Alias strode into the court, casting a glance to the right, to the left, overhead.阿莉亚丝大步走进庭院，目光扫过右边、左边和头顶。1
No assassins were hidden behind the crystal doors, no cage hung suspended above.水晶门后没有藏着刺客，上方也没有悬着笼子。2
Olive moved to the right, Dragonbait to the left.奥利芙移向右边，龙饵则移向左边。3
Akabar held back, slightly behind Alias, ready to cast in a moment.阿卡巴留在后方，站在阿莉亚丝身后稍远处，随时准备施法。4
Phalse remained seated on the portal stones, swinging his short legs back and forth, playing with the wand like a child with a stick.法尔斯仍坐在传送门的石头上，两条短腿前后晃荡，像孩子玩棍子似的摆弄着魔杖。5
“Where is your master?”“你的主人在哪里？”6
Alias demanded.阿莉亚丝厉声问道。7
“Where is yours?”“你的呢？”8
Phalse asked with a giggle.法尔斯咯咯笑着反问。9
From the rear, Akabar began to cast a spell.后方的阿卡巴开始施展法术。10
Phalse pointed a finger at one of the blue stones near the pool.法尔斯伸出一根手指，指向水池附近的一块蓝色石头。11
The stone rose, hovered for a moment, then flew, as if propelled by an invisible sling, across the room.石头升了起来，在空中停了一瞬，随后仿佛被一条无形的投石索甩出，飞过整个房间。12
Alias ducked instinctively and raised Dragonbait’s sword to deflect the stone, but she was not its target.阿莉亚丝本能地俯身闪避，同时举起龙饵的剑想要挡开石头，但她并不是石头的目标。13
It circled around the saurial’s blade and streaked past the swordswoman.石头绕过那名蜥蜴人的剑刃，从女剑士身旁疾掠而过。14
Alias heard the brutal impact of stone cracking bone.阿莉亚丝听见石头撞裂骨头时那声骇人的闷响。15
She half-turned, Akabar was kneeling on the floor, clutching his forehead.她半转过身，只见阿卡巴跪在地板上，双手捂着额头。16
Blood oozed between his fingers.鲜血从他的指缝间渗了出来。17
“None of that, now.”“现在可不许来这一套。”18
Phalse waggled a finger at the mage reproachfully.法尔斯责怪似的朝法师摇了摇手指。19
“Not fair at all to attack a poor, defenseless halfling.”“袭击一个可怜又毫无自卫能力的半身人，实在太不公平了。”20
“Zero for three,” Olive said.“三项全错。”奥利芙说。21
“You’re none of those things.”“你哪一样都不是。”22
“Something wrong, One?”“怎么了，一号？”23
Phalse addressed Alias, ignoring Olive completely.法尔斯对阿莉亚丝说道，完全无视了奥利芙。24
“I thought you didn’t like others doing your talking for you.”“我还以为你不喜欢别人替你说话呢。”25
“My name is Alias,” the woman warrior retorted, striding toward the little creature.“我叫阿莉亚丝。”女战士一边反驳，一边大步朝那个小东西走去。26
“You are One,” Phalse said.“你是一号。”法尔斯说。27
“Two, Three, and Four are behind the door.“二号、三号和四号都在门后。28
As well as Five through Thirteen.五号到十三号也在那里。29
While I worked with the other members of the now-defunct alliance, I was very careful to always refer to you as the One, instead of just One.我和那个如今已不复存在的联盟中的其他成员共事时，总是非常谨慎地称你为‘那位一号’，而不只是‘一号’。30
I couldn’t let them suspect that I only thought of you as the beginning of something far grander.我不能让他们怀疑，在我心目中，你不过是某个远为宏伟之物的开端。31
Why make just one weapon when you can make several?既然能制造好几件武器，又何必只造一件？32
Especially if you have as many enemies as I have.”尤其是当你的敌人和我的一样多时。”33
Alias took a step forward, and Phalse waved Cassana’s wand.阿莉亚丝向前迈了一步，法尔斯挥了挥卡萨娜的魔杖。34
Alias stopped in mid-stride, as though she had walked into an invisible spider web.阿莉亚丝迈到一半便停住了，仿佛撞上了一张看不见的蜘蛛网。35
Unlike Cassana’s taut bonds, these were gummy.与卡萨娜那绷紧的束缚不同，这些束缚黏滞不已。36
Phalse could wield the wand differently than the witch had.法尔斯使用这根魔杖的方式与那个女巫不同。37
“Problems, One?”“遇到麻烦了，一号？”38
Phalse mocked her.法尔斯嘲弄道。39
“Cassana’s toy still has effects you haven’t learned yet.“卡萨娜的玩具还有些功效是你尚未了解的。40
She built for variability, you know.你知道，她设计它时就让它能够变化多端。41
When you were within her area of command, the wand made you her puppet, much like that poor, undead fool, Prakis.”当你处在她的控制范围内时，魔杖会让你变成她的傀儡，就像那个可怜的不死蠢货普拉基斯一样。”42
Olive and Dragonbait began to close on the small form, but Alias growled at them through clenched teeth, “Back away.奥利芙和龙饵开始向那个小小的身影逼近，但阿莉亚丝咬紧牙关，冲他们低吼道：“退后。43
He’s mine!”他是我的！”44
Phalse laughed.法尔斯笑了起来。45
“No, One, you have that backward.“不，一号，你把事情说反了。46
