The dragon, though she had not bothered to rise, was no longer balled up like a cute kitten by a fireside.那条龙虽然懒得起身，却已不再像一只蜷在炉边的可爱小猫那样团成一团。1
Her front paws curled beneath her bulk, her body rested comfortably below the level of her rear haunches, and her neck curved in a relaxed S-shape.她的前爪蜷在庞大的身躯下，身体舒舒服服地伏着，低于后臀的高度，脖颈则放松地弯成了一个S形。2
Even seated in this way, her jaws hung twice as far above the ground as Alias’s perch on the raised altar, and her reptilian golden eyes looked down from another ten feet higher than that.即使这样坐着，她的巨颚离地面的高度也足有阿莉亚丝所在的高台祭坛的两倍，而那双爬行动物般的金色眼睛又从高出巨颚十英尺的地方俯视着她。3
From what little Alias could see of her belly, it was a twisted mass of scarred, purple and violet scales.阿莉亚丝只能看到她腹部的一小部分，那里尽是扭曲纠结、伤痕累累的紫色与紫罗兰色鳞片。4
Several of the scars were still fresh and oozing—compliments of the adventuring party that had tried to defeat her but failed.其中几道伤口还很新，正渗着液体——那是那支曾试图打败她却以失败告终的冒险队所留下的“馈赠”。5
With those long tendrils hanging down from her chin and face, Alias thought, she looks like a cat.看着从她下巴和脸上垂下的那些长须，阿莉亚丝心想：她看起来真像一只猫。6
I guess that makes me the mouse.这么说来，我就是那只老鼠了。7
Then the swordswoman noticed, tucked behind the monster’s left ear, a raven regarding her with a stare as unblinking as the dragon’s—the only one that had not retreated to the ceiling.随后，女剑士注意到怪物左耳后藏着一只乌鸦，正以和那条龙同样一眨不眨的目光注视着她——这是唯一没有退到天花板上的一只。8
The dragon’s spy.那条龙的密探。9
“Poor dear,” rumbled the dragon.“可怜的小东西。”那条龙低沉地隆隆说道。10
“Are you ill-versed in the common tongue?“你不太懂通用语吗？11
Where do they send these robbers from, anyway?话说回来，这些强盗到底都是从哪里派来的？12
Asken bey Amnite?阿斯肯·贝伊·安姆人？13
No. You don’t look like a southerner.不。你看起来不像南方人。14
Cheyeska col Thay?切耶斯卡·科尔·塞尔？15
Not that either.也不是。16
Do you speak any language known to the Sea of Fallen Stars?陨星海一带所知的语言，你会说其中任何一种吗？17
I detest not knowing where my next meal is coming from.”我最讨厌不知道下一顿饭会从哪里来了。”18
The dragon’s ramblings shook Alias from her trance.那条龙絮絮叨叨的话让阿莉亚丝从恍惚中惊醒。19
The beast had transfixed her with a gaze that would have done a basilisk proud, yet here she was, nattering like some fishmonger’s wife.这头野兽曾用足以令蛇化蜥自豪的目光慑住了她，可此刻却像个鱼贩子的老婆似的喋喋不休。20
Alias tried to speak several times, until the words found purchase in her throat and she spat out, “I come from Cormyr.”阿莉亚丝几次试图开口，直到那些话终于在她喉咙里找到了着力之处，她才猛地吐出一句：“我来自科米尔。”21
For the moment, she added mentally.至少眼下如此，她在心里补充道。22
“Oh, so you are native flesh,” said the dragon, coiling her neck back as if to view Alias in this new light.“哦，原来你是本地肉，”巨龙说道，将脖颈盘曲着向后缩去，仿佛要以新的眼光打量阿莉亚丝。23
“How precious.“真难得。24
I do hate foreign mystery meat.我最讨厌那些来路不明的外国肉。25
They put such odd things in their bodies.”他们总往自己身体里塞些稀奇古怪的东西。”26
Alias blinked hard, fighting the sudden drowsiness that descended on her.阿莉亚丝用力眨了眨眼，抵抗着突然袭来的困意。27
First the dragon’s gaze, then its rich, rumbling words, seemed to drain the energy from her body, as if the rest she had received earlier in the week had done her no good.先是巨龙的目光，接着是她那醇厚低沉的话音，似乎都在抽走阿莉亚丝体内的力气，仿佛她这周早些时候得到的休息全无作用。28
This must be what they call dragon-fear, Alias realized.这一定就是人们所谓的龙威，阿莉亚丝意识到。29
She shook herself out of the lethargy.她振作精神，摆脱了倦怠。30
“I am no foreigner, but Alias of the Inner Sea, swordsmaster and adventuress,” she announced.“我可不是什么外国人，我是内海的阿莉亚丝，剑术大师兼女冒险家，”她宣告道。31
“Oh, really?” replied the dragon.“哦，真的吗？”巨龙答道。32
“You must forgive me for not knowing anything about you, but I’ve been so out of touch.“请原谅我对你一无所知，我实在太久没跟外界接触了。33
I am Mistinarperadnacles Hai Draco.我是米斯蒂纳佩拉德纳克勒斯·海·德拉科。34
You may call me Mist.你可以叫我米斯特。35
And I’ll call you … supper?至于我，就叫你……晚餐？36
Yes, it’s about time for a light, early supper.没错，差不多该早早吃顿清淡的晚餐了。37
So nice of you to deliver yourself.”你亲自送上门来，真是太贴心了。”38
The dragon shifted its weight, and Alias saw for the first time the front paws of the beast, huge, three-toed triangles, each corner of the triangles sporting a claw.巨龙挪了挪身子，阿莉亚丝这才第一次看见这头巨兽的两只前爪——硕大无比，呈长着三趾的三角形，每个角上都生着一根利爪。39
Further up each foot glinted an opposing dew claw.每只脚掌更上方的位置，还闪烁着一根与其余爪子相对的悬爪。40
All the claws were as crimson as fresh blood.所有爪子都像鲜血一般猩红。41
Alias held up her sword with both hands—not to attack, but as a warning gesture.阿莉亚丝双手举起剑来——并非为了攻击，而是以此示警。42
She replied, “You must forgive my unwillingness to serve as your meal, O great and powerful Mistinarperadnacles, but instead I think I will challenge you to the Feint of Honor.”她答道：“伟大而强大的米斯蒂纳佩拉德纳克勒斯，请原谅我不愿成为你的餐点，不过，我想改为向你发起荣誉佯攻的挑战。”43
“The Feint of Honor?”“荣誉佯攻？”44
Mist echoed the last words with a tone of surprise.米斯特语带惊讶地重复了最后几个字。45
Then she chuckled, a sound that echoed like thunder about the cavern.随后她咯咯笑了起来，那声音犹如雷鸣，在洞窟中回荡。46
“What can you know about the Feint of Honor, O Supper?”“你对荣誉佯攻又能知道些什么，晚餐啊？”47
