“Rise and shine, my pretties,” Giogi called softly as he entered the barn.“醒醒吧，我的小可爱们。”乔吉走进谷仓，轻声招呼道。1
Olive stirred awake.奥利芙动了动，醒了过来。2
Without meaning to, she’d fallen asleep on her feet.她竟不知不觉站着睡着了。3
She shook herself, feeling her mane tickle her neck and her tail slap against her hindquarters.她抖了抖身子，感觉鬃毛挠得脖子发痒，尾巴则拍打着后臀。4
Still a burro, she realized with annoyance.还是头毛驴，她恼火地意识到。5
Giogi stopped to pat the chestnut mare.乔吉停下来，轻轻拍了拍那匹栗色母马。6
“Would you like some apples, Daisyeye?”“想吃点苹果吗，雏菊眼？”7
Olive could hear the horse chomping away on Giogi’s offering.奥利芙听得见那匹马大口嚼着乔吉给她的苹果。8
Then the nobleman entered her enclosure.随后，那位贵族走进了她的围栏。9
He looked into her bucket of oats.他低头看了看她装燕麦的桶。10
“Good, you’ve eaten,” he said.“很好，你吃过了。”他说。11
Olive could feel herself blushing beneath her furry hide.奥利芙能感觉到，自己在毛茸茸的皮肤底下涨红了脸。12
After all she had suffered last night, going without dinner would have been unbearable.昨晚受了那么多罪之后，要是连晚饭都不吃，实在叫人难以忍受。13
The oats’ molasses coating had rendered them almost tasty, actually better than some of the things she’d eaten at inns outside of Cormyr.燕麦裹着的糖蜜让它们变得几乎称得上可口，事实上，甚至比她在科米尔境外某些旅店里吃过的东西还要好。14
After a few experimental nibbles, Olive had polished the remainder off without thinking.试探着咬了几口后，奥利芙便不知不觉把剩下的全吃光了。15
Now confronted with the empty pail, though, she worried that she might grow too burrolike and forget that her favorite meal was not grain, but roast goose, and that she might come to prefer water to Luiren Rivengut.然而此刻面对着空桶，她不禁担心自己会变得太像毛驴，忘记最爱的食物不是谷物而是烤鹅，甚至会渐渐变得宁愿喝水，也不喝路依伦裂肠酒。16
“How about a little treat,” Giogi said, holding out a quarter of an apple.“来点小零食怎么样？”乔吉说着，递出四分之一个苹果。17
At least that could be considered halfling food, Olive decided.至少这还算得上是半身人吃的东西，奥利芙心想。18
She muzzled the fruit from the nobleman’s hand.她用嘴从那位贵族手中叼走了苹果。19
Giogi’s other hand slid something up over her ears.乔吉的另一只手则将某样东西从下往上套过了她的耳朵。20
The feeling of leather straps about her muzzle caused Olive’s nose to twitch.皮带箍住口鼻的感觉让奥利芙抽了抽鼻子。21
Nine Hells, she thought.九层地狱啊，她心想。22
I fell for the apple and the halter trick.我竟中了苹果加笼头这一招。23
Olive brayed and tried to back away, but Giogi held fast to the halter he’d just slipped on her.奥利芙嘶叫着想往后退，可乔吉牢牢抓住了刚套到她头上的笼头。24
“Whoa, girl.“吁，姑娘。25
Easy, now.别怕。26
We’re just going into the catacombs beneath the old family crypt to look for the thief who stole the wyvern’s spur.”我们只是要进古老家族墓室下面的地下墓穴，去找那个偷走飞龙刺的贼。”27
The wyvern’s spur?飞龙刺？28
Olive thought with astonishment.奥利芙惊讶地想。29
The Wyvernspur family’s most precious heirloom?飞龙刺家族最珍贵的传家宝？30
It’s been stolen?它被偷了？31
Olive looked up at Giogi with puzzlement.奥利芙困惑地抬头看着乔吉。32
How can you be so calm about a thing like that, boy? she thought.出了这种事，你怎么还能这么镇定，小子？她心想。33
As Giogi began brushing her coat, he briefed her in soothing tones.乔吉开始替她刷毛，同时用安抚的语气向她说明情况。34
“The catacombs aren’t so bad,” he said, “except for the kobolds, stirges, bugbears, and occasional gargoyles.“地下墓穴没那么糟，”他说，“除了狗头人、血蚊、熊地精，以及偶尔出没的石像鬼。35
Of course, first we have to get past the crypt guardian.当然，我们首先得通过墓室守卫那一关。36
The guardian shouldn’t bother us, though.不过，守卫应该不会为难我们。37
I think.我想不会。38
We’re old friends.我们是老朋友了。39
Last time I saw her, she said I was too small—I presumed she meant too small for her to eat.上次见到她时，她说我太小了——我猜她的意思是，我小得还不够她塞牙缝。40
Her idea of a joke, I suppose.我想，这大概是她开的玩笑吧。41
You know how perverse those crypt guardians can be.”你也知道，那些墓室守卫有多古怪。”42
Able to distinguish the meaning of his words, Olive had no trouble sensing Giogi’s nervousness as well.奥利芙既能听懂他话里的意思，自然也不难察觉乔吉的紧张。43
A shiver went up her long spine.她长长的脊背上掠过一阵寒战。44
Giogi patted her reassuringly and laid a blanket over her, then a set of packs.乔吉安慰地拍了拍她，先在她背上铺了一条毯子，接着又放上一套驮包。45
As he pulled the cinch under her belly and knotted it through the buckle, Olive considered trying to get out of the little jaunt by lying down or rolling over, but she decided that the floor was just too dirty.他把肚带从她腹下拉过，穿过带扣系紧；奥利芙考虑过要不要躺下或打滚，好逃掉这趟小小的出行，但她觉得地面实在太脏了。46
Besides, she thought, I won’t learn anything more about the Wyvernspurs in a horse stall, but if Giogi keeps babbling, I might pick up quite a bit.再说了，她心想，待在马厩里，我不可能再打听到飞龙刺家族的任何消息；可要是乔吉继续喋喋不休，我说不定能听到不少东西。47
“Actually, she’s probably not as terrible as I remember,” Giogi continued with his reminiscences of the guardian.“其实，她大概没有我记忆中那么可怕。”乔吉继续回忆着那位守护者。48
“It’s just that I was only eight back then.“只不过那时我才八岁。49
My father had just died, you see, and I inherited his key to the crypt.你知道，我父亲刚刚去世，我继承了他那把墓穴钥匙。50
My Cousin Steele was so jealous that I had a key and he didn’t that he badgered my other cousin, Freffie, and me into sneaking into the crypt.我表兄斯蒂尔嫉妒我有钥匙而他没有，就死缠着我的另一个表亲弗雷菲和我，硬要我们偷偷溜进墓穴。51
Then he, Steele, that is, swiped the key from me and locked me in there all alone and left with Freffie.然后他——我是说斯蒂尔——从我手里偷走钥匙，把我独自锁在里面，带着弗雷菲走了。52
“Freffie had an attack of conscience and told Uncle Drone, but I ran into the catacombs to get away from the guardian.“弗雷菲良心发现，把这事告诉了德罗恩叔叔，可我为了躲避守护者，跑进了地下墓道。53
I spent the good part of a day wandering through them and missed supper before Uncle Drone found me.”我在里面转悠了大半天，连晚饭都错过了，最后德罗恩叔叔才找到我。”54
