Dragonbait was like no other creature Alias had ever seen before in all her travels through the Realms.在阿莉亚丝游历诸界的所有旅途中，她从未见过像龙饵这样的生物。1
He wasn’t a real lizard, at least not of the species she’d helped drive back from the city of Daggerford.他并不是真正的蜥蜴，至少不属于她曾协助从匕首谷城击退的那种蜥蜴人。2
As she noted when she’d seen the creature at sunset, his snout was thinner at the tip and more rounded than a lizard-creature’s, and he sported a head fin like a troglodyte.正如黄昏时初见这生物时她所注意到的，他的口鼻部尖端更细，也比蜥蜴人的更为圆润，头上还长着一道穴居人般的冠鳍。3
Given time for more leisurely study, she could see many other differences.如今有时间从容端详，她又看出了许多别的差异。4
For one thing, the sharp teeth at the front of his mouth gave way to the peglike molars of a salad eater, and though he walked on his hind legs, his posture was hardly erect.首先，他嘴巴前部的尖牙之后，是吃素的生物才有的钉状臼齿；而且，尽管他用后腿行走，身姿却远非直立。5
The creature tilted forward some at the hips, balanced by a tail as long again as his torso.这生物的身体从髋部略微前倾，靠一条与躯干等长的尾巴保持平衡。6
With such an odd posture, his head only reached to her shoulder, about five feet high.由于这种古怪的姿势，他的头顶只及她的肩膀，大约五英尺高。7
Finally, the scales that pebbled his hide were so small and smooth he looked as though he were covered in expensive beadwork, like a noblewoman’s evening gown.最后，密布他皮肤的鳞片极其细小光滑，令他看起来仿佛浑身覆着昂贵的珠绣，宛如贵妇人的晚礼服。8
At any rate, for something more lizardish than human, he was pretty intelligent.无论如何，对于一个更像蜥蜴而非人类的家伙来说，他相当聪明。9
At least, that is, the lizard made an excellent servant.至少，这只蜥蜴是个极出色的仆从。10
Upon their return to The Hidden Lady, he busied himself helping her off with her boots, straightening her room, and fetching food for a late night snack.他们回到“隐秘女士”旅店后，他便忙着帮她脱靴子、收拾房间，还取来食物供她吃夜宵。11
“I see you found your lizard,” the innkeeper commented cheerily to Alias, upon discovering the five-foot lizard with a cold meat pie and pudding in his paws.旅店老板发现这只五英尺高的蜥蜴两只爪子里捧着冷肉馅饼和布丁，便兴高采烈地对阿莉亚丝说道：“看来你找到你的蜥蜴了。”12
Except for a few catlike hisses, snarls, and mewling sounds, Dragonbait remained mute.除了偶尔发出几声猫一般的嘶声、低吼和呜咽，龙饵始终一言不发。13
If the creature had his own language he did not bother to use it.即使这生物有自己的语言，他也懒得使用。14
Alias found she could get him to fetch and carry things on command, but he responded to questions with the blank look of a beast.阿莉亚丝发现，只要一声令下，她就能让他取送东西；可一旦问他问题，他便只会露出野兽般茫然的神情。15
She needed to know when she’d first met him, what he knew of her memory loss, and especially what he knew of the tattoo.她需要知道自己最初是什么时候遇见他的，他对她失忆一事知道多少，尤其是他对那幅文身知道多少。16
In frustration and desperation she began shouting questions.在沮丧与绝望之下，她开始大声吼出一个个问题。17
Her anger only invoked in the lizard a tilted head and a puzzled expression.她的怒火只换来蜥蜴歪着脑袋，露出困惑的表情。18
Alias lay back on the bed, defeated.阿莉亚丝挫败地仰面倒在床上。19
Dragonbait made a sympathetic mewling.龙饵同情地呜咽了一声。20
Struck with an inspiration, Alias shouted down to the innkeep for an inkpot, quill, and parchment.阿莉亚丝忽然灵机一动，朝楼下高声吩咐店主拿一只墨水瓶、一支羽毛笔和一张羊皮纸来。21
When the items were brought up, she set them on the table and sat Dragonbait down before them.东西送上来后，她把它们放在桌上，让龙饵坐在桌前。22
The lizard sniffed at the inkpot, and his nostrils flared and closed up in annoyance.蜥蜴嗅了嗅墨水瓶，鼻孔因厌恶而翕张几下，随即紧紧闭住。23
He used the quill point to pick clean the spaces between his teeth.他用羽毛笔的笔尖剔干净牙缝。24
Alias flopped back on her bed, laughing.阿莉亚丝一头倒回床上，笑了起来。25
Lady Luck was playing some cruel joke on her.幸运女神正在同她开一个残酷的玩笑。26
Here was a creature who might be a key to the fog surrounding her life, and he could explain nothing to her.眼前这个生物或许是驱散笼罩她人生迷雾的关键，可他却什么也无法向她解释。27
She leaned back against the headboard and closed her eyes.她靠上床头板，闭起眼睛。28
Dragonbait curled up on the rag rug on the floor at the foot of the bed and wrapped his arms around the curious sword he carried.龙饵在床脚地板上的破布毯上蜷成一团，双臂环抱着他随身携带的那把奇异长剑。29
Alias feigned sleep for a while, just to be sure her new companion had no plans to give her a second smile, across the throat with his sword.阿莉亚丝装睡了一阵，只为确定她的新同伴没打算用剑在她喉咙上再送她一道“微笑”。30
She wasn’t really expecting any trouble, but trust was for corpses.她其实并不觉得会有什么麻烦，但信任这种东西，是留给死人的。31
She studied the lizard through half-closed eyelids.她透过半闭的眼帘打量着这个蜥蜴人。32
Asleep, he looked even more innocuous.睡着以后，他看起来更加人畜无害。33
Like a child, he kept his powerful lower legs pulled up to his stomach.他像个孩子似的，把强健的双腿蜷到了腹前。34
With yellowish claws retracted into his clover-shaped feet, and with his long, muscled tail tucked up between his legs, the tip lying across his eyes, and with his snout resting on the hilt of his sword, Dragonbait reminded Alias of a furless cat curled about its master’s shoe.淡黄色的爪子缩进三叶草形的脚掌里，肌肉发达的长尾夹在两腿之间，尾尖横搭在眼睛上，口鼻则枕着剑柄；这副模样让阿莉亚丝觉得，龙饵就像一只抱着主人鞋子蜷成一团的无毛猫。35
The sword was as curious as its owner.这把剑和它的主人一样古怪。36
It looked top-heavy and badly balanced.它看起来头重脚轻，平衡极差。37
