As Olive approached the cave, she could hear Alias singing.奥利芙走近洞穴时，听见阿莉亚丝正在唱歌。1
Though she couldn’t quite make out the swordswoman’s words, the halfling recognized the melody.虽然听不真切女剑士唱的歌词，但这旋律半身人却认得。2
Alias was singing “The Tears of Selune,” one of Finder’s most haunting love songs.阿莉亚丝唱的是《塞露恩之泪》，芬德最哀婉动人的情歌之一。3
Something didn’t sound quite right, however.然而，听起来似乎有些不对劲。4
Olive halted to listen more carefully.奥利芙停下脚步，更仔细地听了起来。5
It took her a moment to realize what was wrong—Alias was singing the song in the wrong key.过了片刻她才意识到问题所在——阿莉亚丝唱错了调。6
Olive heard a shout, and the singing stopped suddenly in the middle of a verse.奥利芙听见一声呵斥，歌声唱到一段中间便戛然而止。7
She could imagine what had happened.她想象得出发生了什么。8
Finder had ordered Alias to stop.芬德命令阿莉亚丝住口了。9
Why the swordswoman had sung the song in the wrong key, Olive couldn’t imagine.至于女剑士为什么要用错误的调子唱这首歌，奥利芙却想不明白。10
Alias knew how Finder hated anyone altering his tunes, and it wasn’t like her to goad the bard.阿莉亚丝明明知道芬德有多痛恨别人改动他的曲调，而且她也不是那种会故意激怒吟游诗人的人。11
Olive crept to the mouth of the cave and peered in.奥利芙悄悄摸到洞口，探头向里望去。12
Alias sat on the floor of the cave, her head hanging like an embarrassed child.阿莉亚丝坐在洞穴地上，像个难为情的孩子似的垂着头。13
Finder sat nearby, glowering at the woman.芬德坐在她附近，怒气冲冲地瞪着她。14
Akabar and Grypht sat opposite the bard and swordswoman.阿卡巴和格里夫特坐在吟游诗人与女剑士对面。15
Both spell-casters stared at Alias anxiously.两名施法者都焦虑地注视着阿莉亚丝。16
Olive could hear Alias whispering, “I’m sorry.”奥利芙听见阿莉亚丝低声说道：“对不起。”17
“Don’t be a fool, Finder,” Akabar said.“别犯傻了，芬德，”阿卡巴说道。18
“She was just expressing what the saurials are feeling by turning your song into a soul song.”“她只是把你的歌改成灵魂之歌，好表达这些蜥蜴人的感受。”19
“Why didn’t you tell me you were changing my songs to sing these saurial things?”“你为什么不告诉我，你改了我的歌，用来唱这些蜥蜴人的东西？”20
Finder demanded of Alias.芬德质问阿莉亚丝。21
“I thought it might upset you,” Alias said softly.“我怕你会不高兴，”阿莉亚丝轻声说道。22
“If you’d let her finish,” Akabar said, “we might learn something.”“要是你肯让她唱完，”阿卡巴说道，“我们说不定能知道些什么。”23
“She was singing gibberish,” Finder protested.“她唱的根本是胡言乱语，”芬德抗议道。24
Grypht must have begun speaking to the bard in saurial, for Finder turned his attention to the wizard for a moment.格里夫特想必开始用蜥蜴人的语言对吟游诗人说话了，因为芬德把注意力转向了那位法师片刻。25
The bard answered Grypht in Realms common.吟游诗人用诸界通用语回答了格里夫特。26
“We’ve learned enough about Moander.“关于莫安德，我们已经知道得够多了。27
We don’t need to hear any more.”我们不需要再听下去了。”28
Finder turned and snapped at Alias, “How dare you change my songs?”芬德转过身，厉声斥责阿莉亚丝：“你怎么敢改我的歌？”29
“I can’t help it,” Alias whispered.“我控制不住，”阿莉亚丝低声说道。30
“It just happens.”“它就是会自己变成这样。”31
“Nothing just happens,” Finder said.“没有什么事是无缘无故发生的，”芬德说。32
“If I meant as much to you as the saurials do, you’d be able to control it.“如果我对你来说，真像那些蜥蜴人一样重要，你就能控制住它。33
If you can’t control it, don’t bother to sing my songs anymore.”如果你控制不住，以后就别再唱我的歌了。”34
The swordswoman blanched, and Olive could detect the smell of violets in the cave.女剑士脸色煞白，奥利芙闻到洞穴里飘起了紫罗兰的香气。35
Alias was frightened and was communicating her fear through the saurial scent.阿莉亚丝害怕了，正通过蜥蜴人的气味传达她的恐惧。36
Grypht and Finder glared at each other, and now Olive could also smell baking bread, the scent of anger.格里夫特和芬德怒目相视，此刻奥利芙还闻到了烤面包的气味——那是愤怒的气味。37
Meanwhile, Akabar leaned toward Alias and tried to encourage her to ignore Finder and resume her singing.与此同时，阿卡巴俯身凑向阿莉亚丝，试着鼓励她别理会芬德，继续唱下去。38
After listening to Grypht for a short time, Finder had had enough.听格里夫特说了一小会儿后，芬德就再也受不了了。39
As the bard rose to his feet and turned away from the others, his blue eyes flashed red in the sunlight streaming into the cave.吟游诗人站起身，转身背对众人时，照进洞穴的阳光中，他的蓝眼睛闪过一道红光。40
“Go ahead and sing their songs if you want,” he said coldly to Alias.“你想唱他们的歌，就尽管唱吧，”他冷冷地对阿莉亚丝说。41
“It makes no difference to me what you do.”“你做什么都跟我没关系。”42
Alias swallowed, licked her lips, and took a deep breath.阿莉亚丝咽了口唾沫，舔了舔嘴唇，又深吸一口气。43
It was obvious she wanted to sing, but from the way the swordswoman trembled, Olive could see that she was too frightened to rise to her father’s challenge.她显然想唱，但从女剑士颤抖的模样，奥利芙看得出，她害怕得根本不敢接受父亲的挑战。44
“Careful, bard,” Akabar taunted Finder.“当心了，吟游诗人，”阿卡巴嘲弄芬德道。45
“She might just improve on your song.“她说不定真能把你的歌改得更好。46
Then what would you do?到时候你怎么办？47
Go ahead and sing, Alias.”唱吧，阿莉亚丝。”48
Akabar’s goading of the bard wasn’t helping to encourage Alias any.阿卡巴这样激将吟游诗人，丝毫没能给阿莉亚丝增添勇气。49
Akabar didn’t understand how desperately she wanted to please Finder.阿卡巴不明白，她是多么迫切地想让芬德满意。50
Olive understood it all too well.奥利芙却对此再明白不过。51
Alias began rocking back and forth, clutching her knees to her chest and whimpering softly with a glazed look in her eyes.阿莉亚丝开始前后摇晃，双膝紧紧抱在胸前，眼神呆滞，嘴里轻声呜咽着。52
Grypht and Akabar hovered over her, trying unsuccessfully to comfort her.格里夫特和阿卡巴围在她身旁，试图安慰她，却毫无成效。53
Finder stood stubbornly with his back to his daughter.芬德固执地背对着女儿站着。54
Olive entered the cave and padded over to the bard’s side.奥利芙走进洞穴，悄无声息地来到吟游诗人身旁。55
“Finder, think about what you’re saying for once,” the halfling said softly.“芬德，你就不能有一次好好想想自己在说什么吗？”半身人轻声说道。56
