While page Heth was fetching Alias, the Harper tribunal continued to discuss the matter of the Nameless Bard.侍童赫斯去叫阿莉亚丝时，竖琴手审判庭继续讨论着无名者吟游诗人的事。1
“Even if this Alias is the paragon you say, Elminster,” Morala said to the sage, “her existence does not mitigate the bard’s initial guilt.“伊尔明斯特，即使这个阿莉亚丝真像你所说的那样堪称典范，”莫拉拉对这位贤者说道，“她的存在也不能减轻那名吟游诗人最初的罪责。2
You would not speak on Nameless’s behalf at his first trial,” she reminded him.“无名者第一次受审时，你可没有替他说话。”她提醒道。3
“What has changed between then and now?”“从那时到现在，究竟有什么改变？”4
What indeed?是啊，究竟有什么改变？5
Elminster wondered.伊尔明斯特心想。6
“As ye know, thy grace, I was a good friend to Nameless, but when he proceeded with his experiment against my advice, I felt … betrayed.“如您所知，大人，我曾是无名者的好友，但他不顾我的劝告，执意进行那项试验时，我觉得……遭到了背叛。7
I was angry with him, so I did nothing to defend him.我很生他的气，所以什么也没做，没有替他辩护。8
I now believe I was wrong to do nothing.”如今我认为，当时什么也不做是错的。”9
“It is a master bard’s sworn duty to protect his apprentices,” Morala continued.“保护自己的学徒，是吟游诗人大师立誓承担的职责，”莫拉拉继续说道。10
“Nameless was found guilty of recklessly endangering his apprentices, resulting in the death of one and injury to the other.“无名者被判鲁莽危及学徒的安全，导致一人死亡，另一人受伤。11
What can you possibly say in his defense?”你还能说什么来为他辩护？”12
Morala asked.莫拉拉问道。13
“Nothing, thy grace,” Elminster said.“无话可说，大人。”伊尔明斯特说道。14
“Nothing?”“无话可说？”15
Breck asked with surprise.布雷克惊讶地问道。16
Kyre tilted her head in confusion, but Morala’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.凯尔困惑地歪了歪头，莫拉拉却怀疑地眯起了眼睛。17
The sage had some trick up his sleeve; she was sure of it.这个贤者一定暗藏着什么花招；她确信这一点。18
“Nothing, good ranger,” Elminster said.“没什么，善良的游侠。”伊尔明斯特说道。19
“But then,” he added, “there is also nothing I can say in defense of the punishment meted out by the Harper tribunal that sentenced the bard.”“不过，”他又说道，“对于竖琴手同盟法庭判给那名吟游诗人的惩罚，我同样无话可以为之辩护。”20
Elminster’s tone deepened with anger and contempt.伊尔明斯特的语气中多了几分愤怒与鄙夷。21
“How long did they sentence Nameless to exile?”“他们判无名者流放多久？”22
The sage answered his own question.贤者自己回答了这个问题。23
“Forever.“永远。24
Two hundred years he has spent alone.他已经孤独地度过了两百年。25
Like barbarians who slice off the hands of a thief, the Harpers have given him no opportunity to atone for his crime.竖琴手同盟如同砍掉窃贼双手的野蛮人一般，没有给他任何赎罪的机会。26
And what was done with the best part of the man, the beautiful music he composed despite his vanity and thoughtlessness, music which might have proven there was some good in him?至于这个人身上最美好的部分呢——尽管他虚荣而轻率，却创作出了优美的乐曲，那些乐曲原本或许能证明他心中尚有善念——它们又遭到了怎样的处置？27
The Harpers tried to wipe it out, just as barbarians wipe out the innocent children of their enemies.”竖琴手同盟试图将其彻底抹去，就像野蛮人杀光仇敌无辜的孩子一样。”28
Kyre raised her eyebrows at the sage’s analogies, and Breck blushed with shame, but Morala rose angrily to her feet.凯尔听到贤者的这些比喻，扬起了眉毛；布雷克羞愧得满脸通红，莫拉拉却愤然起身。29
“Nameless knows nothing of atonement!”“无名者根本不懂什么叫赎罪！”30
Morala insisted.莫拉拉坚称。31
“He was adept at charming others into spending their lives on his schemes.“他最擅长蛊惑别人，让他们把一生都耗费在他的图谋上。32
Not even the deaths of his apprentices stopped him from attempting to build a second singing simulacrum.就连学徒们的死，也没能阻止他尝试制造第二个会歌唱的拟像。33
If not for the intervention of others, who knows what evils Cassana and her consortium would have set this Alias to accomplish?若非旁人出手干预，谁知道卡萨娜和她的同党会驱使这个阿莉亚丝去完成何等邪恶之事？34
We exiled Nameless alone so he could never again harm another with his recklessness.我们将无名者单独流放，是为了让他再也无法因自己的鲁莽伤害任何人。35
As for his music, he was unwilling to have his songs passed from one generation of bards to the next, so we honored his wish.”至于他的音乐，是他自己不愿让那些歌曲在一代代吟游诗人之间流传，因此我们尊重了他的意愿。”36
“It is not justice to imprison someone for what he might do, Morala,” Elminster replied.“因为某人可能会做什么便将他囚禁，这并非正义，莫拉拉。”伊尔明斯特答道。37
“Tomorrow you or I might cause some great harm.“明天，你我或许也会酿成大祸。38
Should we then go into exile this very day?难道我们今天就该去接受流放吗？39
And as for his music, if the Harpers had only imprisoned Nameless for a few years but allowed his songs to be passed on in the natural way, Nameless might have learned to accept the way his music would evolve and change.至于他的音乐，倘若竖琴手同盟当初只将无名者囚禁几年，同时允许他的歌曲以自然的方式流传下去，无名者或许就能学会接受自己的音乐在流传中演变与改易。40
Instead, the Harpers exascerbated the bard’s fears.”可竖琴手同盟反而加剧了这名吟游诗人的恐惧。”41
“We could not afford your fine sense of justice, Elminster,” Morala said.“我们可承受不起你那套高尚的正义观，伊尔明斯特。”莫拉拉说道。42
“We had to protect others from Nameless.“我们必须保护其他人不受无名者伤害。43
A few years would not have changed his attitude.短短几年并不能改变他的态度。44
I doubt that two hundred years has done so.我怀疑就算过了两百年，他也依然没有改变。45
Even now that he has his singer, Alias, is he any less likely to use people?即使如今他有了自己的歌者阿莉亚丝，难道他就不太可能再利用别人了吗？46
Can you offer any proof that Nameless himself has changed?”你能拿出任何证据，证明无名者本人已经改变了吗？”47
Elminster considered the question carefully, searching his memory for any speech or action by Nameless that would demonstrate the bard’s redemption.伊尔明斯特仔细思索着这个问题，在记忆中搜寻无名者说过的任何话、做过的任何事，看是否足以证明这位吟游诗人已经改过自新。48
