As Alias was leading Dragonbait and Zhara from the Harpers’ courtroom to Nameless’s former cell, Dragonbait halted suddenly and sniffed the air.阿莉亚丝正带着龙饵和扎拉从竖琴手同盟的审判厅前往无名者先前的牢房，龙饵忽然停下脚步，嗅了嗅空气。1
No doubt, the swordswoman realized, the saurial can smell Grypht.女剑士心想，蜥人肯定闻到了格里夫特的气味。2
She turned around and explained to him.她转过身，向他解释起来。3
“Something teleported into the tower—some creature, probably a wizard—and kidnapped Elminster and Nameless, maybe Olive, too.”“有东西传送进了塔里——某种生物，可能是个巫师——绑架了伊尔明斯特和无名者，说不定连奥利芙也被抓走了。”4
Dragonbait shook his head as if confused, and his tail twitched with nervous excitement.龙饵困惑地摇了摇头，尾巴因紧张和激动而抽动着。5
Alias didn’t notice.阿莉亚丝没有注意到。6
Her attention was attracted to the sound of thumping coming from the corridor that led to Nameless’s cell.通往无名者牢房的走廊里传来阵阵砰砰声，吸引了她的注意。7
She hurried through the passages, anxious to see what was going on.她急忙穿过一条条通道，迫切地想知道发生了什么事。8
Lord Mourngrym and Breck stood outside the door to Nameless’s cell.莫恩格林领主和布雷克站在无名者牢房门外。9
Breck was hacking furiously at the door with a battle-axe, but for all the ranger’s strength and the weapon’s sharpness, the door wouldn’t give.布雷克正挥舞战斧，狂怒地劈砍着房门，但任凭这名游侠力大无穷、战斧锋利无比，那扇门依旧纹丝不动。10
Alias heard Lord Mourngrym say, “It’s no good, Orcsbane.阿莉亚丝听见莫恩格林领主说道：“没用的，奥克斯班。11
The door’s made of ironwood.”这扇门是铁木做的。”12
“What’s wrong?”“出什么事了？”13
Alias asked as she and Dragonbait and Zhara hurried toward the two men.阿莉亚丝问道，同时与龙饵和扎拉匆匆走向那两个男人。14
“Akabar and Kyre aren’t answering,” Lord Mourngrym replied.“阿卡巴和凯尔都不回应。”莫恩格林领主答道。15
He turned the door handle and pulled on it, but the door remained closed.他转动门把手，用力往外拉，但门仍然紧闭。16
“The door’s unlocked, but it won’t budge.“门没有锁，可就是打不开。17
It feels as if it’s being held shut by magic.”感觉像是被魔法封住了。”18
Remembering Morala’s suspicion that Grypht could be an evil wizard and that Kyre may have made an alliance with him, the swordswoman suddenly felt nervous and foolish.想到莫拉拉曾怀疑格里夫特可能是个邪恶巫师，还怀疑凯尔或许已经与他结盟，女剑士忽然既紧张，又觉得自己愚蠢。19
She hadn’t believed the half-elf’s claim that Grypht was a denizen of the Nine Hells, yet she had been so eager for Kyre to break Zhara’s hold on Akabar and talk him out of his belief in Moander’s return that she had trusted the half-elf anyway.她并不相信那个半精灵所说的格里夫特是九层地狱的居民，可她一心盼着凯尔能让阿卡巴摆脱扎拉的控制，劝他不再相信莫安德会归来，所以终究还是信任了那个半精灵。20
“Maybe Kyre and Akabar just don’t want to be disturbed,” Alias suggested hopefully, without believing it herself.“也许凯尔和阿卡巴只是不想被人打扰。”阿莉亚丝满怀希望地说道，尽管连她自己都不相信这话。21
Breck lowered his axe and fixed her with a cold stare.布雷克放下斧头，冷冷地盯着她。22
“Kyre isn’t shy.“凯尔可不腼腆。23
If she wanted to be alone with a man, she’d have no qualms about telling us all to go away,” he replied.要是她想和某个男人单独待着，她会毫不客气地叫我们全都走开，”他回答道。24
“Something is wrong,” he insisted.“一定出事了，”他坚持道。25
“We need a spell-caster to break in the door.”“我们需要一个施法者来破开这扇门。”26
Zhara pushed her way past Alias.扎拉从阿莉亚丝身旁挤了过去。27
“Stand back,” she ordered everyone.“都退后，”她命令众人。28
In her hand, she held a lump of clay fashioned just like the stone arch surrounding the door to Nameless’s cell.她手里拿着一块黏土，捏成了无名者牢房门外那道石拱门的模样。29
With her fingers, she pushed one side of the clay arch away, then touched the clay to the stone arch in front of them, whispering, “Sculpture.”她用手指将黏土拱门的一侧向外推开，随后把黏土贴到众人面前的石拱门上，低声念道：“塑形术。”30
Alias gasped as the rock of the wall beside the door curled back like a potato peel, forming a gap large enough to walk through.门旁的岩壁像土豆皮一样向后卷起，露出一道足以让人通过的缺口，阿莉亚丝不禁倒吸了一口气。31
Zhara slipped into Nameless’s cell before anyone else could stop her.没等其他人阻止，扎拉便钻进了无名者的牢房。32
She looked around in confusion.她困惑地环顾四周。33
“He isn’t here!” she whispered.“他不在这里！”她低声说道。34
“Where’s Akabar?”“阿卡巴在哪儿？”35
Turning to face Alias, she demanded angrily, “Where’s Akabar?她转身面对阿莉亚丝，愤怒地质问：“阿卡巴在哪儿？36
What have you done with him?”你把他怎么样了？”37
Alias slipped into the room and looked around, equally confused.阿莉亚丝也钻进房间，同样困惑地环顾四周。38
Akabar and Kyre were nowhere in sight.阿卡巴和凯尔都不见踪影。39
The songhorn lying on the table was cracked and some of its keys were broken off.桌上的歌号裂开了，上面的几个按键也断掉了。40
Bits of broken crystal lay on the table.桌上散落着一些破碎的水晶片。41
Something crunched in the carpeting beneath her foot.她脚下的地毯里有什么东西嘎吱一声碎了。42
Alias looked down.阿莉亚丝低头看去。43
Walnut shells lay scattered about on the floor.地板上散落着核桃壳。44
Then she spotted the ashes, and her face went pale.接着，她发现了那些灰烬，脸色顿时变得惨白。45
Gray ashes formed the unmistakable shape of a person.灰色的灰烬清清楚楚地勾勒出一个人的形状。46
A pair of elven boots, a dagger, a sword, a belt, and a scabbard lay off to one side.一双精灵长靴、一把匕首、一柄剑、一条腰带和一只剑鞘散落在一旁。47
Two gold rings, a silver ankle bracelet, and a Harper’s pin were on the other side of the ashes.灰烬的另一边则放着两枚金戒指、一只银脚镯和一枚竖琴手徽章。48
“Mourngrym!”“莫恩格林！”49
Alias called back into the hallway.阿莉亚丝朝走廊里喊道。50
“You’d better come and see this.”“你最好过来看看这个。”51
“What is it?“怎么了？52
What’s wrong?”出什么事了？”53
Breck demanded, squeezing his way into the room.布雷克一边质问，一边挤进房间。54
When he saw the ashes and equipment lying on the floor, his eyes widened in fury.当他看到地板上的灰烬和装备时，双眼因愤怒而瞪大。55
“Kyre!“凯尔！56
No!” he shouted.不！”他大喊道。57
“She’s dead!“她死了！58
He killed her, didn’t he?是他杀了她，对不对？59
That fiend Akabar killed Kyre!”阿卡巴那个恶魔杀了凯尔！”60
In the Harpers’ courtroom, Morala had grown bored scrying on Nameless and Olive Ruskettle beneath Finder’s keep.在竖琴手同盟的审判庭里，莫拉拉已经厌倦了用占卜术监视芬德城堡地下的无名者和奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。61
She abandoned her watch on the bard and his halfling cohort while the pair was still digging through the piles of rubble.趁吟游诗人和他的半身人同伴还在瓦砾堆中翻挖，她便不再监视他们。62
Now the priestess stood over her silver scrying bowl a third time.此刻，这位女祭司第三次站到了她的银质占卜碗前。63
It had occurred to her that she might learn more if she turned her attention to the creature who had been responsible for Elminster’s and Nameless’s disappearances.她忽然想到，如果把注意力转向那个导致伊尔明斯特和无名者失踪的生物，或许能查明更多事情。64
She drew out the piece of clay Grypht had dropped and envisioned the huge creature.她取出格里夫特掉落的那块黏土，在脑海中勾勒出那头庞然巨兽的模样。65
The colors in the water of Morala’s bowl swirled into Grypht’s shape.莫拉拉碗中的斑斓水色旋转起来，汇聚成格里夫特的形状。66
The beast was bent over beneath a monstrous oak tree, yanking a handful of oak seedlings out of the ground.那头巨兽正弯腰站在一棵硕大无比的橡树下，将一把橡树幼苗从地里拔出来。67
He straightened and munched absentmindedly on the seedlings as he studied a yellow gem he held in his hand.他直起身，一边心不在焉地嚼着幼苗，一边端详手中握着的一颗黄色宝石。68
Suddenly a beam of light shot out from a facet in the gem.突然，一道光束从宝石的一个切面上射了出来。69
Morala gasped, recognizing immediately that Grypht held the finder’s stone.莫拉拉倒吸一口气，立刻认出格里夫特手中拿的是寻人石。70
The Harpers had entrusted Elminster with the artifact’s safety, but somehow this scaly creature had gotten hold of it.竖琴手同盟曾将这件神器交给伊尔明斯特保管，可不知怎的，这个浑身鳞片的生物竟把它弄到了手。71
