Olive took only a moment to consider her options.奥利芙只花了一会儿便权衡好了利弊。1
On one hand, she was sure she didn’t want to run into whatever had made Steele scream that way.一方面，她确信自己绝不想撞上那个把斯蒂尔吓得那样尖叫的东西。2
On the other hand, if whatever it was happened to swallow Steele and Giogi, she was stuck in the catacombs—as a burro—with Cat, possibly for the rest of her life, as short as that might be.另一方面，倘若那东西恰好吞了斯蒂尔和乔吉，她就会以一头驴子的模样，和凯特一起被困在地下墓穴里——没准要困上一辈子，尽管她这辈子可能也不会太长。3
Not an amusing prospect, Olive thought.这可一点也不好玩，奥利芙心想。4
I have to keep the boy from doing something rash.我得拦住那小子，别让他做出什么莽撞的事。5
She trotted down the corridor after the shrinking light of the finder’s stone.她沿着走廊小跑起来，追赶寻踪石那渐渐远去的光芒。6
There was another scream, and Giogi dashed down a narrow side passage to follow it.又一声尖叫传来，乔吉冲进一条狭窄的岔道，循声追去。7
The ceiling was lower there, and he had to stoop as he ran.那里的顶棚更低，他跑时不得不弯下腰。8
Shrill cries of anger and laughter echoed down the hall.尖厉的怒叫声和笑声在通道里回荡。9
The nobleman slowed.贵族放慢了脚步。10
There were no further cries from his cousin.他的堂兄再也没有发出任何叫声。11
The laughter had a sinister tone, which chilled Giogi to the marrow.那笑声带着一股阴森的意味，令乔吉寒彻骨髓。12
He stopped.他停了下来。13
Olive bumped into the nobleman.奥利芙一头撞上了那位贵族。14
He gasped and whirled around.他倒吸一口气，猛地转过身来。15
“Birdie, you naughty girl.“小鸟儿，你这个淘气姑娘。16
You were supposed to wait with Mistress Cat.”你本该和凯特女士一起在原地等着的。”17
Cat drew up behind the burro.凯特赶到驴子身后，停下了脚步。18
“What is it?” she asked.“怎么了？”她问。19
“You should have stayed with the burro.“你本该和驴子待在一起。20
It could be very dangerous,” Giogi chided.这里可能非常危险。”乔吉责备道。21
“I am with the burro,” Cat pointed out.“我正和驴子待在一起呢。”凯特指出。22
If it’s dangerous, why don’t we leave?” she asked.“既然危险，我们为什么不离开？”她问。23
“That was Steele.“刚才那是斯蒂尔。24
He’s my family.他是我的家人。25
I have to help him.”我必须帮他。”26
“But if you don’t come back, I’ll never get out of here.“可你要是不回来，我就永远出不去了。27
I’ll die down here,” Cat said.我会死在这下面的。”凯特说。28
Her lower lip quivered.她的下唇微微颤抖。29
What she said, only without the dramatic touches, Olive thought.我也是这个意思，只是没她那么夸张，奥利芙心想。30
“If Steele and I don’t come back, my Cousin Freffie will come down looking for us.“要是我和斯蒂尔没回来，我的表兄弗雷菲会下来找我们。31
If you wait in the crypt for him, he’ll let you out.”你只要在墓室里等他，他会放你出去的。”32
Cat frowned with displeasure.凯特不悦地皱起眉头。33
Olive thought, She doesn’t want to take a chance on Freffie.奥利芙心想，她不愿把希望押在弗雷菲身上。34
He might not fall for her story as easily as Giogi did.他未必会像乔吉那样轻易相信她的说辞。35
“I’m not leaving you,” Cat insisted.“我不会离开你的。”凯特坚持道。36
Giogi sighed with defeat.乔吉无奈地叹了口气。37
“Then you’d better stay behind me,” he stated, holding an authoritative finger up to her nose.“那你最好跟在我后面。”他说着，颇有威严地竖起一根手指，举到她鼻尖前。38
He turned about and crept down the passage.他转过身，蹑手蹑脚地沿着通道走去。39
The corridor turned, and there Giogi halted, peering around the edge.走廊拐了个弯，乔吉在那里停下，探头朝拐角外窥视。40
Cat stopped behind him and peeked out from behind his back.凯特在他身后停下，从他背后探出头去看。41
The passage opened into a larger chamber ten feet farther down.再往前十英尺，通道通向一间更大的厅室。42
Inside the room, a tangle of white-horned, black-scaled creatures smaller than halflings jumped up and down on a massive mahogany tabletop.房间里，一群长着白角、覆着黑鳞、个头比半身人还小的生物乱作一团，在一张巨大的红木桌面上跳上跳下。43
The monsters wore nothing but raggedy red shifts with belts of rope and dagger sheaths.这些怪物身上只穿着破破烂烂的红色罩衫，腰间系着绳带，挂着匕首鞘。44
The table rocked on the splintered stumps that had once been its legs, and on a prone human body.桌面支在曾经是桌腿的几截碎裂残桩和一个俯卧的人身上，摇摇晃晃。45
