Ⅲ 冰雨的风暴 Chapter59 珊莎

SANSA

好一个甜蜜的梦，她无力地想，自己又回到临冬城，和淑女一起在神木林中奔跑。林间有她的父亲和兄弟们，每个人都平平安安，生动鲜活。若美梦可以成真……

That was such a sweet dream, Sansa thought drowsily. She had been back in Winterfell, running through the godswood with her Lady. Her father had been there, and her brothers, all of them warm and safe. If only dreaming could make it so …

她掀开毯子。我必须勇敢起来。折磨总有一天会到尽头。如果淑女还在，我就不会害怕了。可是，淑女……罗柏、布兰、瑞肯、艾莉亚、父亲、母亲，就连茉丹修女……他们都死了，只剩我一个人，我一个人孤零零地活在世上。

She threw back the coverlets. I must be brave. Her torments would soon be ended, one way or the other. If Lady was here, I would not be afraid. Lady was dead, though; Robb, Bran, Rickon, Arya, her father, her mother, even Septa Mordane. All of them are dead but me. She was alone in the world now.

夫君不在身边，但她早已习惯。提利昂睡得很浅，通常天亮前就起床，坐到书房里，蜷在烛光下，忘我地阅读老旧的卷轴或皮革书籍。有时候，烤早餐面包的香味会将他引去厨房，还有的时候，他跑上屋顶花园，或在叛徒走道上散步。

Her lord husband was not beside her, but she was used to that. Tyrion was a bad sleeper and often rose before the dawn. Usually she found him in the solar, hunched beside a candle, lost in some old scroll or leatherbound book. Sometimes the smell of the morning bread from the ovens took him to the kitchens, and sometimes he would climb up to the roof garden or wander all alone down Traitor’s Walk.

珊莎推开窄窗，突来的寒意不禁让她手上起了鸡皮疙瘩。东边天际乌云密布，只有几许阳光射入。晨雾朦胧，好似有座大城堡在空中浮动。流云作墙壁、堡垒和碉楼，缕缕轻丝是城上的旗帜，与泯灭的群星相连。太阳越升越高，城堡由黑转灰，最后化为千万道玫瑰色、金色或绯红色的彩带，延绵不绝，最后被清风吹散。雾中的城堡渐不复见，只剩地面真实的红堡。

She threw back the shutters and shivered as gooseprickles rose along her arms. There were clouds massing in the eastern sky, pierced by shafts of sunlight. They look like two huge castles afloat in the morning sky. Sansa could see their walls of tumbled stone, their mighty keeps and barbicans. Wispy banners swirled from atop their towers and reached for the fast-fading stars. The sun was coming up behind them, and she watched them go from black to grey to a thousand shades of rose and gold and crimson. Soon the wind mushed them together, and there was only one castle where there had been two.

门开了，两位侍女提热水进来为她洗浴。她俩是新人，提利昂说先前的仆人都为瑟曦的间谍——正好印证她的怀疑——因此统统换掉。“来，过来看呀，”她招呼她们，“空中有座城堡呢。”

She heard the door open as her maids brought the hot water for her bath. They were both new to her service; Tyrion said the women who’d tended to her previously had all been Cersei’s spies, just as Sansa had always suspected. “Come see,” she told them. “There’s a castle in the sky.”

她们凑过来。“金色的城堡，”雪伊有短黑发和大眼睛，平时尽职尽责，但常无礼地打量珊莎，“是啊，整个儿像金子做的，闪闪发光。”

They came to have a look. “It’s made of gold.” Shae had short dark hair and bold eyes. She did all that was asked of her, but sometimes she gave Sansa the most insolent looks. “A castle all of gold, there’s a sight I’d like to see.”

“那是……金色的城堡？”贝蕾娜眯起眼睛，“瞧，塔楼帮倒掉了，嗯，依我看呀，这是一座废墟。”

“A castle, is it?” Brella had to squint. “That tower’s tumbling over, looks like. It’s all ruins, that is.”

珊莎没心情说什么残塔废墟，于是关上窗户，隔断寒气。“时间不早了，得准备参加太后的早餐会。我的夫君大人在看书吗？”

Sansa did not want to hear about falling towers and ruined castles. She closed the shutters and said, “We are expected at the queen’s breakfast. Is my lord husband in the solar?”

“没有，夫人，”贝蕾娜道，“我没见着他。”

“No, m’lady,” said Brella. “I have not seen him.”

“他该是去见父亲了，”雪伊猜测，“首相大人很倚重老爷。”

“Might be he went to see his father,” Shae declared. “Might be the King’s Hand had need of his counsel.”