“Look what you’ve done to her,” she insisted, pointing toward the swordswoman.“看看你把她弄成什么样了。”她坚持道，同时指向那位女剑士。57
“Have you forgotten?“你忘了吗？58
She’s not even two years old.她甚至还不到两岁。59
She needs your love even when you don’t agree with her.即使你不赞同她，她也需要你的爱。60
You can’t just slap her and make her do everything your way like you do with everyone else.”你不能像对其他所有人那样，扇她一巴掌，就逼她事事都照你的意思来。”61
“I didn’t touch her,” Finder said, offended.“我根本没碰她。”芬德受了冒犯似的说道。62
“You don’t have to touch her.“你不必碰她。63
You’re a master at using words as weapons,” Olive accused him.你可是把言语当武器的大师。”奥利芙指责道。64
“Whether you injure her body or her heart, you’ll be making the same mistake you made with Flattery.”“无论你伤的是她的身体还是她的心，你都会重蹈当初对待弗拉特里时的覆辙。”65
The bard looked down at Olive with confusion—and fear.吟游诗人低头望着奥利芙，眼中既有困惑，也有恐惧。66
“What are you talking about?” he whispered.“你在说什么？”他低声问道。67
“You know what I mean,” Olive said impatiently.“你知道我是什么意思。”奥利芙不耐烦地说道。68
“The way you bullied him.”“就是你当初欺凌他的那一套。”69
“How do you know about that?” the bard demanded.“你怎么会知道那件事？”吟游诗人厉声问道。70
“He left a long message in your workshop,” Olive said.“他在你的工坊里留了一大段话。”奥利芙说道。71
“So why didn’t you say anything?” the bard asked coldly.“那你为什么什么也没说？”吟游诗人冷冷地问道。72
“Did you intend to sneak back to Elminster and tell him?”“你是不是打算偷偷溜回伊尔明斯特那里，把这事告诉他？”73
Olive brushed angrily at the tears beginning to form in her eyes, but she held her head up proudly “The message was two centuries old, Finder,” she said.奥利芙恼怒地抬手擦去眼中刚刚泛起的泪水，却仍骄傲地昂着头。“那消息已经是两百年前的了，芬德，”她说。74
“I didn’t think it mattered anymore.“我以为它早就无关紧要了。75
I thought you’d changed.”我以为你已经变了。”76
Finder stepped back as though he’d been slapped.芬德像挨了一巴掌似的后退一步。77
Olive turned her attention to the swordswoman.奥利芙转向女剑士。78
“Come on, Alias,” she said, patting the swordswoman’s shoulder.“来吧，阿莉亚丝，”她拍了拍女剑士的肩膀，说道。79
“Sing for us.“唱给我们听。80
It doesn’t matter if you change the song.就算你改了那首歌也没关系。81
Finder will understand.芬德会理解的。82
Won’t you, Finder?” the halfling asked with feigned sweetness.对不对，芬德？”半身人故作甜蜜地问道。83
Finder shot an angry look at Olive, but the glare she gave him in return shocked him into submission.芬德愤怒地瞪了奥利芙一眼，但她回瞪他的目光却把他震慑得服了软。84
“Yes,” he answered softly.“对。”他轻声回答。85
Olive signed sharply for the bard to sit down near Alias.奥利芙严厉地打手势，示意吟游诗人坐到阿莉亚丝身边。86
He obeyed with a defiant look, but when Olive put his hand on Alias’s and he felt the swordswoman’s trembling, his expression changed to one of alarm.他一脸不服地照做了，可当奥利芙把他的手放到阿莉亚丝的手上，而他感受到女剑士的颤抖时，他的神情顿时变得惊慌起来。87
Not even a trapped bird trembled as fiercely as the woman before him did now.即使是落入陷阱的鸟儿，也不会像眼前的女人此刻这般剧烈地颤抖。88
The bard saw, too, how pale she’d become—as white as the moment before she’d drawn her first breath.吟游诗人也看出她变得多么苍白——白得就像她吸进第一口气之前的那一刻。89
Her eyes stared blindly at him.她双眼失神地望着他。90
“I didn’t do this to her,” he said, refusing to admit his words could have so much power over anyone.“不是我把她弄成这样的，”他说，不肯承认自己的话竟能对任何人产生如此巨大的影响。91
“Yes, you did,” Olive hissed.“就是你，”奥利芙嘶声说道。92
“Now fix it.”“现在把事情补救回来。”93
“How?” the bard challenged.“怎么补救？”吟游诗人不服地反问。94
“How do you think?”“你说呢？”95
Olive whispered with frustration.奥利芙懊恼地低声说道。96
“Apologize, you idiot.”“道歉啊，你这个白痴。”97
Finder bristled at the insult, but the blind look in Alias’s eyes softened his anger.芬德因这句辱骂而恼火起来，但阿莉亚丝眼中茫然的神色缓和了他的怒气。98
“Alias …“阿莉亚丝……99
I’m sorry,” he whispered, squeezing her hand gently, “I didn’t … think about what I was saying.对不起，”他低声说，轻轻握了握她的手，“我没……没想过自己在说什么。100
I want you you to sing.我想听你唱歌。101
It doesn’t matter about the soul songs.”灵魂之歌并不重要。”102
Alias tilted her head and seemed to see the bard for the first time.阿莉亚丝歪了歪头，仿佛这才第一次看见这位吟游诗人。103
She looked uncertain.她显得有些迟疑。104
“Really.“真的。105
It’s all right,” Olive said encouragingly.没关系的。”奥利芙鼓励道。106
Alias looked at the halfling, confused.阿莉亚丝困惑地望着半身人。107
“Will you sing with me?” she asked Olive.“你愿意和我一起唱吗？”她问奥利芙。108
Olive started with surprise.奥利芙惊得一怔。109
Alias had taught her some of Finder’s songs, but they had never sung together.阿莉亚丝教过她几首芬德的歌，但她们从未一起唱过。110
Olive had always been too jealous of the swordswoman’s voice to dare try to blend her own in with it.奥利芙一直太嫉妒这位女剑士的嗓音，根本不敢尝试让自己的歌声与她的融为一体。111
“Please,” Alias whispered.“求你了。”阿莉亚丝低声说道。112
Olive was suddenly reminded of Jade, the copy of Alias who had been a thief.奥利芙忽然想起了杰德——那个曾做过盗贼的阿莉亚丝复制体。113
Olive had loved Jade, but Flattery had killed the thief.奥利芙曾深爱杰德，但弗拉特里杀死了那个女盗贼。114
If I wasn’t jealous of Alias, would I love her, too? the halfling wondered.如果我不嫉妒阿莉亚丝，我也会爱她吗？半身人心想。115
“Sure, I’ll sing with you,” she said.“当然，我陪你唱。”她说。116
She sat down beside the swordswoman.她在女剑士身旁坐下。117
“What should we sing?” she asked.“我们唱什么？”她问。118
Alias seemed at a loss to suggest any songs, so Olive chose one Finder hadn’t written, a lighthearted one.阿莉亚丝似乎想不出该唱什么，于是奥利芙选了一首并非芬德所作的轻快歌曲。119
The song seemed to improve Alias’s mood.这首歌似乎让阿莉亚丝的心情好了一些。120
When they had finished, Olive suggested a tune of Finder’s, “The Hero of the Watch,” a seemingly innocuous song about a cat that saved a regiment of soldiers from an attacking horde of goblins.唱完后，奥利芙提议唱一首芬德的曲子——《守望队的英雄》；这首歌看似无害，讲的是一只猫从来袭的地精大军手中救下了一个士兵团的故事。121
