Breck pulled away from Zhara and drew his own sword, but he looked at Alias doubtfully.布雷克挣开扎拉，拔出自己的剑，却疑惑地看着阿莉亚丝。1
Then he remembered the sage’s words at the tribunal.随后，他想起了智者在审判庭上说过的话。2
“Elminster told us Phalse had been destroyed,” he said.“伊尔明斯特告诉过我们，法尔斯已经被消灭了，”他说。3
“Yes,” Alias admitted, “by my own hand.“没错，”阿莉亚丝承认道，“是我亲手消灭的。4
Before that, though, the little monster created her and eleven other of my look-alikes, pawns that he intended to use to destroy his old enemy, Moander.”不过在那之前，那个小怪物创造了她，还有另外十一个和我一模一样的人，把她们当作棋子，企图用来消灭他的宿敌莫安德。”5
Alias raised the tip of her sword to Zhara’s throat.阿莉亚丝抬起剑尖，抵住扎拉的喉咙。6
“That’s why you’re so eager to have Akabar go after Moander, isn’t it?“所以你才那么急着让阿卡巴去对付莫安德，对不对？7
Because you’re Phalse’s creature.”因为你是法尔斯的造物。”8
Zhara met Alias’s eyes with her own and replied calmly, “And are you still Moander’s creature that you are so eager to see the Darkbringer live?扎拉迎上阿莉亚丝的目光，平静地回答：“那你呢？你如此急切地想看到黑暗使者活下去，难道你仍是莫安德的造物吗？9
Here is your chance to destroy me.现在正是你消灭我的机会。10
You have your weapon in hand.你的武器就在手里。11
Why not use it and finish me off?”为什么不用它结果了我？”12
“You witch!”“你这个女巫！”13
Alias growled.阿莉亚丝低吼道。14
She threw her sword down and leaped at Zhara.她扔下剑，朝扎拉猛扑过去。15
The two women tumbled to the ground.两个女人扭打着滚倒在地。16
Dragonbait moved quickly to separate them, but Breck put his hand out to stop the saurial.龙饵迅速上前想把她们拉开，但布雷克伸手拦住了这个蜥蜴人。17
“One thing you never want to do,” he said with a chuckle, “is get between two women in a brawl.”“有件事你千万别做，”他轻笑着说，“那就是插到两个扭打的女人中间去。”18
The paladin’s eyes narrowed angrily at Breck’s patronizing tone and amused grin, but upon consideration, he accepted the wisdom of the ranger’s words.布雷克那居高临下的口吻和忍俊不禁的笑容令圣武士愤怒地眯起了眼睛，但仔细一想，他还是承认这位游侠的话颇有道理。19
He stood by watching Alias and Zhara roll about on the wet ground, thinking how ironic it was that only a few minutes before, the swordswoman had found his own battle with Breck so amusing.他站在一旁，看着阿莉亚丝和扎拉在湿漉漉的地上滚来滚去，心想这真是讽刺：就在几分钟前，这位女剑士还觉得他和布雷克之间的打斗十分好笑。20
Alias tried to wrap her hands around Zhara’s throat, but she drew her hands away hastily, pricked by some shards of metal.阿莉亚丝试图用双手掐住扎拉的喉咙，却被几块金属尖片刺到，急忙缩回了手。21
Beneath her robe, the priestess wore a studded leather collar around her neck.女祭司的长袍下面，颈间戴着一圈饰有金属钉的皮项圈。22
The swordswoman’s eyes widened with a sudden suspicion.女剑士心中骤然生疑，双眼睁大。23
She grabbed the front of the priestess’s robe and ripped the white fabric from the neck to the waistline.她抓住女祭司长袍的前襟，将白色布料从领口一直撕到腰际。24
Beneath her robe, Zhara wore a chain shirt cut very low.扎拉的长袍下面穿着一件领口开得很低的锁子甲衫。25
“You stole my armor!”“你偷了我的盔甲！”26
Alias screeched.阿莉亚丝尖声叫道。27
She raised a fist, but before she could slam it into Zhara’s face, the priestess whipped a flail out from her sleeve and clubbed the swordswoman on the side of the head.她举起拳头，但还没来得及砸向扎拉的脸，女祭司便从袖中甩出一柄连枷，狠狠击中了女剑士的侧脑。28
Alias rolled off Akabar’s wife, moaning and clutching her ear and temple with both hands.阿莉亚丝从阿卡巴的妻子身上滚开，呻吟着用双手捂住耳朵和太阳穴。29
Zhara stood and backed away from the swordswoman.扎拉站起身，向后退开，远离女剑士。30
Dragonbait bent over Alias, who was struggling to her knees.龙饵俯身察看阿莉亚丝，她正挣扎着跪起身来。31
“Have you finished your little catfight?”“你们这场小小的猫斗打完了吗？”32
Breck asked.布雷克问道。33
“Catfight?”“猫斗？”34
Zhara repeated, looking puzzled.扎拉一脸困惑地重复道。35
“What does that mean?”“那是什么意思？”36
“When two women fight,” Breck explained, “it’s called a catfight.”“两个女人打架，”布雷克解释道，“就叫猫斗。”37
“Why?”“为什么？”38
Zhara asked.扎拉问道。39
“Well, because women fight differently from men—more like cats.“这个嘛，因为女人打架的方式和男人不一样——更像猫。40
You know, with your claws,” Breck said, grinning.你知道的，用你们的爪子。”布雷克咧嘴笑着说道。41
Zhara’s eyes narrowed angrily, and she twirled the end of her flail menacingly.扎拉愤怒地眯起眼睛，威吓般地抡起连枷末端。42
“Come here, ranger, and I will show you how women fight,” she growled.“过来，游侠，我来让你见识一下女人是怎么打架的。”她低吼道。43
Dragonbait abandoned Alias’s side to step between Zhara and Breck.龙饵离开阿莉亚丝身边，挡在扎拉和布雷克之间。44
He grabbed the Turmishwoman’s weapon arm and shook his head furiously.他抓住图米什女子持武器的手臂，猛地摇头。45
“Let me go, Dragonbait!”“放开我，龙饵！”46
Zhara demanded.扎拉命令道。47
“This arrogant northern barbarian is in need of a lesson,” she said, tossing her head in Breck’s direction.“这个傲慢的北方野蛮人该受点教训了。”她说着，把头朝布雷克的方向一甩。48
Dragonbait threw his hands up in the air.龙饵把双手举到空中。49
This was like a nightmare, he thought.这简直像一场噩梦，他心想。50
The only worse thing he could think of would be a fight between himself and Alias.他能想到的唯一更糟的事，就是自己和阿莉亚丝打起来。51
“Give me back my armor, you thief,” Alias said, retrieving her sword and stumbling to her feet.“把盔甲还给我，你这个贼。”阿莉亚丝一边说，一边捡回自己的剑，踉踉跄跄地站了起来。52
A large bump and a dark bruise were forming on the side of her temple.她一侧的太阳穴上正鼓起一个大包，浮现出一片乌青。53
“I will return it to you,” Zhara snapped.“我会还给你的。”扎拉厉声说道。54
“I never wanted to wear it in the first place.“我一开始就不想穿它。55
Only a barbarian like yourself would do so without shame.”只有像你这样的野蛮人才会毫不知耻地穿上它。”56
“You never wanted …”“你从来都不想……”57
Alias looked from Zhara to Dragonbait.阿莉亚丝看看扎拉，又看看龙饵。58
“You gave her my armor, didn’t you?” the swordswoman demanded of the paladin.“是你把我的盔甲给她的，对不对？”女剑士质问那名圣武士。59
“And that cloak, and those boots.“还有那件斗篷和那双靴子。60
They’re mine, too, aren’t they?”它们也是我的，对不对？”61
Dragonbait nodded guiltily, signing that he was sorry.龙饵愧疚地点点头，打着手势表示歉意。62
He moved toward Alias, reaching out to tend the wound on her head.他朝阿莉亚丝走去，伸手想为她处理头上的伤。63
Alias drew back sharply from the saurial.阿莉亚丝猛地向后一缩，避开了这个蜥蜴人。64
“Don’t touch me!” she growled.“别碰我！”她低吼道。65
I’m sorry, Dragonbait signed again.对不起，龙饵又打了一遍手势。66
