“What do you mean, more forms?”“你说还要填更多表格，是什么意思？”1
Akabar bellowed, finally losing his temper.阿卡巴咆哮道，终于按捺不住脾气了。2
Secretly he hoped that his shouts would gain the attention of someone besides the bureaucratic fool of a scribe who stood before him—someone with the insight to understand the importance of his problem, someone who would rescue him from this morass of paperwork.他暗自希望，自己的吼声能引来别人的注意，而不只是眼前这个官僚气十足的蠢货书记员——某个有眼光、能明白他的问题有多重要的人，某个能把他从这片文书泥潭里解救出去的人。3
Someone like Elminster.比如伊尔明斯特。4
“Well, ummm, here,” Lhaeo the scribe said and pointed to a place on a form Akabar had completed over an hour ago.“呃，这个嘛，在这里，”书记员莱奥说着，指向阿卡巴一个多小时前就填好的一张表格上的某处。5
He blinked at the southern mage through a strange set of thick lenses wrapped in wire which perched precariously on his nose.他隔着一副用金属丝缠起来的奇怪厚镜片，眨巴着眼睛看向这位南方来的法师；那副眼镜摇摇欲坠地架在他的鼻梁上。6
“Here, where you mentioned that you have more than one wife, you should have gone to line twenty-three and listed all your wives’ mothers’ names, instead of line twenty-two, where you listed your first wife’s mother’s name.“这里，你提到自己不止有一位妻子，因此本该填在第二十三行，列出你所有妻子的母亲的名字，而不是填在第二十二行，只列出你第一位妻子的母亲的名字。7
That error is going to require a special schedule HL, in order to keep our files straight.”这个错误需要另外填写一份HL附表，好让我们的档案不出差错。”8
“Files?” shrieked Akabar.“档案？”阿卡巴尖叫道。9
“Look around you!” he demanded.“你看看四周！”他厉声说道。10
“Does it look as if anything has been filed here in the last millennium?”“这里看起来像是过去一千年里有任何东西归过档吗？”11
The question was purely rhetorical.这个问题纯粹是反问。12
The scribe’s outer office, which also served as a waiting room for those seeking audience with the great Elminster, was a firetrap waiting for a spark.书记员的外间办公室同时也是等候室，供那些想求见伟大的伊尔明斯特的人使用；这里就像一座只等一颗火星落下的火灾陷阱。13
Parchment scrolls, leatherbound tomes, sheaves of loose leaves of paper, empty folders clearly labeled Important or Confidential, and bark textbooks stained with berry ink, and chalk dust lay on every available horizontal surface or leaned against a vertical surface.羊皮纸卷、皮革装订的典籍、一沓沓散页、明明白白标着“重要”或“机密”的空文件夹、沾着浆果墨水的树皮教本，还有粉笔灰，占满了所有能放东西的平面，或是倚靠在各种竖直表面上。14
Colored streamers, on which were scrawled the most exotic letters, hung from the ceiling.天花板上垂挂着彩色飘带，上面潦草地写着种种极为奇异的字母。15
Besides the gray slate used to write temporary messages, such as Attend Azoun’s Coronation and Warn Myth Drannor of Attack, there were stone and clay tablets and sheets of soft metals to hold more permanent messages, the ones to be handed down through history—Pick Up Laundry and Pay Lhaeo.除了一块用来写临时留言的灰色石板——比如“参加阿祖恩的加冕典礼”和“警告迷斯卓诺提防袭击”——这里还有石板、泥板和软金属薄片，用来记载更为永久、注定流传后世的留言——“取洗好的衣服”和“付钱给莱奥”。16
All this, of course, was a tribute to Lhaeo’s ability to intimidate adventurers and keep them from disturbing Elminster.当然，这一切都充分证明了莱奥恐吓冒险者、不让他们打扰伊尔明斯特的本事。17
Akabar sensed this to some extent.阿卡巴多少也察觉到了这一点。18
At least, he could not believe that anyone, including Lhaeo, really gave a bat’s dropping for what he wrote down.至少，他无法相信真的会有任何人——包括莱奥——在乎他写下了什么，哪怕只在乎一丁点儿。19
His perception was that Lhaeo’s forms were some sort of test of his patience or intelligence or desperation.在他看来，莱奥的这些表格无非是对他的耐心、智慧或绝望程度的某种考验。20
If he just stuck it out long enough, he was certain, Lhaeo would finally recognize his worthiness as a candidate and remind his master that a southern mage waited in the outer office.他确信，只要自己坚持得够久，莱奥最终就会承认他是个合格的求见者，并提醒自己的主人，有一位南方来的法师正在外间办公室等候。21
However, Akabar had been waiting five hours—three at the inn and two in this dismal, cramped room.然而，阿卡巴已经等了五个小时——三个小时在旅店，两个小时在这间阴暗逼仄的屋子里。22
His patience was spent, his intelligence exhausted on figuring out the ridiculous forms.他的耐心已经耗尽，才智也全用在了琢磨那些荒唐的表格上。23
Desperation was his final strategy.绝望之下，他只剩最后一招。24
He considered dashing from the room to the tower, but without Lhaeo’s guidance through the maze of halls and doors and rooms, he wasn’t sure he could find it.他考虑过冲出房间，直奔高塔，但若没有莱奥带着他穿过那迷宫般的走廊、门户和房间，他不确定自己能否找到那里。25
Even if I did find the stairs, Akabar mused, I have no guarantee that Elminster is in the tower.就算我找到了楼梯，阿卡巴暗想，也不能保证伊尔明斯特就在塔里。26
Lheao shrugged.莱奥耸了耸肩。27
“You must understand, Elminster is a very busy man.“你必须明白，伊尔明斯特是个非常忙碌的人。28
This is the only way we have of determining if a problem is truly important enough to warrant interrupting his already overcrowded schedule.”我们只有通过这种方式，才能判断一个问题是否真的重要到值得打断他那早已挤得满满当当的日程。”29
“Just what size dragon does it take to land in this room to merit the sage’s attention?”“究竟要多大一条龙降落在这间屋子里，才值得那位贤者留意？”30
“Oh, Elminster doesn’t consult with dragons,” Lhaeo assured the mage.“哦，伊尔明斯特不和龙商谈。”莱奥向法师保证道。31
“Consults on dragons, perhaps, but not with them.“他或许会就龙的问题提供咨询，但不会同龙商谈。32
The sage is very, very busy, and he does not, as a rule, waste his time with dragons.贤者非常、非常忙，而且通常不会把时间浪费在龙身上。33
That’s what adventurers are for.对付龙正是冒险者的用处。34
And if, um, when you get in to see him, I would advise you to mention dragons as little as possible.”而且，如果，呃，等你进去见到他时，我建议你尽量少提龙。”35
“Look,” Akabar said, “I understand that the sage is busy.“听着，”阿卡巴说，“我明白贤者很忙。36
When I got his message to hurry over, I assumed he would see me on his dinner break or something.”我收到他的口信，要我赶快过来时，还以为他会趁晚餐休息时间之类的空当见我。”37
“Dinner break?”“晚餐休息时间？”38
The scribe used a delicate finger to push the wire rims around the lenses higher up his nose.书记员伸出一根纤细的手指，将鼻梁上环绕镜片的金属丝镜框往上推了推。39
