From the journal of Giogioni Wyvernspur:摘自乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的日记：1
The 20th of Ches, in the Year of the Shadows阴影之年，切斯月二十日2
My Uncle Drone died this morning, apparently a victim of his own magic.德罗恩叔叔今晨去世了，显然是死于自己的魔法。3
No one will mourn his passing more deeply than I. Yet, I can’t help feeling cross with him at the same time.没有人会比我更深切地哀悼他的离世。可与此同时，我又忍不住生他的气。4
It seems apparent he was involved somehow in the theft of the wyvern’s spur.看来，他似乎以某种方式牵涉了飞龙之刺失窃一事。5
Since his very last message to me enjoined me to find the thief, however, I must assume he did not steal the spur himself.不过，他最后留给我的讯息嘱咐我找出窃贼，因此我只能认为飞龙之刺并非他亲手所盗。6
It would have been an easy matter, though, for Uncle Drone to disengage the magical alarms that warn of intruders in the crypt, giving his accomplice the opportunity to sneak in.然而，德罗恩叔叔要解除家族墓室中那些用来警示入侵者的魔法警报，本是轻而易举的事，这样便能让他的同谋有机会潜入其中。7
The theft might have gone undiscovered for some time had it not been for the presence of a second thief, who did set off an alarm.若不是出现了第二个窃贼，并且触发了警报，这起失窃案或许还要过一段时间才会被人发现。8
Since Uncle Drone was desperate enough to cast a dangerous spell to locate the spur, it’s probable that his accomplice betrayed him.德罗恩叔叔不惜施展危险的法术来寻找飞龙之刺，可见他已走投无路，因此很可能是他的同谋背叛了他。9
A disturbing idea, that, since the thief must have been another Wyvernspur.这个念头令人不安，因为那窃贼必定也是飞龙刺家族的人。10
Besides the problem of discovering the thief, I’m also left with the worry that my life still “might possibly be in danger,” as Uncle Drone warned me last evening.除了要找出窃贼之外，我还得担心自己的性命仍然“或许有危险”，正如德罗恩叔叔昨晚警告我的那样。11
That danger might be past now that I’ve returned safely from the crypt, but, somehow, I doubt it.如今我已平安从家族墓室回来，那危险或许已经过去了，可不知为何，我对此深表怀疑。12
I’ve just taken into my protection a young woman, Cat, whose former master, Flattery, is, according to Cat, “a powerful mage with a violent temper.”我刚刚将一名叫凯特的年轻女子置于我的保护之下；据凯特所说，她从前的主人弗拉特里是“一位脾气暴烈、法力强大的法师”。13
Flattery also wishes to obtain the spur.弗拉特里也想得到飞龙之刺。14
I can’t help thinking that to find the spur, I’ll need to find out about its alleged powers.我不禁觉得，要找到飞龙之刺，就得先弄清楚它那些传说中的力量。15
The guardian spirit in the family crypt might know, though I don’t relish the idea of asking her.家族墓室里的守护灵或许知道，只是我并不乐意去问她。16
Aunt Dorath might know, too.多拉丝姑妈或许也知道。17
I’m not certain I relish the idea of asking her, either.我也不确定自己是否乐意去问她。18
Giogi leaned back in his chair and waved his quill idly in the air.乔吉靠向椅背，漫不经心地在空中挥动着羽毛笔。19
Having settled his guest in her room, he’d returned to the parlor to make a quick entry in his journal before heading off to Redstone.将客人安顿在她的房间后，他回到客厅，准备在动身前往红石之前，匆匆在日记里记上几笔。20
As usual when he wrote in his journal, there were things he thought it best not to record.一如往常，每当他写日记时，总有些事情是他认为最好不要记录下来的。21
Aside from keeping secret his Cousin Julia’s scandalous behavior in the graveyard, he couldn’t bring himself to reveal that Cat was the second thief.除了要替表亲朱莉娅在墓地里那有伤风化的行径保密之外，他也无法让自己透露凯特就是第二个窃贼。22
She hadn’t actually stolen anything, after all, and she’d apparently left Flattery’s evil influence.毕竟，她其实什么也没偷，而且显然已经摆脱了弗拉特里的邪恶影响。23
Giogi realized he could not mention that he knew Cat to be a Wyvernspur, either, since that would put her under suspicion of the theft.乔吉意识到，他也不能提起自己知道凯特是飞龙刺家族的人，因为那会使她因失窃案而受到怀疑。24
That meant he could not mention a speculation he’d formed regarding the identity of the thief.这意味着，他也不能写下自己对于窃贼身份的一个猜想。25
As he’d been writing in his journal, it had seemed an awfully unusual coincidence that both Flattery and Uncle Drone had found unknown Wyvernspurs to enter the crypt for them.他方才在日记里写到这件事时，觉得弗拉特里和德罗恩叔叔竟然都找到了来历不明的飞龙刺家族成员，替他们进入墓穴，实在是巧得异乎寻常。26
This had reminded him of how unusual it was that he’d run into two women who looked like Alias of Westgate.这让他想起，自己竟碰到了两个长得像西门城的阿莉亚丝的女人，也同样非同寻常。27
That’s when it had struck him.就在那时，他猛然想到了。28
Perhaps Alias was a Wyvernspur, too.也许阿莉亚丝也是飞龙刺家族的人。29
If that were the case, the swordswoman could be the thief.如果真是这样，那名女剑士就可能是窃贼。30
Last night, Sudacar had said she was supposed to be in Shadowdale working for Elminster the sage, but perhaps Sudacar was mistaken.昨晚，苏达卡说她本该在阴影谷为贤者伊尔明斯特效力，但也许苏达卡弄错了。31
There was one person who might know for sure: Alias’s friend and patron, Olive Ruskettle, who happened to be in town.有一个人或许能确切知晓：阿莉亚丝的朋友兼资助人奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔，而她碰巧就在城里。32
Giogi laid his quill down.乔吉放下羽毛笔。33
He would go see Frefford’s new baby first, he decided, then speak with Aunt Dorath about the spur.他决定先去看看弗雷福德刚出生的孩子，然后再和多拉丝姑妈谈谈那枚马刺的事。34
There was no point, he realized, in trying to get in touch with Mistress Ruskettle before sunset.他意识到，日落前设法联系拉斯凯特尔女士毫无意义。35
All entertainers slept in the day.所有艺人白天都睡觉。36
After supper, he could stop in at the Fish to see if the famous bard was in.晚饭后，他可以顺道去一趟“鱼”酒馆，看看那位著名吟游诗人在不在。37
Mistress Ruskettle, the famous bard, stirred uneasily in her sleep.著名吟游诗人拉斯凯特尔女士在睡梦中不安地翻动着身子。38
She was plagued by nightmares of Cassana, the evil sorceress who’d created and tried to enslave Alias.卡萨娜的噩梦纠缠着她；那个邪恶的女术士创造了阿莉亚丝，还企图奴役她。39
In the current dream, Cassana was not destroyed, but had transformed into a lich, an undead magic-user.在眼下这场梦里，卡萨娜并未被消灭，而是变成了巫妖，一名不死施法者。40
Cassana wore, as she had in life, the most expensive clothing and jewelry.卡萨娜像生前一样，穿戴着最昂贵的衣服和珠宝。41
