The evening sky over Shadow Gap was overcast except in the far south, where a few stars glittered between the mantle of clouds and the horizon.阴影隘口上方的暮色天空阴云密布，只有遥远的南方，几颗星辰在云幕与地平线之间闪烁。1
Alias exhaled slowly, watching the vapor from her breath rise and drift away in the cool mountain air.阿莉亚丝缓缓呼出一口气，看着白雾在清冷的山间空气中升起、飘散。2
Despite the chill, she was quite comfortable.尽管寒意袭人，她却相当舒适。3
Akabar had not stinted on warm clothing and blankets for their trip north.为这趟北行准备衣物和毛毯时，阿卡巴可丝毫没有吝啬。4
On second watch, Alias looked over at Akabar, who lay under only one wool cover, and his arms over that.值第二班夜哨时，阿莉亚丝望向阿卡巴；他只盖着一条羊毛毯，双臂还露在毯子外面。5
Gently, she dropped a fur hide over him from chin to knees.她轻轻给他盖上一张毛皮，从下巴一直遮到膝盖。6
In no time he pushed most of it aside, and his arms, clad only in his flimsy robe, once again lay exposed to the cold air.没过多久，他便把毛皮大半推到一旁，那双只裹着单薄长袍袖子的手臂又一次暴露在冷空气中。7
Either he’s got some magic trick to keep warm, or he carries the heat of the southern sun inside him, Alias thought.他要么有某种保暖的魔法把戏，要么就是把南方太阳的热力装进了身体里，阿莉亚丝想。8
Olive, under the pretext of keeping the extra bedding dry and safe from marauding beasts, slept on top of most of them.奥利芙借口要让多余的铺盖保持干燥、免遭四处劫掠的野兽糟蹋，睡在了其中大部分铺盖上面。9
In sleep she looked deceptively childlike and innocent, the swordswoman thought.她睡着时看起来像个天真无邪的孩子，极具欺骗性，女剑士心想。10
But Akabar, with his beard and the sun-wrinkles about his eyes, looked older.可阿卡巴留着胡子，眼角还有日晒留下的皱纹，看起来年纪更大。11
Alias studied the sleeping Dragonbait, trying to decide if he looked older or younger.阿莉亚丝端详着熟睡的龙饵，想判断他看起来究竟更年长还是更年轻。12
He slept as peacefully as a child, yet even with his tail drawn up between his legs and curled beneath his head, the power of his warrior’s frame was apparent.他睡得像孩子一样安详，然而即使尾巴收拢在双腿之间，盘曲着垫在头下，他那战士身躯所蕴含的力量依然显而易见。13
Alias wondered if he didn’t sleep, as the saying went, the sleep of the righteous, untroubled by his dreams because he lived up to his own standard of goodness.阿莉亚丝不禁想，他是否正如俗话所说，睡着义人之眠——因为他恪守自己的善良准则，所以梦中也无忧无扰。14
He was neither a slow riser nor one to awaken with a start.他既不会迟迟不醒，也不会猛然惊醒。15
Whenever she awakened him, he opened his eyes curiously, smiled that toothy grin, and gave a pleasant chirp.每当她叫醒他，他都会好奇地睁开眼睛，咧嘴露出牙齿微笑，再愉快地啾叫一声。16
The few times the party had shifted camp in the middle of the night to avoid being stumbled upon by goblins and orcs, Alias had discovered the lizard already awake, lying very still, sniffing the air, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.有几次，为免被哥布林和兽人无意中撞见，一行人半夜转移营地；阿莉亚丝发现那蜥蜴早已醒来，正一动不动地躺着，嗅闻空气，一只手紧握剑柄。17
She wrapped one of her own blankets about the lizard’s shoulders, a custom she’d adopted from her travels with the Company of the Swanmays.她把自己的一条毛毯裹在蜥蜴肩上；这是她与天鹅女团同行时养成的习惯。18
She’d missed the sisterly concern the seven members, all women, had had for one another, but she hadn’t felt comfortable enough among the strangers with whom she now traveled to perform so intimate a gesture … until tonight.那七名成员全是女子，她一直怀念她们彼此间姐妹般的关怀；可在如今结伴而行的这些陌生人当中，她始终没有自在到能做出如此亲昵的举动……直到今晚。19
She thought very hard about Dragonbait, about all he’d done for her, all she knew about him, all the things she felt about him.她全神贯注地想着龙饵，想着他为她做过的一切，想着她对他的全部了解，也想着自己对他的种种感受。20
He was the least human of her companions, he couldn’t talk to her, and she had little idea what went through his mind, yet Dragonbait was the only member of the party she trusted completely.在她的同伴中，他最不像人类；他无法和她说话，她也几乎不知道他心里在想些什么，可龙饵却是队伍里唯一一个她完全信任的成员。21
Regardless of what Olive had said about failing to communicate with him, she knew that the two of them, lizard and swordswoman, had an understanding.不管奥利芙曾怎样说她无法与他沟通，她都知道，他们两个——蜥蜴和女剑士——彼此之间有一种默契。22
“You’re not my bondservant, are you?”“你不是我的契约仆从，对不对？”23
Alias whispered to the sleeping lizard.阿莉亚丝对熟睡的蜥蜴低声说道。24
“You’re my brother.”“你是我的兄弟。”25
She’d never really had any siblings, at least as far as she knew.她从来没有真正拥有过兄弟姐妹，至少据她所知没有。26
Her mother, an uncommunicative fisherman’s widow, had never told her of any, and when her mother died, just after Alias reached her teens, no long-lost relatives appeared at her wake.她母亲是个沉默寡言的渔夫遗孀，从未向她提过她还有什么兄弟姐妹；而在阿莉亚丝刚步入少女时期、母亲去世之后，也没有任何失散多年的亲戚出现在守灵仪式上。27
The following year Alias ran off to avoid being bonded to a decent but unimaginative weaver.第二年，阿莉亚丝逃走了，以免被契约束缚给一个为人正派却毫无想象力的织工。28
It wasn’t until she had insinuated herself into the Swanmays that she felt any kinship to anyone.直到她设法混进天鹅女团，她才第一次对别人产生了亲如家人的感觉。29
The Swanmays had relished the risks and beauty of the open wilderness as much as she did.天鹅女团和她一样，尽情享受着无垠荒野中的危险与美丽。30
Just remembering them now made her throat tighten with emotion.此刻仅仅是想起她们，她便激动得喉头发紧。31
Yet, the feeling she had for Dragonbait, one she was certain he shared, could not possibly be based on mutual interests.然而，她对龙饵的感情——她确信他也有同样的感受——绝不可能建立在共同兴趣之上。32
As far as she knew, they had none.据她所知，他们根本没有共同兴趣。33
His behavior toward her was most definitely the tender protectiveness of a brother.他待她的方式，毫无疑问正是兄长那种温柔的保护。34
Oddly enough, Alias realized that she felt the same way about him.奇怪的是，阿莉亚丝意识到，自己对他也怀有同样的感情。35
And the strength of that feeling without, as she perceived, any logical foundation, was what made her so certain there was no one closer to her in all the world.而在她看来，这种感情明明毫无合乎逻辑的根基，却又如此强烈；正因如此，她才确信，世上再没有任何人比他与她更亲近。36
Despite the admission of her feelings for the lizard, she was no closer to remembering anything about their past association than before.尽管承认了自己对这只蜥蜴的感情，她对于他们过去的关系却仍和之前一样，什么也想不起来。37
Her relationship with Olive was as clear as glass.她与奥利芙的关系则清楚得如同玻璃一般。38
Alias knew she could trust the halfling to look after the halfling first, the party’s possessions second, and everyone else probably not at all.阿莉亚丝知道，这个半身人首先会照顾好自己，其次是队伍的财物，至于其他所有人，她大概根本不会放在心上。39
Though the bard had shown one flash of bravado in Mist’s lair, taunting the dragon long enough for Alias to get back on her feet, bravado was not the same as courage, and had nothing at all to do with heroism.尽管这位吟游诗人在米斯特的巢穴里曾有过片刻的逞勇，嘲弄那条龙，为阿莉亚丝争取到了重新站起来的时间，但逞勇并不等同于勇气，更与英雄气概毫无关系。40
Alias realized that Olive would weigh every risk against how much treasure she estimated lay at the end of Alias’s quest.阿莉亚丝意识到，奥利芙会把每一项风险，都同她估算在阿莉亚丝这场冒险的终点能找到多少财宝权衡一番。41
Akabar was a little more complicated.阿卡巴的情况则稍微复杂一些。42
He was on a quest of his own to prove to himself that he was more than a Turmish merchant.他也在进行一场属于自己的冒险，想向自己证明，他并不只是个图米什商人。43
