Kyre took another step into Nameless’s prison.凯尔朝无名者的牢房里又走了一步。1
“I’ve been so eager to meet you,” the half-elf said to Finder.“我一直都盼着见到你呢，”半精灵对芬德说道。2
“That’s some sort of soul-trapping gem you used on the saurial, isn’t it?”“你对那个蜥蜴人用的是某种能囚禁灵魂的宝石，对吧？”3
Finder asked, ignoring Kyre’s pleasantries.芬德问道，对凯尔的寒暄置若罔闻。4
“I demand you release him at once.”“我命令你立刻放了他。”5
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.“恐怕我做不到。”6
You see, he’s a very dangerous creature,” the half-elf replied.“你瞧，他可是个非常危险的生物，”半精灵回答道。7
“But useful—not unlike yourself.”“不过也很有用——跟你差不多。”8
Kyre reached her hand into her pocket and pulled it out again.凯尔把手伸进口袋，又抽了出来。9
She held a second walnut.她手里握着第二颗核桃。10
“Darkbringer,” she said.“黑暗使者，”她说道。11
Once again a sphere of darkness emanated from the nut, just as it had before.黑暗再次从核桃中涌出，化作一个球体，和之前一模一样。12
“The Nameless Bard,” Kyre pronounced slowly.“无名者吟游诗人，”凯尔缓缓念道。13
The sphere shimmered, and a tendril of black began to rise from it.黑暗球体微微闪烁，一缕黑色触须开始从中升起。14
Suddenly the tendril collapsed in on itself, and the darkness dissipated.突然，触须向内坍缩，黑暗也随之消散。15
Having failed to suck up the bard’s essence, the magical nut shattered, and shards of its shell flew in all directions.那颗魔法核桃没能吸走吟游诗人的精魄，顿时碎裂，外壳的碎片向四面八方飞射而去。16
The half-elf didn’t even flinch.半精灵甚至连眼睛都没眨一下。17
Instead, she stared up at the Nameless Bard with interest, waiting for him to explain.相反，她饶有兴味地仰望着无名者吟游诗人，等他作出解释。18
Finder sneered.芬德冷笑一声。19
“I am Nameless no longer, but you, woman, whoever you are, will answer to the Harpers for this attack!”“我已经不再是无名者了；可你，女人，不管你是谁，都得为这次袭击接受竖琴手同盟的问责！”20
Kyre laughed confidently.凯尔胸有成竹地笑了起来。21
“I think not.“我看未必。”22
You see, I am the Harper Kyre, and Nameless or not, you, bard, are in no position to threaten me.”“你瞧，我就是竖琴手凯尔；而你，吟游诗人，不管是不是无名者，都没有资格威胁我。”23
“Elminster would never approve of the cowardly way you’ve treated that saurial,” Finder retorted hotly.“伊尔明斯特绝不会赞同你用如此卑劣怯懦的方式对待那个蜥蜴人，”芬德怒气冲冲地反驳道。24
“Have the Harpers degenerated so far in the past two centuries that they attack innocent creatures and helpless prisoners?”“过去两个世纪里，竖琴手同盟竟已堕落至此，开始袭击无辜的生灵和毫无反抗能力的囚犯了吗？”25
As Finder spoke, Olive could see Kyre slip a wand out of her tunic sleeve.芬德说话时，奥利芙看见凯尔从束腰外衣的袖子里悄悄抽出一根魔杖。26
The halfling couldn’t contain her anxiety a moment longer.半身人再也压不住心中的焦虑。27
She burst out from behind the curtain, shouting, “Finder!她从帘幕后猛冲出来，大喊道：“芬德！28
Look out!” and hurled herself at Finder’s legs, knocking him to one side.小心！”说着便扑向芬德的双腿，将他撞到一旁。29
A beam of green light shot out from the tip of Kyre’s wand, missing Finder by inches.一道绿光从凯尔的魔杖尖端射出，距芬德只有几英寸，险险与他擦身而过。30
The light struck the silver fruit bowl on the table behind him, enveloping it and the fruit in a sparkling green mist.绿光击中了他身后桌上的银质果盘，将果盘和里面的水果笼罩在一片闪烁的绿色雾气中。31
After several seconds, the beam of light went out and the mist dissipated.几秒钟后，光束消失，雾气也随之散去。32
The silver bowl was unharmed, but the plums, pears, and apples within had turned completely brown from rot and their skins had collapsed on the decayed flesh within.银盘完好无损，但盘中的李子、梨和苹果却已腐烂得通体发褐，果皮也都塌陷在里面腐坏的果肉上。33
Finder’s face registered fear now that he was finally aware of the danger he was in.芬德终于意识到自己身处险境，脸上顿时露出了恐惧。34
He stared wide-eyed at Kyre.他睁大眼睛瞪着凯尔。35
Olive took quick aim and hurled her dagger at the half-elf.奥利芙迅速瞄准，将匕首掷向那个半精灵。36
The weapon hit Kyre’s wrist, causing her to drop the deadly wand.匕首击中了凯尔的手腕，令她失手掉落了那根致命的魔杖。37
Kyre’s eyes flashed angrily, but she made no sound or movement to indicate the weapon had hurt her hand.凯尔眼中怒光一闪，却没有发出任何声音，也没有做出任何动作，仿佛那件武器根本没伤到她的手。38
Olive shuddered at the woman’s indifference to pain.见这个女人对疼痛无动于衷，奥利芙不禁打了个寒战。39
“Would you get us out of here now?” the halfling shouted, shoving the finder’s stone at the master bard.“现在能带我们离开这里了吗？”半身人高声喊道，同时把寻觅石塞到那位吟游诗人大师面前。40
Finder grabbed the stone with one hand and Olive’s shoulder with the other, then sang an E-flat.芬德一手抓住石头，另一只手抓住奥利芙的肩膀，接着唱出了一个降E音。41
Olive sighed happily as a yellow light began glowing around her body.一道黄光开始在奥利芙周身亮起，她欣喜地舒了口气。42
The halfling’s relief was short-lived.半身人的宽慰转瞬即逝。43
Though the light continued to glow, she and Finder didn’t vanish from the cell as expected.尽管黄光依旧闪耀，她和芬德却没有如预料般从牢房中消失。44
Olive felt as if something was pulling her in two, and she screamed in pain.奥利芙感觉仿佛有什么东西正把她往两边撕扯，不禁痛苦地尖叫起来。45
Across the room, Kyre laughed and held out her arms.房间另一头，凯尔大笑着张开双臂。46
Long, slimy green tendrils shot out from her sleeves toward Finder.一根根细长黏滑的绿色触须从她的袖中射出，直扑芬德。47
Olive cried out once more, this time in fear.奥利芙再次惊叫起来，这一次是因为恐惧。48
There was something terrifyingly familiar about Kyre’s tendrils.凯尔的触须带着一种可怕的熟悉感。49
The tendrils reached over Olive’s head just as Finder sang a second E-flat, this time an octave lower than the first.触须从奥利芙头顶伸过，与此同时，芬德唱出了第二个降E音，这次比第一个低了一个八度。50
The yellow light shimmered with the deep resonance of the bard’s voice and then glowed so brightly that Kyre, her tendrils, and the room faded from his and Olive’s view.黄色光芒随着吟游诗人低沉浑厚的歌声闪烁起来，继而变得无比耀眼，凯尔、她的触须乃至整个房间，都从芬德和奥利芙眼前消失了。51
Alias, Mourngrym, and his guards waited anxiously around the corner of the hallway as Akabar chanted his fireball spell.阿莉亚丝、莫恩格林和他的卫兵们焦急地等在走廊拐角后，阿卡巴则吟诵着火球术的咒语。52
The mage’s voice rose sharply, then a great explosion shook the floor and walls around them and echoed through the corridors.法师的声音陡然高亢起来，紧接着一声巨响震撼了他们周围的地面和墙壁，在条条走廊间回荡。53
A second later a burst of steam came rushing down the corridor, past the side passage in which they stood.一秒钟后，一股蒸汽沿走廊汹涌而来，冲过了他们藏身的侧廊口。54
Clouds of hot, moist air billowed around them.一团团湿热的空气在他们周围翻涌。55
Anxious about Akabar, Alias rushed around the corner and into the steam.阿莉亚丝担心阿卡巴，急忙冲过拐角，闯进蒸汽之中。56
The floor was covered with water and the walls were dripping with moisture.地面上满是积水，墙壁也在不断往下滴水。57
Alias spied Akabar in the dispersing mist.阿莉亚丝在渐渐散去的雾气中看见了阿卡巴。58
Not even the darkness of the mage’s skin could hide the flush of his face from the scalding he’d received, but he still stood.法师黝黑的肤色也遮不住脸上被烫出的红晕，不过他仍然站着。59
