Once he’d passed through the dark gate inside Moander’s Realmsian body, Finder found himself hovering a few feet over a bog bordering a river.穿过莫安德位于诸界的躯体内部那扇黑暗之门后，芬德发现自己正悬浮在一片河畔沼泽上方几英尺处。1
The soil from the bog glowed a dull red, bathing the surface of the plane about him in a hellish light.沼泽的泥土泛着暗红色的微光，将地表笼罩在一片地狱般的光芒中。2
The plants of the bog lay on their sides, withered and brown.沼泽里的植物全都倒伏在地，枯萎焦黄。3
He was grateful his flying spell hadn’t worn off yet, for he would just as soon not touch the soil or the plants.他很庆幸自己的飞行法术尚未失效，因为他宁可不去碰那些泥土和植物。4
The river was as black as night and flowed fast and smooth.河水漆黑如夜，迅疾而平稳地流淌着。5
Although the bard had never been to Tarterus, he knew enough about the plane to realize that the river was the Styx, and that to touch or drink from it would bring complete oblivion.尽管这位吟游诗人从未来过塔尔塔罗斯，但他对这个位面所知甚多，足以认出这条河就是冥河，也知道无论触碰还是饮下河水，都会令人彻底失去记忆。6
The air of the plane might have been warm before he arrived, but around his freezing dagger it remained chill.在他到来之前，这个位面的空气或许还很温暖，但在他那柄冰寒匕首周围，空气依旧寒冷。7
In the sky overhead, he could see a line of receding spheres, like pearls spread out on an invisible string, all glowing a dull red.他能看见头顶的天空中排列着一串渐行渐远的球体，仿佛散布在一根无形丝线上的珍珠，全都泛着暗红色的微光。8
There was a different sphere of Tarterus for every world in the prime material plane.主物质位面中的每一个世界，在塔尔塔罗斯都有一个与之对应的球体。9
He was on the sphere connected to the Realms, and somewhere out there was the sphere of Tarterus that was linked to the saurial’s home world.他此刻身处与诸界相连的球体，而在外面的某个地方，还有一个塔尔塔罗斯球体与那名恐龙人的故乡世界相连。10
There was air between the spheres, and he could fly from this sphere of Tarterus to the saurials’ sphere of Tarterus, but that was not his destination.球体之间存在空气，他可以从塔尔塔罗斯的这个球体飞到恐龙人对应的那个球体，但那里并不是他的目的地。11
The light from his half of the finder’s stone glowed much more dimly in this place, like a candle burning in a nearly airless room.他所持有的那半块芬德之石，在这个地方发出的光芒黯淡了许多，就像一支在几乎没有空气的房间里燃烧的蜡烛。12
The bard could just barely pick out the trace of the beam of light indicating Akabar’s direction.这位吟游诗人勉强辨认出了一缕光束的痕迹，那光束指示着阿卡巴所在的方向。13
Finder flew along its path.芬德循着光束的路径飞去。14
The light led to the river’s edge and stopped.光芒一直延伸到河边，随即止住了。15
He would have to take a boat, he realized.他意识到，自己必须乘船。16
If he tried to travel by himself, he would attract the attention of the myriad of evil creatures that dwelled in this plane, creatures like Phalse, who captured fools like Dragonbait and himself who traveled where they shouldn’t. Even if he could keep from the notice of such creatures, he could easily get lost in this place and wander for centuries.如果他试图独自赶路，就会引起栖息在这个位面的无数邪恶生物的注意——比如法尔斯那样的生物，专门抓捕龙饵和他这种前往不该去之地的傻瓜。即便他能避开这些生物的耳目，也很容易在这里迷失方向，徘徊数百年之久。17
He had only a vague idea of how one went about summoning Charon, the Boatman of the Styx.对于该如何召唤冥河船夫卡戎，他只有一个模糊的概念。18
It required some magical spells that he didn’t possess.那需要施展几种他并不会的魔法。19
