When Alias awoke, her head felt as though molten lead had been poured behind her eyes, and her mouth was as dry as the sands of Anauroch.阿莉亚丝醒来时，只觉得仿佛有人把熔化的铅灌进了她的眼窝深处，嘴里干得像埃诺奥克的沙漠。1
She blinked in the dim candlelight that illuminated her room, a room in an inn like a hundred others at this end of the Sea of Fallen Stars.她在昏暗的烛光中眨了眨眼，环顾自己的房间——这是坠星海这一带常见的客栈房间，与其他上百间毫无二致。2
A moment of panic seized her.一阵恐慌突然攫住了她。3
Was she being forced by the gods to relive all her mistakes as some sort of punishment?难道诸神在逼她重新经历自己犯下的所有错误，以此作为某种惩罚？4
No. This was not The Hidden Lady, nor any other place she’d ever been.不。这里不是“隐秘女士”，也不是她曾去过的任何地方。5
She found herself placed on a bed with her arms folded like the dead.她发现自己被安置在一张床上，双臂像死人一样交叠着。6
She was not alone.房间里不止她一个人。7
Dragonbait had been unceremoniously dumped at the foot of the bed and was sprawled out on his stomach.龙饵被毫不客气地扔在床尾，正趴在那里，四肢摊开。8
Akabar had been propped up in an overstuffed chair across from the bed, his hands manacled by thick bands of cold iron to contain his magical ability.阿卡巴则被支在床对面一把塞得鼓鼓囊囊的椅子上，双手戴着厚重的冷铁镣铐，以封住他的魔法能力。9
She and the mage were still wrapped in blankets, but Dragonbait was naked, like an animal.她和法师身上仍裹着毯子，龙饵却像动物一样赤身裸体。10
Alias slid to the floor and knelt beside the saurial.阿莉亚丝滑下床，跪到蜥蜴人身旁。11
He was still breathing.他还在呼吸。12
She sighed with relief, and tears welled in her eyes.她如释重负地叹了口气，泪水涌上眼眶。13
The poison on the assassins’ blades hadn’t been deadly.刺客刀刃上的毒并不致命。14
Horrid red and violet bruises speckled the green scales along his legs and torso.他腿上和躯干上的绿色鳞片间，遍布着可怕的红紫色瘀伤。15
Why had they been so vicious with him? she cried inwardly.他们为什么要对他下这么狠的手？她在心中悲愤地喊道。16
She tugged the coverlet off the bed and draped it over him, then shook his shoulder gently.她从床上扯下床罩，盖到他身上，然后轻轻摇了摇他的肩膀。17
He did not stir.他毫无反应。18
They’d been much kinder to Akabar.他们对阿卡巴倒仁慈得多。19
His shoulder had been snapped back into place, though it still looked bruised and tender.他脱臼的肩膀已经被接回原位，尽管看起来仍有瘀伤，一碰就会疼。20
A soft touch brought him fully awake.她轻轻一碰，他便彻底醒了过来。21
He took in her concerned features, Dragonbait’s body, the room around him, all with a quick glance.他飞快地扫了一眼她忧虑的面容、龙饵的身体，以及周围的房间，顷刻间便将一切尽收眼底。22
“What happened?”“发生了什么事？”23
“We lost,” she replied.“我们输了。”她回答。24
“They swept us up like dirt in no time at all.”“他们转眼间就像扫垃圾一样把我们一网打尽了。”25
The mage frowned.法师皱起了眉头。26
He tried to stand up, but something had drained away all his energy.他试图站起来，可不知什么东西已抽干了他全身的力气。27
He flopped back into the chair, clanking his chains.他一屁股跌回椅子上，身上的锁链哐啷作响。28
Pain radiated from his shoulder.疼痛从他的肩头向四周扩散。29
He sucked in air, trying not to cry out.他倒吸一口气，竭力忍住不叫出声来。30
“It looks like we’ll be with you through the bitter end, whether you want us or not.”“看来不管你愿不愿意，我们都得陪你熬到最后了。”31
The despair in his voice twisted Alias’s heart.他声音中的绝望令阿莉亚丝心如刀绞。32
Stubbornly, she tried to renew his hope.她固执地想让他重燃希望。33
“We’re not all captured yet,” she pointed out, pacing the room.“我们还没有全被抓住呢，”她一边指出，一边在房间里踱步。34
“Olive is still at large.“奥利芙还在外面逍遥自在。35
We’ve gotten out of worse.”比这更糟的困境，我们也逃出去过。”36
Alias tried the door.阿莉亚丝试了试房门。37
The knob did not turn, and an experimental slam with her shoulder indicated that it was barred on the far side, as well as locked.门把手纹丝不动；她试着用肩膀撞了一下，发现门不仅上了锁，另一边还闩住了。38
The window was not constructed to be opened and, being made of crown glass set in a lead frame, could not be smashed out.窗户本来就不能打开，而且是由镶在铅框里的冕牌玻璃制成的，也无法砸破。39
The circles of glass would have let in light, but it was dark outside.一块块圆形玻璃原本能透进光来，可外面一片漆黑。40
The prisoners had no clues as to their whereabouts.囚徒们完全不知道自己身在何处。41
Alias bit her lip and stood in the center of the room, wracking her brain for some way out.阿莉亚丝咬着嘴唇站在房间中央，绞尽脑汁地寻找脱身之法。42
There was no chimney, the walls were brick, the floor and ceiling solid oak.这里没有烟囱，墙壁由砖砌成，地板和天花板则都是坚实的橡木。43
Akabar rose shakily from the chair and staggered over to Dragonbait.阿卡巴摇摇晃晃地从椅子上站起来，踉跄着走到龙饵身边。44
He tried to wake him first with gentle shakes and then, in frustration, with more violent ones.起初，他轻轻摇晃龙饵，试图将他唤醒；后来一时焦躁，便越摇越用力。45
Akabar looked at Alias and shook his head.阿卡巴看向阿莉亚丝，摇了摇头。46
“Okay, masters,” Alias said.“好吧，各位主人，”阿莉亚丝说道。47
“It’s your move.”“轮到你们出招了。”48
Her words received an immediate reaction.她的话立刻引起了反应。49
A portion of the wall near the door became misty, then translucent, and finally transparent.门边的一片墙壁先是变得雾蒙蒙的，接着转为半透明，最后变得完全透明。50
Alias reached out and touched it.阿莉亚丝伸手摸了摸。51
It was firm and cool, like glass in the autumn.墙面坚硬而冰凉，就像秋日里的玻璃。52
Taking a gamble, she slammed into the clearing wall with her shoulder, hoping to break through.她决定赌一把，用肩膀猛撞向那面正在变透明的墙，希望能破墙而出。53
The wall may have looked like glass, but it still felt like bricks.那面墙看起来或许像玻璃，撞上去却依然像砖墙一样坚硬。54
Alias rubbed her aching shoulder.阿莉亚丝揉着隐隐作痛的肩膀。55
Cruel laughter came from beyond the wall, and Alias caught sight of Cassana seated on a raised throne on the other side of the transparent barrier.墙外传来残酷的笑声，阿莉亚丝看见卡萨娜坐在透明屏障另一侧的一张高高的宝座上。56
It distressed Alias that the witch’s features were so similar to her own.那女巫的容貌与自己如此相似，令阿莉亚丝心中不安。57
Will I look like that, sound like that, be like that, in a few years’ time? the swordswoman wondered.再过几年，我会不会也长成那样，说话那样，变得和她一样？女剑士暗自思忖。58
She tore her thoughts away and concentrated on the two other figures beyond the wall.她强行收回思绪，把注意力集中在墙外另外两个人影身上。59
A male halfling in a flashy yellow taffeta costume sat at Cassana’s feet, playing with a wicked-looking knife.一个身穿艳丽黄色塔夫绸服装的男性半身人坐在卡萨娜脚边，手里把玩着一把模样凶恶的刀。60
There was something bizarre about his eyes—they had no whites around the irises, yet the pupils looked white.他的眼睛透着一股诡异——虹膜周围没有眼白，瞳孔却是白色的。61
The halfling smiled far too broadly, reminding Alias of the kalmari.那半身人咧嘴一笑，嘴张得宽得过分，让阿莉亚丝想起了卡尔马里。62