There, Olive thought.瞧，奥利芙心想。55
I have three murder suspects already: jealousy-ridden Steele, guilt-ridden Frefford, and nephew-ridden Uncle Drone.我已经有三个谋杀嫌疑人了：妒火缠身的斯蒂尔、愧疚缠身的弗雷福德，还有侄患缠身的德罗恩叔叔。56
I can rule out Giogi’s father, though—unless he’s undead.不过乔吉的父亲可以排除——除非他成了不死生物。57
Giogi strapped the picnic basket atop the packs, balancing it on either side with a pair of full water skins.乔吉把野餐篮捆在驮包顶上，又在两边各挂了一个装满水的水囊来保持平衡。58
Olive groaned under the weight, but the noise came out as a testy bray.奥利芙被压得呻吟起来，可发出的声音却是一声烦躁的驴叫。59
The water and tea things, however, were only a beginning.然而，水和茶具还只是个开头。60
Into the packs Giogi loaded oil, torches, a lantern, a tinder box, rope, a rope ladder, spikes, a portable stool, a blanket, a heavy mallet, several sealed vials, a can of white paint, a brush, and a large map.乔吉往驮包里装进了油、火把、一盏提灯、一个火绒盒、绳索、一架绳梯、铁钉、一张折凳、一条毯子、一把沉重的木槌、几只密封的小瓶、一罐白漆、一把刷子和一张大地图。61
He then added a small sack of feed for the burro.接着，他又添了一小袋给驴吃的饲料。62
“Can’t have you missing lunch,” Giogi said, patting Olive’s rump.“可不能让你错过午饭。”乔吉拍着奥利芙的臀部说道。63
Don’t worry about me, Olive thought.不用替我操心，奥利芙心想。64
I’ll collapse from exhaustion long before then.我早在那之前就会累趴下。65
She brayed again in protest.她又叫了一声，以示抗议。66
“You’re a very musical little creature,” Giogi said.“你这小家伙还挺有乐感的。”乔吉说。67
“Maybe I should name you Birdie.“或许我该叫你小鸟儿。68
Come on, Birdie.”走吧，小鸟儿。”69
Giogi led Olive out of the stall and from the carriage house.乔吉牵着奥利芙走出厩栏，又出了马车房。70
The pair of them clomped through the garden and out into the street.他俩踏着沉重的步子穿过花园，来到街上。71
Wagons and carts loaded with hay and seaweed and fish and firewood crammed the road.满载干草、海藻、鱼和木柴的大小车辆挤满了道路。72
Servants and field hands and fishermen and foresters edged around each other on the plank walkways.仆人、田工、渔民和林工在人行木板道上彼此避让着穿行。73
Oblivious to the immediate flow of traffic, Giogi led his burro down the center of the street, while he studied the movement on either side of him with intense curiosity.乔吉全然不顾眼前的车流，牵着自己的驴走在街道中央，同时满怀好奇地仔细观察着两旁的动静。74
Olive was hard-pressed to avoid stepping on his feet when he wandered too close to her hooves.他不时晃到奥利芙的蹄子跟前，害得她不得不竭力避免踩到他的脚。75
“I had no idea how busy this town was so early,” Giogi muttered.“真没想到，这镇上一大早就这么忙。”乔吉嘟囔道。76
So why don’t we go back to bed and wait for the traffic to clear?那我们何不回去睡觉，等路上不挤了再出来？77
Olive thought, but Giogi guided her westward through the crush.奥利芙心想，可乔吉却领着她穿过拥挤的人群，向西走去。78
The sky, which last night had been clear and starry, was blanketed by slate-gray clouds, and the air was no longer crisp, but was moist with impending rain or snow.昨夜还晴朗璀璨的星空，如今已被一层石板灰的云幕遮住；空气也不再清冽，而是湿漉漉的，预示着雨雪将至。79
Olive’s breath steamed from her nostrils, and Giogi puffed vapor from his lips as he strolled along whistling, in tune if not in tempo.奥利芙的鼻孔里喷出白气，乔吉的唇间也吐着雾气；他一边闲庭信步，一边吹着口哨，音倒是准的，拍子却不对。80
Near the edge of town, the pair turned onto a path heading south up a steep hill.快到镇子边缘时，他俩拐上一条向南延伸、直上陡坡的小路。81
I’m not making this ascent, Olive thought, planting her feet firmly in the road.我才不爬这个坡，奥利芙心想，四蹄牢牢钉在路上。82
A swat on her rump from the nobleman got her moving in spite of herself.那位贵族在她臀上拍了一巴掌，她不情不愿地走动起来。83
The path led to a rocky graveyard bordered by a low wall and surrounded by pine and oak trees.小路通向一片遍布岩石的墓地，四周围着一道矮墙，墙外环绕着松树和橡树。84
The trees cast dark shadows on the already gloomy setting, and the carpet of pine needles and oak leaves muffled the sounds of their footsteps.树木给本就阴郁的景致投下重重暗影，铺满地面的松针和橡树叶则吞没了他们的脚步声。85
Most of the headstones within the yard were weathered and broken with age, reminding Olive of the stumps of an old giant’s teeth.墓园里大多数墓碑都已饱经风霜，年久残破，让奥利芙想起一个衰老巨人嘴里残存的牙根。86
Very near the entrance stood a large stone mausoleum, as worn-looking as the rest of the graveyard’s monuments but still intact.入口近旁矗立着一座高大的石砌陵墓，看上去和墓园里的其他碑冢一样饱经岁月侵蚀，但依然完好无损。87
Thick stalks of ivy ran up its walls.粗壮的常春藤藤蔓攀满了墙壁。88
The dead ivy leaves looked black in the shadows and rattled in the breeze.枯死的藤叶在阴影中显得漆黑，在微风里沙沙作响。89
Small, ornately carved stone wyverns perched all along the mausoleum’s roof and looked down on them with glass eyes.陵墓屋顶四周蹲踞着一只只雕饰华美的小石飞龙，用玻璃眼珠俯视着他们。90
Giogi avoided looking at them, knowing all too well their long reptilian bodies, batlike wings, and scorpion tails.乔吉避开目光，不去看它们；他对它们细长的爬虫身躯、蝙蝠般的翅膀和蝎子似的尾巴实在太熟悉了。91
He shuddered as he approached the mausoleum’s entrance.走近陵墓入口时，他打了个寒战。92
The Wyvernspur coat of arms was carved into the walls on either side of the door, and the Wyvernspur name was carved into the lintel.门两侧的墙上刻着飞龙刺的家徽，门楣上则刻着飞龙刺之名。93
Smaller markings were cut into the door, lintel, and jamb—invocations to Selune and Mystra to protect the crypt from trespassers.门、门楣和门框上还刻着一些较小的符号——那是向塞露恩和密斯特拉祈求庇佑、保护墓室免遭闯入的祷文。94
For good measure, magical glyphs were scrawled in a spidery hand on every wall.为了多添一重保障，每一面墙上都以蛛足般细长潦草的笔迹画满了魔法符文。95
This must be the place, Olive thought.一定就是这里了，奥利芙心想。96
“This is the place,” Giogi said.“就是这里，”乔吉说道。97
“It’s so deadly quiet.”“静得跟死了一样。”98
Wonderful choice of words this boy has, Olive thought.这小子可真会挑词儿，奥利芙心想。99
