Olive crept about the room, slipping some of the more pawnable and valuable items into her backpack and her pockets: ivory combs, a silver mirror, crystal perfume vials, a gold wine goblet.奥利芙蹑手蹑脚地在房间里四处搜寻，把一些更容易典当、更值钱的物件塞进背包和口袋：象牙梳、银镜、水晶香水瓶、金酒杯。1
After scavenging for half an hour she noticed sounds of greater activity in the hallway.搜刮了半个小时后，她注意到走廊里的动静变大了。2
Olive crept over to the door and pressed her ear against it.奥利芙悄悄挪到门边，把耳朵贴在门上。3
She could hear men in the hallway, panting as if from strenuous labor, accompanied by a dragging sound.她听见走廊里有几个男人正喘着粗气，仿佛在干什么重活，同时还伴随着拖拽的声音。4
Olive peeked out the keyhole.奥利芙从钥匙孔里向外窥视。5
Two Fire Knives were hauling something behind them.两名火刀杀手正拖着什么东西走过。6
Olive caught sight of a scaly, green arm—Dragonbait.奥利芙瞥见一条覆着鳞片的绿色手臂——是龙饵。7
A thumping noise came from the staircase—they were being none too gentle with the saurial.楼梯上传来一阵咚咚的撞击声——他们对这个蜥蜴人可一点也不温柔。8
Two more assassins flicked by the keyhole, carrying Akabar by the arms and legs.又有两名刺客从钥匙孔前一闪而过，分别抬着阿卡巴的胳膊和腿。9
Cassana’s new toy, he was given preferential treatment.他是卡萨娜的新玩物，因此受到了优待。10
He was not thumped down the steps.他们没有任由他一路磕碰着下楼梯。11
Olive heard Phalse say, “Leave him in the cell next to the crafter’s.”奥利芙听见法尔斯说：“把他关进造物者隔壁的牢房。”12
Last of all, Zrie Prakis floated by with Alias cradled in his arms.最后，兹里·普拉基斯怀里抱着阿莉亚丝，飘然而过。13
He paused by Olive’s door, blocking her view.他在奥利芙的门外停了下来，挡住了她的视线。14
Olive heard a bolt sliding across the door.奥利芙听见门闩被推开的声音。15
She waited until all noise in the hall had ceased and no sounds came from the stairway.她一直等到走廊里彻底没了动静，楼梯间也再无声响。16
Then she tried the door.然后她试着开了开门。17
Prakis had unlocked it for her.普拉基斯替她把门锁打开了。18
The bard poked her head out of the doorway.这位吟游诗人从门口探出头去。19
The house was silent.宅子里一片寂静。20
After closing and bolting the door to Phalse’s room behind her, she crept down the hallway and tiptoed down the stairs.她关上身后法尔斯房间的门，又插好门闩，随后蹑手蹑脚地穿过走廊，踮着脚尖走下楼梯。21
She dashed through the entry hall.她飞奔着穿过门厅。22
The front door beckoned her.前门仿佛在向她招手。23
She twisted the knob, but it was locked.她拧了拧门把手，可门锁着。24
Olive reached into her hair and drew out a pick, but before she began working on the bolt, she noticed a blue line drawn across the threshold, with three interlocking circles sketched above it.奥利芙伸手从头发里抽出一根开锁针，可还没开始撬锁，就注意到门槛上横画着一道蓝线，上方还勾勒着三个彼此相扣的圆环。25
A magical ward—one of Prakis’s. Was it the type that warned the designer something had crossed over it, or the kind that disintegrated into dust whatever crossed over it?魔法结界——普拉基斯布下的。它究竟是会在有东西越过时向布阵者示警的那种，还是会把越界之物化为尘埃的那种？26
There was no way for Olive to tell.奥利芙根本无从判断。27
“Boogers,” Olive muttered.“真恶心。”奥利芙嘟囔道。28
“What’s the matter?“怎么了？29
Don’t you trust me, Prakis, old bones?”你不信任我吗，普拉基斯，你这把老骨头？”30
Dodging into the dining room, the halfling slipped behind the heavy curtains.半身人闪身躲进餐厅，溜到厚重的窗帘后面。31
The lock on the large windows was easily unfastened, but another blue mark was scrawled along the window sills.大窗户的锁很容易就打开了，可窗台上也潦草地画着一道蓝色印记。32
Grinding her teeth in annoyance, Olive dashed back into the entry hall and up the steps.奥利芙懊恼地咬紧牙关，冲回门厅，奔上楼梯。33
There was a window in the upstairs hallway, but it, too, was warded.楼上的走廊里有一扇窗，可那里也设了结界。34
Zrie Prakis had made sure she would stick to her side of the bargain.兹里·普拉基斯显然已经确保她会遵守自己这一方的约定。35
He’d unlocked her cell door, but he was not going to let her escape from the prison.他虽然打开了她牢房的门，却并不打算让她逃出这座监狱。36
As she saw it, she had one chance.在她看来，自己只有一个机会。37
Unlocking the door to Phalse’s room and slipping back inside, she examined the window within.她打开法尔斯房间的门锁，溜回里面，仔细查看房间里的窗户。38
Unguarded.没有结界。39
The wards must have been a last-minute thought on the lich’s part, and he had neglected to come back to Phalse’s room to set one there.这些结界想必是那巫妖临时起意布下的，而他忘了回来在法尔斯的房间里也设一道。40
Olive climbed out onto the window sill.奥利芙爬上窗台。41
The roof sloped away gently.屋顶以平缓的坡度向下倾斜。42
She would have an easy time slipping down to the gutter—a perfect halfling’s footpath—and walking along that until she found a rain spout to slide down.她可以轻而易举地滑到檐沟边——那简直是为半身人量身打造的小径——再沿着檐沟走，直到找到一根能让她滑下去的落水管。43
But what then? she wondered as she sat with her feet dangling over the roof tiles.可然后呢？她坐在那里，双脚悬在屋瓦上方，心中暗想。44
She’d have to find another adventuring group to travel with, one that could help protect her from Phalse and family should they decide she was worth chasing.她得另找一支冒险队伍同行，一支能在法尔斯一家认为她值得追捕时保护她的队伍。45
Finding a new party wouldn’t be easy.要找到一支新的冒险队伍可不容易。46
Alias and Dragonbait were perhaps the finest sword wielders she’d ever seen, and Akabar had helped destroy a god, and the three of them had been defeated.阿莉亚丝和龙饵或许是她见过的最出色的剑客，阿卡巴还曾协助消灭过一个神，可他们三人依然败了。47
Of course, she hadn’t been there to help them out, she consoled herself.当然，那时她又不在场，没法助他们一臂之力——她这样安慰自己。48
She wondered idly if her presence would really have made a difference.她漫不经心地琢磨着，自己在场是否真能改变结局。49
According to Prakis, Cassana had been concerned that it might have.照普拉基斯所说，卡萨娜一直担心她或许真能做到。50
Is it possible, Olive wondered, that Cassana put me to sleep because she was afraid I might interfere somehow in this ceremony to remove Alias’s will?有没有可能，奥利芙想，卡萨娜让我沉睡，是因为怕我会设法干扰这场抹除阿莉亚丝意志的仪式？51
Although Phalse had not told her, Olive knew the ceremony would involve the sacrifice of Dragonbait.尽管法尔斯没有告诉她，奥利芙却知道，这场仪式需要献祭龙饵。52
Alias had said something about it to Akabar the day before, back at The Rising Raven.前一天还在“腾飞渡鸦”时，阿莉亚丝曾对阿卡巴提起过这件事。53
The loss of the paladin would not have made too much difference to the halfling before yesterday.若是在昨天之前，失去这位圣武士对这个半身人来说并没有多大关系。54
Yet Olive had to admit, he hadn’t done her any harm so far, and his death would seal the fates of Alias and Akabar.然而奥利芙不得不承认，到目前为止，他从未伤害过她，而他的死也将决定阿莉亚丝和阿卡巴的命运。55
Akabar would remain in Cassana’s clutches, not something Olive would wish on anyone, certainly not on Akabar, whom she liked a little.阿卡巴会继续落在卡萨娜手里；奥利芙绝不希望任何人遭受这种命运，当然更不希望是她还有几分喜欢的阿卡巴。56
Alias was another matter.阿莉亚丝则是另一回事。57
Olive found it difficult to like someone so perfect, but she felt more guilt about abandoning the swordswoman.奥利芙觉得很难喜欢一个如此完美的人，但一想到要抛下这位女剑士，她便感到更加愧疚。58
