She woke to the noise of dogs—two distinct barkings beneath her open inn window.她被狗叫声吵醒了——敞开的旅店窗户下，传来两种截然不同的吠声。1
A high-pitched yip confronted a deep, throaty growl.尖厉的吠叫正与低沉的喉吼针锋相对。2
Alias lay on the tan-stained cotton sheets and pictured a long-haired puppy cast out from its wealthy owner’s household; fending off some huge boxer or Vassan wolfhound.阿莉亚丝躺在染着黄褐色污渍的棉布床单上，想象着一只长毛幼犬被富有的主人家赶了出来，正在抵挡一只体形硕大的拳师犬或瓦萨猎狼犬。3
As with men and other savage races, the show of force was as important to the dogs as force itself.狗和人类及其他野蛮种族一样，展现力量与力量本身同样重要。4
The yipping canine was overmatched, yet its barking went on for what seemed to Alias an eternity.那只尖声吠叫的狗显然不是对手，却一直叫个不停，在阿莉亚丝看来，仿佛持续了无穷无尽的时间。5
Finally, the dog with the deeper growl reached the end of its patience and snarled savagely.终于，那只吼声更低沉的狗耐心耗尽，凶狠地咆哮起来。6
The sound of toppling trash brought Alias fully awake.垃圾被撞翻的声响让阿莉亚丝彻底清醒过来。7
She opened her eyes, listening for a dying squeal from the smaller dog, but surprisingly the next thing she heard was a series of deep yelps from the large dog.她睁开眼睛，等着听那只小狗临死前的哀号，没想到接下来听见的，竟是大狗接连发出的低沉惨叫。8
The sound faded away as the large dog fled from the window.大狗逃离窗下，那声音也随之渐渐远去。9
Alias threw off the light blanket and swung her feet to the floor.阿莉亚丝掀开薄毯，双脚落到地板上。10
She rose and immediately regretted it.她站起身，立刻就后悔了。11
Her head felt as though molten lead had been poured behind her eyes, and her mouth was as dry as the sands of Anauroch.她觉得仿佛有人把熔化的铅灌进了她双眼后面，嘴里则干得像埃诺奥克的沙漠。12
She blinked in the reddish light.她在泛红的光线中眨了眨眼。13
Is it dawn or twilight? she wondered.现在是黎明还是黄昏？她心想。14
Pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes, she yawned.她用两只手掌的掌根按住眼睛，打了个哈欠。15
Through the open window, the sea breezes from the Lake of Dragons wafted into the room, along with the far-off cries of fishermen returning with their catch.来自巨龙湖的海风从敞开的窗户吹进房间，还带来了远处渔夫们载着渔获归来时的吆喝声。16
Twilight, then, she decided.那么，是黄昏了，她断定。17
She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs.她摇了摇头，想把脑中的混沌驱散。18
Must have slept through the day, she thought.我准是睡了一整天，她想。19
When did I get here?我是什么时候到这儿的？20
For that matter, where’s here?说起来，这儿又是什么地方？21
And what was I doing before I came here?还有，我来这里之前在做什么？22
Alias snorted derisively.阿莉亚丝不屑地哼了一声。23
What she’d been doing was obvious.她之前在做什么，再明显不过了。24
This wasn’t the first time she’d awakened in a strange place after a drunken celebration.这并不是她第一次在醉酒狂欢之后，醒来发现自己身处陌生之地。25
Nonetheless, her surroundings seemed familiar.尽管如此，周围的一切却似曾相识。26
The inn was built in the same fashion as a hundred others at this end of the Sea of Fallen Stars, and her room held the typical trappings: a bed cobbled together of a mixed pile of wood, topped with a straw tick and sheets that hadn’t been aggressively washed in months; a small second-hand dressing table; a single straight-backed chair draped with her armor and clothing; a small rag rug at the foot of the bed; a brass oil lamp chained to the table; a chamber pot; and a single door.这家客栈的格局与坠星海这一带上百家客栈如出一辙，她的房间里也尽是常见的陈设：一张用各种木料七拼八凑而成的床，上面铺着草褥垫和几个月没好好洗过的床单；一张小小的二手梳妆台；一把直背椅，她的盔甲和衣物搭在上面；床脚处铺着一小块碎布地毯；一盏用链子拴在桌上的黄铜油灯；一只夜壶；以及唯一的一扇门。27
The window, inset with colorless circles of crown glass that let in the light of the setting sun, opened inward on side hinges that creaked lightly in the breeze.窗户嵌着一片片无色的圆形玻璃，让落日的余晖透进来；窗扇由侧边的铰链支撑，向内开启，在微风中轻轻吱呀作响。28
Alias got out of bed and padded barefoot to the chair.阿莉亚丝下了床，赤着脚轻步走到椅子旁。29
She furrowed her brows, trying to remember the last few days.她皱起眉头，努力回想过去几天发生的事。30
There was a sailing trip.她似乎坐船出了一趟海。31
Something went wrong and I had to get out of a seaport quickly, she thought.有件事出了岔子，我不得不赶紧离开一座海港，她想。32
Random images of lizard men, shadowy swordsmen, and magic-users blurred in her memory.蜥蜴人、黑影般的剑客和施法者等零乱的景象，在她的记忆中模糊成一片。33
She shrugged.她耸了耸肩。34
It couldn’t have been too important.事情不可能有多重要。35
