Alias watched with relief as Breck Orcsbane urged his horse down the left-hand fork of the trail they followed in order to scout ahead.阿莉亚丝如释重负地看着布雷克·奥克斯班催马奔上他们所循小径的左侧岔路，前去探路。1
The ranger was in a foul mood, and a respite from his company was more than welcome.这名游侠心情恶劣，能暂时摆脱他的陪伴，实在再好不过。2
He scowled constantly at the ground and hardly spoke to her at all, except to complain about Dragonbait.他总是阴沉着脸盯着地面，几乎一句话也不跟她说，开口也只是抱怨龙饵。3
Alias could understand how Breck felt, but silent, uncritical sympathy did not come easily to her.阿莉亚丝能够理解布雷克的感受，可要她默默同情、不置一词，却并非易事。4
They’d been on the road for three hours now, and at first the ranger’s prediction that it would be easy to track Grypht had proven true.他们上路至今已有三个小时；起初，游侠所料果然不错，格里夫特的踪迹确实很容易追寻。5
They’d begun their search atop Oakwood Knoll and had no trouble finding the creature’s path leading down from the knoll.他们从橡木林丘顶开始搜寻，没费什么力气便找到了那生物下丘时留下的踪迹。6
Grypht was large and heavy; his feet sank deep into the wet soil, and his great tail knocked down large swaths of vegetation like a scythe.格里夫特身躯庞大而沉重，双脚深深陷入湿润的泥土，巨尾则像镰刀一样，将沿途大片草木扫倒。7
Grypht, however, was not a beast, but a creature with intelligence and cunning.然而，格里夫特并非野兽，而是一个既有智慧又懂谋略的生物。8
He knew enough to travel paths that were rocky whenever possible, where he would leave no prints, or to cut through areas heavily strewn with fallen leaves, where he could use his tail to brush the leaves around to cover his passage.他知道应尽可能沿着多石的小径行进，以免留下足迹；或是穿过遍地厚厚落叶的区域，再用尾巴把落叶扫回去，掩盖自己经过的痕迹。9
Following Grypht proved to be a challenge to the Harper ranger, despite his keen eye and years of tracking experience.尽管这名竖琴手游侠眼光敏锐，又有多年的追踪经验，要追踪格里夫特依然颇具挑战。10
He had put himself under so much pressure to avenge Kyre that Alias didn’t like to think what would happen if they lost Grypht’s trail.他为了替凯尔报仇，给自己施加了太大的压力；阿莉亚丝简直不敢想象，若是他们跟丢了格里夫特，会发生什么事。11
The ranger would have been happier, Alias realized, tracking alone.阿莉亚丝意识到，若能独自追踪，这名游侠反而会更自在。12
Then he could grieve for the half-elf in private.那样他就能独自悼念那位半精灵了。13
They couldn’t risk having him find Akabar and Grypht without the presence of others, though.然而，他们不能冒险让他在没有其他人在场的情况下找到阿卡巴和格里夫特。14
In the state Breck was in, he’d end up attacking Grypht or Akabar or both and end up dead himself.以布雷克目前的状态，他最后必定会攻击格里夫特、阿卡巴，或是两者一起攻击，结果白白送掉自己的性命。15
Since Mourngrym had forced Breck to travel with two relative strangers, the ranger repressed his grief behind a wall of hostility.莫恩格林迫使布雷克与两个还算陌生的人同行，因此这名游侠把悲痛压抑在一堵敌意之墙后面。16
As for Breck’s complaints about Dragonbait, though, Alias was on the verge of agreeing with the ranger’s desire to leave the saurial behind.不过，至于布雷克对龙饵的那些抱怨，阿莉亚丝也已经快要赞同这名游侠的想法，把这个蜥族人留在后面了。17
She’d begun the hunt arguing with Breck in Dragonbait’s defense.刚开始追猎时，她还曾为维护龙饵而与布雷克争辩。18
The ranger didn’t want to travel with Dragonbait unless he was mounted, as they were.布雷克不愿与龙饵同行，除非他也像他们一样有坐骑。19
Breck kept insisting that the creature would slow them down, but Alias had explained that Dragonbait could keep up with a trotting horse for hours.布雷克一再坚持说，那家伙会拖慢他们的速度，可阿莉亚丝解释过，龙饵能够连续数小时跟上小跑的马。20
Since then, the saurial paladin had proceeded to make a liar out of her so often that even she was growing annoyed with him.可自那以后，这名蜥族圣武士却一次又一次地让她的话成了谎言，次数多得连她也渐渐对他恼火起来。21
He fell behind again and again for no apparent reason, as if he had no interest in their hunt.他一次又一次地落在后面，毫无明显缘由，仿佛对他们这场追猎根本不感兴趣。22
Once when the swordswoman had turned around to urge him to keep up, Alias had found him gathering nuts.有一回，女剑士转身催他跟上，却发现他正在捡坚果。23
Several times he seemed to know the path Grypht was taking but would not reveal it until Breck had discovered it for himself.还有好几次，他似乎知道格里夫特走的是哪条路，却非要等到布雷克自己发现后才肯透露。24
Alias had first noticed the saurial sniffing the air when they were on Oakwood Knoll.阿莉亚丝第一次注意到这个蜥蜴人在嗅闻空气，是在他们还身处橡木林丘的时候。25
When the party had reached the first stony path, he’d sniffed the air again.队伍抵达第一条石子路时，他又嗅了嗅空气。26
Once Breck had disappeared down the path to check the trail to the north, the saurial had taken a few steps down the path to the south and sat down with a sigh.布雷克沿路离开、前去查看北边的踪迹后，蜥蜴人便朝南边的小路走了几步，叹息着坐了下来。27
He did the same thing at a second fork, and again at a creek bed.在第二个岔路口，他又做了同样的事，之后到了一处干涸的溪床时也是如此。28
He’d waited a quarter of an hour while Breck rode around searching for the trail beneath a thick carpet of leaves, until it seemed as if the ranger might explode.布雷克骑着马四处寻找厚厚落叶下的踪迹时，他足足等了一刻钟，直到游侠看起来简直快要气炸了。29
Then the paladin had casually plodded through the leaves in a direction which Breck, following behind, later found to be correct.随后，圣武士漫不经心地拖着脚步穿过落叶，走向一个方向；跟在后面的布雷克后来发现，这个方向果然是对的。30
Finally guessing that the saurial’s sense of smell might be as sharp as any hunting hound’s, Breck had asked Alias to ask Dragonbait to lead the way, but at the next choice of intersections, Dragonbait scratched his head and acted confused.布雷克终于猜到，蜥蜴人的嗅觉或许和任何猎犬一样敏锐，于是请阿莉亚丝让龙饵带路；可到了下一个需要选择方向的岔路口，龙饵却挠着脑袋，装出一副困惑的样子。31
Breck, completely frustrated with the paladin, had resumed the lead.布雷克对这位圣武士彻底失去了耐心，只得再次走到前面领路。32
Alias, familiar with her companion’s phony “dumb animal” routine, had glared at the saurial and whispered, “What is wrong with you?阿莉亚丝很熟悉同伴那套假装“蠢笨动物”的把戏，便瞪着蜥蜴人，低声问道：“你到底怎么了？33
Why won’t you help him?”为什么不肯帮他？”34
The ranger is beyond my help, Dragonbait had signed.那个游侠已经没救了，龙饵打手势道。35
Alias had ridden off after the ranger in a huff.阿莉亚丝气冲冲地骑马追游侠去了。36
She didn’t know what had gotten into the paladin, but she knew they couldn’t afford to alienate Breck completely.她不知道这位圣武士究竟是怎么了，但她知道，他们不能把布雷克彻底得罪了。37
Aside from worrying about keeping the ranger from starting a battle with Akabar and Grypht, in the back of Alias’s mind was the realization that if they ever did locate Nameless, Breck was one of the bard’s judges.除了担心游侠会挑起一场与阿卡巴和格里夫特的战斗，阿莉亚丝心底还意识到，如果他们真的找到了无名者，布雷克将是审判那位吟游诗人的人之一。38
