From the Journal of Giogioni Wyvernspur:摘自乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的日记：1
The 21st of Ches, in the year of the Shadows阴影之年，切斯月二十一日2
While it seems like an age ago, it was only the day before yesterday when our family heirloom was stolen, and it was only yesterday that my Uncle Drone died—foully murdered, as I now suspect, by the evil wizard Flattery The spur has been returned by the remarkable Harper bard, Olive Ruskettle, who has suffered the loss of her partner, Jade More, at Flattery’s hand.虽说感觉像是过了很久，但我们家的传家宝其实不过是前天才被盗，而我的德罗恩叔叔也不过是昨天才去世——如今我怀疑，他是遭邪恶巫师弗拉特里残忍杀害的。那枚马刺已由非凡的竖琴手吟游诗人奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔送还；她的搭档杰德·莫尔死在了弗拉特里手中。3
Mistress Ruskettle is still uncertain of the details, but she believes Jade removed the spur from our family crypt at the request of my Uncle Drone, convinced as he was that I was destined to use the spur.拉斯凯特尔女士对具体情况仍不确定，但她相信，是杰德应我德罗恩叔叔的请求，从我们家族的墓穴中取走了马刺；叔叔深信，我注定要使用它。4
Jade, Mistress Ruskettle has explained, was a Wyvernspur from the same lost line as the mage Cat, which my Uncle Drone must somehow have known, or he would not have sent Jade in to face the guardian.拉斯凯特尔女士解释说，杰德也是飞龙刺家族的人，与法师凯特同属一个失落的支系；我德罗恩叔叔一定不知用什么办法得知了这件事，否则他不会派杰德进去面对守卫。5
One other attribute made Jade perfect for the task—apparently she could not be detected magically, which would have kept the spur’s location a secret as long as she held on to it.杰德还有一项特质，使她成为执行这项任务的最佳人选——显然，任何魔法都无法探知她；只要马刺还在她手中，其所在之处便能一直保密。6
Mistress Ruskettle claims Cat also possesses this remarkable undetectability, which is why she hid the spur on Cat early this morning, disguised as a magical amulet.拉斯凯特尔女士声称，凯特同样具有这种非凡的、无法被探知的特质，正因如此，她今天清晨才把马刺伪装成一枚魔法护符，藏在了凯特身上。7
Jade gave the spur to Mistress Ruskettle moments before being killed, but it took the bard a day to discover that she was carrying the most sought-after item in Immersea.杰德在遇害前片刻将马刺交给了拉斯凯特尔女士，但这位吟游诗人过了一天才发现，自己随身带着的竟是伊默海最受人觊觎的物品。8
She has apologized for not trusting me with its location sooner, but she feared that once I knew it was safe I would abandon my quest to learn its power and neglect my responsibility to use it.她已经为没有更早将马刺的所在告诉我而道歉，但她担心，一旦我知道它已经安全无虞，便会放弃探寻其力量，也会疏于履行使用它的责任。9
I cannot deny that she might have been right.我不能否认，她或许是对的。10
Having fought my way through Flattery’s minions to reach Mother Lleddew, I would feel rather foolish now not asking about the spur.我一路杀过弗拉特里的爪牙，才来到莱杜嬷嬷面前；若现在不向她询问马刺的事，未免显得太傻了。11
I have an uneasy suspicion that I may need her knowledge not only to ensure the spur’s safety but my family’s safety as well.我心中隐隐有种不安的预感：我或许不仅需要借助她的知识来确保马刺的安全，也需要借此保护我的家人。12
Giogi laid his quill down on the desk and put his head in his hands.乔吉把羽毛笔搁在书桌上，双手抱住了头。13
While he shared Olive Ruskettle’s thirst for justice and had no intention of backing down on his promise to do all he could to help her, he felt uncertain that he could really bring himself to use the spur.他与奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔一样渴望伸张正义，也绝无违背承诺之意，仍会尽其所能帮助她；但他不确定，自己是否真能狠下心来使用那枚马刺。14
There had to be something bad about the artifact if Aunt Dorath believed it to be cursed.既然多拉丝姑妈认定这件神器受了诅咒，那它必定有什么不祥之处。15
Moreover, the fact that a wizard as evil as Flattery desired its power for his own did not bode well concerning the nature of that power.更何况，像弗拉特里这般邪恶的巫师竟想将它的力量据为己有，这对那股力量的本质而言绝非吉兆。16
Hopefully Mother Lleddew could shed light on the mystery of the spur—perhaps on Flattery as well—as soon as she recovered from her wounds sufficiently to speak.但愿莱杜嬷嬷的伤势一恢复到能够开口的程度，便能解开马刺之谜——或许也能揭开弗拉特里的秘密。17
Olive sat all alone in the dining room of Giogi’s townhouse, wolfing down tea and crumpets.奥利芙独自坐在乔吉宅邸的餐厅里，狼吞虎咽地喝着茶、吃着烤饼。18
Giogi was in the parlor, scribbling in his journal.乔吉正在客厅里奋笔疾书地写日记。19
Cat was still changing into something clean.凯特还在换一身干净衣服。20
And Mother Lleddew, who had shaken off her bear shape before they’d arrived home, was still resting in the guest room.至于莱杜嬷嬷，她在众人到家前便已摆脱了熊的形态，此刻仍在客房里休息。21
The halfling leaned back and sighed with satisfaction.半身人向后一靠，心满意足地叹了口气。22
After helping Mother Lleddew to her room, Olive had managed to present Giogi with a brilliant explanation for having the spur and for giving it to Cat.把莱杜嬷嬷送进房间后，奥利芙成功地向乔吉编出了一套绝妙的说辞，解释自己为何会拿着马刺，又为何将它交给凯特。23
It was an explanation that not only concealed her own ignorance of the spur’s appearance but convinced Giogi that her motives were completely noble.这套说辞不仅掩盖了她根本不知道马刺长什么样的事实，还让乔吉深信，她的动机完全出于高尚。24
Cat hadn’t seemed too pleased with her story, but it had satisfied Giogi completely.凯特听了她的说辞似乎不大高兴，但乔吉却完全信服了。25
The door to the hallway opened, and Mother Lleddew stood on the threshold.通往走廊的门开了，莱杜嬷嬷站在门槛上。26
With her massive frame, thick black hair, taut muscles, and shy eyes, her human appearance was still rather bearlike.她身躯魁梧，黑发浓密，肌肉紧绷，眼神羞怯，即使是人类形态，看起来仍颇像一头熊。27
She wore only her brown shift and leather sandals, but the dirt had been brushed from them, and as a further concession to society she’d tied her mane of hair back with a ribbon.她只穿着棕色长衫和皮凉鞋，不过上面的泥土已经刷掉了；为了进一步迁就人类社会的规矩，她还用一根缎带束起了鬃毛般的长发。28
Few people could make Giogi’s house look small the way she does, Olive thought.很少有人能像她这样，把乔吉的宅子衬得如此狭小，奥利芙心想。29
The priestess walked stiffly into the room, though—not as spry as she’d been when engaged in combat.不过女祭司步履僵硬地走进房间，远不如战斗时那般矫健。30
It was obvious that, despite the power her were-nature granted her, Mother Lleddew was a very old woman.显而易见，尽管她的兽化本性赋予了她强大的力量，莱杜嬷嬷终究已是一位年迈的老妇人。31
Her face appeared all the more drawn and haggard for the wrinkles in it, and she twitched from aches and twinges in her muscles.满脸皱纹使她更显憔悴枯槁，肌肉里的酸痛和阵阵刺痛不时让她抽搐。32
She could heal the injuries she’d received in battle, but she would never recover from the ravages of time.她可以治愈战斗中所受的伤，却永远无法从岁月的摧残中恢复。33
Alerted by the sound of the priestess’s tread, Thomas bustled into the dining room from the kitchen.听见女祭司的脚步声，托马斯连忙从厨房赶进餐厅。34
“Master Giogioni asks that you not wait on his account, Your Grace,” the servant said as he pulled out a chair for the priestess.“乔吉奥尼少爷请您不必等他，大人。”仆人一边说，一边替女祭司拉开椅子。35
Mother Lleddew sat and held her hands in her lap until Thomas finished pouring the tea.莱杜嬷嬷坐下来，双手放在膝上，直到托马斯斟完茶。36
She dolloped honey into her drink and stirred it very carefully, sneaking a look at Olive, then back at her tea without speaking.她往茶里舀了一大勺蜂蜜，极其小心地搅拌着，偷偷瞥了奥利芙一眼，又把目光移回茶杯，始终一言不发。37
Finally, after a fourth furtive glance, she spoke.终于，在第四次偷偷瞥过之后，她开口了。38