I wouldn’t get drunk if there was trouble, she assured herself.要是真有麻烦，我才不会喝醉，她这样安慰自己。36
She reached for her tunic and suddenly realized that this was important, that she was in trouble.她伸手去拿短上衣，突然意识到这件事非同小可，也意识到自己正身陷麻烦。37
Serious trouble.大麻烦。38
Along the inside of her sword arm, from wrist to elbow, writhed an elaborate tattoo unlike any she had ever seen before.她持剑那条手臂的内侧，从手腕到手肘，蜿蜒盘绕着一幅繁复的刺青，是她从未见过的模样。39
A pattern coiled about five large, distinct symbols was set deep into her flesh, all done in shades of blue.五个硕大而轮廓各异的符号周围，盘绕着一道深深嵌入她皮肉的纹样，全部由深浅不一的蓝色构成。40
She held up her arm in the light of the dying sun. The symbols caught the rays and glowed as if they were stained glass lit from behind.她在将逝的夕阳下举起手臂。那些符号攫住了光线，泛起辉光，仿佛从背后被照亮的彩绘玻璃。41
She flexed her arm and twisted it back and forth.她屈伸手臂，又来回转动。42
It wasn’t really a tattoo at all, she realized, noting how her skin rippled across the surface of the massive inscriptions, as though they were buried beneath the surface of her flesh.她注意到自己的皮肤如何从那些巨大的铭文表面起伏掠过，仿佛它们埋藏在皮肉之下，这才意识到，那根本不是什么刺青。43
Engrossed by the symbols, Alias unconsciously sat on the edge of the bed in the fading light.阿莉亚丝全神贯注地看着那些符号，在渐暗的天光中不知不觉坐到了床沿。44
Afraid the symbols might have some hypnotic quality, she studied them with her fingernails pressed into her palms so the pain would distract her from whatever power they might try to exert over her.她担心这些符号可能有某种催眠作用，便将指甲死死掐进掌心，借疼痛分散自己的注意力，以抵御它们可能试图施加在她身上的任何力量，同时仔细研究着它们。45
The first symbol, at the bend of her arm, was a dagger surrounded by blue fire.第一个符号位于她的臂弯处，是一把被蓝色火焰环绕的匕首。46
The tip of the dagger rested on the second symbol, a trio of interlocking circles.匕首尖抵在第二个符号上，那是三个彼此交扣的圆环。47
Beneath this was a dot and a squiggle which reminded Alias of an insect’s leg.下面是一个圆点和一道弯曲的线条，令阿莉亚丝想起昆虫的腿。48
The leg danced above the fourth symbol—an azure hand with a fanged mouth in the center of its palm.那条腿在第四个符号上方舞动——一只蔚蓝色的手，掌心中央长着一张獠牙利口。49
The last symbol consisted of three concentric circles, each a more intense blue, so that the centermost circle was the white-blue of a lightning strike and almost unbearable to look at.最后一个符号由三个同心圆组成，一个比一个蓝得浓烈，最中心的圆呈闪电般的炽白蓝色，几乎令人无法直视。50
At the base of her wrist the pattern wound about an empty space, as if a sixth symbol was yet to be added.图案在她的手腕根部绕过一块空白，仿佛还有第六个符号尚待添上。51
Alias cursed, rattling off the names of as many gods as she could immediately think of.阿莉亚丝破口咒骂，把一时能想到的神祇名字全都一股脑儿念了出来。52
When neither Tymora nor Waukeen nor any of the others manifested themselves, she sighed and reached for her gear.泰摩拉、沃金以及其他神祇一个也没有显灵，她叹了口气，伸手去拿自己的装备。53
She considered bolting out of the room, sword in hand, prepared to smite anyone she could hold responsible.她想过手持长剑冲出房间，准备把任何能为此负责的人一剑劈倒。54
She also considered dropping to her knees and praying for a divine revelation of what she had done to deserve this.她也想过跪倒在地，祈求神明降下启示，告诉她究竟做了什么，才活该遭受这一切。55
Neither action was likely to do her any good, so she settled for getting dressed.这两种做法大概都不会有什么用，于是她最后还是决定先穿好衣服。56
Alias tugged her tunic over her head and stepped into her leather leggings.阿莉亚丝把束腰外衣从头顶套下，又穿上皮裤。57
She frowned at the clothing.她望着这身衣服，皱起眉头。58
Why are these so stiff?“这衣服怎么这么硬？”59
I bought them over a year ago.“我一年多前就买了。”60
They should be broken in by now.“现在早该穿软了才对。”61
Unless they’re replacements, she mused.“除非这是替换的新衣服。”她思忖道。62
There was no mistaking the newness of this set of clothing—it even smelled new.这套衣服崭新得毋庸置疑——甚至还带着新衣服的气味。63
But I don’t remember buying any new clothes recently.“可我不记得最近买过什么新衣服。”64
Is this a spare set I shoved into the bottom of my pack and forgot? she wondered.“难道这是我塞在背包底下、后来忘掉的一套备用衣服？”她心想。65
She looked around for her pack, but it wasn’t among her belongings.她四下寻找背包，却发现它并不在自己的物品之中。66
It might have been stolen, she realized, but then it was equally likely she lost it or even hocked it.她意识到，背包也许是被偷了，但同样可能是她自己弄丢了，甚至拿去当掉了。67