In lieu of that, Finder decided to try the only other magic he had beyond the broken finder’s stone and the dagger he might still need to use to wrest Akabar from Moander’s grasp.既然如此，除了破损的芬德之石和那柄或许仍需用来从莫安德手中夺回阿卡巴的匕首之外，芬德决定试试自己仅有的另一件魔法物品。20
He pulled the horn of blasting from his belt.他从腰带上取下爆裂号角。21
If it failed to bring Charon, it might at least hail one of the lesser boatmen who carried passengers along the river.就算它无法召来卡戎，至少也可能招来一名沿河运送乘客的低阶船夫。22
Finder didn’t trigger the instrument’s destructive magic, but blew into it as he would a normal horn.芬德没有触发这件乐器的毁灭性魔法，而是像吹普通号角那样吹响了它。23
He blew a fanfare he’d once composed in honor of a legion of soldiers who had all been killed in a single day in battle.他吹奏起一段号曲，那是他曾为一支在一天之内全军覆没的军团谱写的。24
It seemed an appropriate tune for this place.这曲调似乎很适合这个地方。25
Then he waited.随后他静静等待。26
In less than a minute, the black water began to churn and froth; then a heavy, sparkling silver mist appeared upriver and drifted downstream with the current.不到一分钟，黑色的河水便开始翻腾起沫；接着，上游出现了一团厚重而闪烁的银雾，顺流向下飘来。27
As the mist drew closer, Finder could just barely make out the pointed bow of a boat shrouded within it.随着银雾渐渐逼近，芬德勉强辨认出雾中笼罩着一艘船的尖头船首。28
Then suddenly the boat, as black as the water of the Styx, emerged from the silver mist, and the mist dissolved into nothingness.忽然间，那艘与冥河河水一样漆黑的船驶出银雾，而银雾也随即消散得无影无踪。29
A single boatman stood in the back of the boat and steered it toward the shore with a pole.船尾只站着一名船夫，他用一根长篙将船撑向岸边。30
The boat halted beside Finder, and the boatman held it stationary without any apparent effort, despite the swift current that flowed around it.船在芬德身旁停下；尽管湍急的水流从船身四周奔涌而过，船夫却不费吹灰之力地让船稳稳停在原处。31
Finder’s eyes widened at the sight of the boatman.芬德一看清船夫，双眼顿时睁大了。32
It was Charon himself, not one of his helpers.来者正是卡戎本人，而非他的某个助手。33
The Lord of the Styx wore a full-length hooded cloak of black silk, trimmed with ermine.这位冥河之主身披一袭曳地的黑色丝绸兜帽斗篷，边缘饰有白鼬毛。34
Beneath the hood, his face was haggard and his eyes glowed a fiery red.兜帽之下，他面容憔悴，双眼燃烧着火红的光。35
The hands that held the pole were nearly skeletal.握着长篙的双手几乎只剩骨头。36
The figure stood in the boat without speaking.那身影一言不发地立在船上。37
“I’m Finder Wyvernspur,” the bard explained.“我是芬德·飞龙刺，”吟游诗人解释道。38
“I’m seeking Akabar Bel Akash.“我在寻找阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。39
He has been taken by the god Moander, who dwells in the Abyss.”他被居住在无底深渊的神祇莫安德掳走了。”40
Charon held out his palm.卡戎摊开手掌。41
“Will you take this horn in payment?” the bard asked.“你愿意收下这支号角作为酬劳吗？”吟游诗人问道。42
Charon motioned for Finder to blow the horn again.卡戎示意芬德再吹一次号角。43
Finder repeated the fanfare for the dead legion of soldiers.芬德再次吹奏起那段献给阵亡军团的号曲。44
Charon nodded and held out his hand.卡戎点了点头，伸出手来。45
Finder laid the horn in the boatman’s palm, taking care not to touch his flesh.芬德将号角放进船夫掌中，小心翼翼地没有碰到他的皮肉。46
Charon set the horn down at his feet and motioned for Finder to come aboard.卡戎把号角放在脚边，示意芬德上船。47
