Thomas knocked and entered the parlor.托马斯敲了敲门，走进客厅。1
“Breakfast is ready, sir.“早餐准备好了，先生。2
Shall I set an extra place for Mistress Ruskettle?”要不要给拉斯凯特尔夫人多摆一套餐具？”3
“Oh,” Giogi said, turning from Thomas to Olive.“哦，”乔吉说着，把目光从托马斯转向奥利芙。4
“Would you do us the honor of joining us?” he asked.“不知您是否肯赏光，与我们一同用餐？”他问道。5
“That would be most convenient,” Olive replied.“那再方便不过了，”奥利芙答道。6
“We have much to discuss.”“我们有许多事情要谈。”7
Another breakfast couldn’t hurt, she thought.再吃一顿早餐也无妨，她心想。8
It’ll be different, at any rate, from eating all that hay and grain he’s fed me.不管怎么说，总比吃他喂我的那些干草和谷物强。9
“Yes, Thomas.“好的，托马斯。10
Three for breakfast,” Giogi replied.早餐准备三人份，”乔吉答道。11
The nobleman stood and offered Cat his hand.这位贵族站起身，向凯特伸出手。12
After the mage rose to her feet, however, Giogi ushered her ahead and waited for Olive to rise.然而，等这位法师站起来后，乔吉却让她先行，自己留下来等奥利芙起身。13
He could hardly offer the halfling his arm, as she didn’t stand any higher than his hip, but he walked beside her to the dining room.他没法请半身人挽住自己的手臂，毕竟她还没有他的胯部高，于是便陪她并肩走向餐厅。14
As Olive and Giogi followed Cat to breakfast, the halfling could sense Cat’s displeasure.奥利芙和乔吉跟在凯特身后去吃早餐时，奥利芙能感觉到凯特的不快。15
Again she reminded Olive of the sorceress Cassana.凯特再一次令奥利芙想起了女术士卡萨娜。16
Cassana never could stand any competition, no matter how small.卡萨娜从来容不得任何竞争者，无论对方多么微不足道。17
Thomas set out a high chair for Olive at Giogi’s right hand, leaving an ordinary chair for Cat on his master’s left.托马斯在乔吉右手边为奥利芙摆了一把高脚椅，又在主人左手边给凯特留了一把普通椅子。18
The servant was heartened to see that the unusually serious halfling had an appetite comparable to all the other halflings he had ever known.看到这个异常严肃的半身人食欲之佳，足以媲美他认识的其他所有半身人，仆人颇感欣慰。19
Her conversation topics, however, were most disturbing.然而，她谈论的话题却令人极为不安。20
Giogioni listened with unusual attentiveness to his new guest.乔吉奥尼聚精会神地听着这位新客人说话，专注得异乎寻常。21
It seemed to Thomas that his master was disturbed as well, though not completely by the halfling’s talk.在托马斯看来，他的主人似乎也感到不安，只不过并不全是因为这个半身人所说的话。22
The servant couldn’t help but notice that Giogi’s attitude toward the mage had turned considerably cooler.仆人不由得注意到，乔吉对那位法师的态度冷淡了许多。23
Thomas wished he’d had the opportunity to put an ear to the parlor door so he could know what had happened between them.托马斯真希望自己当时有机会把耳朵贴在客厅门上，好弄清楚他们之间究竟发生了什么。24
“We will need the help of others of talent and power,” Olive explained as she reached for two breakfast rolls and smeared a tablespoon of butter on each.“我们需要其他有才干、有力量的人相助。”奥利芙解释道，同时伸手拿了两个早餐小面包，在每个上面抹了一大汤匙黄油。25
“I will leave it to you to choose persons you feel you can trust with the knowledge of Flattery.”“由你来挑选那些你认为可以信任、可以让他们知道弗拉特里之事的人。”26
Olive bit off half a roll.奥利芙一口咬掉了半个面包。27
Giogi thought for a moment.乔吉想了片刻。28
“I was going to visit Mother Lleddew today.“我今天本来打算去拜访莱杜嬷嬷。29
I don’t know how I will be received exactly, but I’m sure I can trust her with a family secret.我不知道她究竟会如何接待我，但我相信，可以把这个家族秘密告诉她。30
She once was a companion of my father.”她曾是我父亲的伴侣。”31
“Mother Lleddew,” Olive muttered through a full mouth.“莱杜嬷嬷。”奥利芙嘴里塞得满满的，含混地念叨道。32
She chewed rapidly and swallowed.她飞快地嚼了几下，咽了下去。33
“Mother Lleddew,” she repeated.“莱杜嬷嬷，”她又说了一遍。34
“Priestess of Selune, isn’t she?“她是塞露恩的女祭司，对吧？35
Has quite a reputation.听说她名气很大。36
If you’re willing to trust her, I’m sure she’ll be most useful.既然你愿意信任她，我相信她一定能帮上大忙。37
“There is something else you might consider, Master Giogioni,” Olive said, dabbing a stream of butter from her chin.“还有一件事，你或许可以考虑一下，乔吉奥尼少爷。”奥利芙一边说，一边轻轻擦去从下巴上淌下来的一道黄油。38
“It may be unseemly to bring it up so soon after your uncle’s demise, but did he possess any magical items we could use?”“你叔叔刚去世不久，这么快提起这件事或许不太合适，但他有没有留下什么我们能用的魔法物品？”39
“I don’t know,” Giogi admitted.“我不知道。”乔吉坦言道。40
“I was going to search through his lab for his journal this morning.“我今天早上本来打算去他的实验室里找找他的日志。41
I wouldn’t really know what to look for, though, when it comes to magical items.”不过说到魔法物品，我其实根本不知道该找些什么。”42
“Mistress Cat would be able to aid you in that respect, surely,” Olive said as she plopped five sugar cubes into her tea.“在这方面，凯特小姐肯定能帮上你的忙。”奥利芙说着，扑通扑通往茶里扔了五块方糖。43
“I had hoped to keep her hidden from Flattery’s sight,” Giogi explained without looking in Cat’s direction.“我原本希望不让弗拉特里发现她。”乔吉解释道，没有朝凯特的方向看。44
The enchantress, who had remained silent until now, reminded her protector, “It may be too late for that.”一直沉默至今的女魔法师提醒自己的保护者：“现在恐怕已经太迟了。”45
Then she looked into her lap to avoid Giogi’s eyes.随后她垂眼望向膝头，避开了乔吉的目光。46
Olive looked up in surprise.奥利芙惊讶地抬起头。47
Are we to get a confession now? she wondered, thinking that Cat was about to admit to having contacted Flattery the day before.现在这是要坦白了吗？她心想，以为凯特马上就要承认自己前一天曾联系过弗拉特里。48
“Oh, yes.“哦，对。49
I’d forgotten,” Giogi said, his forehead furrowed.我都忘了，”乔吉皱着眉头说道。50
“Forgotten what?”“忘了什么？”51
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。52
“Late last night, someone broke in and attacked Mistress Cat.“昨晚深夜，有人闯了进来，袭击了凯特女士。53
Fortunately, she managed to raise an alarm, and her attacker fled.”幸好她及时发出了警报，袭击者逃走了。”54
“I thought it was my master, Flattery,” Cat explained, still not looking up.“我原以为是我的主人弗拉特里，”凯特解释道，依然没有抬头。55
“It looked like him in the moonlight, but I don’t think Flattery would have tried to smother me in my bed.”“月光下，那人看起来很像他，但我不认为弗拉特里会想趁我躺在床上时把我闷死。”56
“No. I can’t see the wizard who disintegrated Jade relying on down pillows,” Olive agreed.“没错。我可不觉得那个把杰德化为灰烬的法师会靠羽绒枕头来杀人，”奥利芙赞同道。57
There was a clatter of silverware on oak at the far end of the table.桌子远端传来银餐具撞上橡木桌面的哗啦声。58