All her finery could not hide her emaciated form, nor distract Olive’s gaze from her withered skeletal face, which had once resembled Alias’s.她那一身华服珠宝掩盖不了她枯瘦的躯体，也无法让奥利芙的目光从她那张干瘪的骷髅脸上移开——那张脸曾经与阿莉亚丝十分相像。42
In Olive’s dream, the Cassana lich had captured Jade, but Olive, in her halfling form, was too frightened to rescue her.在奥利芙的梦中，巫妖卡萨娜抓住了杰德，但化作半身人形态的奥利芙吓得不敢去救她。43
Instead, she fled from Cassana.她反而逃离了卡萨娜。44
As often happened in dreams, though, no matter how fast Olive tried to run, she seemed to stand still.然而，正如梦中常有的情形，无论奥利芙多么拼命地跑，她似乎始终站在原地。45
She heard a horse whickering.她听见一匹马低声嘶鸣。46
If I could just find the horse, catch it, and mount it, Olive thought, I could ride to safety.奥利芙想，只要我能找到那匹马，抓住它并骑上去，我就能逃到安全的地方。47
The horse whickered again.那匹马又低声嘶鸣了一次。48
Olive started awake.奥利芙猛然惊醒。49
She was back in Immersea, in Giogi’s carriage house, still a burro.她又回到了伊默海，身处乔吉的马车房里，而且仍是一头小毛驴。50
“Silly mare.“傻母马。51
Here, have some oats,” a familiar voice said.来，吃点燕麦吧。”一个熟悉的声音说道。52
Olive peered through a gap in her stall wall.奥利芙透过畜栏墙上的一道缝隙向外窥视。53
Cat stood outside Daisyeye’s stall with her hand extended out to the mare.凯特站在雏菊眼的畜栏外，朝母马伸出一只手。54
The mage had successfully routed the horse’s instinct to raise an alarm by bribing it with more of the sweetened grain.法师用更多加了糖的谷物贿赂了那匹马，成功压下了它发出警报的本能。55
The beast sniffed curiously, nuzzled up the treat, and lost its distrust of the woman.那畜生好奇地嗅了嗅，用鼻子拱走了那点吃食，也不再提防这个女人。56
Sleet still splashed and skittered on the roof overhead, but some gray daylight trickled into the carriage house from a window.雨夹雪仍在头顶的屋顶上噼啪飞溅、簌簌滑落，但已有些灰蒙蒙的天光从一扇窗户漏进马车房。57
Late afternoon, Olive guessed.奥利芙猜想，大概已是下午晚些时候。58
What’s she doing here? the halfling wondered.她来这里做什么？半身人暗自纳闷。59
Maybe she’s decided to leave Giogi, after all, Olive thought, and she’s here to steal Daisyeye to escape.也许她终究还是决定离开乔吉了，奥利芙心想，她来这里是要偷走雏菊眼，好骑着它逃跑。60
It occurred to Olive again that Giogi’s Uncle Drone might have been wrong about Giogi not finding the spur’s real thief in the catacombs.奥利芙再次想到，乔吉的叔叔德罗恩说乔吉没能在地下墓穴里找到飞龙刺真正的窃贼，或许这话并不对。61
Cat could have had the spur all along and been only waiting for the most opportune moment to run off with it.飞龙刺可能一直都在凯特手里，而她只是在等待最合适的时机带着它逃走。62
Instead of saddling the horse, though, Cat drew out a sheet of white paper from a pocket of her muddy robes.然而，凯特并没有给马备鞍，而是从沾满泥污的法袍口袋里掏出一张白纸。63
She began folding the paper, over and over, pulling and tucking corners until it resembled a long-winged bird.她把纸折了一遍又一遍，不停翻折、掖入纸角，直到它看起来像一只长翼鸟。64
She held the bird up to her face and stared at it angrily.她把纸鸟举到面前，怒气冲冲地瞪着它。65
With a sudden motion, she crumbled the figure and tossed it into Olive’s stall.她猛地一把将纸鸟揉成一团，扔进了奥利芙的畜栏。66
Olive watched Cat walk to the outside door, but the mage hesitated with her hand around the door handle.奥利芙看着凯特走向通往外面的门，可法师握住门把手后却迟疑了。67
She turned about and walked back to Olive’s stall.她转过身，又走回奥利芙的畜栏。68
Unlatching the door, Cat slipped in beside the burro.凯特拉开门闩，溜了进去，来到小毛驴身旁。69
She fished about the straw on the floor until she’d found the crushed paper bird.她在地板的稻草间翻找，直到找出那只被揉皱的纸鸟。70
She smoothed the paper out against her thigh and folded it back into shape.她把纸贴在大腿上抚平，又将它折回原样。71
Holding the figure to her lips, she whispered, “Master Flattery, your Cat has information about the spur.她把纸鸟举到唇边，低声说道：“弗拉特里主人，您的凯特有关于飞龙刺的消息。72
She begs thee to come swiftly to her.她恳请您速来与她会面。73
She waits alone in Giogioni Wyvernspur’s carriage house.”她正独自在乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的马车房里等候。”74
The mage walked out of Olive’s stall so preoccupied with her paper bird that she left the door open.女法师满脑子都是那只纸鸟，走出奥利芙的隔间时，竟忘了关门。75
She walked back to the outside door, opened the upper half, and held the rumpled figure in her palm.她走回通往外面的门边，打开上半扇门，把那只皱巴巴的纸鸟托在掌心。76
The bird twitched, then fluttered its wings.纸鸟抽动了一下，接着扑扇起翅膀。77
“Fly to my master’s throne,” Cat instructed.“飞到我主人的宝座那里去。”凯特吩咐道。78
The paper bird sped from the carriage house and disappeared into the sleet.纸鸟飞快地冲出马车房，消失在雨夹雪中。79
Cat left the upper half of the door open, climbed up into the unharnessed, open buggy, and settled onto the cushioned seat.凯特没关门的上半扇，爬进那辆没有套马、敞着篷的轻便马车，在软垫座位上坐定。80
She sighed once and sat very still with her hands folded in her lap.她叹了口气，双手交叠放在膝上，一动不动地坐着。81
She closed her eyes, but not completely, and from her posture, the halfling could tell she was still alert and aware.她闭上眼睛，却没有完全合拢；从她的姿态看，半身人看得出她依然警觉，留意着周围的动静。82
Olive trembled with anger.奥利芙气得浑身发抖。83
The treacherous witch didn’t waste any time, the halfling thought.这个背信弃义的女巫还真是一刻也不耽搁，半身人心想。84
As quietly as she could, the burro tiptoed out of the stall and slipped into the shadows at the rear of the carriage house.小毛驴尽可能悄无声息地踮着脚走出隔间，溜进马车房后方的阴影里。85
How long, she wondered, would it take for Cat’s master to arrive from his throne?她暗自思忖，凯特的主人要多久才能从他的宝座那里赶来？86
Cassana and ol’ Zrie Prakis sat on thrones.卡萨娜和老兹里·普拉基斯都坐在宝座上。87
Mages who sit on thrones always mean trouble, Olive-girl.坐宝座的法师准没好事，奥利芙姑娘。88
They take themselves too seriously.他们把自己看得太当回事了。89
Either Cat’s little paper bird had the speed of a dragon, or her master’s throne was just on the other side of town.要么凯特的小纸鸟有飞龙般的速度，要么她主人的宝座就在城镇另一头。90
Whichever it was, the woman didn’t have too long to wait.无论是哪一种，那女人都没等太久。91
In less time than it took to hard-cook an egg, something arrived.还没到煮熟一只鸡蛋的工夫，就有什么东西来了。92
A huge black raven swooped through the open upper door and landed on the buggy’s lantern pole.一只硕大的黑乌鸦从敞开的上半扇门俯冲进来，落在轻便马车的灯柱上。93