“Yes,” he said finally.“能。”他终于说道。49
The Harpers waited impatiently for the sage to continue.竖琴手同盟的众人不耐烦地等着这位贤者继续说下去。50
Elminster rose to his feet and circled around the table till he stood directly before the tribunal.伊尔明斯特站起身，绕过桌子，来到审判席正前方站定。51
“Three things …” he began.“有三件事……”他开口道。52
Then suddenly his face went pale.随即，他的脸色突然变得煞白。53
He gasped and clutched at his chest.他倒抽一口气，一把捂住胸口。54
“Elminster?”“伊尔明斯特？”55
Morala cried, rising to her feet.莫拉拉惊叫着站起身来。56
“Are you all right, sir?”“先生，您没事吧？”57
Breck asked, leaping from his seat to come to the aid of the sage.布雷克问道，同时从座位上一跃而起，冲过去援助那位贤者。58
Some invisible force, though, repelled the young ranger.然而，一股无形的力量将年轻的游侠弹了回去。59
He bounced backward onto the dais at Kyre’s feet.他向后摔上高台，落在凯尔脚边。60
In the span of three breaths, Elminster’s body seemed to turn to clear crystal.不过三次呼吸的工夫，伊尔明斯特的身体似乎化作了透明的水晶。61
Then, in a flash of bright light, the sage was gone.随后，一道强光闪过，贤者消失了。62
In his place stood a huge, hideous beast.取而代之的，是一头庞大而丑陋的怪兽。63
The creature stood as tall as a hill giant, towering over the three Harpers.那生物足有丘陵巨人那么高，巍然耸立在三名竖琴手同盟成员面前。64
The long red robe and fur cape it wore couldn’t hide the inhumanness of its form.它身上的红色长袍和毛皮斗篷也掩盖不住那非人的形体。65
It was covered with sickly green scales, and its eyes glittered red in the torchlight.它浑身覆盖着病态的绿色鳞片，双眼在火把的光芒中闪着红光。66
Two sharp ivory horns sprouted from its head, and a third, even longer, horn rose from the tip of its long snout.两根尖锐的象牙色长角从它头顶生出，长长的吻端还竖着第三根角，比前两根更长。67
Around the back of its head grew a bony frill, edged with spikes and decorated with arcane magical symbols.它的后脑周围长着一圈骨质颈盾，边缘布满尖刺，其上还饰有奥术魔法符号。68
A muscular tail curled up from beneath the hem of its robe and swished back and forth like an angry snake.一条肌肉虬结的尾巴从长袍下摆探出，向上卷曲，像一条愤怒的蛇般来回甩动。69
In one clawed appendage, the beast clenched an iron staff tipped with a yellow orb, and in the other claw it held out a small blood-red object vaguely resembling a large chess rook.那野兽一只利爪紧握着一根顶端镶有黄色圆球的铁杖，另一只利爪则伸在身前，托着一个血红色的小东西，隐约像一枚放大的国际象棋车棋子。70
The red object began to glow, and the Harpers could feel heat emanating from it.那红色物体开始发光，竖琴手同盟成员们能感觉到热量正从中散发出来。71
Kyre shouted, “Kill it!”凯尔大喊：“杀了它！”72
Without a second’s hesitation, she drew a dagger from her boot and hurled it.她毫不迟疑地从靴子里拔出一把匕首，猛掷出去。73
The dagger struck the red object in the beast’s hand, knocking it to the stone floor, where it landed with a soft plop.匕首击中了野兽手里的红色物体，将它打落在石地板上；它啪嗒一声轻轻落地。74
The beast looked up at Kyre and growled menacingly.那野兽抬眼望向凯尔，发出充满威胁的低吼。75
“Kill the monster, Breck!”“杀了那个怪物，布雷克！”76
Kyre cried.凯尔喊道。77
“Kill it before it’s too late!”“趁还来得及，快杀了它！”78
The ranger lost no time in picking himself up from Kyre’s feet, drawing his long sword, and charging the beast.游侠立刻从凯尔脚边爬起，拔出长剑，朝那野兽冲去。79
The creature was just as quick, holding out its staff with both clawed appendages to block Breck’s blow.那生物的动作同样迅捷，双爪横举铁杖，挡住了布雷克的一击。80
Sparks flew where the ranger’s steel sword ground along the length of the iron staff.游侠的钢剑沿着铁杖摩擦而过，交击处火星四溅。81
The beast’s heavy tail lashed forward, struck Breck’s left shoulder, and knocked him backward.那野兽沉重的尾巴猛然向前抽出，击中布雷克的左肩，将他打得向后飞退。82
Breck stumbled back into the dais, grunting from the pain that shot down his arm and back.布雷克踉跄着后退，撞上高台，手臂和后背传来的剧痛让他闷哼出声。83
Meanwhile, Morala rose to her feet, drew a vial of holy water from the sleeve of her robe, and began singing a series of increasingly higher-pitched musical scales, praying to Milil, the god of bards, for his aid.与此同时，莫拉拉站起身，从长袍袖中取出一小瓶圣水，开始唱出一连串音调越来越高的音阶，祈求吟游诗人之神米利尔出手相助。84
Kyre stepped from the dais, circling cautiously around the beast until she stood at the periphery of its vision.凯尔走下高台，小心翼翼地绕着那野兽转动，直到站在它视野的边缘。85
Then she began a magical chant of her own, one far more harsh and guttural than that of the priestess.接着，她也开始吟诵自己的魔法咒语，声音比那位女祭司的吟唱刺耳低沉得多。86
Breck recovered enough to close in on his opponent again, searching for an opening in the beast’s defenses.布雷克缓过劲来，再次逼近对手，寻找那头怪兽防守中的破绽。87
The creature grabbed Breck’s injured arm and lifted the ranger several feet off the floor.怪兽一把抓住布雷克受伤的手臂，将这名游侠提离地面数英尺。88
Breck heard a pop as his arm dislocated from its shoulder joint, and he howled in agony.布雷克听见啪的一声，手臂从肩关节处脱了臼，痛得放声惨嚎。89
In a fury, he brought his sword down on the beast’s head, but the blade got caught on the bony frill protruding from its skull.盛怒之下，他挥剑劈向怪兽的头颅，但剑刃却卡在了它头骨上突出的骨质颈盾中。90
Crimson blood oozed from the skin covering the beast’s frill, and the creature roared.殷红的鲜血从覆盖着怪兽颈盾的皮肤中渗出，怪兽咆哮起来。91
It hurled Breck through the air, straight into Morala, knocking her off balance.它将布雷克凌空掷出，正好砸中莫拉拉，撞得她失去了平衡。92
The ranger and the priestess tumbled from the dais.游侠和女祭司双双从高台上滚落。93
Breck’s head hit the stone floor with a sickening thud.布雷克的脑袋砰地撞上石质地面，那声闷响令人心惊肉跳。94
