Alias reached Westgate well ahead of her friends and, of course, Giogi, only to find the city sealed.阿莉亚丝远远赶在朋友们前面抵达了西门城，当然也比乔吉早，却发现城门已经封闭。1
Persons without residence or official business within were turned away from the gates by squads of guards, backed by crossbowmen on the walls.凡是既非城内居民、又无公务在身的人，都被一队队守卫拒之门外，城墙上还有弩手为他们压阵。2
She did manage to convince a guard to take Daiseyeye to The Jolly Warrior and board her for, as she explained it, “a warrior who will arrive from Cormyr on official business.”不过，她总算说服了一名守卫，让他把黛西眼牵到欢乐勇士旅店寄养；照她的说法，这匹马属于“一位将从科米尔前来办理公务的战士”。3
She trusted the purple-sealed document would get the young Wyvernspur past the guards.她相信，那份盖有紫色印章的公文能让年轻的飞龙刺通过守卫的盘查。4
As she stood by the gate, Alias could see smoke rising from the northwestern section of the city.阿莉亚丝站在城门边，可以看到城西北方升起的烟雾。5
Other travelers told her that a dragon had crashed within the city, smashing into a portion of the city wall, damaging some buildings in the slums just outside the city and several of the Dhostar warehouses within.其他旅人告诉她，一条龙坠入了城中，撞毁了一段城墙，还损坏了城外贫民区的一些建筑，以及城内德霍斯塔家的几座仓库。6
The Dhostars, one of the powerful merchant families that ruled the city, convinced the others to slam a seal down on the city’s gates until the matter was cleaned up.德霍斯塔家是统治这座城市的几个强大商族之一，他们说服了其余家族，严令封闭所有城门，直至此事处置完毕。7
Alias considered circling around to survey the damage from the outside, but she was feeling worn from fighting and riding and dragging around the chain attached to her arm.阿莉亚丝想过绕城一周，从外面查看受损情况，但战斗、骑马，以及一路拖着连在手臂上的锁链，已经令她疲惫不堪。8
Besides, the inns outside the city wall would soon be filling up with other travelers banned from the city.况且，城墙外的旅店很快就会住满其他被拒于城外的旅人。9
She decided she’d better get a place to stay.她决定还是尽快找个落脚之处为妙。10
She remembered an old inn near the south gate: The Rising Raven.她想起南门附近有一家老旅店，名叫升起的渡鸦。11
Perhaps she could hock her eagle barrette as an artifact in order to pay for a room and a bath.或许她可以把那枚鹰形发夹当作神器典当掉，好付房钱和洗澡钱。12
Used in battle against a god, she thought, holding the slightly melted piece of silver up to the sun.“曾在对抗神祇的战斗中使用过。”她一边想着，一边把那件微微熔化的银饰举到阳光下。13
Her cheer faded some since she had no one with whom she could share her joke.可惜无人能听懂她的玩笑，她的兴致也因此淡了几分。14
Even if Moander had lied and her friends were still alive, they were still up north, hundreds of miles away—she would not see them for a long time, if ever again.即便莫安德撒了谎，她的朋友们依然活着，他们也还在数百英里以外的北方——她要很久以后才能再见到他们，甚至可能永远也见不到了。15
Already she missed them and felt lonely.她已经开始思念他们，也感到了孤独。16
She was rounding the merchant yards of the Guldar family, when a familiar but very hoarse voice bellowed her name.她正绕过古尔达家族的商栈院落时，一个熟悉却异常沙哑的声音高喊出了她的名字。17
She turned and peered down the road behind her.她转过身，眯眼望向身后的道路。18
Three mud-spattered, bedraggled figures were waving their arms to attract her attention.三个浑身泥点、狼狈不堪的身影正挥舞着手臂，想引起她的注意。19
“Akabar!” she shouted.“阿卡巴！”她高声喊道。20
The weariness dropped from her and she ran to them, hugging first the mage, then the lizard, and finally even the halfling.她顿时疲意全消，朝他们跑去，先拥抱了法师，接着抱了蜥蜴人，最后甚至连那个半身人也抱了。21
Olive bridled some, drawing back, more concerned with brushing hardened mud from the front of her outfit.奥利芙有些不高兴地往后缩了缩，比起拥抱，她显然更在意掸掉衣襟上已经干硬的泥巴。22
“You’re alive!”“你们还活着！”23
Alias blurted, beaming at them.阿莉亚丝脱口而出，满面笑容地望着他们。24
Olive looked as though she’d been swimming in a swamp, Akabar was dressed in a ragged kilt, and Dragonbait leaned heavily on his sword.奥利芙看起来像是刚在沼泽里游过泳，阿卡巴身上穿着一条破破烂烂的短褶裙，而龙饵则把大半个身子的重量都压在了剑上。25
“You noticed,” Olive grumbled.“这都被你看出来了。”奥利芙嘟囔道。26
“We just chased you from one side of the Realms to the other.“我们从诸界的一头追着你跑到另一头。27
Now we can’t even get in the gates.现在却连城门都进不去。28
Damned forces of law and order.”该死的执法卫士。”29
“It’s all right,” Alias assured her.“没关系，”阿莉亚丝安慰她。30
“I know a place outside the city walls.“我知道城墙外有个地方。31
They …”他们……”32
She almost said, “They know me there,” but she realized that they, like Jhaele of Shadowdale, would remember nothing about her.她差点说出“他们认识我”，但随即意识到，他们也会像阴影谷的杰尔一样，完全不记得她。33
“They have good food,” she finished.“他们那儿的饭菜很好吃。”她最后说道。34
“I don’t care about eating,” Olive retorted.“我才不在乎吃不吃饭，”奥利芙顶嘴道。35
“I just want to get clean.“我只想洗干净。36
I feel like I’ve been swimming in a sewer.”我感觉自己像是在下水道里游过泳一样。”37
Alias looked up at Akabar, wanting to apologize again for all the horror he’d gone through because of her.阿莉亚丝抬头望着阿卡巴，想为他因自己而经历的种种磨难再次道歉。38
As if reading her thoughts, the mage said, “We can talk when we get where we’re going.”法师仿佛看穿了她的心思，说道：“等到了地方，我们再谈。”39
The swordswoman nodded.女剑士点了点头。40