The bird shook its feathers dry and fluttered to the buggy seat beside Cat.乌鸦抖落羽毛上的水珠，扑扇着翅膀落到凯特身旁的车座上。94
At first, Olive thought the bird was some sort of magical messenger, perhaps Flattery’s familiar.起初，奥利芙以为那只鸟是某种魔法信使，或许是弗拉特里的魔宠。95
Then the raven grew monstrously.随后，那只乌鸦骇人地膨胀起来。96
Its feathers became cloth and hair, its wings turned into arms, and its claws into legs.它的羽毛化作布料和头发，翅膀变成手臂，利爪变成双腿。97
Cat remained still and silent throughout the transformation.整个变形过程中，凯特始终一动不动，一言不发。98
The raven finished changing into a man.渡鸦终于变成了一个男人。99
He wore a black cloak of great size.他披着一件宽大的黑斗篷。100
Silky black hair, shinier than raven’s feathers, hung to his shoulders.丝缎般的黑发垂至肩头，比渡鸦的羽毛还要乌亮。101
His face was turned away from Olive, but the halfling had no trouble hearing his words, and there was something disturbingly familiar in his deep bass rumble.他背对着奥利芙，但半身人仍能清楚地听见他的话；那低沉浑厚的嗓音里，有种熟悉得令人不安的意味。102
“Well, Catling?” he demanded.“怎么样，小猫崽？”他厉声问道。103
Cat trembled and bowed her head.凯特浑身发抖，低下了头。104
When she spoke, her tone was so meek that Olive cringed to hear it.她开口时语气卑顺得让奥利芙听了都不禁畏缩。105
“Forgive me, master,” Cat said.“请原谅我，主人，”凯特说道。106
“I failed at the task you set me.”“您交给我的任务，我没能完成。”107
Without a word, Flattery backhanded the woman across her face.弗拉特里一言不发，反手一巴掌抽在她脸上。108
The crack of his hand on Cat’s flesh startled Daisyeye, who kicked at her stall and nickered nervously.他的手掌打在凯特皮肉上的脆响惊到了雏菊眼；它踢着马厩的隔板，不安地低声嘶鸣。109
Olive backed up, prepared for an awful fight.奥利芙向后退去，做好了迎接一场恶战的准备。110
Only last month, she’d witnessed Jade slash the finger off some fool mercenary who’d pinched her, and, of course, everyone who’d tried to keep Alias as a slave was dead, by her hand or the hands of her allies.就在上个月，她还亲眼看见杰德削掉了一个蠢货佣兵的手指，只因那人掐了她一把；至于那些企图把阿莉亚丝当奴隶的人，当然全都死了，不是死在她手里，就是死在她的盟友手中。111
Olive had a momentary fear that the carriage house would not be big enough to contain any magical reaction by the sharp-tongued female mage, sister to both Jade and Alias.奥利芙一时间担心，这间车房恐怕容不下那位牙尖嘴利的女法师——杰德和阿莉亚丝的姐妹——任何魔法上的反应。112
Cat sat motionless.凯特一动不动地坐着。113
She uttered no sound of protest.她没有发出一声抗议。114
Her head remained bowed.她的头依旧低垂着。115
“Since I set you this simple task the spur has twice defied my power to detect it.“自从我把这项简单的任务交给你，那枚马刺已经两次逃过了我的法力探查。116
Your failure could mean we’ve lost it forever,” Flattery snarled.你的失败可能意味着我们永远失去它了。”弗拉特里咆哮道。117
“The spur was not where you said it would be.”“那枚马刺不在您所说的地方。”118
“Are you saying I made a mistake?”“你是在说我弄错了？”119
Flattery asked.弗拉特里问道。120
“No, master.“不，主人。121
I’m saying someone else stole it before I reached the crypt.”我是说，有人在我到达墓穴之前就把它偷走了。”122
“Who?”“谁？”123
Flattery demanded.弗拉特里逼问道。124
“I don’t know,” Cat answered.“我不知道。”凯特答道。125
She continued hurriedly, “But I may be able to discover that information.”她急忙接着说：“但我或许能查出是谁。”126
She paused as if hoping for some sign of pleasure or excitement from her master, but she hoped in vain.她停顿了一下，仿佛希望主人能流露出一丝欣喜或兴奋，但她的希望落空了。127
“Continue,” Flattery said coolly.“继续。”弗拉特里冷冷地说。128
“I saw no one else in the catacombs that evening,” Cat explained, “save the monsters who live there.“那天晚上，我在地下墓穴里没见到其他人，”凯特解释道，“除了住在那里的怪物。129
After searching the crypt and finding the spur gone, I tried to leave the catacombs by the secret door, but it was sealed from without.我搜遍了墓室，发现飞龙刺已经不见了，便想从暗门离开地下墓穴，可暗门被人从外面封死了。130
I returned to the crypt, but the door to the mausoleum staircase was locked.我回到墓室，可通往陵墓楼梯的门锁上了。131
I was trapped inside.”我被困在了里面。”132
The woman’s voice quavered with the memory of the fear she’d felt when she’d been imprisoned underground.回想起自己被囚禁在地下时的恐惧，女人的声音颤抖起来。133
Flattery was not as sympathetic to her plight as Giogi had been.对于她的困境，弗拉特里远不像乔吉那般同情。134
In fact, the wizard was not sympathetic at all.事实上，这位巫师根本没有半点同情。135
“You should have stayed there and saved me the trouble of listening to your pitiful excuses,” he growled.“你就该待在那里，也省得我费神听你这些可怜的借口。”他低吼道。136
Cat trembled for a minute.凯特颤抖了一会儿。137
Olive thought the woman might be weeping, but since the halfling couldn’t see the mage’s face, she couldn’t be sure.奥利芙觉得那女人也许在哭，可半身人看不见那位法师的脸，所以无法确定。138
“Continue,” Flattery snapped.“继续。”弗拉特里厉声说道。139
Cat sniffled once and obeyed.凯特抽了一下鼻子，依言继续。140
“Giogioni Wyvernspur found me in the catacombs,” she said.“乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺在地下墓穴里找到了我。”她说。141
“I told him what I have told you, that I did not steal the spur only because someone else stole it first, and he believed me completely.“我把刚才对你说的话也告诉了他：我没偷飞龙刺，只是因为有人抢先一步把它偷走了，而他完全相信了我。142
His uncle, Drone Wyvernspur, had told him he would not find the thief in the catacombs, and he took the old man’s word as prophecy.他的叔叔德罗恩·飞龙刺曾告诉他，他不会在地下墓穴里找到窃贼，而他把那老人的话当成了预言。143
“Realizing that Drone must know something more of the thief, I arranged to return with Giogioni, planning to meet Drone and wheedle his information from him.“我意识到德罗恩肯定还知道一些关于窃贼的内情，于是便安排和乔吉奥尼一起回来，打算见到德罗恩后哄他把知道的事说出来。144
Drone died this morning, however, in a spell gone awry.”然而，德罗恩今天早上死于一道失控的法术。”145
“The town heralds announced his death,” Flattery said.“镇上的传令官已经宣布了他的死讯，”弗拉特里说道。146
For the first time, he sounded pleased.他的语气头一次显得很愉快。147
“Not that it came as a surprise, did it?” he chuckled.“不过，这也不算意外，对吧？”他低声笑道。148
“I don’t understand,” Cat replied with confusion.“我不明白，”凯特困惑地回答。149
“His family seemed rather shocked by it.”“他的家人似乎对此相当震惊。”150
