In the backyard of Dimswart Manor, two days journey from the mountains, in the countryside near Suzail, laughter and the clink of fine crystal filled the wedding tent.在距离群山两天路程、苏萨尔附近乡间的迪姆斯沃特庄园后院里，婚宴帐篷中充满了欢笑声和精致水晶杯碰撞的清脆声响。1
Now and then the multi-colored cloth walls shivered as some high-spirited child ran into the slender, black vloon wood rods supporting the sides.不时会有哪个兴奋过头的孩子撞上支撑帐篷四壁的纤细黑色弗隆木杆，五彩斑斓的布墙便随之一阵颤动。2
The white roof wafted alarmingly each time some tired or drunken soul leaned against the huge center pole that supported the tent roof.每当某个疲惫或醉醺醺的人靠上支撑篷顶的巨大中柱，白色的帐篷顶都会令人心惊地飘摇起来。3
Alias and Akabar had arrived late the previous night, mud-spattered and exhausted, but with a famous bard on the pony between them.阿莉亚丝和阿卡巴前一晚很晚才抵达，两人浑身泥点，疲惫不堪，中间那匹小马上却驮着一位著名的吟游诗人。4
Dragonbait loped along behind them since he refused to ride.龙饵大步跟在他们身后，因为他不肯骑马。5
Fortunately, he’d had no trouble keeping up with the group.幸好，他毫不费力就跟上了众人。6
The lady of the house welcomed them with as much hospitality as she could, considering her home was already full of visitors, all certain of their supreme importance in the scheme of things.女主人竭尽所能地热情款待了他们，尽管她家里已经住满了宾客，而且个个都深信自己在这世间举足轻重。7
Small but comfortable rooms were found for the adventurers in the servant’s wing.仆役厢房里为这些冒险者腾出了几间不大却舒适的房间。8
Their hostess insisted they attend the wedding, though it was obvious to Alias that she did so only because it would be awkward to ask them to leave.女主人坚持要他们出席婚礼，尽管阿莉亚丝看得出来，她这么做只是因为开口请他们离开未免太尴尬。9
Gratitude for the service they’d just rendered was the last thing on Lady Leona’s mind.至于他们刚刚帮过她的忙，莉奥娜夫人根本没把感激这回事放在心上。10
She had given Alias the distinct impression that, in her opinion, fighting a dragon was a snap compared to planning a wedding for three hundred people.她让阿莉亚丝清楚地感觉到，在她看来，与筹办一场三百人的婚礼相比，和巨龙搏斗简直易如反掌。11
More suitable attire was found for the female guest—a sky-blue strapless gown with leggings and a capelet.他们为这位女客找来了一套更合适的服装——一件天蓝色无肩带长裙，配有紧身裤和一件小披肩。12
One accessory had been added, a pair of arm-length, fingerless gloves, no doubt supplied to cover up her “affliction.”此外还添了一样配饰：一双长及手臂、不包手指的手套，无疑是用来遮掩她的“病症”的。13
Alias was uncomfortable in the gown, despite the good fit and excellent cloth.尽管长裙十分合身，衣料也极为上乘，阿莉亚丝穿着它还是很不自在。14
She felt naked without her armor, and she kept tripping over the skirt.没有铠甲裹身，她觉得自己仿佛赤身裸体，而且总是被裙摆绊到。15
You’d think I’d never worn a dress in my life, she chided herself the third time she’d neglected to lift the hem and stepped on it.第三次忘记提起裙摆、一脚踩上去时，她暗暗斥责自己：瞧我这样，别人准会以为我这辈子从没穿过裙子。16
After all, I wasn’t born in armor.毕竟，我又不是生来就穿着铠甲。17
As far as her unreliable memory could recollect, she had worn dresses before becoming an adventurer.据她那并不可靠的记忆所能回想起来的，在成为冒险者之前，她也穿过裙子。18
Even after she took up the sword, she’d risked teasing from the male members of her party and allowed herself the luxury of a more feminine wardrobe while she stayed in town.甚至在拿起长剑之后，她待在城里时也甘愿冒着被队伍里的男性成员取笑的风险，奢侈地穿些更有女人味的衣服。19
That thought reminded her of her purpose in remaining here.这个念头提醒了她留在这里的目的。20
Dimswart had uncovered information on the sigils, but wouldn’t have time to review it with her until after the wedding.迪姆斯沃特查到了一些关于那些符印的资料，但要等婚礼结束后才有时间和她一起查看。21