She slipped her shirt of light chain over her head, but decided against attaching the breast, shoulder, arm, and knee plates.她把轻型锁子甲套过头顶，却决定不装上胸甲、肩甲、臂甲和膝甲。68
She felt a rocking sensation in the pit of her stomach.她感到胃里一阵摇晃。69
I know there was a sea trip.我知道自己坐船远行过。70
Did I get this … tattoo before I sailed or after I arrived?我是出航前弄了这个……刺青，还是抵达之后？71
She pulled on her hard-soled boots.她穿上硬底长靴。72
The soft leather uppers reached nearly to her knees.柔软的皮革靴筒几乎一直伸到膝盖。73
She checked for her daggers.她检查了一下匕首。74
Each boot pocket held a slender, balanced wedge of silvered steel.每只靴子的暗袋里都装着一柄纤细匀称的镀银钢匕首。75
All that remained on the chair was her plate mail and her cloak.椅子上只剩下她的板甲和斗篷。76
Her fire-scorched longsword and the eagle-shaped barrette she used to keep her hair in place lay on the dresser.她那把被火燎过的长剑，以及用来固定头发的鹰形发夹，都放在五斗柜上。77
Worse than her missing pack, there was no money among her belongings, but she was still too concerned about the tattoo to worry about money.比背包失踪更糟的是，她的随身物品里一分钱也没有，但她仍旧太在意那个刺青，顾不上为钱发愁。78
This memory loss and tattoo may be nothing, she tried to tell herself as she reached for the barrette.这次失忆和这个刺青也许根本没什么，她伸手去拿发夹时，努力这样告诉自己。79
Holding the silver clasp in her teeth she wound up her long reddish hair and bound it to the back of her head with the barrette.她用牙齿咬住银色发夹，把红褐色的长发盘起来，再用发夹固定在脑后。80
She remembered Ikanamon the Gray Mage telling her about the time he got so drunk and obnoxious that his fellow party members had a vulgar scene involving centaurs tattooed on his backside.她想起灰袍法师伊卡纳蒙曾告诉她，有一次他喝得酩酊大醉，举止又惹人生厌，结果同伴们在他屁股上刺了一幅涉及半人马的下流图案。81
Maybe this is just a prank, too, she reassured herself.也许这也只是个恶作剧，她这样安慰自己。82
A clerical cure will get rid of it for me.找个牧师施法治疗，就能替我把它去掉。83
The small hairs on the back of her neck rose, and Alias realized that she was being watched.她后颈上的汗毛竖了起来，阿莉亚丝意识到有人正在窥视她。84
Turning slowly toward the window, she locked gazes with a reptilian creature peering in at her from the alley.她缓缓转向窗户，与一个从小巷里朝她窥探的爬虫类生物四目相对。85
Looking like a cross between a lizard and a troglodyte, the beast’s head just reached above the level of the windowsill.那头野兽看起来像是蜥蜴与穴居人的混种，脑袋刚刚高过窗台。86
His snout was thinner and more refined than the lizard men Alias had fought before, and he had a huge fin which began just between his eyes and continued over the top of his skull.他的吻部比阿莉亚丝以前交战过的蜥蜴人更细窄、更精巧，头上还长着一片巨大的鳍，从双眼之间开始，一直延伸过头颅顶部。87
He had no lips, only sharp, disjointed teeth, and his eyes were the yellow of dead things.他没有嘴唇，只有尖利而参差不齐的牙齿，双眼泛着死物般的黄色。88
In his claws he held the smaller of the two dogs Alias had heard earlier.他的爪中抓着阿莉亚丝先前听见的两只狗中较小的那一只。89
The puppy, unharmed, had short, white hair, not long as Alias had imagined.那只毫发无伤的小狗长着短短的白毛，并不像阿莉亚丝想象的那样是长毛。90
Both creatures watched her with an intense curiosity, the lizard still as stone, the puppy wagging its tail, with its pink tongue lolling stupidly out of one side of its mouth.两个生物都带着强烈的好奇注视着她：蜥蜴人像石头一样一动不动，小狗则摇着尾巴，粉红色的舌头傻乎乎地耷拉在嘴角一侧。91
Alias reacted instantly with the practiced grace of an experienced adventuress.阿莉亚丝瞬间作出反应，举止间带着身经百战的女冒险者那种娴熟的优雅。92
She drew one of the daggers from her boot and, with a flick of her tattooed wrist, shot it at her observer.她从靴中抽出一把匕首，刺着文身的手腕轻轻一抖，便将它掷向了窥视者。93
The creature pitched backward without a sound, but the dog fell into the room with a frightened yip.那生物一声不响地向后倒去，狗却惊叫一声，跌进了房间。94
The dagger sank half an inch into the oak window frame.匕首扎进橡木窗框足有半英寸深。95
Grasping her flame-seared sword, Alias flung herself across the room in one fluid motion.阿莉亚丝握住那柄被火焰灼烧过的剑，一气呵成地纵身跃过房间。96
When she reached the window, however, the creature was gone and the alleyway empty.然而，等她赶到窗边时，那生物已经不见了，巷子里也空无一物。97
The short-haired dog yipped at her feet, rising on its hind legs and placing its front paws halfway up her boots.那只短毛狗在她脚边吠叫着，后腿直立，两只前爪搭到了她靴子的半腰处。98
“I don’t suppose you know anything about this?” she asked the dog.“我想你大概不知道这是怎么回事吧？”她问那只狗。99