Flattery snorted derisively.弗拉特里轻蔑地哼了一声。151
“You can be such a fool.“你有时候真是蠢得可以。152
I presume,” he said imperiously, “that you have an excuse for not returning to me immediately after you discovered Drone Wyvernspur was dead.”我想，”他颐指气使地说道，“你发现德罗恩·飞龙刺死后没有立刻回来见我，总该有个借口吧。”153
“Drone left a message for Giogioni Wyvernspur instructing him to find the thief,” Cat explained anxiously.“德罗恩留了话给乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺，吩咐他找到那个窃贼，”凯特焦急地解释道。154
“If I remain beside Giogioni, and he succeeds, I shall have the information you seek.”“如果我留在乔吉奥尼身边，而他又成功了，我就能得到你想要的消息。”155
“By all reports, this Giogioni is an idiot and a fop.“据说这个乔吉奥尼是个白痴，也是个纨绔子弟。156
How can he succeed where I cannot?连我都办不到的事，他怎么可能办到？157
You are wasting both your time and my own,” Flattery growled.你这是在浪费你我的时间，”弗拉特里低吼道。158
“Yet, Drone Wyvernspur confided in Giogioni and left the search in his hands.“可是，德罗恩·飞龙刺信任乔吉奥尼，还把追查之事交到了他手里。159
Didn’t you tell me yesterday that Drone was shrewd?”你昨天不是还告诉我，德罗恩很精明吗？”160
“Yes,” Flattery admitted reluctantly.“是的，”弗拉特里不情愿地承认。161
He sat, unspeaking, for several moments, deep in his own thoughts.他坐在那里，一言不发，独自沉思了片刻。162
Finally he asked Cat, “Under what pretext are you remaining beside this Giogioni?”最后，他问凯特：“你以什么借口留在这个乔吉奥尼身边？”163
“I told him I was afraid to return to my master without the spur.“我告诉他，我害怕没带回那枚马刺就回去见主人。164
He has offered me protection from you.”他答应保护我，不让你伤害我。”165
Flattery burst into laughter.弗拉特里突然放声大笑。166
The sound echoed unpleasantly through the carriage house rafters and made Olive’s fur-clad flesh crawl.笑声在马车房的椽木间刺耳地回荡，令奥利芙裹在毛皮下的肌肤一阵发麻。167
The wizard leaped down from the buggy, grasped the rear right wheel in his hands, and snapped it in half.巫师从轻便马车上一跃而下，双手抓住右后轮，猛地将它折成两半。168
As the axle crashed to the ground, Cat lost her balance.车轴轰然坠地，凯特失去了平衡。169
Flattery caught her in his arms and spun around wildly.弗拉特里一把将她接进怀里，疯狂地旋转起来。170
To Olive, his treatment of the woman appeared not like a dancer swinging a partner, but like a vicious dog shaking a rag doll.在奥利芙看来，他对待这个女人的样子不像舞者带着舞伴旋转，倒像一条恶犬在撕扯布娃娃。171
When he stopped his mad capering, Flattery fell back against Daisyeye’s stall.弗拉特里停止那疯狂的舞动后，向后一倒，靠在雏菊眼的马厩隔栏上。172
Still holding Cat in his arms, he whispered harshly, “The Wyvernspur never breathed who could protect you should I find you’ve betrayed me.他仍把凯特抱在怀里，恶狠狠地低声说道：“世上还从没哪个飞龙刺能在我发现你背叛我之后保住你。173
Don’t ever forget that.”永远别忘了这一点。”174
A dim beam of light illuminated his face, revealing the terrifying rictus grin he wore.一道昏暗的光照亮了他的脸，显出他脸上那令人胆寒的狞笑。175
Olive’s heart skipped several beats, and she forgot to breathe for a moment as she stared in horror at Flattery’s face.奥利芙的心漏跳了好几拍；她惊恐地盯着弗拉特里的脸，一时间连呼吸都忘了。176
He had cruel ice-blue eyes, a hawk nose, thin lips, a sharp jawline—all the features of a Wyvernspur on a face younger than Nameless’s and older than Steele’s and Frefford’s. The face of Jade’s murderer.他有一双冷酷的冰蓝色眼睛、鹰钩鼻、薄嘴唇和轮廓尖削的下巴——一张具备飞龙刺所有特征的脸，比无名者年轻，又比斯蒂尔和弗雷福德年长。 那是杀害杰德之人的脸。177
“You trust me with so little.“你对我的信任少得可怜。178
How can it be in my power to betray you?”我又怎么可能有能耐背叛你？”179
Cat asked.凯特问道。180
Flattery’s eyes glowered.弗拉特里怒目而视。181
“Don’t nip at me, foolish Cat.“别冲我乱咬，蠢凯特。182
What’s annoyed you now?”这回又是什么惹恼你了？”183
“You did not tell me of the guardian of the crypt.”“你没告诉我墓穴里有守卫。”184
Flattery shrugged as he set her down.弗拉特里耸了耸肩，把她放到地上。185
“What of it?”“那又怎样？”186
“The guardian slays anyone in the crypt who is not a Wyvernspur.“守卫会杀死墓穴里所有不是飞龙刺的人。187
You told me nothing of this.这件事你一个字也没告诉我。188
You did not even tell me you were a Wyvernspur.”你甚至都没告诉我，你自己就是飞龙刺。”189
“So you’ve figured that out, have you?”“这么说，你已经猜出来了，是吗？”190
Flattery laughed.弗拉特里笑了起来。191
“What difference does it make?“那又有什么区别？192
I saw to your protection.我已经确保你不会有事。193
I gave you my name.”我把我的姓给了你。”194
“Is that the only reason you insisted I wed you?”“你坚持要娶我，就只是为了这个吗？”195
Cat asked.凯特问道。196
Her tone was meek but expectant.她的语气温顺，却又满怀期待。197
Flattery laughed again.弗拉特里又笑了。198
“Is your pride wounded, Cat?”“你的自尊心受伤了吗，凯特？”199
“Is that the only reason?”“就只是为了这个吗？”200
Cat demanded more firmly.凯特语气更强硬地追问道。201
Flattery sobered.弗拉特里收起了笑容。202
“I haven’t decided yet,” he replied coldly.“我还没决定，”他冷冷地回答。203
“Suppose the guardian hadn’t recognized our marriage?“要是守护者不承认我们的婚姻呢？204
You’re a Wyvernspur.你是飞龙刺家族的人。205
Why didn’t you go after the spur yourself?你为什么不亲自去取那根刺？206
Why did you send me in your place?”为什么要让我替你进去？”207
Flattery’s hand shot out with the swiftness of a viper, gathering up the front of Cat’s robes and pulling her toward him so that her face was just below his.弗拉特里的手如毒蛇般迅疾地伸出，一把揪住凯特长袍的前襟，将她拽到自己跟前，令她的脸恰好仰在他的脸下方。208
“You have to do something to prove your worth, you lazy witch,” the wizard said.“你总得做点什么来证明自己的价值，你这个懒惰的女巫，”法师说道。209
Moving his hands to her waist, Flattery lifted the woman from the ground and tossed her away from him, but, like her namesake, Cat managed to twist about and land on her feet.弗拉特里双手移到她腰间，将她举离地面，甩向一旁；但凯特像与她同名的猫一样，在空中扭转身子，稳稳地双脚落地。210
Flattery grabbed at her long hair and pulled her back toward him.弗拉特里一把抓住她的长发，将她拽回自己身边。211
He yanked her around by her arm.他抓住她的胳膊，猛地将她扯转过来。212
“You have sworn to serve me,” he reminded her.“你发过誓要侍奉我，”他提醒她。213
Cat’s stance became submissive at once.凯特的姿态顿时变得驯服。214
Her shoulders slumped.她的肩膀垮了下来。215
Her head was again bowed.她再次垂下了头。216
All the fight, what little there was of it, had gone out of the woman.这个女人身上仅存的那一点反抗也全都消失了。217