“I don’t think Elminster has taken a dinner break since, let’s see … umm … this is the Year of the Prince, then that makes it …”“我想伊尔明斯特已经很久没在晚餐时休息过了，让我想想……嗯……今年是王子之年，那么算来就是……”40
Lhaeo consulted a calendar.莱奥查了查日历。41
“Does anyone ever make it past this blizzard of parchment?”“真有人能闯过这场羊皮纸暴风雪吗？”42
Akabar growled.阿卡巴低吼道。43
“Well,” Lhaeo sat and thought for half a moment.“嗯……”莱奥坐在那里想了片刻。44
“There was a delegation from the Forest of Anauroch.”“以前有一支来自埃诺奥克森林的代表团。”45
“Anauroch is a desert, not a forest,” Akabar said.“埃诺奥克是沙漠，不是森林。”阿卡巴说。46
“Well, now it is, yes.”“嗯，是啊，现在是沙漠了。”47
“Was that supposed to be a joke?”“你这是在开玩笑吗？”48
Akabar snapped.阿卡巴厉声问道。49
“Am I laughing?” the scribe asked, looking at Akabar over the rim of his glasses.“我在笑吗？”书记员从眼镜上沿望着阿卡巴，反问道。50
“No.”“没有。”51
“Then it couldn’t be a joke, could it?”“那就不可能是玩笑，对吧？”52
“Look,” said Akabar, “I realize the sage can’t spare time for everyone.“听着，”阿卡巴说，“我明白贤者不可能抽出时间接待每一个人。53
I wouldn’t bother him with a petty problem.我不会拿什么鸡毛蒜皮的小事来打扰他。54
I’m a mage of no small water.我可不是个无足轻重的法师。55
Another member of the sage community, Master Dimswart of Suzail, was unable to handle all the complexities of my case.贤者圈的另一位成员，苏萨尔的迪姆斯沃特大师，也无法处理我这件事里所有错综复杂的问题。56
He recommended I see Elminster.是他建议我来见伊尔明斯特的。57
I traveled all this way to do so.”我千里迢迢赶来，就是为了这件事。”58
“Oh!”“哦！”59
Lhaeo exclaimed, his eyes lighting up behind the thick lenses.莱奥惊呼一声，厚厚的镜片后面双眼顿时一亮。60
“You’re a referral!“你是经人转介来的！”61
Well, then we need to start again with a different set of forms.那我们得换一套表格，从头开始。62
One moment, I’ll get them.”稍等，我去拿来。”63
The scribe put his hand in a drawer and drew out a bird’s nest of shredded paper.书记员把手伸进一个抽屉，掏出一团鸟巢般的碎纸。64
“No, this can’t be them.“不对，不是这些。65
They must be in that other cabinet.”一定是在另一个柜子里。”66
Akabar counted to ten.阿卡巴从一数到了十。67
Far below, someone knocked on a door, but in his search for the referral forms, Lhaeo ignored it.下方远处，有人敲响了一扇门，但莱奥正忙着寻找转介表格，根本没有理会。68
“Here we go,” the scribe announced.“找到了，”书记员宣布道。69
“Last copy, too, so we need to fill out an acquisition memo to file with the local merchants for the next shipment of parchment.”“这还是最后一份，所以我们得填一张采购备忘录，交给当地商人备案，好让他们下次送来一批羊皮纸。”70
The referral form passed dangerously close to a candle flame.转介表从蜡烛火焰旁险险擦过。71
“Oooch, singed it a little, but, uh, we can just, yes, we can just make out an addendum form to explain that the singed parchment was my fault.”“哎哟，稍微烤焦了一点，不过，呃，我们只要——对，只要再填一张补充表，说明羊皮纸烤焦是我的过错就行了。”72
From below, someone knocked again, only louder.楼下又有人敲门了，这回声音更响。73
“Isn’t someone going to answer that?”“没人去开门吗？”74
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。75
“Well, no.”“嗯，不会有人去。”76
“Why not?”“为什么？”77
“It’s way after business hours.“早就过了办公时间。78
We’re closed.”我们已经关门了。”79
“But, I’m here,” Akabar said, then nearly bit off his tongue.“可我就在这儿啊，”阿卡巴说完，差点咬掉自己的舌头。80
“So you are.“你确实在这儿。81
We’ll need another form for that.这事我们还得再填一张表。82
Nocturnal visitors.”夜间访客。”83
The knocking stopped.敲门声停了。84
“Now, please, include as much information on the sage Dimswart as you can recall.“现在，请把你能回想起来的有关贤者迪姆斯沃特的情况尽量详细地填上。85
What you asked him on this line, what he answered on this one, what he didn’t tell you on this one.这一行填你问了他什么，这一行填他回答了什么，这一行填他有什么没告诉你。86
Any reasons you may have to believe he may have been incorrect on this line.”这一行填你认为他可能有误的任何理由。”87
Akabar dipped a quill in the inkpot and began again.阿卡巴把羽毛笔蘸进墨水瓶，又开始填了起来。88
He wished he’d brought Alias along.他真希望自己把阿莉亚丝也带来了。89
Broadswords had such a nice, satisfying way of cutting through red tape.阔剑斩断这些繁文缛节时，总是那么痛快，那么令人称心。90
It wasn’t until a minute later, upon discovering there was a form to fill out because Alias, not he, was the sage’s real client, that Akabar lost his temper again and renewed his loud verbal assault on the sage’s scribe.直到一分钟后，阿卡巴才发现，由于贤者真正的委托人是阿莉亚丝而不是他，他还得为此再填一张表；这下他又一次勃然大怒，重新对贤者的书记员展开了高声痛骂。91
* * * * ** * * * *92
Sylune’s hut was atop a low rise overlooking the road and the River Ashaba.希露妮的小屋坐落在一处低矮的高地上，俯瞰着道路和阿沙巴河。93
Alias remembered the dwelling as small but comfortable, covered with vines, with smoke always drifting from a chimney for a cooking fire.阿莉亚丝记得那住处虽小，却很舒适，屋外爬满藤蔓，炊火的烟总是从烟囱里袅袅升起。94
She remembered Sylune as a radiantly beautiful woman with shining silver hair.她记得希露妮是个光彩照人的美丽女子，有一头闪亮的银发。95
Kith had told her that Sylune was at least a century old but kept young with her magics.基丝曾告诉她，希露妮至少已有一百岁，却用魔法使自己永葆青春。96
Alias had always suspected that Kith planned to use her power toward the same goal, improving and maintaining her looks.阿莉亚丝一直怀疑，基丝也打算用自己的力量达到同样的目的，改善并维持自己的容貌。97
The thought put a smile on her face that disappeared as Alias topped the rise.想到这里，她脸上露出一丝微笑，可当阿莉亚丝登上高地时，那笑容便消失了。98
Illuminated by moonlight, Sylune’s hut was nothing but rubble, its timbers and stone shattered and scattered along the hilltop.月光下，希露妮的小屋只剩一片废墟，木梁与石块碎裂开来，散落在山顶各处。99
A rocky stump, once the fireplace, was the only indication that a dwelling had once stood there.一截岩石残基曾是壁炉，如今只有它还能表明，这里曾经矗立着一座住处。100
“Bhaal’s breath,” Alias cursed as she walked through the remains of the hut.“巴尔的臭气！”阿莉亚丝一边咒骂，一边走过小屋的残骸。101
The damage had occurred years ago.这场破坏发生在许多年前。102
Her boots struck an occasional flagstone, but the majority of the floor had long since disappeared beneath grass and creepers.她的靴子偶尔会踩到一块铺地石，但大部分地面早已消失在青草与蔓藤之下。103
