Alias stirred beneath the moss-stained roots, and her mind crawled back from the lands of darkness.阿莉亚丝在染着苔痕的树根下动了动，意识从黑暗之地缓缓爬回。1
She twisted once, then again, straining against her bonds.她扭动了一下，又扭了一下，奋力挣扎着想摆脱束缚。2
She recalled the passage through the wall of enchanted masonry.她想起了穿过那堵魔法砖墙的情景。3
It had felt like an immersion in a cold mountain lake, chilling her skin and knocking the wind out of her.那感觉就像整个人浸入冰冷的山间湖泊，寒意刺骨，令她喘不过气来。4
When she had finally gasped for air, there was a spongy mat against her face—a fragrant glove of pungent, vegetable smells which had reminded Alias of mushrooms in butter sauce gone bad in the summer heat.当她终于倒抽一口气时，脸上却贴着一层松软的垫子——那是一只散发着浓烈植物气味的芬芳手套，令阿莉亚丝想起在盛夏酷热中放坏了的黄油汁蘑菇。5
And then she knew nothing.随后，她便什么也不知道了。6
It was like the dark emptiness that preceded her appearance at The Hidden Lady.那就像她现身于“隐秘女士”之前的那片黑暗虚无。7
When Alias awoke, the exposed portions of her skin were chilled and slightly wet from the fog.阿莉亚丝醒来时，裸露在外的皮肤被雾气浸得冰凉而微湿。8
She had no idea how long she had slept, or what had happened while she did, but her adventures in Cormyr and Shadow Gap, and the conversations at Shadowdale, all remained crisp and clear in her memory.她不知道自己睡了多久，也不知道沉睡期间发生了什么，但她在科米尔和阴影隘口的冒险，以及在阴影谷的那些谈话，依然清晰鲜明地留在记忆中。9
If anything, they felt more real than the adventures she’d experienced before she had received the deadly, cursed tattoo.真要说的话，这些经历甚至比她得到那道致命的诅咒文身之前的冒险更加真实。10
Finally, she opened her eyes to glare at the curse scrawled across her arm, only to find it trapped in a blanket of green fibers.最后，她睁开眼睛，怒视着潦草刻在手臂上的诅咒，却发现它被困在一层绿色纤维织成的毯子里。11
She tried to shake loose, but her arm was held fast.她试图挣脱，可手臂被牢牢缚住了。12
She tried to move her left arm, but that limb was also pinned down by the same sort of damp, slimy blanket.她又试着挪动左臂，但那条胳膊也被同样潮湿黏滑的毯子压得动弹不得。13
Alias tried kicking.阿莉亚丝试着踢了几下。14
Her legs were trapped, too.她的双腿也被困住了。15
She wriggled and thrashed and bucked, but a wet root, as thick as her arm, held her to the ground.她扭动、挣扎、猛烈挺身，可一条和她手臂一样粗的湿漉漉树根将她牢牢按在地上。16
Whenever she moved, the tendrils moved with her.每当她一动，那些卷须便随之而动。17
She sensed one of the bonds tearing, but new shoots sprouted immediately to replace it.她感觉到其中一道束缚正在断裂，但新的嫩枝立刻萌发出来，取而代之。18
Frustrated, she looked around.她沮丧地环顾四周。19
She lay on an odd collection of garbage, bog peat, sickly green vines, and large moldy roots.她躺在一堆古怪的杂物上，其中混杂着垃圾、沼泽泥炭、病恹恹的绿色藤蔓和长满霉斑的粗大树根。20
At the edge of her vision she spotted something clean and white jutting out from the greenery.在视野边缘，她瞥见一件洁白的东西从绿叶间伸了出来。21
Alias recognized it as a human bone.阿莉亚丝认出那是一根人骨。22
She felt the pile of boggy vegetation shift as though it were moving on a great wagon.她感觉身下那堆沼泽植物晃动起来，仿佛正由一辆巨大的马车载着前行。23
She was lying on a ledge at the leading edge of the pile, about fifteen feet from the ground, but she could see no horses or oxen ahead.她躺在这堆东西最前端的一处突缘上，离地约有十五英尺，却看不见前方有任何马匹或耕牛。24
A pile of dead leaves shifted by the right side of her head.她脑袋右侧的一堆枯叶动了动。25
As she watched, a single, green tendril burst through the rotting vegetation.她眼看着一根碧绿的卷须破开腐烂的草木，猛地钻了出来。26
At the tendril’s tip was a pumpkinlike pod.卷须顶端长着一个南瓜般的荚囊。27
