The patrons of The Old Skull applauded enthusiastically as the singer finished her song.老骷髅旅店的客人们在歌手唱完一曲后，热烈地鼓起掌来。1
Even the innkeep, Jhaele Silvermane, paused a moment from her duties at the bar to show her appreciation.就连旅店老板杰尔·银鬃也暂且放下吧台后的活计，停下来表示赞赏。2
The singer bowed once to her audience and then to the songhorn player who had accompanied her.歌手先向听众鞠了一躬，又向为她伴奏的歌号乐手鞠了一躬。3
The rustic common room was full of farmers who only half an hour ago had been grumbling and cursing the rain that kept them from the season’s haying.这间乡野气息浓厚的公共大厅里挤满了农夫；就在半个小时前，他们还在抱怨、咒骂这场雨，害得他们无法收割当季的干草。4
Now, instead of nursing their first drink for two hours and worrying about how they were going to feed their livestock all winter on moldy hay, the farmers were ordering their second pint and cheering for the singer to give them another song.如今，农夫们不再一杯酒慢慢啜饮两个钟头，也不再发愁该如何靠发霉的干草喂养牲口熬过整个冬天，而是纷纷点起第二品脱酒，欢呼着要歌手再唱一曲。5
The singer, the sell-sword Alias of Westgate, also known as Alias of the Azure Bonds, smiled gratefully.这位歌手是来自西门城的雇佣剑客阿莉亚丝，人称“碧蓝枷锁的阿莉亚丝”；她感激地笑了。6
She sang to keep herself occupied, since the Harpers would not let her visit her father, the Nameless Bard, and she sang to defy the Harpers, who had tried to wipe out the bard’s music.她唱歌是为了让自己有事可做，因为竖琴手同盟不许她探望父亲无名者诗人；她唱歌也是为了反抗竖琴手同盟，因为他们曾试图将那位诗人的音乐彻底抹去。7
Mostly, though, she sang because she knew the bard would want her to, no matter what happened to him.不过最主要的是，她知道，无论那位诗人遭遇了什么，他都会希望她继续歌唱。8
Secretly, though, she was struggling to think of a graceful way to decline singing any further this day.然而，她暗地里正绞尽脑汁，想找个得体的办法推辞，不再继续唱下去。9
“Please, Alias,” the songhorn player whispered to the singer.“求你了，阿莉亚丝，”歌号乐手低声对歌手说道。10
“They need something to keep their minds off this weather.”“他们需要有点什么，好让自己别再惦记这鬼天气。”11
“Han, I …“汉，我……”12
I think I’m losing my voice,” Alias whispered back.“我觉得我的嗓子快不行了。”阿莉亚丝也低声答道。13
“Your voice sounds just fine,” Han insisted.“你的嗓音听起来好得很。”汉坚持道。14
“One more at least,” a deep voice rumbled from a table beside the musicians’ platform, “or I’ll have to have the watch haul you off for denying the happiness of the good people of Shadowdale.”“至少再来一首，”乐手台旁的一张桌边响起一个低沉洪亮的声音，“否则，我只好让守卫把你抓走，罪名是剥夺阴影谷善良百姓的欢乐。”15
Alias laughed good-naturedly at the threat.阿莉亚丝听了这番威胁，爽朗地笑了起来。16
The speaker was Mourngrym Amcathra, lord of Shadowdale, and the swordswoman counted him among her friends.说话的是阴影谷领主莫恩格林·阿姆卡斯拉，这位女剑士一直把他视为朋友。17
She tossed her red hair behind her shoulders and flapped the bottom of her green woolen tunic in an effort to cool off.她把红发甩到肩后，又扇动绿色羊毛束腰衣的下摆，想让自己凉快些。18
“Then I suppose I’d have to sing for the watch, wouldn’t I?”“那我想，我就得给守卫们唱歌了，对吧？”19
Alias asked Mourngrym.阿莉亚丝问莫恩格林。20
“That’s right,” Mourngrym replied with a twinkle in his eye.“没错。”莫恩格林眼中闪着笑意，答道。21
“And then,” he added, “I’d have to sentence you to sing lullabies to my son for a year.”“然后，”他补充道，“我就得判你给我儿子唱一年的摇篮曲。”22
His lordship bounced the aforementioned baby on his knee and asked him, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Scotty?”领主大人让刚才提到的那个婴儿在自己膝上颠了颠，问他：“你会喜欢的，对不对，斯科蒂？”23
Although he was far too young to understand the question, Mourngrym’s heir responded to his father’s enthusiastic tone of voice by laughing and clapping his hands.莫恩格林的继承人虽然年幼得根本听不懂这个问题，却被父亲兴致勃勃的语气感染，笑着拍起手来。24
“A fate worse than death,” Alias said with mock terror.“那可真是比死还惨。”阿莉亚丝装出惊恐的样子说道。25
The farmers laughed and Scotty shrieked happily.农夫们笑了起来，斯科蒂也开心地尖叫着。26
Still Alias hesitated.阿莉亚丝却仍在犹豫。27
She’d been singing at the Old Skull for three days in a row, and the audiences loved every song she sang.她已经连续三天在老骷髅旅店唱歌了，而台下听众喜爱她唱的每一首歌。28
Four times since spring, however, she’d lost control of her voice and had begun singing strange words and changing Nameless’s melodies.然而，入春以来，她已有四次控制不住自己的嗓音，开始唱出奇怪的词句，还改动了无名者的旋律。29
She was sure it was only a matter of time before it happened again.她确信，这种事迟早还会发生。30
Here in Shadowdale, though, she risked more than shocking her listeners.可是在阴影谷，她冒的风险不仅仅是吓到听众。31
If Nameless heard about it, he would be greatly displeased with her.要是无名者听说了这件事，一定会对她大为不满。32
From the back of the room, she caught Dragonbait’s eye.她望向房间后面，与龙饵目光相接。33
The saurial paladin motioned encouragingly with his hands.那位蜥蜴族圣武士用双手做出鼓励的手势。34
Alias sighed inwardly.阿莉亚丝暗暗叹了口气。35
Nothing’s going to go wrong, she told herself.不会出什么岔子的，她对自己说。36
Stop being such a ninny and face the music.别再这么胆小了，该唱的总得唱。37
Trying to focus her thoughts on her audience, Alias chose a farming song, the lyrics of which were an old folk rhyme that Nameless had set to music.阿莉亚丝努力把心思集中在听众身上，选了一首农耕歌，歌词是一首古老的民谣，曲子则是无名者谱的。38
Han knew the rhyme, but he was unfamiliar with the tune, so he stood silently beside Alias, listening carefully, hoping he could pick up the melody with his horn by the second or third verse.汉知道这首民谣，却不熟悉它的曲调，于是默默站在阿莉亚丝身旁，仔细聆听，希望到第二或第三段时，能用号角跟上旋律。39
Alias sang out clear and strong:阿莉亚丝清亮有力地唱道：40
“We till the soil, we spread the grain, We shoo the birds, we pray for rain.“我们翻泥土，我们撒谷种；赶飞鸟，祈求雨水降。41
The rain comes down, the shoots spring out, But so do weeds, and then comes drought.雨水落下，嫩芽破土；野草也长，接着又逢旱苦。42
We haul the water till our backs are sore; The weeds grow richer, but the crop stays poor.挑水挑得腰酸背痛；野草越肥，庄稼越穷。43
Then one day Chauntea ends our strife, And our grain takes root in the river of life.终于有天裳禔亚解了苦难，让谷物扎根在生命之河畔。44
“The river of life, the river of life: Every woman’s man, every good man’s wife.“生命之河，生命之河：每个女人的男人，每个好男人的妻子。45
We should all drink deep from the river of life.我们都该开怀畅饮生命之河。46
“The river of life, the river of life: Every woman’s man, every good man’s wife.“生命之河，生命之河：每个女人的男人，每个好男人的妻子。47
We should all drink deep from the river of life.”我们都该开怀畅饮生命之河。”48
Everyone joined in singing the repeat of the chorus.副歌再次响起时，所有人都加入进来齐声歌唱。49
Han played softly, not wanting to spoil anything should he guess a note wrong, as Alias began the second verse:汉轻轻吹奏着，生怕猜错一个音而坏了整首歌；这时，阿莉亚丝开始唱第二段：50
“We scythe the grains, we pluck the fruits, We gather the nuts and dig up the roots.“我们挥镰收谷，伸手摘果，采集坚果，掘出根茎。51
The days grow cool, the birds fly away, The beasts grow fur, the pastures turn gray.天气渐凉，群鸟远飞，百兽长出厚毛，牧场一片灰暗。52