Morala was able to soften her own landing with her hands, but her vial of holy water smashed on the floor, and her concentration shattered with it.莫拉拉及时用双手撑地，缓和了自己落地的冲击，但她那瓶圣水却摔碎在地，她的专注也随之崩溃。95
Her spell, which would have sent the beast back to whatever foul plane it had come from, was ruined.她的法术本可将怪兽送回它所来自的某个邪恶位面，如今却毁于一旦。96
“You may just have destroyed our only hope, ranger,” the priestess snapped.“游侠，你可能刚刚毁掉了我们唯一的希望。”女祭司厉声说道。97
When Breck failed to reply, the priestess turned to face him.见布雷克没有回答，女祭司转身看向他。98
The ranger lay still on the floor.游侠一动不动地躺在地上。99
Morala knelt to examine him.莫拉拉跪下来查看他的情况。100
He was still breathing, but the impact to his head had knocked him unconscious.他仍有呼吸，但头部遭受的撞击已使他失去了意识。101
Indifferent to the fate of her fellow Harpers, Kyre completed her own spell before the beast could turn its full attention to her.凯尔对同属竖琴手同盟的伙伴安危漠不关心，赶在怪兽将全部注意力转向她之前完成了自己的法术。102
A fan of flames shot out from the half-elf’s fingers.一道扇形烈焰从半精灵的指间喷射而出。103
The assault caught the beast in its midsection, and immediately its robes burst into flames.烈焰击中了怪兽的腰腹部，它身上的长袍顿时燃烧起来。104
The creature roared, dropped to the ground, and rolled to extinguish the flames.怪兽咆哮着扑倒在地，翻滚起来，试图扑灭火焰。105
Kyre drew her own sword and approached the beast until she stood over its prone form.凯尔拔出自己的剑，走向怪兽，直到站在它倒伏的身躯上方。106
She raised her blade up to strike, but she, too, neglected to watch out for the beast’s tail.她举剑欲劈，但她也疏忽了怪兽的尾巴。107
The serpentine appendage lashed out suddenly and slapped her legs out from under her.那条蛇一般的尾巴突然横扫而来，一下扫倒了她的双腿。108
As she fell to her hands and knees, she lost her grip on her sword.她摔得双手和双膝着地，同时松开了握剑的手。109
Her weapon slid across the stone floor, but quickly she rolled toward it and grabbed it.她的武器滑过石质地面，但她立刻朝它翻滚过去，一把将其抓住。110
The beast picked itself off the floor, leaning heavily on its staff, and lumbered from the courtroom and down the hallway.怪兽从地上爬起，身体沉沉倚在法杖上，蹒跚着离开审判厅，沿走廊而去。111
Kyre stood up and turned to Morala.凯尔站起身，转向莫拉拉。112
“Alert the guard!” the half-elf ordered.“通知卫兵！”半精灵命令道。113
“I’m going after the monster!”“我去追那个怪物！”114
“Breck’s injuries are serious!”“布雷克伤得很重！”115
Morala called to her.莫拉拉冲她喊道。116
“Alert the guard while I tend to him.”“我来照料他，你去通知卫兵。”117
Morala looked up when Kyre did not reply.凯尔没有回答，莫拉拉便抬头看去。118
The half-elf was already chasing after the beast.半精灵已经追着那怪物去了。119
“Kyre!“凯尔！120
Come back here!” the priestess shouted after her, but the half-elf did not return.回来！”女祭司朝她的背影喊道，可半精灵并没有回来。121
Morala set her jaw angrily.莫拉拉气恼地绷紧了下巴。122
“Foolish girl,” she muttered.“愚蠢的丫头。”她低声嘟囔道。123
As the priestess of Milil laid her hands on the ranger’s pale face and began humming a healing spell, she noted a peculiar mixture of odors wafting through the room.米利尔的女祭司将双手按在游侠苍白的脸上，开始哼唱治疗咒语，同时察觉到一股混杂着几种气味的奇特气息在房间里飘荡。124
The smell of burning cloth, she realized, was the result of Kyre’s burning hands spell.她意识到，那股布料烧焦的气味是凯尔施展燃烧之手法术造成的。125
But where, Morala wondered, did the smell of fresh-mown hay and baking bread come from?可莫拉拉不禁疑惑，新割青草和烘烤面包的气味又是从哪里来的？126
Olive stood at the door to Finder’s cell, fidgeting nervously.奥利芙站在芬德牢房门口，紧张不安地动来动去。127
“I know what I heard!” she insisted.“我知道自己听见了什么！”她坚持道。128
“Something roared out there.”“外面有什么东西吼了一声。”129
“Olive, this is the Tower of Ashaba,” Finder reminded the halfling.“奥利芙，这里可是阿沙巴之塔。”芬德提醒这个半身人。130
“The home of Mourngrym, Lord of Shadowdale.“是阴影谷领主莫恩格林的居所。131
The guards aren’t going to allow any wild beasts to roam the halls.”卫兵不会允许任何野兽在走廊里乱窜的。”132
“How do you know?“你怎么知道？133
After all, they let me roam the halls,” Olive argued.毕竟，他们就放任我在走廊里乱窜。”奥利芙反驳道。134
Finder grinned at the halfling’s indirect comparison of herself to a wild beast.芬德听出半身人拐弯抹角地把自己比作野兽，咧嘴一笑。135
“Come away from the door, Olive,” he said patiently.“离门远点，奥利芙，”他耐心地说道。136
“We don’t want the guards to see you in here.”“我们可不想让守卫看见你在这里。”137
“I’m just going to take a peek,” Olive insisted, opening the door a few inches more.“我就瞄一眼，”奥利芙坚持道，把门又推开了几英寸。138
She tried to slip out of the cell, but an invisible barrier across the threshold blocked her escape.她试图溜出牢房，却被横在门槛上的一道无形屏障挡住了去路。139
“It’s blocked!”“被封住了！”140
Olive hissed angrily.奥利芙恼怒地嘶声说道。141
“It’s a one-way door.“这是扇单向门。142
Why didn’t you tell me I was walking into a trap?”你怎么不告诉我，我这是往陷阱里钻？”143
Finder raised his eyebrows in surprise.芬德惊讶地扬起了眉毛。144
“I didn’t know, Olive.“我不知道，奥利芙。145
Really.”真的。”146
He began to laugh.他笑了起来。147
“What’s so damned funny?”“这到底有什么该死的好笑？”148
Olive demanded.奥利芙质问道。149
“The irony of it all,” Finder explained.“整件事的讽刺之处，”芬德解释道。150
“I thought Elminster trusted me, but he knew me well enough to take extra precautions.“我还以为伊尔明斯特信任我，可他太了解我了，早就多加了一层防备。151
He must have made the door one-way to catch anyone who might try to help me escape from the cell.”他一定是把门变成了只能单向通行，好抓住任何想帮我逃出牢房的人。”152