Protruding from beneath the table were Steele’s head and shoulders; the rest of him was pinned by the tabletop and the weight of the creatures swarming on top of it.斯蒂尔的头和肩膀从桌下露了出来；他的其余身体被桌面和挤在上面那群生物的重量死死压住。46
A moan escaped Steele’s lips and his head lolled to one side.斯蒂尔唇间逸出一声呻吟，脑袋无力地歪向一边。47
From Steele’s stillness and closed eyes, though, Giogi guessed his cousin was mercifully unconscious.不过，从斯蒂尔一动不动、双眼紧闭的样子来看，乔吉猜想，幸好他的表兄已经失去了知觉。48
“Kobolds,” Cat said with scorn.“狗头人。”凯特不屑地说道。49
“Just a few stupid kobolds.”“不过是几个愚蠢的狗头人。”50
Giogi counted at least twenty, which ranked slightly higher than a few, in his estimation, but he kept his growing sense of alarm in check.乔吉数了数，至少有二十个；在他看来，这可比“几个”多了那么一点，不过他还是压下了心中越来越强烈的警觉。51
He could hardly convince Cat that he could protect her from her master, he realized, if he cringed from a battle with kobolds.他意识到，要是自己面对狗头人都畏缩不前，又怎么可能让凯特相信，他能保护她免受她主人的伤害。52
“Right.“好吧。53
You wait here,” he ordered.你在这儿等着。”他命令道。54
“And I mean right here.”“我说的就是这儿，一步也别动。”55
Having laid down the law, Giogi plunged into the room, foil drawn in his right hand, finder’s stone raised high in his left, shouting an inarticulate battle cry.下完命令，乔吉便冲进房间，右手拔出细剑，左手高举寻物石，口中发出含混不清的战吼。56
“What does he think he’s doing?”“他以为自己在干什么？”57
Cat muttered.凯特低声嘟囔道。58
Proving himself, obviously, Olive thought.显然是在证明自己，奥利芙心想。59
“Idiot,” Cat said, pulling something out of one of her robe pockets.“白痴。”凯特说着，从长袍的一个口袋里掏出某样东西。60
As Cat dangled it in front of her, Olive got a closer look at it: a finger bone.凯特把那东西悬在身前，奥利芙这才看清楚：那是一截指骨。61
Cat began chanting softly.凯特开始轻声吟唱。62
Motes of light began to sparkle about the bone.点点微光开始在指骨周围闪烁。63
The burro pulled back quickly.毛驴迅速向后退去。64
Don’t want to get in the way of a spell that involves anyone’s finger bone, Olive decided.凡是用到别人指骨的法术，最好还是别挡它的道，奥利芙心想。65
Oblivious to the magic being cast behind him, Giogi rushed to his cousin’s side.乔吉浑然不觉身后正在施展的魔法，径直冲到了表哥身边。66
The kobolds, alarmed by the sudden loud intrusion and the finder’s stone light, scattered before him.狗头人被这突如其来的吵闹和寻物石的光芒吓了一跳，纷纷从他面前逃散。67
Their surprise gave way to rage, however, when they realized they were beset with only a single foe armed with nothing but an oversized skewer.然而，当它们发现来犯的只有一个敌人，手里也不过拿着一根特大号烤肉签时，惊讶顿时化作了愤怒。68
With cruel smiles on their muzzles, the kobolds drew sharp daggers, which glittered in the light of Giogi’s stone.狗头人咧开的长嘴上露出残忍的笑，纷纷拔出锋利的匕首；刀刃在乔吉的石头所发出的光芒中闪闪发亮。69
The beasts began encroaching on him in groups of three or four, snarling like dogs set to bait a bull.这些野兽三四个一群，开始向他逼近，像被放去围攻公牛的恶犬一样低声咆哮。70
Assuming a combat stance, Giogi pivoted about his left foot, lunging with his foil in the direction of any kobold who came within range.乔吉摆开战斗架势，以左脚为轴转动身体，朝每一个进入攻击范围的狗头人挺起细剑刺去。71
Back in the corridor, Cat ceased her chanting and the bone she held crumbled to dust.回到走廊里，凯特停止了吟唱，她手中握着的骨头也碎成了粉末。72
Suddenly, the kobolds surrounding Giogi fell back in terror.突然间，围住乔吉的狗头人惊恐地退缩了。73
Impressed with the effect his prowess seemed to have had on the creatures, Giogi jabbed his foil a few times in their direction to test their reaction.乔吉见自己的本领似乎把这些怪物吓成了这样，不禁颇为得意，便朝它们的方向用花剑虚刺了几下，试探它们的反应。74
The kobolds cowered like whipped dogs.狗头人像挨过鞭打的狗一样畏缩成一团。75
The nobleman didn’t have the heart to skewer any of them.这位贵族不忍心把它们中的任何一个刺个对穿。76
Keeping a wary eye on the little monsters, he bent over to examine his cousin.他警惕地盯着那些小怪物，俯身察看自己的堂兄。77
Steele’s breathing was shallow and his face pale.斯蒂尔呼吸微弱，脸色苍白。78
