Giogioni Wyvernspur, suddenly aware of his duty to posterity, began the first entry in his journal, despite the inconvenience of the rocking boat.乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺突然意识到自己对后世负有责任，于是不顾船身摇晃带来的不便，开始写下日记的第一篇。1
With a stick of soft lead he scrawled:他用一根软铅条潦草地写道：2
The last day of Mirtul has dawned fair and bright, and the Dragonmere’s southern coastline is now in sight.米尔图月的最后一天，天色晴朗，阳光明媚，如今已能望见龙湖的南岸。3
The trip across the lake from Suzail has been a pain in the britches.从苏萨尔横渡湖面的这趟旅程，真叫人活受罪。4
The ship, on which that cad Vangerdahast has seen fit to book passage for me, is no larger than a festhall and a good deal less clean.范格达海斯特那个无赖自作主张，替我订了这条船的船票；这船还没有一座欢宴厅大，却比欢宴厅脏得多。5
A violent storm last night threatened to capsize this vessel, and consequently dinner was not served.昨夜一场猛烈的风暴险些掀翻这条船，结果晚餐也没能供应。6
But all that hardship is behind me.不过，所有这些苦难都已经过去了。7
We will dock tonight in Teziir and proceed to Westgate in the morning, traveling along the coast, with land in sight at all times, thank Tymora.今晚我们将在特齐尔靠岸，明早再沿海岸前往西门城，一路上始终都能望见陆地，感谢泰摩拉。8
This business of being a royal envoy might not be so bad, Giogi thought as he closed his journal.乔吉合上日记时心想，当王室特使这差事或许也没那么糟。9
All he had to do was carry a letter from Azoun to a member of Westgate’s ruling council, find out if they knew anything about this Alias person, and then keep an eye out for her in case she showed up within the next two months—all at the crown’s expense.他只需把阿祖恩的一封信送给西门城统治议会的一名成员，查清他们是否知道阿莉亚丝这个人的任何消息，然后在接下来的两个月里留意她会不会出现——而这一切都由王室出钱。10
As he stood at the upper deck’s railing, the Wyvernspur noble could pick out snatches of the conversation the captain was having with Teziir’s harbormaster.站在上层甲板的栏杆旁，飞龙刺家的贵族能零星听见船长与特齐尔港务长的谈话。11
Something about an increase in the docking fee—another ten gold pieces was owed.似乎是停泊费涨了——还得再付十枚金币。12
A reasonable sum for making it to land, Giogi thought, but the ship’s captain had another opinion.乔吉心想，花这点钱就能登上陆地，倒也合理，可船长却另有看法。13
“Outrageous!“岂有此理！14
I won’t suffer such extortion.我绝不会忍受这种敲诈。15
I’ll bring her in without your help.不用你帮忙，我照样能把船开进去。16
See if I don’t!”不信就走着瞧！”17
Somewhere astern, on the lower deck, a high-pitched voice asked another passenger, “Penurious, our captain, or merely recalcitrant?”船尾某处的下层甲板上，一个尖细的声音向另一名乘客问道：“咱们的船长是吝啬，还是纯粹顽固不化？”18
Giogi turned toward the sound of the voice.乔吉循声转过身去。19
Funny, I didn’t notice any halflings aboard before.奇怪，我先前怎么没注意到船上有半身人。20
The passenger the halfling had addressed was a lady cloaked from head to toe.那半身人问话的乘客是一位从头到脚裹在斗篷里的女士。21
When Giogi saw her face he froze.乔吉看清她的脸时，顿时僵住了。22
The halfling was male, completely unfamiliar, but the woman’s face—he couldn’t be mistaken.那个半身人是男性，完全是个陌生人；可那女人的脸——他绝不可能认错。23
It was her!就是她！24
“Why, Master Phalse,” the lady smiled.“哎呀，法尔斯先生，”那位女士微笑道。25
“If I had known you were traveling on the same vessel, I might have forsaken dinner with the captain for your company.”“要是早知道你也搭了这条船，我说不定就会推掉与船长的晚餐，来陪你了。”26
“Dinner with the captain, dinner with me, while poor Zrie is left alone in Westgate.“与船长共进晚餐，又来陪我，可怜的兹里却被独自留在西门城。27
You can be so cruel, Lady Cassana.卡萨娜女士，你可真够狠心的。28
You know he falls to pieces without you.”你知道，没有你他会崩溃的。”29
So, Giogi thought, Alias isn’t her real name, after all.这么说，乔吉心想，阿莉亚丝终究不是她的真名。30