The puppy merely wagged its tail and whimpered.小狗只是摇着尾巴呜咽。100
Alias picked up the small creature, petted it briefly, then dropped it outside the window.阿莉亚丝抱起这个小家伙，随手抚摸了几下，然后把它放到了窗外。101
The beast barked at her a few times, then began sniffing the rubbish.那小家伙冲她叫了几声，接着便开始嗅闻垃圾。102
* * * * ** * * * *103
“The lady has risen from the dead!” shouted the barkeep in a merry voice as Alias entered the common room.“这位女士死而复生啦！”阿莉亚丝走进公共厅时，酒馆掌柜兴高采烈地喊道。104
She did not know this particular barkeep, but knew others just like him who ran inns from the Living City to Waterdeep.阿莉亚丝并不认识这个掌柜，但她认识许多跟他一模一样的人，他们经营的旅店遍布活城到深水城一带。105
He was a loud, boisterous man, full of “hail-fellow-well-met” attitudes, favoring adventurers in his trade because the additional gold they usually carried made up for the damage their barroom arguments caused.他是个嗓门洪亮、性情豪爽的男人，浑身透着一股“见谁都称兄道弟”的热络劲儿；做生意时，他尤其偏爱冒险者，因为他们通常随身多带的金币，足以补偿他们在酒馆里争吵斗殴所造成的损失。106
A few heads turned to look at her, but there were no familiar faces among them.有几个人转头看了她一眼，但其中没有一张熟悉的面孔。107
Alias had decided to wear her armor plate after all.阿莉亚丝终究还是决定穿上胸甲。108
She looked more suited for battle than for a few drinks, but many of the merchants, mercenaries, and townsfolk were similarly armed and armored, so she fit in.她看起来更像是要去打仗，而不是来喝几杯；不过，许多商人、佣兵和镇民也同样全副武装，因此她并不显眼。109
Like most of those in the room, Alias wore her weapon at her side.和厅中大多数人一样，阿莉亚丝把武器佩在身侧。110
Like all of those doing so, she had the blade’s grip tied to its sheath by white cord, fashioned in “peace knot.”也和所有这样佩着武器的人一样，她用白绳把剑柄系在剑鞘上，打成了一个“和平结”。111
She took a table near an interior wall, away from any windows, where she could keep an eye on both doors to the common area, and the barkeep as well.她在一面内墙旁挑了张桌子，远离所有窗户；坐在那里，她既能盯住公共厅的两扇门，也能留意酒馆掌柜。112
He was a portly, balding man, obviously guilty of sampling his own stock.他是个秃顶的矮胖男人，显然没少亲自品尝店里的存货。113
He took her attention as a request for service, and after a few obligatory passes with a rag over the bar, he filled a large mug from the tap and brought it over to her table.他把她的注视当成了要他过来招呼，于是拿抹布照例在吧台上擦了几下，便从酒桶龙头接满一大杯酒，端到了她桌旁。114
Foam ran down the mug’s sides, and beads of water condensed where the rivulets did not run.泡沫顺着杯壁淌下，没有酒沫流过的地方则凝结出了一颗颗水珠。115
“Hair o’ the dog what bit you?” offered the barkeep.“来点儿咬你的那条狗身上的毛？”酒馆掌柜提议道。116
“On the house?” asked Alias.“店里请客？”阿莉亚丝问。117
“On the bill,” the barkeep replied.“记在账上，”酒保回答。118
“I like to keep things on a cash-and-carry basis.“我喜欢一手交钱一手交货。119
Don’t worry, you’re still covered.”别担心，还是有人替你付账的。”120
For the moment Alias was more interested in the blank spaces in her memory than in who was covering her tab.眼下，比起是谁替她付账，阿莉亚丝更关心自己记忆中的那片空白。121
“I was here last night?” she asked.“我昨晚在这里？”她问。122
“Yes, lady.”“是啊，女士。”123
“Doing?”“在做什么？”124
Alias raised an eyebrow.阿莉亚丝扬起一边眉毛。125
“Why, sleeping it off.“嗨，当然是在睡觉醒酒。126
And it must have been a Hades-raising drunk indeed, for it is the seventh day o’ Mirtul.”而且那次肯定醉得能把冥府都掀翻了，因为今天已经是米尔图月七日了。”127
When Alias stared at him blankly, he explained, “You been here since the evening o’ the fourth, done nothing but sleep the whole while.”见阿莉亚丝一脸茫然地盯着他，他解释道：“你从四日傍晚就在这儿了，这段时间除了睡觉，啥也没干。”128
“Did I come alone?”“我是一个人来的吗？”129
“Yes.“是。130
Well, maybe not.嗯，也许不是。131
May I?”我能坐吗？”132
He pointed to the empty seat at the table.他指了指桌旁的空座位。133
Alias nodded, and he lowered his ponderous weight into the chair, which groaned under the load.阿莉亚丝点点头，他便把沉重的身躯放进椅子里，椅子不堪重负，发出一声呻吟。134
“One o’ my regulars, Mitcher Trollslayer,” he continued, “stumbled over you that evening after the last call.“我这儿有个常客，米彻·巨魔杀手，”他继续说道，“那天晚上，最后一轮酒卖完后，他被你绊了一跤。135
You wuz laid out on my front stoop like a sacrifice to Bane.”你就那么摊在我店门前的台阶上，像是献给班恩的祭品。”136
The barkeep drew the circle of Tymora on his chest to ward off any trouble uttering the evil name might bring.酒保在胸前画了个泰摩拉的圆环，以免说出那个邪恶的名字招来什么麻烦。137
