The Wyvern's Spur

From the journal of Giogioni Wyvernspur:摘自乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的日记：

The 19th of Ches, in the Year of the Shadows阴影之年，切斯月十九日

Late last night I returned home from my duties as royal envoy, to find my kin in a greater uproar than the southern city I had left behind.昨夜深更时分，我结束王室特使的公务回到家中，却发现族人闹得比我刚刚离开的那座南方城市还要沸反盈天。Ten months of Westgate’s problems shrivel to insignificance when compared to the tragedy that has befallen the clan of the Wyvernspurs of Immersea.与伊默海飞龙刺家族遭逢的这场悲剧相比，西门城十个月来的种种麻烦都显得微不足道。

How could the flattening of an entire neighborhood by a dragon corpse, followed by an earthquake and an underworld power-struggle, hope to compete with the theft of a family heirloom no larger than a zucchini and uglier than three-week-old sa usage?先是整片街区被一具巨龙尸骸夷为平地，继而又发生地震和地下世界的权力争斗——可这一切，怎么比得上一件传家宝失窃呢？那东西不过西葫芦大小，却比放了三个星期的香肠还难看。

“A hunk of junk” is what Uncle Drone has always called the wyvern’s spur (said heirloom), and, considering all the trouble it has been, I am inclined to agree with him.德罗恩叔叔一向把那根飞龙爪刺（也就是上述传家宝）叫作“一坨破烂”；考虑到它惹出的所有麻烦，我也倾向于赞同他的说法。No doubt the family would have donated it to a church rummage generations ago if not for the detestable prophesy that came with it.若不是随它而来的那则可恶预言，毫无疑问，家族早在好几代以前就会把它捐给某座教堂义卖了。

According to family legend, the wyvern who presented it to old Paton Wyvernspur, way back when, promised that the family line would never die out as long as we held on to the gruesome chunk of mummified beastie.据家族传说，很久很久以前，那头把爪刺赠给老佩顿·飞龙刺的飞龙曾许诺，只要我们保管着这块阴森可怖的木乃伊化兽体，家族血脉就永远不会断绝。Logically it doesn’t follow that losing the dratted thing guarantees our demise, but we’ve always been a superstitious lot, we Wyvernspurs, so there is a family conclave tonight in Aunt Dorath’s lair at Redstone Castle.照理说，丢了那该死的东西并不意味着我们必然灭亡；但我们飞龙刺家族向来迷信，所以今晚全族要在红石城堡多拉丝姑婆的巢穴里召开秘密会议。Although I have not yet unpacked from my journeys on behalf of the crown, I am expected to attend.尽管我出门替王室办事归来，连行李都还没收拾，却仍被要求出席。

Someone will need to comfort Aunt Dorath.总得有人安慰多拉丝姑婆。An oldest nephew’s lot is never easy.当大侄子从来不是件轻松的差事。

Giogi laid his quill pen on the writing table and left the journal open for the ink to dry.乔吉把羽毛笔搁在写字台上，摊着日记，好让墨迹晾干。He didn’t feel it necessary to add that his great-aunt would find his presence comforting only insofar as it would give her something else to criticize.他觉得没必要补充说明，他这位姑婆只有在能挑出些新毛病来数落时，才会觉得他的出现颇具慰藉。He planned to leave his journal to posterity someday, and there were some things posterity just didn’t need to know.他打算有朝一日把日记留给后人，而有些事情，后人实在没必要知道。

As far as Aunt Dorath was concerned, Giogi had dishonored the Wyvernspur family last year with his disgraceful—but, as Giogi would put it, dead-on—imitation of King Azoun IV, which had resulted in Giogi’s near assassination by the cursed sell-sword Alias of Westgate and the disruption of an entire wedding reception.在多拉丝姑婆看来，乔吉去年那场可耻的模仿玷污了飞龙刺家族的名声——他模仿的是阿祖恩四世国王，虽说按乔吉自己的话，那叫惟妙惟肖——结果害得自己险些遭到西门城受诅咒的佣兵阿莉亚丝刺杀，还把整场婚宴搅得一团糟。Nor had Dorath, the matriarch of clan Wyvernspur, been impressed by her nephew’s tale of his subsequent hair-raising encounter with a red dragon named Mist.后来，侄子又讲述了自己与一头名叫米斯特的红龙惊险相遇的经历，但身为飞龙刺家族族长的多拉丝也没有因此对他刮目相看。To her mind, any young man who could not avoid entanglements with assassins and monsters needed to be sent far away for an extended period.在她看来，任何一个连刺客和怪物的纠缠都避不开的年轻人，都该被远远打发出去，待上很长一段时间。Aunt Dorath had assumed that His Majesty Azoun had exiled Giogi in disgrace for those transgressions.多拉丝姑婆一直以为，阿祖恩陛下因乔吉犯下的那些过错而将他不光彩地流放了。

What Dorath, and most of the general population, had not known, was that King Azoun actually had assigned Giogi a secret mission, to discover the whereabouts of Alias of Westgate, the king’s potential assassin.多拉丝以及大多数普通民众都不知道的是，阿祖恩国王其实交给了乔吉一项秘密任务：查明西门城的阿莉亚丝——那名可能刺杀国王的人——究竟身在何处。

Not that I needed to be assigned, Giogi thought.其实根本用不着别人派我去，乔吉心想。I seem destined to run into the woman—or her relatives—wherever I roam.无论我走到哪里，似乎都注定会撞见那个女人——或者她的亲戚。Yet, after Giogi had spotted her near Westgate that summer, she seemed to have vanished from the Realms entirely.然而，那年夏天乔吉在西门城附近发现她的踪迹后，她似乎便彻底从诸界消失了。

Giogi rose from his writing desk and stretched.乔吉从书桌前站起身，伸了个懒腰。His fingertips brushed against one of the overhead chandeliers.他的指尖擦过头顶一盏枝形吊灯。He was a very tall young man, a legacy from both his father and his mother.他是个身材极高的年轻人，这一点同时承袭自父亲和母亲。Last year he’d been slender and clean-cut, but his travels had left him gaunt and his hair in desperate need of a trim.去年，他还身形修长、衣冠整洁，可旅途奔波已令他清瘦憔悴，一头头发也亟须修剪。His sandy-brown locks straggled down his sunburned neck in back and into his muddy brown eyes in front.他那沙褐色的头发凌乱地披在晒伤的后颈上，前面的发绺则垂进了泥褐色的眼睛里。His long face made his features seem less plain than they were.一张长脸让他的五官显得没那么平凡。He bore no resemblance, however, to the other living members of the Wyvernspur family, who all had thin lips, hawklike noses, blue eyes, pale skin, and dark hair.不过，他与飞龙刺家族其他在世成员毫无相似之处；他们无不嘴唇薄削、鼻如鹰钩、眼睛湛蓝、肤色苍白、头发乌黑。

Taking up his goblet of mulled wine, Giogi crossed the parlor to the fireplace, where he warmed his fingers by the flames.乔吉端起那杯香料热葡萄酒，穿过起居室走到壁炉前，伸手在火焰旁取暖。It would take a day or two of blazing fires to chase the last of the winter chill and damp from the parlor.得让炉火熊熊烧上一两天，才能驱尽起居室里冬日残留的阴冷与潮气。Uncertain as to his master’s return, Thomas, Giogi’s manservant, had decided not to waste wood and effort heating an empty house.乔吉的男仆托马斯不确定主人何时回来，便决定不浪费木柴和力气去给一座空宅子取暖。Giogi shuddered to think of the effect that ten months of such neglect had on the plush wool Calimshan carpeting, the brilliant Sembian satin furniture coverings, and the Cormyrian duskwood paneling.一想到十个月来这般疏于照料，会给卡林珊的长绒羊毛地毯、鲜亮的桑比亚缎面家具罩和科米尔人的暮木护墙板造成什么影响，乔吉便不寒而栗。At least, it being the month of Ches, the returning spring sunshine kept ice from forming on the leaded glass windows.至少眼下正值切斯月，回归的春日阳光使那些铅条玻璃窗不至于结冰。It had come as quite a shock to Giogi, though, to find no candle burning in those windows upon his return, neither literally nor figuratively.然而，回来时发现那些窗户里竟没有一支蜡烛燃烧，无论是从字面上还是从象征意义上来说，这都着实令乔吉大吃一惊。

The young noble wondered whether a mere fire laid in the hearth could burn off the strange and unwelcome feeling he now sensed in his home.这位年轻贵族暗自思忖，仅凭壁炉里生起的一把火，是否就能驱散他此刻在家中感受到的那种陌生而又不受欢迎的感觉。Everything was familiar and in its proper place, but the townhouse felt empty.一切都很熟悉，也都各归其位，可这栋联排宅邸却显得空空荡荡。After months spent at inns, aboard ships, and in traveling with strangers, now being alone left Giogi disquieted.几个月来，他一直住在旅店、搭乘船只，又和陌生人结伴赶路，如今独自一人反倒让乔吉心神不宁。He took a long swig of wine to shake off his gloom.他猛喝了一大口酒，想要摆脱心头的阴郁。

On the mantlepiece lay the most interesting souvenir of his travels: a large yellow crystal.壁炉台上放着他旅途中带回的最有趣的纪念品：一块硕大的黄色水晶。Giogi had found it in the grass outside Westgate, and he was sure there was something special about the stone besides its beauty and financial value.乔吉是在西门城外的草丛里发现它的；他确信，除了美丽的外观和金钱价值之外，这块石头还有某种特别之处。The crystal shone in the dark like a great firefly, and Giogi felt quite comforted whenever he held it.这块水晶在黑暗中如一只硕大的萤火虫般发光，而每当乔吉把它握在手中，心里都会感到十分慰藉。He considered showing it to his Uncle Drone, but he decided against the idea, afraid that the old wizard would tell him the stone was dangerous and take it away.他曾考虑把它拿给德罗恩叔叔看，但最后还是打消了这个念头，因为他担心那位老法师会说这块石头很危险，然后把它拿走。

Giogi polished off his drink and placed the empty silver goblet on the mantlepiece, then picked up the yellow crystal.乔吉喝光杯中酒，把空空的银高脚杯放到壁炉台上，随后拿起了那块黄色水晶。Cradling it in both hands, he flopped back into his favorite stuffed chair and propped his feet up on a cushioned footstool.他双手捧着水晶，一屁股坐回自己最喜欢的软垫扶手椅里，又把双脚架在带软垫的脚凳上。He turned the crystal over in his hands, watching the firelight sparkle in each facet.他在手中翻转着水晶，看着炉火的光芒在每一个切面上闪烁。

The crystal was roughly egg-shaped but far larger than any bird egg—smaller, though, than a wyvern’s egg.这块水晶大致呈蛋形，却比任何鸟蛋都大得多——不过，还是比双足飞龙的蛋小。It was the color of the finest mead and faintly warm to the touch.它有着上等蜂蜜酒般的色泽，摸起来微微发暖。Where the facets met, the edges were not sharp but beveled smooth.各个切面相交处的棱边并不锋利，而是磨得平滑圆润。Giogi held the stone at arm’s length, closed one eye, and tried to divine if it held some secret within its depths, but he could make out only the firelight shining through it and his own reflection broken by the facets.乔吉把石头举到一臂之外，闭上一只眼睛，试图窥出它深处是否藏着什么秘密，可他只看得见透过它的火光，以及被各个切面割裂的自己的倒影。

“Now, what would be the best way to display you?” he asked the crystal.“那么，把你摆在哪里展示最好呢？”他问水晶。There was no sense in having a case made for it, he realized.他意识到，没必要专门为它定做一个展示盒。Taking it out every time he wanted to handle it would be a bother, but it was too large to wear from a neck chain.每次想拿在手里把玩都要取出来，未免太麻烦，可它又太大，没法用链子挂在脖子上。On the road, he had kept it tucked in the top of his boot, where most adventurers kept their daggers.在路上时，他一直把它塞在靴筒上端，也就是大多数冒险者藏匕首的地方。

The boots would have to suffice this evening, he decided at last.他最后决定，今晚还是用靴子将就一下吧。Although he didn’t plan to show it to Uncle Drone and the rest of his family, he very much wanted to show the stone to his pals at the Immer Inn.虽然他没打算把它给德罗恩叔叔和家里的其他人看，却非常想让伊默旅店的伙伴们瞧瞧这块石头。With any luck, Aunt Dorath would dismiss him from the family gathering early enough for him to slip back into town before closing hour.运气好的话，多拉丝姑妈会早早准他离开家庭聚会，让他能在打烊前溜回城里。

That matter resolved, Giogi bounced back to his feet and wandered from the parlor to his home’s entrance.这件事拿定主意后，乔吉一跃而起，从起居室溜达到了家门口。With the stone tucked awkwardly in his belt, he rummaged through the hall closet under the stairs.他把石头别扭地塞在腰带里，在楼梯下的门厅壁橱中翻找起来。He’d left his boots in the front of the closet, but they had somehow vanished.他明明把靴子放在壁橱前面，可不知怎么竟不见了。He rustled about the cloaks and capes hanging from their separate hooks, and kicked through a number of shoes that littered the floor.他拨弄着分别挂在各自衣钩上的斗篷和披风，又踢开散落在地板上的一双双鞋。Then he began pulling from the closet all manner of walking sticks, abandoned clothing, and curios—which were gifts from relatives, and so could not be thrown away, but which were too ugly to place anywhere but in the relative darkness of the closet.接着，他开始把各式各样的手杖、弃置不用的衣物和稀奇古怪的小玩意儿一件件拖出壁橱——这些都是亲戚送的礼物，因此不能扔掉，却又丑得无处可放，只配藏在壁橱相对昏暗的角落里。

Finally, having moved half the closet’s interior into the hall, the young noble gave up and let out a bellow.最后，年轻的贵族把壁橱里一半的东西都搬到了门厅，终于放弃寻找，扯开嗓子大吼一声。

“Thomas!” he shouted toward the back hallway.“托马斯！”他朝后面的走廊喊道。“Where are my boots?”“我的靴子在哪儿？”

Alerted by the sound of chests, shoes, and walking sticks being thumped about, Thomas had already decided to investigate the racket and had put aside the silver tureen he’d been polishing.托马斯听见箱子、鞋和手杖被翻得砰砰作响，早已决定去查个究竟，并放下了正在擦拭的银汤盅。He was just coming out from the kitchen as Giogi called his name.乔吉喊他名字时，他正从厨房里出来。Beneath the archway separating the front hall from what Giogi termed “Servant Land,” the gentleman’s gentleman paused.在分隔前厅与乔吉所谓“仆役之国”的拱门下，这位贴身男仆停住了脚步。

Thomas looked askance at the closet’s contents strewn about the hallway and tried not to blanch.托马斯斜眼看着散落在门厅各处的壁橱杂物，竭力不让自己脸色发白。He wasn’t more than three years Giogi’s senior, but many more years of responsibility had given him an aged, wiser-than-thou look.他只比乔吉年长三岁，可多年来肩负的种种责任，却令他显出一副老成而自以为高明的神态。It was a look that the servant used now on his employer.此刻，这名仆人便用这种神态看着自己的主人。

“Is there something that Sir requires?”“少爷有什么吩咐吗？”Thomas asked evenly.托马斯平静地问道。

“I can’t find my boots,” Giogi declared.“我找不到我的靴子了，”乔吉说道。“I know I left them in here.”“我明明把它们放在这里了。”

From the chaos before him, Thomas drew out a pair of recently polished black boots with narrow heels and sharp, pointed toes.托马斯从眼前的一片狼藉中抽出一双刚擦亮的黑靴子，鞋跟细窄，鞋头尖锐。“Here you are, sir,” he said without a trace of annoyance.“在这里，少爷。”他说道，语气中没有一丝不耐烦。

“Not those things.“不是那双玩意儿。I won’t wear them ever again.我再也不穿它们了。They pinch my feet.它们挤脚。Take them away and burn them.拿走烧掉。I want the boots I bought in Westgate.我要我在西门城买的那双靴子。The knee-high, brown-suede clodders with wide brims.就是那双高及膝盖、靴口宽大的棕色麂皮厚底靴。They’re the most comfortable boots in the Realms.”那可是诸界最舒服的靴子。”

Thomas raised a single eyebrow.托马斯挑起一边眉毛。“Comfortable they may be, sir, but they are hardly a gentleman’s boot.”“舒服或许是舒服，少爷，但那实在不像绅士该穿的靴子。”

“Tish!“啧！I’m a gentleman, and they’re my boots, ergo, argumentum ab auctoritate,” came Giogi’s riposte.我是绅士，而那是我的靴子，ergo，argumentum ab auctoritate。”乔吉反驳道。“Et cetera,” he added.“Et cetera。”他又补充了一句。

“I thought, sir, now that your travels are through, that you would wish to dispense with the accoutrements of your journey.“我原以为，少爷，既然您的旅途已经结束，您会想把旅途中的行头都收起来。I have already retired the boots.”我已经把那双靴子收起来了。”

“Well, bring them out of retirement, and please hurry.“那就让它们重出江湖吧，麻烦快一点。I need to leave for Redstone.”我得去红石。”

“I understood that your Aunt Dorath was not expecting you until after supper.”“我听说您的多拉丝姑妈要到晚饭后才等您过去。”

“That’s right, and since I thought I would walk to Redstone and would like to arrive on time, I need to leave now.”“没错，而且既然我打算步行去红石，又想准时到达，我现在就得出发。”Giogi sat on the hall bench and kicked off his silk slippers, anticipating that Thomas would produce his boots out of thin air.乔吉在门厅的长凳上坐下，踢掉脚上的丝绸便鞋，等着托马斯凭空变出他的靴子来。

Thomas surveyed his master with disbelief.托马斯难以置信地打量着主人。“Walk, sir?”“走路去，先生？”

“Yes.“对。You know, one foot in front of the other,” Giogi explained patiently.你知道的，就是一只脚迈到另一只脚前面。”乔吉耐心地解释道。

“But what about your own supper, sir?”“可您自己的晚饭怎么办，先生？”

“Supper?“晚饭？Oh, sorry, Thomas.哦，抱歉，托马斯。Write supper off.晚饭就取消吧。After that magnificent lunch and all those wonderful raisin cakes at tea, I’m completely full up.吃过那么丰盛的午餐，下午茶时又吃了那么多美味的葡萄干蛋糕，我现在已经撑得不得了。Couldn’t eat another thing.再也吃不下任何东西了。Thanks anyway.”不过还是谢谢你。”

Thomas’s look of incredulity turned to one of concern.托马斯脸上的难以置信变成了担忧。“Are you feeling all right, sir?”“您没事吧，先生？”

“Splendid, except that my feet are getting cold,” Giogi said with a grin.“好极了，就是脚越来越冷。”乔吉咧嘴笑着说。

Without another word, Thomas spun about and disappeared through the archway into Servant Land.托马斯二话没说，猛地转过身，穿过拱门，消失在仆役们的天地里。

Giogi twisted sideways on the bench to keep his stockinged feet off the chilly floorboards.乔吉在长凳上侧过身子，好让穿着长袜的双脚不碰到冰凉的地板。He ran a finger along the smooth parquetry worked into the wooden bench’s high back.他用一根手指沿着木凳高靠背上镶嵌的光滑拼花纹路划过。One of his earliest childhood memories was of his father explaining to him the picture in the bench.他童年最早的记忆之一，就是父亲向他讲解长凳上的这幅图画。It depicted the moment the family had gotten its patronymic, “way back,” as his father used to say, “in the days before we knew which spoon to use for the soup course.”画中描绘的是这个家族得到姓氏的那一刻；用他父亲过去常说的话，就是“很久很久以前，在我们还不知道喝汤该用哪把勺子的年代”。In the design, Paton Wyvernspur, the family founder, stood before a great female wyvern.图案中，家族的始祖佩顿·飞龙刺站在一头巨大的雌性飞龙面前。Two tiny hatchling wyverns played at the monster’s feet, and behind her lay the corpse of her mate.两只刚孵化的小飞龙在那头巨兽脚边嬉戏，她身后躺着配偶的尸体。Bandits had killed her mate and stolen her eggs from her nest, but Paton had tracked down and vanquished the thieves and restored the young wyverns to their mother.强盗杀死了她的配偶，又从巢中偷走了她的蛋，但佩顿追踪并击败了那些窃贼，把幼小的飞龙送还给了它们的母亲。In gratitude, the female wyvern had sliced off her mate’s right spur and conferred it upon Giogi’s forefather with the promise that his family line would never dwindle while the spur remained in the family’s possession.为了报恩，雌性飞龙割下了配偶右脚上的距刺，将它赐予乔吉的先祖，并许诺，只要这根距刺仍由这个家族持有，他的家族便永远不会人丁凋零。

Later, when he was older and had learned that wyverns weren’t considered very nice beasts, Giogi often wondered why Paton had helped the female wyvern.后来，乔吉长大了，也知道飞龙并不是什么招人喜欢的野兽，便常常纳闷佩顿为什么要帮助那条母飞龙。By that time, though, Giogi’s father and mother were both dead, and Giogi couldn’t bring himself to ask Aunt Dorath or Uncle Drone.可那时，乔吉的父母都已去世，而乔吉又鼓不起勇气去问多拉丝姑妈或德罗恩叔叔。He sensed instinctively that it would be branded a question only a fool such as himself would ask.他本能地感觉到，这准会被斥为只有他这种傻瓜才问得出的问题。

He wasn’t fool enough to part with the bench, though.不过，他还没傻到舍得把长凳送人。It had been a wedding gift from his mother to his father, and while the other Wyvernspurs scorned the wealthy carpenter’s daughter that Cole Wyvernspur had wed, they all coveted the bench.那是他母亲送给父亲的新婚礼物；飞龙刺家族的其他人虽然都瞧不起科尔·飞龙刺娶的这个富有木匠的女儿，却个个都觊觎这张长凳。The carpentry was solid, and the parquetry picture positively hypnotic.长凳的木工结实牢靠，镶嵌画更是迷人得简直叫人挪不开眼。Aunt Dorath had suggested a number of times that the bench ought to sit in the hall of Redstone, the family manor, and last year, before his marriage to Gaylyn Dimswart, Giogi’s second Cousin Frefford had hinted it would make a lovely wedding gift, but Giogi declined to part with it.多拉丝姑妈曾几次提出，这张长凳应该摆在家族庄园红石的大厅里；而去年，乔吉的二代表亲弗雷福德在迎娶盖琳·迪姆斯沃特之前，也曾暗示它会是一件很不错的新婚礼物，但乔吉拒绝把它送出去。

Bored by inactivity, Giogi bounced to his stocking feet and began tossing back into the closet all the things he’d tossed out.乔吉闲得无聊，一跃而起，穿着袜子站到地上，开始把刚才扔出来的东西统统扔回壁橱。

Thomas appeared in the archway, holding out the knee-high, brown-suede clodders, which, by his master’s own declaration, were the most comfortable pair in the Realms.托马斯出现在拱门口，手里捧着那双高及膝盖的棕色绒面革厚靴；照他主人自己的说法，这是诸界最舒服的一双靴子。“Please, sir,” the servant requested, “don’t trouble yourself with putting those things away.“求您了，先生，”仆人恳求道，“那些东西您就别费心收拾了。I’ll be happy to do it.”我很乐意替您收拾。”

Giogi halted in midtoss of a lone wool mitten.乔吉正要把一只孤零零的羊毛连指手套扔出去，动作却停在了半途。Something in Thomas’s tone revealed the servant’s anxiety.托马斯的语气中流露出一丝焦虑。Giogi noticed that the inside of the closet was now as untidy as the outside.乔吉这才注意到，壁橱里面如今和外面一样凌乱。“Sorry, Thomas,” he apologized meekly.“对不起，托马斯。”他温顺地道了歉。

“That’s quite all right, sir,” Thomas said, setting the boots beside the bench.“完全没关系，先生。”托马斯一边说，一边把靴子放在长凳旁。

“Ah, my boots!“啊，我的靴子！”Excellent!”“太好了！”Giogi sat back down on the bench and pulled the right boot on, then slipped the stone into the brim.乔吉重新在长凳上坐下，穿上右脚的靴子，然后把那块石头塞进靴口。

“Are you certain, sir, you wouldn’t rather ride?”“先生，您确定不想骑马去吗？”Thomas asked.托马斯问道。

Giogi, one foot still unshod, looked up at his manservant.乔吉一只脚还没穿靴子，抬头望向自己的贴身男仆。“It may surprise you to know, Thomas, that when I was on my mission for the crown, I often walked great distances.”“托马斯，你也许会很惊讶：我替王室执行任务的时候，经常要徒步走很远的路。”Giogi did not feel it necessary to add that he had walked great distances whenever forced to because some scurrilous cove had stolen his horse or some equally evil beast had devoured his mount.乔吉觉得没必要再补充说，每当他被迫长途跋涉时，不是因为某个无耻的恶棍偷了他的马，就是因为某种同样凶恶的野兽吞掉了他的坐骑。

“Indeed, sir.“是的，先生。I did not mean to suggest you weren’t up to the task.我并不是说您胜任不了。I just thought that after your strenuous journey you might prefer the luxury of riding.我只是觉得，经过这一路奔波，您或许更愿意舒舒服服地坐车去。If not in the carriage, I can saddle Daisyeye.”要是不坐马车，我可以给雏菊眼备鞍。”

“No, thank you, Thomas,” Giogi said, finally pulling on the other boot.“不必了，谢谢你，托马斯。”乔吉说着，终于穿上了另一只靴子。“Daisyeye deserves a good, long rest, and I really want to walk.”“雏菊眼该好好休息上一阵了，而且我确实想走走。”He rose, whipped his cloak about him with a flourish, and stomped to the front door.他站起身，潇洒地一甩披风裹住自己，重步走向前门。“Don’t bother to wait up for me,” he suggested.“不用等我回来。”他说道。“I expect I’ll be quite late.“我想我会很晚才回来。Good night,” he called out before he plunged outside.晚安。”他喊了一声，便一头冲进了屋外。

In town, everything was brown; the buildings, the grass, the muddy roads, the wooden carts, even the horses and oxen, were shades of umber and tan.镇里的一切都是褐色的；房屋、草地、泥泞的道路、木车，甚至马匹和牛，全都是深褐与黄褐的色调。Townhouses blocked out the late afternoon sun and cast long chocolate shadows on the earth.一幢幢镇宅挡住了傍晚的阳光，在地面投下巧克力色的长影。Women shouted out the windows at dirt-caked children in the streets.女人们从窗口探出头，冲着街上满身泥垢的孩子叫喊。It was as if the gods had run out of other colors by the time they reached that part of Immersea, left it etched in one shade, then hadn’t bothered to mix new paint to fill in the color.仿佛诸神为伊默海这一带着色时，其他颜料已经用尽，只用一种色调勾勒出这里，之后也懒得再调配新颜料来填上色彩。

Giogi walked east, away from the center of town, then turned south onto a trail that led from town to the Wyvernspur estate.乔吉向东走去，离开镇中心，随后转向南边，踏上一条从镇上通往飞龙刺庄园的小径。A low wall surrounded the land, and the lanky noble swung his legs over it easily and entered another world, one that the gods had colored.一道矮墙围着这片土地，身材瘦长的贵族轻轻松松地抬腿翻过墙，进入了另一个世界——一个被诸神染上色彩的世界。Stalks of winter rye glittered like jade in the setting sunlight; purple-specked crocuses sparkled with gemlike raindrops; a great flock of wild geese honked overhead in the deepening blue sky.冬黑麦的秆茎在夕阳下如翡翠般闪耀；缀着紫斑的番红花上，宝石般的雨珠熠熠生辉；一大群野雁鸣叫着从头顶飞过，掠过愈发深蓝的天空。Giogi felt his spirits rise and shook off the gloom that had gripped him in his own house.乔吉心情振奋起来，摆脱了在自己家中一直笼罩着他的阴郁。

He struck out along the path through the fields.他沿着穿过田野的小径大步走去。As the town founders, the Wyvernspurs held title to nearly all the land south of town.飞龙刺家族是这座城镇的奠基者，镇南几乎所有土地都归他们所有。Most of the land was set aside for hunting and riding.大部分土地都留作狩猎和骑马之用。The highest hill was dedicated to the goddess Selune, and the temple at its peak was left to the administration of her priestess, ancient Mother Lleddew.最高的山丘被奉献给女神塞露恩，山顶的神殿则交由她的女祭司、年迈的莱杜嬷嬷掌管。The Wyvernspurs resisted, however, cultivating much of the land, felling many trees, or clearing many fields for cattle.然而，飞龙刺家族不愿开垦大片土地，也不愿砍伐许多树木，或清理出大片田野来放牧牲畜。They were nobles, not farmers or foresters or ranchers.他们是贵族，不是农夫、林务员或牧场主。The Cormaerils—the only other titled family in Immersea—regularly planted nearly a hundred acres, but had been nobility for only four generations.科梅里尔家族——伊默海唯一另一个拥有爵位的家族——经常耕种近百英亩土地，但他们成为贵族不过四代。Giogi feared that, after fifteen generations, the Wyvernspurs were too entrenched in relying on the family fortune as their only source of revenue.乔吉担心，历经十五代之后，飞龙刺家族已经太过习惯把家族财富当作唯一的收入来源。

As Giogi emerged from the fields of rye, the sun was no more than half a palm’s width from the horizon, and the air was already turning chill.乔吉走出黑麦田时，太阳离地平线已不过半掌之宽，空气也开始转凉。The path wound down into the valley of the Immer Stream.小径蜿蜒而下，通往伊默溪的河谷。The noble kept up a quick pace to keep warm, but as he approached the northern bank of the stream he was forced to proceed more cautiously.为了取暖，这位贵族一直快步前行，但走近溪流北岸时，他不得不更加小心。The trail grew marshy, and he picked his way from one tuft of dry grass to the next.小径变得泥泞沼泽化，他只得从一簇干草小心踩到下一簇。His boots were reasonably waterproof, but he didn’t want to arrive at Aunt Dorath’s looking a mess.他的靴子防水性还算不错，可他不想一身狼狈地到多拉丝姑妈家。

Finally, after a long period of testing footfalls and doubling back, he reached the footbridge that crossed the stream.他试探着落脚，又几度折返，折腾了许久，终于抵达横跨溪流的步行桥。To the west of the trail, the Immer Stream flowed down from the hill dedicated to Selune.在小径西边，伊默溪从奉献给塞露恩的山丘上流淌而下。To the south of the stream, the trail climbed onto drier ground and up to Redstone Castle, ancestral home of the Wyvernspurs.溪流南边，小径攀上较为干燥的地面，一路通往红石城堡——飞龙刺家族的祖宅。

Just as Giogi clomped onto the bridge, a fine white strand of something whipped out in front of him.就在乔吉咚咚地踏上桥时，一缕细细的白色东西忽然甩到他面前。With a shriek the nobleman leaped backward with visions of giant spiders and a sudden irrational belief in the curse of the wyvern’s spur.这位贵族尖叫一声，猛地向后一跃，脑中浮现出巨型蜘蛛的景象，还突然毫无道理地相信了飞龙刺的诅咒。The white strand was not followed by others, though, giving Giogi the opportunity to clutch his chest in relief and spot the silhouette of a man on the southern shore.不过，那道白丝后面并没有更多白丝接踵而来，乔吉这才如释重负地按住胸口，并看见南岸有一个男人的剪影。

“Cole?” the silhouette gasped.“科尔？”那剪影倒抽着气问道。“No, of course not.“不，当然不是。It’s Giogioni, isn’t it?是乔吉奥尼，对吧？You gave me a fright, boy.你吓了我一跳，小子。Looked for a moment just like your old man in that getup.”你穿着这身行头，刚才有那么一瞬间看起来简直和你老爹一模一样。”

