冰与火之歌卷Ⅱ(列王的纷争|冰与火之歌卷Ⅱ:列王的纷争 中英文双语同步对照版 第17篇 提利昂上)

Ⅱ 列王的纷争 Chapter17 提利昂
TYRION
“而今的睡眠不比从前啰,”派席尔大学士为凌晨的会议精神欠佳向他致歉,“我宁可天亮前便早早起身,也不愿辗转反侧,为未完成的工作揪心忧愁。”他话虽这么说,但瞧那低垂的眼皮,他似乎又快睡着了。
I do not sleep as I did when I was younger,” Grand Maester Pycelle told him, by way of apology for the dawn meeting. “I would sooner be up, though the world be dark, than lie restless abed, fretting on tasks undone,” he said—though his heavy-lidded eyes made him look half-asleep as he said it.
他们坐在鸦巢下通风的房间里,他的女侍送上白煮蛋、熟李子和燕麦粥。“非常时期,许多百姓连吃的都没有,我想自己也该一切从简。”
In the airy chambers beneath the rookery, his girl served them boiled eggs, stewed plums, and porridge, while Pycelle served the pontifications. “In these sad times, when so many hunger, I think it only fitting to keep my table spare.”
【冰与火之歌卷Ⅱ(列王的纷争|冰与火之歌卷Ⅱ:列王的纷争 中英文双语同步对照版 第17篇 提利昂上)】“令人钦佩。”提利昂承认,并敲开一颗棕色的大蛋,心里觉得这颗蛋还真像大学士布满斑点的秃头。“但我看法不同。我是能吃的时候尽量吃,以免明天吃不到。”他露出微笑,“说说,您的乌鸦也这么早起吗?”
“Commendable,” Tyrion admitted, breaking a large brown egg that reminded him unduly of the Grand Maester’s bald spotted head. “I take a different view. If there is food I eat it, in case there is none on the morrow.” He smiled. “Tell me, are your ravens early risers as well?”
派席尔捻捻流泄至胸的雪白胡须,“那当然。等您吃完,我就叫人拿纸笔来?”
Pycelle stroked the snowy beard that flowed down his chest. “To be sure. Shall I send for quill and ink after we have eaten?”
“不必了。”提利昂取出两封信,放在燕麦粥旁。两张卷得很紧的羊皮纸,侧面用蜡封好。“叫你的女仆下去,我们好说话。”
“No need.” Tyrion laid the letters on the table beside his porridge, twin parchments tightly rolled and sealed with wax at both ends. “Send your girl away, so we can talk.”
“孩子,你先退下。”派席尔命令,女孩急忙离开房间。“请问这些是……”
“Leave us, child,” Pycelle commanded. The serving girl hurried from the room. “These letters, now …”
“寄给多恩亲王道朗·马泰尔的信函,”提利昂剥开蛋壳,咬了一口,似乎没加盐,“一式两份,事关重大,派你最快的鸟儿送去。”
“For the eyes of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne.” Tyrion peeled the cracked shell away from his egg and took a bite. It wanted salt. “One letter, in two copies. Send your swiftest birds. The matter is of great import.”
“吃完早餐,我即刻处理。”
“I shall dispatch them as soon as we have broken our fast.”
“现在就办,李子可以待会再吃,国家大事可等不得。眼下蓝礼大人正率军沿玫瑰大道北进,而谁也说不准史坦尼斯大人何时会自龙石岛启航。”
“Dispatch them now. Stewed plums will keep. The realm may not. Lord Renly is leading his host up the roseroad, and no one can say when Lord Stannis will sail from Dragonstone.”
派席尔眨眨眼,“如果大人您坚持——”
Pycelle blinked. “If my lord prefers—”
“我很坚持。”
“He does.”
“我随时任您差遣。”学士蹒跚起身,颈链轻声作响。他的颈链粗大沉重,重量乃是普通学士项链的十数倍,互相串接,镶以宝石。在提利昂看来,其中黄金、白银和铂金的链条数目远远超过其他不值钱的金属。
“I am here to serve.” The maester pushed himself ponderously to his feet, his chain of office clinking softly. It was a heavy thing, a dozen maester’s collars threaded around and through each other and ornamented with gemstones. And it seemed to Tyrion that the gold and silver and platinum links far outnumbered those of baser metals.
