Finder’s stone teleported the eight adventurers into the Singing Cave at the edge of the Lost Vale.芬德的石头将八名冒险者传送到了失落谷边缘的歌唱洞穴中。1
They stood about twenty feet from the cave’s mouth.他们站在距洞口约二十英尺处。2
Sunlight poured in on the green carpet of moss and ferns just inside the cave’s entrance.阳光倾泻而入，照亮了洞口内侧由苔藓和蕨类铺成的绿色地毯。3
Condensation sparkled on the stone walls.石壁上的凝露闪闪发光。4
Little red and yellow skinks skittered over the floor, walls, and ceiling, and orange swallows shot in and out of the cave carrying insects for their young, which twittered in nests in nooks and crannies at the back of the cave.红色和黄色的小石龙子在地面、墙壁和洞顶飞快爬过，橙色的燕子衔着昆虫进进出出，为幼鸟送食；幼鸟待在洞穴深处各处缝隙和凹穴里的巢中，啾啾鸣叫。5
Olive pulled her hands away from Alias and Dragonbait.奥利芙松开了阿莉亚丝和龙饵的手。6
For the first time, the teleportation hadn’t exhausted her.传送头一次没有令她筋疲力尽。7
I must be getting used to it, she thought as she walked to the mouth of the cave, which faced a steep mountainslope to the south.我一定是渐渐习惯了，她一边想，一边走向洞口；洞口朝南，外面是一道陡峭的山坡。8
Olive stared down the mountainside and her eyes widened.奥利芙俯瞰山坡，双眼不禁睁大。9
“What a mess!” she muttered.“真是一团糟！”她低声咕哝道。10
The others came up beside the halfling to look out.其他人也走到半身人身旁，向外望去。11
Far below them, a vale nearly five miles wide stretched from the mountains to the east down into the foothills bordering on the Anauroch Desert to the west.在他们下方很远处，一座近五英里宽的山谷从东面的群山一路延伸而下，直抵西面与阿诺洛克沙漠接壤的丘陵地带。12
The steeper slopes of the vale were covered with meadows, which sparkled with wild flowers, and woods carpeted with ferns and teeming with a great variety of trees.山谷较陡的坡地上遍布草甸和林地：草甸因野花而熠熠生辉，林地铺满蕨类，生长着种类繁多的树木。13
Many of the trees were laden with fruit and flowering vines.许多树上果实累累，还攀附着开花的藤蔓。14
Crystal blue streams ran from the mountains through the meadows and woods.晶蓝的溪流从群山中奔出，穿过草甸和树林。15
The greenery on the gentler slopes and in the lowlands, though, had been devastated.然而，较为平缓的坡地和低地上的草木却遭到了毁灭性的破坏。16
Nearly a quarter of the vale’s plants had been hacked to the ground and uprooted.山谷里将近四分之一的植物被砍倒在地，连根拔起。17
Some larger trees still lay dying where they’d been cut down, but most of the vegetation had been hauled off, leaving the reddish brown earth bare.有些较大的树木被砍倒后仍躺在原地奄奄一息，但绝大多数植被都已被运走，只留下裸露的红褐色土地。18
As the streams flowed lower into the vale, they, too, took on the color of the earth.溪流向山谷低处流去时，也渐渐染上了泥土的颜色。19
Breck Orcsbane whistled softly.布雷克·奥克斯班轻轻吹了声口哨。20
“I’ve seen a flight of dragons cause less damage,” he said.“我见过一群龙造成的破坏，都没这么严重。”他说。21
The ranger pointed to a great green butte nearly a thousand feet in diameter that rose several hundred feet straight up from the bottom of the vale.游侠指向一座巨大的绿色孤丘；它直径近一千英尺，从谷底拔地而起，高达数百英尺。22
“Those specks moving around that hill must be the possessed saurials,” the ranger speculated.“那些在山丘周围活动的小点，想必就是被附身的蜥蜴人。”游侠推测道。23
“With all that activity around one spot, I’ll bet Moander’s new body is hidden in a cave somewhere in that hill.”“所有动静都集中在一个地方，我敢说，莫安德的新躯体就藏在那座山丘某处的洞穴里。”24
Alias, Dragonbait, Akabar, and Olive exchanged nervous glances with one another.阿莉亚丝、龙饵、阿卡巴和奥利芙不安地交换了一下眼神。25
“Who wants to tell him?”“谁愿意告诉他？”26
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。27
Akabar put one hand on the ranger’s shoulder.阿卡巴把一只手搭在游侠的肩上。28
“That hill,” the mage said slowly, “is Moander’s new body.”“那座山，”法师缓缓说道，“就是莫安德的新躯体。”29
“What?” the ranger exclaimed.“什么？”游侠惊呼道。30
“Moander’s minions must have created the hill from all the plants and trees they’ve cut down in the vale,” Alias said.“莫安德的爪牙一定是用他们在山谷里砍倒的所有草木造出了这座山，”阿莉亚丝说。31
“Moander grows on decaying things.“莫安德靠腐烂之物生长。32
When I first released the god from its prison in Yulash last year, it plunged into a refuse pit and soaked it up, ate some soldiers’ corpses, and then headed for the elven wood to tear up a few hundred acres of trees.”去年我第一次把这个神从尤拉什的牢狱中释放出来时，它一头扎进垃圾坑里，将其中的秽物尽数吸收，又吃了几具士兵的尸体，随后便前往精灵森林，摧毁了数百英亩的树木。”33
“This body is a bit smaller than Moander was in the Elven Woods,” Olive noted.“这具躯体比莫安德在精灵森林里的那一具稍小一些，”奥利芙说道。34
“You can’t be serious!”“你们不可能是认真的！”35
Breck said.布雷克说道。36
“I have scried on my people for months as they built this new body, but I had no idea it was so huge,” Grypht said.“几个月来，我一直用占卜术窥视我的族人建造这具新躯体，却完全不知道它竟如此庞大，”格里夫特说。37
“I never attempted to view it all at once.“我从未试着一次窥见它的全貌。38
I never imagined the scale they’ve built it to.”我从没想过他们竟会把它造得这么大。”39
From the hamlike smell the wizard emitted, Alias could tell that Grypht was extremely worried.从这位法师散发出的火腿般气味中，阿莉亚丝看得出格里夫特忧心至极。40