Giogi squinted in the gloomy light.乔吉在昏暗的光线中眯起眼睛。The sun had nearly set, but he could make out the tall, broad form of a man on the far bank.太阳已近落山，但他仍能辨认出对岸一个高大魁梧的男人身影。The man’s erect stance and bearing reflected a military background.那人挺拔的站姿和举止显露出他的军旅背景。His dark hair was short and just beginning to gray at the temples.他的黑发剪得很短，两鬓刚开始泛白。He had a warm, perfect smile, which set Giogi at ease.他脸上挂着温暖而无可挑剔的笑容，令乔吉放松下来。“Sudacar?“苏达卡？Samtavan Sudacar, is that you?萨姆塔万·苏达卡，是你吗？What are you doing out here?”你在这儿干什么？”

“Getting in a little casting.“随便甩上几竿。Sorry about the line.钓线的事，对不住了。My technique’s gotten a little rusty over the winter.”过了一个冬天，我的手法有点生疏了。”Sudacar tugged at the string hanging from his fishing rod until it slipped off the footbridge and into the water with a small splash.苏达卡扯动垂在钓竿上的钓线，直到钓线从人行桥上滑落，扑通一声轻轻掉进水里。As he jerked the line through the water, tiny minnows chased after the lure.他猛地将钓线拖过水面时，一群小鱼追在拟饵后面。

Giogi crossed the bridge and picked his way along the south bank until he stood beside Samtavan Sudacar, the man appointed by none other than King Azoun himself to defend Immersea, dispense the king’s justice, keep the peace, and, of course, collect taxes.乔吉走过桥，又沿南岸小心前行，来到萨姆塔万·苏达卡身旁；此人正是阿祖恩国王亲自任命的，负责保卫伊默海、代国王执法、维持治安，当然，还有征收税款。“Taking a break from your pressing administrative duties, eh?”“百忙之中抽空歇一会儿，是吧？”Giogi asked.乔吉问道。

Sudacar snorted.苏达卡哼了一声。“Keeping out of Culspiir’s way is more like it.“其实是不给卡尔斯皮尔碍事。Behind every local lord, my boy, is a trained herald making him look good.孩子，每个地方领主背后，都有一位训练有素的传令官替他撑门面。As long as I keep delegating authority to Culspiir, I’ll be a great success at this job.”只要我继续把权力交给卡尔斯皮尔，我干这份差事就一定会大获成功。”Sudacar continued casting, watching his lure all the while.苏达卡继续抛竿，始终盯着自己的拟饵。

“Why isn’t Culspiir the local lord, then?”“那为什么不让卡尔斯皮尔来当地方领主呢？”Giogi asked meekly.乔吉怯生生地问。

“If he had my job, who would we get to do his job?”“要是他干了我的差事，那他的差事又找谁来干？”

“Good point,” Giogi admitted.“有道理。”乔吉承认道。

“Besides, Culspiir never slew a giant.”“再说了，卡尔斯皮尔可从没杀过巨人。”

“Is that a prerequisite for your job?”“这是干你这份差事的先决条件吗？”

“Got to make a name for yourself at court.“想在宫廷里出人头地，就得闯出点名堂。Slew a frost giant that was terrorizing merchants in Gnoll Pass.我杀过一个霜巨人，那家伙当时正在豺狼人隘口一带祸害商旅。That’s how I got into politics—a service like that has to be recognized officially.”我就是这样踏进政界的——立下这种功劳，官方总得有所表示。”

Giogi nodded in agreement, though he knew not all the other members of his family felt the same way.乔吉赞同地点了点头，尽管他知道，家族里的其他人并非个个都这么想。

Samtavan Sudacar had not been born to nobility, nor was he a native of Immersea.萨姆塔万·苏达卡并非贵族出身，也不是伊默海本地人。Nonetheless, King Azoun had named Sudacar Lord of Immersea when that position fell vacant by the death of Giogi’s father’s cousin, Lord Wohl Wyvernspur.尽管如此，乔吉父亲的堂兄、伊默海领主沃尔·飞龙刺去世，职位空缺后，阿祖恩国王还是任命苏达卡为伊默海领主。Wohl’s son, Frefford, had still been a boy, so the family had accepted Sudacar graciously enough.沃尔的儿子弗雷福德当时还是个孩子，因此飞龙刺家族也还算大度地接受了苏达卡。They’d even invited the middle-aged bachelor to make his home with them in Redstone Castle.他们甚至还邀请这位中年单身汉住进红石城堡，与他们同住。

When Frefford reached majority, though, His Majesty hadn’t assigned the young Wyvernspur to the post.然而，等弗雷福德成年后，国王陛下却没有任命这位年轻的飞龙刺接掌那个职位。That’s when Aunt Dorath had begun to consider Sudacar not just an upstart, but an interloper and a usurper as well.从那时起，多拉丝姑妈便不再只把苏达卡视为暴发户，还把他当成了外来者和篡位者。Giogi knew, though, that Frefford had been secretly relieved.不过乔吉知道，弗雷福德其实暗自松了一口气。Aunt Dorath and Cousin Steele had taken the most offense.多拉丝姑妈和斯蒂尔表兄对此最为愤慨。Pride and loyalty to the king prohibited the family’s asking Sudacar to leave Redstone.出于骄傲，也出于对国王的忠诚，飞龙刺家族不能开口请苏达卡离开红石。When Giogi had left Immersea last spring, an uneasy truce had existed between the Wyvernspurs of Redstone Castle and the Lord of Immersea.去年春天乔吉离开伊默海时，红石城堡的飞龙刺家族与伊默海领主之间维持着一种岌岌可危的休战状态。

Giogi, since he chose to live in town instead of at the castle, had never really gotten to know Sudacar very well.乔吉选择住在镇上，而不是城堡里，因此一直没能真正了解苏达卡。They didn’t travel in the same circles.他们来往的圈子并不相同。Now, though, Giogi realized, he had to learn something more about Sudacar.可现在，乔吉意识到，自己必须多了解一些苏达卡的事。“If you’re from Suzail originally,” he asked, “how did you know my father?”“既然您原本是苏萨尔人，”他问道，“那您是怎么认识我父亲的？”

“Cole?“科尔？Met him at court a few times.我在宫廷里见过他几次。Slew his share of giants, your father did.”你父亲也杀过不少巨人。”

“He did?”“他真的杀过？”Giogi asked with surprise.乔吉惊讶地问道。His father had died when Giogi was only eight, so he hadn’t known him very well.乔吉才八岁时，父亲就去世了，因此他对父亲并不十分了解。But he was certain no one had ever mentioned that Cole had slain giants.但他确信，从来没有人提过科尔杀过巨人。

“Served His Majesty with honor, like generations of your family before him,” Sudacar said, pulling his dripping line from the water and adjusting it behind his back.“他忠心耿耿地为陛下效力，就像你们家族世世代代的先人一样。”苏达卡一边说，一边把滴着水的钓线从水中拉出来，在背后重新理好。

“Aunt Dorath told me he was a trade envoy.”“多拉丝姑婆告诉我，他是个贸易使节。”

“He might have been that as well,” Sudacar said, whipping the line out over the stream again.“或许他也当过贸易使节。”苏达卡说着，再次挥动钓线，将它甩向溪流。

“As well?“也当过？”As well as what?”“除了什么以外？”

“He was a warrior adventurer.“他是个四处冒险的战士。”Your aunt never told you that?”“你姑婆从没告诉过你？”

“No,” Giogi admitted.“没有。”乔吉承认道。Loyally, he added, “It must have slipped her mind.”出于对姑婆的维护，他又补充道：“她一定是一时忘了。”

Sudacar snorted.苏达卡哼了一声。“Wouldn’t have considered that a proper occupation for a Wyvernspur, would she?“她准是觉得，这算不上飞龙刺家的人该干的正经营生，是吧？”I’m surprised Drone never mentioned it.”“真没想到德罗恩也从没提起过。”

So was Giogi, though he did not say so aloud.乔吉同样感到意外，只是没有说出口。

Drone Wyvernspur was Giogi’s great-aunt Dorath’s cousin and therefore Giogi’s first cousin twice removed, but out of respect and affection, Giogi called him Uncle Drone.德罗恩·飞龙刺是乔吉的姑婆多拉丝的表亲，因此也是乔吉相差两辈的表亲；但出于敬爱，乔吉一直称他为德罗恩叔祖。When Giogi’s mother had died a year after her husband, Aunt Dorath had taken care of Giogi, but Uncle Drone had been assigned the task of completing the masculine aspects of Giogi’s education.乔吉的母亲在丈夫去世一年后也死了，此后一直由多拉丝姑婆照料乔吉，而教会乔吉身为男子应当懂得的那些事，则成了德罗恩叔祖的任务。An unmarried wizard of sedentary habits, Uncle Drone had not exactly been the most useful source of information about women, hunting, or horses.德罗恩叔祖是个未婚的法师，平日里又不爱走动，所以在女人、狩猎和马匹这些方面，他实在算不上多么有用的消息来源。

Drone knew a good deal, though, about wine and gambling, and something of politics and religion, and, armed with this learning, Giogi usually managed to hold his own in taverns and after-dinner conversations.不过，德罗恩对美酒和赌博颇为精通，对政治和宗教也略知一二；凭着这些学问，乔吉通常都能在酒馆里和餐后的闲谈中应付自如。The wizard had told Giogi plenty of stories about his mother, Bette, and her father, the carpenter, even though Aunt Dorath had never approved of Cole’s wife’s family.这位法师给乔吉讲过许多关于他母亲贝特，以及贝特那位木匠父亲的故事，尽管多拉丝姑婆从来都不认可科尔妻子的娘家人。Why, though, Giogi wondered, hadn’t Uncle Drone told me Cole was an adventurer?可是，乔吉心想，德罗恩叔祖为什么没告诉过我，科尔曾是个冒险者呢？

“Would you care to walk back to Redstone with me?” he asked Sudacar, hoping to hear more about his father, something he could confront Uncle Drone with.“您愿意和我一起走回红石吗？”他问苏达卡，希望能再多听些父亲的事，好拿去当面质问德罗恩叔祖。

The lord shook his head.领主摇了摇头。“Everything’s at sixes and sevens up there.“那边现在乱成了一团。Culspiir and I offered our assistance, but your Aunt Dorath as much as told us to keep our noses out of Wyvernspur business.卡尔斯皮尔和我都提出要帮忙，可你多拉丝姑妈差不多就是明说了，让我们别插手飞龙刺家的事。She doesn’t want an interloper like me involved.她不想让我这样的外人掺和进去。I’ll tucker in at the Five Fine Fish and creep back to the castle in the small hours.我会住进五条好鱼旅店，等到凌晨再悄悄回城堡。Safer for all involved that way.”这样对大家都更安全。”

“Oh.”“哦。”Disappointed, Giogi stood beside Sudacar, racking his head for something else to say to keep the conversation going.乔吉大失所望，站在苏达卡身旁，绞尽脑汁地想再找点什么话题，好让交谈继续下去。His wits failed him, as they were wont to do, so he stood wordlessly beside Sudacar as the shadows lengthened.可他脑子不争气——一向如此——只得默默站在苏达卡身边，看着暮色渐浓。Sudacar cast his line twice more.苏达卡又抛了两次钓线。Farther upstream there was a hooting and a sudden flurry of wings, followed by a splash.上游远处传来一声鸣叫，翅膀突然扑棱起来，紧接着响起了落水声。An owl fished the waters as well.一只猫头鹰也在水中捕鱼。

Finally Sudacar spoke.最后，苏达卡开口了。“Thought I’d seen a ghost when I saw you on the opposite bank, in those boots with that cloak.“刚才看见你站在对岸，穿着那双靴子，披着那件斗篷，我还以为自己见了鬼。You haven’t got Cole’s face, but you have his shape, his stance, his walk.”你的脸不像科尔，可你的身形、站姿和走路的样子都像他。”Sudacar cast his line again.苏达卡再次抛出钓线。“If you’d care to talk about your father,” he offered, “stop in at the Fish later, and we’ll raise a mug in his honor.”“要是你愿意聊聊你父亲，”他提议道，“晚些时候就来五条好鱼旅店吧，我们一起举杯纪念他。”

Giogi grinned with pleasure.乔吉高兴地咧嘴笑了。“If I can escape Aunt Dorath’s clutches, I’ll do just that,” he agreed.“要是我能逃出多拉丝姑妈的魔掌，我一定去。”他答应道。Just then, a sudden chill made him realize the warmth had gone with the sunlight.就在这时，一阵突如其来的寒意让他意识到，阳光消失后，暖意也随之退去了。He pulled his cloak closer to his body.他把斗篷往身上裹紧了些。“I’d better be going.“我最好该走了。They’re expecting me up at the castle.”城堡那边还等着我呢。”

Sudacar nodded without taking his eyes off the lure he tugged through the water.苏达卡点了点头，目光始终没有离开被他拖过水面的鱼饵。

Giogi left the Lord of Immersea by the water and hurried up the trail.乔吉把伊默海领主留在水边，自己沿小径匆匆而上。It was dark and cold by the time he reached the walls surrounding Redstone Castle, but he still didn’t relish the thought of entering.等他抵达红石城堡的围墙时，天色已黑，寒意逼人，但他仍不愿踏入其中。The castle was wrapped in shades of gray and black.城堡笼罩在深深浅浅的灰黑色调中。The reddish pallor of its stonework, which gave it its name, was absent in the darkness.令它得名的石墙本泛着暗红色泽，此刻却隐没在黑暗里。The castle squatted on the low hill overlooking the Immer Stream, the town of Immersea, and the Wyvernwater—a great lake east of Cormyr—beyond, like a dragon watching a merchant road.城堡盘踞在一座低矮的山丘上，俯瞰着伊默河、伊默海镇，以及更远处的飞龙湖——科米尔东部的一座大湖——犹如一条监视商道的巨龙。

Looking up at the brooding monstrosity as he approached, Giogi was reminded again of the dragon that had fallen on Westgate and the earthquakes and underworld power-struggle that had ensued.走近时，乔吉仰望着这个阴森的庞然大物，又一次想起那条袭击西门城的巨龙，以及随后发生的地震和黑道权力之争。Having dealt with all those things, Giogi assured himself, coping with this family crisis shouldn’t be too difficult.乔吉安慰自己，既然那些事都应付过来了，处理这场家族危机应该也不会太难。

Giogi circled the castle walls to the front gate, strode into the courtyard, and tapped on the hall door.乔吉绕着城堡围墙走到正门，大步穿过庭院，敲了敲大厅的门。An unfamiliar footman opened the portal a crack and peered out at the shaggy, gangly noble dressed in yellow pants and a red-and-white striped shirt covered with a black tabard.一名陌生的男仆把门打开一条缝，向外打量着这个头发蓬乱、身材瘦长的贵族；他穿着黄色长裤和红白条纹衬衫，外面罩着一件黑色纹章罩袍。The tabard was emblazoned with the Wyvernspur coat of arms, but the man who wore it looked more like a traveling juggler than an Immersea noble.罩袍上绣着飞龙刺家族的纹章，但穿着它的男人看起来更像个四处卖艺的杂耍艺人，而不像伊默海的贵族。The servant stood waiting impatiently for the man to speak.男仆站在那里，不耐烦地等着他开口。

Giogi was unaccustomed to having to announce his business at the doorstep of his own family’s ancestral home.乔吉不习惯在自家祖宅门前还得通报来意。He, too, stood in silence, waiting to be recognized.他也默不作声地站着，等对方认出自己。

Finally the footman spoke.最后，男仆开口了。“Well, what is it?” he asked, his face creased with irritation.“怎么，有什么事？”他问道，脸上满是不耐烦。

“I’m here to see my Aunt Dorath.”“我是来见多拉丝姑妈的。”

The footman opened the door an inch wider.男仆把门又开大了一英寸。“And you are?”“那么您是？”

“Giogi.“乔吉。Giogioni Wyvernspur.”乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。”

The footman’s facial creases retreated just a fraction.男仆脸上的不耐之色稍稍淡去了一点。“Oh,” he said without enthusiasm.“哦。”他毫无热情地说道。He held the door open so that Giogi could enter the main hall.他把门敞开，让乔吉进入大厅。As the noble clomped in, the footman eyed Giogi’s clodders; his attention was not lost on Giogi.这位贵族咚咚地走进来时，男仆瞥了瞥乔吉脚上的大笨靴；乔吉没有漏过他的目光。

“Great boots, aren’t they?“这靴子很棒，是不是？Bought them in Westgate.”我在西门城买的。”

The servant maintained his stoic expression and did not comment on the boots.男仆依旧面无表情，对那双靴子不置一词。He held out his arm for Giogi’s cloak and said, “The gentlemen are still in the dining room having their brandy.他伸出胳膊接乔吉的斗篷，说道：“先生们还在餐厅里喝白兰地。The ladies are in the parlor.女士们在客厅。I presume you know the way.”我想您认得路。”

“Yes,” Giogi replied, handing over his cloak.“是的。”乔吉答道，把斗篷递了过去。

Laden with Giogi’s outdoor gear, the footman disappeared through a small door.男仆抱着乔吉的一应外出衣物，从一扇小门后消失了。

Left alone again, Giogi felt hesitant to return to the bosom of his family.再次独自一人后，乔吉有些不敢回到家人的怀抱中去。There had been a reason he’d moved from Redstone to his parents’ old townhouse.他从红石搬到父母留下的旧联排宅邸，自有他的理由。His family thought him a fool and made a habit of reminding him of it.家里人都觉得他是个傻瓜，而且总不忘提醒他这一点。He was branded for life just because, as a boy, he’d accidentally let an evil efreet out of a bottle in Uncle Drone’s lab and had once tried to fly off the stable roof with pigeon feathers—and had gotten himself locked in the family crypt—which had really been Cousin Steele’s fault.只因为小时候，他曾不小心从德罗恩叔叔实验室的瓶子里放出一个邪恶的火巨灵，还曾插着鸽子羽毛试图从马厩屋顶飞下去——另外还把自己锁进了家族墓穴，不过那件事其实要怪斯蒂尔表兄——他便一辈子被打上了烙印。

If only he could get them to forget the foibles of his youth and judge him on his behavior as an adult—except for when he’d lost Aunt Dorath’s pet land urchin in the provisions wagon of the seventh division of His Majesty’s Purple Dragoons and the time he’d gone skinny-dipping in the Wyvernwater on Midwinter Day.要是能让他们忘掉他年少时干的那些蠢事，只根据他成年后的表现评判他就好了——当然，得除去他把多拉丝姑妈养的陆地海胆弄丢在国王陛下第七师紫龙骑兵的补给车里那次，还有仲冬节那天在飞龙湖裸泳那次。After all, he had no idea a land urchin could eat so much, and no one as inebriated as he on that Midwinter Day would have passed up such a profitable wager.毕竟，他根本不知道一只陆地海胆能吃那么多东西；而在那个仲冬节，任谁醉得像他一样厉害，都不会放过那种有利可图的赌局。

He hadn’t done anything that foolish since—well, not since last spring, when he’d done his impersonation of King Azoun and ended up in a brawl with the crazy Alias of Westgate, knocking down a tent on top of two hundred people and nearly breaking up Frefford’s wedding reception.从那以后，他再没干过那么蠢的事——嗯，至少从去年春天以后没有；那次他模仿阿祖恩国王，结果和西门城那个疯疯癫癫的阿莉亚丝打了起来，掀翻一顶帐篷，压住了两百人，还差点毁掉弗雷福德的婚宴。He hadn’t wanted to do the impersonation, but his girlfriend, Minda, had nagged him into it.他本来不想模仿的，可他的女友明达一直缠着他，硬是逼他演了。If his family could only forget that incident, and if no stories of his exploits in Westgate reached their ears, they might just begin treating him like a normal person.只要家里人能忘掉那件事，而且他在西门城的种种壮举没有传进他们耳朵里，他们说不定就会开始把他当成一个正常人看待。Granted, that was more luck than the goddess Tymora usually dealt anyone, but it was still possible.诚然，这种好运远超泰摩拉女神通常会赐予任何人的份额，但仍不是没有可能。

Prepared to make a fresh start with his family, Giogi considered whether to go straight to the parlor to pay his respects to Aunt Dorath, or to join the gentlemen in the dining room for some brandy.乔吉准备与家人重新开始，于是思量着是径直去客厅向多拉丝姑妈问安，还是去餐厅与男士们一起喝点白兰地。If he entered the parlor while the ladies were still discussing “female things,” his Aunt Dorath would be annoyed with his intrusion.要是女士们还在谈论“女人家的事”时他闯进客厅，多拉丝姑妈一定会恼火，嫌他打扰。He did want to speak with Uncle Drone, but the old wizard would not be alone in the dining room.他的确想和德罗恩叔叔说说话，可这位老法师在餐厅里不会是独自一人。Giogi’s second cousins, Frefford and Steele, would be with him, and, while Frefford might tease him a little about the wedding reception fiasco, Steele’s taunts would be as mean and vicious as possible.乔吉的远房表兄弟弗雷福德和斯蒂尔也会在那里；弗雷福德或许会拿婚宴上的闹剧稍稍取笑他几句，斯蒂尔的讥讽却一定会刻薄恶毒到极点。

Giogi liked a room full of people to serve as a buffer between Steele and himself.乔吉喜欢有一屋子人挡在自己和斯蒂尔之间，好起个缓冲作用。Of course, Steele’s sister, Julia, would be with the ladies.当然，斯蒂尔的妹妹朱莉娅会和女士们待在一起。She could be mean, too, but she wasn’t so bad when she wasn’t in Steele’s company.她有时也很刻薄，不过不和斯蒂尔在一起时，倒没那么糟糕。Giogi decided that he might as well break in on the ladies.乔吉决定，干脆还是去打扰女士们好了。That way, Aunt Dorath couldn’t accuse him of lapping up her brandy whenever her back was turned.这样一来，多拉丝姑妈就不能指责他总趁她一转身便偷喝她的白兰地了。Besides, Frefford’s new wife, Gaylyn, would no doubt be with the ladies, and she was the cheeriest, most amusing woman Giogi had ever met.再说，弗雷福德的新婚妻子盖琳想必也会和女士们在一起，而她是乔吉见过的最开朗、最风趣的女人。

The nobleman knocked timidly on the parlor door, just in case they were discussing petticoats or something equally personal, then he entered.这位贵族怯生生地敲了敲客厅的门，以防她们正在谈论衬裙或其他同样私密的事情，随后才走了进去。

Redstone’s parlor had not changed since Giogi’s last visit, nearly a year ago.自从乔吉上次来访至今，已将近一年，红石的客厅还是老样子。It was warmer and drier than the parlor in Giogi’s townhouse, but it was quite a bit shabbier.这里比乔吉城中宅邸的客厅更温暖、更干燥，却也破旧得多。Faded tapestries depicting ancient events covered the flaking stone walls.褪色的挂毯遮盖着石屑剥落的墙壁，上面描绘着古老的往事。The once-rich carpets were stained.曾经华贵的地毯已是污迹斑斑。The furniture coverings were worn thin.家具的蒙面也磨得很薄了。Giogi’s mother’s money had refurbished his townhouse, but the Wyvernspur fortune was shrinking, and servants, horses, and clothing had a higher priority than Redstone’s fashionable appearance.乔吉用母亲留下的钱翻修了自己的城中宅邸，但飞龙刺家族的财富正日益缩水，而仆从、马匹和衣着都比让红石保持时髦气派更为要紧。Some generation soon, the family would need a new source of revenue, though the decision to find one was unlikely in Aunt Dorath’s lifetime.再过不了几代，这个家族就得寻找新的收入来源了，不过在多拉丝姑妈有生之年，他们多半不会下定决心这么做。

Aunt Dorath sat perfectly erect in her chair by the fire.多拉丝姑妈坐在炉火边的椅子上，腰板挺得笔直。She looked up from her knitting and squinted at Giogi.她从手中的针织活上抬起头，眯眼打量着乔吉。She was a tall, robust old woman with the classic Wyvernspur face, thin lips, hawklike nose, and all.她是个高大健壮的老妇人，长着一张典型的飞龙刺家族面孔——薄嘴唇、鹰钩鼻，一应俱全。Her black hair, which she wore in a severe bun, was streaked with steel-gray strands.她把黑发一丝不苟地绾成一个发髻，其中夹杂着钢灰色的发丝。More streaks had appeared since Giogi had last seen her, and her squint had grown more pronounced, but, otherwise, time had not touched her much.自乔吉上次见她以来，灰白的发丝又多了些，她眯眼的样子也更明显了，但除此之外，岁月几乎没在她身上留下什么痕迹。It wouldn’t dare, Giogi thought.岁月可不敢，乔吉心想。

Gaylyn and Julia were immersed in a game of backgammon and did not notice him until a gasp from Aunt Dorath alerted them.盖琳和朱莉娅正全神贯注地下着双陆棋，直到多拉丝姑妈倒吸一口气，她们才注意到他。

“Giogioni!“乔吉奥尼！Sweet Selune!仁慈的塞露恩啊！Just what are you doing in those ridiculous boots?”你穿着那双荒唐的靴子，到底是在干什么？”Aunt Dorath demanded.多拉丝姑妈厉声质问。Her voice boomed like the thunder of a god’s wrath.她的声音如神明震怒时的雷霆一般轰鸣。That part of Dorath had not changed in the least.多拉丝的这一点倒是丝毫未变。

“These boots?”“这双靴子？”Giogi replied, his voice cracking slightly.乔吉答道，嗓音微微发颤。“They’re just something I threw on to walk over.”“我只是随手穿上，好走过来而已。”

“You should consider throwing them away.“你该考虑把它们扔掉。Whatever did you walk for?你究竟为什么要走路来？What happened to your carriage?”你的马车怎么了？”

“Nothing.“没什么。I just felt like walking.”我只是想走走。”

“The idea!“真亏你想得出来！Sinister forces have dealt our family a tragic blow while you’ve been gadding about the Realms.你在诸界四处闲逛的时候，邪恶势力给了我们家族惨痛的一击。I summon the family together, and you just stroll over here as if nothing’s wrong.我把全家召集起来，你却像什么事也没发生似的，就这么溜达过来了。It’s just like you.你向来就是这样。You are a fool,” Aunt Dorath chided.你真是个傻瓜。”多拉丝姑婆训斥道。

Giogi stood frozen, afraid that anything else he might say would only dig him deeper into his great-aunt’s contempt.乔吉僵立在那里，生怕再说什么只会让姑婆更加鄙视自己。

“Well, don’t just stand there,” Dorath ordered.“好了，别光站在那里。”多拉丝命令道。“Come take a seat.”“过来坐下。”

Giogi bowed before Gaylyn and Julia and positioned himself in a chair where he could attend to Aunt Dorath as well as address the younger women, should they address him.乔吉先向盖琳和朱莉娅鞠了一躬，然后在一把椅子上坐下；从这个位置，他既能专心听多拉丝姑婆说话，也能在两位年轻女子开口同他说话时回应她们。

Giogi glanced at his Cousin Julia.乔吉瞥了一眼表亲朱莉娅。Her tall, well-proportioned body was clad in the latest velvet fashions, jewels glistened in her silky black hair, and gold rings flashed from her long, slender fingers.她高挑匀称的身躯裹在最时新的天鹅绒衣裙中，珠宝在她丝缎般的黑发间熠熠生辉，修长纤细的手指上，一枚枚金戒指闪烁着光芒。She, too, had the aristocratic Wyvernspur features, which were more striking on her youthful face than they were on Aunt Dorath’s. In addition, she sported, from her mother’s side of the family, a tiny mole to the right of her mouth.她同样有着飞龙刺家族特有的贵族相貌，而在她年轻的脸上，这些特征比在多拉丝姑婆脸上更为醒目。 此外，她还从母亲那一系遗传了一个小小的美人痣，正好长在嘴角右边。As far as Giogi was concerned, though, Julia was too haughty to be beautiful.不过在乔吉看来，朱莉娅太过傲慢，称不上美丽。

The nobleman preferred to gaze on Gaylyn.这位贵族更喜欢凝望盖琳。Her golden hair lit up the room, and her pink, glowing complexion reminded him of a wild rose.她的金发仿佛照亮了整个房间，红润焕发的面庞令他想起一朵野玫瑰。Her gown and jewels were as remarkable as Julia’s but Giogi didn’t notice them.她的礼服和珠宝与朱莉娅的同样引人注目，乔吉却根本没有留意。It was impossible, though, for him to miss her swollen abdomen.然而，她隆起的腹部却不可能不引起他的注意。According to Thomas, Freffie and Gaylyn’s firstborn was due any time now.据托马斯说，弗雷菲和盖琳的第一个孩子随时都可能降生。So, Giogi thought, the family is going to continue another generation despite the loss of the wyvern’s spur.这么说来，乔吉心想，尽管飞龙刺遗失了，这个家族还是会延续到下一代。

Gaylyn, unaware that the tradition of her new family was to generally ignore Giogi, turned her sweet smile on him and asked, “How was your journey home, Cousin?”盖琳并不知道自己新加入的这个家族向来都不怎么理会乔吉，便朝他甜甜一笑，问道：“表亲，你回家这一路还顺利吗？”

“Just marvelous.“简直棒极了。Very exciting,” Giogi replied, grinning back at the young woman.非常刺激。”乔吉咧嘴冲年轻女子一笑，答道。

“Exciting,” Aunt Dorath scoffed.“刺激？”多拉丝姑妈嗤之以鼻。“Traveling is never exciting.“旅行从来都不刺激。Only tedious.只有烦闷。Waits, delays, ruffians, strangers, and highwaymen.等待、耽搁、恶棍、陌生人，还有拦路强盗。Only someone as foolish as yourself would revel in it.只有像你这么愚蠢的人才会乐在其中。You’ll end up like your father,” she added darkly.你最后会落得跟你父亲一样的下场。”她阴沉地补充道。

Giogi debated asking his aunt exactly what she meant by that, trying to work in some reference to what he’d just learned from Sudacar, but just then the parlor door swung open and the gentlemen entered.乔吉正犹豫要不要问姑妈这话究竟是什么意思，并设法顺带提一提自己刚从苏达卡那里听来的事，可就在这时，客厅门忽然打开，男士们走了进来。Frefford made a beeline to Gaylyn’s side and took her hand in his own, looking down on her with solicitous devotion.弗雷福德径直走到盖琳身边，牵起她的手，低头望着她，满脸体贴与爱慕。Uncle Drone scuffled over to a tomcat in the window seat and began feeding it drippy tidbits of venison from his cupped hand.德罗恩叔叔拖着脚走到窗边座位上的一只公猫跟前，开始用捧起的手心喂它滴着肉汁的鹿肉小块。Steele remained in the doorway, leaning against the jamb and sizing up Giogi with an evil grin.斯蒂尔仍站在门口，倚着门框，挂着不怀好意的笑容打量乔吉。

Like his sister, Julia, Steele had the Wyvernspur face with a mole to the right of his mouth.和妹妹朱莉娅一样，斯蒂尔也长着一张飞龙刺家族特有的脸，嘴角右侧有一颗痣。Many people would have called him tall, dark, and handsome, but his grin reminded Giogi of the red dragon Mist—an impression heightened by the way the firelight caught Steele’s blue eyes and made them glint red.许多人都会说他高大、黑发、英俊，可他的笑容却让乔吉想起红龙米斯特——炉火映入斯蒂尔的蓝眼睛，令其闪烁出红光，更加深了这种印象。As he had in Mist’s presence, Giogi winced when Steele spoke.就像当初面对米斯特时一样，斯蒂尔一开口，乔吉便畏缩了一下。