We eat our fill and store what’s left, Then the snow comes down and the fields rest.我们饱餐一顿，储起余粮，而后白雪降下，田野安眠。53
The darkness grows inside our souls, And our labor’s turned to evil goals.”黑暗在我们的灵魂中滋长，我们的劳作也转向邪恶的目标。”54
Han fumbled with his fingering.汉的指法顿时乱了。55
The songhorn player had never heard the last two lines before.这位歌号乐手从未听过最后两句。56
The version he knew told of preparation for midwinter revels.他所熟悉的版本唱的是为仲冬狂欢做准备。57
But something disturbed Han even more than the unfamiliar words Alias sang.然而，比阿莉亚丝唱出的陌生歌词更令汉不安的，是另一件事。58
The young singer had suddenly switched to a new, eerie-sounding key.这位年轻歌手突然转入了一个阴森诡异的新调。59
Then, without a repeat of the chorus, the swordswoman launched into a third verse with still more lyrics Han did not recognize.接着，女剑士没有重复副歌，便径直唱起第三段，其中又有更多汉从未听过的歌词。60
“We hack the vines, we cut the trees, We trample the roots and burn the seeds.“我们砍断藤蔓，伐倒树木，践踏根系，焚烧种子。61
When the rain comes down, the soil washes away, Leaving barren rock and heavy clay.雨水倾泻，泥土随之流失，只留下贫瘠的岩石与沉重的黏土。62
We wear chains of green till our bodies rot; The corpses still move, their minds without thought.我们身披绿色锁链，直到肉身腐烂；尸体仍在行动，心智却已荡然无存。63
Soon the great dark will devour the Realms; Death is the power that overwhelms.”无边的黑暗很快便会吞噬诸界；死亡是压倒一切的力量。”64
At the first four lines, the farmers began scowling and muttering among themselves.听到头四句时，农夫们开始皱起眉头，彼此低声议论。65
This certainly wasn’t farming as they practiced it.这显然不是他们所奉行的农耕之道。66
It might be the way of those in lands under the sway of evil, like those to the north, controlled by the Zhentarim, but here in the dales they tried their best to live in harmony with the land.在那些受邪恶势力支配的土地上，或许会采用这种做法，比如北方由散塔林会控制的地区；但在这片谷地，人们总是尽力与土地和谐共处。67
At the last four lines, the farmers shifted nervously in their chairs and peered into their ale, confused by the direction the song had taken.听到最后四句时，农夫们不安地在椅子上挪动身体，又低头望向自己的麦酒，不明白这首歌为何会变成这样。68
Although Alias had failed to note that Han had ceased accompanying her, she recognized now that she no longer held her audience’s attention.阿莉亚丝虽然没有留意到汉已停止为她伴奏，却终于意识到，听众的注意力已经不在她身上了。69
She knew all too well what was wrong, and her voice failed.她太清楚问题出在哪里，声音顿时哽住了。70
Oh, gods, she thought, shaking with fear.天哪，她浑身因恐惧而颤抖，心想。71
I’ve twisted this song the same way I twisted the others.我又把这首歌扭曲了，就像我扭曲其他歌曲一样。72
She felt Han’s hand on her shoulder.她感觉到汉把手放在了她的肩上。73
“Alias, are you feeling well?” the songhorn player asked quietly.“阿莉亚丝，你还好吗？”歌号乐手轻声问道。74
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.“对不起。”她低声说道。75
“I’m so tired.“我太累了。76
I’ve forgotten the words,” she lied.我把歌词忘了。”她撒谎道。77
“I think I’d better go sit down.”“我想我最好去坐一会儿。”78
Han squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and patted her on the back as she walked away.汉安慰地捏了捏她的肩膀，又在她走开时拍了拍她的背。79
Anxious to spare her from the stares that followed her, Han raised his horn back to his lips and began playing a reel to distract the audience.汉不愿让她承受那些追随着她的目光，便重新把号角举到唇边，吹起一支里尔舞曲，好转移听众的注意力。80
Equally protective of the singer’s feelings and eager to break up the unpleasant atmosphere the song had created in the common room, Jhaele nudged her son Durgo and whispered for him to get up and dance with his sister Nelil.杰尔既想顾全歌者的感受，又急于打破那首歌在大厅里造成的不快气氛，便轻推了一下儿子杜尔戈，低声叫他起身和妹妹内利尔跳舞。81
Durgo, a middle-aged farmer with little sense of rhythm, had as much love of dancing as he had of crows and weevils, but he was a dutiful son.杜尔戈是个上了年纪的农夫，毫无节奏感可言；他对跳舞的喜爱，和对乌鸦与象鼻虫的喜爱不相上下，但他是个孝顺的儿子。82
He grabbed Nelil’s hand and tugged her to her feet.他抓住内利尔的手，把她拉了起来。83
The other farmers shook off their uneasiness and began clapping to the beat.其他农夫也摆脱了心中的不安，开始跟着节拍拍手。84
A few joined Durgo and Nelil in the energetic dance.有几个人加入了杜尔戈和内利尔，跳起了那支欢快有力的舞。85
As Alias threaded her way through the tables to the back of the common room, she kept her eyes on the floor, too embarrassed to look at anyone.阿莉亚丝穿过桌椅间的空隙，朝大厅后方走去，一路盯着地板，窘迫得不敢看任何人。86
She wanted to rush up the stairs to her room and lock herself inside, but before she could get past the table where Dragonbait sat, the saurial paladin grabbed her wrist.她真想冲上楼梯，回到自己的房间，把自己锁在里面；可她还没来得及经过龙饵坐着的那张桌子，那名蜥蜴人圣武士便一把抓住了她的手腕。87
He pulled her toward him, slowly but firmly.他缓慢却坚定地把她拉向自己。88
Alias yielded to his strength and sat down heavily beside him.阿莉亚丝屈服于他的力气，重重地坐在了他身旁。89
“That’s the fifth time this has happened,” she growled through her clenched teeth, made angry by her own fear.“这已经是第五次了。”她咬紧牙关低吼道，因为自己的恐惧而恼火不已。90
“I’m not singing again.“我再也不唱了。91
You shouldn’t have encouraged me.”你本来就不该鼓励我。”92
Ordinarily the pair communicated with a sign language that Alias had taught Dragonbait.平时，两人用阿莉亚丝教给龙饵的一套手语交流。93
It was a variant of the thieves’ hand cant, which the swordswoman had learned magically from the assassins who had helped create her.那是盗贼手势暗语的一种变体；女剑士曾通过魔法，从那些参与创造她的刺客那里学会了这种暗语。94
The visual language was capable of conveying quite complex ideas, but it still was inadequate when the paladin needed to comfort the swordswoman.这种视觉语言能够表达相当复杂的意思，可当圣武士需要安慰女剑士时，它依然力有不逮。95
Dragonbait reached out and stroked the inside of Alias’s sword arm with his scaly fingers.龙饵伸出手，用覆有鳞片的手指轻抚阿莉亚丝持剑手臂的内侧。96
It was far easier to remind her how much he cared for her by touching the magical blue brand on her forearm—the brand which had bound his life to hers.触碰她前臂上那道魔法蓝色烙印，要远比手语更容易让她想起他有多么在乎她——正是那道烙印，将他的生命与她的生命系在了一起。97
Alias felt her brand tingle at the paladin’s touch, and her irritation subsided somewhat.圣武士触碰之处，阿莉亚丝的烙印泛起一阵酥麻，她的烦躁也稍稍平息了。98
His touch there always filled her with the paladin’s own inner calm.他每次触碰那里，都会让她感受到圣武士内心的宁静。99
Alias laid her fingertips on the front of Dragonbait’s tunic, where a similar brand scarred his chest scales beneath it.阿莉亚丝把指尖放在龙饵短袍的胸前；在衣料下方，他胸口的鳞片上也留着一道相似的烙印。100
Alias knew that, despite the layer of fabric, he would experience the same tingling sensation she felt.阿莉亚丝知道，尽管隔着一层布料，他也会感受到与她一样的酥麻。101
Considering the misery she still felt, though, she couldn’t help but worry that her touch would only disquiet him.然而，想到自己心中仍是如此痛苦，她不禁担心自己的触碰只会让他不安。102
“What’s wrong with me, Dragonbait?” she whispered, struggling to keep from crying.“我到底怎么了，龙饵？”她低声问道，竭力忍住眼泪。103