“Anyway, there you wuz with this sack o’ money alongside.“总之，你当时就躺在那儿，身边搁着这袋钱。138
I put you up, using the money in the sack to cover your tab.我让你住了下来，用袋里的钱抵你的账。139
Here it is, too, with only the cost o’ the room deducted.”钱也在这儿，只扣了房钱。”140
From his apron pocket he fished out a small satin sack.他从围裙口袋里掏出一个小缎袋。141
“Doesn’t count the beer, o’ course.”“当然，啤酒没算在内。”142
Alias shook the contents from the sack.阿莉亚丝把袋里的东西倒了出来。143
A small, greenish gem, a couple of Lantan trade bars, some Waterdeep coinage, and a scattering of Cormyrian coins.一颗泛绿的小宝石、两根兰坦贸易金属条、几枚深水城钱币，还有零零散散的几枚科米尔人钱币。144
She shoved a silver falcon at the barkeep.她把一枚银隼币推给酒保。145
“I don’t remember coming here.“我不记得自己来过这里。146
Someone must have left me.一定是有人把我留在这儿的。147
Did you see anyone?”你看见什么人了吗？”148
“I figgered you must have been carousing with a bunch o’ mates who, when the effects caught up with you, left you on my doorstep with enough cash to guarantee your comfort.“我寻思，你准是跟一帮伙伴喝酒作乐来着，后来酒劲上来了，他们就把你留在我家门口，还留下足够的钱，好让你能舒舒服服地待着。149
No one told us about you until Mitcher found you on his way out.直到米奇尔出去时发现了你，才有人告诉我们。150
You wuz alone.”当时只有你一个人。”151
Alias looked at the mug as the foam on top diminished to reveal a watery amber liquid.阿莉亚丝望着那只杯子，只见顶上的泡沫渐渐消退，露出下面淡得像水的琥珀色液体。152
It smelled worse than the rubbish outside.那味道比外面的垃圾还难闻。153
“Why wouldn’t my ‘mates’ bring me inside?” she asked.“那我的‘伙伴们’为什么不把我送进来？”她问。154
The barkeep shrugged.酒保耸了耸肩。155
The mates-leaving-the-lady-on-the-doorstep theory was apparently his favorite, and it was obvious that he had been telling and retelling it over the past few evenings.显然，这套“伙伴们把女士留在门阶上”的说法是他最中意的，而且很明显，这几天晚上他已经把它翻来覆去讲了许多遍。156
He was reluctant to change what seemed to him a concise and well-rounded tale.在他看来，这故事简洁完整，因此他不大情愿改口。157
“No one has asked after me?”“没人来打听过我吗？”158
Alias pressed.阿莉亚丝追问道。159
“Not a one, lady.“一个也没有，女士。160
Perhaps they forgot about you.”也许他们把你忘了。”161
“Perhaps.“也许吧。162
No lizards?”没有蜥蜴？”163
The barkeep sniffed.酒馆老板哼了一声。164
“We keep the premises clean.“咱们这店里收拾得干干净净。165
We wuz waiting for you to wake before cleaning your room.”俺们是等你醒了再打扫你的房间。”166
Alias raised a hand.阿莉亚丝抬起一只手。167
“No lizard-creatures, then?“这么说，没有蜥蜴怪物？168
Something that looks like a lizard-creature?”也没有什么长得像蜥蜴怪物的东西？”169
The barkeep shrugged again.酒馆老板又耸了耸肩。170
“Perhaps the last brew you had haunted you some.“也许你最后喝的那杯酒让你有点撞邪了。171
You recall what you wuz drinking?”还记得你喝的是什么吗？”172
“I recall precious little, I fear.“恐怕我几乎什么都不记得。173
I don’t even know what town I’m in.”我甚至连自己在哪座城都不知道。”174
“No mere town, but the gem of Cormyr, the finest city o’ the Forest Country.“这可不是什么普通城镇，而是科米尔的明珠，森林之国最好的城市。175
You are in Suzail, lady, home o’ His Most Serene and Wise Majesty, Azoun IV.”小姐，你现在身在苏萨尔，这里是至尊庄严、英明睿智的阿祖恩四世陛下的居城。”176
Alias had a mental map in her head of the region.阿莉亚丝脑海中浮现出一幅这一带的地图。177
Cormyr was a growing nation, sitting astride the trade routes from the Sword Coast to the Inner Sea.科米尔是一个日益壮大的国家，横跨从剑湾通往内海的商路。178
The name of its ruler struck a responsive chord.它统治者的名字在她心中激起了一丝共鸣。179
Is he a friend?他是朋友吗？180
An enemy?还是敌人？181
Why can’t I remember things?我为什么什么都记不起来？182
“Last question, wise barkeep,” she said, holding up another silver orb, “and I will let you go.”“最后一个问题，聪明的老板，”她说着，又举起一枚银币，“问完我就让你走。”183
She turned the hand holding the coin to reveal the inside of her arm and its bright tattoo.她转过拿着银币的那只手，露出手臂内侧鲜艳的文身。184
“Did I have this when I arrived?”“我来的时候，身上就有这个吗？”185
“Aye, lady,” said the barkeep.“是的，女士。”酒馆老板说道。186
“It wuz there when we found you.“我们发现你的时候，那刺青就在了。187
Mitcher said the Witches of Rashemen wear such tattoos, but a Turmishman said he wuz full of bee droppings.米彻说，拉舍曼的女巫都戴着这样的刺青，可一个图米什人说他满嘴蜂屎。188
There wuz some mutterings, but I put my foot down and, as you see, the sky hasn’t fallen on my inn.当时是有人嘀咕了几句，不过我坚决不许他们胡来，而且你瞧，天也没塌到我的酒馆头上。189