He was drenched from the steam, and when he shook himself, drops of water scattered from his beard, hair, and robes.他被蒸汽浑身浸透，抖动身体时，水珠从他的胡须、头发和长袍上四散飞落。60
“Are—are you all right?”“你——你没事吧？”61
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。62
“I think so,” Akabar replied.“我想没事，”阿卡巴回答。63
“As a mage I have more immunity from the power of magic than you.“身为法师，我对魔法力量的抵抗力比你强。64
At any rate, the wall is melted,” he said, gesturing at the clear passage ahead.不管怎样，墙已经融化了。”他说着，指了指前方畅通无阻的通道。65
Mourngrym and Thurbal and the two tower guards rejoined the mage and the swordswoman.莫恩格林、瑟巴尔和两名高塔卫兵重新赶来，与法师和女剑士会合。66
“Good work, Akabar,” his lordship said, clapping the mage on the back.“干得好，阿卡巴。”领主大人一边说，一边拍了拍法师的后背。67
Assured that the Turmishman was all right, Alias prepared herself for combat.确定这个图米什人安然无恙后，阿莉亚丝做好了战斗准备。68
Having brought no weapon with her, she retrieved the great axe that Lord Mourngrym had been using to chip at the wall of ice.她来时没带武器，便拾起莫恩格林领主先前用来凿冰墙的那柄巨斧。69
Then she started down the corridor, silently hoping that Nameless was unharmed and swearing vengeance if he was not.随后她沿走廊向前走去，默默祈祷无名者安然无恙，并发誓如果他遭遇不测，定要为他复仇。70
His sword drawn, Mourngrym took the lead with Alias.莫恩格林拔剑出鞘，与阿莉亚丝并肩走在最前面。71
Akabar, Thurbal, and the two guards brought up the rear.阿卡巴、瑟巴尔和两名卫兵走在队伍末尾。72
A shadow fell across them, framing the doorway at the end of the corridor.一道阴影笼罩住他们，在走廊尽头勾勒出门口的轮廓。73
Mourngrym and Alias halted and raised their weapons, poised to charge into combat.莫恩格林和阿莉亚丝停下脚步，举起武器，蓄势准备冲上去迎战。74
A slender half-elven woman appeared in the doorway.门口出现了一个身材纤细的半精灵女子。75
She wore a silky yellow tunic and fine elven boots; a sword in a scabbard hung from the black belt at her hips, and a bright red orchid hung in her long, dark hair.她身穿丝滑的黄色束腰衣，脚蹬精致的精灵长靴；腰间的黑色皮带上挂着一把入鞘的剑，乌黑的长发中别着一朵鲜红的兰花。76
The half-elf stepped into the corridor.半精灵迈步走进走廊。77
“Kyre!”“凯尔！”78
Mourngrym gasped.莫恩格林倒吸了一口气。79
“Are you all right?”“你没事吧？”80
The half-elf looked up at Mourngrym.半精灵抬头望向莫恩格林。81
“You broke through the wall of ice?” she asked.“你们打破那道冰墙了？”她问道。82
There was a hint of confusion in her voice.她的声音里透着一丝困惑。83
“What happened?”“发生了什么事？”84
Mourngrym demanded, ignoring her question.莫恩格林不理会她的问题，厉声追问。85
“Kyre, where is Grypht?“凯尔，格里夫特在哪里？86
Where is Nameless?”无名者又在哪里？”87
Kyre lowered her head.凯尔低下了头。88
“I’m afraid I’ve failed, your lordship.“恐怕我失败了，大人。89
I could not stop Grypht from reaching the Nameless Bard.我没能阻止格里夫特找到无名者吟游诗人。90
Grypht grabbed Nameless and teleported away with him.”格里夫特抓住无名者，带着他传送走了。”91
For what seemed an eternity, Olive felt as if she were trapped in a golden web.仿佛过了无尽漫长的时间，奥利芙觉得自己像是被困在一张金色的蛛网里。92
When the light from the magical stone finally dimmed, she and Finder stood looking out over a grassy meadow on a sloping hillside.魔法石的光芒终于暗淡下来时，她和芬德发现自己正站在一片倾斜的山坡上，眺望着一片青草地。93
Olive quickly sank to the ground, exhausted by the magical teleportation.奥利芙很快便瘫坐在地上，魔法传送令她筋疲力尽。94
“Admit it, Finder,” she murmured, “whatever spell Elminster used to keep you inside that cell, it was almost a match for your rock, artifact or no.”“承认吧，芬德，”她低声说道，“不管你的石头是不是神器，伊尔明斯特用来把你困在那间牢房里的法术，都几乎足以与它匹敌。”95
Finder cursed angrily under his breath.芬德气恼地低声咒骂起来。96
The halfling looked up at the bard.半身人抬头望着诗人。97
His face was drenched with sweat, and his complexion was pale.他满脸是汗，面色苍白。98
“What’s wrong?” she asked.“你怎么了？”她问道。99
“Are you all right?”“你没事吧？”100
“Kyre snatched the finder’s stone away from me just before we teleported,” Finder growled with rage.“就在我们传送走之前，凯尔从我手里抢走了芬德之石。”芬德怒不可遏地咆哮道。101
“That bitch has my stone!”“那个贱人拿走了我的石头！”102
“Oh,” Olive said uncertainly.“哦。”奥利芙迟疑地说道。103
“Well, at least we escaped.”“好吧，至少我们逃出来了。”104
“But she has my stone!”“可我的石头在她手里！”105
Finder snarled irritably.芬德恼怒地吼道。106
“She could have you, like she got Grypht,” Olive snapped back.“她本来可以像抓住格里夫特那样抓住你。”奥利芙厉声反驳。107
If you hadn’t been so stubborn about waiting for the Harpers’ blessing, you would have escaped before she arrived, Grypht wouldn’t have been captured, and you’d still have your precious rock.”“要不是你固执地非要等竖琴手同盟批准，你早在她赶到之前就逃走了，格里夫特也不会被抓，而你那块宝贝石头也还会在你手里。”108
“She said she was a Harper,” Finder said incredulously.“她说她是竖琴手。”芬德难以置信地说道。109
“She couldn’t be a Harper.”“她不可能是竖琴手。”110
“She is,” Olive said.“她就是。”奥利芙说道。111
“I told you—she’s one of the tribunal judges.”“我告诉过你——她是裁判庭的审判官之一。”112
“I can’t believe she tried to kill me,” Finder said.“真不敢相信她竟然想杀我。”芬德说道。113
“She never would have gotten away with it.”“她绝不可能逃脱惩罚。”114
“She didn’t care,” Olive said.“她根本不在乎。”奥利芙说道。115
“You said something to her about Grypht being a foe of the Darkbringer.“你跟她说过，格里夫特是黑暗使者的敌人。116
That’s Moander, the Darkbringer god, right?”那指的是莫安德，黑暗使者之神，对吧？”117
“Yes.“对。118
Grypht said he was looking for Dragonbait because Moander was threatening their tribe.”格里夫特说他在寻找龙饵，因为莫安德正在威胁他们的部族。”119
“Oh, great!”“哦，太好了！”120
Olive muttered, slapping her hand against her forehead.奥利芙嘟囔着，一巴掌拍在额头上。121
Finder looked at her blankly.芬德茫然地看着她。122
“I don’t see the connection,” he said.“我不明白这两者有什么关系，”他说。123
“Don’t you get it?“你还不明白吗？124
Kyre’s one of Moander’s servants.”凯尔是莫安德的仆从之一。”125
“That’s impossible.“这不可能。126
No Harper would aid the Darkbringer.”竖琴手绝不会帮助黑暗使者。”127
Olive huffed in frustration.奥利芙懊恼地哼了一声。128
“I recognized those slimy tendrils Kyre used to grab the finder’s stone.“我认出了凯尔用来夺取寻踪石的那些黏糊糊的触手。129
They’re just like the ones Moander had all over its body.它们和莫安德浑身上下的那些触手一模一样。130
Moander was probably controlling her mind, the same way it controlled Akabar’s mind last year.”莫安德多半控制了她的心智，就像去年控制阿卡巴的心智一样。”131
“Akabar,” Finder mused.“阿卡巴……”芬德沉吟道。132
The bard recalled the southern mage, Akabar bel Akash, who had befriended Alias the previous year, and how he had been captured by the Darkbringer when he had tried to free Alias from the god’s clutches.这位吟游诗人想起了那位来自南方的法师阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什；前一年，他曾与阿莉亚丝结为朋友，后来在试图把阿莉亚丝从那神祇的魔掌中解救出来时，被黑暗使者俘获。133
“But Akabar destroyed the body Moander used in the Realms,” Finder argued.“可阿卡巴摧毁了莫安德在诸界使用的躯体，”芬德反驳道。134
“There’s no way Moander could have possessed Kyre.”“莫安德不可能附身凯尔。”135
