When Akabar awoke it was dark, and the light of a nearby fire played across the ground.阿卡巴醒来时，四周一片漆黑，附近一堆篝火的光芒在地面上跃动。1
The firelight glittered on the scales of an immense dragon.火光映在一条巨龙的鳞片上，闪闪发亮。2
The bulk of the beast lay in shadow, but Akabar could see Dragonbait napping, curled up on the great beast’s snout.巨兽庞大的身躯隐没在阴影里，但阿卡巴能看见龙饵正蜷缩在它硕大的吻部上打盹。3
The rune-marked lizard had a green bandage tied about one of his legs.这只身带符文印记的蜥蜴有一条腿上扎着绿色绷带。4
Between the mage and the fire loomed a huge shadow.法师与篝火之间耸立着一道巨大的黑影。5
The towering form knelt before him, holding out a huge silver flask.那高耸的身影跪在他面前，递出一只硕大的银色长颈瓶。6
“Drink this,” Olive said, pushing the flask to his lips.“把这个喝了。”奥利芙说道，把瓶口推到他唇边。7
The draught tasted horrible, but Akabar let it slide down his throat.药水的味道糟透了，但阿卡巴还是任它滑下喉咙。8
His mouth felt like he had been eating dirt, and his flesh crawled with a cold, clammy feeling, as if he had been immersed in water too long.他嘴里的感觉就像刚吃过泥土，皮肤上则泛起一阵冰冷黏湿的战栗，仿佛在水里泡得太久。9
He looked down and saw he was naked, save for a couple of halfling cloaks knotted around him for warmth.他低头一看，发现自己一丝不挂，身上只打结围着两件半身人斗篷用来保暖。10
“My … clothes?” the mage puzzled.“我的……衣服呢？”法师困惑地问。11
His voice was reedy, as though he’d been singing or shouting for hours.他的声音又尖又细，仿佛已经唱歌或喊叫了好几个小时。12
Olive motioned to the fire.奥利芙朝篝火示意了一下。13
“I’m afraid what was left wasn’t worth keeping.“恐怕剩下的那些也不值得留了。14
Dragonbait thought you were dead, so we didn’t bring any of your spare clothing.”龙饵以为你死了，所以我们没带你的替换衣物。15
Her eyes brightened.她的眼睛亮了起来。16
“I emptied your pockets, though, and I brought your spell books.”“不过，我把你口袋里的东西都掏出来了，还带来了你的法术书。”17
She pointed to a backpack near his feet.她指了指他脚边的一只背包。18
“What happened—oh, gods,” the mage moaned as his memory came rushing back.“发生了什么——哦，诸神啊。”记忆猛然涌回脑海，法师呻吟起来。19
There’d been a fight in Yulash, then something hulking and oppressive had sat in his mind like a spider in a web.当时在尤拉什发生了一场战斗，随后便有某种庞大而压抑的东西盘踞在他的心智中，如同一只伏在蛛网上的蜘蛛。20
He wondered if this was how Alias felt after being forced to try to kill a priest and then the Wyvernspur noble.他不知道，阿莉亚丝被迫先后试图杀死一名祭司和那位飞龙刺家族的贵族之后，是否也是这种感受。21
“Take it easy,” Olive said sharply.“别乱动，”奥利芙厉声说道。22
She was an impatient ministering angel.她是个毫无耐心的救护天使。23
She put both her hands on his shoulders to hold him down, though the mage had made no effort to rise.她双手按住他的肩膀，不让他起身，尽管这法师根本没打算起来。24
“The short version is, after your little adventure in Yulash, Dragonbait came back to camp to get my help.“长话短说，你们在尤拉什经历了那场小小的冒险之后，龙饵回到营地找我帮忙。25
When you three had gone, I was left alone to deal with Mist, who chose that moment to drop in.你们三个走后，只剩我独自应付米斯特，而她偏偏挑在那时候从天而降。26
You remember Mist from Cormyr?你还记得在科米尔遇见的米斯特吧？27
Right.对。28
Anyway, I subdued her by the old codes, and the three of us went after you and Its Ooziness.”总之，我依照古老法则降服了她，然后我们三个便去追你们和那位‘黏液大人’了。”29
Olive paused for breath and to let what she had said sink into the Turmish mage’s fevered brain.奥利芙停下来喘了口气，也让自己刚才的话有时间渗进这位图米什法师烧得迷迷糊糊的脑袋。30
Then she started again, “Unfortunately, Its Ooziness mopped up the floor with us.接着她又说道：“不幸的是，那位‘黏液大人’把我们打得落花流水。31
Misty got slammed around pretty bad, but with me at the helm the old girl managed to damage the Abomination.米斯特被摔得够呛，不过有我掌舵，这位老姑娘还是设法重创了憎恶体。32
It ran away from us, not the other way around.是它从我们面前逃走，可不是我们逃。33
Though we did get knocked out of the sky.不过，我们的确被从天上打了下来。34
However, the luck of the halflings was with me, and I managed to land on a Red Plume mercenary’s corpse.好在半身人的运气眷顾着我，我设法落在了一具红羽佣兵的尸体上。35
You sliced up Dragonbait a little before he could rescue you.”龙饵还没来得及救你，就被你砍伤了几处。”36
She paused and then concluded reluctantly, “We didn’t get Alias.”她顿了顿，才不情愿地总结道：“我们没能救出阿莉亚丝。”37
“Alias,” muttered Akabar, trying to rise against the pressure of the halfling’s hands.“阿莉亚丝……”阿卡巴喃喃道，顶着半身人双手的压力想要起身。38
“She’s still prisoner!”“她还被囚禁着！”39
“Reign in your horses,” the halfling ordered.“勒住你的马，别急着冲出去，”半身人命令道。40
“You’ve been out for about eight hours.“你已经昏迷了大约八个小时。41
Another few won’t make that much difference in catching up to that slithering compost heap, but it will make us all stronger.再等几个小时，对追上那堆蠕动的烂肥料不会有多大影响，却能让我们所有人都恢复得更强壮。42
Dragonbait needs his beauty sleep so he can finish healing you and Misty.龙饵需要睡个美容觉，这样才能彻底治好你和米斯特。43
She snapped some wing bones when she fell, and she needs to restoke her furnaces before going into battle again.她坠落时折了几根翼骨，而且再次投入战斗前，她得休息一下，重新燃旺体内的炉火。44
You need to study your spells.你也得研习法术。45
Drink more.”再喝一点。”46
Akabar took another swig of the drink Olive offered and made a face.阿卡巴又喝了一口奥利芙递来的饮料，皱起了脸。47
“Is this a healing draught?”“这是治疗药水吗？”48
Olive shook the flask and giggled.奥利芙晃了晃酒壶，咯咯笑了起来。49
“Some call it that.“有些人是这么叫的。50
It’s spiked honey mead.这是掺了烈酒的蜂蜜酒。51
Last of my stock, too.”而且还是我最后一点存货。”52
Akabar felt his empty stomach rise, then settle.阿卡巴空空的胃一阵翻腾，随后又平复下来。53
So much for the halfling’s skill as a nurse.看来这半身人的护理本事也不过如此。54
“You say Dragonbait healed us.“你说是龙饵治好了我们。55
He did that before, when we were running from the Abomination in Yulash.”以前我们在尤拉什逃避憎恶体追杀时，他也这么做过。”56
Olive nodded.奥利芙点了点头。57
“Yes.“没错。58
Turns out the little sneak’s a paladin among his own people.原来这个小滑头在他们族里是个圣武士。59
He’s been keeping it secret, but healing us when we weren’t looking.他一直瞒着这事，却趁我们没留意时给我们疗伤。60
Seems I can’t trust anyone these days.”看来这年头我谁也不能信了。”61
“A paladin?”“圣武士？”62
Akabar murmured.阿卡巴喃喃道。63
“How do you know?”“你怎么知道的？”64
“He told me,” Olive said.“他告诉我的，”奥利芙说。65
She dropped her voice to a whisper before going on.她压低声音，近乎耳语，这才继续说道。66
“Not only did he keep his profession secret all this time, but he can communicate.“这么久以来，他不但一直隐瞒自己的职业，而且其实还能跟人交流。67
He doesn’t use real words like you or me.他不像你我这样使用真正的语言。68