“Here, Dragonbait, give your sword a break and lean on me for a while,” she insisted, slipping herself beneath one of the lizard’s scaly arms and taking his sword in her other hand.“来，龙饵，让你的剑歇一会儿，先靠着我走吧。”她坚持道，一边钻到蜥蜴人一条覆满鳞片的手臂下撑住他，另一只手接过了他的剑。41
Akabar expected the proud saurial to refuse her help, but he accepted Alias’s close proximity and fussing like a cheerful child.阿卡巴原以为这个骄傲的蜥蜴族会拒绝她的帮助，可他却像个快乐的孩子一样，任由阿莉亚丝贴身搀扶、对他百般照料。42
Is it only the identical markings that bond them together?难道把他们联系在一起的，仅仅是那一模一样的印记吗？43
Akabar wondered.阿卡巴心想。44
Or something more?还是另有更深的缘由？45
Alias did not recognize the innkeeper from her previously “remembered” stays at The Rising Raven.阿莉亚丝并不认识“振翅渡鸦”旅店的老板，尽管在她先前“记得”的那些投宿经历中，他本该出现。46
The inn was packed with traders and adventurers.旅店里挤满了商人与冒险者。47
Even if it hadn’t been so crowded, the innkeeper needed only one look at the ragtag crew before he began shaking his head vigorously, denying the existence of any vacancies.即使店里没有这么拥挤，老板也只消看一眼这支衣衫褴褛、七零八落的队伍，便会立刻使劲摇头，坚称没有任何空房。48
Olive was the one who came to the rescue.出面解围的是奥利芙。49
Following the man across the tavern room, she whispered something to him that Alias and Akabar could not catch.她跟着店主穿过酒馆大厅，低声对他说了些什么，阿莉亚丝和阿卡巴都没听清。50
Then she slipped him a coin.随后，她悄悄塞给他一枚钱币。51
The innkeeper’s hospitality brightened.店主顿时热情起来。52
He led them from the inn, past the stable, to a warehouse with a small apartment within.他领着他们走出旅店，经过马厩，来到一座内设小套间的仓库。53
The quarters were cramped but clean, and the innkeeper promised to send them hot water as soon as possible.住处虽然狭窄，却很干净，店主还答应尽快给他们送来热水。54
Then he left them.随后他便离开了。55
Dragonbait began to lay a fire in the stove, and Olive sat down in a corner, resting her head on her knees, exhausted.龙饵开始在炉子里生火，奥利芙则在角落里坐下，把头枕在膝盖上，疲惫不堪。56
Alias examined Akabar’s shoulder and grimaced.阿莉亚丝查看了一下阿卡巴的肩膀，不禁皱起了脸。57
“You’ve dislocated it, all right.“确实脱臼了。”58
How’d you do it?”“你怎么弄的？”59
“Ran into an old friend,” Akabar joked and tried to shrug.“碰上了一个老朋友。”阿卡巴开玩笑道，还试着耸了耸肩。60
He winced at the pain.他疼得龇牙咧嘴。61
“I wonder what Olive said to the innkeep when she bribed him,” Alias said softly.“不知道奥利芙贿赂店主时，对他说了什么。”阿莉亚丝轻声说道。62
“I wonder,” Akabar replied in an equally soft voice, “where she got the platinum coin she bribed him with.”“我倒想知道，”阿卡巴同样压低声音答道，“她拿来贿赂他的那枚白金币是从哪儿弄来的。”63
Olive moved over to the whisperers.奥利芙走到两个窃窃私语的人身边。64
“You want to wear that to bed tonight?” she asked Alias, nodding to the shackle about her arm.“你今晚想戴着这个睡觉吗？”她朝阿莉亚丝手臂上的镣铐点了点头，问道。65
“Or do you want me to pick the lock?”“还是想让我把锁撬开？”66
While Olive was working on the iron bracelet, two foot-boys arrived at their doorstep, one bearing a large copper tub, the other an ornate screen.奥利芙摆弄那只铁镯时，两名小厮来到门口，一个抬着一只大铜浴盆，另一个搬着一扇华丽的屏风。67
They set these down, scurried out, and then returned with a pair of buckets and an oversized kettle.他们放下东西，匆匆跑了出去，随后又带着两只水桶和一把特大号水壶回来了。68
After setting the kettle on the stove and the buckets on the floor, they pointed out the location of the well, should the adventurers desire more water.他们把水壶放到炉子上，把水桶搁在地板上，又告诉众人水井在什么地方，以便这些冒险者想多要些水时自己去打。69
Olive declared the honor of the first bath and began setting up the screen to block the tub from view.奥利芙宣布头一个洗澡的殊荣归她，随即开始支起屏风，遮住浴盆。70
“I’m sure I won’t be able to reach into that well,” she said to Alias.“我肯定够不着那口井里的水，”她对阿莉亚丝说。71
“Would you mind?”“能麻烦你吗？”72
“As soon as you get me out of this chain,” the swordswoman insisted.“等你先把我从这条锁链里解放出来再说。”女剑士坚持道。73
“Oh, bother,” the halfling grumbled.“哦，真麻烦。”半身人嘟囔道。74
She banged the manacle once with the end of the chain, and it sprang open.她用锁链末端朝镣铐敲了一下，镣铐便啪地弹开了。75
“You have a really light touch,” Alias teased.“你的手法可真轻巧。”阿莉亚丝揶揄道。76
She grabbed the two pails and set out for the water.她拎起两只水桶，动身去打水。77
Akabar followed.阿卡巴跟了上去。78
“You won’t be much good for hauling with a bad arm,” the swordswoman said as she poured water from the well bucket into one of the pails she had brought.“你伤了一条胳膊，干不了多少搬运的活儿。”女剑士一边说，一边把井桶里的水倒进她带来的一只水桶里。79
“I am good for other things,” said Akabar, unsmiling.“我还能做别的事。”阿卡巴面无笑容地说道。80
“I am a spell-caster as well as a merchant.”“我不仅是商人，还是个施法者。”81
“We’ll have to get a healer for that shoulder,” she continued, not understanding that she’d offended him.“我们得找个医师治治你的肩膀。”她继续说道，丝毫没意识到自己冒犯了他。82
“We’ve developed our own methods in your absence,” Akabar added, leaving Alias completely confused.“你不在的这段时间里，我们已经摸索出了自己的办法。”阿卡巴又说道，弄得阿莉亚丝完全摸不着头脑。83
His coolness hurt her.他的冷淡刺痛了她。84
She realized that even though she’d come to terms with not being human, accepted it, and was now prepared to go on living, Akabar might not feel the same way about her.她意识到，尽管自己已经接受了并非人类这个事实，也准备好继续生活下去，阿卡巴对她却未必抱有同样的看法。85