She scanned the crowd anxiously for the father of the bride, hoping that he might have a moment to give her some clue, something that would make the wait, in this warm tent full of frivolous people, bearable.她焦急地在人群中搜寻新娘的父亲，希望他能抽出片刻，给她一点线索，让她在这顶温暖而又挤满轻浮之人的帐篷里等待时不至于那么难熬。22
Dimswart was mingling through the crowd, looking as jolly as a trader who has deceived the tax collector.迪姆斯沃特正在人群中四处应酬，喜气洋洋得活像个骗过税吏的商人。23
When Alias spotted him, he was lending a friendly ear to a gathering of his daughter’s friends, no doubt hearing a saintly version of the bride’s last night of freedom.阿莉亚丝发现他时，他正亲切地听女儿的一群朋友说话；毫无疑问，她们讲的是新娘最后一个自由之夜的圣洁版本。24
Shrieks and giggles emanating from the bride’s quarters had kept Alias awake into the small hours of the morning.新娘住处传出的尖叫和咯咯笑声，害得阿莉亚丝一直到凌晨才睡着。25
Yet, the bride looked fresh as morning, and though she was important enough to warrant a seat, she would not stay in it.然而，新娘看起来却像清晨一样神采奕奕；她的身份尊贵，足以享有座位，却怎么也不肯老实坐着。26
Instead, she roamed the tent and the lawn in her white gown, with the crest of her upswept hair bobbing like peacock feathers.她反而穿着一袭白色礼服，在帐篷与草坪间四处游走，高高盘起的发髻顶端起伏摇曳，宛如孔雀翎羽。27
Nothing holding that girl up but the stays in her bodice, and nothing keeping her moving but nervous energy, Alias thought.这姑娘全靠紧身胸衣里的撑骨才没倒下，也全靠紧张过度的精力才走得动，阿莉亚丝心想。28
The bride, Gaylyn, had greeted everyone, even taken a moment to thank Alias for all her help.新娘盖琳向每个人都打了招呼，甚至还特意抽空感谢阿莉亚丝帮了这么多忙。29
It was doubtful she knew exactly what Alias had done, since she’d greeted many people with the same platitude, but she seemed in earnest.她到底知不知道阿莉亚丝做了些什么，实在很难说，因为她也用同样的客套话问候了许多人，不过她看起来倒是真心诚意。30
She’d go far in court, Alias decided, even without help from her new in-laws.阿莉亚丝断定，即使没有新姻亲的帮助，她在宫廷里也会前途无量。31
The groom, Lord Frefford Wyvernspur, towed along by his new bride, sparkled almost as brilliantly, dressed in the green and gold of his family, the Wyvernspurs of Immersea.新郎弗雷福德·飞龙刺勋爵被新婚妻子牵着到处走，身穿伊默海飞龙刺家族的绿金两色服饰，也显得几乎同样光彩照人。32
The wedding was the social event of the season and, in a spirit of festive goodwill, the imported nobility bumped elbows against the local hoi palloi.这场婚礼是本季最盛大的社交盛事；在节庆的友善气氛中，外来的贵族与本地的平民百姓摩肩接踵。33
His Majesty, Azoun IV, remained in court in Suzail on the advice of the court wizard, Vangerdahast.国王陛下阿祖恩四世听从宫廷法师范格达海斯特的建议，留在苏萨尔的王廷中。34
However, a number of lesser Cormyrian lords and ladies were present to benefit from meetings and conversations with the heads of rising Suzail merchant households and local freeman leaders.不过，仍有不少地位较低的科米尔贵族男女到场，好借着会面和交谈，从苏萨尔新兴商贾家族的族长及本地自由民领袖那里获益。35
Alias caught a glimpse of swirling crimson and white on the far side of the tent.阿莉亚丝瞥见帐篷另一边有一抹绯红与白色在旋动。36
Akabar’s head poked above the press of shorter Cormyrians.阿卡巴的脑袋从一群身材较矮的科米尔人头顶冒了出来。37
Tired of being a stranger among so many, she decided that even the foreigner’s company would be preferable to standing alone.她厌倦了在这么多人中间形单影只，便觉得就算与那个异乡人作伴，也好过独自站着。38
Elbowing her way through the crowd, she caught fragments of conversation.她用手肘在人群中挤出一条路，沿途听见了只言片语。39