He puts out scents, like a perfume shop.他会散发出各种气味，活像一家香水铺子。69
We can’t understand him because our little noses aren’t refined enough, but Mist can.我们的小鼻子不够灵敏，听不懂他，但米斯特能。70
He talks to her and she translates, and then he confirms what she’s said by nodding his head.他跟她说话，由她翻译，然后他再点头确认她说得对不对。71
So you see, he does understand everything we’ve been saying.”所以你看，我们一直说的每一句话，他其实都听得懂。”72
Akabar shook his head to clear it.阿卡巴摇了摇头，想让自己清醒些。73
The halfling sounded angry, but the mage could not understand what had upset her.半身人听起来很生气，可法师不明白她究竟在恼火什么。74
“So?” he asked.“所以呢？”他问。75
“So!”“所以呢！”76
Olive exclaimed, then dropped her voice to a whisper.奥利芙叫道，随即又把声音压成耳语。77
“We have a lizard paladin who’s too haughty to try communicating with us until an evil dragon comes along.“我们身边有个蜥蜴圣武士，他傲慢得根本不屑跟我们交流，直到一条邪恶的龙出现才肯开口。78
This paladin has been traveling with us and spying on us for two rides.这个圣武士已经跟我们同行了两程，一路都在暗中监视我们。79
Doesn’t that make you the least bit angry?”这难道连一点都不会让你生气吗？”80
“Saurial,” Akabar mumbled suddenly, letting the word linger in his memory.“索瑞尔人，”阿卡巴突然喃喃道，任这个词在记忆中久久萦绕。81
A dark shadow hovered there, the residue of the Abomination’s visit to his mind.一道阴暗的影子悬在那里，是憎恶体侵入他心智后留下的残迹。82
“Moander said Dragonbait was a saurial.”“莫安德说，龙饵是个索瑞尔人。”83
“Moander—that’s the creeping crud?”“莫安德——就是那团蠕动的污秽玩意儿？”84
Olive asked.奥利芙问。85
Akabar hesitated like a swimmer hovering at the edge of cold water.阿卡巴迟疑着，像个徘徊在冰冷水边的游泳者。86
He wanted to forget the evil that had been inside him and used him so vilely.他想忘掉那个曾进入他体内、如此卑劣地利用过他的邪恶存在。87
But he needed the information Moander had inadvertently left in his mind.但他需要莫安德无意间遗留在他心中的信息。88
He plunged in.他一头扎了进去。89
“Moander is a god.“莫安德是个神。90
Or a piece of god.或者说，是神的一部分。91
An old piece, kept in storage beneath Yulash, until Alias let him out.一块古老的碎片，一直封存在尤拉什地下，直到阿莉亚丝把他放了出来。92
He’s taking her to Westgate, via Myth Drannor.”他正带着她经由迷斯卓诺前往西门城。”93
Akabar’s body began to shake violently.阿卡巴的身体开始剧烈颤抖。94
“What is it?”“怎么了？”95
Olive demanded.奥利芙追问道。96
“What’s wrong?”“出什么事了？”97
“Gods, it was like … like having some disease that rots everything but your mind and leaves your body shambling around.“诸神在上，那感觉就像……就像得了某种病，除了你的心智之外，它会让一切都腐烂，只剩下你的身体蹒跚游荡。98
I was conscious, but I had no control.我神志清醒，却完全无法控制自己。99
I couldn’t speak.我说不了话。100
I couldn’t see.我看不见。101
I could hear things in my head, Moander’s thoughts, and Alias speaking, but I was tied and gagged in the darkness.我能听见脑子里的声音，莫安德的念头，还有阿莉亚丝说话的声音，可我却像被捆住、堵住嘴，困在黑暗里。102
And … and …”还有……还有……”103
He looked up at the halfling.他抬头看着半身人。104
“I stabbed Dragonbait, didn’t I?“我刺伤了龙饵，是不是？105
You said I did.你说过是我干的。106
I remember.我想起来了。107
I was trying to kill him.”我当时想杀了他。”108
“Apparently, he doesn’t hold it against you.“显然，他并不怪你。109
He carried you back here and used the shirt off his back to bandage you.”是他把你背回这里，还脱下自己身上的衬衫给你包扎伤口。”110
Akabar felt along the bandage on his head, glancing at the lizard lying on the dragon’s snout.阿卡巴摸了摸头上的绷带，同时瞥了一眼躺在龙鼻吻部上的那个蜥蜴人。111
“I wounded the dragon, too, didn’t I?” he whispered.“我也伤了那条龙，是不是？”他低声问道。112
“Less said about that the better,” Olive suggested.“那件事还是少说为妙，”奥利芙提议道。113
“It took all my eloquence to convince Mist you were included in the bargain for our protection until Alias was freed.“我费尽口舌，才让米斯特相信，在阿莉亚丝获释之前，我们与她谈妥的保护条件也包括你。114
She only relented because we need all the firepower we can muster.她只是因为我们需要集结一切可用的火力，才勉强答应。”115
“So Its Ooziness is a god, eh?“这么说，那位黏糊糊的陛下是个神，嗯？116
Another thing our lizard friend neglected to mention.”这又是我们那位蜥蜴朋友忘了提的一件事。”117
“Saurial,” Akabar corrected again.“是蜥族人，”阿卡巴再次纠正道。118
“Why are you suddenly so annoyed with him?“你怎么突然对他这么恼火？119
He’s saved our lives.”他救过我们的命。”120
“No. He’s saved your life.“不。他救的是你的命。121
I can take care of myself.”我能照顾好自己。”122
Olive did not bother to mention that she’d be digesting in Mist’s stomach now if not for the lizard.奥利芙没费心提起，要不是那只蜥蜴，她现在已经在米斯特的肚子里被消化了。123
“I don’t need a sneaky, spying, goody-two-shoes wheedling his way into my trust.”“我可不需要一个鬼鬼祟祟、暗中监视、自命正派的家伙花言巧语地骗取我的信任。”124
“What makes you so sure he’s a spy?”“你凭什么断定他是间谍？”125
“Use your brain, greengrocer,” Olive snorted.“动动脑子，菜贩子，”奥利芙哼了一声。126
“What else would a paladin be doing traveling with us?“不然一个圣武士为什么会和我们一起旅行？127
You’re a merchant, and I’m halfling scum.你是个商人，而我是半身人渣滓。128
And Alias—think!再想想阿莉亚丝——动动脑子！129
She tried to murder a priest and someone she thought was the king of Cormyr and then she let loose an evil god.她企图谋杀一名祭司和一个她以为是科米尔国王的人，后来还放出了一个邪神。130
Dragonbait sneaked off just when we were in the most trouble, and now he’s dragging us along on a suicide mission.龙饵偏偏在我们麻烦最大的时候偷偷溜走，现在又拖着我们去执行一项自杀任务。131
He says it’s to rescue Alias, but suppose he’s really just interested in killing Moander?他说这是为了营救阿莉亚丝，可万一他真正感兴趣的只是杀死莫安德呢？132
His type doesn’t really care about our problems.”他那种人根本不在乎我们的麻烦。”133
“I suppose,” Akabar replied.“也许吧，”阿卡巴答道。134
His eyes were looking a little glazed, and Olive could see that he wasn’t really concentrating on her words.他的目光显得有些呆滞，奥利芙看得出，他根本没有专心听她说话。135
“Akash, what is wrong with you?“阿卡什，你到底怎么了？136
You aren’t listening to me at all.”你根本没在听我说话。”137
Akabar shook his head and spat.阿卡巴摇了摇头，啐了一口。138
“Some mage I turn out to be.“瞧我这法师当的。139
I can’t get us the information we need, I don’t even notice that a member of our party can heal, and I’m at my fighting best when I’m controlled by an insane abomination.我弄不到我们需要的情报，甚至没发现队伍里有人会治疗，而我战斗力最强的时候，竟然是被一个疯狂的怪物操控的时候。140
You shouldn’t have bothered to rescue me.”你们根本不该费心救我。”141
“Don’t be stupid,” Olive chided.“别犯傻了，”奥利芙责备道。142
“You have your health, your mind, and your money—all the blessings, as we halflings say.“你有健康，有头脑，还有钱——用我们半身人的话说，这可是三福俱全。143