The Lady Cassana laughed with cruel amusement.卡萨娜女士幸灾乐祸地笑了起来。31
“He needs the reminder occasionally.“偶尔也得提醒他一下。32
What are you doing here?你来这里做什么？33
I didn’t notice you board.”我没看见你上船。”34
“That’s because I only just popped in.“那是因为我才刚刚过来。35
I thought I might accompany you.我想我或许可以陪你同行。36
How’s your arm?”你的手臂怎么样了？”37
The lady frowned.那位女士皱起眉头。38
“How did you know about that?”“你怎么知道这件事？”39
“My master’s been scrying you to be safe.“为了确保你的安全，我的主人一直在用魔法窥视你。40
There was a blur as the One approached your bird form.那一位靠近你所化的鸟时，影像变得模糊起来。41
When she passed by we noted the dagger in your wing.”她经过时，我们注意到了你翅膀上的匕首。”42
Cassana shrugged.卡萨娜耸了耸肩。43
“All healed when I polymorphed back to my own body.”“我变回自己的身体时，伤就全好了。”44
“Well, our condolences on the failure of your mission.”“那么，对于你任务失败一事，我们深表遗憾。”45
The lady snarled.那位女士咆哮起来。46
“The beast sleeps with his damned sword, so I could only use the subtlest of magics lest I alerted him to my presence and he dispelled my attacks.“那畜生睡觉都搂着他那把该死的剑，所以我只能施展最隐秘的魔法，免得让他察觉我的存在，驱散我的攻击法术。47
My creature would not approach him, branded as he is.他身上带着烙印，我的生物不肯接近他。48
I almost had the mage and the thief, but Puppet managed to shake me off in time to raise an alarm.”我差一点就能拿下那个法师和盗贼，可傀儡及时摆脱了我，发出了警报。”49
“Well, there will be other opportunities,” the halfling replied, shrugging.“好吧，以后还会有别的机会。”半身人耸耸肩答道。50
“We were lucky she had the brands checked for magic, or we might still be searching all compass points.“幸好她让人检查了那些烙印有没有魔法，否则我们现在恐怕还在四处搜寻。51
But it was a fluke she had it done again near Zrie’s old rock garden, and a fluke that my creature spotted her in the gap.不过，她后来在兹里那座旧石园附近又检查了一次，纯属偶然；我的生物恰好在缝隙里发现了她，也纯属偶然。52
Don’t you think it’s time your master got involved in this?”你不觉得该让你的主人插手此事了吗？”53
“There is no need when he has such efficient, clever helpers as myself.”“有我这样精明能干的帮手，他根本无须出手。”54
“Oh?“哦？55
And what have you done lately to earn such praise?”那你最近做了什么，配得上这样的夸奖？”56
“Planted a tracking device in the One’s, or as you would say, Puppet’s, party.“我在那一位——或者按你的说法，傀儡——的队伍里安插了一个追踪装置。57
A device strong enough to be detected despite the enchantment of misdirection about her.”那装置的力量足够强大，尽管她身上有误导侦测的魔法，也依然能被探测到。”58
“Planted with the thief, I presume.”“我猜，是安插在那个盗贼身上的。”59
Phalse nodded.法尔斯点了点头。60
“But, how did you find the party?”“可是，你是怎么找到他们的？”61
Cassana asked.卡萨娜问道。62
“Upon interrogating Nameless I learned of a peculiar desire he had to sing in Shadowdale.“审问无名者之后，我得知他有个古怪的愿望，想去阴影谷唱歌。63
Like father, like daughter.有其父必有其女。64
I kept watch on the town.于是我一直监视着那座镇子。65
As soon as my scrying power became blurred, I knew the One must have arrived.我的窥探之力一受到干扰，我就知道那一位准是到了。66
Sneaking in was a bit perilous—the town is heavily warded against my kind, but nothing I couldn’t handle.潜进去有点危险——那镇子布下了重重结界，专门防范我这类存在，不过还难不倒我。67
Now, aren’t you glad I didn’t let you kill poor, foolish Nameless?”现在，你是不是很庆幸我没让你杀掉可怜又愚蠢的无名者？”68
Cassana smiled slyly.卡萨娜狡黠地笑了。69
“I suppose I am.”“我想是的。”70
From her pocket she drew out a small serpent.她从口袋里掏出一条小蛇。71
The reptile tried unsucessfully to slither from the woman’s grasp.那爬行动物试图从女人手中扭身溜走，却没能成功。72
“You took him with you?”“你把他也带来了？”73
The halfling sounded surprised.半身人的语气颇为惊讶。74
“He proved quite useful in holding Puppet’s attention.“他在吸引傀儡的注意力方面相当有用。75
