It was long past midnight when Olive weaved her way to bed.午夜早已过去，奥利芙才摇摇晃晃地走向自己的床铺。1
The local merchants had been thankful for the figurative nose-tweaking Ruskettle and her companions had given the Iron Throne by destroying the kalmari, and they showed their appreciation in the form of several kegs of Jhaele’s finest ale.拉斯凯特尔和她的同伴们消灭了卡尔马里怪，等于狠狠刮了铁王座的鼻子，当地商人对此感激不尽，便送来好几桶杰尔最上等的麦酒，以表谢意。2
It was no Luiren Rivengut, Olive thought, but still a potent brew.奥利芙心想，这酒虽比不上路依伦裂肠酒，却也后劲十足。3
With Akabar off kissing up to some high sage, her high-and-mighty ladyship disappearing into the night, and the lizard watching everything mutely from a corner, someone had to accept all the congratulations and free brew being passed around.阿卡巴跑去巴结某位大贤者了，趾高气扬的女爵大人消失在夜色中，那只蜥蜴又待在角落里一声不吭地看着一切，总得有人接受众人的道贺，享用四处递来的免费美酒。4
Actually, Olive had a dim recollection of Alias returning to the inn.其实，奥利芙依稀记得阿莉亚丝回到了旅店。5
At the time, the bard had feared the sell-sword might resume her foray into musical entertainment, but Alias had simply hurried to her room.当时，这位吟游诗人还担心那个佣兵会继续尝试以音乐娱人，但阿莉亚丝只是匆匆回了自己的房间。6
The trouble with humans, thought the halfling as she rested on the second story landing, is that they’re no fun at parties.奥利芙在二楼的楼梯平台上歇脚时心想，人类的问题就在于，他们在宴会上实在无趣。7
She glared at the stairs she had yet to climb.她怒视着前方尚未爬完的楼梯。8
And their buildings are the wrong size, she added.而且他们的房子尺寸也不对，她又想道。9
No doubt her ladyship thinks it amusing making me climb steps that come up to my knees.女爵大人让我爬这些高及膝盖的台阶，肯定觉得很有趣。10
Olive wondered if some servant would carry her up to her room if she pretended to pass out.奥利芙寻思，要是自己假装昏倒，会不会有仆人把她抱上楼，送回房间。11
More likely, she realized, they’d call out her ladyship or her pet lizard to dispose of my body.她随即意识到，更有可能的是，他们会叫来女爵大人或她那只宠物蜥蜴，把我的尸体处理掉。12
It doesn’t matter, anyway.反正也无所谓。13
I’d never willingly suffer the indignity of being carried by a human.我绝不会心甘情愿地忍受被人类抱着走的屈辱。14
It’s bad enough putting up with the pats on her head.老得忍受别人拍她的脑袋，已经够糟了。15
Some day, Olive knew, she’d take a bite out of one of those hands—when she could afford to be considered a “tempermental” artist.奥利芙知道，总有一天，她会狠狠咬上一只那样的手——等她有本钱被人视为一位“脾气乖戾”的艺术家时。16
“Happy thoughts, Olive-girl,” she muttered to herself.“想点开心的事，奥利芙姑娘。”她喃喃地对自己说。17
That was her motto when living among humans.这是她在人类中生活时奉行的座右铭。18
No matter how patronizing or cruel or stupid they are, she told herself, keep a smile plastered to your face.不管他们多么自以为是、多么残忍、多么愚蠢，她告诫自己，都要把笑容牢牢贴在脸上。19
Tonight wasn’t too hard.今晚做到这一点并不太难。20
This celebration, she realized, was the group’s first tangible reward since they rescued me from the dragon.她意识到，自从他们把我从那条龙手里救出来以后，这次庆功宴还是这群人头一回得到实实在在的回报。21
Olive ordinarily would have considered herself a fool for offering to share the loot she’d secreted from the red’s lair, but the halfling had been grateful to Alias for her rescue.换作平时，奥利芙若提出把自己从红龙巢穴里私藏的战利品拿出来分享，一定会觉得自己是个傻瓜；但这位半身人很感激阿莉亚丝救了她。22
She’d even forgiven the sell-sword for lugging her around like a sack of potatos as they made their escape.她甚至原谅了那个佣兵——逃命时，对方一路把她像袋土豆似的扛来扛去。23
For a foolish human, Olive thought, her ladyship sure knew what made dragons tick.奥利芙心想，作为一个愚蠢的人类，这位大小姐还真懂龙的心思。24
Olive shivered at the thought that, were it not for Alias, she would still be a prisoner beneath the Storm Horns, wasting away until she was too feeble to sing.一想到若不是阿莉亚丝，自己此刻仍会被囚禁在风暴群峰之下，日渐衰弱，直到连歌都唱不动，奥利芙便打了个寒战。25
Then the dragon would make a light meal of her, an appetizer before a hearty meal of a herd of cattle or a brace of villagers.到时候，那条龙就会把她当作一顿便餐，在享用一群牛或两个村民这顿丰盛大餐之前，先拿她开开胃。26
This thought distressed Olive so badly that she craved the comfort of a late snack.这个念头让奥利芙难受极了，馋得她很想吃顿夜宵安慰自己。27
However, the thought of all those stairs deterred her from raiding the kitchen.然而，一想到那一层层楼梯，她便打消了去厨房搜刮吃食的念头。28
She scrambled up the remaining stairs quickly, to get them over with, then zigzagged down the long corridor to the Green Room.她飞快地爬完剩下的楼梯，好尽早把它们解决掉，随后歪歪扭扭地穿过长廊，走向格林房。29
She was sober enough, however, to notice the bits of shaved wood on the floor before the door.不过，她还清醒得足以留意到门前地板上的几片刨花。30
Olive had put the wood shavings between the door and the jamb at halfling waist-level, where a human was unlikely to spot them fluttering to the floor should they open the door.奥利芙把那些刨花夹在门和门框之间，位置与半身人的腰齐平；若有人类开门，刨花飘落到地上时，他们多半不会察觉。31
In her mind rose the image of someone malicious pawing through her things, looking for treasure.她脑海中浮现出一个心怀不轨的家伙翻弄她的东西、搜寻财宝的情景。32