You can’t blame yourself for what happened.发生了那些事，你不能怪自己。144
It’s not as though you were trained to fight old gods.”你又没受过对付古神的训练。”145
“Or anything else, for that matter,” Akabar added.“其实，我什么训练也没受过，”阿卡巴补充道。146
“You and Alias are right, I’m a greengrocer.“你和阿莉亚丝说得对，我就是个蔬果商。147
This has been my first real adventure not tied to the logical, reasonable flow of trade and money and safe, secure routes, and I’ve botched everything.这是我第一次真正踏上冒险，脱离贸易、金钱以及安全可靠的商路那种合乎逻辑、通情达理的运作方式，结果却被我搞砸了一切。148
I thought that with all my learning I could take on the world, but I’ve failed.我还以为凭我满腹学问，就能闯荡天下，可我失败了。149
I’m useless.”我一无是处。”150
“Look, Akash, adventuring isn’t as logical as columns in an account ledger.“听着，阿卡什，冒险可不像账簿上的一栏栏账目那么合乎逻辑。151
You can’t learn about it from books.这种事不是从书本上能学会的。152
You have to experience it to know what to do.你得亲身经历，才会知道该怎么做。153
You’ll get the hang of it eventually.你迟早会掌握窍门的。154
And you haven’t been completely useless.而且你也不是完全一无是处。155
If it weren’t for you, Dimswart would not have known to send Alias after me, and she never would have met Mist, and then we’d be fighting this Moander alone.”要不是你，迪姆斯沃特就不会想到派阿莉亚丝来找我，她也永远不会遇见米斯特，那样的话，我们就得独自对付莫安德了。”156
“That is a rather tenuous recommendation of my talents.”“这未免算是对我的才能相当牵强的肯定。”157
“Well, then, consider the fact that you saved us all from being poisoned.”“那么，你就想想是你救了我们所有人，让我们没被毒死。”158
“What?”“什么？”159
Olive grinned slyly.奥利芙狡黠地咧嘴一笑。160
“If I had to do the cooking, we all would have died from indigestion.”“要是由我来做饭，我们早就全都消化不良死掉了。”161
Akabar did not respond to her little joke, so the halfling rambled on.阿卡巴没有理会她这句小小的玩笑，于是半身人继续絮絮叨叨地说了下去。162
“Look, what I’m trying to say is that eventually you’ll learn to think like an adventurer.“听着，我想说的是，你迟早会学会像冒险者那样思考。163
Then you’ll really be a force to be reckoned with.到那时，你就真会成为一股不容小觑的力量。164
Who knows, you may even teach us a thing or two.谁知道呢，说不定你还能教我们一两招。165
Reason may make all the difference between our success or failure, and nobody else in this group has as much of it as you do.”理智或许正是决定我们成败的关键，而这群人里谁都没有你那么有理智。”166
Akabar remained silent, and Olive worried that the mead might have been too strong for him.阿卡巴依旧沉默不语，奥利芙不禁担心，那蜜酒对他来说是不是酒劲太大了。167
“Anyway,” she said with a shrug, “I sort of like having you around.“不管怎样，”她耸耸肩说道，“我还挺喜欢有你在身边的。168
I sort of like you.”我也有点喜欢你。”169
A tiny smile played across the Turmishman’s lips.图米什人的唇边掠过一丝微笑。170
He sighed deeply.他深深叹了口气。171
“I sort of like you, too,” he replied.“我也有点喜欢你，”他回答道。172
“Do you have any more of that mead?”“那种蜜酒还有吗？”173
While Akabar took a long pull on the flask, Olive asked, “So, what about him?”阿卡巴举起酒壶痛饮了一大口，奥利芙趁机问道：“那么，他怎么办？”174
Ruskettle jerked her head in the direction of the sleeping reptiles.拉斯凯特尔朝那些熟睡的爬虫扬了扬头。175
“Dragonbait the Cereal.”“那个麦片族的龙饵。”176
“Saurial,” Akabar corrected, yet understanding how Olive felt.“是蜥蜴族，”阿卡巴纠正道，不过他也理解奥利芙的感受。177
Guilty, no doubt.她无疑是心虚了。178
It was one thing for Alias and himself to recognize the halfling’s pettiness, selfishness, and thievery, and overlook it in the interest of party unity.阿莉亚丝和他看出了这个半身人的小心眼、自私和偷窃成性，却为了队伍的团结而睁一只眼闭一只眼，这是一回事。179
But it was quite another thing to have one’s actions silently watched and, no doubt, judged by the likes of a paladin.但自己的一举一动都被默默注视着，而且无疑还会受到圣武士之流的评判，那就是完全不同的另一回事了。180
Akabar himself wondered with acute embarrassment what the lizard thought of him and his constant failures.就连阿卡巴自己，一想到那个蜥蜴人会如何看待他和他一次次的失败，也感到极其难堪。181
“Saurial,” Olive said, finally getting the pronunciation correct.“蜥蜴族，”奥利芙说道，这次终于发音正确了。182
“He’s kept a couple of major secrets from us.“他已经对我们隐瞒了几个重大的秘密。183
He could be hiding a lot more.”他可能还藏着更多。”184
Akabar caught the blue glimmer of the runes shining on Dragonbait’s chest.阿卡巴瞥见龙饵胸前的符文泛着蓝光。185
Unbeknownst to Olive, she was late trying to raise Akabar’s suspicions against the lizard.奥利芙并不知道，这时候才想挑起阿卡巴对那蜥蜴人的疑心，已经太晚了。186
Since yesterday, the mage reflected, I’ve battled him twice, lost both times, and then discovered that he was trying to save my miserable hide.法师暗自思忖：从昨天起，我跟他交手两次，两次都输了，后来却发现他是在设法救我这条贱命。187
Something he’s rather in the habit of doing.而且这种事，他似乎还经常做。188
And though the halfling was right when she pointed out it was highly unusual for a paladin to travel with an adventuring group with their … character, the Turmishman found it impossible to believe that the saurial meant them any harm.尽管半身人说得没错，以他们这群人的……品性，竟有一名圣武士与他们结伴冒险，实在非同寻常，但图米什人无论如何也不相信那个蜥蜴族人会有意加害他们。189
“After he helps us get Alias back,” Olive said, ignoring Akabar’s pensive look, “I think we should find a way to ditch him.“等他帮我们救回阿莉亚丝以后，”奥利芙无视阿卡巴若有所思的神情，说道，“我觉得我们应该想办法甩掉他。190
Alias won’t like it, but it’ll be for her own good.”阿莉亚丝不会喜欢，但这也是为她好。”191
“No,” the mage said.“不行。”法师说。192
“If he keeps his own counsel, that’s his business.“他不愿吐露心事，那是他自己的事。193
If my account balances, then so does his.”如果我的账算得清，他的账也一样。”194
In Olive’s eyes Akabar saw the look of a merchant who had decided it would be in her best interest not to drive too hard a bargain.阿卡巴从奥利芙眼中看出了一副商人的神情：她已经认定，为了自身利益，最好不要把价钱咬得太死。195
She shrugged.她耸了耸肩。196
“You’re probably right.“你说得大概没错。197
There’s nothing to worry about.没什么好担心的。198
You rest.你休息吧。199
We’ll be moving out in the morning, and this time we’ll squash Its Ooziness.我们早上就出发，这次一定把那位黏液尊驾碾扁。200
I’ll be tending the fire, not that difficult a job considering all the deadfall Big Mo left in its wake.我来照看火堆，这活儿不难，毕竟大莫所过之处留下了一地枯枝倒木。201
Been a dry summer, too—wood catches easy.”今年夏天又干燥——木头一点就着。”202
“Ruskettle?”“拉斯凯特尔？”203
“Yes, Akash?”“什么事，阿卡什？”204
“Would you please hand me my books?“能请你把我的书递给我吗？205
I think I’d better start studying.我想我最好开始研习法术了。206