The bard floated over the boat and took care to settle himself down into it gently, but he was still surprised that the boat didn’t rock at all from his weight.吟游诗人飘到船上方，小心翼翼地轻轻落入船中，但自己的重量竟没让船晃动分毫，还是令他颇感惊讶。48
The boat was completely dry inside and empty save for him, the boatman, and the horn.船里十分干燥，除了他、船夫和号角之外，空无一物。49
Finder sat facing forward so he wouldn’t be forced to stare at Charon, whose eyes made him feel uneasy.芬德面朝前坐着，免得不得不盯着卡戎看；卡戎的眼睛让他心神不宁。50
The sensation of bobbing on the water or of air flowing by was completely absent, even as Charon pushed the boat away from the river’s edge into the faster-moving water in the middle of the stream.他丝毫感觉不到船在水上起伏，也感觉不到空气从身边流过，尽管卡戎已经将船推离河岸，驶入河流中央水势更急的地方。51
The boat seemed so still that Finder began to feel as if he’d seated himself in a coffin buried in the earth.船仿佛一动不动，芬德渐渐觉得自己像是坐进了一具埋在土里的棺材。52
The river steamed around them, in the chillness of the air Finder created with his sliver of para-elemental ice.芬德用那片副元素冰制造出的寒气笼罩着四周，河水在他们身边蒸腾起雾。53
The bard glanced back at Charon to see if the cold made the boatman uncomfortable.吟游诗人回头瞥了卡戎一眼，想看看这股寒意是否让船夫感到不适。54
Charon seemed completely oblivious not only to the cold, but to the bard’s presence as well.卡戎似乎不仅对寒冷毫无知觉，就连吟游诗人的存在也浑然不觉。55
Finder recalled then that the boatman traveled through regions of the outer planes that would make Icewind Dale seem temperate.芬德这才想起，船夫穿行于外层位面的诸多地域，那些地方相比之下足以让冰风谷显得气候温和。56
The bard turned his attention to the scenery, but the bogs which stretched out from both banks of the river were a depressing sight.吟游诗人把注意力转向沿途的景色，但河流两岸绵延不绝的沼泽实在令人心情压抑。57
Dead, brown marsh grasses covered the ground as far as the eye could see, and the monotony of the flatland was broken only occasionally by stunted, leafless bushes.枯死的褐色沼泽草覆盖着目力所及的整片大地，平原单调的景象只有偶尔出现的矮小无叶灌木才会打破。58
Despite the warmth and moisture of the soil, nothing grew.尽管土壤温暖而湿润，却没有任何东西生长。59
Only after great storms, when the rain had temporarily washed away the poison of the soil, could any plant survive in this region of desolation.只有在大风暴过后，雨水暂时冲走土壤中的毒素时，才有植物能在这片荒芜之地存活。60
In an effort to take his mind off the bleak scenery around him, Finder tried to think of Alias and Olive.为了不再去想周围这片凄凉的景色，芬德试着回想阿莉亚丝和奥利芙。61
He tried to remember their faces and how they had sounded when they sang together in the Singing Cave and the feel of their hands on his own, but the memories wouldn’t come to him.他试图忆起她们的面容，忆起她们在歌唱洞穴一同歌唱时的声音，也忆起她们的手放在自己手上的触感，可这些记忆怎么也不肯浮现。62
The river Styx, he recalled, drove away memories of the living.他记得，冥河会驱散关于生者的记忆。63
The bard found himself dwelling instead on memories of Flattery and Kirkson and Maryje.吟游诗人发现，自己反而一直沉浸在对弗拉特里、柯克森和玛丽杰的回忆中。64
It seemed he thought of nothing else for hours as Charon steered his boat through twisted paths of the river.卡戎驾船沿着河流曲折的水道前行，仿佛一连数小时，他脑中除了这些回忆再无别物。65
A desire to throw himself in the river, so that he could forget the evils of his past life, grew stronger with every passing minute.他越来越想投身河中，好忘却自己前世犯下的种种恶行；每过去一分钟，这股冲动就更加强烈。66