For one thing, Olive realized, I owe her for rescuing me from the dragon and saving my life.首先，奥利芙意识到，我欠她一份人情，是她把我从龙爪下救出来，救了我的命。59
She let me join her party, and she shared her songs with me.她让我加入她的队伍，还把她的歌分享给我。60
She stole my audience once, but she’ll never do that again.她有一次抢走了我的听众，但她再也不会那么做了。61
After the ceremony she’ll probably never sing songs again.仪式过后，她大概再也不会唱歌了。62
Without a will she’ll be a zombie, and zombies don’t sing.失去意志后，她会变成僵尸，而僵尸是不会唱歌的。63
All those lovely melodies and haunting lyrics would be lost to the world.那些优美的旋律和摄人心魄的歌词，全都会从世上消失。64
That would be a crime, Olive sighed.那简直是一桩罪过，奥利芙叹了口气。65
Not that people like Cassana, who liked kidnapping, torture, and murder, would care about such a loss to the musical world.不过，像卡萨娜这种喜欢绑架、折磨和杀人的人，自然不会在乎音乐世界遭受这样的损失。66
Of course, I’d be just as responsible if I didn’t do anything to stop the witch and her merry band, Olive acknowledged.当然，如果我什么也不做，不去阻止那个女巫和她那帮快活同党，我也一样难辞其咎，奥利芙承认。67
Jump, Olive-girl, the halfling told herself, before you wind up doing something you may regret later.跳吧，奥利芙姑娘，半身人对自己说，免得最后做出什么日后可能会后悔的事。68
The halfling could not get out of her head the image of Akabar being beaten and the sound of Dragonbait’s head hitting each step as the Fire Knives dragged him downstairs.阿卡巴挨打的景象，以及火刀帮把龙饵拖下楼时，他的脑袋撞上每一级台阶的声音，始终在半身人的脑海中挥之不去。69
But the thought of Alias never singing again was even worse.可是，一想到阿莉亚丝再也不会唱歌，她便觉得更加难以忍受。70
Olive swung her feet back into the building, jumped to the floor, and left the room.奥利芙把双脚荡回屋内，跳到地板上，离开了房间。71
The upper hallway was still empty, but she heard men’s voices coming from somewhere below.楼上的走廊依然空无一人，但她听见下方某处传来男人的说话声。72
Pausing to listen, she noticed great drops of red dotting the steps below her.她停下来侧耳倾听，注意到下面的台阶上散落着一大滴一大滴的红色液体。73
Blood.血。74
Akabar’s or Dragonbait’s? she wondered.是阿卡巴的，还是龙饵的？她暗自思忖。75
She followed the red spatters down the stairs.她循着点点血迹下了楼。76
The voices were coming from the kitchen.说话声是从厨房传来的。77
The trail of blood went through the entry hall in the opposite direction.血迹却穿过门厅，延伸向相反的方向。78
Olive tracked it to an alcove that featured a particularly obscene statue of an overly endowed succubus.奥利芙一路追踪到一处壁龛，里面立着一尊格外淫秽的魅魔雕像，那魅魔的身材丰满得过了头。79
The trail ended in a pool of blood at the base of the statue, as if the prisoner had been left there for a moment.血迹终止于雕像底座旁的一摊血泊，仿佛那名囚犯曾被暂时放在那里。80
Olive made a “tch” sound.奥利芙“啧”了一声。81
Why didn’t they tell the world there was a secret passage here somewhere? she scoffed.他们怎么不干脆昭告天下，说这里某处有条秘密通道呢？她在心里讥讽道。82
Footsteps and voices approached from the dining room.脚步声和说话声从餐厅那边渐渐逼近。83
Olive ducked behind the statue of the succubus.奥利芙闪身躲到魅魔雕像后面。84
“—unfair.“——不公平。85
That’s all I’m saying,” the first protested.我只是这么说而已。”第一个人抗议道。86
“Unfair doesn’t mean a thing to Her Ladyship,” the second voice argued.“公不公平对女爵大人来说根本不算什么。”第二个声音反驳道。87
“We don’t have the seniority, we don’t have the clout.“我们资历不够，也没什么影响力。88
The rest get to play clerics and gods in a few hours.再过几个小时，其他人就能扮演牧师和神明了。89
We don’t rate.我们不够格。90
So what?”那又怎样？”91
Here the speaker’s words became incoherent as his mouth was occupied with chewing and swallowing, “—prefer raiding Her Ladyship’s larder to standing outside in the cold and damp.说到这里，那人的嘴忙着咀嚼和吞咽，话音变得含混不清：“——比起站在外面挨冻受潮，我还是更喜欢洗劫女爵大人的食品储藏室。92
What?”什么？”93
“Something by the dungeon door.“地牢门边有什么东西。94
Watch.”当心。”95
Olive’s intestines cramped uncomfortably.奥利芙的肠子难受地绞作一团。96
Of all the stupid things—I’ve chosen the exact spot they’re heading for!真是蠢到家了——我偏偏选中了他们要去的地方！97
A soft footstep then a second crept closer to the alcove.一声轻柔的脚步响起，紧接着又是一声，悄悄逼近壁龛。98
If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Olive would have giggled at the picture of a burly human trying to creep like a halfling across the floor.要不是情势如此严峻，奥利芙准会被一个魁梧的人类试图像半身人一样蹑手蹑脚走过地板的模样逗笑。99
She didn’t even need to guess how close he was, she could feel the floorboards shift slightly under his weight.她甚至用不着猜他离得有多近；她能感觉到地板在他的体重下微微移位。100
Pressing her back against the wall, she thrust against the statue’s pedestal with her feet.她把后背紧贴墙壁，双脚用力蹬向雕像的基座。101
The top-heavy statue rocked, then toppled from its pedestal.头重脚轻的雕像摇晃起来，随后从基座上倾倒下来。102
The crash of stone against stone blended with the sickening thunk of flesh and bone being crushed by a great weight, as the succubus claimed the life of the first Fire Knife.石块撞上石面的巨响，与血肉骨骼被千钧重物碾碎的骇人闷响混在一起；魅魔就这样夺走了第一个火刀的性命。103
The stonework ran with fresh blood.石砌地面上淌满了鲜血。104
The other Fire Knife, a grossly overweight human with a stubby short sword in one hand and half of a melon in the other, had been standing ten feet away when his partner had met his demise.另一个火刀是个胖得离谱的人类，一只手握着粗短的短剑，另一只手里还拿着半个甜瓜；他的同伴丧命时，他正站在十英尺外。105
His eyes were wide with shock, but he approached the pedestal.他震惊地瞪大双眼，却还是朝基座走来。106
Olive slipped out of the alcove to face her attacker.奥利芙溜出壁龛，直面袭击者。107
“Murr,” muttered the Fire Knife.“默尔。”火刀咕哝道。108
Whether this was the name of some god or his late companion, Olive did not know.奥利芙不知道这是某位神祇的名字，还是他刚死去的同伴的名字。109
“Ya just a girl.“原来就一小丫头。110
C’mon, kid, I’ll make it fast.来吧，小鬼，我会让你死得痛快点。111
We’ll just lock ya up until …”我们只会把你关起来，直到……”112
The halfling didn’t wait to find out how long she’d be locked up.这个半身人可没等着弄清自己会被关多久。113
She dropped to one knee, grabbed a piece of the broken statue, and threw it.她单膝跪地，抓起一块破碎的雕像，扔了出去。114
Clunked square in the forehead with a succubus breast, the assassin rocked back on his heels.刺客被魅魔的一只石乳房正中额头，咚的一声，身子向后仰去。115
Olive grabbed the sword from his dead partner’s hand and charged.奥利芙从他死去的同伴手中夺过短剑，冲了上去。116
The Fire Knife dropped the melon and swung his blade downward.那名火刀刺客扔下甜瓜，挥刀向下劈去。117
Olive dove to the right, and the steel blade sparked off the stonework, sending a ringing peal of doom through the hall and up the stairs.奥利芙猛地扑向右边，钢刀劈在石砌墙面上，迸出火星，发出一声预示厄运的铿然巨响，传遍大厅，直冲楼梯而上。118
The assassin whirled and slashed in a cross-cut.刺客猛然转身，横刀斩去。119
Olive dipped her head slightly, and the blade swiped over her.奥利芙微微一低头，刀刃便从她头顶掠过。120
The man’s reflexes were trained in battling opponents his own size.这人的反应全是为了对付与自己身量相仿的敌人而训练出来的。121