“Suppose Kyre visited a world outside the Realms?”“假如凯尔去过诸界之外的某个世界呢？”136
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。137
Finder considered the halfling’s suggestion and frowned darkly.芬德思索着半身人的推测，神色阴沉地皱起了眉。138
“It’s possible,” he admitted.“确有可能，”他承认道。139
“We have to get back to Shadowdale and tell Dragonbait so he can rescue Grypht,” Olive said.“我们得赶回阴影谷，把这件事告诉龙饵，好让他去救格里夫特，”奥利芙说。140
“Where are we, anyway?” she asked, tossing a pebble at a thistle.“不过，我们到底在哪儿？”她一边问，一边捡起一颗小石子掷向一株蓟草。141
“Home,” Finder said.“家乡，”芬德说。142
“Home?“家乡？143
It doesn’t look like Immersea,” Olive replied.这里看着可不像伊默海，”奥利芙答道。144
“It’s not.“不是。”145
Were you under the impression I lived at Redstone Castle with my family?”“你该不会以为我和家人一起住在红石城堡吧？”146
Finder asked.芬德问道。147
Olive grinned, thinking of all the Wyvernspurs she’d met and trying to imagine Finder getting along with them.奥利芙咧嘴一笑，想起自己见过的那些飞龙刺家族成员，试着想象芬德与他们和睦相处的情形。148
“I guess I should have known better.”“我早该想到不是这么回事。”149
“What’s that supposed to mean?”“你这话是什么意思？”150
Finder asked.芬德问道。151
Olive chuckled at his defensiveness.见他如此戒备，奥利芙轻笑起来。152
“Did they kick you out?” she asked.“他们把你赶出来了？”她问。153
Finder’s eyes narrowed to slits.芬德的眼睛眯成了两条缝。154
“I left them.“是我离开了他们。”155
They never took me seriously.”“他们从来不把我当回事。”156
“Never a prophet in your own land,” Olive teased.“本乡从来出不了先知嘛。”奥利芙揶揄道。157
Finder’s face darkened, and the halfling realized she might be pushing him too far.芬德沉下脸来，半身人这才意识到，自己可能有些逼人太甚了。158
She decided to change the subject.她决定换个话题。159
“So where is this home?” she asked.“那这个家在哪儿？”她问。160
Finder made a sweeping motion with his arm, indicating something behind Olive.芬德大手一挥，示意奥利芙身后的某样东西。161
“Finder’s Keep,” he said.“芬德堡。”他说。162
The halfling turned around abruptly.半身人猛地转过身。163
The walls of a crumbling manor rose behind her.一座摇摇欲坠的庄园宅邸在她身后高高耸立。164
Thistles and grass grew between cracks in the stone.蓟草和杂草从石块的裂缝间长了出来。165
Kudzu covered the chimneys.葛藤爬满了烟囱。166
Moss and fungus grew from the fallen roof beams.坍塌的屋顶横梁上长满了苔藓和菌类。167
“I think you need a new decorator,” Olive quipped.“我看你该换个装潢师了。”奥利芙打趣道。168
“The underground complex was sealed.“地下建筑群已经封闭了。169
It should be in good condition,” Finder said.里面的状况应该还不错，”芬德说。170
“Are we still in the Dales?”“我们还在谷地吗？”171
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。172
Finder nodded.芬德点点头。173
“The southern edge of the Spiderhaunt Woods.”“蛛栖森林的南缘。”174
“That’s not too far from Shadowdale,” Olive said, her mind racing.“这里离阴影谷不算太远，”奥利芙说，脑中飞快地盘算着。175
“We can walk to the road connecting Shadowdale and Cormyr.“我们可以走到连接阴影谷和科米尔的那条路上。176
There should be plenty of traffic on it this time of the year.每年这个时候，路上应该有很多车马。177
Then we can get a lift from a caravan going north.然后我们可以搭一支北上商队的便车。178
We should be able to reach Shadowdale in about four days.”我们大概四天就能抵达阴影谷。”179
“Olive, you’ve been trying all morning to convince me to flee Shadowdale,” Finder reminded the halfling.“奥利芙，你整个上午都在劝我逃离阴影谷，”芬德提醒这个半身人。180
“Now you want me to go back and turn myself in to the Harpers.“现在你却又要我回去向竖琴手同盟自首。181
Suppose Kyre isn’t the only one in Moander’s possession?”假如落入莫安德掌控的不只凯尔一个人呢？”182
“You are a problem, aren’t you?”“你可真是个麻烦，是不是？”183
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。184
“All right.“好吧。185
When we get to the road, we’ll go south to Cormyr, and we’ll send a message back to Dragonbait with the first caravan we meet that’s heading north to Shadowdale.”等我们走到那条路上，就南下前往科米尔；遇到第一支北上阴影谷的商队时，我们就托他们给龙饵捎个口信。”186
“No,” Finder said.“不，”芬德说。187
“I don’t want to do that.”“我不想这么做。”188
“Then how are we ever going to tell Dragonbait about Grypht?”“那我们到底要怎么把格里夫特的事告诉龙饵？”189
Olive asked, exasperated.奥利芙气恼地问道。190
“We’re not,” Finder said simply.“我们不告诉他，”芬德干脆地说。191
“If Dragonbait finds out about Grypht, he’ll try to help him.”“要是龙饵知道了格里夫特的事，他会设法帮助他的。”192
“That’s the idea, isn’t it?”“这不正是你的打算吗？”193
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。194
“Alias, in turn, will want to help Dragonbait,” Finder explained.“而阿莉亚丝又会想帮助龙饵，”芬德解释道。195
“And I don’t want her going anywhere near Moander or Moander’s minions.“我不想让她靠近莫安德或莫安德的爪牙。196
Moander wants her for a servant.莫安德想让她做仆人。197
I won’t have the god using her again.”我绝不会再让那个神利用她。”198
“That’s Alias’s business, not yours,” Olive replied.“那是阿莉亚丝自己的事，与你无关，”奥利芙回答。199
“She’s my daughter.“她是我的女儿。200
I’ll protect her as I see fit,” Finder retorted sharply.我自会用我认为合适的方式保护她，”芬德厉声反驳。201
“Then don’t you think you should warn her that Moander might be after her again?”“那么，你不觉得应该警告她，莫安德可能又盯上她了吗？”202
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。203
“Moander can’t detect her if she doesn’t go looking for the god,” Finder said.“只要她不去寻找莫安德，莫安德就察觉不到她，”芬德说。204
“What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her.”“她不知道的事就伤害不了她。”205
Olive shrugged.奥利芙耸了耸肩。206
“Whatever you say.“随你怎么说。207
No note to Dragonbait.不给龙饵留字条。208
We still want to get to the road before dark.我们还是得在天黑前赶到大路上。209
Well catch a caravan going south to Cormyr.我们可以找一支南下科米尔的商队同行。210
That place I told you about, where we can’t be detected magically, is in Cormyr.”我跟你说过的那个无法被魔法侦测到的地方，就在科米尔。”211
Finder shook his head.芬德摇了摇头。212
“I’m not hiding anywhere.“我哪儿也不躲。213
I’ve decided you were right.我已经认定你说得对。214
I’ve credited the Harpers with too much power.我把竖琴手同盟的本事看得太大了。215
Once I get access to my workshop, they’ll never capture me again.”只要我能进入自己的工坊，他们就再也抓不到我了。”216
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。217
She had planned to send a note to Dragonbait anyway.反正她原本也打算给龙饵送张字条。218
It didn’t look as if she’d get a chance unless she left Finder.可除非离开芬德，否则她似乎找不到机会。219
The halfling didn’t really want to leave the bard, though.然而，这个半身人其实并不想离开那位吟游诗人。220
Olive genuinely liked Finder.奥利芙是真心喜欢芬德。221
He knew more about her than anyone in the Realms, yet he didn’t condemn her for her greed or her cowardice or her minor jealousies.他比诸界中的任何人都更了解她，却没有因她的贪婪、怯懦或那些小小的嫉妒心而谴责她。222
He’d shown a lot of patience in teaching her more about music in one month than she’d learned during the rest of her whole life.他耐心十足，短短一个月教给她的音乐知识，比她此前一辈子学到的还多。223
