The halfling hid in the shadows—even though there was no one presently on the streets for her to hide from.半身人藏在阴影里——尽管此刻街上根本没人，她其实无须躲藏。1
Hiding in shadows was an art, and the halfling’s mother had always warned her, “Never neglect your art, Olive-girl,” so Olive hid in the shadows.隐身于阴影是一门技艺，而半身人的母亲总是告诫她：“永远别荒废了你的技艺，奥利芙姑娘。”所以奥利芙藏在阴影里。2
Besides, sooner or later someone would come along the street.再说，街上迟早会有人经过。3
That’s what makes the natives of Cormyr a great people, Olive thought fondly.正因如此，科米尔的本地人才如此了不起，奥利芙满怀喜爱地想道。4
While citizens of other nations would cower indoors on a cold spring night like this, Cormytes will brave anything to visit the taverns of their choice.别国的百姓在这样的寒冷春夜里只会缩在屋内，科米尔人却什么都敢冒，只为去自己中意的酒馆。5
At this hour, there were usually just enough pedestrians to offer her a selection, but not so many that she need worry about any witnesses to her light-fingered larceny.这个时辰，街上的行人通常刚好够她挑选目标，又不至于多到让她担心自己顺手行窃时会被人瞧见。6
While she watched the street, Olive twiddled a platinum coin across the tips of her slender, dexterous fingers.奥利芙一边注视着街道，一边用纤细灵巧的指尖拨弄着一枚铂金币，让它在指间翻转。7
A gust of wind from off the lake swirled around the corner and into the alley, blowing a strand of her long, russet hair into her green eyes.一阵风从湖面吹来，卷过街角，灌进小巷，将她一绺栗褐色的长发吹进了碧绿的眼睛里。8
Olive pocketed the coin and pushed the strand up into her wool cap.奥利芙把硬币揣进口袋，将那绺头发塞回羊毛帽里。9
She was bundled against the cold in a pair of breeches, a knee-length tunic, a bulky quilted vest, and the hat.她穿着一条马裤、一件长及膝盖的束腰外衣和一件厚实臃肿的绗缝背心，又戴着那顶帽子，把自己裹得严严实实以抵御寒冷。10
Besides keeping her warm, all the extra clothing hid her slim waist and curvaceous figure, so that she looked almost as plump as a typical town-living halfling.这一身厚衣服除了能保暖，还遮住了她纤细的腰肢和玲珑有致的身材，让她看起来几乎和一般住在城镇里的半身人一样圆胖。11
She was shorter than most adult halflings, though—well under three feet.不过，她比大多数成年的半身人都要矮——远不足三英尺。12
She might have been mistaken for a human toddler, except for her fur-covered bare feet with their tough, leathery soles.若不是她赤裸的双脚覆着绒毛，脚底又坚韧得如同皮革，别人或许会把她错认成人类的幼童。13
She would never even consider stuffing her feet into a pair of shoes and disguising her race, though.不过，她绝不会考虑把脚硬塞进一双鞋里，以此掩饰自己的种族。14
For one thing, there was always someone who made it his or her business to discover what a human child was doing wandering the streets alone, especially in Cormyr; or worse, there were people, even in Cormyr, who were ready to accost such children.一来，总会有人把弄清一个人类小孩为何独自在街上游荡当成自己的分内之事，尤其是在科米尔；更糟的是，即使在科米尔，也有人随时会去骚扰这种孩子。15
For another thing, Olive found shoes just too uncomfortable, not to mention exceedingly awkward for running in, and she never knew when she might need to run.二来，奥利芙觉得鞋子实在太不舒服，更别说穿着跑起路来极其碍事了，而她永远不知道自己什么时候会需要逃跑。16
Most important of all, Olive felt that conducting business by passing as a human child was demeaning.最重要的是，奥利芙认为冒充人类小孩做生意有失尊严。17
Only a very untalented or very desperate halfling would resort to such a measure.只有极其无能或走投无路的半身人才会采取这种手段。18
Down the street, a tavern door opened and sounds of laughter spilled out into the lane.街道那头，一扇酒馆门打开了，阵阵笑声涌入巷中。19
Olive tensed for action.奥利芙绷紧身体，准备行动。20
A fat youth in an apron came puffing along, carrying a jug of ale.一个系着围裙的胖小伙子抱着一罐麦酒，气喘吁吁地走来。21
A servant, Olive guessed, sent to fetch ale for a guest.奥利芙猜，他是个仆人，被派出来替客人取麦酒。22
Probably charged the ale to his master’s tab, so he won’t have any money on him.这酒多半记在他主人的账上，所以他身上不会带钱。23
She stood motionless.她一动不动地站着。24
A minute later, two older men in heavy, dusty jackets shuffled by, arguing over whether or not it was too soon to plant peas.一分钟后，两个上了年纪的男人穿着厚重、满是尘土的夹克，拖着脚走过，一路争论现在种豌豆是不是还太早。25
Farmers, Olive conjectured, no doubt carrying nothing but copper coins—and only enough copper at that to buy three rounds of ale.奥利芙猜他们是农夫，身上无疑只有铜币——而且那点铜币顶多只够买三轮麦酒。26
She remained motionless.她仍旧一动不动。27
A skinny fop, attired in bright-colored raiment and wearing the most unusually large boots, strode down the center of the street.一个瘦骨嶙峋的纨绔子弟身穿鲜艳华服，脚蹬一双大得出奇的靴子，昂首阔步走在街道中央。28
Dressed as he was, he might have been an adventurer or a merchant, but from the way he hadn’t bothered to conceal the bulging coin purse in his cloak pocket, Olive judged him to be a noble.看他这身打扮，可能是冒险者，也可能是商人；但他斗篷口袋里的钱袋鼓鼓囊囊，竟连遮掩一下都懒得做，奥利芙因此断定他是个贵族。29
He looked sober and pretty alert, which made him just the sort of challenge Olive had been waiting for.他看起来头脑清醒，而且相当警觉，正是奥利芙一直在等待的那种挑战。30
She took her hands out of her pockets, intent on following him.她把手从口袋里抽出来，准备跟上他。31
As he passed the alley, though, a feeling of recognition tickled at the back of Olive’s brain, and she held back.然而，当他经过小巷口时，奥利芙脑海深处忽然泛起一丝似曾相识的感觉，她便按兵不动。32
“Are you watching a parade, Olive, or are you just screwing up your courage to make a grab?” someone behind her whispered.“你是在看游行吗，奥利芙，还是只是在鼓足勇气准备下手？”身后有人低声说道。33
Olive’s heart pounded in her chest, but no visible sign betrayed how startled she was.奥利芙的心在胸膛里怦怦直跳，但她脸上丝毫没有显露出受惊的样子。34
She did not turn to look at her taunter; she did not need to.她没有转身去看那个出言戏弄她的人；没这个必要。35
