Morala the Harper, priestess of Milil, leaned over the table in the Harpers courtroom and stared into the silver basin she had filled with holy water.米利尔的女祭司、竖琴手莫拉拉俯身凑近竖琴手同盟审判厅里的桌子，凝视着那只盛满圣水的银盆。1
When she was satisfied that the water was completely still, Morala began singing a wordless melody.确认水面已完全静止后，莫拉拉开始哼唱一段无词的旋律。2
The silver basin and the surface of the water began vibrating with the power of the priestess’s voice and the magic she summoned with her spell.在女祭司歌声的力量，以及她用法术召来的魔力作用下，银盆和水面都开始震颤。3
After several minutes, the water began to sparkle and shine from a source of magic beneath its surface.几分钟后，水下的一股魔力令水面开始闪烁发光。4
Morala ceased singing and concentrated on the colors swirling in the water.莫拉拉停止歌唱，凝神注视着水中旋转流动的色彩。5
Gradually the colors coalesced into solid shapes.渐渐地，那些色彩凝聚成了清晰的形状。6
“I see him,” the priestess whispered.“我看见他了。”女祭司低声说道。7
“Is he alive?”“他还活着吗？”8
Breck Orcsbane asked eagerly, moving toward the priestess.布雷克·奥克斯班急切地问道，一边朝女祭司走去。9
Lord Mourngrym held the ranger back with a hand on his shoulder.莫恩格林领主把手按在游侠肩上，拦住了他。10
Before Morala had begun her scrying spell, she had cautioned them not to distract her or touch the table on which the silver bowl rested.莫拉拉开始施展探知法术之前，曾警告他们不要让她分心，也不要触碰放着银盆的桌子。11
Breck was a veteran fighter, but too inexperienced with magic to realize the danger of disregarding the priestess’s warning.布雷克是个身经百战的战士，但对魔法太缺乏经验，不明白无视女祭司的警告有多么危险。12
Morala squinted at the images that had formed on the surface of the water.莫拉拉眯起眼睛，细看水面上显现出的影像。13
The gangly figure with the flowing gray hair and beard was unmistakably Elminster, but Morala had never seen anything quite like the scenery in the field of vision afforded by her scrying spell.那个灰色长发与胡须飘扬、身形瘦长的人毫无疑问就是伊尔明斯特，但探知法术展现出的景象，却是莫拉拉从未见过的。14
Blue-green ferns, lavender horsetails, and green-and-yellow-striped mushrooms towered over the sage.蓝绿色的蕨类、淡紫色的木贼，以及带着黄绿条纹的蘑菇，高高耸立在贤者周围。15
Great trees, their trunks bare but for a small crown of red and green fronds, waved behind the sage like grasses in the wind.贤者身后，一棵棵巨树随风摇曳，仿佛风中的草；树干上光秃秃的，只有树冠处长着一小簇红绿相间的叶片。16
Elminster stood in the strange forest, apparently alone and uninjured.伊尔明斯特站在这片奇异的森林中，似乎孤身一人，也没有受伤。17
His lips moved, but Morala’s spell did not allow her to hear what he said, or any other sound about him.他的嘴唇在动，但莫拉拉的法术无法让她听见他说了什么，也听不见他周围的任何其他声音。18
The sage’s head was tilted back, and he gazed alertly at something high overhead.贤者仰着头，警觉地注视着高空中的某样东西。19
Morala brought her hands together over the surface of the water and then pulled them away.莫拉拉在水面上方合拢双手，随后又将双手分开。20
The view in the water widened to include more of Elminster’s surroundings.水中的视野随之扩大，展现出伊尔明斯特周围更多的景物。21
The sage appeared as a blot of gray on the water’s surface, but now the priestess could see what held his attention.贤者如今只是水面上的一小团灰影，但女祭司已经能看见究竟是什么吸引了他的注意。22
Five winged creatures, as exotic to Morala as the plants, flew in a V formation over Elminster’s head.五只长着翅膀的生物排成V字形，从伊尔明斯特头顶飞过；对莫拉拉而言，它们和那些植物一样奇异。23
Each was as large as an ancient dragon and had a vaguely dragonlike silhouette.每一只都像远古巨龙一般庞大，轮廓也隐约似龙。24
They were covered with frayed, almost featherlike scales, and they were as brightly colored as any bird.它们浑身覆着边缘参差、近似羽毛的鳞片，色彩如鸟儿一般鲜艳。25
Their heads were bright scarlet, their throats orange, their long serpentine necks yellow, and their bodies hues of blue and green.它们的头颅鲜红，喉部橙黄，细长如蛇的脖颈呈黄色，躯体则泛着蓝绿两色。26
As the group watched in horror, the creatures dove toward the sage.众人惊恐地看着这些生物俯冲向那位贤者。27
Elminster motioned with his hands, and a bright light flared from the surface of the water.伊尔明斯特双手一动，水面上骤然迸发出一道强光。28
Morala gasped.莫拉拉倒吸了一口凉气。29
“What is it?”“怎么了？”30
Breck demanded anxiously.布雷克焦急地追问。31
“Elminster just cast a meteor swarm,” the priestess said.“伊尔明斯特刚刚施放了流星爆，”女祭司说道。32
“He battles monsters such as I have never seen before!”“他正在与我从未见过的怪物交战！”33
The lead creature fell from the sky, knocking down several trees as it crashed to the earth.领头的生物从空中坠落，轰然砸向地面时撞倒了好几棵树。34
Its companions pulled up just as Elminster released a second meteor swarm.它的同伴们刚刚拉起升空，伊尔明斯特便又施放了一次流星爆。35
From her magical vantage point, Morala could see a great cat stalking the mage, sneaking up behind him.借助魔法赋予的视野，莫拉拉看见一只巨猫正从背后悄悄逼近那位法师。36
The beast was twice the size of a tiger, with a mottled orange and brown hide.那野兽足有老虎的两倍大，皮毛呈橙褐相间的斑驳色泽。37
It halted ten yards from Elminster.它在离伊尔明斯特十码远的地方停了下来。38
The muscles in its haunches tautened and twitched as the cat prepared to leap.巨猫准备飞扑，后腿的肌肉绷紧，微微抽动着。39
“Elminster, behind you!”“伊尔明斯特，小心身后！”40
Morala cried out instinctively, though she knew the sage could not hear her.莫拉拉本能地大喊起来，尽管她知道那位贤者听不见。41
Something alerted the sage to the danger, though, for he spun about with his hands spread out before him, thumbs touching, and sent a fan of fire shooting from his fingertips.然而，不知什么东西让那位贤者察觉到了危险；他猛然转身，双手在身前张开，拇指相抵，一片扇形火焰随即从他指尖喷涌而出。42