And if her friends didn’t accept her, who would?而如果连她的朋友都不接受她，又有谁会接受呢？86
An awkward silence fell between them.两人之间陷入了尴尬的沉默。87
Finally, Akabar overcame his pride—his usefulness was no longer at issue, and they had more important things to discuss.最后，阿卡巴放下了自尊——他的用处已经不再是眼下的问题，他们还有更重要的事要谈。88
“Alias, what Moander said, what it made me tell you, what it made me do, the way it used me—I think I understand how you must feel.”“阿莉亚丝，莫安德说的那些话，它逼我告诉你的那些事，逼我做的那些事，还有它利用我的方式——我想，我明白你是什么感受了。”89
Alias finished filling the second pail and set it down beside the first.阿莉亚丝把第二只水桶灌满，放在第一只旁边。90
She shook her auburn hair and stared at the ground.她甩了甩赤褐色的头发，盯着地面。91
“It told me you were all dead,” she said, swallowing back the memory of the grief and horror that had accompanied that moment.“它告诉我，你们全都死了。”她说道，强压下对那一刻相伴而来的悲痛与恐惧的回忆。92
“It was lying then.“它那时是在撒谎。93
It could have been lying before.”它以前也可能一直在撒谎。”94
Akabar was silent.阿卡巴沉默不语。95
“What is it?”“怎么了？”96
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。97
“Tell me,” she demanded.“告诉我。”她逼问道。98
“I was in its mind, as well,” the mage explained.“我当时也进入了它的意识，”法师解释道。99
“As far as it knew, it was telling the truth.”“就它所知，它说的是真话。”100
“I see.”“我明白了。”101
She looked down into the well.她低头望向井中。102
Her reflection in the water mocked her.水中的倒影嘲弄着她。103
Golem, homonculus, made-thing, that’s how the mage saw her now.魔像、人工生命、被造之物——如今法师就是这样看待她的。104
“It changes nothing, though,” the Turmishman said.“不过，这改变不了什么，”图米什人说道。105
“You are my friend, and I mean to help you, no matter how many gates we must pass through.”“你是我的朋友，我决意要帮助你，无论我们必须穿过多少道门。”106
Alias stretched out a hand and laid it on his good right shoulder, prepared to tell him he must leave, that she would not have him facing any more danger on her behalf, for the very same reason: he was her friend.阿莉亚丝伸出一只手，搭在他完好的右肩上，正准备告诉他，他必须离开，她不能再让他为了自己面对任何危险，理由也完全一样：他是她的朋友。107
Before she could open her mouth, though, Olive, wrapped in a towel, called out from the doorway, “Are you getting water or what out there?然而，她还没来得及开口，裹着毛巾的奥利芙便从门口喊道：“你们到底还打不打水了？108
I’m getting chilled, and the kettle’s already boiling.”我都快冻僵了，水壶也已经烧开了。”109
Alias grabbed both bucket straps and duck-walked the full buckets back to their apartment.阿莉亚丝一把抓住两只水桶的提带，拎着满满的水桶，蹲着小步挪回了他们的住处。110
Akabar followed, cradling his bad arm and quietly cursing the small, dirty halfling.阿卡巴跟在后面，托着受伤的手臂，低声咒骂那个脏兮兮的小半身人。111
She had been a nuisance since the day they’d met.从他们相遇的那天起，她就一直是个麻烦。112
Once the bard was settled in her bath, soaking, and half-humming, half-singing some obscene ditty to herself in the tub, Alias turned her attention to Dragonbait’s wounds.等那位吟游诗人在浴缸里舒舒服服地泡起澡来，一边自得其乐地半哼半唱着某支下流小曲，阿莉亚丝才把注意力转向龙饵的伤势。113
The sigil of Moander had faded from the lizard’s tattoo just as it had from hers.莫安德的印记已经从这蜥蜴人的刺青上消退了，就像从她的刺青上消退一样。114
Her glee at discovering this was soon squelched by the sight of his wounds.发现这一点的喜悦，很快便被他身上的伤势浇灭了。115
There was a bloody half-healed gash on his hip, and he flinched when she touched an ugly greenish bruise on his side, indicating a possible broken rib.他髋部有一道血淋淋、尚未完全愈合的伤口；她碰到他体侧一块难看的青绿色瘀伤时，他猛地缩了一下，表明可能有根肋骨断了。116
She offered him some warm compresses for the pain.她提出给他敷些热敷布来缓解疼痛。117
“We’re going to have to get a cleric,” she said again.“我们非得找个牧师不可，”她再次说道。118
“I wonder if one will be available after the dragon’s crash.“巨龙坠落之后，不知道还能不能找到牧师。119
Every time I turn around, Mist’s victims seem to be sucking up all the available healers.每次我一回头，都发现米斯特的受害者似乎把所有能找到的治疗者都占去了。120
This’ll be the last time, though.不过，这会是最后一次了。121
How did you ever come to team up with her?”你究竟是怎么跟她联手的？”122
Akabar sat down beside Dragonbait and gave him a gentle nudge with his good arm.阿卡巴在龙饵身旁坐下，用完好的那只手臂轻轻推了推他。123
“Do you want to tell her, or should I?”“你想告诉她，还是我来说？”124
Dragonbait made an amused snorting sound.龙饵发出一声忍俊不禁的哼鼻声。125
“Listen closely.“仔细听着。126
Mist followed us from Cormyr.米斯特一路从科米尔跟踪我们。127
She ambushed Ruskettle while we were in Yulash, but Dragonbait subdued the dragon and convinced her to work alongside them to rescue us.我们在尤拉什时，她伏击了拉斯凯特尔，但龙饵制伏了这条龙，并说服她与他们联手营救我们。128
They rescued me first only because Moander thought me more expendable.他们之所以先救我，只是因为莫安德觉得我更无足轻重。129
The god opened some type of magical gate from the Elven Wood to here, and we followed the creature through it with the help of your finder’s stone.那位神祇开启了某种魔法传送门，从精灵森林直通这里，而我们借助你的寻踪石，跟着那怪物穿过了门。130
I think we lost that, didn’t we?”我想我们把那块石头弄丢了，对吧？”131
Dragonbait nodded and looked down at the ground, apparently ashamed at having mislaid Alias’s property.龙饵点点头，低头望着地面，显然因为弄丢了阿莉亚丝的东西而感到羞愧。132
