Ⅳ 群鸦的盛宴 Chapter21 拥女王者
THE QUEENMAKER
在多恩的烈日下，水就跟金子一样珍贵，人们狂热地守护着水源。然而沙岩城的井干了一百年，守护者们也离开这里，前往有水的地方，这座中等规模、有雕纹柱和三重拱门的要塞因此被荒废了。沙漠渐渐回来，重新占据此地。
Beneath the burning sun of Dorne, wealth was measured as much in water as in gold, so every well was zealously guarded. The well at Shandystone had gone dry a hundred years before, however, and its guardians had departed for some wetter place, abandoning their modest holdfast with its fluted columns and triple arches. Afterward the sands had crept back in to reclaim their own.
亚莲恩·马泰尔跟德雷、希尔娃一起到达时正值日落，西方的天空仿佛一片金紫色的织锦，云层绽放出鲜红光彩。这片废墟同样闪烁着亮光，倾倒的柱子泛出淡淡的红，血色阴影在石地板的缝隙间蔓延，白昼将尽，沙漠本身也由金变橙，再转为紫。盖林几小时前已经到达，而被称做“暗黑之星”的骑士前一天就来了。
Arianne Martell arrived with Drey and Sylva just as the sun was going down, with the west a tapestry of gold and purple and the clouds all glowing crimson. The ruins seemed aglow as well; the fallen columns glimmered pinkly, red shadows crept across the cracked stone floors, and the sands themselves turned from gold to orange to purple as the light faded. Garin had arrived a few hours earlier, and the knight called Darkstar the day before.
“这里真美，”德雷一边说，一边帮盖林饮马。水是自带的。多恩的沙地战马迅捷而不知疲倦，外地马精疲力竭时，它们还能走很长的路，即便如此，也不能不喝水。“你怎么知道这地方？”
“It is lovely here,” Drey observed as he was helping Garin water the horses. They had carried their own water with them. The sand steeds of Dorne were swift and tireless, and would keep going for long leagues after other horses had given out, but even such as they could not run dry. “How did you know of this place?”
“我叔叔带我来过，跟特蕾妮和萨蕾拉一起。”回忆让亚莲恩露出微笑。“他抓了些毒蛇，教特蕾妮如何安全地挤出毒液。萨蕾拉翻遍每块石头，抹去马赛克上的沙子，想更多地了解曾经生活在这里的人们。”
“My uncle brought me here, with Tyene and Sarella.” The memory made Arianne smile. “He caught some vipers and showed Tyene the safest way to milk them for their venom. Sarella turned over rocks, brushed sand off the mosaics, and wanted to know everything there was to know about the people who had lived here.”
“那你干什么了，公主殿下？”“斑点”希尔娃问。
“And what did you do, princess?” asked Spotted Sylva.
我吗？我坐在井边，假装是被强盗骑士抢来的，等待他来摆布我，她心想，他真是个高大结实的男人，黑眼睛，尖额头。回忆让她扭捏不安。“我在做梦，”她说，“太阳落山后，我盘腿坐在叔叔脚边，乞求他讲故事。”
I sat beside the well and pretended that some robber knight had brought me here to have his way with me, she thought, a tall hard man with black eyes and a widow’s peak. The memory made her uneasy. “I dreamed,” she said, “and when the sun went down I sat cross-legged at my uncle’s feet and begged him for a story.”
“奥柏伦亲王是个故事大王。”那天盖林也在，身为亚莲恩的乳奶兄弟，从学会走路之前开始，他们俩就形影不离。“他讲了盖林亲王的故事——我的名字就是跟着他取的。”
“Prince Oberyn was full of stories.” Garin had been with them as well that day; he was Arianne’s milk brother, and they had been inseparable since before they learned to walk. “He told about Prince Garin, I remember, the one that I was named for.”
“伟大的盖林，”德雷说，“罗伊拿的奇迹。”
“Garin the Great,” offered Drey, “the wonder of the Rhoyne.”
“就是他，令瓦雷利亚颤抖。”
“That’s the one. He made Valyria tremble.”
“他们颤抖，”杰洛爵士说，“然后杀了他。如果我带领二三十万人走向死亡，他们会称我为‘伟大的杰洛’吗？”他嗤之以鼻，“我想我仍旧会被叫做‘暗黑之星’，算了，至少那是我自己的名号。”他拔出长剑，坐到干涸的井沿上，开始用油石打磨。
“They trembled,” said Ser Gerold, “then they killed him. If I led a quarter of a million men to death, would they call me Gerold the Great?” He snorted. “I shall remain Darkstar, I think. At least it is mine own.” He unsheathed his longsword, sat upon the lip of the dry well, and began to hone the blade with an oilstone.
亚莲恩小心翼翼地注视着他。他血统高贵，足以成为相称的配偶，她心想，父亲或许会质疑我的判断，但我的孩子将和龙王们一样漂亮。杰洛·戴恩爵士称得上是多恩领最帅的男子，鹰钩鼻，高颧骨，下巴坚强有力。他总把脸颊刮得干干净净，浓密的头发直垂到衣领，仿佛银色冰川，中间被一缕漆黑如午夜的黑发一分为二。然而他嘴巴的线条很锐利，舌头则更利。他坐在那里打磨长剑，落日余晖勾勒出他的轮廓，那对眼睛似乎是黑色的，但她曾在近处看过，它们是紫色。暗紫色。一对黑暗而饱含怒火的眼睛。
Arianne watched him warily. He is highborn enough to make a worthy consort, she thought. Father would question my good sense, but our children would be as beautiful as dragonlords. If there was a handsomer man in Dorne, she did not know him. Ser Gerold Dayne had an aquiline nose, high cheekbones, a strong jaw. He kept his face clean-shaven, but his thick hair fell to his collar like a silver glacier, divided by a streak of midnight black. He has a cruel mouth, though, and a crueler tongue. His eyes seemed black as he sat outlined against the dying sun, sharpening his steel, but she had looked at them from a closer vantage and she knew that they were purple. Dark purple. Dark and angry.
他一定感觉到她的凝视，因而视线离开了长剑，抬头与她目光交会，微微一笑。亚莲恩脸上发热。我不该带他来。如果亚历斯在的时候他这么看我，沙地就会染上鲜血。她说不准会是谁的血。按照传统，御林铁卫是七大王国中最优秀的骑士……但“暗黑之星”毕竟是“暗黑之星”。
He must have felt her gaze upon him, for he looked up from his sword, met her eyes, and smiled. Arianne felt heat rushing to her face. I should never have brought him. If he gives me such a look when Arys is here, we will have blood on the sand. Whose, she could not say. By tradition the Kingsguard were the finest knights in all the Seven Kingdoms … but Darkstar was Darkstar.
多恩沙漠的夜晚冷极了。盖林为大家搜集木柴，白花花的枝干来自一百年前枯死的树木。德雷一边吹口哨，一边用燧石打出火星，点起篝火。
The Dornish nights grow cold out upon the sands. Garin gathered wood for them, bleached white branches from trees that had withered up and died a hundred years ago. Drey built a fire, whistling as he struck sparks off his flint.