The hairs rose on the back of the swordswoman’s neck, and she realized Shadowdale was no safer a haven for her than Shadow Gap had been.女剑客后颈的汗毛竖了起来，她意识到，阴影谷并不比阴影隘口更适合她避难。104
She immediately regretted leaving her sword in her room.她立刻后悔把剑留在了自己的房间里。105
Then she thought, what difference does it make?接着她又想，有剑又能怎么样？106
The sword was useful against the assassins, but it could never have cut through the crystal elemental the way Dragonbait’s did, and only the barbarian’s sword could have defeated the kalmari.那把剑对付刺客很有用，可它绝不可能像龙饵的剑那样劈开水晶元素体，而能击败卡尔马里的，也只有那个蛮族人的剑。107
Reason told her to flee back to the inn and the safety of her companions, but feelings of pain and anger overwhelmed her and made her fey.理智告诉她应该逃回旅店，回到同伴们身边寻求庇护，可痛苦与愤怒压倒了她，让她生出一股不顾一切的狂气。108
I’m sick of retreating, she thought.我受够了一退再退，她想。109
I want a fight.我想痛痛快快地打一场。110
“This is as good a place as any,” Alias muttered.“这地方跟哪儿都一样合适，”阿莉亚丝低声说道。111
Her voice rose in volume and pitch.她的声音越来越响，音调也越来越高。112
“First, there’s the old ruin—an abandoned or burned-out shell.“首先，是这座古老的废墟——一具被遗弃或烧毁的空壳。113
Darkness all around.四周一片漆黑。114
The stage is set.”舞台已经搭好了。”115
She began shouting.她开始大喊。116
“What are you waiting for, O mighty masters?“至高无上的主人们，你们还在等什么？117
Here’s where the nasty, creeping horror lurches out at me, isn’t it?”那恶心的、鬼鬼祟祟的怪物就该从这里蹒跚着扑向我了，不是吗？”118
She laughed.她大笑起来。119
“What’s the matter?“怎么了？120
Can’t make up your minds what to send this time?拿不定主意这次该派什么来吗？121
How ’bout a beholder, all round with flashing eyes?来个眼魔怎么样，圆滚滚的，浑身都是闪闪发亮的眼睛？122
Oh, no, wait!哦，不，等等！123
I’ve got it!我想到了！124
Send a mind flayer or, better yet, an intellect devourer!派个夺心魔来吧，或者更好，派个智力吞噬者！125
It’ll starve, you know, because you’re driving me crazy!”它会饿死的，知道吗，因为你们快把我逼疯了！”126
Her raging bellows carried across the Ashaba.她愤怒的咆哮声传过了阿沙巴。127
“Show yourselves, you cowards!” she shrieked, losing all control of her anger.“现身吧，你们这些懦夫！”她尖声叫道，怒火彻底失去了控制。128
“I’ll teach you to make a puppet out of me!“我会让你们知道把我当木偶摆布会有什么下场！129
Come on, attack me!来啊，攻击我啊！130
I dare you!”我谅你们也不敢！”131
“Well, I don’t want to,” a reedy voice answered her from the fireplace.“呃，我可不想，”壁炉那边传来一个尖细的声音。132
“But if ye don’t stop shouting, I will.”“可你要是再不住嘴，我就动手了。”133
Alias whirled around, but all she could see in the dark was a shadow near the ruined stump of the hearth.阿莉亚丝猛地转过身，可黑暗中，她只看见壁炉残破的基座旁有一道影子。134
She instantly came to her senses and reached down to grab the dagger from her boot.她顿时清醒过来，俯身去拔靴子里的匕首。135
“I’m … sorry,” she whispered, still crouching, ready to cast the blade if the shadow made any sudden moves.“我……很抱歉。”她低声说道，仍旧蹲伏着；只要那黑影突然有所动作，她便会立刻掷出匕首。136
It appeared to be an ordinary man, but then the kalmari had looked like an ordinary merchant in her dream until it was ripped asunder and the deadly cloud rose from its shell.那看起来只是个普通男人，可在她的梦中，卡尔玛里起初也像个普通商人，直到它被撕成碎片，致命的云雾从它的躯壳中升起。137
“I thought I was alone up here.”“我还以为这上面只有我一个人。”138
“Talk to thyself often, do ye?”“你常跟自个儿说话，是吧？”139
“Well, I mean, I thought someone might be listening.“呃，我是说，我以为也许有人在听。”140
Someone far off—hopefully.”“某个远方的人——但愿如此。”141
“Keep shouting like that,” said the shadow, “and ye’ll bring the entire dale up here.“再这么喊下去，”那黑影说道，“你会把整个山谷的人都引到这儿来。”142
I was about to lay a watch-fire.“我正准备生一堆守夜火。”143
Do ye care to help me tend it?”“你愿不愿意帮我照看？”144
Without waiting for an answer, the figure turned away from her and knelt by the hearth.那人影不等她回答，便转过身去，在壁炉旁跪了下来。145
Alias stood up straight, and the tension she’d felt eased as the cool metal hilt of the dagger warmed in her palm.阿莉亚丝直起身来，匕首冰凉的金属柄在她掌心渐渐焐热，她先前感到的紧张也随之缓解。146
The figure by the hearth hummed an aimless tune while piling the logs and tinder together.壁炉旁的人影一边把木柴和引火物堆在一起，一边漫无目的地哼着小调。147
There was a spark, then a second flash, and the dry tinder went up, casting a circle of light and warmth from the center of the ruined hut.先是一点火星，接着又是一道亮光，干燥的引火物随即燃烧起来，从破败小屋中央洒出一圈光明与暖意。148
Illuminated, the shadow transformed into a beanpole of a man, dressed in weatherbeaten and stained brown robes.在火光照耀下，那黑影变成了一个竹竿般瘦高的男人，身穿饱经风吹雨打、污迹斑斑的棕色长袍。149
His gray beard was stringy and unkempt, and his hood was thrown back to reveal a balding pate which gleamed red from the flames of the fire.他灰白的胡须稀疏凌乱，兜帽掀在脑后，露出日渐秃顶的脑袋，被火焰映得红光发亮。150
He seemed nothing more than an elderly, crotchety goatherd.他看起来不过是个年迈而脾气乖戾的牧羊人。151
“If ye aren’t going to take advantage of the warmth,” the old man said, “at least come into the light so I can see ye use that dagger.”“你要是不打算来暖和一下，”老人说道，“至少也走到亮处来，好让我看清你怎么使那把匕首。”152
Alias stepped into the firelight, feeling foolish for having been caught raging at fate, but even more foolish for having threatened an old man.阿莉亚丝走进火光中；想到自己冲着命运大发脾气的样子被人撞见，她觉得很傻，而想到自己竟威胁了一个老人，她更觉得愚蠢。153
She sat down crosslegged before the hearth.她在壁炉前盘腿坐下。154
“I’m looking for the river witch Sylune,” she explained.“我在找河巫希露妮。”她解释道。155
The old man sat down facing her and leaned his back against the broken fireplace wall.老人面对她坐下，将后背靠在破损的壁炉墙上。156
He pulled a ball of tobacco from a pocket and used his thumb to shove it into a thick, clay pipe.他从口袋里掏出一团烟草，用拇指把它塞进一只粗大的陶土烟斗。157
He looked at her thoughtfully.他若有所思地看着她。158
“She’s dead,” he said quietly.“她死了。”他轻声说道。159
“What?”“什么？”160
“She’s dead,” repeated the old man.“她死了，”老人重复道。161
“Deceased.“去世了。162
Here no more.不在这世上了。163
People die.人都会死。164
Even here.”即便在这里也一样。”165
He lit the pipe with the end of a burning twig.他用一根燃烧的细枝点着了烟斗。166