Olive slipped inside his guard and thrust his partner’s short sword upward in the all-too-ample space between his leather jerkin and his belt.奥利芙钻入他防守的内侧，将他同伴的短剑从皮坎肩与腰带之间那道过于宽绰的空隙里向上刺去。122
The blade sank deep into the flesh.剑刃深深没入血肉。123
Blood welled from the wound.鲜血从伤口涌出。124
The Fire Knife stepped backward, but Olive moved with him like a bulldog, wriggling and twisting the sword.火刀刺客向后退去，奥利芙却像只咬住不放的斗牛犬般紧跟着他，不停扭动、搅转剑身。125
The assassin grabbed at her hair with his left hand, but before he could take advantage of his grip, he gurgled and collapsed on top of his enemy.刺客用左手一把抓住她的头发，可还没来得及借此发难，便喉间咕噜一声，倒在了敌人身上。126
It was several moments before Olive could get any air into her lungs and wriggle out from beneath her vanquished foe.过了好一会儿，奥利芙才终于喘上气，从被她击败的敌人身下挣扎着爬了出来。127
Blood stained the entire length of her gown.鲜血染红了她整条长裙。128
“Like falling off a log,” she muttered to herself.“跟从圆木上摔下来一样容易。”她喃喃自语。129
“Nothing to it.“没什么大不了的。130
Done it lots of times.”干过好多次了。”131
She tried to pant more quietly, listening for others.她竭力把喘息声压低，侧耳听着有没有其他动静。132
If anyone else was still in the house, they would have heard the fight.如果宅子里还有别人，他们肯定已经听见了打斗声。133
There was no other sound but her labored breathing.除了她吃力的喘息声，再没有别的声音。134
She returned to the pedestal and began exploring its carved edges for a catch to open the secret door.她回到基座旁，开始沿着雕花的边缘摸索，寻找开启暗门的机关。135
Badly rattled, her fingers ran over the surface for almost three minutes before she managed to press just the right bit of fluting.她惊魂未定，手指在表面来回摸索了将近三分钟，才终于按中了沟纹上恰到好处的那一小块。136
The wall in the back of the alcove slid open, revealing a spiral stairway leading down.壁龛后方的墙壁滑开了，露出一道向下延伸的螺旋楼梯。137
Stealing a torch from a wall sconce and the obese assassin’s short sword, the bard pattered down the steps.吟游诗人从墙上的火炬座里偷走一支火炬，又拿了那肥胖刺客的短剑，啪嗒啪嗒地跑下台阶。138
The air grew chill and damp as she descended.随着她不断向下，空气变得阴冷潮湿。139
At the bottom, a passage was cut deeply into the bedrock.到了底部，一条通道深深凿入了基岩。140
The passage was lighted by a magical glow issuing from statues of demons mounted on the walls—magical light that did not flicker, but shone in steady red beams from the red glass eyes and in white fans from the tops of their heads.墙上装着一尊尊恶魔雕像，散发出的魔法光芒照亮了通道——那光并不闪烁，而是从红玻璃眼珠中射出稳定的红色光束，又从它们头顶洒下扇形的白光。141
Along the right side of the passage were three archways blocked by cage bars.通道右侧有三道拱门，都被牢笼般的铁栅封住。142
The passage continued on, lit by a pearl-like string of red and white lights.通道继续向前延伸，一串珍珠般的红白灯光照亮了前路。143
Beyond the first archway lay an empty cell, clean but for a dark red smear streaking the back wall.第一道拱门后是一间空牢房，里面很干净，只有后墙上拖着一道暗红色的污痕。144
The second cell caged a mass of rotting cloaks and blankets.第二间牢房里关着一大堆腐烂的斗篷和毯子。145
Akabar hung in the third cell, the chains of his manacles attached to a hook in the ceiling.阿卡巴被吊在第三间牢房里，手铐上的锁链系在天花板的一只钩子上。146
The Turmishman’s toes dangled three inches from the floor.图米什人的脚趾悬在离地三英寸的地方。147
The assassins had left him in the cold and damp with nothing but a sheet wrapped around his waist.刺客们把他丢在这阴冷潮湿之处，身上除了一条裹在腰间的床单，什么也没有。148
His face was puffy and discolored.他的脸肿胀变色。149
Blood trickled from his mouth and welled in the troughs of four-fingered scratches across his right cheek and chest.鲜血从他嘴角淌下，又从他右颊和胸口四指抓痕的沟槽中渗出。150
Ruskettle could not remember Cassana’s nails being particularly long.拉斯凯特尔不记得卡萨娜的指甲有这么长。151
Then she recalled the sharpened finger bones of Zrie Prakis, and shuddered.随后她想起兹里·普拉基斯那磨尖的指骨，不禁打了个寒战。152
“Akabar,” she hissed, wondering if there were any other Fire Knives left behind to guard the prisoners.“阿卡巴。”她压低声音喊道，同时暗想是否还有别的火焰匕首成员留下来看守囚犯。153
She searched the bars for a door or a lock, but they ran from ceiling to floor without a break.她在铁栅上寻找门或锁，可那些栏杆从天花板一直延伸到地面，中间没有丝毫缺口。154
“Akabar!” she said louder.“阿卡巴！”她提高声音喊道。155
In the cell next door the mound of furs and cloaks stirred.隔壁牢房里，那堆毛皮和斗篷动了动。156
Olive started and watched the pile closely.奥利芙吓了一跳，紧盯着那堆东西。157
A man’s head poked out.一个男人的脑袋从里面探了出来。158
His hair and beard were shaggy and black, with splotches of gray and white.他的头发和胡须又长又乱，黑色中斑驳地夹杂着灰白。159
His eyes were blue and rheumy.他的眼睛是蓝色的，泪水蒙眬。160
His face was lined with cracks of old age and cold.衰老和寒冷在他脸上刻下了道道裂纹。161
Cocking his head he chirped, “Hullo.”他歪着脑袋，鸟鸣般啾了一声：“你好。”162
Olive cast a glance back at Akabar, but the mage had not moved.奥利芙回头瞥了阿卡巴一眼，但法师一动也没动。163
“Uh, greetings.“呃，你好。164
You must be the crafter.你一定就是那位工匠。165
Are we alone here?” she whispered.这里只有我们吗？”她低声问道。166
“No,” the crafter said, shaking loose the furs and cloaks.“不，”工匠一边说，一边抖开裹在身上的毛皮和斗篷。167
He rose slowly to his feet, and his legs wobbled as if he’d been bedridden for a long time.他缓缓站起身来，双腿摇摇晃晃，仿佛已经卧床很久了。168
He wore a tattered tabard that must have once been purple and green, but was now faded to gray and yellow.他穿着一件破烂的罩袍，从前想必是紫绿相间的，如今却已褪成了灰黄两色。169
“There’s a new prisoner next door,” he replied, pointing toward Akabar’s cell.“隔壁新来了一个囚犯，”他指着阿卡巴的牢房答道。170
“I mean, are there any guards?”“我是说，这里有守卫吗？”171
“Let me check.“我来看看。172
GUARDS!”守卫！”173
Olive toppled backward in shock.奥利芙吓得向后跌倒。174
Scrambling to her feet, she sought desperately for a bolt hole.她慌忙爬起身，拼命寻找藏身之处。175
She could run farther down the corridor or back up it.她可以继续沿走廊往前跑，也可以掉头往回跑。176
The crafter’s cry echoed back to her from both directions, but the sound of human feet did not follow it.工匠的喊声从两个方向传来回音，却没有人类的脚步声随之而来。177
“Sorry.“抱歉。178
No guards.没有守卫。179
I think they’re away.我想他们离开了。180
That way.”往那边走。”181
The graying crafter pointed farther down the passage.头发灰白的工匠指向通道更深处。182
Prakis warned you the fellow was mad, Olive-girl, she berated herself.普拉基斯警告过你，这家伙是个疯子，奥利芙姑娘，她在心里斥责自己。183
Obviously, he wasn’t joking.显然，他不是在开玩笑。184
“Where are the locks?” she demanded.“锁在哪里？”她厉声问道。185
The crafter’s eyes became sharp points.工匠的目光陡然锐利起来。186
“There are no locks here.”“这里没有锁。”187
“How did they put you in there?”“他们是怎么把你关进去的？”188
“Through the bars.”“穿过栏杆。”189
Olive cursed.奥利芙咒骂了一声。190
She didn’t have time to play riddles with crazy people.她没工夫跟疯子猜谜。191