Is that why Elminster and Nameless had been abducted? the priestess wondered.伊尔明斯特和无名者被绑走，难道就是因为这个？女祭司心想。72
Just to obtain Nameless’s toy?就为了得到无名者的玩具？73
Grypht shook his head, and the first beam of light from the crystal faded away and a second beam burst out of another facet of the stone, aimed downward at the ground.格里夫特摇了摇头，水晶射出的第一道光渐渐消失，第二道光随即从宝石的另一个切面迸射而出，直指下方的地面。74
Morala pulled her scrying view back until she could see more.莫拉拉将窥视的视野拉远，直到能看到更多地方。75
At Grypht’s feet lay a dark-skinned, bearded man dressed in striped robes, with the blue dots of a southern scholar and mage tattooed on his forehead.格里夫特脚边躺着一个肤色黝黑、蓄着胡须的男人，身穿条纹长袍，额头上刺着代表南方学者和法师身份的蓝点。76
The light from the finder’s stone struck the man’s eyes, but although his chest rose and fell, he did not move.寻人石的光照在那人的双眼上；尽管他的胸膛仍在起伏，身体却一动不动。77
Apparently he was unconscious.显然，他失去了知觉。78
Morala’s brow furrowed.莫拉拉皱起眉头。79
Who is he? she wondered.他是谁？她心想。80
Grypht nodded at the finder’s stone with satisfaction.格里夫特满意地朝寻人石点了点头。81
He’s experimenting with it, Morala realized.他在试验它的用法，莫拉拉恍然大悟。82
Grypht shook his head, and the light on the southerner’s eyes faded.格里夫特摇了摇头，照在那个南方人双眼上的光随之消失。83
Then the creature closed his eyes, and the crystal stone began to glow all over, but this time no beam shot out.接着，那生物闭上双眼，水晶石通体开始发光，但这一次没有光束射出。84
Grypht squeezed his eyes tighter, as if he were concentrating hard.格里夫特把眼睛闭得更紧了，仿佛正在全神贯注地集中精神。85
The stone glowed even brighter, but it gave no indication of the location of the person the scaly creature was thinking of.宝石的光芒愈发明亮，却没有显示出那个浑身鳞片的生物心中所想之人的方位。86
Grypht sighed and opened his eyes; the stone ceased glowing.格里夫特叹了口气，睁开双眼；宝石也停止了发光。87
“How deliciously ironic!”“真是讽刺得妙不可言！”88
Morala muttered.莫拉拉低声说道。89
“You’ve gone to all this trouble to steal the finder’s stone, and it can’t find whoever it is you’re looking for.”“你费尽周折偷走寻人石，它却找不到你要找的那个人。”90
Grypht bent over and began pulling more oak seedlings from the ground.格里夫特弯下腰，又开始从地里拔橡树幼苗。91
Suddenly a beam of light shot out from the yellow crystal in the direction of the setting sun. Grypht started with surprise and straightened up.突然，一道光束从黄色水晶中射出，直指落日的方向。格里夫特惊得一震，站直了身子。92
After scanning the horizon for a few moments, he bent over and shouldered the unconscious southerner.他扫视了片刻地平线，随后弯下腰，把那个昏迷的南方人扛到肩上。93
“Who are you after?”“你要去追谁？”94
Morala mused as Grypht straightened and began trundling away toward the setting sun.莫拉拉沉吟道；格里夫特直起身，迈着沉重的步子朝落日的方向走去。95
Mourngrym looked over the ashes lying beside Kyre’s equipment and shook his head regretfully.莫恩格林看着凯尔的装备旁那堆灰烬，惋惜地摇了摇头。96
“It doesn’t look good, Alias,” he said softly.“情况不妙，阿莉亚丝。”他轻声说道。97
“I can’t believe Akabar would do such a thing,” the swordswoman said.“我不相信阿卡巴会做出这种事。”女剑士说道。98
“Something else must have attacked them.”“一定是有什么别的东西袭击了他们。”99
“Then why isn’t Akabar’s body in a pile of ash on the carpeting?”“那为什么地毯上的灰烬里没有阿卡巴的尸体？”100
Breck snarled.布雷克咆哮道。101
He was shaking with anger and barely controlled grief.他气得浑身发抖，几乎压抑不住心中的悲痛。102
“How do you know those aren’t his ashes mingled in with Kyre’s?”“你怎么知道他的骨灰没和凯尔的混在一起？”103
Alias retorted hotly.阿莉亚丝激烈地反驳道。104
Zhara moaned and sank to the bed.扎拉呻吟一声，瘫坐在床上。105
Dragonbait glared at the swordswoman, but Alias ignored him.龙饵怒视着女剑士，但阿莉亚丝没有理会他。106
She couldn’t afford to be tactful for Zhara’s sake.她不能为了顾及扎拉而说得委婉。107
She had to clear Akabar’s reputation.她必须洗清阿卡巴的名声。108
“If he was incinerated along with Kyre, too,” Breck said, “his boots would be here.”“如果他也和凯尔一起被烧成了灰，”布雷克说，“他的靴子就该留在这里。”109
“He was wearing rope sandals,” Alias argued.“他穿的是草绳凉鞋。”阿莉亚丝争辩道。110
“And he didn’t carry a single piece of metal with him?”“难道他身上一件金属物品都没带？”111
Breck asked.布雷克问道。112
That, Alias realized, was hardly likely.阿莉亚丝意识到，这几乎不可能。113
She changed her tack.她换了个说法。114
“Whoever killed Kyre could have carried Akabar off,” she stated.“杀死凯尔的人可能把阿卡巴带走了。”她断言道。115
“Grypht might have returned and eaten him, for all you know.”“说不定格里夫特回来把他吃了，你们又怎么知道。”116
Zhara gave a keening wail.扎拉发出一声凄厉的哀号。117
The swordswoman shot an annoyed look at Akabar’s wife.女剑士恼火地瞪了阿卡巴的妻子一眼。118
Dragonbait nudged Alias angrily with his elbow.龙饵生气地用胳膊肘撞了撞阿莉亚丝。119
“I believe Grypht has indeed carried off Akabar,” a voice said, “but the beast appears to prefer greenery to human flesh.“我相信格里夫特确实掳走了阿卡巴，”一个声音说道，“不过那野兽似乎更喜欢草木，而不是人肉。120
Akabar is still alive.”阿卡巴还活着。”121
Everyone looked around.所有人都转头望去。122
Standing in the new entrance to the room that Zhara had fashioned with her magic was Morala.莫拉拉正站在扎拉用魔法为房间开出的新入口处。123
The old priestess leaned heavily on Captain Thurbal’s arm, but she was smiling.老女祭司将身体重重倚在瑟巴尔队长的手臂上，但她面带微笑。124
“I have just been scrying upon Grypht.“我刚刚用法术窥探了格里夫特。125
He was carrying a southern mage dressed in a red-and-white-striped robe,” Morala said.它带着一名身穿红白条纹长袍的南方术士，”莫拉拉说道。126
“Akabar!”“阿卡巴！”127
Zhara cried out eagerly.扎拉急切地叫道。128
“His robes are red and white!”“他的长袍就是红白相间的！”129
“Then he is in league with Grypht!”“那他就是和格里夫特勾结在一起！”130
Breck declared.布雷克断言道。131
Mourngrym exchanged a distressed look with Alias.莫恩格林与阿莉亚丝不安地对视了一眼。132
“Was Akabar being carried off by force, Morala, or using the beast as a mount?” his lordship asked.“莫拉拉，阿卡巴是被强行掳走的，还是把那野兽当成坐骑？”领主大人问道。133
“Akabar was unconscious, so I couldn’t tell his wishes,” Morala explained, shuffling into the room with Captain Thurbal beside her.“阿卡巴当时昏迷不醒，所以我无法判断他的意愿，”莫拉拉解释道，一旁的瑟巴尔队长陪着她拖着步子走进房间。134
“What about Nameless?”“那无名者呢？”135
Alias asked anxiously.阿莉亚丝焦急地问道。136
“Was he with Grypht?”“他和格里夫特在一起吗？”137
Morala shook her head.莫拉拉摇了摇头。138
“No,” she said.“没有，”她说。139
“Nameless appears to be in an underground tunnel of some sort, digging his way through, though whether he is trying to escape the tunnel or burrow in farther, I could not tell.“无名者似乎在某条地下隧道里，正一路挖掘，不过他究竟是想逃出隧道，还是想往更深处钻，我就看不出来了。140
There is a halfling woman with him.有个半身人女子和他在一起。141
They both appear uninjured, but their location remains a mystery.他们两人似乎都没有受伤，但身在何处仍是个谜。142
I think we best concentrate on tracking Grypht,” Morala said.我看我们最好集中精力追踪格里夫特，”莫拉拉说。143
“Grypht has the finder’s stone, and with that, he can track both Elminster and Nameless.”“格里夫特手里有寻踪石，有了它，他既能追踪伊尔明斯特，也能追踪无名者。”144
“A finder’s stone?”“一块寻踪石？”145
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。146
“Like the one Elminster gave to me?”“就像伊尔明斯特给我的那块？”147
“The finder’s stone,” Morala corrected her.“是那块寻踪石，”莫拉拉纠正她。148
“There is only one.“世上只有一块。149
It’s an old artifact that Nameless made to store his music and his spells,” the priestess explained.那是一件古老的神器，是无名者打造出来存放他的音乐和法术的，”女祭司解释道。150