The swordswoman shivered slightly but nodded in agreement.女剑士微微打了个寒战，却还是点头同意了。122
The voices of the two women blended nicely, but Olive felt as if she were the carrying Finder’s song alone.两个女人的声音和谐地交融在一起，但奥利芙却觉得，仿佛只有她一个人在撑着芬德的歌。123
Alias was concentrating too hard on keeping control of the song instead of letting the music flow naturally.阿莉亚丝太过专注于控制这首歌，而不是让旋律自然流淌。124
She kept her eyes fixed on the ground or Olive instead of directing them at her audience.她的目光始终落在地上或奥利芙身上，而不是投向听众。125
She didn’t change the lyrics or tune or key, but without her spirit behind them, the songs were like ghosts.她没有改动歌词、曲调或调性，但少了她倾注其中的精神，这些歌便如同幽灵一般。126
Sensing that the song wasn’t going well, the swordswoman protested with a childlike cry, “I …剑士察觉到这首歌唱得并不顺利，便像孩子似的叫道：“我……127
I can’t do it,” and stopped singing in the middle of the last verse.我做不到。”说完，她在最后一节唱到一半时停了下来。128
“Alias, just relax,” Olive said.“阿莉亚丝，放松点就好，”奥利芙说道。129
“Don’t worry about changing the song.“别担心改动这首歌。130
Finder said it was all right.”芬德说过没关系的。”131
Alias looked toward the bard.阿莉亚丝望向吟游诗人。132
Finder nodded, but something in his look made Alias flinch as if the bard had struck her.芬德点了点头，但他的眼神中似乎有什么东西让阿莉亚丝猛地瑟缩了一下，仿佛吟游诗人打了她似的。133
“That’s what he said,” Alias answered, “but Finder won’t love me if I change his songs.”“他是这么说过，”阿莉亚丝答道，“可要是我改了他的歌，芬德就不会爱我了。”134
The bard rubbed at his temples, confused at how stubbornly Alias clung to her desire to please him.吟游诗人揉着太阳穴，不明白阿莉亚丝为何如此执拗地一心想要讨好他。135
Flattery, on the other hand, had grown to hate him readily.而弗拉特里倒是很快就开始恨他了。136
“Alias, love is something people are supposed to give freely.“阿莉亚丝，爱本来就应该是人们自愿给予的。137
It’s not a commodity to be earned or forfeited,” he said.它不是靠挣取才能获得、也不是会被剥夺的东西，”他说。138
“Yes,” Alias said.“是的，”阿莉亚丝说道。139
“That’s what you taught me, but it’s not what you believe … is it?”“你是这么教我的，可你自己并不相信……对不对？”140
“Of course it’s what I believe,” Finder protested.“我当然相信，”芬德反驳道。141
“It’s what most of my songs are about.”“我的大多数歌曲写的都是这个。”142
“You hold it up as an ideal,” Alias said, “but you don’t act that way yourself.”“你把它奉为理想，”阿莉亚丝说道，“可你自己的所作所为却并非如此。”143
Olive nodded, knowing Alias was right.奥利芙点了点头，她知道阿莉亚丝说得没错。144
Finder withheld his love when he was displeased and dispensed it lavishly only when Alias was behaving as he thought she should.芬德不高兴时便收回自己的爱意，只有当阿莉亚丝的行为符合他的期待时，他才会慷慨地将爱给予她。145
“Alias, I’m not perfect,” Finder said.“阿莉亚丝，我并不完美，”芬德说。146
“I became angry and said some stupid things.“我当时生了气，说了些蠢话。147
It doesn’t mean I won’t love you if you change my songs.”这不代表你改了我的歌，我就不会再爱你。”148
“You say that, but it’s not true,” Alias insisted.“你嘴上这么说，可事实并非如此，”阿莉亚丝坚持道。149
Finder sighed in frustration.芬德懊恼地叹了口气。150
“It is true.“这是真的。151
How can I prove it to you if you won’t sing?”如果你不肯唱，我又怎么向你证明呢？”152
Alias’s eyes lit up suddenly.阿莉亚丝的眼睛忽然亮了起来。153
“Prove you believe it,” she said.“证明你自己相信这话，”她说。154
“Take the risk yourself.”“你自己也冒一次险。”155
“What?”“什么？”156
Finder asked.芬德问道。157
“You know I love you.“你知道我爱你。158
Prove to me you’re sure I love you no matter what you do … or did,” Alias demanded.向我证明，你确信无论你做什么……或是做过什么，我都会爱你，”阿莉亚丝要求道。159
“What are you talking about?”“你在说什么？”160
Finder asked.芬德问道。161
He looked frightened.他看起来很害怕。162
“Morala said there was something you didn’t tell the Harpers about the first singer you tried to create … something Maryje knew, something you were ashamed of,” Alias said.“莫拉拉说，你没有把第一位由你尝试创造的歌者的某件事告诉竖琴手同盟……一件玛丽杰知道、而你又引以为耻的事，”阿莉亚丝说。163
“Tell me what it was.”“告诉我，那究竟是什么事。”164
Finder shuddered and shook his head.芬德打了个寒战，摇了摇头。165
“I …“我……166
I can’t,” he said.我不能说，”他说。167
“We need to hear Alias sing her soul song,” Akabar said.“我们得听阿莉亚丝唱出她的灵魂之歌，”阿卡巴说。168
“It may make all the difference in whether or not we can defeat Moander.“这或许会彻底决定我们能否击败莫安德。169
Does your pride mean more than that, bard?”你的骄傲难道比这还重要吗，吟游诗人？”170
Olive shot Akabar an angry look.奥利芙怒视了阿卡巴一眼。171
The mage’s life was so virtuous, he couldn’t understand the shame the bard felt.这位法师一生行止太过端正，根本无法理解她身为吟游诗人所感受到的羞耻。172
Olive patted Finder’s hand.奥利芙拍了拍芬德的手。173
“Tell her, Finder,” the halfling said.“告诉她吧，芬德，”半身人说道。174
“She’s not going to love you any less for admitting your mistakes.“承认自己的过错，并不会让她少爱你半分。175
I didn’t.”我就没有因此少爱你半分。”176
Finder smiled sadly at the halfling, wondering if she was speaking as an agent for the goddess of luck or the god of justice.芬德朝半身人露出一抹苦笑，心中猜想，她此刻究竟是幸运女神的使者，还是正义之神的使者。177
He looked back at Alias.他重新看向阿莉亚丝。178
Would his confession bind her closer to him or drive her away?他的坦白会让她与自己更加亲近，还是会把她推得更远？179
Cast the dice, he thought, and pray for better luck than you deserve.掷下骰子吧，他心想，然后祈祷自己能得到比应得的更好的运气。180
“Very well,” he said.“好吧，”他说。181
In an impassive, distant tone, Finder began his tale.芬德用一种漠然疏远的语调讲起了自己的故事。182
“I lied when I told the Harpers that I failed in my first attempt at making a singer like you.“我告诉竖琴手同盟，说我第一次尝试创造一个像你这样的歌者时失败了——那是谎话。183
I created a man identical to me, with my thoughts and memories.我创造了一个与我一模一样的男人，拥有我的思想和记忆。184