The cat twisted in midleap, trying, without success, to avoid the sage’s fiery barrage.巨猫在腾空时扭转身体，试图躲开贤者那阵烈焰，却没能成功。43
One side of the beast burst into flame, and it fell to the ground and rolled in the dirt to smother the fire burning its pelt.野兽的半边身子燃起火来；它摔落在地，在泥土中翻滚，想要扑灭皮毛上的火焰。44
Before the cat had a chance to rise to its feet, Elminster pointed at it, and the beast crumbled to dust.巨猫还没来得及站起身，伊尔明斯特便伸手指向它，那野兽顿时化作了尘埃。45
Elminster turned his attention back to the remaining feather dragons, who had circled and returned.伊尔明斯特重新把注意力转向盘旋回来、所剩无几的羽龙。46
As the dragons dropped down and soared over the sage, great plumes of sparkling dust shot from the maws of all four monsters, but when the dust had blown away, Elminster remained standing, apparently unaffected.羽龙俯冲而下，从贤者头顶掠过，四头怪物口中同时喷出大团闪烁的尘雾；然而尘雾散去后，伊尔明斯特仍站在原地，显然毫发无伤。47
The sage cast a wall of fire across the feather dragons’ flight path.贤者在羽龙的飞行路线上施法筑起一道火墙。48
Two of the beasts were unable to pull up in time to avoid passing through the curtain of flame.其中两头没能及时拉升，无法避开那道火幕。49
They plunged through it and immediately crashed to the earth like meteors.它们一头冲进火幕，随即如陨星般坠落在地。50
Watching the sage do battle while unable to hear any of the accompanying sounds felt unnatural and eerie to Morala, yet she kept her eyes fixed on the water.看着贤者战斗，却听不见任何相伴的声响，令莫拉拉感到既反常又诡异，但她的目光始终紧盯着水面。51
She wished the blessings of Milil on the sage, though she suspected her god might have little power over events in the strange world where Elminster was now.她祈求米利尔赐福贤者，尽管她怀疑，在伊尔明斯特如今身处的那个陌生世界里，她的神或许对事态没有多少影响力。52
As the last pair of feather dragons came swooping down on the sage, talons extended, prepared to tear him to pieces, Elminster cast a forked bolt of lightning.最后两头羽龙伸出利爪，俯冲扑向贤者，准备将他撕成碎片；伊尔明斯特则施放出一道分叉的闪电。53
Before the scorched bodies slammed into him, the sage winked through a dimension door, emerging some fifty feet away, where he could not be crushed in the monsters’ death throes.就在两具焦黑的尸体撞上他之前，贤者一闪穿过任意门，出现在约五十英尺外，以免被垂死挣扎的怪物压扁。54
Witnessing Elminster’s unscathed emergence from the battle, the priestess breathed a sigh of relief.见伊尔明斯特毫发无伤地结束战斗，女祭司如释重负地松了口气。55
Elminster turned in Morala’s direction and seemed to look right at the priestess.伊尔明斯特转向莫拉拉所在的方向，仿佛正直视着女祭司。56
His eyes twinkled with mischief, and he gave a little theatrical bow.他眼中闪烁着顽皮的光芒，还略带戏剧性地鞠了一躬。57
Then he turned away again and walked off into the strange forest.随后，他再次转过身，走进了那片陌生的森林。58
The colors in the water began to swirl in a chaotic pattern and then fade.水中的色彩开始杂乱无章地旋转，继而逐渐褪去。59
The water began to bubble; then, in a great burst of steam, it evaporated away.水开始冒泡，随后随着一大股蒸汽喷涌而出，彻底蒸发了。60
Morala stepped away from the table and swayed, exhausted from the effort of scrying.莫拉拉从桌边退开，身子摇晃起来；施展探知术已令她筋疲力尽。61
Lord Mourngrym stepped forward and helped the frail, elderly woman to a chair.莫恩格林领主走上前，扶着那位年迈体弱的老妇人在椅子上坐下。62
Morala leaned back, her eyes closed.莫拉拉向后靠去，闭上了眼睛。63
“Elminster is alive and well,” she said weakly.“伊尔明斯特还活着，而且安然无恙。”她虚弱地说道。64
“The moment before my spell wore off, he had just defeated several monsters the likes of which I have never seen in the Realms.“就在我的法术失效前一刻，他刚刚击败了几头怪物，那种怪物我在诸界从未见过。65
He appeared in no immediate danger.他眼下似乎并无危险。66
His instincts were sharp enough to note that he was being scried upon.他的直觉依然敏锐，足以察觉有人正在用法术窥探他。67
He does not seem to be anyone’s prisoner.”看来他并不是任何人的囚徒。”68
“Then why doesn’t he return?”“那他为什么不回来？”69
Breck asked.布雷克问道。70
“I do not know,” the priestess answered.“我不知道，”女祭司答道。71
“He travels on foot in a strange world, and I couldn’t perceive his goal.“他徒步行走在一个陌生的世界里，我也无法看出他的目的地。72
Perhaps some other wizard has summoned the sage to perform some service and he cannot return until it is completed.也许是别的法师召唤了这位贤者，要他去办什么事，而事情办完之前，他无法回来。73
Perhaps he does not realize we have need of him here.”也许他并不知道我们这里需要他。”74
Alias stood in the doorway to the Harpers courtroom.阿莉亚丝站在竖琴手同盟审判厅的门口。75
She had returned from speaking with Elminster’s scribe, Lhaeo, just in time to hear the priestess report what she had seen in her scrying.她刚与伊尔明斯特的书记员莱奥谈完回来，恰好听见女祭司讲述她在占卜中看到的景象。76
“What of Nameless?”“无名者呢？”77
Alias asked from across the room.阿莉亚丝在房间另一头问道。78
Morala thrust out her neck and squinted, trying to focus on Alias.莫拉拉探长脖子，眯起眼睛，想要看清阿莉亚丝。79
The priestess motioned for the swordswoman to come closer.女祭司招手示意女剑士走近些。80
Alias strode across the courtroom until she stood a few feet from the small old woman.阿莉亚丝大步穿过审判厅，在离那矮小老妇几英尺的地方站定。81
“Your grace,” Mourngrym said to Morala, “this is—”“大人，”莫恩格林对莫拉拉说道，“这位是——”82
“Alias of Westgate, Nameless’s singer,” Morala finished the introduction herself.“西门城的阿莉亚丝，无名者的歌者。”莫拉拉自行说完了介绍。83
“I could tell by her resemblance to Cassana.“从她与卡萨娜相貌相似这一点，我就能看出来。84
I am Morala of Milil, child.”孩子，我是米利尔的莫拉拉。”85
“I know.“我知道。86
I could tell by your garb,” Alias said.从您的衣着就能看出来。”阿莉亚丝说。87