“For anyone else, it worked as a compass.”“对其他任何人来说，它的作用就像罗盘。”151
“But we lost it in Westgate, battling Moander,” Alias said.“可我们在西门城与莫安德交战时把它弄丢了，”阿莉亚丝说。152
The wrinkles in Morala’s forehead doubled as she tried to think of how the stone got from Westgate into Grypht’s hands.莫拉拉苦苦思索着那块石头怎么会从西门城落到格里夫特手里，额头上的皱纹顿时加深了一倍。153
Unable to come up with a satisfactory explanation, the priestess huffed in frustration.女祭司想不出令人满意的解释，懊恼地哼了一声。154
“Well, Grypht has found it somewhere, somehow,” she said.“好吧，不管在什么地方，也不管用了什么办法，格里夫特总归是找到它了，”她说。155
“When I last saw him, he was using it.“我上次看见他时，他正在使用它。156
He was standing atop a hill covered with many small oak trees and crowned with a single immense oak, laden with mistletoe and ivy and moss.”他站在一座山丘顶上，山丘上长满了许多小橡树，最高处则耸立着一棵巨大的橡树，树上缀满了槲寄生、常春藤和苔藓。”157
“That would have to be Oakwood Knoll, your lordship,” Captain Thurbal said.“那一定是橡木林丘，大人，”瑟巴尔队长说道。158
“East of the river.”“就在河东边。”159
“A monster that size will be easy to follow,” Breck said, heading for the door.“那么大的怪物，很容易追踪，”布雷克一边说，一边朝门口走去。160
Mourngrym’s arm shot out and caught Breck’s tunic, pulling him back.莫恩格林猛地伸出手臂，一把揪住布雷克的短上衣，将他拽了回来。161
“Hold on a minute there, man,” his lordship said.“先等一下，伙计，”领主大人说道。162
“This … thing’s already attacked you once today.“这……东西今天已经袭击过你一次了。163
You can’t go after it alone.你不能独自去追它。164
The dale’s full of hiding places.谷地里到处都是藏身之处。165
You could be tracking it for days.你可能得追踪它好几天。166
Let me get a party of guards and provisions together.让我召集一队卫兵，再备好补给。167
It will only take a few hours.”只需要几个小时。”168
“A few hours!”“几个小时！”169
Breck shouted.布雷克大喊道。170
“Kyre’s been murdered, and you expect me to wait a few hours?“凯尔被杀了，你还指望我再等几个小时？171
I’m going to bring this creature’s head back on a pike—and Akabar’s, too, if I find he’s in league with it.”我要把这怪物的脑袋插在长矛上带回来——还有阿卡巴的脑袋，要是我发现他和它是一伙的。”172
Zhara rose quickly and rushed at Breck, pushing him back against the table with a surprising show of strength.扎拉猛然起身，冲向布雷克，以惊人的力气将他推得撞在桌边。173
“My husband,” she hissed, “is a man of honor, a scholar and a mage.”“我的丈夫，”她咬牙低声说道，“是个正直的人，是学者，也是法师。”174
The young priestess’s voice rose in fury, and her eyes flashed with fire.年轻女祭司的声音因愤怒而高亢起来，双眼中闪烁着怒火。175
“How dare you suggest such a thing?” she shouted.“你怎么敢说这种话？”她厉声喊道。176
“If you harm one hair on his head, I will bring Tymora’s curse down upon you!”“你要是敢伤他一根头发，我就让泰摩拉降咒于你！”177
Breck looked stunned by the veiled woman’s verbal attack.布雷克似乎被蒙面女子这一通言语攻击惊呆了。178
It took him only a moment to recover, however.不过，他只用了一会儿便回过神来。179
“You could be in league with him, too, for all I know,” he said to Zhara.“说不定你也和他是一伙的，我怎么知道，”他对扎拉说道。180
Zhara called Breck one of the few Turmish words Mourngrym knew.扎拉用图米什语骂了布雷克一句，而那个词恰好是莫恩格林仅会的几个图米什词之一。181
His lordship blushed.领主大人脸红了。182
Fortunately, Breck didn’t realize he’d been insulted.幸好布雷克没意识到自己挨了骂。183
Dragonbait gently pulled Zhara away from the ranger.龙饵轻轻把扎拉从游侠身边拉开。184
Then he signed to Alias.接着，他向阿莉亚丝打了几个手势。185
She nodded.她点了点头。186
“Your lordship,” Alias announced to Mourngrym, “Dragonbait and I can be ready to leave in a quarter of an hour.“领主大人，”阿莉亚丝对莫恩格林说道，“我和龙饵一刻钟内就能准备好出发。187
If you can wait that long, Breck Orcsbane, we will join you.”如果你能等上这么久，布雷克·奥克斯班，我们就和你一起去。”188
“He can wait that long,” Mourngrym said firmly.“他能等这么久。”莫恩格林斩钉截铁地说道。189
“Try to keep in mind, Orcsbane, that if you bring nothing but heads back, we may never find Elminster or Nameless or Olive Ruskettle.“奥克斯班，你要记住，如果你带回来的只有脑袋，我们也许就永远找不到伊尔明斯特、无名者或奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔了。190
I understand how you feel about Kyre, but we have to think of those who are still alive.我明白你对凯尔的感情，但我们必须为还活着的人着想。191
I want you to try to capture the beast.”我要你设法活捉那头野兽。”192
“Capture a denizen of the Nine Hells?”“活捉一个九层地狱的生灵？”193
Breck shouted.布雷克大喊道。194
“That’s impossible!”“这不可能！”195
“Try,” Lord Mourngrym said.“试试看。”莫恩格林领主说道。196
“It may not be a fiend.”“它未必是邪魔。”197
“Kyre said that it was!”“凯尔说它就是！”198
Breck hissed angrily.布雷克愤怒地低声吼道。199
“Try to capture it anyway,” Mourngrym insisted.“不管怎样，都要设法活捉它。”莫恩格林坚持道。200
“And return Akabar Bel Akash alive, whether he resists or not.”“还要把阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什活着带回来，无论他是否反抗。”201
“I will go, too, to see that this man obeys,” Zhara said.“我也要去，确保这个人服从命令。”扎拉说道。202
“Oh, no, you don’t!”“哦，不行，你不能去！”203
Breck insisted.布雷克坚持道。204
“Your lordship, this woman is the man’s wife.“领主大人，这个女人是那男人的妻子。205
I want you to arrest her.”我要您逮捕她。”206
“I can’t arrest a woman for being a man’s wife,” Mourngrym said, barely able to contain his own annoyance with the ranger.“我不能仅仅因为一个女人是某个男人的妻子就逮捕她。”莫恩格林说道，他几乎压不住自己对这名游侠的恼火。207
“But she could warn him that we’re coming and foil our attempts to capture him,” Breck argued.“但她可能会向他通风报信，泄露我们要来的消息，让我们没法抓住他。”布雷克争辩道。208
“Lady Zhara,” Morala said softly, “it would be best if you remain here in the tower.“扎拉夫人，”莫拉拉轻声说道，“您最好留在塔里。209
As you said, your husband is a man of honor.正如您所说，您的丈夫是个重信义的人。210
The least we can do is keep you safe until his return.”我们至少可以在他回来之前保护您的安全。”211
“Keep me hostage, you mean!”“你是说，把我扣作人质！”212
Zhara exclaimed hostilely.扎拉满怀敌意地叫道。213
“We’re riding into the wilderness, and we’ll probably end up having to fight this Grypht,” Alias said with annoyance.“我们要骑马深入荒野，最后很可能还得跟这个格里夫特交手，”阿莉亚丝不耐烦地说。214
“You’d only slow us down and get in the way.”“你只会拖慢我们的速度，碍手碍脚。”215
“I am following my husband,” Zhara insisted angrily.“我要去追随我的丈夫。”扎拉气愤地坚持道。216
“No, you aren’t!”“不，你不能去！”217
Breck shouted.布雷克大喊道。218
“Please stay here, Lady Zhara,” Morala coaxed.“请留在这里吧，扎拉夫人。”莫拉拉柔声劝道。219
Dragonbait made two short, sharp signs to the Turmishwoman, which Alias did not see.龙饵朝图米什女子迅速而有力地打了两个手势，阿莉亚丝没有看见。220
Zhara bit her lip and took a deep breath.扎拉咬了咬嘴唇，深吸一口气。221
“I will stay,” she said softly.“我留下。”她轻声说道。222
“Show me to my room.”“带我去我的房间吧。”223
“Captain Thurbal, would you escort this lady to my wife’s quarters and ask Lady Shaerl to look after her?”“瑟巴尔队长，能否请你护送这位夫人到我妻子的住处，并请谢尔夫人照料她？”224
Mourngrym asked.莫恩格林问道。225
“Yes, your lordship,” the captain said, nodding.“遵命，大人。”队长点头说道。226
“This way, lady,” he said, motioning for Zhara to follow him.“这边请，夫人。”他说着，示意扎拉跟他走。227
Akabar’s wife laid her hand on Dragonbait’s chest and looked into his eyes.阿卡巴的妻子把手放在龙饵胸前，凝视着他的双眼。228
The paladin ran a clawed finger down the sleeve of her robe and nodded.圣武士用一根带爪的手指顺着她的袍袖划下，点了点头。229
Then Zhara turned and followed Thurbal from the room, as meekly as a child.随后，扎拉转过身，温顺得像个孩子，跟着瑟巴尔离开了房间。230
Dragonbait signed to Alias that he would fetch their things from the inn.龙饵打手势告诉阿莉亚丝，他会去客栈取回他们的东西。231
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。232