“How?”“怎么死的？”167
Alias whispered.阿莉亚丝低声问道。168
The news hit her like a blow to the gut.这个消息如同一记重拳击中她的腹部。169
She had never been close to Kith’s mentor, but everywhere she went, anytime she felt close to getting some answers, her efforts were thwarted.她与基丝的导师从来都不亲近，可无论她走到哪里，每当她觉得自己快要找到答案时，她的努力总会受挫。170
I’d been counting on Sylune more than I realized, she thought.原来我对希露妮寄予的希望比自己意识到的还要多，她心想。171
“She died battling a dragon,” the old man explained.“她是在与一条龙搏斗时死的，”老人解释道。172
“A flight of ’em descended on the region a couple winters back.“两个冬天前，一群龙袭击了这一带。173
They destroyed a bunch a’ towns.它们摧毁了好些城镇。174
One of ’em took advantage of Elminster bein’ out of the country.其中一条趁伊尔明斯特不在国内时发动了袭击。175
When this dragon attacked Shadowdale, Sylune was the only power around.那条龙袭击阴影谷时，希露妮是附近唯一有力量与它抗衡的人。176
She didn’t stand a chance, but she had this staff.”她毫无胜算，但她有这么一根法杖。”177
Alias realized that the old man meant a magical staff, a staff of power.阿莉亚丝意识到，老人指的是一根魔法杖，一根威力法杖。178
“She broke it across the critter’s nose, and everything went up in a pillar of flame—the dragon, the staff, and Sylune.“她把法杖砸断在那畜生的鼻梁上，紧接着一切都在一道冲天火柱中化为灰烬——那条龙、法杖，还有希露妮。179
It happened right across the way there.”事情就发生在那边的正对岸。”180
The old man pointed to the other side of the river.老人指向河对岸。181
By the moonlight, Alias’s eyes could just pick out the naked, burned-out area of the woods.借着月光，阿莉亚丝勉强能辨认出树林中那片光秃秃的焦土。182
“Damn” she whispered softly.“该死。”她轻声低语。183
“Aye.”“是啊。”184
There was silence between them for a while.两人沉默了一会儿。185
Then the old man spoke again.随后，老人又开口了。186
“I heard thy singing at Jhaele’s,” he said.“我在杰尔那儿听见你唱歌了，”他说。187
“I never thought I’d hear that old song again.”“我从没想过还能再听到那首老歌。”188
“You know it?”“你知道那首歌？”189
Alias’s head snapped up.阿莉亚丝猛地抬起头。190
“I heard it once.”“我听过一次。”191
“Where?”“在哪里？”192
“Ye tell me first,” the old man insisted, “where ye learned it.”“你先告诉我，”老人坚持道，“你是从哪儿学来的。”193
“I learned it from Jhaele,” Alias said.“我是跟杰尔学的，”阿莉亚丝说。194
The old man laughed.老人笑了起来。195
“Jhaele!“杰尔！”196
Impossible.“不可能。”197
The woman’s tone deaf.”“那个女人五音不全。”198
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。199
“She doesn’t remember teaching me, but she did.“她不记得教过我，可她确实教过。”200
I know she did,” she said vehemently.“我知道她教过，”她语气激烈地说。201
The old man peered at Alias through half-closed eyes, considering her answer.老人眯起眼睛打量着阿莉亚丝，思量着她的回答。202
Finally he asked, “Do ye know any other good, old songs?最后，他问道：“你还会别的好听的老歌吗？”203
One about the moon maybe?”“比如一首关于月亮的？”204
He pointed to the bright sphere.他指了指那轮明亮的圆月。205
“And the lights that follow it?”“还有那些跟随着它的光点？”206
“The Tears of Selune,” Alias said.“《塞露恩之泪》。”阿莉亚丝说。207
“It’s a love song, isn’t it?” the old man asked.“那是一首情歌，对吧？”老人问。208
“Yes,” Alias answered.“是的。”阿莉亚丝回答。209
“About how the goddess of the moon weeps because her lover, the sun, is always on the other side of the world.”“唱的是月亮女神如何哭泣，因为她的爱人太阳总是在世界的另一边。”210
“That’s the one.“就是那首。”211
Where’d ye learn it?”“你是在哪儿学会的？”212
“You want me to sing it?” she asked.“你想让我唱吗？”她问。213
“That’s not what I asked, now, is it?”“我问的可不是这个，对吧？”214
“No.”“不是。”215
“Well?” the old man prompted.“那说呀？”老人催促道。216
Alias did not answer.阿莉亚丝没有回答。217
He’d laughed when she said Jhaele had taught her the song about the Standing Stone.她说《立石》那首歌是杰尔教她的时，他笑了。218
If she told him she’d learned The Tears of Selune from a Harper, he probably wouldn’t believe that either.如果她告诉他，《塞露恩之泪》是她从一个竖琴手那里学来的，他多半也不会相信。219
As though he were reading her mind, the old man asked, “Do ye think ye learned it from a Harper maybe?”老人仿佛看穿了她的心思，问道：“你是不是觉得，没准儿是从一个竖琴手那里学来的？”220
It was Alias’s turn to stare at him.这回轮到阿莉亚丝盯着他看了。221
“Your short friend, the bard, was singing a song about Myth Dranncr.“你那个矮个子朋友，就是那个吟游诗人，当时在唱一首关于迷斯·卓诺的歌。”222
She said a Harper had taught it to her.”“她说那是一个竖琴手教她的。”223
Alias snorted.阿莉亚丝哼了一声。224
“Sounds like Olive.”“这倒像是奥利芙会说的话。”225
“You sayin’ she didn’t learn it from a Harper?”“你是说，那歌不是她从一个竖琴手那里学来的？”226
“She learned it from me,” Alias said.“她是跟我学的。”阿莉亚丝说。227
“Which leaves the question—where did ye learn these songs?”“那问题还是没解决——你又是从哪儿学会这些歌的？”228
“A Harper,” she admitted.“一个竖琴手。”她承认道。229
“I thought so,” the old man said smugly.“我就知道。”老人得意地说。230
“What was this Harper’s name?”“这个竖琴手叫什么名字？”231
Alias thought very hard, but she drew a complete blank.阿莉亚丝拼命回想，脑海里却一片空白。232
“I don’t know,” she whispered.“我不知道。”她低声说道。233
“I thought not,” the old man said.“我就知道你不知道，”老人说。234
“No, you don’t understand.“不，你不明白。235
I’m telling you the truth.我说的是真话。236
I just don’t always remember things.”我只是有些事情不总能记得。”237
“Oh, I understand, all right.“哦，我当然明白。238
More than ye know.比你以为的还要明白。239
I believe ye.我相信你。240
Ye learned the song from a Harper, but he never told ye his name.”你是从一位竖琴手那里学会这首歌的，可他从没告诉过你他的名字。”241
“That’s not possible,” Alias said, wracking her brain for memories of the Harper.“这不可能，”阿莉亚丝说，绞尽脑汁地搜寻关于那位竖琴手的记忆。242
“We were close.…”“我们曾经很亲近……”243
Her voice trailed off.她的声音渐渐低了下去。244
She could not even remember the Harper’s face, let alone where or how they had met.她甚至连那位竖琴手的脸都记不起来，更不用说他们是在何处、又是如何相识的了。245
“He was a Harper,” she insisted.“他是个竖琴手，”她坚持道。246
“He was,” the old man echoed.“他是，”老人附和道。247
Warmed by the fire, Alias pushed her sleeves up to her elbows without thinking.被炉火烘暖后，阿莉亚丝不假思索地把袖子挽到了手肘。248