“So the exiled family jester has returned.“这么说，被流放的家族小丑回来了。Everyone in Suzail was talking about your remarkable impersonation at the wedding last season.苏萨尔人人都在谈论你在上个社交季那场婚礼上惟妙惟肖的模仿。And, of course, about the “duel” that followed.当然，还有随后那场‘决斗’。I trust you have fresh entertainment lined up for us this year.我相信你今年已经为我们准备好了新的余兴节目。Maybe you can debut at Gaylyn’s baby’s blessing ceremony.”也许你可以在盖琳孩子的祝福仪式上首次登台。”

Giogi winced again.乔吉又畏缩了一下。It didn’t look as though the family was going to forget the wedding incident any time soon.看来，家里人一时半会儿是不会忘记婚礼上那件事了。Wondering if Gaylyn could ever forgive him, Giogi shot her a guilty glance.乔吉心想，不知道盖琳是否能原谅自己，于是愧疚地瞥了她一眼。The bride had the most right to be angry.新娘最有理由生气。

Gaylyn laughed, though.盖琳却笑了起来。“I thought I would just die when that tent collapsed on all of us,” she said.“那顶帐篷塌下来，把我们所有人都压在下面时，我真以为自己要死了，”她说。“Remember what fun we had crawling out from under it?“还记得我们从帐篷底下爬出来时有多好玩吗？It was such a relief to have an excuse to leave that stuffy old canvas and just revel in the garden.”终于有借口离开那顶闷热的旧帆布帐篷，尽情在花园里玩乐，真是让人松了口气。”

Steele squinted with annoyance at Gaylyn, and Aunt Dorath raised an eyebrow at the woman’s frivolous attitude, but Lord Frefford smiled at his wife’s high spirits.斯蒂尔恼火地眯眼瞪着盖琳，多拉丝姨妈也因她那轻佻的态度扬起一边眉毛，弗雷福德勋爵却因妻子兴致高昂而露出了笑容。

A stranger might have guessed Frefford and Steele were brothers and not just second cousins, because Frefford, too, sported most of the Wyvernspur features.陌生人或许会以为弗雷福德和斯蒂尔是亲兄弟，而不只是隔房堂兄弟，因为弗雷福德身上也有飞龙刺家族的大部分特征。Frefford’s face was always softened by a friendly smile, though, and his eyes were more hazel than blue.不过，弗雷福德的脸庞总因亲切的微笑而显得柔和，他的眼睛也更接近榛色，而非蓝色。He whispered something in his wife’s ear, and she giggled.他在妻子耳边低语了几句，逗得她咯咯直笑。

Giogi smiled at the couple with gratitude.乔吉感激地朝这对夫妇笑了笑。

Aunt Dorath sniffed.多拉丝姨妈哼了一声。“Now that we’re all here, it’s time to get down to business,” she announced imperiously.“既然人都到齐了，也该谈正事了，”她盛气凌人地宣布。“Drone, leave that infernal cat and join your family.”“德罗恩，别管那只该死的猫了，过来和家人坐在一起。”

It was hard to believe, watching Uncle Drone shuffle across the room, that Aunt Dorath’s wizard cousin was eight years her junior.看着德罗恩叔叔拖着脚步穿过房间，实在很难相信，多拉丝姨妈这位巫师表弟竟比她小八岁。If time had avoided Dorath, it made up its loss by visiting Drone twice over.岁月若是绕过了多拉丝，便把少下的那一份加倍补到了德罗恩身上。His black hair and beard, besides being shaggy and unkempt, was splotched with gray and white, much more so than Aunt Dorath’s hair.他的黑发和胡须不仅蓬乱不堪，还斑驳地夹杂着灰白，远比多拉丝姨妈的头发明显。His blue eyes were rheumy, and his Wyvernspur features were lost in the cracks and wrinkles that lined his face.他蓝色的眼睛浑浊含泪，飞龙刺家族的面貌特征也淹没在了满脸的沟壑与皱纹中。Magic had taken its toll on him.魔法在他身上留下了沉重的代价。

Years of puttering in his lab, brewing magic potions, had also left Drone a little careless of his appearance.多年来窝在实验室里摆弄东西、调制魔法药剂，也让德罗恩变得有些不修边幅。Forgetting he did not wear a lab apron, he wiped his hand on his chest, leaving a venison blood stain across his yellow silk robe.他忘了自己没穿实验围裙，随手在胸前擦了擦手，在黄色丝袍上留下一道鹿血污迹。He offered his hand to Giogi, saying, “Welcome back, boy.他向乔吉伸出手，说道：“欢迎回来，孩子。Heard you’ve been jousting with red dragons.”听说你一直在和红龙骑枪比武。”

Giogi held out his own hand nervously, afraid he was about to be censured again.乔吉紧张地伸出手，生怕自己又要挨训。A cloud of Tymora’s blackest luck seemed to hang over him this evening.今晚，泰摩拉最阴沉的厄运似乎一直笼罩着他。It hadn’t been his fault that he’d been kidnapped by the red dragon Mist.他被红龙米斯特绑架，又不是他的错。Giogi then saw that his uncle’s eyes twinkled with amusement.随后，乔吉发现叔叔的眼睛里闪烁着笑意。The young man relaxed and jokingly replied, “Uh, actually, it’s a little difficult jousting with them, don’t you know, because they tend to eat your horse first.”年轻人放松下来，开玩笑地答道：“呃，其实吧，跟它们马上比枪有点困难，你也知道，因为它们往往会先吃掉你的马。”

Dorath, Steele, and Julia glared frostily at Giogi for treating the incident so lightly, but Drone wheezed out a cackle and plopped down beside Dorath.多拉丝、斯蒂尔和朱莉娅冷冷地瞪着乔吉，怪他把这件事说得如此轻描淡写；德罗恩却喘着气咯咯笑了起来，一屁股坐到多拉丝身旁。

Giogi used his handkerchief to wipe the blood from the hand Uncle Drone had shaken.乔吉掏出手帕，擦去德罗恩叔叔握过的那只手上的血迹。

“Did you really joust with a dragon?”“你真的跟一条龙马上比过枪吗？”Gaylyn asked, her eyes shining with excitement.盖琳问道，双眼兴奋得闪闪发亮。

“Well, actually I—”“嗯，其实我——”

“Of course he didn’t,” Aunt Dorath snapped.“他当然没有。”多拉丝姑妈厉声说道。“Giogi could no more joust with a dragon than he could match his own stockings.“乔吉连自己的袜子都配不成一对，怎么可能跟龙马上比枪。”Enough of this nonsense.这种胡话说够了。Drone, it’s time you explained to all of us what happened to the spur.”德罗恩，该向我们大家解释一下那枚马刺出了什么事了。”

Uncle Drone sighed a deep sigh, like a bellows letting out all its air.德罗恩叔叔深深叹了口气，仿佛一只风箱放尽了所有空气。When he spoke, it was in a measured, professorial voice, his tone as dry as the ancient paper scrolls he kept in his lab.开口时，他语调沉稳，俨然一位教授，口吻枯燥得如同他实验室里收藏的古老羊皮纸卷。“Last night,” he began, “an hour before dawn, someone got into the family crypt, where the wyvern’s spur has been stored for years.“昨晚，”他开始说道，“黎明前一个小时，有人进入了家族墓室，那枚双足飞龙马刺多年来一直存放在那里。”Awakened by a magical alarm, I immediately attempted to scry into the crypt, but a powerful darkness obscured my vision.我被一道魔法警报惊醒，立刻试图用探知术察看墓室内部，但一片强大的黑暗遮蔽了我的视野。I teleported to the graveyard and found both the mausoleum door and the crypt door within locked.我传送到墓地，发现陵墓的大门和里面的墓室门都锁着。There was no sign that anyone had broken in or out.没有任何人破门而入或破门而出的迹象。All the magical wards I had placed to keep spell-casters from by-passing the locks were intact.我设下的所有魔法结界都完好无损；那些结界本是为了防止施法者绕过门锁。However, both the spur and its thief were gone.”然而，马刺和窃贼都不见了。”

“Why was the spur kept in the family crypt?”“为什么要把马刺存放在家族墓室里？”Gaylyn asked.盖琳问道。“Wouldn’t it have been easier to guard it in the castle?”“放在城堡里，不是更容易看守吗？”

“The guardian lives in the crypt,” Frefford explained softly to his wife.“守护者就住在墓室里。”弗雷福德轻声向妻子解释道。

“What’s ‘the guardian’?” she asked.“‘守护者’是什么？”她问。

“The spirit of a powerful monster, which will slay any being in the crypt that is not a Wyvernspur by blood or marriage,” Aunt Dorath said.“那是一头强大怪物的幽灵，会杀死墓室中任何既非飞龙刺家族血亲、也非姻亲的生灵。”多拉丝姑妈说道。

“So it had to be a Wyvernspur who stole the spur,” Gaylyn reasoned.“这么说，偷走马刺的人必定是飞龙刺家族的人。”盖琳推断道。

“One of us,” agreed Uncle Drone, pausing for a moment to let the thought sink in.“是我们中的一个。”德罗恩叔叔表示赞同，停顿片刻，好让众人领会这句话的含义。Then he added, “But probably a long-lost relative.随后他又说道：“但很可能是个失散多年的亲戚。We’ve never been able to discover any before, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”我们以前一直没能找到这样的人，但这并不意味着他们不存在。”

“Why steal the spur?“为什么要偷马刺？What good is it to anyone?”它对别人有什么用？”Giogi asked.乔吉问道。

“It’s said to have powers beyond that of ensuring the continuance of the family line,” replied the wizard.“据说，它除了能确保家族血脉延续之外，还拥有其他力量。”法师回答道。

“I never heard about that,” Giogi protested.“我从没听说过这回事。”乔吉抗议道。“What sort of powers?”“是什么样的力量？”

Uncle Drone shrugged.德罗恩叔叔耸了耸肩。“It isn’t in any of the family history books.”“家族的任何史书里都没有记载。”

“What makes you think it was a long-lost relative?”“你为什么认为是个失散多年的亲戚？”Julia asked.朱莉娅问道。“Why not one of us?”“为什么不能是我们中的一个？”

“Well, firstly,” Drone explained, “I was able to ascertain through magical means that none of the keys entrusted to the keeping of Frefford, Steele, and Giogioni—” Uncle Drone waved an arm at each of the men in turn— “were used to open the crypt.”“嗯，首先，”德罗恩解释道，“我通过魔法手段查明，交由弗雷福德、斯蒂尔和乔吉奥尼保管的钥匙——”德罗恩叔叔依次朝三个男人挥了挥手臂，“都没有被用来开启墓室。”

“What about your own key?”“那你自己的钥匙呢？”Aunt Dorath interrupted.多拉丝姑妈打断了他。“Are you certain you haven’t mislaid it somewhere?”“你确定没有把它落在什么地方吗？”Her emphasis suggested the unspoken word “again.”她加重的语气仿佛暗含着一个没有说出口的词：“又”。

In reply, Uncle Drone held up a large silver key hanging from a chain about his neck.德罗恩叔叔没有作声，只是举起挂在脖子上链条末端的一把银制大钥匙作为回答。“As everyone here but Gaylyn already knows,” the wizard continued, “besides the mausoleum entrance, the only other entrance to the crypt is from the catacombs below, and the only other way into the catacombs is from a secret magical door outside the graveyard.”“在场的人中，除了盖琳，大家都已经知道，”法师继续说道，“除去陵墓入口，通往墓室的另一个入口位于下方的地下墓穴中，而进入地下墓穴的另一条路，则是墓园外的一扇魔法密门。”

“But you told us that that secret door only opens every fifty years,” Steele snapped peevishly, “on the first of Tarsakh.“可你告诉过我们，那扇秘门每五十年才开启一次，”斯蒂尔不耐烦地厉声说道，“就在塔萨克月一日。That’s still more than a ride away.”那还要一旬多呢。”

“Twelve days.“十二天。That’s a ride and two days to spare,” Gaylyn corrected.正好一旬，还多两天。”盖琳纠正道。

Steele scowled at the woman’s exactness.斯蒂尔对这女人事事精确的作风皱起了眉头。

“Well, I seem to have miscalculated,” Drone said.“好吧，看来是我算错了，”德罗恩说道。“Apparently the door opens after three hundred sixty-five days multiplied by fifty.“显然，那扇门每隔三百六十五乘以五十天开启一次。In other words every eighteen thousand two hundred fiftieth day.换句话说，就是每隔一万八千二百五十天。The family records weren’t so precise and rounded the interval off to a half-century.”家族记录没那么精确，把这段间隔取整成了半个世纪。”

“What’s the difference?”“这有什么区别？”Steele growled.斯蒂尔低吼道。

“Shieldmeet,” Gaylyn cried excitedly, like a woman playing charades.“盾会节！”盖琳兴奋地喊道，活像个正在玩猜词游戏的女人。

“Exactly,” Uncle Drone said.“正是，”德罗恩叔叔说道。“Shieldmeet, every four years, adds an extra day.“每隔四年，盾会节就会多出一天。After fifty years, the extra days add up, so the door opened earlier than I had expected.”五十年后，这些额外的日子累积起来，所以那扇门比我预想的更早开启了。”

“By twelve days,” Gaylyn added.“早了十二天。”盖琳补充道。

Gaylyn, Giogi guessed, was one of those women who were good with figures.乔吉猜想，盖琳大概是那种很会算数的女人。

“Fortunately,” Drone continued, “I had the notion to check out that door within minutes of the theft.“幸好，”德罗恩继续说道，“失窃发生后没几分钟，我就想到要去查看那扇门。Sure enough, it stood open.果不其然，门敞开着。I sealed it with a wall of stone and left magical guards to tell me if anyone tries to break out by that door or the door from the crypt to the mausoleum.我用一道石墙将它封死，又留下魔法守卫；要是有人试图从那扇门，或是从墓室通往陵墓的门闯出去，它们就会通知我。No one has.至今没人这么做。The would-be thief is still stuck in the catacombs.那个偷窃未遂的家伙还困在地下墓穴里。So, you see, none of us can be the thief, since none of us are missing.”所以你们瞧，我们当中没有人失踪，也就没有人可能是那个贼。”

Giogi wondered idly, if he hadn’t managed to return to Immersea before that evening, whether his family would be sitting around suspecting him of the crime.乔吉漫不经心地想，如果自己没能在那天傍晚之前赶回伊默海，家人会不会也正围坐在一起，怀疑这桩罪行是他干的。

“Since only a member of our family can enter the crypt, it’s up to us to deal with this thieving rogue Wyvernspur,” Aunt Dorath said.“既然只有我们家族的成员才能进入墓室，那就得由我们来对付飞龙刺家这个偷东西的恶棍了。”多拉丝姑妈说道。“No one else need know about this notorious incident.“这桩不光彩的事不必让其他任何人知道。All we need to do is search the catacombs,” she announced.我们只需搜查地下墓穴即可。”她宣布道。“First thing in the morning.”“明天一早就去。”

“And will you be leading us, Aunt Dorath?”“那您会带领我们吗，多拉丝姑妈？”Steele asked with a smirk.斯蒂尔一脸坏笑地问道。

“Don’t be absurd.“别说傻话了。This is a job for healthy young men like yourself and Frefford.”这是像你和弗雷福德这样身强力壮的年轻男人该干的活。”

“And Giogioni,” Uncle Drone said.“还有乔吉奥尼。”德罗恩叔叔说道。“Can’t leave him out.”“不能把他落下。”

“That’s all right, Uncle Drone,” Giogi insisted.“没关系的，德罗恩叔叔。”乔吉坚持道。“I can guard the crypt door or something, in case the thief gets past Steele and Freffie.”“我可以守着墓室的门什么的，以防那个贼从斯蒂尔和弗雷菲手里逃脱。”

“Nonsense,” Steele said.“胡说。”斯蒂尔说道。“We need you, Giogi.“我们需要你，乔吉。Besides, don’t you want to renew your acquaintance with the guardian?”再说，你难道不想和那位守护者重续旧交吗？”

“Actually, no,” Giogi retorted sharply, glaring at his cousin.“说实话，不想。”乔吉厉声反驳，怒视着他的堂兄。If looks could kill, the rest of the family would have to have summoned a cleric for Steele.倘若眼神能杀人，家里其他人这会儿就得为斯蒂尔召来一位牧师了。

Aunt Dorath gave Giogi a cold look.多拉丝姑妈冷冷地看了乔吉一眼。“Giogioni, I won’t have you shirking your family responsibilities.“乔吉奥尼，我不许你逃避家族责任。You can help by carrying the water flasks or something.”你可以帮忙拿水壶什么的。”

“Yes, you can be our provisions officer,” Steele said.“对，你可以当我们的给养官。”斯蒂尔说道。“But leave the land urchins behind—and don’t forget your key.“不过把那些陆地海胆留下——还有，别忘了带上你的钥匙。It’ll remind the guardian that you are a Wyvernspur after all.”那会提醒守护者，你终究是飞龙刺家的人。”

Giogi began breathing a little too deeply, and the room seemed to tilt.乔吉的呼吸开始变得有些过深，房间仿佛倾斜起来。Steele’s taunts were wasted on him—he was too busy fighting off a rising panic.斯蒂尔的嘲弄全都白费了——他正忙着压下不断涌起的恐慌，根本无暇理会。Frefford moved to his side and clamped a reassuring hand on his shoulder.弗雷福德走到他身边，把一只令人安心的手按在他肩上。“It’ll be fine, Giogi.“不会有事的，乔吉。We’ll all be down there together.”我们都会一起下去。”

“You can’t possibly still be affected by that scare you had as a boy,” Aunt Dorath insisted.“你小时候受的那次惊吓，不可能到现在还影响着你吧。”多拉丝姑妈坚持说道。

Giogi did not answer.乔吉没有回答。His mouth moved, but no words escaped.他的嘴动了动，却没发出任何声音。

“Well, that’s settled, then,” Aunt Dorath said.“那么，这事就这么定了。”多拉丝姑妈说。“I suggest you all get a good night’s sleep so you can get an early start.“我建议你们今晚都好好睡一觉，明早也好尽早动身。That includes you, Giogioni.你也一样，乔吉奥尼。Don’t spend the rest of the evening carousing in town.别把今晚剩下的时间都花在城里寻欢作乐上。You must be at the crypt at dawn.天一亮，你们就必须到达墓穴。This is not a duty any of you dare take lightly.这项职责，你们谁都不敢掉以轻心。Until that spur is back in the crypt where it belongs, none of us are safe.在那根刺回到墓穴里它应在的位置之前，我们谁都不安全。You may scoff all you want, but I know for a fact that the spur’s curse is no silly superstition.你们尽管嘲笑好了，但我确切地知道，那根刺的诅咒绝不是什么愚蠢的迷信。Its absence will bring evil upon us.”它不在那里，就会给我们招来灾祸。”

Giogi shuddered, anticipating meeting the guardian again.一想到又要见到那名守护者，乔吉便打了个寒战。Gaylyn lay her hand nervously on her belly.盖琳不安地把手放在腹部。Frefford returned to his wife’s side to comfort her.弗雷福德回到妻子身边安慰她。Julia watched Steele, who fidgeted with impatience.朱莉娅望着斯蒂尔，只见他不耐烦地坐立不安。Uncle Drone studied the stain on his robe.德罗恩叔叔端详着长袍上的污渍。

Everyone remained speechless for several moments until Drone said, “I’ll see you to the door, Giogi,” and held an arm out for help in rising.众人沉默了片刻，直到德罗恩开口道：“我送你到门口，乔吉。”说着，他伸出一条胳膊，要乔吉扶他起身。

Still in shock, Giogi stood automatically and helped Drone to his feet.乔吉仍惊魂未定，却下意识地站起身来，把德罗恩扶了起来。He held the parlor door open as the old man shuffled through, and he followed his uncle out.老人拖着脚步穿过客厅门时，他替他扶着门，随后跟着叔叔走了出去。

After the door had closed behind them, the old man patted Giogi’s arm and said softly, “Dory’s right, you know.门在他们身后关上后，老人轻轻拍了拍乔吉的手臂，低声说：“多莉说得对，你知道的。It’s time you were over that fright you had as a child.”你儿时受的那场惊吓，也该放下了。”

“Aunt Dorath wasn’t locked down there,” Giogi objected as they descended a staircase to the main entrance hall.“多拉丝姑妈没有被锁在下面。”他们沿楼梯走向正门大厅时，乔吉反驳道。

“Well, actually she was once, but that’s neither here nor there.“唔，其实她确实被关在下面过一次，不过那无关紧要。Listen, my boy, I have something very important to tell you, something I couldn’t tell you in front of the others.”听着，孩子，我有件非常重要的事要告诉你，一件我不能当着其他人的面说的事。”

Suddenly reminded of Sudacar’s revelation, Giogi shook off his anxiety over the coming expedition.乔吉猛然想起苏达卡透露的秘密，顿时把对即将到来的探险的忧虑抛到脑后。“And I have a question for you that I couldn’t ask in front of the others.“我也有个问题，不能当着其他人的面问你。Why didn’t you ever tell me my father was an adventurer?”你为什么从来没告诉过我，我父亲曾是个冒险者？”

“Found that out, did you?“你已经知道了，是吗？Who let it slip?”是谁说漏了嘴？”

“It makes no difference,” Giogi retorted.“那不重要。”乔吉顶嘴道。“Why didn’t you tell me?”“你为什么不告诉我？”

“Your Aunt Dorath made me swear not to.”“你多拉丝姑妈逼我发誓不能告诉你。”

“How could you agree to something like that?”“这种事你怎么能答应？”Giogi demanded.乔吉质问道。“I thought you liked my father.”“我还以为你喜欢我父亲。”

“I loved your father,” Drone whispered angrily.“我爱你父亲。”德罗恩愤怒地低声说道。“I had my reasons.“我有我的理由。Now hush up and listen.”现在别说话，听我讲。”

When they’d reached the bottom of the staircase, the new footman popped out of an alcove and asked, “Shall I fetch Master Giogioni’s things, sir?”他们刚走到楼梯底下，新来的男仆便从一处壁龛里突然闪身出来，问道：“先生，要我去取乔吉奥尼少爷的东西吗？”

“Yes, yes,” Uncle Drone snapped, annoyed at the interruption.“好，好，”德罗恩叔叔因被打断而恼火地厉声说道。He watched the footman’s back until the servant disappeared from sight.他一直盯着男仆的背影，直到对方消失在视线中。Drone swiveled his neck in all four cardinal points, making sure he and Giogi were alone in the hall before he spoke again.德罗恩朝四面八方转头察看，确认大厅里只有他和乔吉两人后，才再次开口。“Now, where was I?“好了，我刚才说到哪儿了？Oh, yes.哦，对了。The spur and the thief aren’t in the catacombs.”那枚马刺和那个贼并不在地下墓穴里。”

“What!“什么！Then why did you tell us all—?”那你为什么要告诉我们大家——？”

“Shh!“嘘！Keep your voice down.小点声。I had good reasons, but Dory would never understand.我这么做自有道理，可多拉丝绝不会明白。You must go down into the catacombs anyway to keep up the charade, and tell me everything that happens there.”但你还是必须下到地下墓穴去，好把这场戏演下去，然后把那里发生的一切都告诉我。”

From the hallway upstairs they could hear Aunt Dorath bellow, “Drone!”他们听见楼上的走廊里传来多拉丝姑妈的吼声：“德罗恩！”

“Look, I’ll explain it to you tomorrow night when you return.“听着，等你明晚回来，我会把一切都解释给你听。In the meantime—”在此之前——”

The footman returned with Giogi’s cloak.男仆拿着乔吉的斗篷回来了。Drone took the cloak and waved the servant away.德罗恩接过斗篷，挥手让男仆退下。As the old wizard wrapped Giogi up in the garment, he whispered, “In the meantime, watch your step.老法师用斗篷把乔吉裹严实，同时低声说道：“在此之前，走每一步都要当心。Your life could possibly, just possibly, be in danger.”你有可能，只是有可能，会有生命危险。”He opened the front door, and cold air rushed into the hallway.他打开前门，冷空气顿时涌入门厅。

“Because of the spur, you mean?”“你是说，因为那枚马刺？”Giogi asked.乔吉问道。

“Not because of the spur—well, maybe because of it, but not the way you might think—”“不是因为那枚马刺——好吧，也可能与它有关，但并不是你以为的那种方式——”

“Drone!”“德罗恩！”Aunt Dorath called out a second time.多拉丝姑妈又叫了一声。

Uncle Drone pushed Giogi out the door, saying, “I’ll explain tomorrow.德罗恩叔叔把乔吉推出门外，说：“我明天再解释。Remember—watch your step.”记住——脚下当心。”The wizard closed the door on Giogi before he could protest further.不等乔吉再开口抗议，巫师便关上了门。

My life could possibly, just possibly, be in danger, Giogi thought.我的小命有可能，只是有可能，会有危险，乔吉心想。He shuddered, not just from the cold.他打了个寒战，却不只是因为冷。A wizard such as Drone said “just possibly” only in cases where anyone else in the Realms would say, “most definitely.”像德罗恩这样的巫师，只有在诸界其他任何人都会说“千真万确”的情况下，才会说“只是有可能”。

A hearty spring wind, fresh off the Wyvernwater, danced around the side of the castle and tore through Giogi’s cloak.一股从飞龙湖上吹来的强劲春风，清新凛冽，绕着城堡一侧飞舞，穿透了乔吉的斗篷。He shuddered again and wished that he’d stayed in Westgate, where all he’d had to worry about were dragons, earthquakes, and power struggles.他又打了个寒战，真希望自己当初留在西门城；在那里，他需要担心的不过是龙、地震和权力争斗。They really were insignificant compared to these family crises.同这些家族危机相比，那些事还真是微不足道。

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。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。Besides, sooner or later someone would come along the street.再说，街上迟早会有人经过。

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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。

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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。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。

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。Olive tensed for action.奥利芙绷紧身体，准备行动。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。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。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。She stood motionless.她一动不动地站着。

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。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。She remained motionless.她仍旧一动不动。

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。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。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。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。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。

“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。

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。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。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。

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？I’ve missed you, girl.”我可想死你了，姑娘。”

“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。“I’ve been visiting family,” she explained.“我去探望家人了。”她解释道。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。

Olive furrowed her brow in puzzlement.奥利芙困惑地皱起眉头。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。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。Jade herself had told the halfling she was an orphan.杰德亲口告诉过她，自己是个孤儿。“What family?”“什么家人？”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。

“It’s a long story.“说来话长。Look, are you going to pluck this pigeon?”喂，你到底宰不宰这只肥羊？”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。“If not, I’d like a crack at him.“你要是不动手，我倒想拿他试试。He looks ripe.”他看起来正肥得流油呢。”

“Wait your turn, girl,” Olive replied.“等着轮到你吧，丫头。”奥利芙答道。“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。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。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。

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。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。

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。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。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。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。Where have I seen him before? she wondered.我以前在哪儿见过他？她纳闷地想。

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。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。

“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——”

Olive stopped dead in her tracks.奥利芙猛地停下了脚步。He’s singing one of my songs! she realized.他唱的是我的歌！她顿时醒悟。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。

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。

Then she remembered that Jade was watching from the shadows.随后她想起，杰德正在暗处看着。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。Olive prodded herself forward again.奥利芙再次催促自己向前走去。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。

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。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。My people.我的子民。Harumph.”嗯哼。”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。“My Cormytes.“我的科米尔人。My people.我的子民。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。Haven’t lost the old skills.”当年的本事还没丢。”

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。Could it really be him, she wondered.真会是他吗？她暗自思忖。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？

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。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。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。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。

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。Not that surprising really.其实也没什么好惊讶的。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。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。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。

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。Giogi halted at the door of the Immer Inn.乔吉在伊默客栈门前停下脚步。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。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。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。

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！”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。My people …”我的子民……”

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。

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。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。“You hesitated before the snatch, Olive,” Jade noted.“你下手前犹豫了一下，奥利芙，”杰德指出。“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。

Olive shook her head.奥利芙摇了摇头。“Did you see those boots he was wearing?”“你看到他脚上那双靴子了吗？”

“Those earth-shakers?”“那双走一步地都要震一震的？”Jade asked with a nod.杰德点头问道。

“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。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。”

“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。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。”

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。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。She caught it casually in one hand.她漫不经心地伸出一只手，将它接住。The coins within gave a hearty clink.袋里的钱币响亮地叮当一声。

“Now, really.“哎呀，说真的。Why did you stop like that?”你干吗突然停下来？”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。

“I recognized the mark.“我认出了那个徽记。Giogioni Wyvernspur.乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。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？”

“The one you said looked like me?”“就是你说长得像我的那个？”Jade asked, stifling a mock yawn.杰德问道，强忍着一个装模作样的哈欠。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。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。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。

“That’s the one,” Olive said with a nod.“就是她。”奥利芙点点头说道。“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。She could be your sister.”她都可以当你的亲姐妹了。”

Jade shrugged.杰德耸了耸肩。

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。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。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。

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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。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。

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。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。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。

Jade broke through Olive’s reverie.杰德打断了奥利芙的沉思。“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。

“Giogioni Wyvernspur.“乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺。We’ve been here all winter, Jade.杰德，我们整个冬天都待在这里。You must have heard something about the Wyvernspurs.你不可能没听说过飞龙刺家族的事。They founded this town.这座镇子就是他们建立的。They’re big favorites at court.他们在宫廷里很受宠。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。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。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。”

“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。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。”

Olive nodded.奥利芙点了点头。“It’s true.“真的。She did.”她确实害我惹上麻烦了。”

“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。

“And who’s going to look out for you?”“那谁来照看你呢？”Olive teased.奥利芙打趣道。

“I don’t need looking out for.“我才不需要别人照看。I never get into trouble.”我从来不惹麻烦。”

“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。

“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。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。

Olive grinned.奥利芙咧嘴一笑。“Don’t you think you’d better tuck that out of sight?“你不觉得最好把它藏起来吗？I’ll collect my cut later.”我的那份以后再收。”

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。From her belt she drew a second, smaller pouch.她又从腰带上取下一个更小的袋子。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。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。

It was Olive’s turn to whistle.这回轮到奥利芙吹口哨了。“How’d you do that?” she gasped.“你是怎么做到的？”她倒吸着气问道。

“Isn’t it great?”“是不是很棒？”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。“It’s a miniature magical bag.“这是个微型魔法袋。You can really stuff it.里面可能装了。Want to know the best part?想知道最妙的是什么吗？It was a gift.”这是别人送我的。”

“Well, well, well.“哟，哟，哟。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？”Olive asked.奥利芙问道。

“Later, Olive.“回头再说，奥利芙。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。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？”

“Of course not,” Olive agreed.“当然不能。”奥利芙赞同道。“What kind of thing?”“什么事？”

“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。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？”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。

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。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。An unpleasant man.一个令人不快的男人。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。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。“Not this one, girl.”“这个不行，丫头。”

“Olive, what’s gotten into you?”“奥利芙，你这是怎么了？”

“I don’t know.“我不知道。He feels … dangerous somehow.”不知怎么的，他让人觉得……很危险。”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。

Jade’s nose twitched with annoyance.杰德不耐烦地皱了皱鼻子。“He feels rich to me.”“我倒觉得他很有钱。”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。Still, Olive’s words had shaken her confidence.不过，奥利芙的话还是动摇了她的信心。She slid the magic pouch out of her belt.她从腰带里抽出那只魔法钱袋。“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。”