派席尔动作很慢,提利昂吃完煮蛋,又尝过李子——李子煮得烂熟多汁,正合他胃口——这才听见扑翅之音。他站起来,看见清晨天际乌鸦墨黑的身影,便骤然转身,朝房间远端迷宫般的置物架走去。
Pycelle moved so slowly that Tyrion had time to finish his egg and taste the plums—overcooked and watery, to his taste—before the sound of wings prompted him to rise. He spied the raven, dark in the dawn sky, and turned briskly toward the maze of shelves at the far end of the room.
学士的药品为数惊人:几十个蜡封的罐子,百余瓶塞住的小瓶,同样数量的白玻璃瓶,不计其数的干药草罐,每个容器上都有派席尔用工整的字迹写成的精确标签。此人真是井井有条,提利昂心想。的确,一旦你理解了分类依据,便会发现每种药品都摆放得恰到好处。真是些有趣的东西:甜睡花和龙葵、罂粟花奶、里斯之泪、灰蕈粉、附子草和鬼舞草、石蜥毒、瞎眼毒,寡妇之血……
The maester’s medicines made an impressive display; dozens of pots sealed with wax, hundreds of stoppered vials, as many milkglass bottles, countless jars of dried herbs, each container neatly labeled in Pycelle’s precise hand. An orderly mind, Tyrion reflected, and indeed, once you puzzled out the arrangement, it was easy to see that every potion had its place. And such interesting things. He noted sweetsleep and nightshade, milk of the poppy, the tears of Lys, powdered greycap, wolfsbane and demon’s dance, basilisk venom, blindeye, widow’s blood …
女人终究内心脆弱他垫起脚尖,使尽全身力气向上伸展,好不容易够到一个放在高处,积满灰尘的小罐子。他看看上面的标签,笑着将之藏进衣袖。
Standing on his toes and straining upward, he managed to pull a small dusty bottle off the high shelf. When he read the label, he smiled and slipped it up his sleeve.
当派席尔大学士慢吞吞地走下楼梯时,他已经坐回桌边,吃起另一颗蛋。“大人,已经办妥了。”老人坐下来,“这种事……是啊,是啊,办得越快越好……您说,事关重大?”
He was back at the table peeling another egg when Grand Maester Pycelle came creeping down the stairs. “It is done, my lord.” The old man seated himself. “A matter like this … best done promptly, indeed, indeed … of great import, you say?”
“噢,没错。”提利昂嫌燕麦粥太稠,且缺了奶油和蜂蜜。这阵子,君临城中已经很难吃到奶油和蜂蜜,但拜盖尔斯伯爵之赐,城堡里的供应倒不缺。最近城堡中的粮食有一半是从他和坦妲伯爵夫人的领地运来。罗斯比城和史铎克渥斯堡位于王城以北,尚未遭战火波及。
“Oh, yes.” The porridge was too thick, Tyrion felt, and wanted butter and honey. To be sure, butter and honey were seldom seen in King’s Landing of late, though Lord Gyles kept them well supplied in the castle. Half of the food they ate these days came from his lands or Lady Tanda’s. Rosby and Stokeworth lay near the city to the north, and were yet untouched by war.
“寄给多恩亲王本人,我……我可否问问……”
“The Prince of Dorne, himself. Might I ask …”
“最好别问。”
“Best not.”
“如您所愿,”提利昂能感受到派席尔强烈的好奇,“或许……该让御前会议……”
“As you say.” Pycelle’s curiosity was so ripe that Tyrion could almost taste it. “Mayhaps … the king’s council …”
提利昂拿起木匙轻敲碗缘,“好师傅,御前会议的职能是‘辅佐’陛下。”
Tyrion tapped his wooden spoon against the edge of the bowl. “The council exists to advise the king, Maester.”
“是啊,”派席尔说,“而陛下他——”
“Just so,” said Pycelle, “and the king—”
“——年方十三,由我代为行事。”
“—is a boy of thirteen. I speak with his voice.”