She could picture the person in her mind: a human woman, nearly six feet tall, slender, with a mop of short hair the rust-red color of bugbear fur, bright green eyes twinkling with merriment, and a face identical to one of Olive’s previous companions—Alias of Westgate.她能在脑海中清楚地勾勒出那人的模样：一个人类女子，将近六英尺高，身材苗条，顶着一头熊地精毛皮般锈红色的短乱发，明亮的绿眼睛里闪烁着笑意，那张脸与奥利芙从前的一位同伴一模一样——西门城的阿莉亚丝。36
Olive kept her attention on the fop and whispered, “Jade, where in the Nine Hells have you been for the past ride?奥利芙仍盯着那个纨绔子弟，低声说道：“杰德，这一趟你到底跑到九层地狱的哪儿去了？37
I’ve missed you, girl.”我可想死你了，姑娘。”38
“It hasn’t been ten days, only six,” Jade whispered back.“还不到十天，才六天而已。”杰德也低声回答。39
“I’ve been visiting family,” she explained.“我去探望家人了。”她解释道。40
Olive could hear the playful smile in her voice.奥利芙从她的语气中听得出那抹顽皮的笑意。41
Olive furrowed her brow in puzzlement.奥利芙困惑地皱起眉头。42
For six months Jade had been her protegee, her partner, and her friend, and Olive knew things about Jade that not even Jade knew.六个月来，杰德一直是她的徒弟、搭档和朋友，而奥利芙知道一些连杰德自己都不知道的关于她的事。43
Furthermore, as far as the halfling knew, Jade had no family.此外，据这个半身人所知，杰德根本没有家人。44
Jade herself had told the halfling she was an orphan.杰德亲口告诉过她，自己是个孤儿。45
“What family?”“什么家人？”46
Olive whispered, her eyes following the fop’s progress down the street.奥利芙低声问道，双眼仍追随着那个纨绔子弟沿街远去的身影。47
“It’s a long story.“说来话长。48
Look, are you going to pluck this pigeon?”喂，你到底宰不宰这只肥羊？”49
Jade asked, indicating, with a toss of her head, the dandyish noble now moving away from them.杰德问道，同时朝那个正渐渐走远的花花公子似的贵族偏了偏头。50
“If not, I’d like a crack at him.“你要是不动手，我倒想拿他试试。51
He looks ripe.”他看起来正肥得流油呢。”52
“Wait your turn, girl,” Olive replied.“等着轮到你吧，丫头。”奥利芙答道。53
“Age before beauty, and I win on both counts,” the halfling added with a smirk.“论资排辈，年长的该优先；论美貌，漂亮的也该优先——这两样都是我赢。”半身人又坏笑着补充道。54
She then slipped away from her partner and padded silently down the street after the fop.随后她悄然离开搭档，蹑手蹑脚地沿街跟上了那个花花公子。55
She swiveled her head nonchalantly to the right and left to make sure she and her target were alone on the street.她若无其事地左右转头张望，确认街上只有自己和目标两人。56
He’s not only a fat pigeon, Olive thought, once again focusing on the nobleman, but an easy pluck, too.他不光是只肥羊，而且还很好宰，奥利芙重新把注意力集中在那个贵族身上，暗自想道。57
You’d think someone would warn him about letting his purse strings dangle out of his pocket.居然没人提醒他，别让钱袋的系绳垂在口袋外面。58
Ordinarily Olive would have offered such an easy job to Jade.平常碰上这么容易的活儿，奥利芙都会让给杰德。59
The human woman was just getting started in business and really depended on it for her living.这个人类女子才刚刚入行，确实得靠这门营生过活。60
Olive, on the other hand, didn’t need the money; her adventures the previous year had left her almost as wealthy as her wildest dreams.奥利芙则不缺钱；前一年的冒险已经让她富有得几乎超出了她最大胆的梦想。61
She had to have a closer look at her mark, though.不过，她非得凑近些看清这个下手对象不可。62
Where have I seen him before? she wondered.我以前在哪儿见过他？她纳闷地想。63
As she closed the gap between herself and her target, her furry feet as silent as cat paws, Olive could hear the fop half singing, half humming softly to himself.奥利芙拉近了与目标的距离，毛茸茸的双脚落地时像猫爪一样悄无声息；这时，她听见那个花花公子正低声自娱自乐，半唱半哼。64
Good sense of pitch, Olive critiqued silently, but no sense of rhythm.音准不错，奥利芙在心里品评道，可惜毫无节奏感。65
“Oh, listen to the story, of the scandal of the wyrms, red Mistinarhm-hmm-hm-hmm, rumored mad and quite infirm—”“哦，且听我讲述，龙族丑闻一桩，红龙米斯提纳——哼哼哼哼——传闻已经发疯，病得无药可救——”66
Olive stopped dead in her tracks.奥利芙猛地停下了脚步。67
He’s singing one of my songs! she realized.他唱的是我的歌！她顿时醒悟。68
That piece I composed on the spur of the moment to distract the old red dragon and save Alias’s life.就是我当时即兴编出来，好转移那条老红龙的注意、救下阿莉亚丝性命的那首。69
A small flower of pride blossomed within Olive, and for half a moment she thought of just walking up, tapping the fop on the shoulder, and introducing herself as the song’s creator.一朵小小的骄傲之花在奥利芙心中绽放；有那么一刹那，她甚至想干脆走上前去，拍拍那个花花公子的肩膀，向他自我介绍，说自己就是这首歌的创作者。70
Then she remembered that Jade was watching from the shadows.随后她想起，杰德正在暗处看着。71
If she backed out, the younger thief would never let her hear the end of it.要是她打退堂鼓，那个年轻些的盗贼准会拿这事没完没了地挖苦她。72
Olive prodded herself forward again.奥利芙再次催促自己向前走去。73
After all, she thought, in a few more years, everyone will be singing my songs.毕竟，她想，再过几年，人人都会唱我的歌。74
Now the fop was muttering something to himself and motioning with his arms outward, palms upward.这会儿，那个纨绔子弟正低声自言自语，还把双臂向外伸展，掌心朝上。75
He forced his voice into a lower, more resonant range, added a slight burr, and said, “My Cormytes.他硬是把嗓音压得更低、更浑厚，又添上些许粗哑的颤音，说道：“我的科米尔人。76
My people.我的子民。77
Harumph.”嗯哼。”78
He cleared his throat and dropped his voice another half-octave.他清了清嗓子，又把声音压低了半个八度。79
“My Cormytes.“我的科米尔人。80
My people.我的子民。81
As your king, as King Azoun, and as King Azoun the Fourth—” He returned his voice to it’s normal pitch and congratulated himself, “Yes, that’s it.身为你们的国王，身为阿祖恩国王，身为阿祖恩四世国王——”他恢复了平常的声调，自我称赞道，“对，就是这样。82
Haven’t lost the old skills.”当年的本事还没丢。”83
Olive stopped dead again as the feeling of recognition stopped tickling at the back of her brain and hit her with the force of a runaway cart.奥利芙再次猛然停住脚步：那股徘徊在脑后的似曾相识之感不再轻轻搔挠她，而是像一辆失控的马车般猛撞过来。84
Could it really be him, she wondered.真会是他吗？她暗自思忖。85
