“Alias, are you all right?”“阿莉亚丝，你没事吧？”1
Olive asked, bending over the swordswoman.奥利芙俯身看着女剑士，问道。2
“I feel like I’ve been taken apart and put back together, with lots of pieces missing,” Alias moaned.“我感觉自己像是被拆散后又拼了回去，只是少了好多零件。”阿莉亚丝呻吟道。3
“That’s a pretty sick joke,” Olive chided.“这个玩笑也太病态了。”奥利芙责备道。4
“Apt, but sick.”“倒是贴切，可也够病态的。”5
“What do you expect?”“不然你还指望什么？”6
A throbbing pain had filled her head, her flesh stung from half a dozen cuts, and she felt badly sunburned.她脑袋里充斥着阵阵抽痛，身上五六处伤口火辣辣地疼，皮肤也像被烈日严重灼伤了一样。7
She opened her eyes, then shut them instantly, growling, “Well, that was a mistake.”她睁开眼睛，又立刻闭上，低吼道：“好吧，这可真是个错误。”8
A bright white light seared her eyeballs, leaving blue dots dancing before her mind even after she’d squeezed her eyes shut and covered them with her hands.一道耀眼的白光灼痛了她的眼球；即使她已经紧闭双眼，还用双手遮住眼睛，脑海中依然有一个个蓝色光点在跳动。9
This was not the icy white of sun on snow or the ivory white of silk, but the hot, burning white of coals in the center of a forge.这不是阳光照在雪上的冰冷雪白，也不是丝绸的象牙白，而是锻炉中央炭火那种炽热灼人的白。10
Shielding her eyes, she ventured another look.她遮住双眼，大着胆子又看了一眼。11
The sky above was convoluted whirls of white-whites and off-whites—hot matter and even hotter matter swirling and twisting in a vain attempt to combine.头顶的天空中，纯白与灰白盘旋交错——炽热的物质与更加炽热的物质翻腾扭曲，徒劳地试图融为一体。12
“This is where the gods roll across the sky like storm fronts,” she muttered.“这里就是众神如暴风锋面般横越天空的地方。”她喃喃道。13
“What?”“什么？”14
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。15
“Nothing.“没什么。16
Just a line from an old tale.”只是一则古老故事里的一句话。”17
“Right,” the halfling said, realizing just who must have told her the tale.“好吧。”半身人说道，已经猜到那故事一定是谁讲给她听的。18
“You going to lay there all day?” she asked.“你打算一整天都躺在那儿吗？”她问。19
Alias sighed and sat up.阿莉亚丝叹了口气，坐起身来。20
Beneath her were gray flagstones shimmering in the light of the white-on-white sky overhead.她身下是灰色的石板，在头顶白中叠白的天空映照下闪烁着微光。21
Olive knelt beside her.奥利芙跪在她身旁。22
The halfling’s glittering white dress, a copy of the one Cassana had worn to last evening’s midnight dinner, was covered in mud and blood.半身人身上那件闪闪发亮的白色长裙，是仿照卡萨娜昨晚参加午夜宴席时穿的那一件做的，如今却沾满了泥污和鲜血。23
To Alias’s right, Akabar and Dragonbait were kneeling over a fifth figure—the stranger who’d helped them fight the battle on the Hill of Fangs.阿莉亚丝右边，阿卡巴和龙饵正跪在第五个人影身旁——那是曾帮助他们在獠牙丘上战斗的陌生人。24
Alias felt a momentary twinge of jealousy that they were looking after the stranger before they did so for her.见他们先照料那个陌生人，而不是自己，阿莉亚丝心中顿时泛起一丝嫉妒。25
Don’t be a fool, she told herself.别犯傻了，她对自己说。26
For someone who’s just fought two dozen assassins, a witch, and a lich, and who’s broken a staff of power, you’re in pretty good shape.一个刚刚大战了二十四名刺客、一个女巫和一个巫妖，还折断了一根强力法杖的人，能有你现在这副样子已经很不错了。27
You got off easier than Sylune did in Shadowdale.比起阴影谷的希露妮，你可幸运多了。28
A pang of grief went through her, though, as she remembered how the river witch had met her end.然而，一想起那位河中女巫最后的结局，一阵悲痛便刺穿了她的心。29
Is there a difference, she wondered, between the sadness that real people feel and the sadness I was made to feel?她想，真正的人所感受到的悲伤，与别人让我感受到的悲伤，究竟有没有区别？30
What reason would any of my makers have to make me grieve for someone like Sylune?我的那些创造者有什么理由要让我为希露妮这样的人悲伤？31
None, she decided.没有，她断定。32
I can think for myself, and I can feel for myself.我能独立思考，也能拥有自己的感情。33
The “masters” don’t have anything to do with it.这跟那些“主人”毫无关系。34
Remembering the recent deaths of all but one of the masters, she looked down to examine her sword arm.想起那些主人近日来除一人外尽数死去，她低下头，查看自己握剑的那条手臂。35
The limb still ached from the disappearance of the top three sigils—Cassana’s, Zrie Prakis’s, and the Fire Knives’.最上方的三枚印记——卡萨娜的、兹里·普拉基斯的，以及火刀会的——消失后，那条手臂仍在隐隐作痛。36
All remaining members of the assassins must have been wiped out by the explosion of Zrie’s staff of power.火刀会剩下的所有成员，想必都已在兹里那根强力法杖的爆炸中全军覆没。37
The arm that the sigils occupied had been overgrown with the waving serpent pattern, but only the concentric rings of Phalse’s master remained.原本被那些印记占据的手臂上，如今蔓生着蜿蜒起伏的蛇纹，只剩下法尔斯主人那道同心圆印记。38
And the blank space that’s left, Alias thought, remembering with a shudder Olive’s prediction that something might now grow there.还有留下来的那片空白……阿莉亚丝心想，不禁打了个寒战，想起奥利芙预言过，现在那里或许会长出什么东西。39