等木柴点燃，他们便围坐在火焰边，一袋夏日红传来递去……“暗黑之星”除外，他宁愿喝不加糖的柠檬水。盖林情绪活跃，他给大家讲述从绿血河口的板条镇传来的新闻，孤儿们在那里与狭海对岸的各类船只进行交易。假如那些水手可以相信的话，东方大陆正风起云涌：阿斯塔波爆发奴隶起义，魁尔斯有巨龙出现，夷地流行灰疫病，新的海盗王统治了蛇蜥群岛，并出发洗劫高树镇，科霍尔城中红袍僧的信徒们引发骚乱，企图焚毁黑羊神。“密尔跟里斯开战前夜，黄金团突然解除了与密尔人的合约。”
Once the kindling caught, they sat around the flames and passed a skin of summerwine from hand to hand … all but Darkstar, who preferred to drink unsweetened lemonwater. Garin was in a lively mood and entertained them with the latest tales from the Planky Town at the mouth of the Greenblood, where the orphans of the river came to trade with the carracks, cogs, and galleys from across the narrow sea. If the sailors could be believed, the east was seething with wonders and terrors: a slave revolt in Astapor, dragons in Qarth, grey plague in Yi Ti. A new corsair king had risen in the Basilisk Isles and raided Tall Trees Town, and in Qohor followers of the red priests had rioted and tried to burn down the Black Goat. “And the Golden Company broke its contract with Myr, just as the Myrmen were about to go to war with Lys.”
“里斯人将他们收买了。”希尔娃不假思索地说。
“The Lyseni bought them off,” suggested Sylva.
“聪明的里斯人，”德雷评论，“胆小而聪明的里斯人。”
“Clever Lyseni,” Drey said. “Clever, craven Lyseni.”
亚莲恩想得更多。假如昆廷有黄金团作依靠……他们的口号是“黄金在下，寒铁在上”。想赶我走的话，弟弟，寒铁可不够。亚莲恩在多恩广受爱戴，对此，昆廷所知甚微。没有任何佣兵可以改变这点。
Arianne knew better. If Quentyn has the Golden Company behind him … “Beneath the gold the bitter steel,” was their cry. You will need bitter steel and more, brother, if you think to set me aside. Arianne was loved in Dorne, Quentyn little known. No company of sellswords could change that.
杰洛爵士站起身，“我去尿尿。”
Ser Gerold rose. “I believe I’ll have a piss.”
“小心脚下，”德雷警告，“奥柏伦亲王有一阵子没在这儿挤蛇毒了。”
“Watch where you set your feet,” Drey cautioned. “It has been a while since Prince Oberyn milked the local vipers.”
“对毒液，我有抗力，达特。哪条毒蛇敢咬我，它会后悔的。”杰洛爵士消失在一株死树后面。
“I was weaned on venom, Dalt. Any viper takes a bite of me will rue it.” Ser Gerold vanished through a broken arch.
其余人交换了几个眼神。“原谅我，公主殿下，”盖林轻声说，“但我不喜欢那人。”
When he was gone, the others exchanged glances. “Forgive me, princess,” said Garin softly, “but I do not like that man.”
“真可惜，”德雷说，“我相信他几乎爱上你了。”
“A pity,” Drey said. “I believe he’s half in love with you.”
“我们需要他，”亚莲恩提醒大家，“他的剑倒不一定，但他的城堡必不可少。”
“We need him,” Arianne reminded them. “It may be that we will need his sword, and we will surely need his castle.”
“高隐城并非多恩唯一的城堡，”“斑点”希尔娃指出，“还有很多爱戴你的骑士。比如德雷。”
“High Hermitage is not the only castle in Dorne,” Spotted Sylva pointed out, “and you have other knights who love you well. Drey is a knight.”
“是的，”他确认，“我有一匹好马，一把宝剑，而能与我相提并论的骑士只有……好吧，实际上还是有几个。”
“I am,” he affirmed. “I have a wonderful horse and a very fine sword, and my valor is second to … well, several, actually.”
“是几百个，爵士先生。”盖林道。
“More like several hundred, ser,” said Garin.
亚莲恩留下他们互相取笑。除了堂姐特蕾妮，德雷和“斑点”希尔娃是她最亲近的朋友，而盖林自他俩在他母亲奶头上喝奶开始就一直揶揄她。此刻的她无心嬉笑。太阳已经消失，天空繁星密布，多得怕人。她背靠一根雕纹柱寻思，无论弟弟身在何处，是否也在凝望同样的星空。你看到那颗白星了吗，昆廷？那是娜梅莉亚的星，燃烧得炽热，而后面那条乳白色飘带就是她的一万艘船。她的光辉如此耀眼，不比任何男人差，我也将如此。你抢不走我的继承权！
Arianne left them to their banter. Drey and Spotted Sylva were her dearest friends, aside from her cousin Tyene, and Garin had been teasing her since both of them were drinking from his mother’s teats, but just now she was in no mood for japery. The sun was gone, and the sky was full of stars. So many. She leaned her back against a fluted pillar and wondered if her brother was looking at the same stars tonight, wherever he might be. Do you see the white one, Quentyn? That is Nymeria’s star, burning bright, and that milky band behind her, those are ten thousand ships. She burned as bright as any man, and so shall I. You will not rob me of my birthright!
昆廷被送往伊伦林时还很小，按母亲的话来说，是太小了。孩子们并非在诺佛斯裙抚养长大，而梅拉莉欧夫人始终不肯原谅道朗亲王将儿子从她身边带走。“我跟你一样，不希望如此，”亚莲恩曾偷听见父亲说，“但这笔血债是我们欠他家的，而昆廷是奥蒙德伯爵唯一愿意接受的筹码。”
Quentyn had been very young when he was sent to Yronwood; too young, according to their mother. Norvoshi did not foster out their children, and Lady Mellario had never forgiven Prince Doran for taking her son away from her. “I like it no more than you do,” Arianne had overheard her father say, “but there is a blood debt, and Quentyn is the only coin Lord Ormond will accept.”
“筹码？”母亲尖叫，“他是你儿子！什么样的父亲会拿自己的骨肉来还债？”
“Coin?” her mother had screamed. “He is your son. What sort of father uses his own flesh and blood to pay his debts?”
“当亲王的父亲。”道朗·马泰尔回答。
“The princely sort,” Doran Martell had answered.
道朗亲王仍然假装她弟弟跟伊伦伍德大人在一起，却不知其早已在板条镇被盖林的母亲发现了。弟弟扮成商人，伙伴中有一位是弱视，跟安德斯伯爵那个放荡儿子克莱图斯·伊伦伍德一模一样，还有一位是精通各种语言的学士。我弟弟没有他自以为的那么聪明。聪明人应该从旧镇出发。虽然行程更远，但更安全，也许不会被认出来。亚莲恩在板条镇的绿血河孤儿中有很多朋友，其中某些人很好奇，为什么亲王要跟领主的儿子一道化名远行，偷偷搭船穿越狭海。有人夜里爬进窗户，撬开昆廷的小保险箱，发现了里面的卷轴。
Prince Doran was still pretending that her brother was with Lord Yronwood, but Garin’s mother had seen him at the Planky Town, posing as a merchant. One of his companions had a lazy eye, the same as Cletus Yronwood, Lord Anders’s randy son. A maester traveled with them too, a maester skilled in tongues. My brother is not as clever as he thinks. A clever man would have left from Oldtown, even if it meant a longer voyage. In Oldtown he might have gone unrecognized. Arianne had friends amongst the orphans of the Planky Town, and some had grown curious as to why a prince and a lord’s son might be traveling under false names and seeking passage across the narrow sea. One of them had crept through a window of a night, tickled the lock on Quentyn’s little strongbox, and found the scrolls within.
若能证明这次穿越狭海的秘密行动是昆廷自己的计划，与他人无涉，亚莲恩愿意付出任何代价……但他所携带的羊皮纸上盖有多恩领马泰尔家族的长枪贯日纹章，盖林的亲戚不敢拆印阅读，这……
Arianne would have given much and more to know that this secret trip across the narrow sea was Quentyn’s own doing, and his alone … but parchments he had carried had been sealed with the sun and spear of Dorne. Garin’s cousin had not dared break the seal to read them, but …
“公主。”杰洛·戴恩爵士站在她身后，一半在星光中，一半在阴影里。
“Princess.” Ser Gerold Dayne stood behind her, half in starlight and half in shadow.