Like you said, we’ll need all the power we can get.就像你说的，我们得动用一切能用的力量。207
Even mine.”连我的也算。”208
* * * * ** * * * *209
Alias woke in a dim chamber deep beneath Moander’s surface.阿莉亚丝醒来时，发现自己身处莫安德体表之下极深处的一间昏暗密室中。210
All around her, patches of slime gave off a sickly green light.她周围一块块黏液散发着病态的绿光。211
The glow from her sigils was brighter and purer, and to study her prison she held her arm out as a lantern, for she was no longer bound by mossy shackles.她身上符印的光芒更加明亮纯净；她伸出手臂当作灯笼，借光打量囚禁自己的地方，因为那些覆满苔藓的镣铐已不再束缚着她。212
The chamber was round and lined mostly with moss, except where moisture ran down its surface, nourishing the patches of luminous slime.密室呈圆形，内壁大多覆着苔藓，只有水汽沿壁面流淌、滋养着一块块发光黏液的地方例外。213
She dug into the side of the wall with her fingers, but beneath the spongy moss she discovered an impenetrable mesh of thick roots and tree branches.她用手指挖向墙壁，却发现松软的苔藓下面，是一张由粗大树根和枝干交织而成、无法穿透的密网。214
She tried pulling the moss away in other spots, but found no weaknesses in her cage.她又试着扯开其他地方的苔藓，却没能在这座牢笼中找到任何薄弱之处。215
The air was close and heavy with the smell of rotting leaves but quite breathable.空气滞闷，弥漫着腐叶的气味，但呼吸起来并无大碍。216
She still wore her armor and her leather breeches, but her cloak had begun to disintegrate so badly that it could no longer be tied on.她身上仍穿着盔甲和皮马裤，但斗篷已经朽烂得不成样子，再也系不住了。217
She had lost her sword somewhere in Yulash, and her shield and daggers were missing, probably stripped from her person by the tendrils while she slept—knocked unconscious by Moander’s sponge mosses.她的剑丢在了尤拉什的某处，盾牌和匕首也不见了，大概是她被莫安德的海绵苔藓弄昏后，触须趁她沉睡时从她身上取走的。218
Trapped like an alchemist’s mouse, she thought.她想，自己像炼金术士笼中的老鼠一样被困住了。219
Then she decided, no, more like a broken machine crated in a cushioned box for the journey back home.随后她又觉得，不，更像一台损坏的机器，被装进铺着软垫的箱子里，准备运回原处。220
She remembered all that Moander had threatened would be done to her in Westgate.她想起莫安德曾在西门城威胁说要对她做的一切。221
Her memories would be wiped out again, her spirit smothered somehow.她的记忆会再次被抹去，她的精神也会以某种方式遭到扼杀。222
She shuddered.她打了个寒战。223
Then she snarled in defiance.接着，她不屈地低吼了一声。224
But what could one do to a god?可一个人又能拿神怎么样？225
Spit in its eye before it crushed you?趁它还没把你碾碎，先朝它眼里吐口水吗？226
The wall across from her rippled.她对面的墙壁泛起了波纹。227
Chunks of moss dropped away, and a huge hand, palm upward, thrust into the chamber.大块苔藓纷纷脱落，一只掌心向上的巨手猛地伸进密室。228
It was woven, like wicker, of tree limbs.那只手由树枝交织而成，如同柳条编物。229
In the center of the palm a ball of light glowed with a swirl of gray and white.掌心中央，一颗光球泛着灰白交旋的光芒。230
Alias thought it was some sort of eye, and she wanted to back away and hide from it.阿莉亚丝以为那是某种眼睛，很想后退躲开它的注视。231
Then the ball spoke.随后，光球开口说话了。232
Two voices blended, one the highest alto, the other the lowest bass, with no middle range between the two.两道嗓音交融在一起，一道高至女低音声部的最高音，另一道低至男低音声部的最低音，二者之间全无中间音域。233
The essence of Moander’s voice.那正是莫安德声音的精髓。234
Alias remembered the swirling gray and white that had covered Akabar’s eyes when the god had possessed him.阿莉亚丝想起了莫安德附身阿卡巴时，蒙住他双眼的那片旋转不休的灰白色。235
She wondered if this ball was the true face of Moander.她不知道这颗球是否就是莫安德的真面目。236
“Hungry?” asked the voice.“饿？”那声音问道。237
“Eat.”“吃。”238
The wall moss peeled in another spot, and a pair of tendrils thrust in her shield covered with half a dozen high-summer apples and a dead, uncooked yearling boar.墙上的苔藓又有一处剥落下来，一对卷须把她的盾牌伸了进来，上面放着六个盛夏时节的苹果和一头未经烹煮、已经死去的一岁野猪。239
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Alias walked over to the shield.阿莉亚丝深吸一口气，稳住紧张的神经，朝盾牌走去。240
The hole it had been pushed through was already rewoven shut.盾牌被推进来的那个洞已经重新编织封闭。241
Her stomach rumbled, but she waited until the tendrils retracted through the wall before she reached for the apples.她的肚子咕咕作响，但她一直等到卷须缩回墙里，才伸手去拿苹果。242
She backed away from the boar.她退开几步，离那头野猪远了些。243
It looked like it had been throttled to death.它看起来像是被勒死的。244
She strolled back over to the palm and crunched into an apple.她溜达回棕榈树旁，咔嚓一口咬进一个苹果。245
Without really expecting an answer, she asked the glowing ball, “How long have I been asleep?”她其实没指望得到回答，却还是问那颗发光的球：“我睡了多久？”246
“A day,” the ball replied, pulsing in rhythm with its words.“一天。”球回答道，光芒随着话语的节奏明灭。247
“Going slow.“走得慢。”248
Woods thicker than once were.”“树林比以前更密。”249
“That’s a problem?“这也算问题？”250
Some god you are!” she mocked it.“你算哪门子神！”她嘲弄道。251
“Only so much life energy.“生命能量只有这么多。”252
Must husband carefully.“必须谨慎节用。”253
Could fly or teleport, but would hurt.“可以飞，也可以传送，但会受伤。”254
Find more power Myth Drannor.“去迷斯卓诺寻找更多力量。”255
Move slow till then.”“在那之前，慢慢走。”256
“You’re not as fluent,” Alias noted aloud, “without Akabar.“没有阿卡巴，你说话可没那么流利。”阿莉亚丝大声指出。257
Where is he?”“他在哪里？”258
“Dead.“死了。259
See?”看见了？”260
A hole opened by her shield, and a pile of bones was thrust into the chamber.她的护盾旁开了一个洞，一堆白骨被推进了房间。261
Alias dropped her apple.阿莉亚丝手中的苹果掉了下来。262
The bones sank into the floor again.那堆白骨又沉入了地板。263
“And the others?” the swordswoman whispered.“那其他人呢？”女剑士低声问道。264
“All dead.”“全死了。”265
“Oh, gods.”“哦，诸神啊。”266
Alias dropped to her knees.阿莉亚丝跪倒在地。267
“Just one.“只剩一个。268
Me,” Moander’s light reminded her.我。”莫安德的光提醒她。269
“Have offer.”“有提议。”270
Alias hugged her arms about her shoulders.阿莉亚丝用双臂紧紧抱住肩膀。271
“If you slay other masters,” the voice said, “their sigils will erode and you will work for me alone.”“如果你杀掉其他主人，”那声音说道，“他们的符印就会消退，你便只为我一人效力。”272
“Then I’ll have to kill you all,” Alias growled defiantly.“那我只好把你们全杀了。”阿莉亚丝挑衅地低吼道。273
“Without me, no purpose, no life.“没有我，便无目的，无生命。274
Besides, cannot slay me.况且，你杀不了我。275
Have tried and failed.试过，失败了。276
Think, I will help.”想想，我会帮你。”277
“Go to hell.”“下地狱去吧。”278
“Abode not hell—Abyss.“居所不是地狱——是无底深渊。279
Prefer it here.”更喜欢这里。”280