Out of all the pigeons in the world, I pick Giogioni Wyvernspur, infamous imitator of royalty?天下有那么多肥羊，我偏偏挑中了乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺——那个臭名昭著、专爱模仿王室成员的家伙？86
Olive had sung at the wedding reception of one of Giogioni’s relatives.奥利芙曾在乔吉奥尼一位亲戚的婚宴上献唱。87
During her performance, the young Wyvernspur noble gave an impromptu imitation of the king of Cormyr, and Alias of Westgate had tried to murder him.她表演时，那位飞龙刺家族的年轻贵族即兴模仿起了科米尔国王，西门城的阿莉亚丝还曾试图杀死他。88
It wasn’t that Alias had felt any loyalty to the crown, nor had she been offended that the youth had interrupted Olive’s singing.倒不是因为阿莉亚丝对王室有何忠心，也不是因为那年轻人打断了奥利芙的歌唱而冒犯了她。89
With her body controlled by sinister forces desiring Azoun’s death, Alias had been unable to stop herself, even though she could see that Giogi was not the king of Cormyr.阿莉亚丝的身体当时受一股企图置阿祖恩于死地的邪恶力量控制，即使她明明看得出乔吉并不是科米尔国王，也无法阻止自己。90
He’s a little scrawnier and shaggier than he was last spring, but it’s Giogioni all right, Olive decided.他比去年春天瘦弱了些，也邋遢了些，但绝对是乔吉奥尼没错，奥利芙断定。91
Not that surprising really.其实也没什么好惊讶的。92
This is Immersea, after all, the Wyvernspurs’ home.毕竟这里是伊默海，是飞龙刺家族的故乡。93
Poor boy, Olive thought with a sympathetic smile as she resumed stalking her prey.可怜的孩子，奥利芙一边想，一边露出同情的微笑，继续悄悄逼近自己的猎物。94
First Alias tried to commit regicide on his decidedly unregal person, and now, here I am, about to steal his purse.先是阿莉亚丝企图对他那副怎么看都不像国王的尊躯行弑君之举，如今我又来了，正准备偷走他的钱袋。95
Some people are just born unlucky, the halfling thought with a grin.有些人生来就是倒霉命，半身人咧嘴想道。96
Giogi halted at the door of the Immer Inn.乔吉在伊默客栈门前停下脚步。97
Olive passed within inches of the young noble, and with a deft snatch she tugged the sack of coins from his cloak pocket.奥利芙从年轻贵族身边擦身而过，相距不过几寸，手上利落地一捞，便从他的斗篷口袋里拽出了钱袋。98
She gave the bag a flamboyant spin by its string as she hurried off.她匆匆离去，一边拎着袋绳，花哨地甩转着钱袋。99
Centrifugal force kept the coins secure and unclinking.离心力让钱币稳稳待在袋中，没有发出叮当声。100
Unaware of his loss, the nobleman pushed open the door to his favorite tavern and burst inside, crying, “What ho!”那贵族浑然不知自己丢了钱，推开他最喜欢的酒馆大门，冲进去高喊道：“诸位好啊！”101
There were hearty cries of greetings from within, to which Giogioni responded with the voice of King Azoun IV, “My Cormytes.里面响起一片热烈的招呼声，乔吉奥尼则用阿祖恩四世国王的腔调回应道：“我的科米尔人。102
My people …”我的子民……”103
Three buildings beyond the Immer Inn, Olive ducked into an alley, circled around the block, and sneaked behind Jade.在离伊默客栈三栋房子远的地方，奥利芙闪身钻进一条小巷，绕过街区，悄悄摸到了杰德身后。104
Jade turned and smiled, though, before Olive could surprise her.然而，没等奥利芙吓她一跳，杰德便转过身来，露出了笑容。105
For a human, she had good hearing and excellent night vision.以人类而言，她的听觉相当敏锐，夜视能力也极为出色。106
“You hesitated before the snatch, Olive,” Jade noted.“你下手前犹豫了一下，奥利芙，”杰德指出。107
“Were you having trouble sneaking up on him, or were you having pangs of conscience?” she taunted.“是很难悄悄接近他，还是良心突然不安了？”她揶揄道。108
Olive shook her head.奥利芙摇了摇头。109
“Did you see those boots he was wearing?”“你看到他脚上那双靴子了吗？”110
“Those earth-shakers?”“那双走一步地都要震一震的？”111
Jade asked with a nod.杰德点头问道。112
“I was trying to figure a way to get them off his feet without him noticing.“我刚才是在琢磨，怎样才能把它们从他脚上脱下来，又不让他察觉。113
I thought they might just fit your hulking hooves.”我觉得说不定正合你那双大蹄子的尺寸。”114
“And if they didn’t fit my feet” Jade teased back, “I’d give them to you.“要是不合我的脚，”杰德也打趣道，“我就把它们送给你。115
You could buy an acre of land, roof over them, and live in them.”你可以买下一英亩地，在上面给它们搭个屋顶，然后住进靴子里。”116
The two women, halfling and human, leaned against the wall and chuckled softly.两个女人——一个半身人，一个人类——靠在墙上，轻声笑了起来。117
Olive spun the stolen purse by its string one last time and tossed it in the air.奥利芙拎着袋绳，将偷来的钱袋最后甩转了一圈，随后抛向空中。118
She caught it casually in one hand.她漫不经心地伸出一只手，将它接住。119
The coins within gave a hearty clink.袋里的钱币响亮地叮当一声。120
“Now, really.“哎呀，说真的。121
Why did you stop like that?”你干吗突然停下来？”122
Jade asked earnestly, her green eyes flashing with curiosity.杰德认真地问道，绿色的眼睛里闪烁着好奇的光芒。123
“I recognized the mark.“我认出了那个徽记。124
Giogioni Wyvernspur.乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。125
Remember the swordswoman I traveled with last year, Alias of Westgate?”还记得去年和我一起旅行的那个女剑士吗，西门城的阿莉亚丝？”126
“The one you said looked like me?”“就是你说长得像我的那个？”127
Jade asked, stifling a mock yawn.杰德问道，强忍着一个装模作样的哈欠。128
Jade generally found Olive’s professional exploits amusing, but she had no interest in people who worked outside her field.杰德通常觉得奥利芙那些行当里的冒险经历颇为有趣，但对她这一行之外的人却毫无兴趣。129
Also, Olive’s preoccupation with her supposed resemblance to this Alias person disturbed Jade.而且，奥利芙总惦记着她和那个叫阿莉亚丝的人据说长得很像，这让杰德感到不安。130
She sometimes feared Olive liked her for who she looked like, though Jade was careful not to show it.她有时担心，奥利芙喜欢她只是因为她长得像某个人，不过杰德一直小心地不让这种担忧流露出来。131
“That’s the one,” Olive said with a nod.“就是她。”奥利芙点点头说道。132
“Only she doesn’t just look like you, girl,” she reminded Jade, “she looks just like you.“可她不只是长得像你，姑娘，”她提醒杰德，“她跟你简直一模一样。133
She could be your sister.”她都可以当你的亲姐妹了。”134
Jade shrugged.杰德耸了耸肩。135
The halfling sighed inwardly at her partner’s attitude.半身人在心里叹了口气，对搭档的态度颇感无奈。136
Olive had hoped all her stories about Alias would somehow magically spark Jade into remembering who she was and where she came from.奥利芙原本希望，自己讲的那些关于阿莉亚丝的故事，能以某种神奇的方式唤起杰德的记忆，让她想起自己是谁、来自哪里。137