“I’ll gather some provisions together if Harper Breck will take care of saddling our horses,” she said.“如果竖琴手布雷克愿意负责给我们的马备好鞍，我就去准备些补给。”她说道。233
“I’ll be waiting for you at the bridge,” Breck replied.“我会在桥边等你们。”布雷克回答。234
He strode from the room.他大步走出了房间。235
Dragonbait followed him out.龙饵跟着他走了出去。236
“You have your work cut out for you,” Mourngrym warned Alias.“这下可有得你忙了。”莫恩格林提醒阿莉亚丝。237
“If you think you need help handling Breck, I can ride along with you.”“要是你觉得应付布雷克需要帮手，我可以和你们一起去。”238
“No, thank you, your lordship,” Alias said.“不必了，谢谢您，领主大人。”阿莉亚丝说。239
“I’m sure Kyre was wrong about Grypht’s origins, but if she was correct about his working for the Zhentarim, the Zhentarim may be planning an attack on Shadowdale.“我确信凯尔弄错了格里夫特的来历，但如果她说他为散塔林会效力这件事没错，那么散塔林会或许正在谋划袭击阴影谷。240
The dale folk need you here.谷地居民需要您留在这里。241
As a favor to me, however, please see that Akabar’s wife stays here.”不过，看在我的情面上，请务必让阿卡巴的妻子留在这里。”242
“We’ll keep her safe,” Morala promised.“我们会保护好她的。”莫拉拉保证道。243
“Just keep her out of my way,” Alias muttered.“只要别让她碍我的事就行。”阿莉亚丝嘟囔道。244
Mourngrym pursed his lips with disapproval.莫恩格林不以为然地抿起嘴唇。245
Alias never seemed to get along with clergy.阿莉亚丝似乎从来都无法与神职人员和睦相处。246
It was lucky Dragonbait had so much influence over the Turmishwoman.幸好龙饵对那个图米什女子颇有影响力。247
His lordship wondered what it was the saurial had signed to the priestess to make her obey so readily.领主大人不禁好奇，那个蜥蜴人究竟对女祭司打了什么手势，竟让她如此顺从。248
“I’ll be sure the guards know she’s not to leave the tower, Alias,” Mourngrym said.“我会确保守卫都知道，不能让她离开高塔，阿莉亚丝。”莫恩格林说。249
“I’ll take you down to the storeroom to help you collect provisions.”“我带你去下面的储藏室，帮你收集补给。”250
“I think I’ll stay here to rest awhile,” Morala said.“我想留在这里休息一会儿。”莫拉拉说。251
She stepped closer to the swordswoman.她朝女剑士走近了一步。252
“We should say our good-byes now, Alias of Westgate.“我们现在就该道别了，来自西门城的阿莉亚丝。253
If you happen to meet Nameless before we meet again, remember to ask him to tell you the whole truth.”如果我们再次见面之前，你碰巧遇到无名者，记得让他把全部真相告诉你。”254
“I’ll remember,” Alias replied.“我会记得的。”阿莉亚丝回答。255
Morala reached up and laid a hand on Alias’s shoulder.莫拉拉抬起手，搭在阿莉亚丝的肩上。256
“Grief and pain lie in your path.“你的前路横亘着悲伤与痛苦。257
May sweet music and brave songs bring you strength to endure them until you know joy again.”愿悦耳的乐声与勇者的歌谣赐予你力量，让你能忍受这一切，直至再度寻得欢乐。”258
Morala removed her hand from Alias’s shoulder.莫拉拉把手从阿莉亚丝肩上移开。259
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。260
She didn’t believe prayers did any good, but at least Morala’s blessing hadn’t been too silly.她不相信祈祷有什么用，不过至少莫拉拉的祝福还不算太傻。261
“Good-bye, Morala,” the swordswoman said.“再见，莫拉拉。”女剑士说道。262
“It’s been … interesting meeting you.”“能认识你……还挺有意思的。”263
Morala smiled wryly.莫拉拉苦笑了一下。264
Alias turned and strode from the room, and Mourngrym followed after her.阿莉亚丝转身大步走出房间，莫恩格林跟在她身后。265
Grypht looked with a great deal of satisfaction down the ravine that cut across his path.格里夫特颇为满意地俯视着横断在他前路上的峡谷。266
It was quite deep and long, but far too wide to leap across.峡谷很深，也很长，但宽得根本不可能一跃而过。267
It was just what he needed to slow down any would-be trackers.这正是他拖慢任何潜在追踪者所需要的障碍。268
He walked north along the edge for a hundred yards, then halted.他沿着峡谷边缘向北走了一百码，随后停下脚步。269
The scent of fresh-mown hay rose again from his body as he summoned another dimensional portal to take him across the ravine with his burden.当他召唤另一道次元传送门，准备带着负担穿过峡谷时，新割干草的气味再次从他身上散发出来。270
Once he stood on the other side, he moved as carefully as possible so as not to leave a trail that could be easily spotted from across the ravine.来到峡谷另一边后，他尽可能小心地移动，以免留下从对岸也能轻易发现的踪迹。271
Then he turned once again toward the sinking sun, following the beam of the yellow crystal.随后，他循着黄色水晶射出的光束，再次转向那轮西沉的太阳。272
Dragonbait loped back to the tower carrying two sacks in addition to his pack and Alias’s. One sack was full of Alias’s weaponry and armor, both old and new; the other contained leftover dried rations he’d had stored in his room.龙饵大步跑回高塔，除了自己和阿莉亚丝的背包外，还带着两个口袋。一个口袋装满了阿莉亚丝的新旧武器和盔甲；另一个装着他先前储藏在房间里的剩余干粮。273
The saurial nodded politely to the guards as he passed through the tower’s front gate once again.这名蜥族人再次穿过高塔正门时，礼貌地朝守卫点了点头。274
He crossed the entrance hall quickly, then dashed up the stairs and raced through the corridors.他迅速穿过门厅，随后冲上楼梯，在走廊间飞奔。275
He didn’t have much time.他的时间不多了。276
He stood before the door to Lady Shaerl’s quarters and took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves.他站在莎尔女士住处的门前，深吸了几口气，好让自己镇定下来。277
He was about to engage in a deceit, something which always made him uncomfortable, even when he believed it was for a good cause, such as allowing Zhara to accompany her husband’s rescue party.他正要施行一场欺骗；这种事总会令他不安，即使他相信这是为了正当的理由，比如让扎拉加入营救她丈夫的队伍。278
Without Alias’s support, Dragonbait knew he’d never break down Breck’s opposition to the priestess’s presence.龙饵知道，没有阿莉亚丝的支持，他绝不可能消除布雷克对这位女祭司同行的反对。279
The paladin needed time to persuade the swordswoman to accept Zhara, but things were happening too quickly.这位圣武士需要时间说服女剑士接纳扎拉，可事情发展得太快了。280
He didn’t want to defy Lord Mourngrym, Breck, or most especially Alias, but he had no other choice.他不想违抗莫恩格林大人、布雷克，尤其不想违抗阿莉亚丝，但他别无选择。281
The saurial knocked on Lady Shaerl’s door.龙饵敲了敲沙尔夫人的房门。282
From within, Lady Shaerl called out, “Come in.”沙尔夫人在里面喊道：“进来。”283
Dragonbait opened the door and stepped inside.龙饵打开门，走了进去。284
Zhara sat on a couch beside Mourngrym’s wife, Shaerl, who held a sleeping Scotty in her arms.扎拉坐在莫恩格林的妻子沙尔身旁的长椅上，沙尔怀里抱着熟睡的斯科蒂。285
The saurial signed very quickly to her ladyship.龙饵飞快地向夫人打了一串手势。286
Shaerl understood the signing immediately and laughed.沙尔立刻看懂了他的手势，笑了起来。287
“Certainly, Dragonbait.“当然可以，龙饵。288
Any time you wish to be alone with a lady in my quarters, just ask,” she said lightly.你什么时候想在我的房间里和哪位女士单独待着，只管开口就是了，”她轻快地说道。289
The paladin raised his eyes to the ceiling.圣武士抬眼望向天花板。290
Her ladyship’s teasing could be most inappropriate at times.夫人有时开的玩笑实在很不得体。291
But then what else could one expect of a Cormyte noblewoman who understood the thieves’ sign language?不过，一个连盗贼手语都懂的科米尔贵族女子，又能指望她怎样呢？292
Not even motherhood, Dragonbait noted, had dampened the woman’s taste for mischief and adventure.龙饵注意到，即使当了母亲，她对恶作剧和冒险的兴致也丝毫未减。293
Obviously she did not intend her future to be any less colorful than her past.显然，她并不打算让自己的未来比过去少半分精彩。294
The saurial signed that his business was urgent.龙饵打手势表示，他有急事。295
“Excuse me, Zhara,” Shaerl said, “while I go put this little monster to bed.”“失陪一下，扎拉，”沙尔说，“我去把这个小怪物放到床上。”296
Her ladyship rose and carried Scotty into an adjacent room and closed the door behind her.夫人站起身，把斯科蒂抱进相邻的房间，并随手关上了门。297