“你尿得怎样了？”亚莲恩嬉戏地询问。
“How was your piss?” Arianne inquired archly.
“沙子挺感激的。”戴恩单脚踏住一座雕像的头，那颗头原本属于某位处女，然而沙子磨平了她的脸庞。“我尿尿的时候在想，你这个计划似乎无法达成你的目标。”
“The sands were duly grateful.” Dayne put a foot upon the head of a statue that might have been the Maiden till the sands had scoured her face away. “It occurred to me as I was pissing that this plan of yours may not yield you what you want.”
“我的目标是什么，爵士？”
“And what is it I want, ser?”
“释放‘沙蛇’。为奥柏伦和伊莉亚复仇。记得《多恩人的妻子》那首歌吧？你想品尝狮血的味道。”
“The Sand Snakes freed. Vengeance for Oberyn and Elia. Do I know the song? You want a little taste of lion blood.”
这些，再加上我的继承权。我要阳戟城，我要父亲的宝座，我要统治多恩领。“我的目标是伸张正义。”
That, and my birthright. I want Sunspear, and my father’s seat. I want Dorne. “I want justice.”
“管你叫它什么。给兰尼斯特的女孩加冕是个空洞的姿态。她永远坐不上铁王座，你也得不到想要的战争。只怕狮子没那么冲动。”
“Call it what you will. Crowning the Lannister girl is a hollow gesture. She will never sit the Iron Throne. Nor will you get the war you want. The lion is not so easily provoked.”
“没那么冲动？小狮子死了，剩下两只崽，谁知道母狮喜欢哪只？”
“The lion’s dead. Who knows which cub the lioness prefers?”
“她自己窝里那只。”杰洛爵士拔剑出鞘，利刃在星光中闪烁，犹如谎言一样锋利。“你得靠这个发动战争。不用金冠，用铁器。”
“The one in her own den.” Ser Gerold drew his sword. It glimmered in the starlight, sharp as lies. “This is how you start a war. Not with a crown of gold, but with a blade of steel.”
我不会谋害儿童。“收起来。弥赛菈受我保护。而且亚历斯爵士决不会允许谁伤害他宠爱的公主，这点你一清二楚。”
I am no murderer of children. “Put that away. Myrcella is under my protection. And Ser Arys will permit no harm to come to his precious princess, you know that.”
“不，小姐，我清楚的是，戴恩家数千年来一直在杀奥克赫特。”
“No, my lady. What I know is that Daynes have been killing Oakhearts for several thousand years.”
他的傲慢令她呼吸急促。“在我看来，奥克赫特也杀了同样多的戴恩。”
His arrogance took her breath away. “It seems to me that Oakhearts have been killing Daynes for just as long.”
“我们都有自己的家族传统。”“暗黑之星”还剑入鞘，“月亮升起之时，嗯，你的模范骑士来了。”
“We all have our family traditions.” Darkstar sheathed his sword. “The moon is rising, and I see your paragon approaching.”
他的眼神很锐利。骑在灰色高头大马上的果然是亚历斯爵士，亚历斯催马在沙地上疾驰，纯白披风威武地飘荡。弥赛菈公主坐在他后面，裹一件带头巾的长袍，隐藏起金色鬈发。
His eyes were sharp. The horseman on the tall grey palfrey did indeed prove to be Ser Arys, white cloak fluttering bravely as he spurred across the sand. Princess Myrcella rode pillion behind him, swaddled in a cowled robe that hid her golden curls.
亚历斯爵士扶她下马，德雷单膝跪倒，“陛下。”
As Ser Arys helped her from the saddle, Drey went to one knee before her. “Your Grace.”
“主人。”“斑点”希尔娃跪在他身边。
“My lady liege.” Spotted Sylva knelt beside him.
“女王陛下，我是您的人。”盖林双膝跪地。
“My queen, I am your man.” Garin dropped to both knees.
弥赛菈很疑惑，她抓住亚历斯·奥克赫特的胳膊。“他们为什么叫我陛下？”她用抱怨的口气问，“亚历斯爵士，这是什么地方，他们是谁？”
Confused, Myrcella clutched Arys Oakheart by the arm. “Why do they call me Grace?” she asked in a plaintive voice. “Ser Arys, what is this place, and who are they?”
难道他什么也没告诉她？亚莲恩赶紧迎上前，丝衣盘旋飞舞，她微笑着安抚女孩，“他们是我忠实的朋友，陛下……也会成为您的朋友。”
Has he told her nought? Arianne moved forward in a swirl of silk, smiling to put the child at ease. “They are my true and loyal friends, Your Grace … and would be your friends as well.”
“亚莲恩公主？”女孩张开双臂拥抱她，“他们为什么叫我女王？托曼出事了吗？”
“Princess Arianne?” The girl threw her arms around her. “Why do they call me queen? Did something bad happen to Tommen?”
“他被一群奸臣挟持了，陛下，”亚莲恩解释，“他们怂恿他盗取您的王座。”
“He fell in with evil men, Your Grace,” Arianne said, “and I fear they have conspired with him to steal your throne.”
“我的王座？你是指铁王座吗？”女孩更加疑惑不解。“他没有偷过，托曼……”
“My throne? You mean, the Iron Throne?” The girl was more confused than ever. “He never stole that, Tommen is …”
“……比你小，没错吧？”
“… younger than you, surely?”
“我比他大一岁。”
“I am older by a year.”
“意味着铁王座应该由您继承，”亚莲恩宣布，“你弟弟只是个小男孩，您千万不要责怪他，都是重臣们的错……好在您还有忠实的朋友。不知我有没有这个荣幸来亲自介绍他们？”她拉起孩子的手。“陛下，这位是安德雷·达特爵士，柠檬林的继承人。”
“That means the Iron Throne by rights is yours,” Arianne said. “Your brother is only a little boy, you must not blame him. He has bad counselors … but you have friends. May I have the honor of presenting them?” She took the child by the hand. “Your Grace, I give you Ser Andrey Dalt, the heir to Lemonwood.”
“朋友们管叫我德雷，”他说，“假如陛下也肯这样称呼我，我会感到万分荣幸。”
“My friends call me Drey,” he said, “and I should be greatly honored if Your Grace would do the same.”
尽管德雷表情坦率，笑得从容，弥赛菈仍然保持警惕。“我还是会用‘爵士’的头衔称呼你，直到了解你为止。”
Though Drey had an open face and an easy smile, Myrcella regarded him warily. “Until I know you I must call you ser.”
“无论陛下怎么称呼，我都是您的人。”
“Whatever name Your Grace prefers, I am her man.”
希尔娃清清嗓子，亚莲恩继续介绍，“这位是希尔娃·桑塔加小姐，女王陛下，我最亲爱的‘斑点’希尔娃。”
Sylva cleared her throat, till Arianne said, “Might I present Lady Sylva Santagar, my queen? My dearest Spotted Sylva.”
“他们为什么给你起这个外号呢？”弥赛菈问。
“Why do they call you that?” Myrcella asked.
“因为我的雀斑啊，陛下，”希尔娃答道，“但他们都找借口说，由于我是斑木林继承人的缘故。”
“For my freckles, Your Grace,” Sylva answered, “though they all pretend it is because I am the heir to Spottswood.”