Forgive me.原谅我。67
Alias turned her back on the saurial.阿莉亚丝转过身去，背对着那个蜥蜴人。68
“Never!“绝不！69
Stay away from me.离我远点。70
Don’t talk to me,” she said.别跟我说话。”她说。71
“I’ve nothing to say to you.”“我跟你无话可说。”72
The swordswoman stalked away from the saurial.女剑士怒气冲冲地离开了那个蜥蜴人。73
At the edge of the clearing, she stopped and leaned against a tree.走到空地边缘时，她停下脚步，靠在一棵树上。74
Dragonbait could see Alias’s shoulder shaking, and he knew she was weeping.龙饵看见阿莉亚丝的肩头在颤抖，知道她正在哭泣。75
He felt sick to his stomach.他胃里一阵翻腾。76
He sat down on the grass and put his head on his knees.他在草地上坐下，把头埋在膝间。77
Suddenly embarrassed, Breck looked for something constructive to do.布雷克突然觉得有些尴尬，便想找点有用的事做。78
Bending down to pick up his horse’s lead rope, he asked Zhara, “What did you do with Alias’s horse?”他弯腰捡起自己那匹马的牵绳，问扎拉：“你把阿莉亚丝的马怎么了？”79
“I let it go free,” Zhara said.“我把它放走了。”扎拉说。80
“You what?”“你干了什么？”81
Breck snapped.布雷克厉声喝道。82
“I let it go free so that you could not use it to hunt down my Akabar,” Zhara explained.“我把它放走了，这样你们就不能骑着它去追捕我的阿卡巴了。”扎拉解释道。83
“I tried to get this one to run away, too, but it would not.”“我也想让这一匹逃走，可它不肯。”84
“Of course it wouldn’t. It’s my horse, and it’s too well trained to do anything stupid like that.“它当然不肯。它是我的马，训练有素，才不会干那种蠢事。85
Where did you leave Alias’s saddle?”你把阿莉亚丝的马鞍留在哪儿了？”86
Breck asked.布雷克问道。87
“It’s on her horse,” Zhara said.“还在她的马上。”扎拉说。88
Breck snorted.布雷克哼了一声。89
“Southerners,” he muttered.“南方人。”他嘟囔道。90
“Don’t you know anything about horses?” he asked.“你一点儿都不懂马吗？”他问。91
“No,” Zhara said simply, not in the least ashamed of her ignorance.“不，”扎拉坦然说道，丝毫不因自己的无知而羞愧。92
“I am a priestess of Tymora, not a stablehand.”“我是泰摩拉的女祭司，不是马夫。”93
“Which way did it go?”“它往哪边去了？”94
Breck asked with annoyance.布雷克恼火地问道。95
“Why should I tell you?”“我为什么要告诉你？”96
Zhara said with a sniff.扎拉哼了一声，说道。97
“Because if you don’t, the horse you ‘let go free’ is going to end up with saddle sores and bug bites and infections and probably die because you didn’t bother to take off its saddle.”“因为如果你不说，那匹被你‘放归自由’的马会因为你懒得卸下它的马鞍，最后长出鞍疮，被虫子叮咬，伤口感染，而且很可能会死。”98
Zhara looked chagrined.扎拉显得很惭愧。99
“It went that way,” she said pointing in the direction of Shadowdale.“它往那边去了。”她指着阴影谷的方向说道。100
“Come on, then,” Breck said, pulling Zhara’s arm.“那就走吧，”布雷克说着，拽住扎拉的胳膊。101
“You’re going to help me find that horse.”“你得帮我找到那匹马。”102
Zhara pulled a light stone from her pocket and held it high so the ranger could search the ground for tracks.扎拉从口袋里掏出一块发光石，高高举起，好让游侠在地上搜寻踪迹。103
Fortunately the beast was tired and hungry, and they found it grazing on grass not too far off.幸好那畜生又累又饿，他们没走多远，就发现它正在吃草。104
Breck called out to it, and it came right up to him.布雷克唤了它一声，它便径直走到他跟前。105
“Silly creature,” the ranger chided it as he grabbed its halter and scratched its forehead.“傻家伙，”游侠一边抓住它的笼头，挠着它的额头，一边责备道。106
“How could you leave us?”“你怎么能离开我们呢？”107
He pulled the horse’s bedraggled lead rope up from the ground.他从地上捡起那匹马脏兮兮的牵绳。108
“She could have caught this in something,” Breck said, waving the end of the rope in Zhara’s face.“这根绳子可能会挂在什么东西上，”布雷克说着，把绳头挥到扎拉面前。109
“Then she’d have starved to death or died of thirst.”“那样它就会饿死，或者渴死。”110
“I am sorry,” Zhara said.“对不起，”扎拉说道。111
“I did not know.“我不知道。112
But I cannot let you kill my Akabar.但我不能让你杀死我的阿卡巴。113
He is no less innocent than this animal.”他和这匹马一样无辜。”114
“How do you know?“你怎么知道？115
You weren’t even there when Kyre was killed.”凯尔被杀时，你甚至都不在场。”116
“Akabar is my husband.“阿卡巴是我的丈夫。117
I know him very well.我很了解他。118
And Dragonbait says he knows Grypht well, and Grypht is not a monster.”而且龙饵说他很了解格里夫特，格里夫特并不是怪物。”119
“Kyre wouldn’t lie,” Breck insisted.“凯尔不会撒谎。”布雷克坚持道。120
“Kyre was my teacher.“凯尔是我的老师。121
I knew her well, too.”我也很了解她。”122
“Was she your lover?”“她是你的情人吗？”123
Zhara asked, with the detachment of a southern scholar.扎拉以南方学者特有的超然口吻问道。124
The ranger flushed.游侠涨红了脸。125
“What kind of question is that?” he said angrily.“这算什么问题？”他恼怒地说道。126
“That’s none of your business.”“这不关你的事。”127
“Yes, it is,” Zhara said.“不，这关我的事。”扎拉说道。128
“You loved Kyre.“你爱凯尔。129
That much is obvious.这一点显而易见。130
Lady Shaerl says Kyre was not ugly, but very beautiful.莎尔夫人说，凯尔非但不丑，反而非常美丽。131
If she would not have you as a lover, perhaps you killed her out of anger or jealousy.”如果她不愿接受你做她的情人，也许你一怒之下，或是出于嫉妒杀了她。”132
“You’re crazy,” Breck growled.“你疯了。”布雷克低吼道。133
“Maybe she was afraid of your temper,” Zhara suggested.“也许她是害怕你的坏脾气。”扎拉推测道。134
“She was not!“她才没有！”135
She thought I was too young!”“她只是觉得我太年轻了！”136
Breck shouted.布雷克喊道。137
“Oh,” Zhara said softly.“哦。”扎拉轻声说道。138
“How old are you?” she asked the ranger.“你多大了？”她问游侠。139
“Twenty winters.“二十个冬天。140
Tymora!泰摩拉啊！141
I can’t believe I just told you that!”真不敢相信我居然把这告诉你了！”142
Breck exclaimed.布雷克惊叫道。143
“That you’re twenty years old?“你是说你二十岁这件事？144
Why?”为什么？”145
Zhara asked.扎拉问。146
“Is it some kind of a secret?”“这是什么秘密吗？”147
“It’s not that,” Breck said, rubbing his temples.“不是因为这个，”布雷克揉着太阳穴说道。148
“Just forget it.”“忘了吧。”149
“Twenty is not so young,” Zhara said.“二十岁也不算太年轻，”扎拉说。150
Breck sighed with exasperation.布雷克懊恼地叹了口气。151
“When I was eighteen, I made a fool of myself and pestered her too much about … how I felt about her.“我十八岁的时候，出尽了洋相，还缠着她说了太多……我对她的感情。152
She thought we should stop working together for a while.她觉得我们应该暂时停止一起共事。153
She went away—disappeared for over a year.她离开了——消失了一年多。154
When I heard she’d asked the Harpers to assign me to the same tribunal with her, I thought maybe she finally considered me old enough.”听说她请竖琴手同盟把我和她派到同一个审判团时，我还以为她终于觉得我年纪够大了。”155
