The summons came in the hour before the dawn, when the world was still and grey. 国王传唤他时，天还未亮，世界一片寂静，灰蒙蒙的。

　　Alyn shook him roughly from his dreams and Ned stumbled into the predawn chill, groggy from sleep, to find his horse saddled and the king already mounted.  埃林轻轻地将他自梦中摇醒，奈德睡意未消便踉跄着跌入曙光未露前的清晨，发现自己的坐骑已经鞍辔妥当，而国王本人早已骑乘马上。

　　Robert wore thick brown gloves and a heavy fur cloak with a hood that covered his ears, and looked for all the world like a bear sitting a horse.  劳勃戴着棕色厚手套，身披厚重的套头毛皮斗篷，看起来活像只骑在马上的大熊。

　　“Up, Stark!” he roared. “Up, up! We have matters of state to discuss.” "史塔克，起床了！"他吼道，"还不快醒醒，咱们有国家大事要商量哪。"

　　“By all means,” Ned said. “Come inside, Your Grace.” Alyn lifted the flap of the tent. "遵命，"奈德说，"陛下，请进帐。"埃林闻言掀起帘幕。

　　“No, no, no,” Robert said. His breath steamed with every word. “The camp is full of ears.  "不不不，"劳勃的呼吸在冷气里蒸腾："营地里闲杂人等太多，只怕隔墙有耳。

　　Besides, I want to ride out and taste this country of yours.”  况且我想出去走走，顺便体验一下你的北地风光。"

　　Ser Boros and Ser Meryn waited behind him with a dozen guardsmen, Ned saw. There was nothing to do but rub the sleep from his eyes, dress, and mount up. 奈德这才瞧见柏洛斯爵士和马林爵士率领十数护卫跟在国王身后。看来除了揉揉惺忪睡眼，更衣上马之外，别无他法了

　　Robert set the pace, driving his huge black destrier hard as Ned galloped along beside him, trying to keep up.  劳勃骑着他那匹黑色战马一路狂奔，奈德也只好跟上。

　　He called out a question as they rode, but the wind blew his words away, and the king did not hear him.  他边骑边问了一句，但朔风吹散了他的话音，国王没有听见。

　　After that Ned rode in silence. They soon left the kingsroad and took off across rolling plains dark with mist.  之后奈德不再发话，只静静地骑马。他们旋即离开国王大道，奔进黑雾浓郁的辽阔平原。

　　By then the guard had fallen back a small distance, safely out of earshot, but still Robert would not slow. 此时护卫已离他们有段距离，再听不见两人交谈，但劳勃仍未减速。