“Grypht didn’t realize it was so large, either,” Alias explained to the adventurers who couldn’t understand saurial.“格里夫特也没想到它会这么大，”阿莉亚丝向听不懂蜥蜴人语言的冒险者们解释道。41
“If Moander’s last body was bigger than this one, how did you ever destroy it?”“如果莫安德上一次的躯体比这个还大，你们究竟是怎么摧毁它的？”42
Breck asked incredulously.布雷克难以置信地问道。43
“We burned it … with the help of a red dragon,” Akabar said.“我们烧掉了它……靠的是一条红龙的帮助，”阿卡巴说。44
Grypht shook his head unhappily.格里夫特闷闷不乐地摇了摇头。45
“That must be why the minions have been casting special enchantments on this new body to protect it from fire,” he said.“一定正因如此，那些爪牙才一直在这具新躯体上施加特殊的魔法，让它免受火焰伤害，”他说。46
“Grypht says this one’s protected from fire,” Alias translated.“格里夫特说，这具躯体不怕火，”阿莉亚丝翻译道。47
From the surprised look on Akabar’s face, she could see the mage hadn’t counted on this possibility.从阿卡巴惊讶的表情中，她看得出这位法师并未料到会有这种可能。48
“Well, what are we supposed to do with it, then?”“那么，我们该拿它怎么办？”49
Breck asked.布雷克问道。50
Fear and frustration had begun to creep into his voice.他的声音里渐渐透出了恐惧与挫败。51
“Grypht could disintegrate it,” Olive suggested.“格里夫特可以把它分解掉。”奥利芙提议道。52
“Perhaps,” the wizard mumbled.“也许吧。”法师喃喃道。53
“Given a thousand years.”“只要给他一千年。”54
“It’s simply too big,” Akabar replied.“它实在太大了。”阿卡巴回答。55
“It would take hundreds of wizards working years and years.”“得有数百名法师成年累月地施法才行。”56
“Then gate it into another dimension,” the halfling said.“那就用传送门把它送进另一个维度。”半身人说道。57
“It would take the power of a god to create a gate large enough,” Akabar said.“要造出足够大的传送门，非得有神明的力量不可。”阿卡巴说道。58
“As long as the seed isn’t brought to it, the body isn’t important.“只要不把种子带到它这里，那具躯体就无关紧要。59
Right?”对吧？”60
Zhara declared.扎拉断言道。61
“Without its minions, Moander is helpless.“没有爪牙，莫安德便无能为力。62
Somehow we must free the saurials from the Darkbringer’s possession.”我们必须设法让蜥人摆脱黑暗使者的控制。”63
“Is that possible?”“这有可能吗？”64
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。65
“There are ways to free those who haven’t been possessed too long,” Grypht replied.“有办法解救那些被附身不太久的人。”格里夫特回答。66
“Those who were possessed first, at the same time Kyre was, harbor too many tendrils of possession.“那些最早被附身、与凯尔同时遭到附身的人，体内盘踞的控制触须实在太多了。67
Even if we succeeded in destroying all the tendrils in their bodies, so much of their flesh is rotted away that they would die anyway.即使我们成功摧毁了他们体内所有的触须，他们的血肉也已腐烂得太严重，终究还是会死。68
But those are blessedly few.但所幸这样的人寥寥无几。69
Most of our people could be saved by a cure disease spell.我们的大多数族人都能靠一道治愈疾病法术获救。70
That will destroy the tendrils that possess them.那道法术会摧毁控制他们的触须。71
If we cannot get near them easily, we can cast cold spells on them instead.如果我们无法轻易接近他们，也可以改为对他们施放寒冷法术。72
That will also destroy the tendrils.”那同样能摧毁那些触须。”73
After Finder had translated Grypht’s words into Realms common, Akabar said, “But cold spells could kill the saurials.”芬德把格里夫特的话译成诸界通用语后，阿卡巴说道：“可冰寒法术也可能会害死蜥蜴人。”74
“No,” Dragonbait said.“不会，”龙饵说。75
“We saurials don’t react to cold the same way you humans do.”“我们蜥蜴人对寒冷的反应与你们人类不同。”76
The paladin turned to Alias.圣武士转向阿莉亚丝。77
“Remember what happened to me last winter in Shadowdale when I was watching you skate on the duck pond?”“还记得去年冬天在阴影谷，你在鸭池上滑冰时，我出了什么事吗？”78
“You fell asleep, and we couldn’t get you to wake up until we brought you back inside the inn,” Alias recalled.“你睡着了，我们怎么也叫不醒你，直到把你带回旅店里面，你才醒过来。”阿莉亚丝回忆道。79
The paladin nodded.圣武士点了点头。80
“Cold doesn’t harm saurials the way it harms you humans—damaging your flesh and hurting your lungs, pulling so much heat from your bodies that you could die.“寒冷不会像伤害你们人类那样伤害蜥蜴人——冻伤皮肉，刺痛肺部，从身体里夺走太多热量，甚至可能让你们丧命。81
Instead, our scales protect the flesh.我们的鳞片会保护皮肉。82
We fall into a torpor so we breathe less cold air, and we stop moving, which conserves heat.我们会陷入蛰伏，减少吸入寒冷的空气，也会停止活动，以保存热量。83
The larger we are, the less prone we are to the effect, but we can’t control it.我们的体形越大，就越不容易受到这种影响，但我们无法控制它。84
Even the High One,” Dragonbait said, nodding in Grypht’s direction, “would fall into the cold sleep if he stayed outdoors in Shadowdale in winter for more than an hour or so.”就连至高者，”龙饵朝格里夫特点了点头，“如果冬天在阴影谷的户外待上一个小时左右，也会陷入寒眠。”85
Alias translated all this for Akabar.阿莉亚丝把这些全都翻译给阿卡巴听。86
“Well, maybe we’ll get lucky and the vale will have an early frost,” Olive said.“好吧，说不定我们运气好，这座谷地会早早降霜。”奥利芙说道。87
Finder shook his head.芬德摇了摇头。88
“Part of the vale’s magic keeps it especially warm in the winter,” he said.“这座谷地的部分魔法会使它在冬天也格外温暖。”他说。89
“There are over a hundred of my people down there,” Grypht said.“下面有一百多个我的族人。”格里夫特说道。90