“Giogioni, you’re late,” a woman’s voice snapped behind them.“乔吉奥尼，你迟到了。”一个女人的声音突然从他们身后厉声响起。100
Olive might have jumped at the sound, but she was too loaded down to do more than jerk her head up.奥利芙听见这声音，本来可能会吓得跳起来，可她身上的东西太多，只能猛地抬起头。101
Giogi, not so limited, whirled around.乔吉没有这样的束缚，立刻转过身去。102
A beautiful young woman in a dark fur cape popped out from behind a ruined tomb.一个身披深色毛皮斗篷的美丽年轻女子从一座残破的坟墓后面突然现身。103
She tossed her hood back with an ungloved hand, revealing long black hair and sharp, familiar features.她用没戴手套的手掀下兜帽，露出一头乌黑长发和轮廓鲜明、似曾相识的面容。104
One of the Wyvernspur brood, Olive realized immediately.是飞龙刺家那一窝的人，奥利芙立刻意识到。105
“Julia!”“朱莉娅！”106
Giogi said, “What are you doing here?”乔吉问道：“你怎么会在这里？”107
“Steele told me to wait here to tell you about Frefford.”“斯蒂尔让我在这里等着，把弗雷福德的事告诉你。”108
“What about Freffie?”“弗雷菲怎么了？”109
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。110
His expression clouded with concern.他的脸上蒙上了一层忧色。111
“Gaylyn’s gone into labor, so he’s still at Redstone.“盖琳要生了，所以他还在红石。112
You were late, so Steele entered the crypt without you.你迟到了，斯蒂尔就没等你，自己进了墓穴。113
He said you could follow him in and try to catch up.”他说你可以进去追他，想办法赶上。”114
“Catch up.“赶上他。115
Right,” Giogi muttered, pulling out a silver key that hung from a chain around his neck.对。”乔吉低声嘟囔着，从脖子上挂着的链子上取下一把银钥匙。116
Olive studied Julia curiously.奥利芙好奇地打量着朱莉娅。117
Something about her, besides her Wyvernspur face, interested the halfling.除了那张飞龙刺家族特有的脸，她身上还有某种东西引起了半身人的兴趣。118
Olive sniffed the air.奥利芙嗅了嗅空气。119
She could smell something mingled with Julia’s sweat.她闻到朱莉娅的汗味里还混杂着某种气味。120
The human woman was nervous.这个人类女人很紧张。121
She might not be lying, but the halfling could tell she was up to something.她也许没有撒谎，但半身人看得出她正有所图谋。122
An expert herself at the art of deception and guile, Olive could not be fooled, especially not by an amateur like this woman.奥利芙自己就是个精通欺骗与诡计的行家，不可能受人蒙骗，尤其不可能被这个女人这样的生手骗过。123
Giogi turned toward the mausoleum door.乔吉转身面向陵墓的大门。124
Julia appeared to be wringing her cold bare hands.朱莉娅似乎正不安地绞扭着她那双冰冷而裸露的手。125
Even hampered by the vision of a beast, though, the halfling caught the surreptitious twist Julia gave to one of the rings on her right hand.尽管受限于野兽的视野，半身人还是捕捉到了朱莉娅偷偷转动右手上一枚戒指的动作。126
As Giogi inserted the silver key in the mausoleum door, his cousin reached toward his neck.乔吉把银钥匙插进陵墓大门的锁孔时，他的堂姐朝他的脖颈伸出手去。127
Olive saw the gleam of a tiny needle jutting from the cousin’s ring.奥利芙看见堂姐的戒指上伸出一根细小的针，闪过一道微光。128
A drop of something clear dripped from the tip of the needle.一滴透明的液体从针尖滴落。129
Instinctively Olive lunged forward, butting her forehead against the woman.奥利芙本能地猛扑上前，用额头撞向那个女人。130
“Agh!”“啊！”131
Julia cried, leaping backward.朱莉娅叫了一声，向后跳开。132
She took notice of Olive for the first time.她这才第一次注意到奥利芙。133
“Giogioni, what sort of creature is that?” she screeched angrily.“乔吉奥尼，那是什么怪物？”她愤怒地尖叫道。134
“Birdie, cut that out.“小鸟儿，别闹了。135
You’re scaring Cousin Julia,” Giogi said, yanking Olive’s head down with the halter.你把朱莉娅表姐吓着了。”乔吉说着，用笼头把奥利芙的脑袋猛拽下来。136
To his cousin, he said, “It’s just a burro, Julia.”他又对堂姐说道：“它不过是头小毛驴，朱莉娅。”137
“A what?”“一头什么？”138
Julia asked.朱莉娅问道。139
“A burro.“一头驴。140
It’s a pack animal.是驮东西的牲口。141
They’re very useful in mines.在矿井里很有用。142
Haven’t you ever seen one?”你难道从没见过吗？”143
“I should think not,” Julia said with a sniff.“我当然没见过。”朱莉娅轻蔑地哼了一声。144
“I thought it was an ugly pony.”“我还以为是匹难看的小马。”145
Giogi turned his back again to work the lock, and Julia edged forward, her right hand poised in the air as if to swat a fly.乔吉再次转过身去摆弄锁，朱莉娅悄悄挪上前，右手悬在空中，像是要拍死一只苍蝇。146
Olive placed a hoof down on the train of Julia’s gown.奥利芙抬起一只蹄子，踩住了朱莉娅礼服的拖尾。147
The woman tripped as she stepped toward Giogi and dropped to her knees on the pine needles.那女人正朝乔吉走去，却被绊了一跤，双膝跪倒在松针上。148
“Damned creature,” she whispered.“该死的畜生。”她低声骂道。149
Giogi turned around and looked at his kneeling cousin with surprise.乔吉转过身，惊讶地看着跪在地上的表妹。150
Before he could help Julia to her feet, though, Olive managed to tangle her lead rope around the woman and butt her again.然而，他还没来得及扶朱莉娅起身，奥利芙就设法用牵绳缠住了她，又顶了她一下。151
Without thinking, Julia slashed at the burro with her right hand.朱莉娅想也没想，右手猛地朝那头驴抓去。152
Olive felt a sharp scratch on her neck, then a fire burned through her blood, starting at the wound and racing to her extremities.奥利芙感到脖子上被尖锐地划了一下，随即一团火从伤口开始烧遍她的血液，迅速窜向四肢末梢。153
Her knees wobbled and Olive sank to the ground.她双膝发软，瘫倒在地。154
“Birdie!”“小鸟儿！”155
Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。156
“What’s wrong, girl?”“你怎么了，姑娘？”157
“That beast attacked me!”“那畜生袭击我！”158
Julia cried, untangling herself from Olive’s lead rope, leaping to her feet, and backing away quickly.朱莉娅叫道，一边挣脱缠在身上的奥利芙的牵绳，一跃而起，飞快地向后退去。159
“She was probably just playing.“她大概只是在玩。160
Julia, what did you do to her?”朱莉娅，你对她做了什么？”161
Olive stretched her neck out so Giogi couldn’t miss the small trickle of blood from her wound.奥利芙伸长脖子，好让乔吉不可能看漏她伤口处渗出的那一小缕鲜血。162
The young noble gasped.年轻的贵族倒吸了一口气。163
He turned toward Julia and snatched at her cloak, yanking her toward him.他转向朱莉娅，一把揪住她的斗篷，将她拽到自己跟前。164