“An interesting tattoo you have there,” the old man said, nodding at her right arm.“你这文身挺有意思，”老人朝她的右臂点了点头，说道。249
Alias was about to pull her sleeve back down, but the old man snatched her wrist and pulled her arm toward him.阿莉亚丝正要把袖子放下来，老人却一把抓住她的手腕，将她的胳膊拉到自己面前。250
The firelight flickered over the blue sigils.火光在蓝色符印上摇曳。251
The markings remained still for the moment; they could almost pass as a normal tattoo.那些印记此刻一动不动，几乎可以冒充普通的文身。252
Yet, Alias felt uncomfortable revealing the sigils to strangers.然而，阿莉亚丝还是不愿在陌生人面前露出这些符印。253
“It’s not mine,” she said.“这不是我的，”她说。254
“Oh.“哦。255
Ye just rented it for the month of Mirtul?” the old man joked.那是你租来用一个米尔图月的？”老人打趣道。256
“Someone put it on me without my permission,” Alias explained.“有人没经过我同意，就把它弄到了我身上。”阿莉亚丝解释道。257
“I must have been drunk.”“我当时肯定喝醉了。”258
She shrugged.她耸了耸肩。259
The graybeard raised his eyebrows and squinted.灰胡子老人扬起眉毛，眯起了眼睛。260
“Nice work, nice work, indeed.“手艺不错，真不错。261
I’ve seen naught like it.我还从没见过这样的东西。262
They aren’t very nice symbols, are they?”这些符号可不怎么友善，对吧？”263
“What would you know about them?”“你对它们知道些什么？”264
Alias asked, trying to yank her arm back, but the old man’s grip was surprisingly firm.阿莉亚丝问道，同时试图猛地抽回手臂，可老人的手劲出奇地大。265
He tapped the sigil at the crook of her arm.他轻点了一下她臂弯处的印记。266
“Flame Daggers,” he muttered.“烈焰匕首。”他低声说道。267
“Fire Knives,” Alias corrected.“火焰短刀。”阿莉亚丝纠正道。268
“Oh, right.“哦，对。269
Right.对。270
They’re a guild of Thieves and Assassins from Cormyr.他们是来自科米尔的一个盗贼与刺客公会。271
Young Azoun sent ’em packing.年轻的阿祖恩把他们赶跑了。272
They operate out of a warehouse in Westgate now.”如今他们以西门城的一座仓库为据点。”273
Surprised by the old man’s knowledge, Alias quit struggling and let her arm rest in his grip.阿莉亚丝对老人的见识颇感意外，便不再挣扎，任由手臂搁在他手中。274
“And the two below,” she prompted him.“那下面两个呢？”她催他继续说。275
He snorted.他哼了一声。276
“What do I look like?“你看我像什么人？277
A sage?” he retorted.像个贤者吗？”他反驳道。278
“Well, yes, kind of,” Alias said.“嗯，是啊，多少有点像。”阿莉亚丝说道。279
The old man chuckled.老人呵呵笑了起来。280
“Ye can’t live in a town as small as this one without pickin’ up stuff.“住在这么小的镇子里，哪能不听到点儿事。281
Elminster’s always out advisin’ on the lambin’ and the hayin’, always tellin’ stories.伊尔明斯特总是在外头指导人接羔、收干草，还总给人讲故事。282
He could tell ye what these were without blinkin’.”他眼都不用眨，就能告诉你这些是什么。”283
“We’ve never met,” Alias replied with a sniff.“我们从没见过面。”阿莉亚丝哼了一声，答道。284
“I suppose not.“我想也是。285
He doesn’t care much for adventurers.”他不大喜欢冒险者。”286
“Oh.“哦。287
I suppose he prefers greengrocers,” Alias retorted.我看他更喜欢菜贩子吧。”阿莉亚丝反唇相讥。288
“Greengrocers?”“菜贩子？”289
“Townfolk.“镇民。290
Farmers.农夫。291
Traders.商人。292
People more interested in profit than adventure.”那些对赚钱比对冒险更感兴趣的人。”293
The old man chuckled again.老人又呵呵笑了起来。294
“They’ve got land and a town to show for it.“可他们好歹有土地，还有一座镇子作为成果。295
What have ye got?”你又有什么？”296
Alias had never thought about that before.阿莉亚丝以前从没想过这个问题。297
She had some gold, but it would be gone before long.她是有些金币，可过不了多久就会花光。298
If she’d actually got a chest full of treasure from Mist, she could have bought herself some property.要是她真从米斯特那里得到了一整箱财宝，她本可以买些属于自己的产业。299
But then she’d be a greengrocer, too, and she had no intention of retiring, ever.可那样一来，她也会变成菜贩子，而她绝不打算退休，永远都不。300
All she wanted to do was travel freely throughout the Realms.她唯一想要的，就是自由自在地游遍诸界。301
“My memories,” she answered, but she knew that wasn’t saying much, at least not in her case.“我的回忆。”她答道，但她知道这实在算不了什么，至少对她来说是这样。302
The old man grinned.老人咧嘴一笑。303
“Ye are smarter than ye look.”“你可比看上去聪明。”304
He tapped her wrist where the snake pattern wound about empty space.他轻轻敲了敲她的手腕，那里的蛇形图案盘绕着一块空白。305
“There’s nothing in this place.”“这个位置什么都没有。”306
“I got lucky, escaped before they finished, I think.”“我运气好，在他们完成之前逃了出来，我想是这样。”307
“Ye think so, do ye?“你真这么想，是吗？308
Maybe.”也许吧。”309
“Do you know the other sigils?”“你知道其他印记吗？”310
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。311
The old man was quiet for so long Alias thought he had drifted off to sleep.老人沉默了许久，久到阿莉亚丝以为他已经睡着了。312
He let her arm slip from his grasp.他松开手，任她的胳膊从掌中滑落。313
Suddenly, he said, “Zrie and Cassana!”突然，他说道：“兹里和卡萨娜！”314
Alias started.阿莉亚丝吃了一惊。315
The old fool couldn’t be just a goatherd and know that, unless … unless Olive had managed to babble something in the bar before Dragonbait could stop her.这个老糊涂蛋若只是个牧羊人，就不可能知道这些，除非……除非奥利芙在酒馆里胡言乱语了些什么，而龙饵没来得及阻止她。316
“What do you know about them?” she asked.“你对他们知道些什么？”她问。317
“It’s an old story, one that happened before ye were born—quite a scandalous one.”“那是个老故事了，发生在你出生以前——还是桩相当轰动的丑闻。”318
The old man clucked his tongue and poked at the fire with a stick, sending sparks and flames flying.老人咂了咂舌，用一根木棍拨弄着火堆，激起四散的火星和蹿动的火苗。319
“Well?” prompted Alias.“然后呢？”阿莉亚丝催促道。320
“A deep subject, that,” the old man teased.“这话题可深着呢。”老人打趣道。321
“The story,” Alias insisted.“说那个故事。”阿莉亚丝坚持道。322
“Oh, the story of Zrie Prakis and Cassana?” the graybeard asked.“哦，你是说兹里·普拉基斯和卡萨娜的故事？”灰胡子老人问道。323
“It’s quite common, ye know.”“那故事可是人尽皆知，你知道的。”324
“I’ve never heard it,” Alias said.“我从没听过。”阿莉亚丝说。325
“They didn’t know the story in Cormyr.”“科米尔没人知道这个故事。”326
“Oh, Cormyr,” the old man muttered.“哦，科米尔，”老人咕哝道。327
“Well, they wouldn’t. But around here, in the Dales and in Sembia, I think everyone knows the tale.“嗯，他们当然不会知道。不过在这一带，在谷地和塞姆比亚，我想人人都知道这个故事。328
They turned it into an opera in the Living City.活城还把它改编成了歌剧。329