In addition, he’d offered her a passage to respectability by giving her his Harper’s pin.此外，他还把自己的竖琴手徽章送给了她，为她铺就了一条跻身体面之列的道路。224
“You know,” the halfling said, rubbing her chin, “I’m beginning to worry that I might be a bad influence on you.”“你知道吗，”半身人摩挲着下巴说道，“我开始担心自己可能把你带坏了。”225
Finder chuckled.芬德轻声笑了起来。226
“Don’t worry.“别担心。227
I’m not influenced easily.”我可没那么容易受人影响。”228
He turned and headed up the hill toward the crumbling manor house.他转过身，朝山坡上那座摇摇欲坠的庄园宅邸走去。229
That’s what I’m afraid of, Olive thought, but she held her tongue and followed.我怕的就是这个，奥利芙心想，但她没有说出口，只是跟了上去。230
When Alias heard that Nameless had been kidnapped, the blood drained from her face and she swayed alarmingly.阿莉亚丝听说无名者遭人绑架，顿时脸色煞白，身子也令人心惊地摇晃起来。231
Akabar put his hand on her elbow to steady her.阿卡巴伸手扶住她的手肘，帮她站稳。232
“Don’t worry, Alias,” the mage said softly.“别担心，阿莉亚丝，”法师轻声说道。233
“We’ll find him.”“我们会找到他的。”234
“Kyre, this is Alias of Westgate,” Mourngrym explained to the half-elf.“凯尔，这位是来自西门城的阿莉亚丝，”莫恩格林向半精灵介绍道。235
“Alias, this is the bard Kyre, one of the members of the Harpers’ tribunal.”“阿莉亚丝，这位是吟游诗人凯尔，竖琴手同盟审判庭的成员之一。”236
After taking a few deep breaths, Alias had recovered from her shock enough to nod politely to the Harper bard.阿莉亚丝深呼吸了几次，总算从震惊中缓过神来，礼貌地向那位竖琴手吟游诗人点了点头。237
Kyre nodded back at the swordswoman, but it was Akabar who held the half-elf’s gaze.凯尔也朝女剑士点头回礼，但与半精灵四目相对的却是阿卡巴。238
“This is Alias’s friend, Akabar bel Akash,” Mourngrym added, noting how Kyre stared at the mage.“这位是阿莉亚丝的朋友，阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什，”莫恩格林补充道，同时留意到凯尔正盯着那名法师。239
“Akabar used his magic to destroy the wall of ice for us.”“是阿卡巴施展魔法，替我们摧毁了冰墙。”240
“A pity that your effort, though great, came too late,” Kyre said to Akabar.“可惜，你虽竭尽全力，却还是来得太迟了，”凯尔对阿卡巴说道。241
“I don’t understand how anything from a lower plane could have gotten into the tower,” Alias said impatiently.“我不明白，下层位面的东西怎么可能闯进塔里来。”阿莉亚丝不耐烦地说。242
“Elminster had it warded against entry by that sort of creature.”“伊尔明斯特设下了结界，防止这类生物进入。”243
“Elminster also had a no-exit spell cast on Nameless’s room,” Mourngrym said.“伊尔明斯特还在无名者的房间里施了禁止离开的法术。”莫恩格林说。244
“How could Grypht teleport past that?”“格里夫特怎么可能穿过那道法术传送进来？”245
“Such wards and spells sometimes deteriorate, your lordship, or they can be broken by powerful magic,” Kyre replied.“这种结界和法术有时会逐渐失效，大人，也可能被强大的魔法破除。”凯尔答道。246
Though she addressed Mourngrym, the half-elf’s attention was still fixed on Akabar.虽然半精灵是在对莫恩格林说话，她的注意力却依然牢牢集中在阿卡巴身上。247
“As you saw, I just left the room without any trouble.”“您也看见了，我刚才毫不费力地离开了那间屋子。”248
Mourngrym frowned.莫恩格林皱起眉头。249
“I’ve never heard of any spell of Elminster’s deteriorating or breaking.“我从没听说过伊尔明斯特的法术会失效或被破除。250
He’s the most powerful mage in the Realms.”他是诸界最强大的法师。”251
“Excuse me, your lordship,” Akabar replied, “but the lady is quite correct.“恕我冒昧，大人，”阿卡巴答道，“但这位女士说得完全正确。252
Such things do happen on occasion.这种事偶尔的确会发生。253
In fact, there is considerable evidence of many spells having failed this past summer when the gods walked the Realms.”事实上，有大量证据表明，去年夏天众神行走于诸界之际，许多法术都曾失效。”254
“Elminster took extra care to reset all the wards on the tower after that,” Mourngrym interposed.“那之后，伊尔明斯特特意重新设置了塔里的所有结界。”莫恩格林插话道。255
“Yet we cannot deny the evidence of our eyes,” Akabar said.“可我们不能否认亲眼所见的事实。”阿卡巴说。256
“Speaking of Elminster, where is he?”“说到伊尔明斯特，他在哪里？”257
Alias asked suddenly.阿莉亚丝突然问道。258
“He disappeared before our very eyes.“他就在我们眼前消失了。259
Grypht appeared in his place,” Kyre explained.格里夫特出现在了他原来的位置。”凯尔解释道。260
“Perhaps his absence weakened his spells.”“也许他的离开削弱了他的法术。”261
That didn’t sound likely to Mourngrym, but he had no training in magic.莫恩格林觉得这不太可能，但他并未受过魔法方面的训练。262
He turned to Thurbal and the two guards.他转向瑟巴尔和两名卫兵。263
“Better have the tower searched, in case something else has managed to sneak in.”“最好把塔搜查一遍，以防还有别的什么东西溜了进来。”264
Thurbal nodded and ushered the two guards off with him.瑟巴尔点点头，带着两名卫兵离开了。265
Still unconvinced, Alias asked Kyre, “What type of monster was it?阿莉亚丝仍未信服，便问凯尔：“那是什么怪物？266
What did it look like?”它长什么样？”267
“Grypht is not a type of monster but one unique unto itself,” Kyre replied calmly.“格里夫特并非某一类怪物，而是独一无二的存在。”凯尔平静地答道。268
“Grypht is a duke of Caina, in the Nine Hells.“格里夫特是九层地狱中凯纳的一位公爵。269
The Zhentarim often use Grypht for their evil schemes.散塔林会经常利用格里夫特实施他们的邪恶阴谋。270
It stands ten feet tall.它身高十英尺。271
Its hide is covered with green scales.皮肤上覆盖着绿色鳞片。272
It has horns, claws, and a tail.”它长着角、利爪和一条尾巴。”273
Alias walked into Nameless’s former cell.阿莉亚丝走进无名者先前住的牢房。274
Sigils and symbols were scrawled on the walls and the windowsill and even the doorsill, evidencing the wards protecting the room from entry by creatures from the lower planes.墙壁、窗台，甚至门槛上都潦草画满了印记与符号，显示出保护这间屋子、防止下层位面生物闯入的结界。275
They looked all right to her.在她看来，这些结界并无异样。276
“Akabar, what do you think?”“阿卡巴，你怎么看？”277
Alias asked, motioning the mage into the room.阿莉亚丝一边问，一边示意那位法师进屋。278
Akabar stepped into the cell and began to study Elminster’s wards.阿卡巴走进牢房，开始查看伊尔明斯特布下的结界。279
As she watched Kyre’s eyes follow the mage, Alias wondered if the half-elf recognized the Turmishman from somewhere, but when the half-elf reached up to adjust the orchid behind her ear, Alias realized that Kyre was physically attracted to the merchant-mage.阿莉亚丝看着凯尔的目光追随着法师，起初还以为这位半精灵是不是曾在什么地方见过这个图米什人；可当半精灵抬手整理耳后的兰花时，阿莉亚丝才明白，凯尔是被这位商人法师的外表吸引了。280
Akabar was, after all, a handsome man.毕竟，阿卡巴的确是个英俊的男人。281
Even Cassana, a connoisseur of men, had lusted after him.就连对男人颇有鉴赏力的卡萨娜，也曾对他心生欲念。282
Alias turned around to survey the rest of the room.阿莉亚丝转过身，打量房间的其他地方。283
Elminster had sworn to her that he had made Nameless as comfortable as possible.伊尔明斯特曾向她发誓，说他已经尽可能让无名者住得舒适。284
The old sage hadn’t lied.那位老贤者并没有撒谎。285
Everything about the room was lovely—the furniture, the curtains, the carpeting.房间里的一切都很雅致——家具、窗帘，还有地毯。286
A well-crafted songhorn lay on the table beside a silver fruit bowl.桌上放着一支做工精良的歌号，旁边是一只银果盘。287
“Oh!”“噢！”288