The halfling knew that the mage hadn’t come back yet and the lizard was still sitting by the taproom hearth.这个半身人知道，法师还没回来，而那只蜥蜴仍守在酒馆大厅的炉火旁。33
Could it be her high-and-mightiness?莫非是那位高高在上的大小姐？34
Olive wondered.奥利芙暗自琢磨。35
Or an outsider?还是外人？36
Olive turned the knob slowly and eased the door open a crack.奥利芙慢慢转动门把手，将门轻轻推开一条缝。37
With her eye to the opening, she could see the human-sized overstuffed chair and tea table that stood opposite the bed.她把眼睛凑到门缝前，看见床对面摆着一把人类尺寸的厚软扶手椅和一张茶几。38
A single, tallow taper illuminated the room, affording Olive a sight to warm the chilliest of halfling hearts.房里只点着一根牛油细蜡烛，烛光让奥利芙看见了一幕足以温暖最冰冷的半身人之心的景象。39
A small figure seated in the chair was counting and recounting high stacks of thin, glittering, silverish coins.一个小小的身影坐在椅子里，正把一摞摞高高堆起的薄薄钱币数了一遍又一遍；那些钱币闪闪发亮，泛着银色。40
“Ahem,” Olive coughed politely.“咳咳。”奥利芙彬彬有礼地清了清嗓子。41
The small, seated figure looked up.坐着的那个小个子抬起头来。42
An inhumanly wide grin spread across his childish face.一抹宽得不像人类的笑容在他那张孩子气的脸上绽开。43
He was a male halfling dressed in the robes of a southerner.他是个男性半身人，穿着南方人的长袍。44
“Excellent,” her guest said.“太好了，”她的客人说道。45
“I wondered how long it would be before you stopped taking bows and decided to retire for the evening.”“我还在想，你要鞠躬谢幕多久，才会决定今晚退场休息呢。”46
“An artist never tires of her audience,” Olive replied as she entered the room, scanning it for other intruders.“艺术家永远不会厌倦自己的观众，”奥利芙一边回答，一边走进房间，环顾四周，看是否还有别的闯入者。47
There was no one else.没有其他人。48
“Though, alas, the opposite is often true,” she added.“不过，唉，反过来却往往是真的。”她又说道。49
“But there are audiences, and there are audiences.”“但观众和观众可不一样。”50
“True enough.“确实如此。51
But that is a discussion for another day.但这事改日再谈。52
Who now graces my presence with this display of breaking and entering?”现在，是哪位贵客大驾光临，还特意表演了一番破门而入？”53
The little figure slid from the chair and took a moment to smooth his robes.那小个子从椅子上滑下来，花了片刻工夫抚平长袍。54
Then, he thrust out a hand and said, “Call me Phalse.”接着，他伸出一只手，说道：“叫我法尔斯。”55
Olive closed the door behind her and stepped forward.奥利芙关上身后的门，走上前去。56
She gave Phalse’s hand a single, brief squeeze, as was the custom among halflings.她依照半身人的习俗，简短地握了一下法尔斯的手。57
“False what?” she asked.“法尔斯什么？”她问。58
“Just Phalse will suffice for now,” the intruder answered, smiling smugly.“眼下叫我法尔斯就够了，”闯入者得意地微笑着回答。59
He had the most peculiar eyes, Olive noted.奥利芙注意到，他的眼睛古怪至极。60
Dark blue where the whites should have been, sky blue irises and pupils the blue-white of hot iron.本该是眼白的地方呈深蓝色，虹膜是天蓝色，瞳孔则像炽热的铁一样泛着蓝白光。61
It must be some trick of the candlelight, she decided.她断定，这一定是烛光造成的错觉。62
“You are Olive Ruskettle, companion to the warrior Alias?”“你就是奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔，战士阿莉亚丝的同伴？”63
“We’re traveling in the same direction,” Olive corrected, hoisting herself onto the mattress and perching on the edge.“我们只是恰好同路，”奥利芙纠正道，同时撑起身子坐上床垫，栖在床沿。64
Phalse hopped back into the chair and leaned back against the cushions with his legs stretched out across the seat.法尔斯跳回椅子上，靠着软垫往后一仰，两条腿横伸在椅面上。65
“And your destination is …?”“那么你的目的地是……？”66
“I’ll know when I get there,” Olive replied.“到了我自然就知道了，”奥利芙回答。67
“Bards need to travel, to gain information, pass on tales.”“吟游诗人得四处游历，搜集消息，传播故事。”68
“I see,” Phalse said.“明白了，”法尔斯说。69
“I think I have a tale for you.”“我想，我有个故事可以给你。”70
Carefully, he pushed a single stack of coins across the tea table in Olive’s direction.他小心翼翼地把一摞硬币推过茶桌，送到奥利芙面前。71
The bard kept her eyes on the coins.吟游诗人的目光始终停在那些钱币上。72
From the bed, she could see they were not silver, but platinum.她从床上就能看出，那些并非银币，而是白金币。73
Keeping her voice as level as she could, she said, “I’m always interested in tales.”她尽可能保持语调平稳，说道：“我一向对故事很感兴趣。”74
“I thought you might be,” said the other halfling, flashing another wide grin, a grin too wide for a human and almost too wide for a halfling.“我就知道你可能会感兴趣，”另一个半身人说道，又咧嘴露出灿烂的笑容，那笑容对人类来说宽得过分，对半身人来说也几乎宽得过分。75
“It’s a tale about two people who were traveling in the same direction.“这个故事讲的是两个同路而行的人。76
One was a woman, the other a human female.”一个是女人，另一个是人类女性。”77
“Is this woman a bard?”“这个女人是吟游诗人吗？”78
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。79
“If it makes a suitable story,” Phalse replied, pushing another stack of coins toward Olive.“如果这样更适合这个故事的话，”法尔斯回答，同时又将一摞钱币推向奥利芙。80
“This human female had done something horrible.“这个人类女性做过一件可怕的事。81
She was a very sick human female—she carried a curse, you see, a curse which could not easily be removed.她病得很重——你瞧，她身负诅咒，而且那诅咒很难解除。82