The priestess’s crimson robe, elaborately embroidered with gold dragons, was standard ceremonial garb among those who served the patron god of bards.女祭司身披一袭绣满精美金龙的深红长袍，这是侍奉吟游诗人庇护神之人所穿的标准礼服。88
“Alias, this is ranger Breck Orcsbane,” Mourngrym added, motioning toward a brawny young woodsman in leather armor.“阿莉亚丝，这位是游侠布雷克·奥克斯班。”莫恩格林又介绍道，同时示意她看向一个身穿皮甲、体格健壮的年轻林中人。89
The ranger’s face was clean-shaven, but he wore his blond hair in a plait that reached his waist.这名游侠面庞刮得干干净净，一头金发却编成长辫，一直垂到腰际。90
Alias recognized his face; she had seen him in the Old Skull Inn last night listening to her sing.阿莉亚丝认得这张脸；昨晚她在老骷髅旅店唱歌时，曾见过他坐在那里聆听。91
The swordswoman nodded briefly, then turned back abruptly to Morala.女剑士简短地点了点头，随即猛然转回去面对莫拉拉。92
“Did you see Nameless?” she asked.“您看见无名者了吗？”她问。93
Although her eyes shone hopefully, her heart pounded with fear.尽管她眼中闪烁着希望，心却因恐惧而怦怦直跳。94
Morala shook her head.莫拉拉摇了摇头。95
“No,” she replied.“没有，”她答道。96
“He was not with Elminster.“他没和伊尔明斯特在一起。97
I shall have to scry for him separately.”我得另外施法占卜他的下落。”98
“Then what are you waiting for?”“那你还在等什么？”99
Alias asked impatiently.阿莉亚丝不耐烦地问。100
Lord Mourngrym laid a hand on the swordswoman’s shoulder.莫恩格林领主把一只手搭在女剑士肩上。101
“Scrying is a most difficult spell, Alias,” his lordship said softly.“占卜术是极难施展的法术，阿莉亚丝，”领主轻声说道。102
“Morala must rest for a while.”“莫拉拉必须休息一会儿。”103
Alias clenched her fist.阿莉亚丝攥紧拳头。104
It was frustrating enough having to rely on spell-casters to find Nameless, but being forced to wait was maddening.不得不依靠施法者寻找无名者，已经够让她憋闷了，还被迫苦等，更令她几欲发狂。105
Mourngrym sensed the swordswoman’s tension.莫恩格林察觉到了女剑士的紧张。106
As a fighter himself, he understood how she felt.身为战士，他明白她的感受。107
She wanted to act, to hunt for Nameless, to kill anything that threatened him, to rescue him.她想要行动，想去寻找无名者，杀死一切威胁到他的东西，把他救出来。108
She knew, though, that she couldn’t run off without an inkling of a direction to run in, but that realization didn’t make the waiting any easier.不过她也知道，连该往哪个方向走都毫无头绪，自己不能贸然冲出去；可明白这一点，也丝毫没让等待变得容易些。109
“What did the sage’s scribe say?” he asked the swordswoman, trying to keep her mind occupied.“那位贤者的书记员说了什么？”他问女剑士，试图让她有点别的事可想。110
Alias huffed out some of her anger, then replied, “Lhaeo said Elminster’s evasion spell hadn’t been triggered, so the sage definitely wasn’t dead, wounded, mindless, or desperate to leave wherever he is, but you already knew that from scrying or him.阿莉亚丝呼出一口气，稍稍泄去怒火，随后答道：“莱奥说，伊尔明斯特的遁逃法术并未触发，所以那位贤者肯定没死、没受伤、没丧失神智，也没有急于离开他所在的地方——不过你们占卜他时，已经知道这些了。111
Since Elminster hadn’t planned to leave, he didn’t give Lhaeo any instructions about how to contact him.伊尔明斯特原本没打算离开，所以也没给莱奥留下任何联络他的指示。112
Lhaeo said a few other things, too,” Alias added, glancing at Morala and Breck, uncertain how they would receive what she had to say.莱奥还说了些别的事，”阿莉亚丝补充道，同时瞥了莫拉拉和布雷克一眼，不确定他们听了会作何反应。113
“What?”“什么事？”114
Mourngrym asked.莫恩格林问。115
“First off, from what Kyre said—that Elminster disappeared and Grypht appeared in his place—Lhaeo suspects that Grypht used a variation of a teleport spell called transference.“首先，根据凯尔所说的情况——伊尔明斯特消失，而格里夫特出现在他原来的位置——莱奥怀疑格里夫特使用了一种名为‘移位术’的传送法术变体。116
By switching places with another mage who’s already standing in a safe place, it guarantees that a mage can teleport without ending up too high off the ground or inside a stone wall.这种法术能让施法者与一个已经身处安全地点的法师交换位置，从而确保传送后不会落在离地太高的地方，或是陷进石墙里。117
It’s a rare spell.这种法术很罕见。118
According to Lhaeo, you could count the mages in the Realms who know it on the fingers of one hand.莱奥说，整个诸界懂得这种法术的法师，一只手就数得过来。119
According to Lhaeo, there aren’t any creatures from the lower planes that can use it.莱奥还说，下层位面的生物没有一种能使用这种法术。120
Lhaeo also said that there was no way anything from the Nine Hells or the Abyss could have gotten past Elminster’s wards on this tower.他还说，任何来自九层地狱或无底深渊的东西，都绝不可能突破伊尔明斯特设在这座塔上的结界。121
He’d bet his father’s sword that Grypht is a wizard, not a monster.”他敢拿父亲的剑打赌，格里夫特是个法师，不是怪物。”122
“If Kyre says Grypht is from the Nine Hells, then that’s where it’s from,” Breck insisted.“既然凯尔说格里夫特来自九层地狱，那它就一定来自那里。”布雷克坚持道。123
“Kyre would never make a mistake about something like that.“凯尔绝不会在这种事情上出错。124
She’s very accurate.”她的判断一向非常准确。”125
“Just how well do you know her?”“你究竟有多了解她？”126
Alias asked curiously.阿莉亚丝好奇地问。127
“She brought me into the Harpers,” Breck explained.“是她把我引荐进竖琴手同盟的，”布雷克解释道。128
“We’ve worked together often in the past.”“过去我们经常一起行动。”129
“I see,” Alias said.“明白了。”阿莉亚丝说。130
If Kyre had been Breck’s sponsor for the Harpers, the swordswoman realized she’d never convince Breck that Kyre was capable of error.这位女剑士意识到，既然凯尔是布雷克加入竖琴手同盟的引荐人，她就永远不可能说服布雷克相信凯尔也会犯错。131
She looked to Mourngrym to support Lhaeo’s opinion.她望向莫恩格林，希望他支持莱奥的看法。132
His lordship looked uncertain.领主大人显得有些迟疑。133
“Grypht did break Elminster’s one-way spell on Nameless’s cell,” Mourngrym pointed out to Alias.“格里夫特的确破解了伊尔明斯特施在无名者牢房上的单向法术。”莫恩格林提醒阿莉亚丝。134