Alias laughed at the creature’s transparent bid for power.阿莉亚丝看穿了这生物攫取权力的企图，不禁笑了起来。281
“Why should I help you get a monopoly on my … services?”“我为什么要帮你垄断我的……服务？”282
“You are now puppet of many.“你现在是许多人的傀儡。283
Can be servant of one.可以只做一人的仆从。284
Serve me, greater rewards—wealth, freedom.”侍奉我，回报更丰厚——财富，自由。”285
Alias held her hands over her ears to block out the Abomination’s voice.阿莉亚丝用双手捂住耳朵，想隔绝憎恶体的声音。286
The tips of her fingers touched the eagle-shaped barrette in her hair.她的指尖碰到了头发上那枚鹰形发夹。287
Though muck-encrusted, the silver pin unsnapped without crumbling.银质发夹虽然沾满污泥，却啪嗒一声松开了，并未碎裂。288
“Think.“想一想。289
More freedom yours than others enjoy.你会比其他人享有更多自由。290
Be my high priestess.做我的女祭司长。291
Be my—” The voice stopped, and the chamber swayed, and the walls vibrated.做我的——”声音戛然而止，密室摇晃起来，四壁震颤不已。292
“Will return,” the voice promised.“我会回来。”那个声音许诺道。293
Again the chamber swayed.密室再次摇晃起来。294
“Think about offer.”“好好考虑我的提议。”295
The woven wood palm began to retract into the wall.那只由木条编成的手掌开始缩回墙内。296
Something’s attacking it, Alias realized.有什么东西正在攻击它，阿莉亚丝意识到。297
For a brief moment, she considered Moander’s claim that without her “masters” she could not exist.有那么短短一瞬，她想到了莫安德所说的话：没有她的“主人们”，她便无法存在。298
It didn’t matter, she decided.那不重要，她断然想道。299
Despite the Abomination’s promise, she knew she would never be free while it lived, and her freedom was all she wanted.不管憎恶体如何许诺，她都知道，只要它还活着，她就永远不可能自由，而自由正是她唯一想要的。300
Better to be dead than its servant, and this could be my only chance to escape, she thought.与其做它的仆从，不如死了算了；而这也许是我唯一的逃脱机会，她想。301
It was an outside chance, but having been held helpless and frustrated all through the last battle, she could not let the opportunity to injure the Abomination slip by.成功的希望极其渺茫，但上一场战斗中，她从头到尾都无能为力，满心挫败，因此绝不能让这个伤害憎恶体的机会白白溜走。302
She plunged the pin of the barrette into the sphere.她将发夹的别针猛地刺进那颗球体。303
The ball was as hot as a bonfire and singed Alias’s fingers.那颗球像篝火一样灼热，烫伤了阿莉亚丝的手指。304
She yanked her hand back, but Moander’s “hand” lay still on the floor.她猛地缩回手，但莫安德的“手”一动不动地躺在地上。305
A high-pitched wail filled the chamber, followed by a deep rumbling.一声尖厉的哀号响彻整个房间，紧接着传来低沉的隆隆声。306
The swaying motion of the room turned to a severe rocking, like a ship in a storm.房间的摇摆变成了猛烈的颠簸，仿佛暴风雨中的船只。307
Alias, her shield, the apples, and the dead boar were tumbled from one side to the other.阿莉亚丝、她的盾牌、那些苹果和野猪的尸体全都从一边滚到了另一边。308
The swordswoman curled into a ball and wedged herself in tightly between the floor and the hand.女剑士蜷成一团，把自己紧紧卡在地板和那只手之间。309
Spit in the god’s eye, she thought, sucking on her fingers, for all the good it will do you.往那神的眼睛里啐一口吧，她一边吮着手指一边想，反正也不会有半点用处。310
The sickly glow of the slime grew dimmer until it was finally extinguished.黏液病态的微光越来越暗，最终彻底熄灭了。311
She was left alone in the glittering sapphire light of her cursed brands.只剩她独自一人，沐浴在那些受诅咒的烙印闪耀出的蓝宝石色光芒中。312
* * * * ** * * * *313
“I think it knows we’re here,” Akabar declared.“我想，它知道我们在这里了。”阿卡巴断言道。314
The lizard, seated in front of the mage on the back of the great wyrm, growled in agreement.蜥蜴人坐在法师前方，位于巨龙背上，低吼一声表示赞同。315
Pressed close beside him, Akabar caught a whiff of fresh-baked bread.阿卡巴紧挨在他身旁，闻到了一股新鲜出炉的面包香味。316
Now that Dragonbait’s means of communication had been rubbed in his face, so to speak, the mage realized that he could catch the saurial’s more excited outbursts.既然龙饵的交流方式已经——可以说——扑到了阿卡巴脸上，法师便意识到，自己能够察觉这个蜥蜴人情绪较为激动的表达。317
The lizard had to, in effect, shout with his scent glands for a human to notice the smells.实际上，蜥蜴人必须用气味腺“高声大喊”，人类才能注意到那些气味。318
Akabar was beginning to piece together some sort of pattern between scents and sense.阿卡巴开始逐渐拼凑出气味与含义之间的某种规律。319
He berated himself for not having figured it out before—but then he hadn’t figured out anything else correctly either, so far.他责怪自己怎么没能早点弄明白——不过到目前为止，其他事情他也没有一件判断正确。320
Dragonbait had awakened them all before dawn.黎明前，龙饵把他们所有人都叫醒了。321
Previously clownish and servile, the saurial had been transformed by the crisis into a sergeant major.这个蜥蜴人先前还显得滑稽而卑顺，如今却在危机中摇身一变，成了军士长。322
First he healed all the wounds about Akabar’s head.他先治愈了阿卡巴头部的所有伤口。323
The mage noticed the woodsmoke scent that had surrounded them the last time Dragonbait had cured him.法师留意到，他们周围弥漫着木柴烟的气味；上次龙饵为他疗伤时，也出现过这种气味。324
“That’s the smell of your healing prayers, isn’t it?” the Turmishman had asked.“这是你施展治疗祷术时的气味，对不对？”图米什人当时问道。325
The lizard had nodded and given him a friendly squeeze on the shoulder.蜥蜴人点了点头，友好地捏了捏他的肩膀。326
With a stern look he prompted Akabar to study his spells by jabbing his fingers at the mage’s tomes.他神情严厉地用手指戳了戳法师的典籍，催促阿卡巴研习法术。327
He patted and pushed Olive into packing their meager gear, while he used his skill to reknit the cluster of bones that held Mist’s wing splayed out in flight.他一边拍着、推着奥利芙，让她收拾他们那点少得可怜的行装，一边施展本领，重新接合那簇使米斯特的翅膀能在飞行中展开的骨头。328
Lastly, he’d closed the gash Akabar’s dagger had put in his own leg.最后，他还愈合了阿卡巴的匕首在他自己腿上划出的伤口。329
Akabar watched guiltily as the saurial performed this last task—guilty both for having caused the damage, and for taking his concentration from his assigned task to watch it repaired.阿卡巴满怀愧疚地看着蜥人完成最后这项治疗——他既为自己造成了这处伤势而内疚，也为自己没有专心做分派给他的功课，反而分神观看伤口愈合而惭愧。330
Dragonbait worked in the glow of the finder’s stone Alias had dropped.龙饵借着阿莉亚丝掉落的寻人石所发出的光芒施展治疗。331
It was hard to see the glow of his hands as he healed his flesh, but now that Akabar knew what to expect, he would never miss it again.他治愈血肉时，双手散发的光很难看清，但如今阿卡巴知道该留意什么，就绝不会再错过了。332
Now, as they rode the dragon toward battle, Dragonbait held the finder’s stone in his lap, although the sun had already risen.此刻，他们骑着巨龙奔赴战场，尽管太阳早已升起，龙饵仍把寻人石捧在膝上。333