A skeletal figure in a brown cloak stood beside the throne, leaning on a twisted staff.一个披着棕色斗篷的骷髅般身影站在宝座旁，倚着一根扭曲的法杖。63
His face was hidden beneath the hood of his cloak.他的脸藏在斗篷的兜帽下。64
“Hello, Puppet,” Cassana greeted her.“你好啊，傀儡。”卡萨娜向她打招呼。65
She was dressed in a rich, flowing gown, worn off one shoulder.她身穿一袭华美飘逸的长裙，一侧香肩袒露在外。66
The white cloth glittered in the candlelight like woven diamonds.白色的布料在烛光下熠熠生辉，仿佛由钻石织成。67
A band of matching material circled her brow, holding her auburn hair in place.一条同样材质的束带环在她额头上，将她赤褐色的头发固定住。68
She turned the slim, blue wand over and over in her hands.她双手不停地转动着一根纤细的蓝色魔杖。69
Alias’s spine stiffened at the sorceress’s address.听到女术士对自己的称呼，阿莉亚丝的脊背顿时绷紧。70
The voice was so familiar, but not because it was her own.这个声音如此熟悉，却并不是因为它和她自己的声音相同。71
Alias recognized the harsh, bitter tones.阿莉亚丝认出了那冷酷而怨毒的语调。72
She had listened to the voice before, and she had hated it then as she did now.她以前听过这个声音，那时她就憎恨它，一如现在。73
An old, lost memory surfaced.一段久已失落的记忆浮上心头。74
She was rising out of a pool of silver streaked with crimson.她正从一池夹杂着猩红丝缕的银色液体中升起。75
Cassana stood over her with that wand, laughing in low, rich tones—the laughter of a vain woman, delighted to see herself replicated.卡萨娜手持那根魔杖，站在她上方，以低沉浑厚的声音笑着——那是一个虚荣的女人看到自己被复制出来时欣喜的笑声。76
Alias bared her teeth in a tight smile.阿莉亚丝龇着牙，挤出一丝冷笑。77
“Hello, Cassana.“你好啊，卡萨娜。78
Or should I call you Mother?”还是我该叫你母亲？”79
Akabar now stood beside the swordswoman, his jaw slack, amazed at the resemblance Alias bore to the sorceress.此刻，阿卡巴站在女剑士身旁，惊讶于阿莉亚丝与那女术士竟如此相像，连下巴都合不拢了。80
Cassana gave a guttural laugh and shattered her illusion of being an older Alias.卡萨娜从喉咙深处发出一阵笑声，顿时打破了她是年长版阿莉亚丝的错觉。81
Such a laugh could never come from Alias.阿莉亚丝绝不可能发出这样的笑声。82
It was a cruel, heartless laugh, and Alias was neither of those things.那笑声残忍而无情，而阿莉亚丝既不残忍，也不无情。83
Akabar pointed at the tall form beside the throne.阿卡巴指着王座旁那个高大的身影。84
“That’s the one who grabbed me.”“就是它抓住了我。”85
Cassana motioned lazily, and the skeletal figure reached up with age-rotted hands and flipped back the hood of its cloak.卡萨娜懒洋洋地做了个手势，那骷髅般的身影便伸出被岁月侵蚀得腐朽的双手，掀开了斗篷的兜帽。86
Beneath lay a skull covered with translucent, jaundiced flesh stretched like a drum head.兜帽下是一颗骷髅头，覆着一层半透明的蜡黄皮肉，像鼓面一样绷得紧紧的。87
Its features consisted of a rictus-grin, a deteriorating nose, and ebony eye sockets in which sharp points of light danced.它脸上只有一张僵硬咧开的嘴、一只正在腐烂的鼻子，以及一对乌黑的眼窝，其中跳动着锐利的光点。88
“Yesss,” the undead creature hissed.“是——的，”那不死生物嘶声说道。89
“I reached up and snared you tight, stopping your blood and freezing your muscles.”“我伸手将你牢牢攫住，让你的血液停止流动，让你的肌肉冻僵。”90
The creature flexed a skeletal hand, each finger bone sharp as a knife.那生物屈伸着一只骷髅手，每一截指骨都锋利如刀。91
“Yet you live, petty wizard.“可你还活着，微不足道的法师。92
But only because the Lady Cassana craves unblemished fruit on occasion.”但那只是因为卡萨娜女士偶尔会想要毫无瑕疵的果实。”93
The undead creature laughed, too—a hoarse, wheezing laugh disturbingly familiar to Akabar.那不死生物也笑了起来——一阵嘶哑喘鸣的笑声，熟悉得令阿卡巴心中不安。94
Try as he could, however, the Turmishman could not place it.然而，图米什人再怎么努力，也想不起自己在哪里听过。95
Alias did, though.但阿莉亚丝想起来了。96
She remembered the laugh in concert with Cassana’s, for this thing had also been present when Alias had been “born.”她记得这笑声曾与卡萨娜的笑声一同响起，因为阿莉亚丝“诞生”时，这东西也在场。97
It had laughed at the swordswoman’s nakedness and helplessness—the same laugh that had emanated from the maw of the crystal elemental summoned by the undead thing.它曾嘲笑女剑士的赤裸与无助——那笑声，与这不死生物召唤出的水晶元素巨口中传出的笑声一模一样。98
“Zrie Prakis,” Alias whispered.“兹里·普拉基斯。”阿莉亚丝低声说道。99
“Yes.“不错。100
I believe introductions are called for,” Cassana said, her tone as proper as a society matron’s. “I am Cassana.我想，该给大家介绍一下了。”卡萨娜说道，语气端庄得如同一位上流社会的贵妇，“我是卡萨娜。101
This male child is called Phalse.”这个男孩叫法尔斯。”102
The halfling looked up, and his too-wide smile grew even wider.半身人抬起头，那张本就咧得过宽的笑脸变得更夸张了。103
“And this, as you have guessed, is Zrie Prakis, formerly a mage, now a lich.“而这位，正如你已经猜到的，就是兹里·普拉基斯，曾经是法师，如今是巫妖。104
You’ve already heard, so I understand, of the grand passion he and I shared that nearly ended in a fiery blaze.据我所知，你已经听说过我和他之间那段轰轰烈烈的情缘——那份激情险些在熊熊烈焰中收场。105
But I never let go of things that are mine.”不过，属于我的东西，我绝不会放手。”106
She grasped the blue wand tightly to emphasize her point.她紧紧攥住那根蓝色魔杖，以此强调自己的话。107
“Gentlemen,” she addressed Phalse and Zrie Prakis, “you already know our dear Puppet and the thing on the floor.“两位先生，”她对法尔斯和兹里·普拉基斯说道，“我们亲爱的傀儡和地板上那个东西，你们已经认识了。108
The handsome mage,” and with that description her eyes seized on the Turmishman like the talons of a hawk about a hare, “is Akabar Bel Akash, powerful in both magic and cooking.至于这位英俊的法师，”说到这里，她的目光攫住了那个图米什人，如同鹰爪攫住野兔一般，“他是阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什，无论魔法还是厨艺都十分高强。109
Your peppered lamb is notorious even here, Akabar.”阿卡巴，就连这里都知道你那道胡椒羊肉的大名。”110
Akabar furrowed his brow in puzzlement.阿卡巴困惑地皱起眉头。111
For a third time Cassana laughed.卡萨娜第三次笑了起来。112
“Come now, mageling,” she mocked.“得了吧，小法师，”她嘲弄道。113
“Surely you did not expect us all to be as out-of-date and foolish as the moldy old god you so amusingly destroyed?“你该不会真以为，我们全都像那个被你以如此有趣的方式消灭的霉朽老神一样消息闭塞、愚不可及吧？114
We have followed your journey, at first in bits and pieces, but more steadily since Shadowdale.我们一直在关注你们的旅程，起初只能得到零星片段，但自从阴影谷之后，消息就稳定多了。115
“We decided to let you continue on to Yulash and free Moander.“我们决定让你们继续前往尤拉什，释放莫安德。116
Once the Abomination was loosed, it was only a matter of time before the old fool met its fate—humankind has grown much in power since that garbage pile last reigned here.憎恶体一旦获释，那个老蠢货的末日便只是时间问题——自从那堆垃圾上次统治此地以来，人类的力量已经强大了许多。117
The sooner we got it out of the way, the better.越早除掉它越好。118