“That’s not the same thing as a ward against evil creatures,” the swordswoman argued.“那和防范邪恶生物的结界不是一回事。”女剑士争辩道。135
“That’s true,” Morala agreed.“说得没错，”莫拉拉表示赞同。136
“There are important differences.“两者之间有着重大差别。137
A protection ward is very cut-and-dried, but Elminster’s one-way spell required provisions so that the servants and guards and the sage could enter and leave Nameless’s cell unhindered.防护结界的规则十分明确，但伊尔明斯特的单向法术必须设下种种条款，好让仆人、守卫和那位贤者能够不受阻碍地进出无名者的牢房。138
I suppose the spell would have also allowed Nameless to leave if the room was burning, say, or in the case of some other emergency that threatened the bard’s life.我想，如果房间着火了，或是发生了其他威胁这位吟游诗人性命的紧急情况，这道法术也会允许无名者离开。139
If Elminster’s wording had been ambiguous on some provision, the spell might have broken from the strain of determining whether or not the provision was met.”如果伊尔明斯特对某项条款的措辞含糊不清，那么法术或许会因为竭力判断该条款是否得到满足而崩解。”140
“Excuse me, your lordship,” a voice said from the hallway.“打扰了，大人，”走廊里传来一个声音。141
Mourngrym turned toward the voice.莫恩格林转身望向声音传来的方向。142
A tower guard stood at the door to the Harpers’ courtroom.一名高塔守卫站在竖琴手同盟法庭的门口。143
“Yes, Shend?“什么事，申德？144
What is it?” his lordship asked.怎么了？”莫恩格林问道。145
“Captain Thurbal has finished checking the tower security.“瑟巴尔队长已经检查完高塔的警戒情况了。146
He said to tell you everything seems in order, except for two things.他说一切似乎都没问题，只有两件事例外。147
First, he can’t get into Nameless’s cell; the door’s locked.第一，他进不了无名者的牢房；门锁上了。148
“Akabar Bel Akash felt unwell, so he’s resting in there,” Mourngrym said.“阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什身体不适，所以正在里面休息，”莫恩格林说。149
“Harper Kyre is tending him.“竖琴手凯尔正在照料他。150
No need to disturb them.没必要打扰他们。151
I’ll check with them later.我晚些时候会去看看他们。152
What’s the second thing, Shend?”第二件事是什么，申德？”153
“When I was on guard duty early this morning, I let someone pass through the gate without announcing her.“今天一大早我值勤时，放了一个人进门，却没有通报。154
She said it wasn’t necessary.她说没这个必要。155
Now we can’t find her, and no one saw her leave the tower.现在我们找不到她了，也没人看见她离开高塔。156
Captain Thurbal thought it a little strange, so he wanted me to report it to you personally.”瑟巴尔队长觉得有点奇怪，所以要我亲自向您禀报。”157
“Who was it, Shend?”“那是谁，申德？”158
Mourngrym asked.莫恩格林问道。159
“That halfling Harper,” Shend replied.“就是那个半身人竖琴手，”申德答道。160
“What halfling Harper?”“哪个半身人竖琴手？”161
Morala asked.莫拉拉问道。162
Shend’s eyes wandered up to the ceiling, as if the halfling’s name might be written there.申德抬眼望向天花板，仿佛那个半身人的名字可能就写在上面。163
Alias felt her heart skip a beat.阿莉亚丝觉得自己的心猛地漏跳了一拍。164
It can’t be, she thought.不可能，她心想。165
“You know the one, Lady Alias,” Shend said.“您知道她的，阿莉亚丝女士，”申德说道。166
“The bard what helped you and Dragonbait kill the kalmari two years back.“就是两年前帮您和龙饵杀死卡尔玛里的那个吟游诗人。167
Tree name she ’ad …她名字像是种树……168
Peach or Maple or—”桃树还是枫树什么的——”169
“Olive,” Alias supplied, rubbing her temples with her fingers.“奥利芙。”阿莉亚丝一边接话，一边用手指揉着太阳穴。170
“That were it.“对，就是这个。171
Olive Rustiepan.”奥利芙·拉斯蒂潘。”172
“Ruskettle,” Alias corrected.“拉斯凯特尔。”阿莉亚丝纠正道。173
“Who?”“谁？”174
Breck asked.布雷克问道。175
“There aren’t any halfling bards,” Morala pointed out.“哪有什么半身人吟游诗人。”莫拉拉指出。176
“She’s a rogue,” Alias explained.“她是个游荡者，”阿莉亚丝解释道。177
“A thief … a minstrel … an adventuress.”“一个盗贼……一个歌手……一个女冒险家。”178
“Olive Ruskettle,” Breck murmured.“奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。”布雷克低声念道。179
“I don’t recall any Harpers by that name.“我不记得竖琴手同盟里有谁叫这个名字。180
Who was her sponsor?” he asked.她的引荐人是谁？”他问。181
Alias swallowed.阿莉亚丝咽了口唾沫。182
“Nameless,” she said softly.“无名者。”她轻声说。183
“Nameless!”“无名者！”184
Morala exclaimed.莫拉拉惊呼道。185
“You mean he gave her a Harper’s pin?”“你是说，他给了她一枚竖琴手徽针？”186
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。187
“Of all the reckless, arrogant—The man is impossible!” the priestess declared.“真是鲁莽、自大得——这人简直无可救药！”女祭司断言道。188
“Olive freed him from Cassana’s dungeon in Westgate, then helped him rescue Dragonbait and me,” Alias explained.“奥利芙把他从西门城卡萨娜的地牢里救了出来，后来又帮他救出了我和龙饵。”阿莉亚丝解释道。189
“She could be the Princess of Cormyr and we still wouldn’t accept Nameless’s sponsorship of her,” Morala insisted.“就算她是科米尔的公主，我们也不会接受无名者为她作保，”莫拉拉坚持道。190
“Nameless was exiled in disgrace.“无名者是蒙羞遭到放逐的。191
He has no business—”他根本没资格——”192
“Excuse me, your grace,” Breck said, “but we might yet reverse our decision, in which case this Ruskettle might be of some use to us—that is, providing she wasn’t involved with this Grypht creature.“恕我冒昧，大人，”布雷克说道，“但我们或许仍会推翻原先的决定。那样的话，这个拉斯凯特尔说不定还能派上用场——当然，前提是她没有和格里夫特那个怪物勾结。193
Is it possible she might have allied with Grypht in the hope that it would rescue Nameless?” the ranger asked Alias.有没有可能，她为了让格里夫特救出无名者，便与它联手了？”这名游侠问阿莉亚丝。194
Alias paused to consider.阿莉亚丝停下来思索了一会儿。195
After the close call Olive had had with the pseudo-halfling Phalse, who had turned out to be a fiend from Tarterus, one would have thought that the halfling had learned her lesson about dealing with strangers.奥利芙上次险些栽在冒牌半身人法尔斯手里，而那家伙后来被发现是来自塔尔塔罗斯的邪魔；经历了那场险情，谁都会以为这个半身人已经吸取了与陌生人打交道的教训。196