Each story had failed, though, until there was only one tale left untold, one that Olive could not bring herself to tell her new friend.然而每个故事都没能奏效，直到最后只剩下一个故事尚未讲述——一个奥利芙怎么也无法对这位新朋友说出口的故事。138
It was the tale of how Olive and Alias had discovered twelve duplicates of Alias in the Citadel of White Exile, duplicates not dead but not alive either.那是奥利芙和阿莉亚丝如何在白色放逐堡发现十二个阿莉亚丝复制体的故事；那些复制体既没有死，却也不算活着。139
When Alias had slain the evil master of the citadel, the duplicates had vanished.当阿莉亚丝杀死城堡的邪恶主人后，那些复制体便消失了。140
Olive had supposed that the images had returned to their elemental origins—until she’d met Jade More, that is.奥利芙原以为，那些影像已经回归了各自的元素本源——当然，那是在她遇见杰德·莫尔之前。141
Jade had to be one of the duplicates, Olive realized.奥利芙意识到，杰德一定是那些复制品之一。142
Not only did Jade resemble Alias, but the irrefutable proof was carved into her flesh.杰德不仅长得像阿莉亚丝，而且无可辩驳的证据就刻在她的血肉上。143
On her right arm swirled the remains of the magical brand—a blue river of waves and serpents set there by her creator.她的右臂上盘旋着魔法烙印的残迹——一道由波涛与蛇构成的蓝色河流，是她的创造者烙在那里的。144
Just as with Alias’s brand, the creator’s sigil was missing from the design—the azure bond of servitude had been broken when Alias had killed the monster.和阿莉亚丝的烙印一样，图案中创造者的印记已经消失——阿莉亚丝杀死那个怪物时，那道象征奴役的蔚蓝纽带便已断裂。145
Finally, set at the base of the design on the underside of Jade’s wrist was a blue rose, just like the one with which the gods had favored Alias in honor of her love for the music of the Nameless Bard, the man who had designed her.最后，在杰德手腕内侧图案的底部，还有一朵蓝玫瑰，与诸神赐予阿莉亚丝的那朵一模一样；那是为了表彰她对“无名者”吟游诗人之音乐的热爱，而此人正是她的设计者。146
If it hadn’t been for the telltale brands, though, Olive might not have been so sure of Jade’s origin.不过，要不是那些泄露真相的烙印，奥利芙或许不会如此确定杰德的来历。147
Her personality was very different from Alias’s. Granted, Jade exuded the same confidence and competence as the sell-sword, but that was the mark of any experienced adventurer.她的性格与阿莉亚丝截然不同。诚然，杰德流露出的自信和干练与那名佣兵如出一辙，但任何经验丰富的冒险者都有这样的特质。148
Jade was relaxed, though, where Alias was driven, humorous where Alias was solemn, and larcenous where Alias was upstanding.然而，杰德轻松随性，阿莉亚丝却执着紧绷；杰德诙谐风趣，阿莉亚丝却一本正经；杰德惯于偷窃，阿莉亚丝却正直磊落。149
Moreover, Jade seemed not to care about her inability to recall much of her own history.此外，杰德似乎并不在意自己对个人经历所知甚少。150
Rather, she seemed content practicing her art and getting on with her life without wondering, as Alias had, about her missing memories or true origins.相反，她似乎满足于施展自己的技艺、继续过自己的日子，并不像阿莉亚丝那样追问缺失的记忆或真正的来历。151
It was that trait of unreflective self-satisfaction that endeared Jade to the halfling and made it impossible for Olive to tell the human woman that she was a copy of Alias.正是这种不加反思的自得让杰德深受这个半身人喜爱，也令奥利芙无法告诉这名人类女子，她只是阿莉亚丝的复制品。152
Olive feared that Jade might lose her joy of life if she learned she’d been created by an evil denizen.奥利芙担心，杰德若是得知自己由一个邪恶生灵创造，或许会失去生活的乐趣。153
She also feared that Jade might hate her for telling the truth.她也害怕杰德会因为她说出真相而恨她。154
Jade broke through Olive’s reverie.杰德打断了奥利芙的沉思。155
“What’s this Alias got to do with JoJo Whatever?” she asked.“这个阿莉亚丝跟那个什么乔乔有什么关系？”她问。156
“Giogioni Wyvernspur.“乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。157
We’ve been here all winter, Jade.杰德，我们整个冬天都待在这里。158
You must have heard something about the Wyvernspurs.你不可能没听说过飞龙刺家族的事。159
They founded this town.这座镇子就是他们建立的。160
They’re big favorites at court.他们在宫廷里很受宠。161
They’re supposed to have some sort of ancient artifact, some spur for riding wyverns, that gives them power beyond mortal men.据说他们拥有某种古老的神器，一根用来骑飞龙的马刺，能赋予他们超越凡人的力量。162
At least that’s the story they tell in the taverns.至少酒馆里流传的故事是这么说的。163
Anyway, what I was getting at was that Alias once tried to assassinate Giogioni.”总之，我想说的是，阿莉亚丝曾经试图刺杀乔吉奥尼。”164
“Olive, you really should be more careful who you travel with.“奥利芙，你真该更小心地挑选旅伴。165
These violent types’ll get you into trouble.”这些动不动就诉诸暴力的家伙会给你惹麻烦的。”166
Olive nodded.奥利芙点了点头。167
“It’s true.“真的。168
She did.”她确实害我惹上麻烦了。”169
“Lucky you’ve got me to look out for you, now,” Jade said in mock earnestness, waving a slender finger.“幸好现在有我照看你，”杰德故作认真地说，一边晃了晃一根纤细的手指。170
“And who’s going to look out for you?”“那谁来照看你呢？”171
Olive teased.奥利芙打趣道。172
“I don’t need looking out for.“我才不需要别人照看。173
I never get into trouble.”我从来不惹麻烦。”174
“You will if one of Sudacar’s men sees you with Giogioni Wyvernspur’s purse hanging from your belt,” Olive warned, an impish smile barely contained on her face.“要是苏达卡的哪个手下看见你腰带上挂着乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的钱袋，你就会惹上麻烦了。”奥利芙警告道，脸上几乎藏不住顽皮的笑意。175
“I don’t have—” Jade swung her hand down to her hip.“我才没有——”杰德猛地把手伸向腰间。176
Knotted around her belt were the strings of a yellow velvet bag embroidered with a green “W” and bulging with coins.她的腰带上系着一只黄色天鹅绒钱袋的抽绳，袋上绣着一个绿色的“W”，里面装满了钱币，鼓鼓囊囊的。177
Olive grinned.奥利芙咧嘴一笑。178
“Don’t you think you’d better tuck that out of sight?“你不觉得最好把它藏起来吗？179
I’ll collect my cut later.”我的那份以后再收。”180
Giving a low whistle of appreciation for the halfling’s dexterity and sneakiness, Jade teased the knot out of the purse strings.杰德低低吹了声口哨，赞叹这个半身人的手法灵巧又隐秘，随后挑开了钱袋抽绳上的结。181
