Samtavan Sudacar finished studying the last document in the cord of parchments Culspiir had piled before him.萨姆塔万·苏达卡看完了卡尔斯皮尔堆在他面前的那捆羊皮纸中的最后一份公文。1
“Depleting resources necessitate troop inactivity,” he read aloud, though he was alone.“资源匮乏，部队须停止行动。”他朗声念道，尽管房里只有他一个人。2
He ran his fingers through the graying hair at his temples.他用手指梳了梳两鬓渐白的头发。3
Reading reports such as this one was turning his dark hair gray, he decided.他断定，正是这类报告把他的一头黑发愁白了。4
He read the phrase over again as if it were a riddle, which indeed it was to him.他又把这句话读了一遍，仿佛那是一道谜；对他而言，它也确实是。5
Suddenly he pounded his meaty fist on his desktop and chuckled with understanding.忽然，他把厚实的拳头往桌面上一砸，恍然大悟地笑了起来。6
“That boy has a way with words,” he sighed, shaking his head.“那小子还真会遣词造句。”他摇着头叹道。7
While he admired his herald’s bureaucratic skills, there were times the local lord felt it would be better if Culspiir weren’t so clever that he made himself misunderstood.这位本地领主虽欣赏自己那名传令官处理公文的本事，有时却觉得，卡尔斯皮尔要是别那么聪明，别把话写得让人看不懂，反倒更好。8
In the document’s margin, beside the passage he’d just read, Sudacar scrawled: Azoun, I can’t send these boys out patrolling in freezing rain with nothing but watery porridge in their stomachs.苏达卡在公文的页边、刚才读到的那段话旁潦草写道：阿祖恩，我不能让这些小伙子们只喝一肚子稀得像水的粥，就冒着冻雨出去巡逻。9
I need those food rations!!!我需要那些口粮！！！10
Sudacar initialed the notation, scrawled his full signature at the bottom, and rolled up the scroll.苏达卡在批注下签了姓名首字母，又在末尾潦草写下全名，随后卷起了羊皮卷。11
He finished by slopping liquefied wax on the seam and pressing his signet ring into the resulting mess.最后，他把熔化的封蜡胡乱浇在接缝上，再将自己的印戒按进那摊蜡里。12
Stretching out his arms to ease the muscles in his broad shoulders, he muttered, “I’ve had enough of this stuffy little closet.”他伸展双臂，舒缓宽阔肩膀上的肌肉，嘟囔道：“这个憋闷的小壁橱，我可待够了。”13
The main reception hall of Redstone had been set aside for use by the king’s man.红石的主接待大厅已被拨给国王的使者使用。14
Pillars and arches two stories high rose all about him.两层楼高的柱子和拱门耸立在他四周。15
Archery contests had been held along the length of the room, and the entire town had gathered within its walls in times of crisis and celebration.这座大厅纵向曾举办过射箭比赛；每逢危难与庆典，全镇居民也都会聚集在这里。16
Sudacar’s desk was tucked at one end of the hall, with a view of the entire enormous chamber.苏达卡的书桌塞在大厅一端，从那里可以将整个宏伟的厅堂尽收眼底。17
Sudacar, former giant-slayer, was a tall, burly man, though, and anywhere the wind could not blow felt stuffy to him.不过，曾经屠杀过巨人的苏达卡是个高大魁梧的男人，对他来说，只要没有风吹的地方就显得憋闷。18
Time to indulge in one of the prerogatives of office, he thought as he pulled on his coat.该享受一下官职带来的特权了，他一边穿上外套一边想。19
“Culspiir,” he bellowed in his booming voice.“卡尔斯皮尔！”他用洪亮如雷的嗓音吼道。20
Culspiir slid into the room, closing the door softly behind him.卡尔斯皮尔悄然溜进大厅，轻轻关上身后的门。21
The herald’s face appeared so careworn it would have alarmed a stranger.这名传令官一脸忧心忡忡，足以令不认识他的人感到不安。22
Sudacar was aware, though that Culspiir wore that same expression for all occasions, from weddings to barbarian invasions.然而苏达卡知道，无论遇上什么场合，从婚礼到野蛮人入侵，卡尔斯皮尔总是这副表情。23
“I’ve gone over all the reports you gave me, Cul,” Sudacar said.“你交给我的报告，我全都看过了，卡尔，”苏达卡说。24
“Good work.“干得不错。25
I thought I’d break for the day,” he added, his brown eyes glittered with all the eagerness of a schoolboy asking for permission to play outside.我想今天就到此为止了，”他又说道，一双棕色眼睛闪闪发亮，满是小学生请求出去玩耍时的热切。26
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’ve granted someone an interview with you for this hour.”“很抱歉，大人，但我已经安排了一个人在这个时候来见您。”27
“Now?“现在？28
Culspiir, how could you schedule someone now?卡尔斯皮尔，你怎么能把人安排在这个时候？29
Can’t you see it’s raining?你没看见正在下雨吗？30
Don’t you realize that the fish are out there searching for my lure?”你难道不知道，那些鱼正在外头四处寻找我的鱼饵吗？”31
“I thought, considering the person and the nature of his problem, that you had best see him today, sir.“考虑到来人的身份和他所遇到的问题，我认为您最好今天就见他，大人。32
I’ve kept him waiting more than an hour so you could finish your other duties.”为了让您先处理完其他事务，我已经让他等了一个多小时。”33
“Show him in,” Sudacar sighed.“带他进来吧，”苏达卡叹了口气。34
He sat back down, but he did not bother to remove his cloak.他重新坐下，却懒得脱掉斗篷。35
Culspiir slipped out, and a moment later Giogioni Wyvernspur stepped in.卡尔斯皮尔悄然退了出去，片刻之后，乔吉·飞龙刺走了进来。36
Sudacar’s face brightened.苏达卡顿时喜形于色。37
“Giogi!” he said with surprise.“乔吉！”他惊讶地说道。38
He rose and extended his hand to the nobleman.他站起身，向这位贵族伸出手。39
Giogi strode up to Sudacar’s desk, accepted the handshake, and returned the smile.乔吉大步走到苏达卡的书桌前，握住他的手，也回以微笑。40
Sudacar’s welcome was a relief after being made to wait so long by the local lord’s herald.被本地领主的传令官晾了这么久之后，苏达卡的热情欢迎令他如释重负。41
“Culspiir was a dog to make you wait like that,” Sudacar said as if reading his thoughts.“卡尔斯皮尔真是可恶，竟让你等了这么久，”苏达卡说道，仿佛看穿了他的心思。42
“Sorry.”“抱歉。”43
“Oh, no. I understand.“哦，不，没关系。我明白。44
You’ve got lots of work,” Giogi replied, though he suspected Culspiir had kept him waiting as a snub to the Wyvernspurs.你有很多事情要忙，”乔吉回答道，尽管他怀疑卡尔斯皮尔让他久等，是存心要给飞龙刺家族一个难堪。45
The nobleman didn’t resent it too much.这位贵族对此并不太介怀。46
After all, the Wyvernspurs had snubbed Culspiir and his master often enough.毕竟，飞龙刺家族也没少冷落卡尔斯皮尔和他的主人。47
“Culspiir just wants to be sure I don’t have any excuses to put his boring papers aside,” Sudacar confided in a whisper.“卡尔斯皮尔只是想确保我没有任何借口把他那些无聊的公文搁到一边，”苏达卡压低声音透露道。48
“He doesn’t like me to have any fun.”“他就是不喜欢让我找乐子。”49
Sudacar’s expression became serious.苏达卡的神情严肃起来。50
“I’m sorry about your uncle, Giogi.“你叔叔的事，我很遗憾，乔吉。51
He was a fine man.他是个了不起的人。52
A good wizard, too.”也是位优秀的法师。”53
“Thank you,” Giogi replied softly.“谢谢你，”乔吉轻声答道。54
“It’s hard to believe.“真让人难以置信。55
I don’t want to believe it.”我不愿相信这是真的。”56
“That’s only natural,” Sudacar said, giving the younger man a comforting pat on the shoulder.“这很正常，”苏达卡说着，安慰地拍了拍年轻人的肩膀。57
“So, tell me,” the local lord said more boisterously, “what brings you here, boy?”“那么，跟我说说，”这位本地领主换了更加爽朗的口吻，“是什么风把你吹来了，小伙子？”58
“I’m sorry to bother you, Sudacar,” Giogi said, “but, well, things have gotten rather confusing about the spur.“抱歉来打扰你，苏达卡，”乔吉说道，“可是，嗯，那根刺的事变得相当混乱。59
I realize Aunt Dorath was a little huffy with Culspiir yesterday, not wanting to tell him about the theft, but the truth is, I could use your advice.我知道多拉丝姑妈昨天对卡尔斯皮尔有点不客气，不愿把失窃的事告诉他，但说实话，我确实需要听听你的建议。60
I thought maybe there might be something you could tell me about the spur.”我想，或许你能告诉我一些有关那根刺的事。”61
“Well, whatever advice I have is yours, Giogi, but I’m afraid I’ve never seen the spur.“好吧，不管我能给你什么建议，都尽管拿去，乔吉；但恐怕我从没见过那根刺。62