Finder shook himself with sudden alarm, remembering that the river would rob him of all his memories, good as well as bad.芬德猛然惊觉，浑身一震：他想起这条河会夺走他的所有记忆，无论好坏。67
He would forget his songs …他会忘记自己的歌……68
Olive … even Alias.奥利芙……甚至阿莉亚丝。69
Whether the allure of oblivion was due to some enchantment of the dark water and depressing landscape or his own weakness, the bard knew he had to fight it off somehow.这遗忘的诱惑，究竟源于黑暗河水与阴郁景色的某种魔力，还是源于他自身的软弱，吟游诗人并不知道；但他明白，自己必须设法抗拒。70
A song, he thought.唱首歌，他想。71
I should sing a song.我应该唱首歌。72
Uncertain how the boatman would react to any other music, Finder began by humming “The Tears of Selune.”芬德不确定船夫会对别的乐曲作何反应，于是先哼起了《塞露恩之泪》。73
When Charon gave no indication of annoyance or displeasure and nothing leaped out at the boat from the banks, the bard began to sing the words.卡戎没有流露出丝毫恼怒或不悦，岸边也没有任何东西扑向小船，于是吟游诗人开始唱出歌词。74
Halfway through the song, he began wondering if Olive had been right, that Selune’s Shards sang it as a duet.唱到一半时，他不禁寻思，或许奥利芙说得没错，塞露恩的碎片确实应该把这首歌唱成二重唱。75
He started the song from the beginning, and for the first time since he’d written them three centuries ago, he began changing the lyrics so that they would work better as a duet.他从头唱起；自三百年前写下这些歌词以来，他第一次开始改动它们，好让这首歌更适合二重唱。76
By the time Charon pulled his boat over to the opposite shore, the bard felt as though he’d changed his whole life.等卡戎把船靠上对岸时，吟游诗人觉得自己仿佛改变了整个人生。77
He thanked the boatman for the ride, though he had paid for it with the horn, and Charon acknowledged the bard’s gratitude with a nod.尽管他已经用号角付过船资，仍向船夫道了谢；卡戎点点头，接受了吟游诗人的谢意。78
Finder hovered out of the boat and flew the few feet to solid ground.芬德飘出小船，飞过几英尺的距离，落到坚实的地面上。79
While he’d been concentrating on his music, he hadn’t noticed the change in scenery, but now he surveyed the new landscape with repulsion.方才他一直专注于自己的乐曲，没有留意周遭景色的变化；此刻环顾这片陌生的天地，他心中满是厌恶。80
The bogs of Tarterus hadn’t been half as horrible as his first sight of Moander’s realm in the Abyss.塔尔塔罗斯的沼泽，还不及他初见无底深渊中莫安德的领地时所见的景象一半可怕。81
The shoreline was encrusted with slimy brown muck; the banks were heaped with piles of rotting carcasses and decaying vegetation, and a noisome odor filled the air.岸边结着一层黏滑的褐色污泥，河堤上堆满腐烂的尸骸与朽败的草木，空气中弥漫着令人作呕的恶臭。82
Finder turned back to Charon, uncertain if he really wanted to journey any farther into this oppressive region, but the boatman and his boat were gone.芬德回头望向卡戎，不确定自己是否真想继续深入这片压抑的地域，可船夫和他的船都已经消失了。83
Grateful yet again that his fly spell hadn’t worn off, the bard held out the broken finder’s stone, which put out a feeble light pointing away from the river.吟游诗人再次庆幸自己的飞行术尚未失效，随即举起那块破碎的寻物石；它发出微弱的光，指向远离河流的方向。84
The stench beyond the banks of the river was unbearable, but he had no choice.河岸那边的恶臭令人无法忍受，但他别无选择。85
Flying over the fields strewn with debris and the mountains of refuse, Finder wondered if Moander’s realm was the repository for all the garbage of the other six hundred and sixty-five layers of the Abyss.芬德飞过遍地残骸的荒野与堆积如山的垃圾，不禁怀疑莫安德的领地是否收纳了无底深渊其余六百六十五层的所有废物。86