From her belt she drew a second, smaller pouch.她又从腰带上取下一个更小的袋子。182
She opened the smaller one and dropped Giogi’s larger, unopened purse into it.她打开小袋子，把乔吉那个更大、尚未打开的钱袋放了进去。183
The money-laden purse disappeared into the pouch without making a bulge.装满钱的钱袋消失在小袋子里，竟连一点鼓包都没留下。184
It was Olive’s turn to whistle.这回轮到奥利芙吹口哨了。185
“How’d you do that?” she gasped.“你是怎么做到的？”她倒吸着气问道。186
“Isn’t it great?”“是不是很棒？”187
Jade said as she knotted the smaller pouch’s strings and tucked it back into her belt.杰德一边说，一边系紧小袋子的抽绳，把它塞回腰带里。188
“It’s a miniature magical bag.“这是个微型魔法袋。189
You can really stuff it.里面可能装了。190
Want to know the best part?想知道最妙的是什么吗？191
It was a gift.”这是别人送我的。”192
“Well, well, well.“哟，哟，哟。193
Who gives you such magical gifts, and when are you going to introduce us, girl?”是谁送你这么神奇的礼物啊？你打算什么时候介绍给我们认识，丫头？”194
Olive asked.奥利芙问道。195
“Later, Olive.“回头再说，奥利芙。196
That’s what I’ve been up to for the past few days.这就是我过去几天一直在忙的事。197
He said not to say anything until it was all over, but a girl can’t be expected to keep this kind of thing from her best friend, now can she?”他说事情结束之前什么都不能说，可这种事，哪能指望一个姑娘瞒着自己最好的朋友呢，对吧？”198
“Of course not,” Olive agreed.“当然不能。”奥利芙赞同道。199
“What kind of thing?”“什么事？”200
“Well, it all started that night you caught cold and went back to your boarding house to rest your voice.“唔，一切都要从那天晚上说起。那晚你着了凉，回寄宿屋休养嗓子。201
After you left, I plucked this servant— Hello, what’s this?”你走后，我挑中了一个仆人——咦，这是什么？”202
Jade interrupted her story to turn her attention to a cloaked figure coming down the street.杰德打断自己的故事，把注意力转向一个正沿街走来的斗篷人影。203
It was hard to identify the figure as man or woman, since the cloak fell in voluminous folds about the body and the cloak’s hood shadowed the face.很难分辨那人是男是女，因为宽大的斗篷层层叠叠地裹住了身体，兜帽又将脸遮在阴影里。204
From the figure’s size and heavy, measured stride, Olive guessed it was a man.从那人的身形和沉重而稳健的步伐来看，奥利芙猜他是个男人。205
An unpleasant man.一个令人不快的男人。206
Jade leaned forward, a feral glint in her eye.杰德探身向前，眼中闪过一抹野兽般的光芒。207
Olive tugged her back by the hem of her tunic.奥利芙拽住她束腰外衣的下摆，把她拉了回来。208
“Not this one, girl.”“这个不行，丫头。”209
“Olive, what’s gotten into you?”“奥利芙，你这是怎么了？”210
“I don’t know.“我不知道。211
He feels … dangerous somehow.”不知怎么的，他让人觉得……很危险。”212
A new feeling of familiarity tickled at her brain, but this one was mixed with an inexplicable fear.一股新的熟悉感在她脑海中隐隐浮动，可这一次，其中还夹杂着一种莫名的恐惧。213
Jade’s nose twitched with annoyance.杰德不耐烦地皱了皱鼻子。214
“He feels rich to me.”“我倒觉得他很有钱。”215
She tugged the hem of her tunic out of the halfling’s hand.她从半身人手中扯回自己的束腰外衣下摆。216
Still, Olive’s words had shaken her confidence.不过，奥利芙的话还是动摇了她的信心。217
She slid the magic pouch out of her belt.她从腰带里抽出那只魔法钱袋。218
“Hold onto this for me, then I’ll have nothing to lose if he’s ticklish and calls out the watch.”“那你替我拿着这个。这样一来，就算他怕痒，喊来了巡夜队，我也没什么可损失的。”219
“Nothing but your freedom,” Olive sniffed.“除了你的自由。”奥利芙哼了一声。220
“Lord Sudacar hand-picked those guards himself.“那些卫兵可是苏达卡大人亲自挑选的。221
You don’t want to take them on, believe me.”相信我，你不会想跟他们交手的。”222
Jade grinned.杰德咧嘴一笑。223
“As long as they don’t find that purse on me I can talk my way around them, and if not, my new friend can handle Lord Sudacar.”“只要他们没在我身上找到那只钱袋，我就能用话把他们糊弄过去；要是不行，我的新朋友也能对付苏达卡大人。”224
“So certain, are you?”“你就这么肯定？”225
Olive asked as she slid the pouch inside her vest pocket.奥利芙一边问，一边把钱袋塞进马甲口袋。226
“Got a name for myself in this town now,” Jade whispered.“我如今在这城里也闯出名号了。”杰德低声说道。227
Before Olive could make the woman explain what she meant by that, Jade padded off after the new pigeon.奥利芙还没来得及逼她解释这话是什么意思，杰德便悄无声息地跟着新的肥羊去了。228
Left in the shadows, Olive sighed.奥利芙独自留在阴影里，叹了口气。229
It was hard to get angry with her protegee’s exuberance.面对自己这位徒弟的满腔热情，她实在很难生气。230
With all her wealth, Olive might have retired from the business and just stuck with music, but she couldn’t bear to see Jade’s talent wasted.凭奥利芙的全部身家，她本可以金盆洗手，专心做音乐，可她无法忍受杰德的天赋被白白浪费。231
The woman really needed someone to advise her.这个女人确实需要有人指点。232
She’s just going to have to learn the hard way, though, if she won’t take my advice, Olive thought.不过，她要是不肯听我的劝，就只好吃点苦头才能学会了，奥利芙心想。233
Silently the halfling critiqued her partner’s performance.半身人默默评判着搭档的表现。234
Jade had a nice natural style of walking after her pigeon, which didn’t betray her intent to anyone who might be watching the street.杰德跟在肥羊身后时，步态自然从容，丝毫不会向任何可能正在观察街道的人暴露她的意图。235
She also had the quietest tread of any woman Olive had ever known, and marks never heard her coming.她的脚步也是奥利芙所认识的女人中最轻的，目标从来听不见她靠近。236
She had one trait, though, that could betray her.不过，她有一个特点可能会暴露自己。237
Jade was tall, even for a human woman.杰德身材高挑，即使在人类女子中也是如此。238
While this would not ordinarily be a great handicap, it was here and now, because Immersea was one of those civilized towns whose cobbled thoroughfares were lit at night with lanterns hung from poles.这通常算不上多大的妨碍，但此时此地却不然，因为伊默海是那种文明城镇，铺着石块的大街入夜后会由悬挂在杆柱上的灯笼照亮。239
The illumination posed very little problem for Olive, but Jade’s shadow shot out before her whenever she passed a lantern pole, right across the path of whoever she followed.这些灯光对奥利芙几乎构不成任何麻烦，可杰德每次经过灯柱时，影子都会猛地投向前方，横在她所跟踪之人的路上。240