接下来介绍盖林，这家伙跟往常一样，懒懒散散，长鼻子，黑皮肤，一边耳朵钉着一粒翡翠。“这位是放荡的孤儿盖林先生，最喜欢逗我开心，”亚莲恩道，“他母亲曾是我的乳母。”
Garin was next, a loose-limbed, swarthy, long-nosed fellow with a jade stud in one ear. “Here is gay Garin of the orphans, who makes me laugh,” said Arianne. “His mother was my wet nurse.”
“我很难过她死了。”弥赛菈说。
“I am sorry she is dead,” Myrcella said.
“她没死，亲爱的女王。”盖林的金牙一闪——那是亚莲恩给买的，以代替被她打掉的牙齿。“小姐的意思是，我是绿血河上的孤儿。”
“She’s not, sweet queen.” Garin flashed the golden tooth Arianne had bought him to replace the one she’d broken. “I’m of the orphans of the Greenblood, is what my lady means.”
逆流而上的旅途中，弥赛菈有的是时间了解绿血河孤儿们的历史。于是亚莲恩引领未来的女王来到她这小小团队中最后一位成员面前，“这是最后，但也是最英勇的一位，杰洛·戴恩爵士，星坠城的下属。”
Myrcella would have time enough to learn the history of the orphans on her voyage up the river. Arianne led her queen-to-be to the final member of her little band. “Last, but first in valor, I give you Ser Gerold Dayne, a knight of Starfall.”
杰洛爵士单膝跪下。他镇定自若地打量着女孩，月光在他深黯的眼睛里闪耀。
Ser Gerold went to one knee. The moonlight shone in his dark eyes as he studied the child coolly.
“曾有一位亚瑟·戴恩，”弥赛菈说，“他在‘疯王’伊里斯时代是御林铁卫。”
“There was an Arthur Dayne,” Myrcella said. “He was a knight of the Kingsguard in the days of Mad King Aerys.”
“他是‘拂晓神剑’。他死了。”
“He was the Sword of the Morning. He is dead.”
“那你现在是‘拂晓神剑’吗？”
“Are you the Sword of the Morning now?”
“不。人们叫我‘暗黑之星’，我属于夜晚。”
“No. Men call me Darkstar, and I am of the night.”
亚莲恩将孩子拉开。“您一定饿了。我们有椰枣、奶酪和橄榄，还有甜柠檬水喝。但您不可以吃喝太多，稍事休息，我们就必须骑马出发。在这片沙漠里，最好是晚上赶路，在太阳临空之前赶路。这样对坐骑比较仁慈。”
Arianne drew the child away. “You must be hungry. We have dates and cheese and olives, and lemonsweet to drink. You ought not eat or drink too much, though. After a little rest, we must ride. Out here on the sands it is always best to travel by night, before the sun ascends the sky. It is kinder to the horses.”
“对骑手也一样，”“斑点”希尔娃补充，“来吧，陛下，暖暖身子。如果准许我来服侍您，我会感到非常荣幸。”
“And the riders,” Spotted Sylva said. “Come, Your Grace, warm yourself. I should be honored if you’d let me serve you.”
她领着公主走向火堆，杰洛爵士俏无声息地出现在亚莲恩身后。“我的家族历史可以追溯一万年，直至黎明之纪元，”他抱怨，“为什么我那个亲戚是唯一被人们记得的戴恩？”
As she led the princess to the fire, Arianne found Ser Gerold behind her. “My House goes back ten thousand years, unto the dawn of days,” he complained. “Why is it that my cousin is the only Dayne that anyone remembers?”
“他是个伟大的骑士。”亚历斯·奥克赫特插话。
“He was a great knight,” Ser Arys Oakheart put in.
“他有一把伟大的剑。”“暗黑之星”说。
“He had a great sword,” Darkstar said.
“还有一颗伟大的心。”亚历斯爵士握住亚莲恩的手臂。“公主，我想跟你私下谈谈。”
“And a great heart.” Ser Arys took Arianne by the arm. “Princess, I beg a moment’s word.”
“过来。”她领亚历斯爵士进入废墟深处。骑士在披风下穿一件金线外套，饰有三片绿橡叶的族徽，头戴带刺轻铁盔，跟多恩人一样用黄头巾缠绕。那披风是他与众不同之处，闪光的白丝绸皓如明月，柔若清风。毫无疑问，他把御林铁卫的披风穿来了，这个英勇的傻瓜。“孩子知道多少？”
“Come.” She led Ser Arys deeper into the ruins. Beneath his cloak, the knight wore a cloth-of-gold doublet embroidered with the three green oak leaves of his House. On his head was a light steel helm topped by a jagged spike, wound about with a yellow scarf in the Dornish fashion. He might have passed for any knight, but for the cloak. Of shimmering white silk it was, pale as moonlight and airy as a breeze. A Kingsguard cloak beyond all doubt, the gallant fool. “How much does the child know?”
“没多少。离开君临前，她舅舅嘱咐她，我是她的保护人，我的任何决定都是为了保护她的安全。她也听见了街市中的人们高呼复仇，知道这不是游戏。这女孩很勇敢，她的睿智超越年龄。我要她做的她完全照办，从不多问。”骑士拉住她的手，环顾四周，压低声音。“还有其他消息你该听一听。泰温·兰尼斯特死了。”
“Little enough. Before we left King’s Landing, her uncle reminded her that I was her protector and that any commands that I might give her were meant to keep her safe. She has heard them in the streets as well, shouting out for vengeance. She knew this was no game. The girl is brave, and wise beyond her years. She did all I asked of her, and never asked a question.” The knight took her arm, glanced about, lowered his voice. “There are other tidings you should hear. Tywin Lannister is dead.”
令人震惊。“死了？”
That was a shock. “Dead?”
“小恶魔杀的。太后已经摄政。”
“Murdered by the Imp. The queen has assumed the regency.”
“是吗？”女人坐上了铁王座？亚莲恩考虑片刻，断定情况只会向好的方向发展。如果七国诸侯习惯了瑟曦太后的统治，那么向弥赛菈女王屈膝也容易些。况且泰温公爵是个危险的对手，没有他，多恩的日子好过多了。兰尼斯特自相残杀，真是大快人心。“那侏儒呢？”
“Has she?” A woman on the Iron Throne? Arianne thought about that for a moment and decided it was all to the good. If the lords of the Seven Kingdoms grew accustomed to Queen Cersei’s rule, it would be that much easier for them to bend their knees to Queen Myrcella. And Lord Tywin had been a dangerous foe; without him, Dorne’s enemies would be much weaker. Lannisters are killing Lannisters, how sweet. “What became of the dwarf?”
“他逃跑了，”亚历斯爵士说，“现今不管是谁献上他的脑袋，瑟曦都会赐予领主身份。”铺着地砖的内庭半埋于流沙之中，他将她推到一根柱子边亲吻，手伸向她胸口。他的吻绵长而有力，若非亚莲恩笑着挣脱，他还想撩起她的裙子。“我知道拥立女王让你很兴奋，爵士，可我们没时间干那事。稍后吧，稍后，我向你保证。”她抚摸他的脸颊。“你没碰到什么麻烦吧？”
“He’s fled,” Ser Arys said. “Cersei is offering a lordship to whosoever delivers her his head.” In a tiled inner courtyard half-buried by the drifting sands, he pushed her back against a column to kiss her, and his hand went to her breast. He kissed her long and hard and would have pushed her skirts up, but Arianne broke free of him, laughing. “I see that queenmaking excites you, ser, but we have no time for this. Later, I promise you.” She touched his cheek. “Did you meet with any problems?”