I’ve seen others, still on the wyvern, as it were, but not the one you’re looking for.”别的刺我倒见过——可以说，还长在飞龙身上——但不是你正在找的那一根。”63
“I thought you might know something about it.“我以为你也许知道些什么。64
You knew it was stolen before I—uh, before it got around town.”在我——呃，在消息传遍全城之前，你就知道它被偷了。”65
Sudacar grinned.苏达卡咧嘴一笑。66
“Well, I don’t like to brag, but not all women are as immune to my charms as your aunt,” he said, giving Giogi the same wink that he had the evening before, when he’d admitted to having his own source of information.“这个嘛，我不喜欢吹嘘，但并非所有女人都像你姑妈那样对我的魅力无动于衷，”他说着，又朝乔吉眨了眨眼，就像前一天晚上承认自己另有消息来源时那样。67
Giogi wondered idly if the woman in question was a parlor maid or a lady’s maid.乔吉漫不经心地猜想，那位女子究竟是客厅女仆，还是贴身女仆。68
“But, you know some tales about my father,” the nobleman said.“不过，你知道一些关于我父亲的故事，”这位贵族说道。69
“Did you know he used the spur when he went adventuring?“你知道他外出冒险时用过那根刺吗？70
That the spur has some magical powers?”知道那根刺拥有某种魔力吗？”71
“Does it, now?“哦，真有吗？72
Well, well.”嗯，有意思。”73
Sudacar stared thoughtfully at the ceiling.苏达卡若有所思地盯着天花板。74
“I didn’t know that, but it might explain some things I’ve heard.”“这我倒不知道，不过我听说过的一些事，或许就能解释得通了。”75
“Like what?”“比如什么？”76
Sudacar abruptly stood.苏达卡猛地站起身来。77
“Tell you what.“这样吧。78
Why don’t we take a little walk while we talk about it?”我们边走边聊，怎么样？”79
He led Giogi toward the door.他领着乔吉朝门口走去。80
On the way, the Lord of Immersea pulled a casting pole out of a rack on the wall.路上，伊默海领主从墙上的架子里抽出一根抛竿。81
“What’s this for?”“这是做什么用的？”82
Giogi asked.乔吉问。83
“We’ll need it to defend ourselves, in case we run into any fish,” Sudacar explained.“万一碰上什么鱼，我们得用它来自卫。”苏达卡解释道。84
“Oh,” Giogi replied as Sudacar held open the hall door for him.“哦。”乔吉答道；苏达卡替他扶着大厅的门。85
Sudacar hoped to hurtle past Culspiir’s station before his herald could find another excuse to keep him confined, but Giogi stopped at the door, his finger to his forehead, trying to dredge something from the back of his mind.苏达卡本想赶在自己的传令官又找出借口把他困住之前，一口气冲过卡尔斯皮尔的岗位，可乔吉却在门口停了下来，用手指抵着额头，努力从记忆深处挖出点什么。86
At last it came to him.他终于想起来了。87
“Ah, yes,” the nobleman said.“啊，对了，”这位贵族说道。88
“You know my purse that was stolen?”“你知道我那个被偷的钱袋吧？”89
“Oh, that,” Sudacar said.“哦，那个啊。”苏达卡说道。90
“Any word on it, Culspiir?” he demanded of his subordinate.“有消息了吗，卡尔斯皮尔？”他厉声问自己的下属。91
“It still hasn’t turned up, Master Giogioni,” the herald said as he regarded Sudacar—and his casting rod—with suspicion.“还是没找到，乔吉奥尼少爷。”传令官一边说，一边疑心重重地打量着苏达卡——还有他手里的抛竿。92
“Well, it won’t,” Giogi said, “because it wasn’t stolen.“嗯，不会找到了，”乔吉说，“因为它根本没被偷。93
I’d dropped it right outside home.是我把它掉在家门外了。94
Found it later,” he explained.后来找到了，”他解释道。95
“Hope I didn’t cause a fuss.”“希望我没惹出什么乱子。”96
Sudacar grunted.苏达卡哼了一声。97
“Remind me to let you pick up the tab next time,” he said with a grin.“提醒我下次让你来买单。”他咧嘴笑着说。98
“Culspiir, I’ll be out for the rest of the day in consultation with Master Giogioni.”“卡尔斯皮尔，我今天剩下的时间都要同乔吉奥尼少爷商议事情，不回来了。”99
“Of course,” Culspiir said, his eyes not leaving the fishing tackle as the two men hurried through his office and out the door.“当然。”卡尔斯皮尔说道。两人匆匆穿过他的办公室，出了门，而他的目光始终没有离开那些渔具。100
On the front steps of the manor, they bundled up their cloaks and pulled up their hoods against the rain, which was still icy but far less violent than it had been at noon.来到庄园门前的台阶上，两人裹紧斗篷，拉起兜帽遮雨；雨水依旧冰冷刺骨，但已远不如正午时那般猛烈。101
They left the castle walls.他们离开了城堡的围墙。102
As they trudged down toward the Immer Stream, Sudacar explained, “I never actually had the honor of adventuring with your father.两人朝伊默溪艰难跋涉时，苏达卡解释道：“其实我从来没有这个荣幸，能和你父亲一起冒险。103
To tell the truth, when I met him at court he was already a legend and I was just an apprentice sell-sword.说实话，我在宫廷上见到他时，他已经是个传奇人物了，而我还只是个给人卖命的学徒剑客。104
By that time, Cole had single-handedly vanquished the hydra of Wheloon—walked into the beastie’s lair unarmed and walked out alive an hour later.那时候，科尔已经单枪匹马消灭了惠隆的九头蛇——他赤手空拳走进那畜生的巢穴，一个小时后又活着走了出来。105
He was all cut up and bleeding, but, as the saying goes, you should have seen the other guy.他浑身都是伤口，鲜血淋漓，不过，俗话说得好，你真该看看对方的惨样。106
His Majesty’s troops went into the lair afterward and found the monster everywhere—diced into pieces.”后来，陛下的军队进入巢穴，发现那怪物的碎块散得到处都是——全给剁成了小块。”107
Behind the privacy of his hood, Giogi tried without success to picture the quiet, gentle man he remembered from his childhood killing anything, even something as fierce as a hydra.乔吉躲在兜帽的遮掩下，竭力想象记忆中那个安静温和的父亲杀死某种生物的情景，哪怕那生物凶猛如九头蛇，却怎么也想象不出来。108
His imagination remained as gray as the soft sleet falling around him.他的想象依旧一片灰蒙蒙的，就像飘落在他四周的绵软雨夹雪。109
Sudacar began regaling Giogi with a tale of how Cole had let himself be kidnapped by pirates.苏达卡又兴致勃勃地给乔吉讲起科尔如何故意让自己被海盗绑架的故事。110
By the time the local lord had reached the part where Cole sailed the pirate ship into Suzail’s harbor with all the sea thieves in irons, the local lord and the nobleman had reached the bridge where Giogi had encountered Sudacar the day before.等这位当地领主讲到科尔把海盗船驶进苏萨尔港、船上所有海贼都已戴上镣铐时，他和那位贵族也来到了那座桥边——前一天，乔吉正是在这里遇见苏达卡的。111
The stream’s water was a little faster and the level a little higher.溪水流得稍快了些，水位也稍高了些。112
Patches of ice crusted over the stiller shallows near the banks.靠近两岸、水流较缓的浅滩上结着一片片薄冰。113
Sudacar wasted no time whipping his line out over the water, but he continued with another story about Cole.苏达卡毫不耽搁地甩出钓线，越过水面，同时又讲起了另一个关于科尔的故事。114
This story was set, as Sudacar put it, “in ’aught eight,” when the gnolls came down from the north.按苏达卡的说法，这个故事发生在“零八年”，当时豺狼人从北方南下。115
Saboteurs had burned the bridge over the Starwater.破坏者烧毁了横跨星水河的大桥。116
The purple dragoons might never have marched to the Cormyr border’s defense in time had Cole not managed miraculously—and mysteriously—to repair the bridge overnight with no one to help him but Shar, the master carpenter—who later became Cole’s father-in-law.若不是科尔奇迹般——而且神秘莫测地——在一夜之间修好了大桥，而帮助他的只有木匠大师沙尔，紫龙骑兵恐怕根本无法及时赶到科米尔边境布防；沙尔后来成了科尔的岳父。117
Giogi’s gaze remained fixed on Sudacar’s lure as it flew out over the water, slithered downstream and jerked out, over and over again.乔吉的目光始终盯着苏达卡的鱼饵，看它一次次飞过水面，顺流滑下，又被猛地抽起。118
The noble’s thoughts, though, were occupied with trying to figure out why Sudacar’s tales sounded so familiar.然而，这位贵族心里想的，却是苏达卡的这些故事为何听起来如此耳熟。119
It wasn’t until the older man began a story with Giogi’s mother in it, that the reason came to Giogi in a flash.直到老人讲起一个有乔吉母亲出场的故事，乔吉才猛然明白其中的缘由。120
In the story, Shar, the master carpenter, had come to Cole begging that he rescue Bette, the carpenter’s daughter.故事里，木匠大师沙尔来求科尔救出他的女儿贝特。121