She whispered, “Yes, master.”她低声说：“是，主人。”218
Flattery smiled.弗拉特里笑了。219
“I will expect to meet with you again tomorrow,” he said.“我希望明天还能见到你。”他说。220
“I will arrange it, master.”“我会安排好的，主人。”221
“Spur this Giogioni on, Catling.“催一催这个乔吉奥尼，小猫崽。222
I know you can.”我知道你能做到。”223
“Yes, master.”“是，主人。”224
Flattery pushed himself away from Daisyeye’s stall and walked back toward the buggy.弗拉特里从雏菊眼的马厩隔间前直起身，朝马车走去。225
He spun around to keep Cat in his sight, as if expecting her to jump him once his back was turned, but she remained as still as ever.他猛地转过身，盯住凯特，仿佛料定自己一转身，她就会扑上来，可她依旧纹丝不动。226
Olive, too, remained frozen, terrified of revealing her position.奥利芙也僵在原地，一动不动，生怕暴露自己的位置。227
Bored by Cat’s silence and submissiveness, Flattery let his gaze wander past her.凯特的沉默和驯服令弗拉特里感到无趣，他便越过她，将目光投向别处。228
His eyes fell on the portrait of the Nameless Bard that hung in Olive’s stall.他的视线落在奥利芙马厩隔间里悬挂的那幅无名者吟游诗人的画像上。229
The wizard snarled like an animal.巫师像野兽般咆哮起来。230
“Flame spears,” he said, gesturing with his hands toward the stall.“火焰长矛。”他说着，双手朝马厩隔间一挥。231
Jets of flame sprang from his fingertips and enveloped the painting hanging over Olive’s oat bucket.一道道火焰从他指尖喷射而出，吞没了挂在奥利芙燕麦桶上方的画像。232
The painting crashed to the floor and spread fire to the straw on the floor.画像坠落在地，又点燃了地上的稻草。233
Daisyeye, in the stall next door, whinnied.隔壁马厩隔间里的雏菊眼嘶鸣起来。234
“Master Flattery, what are you doing?”“弗拉特里主人，你在干什么？”235
Cat cried out with fright.凯特吓得惊叫起来。236
“What do you care?“关你什么事？237
Curse him.诅咒他。238
Curse them all.诅咒他们所有人。239
May their homes burn while they dream inside.”愿他们在屋里酣睡时，家宅付之一炬。”240
“This place is too useful for private meetings,” Cat argued, rushing toward the fire, her meekness now forgotten.“这地方用来密会太有用了，”凯特反驳道，冲向火堆，早已把温顺抛在脑后。241
“Then you preserve it,” Flattery snapped.“那你就保住它吧，”弗拉特里厉声说道。242
He flung his arms out from his body and snarled a chant of arcane words.他猛地向两侧张开双臂，低吼着念出一串晦涩的咒文。243
His voice became hoarse and sharp, and his form small and feathered.他的声音变得嘶哑尖锐，身形也缩小了，覆满羽毛。244
He cawed raucously in his raven shape, then hurtled out the open window and into the gloom.他化作渡鸦，刺耳地呱叫一声，随即冲出敞开的窗户，没入昏暗之中。245
Cursing, Cat grabbed the burro’s oat bucket and used it to dredge water from the beast’s trough to throw on the fire.凯特一边咒骂，一边抓起那头驴的燕麦桶，从牲口的水槽里舀水泼向火堆。246
By the time she had doused the last flame and spark, the mage was as sodden as the straw around her.等她浇灭最后一簇火苗和火星时，这位法师已经和她身边的稻草一样湿透了。247
Cat picked the portrait up from the ground, but the paint was too blackened for her to make out what there was about it that had so angered Flattery.凯特从地上捡起那幅肖像，但颜料已经熏得一片焦黑，她看不出画上究竟是什么惹得弗拉特里如此愤怒。248
She leaned the charred frame and canvas against the wall and turned to the next stall to calm Daisyeye.她把烧焦的画框和画布斜靠在墙上，转身走向旁边的畜栏，去安抚雏菊眼。249
The mare accepted her caresses and reassurances and could not find the heart to refuse another handful of oats from the mage.母马接受了她的抚摸和宽慰，也实在狠不下心拒绝法师又递来的一把燕麦。250
Stupid horse, Olive thought.蠢马，奥利芙心想。251
It was then that Cat noticed the missing burro.就在这时，凯特发现那头驴不见了。252
“Birdie?” she whispered.“小鸟儿？”她轻声唤道。253
“Little one?”“小家伙？”254
Olive froze.奥利芙僵住了。255
“Birdie, I know you’re in here.“小鸟儿，我知道你在这里。256
Come out, you silly ass.”出来吧，你这头傻驴。”257
Olive held her breath.奥利芙屏住呼吸。258
Cat rustled her hand in the oat bag.凯特把手伸进燕麦袋里，拨弄得沙沙作响。259
“Want a treat, Birdie?”“想吃点好东西吗，小鸟儿？”260
Olive felt her nose twitch from the smell of smoke.奥利芙觉得烟味呛得鼻子抽动了一下。261
“Have it your way,” Cat said into the darkness.“随你便吧。”凯特对着黑暗说道。262
“Giogioni can think you caused this mess for all I care.”“就算乔吉奥尼认定这场乱子是你惹出来的，我也不在乎。”263
After giving Daisyeye a last pat on the rear, the mage returned to the outer door, joined the lower half to the upper, slipped outside, and closed the door behind her.女法师最后拍了拍雏菊眼的屁股，随后回到外门边，把门的下半截接回上半截，溜到外面，随手关上了门。264
Olive remained still, hidden in the shadows of the carriage house, until long after the sound of Cat’s footsteps faded from her hearing.奥利芙一动不动地藏在车马房的阴影里，直到凯特的脚步声从她耳中消失许久之后。265
She crept back into her blackened stall, keeping a sharp eye out for any telltale sparks Cat might have missed.她蹑手蹑脚地回到自己那间熏黑的马厩，警惕地搜寻着凯特可能遗漏的任何一点火星。266
The mage seemed to have done an adequate job keeping the carriage house from destruction.看来那女法师做得还算妥当，没让车马房毁于一旦。267
Too bad she hasn’t got the same concern for Giogi, the halfling thought.可惜她对乔吉就没这么上心，半身人心想。268
Even if she was concerned for the young Wyvernspur noble, Olive couldn’t picture Cat standing in Flattery’s way should he decide to destroy Giogi the way he murdered Jade.就算她确实关心那位年轻的飞龙刺贵族，奥利芙也无法想象：倘若弗拉特里决定像谋杀杰德那样毁掉乔吉，凯特会挺身阻拦他。269
It was beyond Olive’s capacity to understand how Cat could transform from a clever and confident mage, able to manipulate foolish young men into taking her home, to a humble and frightened slave, who watched in silence while someone wrecked carriages and burned down horse stalls.奥利芙怎么也无法理解，凯特怎么能从一个聪明自信、能哄骗愚蠢的年轻男人把她带回家的女法师，变成一个卑微而恐惧的奴隶，眼睁睁地看着别人砸毁马车、烧掉马厩，却一声不吭。270
What kind of power did Flattery have over her that he could bully her like a whipped child and had even coerced her into marriage?弗拉特里究竟掌握着什么力量，竟能像欺负一个挨惯了打的孩子那样欺负她，甚至还逼迫她嫁给了他？271
Somehow, Olive realized, she had to keep Cat from double-crossing Giogi.奥利芙意识到，无论如何，她都必须阻止凯特背叛乔吉。272
Olive snorted derisively at herself.奥利芙自嘲地哼了一声。273