And with its demise we need no longer worry about the bizarre schemes its followers had for you, Puppet.”如今它已经覆灭，我们也不必再担心它的追随者为你谋划的那些古怪阴谋了，傀儡。”119
Alias wondered if Cassana had any inkling that Moander had planned the same double-cross for her.阿莉亚丝心想，卡萨娜是否隐约知道，莫安德也打算用同样的手段出卖她。120
“Once Moander dropped you off in our back yard, it was child’s play to track you down and pick you up.”“莫安德一把你扔进我们的后院，要追踪到你再把你抓来，简直就是小孩子的把戏。”121
“You can track me,” Alias said in a flat, emotionless tone.“你们能追踪我。”阿莉亚丝用平板而毫无感情的语调说道。122
“Well, to be honest, no. We were too clever by half.“嗯，老实说，不能。 我们聪明过了头，反倒误了事。123
You see, your very being is impregnated with a powerful spell of misdirection.你瞧，你的整个存在都被一道强大的误导术所笼罩。124
You cannot be detected by scrying, nor can anyone who travels with you.任何探知法术都无法发现你，也无法发现与你同行的人。125
Since we did not expect you to slip from our grasp, we never thought the misdirection spell would pose any problem for us.我们没料到你会逃出我们的掌控，所以从没想过这道误导术会给我们带来什么麻烦。126
A serious miscalculation on our part.这是我们的一次重大误判。127
One of many, I’m afraid.恐怕还只是许多次误判中的一次。128
But you can’t create art without a few mistakes.不过，创作艺术总免不了犯几个错误。129
The best we can do is correct them in the future.我们能做的，顶多是日后将它们纠正。”130
“Fortunately for us you were intelligent enough to wonder about your brands.“所幸你够聪明，会对自己的烙印产生疑问。131
Whenever magic is detected on your arm it acts as a beacon to locate you.每当有人侦测你手臂上的魔法时，它就会化作信标，指明你的位置。132
We relied on our black-leathered allies to capture you in Suzail.我们原本指望那些身着黑皮甲的盟友在苏萨尔抓住你。133
Their failure was almost our undoing.他们的失败险些毁了我们。134
But by some stroke of luck you stumbled upon an old haunt of Zrie’s and revealed yourself to us again by displaying the magic content of your brand.但不知走了什么运，你误打误撞闯进了兹里从前的一处藏身地，又让烙印中蕴含的魔法显现出来，再次向我们暴露了自己。135
But, alas, you were also more than a match for the heavy-handed methods of my love here.”然而，可惜的是，我这位爱人的粗暴手段也奈何不了你。”136
At this, Zrie Prakis bowed deeply, and Alias could hear the skin stretching and popping over his bones.听到这里，兹里·普拉基斯深深鞠了一躬，阿莉亚丝能听见他骨头外的皮肤被绷紧，发出噼啪声。137
“And then, even more luckily, my kalmari spotted you coming through Shadow Gap.“接着，更幸运的是，我的卡尔马里发现你正穿过暗影隘口。138
It could be no coincidence that you continually alerted us of your whereabouts.你一而再、再而三地向我们暴露行踪，绝不可能只是巧合。139
I knew you wished to come home to us, Puppet.我就知道，你想回到我们身边，回家来，傀儡。140
So we made it easier to keep an eye on you.所以，我们让监视你变得更容易了些。141
We contacted one of your followers and planted a tracking device on her.我们联系上了你的一名女追随者，在她身上安放了一个追踪装置。142
And, as I said before, once you came to Westgate, finding you and defeating you was easy.而且，正如我先前所说，你一来到西门城，要找到你、击败你就轻而易举了。143
A halfling’s trick.”不过是半身人的小把戏。”144
Alias felt as though the chilling fist of a frost giant had closed about her heart.阿莉亚丝觉得，仿佛一个霜巨人用冰冷的巨拳紧紧攥住了她的心脏。145
“No,” she whispered.“不。”她低声说道。146
Phalse motioned to a hidden figure, who edged cautiously into view.法尔斯朝一个藏在暗处的身影示意，那人小心翼翼地挪了出来。147
She was decked out with the finest robes, glittering imitations of those worn by Cassana.她身着最华美的长袍，仿照卡萨娜的衣饰，闪闪发亮。148
She looked like a little princess, a child-bride from the east.她看上去像个小公主，像一位来自东方的童养新娘。149
She smiled sheepishly at Akabar and Alias.她腼腆地朝阿卡巴和阿莉亚丝笑了笑。150
Olive Ruskettle.奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。151
“Hullo, everyone,” Olive said, nervous sweat beading beneath her headband.“大家好啊，”奥利芙说道，发带下渗出一颗颗紧张的汗珠。152
“If I’d known you were in trouble—”“要是我早知道你们遇上了麻烦——”153
“Hush, child,” Cassana interrupted.“嘘，孩子，”卡萨娜打断了她。154
“You jumped at the opportunity to help us, as any good halfling would.”“你一有机会便欣然来帮我们了，任何善良的半身人都会这么做。”155
Cassana smiled at the prisoners.卡萨娜朝囚徒们微微一笑。156
“Gold coins weigh more than friendships.“金币可比友情有分量多了。157
Now, mageling, I’ll give you the same chance that we gave the child here.现在，小法师，我也给你一个和这孩子同样的机会。158
You’ve been misled by the false charm of this puppet.你被这个傀儡虚假的魅力迷惑了。159
Forsake the slave and join its masters.抛弃这个奴隶，投奔它的主人吧。160
I’m sure we can find a use for you.”我相信我们一定能找到用得上你的地方。”161
Prakis put a possessive skeletal hand on Cassana’s bare shoulder, and the sorceress squeezed it affectionately to underscore her point.普拉基斯占有欲十足地将一只骷髅手搭在卡萨娜裸露的肩头，女术士亲昵地捏了捏那只手，以此强调自己的话。162
The fury building in Akabar’s gut spilled out.阿卡巴腹中积聚的怒火终于喷涌而出。163
“I’d rather roast in the lowest hell—”“我宁愿在地狱最底层受烈火焚烧——”164
Cassana, with an angry frown, muttered something and motioned with her wand.卡萨娜怒容满面地咕哝了几句，挥了挥魔杖。165
Alias backhanded Akabar in the jaw.阿莉亚丝反手一巴掌抽在阿卡巴的下巴上。166
Backhanded him hard with all her warrior’s strength.她使出身为战士的全部力气，狠狠抽了他一记。167
The mage toppled backward, staring at the swordswoman.法师仰面倒下，瞪着女剑士。168
Her legs were rigid; her fists clenched and unclenched in sharp, fast spasms.她双腿僵直，双拳在急促而猛烈的痉挛中不断攥紧又松开。169
The remaining runes on her arm writhed and glowed.她手臂上残余的符文扭动着，泛起光芒。170
Cassana’s insect-squiggle shone the brightest of all.卡萨娜那道虫形曲线符文的光芒最为耀眼。171
“Alias?”“阿莉亚丝？”172
Akabar gasped as he rose to his feet.阿卡巴挣扎着站起身，喘息着喊道。173
“One chance is all you get,” Cassana said, “for now.“你只有一次机会，”卡萨娜说，“至少现在是这样。174
Hit him until he is unconscious, Puppet.”把他打昏，傀儡。”175
She motioned with the wand again.她再次挥动魔杖。176
Alias spun in place like a sentry and caught Akabar in the belly with her foot.阿莉亚丝像哨兵一样原地旋身，一脚踢中阿卡巴的腹部。177
The air rushed from his lungs, and he collapsed.他肺里的空气被尽数挤出，整个人瘫倒下去。178
He tried to rise again, but the woman warrior brought both fists down on the back of his neck, knocking him from his knees so he sprawled out on the floor.他试图再次起身，女战士却双拳齐下，重重砸在他的后颈上，把刚跪起的他打得扑倒在地。179
The mage rolled on his back, trying to ward off the rain of blows and kicks with his chains.法师翻身仰躺，用锁链抵挡雨点般落下的拳脚。180
He froze when he caught sight of Alias’s face.当他看清阿莉亚丝的脸时，顿时僵住了。181
