Back in the Lost Vale, Alias, Grypht, Dragonbait, and Olive waited for over an hour, watching the pile of rotting greenery for some sign of Finder and Akabar.回到失落谷后，阿莉亚丝、格里夫特、龙饵和奥利芙等了一个多小时，一直盯着那堆腐烂的草木，盼望能看到芬德和阿卡巴出现的迹象。1
When the two men failed to appear, Alias’s anxiety grew unbearable.两人迟迟没有现身，阿莉亚丝心中的焦虑变得再也无法忍受。2
“We have to find them!” she declared, heading for the path that led down into the vale, but Grypht put a restraining hand on her shoulder.“我们得去找他们！”她断然说道，迈步走向通往谷中的小径，但格里夫特伸手按住了她的肩膀。3
“Use the stone,” he said softly.“用那块石头。”他轻声说道。4
“What?”“什么？”5
Alias asked in confusion.阿莉亚丝困惑地问。6
“The half of Finder’s stone that he left you.“芬德留给你的那半块石头。7
Use it.”用它。”8
Alias pulled the stone from her cloak.阿莉亚丝从斗篷里掏出石头。9
“Akabar,” she said, thinking of the mage, but the stone didn’t even glow.“阿卡巴。”她一边念出法师的名字，一边想着他，可石头甚至没有发光。10
Alias’s hands began to tremble.阿莉亚丝的双手开始颤抖。11
The wizard took the stone from the swordswoman’s hands.格里夫特从女剑士手中接过石头。12
“I’ll try the direction of Sweetleaf, as a test,” he said, thinking of the saurial cleric he had rescued earlier.“我先试试甜叶所在的方向。”他说着，心中想着先前被他救出的那位蜥蜴人牧师。13
The stone lit up and sent a feeble beacon toward the eastern slopes of the vale.石头亮了起来，射出一道微弱的指向光，投向山谷东面的斜坡。14
Next Grypht spoke the bard’s name, concentrating on Finder’s face, then his voice, and finally his songs.接着，格里夫特念出了吟游诗人的名字，先全神想着芬德的脸，然后是他的声音，最后是他的歌。15
There was no reaction from the stone.石头毫无反应。16
“There could be many reasons why it will not locate them,” the wizard said.“它找不到他们，可能有很多原因。”法师说道。17
“Because they are possessed, or enchanted with a misdirection, or—” Grypht halted.“可能是因为他们被附身了，或是中了误导方向的魔法，又或者——”格里夫特戛然而止。18
“Or dead,” Alias said flatly.“或者已经死了。”阿莉亚丝木然说道。19
There was no sense denying it.否认这一点没有任何意义。20
She felt completely numb.她感到全身都麻木了。21
Finder had saved the Realms from Moander, but it had cost his life and Akabar’s.芬德从莫安德手中拯救了诸界，却为此付出了自己和阿卡巴的生命。22
“We should look after the living,” Grypht said after a moment.过了一会儿，格里夫特说道：“我们应该照顾还活着的人。”23
“There are saurials who need our help.”“还有蜥蜴人需要我们的帮助。”24
Alias nodded, but as the adventurers trekked down to the east side of the vale, the air around them grew heavy with the scent of roses and the sounds of Alias’s and Olive’s weeping.阿莉亚丝点了点头，但当冒险者们跋涉着走向山谷东侧时，他们周围的空气渐渐充满了浓郁的玫瑰香气，以及阿莉亚丝和奥利芙的啜泣声。25
In the early light of dawn, Olive climbed back up to the Singing Cave.黎明初现时，奥利芙又爬回了歌唱洞穴。26
She had spent the rest of the night nursing saurials until she was sick of looking at their scaly hides.后半夜她一直在照料那些蜥蜴人，现在一看到他们满是鳞片的皮肤就烦。27
She needed to sleep, but more than that, she needed to be alone.她需要睡觉，但更需要独处。28
Now she sat in the mouth of the cave, watching the sun rise over the Desertsmouth Mountains and listening to the wind whistle around her, weeping silently.此刻，她坐在洞口，望着太阳从沙漠之口山脉上升起，听着风在身边呼啸，无声地流着泪。29
Someone in the cave behind her cleared his throat politely and asked, “Mistress Ruskettle?她身后的洞里有人客气地清了清嗓子，问道：“拉斯凯特尔小姐？30
Are you all right?”你还好吗？”31
Olive looked around listlessly.奥利芙无精打采地回过头。32