“We will need the help of warriors to capture them without harming them and priests who can cast spells to cure diseases and mages who know magical cold spells.”“我们需要战士帮忙，在不伤害他们的情况下将他们制伏，还需要能施展治愈疾病法术的祭司，以及懂得冰寒法术的法师。”91
Alias translated Grypht’s words.阿莉亚丝翻译了格里夫特的话。92
“If Finder can teleport me back to Shadowdale,” Breck said, “I’ll muster a force of fighters and spellcasters.”“如果芬德能把我传送回阴影谷，”布雷克说道，“我就召集一支由战士和施法者组成的队伍。”93
“I can take you to Elminster’s tower,” Finder said, “but I can’t wait for you.“我可以带你去伊尔明斯特的塔楼，”芬德说，“但我不能等你。94
If Morala discovers I’ve returned, she may insist I be returned to prison.如果莫拉拉发现我回去了，她也许会坚持把我送回监狱。95
I refuse to risk leaving my daughter to face Moander without me.”我绝不会冒险丢下女儿，让她独自面对莫安德。”96
Breck nodded in agreement.布雷克点头表示赞同。97
Finder was right—Morala could be aggravatingly stubborn.芬德说得对——莫拉拉固执起来，实在令人恼火。98
She might refuse to recognize their need for Finder’s help.她或许会拒绝承认他们需要芬德的帮助。99
“If you can’t find mages to teleport you back here to this place by tomorrow noon,” Finder said, “I’ll return for your forces then.”“如果你们没能在明天中午之前找到法师，把你们传送回这里，”芬德说，“那我到时会回来接你们的部队。”100
“He should take Zhara with him,” Akabar said.“他应该带扎拉一起去，”阿卡巴说。101
“If she is with him in Shadowdale, Moander won’t be able to detect them as they raise the forces we need to combat its minions.”“只要她和他一同待在阴影谷，他们召集对抗莫安德爪牙所需的部队时，莫安德就无法察觉他们。”102
Zhara frowned.扎拉皱起眉头。103
“I don’t want to be parted from you, husband,” she said.“我不想和你分开，夫君，”她说。104
“It’s only for a day,” Akabar replied.“不过一天而已，”阿卡巴回答。105
For a moment, Zhara looked as if she might argue further, but instead she said to Alias, “You will look out for my Akabar?”扎拉一时似乎还想争辩，但她却转而对阿莉亚丝说道：“你会照看好我的阿卡巴吗？”106
“He’ll be fine,” Alias said, surprised that Zhara would entrust the mage to her care.“他不会有事的，”阿莉亚丝说。扎拉竟会把这个法师托付给她照顾，这令她颇感意外。107
“That is not what I asked,” the priestess said.“我问的不是这个，”女祭司说。108
The swordswoman stole a glance at Akabar; he looked embarrassed by Zhara’s request.女剑士偷瞥了阿卡巴一眼；扎拉的请求似乎令他很尴尬。109
Zhara stepped closer to Alias and whispered to her, “Please.扎拉走近阿莉亚丝，低声对她说道：“求你了。110
It is not true, what you said, that he does not care for you.你说他并不在乎你，那不是真的。111
He once destroyed Moander to save you.他曾经为了救你而毁灭了莫安德。112
I know you care for him as well.”我知道你也在乎他。”113
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。114
She didn’t approve of the way Akabar shared his love with so many women, and she couldn’t believe his marriage to Zhara had nothing to do with Zhara’s resemblance to herself, but she couldn’t deny the priestess’s words.她并不认同阿卡巴把爱分给那么多女人的做法，也无法相信他迎娶扎拉与扎拉长得像自己毫无关系，但她无法否认女祭司的话。115
Akabar had risked his life to save her because they were friends, and she still cared deeply for him.阿卡巴曾因为他们是朋友而冒着生命危险救她，而她至今依然深深在乎他。116
“Yes …“会的……117
I’ll look out for him,” she promised.我会照看好他。”她答应道。118
She could see Dragonbait looking at her expectantly.她看见龙饵正满怀期待地望着自己。119
He didn’t need to speak or even sign for her to know what was on his mind.不用他开口，甚至不用他打手势，她也知道他心里在想什么。120
“I’m sorry I hit you and for the things I said,” the swordswoman apologized to Zhara.“对不起，我打了你，还说了那些话。”女剑士向扎拉道歉。121
“I guess you aren’t so bad, as priestesses go.”“我想，在女祭司里，你还不算太坏。”122
A smile flickered across Zhara’s face.扎拉脸上掠过一丝微笑。123
“And you aren’t so bad for a northern barbarian who smells of wet wool,” she said.“你也不算太坏，虽然是个浑身湿羊毛味的北方蛮子。”她说。124
Alias laughed.阿莉亚丝笑了。125
She held out her arms wrists upward.她伸出双臂，手腕朝上。126
Zhara laid her own arms over Alias’s, and they both clasped their hands over the other’s forearm in an adventurer’s embrace.扎拉也把双臂搭在阿莉亚丝的手臂上，两人各自握住对方的前臂，以冒险者的方式相拥。127
The magical brand on Alias’s arm tingled, just as it did when Dragonbait touched it, and Alias realized Zhara must feel the same sensation from the brand Phalse had put on her.阿莉亚丝手臂上的魔法烙印传来一阵刺麻，就像龙饵触碰它时一样；她意识到，扎拉一定也从法尔斯留在她身上的烙印中感受到了同样的感觉。128
“Till next season, sister,” Alias whispered.“下个季度再见，姐妹。”阿莉亚丝低声说。129
“Tymora’s luck be yours,” Zhara replied.“愿泰摩拉赐你好运。”扎拉答道。130
Akabar moved to his wife’s side, and Alias stepped back.阿卡巴走到妻子身旁，阿莉亚丝则退后一步。131
She looked away as Akabar embraced Zhara and kissed her.阿卡巴拥抱并亲吻扎拉时，她把目光移向了别处。132
“If Breck and Zhara are to return here by tomorrow, they have to leave before then,” Finder noted wryly.“要是布雷克和扎拉明天之前得回到这里，他们就必须在那之前动身。”芬德揶揄道。133
Akabar nodded and stepped away from his wife.阿卡巴点点头，离开了妻子身边。134
Zhara took Finder’s and Breck’s hands and the bard sang out a note.扎拉握住芬德和布雷克的手，诗人唱出一个音符。135
Less than a minute after the three disappeared, Finder reappeared alone.三人消失后不到一分钟，芬德便独自重新现身。136