Her eyes burned with a wild anger, and tears ran freely down her cheeks.她眼中燃烧着狂怒，泪水肆意淌过双颊。182
Gods!诸神在上！183
Akabar thought, Cassana is doing to her what Moander did to me.阿卡巴心想，卡萨娜对她做的，正是莫安德曾对我做的。184
She has no control of her actions, and she is even more aware of the evil she does than I was.她无法控制自己的行动，却比当时的我更清楚自己正在作恶。185
Pity for the swordswoman overwhelmed him, and he dropped his guard completely.他心中对女战士的怜悯压倒了一切，彻底放弃了防守。186
A kick to his jaw plunged him into a spiraling blackness.一脚踢中他的下颌，将他打入旋转的黑暗之中。187
Cassana laughed as her puppet stood poised over the helpless body of the Turmishman.卡萨娜笑了起来，她的傀儡正蓄势站在那图米什人毫无反抗之力的躯体上方。188
“Look, Zrie,” the sorceress said, “she’s crying.“看啊，兹里，”女术士说道，“她在哭。189
I bet I know who taught her that trick.”我敢说，我知道是谁教会她这一招的。”190
With a second wave of the wand, the sorceress returned Alias to unconsciousness.女术士再次挥动魔杖，让阿莉亚丝重归昏迷。191
The swordswoman collapsed on top of Akabar.女战士倒在阿卡巴身上。192
With a lazy wave of her free hand, Cassana signaled the lich.卡萨娜懒洋洋地挥了挥空着的那只手，向巫妖示意。193
Zrie Prakis let his spell elapse, and the transparent wall turned back into stone and mortar.兹里·普拉基斯任由法术失效，透明的墙壁重新变回了石块与灰浆。194
Cassana applauded her little play.卡萨娜为自己这出小戏鼓起了掌。195
Olive sat in shock.奥利芙惊呆了，坐在那里一动不动。196
Every hair on the back of her neck, no, every hair on her body, had stiffened as she watched the beating.看着那场毒打，她后颈上的每一根汗毛——不，是全身每一根汗毛——都竖了起来。197
The sorceress slid out of her throne and, beckoning the lich, headed down the hallway.女术士从王座上起身，朝巫妖招了招手，沿着走廊向前走去。198
Phalse and Ruskettle fell in behind them, but dropped back to confer in private.法尔斯和拉斯凯特尔跟在他们身后，但渐渐落后了几步，私下交谈起来。199
“Did she have to …”“她非得……”200
Olive let the question dangle.奥利芙没把问题说完。201
“She’s a human,” Phalse replied.“她是个人类，”法尔斯答道。202
“Humans tend to be cruel, as we both know.”“我们俩都知道，人类往往很残忍。”203
He paused for several paces, then added, “You know she did that for your benefit, as well as his.”他沉默着走了几步，又补充道：“你知道，她那么做不光是给他看的，也是给你看的。”204
“Oh?”“是吗？”205
The bard was certain that beating up mages had never been on her list of entertaining events.这位吟游诗人很确定，痛打法师从来不在她觉得有趣的事情之列。206
“Sure.“当然。”207
She wanted to point out how lucky you are to be joining our little family.“她是想让你明白，能加入我们这个小家庭，你有多幸运。”208
Eventually, the mage will get the same message.”“那位法师最终也会明白同样的道理。”209
“And if he doesn’t?”“要是他不明白呢？”210
“Sorceress Cassana is loath to use magic to get her way with a man,” Phalse explained.“卡萨娜女术士不愿用魔法迫使男人顺从她，”法尔斯解释道。211
“But she will use it rather than damage this Akash fellow beyond repair.“但比起把这个叫阿卡什的家伙打得再也无法复原，她还是会选择用魔法。”212
I think she likes him.”“我觉得她喜欢他。”213
Olive shuddered inwardly at the thought of what Cassana might have done to Akabar if she hated him.一想到如果卡萨娜憎恨阿卡巴，可能会对他做出什么事，奥利芙便暗自打了个寒战。214
“She could have made the One kill Akash,” Phalse pointed out, as if reading the halfling’s mind.“她本可以让‘那一位’杀了阿卡什，”法尔斯指出，仿佛看穿了这个半身人的心思。215
“But she didn’t.”“但她没有。”216
Olive felt the return of the nervous sweat beneath her headband.奥利芙感觉头带下又冒出了紧张的汗水。217
She forced the idea of money, lots of it, to the forward part of her mind.她强迫自己把钱——很多很多钱——这个念头推到脑海最前面。218
“You all have different names for … for her.”“你们对……对她有不同的称呼。”219
“The One?“独一者？220
Yes, I suppose we do.是啊，我想我们的确有不同的叫法。221
Another mistake to be corrected.又一个需要纠正的错误。222
Cassana calls her Puppet.卡萨娜叫她傀儡。223
Moander’s priest called her The Servant.莫安德的祭司称她为仆从。224
The Fire Knives called her Weapon.火焰飞刀称她为武器。225
The lich calls her Little One, as if he were her grandfather or something.”那个巫妖叫她小家伙，搞得好像他是她祖父什么的。”226
“Who called her Alias?”“是谁给她取名叫阿莉亚丝的？”227
“Not important,” Phalse replied sharply.“这不重要。”法尔斯厉声答道。228
“Come, there’s much to done.”“来吧，还有很多事要做。”229
They were in a simple, two-story merchant’s house just inside the city wall.他们身处一栋简朴的两层商宅中，就在城墙内侧。230
The cellar led to underground passages that delved under the wall and surfaced in an abandoned ruin beyond.地窖通往几条地下通道；这些通道从城墙下方穿过，在墙外一片废弃的遗迹中重见天日。231
Upstairs and down were long hallways with rooms jutting off them.楼上楼下都有长长的走廊，两侧伸出一间间房间。232
The prisoners were being held in one of the upstairs rooms.俘虏们被关在楼上的一个房间里。233
Nearing the top of the steps leading down to the first floor, Phalse and Olive heard Cassana’s voice below.法尔斯和奥利芙快走到通往一楼的楼梯顶端时，听见下方传来了卡萨娜的声音。234
She spoke in Thieves’ Cant, which Olive had no trouble translating.她说的是盗贼黑话，奥利芙毫不费力就听懂了。235
“Grandfather, has the task been carried out?”“祖父，任务已经完成了吗？”236
“All are cared for, milady,” replied a thick, guttural voice.“全都处置妥当了，夫人。”一个低沉粗哑的声音答道。237
“And you will take their place?”“那你会顶替他们吗？”238
“Aye.”“会。”239
“Morning, then, we’ll complete the pact.”“那么，等到早晨，我们就完成盟约。”240
The sound of Cassana’s gown swished off in one direction, while the cat-foot patter of the one called “Grandfather” faded away in another.卡萨娜的长袍窸窣作响，朝一个方向远去，而那个被称作“祖父”的人则迈着猫一般轻巧的步子，消失在另一个方向。241
Olive wondered where Prakis had got to.奥利芙纳闷普拉基斯去了哪里。242
The undead magic-user could move more silently than the most graceful halfling.这个不死族魔法师行动起来，比最轻盈的半身人还要悄无声息。243
Phalse flashed Olive an impish grin.法尔斯冲奥利芙顽皮地一笑。244
“You understand the Argot?”“你懂这种黑话？”245
He took the halfling’s shrug as an admission of ignorance and explained, “He was the leader of the Fire Knives, reporting the death of Moander’s surviving followers—all the ones that did not hurl themselves from tall places at the death of their god.他把半身人的耸肩当作她承认自己不懂，于是解释道：“他是火刀帮的首领，来报告莫安德残存信徒的死讯——也就是那些没有在自己的神死后从高处纵身跳下的人。246
The Fire Knives will take the place of Moander’s minions at dawn when we seal the pact.”黎明时分，我们缔结契约后，火刀帮就会取代莫安德的爪牙。”247
“When you make that final correction to the human woman,” Olive said.“等你对那个人类女人作完最后的修正时。”奥利芙说。248
“And when you receive final payment,” Phalse added.“也等你收到最后一笔酬金时。”法尔斯补充道。249