“Well, if you ask me,” said one bass voice, “they should have had a cleric of Ilmater there.“要我说啊，”一个低沉的嗓音说道，“他们本该请一位伊尔梅特的牧师到场。40
God of endurance, suffering, and perseverance.”那可是坚忍、苦难与不屈之神。”41
Alias gave a derisive snort.阿莉亚丝轻蔑地哼了一声。42
Considering the confusion caused by having four clerics at the marriage ceremony, a fifth might just have helped start a jihad.婚礼仪式上有四位牧师就已经闹得一团糟，再来第五位，恐怕正好能挑起一场圣战。43
The swordswoman recalled the moment when both the bishop of Chauntea and the patron of Oghma stepped forward at the same time to offer the blessing.这位女剑士回想起裳提阿的主教与欧格玛的祭司同时上前赐福的那一刻。44
For seven heartbeats the priest and priestess stood, staring stonily at each other until the male bishop bowed deeply and surrendered the floor.整整七次心跳的时间里，那一男一女两位祭司冷冷地对视着，最后男主教深深鞠了一躬，把发言的位置让了出来。45
“If you must know,” a disconnected whisper confided, “we dressed in blackface and wrote filthy slogans on the side of the citadel.“你非要知道的话，”一个不知从哪里飘来的低语悄声透露道，“我们把脸涂黑，在城堡外墙上写了些下流标语。46
Horrible, horrible things about Princess Tanalasta and a centaur.”都是些关于塔娜拉斯塔公主和一名半人马的可怕、可怕的话。”47
A strong political statement, Alias thought sarcastically.真是强有力的政治宣言，阿莉亚丝讥讽地想。48
“Go ahead, Giogi,” a slurred female voice encouraged some unseen gentleman.“来吧，乔吉，”一个口齿不清的女声怂恿着某位看不见的绅士。49
“Do your impression of His Majesty.“学学陛下的样子吧。50
Giogi does the most on-target imitation, you can just close your eyes and picture the old stuffed codger.乔吉模仿得最惟妙惟肖，你只要闭上眼睛，就能想象出那个老古董的模样。51
You know that line he always uses, ‘Let me state, O people of Cormyr, my people.’你知道他总挂在嘴边的那句话，‘请允许我声明，科米尔的人民啊，我的人民。’52
Everyone says that even Azoun himself would do a double take.大家都说，就连阿祖恩本人听了也会惊讶得再看一眼。53
Pleeease, Giogi.”求你啦，乔吉。”54
Yes, please, Giogi, the swordswoman begged silently.是啊，求你了，乔吉，女剑士在心里恳求道。55
Anything to keep the woman from whining.只要能让那个女人别再哼哼唧唧，怎样都好。56
“No, you’re quite wrong,” a gravelly male voice replied in a different conversation.“不，你完全错了，”另一个谈话圈里，一个沙哑的男声回答道。57
“The problems in the Moonshaes are completely local.“月影群岛的问题完全是当地的问题。58
The rise of their goddess has nothing to do with the tenets of Chauntea’s faith.”他们那位女神的崛起与裳提阿信仰的教义毫无关系。”59
Alias shook her head incredulously at the speaker’s arrogant assurance.听着那人傲慢而笃定的口气，阿莉亚丝难以置信地摇了摇头。60
As a traveled adventurer she knew better.身为一个游历四方的冒险者，她知道事实并非如此。61
No problem was ever completely local; problems rippled through the Realms from shore to shore.没有任何问题会仅仅局限于一地；问题会像涟漪般扩散，从一处海岸传到另一处海岸，遍及诸界。62
Now where did I hear that line before? she wondered.我以前是在哪里听过这句话来着？她心想。63
“Lady Alias?” a familiar voice addressed her.“阿莉亚丝女士？”一个熟悉的声音叫她。64
“I trust you’re having a fine time?”“我相信您玩得很开心吧？”65
Alias turned and blinked twice to accustom her eyes to the shadowed side of the tent.阿莉亚丝转过身，眨了两下眼睛，好让双眼适应帐篷阴暗的那一侧。66
Dimswart stood, his comrade-in-ale, the priest Winefiddle, right behind.迪姆斯沃特站在那里，他的酒友酒琴牧师就站在身后。67
Each held a foaming mug of beer.两人手里各端着一杯泛着泡沫的啤酒。68
“Yes, yes I am,” Alias replied politely, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.“是的，是的，我很开心，”阿莉亚丝礼貌地答道，将一缕散落的头发从脸上拨开。69
“I was just trying to cross the room, but it’s like wading through soft sand.”“我只是想穿过这间屋子，可感觉就像在松软的沙地里跋涉。”70