“Why can’t I sing a simple song without ruining it?”“为什么我连一首简单的歌都唱不好，非得把它毁掉不可？”104
The saurial paladin shook his head.蜥蜴人圣武士摇了摇头。105
He didn’t know.他也不知道。106
Alias sniffed and caught a whiff of the odors the saurial emitted in response.阿莉亚丝抽了抽鼻子，嗅到了蜥蜴人随之散发出的气味。107
The sell-sword smiled ruefully.女佣兵苦涩地笑了笑。108
She knew the scent of honeysuckle was Dragonbait’s expression of tender concern.她知道，忍冬花香是龙饵表达温柔关切的方式。109
The honeysuckle scent, however, was intermingled with the tang of baked ham, an odor that indicated the saurial was worried.然而，忍冬花香中还夹杂着烤火腿的浓烈气味，这表明蜥蜴人正在担忧。110
Like a human’s body language, the saurial’s odors often gave away more of his true feelings than he would have chosen to reveal.就像人类的肢体语言一样，蜥蜴人的气味常常会泄露比他自己愿意表露的更多真实感受。111
Someone nearby coughed politely, and the sell-sword and her companion looked up.附近有人客气地咳嗽了一声，女佣兵和她的同伴抬起头来。112
Lord Mourngrym stood before their table with his son squirming under one arm.莫恩格林领主站在他们桌前，一条胳膊下夹着不停扭动的儿子。113
His lordship looked down at Alias quizzically and asked, “Is something wrong, Alias?”领主疑惑地低头看着阿莉亚丝，问道：“出什么事了吗，阿莉亚丝？”114
“Nothing important, your lordship,” Alias said hastily.“没什么要紧的，大人。”阿莉亚丝连忙说道。115
“I’m sorry I spoiled the song.“很抱歉，我把这首歌唱砸了。116
I’ve just got a lot on my mind, I guess.”我只是心事太多了，大概是吧。”117
Mourngrym would not be put off so easily, however.然而，莫恩格林可没那么容易被敷衍过去。118
Alias looked pale and frightened.阿莉亚丝脸色苍白，神情惊恐。119
With Nameless in jail and no one to care for her but the peculiar lizard-man, his lordship felt protective of the sell-sword.无名者身陷牢狱，除了那个古怪的蜥蜴人又无人照料她，领主大人不禁对这名佣兵剑客生出了保护之心。120
He sat down beside her, balancing Scotty on the table before him.他在她身旁坐下，把斯科蒂稳稳地放在面前的桌上。121
“I’m the one who insisted you sing,” Mourngrym reminded her.“是我非要你唱的。”莫恩格林提醒她。122
“I’m the one who should apologize.“该道歉的人是我。123
Now, show that you forgive me and tell me what’s wrong,” he said, patting her hand.现在，证明你原谅我了，告诉我到底出了什么事。”他说着，轻轻拍了拍她的手。124
“I don’t know,” Alias said, trying to hide her fear with a shrug of her shoulders.“我不知道。”阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩，试图掩饰自己的恐惧。125
“Sometime this spring I just started to sing strangely.“今年春天的某个时候，我唱歌突然变得很奇怪。126
I can sing a few songs just fine, and then one song suddenly turns into something about death and decay and darkness.有几首歌我能唱得好好的，可唱着唱着，某一首突然就会变成关于死亡、腐朽和黑暗的歌。127
I don’t even know I’m doing it until … until people start to stare at me as if I’m a monster.我甚至不知道自己在那么唱，直到……直到人们开始盯着我看，仿佛我是个怪物。128
I thought I might be cursed or possessed, but three different priests told me there was nothing wrong with me—except that I was arrogant, headstrong, and disrespectful.”我以为自己可能中了诅咒，或是被什么东西附了身，可三个不同的祭司都说我没有任何问题——除了傲慢、任性和目无尊长。”129
Mourngrym smiled.莫恩格林笑了。130
“Well, they got that part right,” he teased.“嗯，这一部分他们倒是说对了。”他打趣道。131
Scotty reached out and grabbed a lock of Alias’s shiny red hair.斯科蒂伸出手，一把抓住阿莉亚丝一绺闪亮的红发。132
The swordswoman picked the child up off the table and helped him stand on her thighs.女剑客把孩子从桌上抱起来，扶着他站在自己的大腿上。133
Scotty bounced up and down, chortling with delight.斯科蒂上下蹦跳，开心得咯咯直笑。134
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Alias said quietly.“我不知道该怎么办。”阿莉亚丝轻声说道。135
“What will Nameless think?”“无名者会怎么想？”136
“Alias, it wasn’t a bad song,” Mourngrym argued.“阿莉亚丝，那首歌并不难听。”莫恩格林辩解道。137
“Just, um … different.”“只是，呃……有点不一样。”138
Alias lowered her eyes guiltily.阿莉亚丝心虚地垂下了眼睛。139
“I was upset that the Harpers wouldn’t let me see Nameless, but to tell the truth, I was a little relieved, too.“竖琴手同盟不肯让我见无名者，我很难过，但说实话，我也有一点松了口气。140
I’m afraid the next time he asks me to sing for him, I’ll change the song, and he’ll be upset.我怕下次他让我唱歌给他听时，我又会改掉那首歌，惹他不高兴。141
He doesn’t like the least little change in his songs.”他不喜欢自己的歌有哪怕一丁点儿改动。”142
“Alias,” Mourngrym replied, “you can’t spend the rest of your life doing everything exactly the way Nameless wants you to.“阿莉亚丝，”莫恩格林回答道，“你不能一辈子都事事完全按照无名者的意愿去做。143
You have to live your own life.”你得过自己的人生。”144
“I know that,” Alias said unhappily, “but I don’t want to disappoint him by ruining his songs.“我知道，”阿莉亚丝闷闷不乐地说，“可我不想毁掉他的歌，让他失望。145
If I was improving them, I could argue with him about it, but I’m only making the songs ugly and grotesque.”如果我是在改进那些歌，我还可以就此和他争辩，可我只会把歌变得丑陋又怪诞。”146
Despite her claim to the contrary, his lordship didn’t believe Alias understood his advice.尽管阿莉亚丝嘴上那么说，领主大人却不相信她真正听懂了自己的劝告。147
The bard’s enchantment of her went deeper than any magic.那位吟游诗人对她的迷惑，比任何魔法都更深入骨髓。148
She loved Nameless, and she sang to please him.她爱无名者，唱歌也是为了取悦他。149
Trying to reassure her, Mourngrym said, “Sometimes we need frightening songs, whether we like them or not.莫恩格林试图宽慰她，说道：“有时候，我们需要令人恐惧的歌，不管我们喜不喜欢。150
They remind us what we stand for or against and give us the incentive to take action.”它们会提醒我们拥护什么、反对什么，并激励我们采取行动。”151
“But I don’t know even know what these new songs are about, even though they’re coming out of my own head,” Alias objected.“可这些新歌明明是从我自己的脑子里冒出来的，我却连它们唱的是什么都不知道，”阿莉亚丝反驳道。152
“How am I supposed to take action?“那我该采取什么行动？153
Against what?”又该对付什么？”154
Mourngrym had no answer.莫恩格林无言以对。155
These were questions for sharper minds than his own.这些问题得由比他更聪明的人来回答。156
“Have you discussed any of this with Elminster?” he asked.“你跟伊尔明斯特谈过这些事吗？”他问道。157
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。158
“I don’t want to bother him until he’s finished helping Nameless.”“在他帮完无名者之前，我不想去打扰他。”159
Mourngrym shook his head.莫恩格林摇了摇头。160
Alias was losing control of her voice, something that obviously frightened her, but she was more concerned about Nameless’s plight.阿莉亚丝正渐渐失去对自己声音的控制，这显然令她害怕，可她却更担心无名者的困境。161
His lordship wanted to tell Alias to forget Nameless for once, but he knew the sell-sword would not heed his words.领主大人很想告诉阿莉亚丝，哪怕只有这一次，也别再想着无名者了，可他知道，这个雇佣剑士不会听从他的劝告。162
Dragonbait chirped and pointed toward the doorway.龙饵啾啾叫了几声，指向门口。163
Alias turned to see a group of travelers entering the inn.阿莉亚丝转身望去，看见一群旅客正走进旅店。164
There were a dozen or more of them, pulling off their rain-drenched cloaks and shouting requests for drinks and food and rooms to the inn’s staff.他们有十几个人，纷纷脱下被雨淋透的斗篷，高声招呼旅店伙计送来酒菜，并为他们安排房间。165