Olive had warned Jade about that before, but either the human had forgotten or had chosen to ignore the warning.奥利芙以前提醒过杰德这一点，但这个人类不是忘了，就是选择无视她的警告。241
To Olive’s relief, though, the pigeon bundled in the heavy cloak seemed oblivious to Jade’s presence.不过，令奥利芙松了口气的是，那个裹在厚重斗篷里的肥羊似乎丝毫没有察觉杰德的存在。242
Jade got close enough to run her hands gently through the curves of the pigeons’ cloak and then fell back a few steps.杰德凑得够近，双手轻轻探过肥羊斗篷的褶皱，随后又落后了几步。243
She examined whatever it was she had snatched.她端详起自己刚顺来的东西。244
Olive frowned.奥利芙皱起眉头。245
First rule is take cover, then examine the booty, the halfling chided silently.第一条规矩是先找掩护，再查看战利品，半身人在心里责备道。246
Whatever Jade had grabbed excited her greatly, and she broke protocol again by turning around and holding up her prize for Olive to see.杰德顺到的东西显然让她兴奋不已，她又一次违反规矩，转过身来，举起战利品给奥利芙看。247
It appeared to be a fist-sized crystal of black glass that did not reflect the streetlight.那似乎是一块拳头大小的黑色玻璃晶体，丝毫不反射街灯的光。248
At least Olive presumed it was glass.至少奥利芙猜想那是玻璃。249
It didn’t seem possible that anyone would carry around a valuable gem that size in an outer pocket.不可能有人会把这么大一颗贵重宝石放在外侧口袋里随身携带。250
Olive waved Jade away, afraid that the human thief might forget everything she’d been taught and walk back directly to their shadowy base of operations.奥利芙挥手示意杰德离开，生怕这个人类窃贼把学过的一切都忘得一干二净，直接走回她们藏在暗处的据点。251
Jade pocketed the item and strolled behind the pigeon another several yards—which was even worse.杰德把那东西揣进口袋，又跟在肥羊身后闲逛了好几码——这就更糟了。252
How many times, Olive wondered with a scowl, do I have to tell her never go back for seconds?奥利芙沉着脸想，我到底要告诉她多少遍，绝不能回头再捞一票？253
Why do you always push Tymora’s luck, Jade-girl?你为什么总要去挑战泰摩拉赐予的好运呢，杰德丫头？254
Still, the street was otherwise empty, save for the two figures.不过，街上除此之外空无一人，只有那两道人影。255
Luck broke badly for Jade all at once.杰德的好运一下子全完了。256
Whether she had made a noise or the pigeon had spotted the human’s shadow, Olive couldn’t tell, but something alerted him to the thief’s presence.奥利芙不知道是她弄出了声响，还是那只肥羊发现了人类投下的影子，但总之，有什么惊动了他，让他察觉到了小偷的存在。257
He stopped and turned slowly, the front of his hood fixed in the direction of Jade’s approach.他停下脚步，缓缓转身，兜帽正面朝着杰德走来的方向。258
As cool and calm as a frozen pond, Jade passed the pigeon, looking for all the Realms as if she were another Cormyte searching for a warm tavern, but Olive saw the mark rummage through his cloak pockets.杰德镇定自若，冷静得如同一池冰水，从那只肥羊身边走了过去；任诸界中谁来看，她都不过是又一个正在寻找温暖酒馆的科米尔人，但奥利芙却看见那个目标在斗篷口袋里翻找起来。259
The thief’s charade had not fooled him.小偷的伪装并没有骗过他。260
The human woman had only gotten four paces beyond the cloaked figure when he shouted in a deep, rich voice, “Treacherous witch!那个人类女子刚走过斗篷人身旁四步，他便用低沉浑厚的声音高喊道：“背信弃义的女巫！261
You’ve escaped, and now you try to steal what you have not earned!”你逃了出来，如今还想偷走并非凭本事得来的东西！”262
The thief’s ice-cool composure cracked.小偷冰冷镇定的神色崩裂了。263
Without looking back, Jade made a dash for the unlit alley.杰德头也不回地冲向那条没有灯光的小巷。264
Once the darkness folded around her, no pigeon would ever find her.只要黑暗将她裹住，就再也没有哪只肥羊能找到她。265
Before Jade could reach the alley’s shelter, though, the cloaked figure raised an arm and pointed a slender, ringed finger at her fleeing form.然而，杰德还没来得及逃进小巷的庇护，斗篷人便抬起一条手臂，用一根戴着戒指的纤长手指指向她逃跑的身影。266
A line of emerald light emanated from the finger.一道翡翠色的光芒从那根手指中射出。267
The beam sliced through the darkness, striking Jade squarely in the back.光束劈开黑暗，正中杰德的后背。268
She froze in midstride, her mouth open, but, like some horrible pantomime show, her scream was never heard.她在跨步途中僵住了，嘴巴大张，可就像一出骇人的哑剧，她的尖叫始终没有发出声音。269
The emerald light outlined the woman’s body and burst into a searing brilliance.翡翠色的光芒勾勒出女人的身体，继而迸发出灼目的强光。270
Olive’s eyes shut instinctively against the glare.奥利芙本能地闭上眼睛，躲避那刺眼的光芒。271
When she opened them again, the light had died and there was no Jade, only a collection of glittering green dust motes drifting lazily to the ground.等她再次睁开眼睛时，光芒已经消失，杰德也不见了，只剩下一簇闪烁的绿色尘埃，悠悠飘落地面。272
Jade More had ceased to exist.杰德·莫尔已不复存在。273
“No!”“不！”274
Olive screeched in horror.奥利芙惊恐地尖叫起来。275
The cloaked figure whirled about at the shout.斗篷人听见喊声，猛地转过身来。276
The hood fell away from his face.兜帽从他脸上滑落。277
Lantern light illuminated his visage: sharp, hawklike features with piercing predatory blue eyes.灯笼的光照亮了他的面容：轮廓锐利，宛如鹰隼，一双极具侵略性的蓝眼睛锐利逼人。278
Olive recognized the face immediately.奥利芙立刻认出了那张脸。279
She knew the man.她认识这个男人。280
Unbidden, warm memories sprang to her mind: fighting beside him at Westgate, learning new songs from him, accepting his silver Harper’s pin.温暖的回忆不由自主地涌上心头：与他并肩战斗于西门城，向他学习新的歌谣，收下他的竖琴手银徽章。281
Yet, in her fury, her hand reached automatically for her dagger.然而，盛怒之下，她的手还是本能地伸向了匕首。282
“You!” she spat through clenched teeth.“是你！”她咬牙切齿地啐道。283
Anger and anguish overrode her common sense, and she stepped from the shadows to confront the man, her screams increasing in volume and pitch with every step.愤怒与痛苦压倒了理智，她从阴影中走出来与那男人对峙；每走一步，她的尖叫便更响一分，也更尖厉一分。284
“How could you?“你怎么能这样？285
You killed her!是你杀了她！286