Breck Orcsbane stood in the cave; assembled behind him were Elminster, Mourngrym, Morala, Zhara, and three young saurials.布雷克·奥克斯班站在洞里；他身后聚着伊尔明斯特、莫恩格林、莫拉拉、扎拉和三个年轻的蜥蜴人。33
“You’re a little late,” Olive said.“你们来得有点晚了，”奥利芙说。34
“We already took care of Moander—Finder did, that is.”“我们已经解决了莫安德——确切地说，是芬德解决的。”35
With a wave of her hand, she indicated the trail of frost-covered vegetation strewn down the mountainside, ending in a large, frozen mass of greenery.她挥了挥手，指向那道沿山坡一路散落而下的覆霜植被，其尽头是一大团冻结的草木。36
Lord Mourngrym whistled in awe.莫恩格林领主惊叹地吹了声口哨。37
“How did he do that?” he asked.“他是怎么做到的？”他问。38
“He broke open the finder’s stone and used the piece of para-elemental ice that was inside,” Olive said.“他打碎了寻觅石，用了封在里面的那块准元素冰，”奥利芙说。39
Elminster and Morala exchanged surprised looks.伊尔明斯特和莫拉拉惊讶地对视了一眼。40
“Where is Finder now?”“芬德现在在哪里？”41
Elminster asked.伊尔明斯特问。42
“He went into the god’s body to find Akabar,” Olive said, “but he never came out again.“他进了那个神的身体去找阿卡巴，”奥利芙说，“可他再也没有出来。43
Alias has a broken piece of the finder’s stone she’s been using to locate missing saurials for Grypht, but when she tried to locate Finder and Akabar, nothing happened.”阿莉亚丝手里有一块寻觅石的碎片，她一直用它替格里夫特寻找失踪的蜥蜴人，可她试着寻找芬德和阿卡巴时，什么反应也没有。”44
Olive choked back a sob and forced herself to say what she didn’t want to admit: “They’re both dead.”奥利芙强忍住一声呜咽，逼自己说出那个她不愿承认的事实：“他们两个都死了。”45
The halfling looked up at Zhara.半身人抬头望向扎拉。46
“I’m … sorry,” she said to the Turmish priestess.“我……很抱歉，”她对那位图米什女祭司说。47
Zhara lowered her head.扎拉低下了头。48
“I knew already,” she said softly.“我已经知道了，”她轻声说道。49
“My husband’s spirit visited me in a dream last night.“昨晚，我丈夫的灵魂在梦中来看过我。50
He is with our gods, and his soul is at peace.”他与我们的诸神同在，灵魂也已安息。”51
Olive looked at Zhara with surprise.奥利芙惊讶地望着扎拉。52
“Did he say anything about Finder?” she asked hopefully.“他有没有提到芬德？”她满怀希望地问道。53
Akabar’s wife shook her head.阿卡巴的妻子摇了摇头。54
Olive turned her head, as if she were looking at the vale below.奥利芙转过头去，仿佛在眺望下方的山谷。55
The vale blurred before her eyes as she blinked back more tears.她眨着眼，强忍住更多泪水，眼前的山谷变得一片模糊。56
“I’ve brought Grypht’s apprentices,” Elminster said.“我把格里夫特的学徒们带来了，”伊尔明斯特说。57
“They’re anxious to see him.”“他们都急着想见他。”58
Olive wiped her eyes on her tunic sleeve and turned again to speak with the others.奥利芙用短上衣的袖子擦了擦眼睛，再次转身与其他人说话。59
“Grypht’ll be glad to see them, too.“格里夫特见到他们也会很高兴。60
He can use all the help he can get.他现在能得到多少帮助都不嫌多。61
Most of the saurials are pretty sick from being possessed.大多数蜥蜴族人都因遭到附身而病得很重。62
Moander’s vines of possession didn’t leave them time to get enough food to eat or heal any injuries.”莫安德的附身藤蔓让他们既没时间获取足够的食物，也没时间治愈身上的伤。”63
“Morala and I have brought magic to help them,” Zhara said.“莫拉拉和我带来了能帮助他们的魔法，”扎拉说。64
“Take us to them, please.”“请带我们去见他们。”65
Olive led the others out of the cave and down to the eastern slopes of the vale, where the saurials were recovering from their ordeal.奥利芙领着众人走出洞穴，来到山谷东面的山坡上；蜥蜴族人正在那里从这场劫难中恢复。66
Elminster and Grypht’s apprentices hurried forward to meet with the saurial wizard, while Morala went to Alias’s side.伊尔明斯特和格里夫特的学徒们快步上前去见那位蜥蜴族法师，莫拉拉则走到阿莉亚丝身边。67
The elderly priestess looked up at the swordswoman.年迈的女祭司抬头望着女剑士。68