From their clothing, Alias guessed they were merchants and caravan guards from Cormyr.从衣着来看，阿莉亚丝猜他们是来自科米尔的商人和商队护卫。166
One man, however, had to be from much farther south.不过，其中有个男子显然来自遥远得多的南方。167
His skin was the dusky hue of a southerner.他的皮肤带着南方人特有的黝黑色泽。168
He wore silken red-and-white-striped robes, and a golden cord banded his curly brown hair.他身穿红白条纹的丝绸长袍，一条金带束着棕色的鬈发。169
He stood taller than the other merchants and many of the guards.他比其他商人和许多护卫都要高大。170
“It can’t be,” Alias muttered.“不可能。”阿莉亚丝喃喃道。171
She craned her neck impatiently until the man turned around.她焦急地伸长脖子，直到那男子转过身来。172
In the manner of a Turmishman, he sported a square beard, and to indicate he was married, he wore a blue sapphire in his earlobe.他依照图米什人的习俗蓄着方形胡须，耳垂上还戴着一颗蓝宝石，表明自己已经成婚。173
The three blue dots on his forehead indicated he was a scholar of reading, magic, and religion.他额头上的三个蓝点则表明，他是一位精通阅读、魔法与宗教的学者。174
But these things hardly registered on Alias now.可此刻的阿莉亚丝几乎没留意这些。175
It was the familiarity of the man’s face that excited her.真正令她激动的，是那张无比熟悉的脸。176
“It’s him!” she gasped.“是他！”她倒吸一口气叫道。177
“Dragonbait, it’s Akabar!“龙饵，是阿卡巴！178
He’s come back to us!”他回到我们身边了！”179
Alias rose to her feet, thrusting Scotty back at his surprised father, and ran to the door of the inn, crying out the Turmishman’s name.阿莉亚丝一跃而起，把斯科蒂塞回他那惊讶的父亲怀里，随即奔向旅店门口，高声呼喊着那个图米什人的名字。180
A few heads swiveled to see who the swordswoman was calling to, but most of the inn’s occupants kept their attention on Han’s songhorn music and the dancers on the floor.有几个人转头去看这位女剑士在呼唤谁，但旅店里的大多数人仍专注于汉用歌号吹奏的乐曲和场中起舞的人们。181
Akabar Bel Akash held his arms out to greet the sell-sword in a traditional handclasp, but Alias threw herself into his arms and embraced him like a long-lost brother.阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什伸出双手，准备按传统的握手礼迎接这位佣兵，阿莉亚丝却一头扑进他怀里，像拥抱失散多年的兄弟一样紧紧抱住了他。182
From where he sat, Mourngrym could tell from the look of surprise on the Turmishman’s face that Akabar hadn’t expected quite so warm a reception.莫恩格林坐在原处，从那个图米什人脸上的惊讶神色便看得出，阿卡巴没料到自己会受到如此热情的欢迎。183
Mourngrym exchanged glances with Dragonbait.莫恩格林与龙饵交换了一个眼神。184
The saurial shrugged and turned back to watch the newcomers.这名蜥蜴族人耸了耸肩，又转头观察那些新来的人。185
His scaly brow knit with concern when he spied a woman standing behind Akabar.当他瞥见站在阿卡巴身后的一个女人时，覆着鳞片的眉头担忧地皱了起来。186
Tugging on the southerner’s arm, Alias led Akabar back to her table.阿莉亚丝拉着这个南方人的胳膊，把阿卡巴领回了自己的桌边。187
She didn’t seem to notice the heavily veiled woman who followed several paces behind them.她似乎没有注意到，那个蒙着厚厚面纱的女人正落后几步跟着他们。188
Mourngrym did, however, and he rose to his feet with Scotty seated in the crook of his arm.不过，莫恩格林注意到了；他站起身来，臂弯里还坐着斯科蒂。189
“Mourngrym, you remember Akabar bel Akash?”“莫恩格林，你还记得阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什吗？”190
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。191
“He was a member of my party when I first visited Shadowdale.”“我第一次来阴影谷时，他是我的同伴之一。”192
“The ‘mage of no small water,’ ” Mourngrym said, recalling the phrase Akabar had often used.“那位‘绝非浅水之流的法师’。”莫恩格林说道，想起了阿卡巴常挂在嘴边的说法。193
Akabar bowed low.阿卡巴深深鞠了一躬。194
“I’m honored you remember me, your lordship,” the Turmishman said.“您还记得我，实在令我不胜荣幸，领主大人。”这个图米什人说道。195
Mourngrym grinned.莫恩格林咧嘴一笑。196
In his experience, it was seldom that a mage lived long enough to prove his boasts.依他的经验，很少有法师能活得足够久，好证明自己的夸口。197
Alias had told his lordship the story of how the Turmishman had defeated the evil god Moander.阿莉亚丝曾把这个图米什人如何击败邪神莫安德的故事讲给莫恩格林大人听。198
Akabar was indeed a ‘mage of the first water,’ as his people would say.照阿卡巴族人的说法，他的确是一位“第一等水色的法师”。199
“And who is the lady?”“那么，这位女士是谁？”200
Mourngrym asked, finally drawing Alias’s attention to the woman standing behind Akabar.莫恩格林问道，这才终于让阿莉亚丝注意到站在阿卡巴身后的女人。201
Akabar stepped to one side.阿卡巴往旁边跨了一步。202
“Your lordship, Alias, Dragonbait,” Akabar said, “may I present, Zhara, Priestess of Tymora.”“领主大人，阿莉亚丝，龙饵，”阿卡巴说道，“请允许我介绍扎拉，泰摩拉的女祭司。”203
Zhara took a step forward.扎拉向前走了一步。204
She was as tall as Alias, but her green eyes and slender brown hands were the only parts of her body not covered by the blue robes of her calling or the long blue and white veil draped across her face.她和阿莉亚丝一样高，但除了一双绿眼睛和一双纤细的棕色手掌外，全身都被象征其神职的蓝色长袍以及覆在脸上的蓝白长面纱遮住了。205
“I am honored to meet you,” Zhara said softly.“很荣幸见到各位。”扎拉轻声说道。206
She curtsied low, but she did not remove her veil.她深深屈膝行礼，却没有摘下面纱。207
Mourngrym bowed and Dragonbait nodded, but Alias eyed the priestess with annoyance.莫恩格林鞠了一躬，龙饵点了点头，阿莉亚丝却恼火地打量着女祭司。208
She didn’t like clerics or priests.她不喜欢牧师，也不喜欢祭司。209
Dragonbait was always trying to convince her that she felt this way because Cassana and the swordswoman’s other evil makers had enchanted her, but Alias rejected that idea.龙饵总想说服她，让她相信自己之所以会有这种感觉，是因为卡萨娜和其他创造她的邪恶之徒对她施了魔法，但阿莉亚丝不接受这种说法。210
She didn’t like members of the clergy because, as far as she was concerned, they were a nearly useless bunch of fools—even those who served Tymora, Lady Luck, the goddess of adventurers.她不喜欢神职人员，因为在她看来，他们是一群几乎毫无用处的蠢货——就连那些侍奉幸运女士泰摩拉、冒险者女神的人也不例外。211
Why in the world is Akabar traveling with a priestess? she wondered.阿卡巴到底为什么会和一个女祭司同行？她暗自纳闷。212
As if he read her mind, Akabar explained, “Zhara is my third wife.”阿卡巴仿佛看穿了她的心思，解释道：“扎拉是我的第三位妻子。”213
Anger and disappointment stabbed at the pleasure Alias had felt at seeing Akabar again.阿莉亚丝重见阿卡巴的喜悦顿时被愤怒与失望刺痛。214
A moment ago, she had imagined their reunion would be just like old times, but the presence of one of his wives put a damper on that hope.片刻之前，她还以为他们这次重逢会像从前一样，可他的一位妻子在场，顿时给这份期待蒙上了阴影。215
With the exception of Dragonbait, Akabar was the swordswoman’s oldest friend in the world.除了龙饵之外，阿卡巴是女剑士在这世上结识最久的朋友。216
He had helped Alias on her quest to discover her origins, but if Alias had had her way, she’d have never met this woman.他曾帮助阿莉亚丝踏上探寻身世的旅程，但若能由阿莉亚丝做主，她宁愿自己从未见过这个女人。217
Tb avoid just such a meeting, Alias had once claimed that she was unable to stand the heat of the south and declined an invitation to accompany Akabar to his home in Turmish.正是为了避免这种会面，阿莉亚丝曾声称自己受不了南方的炎热，婉拒了随阿卡巴前往他在图米什的家中的邀请。218