Fortunately, certain powers were seeking to capture and imprison her until such time as a cure might be found for her.幸运的是，有几股势力正设法抓住她，将她囚禁起来，直到有朝一日找到治愈她的办法。83
“Unfortunately, part of this human female’s curse was that she deliberately avoided these powers.“不幸的是，这个人类女性所受的诅咒有一部分表现为，她会故意躲避这些势力。84
As a matter of fact, this human female killed all the agents sent to bring her back to those who would help her.事实上，这个人类女性杀死了所有被派去把她带回那些愿意帮助她的人身边的使者。85
Of course, the woman who was a bard knew nothing of this; she did not realize what peril she was in.”当然，那位身为吟游诗人的女人对此一无所知；她并没有意识到自己身陷何等险境。”86
A third stack of platinum joined the first two.第三摞白金币被推了过来，与先前两摞摆在一起。87
“Horrors,” Olive said, her voice still even, her eyes still glued to the money on the tea table.“太可怕了，”奥利芙说道，语调依旧平稳，双眼仍紧盯着茶桌上的钱。88
“What could this woman who was a bard possibly do when she found out these things?“那位身为吟游诗人的女人发现这些事后，究竟能怎么办呢？89
I take it this human female was much, much bigger and stronger than the woman who was a bard?”我想，这个人类女性一定比那位身为吟游诗人的女人高大、强壮得多吧？”90
“True,” Phalse said, “but according to the tale a helpful stranger approached the woman and offered her a ring set with a yellow stone.”“不错，”法尔斯说，“不过据故事所言，一位好心的陌生人找上了那个女人，送给她一枚镶着黄色宝石的戒指。”91
He twisted his wrist and revealed a golden band set with a large, jagged crystal.他一转手腕，亮出一枚镶着巨大锯齿状水晶的金戒指。92
“Nice palm,” Olive complimented.“这一手藏得漂亮，”奥利芙夸道。93
“I almost didn’t see it.“我差点都没看见。94
What does this tale say is the ring’s power?”故事里说，这枚戒指有什么力量？”95
“The tale doesn’t say, exactly.“确切地说，故事里并没有讲。96
Only that the stranger offers it to the woman who is a bard as a token of appreciation from these powers, should she agree to continue traveling in the human female’s direction and keep an eye on her.”只说那个陌生人把戒指送给身为吟游诗人的女子，作为那些势力表达谢意的信物，条件是她答应继续朝那个人类女子所去的方向旅行，并监视她。”97
“I fail to see why any woman, bard or no, would hang around a human female if she were so powerful and posed such a threat.“我可不明白，既然那个人类女子如此强大，又构成这么大的威胁，任何女人——不管是不是吟游诗人——为什么还要待在她身边。98
Would this human female have a short, dragon guardian and a human mage for companions?”这个人类女子身边是不是还有一个矮个子的龙族护卫和一名人类法师作伴？”99
“It would make a good tale,” Phalse agreed.“这会是个不错的故事。”法尔斯赞同道。100
“Personally, were I this woman,” Olive said, “I would seek to put great distance between me and the human female in question, having been warned that she poses such a danger.“就我而言，要是我是这个女人，”奥利芙说，“既然已经有人警告我，那个人类女子如此危险，我一定会离她越远越好。101
What could possibly encourage the woman in your tale to remain near this dangerous human female?”你故事里的女人究竟会因为什么，而留在这个危险的人类女子身边呢？”102
“Well, for one thing, this woman wanted to do the right thing and help these powers find this human female before she did anymore horrible things.“嗯，首先，这个女人想做正确的事，帮助那些势力找到这个人类女子，免得她再干出更多可怕的事。103
This woman who was a bard was brave and clever enough to manage it.”这个身为吟游诗人的女人既勇敢又聪明，足以办到这一点。”104
Phalse shoved his remaining stacks of coins toward the others.法尔斯把自己剩下的几摞硬币推向其他人。105
One of the stacks toppled, and the slender coins bounced and rolled about the floor in a mercantile dance.其中一摞倒了，薄薄的硬币蹦跳着滚过地板，跳起一支商贾之舞。106
Phalse did not interrupt their ringing, clattering music.法尔斯并没有打断它们叮当作响、哗啦碰撞的乐声。107
He simply continued to smile.他只是继续微笑。108
As Olive watched the spilled coins, her mind raced toward a decision.奥利芙注视着散落的硬币，脑海中飞快地权衡着一个决定。109
She had no reason to doubt this “tale” was not a true one, and several incidents supported it.她丝毫没有理由认为这个“故事”不是真的，而且有好几件事都可以佐证。110
Alias had, by her own admission, attempted to murder a priest and later, right before Olive’s very eyes, tried to assassinate a Cormyrian nobleman.阿莉亚丝亲口承认自己曾试图杀死一名祭司，后来又当着奥利芙的面，企图刺杀一位科米尔人贵族。111
Who knows what else she had done?她还干过些什么，谁知道呢？112
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。113
The tale would explain why Alias chose to travel north to Yulash and avoid Westgate, as well.这个故事也能解释阿莉亚丝为什么选择北上尤拉什，并避开西门城。114
If her ladyship’s road leads to imprisonment and not treasure, Olive realized, this would be a good time to begin saving for the inevitable rainy day.如果这位大小姐走的路通向的是牢狱，而不是财宝，奥利芙意识到，那么现在正是开始攒钱以备不时之需的好时候。115
Besides, the sell-sword knows a lot of interesting songs.再说，那个佣兵会唱许多有趣的歌。116
Naturally, we’ll have to come to a parting of the ways in the future.当然，将来我们终究得分道扬镳。117
She sings just a little too well, and she sings for free—very unprofessional.她唱得实在有点太好了，而且还是免费唱——太不专业。118
I have enough problems without adding competition from my own bodyguard to the list.我的麻烦已经够多了，可不想再添上一桩来自自己保镖的竞争。119