“的确,您是当今御前首相,可是……您亲爱的姐姐,我们的摄政太后,她……”
“So you do. Indeed. The King’s Own Hand. Yet … your most gracious sister, our Queen Regent, she …”
“……她漂亮白晰的肩膀上背负了太多重责大任,我可不能无端加重她的负担,您说对吧?”提利昂歪歪头,审视着大学士。
“… bears a great weight upon those lovely white shoulders of hers. I have no wish to add to her burdens. Do you?” Tyrion cocked his head and gave the Grand Maester an inquiring stare.
派席尔急忙垂下视线,看着自己的早餐。有的人看了他那对大小不一,一绿一黑的眼睛便会不舒服;他很清楚这一点,因此善加利用。“啊,”老人对着自己的李子喃喃道,“大人您说得一点没错。为她省去这些……负担……您真是太体贴了。”
Pycelle dropped his gaze back to his food. Something about Tyrion’s mismatched green-and-black eyes made men squirm; knowing that, he made good use of them. “Ah,” the old man muttered into his plums. “Doubtless you have the right of it, my lord. It is most considerate of you to … spare her this … burden.”
“我这个人别的没有,就是体贴,”提利昂继续吃起不甚可口的燕麦粥,“瑟曦毕竟是我亲姐姐嘛。”
“That’s just the sort of fellow I am.” Tyrion returned to the unsatisfactory porridge. “Considerate. Cersei is my own sweet sister, after all.”
“是啊,她还是个女人,”派席尔大学士道,“虽然并非平凡女子,但……女人终究内心脆弱,想一肩挑起国家大事,也真是不容易……”
“And a woman, to be sure,” Grand Maester Pycelle said. “A most uncommon woman, and yet … it is no small thing, to tend to all the cares of the realm, despite the frailty of her sex …”
得了,她是脆弱的白鸽?去问问艾德·史塔克吧!“知道您和我一样关心她,我实在倍感欣慰。感谢您的盛情款待,不过我今天还有事要忙。”他扭扭腿,爬下椅子,“等我们收到多恩方面的回信,劳烦您立刻通知我啰?”
Oh, yes, she’s a frail dove, just ask Eddard Stark. “I’m pleased you share my concern. And I thank you for the hospitality of your table. But a long day awaits.” He swung his legs out and clambered down from his chair. “Be so good as to inform me at once should we receive a reply from Dorne?”
“照您吩咐,大人。”
“As you say, my lord.”
“只通知我一个人喔?”
“And only me?”
“啊……一定一定。”派席尔用布满老人斑的手抓着胡子,就像溺水之人伸手够绳子一样。提利昂看了满心欢喜,这是第一个,他想。
“Ah … to be sure.” Pycelle’s spotted hand was clutching at his beard the way a drowning man clutches for a rope. It made Tyrion’s heart glad. One, he thought.
他跛着脚走进下层庭院,畸形的双腿因为楼梯而酸痛。此刻,太阳已高挂天际,城堡里也活络了起来。守卫们在城墙上巡逻,骑士和他们的随从则以钝器练习战技。波隆就在广场附近,坐在一口井边,两个漂亮女侍合力提着一个装满毯子的柳条篮轻步走过,佣兵却目不斜视。“波隆,你真是没救了,”提利昂指指两个女孩,“大好春光就在眼前,你却光顾着看一群呆头鹅打架。”
He waddled out into the lower bailey; his stunted legs complained of the steps. The sun was well up now, and the castle was stirring. Guardsmen walked the walls, and knights and men-at-arms were training with blunted weapons. Nearby, Bronn sat on the lip of a well. A pair of comely serving girls sauntered past carrying a wicker basket of rushes between them, but the sellsword never looked. “Bronn, I despair of you.” Tyrion gestured at the wenches. “With sweet sights like that before you, all you see is a gaggle of louts raising a clangor.”
“城里有一百间便宜妓院,花上几个铜板,我爱怎么干就怎么干。”波隆回答,“可哪天从这群呆头鹅身上学到的东西却可能救我一命。”他站起来,“那个穿蓝格子外衣,盾牌上有三只眼睛的小鬼是谁?”