She could not meet the eyes of the cleric.她无法直视那位牧师的眼睛。71
In addition to trying to kill him, she had also cheated his church of his fee.她不仅曾试图杀死他，还赖掉了本该付给他教会的那笔酬金。72
But Winefiddle smiled absently at her, and the sage nodded in blank agreement.但酒琴只是心不在焉地朝她笑了笑，那位智者也茫然地点头附和。73
Their faces were both more flushed than the heat in the tent warranted, and they swayed from side to side, bumping into each other.两人的脸都红得不像只是帐篷里的暑热所致，而且还左右摇晃，不时撞到彼此。74
Giving her elbow a little fatherly squeeze, Dimswart bellowed over the noise, “We’ll talk about your little problem just as soon as Leona and I get the children off.迪姆斯沃特像父亲似的轻轻捏了捏她的胳膊肘，扯着嗓门压过周围的喧闹声：“等我和莉奥娜把孩子们送走，我们马上就来谈谈你那点小麻烦。75
That way I’ll get out of the clean-up.”这样我就能躲过收拾残局的活儿了。”76
He laughed, and some of the ale sloshed from his mug.他大笑起来，杯里的麦酒也泼洒出了一些。77
“Have you eaten?“你吃过东西了吗？78
Had a mug?”喝过一杯没有？”79
Alias shook her head, and Winefiddle pressed his flagon into her hands.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头，酒琴便把自己的大酒杯塞进她手里。80
“Hardly touched,” he slurred.“几乎没动过。”他含糊不清地说道。81
Alias smiled nervously and, not wishing to give the curate any further cause for offense, took a swig.阿莉亚丝紧张地笑了笑，不想再给这位助理牧师任何见怪的理由，便喝了一大口。82
The ale was as vile as The Hidden Lady’s.这麦酒和“隐秘女士”的酒一样难喝。83
“No more, thanks,” Alias said, passing the mug back to Winefiddle.“不了，谢谢。”阿莉亚丝说着，把酒杯递还给酒琴。84
“I think I’d better keep keep my wits about me.”“我想我最好还是保持、保持清醒。”85
The curate shrugged and took a long, hearty draught.助理牧师耸了耸肩，痛痛快快地喝了一大口。86
Alias excused herself and plunged back into the crowd in the direction she’d last seen Akabar’s head.阿莉亚丝告辞离开，又一头扎进人群，朝她最后看见阿卡巴脑袋的方向挤去。87
She spotted Olive Ruskettle seated on a small bench in front of the wedding table, leaning low over her yarting as she tuned it so she could hear the strings over the noise of the crowd.她看见奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔坐在婚宴主桌前的一张小凳子上，低低俯身凑近她的雅廷琴调着音，好让自己能盖过人群的喧闹听见琴弦声。88
Alias’s attention was drawn away to Akabar, who was watching something with great amusement.阿莉亚丝的注意力又被阿卡巴吸引了过去，他正兴致勃勃地看着什么。89
Empty crystal cups rose and fell above the heads of the crowd in an ever increasing number.越来越多的空水晶杯在人群头顶上方起起落落。90
How odd.真奇怪。91
I would have thought jugglers too common for Lady Leona, Alias puzzled.阿莉亚丝纳闷地想，我还以为莉奥娜夫人会觉得杂耍艺人太俗气呢。92
“Higher taxes will be the death of me,” complained a voice in the milling crowd.“再加税我可就活不下去了。”拥挤的人群中有个声音抱怨道。93
“A lovely couple,” an elderly woman declared.“真是般配的一对。”一位老妇人断言道。94
“I wonder if he’s told her about his second cousin.“不知道他有没有把自己那个二代表亲的事告诉她。95
The one who went quite mad and became an adventurer, you remember?”就是那个彻底疯了、跑去当冒险者的人，你记得吧？”96
“Oh, go ahead, Giogi,” wheedled the slurred female voice Alias recognized from earlier.“哦，来嘛，乔吉，”阿莉亚丝认出是先前那个口齿含混的女声，正撒娇央求着。97
“Just once.“就来一次。98
He really does sound just like King Azoun.”他听起来真的和阿祖恩国王一模一样。”99
Finally, Alias squeezed between the multi-hued bodies and stood beside Akabar.终于，阿莉亚丝从一片五颜六色的人影间挤了过去，站到阿卡巴身旁。100
Upon spying the juggler though, she growled with annoyance.然而，一看到那个杂耍艺人，她便恼火地低吼了一声。101