The tendril swiveled toward her, and the pumpkin pod opened like a flower.卷须转向她，南瓜般的荚囊如花朵一般绽开。28
At its center was a great, weeping eye, trapped on all sides by jagged, spined teeth.正中是一只泪水涟涟的巨眼，四面都被锯齿状的带刺利齿围困着。29
The sight touched some memory buried within Alias, a memory she wished had stayed buried.眼前的景象触动了阿莉亚丝心底埋藏的一段记忆，一段她宁愿永远埋藏下去的记忆。30
She screamed.她尖叫起来。31
The pumpkin pod closed up, startled or frightened by her reaction.南瓜般的荚囊合拢起来，似乎被她的反应吓了一跳，又或是受到了惊吓。32
The tendril withdrew into the refuse pile.卷须缩回了垃圾堆里。33
Alias swallowed with some difficulty, keeping her eyes fixed on the spot where the tendril had sprouted.阿莉亚丝费力地咽了口唾沫，双眼始终紧盯着卷须钻出来的地方。34
When it did not reappear, she began to look around again, though her eyes kept returning to that site every few seconds to make sure her ocular companion had not returned.见它没有再次出现，她才重新环顾四周，不过每隔几秒，她的目光还是会回到那里，以确定那位长着眼睛的同伴没有回来。35
The mound was passing over terrain that resembled the plains about Yulash.土丘正从一片酷似尤拉什周边平原的地带上经过。36
The sun was on her left and there was a thick, dark line of green across the horizon straight ahead.太阳在她左边，正前方的地平线上横亘着一道浓密而幽暗的绿色长线。37
If that’s the rising sun, we must be heading south out of Yulash, toward the Elven Wood, she thought.如果那是初升的太阳，我们一定正从尤拉什往南走，前往精灵森林，她想。38
Unless I’ve slept for days again—then we could be anywhere.除非我又睡了好几天——那我们就可能在任何地方。39
The sound of something moving through the garbage made her realize she and the wretched tendrils were not alone.垃圾中传来有什么东西正在移动的声音，让她意识到，这里除了她和那些可恶的卷须之外，还有别的存在。40
Three figures appeared at the corner of the mound—men, moving in a matching stride like soldiers.三个身影出现在土丘的一角——是三个男人，步调一致地行进着，如同士兵。41
A vine trailed behind each man, attached somewhere to his back.每个男人身后都拖着一根藤蔓，连接在他背上的某处。42
The man in the center cast a long shadow on her and blocked out the sun, so she could only make out his silhouette at first.中间的男人把一道长长的影子投在她身上，挡住了阳光，因此起初她只能看清他的轮廓。43
The sun shone through the light robes he wore—revealing spindly legs, but a powerful torso.阳光透过他身上的轻薄长袍，映出一双细瘦的腿和一副强健有力的躯干。44
He wore some sort of helmet.他戴着某种头盔。45
She could not make out his features, but by his bearing she knew he was Akabar.她看不清他的面容，但从他的举止气度便知道他是阿卡巴。46
The men who flanked the mage were dressed in moldy, torn battle gear.法师两侧的男人都穿着发霉破烂的战斗装备。47
They moved stiffly as they picked their way through the garbage.他们动作僵硬，在垃圾堆中小心地择路前行。48
“Akabar?” she said softly, but the figure did not respond.“阿卡巴？”她轻声唤道，但那人影毫无反应。49
“Akabar?“阿卡巴？50
What’s going on?这是怎么回事？51
Cut me out of this stuff.”把我从这堆东西里弄出去。”52
“I’m afraid I must inform you,” the lean figure began in the roundabout speech of the South, “that I am not your Akabar.”“恐怕我必须告诉你，”那个瘦削的人影用南方人惯有的迂回口吻说道，“我并不是你的阿卡巴。”53
He broke rank from the two soldiers and knelt beside her head.他离开那两名士兵，来到她头边跪下。54
He was Akabar.他就是阿卡巴。55
He had Akabar’s face, marked with the three blue scholar-circles on his forehead, and Akabar’s square-shovel beard, and the same sapphire earring which marked him as a married man.他长着阿卡巴的脸，额头上有三道蓝色的学者圆环，还有阿卡巴那方铲状的胡须，耳朵上也戴着同一只表明他已婚身份的蓝宝石耳环。56