Bette had refused the mad red wizard Yawataht as a suitor, so Yawataht had kidnapped and imprisoned Bette on top of a glass mountain.贝特拒绝了疯狂的红巫师亚瓦塔特的求婚，于是亚瓦塔特绑架了她，把她囚禁在一座玻璃山的山顶。122
He left her there to freeze, high above the tree line, up in the clouds.他把她留在那里挨冻，那地方高高地越过林木线，耸入云端。123
Cole flew up there—though Sudacar could not say how—but he looked so fierce when he arrived that Bette mistook him for one of Yawataht’s minions and smacked him on the head with a hammer.科尔飞上了山——至于他是怎么飞的，苏达卡也说不上来——可他抵达时模样太过凶悍，贝特误以为他是亚瓦塔特的手下，抡起锤子就砸在了他的头上。124
The name “Yawataht” and the image of a woman striking a man with a hammer finally reminded Giogi why Sudacar’s tales sounded familiar.“亚瓦塔特”这个名字，以及一个女人挥锤打男人的情景，终于让乔吉想起了为什么苏达卡讲的故事听起来如此耳熟。125
“Uncle Drone’s told me all these stories,” he said, “but the hero was someone named Callyson, and the woman he rescued on the mountaintop was named Sharabet—”“这些故事德罗恩叔叔都给我讲过，”他说，“不过故事里的英雄是个叫凯利森的人，而他在山顶救出的女人名叫沙尔贝特——”126
Sudacar laughed.苏达卡笑了。127
“Wasn’t your grandmother’s name Cally?” he asked.“你祖母不是叫凯利吗？”他问。128
Giogi smacked himself on the forehead.乔吉一巴掌拍在自己额头上。129
“Callyson—Cally’s son!“凯利森——凯利的儿子！130
Sharabet—Shar’s Bette!沙尔贝特——沙尔的贝特！131
Of course!当然了！132
Aunt Dorath made Uncle Drone swear he wouldn’t tell me my father was an adventurer, but Uncle Drone told me all about my father, anyway—only he disguised the truth as bedtime stories.”多拉丝姑妈逼德罗恩叔叔发誓，不许告诉我父亲是个冒险家，可德罗恩叔叔还是把我父亲的事全都讲给我听了——只不过他把真相伪装成了睡前故事。”133
“So, did he tell you how your father used the spur in the stories?”“那么，他在故事里有没有告诉你，你父亲是怎么使用那枚马刺的？”134
Sudacar asked.苏达卡问道。135
“He—” Giogi hesitated.“他——”乔吉迟疑了一下。136
He racked his brains trying to remember any mention of a magical item in the Callyson stories.他绞尽脑汁，想要回忆那些凯利森的故事里是否提到过什么魔法物品。137
“I don’t remember for certain.“我记不太清了。138
He told me those stories more than ten years ago.他给我讲那些故事，已经是十多年前的事了。139
I don’t think so, though.”不过，我想应该没有。”140
“Well,” Sudacar said, “since your father wasn’t a magic-user, it’s probable the spur gave him the power to fly.”“嗯，”苏达卡说，“既然你父亲不会施法，那么很可能是那枚马刺赋予了他飞行的能力。”141
“There’s lots of other magic like that, though,” Giogi pointed out.“可还有很多别的魔法也能让人飞啊，”乔吉指出。142
“Why steal the spur just to fly?”“为什么非要偷走那枚马刺，就为了飞行呢？”143
“It could also have been responsible for Cole’s strength and fighting prowess,” Sudacar suggested.“它也可能赋予了科尔那一身力气和高强的战斗本领，”苏达卡推测道。144
“Killing a hydra is no small feat.“杀死一条九头蛇可不是件小事。145
Neither is chopping and carting the lumber for a bridge meant to span a river as wide as the Starwater.”要为一座横跨星水河那般宽阔河流的桥梁砍伐并运送木料，同样绝非易事。”146
“That’s true,” Giogi agreed.“这倒是真的，”乔吉表示赞同。147
“It might help if I could pin its powers down more exactly, though.”“不过，要是能更确切地弄清楚它究竟有什么力量，或许会有帮助。”148
“Wait a minute,” Sudacar said, stroking his chin.“等一下，”苏达卡抚着下巴说道。149
“There is someone you could talk to, someone I know traveled with your father at least once.”“有个人你可以去问问；据我所知，那人至少曾和你父亲一同旅行过一次。”150
“A rogue or a ruffian?”“是个无赖，还是个恶棍？”151
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。152
“Pardon?”“什么？”153
“According to Aunt Dorath, my father traveled with rogues and ruffians.“按多拉丝姑妈的说法，我父亲总是和无赖恶棍为伍。154
Aunt Dorath is a little funny that way—”多拉丝姑妈在这方面有点古怪——”155
“Yes, I’ve always found her amusing,” Sudacar admitted grimly.“是啊，我一向觉得她很有意思，”苏达卡冷冷地承认道。156
“The person I was thinking of, though, was Lleddew of Selune.”“不过，我想到的那个人是塞露恩的莱杜。”157
The instant Sudacar mentioned Selune, the goddess of the moon, he got a strike on his fishing line.苏达卡刚一提到月亮女神塞露恩，他的鱼线便有鱼咬钩了。158
“Mother Lleddew?”“莱杜嬷嬷？”159
Giogi echoed with astonishment.乔吉惊讶地重复道。160
He’d been expecting Sudacar to name one of the adventurers who’d been at the Fish last night.他原以为苏达卡会说出昨晚在“鱼”那里的某个冒险者。161
Lleddew was a high priestess and older than Giogi’s Aunt Dorath.莱杜是一位大祭司，年纪比乔吉的多拉丝姑妈还大。162
The idea of the ancient holy woman tramping about the countryside with Cole was a little hard for the nobleman to accept.这位贵族实在有些难以想象，那位年迈的圣洁女子竟会和科尔一起跋涉乡野。163
“Are you sure?”“你确定吗？”164
Sudacar grinned and nodded as he pulled in his line, playing his catch.苏达卡咧嘴一笑，点了点头，一边收线，一边遛着上钩的鱼。165
“Your family dedicated Spring Hill to Selune, but Lleddew built the temple, the House of the Lady, with the booty from her adventuring days.“你们家族把春丘献给了塞露恩，但那座神殿——‘女神之家’——却是莱杜用她冒险生涯中得来的战利品建造的。166
The trips she made with your father were her last.她和你父亲一同出行的那几次，是她最后的冒险。167
I’ve heard her call one of them ‘the roofing campaign’—Gotcha!”我听她把其中一次称作‘屋顶远征’——逮到你了！”168
Sudacar interrupted his story as he grasped at the gleaming bass on his line and slipped it off his hook.苏达卡伸手抓住钓线末端那条闪闪发亮的鲈鱼，把它从鱼钩上取下来，打断了自己的故事。169
He poked a holding string through its gills, looped the string over a rock, and let the fish drop back in the water to wriggle before suppertime.他把一根拴鱼绳穿过鱼鳃，将绳子套在一块岩石上，又把鱼放回水里，任它在晚餐前继续挣扎。170
Giogi looked upstream toward Spring Hill.乔吉朝上游的春泉山望去。171
Strangers to Immersea often wondered why the Wyvernspurs hadn’t built Redstone Castle on Spring Hill.初到伊默海的外乡人常常不明白，飞龙刺家族为何没有把红石城堡建在春泉山上。172
It was the tallest hill on their land; it had the best view of the surrounding countryside, and a natural spring of sweet water gushed from its peak.那是他们领地内最高的山丘；从那里眺望，四周乡野的景致最为开阔，而且山顶还涌出一股甘甜的天然泉水。173
The family’s founder, Paton Wyvernspur, had dedicated Spring Hill to the goddess Selune, according to legend, at the request of the goddess herself.据传，飞龙刺家族的创始人佩顿·飞龙刺曾应女神塞露恩本人的请求，将春泉山献给了她。174
None of his descendants was ever so foolish as to try to take it back.他的后裔中，从来没有谁愚蠢到试图把它收回来。175
These days, the spring’s water poured from Selune’s temple, tumbled down the hill in a series of enchanting cascades, and ultimately became the Immer Stream.如今，泉水从塞露恩的神殿中涌出，沿山坡化作一连串迷人的飞瀑，最终汇成伊默溪。176
There was a road approaching Spring Hill from the north, which wound up the hill to the temple, but the hike alongside the water was far more interesting.有一条路从北面通往春泉山，蜿蜒上山直达神殿，不过沿着溪水徒步攀登要有趣得多。177
The sun was getting low, but Giogi figured he had just enough time to make the climb and speak to Mother Lleddew before dark.太阳已渐渐西沉，但乔吉估摸着，自己正好还有足够的时间爬上山，在天黑前同莱杜嬷嬷谈一谈。178
Sudacar followed Giogi’s gaze and guessed his intentions.苏达卡循着乔吉的目光望去，猜到了他的打算。179
“Could be a tricky climb in this weather,” he warned.“这种天气，爬上去可能不容易。”他警告道。180
“Maybe you should take the road instead.”“你也许还是走大路比较好。”181
“It’s so far out of the way to reach the road,” Giogi argued.“要走到那条路上，得绕太远了。”乔吉争辩道。182