Dragonbait lay on the ground dressed in fool’s motley, tossing and catching seven pieces of Lady Leona’s crystal with all four feet and his tail.龙饵身穿小丑的彩衣，躺在地上，用四只脚和尾巴抛接着莉奥娜夫人的七件水晶器皿。102
Akabar was just tossing an eighth cup into the fray.阿卡巴正把第八只杯子抛进那纷飞的器皿之中。103
The clear hemisphere landed in the lizard’s right front claw and scribed a complicated journey behind its mates from right front to left rear to right rear to left front to tail, and finally bounced up in a high arc by the tail to land again in the right front claw.那只透明的半球落入蜥蜴的右前爪，跟在同伴后面划出一道复杂的轨迹，从右前爪传到左后爪，再到右后爪、左前爪和尾巴，最后被尾巴高高弹起，划出一道弧线，重新落回右前爪中。104
Already an admiring crowd had gathered, allowing the lizard more open space in the mob than anyone else had received.一群赞叹不已的观众早已围拢过来，让蜥蜴在拥挤的人群中拥有了比任何人都宽敞的空地。105
“What’s he doing here?”“他怎么会在这里？”106
Alias hissed to Akabar.阿莉亚丝压低声音，冲阿卡巴嘶声问道。107
“It’s called juggling.“这叫杂耍。108
Don’t you have that in the north?”你们北方没有吗？”109
The mage grinned as he added a cup to the bobbing glassware.法师咧嘴一笑，又往上下翻飞的玻璃器皿中添了一只杯子。110
“I can see that,” Alias replied, beginning to lose her patience.“我看得出来，”阿莉亚丝答道，开始失去耐心。111
“Why?”“为什么？”112
Akabar shrugged.阿卡巴耸了耸肩。113
“Some northern women assumed he was a pet and began tossing him food.“有几个北方女人以为他是宠物，就开始朝他扔吃的。114
In their excitement, they began bombarding him, actually.实际上，她们一兴奋起来，简直是在拿食物狂轰滥炸他。115
Rather than appear impolite he began juggling what he couldn’t eat.为了不显得失礼，他便把吃不下的东西玩起了杂耍。116
I thought it would be easier and cleaner to toss cups than fruit salad.”我觉得，扔杯子总比扔水果沙拉来得容易，也干净些。”117
“But he’s not supposed to be here,” Alias insisted through clenched teeth.“可他不该在这里，”阿莉亚丝咬紧牙关坚持道。118
“I told him to stay in my room.”“我叫他待在我的房间里。”119
Suddenly, Lady Leona broke through the crowd, and the party-goers went deathly quiet.突然，莉奥娜夫人冲破人群闯了进来，参加宴会的人顿时鸦雀无声。120
The noisiest members of the group turned away hastily to engage themselves in the more civilized pastime of conversation.其中闹得最凶的几个人赶紧转过身去，装作投身于交谈这种更文明的消遣。”121
The mother of the bride gave a polite but firm cough, such as a god might make on the last day’s dawning.新娘的母亲礼貌却不容置疑地轻咳了一声，仿佛神祇在末日破晓时发出的咳声。122
Dragonbait lost his concentration, and eight cups tumbled to the grass.龙饵一分神，八只杯子便跌落到草地上。123
The ninth cup bounced off his nose, and he looked up sheepishly at Lady Leona.第九只杯子从他的鼻子上弹开，他难为情地抬头望向莉奥娜夫人。124
Dimswart’s wife glared at Alias.迪姆斯沃特的妻子怒视着阿莉亚丝。125
“If you are quite through with your pet, I would like to signal for the professional entertainment to begin.”“如果你和你的宠物已经闹够了，我想发信号请专业艺人开始表演。”126
“He’s not my …” began Alias, but Lady Leona swirled about and headed for the wedding party’s table.“他不是我的……”阿莉亚丝刚开口，莉奥娜夫人便猛地转过身，朝婚宴主桌走去。127
The crowd parted for her as a rank of archers breaks at the arrival of a formation of lancers.人群纷纷为她让路，如同一列弓箭手在一队长枪骑兵到来时迅速散开。128
Alias hustled the lizard to his feet.阿莉亚丝赶紧把蜥蜴人拽了起来。129
“Where did you get that ridiculous getup?” she asked, tugging on the silk motley.“你从哪里弄来这身荒唐行头的？”她扯着那件丝绸丑角服问道。130
Dragonbait smiled and spun about so she could see the whole outfit.龙饵笑了笑，原地转了一圈，好让她看清整套装束。131
Little bells attached to the costume jangled.缀在衣服上的小铃铛叮当作响。132
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。133