He really is a remarkable storyteller.”他确实是个了不起的故事高手。”76
Cassana slipped the snake back into her pocket.卡萨娜把蛇塞回了口袋。77
Giogioni withdrew hastily from the railing.乔吉奥尼连忙退离栏杆。78
It isn’t possible, he thought.这不可能，他心想。79
She’s supposed to be heading to Yulash.她本该正前往尤拉什。80
Something has gone very wrong.一定有什么地方出了大问题。81
She’s here, discussing the most sinister-sounding things.她却在这里谈论着那些听来无比邪恶的事情。82
Using magical attacks against branded people, threatening to kill someone’s father, and turning humans into snakes.用魔法攻击身带烙印的人，威胁要杀掉某人的父亲，还把人变成蛇。83
Instead of a sell-sword named Alias, now she’s a sorceress called Cassana.她不再是那个名叫阿莉亚丝的佣兵，如今却成了一个叫卡萨娜的女术士。84
Giogi didn’t know what to make of it all, but his duty was clear.乔吉不知道该如何理解这一切，但他的职责很明确。85
The woman had to be placed under arrest.必须逮捕这个女人。86
The sailors were all too busy dropping lines overboard and calling out numbers, so the Wyvernspur noble made his way toward the captain.水手们都忙着把测深索抛下船去，同时高声报出数字，于是这位飞龙刺贵族朝船长走去。87
“Excuse me, sir, but there is a woman aboard your ship who is wanted by the Cormyrian authorities.“打扰一下，先生，您的船上有个女人正遭科米尔当局通缉。88
A very dangerous woman.”一个非常危险的女人。”89
“Ten!” a sailor shouted from the port bow.“十！”一名水手从左舷船首喊道。90
The captain seemed not to see Giogi.船长仿佛没有看见乔吉。91
His eyes were fixed on the port, his hands clenched about the ship’s wheel.他的双眼紧盯着港口，双手牢牢握住船舵。92
Giogi stepped closer, whispering confidentially.乔吉走近一步，以吐露机密般的口吻低声说道。93
“Why, not sixteen days ago she tried to assassinate a very important Cormyrian official.”“要知道，就在不到十六天前，她还企图刺杀一位非常重要的科米尔官员。”94
“Eight,” shouted another sailor from the starboard bow.“八！”另一名水手从右舷船首喊道。95
“The fourteenth of Mirtul to be more exact,” Giogi said.“确切地说，是米尔图月十四日。”乔吉说道。96
“Nine,” the first sailor called out.“九！”先前那名水手喊道。97
“We all thought she’d gone north to Yulash, which is over six hundred miles away, but,” Giogi gave a nervous laugh, “I just saw her on the lower deck.”“我们都以为她已经北上去了尤拉什，那地方离这里有六百多英里，可是，”乔吉紧张地笑了一声，“我刚刚在下层甲板看见她了。”98
“Seven,” called out the sailor on the starboard bow.“七！”右舷船首的水手喊道。99
“It doesn’t seem possible.“这似乎不可能。100
I mean, it would take nearly two rides, twenty days, for her to get back here that quickly, but maybe she never went there to begin with, don’t you see.”我是说，她要赶回这里，差不多得骑上两程，也就是二十天；不过也许她压根儿就没去那里，你明白吗。”101
“Five.”“五。”102
This last came from the starboard bow.这一声是从右舷船头传来的。103
“Five!” the captain shouted.“五！”船长大喊道。104
“Nine Hells!”“九层地狱！”105
He twisted the wheel furiously, but it was too late.他发疯似的猛转舵轮，可已经太迟了。106
Giogi felt the deck rise in a most peculiar fashion.乔吉感觉甲板以一种极其古怪的方式抬了起来。107
It began sloping rather steeply down to the stern and remained that way.甲板开始相当陡峭地向船尾倾斜，而且就这么斜着不动了。108
“I say!“我说！109
Have we hit a shoal or something?”我们是不是撞上浅滩之类的东西了？”110
The captain glared at him with murder in his eyes.船长怒视着他，眼中杀气腾腾。111
“Strike the sails!” he shouted.“收帆！”他大喊道。112
The ship’s first officer approached with his evaluation.大副上前报告了他的判断。113
“It’s no good, sir.“没用了，长官。114
We’ve grounded too far.我们搁浅得太厉害了。115
Have to wait for a change of wind to shift us.”得等风向改变，才能让船挪动。”116
The ship listed perilously to starboard, and Giogi was forced to grab the wheel to keep from slipping on the deck.船身危险地向右舷倾斜，乔吉不得不抓住舵轮，才没在甲板上滑倒。117
A peculiar cracking noise came from the housing beneath.下方的舵机箱里传来一阵古怪的喀裂声。118