He caught her by the wrists.他抓住了她的双腕。165
All the meekness he’d ever felt in his female cousin’s company was dispelled by the alarm he felt for his pet’s safety.他担心宠物安危，顿时把自己在这位女性表亲面前向来有的温顺怯懦抛到了九霄云外。166
He investigated Julia’s rings with a frown.他皱着眉查看朱莉娅手上的戒指。167
“What is this?” he demanded, spying the ring with the jabber.他发现了那枚带刺针的戒指，厉声问道：“这是什么？”168
“Where did you get this ring?“你从哪儿弄来的这枚戒指？169
How could you poison such a sweet, little animal?”你怎么忍心毒害这么乖巧的小动物？”170
“It’s not poison, only sleeping sap,” Julia protested.“那不是毒药，只是催眠树液。”朱莉娅辩解道。171
Thank Tymora, Olive thought through the fog.感谢泰摩拉，奥利芙意识蒙眬地想道。172
That’ll teach me to stick my neck out for anyone.这下我可长记性了，以后再也不替任何人伸脖子出头。173
Barely containing his anger, Giogi yanked the offending ring off Julia’s finger.乔吉勉强压住怒火，从朱莉娅的手指上拽下了那枚惹祸的戒指。174
“I think I’d better hang on to this for you before you hurt someone with it,” the nobleman said, pulling out a handkerchief, wrapping the ring up in it, and stuffing it into a pocket.“我看，在你拿它伤到别人之前，还是由我替你保管为好。”年轻贵族一边说，一边掏出手帕，将戒指包起来，塞进口袋。175
He thrust Julia away and bent over Olive’s prone body.他一把推开朱莉娅，俯身查看倒地不起的奥利芙。176
Pulling two vials out of a pack on her back, he poured the contents of one over Olive’s cut and the other down her throat.他从奥利芙背上的行囊里取出两只小瓶，把其中一瓶的药水倒在她的伤口上，又把另一瓶灌进她喉咙里。177
“Why are you wasting potions on that stupid creature?”“你为什么要把药水浪费在那个蠢东西身上？”178
Julia asked.朱莉娅问道。179
“Because she’s not a stupid creature.“因为她才不是什么蠢东西。180
She’s a perfectly lovely burro.”她是一头再可爱不过的小毛驴。”181
“I told you it was only sleeping sap.”“我说过了，那只是催眠树液。”182
“Sleeping sap can do a lot of damage if you use too much.“催眠树液用得太多，也会造成严重伤害。183
What were you doing with it, anyway?”话说回来，你带着它究竟想干什么？”184
Julia did not reply.朱莉娅没有回答。185
Olive felt suddenly cool and strong as the potions quenched the flame that ran through her body.药剂浇灭了在奥利芙体内奔窜的火焰，她顿时感到一阵清凉，浑身又有了力气。186
She stumbled to her feet with Giogi’s help.她在乔吉的搀扶下踉跄着站起身来。187
The young noble made sure the burro was steady, then turned again to face his cousin.年轻的贵族确认驴子已经站稳，随后再次转身面对他的表妹。188
Olive could see a spark of comprehension gleaming in his milky brown eyes.奥利芙看见他那双乳褐色的眼睛里闪过一丝恍然大悟的光芒。189
“Julia!”“朱莉娅！”190
Giogi barked sternly.乔吉厉声喝道。191
Olive stood by his side, trying to look as menacing as possible.奥利芙站在他身旁，竭力摆出最具威慑力的模样。192
“You meant that ring for me, didn’t you?“你原本是想把那枚戒指用在我身上的，对不对？193
This is one of Steele’s ideas, isn’t it?”这又是斯蒂尔的主意，是不是？”194
Giogi asked, grabbing Julia by the shoulders and giving her a firm shake.乔吉一边质问，一边抓住朱莉娅的双肩，用力摇晃了她一下。195
“No!”“不！”196
Julia protested.朱莉娅抗议道。197
“It’s … just something I carry to protect myself.”“那……只是我随身带着防身的东西。”198
“Attacked by a lot of burros on the streets of Immersea, eh?“怎么，伊默海的街上有一大群驴子袭击你吗？199
Don’t bother to lie, Julia.别费心撒谎了，朱莉娅。200
You always did what Steele told you.斯蒂尔叫你做什么，你一向都会照办。201
What did he have in mind?” he asked hotly.他究竟打的什么主意？”他怒冲冲地问道。202
“Leave me down there with the guardian again?“再把我留在下面，跟那个守护者待在一起？203
Hmm?”嗯？”204
Giogi gave his cousin another shake.乔吉又摇晃了他的表妹一下。205
“You are a fool,” Julia said.“你真是个傻瓜。”朱莉娅说。206
“Steele isn’t interested in child’s play anymore.“斯蒂尔已经对小孩子的把戏不感兴趣了。207
He wants—” Julia bit off her words and paled visibly, obviously afraid she’d said too much.他想要——”朱莉娅猛地住了口，脸色明显一白，显然是害怕自己说得太多了。208
“What does he want?”“他想要什么？”209
Giogi demanded.乔吉逼问道。210
Julia shook her head.朱莉娅摇了摇头。211
“I can’t tell you,” she insisted.“我不能告诉你，”她坚持道。212
“Steele would be furious.”“斯蒂尔会大发雷霆的。”213
“You will tell me,” Giogi said, shaking her harder.“你必须告诉我。”乔吉说着，更用力地摇晃她。214
“You’re hurting me,” Julia whined.“你弄疼我了。”朱莉娅委屈地抱怨道。215
Giogi released his cousin suddenly, ashamed of bullying a woman, and so young a woman as Julia.乔吉突然松开了表妹；他竟欺负一个女人，而且还是朱莉娅这样年轻的女人，这令他深感羞愧。216
I have to know what Steele’s planning, though, he thought.不过，我非得知道斯蒂尔在谋划什么不可，他心想。217
“Julia,” he said, trying to reason calmly with the woman, “I won’t tell Steele that you told me anything.“朱莉娅，”他说，试图心平气和地跟她讲道理，“我不会告诉斯蒂尔，是你向我透露了什么。218
Now, what’s his game?”现在说吧，他到底在打什么算盘？”219
“Why should I tell you?”“我凭什么告诉你？”220
Julia asked haughtily.朱莉娅傲慢地反问。221
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll—” Giogi hesitated.“你要是不告诉我，我就——”乔吉迟疑了。222
He wasn’t sure what he could do to threaten Julia.他不知道自己能拿什么来威胁朱莉娅。223
“Run and tattle to Aunt Dorath,” Julia taunted, “like you always did when we were children.”“去找多拉丝姑妈告状啊，”朱莉娅嘲弄道，“就像我们小时候你总干的那样。”224
Did I?我有吗？225
Giogi wondered.乔吉心想。226
Yes, I suppose I did, but only because Steele and Julia were such naughty children.是啊，我想我是有过，不过那只是因为斯蒂尔和朱莉娅小时候实在太淘气了。227
He looked at Julia with annoyance.他恼火地看着朱莉娅。228
“Yes,” he said.“没错，”他说。229
“That’s exactly what I’ll do.“我正打算这么做。230
I’m sure she’ll be very disturbed to hear that her grandniece was running around with an assassin’s ring.听说自己的侄孙女竟然戴着一枚刺客的戒指到处乱跑，我相信她一定会非常不安。231
I’ll give her the ring so she can have Lord Sudacar check that it’s not poisoned.”我会把戒指交给她，好让她请苏达卡勋爵检查一下，看看上面有没有毒。”232
“No!“不要！233
Don’t tell!”别告诉她！”234