Still, Olive could be awfully unpredictable.不过，奥利芙有时实在让人捉摸不透。197
She might do something truly foolish if she believed it would help Nameless.要是她相信那样做能帮到无名者，她说不定真会干出极其愚蠢的事来。198
She had seemed exceptionally fond of the bard last year in Westgate.去年在西门城时，她似乎格外喜欢那位吟游诗人。199
On the other hand, Olive’s affection might work the other way.不过换个角度看，奥利芙的这份情意也可能起到相反的作用。200
Alias had also noted that as long as Nameless’s attention had been fixed on her, the halfling had seemed to behave with unusual civility and honor.阿莉亚丝还注意到，只要无名者一直把注意力放在她身上，这个半身人的举止便会显得异乎寻常地知礼守义。201
“She wouldn’t suggest a plan to Nameless that she knew he’d disapprove of,” Alias answered.“她明知无名者不会赞同，就不会向他提出那样的计划，”阿莉亚丝回答。202
“Where could she have gone?”“她会到哪儿去呢？”203
Mourngrym asked.莫恩格林问道。204
“She would have tried to see Nameless,” Alias said.“她一定会设法去见无名者，”阿莉亚丝说。205
“She would have been trapped inside Nameless’s cell, then,” Mourngrym said.“那么她也会被困在无名者的囚室里，”莫恩格林说道。206
“She could still be in there, hiding behind the curtains or something.”“她可能还在里面，躲在帷幕后面什么的。”207
“Unless Grypht took her along with Nameless,” Breck suggested.“除非格里夫特把她和无名者一起带走了，”布雷克提出。208
“Kyre didn’t mention seeing a halfling,” Mourngrym pointed out.“凯尔没提到看见半身人，”莫恩格林指出。209
“A halfling could easily hide behind such a beast,” Breck replied.“半身人可以轻而易举地藏在那样一头怪物身后，”布雷克答道。210
“Kyre might have missed seeing her in the excitement of the moment.”“当时情势混乱，凯尔可能没留意到她。”211
“Or perhaps Kyre mistook Olive for an imp,” Alias said with a hint of sarcasm.“又或许，凯尔把奥利芙错当成小魔鬼了。”阿莉亚丝略带讥讽地说道。212
Breck glowered at the swordswoman.布雷克怒视着女剑士。213
“Grypht was a denizen of the Nine Hells,” the ranger growled.“格里夫特是九层地狱的居民，”游侠低吼道。214
“It had horns and scales and claws and a tail.”“它长着角、鳞片、爪子和一条尾巴。”215
“I think,” Morala interjected calmly, “that whatever Grypht is, it is not as important as where it took Nameless.”“我认为，”莫拉拉平静地插话道，“无论格里夫特是什么，都不如它把无名者带去了哪里重要。”216
“If your grace will excuse me,” Mourngrym said, “I’m going to have a second look at Nameless’s cell.“大人，请恕我失陪，”莫恩格林说道，“我打算再去查看一下无名者的牢房。217
Alias, do you want to come along to see how Akabar is doing?”阿莉亚丝，你要不要一起来，顺便看看阿卡巴怎么样了？”218
Alias glanced anxiously at Morala.阿莉亚丝不安地瞥了莫拉拉一眼。219
As if she could read the swordswoman’s mind, the priestess said, “I think Alias should stay here to keep me company until I recover sufficient strength to scry for Nameless.女祭司仿佛能看透女剑士的心思，说道：“我想阿莉亚丝应该留在这里陪陪我，等我恢复足够的力量，好施展占卜寻找无名者。220
Breck, why don’t you accompany Lord Mourngrym?布雷克，你何不陪莫恩格林领主一起去？221
Maybe the halfling left some tracks you could follow or something.”说不定那个半身人留下了什么踪迹，能让你循踪追查之类的。”222
Breck sensed Morala was dismissing him, but he shrugged indifferently.布雷克察觉莫拉拉是在打发他走，却满不在乎地耸了耸肩。223
Searching for a halfling would be far more interesting than watching the old priestess fuss and chant over a bowl of water.寻找一个半身人，可比看着老女祭司对一碗水又折腾又念咒有趣多了。224
The ranger and the guard, Shend, followed Lord Mourngrym out of the courtroom.游侠和卫兵申德跟随莫恩格林领主走出了法庭。225
When the two of them were alone together in the room, Morala motioned for the swordswoman to have a seat near her.房间里只剩下她们两人后，莫拉拉示意女剑士坐到她身边。226
As Alias pulled out a chair from behind the table, the priestess sat with her eyes closed, absentmindedly humming an A-minor scale, at the same time brushing her fingertips along the golden embroidery of her robe.阿莉亚丝从桌后拉出一把椅子时，女祭司闭目坐着，心不在焉地哼着一段A小调音阶，同时用指尖轻抚长袍上的金色刺绣。227
Alias noticed specks of gold flaking from the robe.阿莉亚丝注意到，长袍上有点点金屑剥落下来。228
Suddenly Morala started visibly and snapped her eyes open, as if she’d been napping.莫拉拉突然明显地一惊，猛地睁开双眼，仿佛刚才一直在打盹。229
Alias wondered if perhaps the ancient priestess’s wits weren’t beginning to flake away like the embroidered decorations on her ceremonial robe.阿莉亚丝不禁怀疑，这位年迈女祭司的神智或许也开始像她礼袍上的刺绣装饰一样片片剥落了。230
“How much longer until you’re rested enough to scry again?”“你还要休息多久，才能再次施展占卜？”231
Alias asked the priestess.阿莉亚丝问女祭司。232
“Not long,” Morala replied, smiling at the swordswoman’s impatience.“用不了多久，”莫拉拉回答，笑看着女剑士那副急不可耐的模样。233
“Perhaps, in the meantime, you could tell me if you know anything about these disappearances.”“或许在此期间，你可以告诉我，你是否知道这些失踪事件的内情。”234
Alias stiffened.阿莉亚丝浑身一僵。235
“You think this was a plan of mine to rescue Nameless, don’t you?” the swordswoman asked, unable to keep the anger from creeping into her tone.“你认为这是我为了救出无名者而策划的，对不对？”女剑士问道，语气中不由得透出怒意。236
“No … not really.“不……倒也不是。237
I’ve been told you are a good woman.我听说你是个好人。238
However, we must investigate every possibility before we can rule it out,” Morala replied calmly.不过，在排除一种可能之前，我们必须把它彻底查清楚。”莫拉拉平静地答道。239
“So tell me, child, did you have anything to do with Elminster’s or Nameless’s disappearance?”“所以告诉我，孩子，伊尔明斯特或无名者的失踪，跟你有没有关系？”240
“No, I didn’t,” Alias answered hotly.“没有，跟我没关系。”阿莉亚丝怒气冲冲地答道。241