I have as much chance at that, the halfling thought, as I do at convincing her to help me destroy Flattery to avenge Jade.半身人心想，我办成这件事的机会，跟说服她帮我消灭弗拉特里、替杰德报仇的机会一样渺茫。274
She would be the perfect choice, though, Olive mused.不过，奥利芙思忖着，她倒的确是最合适的人选。275
Flattery trusts her as much as his insanity will allow.在弗拉特里的疯狂所容许的范围内，他已经尽可能地信任她了。276
It would be so fitting if he were destroyed by someone with the same face as the woman he murdered.如果他最终毁在一个与他所谋杀的女人长着同一张脸的人手里，那可真是再合适不过。277
Olive pondered the idea while she munched on hay in the smoky carriage house.奥利芙待在烟雾弥漫的车马房里，一边嚼着干草，一边琢磨这个主意。278
Giogi reached out and stroked his new cousin’s tiny left hand.乔吉伸出手，轻轻抚摸着新添的这个小表妹的左手。279
Her delicate fingers opened at his touch, like a moss rose in the sun.他一碰，她纤细的手指便舒展开来，如同阳光下绽放的苔蔷薇。280
“She’s just perfect, Freffie,” Giogi whispered.“她真是完美极了，弗雷菲。”乔吉低声说道。281
“As pretty as her mother.”“和她母亲一样漂亮。”282
“Well, she gets some of her good looks from me, don’t you think?”“不过，她这副好模样也有几分是随了我，你不觉得吗？”283
Frefford asked.弗雷福德问道。284
Giogi looked up at his Cousin Frefford and back down at the baby girl sleeping in the maple cradle.乔吉抬头看了看表兄弗雷福德，又低头看向枫木摇篮里熟睡的女婴。285
Then he looked up again at Frefford, then back down at the baby.接着，他又抬头看了看弗雷福德，再低头看看婴儿。286
“Not if she’s lucky,” he said with a grin.“她要是走运，就不会像你。”他咧嘴笑着说。287
Frefford chuckled.弗雷福德低声笑了起来。288
“It’s so exciting, Freffie,” Giogi said.“这真让人兴奋，弗雷菲，”乔吉说。289
“You’re a father now, and I’m an uncle.“你现在当爸爸了，我也成叔叔了。290
Wait.等等。291
I’m not really, am I?其实我不算，对吧？292
Just a second cousin once removed.”只是隔了一辈的再从表亲。”293
“You can be an uncle if you want, Giogi,” Frefford said.“你要是愿意，就当叔叔好了，乔吉。”弗雷福德说。294
“Lady Amber Leona Wyvernspur,” Frefford whispered to the sleeping baby, “this is your rich Uncle JoJo.“安伯·莱奥娜·飞龙刺小姐，”弗雷福德对熟睡的婴儿轻声说道，“这是你有钱的乔乔叔叔。295
Learn to say his name, and he’ll buy you all the ponies you want.”学会叫他的名字，他就会把你想要的小马全都买给你。”296
Giogi grinned.乔吉咧嘴笑了。297
“I’m going to check to see if Gaylyn’s awake yet,” Frefford said.“我去看看盖琳醒了没有，”弗雷福德说。298
“You can stay here if you like.”“你愿意的话，可以留在这里。”299
Giogi nodded.乔吉点点头。300
“Give Gaylyn my regards,” he said.“替我向盖琳问好。”他说。301
“I will,” Frefford whispered.“我会的。”弗雷福德低声说道。302
He tiptoed from the nursery, where his daughter lay on display for well-wishers to view while his wife slept undisturbed in the next room.他踮着脚走出育婴室；他的女儿躺在那里供前来祝福的人探望，而他的妻子则在隔壁房间里安睡，不受打扰。303
Giogi had the baby all to himself now, since the well-wishers had been few so far.现在只剩乔吉一个人陪着婴儿了，因为到目前为止，前来祝福的人寥寥无几。304
Some, no doubt, had been discouraged by the awkwardness of having to deliver congratulations and condolences in the same breath.毫无疑问，有些人是因为不得不在道喜的同时又表示哀悼，觉得太过尴尬，才打消了前来的念头。305
The majority, Giogi assumed, had been put off by the awful weather.乔吉猜想，大多数人则是被恶劣的天气劝退了。306
The sleet had wrapped everything in a thick coating of ice, and Immersea looked like it had been encased in glass.雨夹雪给一切都裹上了一层厚厚的冰，伊默海看起来仿佛被封在了玻璃里。307
Unwilling to risk Daisyeye on the slick roads, Giogi had once again hiked up the path to Redstone.乔吉不愿让雏菊眼冒险走湿滑的道路，便再次徒步沿小径上了红石。308
It had been rough going, but the fields and marshes had offered his feet far more traction than the cobblestone roads would have.这一路走得很艰难，但田野和沼泽毕竟比铺着鹅卵石的道路更能让他站稳脚跟。309
This latest exertion, combined with having risen at dawn after a late night of drinking, followed by walking miles through the catacombs, had left the nobleman exhausted.昨夜饮酒至深夜，黎明时分便起了床，随后又在地下墓穴里走了好几英里，再加上眼下这番跋涉，已经令这位贵族筋疲力尽。310
Giogi slid a rocking chair up beside the cradle and collapsed into it.乔吉把一把摇椅拖到摇篮旁，一下瘫坐进去。311
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than just sit here with you, Amberry,” he whispered to the baby.“安贝里，我现在最想做的，就是坐在这里陪着你。”他对婴儿低声说道。312
“It’s so snug and peaceful here, I could almost forget all the bad things that have happened.”“这里这么温暖安宁，我几乎都能忘掉发生过的那些坏事。”313
Giogi closed his eyes and lay his head back.乔吉闭上眼睛，把头向后靠去。314
His breathing slowed and grew more shallow.他的呼吸渐渐放缓，也变得越来越浅。315
Giogi felt himself beginning to soar.乔吉觉得自己开始腾空翱翔。316
He was dreaming again.他又做梦了。317
He opened his eyes in his dream and found the field he soared over covered in ice, like the fields surrounding Immersea.他在梦中睁开眼睛，发现自己飞过的田野覆满了冰，就像伊默海周围的田野一样。318
A little burro trotted into view.一头小毛驴小跑着进入了视野。319
Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。320
Not Birdie! he thought.不要是小鸟儿！他心想。321
Unable to speak in the dream, the nobleman urged the burro mentally, Run, Birdie!这位贵族在梦中说不出话来，只能在心里拼命催促那头毛驴：快跑，小鸟儿！322
Birdie needed no warning.小鸟儿根本不需要提醒。323
She began to gallop downhill, but her hooves slid on the ice, and she ended up on her front knees with her back legs splayed out behind her.她开始向山下飞奔，可蹄子在冰面上一滑，最后前膝跪地，两条后腿朝身后岔开。324
Giogi swooped down.乔吉俯冲下去。325
Birdie brayed pitifully.小鸟儿可怜巴巴地嘶叫起来。326
“Giogioni Wyvernspur!“乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺！327
Just what do you think you’re doing here?” a female voice barked.你到底以为自己在这里干什么？”一个女人厉声喝道。328
Giogi started awake.乔吉猛然惊醒。329
He had no idea how long he’d slept, but if Aunt Dorath caught him napping, a minute would be as bad as an hour.他不知道自己睡了多久，但要是被多拉丝姑妈撞见他在打盹，睡一分钟和睡一小时一样糟糕。330
Aunt Dorath was of the opinion that a healthy young person did not need to sleep in the day, and Giogi could hardly offer her the excuse that he was tired because he’d been out late drinking with Samtavan Sudacar.多拉丝姑妈认为，身体健康的年轻人白天不需要睡觉，而乔吉总不能拿自己昨晚和萨姆塔万·苏达卡在外面喝酒喝到很晚，所以才累了当借口。331