Yes, the halfling thought to herself.没错，半身人暗自想道。250
Try to keep your mind on the money Olive-girl.奥利芙姑娘，专心想着钱吧。251
* * * * ** * * * *252
In Olive Ruskettle’s estimation, the midnight dinner she was presently sitting through was one of the most frightening events in her life.在奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔看来，眼下这顿她不得不坐着吃完的午夜晚餐，是她一生中最可怕的经历之一。253
For sheer terror, Olive thought, it rated somewhat above being discovered and accused by that pig paladin in the Living City, but just below being swept off a wagontop by Mist’s dewclaw.若单论恐怖程度，奥利芙觉得，这比在活城被那个猪猡圣武士发现并指控还要更胜一筹，但又比被米斯特的悬趾从货车顶上扫下去略逊一筹。254
The dining room, a solemn, musty hall, was dominated by a huge oak table.餐厅是一座肃穆而满是霉味的大厅，正中摆着一张巨大的橡木桌，几乎占据了整间屋子。255
The windows were covered with heavy, black velvet drapes.窗户都被厚重的黑色天鹅绒帷幔遮住了。256
Hundreds of candles burned in candelabras, but the room was still dim.烛台上燃着数百支蜡烛，房间里却依然昏暗。257
Cassana, draped in scarlet satin that seemed to flame with brilliance, dominated one end of the table.卡萨娜身披猩红色缎衣，灿烂得仿佛在燃烧，端坐在桌子一头，压倒了周遭的一切。258
Rubies dripped from the sorceress’s throat, ears, and fingers.女术士的颈间、耳畔和指上缀满了红宝石。259
Prakis sat unmoving at the far end of the long table.普拉基斯一动不动地坐在长桌远端。260
He was dressed in yellow robes of equal finery.他身穿同样华贵的黄色长袍。261
Before him had been placed the mounted bones of a goose, a haunting joke about his undead status.他面前摆着一副装架好的鹅骨架，拿他的亡灵身份开了个令人不寒而栗的玩笑。262
Olive was seated midway down the table at Phalse’s side.奥利芙坐在长桌中段，法尔斯身旁。263
The halfling bard kept a firm grip on her mind, trying to channel her thoughts away from abstract ideas like cruelty, sadism, and perversion, and tried to focus on real objects, like the food laid out before her.这位半身人吟游诗人牢牢把持住自己的心神，竭力把思绪从残忍、施虐和变态之类的抽象概念上引开，转而专注于实在的东西，比如摆在她面前的食物。264
In the food department Phalse put even the most gluttonous of Ruskettle’s race to shame.论起吃来，法尔斯足以让拉斯凯特尔一族中最贪吃的家伙都自愧不如。265
He wolfed down vast quantities of dark-roasted venison ringed with stuffed mushrooms and the pickled vegetables carved into the shapes of skulls.他狼吞虎咽地吃下大量烤得焦香的鹿肉，四周配着填馅蘑菇，以及雕成骷髅形状的腌菜。266
He also downed mug after mug of mead, motioning for refills by swaying his goblet.他还一杯接一杯地灌着蜂蜜酒，只消晃晃酒杯，便示意仆人再斟满。267
Table was waited by silent men and women in dark tabards.一群身穿深色无袖罩衫、沉默不语的男女在席间侍候。268
Fire Knives, was Olive’s guess.奥利芙猜，他们是火刀。269
Apprentice murderers.一群见习杀手。270
Though Olive was quite hungry and the repast was delicious, the food sat like a brick in her stomach.奥利芙虽然饥肠辘辘，饭菜也十分美味，可食物落进胃里，却像坠了一块砖头。271
As out of place as the bard had felt among her former companions-Alias with her perfect voice, Akabar with his learning, Dragonbait with his virtue—here she knew she was the proverbial fifth wheel.从前与同伴们在一起时——阿莉亚丝有完美的嗓音，阿卡巴学识渊博，龙饵品德高尚——这位吟游诗人固然也曾觉得自己格格不入，可在这里，她清楚自己就是那个俗话所说的多余之人。272
There’s something else at this table, the bard thought, something that outranks me.这张桌旁还有某种别的东西，吟游诗人心想，某种地位凌驾于我之上的东西。273
Power.力量。274
That’s why they’ve seated me beside Phalse instead of opposite him.所以他们才让我坐在法尔斯身边，而不是他的对面。275
Olive imagined she could see the power rippling between her three hosts—Cassana, the lich, and Phalse.奥利芙仿佛能看见力量在她的三位主人——卡萨娜、巫妖和法尔斯——之间荡起涟漪。276
The Fire Knives are servants, Olive realized, nothing more.奥利芙意识到，火刀只是仆从，仅此而已。277
Phalse has his aura of charisma, an almost tangible swirl of attraction.法尔斯周身笼罩着一股魅力，吸引力几乎有形有质，在他身边盘旋。278
Prakis exudes all the authority of dry, dusty, ancient tomes, and Cassana sits like a spider in the center of her web, aware of every movement within her realm—Mistress of Life and Death.普拉基斯散发着干燥、积尘的古老典籍所具有的全部威严，而卡萨娜则如一只蜘蛛般坐在网心，对自己领域内的一举一动都了如指掌——生与死的女主人。279
If these three ever get into a disagreement, the bard decided, I don’t want to be around to get caught in the middle.吟游诗人暗自决定，要是这三位起了争执，我可不想留在这里，被卷进他们中间。280
I don’t even want to be close enough to watch.我甚至不想靠得近到足以旁观。281
“So, what do you think of our little group, small bard?” the sorceress asked.“那么，小个子吟游诗人，你觉得我们这个小团体怎么样？”女术士问道。282
Olive almost choked on her meat, unable to resist the idea that her new allies could read her mind.奥利芙险些被嘴里的肉噎住，忍不住怀疑她的新盟友能读懂她的心思。283
“Well,” she held up a finger as she chewed and swallowed and gulped mead down to give herself time to phrase a suitable reply.“这个嘛……”她竖起一根手指，一边咀嚼、吞咽，又灌下一大口蜂蜜酒，好给自己争取时间，组织出一句得体的回答。284
“To tell the truth, I was unaware of how successful your alliance already was when Phalse offered me the chance to join.“说实话，法尔斯给我机会加入时，我并不知道你们的联盟已经如此成功。285
I understand you were subduing my … traveling companions even as I was speaking with him.”据我所知，就在我和他交谈的时候，你们已经制服了我的……旅伴。”286
She chose her words carefully, picking her way through the conversation as delicately as she would pick the lock of a cleric’s trunk.她小心斟酌着每一个字，在这场交谈中步步试探，就像撬一只牧师箱子的锁时那般谨慎。287
“Yes, we broke into two groups,” Cassana explained.“是的，我们分成了两组，”卡萨娜解释道。288
“One to check out The Rising Raven, the other to follow the lure of your ring.“一组去探查‘飞升渡鸦’，另一组则循着你的戒指设下的诱饵追踪。”289
Prakis or I would likely have relied on clumsy, human means to keep track of Puppet, but Phalse, smart, wise Phalse knew that a halfling would easily topple to the lure of power and gold.“普拉基斯或我多半只能靠人类那套笨拙的办法来追踪傀儡，可法尔斯——聪明睿智的法尔斯——知道半身人很容易屈服于权力和黄金的诱惑。”290
And how better to reward your faithful service.”“而且，还有什么比这更适合嘉奖你的忠心效力呢。”291
Olive’s mouth was dry, and she took another gulp of mead before she nodded.奥利芙口干舌燥，又灌了一大口蜂蜜酒，才点了点头。292
“And so we have another member of our band,” concluded the sorceress.“于是，我们的队伍里又多了一名成员，”女术士总结道。293
“A good thing, too, because our numbers are rapidly dwindling.“这也是件好事，因为我们的人手正在迅速减少。”294
Moander is dead, the crafter useless to us, the Fire Knives thinned in rank.“莫安德死了，那个工匠对我们已毫无用处，火焰飞刀的人数也大为削减。”295