I considered you a good omen, at that.”说起来，我还觉得你是个好兆头呢。”190
“Why?”“为什么？”191
“The name of this house.“因为这家店的名字。192
The Hidden Lady.”‘隐匿女士’。”193
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。194
Taking this as a dismissal, the barkeep scurried back to his bar, rattling the orbs in his hand as he went.酒馆老板以为这是让他退下，便匆匆回到吧台，边走边把手里的银币摇得叮当作响。195
Alias reviewed what the barkeep had told her.阿莉亚丝回想了一遍酒馆老板告诉她的话。196
It makes sense, she thought.这说得通，她心想。197
Adventurers have been known to dump off drunken companions, leaving a tattoo as a reminder.冒险者们把喝醉的同伴丢下，再留个刺青作为提醒，这种事并不少见。198
But why these symbols?可为什么偏偏是这些符号？199
They mean nothing to me.它们对我毫无意义。200
Alias gulped a mouthful of ale, then fought the urge to spit it across the table.阿莉亚丝猛灌了一大口麦酒，随即强忍住把它喷得满桌都是的冲动。201
The brew tasted like fermented swill.这酒尝起来就像发酵过的泔水。202
She forced herself to swallow it, wondering if the wretched taste of the beer had been why her unknown benefactors had left her outside and not entered the establishment.她强迫自己咽了下去，心想，她那些身份不明的恩人之所以把她留在外面而没有进这家店，会不会就是因为这里的啤酒难喝得要命。203
“I hate mysteries,” she muttered with annoyance.“我讨厌谜团。”她恼火地嘟囔道。204
She toyed with the idea of pitching the nearly full mug at the barkeep, accusing him of poisoning the clientele.她琢磨着要不要把几乎还是满的酒杯砸向酒馆老板，再指控他给顾客下毒。205
When in doubt, she thought, start a brawl.拿不定主意时，她心想，就先挑起一场斗殴。206
She pushed the beer away, her attention diverted.她把啤酒推到一旁，注意力被别处吸引了。207
The barkeep was talking to a tall man wearing robes of crimson highlighted with thin white stripes and an ivory white cloak with red trim.酒馆老板正在和一个高个子男人说话；那人身穿饰有细白条纹的深红色长袍，外罩一件镶红边的象牙白斗篷。208
The barkeep motioned a pudgy hand toward Alias’s table, and the man turned to look at her.酒馆老板用一只胖乎乎的手朝阿莉亚丝的桌子指了指，那男人便转过头来看她。209
His skin was dusky and his hair, a curly brown mane banded with gold cords, hung to his shoulders.他肤色黝黑，一头棕色鬈发如同鬃毛，用金线束起，一直垂到肩头。210
He had a moustache, and his beard was cut straight across at the bottom like a coal shovel.他蓄着小胡子，下颌的胡须底端修得平直，活像一把煤铲。211
His eyes were blue.他的眼睛是蓝色的。212
On his forehead were tattooed three blue dots, and a sapphire was embedded in his left earlobe.他的额头上刺着三个蓝点，左耳垂里嵌着一颗蓝宝石。213
Alias recognized him as a southerner and knew the dots marked him as a Turmish scholar of religion, reading, and magic.阿莉亚丝认出他是南方人，也知道那几个圆点表明他是一名钻研宗教、文字和魔法的图米什学者。214
The earring meant he was married.那只耳环意味着他已经结婚了。215
But she did not recognize the man himself.但她并不认识这个人。216
Nevertheless, he made his way from the bar to her table.尽管如此，他还是从吧台径直走到了她桌前。217
Alias rose as he approached—not from politeness, but to give herself the chance to size him up.他走近时，阿莉亚丝站了起来——不是出于礼貌，而是想借机把他打量清楚。218
He stood several inches taller than Alias—and she was taller than most women and many other men.他比阿莉亚丝高出好几英寸——而阿莉亚丝本就比大多数女人以及许多男人都高。219
Beneath his soft, flowing robes, the man had a reasonably sturdy frame.柔软飘逸的长袍下，这男人的身板颇为结实。220
However his muscles did not appear to be trained for battle or hardship, as were her own.不过，他的肌肉显然不像她的一样，受过战斗或艰苦生活的磨炼。221
He might be a mage, she decided, or a merchant.她断定，他或许是个法师，也可能是个商人。222
“I hope you are well, lady?”“希望您一切安好，女士？”223
His voice had the cultured tone of someone tutored in the local tongue by a scholar.他的声音带着一种文雅的腔调，像是由学者教会当地语言的人。224
Alias scowled at his features.阿莉亚丝皱着眉审视他的面孔。225
“Do I know you, Turmite?”“我认识你吗，图米虫？”226
His expression turned stormy.他的脸色顿时阴沉下来。227
“No. If you did, you would know our people prefer to be called Turmishmen or Turms.”“不认识。要是认识，你就该知道，我们更愿意被称作图米什人，或者图米人。”228
Alias sat down and motioned him into the seat opposite her.阿莉亚丝坐了下来，示意他坐到自己对面。229
She liked his control in the face of her insult.面对她的侮辱，他还能克制住自己，这一点很合她的意。230
“You care for my drink?“想喝我的酒吗？231
I’ve lost the desire.”我已经没兴致了。”232
Nodding, the Turmishman took a long pull on the mug.图米什人点点头，举起酒杯痛饮了一大口。233