All three diners looked up suddenly at the noise.三个正在用餐的人听到响声，全都猛地抬起头来。59
Giogi’s manservant was looking at the halfling, temporarily oblivious to the disturbance he’d just created by dropping a pile of flatware on the table.乔吉的男仆正望着那个半身人，一时间浑然不觉自己刚把一堆餐具掉在桌上，弄出了这么大的动静。60
“Thomas, is something wrong?”“托马斯，出什么事了吗？”61
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。62
“Excuse me, Mistress Ruskettle,” the servant said, looking pale and stricken, “but did I hear you just say someone had been … disintegrated … by this Flattery person?”“请原谅，拉斯凯特尔女士，”仆人脸色苍白，神情惊惶地说道，“我刚才是不是听您说，有人被……这个叫弗拉特里的人……化为了灰烬？”63
Olive held her ham-laden fork suspended in midair.奥利芙手里那把叉着火腿的叉子停在了半空中。64
“Yes, Thomas,” she answered.“是的，托马斯，”她答道。65
“My partner, Jade More.“我的搭档，杰德·莫尔。66
Two nights ago.两天前的晚上。67
Why?”怎么了？”68
“Forgive my interruption, sir,” Thomas addressed Giogi, “but, um, I understand from the servants up in Redstone that nothing was found of your Uncle Drone, save a pile of ash, his robes, and hat.”“先生，请原谅我插嘴，”托马斯对乔吉说道，“不过，呃，我从红石那边的仆人那里听说，您的德罗恩叔叔什么也没留下，只有一堆灰烬，以及他的长袍和帽子。”69
Giogi tapped his forehead with the flat of his palm.乔吉用掌心拍了拍额头。70
“Sweet Selune.“亲爱的塞露恩啊。71
You’re right.你说得对。72
It looks as if this Flattery could be responsible for the death of my Uncle Drone as well.看来这个弗拉特里或许也该为我德罗恩叔叔的死负责。73
Good thought, Thomas.”想得好，托马斯。”74
Thomas did not hear the compliment however.然而，托马斯并没有听见这句夸奖。75
He’d bolted for the kitchen.他已经冲向了厨房。76
“Why should Flattery kill your Uncle Drone?”“弗拉特里为什么要杀你德罗恩叔叔？”77
Cat asked.凯特问道。78
“I would think it’s obvious,” Olive answered her.“我以为这很明显，”奥利芙回答她。79
“Flattery sends you in after the spur.“弗拉特里派你进去取那枚马刺。80
You don’t come back right away.你没有马上回来。81
He must presume you’re in trouble.他肯定以为你遇到了麻烦。82
Remember, later that evening, when he mistook my partner for you, he said, ‘you’ve escaped, and now you try to steal what you have not earned.’还记得那天晚上晚些时候，他把我的搭档错认成你时，说过：‘你逃了出来，现在又想偷走你并未凭本事挣得的东西。’83
He may have assumed you’d been captured by Drone—”他或许以为你被德罗恩抓住了——”84
“That’s possible,” Cat admitted, softly.“有这个可能，”凯特轻声承认道。85
“Flattery told me he would not be able to watch me with his scrying crystal because the catacombs and crypt were proofed against magical eyes.”“弗拉特里告诉我，地下墓穴和墓室设有防止魔法窥探的屏障，所以他无法用占卜水晶监视我。”86
“Uncle Drone had them shielded from magical sight from all but himself,” Giogi added, “and even he had trouble looking into the crypt after the robbery.”“德罗恩叔叔屏蔽了所有人的魔法视线，只有他自己能看见里面，”乔吉补充道，“可就连他，在失窃之后也很难窥见墓室里的情形。”87
Not that either of them would have been able to spot Cat, Olive thought to herself.不过，奥利芙暗想，反正他们两个谁也不可能发现凯特。88
Like Alias and Jade, Cat must be proofed against magical detection and scrying.凯特一定和阿莉亚丝、杰德一样，不会被魔法探测和占卜发现。89
It seems, though, that Flattery has never told her.不过，看来弗拉特里从未告诉过她。90
He wouldn’t want her to think she could hide from him.他不愿让她觉得自己能躲过他的耳目。91
“Mistress Ruskettle, you were saying,” Giogi prompted Olive out of her reverie.“拉斯凯特尔女士，您刚才说到……”乔吉出声提醒，将奥利芙从沉思中唤了回来。92
“Anyway,” Olive continued aloud, “when Flattery sees Jade later that evening, he assumes you’ve escaped, and, thinking you have just picked his pocket, he believes you have betrayed him and he slays Jade, mistaking her for you.“总之，”奥利芙继续说道，“那天晚上晚些时候，弗拉特里见到杰德时，以为你已经逃走了；又以为你刚刚扒了他的口袋，便认定你背叛了他，于是把杰德错当成你，杀了她。93
Like the witness to Jade’s murder, namely myself, who he did try to kill, Drone is a loose end.和杰德遇害的目击者——也就是我，弗拉特里的确曾想杀我灭口——一样，德罗恩也是个必须除掉的隐患。94
Drone may have interrogated you and learned all about him.德罗恩或许审问过你，从你口中得知了关于弗拉特里的一切。95
Also, Flattery would not have given up his quest for the spur.而且，弗拉特里也不会放弃寻找那枚马刺。96
Drone might have taken the spur from you and have it in his lab, where it would be easy to get.德罗恩可能从你手里拿走了马刺，藏在他的实验室里，那样的话，取走它轻而易举。97
If the spur was still safe in the crypt, Flattery could have stolen Drone’s key before killing him.”如果马刺还安然放在墓室里，弗拉特里也可以先偷走德罗恩的钥匙，再杀了他。”98
“But I never had the spur, never even saw it.“可我从来没拿到过那枚马刺，甚至连见都没见过。99
It wasn’t in the crypt when I got there,” Cat protested, some of her old spirit returning to her voice.我到墓室时，它根本不在里面。”凯特反驳道，声音里又恢复了几分往日的神气。100
“Someone else had stolen it.”“是别人把它偷走了。”101
“Ah,” Olive said, “but Flattery couldn’t see into the crypt, so he couldn’t know that, unless he looked for himself.“啊，”奥利芙说，“可弗拉特里看不见墓室里面，所以除非他亲自进去查看，否则不可能知道这一点。102
Later in the day, after he’d already destroyed Drone, Flattery would have discovered that someone had been successful at stealing the spur.”那天晚些时候，在已经除掉德罗恩之后，弗拉特里才会发现，有人成功偷走了马刺。”103
“Yes,” Giogi said guiltily.“是的。”乔吉心虚地说。104
“It does seem to have gotten out.”“看来它的确被人拿出来了。”105
Cat, Olive noticed, stirred uncomfortably in her seat.奥利芙注意到，凯特在座位上不自在地动了动。106
As well she should, since she was the culprit, the halfling thought.她当然该不自在，因为罪魁祸首就是她，半身人心想。107
“And somehow,” Olive said, pointing a spoonful of eggs at Cat, “Flattery’s found out you’re still alive and at large.”“而且不知怎么回事，”奥利芙一边说，一边用盛着一勺鸡蛋的勺子指着凯特，“弗拉特里已经发现你还活着，而且仍在外面逍遥自在。”108
“I told you he has a scrying ball,” Cat said.“我告诉过你，他有一颗占卜水晶球。”凯特说。109
“If he thought you were dead, he wouldn’t have been scrying for you,” Olive pointed out.“要是他以为你死了，就不会用占卜术找你。”奥利芙指出。110
She hoped Cat would realize that if she hadn’t been stupid enough to contact Flattery yesterday, he’d probably be pretty much in the dark.她希望凯特能明白，要不是她昨天蠢到主动联系弗拉特里，他现在多半还被蒙在鼓里。111
Too bad the mage hadn’t known that Flattery can’t scry for her at all.可惜这位法师并不知道，弗拉特里根本无法窥探她。112