Forging that diamond-shaped tip, and the jagged teeth curling from it, could not have been easy, and wielding it seemed impossible.要锻造出那菱形的剑尖，以及从剑尖上弯伸出来的参差锯齿，绝非易事；而要挥舞它，似乎根本不可能。38
Alias wondered how anyone could keep hold of that tiny, one-handed grip.阿莉亚丝想不明白，怎么会有人握得牢那截小得可怜的单手剑柄。39
Had she not seen its handiwork on the beach, she would have believed the blade to be ceremonial gear.若不是亲眼见过它在海滩上留下的杰作，她一定会以为这把剑只是件仪式用具。40
Dragonbait had no other belongings, unless she counted the tattered, ill-fitting clothes he wore, no doubt out of modesty, since they certainly couldn’t be keeping the creature warm.龙饵没有别的随身物品，除非把他身上那套破烂而不合体的衣服也算进去；那衣服无疑只是为了遮羞才穿的，因为它肯定起不了保暖作用。41
A torn jerkin covered his chest, and a splotch of ragged cloth knotted at the side hung down from his hips.一件撕破的无袖短上衣遮着他的胸膛，一片破布在一侧打了个结，从他的腰胯间垂下来。42
What makes me think he’s not a she?我凭什么认定他不是她？43
Granted, there’s nothing feminine about his torso, but lizards don’t have breasts or need wide hips for birthing, now do they?诚然，他的躯干没有半点女性特征，可蜥蜴又没有乳房，也不需要宽阔的臀部来生产，不是吗？44
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。45
No. He’s a male.不，他是雄性。46
Some sixth sense made her sure of it.某种第六感让她对此深信不疑。47
She looked again at the rags he wore.她又看了看他身上披着的破布。48
Aren’t lizards supposed to hate the cold?蜥蜴不是应该怕冷吗？49
I’ll have to find him a cloak, something with a deep hood to hide that snout.我得给他找件斗篷，要有一顶深兜帽，好把那张长嘴遮起来。50
Watching the lizard sleeping at her feet, making plans for his comfort, she could no longer feel threatened by him.她看着蜥蜴睡在自己脚边，又开始盘算怎样让他过得舒服些，便再也不觉得他是个威胁了。51
But she still could not sleep.但她依旧无法入睡。52
Slipping quietly out of the bed, she padded over to the small dressing table where Dragonbait had carefully laid out the booty from their would-be ambushers.她悄悄溜下床，赤脚走到那张小梳妆台前，龙饵已把从那些企图伏击他们的人身上搜来的战利品仔细摊放在那里。53
Dragonbait gave a snarl in his sleep as she raised the flame on the oil lamp, then he turned over, still resting on his sword.她把油灯的火焰调亮时，龙饵在睡梦中低吼了一声，随后翻了个身，仍旧枕着自己的剑。54
Some watchdog, Alias thought.好一条看门狗，阿莉亚丝心想。55
She turned back to the scattered assassin equipment and sat down at the table to examine it.她转回身，在桌旁坐下，开始查看那些散落的刺客用具。56
The daggers—three from the mage, one from each club-wielding assassin—were quite ordinary.那些匕首——三把来自法师，另外两个挥舞棍棒的刺客各有一把——都十分普通。57
The pair of small vials stoppered with wax were much more interesting.那对用蜡封口的小瓶子就有意思多了。58
Carefully Alias cracked the top of one, and a rich cinnamon smell wafted up.阿莉亚丝小心地撬开其中一只瓶子的封口，一股浓郁的肉桂香气飘了出来。59
She quickly restoppered the bottle.她迅速把瓶子重新封好。60
Peranox.佩拉诺克斯。61
A deadly contact poison from the South.一种产自南方、致命的接触性毒药。62
Nasty stuff even in the hands of competent assassins, Alias thought.就算落在老练的刺客手里，这东西也够歹毒的，阿莉亚丝心想。63
Disaster for first-time bunglers.要是落在初次出手的笨蛋手里，简直就是灾难。64
If the pair had used poisoned daggers instead of clubs, I would be lying dead on the beach instead of them.如果那两人用的是淬毒匕首而不是棍棒，现在躺在海滩上死去的就会是我，而不是他们。65
Why did they choose clubs to attack? she wondered.他们为什么偏偏选棍棒来袭击？她纳闷道。66
Did they want to make my death look like an amateur job?他们是想让我的死看起来像是外行人干的吗？67
She shook out the sack Dragonbait had cut from the mage.她把龙饵从法师身上割下来的袋子抖空。68
The standard assortment of magical spell-trappings skittered across the wooden desktop—moldy spiderwebs, bits of eyelashes trapped in amber, and dead insects.施法所需的那一套寻常零碎物件窸窸窣窣地散落在木桌面上——发霉的蜘蛛网、封在琥珀里的几根睫毛，还有死昆虫。69
The only difference, she thought, between a magic-user’s pockets and those of a small boy’s is that there is less week-old candy in the mage’s pockets.施法者的口袋和小男孩的口袋之间，唯一的区别大概就是法师口袋里放了一星期的糖果要少些，她心想。70
After brushing away the debris, Alias found a few coins and a gold ring set with a blue stone.拨开这些杂物后，阿莉亚丝找到了几枚硬币和一枚镶着蓝色宝石的金戒指。71
Something remained stuck in the sack.袋子里还粘着什么东西。72
She shook the bag harder.她更用力地抖了抖袋子。73
A talis card fell out onto the desktop, face-down.一张塔利斯牌掉到桌面上，牌面朝下。74
It bore an insignia of a laughing sun on its back.牌背上印着一枚欢笑太阳的徽记。75
Alias pocketed the coins and ring for later inspection and flipped the card over.阿莉亚丝把硬币和戒指揣进口袋，留待稍后查看，然后将那张牌翻了过来。76
She drew a sharp breath that caused Dragonbait to start in his sleep.她猛吸了一口气，惊得龙饵在睡梦中一颤。77
The card was the Primary of Flames, here represented by a dagger trapped in entwining fire.这张牌是火焰主牌，图案是一柄被缠绕的烈火困住的匕首。78
The card’s pattern was twin to the uppermost symbol of Alias’s tattoo.牌上的图案与阿莉亚丝文身最上方的符号一模一样。79
Alias felt a twinge from her arm as she compared the two.阿莉亚丝比对两者时，手臂忽然一阵刺痛。80
She picked up the card and squinted at it.她拿起那张牌，眯眼端详。81
It was homemade.这是手工制作的。82
Though the laughing sun was made by an embossing stamp, the rest of the workmanship was pretty shabby.虽说那枚欢笑太阳是用压印模具做出来的，其余部分的手艺却相当粗糙。83
