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One of the captives dropped to his knees.
一名俘虜猛地跪下。
“Mercy, sire.
“發發慈悲吧，陛下，
I killed no one, I only stood at the door to watch for guards.”
我一個人也沒殺，只是替他們看門，瞧瞧有沒有人經過而已?！?/p>
Robb considered that a moment.
國王考慮片刻，
“Did you know what Lord Rickard intended?
“你明白卡史塔克大人的意圖嗎？
Did you see the knives drawn?
你看見同伴們的武器了嗎？
Did you hear the shouts, the screams, the cries for mercy?”
你聽見尖叫、吶喊和哭訴了嗎？”
“Aye, I did, but I took no part.
“是，是，我都知道，可我沒有參加。
I was only the watcher, I swear it …”
我只幫他們看門，我發誓……”
“Lord Umber,” said Robb,
“安柏大人，”羅柏朗聲道，
“this one was only the watcher.
“這個人只負責看門，
Hang him last, so he may watch the others die.
最后一個吊死他，好讓他看著其他人死去。
Mother, Uncle, with me, if you please.”
母親，舅舅，方便的話，請隨我來?！?/p>
He turned away as the Greatjon’s men closed upon the prisoners and drove them from the hall at spearpoint.
他轉身離去，大瓊恩的人用長矛將俘虜們驅出大廳。
Outside the thunder crashed and boomed, so loud it sounded as if the castle were coming down about their ears.
門外的閃電越來越響，轟隆不休，仿佛整個城堡都在震撼。
Is this the sound of a kingdom falling?
這就是王國覆滅的喪鐘嗎？
Catelyn wondered.
凱特琳不禁想。
It was dark within the audience chamber, but at least the sound of the thunder was muffled by another thickness of wall.
會客室內一片黑暗，好在隔了層層厚墻，遮蔽住雷霆之聲。
A servant entered with an oil lamp to light the fire, but Robb sent him away and kept the lamp.
一名仆人舉著油燈進來生火，卻被羅柏遣開，只要對方將燈留下。
There were tables and chairs, but only Edmure sat, and he rose again when he realized that the others had remainded standing.
廳內桌椅都不缺，但只有艾德慕一屁股坐了下來，當他發現其他人都僵硬地站著，便又不好意思地起身。
Robb took off his crown and placed it on the table before him.
國王取下王冠，放在面前的桌子上。
The Blackfish shut the door.
黑魚關上門，
“The Karstarks are gone.”
“卡史塔克的人全跑了?！?/p>
“All?”
“全跑了？”
Was it anger or despair that thickened Robb’s voice like that? Even Catelyn was not certain.
羅柏的聲音渾濁不清，其中透著絕望還是憤怒？連凱特琳也不清楚。
“All the fighting men,” Ser Brynden replied.
“能操家伙的人全跑了，”布蘭登爵士解釋，
“A few camp followers and serving men were left with their wounded.
“只有小販、營妓、仆人和傷員留在營地。
We questioned as many as we needed, to be certain of the truth.
我已經仔細拷問過，事實非常明顯，
They started leaving at nightfall, stealing off in ones and twos at first, and then in larger groups.
他們昨天黃昏時開始逃營，開始三三兩兩地跑，后來則是成群結隊。
The wounded men and servants were told to keep the campfires lit so no one would know they’d gone, but once the rains began it didn’t matter.”
卡史塔克大人要傷員和仆人們繼續將營火全部燃起，以防被人發覺，不過雨下得這么大，都沒有分別了。”
“Will they re-form, away from Riverrun?” asked Robb.
“他們在奔流城外重新集結？”羅柏詢問。
“No. They’ve scattered, hunting.
“不，他們四散開來，到處搜索。
Lord Karstark has sworn to give the hand of his maiden daughter to any man highborn or low who brings him the head of the Kingslayer.”
卡史塔克大人指天發誓，無論出身高低，只要能將弒君者人頭獻上，他就把自己的閨女給誰?！?/p>
Gods be good. Catelyn felt ill again.