You are mine.你是我的。47
If I want you, that is.当然，前提是我想要你。48
I think I prefer Two.我想我更喜欢二号。49
She’ll be much more tractable.”她会听话得多。”50
The shorter strands of Alias’s hair were rising like serpents as she fought the controlling force of the wand.阿莉亚丝较短的发丝如蛇般根根竖起，她正奋力抗拒魔杖的操控之力。51
Dragonbait remained in position, respecting Alias’s desire to resist the wand without help.龙饵仍站在原地，尊重阿莉亚丝想要独力抵抗魔杖的意愿。52
Olive was not so amenable to the idea.奥利芙却不怎么赞同这个主意。53
She drew out her daggers, but she remained even with the saurial.她抽出匕首，却依然与蜥蜴人并肩站着。54
Alias felt as though she were pressing hard against a membrane, like the skin of some gelatinous monster.阿莉亚丝觉得自己仿佛正用力挤压着一层薄膜，像某种胶状怪物的外皮。55
She strained and the muscles in her legs bunched, but she did not move.她拼命使劲，腿上的肌肉紧紧绷起，却仍然动弹不得。56
“Now Prakis, he wanted you,” Phalse said.“至于普拉基斯，他倒是很想要你，”法尔斯说道。57
“He really loved Cassana—devils knew why.“他是真的爱卡萨娜——鬼才知道为什么。58
She put him through hell.她可把他折磨得够呛。59
When you came along, though, I think he realized he could have his cake and eat it, too.不过，等你出现以后，我想他意识到自己可以鱼与熊掌兼得。60
You had all of Cassana’s charm, not to mention her once-youthful looks, and after the sacrifice was made, you’d be pliable, too.你拥有卡萨娜的全部魅力，更不用说她昔日青春时的容貌了；而且等献祭完成后，你也会变得温顺听话。61
Not one of Cassana’s characteristics.”这可不是卡萨娜具备的特质。”62
Alias looked like a medusa, with the longer strands of her hair standing out from her head.阿莉亚丝看上去活像美杜莎，较长的发丝也从头上根根竖起。63
The strain of fighting the grip of the web was evident in her face.她脸上清楚显露出奋力抗拒那张网束缚的痛苦。64
Her forehead beaded with perspiration, her teeth clenched together, and her eyes squinted—fixated on the pseudo-halfling’s form.她额头沁满汗珠，牙关紧咬，双眼眯起——死死盯着那个冒牌半身人的身影。65
Dragonbait gritted his teeth as he felt the familiar tug within his chest, the call of Alias’s sigils to his own.龙饵感到胸膛中传来那股熟悉的牵引——阿莉亚丝身上的符印正在召唤他自己的符印，于是咬紧了牙关。66
No stranger to discipline, he remained in place.他素来严于自律，依旧站在原地。67
He turned to look at the mage.他转头看向法师。68
He was still clutching his head, but the bleeding had stopped.法师仍捂着脑袋，不过血已经止住了。69
Akabar staggered to his feet.阿卡巴摇摇晃晃地站起身来。70
The saurial sensed nervousness in the halfling and wondered if it would overwhelm her caution and she would attack.蜥蜴人察觉到那个半身人的紧张，不禁猜想，这份紧张是否会压过她的谨慎，令她发动攻击。71
Or bolt.又或者拔腿就跑。72
A movement along the wall behind and above the halfling caught Dragonbait’s eye.半身人身后上方的墙边有东西动了一下，引起了龙饵的注意。73
Two banners hanging along the sides of the courtyard parted ever so slightly.悬挂在庭院两侧的两面旗帜极其轻微地分开了一线。74
Another player had arrived on the scene.又一个局中人登场了。75
Slipping into his shen state, the lizard caught the familiar feel of the intruder.蜥蜴人进入神识状态，感应到了闯入者那熟悉的气息。76
He turned his attention back on Alias’s struggle.他重新把注意力转回阿莉亚丝的挣扎上。77
“It’s amazing, though, that all of them failed.“不过，真令人惊讶，他们居然全都失败了。78
Moander got you to free it, but it was so enfeebled that a laughably small group brought it down.莫安德让你把它释放了出来，可它已经虚弱不堪，竟被区区几个人击败了，简直可笑。79
The Fire Knives played their hand so badly that you only succeeded in throttling some Wyvernspur fop.火焰飞刀把手里的牌打得糟透了，到头来你也不过勒死了飞龙刺家的某个纨绔子弟。80
Zrie was never going to get you to love him.兹里根本不可能让你爱上他。81
Only Cassana was perverse enough to feel anything for him.只有卡萨娜扭曲到会对他动感情。82
And Cassana only used you to taunt and bash her lovers.而卡萨娜也只是利用你来奚落、痛打她的情人。83
She had no concept of the forces she was unleashing by trying to get you to kill your little lizard brother.”她根本不知道，试图让你杀掉你那个蜥蜴小弟，会释放出怎样的力量。”84
Phalse turned the wand over in his hands, batting his blue eyes.法尔斯在手里翻转着魔杖，眨巴着蓝眼睛。85
“They all thought so small.“他们一个个都想得太小了。86
Once they left me this citadel, I quickly duplicated their work on a much larger scale.他们把这座堡垒留给我以后，我很快便以大得多的规模复制了他们的成果。87