Alias tried to stand and stumbled to one knee.阿莉亚丝试着站起来，却踉跄着单膝跪倒。40
She was tired and battered.她疲惫不堪，浑身是伤。41
She leaned on Dragonbait’s sword, stood up, and looked around.她拄着龙饵的剑站起身来，环顾四周。42
They were atop a very tall tower that thrust into the shining white sky.他们身处一座极高的塔顶，那座塔直插入明亮的白色天空。43
The crenelations of the wall about them were curved and pointed like the stones about the Hill of Fangs had been.四周城墙上的垛口弯曲而尖锐，就像环绕尖牙丘的那些石头一样。44
She looked down from the tower.她从塔上向下望去。45
It rose from a plain of shining, gray stone that spread out in all directions as far as the eye could see.高塔矗立在一片闪亮的灰色石质平原上，那片平原朝四面八方铺展开去，一眼望不到尽头。46
In a circle about the tower’s foundation, the stone was solid and unmoving, but just beyond, the ground was cracked and shifting like a mud or lava flow.环绕塔基的一圈石地坚实不动，但再往外，地面便开裂涌动，仿佛流淌的泥浆或熔岩。47
“You know, Olive, I don’t think we’re in the Realms anymore.”“你知道吗，奥利芙，我觉得我们已经不在诸界了。”48
She limped over to Akabar and Dragonbait.她一瘸一拐地走到阿卡巴和龙饵身边。49
The stranger’s faded garb was a shredded mass of tatters, and his arms and legs were lacerated by a hundred bites the size of large coins.陌生人身上褪色的衣服已经破烂不堪，成了一堆碎布；他的双臂和双腿上布满了上百处大硬币般大小的咬伤。50
Larger gashes lay across his forehead, chest, and torso, and blood ran freely from his wounds.他的前额、胸口和躯干上横着更大的伤口，鲜血正不断从伤处涌出。51
Olive came up beside Alias and whistled in a low tone.奥利芙来到阿莉亚丝身旁，低低地吹了声口哨。52
Dragonbait had the man’s head cradled in his claws, and small, bright arcs of yellow bridged the space between his hands and the man’s face, visible even in the bright light of the white sky.龙饵用双爪托着那人的头，一道道细小明亮的黄色电弧跨过他的双手与那人的脸之间，在白色天空的强光下依然清晰可见。53
The smell of woodsmoke filled the air.空气中弥漫着木柴燃烧的烟味。54
Before their eyes, the flow of blood ceased, and the wounds on the man’s face began to heal.就在他们眼前，鲜血停止了流淌，那人脸上的伤口也开始愈合。55
The stranger’s grimace faded and his expression grew peaceful, the deeper wrinkles smoothed from his weather-worn face.陌生人痛苦的表情渐渐消退，神色变得安详；他那张饱经风霜的脸上，较深的皱纹也舒展开来。56
Akabar moved swiftly and surely, tending to the damage that remained when Dragonbait’s healing powers were exhausted.龙饵的治愈之力耗尽后，阿卡巴动作迅速而稳健，开始处理剩下的伤势。57
The mage smeared a viscous, green paste over the wounds not yet closed and bound them with strips of his borrowed robe.法师把一种黏稠的绿色膏药涂在尚未闭合的伤口上，又从借来的长袍上撕下布条，将伤口包扎起来。58
Alias knelt beside the mage and the saurial.阿莉亚丝在法师和蜥蜴人身旁跪下。59
“Who is he?” she asked.“他是谁？”她问道。60
Dragonbait turned a curious stare on her, and Akabar said, “You don’t recognize him?龙饵转过头，好奇地盯着她；阿卡巴说道：“你认不出他吗？61
Are you sure?”你确定？”62
Alias studied the face.阿莉亚丝仔细端详着那张脸。63
He was familiar.她觉得很眼熟。64
Beneath the gray hair and the wrinkled flesh was a man who must once have been very handsome, with a well-formed figure.灰白的头发和布满皱纹的皮肤之下，是一个曾经必定十分英俊、身材匀称的男人。65
“Nameless!”“无名者！”66
Alias whispered.阿莉亚丝低声说道。67
She turned to explain to the others.她转过身，向其他人解释。68
“He was in my dream in Shadow Gap, only much, much younger.“我在阴影隘口做的梦里见过他，只不过那时他年轻得多，多得多。69
Unless this is his grandfather or someone.”除非这是他的祖父什么的。”70
“You don’t remember him from anywhere else?”“你不记得在别的什么地方见过他吗？”71
Akabar prompted.阿卡巴追问道。72
Alias screwed up her face trying to think, but she couldn’t recall him.阿莉亚丝皱起脸苦苦思索，却怎么也想不起他来。73
He wasn’t in her pseudo-memory and there was no other time that she could have known him.她的伪造记忆里没有他，除此之外，她也不可能在其他什么时候认识他。74
“Of course she can’t remember him,” Olive said with a sniff.“她当然不记得他了，”奥利芙哼了一声说道。75
“She was just a baby then.”“那时候她还只是个婴儿呢。”76
“What are you talking about?”“你在说什么？”77
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。78
“You were just born—so to speak.“你那时才刚刚出生——姑且这么说吧。79
He set you loose with Dragonbait to look after you.他让你离开，还让龙饵照顾你。80
You might say he’s your father.”你可以说，他就是你的父亲。”81
Olive reached down to touch her on her right wrist where the tattoo wound about the empty space.奥利芙伸手碰了碰她的右腕，文身环绕着那片空白蜿蜒盘曲。82
“He’s the Nameless Bard.“他就是无名者——那位吟游诗人。83
Ring a bell?”想起来了吗？”84
“The Nameless Bard,” Alias echoed as she leaned back and thought deeply.“无名者——那位吟游诗人。”阿莉亚丝向后靠去，陷入了沉思。85
She knew that story, but hadn’t associated it with Nameless from her dream.她知道那个故事，却从未把它和梦中的无名者联系起来。86