“I’m pleased to meet you at last, Olive Ruskettle,” she said.“终于见到你了，我很高兴，奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔。”她说道。39
Her voice was almost too soft to hear.她的声音轻得几乎听不见。40
“Sudacar tells me you sing a song about Selune.”“苏达卡告诉我，你会唱一首关于塞露恩的歌。”41
“Um, yes,” Olive answered with surprise.“呃，是的。”奥利芙惊讶地回答。42
“The Tears of Selune.“《塞露恩之泪》。43
A friend of mine wrote it.”是我的一个朋友写的。”44
“The Shard said it’s been too long since it was sung in the Realms.”“碎片说，这首歌已经太久没有在诸界传唱了。”45
“It’s sung other places than the Realms?”“除了诸界，别的地方也有人唱这首歌吗？”46
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。47
“Other Shards sing it for Selune.”“其他碎片会为塞露恩唱这首歌。”48
“Really?”“真的？”49
Olive’s head swam.奥利芙一阵晕眩。50
The Harpers ban all of Nameless’s music for centuries, and the gods listen to it anyway, she thought with amusement.竖琴手同盟把无名者的所有音乐禁了几百年，诸神却照听不误，她觉得颇为好笑。51
Nameless would be pleased to hear that.无名者听说这件事，一定会很高兴。52
Then again, that could be just a little too much for his ego to handle.不过话说回来，这消息对他的自负来说，或许又有点太受用了。53
“My friend probably wrote that song here in Immersea,” the halfling told the priestess.“我的朋友很可能就是在伊默海写下那首歌的，”半身人对女祭司说道。54
“He was a Wyvernspur, you see.”“你瞧，他是飞龙刺家族的人。”55
Mother Lleddew held her teacup with both hands and sipped slowly, keeping her eyes on the drink.莱杜嬷嬷双手捧着茶杯，慢慢啜饮，目光始终落在茶水上。56
She kept glancing at Olive without speaking.她不时瞥向奥利芙，却一言不发。57
At first, the halfling thought Lleddew just couldn’t think of anything to say and wondered if she shouldn’t try to carry the conversation herself.起初，半身人以为莱杜只是不知道该说些什么，还寻思自己是不是该主动把话题接下去。58
It dawned on Olive after a few minutes, though, that Lleddew was a little like Dragonbait, the Saurial paladin.然而几分钟后，奥利芙忽然明白，莱杜有点像蜥族圣武士龙饵。59
He didn’t need words to communicate and could judge people by their silences, too.他不需要言语也能交流，也能从别人的沉默中判断其为人。60
So Olive just smiled and bit into another biscuit the next time she caught the priestess looking at her.于是，下次发觉女祭司望着自己时，奥利芙只是微微一笑，又咬了一口饼干。61
Giogi came in with Cat on his arm.乔吉走了进来，凯特挽着他的胳膊。62
He was decked out in a tabard bearing his family coat of arms, a green wyvern on a field of yellow, and the small platinum headpiece around his forehead.他穿着一件绣有家族纹章的罩袍——黄底上的一条绿飞龙——额头上还戴着那件小巧的铂金头饰。63
Cat wore a green silk gown.凯特穿着一袭绿色丝绸长裙。64
The gown would not lace tight enough to fit her shapely form, so the mage had wrapped a yellow sash around her waist.裙子的系带无法收紧到贴合她那凹凸有致的身材，于是这位法师便在腰间缠了一条黄色饰带。65
The couple’s color coordination did not bode well, to Olive’s way of thinking.在奥利芙看来，这对情侣的配色如此协调，可不是什么好兆头。66
Giogi was letting himself in for a lot of heartache.乔吉这是在给自己招来许多心痛。67
She thought of the nobleman’s ironic insistence that he would want to know if a woman he was involved with was “not so capital.”她想起这位贵族曾语带讥讽地坚称，若是与他交往的女人“没那么出色”，他一定希望自己能够知情。68
The mage looked happy beside the nobleman, but anyone who could take one of Flattery’s blows calmly would have to be a superior actress.法师待在贵族身边时显得很快乐，但凡能挨了弗拉特里的一击还泰然自若的人，必定是个极其高明的演员。69
Olive wondered which had more to do with Cat’s returning the spur to Giogi, his kindness and generosity or fear of returning to Flattery.奥利芙不禁琢磨，凯特把马刺还给乔吉，究竟更多是因为他的善良和慷慨，还是因为害怕回到弗拉特里身边。70
Giogi bowed very deeply to Mother Lleddew.乔吉向莱杜嬷嬷深深鞠了一躬。71
“Giogioni, it is good to see you,” the priestess said.“乔吉奥尼，见到你真好，”女祭司说道。72
“I feared once that I might never see you again.”“我曾经还担心，自己可能再也见不到你了。”73
Giogi rose and flushed.乔吉站起身来，脸红了。74
“I regret not having come to visit you before,” he stammered.“很抱歉，我早该来看您的，”他结结巴巴地说。75
Mother Lleddew looked curiously at Cat, the priestess’s head tilted to one side in expectation.莱杜嬷嬷好奇地打量着凯特，侧着头，满眼期待。76
“Allow me to present the mage Cat of Ordulin, Your Grace,” Giogi said.“请允许我向您介绍来自奥杜林的法师凯特，大人，”乔吉说道。77
Cat curtsied low and looked up at Mother Lleddew with wide-eyed awe.凯特深深地屈膝行礼，而后抬起头，睁大双眼，敬畏地望着莱杜嬷嬷。78
Olive couldn’t help but remember how Alias thought of all priests as fools.奥利芙不由得想起，阿莉亚丝一向认为所有祭司都是傻瓜。79
Did Cat think differently, or was this a display for Giogi’s sake?凯特的想法不同吗，还是说，她只是为了乔吉才做出这副样子？80
The priestess motioned for both young people to be seated.女祭司示意两个年轻人坐下。81
“How is your Aunt Dorath?”“你姑妈多拉丝近来怎么样？”82
Mother Lleddew asked.莱杜嬷嬷问道。83
“Um, fine,” Giogi answered with some surprise.“呃，挺好的，”乔吉有些惊讶地答道。84
He pulled a chair out for Cat to sit, then seated himself.他替凯特拉出一把椅子，等她坐下后，自己也落了座。85
When he looked up again at the priestess, she still had an expectant look in her eyes, so he continued.当他再次抬头望向女祭司时，发现她眼中依然带着期待，于是便继续说道。86
“She’s seems overjoyed to be a great-grandaunt.“她当上曾姑祖母，似乎高兴得不得了。87
She likes taking care of the baby, apparently.”显然，她很喜欢照顾那个婴儿。”88
The priestess nodded.女祭司点了点头。89
“Poor Dorath,” she whispered, looking down at her teacup.“可怜的多拉丝，”她低头望着自己的茶杯，轻声说道。90
“I didn’t know you even knew my aunt.”“我都不知道您竟然认识我姑妈。”91
“We were very close once,” Mother Lleddew said.“我们曾经非常亲近，”莱杜嬷嬷说道。92
“Her mother and I adventured together.”“她母亲和我曾一起冒险。”93
“Great-grandmother Eswip was an adventurer?”“埃斯维普曾祖母以前是个冒险者？”94
Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。95
“Oh, yes.“哦，是的。96
Perhaps, Master Giogioni, I should start my tale in the middle.乔吉奥尼少爷，也许我该从故事的中间讲起。97
The beginning is very interesting, and just as sad, but it is the middle and the end of the tale that Flattery does not wish you to know.故事的开端很有意思，也同样悲伤，但弗拉特里不想让你知道的，是故事的中段和结局。98
He has nearly exhausted his forces of undead trying to keep you from meeting with me.为了阻止你与我见面，他几乎耗尽了手下的不死生物。99
Now that we have overcome those obstacles, I should tell my tale without further delay.”既然我们已经克服了那些阻碍，我就该不再耽搁，讲述我的故事了。”100
“You know about Flattery?”“你知道弗拉特里的事？”101
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。102
“Not just about him, Giogioni.“我不只是知道他的事，乔吉奥尼。103
I know him.我认识他。104
I watched him kill your father.”我亲眼看见他杀死了你的父亲。”105
Giogi turned pale and clenched his fists.乔吉脸色煞白，攥紧了双拳。106
Cat looked numb.凯特一脸麻木。107
Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me in the least, Olive thought, remembering the scorched portrait in the carriage house, and how Flattery had screamed, “Curse them all!” meaning all Wyvernspurs.不知为何，这一点儿也不让我意外，奥利芙心想。她记起了马车房里那幅烧焦的肖像，也记起弗拉特里如何尖叫着：“愿他们全都遭诅咒！”——他说的是飞龙刺家族的所有人。108
Since no one spoke, Mother Lleddew began the middle of her tale.见无人开口，莱杜嬷嬷便从故事的中段讲了起来。109
“When your father first learned he could use the power of the spur,” she said, “he announced to me his intention to go adventuring to find a fortune that would finish the temple his grandmother and I had begun.“你父亲刚发现自己能够运用那枚马刺的力量时，”她说道，“便向我宣布，他打算外出冒险，寻找一笔财富，好建完他祖母与我着手兴建的神殿。110