“Lhaeo said Elminster hasn’t returned yet,” the bard reported.“莱奥说伊尔明斯特还没回来。”诗人禀报道。137
“Morala said the sage was all right when she scried for him.“莫拉拉说，她占卜伊尔明斯特时，他还安然无恙。138
Could Moander really prevent him from returning home?”莫安德真能阻止他回家吗？”139
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。140
“The Darkbringer’s power is very great in our world,” Grypht said, “but it couldn’t prevent me from leaving.”“黑暗使者在我们的世界里力量极其强大，”格里夫特说，“但它没能阻止我离开。”141
“Perhaps it could have stopped you but chose not to,” Alias suggested.“也许它本来能阻止你，只是选择了不这么做。”阿莉亚丝推测道。142
“Then when Elminster arrived on your world, Moander decided it couldn’t chance allowing the sage to return and interfere with its plans.“后来伊尔明斯特到了你们的世界，莫安德便认定，不能冒险让这位贤者回来干涉它的计划。143
It knows we could use Elminster’s help.”它知道我们可以借助伊尔明斯特的力量。”144
“We could use some food, too,” Olive piped up.“我们也可以来点吃的。”奥利芙忽然插嘴道。145
“She’s right,” Dragonbait said.“她说得对，”龙饵说。146
“There’s not much left in our supplies.“我们的补给已经所剩无几了。147
I’ll see what I can scavenge.”我去看看能搜罗到什么。”148
“Not alone,” Alias insisted.“不能一个人去，”阿莉亚丝坚持道。149
“Take Olive with you.”“带奥利芙一起去。”150
Dragonbait nodded and signed for Olive to follow.龙饵点点头，打手势让奥利芙跟上。151
The paladin and the halfling slipped out of the cave and down the mountainside.圣武士和半身人悄然出了洞穴，沿着山坡下去了。152
From the pocket of his robe, Grypht pulled out a long thin silver box and slid open the top.格里夫特从长袍口袋里掏出一只细长的银盒，滑开盒盖。153
Inside was a wand made of bone.里面是一根骨制魔杖。154
“This is a wand of frost.“这是一根寒霜魔杖。155
It’s seen a lot of use these past few months, so there isn’t much power left in it, but I want Akabar to use it to cast cones of cold against Moander’s minions.过去几个月里它被用了许多次，所以剩下的力量不多了，但我希望阿卡巴用它施放寒冰锥，对付莫安德的爪牙。156
I can cast such spells without the wand.”不用魔杖，我也能施展这种法术。”157
Alias translated the wizard’s words for Akabar.阿莉亚丝把法师的话翻译给阿卡巴听。158
Akabar bowed and accepted the wand.阿卡巴鞠了一躬，接过魔杖。159
“What about your stone?” the Turmishman asked Finder.“你的石头呢？”图米什人问芬德。160
“You could release the shard of para-elemental ice.“你可以释放里面的副元素寒冰碎片。161
That would blanket a large area in deep cold.”那会让一大片区域笼罩在刺骨的严寒之中。”162
“If I released it,” Finder said.“要是我把它释放出来的话，”芬德说。163
“But I won’t release it.“但我不会这么做。164
That would destroy the stone.那会毁掉这块石头。”165
“But you would be freeing the saurials and preventing Moander’s return,” Akabar argued.“可这样你就能解救蜥蜴人，还能阻止莫安德归来，”阿卡巴反驳道。166
“I spent a decade searching for that stone, and another decade improving it at the risk of my own life,” Finder replied coolly.“我花了十年寻找那块石头，又冒着生命危险，用了十年来改进它，”芬德冷冷地答道。167
“The stone holds more powerful magic than most mages learn in a lifetime, and it can recall any one of my songs on command.”“这块石头蕴藏的魔力，比大多数法师穷尽一生所能学会的还要强大，而且只要一声令下，它便能重现我的任何一首歌。”168
“So can Alias,” Akabar snapped, “but you are ready to risk her life!”“阿莉亚丝也能，”阿卡巴厉声道，“可你却准备拿她的性命冒险！”169
“No, I am not,” Finder growled.“不，我没有。”芬德低吼道。170
“I asked her to stay behind, but she wouldn’t. She chose to risk her own life.“我让她留下来，可她不肯。是她自己选择拿性命冒险的。171
If she dies, the stone will be the only record left of my music.”如果她死了，那块石头将是我的音乐留下的唯一记录。”172
“She is acting in a selfless manner to save her friend’s tribe,” Akabar said, his voice rising in pitch and volume.“她是为了拯救朋友的部族，才如此无私地行动，”阿卡巴说道，声音变得越来越尖、越来越响。173
“How can you be so greedy as to save a stupid piece of magic instead of her life?”“你怎么能贪婪到这种地步，宁可保住一个愚蠢的魔法玩意儿，也不救她的命？”174
“Akabar!”“阿卡巴！”175
Alias said sharply.阿莉亚丝厉声说道。176
“Calm down, and leave me out of your arguments.“冷静点，别把我扯进你们的争吵。177
Finder’s right.芬德说得对。178
I chose to do this myself.是我自己选择这么做的。179
As for the stone, it’s Finder’s stone.至于那块石头，它是芬德的。180
He may use it or not as he pleases.”他想不想用，尽可随他的便。”181
Grypht tugged on Akabar’s sleeve.格里夫特扯了扯阿卡巴的袖子。182
“Grypht says you should cast a spell so you can understand him.“格里夫特说，你应该施一道法术，好让你听懂他说的话。183
He wants to show you how to use the wand” Alias translated for the wizard.他想教你怎么使用那根魔杖。”阿莉亚丝替他向法师翻译道。184
Akabar shot Finder an angry look, but he allowed Grypht to lead him away from the bard.阿卡巴愤怒地瞪了芬德一眼，但还是任由格里夫特领着他离开了吟游诗人。185
The two magic-users settled down near the cave entrance.两名施法者在洞口附近坐了下来。186
Akabar pulled out his magic book to study the comprehend languages spell.阿卡巴取出魔法书，开始研习“通晓语言”法术。187
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。188
“There’s nothing for us to do now but wait, is there?” she asked Finder.“现在我们除了等待，什么也做不了，对吧？”她问芬德。189
“We could sing,” the bard suggested, “to pass the time.”“我们可以唱歌，”吟游诗人提议道，“好打发时间。”190