諸神慈悲，凱特琳又是一陣眩暈。
“Near three hundred riders and twice as many mounts, melted away in the night.”
“將近三百名騎兵，六百匹駿馬，就這么在夜色中遁逃無蹤，”
Robb rubbed his temples, where the crown had left its mark in the soft skin above his ears.
羅柏揉著太陽穴，王冠在他耳邊柔軟的皮膚上壓出了痕跡，
“All the mounted strength of Karhold, lost.”
“我們失去了卡霍城的騎兵部隊?！?/p>
Lost by me. By me, may the gods forgive me.
都是我的錯，我的錯啊，諸神饒恕我。
Catelyn did not need to be a soldier to grasp the trap Robb was in.
凱特琳雖不諳軍事，卻也明白羅柏此刻所處的困境。
For the moment he held the riverlands, but his kingdom was surrounded by enemies to every side but east, where Lysa sat aloof on her mountaintop.
兒子暫時還擁有河間地，但他的王國北西南三面都有強敵環伺，而東邊的萊莎又躲在高山上，渾若事不關己。
Even the Trident was scarce secure so long as the Lord of the Crossing withheld his allegiance.
目前河渡口領主態度曖昧，導致三河地區也不鞏固，
And now to lose the Karstarks as well …
這下又失去了卡史塔克家……
“No word of this must leave Riverrun,” her brother Edmure said.
“必須封鎖消息，”弟弟艾德慕發言，
“Lord Tywin would … the Lannisters pay their debts, they are always saying that.
“倘若今天的事傳到泰溫公爵耳中……天下皆知，蘭尼斯特有債必還。
Mother have mercy, when he hears.”
假如給他得曉，我們就只有祈禱圣母慈悲了?！?/p>
Sansa.
珊莎。
Catelyn’s nails dug into the soft flesh of her palms, so hard did she close her hand.
凱特琳的指甲深深地陷進柔軟的掌心，痛得她不禁握手成拳。
Robb gave Edmure a look that chilled.
羅柏冰冷地看了艾德慕一眼。
“Would you make me a liar as well as a murderer, Uncle?”
“你要我既當騙子，又當殺人犯，是嗎，舅舅？”
“We need speak no falsehood.
“我們無需說謊，
Only say nothing.
只是什么也別說。
Bury the boys and hold our tongues till the war’s done.
把那兩個孩子埋掉，在戰爭結束前，一句也不提。
Willem was son to Ser Kevan Lannister, and Lord Tywin’s nephew.
您想想，威廉是凱馮·蘭尼斯特爵士的兒子，泰溫·公爵的侄兒，
Tion was Lady Genna’s, and a Frey.
提恩的母親是吉娜夫人，父親來自佛雷家族。
We must keep the news from the Twins as well, until …”
如此看來，就連孿河城方面也半點不可泄露，直到……”
“Until we can bring the murdered dead back to life?” said Brynden Blackfish sharply.
“直到讓死人復生？”黑魚布蘭登尖刻地說，
“The truth escaped with the Karstarks, Edmure.
“艾德慕，真相早就被卡史塔克家的人帶出去啦，
It is too late for such games.”
要玩游戲，我們已經晚了一步?！?/p>
“I owe their fathers truth,” said Robb.
“我必須公布真相，并還予他們正義，”國王道，
“And justice. I owe them that as well.”
“這不僅是我欠他們的，也是欠他們父親的?！?/p>
He gazed at his crown, the dark gleam of bronze, the circle of iron swords.
他盯著自己的王冠，沉暗的青銅與黑鐵長劍。
“Lord Rickard defied me. Betrayed me.
“卡史塔克大人挑釁我，背叛我，
I have no choice but to condemn him.
我別無選擇，只能判他死刑。
Gods know what the Karstark foot with Roose Bolton will do when they hear I’ve executed their liege for a traitor.
天殺的！真不知盧斯·波頓麾下的卡史塔克步兵知道主子被斬首后會作何反應，
Bolton must be warned.”
得立刻送出警告才行?！?/p>