The bard hadn’t flown far when, from the corner of his eye, he thought he spied a huge gem, but when he landed and bent over to pick it up, it proved to be a piece of rotten fruit.吟游诗人没飞多远，眼角余光便似乎瞥见了一颗硕大的宝石；可等他落地俯身去捡时，才发现那不过是一块腐烂的水果。87
Likewise, his eyes were deceived into seeing a silvered sword, which turned out to be the slime-encrusted bone of some great beast.同样，他的双眼又受了蒙骗，看见一柄镀银长剑，结果却只是某头巨兽一根裹满黏液的骨头。88
When he tried to salvage a gilded, leather-bound tome and found himself holding a rotted log alive with larvae, the bard realized that all these illusions were calculated to keep him from his quest.当他试图抢救一部烫金的皮面典籍，却发现自己捧着的竟是一截爬满幼虫的朽木时，吟游诗人终于明白，这些幻象全是刻意设下，要阻挠他完成使命。89
He flew on, ignoring all the other riches he imagined he saw, no matter how enticing they looked.他继续向前飞去，不再理会自己想象中看见的其他财富，无论它们看起来多么诱人。90
As he continued on, following the light of the broken finder’s stone, Finder passed several of Moander’s minions.芬德继续循着破损寻物石的光芒前行，途中经过了几个莫安德的爪牙。91
Although most of the minions looked like humans or elves, some appeared to be beasts—elephants, horses, cats, rats, hounds, deer, hawks, sparrows—or magical creatures like dragons and treants.这些爪牙大多看起来像人类或精灵，但也有些呈现为野兽的模样——大象、马、猫、老鼠、猎犬、鹿、鹰、麻雀——或是龙和树人之类的魔法生物。92
A few must have once been creatures from other worlds, for Finder didn’t recognize their kind.其中有几个想必曾是来自其他世界的生物，因为芬德认不出它们的种类。93
Yet every minion had in common the tendril vines growing from its body, controlling its actions and making it subject to the Darkbringer.然而，每个爪牙身上都长着卷须藤蔓，操纵着它的一举一动，使它听命于黑暗使者。94
Finder realized that if it hadn’t been for his possession by the vines, he wouldn’t be passing through this realm without being challenged.芬德意识到，要不是自己也被藤蔓附了身，他绝不可能在这个位面畅行无阻而不受盘查。95
The light of the finder’s stone led the bard to a great hill, as large as the mound on which the city of Yulash stood.寻物石的光芒把吟游诗人引向一座巨丘，它和尤拉什城所矗立的那座山丘一样庞大。96
At first Finder thought the hill might be Moander’s stronghold.起初，芬德以为这座巨丘或许就是莫安德的堡垒。97
As he drew closer, however, Finder realized that the hill was in fact Moander’s true body, the one that held the very essence of the god’s being.然而，走近之后，芬德才意识到，这座巨丘其实是莫安德真正的躯体，承载着这个神存在本质的躯体。98
Unlike all the other shells it possessed in all the worlds of the prime material plane, if this body were destroyed, the Darkbringer would cease to exist completely and forever.它与莫安德在主物质位面各个世界中占据的其他所有躯壳都不同；一旦这具躯体被摧毁，黑暗使者便会彻底而永远地不复存在。99
Moander’s Abyssal form was another pile of rotting vegetation, but it was easily five times the size of the body the god had possessed in the Realms.莫安德在深渊中的形体同样是一堆腐烂的植物，但轻易便有这个神在诸界占据的那具躯体五倍之大。100
Thousands of tendrils ending in eyes and mouths waved from the pile, and orange rivers of poisoned water flowed down its slopes.数千条末端生着眼睛和嘴巴的卷须在腐物堆上挥舞，一道道橙色的毒水河流从它的坡面淌下。101
Yet for all its vast size, the true body of Moander seemed to tremble from the cold coming from the dagger Finder carried.然而，尽管体形如此庞大，莫安德的真身似乎仍因芬德所携匕首散发出的寒意而颤抖。102