He still wore a kilt of sorts about his loins and one of Alias’s cloaks wrapped around to keep out the wind, but he no longer bothered with a shirt.他腰间仍围着一条勉强算是短裙的东西，身上还裹着阿莉亚丝的一件斗篷来挡风，却已经懒得再穿上衣。334
He left the runes on his chest exposed for the world to see.他任由胸前的符文裸露在外，让世人尽皆看见。335
Akabar wore one of the lizard’s shirts and the makeshift kilt the halfling had fastened together out of her own cloaks.阿卡巴穿着蜥人的一件衬衣，腰间围着那条半身人为他用自己的斗篷拼扎起来的简易短裙。336
Olive wore a bright yellow cloak and looked, seated on the dragon’s head like a flashy helmet.奥利芙披着一件亮黄色斗篷，坐在巨龙头顶，看起来就像一顶花哨的头盔。337
When Olive had shouted a warning and they’d first beheld the Abomination, the monster-god was deep in the heart of the Elven Wood and still moving, albeit slowly.奥利芙高声示警、他们第一次望见憎恶体时，那个怪物之神正深入精灵森林腹地，仍在向前移动，尽管速度缓慢。338
It had grown considerably though.不过，它已经长大了许多。339
The midden mound that had exploded out of its Yulash prison now stood seventy or more feet in height—a hill towering over all but the most ancient gnarled oaks and duskwoods.那座从尤拉什的牢狱中爆裂而出的污秽堆，如今已有七十多英尺高——宛如一座小山，除最古老、最盘曲嶙峋的橡树和暮木外，其他树木都被它压在下方。340
Its composition had changed as well.它的构成也发生了变化。341
Human rot no longer figured prominently in its make-up.腐烂的人体已不再是它的主要组成部分。342
Instead, huge trees and crushed shrubbery were rolled into the hill.取而代之的是卷入山体中的参天巨树和被碾碎的灌木。343
It still had an oozy, wet appearance, but now the ooze came from extruded sap and damp underbrush.它看起来依旧湿漉漉、黏糊糊的，但如今那些黏液来自被挤出的树汁和潮湿的林下灌丛。344
The mound seemed to become aware of them as soon as they spotted it, for it began to speed up.他们一发现那土丘，它似乎也察觉到了他们，因为它开始加速。345
Mist circled from a safe distance.米斯特在安全距离外盘旋。346
The forward edge of the moving hill was a sharp angle, literally plowing its way through the forest.移动山丘的前缘呈尖锐的角形，名副其实地犁开森林，向前推进。347
As they flew toward the front of the Abomination, a volley of black-barked trees shot out from the hill, trailing long streamers of vines.他们朝憎恶体前方飞去时，一排黑色树皮的大树猛然从山丘中射出，拖曳着一条条长长的藤蔓。348
The god was trying the same tricks as before, only now he was using fifty-foot duskwoods instead of zombie soldiers to weight his snare vines.这个神正在故技重施，只不过这一次，他不再用僵尸士兵给捕猎藤蔓配重，而是改用了五十英尺高的暮木。349
The larger size of the missiles and the redundancy of the attack made it easy for Mist to dodge the assault.这些飞射物体积更大，攻势又过于密集重复，反倒让米斯特很容易便躲过了袭击。350
The catapulted trees fell in the tangle of woods, smashing down other trees and carving huge divots where they landed.被弹射出的树木坠入盘根错节的林间，砸倒其他树木，并在落地处刨出一个个巨大的坑洞。351
“Any sign of Alias?”“有阿莉亚丝的踪影吗？”352
Akabar shouted to Dragonbait.阿卡巴朝龙饵高声喊道。353
The saurial shook his head.蜥蜴人摇了摇头。354
Just as Akabar suspected.果然不出阿卡巴所料。355
If Alias was in the mess, she was probably well hidden beneath the surface, something they had discussed before they left camp, with Mist translating.如果阿莉亚丝身在那团烂泥里，她很可能深藏在表面之下；他们离开营地前讨论过这一点，当时由米斯特翻译。356
The dragon continued to circle Moander without attacking.巨龙继续绕着莫安德盘旋，却没有发动攻击。357
The mound fired another volley of tree missiles.那座肉山又发射了一轮树木飞弹。358
Once again, Mist dodged them with ease, until a particularly large one passed in front of her face.米斯特再次轻松地一一闪过，直到一棵格外巨大的树从她面前掠过。359
She pulled up suddenly, as if alarmed, and plummeted toward the ground.她仿佛受了惊，突然拉升，随即朝地面直坠而去。360
Moander lost sight of her behind the tree line.莫安德看着她消失在林木线后。361
Moander chuckled with the arrogance of a god.莫安德带着神祇的傲慢低声笑了起来。362
It might have considered telling Alias of the failure of her friends if only it had not bragged of killing them earlier.要不是先前已经吹嘘过自己杀了阿莉亚丝的朋友们，它或许还会考虑把他们失败的消息告诉她。363
It trained some of its eyes in the direction the dragon had gone down, while it continued its crawling march south.它让一部分眼睛盯着巨龙坠落的方向，同时继续缓缓向南爬行。364
Myth Drannor, and the powers held within, awaited it.迷斯·卓诺，以及其中蕴藏的力量，正等待着它。365
Dragonbait exchanged positions with the halfling and sat on Mist’s head.龙饵与半身人换了位置，坐到了米斯特头上。366
He kept the party waiting in the clearing where Mist had landed for a quarter of an hour.他让众人在米斯特降落的林间空地上等了足足一刻钟。367
The lizard could sense the distance between them and the evil god.这个蜥蜴人能感知他们与那邪神之间的距离。368
When he gave the signal, Mist rose and, skimming low over the trees, circled away until she had reached the tree break Moander had left behind.等他发出信号，米斯特便腾空而起，贴着树梢低飞，绕了一个大圈，直到抵达莫安德在林中留下的豁口。369
Along this trail she made her attack run, moving in on the god’s rear.她沿着这条痕迹展开攻击航程，从那邪神后方逼近。370
“They’re going to have to call this ‘Moander’s Road,’ ” Olive shouted to the mage as she took in the devastation.“他们以后非得把这儿叫作‘莫安德大道’不可。”奥利芙望着眼前满目疮痍的景象，对法师喊道。371
Akabar nodded wordlessly, awed by the destruction around them.阿卡巴默默地点了点头，周围的毁灭景象令他震撼不已。372
Moander apparently no longer needed to absorb more bulk; it just plowed up the great trees, pushing them aside and leaving them to die on the forest floor, half buried by the great mounds of dirt it also overturned.莫安德显然已经不再需要吸收更多物质来壮大自身；它只是把一棵棵参天巨树连根犁起，推到一旁，任其倒毙在林地上，又被它同时翻起的巨大土堆掩埋了半截。373
The dragon flew on unfazed by the rape of the Elven Wood.巨龙继续向前飞去，对精灵之森所遭受的蹂躏无动于衷。374
She kept her eyes forward, ignoring the great trench beneath her and the shattered trees at her flanks.她目视前方，无视身下的巨大沟壑和两侧支离破碎的树木。375
The mage closed his eyes, trying to shut out the sound of the heavy wings beating, the rush of air on his face, and the rise and fall of the dragon’s back as she flew.法师闭上双眼，竭力把沉重双翼的拍击声、扑面的疾风，以及巨龙飞行时背部的起伏隔绝在外。376
He concentrated on his magic.他凝神于自己的魔法。377
Olive nudged him and pointed.奥利芙用胳膊肘碰了碰他，抬手一指。378
Akabar opened his eyes.阿卡巴睁开眼睛。379
Mist was less than twenty yards from Moander.米斯特距莫安德已不到二十码。380
No duskwood bombards fired from the hill.山丘上没有一门暮木炮开火。381
The god was oblivious to the dragon’s proximity.那位神祇浑然未觉巨龙已近在咫尺。382