Alias stepped back until her back was touching the wicker of the cage and replied, “It is the proper name given to the ritual combat of subdual instigated in the most ancient of times by the wisest of dragons.”阿莉亚丝一步步后退，直到后背抵住笼子的柳条，才答道：“这是远古时代由龙族中最睿智者创立的降服仪式战的正式名称。”48
Mist sniffed, “And I presume you know why?”米斯特哼了一声：“我想，你也知道原因喽？”49
“Because, in the most ancient of times, your people fought amongst themselves so fiercely that many promising wyrms died.“因为在远古时代，你们龙族自相残杀得太过惨烈，以致许多前途无量的龙都丧了命。50
Indeed, scholars believe you may have wiped yourselves off the face of the land had not the Feint been decreed.”事实上，学者们认为，若非颁布了佯攻之规，你们或许早已从大地上彻底消失。”51
Alias pressed her calf against the cage bars in hopes that the halfling would notice the dagger in her boot.阿莉亚丝把小腿抵在笼栏上，希望那个半身人能注意到她靴子里的匕首。52
“Yes.“不错。53
True enough.”确实如此。”54
The dragon nodded, settling back on her haunches.巨龙点点头，往后一坐，蹲在后腿上。55
“Having heard of this custom, all manner of militia and mercenary have come barrelling into my home and the homes of my brethren, beating on us with the flat of their blades, firing blunt-headed fowling arrows, and generally disturbing our rest until we are forced to destroy them just to regain our composure.“自从听说了这项习俗，各式各样的民兵和雇佣兵便横冲直撞地闯进我的家和我同族的家，用剑身拍打我们，朝我们发射钝头猎鸟箭，总之搅得我们不得安宁，直到我们不得不消灭他们，才能恢复平静。56
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.一知半解是很危险的。57
It implies a lot of ignorance.”因为这意味着无知甚多。”58
Mist twisted her neck so that her jaws were uncomfortably close to Alias’s head.米斯特扭过脖子，让她的巨颚逼近阿莉亚丝的脑袋，近得令人难受。59
“You see, the Feint is a code for dragons.“你要明白，佯攻是龙族的规约。60
It has nothing to do with you puny, but delicious, mortals.”它与你们这些渺小却美味的凡人毫无关系。”61
“Not so, O Mistinarperadnacles.“并非如此，米斯蒂纳佩拉德纳克勒斯啊。62
True, many humans may attempt subdual without following the formal codes, and their senses are as bootless as a halfling.不错，许多人类可能会不遵循正式规约便企图降服巨龙，而他们的判断力也像半身人的靴子一样，根本派不上用场。63
And he who walks in here without sense, walks in here unarmed.凡是毫无判断力便走进这里的人，无异于手无寸铁地走进来。64
You are then entirely within your rights to exterminate them as you see fit.”那么，你自然完全有权随意消灭他们。”65
Alias felt a pat behind her knee, a signal, she hoped, that the halfling had understood, but she had no sensation of her dagger being slid from her boot.阿莉亚丝感觉有人在她膝后轻拍了一下；她希望这是半身人已经会意的信号，但她并未感觉到匕首被从靴子里抽走。66
“But you may not with honor deny a challenge properly made—”“但若有人依照规矩提出挑战，你便不能有违荣誉地拒绝——”67
“Your speech is oddly accented,” said the dragon.“你的口音很古怪。”巨龙说道。68
“I think you come from beyond Cormyr.”“我想，你来自科米尔以外的地方。”69
“Unless, of course,” Alias continued, “you are a common dragon.“当然，除非，”阿莉亚丝继续说道，“你只是一条普普通通的龙。70
Then, of course, you may behave as you will.”那样的话，你自然可以任意妄为。”71
Fire flared in Mist’s eyes.米斯特眼中燃起怒火。72
“And do you know the formal codes, O Supper?”“那么你可懂正式的规矩，晚餐啊？”73
“I know first to ask the dragon’s name if it is not already known,” replied Alias.“我知道，如果还不知道龙的名字，首先就该询问，”阿莉亚丝答道。74
“Common courtesy, at the very least, common sense as well.”“这至少是起码的礼貌，也是起码的常识。”75
“At this point, I must say you have offended me.“说到这里，我必须指出，你已经冒犯了我。76
You have monopolized the services of this halfling, an offense to art; you have kept her imprisoned in this cage, an offense to humanity; and you have referred to me as Supper, an offense to my honor.你独占了这位半身人的技艺，是对艺术的冒犯；你把她囚禁在这只笼子里，是对人道的冒犯；你还称我为晚餐，是对我荣誉的冒犯。77
For these barbarities, Mistinarperadnacles, red mistress of flame and sunsets, I challenge you!”为惩罚这些野蛮行径，火焰与晚霞的赤红女主人米斯蒂纳佩拉德纳克勒斯，我向你挑战！”78
“Quite nice,” said the dragon.“相当不错，”巨龙说道。79
“Your composure does you credit.“你如此镇定，值得称许。80
You astonish me, young one.你真令我惊讶，年轻人。81
This is a custom veiled in antiquity.这项习俗早已湮没在远古岁月的迷雾之中。82
I don’t believe one sage in a hundred could recall the formalities so precisely.我看一百位贤者中，也未必有一位能如此准确地记得这些礼仪。83
Just where did you acquire this knowledge?”你究竟从哪里学到了这些知识？”84
Alias did know the answer to that question.阿莉亚丝确实知道这个问题的答案。85
She remembered it, but she did not know how.她记得答案，却不知道自己为何会记得。86
Instead of trying to answer Mist’s questions, she continued with the terms of challenge.她没有试图回答米斯特的问题，而是继续陈述挑战的条件。87
“My weapon will be this single blade.”“我的武器将只有这一柄剑。”88
Alias indicated her sword with a nod of her head.阿莉亚丝朝自己的剑点了点头。89
“You may use your claws.“你可以使用利爪。90
No biting, no breathing fire, and no magic.”不准撕咬，不准喷火，也不准使用魔法。”91
Steam was beginning to rise up from Mist’s nostrils, indicating the beast was no longer amused or intrigued, but losing her patience.米斯特的鼻孔里开始冒出蒸汽，这表明这头巨兽已不再觉得有趣，也不再感到好奇，而是渐渐失去了耐心。92
Alias continued hurriedly, “We fight until the first three hits or until the other surrenders.阿莉亚丝赶忙继续说道：“谁先击中对方三次，或是迫使对方投降，战斗便告结束。93