“Must you be so cryptic?”“你非得这么故弄玄虚吗？”192
“As long as I’m here, yes.“只要我还在这里，就非得如此。”193
Otherwise, I’d shed light on the subject for you.”“不然，我倒可以替你把这件事照亮一些。”194
Olive considered continuing down the passage to search for Cassana’s hoard and then leave when she’d found enough treasure to keep her in flight for a year.奥利芙考虑过继续沿通道往下走，去寻找卡萨娜的宝藏，等找到足够让自己逃亡一年的财宝后便离开。195
But the hoard might be similarly barred, and who knew how many Fire Knives were stationed to guard the end of the tunnel?可宝藏也许同样被栏杆挡着，而且谁知道有多少火刃守卫驻守在隧道尽头？196
The light from her torch, dropped when the madman had bellowed, fizzled out and died.疯子吼叫时，她失手掉落的火把闪烁了几下，熄灭了。197
Only the magic light of the demon statues illuminated the corridor now.此刻，只有恶魔雕像发出的魔法光芒照亮着走廊。198
Light.光。199
Shed some light on the subject, she thought.把这件事照亮一些，她心想。200
What was the subject?这件事是什么？201
The bars.栏杆。202
Of course!当然了！203
It took the halfling several tries to climb up the smooth walls.半身人尝试了好几次，才攀上光滑的墙壁。204
Reaching behind the head of one of the demon figures, she found a glass sphere, cold as ice, but with a magical light that shone with more brilliance than any candle or torch.她把手伸到其中一尊恶魔雕像的脑后，摸到了一颗冰冷如霜的玻璃球，球中闪耀着魔法光芒，比任何蜡烛或火把都要明亮。205
Olive withdrew it gently and jumped down.奥利芙轻轻将它取出，跳回地面。206
She held the light in front of Akabar’s cell.她把光球举到阿卡巴的牢房前。207
“Nothing’s happening,” she growled, putting the sphere down to retrieve her sword.“什么也没发生。”她低吼道，放下光球去拿自己的剑。208
“Why should anything happen?” the madman shrugged.“为什么会有什么事发生？”疯子耸了耸肩。209
“You’re just standing there.”“你只是在那儿站着。”210
“So I am,” Olive nodded.“可不是嘛。”奥利芙点点头。211
She stepped forward—and passed right through the bars.她向前迈出一步——径直穿过了栏杆。212
“Hey, that’s great.“嘿，太好了。213
Thanks,” she called back to the crafter.谢谢。”她朝工匠喊道。214
She set the sword on the floor and checked on the mage’s condition.她把剑放到地上，察看法师的状况。215
He was still breathing, but she would never be able to lift him off the hook.他还在呼吸，但她绝不可能把他从钩子上抬下来。216
She might have tried climbing up the mage’s body and picking the locks on his manacles, but the wrist bindings had been welded, not snapped on.她本来或许可以试着攀着法师的身体爬上去，撬开他手铐上的锁，但他腕上的镣铐是焊死的，并非扣上的。217
“Need some help?” a voice beside her asked.“需要帮忙吗？”她身旁有个声音问道。218
Olive whirled around and would have skewered the speaker if he had not so agilely sidestepped her attack.奥利芙猛地转过身来；要不是说话的人身手敏捷地闪开了她的攻击，她早已把他一剑刺穿。219
The halfling gasped.半身人倒吸了一口凉气。220
The crafter stood next to her in Akabar’s cell.工匠就站在她身旁，身处阿卡巴的牢房里。221
She had set the glowing sphere down in such a position that it had shed light on the bars of his prison as well.她方才把发光的球体放在一个恰好的位置，光芒也照亮了他牢房的铁栏。222
He held the globe now in one hand.此刻，那颗光球正被他握在一只手里。223
“Keep back,” Olive ordered, brandishing her sword.“退后。”奥利芙挥剑喝令道。224
The crafter’s lips curled up in a wry smile.工匠唇角一扬，露出一抹讥诮的微笑。225
His eyes were now clear and piercing.他的双眼如今清澈而锐利。226
He stood straighter and looked stronger.他站得更挺拔了，看起来也更强壮。227
“If I keep back, how are we going to get your friend down?”“我要是退后，我们怎么把你的朋友弄下来？”228
His voice was now firm and reasonable.他的声音如今坚定而理智。229
Olive wrinkled her brow in puzzlement.奥利芙困惑地皱起眉头。230
“You’re not mad.”“你没疯。”231
The crafter harumphed.工匠哼了一声。232
“So I have always maintained.”“我一直都是这么说的。”233
“I mean … well, you’re different than you were a moment ago.”“我的意思是……嗯，你和刚才不一样了。”234
“The cell I was in works a spell of enfeeblement on its occupants.”“我刚才待的那间牢房会对里面的人施加虚弱法术。”235
“Oh.”“哦。”236
Suddenly remembering that the crafter was still one of Alias’s would-be masters, Olive took another step backward and held out her sword.奥利芙突然想起，这个制造者仍是企图成为阿莉亚丝主人的人之一，于是又后退一步，举剑对着他。237
“Why should you want to help?”“你为什么会想帮忙？”238
“Look, are you going to stand there all day demonstrating your incompetence with a short sword, or climb up on my shoulders and unhook this unfortunate southerner?”“喂，你是打算站在那儿一整天，继续展示你使短剑有多无能，还是爬到我肩上，把这个倒霉的南方人从钩子上解下来？”239
The halfling frowned at the insult, but the crafter had a point.半身人因这句羞辱皱起眉头，但制造者说得不无道理。240
She sighed and set her sword down behind her, then approached him cautiously.她叹了口气，把剑放在身后，然后小心翼翼地走近他。241
The crafter stooped, set the sphere of light on the ground, and made a foothold for her with his hands.制造者俯下身，把光球放到地上，双手交叠，给她搭了个踏脚处。242
Olive put her hand on his shoulder and stepped up.奥利芙把手搭在他的肩上，踩了上去。243
He was a big man, as tall as Akabar, and even broader at the chest.他身材魁梧，和阿卡巴一样高，胸膛甚至更加宽阔。244
She climbed nimbly to his shoulders, and he stood up smoothly.她敏捷地爬上他的肩膀，他随即稳稳地站起身来。245
“When I lift him, you detach the chain,” he said.“我把他托起来时，你解开锁链。”他说。246
Once Akabar had been released, Olive scrambled down the crafter’s back.阿卡巴一被放下来，奥利芙便顺着制造者的后背爬了下去。247
Cradling the mage in his arms, he carried him from the cell and set him on the ground outside.他把法师抱在怀里，带出牢房，放到外面的地上。248
Olive followed with her sword and the sphere of light.奥利芙拿着剑和光球跟了出去。249
The man frowned at the mage’s wounds.那男人看着法师身上的伤，皱起了眉。250
“Can you heal?” he asked Olive.“你会治疗吗？”他问奥利芙。251
“What do I look like?“你看我像什么？252
A paladin?”圣武士吗？”253
“Upstairs there’s a bureau in the dining room.“楼上餐厅里有一只五斗柜。254
It’s trapped, but there’s a small button along the base that deactivates it.上面设了陷阱，不过底座边上有个小按钮，可以解除陷阱。255
Unless Cassana has changed, there will be a number of potions there.要是卡萨娜的习惯没变，里面应该有不少药水。256
Fetch them and some clothing for this one and come right back.把药水取来，再给这位找些衣服，然后马上回来。257
Oh—and leave the sword.”哦——还有，把剑留下。”258
Olive obeyed without question, suddenly relieved to not be making all the decisions.奥利芙毫不迟疑地照办了；不用再事事都由自己拿主意，她顿时如释重负。259
She was back within fifteen minutes, laden with the potions, Akabar’s spellbooks—which had also been in the cabinet—one of Zrie Prakis’s robes, two kitchen knives, and a sack of food.不到十五分钟，她便回来了，带着那些药水、阿卡巴的法术书——那些书也在柜子里——兹里·普拉基斯的一件长袍、两把厨刀和一袋食物，满载而归。260
The crafter was seated by Akabar’s side, using the sword to scrape away his ratty beard.工匠坐在阿卡巴身旁，正用剑刮掉他那乱蓬蓬的胡子。261
His face was deeply careworn, like a general who’d been at war too long or a king’s wisest but least heeded adviser.他满面忧色，仿佛一位征战太久的将军，又像一位最有智慧、却最不受重视的国王顾问。262