贝蕾娜哼了一声，“珊莎夫人，快洗吧，水都凉了。”

Brella gave a sniff. “Lady Sansa, you’ll be wanting to get into the tub before the water gets too cool.”

雪伊替她脱掉衣服，扶她进入大木盆。她紧张极了，很想要杯酒。盛大的婚礼将于正午时分在红堡对面的贝勒大圣堂举行，黄昏时移驾王座厅召开宴会：一千名客人，七十七道大餐，以及歌手、戏子和杂耍艺人们的表演。但首先，清晨在太后的舞厅进行早餐会，与会者包括兰尼斯特全族（除了行动不得的蓝赛尔）和提利尔家的男性——他们家的女性负责陪伴玛格丽小姐——以及双方麾下上百位领主和骑士。他们把我算作兰尼斯特家的人，珊莎苦涩地想。

Sansa let Shae pull her shift up over her head and climbed into the big wooden tub. She was tempted to ask for a cup of wine, to calm her nerves. The wedding was to be at midday in the Great Sept of Baelor across the city. And come evenfall the feast would be held in the throne room; a thousand guests and seventy-seven courses, with singers and jugglers and mummers. But first came breakfast in the Queen’s Ballroom, for the Lannisters and the Tyrell men—the Tyrell women would be breaking their fast with Margaery—and a hundred odd knights and lordlings. They have made me a Lannister, Sansa thought bitterly.

贝蕾娜一边叫雪伊去取水，一边为珊莎擦背。“您在发抖呢，夫人。”

Brella sent Shae to fetch more hot water while she washed Sansa’s back. “You are trembling, m’lady.”

“哦，水有些凉。”她撒谎。

“The water is not hot enough,” Sansa lied.

提利昂带着波德瑞克·派恩出现时，她刚刚洗完。“你今天真是太可爱了，珊莎，”丈夫转向侍从，“波德，帮我拿杯酒。”

Her maids were dressing her when Tyrion appeared, Podrick Payne in tow. “You look lovely, Sansa.” He turned to his squire. “Pod, be so good as to pour me a cup of wine.”

“早餐会上有酒喝，夫君大人。”珊莎道。

“There will be wine at the breakfast, my lord,” Sansa said.

“可我们家也有，你不想让我干巴巴地去见老姐吧，夫人？今天可是个大日子，不仅代表新的世纪，也是伊耿登陆七大王国的三百周年纪念。”侏儒从波德瑞克手中夺过酒杯，一饮而尽。“敬伊耿·坦格利安！好个幸运儿！两个妹妹，两个老婆，三头巨龙，最最幸福的男人！”他用手背将嘴擦干。

“There’s wine here. You don’t expect me to face my sister sober, surely? It’s a new century, my lady. The three hundredth year since Aegon’s Conquest.” The dwarf took a cup of red from Podrick and raised it high. “To Aegon. What a fortunate fellow. Two sisters, two wives, and three big dragons, what more could a man ask for?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

小恶魔的衣服凌乱不整，就像是合衣过了夜。“大人，您要不要换身衣服？那件新外套很漂亮。”

The Imp’s clothing was soiled and unkempt, Sansa noticed; it looked as though he’d slept in it. “Will you be changing into fresh garb, my lord? Your new doublet is very handsome.”

“对，外套很漂亮，”提利昂放下杯子。“来吧，波德，我们去换衣服，好让作丈夫的看起来不那么奇怪，不让我的好夫人蒙羞。”

“The doublet is handsome, yes.” Tyrion put the cup aside. “Come, Pod, let us see if we can find some garments to make me look less dwarfish. I would not want to shame my lady wife.”

良久，小恶魔折回来。他总算有些模样了，装扮之后，甚至显得高了一点。波德瑞克·派恩也换上一身华丽的紫白金三色服装，若非鼻子旁边那个红色大疹子，看起来倒是个像模像样的侍从。这孩子很害羞，起初珊莎心存防备，因为对方是派恩家族的人，而正是伊林·派恩爵士砍了父亲的头；但不久之后她便明白，这孩子就像她怕伊林爵士一样怕她。无论什么时候问话，他一律羞红了脸。

When the Imp returned a short time later, he was presentable enough, and even a little taller. Podrick Payne had changed as well, and looked almost a proper squire for once, although a rather large red pimple in the fold beside his nose spoiled the effect of his splendid purple, white, and gold raiment. He is such a timid boy. Sansa had been wary of Tyrion’s squire at first; he was a Payne, cousin to Ser Ilyn Payne who had taken her father’s head off. However, she’d soon come to realize that Pod was as frightened of her as she was of his cousin. Whenever she spoke to him, he turned the most alarming shade of red.