Julia begged, obviously more anxious to avoid Aunt Dorath’s wrath than she’d been as a child.朱莉娅哀求道；显然，她如今比小时候更害怕多拉丝姑妈发怒。235
“Then spit it out, woman,” Giogi demanded.“那就快说出来，女人，”乔吉命令道。236
“Everything.”“一五一十，全都说出来。”237
“Steele wants to find the wyvern’s spur without you,” Julia explained, “so he can keep it for himself.“斯蒂尔想撇开你，自己去找飞龙之刺，”朱莉娅解释道，“这样他就能据为己有。238
He wants the power.”他想要那股力量。”239
“Power?“力量？240
What power?”什么力量？”241
Giogi asked, surprised that Steele and Julia would know something about the spur that not even Uncle Drone could tell him.乔吉问道，颇为惊讶：斯蒂尔和朱莉娅竟然知道一些连德罗恩叔叔都无法告诉他的、有关那根刺的事。242
“Steele doesn’t know what the spur’s power is yet,” Julia said, “but when he gets hold of the spur, he’ll find out.”“斯蒂尔还不知道那根刺究竟有什么力量，”朱莉娅说，“可等他拿到手，自然就会弄清楚。”243
Giogi laughed.乔吉笑了。244
“Steele’s going to be in for a big disappointment if he finds the spur,” he predicted, shaking his head sagely.“斯蒂尔要是找到了那根刺，准会大失所望，”他煞有介事地摇着头断言道。245
“It’s nothing but a hunk of junk.”“那不过是一块破烂。”246
“That’s not what Uncle Drone said last night.”“德罗恩叔叔昨晚可不是这么说的。”247
“Julia, I love Uncle Drone like—like an uncle, but you may have noticed that he’s not all together up here,” Giogi said, tapping his forehead.“朱莉娅，我爱德罗恩叔叔，就像——就像爱一位叔叔一样，可你或许也注意到了，他这儿不太齐全，”乔吉说着，敲了敲自己的额头。248
“The stairs run to the top of the tower, but there are no landings, don’t you know.”“楼梯是一直通到塔顶，可中间连个平台都没有，你懂吧。”249
Julia stood defiantly before him with her hands on her hips.朱莉娅双手叉腰，挑衅地站在他面前。250
“The spur does so have some power,” she insisted.“那根刺就是有某种力量，”她坚持道。251
“That’s why Cole took it with him whenever he went tramping around the country like a commoner.”“所以科尔每次像个平民似的在全国到处游荡时，都会把它带在身边。”252
“My father?“我父亲？253
What are you talking about?你在说什么？254
The spur’s been in the crypt since Paton Wyvernspur died.”自从佩顿·飞龙刺去世后，那根刺就一直放在墓室里。”255
Julia shook her head vehemently.朱莉娅使劲摇了摇头。256
“No, it hasn’t. Your father used to steal it whenever he wanted to use it.“不，不是的。你父亲每次想用飞龙刺，都会把它偷出来。257
He was Uncle Drone’s favorite, so the old fool never told anyone.他是德罗恩叔叔最宠爱的人，所以那个老糊涂从没告诉过任何人。258
No one found out about it until Cole died.直到科尔死后，这件事才被人发现。259
Uncle Drone was forced to tell the family, because, otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to bring back his remains.德罗恩叔叔迫不得已，只好告诉家里人，否则，他们也不会如此大费周章地运回他的遗骸。260
Cole was wearing the spur when he died.”科尔死的时候，身上就戴着飞龙刺。”261
“Wearing it?!”“戴着它？！”262
Giogi asked incredulously.乔吉难以置信地问道。263
“It’s true,” Julia said with a scornful sniff.“是真的。”朱莉娅轻蔑地哼了一声。264
“Why hasn’t anyone ever told me any of this?”“为什么从来没人告诉过我这些事？”265
“Aunt Dorath said that she would never have approved of your father using the spur if she had known, and no one would ever use it again.“多拉丝姑妈说，要是她早知道你父亲在使用飞龙刺，她绝不会同意，而且以后谁也不准再用它。266
We children weren’t to be told about it.”这件事不许告诉我们这些孩子。”267
“Then how did you find out?”“那你是怎么知道的？”268
Julia hesitated for a moment, then saw the look in Giogi’s eyes.朱莉娅迟疑了片刻，随即看见了乔吉眼中的神情。269
“Steele and I were listening at the keyhole when she explained all this to our father.”“她向我们父亲解释这一切时，我和斯蒂尔正在钥匙孔外偷听。”270
Just what I would expect from a sneaking little witch like you, Olive thought.就知道你这个鬼鬼祟祟的小巫婆会干出这种事，奥利芙心想。271
Giogi shook his head, trying to reconcile Julia’s story with his own memories.乔吉摇了摇头，试图让朱莉娅的说法与自己的记忆吻合起来。272
Whenever Giogi tried to picture his father, though, Cole always looked like his portrait, which hung in Giogi’s bedroom—a portrait that could have been interchanged with nearly every other portrait of Wyvernspur menfolk, including the painting hanging in the carriage house.然而，每当乔吉试着在脑海中描绘父亲的模样，科尔看起来总是和挂在乔吉卧室里的肖像一模一样——那幅肖像与几乎所有其他飞龙刺家族男子的肖像都相差无几，包括挂在马车房里的那幅画。273
All Giogi could remember clearly was a tall man who’d tried to teach him to ride, took him swimming, and loved to sing.乔吉唯一能清楚记得的，是一个高个子男人曾试着教他骑马，带他去游泳，而且很爱唱歌。274
The nobleman sighed.这位贵族叹了口气。275
Everyone in the Realms except me knew that my father was an adventurer.诸界之中，除了我以外，人人都知道我父亲是个冒险者。276
Most of the members of my family knew he used the spur, but I didn’t. Maybe I should have tried listening at a few keyholes.家里大多数人都知道他用过飞龙刺，只有我不知道。也许我也该试着趴在几个钥匙孔外偷听。277
Giogi turned back to the mausoleum, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.乔吉转回身面向陵墓，打开门锁，将门推开。278
“Giogioni,” Julia continued, “Frefford has the family title.“乔吉奥尼，”朱莉娅接着说，“弗雷福德继承了家族爵位。279
You have all your mother’s money.你得到了你母亲所有的钱。280
Why shouldn’t Steele get the spur?”凭什么不能让斯蒂尔得到那枚马刺？”281
Giogi turned around thoughtfully.乔吉若有所思地转过身来。282
It wasn’t hard to come up with an answer to that question.这个问题并不难回答。283
“Julia,” he said, “do you know what Steele said to me when Uncle Drone gave me my father’s key to the crypt?“朱莉娅，”他说，“德罗恩叔叔把我父亲那把墓室钥匙交给我时，你知道斯蒂尔对我说了什么吗？284
He said he wished your father would hurry and die so he could have his own key.他说，他巴不得你父亲早点死，好让他也能有一把自己的钥匙。285
Steele was a jealous, mean little boy, and as far as I can tell, he’s grown into a jealous, cruel man.斯蒂尔小时候是个嫉妒心强又刻薄的小男孩，据我所知，他如今已经长成了一个嫉妒而残忍的男人。286
Did it ever occur to you that he doesn’t deserve the spur?”你有没有想过，他根本不配得到那枚马刺？”287
“What have you done to deserve it?”“你又做过什么，配得到它？”288