“Pick up the cups,” she ordered, pointing to the crystal on the ground.“把杯子捡起来。”她指着地上的水晶杯命令道。134
With exaggerated care the lizard obeyed, stacking the glittering hemispheres on the table with the punch bowl.蜥蜴人故意摆出一副极其小心的样子照办了，把那些闪闪发亮的半球形杯子摞在盛着潘趣酒碗的桌上。135
Lady Leona’s voice rang out from the wedding table.莉奥娜夫人的声音从婚宴主桌那边响起。136
“Attention, everyone.“请大家注意。”137
Lords and ladies.”“各位爵爷，各位夫人。”138
The tent quieted to a low hum, and the mother of the bride continued.帐篷里渐渐安静下来，只剩低低的嗡嗡声，新娘的母亲继续说道。139
“I am very pleased to introduce Olive Ruskettle, master bard and songsmith.“我非常荣幸地向大家介绍吟游诗人大师兼歌匠奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。”140
Mistress Ruskettle has composed an ode to commemorate the joining of our two families.”“拉斯凯特尔女士谱写了一首颂歌，以纪念我们两个家族的结合。”141
Polite applause followed, and then people were still again.众人礼貌地鼓掌，随后又安静下来。142
Alias decided to take advantage of the temporary emptiness of the doorway to escort Dragonbait back to their room.阿莉亚丝决定趁门口暂时无人，护送龙饵回他们的房间。143
She grabbed a handful of the baggy motley and began tugging him away from the crowd.她一把抓住那件肥大的丑角服，开始把他拽离人群。144
Whimpering slightly, he pointed at Olive.他轻声呜咽着，指了指奥利芙。145
“I think he wants to hear the bard sing,” Akabar said.“我想他是想听那位吟游诗人唱歌。”阿卡巴说道。146
Alias sighed in resignation.阿莉亚丝无奈地叹了口气。147
Dragonbait folded his arms and tilted his head, the very archetype of a music connoisseur.龙饵抱起双臂，歪着脑袋，俨然一副音乐鉴赏家的标准派头。148
Except for being a lizard.只不过他是只蜥蜴。149
Ruskettle began strumming the yarting.拉斯凯特尔拨响了雅亭琴。150
The opening chords sounded to Alias like those the bard had used to taunt the dragon three days ago.在阿莉亚丝听来，开头的和弦很像三天前那位吟游诗人用来挑衅巨龙的曲调。151
Though the halfling sang well and her tune was catchy, conversations continued about the edges of the tent, out of earshot of the hostess.尽管这名半身人歌唱得不错，曲调也很动听，帐篷四周却依然有人交谈，只是离得很远，女主人听不见。152
Alias caught the words of a nasal voice.阿莉亚丝听见一个带着鼻音的嗓音说了几句话。153
“As I said to Sir Rafner, taxes.“就像我跟拉夫纳爵士说的，税。”154
Raise taxes.”“提高税赋。”155
“She seems awfully short for a bard,” remarked one of the bride’s girlfriends, “but I wouldn’t know good music if it attacked me in the dark.”“她当吟游诗人是不是矮得太过分了？”新娘的一位女友说道，“不过，就算好音乐在黑暗里袭击我，我也认不出来。”156
“Not much, just fourteen or fifteen mugs,” a drunken voice insisted from the ale table.“没喝多少，也就十四五杯。”麦酒桌旁一个醉醺醺的声音坚持道。157
“Giogi, do it for me, please?”“乔吉，就为我来一次嘛，好不好？”158
For gods’ sake, Giogi, Alias thought, would you just get it over with?看在诸神的份上，乔吉，阿莉亚丝心想，你就不能赶紧做完了事吗？159
Giogioni Wyvernspur sighed.乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺叹了口气。160
Minda would not quit asking him to repeat the imitation until he complied.明达不停央求他再模仿一次，不答应便不肯罢休。161
He should never have done it for her in the first place.他一开始就不该模仿给她看。162
Giogi was not a young man of much sense, but he had enough to realize that his cousin Freffie’s wedding reception was not the sort of place one did imitations of one’s sovereign king.乔吉并不是个多有头脑的年轻人，但他至少明白，在堂妹弗雷菲的婚宴上模仿自己的君王，实在不合时宜。163
His only hope lay in getting it over with quickly and quietly.他唯一的指望，就是尽快悄悄把这事应付过去。164
Alias heard a young man’s voice reply, “All right.”阿莉亚丝听见一个年轻男子答道：“好吧。”165