“But she didn’t?”“可她并没有？”156
Zhara asked.扎拉问。157
Breck shrugged.布雷克耸了耸肩。158
“I don’t know.“我不知道。159
Since she arrived in Shadowdale two days ago, I haven’t managed to get more than a few moments alone with her, and she …”她两天前到阴影谷以后，我一直没能找到机会和她单独相处上片刻，而且她……”160
Breck hesitated.布雷克迟疑了。161
“She what?”“她怎么了？”162
Zhara prompted gently.扎拉温和地催问。163
“She was different … sort of unapproachable.”“她不太一样……有点让人难以接近。”164
Breck shook himself and looked down at the ground, feeling disloyal to the half-elf’s memory.布雷克回过神来，低头望着地面，觉得自己这么说有负于那位半精灵。165
“No,” he said, “that’s not quite true.“不，”他说，“其实也不完全是这样。166
I was afraid to approach her … afraid of what she’d say.我不敢接近她……害怕她会说些什么。167
Now it doesn’t matter anymore.现在这一切都不重要了。168
I just wish she was still alive.”我只希望她还活着。”169
Without another word, Breck began to lead Alias’s horse back to the clearing where they’d left Alias and Dragonbait.布雷克没再说话，牵着阿莉亚丝的马，开始往他们留下阿莉亚丝和龙饵的那片空地走去。170
Zhara followed, lost in thought.扎拉若有所思地跟在后面。171
They found Dragonbait starting a cooking fire in the center of the clearing.他们发现龙饵正在空地中央生起炊火。172
Alias was grooming Breck’s horse at the edge of the clearing with her back to the saurial.阿莉亚丝背对着那个蜥蜴人，在空地边缘给布雷克的马梳理毛发。173
She kept her face a tight mask of concentration, trying to hide her turbulent mood.她绷着脸，摆出一副全神贯注的神情，竭力掩饰自己纷乱的心绪。174
Breck led Alias’s horse over to a tree near Alias and wrapped its lead rope around a branch.布雷克把阿莉亚丝的马牵到她附近的一棵树旁，将牵绳绕在一根树枝上。175
His horse’s saddle and saddlebags were spread out over a fallen tree.他的马鞍和鞍囊摊放在一棵倒下的树上。176
“I went in your saddlebags for your brushes,” Alias said.“我从你的鞍囊里拿了刷子，”阿莉亚丝说。177
“That’s fine,” Breck replied.“没关系，”布雷克回答。178
“Hand me my scraper, and I’ll start on your horse,” he offered, unsaddling Alias’s mount.“把我的刮汗板递给我，我来收拾你的马。”他一边主动说道，一边卸下阿莉亚丝坐骑的马鞍。179
He laid the saddle on the fallen tree beside his own and tossed the sweaty horse blanket on top.他把马鞍放到倒木上自己的马鞍旁边，又将汗湿的马毯扔在上面。180
Alias handed a sweat scraper to the ranger.阿莉亚丝把一块刮汗板递给游侠。181
As Breck began cleaning off Alias’s horse he said, “I’m sorry I accused you of helping Zhara escape.”布雷克开始清理阿莉亚丝的马时说道：“对不起，我不该指责你帮助扎拉逃跑。”182
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。183
“You didn’t know how I felt about her.”“你当时不知道我对她是什么感觉。”184
“You didn’t like her even before you knew she was your—um—one of your look-alikes, did you?”“你甚至在知道她是你的——呃——是那些和你长得一样的人之一以前，就不喜欢她了，对吧？”185
Breck asked.布雷克问道。186
“No, I didn’t,” Alias said.“对，我不喜欢她，”阿莉亚丝说。187
“You know, she doesn’t seem all that bad.“你知道吗，她看起来也没那么糟。188
Uh … she’s loyal to her husband at least,” Breck said.呃……至少她还忠于自己的丈夫，”布雷克说。189
“Hmph!”“哼！”190
Alias snorted.阿莉亚丝嗤之以鼻。191
“She’s just a good actress,” the swordswoman replied spitefully.“她只是很会演戏罢了。”女剑士恶狠狠地答道。192
“Dragonbait seems to like her.”“龙饵好像挺喜欢她的。”193
“Dragonbait is a fool,” Alias snarled.“龙饵是个傻瓜。”阿莉亚丝咆哮道。194
Startled by the swordswoman’s vehemence, Breck didn’t reply.布雷克被女剑士激烈的反应吓了一跳，没有作声。195
Alias finished grooming Breck’s horse in silence.阿莉亚丝默默地替布雷克的马刷理完毕。196
Then she pulled her saddlebags off her saddle and walked away to another tree at the edge of the clearing.随后，她从马鞍上取下鞍袋，走到空地边缘的另一棵树旁。197
She sat down beneath the tree and began to remove her armor.她在树下坐下，开始卸下护甲。198
When Breck finished grooming Alias’s horse, he strolled over to the cooking fire.布雷克替阿莉亚丝的马刷理完毕后，信步走到炊火旁。199
Dragonbait and Zhara had made up a delicious-looking stew from the rations and some wild herbs the saurial had collected along the trek.龙饵和扎拉用口粮和蜥蜴人沿途采集的一些野生香草，做出了一锅看起来十分美味的炖菜。200
The saurial signed something to Zhara.蜥蜴人向扎拉打了个手势。201
“Dragonbait wants you to take a bowl to Alias.”“龙饵想让你给阿莉亚丝送一碗过去。”202
Zhara explained to the ranger.扎拉向游侠解释道。203
“Uh, sure,” Breck said.“呃，当然。”布雷克说。204
“Does she usually stay angry with you for a long time?” he asked.“她通常会生你很久的气吗？”他问。205
Dragonbait signed something for Zhara to translate.龙饵打了个手势，让扎拉翻译。206
“She’s never been angry at him before,” Zhara said.“她以前从没生过他的气。”扎拉说。207
“Great,” the ranger muttered.“太好了。”游侠嘟囔道。208
“As if we didn’t have enough problems with this hunt.”“好像这次追捕的麻烦还不够多似的。”209
He carried some bread and a bowl of stew for himself and one for the swordswoman over to the edge of the clearing, where Alias sat polishing her sword.他拿了些面包，又端上两碗炖菜，一碗给自己，一碗给女剑士，朝空地边缘走去；阿莉亚丝正坐在那里擦拭她的剑。210
Alias looked up when the ranger approached.游侠走近时，阿莉亚丝抬起头来。211
“I’m not hungry,” she said.“我不饿。”她说。212
“You’ve got to eat,” Breck insisted squatting down beside her.“你必须吃点东西。”布雷克坚持道，在她身旁蹲了下来。213
“What’s the point?”“有什么意义？”214
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。215
“The point!” the ranger exclaimed.“意义！”游侠叫道。216
“The point is that you promised Lord Mourngrym you’d help me bring Akabar and Grypht back to the tower, which you can’t do if you fall off your horse from hunger.“意义就在于，你答应过莫恩格林领主，要帮我把阿卡巴和格里夫特带回塔楼；可要是你饿得从马上摔下来，就没法兑现承诺了。217
And if keeping your word to Mourngrym isn’t enough, remember, Grypht knows where Nameless is.再说，如果信守对莫恩格林的承诺还不够，那就想想，格里夫特知道无名者在哪里。218
I thought you wanted to find Nameless.”我还以为你想找到无名者呢。”219
“I do,” Alias said, a spark of hope in her voice once more.“我是想。”阿莉亚丝说道，声音里又燃起了一丝希望。220
“Then eat your dinner,” Breck said.“那就吃你的晚饭。”布雷克说。221
Alias took the bowl from Breck.阿莉亚丝从布雷克手中接过碗。222
“Mind if I join you?”“介意我陪你一起吃吗？”223
Breck asked.布雷克问道。224
“Suit yourself,” Alias said.“随你的便。”阿莉亚丝说。225
“I’m afraid I’m not very good company just now, though.”“不过，我恐怕现在不是什么好伴儿。”226