Julia asked with venom.朱莉娅恶狠狠地问道。289
“Julia, I don’t want the spur.“朱莉娅，我不想要那枚马刺。290
I just want to return it to the crypt, where it belongs.”我只想把它放回墓室，放回它该在的地方。”291
“Then why has Uncle Drone been secretly nagging Aunt Dorath all winter to let you have it?”“那为什么德罗恩叔叔整个冬天都在暗中纠缠多拉丝姑妈，要她把马刺交给你？”292
“Listening at keyholes again, are we?”“又在门外偷听了，是吧？”293
Giogi asked, using the question to hide his own surprise.乔吉问道，借这个问题掩饰自己的惊讶。294
“I have servants to do that for me now,” Julia said coolly.“现在这种事有仆人替我做了。”朱莉娅冷冷地说。295
Too lazy to do your own dirty work, eh?连自己的脏活都懒得干了，是吧？296
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。297
Giogi sighed again.乔吉又叹了口气。298
“Look, this whole argument is moot if we don’t find the spur.“听着，要是找不到那枚马刺，我们这番争论就毫无意义。299
I’m going into the crypt after Steele.我要进墓室去追斯蒂尔。300
You should be back helping Aunt Dorath and Frefford with Gaylyn.”你应该回去帮多拉丝姑妈和弗雷福德照料盖琳。”301
“Steele will find the thief before you do.“斯蒂尔会比你先找到那个贼。302
He’s an hour ahead of you, and he knows how to use his weapon.他比你早了一个小时，而且懂得怎么使用自己的武器。303
He isn’t bogged down by some overgrown pack rat, either.”再说，他也没有被某只长得过了头的囤积鼠拖累。”304
Olive brayed loudly, jerked her halter from Giogi’s hand, and charged at Julia.奥利芙高声嘶叫，一把从乔吉手中挣脱笼头，朝朱莉娅冲去。305
Not used to being charged upon by burros, the noblewoman retreated with a yell and almost toppled over a headstone.这位贵族女子不习惯被毛驴迎面冲撞，惊叫着连连后退，差点被一块墓碑绊倒。306
Olive herded Julia out of the graveyard and waited at the entrance until the woman had fled down the path.奥利芙把朱莉娅赶出墓地，守在入口处，直到那女人沿小路逃远。307
Giogi grinned as the little burro trotted back to his side.小毛驴小跑着回到乔吉身边，他咧嘴笑了。308
He scratched behind her ears.他挠了挠她的耳根。309
“Don’t you pay any attention to her, Birdie.“别理她，小鸟儿。310
Julia’s too foolish to see what a superior burro you are.朱莉娅蠢得根本看不出你是多么出色的一头毛驴。311
She doesn’t even realize I’m better with a foil than Steele is.她甚至不知道，我的花剑使得比斯蒂尔还好。312
Steele only used to win by thwacking at me with the flat of the blade.斯蒂尔以前之所以总能赢，不过是因为他老用剑身侧面抽打我。313
That’s cheating, you know.”你知道，那是作弊。”314
Giogi picked Olive’s lead rope off the ground and pulled her through the door into the family mausoleum.乔吉从地上捡起奥利芙的牵绳，拉着她穿过门，进入家族陵墓。315
He closed and locked the door behind them.他关上身后的门，锁了起来。316
Olive shivered.奥利芙打了个寒战。317
It was colder inside than out, and, naturally, as dark as a tomb.里面比外面更冷，而且自然也像坟墓一样漆黑。318
Giogi drew a shining crystal from his boot.乔吉从靴筒里掏出一块闪闪发光的水晶。319
Olive stared at it with astonishment.奥利芙惊讶地盯着它。320
It was a finder’s stone, just like the one Elminster had given Alias.那是一块寻物石，和伊尔明斯特送给阿莉亚丝的那块一模一样。321
Olive had spent many hours guessing at its value before it was lost near Westgate.在它于西门城附近遗失之前，奥利芙曾花上许多个小时猜测它究竟值多少钱。322
Olive remembered now that Alias had run into Giogi again, outside of Westgate.奥利芙这才想起，阿莉亚丝后来在西门城外又遇见了乔吉。323
If this is the same stone, Olive thought, then there are more coincidences in my life than in one of those bad operas in Raven’s Bluff, the Living City.要是这就是同一块石头，奥利芙心想，那我这一生中的巧合，可比“活城”乌鸦崖那些蹩脚歌剧里的还要多。324
Whatever its origins, the finder’s stone filled the mausoleum with a warm, rich glow.不论这块寻物石来历如何，它都让整座陵墓沐浴在温暖而绚丽的光辉中。325
The twinkle of precious metal attracted Olive’s attention to the tomb itself.贵金属闪烁的光芒将奥利芙的注意力吸引到了墓室本身。326
Giogi was busy lighting torches set in gold-plated sconces.乔吉正忙着点燃安放在镀金壁座上的火炬。327
The flames’ reflections danced on every surface around them.火焰的倒影在他们周围的每一处表面上跃动。328
The floor was checkered with black and white squares of polished marble, and the walls and ceiling were covered with solid plates of a dull gray metal, which Olive presumed was lead.地面由抛光大理石铺成黑白相间的方格，墙壁和天花板则覆盖着暗灰色的实心金属板，奥利芙猜那是铅。329
Two white marble benches, inlaid with runes of gold and platinum, were the only other decor in the room.房间里仅有的其他陈设，是两张嵌有黄金和铂金符文的白色大理石长凳。330
The husks of long-dead flowers lay on one bench.其中一张长凳上散落着早已枯死的花朵残骸。331
Olive could see no other exit besides the one Giogi had just locked.除了乔吉刚刚锁上的那道门，奥利芙看不出还有别的出口。332
Giogi finished with the torches and began hopping like a child along the squares of marble laid out on the floor.乔吉点完火炬，便开始像个孩子似的，沿着地面铺设的大理石方格蹦跳起来。333
Right foot on white, left foot on black, two jumps diagonally on white with the left, then back one jump with both feet.右脚踩白格，左脚踩黑格，左脚沿对角线在白格上跳两下，然后双脚往回跳一格。334
Olive was just thinking how Uncle Drone might not be the only Wyvernspur “not all together upstairs,” when a large section of the floor at the far end dropped a foot and slid silently beneath the rest of the floor.奥利芙正想着，飞龙刺家族里“脑子不太正常”的或许不只有德罗恩叔叔，远端的一大片地面忽然下降了一英尺，悄无声息地滑到了其余地板下面。335
A narrow staircase led down into the dark hole revealed by the secret door.一道狭窄的楼梯通向暗门显露出的漆黑洞口。336
Nice workmanship, Olive thought.手艺真不错，奥利芙心想。337
Invisible, quiet, no vibrations.看不出痕迹，听不到声响，也没有震动。338
“Come on, Birdie,” Giogi said, taking Olive’s lead rope.“走吧，小鸟儿。”乔吉说着，牵起了奥利芙的绳子。339
“The secret door doesn’t stay open very long.”“这道暗门开不了多久。”340
Olive grudgingly followed the nobleman down the steps.奥利芙不情不愿地跟着这位贵族走下台阶。341
Giogi used the finder’s stone to light their way.乔吉用寻物石为他们照亮前路。342