The young nobleman leaped to his feet.年轻的贵族一跃而起。332
“Good afternoon, Aunt Dorath.“下午好，多拉丝姑妈。333
I was just having a peek at Amber.我只是来看看安伯。334
Freffie said it was all right if I sat with her a few minutes.”弗雷菲说，我可以陪她坐几分钟。”335
“He did, did he?“他真这么说，是吗？336
He would,” Aunt Dorath said with a sniff.他当然会这么说。”多拉丝姑妈哼了一声。337
“Did he also give you permission to slough off your duties?“他是不是还准许你玩忽职守了？338
Or have you forgotten that this family is in the middle of a crisis of unimaginable proportions?还是你忘了，这个家正面临着一场严重得难以想象的危机？339
The curse of the wyvern’s spur has already claimed Cousin Drone and nearly took Steele as well, yet here I find you napping.”双足飞龙马刺的诅咒已经夺走了表亲德罗恩的性命，还险些害死斯蒂尔，可我却撞见你在这里打瞌睡。”340
Giogi meant to point out to his aunt that Steele had brought his injuries on himself by his horrendous behavior, and that he, Giogi, had played no small part in rescuing Steele from the jaws of death, as it were, but he was never given the opportunity.乔吉本想向姑妈指出，斯蒂尔受伤完全是他自己的恶劣行径招来的，而乔吉本人在把斯蒂尔从死亡的利齿下救出来这件事上，可以说也功不可没，可姑妈根本没给他开口的机会。341
Not even magic could stop the avalanche of Aunt Dorath’s harangue.即便是魔法，也挡不住多拉丝姑妈排山倒海般的训斥。342
“Yet, despite his brush with the hereafter,” she continued, “Steele went off immediately after lunch in search of a discreet high priest or mage who might help us locate the spur.“尽管险些一脚踏进来世，”她继续说道，“斯蒂尔还是午饭后立刻出发，去寻找一位行事谨慎的大祭司或法师，希望他们能帮我们找到那枚马刺。343
Of course, you’ve made discretion rather unnecessary, haven’t you?当然，你已经让保密变得不大必要了，不是吗？344
I’ve just learned that our family’s tragedy was the talk of every tavern in Immersea last night.我刚刚得知，昨晚伊默海的每一家酒馆都在议论我们家的这场悲剧。345
No wonder you can’t stay awake—you were carousing in town all night, discussing family business, both of which I specifically forbade you to do.”难怪你睁不开眼——你整夜在城里饮酒作乐，还谈论家事，而这两件事我都明令禁止过你。”346
“But I didn’t mean—” Giogi began to say.“可我不是有意——”乔吉刚开口说道。347
“I will not accept your overindulgences with alcohol as an excuse for divulging our family’s problems, nor for sleeping when you should be performing some task that will aid in the spur’s recovery.“我绝不会接受你拿饮酒无度当作泄露家中麻烦的借口，也不会接受你以此为借口，在本该做些有助于找回马刺的事情时睡觉。348
The only person with any excuse for resting on this day is Gaylyn.今天唯一有理由休息的人是盖琳。349
And Amber, of course.当然，还有安伯。350
Even Frefford has assigned himself a task.就连弗雷福德都给自己安排了任务。351
He is investigating every stranger in town who might possibly be a long-lost relation and our thief.”他正在调查镇上的每一个陌生人，看谁可能既是我们失散多年的亲戚，又是那个贼。”352
Giogi’s exhaustion got the better of his temper.乔吉累得再也压不住火气。353
“What about Julia?“那朱莉娅呢？354
Why not just have her listen at the door of the thieves’ guild?” he asked sarcastically.为什么不干脆让她贴着盗贼公会的门偷听？”他讥讽地问道。355
Aunt Dorath’s brow knit in annoyance.多拉丝姑婆恼怒地皱起了眉头。356
Her reaction was a clue to her great-nephew that she already had some inkling of Julia’s eavesdropping.她的反应让她的侄孙看出，她对朱莉娅偷听的事早已有所察觉。357
The old woman recovered her lost ground quickly, though.不过，老太太很快便重新镇定下来。358
“Julia,” she replied frostily, “is seeing to the arrangements for Cousin Drone’s memorial service.“朱莉娅，”她冷冷地答道，“正在操办族亲德罗恩的追悼仪式。359
Now, what do you propose to do in what time remains today?”现在，你打算用今天剩下的时间做些什么？”360
Well, Giogi thought, straightening up, here goes.好吧，乔吉一边挺直身子一边想，豁出去了。361
“I plan to discover the spur’s secret powers,” he announced.“我打算找出这枚马刺的秘密力量。”他宣布道。362
“The spur doesn’t have any secret powers,” Aunt Dorath snapped.“这枚马刺根本没有什么秘密力量。”多拉丝姑婆厉声说道。363
“Oh, but it does,” Giogi insisted.“哦，不，它有。”乔吉坚持道。364
“My father used the spur’s powers whenever he went adventuring.”“我父亲每次外出冒险，都会使用这枚马刺的力量。”365
Aunt Dorath gave a little gasp and sank into the rocking chair.多拉丝姑婆轻轻倒吸了一口气，跌坐进摇椅里。366
“Who told you that?” she demanded.“是谁告诉你的？”她厉声追问。367
“It was Cousin Drone, wasn’t it?“是德罗恩表叔，对不对？368
I should have realized his oath was not to be trusted.”我早该想到，他的誓言根本靠不住。”369
“Uncle Drone didn’t tell me, Aunt Dorath,” the nobleman insisted.“德罗恩叔叔没有告诉我，多拉丝姑婆。”这位贵族青年坚持道。370
Angry with the old woman for keeping his father’s adventuring a secret from him, Giogi felt spite take hold of him.想到老太太一直瞒着他父亲曾外出冒险的秘密，乔吉心中既愤怒，又生出一股恶意。371
“Actually, it’s common knowledge,” he taunted.“其实，这是人人都知道的事。”他嘲弄道。372
“They talk about it in every tavern in Immersea.”“伊默海的每一家酒馆里都有人谈论这件事。”373
Aunt Dorath leaned forward in the rocker and poked Giogi in the rib with her finger.多拉丝姑婆在摇椅里探身向前，用手指戳了戳乔吉的肋骨。374
“This is not a joking matter,” she reprimanded him.“这可不是能拿来开玩笑的事。”她训斥道。375
“No,” Giogi agreed, feeling bad for trying to shock her.“是的。”乔吉应道，心里为自己刚才故意吓唬她而感到愧疚。376
“It is a family matter, though.”“但这是家里的事。”377
He bent over his aunt and put his hands on her shoulders.他俯身凑近姑婆，把双手放在她肩上。378
“I have a right to know about my father,” he said vehemently.“我有权知道我父亲的事。”他激动地说道。379
“You should have told me.”“你早就应该告诉我。”380
Aunt Dorath glared up at him.多拉丝姑妈抬眼怒视着他。381
“All right,” she replied hotly.“好吧，”她气冲冲地答道。382
“Cole used to tramp about the countryside in the company of rogues and ruffians, and whenever he left, he took the spur from the crypt.“科尔过去常跟一群无赖和恶棍在乡间四处游荡，每次离开时，他都会从地下墓室里带走那枚马刺。383
Not that I blame Cole.我倒不是责怪科尔。384
Your Uncle Drone, to his everlasting guilt, aided him, and Cole hadn’t the force of will to resist the spirit of that she-beast.你德罗恩叔叔帮了他，为此他永远都难辞其咎，而科尔又没有足够的意志力去抵抗那个母兽的灵魂。385
She used those awful dreams to seduce him from his family’s side.”她利用那些可怕的梦，诱使他背弃了家族。”386
“She-beast?”“母兽？”387
