Thomas finished shoveling the ashes out of the fireplace of the lilac room and laid a fresh fire for his master’s guest.托马斯铲净了淡紫色客房壁炉里的灰烬，又为主人的客人生起一炉新火。1
He picked up his shovel and ash bucket and left the room.他拿起铲子和灰桶，离开了房间。2
As he descended the stairs to the front hall, he heard a commotion in the parlor.他下楼前往门厅时，听见客厅里传来一阵骚动。3
It sounded as if someone were looting the room.听起来仿佛有人正在洗劫那间屋子。4
Setting down his ash bucket and brandishing his shovel like a club, the servant crept to the parlor door and opened it just a crack.仆人放下灰桶，把铲子像棍棒一样举在手中，蹑手蹑脚地走到客厅门前，将门推开一条小缝。5
Giogioni stood by the open bookshelves with a book in his hand.乔吉奥尼站在敞开的书架旁，手里拿着一本书。6
Scattered all about him, on the chairs, the ottomans, the sofa, the tea table, and the floor, were most of the bookshelves’ contents—manuscripts and bound books of every shape and size.书架里的大部分藏书都散落在他四周的椅子、脚凳、沙发、茶几和地板上——各种形状、各种尺寸的手稿和装订成册的书籍。7
Journals kept by Wyvernspur ancestors, histories written about the family, tomes about magic, and catalogs of monsters, had all been rifled through and discarded in a most unceremonious fashion.飞龙刺家族祖先留下的日志、有关这个家族的史书、讲述魔法的巨著以及怪物图鉴，全都被人翻了个遍，又极不客气地随手丢弃。8
As Thomas watched, Giogioni frowned and tossed one book angrily across the room before snatching up another.托马斯看着乔吉奥尼皱起眉头，气恼地把一本书扔过整个房间，随即又抓起另一本。9
The mage Cat sat at the writing desk, reading more carefully through books Giogi had discarded.魔法师凯特坐在书桌前，更加仔细地翻阅着乔吉丢开的书。10
Thomas knocked and stepped into the room.托马斯敲了敲门，走进房间。11
“Ah, Thomas, have you seen Mistress Ruskettle?“啊，托马斯，你见到拉斯凯特尔女士了吗？12
She might be interested in lending a hand here.”她或许有兴趣过来搭把手。”13
“I believe she had some personal business to attend to, sir,” Thomas said.“我想她有些私事要处理，先生，”托马斯说道。14
“No doubt she’ll return before dinner.“她晚饭前肯定会回来。15
Is there something particular I could help you find, sir?” he asked.有什么特定的东西需要我帮您找吗，先生？”他问道。16
“Yes, Thomas,” Giogi snapped, “how to turn into a wyvern.“有，托马斯，”乔吉厉声说道，“变成飞龙的方法。17
I can’t believe with all the junk written by and about our family, no one took the trouble to record how it’s done.我们家族写下的、以及别人写我们家族的废话有这么多，居然没有一个人肯费心记下这件事该怎么做，真让人难以置信。18
Should I ever find out, I most certainly shall write it down.”如果有朝一日我弄明白了，我一定会把它写下来。”19
“I presume, sir, that you have already tried concentrating on the transformation.”“先生，我想您应该已经试过集中精神进行变形了。”20
“I have.“试过了。21
It was a complete bust.”彻底失败了。”22
“I’m so sorry, sir.“实在抱歉，先生。23
I was under the impression, however, that your interest was academic and not urgent.”不过，我原以为您对此只是出于学术兴趣，并不急于一时。”24
“Yes, well, I’ve changed my mind.“是啊，这个，我改主意了。25
Thomas, haven’t we got a trunk of books in the attic?”托马斯，阁楼里不是有一箱书吗？”26
“Yes, sir, but they’re all poetry and romances, hardly the sort to hold the information you seek.”“是的，先生，不过那些全是诗集和传奇故事，不大可能有您要找的资料。”27
“You never know.“那可说不准。28
Something might have been slipped between the pages or scribbled in the margins of a particularly favorite adventure.说不定有人把什么东西夹在了书页里，或者写在了某个特别受喜爱的冒险故事的页边上。29
Don’t bother yourself.你不用费心。30
I’ll fetch them down myself.”我自己去把书搬下来。”31
He moved toward the door.他朝门口走去。32
Thomas neatly intercepted his master before he left the room.托马斯利落地拦住了正要离开房间的主人。33
“Actually, sir, if you are really intent on discovering this information, there is a knowledgeable primary source you ought to consult.”“其实，先生，如果您当真决意要查明此事，有一位知情的第一手来源，您应该去问问。”34
“What?”“什么？”35
“Not a what, sir.“不是‘什么’，先生。36
Who, sir.是‘谁’，先生。37
The she-beast.”那头母兽。”38
“Aunt Dorath.“多拉丝姑妈。39
Yes, she might know, but she would never tell me,” Giogi said.对，她或许知道，可她绝不会告诉我。”乔吉说。40
“No, sir.“不，先生。41
I did not mean your aunt.我指的不是您姑妈。42
I was referring to the guardian,” Thomas explained.我说的是那位守护者。”托马斯解释道。43
“Oh,” Giogi said.“哦。”乔吉说。44
A cold, hardness settled in the pit of his stomach.一团冰冷的硬块沉在了他的胃底。45
“According to legend,” Thomas reminded him, “the guardian is the spirit of the wyvern Paton Wyvernspur aided.“据传说，”托马斯提醒他，“那位守护者就是佩顿·飞龙刺曾帮助过的那头双足飞龙的灵魂。46
She gave him the spur.是她把那枚刺给了他。47
It stands to reason that she would have been the one to instruct him as to its use and such.”照理说，也该是她教会了他如何使用那枚刺之类的事情。”48
“He’s right,” Cat said, looking up from her book.“他说得对。”凯特从书本上抬起头来说。49
Giogi set the book he was holding back on a shelf.乔吉把手里拿着的书放回书架。50
There was no escaping.躲是躲不过了。51
It was inevitable.这是不可避免的。52
He would have to go to the guardian, speak to her, and listen to her talk about awful things.他非得去见那位守护者，跟她交谈，听她讲那些可怕的事。53
“Giogi, do you want me to come with you?”“乔吉，你想让我陪你去吗？”54
Cat asked.凯特问道。55
Giogi looked down at the mage’s lovely face.乔吉低头看着法师美丽的脸庞。56
It’s not like Aunt Dorath thinks, Giogi told himself.事情并不像多拉丝姑妈想的那样，乔吉告诉自己。57
I’m not being seduced by some demon.我并不是受了什么恶魔的诱惑。58
I’m choosing to do this, for Cat’s sake, for the family’s sake.这是我自己的选择，为了凯特，也为了家族。59
Someone must deal with Flattery.必须有人来对付弗拉特里。60
If I’m the only one who can use the spur, then I will just have to use it.如果只有我能使用马刺，那我就只能用它了。61
“Giogi, do you want me to come with you?”“乔吉，你想让我陪你去吗？”62
Cat asked again.凯特又问了一遍。63
“No. I had better go alone.“不用。我最好一个人去。64
It shouldn’t take too long.应该不会花太久。65
I’ll be back before dinner.”我会在晚饭前回来。”66
His tone was light, as if he were just going down the street to a tavern instead of a haunted crypt.他的语气很轻松，仿佛只是要去街边的一家酒馆，而不是一座闹鬼的墓穴。67
Inside he was fighting down panic.可他内心正竭力压下恐慌。68
“You’re sure?”“你确定吗？”69
Cat asked.凯特问道。70
“Yes.“确定。71
I think she’ll be more communicative if I’m alone.”我想，我一个人去的话，她会更愿意开口。”72
Cat stood, kissed Giogi good-bye, and whispered, “Good luck,” in his ear.凯特站起身，吻别了乔吉，又凑到他耳边低声说：“祝你好运。”73
Giogi smiled at her gratefully.乔吉感激地朝她笑了笑。74
“I’ll be taking Daisyeye, Thomas,” he said.“托马斯，我要骑雏菊眼去。”他说。75