“紫、白、金，这是派恩家族的颜色么，波德瑞克？”她友好地问。

“Are purple, gold, and white the colors of House Payne, Podrick?” she asked him politely.

“不……我的意思是，是的，”侍从脸红了，“颜色……我们家族的纹章是紫、白方格，夫人，上面绣有金币，在格子中间，紫、白方格里都有。”他打量着她的脚。

“No. I mean, yes.” He blushed. “The colors. Our arms are purple and white chequy, my lady. With gold coins. In the checks. Purple and white. Both.” He studied her feet.

“这些金币是有故事的，”提利昂道，“毫无疑问，哪天波德一定会讲给你的脚趾知道。好啦，该出发了，夫人，你行吗？”

“There’s a tale behind those coins,” said Tyrion. “No doubt Pod will confide it to your toes one day. Just now we are expected at the Queen’s Ballroom, however. Shall we?”

珊莎实在不想去，实在想拒绝。我如何推脱？肚子不舒服？月经来潮？此刻的她只想爬回床上，拉下窗帘，独自待在黑暗中。我必须勇敢起来，就像罗柏，她一边告诉自己，一边僵硬地握住丈夫的手。

Sansa was tempted to beg off. I could tell him that my tummy was upset, or that my moon’s blood had come. She wanted nothing more than to crawl back in bed and pull the drapes. I must be brave, like Robb, she told herself, as she took her lord husband stiffly by the arm.

在太后的舞厅里，他们享用黑莓与坚果烤的蜂蜜蛋糕，腌猪腿，培根，面包屑炸海星肉，秋梨，以及一道按多恩风味加大量胡椒粉烹制的洋葱奶酪配鸡蛋。“享受七十七道大餐之前，来顿开胃早饭真美妙。”提利昂评论。席间还提供大壶的牛奶、蜜酒和低度金色甜葡萄酒。乐师在厅内游荡，吹笛子，拉竖琴。唐托斯爵士骑着扫帚马跑来跑去，月童则用肥胖的脸颊模仿放屁的声音，并为客人们唱低俗歌谣。

In the Queen’s Ballroom they broke their fast on honeycakes baked with blackberries and nuts, gammon steaks, bacon, fingerfish crisped in breadcrumbs, autumn pears, and a Dornish dish of onions, cheese, and chopped eggs cooked up with fiery peppers. “Nothing like a hearty breakfast to whet one’s appetite for the seventy-seven-course feast to follow,” Tyrion commented as their plates were filled. There were flagons of milk and flagons of mead and flagons of a light sweet golden wine to wash it down. Musicians strolled among the tables, piping and fluting and fiddling, while Ser Dontos galloped about on his broomstick horse and Moon Boy made farting sounds with his cheeks and sang rude songs about the guests.

珊莎发现丈夫基本不吃，只把酒喝了一杯又一杯。她自己要了多恩鸡蛋，可惜胡椒粉的味道太重，此外咬了一点水果、鱼和蛋糕。每当乔佛里的眼睛转过来，她的肚子就开始翻滚，好像有只蝙蝠在里面飞。

Tyrion scarce touched his food, Sansa noticed, though he drank several cups of the wine. For herself, she tried a little of the Dornish eggs, but the peppers burned her mouth. Otherwise she only nibbled at the fruit and fish and honeycakes. Every time Joffrey looked at her, her tummy got so fluttery that she felt as though she’d swallowed a bat.

食物清空后，太后庄重地为乔佛里系上新郎斗篷，待会国王便要将它系到玛格丽的肩膀。“这件斗篷，劳勃娶我为妻时用过，我母亲乔安娜夫人嫁给我父亲大人时也用过。”难怪，珊莎觉得它看起来有些破旧。

When the food had been cleared away, the queen solemnly presented Joff with the wife’s cloak that he would drape over Margaery’s shoulders. “It is the cloak I donned when Robert took me for his queen, the same cloak my mother Lady Joanna wore when wed to my lord father.” Sansa thought it looked threadbare, if truth be told, but perhaps because it was so used.

接下来是赠礼时间。依照河湾地的传统，人们在新郎新娘婚礼之前的清晨向双方分赠礼物——当然，婚礼次日还将送礼，但那是给夫妻一起的。

Then it was time for gifts. It was traditional in the Reach to give presents to bride and groom on the morning of their wedding; on the morrow they would receive more presents as a couple, but today’s tokens were for their separate persons.