We could use young blood.”“我们正需要些新鲜血液。”296
She emphasized the last word just a little too much, leaving Olive with memories of the legends of vampires.她把最后那个词咬得稍稍重了些，令奥利芙想起了那些关于吸血鬼的传说。297
The silence hanging over the table was oppressive.笼罩着整张桌子的沉默令人窒息。298
Struggling to lift it, the bard began to ask, “Crafter?吟游诗人竭力想打破沉默，开口问道：“工匠？”299
Who’s—” but before she could finish Phalse gave her thigh a sharp squeeze.“谁是——”可她还没问完，法尔斯便猛地捏了一下她的大腿。300
Olive almost jumped from her chair.奥利芙差点从椅子上跳起来。301
She turned to glare at him for an explanation, but he was busy draining his goblet.她转头怒瞪着他，要他给个解释，可他正忙着把杯里的酒一饮而尽。302
Holding out his glass for a refill, he bestowed her with a wink from one of his peculiarly blue eyes.他伸出酒杯示意再添一杯，又用那双蓝得异乎寻常的眼睛中的一只朝她眨了眨。303
“I’m sorry,” Cassana prompted.“抱歉，”卡萨娜催促道。304
“You were saying?”“你刚才想说什么？”305
“Nothing.“没什么。”306
I was too wrapped up in your tale.”“我只是听你的故事听得太入神了。”307
“Of course,” Cassana replied.“当然，”卡萨娜答道。308
She began nodding and murmuring to herself, and Olive wondered if Cassana had channeled too much of her power into keeping up her good looks and let her mind go a little mushy.她开始一边点头，一边喃喃自语；奥利芙不禁怀疑，卡萨娜是不是为了维持自己的美貌耗费了太多力量，以至于脑子都有些糊涂了。309
The sorceress’s head snapped up and she announced, “Now, the three of us will be very busy for the next few hours, preparing for the ceremony to be held at dawn.女术士猛地抬起头，宣布道：“接下来几个小时，我们三个人会非常忙，要为黎明时举行的仪式做准备。310
But you, Olive, were up very early this morning, before dawn.不过你嘛，奥利芙，今天一大早天还没亮就起来了。311
And since then you’ve been a very, very busy little girl.从那以后，你这个小姑娘就一直忙个不停。312
You must be exhausted.你一定累坏了。313
Take a nap, and Phalse will send for you.”去睡一觉吧，法尔斯会派人叫你的。”314
Whether it was the suggestion, the food, or the long hours and miles between Yulash and Westgate, Olive suddenly felt very weary.不知是因为这番暗示、那些食物，还是因为从尤拉什到西门城的一路奔波，奥利芙忽然感到疲惫不堪。315
She swayed in her chair, trying to shake the cobwebs from her brain.她坐在椅子上摇晃起来，想把脑中的昏沉甩掉。316
Phalse put a hand out to steady her, his grip like iron.法尔斯伸手扶稳了她，手上的力道如铁钳一般。317
“Now that you mention it,” the bard said, not bothering to stifle a yawn, “I’m dead on my feet.”“你这么一说，”吟游诗人毫不掩饰地打了个哈欠，“我还真是累得快站不住了。”318
“Good.“很好。319
Prakis my pet, why don’t you take the small bard up to Phalse’s room for her nap?”我亲爱的普拉基斯，你何不带这位小个子吟游诗人上楼，到法尔斯的房间里睡一觉呢？”320
“I would prefer—” Phalse began to protest, but Cassana cut him off with a motion of her hand.“我更希望——”法尔斯刚要抗议，卡萨娜便挥手打断了他。321
“You and I have some private matters to discuss,” the sorceress insisted.“你和我有些私事要谈。”女术士坚持道。322
“Just how private do you intend to get?”“你打算私密到什么程度？”323
Phalse bantered.法尔斯打趣道。324
The lich rose silently and stood behind the halfling’s chair as she tumbled from it.巫妖无声地站起身，来到半身人的椅子后面；她跌跌撞撞地从椅子上下来。325
She staggered from sudden exhaustion, then began weaving her way to the staircase.突如其来的倦意让她脚步踉跄，随后她便摇摇晃晃地朝楼梯走去。326
Cassana laughed behind her, calling out, “Sleep tight, little one.”卡萨娜在她身后笑了起来，高声说道：“睡个好觉，小家伙。”327
When the lich had maneuvered the bard up the first flight of stairs, the sorceress turned her cold, hard eyes on Phalse.等巫妖带着吟游诗人上完第一段楼梯后，女术士便用冰冷而凌厉的目光盯住了法尔斯。328
“Well?”“怎么样？”329
“She’s scared witless, but that’s understandable,” Phalse replied in the halfling’s defense.“她吓得魂不附体，不过这也可以理解。”法尔斯替那半身人辩解道。330
“But it’s a rather delicious sort of terror, don’t you think?”“不过，这种恐惧相当美味，你不觉得吗？”331
“She seems a bit unstable.“她看起来有点不稳定。332
She’ll sleep through the ceremony.她会一觉睡过整个仪式。333
When she wakes, her former allies will be dead or under our control.等她醒来，她从前的盟友不是已经死了，就是落入了我们的掌控。334
The choice will be easier for her once her options have been limited.等她别无选择时，要做决定就容易多了。335
I would prefer it, though, if you would use her and get rid of her tonight,” said Cassana.不过，我还是希望你今晚就享用她，然后把她处理掉，”卡萨娜说道。336
Phalse flashed his inhuman smile.法尔斯露出他那非人的笑容。337
“I’ll slay her myself if you similarly dispose of your lovers, including the Turmite.”“要是你也同样处理掉你的情人，包括那个图尔迈特人，我就亲手杀了她。”338
Cassana pouted “You’d deprive me of my pets?”卡萨娜噘起嘴。“你要剥夺我的宠物？”339
“You’d deprive me of mine.”“你也要剥夺我的。”340
The two glared at one another, locked in a contest of wills.两人怒目相视，展开了一场意志的较量。341
Then slowly, both began to laugh.随后，两人都慢慢笑了起来。342
* * * * ** * * * *343
When the halfling collapsed on the second landing, Prakis bundled the childlike bard in his yellow cape and cradled her in his arms, carrying her to Phalse’s opulent bedroom.半身人在二楼楼梯平台上瘫倒后，普拉基斯用自己的黄色斗篷裹住这个孩童般的吟游诗人，把她抱在怀里，带到了法尔斯奢华的卧室。344
He lay the halfling woman on the satin coverlet and leaned in close to her face, muttering a few words.他把半身人女子放在缎面床罩上，凑近她的脸，低声念了几句话。345
Then he touched her on the forehead and shoulders.随后，他碰了碰她的额头和双肩。346
Olive sat bolt upright, her eyelids flying open like pigeons startled by a temple bell.奥利芙猛地坐直身子，双眼骤然睁开，仿佛被寺庙钟声惊起的鸽子。347
“What!” she gasped, then cringed away immediately from the mockery of humankind hovering over her.“什么！”她倒吸一口气，随即畏缩着躲开那个俯在她上方、仿佛是对人类本身的嘲弄之物。348
“Hush,” the death’s head rattled.“嘘。”那骷髅头咯咯作响地说道。349
“I’ve cast a spell on you to counteract the magical suggestion Cassana the Cruel used to make you sleep,” Prakis explained.“残酷的卡萨娜用魔法暗示让你入睡，我对你施了一个法术来抵消它，”普拉基斯解释道。350
His voice sounded windier than before, as though suddenly it was a greater effort for him to speak.他的声音听起来比先前更虚浮了，仿佛说话突然变成了一件更费力的事。351
“How do you feel?”“你感觉怎么样？”352
“I feel …“我觉得……353
I feel like I’ve slept for a week.我觉得自己好像睡了一个星期。354
Did I miss the ceremony?”我错过仪式了吗？”355
“No, only a few minutes have passed since you left the table.“没有，你离开桌边才几分钟。356
But my counteractive spell will give you energy now for hours.不过，我施的抵消咒语能让你接下来几个小时都精力充沛。357
I woke you to make you an offer.我叫醒你，是想给你一个提议。358
Have you killed?” the lich asked.你杀过人吗？”巫妖问道。359