“Besides, I’ve climbed the stream path often enough as a boy.”“再说，我小时候经常沿着溪边的小径爬山。”183
Sudacar shrugged.苏达卡耸了耸肩。184
“I hope you find what you need to know,” he said as he cast his line out again.“希望你能弄清楚自己想知道的事。”他说着，再次甩出了钓线。185
“Thanks.”“谢谢。”186
Giogi turned and began striding to the west.乔吉转过身，大步朝西走去。187
At first, the going was not too difficult.起初，这段路并不太难走。188
The ground was level, and the muddy banks were frozen enough to hold his weight but rough enough to offer traction for walking.地面平坦，泥泞的河岸冻得足以承受他的体重，表面又足够粗糙，走起来不至于打滑。189
Ahead of him, the westering sun was breaking through the canopy of clouds.在他前方，西沉的太阳正破云而出。190
The red rays of the last light of day made the crystalline sleet at his feet shimmer like rubies.白昼最后一抹红光照在他脚边晶莹的冻雨上，令它们像红宝石般闪烁。191
Giogi had to slow down once he reached the lowest cascade of water at the base of Spring Hill.乔吉抵达春山山脚最低处的瀑布时，不得不放慢脚步。192
The red light had subsided to indigo; the marshy fields ended and thick woods began, and his path begin to climb a steep slope, over large rocks and boulders slick with ice.红光已经褪成靛蓝；沼泽地到了尽头，茂密的树林随之开始，他脚下的路径也转而沿陡坡向上，越过一块块被冰覆盖、湿滑难行的巨石。193
Giogi tucked his mittens in his pockets to keep them dry as he scrabbled for handholds to keep his balance.乔吉把连指手套塞进口袋，以免弄湿，同时四处摸索可以抓牢的地方，好保持平衡。194
A third of the way from the top of the hill, the stream crossed the road that wound around the hill to the temple.从山脚到山顶约莫三分之一处，溪流穿过了那条绕山通往神殿的道路。195
A simple but sturdy stone bridge spanned the water, high enough to allow someone moving up the stream to walk beneath it.一座朴素却坚固的石桥横跨水面，桥身足够高，溯溪而上的人可以从下面走过。196
By the time Giogi reached the bridge, it would have been easier arid safer—and possibly faster—to climb the banks and take the road.等乔吉抵达石桥时，爬上河岸改走大路已经会更容易、更安全——甚至可能更快。197
Yet the nobleman couldn’t bring himself to abandon his original course, even though he was cold and tired and getting a little hungry.可这位贵族就是无法让自己放弃原定的路线，尽管他又冷又累，肚子也有些饿了。198
When he was a boy, other children called the cascades Selune’s Stair, and they said that if a person climbed to the top of them, he or she was supposed to get his or her heart’s desire.乔吉小时候，别的孩子都把这些瀑布叫作“塞露恩之梯”，还说只要有人爬到顶端，就能得偿心愿。199
Of course, one was supposed to climb them in the water by moonlight, but Giogi figured Selune would make allowances considering the season and weather.当然，按说得在月光下涉水攀登才算数，但乔吉觉得，考虑到眼下的季节和天气，塞露恩应该会酌情通融。200
A tiny, niggling voice in his head told him he was wasting his time and energy playing silly games.脑海里有个细小而烦人的声音告诉他，他这是在玩愚蠢的把戏，白白浪费时间和力气。201
The voice sounded suspiciously like Aunt Dorath, so Giogi ignored it and continued climbing, leaving the road behind.那声音听起来活像多拉丝姑妈，实在可疑，于是乔吉对它置之不理，把大路抛在身后，继续向上攀登。202
So far, he’d been pretty impressed with himself.到目前为止，他对自己的表现还颇为满意。203
His skill at scrabbling up the slope and leaping from one rock to another had not deteriorated with maturity.他攀爬斜坡、从一块岩石跃向另一块岩石的本领，并没有随着年岁增长而退步。204
He might not have looked quite as agile as a mountain goat, but he felt it—until he reached the final cascade.他的身手看起来或许不如山羊那般敏捷，可他自己感觉确实如此——直到他来到最后一道瀑布前。205
The last cascade was larger and steeper than the rest, and at its base was a wide pool.最后一道瀑布比其余的更大、更陡，底下还有一汪宽阔的水潭。206
More mist hung in the air, so the rocks were damper there.那里的空气中弥漫着更浓的水雾，因此岩石也更加湿滑。207
Giogi leaped between two large boulders in the twilight, hit a slick spot, and went sprawling on a ledge that hung out over the pool.暮色中，乔吉从一块巨石跃向另一块，却踩中了一处湿滑的地方，整个人扑倒在一块伸出水潭上方的岩架上。208
He was bruised but otherwise unharmed.他身上撞出了几处淤青，除此之外并无大碍。209
The niggling Aunt Dorath-like voice inside his head said, “I told you so,” and Giogi began to think he would be lucky if he could reach the top before the light failed and he fell in the drink.脑海里那个像多拉丝姑妈一样烦人的声音说：“我早就告诉过你。”乔吉不禁开始觉得，要是能赶在天光彻底消失、自己失足掉进水里之前爬到顶，他就算走运了。210
The sky at that moment grew very, very dark.就在那一刻，天空骤然变得漆黑无比。211
Giogi hesitated.乔吉迟疑了。212
Maybe it’s just a darker than average storm cloud over the setting sun, he hoped.也许只是一片比寻常更阴沉的乌云遮住了落日，他心存侥幸地想。213
He waited on the ledge for a minute, then another, for light to return.他在岩架上等了一分钟，又等了一分钟，盼着光亮重新出现。214
The forest around him remained dark.他周围的森林依旧一片黑暗。215
Giogi realized he’d miscalculated.乔吉意识到自己算错了。216
The sun had set already, and twilight in the dense woods had been very short.太阳早已落山，而茂密树林里的暮色极其短暂。217
The moon would be full tonight, though, he remembered.不过，他想起今晚是满月。218
It should rise soon, now that the sun has set, he reassured himself.既然太阳已经下山，月亮应该很快就会升起来了，他这样安慰自己。219
In the meantime, the nobleman couldn’t help feeling there was something malicious about the darkness.但在月亮升起之前，这位贵族青年总觉得黑暗中透着一股恶意。220
It was filled with rustling and twig-snapping, which he could hear uncomfortably well over the rush of the cascade.黑暗中满是窸窣声和树枝折断的脆响，尽管瀑布水声轰鸣，他仍能把这些动静听得一清二楚，清楚得令他心里发毛。221
Unwilling to wait for Selune’s light, Giogi crawled toward the cascade and began climbing the rocks by feel.乔吉不愿等候塞露恩的光芒，便爬向瀑布，摸索着攀上岩石。222
Something scaly brushed against Giogi’s hand, and he pulled it back with a jerk, lost his balance, and tumbled sideways, landing with a splash in the pool of water below.一个带鳞的东西擦过乔吉的手，他猛地把手缩了回来，却因此失去平衡，侧身滚落下去，扑通一声掉进了下方的水潭。223
Giogi surfaced immediately, sputtering water and soaked to the skin.乔吉立刻浮出水面，呛得连连吐水，浑身湿透。224
The water was only three feet deep, but that was more than enough to submerge his clodders, and the young noble could feel icy water creeping down his stockings.潭水只有三英尺深，却足以没过他的厚底鞋；这位贵族青年能感觉到冰冷的水正顺着长袜往下渗。225
A beam of moonlight broke through the clouds in the east, illuminating the pool around him.一道月光穿透东方的云层，照亮了他周围的水潭。226
Giogi stifled a shriek and began to back away.乔吉强忍住一声尖叫，开始向后退去。227
In the hip-high water all around him bobbed the bloated corpses of men.他四周齐腰深的水中，漂浮着一具具肿胀的男人尸体。228
As he stepped backward, one of the corpses in front of him sprang to life, lunging out of the water at him like a trout striking at a lure.他刚后退一步，面前的一具尸体便突然活了过来，像鳟鱼扑咬诱饵一般破水扑向他。229
Rows of needle-sharp teeth gnashed inches from his face.一排排针尖般锋利的牙齿在离他脸仅几英寸的地方咬得咔咔作响。230
Giogi shrieked without inhibition, terrified.乔吉吓得魂飞魄散，放声尖叫起来。231
He recognized the creatures from Uncle Drone’s books.他从德罗恩叔叔的书里认出了这些生物。232
They weren’t just corpses, but lacedons, undead monsters that preyed on the flesh of the drowned.它们不只是尸体，而是水生食尸鬼——以溺亡者血肉为食的不死怪物。233
Giogi took another step backward, but the lacedons had him surrounded.乔吉又后退了一步，但水生食尸鬼已经将他团团围住。234