His dark eyes, though, were completely fogged over in gray and patches of listless white swirled through them.然而，他那双黑眼睛完全蒙上了一层灰翳，其中还旋动着一块块毫无生气的惨白。57
The thing Alias had mistaken for a helmet was a cap of vines that pressed suckers against the mage’s forehead and into his ears.阿莉亚丝误以为是头盔的东西，其实是一顶藤蔓编成的帽子，藤上的吸盘紧贴着法师的额头，并探入他的耳朵。58
Dried blood flaked around the suckers.吸盘周围凝结的血迹已经干涸剥落。59
Her breath came in short gasps as a scream tried to claw its way up her throat.她急促地喘息着，一声尖叫挣扎着想从她喉咙里钻出来。60
She found the strength to ask, “Who are you?”她勉强挤出力气问道：“你是谁？”61
“I am Moander,” said the thing that was Akabar, “the most important being in your world.”“我是莫安德，”那个曾是阿卡巴的东西说道，“是你们这个世界上最重要的存在。”62
In a smooth, gentle motion he lowered his body into a cross-legged sitting position and waited for his prisoner to stop squirming.他以流畅而轻柔的动作盘腿坐下，等着他的俘虏停止挣扎。63
Having exhausted herself in a futile effort to pull away from the mound of garbage, Alias finally lay still.阿莉亚丝徒劳地试图挣脱那堆垃圾，直到精疲力竭，终于一动不动地躺着。64
She turned her head away from Akabar’s body and kept her eyes squeezed tight.她把头转开，不去看阿卡巴的身体，双眼紧闭。65
“Oh, gods,” she moaned.“哦，诸神啊。”她呻吟道。66
“Just a god, singular,” Moander replied.“只是一个神，单数，”莫安德答道。67
“The only one that matters.“唯一要紧的那个。68
Hold on, you have something stuck to your chin.别动，你下巴上粘了东西。69
Let me get it.”我来替你弄掉。”70
Akabar used the sleeve of his robe to dab at a fleck of garbage near Alias’s mouth.阿卡巴用长袍的袖子轻轻擦拭阿莉亚丝嘴边的一小块垃圾。71
He used too much pressure and pushed her head backward into the spongy bed of compost.他使的力气太大，把她的头向后压进了松软如海绵的腐殖物堆里。72
It was as though he were unaware of his own strength.他仿佛根本不知道自己有多大力气。73
“There.“好了。74
Much better.好多了。75
Now we can talk.”现在我们可以谈谈了。”76
“You’re not Akabar,” Alias whispered, still trying to convince herself, but not wanting to believe it.“你不是阿卡巴，”阿莉亚丝低声说道，仍试图说服自己，却又不愿相信这是真的。77
“Not really, no, but I’m all the Akabar you’re going to get for a while.“严格来说，不是，不过这段时间里，你能见到的阿卡巴就只有我这个了。78
Might as well make the best of him.不如尽量好好利用他。79
By rights, he should have died of fear, being the first human in this millennium to behold my godliness.按理说，他作为这一千年来第一个目睹我神威的人类，本该活活吓死。80
How he survived I’ll never know.他怎么活下来的，我永远也想不明白。81
But that kind of luck shouldn’t be tampered with, so I left his body in better shape than the others.不过，这样的好运不该随意糟蹋，所以我让他的身体比另外两具完好一些。82
Look.”瞧。”83
Alias felt shambling footsteps through the boggy ground and looked past Akabar’s body at his companions.阿莉亚丝透过泥泞的地面感觉到蹒跚而来的脚步，越过阿卡巴的身体望向他的同伴。84
One’s neck was ripped open, and his face was pale and ghostly without its lifeblood.其中一人的脖子被撕开了，失去鲜血的脸苍白如鬼。85
The other had no face at all, only a slab of pummeled, bloody meat.另一个人连脸都没了，只剩下一团被砸烂的血肉。86
Both had tendrils rigged around their bodies, moving them like puppets.两具尸体身上都缠着触须，像木偶一样被操纵着。87
Alias felt her stomach heave and twist, but it was overridden by a chill, clammy terror.阿莉亚丝感到胃里一阵翻江倒海，但一股阴冷黏腻的恐惧压过了恶心。88
Her body trembled and she began to hyperventilate.她浑身颤抖，开始急促地喘息。89
“There, there,” Moander said, using Akabar’s hand to smooth her hair.“好了，好了，”莫安德说着，用阿卡巴的手抚平她的头发。90