“I can saddle her myself, but please see that Poppy is returned to Redstone.”“我可以自己给她备鞍，不过请务必把波比送回红石。”76
“Very good, sir.”“好的，先生。”77
A few minutes later, Giogioni led Daisyeye from the carriage house and out the garden gate, mounted her, turned her west, and kicked her into a trot.几分钟后，乔吉奥尼牵着雏菊眼走出马车房，出了花园大门，翻身上马，掉转马头朝西而去，双腿一夹，让她小跑起来。78
The shining sun made the graveyard appear somewhat cheerier than it had the day before, but Giogi’s spirit was heavy.灿烂的阳光让墓园显得比前一天明朗了几分，但乔吉的心情依然沉重。79
Yesterday all I wanted was to find the spur and return it to the crypt.昨天，我一心只想找到那只马刺，把它放回地下墓室。80
I get my wish, and now it’s not enough.如今愿望实现了，却还不够。81
Now I have to find out how the spur works.现在我还得弄清楚这只马刺怎么用。82
I have to learn how to turn into a beast.我得学会怎样变成野兽。83
Giogi tied Daisyeye to a post and pulled out the key to the mausoleum.乔吉把雏菊眼拴在一根柱子上，掏出了陵墓的钥匙。84
There’s no question about it.这件事毫无疑问。85
Flattery has to be vanquished.必须击败弗拉特里。86
He turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door.他把钥匙插进锁孔一转，推开了门。87
Of course, I could hire some real adventurers to go after Flattery, he mused, looking into the darkness.当然，我也可以雇几个真正的冒险者去对付弗拉特里，他望着里面的黑暗，思忖道。88
Giogi walked into the mausoleum and pushed the door shut behind him.乔吉走进陵墓，随手关上身后的门。89
He locked the door and pulled out the finder’s stone to light his way.他锁好门，取出寻物石照亮前路。90
Cole hadn’t relied on hirelings to take care of Flattery, he thought as he skipped over the black-and-white tiles to open the secret door in the floor.科尔当初并没有依靠雇来的人手对付弗拉特里，他一边想着，一边跃过黑白相间的地砖，去开启地板上的暗门。91
The family honor is at stake; the only way to set things right is for the family to take care of it.这关系到家族的荣誉；要让一切重归正轨，唯一的办法就是由家族亲自解决此事。92
Freffie and Steele are no match for Flattery’s treacheries, and Flattery’s already ambushed the only real threat to his power: Uncle Drone.弗雷菲和斯蒂尔根本应付不了弗拉特里的阴险伎俩，而弗拉特里已经伏击了唯一真正能威胁到他力量的人——德罗恩叔叔。93
As Giogi started down the stairs to the crypt, he thought of Mother Lleddew’s story of how Uncle Drone had to slice off part of Cole’s wyvern foot so his corpse would transform back into a man’s. It was this that disturbed Giogi more than the fact that Cole had died battling the wizard.乔吉开始沿楼梯走向地下墓室时，想起了莱杜嬷嬷讲过的故事：德罗恩叔叔不得不切掉科尔那只双足飞龙脚的一部分，好让他的尸体变回人的模样。比起科尔与那名巫师搏斗而死这个事实，更令乔吉不安的反倒是这件事。94
Suppose I get stuck as a wyvern while I’m still alive?要是我还活着，却被困在双足飞龙的形态里，变不回来了呢？95
Suppose I go wyverny and forget about my family and Cat and Daisyeye and fly off to live in the wild?要是我彻底变成了双足飞龙，忘掉家人、凯特和雏菊眼，飞到荒野里生活去了呢？96
Giogi stood at the crypt door with the key in the lock.乔吉站在墓室门前，钥匙已经插进锁孔。97
Aunt Dorath must have been afraid of the same thing, not being able to change back from a beast into a human being.多拉丝姑妈一定也害怕同一件事——变成野兽后再也变不回人。98
Had that ever happened to Cole while he was alive?科尔活着的时候，也曾发生过这种事吗？99
Giogi didn’t remember his father ever being away from home for very long, and when he returned, he never showed any signs of being wyverny.乔吉不记得父亲曾长时间离开过家，而他每次回来，也从未显出半点双足飞龙的样子。100
As a matter of fact, Cole was like every other father Giogi had ever known, better, actually.事实上，科尔和乔吉认识的其他父亲没什么两样——其实还要更好。101
Cole took him riding and boating and told him stories and taught him his letters and numbers.科尔带他骑马、划船，给他讲故事，还教他识字和算数。102
He must have been a good husband, too.他也一定是个好丈夫。103
Giogi didn’t remember his parents fighting very much.乔吉不记得父母经常争吵。104
They gardened together and danced together and played backgammon and read books to one another by the fireside at night.他们一起侍弄花园，一起跳舞，一起玩双陆棋，晚上还会坐在炉火旁互相读书。105
Even separated by fourteen years and surrounded by the cold stone stairwell leading to the crypt, Giogi could feel the warmth of that hearth.纵然隔着十四年光阴，周围又是通往墓室的冰冷石砌楼梯间，乔吉依然能感受到那炉火的温暖。106
No, he decided, someone like Cole couldn’t forget how to be human.不，他断定，像科尔这样的人，不可能忘记该怎么做人。107
Not until death had left him cold.除非死亡让他的身体彻底冰冷。108
Will it be the same for me, though?可是，我也会和他一样吗？109
“I’ll never find out by just standing here,” the nobleman declared.“光站在这里，我永远也不会知道答案。”这位贵族宣告道。110
He turned the key in the lock and pushed open the crypt door.他转动钥匙，推开了墓室的门。111
As soon as he stepped into the crypt, motes of black swirled on the back wall and coalesced into the familiar shape of the shadow wyvern.他刚踏进墓室，后墙上便有缕缕黑影旋动起来，凝聚成熟悉的暗影双足飞龙。112
“Giogioni, you’re back,” the guardian whispered.“乔吉奥尼，你回来了。”守护者低声说道。113
Giogi strode into the crypt.乔吉大步走进墓室。114
He stopped before the empty pillar and pulled the spur out of his boot.他在那根空置的石柱前停下，从靴子里取出马刺。115
“I found it,” he said, dropping the heirloom onto the velvet cloth.“我找到了。”他说着，将这件传家宝放到天鹅绒布上。116
“I need to know how to use it.”“我得知道该怎么使用它。”117
“I knew you’d come back to me, my Giogioni,” the guardian said.“我就知道你会回到我身边，我的乔吉奥尼。”守护者说道。118
“You have nothing to do with it.“这件事与你无关。119
This is an emergency.现在情况紧急。120
I don’t want to be a wyvern.”我不想变成双足飞龙。”121
The guardian laughed, her shadowy form swaying on the wall.守护者笑了起来，她那朦胧的身影在墙上摇曳。122
It was a clear, ringing laugh, unlike her spooky, whispery voice.那笑声清脆响亮，与她阴森森的低语声截然不同。123
“I wouldn’t want to be a human.”“我可不想当人类。”124
“Well, I need to be one anyway.“可不管怎样，我非得变成一个不可。125
A wyvern.”一头飞龙。”126
“You can never be a wyvern, Giogioni.“你永远也不可能成为真正的飞龙，乔吉奥尼。127
You may take a wyvern’s form, but you will always be human.你可以化作飞龙的形态，但你永远都是人类。128
That is essential.”这一点至关重要。”129
“What do you mean, essential?”“你说至关重要，是什么意思？”130
“The spur’s blessing guarantees the Wyvernspur line will continue.“刺的赐福能确保飞龙刺家族的血脉延续下去。131
If Wyvernspurs were to turn from human to wyvern, they would not be able to continue the line as Wyvernspurs.如果飞龙刺家族的人从人类变成了飞龙，他们就无法再以飞龙刺家族的身份延续血脉。132