She rocked back and forth as she recalled the tale in full and began to really understand for the first time what she was meant to be and what she had actually turned out to be.她前后摇晃着身子，完整地回想起那个故事，也第一次开始真正明白，自己原本应当成为什么，又实际上变成了什么。87
Nameless opened his eyes, and, though his sight was mostly shielded from the bright sky by the four adventurers surrounding him, he raised his hands to shield his eyes.无名者睁开眼睛；围在他身旁的四名冒险者替他挡住了大半明亮的天空，但他还是抬起双手遮住眼睛。88
He scowled deeply and muttered, “Home again, home again, jiggidy-jig.”他紧皱眉头，低声嘟囔道：“又回家喽，又回家喽，蹦蹦跳跳走。”89
Akabar and Olive exchanged glances.阿卡巴和奥利芙交换了一下眼神。90
The halfling shrugged.半身人耸了耸肩。91
Alias moved closer to the old man.阿莉亚丝走近了老人。92
When Nameless caught sight of the swordswoman, he tried to sit up, but his remaining wounds caused him too much pain to do so.无名者一看见女剑士，便想坐起来，但尚未痊愈的伤口疼得让他无法起身。93
Dragonbait moved to support his back, but Nameless waved him away.龙饵上前想托住他的后背，却被无名者挥手赶开了。94
With some effort, he pulled himself to a seated position, facing Alias.他费了好一番力气，才撑起身子坐好，面对着阿莉亚丝。95
He gazed at her bloodied, disheveled form and sighed.他凝视着她浑身染血、衣发凌乱的模样，叹了口气。96
“You are everything I intended—and more.”“你正是我所期望的一切——甚至远胜于此。”97
“You’re the Nameless Bard,” Alias replied, her tone even and emotionless.“你就是无名者吟游诗人。”阿莉亚丝答道，语调平静，不带一丝感情。98
“Yes.“是的。99
Do you remember my tale?你还记得我的故事吗？100
I did not put it in you, as I did the other tales, but told it to you the hour you first woke, while we waited for the potions to heal Dragonbait so you could run away with him.”我没有像植入其他故事那样把它植入你的脑海，而是在你刚醒来的那一刻讲给了你听。当时我们正等着药剂治好龙饵，好让你能和他一起逃走。”101
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。102
“I don’t remember hearing it.“我不记得听过这个故事。103
I only remember it.”我只记得它。”104
“What do you remember?”“你记得什么？”105
Nameless prompted her.无名者追问道。106
“It’s the tale of a man with overweening vanity who betrayed his scruples trying to complete a task he knew very well had the potential for tremendous abuse.”“这是一个极度自负之人的故事。他为了完成一项明知极有可能遭到严重滥用的任务，背弃了自己的原则。”107
Olive gasped and Akabar bit on his lower lip.奥利芙倒吸一口凉气，阿卡巴咬住了下唇。108
The color drained from Nameless’s face.无名者的脸顿时失去了血色。109
“Am I wrong?”“我说错了吗？”110
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。111
A long moment passed.良久，无人作声。112
The cloudless sky flashed and crashed as a lightning storm erupted overhead.头顶骤然爆发了一场雷暴，万里无云的天空中电光闪烁，雷声轰鸣。113
The energy discharges cast sharp shadows of the party on the tower roof’s gray flagstones.迸发的电光将一行人的清晰身影投在塔顶灰色的石板上。114
“How can you say that?”“你怎么能这么说？”115
Nameless whispered.无名者低声说道。116
“Sounds to me like she put her own interpretation on the story,” Olive said smugly.“依我看，是她给这个故事加上了自己的解读。”奥利芙得意地说道。117
“What do want to bet she tinkers with your songs, too?”“要不要赌一把，看看她是不是也会擅自改动你的歌？”118
In a defeated tone, the true bard said, “I’ve failed.”真正的吟游诗人用挫败的语气说道：“我失败了。”119
Akabar grinned.阿卡巴咧嘴一笑。120
“True.“没错。121
You tried to make a thing, and instead you created a daughter.你本想创造一样东西，结果却创造出了一个女儿。122
In Turmish, we’d say you were blessed by the gods.”在图米什，我们会说你得到了诸神的赐福。”123
Alias smiled at the mage gratefully.阿莉亚丝感激地朝法师笑了笑。124
“Might even outdo her old man as a bard,” Olive predicted.“她当吟游诗人，说不定还能胜过她老爹呢。”奥利芙预言道。125
Nameless looked up in surprise at the halfling.无名者惊讶地抬头看着半身人。126
Obviously it had never occurred to him that his creation might improve on his work.显然，他从未想过自己的造物或许能在他的作品基础上更进一步。127
He was too proud and too vain.他太骄傲，也太自负了。128
“I gave you everything I could,” he said.“我把能给你的一切都给了你。”他说。129
“A false history, your songs, and no true name,” Alias said.“一段虚假的身世、你的歌，却没有一个真正的名字。”阿莉亚丝说。130
“I gave you a past so you would not feel alone and removed from those you would live among, and my songs were all I had left.“我给了你一段过去，好让你不会感到孤独，不会觉得自己与今后生活在一起的人格格不入；而我的歌，是我仅剩的一切。131
I set you free at the price of my own freedom.我以自己的自由为代价，换来了你的自由。132
When Cassana dragged me from my cell to distract you in a dream, I tried to warn you.卡萨娜把我从牢房里拖出来，让我在梦中分散你的注意力时，我曾试图警告你。133
She controlled most of my words and actions, but I did tell you how to defeat her kalmari.”我的大部分言语和行动都受她控制，但我的确告诉了你该如何打败她的卡尔马里。”134
“Yes.“是的。135
You did those things,” Alias admitted flatly.那些事你的确做过。”阿莉亚丝冷淡地承认。136
The true bard looked anguished.真正的吟游诗人露出痛苦的神情。137
“But you still hate me.”“可你还是恨我。”138