If I am victor, I demand you free the halfling Ruskettle and allow both of us to leave your lair safe and free.”如果我获胜，我要求你释放半身人拉斯凯特尔，并允许我们二人安然无恙、自由地离开你的巢穴。”94
“What?“什么？95
No demands for a chest of gold or for me to leave this happy land and never to return?”不要求一箱黄金，也不要求我离开这片乐土、永不再回来吗？”96
Mist mocked her.米斯特嘲弄道。97
“None,” Alias replied flatly.“没有。”阿莉亚丝冷冷地答道。98
According to the code, the more demands she made, the more compromises she would have to make toward the dragon’s terms.按照准则，她提出的要求越多，就越得在巨龙的条件上作出更多让步。99
If they even came to terms.还得看她们能不能谈成条件。100
Steam now poured from Mist in great billows.此刻，大团大团的蒸汽从米斯特的鼻孔中喷涌而出。101
She could breathe fire anytime, Alias thought.她随时都可能喷火，阿莉亚丝心想。102
If her ego and pride don’t bind her to the ancient code, I’m dead meat.要是她的自负和骄傲不能让她受古老准则的约束，我就死定了。103
“It is a sad state of affairs,” Mist growled, “when a dragon cannot use those gifts invested in her by Tiamat.“事情竟沦落到这种地步，”米斯特低吼道，“一条龙连提亚马特赋予的天赋都不能使用。104
At the very least, I must use my claws and my teeth.至少，我必须使用我的利爪和牙齿。105
We will fight until you are dead or you convince me to surrender.我们要一直战斗，直到你死去，或是你迫使我投降。106
In compensation, if you win, I will grant you a chest of gold.作为补偿，如果你赢了，我会赏你一箱黄金。107
I am a generous spirit, you see.”你瞧，我可是很慷慨的。”108
“Accepted,” Alias replied without hesitation.“接受。”阿莉亚丝毫不犹豫地答道。109
The dragon reared back, her head raised into the stone dome high above.巨龙向后直起身子，头颅高高昂入上方的石穹顶。110
The raven flapped noisily from her head.乌鸦从她头上振翅飞起，扑棱声大作。111
Surprised, Mist could only foolishly repeat, “Accepted,” thus locking herself into the agreement.米斯特吃了一惊，竟傻乎乎地只能重复道：“接受。”就这样把自己锁进了这份协议。112
“The code is honored, the pact is made,” Alias declared and lunged forward beneath the dragon’s chest.“准则已守，契约已成。”阿莉亚丝宣告道，随即猛冲到巨龙胸膛下方。113
She slashed out with her sword, catching the beast just below the forward knee.她挥剑劈出，正中巨兽前膝下方。114
The blow was not forceful enough to cut into the scales, but it hurt.这一击力道不足，未能劈开鳞片，却让她吃了痛。115
The dragon roared, and her knee buckled so that she toppled forward.巨龙咆哮一声，膝盖猛地一软，向前栽倒。116
Alias dashed between her hind legs.阿莉亚丝从她两条后腿之间飞奔而过。117
Careful to avoid the creature’s tail, the swordswoman dragged her blade across Mist’s purple-plated rump, knocking loose a few half-healed plates.女剑士小心避开巨兽的尾巴，将剑刃拖过米斯特覆着紫色鳞甲的臀部，刮落了几片尚未完全愈合的鳞片。118
Mist howled and spun about.米斯特嚎叫一声，猛地转过身来。119
Her gleaming eyes seemed to burrow into Alias.她那双闪闪发亮的眼睛仿佛要把阿莉亚丝看穿。120
“Foul!” she hissed.“犯规！”她嘶声说道。121
“You used the sharp side of your blade.”“你用了剑刃。”122
“Our contract did not limit me to the flat of my weapon, wyrm!”“我们的契约可没规定我只能用剑身的平面，巨龙！”123
Alias shouted, dodging backward to avoid the slash of the triple scythes at the end of the dragon’s paw.阿莉亚丝大喊着向后闪避，躲开龙爪末端三把镰刀般利爪的挥击。124
“O ho!”“哦嗬！”125
Mist cackled, following up her first assault with a thrust from the other front paw.米斯特尖声怪笑，另一只前爪紧接着刺出，发动第二轮攻击。126
Alias twisted and rolled away as claw tips scored deep into the wall she’d had at her back a moment before.阿莉亚丝扭身滚开，利爪尖端在她片刻前背靠的石壁上划出了几道深痕。127
“So you are now a lawyer as well as a fighter!”“这么说来，你如今不但是个战士，还是个律师！”128
Mist taunted as she yanked her claw from the rock, causing a small avalanche of stone to topple down.米斯特一边讥讽，一边从岩石中拔出利爪，带得一小片碎石坍落下来。129
Alias retreated back among the treasure and bone piles, sparing only a glance for the now-empty cage on the altar.阿莉亚丝退回宝藏与骸骨堆之间，只匆匆瞥了一眼祭坛上如今空空如也的笼子。130
She averted her eyes quickly so as not to alert Mist to the halfling’s escape.她立刻移开视线，以免让米斯特察觉半身人已经逃脱。131
Have to keep the wyrm’s attention on me, Alias thought.得让这头巨龙把注意力一直放在我身上，阿莉亚丝心想。132
Unfortunately, that should be no problem.不幸的是，这应该不成问题。133
Instead of lunging her neck toward the warrior, Mist retreated and rose to her hind legs, unfurling her wings.米斯特没有伸长脖颈扑向战士，反而向后退去，用后腿站立起来，同时展开双翼。134
The leathery folds of flesh caught the subterranean breeze like sails, then fanned the air back in powerful waves toward Alias’s corner of the cave.一层层皮革般的翼膜如风帆般兜住地下的气流，继而扇起一阵阵强风，扑向阿莉亚丝所在的洞穴角落。135
The last raven retreated to the roof to avoid the assault, but Alias had no way to evade the force of the wind.最后一只渡鸦退到洞顶躲避这阵袭击，阿莉亚丝却无从避开狂风的冲击。136
She was lifted from the ground and buffeted over several large treasure chests.她被卷离地面，在好几只巨大的宝箱上方翻滚颠簸。137
Her rough passage knocked the arm and leg guards off one side of her armor and left her pinned beneath a granite statue of some forgotten Hillsfar noble.一路上的猛烈磕撞扯掉了她一侧的护臂和护胫，最后她被压在一尊花岗岩雕像下；那雕像刻的是某个早已被遗忘的希尔斯法贵族。138
She began squirming out from beneath the stone, but Mist loped forward and laid her chin down on top of the statue.她开始扭动着从石像下脱身，但米斯特大步奔上前，把下巴搁在了石像顶上。139