At the foot of the hill that was Moander stood Akabar Bel Akash.在莫安德化成的巨丘脚下，站着阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。103
He was tethered about his ankles with slimy tendrils, and his wrists were likewise bound.黏滑的卷须缠住了他的脚踝，将他拴在那里；他的双腕也同样被缚住。104
His eyes were closed, and he did not speak.他双目紧闭，一言不发。105
“Hold, Nameless Bard!” a chorus of voices cried from the mouths of Moander.“站住，无名吟游诗人！”莫安德的众多嘴巴齐声喊道。106
Finder halted.芬德停下了脚步。107
“You were a fool to come here,” the mouths of Moander declared.“你到这里来，真是愚不可及，”莫安德的众多嘴巴宣告道。108
“For destroying my body in the Realms, you have earned my everlasting enmity.“你摧毁了我在诸界的躯体，因此招致了我永世不消的仇恨。109
Yet despite your crimes against me, I must admire your resourcefulness.但尽管你犯下了这些针对我的罪行，我也不得不钦佩你的机智。110
I think that I will let you live on as my servant.我想，我会让你活下去，做我的仆人。111
Now, hand over the seed of power that you stole from my Realmsian body.”现在，把你从我在诸界的躯体中偷走的力量之种交出来。”112
Finder slipped the broken half of the finder’s stone into his boot and drew out the tiny blood-red gem he’d discovered lying before the magical gate inside Moander’s Realmsian body.芬德把破损寻物石的半块塞进靴子里，取出了那颗小小的血红色宝石；他是在莫安德位于诸界的躯体内部，那扇魔法门前发现它的。113
Apparently, by stepping through the gate and separating the gem from the Realms, he had indeed robbed the god of its power to exist in that world.显然，当他跨过那扇门、将宝石带离诸界时，的确夺走了这个神存在于那个世界的力量。114
The gem, Finder suspected, held not just power but some attribute that made it possible for Moander to return to the Realms.芬德猜测，这颗宝石蕴藏的不仅是力量，还有某种能让莫安德重返诸界的特质。115
If he smashed the gem, Moander might never regain that power, and the Realms would be safe from the Darkbringer forever.如果他砸碎宝石，莫安德或许就再也无法重获那种力量，诸界也将永远免受黑暗使者的威胁。116
Yet if he gave the gem to Moander, it might take years for the god to find a way to build yet another body in the Realms, and the people of the Realms would have all that time to prepare some other defense against the Darkbringer.然而，如果他把宝石交给莫安德，这位神祇或许要花上数年才能设法在诸界造出另一具躯体，而诸界的人民便有充分的时间准备其他手段来抵御黑暗使者。117
“I’ll give you the seed, Moander,” Finder said, “in exchange for Akabar Bel Akash and safe passage from your realm.“我会把种子给你，莫安德，”芬德说道，“以此换取阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什，以及让我安全离开你的领域。118
I’ll even let you keep your everlasting enmity.”我甚至可以任由你永远仇恨我。”119
He grinned maliciously.他不怀好意地咧嘴一笑。120
“Arrogant fool!“狂妄的蠢货！121
I could slay you where you stand,” Moander’s mouths snarled.我现在就能杀了你，”莫安德的一张张嘴咆哮道。122
“I suspect not,” the bard said.“我看未必，”吟游诗人说道。123
“If you could, you would have killed me the moment I stepped into your realm, but you can’t, can you?“如果你办得到，我一踏进你的领域，你就会杀了我，可你办不到，对不对？124
You’ve been using too much of your power these past few months, possessing saurials and forcing them to do your bidding.过去几个月里，你耗费了太多力量，附身在蜥蜴族身上，逼迫他们听从你的命令。125
You must be feeling a little weak.你一定觉得有些虚弱了。126
Your true body is also susceptible to cold, isn’t it?你的真身也畏惧寒冷，不是吗？127