At least we can use that to our advantage, Olive thought.至少我们可以利用这一点，奥利芙心想。113
“In any event, Flattery discovers you’re still alive,” Olive continued, explaining to Cat, “and learns that you’ve taken refuge here.“无论如何，弗拉特里发现你还活着，”奥利芙继续向凯特解释道，“还得知你躲到了这里。114
It may look to him as if you’ve got the spur, and you’re negotiating to return it to Master Giogioni.在他看来，可能会以为马刺在你手上，而你正在与乔吉奥尼少爷谈判，准备把它还给他。115
So he sends a flunkie after you.所以他派了个走狗来追杀你。116
I presume he has flunkies?”我想他手下应该有走狗吧？”117
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。118
Cat nodded.凯特点了点头。119
She looked very confused, though, and Olive could tell she’d planted the seed of doubt in the woman’s head.不过她显得十分困惑，奥利芙看得出，自己已经在这个女人心里种下了怀疑的种子。120
“Master Giogioni, I believe it is probably safer for Mistress Cat to remain with us wherever we go,” Olive concluded.“乔吉奥尼少爷，我认为无论我们去哪里，让凯特小姐跟我们待在一起或许都更安全，”奥利芙总结道。121
“We will no doubt profit from her expertise as well.”而且，她的专长无疑也会让我们受益。”122
“You asked yesterday if you could come with me,” Giogi said to Cat.“你昨天问过能不能跟我一起走，”乔吉对凯特说。123
“I guess you’ll get your chance.“看来你有这个机会了。124
Thomas!” the young noble called out, ringing a small silver bell beside his plate.托马斯！”年轻的贵族一边喊，一边摇响了餐盘旁的一只小银铃。125
Thomas, looking pale, appeared at the doorway to Servant Land.脸色苍白的托马斯出现在通往仆役区的门口。126
“Yes, sir?” he asked.“是，少爷？”他问。127
“After breakfast, the ladies and I will be riding up to Redstone and then to the Temple of Selune.“早餐后，我要和两位女士乘车前往红石，然后再去塞露恩神殿。128
Would you please harness Daisyeye to the buggy?”请你把雏菊眼套上马车，好吗？”129
“Yes, sir,” Thomas said, fading back through the doorway.“是，少爷。”托马斯说着，悄然退回了门后。130
Olive downed her breakfast with relish, except the oatmeal.除了燕麦粥，奥利芙兴致勃勃地把早餐一扫而光。131
She didn’t quite have the stomach for that.她实在吃不下那东西。132
The two humans poked their food around their plates in silence, though.不过，另外两个人类只是默不作声地用餐具拨弄着盘中的食物。133
Olive could understand Cat not being very hungry.奥利芙能理解凯特为什么没什么胃口。134
She’d just lost her place in the sun. Giogi’s loss of appetite worried Olive more.她刚刚失去了自己在阳光下的一席之地。乔吉食欲不振却更让奥利芙担心。135
She needed him to be alert and enthusiastic.她需要他保持警觉，干劲十足。136
Olive was just finishing her third pot of tea when Thomas, looking distraught as well as pale, returned to the dining room.奥利芙刚喝完第三壶茶，托马斯便回到了餐厅；他不仅脸色苍白，神情也十分惶急。137
“It appears we’ve had some vandalism in the carriage house, sir,” he informed Giogi in a tight, level voice.“看来马车房遭到了破坏，少爷。”他用紧绷而平板的声音向乔吉禀报道。138
“The deuce you say,” Giogi replied, rising with alarm.“见鬼，你说什么，”乔吉惊慌地站起身来答道。139
“Not the animals?”“不是那些牲口吧？”140
“Daisyeye appears to be unaffected.“雏菊眼似乎没受影响。141
The buggy is damaged, though, sir, and it appears someone started a fire but extinguished it before it did much damage.”不过马车坏了，先生，而且似乎有人放了把火，但在造成太大损失之前又把火扑灭了。”142
“What about Birdie?”“那小鸟儿呢？”143
“Birdie, sir?”“小鸟儿，先生？”144
“The burro.“就是那头小毛驴。145
I named it Birdie.我给它取名叫小鸟儿。146
Did it have another name already?”它原来已经有名字了吗？”147
“Uh …”“呃……”148
Thomas looked like a man whose ordered life had been disrupted by a visit to another plane.托马斯看起来就像一个井然有序的生活因造访另一个位面而被彻底打乱的人。149
“What burro, sir?” he asked with confusion.“什么小毛驴，先生？”他困惑地问道。150
“The one I took into the catacombs yesterday.”“就是我昨天带进地下墓穴的那头。”151
“Oh, yes.“哦，对。152
You mentioned a burro, I recall.我记得您提到过一头小毛驴。153
Did you rent the burro from a local stable, sir?”先生，那头小毛驴是您从当地的马厩租来的吗？”154
“Did I—?“我租——？155
I thought you bought the burro for me, Thomas.”我还以为是你给我买的呢，托马斯。”156
Giogi replied.乔吉答道。157
“I, sir?“我吗，先生？158
No, sir.不是，先生。159
Why would I buy a burro for you, sir?”我为什么要给您买一头小毛驴呢，先生？”160
“Look here, Thomas.“听着，托马斯。161
If you didn’t buy the burro, what was it doing in my garden the night before last eating my roses?”如果那头小毛驴不是你买的，那前天晚上它为什么会在我的花园里吃我的玫瑰？”162
Giogi demanded.乔吉追问道。163
“It’s only Ches, sir.“现在才切斯月，先生。164
Barely spring.刚刚开春。165
There aren’t any roses in bloom yet,” Thomas pointed out.玫瑰还没开呢，”托马斯指出。166
“Eating my roses was only a figure of speech, Thomas,” Giogi said sternly.“说它吃了我的玫瑰不过是一种修辞，托马斯，”乔吉严厉地说。167
Then he sighed.随后他叹了口气。168
“Please, send down to Dzulas’s Stables for a carriage and four while I go search for the burro.“劳驾，派人去朱拉斯马厩要一辆四马马车，我去找那头驴。169
Perhaps you ladies would care to wait in the parlor while we get this straightened out,” Giogi suggested.我们把这件事处理妥当之前，或许两位女士愿意去客厅等候？”乔吉提议道。170
“Poor little Birdie,” the nobleman murmured as he followed Thomas from the room.“可怜的小鸟儿，”那位贵族跟着托马斯走出房间时低声说道。171
“She must be scared out of her mind.”“她一定吓坏了。”172
Cat rose from her chair.凯特从椅子上站起身来。173
“If you would excuse me, Mistress Ruskettle,” she said, “I should take advantage of this delay to study my spells further.“请容我告退，拉斯凯特尔女士，”她说，“我想趁这段耽搁的时间再钻研一下我的法术。174
If we are going to a wizard’s tower—”如果我们要去一座巫师塔——”175
“Sit back down, if you please, Mistress Cat,” Olive interrupted.“请坐回去，凯特女士，”奥利芙打断了她。176
“I need to speak with you.”“我有话要对你说。”177
Cat hesitated for a moment, but she seemed to think better of offending this strange halfling that Giogioni held in such high regard.凯特犹豫了片刻，但她似乎转念一想，还是不要得罪这个深受乔吉奥尼器重的古怪半身人为好。178
She returned to her chair.她回到了自己的椅子上。179
“As I understand scrying crystals, the distance between the observer and subject is no obstacle, correct?”“据我对探知水晶的了解，观察者与目标之间的距离并不构成障碍，对吗？”180
“Essentially,” Cat said with a nod.“基本如此，”凯特点头说道。181
“But the knowledge the viewer has of the subject makes a big difference, doesn’t it?”“但观察者对目标的了解程度会造成很大差别，不是吗？”182
“Yes.”“是的。”183