Cat padded into the room, smiling with pleasure at the effect her scare spell had on them.凯特轻手轻脚地走进房间，看到自己的惊吓术对它们如此奏效，脸上露出了满意的笑容。79
The creatures trembled at her gaze.那些怪物在她的注视下瑟瑟发抖。80
Olive stood watching from the shadows near the room’s entrance.奥利芙站在房间入口附近的阴影里观望。81
According to common adventurer lore, pack animals were seen as a delicacy among kobolds and other underground races.按照冒险者中流传的常识，狗头人和其他地下种族都把驮畜视为美味佳肴。82
She didn’t want to take the chance that the sight of dinner on the hoof would prick up the monsters’ courage.她可不想冒险让那些怪物一看到这顿活生生的晚餐，胆子就又壮了起来。83
“I thought I told you to stay put,” Giogi whispered to the mage.“我不是叫你待在原地别动吗？”乔吉低声对法师说道。84
“They won’t hurt me with you to protect me,” Cat insisted.“有你保护我，它们不会伤害我的。”凯特坚持道。85
When she looked down at Steele, she gasped softly.她低头看见斯蒂尔时，轻轻倒吸了一口气。86
“This is your cousin?” she asked.“这就是你的堂兄？”她问道。87
“Yes.“是啊。88
Why?”怎么了？”89
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。90
“Nothing,” Cat said, shaking her head.“没什么。”凯特摇着头说道。91
“Well, now that you’re here, I suppose you can help,” Giogi said with a sigh.“好吧，既然你已经来了，我想你可以帮忙。”乔吉叹了口气说道。92
“Take these,” he ordered, handing Cat his foil and the finder’s stone so he could use both hands to lift the table off Steele.“拿着这些。”他命令道，把花剑和寻物石递给凯特，好腾出双手把桌子从斯蒂尔身上抬起来。93
He strained under the weight, unable to shift the massive piece of furniture.他使尽全力承受着桌子的重量，却根本挪不动这件庞大的家具。94
“How did they move this thing on top of him in the first place?”“它们一开始到底是怎么把这东西搬到他身上的？”95
Giogi gasped, sweat beading on his forehead.乔吉喘着气问道，额头上渗出了一颗颗汗珠。96
“Look up,” Cat suggested, holding the finder’s stone over her head so he could get a better look.“抬头看，”凯特提议道，把寻物石举过头顶，好让他看得更清楚。97
A great length of rope ran from the table to a pulley mounted in the ceiling twenty feet above, to a second pulley at the edge of the room, and finally to a spool controlled by a winch.一根长长的绳索从桌子延伸到二十英尺高的天花板上安装的一只滑轮，又通向房间边缘的第二只滑轮，最后连接到一个由绞盘控制的卷筒上。98
“Keep an eye on them,” he ordered Cat.“盯着他们，”他命令凯特。99
He crossed the room to examine the winch.他穿过房间，去查看那台绞盘。100
Whimpering kobolds backed away from him.呜咽着的狗头人纷纷后退，躲开了他。101
It took him a minute to find and operate the toggle that engaged the spool’s gears.他花了一分钟才找到并扳动那个让卷筒齿轮啮合的拨杆。102
He cranked the rope taut, then began lifting the great table off the floor.他摇动绞盘，把绳索绷紧，随后开始将那张巨桌吊离地面。103
Even with the ingenious machine, it was hard work.即使有这台精巧的机器，这仍是件苦差事。104
Sweat trickled down the sides of Giogi’s face by the time he’d raised the table a few inches.等乔吉把桌子抬高几英寸时，汗水已经顺着他的脸颊两侧淌了下来。105
“That should be enough,” Cat said, peering under the table at Steele’s body.“这样应该够了，”凯特一边探头查看桌下斯蒂尔的身体，一边说道。106
Giogi returned to her side and slid Steele clear of the crushing weight.乔吉回到她身边，把斯蒂尔从那骇人的重压下拖了出来。107
“I wonder how these little monsters managed to get this table in here,” Giogi said aloud.“不知道这些小怪物是怎么把这张桌子弄进来的，”乔吉自言自语道。108
“I think it used to be in the anteroom beneath the crypt.”“我想它以前应该放在墓穴下面的前室里。”109
“No doubt they bribed something bigger to do it for them,” Cat guessed.“他们肯定是买通了某个更大的家伙，让它替他们搬进来的，”凯特猜测道。110
“So, unless you want to meet whatever that thing is, I suggest we leave now.”“所以，除非你想见见那东西究竟是什么，否则我建议我们现在就走。”111
“Good idea,” Giogi agreed.“好主意，”乔吉赞同道。112
“Just as soon as Steele recovers.“等斯蒂尔一恢复过来，我们马上就走。113
I need to fetch a healing potion from Birdie’s pack.”我得从小鸟儿的包里拿一瓶治疗药水。”114
Cat placed a slender hand on Giogi’s sleeve.凯特将一只纤细的手搭在乔吉的衣袖上。115