“I still fail to see any humor in it,” Olive said coldly.“我还是看不出这有什么好笑的，”奥利芙冷冷地说。153
“Olive, Olive, Olive.“奥利芙，奥利芙，奥利芙。154
I told you.我告诉过你了。155
The finder’s stone can get past any barrier Elminster may have cast to try to prevent me from leaving this room.寻觅石能穿过伊尔明斯特为了阻止我离开这间屋子而可能设下的任何屏障。156
In his wildest dreams, the sage couldn’t have imagined you’d find the stone and bring it to me.”那位贤者做梦也想不到，你会找到这块石头，还把它带来给我。”157
“You could put my mind to rest by using the stone to get us out right now,” Olive said.“你要是现在就用这块石头带我们出去，我也就能安心了，”奥利芙说。158
Finder shook his head from side to side.芬德摇了摇头。159
“We’ll leave after the Harpers have made their decision.“等竖琴手同盟作出决定后，我们就离开。160
Not a measure sooner or later,” he said.一拍也不能早，一拍也不能晚。”他说。161
He laid the finder’s stone down on the table and picked up his chordal horn.他把寻路石放在桌上，拿起了和弦号角。162
Olive leaned back against the wall beside the prison cell door and slumped to the floor.奥利芙倚着牢门旁的墙壁向后一靠，颓然滑坐到地板上。163
Finder began playing a soldier’s marching melody.芬德开始吹奏一支士兵行军曲。164
Olive sniffed the air.奥利芙嗅了嗅空气。165
Although exit from the prison cell was magically blocked, the smell of fresh-baked bread wafted into the cell.尽管牢房的出口被魔法封锁了，新鲜出炉的面包香气却飘进了牢房。166
The halfling’s stomach rumbled in response.半身人的肚子闻香咕咕叫了起来。167
“I should have eaten a bigger breakfast,” she muttered.“早饭真该多吃一点的。”她嘟囔道。168
Something in the hallway clomped toward the door.走廊里有什么东西咚咚地朝门口走来。169
“Would the guards be bringing you something to eat about now?”“卫兵是不是差不多该给你送吃的来了？”170
Olive whispered.奥利芙低声问道。171
Finder lowered his horn from his mouth.芬德把号角从嘴边放下。172
“What are you talking a—” The bard halted in midword as the door of the prison cell flew open.“你在说什——”牢门猛地敞开，吟游诗人的话戛然而止。173
A huge green lizard in charred robes bent low and squeezed through the doorway.一只身披焦黑长袍的巨大绿蜥蜴低下身子，挤过门口。174
The creature was dripping blood from a shallow wound on its head, and the scales on its hands were black and blistered.那生物头上有一道浅浅的伤口，鲜血正不断滴落，双手上的鳞片也已发黑起泡。175
Olive stood cautiously, trying not to attract the beast’s attention, while Finder grabbed the finder’s stone from the table and backed away from the door.奥利芙小心翼翼地站起身，尽量不引起那野兽的注意；与此同时，芬德从桌上抓起寻路石，向远离门口的方向退去。176
“Don’t come a step farther!” the bard ordered the beast.“一步也不许再往前！”吟游诗人命令那野兽。177
The smell of baking bread was overwhelming.烘烤面包的香气浓烈得令人难以招架。178
Olive gasped.奥利芙倒吸了一口气。179
A flicker of memory burst into enlightenment.一丝记忆闪过，令她恍然大悟。180
Alerted to the halfling’s presence by Olive’s gasp, the lizard turned to face her.奥利芙的抽气声让蜥蜴察觉到了半身人的存在，它转过身来面对她。181
It pointed a clawed finger at her.它伸出一根带爪的手指，指向她。182
“Don’t touch her!”“别碰她！”183
Finder barked sharply.芬德厉声喝道。184
“Back away from it slowly, Olive,” he whispered to the halfling.“慢慢离它远一点，奥利芙，”他低声对半身人说道。185
“It’s all right,” Olive said, showing more courage than Finder would have ever credited her with possessing.“没事的，”奥利芙说道，展现出的勇气远超芬德以为她会有的。186
“At least, I think it’s all right,” the halfling added softly.“至少，我觉得没事，”半身人又轻声说道。187
She reached out slowly with one hand and touched the beast’s robes.她缓缓伸出一只手，摸了摸那野兽的长袍。188
“Are you a friend of Dragonbait’s?” she asked tentatively.“你是龙饵的朋友吗？”她试探着问道。189
The beast looked down at the halfling as if it were concentrating on trying to understand her, but it made no reply.那野兽低头看着半身人，仿佛正全神贯注地试图听懂她的话，却没有作答。190
Olive sighed.奥利芙叹了口气。191
“Of course.“当然了。192
Dragonbait could only understand us because of his link to Alias.”龙饵能听懂我们的话，只是因为他与阿莉亚丝之间的联结。”193
The halfling turned to Finder.半身人转向芬德。194
“I don’t suppose you speak any Saurial, do you, Finder?” she asked.“我猜你不会说蜥蜴人的语言吧，芬德？”她问道。195
Finder eyed the creature suspiciously.芬德怀疑地打量着这个生物。196
“What makes you think this monster’s a saurial?“你凭什么觉得这个怪物是蜥蜴人？197
He doesn’t look anything like Dragonbait.”他看起来一点也不像龙饵。”198
The halfling raised her eyes to the heavens and muttered, “Humans!”半身人抬眼望天，嘟囔道：“人类！”199
She looked back at Finder with disappointment.她失望地回头看着芬德。200
“I don’t look anything like you, either,” she pointed out.“我看起来也一点都不像你，”她指出。201
“And you don’t look anything like Alias, yet we’re all from the Realms.“你看起来也一点都不像阿莉亚丝，可我们都来自诸界。202
What makes you think all saurials have to look like Dragonbait?”你凭什么觉得所有蜥蜴人都非得长得像龙饵？”203
Finder conceded Olive’s point with a slight nod.芬德微微点头，承认奥利芙说得有道理。204
“I grant you that it could be a saurial.“我承认，它可能是蜥蜴人。205
What makes you think it is?”可你凭什么觉得它就是？”206
“Only two things smell as good as fresh-baked bread,” Olive explained.“只有两样东西闻起来和刚出炉的面包一样香。”奥利芙解释道。207
“Fresh baked bread and angry saurials.”“刚出炉的面包，还有发怒的蜥蜴人。”208
“Because that’s the smell they use to communicate their anger,” Finder said, recalling now all that Alias had told him about Dragonbait’s scents.“因为他们就是用这种气味来表达愤怒的。”芬德说道，这时想起了阿莉亚丝告诉过他的有关龙饵气味的一切。209
“He doesn’t smell quite so much like bread anymore.“他闻起来已经没那么像面包了。210