Alias cried out suddenly in disgust, revolted by the sight of the rotting, moldy plums, pears, and apples within the silver bowl.阿莉亚丝突然厌恶地叫出声来；银盘里那些腐烂发霉的李子、梨和苹果令她一阵恶心。289
“What is it?”“怎么了？”290
Akabar asked, hurrying to her side.阿卡巴问道，急忙赶到她身边。291
Mourngrym was close behind him.莫恩格林紧随其后。292
Alias pointed at the bowl of fruit.阿莉亚丝指了指那只水果碗。293
“Is this some sick joke to taunt Nameless?” she asked.“这是在开什么恶毒的玩笑，故意嘲弄无名者吗？”她问道。294
Mourngrym scowled angrily when he saw what had upset the swordswoman.”莫恩格林看到是什么惹恼了女剑士，顿时愤怒地皱起眉头。295
I can’t imagine who would do such a thing,” he said curtly, “but I guarantee I will find out who is responsible.”“我想不出谁会做这种事，”他生硬地说道，“但我保证，一定会查出是谁干的。”296
“The sign,” Akabar whispered.“那个征兆。”阿卡巴低声说道。297
“What?”“什么？”298
Alias asked, looking up at the Turmishman.阿莉亚丝抬头望着图米什人，问道。299
Even beneath his dark skin, the swordswoman could see that the blood was draining from her friend’s face.即使隔着他深色的皮肤，女剑士也看得出朋友脸上的血色正在褪去。300
Akabar’s body trembled visibly.阿卡巴的身体明显地颤抖起来。301
“Akabar, what’s wrong?”“阿卡巴，你怎么了？”302
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。303
“It’s the sign of danger.“这是危险的征兆。304
From my dreams.就是我梦里的那个。305
The bowl of rotting fruit marks its coming,” Akabar said.这碗腐烂的水果预示着危险即将降临。”阿卡巴说道。306
Alias shivered, momentarily frightened by Akabar’s words.阿莉亚丝打了个寒战，一时间被阿卡巴的话吓住了。307
With a deep breath, she cast off the ridiculous idea that Akabar’s dreams were rooted in reality.她深吸一口气，抛开了阿卡巴的梦境源于现实这一荒唐念头。308
From the doorway, Kyre called Akabar’s name.凯尔从门口喊了阿卡巴的名字。309
The half-elf’s face was clouded with concern.半精灵脸上笼罩着忧虑。310
When Akabar looked up at her, she spoke a word to him that neither Alias nor Mourngrym could comprehend, though it sounded to Alias as if it was in Turmish.阿卡巴抬头望向她时，她对他说了一个词，阿莉亚丝和莫恩格林都听不懂，不过阿莉亚丝觉得那似乎是图米什语。311
Akabar didn’t appear comforted by whatever the half-elf had said.不管半精灵说了什么，阿卡巴似乎都没有得到安慰。312
He reeled around and was forced to lean heavily on the tabletop to keep from falling over.他踉跄着转过身，不得不用力撑住桌面，才没有摔倒。313
He began muttering, “The sign … the rotting,” over and over again.他开始一遍又一遍地喃喃念叨：“征兆……腐烂……”314
“Get hold of yourself, Akash,” Alias demanded, placing her hands on Akabar’s shoulders.“振作起来，阿卡什。”阿莉亚丝命令道，双手按住阿卡巴的肩膀。315
“I think your friend is not well,” Kyre said, hurrying into the room and taking Akabar’s hands in her own.“我看你的朋友不太舒服。”凯尔说着，匆匆走进房间，握住阿卡巴的双手。316
“What is it?”“这是怎么回事？”317
Mourngrym asked Kyre.莫恩格林问凯尔。318
“What’s wrong with him?”“他怎么了？”319
“He’s in shock.“他受了惊吓。”320
He should lie down.“他应该躺下。”321
Here, Akabar Bel Akash,” the half-elf said softly.“来，阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”半精灵轻声说道。322
She tugged gently on Akabar’s wrists until she’d led him to the bed.她轻轻拉着阿卡巴的手腕，把他领到床边。323
“Sit here,” she ordered.“坐在这里。”她吩咐道。324
As if he were in a trance, Akabar obeyed wordlessly.阿卡巴仿佛陷入了恍惚，一言不发地照做了。325
“Now lie down,” Kyre said.“现在躺下。”凯尔说道。326
Akabar swung his feet up on the bed and laid his head down on the pillow.阿卡巴把双脚抬到床上，将头枕在枕头上。327
“Perhaps we should fetch Morala,” his lordship suggested, alarmed by the mage’s glassy-eyed stare.“或许我们该去请莫拉拉来。”领主大人提议道；法师那双眼神涣散的眼睛令他深感不安。328
“There’s no need to trouble the priestess, your lordship,” Kyre said.“不必劳烦女祭司，领主大人。”凯尔说道。329
“I’m sure he’ll recover soon.”“我相信他很快就会恢复的。”330
“I’m sure she’s right,” Alias said.“我也相信她说得对。”阿莉亚丝说道。331
“Akabar’s been having these strange dreams,” she explained.“阿卡巴最近一直在做这些怪梦。”她解释道。332
“I’m afraid he takes them a little too seriously.”“恐怕他把这些梦看得有些太重了。”333
“Perhaps I can help,” Kyre said.“或许我能帮上忙。”凯尔说道。334
“I have made a study of dreams.“我研究过梦。”335
If he will speak to me about them, perhaps I can tell him what they mean.”“如果他肯跟我谈谈这些梦，也许我能告诉他那些梦意味着什么。”336
“Alias,” Mourngrym said from the bedside, “I think he’s trying to say something to you.”“阿莉亚丝，”莫恩格林在床边说道，“我想他正试图对你说些什么。”337
Alias knelt by the Turmishman’s side.阿莉亚丝在图米什人身旁跪了下来。338
“I’m here, Akabar.“我在这儿，阿卡巴。339
What is it?”什么事？”340
Fighting to get the words out, Akabar whispered slowly, “Take … me … to …阿卡巴艰难地挤出话来，缓缓低声道：“带……我……去……341
Zhara.”扎拉那儿。”342
His eyes glittered and his breathing was too quick.他的双眼闪闪发亮，呼吸急促得异乎寻常。343
Alias looked up at Kyre.阿莉亚丝抬头望向凯尔。344
“I don’t think you should move him,” the half-elf said softly.“我觉得你们不该挪动他，”半精灵轻声说道。345
“Who is Zhara?”“扎拉是谁？”346
“His wife,” Alias said reluctantly.“他的妻子，”阿莉亚丝不情愿地说道。347
She stood up again and explained more to Kyre in a whisper.她又站起身来，低声向凯尔多解释了几句。348
“His third wife, a priestess.“他的第三任妻子，一位女祭司。349
She’s got him believing his dreams are real.”她让他深信自己的梦都是真的。”350
“Dreams are only real in our heads,” Kyre said.“梦只在我们的脑海里才是真的，”凯尔说道。351
“Can you convince him of that?”“你能让他相信这一点吗？”352
Alias asked hopefully.阿莉亚丝满怀希望地问道。353
“Perhaps.“或许可以。354
If you and Lord Mourngrym will leave me alone with him for a time, it will be easier to speak with him about it,” Kyre suggested.如果你和莫恩格林领主能让我和他单独待上一阵子，跟他谈这件事会容易些，”凯尔提议道。355
Alias looked down anxiously at Akabar.阿莉亚丝忧心忡忡地低头看着阿卡巴。356
Perhaps this attack of nerves, or whatever it was, was a blessing in disguise, she thought.她心想，也许这次神经发作——不管这究竟是什么——反倒是因祸得福。357
Kyre was a beautiful woman, and Alias found herself hoping that if the half-elf was left alone to care for Akabar, he would find Kyre as attractive as Kyre obviously found him.凯尔是个美丽的女人，阿莉亚丝不由得暗自希望，如果让半精灵独自留下来照料阿卡巴，他也会觉得凯尔很迷人，就像凯尔显然觉得他很迷人一样。358
If Akabar liked Kyre enough, Kyre might break Zhara’s spell on him and convince him that Zhara was wrong, that his dreams of Moander weren’t some godly command to place himself in the path of evil, but only the memories of old terrors.如果阿卡巴足够喜欢凯尔，凯尔或许就能破除扎拉施在他身上的魔咒，让他相信扎拉错了，让他相信自己那些关于莫安德的梦并非什么神圣的旨意，命令他把自己置于邪恶的魔爪之下，而只是昔日恐怖留下的记忆。359
Alias nodded her consent.阿莉亚丝点头表示同意。360
“Summon me if you need me,” the swordswoman said.“如果需要我，就叫我来，”女剑士说道。361
“I will let his wife know he is in my care,” the half-elf said.“我会通知他的妻子，说他现在由我照料，”半精灵说道。362
“Where is she?”“她在哪儿？”363
“The Old Skull Inn.“老骷髅旅店。364
I asked Jhaele to put Akabar and his wife in the Red Room,” Alias said.我请杰尔把阿卡巴和他的妻子安顿在红房间了，”阿莉亚丝说道。365
“There’s no hurry.“不用着急。366