I needed their expertise to make you, One.为了创造你，我需要借助他们的专长，一号。88
Creation is so very difficult.创造实在太难了。89
But duplication, that’s another matter entirely.但复制，那就完全是另一回事了。90
It was child’s play smuggling out the equipment used to create you, coaxing Cassana out of a piece of her flesh, syphoning off a portion of the life energies Moander contributed.把创造你所用的设备偷运出去，哄卡萨娜交出一块自己的血肉，再从莫安德贡献的生命能量中抽取一部分——这些简直是小孩子的把戏。91
That’s why I chose this particular form.所以我才特意选择了这副形态。92
Halflings make such good thieves.”半身人实在太适合当贼了。”93
Alias watched his eyes.阿莉亚丝注视着他的眼睛。94
Blue within blue eyes.蓝中套蓝的眼睛。95
Bull’s eyes.靶心一般的眼睛。96
“The last sigil is yours,” she said.“最后一个符印是你的，”她说。97
“You have no hidden master, do you?”“你背后并没有什么隐藏的主人，对不对？”98
Phalse broke into one of his widened grins, the corners of his mouth almost touching in the back.法尔斯咧嘴露出他那种夸张的笑容，两个嘴角几乎要在脑后碰到一起。99
“Very good, One.“很好，一号。100
I led Cassana to believe that I was just a servant.我让卡萨娜相信，我不过是个仆人。101
The ploy had its inconveniences, but it was much safer letting her believe someone even more powerful backed me.这个把戏虽有不便之处，但让她相信我背后有个更强大的人撑腰，要安全得多。102
I couldn’t risk letting Moander know we were partners.我不能冒险让莫安德知道我们是同伙。103
The old god and I are … rivals.那位古老的神祇和我……是对手。104
As to the sigil on your arm, don’t think of it as the last sigil.至于你手臂上的符印，别把它当成最后一个符印。105
As far as you should be concerned, it’s the only sigil—the only one that matters.”对你而言，它应该是唯一的符印——唯一重要的符印。”106
Phalse stood up, moved to the side of the circle, and waved the wand.法尔斯站起身，走到圆圈一侧，挥了挥魔杖。107
Alias felt her muscles bunch up against their will, trying to march her straight ahead—into the pool of silver and red.阿莉亚丝感觉自己的肌肉不由自主地绷紧，硬要带着她径直向前走去——走进那片银色与红色交织的池子。108
“Now, I have a small job for you.“现在，我有件小事要你去办。109
Pass through this portal and take care of it.穿过这道传送门，把事情处理掉。110
I wouldn’t be stubborn about it, if I were you.”我要是你，就不会这么固执。”111
“Why not?”“为什么？”112
Alias growled, fighting the pull toward the bridge into Phalse’s domain.阿莉亚丝低吼着，竭力抗拒那股把她拖向通往法尔斯领域之桥的力量。113
Along her arm, the single mark of the last master shone like a beacon.她的手臂上，最后一位主人的那道印记如同灯塔般闪耀。114
“Because then I shall be forced to sacrifice you and the saurial and use Two in your stead.“因为那样一来，我就只好牺牲你和那个蜥蜴人，改用二号来替代你。115
Two will be much more accommodating, anyway.”反正二号会配合得多。”116
“I’ll bet you made that same assumption about me,” Alias said.“我敢说，你当初对我也是这么想的，”阿莉亚丝说。117
“You can’t be sure, though, which is why you’re trying to persuade me instead of just forcing me.”“可你并没有把握，所以你才会试图说服我，而不是直接强迫我。”118
“Oh, I’m sure.“哦，我当然确定。119
I’ve determined why you are flawed, and I know how to prevent it in other models.我已经查明了你为何会有缺陷，也知道该如何防止其他型号出现同样的问题。120
You see, when we made you, we hadn’t taken into account the strength of the saurial’s will.你瞧，我们创造你时，没有把那个蜥蜴人的意志有多强考虑进去。121
We needed a soul and a spirit for you.我们需要为你准备一个灵魂和一种精神。122
The soul was easy to divide, but a spirit is supposed to have limits.灵魂很容易分割，但精神本应是有限度的。123
We assumed you would not come to life until we slayed the saurial so his spirit could transfer into you, enthralled by our will, of course.我们原以为，只有杀死那个蜥蜴人，让他的精神转移到你身上之后，你才会活过来——当然，他的精神会受我们的意志奴役。124
Somehow, the saurial found a way to create a spirit for you, broke off a shard, so to speak, from his own spirit.不知怎么，那个蜥蜴人找到了为你创造精神的办法——打个比方，就像从他自己的精神上掰下一块碎片。125
You were able to draw on his stronger spirit whenever you needed to.每当需要时，你都能汲取他那更强大的精神力量。126
When I kill the two of you, I will take care that only enough spirit flows into Two through Thirteen to animate them, without making them unruly.”等我杀了你们俩，我会确保只有刚好足够的精神流入二号至十三号体内，使他们活起来，却又不至于变得桀骜不驯。”127