“I just brought them as an example of what I could have done to your friend.“我只是把他们带来，让你看看我原本可以怎样对付你的朋友。91
I’ll send them away now.”我这就叫他们走。”92
Moander gave no verbal command and made no physical gesture, but the shambling corpses retreated around the side of the hill of garbage.莫安德既没有出声下令，也没有做出任何手势，但那两具蹒跚的尸体还是退到了垃圾山丘的另一侧。93
Alias stared at the passing plains.阿莉亚丝凝视着掠过的平原。94
After a few moments, she grew calmer.过了一会儿，她渐渐平静下来。95
“Who are you really?” she asked.“你究竟是谁？”她问道。96
“As I said before, I am Moander.“我之前说过，我是莫安德。97
Though that is a lot like calling a newborn prince the king.”不过，这就像把一个刚出生的王子称作国王一样。”98
Alias swung her head and stared at the stranger in Akabar’s body.阿莉亚丝猛地转过头，盯着阿卡巴躯体里的那个陌生人。99
He imitated the mage almost perfectly, his pose, his gestures, the tone and cadence of his voice.他把那位法师模仿得几乎惟妙惟肖——无论姿态、手势，还是说话的语气与抑扬顿挫。100
But the smile was wrong.但那笑容不对劲。101
It was an exaggerated, forced smile—as if someone had pinned the corners of his mouth.那笑容夸张而僵硬——仿佛有人把他的嘴角钉住了。102
“Are you …“你是……103
I mean, is he …”我是说，他是不是……”104
“Dead?“死了？105
Not really.也不尽然。106
He’s gone, for all intents and purposes, but his soul and mind are still around, locked away in some corner.实际上，他已经等同于不复存在了，但他的灵魂和心智依然还在，被禁锢在某个角落里。107
Rather like a man poisoned by a Jit snake, who lies in fever dreams, not waking, for weeks.很像一个中了吉特蛇毒的人，接连几周躺在高烧的梦魇中，始终无法醒来。108
You still have Jit snakes around here?”你们这地方现在还有吉特蛇吗？”109
He paused, tilting his head as if listening to an unheard speaker.他顿了一下，侧过头去，仿佛在倾听一个听不见的说话者。110
“No, I guess you don’t anymore.”“没有了，我想你们现在已经没有了。”111
He rested his milky gray eyes on Alias and sat quietly, as if waiting for her to ask him another question.他用那双灰白浑浊的眼睛注视着阿莉亚丝，静静地坐着，仿佛在等她再问一个问题。112
Alias only stared at the passing scenery, so Moander continued.阿莉亚丝只是凝望着掠过的景色，于是莫安德继续说道。113
“In this case, if I were to let the mage go, he would awaken.“就眼下的情形而言，如果我放开这位法师，他就会醒来。114
But he cannot break my control, and I will control him until he is no longer useful.但他无法挣脱我的控制，而我会一直控制他，直到他不再有用。115
And this one is so incredibly useful.而这个人实在有用得难以置信。116
I needed his mouth and mind to talk to you.我需要借用他的嘴和头脑来与你交谈。117
Of course, I could have linked up with you, but you are far too valuable to risk that.当然，我本可以与你联结，但你实在太有价值了，不能冒这个险。118
Besides, he is so very amusing.”再说，他实在太有趣了。”119
Moander giggled.莫安德咯咯笑了起来。120
“I can’t begin to tell you all I’m finding in his mind.“我简直没法告诉你，我在他的脑子里发现了多少东西。121
It’s like being in a great mansion, with new surprises behind every door.这就像置身于一座宏伟的宅邸，每扇门后都有新的惊喜。122
Here are memories of his wives, and here is you calling him a greengrocer, and here is a good piece of history of the South.这里有他历任妻子的回忆，这里有你骂他是菜贩子的情景，这里还有一段相当精彩的南方史。123
Gods below, so much has happened.地底诸神啊，竟然发生了这么多事。124
I’ve been out of touch for too long!”我与世隔绝得太久了！”125
“Out of touch?”“与世隔绝？”126
Alias taunted.阿莉亚丝嘲弄道。127
“I thought gods were omniscient.”“我还以为神明无所不知呢。”128
“Well, normally that would be true.“嗯，通常来说确实如此。129
Gods stretch through a number of different planes, with different levels of power in each.神明的存在横跨许多个不同的位面，在每个位面拥有的力量也各不相同。130