Were the other symbols on my arm from other parts of the deck this card came from? she pondered.我手臂上的其他符号，会不会来自这副牌里的其他牌？她思索着。84
At least that explained the assassins’ actions.至少，这解释了那些刺客的举动。85
Alias recalled how clumsily they’d wielded the clubs, as though they were swords.阿莉亚丝想起他们挥舞棍棒时有多笨拙，仿佛手里拿的是剑。86
They were unused to the more primitive weapon, but were forced to wield it so as not to harm her accidentally with an edged weapon.他们不习惯这种更原始的武器，却又不得不用它，免得使用利刃时不小心伤到她。87
They wanted to capture me alive, she concluded.他们想活捉我，她断定。88
That’s why they passed on the poison, too.所以他们才没用毒药。89
They must have been keeping the peranox in reserve for anyone who got in their way.他们一定是把佩拉诺克斯留着，用来对付任何挡路的人。90
Like a five-foot lizard maybe?比如说，一只五英尺高的蜥蜴？91
She rose from her seat and, stepping over the soundly snoozing Dragonbait, closed and secured the windows.她从座位上起身，跨过酣睡正香的龙饵，把窗户全都关严锁好。92
Windows were open when I woke up this morn—evening.今早——不，今晚我醒来时，窗户是开着的。93
They could have got me then but didn’t. Maybe they didn’t know where I was until they spotted me on the street.他们当时本可以下手，却没有。也许直到在街上看见我，他们才知道我在哪里。94
Someone must have left me here to keep me safe.一定有人把我留在这里，好保护我的安全。95
But who?可那人是谁？96
She fished the ring from her pocket, twisted it, and said quietly, “I wish you’d tell me what in Tartarus is going on,” but no djinn issued from the ring to enlighten her, nor did Dragonbait break his rhythmic breathing, sit up, and explain all the mysteries troubling her.她从口袋里摸出戒指，转了转，低声说道：“我真希望你能告诉我，塔尔塔罗斯啊，这究竟是怎么回事。”然而，并没有精灵从戒指中现身为她解惑，龙饵也没有停下均匀的呼吸，坐起身来解释困扰她的种种谜团。97
Frowning, she tucked the ring back into her pocket.她皱着眉，把戒指塞回口袋。98
She lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, fingers laced behind her head.她躺到床上，双手手指交扣垫在脑后，凝视着天花板。99
* * * * ** * * * *100
She was not aware she had fallen asleep until a bell from some temple signaled noon.直到某座神殿的钟声宣告正午，她才意识到自己已经睡着了。101
She opened her eyes to see Dragonbait standing at her bedside with breakfast on a pewter tray—bread and slices of spring fruit with cream.她睁开眼，看见龙饵正站在床边，手里端着一只白镴托盘，上面放着早餐——面包和浇了奶油的春果切片。102
Alias planned her next move while they shared the meal.阿莉亚丝一边和他分享这顿饭，一边盘算下一步该怎么办。103
“I could rent a horse and ride out to the sage’s home in half a day.“我可以租一匹马，半天就能赶到那位贤者的住所。104
Save a lot of time,” she said to Dragonbait.能省下不少时间，”她对龙饵说道。105
Even if he didn’t understand her, it helped her put her thoughts in order to say them aloud.即使他听不懂她的话，把想法说出口也有助于她理清思绪。106
“But if I purchase a horse and ride it out through the town gate, I might as well hire a loudmouthed herald to announce my departure.“可是，如果我买一匹马，骑着它穿过镇门，那还不如雇个大嗓门的传令官来宣布我要离开。107
Besides, we have to conserve our meager funds.再说，我们还得省着用手头那点微薄的资金。108
Sages aren’t cheap.贤者的收费可不便宜。109
And I don’t even know if you can ride.”而且我甚至不知道你会不会骑马。”110
Dragonbait watched her while she spoke exactly as if he understood her.龙饵听她说话时一直注视着她，仿佛完全听懂了似的。111
“And I don’t want to leave you behind, do I?”“而且我也不想把你丢下，对吧？”112
The lizard stretched his neck forward and tilted his head as though he were confused.蜥蜴向前伸长脖子，歪了歪脑袋，仿佛困惑不解。113
The swordswoman sniffed and laughed.女剑士哼了一声，笑了起来。114
Dragonbait returned to licking the cream out of his bowl.龙饵又低下头，继续舔着碗里的奶油。115
No, I definitely want to keep him around, she thought.不，我肯定想把他留在身边，她心想。116
He feels familiar—as though I’ve traveled with him before.他给我一种熟悉的感觉——仿佛我以前曾和他一同旅行过。117
Maybe he was on the sea trip with me.也许那趟海上旅程中，他也和我在一起。118
If I lose track of him, he might fade from my memory, too.如果我跟丢了他，他或许也会从我的记忆中淡去。119
Besides, I owe him for saving my life last night.再说，昨晚他救了我的命，我欠他一份情。120
Taking him into my service is the least I can do.把他收作随从，是我最起码能做的。121
After sending the barkeep’s daughter out for a cloak to hide her companion’s “lizardness,” Alias pulled on her boots and rearmored herself.阿莉亚丝打发酒馆老板的女儿出去买件斗篷，好遮住同伴那副“蜥蜴模样”，随后穿上靴子，重新披挂好护甲。122
When his cloak arrived, Dragonbait sniffed at it and growled, but when it became clear Alias was not going to let the creature out of the inn in daylight he relented and, seeming every inch the paladin forced to drink with thieves, he slipped on the garment.斗篷送来时，龙饵先是嗅了嗅，低吼起来；但眼看阿莉亚丝绝不肯让他大白天以这副模样走出旅店，他只好让步，活像一位被迫与盗贼共饮的圣武士，满脸不情愿地穿上了斗篷。123
The idea of a lizard with vanity amused Alias.一条蜥蜴居然也爱面子，这让阿莉亚丝觉得颇为有趣。124
She wondered if he was some magical creature, bred to act as combination jester/servant/bodyguard, like something out of a childhood tale.她寻思，他会不会是某种魔法生物，被培育成集弄臣、仆役和护卫于一身的角色，就像童年故事里的东西。125
With a shudder, she was reminded of the story of the golem supposedly responsible for the spreading Anauroeh desert, a creature ordered to shovel sand into the region and then forgotten by the wizard who gave the order.她猛地打了个寒战，想起了那个传说中导致安瑙罗赫沙漠不断扩张的魔像：巫师命令它把沙子铲进那片地区，随后便把它和这道命令一起忘了。126