“I still think you’re bluffing,” Alias said.“我还是觉得你在虚张声势，”阿莉亚丝说。128
“I won’t obey your commands willingly.”“我不会心甘情愿地服从你的命令。”129
“Oh, but you can’t refuse, One.“哦，但你拒绝不了，一号。130
It’s not just the wand that controls you.控制你的可不只是那根魔杖。131
You want to jump into the portal.你想跳进传送门。132
You were made to jump into the portal.你生来就是要跳进传送门的。133
Don’t you sense how right it would feel?”难道你感觉不到，那样做会有多么理所当然吗？”134
Alias gasped.阿莉亚丝倒吸了一口气。135
The portal was what had called her into the room.把她召唤进这间屋子的，正是那扇传送门。136
Its siren call was as subtle as Yulash had been, yet much stronger, like the compunction to kill Winefiddle and Giogi.它那海妖般的呼唤和尤拉什当初一样不易察觉，却强烈得多，就像那股迫使她杀死酒琴和乔吉的冲动。137
The patterns compelled her to find what lay beyond.那些纹路驱使她去探寻彼端究竟有什么。138
“You see,” Phalse explained, “through this portal lies a second portal which leads to the Abyss.“你看，”法尔斯解释道，“穿过这道传送门，里面还有一道通往无底深渊的传送门。139
As you may know, my former partner, Moander, resides there in its true form.你或许知道，我从前的伙伴莫安德以真身居住在那里。140
Once you step into a plane where it exists, its sigil will return to your arm.一旦你踏入它所在的位面，它的印记就会重新出现在你的手臂上。141
Because you bear its mark and are known to its minions as its servant, you will pass through to its domain unharmed.因为你身负它的印记，而且它的爪牙都知道你是它的仆人，所以你能毫发无伤地进入它的领域。142
Once there you will kill it.到了那里，你就会杀死它。143
You will not be able to stop yourself.你根本无法阻止自己。144
You will rid the world of a great evil, a noble purpose.你会为世间铲除一个大邪魔，这是个崇高的使命。145
Just right for you.”再适合你不过了。”146
“How would you know what’s right for me, you monster?”“你怎么会知道什么适合我，你这个怪物？”147
A raging fire ignited in her, hot enough to burn away the power that held her.熊熊怒火在她心中燃起，炽烈得足以焚尽束缚她的力量。148
“I will not be controlled!“我绝不会受人控制！149
I am my own master.”我才是自己的主人。”150
The wand exploded in Phalse’s hand, and the cloud of shattered blue crystals mixed with the blood spurting from his wrist.魔杖在法尔斯手中炸裂，粉碎的蓝色水晶迸散成云，与从他腕部喷出的鲜血混在一起。151
The last master screamed, opening his mouth wide like the kalmari.最后一位主人惨叫起来，像卡尔马里一样张大了嘴。152
Alias felt the invisible web dissolve; she was free.阿莉亚丝感到那张无形之网消散了；她自由了。153
She crossed the last few feet separating her from her foe, swung with Dragonbait’s sword, and severed Phalse’s head neatly from his body.她跨过与敌人之间最后几英尺的距离，挥动龙饵的剑，利落地将法尔斯的头颅从身体上斩了下来。154
The head flew two feet away, toppling in a bloodless arch, while the body collapsed like an empty skin.头颅飞到两英尺外，翻滚着划出一道不带血的弧线，身体则像一张空皮囊般瘫倒在地。155
Alias circled warily.阿莉亚丝警惕地绕着它转了一圈。156
She wondered if it was only a coincidence that Phalse’s smile resembled the kalmari’s, but no smoking monster rose from the two halves.她不知道法尔斯的笑容与卡尔马里的笑容如此相像是否只是巧合，但并没有冒烟的怪物从那两半残躯中现身。157
Olive shivered, suddenly exhausted.奥利芙打了个寒战，突然感到筋疲力尽。158
“Finally,” Akabar said.“总算，”阿卡巴说道。159
“It’s over.”“一切都结束了。”160
Dragonbait shook his head.龙饵摇了摇头。161
“No,” Alias said in a quiet, angry voice.“不对。”阿莉亚丝压低声音，愤怒地说道。162
“It’s not.“不是这样的。163
Look.”你看。”164
She held up her arm.她举起手臂。165
It still bore Phalse’s sigil.上面仍然留着法尔斯的印记。166
Laughter rose from the floor, Phalse’s laughter, loud and strong, issued from the severed head.地板上传来一阵笑声——是法尔斯的笑声，响亮而有力，发自那颗被斩下的头颅。167
“Foolish, foolish, One.“愚蠢，愚蠢的一号。168
You shouldn’t make me angry.”你不该惹我生气。”169
Phalse’s face leered at her from the disembodied head, and as it spoke it began to change.法尔斯的脸从那颗脱离躯体的头颅上狞笑着瞪视她，随着他说话，那张脸开始变化。170
The head expanded, puffing up like a balloon and rising several feet off the ground, the laughter growing deeper and more malicious.头颅膨胀起来，像气球一样鼓起，升到离地数尺的空中，笑声也变得越发低沉、恶毒。171
Phalse’s two blue eyes merged into a single orb above his over-large mouth.法尔斯的两只蓝眼睛融合成一颗独眼，悬在那张硕大得不成比例的嘴巴上方。172