The first officer looked at the captain with alarm in his eyes.大副眼带惊恐地望着船长。119
“Prepare to disembark the passengers, Master Roberts.“准备让乘客下船，罗伯茨先生。120
Start with this one.”先从这个开始。”121
The captain jabbed Giogioni Wyvernspur with his index finger.船长伸出食指戳了戳乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。122
“That’s most thoughtful, Captain,” Giogi said.“您真是考虑周到，船长。”乔吉说道。123
“I say, but I can wait for the woman and children first.“我说，不过我可以等妇女和孩子先下船。124
Wyvernspurs know their duty when they see it.”飞龙刺家族见到自己应尽的责任时，绝不会推诿。”125
“Sir,” the captain said.“先生，”船长说道。126
“You can disembark now in the longboat, or you can walk the plank.”“您可以现在乘长艇下船，也可以走跳板下海。”127
Giogioni found himself lowered in the longboat.乔吉奥尼发现自己已坐在长艇中，被放了下去。128
He’d been too busy fretting over his baggage as the other passengers were loaded in beside him, so it came as quite a shock to look up and find himself staring into her eyes.其他乘客被一个个安置到他身边时，他一直忙着担心自己的行李，因此，当他抬起头，发现自己正与她四目相对时，不由得大吃一惊。129
Giogioni gasped, “You!”乔吉奥尼倒吸一口气：“是你！”130
“I beg your pardon,” Cassana said.“请恕我不明白您的意思。”卡萨娜说道。131
“Have we met?”“我们见过吗？”132
Giogi gulped.乔吉咽了口唾沫。133
This close up he realized he’d made a mistake.离得这么近，他才意识到自己认错了人。134
This was not the lovely, mad sell-sword Alias.这并不是那位美丽而疯狂的佣兵阿莉亚丝。135
The woman seated opposite him was too old.坐在他对面的女人年纪太大了。136
Her hair was the wrong shade.她的发色也不对。137
Her flesh was soft and unmuscled.她的身体柔软，毫无肌肉。138
“Excuse me,” he mumbled.“对不起，”他含糊地说道。139
“I mistook you for someone else.”“我把您错认成别人了。”140
“Attractive men need never apologize for mistaking me for someone else.“英俊的男人把我错认成别人，永远都不必道歉。141
Provided they never mistake me again.只要他们以后再也别认错。142
I am Cassana of Westgate.”我是西门城的卡萨娜。”143
Cassana squeezed the Wyvernspur noble’s knee in a suggestive manner.卡萨娜意味深长地捏了捏那位飞龙刺贵族的膝盖。144
Flustered, Giogi tried to explain further.乔吉慌了神，试图进一步解释。145
“I meant—that is, you look just like her, except older.“我的意思是——就是说，你长得和她一模一样，只是年纪大些。146
I swear you could be her mother, er, older sister.”我发誓，你简直可能是她的母亲，呃，姐姐。”147
Cassana’s eyes narrowed, and Giogi kicked himself mentally for violating a sacred rule about never telling women how old they really looked.卡萨娜眯起了眼睛，乔吉在心里狠狠责怪自己，竟然违反了那条神圣的规矩：绝不能告诉女人她看起来究竟有多大年纪。148
“This woman I look like,” Cassana whispered.“那个和我长得很像的女人，”卡萨娜低声说道。149
“Tell me about her.”“跟我说说她。”150
Giogi gulped again.乔吉又咽了口唾沫。151
Oh, gods!天哪！152
Suppose she is her mother?万一她真是她母亲呢？153
“Well, she’s like you.“嗯，她和你很像。154
Very pretty.非常漂亮。155
With red hair and green eyes.红头发，绿眼睛。156
She’s a sell-sword though, not a lady like you.”不过她是个佣兵，不像你这样是位淑女。”157
Cassana laughed.卡萨娜笑了。158
“So tell me, who are you and how did you come to know this sell-sword who looks like me?”“那么告诉我，你是谁，又是怎么认识这个长得像我的佣兵的？”159
All the while they were being rowed to land, Cassana tried to pump information from Giogioni.在他们划向岸边的一路上，卡萨娜一直设法从乔吉奥尼口中套取消息。160
He explained he’d met Alias at a wedding, that she was merely a passing acquaintance, but this did not satisfy the woman with the strange resemblance to his attacker.他解释说，自己是在一场婚礼上认识阿莉亚丝的，她不过是个萍水相逢的熟人，但这个与袭击他的人有着诡异相似之处的女人并不满意。161
Unwilling to reveal the truth, Giogi began to invent details of an imaginary conversation he held with the sell-sword.乔吉不愿透露真相，便开始编造细节，杜撰出一场自己和那名佣兵之间的谈话。162