Her fetid breath made Alias gag.她恶臭的气息熏得阿莉亚丝一阵干呕。140
Mist’s mouth tendrils curled in glee.米斯特嘴边的触须欢喜地卷曲起来。141
Alias closed her eyes, certain she was about to have her head bitten off.阿莉亚丝闭上双眼，确信自己的脑袋马上就要被咬掉了。142
“So, little lawyer,” Mist hissed, “I can slay you now by fire, for who would know I violated the codes?”“那么，小律师，”米斯特嘶声说道，“我现在可以用火烧死你了，因为谁会知道我违反了准则呢？”143
“Well, me for one,” came a high-pitched but resonant voice from above.“这个嘛，至少我会知道。”上方传来一个尖细却洪亮的声音。144
“And you know the old saying—tell a bard, and you tell the world.”“你也知道那句老话——告诉一个吟游诗人，就等于告诉了全世界。”145
Mist whirled around in surprise.米斯特惊讶地猛然转身。146
The halfling bard stood on the ledge by the opening to Alias’s back door.那位半身人吟游诗人站在阿莉亚丝后门入口旁的岩台上。147
She leaned weakly against the rock wall, but her eyes sparkled with mischief and vengeance.她虚弱地倚着岩壁，眼中却闪烁着恶作剧与复仇的光芒。148
Alias took advantage of Mist’s inattention to escape from the embrace of the Hillsfar noble and began to climb up a wagon loaded with treasure.阿莉亚丝趁米斯特分神，挣脱了那名希尔斯法贵族的怀抱，开始往一辆满载财宝的马车上爬。149
Ruskettle strummed a chord on her tiny yarting, a miniature guitar with seven catgut strings.拉斯凯特尔在她那把小巧的雅廷琴上扫出一个和弦；那是一种装有七根羊肠弦的微型吉他。150
“Now let’s see, this is spur of the moment, mind, but how about—” The bard began to sing:“让我想想，先说好，这是临时起意，不过这样如何——”吟游诗人唱了起来：151
I heard the mighty rush of fire我听见烈焰汹涌的呼啸152
From the ledge above the cave.来自洞穴上方的岩台。153
The attack of a common coward那是卑鄙懦夫的偷袭，154
No dragon, just a knave.不是巨龙，只是无赖。155
She broke her oath in combat,她在战斗中背弃誓言，156
Now shunned by one and all.如今被所有人唾弃。157
Not even other dragons就连其他巨龙158
Will have her in their hall.也不容她踏入厅堂。159
“Then of course we’ll need a chorus for everyone to join in on,” Ruskettle continued hurriedly:“当然，还得有段副歌，好让大家一起唱。”拉斯凯特尔急忙接着说道：160
Oh, listen to the story哦，听听这个故事，161
Of the scandal of the wyrms.这桩龙族的丑闻。162
Red Mistinarperadnacles,红龙米斯蒂纳佩拉德纳克勒斯，163
Rumored mad and quite infirm.据说疯癫又病弱。164
With a single belch of fire,只一嗝喷出烈焰，165
This fool dragon with no shame,这无耻的蠢龙，166
Her honor she has vaporized已将自己的荣誉蒸发殆尽，167
Like the Mist that is her name.如雾消散，恰似她的名字米斯特。168
Alias cringed at the lyrics’ strained meters, but had to admire the singer’s nerve.阿莉亚丝听着那歌词生硬拗口的韵律，不由得缩了缩身子，但也不得不佩服那歌手的胆量。169
Great clouds of steam filled the dome above Mist’s head.大团蒸汽弥漫在米斯特头顶的穹顶之中。170
The bard hadn’t a chance of outrunning the fires that had to be burning inside the wyrm.巨龙体内必定燃着烈火，那吟游诗人根本不可能逃得过。171
Instead of escaping, though, Alias noted, she risked her hide to gain time for me to wriggle out of danger.然而，阿莉亚丝注意到，她非但没有逃跑，反而冒着丢掉性命的危险，为我争取时间，好让我爬出险境。172
Goaded forward by the image of a roasted halfling and a failed mission, Alias launched herself from the lid of a large cask toward the dragon’s head.一想到半身人会被烤熟，任务也会失败，阿莉亚丝便猛地从一只大木桶的盖子上跃起，扑向巨龙的头。173
She fell short of her mark, but managed to catch a fistful of the tendrils hanging from Mist’s chin.她没能跃到预定的位置，却设法一把抓住了从米斯特下颌垂下的触须。174
Arching her back and kicking her legs like an acrobat, the swordswoman swung herself backward, over the side of the dragon’s mouth, past her dripping, exposed teeth, beyond her steaming nostrils, and landed squarely on the bridge of the dragon’s nose.女剑士弓起背，像杂技演员一样蹬动双腿，借势向后荡去，越过巨龙的嘴侧，掠过她裸露在外、滴着水的牙齿和冒着蒸汽的鼻孔，稳稳落在了巨龙的鼻梁上。175
Alias wedged her blade between Mist’s eyes, so that the creature’s pupils crossed, trying to focus on her foe.阿莉亚丝把剑刃抵在米斯特双眼之间，逼得这生物两只瞳孔都转向中间，试图看清自己的敌人。176
“Match was until surrender,” Alias panted, sweat rolling down her face in rivulets.“比试说好打到一方认输为止。”阿莉亚丝喘息着说，汗水一道道从脸上淌下。177
Her exhaustion deepened with her proximity to the dragon’s steaming and foul exhalations, yet she tightened her grip on her hilt.离巨龙那灼热而恶臭的吐息如此之近，令她越发疲惫，但她仍攥紧了剑柄。178
“Do you surrender, wyrm, or shall we see how much of your brain I can reach when I plunge my blade into one of your eyes?”“你认不认输，巨龙？还是说，我们来看看我把剑刺进你一只眼睛时，究竟能刺到多少脑子？”179
For Alias, the next few moments were frozen in time.对阿莉亚丝而言，接下来的片刻仿佛凝固了。180
Steam rose about her and water splattered to the floor, but the principals of the tableau stood motionless: the dragon considering the value of her eyesight and the length of the warrior’s blade, Alias trying to remain perched on the creature’s scaly nose, Ruskettle awaiting the outcome, so eager to witness it she would not flee like a sensible person.蒸汽在她周围升腾，水珠飞溅到地面上，但这幅画面的几位主角全都一动不动：巨龙在权衡自己双眼的价值和女战士剑刃的长度；阿莉亚丝竭力稳坐在这生物布满鳞片的鼻子上；拉斯凯特尔则等待着结果，她太想亲眼见证这一幕了，根本不肯像个明智的人那样逃走。181
Finally Mist hissed, “This time, little lawyer, you win.”终于，米斯特嘶声说道：“这一次，小律师，你赢了。”182
“I accept your surrender,” Alias replied.“我接受你的投降。”阿莉亚丝答道。183