The swordswoman hadn’t wanted to face the scrutiny of his wives.女剑士不愿面对他那些妻子的审视。219
Though she’d never been south, Alias had heard how insufferably proud southern women were of the way they lived: their modest dress, their subservient soft speech, their efficient households and businesses, their innumerable children.尽管从未去过南方，阿莉亚丝却听说过，南方女人对自己的生活方式骄傲得令人难以忍受：她们衣着端庄，说话轻声细语、恭顺温婉，把家务和生意都打理得井井有条，还生养了数不清的孩子。220
They were all greengrocers, Alias’s term for boring nonadventurers, and Alias couldn’t imagine them welcoming a wandering sell-sword with no real family.她们全都是“菜贩子”——这是阿莉亚丝对那些无聊的非冒险者的称呼——而阿莉亚丝无法想象，她们会欢迎一个没有真正家人的流浪佣兵。221
Even more unbearable than the thought of their disapproval had been the thought of sharing Akabar’s company and attention with women he was closer to than he was to her.比想到她们会不认可自己更令人难以忍受的，是想到她不得不与那些同阿卡巴比她更亲近的女人分享他的陪伴与关注。222
“I was under the impression that southern women didn’t travel away from home,” the sell-sword said coolly as she sat down at the table and motioned for Akabar to take the seat beside her.“我还以为南方女人是不会离家远行的。”佣兵冷冷地说道。她在桌边坐下，示意阿卡巴坐到她身旁。223
“My sister-wives, Akash and Kasim, have charged me to protect our husband from the barbarians of the north,” Zhara replied matter-of-factly, slipping herself into the chair that Alias had intended for Akabar.“我的姐妹妻子阿卡什和卡西姆嘱咐我，要保护我们的丈夫，免受北方蛮族的伤害。”扎拉就事论事地答道，同时轻巧地坐进了阿莉亚丝原本留给阿卡巴的椅子。224
Akabar seated himself between Zhara and Dragonbait.阿卡巴在扎拉与龙饵之间坐了下来。225
Uneasy because of the tension he sensed, Lord Mourngrym turned toward the door of the inn.莫恩格林爵士察觉到气氛紧张，心中不安，便转身望向旅店门口。226
“If you’ll excuse me,” his lordship said, “I think I’d better head back home before the rain starts falling harder.“请恕我失陪，”爵士说道，“我想我最好趁雨还没下得更大，先回家去。227
I’ll leave you to rehash old times.”你们留下来好好叙叙旧吧。”228
He bowed once again to Akabar’s wife, then strode off, with Scotty balanced on his shoulder.他再次向阿卡巴的妻子鞠了一躬，随后让斯科蒂稳稳待在自己肩头，大步离去。229
Akabar sighed inwardly as he glanced from Alias to Zhara.阿卡巴的目光从阿莉亚丝移到扎拉身上，暗自叹了口气。230
He hadn’t expected Alias to get along with Zhara.他本就没指望阿莉亚丝能和扎拉融洽相处。231
Although the sell-sword was too proud to admit it, he believed she was jealous of his wives.那个雇佣剑客虽然骄傲得不肯承认，但他相信她是在嫉妒他的妻子们。232
He hadn’t expected Zhara to show jealousy, though, but then Alias was special to him, and Zhara knew that.不过，他倒没料到扎拉也会表现出嫉妒；但阿莉亚丝对他而言毕竟很特别，而扎拉也清楚这一点。233
At least the women’s coolness toward one another would give him time to explain about Zhara to Alias.至少，这两个女人彼此间的冷淡能给他一些时间，让他向阿莉亚丝解释扎拉的事。234
Akabar glanced at Dragonbait, who was watching Zhara curiously.阿卡巴瞥了龙饵一眼，只见他正好奇地打量着扎拉。235
The saurial paladin gave Akabar an inquiring look.那位蜥蜴人圣武士向阿卡巴投去询问的目光。236
He can smell what Zhara is, the Turmishman thought.他能嗅出扎拉究竟是什么，图米什人心想。237
Will he have the wisdom to keep it to himself? he wondered.他会有足够的智慧守口如瓶吗？阿卡巴不禁怀疑。238
Dragonbait shrugged and looked down at his teacup.龙饵耸了耸肩，低头看向自己的茶杯。239
Akabar, he realized, thought Alias loved him and would become enraged with jealousy if she knew all that Zhara was.他意识到，阿卡巴以为阿莉亚丝爱着自己，如果她知道扎拉的全部真相，就会妒火中烧。240
The paladin knew Alias far better than the merchant-mage, and he knew that Alias did indeed love Akabar, but not the way Akabar thought she did.这位圣武士远比那名商人法师了解阿莉亚丝；他知道阿莉亚丝确实爱着阿卡巴，却不是阿卡巴以为的那种爱。241
Despite Alias’s adult body and brilliant mind, Dragonbait had come to understand that her emotions were no more mature than a child’s. The paladin suspected that the Nameless Bard, who denied his own emotions as a matter of pride, had been unable to give Alias skill controlling her feelings when something upset her.尽管阿莉亚丝有着成年人的身体和聪慧过人的头脑，龙饵却渐渐明白，她的情感并不比一个孩子成熟。 圣武士怀疑，无名者吟游诗人出于骄傲而否认自己的情感，因此没能教会阿莉亚丝在受到刺激时如何控制情绪。242
Like a child, Alias grew jealous easily, and it wasn’t easy for her to accept that she couldn’t always be the center of attention.阿莉亚丝像个孩子一样很容易嫉妒，也很难接受自己不能永远成为众人关注的中心。243
Akabar was right to worry about her reaction when she learned of Zhara’s true nature.阿卡巴担心她得知扎拉真实本性后的反应，并非没有道理。244
What the merchant-mage did not realize, however, was that Alias wouldn’t react as a woman but as a child.然而，那名商人法师没有意识到的是，阿莉亚丝不会像个女人那样作出反应，而会像个孩子。245
Still, it would be bad to put off explaining about Zhara, the paladin thought.不过，圣武士心想，关于扎拉的事还是不宜拖延解释。246
He would give Akabar a day to work up to it, but no more.他会给阿卡巴一天时间，让他做好开口的准备，但最多也只有一天。247
From the unpleasant, but fortunately weak, stench of brimstone that wafted from Dragonbait, Alias could tell there was something about Akabar’s wife that interested the saurial.从龙饵身上飘来的那股难闻却幸而微弱的硫黄臭气，阿莉亚丝看得出，阿卡巴的妻子身上有什么东西引起了这名蜥蜴人的注意。248
Nevertheless, Alias ignored Zhara and focused all her attention on Akabar.尽管如此，阿莉亚丝还是对扎拉不予理会，把全部注意力都放在了阿卡巴身上。249
“So what brings you this far north so late in the year?” she asked the Turmishman.“一年都这么晚了，你怎么会跑到这么北边来？”她问那名图米什人。250
Instead of answering Alias’s question, Akabar asked one of his own.阿卡巴没有回答阿莉亚丝的问题，反而问了她一个问题。251
“Have you been well since I saw you in Westgate last year?”“自从去年在西门城见过你以后，你一直过得好吗？”252
Alias’s brow knit in puzzlement.阿莉亚丝困惑地蹙起眉头。253
“Of course.“当然很好。254
Why shouldn’t I be?我怎么会不好？255
Akabar, what’s wrong?阿卡巴，出什么事了？256
Why are you here?”你为什么会在这里？”257
Akabar drew a deep breath.阿卡巴深吸了一口气。258
“I came to Shadowdale to seek Elminster’s advice.“我来阴影谷，是为了向伊尔明斯特请教。259
I also hoped to find you here, in order to warn you.”我也希望能在这里找到你，好向你示警。”260
“Warn me?”“向我示警？”261
Alias asked, more confused than alarmed.阿莉亚丝问道，困惑多于惊慌。262
“What about?”“警告我什么？”263
“The return of the Darkbringer,” Akabar said.“黑暗使者回来了。”阿卡巴说。264
“The Darkbringer!“黑暗使者！265
You mean Moander?”你是说莫安德？”266
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。267
Akabar nodded.阿卡巴点了点头。268
“Akabar,” Alias reminded the mage, “after you destroyed Moander’s body, most of its worshipers killed themselves.“阿卡巴，”阿莉亚丝提醒这位法师，“你摧毁莫安德的躯体后，它的大多数信徒都自尽了。269
Cassana had the Fire Knives assassinate those who didn’t, so she wouldn’t have to share me with them.卡萨娜让火刀刺客公会刺杀了那些没有自尽的人，免得她还得同他们分享我。270
Dragonbait and I spent the past two summers checking out all the Darkbringer’s temples.过去两个夏天，龙饵和我查遍了黑暗使者所有的神殿。271
They’ve all been abandoned.那些神殿全都废弃了。272