“Then Mist shook us loose, whether intentionally or not I could not tell.“后来米斯特把我们甩了下来，我说不准她是不是故意的。133
She died fighting the old god.”她在与那位古老神祇的战斗中死了。”134
Alias held up a hand.阿莉亚丝抬起一只手。135
“You said Dragonbait subdued Mist and convinced her to help.“你说是龙饵制伏了米斯特，还说服她帮忙。136
You mean Olive …”你是说奥利芙……”137
“Not the halfling.“不是那个半身人。138
Dragonbait.是龙饵。139
He can talk, but not in ways that we can understand.他会说话，只是他说话的方式我们无法理解。140
He uses—”他用的是——”141
“Smells,” Alias guessed, remembering the heavy odor of violets she had detected in Moander’s temple in Yulash.“气味。”阿莉亚丝猜道，想起自己曾在尤拉什的莫安德神殿里闻到的那股浓烈紫罗兰香气。142
Akabar nodded.阿卡巴点点头。143
“Mist understood him.“米斯特能听懂他。144
And he has no trouble understanding us.而他理解我们的话毫无困难。145
You know from Moander, of course, that his people are called saurials.”当然，你已经从莫安德那里知道，他的族人被称为蜥人族。”146
“Yes,” Alias said, remembering.“是的，”阿莉亚丝回想起来，说道。147
“It also said something about him being a pure soul—he was intended as a sacrifice to enslave me somehow.”“上面还说他是什么纯洁的灵魂——他原本要被当作祭品，用来以某种方式奴役我。”148
“He’s more than that,” Akabar explained.“他可不止如此，”阿卡巴解释道。149
“He’s a paladin in his own world, much like the ones you have up north.“在他自己的世界里，他是一名圣武士，和你们北方的那些圣武士很相像。150
He can heal in the same fashion.他也能以同样的方式疗伤。151
So you see, we need only wait a few days and he can make both of us good as new.”所以你看，我们只需等上几天，他就能让我们俩恢复如初。”152
Alias looked into the lizard’s yellow eyes.阿莉亚丝望进蜥蜴那双黄色的眼睛。153
“You healed me when I came out of Mist’s cave with my chain mail fused?”“我穿着熔结的锁子甲从米斯特的洞穴里出来时，是你治好了我？”154
Dragonbait nodded without expression.龙饵面无表情地点了点头。155
“And when I hurt my arm smashing the crystal elemental with your sword?”“还有我用你的剑砸碎水晶元素、伤到手臂的那次？”156
Again the saurial nodded.蜥蜴人再次点了点头。157
“You sneaky devil,” Alias said with a grin.“你这狡猾的家伙，”阿莉亚丝笑着说。158
My feelings precisely, Olive thought behind the screen, but she did not give away her eavesdropping.正合我意，奥利芙在屏风后想道，但她没有暴露自己在偷听。159
Alias, however, meant the words as a compliment.不过，阿莉亚丝说这话其实是在夸奖他。160
Dragonbait hung his head, though, ashamed of his deception.龙饵却垂下了头，为自己的欺瞒感到羞愧。161
“You had no idea, did you?”“你一点儿都不知道，是吗？”162
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。163
“No,”“不知道。”164
“You don’t seem very surprised.”“你好像并不怎么惊讶。”165
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。166
“I have evil assassins, evil mages, evil gods, and evil who-knows-what-all chasing me.“有邪恶的刺客、邪恶的法师、邪恶的神，还有天知道多少邪恶的东西在追杀我。167
Why shouldn’t I have a guardian paladin?”我为什么不能有一位守护我的圣武士呢？”168
Then it occurred to her why not.可随后，她忽然明白为什么不该有了。169
So far, Moander’s words were a secret between her and Akabar.到目前为止，莫安德说的那些话，只有她和阿卡巴知道。170
She did not think Dragonbait knew.她觉得龙饵并不知情。171
Akabar would not give her away, but it would not be right to keep Dragonbait with her, risking his life for her.阿卡巴不会泄露她的秘密，可让龙饵继续陪着她、为她冒生命危险，也是不对的。172
She was just a thing.她只不过是一件东西。173
She was fully intent on sending her companions away, out of danger, and now she had the means of driving the faithful lizard from her side.她一心想让同伴们离开，远离危险；现在，她终于有办法把那只忠诚的蜥蜴赶离身边了。174
The idea of losing Dragonbait’s tender concern left an ache in her heart, and the thought of losing his protection left her more than a little afraid.一想到要失去龙饵温柔的关怀，她便感到一阵心痛；而想到要失去他的保护，她更是怕得厉害。175
Don’t be stupid, she tried to convince herself.别犯傻了，她试图说服自己。176
You’ve taken care of yourself all of your life.你这辈子一直都是自己照顾自己。177
You can do it.你能做到的。178
Then she remembered that that just wasn’t true.可随后她想起来了，那根本不是真的。179
She’d only been born last month, and all that time she’d had the lizard as a nanny.她上个月才刚刚出生，而这段时间里，一直是那只蜥蜴在给她当保姆。180
How could he not know?他怎么可能不知道？181
But if he knew, why did he stay?可如果他知道，为什么还要留下来？182
No doubt he’d been fooled like Akabar into having pity for her.毫无疑问，他也像阿卡巴一样受了蒙骗，才会怜悯她。183
I’ll have to leave them, and I’ll have to leave without telling them, she thought.我得离开他们，而且得不告而别，她想。184
She ran her hand down the smooth, pebbly scales of Dragonbait’s arm.她用手顺着龙饵手臂上光滑的细鳞抚了下去。185
Aloud, she said, “I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.她开口说道：“我只是想让你知道，我有多么感激你。186
Everything you’ve done.”感激你为我做的一切。”187
She could not resist—she hugged the lizard again and then turned and hugged Akabar.她终究忍不住——又抱了抱那只蜥蜴，随后转身也抱住了阿卡巴。188
“Both of you.”“你们两个，我都很感激。”189
“Well,” Olive said, stepping out from behind the screen.“嗯，”奥利芙说着，从屏风后走了出来。190
“Nice to know you’re safe and appreciated, isn’t it?”“知道自己平安无事，还受人感激，感觉不错吧？”191
The bard was dressed in a pink robe, with scarlet pants beneath.这位吟游诗人身穿粉红色长袍，下面露出一条猩红色长裤。192