“I didn’t say that,” Alias replied.“我可没这么说。”阿莉亚丝答道。139
A grin broke through her grim expression.她阴沉的表情中忽然绽开一丝笑意。140
“Don’t human children often disagree with their parents without hating them?”“人类的孩子不是经常会和父母意见不合，却并不恨他们吗？”141
“Do you think of me as your father then?”“那么，你把我当成你的父亲吗？”142
The swordswoman shrugged.女剑士耸了耸肩。143
“I don’t know.“我不知道。144
You hardly gave me anything in the way of a family in my memories.在你留给我的记忆里，几乎没有任何与家庭有关的东西。145
I’m not very practiced at feeling filial affection.我不太习惯体会孺慕之情。146
Do you think of me as a daughter?”你把我当女儿看吗？”147
Nameless looked down at the flagstones for a moment before meeting her eyes again.无名者低头望了片刻脚下的石板，才再次迎上她的目光。148
“To be honest, no. At least … not until now.”“老实说，不。至少……直到现在才有一点。”149
“That’s all right.”“没关系。”150
She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his wrinkled cheek.她俯身向前，嘴唇轻轻碰了碰他布满皱纹的脸颊。151
“I found myself two good friends, and you gave me a brother.”“我给自己找到了两个好朋友，而你给了我一个兄弟。”152
“A brother—” Nameless did not understand at first.“兄弟——”无名者起初没明白过来。153
“Oh, yes.“哦，对。154
You share the saurial’s soul.”你和那个蜥蜴人共享一个灵魂。”155
Dragonbait shook his head.龙饵摇了摇头。156
“You do.“就是如此。157
Phalse divided your soul,” Nameless told the paladin.法尔斯把你们的灵魂一分为二了，”无名者对圣武士说道。158
“You have half a soul each.”“你们各有一半灵魂。”159
Dragonbait’s eyes squinted with displeasure.龙饵不悦地眯起了眼睛。160
He extended two claws, pointed at Alias and retracted one, pointed at himself and retracted the second.他伸出两根爪子，指了指阿莉亚丝，收回一根；又指了指自己，收回另一根。161
“He should know,” Olive said.“他应该清楚，”奥利芙说道。162
“He’s the expert on souls.”“他可是灵魂方面的专家。”163
The lizard nodded.蜥蜴人点了点头。164
“You can’t split a soul and get two souls,” Nameless argued.“一个灵魂不可能一分为二后就变成两个灵魂，”无名者争辩道。165
“Why not?” the halfling demanded.“为什么不行？”半身人追问道。166
“They’re infinite things.“灵魂是无限的。167
If you break them up, you still have two infinite things.”就算把它们分开，也还是两个无限的灵魂。”168
Akabar stared in amazement at the short bard.阿卡巴惊讶地盯着这位矮小的吟游诗人。169
“What?”“怎么了？”170
Olive asked, uncomfortable in his case.奥利芙问道，对自己的论点有些不安。171
“Am I wrong?”“我说错了吗？”172
“No,” the Turmish mage replied.“没有，”图米什法师回答。173
“I’m simply surprised at the firmness of your theological argument.”“我只是没想到，你的神学论证竟会如此坚定有力。”174
“Halflings go to church, too, you know … sometimes.”“半身人也会上教堂的，你知道……偶尔也会。”175
Alias yawned.阿莉亚丝打了个哈欠。176
The exertions of the past month, the first month of her life, were beginning to catch up with her.过去一个月——也就是她生命中的第一个月——的种种劳顿，开始让她感到吃不消了。177
“This is all very interesting,” she lied, “but what I’d really like to do is catch Phalse and his master and take care of this last blasted sigil.”“这些都很有意思，”她口是心非地说，“但我真正想做的是抓住法尔斯和他的主人，解决掉这最后一个该死的印记。”178
“But don’t you see what this means?”“可你难道不明白这意味着什么吗？”179
Nameless said.无名者说道。180
“You really could be human.”“你真的有可能是人类。”181
“So?”“那又怎样？”182
“So?” the true bard exclaimed.“那又怎样？”真正的吟游诗人叫道。183
“Doesn’t that matter to you?”“这对你就不重要吗？”184
Alias shrugged again.阿莉亚丝又耸了耸肩。185
“Dragonbait says I have a soul, and that means I’m not a thing.“龙饵说我有灵魂，那就意味着我不是一件东西。186
I’ve already decided that the rest doesn’t matter much.至于其他的，我已经认定没那么重要了。187
Most adventurers aren’t particularly fussy about whether you’re human or halfling, mage or fighter, and all the rest, just so you pull your own weight and remain loyal to your party.大多数冒险者并不特别在乎你是人类还是半身人，是法师还是战士，或是其他什么，只要你尽好自己的那份力，并且忠于自己的冒险队伍就行。188
Isn’t that what you taught me?”这不正是你教给我的吗？”189
Nameless nodded, a little astounded that she had come to all these conclusions on her own without guidance.无名者点了点头，有些惊讶她竟然能在无人指点的情况下，独自得出这一切结论。190
Perhaps, as Akabar had said, his endeavor had been blessed by the gods—better gods than Moander.或许正如阿卡巴所说，他的努力得到了诸神的赐福——比莫安德更好的神祇。191
“So,” Alias said, trying to steer the conversation to more practical matters, “this is the Citadel of White Exile.“那么，”阿莉亚丝试图把话题引向更实际的事情，“这里就是白色流放堡。”192
It used to be your home.“这里以前是你的家。”193
Do you have any idea where Phalse could be?”“你知道法尔斯可能在哪里吗？”194
“I abandoned the citadel to Phalse.“我把这座堡垒留给了法尔斯。”195
Before I left, Phalse’s master built a bridge from here to his own realm, which Phalse uses to report to him.“我离开之前，法尔斯的主人修了一座从这里通往他自己领域的桥，法尔斯会通过那座桥去向他禀报。”196
It’s in the courtyard below.“桥就在下面的庭院里。”197