I hope that means he’s calming down,” Olive said.希望这说明他正在消气。”奥利芙说道。211
“Yes, but what got him angry in the first place?”“没错，可他一开始为什么会发火？”212
Finder asked.芬德问道。213
“And what’s he doing here?”“还有，他在这里干什么？”214
“It looks like someone tried to roast him,” Olive said, indicating the beast’s charred clothing and hands.“看起来像是有人想把他烤熟。”奥利芙说道，指了指那怪物烧焦的衣服和双手。215
“I imagine that could make him pretty mad.”“我猜这足以让他气得不轻。”216
From the sleeve of his robe, the beast pulled out a silver medallion on a silk cord and handed it to Olive.那怪物从长袍袖子里掏出一枚系在丝绳上的银质徽章，递给奥利芙。217
“For me?”“给我的？”218
Olive asked, her eyes glittering with delight.奥利芙问道，双眼因欣喜而闪闪发亮。219
The beast tapped the medallion with a claw.那怪物用一根爪子敲了敲徽章。220
Olive’s eyes widened in astonishment at the design inscribed into the shining metal.奥利芙看清亮闪闪的金属上镌刻的图案，惊讶地睁大了眼睛。221
“Finder, the picture on this medallion—it’s Dragonbait!”“芬德，这枚徽章上的图案——是龙饵！”222
Olive declared, holding out the medallion for the bard to see.奥利芙叫道，把徽章伸到吟游诗人面前给他看。223
“It looks just like him.“简直和他一模一样。224
And that’s his sword—well, the sword he had last year before Alias lost it in the battle with Phalse.还有那把剑——就是他去年用的那把，后来阿莉亚丝在与法尔斯交战时把它弄丢了。225
This guy knows Dragonbait,” she added, poking a finger at the beast.这家伙认识龙饵。”她补充道，同时用手指戳了戳那怪物。226
“Dragonbait’s at The Old Skull with Alias,” Finder said.“龙饵正和阿莉亚丝待在老骷髅旅店。”芬德说道。227
“If this overgrown saurial is Dragonbait’s friend, why isn’t he down there raising a mug with Dragonbait?“如果这个大块头蜥蜴人是龙饵的朋友，他为什么不在下面和龙饵一起举杯畅饮？228
What’s he doing here with us?”他和我们待在这里干什么？”229
“Maybe Alias and Dragonbait sent him here to rescue you,” Olive suggested as she casually slipped the creature’s medallion into a pocket of her tunic.“也许是阿莉亚丝和龙饵派他来救你的。”奥利芙猜测道，同时若无其事地把那怪物的徽章塞进了自己上衣的口袋。230
Finder looked exceptionally doubtful.芬德显得格外怀疑。231
“Wait a minute!” the bard said, slapping himself in the forehead.“等一下！”吟游诗人一拍自己的额头，说道。232
“We don’t have to play guessing games.“我们不用再玩猜谜游戏了。233
I have a tongues spell in the stone.”我的石头里存着一个通晓语言术。”234
Finder laid his chordal horn on the table and held the finder’s stone out before him.芬德把和弦号角放到桌上，将寻觅石举在身前。235
He sang a scale in A-minor.他唱出一段A小调音阶。236
Olive watched, fascinated, as the stone glowed in Finder’s hands and surrounded him with yellow light.奥利芙着迷地看着那块石头在芬德手中亮起光芒，又用黄光将他笼罩。237
The bard and the lizard stood staring at one another for what seemed to Olive like an eternity, though it was actually no more than a minute.吟游诗人和蜥蜴彼此凝视着，在奥利芙看来仿佛过了漫长无尽的时间，其实至多也不过一分钟。238
She could detect a collage of scents rising from both the beast and Finder, but she grew bored not knowing what they were discussing.她能察觉到野兽和芬德身上都散发出各种混杂的气味，但因为听不懂他们在谈什么，很快便觉得无聊起来。239
“Well?” the halfling prompted, reminding the other two of her presence.“然后呢？”半身人催促道，提醒另外两人她还在场。240
“The creature’s name is Grypht,” Finder explained finally.“这个生物名叫格里夫特，”芬德终于解释道。241
“He’s been looking for Dragonbait, but he was unable to locate him magically.”“他一直在寻找龙饵，却无法用魔法确定他的位置。”242
“ ’Cause Dragonbait’s with Alias, and they’re both hidden by her shield of magical misdirection,” Olive said.“因为龙饵跟阿莉亚丝在一起，而他们俩都被她的魔法误导护盾隐藏起来了。”奥利芙说。243
“No doubt,” Finder said, nodding.“毫无疑问。”芬德点头说道。244
“Grypht knows you’re a friend of Dragonbait’s, so he’s come looking for you, hoping you can tell him where to find his friend.“格里夫特知道你是龙饵的朋友，所以才来找你，希望你能告诉他去哪里才能找到自己的朋友。245
Grypht teleported into the tower directly from his native dimension, but apparently someone here took him for an enemy and attacked him.格里夫特从他的原生位面直接传送进了这座塔，但显然这里有人把他当成敌人，袭击了他。246
He’s put up a wall of ice in the corridor to keep anyone from following him.”他在走廊里竖起了一堵冰墙，不让任何人追上来。”247
“Then let’s take him to Dragonbait before the ice melts,” Olive suggested.“那我们趁冰墙还没融化，赶紧带他去找龙饵吧。”奥利芙提议道。248
“No hurry,” Finder said.“不用着急，”芬德说。249
“I can explain to the guards that he means no harm.”“我可以向守卫解释，他没有恶意。”250
“Suppose they don’t believe you?”“要是他们不相信你呢？”251
Olive asked anxiously.奥利芙焦急地问道。252
Finder waved impatiently for Olive to remain silent as he resumed his “conversation” with the saurial Grypht.芬德不耐烦地挥手示意奥利芙保持安静，随后又继续与蜥族人格里夫特“交谈”起来。253
Olive huffed and slumped back against the wall, wishing fervently that this strange friend of Dragonbait’s could talk Finder into leaving, and leaving soon.奥利芙气呼呼地哼了一声，颓然靠回墙上，满心盼望龙饵的这个怪朋友能说服芬德离开，而且越快越好。254
She was growing increasingly more nervous, though she couldn’t say exactly why.她越来越紧张，却说不清究竟是为什么。255
Just to be on the safe side, she pushed the door closed and relocked it with her lockpick.为稳妥起见，她推上门，又用开锁工具把门锁好。256
If she was unable to escape, she was going to make it just as difficult as possible for anyone or anything else to get in.既然自己逃不出去，她就要尽可能让其他任何人或东西也难以进来。257
Following the trail of blood drops from Grypht’s wounds, Kyre nearly ran into the wall of ice that the creature had cast to block the corridor.凯尔循着格里夫特伤口滴落的血迹追去，险些一头撞上那生物施法筑起、用来堵住走廊的冰墙。258