Without worshipers in the Realms, it could be centuries before Moander can regain enough energy to make a new body and return here from the Abyss.”诸界中没有了信徒，莫安德可能得过上几个世纪，才能重新积聚足够的力量，造出一具新的躯体，从无底深渊返回这里。”273
“I have been troubled by nightmares of late,” Akabar explained.“最近我一直被噩梦困扰，”阿卡巴解释道。274
“Zhara tells me they are warnings from the gods of light.”“扎拉告诉我，那些梦是光明诸神发出的警告。”275
Alias sighed in exasperation.阿莉亚丝恼火地叹了口气。276
“Akabar, after all Moander put you through, of course you’re going to have nightmares about it for a while.“阿卡巴，莫安德害你受了那么多苦，你当然会有一阵子一直做关于他的噩梦。277
It’s only natural.这再自然不过了。278
The gods don’t have anything to do with it.”这事跟诸神毫无关系。”279
“The dreams did not begin until this past spring, nearly a year after Moander’s death,” Akabar countered.“那些梦直到去年春天才开始，那时莫安德已经死了将近一年。”阿卡巴反驳道。280
Alias shrugged.阿莉亚丝耸了耸肩。281
“Spring is when you destroyed Moander.“你是在春天消灭莫安德的。282
Maybe the weather just reminded you of him,” she suggested.也许这天气只是让你想起了他。”她猜测道。283
“Spring weather in Turmish is nothing like spring weather in the north or even in Westgate, where Moander died,” Akabar persisted.“图米什的春日天气，跟北方的春天毫无相似之处，甚至也不像莫安德丧命之地西门城的春天。”阿卡巴仍不肯罢休。284
Dragonbait rapped on the table for attention.龙饵敲了敲桌子，要大家注意他。285
Alias watched the saurial’s paws flutter about the tabletop, then move to his lips.阿莉亚丝看着这个蜥蜴人的双爪在桌面上飞快比画，接着又移到他的嘴唇边。286
Finally he pointed at her and Akabar.最后，他指了指她和阿卡巴。287
Alias shook her head.阿莉亚丝摇了摇头。288
“They’re not related at all,” she told the paladin.“这两件事根本毫无关系。”她对圣武士说道。289
“What’s he trying to say?”“他想说什么？”290
Akabar asked curiously.阿卡巴好奇地问道。291
“Nothing important,” Alias said.“没什么要紧的。”阿莉亚丝说。292
Dragonbait shoved his elbow into Alias’s side.龙饵用手肘猛撞了一下阿莉亚丝的腰侧。293
The sell-sword glared at her lizard companion, and Dragonbait glared right back at her.女佣兵怒视着她的蜥蜴人同伴，龙饵也毫不退让地瞪了回去。294
The contest of wills lasted only a few moments, but it astonished Akabar.这场意志较量只持续了片刻，却令阿卡巴惊讶不已。295
He’d never seen Dragonbait challenge Alias before.他以前从未见过龙饵公然顶撞阿莉亚丝。296
When the mage had traveled with the pair, Dragonbait had been as submissive to Alias as a Turmishwoman was to her husband in public.从前这位法师与两人同行时，龙饵对阿莉亚丝百依百顺，就像图米什女子在外人面前顺从自己的丈夫一样。297
Obviously the relationship between the saurial and Alias had changed in the past year.显然，在过去一年里，这个蜥蜴人与阿莉亚丝之间的关系已经发生了变化。298
Alias looked away from Dragonbait, muttering, “All right.阿莉亚丝把目光从龙饵身上移开，低声嘟囔道：“好吧。299
Think what you want, but you’re wrong.”随你怎么想，反正你错了。”300
“What is it?”“怎么回事？”301
Akabar demanded.阿卡巴追问道。302
“Dragonbait thinks I should tell you that it was last spring when I started singing strangely.”“龙饵觉得，我应该告诉你，我是从去年春天开始唱得不对劲的。”303
“Singing strangely?“唱得不对劲？”304
I don’t understand,” Akabar said, his eyebrows arching.“我不明白。”阿卡巴扬起眉毛说道。305
“Somehow the melody and the lyrics of songs I was singing came out twisted.“不知怎么，我唱出来的歌曲，旋律和歌词全都走了样。306
And I didn’t even realize I was doing it,” Alias explained, obviously disturbed.而且我自己根本没意识到。”阿莉亚丝解释道，显然对此深感不安。307
“Do you have dreams about Moander?”“你会梦见莫安德吗？”308
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。309
“I wouldn’t know,” Alias replied.“我怎么知道。”阿莉亚丝回答。310
“I never remember my dreams when I wake up.“我醒来以后从来都不记得自己做过什么梦。311
Dreams are for sleeping.”梦是睡觉时才有的东西。”312
“You remembered the dream you had about Nameless in Shadow Gap,” Akabar reminded her.“可你还记得在阴影隘口梦见无名者的那个梦。”阿卡巴提醒她。313
“That was different.“那不一样。314
That was a magical dream caused by the witch Cassana, sent in order to distract me from the ambush she was laying.”那是女巫卡萨娜用魔法制造的梦，目的是分散我的注意力，好让我落入她设下的埋伏。”315
Akabar stroked his beard thoughtfully, then suggested, “Since you do not remember your dreams, it could be that the gods are trying to warn you through your songs.”阿卡巴若有所思地抚着胡须，随后说道：“既然你不记得自己的梦，也许诸神正试图通过你的歌声向你示警。”316
“Akabar, why should the gods go to all the trouble to send you dreams and ruin my songs when they could just send a letter?”“阿卡巴，诸神要是能直接寄封信来，又何必大费周章，既给你托梦，又毁掉我的歌呢？”317
Alias asked skeptically.阿莉亚丝满腹狐疑地问道。318
“If you do not believe Zhara and you do not believe me,” Akabar said, “you certainly would not believe a letter, Alias.“如果你既不相信扎拉，也不相信我，”阿卡巴说道，“那你肯定也不会相信一封信，阿莉亚丝。319
The gods know the way to your heart is through your music.”诸神知道，要打动你的心，唯有通过你的音乐。”320
Alias sighed.阿莉亚丝叹了口气。321
She’d known, of course, that Akabar was a scholar of religion, but this sudden devout belief that the gods were speaking to him and her made her uneasy.她当然知道阿卡巴是个宗教学者，但他突然如此虔诚地相信诸神正在对他和她传话，还是令她感到不安。322
It was this new wife’s influence, she was sure.她确信，这都是他那位新婚妻子的影响。323
“Well, if the gods are causing me to sing this way,” Alias said, “they certainly have lousy taste in music.“好吧，如果真是诸神让我这样唱，”阿莉亚丝说道，“那他们的音乐品味可真够差的。324
And they could work on making their lyrics a little less obscure, too.”而且他们也该下点功夫，把歌词写得别那么晦涩。”325
Zhara, who had been silent for a long time, spoke out suddenly, with anger and passion.沉默了许久的扎拉突然开口，语气中满是愤怒与激昂。326
“You cannot expect the songs of the gods to be of the same simple sort you northern barbarians delight in,” she said.“你不能指望神灵之歌也像你们北方蛮子爱听的那些歌一样浅白简单。”她说道。327
Alias glared at the priestess.阿莉亚丝怒视着女祭司。328
“My songs are the best in the Realms,” she growled.“我的歌是诸界最好的。”她低吼道。329
“They are nothing compared to the words spoken by the gods,” Zhara replied heatedly.“与神灵说出的话相比，那些歌根本算不了什么。”扎拉激动地反驳道。330
“Our prayers to them are the most suitable music we can make.”“我们向神灵献上的祈祷，才是我们所能奏出的最合宜的乐声。”331
Realizing that it was futile to argue with a religious zealot, Alias turned her attention back to Akabar.阿莉亚丝意识到，跟一个宗教狂热分子争论毫无意义，于是将注意力重新转向阿卡巴。332
“I don’t suppose the gods have given you any details about what you’re supposed to do about this return of Moander,” she said.“我想，神灵大概没告诉你该怎么应对莫安德这次归来吧？”她说道。333
“Yes, they have, as a matter of fact,” Akabar replied, and his face looked suddenly haggard.“事实上，他们告诉我了。”阿卡巴答道，脸色突然显得十分憔悴。334
“I must find Moander’s body in the Realms and destroy it again.“我必须在诸界找到莫安德的躯体，再次将它摧毁。335
Then I must find its body in the Abyss and destroy it there.然后我必须在无底深渊找到它的躯体，并在那里将它摧毁。336
Only then will Moander be destroyed forever,” he explained.只有这样，莫安德才会被永远消灭。”他解释道。337