Can’t you keep from playing at gods’ games?你就不能别再插手诸神的游戏吗？287
You fiend!你这个恶魔！288
You disgust me!”你真让我恶心！”289
Apparently unconcerned with the halfling’s opinion, the cloaked figure pointed a ringed finger in her direction.披斗篷的人显然毫不在意这个半身人怎么看他，只将一根戴着戒指的手指朝她一指。290
Olive froze, suddenly realizing her own peril.奥利芙僵住了，猛然意识到自己身处险境。291
The halfling sprang back into the alley, just as a second lance of green light shot from the man’s finger.半身人纵身退回小巷，恰在此时，第二道绿色光矛从那男人的指尖射出。292
The ray sizzled into the cobblestones, leaving a pothole where Olive had stood a moment before.光束嘶嘶作响地击中鹅卵石路面，在奥利芙片刻前站立的地方留下了一个坑。293
The halfling did not turn to inspect the damage.半身人没有回头查看造成了多大的破坏。294
She dashed down the alley without looking back.她头也不回地沿着小巷飞奔。295
She could hear the level, thudding strides of the man behind her, like an inhuman heartbeat.她能听见身后那男人沉稳而沉重的脚步声，仿佛非人的心跳。296
He doesn’t need to dash to keep up with me, Olive realized.他根本不用跑就能追上我，奥利芙意识到。297
Time to disappear into thin air, she told herself, or face the prospect of literally disappearing forever.该消失得无影无踪了，她对自己说，否则就得面临真的永远消失的下场。298
She always prepared a bolt hole when she worked the streets.她在街头办事时，总会事先给自己备好一条退路。299
Along the right side of the alley ran the stable where she boarded her pony, Snake Eyes.小巷右侧是一间马厩，她的小马蛇眼就寄养在那里。300
There was a loose plank in the rear wall that pivoted on a single nail.马厩后墙有一块松动的木板，只靠一枚钉子固定，可以绕着钉子转动。301
At the end of the alley Olive dodged right, slid the plank up, and slipped into the stable.到了小巷尽头，奥利芙猛地向右一闪，把木板推开，溜进了马厩。302
She let the plank slide back into place and stood trying to gasp for air as quietly as possible.她让木板滑回原位，站在那里，竭力不出声地大口喘气。303
The thudding footfalls of her attacker approached her bolt hole, then ceased.袭击者沉重的脚步声逼近她的藏身处，随后停了下来。304
Olive held her breath, hoping to determine in which direction he would head.奥利芙屏住呼吸，想判断他会往哪个方向走。305
The killer did not move away, however, but stood near the stable wall, muttering to himself.然而，那个杀手并没有离开，而是站在马厩墙边，嘴里喃喃自语。306
Pick a direction and move away, you murdering fiend, Olive willed silently.随便挑个方向滚远点吧，你这杀人恶魔，奥利芙在心中默念。307
Snake Eyes, her pony, sensed his mistress’s anxiety and moved toward her, nuzzling her ear.她的小马蛇眼察觉到女主人的焦虑，朝她走来，用鼻吻蹭她的耳朵。308
Irritated, Olive pushed the animal’s muzzle away.奥利芙心中烦躁，一把推开了它的鼻吻。309
The pony whickered softly in annoyance.小马不满地轻声嘶鸣。310
Keep quiet, Snake Eyes, Olive willed, there’s a very crazy man outside trying to kill me.安静点，蛇眼，奥利芙在心里说道，外面有个疯得厉害的男人正想杀我。311
Olive scratched the pony’s back, and it grew calm.奥利芙挠了挠小马的背，它渐渐平静下来。312
Olive calmed as well; her breathing became more regular.奥利芙也镇定了些；她的呼吸逐渐恢复平稳。313
She tried to deny she’d seen the murderer’s face so clearly.她竭力不愿相信自己竟把凶手的脸看得如此清楚。314
He could not be who he looked like.他不可能真是那个他看起来像的人。315
She had to be mistaken.她一定是认错了。316
The halfling’s heart skipped a beat as something knocked on the stable wall behind her.身后的马厩墙上忽然响起敲击声，半身人的心猛地漏跳了一拍。317
Her pursuer had not given up!追赶她的人还没有放弃！318
He was searching for an opening.他在寻找入口。319
Olive stumbled backward in panic and knocked over Snake Eyes’s water pail.奥利芙惊慌地踉跄后退，撞翻了蛇眼的水桶。320
The man outside began mumbling again, and Olive realized with horror that he must be chanting a spell.外面的男人又开始喃喃低语，奥利芙惊恐地意识到，他一定是在吟唱咒语。321
Olive pushed on the stall’s door, but it was bolted on the other side, and she hadn’t the time to use her skills to slip it open.奥利芙推了推马栏的门，可门闩插在另一边，她根本来不及施展手段把门闩拨开。322
Fortunately the walls to the stall did not go to the ceiling, and, with an effort born of desperation and a great deal of scrabbling, the halfling was able to climb to the top.幸好马栏的隔墙没有一直砌到天花板；在绝望催生的力气和一番拼命扒蹬之下，半身人总算爬到了墙顶。323
She dropped down into the stable’s center aisle and dashed for the building’s main entrance.她跳进马厩中央的过道，朝建筑的正门飞奔而去。324
Snake Eyes whinnied in terror as his mistress pushed on the front door—only to discover that it, too, was bolted from without.女主人推向正门时，蛇眼吓得放声嘶鸣——奥利芙却发现，这扇门也从外面闩上了。325
Olive whirled around, looking for another place to hide.奥利芙猛地转过身，寻找另一个藏身之处。326
A pale glow of yellow light and more muttering emanated from Snake Eyes’s stall.蛇眼的隔间里透出一抹淡淡的黄光，还传来更多含混的低语声。327
He’s inside!他在里面！328
Olive thought, terror grabbing her insides and giving them a quarter-turn.奥利芙心想，恐惧攫住她的五脏六腑，狠狠拧了一把。329
He disintegrates, detects secret doors, and walks through walls.他能施展解离术，能探查暗门，还能穿墙而过。330
How can I hide from him?我怎么可能躲得过他？331
The muttering stopped, and Snake Eyes’s stall door rattled.低语声停了，蛇眼的隔间门随即哐啷作响。332
A series of sharp thumps followed, and the stall door’s hinges began to give way.紧接着传来一连串猛烈的撞击声，隔间门的铰链开始松脱。333
Stifling a sob, Olive dodged behind a large pile of grain sacks and crouched, cowering miserably in the dark.奥利芙强忍住呜咽，闪身躲到一大堆粮袋后面，蹲伏下来，在黑暗中可怜兮兮地缩成一团。334
There has got to be some way out of this, Olive thought feverishly.一定有什么办法能脱身，奥利芙心急如焚地想。335
I’m too talented to die.我这么有本事，才不能死。336
Her eyes lit on an empty sack on the ground and she pulled it over her head, hoping to masquerade as a bag of feed.她的目光落在地上的一只空袋子上，便把它套到头上，希望能伪装成一袋饲料。337
It was only a thirty-pound sack, though, and she was a fifty-pound halfling.可那只袋子只能装三十磅，而她这个半身人却足有五十磅。338