I was too old by then to go tramping about the countryside bashing monsters, but Cole would go whether I joined him or not, and for the love I had for his grandmother, I agreed to accompany him.那时我已经太老了，没法再跋山涉水、痛打怪物，可无论我是否加入，科尔都会去；出于我对他祖母的爱，我同意陪他同行。111
I thought I would be keeping him from harm.”我以为自己能保护他免受伤害。”112
Lleddew chuckled at the irony of her intentions.想到自己当初的打算何其讽刺，莱杜轻声笑了起来。113
“Your father didn’t want keeping from harm, though,” she said with a grin.“不过，你父亲可不想让人保护他免受伤害。”她咧嘴笑着说道。114
“With the spur’s power, he was nearly indestructible.“有了那枚马刺的力量，他几乎坚不可摧。115
We spent a summer season in Gnoll Pass—that was long before His Majesty started building Castle Crag to station the Purple Dragoons.我们在豺狼人隘口度过了一个夏季——那时，国王陛下还远未开始修建峭崖堡，派紫龙骑兵驻守。116
When we finally returned to Immersea, we were carrying enough wealth to embed diamonds in the ceiling of the House of Selune.”等我们终于回到伊默海时，带回的财富之多，足以在塞露恩神殿的天花板上镶满钻石。”117
“But what was the spur’s power?”“可那枚马刺究竟有什么力量？”118
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。119
“Dorath would not let Drone tell you even this, would she?”“连这件事，多拉丝也不许德罗恩告诉你，是吗？”120
“Tell me what?“告诉我什么？121
Please, tell me,” Giogi asked.求你了，告诉我吧，”乔吉问道。122
“Each generation the guardian chooses a favorite,” Mother Lleddew explained.“每一代，守护者都会选出一个宠儿，”莱杜嬷嬷解释道。123
“The favorites can use the spur to shape-shift into the form of a wyvern.“宠儿可以借助那根距刺，变成双足飞龙的模样。124
A very large wyvern.”一条非常巨大的双足飞龙。”125
“A wyvern.“双足飞龙。126
My father could turn into a wyvern.我父亲能变成双足飞龙。127
You mean he fought as—as a wyvern?”你的意思是，他会变成——变成双足飞龙战斗？”128
“Of course,” Cat said to herself.“当然了，”凯特自言自语道。129
“Wyverns can fly.“双足飞龙会飞。130
It’s a wyvern’s spur.”那是双足飞龙的距刺。”131
“But why did Flattery go to so much trouble to keep me from meeting you and learning that?”“可弗拉特里为什么要煞费苦心地阻止我见到你，不让我知道这件事？”132
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。133
“It is the rest of my story that Flattery did not wish you to hear,” Mother Lleddew explained.“弗拉特里不想让你听到的，是我这个故事后面的部分，”莱杜嬷嬷解释道。134
“Oh, sorry.“哦，抱歉。135
Please, continue,” Giogi said.请继续吧，”乔吉说道。136
“The next spring, your father went out again, but, having seen him in action, I did not feel a need to accompany him.“第二年春天，你父亲又出发了，但我已经见识过他的本领，觉得没有必要再陪他同行。137
He could take care of himself.他能照顾好自己。138
He built himself a reputation throughout Cormyr, though he kept his wyvern form a secret for the most part.他在科米尔各地闯出了名声，不过大多数时候，他都对自己能变成双足飞龙一事秘而不宣。139
He might have traveled further and grown more famous, but he met and married your mother at the end of his second summer season, and he did not like to leave her for long.他本可以走得更远，也变得更加出名，但在第二个夏季结束时，他遇见了你母亲，并与她结了婚；从那以后，他便不愿离开她太久。140
He only left Immersea to accomplish such services in Cormyr as the crown requested of him.只有在王室要求他为科米尔效力时，他才会离开伊默海。141
“Then, one day, fourteen years ago, late in the fall, after your father had returned home from a summer journey, a small tribe of elves passed through Immersea.“后来有一天，那是十四年前的深秋，你父亲刚结束夏季的旅程回到家，一小支精灵部族途经伊默海。142
They were refugees from a settlement in the Border Forest.他们是来自边境森林一处聚居地的难民。143
A terrible wizard had come out of Anauroch, the Great Desert, and stolen their riches, destroyed their city, and enslaved many of their people.一个可怕的法师从大沙漠阿瑙洛克而来，夺走了他们的财富，摧毁了他们的城市，还奴役了他们的许多族人。144
“When these elves saw your father, they went mad with hatred and attacked him.“这些精灵一见到你父亲，便因仇恨而发狂，袭击了他。145
They mistook him for the wizard, you see.你瞧，他们把他错认成了那个巫师。146
Of course, your father’s companions restrained them and convinced them after much arguing that he was not this evil mage.当然，你父亲的同伴制伏了他们，经过一番激烈争辩，终于让他们相信他并不是那个邪恶的法师。147
“Cole realized, however, that the wizard must be a lost Wyvernspur.“不过，科尔意识到，那个巫师必定是飞龙刺家族失散在外的一员。148
The family honor was at stake, so he thought, and he swore he would set things right, vanquish this wizard, and return what had been stolen to the elves.他认为这关系到家族荣誉，于是发誓要纠正这一切，击败那个巫师，并把被夺走的财物归还给精灵。149
Two of the elves agreed to guide him back to their homeland and lead him to the wizard’s fortress.两名精灵同意带他返回他们的故乡，并领他前往巫师的堡垒。150
“Your mother had many horrible premonitions.“你母亲有过许多可怕的预感。151
Just for him to be traveling in the fall and winter was dangerous enough.单是在秋冬时节出门远行，就已经够危险了。152
That he was planning to attack a powerful wizard drove her to distraction.而他竟打算袭击一名强大的巫师，更让她心神不宁。153
When she could not talk him out of it, she begged me to accompany him.她无法劝他打消念头，便恳求我与他同行。154
“There were nine of us, including your father and the elves.“我们一行共有九人，其中包括你父亲和那些精灵。155
We made good time to Shadow Gap and beat the snows.我们及时赶到了暗影隘口，抢在了大雪之前。156
The people of Daggerdale were most inhospitable, so we pressed on quickly through that land as well.匕首谷的居民极不友善，所以我们也迅速穿过了那片土地，继续赶路。157
At length, we reached the Border Forest and the elven settlement.最终，我们抵达了边境森林和那座精灵聚居地。158
“Our elven guides, and indeed all of us, wished we had never seen the remains of the elvish city.“我们的精灵向导——其实我们所有人——都宁愿自己从未见过那座精灵城市的残骸。159
Flattery had turned all the enslaved elves into zombies and left them in the city to guard it as an outpost of his desert kingdom.弗拉特里把所有遭到奴役的精灵都变成了僵尸，将他们留在城中，守卫这座作为他沙漠王国前哨的城市。160
“The Wyvernspur family resemblance was our greatest asset.“飞龙刺家族成员之间相似的容貌，成了我们最大的优势。161
Mistaking Cole for their new master, the undead let us pass through the city unharmed.那些亡灵把科尔错认成了他们的新主人，任由我们安然穿过城市。162
Thus we approached Flattery’s fortress unheralded.就这样，我们神不知鬼不觉地逼近了弗拉特里的堡垒。163
“The fortress was only half the size of Immersea, but its walls were twice as high as Suzail’s. Only Flattery lived within, waited upon by undead.“那座堡垒的规模只有伊默海的一半，城墙却比苏萨尔的高出一倍。堡垒中只住着弗拉特里，由亡灵侍候。164
Cole deceived the zombies at the gate as easily as the ones in the elvish city, so we were able to enter Flattery’s stronghold and destroy many of his servants before he was even aware of our presence.科尔骗过城门口的僵尸，就像骗过精灵城市里的那些僵尸一样轻而易举，因此我们得以进入弗拉特里的要塞，并在他尚未察觉我们到来之前，便消灭了他的许多仆从。165
“We cornered the wizard alone, and Cole demanded to know Flattery’s father’s name.“我们把落单的巫师逼入绝境，科尔要求弗拉特里说出他父亲的名字。166
Flattery laughed and declared his father would remain nameless unless Cole agreed to single combat.弗拉特里放声大笑，宣称除非科尔答应与他单独决斗，否则他父亲的名字将永远无人知晓。167
Cole accepted, engaging the power of the spur to change his shape and taking to the air.科尔接受了挑战，激发马刺的力量改变自己的形体，腾空而起。168
The sun had not yet risen, but we could watch the battle in the early dawn light.”太阳尚未升起，但借着清晨微明的天光，我们仍能看清那场战斗。”169