Eager to collect his own adventures to relate to his profiteering wives and, Alias conjectured, probably anxious to keep from returning so soon to a family with little tolerance for such nonsense as adventures.他迫不及待地想积攒一些亲身经历的冒险，好讲给那些唯利是图的妻子们听；而且阿莉亚丝猜测，他大概也很想避免这么快就回到那个几乎容不得“冒险”之类荒唐事的家里。44
Alias was certain that if he hadn’t stumbled across her case, he’d have found some other adventurer to lavish his attentions on.阿莉亚丝确信，如果他没有偶然遇上她这档子事，也会找到别的冒险者，对其大献殷勤。45
She felt she could trust him not to deceive her, but she wasn’t going to count on him to lay down his life for her.她觉得自己可以相信他不会欺骗她，但她可不打算指望他为自己舍命。46
She knew the mage possibly had one other reason for accompanying her, but he had been wise enough to deny it, so she wasn’t going to dwell on it.她知道，这位法师陪伴她或许还有另一个理由，但他很明智地否认了，所以她也不打算对此多想。47
She wasn’t aware she was falling asleep, but when the wreckage of the inn began to shimmer and reform into the building she remembered from years ago, she knew she’d drifted into some dream.她没有意识到自己正在入睡，但当旅店的残骸开始闪烁、重新化作她记忆中多年前的那栋建筑时，她知道自己已经坠入了某个梦境。48
Angrily she tried to shake herself awake, frightened that her dereliction of duty would bring great harm to the party, but she had no success.她恼怒地试图让自己猛然醒来，害怕自己的失职会给队伍带来大祸，却怎么也无法成功。49
The inn took on an increasing solidity.旅店变得越来越真实、坚实。50
First, the thick timber walls returned, their joints sealed with dabbed mud.首先，厚重的木墙恢复了原状，接缝处抹着泥封严。51
Doors and tables and chairs and the bar seemed to rise from the ground.门、桌椅和吧台仿佛都从地面上升了起来。52
Without moving, Alias found herself seated at a small table by the firepit.阿莉亚丝一动未动，却发现自己已经坐在火塘边的一张小桌旁。53
Alerted by the groaning beams above, Alias looked up.头顶传来横梁的呻吟声，引得阿莉亚丝抬头望去。54
Overhead, the charred timbers grew whole, the drooping section of ceiling that had survived the fire straightened.上方烧焦的木梁逐渐恢复完整，那片在大火中幸存、却已低垂下来的天花板也重新挺直。55
Planed boards crisscrossed the timbers and, though she could not see them, Alias heard the clatter of pottery shingles as they multiplied across the boards outside.刨平的木板纵横交错地铺在梁上；阿莉亚丝虽然看不见屋外的情形，却听见陶瓦在外面的木板上不断增多时发出的咔嗒声。56
Chains began to snake downward from iron hooks which sprouted from the main timbers.主梁上冒出一个个铁钩，一条条锁链开始从钩上蜿蜒垂下。57
The ends of the chains blossomed into gourd-shaped lamps, burning oil from small wicks.锁链末端绽出一盏盏葫芦形的灯，小小的灯芯燃烧着灯油。58
The flame in the firepit flared into a roaring blaze, and the North Gate Inn began filling with customers, though they did not enter by the door.火塘中的火焰猛然蹿起，化作熊熊烈火；北门旅店里也开始挤满客人，尽管他们并不是从门口进来的。59
Alias heard them first, the mutter and roar of many people speaking all around her.阿莉亚丝先听见了他们的声音——四面八方传来许多人说话的嘈杂低语与喧嚷。60
She fixed her attention on a booth in the corner where she heard an argument, but all she could see were shadows.她把注意力集中在角落里的一处卡座上，那边传来争吵声，可她能看见的只有影影绰绰的轮廓。61
Of course, I might not be dreaming, Alias considered.当然，我也可能并不是在做梦，阿莉亚丝心想。62
This could all be some fantastic illusion.这一切也可能是某种不可思议的幻象。63
But the noise would have wakened the others, and they would still be here sleeping beside me.可这么大的动静早该把其他人吵醒了，而且他们应该还在这里，睡在我身边。64
No, this was a dream, she concluded.不，这就是梦，她断定。65
Suddenly there was a tremendous clatter to her right.突然，她右边传来一阵震耳欲聋的哐啷声。66
Her head turned in time to witness a burly man berating a small servant girl for spilling wine down the copious cleavage of his female companion.她及时转过头去，只见一个魁梧的男人正在痛斥一名娇小的女侍，因为她把酒洒进了他女伴丰满袒露的乳沟里。67
As the youngster protested her innocence, the man stood up and loomed over her.那小姑娘辩称自己是无辜的，男人却站起身来，居高临下地逼视着她。68
He was twice her height, but Alias caught the glint of sharp steel as the servant reached into her apron pocket.他的身高足足是她的两倍，但当那女侍把手伸进围裙口袋时，阿莉亚丝瞥见了一道锋利钢刃的寒光。69
A loud roar came from the corner booth again, and she turned her attention back to it.角落的隔间里又传来一声震天怒吼，她把注意力转回那边。70
No longer occupied by shadows, it was filled with people of depth and color.那里已不再被阴影占据，而是坐满了有血有肉、色彩鲜明的人。71
A tired cleric and a young fighter argued some fine religious point.一名疲惫的牧师和一名年轻战士正为某个细微的宗教问题争论不休。72
The cleric insisted that Tempos was a corruption of the southern Tempus, and that Tempus was the correct pronunciation.牧师坚持说，“坦波斯”是南方人对“坦帕斯”的讹传，正确的发音应当是“坦帕斯”。73
This supposition seemed to madden the fighter, a northern barbarian on his manhood journey, no doubt.这种说法似乎令那名战士勃然大怒；毫无疑问，他是个正在进行成人之旅的北方蛮族。74
His face, already quite red from several drinks, flushed even darker.他那张已经因几杯酒而涨得通红的脸，颜色变得更深了。75
He was preparing his argument by reaching his right hand over his left shoulder to grasp the lion-headed hilt of the massive sword strapped to his back.他开始为自己的论点做准备：右手越过左肩，握住背后那柄巨剑的狮首剑柄。76
Alias wondered which of the two arguments would be the first to cause a room-clearing brawl.阿莉亚丝暗自思忖，这两场争执中，哪一场会先引发一场把整间屋子清空的群殴。77
“Neither,” answered a pleasant voice.“哪一场都不会。”一个悦耳的声音回答道。78
Alias started at the reply.阿莉亚丝被这回答吓了一跳。79
A young man stood beside her table, holding two crystal glasses in one hand and a dusty bottle in the other.一个年轻男子站在她桌旁，一只手拿着两只水晶杯，另一只手握着一瓶落满灰尘的酒。80
He sat in the chair beside her, setting the items he carried on the table.他在她身旁的椅子上坐下，把手里的东西放到桌上。81
“But devastation will arrive shortly,” he assured her with a lopsided grin and a wink.“不过，一场浩劫很快就会降临。”他歪嘴一笑，又冲她眨了眨眼，信誓旦旦地说道。82
Alias would have judged him to be not yet twenty, but his suave manner belied her estimate.阿莉亚丝本会断定他还不到二十岁，可他圆熟优雅的举止却与她的判断不符。83
He wiped off the bottle and extracted the cork with an expert ease.他擦净酒瓶，以行家的娴熟手法轻松拔出了软木塞。84
The youth’s blond hair hung loose about his shoulders and glistened in the firelight.年轻人一头金发松散地垂在肩头，在炉火映照下闪闪发亮。85
He had what the members of the Swanmays would agree was a well-formed figure, yet his blue eyes reflected the firelight back in pinpoints of red.他身材匀称，天鹅女团的成员见了也都会赞同这一点；然而，他的蓝眼睛映着火光，泛出针尖般的点点红芒。86
As attractive as Alias found him, he made her quite nervous.尽管阿莉亚丝觉得他很有魅力，他却让她相当不安。87
She felt as if she were waiting for someone in the dream, but this man was not that person.她觉得自己仿佛是在梦中等待某个人，可这个男人并不是那个人。88
“I took the liberty of ordering a wine special.“我擅自点了一瓶特供葡萄酒。89
I know you’ll like it.”我知道你会喜欢的。”90
He smiled as he poured copper-colored liquid into both glasses.他微笑着把铜色的酒液倒进两只杯子。91
“How do you know what’s going to happen?”“你怎么知道会发生什么？”92
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。93
“We all have our little curses,” he whispered, running a finger down her right arm along the brands.“我们每个人都有自己的小诅咒。”他低声说着，用一根手指顺着她右臂上的烙印划下。94
They tingled, an entirely new sensation.那些烙印微微刺痛，这是一种全新的感觉。95
“My curse is that I’m required to read the script before the play begins.”“我的诅咒，就是必须在戏开演前先读完剧本。”96
He held up his glass and waited for her to do the same.他举起酒杯，等她也照做。97