“I did as you asked,” the priestess said in low tones once the two of them were alone.等只剩下他们两人后，女祭司压低声音说：“我按你说的做了。298
“I pretended to submit.我假装顺从。299
But I will not remain here while Akabar is in danger.”但阿卡巴身处险境，我绝不会留在这里。”300
Dragonbait signed to Zhara that he was sure that Akabar had nothing to fear from Grypht; Grypht was his friend.龙饵打手势告诉扎拉，他确信阿卡巴不必害怕格里夫特；格里夫特是他的朋友。301
Hastily the paladin signed his plans for her escape; then he began pulling pieces of Alias’s armor out of the sack.圣武士匆匆用手势向她说明了逃走的计划，随后开始从袋子里一件件掏出阿莉亚丝的铠甲。302
A few minutes later, the pair of them descended the stairway into the front entrance hall.几分钟后，两人沿楼梯下到了正门大厅。303
“This will never work,” Zhara whispered, tugging at the uncomfortable studded leather collar she now wore around her throat.“这绝对行不通。”扎拉低声说道，一边扯着此刻箍在颈间、令她很不舒服的镶钉皮革护领。304
“Even if I look like Alias, my skin is too dark,” she argued.“就算我看起来像阿莉亚丝，我的肤色也太深了。”她争辩道。305
Dragonbait made a wheezing noise.龙饵发出一阵呼哧声。306
Zhara realized he was chuckling.扎拉这才意识到他是在低声发笑。307
They won’t see your skin, he signed, only your flesh.他们不会看你的肤色，他打着手势说道，只会看你的肉体。308
Zhara shuddered and clutched the bundle that held her robes closer to her chest.扎拉打了个寒战，把装着自己长袍的包裹紧紧抱在胸前。309
Dragonbait stepped in front of her, and Zhara halted.龙饵跨到她面前，扎拉停下了脚步。310
The saurial forced her arms down from her chest, revealing a healthy cleavage between her breasts that Alias’s enchanted chain armor did not cover.蜥族人硬把她的双臂从胸前拉下来，露出双乳间饱满的乳沟，阿莉亚丝那件附魔锁子甲根本遮不住那里。311
Carry your bundle under one arm, the saurial ordered with his fingers.把包裹夹在一边腋下，蜥族人用手势命令道。312
Hold your head up higher.头再抬高一点。313
Don’t look modest.别显得那么端庄。314
Gods know, Alias isn’t. Dragonbait reached up and arranged a lock of Zhara’s hair over the scholar’s tattoo of three blue dots on her forehead.诸神知道，阿莉亚丝可一点也不端庄。 龙饵伸手把扎拉的一绺头发拨到额前，盖住了她额头上代表学者身份的三点蓝色刺青。315
Don’t rest your hand on the sword hilt, he added.别把手搭在剑柄上，他又补充道。316
That’s for swaggering amateurs.只有爱装腔作势的外行才那么干。317
Zhara moved her hand from the blade’s handle, and Dragonbait continued to instruct the priestess as they made their way down the staircase.扎拉把手从剑柄上移开；两人沿楼梯往下走时，龙饵继续指点着这位女祭司。318
Just nod to the guards when you go past.经过守卫身边时，只要朝他们点点头。319
Pay attention to my signing, and they’ll realize you’re too busy to chat.专心看我打手势，他们就会明白你正忙着，没空闲聊。320
When they reached the entrance hall, the saurial began to encourage Zhara with a steady banter.来到门厅后，蜥蜴人便不停地打着手势，为扎拉鼓劲。321
Remember, you’re Alias, the warrior who defeated the Iron Throne’s hired kalmari and the evil fiend Phalse.记住，你是阿莉亚丝，是击败了铁王座雇来的卡尔马里和邪恶魔头法尔斯的战士。322
They all admire your courage.他们都钦佩你的勇气。323
You’re probably the most talented singer in the Realms.你多半是诸界最有才华的歌手。324
They all love your singing.他们都爱听你唱歌。325
You are very beautiful.你非常美丽。326
The young women want to be like you and the young men want to be with you.年轻姑娘都想成为你，年轻男人都想和你在一起。327
Zhara’s eyes met with those of one of the guards at the door.扎拉与门边一名守卫的目光相遇了。328
The guard nodded politely.那名守卫礼貌地点了点头。329
Zhara nodded in return and hastily averted her eyes back to Dragonbait’s signing hands.扎拉也点头回礼，随即慌忙移开视线，重新盯住龙饵那双正在比划的手。330
She could feel herself flushing.她能感觉到自己涨红了脸。331
She had never before appeared in public without her veil, let alone without her priestess’s robes.她从未不戴面纱便出现在众人面前，更别说连祭司袍都没穿了。332
Only her husband had ever seen this much of her body before, and the priestess felt more than embarrassed.此前只有她的丈夫见过她露出这么多身体，这让女祭司窘迫不已。333
She felt ashamed, as though she’d been unfaithful to Akabar.她感到羞耻，仿佛自己对阿卡巴不忠似的。334
Once they’d stepped through the tower’s front gate, Dragonbait clutched Zhara’s arm and hurried her toward the stable.刚跨出高塔的正门，龙饵便一把抓住扎拉的胳膊，匆匆拉着她朝马厩赶去。335
They passed an ornamental rose arbor, and the saurial dodged into it, yanking the priestess after him.他们经过一座装饰性的玫瑰花廊，蜥蜴人闪身钻了进去，把女祭司也拽了进来。336
The arbor protected them from the rain that continued to fall as well as from curious eyes.花廊既为他们挡住了仍在下个不停的雨，也遮住了好奇的目光。337
Give me the sword, but put your robes back on over the armor.把剑给我，不过把你的祭司袍重新套到盔甲外面。338
You may need its protection, Dragonbait signed.龙饵打着手势说，你可能还需要这身盔甲护着你。339
“How much protection can it possibly offer?”“它能起多大保护作用？”340
Zhara asked, unstrapping the sword’s sheath from the metal girdle about her waist.扎拉一边问，一边从腰间的金属腰带上解下剑鞘。341
“There’s nothing to it.“这盔甲根本没遮住多少地方。342
Besides, what will Alias wear?”再说了，阿莉亚丝穿什么？”343
Don’t be fooled by the chain mail’s looks.别被这件锁子甲的外表骗了。344
It’s heavily enchanted, Dragonbait explained.它施有很强的魔法，龙饵解释道。345
Alias can wear her spare armor.阿莉亚丝可以穿她的备用盔甲。346
Remember what I told you, he warned as she donned her robes, once you are across the bridge, hide in the woods until you see us pass.“记住我跟你说的话，”他在她穿上长袍时警告道，“过桥以后，躲进树林里，直到看见我们经过。”347
Wait awhile longer before you follow.再多等一会儿，然后再跟上来。348
Look for strips of white or blue cloth.留意白色或蓝色的布条。349
Here, take this cloak, he ordered, handing her one of Alias’s old cloaks.“来，披上这件斗篷。”他命令道，递给她一件阿莉亚丝的旧斗篷。350
Cover your head with the hood—a veil will attract too much attention.用兜帽遮住头——面纱会招来太多注意。”351
Handing her a small sack of dry rations, he signed, This is all the food I could collect, but we will pass several farm fields.他递给她一小袋干粮，比划道：“这是我能搜集到的全部食物，不过我们会经过好几片农田。”352
The farmers will not object if you glean from them.你去田里捡些收割后遗落的粮食，农夫们不会介意的。353
Take care, lady, until we meet again.女士，多保重，等我们再见。”354
Zhara grabbed Dragonbait’s tunic.扎拉一把抓住龙饵的上衣。355
“All those things you said about Alias in the tower …“你在塔里说的那些关于阿莉亚丝的话……356
I am not like her.我跟她不一样。357
I’m not nearly so brave or so talented or so beautiful.我远没有她那么勇敢，也没有她那么有本事，更没有她那么美。358
I do not think I can do this,” she whispered anxiously.我觉得自己做不到。”她焦虑地低声说道。359
Dragonbait stroked Zhara’s arm, and the priestess felt the blue brand on her arm tingle just as it had when he had touched it before.龙饵轻抚着扎拉的手臂，女祭司感到手臂上那道蓝色烙印一阵刺痒，就像他上次碰到它时一样。360
It was an oddly comforting feeling.这种感觉奇异地令人安心。361
You are different from Alias, the paladin signed, but you can do this.“你和阿莉亚丝不一样，”圣武士比划道，“但你能做到。”362
You must and you will.你必须做到，也一定会做到。”363
The smell of garlic surrounded them, the scent of the saurial’s determination.大蒜的气味萦绕在他们周围，那是蜥蜴人决心的气息。364
Without another word, Dragonbait gave Zhara a light shove toward the road.龙饵没再说什么，只是轻轻推了扎拉一把，让她朝大路走去。365
The woman hurried toward the bridge and passed by the sentries stationed on the near side.扎拉匆匆走向大桥，从驻守在桥这一端的哨兵身边经过。366
In the drizzling rain, they didn’t find it unusual that a traveler should keep her face covered under the hood of her cloak.细雨之中，他们并不觉得一个旅人用斗篷兜帽遮住脸有什么反常。367