My apprentice Kirkson named the man Flattery to tease me about my ego.我的学徒柯克森为了取笑我的自负，给那个男人取名叫弗拉特里。185
The singer accepted the name and would take no other.”那个歌者接受了这个名字，不肯再用别的名字。”186
Finder looked down at the floor for a moment, then raised his head back up and looked directly into Alias’s eyes as he made his confession.芬德低头望了片刻地板，随后重新抬起头，坦白时直视着阿莉亚丝的双眼。187
“I wasn’t the good parent to Flattery that Dragonbait was to you when you were created.“弗拉特里被创造出来后，我并没有像龙饵对待你那样，做一个好父亲。188
When Flattery came to life, I demanded immediately that he sing for me, much the same way I ordered the finder’s stone to perform a task for me.弗拉特里一获得生命，我就立刻要求他为我唱歌，就像我命令寻物石替我完成任务一样。189
Flattery attempted a tune.弗拉特里试着唱了一支曲子。190
His voice was weak and immature.他的声音孱弱而稚嫩。191
He was only a child, but I didn’t understand that.他还只是个孩子，可我当时并不明白这一点。192
After my success with the finder’s stone, I expected instant success with Flattery.成功造出寻物石后，我也期待弗拉特里能立刻获得成功。193
I grew frustrated when, after a mere three days of drilling, Flattery didn’t produce the quality of music it had taken me over a hundred years to achieve.仅仅操练了三天之后，弗拉特里没能奏出我花了一百多年才达到的那种水准，这令我越来越恼火。194
In a rage, I struck him.”盛怒之下，我打了他。”195
“After that, Flattery wouldn’t attempt to sing again.“从那以后，弗拉特里再也不肯尝试唱歌。196
He even refused to speak.他甚至拒绝开口说话。197
I apologized, I begged, I shouted, I … beat him.我向他道歉，苦苦哀求，大声呵斥，我……还殴打了他。198
Every day I went through the same cycle of contrition and violence, but he said nothing.每天，我都在悔恨与暴力之间重复同样的循环，可他始终一言不发。199
Kirkson tried to convince me that what I was doing was wrong, but I wouldn’t listen.柯克森试图劝我，说我的所作所为是错的，可我根本不听。200
My other apprentice, Maryje, was too loyal to speak out in any sort of protest, but I could see she was terrified over what I was doing.我的另一个学徒玛丽杰对我太过忠诚，不敢出言反对，但我看得出，我的所作所为令她恐惧万分。201
That didn’t matter to me either.可我也毫不在乎。202
I refused to quit.我执意不肯罢手。203
On the thirteenth day of his life, Flattery escaped from his cage and stole a disintegration ring from my desk.弗拉特里出生后的第十三天，他逃出了囚禁他的笼子，从我的书桌上偷走了一枚解离戒指。204
He aimed it at me, but Kirkson threw himself in front of the ray and saved my life, forfeiting his own.他用戒指瞄准了我，但柯克森纵身挡在射线前，牺牲自己的性命救了我。205
Flattery slashed Maryje’s throat and fled from the workshop.弗拉特里割开玛丽杰的喉咙，逃出了工坊。206
“I teleported Maryje to Shadowdale to be healed, then rushed back to the workshop to hide the evidence of Flattery’s existence.“我用传送术把玛丽杰送到阴影谷接受治疗，随后匆忙赶回工坊，掩藏弗拉特里存在过的证据。207
I knew what I had done to him was evil, but I was too ashamed to admit I’d done it.我知道自己对他的所作所为邪恶至极，可我羞于承认那是我干的。208
I concocted a story about the para-elemental ice exploding and asked Maryje to back up my lie.我编造了一个准元素冰爆炸的故事，并要玛丽杰替我圆谎。209
Maryje couldn’t lie, but she couldn’t betray me either.玛丽杰不会撒谎，却也无法背叛我。210
She simply stopped talking altogether.她索性彻底不再开口。211
Her wound was healed, but she wouldn’t speak, or sing, ever again.她的伤治好了，却从此再也不肯说话，也不肯唱歌。212
“Imagine my surprise when the Harpers condemned me for recklessly endangering my apprentices.“你可以想象，当竖琴手同盟以罔顾学徒安危的罪名谴责我时，我有多么惊讶。213
A lifetime of exile and my songs wiped out forever.终身流放，我的歌曲也被永远销毁。214
What, I’ve often wondered, would they have done if they’d learned the full extent of my crimes?”我常常在想，要是他们知道我犯下的全部罪行，又会如何处置我呢？”215
“What happened to Flattery?”“弗拉特里后来怎么样了？”216
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。217
“He’s dead.“他死了。218
Olive can tell you more about that than I,” the bard replied.详情奥利芙比我更清楚，”吟游诗人回答道。219
He stroked Alias’s hair with his hand.他伸手轻抚着阿莉亚丝的头发。220
“So tell me, my daughter,” he asked, “can you still love me knowing how evil I’ve been?”“那么告诉我，我的女儿，”他问，“知道我过去有多么邪恶，你还能爱我吗？”221
“Flattery, Kirkson, and Maryje are the people you have wronged,” Alias said.“弗拉特里、柯克森和玛丽杰才是被你伤害的人，”阿莉亚丝说。222
“Since they are dead, you can never make peace with them.“既然他们已经死了，你就永远无法与他们和解。223
You must try to make it with yourself.你必须试着与自己和解。224
As for me, I’ll always love you.”至于我，我会永远爱你。”225
She embraced the bard and kissed him on the cheek.她拥抱了吟游诗人，吻了吻他的脸颊。226
“And I you,” Finder replied.“我也永远爱你，”芬德回答。227
“Now will you sing?” he asked softly.“现在你愿意唱歌了吗？”他轻声问。228
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。229
“Try ‘The Tears of Selune’ again,” Akabar said.“再试试《塞露恩之泪》吧，”阿卡巴说。230
“It made you think of something that started you soul singing before.”“上次这首歌让你想起了什么，继而开始用灵魂歌唱。”231
“You know,” the halfling said, “an old priestess of Selune told me something interesting about that song.“你知道吗，”半身人说，“一位侍奉塞露恩的老女祭司曾告诉我一件有关这首歌的趣事。232
Selune is the goddess of the moon,” Olive explained for Grypht’s benefit.塞露恩是月亮女神，”奥利芙特意向格里夫特解释道。233
“Anyway, this priestess said that the Shards—those are Selune’s most powerful minions,” she explained for Grypht again.“总之，那位女祭司说，‘碎片’——那是塞露恩最强大的仆从，”她又特意向格里夫特解释。234
“The Shards sing the song for Selune, but they sing it as a duet.”“‘碎片’会为塞露恩唱这首歌，但她们是用二重唱的方式唱的。”235
“It should be sung as a solo,” Finder said automatically.“这首歌应该独唱，”芬德脱口而出。236
“I know,” Olive said, “but a modest halfling like me—”“我知道，”奥利芙说，“但像我这么谦逊的半身人——”237