Why is it I can recall stupid old stories when last ride, last month, much of last year is a blank?为什么这些愚蠢的古老故事我都记得，上一程、上个月乃至去年的大部分经历却是一片空白？127
Angrily, she shoved the legendary images into the back of her mind.她恼怒地把那些传说中的景象塞回脑海深处。128
Their walk out of Suzail was pleasant and uneventful.他们徒步离开苏萨尔，一路惬意，平安无事。129
Alias deliberately set out in the wrong direction and doubled back twice in case anyone had followed her from the inn.阿莉亚丝故意朝错误的方向出发，又两度折返，以防有人从旅店一路跟踪她。130
Dragonbait proved to be as tireless a hiker as she, and they reached their destination just before dusk.事实证明，龙饵和她一样不知疲倦；他们在黄昏前片刻抵达了目的地。131
Dimswart Manor was a sizable farm, an estate just large enough to be considered a suitable “summer home” by a Waterdeep noble.迪姆斯沃特庄园是一座规模可观的农庄，面积恰好大到足以被深水城的贵族视为合宜的“避暑宅邸”。132
A red-tiled roof set with three chimneys crowned the solid stonework walls of the main house.主宅以坚实的石墙砌成，顶部覆盖着红瓦屋顶，三根烟囱从屋顶上耸立而起。133
Alias scowled, knowing that a sage who lived so well would not sell his services cheap.阿莉亚丝皱起眉头，心知一位生活如此优渥的贤者，开价绝不会便宜。134
Despite the gathering gloom, there was a great amount of activity around the house as she approached, as if the grounds were the site of some tremendous siege.她走近时，尽管暮色渐浓，宅邸周围仍是一派忙碌景象，仿佛庄园正在筹备一场规模浩大的围城战。135
Gardeners were trimming hedges and lawns and reorganizing flowerbeds.园丁们正在修剪树篱和草坪，并重新布置花坛。136
At the rear of the house, canvasmen were laying out the poles of a huge tent.在宅邸后方，搭帐篷的工人正铺开一顶巨大帐篷的支杆。137
Dwarvish stoneworkers were arguing heatedly with elvish landscapers over the correct placement of their creations of rock and wood, while a tired-looking gnome tried to mediate between them.矮人石匠正与精灵园艺师激烈争论各自那些石木造物究竟该如何摆放，一名满脸疲惫的侏儒则试图从中调解。138
In the midst of the chaos stood a tall, straight-shouldered woman with a sunburst of red hair.混乱之中，站着一名身材高挑、肩背挺直的女子，一头红发如阳光般向四周绽开。139
She hustled about from worker to worker, consulting with each from rolls of plans tucked under her arms.她夹着一卷卷图纸，在工人之间来回奔忙，逐一同他们商议。140
As Alias approached the house, she could hear the woman shouting for some elves to start hanging lanterns in the newly replanted trees.阿莉亚丝走近宅邸时，听见那女子高声吩咐几名精灵，叫他们开始往刚刚移栽的树上挂灯笼。141
Alias pounded on the front door with the hilt of her dagger.阿莉亚丝用匕首柄重重敲响前门。142
She had to knock twice before a parlor maid, loaded down with tapestries, opened the door.她敲了两遍，才有一名抱满挂毯的客厅女仆打开门。143
“Sorry, but the mistress isn’t hiring any more entertainment people.”“抱歉，女主人不再雇演艺人员了。”144
Alias shoved her boot in the door before the girl could close it.不等那姑娘把门关上，阿莉亚丝便一脚卡在门缝里。145
“I’ve come to see the sage—on personal business.”“我是来见那位贤者的——有私事相谈。”146
“The master’s very busy.“主人正忙得不可开交。147
Perhaps you could come—”也许您可以改天再来——”148
Alias stepped into the hall and gripped the girl’s shoulder.阿莉亚丝跨进门厅，一把抓住女孩的肩膀。149
She smacked Winefiddle’s letter of introduction down on top of the pile of tapestries the servant was carrying.她把酒琴的介绍信啪地拍在女仆抱着的那摞挂毯上。150
“Give him this.“把这个交给他。151
It’s from the Temple of Tymora.是泰摩拉神殿送来的。152
Urgent.”十万火急。”153
“Yes, ma’am,” the maid nodded, showing a little more courtesy.“是，女士。”女仆点点头，态度恭敬了几分。154
“Would you take a seat and wait right here, please?“请您坐下，就在这里等候，好吗？155
I’ll send someone to stable your pet.”我会派人把您的宠物送去马厩。”156
Alias squeezed the girl’s shoulder firmly, and hissed with annoyance, “He’s not my pet.”阿莉亚丝用力捏紧女孩的肩膀，恼火地低声说道：“他不是我的宠物。”157
Then she sat down on a bench against the wall.说完，她在靠墙的一张长凳上坐了下来。158
Dragonbait sat beside her.龙饵坐在她身旁。159
The servant blanched, nodded, and hurried away.女仆脸色一白，点了点头，匆匆离去。160
While she waited, Alias scowled at the opulence of her surroundings: an estate full of servants; new, gold-threaded tapestries hung in the hall, undoubtedly replacing the older, less stylish ones carried off by the parlor maid; landscaping that required the services of four separate races; a wedding tent big enough to billet an army, and likely enough food and drink to feed them as well.等待时，阿莉亚丝阴沉地打量着周围的奢华景象：一座仆役成群的庄园；门厅里挂着崭新、以金线织成的挂毯，无疑是为了替换客厅女仆刚刚抱走的那些较旧、不那么时髦的旧货；需要四个不同种族的人手照料的园景；一顶大得足以驻扎一支军队的婚礼帐篷，以及很可能足以供那支军队享用的食物和酒水。161
No wonder sages aren’t cheap.难怪贤者的收费都不便宜。162
Dimswart should be delighted to see me.迪姆斯沃特见到我一定会高兴坏了。163
How else is he going to help defray all these costs?不然他还能靠什么来分担这一切开销？164
Whatever happened to ancient, cranky, unmarried sages who preferred pursuing knowledge over wordly goods?那些宁愿追求知识、不爱世俗财物，年迈、暴躁又终身未婚的贤者都到哪里去了？165
To keep from fidgeting, she studied Dragonbait.为了不让自己坐立不安，她开始端详龙饵。166
He waited more patiently than she did.他等得比她耐心多了。167
The lizard sat with his tail over his shoulder, flicking the tip back and forth in front of his face, following it with his eyes.这只蜥蜴把尾巴搭在肩头，让尾巴尖在自己面前来回摆动，双眼也随之转来转去。168
What is he? she wondered with aggravation.他到底是什么？她懊恼地琢磨着。169