The red points of light in his eye sockets were suddenly still like a magical light.他眼窝里的两点红光骤然凝定，仿佛两点魔法光芒。360
“Killed?“杀过人？361
Of course.当然。362
Easy as falling off a log.”易如反掌。”363
“Can you do it again?”“你能再杀一次吗？”364
“Uh … sure.“呃……当然。365
Who do you want killed?”你想杀谁？”366
“Cassana.”“卡萨娜。”367
The red pinpoints in the skull’s eye sockets danced again.骷髅眼窝里的两点红光又跳动起来。368
“Wait a minute.“等一下。369
I thought you and she were …”我还以为你和她是……”370
The halfling groped for polite words.半身人搜肠刮肚，想找个委婉的说法。371
“Close, I guess.”“关系亲密吧，我想。”372
“I am Cassana’s tool, her pet, much like you are—or will be—Phalse’s pet, if he gets his way.“我是卡萨娜的工具、她的宠物，就像你是——或者将会是——法尔斯的宠物一样，只要他能得逞。373
The wand that controls the Little One also controls me.控制小家伙的那根魔杖同样也控制着我。374
The farther I am from the wand, the more dead I become.我离那根魔杖越远，就死得越彻底。375
Cassana keeps the wand on her person at all times, and when she travels too far away, I die entirely, only to come back as a shambling form when she returns.卡萨娜无论何时都把魔杖带在身上；她一旦走得太远，我就会彻底死去，等她回来时，我才会以一具步履蹒跚的躯体复生。376
She is literally the sun my world revolves around.”从字面上说，她就是我的世界围绕着旋转的太阳。”377
“But your symbol is on Al—the Little One.”“可你的印记明明在阿尔——小家伙身上。”378
“My power over death was needed to bring the Little One to life, so I was allowed a small measure of control over her, but Cassana is the ultimate puppet master, pulling both our strings.”“要让小家伙获得生命，需要借助我掌控死亡的力量，所以我获准对她拥有一小部分控制权；但卡萨娜才是最终的提线人，同时操纵着我们两个。”379
Up close to Prakis, Olive could see the deep blue stitchery of long-dead blood vessels and smell the fetid stink of the corpse’s breath.离普拉基斯这么近，奥利芙能看见他早已坏死的血管如深蓝色针脚般交错，还能闻到尸体口中呼出的恶臭。380
He did not need to breathe, save to work his speech organs, which gave his voice an odd, mechanical quality.他无须呼吸，除非是为了驱动发声器官，因此他的嗓音带着一种古怪的机械腔调。381
“But why do you need me?”“可你为什么需要我？”382
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。383
“Couldn’t you just strangle her or something and take the wand?”“你就不能掐死她什么的，再把魔杖拿走吗？”384
“No. That would not work.“不行。那样没用。385
Cassana the Cruel is very clever.残忍的卡萨娜非常聪明。386
She has bound up her life energies into the wand so that, as long as she holds it, nothing the Little One or I do can harm her.她把自己的生命能量缚在了魔杖中，所以只要魔杖还握在她手里，小家伙和我无论做什么都伤不了她。387
She knows my hate; she knows the wand is all that stands between her and death by my hands.她知道我有多恨她；她知道，那根魔杖是唯一能阻止她死在我手里的东西。388
She loves knowing this—it thrills her.”她很享受这一点——这令她兴奋不已。”389
“So you want me to steal the wand?”“所以你想让我去偷魔杖？”390
“Yes.“是的。391
Then I will kill her.”然后我会杀了她。”392
“Um, just out of curiosity, how?”“呃，纯粹好奇问一句，怎么杀？”393
“With this!” the lich thrust forward his staff of dark wood.“用这个！”巫妖猛地将他的黑木法杖向前一挺。394
“I am still permitted to wield this.“我仍被允许使用它。395
It is a staff of power.这是一根强力法杖。396
Do you know what it can do?”你知道它能做什么吗？”397
Olive nodded, remembering the lay written in honor of Sylune.奥利芙点了点头，想起了那首为歌颂希露妮而写的叙事歌谣。398
The river witch had used the same kind of staff to blow herself and a marauding dragon to kingdom come.那位河流女巫曾用同样的法杖，把自己和一条四处劫掠的巨龙一同炸得灰飞烟灭。399
The halfling didn’t want to be anywhere near Prakis and Cassana when they finally ended their “lover’s quarrel.”等普拉基斯和卡萨娜最终了结他们那场“情人争吵”时，这个半身人可不想待在他们附近。400
“No offense, Prakis, old bones, but what’s in this for me?”“无意冒犯，普拉基斯，你这把老骨头，不过我能从中得到什么好处？”401
“Your freedom and your life.”“你的自由，还有你的命。”402
“Oh?”“哦？”403
“Phalse considers you his property now.“法尔斯现在把你当成他的所有物。404
Surely you must realize that, as charming as he appears, he is no halfling.”你当然应该明白，他看起来虽然讨人喜欢，却绝不是什么半身人。”405
“What is he?”“那他是什么？”406
“I don’t know.“我不知道。407
Not even Cassana knows, and that is not a good sign.就连卡萨娜也不知道，这可不是什么好兆头。408
Furthermore, Cassana does not like you.而且，卡萨娜不喜欢你。409
She never could stand any competition, no matter how small.她从来容不得任何竞争，哪怕威胁再小也不行。410
And she is superstitious about halfling luck.她还迷信半身人的好运。411
She really sent Phalse after you to make sure you did not interfere with our capture of the prisoners.她派法尔斯去追你，其实是为了确保你不会妨碍我们抓捕那些囚犯。412
When Phalse’s back is turned, she will slay you, gut you, and use your body as a vessel for her kalmari.等法尔斯一转过身去，她就会杀了你，剖开你的肚子，再把你的身体当作盛放她的卡尔马里的容器。413
Once you’ve helped me take care of Cassana, I will rid you of Phalse’s company.”等你帮我解决掉卡萨娜，我就会让法尔斯不再纠缠你。”414
Olive gulped.奥利芙咽了口唾沫。415
“These are good reasons, but, um …“这些理由都很充分，可是，呃……416
I don’t suppose you might offer me any other incentives?”不知你能不能再给我点别的好处？”417
She was terrified of angering the lich, but how much could it hurt to ask? she wondered.她唯恐激怒这个巫妖，但问一问又能有多大害处呢？她心想。418
Prakis laughed, genuinely amused.普拉基斯笑了，是真的被逗乐了。419
“I can see why Phalse kept you.“我明白法尔斯为什么要留下你了。420
You have a greed for life that must astound even him.”你对生命的贪欲，想必连他都会感到惊奇。”421
“Well, life is short, as you discovered, and it makes sense to get all you can out of it.“这个嘛，生命苦短——这一点你已经亲身体会过了——所以尽可能从中多捞点好处也很合理。422
The best things in life aren’t free, you know.”你也知道，生命中最美好的东西可不是免费的。”423
“I did know that once.“我曾经也明白这个道理。424
Cassana has amassed a great deal of wealth hidden in the cellars beneath this house.卡萨娜在这座宅邸下面的地窖里藏了大量财富。425
Besides selling and leasing her monsters, she skimmed a good deal off the top from the funds the Fire Knives poured into the project of making the Little One.除了出售和出租她的怪物之外，她还从火焰匕首投入制造‘小家伙’这个项目的资金中，克扣了一大笔。426
Whatever you can carry away on a pony is yours, unless—perhaps you could remain here with me and the Little One, a member of our family.”凡是你能用一匹小马驮走的，全都归你，除非——或许你可以留下来，跟我和‘小家伙’住在这里，成为我们家中的一员。”427
The thought of living in the same house with a zombie Alias revolted Olive, but quite a bit of gold could be loaded onto a pony.一想到要和变成僵尸的阿莉亚丝同住一座屋檐下，奥利芙就觉得恶心，但一匹小马倒是能驮走相当多的黄金。428