Now, as Breck disappeared down the fork in the road, Alias dismounted to stretch her legs.此刻，布雷克消失在道路的岔口后，阿莉亚丝下了马，想活动活动双腿。39
Dragonbait was nowhere to be seen.龙饵却不见踪影。40
The swordswoman walked back down the path to see what he was up to.女剑士沿着来路走回去，想看看他在搞什么名堂。41
She spotted him tying a strip of blue cloth to a tree branch just above his head.她发现他正在把一条蓝布系到一根略高于他头顶的树枝上。42
She crept up behind him until she was a mere three feet away.她悄悄从背后靠近，直到离他只有三英尺远。43
“What are you doing?” she asked suddenly.“你在做什么？”她突然问道。44
Dragonbait jumped and whirled around, obviously startled.龙饵吓得一跳，猛地转过身来，显然吃了一惊。45
“You’re marking the trail,” she exclaimed in surprise.“你在给路线做标记，”她惊讶地叫道。46
“Why?”“为什么？”47
Mourngrym might come, Dragonbait signed.莫恩格林可能会来，龙饵打手势道。48
“Mourngrym is not coming,” Alias retorted.“莫恩格林不会来的。”阿莉亚丝反驳道。49
She reached up to yank the strip of cloth from the tree and nearly lost her balance when she tripped on a heap of walnuts piled on the trail just below the branch.她伸手去扯下树上的布条，却被树枝正下方小径上堆着的一堆核桃绊了一下，险些失去平衡。50
“Why are you leaving nuts out on the trail?” she demanded.“你为什么把核桃放在小径上？”她质问道。51
An offering to Tymora, the saurial signed.这是献给泰摩拉的供品，蜥族人比划道。52
“Nuts?”“核桃？”53
Alias cried.阿莉亚丝叫道。54
“Since when does Lady Luck demand offerings of nuts?“幸运女神什么时候开始索要核桃当供品了？55
Dragonbait, what has gotten into you?龙饵，你到底怎么了？56
Why are you slowing us down?”为什么要拖慢我们的脚步？”57
Breck’s too angry, Dragonbait signed as he had at the tower.布雷克太生气了，龙饵像在高塔时那样比划道。58
He’s not getting any calmer.他一点也没消气。59
“But you’re only making him angrier.“可你这样只会让他更生气。60
And you still haven’t told me why you’re marking the trail,” Alias said.而且你还没告诉我，为什么要沿途留下标记。”阿莉亚丝说。61
“What are the nuts for, anyway?”“再说了，这些核桃到底是干什么用的？”62
Dragonbait pointed down the trail.龙饵指向小径前方。63
Breck had returned.布雷克回来了。64
The saurial loped up to the ranger’s horse.蜥族人快步奔向游侠的马。65
Alias growled to herself.阿莉亚丝暗自低吼了一声。66
Dragonbait was keeping something from her, she was certain of it.龙饵有事瞒着她，她对此确信无疑。67
She followed her companion back down the trail.她跟着同伴沿小径往回走。68
“Did you find anything?” she asked Breck as she mounted her horse.“你发现什么了吗？”她一边上马，一边问布雷克。69
Breck nodded wordlessly and led the way back down the fork of the trail he’d just examined.布雷克默默地点了点头，领头沿着他刚刚查探过的那条岔路折返回去。70
Dragonbait slapped at Alias’s horse so it trotted down the trail ahead of him.龙饵拍了一下阿莉亚丝的马，让它沿着小径小跑到自己前面。71
It took the swordswoman a moment to slow her mount and turn to be sure the paladin was following.女剑士过了一会儿才让坐骑慢下来，又转过身，确认那位圣武士有没有跟上。72
Dragonbait trotted past her.龙饵小跑着从她身边经过。73
Alias turned her horse again and followed him.阿莉亚丝再次拨转马头，跟在他后面。74
She’d spotted another strip of cloth hanging from a branch to mark the fork they now rode on.她发现另一条布带挂在一根树枝上，标示着他们此刻所走的这条岔路。75
It wouldn’t do to confront the saurial in front of Breck, but eventually she’d find out what he was up to if she had to shake it out of the paladin.她不能当着布雷克的面质问这个蜥人，但她迟早会弄清楚他究竟在搞什么名堂——哪怕非得从那位圣武士嘴里硬逼出来不可。76
Akabar watched with fascination as Grypht studied the teleport spell carved into his staff.阿卡巴着迷地看着格里夫特研究刻在自己法杖上的传送法术。77
The carvings didn’t look the least bit like any writing Akabar had ever seen.那些刻痕一点也不像阿卡巴见过的任何文字。78
They appeared to be nothing but notches and lines carved at irregular intervals.它们看起来不过是一些间隔不规则的缺口和线条。79
The Turmish scholar longed to pester the saurial wizard into translating for him, but Grypht’s tongues spell had worn off.这位图米什学者很想缠着蜥人法师，让他把那些刻痕翻译出来，可格里夫特的通晓语言法术已经失效了。80
Besides, they had both agreed that the most important thing was for them to return as soon as possible to Shadowdale, so Akabar remained silent.况且，他们都认同，最要紧的是尽快返回阴影谷，所以阿卡巴保持了沉默。81
In the back of the Turmishman’s mind, he was anxious about Zhara.在内心深处，这个图米什人一直在担心扎拉。82
He had a blurry memory of Kyre speaking some spell that included his wife’s name.他模模糊糊记得凯尔念过一道咒语，其中提到了他妻子的名字。83
Dragonbait had promised to look after her, though, which assuaged the southern mage’s fears considerably.不过，龙饵答应过会照看她，这让那位南方来的法师安心了许多。84
Still, he’d be glad to get back to Zhara.即便如此，他还是很想尽快回到扎拉身边。85
He’d also be relieved to get out of the forest wilderness all around them.若能离开四周这片荒僻的森林，他也会松一口气。86
The slender oak saplings that surrounded them were lovely, but there were three especially large maples off to one side whose appearance the mage found disturbing.环绕着他们的纤细橡树幼苗很是秀美，但一旁有三棵格外高大的枫树，它们的模样令法师感到不安。87
By their size, Akabar judged them to be hundreds of years old, but he didn’t expect they could live much longer.从它们的大小来看，阿卡巴判断它们已有数百年树龄，但他觉得它们恐怕活不了多久了。88
Their trunks were riddled with insect bore holes.它们的树干上布满了虫蛀孔。89
Sucker vines covered many of their branches.许多枝条都被吸根藤蔓覆盖。90
While some of their leaves were an autumnal gold, most were brown and dry far too early in the season.它们有些叶子已呈现秋日的金黄，但大多数都早早变得棕黄干枯，远未到这个时节该有的样子。91
He hadn’t noticed the trees when he first regained consciousness, but now he couldn’t get them out of his mind, even when he turned his eyes away from them.刚恢复意识时，他并未留意到这些树；可如今，即使把目光移开，他也无法将它们从脑海中挥去。92
As the sun sank lower in the sky and the shadows lengthened and deepened, the sickly trees and even the young oak saplings seemed to close in on the forest clearing where they sat.随着太阳在天空中渐渐西沉，阴影愈发绵长幽深，那几棵病恹恹的树，甚至连那些年轻的橡树幼苗，似乎都在向他们所坐的林间空地步步逼近。93
Akabar started and gave a shout.阿卡巴猛地一惊，大喊一声。94
The trees were closing in on them.树木正在向他们逼近。95
The oak saplings surrounded them in a neat ring, twenty feet across, standing so close together that their trunks resembled the bars of a prison.橡树幼苗围成了一个直径二十英尺的整齐圆圈，彼此挨得极近，树干宛如监牢的铁栏。96
There was no space wide enough to pass between them; the two mages were trapped inside the circle of saplings with the three great maple trees.树与树之间没有一处空隙宽得足以让人通过；两名法师和那三棵巨大的枫树一起，被困在了幼树围成的圈子里。97
At Akabar’s shout, Grypht looked up from his staff with a look of annoyance that his study had been interrupted.听到阿卡巴的喊声，格里夫特从法杖上抬起头来，脸上带着研究被打断的恼怒。98