The nobleman had just enough presence of mind to draw his foil.这位贵族青年还勉强保持着足够的清醒，拔出了花剑。235
A second lacedon breached directly in front of him with its hands raised over its head.第二只水生食尸鬼双手高举过头，径直从他面前破水而出。236
Giogi could smell the fetid, mossy scent of the creature’s breath as it brought its decayed face close to his own.它把腐烂的脸凑近乔吉时，他闻到了它呼吸中那股腐臭而又带着苔藓气息的味道。237
Then the monster’s sharp, algae-covered fingernails struck at his forehead.紧接着，怪物那覆满水藻的尖利指甲抓向了他的额头。238
Giogi jabbed his weapon into the creature’s flesh, but the lacedon wriggled itself free and swam off.乔吉一剑刺进怪物的血肉，但那只水生食尸鬼扭动着挣脱出来，游走了。239
The remaining lacedons swam slowly around him, thumping up against his legs, trying to knock him off balance, and occasionally breaking the surface to leer and gnash and slash at his face.剩下的水尸鬼在他身边缓缓游动，不断撞击他的双腿，试图让他失去平衡，还不时破水而出，冲他狞笑、龇牙，并挥爪抓向他的脸。240
They’re playing with their food, Giogi thought, fighting back his nausea.它们在戏弄自己的食物，乔吉一边强忍恶心，一边想道。241
Blood dripping from his wounded brow obscured his vision in one eye and splashed into the water—spurring the undead into a frenzy.鲜血从他受伤的眉骨滴落，遮住了他一只眼睛的视线，又溅进水里——顿时令这些亡灵陷入疯狂。242
Giogi screamed again and stabbed at the hideous beings, trying to clear a path to the shore.乔吉再次尖叫起来，挥舞武器刺向那些丑陋的怪物，试图杀出一条通往岸边的路。243
It was hard to lunge into the water accurately, though, and there were too many of them to concentrate on one direction at once, without risking attack in the rear.然而，要准确地刺入水中并不容易，而且它们数量太多，他根本无法只顾一个方向而不冒着背后受袭的危险。244
One of the lacedons toward the back of the pack reared up and began walking forward, so Giogi had a better view of its scaly body, water-rotted face, and bulging, yellow eyes.尸群后方的一只水尸鬼直起身来，开始向前走，乔吉因而得以更清楚地看见它布满鳞片的躯体、被水泡烂的脸，以及凸出的黄色眼睛。245
Another lacedon adopted an erect stance, and another and another, until all the corpses advanced on him like soldiers.另一只水尸鬼也直立起来，接着又一只，再一只，直到所有尸体都像士兵一样朝他逼近。246
The noble turned in the frigid water, unable to decide on a direction to run.这名贵族在冰冷刺骨的水中转来转去，无法决定该朝哪个方向逃。247
He caught sight of the glimmering gemstone in the top of his boot.他瞥见了靴筒上端那颗微微发亮的宝石。248
The light of the finder’s stone pulsed in the darkness, even beneath the water.即使没在水下，寻物石的光芒也在黑暗中闪烁不定。249
Giogi drew the finder’s stone out, hoping the light it would cast might frighten off the monsters, or at least hurt their eyes.乔吉取出寻物石，希望它发出的光能吓退那些怪物，或至少刺痛它们的眼睛。250
He tried to recall the bit of rhyme he knew as a child: Vampires fear the morning’s lights, something, something, something, and wights.他努力回想儿时知道的那几句韵文：吸血鬼惧怕清晨的光，什么，什么，什么，还有尸妖。251
The finder’s stone cast a bright beam to the shoreline, but its light had no effect on the undead monsters’ behavior.寻物石朝岸边射出一道明亮的光束，但它的光并未对亡灵怪物的举动产生任何影响。252
The undead began gurgling like the drowned men they were.那些亡灵开始发出咕噜咕噜的声音，就像它们生前作为溺死者时那样。253
From the way they raised their claws in unison, Giogi guessed they were making some sort of battle cry.看它们齐刷刷举起利爪的样子，乔吉猜想它们是在发出某种战吼。254
They all leered at him with their fanged mouths.它们全都张着獠牙密布的嘴，冲他狞笑。255
I’m finished, the nobleman thought.我完了，这名贵族心想。256
From the top of the cascade behind Giogi came a great roar.乔吉身后的瀑布顶端传来一声震天巨吼。257
Before Giogi’s eyes, the lacedons’ bodies ignited into cool, blue flames.就在乔吉眼前，水尸鬼的躯体燃起了冰冷的蓝色火焰。258
The corpses slumped back into the pool.尸体瘫落回水潭里。259
The water in the stream sparkled with the blue fire still consuming the undead.溪水中闪烁着蓝色火光，仍在吞噬那些亡灵。260
The pool turned murky with the disintegrated bodies.水潭被崩解的尸体搅得一片浑浊。261
Then the murkiness washed downstream, and the pool’s water was clear again.随后，浑浊之物被水流冲向下游，潭水再度恢复了清澈。262
Giogi saw that only two monsters remained in the water with him, both to his left.乔吉看见，水里只剩下两只怪物与他一起，而且都在他的左边。263
As the young noble splashed in the direction of the right-hand bank, praying the creatures would be unable to follow him on land, a dark, hulking shape plunged from the top of the cascade, over his head, and into the pool beyond.年轻的贵族哗啦哗啦地朝右岸涉去，祈祷那些怪物上了岸便无法追赶他；就在这时，一个庞大漆黑的身影从瀑布顶端纵身跃下，掠过他的头顶，扎进前方的水潭。264
Giogi threw himself out of the water and landed with a thud on the rocky shore, knocking all the air out of himself.乔吉猛地扑出水面，砰的一声摔在布满岩石的岸上，肺里的空气全被撞了出去。265
More splashing and a second roar came from the pool behind him.身后的水潭里又传来一阵水花声，紧接着是第二声咆哮。266
It took a moment before Giogi could summon the energy to roll over to see what had joined the lacedons in the water.过了一会儿，乔吉才攒起力气翻过身去，看看是什么东西下水加入了那些水尸鬼。267
The headless body of a lacedon floated past the near shore.一具无头的水尸鬼尸体从近岸边漂过。268
The second lacedon lay on the opposite bank, pinned beneath the paws of a huge black bear.第二只水尸鬼躺在对岸，被一头巨大的黑熊按在爪下。269
The monster struggled feebly before the bear ripped it, throat to belly, with a single swipe of its paw.怪物无力地挣扎着，黑熊一爪挥下，便从喉咙到腹部将它撕开。270
“Sweet Selune,” Giogioni whispered.“仁慈的塞露恩啊。”乔吉奥尼低声说道。271
The bear looked up at him when he spoke.听见他说话，黑熊抬头看向他。272
Giogi froze.乔吉僵住了。273
He’d never seen a bear so large in all of Cormyr.他在科米尔这么多年，从未见过如此巨大的熊。274
The creature’s coat was as dark as the night, except for two silvery gray, crescent-shaped patches, one on its underbelly, the other on its forehead.那头野兽的皮毛漆黑如夜，唯有两块银灰色的新月形斑纹，一块在小腹上，另一块在额头上。275
The bear stared at the nobleman for a moment with its head tilted to the side.黑熊歪着头，盯着那位贵族看了片刻。276
It snuffled, and great clouds of steam rose from the bear’s nostrils.它喷了喷鼻息，大团白汽从鼻孔里升腾起来。277
Then it turned and bounded into the darkness of the woods.随后它转过身，跃入幽暗的树林深处。278
Giogi pulled himself up the last cascade and left the dark woods behind him.乔吉攀上最后一道瀑布，将幽暗的树林抛在身后。279
Atop Spring Hill, a moonlit meadow surrounded the temple.在泉水山顶，月光照耀的草地环绕着神殿。280
Giogi collapsed on the grass beside the water, shivering and gasping for breath.乔吉瘫倒在水边的草地上，浑身发抖，大口喘着气。281
His head was on fire, but the rest of him was freezing.他的脑袋像着了火，身体其余各处却冷得发僵。282
In all his years in Immersea, he’d never been attacked by undead.他在伊默海生活了这么多年，从未遭到过不死生物的袭击。283
What were lacedons doing in a stream sacred to Selune?水尸鬼为什么会出现在塞露恩的圣溪里？284
Did Mother Lleddew know about them?莱杜嬷嬷知道它们的存在吗？285
Giogi wondered.乔吉不禁想道。286
Is it possible she’s getting too old to defend the hill from evil?难道她年纪太大，已经无力保护这座山丘免受邪恶侵袭了吗？287
In the east, the sleet-filled clouds began to break up, as if evaporated by the full moon’s light.东方，挟着雨夹雪的云层开始消散，仿佛被满月的光芒蒸发了。288
Moonbeams shimmered across the Wyvernwater, along the Immer Stream, and up Selune’s Stair.月光粼粼地洒过飞龙湖，沿着伊默溪，一路照上塞露恩之阶。289