This part of me—” Akabar’s hand motioned to the pile of garbage which towered over them—“you might call the Minion or Abomination of Moander.我的这一部分——”阿卡巴抬手指了指高耸在他们头顶的垃圾堆，“你可以称之为莫安德的仆从，或是莫安德的憎恶体。131
More than a thousand years ago, back when Myth Drannor was a major power, the cursed elves banned my spirit from this world by imprisoning this part of me in my own temple.”一千多年前，早在密斯卓诺还是一方强权的时候，那些该死的精灵把我的这一部分囚禁在我自己的神殿里，从而将我的灵体驱逐出了这个世界。”132
A weakness crept over Alias’s spirit.一阵无力感悄然侵袭了阿莉亚丝的心神。133
This vast garbage heap was her enemy, and not only did it hold her prisoner, but it waved her friend before her eyes like a puppet.这座庞大的垃圾山就是她的敌人；它不但囚禁了她，还把她的朋友当作木偶，在她眼前任意摆布。134
“Soon, when this part of me arrives at the new temple my worshipers have prepared, and I gather even more worshipers to my fold, I will grow strong enough in this world to command the powers that gods are endowed with.“很快，等我的这一部分抵达信徒们为我备好的新神殿，再将更多信徒纳入麾下，我在这个世界就会变得足够强大，能够驾驭神明所拥有的力量。135
Had I been in full control of my powers when my spirit was finally able to return to the Abomination, I would have left a pit where Yulash stood and ascended into the heavens to mete out punishment to those who banished me.”倘若我的灵体终于得以回归憎恶体时，我已经能够完全掌控自己的力量，我早就在尤拉什原先矗立的地方留下一个深坑，升上天界，惩罚那些放逐我的人了。”136
“But in the meantime, you’re pretty weak.“可是在那之前，你还是相当虚弱。137
Relatively, I mean.”我是说，相对而言。”138
Moander cocked Akabar’s head like a hanged man.莫安德让阿卡巴的脑袋像吊死鬼一样歪向一边。139
“Relatively.“相对而言。140
But I have plenty of stored life-fluid in this form.不过，我这具形体里储存了大量的生命体液。141
More than enough to reach my worshipers, pop the heads off a few sacrifices, and make demands on the populace.不仅足够我抵达信徒那里，还绰绰有余，能让我弄爆几个祭品的脑袋，再向民众发号施令。142
I’m conserving my strength by traveling this slowly so that I can have enough energy to indulge a whim.”我走得这么慢，是为了保存力量，好让我有足够的精力任性一回。”143
Alias stared at the approaching forest, wondering if the sludge mountain that was Moander would break up when it hit the trees or flow around them.阿莉亚丝凝视着越来越近的森林，心想莫安德这座烂泥山撞上树木时究竟会四分五裂，还是会绕过它们流淌过去。144
Moander gestured with Akabar’s hands toward the trees which held Alias’s attention.莫安德用阿卡巴的双手指了指那些吸引着阿莉亚丝目光的树木。145
“My first stop is Myth Drannor.“我的第一站是迷斯·卓诺。146
According to your friend’s mind, all the elves have deserted their capital.从你朋友的记忆来看，所有精灵都已弃都而去。147
I’ve got to make sure.我得确认一下。148
If it’s true, at least I can dance on the rubble.如果这是真的，至少我还能在那片废墟上跳舞。149
From there we’ll continue south until we reach Sembia.然后我们会继续南下，直到抵达塞姆比亚。150
I love the way your friend thinks in terms of maps and trade routes.我真喜欢你朋友那种凡事都从地图和商路出发的思考方式。151
He is so useful.”他实在太有用了。”152
“And once we’ve reached Sembia?”“等我们到了塞姆比亚呢？”153
“Ah, curiosity, my servant.“啊，我的仆人，你开始好奇了。154
A good sign.这是个好兆头。155
We’ll cut southwest through Sembia toward The Neck, between the Sea of Fallen Stars and the Lake of Dragons, and just hop in the water.我们会向西南横穿塞姆比亚，前往坠星海与龙湖之间的瓶颈地带，然后直接跳进水里。156
Scum, like cream, floats.浮渣就像奶油一样，会浮在水面上。157
We shall sail triumphantly to our new home.我们将浩浩荡荡地航向我们的新家。”158
“Which is?”“那是哪里？”159
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。160