If it was fermented pig-swill, as Alias suspected, then such drinks were common in the south, she decided, because the stranger seemed to savor his swallow.阿莉亚丝心想，如果这东西真如她所怀疑的，是发酵过的猪泔水，那么这种饮料在南方一定很常见，因为这陌生人似乎喝得津津有味。234
“I take it you are the Turmishman who declared I was not a witch?”“这么说，你就是那个断言我不是女巫的图米什人？”235
The man nodded and wiped a bit of foam from his moustache.那人点点头，抹去胡须上的一点泡沫。236
“Your friendly innkeep was too afraid to take you in, and the lout who found you was ready to have you burned.“你那位友善的旅店老板吓得不敢收留你，发现你的那个蠢货则巴不得把你烧死。237
Or at least relieve you of your purse.”或者至少把你的钱袋拿走。”238
“But you knew I was not a witch?”“可你知道我不是女巫？”239
“I know that the Witches of Rashemen, if they ever leave their frozen climes, know better than to decorate their bodies with tattoos proclaiming their origins.”“我知道，拉舍曼的女巫就算真会离开她们那冰天雪地的家乡，也不会蠢到在身上刺些昭示自己来历的刺青。”240
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。241
“I’m not of that sisterhood.”“我不属于那个姐妹会。”242
At least as far as I know, she thought inwardly, since I can’t swear to what I’ve been doing for the past week or so.至少据我所知是这样，她暗自思忖，毕竟过去一个星期左右我都做了些什么，我可说不准。243
She hesitated, then asked, “Did you see who brought me here?”她迟疑了一下，随后问道：“你看见是谁把我带到这里来的吗？”244
The Turmishman shook his head.图米什人摇了摇头。245
“I was at this very table when the northerner left and then came right back in, babbling about a dead witch on the front steps.“那个北方人出去时，我就坐在这张桌旁；没过多久，他又跑了回来，语无伦次地嚷嚷着，说门前台阶上躺着一个死去的女巫。246
Everyone here investigated, and I convinced them your glyphs were harmless, though I have no idea what they are.这里所有人都出去查看了，我说服他们相信你身上的符文并无危险，尽管我也不知道它们究竟是什么。247
I must confess, to being most curious about them.我必须承认，我对它们非常好奇。248
May I see them again?”能让我再看看吗？”249
Alias frowned but held out her arm, palm upward, revealing the symbols.阿莉亚丝皱了皱眉，但还是伸出手臂，掌心向上，露出那些符号。250
In the dim common room they seemed even brighter than before, glowing from within.在昏暗的公共厅里，它们似乎比先前更加明亮，仿佛正从内部发出光芒。251
The Turmishman looked at them and shook his head, still mystified.图米什人看着那些符号，摇了摇头，依旧满心困惑。252
“I have never seen the likes of these before.“我从未见过这样的东西。253
Where are you from?”你是哪里人？”254
“I … get around.”“我……四处漂泊。”255
After another pause she added, “I was born in Westgate, but I ran off and never returned.”又沉默片刻后，她补充道：“我出生在西门城，但后来离家出走，再也没回去过。”256
“I’ve seen naught like this in Westgate, and I have traveled the Inner Sea from there to Thay.“我在西门城从未见过这种东西，而我曾从那里一路游历内海，直到塞尔。257
I must confess, though, I am by no means a sage.不过，我必须承认，我绝算不上什么博学之士。258
May I cast a spell on them?”我可以对它们施个法术吗？”259
Alias involuntarily jerked her arm back.阿莉亚丝不由自主地猛地缩回手臂。260
“You a mage?”“你是法师？”261
The Turmishman grinned, displaying a line of bright white teeth.图米什人咧嘴一笑，露出一排雪白的牙齿。262
“Of no small water.“而且还不是泛泛之辈。263
I am Akabar Bel Akash of House Akash, mage and merchant.我是阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什，出身阿卡什家族，既是法师，也是商人。264
Do not fear.不必害怕。265
I have no wish to entrap you by magics.我无意用魔法设圈套害你。266
I only wish to know if the marking’s origin is in magic.”我只想知道这印记是否源自魔法。”267
Alias glared across the table at the Turmishman.阿莉亚丝隔着桌子瞪着那个图米什人。268
He was a merchant-mage.他是个商人法师。269
One of those greengrocers who dabbled with the art, but probably wasn’t skilled enough to cut it as just a sorcerer.不过是那种闲来摆弄法术的菜贩子，多半还没本事单靠当法师混饭。270
Still, he ought to be capable of detecting magic, and he looked sincere.不过，他应该有能力侦测魔法，而且看起来颇为诚恳。271
She needed to know more about the tattoo, and here was this Turmishman offering his services for free.她需要进一步弄清这刺青的底细，而眼前这个图米什人正愿意免费效劳。272
She held out her arm.她伸出了手臂。273
“I am Alias.“我是阿莉亚丝。274
Magic does not frighten me, but be quick about it.”魔法吓不住我，不过你得快点。”275
Akabar Bel Akash leaned over the symbols and began mumbling words quickly and quietly.阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什俯身凑近那些符号，开始低声飞快地念念有词。276
If the runes on her arm were magical, Alias knew, they would radiate a dim glow.阿莉亚丝知道，如果她手臂上的符文带有魔力，它们就会散发出黯淡的微光。277