The moment the saurial spotted the maples, he leaped to his feet and roared.那个蜥蜴人一看到枫树，便一跃而起，发出一声怒吼。99
Just then Akabar noticed the features of a face on one of the older maples.就在这时，阿卡巴注意到其中一棵老枫树上浮现出了一张脸的轮廓。100
He also noticed that the tree’s trunk split into two great, bark-covered legs.他还注意到，那棵树的树干分叉成了两条覆满树皮的粗腿。101
The maples weren’t trees at all, Akabar realized.阿卡巴这才意识到，那些枫树根本不是树。102
They were treants, good creatures who protected the forest.它们是树人，是守护森林的善良生灵。103
All three treants closed in on Grypht.三个树人全都向格里夫特逼近。104
The saurial wizard growled threateningly and held out his hand to cast a spell.蜥蜴人法师发出威胁的低吼，伸出手准备施法。105
“Wait!”“等等！”106
Akabar warned, stepping between the saurial and the treant he was pointing at.阿卡巴一边警告，一边挡在蜥蜴人和他所指的那个树人之间。107
“These trees are treants,” the Turmishman said.“这些树是树人，”图米什人说道。108
“They won’t harm us.”“他们不会伤害我们的。”109
Grypht growled again, shoving Akabar aside.格里夫特又低吼一声，把阿卡巴推到一旁。110
Akabar remembered then that the saurial could no longer understand him.阿卡巴这才想起，那个蜥蜴人已经听不懂他的话了。111
Somehow he had to figure out a way to keep the wizard from injuring the treants.他必须设法阻止这名法师伤害树人。112
The smell of fresh-mown hay began to fill the meadow as Grypht began sprinkling a tiny white ball with yellow powder.格里夫特开始把黄色粉末撒在一颗小小的白球上，刚割下的青草气味渐渐弥漫整片草地。113
“No!”“不！”114
Akabar shouted.阿卡巴大喊。115
He rushed toward the saurial wizard and yanked at the sleeve of his robe, jerking his arm to one side, so that the fireball Grypht had summoned exploded off to one side of the treants instead of in their midst.他冲向蜥蜴人法师，一把揪住他的法袍袖子，将他的手臂猛地拽向一边，使格里夫特召出的火球在树人旁边爆炸，而没有落入他们中间。116
Immediately several of the oak saplings surrounding them crackled into flame.霎时间，围住他们的几棵橡树幼苗噼啪作响，燃起了火焰。117
Suddenly Akabar felt himself being lifted off the ground by the sash around his robe.突然，阿卡巴感觉自己被人揪住长袍的腰带，提离了地面。118
Akabar strained around and looked up.阿卡巴奋力扭过身子，抬头望去。119
A huge treant held him in one of its woody hands and glared down at him.一个巨大的树人用一只木质巨手抓着他，怒目俯视着他。120
“Please,” Akabar said in common, “don’t harm the saurial.“求求你，”阿卡巴用通用语说道，“别伤害那个蜥蜴人。121
He’s a visitor from another world.他是从另一个世界来的访客。122
He doesn’t understand about treants.”他不了解树人。”123
The treant cackled wickedly and pointed at Grypht with its free leafy hand.树人恶狠狠地尖笑起来，用另一只长满叶子的手指着格里夫特。124
“Kill him!” it ordered the other two treants in a booming voice.“杀了他！”它用洪亮的声音命令另外两个树人。125
“No!”“不！”126
Akabar shouted, struggling fiercely and beating ineffectively at the wooden hand holding him nearly ten feet off the ground.阿卡巴大喊着，拼命挣扎，不住捶打那只将他举到离地近十英尺高处的木手，却毫无作用。127
Unable to cast a spell before the treants were upon him, Grypht grabbed the arm of the nearest one and swung his feet from the ground like a child swinging from a tree branch.树人已经扑到面前，格里夫特来不及施法，只得抓住离他最近的那个树人的手臂，双脚离地荡了起来，活像一个抓着树枝荡秋千的孩子。128
Unable to bear the weight of the giant lizard, the treant’s arm broke away from its body with the dull sound of a rotting log when it crumbles beneath a woodsman’s axe.那树人的手臂承受不住巨蜥的重量，从躯干上断裂下来，发出的闷响如同腐木在樵夫斧下碎裂时一般。129
Dust rose from the decayed wooden arm as it crashed to the ground.腐朽的木臂轰然坠地，扬起一片尘土。130
The injured treant’s face formed a scowl, but it gave no indication that it felt any pain.受伤的树人脸上露出怒容，却丝毫没有显出疼痛。131
Akabar’s eyes widened in horror.阿卡巴惊恐地瞪大了眼睛。132
From the hollow depression where the treant’s arm had broken away from the trunk, a slimy green tendril shot out and whipped about Grypht’s throat.树人手臂从树干上断落后留下的凹陷空洞里，猛地射出一条黏滑的绿色触须，倏然缠住了格里夫特的喉咙。133
Akabar realized he’d made a terrible mistake.阿卡巴意识到自己犯了一个可怕的错误。134
These creatures might once have been treants, but like Kyre, they’d been infested somehow with a rotting parasite that made them servants of the Darkbringer.这些生物或许曾经是树人，但它们和凯尔一样，不知怎的被一种腐败的寄生物侵染，沦为了黑暗使者的仆从。135
The tendril wrapped about Grypht’s throat began to constrict, choking the saurial and pulling him closer to the treant’s other arm.缠住格里夫特喉咙的触须开始收紧，一面扼住蜥蜴人的呼吸，一面将他拖向树人的另一条手臂。136
With both hands, Gryphyt grabbed a section of the tendril between his throat and the treant and gave a sharp, powerful tug.格里夫特双手抓住自己喉咙与树人之间的那段触须，猛然用力一拽。137
The tendril snapped in two like a piece of rotten twine, but before Grypht could move away to try another spell, a second treant came up behind him and smashed one of its arms down heavily on the saurial’s head.触须像一截腐烂的麻绳般断成两截，但格里夫特还没来得及退开施展另一个法术，第二个树人便从背后逼近，抡起一条手臂，重重砸在蜥蜴人的头上。138
Grypht fell to the ground, stunned, and both treants began kicking at him with their massive wooden legs.格里夫特被砸得晕头转向，倒在地上，两个树人随即用粗大的木腿踢打起他来。139
The treant that held Akabar remained motionless.抓着阿卡巴的那棵树人依旧一动不动。140
Akabar slid his dagger out of his sleeve and slashed through the sash at his waist.阿卡巴从袖中滑出匕首，一刀割断了腰间的束带。141
He fell to the ground, landing on his knees, sending needles of pain lancing through them.他摔落在地，双膝着地，针扎般的剧痛顿时贯穿膝盖。142
Quickly he rolled away from the treant, and gritting his teeth against the pain, he staggered to his feet.他迅速翻滚着远离树人，咬紧牙关忍住疼痛，踉跄着站了起来。143
Pulling out a piece of red phosphorus from a pocket of his robe, Akabar began to chant in Turmish.阿卡巴从长袍口袋里掏出一块红磷，开始用图米什语吟唱咒语。144
The moment before the phosphorus ignited, the mage tossed it into the air and imagined a circle.就在红磷即将燃起的前一刻，法师将它抛向空中，同时在脑海中勾勒出一个圆圈。145
A curtain of flame surged up around the treant, trapping it.一道火幕在树人周围腾空而起，将它困在其中。146
The wounded treant attacking Grypht was caught in the perimeter of the blazing wall.那棵正在攻击格里夫特的受伤树人被烈焰之墙的边缘卷了进去。147
The creature bellowed, and its dead leaves ignited with a great whoosh, though the bark of its skin smoldered and would not burn.那生物怒声咆哮，身上的枯叶轰然燃起，但覆盖身体的树皮只是冒着烟，怎么也烧不起来。148
The remaining treant backed away from the fire, and Grypht seized the opportunity to roll away from the monster’s feet toward Akabar.剩下的那棵树人从火焰旁退开，格里夫特抓住机会，从怪物脚边翻滚开来，朝阿卡巴而去。149
The southern mage spat out another spell and rushed forward to distract the treant so the saurial could escape.这位南方来的法师飞快地吐出另一道咒语，冲上前去吸引树人的注意，好让蜥蜴人脱身。150