Akabar guffawed at Olive’s description of herself.听见奥利芙如此形容自己，阿卡巴放声大笑。238
“—like me,” Olive continued, “didn’t have the nerve to correct so venerable a priestess.“——像我这么谦逊的半身人，”奥利芙接着说，“可没有胆量去纠正一位如此德高望重的女祭司。239
Perhaps, Master Wyvernspur, the next time you run into the goddess Selune, you should tell her to keep her minions under control.也许，飞龙刺大师，下次你碰见塞露恩女神时，应该叫她管好自己的仆从。240
In the meantime, why don’t you try singing it with Alias, just this once?”不过眼下，你何不就这一次，试着和阿莉亚丝一起唱呢？”241
“Just this once,” Finder agreed with a chuckle.“就这一次。”芬德轻笑着答应了。242
He took Alias’s hand and they began the song.他牵起阿莉亚丝的手，两人唱了起来。243
The first two verses went without a hitch, but as they began the third, Alias’s voice began to trail off, although her mouth still moved.前两段唱得十分顺利，可唱到第三段时，阿莉亚丝的声音渐渐弱了下去，尽管她的嘴还在动。244
Finder stopped singing and stared at the swordswoman.芬德停下歌声，盯着这位女剑士。245
From the way Alias rocked back and forth and stared unblinkingly at the cave wall, Olive and Akabar could tell the swordswoman had gone into a soul-song trance.看到阿莉亚丝前后摇晃、目不转睛地盯着洞壁，奥利芙和阿卡巴知道，这位女剑士已陷入了灵魂之歌的恍惚状态。246
Finder and Grypht were listening to her intently.芬德和格里夫特正全神贯注地倾听着她。247
The cave became awash in the scents of violets and roses, and Olive realized that Alias was singing in saurial—singing with terror and despair.洞穴里弥漫着紫罗兰和玫瑰的芬芳，奥利芙意识到，阿莉亚丝正在用蜥蜴族语歌唱——歌声中充满了恐惧与绝望。248
The swordswoman began to shout in Realms common, “Release me!女剑士开始用诸界通用语大喊：“放开我！249
Release me!放开我！250
Release me!”放开我！”251
Then she gasped and swayed and snapped out of her trance.接着，她猛吸了一口气，身子一晃，从恍惚中惊醒过来。252
“Dragonbait!” she cried out.“龙饵！”她失声叫道。253
“They’ve captured Dragonbait!”“他们抓住龙饵了！”254
Finder looked quickly at Olive.芬德迅速看向奥利芙。255
“Where is Dragonbait?” he demanded.“龙饵在哪里？”他厉声问道。256
“He said he wanted to scout the vale,” the halfling replied, cursing herself for leaving the paladin alone.“他说他想去侦察山谷。”半身人答道，心里痛骂自己不该把圣武士独自留下。257
Grypht put a hand on Alias’s shoulder.格里夫特把一只手放在阿莉亚丝的肩上。258
Olive supposed he’d said something, for Alias calmed slightly.奥利芙猜想他说了些什么，因为阿莉亚丝稍稍平静了下来。259
“The soul song was mostly Dragonbait’s song,” the swordswoman explained.“那首灵魂之歌大部分来自龙饵。”女剑士解释道。260
“He followed Coral into the saurial camp.”“他跟着科拉尔进了蜥蜴族的营地。”261
“Who is Coral?”“科拉尔是谁？”262
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。263
Alias looked at Grypht.阿莉亚丝看向格里夫特。264
“Coral was Dragonbait’s lover, wasn’t she?” she asked the wizard, though she was already certain of it from the soul link she’d just experienced.“科拉尔曾是龙饵的爱人，对不对？”她问法师，尽管从方才感受到的灵魂联结中，她已经确定了这一点。265
Grypht nodded.格里夫特点了点头。266
“Once she was.“她曾经是。267
She was also a priestess of the goddess of luck before Moander captured her.被莫安德俘虏之前，她还是幸运女神的祭司。268
She’s the Mouth of Moander now, the most powerful minion the god has in the Realms.”如今她成了莫安德之口，是那位神在诸界最强大的爪牙。”269
“The last part of the song came from her, not Dragonbait,” Alias said.“歌的最后一段来自她，不是龙饵。”阿莉亚丝说。270
“Moander is keeping such a tight hold on her mind that her thoughts are hard to understand, but I know she doesn’t want to live.“莫安德把她的心智控制得太严密，她的思绪很难理解，但我知道她不想活下去了。271
She’s begging for her goddess to release her from life before—” Alias gasped again.她在乞求她的女神，在——之前将她从生命中解脱……”阿莉亚丝又倒吸了一口气。272
“Before Moander makes her kill Dragonbait!“在莫安德逼她杀死龙饵之前！273
Moander plans for her to sacrifice Dragonbait to enslave my will!莫安德打算让她献祭龙饵，以此奴役我的意志！274
We have to free Dragonbait before it’s too late!”我们必须尽快救出龙饵，否则就来不及了！”275
Alias cried, rising suddenly to her feet.阿莉亚丝喊道，猛地站起身来。276
“They can’t sacrifice the paladin before Moander is resurrected,” Finder said, standing and grabbing hold of Alias’s arms before she rushed off and did something foolish.“在莫安德复活之前，他们不能献祭那名圣武士。”芬德说道，一边站起身抓住阿莉亚丝的双臂，免得她冲出去做出什么傻事。277
“And they can’t perform the sacrifice without you.“而且没有你，他们也无法举行献祭。278
Stay put, and when Breck gets back from Shadowdale, we’ll rescue Dragonbait.”待在这里，等布雷克从阴影谷回来，我们就去救龙饵。”279
“There isn’t time to wait for Breck to get back!”“没时间等布雷克回来了！”280
Alias insisted.阿莉亚丝坚持道。281
“They have the seed!“他们拿到种子了！282
They’re going to resurrect Moander tonight!他们今晚就要复活莫安德！283
We have to stop them now!”我们必须现在就阻止他们！”284
Akabar turned pale, and Grypht muttered an oath under his breath.阿卡巴脸色煞白，格里夫特则低声咒骂了一句。285
“How did they find the seed?”“他们是怎么找到种子的？”286
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。287
“Only this morning they expected Finder to go look for it.”“就在今天早上，他们还以为芬德会去寻找它。”288
“I don’t know,” Alias said, “but Coral told Dragonbait that Moander will be resurrected tonight.“我不知道，”阿莉亚丝说，“但科拉尔告诉龙饵，莫安德今晚就会复活。289
If we hurry, we have a chance of reaching Dragonbait before then.如果我们赶快些，还有机会在那之前找到龙饵。290
Coral’s keeping Dragonbait in a hut warded with a glyph.”科拉尔把龙饵关在一间有符文守护的小屋里。”291
“Alias, there are only five of us against over a hundred saurial minions,” Finder protested.“阿莉亚丝，我们只有五个人，却要对付一百多个蜥蜴人爪牙，”芬德反驳道。292
“A lot of those minions are spell-casters.那些爪牙中有许多会施法。293
Even with Grypht’s and Akabar’s magic and the spells I have in the finder’s stone, we don’t stand a chance.”就算有格里夫特和阿卡巴的魔法，再加上我储存在芬德之石里的法术，我们也毫无胜算。”294