Her yarting was strung across her back, and a pouch hung on her belt.她背上斜挎着雅廷琴，腰带上还挂着一个小袋。193
The expression on her face was a mixture of jealousy and disapproval.她脸上的神情既嫉妒，又不以为然。194
“I appreciate your friendship, too, Olive,” Alias assured her as she walked toward the screen.“我也很珍惜你的友谊，奥利芙。”阿莉亚丝一边朝屏风走去，一边向她保证。195
She knelt before the halfling and reached out to hug her as well.她在半身人面前跪下，也伸手想抱抱她。196
The bard stepped backward, almost toppling the iron tools stacked by the stove.吟游诗人往后退了一步，差点撞翻炉边堆放的铁制工具。197
“Please, don’t,” she snarled, holding up a hand.“请别这样。”她举起一只手，厉声说道。198
“You’re filthy dirty, and this is my last clean outfit.“你浑身脏透了，而这是我最后一套干净衣服。199
And halflings don’t hug.再说，半身人不拥抱。200
Hugging is a problem when you’re the size of most human children.当你只有大多数人类小孩那么高时，拥抱会很麻烦。201
So no hugs.”所以不许抱。”202
“I’m sorry, Olive,” Alias whispered.“对不起，奥利芙。”阿莉亚丝低声说道。203
Ruskettle glared at her for a moment, then announced, “I’m going to try to get into town.拉斯凯特尔瞪了她一会儿，随后宣布：“我要设法进城。204
Get some gear for us, see what rumors I can pick up about Moander’s people and all your other ‘pals’ down here.”给我们弄些装备，再看看能打听到什么关于莫安德手下，还有你在这下面那些其他‘朋友’的传闻。”205
Akabar broke in, “I’ve been to Westgate before.阿卡巴插话道：“我以前去过西门城。206
I think I might have better luck getting past the gate guards.”我想，由我来应付城门守卫，成功的把握可能更大。”207
“You’re decked out in borrowed halfling gear,” countered Ruskettle.“你现在穿的是借来的半身人行头，”拉斯凯特尔反驳道。208
“They won’t take you seriously.“他们不会把你当回事的。209
I’ll get something suitable for you to wear.我会给你弄一套合适的衣服。210
And, no,” she waved aside Alias and Dragonbait, “I work better alone.还有，不行，”她挥手制止了阿莉亚丝和龙饵，“我一个人办事更利索。211
Especially considering you two are probably wanted by someone or something in Westgate.”尤其是考虑到你们俩很可能正被西门城里的某个人或某种东西追捕。”212
She strode to the door and then turned back, looking at Akabar.她大步走到门口，随后又转过身，望向阿卡巴。213
“One more thing.“还有一件事。214
If I can get a healer to come out here, I will.要是我能找个治疗师到这里来，我就会找。215
There’s no sense in you living with the pain until he gets enough beauty sleep to fix you up.”没必要非得忍着疼，等他睡足美容觉才来治好你。”216
She left the room, slamming the door behind her.她离开房间，随手把门砰的一声关上。217
“Was it something I said?”“是我说错什么了吗？”218
Alias asked Akabar.阿莉亚丝问阿卡巴。219
“What’s gotten into her?”“她这是怎么了？”220
Akabar remembered how annoyed Ruskettle had been by the saurial’s deception.阿卡巴想起，拉斯凯特尔曾因那个蜥族人的欺骗而恼怒不已。221
Apparently, it would take the halfling longer to overcome her anxiety.看来，这个半身人还需要更长时间才能解开心结。222
Dragonbait hissed at the closed door, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from his body.龙饵朝紧闭的房门嘶了一声，身上飘出新鲜出炉的面包香气。223
* * * * ** * * * *224
Ruskettle strode east from The Rising Raven, her short legs still complaining about the earlier long walk to the city.拉斯凯特尔从“腾飞渡鸦”大步向东走去；先前进城时走了那么远的路，她那双短腿至今仍在抗议。225
If the dragon had crashed to the north and west, then the guards would be at their weakest at the south and east.如果那条龙坠落在西北方向，那么南面和东面的守卫就会最为薄弱。226
The river gate would be her best bet.河门是她最有希望混出去的地方。227
The halfling’s ears burned, and she was positive that her “friends” were talking about her in the warmth of their warehouse apartment.这个半身人双耳发烫，确信她那些“朋友”此刻正待在温暖的仓库住处里议论她。228
She had been the one to provide their shelter, yet everyone still fawned over Alias, fought for Alias, and chased through the nine hells for Alias, while she, Olive, had been abandoned with a dragon.明明是她给他们找到了栖身之所，可所有人依然围着阿莉亚丝献殷勤，为阿莉亚丝战斗，哪怕穿过九层地狱也要追随阿莉亚丝；而她，奥利芙，却被丢下与一条龙为伴。229
And for what?可这一切又是为了什么？230
It wasn’t like they got any money for what they did.他们做这些事又赚不到一分钱。231
And to top it off, Alias was so bloody perfect.更气人的是，阿莉亚丝还完美得要命。232
Like a doll.简直像个玩偶。233
You wound her up and she rescued people or slew monsters or sang perfectly beautiful songs.只要给她上紧发条，她就会去救人，或是斩杀怪物，或是唱出完美动听的歌。234
And her luck was incredible.而且她的运气还好得不可思议。235
Not even a halfling had that kind of luck.就连半身人也不可能有那样的好运。236
She’d been kidnapped by a god—a god, for god’s sake!—and she’d escaped, and Akabar and Dragonbait and the dragon had slain the god for her.她被一个神绑架了——一个神啊，看在神的分上！——可她逃了出来，阿卡巴、龙饵和那条龙还替她杀了那个神。237
The lizard-paladin was another problem completely.那位蜥蜴圣武士则完全是另一回事。238
The halfling’s thoughts wandered back a number of years to an ugly incident in the Living City.这名半身人的思绪飘回了数年前，想起发生在活城的一桩难堪往事。239
She’d been at a bar when some holy fighter, a human paladin, rose unsteadily to his feet, pointed a worn knuckle at her, and shouted, “Thief!”当时她正在一家酒馆里，某个神圣战士——一名人类圣武士——摇摇晃晃地站起身，用磨破皮的指关节指着她，大喊：“小偷！”240
No one doubted him; no one believed her.没人怀疑他；也没人相信她。241
The fact that she had another’s purse in her hands did not help her situation, but she had managed to escape.她手里正拿着别人的钱袋，这一事实对她的处境毫无帮助，不过她还是设法逃脱了。242