Instantly six images of Akabar, magical illusions, rushed forward beside him.刹那间，六个阿卡巴的影像——全是魔法幻象——出现在他身旁，与他一同向前冲去。151
The treant wavered with confusion.树人困惑地迟疑起来。152
It reached out to grab the mage, but its wooden hand closed on empty air, and the image before it blinked out of existence.它伸手去抓法师，木头手掌却只攥住了空气，面前的影像也随即一闪而灭。153
The treant turned to grab another image.树人转身去抓另一个影像。154
Behind him, Akabar could smell the scent of Grypht’s spell-casting.阿卡巴闻到了身后格里夫特施法时散发出的气味。155
Two flaming bolts shot between Akabar and his images.两支燃烧的箭矢从阿卡巴与他的幻象之间疾射而过。156
The fiery magical weaponry pierced the hide of the treant, setting its leaves alight, but its bark burnt little better than that of its companion.这两件火焰魔法武器刺穿了树人的外皮，点燃了它的树叶，但它的树皮也没比同伴的好烧多少。157
Grypht picked up the Turmish mage by the waist, slung him over his shoulder, and made a run for the wall of saplings that surrounded them.格里夫特拦腰抱起这位图米什法师，将他甩到肩上，朝包围着他们的树苗墙飞奔而去。158
The small trees were no match for nearly a quarter ton of angry saurial.这些小树根本挡不住将近四分之一吨重、怒气冲冲的蜥蜴人。159
The scaly wizard crashed through the oak saplings as if they were stalks of grass.这位浑身鳞片的法师撞穿了橡树幼苗，仿佛它们只是一根根草茎。160
It was several minutes before he stopped running and set Akabar down on the ground.他足足跑了几分钟才停下来，将阿卡巴放到地上。161
By the light of the saurial’s staff, Akabar could see that the creature was badly injured.借着蜥蜴人法杖的光，阿卡巴看出他伤得很重。162
His breathing was labored, there was a gash in his armor frill, and his scaly face was lacerated and bruised.他呼吸艰难，护甲般的颈褶上裂开了一道口子，布满鳞片的脸也被割伤，青一块紫一块。163
Grypht handed Akabar his staff, and from the sleeves of his robe, he pulled out a strip of parchment, some white powder, and a ten-foot length of silken rope.格里夫特把法杖递给阿卡巴，又从长袍袖中取出一条羊皮纸、一些白色粉末和一根十英尺长的丝绳。164
He twisted the parchment strip once before moistening the ends and fastening them together with a dab of the white powder.他将羊皮纸条扭转一圈，然后润湿两端，用一点白色粉末将它们粘在一起。165
Then he slipped one end of the rope through the twisted loop of paper, sprinkled it with the rest of the white powder, and tossed it into the air.接着，他把绳子的一端穿过扭成环状的纸条，撒上剩余的白色粉末，再将它抛向空中。166
The rope caught on something unseen and dangled before the saurial’s face, suspended from nowhere.绳子仿佛挂在了某个看不见的东西上，凭空悬垂在蜥蜴人的面前。167
Grypht continued to concentrate on the rope for another minute—extending the length of the spell, Akabar suspected—before motioning for the Turmishman to climb it.格里夫特又对着绳子凝神了一分钟——阿卡巴猜想，他是在延长法术的持续时间——然后示意图米什人爬上去。168
Akabar handed Grypht’s staff back to him, spat on his hands, and pulled himself up the rope into the extradimensional space created by the saurial wizard’s spell.阿卡巴把法杖还给格里夫特，往手心吐了口唾沫，抓着绳子向上攀爬，进入了蜥蜴人法师以法术创造出的异次元空间。169
Grypht tossed him his staff, and then Akabar watched anxiously as the scaly lizard hauled his great bulk up the rope with his muscular arms.格里夫特将法杖抛给他，随后阿卡巴焦急地看着这头披鳞巨蜥用肌肉虬结的双臂拖着庞大的身躯爬上绳索。170
Once the wizard had reached the top and collapsed beside him, Akabar pulled the rope up behind them.等法师爬到顶端，瘫倒在他身旁后，阿卡巴便把绳子也拉了上来。171
The space they found themselves in was white and empty.他们置身的空间一片雪白，空无一物。172
The two spell-casters, Grypht’s staff, and the rope were the only occupants of the dimension.这个次元中只有两名施法者、格里夫特的法杖和那根绳子。173
It was a dull place, but safe—for as long as it lasted.这里单调乏味，却很安全——至少在它持续存在期间如此。174
Considering the power Akabar had seen the saurial wizard wield, the Turmishman estimated this dimension spell would last several hours.想到自己见识过的蜥蜴人法师的力量，阿卡巴估计这个次元法术能维持好几个小时。175
He turned to ask Grypht what they would do next, but the saurial was unconscious, gasping for air as if he’d been poisoned.他转过身，正要问格里夫特下一步该怎么办，却发现蜥蜴人已经失去知觉，正大口喘息，仿佛中了毒一般。176
Akabar pulled away the treant vines that remained around the creature’s throat, carefully removing the suckers that appeared to be burrowing into the scales and plate protecting Grypht’s neck.阿卡巴扯掉仍缠在他喉咙上的树人藤蔓，小心翼翼地拔除那些似乎正往保护格里夫特颈部的鳞片与甲板里钻的吸盘。177
Almost immediately Grypht began to breathe more easily, though he was still badly injured.格里夫特几乎立刻便呼吸顺畅了许多，尽管伤势依然很重。178
One side of his body was scorched from being too close to Akabar’s wall of fire.他身体的一侧因离阿卡巴的火墙太近而被灼伤了。179
The Turmish mage felt a twinge of guilt at having endangered the wizard, but he’d really had no choice.这位图米什法师因自己让格里夫特身陷险境而感到一丝愧疚，但当时他实在别无选择。180
Mostly, Akabar suspected, Grypht was hurt from the beating he’d taken by the twisted treants.不过阿卡巴猜想，格里夫特的伤多半还是那些扭曲树人殴打造成的。181
The only thing to be done now, Akabar realized, was to let the creature rest and heal naturally.阿卡巴意识到，眼下唯一能做的，就是让格里夫特休息，等待伤势自然痊愈。182
He hoped the saurial wizard would awaken before the extradimensional space dissolved, so they could return to Shadowdale without further incident.他希望这位蜥蜴人法师能在异次元空间消散前醒来，这样他们便能平安无事地返回阴影谷。183
Breck scowled across the ravine and cursed under his breath.布雷克皱着眉望向峡谷对面，低声咒骂了一句。184
“What is it?”“怎么了？”185
Alias asked, pulling her horse up beside the ranger’s mount.阿莉亚丝问道，同时策马来到游侠的坐骑旁。186
“Damn magic trick!” the ranger growled.“该死的魔法把戏！”游侠低吼道。187
“The creature’s taken a dimensional doorway across.“那怪物穿过一道次元门，到对面去了。188
We’ve got to climb down the ravine and back up and pick up the search for the trail again on the other side.”我们得先下到峡谷底，再爬上对面，然后重新搜寻它的踪迹。”189
“Oh,” Alias replied softly.“哦。”阿莉亚丝轻声应道。190
Breck glanced at the sun, which lay low near the horizon.布雷克瞥了一眼低悬在地平线附近的太阳。191
“There’s just enough light to make it to the other side before dark.”“天黑前，光线刚好够我们赶到对面。”192
“It’s an awfully steep slope for the horses,” Alias ventured.“这坡对马来说也太陡了吧。”阿莉亚丝试探着说道。193
“There’s a trail leading down.“有一条小径通到下面。194
We passed it a few minutes back,” Breck said, turning his horse and urging the animal south, along the edge of the ravine.我们几分钟前刚经过那里。”布雷克说着调转马头，催马沿峡谷边缘向南行去。195
Alias turned her own horse to follow the ranger.阿莉亚丝也调转自己的马，跟在游侠后面。196