“崔斯坦不肯依。他闹着要坐在弥赛菈床边，跟她玩席瓦斯棋。”
“Only Trystane. He wanted to sit beside Myrcella’s bedside and play cyvasse with her.”
“他四岁时得过红斑病，我嘱咐过你了，这种病是非常可怕的。你放出消息说弥赛菈患了灰鳞病，就能让他避得远远的。”
“He had redspots when he was four, I told you. You can only get it once. You should have put out that Myrcella was suffering from greyscale, that would have kept him well away.”
“那男孩也许会，但你父亲的学士不会。”
“The boy perhaps, but not your father’s maester.”
“卡洛特，”她说，“他要去看她？”
“Caleotte,” she said. “Did he try to see her?”
“我不止一次地向他描述她脸上的红斑。他也没什么疗方，只能让病情自行消退，最后给了我一罐药膏，说是为缓解瘙痒。”
“Not once I described the red spots on her face. He said that nothing could be done until the disease had run its course, and gave me a pot of salve to soothe her itching.”
从来没有十岁以下的人死于红斑病，但对成年人来说它是致命的，而卡洛特学士小时候没得过这种病——这点亚莲恩八岁就知道了，当时她自己也受到红斑的折磨。“很好，”她说，“那侍女怎么样？她能骗过去吗？”
No one under ten ever died of redspots, but it could be mortal in adults, and Maester Caleotte had never suffered it as a child. Arianne learned that when she suffered her own spots, at eight. “Good,” she said. “And the handmaid? Is she convincing?”
“从远处看能混过去。小恶魔舍弃众多出身高贵的女孩选择了她，就是为这一目的。弥赛菈亲自弄卷了她的头发，并在她脸上涂红点。知道吗？她们是远亲，兰尼斯港中有许多兰尼、兰尼兹、兰特尔以及较卑微的兰尼斯特，他们中半数人有黄头发。穿着弥赛菈的睡袍，脸上涂满学士的药膏……在昏暗的光线下，她甚至有可能骗过我。寻找我的替身就比较难了。戴克跟我身高相近，可他太胖，因此我让罗德穿我的板甲，并告诫他万不可掀起面罩。此人比我矮三寸，但假如我不站在他身边，也许没人注意。无论如何，他会死死地看守着弥赛菈的房间。”
“From a distance. The Imp picked her for this purpose, over many girls of nobler birth. Myrcella helped her curl her hair, and painted the dots on her face herself. They are distant kin. Lannisport teems with Lannys, Lannetts, Lantells, and lesser Lannisters, and half of them have that yellow hair. Dressed in Myrcella’s bedrobe with the maester’s salve smeared across her face … she might even have fooled me, in a dim light. It was a deal harder to find a man to take my place. Dake is closest to my height, but he’s too fat, so I put Rolder in my armor and told him to keep his visor down. The man is three inches shorter than I am, but perhaps no one will notice if I’m not there to stand beside him. He’ll keep to Myrcella’s chambers in any case.”
“放心，我们只需争取几天时间，到时候，公主就不在我父亲的控制范围之内了。”
“All we need is a few days. By that time the princess will be beyond my father’s reach.”
“我们究竟去哪里？”他将她拉近，用鼻尖轻触她的颈项，“该是把计划的其余部分告诉我的时候了，你觉得呢？”
“Where?” He drew her close and nuzzled at her neck. “It’s time you told me the rest of the plan, don’t you think?”
她笑着将他推开，“不，该是骑马出发的时候了。”
She laughed, pushing him away. “No, it’s time we rode.”
当他们从干涸尘封的沙岩城废墟出发，朝西南方前进时，月亮已经爬上月女座。亚莲恩和亚历斯爵士领头，弥赛菈骑一匹精力充沛的母马行在他俩中间，盖林和“斑点”希尔娃紧紧跟随，而她的两名多恩骑士押后。七个人，亚莲恩突然意识到，似乎是个好兆头，七名骑手奔向荣耀，有朝一日，歌手会让我们永垂不朽。德雷想带更多人，但那会引人注目，招惹麻烦，而且每多一人，遭遇背叛的风险就会翻倍。至少在这点上，父亲教导了我。即便在壮年时代，道朗·马泰尔也行事谨慎小心，习惯沉默，口风严紧。现在是时候让他卸下负担了，但我不会容许对他荣誉甚或人身的任何伤害。她将把他送回流水花园，让他在儿童们的嬉笑声中度过余生，沉浸于柠檬和橙子的香气。嗯，昆廷可以跟他做伴。等我为弥赛菈加冕，并释放沙蛇之后，多恩领将团结在我的旗帜之下。伊伦伍德家也许会继续为昆廷撑腰，可惜他们势单力孤，构不成威胁；假如他们一党投靠托曼和兰尼斯特，她正好派出“暗黑之星”将其连族诛灭。
The moon had crowned the Moonmaid as they set out from the dust-dry ruins of Shandystone, striking south and west. Arianne and Ser Arys took the lead, with Myrcella on a frisky mare between them. Garin followed close behind with Spotted Sylva, whilst her two Dornish knights took the rear. We are seven, Arianne realized as they rode. She had not thought of that before, but it seemed a good omen for their cause. Seven riders on their way to glory. One day the singers will make all of us immortal. Drey had wanted a larger party, but that might have attracted unwelcome attention, and every additional man doubled the risk of betrayal. That much my father taught me, at the least. Even when he was younger and stronger, Doran Martell had been a cautious man much given to silences and secrets. It is time he put his burdens down, but I will suffer no slights to his honor or his person. She would return him to his Water Gardens, to live out what years remained him surrounded by laughing children and the smell of limes and oranges. Yes, and Quentyn can keep him company. Once I crown Myrcella and free the Sand Snakes, all Dorne will rally to my banners. The Yronwoods might declare for Quentyn, but alone they were no threat. If they went over to Tommen and the Lannisters, she would have Darkstar destroy them root and branch.
“我累了，”骑了数小时之后，弥赛菈抱怨，“还很远吗？我们要去哪里？”
“I am tired,” Myrcella complained, after several hours in the saddle. “Is it much farther? Where are we going?”
“亚莲恩公主要带陛下去一个安全的地方。”亚历斯爵士向她保证。
“Princess Arianne is taking Your Grace to a place where you’ll be safe,” Ser Arys assured her.
“这是一段很长的旅途，”亚莲恩说，“但抵达绿血河后，就会轻松多了。盖林的朋友们将在那里与我们碰头，他们是绿血河孤儿，居住在船上，平时撑船沿绿血河及其支流捕鱼、摘果，他们以船为家，无论做什么都离不开它。”
“It is a long journey,” Arianne said, “but it will go easier once we reach the Greenblood. Some of Garin’s people will meet us there, the orphans of the river. They live on boats, and pole them up and down the Greenblood and its vassals, fishing and picking fruit and doing whatever work needs doing.”
“对，”盖林愉快地喊道，“我们会在水上唱歌跳舞做游戏，还精于医术。比如我母亲便是维斯特洛最好的产婆，我父亲则能治愈疣瘤。”
“Aye,” Garin called out cheerfully, “and we sing and play and dance on water, and know much and more of healing. My mother is the best midwife in Westeros, and my father can cure warts.”
“你有父母，怎么会是孤儿？”女孩问。
“How can you be orphans if you have mothers and fathers?” the girl asked.
“他们是罗伊拿人，”亚莲恩解释，“他们的母亲是罗恩河。”
“They are the Rhoynar,” Arianne explained, “and their Mother was the river Rhoyne.”
弥赛菈不明白，“我以为你们多恩人都是……你们都是罗伊拿人呢。”
Myrcella did not understand. “I thought you were the Rhoynar. You Dornishmen, I mean.”