So that which confers power over the spur, Selune’s kiss, is not given to those unable to resist changing completely to wyvern.”因此，赋予人驾驭这根刺之力的塞露恩之吻，不会赐给那些无法抗拒彻底变成飞龙的人。”133
A touch of relief spread over Giogi.乔吉稍稍松了口气。134
Then his curiosity overcame his anxiety.随后，好奇心压过了他的焦虑。135
“Suppose someone not kissed by Selune tries to use it?”“假如没有得到塞露恩之吻的人试着使用它呢？”136
“They would think they had a wyvern’s power, though their body would still be human.”“他们会以为自己拥有了飞龙的力量，尽管身体仍然是人类。”137
“Is that all it takes to be kissed by Selune—being able to resist going completely wyverny?”“要得到塞露恩之吻，只要能忍住不彻底变成飞龙就行了吗？”138
“No. You must want to be different.”“不。你必须渴望有所改变。”139
“I don’t want to be different,” Giogi objected.“我不想改变，”乔吉反驳道。140
The guardian laughed.守护者笑了。141
“You are so satisfied with yourself, your life, your world?”“你对自己、对自己的生活、对自己的世界，就这么满意吗？”142
Giogi shifted uneasily.乔吉不安地挪了挪身子。143
He couldn’t lie.他无法撒谎。144
“With a wyvern’s power and the blessings of the spur you can change yourself, your life, your world.”“有了飞龙的力量和刺的赐福，你就能改变自己、改变生活、改变世界。”145
“So what do I have to do to make it work?”“那我要怎么做，才能让它起作用？”146
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。147
“Take up the spur—”“拿起马刺——”148
Giogi set the finder’s stone down on the pillar and picked up the spur.乔吉把寻物石放在柱子上，拿起了马刺。149
“Keep it near your leg.”“把它放在腿边。”150
Giogi slid the spur into his boot.乔吉把马刺塞进靴子里。151
“Now you must remember your dreams.”“现在，你必须回想起你的梦。”152
“My dreams?” he sputtered.“我的梦？”他结结巴巴地说。153
Then he understood.随即他明白了。154
“Oh.“哦。155
Those dreams,” he said.是那些梦。”他说。156
The images sprang to his mind.一幕幕景象顿时涌入他的脑海。157
The death cry of prey—the shriek of a rabbit, the squeal of a pig, the bellow of a cow.猎物临死前的哀号——兔子的尖叫、猪的惨嚎、母牛的悲鸣。158
The taste of warm blood—salty and full of energy.温热鲜血的滋味——咸咸的，充满力量。159
The crunch of bone—surrendering to the strength of his jaw and yielding up its sweet marrow.骨头碎裂的咔嚓声——在他强有力的颚下屈服，献出甘美的骨髓。160
He felt the blood pounding in his head, and the room seemed to spin and shrink around him.他感到鲜血在脑中轰鸣，房间仿佛在他周围旋转、收缩。161
He bent over to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling.他弯下腰，以免脑袋撞上天花板。162
“A very handsome wyvern form, Giogioni,” the guardian whispered.“真是一副英俊的双足飞龙形态，乔吉奥尼。”守护者低声说道。163
Giogioni looked down at himself nervously.乔吉奥尼紧张地低头看着自己。164
Actually, he had to look back at himself.其实，他不得不扭过头去看自己。165
He was at least thirty feet longer.他的身躯至少长了三十英尺。166
He was covered with red scales.他浑身覆满了红色鳞片。167
His arms had become great leathery wings, and his feet were sharp talons.他的双臂变成了巨大的皮膜翅膀，双脚则化作锋利的爪子。168
The strangest thing of all, though, was the tail.不过，最奇怪的还是那条尾巴。169
It swayed gracefully behind him without him thinking about it.他根本没有动念，它就在身后优雅地摆动着。170
He concentrated on controlling it and it froze, poised in the air, until he unconsciously picked a target.他凝神控制它，它便一动不动地悬在空中，直到他无意识地选定了一个目标。171
He bent forward and slashed the tail over his head.他俯下身，将尾巴从头顶猛扫过去。172
The stinger at the tip pierced the velvet cloth atop the pillar.尾端的毒刺刺穿了柱顶的天鹅绒布。173
The pillar toppled over, and the finder’s stone rolled across the floor of the crypt.柱子倒了，寻物石滚过墓室的地面。174
The piece of velvet cloth remained caught on the end of the stinger.那块天鹅绒布仍挂在毒刺尖端。175
He pulled it off with a talon and nearly toppled over, trying to balance on one leg.他用一只利爪把布扯下来，却因为试图单腿保持平衡，差点摔倒。176
The guardian laughed.守护者笑了。177
“You need to remember that your body is a weapon.“你得记住，你的身体就是一件武器。178
You should practice with it—especially flying.你应该练习如何运用它——尤其是飞行。179
It’s not as easy as it looks.”这可不像看上去那么容易。”180
“How do I change back?”“我要怎么变回去？”181
Giogi tried to ask, but his words came out as a growl.乔吉奥尼想问，出口的话却变成了一声低吼。182
The guardian understood him, though.不过，守护者还是听懂了。183
“I suppose you think of whatever humans dream about,” she said.“我想，你得想想人类做梦时会梦见的那些东西，”她说。184
She made a yawning sound.她发出一声仿佛打呵欠的声音。185
“Dull things,” she suggested.“乏味的东西。”她建议道。186
Giogi tried to think of what he dreamed about when he wasn’t dreaming the wyvern dream.乔吉努力去想，自己不做那个双足飞龙之梦时，梦里都会出现些什么。187
He thought about Cat.他想起了凯特。188
Unconsciously he began beating the air with his wings, and he remained a wyvern.他不知不觉地开始拍打翅膀，依然保持着双足飞龙的形态。189
He thought of galloping on Daisyeye, but that reminded him too much of chasing prey.他想象自己骑着雏菊眼飞驰，但那太容易让他联想到追捕猎物。190
Then he thought of Aunt Dorath, knitting by the fireside.于是，他又想起了坐在炉边织毛线的多拉丝姨妈。191
The ceiling got farther away.天花板离他越来越远。192
His boots covered his feet.靴子重新裹住了他的双脚。193
His arms dropped to his sides.他的双臂垂落在身体两侧。194
He straightened up, no longer needing to balance his tail with the weight of his neck.他直起身来，再也不需要用脖子的重量来平衡尾巴。195
He picked the pillar off the floor, and laid the velvet cloth over it.他把倒在地上的柱子扶起来，将天鹅绒布盖在上面。196
Then he retrieved the finder’s stone.然后，他取回了寻物石。197
“When will I see you again?” the guardian asked.“我什么时候才能再见到你？”守护者问。198
Giogi shivered, but it would be rude to say she scared him to death and he didn’t like coming into the crypt.乔吉打了个寒战，可要是说她把他吓得要死，而且他不喜欢到墓室里来，那就太失礼了。199
“I don’t know,” he said.“我不知道，”他说。200
“Why?”“为什么这么问？”201
“I’ll miss you.”“我会想你的。”202
“You will?“真的？203
Do you get lonely down here?”你一个人待在这下面，会觉得寂寞吗？”204
“Sometimes.“有时候会。205
Not often.”不过不常。”206
“Why do you stay?”“你为什么留在这里？”207
“This is where my bones are buried.“因为我的骸骨就埋在这里。208
Beside the bones of those I love—my mate, and all your ancestors who took his form, from Paton to Cole.”就在我所爱之人的骸骨旁边——我的伴侣，还有你所有曾化作他模样的祖先，从佩顿到科尔。”209
“Oh,” Giogi said, thinking how strange it must be to love so many people dead for so many years.“哦，”乔吉说，心想，爱着这么多已经死去多年的人，一定是件很奇怪的事。210
“I’ll be back when I’m finished with what I have to do,” he promised, “unless I die.”“等我办完必须做的事，就会回来，”他保证道，“除非我死了。”211