Thick worms snaked from his hair, and each worm ended with a fanged mouth shaped like a lamprey’s. Phalse had become a huge beholder, only with jaws instead of eyes.粗壮的蠕虫从他的头发间蜿蜒钻出，每条蠕虫末端都长着一张形似七鳃鳗、布满獠牙的嘴。法尔斯变成了一只巨大的眼魔，只不过以利齿巨口代替了眼睛。173
This was the creature that had attacked Nameless, Alias realized, recalling the multiple bites in the bard’s body.阿莉亚丝想起那名吟游诗人身上的累累咬痕，顿时明白，这就是袭击无名者的怪物。174
It was Phalse all along.原来从头到尾都是法尔斯。175
The body’s empty skin also began to inflate, turning into the naked form of a large, sexless humanoid.那具身体空瘪的皮囊也开始膨胀，化作一个高大、赤裸而无性别的人形生物。176
The skin darkened to a shiny, reflective black.它的皮肤逐渐变黑，变得乌亮如镜。177
The creature had only a sharp stump where the right hand had been blown off by the exploding wand, but the left appendage sported a set of pincers.它的右手已被爆炸的魔杖炸掉，那里只剩下一截尖利的残肢，但左侧肢体上却长着一对钳螯。178
Olive lunged at the beastly head with her daggers.奥利芙挥舞匕首，猛扑向那颗野兽般的头颅。179
A worm-appendage snaked around her slender waist, lifted her from the ground, and sent her skittering across the floor like a ball.一条蠕虫状的肢体缠住她纤细的腰肢，将她提离地面，像球一样贴着地板骨碌碌地甩了出去。180
She hit the far wall with a bone-wrenching crack and did not get up again.她撞上远处的墙壁，发出一声仿佛骨头都要断裂的脆响，随后再也没有爬起来。181
Akabar made a movement toward the halfling, but he was blocked by the headless, shining black body.阿卡巴刚要朝那名半身人奔去，却被那具无头、黑亮的身体挡住了。182
It caught the mage firmly in its viselike pincers and squeezed.它用老虎钳般的钳螯牢牢夹住法师，用力挤压。183
Akabar screamed.阿卡巴惨叫起来。184
Dragonbait had started toward the beholder, but now spun about to rescue Akabar.龙饵原本已冲向眼魔，此刻却转身去救阿卡巴。185
Using the sword he had borrowed from one of the Aliases, he hacked at the beast.他挥动从众多阿莉亚丝中的一个手里借来的剑，朝那怪物猛砍。186
Chips of dark crystal flew from the monstrous torso, and it stopped squeezing Akabar and began using him as a shield.黑色水晶碎屑从那怪物的躯干上四散飞溅；它不再挤压阿卡巴，转而把他当作盾牌。187
The beholder used the pointy stump of its right arm to spear at the saurial, driving him back.眼魔用尖锐的右臂残桩刺向蜥龙人，逼得他连连后退。188
“One,” the head announced with its largest mouth, the rest of them hissing as it spoke, “enter the portal now or die.”“一号，”那颗头颅用最大的一张嘴宣告道，其余的嘴则在它说话时嘶嘶作响，“立刻进入传送门，否则就死。”189
“Make me.”“有本事就逼我进去。”190
The beholder launched itself at her.眼魔猛扑向她。191
Alias put a foot on the well’s rim and brought Dragonbait’s sword up with a sweeping cut, shearing off the mouth-tipped worms along one side.阿莉亚丝一脚踏上井沿，挥起龙饵的剑横扫一记，削掉了它一侧那些嘴部长在末端的蠕虫。192
The head turned and charged her again.那颗头颅转过来，再次向她冲去。193
Alias dodged to the right, twisting and turning as she did so.阿莉亚丝闪向右侧，同时辗转腾挪。194
Moander had taught her that the best way to fight tendrils was to avoid them.莫安德教过她，对付触须最好的办法就是避开它们。195
She shifted the sword to her right hand and drew a dagger from her left boot.她把剑换到右手，又从左靴中拔出一把匕首。196
Phalse began his third charge at Alias’s head.法尔斯第三次朝阿莉亚丝的头部冲去。197
At the last moment he swooped down and slammed into her knees.就在最后一刻，他猛然俯冲，一头撞上她的双膝。198
The swordswoman crashed to the floor, losing her grip on Dragonbait’s sword and her dagger.女剑士重重摔在地上，龙饵的剑和她的匕首双双脱手。199
Three of the lamprey jaws clamped tightly on her thigh, while the oozing stumps of two others wrapped around her leg.三张七鳃鳗般的嘴死死咬住她的大腿，另有两条渗着黏液的残桩缠住了她的腿。200
The beast began drawing her into its huge, central maw.怪物开始把她拖进自己中央那张巨口。201
Alias grabbed at the stonework surrounding the portal and kicked at the beholder with her free leg.阿莉亚丝抓住传送门周围的石砌边沿，用尚能活动的那条腿猛踢眼魔。202
* * * * ** * * * *203
Far above the fray, the figure behind the banner shook his head and reached for the crossbow he’d retrieved from the citadel’s depths.远在战场上方，旗帜后的人影摇了摇头，伸手去拿那把他从要塞深处取回的弩。204
The tower’s new owner had not found the cache of magical items, scavenged during his exile.这座塔的新主人并没有找到那批他在流亡期间搜罗来的魔法物品。205