She already had a strong suspicion, but she had to know for sure.她心中早已有了强烈的猜测，但她必须确认无疑。161
“Westgate, of course.“当然是西门城。162
Where we built you.”我们正是在那里造出了你。”163
* * * * ** * * * *164
The trio of non-humans climbed higher into the sky, keeping well above the range of the catapults of any surviving Keepers or Red Plumes.三个非人类越飞越高，始终远远避开任何幸存的守护者或红羽军的投石机射程。165
“Why so high?”“为什么飞这么高？”166
Olive bellowed in Mist’s ear.奥利芙冲着米斯特的耳朵大吼。167
The dragon let out a puffing grumble, “What?”巨龙呼哧着咕哝了一声：“什么？”168
“I said, what are we flying so high for?”“我说，我们干吗飞这么高？”169
The halfling grasped the ropes which Dragonbait had fashioned into an impromptu saddle.半身人紧紧抓住龙饵用绳索临时编成的鞍具。170
The dragon rumbled between deep puffs of air.巨龙在一阵阵深沉的喘息间隆隆说道。171
“Can either” (long breath) “fly or talk.”“我只能二选一——”（长长地喘了口气）“要么飞，要么说话。”172
(Long breath.)（长长地喘了口气。）173
“Try singing” (long breath) “while you’re running hard.”“你试试一边拼命跑”（长长地喘了口气）“一边唱歌。”174
(Long breath.)（长长地喘了口气。）175
“Hang on.”“抓紧了。”176
The dragon ceased flapping, locked her wings in a gliding position, and began to circle the city, her wings catching the thermals rising from the mound.巨龙停止振翅，将双翼固定在滑翔的姿势，开始绕着城市盘旋，翅膀乘上了从土丘升起的热气流。177
Olive looked back at the dragon’s great batlike membranes.奥利芙回头看着巨龙那蝙蝠般的巨大翼膜。178
One wing still showed a pink line from the recently healed tear.其中一侧翅膀上，最近才愈合的裂伤仍留着一道粉红色的痕迹。179
Dragonbait, who sat where the dragon’s wings joined her body, had done the healing.龙饵坐在巨龙双翼与身体相接之处，正是他治好了那处伤。180
According to Mist, the warrior lizard communicated with his scent glands, so he could not “speak” as they soared through the air.据米斯特说，这名蜥蜴战士靠气味腺交流，所以他们翱翔在空中时，他无法“说话”。181
The wind would carry away the perfume of his words.风会把他话语的香气吹散。182
But he made his desires known quite effectively by prodding the great wyrm with his sword.不过，他用剑戳那条巨龙，倒也相当有效地表达了自己的意愿。183
“You were saying,” Mist prompted the bard, now that she was able to breathe normally, her labors eased by the helpful warm air.“你刚才说什么来着？”现在米斯特已经能够正常呼吸，帮了大忙的暖流也让她轻松下来，于是便催促吟游诗人继续说。184
“Can’t you fly any lower?”“你就不能飞低一点吗？”185
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。186
“Do you want to catch a ballista-bolt in the crotch?”“你想让弩炮箭射中胯裆吗？”187
When Olive did not answer immediately, Mist said, “Thought not.奥利芙没有立刻回答，米斯特便说：“我就知道你不想。188
Trust me.相信我。189
I know what I’m doing.我知道自己在做什么。190
Besides the danger below, this is the best place to gain altitude.撇开下面的危险不谈，这里也是爬升的最佳位置。191
And I need altitude to soar after your lizard’s Abomination.而且，我得有足够的高度，才能滑翔着追上你那蜥蜴的憎恶体。192
Flying, especially with passengers, isn’t easy.”飞行并不容易，尤其是还载着乘客的时候。”193
“Looks like they’ve made a ruin of it,” the halfling commented on the city below.“看来他们把这座城毁成废墟了。”半身人望着下方的城市评论道。194
“Human wars tend to do that,” Mist replied curtly.“人类的战争往往就是这个结果。”米斯特冷冷地答道。195
“When I lived in this area, I heard of Yulash’s destruction five, no, six times.“我住在这一带时，听说尤拉什被摧毁了五次，不，六次。196
Some group or another is always on a crusade or war of liberation.总有这样或那样的团体在发动圣战或解放战争。197
Merciless killing, cloaked by the niceties of civil tongues.披着文明言辞的漂亮外衣，行残酷无情的杀戮之实。198
They are a race of lawyers, these humans.这些人类真是个律师的种族。199