“Nothing but your freedom,” Olive sniffed.“除了你的自由。”奥利芙哼了一声。“Lord Sudacar hand-picked those guards himself.“那些卫兵可是苏达卡大人亲自挑选的。You don’t want to take them on, believe me.”相信我，你不会想跟他们交手的。”

Jade grinned.杰德咧嘴一笑。“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。”

“So certain, are you?”“你就这么肯定？”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。

“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。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。

Left in the shadows, Olive sighed.奥利芙独自留在阴影里，叹了口气。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。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。The woman really needed someone to advise her.这个女人确实需要有人指点。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。

Silently the halfling critiqued her partner’s performance.半身人默默评判着搭档的表现。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。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。She had one trait, though, that could betray her.不过，她有一个特点可能会暴露自己。

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。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。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。

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。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。

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。She examined whatever it was she had snatched.她端详起自己刚顺来的东西。Olive frowned.奥利芙皱起眉头。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。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。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。At least Olive presumed it was glass.至少奥利芙猜想那是玻璃。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。

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。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。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？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？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。

Luck broke badly for Jade all at once.杰德的好运一下子全完了。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。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。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。The thief’s charade had not fooled him.小偷的伪装并没有骗过他。

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！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！”

The thief’s ice-cool composure cracked.小偷冰冷镇定的神色崩裂了。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。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。

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。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。

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。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。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。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。

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。Jade More had ceased to exist.杰德·莫尔已不复存在。

“No!”“不！”Olive screeched in horror.奥利芙惊恐地尖叫起来。

The cloaked figure whirled about at the shout.斗篷人听见喊声，猛地转过身来。The hood fell away from his face.兜帽从他脸上滑落。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。

Olive recognized the face immediately.奥利芙立刻认出了那张脸。She knew the man.她认识这个男人。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。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。

“You!” she spat through clenched teeth.“是你！”她咬牙切齿地啐道。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。“How could you?“你怎么能这样？You killed her!是你杀了她！Can’t you keep from playing at gods’ games?你就不能别再插手诸神的游戏吗？You fiend!你这个恶魔！You disgust me!”你真让我恶心！”

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。

Olive froze, suddenly realizing her own peril.奥利芙僵住了，猛然意识到自己身处险境。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。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。

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。She dashed down the alley without looking back.她头也不回地沿着小巷飞奔。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。

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。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。

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。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。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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。

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。Irritated, Olive pushed the animal’s muzzle away.奥利芙心中烦躁，一把推开了它的鼻吻。The pony whickered softly in annoyance.小马不满地轻声嘶鸣。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。

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。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。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。He could not be who he looked like.他不可能真是那个他看起来像的人。She had to be mistaken.她一定是认错了。

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。Her pursuer had not given up!追赶她的人还没有放弃！He was searching for an opening.他在寻找入口。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。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。

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。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。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。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。

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。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。He’s inside!他在里面！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。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。How can I hide from him?我怎么可能躲得过他？

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。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。

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。

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。I’m too talented to die.我这么有本事，才不能死。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。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。

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。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。

Jade’s magic pouch! she thought.杰德的魔法袋！她心想。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。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。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。

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。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。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。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。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。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。

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。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。”

Nine Hells, Olive cursed.九层地狱啊，奥利芙暗骂道。I’ve opened the wrong sack.我打开了错误的袋子。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。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。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。Lucky for me it did, but why?幸好如此，可为什么呢？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。Don’t you realize that you’re about to die?你没意识到自己就要死了吗？

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。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。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。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。

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。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。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。

Jade’s murderer looked down at her with anger.杀害杰德的凶手愤怒地俯视着她。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。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。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。He used to be a Harper.他从前曾是个竖琴手。How could he become a murderer?他怎么会变成杀人凶手？We were allies and friends.我们曾经是盟友，也是朋友。How can he murder me?他怎么能杀我？

“Beshaba’s brats,” he cursed.“贝莎芭的兔崽子们，”他咒骂道。

Olive felt much the same way.奥利芙也深有同感。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。She tried to stand, but her knees were too weak.她试图站起来，可双膝软弱无力。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。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。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。

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。

He had me dead to rights, Olive thought.他明明把我逮了个正着，奥利芙心想。How could he miss me?他怎么会没看到我？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。In panic, the halfling looked down at herself.半身人惊慌地低头看向自己。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。

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！

The Immer Inn catered to an exclusive clientele.伊默旅店只接待少数上等客人。It was patronized by only those travelers and members of Immersea society who were able and willing to pay exorbitant prices for board, drink, and lodging.只有那些付得起、也愿意为膳食、酒水和住宿支付高昂价钱的旅客和伊默海社会人士，才会光顾这里。Giogi, who had on occasion slept off one too many drinks at the inn, could attest that the guest rooms were very nice.乔吉偶尔也会在这家旅店里醉睡一宿，因此可以作证，客房确实很不错。As a local resident, though, he was generally more familiar with the board and drink aspects of the inn.不过，作为本地居民，他通常更熟悉旅店的膳食和酒水。

The decor of the dining hall was the inn’s biggest attraction, though.然而，餐厅里的装潢才是这家旅店最大的卖点。The floor was covered with plush carpeting, the walls lined with elaborate tapestries, and the ceiling hung with crystal chandeliers.地上铺着柔软厚实的地毯，墙上挂满精美繁复的织锦，天花板上则垂着水晶吊灯。The room was warm and dry and furnished with tables covered with elegant linen and surrounded by the most comfortably cushioned chairs in Cormyr.厅内温暖干燥，桌上铺着雅致的亚麻桌布，四周摆放着科米尔坐垫最舒适的椅子。

Giogi had patronized the Immer Inn since he’d come of age six years before, but, after being away nearly a year, he thought the dining room seemed as strange as his own home had felt.自从六年前成年起，乔吉便一直是伊默旅店的常客；可离开将近一年后，他觉得这里的餐厅和自己的家一样，显得如此陌生。He thought that perhaps it was because the inn was nearly empty this evening, but his friends were there, and their company was strange, too.他想，也许是因为今晚旅店里几乎空无一人，可他的朋友们都在，他们的陪伴也同样让他觉得陌生。

They’d welcomed him back heartily enough, but they had cut short the tale of his travels with their pointed lack of interest, insisted his yellow crystal must be ordinary quartz, and teased him about his boots.他们固然热情地欢迎他回来，却用毫不掩饰的冷淡打断了他的游历故事，坚持说他的黄色水晶不过是普通石英，还拿他的靴子取笑他。In addition, he no longer understood half the things to which they alluded in their conversations and jokes.此外，他们谈话和说笑时提到的事情，他有一半已经听不懂了。So, though he was not really keen on it, he’d accepted their offer to play a game of Elemental Empires.所以，尽管他其实没什么兴致，还是接受了他们的提议，玩起了元素帝国。The game, at least, was familiar.至少这游戏还是熟悉的。

Giogi began drinking too much and losing lots of money, habits that also were familiar.乔吉开始喝得过多，也开始输掉大笔金钱——这些习惯同样熟悉。With a roll of a pair of ivory dice on a felt-covered gaming table, Chancy Lluth had just vanquished all Shaver Cormaeril’s troops.在铺着毡布的游戏桌上，钱西·卢思刚掷出一对象牙骰子，将谢弗·科梅里尔的所有部队尽数击溃。In response, Shaver sacrificed all his leaders to protect a hidden card.作为回应，谢弗牺牲了自己所有的首领，以保护一张暗牌。

“Primary of flames—that’s a guarded assassin,” Giogi announced when Shaver revealed the card to Chancy.“火焰本源——那是个有护卫的刺客。”谢弗向钱西亮出那张牌时，乔吉宣布道。Giogi grinned.乔吉咧嘴一笑。One could always count on Shaver to do something vindictive just before he lost.谢弗总会在输掉之前干上一件泄愤的事，这一点从来不会让人失望。

With a scowl, Chancy tossed one of his knights into the discard pile.钱西皱着脸，把自己的一名骑士扔进了弃牌堆。Shaver surrendered his unused cards to Chancy and signaled a servant to bring him a fresh drink.谢弗把没用过的牌交给钱西，又示意一名侍者给他送来一杯新酒。

Shaver drew a priest from Chancy’s unused cards to replace his murdered knight.谢弗从钱西未使用的牌中抽出一名祭司，取代自己被杀的骑士。

“How many cards do you want, Giogi?”“你想要几张牌，乔吉？”Lambsie Danae asked.兰姆西·达娜伊问道。Lambsie had folded much earlier, as usual, unwilling to risk as much money as the others.兰姆西和往常一样，早早就弃牌了，不愿像其他人那样拿那么多钱冒险。Lambsie’s father, while one of the wealthiest farmers in Immersea, kept Lambsie on a strict gambling allowance, and Lambsie never exceeded his limit.兰姆西的父亲虽是伊默海最富有的农场主之一，却严格限制兰姆西赌钱的额度，而兰姆西也从不超出限额。

Giogi stared at the crystal chandelier hanging over the game table and tried to calculate the odds of his drawing a card he could use.乔吉盯着悬在牌桌上方的水晶吊灯，试图算出自己抽到一张可用之牌的概率。His element was earth, and there weren’t too many stone cards left in the deck.他的元素是土，而牌堆里剩下的石系牌已经不多了。Nor were there too many major cards he could use without the minor stone suit cards to act as armies to protect them.况且，没有低阶石系牌充当军队保护，他能使用的高阶牌也没有几张。Each unused card he held doubled the price of a new card, but he could not afford to discard those he held—they were mostly wave cards, which Chancy, whose element was water, would snatch up and use against him.他手中每留一张未使用的牌，买下一张新牌的价格就会翻倍，可他又不能把手里的牌弃掉——那些大多是波浪牌，而元素属水的钱西会立刻捡走，用来对付他。

“First card will cost you sixty-four, and if you can’t play it, the second one will cost a hundred twenty-eight,” Lambsie said.“第一张要花六十四分，要是打不出去，第二张就得花一百二十八分，”兰姆西说。

“I can multiply by two, thank you, Lambsie,” Giogi said with an insulted sniff, though after the last brandy he’d downed, he probably couldn’t.“我会乘以二，谢谢你，兰姆西。”乔吉觉得受了冒犯，哼了一声说道，尽管灌下最后那杯白兰地之后，他大概已经不会算了。

Giogi counted out sixty-four points’ worth of his yellow scoring sticks.乔吉从自己的黄色计分棒中数出价值六十四分的一把。Lambsie dealt him a card, a jester—nearly useless, but playable.兰姆西给他发了一张牌，是个小丑——几乎毫无用处，但还打得出去。Giogi turned it over and sifted it into his single army line.乔吉把牌翻过来，插进自己唯一的一列军队牌中。

“You’ve got a two-strength army stacked with a sorceress, a bard, and a jester, Giogi,” Chancy said.“你这支强度为二的军队里，叠着一个女巫师、一个吟游诗人和一个小丑，乔吉，”钱西说。“Are they leading your troops or entertaining them?”“他们是在率领你的部队，还是在给他们逗乐？”

Ignoring Chancy’s taunt, Giogi paid another sixty-four points.乔吉没理会钱西的嘲讽，又付了六十四分。“Another card, please,” he asked Lambsie.“请再给我一张牌。”他对兰姆西说。

Lambsie dealt him a four of winds, unplayable, but safe to discard, except, once he discarded, Giogi could buy no more cards.兰姆西给他发了一张风系四点牌，无法打出，但弃掉倒也安全，只是一旦弃牌，乔吉就不能再买牌了。He slid the card into his unused pile.他把那张牌塞进自己未使用的牌堆。“One more,” he said sliding one hundred twenty-eight points’ worth of sticks across the table to Lambsie.“再来一张。”他说着，把价值一百二十八分的计分棒推过桌面，送到兰姆西面前。

Lambsie dealt him a third card.兰姆西给他发了第三张牌。

Giogi drew a priest out from his unused stack and played it with the new card.乔吉从自己未使用的牌堆里抽出一张祭司牌，和新牌一起打了出去。

“The moon!”“月亮！”Shaver exclaimed.谢弗惊呼道。“How lucky can you get?”“你的运气怎么能这么好？”

“You know what they say,” Lambsie said, “Tymora looks out for fools.”“你们知道那句话怎么说，”兰姆西说道，“泰摩拉会眷顾傻瓜。”

“The tide goes out, wave troops retreat,” Giogi said.“潮水退去，浪兵撤退。”乔吉说道。

Visibly annoyed, Chancy picked all his minor Talis cards off the table and slipped them into his unused stack of cards.钱西显然很恼火，他把自己所有的次级塔利斯牌从桌上拿起来，塞进了尚未使用的那摞牌里。

“I think my leaders will challenge yours to personal combat,” Giogi said.“我想，我的首领会向你的首领发起单挑。”乔吉说道。“My sorceress against your priest and my rogue against your warrior.”“我的女术士对你的祭司，我的游荡者对你的战士。”

“That doesn’t leave anyone to command your troops,” Chancy pointed out.“那样一来，就没人指挥你的部队了。”钱西指出。

“Jesters can command troops when the moon is in play,” Giogi said.“月亮牌在场时，小丑也能指挥部队。”乔吉说道。

“That’s right,” Lambsie agreed.“没错。”兰姆西赞同道。

Confronted with the possibility of losing big, Chancy asked.面对可能惨败的局面，钱西开口问道。“What kind of surrender terms are you offering?” he asked.“你打算提出什么样的投降条件？”他问。

“Half your debt,” Giogi offered magnanimously.“免掉你一半的债。”乔吉宽宏大量地提议道。

“Accepted,” Chancy said, offering his knight and priest to Giogi.“成交。”钱西说着，把自己的骑士和祭司交给了乔吉。

“Earth wins,” Shaver declared.“大地获胜。”谢弗宣布。“You let him off too easy, Giogi.”“你放他一马放得太轻松了，乔吉。”

“It’s getting late,” Giogi said.“时候不早了。”乔吉说道。“I have to be going.”“我得走了。”

“So soon?”“这么快？”

Giogi nodded, signaling a servant for his check.乔吉点点头，示意一名侍者把账单送来。

His friends counted up their scoring sticks.他的朋友们清点起各自的计分棒。Lambsie paid out his eight silver pieces’ worth of debt while Shaver and Chancy wrote out IOUs.兰姆西付清了价值八枚银币的欠债，谢弗和钱西则写下了欠条。Shaver would be good for his before a day had passed.不出一天，谢弗准会把自己的债还清。As head of the second noble family in Immersea, Shaver’s father was always keen to prove to any Wyvernspur that the Cormaerils had no problem meeting their obligations.谢弗的父亲身为伊默海第二大贵族家族的族长，总是急于向任何一个飞龙刺证明，科迈里尔家族绝不会拖欠债务。It would take some time before he could wheedle Chancy’s money out of him, though.不过，要想哄得钱西把钱掏出来，恐怕得花上一段时间。Chancy’s father, like Lambsie’s was a very wealthy farmer, as well as a successful merchant.钱西的父亲和兰姆西的父亲一样，既是非常富有的农场主，也是成功的商人。He lavished his money on Chancy, but Chancy had more gambling debts than Cormyr had trees, or so people said.他在钱西身上挥金如土，可钱西欠下的赌债比科米尔的树还多——至少人们是这么说的。

Bottles, the inn’s owner, came up to their table and presented the tab without a word.酒馆老板博特尔斯走到他们桌边，一言不发地递上了账单。People didn’t generally argue over a check presented by Bottles.一般没人会对博特尔斯递来的账单提出异议。The retired soldier’s massive physique discouraged the timid, and his gruff, unsophisticated manner indicated to his haughtiest customers that he was not a man one could intimidate.这名退役军人魁梧的体格足以让胆小之人望而却步，而他粗声粗气、不加修饰的态度也让最傲慢的客人明白，他可不是能被人吓住的。

Giogi glanced at the check for the total and reached for his purse.乔吉瞥了一眼账单总额，伸手去掏钱袋。Then he began patting down his pockets frantically while Bottles cleared away their glasses.随后，他开始慌乱地拍遍全身口袋，而博特尔斯则收走了他们的酒杯。

Chancy smacked him on the back and asked, “Something wrong, Giogi?”钱西在他背上拍了一巴掌，问道：“出什么事了，乔吉？”

Giogi turned to his drinking buddies and muttered, “I seem to have mislaid my purse.”乔吉转向酒友们，嘟囔道：“我的钱袋好像不知放到哪儿去了。”

“Oh, dear.“哎呀，糟糕。We’ll have to call out the sheriff now,” Shaver announced in a deadpan voice.看来这下得去叫治安官了。”谢弗面无表情地宣布。“Bottles doesn’t take anyone’s chits.“博特尔斯可不收任何人的欠条。Cash and carry only.”只收现钱，概不赊账。”

Giogi swallowed hard.乔吉艰难地咽了口唾沫。When Bottles had married the inn’s previous owner’s widow, the inn had been debt-ridden.博特尔斯娶了酒馆前任老板的遗孀时，这家酒馆正债台高筑。The business thrived under Bottles’s management, not just because he kept the same staff as had his predecessor, but because he had a shrewd head for business—in other words—no credit.在博特尔斯的经营下，生意蒸蒸日上；这不只是因为他保留了前任老板的原班人马，也因为他有精明的生意头脑——换句话说——概不赊账。His policy was renowned throughout Immersea, as were the two youths he kept on retainer for dealing with deadbeats and other heavy lifting.他的规矩在整个伊默海都赫赫有名，同样出名的还有他长期雇着的两个年轻人，专门对付赖账的家伙，顺带干其他重活。

The young Wyvernspur rummaged through his pockets again, then checked his boots for good measure.年轻的飞龙刺又把口袋翻找了一遍，甚至还特意检查了靴子。He pulled out the yellow crystal, which glittered in the chandelier light.他掏出那块黄色水晶；它在枝形吊灯的光芒下闪闪发亮。

It would be impossibly hard to let the stone out of his hand, let alone out of his sight, but he had announced he was hosting the evening’s revelries, and the humiliation of reneging on friends would be even more unbearable.要让这块石头离开自己的手都难如登天，更别说让它离开视线了；可他已经宣布今晚的狂欢由他做东，而在朋友面前食言的耻辱更加难以忍受。

Giogi laid the crystal on the table.乔吉把水晶放在桌上。“Will you take this as collateral, Bottles?“博特尔斯，你肯收这个作抵押吗？I haven’t had it appraised, but I’m sure it’s worth a great deal.我还没找人估过价，但我敢肯定它非常值钱。It is to me, anyway.至少对我来说是这样。I’ll ransom it back tomorrow.”我明天就拿钱来赎回去。”

“No, Bottles,” Lambsie cried, “hold out for those boots.“别答应，博特尔斯，”兰姆西嚷道，“坚持要他那双靴子。They’re the most comfortable pair in the Realms.”那可是诸界最舒服的一双靴子。”

Giogi flushed.乔吉涨红了脸。Why doesn’t anyone like these boots? he wondered.为什么谁都不喜欢这双靴子？他心想。They’re so sensible.它们明明那么实用。

“Already got a pair of them kind,” Bottles said.“这种靴子我已经有一双了。”博特尔斯说。

Shaver, Lambsie, and Chancy broke into laughter.谢弗、兰姆西和钱西顿时大笑起来。

Bottles eyed the three “gentlemen” with disdain.博特尔斯轻蔑地瞥了那三位“绅士”一眼。He pushed the yellow crystal away.他把那块黄色水晶推了回去。“Keep your stone, milord.“您的石头收起来吧，老爷。Your credit’s good here.”您在这儿可以赊账。”

“Whoa!”“哟！”Shaver exclaimed.谢弗惊呼道。“Is that the breaking of a tradition I hear?”“我是不是听见有人打破惯例了？”

“How come my credit isn’t good here?”“凭什么我在这儿就不能赊账？”Chancy demanded.钱西质问道。

“ ’E feels bad about it.“他会觉得过意不去。You don’t,” Bottles replied.你可不会。”博特尔斯答道。

Giogi smiled gratefully.乔吉感激地笑了。“Thanks, awfully, Bottles.“太感谢了，博特尔斯。I’ll have Thomas stop by to settle up first thing in the morning.”明天一早我就让托马斯过来把账结清。”

“See that you do,” Bottles said, and walked off.“你最好说到做到。”博特尔斯说完便走开了。

“First thing in the morning for Giogi, isn’t that somewhere around noon?”“对乔吉来说，明天一早不就是中午前后吗？”Shaver joked.谢弗打趣道。

“For your information,” Giogi replied with a haughty tone, too inebriated to consider what he was saying, “I’ll be up before the crack of dawn tomorrow, crawling through the family crypt.”“告诉你吧，”乔吉傲慢地答道。他醉得太厉害，根本没想过自己在说什么，“明天天还没亮我就会起床，在家族墓穴里爬来爬去。”

“Whatever for?”“去那儿干什么？”Chancy asked.钱西问道。

“Someone’s stole the spur and he’s trapped down there,” Giogi explained in a conspiratorial whisper.“有人偷走了马刺，他被困在下面了。”乔吉用密谋般的低声解释道。“Or not,” he added, still confused by Uncle Drone’s mysterious confidence to the contrary.“也可能不是这样。”他又补充了一句，仍不明白德罗恩叔叔为何神秘兮兮地断言事实恰恰相反。

“Not really?”“不是真的吧？”Shaver gasped.谢弗倒抽了一口气。

Lambsie and Chancy looked up with horror.兰姆西和钱西惊恐地抬起头来。

Too late Giogi recalled that Aunt Dorath hadn’t wanted outsiders to know about the theft.乔吉这才想起，多拉丝姑妈原本不想让外人知道失窃的事，可惜已经太迟了。

“But the spur’s supposed to ensure your family’s success,” Chancy said.“可那枚马刺不是应该能确保你们家族兴旺吗？”钱西说。

“No,” Shaver corrected, “his family succession.“不对，”谢弗纠正道，“是确保他家族传承不断。Right, Giogi?”对吧，乔吉？”

“That’s just a superstition.“那不过是迷信。Look, do you think you might keep this between the four of us?”听着，你们能不能别把这事告诉别人，就我们四个知道？”Giogi asked.乔吉问。“It’s best if it doesn’t get around.”“这事最好别传出去。”

“Of course,” Shaver said.“当然。”谢弗说。Lambsie and Chancy nodded in agreement.兰姆西和钱西也点头表示同意。

Looking at his friends’ faces, Giogi did not feel reassured.看着朋友们的脸，乔吉并没有觉得安心。They were all too blank.他们一个个都显得太过面无表情。One of Uncle Drone’s little sayings popped into his head: Nothing flutters so frantically when caged like a secret, nor flies so fast when released.德罗恩叔叔的一句小格言突然跳进他脑海：没有什么像秘密一样，关起来时扑腾得那般疯狂，放出去后又飞得那般迅速。

Giogi didn’t like to imagine Aunt Dorath’s reaction if, when she sat down to breakfast tomorrow, she were to find a letter of condolence from Lady Dina Cormaeril, Shaver’s mother.乔吉不愿想象，要是多拉丝姑妈明天坐下来吃早饭时，发现谢弗的母亲黛娜·科梅里尔夫人寄来一封慰问信，她会作何反应。At least I’ll be in the catacombs by then, Giogi thought.至少那时候我已经在地下墓穴里了，乔吉心想。Maybe Aunt Dorath will have calmed down by the time I come out.也许等我出来时，多拉丝姑妈已经消气了。No, he realized, Aunt Dorath could stew for hours and still be boiling mad by sunset.不，他随即意识到，多拉丝姑妈能生上好几个钟头的闷气，直到日落依旧怒火沸腾。

With a feeling of doom, Giogi took leave of his friends and wove his way out of the Immer Inn.乔吉怀着大难临头的预感告别了朋友，穿行着走出伊默旅店。He headed west, toward the Wyvernwater.他向西而去，朝飞龙湖走去。“A bracing sea breeze would fit the bill,” he said aloud, though there was no one present to hear him, nor did it matter to him at that moment that the Wyvernwater was a freshwater lake, not a salty sea.“来阵清爽提神的海风正合我意。”他大声说道，尽管周围根本没人能听见；而且在那一刻，他也毫不在意飞龙湖其实是座淡水湖，并非咸水海洋。

He grew less anxious walking in the fresh, cold air, and by the time he’d turned south on the main road, he’d reasoned himself out of his fear.走在清新寒冷的空气中，他渐渐不再那么焦虑；等他拐上大路向南走时，已经把自己从恐惧中劝了出来。If Aunt Dorath finds out I babbled about the theft, he thought, I can always go abroad again.“要是多拉丝姑妈发现我把失窃的事说漏了嘴，”他想，“我还可以再出国。”Maybe, though, if I find the spur, she’ll forgive me and I can stay home.“不过，也许只要我找回那只马刺，她就会原谅我，我也能留在家里。”

A stiff gust of wind off the lake blew right through his cloak.湖面刮来一阵强风，径直穿透了他的斗篷。He shivered and suddenly felt very tired.他打了个寒战，忽然觉得疲惫不堪。What am I doing walking around in this cold?我在这么冷的天里四处乱走，到底是在干什么？I could be home sleeping in my warm bed.我本可以在家里温暖的床上睡觉。

He quickened his stride, but before he turned down the road leading home he remembered the duties facing him in the morning.他加快了脚步，可还没拐上回家的路，便想起了早晨等着他的那些任务。His desire to sleep vanished, and he slowed his pace.他的睡意顿时消失，脚步也慢了下来。If he stayed awake, it would be hours before he had to go into the crypt with Freffie and Steele and face the guardian.只要不睡，他就还有好几个小时，才需要和弗雷菲、斯蒂尔一起进入墓穴，面对那名守卫。

Somewhere nearby Giogi heard the strumming of a yarting and the jangle of a tantan.乔吉听见附近某处传来雅廷琴的拨弦声和坦坦铃的叮当声。He turned toward the music to find the door to the Five Fine Fish standing open as a crowd of travelers squeezed its way in.他循着音乐转过身，只见一群旅人正挤进“五条好鱼”酒馆，门大敞着。

“Sudacar,” Giogi whispered, suddenly remembering the local lord’s invitation to stop by the Fish to talk about Cole.“苏达卡。”乔吉低声说道，忽然想起当地领主曾邀请他来“五条好鱼”，谈谈科尔的事。

The Fish was renowned for its ale and very popular as a meeting place among adventurers who passed through Immersea.“五条好鱼”以麦酒闻名，也是途经伊默海的冒险者们极爱聚会的地方。Giogi’s friends all patronized the Immer Inn, so Giogi, who had never felt very comfortable among strangers, had not been in the Five Fine Fish very often.乔吉的朋友们全都光顾“伊默”旅店，因此一向不太能适应陌生人的乔吉，很少来“五条好鱼”。It would be full of strangers tonight, but Sudacar, while not exactly a friend, could hardly be considered a stranger—not if he knew things about Cole that Uncle Drone hadn’t even spoken of.今晚这里肯定满是陌生人，但苏达卡虽算不上朋友，却也很难说是陌生人——毕竟，他知道一些就连德罗恩叔叔都不曾提起过的科尔的事情。

Determined to learn more about his father’s adventuring life, Giogi strode purposefully toward the inn.乔吉决心多了解一些父亲的冒险生涯，便目标明确地大步走向酒馆。He slipped through the front door behind the last of the travelers and squeezed his way past them into the common room.他跟在最后几名旅人身后溜进前门，又从他们中间挤过去，进了公共厅。

The room was packed with people.厅里挤满了人。Five musicians in the corner struck up a reel, and several people began dancing on the wooden floor.角落里的五名乐师奏起一支里尔舞曲，几个人随即在木地板上跳起舞来。The dancers’ shadows swayed against the wall whenever someone bumped into one of the oil lamps hanging from the low ceilings.每当有人撞到悬在低矮天花板下的油灯，舞者们的影子便会在墙上摇曳。The tables and chairs of the Fish’s common room were built for durability rather than style, not carved, but hewn, and polished, not with wax, but by generations of oily hands and elbows.“五条好鱼”公共厅里的桌椅重耐用而不重式样，不是雕刻而成，而是粗粗凿削出来的；它们的光泽也不是用蜡打磨出的，而是由一代代人油腻的手掌与臂肘磨出来的。Lem, the inn’s owner, was tapping a fresh keg of ale, banging the spigot into the barrel in time to the music.酒馆老板莱姆正在给一桶新麦酒装龙头，伴着乐曲的节拍，把龙头一下下敲进酒桶。He looked up at Giogi and gave him a wink.他抬头看了看乔吉，朝他眨了眨眼。

Giogi searched the room for Sudacar while people coming in and out jostled him.进进出出的人不断挤撞着乔吉，他在人群中寻找苏达卡。Finally the young noble spotted the local lord in a corner opposite the musicians.终于，这位年轻贵族在乐师对面的一个角落里发现了本地领主。He was seated with a few members of the town guard and some adventurers Giogi did not recognize.他和几名镇卫兵以及一些乔吉不认识的冒险者坐在一起。Sudacar rose to greet one of the travelers who’d just come in—a wool merchant.苏达卡站起身，迎接一位刚刚进门的旅客——一个羊毛商人。The two men gave each other a hearty handshake.两人热情地握了握手。Sudacar offered the newcomer a seat and signaled for more drinks before sitting back down himself.苏达卡请新来的客人坐下，又示意再上些酒，这才重新落座。

Giogi suddenly felt very nervous.乔吉突然感到非常紧张。True, Sudacar had invited him, but the local lord was obviously very busy with friends and associates.诚然，苏达卡邀请过他，但这位本地领主显然正忙着招呼朋友和熟人。Uncertain as to what sort of reception Sudacar would have for him, Giogi turned about and left the inn.乔吉拿不准苏达卡会怎样接待自己，便转身离开了旅店。

Once outside again, Giogi felt aimless.再次来到外面，乔吉顿觉茫然无措。He meandered toward the market green with his hands stuffed deep in his cloak pockets and his head tilted back toward the stars.他双手深深插在斗篷口袋里，仰头望着星空，漫无目的地朝集市草坪走去。At the near end of the green stood a statue of Azoun III, grandfather of the present king.草坪近端矗立着一尊阿祖恩三世的雕像，他是当今国王的祖父。The stone monarch sat on a granite stallion frozen in the act of rearing and trampling rock-carved bandits.石雕君王骑在一匹花岗岩骏马上；骏马定格在扬蹄而起、践踏石雕强盗的那一刻。Giogi leaned against a stone bandit and sighed loudly.乔吉倚在一个石雕强盗身上，重重地叹了口气。

“This was not the homecoming I expected,” he explained to the bandit.“这可不是我期待的归乡情景。”他向那强盗解释道。

The wind, chill and damp, blew from the lake.阴冷潮湿的风从湖面吹来。Giogi sighed again and watched the ghosts of his breath drift east toward his own home.乔吉又叹了口气，看着自己呼出的白气如幽灵般向东飘去，飘向他的家。

“The house felt like a tomb when I got in last night,” he told the bandit.“昨晚回去时，那栋房子感觉就像一座坟墓。”他对那强盗说道。“I have to spend my second day back, tomorrow, visiting the family crypt.“明天是我回来后的第二天，我却得去拜谒家族墓穴。Shaver says I missed the best summer regatta in ten years.谢弗说，我错过了十年来最精彩的夏季帆船赛。His yacht, The Dancing Girl, came in second against four hundred-to-one odds.他的游艇‘舞女号’在四百比一的赔率下拿了第二名。And Chancy says that his sister, Minda, did not wait for me.而且钱西说，他妹妹明达没有等我。She married Darol Harmon, from over in Arabel.她嫁给了阿拉贝尔那边的达罗尔·哈蒙。Not that there was anything official between us, mind you.不过你要知道，我们之间并没有正式定下什么。I thought we had an understanding, but I guess a year is a long time for a girl to wait.”我原以为我们彼此有默契，可现在看来，让一个姑娘等上一年，终究还是太久了。”