“In a few minutes the plot will pick up.“再过几分钟，情节就要紧张起来了。98
Plenty of time to finish your drink.”还有充足的时间喝完你的酒。”99
Alias lifted the delicate crystal by the stem and allowed her host to clink his own against it.阿莉亚丝捏着杯脚举起精致的水晶杯，任由主人用自己的杯子与她轻轻一碰。100
“To drama,” he said.“敬戏剧。”他说。101
Alias sniffed the beverage warily, afraid to discover yet another Cormyrian mixture unsuited to her tastes.阿莉亚丝警惕地嗅了嗅杯中的饮料，生怕发现这又是某种不合她口味的科米尔人调制品。102
Instead, a pleasant, tangy scent wafted to her nostrils.然而，一股怡人而略带酸意的香气飘入了她的鼻孔。103
She took a sip and then, without thinking, drained the glass.她抿了一口，随即不假思索地将整杯酒一饮而尽。104
The sharp, sweet taste of mountain berries clung to her lips, and the alcohol coursed through her body like a shock.山莓浓烈而甜美的滋味萦绕在她的唇间，酒力则如一阵电击般蹿遍全身。105
Her face warmed immediately, as if she stood in bright sunshine, and the aching muscles of her back relaxed.她的脸立刻暖了起来，仿佛正站在明媚的阳光下，背部酸痛的肌肉也随之放松。106
It wasn’t just the only good thing she’d tasted in a long time.这不仅仅是她许久以来尝到的唯一美味。107
She had a strong suspicion it would be the best thing she would ever taste.她强烈地怀疑，这也会是她此生尝到的最美妙的滋味。108
“Which of these incidents is responsible for the fire?”“这些事情里，哪一件会引发那场火灾？”109
Alias asked the young man as he refilled their glasses.年轻人给两人续杯时，阿莉亚丝问道。110
“Neither,” the man said.“都不是。”男人说。111
He nodded toward the burly man and his buxom companion.他朝那个魁梧的男人和他丰满的女伴点了点头。112
The servant girl had convinced the man at knife point to return to his seat and stop fussing.女侍者用刀逼着那男人回到座位上，别再闹腾。113
She tossed the woman a dingy towel and left them.她扔给那女人一条脏兮兮的毛巾，随后离开了。114
“Labor troubles are quite common this far north,” the youth told her.“在这么靠北的地方，劳工问题相当常见。”青年告诉她。115
“Every potscrubber dreams of becoming a petty lord, inspired by the few who, with luck and recklessness, have done so.“每个洗锅工都梦想成为小领主，因为确实有少数人凭借运气和不计后果的胆量做到了。116
The situation here in Shadow Gap is, of course, exacerbated by the minute population, making not just good help, but any help at all hard to find.”当然，暗影隘口这里人口极少，令情况更加严重，别说得力的帮手，就连随便什么人手都很难找到。”117
“And the loud barbarian and cleric?”“那吵吵嚷嚷的野蛮人和牧师呢？”118
Alias asked, turning to discover the reaction of the other patrons when the fighter pulled out his weapon, but both were engaged in draining large mugs of ale.阿莉亚丝问道，同时转过身去，想看看战士拔出武器时其他客人作何反应，可那两人都正忙着把大杯大杯的麦酒往肚里灌。119
“They’re old friends from way back.“他们是多年的老朋友了。120
They’ve had this argument at least a hundred times before in this very place, and in as many other inns.”这场争论，他们光在这里就吵过至少一百遍，在其他酒馆也吵过同样多次。”121
“So, what did cause the fire?“那么，那场火究竟是怎么烧起来的？122
Does it have anything to do with why the pass is deserted?”这和山口为何空无一人有关吗？”123
“Patience, my dear, patience,” her drinking companion chided.“耐心点，亲爱的，耐心点。”与她对饮的男子责备道。124
He raised her glass to her mouth and tilted the ambrosial liquid so that it flowed past her lips.他把她的酒杯举到她嘴边，微微倾斜，让甘露般的酒液流入她唇间。125
Alias grasped the stem and swallowed until the entire draught was consumed.阿莉亚丝握住杯脚，一口口咽下，直至将杯中酒喝得一滴不剩。126
A greater heat washed over her, and she slipped off her cape.一股更强烈的热意席卷全身，她脱下了斗篷。127
“You know what your problem is?” the man asked.“你知道自己的毛病是什么吗？”男子问道。128
“No, what?”“不知道，是什么？”129
She reached for the wine bottle and poured herself a third glass.她伸手拿过酒瓶，给自己倒了第三杯。130
“You aren’t used to acquiring information slowly, listening to people explain things in their own way, experiencing life as it comes.“你不习惯慢慢获取消息，不习惯听别人按自己的方式把事情讲清楚，也不习惯顺其自然地体验生活。131
You expect someone to just pour everything you want to know into you, as though it were a bottle of wine.”你总指望有人把你想知道的一切直接灌进你脑子里，就像灌一瓶酒似的。”132
He raised the wine bottle and filled his glass again.他举起酒瓶，又给自己的杯子斟满。133
“Ah!” he said with glee, his eyes fixed on the doorway.“啊！”他欢喜地说道，双眼紧盯着门口。134
“Finally, a principal actor.”“主角终于登场了。”135
Alias turned.阿莉亚丝转过身去。136
The man was not the one she was waiting for either.这个男人也不是她在等的人。137
A small man, he was dressed like a merchant, with a purple robe gathered at his waist and a fat, overstuffed hat with a long, swan feather plume on his head.他身材矮小，作商人打扮，身穿一件束在腰间的紫色长袍，头戴一顶塞得鼓鼓囊囊的肥大帽子，上面插着一根长长的天鹅羽翎。138
The small man climbed upon a low, stone platform opposite the fire pit, waved a parchment scroll over his head, and shouted “Silence!”矮个子男人登上火坑对面一座低矮的石台，把一卷羊皮纸举过头顶挥舞着，大喊：“安静！”139
Half the conversations died out, but a few scattered patrons continued chattering.一半的交谈声停了下来，但零星几名客人仍在喋喋不休。140
The quieted persons turned their attention to the merchant.安静下来的人都把注意力转向了那名商人。141
Assured of at least a partial audience, the man unrolled his scroll and began to read.见至少已有一部分人愿意听，男人便展开卷轴，开始朗读。142
“Hear, all and sundry, the words of the Iron Throne.”“所有人等，都听好铁王座的宣告。”143
The last words caught the attention of those who had ignored him.最后那几个字吸引了先前对他置之不理的人。144
Silence blanketed the room.整个房间顿时鸦雀无声。145
The herald paused for effect.传令官故意停顿了一下。146
Alias frowned.阿莉亚丝皱起眉头。147
The eyes of the young man beside her twinkled merrily.她身旁那个年轻人的眼睛愉快地闪烁着。148
“The Iron Throne,” her companion explained in a hushed whisper without taking his eyes from the speaker, “is a young trading organization, just beginning to compete with the better established merchant houses.“铁王座，”她的同伴目不转睛地盯着宣告者，压低声音解释道，“是一个新兴的贸易组织，才刚开始与那些根基更深的商行竞争。149
Their favorite strategies include force, treachery, and magic.”他们惯用的手段包括武力、背叛和魔法。”150
The herald read on.传令官继续念了下去。151
“The Iron Throne is much concerned with the growing violence in the north, violence fed by the arms merchants who line their own pockets at the expense of others.”“铁王座对北方日益加剧的暴力深感忧虑；那些军火商不惜牺牲他人来填满自己的腰包，正是他们助长了这种暴力。”152
“The Iron Throne should know, their pockets bulge, too!” a heckler called out, followed by a spattering of applause.“铁王座当然清楚，他们自己的腰包也鼓得很！”一个起哄者高声叫道，随之响起一阵零星的掌声。153
The herald’s eyes narrowed.传令官眯起了眼睛。154
“Hence, the Iron Throne pronounces an anathema upon the warmongering merchants and will close Shadow Gap for thirty days.”“因此，铁王座宣布诅咒那些好战的商人，并将封锁阴影隘口三十天。”155
Boos and catcalls followed.嘘声和叫骂声随即四起。156
“It would take four divisions of mercenaries, at least, to hold this pass,” Alias commented.“要守住这处隘口，至少得有四个师的雇佣兵。”阿莉亚丝评论道。157
“You think so?” the young man replied with a laugh.“你真这么想？”年轻人笑着答道。158
“Wait and see, shall we?”“不妨等着瞧，怎么样？”159
“All those within Shadow Gap will be allowed to leave, but they may carry no weapons of war.“阴影隘口内的所有人都可以离开，但不得携带任何作战武器。160
Thus will the Iron Throne demonstrate its ability to keep peace in the region,” the herald concluded.铁王座将以此证明自己有能力维护这一地区的和平。”传令官最后说道。161