I’ll never stuff myself into this, she realized as she heard the sound of screws ripping out of wood.我怎么也不可能把自己塞进去，她意识到，同时听见螺钉从木头里被硬生生扯出来的声音。339
Uttering the word “stuff” and staring at the useless bag, a fresh idea sprang to the halfling’s mind.嘴里念着“塞进去”，又盯着那只毫无用处的袋子，半身人脑中忽然冒出了一个新主意。340
Jade’s magic pouch! she thought.杰德的魔法袋！她心想。341
Akabar the mage had once told her a story of a southern prince who kept an elephant in his magic pouch.魔法师阿卡巴曾给她讲过一个故事，说有位南方王子把一头大象养在自己的魔法袋里。342
Jade said the pouch was a miniature one, Olive recalled.杰德说过，这只魔法袋是小型的，奥利芙回想道。343
I’m hardly an elephant, she reasoned, so the thing ought to accommodate me.我又不是大象，她思忖着，所以这东西应该装得下我。344
Her sweaty fingers pulled the small sack from her vest.她用汗津津的手指从背心里掏出那只小袋子。345
All I need to do is get my head and shoulders in, and the rest should tumble after, she thought.我只要先把头和肩膀伸进去，剩下的身体自然就会跟着滚进去，她想。346
Her hands trembled as she tugged on the purse strings.她双手颤抖着，使劲拉扯袋口的系绳。347
In her haste, she dropped the bag, and it clunked to the dark floor.慌乱之中，她失手掉了袋子；袋子咚的一声落在昏暗的地板上。348
Her fingers groped through the straw and grain until they snagged one of the strings.她的手指在稻草和谷粒间摸索，直到勾住其中一根系绳。349
She fumbled with the knot and yanked open the mouth of the sack, ignoring the sound of approaching footsteps rustling through the straw and the light illuminating the wall behind her.她手忙脚乱地解开绳结，一把扯开袋口，全然不顾那踩过稻草、逐渐逼近的脚步声，也不顾身后的墙壁已被光芒照亮。350
A queasy feeling came over Olive as she opened the pouch.奥利芙打开小袋时，一阵恶心涌上心头。351
An ancient, dry voice whispered, “He who steals Giogioni Wyvernspur’s purse makes an ass of himself.”一个古老而干涩的声音低语道：“谁偷了乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的钱袋，谁就是自取其辱的蠢驴。”352
Nine Hells, Olive cursed.九层地狱啊，奥利芙暗骂道。353
I’ve opened the wrong sack.我打开了错误的袋子。354
Giogioni’s must have fallen out when I dropped Jade’s. The fop had a magic mouth cast on his purse to warn him if someone else opened it.我刚才把杰德的袋子掉在地上时，乔吉奥尼的钱袋一定也掉了出来。那个花花公子给自己的钱袋施了魔嘴术，只要别人打开，就会向他示警。355
Usually, Olive knew, those sorts of spells shouted aloud to embarrass and reveal the thief.奥利芙知道，通常这种法术都会高声叫喊，让小偷出丑并暴露身份。356
Why did this one only whisper? the halfling wondered.为什么这个却只低声说话？半身人纳闷道。357
Lucky for me it did, but why?幸好如此，可为什么呢？358
Stop thinking about stupid things, girl! she snapped to herself.别再想这些蠢事了，姑娘！她厉声训斥自己。359
Don’t you realize that you’re about to die?你没意识到自己就要死了吗？360
A beam of light passed through a chink in the pile of grain sacks, reminding Olive of her peril.一束光穿过粮袋堆间的缝隙，提醒奥利芙此刻身处险境。361
Dropping Giogi’s gold, she fumbled again in the darkness for Jade’s magic pouch.她扔下乔吉的金币，再次在黑暗中摸索杰德的魔法小袋。362
Her hands felt heavy and awkward, and she was dizzy from the excitement.她的双手沉重而笨拙，激动之下，头也晕眩起来。363
When she finally touched the pouch it took all her concentration to grasp and lift it.当她终于碰到那只小袋时，必须集中全部心神，才能将它抓住并提起来。364
The footfalls halted right in front of her hiding spot.脚步声就在她藏身之处前停了下来。365
Automatically Olive slipped Jade’s pouch in her vest pocket and pressed her eye to the chink in the sacks, just as a shadow blocked the light streaming through.奥利芙下意识地把杰德的小袋塞进背心口袋，将眼睛贴近袋堆间的缝隙；恰在此时，一道阴影挡住了透进来的光。366
The halfling looked up, her eyes wide with terror.半身人抬头望去，双眼因恐惧而睁得滚圆。367
Jade’s murderer looked down at her with anger.杀害杰德的凶手愤怒地俯视着她。368
His right hand held a translucent ball of light, which limned his face.他右手握着一团半透明的光球，映亮了他的脸庞。369
Despite the cruel, twisted smile, the sharp features were unmistakable.尽管那张脸挂着残忍而扭曲的笑容，那棱角分明的五官依旧绝不会认错。370
It is the Nameless Bard, Olive thought with anguish.是“无名者”吟游诗人，奥利芙痛苦地想道。371
He used to be a Harper.他从前曾是个竖琴手。372
How could he become a murderer?他怎么会变成杀人凶手？373
We were allies and friends.我们曾经是盟友，也是朋友。374
How can he murder me?他怎么能杀我？375
“Beshaba’s brats,” he cursed.“贝莎芭的兔崽子们，”他咒骂道。376
Olive felt much the same way.奥利芙也深有同感。377
The goddess of ill luck seemed to be following her tonight.这位厄运女神今晚似乎一直阴魂不散地跟着她。378
She tried to stand, but her knees were too weak.她试图站起来，可双膝软弱无力。379
She looked up, prepared to deliver what she suspected were her last words.她抬起头，准备说出她猜想会是自己临终遗言的话。380
She started to say, “You’ll never get away with this.她开口说道：“你休想干了这种事还能逍遥法外。381
Alias will find out, and she’ll—” but all that came from her mouth was a hoarse bray.阿莉亚丝会查出来的，她会——”可她嘴里发出的只有一声嘶哑的驴叫。382
Nameless turned away from her as if she didn’t exist, and began searching the horse stalls.无名者转过身去，仿佛她根本不存在，开始搜查一间间马栏。383
He had me dead to rights, Olive thought.他明明把我逮了个正着，奥利芙心想。384
How could he miss me?他怎么会没看到我？385
She tried to scratch her head in puzzlement, but all she could manage was a twitch of her fuzzy muzzle, a swish of her bushy tail, and a pricking of her long, pointed ears.她困惑地想挠挠头，可她能做到的只有抽动一下毛茸茸的口鼻，甩一甩蓬松的尾巴，再竖起那双尖尖的长耳朵。386
In panic, the halfling looked down at herself.半身人惊慌地低头看向自己。387
Instead of her black vest, breeches, and furry feet, Olive discovered she was covered with short brown fur and had four delicate hooves.奥利芙发现，自己那身黑背心、马裤和毛茸茸的双脚全都不见了，取而代之的是覆盖全身的棕色短毛和四只纤巧的蹄子。388
Sweet Selune, Olive thought, I’m an ass!仁慈的塞露恩啊，奥利芙心想，我成了一头驴！389