When Zhara had reached the opposite side, the lizard strode back to the tower, carrying his and Alias’s packs and the sack containing the swordswoman’s spare armor.扎拉抵达对岸后，蜥蜴人大步返回高塔，带着他和阿莉亚丝的行囊，以及装有女剑士备用盔甲的袋子。368
The guards at the gate exchanged confused looks as Dragonbait returned to the tower.龙饵回到塔楼时，门口的守卫们困惑地面面相觑。369
“Forget something, Dragonbait?” one of them asked.“忘了什么东西吗，龙饵？”其中一人问道。370
The saurial nodded and strode past quickly.蜥蜴人点点头，快步从他们身边走过。371
The guards shrugged as Dragonbait raced down the hall toward the tower storerooms.龙饵沿着走廊朝塔楼的储藏室飞奔而去，守卫们只是耸了耸肩。372
The paladin followed the trail of Alias’s scent until he found her standing beside Mourngrym in the armory, examining longbows.圣武士循着阿莉亚丝的气味一路追踪，最后在军械库里找到了她；她正站在莫恩格林身旁，查看几张长弓。373
Dragonbait shook the sack of armor to attract her attention.龙饵抖了抖装盔甲的袋子，引起她的注意。374
“Just a minute, Dragonbait,” Alias said, choosing a hornwood bow and handing it to Mourngrym.“等一下，龙饵。”阿莉亚丝说着，挑了一张角木弓，递给莫恩格林。375
“You change,” Mourngrym said, picking up a quiver of arrows.“你换衣服吧。”莫恩格林说着，拿起一筒箭。376
“I’ll take this out to your horse and make sure Breck doesn’t bolt off without you.”“我把这些拿到你的马那儿去，顺便确保布雷克不会丢下你先跑了。”377
His lordship left the storeroom.领主大人离开了储藏室。378
When they were alone, Alias asked the saurial, “What took you so long?”只剩下他们两个后，阿莉亚丝问蜥蜴人：“你怎么去了这么久？”379
Dragonbait set the sack of armor down and signed, I went to say good-bye to Zhara and to try to reassure her about Akabar.龙饵放下装盔甲的袋子，比画道：我去向扎拉道别，也想宽慰她几句，让她别太担心阿卡巴。380
“Tymora!“泰摩拉啊！”381
You are so naive,” Alias chided.“你真是太天真了。”阿莉亚丝斥道。382
“Zhara doesn’t need any comforting.“扎拉根本不需要任何安慰。”383
That woman doesn’t care anything about Akabar.“那个女人根本不在乎阿卡巴。”384
As far as priests are concerned, gods come first; husbands and wives place a poor second,” she declared.“对祭司来说，神明永远排在第一位；丈夫和妻子只能屈居第二。”她断言道。385
You are wrong, Dragonbait signed.你错了，龙饵比画道。386
She is a good woman.她是个好女人。387
“She’s a fanatic,” Alias countered.“她是个狂信徒。”阿莉亚丝反驳道。388
So are you, the paladin signed.你也是，圣武士比画道。389
You denied everything she and Akabar said without considering it carefully.你根本没有仔细考虑，就把她和阿卡巴说的一切全盘否定了。390
“Moander is not coming back,” Alias snapped.“莫安德不会回来了。”阿莉亚丝厉声说道。391
You argue from emotion, not reason, Dragonbait signed.你是在感情用事，不是在讲道理，龙饵比划道。392
You cannot change the truth by denying it.否认事实并不能改变真相。393
Moander is returning, Alias, and Akabar must destroy him.莫安德就要回来了，阿莉亚丝，而阿卡巴必须消灭他。394
“Why Akabar?” the swordswoman cried.“为什么非得是阿卡巴？”女剑士喊道。395
“Why should he have to fight Moander again?“为什么他非得再和莫安德交手不可？396
Why not someone else?”为什么不能换个人？”397
I don’t know, the paladin signed, but you are not helping him by insulting his wife and his faith.我不知道，圣武士比划道，但你侮辱他的妻子和信仰，对他毫无帮助。398
Alias lowered her eyes, realizing uneasily that Dragonbait could be right but unwilling to admit it.阿莉亚丝垂下眼睛，心中不安地意识到龙饵也许是对的，却不愿承认。399
“We have to hurry or Breck will try to leave without us,” she said, bending over and dumping out the contents of her sack of armor.“我们得快点，不然布雷克会扔下我们自己走的。”她一边说，一边俯下身，把装盔甲的袋子里的东西全倒了出来。400
“Where’s my other chain shirt?” she asked.“我的另一件锁子甲呢？”她问。401
Dragonbait shrugged and signed that he hadn’t been able to find it.龙饵耸了耸肩，比划说他没能找到。402
“Dragonbait!” the swordswoman cried with annoyance.“龙饵！”女剑士恼火地喊道。403
“It was lying across the chair.“它明明就搭在椅子上。404
Are you certain you didn’t just choose not to bring it?”你确定不是自己不想带，才故意没拿的吗？”405
Dragonbait shrugged.龙饵耸了耸肩。406
For months the paladin had tried to talk Alias out of wearing the chain shirt she’d gotten from the evil sorceress Cassana.几个月来，圣武士一直试图劝阿莉亚丝别再穿那件从邪恶女术士卡萨娜手中得到的锁子甲。407
The piece of armor was exceedingly immodest and consequently earned Alias a good deal of unlooked-for attention from men, but it also carried powerful enchantments that protected her far more than a full breastplate could.那件盔甲极其暴露，因此给阿莉亚丝招来了许多并非她所求的男性关注，但它也附有强大的魔法，提供的保护远胜于一副完整的胸甲。408
After she’d worn it for over a year, Dragonbait had ceased objecting to it.她穿了那件锁子甲一年多以后，龙饵便不再反对了。409
Alias thought that he had finally surrendered to her logic.阿莉亚丝还以为他终于被自己的道理说服了。410
Until now.直到现在。411
“You are such a stick-in-the-mud!”“你可真是个老古板！”412
Alias grumbled.阿莉亚丝抱怨道。413
“Next thing I know, you’ll try to get me to wear a veil like Zhara.”“照这样下去，你下一步就该让我像扎拉一样戴面纱了。”414
It would be easier to get Zhara into Cassana’s armor, the paladin signed.让扎拉穿上卡萨娜的盔甲，恐怕还容易些，圣武士比划道。415
Alias laughed.阿莉亚丝笑了。416
“There’s no time to argue about it now.”“现在没时间争这个。”417
She picked up her old chain shirt and slipped it over her tunic, then picked up the breastplate.她拿起自己那件旧锁子甲，套在束腰外衣外面，接着又拿起胸甲。418
“Well, now that I have no choice but to wear this awful, bulky plate, you could at least help me get into it.”“好吧，既然我别无选择，非得穿上这套又难看又笨重的板甲，你至少可以帮我把它穿上。”419
Dragonbait helped the swordswoman attach the breast and back plates of her old armor about her torso and fastened the shoulder plates to the chain.龙饵帮女剑士把旧盔甲的胸甲和背甲固定在躯干前后，又将肩甲扣在锁子甲上。420
“Forget the rest of the pieces,” Alias said.“剩下的部件就算了，”阿莉亚丝说。421
“I’m not used to that much weight.“我不习惯身上压这么重。422
Leave them here.”把它们留在这里吧。”423
She strapped on her sword and shouldered her pack as Dragonbait placed the rest of her armor on an empty shelf.她把剑系在腰间，背起行囊；与此同时，龙饵将她盔甲的其余部件放到一个空架子上。424
The swordswoman stepped up behind the saurial.女剑士走到蜥人身后。425
When he turned around, she lowered her head meekly and said, “I’m sorry I was so rude to Zhara.他转过身时，她温顺地低下头，说：“对不起，我刚才对扎拉那么无礼。426
Forgive me?”原谅我好吗？”427
Dragonbait looked very stern and signed, It is Zhara you need to apologize to.龙饵神情十分严肃，比画道：你该向扎拉道歉。428
“I will,” Alias promised.“我会的，”阿莉亚丝保证道。429
“Later.“以后再说。430
The next time I see her.下次见到她的时候。431
Don’t be angry with me now … please?”现在别生我的气……好吗？”432
Dragonbait ran his claw along her sleeve, so that her brand tingled comfortingly.龙饵用爪尖顺着她的衣袖划过，令她的烙印泛起一阵令人安心的酥麻。433
Alias could sense from the saurial’s smell that he was still disturbed by something.阿莉亚丝能从蜥人的气味中察觉到，他仍在为什么事心神不宁。434
“What’s wrong?” she asked.“怎么了？”她问。435
Grypht isn’t from the Nine Hells, the paladin signed.格里夫特并非来自九层地狱，圣武士比画道。436
“I know that,” Alias agreed.“这我知道，”阿莉亚丝表示赞同。437
“He couldn’t be, but there’s no sense arguing with Breck about it.“他不可能来自那里，但跟布雷克争这个毫无意义。438
Kyre said he was, and Breck worshiped Kyre.”凯尔说他是，而布雷克崇拜凯尔。”439
Grypht is a friend, Dragonbait signed.格里夫特是朋友，龙饵比划道。440
He is one of my people.他是我的同族。441
Alias’s jaw dropped.阿莉亚丝惊得下巴都要掉了。442
“You mean he’s a saurial?”“你是说，他也是蜥蜴人？”443
Dragonbait nodded.龙饵点了点头。444
“Why didn’t you say something?”“你为什么不早说？”445
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。446
Breck wouldn’t trust Zhara because she was Akabar’s wife.布雷克不会信任扎拉，因为她是阿卡巴的妻子。447