When the priestess paused for a moment, Olive took the opportunity to interrupt with a question.女祭司停顿片刻，奥利芙便趁机插话问道。170
“Excuse me, Mother Lleddew.“打扰一下，莱杜嬷嬷。171
Was that the exact phrase Flattery used—his father would remain nameless?”弗拉特里当时的原话真是——他的父亲仍将是无名者？”172
Mother Lleddew nodded.莱杜嬷嬷点了点头。173
“Yes.“是的。174
An odd choice of words, isn’t it?” she asked.这个说法很古怪，不是吗？”她问道。175
Quick on the uptake, Giogi asked, “Mistress Ruskettle, are you thinking of the Nameless Bard you mentioned in your tale about Alias?”乔吉反应很快，问道：“拉斯凯特尔夫人，你是不是想到了你讲述阿莉亚丝的故事时提到的那位无名者吟游诗人？”176
Olive nodded, but waved her hand to defer any more of Giogi’s questions.奥利芙点点头，却摆了摆手，示意乔吉先别再问。177
“Let Mother Lleddew continue her story.“让莱杜嬷嬷把故事讲下去吧。178
Sorry for the interruption, Mother Lleddew,” she said.抱歉打断了您，莱杜嬷嬷。”她说道。179
The priestess nodded and launched into a description of the battle between Flattery and Giogi’s father.女祭司点了点头，接着讲述起弗拉特里与乔吉父亲之间的那场战斗。180
“Flattery first cast a lightning bolt at Cole, but the shot went wide.“弗拉特里先朝科尔放出一道闪电，但打偏了。181
Then Flattery cast a wall of fire in the air, but Cole easily evaded it.随后，弗拉特里在空中召出一道火墙，但科尔轻而易举地避开了。182
The mage attempted a third spell as Cole swooped down upon him, but it had no effect that any of us could discern.科尔俯冲扑向他时，那名法师试图施展第三个法术，但就我们所能看出的，这个法术毫无效果。183
You see, in addition to transforming Cole into a wyvern, the spur made him immune to magic cast against him.你要知道，那枚马刺不仅把科尔变成了一头双足飞龙，还让他不受任何施加在他身上的魔法影响。184
“Cole snatched the wizard from the ground and flew high, stinging and biting Flattery until the wizard ceased his struggling.“科尔一把将那名巫师从地上抓起，飞向高空，不停地用尾刺蜇他、用牙齿咬他，直到弗拉特里不再挣扎。185
It looked as if Cole had won, but then …”看起来科尔已经赢了，可随后……”186
Mother Lleddew closed her eyes as if she could shut out the sight of what she had already seen.莱杜嬷嬷闭上眼睛，仿佛这样就能把自己早已目睹的那一幕挡在视线之外。187
“As Cole flew back toward us, a black cloud drifted toward him, moving against the wind.“科尔朝我们飞回来时，一团黑云逆着风向他飘去。188
By the time we noticed its strange movements and shape, it was too late for Cole.等我们察觉那团云的移动方式和形状都很古怪时，对科尔来说已经太迟了。189
“The cloud was a pack of wraiths, fifteen or twenty in number.“那团云是一群幽魂，足有十五到二十只。190
They may have been acting on their own, but I believe Flattery summoned them, and in doing so broke the rules of single combat.它们或许是自行行动的，但我相信是弗拉特里召来了它们，而他这样做便破坏了单打独斗的规矩。191
Whichever is the truth, the wraiths fell upon Cole as a single body.不论真相究竟如何，那群幽魂都如同一个整体般扑向了科尔。192
Your father shrieked from their icy, life-draining touch and dropped the wizard.它们冰冷的触碰会汲取生命，你父亲因此尖声惨叫，松开了那名巫师。193
“I invoked Selune to turn the undead away from your father.“我祈请塞露恩驱退袭击你父亲的亡灵。194
The wraiths fled, though possibly it was the swift sunrise that sent them away and not I.那些幽魂逃走了，不过也可能是迅速升起的朝阳赶走了它们，而不是我的祈祷。195
“Cole was very weak when he landed, but he began to search for Flattery’s body at once.“科尔落地时已经非常虚弱，但他立刻开始寻找弗拉特里的尸体。196
None of us had seen the wizard land.我们谁也没看见那个巫师落到哪里。197
“Then Cole was challenged from above by a sky-blue dragon.“这时，一条天蓝色的巨龙从空中向科尔发起挑战。198
Since his magic could not directly harm Cole, Flattery had taken a shape that could.既然弗拉特里的魔法无法直接伤害科尔，他便化作了一种能够伤害科尔的形态。199
Cole took to the sky again.科尔再次飞上天空。200
“With all the wounds the wizard had taken in the first combat, and from the awkward way Flattery fought, we did not think he would win.“那巫师在第一场战斗中受了那么多伤，再看弗拉特里笨拙的战斗方式，我们都不认为他会赢。201
But the wraiths had drained more of Cole’s energy than we’d realized.但幽魂从科尔身上吸走的力量，比我们意识到的更多。202
Still, the battle seemed evenly matched, until another set of Flattery’s minions interfered.尽管如此，双方似乎仍势均力敌，直到弗拉特里的另一批爪牙插手。203
“Ju-ju zombies, more powerful than most, fired upon Cole with crossbows.“一群比普通僵尸更强大的巫毒僵尸用弩箭射击科尔。204
Our party’s mage cast a fireball at the undead, obliterating them before they could get off a second round.我们队伍里的法师朝那些亡灵施放了一颗火球，在它们射出第二轮弩箭之前便将其尽数消灭。205
“It was hard to see the blue dragon against the sky.“那条蓝色巨龙与天空融为一色，很难看清。206
He dove on Cole, and they fell earthward, tearing one another apart.他俯冲扑向科尔，两人一边相互撕咬，一边朝地面坠落。207
At the last moment, they parted.在最后一刻，他们分开了。208
Flattery soared off, badly wounded, but Cole crashed to the ground.”弗拉特里身负重伤，振翅飞走了，科尔却重重地摔在地上。”209
Mother Lleddew brushed tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.莱杜嬷嬷用手背拭去眼泪。210
Giogi tried to swallow the lump in his throat.乔吉竭力咽下哽在喉头的硬块。211
The priestess finished her tale.女祭司讲完了她的故事。212
“Flattery did not return to his city, nor did we find his body.“弗拉特里没有回到他的城市，我们也没有找到他的尸体。213
We were sure, though, that if he was not dead, he was so grievously wounded that he had fled for his life.不过我们确信，即使他没有死，也一定伤势极重，只能逃命去了。214
“Cole was dead.“科尔死了。215
I would have carried his body home myself, on my own back, but he did not change back to human form at death, as a lycanthrope would.我本想亲自把他的尸体背回家，可他死后并没有像兽化人那样变回人形。216
We did not know how to change him back and had no way to transport a wyvern’s corpse.我们不知道怎样让他变回来，也没办法运走一具双足飞龙的尸体。217
We had to send for Drone.我们只好派人去请德罗恩。218
We waited ten days and nights for him to arrive.”我们等了十天十夜，他才赶到。”219
“What did Uncle Drone do?”“德罗恩叔叔怎么做的？”220
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。221
“It was so simple, I was a fool not to have thought of it,” Mother Lleddew said, shaking her head, “but it was also ghastly.”“办法简单得很，我竟然没想到，真是个傻瓜，”莱杜嬷嬷摇着头说，“可那也实在骇人。”222
“What?”“怎么做的？”223
Giogi repeated.乔吉又问了一遍。224
“He sliced off the wyvern’s right spur.“他割下了双足飞龙右脚上的距刺。225
It transformed back into the mummified spur, and Cole returned to his human form.”那东西变回了木乃伊般干枯的距刺，科尔也恢复了人形。”226
Giogi felt a little nauseated.乔吉觉得有些恶心。227
Poor Uncle Drone—having to do such a gruesome thing.可怜的德罗恩叔叔——竟然不得不做这种毛骨悚然的事。228
Of course, only Uncle Drone could have thought of that.当然，也只有德罗恩叔叔才想得到这种办法。229
“I’m not sure that I want to know, but I suppose I ought to,” the nobleman said with a glance at Olive.“我不太确定自己是否想知道，不过我想我应该问清楚，”这位贵族看了奥利芙一眼，说道。230
“How did my father make the spur work?”“我父亲是怎么让那根距刺起作用的？”231
“I’m not sure.“我不太清楚。232
He kept it in his boot, and whenever he needed to change, he would concentrate on it.”他把它放在靴子里，每当需要变身时，就会集中精神想着它。”233
“Pardon me, sir,” Thomas interrupted, “but you don’t have the spur in your boot, do you?”“恕我冒昧，先生，”托马斯插话道，“您该不会把那根距刺放在靴子里了吧？”234
“Why, yes,” Giogi said, patting his right calf, “it’s right here beside the finder’s stone.“哦，是啊，”乔吉拍了拍自己的右小腿，说，“就在这儿，和寻物石放在一起。235
Why do you ask?”你为什么这么问？”236
“I might recommend that you avoid thinking about wyverns until you step outside.“我建议您在走到屋外之前，尽量别去想双足飞龙。237