“Neither am I, so we should get along just fine,” Breck retorted, tearing the hunk of bread in half and tossing her a piece.”“我也不是，所以我们俩应该正好合得来。”布雷克回嘴道，一边把那大块面包撕成两半，扔给她一块。227
Alias grinned ruefully.阿莉亚丝苦笑了一下。228
“I never did hear what you had to say about Nameless,” the ranger said.“我一直没听到你原本想说的那些关于无名者的话。”游侠说道。229
“I don’t know what I was going to say,” Alias admitted.“我也不知道自己当时想说什么了。”阿莉亚丝承认道。230
She scooped up a mouthful of stew.她舀了一大口炖菜送进嘴里。231
When she was finished chewing and swallowing, she asked, “What do you want to know about him?”等她嚼完咽下去后，便问道：“你想知道他的什么事？”232
“Do you love him?”“你爱他吗？”233
Breck asked.布雷克问道。234
“He’s my father” Alias answered, as if that explained everything.“他是我父亲。”阿莉亚丝回答，仿佛这就足以解释一切。235
“But do you love him?”“可你爱他吗？”236
Breck asked again.布雷克又问了一遍。237
“He made me everything I am,” the swordswoman said.“他造就了今天的我，”女剑士说道。238
“I owe him my life.”“我的命都是他给的。”239
Breck took a mouthful of stew.布雷克吃了一口炖菜。240
“I told Morala I loved him,” Alias continued.“我告诉莫拉拉，我爱他，”阿莉亚丝继续说道。241
She tried to convince me I shouldn’t. You’re not going to try to do that, too, are you?”“她想说服我，让我不该爱他。你不会也想这么做吧？”242
“I don’t know Nameless well enough,” Breck said, shaking his head.“我对无名者还不够了解，”布雷克摇着头说道。243
Privately the ranger wondered what game Morala had been playing.布雷克暗自琢磨，莫拉拉究竟在耍什么把戏。244
“Were those his songs you were singing last night at The Old Skull?” he asked.“你昨晚在老骷髅旅店唱的那些歌，都是他写的吗？”他问。245
“Mostly,” Alias replied.“大多是，”阿莉亚丝答道。246
Breck waited until she’d sopped up the last bit of gravy from her bowl with the remaining bread, then asked, “Would you sing that song about the nymph again—for me?”布雷克等她用剩下的面包蘸净碗里最后一点肉汁，才问道：“那首关于林中仙女的歌，你能再唱一遍吗——为我唱？”247
Alias looked down at the ground, hiding her look of uncertainty and fear.阿莉亚丝低头望着地面，掩饰脸上的迟疑与恐惧。248
She wanted Breck to admire Nameless’s work.她希望布雷克会欣赏无名者的作品。249
The song about the nymph would sound so natural out here in the forest.那首关于林中仙女的歌，在这片森林里听来一定无比自然。250
She had to risk singing the song, even if its meaning became twisted.她必须冒险唱这首歌，即使它的含义会被扭曲。251
“Of course,” she said to Breck with an unsteady smile.“当然，”她朝布雷克露出一个不太自然的微笑，说道。252
Alias set her bowl down and cleared her throat with a sip of water.阿莉亚丝放下碗，喝了一口水清了清嗓子。253
With a hostile glance toward the sky, she directed an impromptu petition to the gods: I already know about Moander, and I want to help Nameless, so please don’t ruin this song.她敌意地瞥了一眼天空，即兴向诸神祈求道：莫安德的事我已经知道了，而且我想帮助无名者，所以求求你们，别毁了这首歌。254
In the peaceful forest surroundings, Alias began singing, far more softly than she had been able to back in Jhaele’s noisy tavern.在宁静的森林中，阿莉亚丝开始歌唱，声音比先前在杰尔那间喧闹的酒馆里轻柔得多。255
She began the song with a series of wordless siren calls, then sang the first lyrics: “ ‘Dappled sunlight dances around a foxglove spike, then transforms into a vision both warm and womanlike.’ ”她先唱出一连串无词的海妖吟声，随后唱起第一句歌词：“斑驳阳光绕着一穗毛地黄起舞，继而化作温暖而又宛如女子的幻影。”256
Breck leaned back against a tree and closed his eyes.布雷克向后倚在一棵树上，闭上了眼睛。257
Alias’s eyes wandered around the moonlit clearing, imagining the sun on the golden-leafed trees and the bright berries and wild flowers.阿莉亚丝的目光游移在月光笼罩的林间空地上，想象着阳光洒落在金叶树木、鲜艳浆果与野花上的景象。258
She sang the song through without a hitch.她顺顺当当地唱完了整首歌。259
When she was finished, she glanced at Breck to see if he was pleased.唱完后，她瞥了布雷克一眼，想看看他是否满意。260
The ranger’s cheeks were tear-streaked.游侠脸上泪痕斑斑。261
He opened his eyes and looked at Alias with a hint of embarrassment.他睁开眼睛看着阿莉亚丝，神情略显尴尬。262
“I’m …“我……263
I’m sorry,” he said.我很抱歉，”他说。264
“It makes me think of Kyre.”“这让我想起了凯尔。”265
He dabbed his eyes hastily with his sleeve.他连忙用袖子擦了擦眼睛。266
“I’ll take first watch.“我来守第一班岗。267
You’d better get some sleep.”你最好睡一会儿。”268
Alias nodded wordlessly, and Breck moved away to another spot by the clearing’s edge.阿莉亚丝默默地点点头，布雷克走开了，去了林间空地边缘的另一处地方。269
All he could think about was Kyre, Alias realized in frustration.他满脑子想的都是凯尔，阿莉亚丝懊恼地意识到。270
He wasn’t interested in Nameless.他对无名者根本不感兴趣。271
She punched her saddlebag angrily.她气愤地捶了一下鞍袋。272
No one cares about Nameless except me.除了我，根本没人在乎无名者。273
She wrapped her cloak tightly around herself and laid her head down on the saddlebags.她把斗篷紧紧裹在身上，将头枕在鞍袋上。274
And no one cares about me, except Nameless.而除了无名者，也根本没人在乎我。275
Akabar and his fiend-spawn wife can go chasing after Moander, if they want, and Dragonbait can go with them, for all I care.阿卡巴和他那个魔裔妻子想去追莫安德就去追吧，龙饵也尽管跟他们一起去，我才不在乎。276
But once I find Grypht and make him give me the finder’s stone, I’m going to search for my father.可等我找到格里夫特，逼他把寻人石交给我，我就要去寻找父亲。277
Olive bandaged, by herself, the wound the beholder had inflicted upon her.奥利芙独自包扎好了眼魔给她造成的伤口。278
She was still too angry with the bard to accept any help from him.她还在生吟游诗人的气，不肯接受他的任何帮助。279
She felt betrayed by his declaration that he intended to deal with Xaran.他声称打算同扎兰打交道，这让她觉得自己遭到了背叛。280
She had expected him to have too much self-respect to deal with such a creature.她原以为他会有足够的自尊，不至于同这种生物打交道。281
After informing him curtly that Flattery had looted the workshop and left behind a death trap for him, she’d stalked off to a corner to steam in silence.她冷冷地告诉他，弗拉特里已经洗劫了工坊，还给他留下了一个致命陷阱，随后便怒气冲冲地走到一个角落，默默生闷气去了。282
Finder appeared not to notice the halfling’s anger.芬德似乎没有注意到半身人的怒气。283
He began feverishly turning his workshop upside down, looking for something, anything, that he could use against the orcs.他开始发疯似的把工坊翻了个底朝天，想找出点什么——随便什么——好用来对付兽人。284