Nameless drew a single quarrel from a slim case of dark wood.无名者从一个细长的乌木匣中抽出一支弩箭。206
The bolt shone in the dimness of the secret passage, illuminating his careworn face.箭矢在秘道的昏暗中熠熠发光，照亮了他饱经忧患的脸。207
With his foot in the crossbow’s stirrup, he wound back the weapon’s spring until the crosswire clicked into position.他一脚踩住弩弓的脚蹬，转动绞盘拉紧弩弦，直到弦扣咔嗒一声卡入位置。208
He loaded the shining bolt into the groove, tight against the wire.他把那支闪亮的弩箭装进箭槽，紧紧抵住弩弦。209
Sighting along the top of the weapon, Nameless chose the blue-in-blue-in-blue major eye as his target.无名者沿着弩弓上方瞄准，将那只蓝中套蓝、蓝外又蓝的主眼选作目标。210
He hesitated as Alias pulled against the strength of Phalse’s mouth-stalks.阿莉亚丝奋力挣扎，抵抗法尔斯口部触须的力量，他见状迟疑了。211
Had he believed the gods still favored him, he would have prayed.倘若他还相信诸神依然眷顾自己，他一定会祈祷。212
A hand jostled his shoulder, and Nameless accidentally set off the trigger.一只手撞了撞他的肩膀，无名者不慎扣动了扳机。213
The bolt sizzled as it left the crossbow but it flew wide of its mark, smashing deep into the far wall, unnoticed by the combatants below.弩箭嘶嘶作响地离弦飞出，却偏离了目标，深深钉入远处的墙壁，下方激战的双方谁也没有察觉。214
Nameless turned in rage, expecting some dire beast.无名者怒而转身，以为会看到什么可怕的凶兽。215
Instead, his blue eyes met those of an old man dressed in dirty brown robes, and sporting a voluminous beard which spilled out over his cloak.然而，他的蓝眼睛对上的却是一双老人的眼睛；那老人身穿肮脏的褐色长袍，蓄着一把浓密的长须，一直披散到斗篷上。216
“Elminster,” Nameless growled.“伊尔明斯特。”无名者低吼道。217
“She must finish this battle alone, Nameless.”“她必须独自打完这一仗，无名者。”218
“So Phalse can kill her and do your dirty work for you?”“好让法尔斯杀了她，替你干完这桩脏活吗？”219
“So she can prove to herself, and to thee, that she is her own master.”“好让她向自己，也向汝证明，她是自己的主人。”220
“She could die!”“她可能会死！”221
A smile played across Elminster’s lips.伊尔明斯特唇边浮起一丝微笑。222
“I thought she was thy immortal vessel, who could not be killed.“吾还以为，她是汝那不死的容器，根本杀不死呢。223
Ye made her a powerful fighter.汝把她造就成了一名强大的战士。224
Will ye follow her around until the end of thy days, rescuing her from every danger?难道汝要追随她直到生命尽头，每逢危险都出手相救？225
What good is she to ye as an eternal monument if she cannot defend herself from the forces of the world?”若她连世间的种种力量都无法抵御，那么作为一座永恒的丰碑，她于汝又有何用？”226
“But she’s human.“可她是人。227
I …”我……”228
“Care for her?”“在乎她？”229
“Of course.”“当然。”230
“That’s a first,” Elminster said.“这可是头一遭。”伊尔明斯特说道。231
“Now show it.“现在证明给我看。232
Let her go free.”放她自由。”233
* * * * ** * * * *234
The deadly tug of war between Alias and Phalse continued.阿莉亚丝与法尔斯之间致命的拉锯仍在继续。235
Alias felt as if the monster was tearing her arms from her sockets.阿莉亚丝觉得那怪物仿佛正要把她的双臂从肩窝里扯下来。236
Her fingers were white from gripping the rock, and her hold was slipping.她攥着岩石，手指都已泛白，眼看就要抓不住了。237
The time had come to risk a new strategy.是时候冒险换个策略了。238
She pushed hard against the wall, toward the mouth-beholder.她用力蹬墙，朝那只巨口眼魔扑去。239
Phalse tumbled backward with Alias on top of him.法尔斯向后翻倒，阿莉亚丝压在了他身上。240
She kicked at the head, but it was not like kicking a balloon, as she had expected.她一脚踢向那颗脑袋，可它并不像她原以为的气球那样柔软。241
The head was as hard as armor, and a numbing shock rang up Alias’s leg, but Phalse’s grip on her slackened.那颗脑袋坚如铠甲，一股震得人发麻的冲击直窜阿莉亚丝整条腿，但法尔斯对她的钳制也松了。242
She took advantage of the moment to draw her other boot dagger.她趁机拔出了另一只靴子里的匕首。243
She slashed off the stalks that bit into her, leaving long trails of misty blood in the air.她挥刀斩断那些咬进她身体的触梗，雾气般的鲜血在空中拖出道道长痕。244
She fell to the ground as Phalse floated back a few yards and hovered.她摔落在地，法尔斯则向后飘出几码，悬停在空中。245
Alias rose without taking her eyes from the head, brandishing her bloody dagger, Dragonbait’s sword lay on her right.阿莉亚丝目不转睛地盯着那颗脑袋，站起身来，挥舞着染血的匕首；龙饵的剑就躺在她右边。246