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。388
“Do you mean the guardian?”“你是说那个守护者？”389
Dorath’s voice rose sharply as she retorted.多拉丝厉声反驳道。390
“Of course I mean the guardian.“我说的当然是那个守护者。391
What other she-beast lurks in our family?”我们家里还潜伏着什么别的母兽吗？”392
Giogi bit the inside of his cheeks and fought back his urge to reply.乔吉咬住腮帮子内侧，强忍住回嘴的冲动。393
“Who else,” Dorath asked, “is always babbling about the death cry of prey, or the taste of warm blood, or the crunch of bone?”“还有谁，”多拉丝问道，“总是不停念叨猎物临死前的哀号、温热鲜血的滋味，或是骨头被咬碎时的脆响？”394
“She’s talked to you, too?”“她也跟你说过话？”395
Giogi squeaked in astonishment.乔吉惊讶得尖声问道。396
“Of course she’s talked to me, you fool,” the old woman replied.“她当然跟我说过话，你这个傻瓜，”老妇人答道。397
“You don’t imagine that out of fifteen generations of Wyvernspurs you were the only child ever locked down in that crypt by accident, do you?”“飞龙刺家族传了十五代，你该不会以为自己是唯一一个意外被锁在那间地下墓室里的孩子吧？”398
Amber gurgled and squawked in her cradle, and Aunt Dorath rose to pat the infant reassuringly.安伯在摇篮里咿咿呀呀地叫了起来，多拉丝姑妈站起身，轻轻拍着婴儿安抚她。399
Frefford’s daughter quieted.弗雷福德的女儿安静了下来。400
“Do you have the same dreams, too?”“你也做过同样的梦吗？”401
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。402
For a moment, it looked as if some fearful memory disturbed Aunt Dorath’s composure, but she shook her head once, the way a horse would to dislodge a gadfly, and her face grew calm.有那么一刻，多拉丝姑妈仿佛被某段可怕的记忆搅乱了心神，但她摇了一下头，就像马儿甩头赶走牛虻一样，脸上又恢复了平静。403
“I had them once,” she admitted softly, then added more sternly, “but I ignored them, as would any well-bred young woman.”“我从前做过，”她轻声承认，随即又更严厉地补充道，“但我没有理会，任何有教养的年轻女士都会这么做。”404
“But they don’t go away,” Giogi whispered.“可它们不会消失，”乔吉低声说道。405
Aunt Dorath turned from the cradle and put her hands on Giogi’s shoulders.多拉丝姑妈从摇篮旁转过身来，双手搭在乔吉的肩上。406
“You must keep ignoring them,” she insisted, giving him a shake.“你必须继续装作看不见他们，”她坚持道，使劲摇了摇他。407
“You are a Wyvernspur.“你是飞龙刺家的人。408
You belong with your family in Immersea.你应该和家人一起待在伊默海。409
All that gadding about the Realms with the spur got your father was killed.”你父亲就是因为带着那枚马刺在诸界到处乱跑，才送了命。”410
“He didn’t die from a riding accident like you said, did he?”“他不是像你说的那样死于骑马事故，对不对？”411
Giogi accused the old woman.乔吉质问老妇人。412
“How did he die?”“他究竟是怎么死的？”413
“How do all adventurers die?“冒险者还能怎么死？414
Fell monsters hunt them.凶恶的怪物会猎杀他们。415
Ruthless bandits slaughter them.残忍的强盗会屠戮他们。416
Evil wizards turn them to dust.邪恶的巫师会把他们化为尘埃。417
It didn’t make any difference to me.对我来说，怎么死根本没有区别。418
Cole was dead.科尔死了。419
He died far too young and far too far from home.他死得太年轻，死的地方也离家太远。420
Your Uncle Drone fetched his body back.是你德罗恩叔叔把他的遗体带回来的。421
We never discussed how he died.我们从未谈过他是怎么死的。422
My only concern was that it should not happen again.”我唯一在意的，就是这种事绝不能再次发生。”423
“I need to know the spur’s power,” Giogi said.“我得知道那枚马刺有什么力量，”乔吉说。424
“It could be a clue to who the thief is.”“这或许能成为查出小偷身份的线索。”425
“No,” Dorath answered.“不能，”多拉丝答道。426
“It’s not.“这不是什么线索。427
Even if it were, I wouldn’t tell you.”就算是，我也不会告诉你。”428
Giogi sighed with exasperation.乔吉懊恼地叹了口气。429
“Aunt Dorath, I don’t want to use the spur,” he insisted.“多拉丝姑妈，我不想使用那枚马刺，”他坚持道。430
“I just want to know what it does.”“我只是想知道它有什么作用。”431
Aunt Dorath shook her head in refusal.多拉丝姑妈摇了摇头，拒绝回答。432
“I’m doing this for your own good, Giogi.“我这么做是为了你好，乔吉。433
I won’t watch another member of our family destroyed by that cursed thing.”我不能眼睁睁地看着家里又有一个人被那件受诅咒的东西毁掉。”434
She turned back to the cradle and readjusted the blankets around the baby.她转回摇篮旁，重新替婴儿掖好身边的毯子。435
“If you won’t tell me, Aunt Dorath, I shall have to find out from someone else,” Giogi threatened.“多拉丝姑妈，如果你不告诉我，我只好去问别人了，”乔吉威胁道。436
“There is no one else,” his aunt said, stroking Amber’s hand with her finger.“没有别人了，”姑妈一边用手指轻抚安伯的手，一边说道。437
Giogi racked his brain for an idea of who could tell him about the spur.乔吉绞尽脑汁，想着还有谁能告诉他那枚马刺的事。438
“I’m the last member of the family who knows,” Aunt Dorath whispered down to the baby.“我是家里最后一个知道这件事的人了，”多拉丝姑妈低头对婴儿轻声说道。439
“Then I’ll have to ask an outsider,” Giogi said.“那我只好去问外人了，”乔吉说。440
It came to him suddenly.他突然灵光一闪。441
There was someone who’d known his father, someone who’d promised to talk more about him.有一个人认识他的父亲，也答应过要多跟他讲些父亲的事。442
Someone his aunt would hate to think of as telling him the family secrets.姑妈绝不会愿意想到那个人把家族秘密告诉他。443
“I’ll have to ask Sudacar,” he said.“我只好去问苏达卡了，”他说。444
Aunt Dorath whirled and glared at Giogi.多拉丝姑妈猛地转过身，怒视着乔吉。445
“That upstart?”“那个暴发户？”446
She sniffed.她嗤了一声。447
“What could he possibly know?“他能知道些什么？448
He doesn’t swallow without advice from his herald.”没有他的传令官指点，他连口水都不会咽。”449
“He met Cole at court.“他在宫廷里见过科尔。450
He knows all about Cole’s adventures,” Giogi answered, hoping it were really true.他对科尔的冒险经历全都知道，”乔吉回答道，心里盼着这话当真。451
Aunt Dorath’s eyes narrowed into slits.多拉丝姑妈眯起了眼睛。452
Giogi could tell she was calculating what Sudacar knew.乔吉看得出，她正在盘算苏达卡究竟知道些什么。453
She called her kinsman’s bluff.她断定自己的亲戚只是在虚张声势。454
“Go ahead,” she said.“尽管去吧，”她说。455
“Ask Samtavan Sudacar.“去问萨姆塔万·苏达卡好了。456
You’ll be wasting your time, though.”不过，你只是在浪费时间。”457
“I will ask him,” Giogi retorted.“我会去问他的，”乔吉反驳道。458
“Right now.”“现在就去。”459
He leaned over and stroked Amber’s little ear before turning about and striding from the nursery.他俯下身，轻抚了一下安伯的小耳朵，随后转身大步走出育婴室。460
“Good afternoon, Aunt Dorath,” he whispered as he left.“下午好，多拉丝姑妈，”他离开时低声说道。461