He’d been unable to get the other door leading out of the workshop to open, so now their only way out lay beyond the orcs.他一直没能打开工坊另一侧通往外面的门，因此如今，他们唯一的出路就在那些兽人身后。285
Unfortunately, Finder’s search bore precious few results.不幸的是，芬德搜来搜去，几乎一无所获。286
Flattery had either known or discovered every last hiding place his maker had, for he had taken everything but Finder’s musical instruments.弗拉特里不是早就知道，就是已经找出了他的创造者所有藏东西的地方，因为除了芬德的乐器外，他把一切都拿走了。287
Those he had tossed carelessly in a corner and apparently fireballed them.那些乐器被他随手扔在角落里，而且显然还用火球术轰过。288
Only one instrument, a brass horn, survived the blast unscathed.只有一件乐器在爆炸中毫发无损地留了下来：一把黄铜号角。289
Finder pulled the horn out of the pile of charred yartings, melted flutes, and cracked harps and brushed it off carefully.芬德从一堆烧焦的雅廷琴、熔化的长笛和开裂的竖琴中抽出号角，小心地拂去上面的灰尘。290
“Not completely stingy with your luck today, are you, Tymora?” the bard muttered.“今天你还不算把好运吝啬到底，是吧，泰摩拉？”吟游诗人低声嘟囔道。291
Olive, too curious to remain silent, asked hopefully, “Is that horn magical?”奥利芙实在按捺不住好奇，满怀期待地问：“那号角有魔法吗？”292
“Why don’t you try it and find out for yourself, Olive?”“你为什么不自己试试看呢，奥利芙？”293
Finder suggested, handing her the instrument.芬德一边提议，一边把乐器递给她。294
Olive needed both hands to hold the heavy brass horn up to her lips.奥利芙得用双手才能把沉重的黄铜号角举到唇边。295
She puffed out her cheeks and blew with all her might, but without results.她鼓起腮帮子，使出全身力气吹去，却一点声音也没有。296
“My mouth is too small,” she said, handing the horn back to the bard.“我的嘴太小了。”她说着，把号角递还给吟游诗人。297
“Astonishing, considering the amount of noise that manages to come out of it,” Finder said, straight-faced.“真叫人吃惊，毕竟这张嘴平时发出的动静可不小。”芬德一本正经地说道。298
He held the horn up to his own lips and blew a hunting flourish, then a military call to arms.他把号角举到自己唇边，先吹出一段狩猎号音，接着又吹响了军队的战斗号令。299
Finally he fastened the horn to his belt, like a weapon.最后，他像佩带武器一样，把号角系在了腰带上。300
“Well?“怎么样？301
Is it magic?”它有魔法吗？”302
Olive asked again.奥利芙又问了一遍。303
Finder nodded.芬德点了点头。304
“What does it do?”“它有什么用？”305
“With the right command words, it will bring down the house,” the bard replied, “literally.”“只要念对口令，它就能让整座房子塌下来，”吟游诗人答道，“是字面意义上的塌下来。”306
“Considering that orc audiences aren’t particularly noted for their appreciation of music,” Olive said, “that could be useful.”“考虑到兽人听众并不以欣赏音乐著称，”奥利芙说，“这倒可能派得上用场。”307
Finder bent back over the pile of destroyed musical instruments.芬德又俯身翻看那堆被毁坏的乐器。308
He pulled out a harp.他从中抽出一把竖琴。309
Its wooden frame was broken and charred, and the strings were all snapped and frayed.竖琴的木框已经断裂、烧焦，琴弦也全都崩断磨损了。310
He slid open a tiny secret compartment in the harp’s base.他滑开竖琴底座上的一个小小暗格。311
“Did I leave something in—Aha!” the bard exclaimed as something small and glittering dropped into his hand.“我是不是在里面留了什么——哈！”吟游诗人惊呼道，一件闪闪发亮的小东西落进了他手中。312
“Here, Olive.“给你，奥利芙。313
You should wear this,” he said and held out an earring.你应该戴上这个。”他说着，递出一只耳环。314
Without taking it, Olive eyed the piece of jewelry appraisingly.奥利芙没有伸手去接，只是以品鉴的目光打量着这件首饰。315
From the wire ear loop hung a platinum pendant set with a brilliant white diamond, which the halfling estimated must weigh more than a carat.金属丝耳钩下悬着一枚铂金坠饰，上面镶嵌着一颗璀璨的白钻；这位半身人估摸，那颗钻石肯定超过一克拉。316
The workmanship was obviously elvish and very beautiful.那工艺显然出自精灵之手，而且极其精美。317
“A little fancy for entertaining orcs, isn’t it?” she asked, trying to resist her desire to accept the gift.“戴着这个给兽人表演，是不是有点太花哨了？”她问道，竭力压下自己想收下这份礼物的渴望。318
Finder sat down beside her.芬德在她身旁坐了下来。319
He removed the tiny gold loop earring she already wore and slipped the wire loop of the diamond earring into the pierced hole in her earlobe.他摘下她原先戴着的那只小金圈耳环，将钻石耳环的金属丝耳钩穿进她耳垂上的耳洞。320
He flicked at the diamond pendant to set it swaying.他轻弹了一下钻石坠饰，让它摇晃起来。321
“Olive,” he asked suddenly, “do you speak any elvish?”“奥利芙，”他忽然问道，“你会说精灵语吗？”322
“Not really,” Olive answered, shaking her head.“不太会。”奥利芙摇着头回答。323
In spite of her anger with Finder, she couldn’t help but be delighted by the feel of the tiny pendant bumping against her neck.尽管她还在生芬德的气，却仍忍不住因那枚小坠饰轻轻碰触颈项的感觉而欣喜。324
“Except some numbers and a few words—for trading.”“只会一些数字和几个词——做买卖时用的。”325
“The elves have a saying: ‘May you hear as clear as a diamond.’“精灵有句俗语：‘愿你听得如钻石般清澈。’326
How’s your hearing, Olive?”你的听力怎么样，奥利芙？”327
Olive looked at Finder with a touch of confusion.奥利芙略带困惑地望着芬德。328
Then it dawned on her.随后她恍然大悟。329
“You’re speaking elvish!” she exclaimed.“你说的是精灵语！”她惊呼道。330
“I understood you perfectly!“我全都听懂了！331
The earring’s magic, too!”这只耳环也有魔法！”332
Finder nodded.芬德点了点头。333
“You should be able to understand most of the languages of the Realms with it,” he explained.“戴着它，你应该就能听懂诸界的大多数语言了，”他解释道。334
“Still angry at me?”“还在生我的气吗？”335
“I should be,” Olive said haughtily.“我本来应该生气的，”奥利芙傲然说道。336
“I know.“我知道。337
But are you?” he asked.可你还生气吗？”他问。338
Olive sighed and shook her head from side to side.奥利芙叹了口气，左右摇了摇头。339
Finder smiled and took a gulp of water from Olive’s water flask.芬德笑了笑，拿起奥利芙的水壶，灌了一大口水。340
“Olive,” he began, “is that all Flattery’s image said—that he cleaned out the lab, and I should be dead?”“奥利芙，”他开口道，“弗拉特里的影像就只说了这些——他说他把实验室搬空了，而我本该已经死了？”341
“That was it,” Olive lied.“就这些，”奥利芙撒谎道。342
“Then he sent the spokes of disintegration around the room and cropped off my hair.”“然后他让一道道解离射线横扫整个房间，削掉了我的头发。”343
Finder ran a finger along the strip of soft, auburn fuzz that was all that was left of Olive’s hair on the crown of her head.奥利芙头顶的头发只剩下一层柔软的赤褐色短茬，芬德用手指沿着那一条短茬轻轻划过。344
“I suppose being short has its advantages,” the bard joked feebly.“看来个子矮也有个子矮的好处，”吟游诗人勉强打趣道。345
Olive sniffed.奥利芙哼了一声。346