In a soft but urgent voice she said, “If you bring him around now, he’ll see me down here.她用轻柔却急切的声音说道：“如果你现在让他醒过来，他就会看见我在这下面。116
Didn’t you say he’ll think I’m the thief?”你不是说过，他会以为我是那个贼吗？”117
Giogi nodded.乔吉点了点头。118
“Yes.“是的。119
He’ll make a tremendous fuss, too.他还会大闹一场。120
Steele can be quite vicious when he has his heart set on something, as he does on the spur.斯蒂尔一心想要什么东西时，会变得相当凶狠，就像他对那枚马刺一样。121
I’ll have to carry him.”我只好把他扛过去。”122
“But that will slow us down awfully,” Cat argued.“可那样会大大拖慢我们的速度，”凯特争辩道。123
“Why don’t you load him on the burro and wait until we’re back out in the graveyard before you use your potion?”“为什么不把他驮到小毛驴背上，等我们回到外面的墓地后再用你的药剂呢？”124
Oh, no, you don’t, Olive thought from her hiding place in the shadows.哦，不，你休想，奥利芙躲在阴影里想道。125
“Birdie’s got a full load, and even if I unpacked her, Steele would weigh too much for her.”“小鸟儿已经驮得满满当当了，而且就算我卸下她背上的东西，斯蒂尔对她来说也太重了。”126
Cat gave an annoyed sniff.凯特恼火地哼了一声。127
“I might be able to manage a spell to handle him,” she offered.“我或许能施个法术来搬他，”她提议道。128
Handing Giogi his weapon and the finder’s stone, she drew a vial of silver liquid and unstoppered it.她把武器和寻物石递给乔吉，随后取出一小瓶银色液体，拔掉了瓶塞。129
Murmuring a chant, she tilted the vial so a drop of the liquid fell from it.她低声吟诵着咒语，将瓶子微微倾斜，让一滴液体从中落下。130
Just before it reached the ground, the droplet spread out into a shimmering disk, rose three feet, and hovered there.就在落地前，那滴液体铺展开来，化作一个闪闪发光的圆盘，升到三英尺高，悬浮在那里。131
“We can lay him on that,” Cat said.“我们可以把他放在这上面，”凯特说。132
“Are you sure it will hold him?”“你确定它托得住他吗？”133
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。134
“Hurry” Cat whispered, putting away the vial, “before the kobolds begin to lose their fear of you.”“快点，”凯特一边低声说道，一边收起小瓶，“别等那些狗头人不再怕你了。”135
Even before Giogi looked back at the little monsters cowering in the cavern, some of them had begun making muttering, discontented sounds.乔吉甚至还没回头去看那些蜷缩在洞窟里的小怪物，其中一些便已开始发出不满的嘟囔声。136
He lifted Steel up and laid him on the disk.他抱起斯蒂尔，把他放在圆盘上。137
It held the wounded man off the ground without sinking.圆盘稳稳托着那个受伤的男人，丝毫没有下沉。138
Cat headed slowly for the doorway.凯特缓缓朝门口走去。139
The disk and its cargo followed her.圆盘载着斯蒂尔跟在她身后。140
Giogi followed, too, walking backward, his weapon at the ready.乔吉也跟了上去，他倒退着走，手中的武器随时准备出击。141
If the kobolds attacked en masse, he was sure he would not be able to hold them off.他确信，要是狗头人一拥而上，他绝对挡不住它们。142
Suddenly, one of the grimy creatures stepped from around the table and began shouting angrily.突然，一个脏兮兮的家伙从桌旁走了出来，怒气冲冲地叫嚷起来。143
Its weapon was sheathed, but its tone was hostile.它的武器还收在鞘中，但语气充满敌意。144
Cat stopped by the entrance and turned around.凯特在入口旁停下，转过身来。145
The disk hovered beside her.圆盘悬浮在她身旁。146
She listened with some interest to what the creature had to say.她颇有兴趣地听着那家伙说话。147
Giogi backed into the mage.乔吉向后退去，撞上了法师。148
“Do you know what he’s gibbering?” he asked in a whisper.“你知道他在叽里咕噜地说些什么吗？”他低声问道。149
“She says,” Cat explained, “that it’s not fair.“她说，”凯特解释道，“这不公平。150
Your cousin captured and tortured her, but she hasn’t had her chance to give as well as she got.”你堂兄抓住她，折磨了她，可她还没机会以牙还牙。”151
Aghast, Giogi asked, “Why would Steele do such a thing?”乔吉大惊失色，问道：“斯蒂尔为什么要做这种事？”152
Cat made a series of hissing and growling noises, which Giogi could not begin to comprehend.凯特发出一连串嘶嘶声和低吼声，乔吉一个字也听不懂。153
The belligerent kobold answered in kind.那个气势汹汹的狗头人也用同样的声音回答。154
“To find out about the spur and the thief,” Cat explained.“为了打听马刺和那个小偷的事，”凯特解释道。155
“She convinced him to follow her into this booby trap.”“她诱使他跟着自己走进了这个机关重重的陷阱。”156
