩人的反应没有预想中的激烈。“快半年前，我刚收到维拉斯的信，我们对烹调马肉有着共同的爱好。关于比武会上的意外，他从未责怪我。事实上，我正中他胸甲，但他的脚不幸被缠在马镫里，结果摔下去，反被坐骑压住。我派出自己的学士为他医治，但学士只能保住大腿，膝盖已全碎了。真要怪的话，得怪他的蠢老爸。当年的维拉斯·提利尔嫩得跟青草似的，怎能要他参加如此激烈的比武？那死胖子以为他和他两个弟弟一样，生来就该在比武会中建立功勋，他想得到一个‘长枪’里奥，却让自己的长子成了残废。”

The Dornishman did not react as expected. “I had a letter from Willas not half a year past. We share an interest in fine horseflesh. He has never borne me any ill will for what happened in the lists. I struck his breastplate clean, but his foot caught in a stirrup as he fell and his horse came down on top of him. I sent a maester to him afterward, but it was all he could do to save the boy’s leg. The knee was far past mending. If any were to blame, it was his fool of a father. Willas Tyrell was green as his surcoat and had no business riding in such company. The Fat Flower thrust him into tourneys at too tender an age, just as he did with the other two. He wanted another Leo Longthorn, and made himself a cripple.”

“都说洛拉斯爵士比‘长枪’里奥更强。”提利昂道。

“There are those who say Ser Loras is better than Leo Longthorn ever was,” said Tyrion.

“那朵蓝礼的小玫瑰？我才不信。”

“Renly’s little rose? I doubt that.”

“信不信随你，”提利昂说，“但洛拉斯爵士的确打败过许多武艺高强的骑士，其中甚至包括我哥哥詹姆。”

“Doubt it all you wish,” said Tyrion, “but Ser Loras has defeated many good knights, including my brother Jaime.”

“什么叫打败？顶多在长枪比武中击落下马罢。想拿他来吓唬我，那就说说，他杀过什么人呢？”

“By defeated, you mean unhorsed, in tourney. Tell me who he’s slain in battle if you mean to frighten me.”

“比如，罗拔·罗伊斯爵士和埃蒙·库伊爵士。还有，人人都见他在黑水河一役中跟随蓝礼的鬼魂，英勇奋战。”

“Ser Robar Royce and Ser Emmon Cuy, for two. And men say he performed prodigious feats of valor on the Blackwater, fighting beside Lord Renly’s ghost.”

“人人？就这些看见鬼魂的人？”多恩人轻笑。

“So these same men who saw the prodigious feats saw the ghost as well, yes?” The Dornishman laughed lightly.

提利昂长久地注视着对方，“丝绸街上莎塔雅开的妓院不错，丹晰有蜂蜜色的红发，玛丽有长直的金发，她俩都是一等一的人才，不过我奉劝您，亲王殿下，您可一定不能让她们离开您身边。”

Tyrion gave him a long look. “Chataya’s on the Street of Silk has several girls who might suit your needs. Dancy has hair the color of honey. Marie’s is pale white-gold. I would advise you to keep one or the other by your side at all times, my lord.”

“不能离开？”奥柏伦亲王抬起一边细细的黑眉毛，“亲爱的小恶魔大人，这又是为何？”

“At all times?” Prince Oberyn lifted a thin black eyebrow. “And why is that, my good Imp?”

“您刚才不是说，您梦想乳房在口，醉死温柔乡么？”语毕提利昂踢马朝黑水河南岸等待的渡船奔去，他受够了多恩人的狡黠。父亲真该把小乔支来，让他当着红毒蛇的面询问多恩人和蛮牛的区别。想到这里，他不由自主地发笑。看来，引红毒蛇面见国王之前，得好好组织语言。

“You want to die with a breast in hand, you said.” Tyrion cantered on ahead to where the ferry barges waited on the south bank of the Blackwater. He had suffered all he meant to suffer of what passed for Dornish wit. Father should have sent Joffrey after all. He could have asked Prince Oberyn if he knew how a Dornishman differed from a cowflop. That made him grin despite himself. He would have to make a point of being on hand when the Red Viper was presented to the king.