“Persons not known are actually very difficult to locate, and the time they can be spied upon is much reduced, right?”“实际上，要找到不认识的人非常困难，而且能窥探他们的时间也会大幅缩短，对吧？”184
Cat nodded curtly.凯特冷淡地点了点头。185
“You seem well versed on the topic, Mistress Ruskettle.“看来您对这方面相当精通，拉斯凯特尔女士。186
I do not think you need my advice on the matter.”我想此事并不需要我的建议。”187
“No, I don’t. I needed to be sure you were well versed on the topic.“不，我不需要。我只是得确认你对这方面确实很精通。188
Based on what we have just established, who is in the most danger of being scried by your master?”根据我们刚才确定的情况，谁最有可能被你的主人用探知术窥探？”189
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。190
Cat took a deep breath.凯特深吸了一口气。191
“Myself,” she said at last.“是我。”她终于说道。192
“Exactly.“没错。193
So you are the one we need to protect the most.所以，我们最需要保护的人就是你。194
If he can’t spy on you, he is unlikely to discover the doings of Master Giogioni and myself.如果他无法窥探你，就不太可能发现乔吉奥尼大师和我在做什么。195
I have something for you.”我有件东西要给你。”196
Olive reached into the pocket of her skirt and drew out Jade’s magic pouch.奥利芙把手伸进裙子的口袋，掏出了杰德的魔法袋。197
She undid the laces and felt around inside for the “amulet.”她解开系带，在里面摸索着寻找那枚“护身符”。198
Stern-faced, Olive drew it out.奥利芙神情严肃地将它取了出来。199
She laid the object, still tied up in the purple silk scarf, on the table between herself and the mage, as if presenting an ancient artifact.她把那件仍裹在紫色丝巾里的东西放在自己和法师之间的桌面上，仿佛在展示一件古老的神器。200
“What is it?”“这是什么？”201
Cat asked, reaching over for it.凯特问着，伸手去拿。202
“An amulet to protect against detection and scrying.“一枚能防止被侦测和窥探的护身符。203
A very powerful one.”威力非常强大。”204
Cat began unknotting the scarf.凯特开始解丝巾上的结。205
“No!“不！206
Don’t unwrap it!”别把它打开！”207
Olive warned.奥利芙警告道。208
“The magic is so strong, it must remain covered.“它的魔力太强了，必须一直包着。209
The last person that tried to look at it went blind and mad.上一个试图看它的人又瞎又疯。210
Just keep it with you at all times.”你只要时时刻刻把它带在身上就行。”211
“That’s very generous of you, Mistress Ruskettle,” Cat said with surprise, slipping the amulet into her skirt pocket.“您真是太慷慨了，拉斯凯特尔女士。”凯特惊讶地说道，同时把护身符塞进了裙子的口袋。212
“Well, yes.“嗯，是的。213
It’s just a loan until we complete this mission.不过只是借给你，等我们完成这次任务就要还我。214
Try not to lose it.尽量别弄丢了。215
Elminster would never forgive me.”不然伊尔明斯特绝不会原谅我。”216
“Who is Elminster?”“伊尔明斯特是谁？”217
Cat asked.凯特问道。218
Olive’s eyebrows shot up.奥利芙的眉毛一下子扬了起来。219
“Elminster.“伊尔明斯特。220
The Elminster.就是那位伊尔明斯特。221
Elminster, the sage.贤者伊尔明斯特。222
I hadn’t realized people from Ordulin were so isolated.我还真不知道奥杜林人竟然这么闭塞。223
Elminster is …伊尔明斯特是……224
Ask anyone.随便找个人问问吧。225
I have another question for you.我还有一个问题要问你。226
You were going after the spur for Flattery.你是替弗拉特里去找那枚马刺的。227
What was Flattery going to give you in return for the spur?”作为交换，弗拉特里打算给你什么？”228
“Nothing,” Cat replied, a little too quickly, Olive thought.“什么也不给。”凯特答道；奥利芙觉得，她答得未免太快了一点。229
“He said to Jade before he killed her, ‘Now you try to steal what you have not earned.’“他杀死杰德之前对她说：‘现在你又想偷走并非凭自己本事得来的东西。’230
Was he paying you for the job?”他付钱雇你做这件事吗？”231
“No. He was my master.“不。他是我的导师。232
I did as he bade me without expectation of any reward.我遵照他的吩咐行事，并不期待任何回报。233
That is the normal way with apprentices and masters.”学徒与导师之间通常就是如此。”234
“You’re a little old to be an apprentice.“你这年纪做学徒，似乎大了点。235
Why else does one mage work for another?一个法师还能为什么替另一个法师办事？236
Has he promised to teach you some special spells or offered you a particular magic item?”他有没有答应教你某些特殊的法术，或者给你某件特定的魔法物品？”237
“What does it matter now that I’ve left him?”“我都已经离开他了，现在还有什么要紧的？”238
Cat asked archly.凯特狡黠地问道。239
“Well, when we defeat him, his estate is up for grabs, so to speak.“这个嘛，等我们打败他之后，他的财产可以说是谁都能拿。240
If there was something particular you were interested in, it would be yours as far as I’m concerned.如果你对某件东西特别感兴趣，那在我看来，尽管归你就是。241
Providing, of course, that Flattery still has the item.”当然，前提是那件东西还在弗拉特里手里。”242
“What do you mean?”“你这是什么意思？”243
Cat asked with confusion.凯特困惑地问道。244
“Well, there was that crystal I mentioned, the one as big as my fist and as dark as a new moon, the one Jade lifted from Flattery’s pocket.“这个嘛，我提到过的那颗水晶——有我的拳头那么大，像新月之夜一样漆黑，就是杰德从弗拉特里口袋里顺走的那颗。245
I’m afraid that’s something you’ll have to forget,” the halfling said.恐怕你得把那东西忘了，”半身人说道。246
“Jade was holding it when Flattery disintegrated her.弗拉特里把杰德化为飞灰时，那颗水晶正拿在她手里。247
Whatever it was, gem or magic, it’s destroyed.不管那是什么，是宝石也好，魔法物品也罢，都已经毁了。248
Of course, that also means he can’t use it against us.”当然，这也意味着他没法用它来对付我们了。”249
“Well, that’s very interesting, Mistress Ruskettle,” Cat said, trying to appear aloof, “but my master—Flattery, I mean—had many unusual items.“嗯，这倒很有意思，拉斯凯特尔女士，”凯特说道，竭力摆出一副漠不关心的样子，“不过我的主人——我是说弗拉特里——有许多非同寻常的物品。250
One more or less could hardly matter to his power.”多一件少一件，应该根本不会影响他的力量。”251
The woman fidgeted.那女人坐立不安起来。252
“Except the spur,” Olive countered, “or he wouldn’t be so anxious to get it.“可马刺不一样，”奥利芙反驳道，“否则他不会那么急着想把它弄到手。253
I wasn’t talking about Flattery’s power, though.不过，我说的并不是弗拉特里的力量。254
I was discussing why you became his servant in the first place.我是在探究你当初为什么会成为他的仆人。255
I thought this crystal might have had something to do with it, since, when he mistook Jade for you and killed her, Flattery accused her of trying to steal what she had not earned.”我以为这颗水晶或许与此有关，因为他把杰德错认成你并杀死她时，曾指责她企图偷走自己不配得到的东西。”256
“I don’t know what Flattery meant.“我不知道弗拉特里是什么意思。257
I’m sorry.抱歉。258
I really must go study my spells,” the mage said, rising from the table.我真的必须去研习法术了，”法师说着，从桌旁站起身来。259