He would not trust me if he knew I was Grypht’s friend.如果他知道我是格里夫特的朋友，也不会信任我。448
Breck is too angry, Dragonbait signed.布雷克太愤怒了，龙饵比划道。449
“Of course he’s angry.“他当然愤怒。450
Wouldn’t you be if you found me in ashes like Kyre?”要是你发现我像凯尔一样化成了灰，难道你不会愤怒吗？”451
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。452
Breck’s anger is dangerous.布雷克的愤怒很危险。453
He cannot be trusted.他不可信任。454
Grypht and Akabar could not have murdered Kyre, but Breck is too angry to consider any other possibility.格里夫特和阿卡巴不可能杀害凯尔，可布雷克气昏了头，根本不会考虑其他可能。”455
“He’ll cool off on the trail,” Alias replied.“上路以后，他会冷静下来的，”阿莉亚丝答道。456
Only bloodshed will cool him off, the paladin signed, but Alias was distracted by the sound of Heth calling her name.只有流血才能让他冷静下来，圣武士比划道，可就在这时，赫斯呼唤阿莉亚丝名字的声音分散了她的注意力。457
The page appeared in the armory door all out of breath.侍童出现在军械库门口，气喘吁吁。458
“Lord Mourngrym asks that you hurry,” the boy said.“莫恩格林大人请你们快一点，”男孩说道。459
“He says it would be easier to hold back the tide than to keep the ranger waiting any longer.”“他说，与其让那位游侠再等下去，还不如挡住潮水来得容易。”460
“We’re coming,” Alias said.“我们这就来，”阿莉亚丝说道。461
Let’s leave by the kitchen door—it’s closer to the stables, Dragonbait signed.我们从厨房门走吧——那里离马厩更近，龙饵比划道。462
Alias nodded, and they hurried to join Breck Orcsbane.阿莉亚丝点点头，两人匆匆赶去与布雷克·奥克斯班会合。463
Grypht laid Akabar down on a bed of crushed grass and sank to the ground beside him.格里夫特把阿卡巴放在一片压倒的草地上，自己也在他身旁坐了下来。464
His burden had begun to stir, and the lizard decided the ape would probably prefer to waken in a less awkward position then slung over the shoulder of a stranger.他背上的人已经开始动弹，蜥蜴心想，比起被一个陌生人扛在肩上，这猿猴大概更愿意以不那么别扭的姿势醒来。465
Actually, Grypht was grateful to find an excuse to rest.其实，格里夫特很庆幸能找到借口休息。466
He’d grown unaccustomed to trekking up and down hills for long stretches of time.他已经不习惯长时间跋山涉岭了。467
Not wanting to waste time, Grypht laid his staff across his lap and studied the notches and lines cut into it.格里夫特不想浪费时间，便把法杖横放在膝头，研究起上面刻着的凹痕与线条。468
He would need to relearn the spell Kyre had prevented him from casting when he first arrived in this world.他得重新学会那个法术——初到这个世界时，凯尔曾阻止他施展它。469
The ape’s sleep grew more and more restless.那猿猴睡得越来越不安稳。470
He began to toss and turn and mutter.他开始辗转反侧，嘴里喃喃不休。471
When Grypht finished studying his magic staff, the saurial turned his attention back to the creature he’d rescued.格里夫特研究完法杖后，又把注意力转回自己救下的生物身上。472
The ape began to shout in his sleep.那猿猴开始在梦中叫喊。473
Grypht couldn’t understand his language, but the creature seemed quite upset, so the saurial shook him gently.格里夫特听不懂他的语言，但这生物似乎十分不安，于是蜥蜴人轻轻摇了摇他。474
Akabar came awake with a start, but he quickly realized he was too weak to sit up.阿卡巴猛然惊醒，但很快便意识到自己虚弱得连坐都坐不起来。475
His eyes darted about in confusion.他的目光困惑地四处游移。476
The creature he’d freed from Kyre’s soul trap sat beside him.他从凯尔的灵魂陷阱中救出的那个生物正坐在他身旁。477
“Elminster?” he whispered.“伊尔明斯特？”他低声问道。478
Grypht shook his head.格里夫特摇了摇头。479
He understood the word “Elminster,” and that certainly wasn’t him.他听得懂“伊尔明斯特”这个词，而他显然不是伊尔明斯特。480
The lizard pointed to himself and said, “Grypht” in saurial, but of course the ape could not comprehend.蜥蜴指了指自己，用蜥蜴人语说道：“格里夫特。”但那猿猴当然听不懂。481
Grypht pulled out a lump of red clay from his pocket and began fashioning it into a series of five short cylinders, each with a smaller circumference than the previous one.格里夫特从口袋里掏出一块红黏土，开始把它捏成五个短圆柱，每一个的周长都比前一个更小。482
He piled one on top of the other until he had formed the model of a ziggurat.他把它们一个个叠起来，做成了一座阶梯金字塔的模型。483
A clay ziggurat is the component of a tongues spell, Akabar realized.阿卡巴意识到，黏土制成的阶梯金字塔正是施展通晓语言法术所需的材料。484
In his excitement, he found the energy to sit up.他一激动，竟有了坐起来的力气。485
He fidgeted impatiently for Grypht to finish casting so that they could communicate.他焦急地坐立不安，只盼格里夫特快些完成施法，好让他们能够交谈。486
The scent of fresh-mown hay filled the air about them, and the miniature tower balanced on the lizard’s palm glowed as if it were sitting in a kiln.新割干草的气息弥漫在他们周围，那座托在蜥蜴掌心的微型塔楼泛着光，仿佛正置于窑中烧制。487
Then the tower shattered into several pieces.随后，塔楼碎裂成了好几块。488
Grypht turned his hand upside down, spilling the shards of baked clay into the grass.格里夫特把手掌翻转过来，将烧硬的陶土碎片撒进草丛。489
“I am Grypht,” he said in a deep, low voice.“我是格里夫特。”他用低沉浑厚的声音说道。490
“I am Akabar Bel Akash,” the Turmishman replied.“我是阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”图米什人回答道。491
“I presume you are not a creature of evil as Lady Kyre told us.”“想必你并不像凯尔女士告诉我们的那样，是个邪恶生物。”492
Grypht shook his head.格里夫特摇了摇头。493
“I am a saurial.”“我是蜥蜴族人。”494
“A saurial!”“蜥蜴族人！”495
Akabar said excitedly.阿卡巴兴奋地说道。496
“Like Dragonbait?”“和龙饵一样？”497
Grypht chuckled.格里夫特低声笑了起来。498
He couldn’t wait to find Champion and ask how he’d picked up such a bizarre nickname.他迫不及待地想找到勇士，问问他怎么会得了这么个古怪的绰号。499
“In our tribe, the one you call Dragonbait is known as Champion.“在我们部族里，你们称作龙饵的那个人名叫勇士。500
He is the sworn protector of our people.他是我们族人立誓效忠的守护者。501
I must locate him.”我必须找到他。”502
Akabar nodded.阿卡巴点了点头。503
“He’s here in Shadowdale.”“他就在阴影谷。”504
“Shadowdale?”“阴影谷？”505
Grypht asked.格里夫特问道。506
“The town we’re in—” Akabar paused and looked around.“就是我们所在的那座城镇——”阿卡巴停下来，环顾四周。507
“The town we were in.“是我们刚才所在的那座城镇。508
Where are we now?”我们现在在哪儿？”509
“I fled the tower with you after I destroyed Kyre.”“我消灭凯尔后，带着你逃出了那座塔。”510
“Kyre,” Akabar whispered.“凯尔。”阿卡巴低声说道。511
“You killed her?” he said.“你杀了她？”他说。512
Despite his relief at having escaped the half-elf’s clutches, the Turmishman was unable to control the feeling of misery that swept over him upon learning she was dead.尽管逃脱了那个半精灵的魔掌令图米什人如释重负，可得知她已经死去，一股悲痛仍席卷了他，令他无法自持。513
“She was a minion of Moander,” Grypht said, disturbed by Akabar’s expression.“她是莫安德的爪牙。”格里夫特说道，阿卡巴的神情让他感到不安。514
“She would have drained your spirit and fed you to her master.”“她会吸干你的精神，再把你献给她的主人。”515
“I know,” Akabar said, “but I loved her.”“我知道，”阿卡巴说，“可我爱她。”516
Grypht shook his head.格里夫特摇了摇头。517
Love makes such fools of mages, he thought.爱情真会让法师变成傻瓜，他心想。518
“When I last scried Champion, you and he and a halfling traveled on the back of a red lair-beast—what you call a dragon, I believe—but I have been unable to locate Champion magically for over a year now.“我上一次用占卜术窥见勇士时，你、他和一个半身人正骑在一头红色巢穴兽背上——我想，就是你们所谓的龙——但一年多来，我一直无法用魔法找到勇士。519
Are you certain Champion is in the town we left?”你确定勇士就在我们刚离开的那座镇子里吗？”520
Grypht waited for several moments for Akabar’s answer, but the only noise to fill the silence was a cricket in the brush.格里夫特等了好一会儿，也没听到阿卡巴回答；寂静中，唯有灌木丛里一只蟋蟀在鸣叫。521
Finally the saurial poked the Turmish mage and growled, “Forget Kyre and answer my question.”最后，蜥族人戳了戳这名图米什法师，低吼道：“忘了凯尔，回答我的问题。”522
