The west had been a tinderbox since Catelyn had seized Tyrion Lannister. Both Riverrun and Casterly Rock had called their banners, and armies were massing in the pass below the Golden Tooth. It had only been a matter of time until the blood began to flow. The sole question that remained was how best to stanch the wound.
這也不是什么新鮮事,自凱特琳逮捕提利昂·蘭尼斯特之后,西境便宛如一座柴火庫(kù)。奔流城與凱巖城均已召集封臣,此刻兩軍正向金牙城下的山口聚集。爆發(fā)流血沖突是遲早的事。現(xiàn)在惟一的問(wèn)題是如何能將傷害減到最小。
Sad-eyed Ser Karyl Vance, who would have been handsome but for the winestain birthmark that discolored his face, gestured at the kneeling villagers. "This is all the remains of the holdfast of Sherrer, Lord Eddard. The rest are dead, along with the people of Wendish Town and the Mummer’s Ford."
滿眼憂傷,若非臉上酒紅色的胎記,本來(lái)還算英俊的卡列爾·凡斯爵士指著跪在地上的村民說(shuō):“艾德大人,榭爾全村就只剩這些人,其他的都和溫德鎮(zhèn)、戲子灘的居民一樣,通通死光了。”
"Rise," Ned commanded the villagers. He never trusted what a man told him from his knees. "All of you, up."
“起來(lái),”奈德命令村民們。他向來(lái)不相信一個(gè)人跪著的時(shí)候所說(shuō)的話。“你們通通都起來(lái)。”
In ones and twos, the holdfast of Sherrer struggled to its feet. One ancient needed to be helped, and a young girl in a bloody dress stayed on her knees, staring blankly at Ser Arys Oakheart, who stood by the foot of thethrone in the white armor of the Kingsguard, ready to protect and defend the king...?or, Ned supposed, the King’s Hand.
榭爾的居民聽(tīng)了紛紛掙扎著起身。一位老者要靠人攙扶才能站起,另一個(gè)穿著血衣的女孩則維持跪姿,怔怔地望著亞歷斯·奧克赫特爵士。他身穿御林鐵衛(wèi)的白袍白甲,站在王座下方,隨時(shí)準(zhǔn)備誓死保衛(wèi)國(guó)王……或者,奈德猜測(cè),保衛(wèi)國(guó)王的首相。
"Joss," Ser Raymun Darry said to a plump balding man in a brewer’s apron. "Tell the Hand what happened at Sherrer."
“喬斯,”雷蒙·戴瑞爵士對(duì)一位穿著釀酒師傅圍裙的光頭胖子說(shuō),“快跟首相大人說(shuō)榭爾發(fā)生了什么事。”
Joss nodded. "If it please His Grace..."
喬斯點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。“啟稟國(guó)王陛下——”