She kept her gaze on the creature and her sword over Mist’s nose.她的目光始终盯着这生物，剑也依然横在米斯特的鼻子上方。184
No blanket of condensing steam poured from the beast’s mouth to indicate she had cooled her inner fires.巨兽口中没有涌出凝结成雾的大片蒸汽，说明她并未熄灭体内的烈火。185
Mist has no intention of honoring the pact, Alias realized.米斯特根本没打算遵守约定，阿莉亚丝意识到。186
She wants me dead even more than ever, but she doesn’t dare try to kill me unless she can get the tell-tale bard with the same blow.她现在比以往更想要我的命，但除非能一击杀死那个会把真相说出去的吟游诗人，否则她不敢动手杀我。187
All she has to do is breathe fire once I’m standing beside Ruskettle.只要我站到拉斯凯特尔身边，她喷一次火就够了。188
Alias’s mind scrambled for a scheme to delay the dragon’s attack, hoping that the halfling had enough wits to play along.阿莉亚丝绞尽脑汁，想找个办法拖延巨龙的攻击，只盼那半身人足够机灵，能够配合她。189
“I’d like to be let down over there by my friend,” the swordswoman said.“我想请你把我放到那边，我朋友身旁。”女剑士说道。190
“But, of course,” Mist replied, her tone full of sugary venom.“当然可以。”米斯特答道，语气甜腻，却充满恶意。191
The dragon kept her head perfectly steady as she swung her neck over to the ledge, anxious that Alias should not slip or lean on the blade and drive it into an eye.巨龙把头稳得纹丝不动，同时将脖子摆向那处平台；她唯恐阿莉亚丝滑倒，或是压到剑刃上，让剑刺进自己的一只眼睛。192
Alias hesitated before she stepped off Mist’s snout.阿莉亚丝迟疑了一下，才从米斯特的吻部走下来。193
Winking at the halfling, she said, “That ring of fire resistance makes you a lot braver than usual, bard.”她冲半身人眨眨眼，说道：“那枚火焰抗性戒指让你比平时胆大多了，吟游诗人。”194
“What?“什么？195
Oh, yeah.哦，对。196
The ring of fire resistance.火焰抗性戒指。197
Well, you know my motto: If you got it, might as well flaunt it.这个嘛，你知道我的座右铭：既然有了，不妨炫耀一番。198
You think I’d have risked singing to a dragon without one?”你以为没有它，我敢冒险给一条龙唱歌吗？”199
Alias leaped from Mist’s head to the ledge and sidled behind the halfling, as if to use her tiny body for a shield.阿莉亚丝从米斯特的头上一跃而下，落到岩架上，然后侧身躲到半身人身后，仿佛要拿她娇小的身体当盾牌。200
The swordswoman’s heart pounded as she ordered the dragon, “Now go fetch the chest of gold you promised me.”女剑士的心怦怦直跳，却仍命令巨龙道：“现在去把你答应给我的那箱金子拿来。”201
Mist’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits.米斯特的双眼眯成了两条细缝。202
Steam rose from her nostrils.蒸汽从她的鼻孔里升起。203
Tymora, make her believe the ruse!泰摩拉，让她相信这个骗局吧！204
Alias prayed silently.阿莉亚丝默默祈祷。205
The dragon turned her head away from the ledge and lumbered toward a pile of gold.巨龙把头从岩架旁转开，迈着沉重的步子朝一堆金子走去。206
Alias swallowed hard.阿莉亚丝艰难地咽了口唾沫。207
“Why didn’t you kill her when you had the chance?”“你刚才有机会，为什么不杀了她？”208
Ruskettle whispered through clenched teeth.拉斯凯特尔咬紧牙关，低声问道。209
“And fall to my death or get crushed by a dragon in her death throes?“然后摔死，或者被垂死挣扎的巨龙压死吗？210
No, thank you.不了，谢谢。211
That wasn’t what I was paid for.别人付钱让我做的可不是这个。212
Now, let’s get out of here.”现在，我们赶紧离开这里。”213
“What?” the bard asked.“什么？”吟游诗人问道。214
“We’re leaving,” Alias replied, grabbing a handful of the halfling’s cloak.“我们要走了。”阿莉亚丝答道，一把攥住半身人的斗篷。215
Alias slipped into the passageway leading out of the lair, trying to tug the halfling with her, but Ruskettle jerked herself loose.阿莉亚丝钻进了通往巢穴外的通道，试图把半身人一起拽走，可拉斯凯特尔猛地挣脱了她。216
“We have to wait for the gold,” the bard insisted.“我们得等着拿到金子。”吟游诗人坚持道。217
With an exasperated growl, Alias grasped the small woman by her shoulders, pulled her into the passage, and shoved her in the lead.阿莉亚丝恼怒地低吼一声，抓住小个子女人的双肩，把她拉进通道，推到前面带路。218
Their way dimly lit by the runes embedded in Alias’s flesh, Alias prodded and pushed at the halfling until they reached the upper cavern where the swordswoman had waited for Akabar’s scouting report.嵌在阿莉亚丝血肉中的符文发出微光，为她们照亮道路；阿莉亚丝一路又戳又推地催着半身人，直到她们来到上层洞窟——先前女剑士就是在那里等候阿卡巴的侦察报告。219
Once they reached this point, however, Ruskettle twisted from her grip and dropped angrily to the floor.然而，一到这里，拉斯凯特尔就挣脱了她的手，气冲冲地落到地上。220
Alias slipped her sword arm into her cloak before the halfling caught sight of the glow of the sigils.趁半身人还没看见那些印记的光芒，阿莉亚丝把持剑的手臂缩进了斗篷里。221
“Why’d you do that?” the bard demanded.“你为什么要这么做？”吟游诗人质问道。222
“She was going to get us some gold!”“她本来要给我们弄些金子来的！”223
“Stupidhalfling!”“蠢货半身人！”224
Alias panted, her words running together.阿莉亚丝喘着气，话都连到了一起。225
“Mist is a red dragon!“米斯特是条红龙！”226
That makes her as greedy and as untrustworthy as an Amnite merchant!“这意味着她就跟安姆人商人一样贪婪，一样不可信！”227
The only thing that stopped her from burning us to cinders was the fear you would escape and tell someone.”“她没把我们烧成灰，唯一的原因就是怕你逃出去告诉别人。”228
“But she believed your story about me having a ring of fire resistance.”“可她相信了你编的故事，以为我有一枚抗火戒指。”229
“For the moment.“暂时信了而已。”230
But if she had sniffed any jewelry on you when she first kidnapped you, she would have made you take it off.“可她刚绑架你时，要是闻到你身上有任何首饰，早就会逼你摘下来了。”231
You aren’t wearing any rings.“你一枚戒指也没戴。”232
