... he will still be a boy, said Ser Rodrik, "and hard-pressed to hold his lands against the likes of Mors Umber or this bastard of Roose Bolton's. We must think on this carefully. Robb should have our best counsel before he makes his decision."
“……也还是个孩子。”罗德利克爵士说,“碰上莫尔斯·安柏或卢斯·波顿的私生子这类人,要守住领土恐怕力有未逮。我们必须审慎考量,在罗柏做出决定之前,我们要给他最好的建议。”
It may come down to practicalities, said Maester Luwin. "Which lord he most needs to court. The riverlands are part of his realm, he may wish to cement the alliance by wedding Lady Hornwood to one of the lords of the Trident. A Blackwood, perhaps, or a Frey — "
“最后很可能回归现实,”鲁温师傅道,“看他当前最需要哪位诸侯。眼下河间地也归他统治,他可能打算把霍伍德伯爵夫人嫁给三河流域的贵族,藉以巩固双方的联盟,或许布莱伍德家,或许佛雷家——”
Lady Hornwood can have one of our Freys, said Bran. "She can have both of them if she likes."
“霍伍德伯爵夫人可以嫁给我们这里的佛雷,”布兰说,“她要两个也没关系。”
You are not kind, my prince, Ser Rodrik chided gently.
“王子殿下,你这样说太不厚道了。”罗德利克爵士轻声斥责。
Neither are the Walders. Scowling, Bran stared down at the table and said nothing.
大小瓦德难道就厚道了吗?布兰皱起眉头,低头看着桌子,不发一语。
In the days that followed, ravens arrived from other lordly houses, bearing regrets. The bastard of the Dreadfort would not be joining them, the Mormonts and Karstarks had all gone south with Robb, Lord Locke was too old to dare the journey, Lady Flint was heavy with child, there was sickness at Widow's Watch. Finally all of the principal vassals of House Stark had been heard from save for Howland Reed the crannogman, who had not set foot outside his swamps for many a year, and the Cerwyns whose castle lay a half day's ride from Winterfell.
之后几天,信鸦陆续带来其他诸侯不克前来的致歉函。恐怖堡的私生子不愿前来,莫尔蒙家和卡史塔克家则是全族随罗柏南征,洛克大人年事已高,不便长途跋涉,菲林特伯爵夫人身怀六甲,寡妇望还有疾病肆虐,需要处理。最后史塔克家族的主要封臣都捎来了信息,只剩多年不曾踏出沼泽一步的泽地人霍兰·黎德,以及居城离临冬城仅半日骑程的赛文家。