“We would if you used the piece of para-elemental ice in the finder’s stone as Akabar suggested,” Alias said.“如果你照阿卡巴的建议，使用芬德之石里的那块副元素冰，我们就有胜算，”阿莉亚丝说。295
Her voice rose excitedly.她的声音因激动而提高了。296
“It could put most of the saurials into a torpor, and Grypht and Akabar could handle anyone it misses.“它能让大多数蜥蜴人陷入昏睡，漏掉的那些则可以交给格里夫特和阿卡巴对付。297
Then we could just walk in and get Dragonbait.然后我们只要直接进去救出龙饵就行了。298
We could find the seed, too, and destroy it.我们还可以找到那颗种子，把它毁掉。299
It would be centuries before Moander could get back the energy to return to the Realms.”那样一来，莫安德得花上几个世纪才能积蓄足够的力量，重返诸界。”300
“Alias, I’m sorry about Dragonbait,” Finder replied softly, “but it’s not my fault he was captured.“阿莉亚丝，龙饵的事我很遗憾，”芬德轻声回答，“但他被抓并不是我的错。301
You’ve got to keep away from Moander so the god can’t enslave you again.”你必须远离莫安德，免得那个神再次奴役你。”302
Alias looked at Finder with astonishment.阿莉亚丝惊愕地望着芬德。303
“What are you saying?” she asked suspiciously.“你这话是什么意思？”她怀疑地问。304
“I’m not going to destroy the finder’s stone,” Finder answered calmly.“我不会毁掉芬德之石，”芬德平静地回答。305
“Maybe the reinforcements Breck brings can manage to rescue Dragonbait.”“也许布雷克带来的援军能设法救出龙饵。”306
“If we wait too long and give the minions a chance to resurrect Moander,” Alias protested, “the god will suck Dragonbait into his body and we’ll never be able to rescue him.“如果我们拖得太久，让那些爪牙有机会复活莫安德，”阿莉亚丝反驳道，“那个神就会把龙饵吸进自己的身体里，到时候我们就再也救不了他了。307
We have to use that ice, Finder.”我们必须使用那块冰，芬德。”308
“No,” Finder said determinedly.“不行，”芬德斩钉截铁地说。309
“Finder, we’re talking about Dragonbait!”“芬德，我们说的可是龙饵！”310
Alias shouted.阿莉亚丝喊道。311
“How can you turn your back on him after all he’s done for you?”“他为你做了那么多，你怎么能对他撒手不管？”312
“Alias, try to understand.“阿莉亚丝，你得明白。313
There’s nothing like this stone anywhere in the Realms.整个诸界再也找不到这样的石头。314
I made it.它是我造出来的。315
If you destroy it, I can’t make another.”你要是毁了它，我可造不出第二块。”316
“Give me that stone!”“把那块石头给我！”317
Alias demanded, lunging for Finder.阿莉亚丝厉声喝道，同时猛扑向芬德。318
The bard just barely managed to sidestep the swordswoman, and Alias fell into the ferns on the cave floor.吟游诗人勉强侧身躲过女剑士，阿莉亚丝一头栽进了洞穴地面的蕨丛里。319
Akabar reached out to grab the bard, but Finder had drawn his dagger and thrust it out in front of him.阿卡巴伸手去抓吟游诗人，芬德却已拔出匕首，横在身前。320
The mage retreated hastily.法师慌忙退开。321
“I curse your stone!” the Turmishman said hotly.“我诅咒你的石头！”图米什人怒气冲冲地说道。322
“May it bring you no joy.“愿它永远无法给你带来喜悦。323
May it be your death.”愿它成为你的死因。”324
Olive shuddered.奥利芙打了个寒战。325
A curse was bad luck.诅咒会招来厄运。326
“Olive, over here!” the bard barked, pulling out the stone.“奥利芙，到这边来！”吟游诗人厉声命令道，同时掏出了石头。327
Olive shook her head.奥利芙摇了摇头。328
“I’m staying here, Finder,” she said.“我要留在这里，芬德。”她说。329
For a brief moment, the bard looked shocked and hurt.有那么一瞬间，吟游诗人显得既震惊又受伤。330
Then he snapped, “Fine.随后他厉声说道：“好。331
Have it your way.”随你的便。”332
He sang out an E-flat and vanished in a yellow light.他唱出一个降E音，随即消失在一道黄光中。333
Alias stood in the mouth of the cave watching the sun sink into the desert beyond the vale.阿莉亚丝站在洞口，望着太阳沉向谷地之外的沙漠。334
Although there was no sign of movement from Moander’s new body, she kept imagining Dragonbait being swallowed by it, lying trapped inside the god’s body.尽管莫安德的新躯体毫无动静，她却总忍不住想象龙饵被它吞下，困在这位神祇的体内。335
In her mind, she pictured the cage Moander had used to imprison her last year, when the god had tortured her with its lies and tried to seduce her into its service with the promise of freedom.她脑海中浮现出莫安德去年用来囚禁她的牢笼；当时，这位神祇用谎言折磨她，还承诺给她自由，企图诱使她为自己效命。336
She didn’t regret trying to take Finder’s stone from the bard, and she was still furious with him for his selfishness, but she wished he’d come back.她并不后悔试图从那吟游诗人手中夺走芬德的石头，也依旧为他的自私而怒火中烧，但她还是希望他能回来。337
They could use him, with or without the stone.不管有没有那块石头，他们都用得上他。338
Olive sat beside the swordswoman, idly throwing rocks at trees.奥利芙坐在女剑士身旁，百无聊赖地捡起石头掷向树木。339
She was regretting staying behind.她开始后悔自己留了下来。340
It was a grand gesture, but if she’d gone along with the bard, she might have been able to talk some sense into him.留下来是个很有气概的举动，可要是她跟那吟游诗人一起走了，也许还能劝他清醒一点。341
Now he was no doubt feeling self-righteous and getting himself into some other trouble.现在，他无疑正自以为占尽了道理，又给自己惹上了别的麻烦。342
She missed him already, and she was afraid she’d never see him again.她已经开始想念他了，还害怕自己再也见不到他。343
Akabar and Grypht were in the back of the cave.阿卡巴和格里夫特待在洞穴深处。344
Grypht was rehearsing Akabar in the use of the saurial command word that triggered the wand of frost he’d given the mage.格里夫特正让阿卡巴反复练习用蜥蜴人的启动词催动那根寒霜魔杖；魔杖是他交给这位法师的。345
The four of them had worked out a strategy to sneak into the vale, free Dragonbait, and hit as many saurials as possible with the cold magic they had at their disposal.他们四人已经拟定了一个计策：潜入谷地，救出龙饵，再用手头的寒冰魔法尽可能多地攻击蜥蜴人。346
Grypht would hide their forms and scents with magic.格里夫特会施展魔法，隐藏他们的身形和气味。347
In order to disguise the warmth of their bodies from those saurials who could detect heat, Akabar had suggested that they go at sunset when the day’s heat rising from the ground would mask their own warmth.为了不让那些能感知热量的蜥蜴人察觉他们身体的温度，阿卡巴建议日落时再行动，届时白天地面蓄积的热气会升腾起来，掩盖他们自身的体温。348