It’s a long-winded piece where one character tells another to be quiet in a long, screaming five minute speech, and the other replies he’ll be quiet in another long, loud five minute speech.那出戏又臭又长，一个角色用一段足足五分钟、声嘶力竭的长篇大论叫另一个安静，另一个则用另一段又长又响、同样足足五分钟的话回答说他会安静。330
Absurd thing, opera.”歌剧这东西，荒唐透顶。”331
“The story,” Alias whined.“故事呢，”阿莉亚丝哼哼道。332
The old man clucked disapprovingly.老人不满地咂了咂舌。333
“Not the patient type, are ye?“你不是个有耐心的人，是吧？334
Ye know, if ye just sit quiet and listen, ye’ll learn a lot more than if ye poke at people all the time.”你知道吗，只要安安静静坐着听，你能学到的可比老是缠着人问东问西多得多。”335
Alias remembered that Nameless had said something very similar.阿莉亚丝想起，无名者也说过非常相似的话。336
It was true.这话没错。337
She wanted the information poured into her.她只想让那些信息直接灌进自己脑子里。338
She didn’t like the game of asking questions and then having to listen to all the roundabout replies people gave her.她不喜欢这种问问题的游戏：问完以后，还得听人们给她的那些兜来绕去的回答。339
“Please,” she asked.“求您了，”她央求道。340
The old man sniffed.老人哼了一声。341
“I ought to make you travel to the Living City and listen to the opera.”“我真该让你跑一趟活城，去听听那出歌剧。”342
Alias glowered.阿莉亚丝怒目而视。343
“Very well.“好吧。344
I suppose that I’d better make it the short version before ye explode, hmm?我想，在你爆炸之前，我最好还是讲个简短版，嗯？345
Ye wouldn’t appreciate the poetry of the tale, or the subplots of the opera, would ye?你反正也欣赏不了这个故事的诗意，或是那出歌剧的支线情节，不是吗？346
I’ll cut to the heart of the matter.我就直奔要害吧。”347
“Zrie and Cassana met when they were both magelings.“兹里和卡萨娜相识时，两人都还是魔法学徒。348
They fell in love, pledged their eternal faithfulness.他们坠入爱河，发誓永远忠贞不渝。349
Then they parted.后来他们分开了。350
In one version of the story their masters send them to the opposite ends of the Inner Sea for their journeyman quests.在故事的一个版本里，他们的师父派他们前往内海两端，完成各自的出师历练。351
In another version, one of them lands in the ethereal plane and it takes him or her years to return.另一个版本则说，其中一人落入了以太位面，过了许多年才得以返回。352
In the opera Cassana is kidnapped by pirates.歌剧里，卡萨娜被海盗绑架了。353
“Anyway, they each grow vain, proud, haughty, and very powerful.“总之，他们后来都变得自负、骄傲、傲慢，而且力量极其强大。354
When they meet again, somewhere in the south, they end up burying their love for one another in an argument over who is the most powerful.他们在南方某处重逢时，为了争论谁的力量最强，最终葬送了彼此的爱情。355
They duel over it, and Zrie loses big.他们为此决斗，兹里惨败。356
Cassana kills him.卡萨娜杀了他。357
Not real tragic, considering what a mean-spirited cuss he was, but Cassana feels remorse over slaying her first and true love.考虑到他是个多么刻薄恶毒的混蛋，这也算不上多悲惨，不过，卡萨娜还是为杀死自己的初恋和真爱而感到悔恨。358
Being, by this time, a basically sick, depraved person herself, Cassana packs Zrie’s charred bones in a glass sarcophagus that she keeps by her bedside for the rest of her life.”卡萨娜这时自己也已经成了个彻头彻尾病态而堕落的人，于是她把兹里烧焦的骸骨装进一具玻璃石棺，余生一直摆在床边。”359
The old man was silent for several moments.老人沉默了片刻。360
“That’s all?”“就这些？”361
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。362
“Of course, that’s all,” the old man snapped.“当然就这些。”老人不耐烦地说道。363
“I didn’t want to get ye all hot and bothered by going into too many details.“我只是不想讲太多细节，弄得你心急火燎、坐立不安。364
In the opera ye’ve got to sit through a description of every pearl on Cassana’s gown when Zrie first meets her.在歌剧里，兹里初见卡萨娜时，你还得坐在那里听人把她礼服上的每一颗珍珠都描述一遍。365
I don’t imagine ye’re much interested either in the story’s symbolism or the implications it makes about the nature of power and evil, are ye?”我想你对这个故事的象征意义，或是它对力量与邪恶本质的暗示，也没多大兴趣，对吧？”366
“No,” Alias admitted.“没有。”阿莉亚丝承认道。367
“Then what’s your problem?”“那你有什么问题？”368
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。369
“Nothing.“没什么。370
I was just hoping it would shed some light on how I got these things.”我只是希望它能让我弄明白，我是怎么有了这些东西的。”371
She held up her arm to indicate the sigils.她抬起手臂，示意上面的符印。372
“Ye could always go to the Living City and catch the opera.”“你也可以去活城看歌剧嘛。”373
“No, thanks.”“不了，谢谢。”374
“Do ye wish to hear the story about Moander?” the old man asked.“你想听听莫安德的故事吗？”老人问道。375
Alias looked up, startled.阿莉亚丝吃惊地抬起头。376
He did know a lot.他知道的确实不少。377
He wasn’t simply some old goatherd.他绝不只是个放羊的老头。378
To recognize most of the sigils on her arm he had to be some sort of wise man or mage.能认出她手臂上大多数符印，他必定是某种智者或法师。379
Probably an ex-adventurer himself.他自己多半也曾是个冒险者。380
“I thought the elves banished him from the Realms,” she said.“我以为精灵已经把他逐出诸界了。”她说。381
“They wish,” the old man snickered.“他们倒是想。”老人嗤笑道。382
“No. The best the elves could do was use powerful enchantments to lock Moander up deep beneath the ruins of his temple in Yulash.“没有。精灵竭尽全力，也只能用强大的魔法把莫安德囚禁在尤拉什的神殿废墟深处。383
They wiped out his priests and priestesses, hoping the god’s power in this world would shrink to nothing if he was starved of worship.”他们消灭了他的男女祭司，希望断绝供奉之后，这位神祇在这个世界的力量便会衰减至无。”384
“Did he?”“结果呢？”385
The old man shrugged.老人耸了耸肩。386
“Probably not.“大概没有。387
A lot of Moander’s worshipers survived and fled south, where they resurrected the priesthood.莫安德的许多信徒活了下来，逃往南方，在那里重建了祭司团。388
Every now and then Zhentil Keep or Hillsfar forces—whichever one happens to be squatting in the ruins of Yulash at the time—come across a party of Moander worshipers trying to release their god.散提尔堡或希尔斯法的军队——当时是哪一方碰巧盘踞在尤拉什的废墟里，就由哪一方——时不时会撞见一伙企图释放他们神祇的莫安德信徒。389
They’re usually executed as looters, but they keep trying.他们通常会被当成盗掘者处死，可还是不断有人尝试。390
There was this prophesy, see, about a non-born child freeing the Darkbringer—that’s what they call Moander.有这么一个预言，说一个非生之子会释放黑暗使者——他们就是这么称呼莫安德的。391