Maybe the sage can shed some light on his origins.也许那位贤者能为他的来历解开一些谜团。170
Not likely, though.不过，希望不大。171
If I’ve never seen anything like him in all my travels, what chance is there that he’s in any of the sage’s books?如果我走南闯北这么久，都从没见过他这样的生物，贤者的书里又能有多大可能记载着他呢？172
Despite the obvious chaos of the household, a butler finally arrived to escort her to the sage’s study.尽管这家里显然乱成一团，终于还是来了一位管家，领她前往贤者的书房。173
If Alias had met Dimswart before her visit to Suzail, she might have ungenerously described his build as chunky.如果阿莉亚丝是在去苏萨尔之前见到迪姆斯沃特的，她或许会不太厚道地说他身材矮胖。174
But compared to the innkeep of The Hidden Lady and Winefiddle, the sage appeared broad-shouldered but lean.但与“隐秘女士”旅店的店主和酒琴相比，这位贤者虽然肩膀宽阔，却显得颇为精瘦。175
He rose from his seat by the fire and clasped her extended hand in both his meaty paws.他从炉火旁的座位上站起身，用两只肉乎乎的大手握住她伸出的手。176
“Well met, well met,” he said, smiling like a halfling with an extra king in the deck.“幸会，幸会，”他说，笑得像个发现牌堆里多了一张国王牌的半身人。177
“Sit down here by the fire, and tell me what a humble book-banger can do for a warrioress.”“来，坐到火边，告诉我，一个卑微的书呆子能为一位女勇士效劳些什么。”178
Warrioress?女勇士？179
Now there’s a title you don’t hear every day, Alias thought.这称呼可不是每天都能听见的，阿莉亚丝心想。180
It marked Dimswart as a very old-fashioned sort of sage.这表明迪姆斯沃特是个极其守旧的贤者。181
“It’s a little complicated,” Alias began.“这事有点复杂，”阿莉亚丝开口道。182
“We should start with the essentials,” Dimswart cut in.“我们应该先从基本情况说起，”迪姆斯沃特打断了她。183
“If you will indulge me, I’d like to exercise my skill.“如果你肯迁就我一下，我想施展施展自己的本领。184
Leah, our maid, told me I was to expect a sorceress and her familiar.我们的女仆莉娅告诉我，会有一位女术士带着她的魔宠来访。185
But this creature—” he nodded toward Dragonbait—“is too large to be a familiar, and few sorcerers carry quite so much steel about their person.”可这个生物——”他朝龙饵点了点头，“体形太大，不可能是魔宠，而且很少有术士会在身上带这么多刀剑。”186
“All I said to your maid,” Alias interjected, “was that Dragonbait wasn’t a pet.”“我对你的女仆只说过，”阿莉亚丝插话道，“龙饵不是宠物。”187
“Quite,” Dimswart agreed, motioning for her to have a seat opposite him.“正是，”迪姆斯沃特表示赞同，同时示意她在自己对面坐下。188
“We are very reclusive out here in the country, though, and Leah, never having seen such a creature, leaped to the conclusion that if it wasn’t a pet, it must be a familiar, so you must be a sorceress.“不过，我们在这乡下地方极少与外界往来，而莉娅又从未见过这样的生物，于是便断定，既然它不是宠物，就一定是魔宠，那么你也一定是位女术士。189
You are not.但你不是。190
You’re a hired sword.你是个受雇的剑士。191
From your lack of old scars, I’d say you were either a very new one or a very good one, and you have strange tastes in traveling companions.”看你身上没有陈年旧疤，我想你要么才刚入行，要么就是身手极好，而且你挑选旅伴的品味也很奇特。”192
Dragonbait cleared his nostrils in a noticeable hwumpf, as he stood by the fire, watching the sage.龙饵站在炉火旁注视着贤者，鼻孔里发出一声明显的“哼噗”，像是在清嗓子。193
Dimswart continued.迪姆斯沃特继续说道。194
“You’re a native of … let’s see, brown hair with a tinge of red, hazel eyes, strong cheeks, good carriage …“你来自……让我瞧瞧，棕发略带红色，淡褐色眼睛，颧骨突出，仪态端正……195
Westgate, I’d say, though from your fair complexion I’d guess it’s been a while since you’ve lived there.”我看是西门城，不过瞧你这白皙的肤色，我猜你已经很久没住在那里了。”196
Alias tried to interrupt, but the smiling sage pressed on.阿莉亚丝想插话，但那位面带微笑的智者却继续说了下去。197
“Furthermore, you’re not some hot-blooded youth looking for information to lead you to riches beyond belief; you have a problem, personal and immediate.“此外，你不是什么血气方刚、想找线索发掘惊天财富的年轻人；你遇到了麻烦，既切身又迫在眉睫。198
A serious problem, otherwise you would never have come to consult with an over-priced, over-educated land-grubber.”而且是个严重的麻烦，否则你绝不会来找一个收费过高、学问过头的刨地佬求教。”199
Alias spied Winefiddle’s letter of introduction lying on the table beside the sage with its seal still intact.阿莉亚丝瞥见酒琴的引荐信正放在智者身旁的桌上，封蜡依然完好无损。200
“What method do you use, wire under the wax, or do you just hold the letter up to a strong light?”“你用的是什么手法，把细丝伸进封蜡下面，还是干脆把信举到强光前看？”201
“You wound my fragile ego, lady.“女士，你伤害了我脆弱的自尊。202
I swear to you I have not yet opened the good curate’s letter.我向你发誓，我还没有拆开这位好牧师的信。203
I prefer to start afresh.我喜欢从头开始。204
That way nothing can prejudice my reasoning.”这样就不会有任何东西干扰我的推断。”205
Alias shrugged, willing to take the sage at his word—for now, at least.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩，决定相信这位智者的话——至少暂时如此。206
Dimswart resumed.迪姆斯沃特又继续起来。207
“You sit at ease, but you keep your right arm beneath a cloak.“你坐得很放松，却一直把右臂藏在斗篷下面。208
Hmmmm.”嗯……”209
Alias waited for him to give up guessing and let her explain, but after a theatrical beat the man snapped his fingers, saying quickly, “You have a tattoo, or a series of tattoos, that resists all normal magical attempts to cure.阿莉亚丝等着他放弃猜测，好让自己开口解释，可那人故作戏剧性地停顿片刻后，突然打了个响指，飞快地说道：“你有一个文身，或者说一连串文身，任何常规的魔法治疗都无法将其消除。210
They are on your right arm and … they are blue, aren’t they?”它们就在你的右臂上，而且……是蓝色的，对不对？”211