“You’ll be back in that case, too,” the guardian said solemnly.“那样的话，你也会回来的。”守护者郑重地说。212
Giogi’s eyes roamed over the blocks of stone sealing in his ancestors.乔吉的目光扫过封存着祖先遗骸的石块。213
“You’re right.“你说得对。214
Well, until whichever.”好吧，不管是哪一种，到时候见。”215
“Until whichever,” the guardian agreed.“不管是哪一种，到时候见。”守护者附和道。216
“Thank you for the advice.”“谢谢你的忠告。”217
“You’re welcome, my Giogioni.”“不客气，我的乔吉奥尼。”218
The guardian’s shadow faded from the walls and left him alone.守护者的影子从墙上渐渐淡去，留下他独自一人。219
For the first time ever, Giogi left the crypt without a feeling of terror.乔吉有生以来第一次离开墓室时没有感到恐惧。220
Outside, the sun was getting low in the sky.外面的太阳已经西斜。221
Giogi slipped the finder’s stone in his boot beside the spur.乔吉把寻物石塞进靴子里，放在马刺旁边。222
He untied Daisyeye, slid her reins off her head, and tucked them into one of her saddlebags.他解开雏菊眼的缰绳，把笼头从她头上褪下来，塞进她的一只鞍囊里。223
“Go home, girl,” he said, slapping her on her backside.“回家去吧，姑娘。”他说着，拍了拍她的屁股。224
The mare took off down the hill without looking back.母马头也不回地冲下山去。225
Giogi watched her race away for a minute.乔吉望着她飞奔而去，看了一会儿。226
He closed his eyes and imagined a deer springing through the forest.他闭上眼睛，想象一头鹿在森林中纵跃。227
The sensation of pounding blood overwhelmed him more quickly this time.这一次，血液剧烈奔涌的感觉更快便淹没了他。228
He beat the air with his wings and ran through the graveyard.他拍打双翼，穿过墓地奔跑起来。229
A gust of chill wind caught under the leathery canopies and lifted him over the trees.一阵寒风灌入皮膜般的翼面下方，将他托起，越过树梢。230
He flapped the wings faster and propelled himself over the edge of the graveyard hillside, catching an updraft.他加快拍动双翼，借着一股上升气流，飞出了墓地所在山坡的边缘。231
He soared over the valley.他翱翔在山谷上空。232
In less than a minute, he was circling over Spring Hill.不到一分钟，他已在春丘上空盘旋。233
He could make out Mother Lleddew far below, beside the rented carriage full of provisions for Uncle Drone’s memorial service.他能辨认出远在下方的莱杜母亲，她正站在租来的马车旁，车里装满了为德罗恩叔叔的追悼仪式准备的物资。234
He resisted the temptation to fly over Redstone.他忍住了飞往红石上空的冲动。235
There was no sense in disturbing Aunt Dorath.没必要惊扰多拉丝姑妈。236
Besides, he wasn’t sure how well he would land, and he knew it wasn’t something he should try after dark.再说，他也不确定自己能否顺利着陆，而且他知道，天黑以后不该尝试这种事。237
He was also growing very hungry.他的肚子也越来越饿了。238
With any luck, Giogi thought, Thomas is roasting a slab of venison or a side of pork.运气好的话，乔吉心想，托马斯这会儿正烤着一大块鹿肉，或是半扇猪肉。239
He banked eastward toward the townhouse, his shadow flying far ahead of him and his stomach growling all the way.他转向东边，朝城里的宅邸飞去；他的影子远远掠在前方，肚子则一路咕咕作响。240
Olive stood propped up against the closet wall like a walking stick.奥利芙像根手杖似的，直挺挺地倚在壁橱墙上。241
“Are you sure you don’t want me to tie her up, sir?” the treacherous Thomas had asked the wizard before closing the door and leaving the halfling in the pitch dark.“您确定不需要我把她绑起来吗，先生？”背信弃义的托马斯在关门离开、把半身人留在一片漆黑中之前，曾这样问巫师。242
Flattery had said it wasn’t necessary.弗拉特里说没这个必要。243
After that, Thomas had excused himself so he could get started on cleaning out the bedroom fireplaces.之后，托马斯便告退了，说要着手清理卧室里的壁炉。244
For the longest time there was no sound in the attic but that of the wizard turning pages in a book.很长一段时间里，阁楼中除了巫师翻动书页的声音，什么也听不见。245
Finally, an interminable twenty minutes later, the wizard’s spell faded and Olive could move again.终于，在漫长得仿佛没有尽头的二十分钟后，巫师的法术消退了，奥利芙又能动弹了。246
She collapsed to the floor.她瘫倒在地。247
Her legs and arms were all pins and needles from having been stuck in the same position so long.由于保持同一个姿势太久，她的胳膊和腿全都又麻又刺。248
She stumbled against a box on the floor and banged her shin.她踉跄着撞上地板上的一只箱子，磕到了胫骨。249
“Keep it down in there, Ruskettle,” the wizard ordered, “or I shall turn you into a newt.”“拉斯凯特尔，在里面小声点，”巫师命令道，“否则我就把你变成一只蝾螈。”250
Only a newt?只变成蝾螈？251
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。252
Is he serious?他是认真的吗？253
Not wanting to find out, Olive kept silent.奥利芙不想亲自验证，于是保持沉默。254
Very quietly, she began working on the closet lock.她开始极其轻手轻脚地摆弄壁橱的锁。255
“Put the lockpicks away, Ruskettle,” the wizard ordered in a calm, distracted voice, “or I’ll firetrap the door.”“把开锁工具收起来，拉斯凯特尔，”巫师用平静而心不在焉的声音命令道，“否则我就给这扇门设下火焰陷阱。”256
Olive slipped the picks back into her pocket.奥利芙把开锁工具悄悄塞回口袋。257
He’s watching me through the walls, she thought.他能隔着墙监视我，她心想。258
Why doesn’t Flattery just kill me? she wondered.弗拉特里为什么不干脆杀了我？她暗自思忖。259
If Thomas is his agent, then he must know I’ve been plotting against him.如果托马斯是他的手下，那他一定知道我一直在谋划对付他。260
Perhaps he doesn’t consider me a serious enough threat.也许他觉得我还算不上什么严重的威胁。261
Well, I’ll show him.好吧，我会让他瞧瞧的。262
The halfling sat quietly on the floor, thinking of ways to warn the young noble.半身人静静地坐在地板上，琢磨着该怎么向那位年轻贵族示警。263
Tapping coded messages on support beams was supposed to be good.据说在支撑梁上敲出暗号是个好办法。264
Tying messages to mice had worked in some stories.有些故事里，把消息绑在老鼠身上的办法也奏效过。265
Neither support beams nor mice seemed to be in ready supply, though.不过眼下，支撑梁和老鼠似乎都不太好找。266
The stairs creaked, and Thomas returned.楼梯吱呀作响，托马斯回来了。267
“He’s gone to speak to the guardian, sir, fifteen minutes ago,” the servant reported.“先生，他十五分钟前去找守护者谈话了。”仆人禀报道。268
“Excellent,” the wizard said.“很好。”巫师说道。269
“And Cat?”“凯特呢？”270
“She’s offered to return Lord Frefford’s horse to Redstone for me.“她主动提出替我把弗雷福德勋爵的马送回红石。271
I would imagine she wants another crack at the lab.”我猜她是想再打一次实验室的主意。”272
“Resourceful girl.”“真是个机灵的姑娘。”273
Thomas began collecting the tea things.托马斯开始收拾茶具。274
Olive took advantage of the clattering noise to renew her attack on the closet door lock.奥利芙趁着这阵叮当声，再次动手撬壁橱门上的锁。275
The click of the lock was covered by the rattle of the silver tea pot on the tray.锁发出的咔嗒声被银茶壶在托盘上的哐啷声盖住了。276
Thomas went back down the stairs.托马斯又下楼去了。277
Olive opened the door just a crack.奥利芙把门推开一条细缝。278