“There are a hundred whorehouses in this city where a clipped copper will buy me all the cunt I want,” Bronn answered, “but one day my life may hang on how close I’ve watched your louts.” He stood. “Who’s the boy in the checkered blue surcoat with the three eyes on his shield?”
“某位雇佣骑士,自称塔拉德。你问这干嘛?”
“Some hedge knight. Tallad, he names himself. Why?”
波隆拨开遮住眼睛的一搓头发,“这里面,他最行。可你仔细瞧瞧,他的行动有一定的节奏,每次攻击都依相同的顺序使用相同的招式,”他嘿嘿一笑,“哪天他跟我对上,就会因此没命。”
Bronn pushed a fall of hair from his eyes. “He’s the best of them. But watch him, he falls into a rhythm, delivering the same strokes in the same order each time he attacks.” He grinned. “That will be the death of him, the day he faces me.”
“他已经宣誓效忠乔佛里,应该不会跟你对上。”他们一同穿过庭院,波隆放慢脚步,以配合提利昂的短腿。最近这位佣兵看来已经有些人样:黑发梳洗整齐,胡子剃得干净,身上穿着都城守备队军官的黑色胸甲,一件兰尼斯特家的深红底金手披风自肩头垂下,提利昂任命他为自己侍卫队长的那天,送他这件披风作礼物。“今天有多少人请愿?”他问。
“He’s pledged to Joffrey; he’s not like to face you.” They set off across the bailey, Bronn matching his long stride to Tyrion’s short one. These days the sellsword was looking almost respectable. His dark hair was washed and brushed, he was freshly shaved, and he wore the black breastplate of an officer of the City Watch. From his shoulders trailed a cloak of Lannister crimson patterned with golden hands. Tyrion had made him a gift of it when he named him captain of his personal guard. “How many supplicants do we have today?” he inquired.
“三十多个,”波隆回答,“跟以前一样,不是来抱怨,就是有事相求。对了,你的宠物回来了。”
“Thirty odd,” answered Bronn. “Most with complaints, or wanting something, as ever. Your pet was back.”
他呻吟一声,“坦妲伯爵夫人来过了?”
He groaned. “Lady Tanda?”
“她的随从来过了。她再度邀请你去共进晚餐。她备下一大块鹿腿肉,两只淋了桑椹酱的填鹅,还有——”
“Her page. She invites you to sup with her again. There’s to be a haunch of venison, she says, a brace of stuffed geese sauced with mulberries, and—”
“——她女儿。”提利昂嫌恶地说完。自他抵达红堡的那一刻起,坦妲伯爵夫人便穷追不舍,轮番祭出鳗鱼派、野猪肉和美味的奶油浓汤当武器。她的女儿洛丽丝不但生得肥胖、柔弱而蠢笨,而且谣传三十三岁了还是个处女,可她不知怎地却认定侏儒少爷和自己女儿是天生绝配。“回复她,我很抱歉无法赴宴。”
“—her daughter,” Tyrion finished sourly. Since the hour he had arrived in the Red Keep, Lady Tanda had been stalking him, armed with a never-ending arsenal of lamprey pies, wild boars, and savory cream stews. Somehow she had gotten the notion that a dwarf lordling would be the perfect consort for her daughter Lollys, a large, soft, dim-witted girl who rumor said was still a maid at thirty-and-three. “Send her my regrets.”
“对填鹅没兴趣?”波隆一脸邪恶地笑道。
“No taste for stuffed goose?” Bronn grinned evilly.
“干脆你去吃鹅,顺便把少女娶回家得了。或者换个人,叫夏嘎去。”
“Perhaps you should eat the goose and marry the maid. Or better still, send Shagga.”
“如果是夏嘎,八成会吃了少女,把鹅娶回家。”波隆评估,“哈,不过洛丽丝比他还重。”
“Shagga’s more like to eat the maid and marry the goose,” observed Bronn. “Anyway, Lollys outweighs him.”
“这倒没错,”提利昂承认。他们走进两座塔楼间密闭通道的阴影下,“还有谁?”