Remembering Alias had rescued Olive Ruskettle, he said they had discussed music.他想起阿莉亚丝曾救过奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔，便说他们聊的是音乐。163
He grew increasingly uncomfortable in Cassana’s presence.待在卡萨娜身边，他感到越来越不自在。164
She moved alarmingly close to him and insisted on arranging his alternate travel plans to Westgate.她靠得近得令他心惊，还坚持要替他另行安排前往西门城的行程。165
She’s just the type of woman Aunt Dorath is always warning me about, Giogi realized.她正是多拉丝姑妈总提醒我要提防的那种女人，乔吉意识到。166
Not that I need any warning—with my sixth sense when it comes to danger.不过我倒不需要谁来提醒——说到危险，我可是有第六感的。167
He was very tempted to ask what had happened to the halfling he had seen her with earlier, but he realized just in time that that might give away what he had overheard.他很想问问先前和她在一起的那个半身人出了什么事，但及时意识到，这一问或许会暴露他无意中听见的那些话。168
He found the answer to his question soon enough.没过多久，他就得到了问题的答案。169
As they rowed up to the dock, the halfling reached a hand down to help Cassana up the ladder lowered to the longboat.当他们划到码头边时，那个半身人伸下一只手，扶卡萨娜爬上从码头放到长艇上的梯子。170
“There’s another boat to Westgate pulling out in an hour.“还有一艘去西门城的船，一小时后启航。171
I’ve arranged passage,” Giogi heard the halfling say.我已经安排好船位了。”乔吉听见那个半身人说道。172
Fervently Giogi prayed Cassana would forget him in a rush to get to her next ship, but he saw her whispering something to the halfling.乔吉拼命祈祷卡萨娜会因为急着赶下一班船而把他忘掉，可他却看见她正对那半身人低声说着什么。173
Phalse looked down at the Wyvernspur noble with curiosity.法尔斯好奇地低头打量着这位飞龙刺家族的贵族。174
If I know anything at all, Giogi thought, I know that going with that woman and halfling would be a serious mistake.如果我还懂得什么的话，乔吉心想，那就是跟这个女人和半身人一起走，绝对是个大错。175
I need a distraction.我得找点事情转移他们的注意力。176
Something to take their mind off of me, before I end up in the sorceress’s pocket.得让他们别再惦记我，免得我最后落进那个女术士的掌心。177
Giogi handed up his gear and climbed the ladder.乔吉把自己的装备递了上去，然后爬上梯子。178
Cassana did not even have a chance to introduce her companion before Giogi shrieked.卡萨娜甚至还没来得及介绍她的同伴，乔吉便尖叫起来。179
“Oooh!“噢——！”180
Keep it away!”“别让它靠近我！”181
“My dear Giogioni, what is wrong?”“我亲爱的乔吉奥尼，你怎么了？”182
Giogi pointed a shaky finger at a pile of crates on the dock.乔吉伸出一根颤抖的手指，指向码头上的一堆木箱。183
“A snake.“一条蛇。”184
A huge snake.”“一条大得吓人的蛇。”185
He spread his hands out the tiny distance of two hand spans to be sure his exaggeration was not mistaken.他把双手张开，拉出仅仅两个巴掌宽的距离，以确保别人不会误解他究竟夸张到了什么程度。186
“It crawled into that pile of boxes.“它爬进那堆箱子里了。”187
I don’t mean to be such a ninny, but a snake swallowed my Aunt Dorath’s pet land urchin once.“我不是故意要这么胆小，可从前有条蛇一口吞掉了多拉丝姨妈养的陆地海胆。”188
It was horrible.”“那情形太可怕了。”189
Phalse was no longer paying attention to the young Cormyte.法尔斯已经不再理会这个科米尔青年了。190
He was too busy searching through the crates for what he had been led to assume was the snake Cassana had kept trapped in her pocket.他正忙着在木箱间翻找，因为乔吉的话让他以为，那条蛇就是卡萨娜一直困在口袋里的那一条。191
The sorceress, however, instinctively checked her pocket first, but that moment of inattention was all Giogioni needed.不过，女术士还是本能地先检查了一下自己的口袋，而这片刻的分神，已经足够乔吉奥尼采取行动了。192
Scooping up his baggage, he fled from the dock into the city of Teziir, desperately searching for a horse, a coach, or any quick means of escape from this den of foreign villainy.他一把抄起行李，从码头逃进特齐尔城，拼命寻找马匹、马车，或任何能让他迅速逃离这个异国恶棍巢穴的工具。193
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听