The moonbeams continued past Giogi, turning the stream, which meandered through the meadow, into a silver ribbon.月光越过乔吉继续向前，将蜿蜒流过草地的溪水化作一条银色的缎带。290
Giogi pulled himself to his feet and followed the stream to the temple, water squelching in his boots with his every step.乔吉挣扎着站起身，沿溪流走向神殿；每迈一步，靴子里的水都咕叽作响。291
Silvery, moonlit water flowed from inside the temple and down a channel cut into its steps.银色的水映着月光，从神殿内流出，顺着凿在台阶上的水槽淌下。292
Giogi climbed the steps beside the channel and entered the House of the Lady.乔吉沿着水槽旁的台阶拾级而上，走进了女神之殿。293
The House of the Lady, the temple Mother Lleddew had built to Selune, was really not a house, but an open-air shrine.女神之殿是莱杜嬷嬷为塞露恩建造的神殿，其实并非一座殿宇，而是一处露天圣所。294
A circle of white stone pillars rose from the temple’s floor and supported the domed roof.一圈白色石柱从神殿地面拔地而起，支撑着穹顶。295
There were no walls.四周没有墙壁。296
The rising moon’s light shone past the pillars and silvered the spring-fed pool bubbling in the center of the temple.初升的月光穿过石柱，将神殿中央汩汩冒水的泉池染成一片银白。297
A slender young girl in an acolyte’s robes sat beside the pool, gazing into the spring’s depths.一个身材纤细、身穿侍僧袍的少女坐在池边，凝望着泉水深处。298
The ends of her long tresses trailed along the surface of the water.她长长的发梢拖曳在水面上。299
By some trick of the light, her hair appeared as silver as the water, so it seemed that water flowed from her hair into the pool.不知是光线使了什么把戏，她的头发竟显得和池水一样银白，仿佛有水从她的发间流入池中。300
Giogi rang the silver bell hanging from one of the pillars beside the water channel.乔吉摇响了挂在水槽旁一根石柱上的银铃。301
The girl looked up without surprise.少女抬起头，毫无惊讶之色。302
She had dark skin, a lovely smile, and radiant eyes.她肤色黝黑，笑容甜美，双眸明亮有神。303
She was very pretty, but seemed far too young for her calling.她很漂亮，但看起来实在太年轻，不像是会投身这一神职的人。304
She couldn’t have been more than sixteen.她至多不过十六岁。305
“Blessings of the full moon,” she greeted Giogi.“愿满月赐福于你。”她向乔吉问候道。306
“Blessings of the full moon,” he responded.“愿满月赐福于你。”他回应道。307
“I’m looking for Mother Lleddew.”“我来找莱杜嬷嬷。”308
“Are you sure you’re not looking for your heart’s desire?” the girl asked with a grin.“你确定自己不是来寻找心中所愿的吗？”少女咧嘴笑着问。309
“What?”“什么？”310
Giogi replied with confusion.乔吉困惑地应道。311
“You did just climb Selune’s Stair by the full moon,” the girl pointed out.“你刚才可是在满月之下登上了塞露恩之阶。”少女提醒道。312
“Well, yes, I did,” Giogi admitted.“嗯，是的，我的确爬上来了。”乔吉承认道。313
“All I really wanted, though, was to see Mother Lleddew.”“不过，我其实只是想见莱杜嬷嬷。”314
“She’s on a night-stalk,” the girl said.“她去举行夜行仪式了。”少女说道。315
“I’m here to watch over the temple until she returns.”“我会在这里守着神殿，直到她回来。”316
Giogi sighed with frustration.乔吉懊恼地叹了口气。317
A night-stalk was a sacred ritual practiced by devout worshipers of Selune.夜行仪式是塞露恩的虔诚信徒奉行的一种神圣仪式。318
Lleddew would be walking in solitary communion with her goddess until the moon set.月落之前，莱杜都会独自漫步，与她的女神静心相通。319
Suddenly Giogi remembered the lacedon attack.乔吉忽然想起了水生食尸鬼的袭击。320
“Look, I don’t mean to alarm you, but there were evil things out in the woods tonight.“听着，我并不想吓唬你，可今晚树林里有邪恶的东西出没。321
You shouldn’t be alone here, and Mother Lleddew shouldn’t be walking alone out there.”你不该独自留在这里，莱杜嬷嬷也不该一个人在外面行走。”322
The girl smiled with amusement as she stood and drifted toward him.少女忍俊不禁地笑了。她站起身来，飘然向他走去。323
She shimmered like a moonbeam when she moved, and her hair glittered like a cascade of water.她走动时如月光般闪烁，一头秀发宛如飞流而下的瀑布，粼粼生辉。324
“You are the one in danger, Giogioni,” she said earnestly.“身处险境的人是你，乔吉奥尼。”她认真地说道。325
“You can speak with Mother Lleddew tomorrow, after noon.“明天中午过后，你可以再来找莱杜嬷嬷谈。326
For now, though, I think I’d better send you home.”不过眼下，我想我最好还是送你回家。”327
“I can’t leave you alone here,” the nobleman argued.“我不能把你一个人留在这里。”这位贵族反驳道。328
“Kneel,” the girl directed him, “so I can have a look at that cut on your head.”“跪下来，”少女吩咐他，“让我看看你头上的伤口。”329
Giogi obeyed, curious to see if so young an acolyte really had power to heal his wound.乔吉依言跪下，心中好奇，不知这么年轻的侍祭是否真有力量治愈他的伤口。330
The girl bent over Giogi and kissed his forehead.少女俯身凑近乔吉，吻了吻他的额头。331
The fire in his head flared momentarily, then subsided completely.他脑中的灼痛猛然加剧了一瞬，随即彻底消退。332
Giogi swayed dizzily, then looked up, relieved of all discomfort.乔吉晕眩地晃了晃，随后抬起头来，所有不适都已一扫而空。333
“That was wonder—” The noble halted in midsentence.“这真是太神奇——”这位贵族话说到一半，戛然而止。334
His head spun around in confusion and dripped water all about the Calimshan carpeting.他茫然地转头四顾，头上的水滴得到处都是，洒满了卡林珊地毯。335
He knelt in his own bedroom before a roaring fire.他正跪在自己的卧室里，面前炉火熊熊。336
“I must be dreaming,” said Giogi, “or hallucinating because of my head wound.”“我一定是在做梦，”乔吉说道，“要不就是头上的伤让我产生了幻觉。”337
The nobleman pinched and shook himself, but he didn’t wake to find himself dying of exposure on the side of Spring Hill.这位贵族又掐又摇晃自己，却并未醒来，发现自己正倒在春丘山坡上，眼看就要冻死。338
He was still in his own bedroom.他仍然身处自己的卧室。339
The bedclothes held the family coat of arms, a green wyvern on a yellow field.床上织着家族纹章：黄色底面上的一条绿色双足飞龙。340
The portrait over the fireplace was of his mother and father.壁炉上方挂的是他父母的画像。341
The indigo seashells he’d brought from Westgate lay strewn about the dresser.他从西门城带回来的靛蓝色贝壳散落在梳妆台上。342
“It must be my room,” he said.“这一定是我的房间，”他说。343
Still confused, he muttered to himself as he stripped off his soaked clothing.他依旧困惑不解，一边脱下湿透的衣服，一边喃喃自语。344
“First I was there, and now I’m here.“刚才我还在那里，现在却到了这里。345
She kissed me, and I appeared here.她吻了我一下，我就出现在这里了。346
I didn’t know acolytes could do that, but if she wasn’t an acolyte, what was she doing in the temple in an acolyte’s gown, telling me when I could see Mother Lleddew?我可不知道侍祭还有这种本事，可如果她不是侍祭，为什么会穿着侍祭袍待在神殿里，还告诉我什么时候能见莱杜嬷嬷？347
And how did she know my name?”而且她怎么会知道我的名字？”348
Giogi slid into bed beneath the covers.乔吉钻进被窝，躺到床上。349
He lay there wondering if he hadn’t just dreamed all about Spring Hill, Selune’s Stair, the lacedons, the crescent-marked bear, and the girl acolyte.他躺在那里，心想春丘、塞露恩之阶、莱斯顿、身有新月印记的熊，还有那个侍祭姑娘，会不会全都是他刚才做的一场梦。350
When the chill had worn off his flesh, he slid out of bed again and padded over to the pile of wet clothing.等身上的寒意褪去后，他又溜下床，赤着脚轻轻走到那堆湿衣服旁。351
Giogi shook his head as he pulled a robe on.乔吉一边披上睡袍，一边摇了摇头。352
He slipped from his bedroom, tiptoed down the hall to the red room, and knocked softly on the door.他溜出卧室，踮着脚沿走廊来到红房间，轻轻敲了敲门。353
He had to share his story with someone.他必须把自己的经历讲给某个人听。354
“Mistress Cat?” he whispered.“凯特女士？”他低声喊道。355
When no one answered, he knocked again.没人应声，他便又敲了一次。356
“Whuzzah?“什……什么事？357