“If I had wanted to free Nameless, I certainly wouldn’t have involved Elminster, and I wouldn’t have needed help from some wizard or whatever this Grypht is.“如果我想救出无名者，就绝不会把伊尔明斯特牵扯进来，也不需要什么法师，或是这个格里夫特究竟是什么东西的帮助。242
And I wouldn’t admit it to you, anyway.”再说了，就算是我干的，我也不会向你承认。”243
“Yes …“是啊……244
I can believe that,” Morala said with a chuckle.这话我信。”莫拉拉轻笑着说道。245
“But then, I’ve cast a detect lie spell on you.”“不过，那是因为我已经对你施了侦测谎言法术。”246
Alias’s eyes narrowed angrily.阿莉亚丝愤怒地眯起了眼睛。247
She was unaccustomed to having her word questioned, let alone magically analyzed.她不习惯别人质疑自己的话，更不用说用魔法来辨析了。248
She was even more annoyed that she hadn’t caught on to Morala’s spell.而她竟然没有察觉莫拉拉施了法，这更令她恼火。249
The old priestess hadn’t been drifting off to sleep after all; she’d been concentrating on her spell.原来那位年迈的女祭司并不是昏昏欲睡，而是在全神贯注地施法。250
“I should have realized.“我早该想到的。251
Milil is the lord of all songs.米利尔是万歌之主。252
Music is a language, too.音乐也是一种语言。253
That humming was actually your spell chant, wasn’t it?” the swordswoman asked.刚才的哼唱其实是你的施法咒语，对不对？”女剑士问道。254
Morala nodded.莫拉拉点了点头。255
“Nameless taught you well,” she said.“无名者把你教得很好。”她说道。256
For a few moments, she studied Alias’s face.她端详了阿莉亚丝的脸片刻。257
“You may look like Cassana, but there is nothing of her in you,” she said.“你也许长得像卡萨娜，但你身上没有半点她的影子。”她说道。258
“Did you know Cassana personally,” Alias asked, “or are you merely comparing me to the character in the opera about her and her lich lover Zrie Prakis?”“你亲自认识卡萨娜吗？”阿莉亚丝问道，“还是说，你只是在拿我跟那部讲述她和她的巫妖情人兹里·普拉基斯的歌剧中的角色相比？”259
Morala chuckled.莫拉拉轻声笑了。260
“I knew her.“我认识她。261
I wrote that opera.”那部歌剧就是我写的。”262
Alias’s eyes widened.阿莉亚丝睁大了眼睛。263
“You did?“是你写的？264
I …我……265
I didn’t know.我不知道。266
I’ve never heard it sung.我从没听人唱过。267
Elminster told me about it.是伊尔明斯特告诉我的。268
Why did you ever want to write an opera about Cassana?”你当初为什么会想写一部关于卡萨娜的歌剧？”269
“At the time, Cassana’s evil was a danger to us all,” the priestess explained, “but she had many powerful friends, and the Harpers didn’t have the strength to drive her from the north.“当时，卡萨娜的邪恶行径对我们所有人都构成了威胁，”女祭司解释道，“可她有许多势力强大的朋友，而竖琴手同盟又没有足够的力量把她赶出北方。270
The opera made the details of the sorceress’s life common knowledge.那部歌剧让女术士生平的种种细节变得人尽皆知。271
Cassana couldn’t stand ridicule.卡萨娜受不了被人嘲笑。272
The gossip following the opera’s performance caused her sufficient embarrassment to leave the region,” Morala said.歌剧上演后引发的流言蜚语让她颜面尽失，终于迫使她离开了这一带，”莫拉拉说道。273
A grin lit up her wrinkled face.她布满皱纹的脸上绽开了笑容。274
Alias grinned back.阿莉亚丝也冲她一笑。275
She found herself liking the foxy old woman, even if she was a priestess and one of Nameless’s judges.她发现自己开始喜欢这个狡黠的老妇人了，尽管她是个女祭司，还是无名者的审判者之一。276
“I have something else I want to show you,” the priestess said, holding out a lump of what appeared to be ordinary red mud.“我还有样东西想给你看，”女祭司说着，伸出手来，掌中托着一团看似普通的红泥。277
“I picked this up from the floor.“这是我从地上捡起来的。278
Grypht held it when he first appeared.格里夫特刚出现时，手里就拿着它。279
It’s clay—of very high quality and rare color.”这是黏土——质地极佳，颜色也十分罕见。”280
“Maybe this duke of the Nine Hells is a potter,” Alias joked.“也许这位九层地狱的公爵是个陶匠。”阿莉亚丝打趣道。281
Morala smiled gently.莫拉拉温和地笑了笑。282
“The clay was glowing when Grypht first appeared … as would a spell component,” she explained.“格里夫特刚出现时，这块黏土在发光……就像施法材料会有的情形一样，”她解释道。283
“Don’t creatures from the lower planes have a natural ability to cast magic without spell components?”“下层位面的生物不是天生就能不用施法材料施展魔法吗？”284
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。285
“That’s what I’ve always been told,” Morala answered.“我一直以来听到的也是这种说法，”莫拉拉回答。286
“Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Kyre knocked the clay out of the beast’s hand and ruined its spell before it was cast, so we don’t know what the beast intended.“可惜——也可能是万幸——凯尔把黏土从那怪物手中打落，在法术施展出来之前就破坏了它，所以我们不知道那怪物原本想做什么。287
In clerical spells, clay is a component that affects stone, though I’m sure it has other uses in spells for wizards.在神术中，黏土是能对石头产生作用的施法材料，不过我相信它在法师的法术中还有其他用途。288
Elminster might have been able to identify such spells for us.伊尔明斯特或许能替我们辨认出这类法术。289
Could your friend Akabar Bel Akash do so?”你的朋友阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什能做到吗？”290
“Akabar’s pretty clever,” Alias replied.“阿卡巴相当聪明，”阿莉亚丝回答。291
“When he recovers, we can ask him.“等他康复后，我们可以问问他。292
So you think Kyre made a mistake?”所以你认为凯尔犯了错？”293
“In elvish, Kyre means ‘flawless,’ ” Morala said, shaking her head.“在精灵语中，凯尔意为‘完美无瑕’，”莫拉拉摇着头说道。294
“She has a reputation for not making mistakes.“她素有从不犯错的名声。295
I think it more likely she wanted us to believe that Grypht was something evil.”我觉得更有可能的是，她想让我们相信格里夫特是某种邪恶之物。”296
Morala smiled slyly.莫拉拉狡黠地笑了笑。297
“You mean you think she lied?”“你是说，你认为她撒了谎？”298
Alias asked with surprise.阿莉亚丝惊讶地问。299
“Why would she do that?”“她为什么要这么做？”300
“She may have put some personal goal ahead of her duties as a Harper,” Morala suggested.“她或许把某个私人目标置于自己身为竖琴手的职责之上了，”莫拉拉推测道。301
“Kyre is a bard, after all.”“毕竟，凯尔是个吟游诗人。”302