Any minute now she’s going to remember that, and then—”“她随时都会想起这一点，到时候——”233
Cool air from the outside rushed down the passage.外面的凉风顺着通道猛灌下来。234
Alias could picture Mist sitting by the ledge, inhaling deeply, smoke from her hidden forges pouring out of her snout.阿莉亚丝仿佛能看到米斯特坐在岩架旁深深吸气，隐秘锻炉里的烟雾从她的鼻孔中滚滚涌出。235
“Come on!” the swordswoman shouted, picking up the halfling, tucking her under her arm, and running for the surface exit.“快走！”女剑士大喊一声，抄起半身人，把她夹在腋下，朝通往地面的出口飞奔。236
Ruskettle was unexpectedly heavy, and between the extra weight and having to check her footing, Alias felt as though she were running underwater.拉斯凯特尔出乎意料地沉；既要负担额外的重量，又得留神脚下，阿莉亚丝觉得自己简直像在水下奔跑。237
A roar began behind her, a deep rumbling sound.她身后响起一声咆哮，低沉得如同雷鸣。238
Harsh cries followed—ravens, she realized, caught in the conflagration.紧接着传来一阵凄厉的鸣叫——是乌鸦，她意识到，它们被困在了烈焰之中。239
Her back grew uncomfortably warm as the dragon’s breath chased her down the passage.龙息沿着通道追赶她，她的后背热得难受。240
If she didn’t reach the exit quickly, the approaching wall of super-heated air would do her in before the beast’s metal-twisting flames even reached her.要是不赶快抵达出口，那堵逼近的炽热气浪会在巨兽那足以扭曲金属的烈焰追上她之前就先要了她的命。241
The heat grew unbearable, and Alias wondered if she might already be burned so badly that she would die but her muscles and mind didn’t know that yet.热浪变得令人无法忍受，阿莉亚丝甚至怀疑，自己是不是已经被烧伤得足以致命，只是她的肌肉和头脑还没有察觉。242
The halfling was still squirming in her arms as she made a final leap toward the opening in the mountainside, praying to Tymora that she would clear it before the hot air singed her flesh and the fire stripped it from her bones.半身人仍在她怀里扭动；她朝山壁上的出口奋力作出最后一跃，同时向泰摩拉祈祷，希望自己能在热气灼伤血肉、烈焰将肉从骨头上剥离之前冲出去。243
The moment Alias cleared the stone passage, Dragonbait’s tail snaked out from the right.阿莉亚丝刚冲出石砌通道，龙饵的尾巴便从右边蛇一般甩了过来。244
The powerful muscles in the scaly, green ribbon knocked the swordswoman and her passenger down the slope of greasy grass.那条覆着绿色鳞片的长尾肌肉强健，将女剑客和她怀里的乘客撞倒在油滑的草坡上。245
Alias looked back.阿莉亚丝回头望去。246
The opening where she had been only an instant before was now filled with flame and soot.就在片刻之前，她才刚刚逃出的洞口，此刻已被烈焰与浓烟填满。247
The rock about the cave entrance melted in the heat, twisting and flowing until the passage was sealed shut.洞口周围的岩石在高温中熔化、扭曲、流淌，直至将通道彻底封死。248
Silence settled over the mountainside.山坡上陷入一片寂静。249
Dragonbait rubbed his mildly scorched tail and gave a reptilian whimper.龙饵揉着微微烧焦的尾巴，发出一声爬行动物般的呜咽。250
Akabar, upon hearing the sound of the dragon’s inhalation, had assumed a safer position several paces away from the back door.阿卡巴听见巨龙吸气的声音后，早已退到离后门几步远的安全位置。251
He now looked down at the soot-blackened women with amusement.此刻，他饶有兴味地低头看着那两个被烟灰熏黑的女人。252
Alias looked down at Ruskettle, and it suddenly dawned on her why the halfling had been so heavy.阿莉亚丝低头看着拉斯凯特尔，突然明白了这个半身人为何会那么重。253
On her tumble down the hill, the bard had lost, in order, Alias’s dagger, two pouches of gold coins, an opal the size of a cockatrice egg, a handful of jade statuettes, a ratty scroll, and a large, ornate book marked with the sigil of Akabar Bel Akash.从山坡上滚下来时，这位吟游诗人依次掉出了阿莉亚丝的匕首、两袋金币、一颗鸡蛇兽蛋大小的蛋白石、一把玉雕像、一卷破破烂烂的卷轴，以及一本装饰华丽、印有阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什徽记的大书。254
For half a score of heartbeats, Alias lay among the flowers of the mountain meadow.足足十次心跳的工夫，阿莉亚丝一直躺在山间草甸的花丛中。255
She gasped in the thin mountain air, trying to will away the stabbing pain in her chest and the searing agony across her back.她在稀薄的山间空气中大口喘息，竭力想凭意志驱散胸口的刺痛和横贯后背的灼烈剧痛。256
She imagined the dragon-heated metal of her chain shirt burning through her jerkin and inwardly cringed.她想象着被巨龙烤热的锁子甲正烧穿自己的皮衣，不禁暗自瑟缩。257
Dragonbait, having knocked her and the halfling out of the direct path of the dragon’s breath, was at her side immediately, his clawlike hands on her shoulders, helping her rise.龙饵把她和半身人撞出了龙息的直接喷射路线，此刻立刻来到她身旁，用爪子般的双手扶住她的肩膀，帮助她站起身来。258
He smelled heavily of woodsmoke, but his chivalrous aid helped make Alias feel a little better.他身上散发着浓重的柴烟味，但他那富有骑士风度的援手还是让阿莉亚丝感觉好受了一些。259
Farther down the slope, the halfling was scurrying about, trying to recover the items lost in her tumble.坡下更远处，半身人正四处奔忙，试图找回翻滚时掉落的物品。260
She grabbed one of the leather-bound tomes, but a sandal-clad foot suddenly appeared and held it tight to the ground.她一把抓住其中一本皮革封面的厚书，可一只穿着凉鞋的脚突然出现，将书牢牢踩在地上。261
“I believe,” Akabar Bel Akash said, “that this particular item is mine.”“我相信，”阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什说道，“这一件东西是我的。”262
The halfling gulped.半身人咽了口唾沫。263
“You were the wizard in the caravan,” she piped, wheels visibly turning behind her eyes.“你就是商队里的那个法师。”她尖声说道，眼珠转动，显然正在飞快盘算。264
“Of course.“当然。265