“Can you tell her I will take him away so he can’t hurt any of them again?”“你能告诉她，我会把他带走，让他再也不能伤害她们吗？”157
Cat spoke again in the tongue the kobolds understood.凯特又用狗头人听得懂的语言说了起来。158
The lead kobold growled and chittered some more, and Cat snarled back at it.带头的狗头人又低吼着叽叽喳喳说了几句，凯特也龇牙低吼着回敬它。159
The gaze of both, human woman and kobold female, locked onto one another with a long, menacing glare.一人一狗头人——人类女子和狗头人雌性——四目相对，久久互相怒视，目光中满是威胁。160
After a minute, the staring contest ended.过了一会儿，这场瞪眼较量结束了。161
The kobold looked down, spat on the ground in Cat’s direction, and ran off into the darkness.那狗头人垂下目光，朝凯特的方向往地上啐了一口，随即跑进黑暗之中。162
The other kobolds followed.其他狗头人也跟了上去。163
“She would have preferred that you left him here.“她宁愿你把他留在这里。164
I think you spoiled their fun,” Cat said with a wry smile.我想你坏了她们的兴致。”凯特揶揄地笑着说道。165
Giogi shuddered.乔吉打了个寒战。166
“Let’s get out of here.”“我们离开这里吧。”167
When they’d rejoined Olive, Giogi pulled a blanket out of the burro’s saddlebags and covered his cousin’s unconscious body.重新与奥利芙会合后，乔吉从驴子的鞍囊里抽出一条毯子，盖在他那昏迷不醒的表亲身上。168
Then the party began carefully retracing its steps using Giogi’s map and the numbers painted on the walls.随后，一行人按照乔吉的地图和墙上漆着的数字，小心翼翼地原路返回。169
Olive plodded beside Cat’s magic disk and took advantage of the time to study the unconscious Steele.奥利芙在凯特的魔法圆盘旁缓步前行，趁这段时间仔细端详昏迷的斯蒂尔。170
He had the Wyvernspur face, all right.他确实长着一张飞龙刺家族的脸。171
Considering Steele’s sadistic streak, which Cat had just revealed to them, he seemed even more likely to be Jade’s murderer.考虑到凯特刚刚向他们透露的斯蒂尔那种施虐成性的一面，他似乎更有可能是杀害杰德的凶手了。172
Unfortunately, while the murderer had looked far younger than Nameless, he had also looked somewhat older than Steele.遗憾的是，那个凶手虽然看起来比无名者年轻得多，却也比斯蒂尔年长一些。173
Steele wasn’t any older than Giogi.斯蒂尔的年纪并不比乔吉大。174
Besides, Steele had a mole by the right side of his mouth, which Olive was certain the murderer had not possessed.况且，斯蒂尔嘴角右侧有一颗痣，而奥利芙确信凶手并没有。175
Of course, that left the possibility that Steele might have been disguised.当然，斯蒂尔也有可能当时经过了乔装。176
It was hard to imagine, though, that a young man foolish enough to walk into a kobold ambush was really a powerful mage.不过，很难想象一个蠢到会走进狗头人埋伏的年轻人，实际上竟是一名法力强大的法师。177
Ruling out Steele left the halfling with Frefford and Drone, and any other male relatives Giogi might have who he hadn’t yet mentioned.排除斯蒂尔之后，半身人只剩下弗雷福德和德罗恩可供怀疑，此外还有乔吉可能尚未提起的其他男性亲属。178
Plodding along behind Giogi and Cat, Olive hadn’t paid much attention to their progress.奥利芙拖着脚步跟在乔吉和凯特身后，一直没怎么留意他们走到了哪里。179
They’d crossed or turned at six intersections when Giogi looked up from his map with a puzzled expression.他们已经经过了六个交叉口，或直行穿过，或拐向别处，这时乔吉抬起头，一脸困惑地看着地图。180
“We can’t have come this far already,” he said, reaching out to touch the numbers on the wall.“我们不可能这么快就走到这里了，”他说着，伸手摸了摸墙上的数字。181
His fingers came back with paint on them.他的手指收回来时沾上了油漆。182
“Odd.“奇怪。183
This should have dried by now.”这些油漆现在本该已经干了。”184
From one of her robe pockets Cat drew out her own crudely drawn map.凯特从法袍的一个口袋里取出自己那张画得很粗糙的地图。185
A sinister giggling echoed around them.一阵阴森的窃笑声在他们四周回荡。186
“The kobolds,” Cat whispered with alarm.“是狗头人，”凯特惊慌地低声说道。187
“They’ve tricked us with false markings.”“它们用假标记骗了我们。”188
Giogi held the finder’s stone up high to see if he could catch a glimpse of the monsters.乔吉把寻物石高高举起，想看看能否瞥见那些怪物。189
The light sprang out down one corridor of the intersection, but left the other three in the dark.光芒沿着交叉口的一条通道直射出去，另外三条通道却仍笼罩在黑暗中。190