Since then, she walked carefully around such beings, beings who could look into a person’s soul and tell if he was good or evil.从那以后，她在这种人身边总是小心翼翼——这种人能看透一个人的灵魂，判断他是善是恶。243
That scared Ruskettle.这让拉斯凯特尔感到害怕。244
It wasn’t fair.这不公平。245
And now it turned out that one of these snooty law-and-order types was a member of their party.如今却发现，这种自命不凡、满口法律秩序的家伙，竟然也是他们队伍的一员。246
She felt the saurial’s eyes on her all the time, judging her and weighing her worth.她总觉得那个蜥蜴人一直在盯着自己，评判她，掂量她的价值。247
Olive ground her teeth.奥利芙咬牙切齿。248
Now she was going shopping for the warrior-woman, her pet paladin, and the mage.现在，她还得去替那个女战士、她养的圣武士，还有那个法师采购东西。249
Even Akabar had a tendency to treat her like a child or a thief.就连阿卡巴也总把她当成小孩子或小偷。250
He was the hero of Alias’s rescue, his spells made the difference, while it had been the lizard’s skill in battle that had recruited Mist in the first place.他是营救阿莉亚丝的英雄，他的法术起了决定性作用；而最初招揽到米斯特的，则是那只蜥蜴的战斗本领。251
But she, Olive, had been useless.可她，奥利芙，却毫无用处。252
And Akabar would have left her on Mist’s back, left her to die, when he flew off to rescue the paladin.而阿卡巴飞去营救圣武士时，原本还打算把她留在米斯特背上，任她等死。253
Part of her mind refused this interpretation, knowing full well that everyone had good reasons for doing what they did.她心中有一部分不肯接受这种解释，因为她完全明白，每个人那样做都有充分的理由。254
But the small part of her mind was easily ignored.但心中的这一小部分很容易就被她忽略了。255
What difference does it make? she thought.那又有什么区别？她想。256
Sooner or later, Phalse’s friends were going to show up and take Alias away.法尔斯的朋友迟早会出现，把阿莉亚丝带走。257
“I could use a drink,” she muttered.“我真想喝一杯。”她嘟囔道。258
“Better yet, several drinks.”“不，最好是喝上好几杯。”259
She was just passing the Vhammos yards, its paddocks jammed with horses and caravan oxen, when suddenly someone addressed her.她刚经过瓦莫斯的牲畜场，围栏里挤满了马匹和拉商队货车的牛，忽然有人向她搭话。260
“Hello, Lady Olive.”“你好，奥利芙女士。”261
Ruskettle was startled.拉斯凯特尔吃了一惊。262
Perched on a fence post was a short, familiar figure.篱笆桩上坐着一个熟悉的矮小身影。263
He was dressed in sunburst yellow taffeta, fashioned into the costume of a Vilhon Reach merchant.他身穿旭日般明黄的塔夫绸衣裳，裁制成维洪海湾商人的装束。264
His smile stretched nearly ear to ear in an inhuman mockery of the humanoid form.他的笑容几乎一直咧到两耳，以一种非人的方式嘲弄着类人生物的形态。265
“Phalse!”“法尔斯！”266
Olive wondered if the pseudo-halfling could read minds.奥利芙不禁怀疑这个伪半身人是不是会读心术。267
“A Fortune.“祝你好运。268
Well met.”幸会。”269
“A fortune and well met to you, dear lady.“也祝你好运，幸会，亲爱的女士。270
You’ve surprised me.你真让我意外。271
I did not know you were bound for Westgate.我不知道你正要去西门城。272
May I accompany you into the city?”我可以陪你进城吗？”273
Ruskettle nodded, and Phalse hopped down from his perch.拉斯凯特尔点点头，法尔斯从栖身的篱笆桩上跳了下来。274
He paced the halfling as she walked.他跟在半身人身旁，与她并肩而行。275
“The river gate?” he asked.“走水门？”他问。276
“However did you know?”“你到底是怎么知道的？”277
Olive grinned pleasantly.奥利芙愉快地咧嘴一笑。278
“Thinking like a halfling, my lady,” he answered.“像半身人一样思考，女士。”他答道。279
“I must repeat, I am astonished to see you here so soon.“我得再说一遍，这么快就在这里见到你，实在令我吃惊。280
Were you involved with the sky display earlier?”先前天上那场表演，你也参与了吗？”281
He waved an arm toward the seven mounds south of the city.他挥臂指向城南的七座土丘。282
Olive’s eyes narrowed.奥利芙眯起了眼睛。283
“Maybe,” she replied coyly, but she wondered how he could possibly know that.“也许吧。”她故作神秘地答道，心里却在琢磨，他怎么可能知道这件事。284
“Maybe—that’s a straight answer from a halfling.“也许——这可算是半身人给出的直截了当的回答了。285
I take it the human woman is with you?”看来那个人类女人和你在一起？”286
Ruskettle shrugged her shoulders.拉斯凯特尔耸了耸肩。287
“Maybe.”“也许吧。”288
She had the uncomfortable feeling that her time with Alias was going to end much sooner than she’d expected.她隐隐感到不安：自己与阿莉亚丝同行的日子，恐怕会比预想中早得多地结束。289
Phalse smiled.法尔斯笑了。290
“I see.“我明白了。291
Will ‘maybe’ be the answer to my inquiries about your other traveling companions, the mage and the lizard?”那么，我要是问起你的另外两位旅伴——那个法师和那只蜥蜴——答案也会是‘也许’吗？”292
“Maybe.”“也许吧。”293
She wondered what the pseudo-halfling’s interest was in Akabar and Dragonbait.她不明白这个冒牌半身人为什么会对阿卡巴和龙饵感兴趣。294
“I think you and I should have a drink,” he said.“我觉得你我应该去喝一杯，”他说。295
“Several drinks.”“多喝几杯。”296
The small couple approached the gates, where a squad of soldiers was posted, checking credentials.这两个小个子走近城门，那里驻守着一队士兵，正在查验身份凭证。297
Phalse took Ruskettle’s arm gently, and they strolled through gates, into the city, completely unchallenged.法尔斯轻轻挽住拉斯凯特尔的手臂，两人悠然穿过城门，进了城，完全没人盘问。298
“I’m impressed,” the bard said, jerking her head back at the gate guard.“真让我刮目相看，”吟游诗人说着，朝身后的城门守卫甩了甩头。299
“What’s your secret?”“你有什么秘诀？”300
Phalse winked one of his peculiar blue eyes.法尔斯眨了眨那双奇特蓝眼睛中的一只。301
“Clean living.“洁身自好。302