He rummaged through the tablecloth that served as a sack, pulled out two potions, and mixed them together to form a gummy poultice, which he smeared over the cuts on Akabar’s chest and face.他在那块充作口袋的桌布里翻找了一番，掏出两瓶药剂混在一起，调成黏稠的药膏，涂在阿卡巴胸口和脸上的伤口上。263
Akabar moaned, but the wounds began to close.阿卡巴呻吟了一声，但伤口开始愈合了。264
The crafter slipped the rest of the potions into his tabard pockets.工匠把剩下的药剂塞进罩袍的口袋里。265
“His wounds will take about an hour to heal,” the crafter said.“他的伤大约要一个小时才能痊愈。”工匠说道。266
He turned a stern eye on Olive.他神色严厉地看向奥利芙。267
“Now, who is he, and who are you, and how did you come to be in this foul place?”“现在告诉我，他是谁，你又是谁，你们怎么会来到这个鬼地方？”268
“He’s Akabar Bel Akash, a mage.“他是阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什，一名法师。269
I’m Olive Ruskettle the Bard.我是吟游诗人奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。270
I’m trying to rescue Alias the Swordswoman from Cassana, who is trying to enslave her—”我正设法从卡萨娜手中救出女剑士阿莉亚丝，卡萨娜想要奴役她——”271
“I know all about Cassana’s business with Alias,” the crafter interrupted.“卡萨娜和阿莉亚丝之间的事，我全都知道。”工匠打断了她。272
“Who are you really?”“你究竟是什么人？”273
“I told you.“我已经告诉你了。274
This is Akabar Bel—”这位是阿卡巴·贝尔——”275
“I mean you, halfling.“我是问你，半身人。276
You cannot be a bard.”你不可能是吟游诗人。”277
“I beg your pardon?”“你说什么？”278
“I said, you cannot be a bard.“我说，你不可能是吟游诗人。279
You might use it as a cover for your other activities, but you cannot be one.你或许拿这个身份来掩饰自己的其他活动，但你不可能真是吟游诗人。280
There are no halfling bards.”世上根本没有半身人吟游诗人。”281
“Well, you are very much mistaken,” Olive huffed.“哼，那你可就大错特错了。”奥利芙气呼呼地说。282
“I am a halfling, and I am a bard.“我是半身人，也是吟游诗人。283
I sing, play the yarting and the tantan, compose music and poetry, and weave tales.”我会唱歌，会演奏雅廷琴和坦坦鼓，会谱曲作诗，也会编织故事。”284
“That makes you a troubadour or a minstrel.“那只能说明你是个行吟诗人或游方艺人。285
Your skill may be such that you can impress and entertain people, but to be a bard you must be trained.你的本事或许足以打动众人、供人消遣，但要成为吟游诗人，你必须接受训练。286
Without training, the power of the calling will never be yours.若未经训练，你永远无法获得这一天职的力量。287
And I know, better than any three of my colleagues and better than any sage, that no halfling has ever been trained.”而且我比我的任何三个同行加起来都清楚，也比任何贤者都清楚，从来没有半身人接受过这种训练。”288
“And how would you know?”“你怎么会知道？”289
“Because I am a bard.“因为我就是吟游诗人。290
The Nameless Bard.”吟游诗人无名者。”291
“The Nameless Bard?“吟游诗人无名者？292
Just what’s that supposed to mean?”那到底是什么意思？”293
“It means they took away my name.“意思是，他们夺走了我的名字。294
In much the same way that barbarian kings wipe out the wives and children of their enemies, they banned my songs and erased my name from history—and from my own mind.”正如蛮族国王会将敌人的妻儿斩尽杀绝，他们禁绝了我的歌谣，把我的名字从历史中抹去——也从我自己的脑海中抹去。”295
“You mean Cassana?”“你是说卡萨娜？”296
The Nameless Bard laughed.吟游诗人无名者笑了。297
“Hardly.“当然不是。298
It would take a power far greater than hers to overcome even a single melody of mine.”即便只想压过我的一支曲子，也需要远比她强大的力量。”299
A flash of inspiration struck Olive.奥利芙忽然灵光一闪。300
“You wrote the songs Alias sings.“阿莉亚丝唱的那些歌是你写的。301
You’re her Harper friend.”你就是她那个竖琴手朋友。”302
The Nameless Bard turned a piercing look on the halfling.吟游诗人无名者以锐利逼人的目光看向这个半身人。303
Olive grew uncomfortable beneath his gaze and turned away.奥利芙在他的注视下越发不自在，便转开了脸。304
“Didn’t mean to pry,” she mumbled.“我不是故意要探听你的私事。”她嘟囔道。305
“I remember a bard, a true bard, named Ruskettle.“我记得有个吟游诗人，一个真正的吟游诗人，名叫拉斯凯特尔。306
Olav Ruskettle.奥拉夫·拉斯凯特尔。307
Had a bad gambling habit.他嗜赌成性。308
Would have staked his own mother on the roll of a die.掷一次骰子，他连自己的亲娘都敢押上。309
I suppose by the time you ran into him, he had nothing left but his name.”我猜，等你遇到他时，他除了一介姓名，已经一无所有了。”310
Olive glared at the Nameless Bard.奥利芙怒视着无名者诗人。311
“He was situated very comfortably as a tavernkeeper in Procampur.“他当时在普罗坎普当酒馆老板，日子过得很舒坦。312
He couldn’t gamble away the tavern—his wife held the title.”他没法把酒馆输掉——产权在他妻子名下。”313
“So he offered you his name.”“所以他拿自己的名字跟你赌。”314
Olive shrugged.奥利芙耸了耸肩。315
“He couldn’t play anymore—lost his right hand.“他已经没法演奏了——他失去了右手。316
His voice was beginning to fade.”他的嗓音也开始衰退了。”317
“So you accepted.“所以你接受了。318
Loaded dice?”骰子灌过铅吗？”319
“No!”“没有！”320
“Very well.“很好。321
You won the name fair and square.这个名字是你堂堂正正赢来的。322
But all the rights, privileges, and immunities thereunto appertaining, you never earned.”但与之相关的一切权利、特权和豁免权，你从未真正赢得。”323
“Just because humans don’t recognize a halfling’s talents doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”“人类不承认半身人的才华，并不意味着这种才华不存在。”324
“Did you even try applying to a barding college?”“你到底有没有试过申请吟游诗人学院？”325
The halfling was silent for a moment.半身人沉默了片刻。326
“No,” she admitted.“没有。”她承认道。327
“Why not?“为什么不呢？328
No, don’t answer me.不，别回答我。329
I’m really not interested in your excuses.我对你的借口实在没兴趣。330
Answer to yourself.你自己回答自己吧。331
Now, tell me, would-be bard, how did you come to be a companion to the swordswoman, Alias?”现在告诉我吧，自封的吟游诗人，你是怎么成为女剑士阿莉亚丝的同伴的？”332
Olive bridled some at the title, but she needed the Nameless Bard’s help to free Alias.奥利芙对这个称呼颇有些恼火，但要救出阿莉亚丝，她需要无名吟游诗人的帮助。333
She began with Mist’s abduction of her from the caravan in Cormyr, then explained how Dimswart had come to hire Alias.她先讲起米斯特如何在科米尔把她从商队中掳走，接着解释迪姆斯沃特如何雇用了阿莉亚丝。334
She described their battle with the crystal elemental, the disastrous brawl at the wedding, all that Dimswart had discovered about the sigils, and the destruction of the kalmari.她讲述了他们与水晶元素的战斗、婚礼上那场灾难性的群殴、迪姆斯沃特查明的关于符印的一切，以及卡尔马里的毁灭。335
She began slowly and nervously, like a schoolchild asked to recite, but she was not naturally a taciturn person, and her tale flowed smooth and clear by the time she described the events in Shadowdale.起初，她讲得缓慢而紧张，活像一个被叫起来背书的学童；但她天性并不寡言，等讲到阴影谷发生的事情时，她的叙述已经流畅而清晰了。336
To her own astonishment, she told the truth about her dealings with Phalse.连她自己都惊讶的是，她如实讲出了自己与法尔斯之间的交易。337
She knew the story would not make much sense if she left out crucial elements.她知道，要是漏掉关键环节，这个故事就会变得毫无头绪。338
She related all Akabar had told her about the events in Yulash, how Dragonbait had subdued Mist, the battle with Moander, and finally how all of them came to be captured by Alias’s enemies, the others by force, she by stupidity.她复述了阿卡巴告诉她的关于尤拉什事件的一切：龙饵如何制伏米斯特，他们与莫安德的战斗，以及最后，他们所有人如何落入阿莉亚丝的敌人手中——其他人是被武力擒获的，而她则是因为愚蠢。339