贾拉巴·梭尔献上一把镀金巨弓，搭配的长箭支装有绿色和绯红色的羽毛；坦妲伯爵夫人献上一对柔软马靴；凯冯爵士献上一个极为华丽的红皮革马鞍；多恩领亲王奥柏伦献上一个蝎子形状的红金胸针。此外，亚当·马尔布兰爵士的礼物是银马刺，马图斯·罗宛伯爵的礼物是长枪比武时用的红丝帐篷，派克斯特·雷德温伯爵则捎来一个漂亮的木舰模型，足足两百条桨，他声称这艘船目前正在青亭岛加紧赶造，“若蒙陛下恩准，我将把她命名为‘乔佛里国王的勇气号’。”小乔开心地应允，“我要用它作旗舰，直捣龙石岛，杀死叛徒叔叔史坦尼斯。”

From Jalabhar Xho, Joffrey received a great bow of golden wood and quiver of long arrows fletched with green and scarlet feathers; from Lady Tanda a pair of supple riding boots; from Ser Kevan a magnificent red leather jousting saddle; a red gold brooch wrought in the shape of a scorpion from the Dornishman, Prince Oberyn; silver spurs from Ser Addam Marbrand; a red silk tourney pavilion from Lord Mathis Rowan. Lord Paxter Redwyne brought forth a beautiful wooden model of the war galley of two hundred oars being built even now on the Arbor. “If it please Your Grace, she will be called King Joffrey’s Valor,” he said, and Joff allowed that he was very pleased indeed. “I will make it my flagship when I sail to Dragonstone to kill my traitor uncle Stannis,” he said.

看来国王今天打算扮演英雄的角色。珊莎知道，小乔只要用心，满可以表现得很得体，但随着年龄增长，他却越来越任性。当提利昂代表他们夫妻献上礼物时，乔佛里的礼貌忽然消失了。这是一本古旧的大部头，名曰《四王志》，很明显国王对它毫无兴趣。“这是什么，舅舅？”

He plays the gracious king today. Joffrey could be gallant when it suited him, Sansa knew, but it seemed to suit him less and less. Indeed, all his courtesy vanished at once when Tyrion presented him with their own gift: a huge old book called Lives of Four Kings, bound in leather and gorgeously illuminated. The king leafed through it with no interest. “And what is this, Uncle?”

这是一本书。珊莎猜测乔佛里是从来不肯用那对肥厚嘴唇读书的。

A book. Sansa wondered if Joffrey moved those fat wormy lips of his when he read.

“这是大学士喀斯所著的历史，叙述了少龙主戴伦、受神祝福的贝勒、庸王伊耿和贤王戴伦四位国王的事迹。”她的侏儒丈夫回答。

“Grand Maester Kaeth’s history of the reigns of Daeron the Young Dragon, Baelor the Blessed, Aegon the Unworthy, and Daeron the Good,” her small husband answered.

“这是每个国王都该读的书，陛下。”凯冯爵士说。

“A book every king should read, Your Grace,” said Ser Kevan.

“我父亲从来不读书。”乔佛里将典籍扫到一旁，“如果你少花点时间阅读，小恶魔舅舅，或许珊莎夫人的肚子早就大啰。”他哈哈大笑……廷臣们也跟着笑。“不必伤感，珊莎，等我让玛格丽怀了孩子，便会时时来你卧房，教我的侏儒舅舅如何履行责任。”

“My father had no time for books.” Joffrey shoved the tome across the table. “If you read less, Uncle Imp, perhaps Lady Sansa would have a baby in her belly by now.” He laughed … and when the king laughs, the court laughs with him. “Don’t be sad, Sansa, once I’ve gotten Queen Margaery with child I’ll visit your bedchamber and show my little uncle how it’s done.”

珊莎直羞红到脖子，她紧张地瞥瞥提利昂，害怕丈夫如婚宴那天一样陡然发作。但这次，侏儒继续喝酒，什么也没说。

Sansa reddened. She glanced nervously at Tyrion, afraid of what he might say. This could turn as nasty as the bedding had at their own feast. But for once the dwarf filled his mouth with wine instead of words.

下面轮到梅斯·提利尔公爵，他的礼物是一只足有三尺高的金杯，杯身铸成七面，面面都有无数宝石，还有两个装饰繁复的杯耳。“七面代表臣服于陛下的七大王国。”岳父解释。他还向大家展示七面上所刻的王国七大家族的纹章：红宝石狮子、翡翠玫瑰、玛瑙雄鹿、银制鳟鱼、蓝玉猎鹰、蛋白石太阳和珍珠冰原狼。

Lord Mace Tyrell came forward to present his gift: a golden chalice three feet tall, with two ornate curved handles and seven faces glittering with gemstones. “Seven faces for Your Grace’s seven kingdoms,” the bride’s father explained. He showed them how each face bore the sigil of one of the great houses: ruby lion, emerald rose, onyx stag, silver trout, blue jade falcon, opal sun, and pearl direwolf.