“If I’m to wear this ring myself,” the bard said, “I have to know what it’s for.“如果要我自己戴上这枚戒指，”吟游诗人说，“我就得知道它是干什么用的。120
I’m no fool.”我可不傻。”121
“The ring will let these powers know your location at all times, so they won’t lose track of the human female’s trail.“这枚戒指会让那些强大存在随时知道你的位置，这样他们就不会跟丢那个人类女子的踪迹。122
Then these powers can all close in on her at once, making her capture a little less … messy.”然后他们便能同时包围她，让抓捕她的过程少一点……麻烦。”123
“Is that all?”“就这些？”124
“That is sufficient.“这就够了。125
For the moment.”目前而言。”126
“If these powers are so powerful, why don’t they just use scrying magic to keep track of her?”“这些强大存在既然这么强大，为什么不直接用占卜魔法追踪她？”127
“Alas, something very peculiar about the woman prevents them or anyone else from doing so.”“可惜，那女人身上有某种极其古怪之处，使得他们乃至任何其他人都无法这么做。”128
“How’d you—um—this stranger know where to look for her to offer the woman bard this ring then?”“那你是怎么——呃——这个陌生人又是怎么知道该去哪里找她，好把这枚戒指交给那个女吟游诗人的？”129
“The human woman is known to frequent certain haunts.“那个人类女子常在某些地方出没，这是众所周知的。130
These were staked out by various agents, including the humble stranger.”各路探子都在那里蹲守，其中也包括这位卑微的陌生人。”131
“Couldn’t they plant the ring on the human female?”“他们不能偷偷把戒指放到那个人类女子身上吗？”132
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。133
“No,” Phalse explained.“不能，”法尔斯解释道。134
“It must be carried by a halfl—by the woman who was a bard.”“它必须由一个半身——由那个曾是吟游诗人的女人随身携带。”135
“What makes this humble stranger so certain that the woman who’s a bard won’t accept his offer and then throw away the ring and leave the company of this dangerous human female?”“这位卑微的陌生人凭什么如此肯定，那个吟游诗人不会接受他的提议，然后扔掉戒指，离开这个危险的人类女子？”136
“In that case, she could easily be found by scrying magic, and she would be dealt with … accordingly.”“那样的话，占卜魔法便能轻易找到她，而她也会受到……相应的处置。”137
“The woman who was a bard might develop doubts about the humble stranger’s motives and throw away the ring and remain in the company of the human female.”“那个曾是吟游诗人的女人也许会怀疑这位卑微陌生人的动机，扔掉戒指，却仍旧留在那个人类女子身边。”138
“In that case, eventually, the powers seeking out the human female will find some other way of tracking her.“那样的话，寻找那个人类女子的强大存在迟早会找到别的办法追踪她。139
Then the woman who is a bard will realize she should have kept her end of the bargain.到时，那个吟游诗人便会明白，自己本该信守约定。140
Alas, by then it may be too late, since the servants these powers might have to employ to capture the human female are neither gentle nor kindly beings.可惜，那时或许已经太迟了，因为这些强大存在为了抓住那个人类女子而不得不动用的仆从，既不温柔，也不友善。141
And the humble stranger would not be inclined to intervene on behalf of the woman who was a bard to ensure her safety.”而这位卑微的陌生人也不会有意为那个吟游诗人出面，确保她的安全。”142
Phalse’s smile was now as wide as a cat’s, revealing a mouth full of sharpened teeth.法尔斯此刻笑得像猫一样咧开了嘴，露出满口磨尖的牙齿。143
“You’re not a halfling,” Olive said, a note of surprise escaping into her otherwise steady speech.“你不是半身人，”奥利芙说道，原本平稳的话音中不由得透出一丝惊讶。144
“Dear Olive, I am as much a halfling as you are a bard.”“亲爱的奥利芙，你有多算得上吟游诗人，我就有多算得上半身人。”145
Phalse’s smile spread until it almost split his head.法尔斯的笑容越咧越大，几乎要把脑袋裂成两半。146
Olive gave Phalse a blank stare.奥利芙面无表情地盯着法尔斯。147
“Oh, I realize that everyone you’ve run into so far assumes that a halfling bard is merely one of those wonderful things they have never experienced, but the well-traveled will always recognize you for a charlatan.”“哦，我知道，迄今为止，你遇到的每个人都以为，半身人吟游诗人不过是世间那些他们从未见识过的奇妙事物之一；但凡见多识广的人，总能看穿你这个江湖骗子。”148
“I can sing, play, and compose original verse,” Olive replied, her tone quite chill.“我会唱歌，会演奏，也会创作原创诗歌。”奥利芙答道，语气颇为冷淡。149
“It seems to me, therefore, that the burden of proof lies on my detractors.“所以在我看来，举证的责任应当落在诋毁我的人身上。150
Threats of slander are ill-advised, especially here in Shadowdale where I already enjoy the gratitude of the population.”拿诽谤来威胁我可不明智，尤其是在阴影谷——这里的人已经对我心怀感激。”151
Phalse bowed his head in acknowledgement.法尔斯低头表示认可。152
“Bard or no,” he said, still smiling that frighteningly large smile, “you are a halfling, and I have never seen a halfling walk away from a table full of coins.”“是不是吟游诗人都无所谓，”他说，脸上仍挂着那副大得吓人的笑容，“你是个半身人，而我从没见过哪个半身人会丢下一桌金币转身离开。”153
Olive did not reply immediately.奥利芙没有立刻回答。154
She would like to turn down Phalse’s offer, just to replace that grin with a look of astonishment.她真想拒绝法尔斯的提议，哪怕只是为了让那副笑容变成惊愕的神情。155
People did not endear themselves to her by suggesting she did not take her art seriously.暗示她并不认真对待自己的艺术，可不会博得她的好感。156
But the platinum coins were so beautiful.可是那些白金币实在太美了。157