Giogi spied no kobolds, but he did spot a piece of paper on the floor.乔吉没有发现狗头人，却看见地上有一张纸。191
He led them toward it and picked it up.他带着众人朝那张纸走去，将它捡了起来。192
“This is from your cheese sandwich,” he said.“这是你那份奶酪三明治的包装纸，”他说。193
“I can find our way from here.”“从这里开始，我知道该怎么走了。”194
He rolled up his map and slipped it back in one of the burro’s packs.他卷起地图，把它塞回驮驴的一只驮袋里。195
Remembering what Samtavan Sudacar had told him about the finder’s stone, the nobleman followed its light with confidence.想起萨姆塔万·苏达卡告诉他的寻物石的用法，这位贵族信心十足地循着它的光芒前行。196
Whichever way it shone the brightest, he turned.哪边的光最亮，他就转向哪边。197
“Are you sure you’re headed in the right direction?” the mage asked uncertainly.“你确定方向没走错吗？”法师不大确定地问。198
Giogi nodded with a sly grin.乔吉狡黠一笑，点了点头。199
Olive, aware of the finder’s stone’s powers, thought, The boy’s smarter’n he looks, girl.奥利芙知道寻物石的力量，心想：姑娘，这小子可比看上去聪明。200
Take his word for it.听他的准没错。201
Giogi’s party wasn’t too far from the stairs to the crypt when a huge shadow blocked the corridor ahead.乔吉一行离通往墓室的楼梯已经不远了，这时，一道巨大的黑影挡住了前方的走廊。202
“Bother!”“真麻烦！”203
Cat growled.凯特低吼道。204
“Not him again.”“怎么又是他。”205
“What is it?”“那是什么？”206
Giogi asked nervously, trying to make out the great shape’s identity by squinting.乔吉紧张地问，一边眯起眼睛，想看清那道巨大身影究竟是什么。207
“Bugbear.”“熊地精。”208
“Right,” Giogi said with a gulp.“好吧。”乔吉咽了口唾沫，说道。209
Maybe if I charge with a yell, he thought, I can send it running, as I did with the kobolds.也许我大喊着冲过去，就能像吓跑那些狗头人一样把它吓跑，他想。210
He raised his foil and took a deep breath.他举起花剑，深吸了一口气。211
Cat put her hand on Giogi’s sleeve again.凯特再次伸手按住乔吉的衣袖。212
“Let me handle this,” she said.“让我来对付它。”她说。213
She pulled out Giogi’s hip flask—which she had never returned—and unstoppered it.她掏出乔吉的扁酒壶——她一直没还给他——拔掉了塞子。214
With two fingers on her tongue, she gave a shrill whistle and held up the flask.她把两根手指放在舌头上，打了个尖厉的口哨，然后举起酒壶。215
The bugbear looked up at the newcomers, then came lumbering down the corridor at them.熊地精抬头看了看这些不速之客，随即拖着笨重的步子沿走廊朝他们走来。216
Giogi froze with fear, and the burro tried to press her heavily loaded bulk flat against the wall.乔吉吓得僵在原地，那头毛驴则竭力把自己驮满重物的庞大身躯紧贴在墙上。217
If she has a death wish, Olive thought, I wish she’d leave us out of it.她要是想寻死，奥利芙心想，真希望她别把我们也牵扯进去。218
The halfling couldn’t tell for sure which smelled worse, the bugbear’s matted red fur or the lice-ridden wool sweater it wore.这个半身人实在分辨不出，究竟是熊地精那结成一绺绺的红毛更臭，还是它身上那件爬满虱子的羊毛衫更臭。219
Its fangs were a dull yellow, but its eyes shone bright red.它的獠牙呈暗黄色，双眼却闪着鲜红的光。220
It stood much taller than Giogi.它比乔吉高大得多。221
Giogi grabbed at Cat’s arm to pull her behind him, but she evaded his grasp and walked right up to the bugbear.乔吉伸手抓住凯特的胳膊，想把她拉到自己身后，但她避开了他的手，径直走到熊地精跟前。222
“Wine?” the mage offered with a smile.“喝酒吗？”法师微笑着问道。223
“More wine?”“还要酒吗？”224
The bugbear snatched the flask from Cat’s hand and poured its contents down its throat.熊地精一把夺过凯特手里的酒壶，把里面的东西全灌进了喉咙。225
Cat stepped back.凯特退后一步。226
“That’s not wine,” Giogi whispered.“那不是酒。”乔吉低声说道。227
“It’s straight Rivengut.”“那是纯的裂肠酒。”228
“I know, but he doesn’t. In another moment, he won’t care,” Cat replied, smiling.“我知道，可他不知道。再过一会儿，他就不会在乎了。”凯特微笑着答道。229
The bugbear roared once, wobbled, and passed out.熊地精咆哮一声，摇晃了几下，便昏倒在地。230
“See?” the mage asked.“瞧见了吧？”法师问道。231
She stepped over the monster and continued down the corridor with the disk and Steele floating after her.她跨过那怪物，继续沿走廊前行，圆盘和斯蒂尔则飘在她身后。232
Giogi and Olive hurried to catch up.乔吉和奥利芙连忙赶了上去。233