Perhaps, just to be on the safe side, you might want to leave the spur on the table for the duration of the discussion.或许为了保险起见，在谈话期间，您最好把那根距刺放在桌上。238
A transformation in the house might be a trifle uncomfortable.”要是在屋里变身，恐怕会有一点儿不舒服。”239
Giogi slid the spur from his boot and laid it beside his plate.乔吉从靴子里抽出飞龙刺，放在自己的盘子旁。240
“Good thinking, Thomas,” he said.“想得周到，托马斯，”他说。241
“I’d be the proverbial wyvern in an alchemist shop, eh?”“不然我就成了老话里闯进炼金术士铺子的飞龙，对吧？”242
“Precisely, sir.”“正是如此，先生。”243
Giogi covered the spur with his napkin.乔吉用餐巾盖住了飞龙刺。244
The very idea of transforming into something else, even out-of-doors, where there was plenty of room, frightened him.一想到自己会变成别的东西，他就害怕，哪怕是在空间开阔的户外也一样。245
It would be awful, he thought, having wings instead of arms and a horrible stinging tail, loaded with poison, and scales all over one’s body.他想，胳膊变成翅膀，身后拖着一条装满毒液、蜇人可怕的尾巴，浑身还长满鳞片，那该有多糟糕。246
How could Cole have done it?科尔怎么能做到的？247
“Pardon me, Mother Lleddew,” Olive asked.“恕我冒昧，莱杜嬷嬷，”奥利芙问道。248
“But you said you traveled with Giogi’s great-grandmother.“可您说过，您曾和乔吉的曾祖母一起旅行。249
She didn’t happen to use the spur as well?”她不会也用过飞龙刺吧？”250
“Yes, she did.“是的，她用过。251
That’s the beginning of the tale.故事就是从这里开始的。252
Lady Eswip’s father was Lord Gould the Third.埃斯维普夫人的父亲是三世古尔德勋爵。253
He’d used the spur himself, but he had no son and Lady Eswip proved to be the guardian’s favorite.他自己也用过飞龙刺，但他没有儿子，而埃斯维普夫人却成了守护者最宠爱的人。254
She married her Cousin Bender Wyvernspur, who inherited the family title from his Uncle Gould.她嫁给了自己的堂兄本德·飞龙刺；本德从叔父古尔德那里继承了家族爵位。255
They had two sons, Grever and Fortney, and a daughter, Dorath.他们有两个儿子，格雷弗和福特尼，还有一个女儿，多拉丝。256
The guardian didn’t care for the boys.守护者不喜欢那两个男孩。257
She chose Dorath as her favorite.”她选中了多拉丝，把她当作自己最宠爱的人。”258
“Dorath, I take it, did not reciprocate her affection,” Olive guessed.“我猜，多拉丝并没有回报她的这份喜爱，”奥利芙猜道。259
“No,” the priestess said, shaking her head.“不，”女祭司摇着头说。260
“Eswip died in combat when Dorath was still a young girl.“多拉丝还年幼时，埃斯维普便战死了。261
Dorath resented the loss of her mother.多拉丝对母亲的离世一直心怀怨愤。262
Years later, the season Dorath was introduced at court, some haughty fools snubbed her.多年以后，多拉丝初入宫廷的那个社交季里，几个傲慢的蠢货冷落了她。263
They called her the beast’s daughter.他们叫她野兽的女儿。264
When His Majesty heard about it, he had the idiots banned—Rhigaerd was always sensitive to a pretty girl’s tears—but the damage had already been done.陛下听说此事后，下令禁止那几个白痴入宫——里加德一向见不得漂亮姑娘落泪——但伤害已经造成了。265
No matter that twelve generations of Wyvernspurs before her had won the crown’s gratitude protecting Cormyr as wyverns.哪怕在她之前，飞龙刺家族已有十二代人化身飞龙，守护科米尔，赢得了王室的感激，也无济于事。266
Dorath perceived the spur’s powers as something vulgar and depraved and, of course, the reason her mother had died.”多拉丝认为飞龙刺的力量既粗鄙又邪恶，而且理所当然地认定，那正是她母亲丧命的原因。”267
“That’s why she didn’t want anyone to know about them,” Giogi said.“所以她才不想让任何人知道飞龙刺的事。”乔吉说。268
“Why the story of the spur passed out of the Wyvernspur family.”“所以关于飞龙刺的故事才会在飞龙刺家族中失传。”269
“Worse than that,” the priestess said, “that’s why she never married.“比那还糟，”女祭司说，“正因如此，她才终身未嫁。270
She struggled for years to resist the guardian’s call to use the spur.她多年苦苦抗拒守护者召唤她使用飞龙刺。271
It was not easy.那并不容易。272
She believed the “curse,” as she called it, would be passed down to one of her children, like lycanthropy, so she swore to have no children.她相信，她所谓的‘诅咒’会像兽化症一样传给她的某个孩子，因此发誓绝不生育。273
I could not convince her of her folly.我无法让她明白自己有多愚蠢。274
We argued, and she stopped visiting the House of the Lady.我们争吵了一场，此后她便不再来女神之家。275
She said my advice was tainted because of my were-nature.她说，因为我有化兽人的本性，我的忠告也受到了玷污。276
It must have come as a tremendous blow to her when she learned that the guardian took her Nephew Cole as the next favorite.当她得知守护者选中了她的侄子科尔作为下一个宠儿时，那对她必定是个极其沉重的打击。277
She blamed the guardian for Cole’s death, and Drone for helping the guardian.”她把科尔的死归咎于守护者，也怪德罗恩帮助了守护者。”278
Mother Lleddew rose from the table.莱杜嬷嬷从桌旁站起身来。279
“I’ve told you all I know.“我知道的全都告诉你们了。280
I must be getting back to the temple.”我得回神殿去了。”281
“Alone?“一个人？282
But won’t it be dangerous?”可那不会很危险吗？”283
Giogi objected.乔吉反对道。284
“The Shard should have finished clearing away all the undead by now,” the priestess said.“碎片现在应该已经把所有亡灵都清理干净了，”女祭司说。285
“Flattery could return and drop some more from that cloud,” Giogi pointed out.“弗拉特里可能会回来，再从那片云里扔下一些亡灵，”乔吉指出。286
The priestess shook her head.女祭司摇了摇头。287
“Flattery will waste no more energy on me.“弗拉特里不会再把精力浪费在我身上了。288
It is you he fears.他忌惮的是你。289
You have the spur, you can wield its power, and now I have told you that he murdered your father.你有那枚马刺，也能运用它的力量，而现在，我又告诉了你，是他杀害了你的父亲。290
Now you know that your father would have destroyed Flattery with the spur if the wizard had not cheated in combat.”如今你已经知道，若不是那个法师在战斗中使诈，你父亲本可以用马刺消灭弗拉特里。”291
“So Giogi stands a chance, too,” Olive said.“这么说，乔吉也有胜算，”奥利芙说。292
Mother Lleddew nodded.莱杜嬷嬷点了点头。293
“Remember, though, that Cole was a tried and experienced fighter in the wyvern shape.“不过要记住，科尔化身双足飞龙时，是个久经考验、经验丰富的战士。294
I would not suggest issuing a challenge without practice.”没有经过练习，我不建议你贸然发起挑战。”295
Giogioni had no comment about fighting Flattery as a wyvern.对于化身双足飞龙与弗拉特里交战一事，乔吉奥尼无话可说。296
The idea left him numb.这个念头令他浑身麻木。297
“I must leave now, Giogioni,” Mother Lleddew insisted.“我现在必须走了，乔吉奥尼，”莱杜嬷嬷坚持道。298
“I have a memorial service to prepare for your uncle.“我还要为你叔父准备追悼仪式。299
Selune smile upon you.”愿塞露恩向你微笑。”300
Giogi snapped out of his daze and rose to his feet.乔吉猛然从恍惚中回过神来，站起身。301
He scooped up the spur and escorted the priestess from the room.他一把拿起马刺，陪女祭司走出了房间。302
Thomas followed.托马斯跟了上去。303
“Well, well,” Olive said when the dining room door had closed behind them.等餐厅的门在他们身后关上后，奥利芙说道：“好吧，好吧。”304
“Mistress Ruskettle,” Cat said, with a challenging tone to her voice, “there are still some things I don’t quite understand.”“拉斯凯特尔女士，”凯特用挑衅的语气说道，“还有几件事我不太明白。”305
“I’ll do my best to explain them to you” Olive offered helpfully, secretly praying to Tymora that she could.“我会尽力给你解释清楚的。”奥利芙热心地说道，暗中祈求泰摩拉保佑她真能做到。306
“I knew you would,” Cat said with just a hint of sassiness.“我就知道你会的。”凯特说道，语气中略带一丝不客气。307
“Well, first, if your partner Jade had the spur, why did she go to the trouble of picking Flattery’s pocket to see if he had it?”“那么，首先，既然你的搭档杰德有那枚马刺，她为什么还要费劲去掏弗拉特里的口袋，看看马刺是不是在他身上？”308
“Obviously so I wouldn’t suspect she had it,” Olive replied.“显然是为了不让我怀疑东西在她手上，”奥利芙答道。309