Come in,” a sleepy voice called out.进来吧。”一个睡意蒙眬的声音喊道。358
Giogi opened the door.乔吉打开了门。359
The red room was well furnished, but Thomas kept it empty of personal items, like a room at an inn.红房间陈设齐全，但托马斯没在里面放任何私人物品，使它看起来就像客栈里的一间房。360
The red velvet hangings and the oaken bed, dresser, chair, and chest were all new and sturdy—not an heirloom in the lot.红色天鹅绒帷幔，以及橡木床、梳妆台、椅子和箱子，全都崭新而结实——没有一样是传家旧物。361
The guest room belonged to no one, which is how it felt to those who stayed in it.这间客房不属于任何人，住在里面的人也会有这样的感觉。362
By the light from the lamp flickering on the dresser, Giogi could see Cat curled up in one corner of the bed, the blankets all wrapped tightly around her.借着梳妆台上那盏灯摇曳的光，乔吉看见凯特蜷缩在床的一角，身上紧紧裹着毯子。363
Her coppery hair was strewn over the pillows.她铜红色的头发披散在枕头上。364
Her robes lay draped over the chair before the fireside.她的长袍搭在壁炉旁的椅子上。365
Cat sat up in the bed, looking drowsy but lovely.凯特从床上坐起身来，睡眼惺忪，却依旧美丽。366
“I asked Thomas to wake me when you returned,” she said, pushing her hair out of her face.“我让托马斯等你回来时叫醒我。”她一边说，一边把头发从脸上拨开。367
“Um, he doesn’t know I’m back yet.“呃，他还不知道我已经回来了。368
I fell in the Immer Stream and a bear saved me from lacedons, and then this lovely girl kissed me and teleported me here.”我掉进了伊默溪，一头熊把我从水鬼手里救了出来，然后有个漂亮姑娘亲了我一下，把我传送到了这里。”369
Tying a sheet around her body, Cat slid out from under the covers and walked to the doorway, where Giogi stood.凯特用一条床单裹住身体，从被窝里钻出来，走到乔吉站着的门口。370
She put a hand to his forehead, her brow knit with concern.她把一只手放在他的额头上，担忧地蹙起眉头。371
“You don’t have a fever,” she said after a moment.过了一会儿，她说道：“你没发烧。”372
“I’m fine, really.“我没事，真的。373
You know, your hand is so nice and warm.”你知道吗，你的手可真暖和，真舒服。”374
Cat smiled and said, “Perhaps you ought to lie down, anyway.”凯特微笑着说：“不过，也许你还是该躺下来。”375
She took Giogi by the arm and steered him back to his own room.她挽住乔吉的胳膊，把他带回了自己的房间。376
Giogi, babbling on, let himself be led.乔吉一路喋喋不休，任由她领着走。377
“You know, the guardian said that I’d been kissed by Selune.“你知道吗，守护者说我受过塞露恩的亲吻。378
I think she’s just done it again, Selune that is, through one of her priestesses.我想她刚才又亲了我一次——我是说塞露恩——借她的一位女祭司之身。379
You see, the kiss cured the scratch the lacedons gave me, which was nice, the kiss, not the cut, I mean.你瞧，那一吻治好了水鬼在我身上留下的抓伤，这挺好的，我是说那个吻，不是那道伤口。380
It also brought me home, though, which was strange but nice, too.”而且它还把我送回了家，虽说有点奇怪，但也挺好的。”381
“Here we go,” Cat said, steering him into his own room.“到了。”凯特说着，把他领进了自己的房间。382
“But still, it’s rather disturbing to be kissed by Selune,” Giogi said with a sigh, “since it is one of those things the guardian is always making a fuss about.“不过，被塞露恩亲吻还是颇让人不安，”乔吉叹了口气，“因为守护者总爱拿这种事情大做文章。383
I know I’m going to dream tonight about all those things—death cry of prey, and so on.我知道我今晚一定会梦见那些事——猎物临死的哀号之类的。384
Aunt Dorath says she just ignored the dreams, but I don’t see how she could,” Giogi said with annoyed disbelief.多拉丝姑妈说她根本不理会那些梦，可我真不明白她怎么可能做得到。”乔吉说道，语气中带着恼火和难以置信。385
“Lie down, Master Giogioni,” Cat ordered, pressing him down on the bed.“躺下，乔吉奥尼少爷。”凯特命令道，把他按倒在床上。386
“You can rest and talk.”“你可以躺着休息，边休息边说。”387
As he lay back on his bed, Cat fluffed up his pillows and propped them behind him.他在床上仰躺下来，凯特替他拍松枕头，垫在他身后。388
“Did you find anyone who knew about the spur?”“你有没有找到知道那枚马刺来历的人？”389
Cat asked lightly, seating herself at the foot of the bed.凯特若无其事地问道，在床尾坐了下来。390
“Well, Aunt Dorath knows something, but she won’t tell me what.“嗯，多拉丝姑妈知道些什么，可她不肯告诉我。391
She’s being absurdly stubborn.她固执得简直荒唐。392
I get the idea she wants to carry her secret to the grave.我觉得她是想把这个秘密带进坟墓。393
I talked with Sudacar.我和苏达卡谈过。394
He didn’t know about the spur, but he knew a lot about my father.”他不知道那枚马刺的事，但他很了解我父亲。”395
Giogi’s eyes shone when he asked the mage, “Did you know my father was a hero?乔吉双眼放光，问女法师：“你知道我父亲曾是位英雄吗？396
Not just an adventurer, but a real hero?不只是个冒险者，而是真正的英雄？397
I went on a mission for the crown, but it’s not really the same as adventuring.我也曾为王室执行过一项任务，但那和冒险终究不太一样。398
It must be interesting being an adventurer.”当冒险者一定很有意思。”399
“Why don’t you try it and find out?”“你为什么不亲自试试，看看究竟怎么样？”400
Cat asked with a smile.凯特微笑着问道。401
“Oh, I couldn’t. It’s just not done.“哦，我可不行。那太不成体统了。402
Aunt Dorath would have kittens,” the nobleman explained.多拉丝姑妈非气疯不可。”这位贵族解释道。403
“But your father did it,” Cat pointed out.“可你父亲就这么做了。”凯特指出。404
“He must have been very brave,” Giogi said, shaking his head slowly as if to deny he had that much courage.“他一定非常勇敢。”乔吉说着，缓缓摇了摇头，仿佛在否认自己也有那样的勇气。405
“To go out into the wilderness or to defy your Aunt Dorath?”“是敢于闯入荒野，还是敢于违抗你的多拉丝姑妈？”406
Cat asked with a chuckle.凯特轻笑着问道。407
Giogi laughed, too.乔吉也笑了。408
“Both,” he said.“两样都是。”他说。409
“What could your aunt do?”“你姑妈能把你怎么样？”410
Cat asked.凯特问道。411
“Cut off your money?”“断了你的经济来源？”412
“No. I have my own money,” Giogi explained.“不会。我有自己的钱，”乔吉解释道。413
“Aunt Dorath is family, though.“不过，多拉丝姑妈毕竟是我的家人。414
I can’t just ignore her.”我不能对她不理不睬。”415
“But if you were off adventuring, she couldn’t bother you,” Cat said slyly.“可要是你出去冒险，她就烦不到你了，”凯特狡黠地说。416
“But she would pounce on me whenever I returned to Immersea,” Giogi retorted.“可我每次回伊默海，她都会扑上来找我麻烦，”乔吉反驳道。417
“Then don’t ever return,” Cat suggested.“那就永远别回来，”凯特建议道。418
“Never return?”“永远不回来？”419
Giogi said with shock.乔吉震惊地说道。420
“Immersea’s my home.“伊默海是我的家。421
I couldn’t stay away.”我不可能不回来。”422
Giogi’s face fell in disappointment as he realized he’d just talked himself out of a dream.乔吉意识到自己刚刚亲口打消了一个梦想，脸上顿时露出失望的神色。423
He justified his inaction further by saying, “Besides, I wouldn’t know how I should go about adventuring.他又为自己的无所作为找起了理由：“再说，我根本不知道该怎么开始冒险。424
Not the first thing.连第一步该做什么都不知道。425
Do you have to register for it or something?”难道还得先去登记什么的吗？”426
Cat laughed.凯特笑了。427
Brushing her hand through her hair, she slid up the bed so that she sat much closer to Giogi.她用手指梳过头发，顺着床往上挪了挪，坐到了离乔吉近得多的地方。428
“First thing you should do is try to look the part.“你首先该做的，就是努力让自己看起来像个冒险者。429
Hold still,” she ordered.别动，”她命令道。430
The mage reached her hand behind Giogi’s ear, and Giogi felt a pinch at his earlobe.女法师把手伸到乔吉耳后，乔吉感到耳垂一疼。431
When Cat took her hand away, Giogi reached up to rub his earlobe.凯特把手拿开后，乔吉抬手揉了揉耳垂。432
Attached to his ear was one of Cat’s small hoop earrings.他的耳朵上挂着凯特的一只小圈耳环。433
He tried to pull it off.他试着把它扯下来。434
“Ow!” he whined.“哎哟！”他哀叫道。435
“You can’t just yank it off,” Cat warned.“不能就这么硬拽下来，”凯特警告他。436