“I’m sorry that you lost your friend Akabar … and Finder, too,” she said.“失去了你的朋友阿卡巴……还有芬德，我很难过，”她说。69
Alias acknowledged Morala’s sympathy with a nod.阿莉亚丝点点头，接受了莫拉拉的慰问。70
Tossing her head proudly, she said, “Before he died, Finder told me about Flattery.”她骄傲地一扬头，说道：“芬德临死前告诉了我弗拉特里的事。”71
Morala looked down at the ground, and Alias could see that the priestess’s eyes were moist.莫拉拉低头望着地面，阿莉亚丝看得出，这位女祭司的双眼湿润了。72
After several seconds, Morala looked back up at her.过了几秒钟，莫拉拉重新抬头看向她。73
“Then I am doubly sorry for your loss,” the old woman whispered.“那么，你承受了双重的丧失之痛，我也倍感难过。”老妇人低声说道。74
“Thank you,” Alias said sincerely, though she was a little surprised to discover that Morala appeared to grieve for a man she’d once condemned.“谢谢你。”阿莉亚丝真诚地说道，不过发现莫拉拉似乎在为一个她曾经谴责过的男人哀悼，她还是有些惊讶。75
“Did you know that Finder destroyed the finder’s stone to try to rescue Akabar from Moander?”“你知道芬德为了从莫安德手中救出阿卡巴，毁掉了寻觅者之石吗？”76
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。77
The priestess nodded.女祭司点了点头。78
“The halfling told us,” she said.“那个半身人告诉我们了。”她说。79
“She seems quite upset by his death.”“芬德的死似乎让她非常悲痛。”80
Alias watched as Olive bent over an injured saurial and checked his bandages.阿莉亚丝望着奥利芙俯身查看一名受伤蜥族人的绷带。81
“Finder and Olive were a good influence on each other.“芬德和奥利芙都让彼此变得更好了。82
Olive’s in the habit of behaving herself now, but it’s not the same to her without knowing it will please Finder.如今奥利芙已经习惯规规矩矩地做人，可若不知道这样做会让芬德高兴，对她而言终究是不一样的。83
I’ll always feel empty whenever I sing, wishing he were there to hear.”以后每当我歌唱时，心里都会感到空落落的，总盼着他能在那里听。”84
A saurial nearby chirped for water, and Alias excused herself to tend to the creature.附近一名蜥族人啾鸣着要水喝，阿莉亚丝便告辞去照料他。85
Once she’d picked up the basics about the saurials’ physiology, Morala took charge of the work to be done.了解了蜥族人生理构造的基本情况后，莫拉拉便接手指挥起要做的工作。86
She dismissed Alias, Dragonbait, and Olive, ordering them to get some rest, and the three adventurers gratefully obeyed.她让阿莉亚丝、龙饵和奥利芙离开，命令他们去休息，三位冒险者感激地从命了。87
Next the white-haired priestess mustered Zhara, Breck Orcsbane, and Lord Mourngrym and set them to work making a comfortable campsite for the hundred or so saurials that remained, most of whom were too weak to care for themselves, let alone one another.接着，白发女祭司召集扎拉、布雷克·奥克斯班和莫恩格林领主，让他们为剩下的一百来名蜥族人搭建一处舒适的营地；这些蜥族人大多虚弱得连自己都照顾不了，更别说彼此照料了。88
By the time Alias awoke four hours later, Morala had cleaned, fed, and sheltered every saurial in sight.四个小时后，阿莉亚丝醒来时，莫拉拉已经为眼前每一名蜥族人清洗了身体、喂了食物，并安排好了住处。89
She and Zhara had also healed and cured diseases in as many of them as their power and potions could handle in one day.她和扎拉还用法力和药剂为他们疗伤治病，尽可能救治了她们一天之内所能救治的人。90
The swordswoman joined Grypht, his three apprentices, and Elminster for a meal of bread and fruit under the shade of an old oak tree.女剑士来到一棵老橡树的树荫下，与格里夫特、他的三名学徒以及伊尔明斯特一同享用面包和水果。91
The five mages had just finished tracking down those saurials who had escaped the cones of cold the night before.五名法师刚刚找齐了那些前一晚逃过寒冰锥的蜥族人。92
Grypht was beginning to look exhausted, but he wouldn’t sleep until he had finalized arrangements for his tribe’s welfare.格里夫特已经开始显出疲惫之态，但在彻底安排好族人的生活之前，他不肯入睡。93