“好杯！”乔佛里赞道，“唯一的缺陷是该把冰原狼挖掉，换只乌贼上去。”

“A splendid cup,” said Joffrey, “but we’ll need to chip the wolf off and put a squid in its place, I think.”

珊莎装作什么也没听见。

Sansa pretended that she had not heard.

“那么，玛格丽和我将在婚宴上共饮此杯，岳父大人。”国王将金杯高举，让全场都看见。

“Margaery and I shall drink deep at the feast, good father.” Joffrey lifted the chalice above his head, for everyone to admire.

“该死的玩意，居然和我一样高，”提利昂低声咒道，“哼，只消喝上半杯，这小子就得不省人事。”

“The damned thing’s as tall as I am,” Tyrion muttered in a low voice. “Half a chalice and Joff will be falling down drunk.”

太棒了，珊莎心想，最好是醉倒的同时摔断脖子。

Good, she thought. Perhaps he’ll break his neck.

泰温公爵最后上场，他的礼物是一柄长剑。剑鞘由镀金樱桃木制成，由上过油的红皮革包裹，装饰着纯金狮子头。狮子有红宝石的眼睛。当乔佛里拔剑而出，高举过头时，整个舞厅都屏住了呼吸。剑刃上有红黑两色波纹，在晨光中微微发亮。

Lord Tywin waited until last to present the king with his own gift: a longsword. Its scabbard was made of cherrywood, gold, and oiled red leather, studded with golden lions’ heads. The lions had ruby eyes, she saw. The ballroom fell silent as Joffrey unsheathed the blade and thrust the sword above his head. Red and black ripples in the steel shimmered in the morning light.

“真是不世出的神兵。”马图斯·罗宛叹道。

“Magnificent,” declared Mathis Rowan.

“值得为它写一首歌，陛下。”雷德温伯爵宣布。

“A sword to sing of, sire,” said Lord Redwyne.

“无愧为王者之剑。”凯冯·兰尼斯特爵士说。

“A king’s sword,” said Ser Kevan Lannister.

乔佛里国王脸上的神情就像要当即杀一个人来祭刀。他好兴奋，不停地挥舞，欢笑，“好剑！好剑得有个好名字，众卿！我该叫它什么呢？”

King Joffrey looked as if he wanted to kill someone right then and there, he was so excited. He slashed at the air and laughed. “A great sword must have a great name, my lords! What shall I call it?”

珊莎记得狮牙，那把被艾莉亚扔进三叉戟河中的剑，还有噬心，那把他在战斗前强迫她吻的剑。不知道下一回他会不会叫玛格丽去吻这把剑。

Sansa remembered Lion’s Tooth, the sword Arya had flung into the Trident, and Hearteater, the one he’d made her kiss before the battle. She wondered if he’d want Margaery to kiss this one.

客人们七嘴八舌地提出各种名字。小乔一一拒绝，直到最后听到满意的。“寡妇之嚎！”他喊道，“好！就叫这个！我要用它制造出无数的寡妇！”他再度挥剑，“我要拿它和史坦尼斯叔叔决斗，把他的魔法剑劈成两半。”小乔试图来记下斩，吓得巴隆·史文爵士踉跄后退。看见巴隆爵士的表情，人们哄堂大笑。

The guests were shouting out names for the new blade. Joff dismissed a dozen before he heard one he liked. “Widow’s Wail!” he cried. “Yes! It shall make many a widow, too!” He slashed again. “And when I face my uncle Stannis it will break his magic sword clean in two.” Joff tried a downcut, forcing Ser Balon Swann to take a hasty step backward. Laughter rang through the hall at the look on Ser Balon’s face.

“小心点，陛下，”亚当·马尔布兰爵士提醒国王，“瓦雷利亚钢很锋利。”

“Have a care, Your Grace,” Ser Addam Marbrand warned the king. “Valyrian steel is perilously sharp.”