Dragonbait was nowhere in sight, but when she and Breck reached the trail leading down into the ravine, they discovered the saurial seated beside it, munching an apple.龙饵不见踪影，但她和布雷克来到那条通往峡谷底的小径时，却发现这名蜥人正坐在路边，津津有味地啃着一个苹果。197
Ignoring Dragonbait, the ranger scratched his horse’s neck and spoke some encouraging words into its ear.游侠没理会龙饵，只是挠了挠马的脖子，在它耳边说了几句鼓励的话。198
The horse started down the steep trail without the slightest balk.那匹马毫不迟疑地踏上了陡峭的小径。199
Alias’s mount followed the example set by the lead horse.阿莉亚丝的坐骑也效仿领头的马，跟了下去。200
Dragonbait stood up as they passed and followed along behind, tossing his apple core into the brush.他们经过时，龙饵站起身跟在后面，随手把苹果核扔进灌木丛。201
In the ravine, it grew dark before the sun had set, and Dragonbait took the lead.太阳还没落山，峡谷里便已暗了下来，于是龙饵走到了最前面。202
The saurial paladin commanded his magical sword to flame and carried it high, like a torch.这名蜥人圣武士命令自己的魔法剑燃起火焰，然后像举火把一样将它高高举起。203
The river at the bottom of the ravine was deep and swift, but fortunately the trail led to a rough wooden bridge across the water.峡谷底部的河水又深又急，但幸好小径通向一座横跨河面的粗陋木桥。204
They filled their water bottles and continued on.他们灌满水壶，又继续上路。205
By the time they’d reached the top of the ravine again, the sun had set.等他们重新爬到峡谷顶端时，太阳已经落山了。206
Breck passed the saurial and turned his horse back to the north.布雷克越过那名蜥人，调转马头向北而去。207
“You’re not going to try tracking in the dark, are you?”“你不会打算摸黑追踪吧？”208
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。209
“There’ll be twilight for at least an hour yet,” Breck replied, “and the moon is full tonight.”“至少还有一个小时的暮光，”布雷克答道，“而且今晚是满月。”210
He nudged his horse onward.他轻踢马腹，催马前行。211
Dragonbait stood aside so Alias could follow the ranger.龙饵让到一旁，好让阿莉亚丝跟上游侠。212
The swordswoman checked often to be sure Dragonbait kept up now that it was growing dark.天色渐暗，女剑士不时回头查看，确保龙饵没有掉队。213
Occasionally she looked down into the ravine, and on one such occasion, she spotted a light moving across the bridge.她偶尔会低头望向山涧，其中一次，她发现有一盏灯正从桥上移动过去。214
Alias halted her horse and waited until Breck had moved out of earshot.阿莉亚丝勒住马，等布雷克走到听不见他们说话的地方。215
Then she dismounted and grabbed Dragonbait’s shirt before he could pass her by.随后她翻身下马，赶在龙饵从身边走过之前一把揪住了他的衣襟。216
“Who’s following us?” she demanded in an urgent whisper.“谁在跟踪我们？”她压低声音急切地质问道。217
The saurial paladin shrugged.蜥人圣武士耸了耸肩。218
“Who were you marking the trail for?”“你一路留下标记，是给谁看的？”219
Dragonbait looked at her blankly, but Alias wouldn’t accept his dumb animal look.龙饵一脸茫然地看着她，可阿莉亚丝不肯被他那副懵懂牲口的模样糊弄过去。220
“Dragonbait, I can’t believe you’re treating me like this.“龙饵，我真不敢相信你会这样对我。221
Why don’t you trust me?”你为什么不信任我？”222
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。223
Dragonbait stared down at the ground.龙饵低头盯着地面。224
He looked genuinely ashamed.他看起来确实很惭愧。225
“Just tell me,” Alias said.“告诉我就行了，”阿莉亚丝说。226
“I promise I won’t get angry.“我保证不会生气。227
Who is it?是谁？228
Olive?奥利芙？229
Nameless?无名者？230
Another saurial?”另一个蜥人？”231
Dragonbait signed five letters, spelling a name.龙饵用手势比画出五个字母，拼成了一个名字。232
“Zhara!” the swordswoman shouted angrily.“扎拉！”女剑士愤怒地喊道。233
You promised you wouldn’t get angry, Dragonbait signed.你答应过不会生气的，龙饵比画道。234
“Zhara?”“扎拉？”235
Alias asked more softly.阿莉亚丝放柔了声音问道。236
“It can’t be Zhara.“不可能是扎拉。237
Mourngrym promised to keep her at the tower.”莫恩格林答应过会把她留在塔里的。”238
Dragonbait signed that Zhara was a powerful priestess.龙饵比划道，扎拉是个法力强大的女祭司。239
Alias scrunched up her forehead, considering the paladin’s words.阿莉亚丝蹙起眉头，琢磨着圣武士的话。240
She hardly knew a thing about the spells gods granted their priests.她对神祇赐予祭司的法术几乎一无所知。241
Healing and removing curses was all she ever considered priests good for.她向来觉得，祭司也就只能治伤和解除诅咒。242
That Zhara could escape a guarded tower had never occurred to her.她从没想过扎拉竟能逃出有人把守的高塔。243
“Breck is going to be furious when he finds out,” she whispered.“布雷克知道后一定会气疯的。”她低声说道。244
He’s already furious, Dragonbait signed.他已经气疯了，龙饵比划道。245
“But not with us,” Alias said.“但不是在生我们的气。”阿莉亚丝说。246
If you don’t tell him, Dragonbait signed, he won’t know.只要你不告诉他，龙饵比划道，他就不会知道。247
And we need her.而且我们需要她。248
“No, we don’t,” Alias growled.“不，我们不需要她。”阿莉亚丝低吼道。249
“You promised Akabar you’d look after her.“你答应过阿卡巴会照看好她。250
Suppose she gets hurt chasing after us in the wild.要是她为了追赶我们，在荒野里受了伤怎么办？251
Have you considered that?”你想过这一点吗？”252
Zhara isn’t helpless, Dragonbait signed.扎拉并非毫无自保之力，龙饵比划道。253
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。254
“If you say so,” she said, resigned.“既然你这么说，那就这样吧。”她无可奈何地说道。255
She turned back to her horse and remounted.她转身回到自己的马旁，重新上了马。256
Just then Breck came back down along the trail, looking for them.就在这时，布雷克沿着小径折返回来找他们。257
“What’s keeping you?” he demanded.“你们怎么磨蹭这么久？”他质问道。258
“I’ve found the place where the beast crossed over.”“我找到那头野兽横穿过去的地方了。”259
“I had to pick a pebble out of my horse’s shoe,” Alias lied.“我得从马蹄铁里抠出一颗小石子，”阿莉亚丝撒谎道。260
“Is the horse all right?” the ranger asked.“马没事吧？”游侠问道。261
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。262
“Let’s go,” she said, anxious that Breck should not spot the light in the ravine.“走吧，”她说道，心里唯恐布雷克发现峡谷里的亮光。263
Breck turned his mount around.布雷克调转坐骑。264
Suddenly he pulled the horse still.突然，他勒停了马。265
“What was that?” he asked.“那是什么？”他问道。266
“What was what?”“什么是什么？”267
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。268
“Over there,” Breck said, pointing.“那边，”布雷克指着远处说道。269
“A bright light, like a fireball.”“一道亮光，像个火球。”270
To Alias’s relief, his point indicated, not the ravine where Zhara’s light shone, but a spot on the southwest horizon.令阿莉亚丝松了口气的是，他指的并非扎拉的亮光所在的峡谷，而是西南方地平线上的某处。271
Alias scanned the sky for several moments.阿莉亚丝仔细扫视了片刻天空。272
“I don’t see anything,” she said.“我什么也没看见，”她说道。273
“Wait awhile,” Breck replied.“再等一会儿，”布雷克答道。274
Alias fidgeted nervously.阿莉亚丝紧张不安地动来动去。275
If they waited too long, Zhara would make her way across the ravine and stumble on them.要是他们等得太久，扎拉就会穿过峡谷，无意中撞见他们。276
Then there would really be an explosion from Breck.到时候布雷克可真要爆发了。277