Grypht explained to Alias, “My people and I could return to our world today, but the land that belongs to our tribe has been poisoned by Moander’s minions.格里夫特向阿莉亚丝解释道：“我和族人今天就可以返回我们的世界，但属于我们部族的土地已被莫安德的爪牙毒害。94
It will be years before any plant or creature could live there.许多年内，那里都不会有任何植物或生灵能够存活。95
Our whole tribe would become homeless vagabonds at a time when they are already very weak.我们的整个部族本就已经十分虚弱，若在此时失去家园，便只能四处流浪。96
Elminster thinks we should stay here in the Realms, in this vale.伊尔明斯特认为，我们应该留在诸界，留在这座山谷里。97
We can work at healing the scar Moander forced us to put on this land.我们可以设法治愈莫安德逼迫我们在这片土地上留下的伤痕。98
What do you think?”你觉得呢？”99
“I think that would be wonderful,” the swordswoman replied.“我觉得那真是太好了，”女剑士答道。100
“Wonderful?“太好了？101
Why wonderful?”为什么说太好了？”102
Grypht asked.格里夫特问。103
“Because then Dragonbait could be with his people, but I wouldn’t lose him entirely,” Alias explained.“因为这样一来，龙饵就能和他的族人在一起，而我也不至于彻底失去他，”阿莉亚丝解释道。104
“You are Champion’s sister and a singer of soul songs for our tribe; we are your people as well.“你是勇士的姐妹，也是为我们部族吟唱灵魂之歌的歌者；我们同样也是你的族人。105
Will you stay with us awhile?” the wizard asked.你愿意和我们住上一段时间吗？”法师问道。106
“We could use your advice.”“我们需要你的建议。”107
“Yes, of course,” Alias agreed.“愿意，当然愿意，”阿莉亚丝答应道。108
The emptiness that the deaths of Akabar and Finder had created in her heart lifted slightly with the realization that someone else needed her, that she had a new family and new duties.阿卡巴和芬德的死在她心中留下的空洞稍稍消退了些，因为她意识到，还有别人需要她，而她也有了新的家人和新的责任。109
“You are certain that no one will contest our occupation of this vale?” the saurial wizard asked Elminster.“你确定不会有人反对我们占据这座山谷吗？”恐龙人法师问伊尔明斯特。110
“In our world, a place like this would be envied by many tribes.”“在我们的世界里，这样的地方会令许多部族眼红。”111
Elminster shook his head.伊尔明斯特摇了摇头。112
“This vale was once the home of elves.“这座山谷曾经是精灵的家园。113
They left long ago.他们早已离去。114
It has been hidden magically for so long that few know of its existence.这里被魔法隐藏了太久，几乎无人知道它的存在。115
Should ye have any problems, the Harpers and the Lord of Shadowdale are eager to become thy allies and help defend thy tribe until ye are able to defend thy selves again.”若你们遇到任何麻烦，竖琴手同盟和阴影谷领主都很乐意与你们结盟，并帮助保卫你们的部族，直到你们再次拥有自卫之力。”116
Grypht nodded.格里夫特点了点头。117
“That is enough.“这就够了。118
If the people agree, we will stay.如果族人们同意，我们就留下。119
Now I will sleep,” he said.现在我要睡觉了。”他说。120
Then he rose to his feet and went off to rest, his apprentices following him.随后他站起身去休息了，学徒们也跟在他身后。121
When they were alone, Alias asked Elminster, “Where have you been?只剩他们两人时，阿莉亚丝问伊尔明斯特：“你去了哪里？122
Why didn’t you return right away from Grypht’s world after his transference spell took you there?格里夫特的转移术把你送到他的世界后，你为什么没有立刻回来？123
Mourngrym said you can always get back home no matter where you go.”莫恩格林说，无论你去了哪里，总能回到家。”124
“I assure thee, Alias, I didst try,” the old sage replied, “but unbeknownst to Grypht, Moander had cast a powerful lock spell that prevented anyone from escaping Grypht’s world by teleportation or worldwalking.“我向你保证，阿莉亚丝，我的确试过了，”老贤者答道，“但格里夫特并不知道，莫安德施下了一道强大的封锁法术，阻止任何人通过传送或位面行走逃离格里夫特的世界。125