“Please ask Thomas to call for me when the carriage arrives.”“马车到了以后，请让托马斯来叫我。”260
Olive sighed as Cat hurried from the room.凯特匆匆离开房间时，奥利芙叹了口气。261
Most people would have given you enough rope to hang yourself, girl, the halfling thought.姑娘，大多数人都会给你足够长的绳子，让你把自己吊死，半身人心想。262
I’m just trying to take a few lengths away as a favor to you—and so Giogi and I aren’t caught in the noose with you.我只是想帮你收走几截——也免得我和乔吉跟你一起被套进绞索。263
Thomas re-entered the dining room with a tray to clear the table.托马斯端着托盘重新走进餐厅，准备收拾桌子。264
“Excuse me, ma’am.“对不起，夫人。265
I thought you were finished—”我以为您已经用完了——”266
“Oh, I am, Thomas.“哦，我是用完了，托马斯。267
Don’t mind me,” Olive said, waving her hands over the table to indicate he was welcome to continue with his duties.不用管我，”奥利芙说着，朝桌上挥了挥手，示意他尽管继续做自己的事。268
“You’ve sent for the carriage, Thomas?” she asked.“你已经派人去叫马车了吧，托马斯？”她问。269
“Yes, ma’am.”“是的，夫人。”270
“How long will it take, do you think?”“你觉得要等多久？”271
“That all depends on how soon Mister Dzulas is willing to rent a carriage today,” the servant explained as he began scraping food scraps into a bowl.“那得看祖拉斯先生今天多久才肯出租马车了，”仆人一边解释，一边开始把残羹刮进一只碗里。272
“The roads are still very icy this morning, and Mister Dzulas is very attached to his animals and equipment.“今天早上道路仍然结冰严重，而祖拉斯先生又非常爱惜他的牲口和车具。273
He’ll wait until the sun has had a chance to warm the streets some more.他会等太阳把街道再晒暖一些。274
Less than an hour, I’d say.”我想用不了一个小时。”275
Olive nodded as Thomas stacked the saucers on top of the dishes.托马斯把茶碟摞到餐盘上时，奥利芙点了点头。276
“Last night, Thomas, did Mistress Cat’s attacker enter her room directly, do you know, or come in from another part of the house and have to search for her?”“托马斯，昨晚袭击凯特小姐的人是直接进了她的房间，你知道吗？还是从宅子的其他地方进来，还得四处寻找她？”277
“No one else saw this attacker but Mistress Cat,” Thomas said, stressing the word “saw” in such a way that he cast doubt on the existence of the attacker.“除了凯特小姐，没人‘看见’过这个袭击者，”托马斯说，他特意加重了“看见”二字的语气，显然对这个袭击者是否真的存在心存怀疑。278
“You think she invented it?”“你认为是她编出来的？”279
Olive asked with a delighted, conspiratorial smile meant to encourage the servant to speak.奥利芙带着欣喜而心照不宣的笑容问道，想鼓励仆人继续说下去。280
Thomas was not so easily drawn out, though.然而，托马斯可没那么容易被套出话来。281
“I would not suggest that, ma’am, only that the … lady may have been mistaken.”“我不会这么说，夫人，只是那位……小姐也许弄错了。”282
“She imagined it, then?”“那么，是她想象出来的？”283
Olive asked.奥利芙问。284
“She may have had a nightmare,” Thomas suggested, “or the cat may have disturbed her in her sleep, and she awoke not exactly sure what was in the room with her.”“她也许做了噩梦，”托马斯推测道，“或者那只猫在她睡梦中惊扰了她，她醒来时并不十分确定房间里陪着她的究竟是什么。”285
“Hmm.“嗯。286
She does seem the nervous type,” Olive commented.她看起来确实是那种容易紧张的人。”奥利芙评论道。287
More to herself, she mused, “You have to be very careful trying to convince someone like that to do the right thing, you know.”她更像是在自言自语，若有所思地说道：“你知道，要想说服那样的人做正确的事，必须格外小心。”288
Surprisingly this last remark drew more of a response from Thomas.出人意料的是，最后这句话倒让托马斯有了更大的反应。289
“I was just thinking that same thought earlier this very morning, ma’am,” the servant agreed.“就在今天早上，我也正好想到了同一件事，女士，”仆人赞同道。290
“The more you try to warn some people, the stubborner they become, and there are some people who will deliberately do something the moment someone forbids them to, even if they wouldn’t have dreamed of doing it ordinarily.”“对有些人，你越是警告，他们就越固执；还有些人，只要别人一禁止，他们就偏要立刻去做，哪怕平时他们连想都不会想到那种事。”291
“The old forbidden fruit,” Olive said.“老一套的禁果诱惑。”奥利芙说道。292
“Precisely, ma’am.”“正是如此，女士。”293
“I’ll be in the parlor, Thomas,” Olive said, climbing down from her high chair.“我会在客厅里，托马斯。”奥利芙一边说，一边从高脚椅上爬下来。294
“Very good, ma’am.”“好的，女士。”295
Olive left the dining room through the doors to the main hall, closing them behind her.奥利芙穿过通往正厅的门离开餐厅，并随手把门关上。296
She crossed to the parlor, opened the door, and closed it again loudly, but remained in the hall.她走到对面的客厅，打开门，又故意大声将它关上，却仍留在正厅里。297
She then hiked up her gown and shot up the stairs.接着，她提起长裙，飞奔上楼。298
Six closed doors lined the upper hallway.楼上的走廊两侧排列着六扇紧闭的门。299
Five keyholes later, the halfling discovered which was the enchantress’s room.窥探过五个钥匙孔后，这个半身人终于找到了女术士的房间。300
It was a large, comfortable bedroom decorated in hues of lavender.那是一间宽敞舒适的卧室，以淡紫色调装饰。301
One of the windows was open, and, as Olive watched through the keyhole, a large, familiar raven flew in through the window.一扇窗户开着，奥利芙透过钥匙孔窥视时，一只眼熟的大乌鸦从窗外飞了进来。302
Another quick arrival, noted the halfling.又是一次迅速现身，半身人暗自记下。303
Where is this man hiding when he isn’t terrorizing people?这个男人不去吓唬人的时候，究竟躲在哪里？304
Cat stood in the center of the room, her head bowed but her body obviously tensed, while her master transformed into a human.凯特站在房间中央，低垂着头，身体却明显绷得紧紧的；她的主人则变回了人形。305
“Well, Catling?”“怎么了，小猫崽？”306
Flattery asked.弗拉特里问道。307
“Someone tried to kill me last night,” the mage said with annoyance in her voice.“昨晚有人想杀我。”法师说道，语气中带着恼怒。308
She looked up at Flattery.她抬头看向弗拉特里。309
“Really?“真的？310
So?” the wizard asked without concern.那又怎样？”巫师满不在乎地问。311
“I thought it was you,” she said, glaring at her master.“我还以为是你干的。”她瞪着自己的主人说道。312
Flattery sat on the bed and swung his wet boots onto the coverlet.弗拉特里坐到床上，把湿漉漉的靴子甩到床罩上。313
“You wouldn’t be breathing now if it had been me.”“如果是我干的，你现在就不会还有气了。”314
“Unless you meant it as a warning.”“除非你只是想警告我。”315
“Do you need warning, Catling?”“你需要警告吗，小猫崽？”316
“I’m doing all I can,” the woman insisted.“我已经竭尽全力了。”女人坚持道。317
“I want the memory crystal.”“我要记忆水晶。”318
“You’ll get it just as soon as I have the spur,” Flattery said offhandedly, stifling a yawn.“我一拿到那根刺，你就会拿到它。”弗拉特里漫不经心地说着，强忍住一个哈欠。319