“Maybe it was just a shooting star,” Alias suggested, “or the campfire of some other adventurer.”“也许只是一颗流星，”阿莉亚丝说道，“或者是其他冒险者点的篝火。”278
Breck shook his head.布雷克摇了摇头。279
He sat patiently, watching the dark horizon for another three minutes.他耐心地坐在那里，又盯着漆黑的地平线看了三分钟。280
Alias signaled hastily to Dragonbait to keep an eye on the rear, then turned back to the ranger.阿莉亚丝赶紧示意龙饵留意身后，随后转回身面对游侠。281
“There!”“那里！”282
Breck said, pointing once again to the same spot.布雷克说道，再次指向同一个地方。283
“It looks like a fire,” Alias said, surprised.“看起来像是起火了，”阿莉亚丝惊讶地说。284
“A big one.”“而且火势很大。”285
“It’s Grypht,” Breck announced.“是格里夫特，”布雷克断言道。286
“How do you know?”“你怎么知道？”287
Alias asked disbelievingly.阿莉亚丝难以置信地问道。288
“It’s him.“就是他。289
I feel it.我能感觉到。290
We’ll follow that light.”我们就循着那道亮光走。”291
“But the trail leads north.“可这条踪迹通向北方。292
The light’s in the opposite direction,” Alias objected.那道亮光却在相反的方向，”阿莉亚丝反驳道。293
“Grypht has laid a false trail.“格里夫特布下了假踪迹。294
If I’m wrong, we can come back to it later, but I know I’m not wrong.”如果我错了，我们之后还可以回来继续追踪，但我知道自己不会错。”295
As they spoke, a second burst of light lit the horizon just near the flames in the distance.他们说话间，又一道亮光迸发出来，照亮了远处火焰附近的天际。296
“Another fireball,” Breck said.“又一颗火球，”布雷克说。297
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点点头。298
That’s what it looked like to her, too.她看着也像是火球。299
“You must have sharp eyes to have seen that first fireball,” she said.“你的眼睛一定很尖，竟然能看到第一颗火球，”她说。300
“Or Tymora’s luck.”“要不就是有泰摩拉赐予的好运。”301
Breck grinned, flattered.布雷克受宠若惊地咧嘴一笑。302
“Both,” he replied.“两者都有，”他回答。303
“Let’s go,” he said, turning his horse to the southwest and nudging it into a trot.“走吧，”他说着将马头转向西南，轻轻一踢，让马小跑起来。304
Alias turned her mount and followed.阿莉亚丝也调转坐骑，跟了上去。305
Dragonbait took a moment to drape a strip of blue cloth over a bush before loping after them.龙饵稍稍停留片刻，把一条蓝布搭在一丛灌木上，这才大步追上他们。306
They spotted no more fireballs bursting in the sky, and the bright fire died down, but there was a residual glow on the horizon that served them as a beacon.他们没再看见火球在空中炸开，明亮的火光也渐渐熄灭，但地平线上仍残留着一抹微光，为他们指引方向。307
They had traveled about four miles when they began to smell the smoke created by the fire.走了大约四英里后，他们开始闻到大火造成的烟味。308
They slowed the horses to a walk.他们放慢马速，让马缓步前行。309
Small brush fires cut across their path.一处处燃烧的灌木横亘在他们前进的路上。310
If not for the rain that had fallen in the area during the day, they wouldn’t have been able to proceed farther.若不是这一带白天下过雨，他们根本无法继续前进。311
As it was, there were swollen streams and plenty of sodden foliage to keep the fire from spreading out of control.眼下，水位暴涨的溪流和大量湿透的草木阻止了火势失控蔓延。312
After crossing a particularly wide stream, Breck stopped his horse and dismounted.渡过一条格外宽阔的溪流后，布雷克勒住马，翻身下鞍。313
“We’ll leave the horses here.“我们把马留在这里。314
They’ll be safe by the water,” the ranger said, unbridling his mount.它们待在水边会很安全。”游侠一边说，一边卸下自己坐骑的辔头。315
He clipped a lead rope onto its halter and tied the rope to a low tree branch.他把一根牵绳扣在马笼头上，又将绳子系在一根低矮的树枝上。316
The horse immediately began grazing on the grass growing beneath it.那匹马立刻低头啃食脚下的青草。317
Alias slid down from her saddle and stretched her legs while Dragonbait took charge of her horse.阿莉亚丝从马鞍上滑下来，活动着双腿，龙饵则接过她的马照看。318
Breck nocked an arrow into his bow and began moving cautiously toward the fire.布雷克将一支箭搭上弓弦，开始小心翼翼地朝火光走去。319
Alias pulled the bow she’d gotten from Mourngrym from her saddlebag.阿莉亚丝从鞍袋里取出莫恩格林送给她的那张弓。320
Dragonbait looked at her in alarm.龙饵惊慌地望着她。321
“Relax,” she whispered.“别紧张，”她低声说。322
“I’m not going to shoot your friend.“我不会射你的朋友。323
I just want to be prepared for whatever else is out there.我只是想做好准备，应付那里可能还有的其他东西。324
If that’s him hurling fireballs, there’s got to be something else out there he’s throwing them at.”如果那些火球真是他扔的，那儿肯定还有别的什么东西，是他用火球攻击的目标。”325
The three adventurers picked their way through the charred undergrowth until they reached a circle of oak saplings, as close to one another as pickets in a fence.三名冒险者在烧焦的灌木丛中小心穿行，直到来到一圈橡树幼苗前；那些幼苗彼此紧挨着，宛如一道栅栏的木桩。326
They circled round until they came upon a few saplings that had been broken and flattened to the ground.他们绕着树圈走了一圈，终于发现有几株幼树已经折断，平倒在地。327
The ranger leaped into the clearing within the ring.游侠一跃进入树圈内的空地。328
By the light from the smoldering fires and the rising moon, Alias could just make out the silhouettes of three much larger trees lying on the ground.借着余火未熄的微光和冉冉升起的月亮，阿莉亚丝勉强辨认出三棵大得多的树横卧在地上的轮廓。329
Breck bent over one of the trees and stroked its charred bark.布雷克俯身凑近其中一棵树，轻抚着它焦黑的树皮。330
The swordswoman could have sworn she heard him sob.女剑士几乎可以发誓，她听见了他的抽泣声。331
“What is it?”“怎么了？”332
Alias asked, stepping up behind the ranger.阿莉亚丝走到游侠身后问道。333
“Treants,” Breck said, choking back a second sob.“是树人，”布雷克强忍住又一声呜咽，说道。334
“They’ve been murdered—just like Kyre.”“他们被杀害了——就像凯尔一样。”335
Alias bit her lip.阿莉亚丝咬了咬嘴唇。336
She turned back to see if Dragonbait had anything to say about the fallen treelike creatures.她回头看向龙饵，想知道他对这些倒下的树状生物有什么看法。337
The saurial paladin stood beside the ring of saplings and hissed.那名蜥蜴人圣武士站在一圈树苗旁，发出嘶嘶声。338
Alias smelled the violet scent the lizard used to warn of danger.阿莉亚丝闻到了紫罗兰的气味——那是这个蜥蜴人用来示警的气味。339
“What is it?”“怎么了？”340
Breck asked, turning around to see what upset Alias’s companion.布雷克转过身来，想看看是什么惊扰了阿莉亚丝的同伴。341
“Dragonbait senses evil,” the swordswoman explained.“龙饵感觉到了邪恶，”女剑士解释道。342
“Evil was here, all right,” Breck said angrily.“这里确实有邪恶来过，”布雷克愤怒地说。343
“It was Grypht.“是格里夫特。344
Look there.”看那里。”345
The ranger pointed to a set of large prints in the mud beside one of the fallen treants.游侠指着一名倒下的树人身旁泥地里的一串巨大脚印。346
“And there—those must be your friend Akabar’s prints,” he added, indicating with a nod of his head a set of smaller prints unmistakably made by rope sandals.“还有那里——那一定是你朋友阿卡巴的脚印，”他又说道，同时朝一串较小的脚印点了点头；那显然是绳底凉鞋留下的。347
Alias felt something brush against her leg.阿莉亚丝感觉有什么东西擦过她的腿。348