Akabar looked up with a start.阿卡巴猛然抬起头。523
Realizing it was imperative he communicate with Grypht while the tongues spell still functioned, he shook off his misery and answered the saurial mage.他意识到，必须趁通晓语言法术仍然有效时与格里夫特交谈，于是强压下悲痛，回答了这名蜥族法师。524
“You probably couldn’t find Dragonbait because he travels with Alias.“你大概是因为龙饵和阿莉亚丝同行，才找不到他。525
She’s a warrior with a powerful misdirection spell cast on her, which protects her companions, too.”她是一名战士，身上施有强大的误导法术，连她的同伴也会受到保护。”526
“I could not detect you magically, either.“我同样无法用魔法探知你。527
Were you with them all this time?”这段时间你一直和他们在一起吗？”528
Grypht asked.格里夫特问道。529
“No,” Akabar said.“没有。”阿卡巴说。530
“My wife is also enchanted with a charm of misdirection, but she’s back in Shadowdale.“我妻子身上也施有误导魔咒，不过她还在阴影谷。531
If you couldn’t locate Dragon—er, Champion, how did you know to come to Shadowdale?”如果你找不到龙——呃，勇士，那你怎么知道该来阴影谷？”532
“I chose it because Olive was there.“我选择来这里，是因为奥利芙在这里。533
Since she had once been a companion of Champion’s, I hoped she could tell me where to find him,” Grypht explained.她从前是勇士的同伴，所以我希望她能告诉我去哪里找他。”格里夫特解释道。534
“Olive?“奥利芙？535
Olive Ruskettle is in Shadowdale?”奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔在阴影谷？”536
Akabar asked in amazement.阿卡巴惊讶地问道。537
“She was in the tower,” Grypht explained.“她当时在塔里，”格里夫特解释道。538
“I teleported there, prepared to cast a tongues spell to explain my presence, but Kyre disrupted the spell and convinced others to attack me, so I fled.“我传送到那里，正准备施展巧言术解释我的来意，但凯尔干扰了法术，还煽动其他人攻击我，所以我逃走了。539
I managed to find Olive, but I was unable to speak with her.我设法找到了奥利芙，却没能和她说上话。540
I talked with her friend—a bard, as tall as you are, very arrogant.我和她的朋友谈过——一个吟游诗人，和你一样高，非常傲慢。541
He would not tell me where Champion was.他不肯告诉我勇士在哪里。542
He professed he needed proof that I was a friend of Champion’s, but I think he did not want me to find Champion at all.他声称需要证据，证明我是勇士的朋友，但我觉得他根本不想让我找到勇士。543
Kyre interrupted us and scooped me into her soul trap.凯尔打断了我们，把我摄入了她的灵魂陷阱。544
I thought she must have killed Olive and the bard, but now I believe they escaped, for this stone points out the halfling’s location.”我以为她一定杀了奥利芙和那个吟游诗人，但现在我相信他们逃脱了，因为这块石头指出了那个半身人所在的位置。”545
The saurial held out the yellow crystal.蜥族人伸出手，亮出了那块黄色水晶。546
“The finder’s stone!”“寻踪石！”547
Akabar said.阿卡巴说道。548
“Dragonbait lost it in Westgate.“龙饵在西门城把它弄丢了。549
How did you find it?”你是怎么找到它的？”550
“The bard had it.“它原本在那个吟游诗人手里。551
I found the stone in Kyre’s boot, so I assumed she had killed the bard and Olive.我在凯尔的靴子里找到了这块石头，所以便以为她杀了那个吟游诗人和奥利芙。552
I was using the stone to search for Champion, but it could not discover him for me.我一直在用这块石头寻找勇士，但它没能替我找到他。553
By accident, I thought of Olive, her clever fingers and brash nerve, and the stone sent out a directional light immediately.偶然间，我想到了奥利芙，想到了她灵巧的手指和莽撞的胆量，石头立刻射出一道指示方向的光。554
I couldn’t believe my luck, or the halfling’s, either.我简直不敢相信自己竟有这样的好运，也不敢相信那个半身人的运气竟也这么好。555
She had escaped from Kyre, something I would not have managed without your help.”她从凯尔手中逃了出来，而要是没有你的帮助，我可做不到这一点。”556
“But how did the bard get the finder’s stone?”“可那个吟游诗人是怎么得到寻踪石的？”557
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。558
“He said he created it.“他说那是他创造的。559
He used its magic to speak with me,” Grypht explained.他借助那块石头的魔力与我交谈，”格里夫特解释道。560
Akabar’s brow furrowed.阿卡巴皱起了眉头。561
The bard had to be Nameless.那个吟游诗人一定就是无名者。562
It was possible that he did create the stone.那块石头的确有可能是他创造的。563
He was known as the Crafter as well as the Nameless Bard.除了“无名者吟游诗人”，他也被称为“创造者”。564
Then Akabar found himself wondering why Nameless had kept Dragonbait’s location from Grypht.接着，阿卡巴不禁疑惑，无名者为什么不肯把龙饵的下落告诉格里夫特。565
Did he have some reason to distrust Grypht?难道他有什么理由不信任格里夫特吗？566
Then it occurred to the Turmishman that he still hadn’t found out about Elminster.随后，这个图米什人突然想到，他还没弄清伊尔明斯特出了什么事。567
“What did you do to Elminster?” he demanded.“你把伊尔明斯特怎么了？”他厉声问道。568
“He disappeared before you left.”“你离开之前，他就消失了。”569
“I transferred him to my tower and took his place,” the saurial explained.“我把他传送到了我的塔里，然后取代了他的位置，”蜥蜴人解释道。570
“It was the only way I could absolutely guarantee my safe magical arrival here.”“只有这样，我才能绝对保证自己通过魔法安全抵达这里。”571
“Do you know the trouble you caused?“你知道自己惹出了多大的麻烦吗？572
Everyone thought he’d been kidnapped,” Akabar said.所有人都以为他被绑架了，”阿卡巴说道。573
“My apprentices were instructed to greet him and apologize for the inconvenience.“我吩咐过我的学徒迎接他，并为给他带来的不便道歉。574
He was free to leave at any time.他随时都可以离开。575
He is a great wizard, with the power to travel between planes.他是一位伟大的法师，拥有穿梭于各个位面之间的能力。576
I scried for Olive for some time, waiting for her to approach such a one so that I did not strand anyone in my world.”我曾占卜搜寻奥利芙好一阵子，等着她接近这样一位人物，以免把任何人困在我的世界里。”577
“If Elminster was free to leave, why hasn’t he returned yet?”“如果伊尔明斯特可以自由离开，他为什么到现在还没回来？”578
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。579
“He hasn’t?”“他还没回来？”580
Grypht asked in return.格里夫特反问道。581
Akabar shook his head.阿卡巴摇了摇头。582
“Oh, dear,” the saurial said softly.“噢，糟了。”蜥蜴人低声说道。583
“Oh, dear!”“哦，天哪！”584
Akabar exclaimed.阿卡巴惊叫道。585
“Is that all you can say?“你就只会说这个吗？586
You snatched Elminster from his home to another dimension just to guarantee you had a safe arrival and could find Dragonbait.”你把伊尔明斯特从家中掳到另一个维度，就只是为了保证自己能安全抵达，还能找到龙饵。”587
“It is imperative that I find Champion.“我必须找到勇士。588
Our people’s very existence is imperiled.我们族人的生死存亡正受到威胁。589
I must have his help if I am to save them.”要想救他们，我必须得到他的帮助。”590
“Why?“为什么？591
What’s wrong with your people?”你的族人出了什么事？”592
Akabar asked suspiciously.阿卡巴满腹狐疑地问道。593
“The minions of Moander from the Abyss have come into our land and enslaved them all.“来自无底深渊的莫安德爪牙侵入了我们的土地，奴役了所有族人。594
Only my three apprentices and I remain uncaptured.只有我和我的三个学徒尚未被俘。595
The others have been marched forcibly through the plane of Tarterus and into this world.其他人都被强行押着穿过塔尔塔罗斯位面，来到了这个世界。596
The Darkbringer is using them to recreate a body to use in the Realms.”黑暗使者正利用他们重塑一具躯体，以便在诸界使用。”597
“Moander,” Akabar whispered and shivered.“莫安德。”阿卡巴低声说道，浑身一颤。598
“So my dreams did not lie.“看来我的梦没有骗我。599
It is returning.”它正在归来。”600
“You, too, are an enemy of the Darkbringer?”“你也是黑暗使者的敌人？”601
Grypht asked.格里夫特问道。602
“I have come north to destroy it,” Akabar said with a quavering voice.“我来到北方，就是为了消灭它。”阿卡巴声音发颤地说道。603
“Then you tread a dangerous path, Akabar Bel Akash,” the saurial said.“那么，你正踏上一条危险的道路，阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”那蜥蜴人说道。604
“For of the Darkbringer’s minions in your plane, Kyre the bard was the least, and yet she nearly destroyed you.”“因为在你们位面的黑暗使者爪牙之中，吟游诗人凯尔不过是最弱的一个，可她却险些毁了你。”605