“Bull spittle!” shouted the barbarian in the corner booth, rising drunkenly to his feet.“狗屁！”角落隔间里的野蛮人喊道，醉醺醺地站了起来。162
“The Iron Throne is shipping weapons by the cartloads to goblins and maggots from Zhentil Keep!“铁王座正一车一车地把武器运给地精，还有那些从散提尔堡来的蛆虫！163
They just want to keep the Dales light in armaments for their Zhentarim masters!他们不过是想让谷地武备空虚，好听命于他们的散塔林会主子！164
It will take more than a proclamation-spouting toady to keep us from aiding the free people of the north.”光凭一个只会宣读公告的走狗，休想阻止我们援助北方的自由人民。”165
The herald glared malevolently at the barbarian.传令官恶狠狠地瞪着那个野蛮人。166
Sensing some unseen power, the cleric tried to pull his friend back to his side, but the barbarian strode over to the herald.牧师察觉到某种无形力量，想把朋友拉回自己身边，但野蛮人却大步走向传令官。167
The warrior towered above the smaller man, even though the herald stood on the raised platform.尽管传令官站在高台上，战士仍比这个矮小的男人高出一大截。168
He yanked the parchment scroll out of the herald’s hand and shredded it, tossing the pieces in the herald’s face.他一把夺过传令官手中的羊皮纸卷，将它撕得粉碎，把碎片扔到传令官脸上。169
“Send that message back to the Iron Throne.”“把这话带回铁王座。”170
“You needn’t worry about safe delivery of your master’s weapons to his contact in Daggerdale,” the herald hissed.“你不必担心你主人的武器能否安全送到匕首谷的接头人手中，”传令官嘶声说道。171
“The contact is already dead, a victim of his own penchant for violence.”“那个接头人已经死了，死在了他自己嗜好暴力的脾性上。”172
The barbarian drew in a shocked breath.野蛮人震惊地倒吸了一口气。173
“You killed Brenjer, you murdering swine!“是你杀了布伦杰，你这杀人不眨眼的畜生！174
I’ll show you violence!”我这就让你见识见识什么叫暴力！”175
He drew his two-handed sword, swung the massive blade over his head, and struck the herald in the forehead.他拔出双手巨剑，将沉重的剑刃抡过头顶，一剑劈中传令官的额头。176
The steel sliced through its target down to the waist with the same ease and sound it would make ripping through taut canvas.钢刃从目标身上一路切到腰间，那轻易程度和发出的声响，恰如撕开一张绷紧的帆布。177
Alias gasped, for the body of the herald did not gush blood or fall to the floor, as would a carcass of meat.阿莉亚丝倒吸了一口气，因为传令官的身体并没有像血肉之躯那样鲜血喷涌、倒在地上。178
Instead, two ragged shards of purple cloth drifted to the floor and a black mist rose from them, forming into the shape of an inverted tear drop above the barbarian.取而代之的是两片破烂的紫布飘落在地，一股黑雾从中升起，在野蛮人头顶凝成倒悬泪滴的形状。179
Two unblinking, yellow eyes glowed within the cloud of dark vapor.两只一眨不眨的黄色眼睛在黑雾中闪闪发光。180
Beneath the eyes a huge gap parted, revealing rows upon rows of needle-sharp teeth.双眼下方裂开一道巨大的豁口，露出一排又一排针尖般锋利的牙齿。181
From this maw came the sound of a thousand snakes hissing in a stone room.这张巨口中传出嘶嘶声，仿佛有上千条蛇在一间石室里一齐吐信。182
“A kalmari,” the youth whispered to Alias.“是卡尔玛里，”年轻人低声对阿莉亚丝说道。183
“They’re native to the lands of Thay, used by the Red Wizards and their allies.“它们原生于塞尔，被红袍法师及其盟友驱使。184
Some speculate they are relatives to intellect devourers.有人猜测，它们与噬脑怪是近亲。185
Remarkable, isn’t it?”真了不起，不是吗？”186
Alias, intent on watching the barbarian deal with the monster, did not reply.阿莉亚丝全神贯注地看着野蛮人对付那只怪物，没有回答。187
The barbarian passed his sword through the mist, but his blow did no more damage than it would to smoke.野蛮人挥剑斩过雾气，可这一击造成的伤害与劈中烟雾毫无二致。188
The kalmari gave a rattling laugh, then distended its jaws so its mouth made up more than half its body.卡尔玛里发出喀喀的笑声，接着将双颚张得极大，嘴巴足足占了身体的一半以上。189
The creature fell forward over the man and swallowed him in a single gulp, broadsword and all.那怪物向前扑到男人身上，一口将他连人带巨剑吞了下去。190
For a moment there was silence while the inn’s occupants struggled to comprehend what had happened.一时间，客栈里鸦雀无声，众人都在竭力弄明白究竟发生了什么。191
Then the room erupted with a clatter of toppled chairs and tables and shuffling feet as the inhabitants sought escape.接着，屋内顿时响起桌椅翻倒的碰撞声和杂乱的脚步声，众人纷纷寻找出路。192
Clerics and mages intoned the words of half a dozen spells and wardings as they backed away from the beast.牧师和法师们一边后退，一边吟诵起五六种法术与防护术的咒文。193
The kalmari tilted its head back and spit out the barbarian’s sword, its blade propelled upward in a twisting ribbon of flame.卡尔马里向后仰起头，吐出了野蛮人的剑；剑刃裹着一道扭动的火焰，直冲上方。194
The sword flew into the upper rafters and stuck there, imbedded to the hilt.那把剑飞入高处的椽木，深深插在上面，直没至柄。195
The flames spread across the ceiling, engulfing the rafters in a white heat.火焰沿着天花板蔓延开来，以炽白的高温吞没了椽木。196
The kalmari smiled, a wide grin that stretched three-quarters of the way around its body.卡尔马里笑了，咧开的阔嘴几乎绕了身体四分之三圈。197
The smile lasted only a moment before a battery of offensive spells struck—bolts of lightning and flame and radiant blue daggers of magic missile.这笑容只维持了片刻，一连串攻击法术便轰然击中它——有闪电与火焰凝成的箭矢，也有魔法飞弹化作的耀眼蓝色匕首。198
Alias felt her right arm ache and, looking down, saw that her own runes glowed.阿莉亚丝感到右臂隐隐作痛，低头一看，发现自己身上的符文正泛着光。199
She tried to rise, intent on aiding in the battle any way she could, but the youth beside her placed his hand over the sigils on her forearm and, with the lightest of pressure, held her trapped against the table.她试图起身，决意尽己所能加入战斗，可身旁的年轻人把手按在她前臂的符印上，只用极轻的力道，便将她牢牢压在桌边，动弹不得。200
“You’ll get your chance,” he grinned mysteriously.“会有你出手的机会。”他神秘地笑道。201
“What’s your hurry?”“急什么？”202
The fires spread with unnatural speed, and soon the entire area, save for where Alias and her companion sat, was engulfed in flame.火势以反常的速度蔓延，很快，除了阿莉亚丝和她同伴所坐的地方，整个区域都被火焰吞没了。203
Through the dancing flames Alias could see the kalmari swallowing a mage whole, then belching up another burst of burning ichor.透过跃动的火焰，阿莉亚丝看见卡尔马里一口吞下了一名法师，随后又嗝出一股燃烧的脓液。204
Yet Alias felt no heat.然而，阿莉亚丝却感觉不到丝毫热度。205
A moment later, the flames, the kalmari, and its opponents diminished to shadows against the walls of the common room.片刻之后，火焰、卡尔马里和它的对手们都渐渐缩成了映在大厅墙壁上的影子。206
Then, even the shadows vanished.随后，就连那些影子也消失了。207
The inn around her was whole and sturdy, unaffected by the fire, but nearly barren of inhabitants.她周围的客栈完好而坚固，丝毫未受大火影响，只是里面几乎已经空无一人。208
Still seated beside the youth, Alias spotted a solitary figure at a table across the room.阿莉亚丝仍坐在那年轻人身旁，她发现房间另一头的一张桌边孤零零地坐着一个人。209
The figure’s features were completely concealed by a cloak and a hood.那人的面容完全隐没在斗篷和兜帽之下。210
This is the one I’ve been waiting for, she told herself with certainty.这就是我一直在等的人，她笃定地对自己说。211
But now she was reluctant to make the meeting.可此刻，她却不愿与对方见面了。212
The young man drained the last of his wine and rose to leave.年轻男子喝干最后一点酒，起身准备离开。213
“Wait!”“等等！”214
Alias insisted, grabbing his arm.阿莉亚丝一把抓住他的胳膊，坚持道。215
She wanted to say, “Don’t leave me alone with that one,” but she knew her words would not influence him.她想说：“别把我一个人留下来跟那家伙待在一起。”可她知道，自己的话左右不了他。216
So instead she asked, “When did this happen?”于是她转而问道：“这是什么时候发生的？”217
“While you were still hunting halfling-stealing dragons west of Suzail.”“那时你还在苏萨尔以西追捕那些偷走半身人的龙。”218