The merchant-mage chanted, and Alias felt the muscles of her arm writhe beneath her skin as though they were snakes.商人法师吟诵着咒语，阿莉亚丝感觉手臂的肌肉在皮肤下扭动，仿佛一条条蛇。278
The symbols danced along her arm as if mocking the Turmishman.那些符号沿着她的手臂舞动起来，仿佛在嘲弄那个图米什人。279
Suddenly, strands of hellish blue light, intense as lightning flashes, shot from the symbols on her arm, illuminating the whole room.突然，一缕缕地狱般的蓝光从她手臂上的符号中迸射而出，炽烈如闪电，照亮了整个房间。280
The beacons of color crackled along the beams overhead and were reflected off all the bottles and armor in the tavern, turning the surprised faces of every patron in the room to a deathly blue.一道道彩光沿着头顶的横梁噼啪游走，又从酒馆里所有的瓶子和铠甲上反射出来，把屋内每个惊愕顾客的脸都映成了死气沉沉的蓝色。281
Akabar Bel Akash had not been expecting so violent a reaction to his magical inquiry.阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什没料到自己的魔法探查会引起如此剧烈的反应。282
He toppled backward in surprise, chair and all.他吃惊之下连人带椅向后翻倒。283
His flailing arm caught the half-drained mug of beer and sent it flying across the commons room.他胡乱挥舞的手臂撞上了那只喝了一半的啤酒杯，把它打得飞过酒馆大厅。284
The droplets of spilled ale took on the appearance of a cluster of blue fireflies.洒出的麦酒滴看上去就像一群蓝色的萤火虫。285
Alias caught sight of the barkeep frozen in the blue light.阿莉亚丝瞥见酒馆老板僵在蓝光之中。286
An instant later, the portly man regained his senses and dove like a sounding whale behind the bar.片刻之后，那个胖墩墩的男人回过神来，像一头下潜的鲸般扑到了吧台后面。287
His patrons were a tougher lot; many of them were desperately working loose the peace knots of their weapons.他的客人们可要强悍得多；许多人正拼命解开武器上的和平结。288
Grabbing her cloak from the back of her chair, Alias twisted it tight around her arm to muffle the light.阿莉亚丝从椅背上抓起斗篷，紧紧缠住手臂，想把光遮住。289
The blue glow leaked out of the cloak’s edges, and she held the arm close to her body.蓝光仍从斗篷边缘漏出，她只好把手臂紧贴在身上。290
In an overloud voice she announced, “No problem, no problem!她刻意扯高嗓门宣布道：“没事，没事！291
My friend here was just showing me a new magical trick that he hasn’t quite learned yet.”我这位朋友只是在给我展示一种还没完全学会的新魔法把戏。”292
Alias quickly circled around the table.阿莉亚丝迅速绕过桌子。293
She leaned over the tall mage’s sprawled form and, to demonstrate that there was nothing wrong, helped pull him to his feet.她俯身靠近高个法师四仰八叉躺着的身体，为了表示一切无碍，帮忙把他拉了起来。294
Already most of the patrons had returned to their drinks, but there was a good deal of scowling and muttering.大多数客人已经重新喝起了酒，不过仍有不少人在皱眉嘟囔。295
Grasping the collar of his white-striped crimson vestments, Alias held Akabar’s face close to her own and whispered in the tight voice she reserved to threaten people, “Never, ever, do that again,” then added with a hiss, “I should have known better than to trust a greengrocer.阿莉亚丝揪住他那件带白色条纹的深红法袍的领口，把阿卡巴的脸拉到自己面前，用她专门威胁人时才会有的紧绷嗓音低声说道：“永远，永远，别再干这种事。”接着又咬牙嘶声道：“我早该知道，不能相信一个卖菜的。296
I’m going to a real spell-caster to get rid of this tattoo right now.我现在就去找个真正的施法者，把这刺青除掉。297
Don’t be here when I come back, Turmite!”等我回来时，别让我再看到你，图尔米特佬！”298
With that, she spun and, clutching her cloak-wrapped arm to her belly, strode out of the inn.说完，她猛地转身，把裹着斗篷的手臂按在腹部，大步走出了旅店。299
She caught sight of the barkeep’s head surfacing from behind the bar just as she pushed the door open.她推开门时，正好瞥见酒馆老板的脑袋从吧台后面冒了出来。300
Cursing, Alias stormed three blocks before she dared to duck into an alleyway and unwrap the cloak.阿莉亚丝一路咒骂着冲过三个街区，才敢闪进一条小巷，解开斗篷。301
The symbols on her arm had returned to their normal appearance, if one could consider a tattoo that looked like pieces of translucent glass set beneath the skin normal.她手臂上的符号已经恢复了原样——前提是有人会觉得一幅仿佛由嵌在皮肤下的半透明玻璃碎片构成的刺青算得上正常。302
Alias cursed again, this time without venom or passion, and headed toward the Promenade, Suzail’s main street, looking for a temple that might still have clerics awake at this hour.阿莉亚丝又咒骂了一声，这次却不带半点恶意或激愤，随后朝苏萨尔的主街漫步大道走去，想找一座在这个时辰或许还有牧师醒着的神殿。303
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听