Not only their color and size and shape and the ringing sound they made, but the sheer number of them.不只是它们的颜色、大小、形状，以及碰撞时发出的清脆声响，更在于它们的数量之多。158
Enough to wash your hands in, as her mother would say.用她母亲的话说，多得都能拿来洗手了。159
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。160
“You are a good judge of halflings.”“你很懂得看半身人。”161
“I’m sure you know the saying—a halfling will never sell her own mother into slavery.“我相信你知道那句俗话——半身人绝不会把自己的母亲卖去当奴隶。162
Not—”尤其不会在——”163
“—when she can be rented at a greater profit,” Olive said sourly, beating the pseudo-halfling to the punchline.“——把她租出去能赚得更多的时候。”奥利芙没好气地接道，抢在那个冒牌半身人之前抖出了包袱。164
She hated that joke.她讨厌这个笑话。165
Phalse interpreted her knowledge of the saying as agreement.法尔斯把她熟知这句俗话理解成了同意。166
“Do we have a deal?”“那我们成交了？”167
Olive gave herself a moment to brood over the offer.奥利芙让自己花了片刻琢磨这个提议。168
As far as she could see, it would bring her no harm.在她看来，这对她并没有什么坏处。169
Phalse’s friends would take care of the sell-sword long before she caught on to Olive’s treachery.早在那个佣兵察觉奥利芙的背叛之前，法尔斯的朋友们就会把她收拾掉。170
The halfling would miss the warrior.半身人会想念那个女战士的。171
She’d have to get Alias to teach her as many songs as possible before Phalse’s friends caught up with her, but then the songs would be Olive’s. The unpleasant scene tonight, where Alias had swept the halfling’s audience away and then returned it like a plate full of meat cut up for a child, would never happen again.她得赶在法尔斯的朋友们追上阿莉亚丝之前，让阿莉亚丝尽可能多教她一些歌，不过到那时，那些歌就归奥利芙所有了。今晚那种令人不快的场面——阿莉亚丝先夺走半身人的听众，随后又像把一盘替孩子切好的肉似的将他们送还——再也不会发生了。172
She’d miss traveling with this particular set of companions, too.她也会怀念与这一群特别的同伴结伴旅行的日子。173
They were the first adventurers who hadn’t forced her into the role of cook.他们是第一批没有强迫她充当厨子的冒险者。174
But who knew?不过，谁知道呢？175
Maybe Akabar would come out of this unscathed and she would travel with him to the south.也许阿卡巴能毫发无伤地渡过这一劫，而她可以跟他一起去南方旅行。176
Olive had no doubt that Phalse’s friends would succeed.奥利芙毫不怀疑法尔斯的朋友们会得手。177
And Dragonbait would probably lose his life defending Alias, though gods knew why.而龙饵多半会为了保护阿莉亚丝而丧命，尽管天晓得他为什么要这么做。178
Olive didn’t see that her decision made too much difference in the long run.奥利芙觉得，从长远来看，她的决定并不会造成多大区别。179
She was, at worst, only hastening Alias’s capture.往最坏了说，她也不过是让阿莉亚丝早些落网而已。180
“I find your tale most interesting.“你的故事很有意思。181
Well worth the price.完全值这个价。182
Leave the ring.把戒指留下。183
And the coins.还有那些钱币。184
The woman who is a bard will stay with the human female.”那个当吟游诗人的女人会继续跟那个人类女子待在一起。”185
* * * * ** * * * *186
Akabar awoke with a stiff back from having spent an uncomfortable night in an overstuffed armchair.阿卡巴在塞得过厚的扶手椅上不舒服地过了一夜，醒来时腰背僵硬。187
The morning light illuminated dancing dust motes in Lhaeo’s office.晨光照进莱奥的书房，映亮了飞舞的尘埃。188
The scribe sat at the desk, still scribbling on parchment, just as he had been when Akabar dropped off last night.书记官仍坐在书桌前，在羊皮纸上不停书写，和昨晚阿卡巴睡着时一模一样。189
Akabar yawned and stretched.阿卡巴打了个哈欠，伸展了一下身体。190
“Noble scribe, I don’t suppose the sage is awake yet?”“尊贵的书记官，想必那位贤者还没醒吧？”191
“Oh my,” Lhaeo said as he looked up at the Turmishman with a startled expression.“哎呀，”莱奥抬头望着图米什人，神情惊讶地说道。192
“He’s been here and gone.“他已经来过，又走了。193
He rises early, when he does go to bed.”他只要上床睡觉，总是起得很早。”194
“What!”“什么！”195
Akabar shouted.阿卡巴大喊道。196
“You mean he’s left?”“你是说他已经走了？”197
“Oh, yes, definitely.“哦，是的，千真万确。198
He’s gone on an extended tour of the planes.他去各个位面作一次漫长的游历了。199
You just missed him.”你刚好错过他。”200
“Why didn’t you wake me?”“你为什么不叫醒我？”201
“Well,” the scribe replied matter-of-factly, peering over the rim of his wire-framed lenses, “I didn’t have the proper form.”“这个嘛，”书记员从金属丝镜框的镜片上方看着他，平淡地答道，“我没有合适的表格。”202
The door nearly snapped off its hinges as Akabar yanked it open and threw it against the wall.阿卡巴猛地拉开门，又将它狠狠摔到墙上，门差点从铰链上折断。203
But, like many wizard-built things, its fragile appearance was deceptive.然而，和许多由巫师打造的东西一样，它脆弱的外表只是假象。204
It had survived many men angrier than the mage and would survive many more in the future.它扛住过许多比这位法师更加愤怒的人，往后也还会扛住更多。205
Lhaeo made a reproving tch-tch sound as the Turmishman stalked away from the building without closing the door behind him.图米什人怒气冲冲地离开屋子，连身后的门也没关；莱奥见状，不满地“啧啧”了两声。206
With a wave of his quill pen, he closed the door quietly, and the scribe returned to his work.他挥了挥羽毛笔，门便悄无声息地关上了，随后书记员又继续工作。207
Akabar stalked down the hill, cursing vehemently.阿卡巴怒气冲冲地走下山坡，一路破口大骂。208
He reached into the tongues of Calimshan and Thay to find the right invectives, pronouncing them all on the head of the Sage of Shadowdale.他从卡林珊语和塞尔语中搜罗最恰当的咒骂，将它们一股脑全都倾泻到了阴影谷贤者头上。209