“Hooray, Giogi!” the woman cheered.“乔吉万岁！”那女人欢呼道。166
“Finally,” Alias mumbled.“总算要来了。”阿莉亚丝咕哝道。167
“Let me gather myself,” Giogi said.“让我先酝酿一下。”乔吉说。168
Then his voice changed, becoming deeper, huskier, masking the squeakiness of youth and taking on a mountain lander’s burr.接着，他的声音变了，变得更低沉、更沙哑，掩去了年轻人嗓音里的尖细，带上了山地人的浓重口音。169
“My Cormytes.“我的科米尔子民。170
My People.我的人民。171
As your king, as King Azoun, and as King Azoun IV, I must say that the need to raise your taxes is a result of the direct depravations of …”作为你们的国王，作为阿祖恩国王，也就是阿祖恩四世，我必须说，提高赋税实乃……直接败坏的结果……”172
The voice dropped to a whisper.声音低成了耳语。173
“Vangy, who is being depraved this time?”“范吉，这回是谁在搞败坏？”174
Alias’s breath quickened.阿莉亚丝的呼吸急促起来。175
She focused her attention on Giogi’s altered voice.她把注意力集中在乔吉变了样的声音上。176
To her, the rest of the chatter died away, leaving only the husky tone.对她而言，其余的嘈杂声全都消失了，只剩下那沙哑的嗓音。177
A powerfully sinister feeling swept over her, leaving her dizzy.一股强烈而邪恶的感觉席卷了她，令她头晕目眩。178
The crowd was suffocating her.人群压得她喘不过气来。179
Her arm began to ache miserably.她的手臂开始疼得厉害。180
Nearby she heard a growl.她听见附近传来一声低吼。181
Panic rose in Alias.恐慌在阿莉亚丝心中升起。182
Her body was moving of its own accord, just as it had when she nearly killed Winefiddle.她的身体正自行行动，就像她差点杀死酒琴时一样。183
She tried to hold herself still, fight the urge to lunge at the Wyvernspur noble, but without success.她竭力让自己一动不动，抗拒扑向那位飞龙刺家贵族的冲动，却毫无用处。184
Far off she heard women screaming and men shouting.她听见远处有女人尖叫，男人呼喊。185
Something nearby was burning.附近有什么东西烧了起来。186
Standing right beside Alias, Akabar felt her stiffen.阿卡巴就站在阿莉亚丝身旁，感觉到她的身体猛然僵住。187
He noticed the smell of smoke almost immediately.他几乎立刻就闻到了烟味。188
With horror he watched the glove that covered her tattoos blister and burn away.他惊恐地看着遮住她纹身的手套起泡、燃烧，最终化为灰烬。189
Then he heard Alias snarl like a dog, and saw her face contort into a mask of rage.接着，他听见阿莉亚丝像狗一样咆哮，并看见她的脸扭曲成一副狂怒的面具。190
Dragonbait turned to look at her in confusion.龙饵困惑地转头看她。191
When Akabar laid a hand on her left arm to offer his assistance, she shoved both man and beast away with unbelievable strength, propelling herself in the opposite direction.阿卡巴把一只手放到她的左臂上，想要帮忙，她却以令人难以置信的力量将一人一兽都推开，借势朝相反的方向冲去。192
With murder in her eyes, Alias leaped onto Giogi.阿莉亚丝眼中杀意毕露，猛地扑向乔吉。193
She landed on top of him with a scream, her hands about his throat in an instant.她尖叫着扑到他身上，双手瞬间扼住了他的喉咙。194
She might have wrung his neck, but she caught sight of a long, sharp knife used to cut pies and cake.她本来很可能会拧断他的脖子，却瞥见了一把切馅饼和蛋糕用的细长利刀。195
She reached for it, but lost her grip on the young man as she did so.她伸手去拿刀，却因此松开了抓住那年轻人的手。196
Giogi managed to twist away from her, and she plunged the pastry blade into the table where he’d been pinned only a moment before.乔吉趁机扭身逃开，而她则把那把糕点刀狠狠插进了桌面——就在片刻前，他还被她按在那里。197
“I say, I wasn’t that bad,” the green-and-gold-clad noble sputtered.“我说，我也没那么糟吧，”那个身穿绿金两色衣服的贵族结结巴巴地说道。198
“I didn’t want to do it, really.“我真的不想那么做。199
It’s just that Minda kept begging me, you know?”只是明达一直求我，你知道吧？”200
Alias yanked the blade from the tabletop and drew a fresh bead on her target.阿莉亚丝从桌面上拔出刀，再次瞄准了目标。201
Giogi backpedaled furiously.乔吉拼命向后退去。202