I can see your tendrils shivering from the icy air that surrounds my dagger.我看得见，你的触须正因我匕首周围的冰冷空气而颤抖。128
I, on the other hand, could crush your precious seed in a moment.而我却能在顷刻间捏碎你宝贵的种子。129
Release Akabar now, and I will return the seed,” Finder ordered.立刻释放阿卡巴，我就把种子还给你，”芬德命令道。130
“No,” a voice said, a voice that sounded like Akabar but couldn’t have been, for the mage’s lips never moved.“不，”一个声音说道。那声音听起来像阿卡巴，却不可能是他发出的，因为这名法师的嘴唇根本没有动。131
Finder watched with surprise as a white mist slid from Akabar’s body and drifted over toward him.芬德惊讶地看着一缕白雾从阿卡巴体内飘出，向他这边缓缓移来。132
“No!”“不！”133
Moander’s mouths shouted.莫安德的一张张嘴齐声大喊。134
The mist coalesced into a translucent form shaped like Akabar.白雾凝聚成一个形似阿卡巴的半透明人影。135
“Akabar, is that you?”“阿卡巴，是你吗？”136
Finder asked the misty figure.芬德向那雾气凝成的人影问道。137
“This is my spirit and soul,” a voice from the mist said.“这是我的灵与魂。”雾中传来一个声音。138
“Moander holds my body and mind in thrall, but it cannot tether this part of my being.“莫安德控制着我的肉身与心智，但它无法束缚我存在的这一部分。139
Finder, I cannot allow you to bargain for my life.芬德，我不能让你拿我的性命做交易。140
I will soon be finished with living.我的生命很快就要走到尽头了。141
I am prepared to dwell now in another plane.”我已准备好前往另一个位面安身。”142
“But Alias wants me to bring you back,” Finder objected.“可是阿莉亚丝要我把你带回去。”芬德反驳道。143
“Yes,” the mage’s spirit form replied with a smile.“是的。”法师的灵体微笑着回答。144
“Alias was always very demanding.“阿莉亚丝一向很会使唤人。145
Finder, I have abided by this monster’s side only long enough for your arrival.芬德，我一直留在这个怪物身边，只为等你到来。146
In my dreams, the gods of light told me that I was to instruct you.在梦中，光明诸神告诉我，我应当教导你。147
Now, at last, I know what it is I must teach you.如今，我终于明白自己必须教你什么了。148
First, understand this,” the spirit form said, using the formal tone of a Southern scholar.首先，你要明白这一点。”灵体以南方学者郑重的口吻说道。149
“This body behind me is Moander’s true body.“我身后的这具躯体，就是莫安德的真身。150
If it is destroyed, Moander’s essence will be destroyed forever, completely, in every incarnation in every world.”若它被摧毁，莫安德的本质也将永远、彻底地毁灭，无论它在哪个世界以何种化身存在。”151
“Akabar,” Finder said, “I know that already.“阿卡巴，”芬德说道，“这我已经知道了。152
I don’t care about it.我不在乎。153
I only came here to get you.”我来这里只是为了救你。”154
“Now know this,” Akabar’s spirit continued.“现在，你要知道这一点。”阿卡巴的灵体继续说道。155
“You have the power to destroy Moander’s true body.“你拥有摧毁莫安德真身的力量。156
You were right—its true body is weak now.你说得没错——它的真身现在确实很虚弱。157
Cling fast to the seed of power, Finder Wyvernspur, for with it in your possession and your dagger of cold, you can destroy this god.”牢牢守住那颗力量之种，芬德·飞龙刺，因为只要它在你手中，再加上你的寒冰匕首，你就能摧毁这个神。”158
“Destroy me!“毁灭我！159
Destroy the mage!毁灭法师！160
Destroy yourself.” the voices of Moander sang, but their tone held a hint of panic.毁灭你自己。”莫安德的众多声音齐声唱道，但语气中透出一丝惊慌。161
“You may indeed die in the attempt,” the spirit said to Finder.“你确实可能会因此丧命。”灵体对芬德说道。162
“I didn’t come here to kill Moander,” Finder protested.“我来这里不是为了杀死莫安德。”芬德抗议道。163
“I came to bring you back.“我是来带你回去的。164