The availability, and hence usefulness, of any sage always seemed to be in inverse proportion to his learning.一位贤者是否找得到人——也就是是否派得上用场——似乎总与他的学识成反比。210
Dimswart had not exactly been a genius, but he had been a pleasant host and a useful resource.迪姆斯沃特虽算不上什么天才，却是位待客亲切的主人，也能提供不少帮助。211
Elminster must be the most learned sage in the Realms, Akabar concluded, owing to the fact that no one could ever talk to him!阿卡巴断定，伊尔明斯特必定是诸界学识最渊博的贤者，因为谁也别想跟他说上话！212
As he passed the warning sign at beginning of the path leading to Elminster’s, Akabar heard a voice coming from behind the weaver’s shop.阿卡巴经过通往伊尔明斯特住处的小路起点处那块警示牌时，听见织工铺后面传来一个声音。213
Its tone was low and serious.那声音低沉而严肃。214
Akabar would have ignored it, mired as he was in frustration and anger, but he caught the words, “Alias, the warrior woman.”阿卡巴满心沮丧与愤怒，本来不会理会，却听见了“阿莉亚丝，那个女战士”这几个字。215
He froze in his tracks.他猛地停下脚步。216
He could not have been mistaken.他绝不可能听错。217
The voice was unknown to Akabar, who prided himself on his recognition of voices as a way of remembering customers.阿卡巴不认识这个声音；他一向以善于辨认声音为傲，并借此记住顾客。218
The speaker’s voice was succinct enough for that phrase to carry over the high hedge.说话人的声音简短有力，足以让那句话越过高高的树篱传来。219
It was probably only a townsman reporting the story of how Alias had cleared the kalmari from the gap, but Akabar, his curiosity aroused, was overcome with the urge to peek through the hedge and see the speaker.大概只是某个镇民在讲述阿莉亚丝如何清除了山口的卡尔马里，但阿卡巴的好奇心已被勾起，忍不住想透过树篱窥看说话人。220
As Akabar crept up to the hedge, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted over him, setting his stomach rumbling and reminding him that he hadn’t eaten for over twelve hours.阿卡巴蹑手蹑脚地走近树篱时，新鲜出炉的面包香气飘来，惹得他肚子咕咕作响，也提醒他已经十二个多小时没吃东西了。221
Then he heard the same voice say, “I think ye will find ye are mistaken,” then pause, then say, “I did not mean to question thy discernment—” then pause again.接着，他听见同一个声音说道：“我想，你恐怕弄错了。”那声音顿了顿，又说：“我无意质疑你的判断——”随后再次停顿。222
This led Akabar to the conclusion that there was a second speaker who spoke too softly to be heard by any but the first speaker.阿卡巴由此断定，还有第二个人在说话，只是声音太轻，除了第一个说话人，谁也听不见。223
When the mage finally discovered a break in the greenery, that was not what he saw.然而，当这名法师终于在枝叶间找到一道缝隙时，他看到的却并非如此。224
The first speaker was a tall man, taller than Akabar, and thin, with expressive hands withered with age.第一个说话人是个高瘦的男人，比阿卡巴还高，一双富于表现力的手已因年迈而枯萎。225
He wore a cloak with the hood pulled up, and his back was to the hedge, so Akabar would not have been able to identify him even if he had known him.他披着斗篷，兜帽拉了起来，又背对树篱，所以即便阿卡巴认识他，也无法将他认出来。226
But the person the hooded one spoke with was known to Akabar.但与兜帽人交谈的那个人，阿卡巴却认识。227
It was Dragonbait.那是龙饵。228
The lizard knelt on a bench beside a vat of water he must have commandeered for a washbasin.蜥蜴跪在一张长凳上，旁边是一大桶水，想必是他弄来当洗脸盆的。229
He held a fluffy, brown towel up to his chest.他把一条蓬松的棕色毛巾挡在胸前。230
The hooded one stood opposite him on the other side of the vat.兜帽人站在水桶另一边，与他相对。231
He asked Dragonbait a question, but all Akabar caught were the last words—“remain here?”他问了龙饵一个问题，但阿卡巴只听清最后几个字——“留在这里？”232
What puzzled Akabar, besides the lizard traveling down the road to wash, was that the hooded one stood before the lizard, still and attentive as though he were listening to the creature.除了这蜥蜴竟然沿路跑到这里来洗澡之外，更令阿卡巴困惑的是，兜帽人站在他面前，一动不动，神情专注，仿佛正在聆听这生物说话。233
Yet Dragonbait remained mute.然而龙饵始终一言不发。234
The scent of roses from some garden caused the Turmishman’s nose to twitch irritably.不知哪座花园飘来的玫瑰香气，惹得图米什人的鼻子难受地抽动起来。235
He held his fingers up to his nostrils hoping to stifle the sneeze he felt coming on.他用手指捏住鼻孔，希望压下即将冲出来的喷嚏。236
“I can offer ye much,” the hooded one said.“我能给你许多东西，”兜帽人说道。237
Then his words grew more quiet.随后，他的话音越来越轻。238
But the last one was clear to Akabar—home.但最后一个词，阿卡巴听得清清楚楚——家。239
Dragonbait whistled, not with his lips as a human would, but from the back of his throat.龙饵吹了声口哨，却不是像人类那样用嘴唇，而是从喉咙深处发出来的。240
It was really only a wheezing cry, but it conveyed the same sense of awe a human whistle would have.那其实只是一声带着喘息的尖鸣，却传达出了与人类口哨同样的惊叹之意。241
“Once they’re removed, ye’ll be completely free,” the hooded one continued, pointing to the towel Dragonbait clutched to his chest.“等把它们除掉，你就彻底自由了。”兜帽人继续说道，指了指龙饵紧抱在胸前的毛巾。242
Dragonbait dropped the towel on the bench.龙饵把毛巾扔在长凳上。243
Akabar gasped, fortunately not loudly enough to give himself away.阿卡巴倒吸了一口气，幸好声音不大，没有暴露自己。244