“There is that,” Tyrion admitted as they passed under the shadow of a covered walkway between two towers. “Who else wants me?”
佣兵略微正色道:“有个布拉佛斯来的钱庄老板,手上拿了些有模有样的借据,说要跟国王见面,谈谈归还欠款的事。”
The sellsword grew more serious. “There’s a moneylender from Braavos, holding fancy papers and the like, requests to see the king about payment on some loan.”
“可怜虫,小乔能不能数过二十都有问题。叫他去找小指头,他会想办法打发掉。再来呢?”
“As if Joff could count past twenty. Send the man to Littlefinger, he’ll find a way to put him off. Next?”
“有个三河一带来的领主老爷,控诉你老爸的手下烧了他家城堡,奸了他老婆,还把他的农民全杀光了。”
“A lordling down from the Trident, says your father’s men burned his keep, raped his wife, and killed all his peasants.”
“我们不是在‘打仗’嘛?”提利昂心想这八成是格雷果·克里冈干的好事,不然就是亚摩利·洛奇爵士,或者父亲那群科霍尔恶狗。“他要乔佛里怎样?”
“I believe they call that war.” Tyrion smelled Gregor Clegane’s work, or that of Ser Amory Lorch or his father’s other pet hellhound, the Qohorik. “What does he want of Joffrey?”
据说他的兵力已多达十万“赐给他新的农民。”波隆道,“他大老远走到这里,宣扬自己效忠王室,并要求补偿。”
“New peasants,” Bronn said. “He walked all this way to sing how loyal he is and beg for recompense.”
“我明天找时间接见他。”无论对方的忠诚是出于真心,还是走投无路,一个听话的河间贵族终归有用。“给他弄个舒服点的房间,热好饭菜,再叫人送双新靴子去,要上好的,就说是乔佛里国王的心意。”慷慨的表示总不会错。
“I’ll make time for him on the morrow.” Whether truly loyal or merely desperate, a compliant river lord might have his uses. “See that he’s given a comfortable chamber and a hot meal. Send him a new pair of boots as well, good ones, courtesy of King Joffrey.” A show of generosity never hurt.
波隆简略地点个头,“还有一大群面包师、屠夫和菜贩子吵着要见国王。”
Bronn gave a curt nod. “There’s also a great gaggle of bakers, butchers, and greengrocers clamoring to be heard.”
“我上回不是说了,我没东西给他们。”运进君临城里的食物少得可怜,其中还多半供应城堡和军营。青菜、根菜、面粉和水果的售价同时飙升,提利昂根本不敢想象跳蚤窝的食堂锅里煮的都是什么肉。或许有鱼吧,他心里希望,因为河海都还在他们掌握中……至少在史坦尼斯公爵渡海之前是这样。
“I told them last time, I have nothing to give them.” Only a thin trickle of food was coming into King’s Landing, most of it earmarked for castle and garrison. Prices had risen sickeningly high on greens, roots, flour, and fruit, and Tyrion did not want to think about what sorts of flesh might be going into the kettles of the pot-shops down in Flea Bottom. Fish, he hoped. They still had the river and the sea … at least until Lord Stannis sailed.
“他们要的是保护。昨晚有个面包师被人放在自己炉子上烤熟了,暴民说他面包卖得太贵。”
“They want protection. Last night a baker was roasted in his own oven. The mob claimed he charged too much for bread.”
“真的?”
“Did he?”
“现在他也没法否认。”
“He’s not apt to deny it.”
“他们……没把他吃了吧?”
“They didn’t eat him, did they?”
“这倒没听说。”
“Not that I’ve heard.”
“想来下次一定会,”提利昂沉重地说,“能提供的保护我都给了。金袍军——”
“Next time they will,” Tyrion said grimly. “I give them what protection I can. The gold cloaks—”
“他们声称有金袍军混在暴民里,”波隆道,“因此要求晋见陛下本人。”
“They claim there were gold cloaks in the mob,” Bronn said. “They’re demanding to speak to the king himself.”