The black-and-white spotted cat sat right in front of the door jamb, blocking the door.那只黑白花猫正坐在门框前，挡住了门。279
Olive pulled out her spool of string and wrapped a bit of it up into a ball.奥利芙掏出线轴，扯下一小段线，团成一个球。280
She tossed the ball so it rolled away from the cat.她把线球扔了出去，让它滚离那只猫。281
The animal watched it travel across the floor and yawned.那只动物看着线球滚过地板，打了个哈欠。282
How can you ignore a ball of string?你怎么能对一个线团无动于衷？283
Olive thought at the cat.奥利芙在心里冲那只猫说道。284
Haven’t you got any self-respect?你就一点自尊都没有吗？285
What kind of cat are you, anyway?你到底算什么猫啊？286
“Mystra’s minions,” the wizard cursed softly.“密斯特拉的爪牙，”巫师低声咒骂道。287
Olive heard the spell-caster rise and walk toward the closet.奥利芙听见施法者起身朝壁橱走来。288
He pushed the closet door shut.他把壁橱门推上了。289
“Thank you, Spot.“谢谢你，斑点。290
Good kitty.”乖猫咪。”291
Of course, Olive chided herself, that kind of cat.当然，奥利芙暗自数落自己，是那种猫。292
A wizard’s familiar.巫师的魔宠。293
“Mistress Ruskettle,” Flattery said through the door, “I have tried to be a polite host, but you have tried my patience once too often.“拉斯凯特尔女士，”弗拉特里隔着门说道，“我一直尽力做个彬彬有礼的主人，可你一再挑战我的耐性。294
Incendiary.燃烧术。295
There, now I’ve firetrapped the door.”好了，现在我已经在门上设下火焰陷阱了。”296
The wizard’s footsteps stomped away.巫师重重的脚步声渐渐远去。297
Olive heard him flipping through pages of another book.奥利芙听见他又翻起了另一本书。298
She sat in the back corner of the closet and fumed.她坐在壁橱后面的角落里生闷气。299
Then she began testing the floorboards.接着，她开始试探地板。300
They were nailed solidly.地板被钉得严严实实。301
She pulled out her dagger and began working on digging the nails out of the wood.她拔出匕首，开始设法把钉子从木板里挖出来。302
Olive had just worked out her first nail when she heard Thomas climbing the attic stairs again.奥利芙刚撬出第一根钉子，就听见托马斯又在爬通往阁楼的楼梯。303
“I think you’ll want to see this, sir,” the servant said.“先生，我想您会想看看这个，”仆人说道。304
“What?”“什么？”305
“At the window.”“在窗边。”306
The wizard stood and pushed open a window.法师站起身，推开一扇窗户。307
“It’s Giogi!“是乔吉！308
He’s flying!他在飞！309
He’s circling overhead.他正在头顶盘旋。310
Quickly!快！311
The other window!”另一扇窗户！”312
Olive heard the two men scurry across the attic and push open a second window.奥利芙听见两个男人匆匆穿过阁楼，推开了第二扇窗户。313
“Mystra’s minions,” the wizard chuckled.“密斯特拉的爪牙啊，”法师嗤笑道。314
“I’ll bet he doesn’t know how to land.”“我敢打赌，他根本不知道怎么降落。”315
Giogi!乔吉！316
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。317
I have to warn him!我得警告他！318
I can signal him from the window.我可以从窗口给他打信号。319
She scraped furiously at a second nail.她拼命抓挠着第二枚钉子。320
This will never do.这样下去绝对不行。321
Olive pictured Giogi flying by, with Flattery pointing at him, waiting for the right moment to reduce him to dust.奥利芙想象着乔吉从空中飞过，而弗拉特里指着他，等待恰当的时机将他化为灰烬。322
I have to risk the firetrap! she decided recklessly.我必须冒险闯过火焰陷阱！她不顾一切地决定。323
With her body pressed against the wall, Olive reached out, turned the handle, and pushed!奥利芙把身体紧贴在墙上，伸出手，转动把手，用力一推！324
The door swung outward silently.门悄无声息地向外敞开。325
He lied!他撒谎了！326
Olive thought, indignant.奥利芙愤愤地想。327
She slipped out the door.她悄悄溜出门去。328
The wizard and the servant were looking out a southern window, closer to the stairs than she was.法师和仆人正从南边的一扇窗户向外张望，他们所在的位置比她更靠近楼梯。329
Olive dashed for the north side of the attic.奥利芙冲向阁楼北侧。330
She scrambled up to the window sill and slid out onto the roof.她手脚并用地爬上窗台，翻出去上了屋顶。331
Behind her she heard Spot hiss.身后传来斑点的嘶嘶声。332
“Thomas!“托马斯！333
The halfling!那个半身人！334
Grab her!” the wizard shouted.抓住她！”巫师喊道。335
Olive crawled away from the window, deliberately ripping up half a shingle as she went.奥利芙从窗口爬开，一边爬，一边故意掀下一半屋顶木瓦。336
When Thomas poked his head out the window, the halfling whipped the curved piece of wood at the servant’s temple.托马斯刚把头探出窗口，半身人便将那片弯曲的木头猛掷向仆人的太阳穴。337
Before falling back into the attic, Thomas said a word Olive bet he’d never said in Giogi’s parlor.托马斯向后栽回阁楼之前，骂了一个奥利芙敢打赌他绝不会在乔吉客厅里说出口的字眼。338
Olive began climbing to the roof’s peak.奥利芙开始向屋脊攀爬。339
The wizard hung out the window and shouted up to her, “Come back here this instant before you get yourself killed!”巫师探身窗外，仰头冲她喊道：“马上给我回来，别把自己的命搭上！”340
Olive looked up in the sky.奥利芙抬头望向天空。341
A red wyvern circled the house.一条红色飞龙正在房屋上空盘旋。342
Wyverns are supposed to be brown and gray, Olive thought.飞龙不都应该是棕色或灰色的吗，奥利芙心想。343
Leave it to Giogi to turn into a red one.也只有乔吉才会变成红色的。344
The halfling stood and waved in the beast’s direction.半身人站起身，朝那头野兽的方向挥手。345
“Giogi!“乔吉！346
Help!救命！347
Flattery’s trapped me up here!” she shouted in the chill air.弗拉特里把我困在屋顶上了！”她在寒冷的空气中大喊。348
“Would you stop shouting that!” the wizard in the window hollered.“你能不能别再这么喊了！”窗口里的巫师吼道。349
“I am not Flattery!”“我不是弗拉特里！”350
Olive looked down at the window.奥利芙低头看向窗口。351
There couldn’t possibly be any more Wyvernspurs I don’t know about, could there?总不可能还有我不知道的飞龙刺家族成员吧？352
“If you’re not Flattery,” she shouted back, “who are you?”“如果你不是弗拉特里，”她高声回道，“那你是谁？”353
“I’m Drone.”“我是德罗恩。”354
“Drone is dead.”“德罗恩已经死了。”355
“If I were dead, wouldn’t I be buried in the crypt?” the wizard insisted.“如果我死了，难道不该埋在墓穴里吗？”巫师坚持道。356
“They’re holding the memorial service tonight,” Olive said.“他们今晚要举行追悼仪式，”奥利芙说。357
“They are.“是啊。358
Did Dorath fork out a big spread for it?” he asked with interest.多拉丝有没有花大价钱置办一桌丰盛的宴席？”他饶有兴致地问。359
“Giogi!”“乔吉！”360
Olive shouted again, waving more frantically.奥利芙再次高声呼喊，更加拼命地挥起手来。361
The wizard was not going to fool her with any more lies.她绝不会再让这个巫师用谎话蒙骗她了。362
“See here, Ruskettle,” the wizard called out, “I am Drone.“听着，拉斯凯特尔，”巫师大声说道，“我就是德罗恩。363
You just don’t recognize me because I shaved yesterday.”你认不出我，只是因为我昨天刮了胡子。”364
“Aha.“哈。365
I’ve never met you,” Olive said.我压根儿没见过你，”奥利芙说。366
“You didn’t know that.“这你不知道吧。367
Giogi!乔吉！368
Giogi!乔吉！369