“So does crawling around on your belly, but its not very dignified,” she said.“趴在地上爬来爬去也有好处，可那实在不怎么体面，”她说。347
“Olive, will you give it a rest?” the bard growled.“奥利芙，你能不能别再说了？”吟游诗人低吼道。348
“We haven’t any choice but to deal with Xaran.”“我们别无选择，只能跟扎兰打交道。”349
“No, I will not,” Olive replied, stamping her foot.“不，我偏不，”奥利芙跺着脚答道。350
Her anger returned instantly.她的怒火瞬间又蹿了起来。351
She couldn’t allow herself to be bribed by diamonds, magic or not.她不能容许自己被钻石收买，不管那钻石有没有魔法。352
“You cannot make a deal with a beholder,” she told Finder.“你不可能跟一个眼魔谈成交易，”她对芬德说。353
“Didn’t you learn anything after Cassana and Phalse left you to rot in Cassana’s dungeon?”“卡萨娜和法尔斯把你丢在卡萨娜的地牢里等死之后，难道你还没吸取任何教训吗？”354
“Olive, we are not exactly negotiating from a position of strength,” the bard said, indicating the empty room with a wave of his hand.“奥利芙，我们现在可没有多少谈判的本钱，”吟游诗人说着，挥手示意了一下空荡荡的房间。355
“We haven’t even got a potion of healing for your shoulder.”“我们甚至连一瓶给你治肩伤的治疗药水都没有。”356
“You didn’t know that before, when you started dealing with Xaran,” Olive accused him.“可你开始跟扎兰打交道的时候，并不知道这些，”奥利芙指责道。357
“Immortality is nothing to sneeze at,” Finder said angrily.“长生不死可不是件不值一提的事，”芬德恼怒地说。358
“Fine!”“好啊！”359
Olive snapped.奥利芙厉声说道。360
“Swallow it whole.“那你就整个吞下去吧。361
I hope you choke on it.”我巴不得你被它噎死。”362
“Oh, for—” Finder broke off and sighed.“哦，真是——”芬德戛然而止，叹了口气。363
“By now, immortality is a negotiating point I’ll probably have to relinquish.“事到如今，长生不死不过是个谈判条件，恐怕我也只能放弃了。364
There’s nothing here I can offer him, and I have no intention of spending another year building simulacrums for evil monsters.”我在这里没什么能给他的，而且我也不打算再花上一年，为邪恶的怪物制造拟像。”365
“So you’re going to sell out Akabar just so you can get out of here alive?”“所以你就要出卖阿卡巴，只为了自己能活着离开这里？”366
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。367
“So we can get out of here, Olive,” Finder said.“是为了让我们能离开这里，奥利芙，”芬德说。368
“I’ll make my deals with a dagger,” the halfling said.“我会用匕首跟他谈条件，”半身人说道。369
“My, but haven’t you gotten proud and brave in the past year?”“哟，这一年里，你倒是变得又骄傲又勇敢了啊？”370
Finder said sarcastically.芬德讥讽地说。371
“I had a good teacher,” Olive sputtered.“我有个好老师，”奥利芙气冲冲地说道。372
“At least, I thought I did.”“至少，我原以为是这样。”373
The side of Finder’s face twitched as if he’d been slapped.芬德的半边脸抽搐了一下，仿佛挨了一记耳光。374
He grabbed the halfling by her shoulders and pulled her close so their faces were only inches apart.他一把抓住半身人的双肩，将她拉到近前，两人的脸相距不过几英寸。375
Olive flinched from the pain in her wounded shoulder, but didn’t say a word.奥利芙受伤的肩膀疼得一缩，却一声不吭。376
“Listen to me, Olive Ruskettle,” Finder demanded.“听我说，奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔，”芬德厉声说道。377
“There is no dishonor in surviving.“活下来并不可耻。378
You may manage to kill a few orcs, but they’ll get you in the end.你也许能杀掉几个兽人，但最后还是会落到他们手里。379
They won’t kill you right away, though.不过，他们不会马上杀了你。380
Oh, no. You’re an attractive female, and the fact that you’re small won’t protect you one bit.哦，不会的。你是个漂亮姑娘，个子小也根本保护不了你。381
They’ll find that all the more amusing.他们反而会觉得这样更有趣。382
You know what sort of monsters they are.”你知道他们是怎样的怪物。”383
Olive shuddered and the blood drained from her face, but she wouldn’t concede.奥利芙浑身一颤，脸上血色尽褪，却仍不肯让步。384
“I won’t let you betray Akabar,” she said, holding back a sob.“我不会让你出卖阿卡巴的，”她强忍着呜咽说道。385
“Xaran must have some way to make sure you don’t cheat on any deal you make.“扎兰肯定有办法确保你不会在达成交易后耍花招。386
Suppose he charms you with one of his magic eyes?要是他用某只魔眼魅惑了你呢？387
Then you won’t have much of a choice.”到时候你就没多少选择了。”388
“I doubt Xaran’s enchantments would have any power over me,” Finder said.“我不认为扎兰的魔法能对我起作用，”芬德说。389
“Xaran could put a magic choking collar around you in case you didn’t come back, or send a party of orcs to escort us, or use me for a hostage.”“扎兰可以给你套上一只魔法绞喉项圈，防止你一去不回；也可以派一队兽人押送我们，或者拿我当人质。”390
“I won’t leave here without you, and whatever guarantees Xaran decides to use, we’ll find a way around them,” Finder assured her.“我不会把你留在这里。无论扎兰决定用什么手段来确保交易，我们都会找到办法化解，”芬德向她保证。391
“Besides, Xaran only said he wanted something Akabar had, not that he wanted to kill him.“再说，扎兰只说他想要阿卡巴手里的一样东西，又没说想杀了他。392
Suppose Akabar wants to sell this thing, whatever it is, to Xaran.说不定阿卡巴愿意把那东西——不管是什么——卖给扎兰呢。393
Hmm?”嗯？”394
“Akabar is a cloth merchant.“阿卡巴是个布商。395
What’s a beholder going to do with cloth?一个眼魔要布料做什么？396
Hang curtains in the orcs’ warren?”给兽人的窝里挂窗帘吗？”397
Olive asked with sarcasm.奥利芙讥讽地问道。398
Finder released Olive’s shoulders and tugged playfully at the diamond earring.芬德松开奥利芙的肩膀，顽皮地扯了扯那枚钻石耳环。399
“You are such a stubborn woman,” he said.“你这女人真固执，”他说。400
“Trust me.“相信我。401
I’m going to get us out of here alive, and I won’t let anything happen to Akabar, but I need your help.”我会让我们活着离开这里，也不会让阿卡巴出任何事，但我需要你的帮助。”402
Olive looked up into the bard’s blue eyes.奥利芙抬头望进吟游诗人那双蓝眼睛。403
She felt like a moth drawn to a candle.她觉得自己就像一只被烛火吸引的飞蛾。404
She was probably always going to end up being drawn into Finder’s schemes—at least, until she got burned in one of them, like a moth in a candle flame.她大概总免不了被卷进芬德的种种图谋——至少，在某一次图谋中被灼伤之前都会如此，就像扑进烛火的飞蛾一样。405
“Here,” she said, handing him his dagger.“给你，”她说着，把他的匕首递了过去。406
“I found it in the tunnels.“我在地道里找到的。407
You may need it.”你或许会用得上。”408
Finder’s face lit up at the sight of the heirloom weapon.芬德一看见这件传家宝般的武器，脸上顿时亮了起来。409
“You really are my little Lady Luck, aren’t you?” he said, taking the weapon.“你还真是我的小幸运女神，对吧？”他说着，接过了匕首。410
“Maybe that’s why you have so little luck,” Olive bantered.“或许这就是你运气总那么差的原因。”奥利芙打趣道。411