The priests of Moander have tried to force the event, no need to go into the gory details about how they try and get non-born children, but so far they’ve all failed.莫安德的祭司们一直试图强行促成此事；至于他们如何弄出非生之子，那些血腥细节就不必多说了，但到目前为止，他们全都失败了。392
Non-born child—mean anything to ye?”非生之子——这几个字对你有什么意义吗？”393
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。394
“No. I remember being born.”“没有。我记得自己出生时的情形。”395
The old man laughed as though she had said something funny.老人笑了起来，仿佛她说了什么可笑的话。396
Alias asked, “You know anything about this last one?”阿莉亚丝问：“最后这个，你知道些什么吗？”397
She pointed to the blue-on-blue-on-blue bull’s eye between Moander’s symbol and the blank space at her wrist.她指着莫安德的符号与手腕边那块空白之间，那个蓝叠蓝又叠蓝的靶心图案。398
“Its a new one on me.”“这个我也没见过。”399
“That’s just great,” Alias muttered.“这可真好。”阿莉亚丝嘟囔道。400
She shoved the shavings of the twig into the fire, wiped her dagger clean, and sheathed it.她把削下来的枝屑塞进火里，擦净匕首，收回鞘中。401
“I knew the other ones already.“其他那些我早就知道了。402
This is the one I have to find out about.”我非得弄清楚的正是这个。”403
“Why?”“为什么？”404
“Because I don’t know anything about it,” Alias said, exasperated.“因为我对它一无所知。”阿莉亚丝恼火地说。405
“Ye think it will make a big difference in thy life?”“你觉得它会给你的人生带来很大变化？”406
“It might,” she insisted.“有可能。”她坚持道。407
“If I were ye, I’d work on the assumption that it is big and evil.”“换作是我，我会先假定它来头不小，而且很邪恶。”408
“Kind of broad assumptions.”“这假定也太笼统了。”409
“No broader than the one ye’ve obviously made about the sixth space by your wrist,” the old man said.“并不比你显然对手腕边第六块位置所作的假定更笼统。”老人说。410
“It’s empty,” Alias objected.“那里是空的。”阿莉亚丝反驳道。411
“There’s nothing worse than nothing.”“没有什么比虚无更糟。”412
Reminded of her missing memories, Alias could not disagree.想起自己遗失的记忆，阿莉亚丝无法反驳。413
“You’ve been some help.“你多少还是帮了点忙。414
Can I pay you something?” she asked, uncertain whether she would offend his pride.我能付你点什么吗？”她问道，不确定这样会不会伤了他的自尊。415
“All ye have to show for thy adventuring life are thy memories,” he reminded her.“你的冒险生涯能留下的，也就只有你的回忆了。”他提醒她。416
“Were ye planning to pay me in those?”“你原本打算拿那些回忆付给我吗？”417
Alias smiled.阿莉亚丝笑了。418
“I have some gold.”“我有些金币。”419
“I don’t need gold.“我不需要金子。420
Suppose I asked ye to never sing again.假如我要求你从此再也不要唱歌，421
Ever.永远都不唱。422
Would ye do that?”你愿意吗？”423
“That bad, am I?” she joked.“我唱得有那么糟吗？”她打趣道。424
“I’m serious.”“我是认真的。”425
Alias looked into the old man’s eyes.阿莉亚丝凝视着老人的眼睛。426
He held her gaze without blinking.他一眨不眨地迎着她的目光。427
“This is about those songs, isn’t it?“这和那些歌有关，对不对？428
You didn’t tell me—Who did you hear them from?”你没告诉我——你是从谁那里听来的？”429
“Probably from the same person ye did.”“大概和你是从同一个人那里听来的。”430
“A Harper?”“一个竖琴手？”431
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。432
The old man nodded.老人点了点头。433
“What was his name?”“他叫什么名字？”434
The old man did not answer.老人没有回答。435
“Tell me his name.”“告诉我他的名字。”436
Alias lunged forward and shook the man by the shoulders.阿莉亚丝猛地扑上前，抓住老人的肩膀摇晃起来。437
“Say his name.”“说出他的名字。”438
A slow grin crept over the old man’s mouth.老人的嘴角慢慢浮起一丝笑意。439
“Why don’t ye say it?” he asked.“你为什么不说呢？”他问。440
“Because I don’t remember it!” she shouted, shaking him with every word.“因为我不记得了！”她大喊道，每说一个字就用力摇他一下。441
The old man put his hand up to her cheek and stroked it gently.老人抬起手，轻轻抚摸她的脸颊。442
“I’m sorry” he said.“对不起。”他说。443
Alias took a deep breath and released the old man.阿莉亚丝深吸一口气，松开了老人。444
She slid out of his reach.她从老人手边退开。445
“It’s not your fault,” she answered.“这不是你的错，”她答道。446
“I just forget things sometimes.“我只是有时候会忘记一些事情。447
I’m sorry I shook you.对不起，我刚才摇了你。448
I don’t know what came over me.”我也不知道自己刚才是怎么了。”449
“Not remembering makes ye angry?”“想不起来会让你生气吗？”450
Alias hesitated.阿莉亚丝迟疑了一下。451
It didn’t make her angry.想不起来并不会让她生气。452
She looked into the old man’s eyes.她望进老人的眼睛。453
“It makes me frightened, and that makes me angry.”“它会让我害怕，而害怕会让我生气。”454
“A terrible curse, not remembering,” he whispered.“想不起来，真是个可怕的诅咒。”他低声说道。455
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。456
“Could be worse.“还可能更糟。457
Could have forgotten my own name.”我至少没把自己的名字忘掉。”458
“What’s that?” the old man asked.“你叫什么？”老人问道。459
“Alias.”“阿莉亚丝。”460
“Unusual name.”“这名字不常见。”461
“It’s pretty common in Westgate,” Alias said.“在西门城，这名字很常见。”阿莉亚丝说道。462
“Is it, now?”“是吗？”463
The old man chuckled.老人轻声笑了起来。464
“Why won’t you tell me the Harper’s name?”“你为什么不肯告诉我那个竖琴手的名字？”465
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。466
“I’m an old man.…”“我是个老人了……”467
His voice trailed off.他的声音渐渐低了下去。468
“Are you saying you forgot it, too?”“你是说，你也忘了吗？”469
Her companion did not reply.她的同伴没有回答。470
“You won’t lie about it, will you.“你不会在这件事上撒谎，对吧？471
You haven’t forgotten.你并没有忘。472
Why won’t you tell me?”你为什么不肯告诉我？”473
“Harpers are a secret organization.”“竖琴手同盟是个秘密组织。”474
“You’ve taken some sort of oath?”“你发过某种誓吗？”475
“I can’t tell ye,” the old man said.“我不能告诉你，”老人说。476
“I’m sorry.”“对不起。”477
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。478
“If I told ye about the sigil ye don’t know, would ye agree not to sing?”“如果我把那个你不认识的印记告诉你，你能答应不再唱歌吗？”479
“You do know it!”“你果然知道！”480
Alias growled.阿莉亚丝低吼道。481
The old man shook his head.老人摇了摇头。482
“No. But I might be able to find out.“不知道。不过我也许能查出来。483
Would ye pay me what I ask?”你愿意照我的要求付钱吗？”484
Alias tilted her head in puzzlement.阿莉亚丝困惑地歪了歪头。485