Zhara won’t be expecting Akabar to return right away.”扎拉不会指望阿卡巴马上回去的。”367
Kyre nodded as she laid her slender hand on Akabar’s forehead.凯尔点点头，将纤细的手放在阿卡巴的额头上。368
Mourngrym put a comforting hand on Alias’s shoulder as they left the room.他们离开房间时，莫恩格林安慰地把一只手搭在阿莉亚丝肩上。369
“He’ll be fine,” his lordship said, pulling the door closed behind them.“他会没事的，”领主大人说着，随手带上了身后的门。370
“I’m told Kyre is quite clever.”“听说凯尔相当聪慧。”371
“She seems very sensible,” Alias said, but she couldn’t keep from adding, “Do you think she’s right that this Grypht is a duke from the Nine Hells?”“她看起来很明智，”阿莉亚丝说道，却还是忍不住补了一句，“你觉得她说得对吗？这个格里夫特真是来自九层地狱的公爵？”372
Mourngrym shrugged.莫恩格林耸了耸肩。373
“I really don’t know.“我确实不知道。374
You heard what she said about its working for the Zhentarim.她说它在为散塔林会效力，你也听见了。375
Whatever Grypht is, the Zhentarim would certainly like to get their hands on Elminster.无论格里夫特究竟是什么，散塔林会肯定都很想把伊尔明斯特弄到手。376
Still, I can’t imagine that Elminster is in any real danger.不过，我无法想象伊尔明斯特会有什么真正的危险。377
He has an evasion spell to take him to safety if his life is ever seriously threatened.”只要他的性命受到严重威胁，他就能施展遁逃法术，脱身到安全之处。”378
“But Nameless doesn’t have such a spell,” Alias said.“可无名者没有这种法术，”阿莉亚丝说道。379
“The Zhentarim could be holding him to force Elminster to stay with them.“散塔林会可能扣押了他，以此逼迫伊尔明斯特留下。380
Nameless and Elminster were once close friends.无名者和伊尔明斯特曾是亲密的朋友。381
Elminster wouldn’t abandon him.伊尔明斯特不会抛下他的。382
Suppose the Zhentarim heard some rumor about me and decided to try to coerce Nameless into creating another creature like me so they could use it as an agent?假如散塔林会听到了某些关于我的传闻，决定胁迫无名者再创造一个像我这样的生物，好让他们把它当作密探使用呢？383
They might try to force Elminster to help him.”他们或许会设法逼伊尔明斯特帮助他。”384
Mourngrym’s face clouded over with concern.莫恩格林脸上蒙上了一层忧色。385
Alias’s theory was too sensible to be discounted.阿莉亚丝的推断十分合情合理，不能等闲视之。386
“Why don’t you pay a visit to the sage’s scribe?“你何不去拜访一下那位贤者的书记员？387
If anyone knows anything about Elminster, it would be Lhaeo.如果有谁知道伊尔明斯特的消息，那一定是莱奥。388
In the meantime, I’ll try to find some spell-casters who could scry for Nameless and Elminster.”与此同时，我会设法找几位能用占卜术搜寻无名者和伊尔明斯特的施法者。”389
Immediately after Alias and Mourngrym left Nameless’s former cell, Kyre crept to the doorway and listened for a few moments as the swordswoman and the lord of Shadowdale moved away down the hall.阿莉亚丝和莫恩格林一离开无名者先前被关押的牢房，凯尔便蹑手蹑脚地来到门边，听着那名女剑士与阴影谷领主沿走廊渐渐远去，足足听了片刻。390
When their footsteps and voices had faded into the distance, Kyre whispered a chant to hold the door closed so that nothing would interrupt her talk with the Turmishman.等他们的脚步声和说话声消失在远处后，凯尔低声念出一段咒语，将门牢牢封住，以免她与图米什人的谈话受到任何打扰。391
With Elminster gone and Akabar indisposed, it would take Mourngrym some time to scare up a mage capable of forcing the door.伊尔明斯特不在，阿卡巴又无法行动，莫恩格林得花上一段时间，才能找来一名有本事强行破门的法师。392
By then she would be gone and Akabar would be gone with her.到那时，她早已离开，而阿卡巴也会随她一同离去。393
The half-elf crossed back to the bed and sat down beside Akabar.半精灵回到床边，在阿卡巴身旁坐下。394
The Turmishman rolled his head and shook, as if he were in the midst of a bad dream.图米什人来回转动着脑袋，身体不住颤抖，仿佛正深陷于一场噩梦之中。395
It must seem to him as if he were, Kyre realized.凯尔意识到，在他看来，这想必的确就像一场噩梦。396
She had stunned him with a power word right in front of the lord of Shadowdale and the swordswoman, but since Kyre had spoken the word in Turmish, neither Mourngrym nor Alias had the slightest suspicion that the merchant-mage’s state of shock had been brought on by a magical attack.她当着阴影谷领主和女剑士的面，用一句律令震昏了他；但凯尔说那句话时用的是图米什语，所以无论莫恩格林还是阿莉亚丝，都丝毫没有怀疑这名商人法师的惊骇失神是由魔法攻击造成的。397
Like most northerners, they had never bothered to learn Turmish or any of the related southern tongues, and now the half-elf would reap a great reward because of their ignorance.他们同大多数北方人一样，从来不屑于学习图米什语或任何相关的南方语言；如今，半精灵将因他们的无知而获得丰厚的回报。398
For a brief moment, when Akabar had found the strength and wits to ask Alias to take him to his wife, the half-elf had feared her scheme would be ruined.先前阿卡巴勉强振作起精神和力气，请求阿莉亚丝带他去见妻子时，半精灵曾有那么一瞬间担心自己的计划会被毁掉。399
Fortunately Alias had been more willing to trust a stranger than accept the Turmishman’s trust in his priestess wife.幸好，比起接受图米什人对他那位女祭司妻子的信任，阿莉亚丝更愿意相信一个陌生人。400
Cassana had done a good job conditioning the swordswoman to dislike members of the clergy, Kyre thought with satisfaction.凯尔满意地想，卡萨娜把这名女剑士调教得厌恶神职人员，的确做得很不错。401
Kyre ran her finger down the sleeve of Akabar’s robe.凯尔用一根手指顺着阿卡巴的长袍衣袖缓缓划下。402
After she had spent months of fruitless searching for the Turmishman, he had brought himself to her, and now he lay here completely at her mercy.她徒劳无功地搜寻了这个图米什人数月之后，他竟自行送到了她面前，如今更是躺在这里，完全任她摆布。403
Before he regained his senses, she would have to put him under a stronger enchantment.在他恢复神智之前，她必须给他施加一种更强的魅惑。404
She could place him in a gem of soul-stealing to carry him off to her master, but it would be easier and far more amusing to convince him to come with her of his own free will.她可以把他封进一颗摄魂宝石，带去交给自己的主人；不过，说服他自愿跟她走，不但更容易，也远为有趣。405
“Please forgive me for casting a spell on you, Akabar,” she said in his native tongue, “but I can’t permit you to tell everyone about your dreams.”“请原谅我对你施法，阿卡巴，”她用他的母语说道，“但我不能让你把自己的梦境告诉所有人。”406
The mage’s brow furrowed in puzzlement.法师困惑地皱起了眉头。407
Kyre pulled a glass vial out from her tunic pocket and unstoppered it.凯尔从束腰外衣的口袋里掏出一只玻璃小瓶，拔掉了瓶塞。408
“Drink this down,” she told him, raising the vial to his lips.“把这个喝下去，”她一边吩咐，一边把小瓶举到他唇边。409
“It will help clear your head.”“它会让你的头脑清醒些。”410
In his confused state it didn’t occur to Akabar to resist Kyre’s suggestion.阿卡巴神志迷乱，根本没想到要抗拒凯尔的提议。411
Dutifully he swallowed the liquid she poured in his mouth.她把液体倒进他嘴里，他便顺从地咽了下去。412
Kyre leaned over and kissed the mage gently on the lips.凯尔俯下身，轻轻吻了吻法师的嘴唇。413
“Lie still a few minutes and you’ll feel better,” she said in flawless Turmish.“静静躺几分钟，你就会感觉好些，”她用流利无瑕的图米什语说道。414
“Zhara,” Akabar sighed.“扎拉，”阿卡巴叹息道。415
Then, with more agitation, he cried out, “The bowl of rotting fruit!接着，他愈发激动地叫道：“那碗腐烂的水果！416
Zhara, beware!”扎拉，当心！”417
Kyre frowned slightly.凯尔微微皱起眉头。418