“我们有一部分罗伊拿血统，陛下，我体内既流淌着娜梅莉亚的血液，也有莫尔斯·马泰尔的血液——他就是跟娜梅莉亚结婚的多恩领主。婚礼那天，娜梅莉亚烧毁了所有船只，好让她的人民明白没有退路。大多数人欢欣鼓舞，因为来多恩的旅程漫长而可怕，许许多多人死于风暴、疾病和奴役；然而也有少数人感到悲哀，他们不喜欢这片干燥的红土地，不喜欢这片土地上的七面神，坚持旧日的生活方式。他们敲下焚毁的船壳，钉成小船，做了绿血河上的孤儿。他们歌唱的母亲并非我们的圣母，而是母亲河罗恩，其河水自世界之初就滋养着他们。”
“We are in part, Your Grace. Nymeria’s blood is in me, along with that of Mors Martell, the Dornish lord she married. On the day they wed, Nymeria fired her ships, so her people would understand that there could be no going back. Most were glad to see those flames, for their voyagings had been long and terrible before they came to Dorne, and many and more had been lost to storm, disease, and slavery. There were a few who mourned, however. They did not love this dry red land or its seven-faced god, so they clung to their old ways, hammered boats together from the hulks of the burned ships, and became the orphans of the Greenblood. The Mother in their songs is not our Mother, but Mother Rhoyne, whose waters nourished them from the dawn of days.”
“我听说罗伊拿人有个乌龟神。”亚历斯爵士道。
“I’d heard the Rhoynar had some turtle god,” said Ser Arys.
“河中老人是个次级神，”盖林说，“他也诞生于母亲河中，战胜蟹王后，赢得了统治水下住民的权利。”
“The Old Man of the River is a lesser god,” said Garin. “He was born from Mother River too, and fought the Crab King to win dominion over all who dwell beneath the flowing waters.”
“哦。”弥赛菈感叹。
“Oh,” said Myrcella.
“听说您也打过一些大仗，陛下，”德雷用最愉快的语调说，“听说您在席瓦斯棋桌上对我们勇敢的崔斯坦王子毫不留情。”
“I understand you’ve fought some mighty battles too, Your Grace,” said Drey in his most cheerful voice. “It is said you show our brave Prince Trystane no mercy at the cyvasse table.”
“他总是相同的布局，所有的山都放前面，而大象在隘口中，”弥赛菈分析道，“因此我派我的龙去吃掉他的大象。”
“He always sets his squares up the same way, with all the mountains in the front and his elephants in the passes,” said Myrcella. “So I send my dragon through to eat his elephants.”
“您的侍女也玩这种棋吗？”德雷问。
“Does your handmaid play the game as well?” asked Drey.
“萝莎蒙？”弥赛菈说，“不。我想教她，但她说规则太难。”
“Rosamund?” asked Myrcella. “No. I tried to teach her, but she said the rules were too hard.”
“她也是兰尼斯特家的人？”希尔娃小姐问。
“She is a Lannister as well?” said Lady Sylva.
“她是兰尼斯港的兰尼斯特，不是凯岩城的兰尼斯特。她头发颜色跟我一样，却是直发，并非卷的。其实，萝莎蒙长得不像我，但穿上我的衣服后，能蒙过陌生人。”
“A Lannister of Lannisport, not a Lannister of Casterly Rock. Her hair is the same color as mine, but straight instead of curly. Rosamund doesn’t truly favor me, but when she dresses up in my clothes people who don’t know us think she’s me.”
“你们以前这么干过？”
“You have done this before, then?”
“哦，是的。前往布拉佛斯途中，我们在海捷号上互换身份。伊兰婷修女给我的头发涂上棕色染料。她嘴上说是扮家家，其实我知道是为了保护我的安全，以防船只万一被我叔叔史坦尼斯俘获。”
“Oh, yes. We traded places on the Seaswift, on the way to Braavos. Septa Eglantine put brown dye in my hair. She said we were doing it as a game, but it was meant to keep me safe in case the ship was taken by my uncle Stannis.”
女孩显然累了，因此亚莲恩下令停止前进。他们再次饮马，休息了一会儿，享用奶酪和水果。弥赛菈跟“斑点”希尔娃分享一个橙子，而盖林吃橄榄，然后朝德雷吐核。
The girl was plainly growing tired, so Arianne called a halt. They watered the horses once again, rested for a bit, and had some cheese and fruit. Myrcella split an orange with Spotted Sylva, whilst Garin ate olives and spit the stones at Drey.
亚莲恩满心希望日出前能赶到河边，但他们的出发时间已经比计划晚了许多，因此，当东方的天空渐渐变红时，大家还在骑马。“暗黑之星”赶到她身边。“公主，”他说，“必须加快速度，除非你改变了主意，打算杀死那孩子。我们没有帐篷，而白天的沙漠残酷无情。”
Arianne had hoped to reach the river before the sun came up, but they had started much later than she’d planned, so they were still in the saddle when the eastern sky turned red. Darkstar cantered up beside her. “Princess,” he said, “I’d set a faster pace, unless you mean to kill the child after all. We have no tents, and by day the sands are cruel.”
“我跟你一样了解沙漠，爵士。”她反击道，但还是接受了建议。这对坐骑来说很残酷，然而失去六匹马好过失去公主。
“I know the sands as well as you do, ser,” she told him. All the same, she did as he suggested. It was hard on their mounts, but better she should lose six horses than one princess.
很快，风从西面吹来，热辣辣干燥的风，漫天沙砾。亚莲恩拉起面纱，它由微微泛光的丝绸织成，上半部淡绿色，下半部是黄色，两种颜色逐渐融合过渡，作装饰用的绿色小珍珠串随着骑行互相撞击，发出轻微的嗒嗒声。
Soon enough the wind came gusting from the west, hot and dry and full of grit. Arianne drew her veil across her face. It was made of shimmering silk, pale green above and yellow below, the colors blending into one another. Small green pearls gave it weight, and rattled softly against each other as she rode.
“我知道我的公主为什么戴上面纱，”她将面纱系到铜盔上时，亚历斯爵士说，“否则她的美丽会盖过天上太阳的光辉。”
“I know why my princess wears a veil,” Ser Arys said as she was fastening it to the temples of her copper helm. “Elsewise her beauty would outshine the sun above.”
她忍不住笑起来。“不，你的公主戴面纱是要遮挡耀眼的光线，并防止沙子入口。你也该这么做，爵士。”她心想，不知她的白骑士操持愚勇有多少年了，亚历斯爵士在床上是个令人愉快的伴侣，但智慧与他形同陌路。
She had to laugh. “No, your princess wears a veil to keep the glare out of her eyes and the sand out of her mouth. You should do the same, ser.” She wondered how long her white knight had been polishing his ponderous gallantry. Ser Arys was pleasant company abed, but wit and he were strangers.
几个多恩人也纷纷遮住脸，“斑点”希尔娃帮小公主戴上面纱，唯有亚历斯爵士固执地披挂白袍，不久后，汗水便顺着他的脸流淌下来，他的面颊泛起红晕。只怕再过一会儿，他就要被闷熟了，她心想。他并非多恩烈日的第一个受害者，过往诸多世纪中，许多军队旗帜飘飘地越过亲王隘口南下，却在炽热的多恩沙漠里倍受折磨，不战而溃。“马泰尔家族的纹章由太阳与长矛组成，那也是多恩人最得力的两样武器，”少龙主在那部自负的《多恩征服记》中写道，“两者之中，太阳更致命。”
Her Dornishmen covered their faces as she did, and Spotted Sylva helped veil the little princess from the sun, but Ser Arys stayed stubborn. Before long the sweat was running down his face, and his cheeks had taken on a rosy blush. Much longer and he will cook in those heavy clothes, she reflected. He would not be the first. In centuries past, many a host had come down from the Prince’s Pass with banners streaming, only to wither and broil on the hot red Dornish sands. “The arms of House Martell display the sun and spear, the Dornishman’s two favored weapons,” the Young Dragon had once written in his boastful Conquest of Dorne, “but of the two, the sun is the more deadly.”