Moander, release Akabar’s body and mind, and I will leave here without injuring you.”莫安德，放开阿卡巴的身体和心智，我就会离开这里，绝不伤害你。”165
“Promise?” the mouths of Moander asked eagerly.“你保证？”莫安德的一张张嘴急切地问道。166
“No!”“不！”167
Akabar’s spirit cried angrily.阿卡巴的灵魂愤怒地叫道。168
“Finder,” he said hastily, “I realize this is not the fate you had in mind for yourself, but if you do not destroy Moander now, you will be throwing away the only opportunity creation has ever had to rid itself of this monster.“芬德，”他急忙说道，“我知道这并不是你为自己设想的命运，但如果你现在不消灭莫安德，你就会白白葬送整个造物有史以来唯一一次摆脱这个怪物的机会。169
Finally learn this,” the mage’s spirit said, concluding his instruction, “This is how an unselfish man dies.”最后学会这一点吧，”法师的灵魂说，为自己的教导作了总结，“一个无私之人，就是这样死去的。”170
Akabar’s spirit form raised his arms as high as he could and called out in Turmish to the gods of light he venerated.阿卡巴的灵体尽力高举双臂，用图米什语向他所敬奉的光明诸神高声祈求。171
Finder recognized many of the gods’ names, though most of what Akabar’s spirit said was not clear to him.芬德听出了其中许多神祇的名字，尽管阿卡巴的灵魂所说的大部分话，他都听不明白。172
The spirit’s last words were a Turmish prayer that the bard did recognize.灵魂最后念出的是一句图米什祷词，吟游诗人倒认得。173
“Gods of my heart, claim your faithful servant,” Akabar’s spirit cried, and a white light, as bright as the desert sun, encased the mage’s spirit form.“我心中的诸神啊，请接引你们忠诚的仆人。”阿卡巴的灵魂高喊道，一道如沙漠骄阳般明亮的白光笼罩了法师的灵体。174
The light glowed so brightly that Finder had to turn his back and close his eyes.那光芒耀眼至极，芬德不得不转过身去，闭上双眼。175
Moander’s mouths shrieked with fear and rage as the god’s eyes were blinded and it sensed it was being robbed of its hostage.莫安德的一张张嘴因恐惧和狂怒而尖声嘶叫；这位神祇的双眼被强光刺得什么也看不见，同时察觉到自己的人质正被夺走。176
The light vanished, and with it took Akabar’s spirit and soul.白光消失了，同时也带走了阿卡巴的灵体与灵魂。177
Akabar’s body crumbled to dust.阿卡巴的身体化作了尘埃。178
Finder shook with awe.芬德敬畏得浑身颤抖。179
There was no way he could ignore Akabar’s sacrifice and turn around and go home.他绝不可能无视阿卡巴的牺牲，就此转身回家。180
Only a fool would accept all the luck that Tymora had thrown in his path these past two days and give nothing in return.只有傻瓜才会接受泰摩拉这两天送到自己面前的种种好运，却不作任何回报。181
In one hand, the bard clenched the seed, created from Akabar’s blood and Moander’s power, and in the other, his dagger, tipped with para-elemental ice.吟游诗人一只手紧攥着那颗由阿卡巴的鲜血与莫安德的力量孕育而成的种子，另一只手则握着尖端覆有副元素冰的匕首。182
He flew up above the body of the god.他飞到了那位神祇的躯体上方。183
“Destroy me!“毁掉我！184
Destroy yourself!”毁掉你自己！”185
Moander’s mouths shrieked hysterically.莫安德的一张张嘴歇斯底里地尖叫着。186
“Only my body, Moander,” the bard said.“毁掉的只是我的肉身，莫安德，”吟游诗人说道。187
“Not my soul.”“不是我的灵魂。”188
Finder veered and dove toward the god’s body with his dagger of para-elemental ice extended.芬德猛然转向，挺着副元素冰匕首，朝神祇的躯体俯冲而去。189
As he struck the Darkbringer’s exterior and broke through to the god’s interior, he was plunged into complete darkness and oblivion.当他刺中黑暗使者的体表，破入神祇体内时，便坠入了彻底的黑暗与虚无之中。190
His eyes saw nothing, his body felt nothing, and his mind went completely blank.他的双眼什么也看不见，身体什么也感觉不到，脑海中更是一片空白。191