“I want to see it,” Cat insisted.“我要亲眼看看。”凯特坚持道。320
“I haven’t brought it with me,” Flattery retorted.“我没把它带在身上。”弗拉特里反驳道。321
His eyes narrowed into angry slits.他的双眼因愤怒而眯成了两条缝。322
“You’re sure you have it?”“你确定它在你手里？”323
Cat demanded.凯特质问道。324
Flattery bounced from the bed and leaped at Cat, grabbing her by the throat with one hand in a fluid motion.弗拉特里从床上一跃而起，扑向凯特，一只手以流畅的动作掐住了她的喉咙。325
His face was dark with anger.他的脸因愤怒而阴沉下来。326
“I don’t think I care for your tone, woman.”“我不喜欢你这种口气，女人。”327
“Did you murder Drone Wyvernspur?”“是你谋杀了德罗恩·飞龙刺吗？”328
Cat gasped, trying to keep her face passive.凯特喘着气，竭力不让表情有所变化。329
“Who told you that?”“谁告诉你的？”330
Flattery asked, his brow furrowed with curiosity.弗拉特里好奇地皱起眉头问道。331
“Giogi thinks you did” Cat answered in a tight whisper.“乔吉认为是你干的。”凯特用紧绷的低声回答。332
“And who gave him that idea?”“又是谁让他产生这种想法的？”333
Flattery demanded, shaking the mage by her neck.弗拉特里掐着法师的脖子摇晃她，厉声质问道。334
“His servant, Thomas,” Cat gasped.“是他的仆人，托马斯。”凯特喘着气说道。335
The wizard released the woman.巫师松开了那个女人。336
Cat slumped back, raising one of her delicate hands to her neck.凯特瘫坐回去，抬起一只纤细的手抚着脖颈。337
“A servant.“一个仆人。338
And how could he know?”他又怎么会知道？”339
Flattery mused.弗拉特里沉吟道。340
“You did murder Drone, then,” Cat stated.“这么说，你确实杀了德罗恩。”凯特说道。341
“Not exactly,” Flattery said with a grin.“也不尽然。”弗拉特里咧嘴一笑。342
“Something less handsome than I and much less lively did it.“动手的是个没我英俊、也远不如我有活力的东西。343
Unfortunately, that agent did not return to report its success or whether it found anything in the wizard’s tower.可惜，那个手下没能回来禀报它是否得手，也没能说清它在巫师塔里有没有找到什么。344
Undead can be so unreliable.”不死生物就是这么靠不住。”345
“How many other people have you killed?”“你还杀过多少人？”346
Cat asked, aghast.凯特惊骇地问道。347
Flattery’s face clouded again.弗拉特里的脸色又阴沉下来。348
“Don’t ask stupid questions, or I could become a widower.”“别问蠢问题，否则我可能就要当鳏夫了。”349
“You haven’t made yourself a husband yet,” Cat shot back.“你还没当上丈夫呢。”凯特立刻反驳。350
“You’ve never even kissed me.”“你甚至从没吻过我。”351
“Is that still bothering you, Catling?“你还在为这个耿耿于怀吗，小猫崽？352
Come here.”过来。”353
Flattery pulled the mage roughly toward him.弗拉特里粗暴地把女法师拉向自己。354
His embrace might have snapped her back had it been any tighter.他的拥抱要是再紧一点，恐怕会折断她的脊背。355
He forced his mouth down on her own.他强行俯下嘴，压住了她的双唇。356
Unable to risk a scream, Cat struggled silently to break away, but Flattery dug his nails into her back.凯特不敢冒险尖叫，只能默默挣扎着想要脱身，可弗拉特里却把指甲抠进了她的后背。357
The woman went limp.女人的身体软了下来。358
Flattery pushed her away and held her at arm’s length by her shoulders.弗拉特里一把推开她，双手抓着她的肩膀，让她停在一臂之外。359
“You want the stupidest things,” he spat, obviously annoyed that she hadn’t continued to put up a fight.“你想要的尽是些蠢透了的东西，”他啐道，显然因为她没有继续反抗而颇为恼火。360
“Get me the spur, and I’ll deliver.“把马刺给我，我就兑现承诺。361
Now, what progress has Giogioni made?”现在，乔吉奥尼有什么进展？”362
“None,” Cat answered weakly, looking away.“毫无进展，”凯特虚弱地回答，移开了目光。363
“None!”“毫无进展！”364
Flattery growled, cuffing Cat’s ear.弗拉特里低吼一声，扇了凯特一耳光。365
“I knew you were wasting your time.”“我早就知道你是在浪费时间。”366
“I still think Giogi will be the one to find it, even though he doesn’t seem very interested in it.“我还是觉得乔吉会是找到马刺的人，尽管他似乎对它没多大兴趣。367
According to his Uncle Drone, the spur is his destiny.”照他德罗恩叔叔的说法，找到马刺是他的宿命。”368
“What?”“什么？”369
Flattery looked surprised.弗拉特里显得很惊讶。370
“That’s what the message his uncle left him said.“他叔叔留给他的口信就是这么说的。371
Giogi’s father used to use the spur, and Giogi is the only one the guardian talks to.乔吉的父亲以前用过那枚马刺，而守护者只肯跟乔吉说话。372
He’s going to the Temple of Selune this afternoon to speak with a priestess who knew his father.”他今天下午要去塞露恩神殿，找一位认识他父亲的女祭司谈谈。”373
“LLeddew,” Flattery muttered with annoyance.“莱杜。”弗拉特里恼火地咕哝道。374
“Yes.“对。375
He tried to see her last night, but she wasn’t—” Cat gasped as realization sunk in.他昨晚想去见她，可她不在——”凯特猛吸了一口气，终于明白过来。376
“You sent those lacedons after him,” she accused him.“是你派那些海尸鬼去追杀他的，”她指责道。377
“Why?” she asked with exasperation.“为什么？”她懊恼地问。378
“He can’t find the spur if he’s dead.”“他要是死了，就找不到马刺了。”379
“Lleddew can’t help him find the spur,” Flattery stated.“莱杜帮不了他找到马刺，”弗拉特里断言。380
“He doesn’t need to see her.“他没必要见她。381
Convince him of that.”让他相信这一点。”382
“Are you afraid of this Mother Lleddew?”“你害怕这位莱杜嬷嬷吗？”383
Cat asked with uncharacteristic courage.凯特一反常态，鼓起勇气问道。384
Flattery went livid again.弗拉特里的脸色又变得铁青。385
His hands shot out, and he pushed Cat backward and onto the floor.他猛地伸出双手，把凯特向后一推，推倒在地。386
“I’m not afraid of any woman.“我不怕任何女人。387
You would do well to remember that.你最好记住这一点。388
If you value this noble’s chances for finding the spur, you will keep him away from Lleddew and the Temple of Selune.如果你还在乎这位贵族能否找到飞龙刺，就让他离莱杜和塞露恩神殿远一点。389
I will see him dead before I see him with Lleddew.”我宁可看着他死，也不会让他和莱杜走到一起。”390
“But he was going to have her do a divination for him as well,” Cat protested meekly.“可他本来也打算请她替自己占卜一次。”凯特怯怯地抗辩道。391
“His Cousin Steele already had one done by the church of Waukeen.“他的表亲斯蒂尔已经请沃金教会占卜过一次了。392
The message was gibberish.得到的讯息全是胡言乱语。393
The gods have no more idea who stole the spur or where it is now than my sources in the Abyss.”那些神对是谁偷走了飞龙刺、它如今又在哪里，知道得并不比我在深渊里的消息来源多。”394
“How do you know what the church of Waukeen told Steele?”“你怎么知道沃金教会对斯蒂尔说了什么？”395
Cat asked, picking herself up from the floor.凯特一边问，一边从地上爬起来。396
“Waukeen’s priests are more interested in large donations than in protecting their worshiper’s confidentiality.“沃金的祭司对大笔捐款的兴趣，远胜于替信徒保守秘密。397