Women screamed and several Wyvernspur menfolk, seeing their kin beseiged, shouted a battle cry and moved in on the attacker.女人们尖叫起来，几个飞龙刺家的男人见自家人遭到围攻，便高喊战斗口号，朝袭击者逼近。203
Alias kept them all at bay with the knife.阿莉亚丝用刀逼住众人，不让他们靠近。204
One cocky fellow got too close and received a slash across his cheek to show for it.一个自命不凡的家伙凑得太近，脸颊上挨了一刀，算是得到了教训。205
Several of the groom’s relatives, faced with a mad assassin, fled the area as quickly as possible, leaving the tent sides flapping where they’d torn up the stakes.新郎的几个亲戚面对这个疯狂的刺客，以最快的速度逃离了现场；他们拔掉了固定帐篷侧幕的木桩，留下幕布在风中拍打。206
Olive, her ode interrupted, her audience gone, moved toward the fight.奥利芙的颂歌被打断，听众也跑光了，于是她朝打斗处走去。207
She helped Akabar up from the ground as she demanded, “Just what does she think she’s doing?”她扶起倒在地上的阿卡巴，同时质问道：“她到底以为自己在干什么？”208
“I think the sigils,” Akabar explained in a whisper, “are trying to make her kill that man because he sounds like the king of Cormyr.”“我想，是那些符印，”阿卡巴低声解释道，“它们正试图让她杀掉那个人，因为他的声音听起来像科米尔的国王。”209
Olive glanced over at Giogi, who was now crawling along the ground.奥利芙瞥了一眼正贴着地面爬行的乔吉。210
“But he doesn’t look anything like Azoun.”“可他长得一点也不像阿祖恩。”211
“The sigils don’t know that,” Akabar pointed out, wracking his brain for some way to put the warrior woman out of commission without injuring her too severely.“那些符印可不知道这一点。”阿卡巴指出，同时绞尽脑汁，想找个办法在不让这位女战士受太重伤的情况下制服她。212
A northerner of huge girth tried tackling her from behind.一个身形粗壮得惊人的北方人试图从背后将她扑倒。213
Alias pivoted, jammed an elbow into the man’s belly, and backhanded him in the face with the handle of the knife.阿莉亚丝转过身，一肘猛击那人的肚子，又反手用刀柄抽在他脸上。214
Bleeding from the nose, the man fell into the crowd.那人鼻血直流，一头栽进了人群。215
Having lost her target, Alias’s eyes swept through the tent.目标不见了，阿莉亚丝的目光扫遍整座帐篷。216
She spotted Giogi cowering beneath the punch table.她发现乔吉正蜷缩在果汁桌下面。217
She dove for him just as he managed to scramble to the other side.她朝他猛扑过去，而他恰好手脚并用地逃到了桌子另一边。218
Dimswart, realizing that it would not look good if one of his clients murdered one of his new in-laws, grabbed Akabar’s shoulder.迪姆斯沃特意识到，要是自己的一位主顾杀了自己新结的姻亲，脸面上可不好看，便一把抓住阿卡巴的肩膀。219
“Do something,” he demanded.“快想想办法，”他命令道。220
Akabar nodded his head, but he hadn’t prepared any magical spells that would be useful at a wedding celebration-turned-brawl.阿卡巴点了点头，可他事先准备的法术里，没有一个能在由婚礼庆典演变成的斗殴中派上用场。221
Olive seized control of the situation by grabbing Dragonbait.奥利芙一把抓住龙饵，控制住了局面。222
“We have to stop her!”“我们得阻止她！”223
The lizard cocked his head in confusion.蜥蜴困惑地歪了歪头。224
In a flash of inspiration Akabar cried, “Stop her, before she gets hurt!”阿卡巴灵光一闪，喊道：“快阻止她，别让她受伤！”225
Dragonbait nodded.龙饵点了点头。226
Dodging the confused, fleeing guests, he tackled the central pole of the tent.他闪过那些惊慌逃窜的宾客，猛地撞向帐篷中央的支柱。227
The huge beam slid across the grass, pulling the walls up and the roof down.那根巨大的梁柱从草地上滑过，将四壁向上扯起，帐顶则随之塌落。228
Stakes ripped from the ground, and the pole toppled over with a thud, bringing acres of tent down and putting an end to the pandemonium with a great whoosh.木桩被从地里拔了出来，支柱砰然倒下，大片大片的帐篷随之坍塌，呼啦一声巨响，终结了这场混乱。229
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听