Surprised that she got him to answer so easily, she pressed her interrogation further.没想到这么容易就让他开了口，她便继续追问。219
“Where is the kalmari?”“卡尔玛瑞在哪儿？”220
“Still at large, defending the area for its masters.”“还在外面逍遥，替它的主人守卫那片区域。”221
“How does one ward against it?”“要怎样才能防住它？”222
“It fears only the mark of its maker.”“它只怕创造者的印记。”223
“How is it defeated?”“怎样才能打败它？”224
“The kalmari cannot eat anything twice.”“卡尔玛瑞不会吃同一样东西两次。”225
“What does it have to do with me?”“它跟我有什么关系？”226
“Enough,” a woman’s voice whispered.“够了。”一个女人的声音低声说道。227
Alias shivered and turned to look at the figure seated across the room.阿莉亚丝打了个寒战，转头望向坐在房间另一头的那个人影。228
All about the inn was fog.整间旅店里到处都是雾。229
The woman’s voice cut sharply through the rising vapor.女人的声音凌厉地穿透了不断升腾的雾气。230
“You’ve gone too far, Nameless.“你已经说得太多了，无名者。231
You are dismissed.”你可以走了。”232
“But she asked a question,” the youth objected.“可她问了一个问题。”年轻人反驳道。233
“I want to answer all her questions.”“我想回答她所有的问题。”234
“You have stalled our interview long enough.“你已经把我们的谈话拖延得够久了。235
I will answer this question for her.这个问题由我替她回答。236
The creature is, after all, mine.”毕竟，那生物是我的。”237
There was something very familiar about the sharp, feminine voice, and Alias felt her right arm throb.那尖利的女性嗓音听来十分耳熟，阿莉亚丝感到右臂阵阵抽痛。238
When she stood, her senses began to spin.她站起身时，只觉得天旋地转。239
She cursed the wine silently and turned to accuse the youth of getting her drunk, but he was already gone, swallowed in the dream mist.她默默咒骂那酒，转过身想指责那少年把自己灌醉了，可他早已不见踪影，被梦境般的迷雾吞没了。240
“Well?”“所以呢？”241
Alias demanded, trying to appear undaunted as the figure rose and drifted, like a ghost, toward her.阿莉亚丝质问道，竭力装出毫不畏惧的样子；那人影站起身，如幽灵般朝她飘来。242
“The kalmari is a meager demonstration of my power,” the woman said, making a sweeping gesture with her right hand, palm up.“卡尔玛里不过是对我力量的一次微不足道的展示。”女人说着，右手掌心向上，做了个大幅度的手势。243
Her features remained concealed in the shadows of the hood, but Alias noted that her left arm was in a sling.她的面容依旧隐没在兜帽的阴影里，但阿莉亚丝注意到，她的左臂吊在悬带中。244
“It’s just something I had out on loan to the Iron Throne, who wished to demonstrate their power.“它只是我暂时借给铁王座的一件东西，他们想借此展示自己的力量。245
Many will think twice before crossing the will of the Iron Throne.”往后许多人若想违逆铁王座的意志，都得三思而行。”246
“But what does this have to do with me?”“可这跟我有什么关系？”247
Alias repeated.阿莉亚丝又问了一遍。248
She stood only an arm’s length from the woman.她站在离那女人仅一臂之遥的地方。249
Alias realized she could easily reach out and yank back the woman’s hood to reveal her face.阿莉亚丝意识到，自己只要一伸手，就能轻易扯下那女人的兜帽，露出她的脸。250
Perhaps, Alias hoped, if I can recognize the face, it will help to explain my lost memory or the tattoo on my arm.阿莉亚丝暗自希望：也许，只要我认出这张脸，就能解释我失去的记忆，或是我手臂上的刺青。251
Yet, why do my instincts hold me back, tell me to flee fast and far?可是，我的本能为什么阻止我，还叫我赶快逃得远远的？252
Is she a lich or a medusa?她是巫妖，还是美杜莎？253
“Why, the kalmari is another of my creatures,” the woman laughed.“因为卡尔玛里也是我创造的生物之一呀。”女人笑道。254
“I was going to station it here to watch for you.“我本来打算把它安置在这里，监视你的行踪。255
The Iron Crown’s fee only sweetened the pot.”铁王冠付的酬金不过是锦上添花罢了。”256
“Another one of your creatures,” Alias repeated, certain she had gained a new insight.“又一个你创造的生物。”阿莉亚丝重复道，确信自己有了新的发现。257
“Like the crystal elemental?”“就像那个水晶元素？”258
The woman snorted derisively.那女人轻蔑地哼了一声。259
“Please.“得了吧。260
You insult me, my dear.亲爱的，你这是在侮辱我。261
Such a heavy-handed, clumsy thing.那么笨重，那么拙劣的东西。262
My creations have always been elegant.”我的造物一向都很优雅。”263
“Then what other creature did you mean?”“那你说的另一个造物是什么？”264
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。265
“Why, I meant you, my child.“当然是你呀，我的孩子。266
You’re one of my creatures.你就是我的造物之一。267
Of course, I must share you with the others, but I will always think of you as my own.”当然，我得和其他人共同拥有你，但我永远都会把你看作我自己的。”268
The woman held out her good arm in a beckoning gesture, as a mother would welcome a prodigal daughter.那女人伸出完好的那只手臂，朝她招了招，仿佛一位母亲在欢迎迷途知返的女儿。269
Very slowly and sweetly she said, “Come back to Westgate, Puppet.她极其缓慢而温柔地说道：“回西门城来吧，傀儡。270
We’re your masters.我们是你的主人。271
You need us, and we want you back.”你需要我们，而我们也想让你回来。”272
Alias’s breathing came fast and heavy.阿莉亚丝的呼吸变得急促而沉重。273
“I’m my own master,” she shouted angrily, “not anyone’s puppet.”“我是自己的主人，”她愤怒地喊道，“不是任何人的傀儡。”274
With a sudden movement she jerked the hood from the woman’s face.她猛然一伸手，扯下了那女人脸上的兜帽。275
She looked into her own face.她看见了自己的脸。276
Alias screamed in her dream and woke with a start.阿莉亚丝在梦中尖叫一声，猛然惊醒。277
The camp was back to normal.营地恢复了正常。278
She sat near a dying fire in a roofless hostel.她坐在一座没有屋顶的旅舍里，身旁的篝火已经奄奄一息。279
It was only a dream, she told herself over and over.那只是一场梦，她一遍又一遍地告诉自己。280
She wondered how long she’d been asleep.她不知道自己睡了多久。281
Only a dream, she thought again.只是一场梦，她再次想道。282
Though a very bad dream.不过是一场非常可怕的梦。283
When was the last time I dreamed like that?我上一次做这样的梦是什么时候？284
Never, the answer came from the back of her mind.从她意识深处浮现出的答案是：从来没有。285
You never dream like that.你从来不会做这样的梦。286
Ever.一次也没有。287
The dream had to be magically influenced, Alias decided, and the woman in the dream had to be Cassana, the Westgate sorceress who branded me with one of these sigils.阿莉亚丝断定，这场梦一定受到了魔法的影响，而梦里的女人一定就是卡萨娜，那个在我身上烙下这些印记之一的西门城女术士。288
Why did she look like me?她为什么长得像我？289
Alias closed her eyes and concentrated on the woman in the dream.阿莉亚丝闭上眼睛，凝神回想梦中的女人。290
She didn’t look exactly like me, Alias realized.她和我并非长得一模一样，阿莉亚丝意识到。291
The woman looked older.那个女人看起来年纪更大。292
Perhaps she is a long-lost relative no one ever told me about.或许她是我失散多年的亲人，只是从来没人告诉过我。293
Who’s Nameless, then?那么，无名者又是谁？294
Alias stood and stretched by the fire’s dying embers.阿莉亚丝站起身，在将熄的余烬旁伸展了一下身体。295
Her thoughts remained fuzzy, and she had a difficult time concentrating on details.她的思绪依然模糊不清，很难集中精神去琢磨细节。296
Am I still sleepy, she wondered, or is it possible I’m drunk on dream wine?我还没睡醒吗，她心想，还是说我可能喝梦里的酒喝醉了？297
Then she heard a noise that set her hackles rising, a noise from her dream—the sound of a thousand hissing snakes in a stone room.接着，她听见一个令她寒毛直竖的声音，一个来自梦中的声音——仿佛石室里有上千条蛇在嘶嘶吐信。298
The sound of a kalmari.是卡尔马里的声音。299
She whirled about, scanning the boundaries of the campsite, but the darkness defeated her eyes.她猛地转过身，扫视营地四周，可黑暗遮蔽了她的视线。300
She glanced over the campsite.她环顾营地。301
Dragonbait lay curled like a cat.龙饵像猫一样蜷缩着躺在那里。302
Olive snuggled in a nest of blankets.奥利芙依偎在毯子堆成的窝里。303
Akabar—there was only darkness where Akabar should have been.阿卡巴——阿卡巴本该在的地方，却只有一片黑暗。304