“I bribed him a few hours ago with a skin of wine,” Cat explained.“几个小时前，我用一皮囊酒收买了他。”凯特解释道。234
They reached the anteroom and slowly climbed the stairs back to the crypt.他们来到前厅，慢慢爬上楼梯，回到了墓室。235
Olive felt her stomach rumbling.奥利芙觉得自己的肚子咕咕叫了起来。236
She thought longingly, too, of the Rivengut that Cat had given the bugbear.她也馋起了凯特给熊地精喝的裂肠酒。237
When they reached the top of the rough stairs, Giogi peered into the crypt, but the guardian was silent.登上粗糙石阶的顶端后，乔吉探头望进墓室，却没听见守卫发出任何动静。238
Giogi crept across the crypt without a word.乔吉一声不吭地蹑手蹑脚穿过墓室。239
Olive needed no warning to step as softly as she could, but Cat couldn’t leave well enough alone.不用提醒，奥利芙也知道脚步要放得越轻越好，可凯特偏偏就是不能安分。240
“So where’s the guardian?” the mage asked as they waited at the crypt door for Giogi to pull out his key.他们在墓室门口等乔吉掏出钥匙时，法师问道：“那么，守卫在哪儿？”241
“She’s here,” Giogi muttered as he inserted his key in the door and unlocked it.“她就在这儿。”乔吉一边低声说，一边把钥匙插进门锁，打开了门。242
“Please, don’t disturb her.”“求你别惊扰她。”243
“Giogioni,” the guardian’s voice whispered.“乔吉奥尼。”守护者的声音低语道。244
“Not long now, my Giogioni.”“快了，我的乔吉奥尼。已经不久了。”245
Cat whirled around and saw the huge wyvern shadow on the far wall.凯特猛地转过身，看见远处墙壁上那道巨大的双足飞龙影子。246
“Mystra’s mysteries!” she whispered excitedly.“密斯特拉的奥秘啊！”她兴奋地低声说道。247
“There is a guardian.”“真的有守护者。”248
Giogi flung the door open and smacked Olive through.乔吉猛地拉开门，一巴掌拍得奥利芙冲了过去。249
The burro needed no further encouragement.这头驴不需要更多催促。250
She clomped up the stairs.她咔嗒咔嗒地踏上了楼梯。251
“What does she mean?”“她是什么意思？”252
Cat asked.凯特问道。253
“Not long until what?”“什么就快到了？”254
“Don’t ask, please,” Giogi whispered, tugging on the mage’s arm to pull her through the doorway with him.“求你别问。”乔吉低声说道，拽住法师的胳膊，把她和自己一起拉过门口。255
As soon as the disk floated through, too, he slammed the door shut and relocked it.等圆盘也飘过去后，他立刻砰的一声关上门，重新锁好。256
“Why shouldn’t I ask what she meant?”“我为什么不该问她是什么意思？”257
Cat demanded.凯特追问道。258
Giogi closed his eyes.乔吉闭上了眼睛。259
“Because I don’t want to know,” he whispered.“因为我不想知道。”他低声说道。260
They trudged up the last four flights of stairs.他们吃力地爬完了最后四段楼梯。261
Giogi hopped hard on the tenth step from the top, and the secret door slid open.乔吉在从上往下数的第十级台阶上用力一跳，暗门便滑开了。262
He ushered them through the mausoleum and out into the graveyard beyond.他领着他们穿过陵墓，来到外面的墓地。263
The noon sky was a cold steel gray laced with low clouds, but the trio blinked in the open air as if they had been prisoners exposed to full sunshine for the first time in months.正午的天空泛着冰冷的钢灰色，低垂的云层纵横交错，但他们三个来到露天之下时仍眨着眼睛，仿佛是被囚禁了数月的囚徒，第一次暴露在灿烂的阳光下。264
Giogi reached into one of the burro’s packs and pulled out a vial of healing potion.乔吉把手伸进驮驴的一只褡裢里，取出一小瓶治疗药水。265
As carefully as he could, he poured it down Steele’s throat.他尽可能小心地把药水灌进斯蒂尔喉咙里。266
His cousin stirred and sighed, but remained unconscious.他的堂兄动了动，叹了口气，却依然昏迷不醒。267
“That’s the best I can do,” Giogi said.“我能做的只有这些了。”乔吉说。268
“We’ll have to get him to a cleric.“我们得把他送到牧师那里去。”269
How much longer can you carry him like this?” he asked Cat.“你还能这样背他多久？”他问凯特。270
“As long as you need me to,” the mage replied with a gentle smile.“只要你需要，我就能一直背着他。”法师温柔地微笑着回答。271
“Thank you.“谢谢你。”272
For everything,” Giogi said.“谢谢你做的这一切。”乔吉说。273
What about me?那我呢？274
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。275
I’ve pulled more than my share of the weight, too, you know.要知道，我出的力也早就不止自己那一份了。276
As if reading Olive’s thoughts, Giogi scratched between the burro’s ears and said, “We’ll be home soon, Birdie.乔吉仿佛看穿了奥利芙的心思，在驮驴的两耳之间挠了挠，说：“我们很快就到家了，小鸟儿。”277