Giogi studied the bandit’s grimace.乔吉端详着那强盗脸上的狰狞表情。“I suppose, though, that you have your own troubles.”“不过，我想你也有自己的烦恼。”

The bandit did not keep up his end of the conversation, so Giogi continued.那强盗没有接话，于是乔吉继续说道。“Everyone laughs at my boots, and no one wants to listen to the tale of my travels.“人人都笑话我的靴子，也没人愿意听我讲旅途中的故事。I’ll admit, there aren’t any princes or elves or casts of thousands in it, but it does have a whopping big dragon, and an evil sorceress, and a lovely, but quite mad, lady sell-sword.我承认，故事里没有王子，没有精灵，也没有成千上万的角色，可里面有一条大得惊人的巨龙、一个邪恶的女术士，还有一位美丽却疯得厉害的女佣兵。Wait.等等。There was one person who was interested,” Giogi amended.倒是有一个人感兴趣，”乔吉改口道。“Gaylyn, Freffie’s wife.“盖琳，弗雷菲的妻子。Nice girl, and pretty, too.人很好，也很漂亮。Olive Ruskettle, the renowned bard, wrote a song in honor of their wedding—Freffie and Gaylyn’s wedding, that is.著名吟游诗人奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔还为他们的婚礼写过一首歌——我是说，弗雷菲和盖琳的婚礼。Now, how did it go?”那歌是怎么唱的来着？”

Giogi began singing snatches of the song: “Something, something, syncopated breath.乔吉开始断断续续地唱起那首歌：“什么什么，错落的呼吸。Something, something, love transcends even death.”什么什么，爱情连死亡也能跨越。”

“Giogioni!”“乔吉奥尼！”

Giogi was so startled, he slid off the stone bandit.乔吉吓了一跳，从石头强盗身上滑了下来。

Samtavan Sudacar had to grin at the sight of the young nobleman lying beneath the hooves of the stone monarch’s stallion as if he were being trampled with the bandits about him.萨姆塔万·苏达卡看见这位年轻贵族躺在石像君王那匹骏马的蹄下，仿佛正和周围的强盗一起遭受践踏，不禁咧嘴一笑。“That’s no sort of company for you to keep, boy,” Sudacar said, offering him a hand up.“小子，你可不该跟这种家伙混在一起，”苏达卡说着，伸手拉他起来。

Giogi accepted the assistance gratefully, and as Sudacar hefted him to his feet, he could easily imagine the well-muscled arms slaying giants.乔吉满怀感激地接受了他的帮助；苏达卡一把将他提起来时，他很容易便能想象那双肌肉发达的臂膀斩杀巨人的情景。“What are you doing here?”“你在这里做什么？”Giogi asked.乔吉问道。

Sudacar laughed.苏达卡笑了。“Coming to fetch you.“来接你。Lem said you came in but left.莱姆说你回来过，但又出去了。Couldn’t find me in the crush, eh?”人太多，没找着我，是吧？”

Giogi nodded, then shook his head.乔吉先是点了点头，接着又摇了摇头。It would be too difficult to explain that he was afraid he wouldn’t be welcome.要解释自己是因为害怕不受欢迎，实在太难了。

“I came out to bring you back inside, unless you’re too busy rendering assistance to Azoun’s granddad.“我是出来叫你回去的，除非你正忙着给阿祖恩的祖父帮忙。Getting to be a habit with you, I hear.”我听说，这都快成你的习惯了。”

“What?”“什么？”Giogi asked, wondering if Sudacar meant that rumors abounded that he drank heavily and often collapsed beneath town monuments.乔吉问道，心想苏达卡是不是听说了什么传言，说他常常酗酒，还屡次醉倒在城里的纪念碑下。

“Lending the royal family a hand.“帮王室的忙啊。Someone told me tonight you weren’t just abroad, you were on a mission south for His Highness.”今晚有人告诉我，你不只是出了趟远门，而是奉殿下之命去南方执行任务了。”

“Oh, that,” Giogi replied.“哦，那件事啊，”乔吉答道。“It wasn’t much, really.“其实没什么大不了的。Just a messenger job.”不过是替人送个信罢了。”

Sudacar chuckled at the nobleman’s modesty.苏达卡见这位贵族如此谦逊，不禁轻笑起来。“You’ll have to tell us all about it inside.“你得进去把事情从头到尾讲给我们听。If you’re not too hoarse or too tired to tell it again.”只要你嗓子还没哑，也没累得不想再讲一遍。”

Giogi grinned.乔吉咧嘴笑了。Someone wanted to hear his story.有人想听他的故事。He stood up straighten “Love to oblige.”他站起身，挺直腰板。“乐意之至。”

The two men walked toward the Five Fine Fish, but just outside, Giogi hesitated.两人朝五条鲜鱼走去，可到了门外，乔吉却迟疑起来。“I just remembered.“我刚想起来。I, uh, seem to have mislaid my purse.”我，呃，好像把钱袋弄丢了。”

Sudacar looked at the nobleman darkly.苏达卡阴沉地看着这位贵族。“You, too, eh?“你也丢了，是吧？A lot of that going around lately.最近这类事可真不少。Seems we have a new element in town.看来镇上来了一伙新人物。I’ve got to have Culspiir look into it.我得让卡尔斯皮尔查查这事。Don’t worry.别担心。Tonight you’re in my hands.今晚有我照应你。We’ve got to raise that glass in honor of your father.”我们怎么也得为你父亲举杯。”

Entering the Fish with Sudacar was very different from entering it alone.和苏达卡一起走进五条好鱼酒馆，感觉与独自进去截然不同。Sudacar knew everyone, and everyone in turn seemed to know and like Sudacar.苏达卡认识所有人，而所有人似乎也都认识他、喜欢他。The crowd parted for him.人群纷纷给他让路。He had the best table in the house.他坐的是店里最好的桌子。He sat Giogi down at his right-hand side and introduced him around as Cole Wyvernspur’s son.他让乔吉坐在自己右手边，又向周围的人介绍说，这是科尔·飞龙刺的儿子。Many of the older merchants and their even older adventurer bodyguards nodded in approval.许多年长的商人，以及他们年纪更大的冒险者保镖，都赞许地点了点头。Giogi saw some of the younger adventurers whisper a question to their elders, and when the veterans whispered back the answer, the younger adventurers turned friendly smiles on the nobleman.乔吉看见几个年轻冒险者低声向长辈询问；老手们悄声答过之后，那些年轻冒险者便转向这位贵族，露出了友善的笑容。

As the tavernkeeper set fresh mugs of ale down in front of Giogi and Sudacar, the local lord asked, “Lem, Mistress Ruskettle come in yet?”酒馆老板把新斟满的几杯麦酒放到乔吉和苏达卡面前时，这位本地领主问道：“莱姆，拉斯凯特尔女士来了吗？”

“Not yet,” Lem replied.“还没有，”莱姆答道。“Odd thing.“怪事。You know, usually you could set the town clock by her stomach.”你知道，平时照着她肚子饿的时间，都能给镇上的钟对时了。”

“I’m looking for that woman she goes around with, Jade More.”“我在找总跟她一起四处走动的那个女人，杰德·莫尔。”

“So’s Ruskettle.“拉斯凯特尔也在找她。Been asking all week if anyone’s seen her.”她这一整个星期都在问有没有人见过她。”

Sudacar knitted his brow.苏达卡皱起眉头。“Jade leave town?”“杰德离开镇子了？”

Lem shook his head uncertainly.莱姆迟疑地摇了摇头。“Her packs are still up in her room, not stuffed with rags, either.“她的行李还在楼上她房间里，也不是拿破布塞出来的样子。I checked.我检查过了。Full of nice clothes, and plenty of money.里面装满了漂亮衣服，还有不少钱。I’m holding it for her return.”我替她保管着，等她回来。”

“Business must be good, whatever it is she’s in.”“不管她做的是什么营生，看来生意一定不错。”

“Aye,” Lem agreed with a smirk.“没错。”莱姆坏笑着表示赞同。

When Lem had left their side, Sudacar gave a toast, “To Cole Wyvernspur, a brave adventurer.”莱姆从他们身边离开后，苏达卡举杯祝酒：“敬科尔·飞龙刺，一位勇敢的冒险者。”

Giogi drank to his father, but his curiosity was suddenly running in another direction.乔吉为父亲饮了一杯，但他的好奇心忽然转向了另一件事。“This Mistress Ruskettle,” he said.“这位拉斯凯特尔小姐，”他说。“Is she Olive Ruskettle, the bard?”“她就是吟游诗人奥利芙·拉斯凯特尔吗？”

“Yes.“是的。She’s been wintering here.她一直在这里过冬。You know about her?”你知道她？”Sudacar asked.苏达卡问道。

“She sang at Freffie’s—um—Lord Frefford’s wedding to Gaylyn.“她曾在弗雷菲的——呃——弗雷福德勋爵与盖琳的婚礼上献唱。In a way, she’s responsible for my being sent on my mission for the king.”从某种意义上说，我会被派去为国王执行任务，还是她促成的。”

“Oh?”“哦？”Sudacar said encouragingly.苏达卡鼓励他继续说下去。

“She had this bodyguard with her, named Alias, you see.“你瞧，她身边带着一个叫阿莉亚丝的保镖。Very pretty but quite mad.非常漂亮，可是疯得厉害。Alias, that is.”我是说阿莉亚丝。”

“Yes, Ruskettle’s told us all about her.“对，拉斯凯特尔已经把她的事全告诉我们了。Wait a minute!”等等！”Sudacar said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.苏达卡说道，眼中闪烁着愉悦的光芒。“Are you the noble whom Alias attacked after doing an impression of Azoun?”“你就是阿莉亚丝模仿完阿祖恩之后袭击的那位贵族吗？”

Giogi nodded.乔吉点了点头。“Guilty as charged,” he admitted, relieved to see that Sudacar did not seem to be offended that he’d done an impression of His Highness.“正是在下，罪名成立。”他承认道；苏达卡似乎并未因他模仿过殿下而生气，这让他松了口气。“Anyway,” Giogi continued, “on my way home after the wedding, I was waylaid by this dragon who ate my horse—a monstrous, ancient red beast—the dragon, that is, not my horse.“总之，”乔吉接着说，“婚礼结束后，我在回家的路上遭到一条龙伏击，它吃了我的马——那是条硕大无比、年岁古老的红色恶兽——我是说那条龙，不是我的马。A good horse, too.那匹马可是匹好马。Then this dragon sent me to His Majesty with the offer that she would leave the country if he could tell her where Alias was.”然后，那条龙派我去见陛下，提出只要陛下能告诉她阿莉亚丝在哪里，她就会离开这个国家。”

Sudacar’s brow furrowed.苏达卡皱起了眉头。He didn’t like the idea of making deals with evil red dragons.他不喜欢与邪恶的红龙做交易这种主意。“What did His Majesty do?”“陛下怎么做的？”

“His Majesty didn’t want to have anything to do with it, but Vangy told him that Alias could be an assassin and convinced him to settle with the dragon.”“陛下本来不想插手，但范吉对他说，阿莉亚丝可能是个刺客，还说服他与那条龙达成了协议。”

“Sounds like Vangerdahast,” Sudacar muttered.“一听就是范格达海斯特的作风。”苏达卡嘟囔道。

“Yes,” Giogi agreed, taking a sip from his mug.“是啊。”乔吉赞同道，端起杯子抿了一口。The young Wyvernspur had no love for the court wizard, who was an old chum of Aunt Dorath’s. In his few interviews with the wizard, Giogi felt more than a little intimidated by the man’s magic powers and overweening certainty that he was always right.这位年轻的飞龙刺家族子弟对宫廷法师毫无好感，而那法师恰好是多拉丝姑妈的老友。乔吉只与那位法师见过寥寥几次，却深深忌惮那人的魔法力量，以及他那种自负至极、坚信自己永远正确的态度。

“Still,” Sudacar sighed, “the old mage keeps our king safe, and for that we should be grateful.“不过，”苏达卡叹了口气，“那位老法师一直保护着我们的国王，单凭这一点，我们也该心怀感激。The king’s health,” he added, raising his mug.敬国王身体安康。”他补充道，举起了杯子。

“Long live the king,” Giogi agreed, raising his drink.“国王万岁。”乔吉应和道，也举起了酒杯。

They both took a pull on their ale and sat quietly as it ran down their throats.两人都喝了一大口麦酒，静静地坐着，任酒液流过喉咙。

“So why did you travel to Westgate?”“那么，你为什么要去西门城？”Sudacar asked.苏达卡问道。

“Well, Vangy never really did know exactly where this Alias was.“嗯，范吉其实一直都不知道这个阿莉亚丝究竟在哪儿。Seems she couldn’t be magically detected, but she was supposed to come from Westgate.好像用魔法也探测不到她，不过据说她来自西门城。So His Majesty sent me down there to inquire of what the authorities knew about her, and to see if she showed up there.所以陛下派我到那儿去，打听当地官府对她了解多少，也看看她会不会在那里露面。She did.她的确出现了。I spotted her outside the city.我在城外看见了她。I spent the rest of the season in Westgate trying to find her again, or some information about her, without luck.那一季剩下的时间，我一直待在西门城，想再次找到她，或是打听到她的消息，可惜一无所获。I wintered there and came back as soon as a safe sea crossing could be made.”我在那里过了冬，一到可以安全渡海的时候就回来了。”

“According to Ruskettle, Alias is up in Shadowdale now,” Sudacar said.“听拉斯凯特尔说，阿莉亚丝现在人在阴影谷。”苏达卡说道。

“Really?“真的？Maybe I ought to bop off a letter to His Majesty about that,” Giogi said.也许我该赶紧写封信，把这事告诉陛下。”乔吉说。

“Let me handle it.“交给我来办吧。According to Ruskettle, Alias was working for Elminster.听拉斯凯特尔说，阿莉亚丝当时在为伊尔明斯特办事。Vangy ought to know that before he tries making any more trouble for the lady.”范吉最好先知道这件事，再决定要不要继续找那位女士的麻烦。”

Giogi grinned.乔吉咧嘴一笑。He wondered if a wizard as powerful as Elminster could make Vangerdahast as nervous as Vangerdahast made him.他心想，像伊尔明斯特这么强大的法师，会不会也能让范格达海斯特紧张得心神不宁，就像范格达海斯特总让他那样。

“So how’d you like Westgate?“那么，你觉得西门城怎么样？I noticed you got yourself a pair of clodders.我注意到你给自己弄了双厚底靴。Won’t get a better pair of boots anywhere in the Realms, not even in Waterdeep.”整个诸界都找不到比这更好的靴子，就连深水城也没有。”

“Got one of these, too,” Giogi said, pulling out the yellow crystal from the top of his boot.“我还弄到了这个。”乔吉说着，从靴筒里掏出那块黄色水晶。

Sudacar sat up more attentively.苏达卡坐直了身子，神情专注起来。“Boy, where did you get that?” he asked.“小子，你从哪儿弄到这个的？”他问。

“Found it lying in the mud just outside Westgate.”“就在西门城外的泥地里捡到的。”

“Found it lying—” Sudacar’s words halted.“发现它躺在——”苏达卡的话戛然而止。He looked flabbergasted.他一脸惊愕。“Boy, that’s a finder’s stone.“小子，那可是块寻路石。I know, because Elminster himself loaned me one once.”我知道，因为伊尔明斯特本人以前借给过我一块。”

“What’s a finder’s stone?”“寻路石是什么？”

“It’s a magic crystal.“是一种魔法水晶。It helps the lost find their way.”它能帮助迷失的人找到方向。”

“But I’m not lost,” Giogi said.“可我又没迷路。”乔吉说。

Sudacar gave the nobleman a queer look.苏达卡古怪地看了这位贵族一眼。“Maybe you better hang onto it, just in case.”“也许你最好还是留着它，以防万一。”

“Oh, I intend to.“哦，我正有此意。I like it.我喜欢它。It makes me—this is going to sound silly—”它让我觉得——这话听起来可能很傻——”

“It makes you feel happy,” Sudacar said.“它让你觉得很开心。”苏达卡说。

“Yes.“对。How’d you—oh, right, you said you had one once.”你怎么会——哦，对了，你说过自己以前有一块。”Giogi tucked the crystal back into his boot.乔吉把水晶塞回靴子里。

“Tell me more about Westgate.“再跟我说说西门城吧。Things are shaking down there, I hear.”我听说那边最近闹得很厉害。”

Giogi nodded.乔吉点了点头。“A dead dragon fell on their city just before I arrived, followed by an earthquake the day after.“就在我抵达前，一条死龙掉进了城里，第二天又发生了地震。Then there was a power struggle going on for the property and business of some sorceress and her allies.后来，各方又为某个女术士及其盟友的财产和生意争夺起来。A woman named Cassana, the Followers of Moander, and the Fire Knives all were missing after the earthquake.”一个名叫卡萨娜的女人、莫安德信徒和火刀帮，在地震后全都失踪了。”

“The Fire Knives.“火焰刀帮。Now that is good news.这可真是个好消息。I remember the year His Majesty broke their charter for the murder of that scullery maid.我还记得那一年，他们谋杀了那个洗碗女佣，国王陛下为此废除了他们的特许状。Ever since Azoun sent the thugs packing they’ve been a threat to him.自从阿祖恩把那帮恶棍赶走以后，他们就一直对他构成威胁。May they stay missing,” he toasted and took another swig of ale.但愿他们永远别再出现。”他举杯祝道，又灌了一大口麦酒。

Giogi did likewise.乔吉也照样喝了一口。The warmth of the ale augmented the warm, comfortable feeling he had in Sudacar’s company.麦酒的暖意，更增添了与苏达卡相伴时那种温暖惬意的感觉。

Giogi and Sudacar drank and compared stories about Westgate until Lem stood over them and coughed politely.乔吉和苏达卡一边喝酒，一边比较各自在西门城的见闻，直到莱姆走到他们桌旁，客气地咳了一声。Giogi looked up and realized that the other tables and booths were empty, and Lem’s waiters were stacking the chairs and benches.乔吉抬起头，这才发现其他桌子和隔间都已空了，莱姆手下的侍者正在把椅子和长凳摞起来。

The two noblemen were the last customers in the tavern, and Giogi suspected Lem had stayed open well after hours just to oblige Sudacar.这两位贵族已是酒馆里最后的客人，乔吉猜想，莱姆之所以远过了打烊时间还没关门，只是为了迁就苏达卡。Sudacar left a small pile of gold lions on the table, stood, and led the way to the door.苏达卡在桌上留下一小堆金狮币，站起身来，领头朝门口走去。Giogi stumbled after him.乔吉踉踉跄跄地跟在他身后。

Many of the streetlamps had burned all their day’s oil and expired or been blown out by the wind, but the waxing moon gave the two men plenty of light to see their way.许多街灯都已耗尽了一整天的灯油，或是自行熄灭，或是被风吹灭，但渐盈的月亮洒下了充足的光，足以让两人看清道路。They crossed the market green together and halted beneath the statue of “Azoun’s Triumph.”他们一同穿过市集草坪，在“阿祖恩的凯旋”雕像下停住脚步。

“You know,” Giogi said, “you let me babble on so long, you never had a chance to tell me about my father.”“你知道吗，”乔吉说道，“你任我絮絮叨叨讲了这么久，自己都没机会跟我说说我父亲的事。”

Sudacar grinned.苏达卡咧嘴一笑。“It’s part of my fiendish plot.“这正是我邪恶计划的一部分。Now you have to visit me another night,” he said.现在你非得另找一个晚上来拜访我不可了。”他说。

“I’d like that,” Giogi said.“我很乐意。”乔吉说道。

“We’ll keep an eye out for your purse, too.“我们也会替你留意那个钱袋的。You really ought to get yourself an enchanted one, you know.你真该给自己弄个附过魔的钱袋。The kind that makes some noise if it’s touched by someone else.”就是那种别人一碰便会发出声响的。”

“It was enchanted.“它本来就附过魔。Trouble was, I kept leaving it places, so whenever the servants found it anywhere and touched it, there was a big fuss.问题是，我总把它落在各种地方，所以每当仆人在哪里找到它，一碰之下，便会闹出好大一番动静。Uncle Drone fixed it so it would do something only if someone besides myself actually opened it.”德罗恩叔叔把它改了一下，只有我以外的人真的把它打开时，它才会有反应。”

“What was it supposed to do?”“它本来会怎么样？”

“I think Uncle Drone said it would make a fool or something out of the thief.”“我记得德罗恩叔叔说过，它会把小偷变成傻瓜什么的。”

“Well, I’ll tell my men to keep an eye out for any fools.”“好吧，我会叫手下留意一下，看有没有什么傻瓜。”

Giogi giggled.乔吉咯咯笑了起来。“I’d hate to end up arrested for the theft of my own purse.”“我可不想最后因为偷了自己的钱袋而被捕。”

Sudacar gave a disapproving frown and pointed a finger at Giogi.苏达卡不以为然地皱起眉头，伸出一根手指指着乔吉。“You shouldn’t put yourself down like that, boy.“别这么贬低自己，小子。His Majesty wouldn’t have entrusted you on a mission for the crown if you weren’t competent.要不是认为你能胜任，陛下也不会派你为王室执行任务。As a matter of fact, now that you and your cousins are grown, Azoun will soon be relying on the services of all three of you, just as he did with your father and his cousins.事实上，如今你和你的堂表兄弟们都长大了，阿祖恩很快就会仰仗你们三人为他效力，正如当年仰仗你父亲和他的堂表兄弟们一样。Once you get this spur nonsense cleared up, it’ll be time for you to take up the responsibility of nobility—serving your king.”等你解决了马刺这桩荒唐事，就该担起贵族的责任了——为你的国王效力。”

“Me?”“我？”Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。

“You,” Sudacar replied, chuckling at the shocked expression on the young man’s face.“就是你。”苏达卡看着年轻人脸上震惊的表情，轻笑着回答。

Giogi had assumed he’d only been sent to find Alias in Westgate because he would recognize the sell-sword.乔吉一直以为，自己之所以被派往西门城寻找阿莉亚丝，只是因为他认得那名佣兵。It had never occurred to him that the king would ever require him on other missions.他从未想过，国王还会派他执行其他任务。Apparently, finding the spur was no guarantee that his life would return to normal—the way it had been before last spring.显然，即使找到了马刺，也不能保证他的生活会恢复正常——恢复到上个春天以前的样子。“Wait a minute.“等等。How’d you know about the spur?”你怎么知道马刺的事？”Giogi asked Sudacar.乔吉问苏达卡。“You said Aunt Dorath wouldn’t tell you what was going on?”“你不是说多拉丝姑妈不肯告诉你是怎么回事吗？”

“I have my sources,” Sudacar replied with a wink.“我自有消息来源。”苏达卡眨了眨眼，回答道。“It’s getting late.“天色不早了。Time to go.”该走了。”He gave Giogi a pat on the back and strode south from the market square toward Redstone Manor.他拍了拍乔吉的后背，大步离开集市广场，向南朝红石庄园走去。He called out, “Good night, Giogioni,” before he disappeared into the darkness.消失在黑暗中之前，他高声喊道：“晚安，乔吉奥尼。”

Automatically Giogi called back, “Good night, Sudacar.”乔吉不假思索地回喊道：“晚安，苏达卡。”Sudacar had left him feeling bemused and astonished, but not in the least bit anxious.苏达卡的离去让他既困惑又惊讶，却丝毫没有令他感到不安。He headed west down the side street that led to his townhouse.他沿着通往自己城中宅邸的小街向西走去。

Tired and inebriated, the nobleman did not remember Drone’s warning that his life might “just possibly” be in danger.这位贵族又累又醉，早已不记得德罗恩曾警告过他，他的性命“说不定”会有危险。Nor did he notice the sound of clattering hooves on the paving stones made by the angry beast following him.他也没有留意到身后那头愤怒的野兽踩着铺路石追来时发出的嗒嗒蹄声。

After failing to recognize Olive in her transmuted condition, Nameless continued his inspection of the stable.无名者没认出变形后的奥利芙，继续检查马厩。He searched methodically in grim silence, slamming each stall door a little harder than the last.他阴沉地一言不发，有条不紊地搜查着，每扇隔间门都比上一扇摔得更重。Olive could sense the anger and frustration building in him.奥利芙能感觉到，他心中的愤怒与挫败感正不断加剧。Pulling a needle-thin dagger from his belt, he jabbed it into any bag of grain or stack of hay large enough to hide a halfling.他从腰带上抽出一把细如针尖的匕首，见到任何足以藏下一个半身人的粮袋或草垛，便一刀刺进去。

Finally, when Olive began trembling at the thought that he might study her bestial form more carefully and realize he had her at his mercy, she heard the sound of someone unbolting the stable’s front door.终于，就在奥利芙想到他或许会更仔细地端详自己的兽形、意识到她已任他摆布而开始发抖时，她听见有人正在拔开马厩前门的门闩。Nameless cursed and began muttering another spell.无名者咒骂一声，又开始低声念起一道咒语。

The stable door opened, and a young woman carrying a lantern strode in.马厩门打开了，一个提着灯笼的年轻女人大步走了进来。Olive recognized her as Lizzy Thorpe, the stable’s owner.奥利芙认出她是马厩的主人莉齐·索普。Whether Lizzy was aroused by the noise or was just checking on the animals wasn’t clear, but when she spotted the cloaked figure in her stable without permission, she gave a shout.莉齐究竟是被动静惊醒了，还是只来查看牲口，并不清楚；但她一发现那个未经许可便闯入马厩的斗篷人影，立刻大喊起来。The cloaked figure vanished.斗篷人影消失了。Lizzy ran out, still shouting for help.莉齐跑了出去，嘴里仍在大声呼救。

Olive noticed a peculiar churning of straw where Nameless had stood, and it moved down the center aisle to the stable’s front door.奥利芙注意到，无名者刚才站立之处的稻草古怪地翻动起来，并沿着中央过道移向马厩前门。Olive also sensed the floorboards shift slightly and heard them creak from the weight of a human.奥利芙还感觉到地板微微下沉，听见木板在人类体重的压迫下吱呀作响。

He’s gone invisible, she realized, but at least he’s leaving.他隐形了，她恍然明白，不过至少他正要离开。

Lizzy returned less than a minute later with two of the night watch.不到一分钟，莉齐便带着两名巡夜守卫回来了。“He was standing right there when I came in,” she told them, pointing to where the cloaked figure had turned invisible.“我进来时，他就站在那儿，”她告诉他们，同时指向斗篷人影隐形的地方。Lizzy and the watchmen began to search the barn as methodically as Nameless had, though without his intense desperation.莉齐和守卫们开始像无名者刚才那样有条不紊地搜查马厩，不过并没有他那般强烈的绝望。

Still hiding behind the sacks of grain, Olive heard Lizzy cry out, “Look what he’s done to my wall.奥利芙仍躲在粮袋后面，只听莉齐惊叫道：“瞧瞧他把我的墙弄成什么样了。Left a bloody huge hole in it, big enough to ride a paladin’s mount through!”留下了一个该死的大洞，大得足够让圣武士骑着坐骑穿过去！”

The two guards made their way back to Snake Eyes’s stall.两名守卫一路来到蛇眼的隔间。

“Wood’s just vanished, edges left smooth as butter cut with a hot knife,” the older night watchman noted.“木头就这么消失了，边缘光滑得像用热刀切过的黄油，”年长的巡夜守卫说道。“Looks like mage work to me.“依我看，这是法师的手笔。If it is magic, it’ll fade, and you’ll get your wall back, probably in an hour or two.”如果真是魔法，效力迟早会消退，你的墙也会恢复原状，大概一两个小时就行。”

“You’re lucky this pony had the good sense to stay put,” the other watchman said.“幸好这匹小马还算懂事，乖乖待在原地，”另一名守卫说道。“Any horses missing, Lizzy?”“有马不见了吗，莉齐？”

Before Lizzy noticed the addition of one small donkey to her stable, Olive snatched up Giogioni Wyvernspur’s purse in her teeth and slipped quietly out the open stable door.趁莉齐还没注意到马厩里多了一头小毛驴，奥利芙一口叼起乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺的钱袋，悄无声息地溜出了敞开的马厩门。

The halfling waited what seemed an eternity for Giogi to come out of the Immer Inn.半身人等着乔吉从伊默旅店出来，感觉仿佛等了一个世纪。Olive wondered if she were succeeding at hiding in shadows in her new four-legged configuration or if the people passing by simply weren’t keen on donkey-snaring this late at night.奥利芙不知道，自己如今变成了四条腿的新模样，究竟是否成功藏进了阴影里，还是路人只因夜色已深，根本无心捉驴。Whichever was the case, no one approached her.不管是哪种情况，始终没人靠近她。

For a while she savored the irony that the noble’s cursed purse had saved her life, but as the hour grew later and the night colder, she became annoyed.有一阵子，她细细品味着其中的讽刺意味：那贵族受了诅咒的钱袋竟救了她一命；可随着夜色渐深、寒意渐重，她开始恼火起来。Now that she was no longer in immediate danger, her situation appalled her.眼下既然不再有迫在眉睫的危险，她的处境便令她惊骇不已。By the time the young Wyvernspur finally emerged from the Immer Inn and wobbled down the street, she slunk after him, feeling considerable animosity.等年轻的飞龙刺终于从伊默旅店里出来，摇摇晃晃地走上街时，她满怀敌意，蹑手蹑脚地跟在了他身后。

She realized, however, that the streets were too open for a confrontation and that she would have to follow him home.不过，她意识到街道太过空旷，不适合当面对质，只好一路跟他回家。Unfortunately, Giogi seemed to have no interest in going back.不幸的是，乔吉似乎根本没有回去的意思。He wandered along the lakefront.他沿着湖滨漫无目的地闲逛。Then the sound of music from the Five Fine Fish attracted his attention.随后，五条好鱼旅店里传来的乐声吸引了他的注意。He hurried over to the inn and disappeared inside.他快步赶到那家旅店，消失在门里。

Olive imagined with longing the fish and chips and ale the Fish served, but apparently the same things did not interest Giogi.奥利芙满怀渴望地想象着五条好鱼供应的炸鱼薯条和麦酒，但乔吉显然对这些东西不感兴趣。He came out only a few minutes later and wandered over to the market green and began talking to one of the stone bandits.仅仅几分钟后，他便走了出来，晃悠到集市草坪上，开始和一个石头强盗说话。

That’s just great, Olive thought sarcastically.这可真是太好了，奥利芙讥讽地想。My fate is in the hands of a man who talks to statues.我的命运竟掌握在一个会跟雕像说话的男人手里。She hung back in the shadows, and she was glad she had, for just as the fop began serenading the statue—with another one of her compositions—Samtavan Sudacar came out from the Fish and called out to him.她留在阴影中，远远地没有上前，而她也很庆幸自己这么做了，因为那个花花公子刚开始对雕像唱起小夜曲——唱的又是她创作的一首歌——萨姆塔万·苏达卡便从五条好鱼里走出来，扬声叫住了他。

The local lord had never shown Olive anything but the utmost courtesy when she entertained in the Fish.奥利芙在五条好鱼献艺时，这位当地领主一向对她礼遇有加。There was something about Sudacar’s thoughtful gaze, though, that convinced Olive he suspected her of something.然而，苏达卡若有所思的目光中有某种东西，让奥利芙确信他在怀疑她做过什么。It wouldn’t do to be seen holding Giogi’s purse in her teeth, even if she were an ass.哪怕她如今是头驴，也绝不能让人看见她嘴里叼着乔吉的钱袋。