They could have left ten minutes ago, but Alias had wanted to wait a few more minutes in case Finder changed his mind.他们十分钟前就可以出发了，但阿莉亚丝想再等几分钟，看看芬德会不会改变主意。349
Finder had been gone for an hour.芬德已经离开一个小时了。350
If he didn’t return in the next few minutes, they’d have to leave without him.如果他接下来几分钟内还不回来，他们就只能丢下他出发。351
“He’s not coming back, Olive,” Alias said.“他不会回来了，奥利芙。”阿莉亚丝说道。352
Olive sighed and tossed another rock at a tree twenty feet off, hitting it dead center.奥利芙叹了口气，又朝二十英尺外的一棵树掷出一块石头，正中树干中央。353
“Not in time, anyway,” the halfling said.“至少赶不及了。”半身人说道。354
“I can’t believe he wouldn’t help us,” Alias said.“真不敢相信他竟然不肯帮我们。”阿莉亚丝说道。355
“Why won’t he give up that stupid stone?”“他为什么就是不肯放弃那块蠢石头？”356
Olive shrugged.奥利芙耸了耸肩。357
She’d been trying to understand that herself.她自己也一直想弄明白这一点。358
“Before you came along,” she said, “the stone was Finder’s crowning achievement.“在你出现以前，”她说，“那块石头是芬德最杰出的成就。359
He can’t really take all the credit for you, though, like he can for the stone.但他不能像对那块石头那样，把造就你的功劳全归于自己。360
The stone is a little like his life.那块石头有点像他的生命。361
He can never make another one.他再也造不出第二块了。362
It’s one thing to say his songs and his daughter make him immortal, but in the end, his songs will change, and you aren’t him.固然可以说，他的歌和他的女儿能让他永生，可到头来，他的歌会改变，而你并不是他。363
He’s never going to get another chance to live.”他再也不会有重活一次的机会了。”364
Akabar joined the two women.阿卡巴走过来，加入了两个女人。365
“Grypht says we’ve got to leave in a few minutes,” he said.“格里夫特说，我们几分钟后就得出发，”他说。366
Alias nodded.阿莉亚丝点了点头。367
The Turmishman put his hand on Alias’s shoulder.图米什人把手放在阿莉亚丝的肩上。368
“Don’t feel bad about Finder.“别为芬德难过。369
He’s not worth your grief,” he said.他不值得你伤心，”他说。370
“He’s a selfish, arrogant man.“他是个自私又傲慢的人。371
He hasn’t returned because he’s too cowardly to join us.”他没有回来，是因为他胆小，不敢加入我们。”372
“Akabar,” Olive snapped angrily, “we’re about to go into the camp of an enemy god.“阿卡巴，”奥利芙怒声斥道，“我们马上就要进入一个敌对神祇的营地了。373
We may get possessed or killed.我们可能会被附身，也可能会送命。374
Aren’t you afraid at all?”你难道一点儿都不害怕吗？”375
Akabar looked down at Olive with a faint smile.阿卡巴低头看着奥利芙，露出一丝微笑。376
“You forget that I was possessed by Moander before,” he reminded the halfling.“你忘了，我以前就被莫安德附过身，”他提醒这个半身人。377
“It’s not an experience I’d care to repeat.“那种经历我可不想再来一次。378
But I must do all I can to fight Moander.但我必须竭尽所能与莫安德抗争。379
I defeated the Darkbringer once.我曾经击败过黑暗使者。380
I must believe I will defeat it again.”我必须相信，我还能再次击败它。”381
“The last time we fought against Moander, we had a red dragon fighting alongside us.“上次我们与莫安德交战时，有一条红龙与我们并肩作战。382
This time you might die,” Olive pointed out.这一次你可能会死。”奥利芙指出。383
“Then I’ll die for a good cause,” Akabar said.“那我也算死得其所。”阿卡巴说。384
“My mother used to say life is wasted on the young, that the young always believe they’ll never die.“我母亲过去常说，生命浪费在了年轻人身上，因为年轻人总以为自己永远不会死。385
You’re not very old.你年纪也不大。386
Maybe you don’t believe you’ll ever die,” the halfling suggested, “and that’s why you’re not afraid.”也许你并不相信自己有一天会死，”半身人猜测道，“所以才不害怕。”387
“I didn’t say I wasn’t afraid.“我可没说我不害怕。388
All men are afraid.人人都会害怕。389
I’m prepared to die because my life has been full.我已做好赴死的准备，因为我的一生过得很充实。390
I have lived with three beautiful wives and will leave behind four beautiful children.我曾与三位美丽的妻子共同生活，死后还会留下四个可爱的孩子。391
That was Finder’s mistake.这正是芬德犯下的错误。392
He was too interested in himself.他太关注自己了。393
He should have had a family.”他本该成个家。”394
“He has a family.“他有家人。395
He has Alias and me” Olive said.他有阿莉亚丝和我。”奥利芙说。396
“Some people aren’t as easily satisfied as you are.“并不是所有人都像你这么容易满足。397
They want more out of life than to have children and die for a good cause.”他们想从生命中得到更多，而不只是生儿育女，再为正义的事业献身。”398
“Tb get something more out of life, a man must live for others,” Akabar replied.“想从生命中得到更多，一个人就必须为他人而活。”阿卡巴回答。399
“No monument, no empire, no song or tale left to posterity will satisfy the soul the way bringing joy to another person will.“无论是丰碑、帝国，还是留给后世的歌谣与故事，都无法像给另一个人带来快乐那样令灵魂满足。400
Finder Wyvernspur will not learn this, so he could live another three and a half centuries and still not be satisfied, still be unprepared for death.芬德·飞龙刺学不会这一点，所以即使他再活三百五十年，依然不会满足，依然不会做好面对死亡的准备。401
Death will come, though, whether a man is prepared or not.”然而，无论一个人是否做好准备，死亡终会降临。”402
Grypht came up behind Akabar.格里夫特从后面走到阿卡巴身旁。403
“It’s time to go,” he said.“该走了。”他说。404
With the setting of the sun, the wind began to whistle into the cave.随着太阳落山，风开始呼啸着灌进洞穴。405
Finder sat in the ruins of his old mansion, staring at the sun setting over the Desertsmouth Mountains and the moon rising over the Elven Wood.芬德坐在旧宅的废墟中，凝望着落向沙漠之口山脉的夕阳，以及从精灵森林上空升起的月亮。406
Beside him, courtesy of the finder’s stone, sat an illusion of himself singing “The Tears of Selune” the way it was meant to be sung, the way he’d written it three centuries ago.在他身旁，借助芬德之石，坐着一个他自己的幻象，正以这首歌本应有的方式，演唱着《塞露恩之泪》——一如三百年前他创作此曲时的唱法。407
The first part of Akabar’s curse seemed to be working.阿卡巴诅咒的第一部分似乎正在生效。408