Help!” she screamed again, waving her dagger.救命！”她再次尖叫起来，挥舞着匕首。370
“You haven’t?“你没见过我？371
No, I suppose you haven’t. I forgot.对，我想你的确没见过。我忘了。372
I felt like I knew you.我总觉得好像认识你。373
Jade talked so much about you.”杰德常常提起你。”374
Olive looked down at the wizard so quickly that she lost her footing and slid three feet down the roof.奥利芙猛地低头望向巫师，一下没站稳，顺着屋顶滑下去三英尺。375
“What do you mean Jade talked about me?” she demanded.“你说杰德常常提起我，是什么意思？”她追问道。376
“She told me all about you.“她把你的事全都告诉我了。377
When she was staying here last week.就是她上星期住在这里的时候。378
I like to know about my daughter’s friends.”我喜欢了解我女儿的朋友。”379
“Your—” Olive regained her balance and stomped her foot angrily.“你的——”奥利芙重新站稳，气愤地跺了跺脚。380
“That’s a lie.“你撒谎。381
Jade hasn’t got any parents.”杰德根本没有父母。”382
“I know.“我知道。383
That’s why I adopted her” the wizard said.所以我才收养了她。”巫师说道。384
“You what?”“你干什么了？”385
“I adopted her.“我收养了她。386
We had a little ceremony with a cleric of Mystra.我们请来一位密斯特拉的牧师，举行了一个小仪式。387
I gave her a silver spoon, a pearl necklace, a yard of lace, all that symbolic rot, and she gave me a pipe, even though I don’t smoke—Dorath would never allow it.”我送给她一把银匙、一条珍珠项链、一码花边，还有那一套象征性的破玩意儿；她则送了我一只烟斗，尽管我并不抽烟——多拉丝绝不会准我抽的。”388
“Why?”“为什么？”389
Olive asked.奥利芙问。390
“She doesn’t like the way it smells.“她不喜欢烟味。391
Don’t suppose I do, either, but Elminster does it.我想我也不喜欢，不过伊尔明斯特会抽。392
Don’t see why I shouldn’t be allowed to, too.”我不明白为什么我就不能抽。”393
“Not that,” Olive snapped, coming down a few more feet toward the wizard.“我不是问这个。”奥利芙厉声说道，又朝巫师下降了几英尺。394
“Why did you adopt Jade?”“你为什么要收养杰德？”395
“Oh, that.“哦，那个啊。396
Well, she seemed like a nice girl, and I needed a daughter to steal the spur from the crypt before Steele stole it.”这个嘛，她看起来是个不错的姑娘，而且我需要一个女儿，在斯蒂尔抢先之前从墓穴里偷出那只马刺。”397
Olive glared at the wizard in confusion.奥利芙困惑地瞪着巫师。398
Come to think about it, he looks awfully old to be Flattery.仔细一想，他看起来实在太老了，不像是弗拉特里。399
He looks even older than Nameless, for that matter.其实，他看起来甚至比无名者还老。400
His hair is all splotched with gray, and his face is awfully wrinkled.他的头发灰一块白一块，脸上也满是皱纹。401
His appearance could be an illusion, though.不过，他的外表也可能是幻象。402
“That’s the same reason Flattery made Cat marry him,” Olive noted aloud.“弗拉特里让凯特嫁给他，也是出于同一个原因。”奥利芙说出了声。403
“Cat married Flattery?“凯特嫁给了弗拉特里？404
Oh, that’s not good.哦，那可不妙。405
He’s not a nice person.他可不是什么好人。406
Won’t make her an adequate husband at all.”他根本当不好她的丈夫。”407
Olive shivered in the cold and watched Giogi soar on an updraft.奥利芙在寒风中打了个哆嗦，看着乔吉乘着上升气流翱翔。408
She didn’t really believe Flattery could imitate a doddering old man so well, but she couldn’t risk falling into his clutches unless she was absolutely positive.她实在不相信弗拉特里能把一个老态龙钟的老人模仿得如此惟妙惟肖，但除非她能确定无疑，否则绝不能冒险落入他的魔掌。409
“I’ve got it!” she cried.“有办法了！”她喊道。410
She pulled out the letter with the royal seal, which she’d swiped from Drone’s lab that morning.她掏出那封盖有王室印章的信，那是她当天早上从德罗恩的实验室里顺来的。411
“I’ll believe you’re Drone if you can tell me what this letter says.”“要是你能告诉我这封信里写了什么，我就相信你是德罗恩。”412
“What letter?”“什么信？”413
“This letter I got from Drone’s lab this morning.“就是我今天早上从德罗恩的实验室里拿到的这封信。414
It’s dated midsummer, thirteen-oh-six.日期是仲夏，一三零六年。415
Year of the Temples.”神殿纪元。”416
“That’s almost thirty years ago,” the wizard whined.“那都快是三十年前的事了，”巫师哼哼唧唧地抱怨道。417
“How am I supposed to remember a letter that old?”“那么久以前的信，我怎么可能还记得？”418
“Only twenty-seven years,” Olive said, “and it’s a very important letter.“只有二十七年，”奥利芙说，“而且这封信非常重要。419
It’s from King Rhigaerd.”是里加德国王写来的。”420
“Rhigaerd, Azoun’s father?”“里加德，阿祖恩的父亲？”421
“That’s the one.”“就是他。”422
“What would Rhigaerd want back then?” the wizard muttered to himself.“里加德当时想要什么来着？”法师喃喃自语道。423
“Oh!“哦！424
Yes!对了！425
It’s about the spur.是关于那只马刺的。426
Let’s see.让我想想。427
Rhigaerd said he understood that Dorath wasn’t interested in using the spur, but he wanted to know if there wasn’t someone else in the family who would give it a go.里加德说，他明白多拉丝无意使用那只马刺，但他想知道，家族里是不是还有别人愿意试一试。428
That’s why I told Cole all about it, even though Dorath told me not to.所以我才把这件事全都告诉了科尔，尽管多拉丝不许我说。429
A royal request outweighs a cousin’s orders after all, even a cousin like Dorath.”毕竟，王室的请求总要压过表亲的命令，哪怕那个表亲是多拉丝。”430
“All right.“好吧。431
You’re one for one.你答对一道了。432
Here, in the second paragraph, Rhigaerd writes, ‘I don’t think your colleague has ever gotten over’ something.这里，第二段里，里加德写道：‘我觉得你的同僚始终没能释怀……’433
What is it?”指的是什么事？”434
Olive demanded, feeling her toes going blue on the chill roof tiles.奥利芙追问道，感觉自己的脚趾都快被冰冷的屋瓦冻青了。435
“Never gotten over?“始终没能释怀？436
Never gotten over Dorath’s refusal.”始终没能释怀多拉丝的拒绝。”437
“Who’d she turn down?”“她拒绝了谁？”438
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。439
“The letter doesn’t say.”“信里没说。”440
“Tell me anyway,” the halfling insisted.“还是告诉我吧。”半身人坚持道。441
“Vangerdahast,” the old man snapped.“范格达海斯特。”老人没好气地说道。442
“Really?”“真的？”443
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。444
“Old Vangy?“老范吉？445
Azoun’s court wizard?”阿祖恩的宫廷法师？”446
“Really,” the wizard said grimly.“千真万确。”巫师阴沉地说道。447
“Now, you little pest, would you come down so I can fireball you without setting Giogi’s roof on fire?”“好了，你这个小祸害，肯不肯下来，让我赏你一发火球，又不至于点着乔吉家的屋顶？”448
This landing thing could be tricky, Giogi thought as he circled around his townhouse for the fifth time.这落地可有点棘手，乔吉第五次绕着自己的宅邸盘旋时心想。449
He was circling closer each time, looking for a clear spot in the garden, when he noticed Olive Ruskettle on the roof, waving at him.他每一圈都飞得更近些，寻找花园里可以落脚的空地，就在这时，他注意到奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔正在屋顶上朝他挥手。450
He couldn’t imagine what the halfling would be doing on his roof, nor could he hear what she was shouting, but it was clear to him that the roof was a very dangerous place for her to be.他想不出这个半身人跑到自家屋顶上做什么，也听不见她在喊些什么，但他很清楚，对她来说，屋顶是个非常危险的地方。451