Let’s find a nice, quiet bar with private booths and low ceilings.我们去找一家舒适安静的酒馆，要有独立雅座，天花板还得低。303
I have a deal that I am certain will interest you.”我有一笔交易，相信你一定会感兴趣。”304
“As long as you’re buying, I’m all ears.”“只要你请客，我洗耳恭听。”305
Olive moved a little closer to Phalse, and he tightened his grip on her arms.奥利芙又向法尔斯靠近了一点，他则把她的双臂抓得更紧了。306
* * * * ** * * * *307
“Well?”“怎么样？”308
Alias said, pursing her lips.阿莉亚丝抿着嘴唇说道。309
“Gone,” Akabar replied.“消失了。”阿卡巴答道。310
He’d been peering at the swordswoman’s arm and the saurial’s chest with a tiny magnifying glass.他刚才一直拿着一枚小小的放大镜，仔细查看女剑士的手臂和那名蜥蜴人的胸口。311
“The surrounding pattern hasn’t just covered up its sigil, the sigil has disappeared completely.”“周围的图案不只是盖住了那个印记，印记已经彻底消失了。”312
“Do you think the sigil might return if Moander gets another body in the Realms?”“你觉得，要是莫安德在诸界又得到一具躯体，印记会不会重新出现？”313
“I’m afraid that’s a possibility,” the mage sighed.“恐怕确有这种可能。”法师叹了口气。314
They were all cleaned up now, wrapped in towels and blankets while their clothes dried in the late afternoon sunshine.此刻他们都已洗净了身子，裹着毛巾和毯子，衣服则晾在午后渐斜的阳光下。315
Dragonbait had played nurse, helping Akabar with his bath, a service that had made the Turmishman mildly uncomfortable, but which he had accepted gratefully since his only alternative was Alias’s help.龙饵充当了看护，帮阿卡巴洗澡；这让图米什人略感不自在，但他还是心怀感激地接受了，毕竟除此之外，就只能让阿莉亚丝来帮忙了。316
In the meantime, Alias had fashioned him a cushioned sling to cradle his arm until Dragonbait could repair it properly.与此同时，阿莉亚丝给他做了一条带软垫的吊带，托住他的手臂，等龙饵有空再妥善处理。317
Akabar leaned back on the room’s lower bunk.阿卡巴往后一靠，倚在房间的下铺上。318
“So where does this development lead us?”“那么，这番变故会把我们引向何方？”319
“Into more hot water.“引向更大的麻烦。”320
We’re just outside the city where Cassana and the Fire Knives are supposed to reside.“我们现在就在城外，而卡萨娜和火刀帮据说就住在城里。”321
I have a hunch that our mystery bull’s eye sigil owner resides here as well.“我有种预感，那个神秘的靶心印记主人也住在这里。”322
And now that we’ve exploded a very large calling card over their city, odds are they know we’re in the area.”“而现在，我们又在他们的城市上空炸出了一张硕大无比的名帖，他们十有八九已经知道我们到了这一带。”323
“Maybe they’ll reconsider their actions and leave us alone.“也许他们会重新考虑自己的所作所为，不再来招惹我们。”324
We destroyed one of their partners already—the god.”“我们已经消灭了他们的一个同伙——那个神。”325
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。326
“No. They’ll just become more ruthless.“不。他们只会变得更加不择手段。”327
Akabar, I want you to go home to Turmish—take Olive and Dragonbait with you.“阿卡巴，我要你回图米什去——把奥利芙和龙饵也带上。”328
Being near me is too dangerous.”“待在我身边太危险了。”329
Akabar asked, “What good do you think you can accomplish alone?”阿卡巴问道：“你觉得单凭自己又能做成什么？”330
“Find these people,” said Alias, “Talk to them.“找到这些人，”阿莉亚丝说，“跟他们谈谈。”331
They need Dragonbait to put their plans into motion, so they won’t be able to control me as long as he’s safely hidden somewhere.”“他们需要龙饵才能启动计划，所以只要把他安全地藏在某个地方，他们就无法控制我。”332
“They could always just brand another victim to sacrifice.”“他们大可以另找一个受害者，烙上印记后拿去献祭。”333
Alias shook her head again.阿莉亚丝再次摇了摇头。334
“I don’t think that would work.“我觉得那样行不通。335
Remember, Moander said I drew my independence from Dragonbait, that we’re linked until his death.别忘了，莫安德说过，我的独立意志来自龙饵，在他死之前，我们始终相连。336
They won’t kill me; they’ve even taken precautions to see that I’m not injured.他们不会杀我；甚至还采取了防范措施，确保我不受伤。337
But all the rest of you are targets.”但你们其他人都是他们的目标。”338
Akabar harumphed.阿卡巴哼了一声。339
“They haven’t shown a tendency to talk before.“他们以前可从没表现出想谈谈的意思。340
Bully, threaten, and battle, yes, but never talk.欺凌、威胁、战斗，这些他们倒是会，但从不谈判。341
They won’t negotiate with you.他们不会跟你谈条件。342
As far as they’re concerned, you’re no better than a horse, to be owned and ridden and slain as need be.在他们眼里，你和一匹马没什么两样，可以任人占有、骑乘，需要时也可以宰杀。343
If they already have you in their sights, it will be that much easier for them to accomplish their ends.如果他们已经盯上了你，那他们要达到目的就更容易了。344
All they’ll have to do is search out Dragonbait.他们只要找到龙饵就行。345
Running and hiding won’t do us any good.”逃跑和躲藏对我们毫无益处。”346
“Maybe not, but if you stay here you’re at risk.“也许吧，但你留在这里会有危险。347
Please, Akabar,” Alias pleaded.求你了，阿卡巴，”阿莉亚丝恳求道。348
“I don’t want to see you killed.”“我不想看着你被杀。”349
“There are worse fates.“还有比死更糟的命运。350
You and I both know that.”你我都知道这一点。”351
Dragonbait knocked on the side of the bed, summoning their attention.龙饵敲了敲床沿，引起了他们的注意。352
Using a charred stick, he drew on the flagstones the four sigils he and Alias both wore and also the unholy symbol of Moander.他用一根烧焦的木棍，在石板地面上画出他和阿莉亚丝身上共有的四个印记，又画出了莫安德的邪恶徽记。353
“Yes?”“怎么？”354
Alias prompted.阿莉亚丝催促道。355