Sudacar talked Giogi into re-entering the Fish, and Olive was forced to wait for a second eternity before they came out again.苏达卡说服乔吉重新进了鱼馆，奥利芙只得又等了仿佛一个世纪那么久，才见他们再次出来。They were the last patrons to leave the inn, and Lem locked the door behind them when they left.他们是最后离开旅店的客人；他们走后，莱姆便锁上了门。The moon had begun its descent as they crossed the market square to the statue of Azoun III.他们穿过集市广场，走向阿祖恩三世的雕像时，月亮已经开始西沉。They lingered, chatting, beside the stone carving.他们在石雕旁流连了一阵，闲聊不休。Olive considered creeping closer to eavesdrop on their conversation, but she was still wary of Sudacar.奥利芙考虑过悄悄靠近，偷听他们的谈话，但她仍对苏达卡心存戒备。Finally, the local lord left Giogi and strolled south.最后，这位本地领主告别乔吉，信步向南走去。

Giogi watched Sudacar walk away, then headed west.乔吉目送苏达卡离去，随后转身向西。Olive, her spirit by now burning with a righteous wrath, trotted after the long-legged Cormyte, her hooves clattering on the cobblestones.此时，满腔义愤已在奥利芙心中熊熊燃烧；她小跑着追上那个长腿的科米尔人，蹄子踩在鹅卵石路面上，嗒嗒作响。She no longer bothered to avoid his detection.她已经懒得再躲着，不让他发现了。She was determined to give the Immersea fop a healthy piece of her mind.她下定决心，要狠狠数落这个伊默海的纨绔子弟一顿。“Only an irresponsible, thoughtless fool,” she planned to say, “would leave a cursed purse lying in the gutter where it would be found by some poor, defenseless halfling,” namely herself.她打算说：“只有不负责任、没脑子的蠢货，才会把一只受了诅咒的钱袋扔在阴沟里，等着某个可怜又毫无防备的半身人捡到。”那个半身人，当然就是她自己。First, though, she had to get him to change her back into the lovely, talented halfling she’d been born and bred to be.不过，她首先得让他把自己变回那个她生来便是的可爱又有才华的半身人。

Giogi stopped in front of a large, well-kept townhouse surrounded by a high iron fence.乔吉在一栋宽敞整洁的联排宅邸前停了下来，宅子四周围着高高的铁栅栏。The noble hummed to himself as he fumbled with the gate latch and pushed his way into the front yard.这位贵族一边自顾自地哼着小曲，一边笨手笨脚地摆弄门闩，随后推开门，走进了前院。Before the gate could close, Olive nudged her way through, right behind the oblivious Giogioni.不等大门合上，奥利芙便挤了进去，紧跟在毫无察觉的乔吉奥尼身后。The gate swung shut behind her, its latch engaging with a sharp clang.铁门在她身后荡回原位，门闩“咣当”一声扣上了。

Olive found herself in a small, formal garden.奥利芙发现自己身处一座小巧规整的花园。Straw mulch covered the square, raised beds and dormant vine stalks clung to wooden trellises along the path to the front door.方形的高畦上覆盖着稻草护根；通往前门的小径两旁，一株株休眠的藤蔓攀附在木架上。The sight of the dead garden in the moonlight gave Olive the shivers.月光下这座枯败花园的景象令奥利芙不寒而栗。

It’s time, she decided, to announce myself.是时候了，她心想，该让他知道我在这儿了。

Olive opened her mouth so Giogi’s sack of coins fell with a clink, and she gave a loud, annoyed bray.奥利芙张开嘴，让乔吉的钱袋叮当一声掉在地上，接着发出一声响亮而恼火的驴叫。

Giogi whirled around with a shriek of terror.乔吉发出一声惊恐的尖叫，猛地转过身来。Upon spotting the beast that had been stalking him, though, he gave a cry of delight.然而，一看清那头一直尾随自己的牲口，他便欢喜地叫出声来。

“What an adorable burro,” he said with a smile.“多可爱的小毛驴啊。”他笑着说。He put his hand out to pet her, but Olive backed out of reach.他伸手想摸摸她，奥利芙却向后退去，不让他碰到。With a forefoot, she kicked Giogi’s purse forward.她用一只前蹄把乔吉的钱袋踢到了他面前。

“What’s this?”“这是什么？”Giogi bent over.乔吉弯下腰。“My purse!” he cried, picking it up and brushing the dirt off it.“我的钱袋！”他叫道，一边捡起来，掸去上面的泥土。“It wasn’t stolen at all.“原来根本没人偷走它。It must have fallen out of my pocket before I even got to the street.”一定是我还没走到街上，它就从我的口袋里掉出来了。”Giogi pocketed the sack of coins, once more leaving the strings dangling in full view.乔吉把那袋硬币塞回口袋，又一次把系绳明晃晃地垂在外面。

No!不！Olive thought with alarm.奥利芙惊慌地想。I just brought it to you, you idiot.是我刚刚把它给你送来的，你这个白痴。You have to change me back to a halfling.你得把我变回半身人。She tried to snatch at the purse strings with her teeth, but Giogi gave her a swat on the muzzle, and she missed.她试图用牙咬住钱袋的系绳，乔吉却在她的口鼻上拍了一巴掌，让她扑了个空。

“Silly creature.“傻乎乎的小家伙。Mustn’t chew on them,” he said tucking the strings all the way into his cloak pocket.可不能咬这些绳子。”他说着，把系绳全都塞进了斗篷口袋。“They’re not good for you, you know.“你要知道，这东西对你可没好处。Now, what are you doing roaming loose in my garden?好了，你为什么会独自在我的花园里乱逛？Hmm?”嗯？”

Olive glared at the nobleman in frustration.奥利芙懊恼地瞪着那位贵族。

“Thomas must have had a reason for procuring you,” Giogi said.“托马斯把你弄来，肯定有他的理由。”乔吉说。“Not the sentimental type, ol’ Thomas.“托马斯那老家伙可不是感情用事的人。Very responsible.他非常可靠。Always spends my money wisely.”花我的钱也总是花得很明智。”

Olive tried to protest that Thomas had not bought her, but, of course, she could only bray angrily.奥利芙试图抗议，说托马斯并没有买下她，可她当然只能愤怒地嘶叫。This she did, at a volume that would put a banshee to shame.她叫得震耳欲聋，就连报丧女妖也要自愧不如。

“Shh.“嘘。”You’ll wake the neighbors.“你会把邻居吵醒的。”Thomas wouldn’t have left you untied.“托马斯不会不拴住你就离开的。”He’s responsible, you know.“你也知道，他做事很负责。”You must have chewed through the rope, eh?“你一定是把绳子咬断了，对吧？”Maybe we’d better tuck you in the carriage house.”“也许我们最好把你安置到马车房里去。”With those words, he unclipped the buckle fastening his belt and slid his belt from his waist with a whiplike snap.说着，他解开皮带扣，嗖地从腰间抽出皮带，发出鞭子般清脆的啪响。

Olive’s eyes widened, and she backed away from the nobleman.奥利芙睁大了眼睛，连连后退，躲开那位贵族。She brayed now with fear.这回，她因恐惧而嘶叫起来。Her tail and hindquarters banged against the iron gate, which rattled but remained securely fastened, blocking her escape.她的尾巴和后臀撞上铁门，铁门哐啷作响，却依然牢牢关着，堵住了她的逃路。She dodged to the right, but before she could maneuver around him, Giogi had fashioned his belt into a noose and slipped it neatly over her head.她闪身向右，可还没来得及绕过他，乔吉已经把皮带挽成套索，利落地套过了她的头。

Olive jumped away, hoping to jerk the noose free of Giogi’s grip, but the noble’s grasp was too firm.奥利芙猛地向后跳去，想把套索从乔吉手中挣脱，可那位贵族抓得太牢。The sudden choking sensation broke her spirit immediately.突如其来的窒息感立刻击垮了她的意志。

This had been the worst night of her life.这是她有生以来最糟糕的一夜。Watching her best friend murdered had been awful.眼睁睁看着最好的朋友遭人杀害，实在可怕。Recognizing the murderer had been a shock.认出凶手，更令她震惊。Fleeing for her life had been terrifying.为保住性命而逃亡，让她恐惧万分。Being mistaken for a beast was completely humiliating.被误认成一头牲畜，则令她颜面尽失。More miserable than she’d ever been in her life, Olive walked docilely alongside Giogi as he led her to the carriage house.奥利芙从未如此凄惨过；乔吉牵着她前往马车房时，她温顺地走在他身旁。

“Daisyeye,” Giogi called out softly as he opened the smaller of the carriage house’s two doors and led Olive inside.“雏菊眼。”乔吉轻声唤道，同时打开马车房两扇门中较小的那一扇，把奥利芙领了进去。“I’ve brought you some company, Daisyeye.”“我给你带了个伴儿来，雏菊眼。”

Giogi lit an oil lamp beside the door.乔吉点亮了门边的一盏油灯。In the light, the carriage house looked warm and cheery.灯光下，马车房显得温暖而宜人。From her burro’s-eye-view, Olive could see a buggy painted vibrant yellow and green and two horse stalls, one occupied by a chestnut mare.从小毛驴的视角望去，奥利芙看见一辆漆成鲜艳黄绿色的轻便马车，还有两间马厩，其中一间里拴着一匹栗色母马。

The other stall was empty, and Giogi led Olive into it.另一间马厩空着，乔吉把奥利芙领了进去。He fussed about her—the perfect host trying to make his guest comfortable.他围着她忙前忙后，俨然一位力求让客人舒适自在的完美主人。Olive realized he meant well, but she could have wished he weren’t trying so much in his drunken state.奥利芙明白他是一片好意，可她真希望他喝成这样后别再如此卖力了。He laid only half the amount of bedding straw she needed, but left her with twice as much hay as a horse could eat in a day and sloshed more water on the floor than in her water trough.他铺的垫草只有她所需的一半，留下的干草却足够一匹马吃上两天；倒水时，洒在地上的比倒进水槽里的还多。Ignoring the hay, Olive dipped her muzzle in the water and gulped thirstily, thinking how much she really needed something stronger to drink.奥利芙没碰干草，只把嘴鼻浸进水里，饥渴地大口吞咽着，同时心想，自己真正需要的其实是更烈一些的饮料。When she finally came up for air, her gaze wandered idly around the walls of her stall.等她终于抬起头来喘气时，目光漫不经心地扫过马厩四周的墙壁。

Hanging on the outer wall was a portrait of a man with birdlike features, silky black hair, arid piercing blue eyes.外侧墙上挂着一幅男子肖像：那人长着鸟一般的面容，一头丝绸般的黑发，还有一双冷漠而锐利的蓝眼睛。His powerful hands rested on a seven-stringed yarting.他那双有力的手搭在一把七弦雅廷琴上。A silver brooch glistened on his tabard.他身穿的罩袍上，一枚银胸针闪闪发亮。The eyes in the portrait seemed to stare right at Olive, boring into her soul, so that she imagined the man was watching her, undeceived by her magical disguise.画像中的眼睛仿佛直盯着奥利芙，洞穿了她的灵魂，令她觉得那男人正在监视自己，丝毫没有被她的魔法伪装蒙骗。Instinctively Olive backed away, braying with alarm.奥利芙本能地向后退去，惊恐地嘶叫起来。

Giogi looked up at the wall where the burro’s gaze was fixed.乔吉抬头看向小毛驴目光紧盯着的那面墙。He seemed startled by the portrait, too, for a moment, at least.至少有那么一瞬间，他似乎也被那幅画像吓了一跳。Then he laughed, reached up, and took the painting down.随后他笑了起来，伸手摘下了那幅画。

“Nothing to worry about,” he murmured soothingly.“没什么好担心的。”他柔声安抚道。“Look, silly,” he said, holding the frame up to her muzzle so she could sniff at the painting.“瞧吧，小傻瓜，”他说着，把画框举到她嘴鼻前，让她闻闻那幅画。“It’s only the picture of some old, dead ancestor.“不过是某个早已作古的祖先的画像。Completely harmless.”完全无害。”

Wrong, Olive thought.不对，奥利芙心想。He’s not dead, and he’s not just some old ancestor, and he’s not harmless.他没有死，也不只是某个早已作古的祖先，更不是什么无害之人。He’s the Nameless Bard, and he’s a mad murderer.他是无名者吟游诗人，是个疯狂的杀人凶手。

“His name should be on the back somewhere,” Giogi muttered, searching the canvas.“他的名字应该写在背面某个地方，”乔吉一边嘟囔，一边翻找着画布。“How odd.“真奇怪。The name’s been blotted out.”名字被涂掉了。”

Naturally, Olive thought.那当然，奥利芙心想。The Harpers went to a great deal of trouble wiping his name from the Realms.竖琴手同盟费了九牛二虎之力，才把他的名字从诸界抹去。

“Doesn’t matter,” Giogi said.“没关系，”乔吉说道。“He could be any Wyvernspur.“他可能是飞龙刺家族里的任何一个人。Wyvernspurs all look alike.飞龙刺家族的人全都长得一个样。Except me, of course.当然，我除外。I take after my mother, you see.”你瞧，我长得像我母亲。”

Giogi hung the picture back up and offered Olive a handful of oats, sweetened with molasses, from a wooden bucket.乔吉把画重新挂好，又从一只木桶里抓出一把拌了糖蜜的燕麦，递给奥利芙。“See what I have?“瞧瞧我有什么？Num-nums,” he said.好吃吃哦。”他说。

The halfling-turned-burro declined to even sniff at the grain.变成小毛驴的半身人连闻都不肯闻一下那些燕麦。

“Not hungry, eh?“不饿，是吧？Well, we’ll leave them for you as a midnight snack, in case you get peckish.”好吧，我们把它们留给你当宵夜，万一你半夜嘴馋呢。”

Giogi dumped the oats back into the bucket and left it against the wall.乔吉把燕麦倒回桶里，将木桶留在墙边。“Nighty night,” he said, scratching Olive between her ears before she had a chance to dodge away.“晚安安，”他说道，趁奥利芙还没来得及躲开，挠了挠她两耳之间。He slipped his belt off her and left the stall, closing and latching its door behind him.他从她身上解下自己的皮带，离开畜栏，随手关上栏门并插好门闩。Before he left the stable, he blew out the lamp.离开马厩前，他吹灭了油灯。

Left alone in the dark, Olive tried to make plans.独自留在黑暗中后，奥利芙试着盘算起接下来的计划。I have to think of a way to get out of here, she thought.我得想办法离开这里，她心想。I have to get someone to turn me back the way I belong.我得找个人把我变回原来的模样。I have to avenge Jade’s death.我得为杰德报仇。All she could think about, though, was Jade.然而，她满脑子想的只有杰德。

Olive had benefited from her association with Jade, as with no other person.奥利芙与杰德相伴所得的益处，是任何人都不曾带给她的。Of course, there had been the practical benefits.当然，其中也有实际的好处。Like Alias, Jade could not be detected magically, and this protection extended to her companions.杰德和阿莉亚丝一样，无法被魔法探测到，而且这种保护也会惠及她的同伴。Jade had also been an appreciative audience for all Olive’s songs—unlike Alias, whose habit of performing better songs had constantly pricked Olive’s jealousy.杰德也一直是奥利芙所有歌曲的忠实听众——不像阿莉亚丝，她总爱演唱更出色的歌，不断刺痛奥利芙的嫉妒心。Most importantly, though, Jade had simply been the best friend Olive had ever had.但最重要的是，杰德就是奥利芙有生以来最好的朋友。

Jade had been a perfect companion.杰德是个完美的伙伴。She had enjoyed all the things Olive did: practicing her craft, celebrating with food and drink, gossiping, traveling—but only in fair weather—and meeting new people.凡是奥利芙喜欢的事，她也都喜欢：磨炼手艺，以美食佳酿庆祝，闲聊八卦，旅行——但只在天气晴好时——以及结识新朋友。Olive had once wondered if, instead of getting a spirit and soul from a paladin, as Alias had, Jade’s spirit and soul had been cleft from the halfling’s own.奥利芙曾经想过，杰德的精神与灵魂会不会并非像阿莉亚丝那样来自一名圣武士，而是从她这个半身人的精神与灵魂中劈分出来的。That would have explained why Olive felt so drawn to the human.那便能解释奥利芙为何会如此亲近这个人类女子。Whether it was true or not, Olive knew for a fact that the last six days without Jade had been the loneliest she could recall in her lifetime.无论这猜想是真是假，奥利芙都确信，失去杰德的这六天，是她一生记忆中最孤独的日子。

Not only had she missed the woman, but secretly she’d been worried sick about Jade.她不仅思念这个女人，暗地里还为杰德担心得几乎发疯。Olive had been able to think of only one reason why Jade would disappear, but she could hardly go up to Lord Sudacar and ask, “Have you arrested my friend Jade for picking someone’s pocket?”奥利芙只能想到一个杰德会失踪的理由，可她总不能直接跑去问苏达卡领主：“你们是不是因为我的朋友杰德掏了谁的口袋，就把她抓起来了？”It certainly wouldn’t have helped Jade any.那肯定对杰德毫无帮助。Olive had searched through Immersea as subtly as she could.奥利芙已经尽可能不动声色地搜遍了伊默海。She didn’t want Jade to think she kept tabs on her, but the halfling had felt responsible for the human.她不想让杰德觉得自己一直在盯着她的动向，可这个半身人又觉得自己对那个人类女子负有责任。

She’d felt that way ever since she’d spotted Jade in the streets of Arabel—picking the pocket of a purple dragoon.自从她在阿拉贝尔的街头发现杰德——当时杰德正在掏一名紫衣龙骑兵的口袋——她就一直有这种感觉。Jade’s technique had been superb, but, of course, purple dragoons were never paid in anything but royal script, which civilians were not allowed to have.杰德的手法精妙绝伦，但紫衣龙骑兵的饷钱当然从来都只有王室票券，而平民是不准持有这种票券的。If someone doesn’t warn her about that, Olive had thought, she’ll end up a bonded servant, and those talented fingers will be wasted scrubbing floors.奥利芙当时想，要是没人提醒她这一点，她最后准会沦为契约仆役，那双灵巧的手指也只能浪费在擦洗地板上。

Right then Olive had realized she was the perfect candidate to look after the girl, train her, and offer her guidance, just as Alias had a saurial paladin to keep her safe.就在那一刻，奥利芙意识到，自己正是照顾这个姑娘、训练她并指点她的最佳人选，就像阿莉亚丝有一位蜥蜴人圣武士保护她一样。Who better, Olive had thought, than I?还有谁能比我更合适？奥利芙当时想。Not only do I know more about her than she probably knows about herself, but we share the same craft.我不仅比她自己更了解她，而且我们还干着同一门行当。

Nonetheless, Olive had been surprised at how easily Jade had accepted her offer to become her apprentice, how quickly Jade had come to depend on her, and how completely the human had trusted her.尽管如此，杰德如此轻易便接受了做她学徒的提议，如此迅速便开始依赖她，又如此彻底地信任她，还是令奥利芙颇为惊讶。Because of all this, Olive had come to think of Jade as a daughter.正因这一切，奥利芙渐渐把杰德当成了自己的女儿。An overgrown daughter, but a beloved daughter.一个长得过了头的女儿，却也是她深爱的女儿。

When Jade had said she’d been visiting family, Olive had felt an unreasonable flare of jealousy.当杰德说她去探望家人时，奥利芙心中竟莫名地燃起一阵嫉妒。Now she wondered angrily, Who was this phony family member who’d kept her Jade away for six days, tempting her with magic sacks and the gods knew what else?如今她愤怒地想，这个让她的杰德一走六天、拿魔法袋子和天知道还有什么东西诱惑她的冒牌亲人，究竟是谁？A fat lot of good he’d been to her when she’d been murdered on the street.杰德在街上被杀时，他可真是帮了她的大忙。

A fat lot of good you’d been to her, Olive derided herself.你又帮了她多大的忙，奥利芙嘲讽自己。You failed her.你辜负了她。You knew there was something evil about the mark she went after.你明明知道她追查的那个目标透着邪气。Why didn’t you stop her?你为什么不阻止她？If you’d insisted harder, she would have stayed.如果你再坚持一些，她就会留下来了。Why did you let her go?你为什么放她走？You’ll never see her again, now.现在，你再也见不到她了。Never, ever.永远，永远都见不到了。

Unable to weep in her burro body, Olive found herself banging her head against the stall door in a mindless fury.困在毛驴的身体里，奥利芙无法哭泣，只能在失去理智的狂怒中一头又一头地撞向畜栏门。Daisyeye nickered nervously, upset by the noise Olive made.雏菊眼不安地嘶鸣起来，被奥利芙弄出的声响吓坏了。

With some effort, Olive controlled herself.奥利芙费了一番力气，终于控制住自己。She took a deep breath and another drink of water.她深吸一口气，又喝了些水。

Its not all my fault, she thought with a flash of anger.这不全是我的错，她心头怒火一闪，想道。Nameless killed her, though why he should murder one of Alias’s copies is a mystery.是无名者杀了她，尽管他为什么要杀死阿莉亚丝的一个复制品，仍是个谜。Face it, Olive-girl, she told herself, he’s never been completely sane.认清现实吧，奥利芙姑娘，她对自己说，他从来就没有完全正常过。He could have a reason, albeit a twisted one.他或许有自己的理由，哪怕那理由十分扭曲。

The first thing that had occurred to her, because of what Nameless had said to Jade on the street, was that he’d judged Jade to be unfit because she was a thief, and that he’d taken it upon himself to destroy her because he’d been partly responsible for creating her.由于无名者在街上对杰德说过的那些话，她最先想到的是：他认定杰德是个小偷，因此不合格；而且因为他对她的诞生也负有一部分责任，便自作主张地将她毁掉了。

“You’ve escaped,” he’d said to Jade.“你逃出来了，”他当时对杰德说。Had he kept her prisoner for the past six days?过去六天里，他一直囚禁着她吗？Was that what Jade had meant when she said she’d been “visiting family”?杰德说自己一直在“走亲戚”，指的就是这件事吗？In a way, Nameless was kin to Jade.从某种意义上说，无名者和杰德也算亲人。He thought of himself as Alias’s father, and Alias was Jade’s older sister, sort of.他把自己视为阿莉亚丝的父亲，而阿莉亚丝姑且算是杰德的姐姐。Who else could she have meant?除此之外，她还能指谁呢？

Of course!当然了！Olive thought with a start.奥利芙猛然想到。She could have meant one of Nameless’s relatives!她指的可能是无名者的某个亲戚！If the portrait on the wall of Giogi’s carriage house was Nameless, as Olive was sure it was, and if, as Giogi claimed, the man in the portrait was some ancestor, then Nameless was a Wyvernspur, and Jade would be kin to all the Wyvernspurs, at least in as much as she was kin to Nameless.如果乔吉马车房墙上的画像画的是无名者——奥利芙确信那就是他——而且如果画像中的男子真像乔吉所说，是他的某位祖先，那么无名者就是飞龙刺家族的一员，杰德也就和飞龙刺家族的所有人都是亲族了，至少，她和他们的亲缘关系与她和无名者的亲缘关系一样。

Even better than that, though, was the inevitable conclusion that if, as Giogi also claimed, the portrait could have been of any Wyvernspur, since they all looked alike, then Jade’s murderer might not have been Nameless at all, but some other Wyvernspur.不过，更妙的是，一个必然的结论随之浮现：如果也像乔吉所说的那样，由于飞龙刺家族的人全都长得一模一样，那幅画像画的可能是其中任何一人，那么杀害杰德的凶手或许根本不是无名者，而是飞龙刺家族的另一个人。

With the realization that Nameless wasn’t her only suspect, a feeling of relief swept over Olive.意识到无名者并非唯一的嫌疑人后，奥利芙顿时如释重负。She hadn’t wanted to believe he would murder anyone.她一直不愿相信他会杀害任何人。From the day she’d freed him from the sorceress Cassana’s dungeon, Olive had respected his talents as a bard, and he had gained her sympathy with his tale of being stripped of his name and exiled to another plane.自从那天把他从女术士卡萨娜的地牢里救出来，奥利芙便一直钦佩他身为吟游诗人的才华；而他讲述自己如何被剥夺姓名、放逐到另一个位面的经历，也博得了她的同情。Of course, Olive had not approved of the callous way Nameless had risked people’s lives in order to satisfy his egotistical desire to create an immortal vessel to sing his music.当然，无名者为了满足自己想要创造一个不朽载体来传唱其音乐的自负欲望，竟然冷酷地拿别人的性命冒险，奥利芙对此并不赞同。On the other hand, his treatment at the hands of the Harpers had been nothing short of tyrannical.但另一方面，竖琴手同盟对他的所作所为，简直称得上专横暴虐。Exiling him had been cruel enough, but repressing his songs was unforgivable.将他放逐已经够残酷了，压制他的歌曲更是不可饶恕。The halfling could not help but admire the way Nameless had defied the Harpers a second time.这位半身人忍不住钦佩无名者第二次反抗竖琴手同盟的方式。His scheme had been mad, but it had ended in the creation of Alias and Jade.他的计划虽疯狂，却最终造就了阿莉亚丝和杰德。On the whole, Olive had really liked Nameless.总的来说，奥利芙其实很喜欢无名者。

She was pretty sure he’d liked her, too.她相当肯定，他也喜欢她。After all, he’d spent hours teaching her new songs on his yarting, possibly the same yarting he held in his portrait.毕竟，他曾花上好几个小时，用自己的雅廷琴教她新歌；那把琴很可能就是他在画像中抱着的同一把。He’d also given her his Harper’s pin, the same silver brooch he wore in the portrait.他还把自己的竖琴手徽针送给了她，也就是画像中他佩戴的那枚银胸针。The piece of jewelry fashioned in the shape of a harp and crescent moon was pinned somewhere in Olive’s vest pocket—wherever that was beneath her burro hide.那件制成竖琴与新月形状的饰品，正别在奥利芙背心口袋里的某个地方——至于那个口袋在她这身驴皮底下的什么位置，就说不准了。Some might have interpreted his presenting the pin to a halfling thief as an act of defiance against the Harpers, but Olive chose to think of it as a reward for helping Alias gain her freedom.有些人或许会把他将徽针赠给一个半身人窃贼的举动，解读为对竖琴手同盟的反抗，但奥利芙宁愿认为，这是他为她帮助阿莉亚丝获得自由而给的奖赏。

Now that she thought about it, Olive recalled that there had been something about Jade’s murderer that was different from Nameless.这么一想，奥利芙回忆起，杰德的凶手身上有个地方与无名者不同。The murderer’s hair was as dark and silky as the hair in Nameless’s portrait.凶手的头发像无名者画像中的头发一样乌黑柔顺。The portrait was done two centuries ago, though.不过，那幅画像是两个世纪前画的。The last time Olive had seen Nameless, his hair had been splotched with gray and was somewhat lusterless.奥利芙上次见到无名者时，他的头发已经斑白，也有些失去光泽了。So it couldn’t have been Nameless who killed Jade, unless he’d found some potion of youth.所以杀死杰德的不可能是无名者，除非他找到了某种返老还童的药水。

Olive shook her head, unwilling to believe Nameless capable of such treachery as long as there were other possibilities in the Wyvernspur family.奥利芙摇了摇头；只要飞龙刺家族中还有其他人可能是凶手，她就不愿相信无名者会做出如此背信弃义之事。Giogi might know who those other possibilities were, she realized.她忽然意识到，乔吉或许知道那些可能的人是谁。Remaining with him would be my best opportunity to discover the identity of Jade’s murderer.留在他身边，是我查明杰德凶手身份的最佳机会。

And when I find out which Wyvernscum murdered my Jade, Olive thought, I can avenge her death.等我查出飞龙刺家哪个败类杀了我的杰德，奥利芙心想，我就能为她报仇。

Having settled her mind about Nameless and realizing that her transformation and captivity might have some tactical advantage, Olive’s thoughts turned to more mundane matters.想通了无名者的事，又意识到自己的变形和被囚或许能带来某种战术优势后，奥利芙开始考虑起更为实际的问题。Her stomach was rumbling.她的肚子正咕咕作响。She’d missed dinner, and her appetite had not diminished upon her transformation.她错过了晚餐，而变形并没有让她的食欲有所减退。She sniffed experimentally at the bucket of oats.她试探着嗅了嗅那桶燕麦。

Giogi tossed uneasily in his sleep.乔吉在睡梦中不安地辗转反侧。He was dreaming that he was soaring over a meadow on a spring morning.他梦见自己在一个春日的清晨翱翔于草地上空。He knew that he was asleep.他知道自己正在做梦。He hadn’t the ability to soar over anything except dream things.除了梦中的事物，他可没有能力飞越任何东西。Besides which, he’d had this particular nightmare before.更何况，这个噩梦他以前做过。That’s why he tossed uneasily.所以他才会不安地辗转反侧。While most people would find the beginning of this dream enchanting, or even exhilarating, Giogi was too well acquainted with the ending to appreciate the soaring part.大多数人或许会觉得这个梦的开头如梦似幻，甚至令人兴奋不已，但乔吉对它的结局实在太过熟悉，根本无心享受翱翔的乐趣。

His chestnut mare, Daisyeye, galloped into sight beneath him.他的栗色母马雏菊眼疾驰而来，出现在他下方。Giogi swooped down on the horse more silently than an owl on a rabbit.乔吉俯冲向那匹马，悄无声息，甚至比猫头鹰扑向兔子还要安静。He sunk his talons into the mare’s haunches and his fangs into her neck and snatched his prey from the ground.他把利爪深深扎进母马的臀部，将獠牙刺入它的脖颈，一把将猎物从地面攫起。Daisyeye neighed in terror and pain as Giogi beat his wings harder and faster and climbed back into the air.乔吉更加用力、更加迅速地扇动翅膀，重新升上空中，雏菊眼则因恐惧和疼痛而嘶鸣。The horse writhed in his grasp for a few moments, then went limp.那匹马在他爪中挣扎扭动了片刻，随后便瘫软下来。

Giogi landed back in the meadow.乔吉落回草地上。Blood flowing from Daisyeye’s neck and haunches steamed in the cool air.鲜血从雏菊眼的颈部和臀部涌出，在凉爽的空气中冒着热气。Her bones snapped as Giogi began swallowing her whole.乔吉开始将她整匹吞下，她的骨头咔嚓咔嚓地断裂。

Giogi awoke with a gasp, trembling with fear.乔吉猛吸一口气惊醒过来，吓得浑身发抖。“Why me?” he moaned.“为什么偏偏是我？”他呻吟道。

That was the question he’d been asking himself since he’d come of age and he’d started having the dream.自从成年后开始做这个梦以来，他一直在这样问自己。At first, the prey in his dream had been wild creatures: stags and boars and mountain goats, and while the dream had disturbed Giogi greatly, at least he was accustomed to hunting such creatures for real—with a bow, of course.起初，他梦中的猎物都是野兽：雄鹿、野猪和山羊；这个梦虽然令乔吉深感不安，但至少他对在现实中猎杀这类动物并不陌生——当然，是用弓箭。Ever since the dragon who’d waylaid him last spring had eaten the first Daisyeye—not Daisyeye II, who was safe in the carriage house—the prey in Giogi’s nightmares had become Daisyeye.自从去年春天拦路袭击他的那条龙吃掉了第一匹雏菊眼——不是雏菊眼二世，她正安然待在马车房里——乔吉噩梦中的猎物就变成了雏菊眼。Like all Cormyrian nobles, he loved his horses, and the idea of slaughtering and devouring them appalled him.和所有科米尔人贵族一样，他深爱自己的马，一想到要屠宰并吞食它们，他就觉得毛骨悚然。