Something in the darkness glittered, and Alias recognized the rows of needle-sharp teeth.黑暗中有什么东西闪了一下，阿莉亚丝认出了那一排排针尖般锋利的牙齿。305
Only then was she able to make out the silhouette of the beast.直到这时，她才看清那头怪兽的轮廓。306
From the tear-drop shape extended a dark, prehensile tail.那水滴状的躯体上伸出一条黑色的卷握尾。307
The creature’s shadow shifted just enough for Alias to make out Akabar’s sleeping figure.那生物的影子微微一动，恰好让阿莉亚丝看清了熟睡中的阿卡巴。308
The kalmari wrapped its tail about him and began lifting the mage to its gaping maw.卡尔玛里用尾巴缠住他，开始把这名法师提向自己大张的血盆大口。309
Muttering in his sleep, the Turmishman struggled feebly, trying to kick off the blanket entangling his legs, but he did not awaken.图米什人睡梦中含混地嘟囔着，无力地挣扎，想踢开缠住双腿的毯子，却始终没有醒来。310
With a shout, Alias leaped forward.阿莉亚丝大喊一声，纵身向前扑去。311
Her movement was sloppy and awkward.她的动作拖沓而笨拙。312
Damn dream wine!该死的梦酒！313
I’m not sober, she realized as she accidentally kicked the sleeping Olive.我还没醒酒，她不小心踢到熟睡的奥利芙时意识到。314
The kalmari, still hovering with its tail firmly wrapped about the mage, fixed its unblinking, yellow eyes on the warrior.卡尔玛里依旧悬浮在空中，尾巴紧紧缠着法师，那双一眨不眨的黄色眼睛盯住了女战士。315
Alias drew her sword but she hesitated, remembering that the barbarian’s two-handed weapon hadn’t even bloodied the monster.阿莉亚丝拔出剑，却迟疑了；她想起那个野蛮人的双手武器甚至没能让这怪物流一滴血。316
If the dream was true, her weapon was useless.如果那个梦是真的，她的武器就毫无用处。317
But if the dream was true and the kalmari was indeed one of Cassana’s creatures, then according to Nameless, it could be warded off with the sorceress’s sigil on Alias’s arm.但如果那个梦是真的，卡尔玛里也确实是卡萨娜的造物之一，那么按照无名者的说法，阿莉亚丝手臂上的女术士符印就能将它逼退。318
If Nameless had been telling the truth.…前提是无名者说的是真话……319
Frustrated with all the uncertainties, the swordswoman stopped analyzing the situation.种种不确定令她心烦意乱，女剑士索性不再分析眼前的局势。320
Still holding her sword, she raised her branded arm over her head, wrist forward.她仍握着剑，将烙有印记的手臂高举过头，手腕朝前。321
Her arm felt heavy and sluggish, as though a solid gold shield were strapped to it.她的手臂沉重而迟钝，仿佛上面绑着一面纯金盾牌。322
Damn wine! she thought.该死的酒！她心想。323
She gritted her teeth and kept the arm up.她咬紧牙关，依旧高举着手臂。324
A brilliant, blue light shot from the sigils, illuminating the campsite and making the black, smoky form of the kalmari easier to discern.一道耀眼的蓝光从符印中射出，照亮了营地，也让卡尔玛里那黑色烟雾般的形体变得更容易辨认。325
Lacking the eyelids to blink in the strong light, the kalmari’s elongated pupils narrowed to slits, and the creature floated backward the length of a sword.卡尔玛里没有眼睑，无法在强光下眨眼，它细长的瞳孔缩成了两条缝，整个身躯向后飘出一剑之遥。326
Its grip on Akabar was still firm, however, and it held its tail forward, using the mage as a shield.然而，它依旧牢牢抓着阿卡巴，并将尾巴伸在身前，把法师当成了盾牌。327
I can keep the creature back, Alias thought grimly, but how do I get it to drop Akabar?我能把这东西挡在外面，阿莉亚丝阴沉地想，可我要怎样才能让它放下阿卡巴？328
In her dream she had asked Nameless how to defeat the kalmari.在梦里，她曾问过无名者该如何击败卡尔玛里。329
He had told her, but the details of the dream were already drifting from her memory.他告诉了她，可梦中的细节已经开始从她的记忆中消散。330
Alias struggled to remember his words.阿莉亚丝拼命回想他的话。331
He hadn’t told me what to do exactly.他并没有确切告诉我该怎么做。332
He’d said something about what the kalmari couldn’t do.他说过卡尔玛里有什么事是做不到的。333
It couldn’t eat something.它不能吃某种东西。334
It couldn’t eat something twice.它不能把同一样东西吃两次。335
What nonsense!真是胡说八道！336
Alias thought.阿莉亚丝心想。337
If you’ve eaten something, you can’t eat it again, can you?一样东西既然已经吃掉了，就不能再吃一次了，不是吗？338
Unless you’re the kind of creature that regurgitates the bones of your victims.除非你是那种会把受害者的骨头吐出来的怪物。339
Behind her came a high-pitched curse from Olive.身后传来奥利芙尖声的咒骂。340
“What in the burning lake is that?”“燃烧之湖啊，那是什么东西？”341
Ignoring the halfling, Alias lunged at the monster, slicing her blade through the extremity that entrapped the still unconscious Turmishman.阿莉亚丝没有理会这个半身人，猛扑向怪物，挥剑斩过那截缠住昏迷不醒的图米什人的肢体。342
The monster’s hissing increased in pitch and volume.怪物的嘶鸣声变得更加尖厉，也更加响亮。343
It was not Alias’s sword that troubled it, though.不过，令它不安的并不是阿莉亚丝的剑。344
The closer she got to Cassana’s creature, the brighter her brands blazed.她越靠近卡萨娜的造物，身上的烙印就燃烧得越发明亮。345
Annoyed by the intense light or perhaps, as Nameless had said, afraid of its mistress’s sigil, the kalmari retreated farther, though it did not appear ready to flee.卡尔玛里或许是被强光激怒了，又或许正如无名者所说，它害怕女主人的徽记，于是退得更远了些，但看起来还没有准备逃跑。346
Alias’s eyes roamed across the floor, looking for remains of the northern warrior or other travelers already consumed by the kalmari.阿莉亚丝的目光扫过地面，寻找那名北方战士或其他已被卡尔玛里吞食的旅人留下的残骸。347
Finding nothing to feed the creature, she lunged again, plunging her sword into one of the monster’s eyes.她没有找到任何可以拿来喂给怪物的东西，便再次猛扑上去，将剑刺进怪物的一只眼睛。348
Again, the beast moved away from the light of her arm, but showed no damage from her sword.那野兽又一次避开了她手臂发出的光芒，但她的剑仍没有对它造成任何伤害。349
Sword.剑。350
The barbarian’s sword!那个野蛮人的剑！351
The kalmari had spit out the barbarian’s sword.卡尔玛里把那个野蛮人的剑吐了出来。352
A sword with a lion-headed hilt, just like the one Olive had plucked from the ruins.一把剑柄呈狮首形的剑，和奥利芙从废墟里捡出的那把一模一样。353
The adventuress shot quick glances over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the rubble-strewn floor.女冒险家飞快地回头瞥了几眼，目光扫过遍地瓦砾的地面。354
Nothing.什么也没有。355
Alias cursed silently.阿莉亚丝在心里咒骂了一句。356
It had been there before.它之前明明还在那里。357
What could have happened to it?它怎么会不见了？358
Or who—又或者，是谁——359
“Olive!” she shouted.“奥利芙！”她大喊道。360
“You found a sword with a lion’s head grip in the ruins earlier.”“你之前在废墟里找到过一把狮头剑柄的剑。”361
“I vaguely recall something of that nature” the halfling answered.“我依稀记得好像是有这么回事。”半身人答道。362
“You must have it, damn it!“那把剑肯定在你手里，该死！363
Give it to me!”把它给我！”364
“Really” the halfling huffed.“真是的。”半身人气呼呼地说。365
“I was going to give it to you later as a surprise.”“我本来打算晚点再给你，好让你惊喜一下。”366
“I don’t want to hear any excuses, just go get it!”“我不想听任何借口，快去把它拿来！”367
Alias screamed.阿莉亚丝尖叫道。368
“But it’s on the other side of the wall—on the other side of the monster!”“可它在墙的另一边——在那怪物的另一边！”369
Olive squeaked.奥利芙尖声叫道。370
“Why can’t you get it?”“你为什么不能自己去拿？”371
“If I move away, it’s liable to eat Akabar.“我要是离开，它很可能会把阿卡巴吃掉。372
It can’t touch me, but if it asked for dessert I’d be inclined to serve you to it.它碰不到我，但它要是想来份甜点，我倒很乐意把你端给它。373
Understand?”明白了吗？”374
Ruskettle muttered something that sounded like cursing in an unknown language, but she nevertheless moved to Alias’s left, swinging wide around the edges of the destroyed hostel and the kalmari.拉斯凯特尔嘟囔了几句，听起来像是在用某种陌生的语言咒骂，但她还是挪到了阿莉亚丝左边，远远绕过被毁的旅店和那只卡尔马里怪物的边缘。375
Alias moved to her left, too, keeping the arc of her circle smaller so that she remained between the monster and the halfling.阿莉亚丝也向左移动，绕出的弧线更小，以便始终挡在怪物与半身人之间。376