I have ruled out Steele and his sister as suspects in any event.不管怎样，我已经排除了斯蒂尔和他妹妹的嫌疑。398
Drone is the most likely candidate for the original theft, since he had chief responsibility for the spur’s security.德罗恩最有可能是最初的窃贼，因为他是负责守护飞龙刺的主要人物。399
If Drone wanted Giogioni to have it, he would have provided a way for him to find it.如果德罗恩想让乔吉奥尼得到它，就一定会给他留下找到它的办法。400
The little fool hasn’t figured it out yet, that’s all.”只不过那个小傻瓜还没弄明白罢了。”401
“Suppose one of the other members of the family stole it?”“假如是家族里的其他成员偷走了它呢？”402
“If Frefford had it, he would have used it by now.”“如果飞龙刺在弗雷福德手里，他早就用上了。”403
“But Dorath would have kept it hidden if she took it.”“可如果是多拉丝拿走的，她一定会把它藏起来。”404
“Dorath does not have a key to the crypt, and she is too old and feeble to have made it through the catacombs.”“多拉丝没有墓穴的钥匙，而且她年纪太大、身体太弱，不可能穿过地下墓窟。”405
“What about other lines of the family?”“那家族的其他支系呢？”406
Cat asked.凯特问道。407
“There are no other lines,” Flattery said.“没有其他支系。”弗拉特里说。408
“Only Gerrin Wyvernspur’s heirs and my father’s.”“只有格林·飞龙刺的后嗣和我父亲的后嗣。”409
“Who was your father?“你父亲是谁？410
And are you sure you’re an only child?”你确定自己是独生子吗？”411
Flattery laughed unpleasantly.弗拉特里不怀好意地笑了起来。412
“One of me was all his ego could handle and more than the Realms would accept.”“光我一个就够他的自尊心受的了，也已经超出了诸界所能接受的限度。”413
“Giogi thinks I must be from a missing line, since I got past the guardian,” Cat said quietly.“乔吉认为我一定来自某个失落的支系，因为我通过了守护者那一关。”凯特轻声说道。414
The wizard snorted.巫师哼了一声。415
“The guardian let you pass because you are Wyvernspur by marriage, not by blood.“守护者放你过去，是因为你通过婚姻成了飞龙刺家的人，而不是因为你身上流着飞龙刺家的血。416
Keep Giogioni fixed on Drone and where the old man might have hidden the thing,” Flattery ordered, “not some mythical family member.”让乔吉奥尼一心盯着德罗恩，琢磨那老头可能把那东西藏在了哪里，”弗拉特里命令道，“别去管什么传说中的家族成员。”417
“We’re going to visit Drone’s lab and search for his journal as soon as the servant arranges a carriage,” Cat said.“等仆人备好马车，我们就去德罗恩的实验室，找他的日记。”凯特说道。418
“Good.“很好。419
Remember, Drone was no fool.记住，德罗恩可不是傻瓜。420
Be sure you check for ordinary and magical traps before you touch anything.碰任何东西之前，一定要先检查有没有普通陷阱和魔法陷阱。421
Have Giogioni handle everything first.”让乔吉奥尼先动手碰所有东西。”422
“Use him the way you use me,” Cat said sarcastically.“像你利用我一样利用他。”凯特讥讽地说道。423
Flattery was oblivious to Cat’s bitter tone.弗拉特里丝毫没有察觉凯特语气中的怨恨。424
“Precisely.“正是如此。425
You are learning something after all.看来你终究还是学到了一点东西。426
Has it occurred to you that, perhaps, Giogioni is using you as well?”你有没有想过，也许乔吉奥尼也在利用你？”427
“He’s not that sort of person.”“他不是那种人。”428
“No?“不是吗？429
Perhaps he already has the spur and is still trying to figure out how to use it.”也许他早就拿到了那枚马刺，只是还在设法弄清楚该怎么使用它。”430
“He would have told me,” Cat insisted.“他会告诉我的。”凯特坚持道。431
“Not if he doesn’t trust you.”“如果他不信任你，就不会。”432
“If he didn’t trust me, why would he let me stay here?”“如果他不信任我，为什么还让我留在这里？”433
Cat snarled.凯特低吼道。434
Flattery shrugged and smirked.弗拉特里耸耸肩，得意地笑了笑。435
“For a treacherous witch, you can be very easy on the eye,” he said with a grin.“你这个背信弃义的女巫，倒是挺赏心悦目的。”他咧嘴笑着说。436
“Surely he’s made you an offer.”“他肯定对你有所表示了吧。”437
Cat brought her hand up to slap Flattery’s face, but he grabbed her wrist effortlessly and twisted her arm behind her back.凯特抬手想扇弗拉特里一巴掌，可他轻而易举地抓住她的手腕，将她的胳膊扭到背后。438
“He has, hasn’t he?“他确实表示过了，对不对？439
I suppose this means I’ll have to avenge my honor on the little fop,” the wizard declared, half taunting, half serious.看来我只好找那个小花花公子讨回我的荣誉了。”巫师半是嘲弄、半是认真地宣称。440
“After he finds the spur for me,” he added with a grin.“等他替我找到马刺以后。”他又咧嘴补充道。441
Olive heard footfalls on the stairs.奥利芙听见楼梯上传来脚步声。442
She drew back from the keyhole and pressed herself flat behind a linen chest.她从钥匙孔前退开，紧贴着藏到一只衣物箱后面。443
Peeking around the furniture’s corner, Olive spied Thomas at the top of the stairs, carrying a tray laden with covered dishes.奥利芙从箱角后探头窥视，看见托马斯出现在楼梯顶端，手里端着一个托盘，上面摆满了盖着盖子的盘碟。444
He turned down the hallway in the opposite direction.他转向走廊的另一头。445
His pace was brisk and nervous.他的脚步又快又慌。446
He let himself into a room at the far end of the hallway and closed the door behind him.他自行打开走廊尽头一间房的门，进去后随手关上了门。447
Olive could hear him climbing more stairs.奥利芙听见他又踏上了楼梯。448
The halfling was torn between following the servant and catching the end of Cat’s conversation with Flattery.这个半身人犹豫着，不知该跟踪那名仆人，还是留下来听完凯特与弗拉特里的谈话。449
She was denied the opportunity to do either, though.然而，她两样都没机会做。450
There were more footfalls on the lower stair, this time accompanied by whistling.下方的楼梯上又传来了脚步声，这一次还伴随着口哨声。451
Giogi’s rhythmless whistling.是乔吉毫无节奏的口哨声。452
Olive scrunched up tighter behind the linen chest.奥利芙在衣物箱后把身子缩得更紧了。453
Giogi strode down the hall toward Cat’s room.乔吉大步穿过走廊，朝凯特的房间走去。454
He was carrying a furlined cape, fur-lined boots, and a fur muff.他拿着一件毛皮衬里的披风、一双毛皮衬里的靴子和一个皮手筒。455
He stopped in front of Cat’s door and knocked sharply.他在凯特门前停下，重重敲了敲门。456
Cat called out, “Come in.”凯特扬声说道：“进来。”457
Giogi opened the door.乔吉打开了门。458
“It’s cold in here,” he noted stiffly.“这里很冷。”他生硬地说道。459
“I was looking out the window.“我刚才在看窗外。460
Did you find Birdie?”你找到小鸟儿了吗？”461
“No,” Giogi replied curtly.“没有。”乔吉冷冷地答道。462
“Perhaps she’ll come home by evening.“也许她傍晚前会回家。463
You treated her well,” Cat said gently.你待她很好。”凯特温和地说。464
Giogi shrugged without comment.乔吉耸了耸肩，一言不发。465
He laid the furs on the bed.他把几件皮裘放在床上。466
“It’s colder today than it was yesterday, so I brought these for you to wear.“今天比昨天冷，所以我拿了这些给你穿。467
I’ll let you get back to your studying,” he said, backing out of the room and closing the door behind him.我不打扰你学习了。”他说着退出房间，随手关上了门。468