Unless the little monster hides in one of the tower rooms, there is no place else for him to go.”“除非那个小怪物躲在某间塔楼房间里，否则他无处可去。”198
“Why not?“为什么？”199
Where does that plain lead?”“那片平原通向哪里？”200
Alias asked, pointing across the monotonous expanse of gray below them.阿莉亚丝指着下方那片单调的灰色旷野问道。201
“This place was built to be completely secure.“这里建造之初就是为了确保万无一失。”202
Heft a rock into the sky.”“往天上扔块石头。”203
Dragonbait broke off a piece of flagstone and did as the bard had instructed.龙饵掰下一块铺地石板，照吟游诗人的吩咐做了。204
The stone went up smoothly about fifty feet before it exploded in a rainbow of fireworks against the background of the white sky.石块平稳地上升了约五十英尺，随后在白色天空的映衬下爆炸，化作一道彩虹般的焰火。205
Nameless explained, “Above us is the Plane of Life, called the Positive Material Plane by sages.无名者解释道：“我们上方是生命位面，贤者们称之为正物质位面。”206
Any unprotected thing that enters explodes as every bit of matter within it achieves its full potential and becomes a star.“任何未受保护的东西一旦进入，都会爆炸，其中的每一丁点物质都会充分释放潜能，化作星辰。”207
There is no escape that way.”“从那边无法逃脱。”208
He motioned toward the gray expanse beyond.他朝远处那片灰色旷野示意。209
“We sit on the border between the Plane of Life and the Plane of Gems, which sages call the Para-elemental Plane of Minerals.“我们正处在生命位面与宝石位面的交界处，贤者们把后者称为矿物准元素位面。”210
Wordy lot, sages.“贤者就是爱啰唆。”211
Out on the Plane of Gems, all unprotected living things are relentlessly turned into crystals of stunning beauty and complete lifelessness.“在宝石位面，所有未受保护的生物都会不可阻挡地化成美得惊人、却全无生命的水晶。”212
Phalse, as far as I know, has no protection against either of these effects.“据我所知，法尔斯无法抵御这两种影响中的任何一种。”213
The only way to this place are the two bridges built by Phalse’s master, one to his domain and one to the Hill of Fangs.“通往这里的路只有法尔斯的主人修建的两座桥，一座通往他的领域，另一座通往獠牙丘。”214
“You must be very cautious looking for Phalse.“寻找法尔斯时，你们一定要非常小心。215
When I arrived, I was attacked by one of his master’s guard beasts—all mouths and teeth.我刚到这里时，遭到了他主人手下一头守卫兽的袭击——那怪物满身尽是嘴和牙齿。216
And Phalse still has Cassana’s wand, which still has power over you.”而且法尔斯手里还拿着卡萨娜的魔杖，那根魔杖依然能控制你。”217
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点点头。218
“What about Phalse’s master?”“法尔斯的主人呢？”219
“None of us has ever seen him.“我们谁也没见过他。220
Cassana sent someone through the portal to his domain to find out about him.卡萨娜曾派人穿过传送门，前往他的领地探查他的底细。221
Her agent was returned in pieces.她派去的人被肢解后送了回来。222
The saurial can lead you to the other portal.那个蜥蜴人能带你们去另一道传送门。223
Phalse brought him out of it.法尔斯就是从那里把他带出来的。224
Your … shell and his body were branded in the courtyard, then brought up here and taken to the Hill of Fangs, and from there into Westgate.”你的……躯壳和他的身体在庭院里被烙上印记，随后被带到这里，再送往獠牙丘，最后从那里进入西门城。”225
“Will you be all right here alone?”“你一个人留在这里没事吗？”226
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问。227
“Yes.“没事。228
The energy-wrought sky has certain healing properties.这片由能量织成的天空具有某种疗愈作用。229
I will wait here until I feel strong enough to walk.我会在这里等到身体恢复得足以行走。230
Then I will follow you.”然后我就去追你们。”231
“Perhaps, Alias, you should remain here, too,” Akabar suggested, “so that Phalse cannot use the wand on you.”“也许，阿莉亚丝，你也该留在这里，”阿卡巴提议道，“这样法尔斯就没法用魔杖对付你了。”232
“Look, Akash, whose battle is this, anyway?“听着，阿卡什，这到底是谁的战斗？233
Phalse might try to use the wand, but I’ve already beaten its power once.法尔斯也许会试着使用魔杖，但我已经战胜过它的力量一次了。234
I’m not about to cringe from it now.”我现在可不会在它面前退缩。”235
Then, in a more gentle tone, she asked Nameless, “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer that we waited for you to heal?”随后，她的语气温和了些，问无名者：“你确定不愿意让我们等你伤好后再走吗？”236
Nameless shook his head.无名者摇了摇头。237
“You don’t want to give Phalse a chance to call in reinforcements from the lower planes.“你不会想给法尔斯机会，让他从下层位面召来援军。238
If you defeat Phalse, you can force him to call his master from his domain through the portal and deal with him.”如果你打败了法尔斯，就能逼他通过传送门把主人从自己的领域召来，再对付他的主人。”239
He looked up at the saurial.他抬头望向那个蜥蜴人。240
“You remember the way?”“你还记得路吗？”241
The lizard nodded.蜥蜴点了点头。242
Alias frowned a little, still dissatisfied with leaving Nameless alone.阿莉亚丝微微皱起眉头，仍不甘心把无名者独自留下。243
Akabar thought to himself, she must care about him more than she knows.阿卡巴心想，她对他的在意，恐怕比她自己意识到的还要深。244