Olive had never had such a polite and riveted audience in her life.奥利芙这辈子还从没遇到过如此彬彬有礼又全神贯注的听众。340
He interrupted her tale only once, when she was describing how Cassana had made Alias batter Akabar.他只打断过她一次，那是在她讲到卡萨娜如何逼迫阿莉亚丝痛打阿卡巴的时候。341
“You say she wept?” the true bard asked.“你说她哭了？”真正的吟游诗人问道。342
“Of course she wept,” Olive said.“她当然哭了，”奥利芙说。343
“Akabar is her friend, and the witch was using her to pulp his flesh.“阿卡巴是她的朋友，而那个女巫却在利用她把他打得血肉模糊。344
I could see the streaks her tears left on her cheeks and the dark spots where they landed on the floor.我能看见泪水在她脸颊上留下的道道泪痕，也能看见泪珠落在地板上形成的深色斑点。345
Cassana thought it was pretty funny and made a stupid joke about it.卡萨娜觉得这事很可笑，还拿它开了个愚蠢的玩笑。346
She said, ‘Look Zrie, she’s crying.她说：‘看啊，兹里，她哭了。347
I’ll bet I know who taught her that trick.’我敢打赌，我知道是谁教会她这一招的。’348
Then she used her wand to knock Alias out.”然后她用魔杖把阿莉亚丝击昏了。”349
The true bard’s lower lip quivered for a moment.真正的吟游诗人下唇颤抖了片刻。350
He clamped it shut.他紧紧抿住了嘴。351
“Finish.“说完。352
Quickly.快点。353
Your friend is coming around.”你的朋友快醒了。”354
Olive told how Cassana had put her to sleep, and the deal Zrie had offered her.奥利芙讲述了卡萨娜如何让她陷入沉睡，以及兹里向她提出的交易。355
“He unbolted the door for me.“他替我拉开了门闩。356
There were only two guards upstairs.楼上只有两个守卫。357
I killed them and came down here looking for Akabar.”我杀了他们，然后下来这里找阿卡巴。”358
Akabar awoke slowly.阿卡巴缓缓醒来。359
Though weak, he was still strong enough to grab Ruskettle by the throat and throttle her.他虽然虚弱，却仍有足够的力气一把掐住拉斯凯特尔的喉咙，想将她扼死。360
The Nameless Bard pulled the mage’s hands away with his own sure grip.无名者吟游诗人用自己沉稳有力的双手掰开了法师的手。361
“You’ve signed her death warrant, you greedy, little bitch!”“你这是给她签了死刑令，你这个贪婪的小婊子！”362
Akabar shouted.阿卡巴吼道。363
“I think there has been a misunderstanding,” the Nameless Bard said calmly.“我想这里面有些误会，”无名者吟游诗人平静地说道。364
“Your friend was using a ruse to win your enemy’s trust.”“你的朋友只是在使计骗取敌人的信任。”365
Akabar’s eyes squinted with disbelief, but he could not fight the strength of the true bard’s hands.阿卡巴难以置信地眯起双眼，却敌不过真正的吟游诗人那双手的力量。366
Olive felt a rush of gratitude toward the bard.奥利芙心中顿时对那位吟游诗人充满了感激。367
She had told him the whole truth, that her reasons for accepting Phalse’s offer had been as much for greed as for a desire to play at espionage, but he had given her the benefit of the doubt.她已经把全部真相都告诉了他：她之所以接受法尔斯的提议，既是出于贪欲，也是因为想玩一场谍报游戏；可他还是选择了相信她的善意。368
“Look, Akash.“听着，阿卡什。369
I came down here to get your help to rescue Alias.”我下来是想请你帮忙营救阿莉亚丝。”370
That much was half true.这话至少有一半是真的。371
“If you’d rather go back to your cell and wait for Cassana …”“如果你宁愿回牢房里等卡萨娜……”372
Akabar spat on the halfling’s gown.阿卡巴朝半身人的长袍上啐了一口。373
“He’s very emotional,” she explained to the crafter.“他这人情绪很激动，”她向那位工匠解释道。374
“Look at me, Akabar Bel Akash,” the Nameless Bard said.“看着我，阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”无名吟游诗人说道。375
The power of his voice drew Akabar’s eyes unwillingly from Olive.他的声音中蕴含的力量迫使阿卡巴不情愿地将目光从奥利芙身上移开。376
“Do you want to rescue Alias?”“你想救出阿莉亚丝吗？”377
Akabar took a deep breath, almost a sob.阿卡巴深吸了一口气，那声音几乎像是在抽泣。378
“Yes.”“想。”379
“So does this creature.“这个生物也想。380
So do I. Contain your anger.我也想。 克制住你的怒火。381
It is a waste of your energies.那只会白白耗费你的精力。382
You should know that.”这一点你应该明白。”383
Akabar took another deep, slow breath.阿卡巴又缓缓地深吸了一口气。384
He relaxed his muscles.他放松了紧绷的肌肉。385
The true bard released his wrists.真正的吟游诗人松开了他的手腕。386
“Who are you?”“你是谁？”387
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。388
“The Nameless Bard.”“无名吟游诗人。”389
“Nameless?“无名？390
No one is nameless.”没有人会没有名字。”391
“They took his name away,” Olive explained.“他们夺走了他的名字。”奥利芙解释道。392
“Who?”“谁？”393
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。394
The Nameless Bard sighed.无名吟游诗人叹了口气。395
“Eat” he said, motioning toward the food that Olive had taken from Cassana’s larder.“吃吧。”他说着，朝奥利芙从卡萨娜的食品储藏室里拿来的食物示意了一下。396
“You’ll need your strength very soon.“你很快就需要这些力气了。397
I will tell you my story while you dine.”你用餐的时候，我会把我的故事讲给你听。”398
Akabar noticed his books in Olive’s bundle and motioned for them.阿卡巴注意到自己的书就在奥利芙的包袱里，便做手势要她拿给他。399
Olive slid them to his side.奥利芙把书推到了他身边。400
She remembered how he had asked for them after being freed from Moander and took this as a sign that he was prepared to carry on—and put the past behind him—at least for now.她想起他从莫安德手中获救后也曾向她讨要这些书，便把这看作一个迹象：他已经准备好继续前行，把过去抛在身后——至少眼下如此。401
“You have no doubt heard of the Harpers,” the Nameless Bard began.“想必你们都听说过竖琴手同盟，”无名者吟游诗人开口说道。402
“They were established in the north long before you were born.“早在你们出生之前，他们就在北方成立了。403
Their members are primarily bards and rangers, though not limited to such.成员主要是吟游诗人和游侠，不过并不仅限于这两类人。404
All are good and true men and women devoted to preserving the balance of life, opposing all that threatens the peace of the Realms, protecting the weak and innocent.他们无一不是正直善良之士，致力于维持生命的平衡，抗击一切威胁诸界和平的事物，保护弱者与无辜之人。405
You might recognize them by their small silver pin of a harp and a moon.或许你们能凭他们佩戴的银质小别针认出他们，那上面有一把竖琴和一弯月亮。406
“One of their number was a bard, a master of his craft, with a voice and a memory like polished ice.“他们当中有一位吟游诗人，技艺登峰造极，嗓音与记忆都如磨光的冰一般清澈无瑕。407
A creator of songs that could move people to action, or calm them to slumber.他创作的歌曲既能激励人们付诸行动，也能抚慰他们安然入眠。408
None heard his music but that they were impressed.凡听过他音乐的人，无不为之折服。409
The bard himself was often astonished by his own skill and wished for all his works to be preserved for eternity.就连这位吟游诗人自己也常常惊叹于自身的才华，并希望自己的所有作品都能永世流传。410
“Yet songs are so easily changed, their lyrics tampered with, their melodies maligned.“然而歌曲太容易被改动，歌词会遭人篡改，旋律也会被扭曲。411
The bard’s own colleagues had done this to his works, substituting a phrase to suit a particular audience, quickening the tempo to end an evening’s entertainment sooner.就连那位吟游诗人的同伴也曾这样改动他的作品：为了迎合某些听众而替换一句歌词，或是为了早点结束一晚的演出而加快节奏。412
Or simply forgetting a line.又或者，只是忘掉了某一句。413