She was especially susceptible to injury from cold—something that, unfortunately, Grypht knew only too well.她尤其容易受到寒冷的伤害——不幸的是，格里夫特对此再清楚不过。259
She backed away from the ice carefully, shivering uncontrollably.她小心翼翼地从冰墙前退开，浑身不由自主地颤抖。260
The half-elf didn’t know precisely what had brought Grypht to the Tower of Ashaba, but it was doubtful he’d come here looking for her.这名半精灵并不清楚格里夫特究竟为何来到阿沙巴塔，但他应该不是来这里找她的。261
He’d seemed as surprised to see her as she’d been to see him.他见到她时似乎也同她见到他时一样惊讶。262
She had to capture or destroy him before it was too late.她必须趁一切还来得及，抓住他或消灭他。263
After a minute, Kyre had warmed sufficiently to think clearly and control her movements.过了一会儿，凯尔终于暖和到足以清醒思考，也能控制自己的动作了。264
She replaced her sword in its scabbard and pulled a magical scroll from one of the pockets of her tunic.她将剑插回鞘中，从上衣的一只口袋里抽出一张魔法卷轴。265
She’d meant to use the scroll to break the Nameless Bard out of his cell, but dealing with Grypht had a higher priority.她原本打算用这张卷轴把无名者吟游诗人救出牢房，但对付格里夫特更为紧要。266
She unrolled the scroll and held it out to read from it.她展开卷轴，举在面前诵读。267
At that moment, Lord Mourngrym and three armed guards came running up behind her.就在这时，莫恩格林领主带着三名全副武装的卫兵从她身后跑了过来。268
All four fighters had their swords drawn.四名战士全都拔出了剑。269
“What’s going on?”“出什么事了？”270
Mourngrym demanded.莫恩格林厉声问道。271
“I heard something roaring!”“我听见了咆哮声！”272
“It’s a denizen of the Nine Hells, your lordship,” Kyre said.“大人，那是九层地狱的居民，”凯尔说道。273
“Somehow it teleported Elminster from the courtroom and appeared in his place.”“它不知用了什么办法，将伊尔明斯特从审判厅传送走，自己则出现在了他原来的位置。”274
“That’s impossible.“这不可能。275
No monster from the lower planes can enter this tower.下层位面的怪物根本无法进入这座塔。276
Elminster has it warded against such evil,” Mourngrym scoffed.伊尔明斯特已经设下结界，阻挡这类邪恶之物了。”莫恩格林嗤笑道。277
“Nothing is impossible, your lordship,” Kyre replied.“没有什么是不可能的，大人，”凯尔答道。278
“I know this monster.“我知道这怪物。279
It is called Grypht, and it is very powerful, a master of lies.它叫格里夫特，力量极其强大，是个谎言大师。280
It works for the Zhentarim.它为散塔林会效力。281
It attacked Breck; Morala is tending him in the courtroom.它袭击了布雷克；莫拉拉正在法庭里照料他。282
I chased the monster down this corridor.我一路追着这怪物来到这条走廊。283
It has sealed itself behind this wall of ice.”它用这堵冰墙把自己封在了后面。”284
“Caitlin, go make sure Morala and Breck are all right,” Mourngrym ordered one of the guards.“凯特琳，去确认一下莫拉拉和布雷克是否安然无恙，”莫恩格林命令一名卫兵道。285
The guard ran down the corridor toward the courtroom.那名卫兵沿着走廊朝法庭跑去。286
“Is there another passage leading to the corridor beyond?”“还有别的通道能通往冰墙另一边的走廊吗？”287
Kyre asked.凯尔问道。288
“No,” Mourngrym replied.“没有，”莫恩格林答道。289
“This hallway comes to a dead end.“这条走廊是条死路。290
That’s why Elminster put the Nameless Bard in the room at the far—” Suddenly his face went white.所以伊尔明斯特才把无名者吟游诗人安置在最尽头的房间里——”他的脸突然变得煞白。291
“Nameless!“无名者！292
He’s locked up in there … defenseless!” his lordship gasped.他被锁在里面……毫无自卫能力！”大人倒抽着气说道。293
“We have to get through this wall of ice!“我们必须穿过这堵冰墙！294
Thurbal, fetch a mage.瑟巴尔，去找一名法师来。295
Sar, get torches and axes!”萨尔，拿火把和斧头来！”296
Mourngrym demanded.莫恩格林厉声命令道。297
As the two guards hurried to obey their lord, Kyre held out her magic scroll.两名卫兵匆忙去执行大人的命令时，凯尔举起了她的魔法卷轴。298
“You must get through as quickly as you can, your lordship,” the half-elf said, “but I cannot wait.“您必须尽快穿过冰墙，大人，”半精灵女子说道，“但我不能等。299
I must use a magical door to get myself to the other side of the wall.”我必须用一道魔法门把自己送到墙的另一边。”300
“You can’t go alone,” Mourngrym argued.“你不能独自前去，”莫恩格林反驳道。301
“I must,” the half-elf insisted.“我必须去。”半精灵坚持道。302
“Someone must protect the Nameless Bard from that creature.”“必须有人保护无名者诗人，不让那怪物伤害他。”303
Lord Mourngrym nodded.莫恩格林领主点了点头。304
There was no other choice.别无选择。305
His lordship watched as Kyre chanted aloud the words on the magical scroll she held in her hands.领主看着凯尔高声念诵手中魔法卷轴上的文字。306
She read quickly, but it took her a full minute to complete the spell.她念得很快，但仍花了整整一分钟才完成这个法术。307
The instant she had finished reading it, the scroll burst into flames, and Kyre was swallowed up by a dimensional door and disappeared.她刚一念完，卷轴便燃起火焰，凯尔随即被一道次元门吞没，消失了。308
His lordship pulled out his dagger and began chipping away at the wall of ice, unwilling to waste time waiting for an axe while the brave half-elf faced Grypht alone.领主拔出匕首，开始一点点凿开冰墙；勇敢的半精灵正独自面对格里夫特，他不愿浪费时间等人取来斧头。309
At the front gate of the Tower of Ashaba, Alias and Akabar halted as Heth announced them.在阿沙巴塔的正门前，阿莉亚丝和阿卡巴停下脚步，等赫斯通报他们的到来。310
“Alias of Westgate and her friend Akabar bel Akash,” the page informed the four guards who stood at the entrance.“西门城的阿莉亚丝和她的朋友阿卡巴·贝尔·阿卡什。”侍童向守在入口处的四名卫兵禀报道。311
The announcement was a mere formality.这番通报不过是例行公事。312
The guards all knew Alias, and they weren’t likely to challenge anyone who accompanied her.卫兵们全都认识阿莉亚丝，也不太可能盘问任何与她同行的人。313
She had served in the tower guard herself the previous winter, and she was a trusted friend of Lord Mourngrym.前一个冬天，她自己也曾在塔中担任守卫，而且还是莫恩格林领主信赖的朋友。314