“All right, Dragonbait.“好吧，龙饵。245
Which way?”往哪边走？”246
The saurial led them to a gap in the crenelations.蜥蜴人领着他们来到城垛间的一处缺口。247
A single set of stairs, steep, narrow, and without a railing, wound along the outside of the tower.一道陡峭狭窄、没有扶栏的楼梯沿着塔身外侧盘旋而下。248
Alias’s frown grew deeper when she saw they would have to go down in single file.阿莉亚丝看到他们必须排成一列下去，眉头皱得更紧了。249
“I’m going to go first until we reach a door,” Alias said.“在我们走到一扇门之前，由我打头阵。”阿莉亚丝说道。250
“May I borrow your sword just a little while longer, Dragonbait?”“龙饵，我能再借用你的剑一小会儿吗？”251
The saurial cocked his head in the manner that Alias usually assumed meant he hadn’t understood the question.蜥蜴人歪了歪头；阿莉亚丝一向以为，这个动作表示他没听懂问题。252
Now she was beginning to believe it simply meant he didn’t want to answer the question.如今她却开始觉得，这其实只是表示他不想回答。253
The fragrance of violets filled the air.空气中弥漫起紫罗兰的芬芳。254
She held the strange weapon out, thinking he might be uncomfortable allowing someone else to wield it.她把那件奇异的武器递了出去，心想他或许不习惯让别人使用它。255
“If you’d rather have it back, I’ll understand,” she said, but the lizard shook his head and pushed her hand away gently, indicating she should keep the blade.“如果你想拿回去，我能理解。”她说道，可蜥蜴摇了摇头，轻轻推开她的手，示意她继续留着那把剑。256
When this is over, we’re going to learn to talk together, she promised herself.等这一切结束后，我们一定要学会彼此交谈，她暗自发誓。257
She started down the stairs, Dragonbait behind her, followed by Akabar.她开始沿楼梯往下走，龙饵跟在她身后，接着是阿卡巴。258
Olive brought up the rear.奥利芙走在最后。259
The halfling sighed at the steepness of the stairs, though their narrowness did not disturb her in the least.半身人望着陡峭的楼梯叹了口气，不过楼梯的狭窄倒丝毫没有困扰她。260
She trotted down them casually.她若无其事地小跑下楼。261
Akabar, however, pressed himself against the wall of the tower and kept his eyes on his feet.然而，阿卡巴却紧贴着塔壁，双眼死死盯着自己的脚。262
Nameless waited until Olive’s head disappeared below the level of the wall, then counted to twenty before limping to the staircase, gripping his wounded side.无名者一直等到奥利芙的脑袋消失在墙沿下方，又数到二十，才捂着受伤的肋侧，一瘸一拐地走向楼梯。263
Half concealed by a large, fanged crenelation, he watched them descend.他半隐在一座带獠牙的大型城垛后面，注视着他们往下走。264
When they’d entered the first door, the true bard started down the stairs himself.等他们走进第一扇门后，真正的吟游诗人才亲自走下楼梯。265
He reached the first door and passed by it, continuing farther down the staircase.他来到第一扇门前，却径直从门边走过，继续沿楼梯往下。266
His only hope lay in the possibility that the tower had not given up all its secrets to its new owner.他唯一的希望，就在于这座塔或许尚未向它的新主人交出全部秘密。267
On the ground far below, outside the tower’s protective shell, a cloaked figure lowered the hand that had been shielding his eyes from the sky’s light.远在下方的地面上，在高塔的防护外壳之外，一个披着斗篷的身影放下了方才用来遮挡天光的手。268
Carefully, he removed the eye-cusps that gave him the sight of an eagle and replaced them in the small egg that was their home.他小心翼翼地摘下那副赋予他鹰隼目力的眼杯，将它们放回作为其容器的那枚小蛋中。269
He sighed, and his breath circled like fog through the transparent envelope that surrounded him.他叹了口气，呼出的气息在笼罩着他的透明罩层内如雾般盘旋。270
Then he took up his staff and made his way over the broken terrain of gem-stones to the Citadel of White Exile.随后，他拿起法杖，穿过遍布碎裂宝石的崎岖地面，朝白色流放堡走去。271
When the companions had passed through the door, and Dragonbait had pushed past Alias to scout ahead, he had left Hill Cleaver still in her grasp.同伴们穿过那扇门后，龙饵越过阿莉亚丝到前方探路，却把“裂山者”仍留在她手中。272
Without a weapon, the swordswoman was only a human of soft flesh and tool-using hands, while the saurial felt quite confident with his claws and powerful jaws.没有武器，女剑士便只是个血肉柔软、靠双手使用工具的人类；而这名蜥蜴人却对自己的利爪和强有力的双颚颇有信心。273
The passages were lighted by the stones of the wall, which shone from within—a benefit of the citadel’s position.通道由墙体的石块照亮，那些石头从内部发出光芒——这是这座堡垒所处位置带来的一项益处。274
Akabar was reminded of the light that had come from behind the elven wall that had imprisoned the Abomination of Moander, but these walls glowed with a rosy light that gave them all a ruddy hue.阿卡巴想起了那道囚禁莫安德的憎恶体的精灵墙壁后方透出的光，但这里的墙壁泛着玫瑰色的光辉，将他们全都染上了一层红润的色泽。275
They passed through one chamber, then another.他们穿过一间房室，接着又穿过一间。276
Both had held some furniture, but recently had been stripped bare.两间房里原本都摆着些家具，但最近已被搬得空空荡荡。277
The dust on the floor was disturbed as though several heavy objects had been dragged across it.地板上的灰尘遭到了扰动，看起来像是有几件沉重的物体曾被拖过。278