“噢，试试看，瓦雷利亚兵器我熟得很呢，”乔佛里双手握剑，朝提利昂送的古籍狠狠砍去。厚重的皮革封面应声而断。“好！果然锋利！你瞧，我是识货的，”男孩又砍了六七下，方把那本厚书劈为两半，弄得自己气喘吁吁。奥斯蒙·凯特布莱克爵士喝彩道，“陛下，真让人心胆俱裂！”珊莎发现丈夫业已到了暴跳的边沿。

“I remember.” Joffrey brought Widow’s Wail down in a savage two-handed slice, onto the book that Tyrion had given him. The heavy leather cover parted at a stroke. “Sharp! I told you, I am no stranger to Valyrian steel.” It took him half a dozen further cuts to hack the thick tome apart, and the boy was breathless by the time he was done. Sansa could feel her husband struggling with his fury as Ser Osmund Kettleblack shouted, “I pray you never turn that wicked edge on me, sire.”

“爵士先生，你既知神兵厉害，以后便万万不可忤逆我意。”乔佛里得意洋洋地用剑尖挑起《四王志》，抛了出去，随后优雅地将寡妇之嚎收入剑鞘。

“See that you never give me cause, ser.” Joffrey flicked a chunk of Lives of Four Kings off the table at swordpoint, then slid Widow’s Wail back into its scabbard.

“陛下，”加兰·提利尔爵士开口，“或许您不知道，在维斯特洛的土地上，喀斯师傅这本书只有由他亲自誊写的四份抄本。”

“Your Grace,” Ser Garlan Tyrell said. “Perhaps you did not know. In all of Westeros there were but four copies of that book illuminated in Kaeth’s own hand.”

“现今只剩三份啦，”乔佛里解下旧配剑，换上新的。“你，小恶魔舅舅，你和珊莎夫人还欠我一份礼物。这东西完全是垃圾，只配试剑。”

“Now there are three.” Joffrey undid his old swordbelt to don his new one. “You and Lady Sansa owe me a better present, Uncle Imp. This one is all chopped to pieces.”

提利昂用大小不一的眼睛死瞪着外甥。“陛下，一把匕首如何？瓦雷利亚钢匕首配瓦雷利亚钢宝剑……龙骨柄的匕首，您怎么说？”

Tyrion was staring at his nephew with his mismatched eyes. “Perhaps a knife, sire. To match your sword. A dagger of the same fine Valyrian steel … with a dragonbone hilt, say?”

小乔警惕地扫了他一眼。“你……好，匕首配宝剑，很好，”他点点头，“不过，不……不过最好用镶红宝石的黄金刀柄。龙骨太普通。”

Joff gave him a sharp look. “You … yes, a dagger to match my sword, good.” He nodded. “A … a gold hilt with rubies in it. Dragonbone is too plain.”

“遵命，陛下。”提利昂又灌下一杯酒。他半点也不在意珊莎，仿佛陷入了沉思，早餐会结束后，方才突然执起她的手。

“As you wish, Your Grace.” Tyrion drank another cup of wine. He might have been all alone in his solar for all the attention he paid Sansa. But when the time came to leave for the wedding, he took her by the hand.

穿过庭院时，多恩领的奥柏伦亲王挽着黑发情妇跟上来。珊莎好奇地打量那女子，对方只是个私生女，没结过婚，却替亲王生下两个女儿，而且即便在太后面前也毫无惧色。雪伊告诉她，这都是因为艾拉莉亚信奉某位里斯女爱神的缘故。“当初亲王殿下爱上她时，她不过是个妓女，”侍女倾诉，“而今快成公主了。”珊莎从前没机会见识多恩姑娘，现在靠拢了观察，发觉对方并不太美，只是身上有种说不出的吸引人的特质。

As they were crossing the yard, Prince Oberyn of Dorne fell in beside them, his black-haired paramour on his arm. Sansa glanced at the woman curiously. She was baseborn and unwed, and had borne two bastard daughters for the prince, but she did not fear to look even the queen in the eye. Shae had told her that this Ellaria worshiped some Lysene love goddess. “She was almost a whore when he found her, m’lady,” her maid confided, “and now she’s near a princess.” Sansa had never been this close to the Dornishwoman before. She is not truly beautiful, she thought, but something about her draws the eye.

“我很荣幸在学城读过《四王志》的抄本，”奥柏伦亲王对提利昂说，“喀斯很有学问，也很得体，他省略了韦赛里斯王的记载。”

“I once had the great good fortune to see the Citadel’s copy of Lives of Four Kings,” Prince Oberyn was telling her lord husband. “The illuminations were wondrous to behold, but Kaeth was too kind by half to King Viserys.”

提利昂锐利地回望对方一眼，“得体？依我看，是对韦赛里斯有偏见吧。这书本该成为《五王志》才对。”

Tyrion gave him a sharp look. “Too kind? He scants Viserys shamefully, in my view. It should have been Lives of Five Kings.”