His manner was as cold as the room.他的态度和这房间一样冷。469
So, the kind-hearted Wyvernspur can snub people, too, when his pride is wounded, Olive thought.原来，善心的飞龙刺自尊受伤时，也会给人冷脸看，奥利芙心想。470
Giogi went down the hall to the room beside Cat’s. He entered the room, leaving the door open behind him.乔吉沿着走廊来到凯特隔壁的房间。他走进去，任由身后的门敞开着。471
Olive could see him rummaging through a chest at the foot of the bed.奥利芙看见他正在床脚的一只箱子里翻找。472
It would be a bad thing to be discovered up here, Olive realized.要是被人发现自己在楼上，那可就糟了，奥利芙意识到。473
Time to return to the parlor while I have the chance.得趁现在有机会，赶紧回客厅去。474
The halfling slipped past Giogi’s open door and hurried down the stairs, though not without regret.这个半身人悄悄溜过乔吉敞开的房门，匆匆下了楼，不过心里并非没有遗憾。475
I should have taken a peek to see who or what Thomas was feeding in the attic, she thought as she let herself into the parlor and closed the door very softly behind her.我刚才真该偷看一眼，瞧瞧托马斯在阁楼里喂的是谁，或者什么东西，她一边想着，一边走进客厅，又在身后极轻地关上门。476
My nerves aren’t what they once were.我的胆量已经不如从前了。477
She paced about the room.她在房间里来回踱步。478
In my younger days, I’d have cased every room in this house and stolen three resalable things before breakfast, she chided herself.年轻那会儿，我早饭前就能把这宅子里的每个房间都摸个底，再偷上三件能转手卖掉的东西，她在心里数落自己。479
Being prosperous takes all the fun out of life.日子过得富裕，生活也就全没了乐趣。480
Now all I do is eavesdrop and worry that I’m going to be discovered.如今我只会偷听，还总担心自己会被人发现。481
That’s the problem with respectability—you always worry about losing it.体面生活的问题就在这里——你总是担心会失去它。482
Paladins must be nervous wrecks, she thought with an amused snort.圣武士们的神经一定都快绷断了，她忍俊不禁地哼笑一声，心想。483
A bowl of dried fruit and nuts drew her attention.一碗果干和坚果吸引了她的注意。484
Food.吃的。485
That will help steady me.这能帮我定定神。486
Olive lifted the bowl from the coffee table and carried it over to the fireside with the footstool.奥利芙从茶几上端起碗，又把脚凳一道搬到炉火边。487
She cracked some nuts and picked out the meats, stacking the shells and meats in piles to represent good and bad as she weighed Cat’s recent actions.她敲开几颗坚果，挑出果仁，把果壳和果仁分别堆成几堆，代表好与坏，以此衡量凯特最近的所作所为。488
She contacted Flattery again, which was bad, the halfling thought, dropping a shell to her left.她又联系了弗拉特里，这可不好，半身人一边想，一边把一片果壳丢到左手边。489
Probably stupid, too, Olive added, starting a pile with dried apricots for stupid actions.大概还很蠢，奥利芙又加了一条，用杏干为愚蠢的行为另起了一堆。490
Dropping a nut meat into a pile at her right, Olive thought, She did show more spine and grill him for more information, which was good.奥利芙把一颗果仁丢进右手边的一堆，心想：她倒是硬气了些，逼问了他更多消息，这算好事。491
She gave away our day’s itinerary, which was bad.她泄露了我们今天的行程，这算坏事。492
She didn’t say a word about Jade or me.她一个字也没提杰德或我。493
That was good, unless she’s playing both sides against the middle.这算好事，除非她是在挑动双方相斗，自己坐收渔利。494
Olive dropped another apricot in the stupid pile.奥利芙又往愚蠢的那一堆里丢了一块杏干。495
She could be thinking of me as our ace in the hole.她可能把我当成了我们暗藏的王牌。496
Maybe she’s superstitious about halfling luck.也许她迷信半身人的好运。497
Olive started a pile for Cat’s smart decisions with dried figs.奥利芙用无花果干为凯特的明智决定另起了一堆。498
She didn’t tell Flattery we were planning to come after him.她没告诉弗拉特里，我们正打算去找他算账。499
Good and smart.既好又聪明。500
Is she hoping we’ll kill him for her?她是指望我们替她杀了他吗？501
Is she planning on lending a hand when the time comes?等时候到了，她打算出手相助吗？502
In the short run, is she going to do as Flattery bids and use Giogi to test for traps in Drone’s lab, and will she try to convince us not to visit the Temple of Selune?眼下，她会不会听从弗拉特里的吩咐，利用乔吉探查德罗恩实验室里的陷阱，又会不会设法劝我们别去塞露恩神殿？503
Olive looked down at the piles of food.奥利芙低头看着那几堆食物。504
“She’s one mixed-up mage,” the halfling muttered.“她可真是个拎不清的法师。”半身人嘟囔道。505
She tossed the nut shells into the fire and watched them burn while she munched on her remaining piles.她把果壳扔进火里，看着它们燃烧，同时嚼着剩下那几堆食物。506
There was a knock on the door, and Thomas came in, carrying her cloak and gloves.门上传来敲门声，托马斯拿着她的斗篷和手套走了进来。507
“The carriage has arrived, ma’am,” he announced.“马车到了，夫人。”他通报道。508
Olive laid the fruit-and-nut bowl aside and accepted Thomas’s help with her cloak, then joined Giogi and Cat in the front hall.奥利芙把盛着水果和坚果的碗搁到一旁，在托马斯的帮助下披上斗篷，随后到前厅与乔吉和凯特会合。509
The door stood open.大门敞开着。510
Every bush and tree branch glittered in the sunlight and dropped globs of water and shards of glassy ice to the ground beneath it.每一丛灌木、每一根树枝都在阳光下闪闪发亮，不时有团团水珠和玻璃般的冰片坠落在下方的地面上。511
A white carriage with four white horses stood waiting outside the front gate.一辆由四匹白马拉的白色马车正在前门外等候。512
Giogi escorted the two women out and handed them into the carriage.乔吉护送两位女士出门，搀扶她们登上马车。513
As he checked the horses’ tack and harnesses, Olive settled beside Cat and whispered, “Have you got it on you?”他检查马匹的辔具和挽具时，奥利芙在凯特身旁坐定，低声问道：“你带在身上了吗？”514
Wordlessly Cat drew the silk-wrapped amulet halfway out of her pocket and slipped it back out of sight.凯特默不作声地从口袋里抽出那枚丝绸包裹的护身符，露出一半，随即又将它塞了回去，不让人看见。515
“Smart girl.“聪明姑娘。516
Have a fig,” the halfling offered.吃颗无花果吧。”半身人递给她一颗。517
“All set?”“都准备好了吗？”518
Giogi asked as he hopped up in the driver’s seat.乔吉一跃坐上车夫座，问道。519
We may never be that, Olive thought, but she called out that they were.我们也许永远都准备不好，奥利芙心想，但她还是扬声回答说准备好了。520
Giogi clucked at the horses, and the carriage moved forward.乔吉咂嘴催马，马车便向前驶去。521
None of the party noticed the sleeve of a robe clear the frost from the attic window or a pair of piercing blue eyes watching them move out of the courtyard and onto the street.一行人谁也没有注意到，一只袍袖擦去了阁楼窗户上的霜，一双锐利的蓝眼睛正注视着他们驶出庭院，来到街上。522