The small prints of the pseudo-halfling crossed the rooms, as well as a set of large, heavier boots, nearly giant size.那个冒牌半身人的小脚印穿过了这些房间，此外还有一串更大、更沉的靴印，尺寸几乎和巨人的一样。279
They came to a pair of doors made of crystal that, like the the walls, glowed from within.他们来到一对水晶门前；和墙壁一样，这两扇门也从内部发出光芒。280
The doors opened at a touch.轻轻一碰，门便开了。281
A large hall lay beyond.门后是一座宽敞的大厅。282
Dragonbait froze upon entering the room.龙饵一走进大厅，便僵在了原地。283
It was not arranged the way it had been more than a month ago when he’d been dragged through it.这里的陈设已经不同于一个多月前他被拖行经过时的模样。284
There had been a long feasting table, and the walls had been covered with banners of some of the Realms’ older nations.那时厅里摆着一张长长的宴席桌，墙上挂满了诸界一些古老国度的旗帜。285
The table and banners were gone, replaced by twelve biers.如今桌子和旗帜都不见了，取而代之的是十二具停尸台。286
Each funeral stand was occupied by a body.每具停尸台上都躺着一具尸体。287
Alias’s first guess was that the citadel’s new inhabitants had turned this room into a morgue, or maybe even a meat locker.阿莉亚丝的第一反应是，要塞的新住客把这个房间改成了停尸间，甚至可能是肉库。288
Dragonbait, already standing in the center of the room, spun about in obvious confusion.龙饵已经站到了大厅中央，此刻满脸困惑地转了一圈。289
A brimstone stench emanated from his body.一股硫黄恶臭从他身上散发出来。290
“Brandobas’s Beard!”“布兰多巴斯的胡子啊！”291
Olive exclaimed, already near enough to see what useful things might be left on the corpses.奥利芙惊呼道；她已经凑得够近，正想看看尸体上还剩下什么有用的东西。292
“They’re you!”“她们全都是你！”293
Uneasily, Alias walked closer to the bodies.阿莉亚丝忐忑不安地走近那些尸体。294
They were all as similar as a batch of bowls a potter might throw in a day.她们彼此相似，就像陶匠一天里拉坯制成的一批碗。295
Each face had the same features, some were thinner, some wider, but they all had her features.每张脸都有着同样的五官，有的瘦些，有的宽些，但全都长着她的眉眼。296
Each face was framed with hair some shade of red, from reddish black to strawberry blonde.每张脸周围都披散着某种红色调的头发，从泛红的黑色到草莓金色不等。297
Their skin tones covered the spectrum from the pale flesh of the north to the swarthy complexions of the south.她们的肤色涵盖了从北方苍白肌肤到南方黝黑面孔的整个色谱。298
Their dress was more varied.她们的衣着则更为多样。299
A body in the heavy armor of Mulhorand lay beside one in wolfhide robes and the headpiece of the far north.一具身披穆尔霍兰德重甲的尸体旁，躺着另一具身穿狼皮长袍、头戴极北头饰的尸体。300
The sultry slitted dress of a Waterdeep courtesan—something perhaps from Cassana’s closet—adorned a body one bier over from another dressed in the conservative robes of a Moonshae druid.一具尸体穿着深水城交际花那种妖娆的开衩长裙——或许是从卡萨娜的衣橱里拿来的——隔着一具停尸台，另一具尸体则穿着月影群岛德鲁伊的保守长袍。301
A weapon lay beside each, a mace or sword or sickle or dagger.每具尸体旁都放着一件武器：钉头锤、剑、镰刀或匕首。302
One figure, wrapped in black, was equipped with eastern weapons whose uses were unfamiliar to Alias.其中一人浑身裹在黑衣里，配备着来自东方的武器，阿莉亚丝并不知道那些武器有何用途。303
Yet they were all her.然而，她们全都是她。304
Earlier models?早期的型号？305
Alias wondered.阿莉亚丝心想。306
Then she shook her head grimly.接着，她神情冷峻地摇了摇头。307
No, later improvements.不，是后来的改良品。308
How foolish to think that they would stop at just one.以为他们造出一个便会罢手，真是愚蠢。309
A few minutes ago, when she’d thought herself unique, she’d been certain she could prove her worth, justify her own existence.几分钟前，当她还以为自己独一无二时，她确信自己能够证明自身的价值，证明自己的存在合情合理。310
But what if she was just one of a pack, a herd of Aliases to be unleashed on the unsuspecting worlds?可如果她不过是成群结队的阿莉亚丝之一，等着被放到那些毫无戒心的世界中去呢？311
She forced herself to stand closer to one of the bodies—one dressed as a cleric of Tymora in robes of white trimmed with blue, with her holy symbol—a silver disk—hanging on a chain about her neck.她强迫自己站到其中一具尸体近旁——那具尸体身穿镶着蓝边的白色长袍，打扮成泰摩拉的牧师，脖子上还用链子挂着她的圣徽——一枚银圆盘。312
Alias fought back the queasiness in her stomach and touched the body, grabbing the right wrist and turning it to reveal the underside of the arm.阿莉亚丝强忍住胃里的恶心，伸手触碰那具尸体，抓住她的右腕，将手臂翻转过来，露出内侧。313
The pattern of serpents and waves was there, as motionless as a tattoo placed on a piece of dead flesh.蛇与波浪交织的图案果然在那里，如同刺在一块死肉上的文身一般纹丝不动。314
The only sigil in the pattern was the bull’s eye of Phalse’s master.图案中唯一的印记，是法尔斯主人那个靶心形的符号。315
There was no blank spot at the wrist for Nameless.手腕处没有为无名者留出的空白。316
The flesh was clammy, like clay.那皮肉湿冷如黏土。317
Akabar came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.阿卡巴走到她身后，将一只手放在她肩上。318