“I smell roses,” Olive said as she inspected a small golden apple and tossed it into her knapsack.“我闻到玫瑰花香了。”奥利芙一边查看一颗小小的金苹果，一边说道，随后把它扔进了背包。191
Dragonbait was digging in the dirt nearby while she collected windfalls beneath a gnarled old apple tree.她在一棵虬曲苍老的苹果树下捡拾落果时，龙饵正在附近刨土。192
Dragonbait had discovered the tree by following his nose to the vinegary scent of the fruit rotting on the ground.龙饵是循着地上腐烂果实散发的酸醋味找来这里，发现了这棵树。193
“It’s a little late in the year for roses.“现在这个时节，对玫瑰来说可有点晚了。194
Guess it’s that magical warmth of the vale.”大概是因为这山谷里有魔法带来的暖意吧。”195
Olive hefted her knapsack with a groan.奥利芙哼哧一声，提了提背包。196
It was loaded.里面已经塞得满满当当。197
Dragonbait helped her slip it on over her shoulders.龙饵帮她把背包背到肩上。198
Then he shoved in a bunch of wild carrots and onions he’d dug up.随后，他又把刚挖出来的一把野胡萝卜和洋葱塞了进去。199
“Aren’t you going to carry anything?”“你就什么都不拿吗？”200
Olive asked with a huff.奥利芙气呼呼地问道。201
I’m going to hunt, the paladin signed.我要去打猎，圣武士比划道。202
Go back to the cave.回山洞去。203
“Alias wouldn’t want me to leave you alone,” the halfling protested.“阿莉亚不会希望我把你一个人留在这里。”半身人抗议道。204
I’ll be fine, Dragonbait signed.我不会有事的，龙饵比划道。205
Olive stood with her feet apart and her hands on her hips, scowling with stubborn disapproval.奥利芙双脚叉开，双手叉腰站着，皱着眉，一脸固执的不赞同。206
Wouldn’t you like duck?你不想吃鸭子吗？207
Or wild pig? the paladin asked.或者野猪？圣武士问道。208
“You’re doing just what Finder does,” Olive said.“你这套跟芬德一模一样。”奥利芙说。209
“He gets around my better judgment with bribes.“他总是拿好处收买我，让我把明智的判断抛到脑后。210
The last time I let him have his way, we got captured by orcs.上次我由着他胡来，结果我们被兽人抓了。211
I can’t believe I’m getting the same thing from you, too, of all people.”真不敢相信，现在连你也对我来这一套，偏偏还是你。”212
Dragonbait hung his head sheepishly.龙饵难为情地垂下了头。213
Sorry, he signed.对不起，他比划道。214
“Apology accepted,” Olive said.“接受你的道歉，”奥利芙说。215
“Now let’s go.“现在我们走吧。216
We can do without meat for once.”这回不吃肉也没关系。”217
Dragonbait shook his head.龙饵摇了摇头。218
I’m going to scout out the vale, he signed.“我要去侦察一下山谷，”他比画道。219
“What?“什么？220
Are you crazy?”你疯了吗？”221
Olive gasped.奥利芙倒吸了一口气。222
“It’s too dangerous!”“太危险了！”223
I have to do it, the paladin signed.“我必须这么做，”圣武士比画道。224
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。225
“Fine.“好吧。226
Go right ahead.”你尽管去吧。”227
She waved a finger up at the saurial’s chest.她朝蜥人的胸口扬起一根手指。228
“If you don’t come back, though, I’m never going to speak to you again.”“不过，你要是不回来，我就再也不跟你说话了。”229
I’ll be back, the saurial’s hands promised.蜥人的双手保证道：“我会回来的。230
Tell Alias not to worry.告诉阿莉亚丝别担心。”231
“I’ll tell her, but it won’t do any good,” Olive said.“我会告诉她的，但说了也没用，”奥利芙说。232
She turned around and stormed back up the mountain road to the Singing Cave.她转过身，气冲冲地沿着山路返回歌唱洞穴。233
Dragonbait watched her disappear around a bend, all the while sniffing the rose scent that came from the brush deeper into the vale.龙饵望着她消失在一个弯道后，同时不停地嗅着从山谷深处灌木丛中飘来的玫瑰香气。234
Olive had forgotten how similar the smell of saurial grief was to the flower’s perfume.奥利芙忘了，蜥人的悲伤气息闻起来与这种花香是多么相似。235
Of course, not even the halfling’s sharp ears could discern the sound of a saurial weeping.当然，即便是半身人敏锐的耳朵，也听不见蜥人哭泣的声音。236
The paladin walked into the brush about fifty feet toward the scent and the sound.圣武士朝那气味和声响传来的方向走进灌木丛，约莫走了五十英尺。237
When he spotted the source of the grief, he froze.当他发现悲伤的源头时，顿时僵在原地。238
Twenty feet away from him stood another saurial, a female, very similar in size and shape to the paladin but with scales of pearly white.离他二十英尺远的地方站着另一个蜥龙人，是个雌性，体形和身材与圣武士十分相似，只是鳞片呈珍珠般的白色。239
She wore a tattered black smock, and a circlet of wilted clover hung from her head fin.她身穿一件破烂的黑色罩衣，头鳍上挂着一圈枯萎的三叶草。240
Otherwise she was unadorned and unarmed.除此之外，她身上没有任何装饰，也没有携带武器。241
She was picking apples off another apple tree and dropping them in a sack.她正从另一棵苹果树上摘下苹果，扔进一只口袋里。242
Her work, however, did not interfere with her weeping.然而，手中的活计并未妨碍她哭泣。243
The lemony scent of joy rose uncontrollably from Dragonbait’s body.喜悦的柠檬气息不受控制地从龙饵身上升腾起来。244
He whispered in saurial, “Coral.”他用蜥龙语低声唤道：“科拉尔。”245
The white saurial turned to face him.白色的蜥龙人转过身来面对他。246
Her eyes widened in surprise, and the violet scent of fear wafted from her skin.她惊讶地睁大双眼，恐惧的紫罗兰气息从她的皮肤上飘散出来。247
“Champion!” she gasped.“勇士！”她倒吸一口气。248
“Stay back!”“别过来！”249
Dragonbait moved closer.龙饵向她走近。250
“Coral, it’s all right.“科拉尔，没事的。251
I won’t hurt you.”我不会伤害你。”252
“You fool,” Coral said.“你这个傻瓜，”科拉尔说。253
“What makes you think I won’t hurt you?“你凭什么以为我不会伤害你？254