Alias looked at her friend with astonishment and fear.阿莉亚丝又惊又怕地望着朋友。338
He was absolutely serious.他是完全认真的。339
He meant to fight the god again.他打算再次与那个神祇交战。340
If Dragonbait hadn’t recruited the help of an ancient red dragon, who had died battling Moander, she and Akabar would still be under the god’s domination now, unable to fight the abomination’s awful power to control their minds.当初若不是龙饵请来一条远古红龙相助，而那条红龙最终在与莫安德的战斗中丧生，她和阿卡巴如今仍会受那个神祇支配，根本无力抵抗那邪物操控他们心智的可怕力量。341
Now Akabar not only wanted to fight Moander in the Realms, but also in the Abyss, where it would be surrounded by numbers of powerful minions.现在，阿卡巴不仅想在诸界与莫安德交战，还要前往无底深渊与它交战，而在那里，它身边将簇拥着众多强大的爪牙。342
The swordswoman was sure the mage couldn’t have come up with such a dangerous idea on his own.女剑士确信，法师绝不可能独自想出如此危险的主意。343
She glared across the table at Akabar’s new wife, and as she so often did, she channeled her fear into anger.她隔着桌子怒视阿卡巴的新婚妻子，并像往常一样，将恐惧化作了愤怒。344
“This is all your doing, isn’t it?”“这全是你搞的鬼，对不对？”345
Alias snarled at Zhara.阿莉亚丝冲扎拉怒吼道。346
“You lousy priests are always trying to convince some nice, noble soul to go out and get killed trying to destroy some great evil that no one in their right mind would want to run into.“你们这些混账祭司总是想说服某个善良高尚的人，让他跑去送死，试图消灭某种任何神志正常的人都不愿碰上的巨大邪恶。347
Not even the mighty elven kingdom of Myth Drannor, in the height of its powers, could destroy Moander.就连强大的精灵王国迷斯卓诺，在国力最鼎盛的时候也无法消灭莫安德。348
You softened Akabar up with sweet talk and then start blowing his nightmares out of proportion.你先用甜言蜜语哄得阿卡巴放松戒心，然后又开始把他的噩梦夸大得不可收拾。349
I’ll bet you even used your priestly magic to set him on this stupid quest, didn’t you?”我敢说，你甚至还动用了祭司的法术，怂恿他踏上这场愚蠢的征途，对不对？”350
Alias looked back at the Turmishman.阿莉亚丝回头看着那个图米什人。351
“Don’t be a fool, Akabar,” she pleaded.“别犯傻了，阿卡巴，”她恳求道。352
“You’ve done more than your share.“你做的已经远远超过了自己的本分。353
You should never have married this priestess.你根本就不该娶这个女祭司。354
She doesn’t care about you.她根本不在乎你。355
She’s only interested in what you can do for the glory of her goddess.”她只关心你能为她那位女神的荣耀做些什么。”356
Akabar’s jaw trembled and his face went livid.阿卡巴的下巴颤抖起来，脸色一片铁青。357
Instinctively Alias backed her chair away from him.阿莉亚丝本能地把椅子往后挪，离他远了些。358
Zhara laid one of her slender hands on her husband’s arm and said something in Turmish that Alias didn’t understand.扎拉将一只纤细的手搭在丈夫的手臂上，用图米什语说了句阿莉亚丝听不懂的话。359
Akabar closed his eyes and calmed his temper with several long, slow breaths.阿卡巴闭上眼睛，缓慢地深呼吸了几次，平息了怒火。360
Beneath the table, Dragonbait’s tail slapped warningly at Alias’s knee.桌子底下，龙饵的尾巴警告似的拍打着阿莉亚丝的膝盖。361
The swordswoman shot an angry glance at the paladin.女剑士愤怒地瞪了圣武士一眼。362
Dragonbait was rubbing his chin.龙饵正摩挲着下巴。363
He was asking her to apologize to Zhara, but Alias remained adamant.他是在示意她向扎拉道歉，但阿莉亚丝依旧固执己见。364
She didn’t care how Akabar felt about Zhara.她才不在乎阿卡巴对扎拉是什么感情。365
Zhara was obviously using him.扎拉显然是在利用他。366
A youth dressed in a page’s uniform, his hair dripping wet from the rain falling outside the inn, interrupted the uneasy silence that had settled over the table.一名身穿侍从制服的少年打破了笼罩在桌边的尴尬沉默；客栈外正下着雨，他的头发湿漉漉地滴着水。367
“Excuse me, lady,” the boy said timidly.“打扰了，女士，”男孩怯生生地说道。368
Alias looked up.阿莉亚丝抬起头。369
She knew the boy.她认识这个男孩。370
His name was Heth, and he was one of Lord Mourngrym’s pages.他名叫赫斯，是莫恩格林领主的侍从之一。371
She smiled to put the boy at ease.她微微一笑，好让男孩放松下来。372
“Yes?“怎么了？373
What is it, Heth?”有什么事，赫斯？”374
“Alias of Westgate, the tribunal of Harpers requests that you come come before them,” Heth said formally.“西门城的阿莉亚丝，竖琴手同盟的审判庭请你前去出席，”赫斯一本正经地说道。375
Alias started.阿莉亚丝吃了一惊。376
For a short while, she’d forgotten her anxiety about Nameless.有那么一会儿，她忘记了自己对无名者的担忧。377
Now it returned with double force.此刻，那份忧虑又加倍袭来。378
Her face went pale and her lips trembled.她脸色煞白，嘴唇微微颤抖。379
Nameless’s fate was in her hands.无名者的命运掌握在她手中。380
If she said or did the wrong thing, they would exile him again, send him away from the Realms, away from her.如果她说错了话或做错了事，他们就会再次放逐他，把他赶出诸界，赶到远离她的地方。381
“What tribunal?”“什么审判庭？”382
Akabar asked.阿卡巴问道。383
“The Harper tribunal that is rehearing Nameless’s case,” Alias said, rising to her feet.“重新审理无名者一案的竖琴手同盟审判庭，”阿莉亚丝一边说，一边站起身来。384
“I asked to speak to them on his behalf.”“我请求去替他说情。”385
Despite his offended pride and the insult she had just delivered to his wife, Akabar couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the warrior woman.尽管自尊受了伤，而且她刚才还冒犯了他的妻子，阿卡巴仍不由得同情起这位女战士。386
Alias had always had difficulty trusting other people and growing intimate with them, but she had accepted Nameless as her father.阿莉亚丝一向很难信任别人，也很难与人亲近，但她已经把无名者当成了自己的父亲。387
Akabar didn’t like to think of the grief she would suffer should the Harpers be so merciless as to recondemn the bard.阿卡巴不愿去想，若竖琴手同盟冷酷无情到再次给那位吟游诗人定罪，她将承受怎样的悲痛。388
“I would have thought the Harpers had taken care of that last year,” Akabar said.“我还以为竖琴手同盟去年就已经把这件事处理好了，”阿卡巴说。389
“What’s taken them so long?”“他们怎么拖了这么久？”390
“It took Elminster all last year to convince them that they should rehear the case,” Alias explained.“伊尔明斯特花了整整一年，才说服他们重新审理此案，”阿莉亚丝解释道。391
“Now I have to go.”“现在我得走了。”392
Akabar stood up in front of the sell-sword.阿卡巴站起身，挡在这名雇佣剑士面前。393
“I’ll go with you,” he said.“我跟你一起去，”他说。394
“I, too, will speak on his behalf, for he saved my life.”“我也要替他说情，因为他救过我的命。”395
The page looked confused for a moment, uncertain how to respond to this stranger.那名侍童一时显得有些困惑，不知道该如何回应这个陌生人。396
“Heth,” Alias explained to the page, “this is my friend, Akabar bel Akash.“赫斯，”阿莉亚丝向侍童解释道，“这是我的朋友，阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”397
He knows all about Nameless.“他知道无名者的一切。”398
May he come with me?”“他可以和我一起去吗？”399
“He is welcome to accompany you, lady,” Heth replied, “but I do not know if the tribunal will hear him.”“欢迎他陪您同行，女士，”赫斯回答道，“但我不知道审判庭是否愿意听取他的陈述。”400
“Then I shall speak very loudly,” Akabar said.“那我就说得非常大声。”阿卡巴说。401
Alias looked up at Akabar with a grateful smile.阿莉亚丝抬头望着阿卡巴，感激地一笑。402
At least Zhara’s influence was not so complete that the Turmishman could not spare time from his insane quest to help a friend.至少，扎拉对他的影响还没有彻底到让这个图米什人连从那疯狂的追求中抽出时间帮助朋友都做不到。403