It was a stupid request, but she had to consider if the information were worth the price.这个要求很蠢，但她不得不考虑一下，这条消息是否值那个价。486
It might help her keep a step ahead of Cassana, Fire Knives, and company if she could discover the last secret partner.如果她能查出最后那个秘密同伙是谁，也许就能继续抢在卡萨娜、火刀帮及其同伙前面。487
And, after all, she was a swordswoman, not a damned bard.再说了，她毕竟是个女剑士，又不是什么该死的吟游诗人。488
Olive might be a little disappointed if she stopped teaching her songs, but no one else would care.要是她不再教奥利芙唱歌，奥利芙或许会有点失望，但其他人谁也不会在意。489
Except me, she thought.除了我，她想。490
Singing has consoled me when I grieved and brought me joy and pleasure when times were better.我悲伤时，歌唱给了我慰藉；日子好过时，它又带给我欢欣与愉悦。491
Everyone sang.人人都会唱歌。492
Even people with no talent for it.就连毫无天分的人也会唱。493
Nine circles of Hell!九重地狱啊！494
Even orcs sang.就连兽人也会唱歌。495
How could anyone ask anyone else to give that up?怎么会有人要求别人放弃歌唱呢？496
Why?为什么？497
It isn’t my singing the old man objects to, she realized, but the songs themselves.老人反感的不是我的歌声，她恍然明白，而是那些歌本身。498
But they’re good songs.可那些都是好歌。499
Everyone likes them.大家都喜欢。500
A Harper taught them to me.是一位竖琴手教给我的。501
Suddenly, the old man made Alias nervous.老人突然让阿莉亚丝感到不安。502
She slid farther away from him and rose to her feet.她又往远处挪了挪，站起身来。503
“I won’t!” she answered.“我不答应！”她回答。504
“They’re good songs!“那些都是好歌！505
They deserve to be sung!它们理应被人传唱！506
How can you ask such a thing?你怎么能提出这种要求？507
It’s cruel, wicked, evil!”这太残忍、太恶毒、太邪恶了！”508
She backed away from the fire, turned, and fled down the path.她一步步退离火堆，转过身，沿着小径飞奔而去。509
The path lay in the hill’s moonshadow.小径隐没在山丘的月影里。510
Alias had a difficult time picking out the trail.阿莉亚丝很难辨清小径的走向。511
She sunk her right foot into a chuckhole filled with water.她的右脚陷进了一个积满水的坑洼。512
She lost her balance and came down hard on her left knee, her body sprawled across the wet, muddy ground.她失去平衡，左膝重重跪地，整个人扑倒在湿漉漉的泥地上。513
She heard a chuckle on the path behind her.她听见身后的小路上传来一声轻笑。514
She could see her own shadow in the soft, glowing light coming up behind her.身后渐渐亮起柔和的光芒，她看见了自己的影子。515
Then a hand reached down under her arm and lifted her to her feet.接着，一只手从她腋下伸过来，将她扶了起来。516
It was the old man’s left hand.那是老人的左手。517
In his right he held a yellow crystal that illuminated the area around them evenly, without the annoying flicker of a lamp.他右手握着一块黄色水晶，均匀地照亮了他们周围，没有油灯那种恼人的闪烁。518
“Are ye all right?” he asked.“你没事吧？”他问。519
Alias yanked away from her rescuer without replying.阿莉亚丝一言不发，猛地挣脱了救她的人。520
Her right ankle ached some, but she did not think it was a serious sprain.她的右脚踝有些疼，但她觉得扭伤并不严重。521
“Ye’d better take this,” the old man suggested.“你最好拿着这个，”老人提议道。522
“It’s a finder’s stone.“这是块寻路石。523
Help’s the lost find their way.”能帮迷路的人找到方向。”524
He held the glowing crystal out toward her.他把发光的水晶递到她面前。525
His features, lit from below, looked sinister.光从下方映照着他的面孔，显得阴森可怖。526
I ought to give him a shove and run off again, she thought, but she couldn’t resist the temptation to ask, “How much is it gonna cost me?”我该推他一把，再次逃走，她心想，可还是忍不住问道：“这要花我多少钱？”527
“Mourngrym thought we should help out supplyin’ ye, in thanks for takin’ care of the monster in the gap.“莫恩格林觉得，作为你解决隘口那只怪物的谢礼，我们该帮你置办些补给。528
Just doin’ my bit.”我不过是尽自己的一份力。”529
At the mention of Mourngrym’s name, Alias felt a little calmer.听到莫恩格林的名字，阿莉亚丝稍稍平静了些。530
The lord of Shadowdale had been gracious, and, well, normal, even if some of his citizens were a little strange.阴影谷的领主待人亲切，而且，怎么说呢，也很正常——尽管他的某些领民有点古怪。531
She reached out with her sword arm.她伸出了持剑的那只手臂。532
The blue sigils reflected back the light, but remained still.蓝色符印反射着光芒，却依然一动不动。533
She took that as an indication the stone wasn’t some harmful magic, like the crystal elemental or the kalmari.她由此判断，这块石头不像水晶元素或卡尔玛里那样，是什么有害的魔法造物。534
She took the stone from the old man’s hand.她从老人手中接过了石头。535
She looked up at the old man and held his eyes for a dozen heartbeats.她抬头望着老人，与他对视了足足十二次心跳的工夫。536
“Why?” she whispered.“为什么？”她低声问。537
“Try to remember this, Alias,” he said, “good and evil aren’t always.”“尽量记住这一点，阿莉亚丝，”他说，“善与恶并不总是……”538
He turned about and began climbing back up the hill.他转过身，开始往山坡上走。539
“Aren’t always what?”“并不总是什么？”540
Alias called after him.阿莉亚丝朝他的背影喊道。541
“Good and evil,” he called back.“善与恶。”他回头喊道。542
Alias watched until his retreating form disappeared into the darkness.阿莉亚丝一直望着他渐行渐远的身影，直到那身影消失在黑暗中。543
She had no idea what he meant, but she was grateful for the light.她完全不明白他是什么意思，但还是很感激那道光。544
“Thank you,” she whispered.“谢谢你。”她低声说道。545
Then she jumped.紧接着，她猛地一惊。546
She thought she heard the old man whisper, “Ye’re welcome, Alias,” right in her ear.她仿佛听见老人就在她耳边低声说道：“不用谢，阿莉亚丝。”547
Only a freak breeze and my imagination, she tried to assure herself.不过是一阵怪风，加上我的胡思乱想，她竭力安慰自己。548
Even so, she scurried down the path and headed back to town, tired of the night’s adventuring.即便如此，她还是匆匆沿小路下了山，朝镇上走去；这一夜的冒险已经让她筋疲力尽。549
* * * * ** * * * *550
Back atop the hillock that once held the hut of the river witch Sylune, the old man used a stick of charred wood to sketch out Alias’s five sigils on one of the flagstones.回到那座小丘顶上——那里曾经矗立着河巫希露妮的小屋——老人用一截焦黑的木棍，在一块石板上画出了阿莉亚丝的五个符记。551
He tapped the unknown one with his stick and frowned.他用木棍点了点那个不明的符记，皱起眉头。552
“Why is it,” he muttered, “that the years seem to fly by, but the nights seem to last forever?”“为什么，”他喃喃道，“岁月仿佛转瞬即逝，夜晚却似乎永无尽头？”553
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听