Alias’s brow knit in a puzzled furrow.阿莉亚丝困惑地蹙起了眉头。212
Winefiddle had shown her the letter before he’d sealed it.酒琴封信之前曾给她看过信里的内容。213
There was nothing in it about the color of the tattoo.信中根本没有提到文身的颜色。214
“How do you know that?” she asked with astonishment—certain he had some sort of trick, but completely unable to guess what it was.“你怎么知道的？”她惊讶地问道——她确信他使了某种花招，却完全猜不出究竟是什么。215
“Good artists never reveal their secrets.”“好艺术家从不泄露自己的秘密。”216
Dimswart winked.迪姆斯沃特眨了眨眼。217
“But maybe, if we hit it off, I’ll let you in on this little one.“不过，也许等咱们合得来，我会把这个小秘密告诉你。218
Now, how about giving me a look at that arm.”现在，让我瞧瞧你那条胳膊怎么样？”219
Alias, feeling like a much chewed bit of marrowbone, held out her arm in the firelight.阿莉亚丝觉得自己像一截被反复啃过的髓骨，把胳膊伸到火光下。220
The room was warm, and drops of perspiration beaded the skin over the symbols.屋里很暖，符号上方的皮肤沁出了一颗颗汗珠。221
“Hmmm,” was all Dimswart said for several moments, and he said it several times.好一会儿，迪姆斯沃特只顾说“嗯……”，而且还说了好几遍。222
He reached for a magnifying glassware and studied the symbols on her arm even more closely.他伸手拿过一只放大镜，更仔细地端详她胳膊上的符号。223
Dragonbait positioned himself behind Alias’s chair and tried to see what the sage did.龙饵站到阿莉亚丝的椅子后面，试图看清这位贤者在做什么。224
Dimswart raised his head so the lizard could peer once through the glass, watching bemused as Dragonbait pulled back, apparently astonished at the sight of human flesh in such detail.迪姆斯沃特抬起头，让那只蜥蜴也透过镜片看了一眼；龙饵随即缩了回去，显然是被如此纤毫毕现的人类肌肤惊到了，他见状不禁觉得好笑。225
“A nice piece of work, that,” said Dimswart, snapping his magnifier into its case and leaning back in his chair.“手艺很不错。”迪姆斯沃特说着，啪的一声把放大镜收进盒中，向后靠在椅背上。226
“The sigils aren’t composed of mere pinprick punctures in the flesh like an ordinary tattoo.“这些符印并不像普通文身那样，仅由针尖刺入皮肉留下的点组成。227
Each one is made up of tiny runes and patterns packed close together.每一个都是由密密麻麻挤在一起的微小符文和图案构成的。228
They appear to have great depth as well, and yet—” the sage kneaded her forearm gently, like a surgeon feeling for a broken bone “—there doesn’t seem to be any substance to them.它们看上去也颇有深度，可是——”贤者像外科医生摸索断骨那样，轻轻揉捏着她的前臂，“——它们似乎又没有任何实体。229
They look as though they are buried beneath your skin.它们看起来仿佛埋在你的皮肤下面。230
Your flesh above must be invisible, or we could not see the symbols.上面的皮肉一定是隐形的，否则我们不可能看见这些符号。231
They also seem to move.它们似乎还在移动。232
All in all, a most fascinating series of illusions.总的来说，这是一系列极其迷人的幻象。233
Very artistic.很有艺术性。234
And positively unique.而且绝对独一无二。235
I’d stake my reputation on it.我愿拿自己的名声担保。236
Do they hurt?”它们疼吗？”237
“Not now, no. The tattoo ached some when detect magic spells were cast on it though, and it burned like the Nine Hells when Winefiddle cast a remove curse on it.”“现在不疼。不疼。不过有人对文身施展侦测魔法时，它确实会有些隐隐作痛；而酒琴对它施展移除诅咒时，它烧灼得就像九层地狱的烈火一样。”238
“How about when magic is cast on you in general?“那么，一般有人对你施展魔法时呢？239
Like a curative spell?”比如治疗法术？”240
Alias thought of the assassin’s magic missiles from the previous evening.阿莉亚丝想起了前一晚刺客射出的魔法飞弹。241
Fat lot of good the signs did for her then.那些符号当时可一点忙也没帮上。242
Why hadn’t it flashed into the eyes of her assailants when she really needed it to?她真正需要它的时候，它为什么没闪进袭击者的眼睛里？243
“No effect, as far as I know.”“据我所知，没什么影响。”244
She shrugged.她耸了耸肩。245
“I’m really not in the mood to experiment on which spells do what,” she added.“我实在没心情拿自己做实验，看看哪种法术会有什么作用。”她又说道。246
“I don’t doubt you’re not,” Dimswart replied sympathetically.“我相信你确实没这个心情。”迪姆斯沃特同情地答道。247
“Who have you crossed recently?“你最近得罪过什么人？248
Any dark lords from deep within the pits of the Nine Hells?有没有来自九层地狱深处的黑暗领主？249
Steal any unholy artifacts?偷过什么邪恶的神器？250
Break the hearts of any cavaliers whose older siblings dabble in the dark arts?伤过哪位骑士的心，而对方的兄姐又碰巧涉猎黑魔法？251
No?”都没有？”252
Dimswart sat back and pulled a pipe from inside his vest and began stuffing it with tobacco.迪姆斯沃特往后一靠，从背心里掏出一只烟斗，开始往里面塞烟草。253
He leaned toward the fire for a brand, but Dragonbait beat him to it, holding a flaming twig up to the pipe bowl as the sage puffed on the mouthpiece.他俯身凑向炉火，想取根火引子，但龙饵抢先一步，举起一根燃烧的细枝凑到烟斗钵前，智者则含着烟嘴吸了起来。254
The sage might have been waited on all his life by scaly servants, his reaction to the lizard was so casual.看智者对这个蜥蜴如此习以为常，简直像是有披鳞的仆从伺候了他一辈子。255
“You have him well trained,” Dimswart noted.“你把他训练得不错。”迪姆斯沃特评论道。256
“Where did you get him?”“你从哪儿弄到他的？”257
“We met at the seaside,” Alias answered.“我们是在海边遇见的。”阿莉亚丝答道。258
Dimswart lapsed into a thoughtful silence, forgetting to puff on his pipe, so that it went out.迪姆斯沃特陷入沉思，忘了吸烟斗，火便熄了。259
Finally he asked, “When did you notice this … condition?”最后，他问道：“你是什么时候注意到这种……状况的？”260
“When I woke up last night.”“昨晚醒来的时候。”261
“From a long sleep?”“睡了很久之后醒来？”262
“Three days, I’m told,” Alias admitted.“听说是三天，”阿莉亚丝承认道。263