“You have a deal, but first, as a gesture of trust—tell me, who is the crafter?”“成交。不过首先，为了表示信任——告诉我，造物者是谁？”429
Zrie Prakis’s red eyes stabbed at the halfling for several moments.兹里·普拉基斯用赤红的双眼逼视了这个半身人好一会儿。430
He must have decided the knowledge could do him no harm, because he told her.他一定是认定让她知道也无妨，因为他告诉了她。431
“He is—he has no true name.“他是——他没有真正的名字。432
He gave the Little One a mind, a life, the name Alias.他赋予了那个小家伙心智与生命，还给她取名叫阿莉亚丝。433
But he feels he’s been damned for it.”但他觉得自己因此受到了诅咒。”434
“But he’s still alive?”“可他还活着？”435
The lich nodded with a crack of his neck bones.巫妖点了点头，颈骨咔嚓作响。436
“Cassana the Cruel hates to cast aside her pets.“残酷的卡萨娜舍不得丢弃她的宠物。437
He is prisoner in the cellars.他被囚禁在地窖里。438
But he is quite mad.”不过他已经疯得很厉害了。”439
Olive decided to agree with the lich for now.奥利芙决定眼下姑且顺着巫妖的话。440
Glibly she asked, “When do we start this revolution?”她油嘴滑舌地问：“我们什么时候开始这场革命？”441
“Use the time when we’re at the ceremony to lace the house with traps.“趁我们参加仪式时，在宅子里遍设陷阱。442
Lay in wait and ambush.埋伏起来，伺机突袭。443
Now, mime your sleep while I prepare the prisoners.现在，装作睡着了，我去准备那些囚犯。444
And do not give yourself away, or I will be forced to slay you myself.”别露出马脚，否则我就不得不亲手杀了你。”445
The skin over his forehead wrinkled the slightest bit as he made an attempt to threateningly raise eyebrows he did not possess.他试图威吓般地扬起自己根本不存在的眉毛，额头上的皮肤微微皱了一下。446
Then he drifted from the room, silent except for the creaking of his bones.随后他飘出了房间，除了骨头的咯吱声外，没有发出任何声响。447
Olive leaned back in the bed and closed her eyes, and the energy the lich had channeled into her did indeed keep her from falling asleep.奥利芙靠回床上，闭上眼睛；巫妖注入她体内的能量果然让她无法入睡。448
Unfortunately, it also made her restless.不幸的是，那股能量也令她焦躁不安。449
Her mind kept flipping through her quickly diminishing options.她的思绪不停翻检着那些正迅速减少的选择。450
She turned on her side, away from the door, and thought harder.她侧过身去，背对房门，更加苦苦地思索起来。451
Though she’d been wishing for Phalse’s friends to show up and take Alias, she’d felt a pang of disappointment when she’d learned they’d already captured the swordswoman.尽管她一直盼着法尔斯的朋友现身，把阿莉亚丝带走，可得知他们已经抓住那位女剑士时，她还是感到了一阵失望。452
Her second meeting with Phalse had not left the bard with as charming an impression of the pseudo-halfling as their first had.第二次与法尔斯见面后，这位冒牌半身人留给吟游诗人的印象，已经不像初次见面时那么迷人了。453
Strangers always looked friendlier sitting behind a stack of coins, Olive realized.奥利芙意识到，陌生人坐在一摞金币后面时，看起来总要友善些。454
His offer of great power had sounded amusing accompanied by fine Luiren ale, but Olive had never really been interested in power.有路依伦的佳酿相伴，他那赐予强大力量的提议听起来颇为有趣，但奥利芙其实从未真正渴望过力量。455
Especially not if it meant watching people getting beaten to a pulp.尤其是当获得力量意味着眼睁睁看着别人被打成肉泥时。456
While she’d been drinking with Phalse, Olive had formed some half-baked scheme of joining the alliance in order to discover by her own means—stealth and cunning—the identities and intentions of Alias’s foes.和法尔斯喝酒时，奥利芙曾草草盘算过一个不成熟的计划：加入那个同盟，再凭自己的手段——潜行与诡计——查明阿莉亚丝的敌人究竟是谁，又有何意图。457
In her mind, she would then have reported back to Alias, revealing how she had succeeded where the book-laden mage would not and the scaly paladin could not.在她的设想中，之后她会回来向阿莉亚丝报告，揭示自己如何办成了那个满身是书的法师办不到、那个浑身鳞片的圣武士也做不成的事。458
That would have impressed them.那一定会让他们刮目相看。459
But the plan had backfired drastically, and now she was trapped, a little spider in a larger spider’s web.可这个计划彻底适得其反，如今她被困住了，成了落入更大蜘蛛网中的一只小蜘蛛。460
She could think of only three options: Escape somehow and flee, living in fear of retribution; find a way to free the others and fight; or join the alliance for real, submitting herself to whatever Phalse and Cassana had in store for her.她只能想到三条路：想办法逃出去，从此在害怕报复的恐惧中亡命天涯；设法救出其他人，奋起反抗；或者真正加入那个同盟，任凭法尔斯和卡萨娜摆布。461
She did not consider the lich’s plan.她根本不考虑巫妖的计划。462
It was entirely too dangerous.那实在太危险了。463
Cassana would fry me like a banana, Olive realized, if I came within twelve inches of her wand.奥利芙心想：只要我靠近卡萨娜的魔杖十二英寸之内，她准会把我像香蕉一样烤熟。464
Olive didn’t much care for the idea of sticking around.奥利芙可不怎么喜欢留下来的主意。465
Besides disliking her role of low woman on the totem pole, an alliance with these people was very risky business.除了不喜欢自己在这群人中地位最低之外，和他们结盟本身也是件风险极大的事。466
Their partners had a habit of dying off.他们的伙伴总是一个接一个地死去。467
Olive granted that she was greedy and ambitious, but these people were cruel and hateful and perverse—no act of hers could ever bring her to their level of perdition.奥利芙承认自己贪婪又野心勃勃，但这些人残忍、恶毒而且变态——无论她做出什么事，都不可能堕落到他们那种地步。468
Still, despite herself, and despite Prakis’s warnings, she felt drawn to Phalse.尽管如此，尽管她并不情愿，也尽管普拉基斯警告过她，她还是不由自主地被法尔斯吸引。469
He had treated her with courtesy and rewarded her with more cash than anyone else had in a long time.他一直对她彬彬有礼，还给了她一大笔钱，比很久以来任何人给她的都多。470
He understood her halfling heart.他懂她那颗半身人的心。471
The door creaked open behind her and then closed.身后的门吱呀一声开了，随后又关上。472
Someone tiptoed over to the bed.有人蹑手蹑脚地走到床边。473
The bard snapped her eyes shut, and began breathing shallowly with a melodic semi-snore.吟游诗人猛地闭紧双眼，开始浅浅地呼吸，发出带着旋律、似鼾非鼾的声音。474
A small hand touched her knee, and Olive shifted slightly to cover her startled movement.一只小手碰了碰她的膝盖，奥利芙微微动了动，掩饰自己受惊的一颤。475
Small fingers danced up her thigh and then cupped her breasts.细小的手指沿着她的大腿一路游移而上，随后捧住了她的乳房。476
After a moment or two they withdrew.过了一两秒，那些手指便缩了回去。477
It wasn’t until the door opened and closed again that Olive realized she’d been holding her breath.直到门再次打开又关上，奥利芙才意识到自己一直屏着呼吸。478
She sat bolt upright after Phalse’s retreat, gritting her teeth against a scream.法尔斯离开后，她猛地坐直身子，咬紧牙关，强忍住尖叫。479
She scratched one option from her list.她从自己的清单上划掉了一个选项。480
She couldn’t stay here.她不能留在这里。481
She would escape—with or without the others.她要逃出去——不管其他人跟不跟她一起。482
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听