Just as Alias and Akabar stepped across the threshold, a balding, burly man-at-arms came racing across the entrance hall toward the gate.阿莉亚丝和阿卡巴刚跨过门槛，一名头顶渐秃、身材魁梧的军士便穿过门厅，朝大门飞奔而来。315
Alias recognized him as Captain Thurbal, the warden of the town of Shadowdale.阿莉亚丝认出他是瑟巴尔队长，阴影谷镇的治安官。316
Thurbal looked anxious and distracted, and in his haste, he ran into Heth.瑟巴尔神色焦虑，心不在焉，匆忙间一头撞上了赫斯。317
“Captain,” the boy squeaked, “what’s wrong?”“队长，”男孩尖声问道，“出什么事了？”318
“Heth!“赫斯！319
Good—you’re just the person I need!” the captain exclaimed as he grabbed the page’s shoulders.太好了——我正需要你！”队长抓住侍童的双肩，叫道。320
“Run to the inn and bring back any mages who may be staying there!“快跑去旅店，把可能住在那里的法师全都带回来！321
Hurry!”快！”322
He pushed the page toward the door, then turned to Alias.他把侍童推向门口，随后转身面向阿莉亚丝。323
“Alias, it’s good you’re here.“阿莉亚丝，你来得正好。324
We may need you.”我们可能需要你。”325
Heth looked annoyed and began to protest.赫斯显得有些恼火，正要开口抗议。326
“But, Captain, his lordship said that today I was to page only for the trib—”“可是，队长，爵爷说过，今天我只给审判庭当侍童——”327
“No buts, boy!”“别可是了，小子！”328
Thurbal shouted.瑟巴尔吼道。329
“This is an emergency!”“这是紧急情况！”330
“Excuse me,” Akabar said.“打扰一下，”阿卡巴说道。331
“I’m a mage.“我是一名法师。332
What’s wrong?出什么事了？333
Can I be of some assistance?”我能帮上什么忙吗？”334
“Thank Tymora!” the captain exclaimed.“感谢泰摩拉！”队长叫道。335
“Come with me, please.”“请跟我来。”336
He took the Turmishman’s arm and hustled him across the front hall toward the tower’s main staircase.他抓住图米什人的胳膊，催着他穿过前厅，朝塔楼的主楼梯赶去。337
Hurrying behind them, Alias asked anxiously, “Thurbal, what’s wrong, anyway?”阿莉亚丝匆匆跟在他们身后，焦急地问道：“瑟巴尔，到底出什么事了？”338
Without breaking his stride, Thurbal explained, “Some fiend from a lower plane has broken into the tower.”瑟巴尔脚步不停地解释道：“有个来自下层位面的恶魔闯进了塔楼。”339
“That’s impossible,” Alias interrupted.“这不可能，”阿莉亚丝打断了他。340
“Elminster has warded the tower against—”“伊尔明斯特给塔楼设下了防护，专门防范——”341
“So we all thought,” Thurbal said.“我们原本也都这么以为，”瑟巴尔说道。342
“The Harper bard Kyre says the creature is from the Nine Hells, however, and it’s barricaded itself behind a wall of ice.“不过，竖琴手吟游诗人凯尔说，那怪物来自九层地狱，而且它用一堵冰墙把自己封锁在了里面。343
The creature is in the same passage where the Nameless Bard is imprisoned.那怪物就在囚禁无名者吟游诗人的那条通道里。344
Harper Kyre transported herself beyond the wall magically to help Nameless, but the rest of us are stuck on this side of the wall.竖琴手凯尔施展魔法，把自己传送到了墙的另一边去帮助无名者，但我们其他人全被困在了墙的这一边。345
We may need a mage to take it down.”我们可能需要一名法师来拆掉那堵墙。”346
At the mention of Nameless, Alias looked alarmed and began to race up the staircase.一听到无名者的名字，阿莉亚丝顿时面露惊慌，开始飞奔上楼。347
Akabar and Thurbal had to take the steps two at a time to keep up with her.阿卡巴和瑟巴尔不得不一步跨两级台阶，才能跟上她。348
“Head for the west tower room,” Thurbal huffed as they reached the third story.“去西塔楼的房间，”他们抵达三楼时，瑟巴尔气喘吁吁地说道。349
Alias dashed off ahead of the two men, running past the doors to the Harpers’ courtroom.阿莉亚丝冲到两个男人前面，飞奔着经过了竖琴手同盟审判厅的几扇门。350
As she turned the corner of the hallway, she was forced to halt abruptly to avoid running into the wall of ice.她拐过走廊转角时，为了不撞上那堵冰墙，只得猛然停步。351
The thing was dismally cold; it made the corridor feel like a fen in winter.那东西冷得瘆人，令整条走廊宛如冬日里的沼泽。352
Two guards were piling burning torches at its base, but there was no indication whatsoever that the wall was melting.两名守卫正把燃烧的火把堆在墙脚，但冰墙丝毫没有融化的迹象。353
Mourngrym was hacking at the ice wall with a great axe.莫恩格林正用一把巨斧劈砍冰墙。354
He had managed to chip away several inches, but it had taken its toll on him.他已经凿掉了几英寸厚的冰，但自己也为此付出了不小的代价。355
His face and ears were flushed from the cold, his hands were red and raw, and the tips of his fingers were white from frostbite.他的脸和耳朵冻得通红，双手又红又裂，指尖则因冻伤而变得惨白。356
He looked exhausted.他看上去已经筋疲力尽。357
As Alias watched, the axe slipped from his grasp and clanged to the floor.阿莉亚丝看着他手中的斧头滑落，铿然一声砸在地上。358
“Mourngrym!”“莫恩格林！”359
Alias cried, taking hold of his shoulders and pulling him away from the wall.阿莉亚丝喊道，一把抓住他的双肩，将他从墙边拉开。360
“You’ve got to stop before you lose your hands.”“你必须停下来，不然双手就保不住了。”361
Mourngrym looked back at the swordswoman with grim determination.莫恩格林回头望着这位女剑士，神情坚毅而冷峻。362
“I can’t, Alias.“我不能停，阿莉亚丝。363
Nameless and Harper Kyre are trapped behind there with an evil monster,” he said.无名者和竖琴手凯尔被困在那后面，跟一个邪恶的怪物在一起。”他说。364
“I know,” Alias said, trying to keep her voice calmer than she felt.“我知道。”阿莉亚丝说道，竭力让自己的声音听起来比内心平静。365
“I’ve brought Akabar.“我把阿卡巴带来了。366
He’ll dispel the wall.”他会解除这堵冰墙。”367
Just then Akabar and Thurbal turned the corner of the corridor.就在这时，阿卡巴和瑟巴尔拐过了走廊转角。368
Akabar’s eyes widened at the sight of the wall of ice, and he swallowed uncertainly.阿卡巴一见那堵冰墙，顿时睁大了双眼，心里没底地咽了口唾沫。369
The wall was obviously very thick, indicating that it had been cast by a spell-caster far more powerful than he.这堵墙显然极其厚实，说明施展此法术的人远比他强大。370