I brought this from the dragon’s lair to …” she sighed deeply, “… to return to you.”我把它从巨龙巢穴里带出来，是为了……”她深深叹了口气，“……还给你。”266
Akabar harumphed and, keeping his foot atop the book, reached over and picked up the age-torn scroll lying near it.阿卡巴哼了一声，一只脚仍踩在书上，俯身捡起了旁边那卷年久残破的卷轴。267
“That’s for you, too,” the halfling offered, jamming the opal and the jade figures back into her pockets.“那个也归你，”半身人主动说道，一边把蛋白石和翡翠雕像塞回口袋。268
Alias had by this time removed her charred cloak and shucked off her chain mail shirt.这时，阿莉亚丝已经脱下烧焦的斗篷，又褪去了锁子甲。269
The cloak was a total loss; the heavy cloth had taken the brunt of the blast.斗篷彻底毁了；爆炸的威力大半都被那厚重的布料承受了下来。270
The heat had been enough to fuse portions of her chain into solid lumps along the back and leave the light leather jerkin beneath hard and cracked.高温将她背部的部分甲环熔结成了坚硬的疙瘩，连下面那件薄皮坎肩也变得又硬又裂。271
The leather must have insulated her back just enough though, for what she could see of her skin there, while pink, was not charred.不过，皮革想必恰好为她的背部隔绝了足够的热量，因为她能看见的那部分皮肤虽然发红，却没有烧焦。272
Blind Tymora’s luck, Alias thought.真是瞎眼的泰摩拉赐下的好运，阿莉亚丝心想。273
Her back ached as though she had a sunburn, but no more.她的背部像晒伤一样隐隐作痛，但也仅此而已。274
She abruptly shouted to the others, “Let’s get a move on!”她突然朝其他人喊道：“咱们快走！”275
The newly rescued bard ambled up the hill with the mage.刚获救的吟游诗人和法师一道溜达上山坡。276
Akabar held his recovered tome pressed tightly under his arm and used his hand to hold open the battered scroll, scanning its contents as he approached Alias.阿卡巴把失而复得的典籍紧紧夹在腋下，一手撑开那卷破损的卷轴，一边浏览其中的内容，一边朝阿莉亚丝走去。277
The halfling planted each foot firmly at shoulder-width, and stuck out her hand toward the swordswoman.半身人双脚稳稳分开，与肩同宽，朝女剑士伸出手。278
“We haven’t been properly introduced.“我们还没正式认识呢。279
Ruskettle is the name, song and merriment the—”我叫拉斯凯特尔，歌声与欢笑是——”280
“Not now,” hushed Alias.“现在不是时候。”阿莉亚丝压低声音打断了她。281
“Look.“看。282
In about five minutes, ten minutes at most, the red reptile is going to check to be sure we’re dead.大约五分钟后，最多十分钟，那条红色爬虫就会来查看，确认我们是不是死了。283
She’ll come lurching out of the cave entrance.她会摇摇晃晃地从洞口出来。284
It’s at least a mile to decent tree cover.…”离最近的、足以藏身的树林至少有一英里……”285
Dragonbait sniffed the air and growled.龙饵嗅了嗅空气，低吼起来。286
The halfling turned to the lizard and offered her still outstretched hand.半身人转向那蜥蜴，把仍然伸着的手递向他。287
Dragonbait backed away a step and bared his teeth.龙饵后退一步，龇出了牙。288
Ruskettle hastily lowered her arm.拉斯凯特尔连忙放下手臂。289
“If we flee,” Alias said, “it’s likely we’ll be caught in the open and fried.”“如果逃跑，”阿莉亚丝说，“我们很可能会在毫无遮挡的地方被追上，然后烤成焦炭。”290
She arched her eyebrows and looked at the mage.她扬起眉毛，看向法师。291
“Any suggestions?”“有什么建议吗？”292
“Seal her in?”“把她封在里面？”293
Akabar offered.阿卡巴提议道。294
“Sure,” countered Alias.“好啊，”阿莉亚丝反驳道。295
“Have an avalanche handy?”“你能随手弄场雪崩出来吗？”296
“Mayhaps,” the Turmishman replied with a grin.“或许能，”图米什人咧嘴一笑，回答道。297
He held up the scroll he’d been perusing.他举起方才一直在仔细研读的卷轴。298
It was crammed with tightly calligraphed symbols.上面密密麻麻地写满了工整的符号。299
“This title says it is a spell to conjure a wall of stone.”“标题说，这是一道能召出石墙的法术。”300
Alias’s eyes lit up.阿莉亚丝眼睛一亮。301
“Can you cast it?”“你能施展它吗？”302
The magic-user nodded.法师点了点头。303
“All I need do is use a simple trick to read the magic.“我只需要用一个简单的小法术来解读其中的魔法。304
That will evoke the powers locked within the text.这样就能唤醒封存在文字中的力量。305
Of course, it may not work.”当然，也可能不会奏效。”306
He spread his hands in a gesture of uncertainty.他摊开双手，做了个表示不确定的手势。307
“Half a chance is better than none,” the warrior insisted.“哪怕只有一半机会，也比毫无机会强，”战士坚持道。308
“Let’s try it out on the beast’s front door.“我们去那头野兽的正门试试。309
Dragonbait!”龙饵！”310
The lizard stopped staring at the halfling and followed the swordswoman and the mage over the scattered boulders that ringed the mountain.蜥蜴不再盯着半身人，跟随女剑士和法师越过环绕山体、散落各处的巨石。311
The halfling brought up the rear.半身人走在最后。312
They don’t stand on ceremony much here, it occurred to Ruskettle moodily.这里的人可真不讲什么客套，拉斯凯特尔闷闷不乐地想。313
As she walked, she pocketed her latest acquisitions, a ring and a small vial smelling of cinnamon.她一边走，一边把新近到手的东西装进口袋：一枚戒指和一只散发着肉桂气味的小瓶。314
By the time they reached the lair’s main entrance, steam was billowing from within.等他们抵达巢穴的主入口时，蒸汽正从里面滚滚涌出。315
The cavern’s front opening was small but still quite wide enough for a dragon to pass through.洞穴正面的入口虽小，却依然宽得足以让一条龙通过。316
From somewhere deep within, beyond their sight, a deep, throaty muttering rose and fell.在他们看不见的洞穴深处，低沉而粗哑的嘟囔声时高时低。317
“Can the dragon use spells?”“那条龙会施法吗？”318
Akabar asked the halfling, concerned that the beast might have other, hidden talents.阿卡巴问半身人，担心那头野兽或许还藏着别的本领。319
“No. She’s just cursing,” the halfling explained.“不会。她只是在骂人，”半身人解释道。320