“She had hinted that she had something to tell me, but that someone else had sworn her to secrecy until it was all over.“她曾暗示过有事要告诉我，可另一个人让她发过誓，在一切结束之前必须保守秘密。310
I presume the someone was Drone.我猜那个人就是德罗恩。311
I wish she had trusted me with her little family secret.真希望她肯把她那点家族秘密告诉我。312
She might still be alive.”那样她或许还活着。”313
Cat drummed her fingers impatiently on the table.凯特不耐烦地用手指敲着桌面。314
She couldn’t help feeling that there was something this halfling was keeping from her.她总觉得这个半身人有什么事瞒着她。315
Anxious to catch her in some falsehood, Cat launched into her next question.凯特急于抓住她话里的破绽，便抛出了下一个问题。316
“If I can’t be detected magically or scried, how come the divination Steele had done led him straight to my pocket?”“既然魔法侦测不到我，探知术也窥探不了我，斯蒂尔找人做的占卜又怎么会把他直接引到我的口袋里？”317
“Oh, but it didn’t,” Olive explained.“哦，可占卜并没有把他引到你的口袋里，”奥利芙解释道。318
“Steele had the divination done yesterday.“斯蒂尔昨天就找人做了占卜。319
It told him the spur was in the little ass’s pocket.占卜告诉他，马刺在小蠢驴的口袋里。320
I know, because I was keeping tabs on Steele as well as Flattery.我知道，因为我不光盯着弗拉特里，也一直留意着斯蒂尔。321
You didn’t have the spur yesterday.”昨天马刺还不在你手上。”322
“You did,” Cat recalled.“在你手上，”凯特回想道。323
She remained suspicious of whatever excuse the halfling would make.无论这个半身人会编出什么借口，她依然心存怀疑。324
“Yes.“没错。325
The divination told Steele the spur was in my pocket.”占卜告诉斯蒂尔，马刺在我的口袋里。”326
Olive worked her brain overtime.奥利芙拼命开动脑筋。327
Cat must not suspect she was Birdie.绝不能让凯特怀疑她就是小鸟儿。328
She had to explain why the divination had called her a little ass.她必须解释清楚，为什么占卜会称她为小蠢驴。329
“You see, I was—I am,” Olive said it more firmly, “Little Ass.“你瞧，我以前是——现在也是，”奥利芙说得更加坚定，“小蠢驴。330
It’s my code name among the Harpers.这是我在竖琴手同盟里的代号。331
Fortunately, Steele doesn’t know me or my code name.幸好斯蒂尔既不认识我，也不知道我的代号。332
I presume Waukeen chose not to reveal to him where the spur was, so the divination was as obtuse as possible.”我猜沃金不愿向他透露马刺究竟在哪里，所以才让占卜的结果尽可能晦涩难解。”333
“And what was your partner Jade’s code name?”“那你的搭档杰德的代号是什么？”334
Cat asked disbelievingly.凯特将信将疑地问道。335
“The Gold Dragon?”“金龙？”336
“Silver Spoon,” Olive snapped, looking up from the tea set.“银勺。”奥利芙厉声说道，目光从茶具上抬了起来。337
She reached again into Jade’s magic pouch and pulled out the silver spoon she’d noticed that morning.她再次把手伸进杰德的魔法袋，掏出了早上注意到的那把银勺。338
She laid the spoon on the table.她把勺子放在桌上。339
“Her trademark,” Olive said.“她的标志。”奥利芙说道。340
Cat picked up the spoon.凯特拿起勺子。341
“J.W.“J.W.。342
Jade what?” she asked.杰德什么？”她问道。343
“Wyvernspur, of course.“当然是飞龙刺。344
As I told you, she was a Wyvernspur like you, though she went more commonly as Jade More.我跟你说过，她和你一样，也是飞龙刺家族的人，不过她更常用的名字是杰德·莫尔。345
She liked to keep her true identity a secret.”她喜欢隐瞒自己的真实身份。”346
Olive spoke with confidence, but to herself she wondered, What was Jade doing with a silver spoon with her initials on it—was it a gift from Drone?奥利芙说得信心十足，心里却在纳闷：杰德为什么会有一把刻着自己姓名首字母的银勺——难道是德罗恩送给她的？347
Cat looked down at the table, a little less certain that the halfling had been lying to her.凯特低头望着桌面，不再那么确信这个半身人在对她撒谎了。348
“Mistress Ruskettle, about that crystal you saw Jade steal from Flattery—the one as dark as a new moon?“拉斯凯特尔女士，关于你看见杰德从弗拉特里那里偷走的那块水晶——那块像朔月一样漆黑的水晶？349
Are you sure it was destroyed?你确定它已经被毁掉了吗？350
You didn’t tell me that just to be sure I wouldn’t go back to Flattery, did you?”你不是为了确保我不会回到弗拉特里身边，才故意那么告诉我的吧？”351
Olive searched Cat’s eager face.奥利芙审视着凯特那张满怀期待的脸。352
The mage wanted that crystal badly.这个法师非常想得到那块水晶。353
She’d asked Flattery about it—called it a memory crystal.她曾向弗拉特里问起过它——还称它为记忆水晶。354
“The crystal.“那块水晶。355
That’s what Flattery promised you if you helped him, isn’t it?”弗拉特里许诺只要你帮他，就把它给你，对不对？”356
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。357
Cat nodded.凯特点了点头。358
“Let me guess.“让我猜猜。359
I’ll bet he told you it would restore your memory,” Olive said.我敢打赌，他告诉你那东西能恢复你的记忆。”奥利芙说。360
Cat gasped.凯特倒吸了一口气。361
“How did you know that?“你怎么知道的？362
There was no way you could know that,” she insisted angrily.你根本不可能知道。”她恼怒地坚持道。363
Olive wondered if she should just tell Cat the truth—that the mage had no past to remember, that she was only created last year.奥利芙犹豫着要不要干脆把真相告诉凯特——这个法师根本没有过去可供回忆，她去年才被创造出来。364
That would certainly loosen her dependence on Flattery—providing she believed me, Olive thought.只要她肯相信我，这肯定能减轻她对弗拉特里的依赖，奥利芙心想。365
No, she decided, this is not a good time to start telling the truth—it’s just too unbelievable.不，她决定，现在还不是开始说真话的时候——这实在太令人难以置信了。366
“Answer me, damn it!”“回答我，该死的！”367
Cat demanded.凯特厉声逼问。368
Olive looked up wearily at the mage.奥利芙疲惫地抬头看着法师。369
“Jade lost her memory, too.“杰德也失去了记忆。370
So did Alias.阿莉亚丝也是。371
You see, it’s something that runs in your side of the family,” she explained.你瞧，这是你们家这一支的遗传。”她解释道。372
“It’s the only thing I could think of that would make you desperate enough to take up with someone like Flattery.”“我能想到的，也只有这件事会让你绝望到去跟弗拉特里那种人混在一起。”373
“Was the crystal really destroyed?”“水晶真的被毁了吗？”374
Cat asked.凯特问。375
“Yes.”“是的。”376
Cat looked down at her lap, obviously shaken.凯特低头看着自己的膝头，显然受到了极大的震动。377
“I know you’re not going to like this advice,” Olive said, “but maybe you’d be happier if you gave up dredging your past and concentrated on your future.”“我知道你不会喜欢这个建议，”奥利芙说，“但也许，如果你不再翻挖自己的过去，转而专注于未来，你会过得更快乐些。”378
Cat rose angrily to her feet.凯特愤怒地站起身来。379
There were tears in her eyes.她眼里含着泪水。380
“What makes you think my future is worth concentrating on?” she cried.“你凭什么认为我的未来值得我去关注？”她喊道。381
Before Olive could answer, the mage had fled the dining room, slamming the door behind her.奥利芙还没来得及回答，女法师便冲出了餐厅，砰地一声摔上身后的门。382
The halfling sighed.半身人叹了口气。383
There really wasn’t anything more she could do about Cat.对于凯特，她确实也无能为力了。384
Olive reached for another crumpet, but the crumpet plate was empty.奥利芙伸手想再拿一块烤饼，却发现盘子已经空了。385
That was too much for her to bear.这实在令她难以承受。386
After all the stress she had been through the past few days, she really needed one more crumpet.过去几天经历了那么多压力，她真的很需要再吃一块烤饼。387
She hopped down from her chair and peeked into the kitchen.她从椅子上跳下来，探头朝厨房里看去。388
Thomas stood at the table with his back to her.托马斯背对着她，站在桌边。389
Just as she was about to ask if there wasn’t maybe another batch of tea cakes baking in the oven, she noticed what it was the servant was doing.她正要问问烤箱里是不是没准还烤着另一批茶点小饼，却忽然注意到这个仆人正在做什么。390
Preparing a tray of tea things.他正在准备一托盘茶点。391
Like the tray of breakfast things.就像那托盘早餐一样。392
For whom?给谁的？393
Olive asked herself.奥利芙暗自问道。394
Is there a sick servant in the attic?阁楼里住着一个生病的仆人吗？395
No, in a household this small, we would have heard about it.不，这么小的一户人家，要真有这回事，我们早该听说了。396