She spoke, trying to cover her movement as she edged slowly toward it.她开口说话，试图借此掩饰自己的动作，同时慢慢朝那把剑挪去。247
“You’re awfully quiet now, Phalse.“你现在可真安静啊，法尔斯。248
Run out of threats and taunts?”威胁和嘲弄都说完了？”249
She noticed that her kick had dimpled its side.她注意到，自己那一脚在它侧面踢出了一个凹痕。250
“I’m listening—to the portal.“我在听——听传送门的声音。251
Can’t you hear it calling to you?你听不见它在呼唤你吗？252
Don’t you feel drawn into it?”你不觉得自己正被它吸引进去吗？”253
“You wish, Phalse,” Alias said with a laugh.“想得美，法尔斯。”阿莉亚丝笑着说。254
“You don’t think my sisters out there can do it, so you want me to believe I’m expendable.“你觉得外面的那些姐妹办不到，所以想让我相信，我是可以牺牲掉的。255
None of them ever received the mark of Moander, did they?她们没有一个得到过莫安德的印记，对吧？256
They can’t get to Moander the way I can, can they?”她们没法像我这样接近莫安德，对吧？”257
“Not as easily as you, One, but they will try.“没你这么容易，一号，但她们会试的。258
I will send them, one at a time, until one of them succeeds.我会把她们一个个送进去，直到有人成功为止。259
You could spare them all of that pain and agony.你本可以让她们免受这一切痛苦和折磨。260
How can you resist the challenge?”你怎么能拒绝这样的挑战呢？”261
“Forget it, Phalse.“省省吧，法尔斯。262
You’re not going to talk me into it.”你休想说动我。”263
Phalse’s words, though, managed to split her attention between the beholder and the portal, so she didn’t notice Phalse’s ebony body behind her until it was too late.然而，法尔斯的话成功地将她的注意力分散在眼魔和传送门之间，以至于她没有察觉身后的法尔斯那具漆黑躯体，直到为时已晚。264
It struck her with a hard, powerful swing of its handless arm.那具躯体猛地挥动没有手掌的臂膀，重重击中了她。265
Alias fell to the ground like a sack, only a few feet from Dragonbait’s sword.阿莉亚丝像个麻袋似的倒在地上，离龙饵的剑只有几英尺远。266
The giant torso loomed over her with Akabar dangling from its claw like a rag doll.巨大的躯干逼近她，阿卡巴被它的利爪抓着，像个布娃娃一样悬在半空。267
Dragonbait lay motionless on the floor.龙饵一动不动地躺在地上。268
Olive was still out cold.奥利芙依然昏迷不醒。269
Phalse’s head laughed as it drifted until it fitted itself securely in the depression between the ebony form’s shoulders.法尔斯的脑袋一边飘过来一边大笑，直到稳稳嵌进那具漆黑躯体双肩之间的凹陷里。270
“This torso was also a prototype of sorts, both part and not part of me, useful as a carrier and warrior.“这具躯干也算是某种原型，既是我的一部分，又不是我的一部分，可以充当载具和战士。271
But not as good as you.”但还是不如你。”272
The united Phalse, body and head, bent over her, the sucker mouths opening and closing in anticipation.身体与脑袋合为一体的法尔斯俯身逼近她，那些吸盘般的嘴因期待而一张一合。273
Alias reached for Dragonbait’s sword, grasped its hilt in both hands, and swung it low, near the floor.阿莉亚丝伸手抓住龙饵那把剑的剑柄，双手握紧，贴近地面横扫出去。274
The sword passed cleanly through one of Phalse’s ankles and chopped into the other.剑刃干净利落地斩穿法尔斯的一只脚踝，又砍进了另一只。275
The body toppled over, and Alias rolled away as Phalse separated himself from the fallen ebony torso.那具躯体轰然倒下；法尔斯从倒地的漆黑躯干上脱离时，阿莉亚丝翻滚着躲开了。276
“You spoil all my fun,” said the huge, bloated head.“你把我的乐子全搅了，”那颗巨大臃肿的头颅说道。277
“Now we must end this.”“现在我们必须做个了断。”278
He charged at her.他猛冲向她。279
Alias faked a stumble to one knee, and the head swooped lower, still moving quickly.阿莉亚丝假装踉跄着单膝跪地，那颗头颅便俯冲得更低，速度依然很快。280
Alias leaped to her feet, stabbing with Dragonbait’s sword as if it were a dagger—right into the central blue eye.阿莉亚丝一跃而起，把龙饵的剑当作匕首般刺出——正中中央那只蓝眼睛。281
Phalse hissed from all his remaining mouths, and Alias thought she had beaten him, when suddenly several more mouth-stalks sprang from the head and engulfed her.法尔斯用剩下的所有嘴巴发出嘶声，阿莉亚丝还以为自己已经打败了他，谁知那颗头颅上突然又冒出数根长着嘴的触须，将她整个裹住。282
The large, lower mouth tried to bite her.下方那张大嘴试图咬她。283
She placed her free arm in the space between the skewered eye and the mouth, trying to remove Dragonbait’s sword, but the blade was stuck.她把空着的手臂横在被刺穿的眼睛和那张嘴之间，试图拔出龙饵的剑，但剑刃卡住了。284
She succeeded only in keeping the awful main maw from snapping at her flesh.她只能勉强阻止那张可怕的主嘴咬住自己的血肉。285
* * * * ** * * * *286