I’m tainted.我已经被玷污了。255
I’m under the Darkbringer’s power.”我受黑暗使者控制。”256
“I can cure you,” the paladin said.“我能治好你。”圣武士说。257
He moved closer to Coral.他又向科拉尔走近了一些。258
“Yes,” Coral said, “I remember.“是的，”科拉尔说，“我记得。259
You can cure diseases with your touch.”你能用触碰治愈疾病。”260
A waft of lemon scent rose from her body as her hopes rose with it.随着希望在她心中升起，一缕柠檬气息也从她身上飘了出来。261
“You’d never hurt me,” Dragonbait said, hurrying to her side.“你绝不会伤害我。”龙饵说着，急忙赶到她身旁。262
“I know you could never hurt me.”“我知道你绝不可能伤害我。”263
A honeysuckle scent of tenderness mingled with the smell of woodsmoke as he began a prayer for power to destroy the tendril disease that controlled Coral.他开始祈祷，祈求获得力量，摧毁控制着科拉尔的卷须病；柔情的忍冬花香与木柴烟味交融在一起。264
His hands glowed blue as he laid them on the white saurial’s shoulders.他把双手放在那名白色蜥蜴人的肩头，手上泛起蓝光。265
He felt the power flow from his soul into her body.他感觉到力量从自己的灵魂流入了她的身体。266
Coral gasped and stumbled against him.科拉尔倒吸一口气，踉跄着撞进他怀里。267
“You did it!” she exclaimed.“你成功了！”她惊呼道。268
“You destroyed Moander’s tendrils of possession!“你摧毁了莫安德用来控制我的卷须！269
I’m free again!”我又自由了！”270
She leaned heavily on him though, as if she’d been injured.然而，她仍重重倚在他身上，仿佛受了伤。271
“Are you all right?” he asked.“你没事吧？”他问。272
“I feel weak,” she replied.“我觉得浑身无力。”她回答。273
“Lean on me.”“靠着我吧。”274
Coral threw her arms around the paladin’s neck and clung to him.科拉尔双臂环住圣武士的脖子，紧紧依偎着他。275
Dragonbait wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.龙饵搂住她的腰，把她拉近怀中。276
“I’m so sorry for all the things I did, for all the things I said.“我为自己做过的所有事、说过的所有话深感抱歉。277
For leaving you,” the paladin whispered, emitting a minty smell of remorse.也为离开了你。”圣武士低声说道，散发出带着悔意的薄荷香气。278
“It’s all right now,” Coral answered.“现在已经没事了。”科拉尔回答。279
From her throat came the scent of cinnamon.她的喉间散发出肉桂的香气。280
Dragonbait ran the tip of his muzzle along Coral’s neck glands, breathing in the reassuring scent of her love.龙饵用吻端轻轻划过科拉尔颈部的腺体，深深吸入她爱意中那令人安心的香气。281
“I insulted your goddess and your friends and tried to bully you into leaving them.“我侮辱了你的女神和你的朋友，还试图逼迫你离开他们。282
I damned you and left you.我咒骂你，又离开了你。283
How can you forgive me for all of that?” he wondered aloud.做了这一切，你怎么还能原谅我？”他喃喃自问。284
Coral looked up at him.科拉尔抬头看着他。285
“You said you were sorry, and I know you meant it,” she answered.“你说过你很抱歉，而且我知道你是真心的，”她回答道。286
She stroked his throat with her fingers, and the scent of cinnamon wafted from him so strongly that it masked even the smell of the rotting apples on the ground about them.她用手指轻抚他的喉咙，他身上浓郁的肉桂气息飘散开来，甚至盖过了他们周围地上腐烂苹果的臭味。287
He wanted to hold her longer, but Coral pushed him away.他还想再抱她一会儿，可科拉尔推开了他。288
“You can’t stay here,” she said.“你不能留在这里，”她说。289
“It’s not safe.”“这里不安全。”290
“We have a hiding place,” Dragonbait said.“我们有个藏身之处，”龙饵说。291
“I’ll take you there.“我带你去那里。292
We’ll surprise the High One.”我们可以给至高者一个惊喜。”293
“The High One!”“至高者！”294
Coral gasped.科拉尔倒吸了一口气。295
“Grypht is here?“格里夫特在这里？296
Where is he?”他在哪里？”297
“I’ll take you there.“我带你去。298
Come.”来吧。”299
Dragonbait tugged on Coral’s arm.龙饵拉了拉科拉尔的胳膊。300
“I …“我……301
I can’t,” the white saurial said, holding her ground.我不能去，”白色蜥蜴人站在原地不肯挪步。302
“You must,” Dragonbait said.“你必须去，”龙饵说。303
“Now that I’ve cured you, you can’t fall under the Darkbringer’s power again.”“既然我已经治好了你，就不能让你再次落入黑暗使者的掌控。”304
“I must go back, or the overlords will look for me in my hut, and they will find the egg.”“我必须回去，否则那些霸主会到我的小屋里找我，然后他们就会发现那枚蛋。”305
“What egg?”“什么蛋？”306
Dragonbait asked in surprise.龙饵惊讶地问。307
“My sister Lily’s egg.“我姐姐莉莉的蛋。308
She died last week.她上周死了。309
Her mate was an overlord.她的伴侣是个主宰者。310
I’m the only one left to hide the egg.如今只剩下我能把这枚蛋藏起来。311
The young can’t work, so the overlords don’t let us hatch our eggs.幼崽干不了活，所以主宰者不准我们孵蛋。312
They break them into the pile to become one with the Darkbringer.”他们把蛋打碎，扔进那堆东西里，让它们与黑暗使者融为一体。”313
The scent of baking bread rose from the paladin and his body shook, so great was his fury.圣武士身上散发出烤面包的气味，身体剧烈颤抖，可见他愤怒到了何等地步。314
“Champion, wait here.“勇士，在这里等着。315
I will get the egg and return,” Coral said.我去取蛋，然后回来。”科拉尔说道。316
Dragonbait shook his head.龙饵摇了摇头。317
“I’ll go with you.”“我跟你一起去。”318
“One minute,” Coral said.“等一下，”科拉尔说道。319
“If you are to pass unnoticed before the overlords, you’ll need to look as if some plant possesses you.”“如果你想从主宰者面前经过而不被注意，就得让自己看起来像是被某种植物附了身。”320
The priestess pulled a twig of ivy from the ground, fashioned it into a wreath, and laid it over the paladin’s head fin.女祭司从地上扯下一枝常春藤，把它编成花环，套在圣武士的头鳍上。321