Then Dragonbait was at her left shoulder, fully awake, his sword at the ready.这时，龙饵来到她左肩旁，已经完全清醒，手中长剑蓄势待发。377
The sigils bathed them both in an eerie blue radiance.那些符印将两人都笼罩在诡异的蓝色光辉中。378
With Dragonbait clearing a path for her through the rubble, the swordswoman managed to back the kalmari into the corner of the hostel that still stood.龙饵在瓦砾间为她清出一条路，女剑士终于将卡尔马里逼到了旅舍仍未坍塌的一角。379
Alias suspected the wall would prove no impediment to the monster’s retreat, but perhaps it couldn’t pass through the wooden beams without letting go of the mage.阿莉亚丝猜想，这堵墙根本阻挡不了怪物后退，但也许它若不放开法师，就无法穿过那些木梁。380
There was a scrambling noise from the edge of the wall behind the kalmari.卡尔马里身后的墙边传来一阵扒拉声。381
The kalmari’s hissing grew louder and more threatening.卡尔马里的嘶嘶声变得更响，也更具威胁。382
It twisted ever so slightly, keeping one eye on the two warriors, while turning the other on the halfling pawing at the rubble not twenty feet away.它极其轻微地扭过身子，一只眼睛仍盯着两名战士，另一只眼睛则转向不到二十英尺外、正在扒拉瓦砾的半身人。383
Alias’s throat constricted in fear.阿莉亚丝吓得喉头发紧。384
Olive seemed to take forever pulling out the massive blade.奥利芙仿佛花了无穷久，才把那柄巨刃抽出来。385
The weapon stood taller than the halfling, and she could barely lift it.那件武器竖起来比半身人还高，她几乎举不动它。386
To Alias’s horror, the kalmari turned both eyes on Olive.令阿莉亚丝惊恐的是，卡尔马里把两只眼睛都转向了奥利芙。387
At that moment the halfling looked up and froze.就在这时，半身人抬起头，顿时僵住了。388
“Olive!“奥利芙！”389
Use the sword!”“用那把剑！”390
Alias shouted.阿莉亚丝喊道。391
“Use it to defend yourself!”“用它保护自己！”392
Alias moved to her right, hoping to force the monster to turn its eyes from the bard, but the leaden feeling in her arm seemed to spread over her entire body, and she tripped over a fallen roof beam and sprawled across the floor.阿莉亚丝向右移动，希望迫使怪物把目光从吟游诗人身上移开，可她手臂上那种铅一般的沉重感似乎蔓延到了全身；她被一根倒下的屋梁绊倒，整个人扑倒在地。393
Her body’s heaviness persisted; her attempts to rise were met with failure.她的身体依旧沉重无比，怎么也爬不起来。394
She felt not just drunk, but as though she’d been drugged.她不只是觉得自己喝醉了，简直像是被人下了药。395
It was an effort just to raise her head to watch the kalmari close in on the bard.光是抬起头，看着卡尔马里逼近吟游诗人，就已十分费力。396
“Set the sword like a spear!” she cried.“把剑像长矛一样架起来！”她喊道。397
Olive snapped out of her shock and raised the sword.奥利芙猛然从震惊中回过神来，举起了剑。398
Perhaps she’d only caught the last few words of Alias’s command, or maybe she had some halfling-berserker blood in her, but Olive did not remain standing still, waiting for the monster to impale itself on the weapon.也许她只听见了阿莉亚丝命令的最后几个字，又或许她体内流着几分半身人狂战士的血，但奥利芙并没有站在原地不动，等着怪物自己撞上剑锋。399
Instead, she charged the creature, holding the sword like a spear.相反，她把剑当作长矛端着，朝那生物冲了过去。400
Astonishingly, it looked to Alias as if Olive might succeed in skewering the monster—until the halfling slipped on a pile of broken roof shingles.令阿莉亚丝惊讶的是，奥利芙看起来竟真有可能把怪物刺个对穿——直到这个半身人在一堆破碎的屋顶瓦片上滑了一跤。401
The sword flew from her hands, and the bard crashed to the floor beneath the kalmari.剑从她手中飞了出去，吟游诗人则摔倒在卡尔玛里脚下。402
The kalmari smiled so broadly that Alias could see its grin from behind.卡尔玛里咧嘴笑得如此之开，阿莉亚丝从背后都能看见它的笑容。403
The creature made the same rattling laugh as in her dream.那生物发出了和她梦中一模一样的咯咯笑声。404
Alias had a clear view of Olive’s terrified face as the halfling looked into the throat of the kalmari—about to become an hors d’oeuvre before Akabar’s main entree.阿莉亚丝清楚地看见奥利芙惊恐的脸；半身人正望进卡尔玛里的喉咙，眼看就要在阿卡巴这道主菜之前，先被当作开胃小点吃掉。405
A blur of dark green shot across Alias’s vision as, with one continuous motion, Dragonbait dashed toward the barbarian’s sword, lifted it, leaped toward the kalmari, and plunged the weapon in the monster’s back.一道深绿色的模糊身影从阿莉亚丝眼前疾掠而过：龙饵一气呵成地冲向野蛮人的剑，将它抄起，跃向卡尔玛里，把剑猛刺进怪物背部。406
The sword dug into the kalmari’s form with a satisfying thuck.剑“噗嗤”一声扎进卡尔玛里的身体，听来令人无比痛快。407
Dragonbait had to jerk the weapon out before he could strike again.龙饵不得不猛地拔出剑，才能再次挥击。408
The kalmari made a high-pitched whine Alias hoped was a scream.卡尔玛里发出一声尖厉的哀鸣，阿莉亚丝希望那是它的惨叫。409
Turning away from the halfing, the creature dropped the mage.那生物转身离开半身人，丢下了法师。410
Dragonbait swung again, this time striking the monster above its eyes, and the kalmari whined again, lashing out with its tail.龙饵再次挥剑，这一次砍中了怪物眼睛上方；卡尔玛里又哀鸣一声，甩尾抽来。411
With lightning reflexes, the lizard-warrior met the strike with the sword, severing the appendage.蜥蜴战士以闪电般的反应挥剑迎击，将那截肢体斩断。412
The monster whined again, now at an unbearable pitch, and came at Dragonbait, mouth first, obviously intent on swallowing the scaly warrior.怪物再次哀鸣起来，这回声音尖锐得令人无法忍受；它张着大嘴扑向龙饵，显然打算把这个浑身鳞片的战士吞下去。413
Dragonbait threw the sword, point first, into the monster’s maw.龙饵将剑尖朝前，掷进了怪物口中。414
The kalmari’s smoky body disintegrated into a dozen tiny motes of darkness, which in turn ruptured into smaller fractions, like a drop of oil shaken in water.卡尔玛里烟雾般的身体崩解成十几颗微小的黑暗粒子，随即又迸裂成更细小的碎屑，仿佛一滴油在水中被摇散。415
The bits of darkness were blown away on the night breeze.夜风将那些黑暗碎屑吹散了。416
The barbarian’s sword clattered to the floor of the devastated inn.野蛮人的剑当啷一声落在已成废墟的客栈地板上。417
Shards of light pricked at Alias’s vision and then faded.一道道光芒的碎片刺入阿莉亚丝的视野，随后又消退了。418
Her head dropped to the floor, and she allowed the darkness of unconsciousness to take her.她的头垂落在地板上，任由昏迷的黑暗将自己吞没。419
Through it all Akabar had remained asleep, snoring softly.自始至终，阿卡巴一直沉睡不醒，轻轻打着鼾。420
* * * * ** * * * *421
Alias awoke to the sound of Olive and Akabar arguing.阿莉亚丝在奥利芙和阿卡巴的争吵声中醒来。422
By the sun’s position, she could tell it was late morning.从太阳的位置来看，她知道已是上午很晚的时候了。423
She felt a little hungover, and it took her a moment to remember the wine Nameless had helped her guzzle.她觉得有点宿醉，好一会儿才想起无名者帮她猛灌下去的那些酒。424
“Your story is most amusing, little one,” the Turmishman was saying to Olive, “but just not probable.“你的故事很有趣，小家伙，”图米什人正对奥利芙说，“可就是不大可信。425
My dreams were pleasant and my sleep uninterrupted.我做的梦很愉快，睡眠也从未中断。426
I would have been awake in an instant if the events you described had truly occurred.”如果你描述的那些事真的发生过，我早就立刻醒来了。”427
“I tell you, this thing was huge and black and had more fangs than you have hairs in your beard.“我告诉你，那东西又大又黑，獠牙比你胡子里的毛还多。428
Its mouth opened so wide—” Olive flung her arms out as far as they would stretch “—that it could have swallowed itself.它的嘴张得这么大——”奥利芙把双臂尽可能地张开，“——简直能把自己吞下去。429
Akabar laughed.阿卡巴笑了起来。430
“It sounds to me as though perhaps my cooking was mer a lammer for you,” the mage commented, using an expression in his native tongue.“依我看，也许我做的饭对你来说是mer a lammer，”法师用母语里的一句说法评论道。431
“Much and too much,” he translated for the halfling.“很多，而且多过头了。”他给半身人翻译道。432