Aside from having too great a hold on the mage’s heart, this Zhara probably knew too much.这个扎拉不仅在法师心中占据了太重的分量，恐怕还知道得太多。419
Fortunately Alias had told the half-elf all she needed to know to deal with the priestess.幸好，阿莉亚丝已经把对付那名女祭司所需的一切都告诉了这名半精灵。420
Kyre stood up, padded over to the window, yanked open the curtain, and threw back the shutters.凯尔站起身，悄无声息地走到窗边，一把拉开窗帘，又猛地推开百叶窗。421
“The rain has stopped for the moment.“雨暂时停了。422
How convenient,” she declared.真是方便，”她说道。423
From her tunic pocket, the half-elf pulled out a bit of thistledown with the seeds still attached.半精灵从束腰外衣的口袋里掏出一小撮仍连着种子的蓟绒。424
“Darkbringer,” she murmured in Realms common.“黑暗使者，”她用诸界通用语低声念道。425
The thistle seeds in her hand began to glow.她手中的蓟种开始发光。426
“Zhara, wife of Akabar Bel Akash, in the Red Room at the Old Skull Inn,” she whispered.“阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什之妻扎拉，身在老骷髅旅店的红房间，”她低声说道。427
Then she held the thistledown up to her mouth and blew it out the window.随后，她把蓟绒举到嘴边，将它吹出了窗外。428
The silky, seed-bearing strands danced away from the window toward the heart of Shadowdale, moving against the wind.那些携带种子的丝绒细缕迎着风，从窗前翩然飘向阴影谷的中心。429
Kyre stood at the window, staring blankly at the greenery surrounding Shadowdale Akabar, hearing his wife’s name spoken, turned his head in the half-elf’s direction.凯尔站在窗前，茫然凝望着阴影谷周围的绿意。 阿卡巴听见妻子的名字，便转头望向半精灵。430
He began studying her profile with fascination.他着迷地端详起她的侧脸。431
Her silky black hair contrasted sharply with her fair skin, and her figure was lithe and muscular like a dancer’s. She’s really very beautiful, he thought.她丝缎般的黑发与白皙的肌肤形成鲜明对比，身材轻盈矫健，如同舞者一般。 她真的很美，他想。432
Not to mention well educated.更不用说，她还受过良好教育。433
She speaks Turmish well, with a soft-spoken voice like a true lady.她的图米什语说得很流利，声音轻柔，像一位真正的淑女。434
And her touch is tender, as a woman’s should be.而且她的触碰温柔体贴，女人本就该如此。435
Why, though, the mage puzzled, did she have to stun me just to keep from speaking of my dreams?可是，法师困惑地想，她为什么非得把我击昏，就为了不让我谈起自己的梦？436
Akabar sighed to himself.阿卡巴暗自叹了口气。437
No matter, he thought.算了，他想。438
She said she was sorry.她已经道过歉了。439
I must give her a chance to explain.我必须给她一个解释的机会。440
She must have a good reason.她一定有充分的理由。441
A few minutes later, just as the half-elf had predicted, his head felt much clearer, his body felt rested, and the strength returned to his limbs.几分钟后，正如半精灵所预言的那样，他的头脑清醒了许多，身体也恢复了精神，力量重新回到四肢。442
His heart still beat a little too quickly, but he didn’t notice.他的心跳依然稍快了些，但他并未察觉。443
He sat up and took a deep breath.他坐起身，深吸了一口气。444
Kyre turned away from the window and smiled gently.凯尔转身离开窗边，温柔地笑了。445
“I’m pleased to see you feeling better,” she said softly, still speaking in Turmish.“看到你好些了，我很高兴。”她依旧用图米什语轻声说道。446
“You will forgive me, I trust, for being so forward, but I must tell you, you are the most attractive man I’ve ever met.”“我想，你会原谅我如此冒昧，但我必须告诉你，你是我见过的最有魅力的男人。”447
Akabar blushed deeply.阿卡巴顿时满脸通红。448
Usually the immodest advances of northern women annoyed him, but he felt inordinately pleased that someone as attractive as Kyre should find him appealing.通常，北方女人不知矜持的示好总令他恼火，可像凯尔这般迷人的人竟也觉得他有魅力，却让他感到格外欣喜。449
Still, he wasn’t the sort to leave mysteries unsolved.不过，他不是那种会任由谜团悬而未决的人。450
“Why don’t you want me to tell about my dreams to anyone?” he asked.“你为什么不想让我把自己的梦告诉任何人？”他问道。451
Kyre crossed the room to his bedside, her walk graceful and sinuous.凯尔穿过房间来到他的床边，步态优雅而婀娜。452
“I’m not sure who can be trusted,” she replied as she sat down again on the edge of the bed.“我不确定谁值得信任。”她回答着，再次在床沿坐了下来。453
“You can trust Alias,” Akabar said.“你可以信任阿莉亚丝，”阿卡巴说。454
“She’s a good friend.”“她是个好朋友。”455
“But I don’t think I can trust Lord Mourngrym,” Kyre replied.“但我觉得我不能信任莫恩格林领主，”凯尔答道。456
“However, I know I can trust you, Akabar.“不过，我知道我可以信任你，阿卡巴。457
You’ve been chosen.”你是被选中的人。”458
The half-elf ran her finger along the curve of the Turmishman’s ear and down along the artery in his neck.半精灵的手指顺着图米什人的耳廓滑过，又沿着他颈侧的动脉向下划去。459
Akabar felt his heart begin to pound and his blood throbbing in his head.阿卡巴感觉自己的心开始怦怦狂跳，鲜血也在脑中突突搏动。460
“What do you know of my dreams?” he asked.“你对我的梦知道些什么？”他问。461
Kyre slid her hands up inside the loose sleeves of Akabar’s robe, lightly touching the inside of his arms with her fingertips.凯尔把双手伸进阿卡巴宽松的袍袖，沿着袖管向上滑，指尖轻轻触碰着他双臂内侧。462
“They are of the Darkbringer’s return to the Realms, are they not?” she asked.“那些梦都是关于黑暗使者重返诸界的，对不对？”她问。463
“Yes,” Akabar admitted.“是的，”阿卡巴承认道。464
“They are.”“确实如此。”465
He grasped the half-elven woman’s elbows, and rubbed his thumbs along the silky sleeves of her tunic.他握住半精灵女子的双肘，拇指在她外衣丝滑的衣袖上轻轻摩挲。466
“And in your dreams, you must find the Darkbringer.“而在梦里，你必须找到黑暗使者。467
Correct?”对吗？”468
Kyre asked.凯尔问道。469
“Yes” Akabar said.“是的。”阿卡巴说。470
“I will help you,” Kyre said.“我会帮助你，”凯尔说。471
“Would you like that?”“你愿意吗？”472
Akabar pulled the woman closer to him.阿卡巴把女人拉得更贴近自己。473
With amusement, he noted how the orchid behind Kyre’s left ear was held in place.他饶有兴味地留意到凯尔左耳后的兰花是如何固定住的。474
Some magic, elven no doubt, had coaxed the stem’s tendrils to twist about several strands of her hair.某种魔法——毫无疑问是精灵魔法——诱使花茎上的卷须缠住了她的几绺头发。475
The mage buried his face in the half-elf’s hair and breathed in the orchid’s intoxicating scent.法师把脸埋进半精灵的秀发中，深深吸入兰花那令人迷醉的香气。476
“I would like that very much,” he whispered, but something about the orchid’s scent left him feeling anxious.“我非常愿意，”他低声说道，可兰花的香气中似乎有什么令他感到不安。477
The perfume tickled at some unpleasant memory that would not surface readily.那香气撩拨着某段不愉快的记忆，可那记忆一时怎么也浮现不出来。478
Kyre blew her warm breath into his ear.凯尔朝他耳中吹入温热的气息。479
“I will take you to Moander’s place of resurrection,” she breathed.“我会带你去莫安德复活的地方。”她轻声说道。480
Leaning heavily against Akabar’s chest, the half-elf forced him to fall back against the bed pillows.半精灵使劲倚在阿卡巴胸前，迫使他向后倒在床上的枕头间。481
She placed her right ear directly over his heart.她把右耳紧贴在他的心口。482
Akabar knew she could hear his heart pounding.阿卡巴知道，她能听见自己的心脏怦怦狂跳。483
“How do you know these things?” he asked.“你怎么会知道这些事？”他问道。484
“The master told me,” Kyre said.“主人告诉我的。”凯尔说。485