Just as Olive began climbing back toward the window, Giogi swooped down, as silent as an owl.就在奥利芙开始往窗口爬回去时，乔吉像猫头鹰一样悄无声息地俯冲下来。452
The halfling was just beside the window dormer when the Wyvernspur wyvern snatched her up in his talons and swooped away from the roof.半身人刚爬到老虎窗旁，飞龙刺的双足飞龙便用利爪一把抓起她，飞离了屋顶。453
Olive’s screech could be heard down at the Five Fine Fish.奥利芙的尖叫声连五条鲜鱼酒馆都能听见。454
The sensation of the roof dropping away from her feet, combined with the icy wind slamming into her face, took all the pleasure out of her bird’s-eye view of Immersea at sunset.屋顶从脚下骤然远去的感觉，再加上扑面而来的凛冽寒风，让她再也无心欣赏夕阳下伊默海的鸟瞰美景。455
What does he think he’s doing?他以为自己在干什么？456
Olive wondered.奥利芙心想。457
My fragile body can’t take these reckless stunts!我这娇弱的身子骨可经不起这种不要命的把戏！458
The halfling had once been snatched up by a red dragon, and while she had been terrified that the monster would eat her, at least she could be certain the dragon knew how to land.这个半身人曾经被一条红龙抓走过；当时她虽然怕得要命，生怕那怪物吃了她，但至少她可以肯定，那条龙懂得怎么降落。459
He’s going to land on top of me and smash me to halfling jelly, she thought as Giogi dropped downward rapidly.他会压在我身上着陆，把我砸成半身人肉酱，她眼看乔吉飞速下坠，心中想道。460
At the last moment, he veered up suddenly.在最后一刻，他突然转向上冲。461
He was indeed uncertain how to make his touchdown with cargo.带着“货物”该怎么着陆，他确实拿不准。462
On his second approach, though, he dropped Olive over a yew bush just before he smashed into the side of his carriage house.不过，第二次尝试时，他在撞上马车房侧墙之前，把奥利芙扔到了一个紫杉灌木丛上方。463
Olive’s teeth chattered from the cold.奥利芙冻得牙齿直打战。464
Ches is too early in the spring for flying, she noted, scrambling out of the bush.春天才到切斯月，飞行还是太早了，她一边手脚并用地爬出灌木丛，一边暗自记下。465
Drone and Thomas rushed out of the townhouse’s front door as the halfling was brushing herself off.半身人正在掸去身上的尘土，德罗恩和托马斯从宅邸前门冲了出来。466
“Giogi, my boy.“乔吉，我的孩子。467
Are you all right?”你没事吧？”468
Drone asked.德罗恩问道。469
The wyvern wobbled to its feet, hissing.双足飞龙摇摇晃晃地站了起来，嘶嘶作声。470
“You’ll have to change back to human form,” Drone said.“你得变回人形，”德罗恩说。471
“I can’t understand a word you’re saying.“你说的话我一个字也听不懂。472
Concentrate on turning human.集中精神，变成人。473
Think about afternoon tea; that’s what your father used to do.”想想下午茶；你父亲以前就是这么做的。”474
The wyvern shape wavered and shrunk until it was Giogi.飞龙的身形晃动着缩小，最终变回了乔吉。475
“Uncle Drone!“德罗恩叔叔！476
You’re alive!” the young nobleman shouted.你还活着！”年轻的贵族大声喊道。477
“Shhh!“嘘！478
Not so loud,” the wizard whispered.别这么大声，”巫师低声说道。479
“It’s supposed to be a secret.”“这事本该保密的。”480
Thomas tapped Drone on the shoulder.托马斯轻轻拍了拍德罗恩的肩膀。481
“Excuse me, sir, but perhaps we should go back inside, just in case—”“打扰一下，先生，不过也许我们该回屋去，以防万一——”482
Drone shot a glance up at the sky.德罗恩抬头瞥了一眼天空。483
“You’re right, Thomas.“你说得对，托马斯。484
Come on, everyone.”来吧，各位。”485
Drone and Thomas hustled Giogi and Olive back into the townhouse.德罗恩和托马斯催着乔吉与奥利芙回到宅邸里。486
Drone motioned to the parlor doors, and they all trooped into Giogi’s parlor.德罗恩朝客厅门示意了一下，众人便鱼贯走进乔吉的客厅。487
Drone shoved some books off the couch and flopped down.德罗恩把沙发上的几本书推到一边，一屁股坐了下来。488
“It’s nice and warm in here.“这里又舒适又暖和。489
You should get a fireplace in your attic, Giogi.乔吉，你该在阁楼里装个壁炉。490
It’s cold up there.”上面太冷了。”491
“What were you doing in my attic?”“你在我的阁楼里干什么？”492
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。493
“We all thought you were dead.“我们都以为你死了。494
Uncle Drone, how could you let us think that?德罗恩叔叔，你怎么能让我们一直这么以为？495
What were you trying to do?”你究竟想做什么？”496
“Sit down, Giogi,” the old wizard said, patting the cushion beside him.“坐下吧，乔吉。”老巫师说着，拍了拍身旁的坐垫。497
Giogi sat down with a huff.乔吉气呼呼地坐了下来。498
Olive took a seat on the footstool by the fire.奥利芙在炉火旁的脚凳上坐下。499
Thomas remained standing by the parlor doors and explained that Cat had ridden to Redstone.托马斯仍站在客厅门边，解释说凯特已经骑马去了红石。500
“I’m sorry for any grief I caused you,” Drone said to Giogi.“如果我害你伤心了，我很抱歉。”德罗恩对乔吉说。501
“Well, you should be,” Giogi said.“哼，你是该道歉。”乔吉说。502
“I thought Flattery had killed you.”“我还以为弗拉特里杀了你。”503
“He tried,” Drone said.“他是想杀我。”德罗恩说。504
“Sent a wight to do the job, but I disintegrated it.”“他派了个尸妖来动手，不过我把它化成了灰。”505
“Then you left an extra set of robes and hat over the ashes of the wight, didn’t you?”“然后你在尸妖的灰烬上放了一套备用的长袍和帽子，对不对？”506
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。507
Drone nodded.德罗恩点了点头。508
“But why?”“可为什么？”509
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。510
“I needed to throw my would-be killer off my trail.“我得让那个想杀我的人追错方向。511
It was important that you all believe I was dead so Flattery would believe so, too.你们所有人都必须相信我死了，这样弗拉特里才会信。512
Then I could work at searching for the spur and trying to discover more about Flattery without having to look over my shoulder for other undead assassins.”这样一来，我就可以一边寻找那只马刺，一边设法查清弗拉特里的更多底细，而不必时时提防又有别的不死刺客从背后找上门来。”513
“You told Thomas, though,” Olive said.“可你告诉了托马斯。”奥利芙说。514
“Well, Thomas is the soul of discretion, and I needed a base of operations and somewhere to sleep.”“这个嘛，托马斯最能守口如瓶，而且我需要一个行动据点，也需要一个睡觉的地方。”515
Giogi let out a groan and hit his forehead with the palm of his hand.乔吉呻吟一声，一巴掌拍在自己额头上。516
“The lilac room!“丁香色房间！517
That’s why you didn’t want me to put Cat in there,” Giogi accused Thomas.原来这就是你不想让我把凯特安排在那里的原因。”乔吉责问托马斯。518
“I’m sorry, sir.“对不起，先生。519
Your uncle preferred the bed in the lilac room.您叔叔更喜欢丁香色房间的那张床。520
I did prepare the red room for Mistress Cat, but you never told me you’d held firm on the lilac room.”我的确为凯特小姐收拾好了红房间，可您从没告诉我，您坚持要用丁香色房间。”521
“Uncle Drone, why did you try to smother Cat?”“德罗恩叔叔，你为什么想闷死凯特？”522
Giogi asked crossly.乔吉恼火地问道。523
“I didn’t try to smother the girl.“我没想闷死那姑娘。524