Dragonbait chirped, and Alias turned her head to watch him sign.龙饵啾啾叫了几声，阿莉亚丝转头看他打手势。404
“Dragonbait says he’ll look after Zhara for you,” she explained to Akabar.“龙饵说，他会替你照看扎拉。”她向阿卡巴解释道。405
Though I’m sure the shrew can handle herself, she thought, but she managed to resist saying so aloud.不过我敢肯定，那个悍妇完全能照顾好自己，她心想，但还是忍住了，没有把这话说出口。406
She wished the paladin would come along with her instead of remaining with Zhara, but she didn’t want to argue with him in front of Akabar.她希望这位圣武士能跟她一起去，而不是留下来陪扎拉，但她不想当着阿卡巴的面同他争辩。407
Akabar motioned for the page to go ahead.阿卡巴示意侍童在前面带路。408
Alias went to speak to Jhaele for a moment, then grabbed her cloak from a hook and joined Akabar and Heth at the door.阿莉亚丝去同杰尔说了几句话，随后从挂钩上取下斗篷，在门口与阿卡巴和赫斯会合。409
The swordswoman and the Turmishman followed the boy from the inn out into the drizzling rain.女剑士和图米什人跟着男孩走出旅店，踏入蒙蒙细雨之中。410
They walked in silence down the main road that led west toward the Tower of Ashaba.他们默默地沿着大路向西走去，前往阿沙巴塔。411
Over the tops of the trees, they could make out the tower’s peculiar off-center spire, which gave it the nickname “the Twisted Tower.”越过树梢，他们可以看见那座塔位置奇特、偏向一侧的尖顶，也正因如此，它得了“扭曲塔”这个绰号。412
Despite its notoriety, Shadowdale was a small town, but the Tower of Ashaba was a massive and impressive structure nonetheless.阴影谷虽然声名赫赫，却只是个小镇，但阿沙巴塔依然是一座庞大而雄伟的建筑。413
It served as a home to not only the Lord of Shadowdale and his family, but also to most of his court and household staff, not to mention numerous adventurers friendly to his lordship.那里不仅住着阴影谷领主及其家人，还住着他宫廷里的大多数人和府邸仆役，更不用说那些与领主交好的众多冒险者了。414
Mourngrym had invited Alias to winter there, but Alias could only think of the tower as Nameless’s prison, and she had declined.莫恩格林曾邀请阿莉亚丝去塔里过冬，但阿莉亚丝一想到那座塔，便只会想到无名者的监牢，于是婉拒了。415
She wouldn’t have accepted at any rate.无论如何，她都不会接受。416
As much as she liked Mourngrym, becoming his guest would have meant giving up some of her independence.尽管她很喜欢莫恩格林，可一旦成为他的客人，就意味着要放弃一部分独立自主。417
She felt more comfortable paying Jhaele for a room at the inn.她还是觉得付钱向杰尔租住旅店里的房间更自在。418
As they passed Elminster’s tower, Akabar glanced sidelong at Alias.经过伊尔明斯特的塔楼时，阿卡巴侧眼看了看阿莉亚丝。419
She looked nervous.她显得很紧张。420
Having already swallowed his anger at her earlier behavior, the mage was determined to reestablish their friendship.法师已经压下了对她先前所作所为的怒气，决心与她重修旧好。421
He began with what northerners called “small talk.”他先从北方人所谓的“闲聊”开始。422
“Have you heard anything of Mistress Olive Ruskettle since she took her leave of us in Westgate?” the Turmishman asked.“奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔女士在西门城与我们告别之后，你可曾听到过她的消息？”图米什人问道。423
Alias looked at Akabar and grinned.阿莉亚丝看着阿卡巴，咧嘴一笑。424
Olive, at least, was something the two of them had always agreed upon.至少在奥利芙这件事上，他们俩的看法向来一致。425
The halfling thief had attached herself without invitation to their adventuring party the previous year, only to make a tremendous nuisance of herself, betraying them to Alias’s enemies and only at the last moment helping to rescue them from fates worse than death.去年，那个半身人女贼不请自来地加入了他们的冒险队伍，结果给他们添了天大的麻烦：她把他们出卖给了阿莉亚丝的敌人，直到最后一刻才出手相助，把他们从比死亡更可怕的命运中救了出来。426
Olive hadn’t actually taken her leave of them at the end of their adventure.冒险结束时，奥利芙其实并没有向他们告辞。427
She’d left in the middle of the night with a good deal more than her share of the treasure they’d taken from the sorceress Cassana’s dungeon.她在半夜悄悄离开了，还带走了远超她应得份额的财宝——那些财宝是他们从女术士卡萨娜的地牢里夺来的。428
To the halfling’s credit, she at least left them all the gold and silver coin, preferring the more portable gemstones and jewelry for herself.不过值得肯定的是，这个半身人至少把所有金银币都留给了他们，自己只挑了更便于携带的宝石和首饰。429
“I believe she’s in Cormyr,” Alias said.“我想她在科米尔，”阿莉亚丝说。430
“Travelers who have passed through there speak of a halfling bard who sings some of the best songs they’ve ever heard and who claims to have been the mastermind behind the destruction of the Fire Knives assassin guild, the Darkbringer, a red dragon, a lich, an evil sorceress, and a fiend from Tarterus.“有些途经那里而来的旅人提起过一个半身人吟游诗人，说她唱的歌是他们平生听过最动听的几首，还声称摧毁火刀刺客公会、黑暗使者、一条红龙、一个巫妖、一个邪恶女术士，以及一个来自塔尔塔罗斯的邪魔，全是由她一手策划的。431
She was aided, naturally, by her faithful assistants, an anonymous southern mage, a little-known northern sell-sword, and a mysterious lizardman.”当然，她也得到过几名忠实助手的帮助：一个籍籍无名的南方魔法师，一个鲜为人知的北方佣兵，还有一个神秘的蜥蜴人。”432
“That sounds like our Olive Ruskettle, all right,” Akabar agreed.“没错，听起来就是咱们的奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔，”阿卡巴表示赞同。433
“I almost wish she were here now,” Alias said.“我现在倒真有点希望她在这里了，”阿莉亚丝说。434
“If anyone was able to talk her way around this Harper tribunal, it would be Olive.”“要说有谁能凭一张嘴应付过这场竖琴手同盟的审判，那一定是奥利芙。”435
Akabar chuckled, “Remember the saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ ” He sensed the nervousness in her voice, and made an effort to reassure her.阿卡巴轻笑一声：“记住那句老话：‘许愿可要当心。’”他听出了她声音中的不安，便努力宽慰她。436
“Alias, Elminster is speaking on Nameless’s behalf.“阿莉亚丝，伊尔明斯特正在替无名者说话。437
The Harpers will be influenced by the sage’s wisdom.竖琴手同盟会听取这位贤者的睿智之言。438
Even if they are not, the Harpers are good people.就算他们不肯听，竖琴手同盟的人也都是好人。439
They couldn’t be so cruel as to return Nameless to exile after what he has suffered.无名者已经受了那么多苦，他们不可能残忍到再次将他放逐。440
They may not forgive him, but they will realize that isolating him serves no further purpose.他们或许不会原谅他，但会明白，继续孤立他已经毫无意义。441
Don’t worry.”别担心。”442
“I can’t help it,” Alias replied in barely more than a whisper.“我控制不住，”阿莉亚丝用几乎低不可闻的声音答道。443
“I know what you say is true, but I have this tremendous foreboding that something awful is going to happen to Nameless, that someone wishes him harm.”“我知道你说得没错，可我有一种极其强烈的不祥预感，觉得无名者会遭遇什么可怕的事，有人想要伤害他。”444
The mage shuddered inwardly at the woman’s words.听到这女人的话，魔法师心中不禁一阵战栗。445
Alias had rejected so fiercely his quest to destroy Moander that Akabar had been reluctant to tell her any more about his dreams.阿莉亚丝曾如此激烈地反对他去消灭莫安德，以至于阿卡巴一直不愿再向她透露更多有关自己梦境的事。446
She would learn soon enough, though, that he was not the only one chosen to battle the evil god.不过，她很快便会知道，被选中与那位邪神战斗的人并不只有他一个。447
Nameless, too, was destined to be caught up in the final confrontation with the Darkbringer.无名者也注定会被卷入与黑暗使者的最终对决。448