“When you have talent like mine,” the bard boasted, “a little luck is all you need.”“有我这样的才华，”吟游诗人吹嘘道，“只需要一点点运气就够了。”412
Olive shook her head disapprovingly.奥利芙不以为然地摇了摇头。413
“Let’s just get this little tea party over with,” she muttered.“还是赶紧把这场小茶会应付过去吧。”她嘟囔道。414
Finder removed a light stone from the wall and gave it to the halfling to hold.芬德从墙上取下一块发光石，交给半身人拿着。415
He held his dagger out in his right hand and took up Olive’s free hand in his left.他右手举着匕首，左手牵起奥利芙空着的那只手。416
“Stay close,” he ordered, leading her to the door.“跟紧我。”他命令道，领着她朝门口走去。417
You’re so bright, what moth could resist?你这么耀眼，哪只飞蛾能抗拒得了？418
Olive thought ruefully.奥利芙苦涩地想。419
Finder traced the treble clef symbol with his finger.芬德用手指描摹着高音谱号。420
The door opened inward a foot.门向内打开了一尺。421
The orcs in the corridor immediately begain to shriek and holler.走廊里的兽人立刻尖叫呼喊起来。422
Finder jerked Olive through the door and whistled three notes.芬德猛地拽着奥利芙穿过门，吹了三个音符。423
The door slammed shut behind them.门在他们身后砰然关上。424
Six especially large orcs with loaded crossbows blocked their way.六个格外高大的兽人手持上好弦的弩，挡住了他们的去路。425
There must have been at least another twenty sitting in the corridor beyond.后面的走廊里肯定还坐着至少二十个兽人。426
The monsters squinted in the light of the stone Olive held up, but they could obviously see well enough to shoot at the human and the halfling.奥利芙举起石头，怪物们在它的光芒下眯起了眼睛，但显然还是看得足够清楚，可以朝那个人类和半身人射击。427
Undaunted by the numbers of the enemy, Finder took charge immediately.芬德丝毫没有被敌人的数量吓倒，立即掌控了局面。428
In a fighting stance, with his dagger flashing in the light, he snarled at the assembled orcs.他摆出战斗架势，匕首在光线下寒光闪闪，冲聚集在一起的兽人厉声咆哮。429
“Take us to Xaran!” he ordered.“带我们去见扎兰！”他命令道。430
The orcs growled.兽人们低声咆哮起来。431
The largest one snarled at Finder in common, “Throw down your weapons—and that light, too.”个头最大的那个用通用语冲芬德吼道：“扔下武器——还有那盏灯。”432
Finder stepped close to the orc who had spoken.芬德走到说话的兽人近前。433
Ignoring the crossbow bolt pointed at his belly, he snarled back, “You will take us to Xaran as we are, or I will see that Xaran punishes you for your insolence.”他无视正对着自己腹部的弩箭，回敬道：“你要原封不动地带我们去见扎兰，否则我会让扎兰惩罚你的无礼。”434
The monster cursed in orcish.那怪物用兽人语咒骂了一句。435
Olive, wearing the magic earring, understood the words clearly, though she wished she hadn’t. The large orc turned his back on Finder and walked down the corridor.奥利芙戴着魔法耳环，把那些话听得一清二楚，尽管她宁愿自己没有听懂。 高大的兽人转过身去，背对芬德，沿走廊走去。436
Finder followed behind, close enough to smell the stench of the creature’s clothing as he pulled Olive behind him.芬德紧跟在后面，近得能闻到那怪物衣服上的恶臭，同时拽着奥利芙跟在自己身后。437
Some of the orcs ran ahead and disappeared through the gap in the corridor wall, dashing down the tunnel beyond to alert the rest of their tribe.一些兽人跑到前面，从走廊墙壁的缺口消失了；他们沿着后面的隧道飞奔而去，给部族里的其他兽人报信。438
Most of the orcs waited for their leader and the prisoner to pass, then they stood up and followed.大多数兽人等他们的首领和俘虏走过，才站起身跟了上去。439
Olive could see them pointing at her and hear them whispering foul words and feel their eyes on her.奥利芙能看见他们对自己指指点点，能听见他们低声吐出污言秽语，也能感觉到他们的目光落在自己身上。440
Just before they stepped through the gap in the wall, another especially large orc blocked the leader’s path and said in orcish.就在他们即将穿过墙上缺口时，另一个格外高大的半兽人挡住了首领的去路，用半兽人语说道：441
“Xaran is only interested in the bard.“扎兰只对那个吟游诗人感兴趣。442
We were promised any treasure he brought out of the magic room.他从魔法房间里带出来的任何财宝，都说好了归我们。443
By rights, the little one is ours.”按理说，这个小家伙是我们的。”444
The other orcs rumbled approvingly.其他半兽人纷纷低声咕哝，表示赞同。445
The leader of the orcs turned to Finder.半兽人首领转向芬德。446
“My brother is right.“我兄弟说得对。447
Xaran is interested in only you.扎兰只对你感兴趣。448
Leave the halfling behind,” he ordered.把这个半身人留下。”他命令道。449
Olive suddenly remembered what it was like to be her old, terrified self again.奥利芙突然又想起了做回从前那个胆战心惊的自己是什么滋味。450
She clung to Finder’s hand but did her best not to whimper.她紧紧抓住芬德的手，却竭力忍住不呜咽出声。451
Finder looked over both the leader orc and his brother with obvious disdain.芬德毫不掩饰轻蔑之色，将半兽人首领和他的兄弟逐一打量了一番。452
“She’s mine,” he said.“她是我的。”他说。453
“Xaran does not care about the halfling,” the leader said.“扎兰不在乎这个半身人。”首领说道。454
“He will not punish us if we do not bring her.”“就算我们不把她带去，他也不会惩罚我们。”455
“But I will,” Finder barked in orcish.“但我会。”芬德用半兽人语厉声吼道。456
“Slowly,” he added threateningly.“而且会慢慢来。”他又加了一句，语带威胁。457
The leader orc snarled, but he turned and led them on.半兽人首领咆哮了一声，但还是转过身，带着他们继续前行。458
His brother eyed Finder with hostility.他的兄弟满怀敌意地瞪着芬德。459
Finder returned the look with an even fiercer one, an undisguised hatred that startled the orc into stepping backward.芬德以更加凶狠的目光回瞪过去，那毫不掩饰的恨意惊得半兽人后退了一步。460
Finder squeezed through the gap in the wall, pulling Olive after him, and they made their way down the tunnel beyond to the orcs’ warren.芬德挤过墙上的缺口，拉着奥利芙跟在身后，两人沿着另一头的隧道一路走向半兽人的巢穴。461
Dragonbait started awake at Breck’s touch on his shoulder.布雷克的手搭上龙饵的肩膀时，龙饵猛然惊醒。462
The ranger looked deeply disturbed.这名游侠显得极为不安。463
The saurial chirped quizzically.这名蜥蜴人疑惑地啾鸣了一声。464
“It’s Alias,” the ranger said.“是阿莉亚丝，”游侠说道。465
“She’s walking in her sleep.“她在梦游。466
What should we do?”我们该怎么办？”467
Dragonbait felt genuine panic.龙饵感到一阵真切的恐慌。468
Alias hadn’t walked in her sleep since right after she was “born,” when they’d been on the ship en route from Westgate to Suzail after escaping from Cassana’s dungeon.自从刚“出生”不久后，阿莉亚丝就再也没有梦游过；那一次，他们逃出卡萨娜的地牢，正乘船从西门城前往苏萨尔。469
Though fully grown, the swordswoman had been like a child then, with all the fears of a child.那时，女剑士虽然已经长大成人，心智却像个孩子，也怀着孩子所有的恐惧。470