“You think she planned Nameless’s escape!”“你认为她策划了无名者的逃脱！”303
Alias guessed.阿莉亚丝猜道。304
“Grypht is just a smoke screen.“格里夫特只不过是个烟幕。305
Then Nameless is all right!”这么说，无名者平安无事！”306
Alias said excitedly.阿莉亚丝兴奋地说道。307
“You don’t have to scry for him!”“你不用施法探查他的下落了！”308
“But I do,” Morala insisted.“但我非这么做不可。”莫拉拉坚持道。309
“Kyre might have made a foolish alliance.“凯尔或许结成了一个愚蠢的联盟。310
Grypht may not be from the Nine Hells, but he still could be an evil wizard.格里夫特或许并非来自九层地狱，但他仍有可能是个邪恶的巫师。311
He might be holding Nameless against his will, threatening his life.”他或许正违背无名者的意愿将他囚禁起来，还用他的性命相威胁。”312
“But suppose Nameless is all right?”“可要是无名者安然无恙呢？”313
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。314
“He must still be brought back here for his trial,” Morala said.“那也必须把他带回这里接受审判。”莫拉拉说。315
Alias’s face fell.阿莉亚丝的脸色顿时黯淡下来。316
“Don’t you think Nameless has suffered enough?”“你不觉得无名者受的苦已经够多了吗？”317
“You misunderstand, child.“你误会了，孩子。318
The Harpers did not send Nameless to the Citadel of White Exile to make him suffer.竖琴手同盟把无名者送到白色流放堡，并不是为了让他受苦。319
We sent him there in order to protect other innocents from his reckless behavior.”我们把他送去那里，是为了保护其他无辜者免受他鲁莽行径的伤害。”320
“But you don’t have to send him back,” Alias insisted.“可你们不必把他送回去。”阿莉亚丝坚持道。321
“He’s sorry about the apprentice who was killed and the one who was hurt.“他对那个被害死的学徒和那个受伤的学徒感到很内疚。322
He wouldn’t do anything like that again.他不会再做那种事了。323
Besides, now that he’s done creating his singer, he’s satisfied.”再说，如今他已经创造出了自己的歌者，也该心满意足了。”324
“Is he?”“是吗？”325
Morala mused.莫拉拉若有所思地说道。326
She leaned forward and stroked Alias’s hair with a withered hand.她俯身向前，用一只枯瘦的手轻抚阿莉亚丝的头发。327
“He would be a fool not to be pleased with you, child.“他若对你还不满意，那就是个傻瓜，孩子。328
Tell me, do you love Nameless?”告诉我，你爱无名者吗？”329
Alias lifted her chin and answered proudly, “Yes, I do.”阿莉亚丝抬起下巴，骄傲地回答：“是的，我爱他。”330
“As a daughter loves a father?”“像女儿爱父亲那样吗？”331
Morala asked.莫拉拉问道。332
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。333
Morala pursed her lips together and shook her head sadly.莫拉拉抿紧嘴唇，悲伤地摇了摇头。334
Alias could see that the old woman’s eyes were moist with tears.阿莉亚丝看得出，老妇人的眼中含着泪水。335
“He does not deserve your love,” the priestess whispered.“他不配得到你的爱。”女祭司低声说道。336
“Love is something people give freely,” Alias argued.“爱是人们心甘情愿付出的东西，”阿莉亚丝反驳道。337
“It’s not a commodity to be earned or forfeited.”“它不是靠争取才能得到、又会因过错而失去的商品。”338
Morala sighed and clasped her hands together in her lap.莫拉拉叹了口气，双手交握在膝上。339
“Yes.“是啊。340
That’s the problem, all right.问题恰恰就在这里。341
It doesn’t have to be earned, and it is not easily forfeited.”爱不需要靠争取才能得到，也不会轻易失去。”342
Morala was silent for several moments.莫拉拉沉默了片刻。343
Then she said coldly, “Maryje loved Nameless, though not as a father.随后她冷冷地说道：“玛丽杰爱着无名者，尽管不是女儿对父亲的那种爱。344
Maryje was one of Nameless’s apprentices … the one who was wounded.”玛丽杰是无名者的学徒之一……就是那个受了伤的人。”345
“She lost her voice, then she committed suicide,” Alias recalled from Nameless’s tale.“她失去了声音，后来便自尽了。”阿莉亚丝回想起无名者讲的故事。346
“Is that why you can’t forgive Nameless … because Maryje was a friend of yours?”“所以你才无法原谅无名者吗……因为玛丽杰是你的朋友？”347
Morala took Alias’s hands in her own and squeezed them hard.莫拉拉握住阿莉亚丝的双手，用力攥紧。348
“I cannot forgive Nameless because he lied, and his lie bound Maryje to her wounds, and her wounds bound her to her shame, and her shame bound her to her death.“我无法原谅无名者，是因为他说了谎，而他的谎言将玛丽杰束缚在她的伤痛中，她的伤痛又将她束缚在羞耻中，她的羞耻最终将她束缚至死。349
The truth would have set her free, and she would not have killed herself.”真相本可以让她解脱，她也就不会自尽了。”350
“What lie?”“什么谎言？”351
Alias demanded.阿莉亚丝追问道。352
“What are you talking about?”“你到底在说什么？”353
“Ask him,” Morala demanded.“去问他。”莫拉拉厉声说道。354
“Ask Nameless to tell you the truth—the truth he would not admit to Elminster, the truth he would not tell the Harpers, the truth about himself that even he is ashamed of.“让无名者告诉你真相——那个他不肯向伊尔明斯特承认、不肯告诉竖琴手同盟，甚至连他自己都羞于面对的自身真相。355
If he will do that, he will set himself free and even I will forgive him.”如果他肯说出真相，他就能让自己解脱，甚至连我也会原谅他。”356
Alias pulled her hands away from the priestess and backed her chair away.阿莉亚丝把手从女祭司手中抽了回来，又把椅子往后挪了挪。357
Her heart was racing wildly, and despite her wool tunic, she felt chilled.她的心狂跳不止，尽管身穿羊毛上衣，却仍觉得浑身发冷。358
“Suppose I don’t want to hear this truth?” she asked.“假如我不想听这个真相呢？”她问道。359
“I thought you loved him,” Morala said.“我还以为你爱他呢。”莫拉拉说。360
“Would you have him bear the burden of his guilt to his grave?”“难道你想让他背负着罪疚直到进坟墓吗？”361
“All right, I’ll ask him,” Alias said defiantly, “and he’ll tell me, and I won’t love him any less, whatever it is he says.”“好吧，我去问他，”阿莉亚丝挑衅地说，“他也会告诉我；不管他说的是什么，我都不会少爱他半分。”362
“I did not think that you would,” Morala replied.“我也不认为你会。”莫拉拉答道。363
“Why won’t you just tell me what it is?”“你为什么不干脆告诉我究竟是什么？”364
Alias asked with a growing sense of frustration.阿莉亚丝越发懊恼地问道。365