“Is there anything else I need to know to pass for one of the possessed?” the paladin asked.“要装成被附身的人，我还需要知道什么吗？”圣武士问道。322
“Hide your weapon in here,” Coral said, holding out her sack.“把你的武器藏在这里面。”科拉尔说着，举起了自己的袋子。323
Dragonbait unfastened his sword and scabbard from his belt and slid them inside, amongst the apples.龙饵从腰带上解下剑和剑鞘，把它们塞进袋子，夹在苹果中间。324
Coral embraced him again.科拉尔又一次拥抱了他。325
“I’m so glad you have come back to us,” she said.“我真高兴你回到了我们身边。”她说道。326
Dragonbait ran his palm along the ridge of her head fin.龙饵用手掌顺着她头鳍的脊棱抚过。327
“So am I,” he replied.“我也很高兴。”他回答道。328
“We have to hurry, though.“不过，我们得抓紧时间。329
The High One and my other friends will become worried if I’m away too long.”如果我离开太久，至高者和我的其他朋友会担心的。”330
Coral nodded.科拉尔点了点头。331
She released the paladin and motioned for him to follow her.她放开圣武士，示意他跟着自己。332
She led him to a path that twisted down into the vale.她领着他来到一条蜿蜒向下、通往谷地的小径。333
As Dragonbait followed Coral into the clearing at the bottom of the vale, he was reminded of the last verse of the song Alias had sung back at the inn in Shadowdale:龙饵跟随科拉尔走进谷底的林间空地时，不禁想起阿莉亚丝先前在阴影谷的旅店里唱过的那首歌的最后一节：334
We hack the vines, we cut the trees, We trample the roots and burn the seeds.我们斩断藤蔓，砍倒树木，践踏根须，焚烧种子。335
When the rain comes down, the soil floods away, Leaving barren rock and heavy clay.大雨倾盆，土壤尽数流失，只留下贫瘠的岩石与沉重的黏土。336
We wear chains of green, till our bodies rot, The corpses keep moving, their minds without thought.我们身披翠绿锁链，直到肉身腐烂；尸体仍在行走，心智却已荡然无存。337
Soon the darkness will devour the Realms, Death is the power that overwhelms.黑暗很快便会吞噬诸界，死亡是压倒一切的力量。338
The lyrics described exactly the conditions Dragonbait witnessed.歌词描绘的，正是龙饵眼前所见的景象。339
A few members of the tribe, mages and clerics like Coral, wore only a token vine or flower about their heads.部落里少数像科拉尔一样的法师和牧师，头上只象征性地戴着一根藤蔓或一朵花。340
Most of the tribe members, though, those who were incapable of casting spells, wore vast tangles of slimy green vines about their legs or waists or throats.然而，部落中的大多数人，也就是那些无法施法的人，腿上、腰间或脖颈处都缠着大团大团黏滑的绿色藤蔓。341
The vines grew out of holes in their backs.那些藤蔓是从他们背上的孔洞里长出来的。342
Dragonbait struggled to keep his face an impassive mask.龙饵竭力不让脸上显露出任何表情。343
He sneaked a quick glance at the huge pile of rotting vegetation that the possessed intended to turn into Moander’s new body.他飞快地偷瞥了一眼那堆巨大的腐烂植物——被附身者打算用它造出莫安德的新躯体。344
Mages and clerics stood around the mountain of greenery chanting spells at it, while others moved back and forth between it and the forest, building it larger and higher with trees and brush.法师和牧师们围着那座草木堆成的小山，对它吟诵咒语；其他人则往返于它和森林之间，不断搬来树木和灌木，将它堆得更大、更高。345
Set in rings around the pile were several tiny huts made of pine boughs.那堆植物周围环绕着数圈用松枝搭成的小屋。346
“Here,” Coral whispered, stopping at the entrance to one of the huts in the innermost ring.“就是这里。”科拉尔低声说道，在最内圈的一间小屋门口停下脚步。347
“The egg is buried under my blanket.“蛋埋在我的毯子下面。348
I’ll keep watch at the door.”我会在门口放哨。”349
Dragonbait slipped past the door curtain.龙饵闪身穿过门帘。350
The structure was so small he had to duck his head to keep from brushing the roof, and the blanket spread out against the opposite wall was only a pace away.小屋极其狭窄，他不得不低下头，以免蹭到屋顶；而铺在对面墙边的毯子离他只有一步之遥。351
There were no windows in the hut, so the only light was heavily filtered through the needles of pine in the roof and walls.屋里没有窗户，唯一的光线透过屋顶和墙壁上的松针层层滤入，显得十分昏暗。352
Dragonbait pulled aside the blanket.龙饵掀开毯子。353
He tried to use his warmth vision to detect exactly where the egg was buried, but he could see nothing warm in the ground.他试图用热视觉准确判断蛋埋在哪里，却看不见地面下有任何温热之物。354
He began clawing quickly at the dirt, afraid that the egg might have gotten too cold buried in so dark a place.他担心蛋埋在如此阴暗的地方已经变得太冷，便迅速用爪子刨起土来。355
Outside the hut, he heard Coral chanting a prayer.小屋外，他听见科拉尔正在吟诵祷文。356
The woodsmoke scent of devotion drifted though the pine boughs.代表虔诚的柴烟气息穿过松枝飘来。357
No doubt she was casting something to protect herself, perhaps even to make her less noticeable to the enemy all around them.毫无疑问，她正在施法保护自己，或许甚至是为了让周围的敌人更难注意到她。358
Coral was a priestess of the goddess of luck.科拉尔是幸运女神的女祭司。359
She would be a powerful addition to the attack the High One planned.她会为至高者计划的进攻增添一股强大的力量。360
He had to get her back to the Singing Cave.他必须把她带回歌唱洞穴。361
He began to dig with even more energy.他更加卖力地挖了起来。362
After several minutes, when he’d dug up nearly half the floor of the hut and still found nothing, Dragonbait finally realized there was no egg.几分钟后，龙饵几乎挖开了小屋一半的地面，却仍一无所获，这才终于意识到，根本没有什么蛋。363