She gave a startled cry and tried to leap aside, but something had hold of her leg, and she fell heavily to the ground.她惊叫一声，想纵身躲开，可有什么东西牢牢抓住了她的腿，她重重地摔倒在地。349
Something curled, serpent-like, about her thigh and up around her waist.有什么东西像蛇一样盘上她的大腿，又缠住了她的腰。350
Alias’s eyes widened at the sight of the vinelike tendrils wrapping around her.阿莉亚丝看见藤蔓般的卷须正缠上自己的身体，不由得瞪大了眼睛。351
She screamed and struggled to reach the dagger in her boot.她尖叫着挣扎起来，伸手想拔出藏在靴子里的匕首。352
Dragonbait dashed up to one of the treants and hacked through the creature’s branchlike arm with his brightly flaming sword.龙饵冲到其中一名树人跟前，用烈焰熊熊的长剑砍断了那生物树枝般的手臂。353
The tendrils about the swordswoman’s body went limp.缠在女剑士身上的卷须顿时软了下来。354
Breck dashed up to the saurial paladin, screaming, “What are you doing?”布雷克冲向那名蜥蜴人圣武士，尖叫道：“你在干什么？”355
Dragonbait stepped back and held his flaming sword out to keep Breck from approaching any closer.龙饵后退一步，横起燃烧的长剑，不让布雷克再靠近。356
“He saved my life,” Alias said, wriggling out of the tendrils.“他救了我的命。”阿莉亚丝一边说，一边扭动着挣脱那些藤须。357
“He’s desecrating a dead body,” the ranger growled.“他在亵渎尸体。”游侠低吼道。358
Dragonbait signed to Alias.龙饵向阿莉亚丝打了个手势。359
“Breck,” Alias said softly, “I think you’d better take a closer look at these treants.“布雷克，”阿莉亚丝轻声说道，“我觉得你最好仔细看看这些树人。360
Don’t they look peculiar to you?”你不觉得它们看起来很古怪吗？”361
“They look dead,” Breck answered angrily.“它们看起来已经死了。”布雷克怒气冲冲地答道。362
“They look sick,” Alias corrected.“它们看起来是病了。”阿莉亚丝纠正道。363
“They didn’t even burn well.“它们甚至都烧不起来。364
They only scorched—like rotted wood.”只是被烤焦了——就像腐朽的木头一样。”365
“They were wet, like the rest of the brush around here,” Breck replied stubbornly.“它们是湿的，就跟这附近其他灌木草丛一样。”布雷克固执地答道。366
“Look at them!” the swordswoman demanded, grabbing the ranger’s shoulders and forcing him to face the treant Dragonbait had just encountered.“看看它们！”女剑士厉声命令道，一把抓住游侠的双肩，强迫他转身面对龙饵刚刚遇上的那个树人。367
“They’re diseased … rotted completely through.“它们染了病……从里到外全都烂透了。368
Look inside of it,” Alias said, pointing at the treant’s severed arm.看看它里面。”阿莉亚丝指着树人被斩断的手臂说道。369
“Have you ever seen a treant with vines growing inside of it like that?”“你见过哪个树人体内会像这样长着藤蔓吗？”370
With the tip of ah arrow, Breck poked gingerly at the branch.布雷克用箭尖小心翼翼地戳了戳那根枝条。371
The vines within looked like maggots infesting a corpse.里面的藤蔓看起来就像滋生在尸体上的蛆虫。372
The ranger turned away from the sight, horror in his eyes.游侠移开了目光，眼中满是恐惧。373
“Well?”“怎么样？”374
Alias said.阿莉亚丝说道。375
“What do you think it is?”“你觉得这是什么？”376
“I … don’t know,” the ranger said slowly.“我……不知道。”游侠缓缓说道。377
“I’ve …“我……378
I’ve never seen anything like it before.我以前从没见过这样的东西。379
Have you?”你见过吗？”380
“Yes,” the swordswoman answered.“是的，”女剑士回答。381
“They remind me of the tendrils the undead god Moander used to control people, but the first time I saw them, the tendrils were all attached to him.”“它们让我想起了不死之神莫安德用来控制人的触须，不过我第一次见到那些触须时，它们全都连在他身上。”382
“Moander’s dead,” Breck said.“莫安德已经死了。”布雷克说。383
Alias shifted uneasily, realizing that the treants could be a sign that the god was returning to the Realms.阿莉亚丝不安地挪了挪身子，意识到这些树人可能是那个神正重返诸界的征兆。384
Akabar could be right after all, but she still couldn’t bring herself to admit it aloud.或许阿卡巴终究是对的，但她还是无法让自己当众承认这一点。385
“Yes …“是的……386
Moander’s dead.” she said.莫安德已经死了。”她说。387
“Then this rot, these tendrils in the treants must be something Grypht did to them,” Breck claimed.“那么这种腐烂，还有树人身上的这些触须，肯定都是格里夫特对它们做了什么造成的。”布雷克断言。388
“We’ll know for certain when we catch him.“等抓到他，我们就能确定了。389
We’ll follow his trail until we’re out of the burnt-over region.我们会循着他的踪迹，直到走出这片被烧毁的区域。390
Then we’ll go back and get the horses.”然后再回去牵马。”391
The ranger began looking for tracks near the broken saplings.游侠开始在折断的幼树附近寻找足迹。392
Alias rubbed her temples.阿莉亚丝揉了揉太阳穴。393
She was tired and hungry and frustrated with the ranger’s single-mindedness.她又累又饿，还对游侠这种一根筋的执着感到恼火。394
“Breck,” she called, deciding to try once more to enlighten the ranger.“布雷克，”她叫道，决定再试一次，让这个游侠明白过来。395
“It could be that Kyre was wrong about Grypht.“也许凯尔对格里夫特的判断是错的。396
These treants might have attacked the creature.这些树人可能袭击了那个生物。397
Of course it would have defended itself as best it could.”它当然会竭尽所能地自卫。”398
Breck spun about angrily.布雷克愤怒地猛然转过身。399
“Is that why it murdered Kyre—to defend itself from her?”“所以它才杀害了凯尔——为了防卫她吗？”400
“Something else might have killed Kyre,” Alias replied.“也许杀死凯尔的是别的东西。”阿莉亚丝回答。401
“Or someone—like your friend Akabar,” Breck suggested.“或者是某个人——比如你的朋友阿卡巴。”布雷克意有所指地说。402
Alias threw her hands up in the air.阿莉亚丝把双手往空中一举。403
For lack of another thought, she addressed the ranger’s previous supposition.一时想不出别的，她便回应起游侠先前的推断。404
“Suppose Grypht did kill Kyre in self-defense?“就算格里夫特真是出于自卫才杀了凯尔呢？405
Suppose she mistook him for a monster and attacked, and he fired back?”就算是她把他错当成怪物，先动手袭击，而他只是还击呢？”406
“Kyre didn’t mistake Grypht for a monster.“凯尔才没有把格里夫特错当成怪物。407
He is a monster!”他本来就是怪物！”408
Breck declared and stomped off to search for the trail.布雷克断然说道，随即重重地迈步走开，去寻找踪迹。409
Alias looked at Dragonbait and shrugged.阿莉亚丝看了看龙饵，耸了耸肩。410
After a few moments, the pair of them followed the ranger.片刻之后，两人跟上了游侠。411
Grypht’s trail wasn’t hard to follow, even in the moonlight.格里夫特留下的踪迹并不难追寻，即便是在月光下。412
The creature had been running, oblivious to the fact it left a clear trail behind.那生物一直在奔跑，浑然不觉自己身后留下了一道清晰可辨的踪迹。413
Suddenly the trail ended abruptly, however.然而，那道踪迹却突然断了。414
Beside Grypht’s tracks were two sandal prints—Akabar’s. Then there was nothing.格里夫特的足迹旁边有两个凉鞋印——是阿卡巴的。再往前就什么也没有了。415
The creature and the southern mage had vanished into thin air.那生物和南方来的法师就这样凭空消失了。416
“Beshaba’s brats!”“贝莎芭的崽子们！”417
Breck cursed.布雷克咒骂道。418
“They’ve whisked themselves away by magic again.”“他们又用魔法把自己弄走了。”419
“Let’s get back to the horses and make camp,” Alias said.“我们回马匹那边扎营吧，”阿莉亚丝说。420
“We’ll have a look around in the morning.”“等天亮后再四处找找。”421
“They could be anywhere by then,” Breck objected.“到那时他们可能已经跑到任何地方去了，”布雷克反驳道。422