And though such things are only natural, the bard was obsessed with preserving his works as he’d intended them to be sung.”尽管这些事再自然不过，那位吟游诗人却执意要让自己的作品以他原本意欲演唱的方式保存下来。”414
“Prickly sort, wasn’t he?”“是个挺难伺候的家伙，对吧？”415
Olive asked with a tiny grin.奥利芙带着一丝笑意问道。416
The corner of the true bard’s mouth turned up in a half-smile.真正的吟游诗人嘴角一扬，露出半个微笑。417
“We all have our faults.“我们每个人都有自己的缺点。418
“Rejecting human singers as the preservers of his art, he turned to mechanical means.“他认为人类歌手无法保存他的艺术，于是转而寻求机械手段。419
Paper and stone would not suffice—the written word could not convey the meaning as well as spoken words, and written notes describe only the melody, not the spirit of the music.纸张与石头都不够用——文字无法像言语那样充分传达其中的含义，而写下来的音符也只能记录旋律，无法描述音乐的灵魂。420
And paper and stone can be destroyed.况且，纸张和石头都可能被毁掉。421
Even magical attempts to reproduce his music dissatisfied him.就连那些试图重现其音乐的魔法手段，也无法令他满意。422
They could not demonstrate the full interaction of the bard with his audience.它们无法充分展现吟游诗人与听众之间完整的互动。423
“Finally, he determined a mixture of these methods that would fulfill his requirements.“最终，他想出了一种将这些方法结合起来、足以满足他要求的办法。424
A human shell, unwilling, even unable, to stray from the original rendition, a repository for his tales and music that could render them unto generations.”一个人类躯壳，不愿、甚至无法偏离最初的演绎，成为他故事与音乐的储存之所，将它们传给一代又一代的人。”425
“Alias,” Akabar said.“阿莉亚丝。”阿卡巴说道。426
“Alias?”“阿莉亚丝？”427
Olive chirped.奥利芙尖声问道。428
“Alias,” the true bard said.“阿莉亚丝。”真正的吟游诗人说道。429
“The price to make such a creature, however, was very great, involving dealing with powerful mages and extra-planar powers.“然而，要创造出这样的生灵，代价极其高昂，必须与强大的法师和位面之外的势力打交道。430
The price was also horrible.这代价也极其可怕。431
It would cost the life of a noble innocent, both pure and true, by brutal means.它需要以残酷的手段夺走一个高贵无辜、纯洁真诚之人的生命。432
“The master bard, with his apprentices, men and women of lesser power but great talent, tried to create this shell on their own.“这位吟游诗人大师与他的学徒们——那些力量稍逊、才华却极其出众的男女——试图凭自己的力量创造出这个躯壳。433
The attempt failed, costing one assistant his life and another her voice, so that she was silent for the rest of her shortened, painful days.尝试失败了，夺走了一名助手的生命，也夺走了另一名助手的声音，使她在此后短暂而痛苦的余生中再也无法开口。434
“Many men and women of the Realms might have shrugged off such a tragedy.“诸界中的许多男女或许会对这样的悲剧不以为意。435
But the Harpers considered themselves better men and women and were horrified by what the bard had done.但竖琴手同盟自认为是更高尚的人，他们对那名吟游诗人的所作所为惊骇万分。436
They summoned him to judgement.他们传召他接受审判。437
They stripped him of his name, stole it from his memory.他们剥夺了他的名字，将它从他的记忆中窃走。438
His name being a given thing, this was easy to do.他的名字本是他人所赐，因此这并不难办到。439
But knowledge discovered is like an efreet let out of a bottle: it cannot be forced back in.但被发现的知识就像放出瓶子的火焰巨灵：再也无法被强塞回去。440
The struggle to discover it makes it part of the discoverer’s soul.为发现它而付出的艰苦努力，使它成了发现者灵魂的一部分。441
They could not destroy the knowledge in him.他们无法摧毁他心中的知识。442
They feared he would try again, or pass the knowledge to another.他们担心他会再试一次，或是把这知识传给别人。443
So they could not let him go free, yet they would not slay him, for he was one of their own, and they did not want his blood on their hands.所以他们不能放他自由，却也不肯杀死他，因为他曾是他们中的一员，而他们不愿让双手沾上他的鲜血。”444
“They decided he would have to be imprisoned, but no ordinary prison would do.“他们认定必须将他囚禁起来，但普通的监狱根本不行。445
They could not risk his ever passing on the method he had developed.他们绝不能冒险让他把自己研究出来的方法传给任何人。446
So they shackled and exiled him beyond the bounds of the Realms, in the lands where reason fails and the gods roll like storm fronts across the sky.于是，他们给他戴上镣铐，将他放逐到诸界之外，逐入那片理性失效、诸神如风暴锋面般横卷天际的土地。447
All his songs, his words, and his ideas were expunged in a sweeping attempt to cover up what he had achieved.他的所有歌曲、言辞和思想都遭到抹除，为的是彻底掩盖他的成就。448
Those who knew his songs were told to sing them no more, and such was the respect and fear of the Harpers in those days that many complied.知道他那些歌曲的人都被告诫不得再唱；那时人们对竖琴手同盟既敬且畏，许多人都听从了。449
“So that which the master bard feared most came to pass: the songs he sought to preserve were dead things, unremembered in the Realms.“于是，这位吟游诗人大师最害怕的事终于发生了：他力图保存的歌曲成了死物，已被诸界遗忘。450
The Harpers had been thorough, indeed.竖琴手同盟办得的确滴水不漏。451
The newer members know nothing of the story.新加入的成员对这段往事一无所知。452
Only the old remember the tale.”只有老人们还记得这个故事。”453
“So how did you escape?”“那你是怎么逃出来的？”454
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。455
“Some vestige of the tale survived.“这个故事终究还残留下了一点痕迹。456
A scrap of a letter I’d written to an apprentice fell into Cassana’s hands—something about how my human shell could be made indistinguishable from the real thing.我写给一个学徒的信有一小片残篇落入了卡萨娜手中——里面提到如何让我的人类躯壳与真正的人类毫无区别。457
Cassana went to great lengths to track me down.卡萨娜费尽周折，终于追查到了我的下落。458
She put a bounty out on an old Harper and tortured him for the information on my whereabouts.她悬赏捉拿了一名年迈的竖琴手，严刑逼问我的所在。459
I hear he did not submit until she began torturing other creatures as well.我听说，直到她也开始折磨其他生灵，他才屈服。460
“I knew none of this when her allies completed a bridge to my place of exile.“她的盟友架起通往我流放之地的桥梁时，我对此一无所知。461
If I had not been half mad with loneliness and grief for the death of my songs, I might have seen through Cassana’s unholy alliance immediately.若不是孤独和歌曲消亡的悲痛已令我近乎疯狂，我或许立刻就能看穿卡萨娜那邪恶的联盟。462
But Cassana used her sweetest manner, and Phalse played on my desire for retribution.但卡萨娜对我百般温柔，法尔斯则利用了我渴望报复的心理。463
Zrie cloaked himself in the illusion of a living mage.兹里用幻象将自己伪装成一个活着的法师。464
I was not told of the Fire Knives or Moander or Phalse’s master.没人告诉我火焰匕首、莫安德或法尔斯主人的事。465
“I gave up all my secrets, and they helped me build Alias.“我交出了自己所有的秘密，而他们帮助我造出了阿莉亚丝。466
Later, I learned that the money for the project came from the Fire Knives, and that Moander provided the life energy needed to start Alias breathing.后来我才知道，这项计划的资金来自火焰匕首，而让阿莉亚丝开始呼吸所需的生命能量则由莫安德提供。467
Cassana provided the body, Zrie the power to keep death from her, and Phalse’s master the power to bind a soul in her.”卡萨娜提供了躯体，兹里提供了让死亡远离她的力量，法尔斯的主人则提供了将灵魂束缚在她体内的力量。”468
“Dragonbait’s soul,” Akabar breathed.“龙饵的灵魂。”阿卡巴以气声说道。469
“The saurial, yes.”“对，就是那个蜥蜴人。”470
