And he was finding that he had a man's thirst, to the raucous¹ delight of the youths around him, 他发现自己的酒量原来和成人差不多，在身旁这群兴高采烈的年轻人怂恿下，

who urged him on every time he drained a glass. 每当喝干一杯，他们就怂恿他再来一杯。

They were fine company, and Jon relished² the stories they were telling, tales of battle and bedding and the hunt. 琼恩很乐意与他们为伍，津津有味地听他们彼此吹嘘战争、打猎和偷情的故事。

He was certain that his companions were more entertaining than the king's offspring. 他相信这群伙伴绝对比王子公主们有趣。

He had sated his curiosity about the visitors when they made their entrance. 先前当访客们从大门口鱼贯而入时，他已经满足了自己的好奇心。

The procession had passed not a foot from the place he had been given on the bench, and Jon had gotten a good long look at them all. 队伍正好从他座位前方不远处经过，他便好好地瞧了个清楚。

His lord father had come first, escorting the queen. 他的公爵父亲护送王后走在前面，

She was as beautiful as men said. A jeweled tiara gleamed amidst her long golden hair, its emeralds a perfect match for the green of her eyes. 她正如传闻中那么美丽，镶满宝石的头冠衬着她金色的长发，闪闪发亮，其上镶嵌的翡翠和她璀璨明亮的碧眼搭配得完美无瑕。

His father helped her up the steps to the dais and led her to her seat, 父亲搀扶她步上高台，引她到席位坐下，

but the queen never so much as looked at him. Even at fourteen, Jon could see through her smile. 然而她自始至终都没正眼瞧他一下。琼恩虽然只有十四岁，但他还是看得出王后的笑容只是表面功夫。

Next had come King Robert himself, with Lady Stark³ on his arm. 接着是国王本人，他挽着史塔克夫人的手走了进来。

The king was a great disappointment to Jon. 琼恩见到国王，只觉大失所望。

His father had talked of him often: the peerless Robert Baratheon, demon⁴ of the Trident, the fiercest warrior⁵ of the realm, a giant among princes. 父亲常说起那个天下无双的勇士劳勃·拜拉席恩，三叉戟河的恶魔，全国最骁勇善战的武士，在王公贵族间卓然不群。

Jon saw only a fat man, red-faced under his beard, sweating through his silks. He walked like a man half in his cups. 可在琼恩眼里，他不过是个红脸长须，汗流浃背的胖子，走起路来一副耽溺杯中物的模样。

After them came the children. Little Rickon first, managing the long walk with all the dignity a three-year-old could muster⁶. 在他之后进来的是孩子们，小瑞肯走在第一，很努力地要装出三岁小孩所能表现出来的庄严姿态。