There on Dragonbait’s chest was a snaking pattern entwining sigils by now quite familiar to the Turmishman.龙饵的胸膛上，赫然有一道蜿蜒的图案，缠连着那些图米什人如今已十分熟悉的符印。245
In the same bright blue colors, the same symbols Alias wore on her arm were imbedded into the lizard’s green scales!同样鲜亮的蓝色，同样的符号——阿莉亚丝手臂上的那些符号，竟也嵌在这只蜥蜴的绿色鳞片之中！246
Only the shape of the lizard’s tattoo was different.只有蜥蜴身上刺青的形状有所不同。247
While the sigils on Alias’s arm lay in a straight line, those on Dragonbait’s chest were arranged at the points of a hexagram.阿莉亚丝手臂上的符印排成一条直线，而龙饵胸前的符印则分布在一个六芒星的六个顶点上。248
At the top-most point, the joining snake pattern wound about an empty space.在最上方的顶点，串联各符印的蛇形图案环绕着一处空白。249
Clockwise from that lay the Flame Knives marking; then the interlocking circles once so aggressively defended by Zrie Prakis; at the bottom, Cassana’s squiggle; then Moander’s unholy symbol; and finally the unknown bull’s eye sigil.从那里顺时针看去，依次是火焰刀的标记；接着是兹里·普拉基斯曾极力守护的交叠圆环；最下方是卡萨娜的曲线符号；然后是莫安德的邪恶圣徽；最后是那个来历不明的靶心符印。250
Akabar’s mind raced.阿卡巴脑中思绪飞转。251
Is this the bond that keeps the lizard so close to Alias?难道正是这层联系，让这只蜥蜴始终紧跟着阿莉亚丝？252
If she knows of it, why hasn’t she told me?如果她知道，为什么没有告诉我？253
Of course she doesn’t know it.她当然不知道。254
The lizard has kept it a secret from her.这只蜥蜴一直瞒着她。255
That’s why he’s come all the way down here to wash.所以他才特意一路跑到这里来洗澡。256
No doubt he is afraid of losing her trust if he reveals that he too is branded.他无疑是害怕，一旦暴露自己也被烙上了印记，就会失去她的信任。257
Is he truly just a benign companion helping her evade her enemies or is he one of the enemies’ servants helping to track her?他真的只是一个善良的伙伴，在帮助她躲避敌人，还是敌人的仆从，借机协助追踪她？258
Akabar caught one last phrase spoken by the hooded one.阿卡巴又听见兜帽人说了最后一句话。259
“Sure ye will not accompany me?” he asked.“你确定不跟我走吗？”他问道。260
Dragonbait hissed and shook his head.龙饵嘶了一声，摇了摇头。261
“Ye’ve chosen the hardest path.“你选择了最艰难的道路。262
I’d wish ye Tymora’s grace, but I don’t believe in it.”我本该祝你得到泰摩拉的眷顾，可我并不相信那一套。”263
The hooded one turned to leave.兜帽人转身离去。264
Hastily, Akabar leaped back to the path and began walking toward the road to conceal his eavesdropping.阿卡巴赶紧跳回小径上，朝大路走去，以掩饰自己方才的偷听。265
But when the Turmishman rounded the hedge, the hooded one had vanished and Dragonbait’s back was turned as he pulled on a shirt of kelly green cotton.然而，等图米什人绕过树篱时，那个戴兜帽的人已经不见了，龙饵正背对着他，套上一件鲜绿色的棉布衬衫。266
Confused by the hooded one’s disappearance, but anxious to see Dragonbait’s reaction to his own sudden appearance, Akabar called out cheerfully, “Dragonbait?阿卡巴既困惑于戴兜帽之人的消失，又急于看看自己突然现身会让龙饵作何反应，便兴高采烈地喊道：“龙饵？267
What are you doing here?” as though he’d just spotted the lizard.你在这里做什么？”仿佛他刚刚才看见这只蜥蜴似的。268
Dragonbait wheeled about and went into a defensive crouch.龙饵猛地转过身，屈身摆出防御姿势。269
Startled, Akabar fell back a step.阿卡巴吃了一惊，后退了一步。270
Hardly the behavior of an innocent creature, the mage thought.这可不像是无辜之辈会有的反应，法师心想。271
Aloud, he chided the lizard, “Jumpy this morning, aren’t we?他嘴上打趣似的责备那只蜥蜴：“今天早上怎么这么一惊一乍的？272
I just got through at the sage’s. Are the others at the inn?”我刚在贤者那里办完事。其他人都在旅店吗？”273
Dragonbait glared at him suspiciously and nodded curtly.龙饵满腹狐疑地瞪着他，冷淡地点了点头。274
“Well, you had better come back there with me then.”“那么，你最好跟我一起回去。”275
The lizard continued to glare at him.那只蜥蜴依旧瞪着他。276
“Can’t have you dawdling about people’s backyards,” the Turmishman joked.“总不能任由你在人家的后院里闲晃吧。”图米什人开玩笑道。277
He felt as though he were addressing a wall, and a hostile wall at that.他觉得自己仿佛是在对一堵墙说话，而且还是一堵怀有敌意的墙。278
Dragonbait’s gaze was like a snake’s, unblinking and unwavering.龙饵的目光如蛇一般，既不眨眼，也不动摇。279
Finally, the lizard turned and snatched up his towel and cloak from the bench by the water vat.最后，那只蜥蜴转过身，一把抓起放在水缸旁长凳上的毛巾和斗篷。280
Akabar could tell something long and stiff was wrapped in the cloak.阿卡巴看得出，斗篷里裹着一件细长而坚硬的东西。281
Undoubtedly the creature’s sword.毫无疑问，那是这怪物的剑。282
Dragonbait pushed past the mage without a sign or sound and headed down the road toward the inn.龙饵从法师身边挤了过去，既不作手势，也不发一声，沿路朝旅店走去。283
As he followed Dragonbait through the town, Akabar marveled at the creature’s rudeness.阿卡巴跟着龙饵穿过镇子，一路都在惊讶这怪物竟如此无礼。284
In Alias’s presence, he was always the polite, servile clown.在阿莉亚丝面前，他向来都是那个彬彬有礼、低声下气的小丑。285
Perhaps he really is an arrogant servant of some sinister power, Akabar thought.也许他当真是某种邪恶力量手下的傲慢仆从，阿卡巴心想。286
His conversation with the hooded one must have upset him greatly.他跟那个戴兜帽的人谈过之后，想必受到了极大的扰乱。287
He’s dropped his guard and revealed himself.他已经放松了戒备，露出了真面目。288