Akabar allowed himself a brief smile when he spied the mass of duskwood trees and deadwood woven into the Abomination’s mass, the perfect materials for their plans.阿卡巴发现憎恶体庞大的身躯里交织着大量暮木与枯木，不由得短暂一笑——那正是实施他们计划的绝佳材料。383
His spell was prepared; he awaited only Dragonbait’s signal.他的法术已经准备妥当，只等龙饵发出信号。384
The lizard waved, and Mist rose above the hill, spouting a long, heavy stream of fire as she did so.蜥蜴人挥了挥手，米斯特随即升至山丘上方，同时喷出一道绵长而猛烈的火流。385
Like an assassin’s knife, flames ripped into the greenery where the creature’s spine would be if it had one.烈焰如刺客的利刃般撕入一片葱郁之中，那里本该是这怪物脊柱所在的位置——假如它有脊柱的话。386
Moander screamed just as Akabar triggered his pyrotechnic spell.莫安德发出尖啸，就在此时，阿卡巴发动了烟火法术。387
The red streams of the dragon’s breath exploded in a further cavalcade of twisting yellows, spiraling oranges, and lancing azure blues.巨龙吐出的赤红火流进一步炸裂成一连串扭动的金黄、盘旋的橙红，以及长矛般刺出的蔚蓝。388
In the process of transforming the dragon’s fiery breath to explosive fireworks, Akabar’s spell snuffed the upper flames issuing from her maw, but the fireworks pierced deeper into the heart of the hill.阿卡巴的法术将巨龙的烈焰吐息化为爆裂的烟火，在此过程中熄灭了从她巨口喷出的上层火焰，但烟火却更深地刺入了山丘腹地。389
New shoots cropped up immediately to cover the scarred area, but Mist was not through.新芽立刻冒出，覆盖住那片伤痕累累的区域，但米斯特还没完。390
As soon as she crested the top of the hill, she twisted and spun about, her passengers tied and braced.刚一越过山顶，她便猛然扭身翻旋，而她背上的乘客都已绑牢身体、稳稳撑住。391
As she dropped along the back of the hill, she breathed again, sending more flames into the open wound she had carved.她沿山丘背面俯冲而下，再度喷出吐息，将更多烈焰送入她方才撕开的伤口。392
Though his stomach had risen to his throat when he’d momentarily hung upside down, the mage did not lose his focus.方才倒悬半空时，法师虽觉得胃都提到了嗓子眼，却没有失去专注。393
Another pyrotechnic spell speared the god.又一道烟火法术如长矛般刺入那位神祇。394
Moander burned.莫安德燃烧起来。395
The hill, now composed more of harvested wood than refuse and slime, blazed.这座山丘如今的构成已是砍伐来的木材多于垃圾与黏液，此刻熊熊燃烧。396
Even better, Ruskettle and Akabar could spot great flames shooting up through the coarse outer mesh of trees and brush, flames that originated nearer the heart of the monster.更妙的是，拉斯凯特尔和阿卡巴看见熊熊烈焰穿过树木与灌丛编成的粗糙外网冲天而起，而那些火焰源自怪物更靠近心脏的地方。397
In her plant prison, Alias felt the air grow stuffy.在植物构成的牢笼中，阿莉亚丝感觉空气变得越来越憋闷。398
The walls began to weep thick, yellowish tears through the moss.四壁开始透过苔藓渗出黏稠而泛黄的泪水。399
She rose to her feet, but was knocked back to the ground by a sudden sideways jerk of her enclosure.她站起身来，牢笼却突然横向一甩，将她撞回地面。400
It seemed as if Moander had decided to move her prison.莫安德似乎决定要移动囚禁她的牢笼。401
Moander halted and flattened out in an effort to draw more material into its mass, perhaps in an effort to smother the flames.莫安德停了下来，将身体铺平，试图把更多东西卷入自己的躯体，或许是想借此闷灭火焰。402
But as the halfling had noted to Akabar the evening before, the forest was quite dry.然而，正如前一天傍晚奥利芙对阿卡巴所说，这片森林十分干燥。403
Whatever the god drew into itself just fed the fires more.不管这位神把什么卷入体内，都只会让火烧得更旺。404
And the duskwoods were renowned for their fine burning resins.而暮木更是以其易燃的优质树脂闻名。405
Next the Abomination tried to contain the fire by creating a firebreak in its body, splitting itself in two and leaving half of its mass behind.接着，憎恶体试图在体内造出一道隔火带来控制火势：它将自己一分为二，把一半躯体留在了后面。406
The pyrotechnics had done their job, though.不过，那场烟火已然奏效。407
The fire was everywhere; there was no escape from it.火焰无处不在；它根本无路可逃。408
Flames curled out of the heart of the moving half of the hill and, like a fire that’s just been stirred, the blaze leaped higher and burned hotter.火舌从那半座移动山丘的中心蹿出，犹如刚被拨动的篝火一般，烈焰腾得更高，也烧得更炽热。409
Mist had retreated, circling high overhead to evade any return attacks, but when none seemed forthcoming, she swooped back to administer the final blow.米斯特已经退开，在高空盘旋，以躲避可能的反击；但见迟迟没有攻击袭来，她便俯冲回去，准备施以最后一击。410
Akabar felt the dragon’s chest swell with a mighty intake of air.阿卡巴感觉到巨龙的胸膛随着一记深深的吸气鼓胀起来。411
Before Mist had a chance to exhale, though, the top of Moander popped off like a cork in a bottle.然而，米斯特还没来得及吐气，莫安德的顶部便像瓶塞一样砰然弹开。412
Startled, Mist pulled up sharply, wary of some new type of attack.米斯特吃了一惊，猛地拉升，提防着某种新式攻击。413
A pod twice the size of the dragon, but less than a tenth the size of the god before they’d attacked it, shot out from the hill.一个足有巨龙两倍大小、却还不到他们发动攻击前那位神体积十分之一的荚舱，从山丘中激射而出。414
Egg-shaped, the missile tumbled end over end as it rose into the air.那枚蛋形飞射物翻滚着升上空中。415
At the zenith of its flight it righted itself and then swept southeastward in a blur of movement.升至最高点时，它稳住了姿态，随即化作一道模糊的影子，朝东南方疾掠而去。416
“Gold lions will get you good lunch that our woman is in that thing,” Olive shouted.“我敢拿金狮币赌一顿上好的午餐，咱们那位姑娘就在那玩意儿里！”奥利芙喊道。417
Akabar nodded.阿卡巴点了点头。418
“Along with whatever passes for the consciousness of Moander.”“莫安德那姑且算是意识的东西，肯定也和她在一起。”419
Dragonbait gave the dragon a sharp prod, and Mist took off after the pod.龙饵用力戳了巨龙一下，米斯特便动身追赶那个荚舱。420
Behind them on the ground below, the burning pile of trees that had once been the Abomination of Moander spewed out a black column of smoke high enough to be spotted in Shadowdale, Hillsfar, and Yulash.在他们身后下方的地面上，那堆曾是莫安德的憎恶体的燃烧树木喷涌出一道黑色烟柱，高得连阴影谷、希尔斯法和尤拉什都能望见。421
Mist began to strain, flapping her wings faster to keep pace with the escape pod.米斯特开始拼尽全力，更快地扇动双翼，以跟上那个逃生荚舱。422
Akabar concentrated, then barked the harsh syllables of another spell and pressed his hands against the back of the dragon.阿卡巴凝聚心神，随即厉声念出另一道法术的刺耳音节，并将双手按在巨龙背上。423
Summoned energies flowed from his hands into the great wyrm.应召而来的能量从他的双手流入这头巨龙体内。424
Mist lunged forward at twice the speed.米斯特猛然向前冲去，速度骤增一倍。425
Her wings beat the air as gracefully and as quickly as a bird’s. The ground blurred in their vision, and they began closing the distance between them and the pod.她的双翼像鸟翼一般轻盈而迅疾地拍击着空气。 脚下的大地在他们眼中模糊成一片，而他们与荚舱之间的距离也开始缩短。426
“What did you do?”“你做了什么？”427