I wonder how they survive.”我真不明白他们是怎么存活下来的。”200
“My people wonder the same thing.”“我的族人也有同样的疑问。”201
An idea rose to the surface of the halfling’s brain.一个念头浮上半身人的脑海。202
“Say, O mighty Mist.“我说，伟大的米斯特啊。203
I was wondering …”我在想……”204
Olive trailed off, leaving the question hang for a moment.奥利芙拖长了话音，让这个问题悬在那里片刻。205
Based on what she knew about human and draconian nature, the halfling calculated some odds before continuing.根据自己对人类和龙族天性的了解，半身人在继续说下去之前，先盘算了一下胜算。206
The dragon banked and, catching another updraft, began to rise again.巨龙侧过身子，又乘上一股上升气流，开始再次攀升。207
“Yesssss?” she prompted.“嗯——？”她催促道。208
“Once you’ve fulfilled your bargain with Dragonbait and freed Alias, you’re going to attack her”“等你履行了与龙饵的约定，救出阿莉亚丝之后，你就会攻击她。”209
“Is that a question or a statement?”“这是问题，还是陈述？”210
Mist’s voice was low and guttural.米斯特的声音低沉而粗哑。211
Olive glanced over her shoulder at Dragonbait, but the lizard was twenty feet away and couldn’t possibly hear their conversation.奥利芙回头瞥了龙饵一眼，但那蜥蜴在二十英尺开外，根本不可能听见她们的谈话。212
His attention was focused on the ground below.他的注意力全在下方的地面上。213
“Well,” Olive noted, “you haven’t been very, uh, successful the last two times out of the paddock.”“这个嘛，”奥利芙指出，“你前两次出场，呃，都不怎么成功。”214
“If memory serves, you aided in my defeat both those times.”“如果我没记错，那两次你都帮着别人击败了我。”215
“My point exactly,” Olive said.“我正是这个意思，”奥利芙说。216
“And next time you’ll have both Dragonbait and Alias to deal with.“而且下次，你还得同时对付龙饵和阿莉亚丝。217
Now, if, my services were suddenly available on your side of the dispute …”那么，如果我突然愿意站到你这一边，为你效劳……”218
Again she let her voice trail off.她再次拖长声音，没再说下去。219
For several moments, the only sound was the rush of the wind.一连好一会儿，四周只有呼啸的风声。220
Finally, Mist said, “Why the shift in loyalties?”最后，米斯特问道：“你为什么要改换阵营？”221
The halfling considered how much she wanted the dragon to know.半身人斟酌着该让这条龙知道多少。222
The game I’ve been playing for Phalse has become too dangerous, Olive thought.我替法尔斯玩的这场把戏已经变得太危险了，奥利芙心想。223
I’d have no trouble fooling Alias.骗过阿莉亚丝对我来说轻而易举。224
Dragonbait, however, is not so easily deceived.可龙饵没那么容易上当。225
To Mist Olive simply said, “Let’s just say I do not trust our companion.奥利芙只对米斯特说：“这么说吧，我不信任我们的同伴。226
He has misrepresented himself and that makes me uncomfortable.他隐瞒了自己的真实身份，这让我很不安。227
I’m not sure I want to continue traveling with him much longer.”我不确定自己还愿意继续跟他同行多久。”228
“But you still want to rescue the woman.”“但你仍然想救那个女人。”229
The dragon was no dotard, Olive realized.奥利芙意识到，这条龙可不是什么老糊涂。230
“Yes,” she admitted.“是的，”她承认道。231
“I want to rescue Alias.“我想救阿莉亚丝。232
You might wish to reconsider which warrior has done the most to earn your vengeance.至于哪个战士最值得你报复，你或许该重新考虑一下。233
If you decide on the lizard rather than the woman, you will find yourself with an ally.”如果你决定对付那只蜥蜴，而不是那个女人，你就会多一个盟友。”234
“I see.”“我明白了。”235
“Besides,” the halfling added, “Alias has a lot of enemies.“再说了，”半身人补充道，“阿莉亚丝有许多敌人。236
She is bound to get her comeuppance sooner or later.”她迟早会得到报应的。”237
The dragon banked again, then spoke.龙再次侧身转向，随后开口说道。238
“I’ll take your suggestion under advisement.“我会认真考虑你的建议。239