Grypht managed to escape only because he used a transference spell that Moander had not foreseen to include in the lock spell.格里夫特之所以能够逃脱，只是因为他使用了一种莫安德未曾料到、因而没有纳入封锁范围的转移术。126
I might have cast a transference spell myself, but I could not use it on Grypht’s apprentices and I didst not wish to abandon them.我本来也可以施展转移术，但无法将它用在格里夫特的学徒们身上，而我又不愿抛下他们。127
The four of us began trekking overland, trying to reach a gate to Tarterus.”于是我们四人开始长途跋涉，试图抵达一座通往塔尔塔罗斯的传送门。”128
“But when Morala scried for you, you were alone,” Alias said.“可是莫拉拉用占卜术寻找你时，你明明是独自一人。”阿莉亚丝说。129
“Nay.“不。130
Grypht’s apprentices traveled with me, but I made them invisible to keep them safe,” Elminster explained.格里夫特的学徒们和我同行，只是为了保护他们，我让他们隐形了。”伊尔明斯特解释道。131
Olive and Dragonbait came up to them at that moment and sat on either side of Alias.就在这时，奥利芙和龙饵走到他们身边，分别坐在阿莉亚丝两侧。132
Dragonbait stroked Alias’s sword arm once, and she smiled up at him, grateful to have her brother with her.龙饵轻抚了一下阿莉亚丝持剑的手臂，她抬头朝他微笑，心中庆幸有自己的兄弟陪伴在身边。133
Olive began playing with the fruit and bread laid out on the ground, but she didn’t feel tempted to eat any of it.奥利芙开始拨弄摆在地上的水果和面包，却一点也不想吃。134
“And when you reached the gate to Tarterus, what happened?”“那你们抵达通往塔尔塔罗斯的传送门后，又发生了什么？”135
Alias asked Elminster.阿莉亚丝问伊尔明斯特。136
“We did not reach the gate.“我们没有抵达那座传送门。137
It was another two days’ journey.那里还要再走两天。138
Fortunately I was finally able to cast a worldwalk spell to take myself and Grypht’s apprentices to Shadowdale when Moander’s lock spell failed.”幸运的是，莫安德的封锁法术失效后，我终于得以施展位面行走术，把自己和格里夫特的学徒们带到了阴影谷。”139
The sage stressed the last four words so strongly that Alias realized immediately there was something unusual about Moander’s failed spell.贤者把最后四个字咬得格外重，阿莉亚丝立刻意识到，莫安德的法术失效一事非同寻常。140
“So why did it fail?” she asked.“那它为什么会失效？”她问。141
“Because not only has Moander’s body in the Realms been destroyed this past night, but someone killed Moander’s true body in the Abyss.“因为就在昨夜，不但莫安德在诸界的躯体被摧毁了，而且还有人在无底深渊杀死了莫安德的真身。142
The god has been destroyed forever.”这个神已被永远消灭了。”143
“Akabar?”“阿卡巴？”144
Alias asked with astonishment.阿莉亚丝惊讶地问。145
“He said the gods told him to do just that.”“他说，众神吩咐他那么做。”146
“Partly” Elminster replied.“这只是部分原因。”伊尔明斯特答道。147
“Remember last year when I told thee of the old prophecy that ye would free the Darkbringer?”“还记得去年我告诉过你那则古老的预言吗？预言说，你会释放黑暗使者。”148
Alias nodded wordlessly.阿莉亚丝默默地点了点头。149
“There was another prophecy that went with it: ‘When the good man teaches wisdom to the fool, the Darkbringer will die.’ ”“与它相伴的还有另一则预言：‘当善人向愚者传授智慧之时，黑暗使者便会死去。’”150
“Akabar and Finder,” Alias whispered.“阿卡巴和芬德。”阿莉亚丝低声说道。151
Elminster nodded.伊尔明斯特点了点头。152
“But how did they get to the Abyss?” the swordswoman asked.“可他们是怎么到无底深渊去的？”女剑士问道。153
“There is a gate to Tarterus in this vale.“这座山谷里有一道通往塔尔塔罗斯的传送门。154
The saurials built Moander’s new body around it.蜥蜴族围绕着它建造了莫安德的新躯体。155
Akabar and Finder must have passed through the gate and arrived somehow in the Abyss.”阿卡巴和芬德一定穿过了那道门，又不知怎么抵达了无底深渊。”156