Just to reassure himself, Giogi padded barefoot over to his bedroom window to look out at the carriage house, where Daisyeye was stabled.为了让自己安心，乔吉光着脚悄悄走到卧室窗边，望向雏菊眼所在的马车房。Giogi could make out the silhouette of the carriage house and see that nothing had burned it down or broken in looking for an equine snack.乔吉能辨认出马车房的轮廓，看得出它既没有被烧毁，也没有什么东西为了找一顿马肉点心而破门闯入。The moon had set, but the sky was not completely dark.月亮已经落下，但天空还没有完全漆黑。The sun would be up soon.太阳很快就要升起来了。

“Oh, my gosh.“哦，我的天哪。I have to be at the crypt,” Giogi remembered aloud.我得去墓室。”乔吉出声提醒自己。

Thomas was awakened by a thumping noise followed by the clatter and clash of metal on metal, like the sounds made by gladiators battling in an arena.托马斯被一声闷响惊醒，紧接着便传来金属相互碰撞的叮当铿锵声，仿佛角斗士正在竞技场上厮杀。Thomas listened more intently, trying to determine if the noise wasn’t coming from outside the house, created perhaps by a band of drunken adventurers with no respect for the conventions of town living—such as sleeping at night.托马斯更加仔细地听着，想确定声音是不是来自屋外，也许是一群醉醺醺的冒险者弄出来的，他们毫不尊重城镇生活的惯例——比如夜里应该睡觉。A second thump and more bashing noises reached his ears.又一声闷响和更多的撞击声传入他耳中。Now he was able to tell for certain that the disturbance came from within the house.这下他可以确定，动静来自屋内。The noise originated from his own kitchen.声音是从他自己的厨房里传来的。

It was early dawn, the sky just beginning to lighten to iron gray.此时天刚破晓，天空才开始泛起铁灰色的微光。Presuming the noises had been made by some very careless burglar, the servant picked up the poker from beside his fireplace and carefully eased open his bedroom door.仆人认定这些声响是某个极其粗心的窃贼弄出来的，便拿起壁炉旁的火钳，小心翼翼地推开卧室门。A bright light shone across the hall.一道明亮的光芒横照过走廊。A very brazen, as well as careless, burglar, Thomas thought as he tiptoed to the kitchen door and peeked around the doorjamb.真是个既胆大包天又粗心大意的窃贼，托马斯一边想着，一边踮着脚走到厨房门口，从门框旁探头窥视。

His kitchen was in complete disarray.他的厨房里一片狼藉。Serving trays and mixing bowls lay scattered about the table and floor.托盘和搅拌碗散落在桌上和地板上。All the cabinets stood open—most of them emptied of their contents.所有橱柜都敞开着——大部分已经被搬空了。One stack of plates sat balanced so precariously on the edge of the linen chest that it appeared as if a passing breeze could send them plummeting to the stone floor.一摞盘子摇摇欲坠地搁在布草柜边缘，仿佛一阵微风吹过，就能让它们坠落到石板地面上。In the midst of the chaos stood the intruder—a lean young man who scowled at the tabletop with a long, sharp knife in his hand.那闯入者就站在这一片混乱之中——一个身形瘦削的年轻男子，手里握着一把细长锋利的刀，正皱眉瞪着桌面。Thomas gasped in surprise.托马斯惊讶地倒吸了一口气。

Giogioni looked up from the kitchen table at Thomas, who stood in the doorway with a raised poker clenched in his fist and his mouth hanging open.乔吉奥尼从厨房桌旁抬起头，看向托马斯；他站在门口，拳头里紧攥着高高举起的拨火棍，嘴巴张得老大。“Ah, good morning, Thomas,” the young noble greeted him and smiled.“啊，早上好，托马斯。”年轻的贵族微笑着招呼道。“Didn’t mean to wake you.“没想吵醒你。Just getting together some tea.我只是想弄点茶。Why are you waving that poker about?”你为什么把那根拨火棍挥来挥去的？”

“I—I—I thought you were a burglar, sir,” Thomas explained, carefully leaning the iron rod against the wall.“我——我——我以为您是个窃贼，先生。”托马斯解释道，小心翼翼地把那根铁棍靠在墙上。

“Now why would you think that, Thomas?“你怎么会这么想呢，托马斯？You know I have scads of money.你知道我有的是钱。Why should I become a burglar?”我为什么要去当窃贼？”

“No, sir, I meant that I heard a sound, sir, and that I thought at this hour down in the kitchen, it must have been made by a burglar.“不是的，先生，我是说，我听见了响声，先生，而且这么早，声音又是从楼下厨房传来的，我就以为一定是窃贼弄出来的。Couldn’t you sleep, sir?”您睡不着吗，先生？”

Giogi snorted.乔吉哼了一声。“With all I had to drink last night?” he replied.“昨晚喝了那么多酒，我还能睡不着？”他答道。“I went out like a snuffed candle.”“我一下就睡死了，像一根被吹灭的蜡烛。”

“Bad dreams again?”“又做噩梦了？”Thomas guessed.托马斯猜测道。

Eager to forget the dream, Giogi denied it with a shake of his head.乔吉急于忘掉那个梦，摇头否认了。“I am awake at this ungodly hour,” he explained, “because Aunt Dorath has condemned me to crypt-crawling with Steele and Freffie.“我会在这个鬼都不醒的时辰起床，”他解释道，“是因为多拉丝姑妈罚我跟斯蒂尔和弗雷菲一起钻地穴。They’ve put me in charge of provisions, so I’ve boiled water for tea and now I’m hacking at this cheese for sandwiches.他们让我负责准备吃的，所以我烧了水泡茶，现在正费劲地切这块奶酪，准备做三明治。I made a bit of a mess looking for that earthenware tea jug.我找那个陶制茶壶时，把这里弄得有点乱。Sorry.对不起。I seem to be having trouble with this knife.我好像不太会用这把刀。Since you are up anyway, would you oblige, please?”既然你反正也起来了，能劳驾你帮个忙吗？”The young Wyvernspur waved the knife at the servant, handle first.年轻的飞龙刺把刀柄朝前，向仆人递了递。

Thomas picked his way across the kitchen to the table—carefully pushing the stack of dishes back from the edge of the linen chest on his way.托马斯小心地穿过厨房走向桌子，途中还把亚麻布柜边缘那摞盘子往里推了推。Large crumbs and chunks of cheddar littered the table, but none could be even charitably described as a slice.桌上到处都是大块大块的切达奶酪碎屑，但即使再宽容，也没法把其中任何一块称为奶酪片。Thomas took the remnants of the wheel of cheese and carved through it neatly six times.托马斯拿起那轮奶酪的残余，利落地切了六刀。“Will that be sufficient, sir?”“这样够了吗，少爷？”

“Excellent,” Giogioni said, stacking the cheese slices between chunks of bread.“好极了。”乔吉奥尼说着，把奶酪片夹进一块块面包中间。He lay each sandwich on a piece of oiled paper.他把每个三明治分别放在一张油纸上。“And would you slice them into those cute little triangles like you always do for tea?”“你能不能再像平时准备茶点时那样，把它们切成那些可爱的小三角形？”

Automatically Thomas quartered the sandwiches, wrapped them in the oily paper, and stuffed them into the waterproof sack Giogi held out.托马斯下意识地把三明治切成四份，用油纸包好，再塞进乔吉递过来的防水袋里。Finding his master not only awake at this hour, but fully dressed, shaved, and alert was enough to confuse Thomas; discovering Giogi also making an attempt at self-sufficiency in the kitchen had left the servant dazed.主人不仅在这个时辰醒着，还穿戴整齐，刮过脸，精神抖擞，这已经够让托马斯困惑的了；如今又发现乔吉居然还试图在厨房里自力更生，更令这个仆人目瞪口呆。

“I swiped those leftover tea cakes and some apples.“我顺手拿了那些吃剩的茶点蛋糕，还有几个苹果。Is that all right?” the nobleman asked.没问题吧？”这位贵族问道。

“Yes, of course, sir.”“当然没问题，少爷。”Thomas replied.托马斯答道。

“Oh.“哦。I told Bottles you’d stop by the Immer Inn first thing this morning and pay my tab from last night.”我告诉博特尔斯，你今天早上一早会去一趟伊默旅店，把我昨晚欠的账结了。”

“Very good, sir,” Thomas replied.“好的，少爷。”托马斯答道。

Giogi packed the waterproof sack, the earthenware jug, some teacups, teaspoons and a jar of tea leaves into a picnic basket.乔吉把防水袋、陶壶、几只茶杯和茶匙，还有一罐茶叶装进了野餐篮。He strapped on his fencing foil, pulled on his cloak, and unlatched the back door.他佩上花剑，披上斗篷，拉开了后门的门闩。“By the way,” he said, pausing in the doorway, “I thought I’d take the burro with me to carry my supplies.“对了，”他在门口停下来说，“我想带上那头小毛驴，让它替我驮东西。That won’t be any problem, will it?”这不会有什么问题吧？”

“Of course not, sir,” Thomas said automatically as he nested a set of mixing bowls and stacked them back into a cupboard.“当然不会，先生。”托马斯一边不假思索地回答，一边把一套搅拌碗依次套好，放回橱柜里。

It wasn’t until Giogioni’s servant had finished tidying the kitchen and had his morning cup of tea that he was sufficiently awake to wonder to which burro his master was referring.直到乔吉奥尼的仆人收拾完厨房，喝过早茶，才彻底清醒过来，开始纳闷主人说的究竟是哪头小毛驴。

“Rise and shine, my pretties,” Giogi called softly as he entered the barn.“醒醒吧，我的小可爱们。”乔吉走进谷仓，轻声招呼道。

Olive stirred awake.奥利芙动了动，醒了过来。Without meaning to, she’d fallen asleep on her feet.她竟不知不觉站着睡着了。She shook herself, feeling her mane tickle her neck and her tail slap against her hindquarters.她抖了抖身子，感觉鬃毛挠得脖子发痒，尾巴则拍打着后臀。Still a burro, she realized with annoyance.还是头毛驴，她恼火地意识到。

Giogi stopped to pat the chestnut mare.乔吉停下来，轻轻拍了拍那匹栗色母马。“Would you like some apples, Daisyeye?”“想吃点苹果吗，雏菊眼？”Olive could hear the horse chomping away on Giogi’s offering.奥利芙听得见那匹马大口嚼着乔吉给她的苹果。

Then the nobleman entered her enclosure.随后，那位贵族走进了她的围栏。He looked into her bucket of oats.他低头看了看她装燕麦的桶。“Good, you’ve eaten,” he said.“很好，你吃过了。”他说。

Olive could feel herself blushing beneath her furry hide.奥利芙能感觉到，自己在毛茸茸的皮肤底下涨红了脸。After all she had suffered last night, going without dinner would have been unbearable.昨晚受了那么多罪之后，要是连晚饭都不吃，实在叫人难以忍受。The oats’ molasses coating had rendered them almost tasty, actually better than some of the things she’d eaten at inns outside of Cormyr.燕麦裹着的糖蜜让它们变得几乎称得上可口，事实上，甚至比她在科米尔境外某些旅店里吃过的东西还要好。After a few experimental nibbles, Olive had polished the remainder off without thinking.试探着咬了几口后，奥利芙便不知不觉把剩下的全吃光了。

Now confronted with the empty pail, though, she worried that she might grow too burrolike and forget that her favorite meal was not grain, but roast goose, and that she might come to prefer water to Luiren Rivengut.然而此刻面对着空桶，她不禁担心自己会变得太像毛驴，忘记最爱的食物不是谷物而是烤鹅，甚至会渐渐变得宁愿喝水，也不喝路依伦裂肠酒。

“How about a little treat,” Giogi said, holding out a quarter of an apple.“来点小零食怎么样？”乔吉说着，递出四分之一个苹果。

At least that could be considered halfling food, Olive decided.至少这还算得上是半身人吃的东西，奥利芙心想。She muzzled the fruit from the nobleman’s hand.她用嘴从那位贵族手中叼走了苹果。Giogi’s other hand slid something up over her ears.乔吉的另一只手则将某样东西从下往上套过了她的耳朵。The feeling of leather straps about her muzzle caused Olive’s nose to twitch.皮带箍住口鼻的感觉让奥利芙抽了抽鼻子。Nine Hells, she thought.九层地狱啊，她心想。I fell for the apple and the halter trick.我竟中了苹果加笼头这一招。

Olive brayed and tried to back away, but Giogi held fast to the halter he’d just slipped on her.奥利芙嘶叫着想往后退，可乔吉牢牢抓住了刚套到她头上的笼头。“Whoa, girl.“吁，姑娘。Easy, now.别怕。We’re just going into the catacombs beneath the old family crypt to look for the thief who stole the wyvern’s spur.”我们只是要进古老家族墓室下面的地下墓穴，去找那个偷走飞龙刺的贼。”

The wyvern’s spur?飞龙刺？Olive thought with astonishment.奥利芙惊讶地想。The Wyvernspur family’s most precious heirloom?飞龙刺家族最珍贵的传家宝？It’s been stolen?它被偷了？Olive looked up at Giogi with puzzlement.奥利芙困惑地抬头看着乔吉。How can you be so calm about a thing like that, boy? she thought.出了这种事，你怎么还能这么镇定，小子？她心想。

As Giogi began brushing her coat, he briefed her in soothing tones.乔吉开始替她刷毛，同时用安抚的语气向她说明情况。“The catacombs aren’t so bad,” he said, “except for the kobolds, stirges, bugbears, and occasional gargoyles.“地下墓穴没那么糟，”他说，“除了狗头人、血蚊、熊地精，以及偶尔出没的石像鬼。Of course, first we have to get past the crypt guardian.当然，我们首先得通过墓室守卫那一关。The guardian shouldn’t bother us, though.不过，守卫应该不会为难我们。I think.我想不会。We’re old friends.我们是老朋友了。Last time I saw her, she said I was too small—I presumed she meant too small for her to eat.上次见到她时，她说我太小了——我猜她的意思是，我小得还不够她塞牙缝。Her idea of a joke, I suppose.我想，这大概是她开的玩笑吧。You know how perverse those crypt guardians can be.”你也知道，那些墓室守卫有多古怪。”

Able to distinguish the meaning of his words, Olive had no trouble sensing Giogi’s nervousness as well.奥利芙既能听懂他话里的意思，自然也不难察觉乔吉的紧张。A shiver went up her long spine.她长长的脊背上掠过一阵寒战。Giogi patted her reassuringly and laid a blanket over her, then a set of packs.乔吉安慰地拍了拍她，先在她背上铺了一条毯子，接着又放上一套驮包。As he pulled the cinch under her belly and knotted it through the buckle, Olive considered trying to get out of the little jaunt by lying down or rolling over, but she decided that the floor was just too dirty.他把肚带从她腹下拉过，穿过带扣系紧；奥利芙考虑过要不要躺下或打滚，好逃掉这趟小小的出行，但她觉得地面实在太脏了。Besides, she thought, I won’t learn anything more about the Wyvernspurs in a horse stall, but if Giogi keeps babbling, I might pick up quite a bit.再说了，她心想，待在马厩里，我不可能再打听到飞龙刺家族的任何消息；可要是乔吉继续喋喋不休，我说不定能听到不少东西。

“Actually, she’s probably not as terrible as I remember,” Giogi continued with his reminiscences of the guardian.“其实，她大概没有我记忆中那么可怕。”乔吉继续回忆着那位守护者。“It’s just that I was only eight back then.“只不过那时我才八岁。My father had just died, you see, and I inherited his key to the crypt.你知道，我父亲刚刚去世，我继承了他那把墓穴钥匙。My Cousin Steele was so jealous that I had a key and he didn’t that he badgered my other cousin, Freffie, and me into sneaking into the crypt.我表兄斯蒂尔嫉妒我有钥匙而他没有，就死缠着我的另一个表亲弗雷菲和我，硬要我们偷偷溜进墓穴。Then he, Steele, that is, swiped the key from me and locked me in there all alone and left with Freffie.然后他——我是说斯蒂尔——从我手里偷走钥匙，把我独自锁在里面，带着弗雷菲走了。

“Freffie had an attack of conscience and told Uncle Drone, but I ran into the catacombs to get away from the guardian.“弗雷菲良心发现，把这事告诉了德罗恩叔叔，可我为了躲避守护者，跑进了地下墓道。I spent the good part of a day wandering through them and missed supper before Uncle Drone found me.”我在里面转悠了大半天，连晚饭都错过了，最后德罗恩叔叔才找到我。”

There, Olive thought.瞧，奥利芙心想。I have three murder suspects already: jealousy-ridden Steele, guilt-ridden Frefford, and nephew-ridden Uncle Drone.我已经有三个谋杀嫌疑人了：妒火缠身的斯蒂尔、愧疚缠身的弗雷福德，还有侄患缠身的德罗恩叔叔。I can rule out Giogi’s father, though—unless he’s undead.不过乔吉的父亲可以排除——除非他成了不死生物。

Giogi strapped the picnic basket atop the packs, balancing it on either side with a pair of full water skins.乔吉把野餐篮捆在驮包顶上，又在两边各挂了一个装满水的水囊来保持平衡。Olive groaned under the weight, but the noise came out as a testy bray.奥利芙被压得呻吟起来，可发出的声音却是一声烦躁的驴叫。

The water and tea things, however, were only a beginning.然而，水和茶具还只是个开头。Into the packs Giogi loaded oil, torches, a lantern, a tinder box, rope, a rope ladder, spikes, a portable stool, a blanket, a heavy mallet, several sealed vials, a can of white paint, a brush, and a large map.乔吉往驮包里装进了油、火把、一盏提灯、一个火绒盒、绳索、一架绳梯、铁钉、一张折凳、一条毯子、一把沉重的木槌、几只密封的小瓶、一罐白漆、一把刷子和一张大地图。He then added a small sack of feed for the burro.接着，他又添了一小袋给驴吃的饲料。“Can’t have you missing lunch,” Giogi said, patting Olive’s rump.“可不能让你错过午饭。”乔吉拍着奥利芙的臀部说道。

Don’t worry about me, Olive thought.不用替我操心，奥利芙心想。I’ll collapse from exhaustion long before then.我早在那之前就会累趴下。She brayed again in protest.她又叫了一声，以示抗议。

“You’re a very musical little creature,” Giogi said.“你这小家伙还挺有乐感的。”乔吉说。“Maybe I should name you Birdie.“或许我该叫你小鸟儿。Come on, Birdie.”走吧，小鸟儿。”Giogi led Olive out of the stall and from the carriage house.乔吉牵着奥利芙走出厩栏，又出了马车房。

The pair of them clomped through the garden and out into the street.他俩踏着沉重的步子穿过花园，来到街上。Wagons and carts loaded with hay and seaweed and fish and firewood crammed the road.满载干草、海藻、鱼和木柴的大小车辆挤满了道路。Servants and field hands and fishermen and foresters edged around each other on the plank walkways.仆人、田工、渔民和林工在人行木板道上彼此避让着穿行。Oblivious to the immediate flow of traffic, Giogi led his burro down the center of the street, while he studied the movement on either side of him with intense curiosity.乔吉全然不顾眼前的车流，牵着自己的驴走在街道中央，同时满怀好奇地仔细观察着两旁的动静。Olive was hard-pressed to avoid stepping on his feet when he wandered too close to her hooves.他不时晃到奥利芙的蹄子跟前，害得她不得不竭力避免踩到他的脚。

“I had no idea how busy this town was so early,” Giogi muttered.“真没想到，这镇上一大早就这么忙。”乔吉嘟囔道。

So why don’t we go back to bed and wait for the traffic to clear?那我们何不回去睡觉，等路上不挤了再出来？Olive thought, but Giogi guided her westward through the crush.奥利芙心想，可乔吉却领着她穿过拥挤的人群，向西走去。

The sky, which last night had been clear and starry, was blanketed by slate-gray clouds, and the air was no longer crisp, but was moist with impending rain or snow.昨夜还晴朗璀璨的星空，如今已被一层石板灰的云幕遮住；空气也不再清冽，而是湿漉漉的，预示着雨雪将至。Olive’s breath steamed from her nostrils, and Giogi puffed vapor from his lips as he strolled along whistling, in tune if not in tempo.奥利芙的鼻孔里喷出白气，乔吉的唇间也吐着雾气；他一边闲庭信步，一边吹着口哨，音倒是准的，拍子却不对。

Near the edge of town, the pair turned onto a path heading south up a steep hill.快到镇子边缘时，他俩拐上一条向南延伸、直上陡坡的小路。I’m not making this ascent, Olive thought, planting her feet firmly in the road.我才不爬这个坡，奥利芙心想，四蹄牢牢钉在路上。A swat on her rump from the nobleman got her moving in spite of herself.那位贵族在她臀上拍了一巴掌，她不情不愿地走动起来。

The path led to a rocky graveyard bordered by a low wall and surrounded by pine and oak trees.小路通向一片遍布岩石的墓地，四周围着一道矮墙，墙外环绕着松树和橡树。The trees cast dark shadows on the already gloomy setting, and the carpet of pine needles and oak leaves muffled the sounds of their footsteps.树木给本就阴郁的景致投下重重暗影，铺满地面的松针和橡树叶则吞没了他们的脚步声。Most of the headstones within the yard were weathered and broken with age, reminding Olive of the stumps of an old giant’s teeth.墓园里大多数墓碑都已饱经风霜，年久残破，让奥利芙想起一个衰老巨人嘴里残存的牙根。

Very near the entrance stood a large stone mausoleum, as worn-looking as the rest of the graveyard’s monuments but still intact.入口近旁矗立着一座高大的石砌陵墓，看上去和墓园里的其他碑冢一样饱经岁月侵蚀，但依然完好无损。Thick stalks of ivy ran up its walls.粗壮的常春藤藤蔓攀满了墙壁。The dead ivy leaves looked black in the shadows and rattled in the breeze.枯死的藤叶在阴影中显得漆黑，在微风里沙沙作响。Small, ornately carved stone wyverns perched all along the mausoleum’s roof and looked down on them with glass eyes.陵墓屋顶四周蹲踞着一只只雕饰华美的小石飞龙，用玻璃眼珠俯视着他们。Giogi avoided looking at them, knowing all too well their long reptilian bodies, batlike wings, and scorpion tails.乔吉避开目光，不去看它们；他对它们细长的爬虫身躯、蝙蝠般的翅膀和蝎子似的尾巴实在太熟悉了。He shuddered as he approached the mausoleum’s entrance.走近陵墓入口时，他打了个寒战。The Wyvernspur coat of arms was carved into the walls on either side of the door, and the Wyvernspur name was carved into the lintel.门两侧的墙上刻着飞龙刺的家徽，门楣上则刻着飞龙刺之名。

Smaller markings were cut into the door, lintel, and jamb—invocations to Selune and Mystra to protect the crypt from trespassers.门、门楣和门框上还刻着一些较小的符号——那是向塞露恩和密斯特拉祈求庇佑、保护墓室免遭闯入的祷文。For good measure, magical glyphs were scrawled in a spidery hand on every wall.为了多添一重保障，每一面墙上都以蛛足般细长潦草的笔迹画满了魔法符文。

This must be the place, Olive thought.一定就是这里了，奥利芙心想。

“This is the place,” Giogi said.“就是这里，”乔吉说道。“It’s so deadly quiet.”“静得跟死了一样。”

Wonderful choice of words this boy has, Olive thought.这小子可真会挑词儿，奥利芙心想。

“Giogioni, you’re late,” a woman’s voice snapped behind them.“乔吉奥尼，你迟到了。”一个女人的声音突然从他们身后厉声响起。

Olive might have jumped at the sound, but she was too loaded down to do more than jerk her head up.奥利芙听见这声音，本来可能会吓得跳起来，可她身上的东西太多，只能猛地抬起头。Giogi, not so limited, whirled around.乔吉没有这样的束缚，立刻转过身去。

A beautiful young woman in a dark fur cape popped out from behind a ruined tomb.一个身披深色毛皮斗篷的美丽年轻女子从一座残破的坟墓后面突然现身。She tossed her hood back with an ungloved hand, revealing long black hair and sharp, familiar features.她用没戴手套的手掀下兜帽，露出一头乌黑长发和轮廓鲜明、似曾相识的面容。

One of the Wyvernspur brood, Olive realized immediately.是飞龙刺家那一窝的人，奥利芙立刻意识到。

“Julia!”“朱莉娅！”Giogi said, “What are you doing here?”乔吉问道：“你怎么会在这里？”

“Steele told me to wait here to tell you about Frefford.”“斯蒂尔让我在这里等着，把弗雷福德的事告诉你。”

“What about Freffie?”“弗雷菲怎么了？”Giogi asked.乔吉问道。His expression clouded with concern.他的脸上蒙上了一层忧色。

“Gaylyn’s gone into labor, so he’s still at Redstone.“盖琳要生了，所以他还在红石。You were late, so Steele entered the crypt without you.你迟到了，斯蒂尔就没等你，自己进了墓穴。He said you could follow him in and try to catch up.”他说你可以进去追他，想办法赶上。”

“Catch up.“赶上他。Right,” Giogi muttered, pulling out a silver key that hung from a chain around his neck.对。”乔吉低声嘟囔着，从脖子上挂着的链子上取下一把银钥匙。

Olive studied Julia curiously.奥利芙好奇地打量着朱莉娅。Something about her, besides her Wyvernspur face, interested the halfling.除了那张飞龙刺家族特有的脸，她身上还有某种东西引起了半身人的兴趣。Olive sniffed the air.奥利芙嗅了嗅空气。She could smell something mingled with Julia’s sweat.她闻到朱莉娅的汗味里还混杂着某种气味。The human woman was nervous.这个人类女人很紧张。She might not be lying, but the halfling could tell she was up to something.她也许没有撒谎，但半身人看得出她正有所图谋。An expert herself at the art of deception and guile, Olive could not be fooled, especially not by an amateur like this woman.奥利芙自己就是个精通欺骗与诡计的行家，不可能受人蒙骗，尤其不可能被这个女人这样的生手骗过。

Giogi turned toward the mausoleum door.乔吉转身面向陵墓的大门。

Julia appeared to be wringing her cold bare hands.朱莉娅似乎正不安地绞扭着她那双冰冷而裸露的手。Even hampered by the vision of a beast, though, the halfling caught the surreptitious twist Julia gave to one of the rings on her right hand.尽管受限于野兽的视野，半身人还是捕捉到了朱莉娅偷偷转动右手上一枚戒指的动作。

As Giogi inserted the silver key in the mausoleum door, his cousin reached toward his neck.乔吉把银钥匙插进陵墓大门的锁孔时，他的堂姐朝他的脖颈伸出手去。Olive saw the gleam of a tiny needle jutting from the cousin’s ring.奥利芙看见堂姐的戒指上伸出一根细小的针，闪过一道微光。A drop of something clear dripped from the tip of the needle.一滴透明的液体从针尖滴落。

Instinctively Olive lunged forward, butting her forehead against the woman.奥利芙本能地猛扑上前，用额头撞向那个女人。

“Agh!”“啊！”Julia cried, leaping backward.朱莉娅叫了一声，向后跳开。She took notice of Olive for the first time.她这才第一次注意到奥利芙。“Giogioni, what sort of creature is that?” she screeched angrily.“乔吉奥尼，那是什么怪物？”她愤怒地尖叫道。

“Birdie, cut that out.“小鸟儿，别闹了。You’re scaring Cousin Julia,” Giogi said, yanking Olive’s head down with the halter.你把朱莉娅表姐吓着了。”乔吉说着，用笼头把奥利芙的脑袋猛拽下来。To his cousin, he said, “It’s just a burro, Julia.”他又对堂姐说道：“它不过是头小毛驴，朱莉娅。”

“A what?”“一头什么？”Julia asked.朱莉娅问道。

“A burro.“一头驴。It’s a pack animal.是驮东西的牲口。They’re very useful in mines.在矿井里很有用。Haven’t you ever seen one?”你难道从没见过吗？”

“I should think not,” Julia said with a sniff.“我当然没见过。”朱莉娅轻蔑地哼了一声。“I thought it was an ugly pony.”“我还以为是匹难看的小马。”

Giogi turned his back again to work the lock, and Julia edged forward, her right hand poised in the air as if to swat a fly.乔吉再次转过身去摆弄锁，朱莉娅悄悄挪上前，右手悬在空中，像是要拍死一只苍蝇。

Olive placed a hoof down on the train of Julia’s gown.奥利芙抬起一只蹄子，踩住了朱莉娅礼服的拖尾。The woman tripped as she stepped toward Giogi and dropped to her knees on the pine needles.那女人正朝乔吉走去，却被绊了一跤，双膝跪倒在松针上。“Damned creature,” she whispered.“该死的畜生。”她低声骂道。

Giogi turned around and looked at his kneeling cousin with surprise.乔吉转过身，惊讶地看着跪在地上的表妹。Before he could help Julia to her feet, though, Olive managed to tangle her lead rope around the woman and butt her again.然而，他还没来得及扶朱莉娅起身，奥利芙就设法用牵绳缠住了她，又顶了她一下。Without thinking, Julia slashed at the burro with her right hand.朱莉娅想也没想，右手猛地朝那头驴抓去。Olive felt a sharp scratch on her neck, then a fire burned through her blood, starting at the wound and racing to her extremities.奥利芙感到脖子上被尖锐地划了一下，随即一团火从伤口开始烧遍她的血液，迅速窜向四肢末梢。Her knees wobbled and Olive sank to the ground.她双膝发软，瘫倒在地。

“Birdie!”“小鸟儿！”Giogi gasped.乔吉倒吸了一口气。“What’s wrong, girl?”“你怎么了，姑娘？”

“That beast attacked me!”“那畜生袭击我！”Julia cried, untangling herself from Olive’s lead rope, leaping to her feet, and backing away quickly.朱莉娅叫道，一边挣脱缠在身上的奥利芙的牵绳，一跃而起，飞快地向后退去。

“She was probably just playing.“她大概只是在玩。Julia, what did you do to her?”朱莉娅，你对她做了什么？”

Olive stretched her neck out so Giogi couldn’t miss the small trickle of blood from her wound.奥利芙伸长脖子，好让乔吉不可能看漏她伤口处渗出的那一小缕鲜血。

The young noble gasped.年轻的贵族倒吸了一口气。He turned toward Julia and snatched at her cloak, yanking her toward him.他转向朱莉娅，一把揪住她的斗篷，将她拽到自己跟前。He caught her by the wrists.他抓住了她的双腕。All the meekness he’d ever felt in his female cousin’s company was dispelled by the alarm he felt for his pet’s safety.他担心宠物安危，顿时把自己在这位女性表亲面前向来有的温顺怯懦抛到了九霄云外。

He investigated Julia’s rings with a frown.他皱着眉查看朱莉娅手上的戒指。“What is this?” he demanded, spying the ring with the jabber.他发现了那枚带刺针的戒指，厉声问道：“这是什么？”“Where did you get this ring?“你从哪儿弄来的这枚戒指？How could you poison such a sweet, little animal?”你怎么忍心毒害这么乖巧的小动物？”

“It’s not poison, only sleeping sap,” Julia protested.“那不是毒药，只是催眠树液。”朱莉娅辩解道。

Thank Tymora, Olive thought through the fog.感谢泰摩拉，奥利芙意识蒙眬地想道。That’ll teach me to stick my neck out for anyone.这下我可长记性了，以后再也不替任何人伸脖子出头。