Speaking of His Righteousness, turn around and see what he wants.”说到那位正义大人，回过头看看他想干什么。”240
The bard twisted in her makeshift saddle.吟游诗人在临时拼凑的鞍座上扭过身去。241
Dragonbait was banging on the side of Mist’s neck with the flat of his blade.龙饵正用剑身使劲拍打米斯特的颈侧。242
Having caught the bard’s attention, he pointed southward.见自己引起了吟游诗人的注意，他便指向南方。243
“I think he wants you to get on with the hunt.“我想他是要你赶紧继续追猎。”244
He’s pointing south.”“他指着南边呢。”245
“Everyone thinks they’re an expert.”“人人都以为自己是行家。”246
“I imagine he thinks he’s the boss,” Olive replied slyly.“我看他是把自己当老大了。”奥利芙狡黠地答道。247
Mist’s neck stiffened some, and she remained silent.米斯特的脖颈微微一僵，沉默不语。248
She banked again and began to glide away from Yulash.她再次倾斜身躯，开始滑翔着远离尤拉什。249
“Can you see the monster’s trail from this height?” the halfling asked.“从这么高的地方，你能看见那怪物留下的踪迹吗？”半身人问道。250
“Bard, I can see field mice from this height.”“吟游诗人，我在这个高度连田鼠都看得见。”251
“Um, I guess I meant, could I have a look?”“呃，我想问的是，能不能让我看看？”252
Mist turned her head ever so slightly so Olive could peer down at the ground.米斯特极其轻微地偏了偏头，好让奥利芙俯瞰地面。253
Yulash looked as though it would fit in the palm of her hand.尤拉什看起来仿佛能被她托在掌心里。254
Four roads stretched away from it, east, west, northeast, and northwest, but far wider than the roads was a path of crushed vegetation and broken copses of trees heading south by southeast.四条道路从城中向外延伸，分别通往东、西、东北和西北；但比这些道路宽得多的，是一条由倒伏的草木和折断的小片树林构成、向南偏东延伸的痕迹。255
“Just how wide is that trail?”“那条痕迹到底有多宽？”256
Olive asked, unable to judge size from such a distance.奥利芙问道，隔着这么远，她无法判断实际宽度。257
“About fifty feet.“大约五十英尺。”258
Though it seems to be growing the farther south we go,” Mist mused.“不过，我们越往南，它似乎就变得越宽。”米斯特思忖着说道。259
“This Abomination must be huge,” the halfling cautioned.“这个憎恶体一定大得惊人。”半身人警告道。260
“Think you can handle it?”“你觉得自己对付得了它吗？”261
“Not handle a shambling mound with a gland problem?”“不过是一只腺体出了毛病的蔓生怪，我还会对付不了？”262
Mist sniffed.米斯特嗤之以鼻。263
“So far you’ve only seen me in action in Feints of Honor.“到目前为止，你只在‘荣誉佯攻’中见识过我出手。”264
Unfettered by conventions, I am a force to be reckoned with.”“不受那些规矩束缚时，我的力量可不容小觑。”265
“You fight dirty,” Olive translated.“你打起架来不择手段。”奥利芙翻译道。266
“That walking garbage heap will want a bath when I’m through with it,” Mist bragged.“等我收拾完那堆会走路的垃圾，它准会想洗个澡。”米斯特吹嘘道。267
The bard smiled.吟游诗人笑了。268
She turned to look at Dragonbait.她转头看向龙饵。269
He kept his eyes fixed on the plains.他依旧目不转睛地望着平原。270
“Does he have a name?“他有名字吗？271
Besides Dragonbait, I mean.”我是说，除了龙饵以外。”272
“Indeed,” the dragon answered.“当然有，”巨龙答道。273
“But it doesn’t translate well.“不过翻译出来不太贴切。274
I much prefer Dragonbait.我还是更喜欢龙饵。275
It’s so appropriate.”这个名字太合适了。”276
Without the thermals rising from Yulash, Mist was forced to pump her wings to preserve her altitude.没有尤拉什上空升起的热气流，米斯特只得不停扇动翅膀，以保持飞行高度。277
The conversation with the halfling ended as Mist conserved her breath for the exertion of flying.为了留着气力应付飞行，米斯特结束了与半身人的交谈。278
Far in the distance, on the southern horizon, a line of green marked the Abomination’s destination—the Elven Wood.遥远的南方地平线上，一道绿色标出了憎恶体的目的地——精灵森林。279
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听