Tyrion Lannister looked up from his books and shivered, though the library was snug2 and warm.
Something about the howling of a wolf took a man right out of his here and now and left him in adark forest of the mind, running naked before the pack.
When the direwolf howled again, Tyrion shut the heavy leather-bound cover on the book he wasreading, a hundred-year-old discourse3 on the changing of the seasons by a long-dead maester. Hecovered a yawn with the back of his hand. His reading lamp was flickering4, its oil all but gone, asdawn light leaked through the high windows. He had been at it all night, but that was nothing new.
Tyrion Lannister was not much a one for sleeping.
His legs were stiff and sore as he eased down off the bench. He massaged5 some life back into themand limped heavily to the table where the septon was snoring softly, his head pillowed on an openbook in front of him. Tyrion glanced at the title. A life of the Grand Maester Aethelmure, no wonder.
“Chayle,” he said softly. The young man jerked up, blinking, confused, the crystal of his orderswinging wildly on its silver chain. “I’m off to break my fast. See that you return the books to theshelves. Be gentle with the Valyrian scrolls7, the parchment is very dry. Ayrmidon’s Engines of War isquite rare, and yours is the only complete copy I’ve ever seen.” Chayle gaped8 at him, still half-asleep.
Patiently, Tyrion repeated his instructions, then clapped the septon on the shoulder and left him to histasks.
Outside, Tyrion swallowed a lungful of the cold morning air and began his laborious9 descent of thesteep stone steps that corkscrewed around the exterior10 of the library tower. It was slow going; thesteps were cut high and narrow, while his legs were short and twisted. The rising sun had not yetcleared the walls of Winterfell, but the men were already hard at it in the yard below. SandorClegane’s rasping voice drifted up to him. “The boy is a long time dying. I wish he would be quickerabout it.”
Tyrion glanced down and saw the Hound standing11 with young Joffrey as squires13 swarmed14 aroundthem. “At least he dies quietly,” the prince replied. “It’s the wolf that makes the noise. I could scarcesleep last night.”
Clegane cast a long shadow across the hard-packed earth as his squire12 lowered the black helm overhis head. “I could silence the creature, if it please you,” he said through his open visor. His boy placeda longsword in his hand. He tested the weight of it, slicing at the cold morning air. Behind him, theyard rang to the clangor of steel on steel.
The notion seemed to delight the prince. “Send a dog to kill a dog!” he exclaimed. “Winterfell is soinfested with wolves, the Starks would never miss one.”
Tyrion hopped16 off the last step onto the yard. “I beg to differ, nephew,” he said. “The Starks cancount past six. Unlike some princes I might name.”
Joffrey had the grace at least to blush.
“A voice from nowhere,” Sandor said. He peered through his helm, looking this way and that.
“Spirits of the air!”
The prince laughed, as he always laughed when his bodyguard17 did this mummer’s farce18. Tyrionwas used to it. “Down here.”
The tall man peered down at the ground, and pretended to notice him. “The little lord Tyrion,” hesaid. “My pardons. I did not see you standing there.”
“I am in no mood for your insolence19 today.” Tyrion turned to his nephew. “Joffrey, it is past timeyou called on Lord Eddard and his lady, to offer them your comfort.”
Joffrey looked as petulant20 as only a boy prince can look. “What good will my comfort do them?”
“None,” Tyrion said. “Yet it is expected of you. Your absence has been noted21.”
“The Stark15 boy is nothing to me,” Joffrey said. “I cannot abide22 the wailing23 of women.”
Tyrion Lannister reached up and slapped his nephew hard across the face. The boy’s cheek beganto redden.
“One word,” Tyrion said, “and I will hit you again.”
“I’m going to tell Mother!” Joffrey exclaimed.
Tyrion hit him again. Now both cheeks flamed.
“You tell your mother,” Tyrion told him. “But first you get yourself to Lord and Lady Stark, andyou fall to your knees in front of them, and you tell them how very sorry you are, and that you are attheir service if there is the slightest thing you can do for them or theirs in this desperate hour, and thatall your prayers go with them. Do you understand? Do you?”
The boy looked as though he was going to cry. Instead, he managed a weak nod. Then he turnedand fled headlong from the yard, holding his cheek. Tyrion watched him run.
A shadow fell across his face. He turned to find Clegane looming24 overhead like a cliff. His soot-dark armor seemed to blot25 out the sun. He had lowered the visor on his helm. It was fashioned in thelikeness of a snarling26 black hound, fearsome to behold27, but Tyrion had always thought it a greatimprovement over Clegane’s hideously28 burned face.
“The prince will remember that, little lord,” the Hound warned him. The helm turned his laughinto a hollow rumble29.
“I pray he does,” Tyrion Lannister replied. “If he forgets, be a good dog and remind him.” Heglanced around the courtyard. “Do you know where I might find my brother?”
“Breaking fast with the queen.”
“Ah,” Tyrion said. He gave Sandor Clegane a perfunctory nod and walked away as briskly as hisstunted legs would carry him, whistling. He pitied the first knight30 to try the Hound today. The mandid have a temper.
A cold, cheerless meal had been laid out in the morning room of the Guest House. Jaime sat at tablewith Cersei and the children, talking in low, hushed voices.
“Is Robert still abed?” Tyrion asked as he seated himself, uninvited, at the table.
His sister peered at him with the same expression of faint distaste she had worn since the day hewas born. “The king has not slept at all,” she told him. “He is with Lord Eddard. He has taken theirsorrow deeply to heart.”