Barely containing his anger, Giogi yanked the offending ring off Julia’s finger.乔吉勉强压住怒火，从朱莉娅的手指上拽下了那枚惹祸的戒指。“I think I’d better hang on to this for you before you hurt someone with it,” the nobleman said, pulling out a handkerchief, wrapping the ring up in it, and stuffing it into a pocket.“我看，在你拿它伤到别人之前，还是由我替你保管为好。”年轻贵族一边说，一边掏出手帕，将戒指包起来，塞进口袋。He thrust Julia away and bent over Olive’s prone body.他一把推开朱莉娅，俯身查看倒地不起的奥利芙。Pulling two vials out of a pack on her back, he poured the contents of one over Olive’s cut and the other down her throat.他从奥利芙背上的行囊里取出两只小瓶，把其中一瓶的药水倒在她的伤口上，又把另一瓶灌进她喉咙里。

“Why are you wasting potions on that stupid creature?”“你为什么要把药水浪费在那个蠢东西身上？”Julia asked.朱莉娅问道。

“Because she’s not a stupid creature.“因为她才不是什么蠢东西。She’s a perfectly lovely burro.”她是一头再可爱不过的小毛驴。”

“I told you it was only sleeping sap.”“我说过了，那只是催眠树液。”

“Sleeping sap can do a lot of damage if you use too much.“催眠树液用得太多，也会造成严重伤害。What were you doing with it, anyway?”话说回来，你带着它究竟想干什么？”

Julia did not reply.朱莉娅没有回答。

Olive felt suddenly cool and strong as the potions quenched the flame that ran through her body.药剂浇灭了在奥利芙体内奔窜的火焰，她顿时感到一阵清凉，浑身又有了力气。She stumbled to her feet with Giogi’s help.她在乔吉的搀扶下踉跄着站起身来。The young noble made sure the burro was steady, then turned again to face his cousin.年轻的贵族确认驴子已经站稳，随后再次转身面对他的表妹。Olive could see a spark of comprehension gleaming in his milky brown eyes.奥利芙看见他那双乳褐色的眼睛里闪过一丝恍然大悟的光芒。

“Julia!”“朱莉娅！”Giogi barked sternly.乔吉厉声喝道。Olive stood by his side, trying to look as menacing as possible.奥利芙站在他身旁，竭力摆出最具威慑力的模样。“You meant that ring for me, didn’t you?“你原本是想把那枚戒指用在我身上的，对不对？This is one of Steele’s ideas, isn’t it?”这又是斯蒂尔的主意，是不是？”Giogi asked, grabbing Julia by the shoulders and giving her a firm shake.乔吉一边质问，一边抓住朱莉娅的双肩，用力摇晃了她一下。

“No!”“不！”Julia protested.朱莉娅抗议道。“It’s … just something I carry to protect myself.”“那……只是我随身带着防身的东西。”

“Attacked by a lot of burros on the streets of Immersea, eh?“怎么，伊默海的街上有一大群驴子袭击你吗？Don’t bother to lie, Julia.别费心撒谎了，朱莉娅。You always did what Steele told you.斯蒂尔叫你做什么，你一向都会照办。What did he have in mind?” he asked hotly.他究竟打的什么主意？”他怒冲冲地问道。“Leave me down there with the guardian again?“再把我留在下面，跟那个守护者待在一起？Hmm?”嗯？”Giogi gave his cousin another shake.乔吉又摇晃了他的表妹一下。

“You are a fool,” Julia said.“你真是个傻瓜。”朱莉娅说。“Steele isn’t interested in child’s play anymore.“斯蒂尔已经对小孩子的把戏不感兴趣了。He wants—” Julia bit off her words and paled visibly, obviously afraid she’d said too much.他想要——”朱莉娅猛地住了口，脸色明显一白，显然是害怕自己说得太多了。

“What does he want?”“他想要什么？”Giogi demanded.乔吉逼问道。

Julia shook her head.朱莉娅摇了摇头。“I can’t tell you,” she insisted.“我不能告诉你，”她坚持道。“Steele would be furious.”“斯蒂尔会大发雷霆的。”

“You will tell me,” Giogi said, shaking her harder.“你必须告诉我。”乔吉说着，更用力地摇晃她。

“You’re hurting me,” Julia whined.“你弄疼我了。”朱莉娅委屈地抱怨道。

Giogi released his cousin suddenly, ashamed of bullying a woman, and so young a woman as Julia.乔吉突然松开了表妹；他竟欺负一个女人，而且还是朱莉娅这样年轻的女人，这令他深感羞愧。I have to know what Steele’s planning, though, he thought.不过，我非得知道斯蒂尔在谋划什么不可，他心想。

“Julia,” he said, trying to reason calmly with the woman, “I won’t tell Steele that you told me anything.“朱莉娅，”他说，试图心平气和地跟她讲道理，“我不会告诉斯蒂尔，是你向我透露了什么。Now, what’s his game?”现在说吧，他到底在打什么算盘？”

“Why should I tell you?”“我凭什么告诉你？”Julia asked haughtily.朱莉娅傲慢地反问。

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll—” Giogi hesitated.“你要是不告诉我，我就——”乔吉迟疑了。He wasn’t sure what he could do to threaten Julia.他不知道自己能拿什么来威胁朱莉娅。

“Run and tattle to Aunt Dorath,” Julia taunted, “like you always did when we were children.”“去找多拉丝姑妈告状啊，”朱莉娅嘲弄道，“就像我们小时候你总干的那样。”

Did I?我有吗？Giogi wondered.乔吉心想。Yes, I suppose I did, but only because Steele and Julia were such naughty children.是啊，我想我是有过，不过那只是因为斯蒂尔和朱莉娅小时候实在太淘气了。He looked at Julia with annoyance.他恼火地看着朱莉娅。“Yes,” he said.“没错，”他说。“That’s exactly what I’ll do.“我正打算这么做。I’m sure she’ll be very disturbed to hear that her grandniece was running around with an assassin’s ring.听说自己的侄孙女竟然戴着一枚刺客的戒指到处乱跑，我相信她一定会非常不安。I’ll give her the ring so she can have Lord Sudacar check that it’s not poisoned.”我会把戒指交给她，好让她请苏达卡勋爵检查一下，看看上面有没有毒。”

“No!“不要！Don’t tell!”别告诉她！”Julia begged, obviously more anxious to avoid Aunt Dorath’s wrath than she’d been as a child.朱莉娅哀求道；显然，她如今比小时候更害怕多拉丝姑妈发怒。

“Then spit it out, woman,” Giogi demanded.“那就快说出来，女人，”乔吉命令道。“Everything.”“一五一十，全都说出来。”

“Steele wants to find the wyvern’s spur without you,” Julia explained, “so he can keep it for himself.“斯蒂尔想撇开你，自己去找飞龙之刺，”朱莉娅解释道，“这样他就能据为己有。He wants the power.”他想要那股力量。”

“Power?“力量？What power?”什么力量？”Giogi asked, surprised that Steele and Julia would know something about the spur that not even Uncle Drone could tell him.乔吉问道，颇为惊讶：斯蒂尔和朱莉娅竟然知道一些连德罗恩叔叔都无法告诉他的、有关那根刺的事。

“Steele doesn’t know what the spur’s power is yet,” Julia said, “but when he gets hold of the spur, he’ll find out.”“斯蒂尔还不知道那根刺究竟有什么力量，”朱莉娅说，“可等他拿到手，自然就会弄清楚。”

Giogi laughed.乔吉笑了。“Steele’s going to be in for a big disappointment if he finds the spur,” he predicted, shaking his head sagely.“斯蒂尔要是找到了那根刺，准会大失所望，”他煞有介事地摇着头断言道。“It’s nothing but a hunk of junk.”“那不过是一块破烂。”

“That’s not what Uncle Drone said last night.”“德罗恩叔叔昨晚可不是这么说的。”

“Julia, I love Uncle Drone like—like an uncle, but you may have noticed that he’s not all together up here,” Giogi said, tapping his forehead.“朱莉娅，我爱德罗恩叔叔，就像——就像爱一位叔叔一样，可你或许也注意到了，他这儿不太齐全，”乔吉说着，敲了敲自己的额头。“The stairs run to the top of the tower, but there are no landings, don’t you know.”“楼梯是一直通到塔顶，可中间连个平台都没有，你懂吧。”

Julia stood defiantly before him with her hands on her hips.朱莉娅双手叉腰，挑衅地站在他面前。“The spur does so have some power,” she insisted.“那根刺就是有某种力量，”她坚持道。“That’s why Cole took it with him whenever he went tramping around the country like a commoner.”“所以科尔每次像个平民似的在全国到处游荡时，都会把它带在身边。”

“My father?“我父亲？What are you talking about?你在说什么？The spur’s been in the crypt since Paton Wyvernspur died.”自从佩顿·飞龙刺去世后，那根刺就一直放在墓室里。”

Julia shook her head vehemently.朱莉娅使劲摇了摇头。“No, it hasn’t. Your father used to steal it whenever he wanted to use it.“不，不是的。你父亲每次想用飞龙刺，都会把它偷出来。He was Uncle Drone’s favorite, so the old fool never told anyone.他是德罗恩叔叔最宠爱的人，所以那个老糊涂从没告诉过任何人。No one found out about it until Cole died.直到科尔死后，这件事才被人发现。Uncle Drone was forced to tell the family, because, otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to bring back his remains.德罗恩叔叔迫不得已，只好告诉家里人，否则，他们也不会如此大费周章地运回他的遗骸。Cole was wearing the spur when he died.”科尔死的时候，身上就戴着飞龙刺。”

“Wearing it?!”“戴着它？！”Giogi asked incredulously.乔吉难以置信地问道。

“It’s true,” Julia said with a scornful sniff.“是真的。”朱莉娅轻蔑地哼了一声。

“Why hasn’t anyone ever told me any of this?”“为什么从来没人告诉过我这些事？”

“Aunt Dorath said that she would never have approved of your father using the spur if she had known, and no one would ever use it again.“多拉丝姑妈说，要是她早知道你父亲在使用飞龙刺，她绝不会同意，而且以后谁也不准再用它。We children weren’t to be told about it.”这件事不许告诉我们这些孩子。”

“Then how did you find out?”“那你是怎么知道的？”

Julia hesitated for a moment, then saw the look in Giogi’s eyes.朱莉娅迟疑了片刻，随即看见了乔吉眼中的神情。

“Steele and I were listening at the keyhole when she explained all this to our father.”“她向我们父亲解释这一切时，我和斯蒂尔正在钥匙孔外偷听。”

Just what I would expect from a sneaking little witch like you, Olive thought.就知道你这个鬼鬼祟祟的小巫婆会干出这种事，奥利芙心想。

Giogi shook his head, trying to reconcile Julia’s story with his own memories.乔吉摇了摇头，试图让朱莉娅的说法与自己的记忆吻合起来。Whenever Giogi tried to picture his father, though, Cole always looked like his portrait, which hung in Giogi’s bedroom—a portrait that could have been interchanged with nearly every other portrait of Wyvernspur menfolk, including the painting hanging in the carriage house.然而，每当乔吉试着在脑海中描绘父亲的模样，科尔看起来总是和挂在乔吉卧室里的肖像一模一样——那幅肖像与几乎所有其他飞龙刺家族男子的肖像都相差无几，包括挂在马车房里的那幅画。All Giogi could remember clearly was a tall man who’d tried to teach him to ride, took him swimming, and loved to sing.乔吉唯一能清楚记得的，是一个高个子男人曾试着教他骑马，带他去游泳，而且很爱唱歌。

The nobleman sighed.这位贵族叹了口气。Everyone in the Realms except me knew that my father was an adventurer.诸界之中，除了我以外，人人都知道我父亲是个冒险者。Most of the members of my family knew he used the spur, but I didn’t. Maybe I should have tried listening at a few keyholes.家里大多数人都知道他用过飞龙刺，只有我不知道。也许我也该试着趴在几个钥匙孔外偷听。Giogi turned back to the mausoleum, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.乔吉转回身面向陵墓，打开门锁，将门推开。

“Giogioni,” Julia continued, “Frefford has the family title.“乔吉奥尼，”朱莉娅接着说，“弗雷福德继承了家族爵位。You have all your mother’s money.你得到了你母亲所有的钱。Why shouldn’t Steele get the spur?”凭什么不能让斯蒂尔得到那枚马刺？”

Giogi turned around thoughtfully.乔吉若有所思地转过身来。It wasn’t hard to come up with an answer to that question.这个问题并不难回答。“Julia,” he said, “do you know what Steele said to me when Uncle Drone gave me my father’s key to the crypt?“朱莉娅，”他说，“德罗恩叔叔把我父亲那把墓室钥匙交给我时，你知道斯蒂尔对我说了什么吗？He said he wished your father would hurry and die so he could have his own key.他说，他巴不得你父亲早点死，好让他也能有一把自己的钥匙。Steele was a jealous, mean little boy, and as far as I can tell, he’s grown into a jealous, cruel man.斯蒂尔小时候是个嫉妒心强又刻薄的小男孩，据我所知，他如今已经长成了一个嫉妒而残忍的男人。Did it ever occur to you that he doesn’t deserve the spur?”你有没有想过，他根本不配得到那枚马刺？”

“What have you done to deserve it?”“你又做过什么，配得到它？”Julia asked with venom.朱莉娅恶狠狠地问道。

“Julia, I don’t want the spur.“朱莉娅，我不想要那枚马刺。I just want to return it to the crypt, where it belongs.”我只想把它放回墓室，放回它该在的地方。”

“Then why has Uncle Drone been secretly nagging Aunt Dorath all winter to let you have it?”“那为什么德罗恩叔叔整个冬天都在暗中纠缠多拉丝姑妈，要她把马刺交给你？”

“Listening at keyholes again, are we?”“又在门外偷听了，是吧？”Giogi asked, using the question to hide his own surprise.乔吉问道，借这个问题掩饰自己的惊讶。

“I have servants to do that for me now,” Julia said coolly.“现在这种事有仆人替我做了。”朱莉娅冷冷地说。

Too lazy to do your own dirty work, eh?连自己的脏活都懒得干了，是吧？Olive thought.奥利芙心想。

Giogi sighed again.乔吉又叹了口气。“Look, this whole argument is moot if we don’t find the spur.“听着，要是找不到那枚马刺，我们这番争论就毫无意义。I’m going into the crypt after Steele.我要进墓室去追斯蒂尔。You should be back helping Aunt Dorath and Frefford with Gaylyn.”你应该回去帮多拉丝姑妈和弗雷福德照料盖琳。”

“Steele will find the thief before you do.“斯蒂尔会比你先找到那个贼。He’s an hour ahead of you, and he knows how to use his weapon.他比你早了一个小时，而且懂得怎么使用自己的武器。He isn’t bogged down by some overgrown pack rat, either.”再说，他也没有被某只长得过了头的囤积鼠拖累。”

Olive brayed loudly, jerked her halter from Giogi’s hand, and charged at Julia.奥利芙高声嘶叫，一把从乔吉手中挣脱笼头，朝朱莉娅冲去。

Not used to being charged upon by burros, the noblewoman retreated with a yell and almost toppled over a headstone.这位贵族女子不习惯被毛驴迎面冲撞，惊叫着连连后退，差点被一块墓碑绊倒。Olive herded Julia out of the graveyard and waited at the entrance until the woman had fled down the path.奥利芙把朱莉娅赶出墓地，守在入口处，直到那女人沿小路逃远。

Giogi grinned as the little burro trotted back to his side.小毛驴小跑着回到乔吉身边，他咧嘴笑了。He scratched behind her ears.他挠了挠她的耳根。“Don’t you pay any attention to her, Birdie.“别理她，小鸟儿。Julia’s too foolish to see what a superior burro you are.朱莉娅蠢得根本看不出你是多么出色的一头毛驴。She doesn’t even realize I’m better with a foil than Steele is.她甚至不知道，我的花剑使得比斯蒂尔还好。Steele only used to win by thwacking at me with the flat of the blade.斯蒂尔以前之所以总能赢，不过是因为他老用剑身侧面抽打我。That’s cheating, you know.”你知道，那是作弊。”

Giogi picked Olive’s lead rope off the ground and pulled her through the door into the family mausoleum.乔吉从地上捡起奥利芙的牵绳，拉着她穿过门，进入家族陵墓。He closed and locked the door behind them.他关上身后的门，锁了起来。Olive shivered.奥利芙打了个寒战。It was colder inside than out, and, naturally, as dark as a tomb.里面比外面更冷，而且自然也像坟墓一样漆黑。

Giogi drew a shining crystal from his boot.乔吉从靴筒里掏出一块闪闪发光的水晶。Olive stared at it with astonishment.奥利芙惊讶地盯着它。It was a finder’s stone, just like the one Elminster had given Alias.那是一块寻物石，和伊尔明斯特送给阿莉亚丝的那块一模一样。Olive had spent many hours guessing at its value before it was lost near Westgate.在它于西门城附近遗失之前，奥利芙曾花上许多个小时猜测它究竟值多少钱。Olive remembered now that Alias had run into Giogi again, outside of Westgate.奥利芙这才想起，阿莉亚丝后来在西门城外又遇见了乔吉。If this is the same stone, Olive thought, then there are more coincidences in my life than in one of those bad operas in Raven’s Bluff, the Living City.要是这就是同一块石头，奥利芙心想，那我这一生中的巧合，可比“活城”乌鸦崖那些蹩脚歌剧里的还要多。

Whatever its origins, the finder’s stone filled the mausoleum with a warm, rich glow.不论这块寻物石来历如何，它都让整座陵墓沐浴在温暖而绚丽的光辉中。The twinkle of precious metal attracted Olive’s attention to the tomb itself.贵金属闪烁的光芒将奥利芙的注意力吸引到了墓室本身。Giogi was busy lighting torches set in gold-plated sconces.乔吉正忙着点燃安放在镀金壁座上的火炬。The flames’ reflections danced on every surface around them.火焰的倒影在他们周围的每一处表面上跃动。The floor was checkered with black and white squares of polished marble, and the walls and ceiling were covered with solid plates of a dull gray metal, which Olive presumed was lead.地面由抛光大理石铺成黑白相间的方格，墙壁和天花板则覆盖着暗灰色的实心金属板，奥利芙猜那是铅。Two white marble benches, inlaid with runes of gold and platinum, were the only other decor in the room.房间里仅有的其他陈设，是两张嵌有黄金和铂金符文的白色大理石长凳。The husks of long-dead flowers lay on one bench.其中一张长凳上散落着早已枯死的花朵残骸。Olive could see no other exit besides the one Giogi had just locked.除了乔吉刚刚锁上的那道门，奥利芙看不出还有别的出口。

Giogi finished with the torches and began hopping like a child along the squares of marble laid out on the floor.乔吉点完火炬，便开始像个孩子似的，沿着地面铺设的大理石方格蹦跳起来。Right foot on white, left foot on black, two jumps diagonally on white with the left, then back one jump with both feet.右脚踩白格，左脚踩黑格，左脚沿对角线在白格上跳两下，然后双脚往回跳一格。

Olive was just thinking how Uncle Drone might not be the only Wyvernspur “not all together upstairs,” when a large section of the floor at the far end dropped a foot and slid silently beneath the rest of the floor.奥利芙正想着，飞龙刺家族里“脑子不太正常”的或许不只有德罗恩叔叔，远端的一大片地面忽然下降了一英尺，悄无声息地滑到了其余地板下面。A narrow staircase led down into the dark hole revealed by the secret door.一道狭窄的楼梯通向暗门显露出的漆黑洞口。Nice workmanship, Olive thought.手艺真不错，奥利芙心想。Invisible, quiet, no vibrations.看不出痕迹，听不到声响，也没有震动。

“Come on, Birdie,” Giogi said, taking Olive’s lead rope.“走吧，小鸟儿。”乔吉说着，牵起了奥利芙的绳子。“The secret door doesn’t stay open very long.”“这道暗门开不了多久。”

Olive grudgingly followed the nobleman down the steps.奥利芙不情不愿地跟着这位贵族走下台阶。Giogi used the finder’s stone to light their way.乔吉用寻物石为他们照亮前路。The walls on either side were of rough-cut stone fitted together by expert masons.两侧的墙壁由粗凿的石块砌成，石块在技艺精湛的石匠手中严丝合缝地拼接在一起。The stone was cool but dry.石头触感冰凉，却很干燥。The air was less chill than in the mausoleum and grew even warmer as they descended.这里的空气不像陵墓中那么寒冷，而且随着他们不断下行，还变得越来越暖和。

Olive tried counting the number of steps, but she got confused by her extra feet.奥利芙试着数台阶的级数，却被自己多出来的几只脚弄糊涂了。There were three landings where the staircase turned, but the steps were all even and not too steep or narrow for her hooves.楼梯共有三处转折平台，但每级台阶都很齐整，对她的蹄子来说既不太陡，也不太窄。Olive caught glimpses of shimmering lines on the walls, but whenever she looked directly at them, the lines disappeared.奥利芙偶尔瞥见墙上有些微微闪烁的线条，可每当她定睛去看，那些线条便消失了。More magical glyphs, she realized.又是魔法符文，她意识到。I must be immune to their power because I’m in Giogi’s company.我肯定是因为跟乔吉在一起，才不受它们的法力影响。Or because I’m just an ass, she added.也可能只是因为我本来就是头蠢驴，她又补充道。

Finally they reached the bottom.他们终于抵达了底部。Their way was blocked by another door plated with the same gray metal used in the mausoleum.去路被另一扇门挡住了，门上镀着与陵墓中相同的灰色金属。Emblazoned across the door was a painting of a great red wyvern.门上赫然绘着一头巨大的红色双足飞龙。The words, “None but Wyvernspurs shall pass this door and live,” were inscribed in the Common tongue over the door.门上方用通用语刻着一行字：“除飞龙刺家族之人外，谁也休想活着通过此门。”

Once again Giogi pulled out his silver key.乔吉再次掏出了他的银钥匙。He stared at it for a moment, took a deep breath, then exhaled, puffing out his cheeks.他盯着钥匙看了片刻，深吸一口气，又鼓着腮帮子把气吐了出来。“Now, don’t be frightened, Birdie,” Giogi said as he turned the key in the lock.“好了，别害怕，小鸟儿。”乔吉一边说，一边转动锁孔里的钥匙。“I’ll protect you from the guardian.”“我会保护你，不让守护者伤害你的。”

Much obliged, Olive thought, but who’s going to protect you?多谢了，奥利芙心想，可谁来保护你呢？The halfling burro could smell fear on the nobleman.这头半身人小驴闻得出贵族身上的恐惧气息。

Giogi took another deep breath, gathered his courage, and pushed open the door.乔吉又深吸一口气，鼓起勇气，推开了门。He took a step into the room, then another.他朝房间里迈出一步，又迈出一步。Olive followed alongside him, which Giogi took as an indication that the little burro was a fearless creature.奥利芙在他身旁跟了进去，乔吉便以为这说明小驴是个无所畏惧的生灵。In reality, Olive was simply anxious to stay within the finder’s stone sphere of light.其实，奥利芙只不过是急于待在寻物石的光圈之内。

“Hello, hello,” Giogi said, at first softly, then with more volume.“喂，喂。”乔吉先是轻声喊道，接着提高了音量。“Steele, are you here?” the nobleman called out.“斯蒂尔，你在这里吗？”贵族高声喊道。His voice echoed back, but there was no living response.他的声音回荡着传了回来，却没有任何活物回应。Giogi pushed the door closed behind them and locked it.乔吉关上他们身后的门，将它锁好。

They stood in the Wyvernspur family crypt—a vast tunneled chamber with straight walls and a vaulted ceiling.他们站在飞龙刺家族的墓穴中——这是一座巨大的隧道式墓室，四壁笔直，顶部呈拱形。Both walls and ceiling were lined, as the staircase had been, with fitted, cut stone.墙壁和拱顶都和楼梯一样，用切割后严丝合缝的石块砌成。Every so many feet, in place of a stone, was a block of marble engraved with the name of a Wyvernspur, with—so Olive presumed—the remains of a Wyvernspur buried behind it.每隔一段距离，墙上便有一块石头被刻有某位飞龙刺家族成员姓名的大理石板取代，而奥利芙猜想，那位家族成员的遗骸就葬在石板后面。

In the center of the crypt was a single cylindrical pedestal ringed with concentric circles of letters carved into the floor.墓穴中央立着一座圆柱形基座，周围环绕着一圈圈同心圆文字，刻在地面上。Each circle repeated the same warning in a different language.每一圈都用不同的语言重复着同一句警告。Olive couldn’t read all the tongues, but the outer and most prominent warning was written in Common.奥利芙并非所有语言都看得懂，但最外圈、也最醒目的那句警告是用通用语写的。The words, “painful, lingering death,” stood out clearly in the finder’s stone light.在探寻石的光芒下，“痛苦而漫长的死亡”几个字格外清晰。Olive did not feel compelled to read any more.奥利芙觉得没必要再读下去了。

The pedestal stood higher than Olive’s line of sight.基座高过了奥利芙的视线。She could see only the swatch of black velvet draped over the top of the pedestal and which hung down about a foot all around.她只能看见覆在基座顶端的那幅黑天鹅绒；它四面垂下，约有一英尺长。

Giogi, from his adult human height, looked down on the top of the pedestal.乔吉有着成年人的身高，可以俯视基座顶端。“It’s missing, all right,” he muttered.“确实不见了。”他低声说道。

“Giogioni,” a voice whispered from the other end of the hall.“乔吉奥尼。”大厅另一端传来一个低语声。The echo repeated the whisper.回声重复着这声低语。

Olive shivered.奥利芙打了个寒战。She was willing to bet that that wasn’t Giogi’s Cousin Steele.她敢打赌，那绝不是乔吉的表亲斯蒂尔。The voice had a sensuous, husky quality, but it also conveyed to Olive the unpleasant sensation of something sawing at her bones.那声音带着一种性感而沙哑的质感，却也让奥利芙产生了一种仿佛有什么东西正在锯她骨头的不适感。The voice had to belong to the guardian.这声音一定属于那个守护者。Olive understood immediately Giogi’s childhood terror of the creature.奥利芙立刻明白了乔吉儿时为何如此害怕这个生物。

Giogi froze, like a man held by magic.乔吉僵在原地，仿佛被魔法定住了一般。He moved his mouth, wetted his lips, and moved his mouth again, but no words came out.他张了张嘴，舔湿嘴唇，又张了张嘴，却一个字也说不出来。

Patches of darkness broke through the edges of the light cast by the finder’s stone and swirled together until they coalesced into one large shadow, which sprouted legs, a serpentine neck and head, a sinuous tail, and huge reptilian wings.一块块黑暗从探寻石光芒的边缘破入，旋转着汇聚到一起，最终凝成一道巨大的阴影；那阴影长出了四肢、蛇一般的颈项和头颅、蜿蜒的长尾，以及一对硕大的爬虫类翅膀。The shadow spread out against the far wall, covering the detail of the stonework in an inky pool.阴影在远处的墙面上铺展开来，宛如一摊墨汁，遮没了石墙上的细节。

Olive had no trouble recognizing the silhouette as the shadow cast by a monstrously large wyvern.奥利芙毫不费力地认出，那轮廓是一头大得骇人的飞龙投下的影子。Yet, there was no wyvern in the room.然而，房间里根本没有飞龙。Olive began to back up slowly.奥利芙开始慢慢后退。She had had frightening ordeals with dragons before, but at least those dragons had been visible and alive.她以前也曾在龙的手下经历过可怕的磨难，但至少那些龙看得见，而且是活的。The creature dwelling in this place, Olive realized, was neither.奥利芙意识到，盘踞在此处的这个生物，两者皆非。

“Giogioni,” the disembodied voice whispered again.“乔吉奥尼，”那个不知从何处传来的声音再次低语道。The shadow of the wyvern head moved as the voice spoke.说话时，飞龙头颅的影子动了起来。“You’ve come back at last.”“你终于回来了。”

“I’m only passing through, guardian,” Giogi said.“我只是路过，守护者。”乔吉说道。“Don’t bother—” Giogi’s voice cracked.“不必费心——”乔吉的声音突然嘶哑了。He swallowed hard to wet his throat before continuing.他用力咽了口唾沫，润了润喉咙，才继续说下去。“Don’t bother yourself on my account.”“不必为我费心。”

“Is this little morsel for me?” the guardian asked as a shadowy talon elongated and traveled across the ceiling and down the wall toward Olive.“这口小点心是给我的吗？”守护者问道。与此同时，一只影爪越伸越长，沿着天花板爬过，又顺墙而下，探向奥利芙。

Olive could’ve sworn the air grew colder as the shadow claw drew near her.随着那只影爪逼近，奥利芙几乎可以发誓，空气变得更冷了。

Giogi interposed himself between his burro and the darkness.乔吉挡在自己的小驴和那片黑暗之间。“This is Birdie, and I need her to search the catacombs, so I would appreciate it if you would leave her undisturbed.”“这是小鸟儿，我需要她搜查地下墓穴，所以还请你不要打扰她。”

The voice laughed.那声音笑了起来。“Not too little anymore, are you?“你已经不再是个小不点了，对吧？I shall respect your wish.我会尊重你的意愿。But you’ve come too late, my Giogioni.可是你来得太迟了，我的乔吉奥尼。The spur has been taken.”那枚刺已经被人拿走了。”

“I know that,” Giogi said.“我知道。”乔吉说道。He could feel a bead of sweat trickling down his face as he mustered all his courage and asked, “Why didn’t you stop the thief?”他感觉一滴汗珠正顺着脸颊淌下；他鼓起全部勇气，问道：“你为什么不阻止那个窃贼？”

“My charge is to let Wyvernspurs pass unslain,” the guardian replied matter-of-factly.“我的职责是让飞龙刺家族的人活着通过。”守护者平静地答道。

“So which of us took the spur?”“那么，我们当中是谁拿走了那枚马刺？”Giogi demanded.乔吉追问道。

“I have no idea.“我不知道。Wyvernspurs are all alike to me.在我看来，飞龙刺家族的人都一个样。Like shadows on a wall.”就像墙上的影子。”

“Great,” Giogi muttered.“好极了。”乔吉嘟囔道。

“Except you, Giogioni.“除了你，乔吉奥尼。You are different.你与众不同。Like Cole, like Paton.就像科尔，就像佩顿。Kissed by Selune.”都曾受塞露恩亲吻。”

“What is that supposed to mean?”“这话是什么意思？”

“Do you remember what we spoke of when you were here last?”“你还记得上次来这里时，我们谈过什么吗？”

“I’ve been trying to forget it, actually.”“其实，我一直在努力忘掉。”

“You can never forget the death cry of prey, nor the taste of warm blood, nor the crunch of bone.”“猎物临死的哀号、温热鲜血的滋味、骨头碎裂的脆响，你永远都忘不了。”

Olive’s ears pricked up at the unusual pattern of words.这不同寻常的措辞节奏让奥利芙竖起了耳朵。Wyvern poetry? she wondered.飞龙诗歌？她心想。

“I have to go,” Giogi insisted.“我得走了。”乔吉坚持道。He tugged on the burro’s halter.他拽了拽小毛驴的笼头。Olive needed no further coaxing.奥利芙无须再催。She trotted across the chamber at the nobleman’s side, keeping him between her and the silhouette.她小跑着穿过墓室，紧挨在那位贵族身旁，始终让他挡在自己与那道剪影之间。As the only source of light in the room—Giogi’s finder’s stone—moved, the shadow did not shift position but remained looming on the far wall.随着房间里唯一的光源——乔吉的寻物石——移动，那道影子却没有挪动位置，依旧高高笼罩在远处的墙上。