“Though I’ve slept nearly as long after overindulgences with ale.“不过，我喝啤酒喝过头以后，也睡过差不多这么久。264
When I first woke, I thought I’d been drinking, but now I’m not so sure.刚醒来时，我以为自己喝过酒，可现在我不那么确定了。265
I have a lot of missing memories, several months worth, and that’s unusual for me.”我有很多记忆缺失了，足有好几个月，而这种事在我身上可不寻常。”266
“No doubt, no doubt.”“那是自然，那是自然。”267
Dimswart pulled his pipe from his mouth and leaned toward her.迪姆斯沃特从嘴里取下烟斗，倾身凑近她。268
“What’s the last thing you remember before you picked up this little token?”“在你弄到这个小玩意儿之前，最后记得的事情是什么？”269
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。270
“I don’t really know.“我真的不知道。271
I clearly remember leaving my company, the Adventurers of the Black Hawk, on good terms about a year ago.我清楚地记得，大约一年前，我和自己的队伍‘黑鹰冒险者’友好分手。272
They were going south.他们要往南走。273
I never liked the warm climes, so I took my share and left.我一向不喜欢炎热的地方，所以拿了自己那份，离开了。274
Drifted.之后便四处漂泊。275
Light work, you know.你知道的，干些轻松活儿。276
Caravan guard, body guard, challenges in bars.护送商队、给人当保镖、在酒馆里与人比试。277
When I woke up I had a vague memory of a recent sea voyage—but it’s all too hazy.醒来时，我隐约记得最近坐船出过一趟海——可一切都太模糊了。278
I …”我……”279
Alias halted for moment, trying to pull her memories out of the darkness.阿莉亚丝顿了一会儿，试图从黑暗中打捞出自己的记忆。280
“I met Dragonbait last night, but I think I knew him from before.”“我昨晚遇见了龙饵，可我觉得自己以前就认识他。”281
She shook her head.她摇了摇头。282
“I just don’t remember.”“我就是想不起来。”283
“Does Dragonbait talk?”“龙饵会说话吗？”284
Dimswart asked.迪姆斯沃特问道。285
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。286
“What about these symbols?“那这些符号呢？287
You called them signals?”你说它们是‘信号’？”288
“Sig-ils,” corrected the sage, spreading out the pronunciation.“是‘徽——印’。”贤者纠正道，特意把发音拖长了。289
“Sigils are a higher kind of symbol.“徽印是一种更高等的符号。290
They’re like a signature symbolizing a greater power.它们就像签名，象征着某种更强大的力量。291
Clerics use the ones belonging to their churches.牧师使用属于各自教会的徽印。292
Mages invent their own and protect them, sometimes quite jealously.法师则会创造自己的徽印，并严加保护，有时甚至护得相当厉害。293
They aren’t really magical, but on a document they carry the authority of their owners, and on any other object they indicate uncontestable ownership of a valuable property.”徽印本身其实并不具有魔力，但印在文书上时，它们就代表其主人的权威；印在任何其他物品上时，则表明主人对某件贵重财物拥有无可争议的所有权。”294
Alias felt herself growing hot, hotter than could be accounted for by the fire.阿莉亚丝觉得自己浑身发热，热得绝非炉火所能解释。295
It was a heat from anger burning within.那是内心燃烧的怒火所发出的热。296
“I’ve been branded as someone’s slave?”“我被烙上了某个奴隶主的印记？”297
“Possibly,” said Dimswart, “though that’s a very special brand.“有可能，”迪姆斯沃特说，“不过那是一种非常特殊的烙印。298
Something that intricate could only have been done with the help of magic—magic that resists its own diminishment.如此复杂的图案，只有借助魔法才能烙成——而且是一种会抗拒自身遭到削弱的魔法。299
I suspect it’s responsible for clouding up your memories.我怀疑，正是它蒙蔽了你的记忆。300
If you knew how you got it, you might be able to remove it.如果你知道这印记是怎么来的，也许就能把它去掉。301
That’s probably the way it thinks.”它大概就是这么想的。”302
“What do you mean, ‘it thinks’?“你说‘它会想’是什么意思？303
You mean it’s alive?”你是说它是活的？”304
“Not in the sense that you or I or this polite lizard is, no. But in terms of a magical creation with its own will to survive, given the desires of its creators, yes.“如果说像你、我，或这只有礼貌的蜥蜴一样活着，那倒不是。不过，若把它看作一个拥有自身求生意志、又被赋予了创造者欲望的魔法造物，那么可以说，是的。305
Just as an automaton or golem or summoned creature is alive.”就像机关人、魔像或召唤生物也是活的一样。”306
Alias slumped in her chair.阿莉亚丝瘫坐在椅子里。307
“So where does that leave me?”“那我现在该怎么办？”308
This might be more expensive than she had anticipated.这件事的花费可能会超出她的预料。309
“Quite frankly, it leaves you in trouble,” said the sage, pulling on his pipe and finding that it had gone out.“坦白说，你现在有麻烦了。”贤者说道，一边吸了口烟斗，却发现烟已经灭了。310
He waved away the fresh brand Dragonbait offered.龙饵递来一根新点燃的木条，他挥手拒绝了。311
“Unless we find out what those sigils are.”“除非我们能查明那些符印究竟是什么。”312
Alias drew her gaze away from the fire and fixed it firmly on the sage.阿莉亚丝将目光从炉火上移开，牢牢盯住贤者。313
“What will it cost?” she asked.“要多少钱？”她问。314
Her look warned she was in no mood to haggle.她的神情明明白白地警告他，她现在可没心情讨价还价。315
“You’re not that rich.”“你没那么有钱。”316
Dimswart held up a hand.迪姆斯沃特抬起一只手。317
“Yes, I know that, too.“对，这一点我也知道。318
You do seem a fairly competent adventuress, however, and I need someone like that at the moment.不过，你看起来倒是个相当能干的女冒险者，而我眼下正需要这样的人。319
“You’ve undoubtedly noticed the hubbub outside.”“你肯定已经注意到外面的喧闹了。”320
The sage jerked his thumb toward the study door, and Alias nodded.贤者用拇指朝书房门口一指，阿莉亚丝点了点头。321
“My daughter, Gaylyn, is getting married.“我的女儿盖琳要结婚了。322
Last of the brood, thank the gods.这一窝里最后一个，感谢诸神。323
I may finally get some peace and quiet.我总算能享几天清静了。324
Anyway, her young squire is from a noble family here in Cormyr—the Wyvernspurs of Immersea, some distant relations of the crown.总之，她那位年轻的侍从出身于科米尔当地的一个贵族家族——伊默海的飞龙刺家族，算是王室的远亲。325