If he told Alias of Dragonbait’s behavior, with no one else to substantiate his words, would the swordswoman believe him?如果他把龙饵的所作所为告诉阿莉亚丝，却没有旁人能为他作证，这位女剑士会相信他吗？289
Probably not.大概不会。290
Alias was very attached to the lizard.阿莉亚丝对那蜥蜴十分依恋。291
She felt safe with him.有他在身边，她便觉得安心。292
Which left Akabar to decide whether or not to tell the swordswoman of the markings on her scaly follower’s chest.这样一来，阿卡巴就得决定，要不要把她那身披鳞甲的随从胸口的印记告诉这位女剑士。293
Trying to get the creature to remove his shirt to prove it would no doubt prove painful and perhaps even violent.若想证明此事，就得设法让那家伙脱下衬衣；这无疑会让他吃些苦头，甚至可能引发暴力冲突。294
And was no guarantee of Alias’s reaction.而且阿莉亚丝会作何反应，也全无保证。295
It was possible that she would perceive the lizard keeping his markings hidden from her as an act of betrayal, but it was more likely that she would feel even more attached to him, believing him to be a fellow victim.她或许会把那蜥蜴对她隐瞒印记视作背叛，但更可能的是，她会认定他也是受害者，反而更加依恋他。296
Were Akabar to try to convince her otherwise, she would no doubt accuse him of jealousy or paranoia.倘若阿卡巴试图说服她事实并非如此，她无疑会指责他是在嫉妒，或是疑神疑鬼。297
No, he would be better off waiting, keeping a close watch on the lizard until he could discover some incontrovertible proof of the creature’s guilt.不，他最好还是耐心等待，密切监视那蜥蜴，直到找到无可辩驳的证据，证明那家伙确实有罪。298
But would it be too late by then? he wondered.可等到那时，会不会已经太迟了？他暗自思忖。299
As he reached The Old Skull, Akabar remembered he had one other subject which required some consideration—his meeting with the sage.走到老骷髅酒馆时，阿卡巴想起还有另一件事需要斟酌——他与那位贤者的会面。300
Alias, intent on reaching Yulash, had not really shown any interest in the mage’s self-appointed mission to the sage of Shadowdale, but it would not have slipped her mind.阿莉亚丝一心只想着赶往尤拉什，对这位法师自作主张要去拜访阴影谷贤者的使命并未真正表现出什么兴趣，但她绝不会忘记此事。301
She would ask about it.她会问起来的。302
In the face of his uselessness the evening Dragonbait had destroyed the kalmari, the Turmishman was loath to confess his failure to gain an audience with Elminster.龙饵消灭卡尔玛里怪的那晚，图米什人毫无用处；一想到这点，他便不愿坦白自己未能获准拜见伊尔明斯特。303
* * * * ** * * * *304
The hooded one flipped down his shadowy cowl and shook out the full, gray beard that he had kept tucked within it.那个戴兜帽的人向后一掀阴影笼罩的风帽，抖出一直塞在里面的浓密灰胡子。305
“Surely our guest hasn’t given up waiting on my pleasure so soon,” he joked.“我们的客人肯定不会这么快就不肯等我赏脸了吧。”他打趣道。306
Lhaeo looked up and shrugged.莱奥抬起头，耸了耸肩。307
“For a magic-user he seemed a bit impatient.”“身为施法者，他似乎有点没耐性。”308
“Takes all types,” Elminster commented sagely as he threw his cloak over the chair Akabar had only recently vacated.“什么样的人都有。”伊尔明斯特高深莫测地评论道，同时把斗篷扔到阿卡巴刚刚才空出来的椅子上。309
He sat down and stretched out his long legs.他坐下来，伸开两条长腿。310
“Did you discover what you needed to know?”“你查到想知道的事了吗？”311
Lhaeo asked.莱奥问道。312
“I have all the pieces of the puzzle and I have put them all together.“我已经找齐了所有拼图碎片，也把它们全都拼到了一起。313
But the picture makes no sense.”可拼出来的图案却毫无道理。”314
“Oh?”“哦？”315
Lhaeo said, a little surprised.莱奥略带惊讶地说道。316
“I may have to make that journey to the other planes after all.”“看来我终究还是得前往其他位面一趟。”317
“Shall I begin packing?”“要我开始收拾行装吗？”318
Lhaeo asked.莱奥问道。319
“Not just yet,” the sage replied.“还不用急，”贤者答道。320
“There’s a good chance the puzzle may just throw itself on the fire.”“这幅拼图很可能会自己跳进火里。”321
But a rare ache crept over his bones and he knew he was wrong.但一阵罕有的酸痛悄然爬遍他的骨头，他知道自己错了。322
“In the meantime, maybe ye’d better dig some of the old Harper scrolls out of the vault.”“在此期间，你最好从地窖里找出一些竖琴手的旧卷轴来。”323
Lhaeo nodded and slipped out of the office jangling a set of great iron keys.莱奥点点头，带着一串叮当作响的大铁钥匙溜出了办公室。324
Elminster retired to his study to research a single puzzle piece.伊尔明斯特回到书房，着手研究其中一块拼图。325
Back at The Old Skull, oblivious to the sage’s concern, the four adventurers tended to their own business.与此同时，在老骷髅酒馆，四名冒险者对贤者的忧虑一无所知，各自忙着自己的事。326
Akabar worried about the meaning of the sigil he had been unable to trace and considered how to trap Dragonbait into betraying himself.阿卡巴为那个无法查明来历的印记究竟有何含义而忧心，同时盘算着如何设下圈套，诱使龙饵露出马脚。327
The lizard kept his own council and told no one of his plans.蜥蜴人自有打算，却没有向任何人透露自己的计划。328
Olive counted the platinum coins four more times, finally tucking them neatly into the pockets of her backpack.奥利芙又把那些铂金币数了四遍，最后才将它们整整齐齐地塞进背包的口袋里。329
Alias slept the morning away, and when she awoke in the early afternoon on the last day of Mirtul, she felt refreshed and peaceful.阿莉亚丝一觉睡过了整个上午；米尔图月最后一天的午后不久，她醒了过来，只觉精神焕发，内心安宁。330
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听