谢天谢地，他们无须横越大沙漠纵深，只须通过一块旱地。一只鹰在无云的天空中高高盘旋，亚莲恩知道最艰苦的路程已被抛在脑后。他们很快又发现了一棵歪歪扭扭、满是疙瘩的树，树上的棘刺跟树叶一样多。这种树被称为“沙漠乞丐”，遇见它，就意味着离水不远了。
Thankfully, they did not need to cross the deep sands but only a sliver of the drylands. When Arianne spied a hawk wheeling high above them against a cloudless sky, she knew the worst was behind them. Soon they came upon a tree. It was a gnarled and twisted thing with as many thorns as leaves, of the sort called sandbeggars, but it meant that they were not far from water.
“快到了，陛下。”盖林愉快地告诉弥赛菈。前方有更多沙漠乞丐树，密密麻麻，围着一条干涸的河床生长。阳光如同炽热的铁锤敲打着大家，但眼见旅程即将结束，人人都很放松，再度饮马后，大家深深啜饮皮袋子里的水，并用它沾湿面纱，然后上马作最后冲刺。奔过半里格，他们已踏在恶魔草上，经过片片橄榄树林，岩石山岭后面，草长得更绿更茂盛，蛛网般的古老渠道灌溉了柠檬果园。盖林头一个发现闪烁着绿光的河流，他大喊一声，飞驰而前。
“We’re almost there, Your Grace,” Garin told Myrcella cheerfully when they spied more sandbeggars up ahead, a thicket of them growing all around the dry bed of a stream. The sun was beating down like a fiery hammer, but it did not matter with their journey at its end. They stopped to water the horses again, drank deep from their skins and wet their veils, then mounted for the last push. Within half a league they were riding over devilgrass and past olive groves. Beyond a line of stony hills the grass grew greener and more lush, and there were lemon orchards watered by a spider’s web of old canals. Garin was the first to spy the river glimmering green. He gave a shout and raced ahead.
亚莲恩·马泰尔渡过曼德河一次，当时是陪三位沙蛇去拜访特蕾妮的母亲。跟那条强劲的水道相比，绿血河几乎不足以被称做河，然而它却实实在在是多恩的命脉。它的名字得自于泥泞淤塞的绿色河水，然而随着人们靠近，阳光似乎将水染成了金色。她鲜少见到如此的美景。接下来，行程会放慢，然而也比较单纯，她心想，沿绿血河逆流上行，直达维斯，撑篙船最多只能到达那里。其间正好协助弥赛菈为即将到来的一切作好准备。过了维斯，前方便是大沙漠，旅行要想顺利，需得沙石城和狱门堡的帮助——她相信他们会配合，毕竟，红毒蛇是被沙石城抚养长大的，而奥柏伦亲王的情妇艾拉莉亚·沙德出自乌勒伯爵，有四位沙蛇算来是伯爵的外孙女。我就在狱门堡给弥赛菈加冕，在那里揭竿而起。
Arianne Martell had crossed the Mander once, when she had gone with three of the Sand Snakes to visit Tyene’s mother. Compared to that mighty waterway, the Greenblood was scarce worthy of the name of river, yet it remained the life of Dorne. It took its name from the murky green of its sluggish waters; but as they approached, the sunlight seemed to turn those waters gold. She had seldom seen a sweeter sight. The next part should be slow and simple, she thought, up the Greenblood and onto the Vaith, as far as a poleboat can go. That would give her time enough to prepare Myrcella for all that was to come. Beyond Vaith the deep sands waited. They would need help from Sandstone and the Hellholt to make that crossing, but she did not doubt that it would be forthcoming. The Red Viper had been fostered at Sandstone, and Prince Oberyn’s paramour Ellaria Sand was Lord Uller’s natural daughter; four of the Sand Snakes were his granddaughters. I will crown Myrcella at the Hellholt and raise my banners there.
他们在下游半里格处，一棵绿色大垂柳下找到了船。多恩的撑篙船顶棚低矮，空间宽阔，没什么复杂工艺，少龙主贬损它们是“建在木筏上的破房子”。其实这很不公平，除了最贫穷卑微的绿血河孤儿，大家都努力把船雕画得美轮美奂。眼前这艘船漆着深浅不一的绿，木舵柄雕成美人鱼，栏杆扶手上一张张鱼脸向外张望。它的甲板上堆满撑竿、绳子和橄榄油罐，若干铁灯笼随风摇晃。然而亚莲恩没看到一个绿血河孤儿出来迎接。船夫呢？她疑惑地想。
They found the boat half a league downstream, hidden beneath the drooping branches of a great green willow. Low of roof and wide abeam, the poleboats had hardly any draft to speak of; the Young Dragon had disparaged them as “hovels built on rafts,” but that was hardly fair. All but the poorest orphan boats were wonderfully carved and painted. This one was done in shades of green, with a curved wooden tiller shaped like a mermaid, and fish faces peering through her rails. Poles and ropes and jars of olive oil cluttered her decks, and iron lanterns swung fore and aft. Arianne saw no orphans. Where is her crew? she wondered.
盖林在柳树底下勒马。“快醒醒，你们这帮赖床的死鱼眼睛，”他边喊边翻身下马，“女王驾到，赶紧出来欢迎陛下。快起来呀，出来，我们一起唱歌喝甜酒。我的嘴巴已经——”
Garin reined up beneath the willow. “Wake up, you fish-eyed lagabeds,” he called as he leapt down from the saddle. “Your queen is here, and wants her royal welcome. Come up, come out, we’ll have some songs and sweetwine. My mouth is set for—”
撑篙船的门“哗”的一声掀开，阿利欧·何塔走出来，踏入阳光之中，长斧在手。
The door on the poleboat slammed open. Out into the sunlight stepped Areo Hotah, longaxe in hand.
盖林骤然停下。亚莲恩仿佛被那斧子结结实实地砍中腹部。事情不该如此结束。事情不是这样的。“这是我最不希望看见的一张脸。”她听见德雷说，陡然意识到自己必须采取行动。“快跑！”她一边喊，一边跃上马鞍，“亚历斯，保护公主——”
Garin jerked to a halt. Arianne felt as though an axe had caught her in the belly. It was not supposed to end this way. This was not supposed to happen. When she heard Drey say, “There’s the last face I’d hoped to see,” she knew she had to act. “Away!” she cried, vaulting back into the saddle. “Arys, protect the princess—”
何塔把长柄斧的斧垛往甲板上一捶，撑篙船的雕花栏杆后便涌出来十几个侍卫，个个装备着短矛和十字弓。更多卫兵出现在船舱顶上。“赶快投降，公主殿下，”侍卫队长喝道，“否则我们就得杀死所有人，只留你和那孩子，这是你父亲的命令。”
Hotah thumped the butt of his longaxe upon the deck. Behind the ornate rails of the poleboat, a dozen guardsmen rose, armed with throwing spears or crossbows. Still more appeared atop the cabin. “Yield, my princess,” the captain called, “else we must slay all but the child and yourself, by your father’s word.”