The walls on either side were of rough-cut stone fitted together by expert masons.两侧的墙壁由粗凿的石块砌成，石块在技艺精湛的石匠手中严丝合缝地拼接在一起。343
The stone was cool but dry.石头触感冰凉，却很干燥。344
The air was less chill than in the mausoleum and grew even warmer as they descended.这里的空气不像陵墓中那么寒冷，而且随着他们不断下行，还变得越来越暖和。345
Olive tried counting the number of steps, but she got confused by her extra feet.奥利芙试着数台阶的级数，却被自己多出来的几只脚弄糊涂了。346
There were three landings where the staircase turned, but the steps were all even and not too steep or narrow for her hooves.楼梯共有三处转折平台，但每级台阶都很齐整，对她的蹄子来说既不太陡，也不太窄。347
Olive caught glimpses of shimmering lines on the walls, but whenever she looked directly at them, the lines disappeared.奥利芙偶尔瞥见墙上有些微微闪烁的线条，可每当她定睛去看，那些线条便消失了。348
More magical glyphs, she realized.又是魔法符文，她意识到。349
I must be immune to their power because I’m in Giogi’s company.我肯定是因为跟乔吉在一起，才不受它们的法力影响。350
Or because I’m just an ass, she added.也可能只是因为我本来就是头蠢驴，她又补充道。351
Finally they reached the bottom.他们终于抵达了底部。352
Their way was blocked by another door plated with the same gray metal used in the mausoleum.去路被另一扇门挡住了，门上镀着与陵墓中相同的灰色金属。353
Emblazoned across the door was a painting of a great red wyvern.门上赫然绘着一头巨大的红色双足飞龙。354
The words, “None but Wyvernspurs shall pass this door and live,” were inscribed in the Common tongue over the door.门上方用通用语刻着一行字：“除飞龙刺家族之人外，谁也休想活着通过此门。”355
Once again Giogi pulled out his silver key.乔吉再次掏出了他的银钥匙。356
He stared at it for a moment, took a deep breath, then exhaled, puffing out his cheeks.他盯着钥匙看了片刻，深吸一口气，又鼓着腮帮子把气吐了出来。357
“Now, don’t be frightened, Birdie,” Giogi said as he turned the key in the lock.“好了，别害怕，小鸟儿。”乔吉一边说，一边转动锁孔里的钥匙。358
“I’ll protect you from the guardian.”“我会保护你，不让守护者伤害你的。”359
Much obliged, Olive thought, but who’s going to protect you?多谢了，奥利芙心想，可谁来保护你呢？360
The halfling burro could smell fear on the nobleman.这头半身人小驴闻得出贵族身上的恐惧气息。361
Giogi took another deep breath, gathered his courage, and pushed open the door.乔吉又深吸一口气，鼓起勇气，推开了门。362
He took a step into the room, then another.他朝房间里迈出一步，又迈出一步。363
Olive followed alongside him, which Giogi took as an indication that the little burro was a fearless creature.奥利芙在他身旁跟了进去，乔吉便以为这说明小驴是个无所畏惧的生灵。364
In reality, Olive was simply anxious to stay within the finder’s stone sphere of light.其实，奥利芙只不过是急于待在寻物石的光圈之内。365
“Hello, hello,” Giogi said, at first softly, then with more volume.“喂，喂。”乔吉先是轻声喊道，接着提高了音量。366
“Steele, are you here?” the nobleman called out.“斯蒂尔，你在这里吗？”贵族高声喊道。367
His voice echoed back, but there was no living response.他的声音回荡着传了回来，却没有任何活物回应。368
Giogi pushed the door closed behind them and locked it.乔吉关上他们身后的门，将它锁好。369
They stood in the Wyvernspur family crypt—a vast tunneled chamber with straight walls and a vaulted ceiling.他们站在飞龙刺家族的墓穴中——这是一座巨大的隧道式墓室，四壁笔直，顶部呈拱形。370
Both walls and ceiling were lined, as the staircase had been, with fitted, cut stone.墙壁和拱顶都和楼梯一样，用切割后严丝合缝的石块砌成。371
Every so many feet, in place of a stone, was a block of marble engraved with the name of a Wyvernspur, with—so Olive presumed—the remains of a Wyvernspur buried behind it.每隔一段距离，墙上便有一块石头被刻有某位飞龙刺家族成员姓名的大理石板取代，而奥利芙猜想，那位家族成员的遗骸就葬在石板后面。372
In the center of the crypt was a single cylindrical pedestal ringed with concentric circles of letters carved into the floor.墓穴中央立着一座圆柱形基座，周围环绕着一圈圈同心圆文字，刻在地面上。373
Each circle repeated the same warning in a different language.每一圈都用不同的语言重复着同一句警告。374
Olive couldn’t read all the tongues, but the outer and most prominent warning was written in Common.奥利芙并非所有语言都看得懂，但最外圈、也最醒目的那句警告是用通用语写的。375
The words, “painful, lingering death,” stood out clearly in the finder’s stone light.在探寻石的光芒下，“痛苦而漫长的死亡”几个字格外清晰。376
Olive did not feel compelled to read any more.奥利芙觉得没必要再读下去了。377
The pedestal stood higher than Olive’s line of sight.基座高过了奥利芙的视线。378
She could see only the swatch of black velvet draped over the top of the pedestal and which hung down about a foot all around.她只能看见覆在基座顶端的那幅黑天鹅绒；它四面垂下，约有一英尺长。379
Giogi, from his adult human height, looked down on the top of the pedestal.乔吉有着成年人的身高，可以俯视基座顶端。380
“It’s missing, all right,” he muttered.“确实不见了。”他低声说道。381
“Giogioni,” a voice whispered from the other end of the hall.“乔吉奥尼。”大厅另一端传来一个低语声。382
The echo repeated the whisper.回声重复着这声低语。383
Olive shivered.奥利芙打了个寒战。384
She was willing to bet that that wasn’t Giogi’s Cousin Steele.她敢打赌，那绝不是乔吉的表亲斯蒂尔。385
The voice had a sensuous, husky quality, but it also conveyed to Olive the unpleasant sensation of something sawing at her bones.那声音带着一种性感而沙哑的质感，却也让奥利芙产生了一种仿佛有什么东西正在锯她骨头的不适感。386
The voice had to belong to the guardian.这声音一定属于那个守护者。387
Olive understood immediately Giogi’s childhood terror of the creature.奥利芙立刻明白了乔吉儿时为何如此害怕这个生物。388
Giogi froze, like a man held by magic.乔吉僵在原地，仿佛被魔法定住了一般。389
He moved his mouth, wetted his lips, and moved his mouth again, but no words came out.他张了张嘴，舔湿嘴唇，又张了张嘴，却一个字也说不出来。390
Patches of darkness broke through the edges of the light cast by the finder’s stone and swirled together until they coalesced into one large shadow, which sprouted legs, a serpentine neck and head, a sinuous tail, and huge reptilian wings.一块块黑暗从探寻石光芒的边缘破入，旋转着汇聚到一起，最终凝成一道巨大的阴影；那阴影长出了四肢、蛇一般的颈项和头颅、蜿蜒的长尾，以及一对硕大的爬虫类翅膀。391