Without much hope, he began a chant to dispel the magic ice.他不抱多少希望，开始吟诵咒语，试图驱散这堵魔法冰墙。371
Mourngrym, Alias, and the two guards moved away from the wall as the mage raised his clasped hands over his head.法师将交握的双手举过头顶时，莫恩格林、阿莉亚丝和两名守卫纷纷退离冰墙。372
Akabar finished his disenchantment spell by unlacing his fingers with a flourish.阿卡巴潇洒地松开交扣的十指，完成了解除魔法的咒语。373
Sun-yellow motes of light sparkled toward the wall and scattered across the ice.一粒粒太阳般金黄的光点闪烁着飞向冰墙，散落在冰面上。374
The specks of light faded, but the wall of ice remained.光点渐渐消失，冰墙却依然屹立不动。375
Akabar lowered his arms and looked troubled.阿卡巴放下双臂，神色忧虑。376
“I’ll have to try to melt the wall with a fireball,” the mage said.“我得试着用火球术融化这堵墙，”法师说道。377
“It’s quite dangerous.“这相当危险。378
The explosion will release very hot steam.爆炸会释放出灼热的蒸汽。379
You must all take cover.”你们全都必须找地方躲起来。”380
“What about you?”“那你呢？”381
Alias asked.阿莉亚丝问道。382
“I cannot cast the magic from behind a wall,” Akabar said.“我没法隔着一堵墙施展这个法术，”阿卡巴说道。383
Back in Finder’s cell, Olive began to fidget with the straps of her pack as the bard’s expression grew more serious.回到芬德的牢房里，随着吟游诗人的神情变得愈发严肃，奥利芙开始不安地摆弄背包的带子。384
Finder shook his head at something Grypht was “telling” him.格里夫特似乎在向芬德“说”些什么，芬德听了摇摇头。385
Olive’s sharp ears caught the sound of someone out in the hallway picking at the door lock.奥利芙敏锐的耳朵听见外面走廊里有人正在撬门锁。386
“Someone’s coming!” she whispered anxiously.“有人来了！”她焦急地低声说道。387
Grypht spun about and growled.格里夫特猛地转过身，发出低吼。388
Finder tossed Olive the finder’s stone.芬德把寻物石扔给奥利芙。389
“Take this and your cloak and knapsack and stay out of sight,” he ordered the halfling.“带上这个，还有你的斗篷和背包，躲起来别让人看见，”他命令半身人。390
“Now!”“快！”391
Olive picked up her gear and slipped behind the velvet drapes.奥利芙拿起自己的东西，溜到天鹅绒帷幕后面。392
Hastily she poked a tiny peephole in the fabric with her dagger.她匆忙用匕首在布料上戳了一个小小的窥视孔。393
As the door swung open, Finder took a position at Grypht’s side, prepared to reprimand the guards for attacking the creature without provocation.门打开时，芬德在格里夫特身旁站定，准备斥责守卫无缘无故攻击这个生物。394
He was not prepared, however, for Kyre.然而，他万万没想到，来人竟是凯尔。395
The lovely half-elf stood in the doorway holding out a rather large but innocuous-looking walnut.美丽的半精灵站在门口，伸手托着一颗相当大却看似无害的核桃。396
“I’m afraid we haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced,” the bard said, turning on his most charming smile.“恐怕我们还未有幸相识，”吟游诗人说道，展露出他最迷人的笑容。397
Kyre’s face contorted in disgust, and she turned her gaze impatiently on the giant lizard.凯尔厌恶地扭曲了脸，随即不耐烦地把目光转向那只巨蜥。398
Grypht hissed and raised his staff.格里夫特嘶叫一声，举起了法杖。399
“Darkbringer!”“黑暗使者！”400
Kyre shouted.凯尔大喊道。401
The round nut in her hand began to radiate a sphere of darkness, which within the span of five heartbeats, grew as large as a pumpkin, concealing Kyre’s hand and forearm in an inky black ball.她手中那颗圆滚滚的坚果开始放射出一个黑暗的球体，五次心跳之间，它便长到了南瓜大小，将凯尔的手和前臂都隐没在墨黑的球体中。402
Finder stepped protectively in front of the large saurial.芬德护在那名高大的蜥族人身前。403
“No,” he said calmly.“不，”他平静地说道。404
“There’s been a misunderstanding here.“这里面有误会。405
He’s a foe of the Darkbringer, not an agent.”他是黑暗使者的敌人，不是他的爪牙。”406
Kyre ignored Finder.凯尔没有理会芬德。407
“Grypht,” she said flatly.“格里夫特。”她冷冷地说道。408
The sphere of darkness about her hand began to shimmer like hot tar, then reached out a vinelike tendril of glassy black that shot over Finder’s head.包裹着她手掌的黑暗球体开始像滚烫的焦油般闪烁起来，随即探出一根藤蔓般、玻璃般乌亮的触须，从芬德头顶疾射而过。409
The end of the tendril struck Grypht in the face.触须末端击中了格里夫特的脸。410
The saurial stood motionless, paralyzed by the magic, as the dark sphere around the nut oozed along the tendril toward its prey.蜥族人一动不动地站在那里，被魔法麻痹了；与此同时，坚果周围的黑暗球体沿着触须流向它的猎物。411
When it reached Grypht, the darkness poured down him like oil, covering every inch of his body until the great lizard was nothing but a black silhouette.黑暗抵达格里夫特身上后，便像油一样倾泻而下，覆盖了他身体的每一寸，直到这只巨蜥只剩下一道黑色的剪影。412
Then the darkness constricted and shrank about Grypht until he was squeezed into a tiny black, marble-sized sphere.接着，黑暗在格里夫特周身收紧、缩小，直到把他挤压成一颗弹珠大小的黑色小球。413
From behind the curtain, Olive watched in horror as the dark tendril contracted back into the walnut, taking Grypht along with it.奥利芙躲在帘幕后，惊恐地看着那根黑暗触须缩回核桃中，把格里夫特也一并带了进去。414
Then the darkness about the nut dissipated, leaving the walnut as clear as glass.随后，坚果周围的黑暗消散了，只剩下那颗变得如玻璃般透明的核桃。415
“That wasn’t necessary,” Finder insisted angrily.“根本没必要这么做，”芬德愤怒地坚持道。416
“I told you he meant no harm.”“我告诉过你，他没有恶意。”417
Kyre pocketed the walnut and then turned her attention to the prisoner.凯尔把核桃装进口袋，随后将注意力转向了囚徒。418
“Master Nameless, I’m so pleased to meet you at last,” she said, smiling at Finder.“无名者大师，终于见到您了，我真是太高兴了。”她微笑着对芬德说道。419
Behind the curtain, Olive shuddered.帘幕后，奥利芙打了个寒战。420
The halfling couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was definitely something creepy about the way the half-elf smiled.这个半身人说不上来究竟是哪里不对，但那名半精灵微笑的样子，绝对透着一股令人毛骨悚然的诡异。421