“It’s pierced through.“它穿过耳洞了。437
You have to slide it out.”你得把它慢慢滑出来。”438
“You put a hole in my ear!” he said, disbelieving, touching the maimed lobe delicately.“你在我耳朵上打了个洞！”他难以置信地说道，小心翼翼地摸着那片惨遭蹂躏的耳垂。439
“Don’t be such a baby,” Cat chided.“别这么娇气，”凯特数落道。440
“If you want, you can take the earring out, and the hole will heal over.”“你要是不喜欢，可以把耳环取下来，耳洞会自己长好的。”441
Giogi sniffed.乔吉吸了吸鼻子。442
“How do I look?”“我看起来怎么样？”443
Cat leaned back and eyed him critically.凯特往后靠了靠，以挑剔的眼光打量着他。444
“Like a merchant.“像个商人。445
You need something else.”你还缺点什么。”446
She took a lock of Giogi’s brown hair and plaited it, fastening it together with some green beads she took off a chain hanging about her neck.她拈起乔吉的一绺棕发，编成辫子，又从颈间挂着的一条链子上取下几颗绿色珠子，将辫子束好。447
“Well?”“怎么样？”448
“Not quite right,” Cat said.“还是不太对，”凯特说。449
“You look like a sailor.”“你看起来像个水手。”450
From the open doorway came a polite cough.敞开的门口传来一声礼貌的轻咳。451
Giogi looked up in surprise.乔吉惊讶地抬起头。452
“Oh, Thomas.“哦，托马斯。453
I took a dive in the Immer Stream, I’m afraid.恐怕我一头栽进伊默溪里了。454
Could you see to those wet things, please?”能麻烦你处理一下那些湿衣服吗？”455
Thomas slipped into the room and began gathering up Giogi’s dripping clothes, surveying the damage to each article.托马斯悄然走进房间，开始收拾乔吉那些还在滴水的衣服，逐件查看受损的情况。456
He made a special point to keep his eyes averted from the bed.他尤其留意着不把目光转向床铺。457
Last year, when his master’s aunt had tried her best to match Giogi with Minda Lluth, Thomas had not approved.去年，主人的姑母竭力想撮合乔吉和明达·卢斯时，托马斯并不赞成。458
The lady had been far too frivolous, but at least she had been a lady.那位小姐实在太过轻浮，但至少还是位淑女。459
He wasn’t sure where he would classify this Cat person, but he knew ladies did not sit on gentleman’s beds, wrapped in nothing but bed sheets.他不知道该把这个叫凯特的人归到哪一类，但他知道，淑女绝不会只裹着床单坐在绅士的床上。460
“I’m afraid these boots may be beyond cleaning, sir,” Thomas reported, trying to sound regretful about it.“恐怕这双靴子已经没法清理了，先生。”托马斯禀报道，努力让自己的语气听起来颇为惋惜。461
“Oh, no. We can’t lose the boots,” Cat said with mock alarm.“哦，不。我们可不能失去这双靴子。”凯特故作惊慌地说。462
She jumped from the bed and took the clodders from Thomas.她从床上跳下来，从托马斯手中接过那双笨重的靴子。463
She set them down before the fireplace and whispered an incantation.她把靴子放到壁炉前，低声念了一句咒语。464
A small whirlwind of steam began to rise from inside each boot and danced up the flue.一小股蒸汽旋风开始从每只靴子里升起，打着旋儿钻进了烟道。465
After a minute, the steam dissipated.一分钟后，蒸汽消散了。466
Cat brought them to Giogi’s bedside.凯特把靴子拿到乔吉床边。467
“There you are, Master Giogioni.“好了，乔吉奥尼少爷。468
As good as new.”跟新的一样。”469
“I say.“哎呀。470
What a neat trick.这招真妙。471
Wasn’t that a neat trick, Thomas?”这招是不是很妙，托马斯？”472
“Most entertaining, sir,” Thomas replied coolly, holding the other soaked articles.“非常有趣，先生。”托马斯冷淡地答道，手里还拿着其他湿透的衣物。473
“I’ve been keeping dinner warm.“我一直给晚餐保着温。474
Will you be down to dine shortly, sir, or shall I bring up trays?”您二位很快会下楼用餐吗，先生，还是要我把餐盘端上来？”475
Something in Thomas’s tone warned Giogi that it would be unwise to choose the more amusing course.托马斯的语气中有某种意味，提醒乔吉，选择那个更有趣的办法并不明智。476
“We will be down as soon as we’ve dressed,” the nobleman replied, trying to sound cool and undaunted by his servant’s disapproval.“我们穿好衣服就下去。”这位贵族答道，努力让自己的语气显得镇定自若，不为仆人的不满所动。477
“Very good, sir.”“很好，先生。”478
Thomas bowed and exited.托马斯鞠了一躬，退了出去。479
“Trays would have been just fine with me,” Cat said.“其实让他把餐盘端上来，我也完全没意见。”凯特说。480
“Perhaps, but not with Thomas.“也许吧，可托马斯在就不行。481
Dinner tends to be formal when we have guests.家里有客人时，晚餐通常都很正式。482
We’ll have to do him proud and dress to the nines, or he’ll be—disappointed.”我们得好好给他长长脸，打扮得漂漂亮亮的，不然他会——失望的。”483
Cat looked down at the carpeting.凯特低头看着地毯。484
“I washed out my robes, but they’re still wet.“我的法袍洗过了，可现在还没干。485
I’m afraid they didn’t get too clean in any case.”而且恐怕怎么也没洗干净。”486
Giogi struck his forehead with the palm of his hand.乔吉一巴掌拍在自己额头上。487
“Oh, of course.“哦，当然了。488
Forgive me.请原谅。489
I should have thought of it before.我早该想到的。490
We’ll dig something up from the chest in the lilac room.”我们去淡紫色房间的衣箱里找点东西出来。”491
Giogi picked up a lamp and led his guest out into the hall.乔吉拿起一盏灯，领着客人走进门厅。492
He opened the door to the lilac room.他打开了淡紫色房间的门。493
“How lovely,” the mage whispered, stepping inside.“真美啊。”女法师轻声说道，迈步走了进去。494
She ran her fingers along the delicate silk wall hangings, the crepe bed curtains, the intricately carved dressing table, and the mother-of-pearl jewelry box.她用手指轻轻抚过精致的丝绸壁饰、绉纱床帘、雕工繁复的梳妆台和镶嵌着珍珠母的首饰盒。495
“This was your mother’s room, wasn’t it?” she whispered.“这是你母亲的房间，对吗？”她低声问道。496
“Yes.“是的。497
Do you like it?”你喜欢吗？”498
Giogi asked hopefully.乔吉满怀期待地问。499
“I’ve never seen any place so lovely,” Cat said softly.“我从没见过这么美的地方。”凯特轻声说道。500
“Thomas thought you might be more comfortable in the red room for some reason.“不知为什么，托马斯觉得你住在红色房间里可能会更舒服。501
Shall I tell him to light a fire and turn down this bed for you, instead?”要不我让他来这里生上火，再替你铺好床？”502
Giogi offered.乔吉提议道。503
“Oh, you needn’t bother him about it.“哦，不必为这事麻烦他。504
I can do that myself,” Cat insisted.我自己能做。”凯特坚持道。505
“All right, then.“好吧，那就这样。506
There are scads of pretty things in that chest there.那边那只箱子里有好多漂亮东西。507
Several years out of fashion, I’m afraid.”不过恐怕都过时好几年了。”508
“I’m sure it’s all perfect,” Cat said, smiling gratefully at the young nobleman.“我相信样样都很合适。”凯特说着，感激地朝那位年轻贵族微笑。509
“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Giogi said, backing out of the room.“那我就留你自己挑吧。”乔吉说着，倒退着出了房间。510
He returned to his own room to dress.他回到自己的房间更衣。511
Pulling on his breeches, he caught sight of his bare-chested reflection in the leaded window glass.他穿上马裤时，无意间从铅条镶嵌的窗玻璃上瞥见了自己赤裸上身的倒影。512
The nobleman posed menacingly, half shutting his eyes, trying to imagine campfires burning instead of a cozy fireplace, and nervous horses staked to ropes instead of comfortable chairs.这位贵族眯起双眼，摆出一副凶悍的架势，竭力想象眼前燃烧的不是温暖舒适的壁炉，而是野外的篝火；旁边也不是舒适的椅子，而是拴在绳索上焦躁不安的马匹。513
At length he grimaced and turned away.过了好一会儿，他才做了个鬼脸，转过身去。514
“I do look like a sailor,” he said with a sigh.“我的确像个水手。”他叹了口气说。515
He tugged the window drapes closed to avoid catching another glimpse of his scrawny, unheroic figure.他使劲拉拢窗帘，免得再瞥见自己那副瘦弱而毫无英雄气概的身板。516
Had Giogi looked out the window instead of at his reflection, he would have seen two furtive figures slipping into his carriage house.倘若乔吉望向窗外，而不是盯着自己的倒影，他就会看见两个鬼鬼祟祟的身影溜进他的马车房。517
The young noble’s mind was on his wardrobe, though, and far from the machinations of his relatives.然而，这位年轻贵族满脑子想的都是自己的衣着，丝毫没有察觉亲戚们的阴谋算计。518