亲王笑道，“韦赛里斯就统治了那么几天，省略也是自然的。”

The prince laughed. “Viserys hardly reigned a fortnight.”

“不对，他在位超过半年，史家故意忽略罢了。”提利昂说。

“He reigned more than a year,” said Tyrion.

奥柏伦耸耸肩，“半年或是几天，有什么区别？反正他是个毒死亲戚以攫取王位的家伙，在位期间也平庸无获。”

Oberyn gave a shrug. “A year or a fortnight, what does it matter? He poisoned his own nephew to gain the throne and then did nothing once he had it.”

“贝勒是自己绝食而死的，”提利昂道，“韦赛里斯对他和对他之前的少龙主都一样忠诚。此人或许只当了半年国王，却做过十五年的首相，王国有他打理，戴伦方能专门打仗，而贝勒专司祈祷。”他叹口气，“就算贝勒之死真是他下的手，又有什么好指责的呢？总得有人终止贝勒的愚行以拯救国家啊。”

“Baelor starved himself to death, fasting,” said Tyrion. “His uncle served him loyally as Hand, as he had served the Young Dragon before him. Viserys might only have reigned a year, but he ruled for fifteen, while Daeron warred and Baelor prayed.” He made a sour face. “And if he did remove his nephew, can you blame him? Someone had to save the realm from Baelor’s follies.”

珊莎很震惊，“可……可受神祝福的贝勒是个伟大的国王，他徒步穿越骨路，与多恩领达成和平协议，并从蛇坑中救回龙骑士伊蒙王子。因为他的圣洁，毒蛇都不愿害他。”

Sansa was shocked. “But Baelor the Blessed was a great king. He walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne, and rescued the Dragonknight from a snakepit. The vipers refused to strike him because he was so pure and holy.”

奥柏伦亲王哈哈大笑，“如果你是条蛇，夫人，会拿贝勒这种冷血动物开胃么？我宁可去咬有滋味的……”

Prince Oberyn smiled. “If you were a viper, my lady, would you want to bite a bloodless stick like Baelor the Blessed? I’d sooner save my fangs for someone juicier …”

“亲王殿下说笑呢，珊莎夫人，”艾拉莉亚·沙德插嘴，“修士和歌手们宣扬毒蛇没有噬咬贝勒，这不符合事实。实际上，他身带四五十处咬伤，理应毙命于斯。”

“My prince is playing with you, Lady Sansa,” said the woman Ellaria Sand. “The septons and singers like to say that the snakes did not bite Baelor, but the truth is very different. He was bitten half a hundred times, and should have died from it.”

“结果却没有，否则韦赛里斯将称王十多年，”提利昂说，“而七大王国也会更为喜乐。有人认为贝勒后来正因蛇毒发作，才干下许多蠢事。”

“If he had, Viserys would have reigned a dozen years,” said Tyrion, “and the Seven Kingdoms might have been better served. Some believe Baelor was deranged by all that venom.”

“想必如此，”奥柏伦亲王悠然道，可我在红堡没看见什么毒蛇，乔佛里陛下的行为该怎么解释呢？”

“Yes,” said Prince Oberyn, “but I’ve seen no snakes in this Red Keep of yours. So how do you account for Joffrey?”

“我不知道。”提利昂僵硬地点头，“谢谢您，亲王殿下，我们的轿子在等着呢。”说罢侏儒扶珊莎上轿，自己也笨拙地爬进来。“夫人，请把帘子关上。”

“I prefer not to.” Tyrion inclined his head stiffly. “If you will excuse us. Our litter awaits.” The dwarf helped Sansa up inside and clambered awkwardly after her. “Close the curtains, my lady, if you’d be so good.”

“这样好吗，大人？”珊莎不想封闭起来，“今天的太阳很不错。”

“Must we, my lord?” Sansa did not want to be shut behind the curtains. “The day is so lovely.”

“如果教君临城的‘善男信女’们发现这是我的轿子，马上就有脏东西扔过来。为我俩好，夫人，关上帘子吧。”

“The good people of King’s Landing are like to throw dung at the litter if they see me inside it. Do us both a kindness, my lady. Close the curtains.”

她乖乖照办。随后夫妻俩静坐了一会儿，空气越来越窒闷炎热。“您的书……我很抱歉，大人。”她逼自己开口。

She did as he bid her. They sat for a time, as the air grew warm and stuffy around them. “I was sorry about your book, my lord,” she made herself say.

“那不是我的书，已经送给了乔佛里。他如果读一读，本可学到点东西。”丈夫烦乱地说，“我早该想到，早该想到……很多……”

“It was Joffrey’s book. He might have learned a thing or two if he’d read it.” He sounded distracted. “I should have known better. I should have seen … a good many things.”