The upshot is, in order to impress these new in-laws, I have to lay out quite a spread indeed, and to that end I’ve worked wonders: big tent, finest chefs liberated from the crown’s kitchens, silver wrought for the occasion, and four clerics for the ceremony.归根结底，为了给这些新姻亲留下深刻印象，我非得摆出一场极其丰盛的宴席不可；为此，我可是大显神通：巨型帐篷，从王室厨房挖来的顶尖厨师，为这场婚礼特制的银器，还有四名主持仪式的牧师。326
Stuff from which boring songs are written.”全是些足以让人写出乏味歌谣的素材。”327
He gave a cynical laugh.他冷笑了一声。328
“I also sent for a bard,” he sighed.“我还派人去请了一位吟游诗人。”他叹道。329
“No ordinary songster earning meals in a noble’s court, but one of the greats.“可不是那种在贵族宫廷里卖唱混饭的普通歌手，而是最伟大的名家之一。330
The renowned Olav Ruskettle, from across the Dragon Reach.那位声名远扬、来自龙湾彼岸的奥拉夫·拉斯凯特尔。331
The caravan Ruskettle was traveling in was attacked by the Storm Horns Dragon.拉斯凯特尔所搭乘的商队遭到了风暴号角巨龙的袭击。332
Have you heard about it?”你听说过这件事吗？”333
“I heard that the dragon has chewed up another adventuring company since the caravan.”“我听说自从袭击那支商队之后，那条龙又吞掉了一支冒险者队伍。”334
“Yes.“是的。335
Well, in the caravan with Ruskettle was a merchant who brought me an eyewitness account of the attack.拉斯凯特尔所在的商队里有个商人，他给我带来了一份关于那次袭击的目击者叙述。336
Ruskettle tried to sing the beast into submission, the mark of a great bard.拉斯凯特尔试图用歌声让那头巨龙俯首就范，这正是伟大吟游诗人的风范。337
The beast apparently liked the music, but instead of submitting, took Ruskettle in her claws and headed back for her lair.那头巨龙显然很喜欢这歌声，可她不但没有屈服，反而一把将拉斯凯特尔抓进爪中，带回了自己的巢穴。338
Suzail sent out a group of adventurers in retaliation, but they were, as you said, chewed up.苏萨尔派出了一队冒险者报复，可他们正如你所说，被嚼了个粉碎。339
I did, however, manage to obtain from the survivors the location of the monster’s lair and a secret ‘back door’ into it.不过，我设法从幸存者那里弄到了怪物巢穴的位置，以及一条通往巢穴的秘密‘后门’。340
My question for you is: Will you help a sage who is desperate to avoid breaking his youngest daughter’s heart?”我想问你的是：你愿不愿意帮助一位不顾一切也不想让小女儿伤心的贤者？”341
Alias thought for a moment, then asked, “You want the dragon dead?”阿莉亚丝想了片刻，随即问道：“你想要那头龙死？”342
“I want the bard, Ruskettle, to play at my daughter’s wedding,” the sage responded.“我想让吟游诗人拉斯凯特尔在我女儿的婚礼上演奏。”贤者回答道。343
“Clerics of Suzail want the dragon dead.“苏萨尔的牧师们想要那头龙死。344
Deal with them if you want to kill dragons.”如果你想屠龙，就去跟他们打交道吧。”345
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。346
“I’d rather sneak in, reappropriate your bard, and sneak out.“我宁愿偷偷溜进去，把你的吟游诗人重新弄到手，再偷偷溜出来。347
I prefer to leave dragonslaying to those in good standing with their gods.”我更愿意把屠龙的事留给那些与自家神明关系良好的人。”348
“It’s agreed, then,” said the sage.“那就这么说定了。”贤者说道。349
“I’ll take time out from the wedding preparations.“我会从筹备婚礼的事务中抽出些时间。350
There are a million-and-one things to do yet, but Leona, my wife, can handle them better than I. Besides, I’ll feel more useful helping you find out what those sigils mean.还有千头万绪的事情要做，不过我的妻子莉奥娜比我更擅长处理这些事。再说了，帮你查明那些符印的含义，也会让我觉得自己更有用些。351
In the meantime, you’ll bring me my bard.与此同时，你去把我的吟游诗人带回来。352
Let’s see that arm.”让我看看那条手臂。”353
Dimswart drew Alias over to his desk.迪姆斯沃特把阿莉亚丝领到自己的书桌旁。354
He opened up a fat volume to an empty page, and with a pen and astonishing skill, quickly copied the insignias on Alias’s sword arm.他翻开一本厚重的大书，找到一页空白，以惊人的技巧用笔飞快地临摹下阿莉亚丝持剑手臂上的符号。355
“None of these are familiar to you?” he asked.“这些符号你一个都不认识？”他问道。356
“I’ve seen one of them on a card carried by assassins who, I believe, intended only to capture me.”“我曾在一张卡片上见过其中一个，那张卡片是一些刺客带着的，而我认为他们原本只是想活捉我。”357
“Really?“真的吗？358
How very interesting.真有意思。359
Very interesting.”非常有意思。”360
“Now, where do I find your dragon?”“那么，我要去哪里找你的龙？”361
“The merchant I mentioned before will take you there.“我之前提到的那位商人会带你去。362
He has some interest in helping free this bard as well.”他也有意帮忙救出这位吟游诗人。”363
The sage called out, “Come on in, Akash,” and a figure breezed in—clad in a familiar crimson robe striped with white.贤者朝外喊道：“进来吧，阿卡什。”一个身影轻快地走了进来——身上穿着一袭眼熟的白条纹深红长袍。364
Akabar Bel Akash bowed formally.阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什郑重地鞠了一躬。365
“We meet again, lady.“我们又见面了，女士。366
As I told you, Sir Dimswart, she would leap at the opportunity to aid us.”迪姆斯沃特爵士，正如我对您说的，她一定会迫不及待地抓住机会帮助我们。”367
The Turmishman beamed with pleasure.图米什人喜笑颜开。368
Alias scowled, first at him, then at the sage.阿莉亚丝先是怒视着他，随后又瞪向贤者。369
Akabar ignored her glare.阿卡巴无视了她的怒视。370
Dimswart, having revealed the source of his information, arched his eyebrows like a stage magician demonstrating the trickery behind his feats.迪姆斯沃特透露完自己的消息来源后，扬起了眉毛，活像一名舞台魔术师在展示其表演背后的机关。371
Dragonbait, realizing no one was interested in smoking, blew out the burning brand he’d been playing with and threw it into the fireplace.龙饵见没人有兴趣抽烟，便吹灭了那根一直拿在手里把玩的燃烧木柴，把它扔进壁炉。372
点句末的编号，从那一句开始听