“So they’ve saved everyone from Moander, not just the Realms?”“这么说，他们从莫安德手中拯救了所有人，而不只是诸界？”157
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。158
“Yes,” Elminster replied.“是的。”伊尔明斯特答道。159
“You don’t look too happy about that,” Olive said.“你看起来可没为此感到多高兴。”奥利芙说。160
“I am not unhappy, only anxious,” the sage answered.“我并非不高兴，只是忧虑。”贤者答道。161
“When a god’s existence ends, something or someone else is always ready to snatch up its powers.“每当一个神的存在终结时，总会有某种东西或某个人准备夺取其力量。162
There is no knowing whether the power will go to a good or evil being.”没人知道这力量会落入善良还是邪恶的存在手中。”163
Morala, Breck, and Mourngrym walked up to the old oak tree where Elminster and the two adventurers sat.莫拉拉、布雷克和莫恩格林走到那棵老橡树下，伊尔明斯特和两位冒险者正坐在那里。164
“We wanted you to know that Lord Mourngrym has taken Kyre’s place as the third Harper in our tribunal, and we have come to a decision,” Morala said, “regarding the Nameless Bard.”“我们想让你知道，莫恩格林领主已经接替凯尔，成为裁决团中的第三位竖琴手，而我们也已经作出了决定，”莫拉拉说道，“是关于那位无名吟游诗人的。”165
“Finder Wyvernspur,” Alias reminded the priestess.“芬德·飞龙刺。”阿莉亚丝提醒女祭司。166
“Exactly,” Breck said.“正是如此，”布雷克说道。167
“We’ve voted to rescind our decree banishing his name and songs and pardon him for his crimes.”“我们已经表决废除放逐其姓名与歌曲的法令，并赦免他的罪行。”168
“Sort of a case of closing the gate after the cows have escaped, isn’t it?”“这不就像牛都跑了才关门吗？”169
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。170
“There is a principle involved here, Mistress Ruskettle,” Morala said.“这事关原则，拉斯凯特尔女士，”莫拉拉说道。171
“We understand that it won’t make up for his loss, Alias,” the Lord of Shadowdale said.“我们知道，这无法弥补你失去他的痛苦，阿莉亚丝，”阴影谷领主说道。172
“But the truth will be told about him, and everyone will know he died a hero.”“但他的真相会公之于世，所有人都会知道，他死时是个英雄。”173
“Thank you, Mourngrym,” Alias replied.“谢谢你，莫恩格林，”阿莉亚丝答道。174
“I appreciate it.“我很感激。175
Finder would appreciate it, too.”芬德也会感激的。”176
“Finder would rather be alive,” Olive muttered.“芬德肯定更愿意活着。”奥利芙嘟囔道。177
Olive felt something tug at one of her curls, and she heard Finder’s voice whisper in her head, Don’t sulk, little Lady Luck.奥利芙感觉有人扯了扯她的一绺卷发，接着听见芬德的声音在脑海中低语：“别闹别扭了，小幸运女神。178
It doesn’t become you.这可不适合你。”179
The halfling looked around suddenly, her eyes wide.半身人猛然环顾四周，双眼睁得大大的。180
“What’s wrong, Olive?”“怎么了，奥利芙？”181
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。182
“Did you hear something?”“你听见什么了吗？”183
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。184
“A voice?”“一个声音？”185
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。186
“And since Finder is no longer a Harper in disgrace,” Breck Orcsbane said, “we must welcome his choice of candidates to our ranks.”“既然芬德不再是个蒙羞的竖琴手，”布雷克·奥克斯班说道，“我们就必须欢迎他选中的候选人加入我们的行列。”187
Olive, struggling to understand why she had suddenly heard Finder’s voice so clearly when no one else had, was oblivious to the fact that everyone’s eyes were on her.奥利芙正竭力想弄明白，为什么自己突然如此清晰地听见了芬德的声音，而其他人却什么也没听见，因此丝毫没有察觉所有人的目光都落在了她身上。188
Dragonbait signed subtly to the halfling in the thieves’ hand cant.龙饵不动声色地用盗贼的手势暗语向半身人打了个手势。189
They mean you, rogue.他们说的是你，小贼。190
“Me?” the halfling said.“我？”半身人说道。191
“What about me?”“我怎么了？”192