In the dark, I didn’t know she was there.黑灯瞎火的，我不知道她在那里。525
My night vision’s not what it was, you know.你也知道，我的夜视能力已经不如从前了。526
I fluffed a pillow and dropped it in the bed; the next thing I know, I’ve got a hysterical woman shrieking in my ear.”我拍松了一个枕头，随手扔到床上；等我回过神来，就听见一个歇斯底里的女人在我耳边尖叫。”527
“But Cat thought it was Flattery.”“可凯特以为那是弗拉特里。”528
“Without the beard, he looks like Flattery in a dark room or an attic,” Olive said.“没了胡子，他在昏暗的房间或阁楼里看起来就像弗拉特里。”奥利芙说道。529
“Without the—Uncle Drone,” Giogi exclaimed, “you shaved off your beard.”“没了胡子——德罗恩叔叔，”乔吉惊叫道，“你把胡子剃掉了。”530
“I needed a disguise.“我需要乔装一下。531
Makes me look younger, don’t you think?”这样让我显得更年轻了，你不觉得吗？”532
Giogi bit his tongue.乔吉咬了咬舌头。533
“Did you really get Mistress Ruskettle’s partner, Jade, to steal the spur for you?”“你真的让拉斯凯特尔夫人的搭档杰德替你偷走了那枚马刺？”534
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。535
“Well, no. I gave her my key and asked her to bring it out for me.“呃，不是。我把钥匙给了她，请她替我把马刺拿出来。536
Wyvernspurs have that right, after all.”毕竟，飞龙刺家族有这个权利。”537
“Then why didn’t you do it yourself?”“那你为什么不亲自去做？”538
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。539
“Well, Dorath would ask me right off if I took it.“这个嘛，要是我拿了马刺，多拉丝马上就会问我。540
If I got someone else to do it for me, I could say I didn’t without lying.要是我找别人替我动手，我就可以说不是我拿的，而且不算撒谎。541
Then, of course, Jade had the most remarkable undetectability.再说，杰德当然还有那种非同寻常的、不被人察觉的本事。542
If she held the spur for me, Steele and Dorath wouldn’t be able to locate it.如果她替我保管马刺，斯蒂尔和多拉丝就没法找到它。543
Or Flattery, as it turns out.事实证明，弗拉特里也找不到。544
Of course, neither could I. When she didn’t rendezvous with Thomas at the Fish the evening after she stole it, I—well, I thought she’d betrayed me, to be honest.”当然，我也一样找不到。她偷走马刺后的第二天晚上，没有去鱼馆与托马斯会合，我——唉，老实说，我以为她背叛了我。”545
“She was murdered,” Olive said coolly.“她是被人杀害的。”奥利芙冷冷地说。546
“Yes,” Drone said softly, looking down at his hands.“是的。”德罗恩低头看着自己的双手，轻声说道。547
“Thomas told me.“托马斯告诉我了。548
I’m very sorry, Ruskettle.我深感遗憾，拉斯凯特尔。549
I knew how close the two of you were.”我知道你们俩感情有多深。”550
Olive looked down at the floor and fought back her tears.奥利芙低头望着地板，强忍住泪水。551
“We owe you a debt of gratitude for returning the spur to us safely,” Drone said.“你把马刺安然归还给我们，我们欠你一份人情。”德罗恩说。552
Olive looked up at the wizard, her eyes burning with vengeance.奥利芙抬头望向那位巫师，眼中燃烧着复仇的怒火。553
“Get Flattery for me,” she demanded.“替我抓住弗拉特里。”她要求道。554
“Oh, I intend to,” Drone assured her.“哦，我正有此意。”德罗恩向她保证。555
“As do I,” Giogi added.“我也是。”乔吉补充道。556
Olive smiled with a cold satisfaction.奥利芙冷冷地笑了，心满意足。557
“You didn’t think I’d let my daughter’s murderer go unpunished, did you?”“你不会以为我会放过杀害我女儿的凶手，让他逍遥法外吧？”558
Drone asked.德罗恩问道。559
“Your daughter?”“你的女儿？”560
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。561
“What are you talking about, Uncle Drone?”“你在说什么，德罗恩叔叔？”562
“Your uncle adopted Jade,” Olive explained.“你叔叔收养了杰德。”奥利芙解释道。563
“He didn’t know she was already a relative.”“他不知道她原本就是他的亲戚。”564
“She was?”“她是亲戚？”565
Drone asked with surprise.德罗恩惊讶地问道。566
“Yes,” Olive said.“是的，”奥利芙说。567
“She and Cat are related to the Nameless Bard, and Flattery probably is, too.“她和凯特都与无名者吟游诗人有亲缘关系，弗拉特里大概也一样。568
He said to Cole, “My father will remain nameless.”他曾对科尔说：‘我的父亲将永远不留名。’569
I think he was making his idea of a joke.我想他是在开一个自以为有趣的玩笑。570
The Nameless Bard was a Wyvernspur named Finder.”无名者吟游诗人其实是飞龙刺家族的人，名叫芬德。”571
“There isn’t anyone named Finder in our family tree,” Drone said.“我们的家谱里没有叫芬德的人，”德罗恩说。572
“I’ll bet if you check your family tree,” Olive predicted, “you’ll find a name blotted out somewhere.“我敢打赌，只要查查你们的家谱，”奥利芙断言道，“你就会发现某处有个名字被涂掉了。573
That would be Finder.那就是芬德。574
The Harpers would have gotten your family to wipe out all traces of his name.竖琴手同盟当年一定让你们家抹去了他姓名的一切痕迹。575
See, Finder was pretty callous once.你看，芬德以前相当冷酷无情。576
He performed this experiment that got some people killed and—well the Harpers wiped his name from the Realms.”他做过一场实验，害死了一些人，于是——嗯，竖琴手同盟便从诸界抹去了他的名字。”577
“We shall do more than that to Flattery,” Drone said.“我们要对弗拉特里做得更绝，”德罗恩说。578
“I suggest we start planning our strategy over a hot supper.”“我建议我们一边吃顿热饭，一边着手谋划对策。”579
“There may not be time, sir,” Thomas said, his eyes widening with fear.“也许来不及了，先生，”托马斯说道，双眼因恐惧而睁大。580
“Eh?” the wizard queried.“嗯？”巫师问道。581
The servant pointed through the townhouse’s large parlor windows, which looked south over the Wyvernspur lands and Redstone Castle.仆人朝宅邸宽大的客厅窗外指去；从那里向南望去，可以俯瞰飞龙刺的领地和红石城堡。582
Giogi, Olive, and Drone lined up at the window to look at what had upset Thomas.乔吉、奥利芙和德罗恩在窗前站成一排，望向那令托马斯不安的景象。583
In the last ray of sunlight, the cut stone of the castle’s west wall shone as red as blood against an indigo sky.在最后一缕阳光下，城堡西墙的琢石在靛蓝色天空的映衬下，泛着鲜血般的红光。584
The vision’s loveliness was marred only by a blot of darkness that drifted above the keep.唯一破坏这幅美景的，是主堡上方漂浮着的一团黑影。585
The blot’s lower surface also shone red, but its surface consisted of jutting edges and jagged crevices, like a boulder torn from the earth by some monstrous cataclysm.那团黑影的底面也泛着红光，但其表面尽是突出的棱角与嶙峋的裂隙，仿佛一块巨岩被某场骇人的大灾变从大地上硬生生撕了下来。586
Only magic could have raised the stone, though.不过，也只有魔法才能把这块巨石升到空中。587
It was so large, it would crush half of Immersea if it fell to the earth.它巨大无比，一旦坠地，足以压毁半个伊默海。588
At the top of the massive rock were walls that rose so high that they disappeared into the darkness of the twilight sky.巨岩顶端耸立着一道道高墙，高得没入暮色天空的黑暗之中。589
“What is it?”“那是什么？”590
Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。591
“Flattery’s desert fortress,” Drone said grimly.“弗拉特里的沙漠堡垒。”德罗恩神情严峻地说道。592
“It appears he did more than reclaim it.“看来他不只是夺回了它。593
He’s brought it with him.”他还把它带来了。”594