“They’re already gone, ranger,” the swordswoman snapped.“他们早就已经走了，游侠，”女剑士厉声说道。423
“And I’m not going anywhere in the dark.“我可不会摸黑赶路。424
Neither are you.”你也不会。”425
Breck’s shoulders slumped.布雷克垂下了肩膀。426
He turned wordlessly and headed back to the stream where they’d tied their horses, with Alias and Dragonbait following him, as usual.他一言不发地转过身，朝他们拴马的溪边走去；像往常一样，阿莉亚丝和龙饵跟在他身后。427
When they’d reached the spot where they’d tied the horses, they found their mounts were missing.他们回到拴马的地方时，发现坐骑都不见了。428
No portions of their lead ropes were left attached to the branch at all.树枝上连一截拴马绳都没留下。429
The horses hadn’t chewed through the ropes; they’d been untied.马并不是咬断绳子跑掉的；绳子是被人解开的。430
“Someone’s stolen the horses,” Breck said.“有人偷走了马。”布雷克说。431
Alias glanced at Dragonbait.阿莉亚丝瞥了龙饵一眼。432
“Who?” she asked.“谁干的？”她问。433
“We’re out in the middle of nowhere.”“我们这可是在荒郊野外。”434
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out,” Breck said, looking over the ground until he found a set of bootprints.“我不知道，但我会查个水落石出。”布雷克说着察看地面，直到发现一串靴印。435
“Here we go again,” Alias muttered as they followed the ranger out of the clearing after the horse thief.“又来了。”阿莉亚丝嘟囔道。他们跟着游侠走出空地，追踪那个偷马贼。436
This is Zhara’s doing, isn’t it? she signed to Dragonbait.这是扎拉搞的鬼，对不对？她向龙饵打手势问道。437
The saurial began examining the ground with exaggerated interest.蜥蜴人开始煞有介事地察看地面。438
Suddenly Breck broke into a run, heading upstream.布雷克突然拔腿朝上游跑去。439
Alias looked up and gasped.阿莉亚丝抬头一看，倒吸了一口气。440
There, not far from the stream, framed in a clearing in the moonlight, was a female figure in robes standing in front of a horse.就在离溪流不远的地方，月光下的一片空地中，一个身穿长袍的女子正站在一匹马面前。441
“Why doesn’t she just throw another light spell so he can see her better?” the swordswoman cracked sarcastically.“她干吗不干脆再施一个光亮术，好让他把她看得更清楚？”女剑士讥讽道。442
Dragonbait sheathed his sword and dashed after Breck.龙饵收剑入鞘，飞奔着追上布雷克。443
Apparently unaware that she was being observed and about to be attacked by an angry ranger, the robed figure stood calmly stroking the horse’s muzzle and feeding it something from the palm of her hand.那个长袍女子似乎完全没意识到自己正被人盯着，也没意识到一个愤怒的游侠马上就要袭击她，依旧平静地抚摸着马的口鼻，还从掌心喂它吃着什么。444
Alias was pretty sure it was Zhara—only a priestess was stupid enough to stand out in the open like that.阿莉亚丝几乎可以肯定那就是扎拉——也只有女祭司才会蠢到这样毫无遮掩地站在空地上。445
Alias walked slowly toward the scene.阿莉亚丝慢慢朝那边走去。446
This trouble is Dragonbait’s fault, she thought.这场麻烦是龙饵惹出来的，她想。447
Let him handle it.让他自己处理吧。448
Breck leaped at the woman, knocking her to the ground.布雷克猛扑向那个女人，把她撞倒在地。449
The horse neighed and shied backwards.那匹马嘶鸣一声，受惊地向后退去。450
Zhara screamed.扎拉尖叫起来。451
Dragonbait pounced on Breck.龙饵猛扑到布雷克身上。452
Alias pulled an apple out of her knapsack and began munching on it.阿莉亚丝从背包里掏出一个苹果，开始啃了起来。453
While the ranger, priestess, and saurial rolled about on the wet grass, Alias grabbed hold of the horse—it was Breck’s—and pushed it out of harm’s way.趁游侠、女祭司和蜥蜴人在湿漉漉的草地上扭打成一团时，阿莉亚丝抓住那匹马——那是布雷克的马——把它牵到了不会受伤的地方。454
Slowly she fed it her apple core as Dragonbait pulled Breck off Zhara.她慢慢地把苹果核喂给它吃，这时龙饵把布雷克从扎拉身上拉开了。455
The priestess made it to her feet and moved away, shielding herself from Alias by standing on the opposite side of Breck’s horse.女祭司爬起身，退到一旁，站在布雷克的马另一侧，借马挡住阿莉亚丝的视线。456
Alias shot a glance at the priestess, but Zhara had already pulled the hood of her cloak back up, hiding her face.阿莉亚丝瞥了女祭司一眼，但扎拉已经重新拉起斗篷的兜帽，遮住了脸。457
Dragonbait and Breck rolled around in the grass a few more times until the swordswoman asked, “Are you two having fun?”龙饵和布雷克又在草地上翻滚了几圈，女剑士才问道：“你们俩玩得开心吗？”458
Dragonbait looked up suddenly.龙饵猛地抬起头来。459
When he caught sight of Zhara, safely out of the fracas, and Alias, watching with a bemused expression, he looked almost sheepish.他看见扎拉已经安全脱离了混战，又看见阿莉亚丝正一脸忍俊不禁地瞧着，神情几乎有些难为情。460
He went limp and let Breck pin him to the ground.他浑身一松，任由布雷克把他按倒在地。461
“I have you now!” the ranger declared.“这下我逮住你了！”游侠宣告道。462
“Yes, but what are you going to do with him?“是啊，可你打算拿他怎么办？463
You can’t ride him, and he’s too tough to eat,” Alias said with a chuckle.你骑不了他，他又老得嚼不动，”阿莉亚丝轻笑着说。464
“He might make an interesting pair of boots—maybe.”“拿他做一双靴子倒可能挺别致——也许吧。”465
Breck looked at Alias and turned purple with fury at the sight of the swordswoman laughing at him.布雷克望向阿莉亚丝，看到女剑士竟在嘲笑自己，顿时气得脸色发紫。466
He released Dragonbait and leaped to his feet.他放开龙饵，一跃而起。467
“You!” he shouted, pointing a finger at Alias.“你！”他指着阿莉亚丝大吼道。468
“You helped her to escape!“是你帮她逃走的！469
No wonder you were so anxious to defend her husband.难怪你那么急着替她丈夫辩护。470
Did Lord Mourngrym know?”莫恩格林大人知道吗？”471
“Know what?”“知道什么？”472
Alias asked, disdainful of the ranger’s confused accusations.阿莉亚丝问道，对游侠这番颠三倒四的指控很是不屑。473
“That she’s your sister,” Breck snarled.“知道她是你妹妹。”布雷克咆哮道。474
“What are you talking about?”“你在胡说什么？”475
Alias snapped back.阿莉亚丝厉声反问。476
“I haven’t any sisters.”“我根本没有姐妹。”477
“Then who is she?”“那她是谁？”478
Breck demanded, yanking the hood of Zhara’s cloak off the priestess’s head.布雷克厉声问道，一把扯下扎拉斗篷的兜帽，让女祭司露出了头脸。479
The swordswoman squinted in the moonlight at Zhara and saw, for the first time, what Breck had seen when he’d been rolling on the ground with the priestess.女剑士在月光下眯起眼睛端详扎拉，第一次看出了布雷克方才与女祭司在地上翻滚扭打时所看到的东西。480
There was something familiar about the pointed chin, the high cheekbones, the thin nose, the green eyes, and the red hair.那尖尖的下巴、高耸的颧骨、纤细的鼻子、绿色的眼睛和红色的头发，都有种似曾相识的感觉。481
Alias gasped and backed away.阿莉亚丝倒吸一口气，连连后退。482
Zhara’s features were familiar because they were the swordswoman’s own features.扎拉的面容之所以眼熟，是因为那正是女剑士自己的面容。483
Except for the dusky hue of her southern skin, Zhara could have been Alias’s twin.除了南方人肤色的黝黑色泽，扎拉简直就像阿莉亚丝的孪生姐妹。484
Alias realized in a flash just what Zhara was.阿莉亚丝刹那间明白了扎拉究竟是什么。485
“No!”“不！”486
Alias shrieked furiously, drawing her sword.阿莉亚丝怒声尖叫着，拔出了剑。487
“She’s not my sister!“她不是我妹妹！488
She’s one of the fiend Phalse’s spawn!”她是恶魔法尔斯的孽种之一！”489