Could Thomas have a fugitive relative? the halfling wondered.难道托马斯有个正在逃亡的亲戚？半身人琢磨着。397
In Olive’s family, fugitive relatives were not uncommon.在奥利芙家里，亲戚亡命在外并不稀奇。398
Why don’t we have a look-see? she decided, creeping behind Giogi’s gentleman’s gentleman as he left the kitchen and headed upstairs.何不跟去瞧瞧？她打定主意，趁乔吉的贴身男仆离开厨房上楼时，蹑手蹑脚地跟在他身后。399
Giogi stood in the back garden, watching Mother Lleddew drive off in his rented carriage back to the House of the Lady.乔吉站在后花园里，看着莱杜嬷嬷乘他租来的马车离去，返回女神之家。400
She seemed very nice.她看起来人很好。401
She’d been a good friend of his parents.她曾是他父母的好友。402
Still, it was a little shocking to learn she was a were-bear.不过，得知她是个熊化人，还是有些令人震惊。403
Not as shocking as the story about his father, though.但还没有关于他父亲的那个故事那么令人震惊。404
He pulled the spur from his boot and turned it over in his hands a few times.他从靴子上取下马刺，拿在手里翻来覆去看了几遍。405
Aunt Dorath must be tearing her hair out right now, afraid that I’ll use this.多拉丝姑妈现在一定急得直揪头发，生怕我会用这东西。406
Or tearing Frefford’s hair out for letting Cat take it to me.也可能正揪弗雷福德的头发，怪他让凯特把这东西带给我。407
He held the spur out in front of him.他把马刺举到面前。408
Wyvern, he thought, I want to be a wyvern.双足飞龙，他心想，我想变成一条双足飞龙。409
He felt no different.他没有感觉到任何变化。410
He was not shape-shifting.他并没有变形。411
It’s not working.没起作用。412
The spur must know I don’t really want to be a wyvern.马刺一定知道，我其实并不想变成双足飞龙。413
Wyverns are beasts.双足飞龙是野兽。414
I don’t want to be a beast.我不想变成野兽。415
Listen to me, I’m no different than Aunt Dorath.听听我说的这些话，我和多拉丝姑妈根本没什么两样。416
I’ll never be an adventurer like Cole.我永远也成不了科尔那样的冒险家。417
It’s just not in me.我骨子里就不是那种人。418
He headed toward the kitchen door to go inside, but the thought of going back into the stuffy house was unbearable.他朝厨房门走去，准备进屋，可一想到要回到那闷热的房子里，他就受不了。419
The fear of having to face Cat and Mistress Ruskettle and explain that he didn’t want to be a wyvern was worse.更可怕的是，他还得面对凯特和拉斯凯特尔夫人，向她们解释自己不想变成双足飞龙。420
I need to groom Daisyeye, he thought.我得给雏菊眼梳梳毛，他心想。421
Whenever he felt really depressed or uncertain, grooming a horse usually helped bring him out of it.每当他感到格外沮丧或心里没底时，给马梳毛通常都能让他振作起来。422
He strode to the carriage house and slipped inside.他大步走向马车房，悄悄溜了进去。423
There was enough light coming through the window to see without lighting the lantern.窗外透进来的光线已经足够明亮，不点灯也能看清。424
It took his eyes a moment to adjust, though, from the bright outdoor sunshine.不过，他刚从户外明亮的阳光下进来，眼睛还是过了一会儿才适应。425
He checked on his buggy first.他先查看了一下自己的轻便马车。426
The rear axle was propped up on a sawhorse so that the broken wheel could be taken out for repairs.马车的后轴架在一只锯木架上，以便拆下坏掉的车轮送去修理。427
The painting that had so startled Birdie was leaning against Daisyeye’s stall.那幅曾把小鸟儿吓了一跳的画，正斜靠在雏菊眼的马厩隔间外。428
Giogi had asked Thomas to leave it there until he decided whether he wanted to restore and reuse the frame.乔吉让托马斯先把画留在那里，等他决定是否要修复并重新使用那个画框。429
The nobleman was reaching for the bucket of Daisyeye’s brushes when he heard a muffled sob from somewhere overhead.贵族正伸手去拿装着雏菊眼的刷子的桶，忽然听见头顶某处传来一声压抑的啜泣。430
Hello? he thought.有人吗？他心想。431
Who’s crying in my loft?谁在我的阁楼里哭？432
As Giogi climbed the ladder, something rustled in the straw.乔吉爬上梯子时，干草里传来一阵窸窣声。433
As he reached the top he could see a figure moving into the shadows.快到顶端时，他看见一个人影正躲进阴影里。434
He caught a glimpse of yellow silk and gleaming copper and knew who it was immediately.他瞥见一抹黄色丝绸和闪闪发亮的铜色，立刻就知道那是谁了。435
“Cat?” he whispered.“凯特？”他低声唤道。436
There was a sniff, but the figure did not move out of the shadows.阴影里传来一声抽鼻子的声音，但那个人影没有出来。437
Giogi swung himself into the loft and moved toward the mage.乔吉翻身上了阁楼，朝女法师走去。438
“What’s wrong?” he whispered.“怎么了？”他低声问。439
“Nothing,” Cat answered, keeping her face turned away.“没什么。”凯特答道，仍把脸扭向一边。440
Giogi sat beside her in the hay and turned her gently by the shoulders so that she faced him.乔吉在她身旁的干草上坐下，轻轻扶着她的肩膀，让她转过来面对自己。441
Her face was wet and her eyes were red and puffy.她满脸泪水，双眼又红又肿。442
“Please, tell me what’s wrong?”“求你了，告诉我到底怎么了？”443
“Nothing,” the mage insisted.“没什么。”女法师坚持道。444
“Nothing worth crying over.“没什么值得哭的。445
I was just being stupid.我只是在犯傻。446
Wanting stupid things.想要些愚蠢的东西。447
I’ve stopped now.我现在已经不哭了。448
See.你看。449
I didn’t mean to.我不是故意要哭的。450
I don’t know what got into me.我也不知道自己中了什么邪。451
I never cry.”我从来不哭。”452
“Yes, you do.“不，你会哭。453
You cried last night, when you were frightened,” Giogi reminded her.昨晚你害怕的时候就哭了。”乔吉提醒她。454
“Oh.”“哦。”455
Cat looked down at her hands.凯特低头看着自己的双手。456
“I’d forgotten that.“我都忘了。457
You must think I’m stupid to cry.”你一定觉得我哭鼻子很傻。”458
“No, I don’t. What a thing to say.“不，我不觉得。怎么会这么说。459
Everyone cries.人人都会哭。460
It’s like that poem: Soldiers have their fears, something, something, something, ladies are entitled to their tears.”就像那首诗里说的：士兵也有恐惧，什么什么什么，淑女有权流泪。”461
Cat burst into fresh sobs.凯特突然又抽泣起来。462
Giogi pulled her to his chest and hugged her gently, whispering, “There, there, my little kitty-cat.”乔吉把她拉进怀里，轻轻抱着她，低声哄道：“好啦，好啦，我的小猫咪。”463
Cat grew calmer.凯特渐渐平静下来。464
“What’s made you so sad?”“是什么让你这么难过？”465
Giogi asked.乔吉问。466
“You’re so nice,” Cat said, sniffling.“你人真好。”凯特吸着鼻子说。467
“I could try to be meaner if it would make you happy,” Giogi teased.“要是能让你高兴，我可以试着对你坏一点。”乔吉打趣道。468
“No, you couldn’t,” Cat argued, looking up at him.“不，你做不到。”凯特反驳道，抬头望着他。469
“You wouldn’t even know where to begin.”“你连该从哪儿开始都不知道。”470
“Maybe not,” Giogi agreed.“也许吧。”乔吉表示赞同。471
“Would it make you cry more if I did something else nice?” he asked.“要是我再做一件好事，会不会让你哭得更厉害？”他问。472
“Like what?”“比如什么？”473
Cat asked.凯特问。474
Giogi lowered his lips over the mage’s and kissed her slowly.乔吉俯下头，将双唇覆在魔法师的唇上，缓缓吻着她。475
Since she didn’t start crying again, he kissed her again, longer.见她没有再次哭起来，他又吻了她一次，这一吻更长。476
“There.“好了。477
That didn’t depress you too badly, now did it?”这下没让你难过得太厉害吧？”478
“No,” the mage admitted.“没有，”女法师承认道。479
“It wasn’t stupid, either.”“那也不蠢。”480
“Not if you liked it,” Giogi said.“只要你喜欢，就不蠢，”乔吉说。481
“And I can cry if I like, can’t I?”“那我想哭也可以哭，对不对？”482
“Of course, but I’d rather see you smile.”“当然可以，不过我更想看你笑。”483
He began kissing her again, but she turned away and started to cry.他又开始吻她，可她转过脸去，哭了起来。484
“Cat, what is wrong?“凯特，怎么了？485
You have to tell me, darling.”你得告诉我，亲爱的。”486
Through her sobs Cat stammered, “Flattery told me crying was stupid, and kissing was stupid, and, and, other things I wanted were stupid.凯特抽泣着，结结巴巴地说：“弗拉特里说，哭很蠢，亲吻也很蠢，还有……还有，我想要的其他东西也都很蠢。487
For the longest time, I believed everything he said, but he was lying, wasn’t he?”很长一段时间里，他说什么我都信，可他是在骗我，对不对？”488