“一群蠢蛋。”提利昂上次连声致歉,好说歹说把他们送走;换做他外甥,动用的可就是鞭子和长枪了。他真有点想撒手不管……但不行,他不敢这么做。敌人兵临城下是早晚的事,此刻他最不能容许的就是被城里的叛徒出卖。“告诉他们,乔佛里国王陛下业已体察他们的恐慌,将尽一切努力为他们改善环境。”
“Fools.” Tyrion had sent them off with regrets; his nephew would send them off with whips and spears. He was half-tempted to allow it … but no, he dare not. Soon or late, some enemy would march on King’s Landing, and the last thing he wanted was willing traitors within the city walls. “Tell them King Joffrey shares their fears and will do all he can for them.”
“他们要的是面包,不是承诺。”
“They want bread, not promises.”
“我若是今天给他们面包,明天来请求的人就会多上一倍。还有谁?”
“If I give them bread today, on the morrow I’ll have twice as many at the gates. Who else?”
“有个长城来的黑衣弟兄,总管说他带了个罐子,里面有只烂掉的手。”
“A black brother down from the Wall. The steward says he brought some rotted hand in a jar.”
提利昂有气无力地微笑,“真令人惊讶,怎么没人把它给吃了。我想我该见见他,不会刚巧是尤伦吧?”
Tyrion smiled wanly. “I’m surprised no one ate it. I suppose I ought to see him. It’s not Yoren, perchance?”
“不,是个骑士,叫索恩。”
“No. Some knight. Thorne.”
“艾里沙·索恩爵士?”在长城期间,他见过的黑衣弟兄里,就数艾里沙·索恩爵士最不讨提利昂·兰尼斯特喜欢。他不仅刻薄恶毒,而且极端自大。“仔细想想,我眼下可不怎么想见艾里沙爵士。帮他找个一年没换毯子的小房间,让他那只手多烂一点。”
“Ser Alliser Thorne?” Of all the black brothers he’d met on the Wall, Tyrion Lannister had liked Ser Alliser Thorne the least. A bitter, mean-spirited man with too great a sense of his own worth. “Come to think on it, I don’t believe I care to see Ser Alliser just now. Find him a snug cell where no one has changed the rushes in a year, and let his hand rot a little more.”
波隆噗嗤一笑,转头走开,提利昂则挣扎着爬上螺旋梯。当他瘸着脚穿过广场时,听见铁闸升起的声音,姐姐正带着大队人马准备出门。
Bronn snorted laughter and went his way, while Tyrion struggled up the serpentine steps. As he limped across the outer yard, he heard the portcullis rattling up. His sister and a large party were waiting by the main gate.
瑟曦骑着白马,高高在上,宛如绿衣女神。“弟弟,”她喊道,口气没有丝毫热情。太后对于他整治杰诺斯·史林特的事很不高兴。
Mounted on her white palfrey, Cersei towered high above him, a goddess in green. “Brother,” she called out, not warmly. The queen had not been pleased by the way he’d dealt with Janos Slynt.
“太后陛下,”提利昂恭敬地鞠个躬,“您今早看起来真是明艳动人。”她头戴黄金宝冠,身披鼬皮斗篷,身后跟着大批骑马随从:御林铁卫柏洛斯·布劳恩爵士身穿白鳞甲,一如往常地皱着眉头;巴隆·史文爵士把弓斜挂在镶银马鞍上;盖尔斯·罗斯比伯爵的哮喘越来越严重;人群中还有练金术士公会的火术士哈林,以及太后的新宠,他们的堂弟蓝赛尔·兰尼斯特爵士,他原本是她前夫的侍从,后来由于遗孀的坚持擢升为骑士。维拉尔和二十名卫士随侍护送。“姐姐,你这是上哪儿啊?”提利昂问。
“Your Grace.” Tyrion bowed politely. “You look lovely this morning.” Her crown was gold, her cloak ermine. Her retinue sat their mounts behind her: Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard, wearing white scale and his favorite scowl; Ser Balon Swann, bow slung from his silver-inlay saddle; Lord Gyles Rosby, his wheezing cough worse than ever; Hallyne the Pyromancer of the Alchemists’ Guild; and the queen’s newest favorite, their cousin Ser Lancel Lannister, her late husband’s squire upjumped to knight at his widow’s insistence. Vylarr and twenty guardsmen rode escort. “Where are you bound this day, sister?” Tyrion asked.