The horrors of the ceremonies and magic behind her creation had surfaced in her nightmares, only to be blessedly forgotten after her days-long sleep in Suzail, from which she’d awakened as an adult.那些造就她的仪式与魔法所带来的恐怖，曾在她的噩梦中浮现；所幸，她在苏萨尔一连沉睡数日，醒来时已拥有成年人的心智，此后便把那些恐怖忘得一干二净。471
Now Alias stood beside the fire, wearing nothing but her tunic.此刻，阿莉亚丝站在火堆旁，身上只穿着一件束腰外衣。472
She was very pale, her eyes were closed, and her mouth hung open.她脸色惨白，双眼紧闭，嘴巴微微张着。473
She was whimpering slightly.她正轻声呜咽。474
Dragonbait rose and approached her.龙饵站起身，向她走去。475
He ran a clawed finger up under her right sleeve, along her magical blue brands.他将一根带爪的手指伸进她的右袖，沿着她那些魔法蓝色烙印向上划去。476
The swordswoman quieted instantly and her breathing slowed.女剑士立刻安静下来，呼吸也随之放缓。477
Suddenly the air about the fireside was full of high-pitched clicking and whistling sounds.突然间，火堆周围的空气中充满了尖细的咔嗒声与口哨声。478
Dragonbait whirled around, emitting a joyful lemony scent, expecting to see Grypht.龙饵猛地转过身，散发出欢欣的柠檬香气，以为自己会看见格里夫特。479
There was no one in the clearing but himself, Breck, Alias, and the sleeping Zhara.然而空地里除了他自己、布雷克、阿莉亚丝和熟睡的扎拉外，再没有别人。480
Dragonbait turned back to Alias, his eyes wide in astonishment.龙饵转回头看着阿莉亚丝，惊讶地瞪大了眼睛。481
“What is it?”“怎么了？”482
Breck asked.布雷克问道。483
“What’s wrong?”“出什么事了？”484
Dragonbait motioned for Breck to remain silent.龙饵示意布雷克保持安静。485
The ranger couldn’t hear the whistles and clicks coming from Alias’s mouth.游侠听不见从阿莉亚丝口中发出的口哨声和咔嗒声。486
His ears were as deaf to the sounds as any human ear not augmented by magic.他的耳朵听不见这些声音，就像任何未经魔法强化的人类耳朵一样。487
Although Alias made the noises with her extraordinarily gifted voice, even she herself couldn’t possibly hear them.尽管阿莉亚丝凭借她那异乎寻常的天赋嗓音发出了这些声响，但就连她自己也不可能听见。488
Dragonbait heard them, though, for they were not only the sounds a saurial would make, but they were also actual words in saurial.然而龙饵听见了，因为那不仅是蜥蜴族会发出的声音，更是蜥蜴族语中真正的词句。489
Although Alias spoke in saurial, what she said seemed to be nothing but babble.虽然阿莉亚丝说的是蜥族语，但她的话听起来不过是一串语无伦次的呓语。490
“We are ready for the seed.“我们已经准备好迎接种子。491
Where is the seed?种子在哪里？492
Find the seed.找到种子。493
Bring the seed,” she repeated over and over again.把种子带来。”她一遍又一遍地重复着。494
Without the scent glands that saurials would ordinarily employ to convey emotion and emphasis, her speech was as flat as the sign language Dragonbait was forced to use with her.她没有蜥族人通常用来传达情绪和强调语气的气味腺，因此说起话来毫无起伏，就像龙饵不得不用来与她交流的手语一样平板。495
As the paladin listened to the hypnotic rhythm of the words, he realized that, if the swordswoman could only release scents, she would be singing and not merely chanting.圣武士听着那些话催眠般的节奏，意识到如果这名女剑士能够释放气味，她便是在歌唱，而不只是在吟诵。496
Then Alias began a new verse.接着，阿莉亚丝开始吟唱新的一节。497
“Nameless is found,” Alias said in saurial.“无名者已被找到。”阿莉亚丝用蜥族语说道。498
“Nameless must join us.“无名者必须加入我们。499
Nameless will find the seed.无名者会找到种子。500
Nameless will bring the seed.”无名者会把种子带来。”501
Suddenly Alias stopped her saurial chant.突然，阿莉亚丝停止了蜥族语的吟诵。502
She held out her hand, with one forefinger pointed downward, and traced a circle parallel to the ground.她伸出一只手，食指指向下方，在空中画了一个与地面平行的圆圈。503
The paladin shuddered.圣武士打了个寒战。504
Alias began to shout in Realms common, “No!阿莉亚丝开始用诸界通用语大喊：“不！505
No!不！506
No!”不！”507
She reached out and grabbed Dragonbait’s shoulders.她伸手抓住龙饵的双肩。508
Her eyes opened and she blinked in the firelight.她睁开双眼，在火光中眨了眨。509
Then she started to cry softly.随后，她开始低声哭泣。510
Dragonbait stroked the brand on her arm again and wrapped his cloak around her.龙饵再次抚摸她手臂上的烙印，并用自己的斗篷裹住她。511
He pushed down on her shoulders until he got her to lie on his blanket beside the fire.他按着她的肩膀，直到让她在火堆旁他的毯子上躺下。512
He wrapped the blanket around her, too, and Alias closed her eyes again.他又用那条毯子裹住她，阿莉亚丝再次闭上了眼睛。513
The saurial stroked her hair until she ceased weeping and lay still and, Dragonbait hoped fervently, slept peacefully.蜥族人抚摸着她的头发，直到她不再哭泣，静静地躺着；龙饵满心希望她已经安然入睡。514
“Maybe you’d better take second watch instead of her,” Breck suggested.“也许第二班岗最好由你来替她值。”布雷克建议道。515
Dragonbait nodded.龙饵点了点头。516
“Does she do this often?” the ranger asked.“她经常这样吗？”游侠问道。517
Dragonbait shook his head in an emphatic negative.龙饵用力摇头，明确表示不是。518
“Never, huh?”“从来没有，是吧？”519
Breck asked.布雷克问道。520
“Like she never gets mad at you?”“就像她从来不会生你的气？”521
Dragonbait squinted his eyes angrily at the ranger.龙饵气恼地眯起眼睛，瞪着游侠。522
“I’ll bet I know why she’s sleepwalking,” Breck said.“我敢说，我知道她为什么会梦游。”布雷克说道。523
“She’s upset with you because of Zhara.”“她因为扎拉的事在生你的气。”524
Dragonbait looked into the fire.龙饵望着火堆。525
“You’ve got to tell her you’re sorry for whatever she’s angry at you for,” Breck said.“不管她是为了什么生你的气，你都得告诉她你很抱歉。”布雷克说道。526
“We can’t be hunting for Kyre’s murderer and dealing with weird stuff like sleepwalking at the same time.”“我们不能一边追查杀害凯尔的凶手，一边还要应付梦游之类的怪事。”527
The ranger turned and strode away to his own saddlebags, sniffing the air.游侠转身大步走向自己的鞍囊，同时嗅了嗅空气。528
Curious, he thought, it’s too late in the year for violets to be in bloom.真奇怪，他心想，都到这个时节了，紫罗兰怎么还会开花。529
The ranger wasn’t familiar enough with Dragonbait to know that was the smell of the saurial’s fear.游侠对龙饵还不够熟悉，并不知道那是这个蜥人的恐惧散发出的气味。530
Dragonbait watched over the campsite with his yellow reptilian eyes, but all he could see was the vision of Alias forming a circle in the air with her forefinger.龙饵用那双黄色的爬行动物眼睛警戒着营地，可眼前浮现的却只有阿莉亚丝用食指在空中画圈的景象。531
The motion was not one from the thieves’ sign language she had taught him.这个动作并不属于她教给他的盗贼手语。532
It was a saurial symbol—the symbol for death.那是一个蜥人符号——代表死亡的符号。533