“And you taught her to sing,” Olive said.“而且是你教会她唱歌的。”奥利芙说。471
“Oh, more than that.“哦，远不止如此。472
I spun her entire history, her thoughts, her feelings, her beliefs.她的全部身世、思想、感情和信念，都是我编织出来的。473
A full personality that could interact with others.我赋予了她完整的人格，让她能够与他人交往。474
She was to be my redemption, my justification, of all I had done.她本应成为我的救赎，为我所做的一切辩白。475
I wanted to be sure that no one could see the beauty of my achievement without forgiving the evil means I used to accomplish it.我要确保任何人看到我的成就之美后，都不得不原谅我为此采用的邪恶手段。476
“But my allies had their own purposes, something I should have realized when each gave her a different name.“但我的盟友各有图谋——当他们每个人都给她取了一个不同的名字时，我就该意识到这一点。477
I named her Alias because I could not give her my own.我给她取名阿莉亚丝，因为我不能把自己的名字给她。478
All I wanted was for her to live in peace and sing my songs.我只希望她能平静地生活，唱我写的歌。479
“Then they branded her and the saurial, which Phalse’s master had provided as sacrifice to give her a soul, and I understood they intended her to be a slave.“后来，他们给她和那个蜥蜴人烙上了印记；那蜥蜴人是法尔斯的主人提供的祭品，要用他的牺牲赋予她灵魂。于是我明白，他们打算让她成为奴隶。480
“I argued with Cassana, and for the first time she showed me her true nature.“我同卡萨娜争辩，她第一次向我显露了自己的真面目。481
She’d left the empty space in the brand to represent me—another of her cruel jokes.她特意在烙印上留了一处空白，用来代表我——这又是她一个残酷的玩笑。482
I walked out on her and came down here, for this is where Alias and Dragonbait were being kept.我离开了她，来到这里，因为阿莉亚丝和龙饵就被关在这里。483
I tried to convince myself to destroy Alias rather than bring her into this world bonded to so much evil.”我试图说服自己，与其让阿莉亚丝带着与如此多邪恶的羁绊降生于世，不如毁掉她。”484
The former Harper looked in the cell where Akabar had hung as though he still saw someone there.那位昔日的竖琴手望向阿卡巴曾被吊着的牢房，仿佛仍能看见里面有人。485
Tears welled in his eyes.泪水涌上了他的眼眶。486
“I am too reasonable a man to believe in miracles, but I suppose they must occur in spite of what I believe.“我是个太过理性的人，不相信奇迹，但我想，无论我信不信，奇迹大概总会发生。487
When we’d left her in the cell that evening she was breathing but unconscious.那天傍晚我们把她留在牢房里时，她仍有呼吸，却昏迷不醒。488
Our calculations said she would not awaken until the saurial was slain.根据我们的推算，在那个蜥蜴人被杀死之前，她不会醒来。489
He was very near death already.而他当时已经命悬一线。490
He had killed many Fire Knives in one attempt to escape, and they beat him every chance they got.他曾在一次逃跑时杀死许多火刀帮的人，所以那些人一有机会就殴打他。491
They’d left him hanging by the same hook you occupied, mage.他们把他吊在刚才吊着你的那只钩子上，法师。492
“When I returned here that night, the lizard was lying on the straw, wrapped in Alias’s cloak.“那天夜里我回到这里时，那只蜥蜴正躺在稻草上，身上裹着阿莉亚丝的斗篷。493
She had taken him down and was tending his wounds, singing him a lullaby, like a child with a doll.她已经把他放了下来，正照料他的伤口，还给他唱着摇篮曲，就像一个抱着玩偶的孩子。”494
“I sneaked upstairs to fetch the sword I had bought for Alias and some healing potions for the saurial.“我偷偷溜上楼，去拿我给阿莉亚丝买的剑，还有一些给那个蜥蜴人疗伤的药水。495
I also sought his sword, which Cassana had given to me because I was the only one who could pick it up without pain.我还找到了他的剑；卡萨娜把它交给了我，因为只有我拿起它时不会感到疼痛。496
I wasn’t certain I could trust Alias with the swords.我不确定能不能放心地把剑交给阿莉亚丝。497
She was like a very little child.她就像个很小很小的孩子。498
So I gave her the potions and told her what to do with them.所以我把药水给了她，告诉她该怎么用。499
When the saurial regained consciousness, I told him I would free him if he would help Alias escape—that he must take her as far from Westgate as possible.那个蜥蜴人恢复意识后，我告诉他，只要他帮助阿莉亚丝逃走，我就放了他——他必须带她尽可能远离西门城。500
He readily agreed.他毫不犹豫地答应了。501
“I had to remain behind to cover their escape.“我必须留下来掩护他们逃走。502
An hour before dawn, when we were all preparing to leave for the sacrifice of the saurial, Cassana realized what I had done.黎明前一个小时，就在我们所有人准备动身去献祭那个蜥蜴人时，卡萨娜发现了我的所作所为。503
She would have destroyed me that moment, but Phalse ordered that I be spared.她当时就要毁掉我，但法尔斯下令饶我一命。504
He thought I might know where they had gone, and he interrogated me in his own fashion.他认为我或许知道他们去了哪里，便用他自己的方式审问我。505
I thought I was safe because I had given the lizard no specific instructions, but I planted in Alias a great nostalgia for Shadowdale.我原以为自己不会暴露，因为我并没有给那个蜥蜴人任何明确的指示；但我在阿莉亚丝心中植入了对阴影谷的强烈思念。506
I wanted her to sing there.我希望她去那里歌唱。507
Phalse learned this, and that is how he knew where to wait for you.”法尔斯得知了这一点，所以他才知道该去哪里等你们。”508
“That’s where you met him,” Akabar accused Olive.“你就是在那里遇见他的。”阿卡巴责问奥利芙。509
The halfling shrugged.半身人耸了耸肩。510
“You knew Alias wasn’t human, but you never told me.”“你明明知道阿莉亚丝不是人类，却从来没有告诉我。”511
She turned back to the true bard.她转回身，面向那位真正的吟游诗人。512
“Phalse let you live then?”“那么，法尔斯当时放过了你？”513
“That was Cassana’s decision.“那是卡萨娜的决定。514
She changed her mind about destroying me.她改变了主意，不再想毁掉我。515
She left me in this chamber, where my thoughts would wander and my strength fade so I would grow more pliable.她把我留在这个房间里，让我的思绪日渐涣散，力量逐渐衰退，好让我变得更容易摆布。516
She wanted my help on other projects and … my company.”她希望我协助她完成其他计划，还想要……我的陪伴。”517
“Piggish, isn’t she?”“真贪心，不是吗？”518
Olive said.奥利芙说。519
“Just think, Akash, you could have been co-concubine with an ex-Harper.”“想想看，阿卡什，你本来可以和一个前竖琴手一起给她当男宠呢。”520
Akabar fixed the halfling with a cold stare.阿卡巴冷冷地盯着那个半身人。521
“Well,” Olive Ruskettle said with a grin, “she may be a witch, but I can’t knock her taste in men—living ones that is.“这个嘛，”奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔咧嘴笑道，“她也许是个女巫，但她挑男人的眼光我可没法挑剔——我是说活着的男人。”522
Shouldn’t we be leaving soon if we’re going to stop this saurial sacrifice?”“要想阻止这场蜥族人献祭，我们不是该赶快动身了吗？”523
“We wait only until moonset,” the true bard explained.“我们只等到月落，”真正的吟游诗人解释道。524
“To avoid the patrols of Fire Knives.”“这样才能避开烈火飞刀的巡逻队。”525
“You’ve been babbling away in that cell for a month now.“你已经在那间牢房里胡言乱语了整整一个月。”526
How do you know when moonset is?”“你怎么知道什么时候月落？”527
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。528
The crafter picked up a drumstick and took a bite of the meat, chewed, and swallowed before he smiled sweetly at her.工匠拿起一只鸡腿，咬下一口肉，嚼了嚼，咽下去，这才冲她甜甜一笑。529
“You forget, Mistress Ruskettle, a bard never loses count of the measure.”“你忘了，拉斯凯特尔女士，吟游诗人永远不会数丢拍子。”530
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听