“我到各城门视察新造的弩炮和喷火弩。我可不要别人以为我和你一般,对城防设施不闻不问。”瑟曦用那双澄澈的绿眸瞪着他,纵使眼神充满轻蔑,依旧不减其美丽。“我接到报告,蓝礼·拜拉席恩已率部从高庭出发,眼下正带着重兵沿玫瑰大道北进。”
“I’m making a round of the gates to inspect the new scorpions and spitfires. I would not have it thought that all of us are as indifferent to the city’s defense as you seem to be.” Cersei fixed him with those clear green eyes of hers, beautiful even in their contempt. “I am informed that Renly Baratheon has marched from Highgarden. He is making his way up the roseroad, with all his strength behind him.”
“瓦里斯也这么跟我说。”
“Varys gave me the same report.”
“等下次月圆,他可能就到了!”
“He could be here by the full moon.”
“以他现在这种悠闲的速度,不可能。”提利昂向她保证,“他每晚在不同的城堡欢宴,每到一个岔路口就开庭主持朝政。”
“Not at his present leisurely pace,” Tyrion assured her. “He feasts every night in a different castle, and holds court at every crossroads he passes.”
“而每一天都有更多士卒聚集到他旗下,据说他的兵力已多达十万!”
“And every day, more men rally to his banners. His host is now said to be a hundred thousand strong.”
“的确是蛮多。”
“That seems rather high.”
“他身后有风息堡和高庭的势力撑腰,你这小笨蛋!”瑟曦朝下怒骂,“提利尔帐下所有诸侯都站在他那边,惟有雷德温除外——就这点你还得感谢我,只要我握有派克斯特大人那两个丑八怪双胞胎,他就只敢窝在青亭岛,还得暗自庆幸走运。”
“He has the power of Storm’s End and Highgarden behind him, you little fool,” Cersei snapped down at him. “All the Tyrell bannermen but for the Redwynes, and you have me to thank for that. So long as I hold those poxy twins of his, Lord Paxter will squat on the Arbor and count himself fortunate to be out of it.”
“只可惜你让百花骑士从你的纤纤玉指间溜走了。总而言之,除我们以外,蓝礼还有别的事要操心,比如我们在赫伦堡的父亲,奔流城的罗柏·史塔克……如果我是他,我也会选择这样的策略,缓步前进,一边向全国展示自己的实力,一边观望等待。让对手去互相残杀,自己则静待时机成熟。倘若史塔克军打败我们,整个南方将如诸神洒下的恩惠一样,立刻落入蓝礼手中,不费他一兵一卒。假如我们得胜,他也可以趁虚而入。”
“A pity you let the Knight of Flowers slip through your pretty fingers. Still, Renly has other concerns besides us. Our father at Harrenhal, Robb Stark at Riverrun … were I he, I would do much as he is doing. Make my progress, flaunt my power for the realm to see, watch, wait. Let my rivals contend while I bide my own sweet time. If Stark defeats us, the south will fall into Renly’s hands like a windfall from the gods, and he’ll not have lost a man. And if it goes the other way, he can descend on us while we are weakened.”
瑟曦余怒未息,“我要你命令父亲即刻率军来君临。”
Cersei was not appeased. “I want you to make Father bring his army to King’s Landing.”
除了让你安心,这一点用也没有。“我何时能‘命令’父亲做这做那啦?”
Where it will serve no purpose but to make you feel safe. “When have I ever been able to make Father do anything?”
她不理这个问题,“还有,你打算什么时候救詹姆出来?他一个人抵你一百个!”
She ignored the question. “And when do you plan to free Jaime? He’s worth a hundred of you.”
提利昂傻笑道:“我求你了,这秘密可千万别说给史塔克夫人知道,我们没有一百个我可供交换哪。”
Tyrion grinned crookedly. “Don’t tell Lady Stark, I beg you. We don’t have a hundred of me to trade.”

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