You’ll get your lunch then, and with any luck we’ll get an explanation from Unce Drone before teatime.”“到时候你就能吃午饭了，运气好的话，我们还能在下午茶之前从德罗恩叔叔那里得到一个解释。”278
Yes, Olive thought.没错，奥利芙心想。279
Uncle Drone’s one mage I want to meet.德罗恩叔叔正是我想见一见的法师。280
Their party hadn’t gone halfway down the graveyard hill when a man wrapped in a green cloak came rushing up to meet them.他们一行沿着墓园的山坡还没走到一半，一个裹着绿色斗篷的男人便匆匆迎面赶来。281
He was calling out Giogi’s name.他正高声呼喊着乔吉的名字。282
As he approached, Olive realized he was another Wyvernspur.等他走近后，奥利芙才发现他又是一个飞龙刺家族的人。283
He had the same face as Steele, Nameless, and Jade’s murderer.他长着一张和斯蒂尔、无名者以及杀害杰德的凶手一模一样的脸。284
Good grief, Olive thought, how do Wyvernspurs tell one another apart?老天，奥利芙心想，飞龙刺家族的人究竟是怎么分辨彼此的？285
Now, that has the makings of a good joke, the halfling mused.这倒是个好笑话的绝佳素材，半身人暗自思忖。286
She studied the newcomer.她仔细打量着这个刚来的人。287
He didn’t have a mole like Steele, but he was just as young.他不像斯蒂尔那样长着一颗痣，但同样年轻。288
His eyes weren’t the right shade.他的眼睛颜色不对。289
Jade’s murderer had ice-blue eyes, like Nameless’s eyes.杀害杰德的凶手有一双冰蓝色的眼睛，和无名者的一样。290
The eyes of the man before them now were definitely hazel.而眼前这个男人的眼睛无疑是榛褐色的。291
Beside her Olive felt Cat start for a moment and gasp softly.在她身旁，奥利芙感觉到凯特忽然一颤，轻轻倒吸了一口气。292
Funny, the halfling thought, that’s the same reaction she had when she got a good look at Steele.真奇怪，半身人心想，她看清斯蒂尔时也是这个反应。293
I wonder why.不知道为什么。294
“It’s just my Cousin Frefford,” Giogi explained.“只是我的表亲弗雷福德，”乔吉解释道。295
“Let me do the talking.”“让我来说。”296
Cat relaxed instantly.凯特立刻放松下来。297
So, this is Frefford, Olive thought.原来这就是弗雷福德，奥利芙心想。298
Well, he’s not the murderer.好吧，他不是凶手。299
That leaves me with Uncle Drone.那就只剩德罗恩叔叔了。300
“Good morning, Freffie,” Giogi greeted his kinsman when they stood face to face.“早上好，弗雷菲。”两人面对面站定后，乔吉向他的亲族打招呼道。301
“Good morning, Giogi.“早上好，乔吉。302
What happened to Steele?”斯蒂尔怎么了？”303
Frefford asked.弗雷福德问道。304
Giogi sighed with exasperation.乔吉恼火地叹了口气。305
“He went in without me.“他没等我就进去了。306
I found him under a kobold trap.我发现他被压在一个狗头人陷阱下面。307
I thought I’d better get him back before exploring further.我想，还是先把他带回来，再继续探索比较好。308
This young woman was in the graveyard.这位年轻姑娘当时在墓地里。309
She offered to give me a hand with him.她主动提出帮我把他弄回来。310
He’ll be all right, I think.我想他不会有事的。311
Freffie, how’s Gaylyn?”弗雷菲，盖琳怎么样了？”312
“She’s fine,” Freffie replied.“她很好，”弗雷菲回答。313
“Mother and daughter are both fine.”“母女俩都很好。”314
His grim tone, however, did not match his good news.然而，他阴沉的语气与这个好消息并不相称。315
Giogi broke into a grin.乔吉顿时咧嘴笑了起来。316
“Congratulations!“恭喜！317
I’m so happy for you.我真替你高兴。318
But shouldn’t you be with them?”可你现在不该陪在她们身边吗？”319
Frefford’s hard expression finally registered with Giogi.乔吉终于注意到了弗雷福德冷硬的神情。320
“Freffie, what’s wrong?”“弗雷菲，出什么事了？”321
“Aunt Dorath sent me to fetch you and Steele,” Frefford explained.“多拉丝姑妈叫我来找你和斯蒂尔。”弗雷福德解释道。322
He took a deep breath and put a comforting hand on Giogi’s shoulder.他深吸了一口气，把一只手安慰地搭在乔吉肩上。323
“It’s Uncle Drone,” he said.“是德罗恩叔叔出事了。”他说。324
“Aunt Dorath said he went to his laboratory to cast some awful spell.“多拉丝姑妈说，他去了实验室，要施一个可怕的法术。325
We looked everywhere for him, but he’s disappeared.我们到处找他，可他不见了。326
On the floor of his lab we found,” Frefford’s voice broke.我们在他实验室的地板上发现了……”弗雷福德的声音哽咽了。327
He swallowed and continued.他咽了咽口水，继续说道。328
“All we found were his robes, his hat, and a pile of ash.“我们只找到了他的长袍、帽子，还有一堆灰烬。329
Uncle Drone is dead, Giogi.”德罗恩叔叔死了，乔吉。”330