Dragonbait pointed to Alias and himself and then scuffed out the flaming dagger—the mark of the Fire Knives.龙饵先指了指阿莉亚丝和自己，然后用脚蹭掉了那柄燃烧的匕首——火焰匕首的标记。356
“Yes, we beat the assassins,” Alias agreed.“对，我们打败了那些刺客，”阿莉亚丝表示赞同。357
“They weren’t very tough, were they?”“他们并不怎么难对付，对吧？”358
He pointed to Alias and himself and Akabar and then scuffed out the sigil that might or might not still belong to Zrie Prakis, the sigil of interlocking circles.他先指了指阿莉亚丝、自己和阿卡巴，接着又用脚抹掉了那个或许仍属于兹里·普拉基斯、或许已经不再属于他的徽记——一组彼此交扣的圆环。359
Then he pointed again to himself and Alias, drew an inverted tear drop with a mouth and scuffed it out along with the insect-squiggle of Cassana’s mark.随后，他又指了指自己和阿莉亚丝，画出一滴倒置的泪珠，上面还有一张嘴，然后将它连同卡萨娜那道虫形曲线的印记一起抹掉。360
“We beat the crystal elemental and the kalmari.“我们打败了水晶元素和卡尔玛里。”361
The kalmari belonged to Cassana?” the mage asked.“卡尔玛里是卡萨娜的手下？”法师问道。362
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。363
“She told me in a dream.“她在梦里告诉了我。”364
You dreamed the same thing, didn’t you?” she asked the saurial.“你也做了同样的梦，对不对？”她问那个蜥族人。365
Dragonbait nodded.龙饵点了点头。366
He pointed to Akabar and rubbed out the unholy symbol of Moander like he was squishing a bug.他指了指阿卡巴，又像碾死一只虫子似的抹掉了莫安德的邪恶圣徽。367
Alias noted that the paladin gave all the credit for the god’s death to the mage.阿莉亚丝注意到，这位圣武士把杀死那尊神的功劳全都归给了法师。368
Then he pointed at the three of them and splashed water from the kettle onto the flagstone.然后，他指了指他们三人，又把水壶里的水泼到石板地上。369
Akabar laughed.阿卡巴笑了。370
“He’s right, you know.“你知道，他说得没错。”371
Between the four of us we’ve defeated everything your would-be masters have thrown at us.“我们四个人合力，已经打败了那些妄想成为你主人的家伙派来的一切敌人。”372
If we remain together, we can defeat the lot of them.”“只要我们不分开，就能把他们全都打败。”373
“Only if you continue to cooperate,” a sharp female voice said from the doorway, “and if we do not.“前提是你们继续合作，”门口传来一个尖厉的女声，“而我们不合作。”374
But your little demonstration this afternoon persuaded us to unite.”“不过，你们今天下午那场小小的示威，倒是说服了我们联手。”375
Alias, Akabar, and Dragonbait leaped to their feet, their eyes fixed on four people who had entered their cottage apartment.阿莉亚丝、阿卡巴和龙饵猛然起身，目光紧盯着走进他们这间小屋套房的四个人。376
Three men, dressed in black leather, and the woman from Alias’s dream in Shadow Gap.其中三个是身穿黑色皮衣的男人，另一个则是阿莉亚丝在暗影峡梦中见过的那个女人。377
“Cassana” Alias breathed.“卡萨娜。”阿莉亚丝低声说道。378
The woman lowered her hood.那女人摘下兜帽。379
Her chin was sharper, her features older, her hair longer and better tended, but her features were Alias’s. She might have been her mother.她的下巴更尖，容貌更显老成，头发也更长、打理得更精心，但她的五官分明就是阿莉亚丝的五官。她简直就像是阿莉亚丝的母亲。380
“Yes, Cassana.“没错，卡萨娜。”381
I’ve come to take you home, Puppet.”“我来接你回家了，傀儡。”382
Favoring his good leg, Dragonbait sprang for the upper bunk bed for his sword, and Akabar began chanting a spell.龙饵倚仗那条好腿，纵身扑向上铺去拿自己的剑，阿卡巴则开始吟唱咒语。383
Alias grabbed a poker from the stove tools.阿莉亚丝从炉具中抓起一根拨火棍。384
Cassana laughed.卡萨娜笑了起来。385
Akabar’s spell was disrupted as the floorboards beneath him erupted and skeletal hands grabbed him from the hole and pulled him through the floor.阿卡巴脚下的地板猛然炸裂，打断了他的法术；一双双骷髅手从洞里伸出，抓住他，将他拖下了地板。386
He disappeared with a scream.他惨叫一声，消失了。387
A trio of daggers arched from the black-clad assassins, embedding themselves unerringly in Dragonbait’s hide.三把匕首从黑衣刺客手中划出弧线，分毫不差地扎进了龙饵的皮肉。388
The weapons could not have caused much damage—they were small and had struck only his shoulder, his arm, and his tail—yet the saurial dropped like a sack of laundry.这些武器不可能造成多大伤害——它们很小，而且只击中了他的肩膀、手臂和尾巴——可这个蜥蜴人却像一袋衣物般倒了下去。389
Poison blades! the swordswoman realized.刀刃有毒！女剑士猛然意识到。390
With a cry of anguish, Alias charged the Fire Knives.阿莉亚丝痛苦地叫喊着，冲向了那些“火焰匕首”刺客。391
She cracked one assassin in the head with the handle of the poker, then rammed the tip into the throat of a second.她用拨火棍的握柄猛击一名刺客的头部，随即又将尖端捅进第二名刺客的咽喉。392
Snatching the sword from the scabbard of the third one, she turned it on him instantly.她一把从第三名刺客的剑鞘中抽出长剑，立刻挥剑攻向他。393
He fell over the bodies of his brothers, staining them with his blood.他倒在弟兄们的尸体上，用自己的鲜血染红了他们。394
Only Cassana stood between Alias and the doorway.阿莉亚丝与门口之间只剩下卡萨娜。395
She muttered no spell, nor did she look alarmed.她没有念诵任何咒语，脸上也毫无惊慌之色。396
Alias hesitated uncertainly.阿莉亚丝迟疑不定地停了下来。397
Cassana applauded the swordswoman’s performance briefly.卡萨娜为女剑士方才的表现短暂地鼓了鼓掌。398
“Very good, Puppet.“干得很好，傀儡。”399
Welcome home,” the sorceress said, slipping a slender, blue wand from her sleeve into her hand.“欢迎回家。”女术士说道，同时从袖中将一根纤细的蓝色魔杖滑入手中。400
“Now sleep.”“现在，睡吧。”401
Alias lunged at her foe.阿莉亚丝纵身扑向她的敌人。402
Cassana, the puppeteer, waved the wand, and Alias collapsed at her feet.操偶者卡萨娜挥动魔杖，阿莉亚丝随即倒在了她脚下。403
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听