“Dead?” he asked.“死了？”他问。319
“Dead,” she echoed, “or at least not alive.“死了，”她重复道，“或者至少算不上活着。320
Or less alive than me.”又或者，没有我这么活着。”321
She shook with anger.她气得浑身发抖。322
“This is all I was to them.“在他们眼里，我就只是这种东西。323
A thing to be copied over and over.”一件可以一遍又一遍复制的东西。”324
“Easy now,” Akabar said, squeezing her shoulder gently.“别激动，”阿卡巴说着，轻轻捏了捏她的肩膀。325
“They’re no more like you than a painting of you would be.“她们与你的相似之处，并不比一幅你的画像更多。326
If you want, we can destroy them.”如果你愿意，我们可以毁掉她们。”327
“No!”“不！”328
Alias snapped.阿莉亚丝厉声说道。329
“Whatever they are, I will not see them destroyed.“不管她们是什么，我都不会眼看着她们被毁掉。330
They’re no more … evil than I am.她们并不比我……邪恶。331
I’m going to kill the last master and lay them to rest that way.”我要杀掉最后一个主人，让她们以这种方式安息。”332
Akabar stood silent for a moment, then nodded.阿卡巴沉默地站了片刻，然后点了点头。333
“As you wish.”“如你所愿。”334
Alias could tell he was trying to determine if her reaction was a natural one or another pattern, like her obsession to reach Yulash had been.阿莉亚丝看得出，他正试图判断她的反应究竟出于本性，还是另一种既定模式，就像她先前执意要去尤拉什一样。335
Olive shook her head, disapproving of Akabar’s tone.奥利芙摇了摇头，对阿卡巴的语气颇不以为然。336
Just like a mage.法师就是这样。337
Thinking too much with the head, not enough with the heart.脑子用得太多，心用得太少。338
Wonder how he’d feel if we offered to burn up his brothers?要是我们提议烧死他的兄弟，不知道他会作何感想？339
Dragonbait snapped out of his shen state.龙饵猛然脱离了神识状态。340
He could not understand what his senses were telling him about the women laid out before him.对于自己的感官从眼前这些平躺着的女人身上感知到的一切，他无法理解。341
Each body possessed a living soul, but the saurial could not sense a trace of a spirit in any of them.每具身体里都有一个鲜活的灵魂，但这个蜥蜴人却无法从她们任何一个身上感知到丝毫精神的痕迹。342
Is that all that separates them from death—or birth? he wondered.难道这就是她们与死亡——或出生——之间唯一的区别吗？他暗自思忖。343
“Is the courtyard over there, Dragonbait?”“庭院是在那边吗，龙饵？”344
Alias asked, pointing to a second pair of crystal doors at the far end of the hall.阿莉亚丝指着大厅尽头的另一对水晶门问道。345
The saurial nodded.蜥蜴人点了点头。346
Alias approached these doors and inspected them.阿莉亚丝走近那对门，仔细查看起来。347
They glowed in the same fashion, but there was something different about them.它们也以同样的方式泛着光，但又有某种不同之处。348
They made her uneasy.它们令她感到不安。349
Then she realized why.随后，她明白了原因。350
They drew her.它们吸引着她。351
As with the elven wall in Yulash, she could not resist moving toward them.就像尤拉什的那道精灵墙一样，她无法抗拒地朝它们走去。352
She wanted to open them.她想打开它们。353
What she sought lay beyond them in the courtyard.她所寻找的东西就在门外的庭院里。354
She glanced at the others.她瞥了其他人一眼。355
Akabar pulled a small bundle from his belt, fishing out spell components.阿卡巴从腰带上取下一个小包，翻找着施法材料。356
Dragonbait took a two-handed sword from one of the biers.龙饵从一具灵柩上取下一柄双手剑。357
Olive placed an ear against one of the doors.奥利芙把一只耳朵贴在其中一扇门上。358
She pulled back, rubbing her ear.她缩了回来，揉着耳朵。359
“No noise, but it’s very warm.”“没有动静，不过门很烫。”360
Alias took a deep breath as she reached for the door.阿莉亚丝伸手去推门时，深吸了一口气。361
She wanted to be prepared to slam it shut in an instant or dodge aside if some horrible beast came lunging out.她做好了准备，万一有什么可怕的野兽猛扑出来，便立刻将门砰然关上，或是闪身躲开。362
The door pushed open at a touch, revealing a large, open courtyard.门一碰就开了，露出一座宽阔开敞的庭院。363
To the right and left, passages wove farther into the mazework of the tower.左右两边，通道曲折延伸，通往塔内更深处的迷宫。364
Directly across from them, a balcony opened onto the splendor of the shimmering Plane of Life.他们正对面，一座露台向璀璨壮丽、流光闪烁的生命位面敞开。365
In the center of the court was a large pool filled with swirling patterns of silver and red, like the portal on the Hill of Fangs.庭院中央有一座大池，里面银红两色的纹样旋转翻涌，宛如獠牙丘上的那道传送门。366
This pool was set into the floor, though, and ringed with bluish stones.不过，这座池子嵌在地面里，周围环绕着泛蓝的石头。367
A small form, dressed in shades of red and brown was seated on the stones.一个身穿深浅红褐色衣服的小小身影坐在那些石头上。368
He smiled a smile wider than any human or halfling could manage, and his blue-on-blue-on-blue eyes glinted wickedly.他咧嘴一笑，那笑容宽得绝非任何人类或半身人所能做到；他那蓝中套蓝、蓝上叠蓝的眼睛里闪烁着邪恶的光芒。369
In his hands he passed back and forth Cassana’s slender, blue wand.他双手来回倒腾着卡萨娜那根纤细的蓝色魔杖。370
“Welcome home, One,” Phalse said.“欢迎回家，一号。”法尔斯说道。371
“I take it you have met Two through Thirteen.”“想必你已经见过二号到十三号了。”372
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听