Finder had been listening to the song for hours without pleasure.芬德已经听了这首歌好几个小时，却丝毫感受不到乐趣。409
The bard ordered the stone to halt.吟游诗人命令石头停下。410
He looked at his image seated beside him—a young image with a charming smile, more sure of itself than the master beside it.他看着坐在身旁的自己——那是个年轻的幻象，笑容迷人，看起来比身旁的本尊更加自信。411
The image was one of a man who’d thought he’d discovered the secret of cheating death.那幻象呈现的是一个自以为已经发现了逃避死亡之秘的男人。412
He’d deceived himself into thinking his music would be immortality enough.他曾自欺欺人地以为，自己的音乐足以令他不朽。413
Now Finder realized that it wasn’t. He wanted to live forever.如今芬德明白，那并不足够。他想永远活下去。414
“Damn!” he muttered.“该死！”他低声咒骂道。415
“Sleep,” he ordered the stone.“睡去。”他命令石头。416
Instantly the image beside him vanished.他身旁的幻象瞬间消失了。417
Finder’s mind began to wander.芬德的思绪开始游移。418
Unable to resolve the problem of death, he began to plan ways to improve the finder’s stone.既然无法解决死亡这个难题，他便开始筹划改进芬德之石的办法。419
He should record Alias singing into the stone.他应该把阿莉亚丝的歌声录进石头里。420
He should record her singing some songs with Olive, too.他还应该录下她和奥利芙合唱的几首歌。421
Their voices blended well together.她们的嗓音交融得十分和谐。422
Finder looked at the stone.芬德望着那块石头。423
It wouldn’t be the same, though, he thought.不过，那终究不一样，他想。424
The recording wouldn’t be Alias and Olive.录下来的并不是真正的阿莉亚丝和奥利芙。425
He couldn’t teach the stone to compliment him when he was especially clever, or worry about him or tease or chide him the way Alias and Olive did.他无法教会石头在他格外机敏时称赞他，也无法让它像阿莉亚丝和奥利芙那样担心他、逗弄他或责备他。426
He couldn’t get the stone to love him.他无法让石头爱他。427
He wanted to be with Alias and Olive, he realized.他意识到，自己想和阿莉亚丝、奥利芙待在一起。428
Before he could change his mind, he sang to the stone to return him to the Singing Cave.还没来得及改变主意，他便对着石头唱起歌来，让它把自己送回歌唱洞穴。429
The yellow light appeared, blocking out his vision of the ruined keep.黄色的光芒出现了，将那座要塞废墟从他的视野中遮去。430
When it faded again, he stood inside the Singing Cave.光芒再次消退时，他已经站在歌唱洞穴里了。431
The cave was empty.洞穴里空无一人。432
The wind whistled through it like an eerie voice.风呼啸着穿过洞穴，仿佛一个阴森诡异的声音。433
The four of them couldn’t have gone alone to rescue Dragonbait, he thought.他心想，他们四个不可能独自去营救龙饵。434
It would be suicide, yet he realized that was exactly what they’d done.那无异于自寻死路，可他随即意识到，他们恰恰就是这么做了。435
Finder stroked his beard, trying to decide the best way to help without risking the finder’s stone.芬德抚摸着胡须，思量着怎样才能既帮上忙，又不让寻路石落入险境。436
Some sort of diversion, perhaps, he thought.或许可以想办法转移他们的注意力，他心想。437
As he brought his hand down from his chin, he noticed that his fingers were stained green, as if he’d been rubbing a leaf.他把手从下巴上放下来时，注意到自己的手指染成了绿色，仿佛刚刚揉过一片叶子。438
He scratched at his beard with both hands.他用双手抓挠起胡须来。439
A moment later, he looked down at his fingernails with disgust.片刻后，他低头看着自己的指甲，满脸厌恶。440
He’d scratched away great gobs of moss and lichen from his face.他竟从脸上抓下了大块大块的苔藓和地衣。441
Then he felt something sticky moving in his ear.接着，他感觉有什么黏糊糊的东西正在耳朵里蠕动。442
Shuddering at the thought of earwigs and other gruesome bugs, the bard brushed at his ear.一想到蠼螋和其他可怕的虫子，这位吟游诗人便浑身一颤，伸手拂向耳朵。443
His fingers caught on something fragile and soft, but when he pulled on it, a stabbing pain shot across his temple.他的手指勾住了某种脆弱柔软的东西，可他一拉，太阳穴上顿时掠过一阵刺痛。444
He held up the finder’s stone to look at his reflection.他举起寻路石，借着石面察看自己的倒影。445
A small orchid hung beside his ear, its tendrils wrapped around his earring and other tendrils were sliding into his ear.一朵小小的兰花垂在他耳边，卷须缠绕着他的耳环，另有几根卷须正往他的耳朵里钻。446
“No!”“不！”447
Finder gasped.芬德倒吸了一口气。448
He slipped his earring off and yanked harder at the orchid, ignoring the stabbing pain in his head.他摘下耳环，更加用力地拉扯那朵兰花，全然不顾头上传来的刺痛。449
The flower snapped off in his fingers, and he threw it to the ground and crushed it under the heel of his boot.花在他指间啪地断了，他把它扔到地上，用靴跟碾得粉碎。450
He felt something trickle back down his ear canal, then tickle his ear again.他感觉有什么东西顺着耳道淌了回去，接着耳朵里又是一阵发痒。451
Finder looked again at his reflection in the stone.芬德再次看向石头上映出的自己。452
Another orchid squeezed its way out of his ear and began to wrap its tendrils about his hair.又一朵兰花从他耳朵里挤了出来，开始用卷须缠绕他的头发。453
Breathing hard with fear, Finder reached up to pinch the second orchid away between his fingernails, but at that moment, a pain gnawed at his stomach.芬德吓得呼吸急促，抬起手，想用指甲掐掉第二朵兰花，可就在这时，一阵疼痛啃噬起他的腹部。454
He doubled over with a howl.他惨嚎一声，弯下了腰。455
Something was inside him, growing and eating his insides.有什么东西正在他体内生长，啃食着他的内脏。456
The pain in his stomach subsided.他腹中的疼痛渐渐消退。457
With a sense of horror mixed with irony, the bard realized what had happened.吟游诗人怀着一种恐惧与讽刺交织的心情，明白了究竟发生了什么。458
The black spores that had burst from the burr that Xaran had thrown at him had indeed penetrated into his body.扎兰朝他扔来的刺果爆出的黑色孢子，的确已经侵入了他的身体。459
They must have been partially destroyed and greatly slowed down by the potions that had been in his blood.那些孢子一定被他血液中的药剂消灭了一部分，生长速度也大大减缓了。460
It had taken them a full day to grow.它们花了整整一天才长成。461
He’d been possessed by Moander all that time without even knowing it.原来他一直都被莫安德附了身，自己却毫不知情。462