“Flattery is a vile monster,” Giogi said hotly, “and the sooner you forget about him, the better.“弗拉特里是个卑鄙恶毒的怪物，”乔吉激愤地说，“你越早忘掉他越好。489
You won’t ever have to see him again.”你再也不用见到他了。”490
“You don’t understand.“你不明白。491
He’s my master—”他是我的主人——”492
“Rubbish.“胡说。493
You don’t need a master.你不需要什么主人。494
I can protect you.”我可以保护你。”495
Cat pulled away.凯特挣脱了他。496
“No, Giogi, you can’t. You have to let me finish explaining.“不，乔吉，你保护不了我。你得让我把话说完。497
I have to tell you.我必须告诉你。498
He’s my master, and I was afraid not to do everything he told me.”他是我的主人，他吩咐的一切，我一点也不敢不照做。”499
Cat hesitated, obviously afraid to tell him what she thought he should know.凯特犹豫了，显然很害怕告诉他那件她认为他应该知道的事。500
A cold fear seized Giogi.一阵冰冷的恐惧攫住了乔吉。501
He swallowed.他咽了口唾沫。502
“Cat, what did you do?” he whispered.“凯特，你做了什么？”他低声问道。503
“I married him.”“我嫁给他了。”504
Giogi sat, stunned.乔吉呆呆地坐在那里。505
Immense relief mingled with acute heartache.如释重负之余，他又感到一阵强烈的心痛。506
He couldn’t choose which to focus on first.他不知道该先顾哪一种感受。507
“I didn’t know about all the people he killed,” Cat said.“我不知道他杀了那么多人。”凯特说。508
Giogi took a deep breath and asked, “Did you love him?”乔吉深吸一口气，问道：“你爱他吗？”509
“No.”“不爱。”510
Giogi breathed out.乔吉呼出一口气。511
“It doesn’t matter, though.“不过，这并不重要。512
I consented.”我同意了。”513
“Of course it matters, and a vow made under duress is not valid.”“当然重要，而且受胁迫时立下的誓言是无效的。”514
“He didn’t threaten me, Giogi.“他没有威胁我，乔吉。515
I was just afraid of him.”我只是害怕他。”516
“What were you afraid of?”“你怕他什么？”517
Cat shrugged.凯特耸了耸肩。518
“That he would sell me back as a slave to the Zhentil Keep army or turn me into one of his zombies or feed me to his ghouls.”“怕他把我卖回去，给散提尔堡的军队当奴隶，或者把我变成他手下的僵尸，又或者拿我喂他的食尸鬼。”519
“Oh, is that all?”“哦，就这些吗？”520
Giogi asked, astonished at the horror in which she must have lived under the wizard’s rule.乔吉问道，想到她在那巫师的统治下必定一直生活在如此恐怖的境地中，他惊愕不已。521
“Yes.“是的。522
I didn’t want to die.我不想死。523
I’m not afraid of being hit, but I am afraid to die.”我不怕挨打，但我怕死。”524
“He hit you?” the nobleman shouted, rising to his feet.“他打过你？”贵族大喊着站起身来。525
Cat cringed, startled by Giogi’s anger.凯特吓得瑟缩了一下；乔吉的怒火令她猝不及防。526
Giogi slammed his fist into an overhead beam.乔吉一拳砸在头顶的横梁上。527
The wizard’s villainy had no bounds.那个巫师的恶行简直毫无底线。528
Someone had to stop him.必须有人阻止他。529
“I’m sorry,” Cat whispered.“对不起。”凯特低声说道。530
Giogi looked down at the cowering woman and felt ashamed of having frightened her.乔吉低头看着瑟缩的女人，为自己吓到了她而感到羞愧。531
He took her hands in his own and brought her to her feet.他握住她的双手，将她扶了起来。532
“Don’t be a little ass,” he whispered.“别犯傻了。”他低声说道。533
He kissed her on her forehead.他吻了吻她的额头。534
“Come back to the house with me,” he said.“跟我回屋里去吧。”他说。535
Cat let Giogi lead her down the ladder and out of the carriage house.凯特任由乔吉领着她爬下梯子，走出马车房。536
She walked alongside him through the garden, and he held the front door open for her as she entered the house.她与他并肩穿过花园；进屋时，他替她扶着前门。537
The couple hurried to the parlor, where it was warm.两人匆匆来到暖和的客厅。538
It was some time before they thought of Olive and wondered where she was.过了好一会儿，他们才想起奥利芙，不知道她去了哪里。539
This is such a nice house for sneaking around in, Olive thought as she crept down the upstairs hallway after Thomas.这房子真适合偷偷摸摸地行动，奥利芙一边尾随托马斯蹑手蹑脚地走过楼上的走廊，一边想道。540
Ought to make it a law—every wealthy house should have thick carpeting.真该立条法律——所有富人家的地板上都必须铺厚地毯。541
She wished Jade were with her so she could share that joke with her.她真希望杰德也在身边，好让她能把这个笑话讲给她听。542
Olive stood behind the attic door, listening to Thomas tread up the stairs.奥利芙站在阁楼门后，听着托马斯一步步走上楼梯。543
Third and fifth steps are a might creaky, she noted.第三阶和第五阶有点儿嘎吱作响，她暗暗记下。544
She opened the attic door a crack.她把阁楼门推开一条缝。545
The stairs were clear.楼梯上空无一人。546
She slipped into the stairwell and padded up the first two steps, tested the third along the side where there was less stress, climbed it and the next and then froze to listen.她闪进楼梯间，悄无声息地踏上头两级台阶，又沿着受力较小的边缘试探了一下第三级，踩上去后再迈过一级，随即僵立不动，侧耳倾听。547
She could hear Thomas’s voice, quiet but clear.她能听见托马斯的声音，虽然很轻，却很清晰。548
“He’s found it.”“他找到了。”549
Olive didn’t hear a reply.奥利芙没有听见回应。550
Thomas asked, “Is it time yet?”托马斯问道：“到时候了吗？”551
Speak louder, Olive thought.大声点，奥利芙心想。552
“But he might use the spur,” Thomas said with a touch of alarm.“可他或许会用马刺，”托马斯略带惊慌地说道。553
Olive crept up the next two steps.奥利芙蹑手蹑脚地又上了两级台阶。554
“Do you think that’s really wise, sir?”“您真觉得这样明智吗，先生？”555
Thomas asked.托马斯问道。556
He is not talking to a relative of his, Olive realized.他不是在和自己的亲戚说话，奥利芙意识到。557
Something soft brushed against the halfling’s legs and Olive nearly toppled down the stairs.一个柔软的东西擦过半身人的双腿，奥利芙险些从楼梯上摔下去。558
A black-and-white spotted cat looked up at the halfling and meowed loudly.一只黑白斑点猫仰头看着半身人，大声喵喵叫起来。559
If it isn’t one cat, it’s another, Olive growled inwardly.不是这只猫，就是另一只猫，奥利芙在心里恼火地咆哮。560
She shooed the beast away, and it went scampering up the stairs.她把那畜生赶开，它便一溜烟地跑上了楼梯。561
Thomas did not say anything for at least thirty heartbeats, and Olive grew nervous.托马斯足足有三十次心跳那么久没说话，奥利芙开始紧张起来。562
Some sixth sense warned her it was time to sneak off.某种第六感警告她，是时候偷偷溜走了。563
She slipped down the stairs.她悄悄下了楼梯。564
Just as she reached for the door handle, she heard someone above who was not Thomas utter the word, “Secure.”就在她伸手去够门把手时，她听见上面一个并非托马斯的人吐出一个词：“锁上。”565
Olive twisted the doorknob, but the door did not open.奥利芙拧动门把手，门却没有打开。566
The sound of footfalls crossed the attic floor toward the staircase.脚步声穿过阁楼地板，朝楼梯走来。567
Olive spun around and looked up the steep staircase.奥利芙猛地转过身，抬头望向陡峭的楼梯。568
At the top stood a now-too-familiar figure wearing wizard’s robes.楼梯顶端站着一个如今已熟悉得不能再熟悉的身影，身穿法师袍。569
“Mistress Ruskettle, you can’t be thinking of leaving us so soon.“拉斯凯特尔女士，你该不会这么快就想离开我们吧。570
I’ve been so wanting to meet you.”我一直都很想见见你。”571
Olive turned back to the door and pounded and kicked on it.奥利芙转回门前，对着门又捶又踢。572
“Giogi!” she screamed.“乔吉！”她尖叫道。573
“It’s Flattery!“是弗拉特里！574
Help!救命！575
Giogi!”乔吉！”576
“Static,” the wizard whispered, pointing an iron nail at the halfling.“定身。”巫师低声念道，将一枚铁钉指向那个半身人。577
Olive felt all her muscles stiffen at once.奥利芙感到全身的肌肉同时僵住了。578
She stood frozen with her face and clenched fists leaning against the wood.她一动不动地僵在那里，脸和攥紧的双拳都抵在木门上。579
“Fetch her up, Thomas,” the wizard ordered, “and I’ll see to her.”“把她带上来，托马斯，”巫师命令道，“我来处置她。”580
The wizard clucked once.巫师咂了一下舌。581
“So clever but so much trouble.“这么聪明，却这么会惹麻烦。582
Just like the other woman in my life.”就跟我生命中的另一个女人一模一样。”583