She raised her head and kissed the tip of his beard, then his chin.她抬起头，先吻了吻他的胡须尖，又吻了吻他的下巴。486
As the woman’s lips moved toward his own, the Turmishman suddenly caught sight of her orchid’s tendrils, which twisted not about her hair but into her ear canal.就在女人的双唇移向他的嘴唇时，图米什人忽然瞥见了她那朵兰花的卷须——它们并没有缠绕在她的头发上，而是钻进了她的耳道。487
Others had pricked her temples.另一些卷须则刺进了她的太阳穴。488
The tendrils twitched and writhed beneath her skin, as if they were trying to get purchase on her brain.卷须在她的皮肤下抽搐扭动，仿佛正试图攀住她的大脑。489
Akabar’s stomach churned with revulsion, and his heart began pounding with fear.阿卡巴恶心得胃里翻腾，心脏也因恐惧而狂跳起来。490
Finally he recalled where he’d smelled the orchid’s perfume before.他终于想起自己以前在哪里闻到过这种兰花香气了。491
It was the scent of one of Moander’s sleeping drugs.那是莫安德的一种安眠药的气味。492
Akabar cried out and thrust Kyre away from him.阿卡巴惊叫一声，一把将凯尔推开。493
Three tendrils shot out from Kyre’s mouth like snakes lashing out at their prey.三根卷须从凯尔口中激射而出，犹如扑向猎物的毒蛇。494
These tendrils, tipped with pea-sized pods, were far longer than the orchid tendrils.这些卷须的尖端长着豌豆大小的荚囊，长度远远超过兰花的卷须。495
As the green shoots curled and undulated in the air before the merchant-mage’s face, he realized with horror that they might have easily slithered past his lips and down his throat if he had closed his eyes in anticipation of the half-elf’s kiss.绿色嫩枝在商人法师面前的空中蜷曲摆动，他惊恐地意识到，假如自己方才满怀期待地闭上眼睛等候半精灵的亲吻，它们本可以轻而易举地滑过他的嘴唇，钻进他的喉咙。496
Suddenly the pods at the ends of the tendrils burst open, shooting tiny black seeds at Akabar’s face.卷须末端的荚囊突然爆裂，将细小的黑色种子射向阿卡巴的脸。497
Then the tendrils collapsed as Kyre sucked them back into her mouth.随后，随着凯尔把卷须吸回口中，它们一下子瘫软了下去。498
“Those seeds were meant for you to swallow,” the half-elf said when her mouth was clear of the tendrils, “but don’t worry.等嘴里的卷须全都消失后，半精灵说道：“那些种子本来是要让你吞下去的，不过别担心。499
There are more.”还有的是。”500
Akabar sat up, shaking with terror, and tried to push Kyre away, but the woman had an iron grip on his elbows.阿卡巴坐起身，吓得浑身发抖，试图推开凯尔，但那女人的双手如铁钳般牢牢抓住了他的手肘。501
As he struggled to free himself, Akabar felt other tendrils, incredibly slimy and as strong as rope, reaching inside his sleeves and entwining his upper arms.阿卡巴拼命挣扎着想要脱身，同时感觉到另一些黏滑得难以置信、又像绳索一样强韧的卷须钻进他的袖管，缠上了他的上臂。502
“There’s no use resisting, Akabar,” Kyre said, still speaking in Turmish, only now her tone was cool and authoritative.“抵抗是没有用的，阿卡巴，”凯尔说道，仍旧说着图米什语，只是此刻她的语气冷峻而威严。503
“Your destiny is sealed.”“你的命运已经注定了。”504
The half-elf slid her hands out of Akabar’s sleeves.半精灵把双手从阿卡巴的袖子里抽了出来。505
Her victim remained trapped by the plant appendages, which stretched from her wrists up his arms.她的猎物仍被那些植物般的附肢牢牢缠住；它们从她的手腕伸出，沿着他的手臂向上蔓延。506
The tendrils grew steadily longer, giving Kyre the freedom to move her hands up to Akabar’s face.卷须不断变长，让凯尔可以腾出双手，伸向阿卡巴的脸。507
The merchant-mage closed his eyes, revolted at the way the tendrils protruded from beneath the skin of her forearms.商人法师闭上双眼，那些卷须从她前臂的皮肤下钻出来的模样令他恶心不已。508
“The Darkbringer desires to possess your body again and once more gaze into the sharp-edged crystal of your mind,” Kyre said mesmerizingly as she stroked his beard.“黑暗使者渴望再次占据你的身体，再一次凝视你心灵中那块棱角锋利的水晶，”凯尔一边抚摸他的胡须，一边用蛊惑人心的语调说道。509
“You should feel honored.”“你应该感到荣幸。”510
“No!”“不！”511
Akabar shouted.阿卡巴大喊道。512
He managed to rise to his feet, pulling Kyre along with him.他奋力站起身来，把凯尔也一并拖了起来。513
Terrified, he screamed, “Alias!他惊恐地尖叫道：“阿莉亚丝！514
Help me!”救救我！”515
Kyre cut off his cries with a choke hold to his throat.凯尔一把扼住他的喉咙，截断了他的呼喊。516
“The Darkbringer would prefer that I deliver you alive,” the half-elf snarled, “but if that is not possible, the Darkbringer will be pleased enough with your corpse.”“黑暗使者更希望我把活着的你交给他，”半精灵低声咆哮道，“但若是办不到，黑暗使者得到你的尸体也会相当满意。”517
She released Akabar’s throat, and, as the mage gasped for air, she drew out a slender dagger from her sleeve and pressed its point against his neck.她松开阿卡巴的喉咙；法师正大口喘气时，她从袖中抽出一把细长的匕首，将刀尖抵在他的脖子上。518
“You wouldn’t dare,” Akabar whispered hoarsely.“你不敢的，”阿卡巴声音嘶哑地低语道。519
“If you murder me, Alias will cut you to pieces.”“如果你杀了我，阿莉亚丝会把你碎尸万段。”520
“Alias will never know,” Kyre said.“阿莉亚丝永远不会知道的。”凯尔说。521
With her free hand, she pulled out an object and held it up to Akabar’s eyes.她用空着的那只手掏出一件东西，举到阿卡巴眼前。522
It resembled a crystal the size and shape of a walnut, colorless but for a flickering dark flaw at the center.那东西像一颗核桃大小、形状也与核桃相仿的水晶，通体无色，唯有中心一道幽暗的瑕疵闪烁不定。523
“Behold, Akabar,” Kyre said.“看吧，阿卡巴，”凯尔说。524
“Inside this stone is entrapped an enemy of the master, a mage far more powerful than you.“这块石头里囚禁着主人的一个敌人，是个远比你强大的法师。525
If you continue to resist, I will slay you and carry you to the Darkbringer within just such a stone.如果你继续反抗，我就杀了你，把你装进这样一块石头里，带去献给黑暗使者。526
If, instead, you cooperate and come with me of your own free will, you will be rewarded well.相反，如果你肯配合，自愿跟我走，必会得到丰厚的奖赏。527
Moander will grant you such power as few men in the Realms have ever known.”莫安德会赐予你强大的力量，那是诸界之中鲜有人曾拥有过的。”528
Akabar stared into Kyre’s eyes, thinking what a fool he’d been.阿卡巴盯着凯尔的眼睛，心想自己真是个傻瓜。529
Zhara had warned him he would be in danger the moment he saw the bowl of rotting fruit, yet, for all his faith, he hadn’t acted quickly enough to defend himself, To add to his folly, he’d trusted Kyre, a complete stranger, and allowed her liberties with his body.扎拉曾警告过他，一见到那碗腐烂的水果，他就会身陷险境；可尽管他信仰虔诚，却还是没能及时采取行动保护自己。更愚蠢的是，他竟然信任凯尔这个素不相识的人，任由她对自己的身体为所欲为。530
Now he was tainted by her touch and helpless in her grasp.如今，她的触碰已经玷污了他，而他落在她手中，毫无反抗之力。531
He was doomed—worse, he had doomed all he loved and all who dwelt in the Realms.他完了——更糟的是，他还害了自己所爱的一切人，也害了所有居住在诸界中的人。532
“You will behave now, won’t you?”“现在你会乖乖听话了，对不对？”533
Kyre asked sweetly, pricking painfully at his throat with her dagger.凯尔柔声问道，同时用匕首尖抵着他的喉咙，刺得他一阵疼痛。534
The mage’s shoulders slumped and his arms went limp.法师垂下双肩，双臂也无力地耷拉下来。535
With a deep sense of shame, he realized he wasn’t prepared to give his life just to keep Moander from possessing his body and invading his mind again.他怀着深深的羞耻意识到，自己还没有准备好仅仅为了阻止莫安德再次占据他的身体、侵入他的心智而献出生命。536
He nodded his agreement to the half-elf.他向那个半精灵点了点头，表示同意。537