The shadow spread out against the far wall, covering the detail of the stonework in an inky pool.阴影在远处的墙面上铺展开来，宛如一摊墨汁，遮没了石墙上的细节。392
Olive had no trouble recognizing the silhouette as the shadow cast by a monstrously large wyvern.奥利芙毫不费力地认出，那轮廓是一头大得骇人的飞龙投下的影子。393
Yet, there was no wyvern in the room.然而，房间里根本没有飞龙。394
Olive began to back up slowly.奥利芙开始慢慢后退。395
She had had frightening ordeals with dragons before, but at least those dragons had been visible and alive.她以前也曾在龙的手下经历过可怕的磨难，但至少那些龙看得见，而且是活的。396
The creature dwelling in this place, Olive realized, was neither.奥利芙意识到，盘踞在此处的这个生物，两者皆非。397
“Giogioni,” the disembodied voice whispered again.“乔吉奥尼，”那个不知从何处传来的声音再次低语道。398
The shadow of the wyvern head moved as the voice spoke.说话时，飞龙头颅的影子动了起来。399
“You’ve come back at last.”“你终于回来了。”400
“I’m only passing through, guardian,” Giogi said.“我只是路过，守护者。”乔吉说道。401
“Don’t bother—” Giogi’s voice cracked.“不必费心——”乔吉的声音突然嘶哑了。402
He swallowed hard to wet his throat before continuing.他用力咽了口唾沫，润了润喉咙，才继续说下去。403
“Don’t bother yourself on my account.”“不必为我费心。”404
“Is this little morsel for me?” the guardian asked as a shadowy talon elongated and traveled across the ceiling and down the wall toward Olive.“这口小点心是给我的吗？”守护者问道。与此同时，一只影爪越伸越长，沿着天花板爬过，又顺墙而下，探向奥利芙。405
Olive could’ve sworn the air grew colder as the shadow claw drew near her.随着那只影爪逼近，奥利芙几乎可以发誓，空气变得更冷了。406
Giogi interposed himself between his burro and the darkness.乔吉挡在自己的小驴和那片黑暗之间。407
“This is Birdie, and I need her to search the catacombs, so I would appreciate it if you would leave her undisturbed.”“这是小鸟儿，我需要她搜查地下墓穴，所以还请你不要打扰她。”408
The voice laughed.那声音笑了起来。409
“Not too little anymore, are you?“你已经不再是个小不点了，对吧？410
I shall respect your wish.我会尊重你的意愿。411
But you’ve come too late, my Giogioni.可是你来得太迟了，我的乔吉奥尼。412
The spur has been taken.”那枚刺已经被人拿走了。”413
“I know that,” Giogi said.“我知道。”乔吉说道。414
He could feel a bead of sweat trickling down his face as he mustered all his courage and asked, “Why didn’t you stop the thief?”他感觉一滴汗珠正顺着脸颊淌下；他鼓起全部勇气，问道：“你为什么不阻止那个窃贼？”415
“My charge is to let Wyvernspurs pass unslain,” the guardian replied matter-of-factly.“我的职责是让飞龙刺家族的人活着通过。”守护者平静地答道。416
“So which of us took the spur?”“那么，我们当中是谁拿走了那枚马刺？”417
Giogi demanded.乔吉追问道。418
“I have no idea.“我不知道。419
Wyvernspurs are all alike to me.在我看来，飞龙刺家族的人都一个样。420
Like shadows on a wall.”就像墙上的影子。”421
“Great,” Giogi muttered.“好极了。”乔吉嘟囔道。422
“Except you, Giogioni.“除了你，乔吉奥尼。423
You are different.你与众不同。424
Like Cole, like Paton.就像科尔，就像佩顿。425
Kissed by Selune.”都曾受塞露恩亲吻。”426
“What is that supposed to mean?”“这话是什么意思？”427
“Do you remember what we spoke of when you were here last?”“你还记得上次来这里时，我们谈过什么吗？”428
“I’ve been trying to forget it, actually.”“其实，我一直在努力忘掉。”429
“You can never forget the death cry of prey, nor the taste of warm blood, nor the crunch of bone.”“猎物临死的哀号、温热鲜血的滋味、骨头碎裂的脆响，你永远都忘不了。”430
Olive’s ears pricked up at the unusual pattern of words.这不同寻常的措辞节奏让奥利芙竖起了耳朵。431
Wyvern poetry? she wondered.飞龙诗歌？她心想。432
“I have to go,” Giogi insisted.“我得走了。”乔吉坚持道。433
He tugged on the burro’s halter.他拽了拽小毛驴的笼头。434
Olive needed no further coaxing.奥利芙无须再催。435
She trotted across the chamber at the nobleman’s side, keeping him between her and the silhouette.她小跑着穿过墓室，紧挨在那位贵族身旁，始终让他挡在自己与那道剪影之间。436
As the only source of light in the room—Giogi’s finder’s stone—moved, the shadow did not shift position but remained looming on the far wall.随着房间里唯一的光源——乔吉的寻物石——移动，那道影子却没有挪动位置，依旧高高笼罩在远处的墙上。437
In that wall, beneath the shadow of the guardian’s wing, was a small archway opening onto a downward staircase.就在那面墙上，守护者翼影的下方，有一道小拱门，门后通往一段向下延伸的楼梯。438
As they neared the arch, Olive again felt the chill of the guardian.快到拱门时，奥利芙再次感到了守护者散发的寒意。439
They passed through the archway unharmed, though, and the chill did not extend beyond the crypt.不过，他们安然无恙地穿过了拱门，而那股寒意并未蔓延到墓室之外。440
They had passed out of the guardian’s realm.他们已经走出了守护者的领域。441
Behind them, the creature called out in its bone-grating whisper, “You will always dream of these things, Giogi.身后，那怪物用令人骨头发颤的低语喊道：“你会永远梦见这些东西，乔吉。442
You will dream of them until you’ve joined me forever.”你会一直梦见它们，直到你永远与我为伴。”443
Giogi hurried down the stairs, but at the first landing he slumped against the wall, trembling, with his hands covering his face.乔吉匆匆走下楼梯，可一到第一个平台，他便瘫靠在墙上，浑身发抖，双手掩面。444
Olive nuzzled him gently, concerned that he might go to pieces if she didn’t keep him moving, and anxious to put another flight of stairs between them and the guardian.奥利芙用鼻子轻轻蹭了蹭他，担心自己若不催他继续走，他会彻底崩溃；她也急于让他们和守护者之间再隔上一段楼梯。445
Giogi pulled his hands away from his face, took a deep breath, and looked down at the burro.乔吉把手从脸上放下来，深吸一口气，低头看着小驴。446
Olive could see tears in the corners of his eyes.奥利芙看见他眼角含着泪水。447
“I was wrong,” he said.“我错了，”他说。448
“She is just as terrible as I remembered.“她和我记忆中一样可怕。449
It’s her horrible dream.那是她的可怕梦境。450
If I could just stop dreaming that damned dream.”要是我能不再做那个该死的梦就好了。”451