“I told them,” Alias explained, “that Finder gave you his Harper’s pin.”“我告诉他们，”阿莉亚丝解释道，“芬德把自己的竖琴手徽针给了你。”193
“Pin?”“徽针？”194
Olive asked slyly, suddenly aware that if she didn’t watch her step, she could end up an official snooty, goody-goody Harper, complete with responsibilities to live up to and rules to follow.奥利芙狡黠地问道，突然意识到，自己要是不小心点儿，没准会成为一名正式的、傲慢又自命正派的竖琴手，既得担起应尽的责任，又得遵守各种规矩。195
“I haven’t got any pin,” she insisted.“我根本没有什么徽针。”她坚称。196
It was true, since she’d fastened Finder’s Harper’s pin to his cloak before he’d gone off to fight Moander.这倒是实话，因为芬德动身去与莫安德交战之前，她已经把他的竖琴手徽针别回了他的斗篷上。197
She tossed her hair defiantly.她不服气地甩了甩头发。198
Something slid down her hair and landed on the ground directly in front of her.有什么东西顺着她的头发滑落下来，正好掉在她面前的地上。199
There was no mistaking the glittering silver harp-and-crescent-moon pattern of the pin, which had seemed to dislodge itself from behind her ear.那枚徽针上闪闪发亮的银色竖琴与新月图案绝不可能认错；它仿佛自行从她耳后脱落了下来。200
Elminster reached over and held up the pin.伊尔明斯特伸手捡起徽针，举了起来。201
“Yes … this is Finder’s pin,” the sage said.“没错……这是芬德的徽针。”贤者说道。202
“I saw him give it to the halfling last year after she freed him from Cassana’s dungeon, then helped him rescue Akabar, Alias, and Dragonbait.”“去年，她把芬德从卡萨娜的地牢里救出来，又帮他救出阿卡巴、阿莉亚丝和龙饵之后，我亲眼看见他把这枚徽针交给了这个半身人。”203
“Actually, we’ve been looking for someone just like you for a special project,” Breck Orcsbane said, “so we’re lucky you came along.”“其实，我们一直在为一个特别的计划寻找像你这样的人，”布雷克·奥克斯班说道，“所以幸好你来了。”204
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。205
She didn’t know how he’d done it, but she suspected that Finder had once more gotten her mixed up in some crazy adventure.她不知道芬德是怎么做到的，但她怀疑，他又一次把自己卷进了某场疯狂的冒险。206
The bard chuckled and leaned back against the frozen corpse of Moander—the Darkbringer’s true body.吟游诗人轻笑一声，向后靠在莫安德冰冻的尸身上——那正是黑暗使者的真身。207
He was very tired—nearly exhausted, in fact.他非常疲倦——事实上，几乎已经筋疲力尽。208
Scrying on and sending a message to Olive and teleporting his silver Harper’s pin to the Realms had expended more energy than he could really afford.占卜奥利芙的情况、向她传讯，再把自己的银质竖琴手徽针传送到诸界，耗去了远超他所能承受的力量。209
Still, it had been worth it, just to see the look on the halfling’s face when she discovered herself inducted into the ranks of the Harpers.不过这一切仍然值得，哪怕只是为了看看那个半身人发现自己被吸纳进竖琴手同盟时脸上的表情。210
Alias would be fine with Dragonbait, but since the bard wasn’t sure when or if he’d ever find the power to return to the Realms, he had decided that the Harpers would have to look after Olive for him.阿莉亚丝有龙饵陪着，不会有事；但吟游诗人不知道自己何时才能找到返回诸界的力量，甚至不知道自己是否还能找到这种力量，因此他决定，只好让竖琴手同盟替他照看奥利芙。211
In the meantime, he’d have to find a realm of his own somewhere else in the outer planes.与此同时，他得在外层位面的其他地方找一片属于自己的疆域。212
Just because he’d managed to wrestle the Darkbringer’s powers away didn’t mean he had to dwell in the former god’s abysmal abode.他虽然成功夺走了黑暗使者的力量，却并不意味着非得住在那位前神祇糟糕透顶的居所里。213
The bard rose to his feet and began humming a new song as he flew down to the banks of the Styx to catch a ride to his new home … wherever he decided to make it.吟游诗人站起身来，一边哼着一首新歌，一边飞向冥河岸边，准备搭一程便车前往自己的新家……不管他最后决定把家安在哪里。214