弥赛菈公主一动不动地骑在马上。盖林缓缓退离撑篙船，双手高举。德雷解开剑带。“投降似乎是最明智的方法。”他一边冲亚莲恩叫喊，一边率先扔下武器。
Princess Myrcella sat motionless upon her mount. Garin backed slowly from the poleboat, his hands in the air. Drey unbuckled his swordbelt. “Yielding seems the wisest course,” he called to Arianne, as his sword thumped to the ground.
“决不！”亚历斯·奥克赫特爵士驱马挡在亚莲恩与十字弓之间，长剑在他手中闪动着银光。他已经解下盾牌，左臂穿进绑带。“只要我有一口气在，你就别想带走她！”
“No!” Ser Arys Oakheart put his horse between Arianne and the crossbows, his blade shining silver in his hand. He had unslung his shield and slipped his left arm through the straps. “You will not take her whilst I still draw breath.”
鲁莽的笨蛋，亚莲恩心头焦躁，你要干什么？
You reckless fool, was all that Arianne had time to think, what do you think you’re doing?
“暗黑之星”纵声长笑，“你瞎了还是傻了，奥克赫特？众寡悬殊，赶快放下武器。”
Darkstar’s laughter rang out. “Are you blind or stupid, Oakheart? There are too many. Put up your sword.”
“照他说的做，亚历斯爵士。”德雷劝促。
“Do as he says, Ser Arys,” Drey urged.
我们被逮住了，爵士，亚莲恩想喊出来，即便你牺牲自己也于事无补。你若是爱你的公主，就投降吧。这番话卡在她喉咙里。
We are taken, ser, Arianne might have called out. Your death will not free us. If you love your princess, yield. But when she tried to speak, the words caught in her throat.
亚历斯·奥克赫特爵士渴望地看了她最后一眼，然后金马刺一踢，发起冲锋。
Ser Arys Oakheart gave her one last longing look, then put his golden spurs into his horse and charged.
他径直朝撑篙船冲去，纯白披风迎风飞舞。亚莲恩·马泰尔没见过如此英勇，却又愚蠢之极的举动。“不——”她厉声尖叫，但等她能出声时，已经太迟。一把十字弓“砰”地发射，接着是另一把。何塔吼出命令。如此近的距离，白骑士的锁甲犹如羊皮纸。第一箭射穿橡木盾牌，钉在他肩膀上，第二支箭擦过太阳穴。一根短矛击中亚历斯爵士坐骑的侧面，然而那匹马仍在向前冲，向前，踉踉跄跄地跨上跳板。“不，”某个女孩在呼喊，某个愚蠢的小女孩，“不，求求你，事情不是这样的。”她听见弥赛菈也在尖叫，刺耳的嗓音中充满恐惧。
He rode headlong for the poleboat, his white cloak streaming behind him. Arianne Martell had never seen anything half so gallant, or half so stupid. “Noooo,” she shrieked, but she had found her tongue too late. A crossbow thrummed, then another. Hotah bellowed a command. At such close range, the white knight’s armor had as well been made of parchment. The first bolt punched right through his heavy oaken shield, pinning it to his shoulder. The second grazed his temple. A thrown spear took Ser Arys’s mount in the flank, yet still the horse came on, staggering as he hit the gangplank. “No,” some girl was shouting, some foolish little girl, “no, please, this was not supposed to happen.” She could hear Myrcella shrieking too, her voice shrill with fear.
亚历斯爵士的长剑左右挥舞，瞬间撂倒两个矛兵。他的马人立起来，踢中一个试图装弹的十字弓兵的脸，但其他弓弩一齐发射，那匹高头大马顿时钉满了弩箭。坐骑轰然倒下，连带骑士的腿，一齐砸在甲板上。然而亚历斯·奥克赫特爵士居然挣脱了出来，他仍然握着长剑，勉力跪在垂死的马匹旁边……
Ser Arys’s longsword slashed right and left, and two spearmen went down. His horse reared, and kicked a crossbowman in the face as he was trying to reload, but the other crossbows were firing, feathering the big courser with their quarrels. The bolts hit home so hard they knocked the horse sideways. His legs went out from under him and sent him crashing down the deck. Somehow Arys Oakheart leapt free. He even managed to keep hold of his sword. He struggled to his knees beside his dying horse …
……阿利欧·何塔笼罩在他面前。
… and found Areo Hotah standing over him.
白骑士举剑格挡，但动作太过迟缓。何塔的长斧将他右臂齐肩斩下，胳膊旋转着甩出去，鲜血如泉水喷洒。然后何塔双手握斧，一记势大力沉的劈砍，奥克赫特爵士的脑袋飞到了半空，落在芦苇丛里，溅起一阵轻轻的水花。绿血河淹没了红色的热血。
The white knight raised his blade, too slowly. Hotah’s longaxe took his right arm off at the shoulder, spun away spraying blood, and came flashing back again in a terrible two-handed slash that removed the head of Arys Oakheart and sent it spinning through the air. It landed amongst the reeds, and the Greenblood swallowed the red with a soft splash.
亚莲恩不记得自己从马上爬下来，或许是跌下来的。她什么都不记得了，只知道四肢趴在沙地里，一边颤抖，一边哭泣，把昨天的晚餐呕了出来。不，不，我不想让谁受伤害，一切按计划进行，我很谨慎很小心，她能想到的只有这些。她听见阿利欧·何塔的吼叫：“快追。不能让他跑了。快追！”弥赛菈倒在地上哀号战栗，双手捂着苍白的脸，鲜血从指缝间流出。亚莲恩搞不明白。一些人手忙脚乱地上马，其他人则一涌而上，围住她和她的伙伴们。一切都让人摸不着头脑。她认为自己坠入了梦中，恐怖的红色噩梦。这不是真的。我很快就会醒来，并嘲笑自己的惊恐。
Arianne did not remember climbing from her horse. Perhaps she’d fallen. She did not remember that either. Yet she found herself on her hands and feet in the sand, shaking and sobbing and retching up her supper. No, was all that she could think, no, no one was to be hurt, it was all planned, I was so careful. She heard Areo Hotah roar, “After him. He must not escape. After him!” Myrcella was on the ground, wailing, shaking, her pale face in her hands, blood streaming through her fingers. Arianne did not understand. Men were scrambling onto horses whilst others swarmed over her and her companions, but none of it made sense. She had fallen into a dream, some terrible red nightmare. This cannot be real. I will wake soon, and laugh at my night terrors.
他们反绑她时，她没反抗。一名卫兵使劲把她拽起来，他穿的衣服是她父亲的颜色，另一个卫兵弯腰从她靴子里摸出飞刀，那是她堂姐娜梅送的礼物。
When they sought to bind her hands behind her back, she did not resist. One of the guardsmen jerked her to her feet. He wore her father’s colors. Another bent and seized the throwing knife inside her boot, a gift from her cousin Lady Nym.
阿利欧·何塔接过刀，皱了皱眉。“亲王吩咐我必须把你带回阳戟城，”他的面颊和额头上斑斑点点，那是亚历斯·奥克赫特的血，“很抱歉，我的小公主。”
Areo Hotah took it from the man and frowned at it. “The prince said I must bring you back to Sunspear,” he announced. His cheeks and brow were freckled with the blood of Arys Oakheart. “I am sorry, little princess.”
亚莲恩抬起泪迹斑斑的脸。“他怎么知道？”她问侍卫队长，“我很谨慎很小心。他怎么可能知道？”
Arianne raised a tear-streaked face. “How could he know?” she asked the captain. “I was so careful. How could he know?”
“有人告密呗，”何塔耸耸肩，“总是有人告密。”
“Someone told.” Hotah shrugged. “Someone always tells.”
