The heavy jeweled chain around the old man's neck chinked softly as he shifted in his seat. "To be sure, King Maekar's summer was hotter than this one, and near as long. There were fools, even in the Citadel, who took that to mean that the Great Summer had come at last, the summer that never ends, but in the seventh year it broke suddenly, and we had a short autumn and a terrible long winter. Still, the heat was fierce while it lasted. Oldtown steamed and sweltered by day and came alive only by night. We would walk in the gardens by the river and argue about the gods. I remember the smells of those nights, my lord, perfume and sweat, melons ripe to bursting, peaches and pomegranates, nightshade and moonbloom. I was a young man then, still forging my chain. The heat did not exhaust me as it does now." Pycelle's eyes were so heavily lidded he looked half-asleep. "My pardons, Lord Eddard. You did not come to hear foolish meanderings of a summer forgotten before your father was born. Forgive an old man his wanderings, if you would. Minds are like swords, I do fear. The old ones go to rust. Ah, and here is our milk." The serving girl placed the tray between them, and Pycelle gave her a smile. "Sweet child." He lifted a cup, tasted, nodded. "Thank you. You may go."老人脖子上掛的那串寶石項鏈隨著他挪動身體而發出輕響。“遠的不說，梅卡國王那時的夏天就比現在還熱，持續時間也差不多。有些傻瓜還以為永不結束的‘永夏’已經降臨，就連學城里也有這種人，結果呢？到得第七年突然就變了天，緊接著短短的秋天，就是恐怖而漫長的冬季。但無可否認，那時候還真是夠熱。舊鎮上上下下熱氣四溢，暑氣逼人，到了晚上才稍稍扭轉。那時我們常在河濱花園里散步，一邊爭論各種宗教觀點。首相大人，直到現在我還記得那些個夜晚的味道——香水、汗味，各種瓜果熟得快裂開，桃子與石榴，茄屬植物和月花。當時我還年輕，正在打造我的項鏈，再熱都不以為意，哪像現在，受不了啰。”派席爾眼瞼低垂，看上去仿佛就要睡著。“艾德大人，真對不住，您不是來聽我絮絮叨叨什么早被遺忘的夏季的，當年連令尊都沒出生呢。就請您多多包涵我這老人家的羅嗦罷。思想這東西，就跟寶劍一樣，放久了自然就生銹嘍。啊，我們的牛奶來了。”女侍在他們中間放上一個托盤，派席爾朝她微微一笑。“真是個好孩子。”他拿起一杯嘗了兩口，點點頭。“謝謝你，你下去罷。”

When the girl had taken her leave, Pycelle peered at Ned through pale, rheumy eyes. "Now where were we? Oh, yes. You asked about Lord Arryn..."女孩離開后，派席爾用他那雙蒼白而濕潤的眼睛打量奈德，“我們說到哪兒了？噢，您問起艾林大人……”

"I did." Ned sipped politely at the iced milk. It was pleasantly cold, but oversweet to his taste.“是的。”奈德很有禮貌地啜著牛奶，冰涼涼的很爽口，只是對他而言太甜了。