“He has a large heart, our Robert,” Jaime said with a lazy smile. There was very little that Jaimetook seriously. Tyrion knew that about his brother, and forgave it. During all the terrible long years ofhis childhood, only Jaime had ever shown him the smallest measure of affection or respect, and forthat Tyrion was willing to forgive him most anything.
A servant approached. “Bread,” Tyrion told him, “and two of those little fish, and a mug of thatgood dark beer to wash them down. Oh, and some bacon. Burn it until it turns black.” The man bowedand moved off. Tyrion turned back to his siblings31. Twins, male and female. They looked very muchthe part this morning. Both had chosen a deep green that matched their eyes. Their blond curls wereall a fashionable tumble, and gold ornaments32 shone at wrists and fingers and throats.
Tyrion wondered what it would be like to have a twin, and decided33 that he would rather not know.
Bad enough to face himself in a looking glass every day. Another him was a thought too dreadful tocontemplate.
Prince Tommen spoke34 up. “Do you have news of Bran, Uncle?”
“I stopped by the sickroom last night,” Tyrion announced. “There was no change. The maesterthought that a hopeful sign.”
“I don’t want Brandon to die,” Tommen said timorously35. He was a sweet boy. Not like hisbrother, but then Jaime and Tyrion were somewhat less than peas in a pod themselves.
“Lord Eddard had a brother named Brandon as well,” Jaime mused36. “One of the hostages murdered by Targaryen. It seems to be an unlucky name.”
“Oh, not so unlucky as all that, surely,” Tyrion said. The servant brought his plate. He ripped off achunk of black bread.
Cersei was studying him warily37. “What do you mean?”
Tyrion gave her a crooked38 smile. “Why, only that Tommen may get his wish. The maester thinksthe boy may yet live.” He took a sip39 of beer.
Myrcella gave a happy gasp40, and Tommen smiled nervously41, but it was not the children Tyrion waswatching. The glance that passed between Jaime and Cersei lasted no more than a second, but he didnot miss it. Then his sister dropped her gaze to the table. “That is no mercy. These northern gods arecruel to let the child linger in such pain.”
“What were the maester’s words?” Jaime asked.
The bacon crunched42 when he bit into it. Tyrion chewed thoughtfully for a moment and said, “Hethinks that if the boy were going to die, he would have done so already. It has been four days with nochange.”
“Will Bran get better, Uncle?” little Myrcella asked. She had all of her mother’s beauty, and noneof her nature.
“His back is broken, little one,” Tyrion told her. “The fall shattered his legs as well. They keephim alive with honey and water, or he would starve to death. Perhaps, if he wakes, he will be able toeat real food, but he will never walk again.”
“If he wakes,” Cersei repeated. “Is that likely?”
“The gods alone know,” Tyrion told her. “The maester only hopes.” He chewed some more bread.
“I would swear that wolf of his is keeping the boy alive. The creature is outside his window day andnight, howling. Every time they chase it away, it returns. The maester said they closed the windowonce, to shut out the noise, and Bran seemed to weaken. When they opened it again, his heart beatstronger.”
The queen shuddered43. “There is something unnatural44 about those animals,” she said. “They aredangerous. I will not have any of them coming south with us.”
Jaime said, “You’ll have a hard time stopping them, sister. They follow those girls everywhere.”
Tyrion started on his fish. “Are you leaving soon, then?”
“Not near soon enough,” Cersei said. Then she frowned. “Are we leaving?” she echoed. “Whatabout you? Gods, don’t tell me you are staying here?”
Tyrion shrugged46. “Benjen Stark is returning to the Night’s Watch with his brother’s bastard47. I havea mind to go with them and see this Wall we have all heard so much of.”
Jaime smiled. “I hope you’re not thinking of taking the black on us, sweet brother.”
Tyrion laughed. “What, me, celibate48? The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock.
No, I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world.”
Cersei stood abruptly49. “The children don’t need to hear this filth50. Tommen, Myrcella, come.” Shestrode briskly from the morning room, her train and her pups trailing behind her.
Jaime Lannister regarded his brother thoughtfully with those cool green eyes. “Stark will neverconsent to leave Winterfell with his son lingering in the shadow of death.”
“He will if Robert commands it,” Tyrion said. “And Robert will command it. There is nothingLord Eddard can do for the boy in any case.”
“He could end his torment,” Jaime said. “I would, if it were my son. It would be a mercy.”
“I advise against putting that suggestion to Lord Eddard, sweet brother,” Tyrion said. “He wouldnot take it kindly51.”
“Even if the boy does live, he will be a cripple. Worse than a cripple. A grotesque52. Give me agood clean death.”
Tyrion replied with a shrug45 that accentuated53 the twist of his shoulders. “Speaking for thegrotesques,” he said, “I beg to differ. Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.”
Jaime smiled. “You are a perverse54 little imp6, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yes,” Tyrion admitted. “I hope the boy does wake. I would be most interested to hear whathe might have to say.”
His brother’s smile curdled55 like sour milk. “Tyrion, my sweet brother,” he said darkly, “there aretimes when you give me cause to wonder whose side you are on.”
Tyrion’s mouth was full of bread and fish. He took a swallow of strong black beer to wash it all down, and grinned up wolfishly at Jaime. “Why, Jaime, my sweet brother,” he said, “you woundme. You know how much I love my family.”
dme. You know how much I love my family.”
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收听单词发音
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1
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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massaged
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| 按摩，推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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scrolls
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| n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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siblings
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| n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 ) | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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timorously
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| adv.胆怯地，羞怯地 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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48
celibate
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| adj.独身的，独身主义的；n.独身者 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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53
accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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