“没关系，大人，我想匕首更适合他。”

“Perhaps the dagger will please him more.”

侏儒扮个鬼脸，伤疤皱成一团，“这小子要匕首，是吗？”提利昂不等她回答，“记得他在临冬城和你大哥罗柏吵过架，告诉我，他跟布兰之间也有争端么？”

When the dwarf grimaced, his scar tightened and twisted. “The boy’s earned himself a dagger, wouldn’t you say?” Thankfully Tyrion did not wait for her reply. “Joff quarreled with your brother Robb at Winterfell. Tell me, was there ill feeling between Bran and His Grace as well?”

“布兰？”她很困惑，“在他坠楼之前？”她努力回想，一切实在离得太久。“布兰是个可爱的孩子，人人都喜欢，我记得……他和托曼用木剑比试，仅仅比试而已。”

“Bran?” The question confused her. “Before he fell, you mean?” She had to try and think back. It was all so long ago. “Bran was a sweet boy. Everyone loved him. He and Tommen fought with wooden swords, I remember, but just for play.”

听罢此言，提利昂又陷入阴郁的沉默中。珊莎隐约听见外面穿来铁链声，闸门正在升起。不久之后，有人一声令下，轿子摇晃着开始挪动。她看不到外面的景象，只好瞪着交叠的双手，不安地察觉到丈夫正用大小不一的眼睛打量自己。他为何这么看我？

Tyrion lapsed back into moody silence. Sansa heard the distant clank of chains from outside; the portcullis was being drawn up. A moment later there was a shout, and their litter swayed into motion. Deprived of the passing scenery, she chose to stare at her folded hands, uncomfortably aware of her husband’s mismatched eyes. Why is he looking at me that way?

“你爱你的兄弟，就像我爱詹姆。”

“You loved your brothers, much as I love Jaime.”

这又是兰尼斯特的诡计，好让我说出不忠的言语？“我的兄弟都是叛徒，罪有应得，而爱叛徒的人自己也是叛徒。”

Is this some Lannister trap to make me speak treason? “My brothers were traitors, and they’ve gone to traitors’ graves. It is treason to love a traitor.”

她的小丈夫嗤之以鼻。“罗柏起兵对抗国王，只有他，按法理来说，够得上叛徒，你其他几个兄弟只怕小到连叛徒是什么意思都不明白，”他揉揉鼻子，“珊莎，你知不知布兰在临冬城出的事？”

Her little husband snorted. “Robb rose in arms against his rightful king. By law, that made him a traitor. The others died too young to know what treason was.” He rubbed his nose. “Sansa, do you know what happened to Bran at Winterfell?”

“我离开之前，他摔了下来……布兰一直很会爬，不知为什么那次却摔了下来——正如我们一直担心的那样。后……后来席恩·葛雷乔伊杀了他。”

“Bran fell. He was always climbing things, and finally he fell. We always feared he would. And Theon Greyjoy killed him, but that was later.”

“席恩·葛雷乔伊，”提利昂叹口气，“你母亲大人曾指控我……算了，不想讲那些肮脏的细节。反正她是认错了人，我从未伤害过你弟弟布兰，也不会伤害你。”

“Theon Greyjoy.” Tyrion sighed. “Your lady mother once accused me … well, I will not burden you with the ugly details. She accused me falsely. I never harmed your brother Bran. And I mean no harm to you.”

他想要我说什么？“谢谢您，大人。”他想要我说句什么，可我不知道答案。他像个饥饿的孩子，我却没食物给他。为何就不能放我安静一会儿呢？

What does he want me to say? “That is good to know, my lord.” He wanted something from her, but Sansa did not know what it was. He looks like a starving child, but I have no food to give him. Why won’t he leave me be?

提利昂揉着破烂的鼻子，一次又一次，这是个坏习惯，只能让他看起来更丑陋。“你从未问过我罗柏，或是你母亲，究竟怎么死的？”

Tyrion rubbed at his scarred, scabby nose yet again, an ugly habit that drew the eye to his ugly face. “You have never asked me how Robb died, or your lady mother.”

“我……我宁可不问。会做噩梦的。”

“I … would sooner not know. It would give me bad dreams.”

“很好，我永远也不会说。”

“Then I will say no more.”

“您……您真是太好心了。”

“That … that’s kind of you.”

“噢，是啊，”提利昂道，“我的确有副好心肠，总把噩梦留给自己。”

“Oh, yes,” said Tyrion. “I am the very soul of kindness. And I know about bad dreams.”