Olive gasped, her words torn from her mouth by the wind.奥利芙倒吸一口气，话刚出口便被风撕得粉碎。428
“Haste,” Akabar explained.“加速术，”阿卡巴解释道。429
“Dangerous for humans—ages them a year.“对人类很危险——会让人衰老一岁。430
Can’t hurt this creature, though.不过伤不了这只生物。431
She sleeps longer than that after a meal.”她每次进食后睡的时间都不止一年。”432
* * * * ** * * * *433
Moander spoke again to Alias, but now with just a bass voice, rumbling against a garbling background chatter that was almost unintelligible.莫安德又对阿莉亚丝开口了，但这次只剩下低沉的声音，在一片含混不清、几乎无法听懂的嘈杂声中隆隆作响。434
“Flying,” he said after a garble.一阵含混不清的声音过后，他说道：“飞行。”435
“Life energies low.“生命能量低下。436
Must gate.”必须传送。”437
Another long garble, then the bass voice surfaced.又是一长串含混不清的声音，随后那低沉的嗓音再次浮现。438
“Prepare for transport.“准备转移。439
Damaged goods.”残次品。”440
The last phrase struck Alias as something that Akabar might say, and she fancied that some part of the mage’s mind must have entered into Moander’s being and not just the other way around.最后那句话让阿莉亚丝觉得很像是阿卡巴会说的话，她不禁猜想，法师的一部分心智必定已进入莫安德的存在之中，而不只是莫安德进入了法师的心智。441
Perhaps it was the mage’s spirit warning her to keep herself safe.也许是法师的灵魂在警告她保护好自己。442
The further deterioration of Moander’s communication skills gave her a burst of hope.莫安德的沟通能力进一步恶化，令她心中猛然燃起一线希望。443
Things apparently weren’t going well for the god.显然，那位神的处境并不顺利。444
Maybe an army had attacked it, or a horde of powerful adventurers.也许有一支军队袭击了它，或者是一大群强大的冒险者。445
The circular shell of her prison wall began to shrink.构成她牢笼的环形外壳开始收缩。446
Mouths surfaced all over the walls.墙壁上到处浮现出一张张嘴。447
Alias feared that Moander had decided to eat her rather than see her rescued, but the walls began to spit out streams of thick, moist silken strands.阿莉亚丝唯恐莫安德宁可吃掉她也不愿让她获救，但墙壁却开始喷出一道道粗厚湿润的丝线。448
She was being cocooned.她正在被裹进茧里。449
Instinctively, she tried to beat back the rising mass, afraid it would suffocate her.她本能地试图击退不断涌起的物质，生怕它会让自己窒息。450
Would her “masters” find a way to make her breathe again, she wondered.她心想，她的那些“主人”会想办法让她重新呼吸吗？451
She was soon overwhelmed by the fiber.她很快便被那些丝状物淹没了。452
Covered from head to toe, she could still breathe through the wrapping, but the air was stuffy, and she felt as though she’d been buried alive.她从头到脚都被裹住了，虽然仍能透过包裹物呼吸，但空气十分憋闷，她感觉自己仿佛被活埋了一般。453
The egg-shaped pod flattened till it looked more like a giant pumpkin seed.蛋形的茧囊逐渐变扁，直到看起来更像一颗巨大的南瓜籽。454
It tore through the sky.它划破长空。455
Along its trailing edge, half a hundred eyes opened at once to watch the advancing dragon.在它后方的边缘，五十只眼睛同时睁开，注视着步步逼近的巨龙。456
Moander had husbanded its energies carefully.莫安德一直谨慎地保存着力量。457
But either the god had miscalculated or dragons had become faster during its imprisonment.但要么是这位神算错了，要么就是在它遭囚禁期间，巨龙变得更快了。458
Moander weighed its options.莫安德权衡着自己的选择。459
Its last desperate bid for escape was to use magic—the most costly method of travel.它最后孤注一掷的逃生之法，是动用魔法——代价最为高昂的旅行方式。460
They were still far from the ruins of Myth Drannor, but Moander could sense the siren song of the old city’s dormant power, still humming away deep beneath toppled buildings and battle-scarred halls.它们离迷斯·卓诺的废墟依然很远，但莫安德已能感受到那座古城沉眠力量的诱人召唤；那股力量仍在倒塌的建筑与饱经战火的厅堂深处低低鸣响。461
With its godly abilities, Moander reached out and began syphoning off the magical energies of the dead elven kingdom.莫安德施展神力，将触角伸向那个覆灭的精灵王国，开始抽取其中的魔法能量。462
The god channeled this energy directly into its spell.这位神将能量直接注入了它的法术。463
At the forward point of the pumpkin seed a blur of purple appeared, then stretched about the seed like a thin mist.南瓜籽的前端浮现出一团模糊的紫色，随后如一层薄雾般延展开来，将它包裹其中。464
Mist, the dragon, was close enough for her passengers to make out the crawling glow that began to envelop the pod carrying Alias.巨龙米斯特已经靠得足够近，她背上的乘客们都能看清那片开始缓缓笼罩载着阿莉亚丝的茧囊的光芒。465
Akabar was trying to figure out what it could be.阿卡巴正试图弄清那究竟是什么。466
A protection device, perhaps?也许是某种防护装置？467
Or—又或者——468
He never finished his thought, for once the glow completely covered the pod, it began to shrink.他的念头还没转完，那片光芒便已彻底覆盖了茧囊，随后茧囊开始缩小。469
Like a street magician’s trick, there was nothing left in the purple cloak Moander had wrapped itself in, nothing to keep the cloak from collapsing in on itself.就像街头魔术师的戏法一样，莫安德裹在自己身上的紫色斗篷中已空无一物，再也没有什么能撑住它，斗篷便向内塌缩下去。470
A Turmish curse escaped Akabar’s lips before he explained, “That’s a gate between worlds.”阿卡巴脱口骂了一句图米什脏话，随即解释道：“那是一道通往其他世界的传送门。”471
Olive looked around in a wild-eyed panic.奥利芙惊慌失措地环顾四周，双眼圆睁。472
“We’ve got to pull up,” the mage insisted.“我们必须拉升！”法师坚决地说。473
“If we pass through that cloud, we could end up anywhere.”“要是穿过那团云雾，我们可能会落到任何地方。”474
Both halfling and mage began to thump the sides of the dragon, trying to get her attention.半身人和法师都开始捶打巨龙的身体两侧，试图引起她的注意。475
When she turned back to look at them, they mimed pulling back on imaginary reins to symbolize their need to halt.她回头看他们时，两人便比画着勒住假想的缰绳，以表示他们需要停下来。476
Mist turned her head forward again.米斯特又把头转向前方。477
Dragonbait kept his head turned to watch Akabar and Olive signaling him to stop the dragon.龙饵仍扭着头，看着阿卡巴和奥利芙向他打手势，要他让巨龙停下。478
Dragonbait shook his reptilian head.龙饵摇了摇他那爬行动物般的脑袋。479
He leaned over Mist’s forehead and made some motion Akabar and Olive could not see.他俯身探到米斯特的额头上方，做了个阿卡巴和奥利芙看不见的动作。480
When he sat back again, Dragonbait held the finder’s stone over his head.龙饵再次坐直时，手中举着寻路石，高过头顶。481
Mist sped toward the purple cloud that dotted the sky low over the Elven Wood and dove in.米斯特加速冲向那团点缀在精灵森林低空的紫云，一头扎了进去。482
Like the god preceding them, they were obscured from view.和先他们一步进去的那位神一样，他们也从视野中消失了。483
The shouts of the mage and the bard died away.法师和吟游诗人的喊声渐渐消逝。484
The cloud dissipated slowly, as though reluctant to give up its form.云团缓缓消散，仿佛不愿舍弃自己的形态。485
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听