Dragonbait recovered his senses as Alias was grappling with Phalse’s head.当阿莉亚丝正与法尔斯的头颅扭打时，龙饵恢复了意识。287
This was her battle; she had asked him not to interfere.这是她的战斗；她曾要他不要插手。288
The saurial staggered from the courtyard and into the former feast hall to stand between the rows of bodies.蜥蜴人踉踉跄跄地离开庭院，走进从前的宴会厅，站在一排排尸体之间。289
He agreed with Alias that her copies should not be destroyed.他赞同阿莉亚丝的看法，认为她的复制体不该被毁掉。290
The saurial thought back to the evening when he and Alias had been branded, when his soul had been stretched and torn until Alias had suddenly become possessed of life and a soul, and, unexpectedly, a spirit.蜥蜴人回想起他和阿莉亚丝被烙上印记的那个夜晚：他的灵魂被拉扯、撕裂，直到阿莉亚丝突然拥有了生命和灵魂，而且出乎意料地，也有了精神。291
Just how did I do it? he asked himself.我究竟是怎么做到的？他问自己。292
Was it my prayers, my stubborn defiance of the evil around me, my acceptance that death was near?是因为我的祈祷，因为我对周围邪恶势力的顽强反抗，还是因为我接受了死亡将近的事实？293
* * * * ** * * * *294
The forest of mouths encircled Alias, blocking her vision, and she and Phalse spun about dizzily.密林般的嘴巴包围了阿莉亚丝，挡住了她的视线，她和法尔斯令人眩晕地旋转起来。295
Alias became suddenly aware that they stood on the balcony.阿莉亚丝突然意识到，他们正站在阳台上。296
Catching her foot against the wall, Alias twisted at the waist, slinging the head about by Dragonbait’s sword.阿莉亚丝用脚抵住墙壁，腰身猛地一扭，借着龙饵的剑将那颗头颅甩了出去。297
She let go of the sword’s hilt.她松开了剑柄。298
The torque created by her spin was enough to rip the mouths from her body.她旋转产生的扭力足以将那些嘴巴从她身上扯开。299
Phalse’s head went spinning from the tower with the sword still embedded in it.法尔斯的头颅旋转着飞出塔外，龙饵的剑仍插在上面。300
Thirty feet from the balcony, Phalse and Dragonbait’s sword achieved maximum potential and burst into a ball of white light as bright as the recent detonations near Westgate.飞到离阳台三十英尺处时，法尔斯和龙饵的剑达到了最大势能，爆成一团白光，亮得如同不久前西门城附近的那些爆炸。301
Alias shielded her eyes from the explosion with her arms and backed away from the balcony.阿莉亚丝抬起双臂遮住眼睛，挡住爆炸的强光，同时从阳台边退开。302
She felt a familiar burning pain on her arm.她感到手臂上传来一阵熟悉的灼痛。303
A welcome pain.这疼痛来得正好。304
Phalse’s sigil flared and vanished from her arm.法尔斯的印记骤然亮起，随即从她的手臂上消失了。305
* * * * ** * * * *306
A sharp pain on Dragonbait’s chest broke his concentration.龙饵胸口突然一阵剧痛，打断了他的专注。307
The air filled with the scent of violets as the saurial realized the source of the pain.蜥蜴人意识到疼痛的来源时，空气中弥漫起紫罗兰的气息。308
Phalse was dead.法尔斯死了。309
Suddenly, the twelve figures before him faded to shimmering, glassy outlines and then vanished completely.突然间，他面前的十二道人影褪成闪烁着微光的玻璃状轮廓，随后彻底消失。310
A last trick of Phalse’s? the saurial wondered.这是法尔斯最后的诡计吗？蜥蜴人暗自思忖。311
He hadn’t had time to learn if he’d succeeded.他还没来得及弄清自己是否成功了。312
Now he might never know.现在，他或许永远也不会知道了。313
* * * * ** * * * *314
Alias swayed unsteadily and put her hand against a wall.阿莉亚丝身形不稳地晃了晃，伸手撑住墙壁。315
Dragonbait stood in the doorway between the feast hall and the courtyard.龙饵站在宴会厅与庭院之间的门口。316
He looked disturbed but uninjured.他看起来心神不宁，却没有受伤。317
Then Alias saw two figures bent over the bodies of her companions and she leaped toward them.随后，阿莉亚丝看见两个人俯身伏在同伴们的身体上方，便朝他们扑了过去。318
One of them turned toward her, and she paused.其中一人转向她，她顿时停住了脚步。319
It was Nameless, and he and his companion were smearing healing ointment over Akabar’s body.那人是无名者，他正和同伴一起把疗伤药膏涂遍阿卡巴的身体。320
The other man moved toward Olive and told Alias, “She’s alive, too.”另一个男人走向奥利芙，对阿莉亚丝说：“她也还活着。”321
There was something familiar about the figure and voice, but Alias was too weak to place it.那人的身影和声音都有些熟悉，但阿莉亚丝虚弱得无暇细想。322
She sank to her knees, chiding Nameless, “About time you showed up.”她跪倒在地，埋怨无名者道：“你总算来了。”323
Then she allowed herself the luxury of collapsing.随后，她终于任由自己奢侈地昏倒在地。324
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听