“I intend this test to remind Nameless of what he has already taught you about love but seems unable to remember for himself,” the priestess explained.“我安排这场考验，是想让无名者想起他已经教给你的关于爱的道理——只是他自己似乎怎么也记不住。”女祭司解释道。366
Morala’s mood became suddenly businesslike.莫拉拉的态度突然变得公事公办起来。367
She slapped her hands down on her thighs and said, “First, though, we must find Nameless.她双手啪地拍在大腿上，说道：“不过首先，我们得找到无名者。368
I am rested enough, now.”我现在已经休息够了。”369
She held her hand out.她伸出一只手。370
Alias rose hastily to her feet and helped the old woman rise from her chair and return to the table.阿莉亚丝连忙站起身，扶着老妇人从椅子上起来，回到桌边。371
The swordswoman watched curiously while Morala cleaned out the silver bowl and refilled it with more holy water.莫拉拉把银碗清理干净，又重新注入更多圣水；女剑士在一旁好奇地看着。372
A growl came from across the room.房间对面传来一声低吼。373
Alias looked up.阿莉亚丝抬起头。374
Dragonbait stood in the courtroom door with Akabar’s wife, Zhara.龙饵和阿卡巴的妻子扎拉站在法庭门口。375
The saurial paladin pointed at a spot on the floor directly before him.那位蜥蜴人圣武士指着自己正前方地板上的一处。376
He wasn’t in a patient mood.他这会儿可没什么耐心。377
“Excuse me,” Alias said to Morala.“失陪一下。”阿莉亚丝对莫拉拉说。378
“I have to see what my friend wants.”“我得去看看我的朋友想要什么。”379
Morala nodded without looking up from her silver bowl.莫拉拉头也没抬，只盯着她的银碗，点了点头。380
Alias hurried toward the lizard.阿莉亚丝匆匆走向那只蜥蜴。381
Dragonbait thrust a dead, singed thistle at her and signed furiously.龙饵把一株烧焦的死蓟草杵到她面前，怒气冲冲地比划起来。382
“What do you mean, you were attacked by thistles?”“你说什么，蓟草袭击了你？”383
Alias asked with annoyance.阿莉亚丝不耐烦地问道。384
“What were you doing?“你当时在干什么？385
Walking through Korhun Lherar’s old pastures?”在科尔洪·莱拉尔的旧牧场里散步吗？”386
Dragonbait signed again.龙饵又比划了一遍。387
“In her room?”“在她的房间里？”388
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。389
“Of course I didn’t send them.“当然不是我派它们去的。390
What do I know about thistles?”我对蓟草能知道些什么？”391
Where’s Akabar? the saurial signed.“阿卡巴在哪儿？”蜥蜴人比划着问道。392
“Resting,” Alias said.“在休息，”阿莉亚丝说。393
“He … uh, he wasn’t feeling very well,” she explained briefly, not wanting to give Zhara the details of Akabar’s attack.“他……呃，他有点不舒服。”她简单解释了一句，不想把阿卡巴那次发作的详情告诉扎拉。394
She’d heard enough of the priestess’s interpretations.这位女祭司的种种解读，她已经听得够多了。395
Take us to him, Dragonbait demanded.“带我们去见他。”龙饵命令般地比划道。396
“Morala is about to begin to scry for Nameless,” Alias explained.“莫拉拉正要开始占卜无名者的下落，”阿莉亚丝解释道。397
“He’s missing.“他失踪了。398
He may have been kidnapped.他可能被绑架了。399
Can’t you wait?” she asked impatiently.你就不能等等吗？”她不耐烦地问。400
No. Immediately, Dragonbait signed.“不能。马上。”龙饵比划道。401
Alias huffed angrily, but from the garlic scent the saurial emitted, she could tell he wasn’t going to give in.阿莉亚丝恼怒地哼了一声，但从蜥蜴人身上散发出的蒜味，她知道他绝不会让步。402
“All right,” she growled.“好吧。”她低吼道。403
Just in case Kyre hadn’t yet made any progress in convincing Akabar of the folly of his priestess wife, Alias suggested, “Zhara, maybe you’d like to wait here.”以防凯尔还没能让阿卡巴明白他那位祭司妻子有多荒唐，阿莉亚丝提议道：“扎拉，也许你愿意留在这里等。”404
Dragonbait shook his head.龙饵摇了摇头。405
“She’ll be fine here,” Alias said, signing to Dragonbait that Zhara must stay in the courtroom.“她待在这里不会有事的。”阿莉亚丝说道，同时打手势告诉龙饵，扎拉必须留在审判厅里。406
The saurial ignored her.蜥族人没有理会她。407
He stomped his foot.他重重跺了跺脚。408
“Fine,” Alias whispered angrily.“好吧。”阿莉亚丝愤怒地低声说道。409
“Have it your way.”“就照你的意思办。”410
The swordswoman looked back at Morala.女剑士回头看了看莫拉拉。411
The elderly priestess had aleady begun her chant, so Alias didn’t dare disturb her.年迈的女祭司已经开始吟唱咒语，阿莉亚丝不敢打扰她。412
“Follow me,” she said, striding purposefully out of the courtroom.“跟我来。”她说着，大步流星地走出了审判厅。413
Morala was vaguely aware that Alias had departed, but she was too wrapped up in her spell chant to find out where the swordswoman had gone.莫拉拉隐约察觉到阿莉亚丝离开了，但她太过专注于吟唱咒语，无暇弄清女剑士去了哪里。414
Several minutes later, the water in the silver bowl began to sparkle and shine, and the priestess ceased her chant.几分钟后，银碗里的水开始闪烁发光，女祭司也停止了吟唱。415
Squinting into the water, Morala could just barely discern the features of the Nameless Bard.莫拉拉眯眼凝视水中，勉强辨认出了无名者诗人的容貌。416
His face was illuminated by a flickering torch, but everything else about him was masked in darkness.一支摇曳的火把照亮了他的脸，但他身上的其他一切都隐没在黑暗中。417
The priestess sighed.女祭司叹了口气。418
The bard could be anywhere—in a cave somewhere on the same world as Elminster, in the tunnels beneath Waterdeep, in a closet in the tower of Ashaba—anywhere.那位诗人可能身在任何地方——与伊尔明斯特同处一个世界的某个洞穴里、深水城地下的隧道中、阿沙巴之塔的一间壁橱里——任何地方都有可能。419
Morala motioned over the water with her hands.莫拉拉双手在水面上方比划了一番。420
Now she could see a second torch, held by a small figure walking beside Nameless.这时，她看见了第二支火把，由一个走在无名者身旁的小个子举着。421
“Well, well.“哟，哟。422
It must be our little halfling Harper,” the priestess muttered.那一定是我们那位小个子半身人竖琴手。”女祭司喃喃道。423
As she turned her attention back to Nameless, an angry look swept over the bard’s face.当她把注意力重新转回无名者身上时，只见诗人脸上掠过一丝怒容。424
“What’s wrong, Nameless?”“怎么了，无名者？”425
Morala mused aloud.莫拉拉出声思忖道。426
“Where are you, and what are you up to?”“你在哪里，又在搞什么名堂？”427