Alias shook the last bits of sleep from her head.阿莉亚丝甩掉脑中最后一丝睡意。433
“Olive’s telling you the truth, Akabar.“奥利芙说的是真的，阿卡巴。434
Hard to credit, I’ll admit, but she wasn’t the only witness to the attack.”我承认，这很难让人相信，但她并不是那场袭击唯一的目击者。”435
The grin disappeared from Akabar’s face.阿卡巴脸上的笑容消失了。436
“Why did it strike at me first, I wonder.”“我不明白，它为什么先袭击我。”437
“Maybe you looked the tastiest,” Olive suggested.“也许你看起来最好吃。”奥利芙猜测道。438
“The creature was a kalmari, impervious to normal attacks,” Alias said.“那生物是一只卡尔玛里，普通攻击对它毫无作用。”阿莉亚丝说。439
“It probably recognized you as a mage, and hence the greatest threat.”“它大概认出了你是法师，因此把你视为最大的威胁。”440
Then Alias remembered what Cassana had said in her dream.这时，阿莉亚丝想起了卡萨娜在她梦中说过的话。441
“I have reason to believe that it was waiting here for me,” she added, “and that it belonged to one of the wizards who branded me.“我有理由相信，它一直在这里等我，”她补充道，“而且它属于给我烙下印记的某个巫师。442
When I got close to it, the sigils began to glow again, something that also happened in the presence of the crystal elemental.我一靠近它，那些符印便又开始发光；水晶元素在场时，也发生过同样的事。443
Perhaps my foes have judged you too useful to me and have decided to have you removed.也许我的敌人认为你对我太有用了，因此决定除掉你。444
A demonstration to prove the futility of defiance.”这是为了证明反抗徒劳无益而作的一番示威。”445
“A kalmari,” Akabar mused, no longer puzzled.“原来是卡尔马里，”阿卡巴若有所思地说道，已不再困惑。446
“Yes, such things can hold a man in slumber.“没错，这种东西能让人沉睡不醒。447
How did you defeat it?”你是怎么打败它的？”448
“Chopped it with a sword it had already swallowed.”“用它先前吞下的一把剑把它砍了。”449
“Ah, yes,” the southerner nodded.“啊，没错。”南方人点点头。450
“They cannot digest steel, so they spit it out.“它们消化不了钢铁，所以会把剑吐出来。451
They can be poisoned by the very secretions that they’ve left on the blade.剑刃上沾着它们自己的分泌物，反倒能使它们中毒。452
“You’ve fought one before?”“你以前和这种怪物交过手？”453
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。454
“No,” Akabar admitted.“没有，”阿卡巴承认道。455
“I have read of them.“我只在书里读到过。456
They are a horror attributed to the Red Wizards of Thay, I believe.”我相信，这种可怖的怪物据说出自塞尔的红袍法师之手。”457
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点点头。458
“Even with a regorged weapon, it could not have been an easy battle.“即便有那把被它吐出来的武器，这场战斗也绝不会轻松。459
However did you manage?” he asked Olive.你到底是怎么做到的？”他问奥利芙。460
Alias smiled.阿莉亚丝笑了。461
No doubt the bard had exaggerated her role in the destruction of the monster.想必这位吟游诗人夸大了自己在消灭那怪物时所起的作用。462
Olive looked down at her furry hands.奥利芙低头看着自己毛茸茸的双手。463
“I got some help from Dragonbait.”“龙饵帮了我一点忙。”464
“Where is Dragonbait, anyway?”“说起来，龙饵在哪儿？”465
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。466
“I noticed him climbing that hill,” Akabar said, pointing to the western slope looming over the top of the pass.“我看见他在爬那座山。”阿卡巴说道，同时指向高耸在隘口上方的西侧山坡。467
“He was carrying a monstrous sword.”“他扛着一把大得吓人的剑。”468
“Hmmm.“嗯……469
You two start breaking camp,” the adventureress ordered.你们俩开始拔营，”女冒险者命令道。470
“I’ll fetch him, and we’ll be off.“我去找他，然后我们就出发。471
I’m not inclined to hang around here.”我可不想在这里久留。”472
Climbing toward the western slope, Alias heard Akabar chiding Olive.阿莉亚丝朝西边的山坡爬去时，听见阿卡巴正在责怪奥利芙。473
“Why didn’t you tell me it was a kalmari instead of babbling on about a big, black, fang-toothed thing?”“你为什么不告诉我那是只卡尔马里，反倒喋喋不休地说什么又大又黑、还长着尖牙的东西？”474
Catching the sound of soft, whistling tones, Alias followed them to a spring-fed pool, where she found Dragonbait.阿莉亚丝听见轻柔的哨音，便循声来到一处泉水汇成的池塘，在那里找到了龙饵。475
The lizard had made a set of bird pipes, and the tune he twisted out of them, while sad and plaintive, was also exultant, a cry of loss and pain spun into beautiful music.蜥蜴做了一套鸟笛；他吹出的曲调悲切哀婉，却又慷慨激昂，仿佛将失落与痛苦的呐喊编织成了美妙的音乐。476
Somehow Alias knew it was made to honor a fallen hero.不知怎的，阿莉亚丝知道，这支曲子是为了向一位陨落的英雄致敬。477
She sat beside the lizard and waited for him to finish.她在蜥蜴身旁坐下，等他吹完。478
A long, low mound of dirt stretched before him.他面前横着一座狭长低矮的土丘。479
When he was finished, he lay the pipes, very gently, on top of the newly turned earth and bowed his head silently.吹奏完毕后，他极其轻柔地将鸟笛放在新翻的泥土上，然后默默垂下了头。480
A bird twittered in some distant glade.远处某片林间空地里，一只鸟儿啾啾鸣叫。481
The air smelled of roses.空气中弥漫着玫瑰的芬芳。482
Dragonbait finally looked up at her and smiled.龙饵终于抬头看向她，露出微笑。483
Not really a happy smile, but a bittersweet one, though Alias doubted anyone but she could tell the difference.那并非真正快乐的微笑，而是苦乐参半的微笑，不过阿莉亚丝怀疑，除了她以外，恐怕没人能分辨其中的差别。484
“That the sword?” she asked, pointing at the thin grave.“那是那把剑？”她指着那座狭长的坟问道。485
Dragonbait nodded.龙饵点了点头。486
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。487
“It could be magical.“它可能有魔法。488
We could use a weapon like that.”那样的武器对我们会有用。”489
Dragonbait shook his head, though Alias could not tell if he was denying the sword’s possible enchantment or their need for such a thing.龙饵摇了摇头，不过阿莉亚丝分辨不出，他是在否认那把剑可能附有魔法，还是在否认他们需要这样的武器。490
“Someone else will only dig it up,” she argued, though her own heart wasn’t really in it.“反正别人也会把它挖出来的，”她争辩道，尽管她自己其实也没什么底气。491
Dragonbait shook his head again.龙饵又摇了摇头。492
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。493
“Okay.“好吧。494
We’ll leave it as a memorial.我们就把它留在这里，当作纪念。495
Come on now.现在走吧。496
We’ve already lost half a day, and we’re tempting untrustworthy gods by staying here any longer.”我们已经耽搁了半天，再待下去，就是在试探那些不可信的神明了。”497
She patted the lizard’s arm as she rose.她站起身，拍了拍蜥蜴人的手臂。498
His tightly knit scales reminded her of warm jewels, dry and smooth.他那紧密排列的鳞片令她想起温热的宝石，干燥而光滑。499
As she turned to make her way down the slope, it occurred to her that Dragonbait couldn’t have known about the sword’s owner.她转身准备走下山坡时，忽然想到，龙饵本不可能知道那把剑的主人。500
Unless he had the ability to sense an object’s past or he had read her mind or …除非他能感知一件物品的过往，或者他读到了她的心思，又或者……501
Alias halted in mid-step and turned around.阿莉亚丝一步迈到一半，蓦地停住，转过身来。502
“Did you dream the same dream?”“你也做了同样的梦吗？”503
The lizard cocked his head as if he didn’t understand.蜥蜴人歪了歪头，仿佛没听懂。504
“Never mind,” she said, realizing that, though they did communicate with one another in a fashion, some questions were just too complicated for her to convey.“算了，”她说道，意识到尽管他们确实能以某种方式彼此沟通，但有些问题实在太复杂，她无法向他表达清楚。505
“Just finish up here.“把这里的事做完吧。506
We’ll be waiting at the camp.”我们会在营地等你。”507
Dragonbait remained at the grave for a few moments, then rose and followed his lady out of the glade.龙饵在坟前又停留了片刻，随后起身，跟着他的女主人离开了林间空地。508
The birds picked up his pipe-song and carried it throughout Shadow Gap, south into the Stonelands and north into the Dales.鸟儿接过他笛音般的歌声，将它传遍暗影隘口，向南传入石地，向北传入谷地。509
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听