Moander’s higher minions, the overlords, must have found it while Coral was out picking apples, The paladin swallowed hard, knowing the pain the priestess would suffer when he told her.莫安德手下更高阶的爪牙——那些领主——一定是在科拉尔外出采苹果时找到了它。圣武士艰难地咽了口唾沫，知道自己把这件事告诉女祭司时，她会有多么痛苦。364
He began to slip past the curtain over the door, but as he did, a powerful electrical tingling ran down his shoulder, and he leaped back into the hut.他正要从门帘旁溜出去，一阵强烈的电麻感却沿着他的肩膀窜下，令他猛地跳回小屋里。365
Someone outside yanked the curtain aside.外面有人一把扯开了门帘。366
Dragonbait peered out.龙饵向外窥视。367
Several saurial mages and clerics stood outside the door, staring at him.几名蜥蜴人法师和牧师站在门外，直盯着他。368
The paladin looked around anxiously for Coral.圣武士焦急地四下寻找科拉尔。369
Have they discovered her, or has she escaped? he wondered.他们发现她了，还是她已经逃走了？他暗自思忖。370
Then Coral stepped in front of the doorway, and his heart sank.接着，科拉尔走到门口，他的心顿时沉了下去。371
The priestess wore a clean white robe.女祭司身穿一袭洁净的白袍。372
Painted in red in the center of the robe was an eye, surrounded by a mouth of fangs—the symbol of Moander’s high priest.白袍正中用红色绘着一只眼睛，四周环绕着一张长满獠牙的嘴——那是莫安德大祭司的标志。373
“Well, Champion,” Coral said, “you wanted me to give up my goddess for another.“好吧，勇士，”科拉尔说道，“你要我舍弃自己的女神，改信另一位。374
What do you think of my choice?”你觉得我的选择怎么样？”375
Dragonbait was too shocked to reply.龙饵震惊得说不出话来。376
He could only manage to mumble, “But I cured you!”他只能结结巴巴地低声说道：“可我治好了你！”377
Coral laughed.科拉尔笑了。378
“You fool!“你这个蠢货！379
Your feeble power can have no influence on the Mouth of Moander.你那点微不足道的力量，根本影响不了莫安德之口。380
The root of the Darkbringer was planted in me months ago.几个月前，黑暗使者的根就已植入了我的体内。381
It grows strong in every limb, down my tail, and even in my brain.它在我的四肢百骸中茁壮生长，一路延伸到尾巴，甚至侵入了我的大脑。382
You are getting careless, paladin.你越来越粗心了，圣武士。383
There was a time when you never met anyone—friend or stranger—without using your shen sight.曾几何时，无论遇到朋友还是陌生人，你都会用神视察看对方。384
You were always keeping watch over our souls, judging us constantly.你总是监视着我们的灵魂，无时无刻不在评判我们。385
Yet how eagerly you came to me today, even after I warned you.可今天，即使我警告过你，你还是那么迫不及待地来找我。386
I knew you’d never believe my warning.”我早知道你绝不会相信我的警告。”387
“I loved you,” Dragonbait said.“我爱过你，”龙饵说。388
“Coral, I’m sorry this happened to you.”“科拉尔，我很遗憾你遭遇了这一切。”389
The priestess scowled.女祭司怒目而视。390
“You should be, paladin, for now I am your doom.“你当然该遗憾，圣武士，因为现在我就是你的劫数。391
While you were busy digging for Lily’s egg—which, by the way, went into the pile with my sister’s corpse—I traced a glyph of warding around this hut.你忙着挖莉莉的蛋时——顺便告诉你，那枚蛋已经和我妹妹的尸体一起扔进那堆东西里了——我在这间小屋周围画下了守护符文。392
You cannot escape.你逃不掉。393
Moander’s root could never grow in anything as pure as you, but you will serve Moander in another way.像你这样纯洁的人，莫安德的根永远无法在你体内生长，但你会以另一种方式为莫安德效力。394
Where you are, the servant can’t be far off.你既然在这里，那个仆人就一定离得不远。395
She will come to rescue you, and we will capture her.她会来救你，而我们会抓住她。396
Then we will sacrifice you to bind the servant’s will to Moander’s.”然后我们会献祭你，以此将那个仆人的意志束缚于莫安德的意志。”397
“You can’t bind Alias to Moander as long as Moander isn’t in the Realms,” Dragonbait protested.“只要莫安德不在诸界，你们就不可能把阿莉亚丝束缚于莫安德，”龙饵反驳道。398
“Moander will take possession of its new body before the moon sets tonight,” Coral announced.“今晚月落之前，莫安德就会占据自己的新躯体，”科拉尔宣告道。399
Dragonbait shivered.龙饵打了个寒战。400
The minions must have recovered the seed somehow.那些爪牙一定不知用什么办法找回了种子。401
He couldn’t believe how badly things were going, nor could he believe he’d been fooled so easily.他无法相信事情竟会糟糕到这种地步，也无法相信自己竟如此轻易地受了骗。402
“I don’t understand.“我不明白。403
Coral, you were so different on the mountain.科拉尔，你在山上时完全不是这个样子。404
Why were you weeping?”你为什么要哭？”405
Coral sneered.科拉尔冷笑了一声。406
“To attract your attention, of course,” she replied.“当然是为了引起你的注意，”她答道。407
“One of our fliers spotted you from the air.“我们的一名飞行手下从空中发现了你。408
I teleported to a spot nearby and feigned tears until you came to me.我传送到附近，然后装哭，直到你来到我身边。409
You were incredibly easy to fool.”你实在太好骗了。”410
“I smelled your grief, your hope, your love.“我闻到了你的悲伤、你的希望、你的爱。411
What I smelled was true,” Dragonbait said.我闻到的都是真的，”龙饵说道。412
“You have deceived yourself.“你不过是在自欺欺人。413
I felt none of those things,” Coral snapped.那些感情，我一样也没有，”科拉尔厉声说道。414
“The only truth I told was that I was glad you had returned to us.“我说过的唯一一句真话，就是我很高兴你回到了我们身边。415
Now I can slay you in the name of the Darkbringer.现在，我可以以黑暗使者之名杀了你。416
Yours will be the first blood Moander tastes in its new body.”你的血，将是莫安德用新躯体尝到的第一口鲜血。”417