“The old girl talks to herself, deciding what she should do, where she should go, who she should eat, and so on.“那个老家伙总爱自言自语，琢磨自己该做什么、该去哪里、该吃掉谁，诸如此类。321
All that stuff.”全是这种事。”322
Alias said grimly, “Can we just seal her in and get out of here before she reaches a decision?”阿莉亚丝冷冷地说：“我们能不能直接把她封在里面，趁她还没拿定主意赶紧离开这里？”323
Akabar held the scroll out at arm’s length and began intoning its spell in a low, melodic voice.阿卡巴把卷轴伸到一臂之外，开始用低沉而富有韵律的声音吟诵上面的咒语。324
Every so often, he would glance up at the entrance, then back to the paper.他不时抬头瞥一眼入口，随即又低头看向卷轴。325
Alias looked at her sword arm, but the symbols remained inert.阿莉亚丝看了看自己持剑的手臂，但那些符号依旧毫无动静。326
Relief was quickly replaced by a sensation of horror as she spotted Ruskettle ambling over the stones directly toward the cavern’s mouth.可当她发现拉斯凯特尔正踩着石头，悠然自得地径直走向洞口时，那份宽慰立刻化作一阵惊恐。327
The small humanoid took up a position some twenty yards from the cavern and cupped her hands before her mouth.那个小小的类人生物在离洞穴约二十码的地方站定，双手拢在嘴边。328
She bellowed, or at least shouted as loud as a small creature could, “Heyyy, Misty!”她放声大吼——至少是以一个小个子所能发出的最大音量喊道：“嘿——米斯蒂！”329
All at once, the mutterings in the cavern stopped.洞穴里的嘟囔声顿时停了下来。330
Alias held her breath.阿莉亚丝屏住了呼吸。331
Akabar looked up and almost scrambled the spell by missing an inflection.阿卡巴抬起头，因为漏了一个语调变化，差点把法术念乱。332
He continued to read aloud, though faster than before.他继续高声诵读，只是比先前快了许多。333
Alias looked for Dragonbait, but the lizard was bounding over the rock-strewn hillside toward the halfling.阿莉亚丝四下寻找龙饵，却见那只蜥蜴正越过遍布岩石的山坡，朝半身人飞奔而去。334
Ruskettle continued her taunting.拉斯凯特尔继续出言挑衅。335
“We made it, you big sack of shoe leather!“我们成功了，你这个装满鞋皮的大口袋！336
We got out, and I’m going to tell everyone you’re an oath-breaker!我们逃出来了，而且我要告诉所有人，你是个背弃誓言的家伙！337
You jackass-faced salamander!”你这只长着驴脸的蝾螈！”338
Dragonbait was only halfway to the halfling’s position when a deep rumbling came from within the mountain, like the sound of an erupting volcano.龙饵离半身人的位置才走到一半，山腹中便传来一阵低沉的隆隆声，犹如火山喷发。339
The mage quickened his verbal pace yet again.法师再次加快了念咒的语速。340
Alias was torn between worrying that the mage’s speed would spoil the scroll’s spell and that the wall created wouldn’t be large enough to cover the lair’s entrance or strong enough to stop a dragon.阿莉亚丝左右为难，既担心法师念得太快会破坏卷轴上的法术，又担心造出的石墙不够大，无法封住巢穴入口，或是不够坚固，挡不住一条龙。341
“Oath-breaker, Fight-faker!” brayed the halfling.“背誓鬼，假打鬼！”半身人扯着嗓子叫道。342
Twin amber lights appeared far within the cavern, growing larger by the second.洞穴深处亮起两点琥珀色的光芒，并且一刻不停地变大。343
They framed a red, open mouth set with swordlike teeth.两点光芒之间，是一张血红的大嘴，里面长满了利剑般的牙齿。344
“Flame-brain, Lame-brain, Tame-brain, oooff—” The halfling’s jeers were lost in a sharp exhalation as Dragonbait slammed into her, knocking her down the hillside for the second time in ten minutes.“喷火蠢蛋，瘸腿笨蛋，温顺软蛋，呜噢——”龙饵猛地撞上半身人，她的嘲骂顿时化作一声短促的闷哼；这已是十分钟内，她第二次被撞得滚下山坡。345
The rising roar of the oncoming dragon now hurt Alias’s ears.迎面冲来的巨龙吼声越来越响，震得阿莉亚丝双耳生疼。346
Akabar was shouting as well, spitting out the last phrases of the incantation.阿卡巴也在大声呼喊，急促地吐出咒语最后的几个短句。347
The scroll itself was being consumed by the force of the magics and was burning bright yellow in the merchant-mage’s hands.卷轴本身正被魔法的力量吞噬，在商人法师手中燃起耀眼的黄光。348
Everything broke loose in the span of a breath.一息之间，一切骤然爆发。349
Mist’s body appeared from the darkness, visible in the sunlight that shone only a little way into the cavern.米斯特的身躯从黑暗中现了出来，进入了只能照进洞穴不远处的阳光里。350
The dragon was flying low and fast, about to shoot through the small opening, falling upon the party like a hawk among sparrows.巨龙贴地疾飞，眼看就要穿过那道狭小的洞口，像扑入麻雀群的鹰一般扑向众人。351
Then there was a great whooshing noise, and a huge wall of stone blocked the party’s view of the monster.紧接着，一阵巨大的呼啸声响起，一堵庞大的石墙挡住了众人望向怪物的视线。352
They heard, however, a bone-crushing smash coming from the far side of the wall, and saw the barrier arc outward at its center, trying to contain the force of several tons of wyrm flying at top speed.然而，他们听见墙的另一面传来一声足以粉碎骨头的巨响，还看见屏障中央向外拱起，竭力承受着一头重达数吨、全速飞行的巨龙所带来的冲击。353
When the wall bulged, Alias was sure that the magical mortar would give.石墙鼓起时，阿莉亚丝确信那魔法灰浆一定会撑不住。354
Astonishingly, it held, even losing half of the bulge by springing back some.令人震惊的是，它竟然撑住了，甚至还向后弹回了一些，消去了近一半的凸起。355
Silence descended on the mountain meadow.山间草甸上顿时一片寂静。356
Akabar collapsed by the burned remains of the scroll and put his head in his hands.阿卡巴瘫坐在卷轴烧焦的残骸旁，双手抱住了头。357
Ruskettle picked herself off the ground, scowled at the lizard, and shouted down at Alias, “That was hard work.拉斯凯特尔从地上爬起来，怒视着那个蜥蜴人，又朝山下的阿莉亚丝喊道：“这可真够累人的。358
When do we eat?”我们什么时候吃饭？”359
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听