[ROM]THE EYE OF THE DRAGON 龙之眼
THE EYE OF THE DRAGON$ H, k! V" d- H* _6 P1 M9 v
龙之眼
4 C. ~" \* S& ]/ { G/ OEd Greenwood
0 t" G" {# m% w4 T$ }2 \埃德•格林伍德" \, c! q: b% b0 Y
TRANSLATED BY：runfriends( L9 j" J' a. B# y ]7 A
+ l/ n5 {+ V3 `/ J& D5 f1 n( LAmbreene glanced irritably out the window as she hurried along the Hall of Clouds behind the politely insistent seneschal. Why did Grandmama Teshla want to see her just now?9 m3 o. l: u: @( f% I$ P
艾布瑞妮,当她急匆匆的穿过忠于职守的管家身后的阴影大厅时，暴躁的向窗外瞥了一眼。苔什拉奶奶现在想见她？
7 W+ J+ T! d$ \The deliriously cool breeze that slid around Hawkwinter House was dying away. Waterdeep would soon be cloaked in a damp, clinging haze that played Tymora's happy dance with lightning spells.... Even if all the household slept, she'd dare not conjure a single spark. Awkward, unpracticed casting was all she could manage.
5 q Y$ R2 o$ T! D) F+ Y- f) M; O连日来徘徊在冬鹰家族的不愉快逐渐淡去。深水城不久就会笼罩于湿气之中，湿粘的薄雾带着闪电魔力，跳着泰摩拉的欢快舞蹈……（深水城不久就会被阴郁笼罩，阴霾就像闪电般的魔力，跳着Tymora’s的欢快舞蹈……）即使家里所有人都睡了，她也不敢召唤一个火星。她的施法技巧笨拙生疏。' u7 F( h$ C, {& k
Another tenday would pass in endless palace promenades; dull tutoring sessions on the honorable and very long history of the Hawkwinters; and idle chatter with the empty-skulled high ladies who were her sisters' friends-if such a cold-hearted, scheming, petty lot of cat's claws could truly be deemed the friends of anyone. Another tenday would pass in which Ambreene Hawk-winter-one more society beauty in a city that teemed with superior young she-nobles-would work no magic of consequence.- X/ } k2 U {9 m4 Y# O
又一个十天散步于无尽宫殿，即将过去。在枯燥的荣誉辅导课程和冗长的冬鹰历史中度过；还在那高傲的只有副空脑壳的小姐们之间的无聊闲谈中度过，她们都是她姐姐们的朋友，如果这样任何一个冷漠、诡计多端、小气钻营的女人真的可以做朋友的话。又一个十天将要过去， 在艾布瑞妮•冬鹰——这个大量涌现高傲年轻女贵族的城市里的又一个交际花——与魔法无关的事情中度过。
2 Z d6 {: I' G5 kAmbreene scowled at herself in a mirror as she hurried past. It would be so easy to just give in. She could banish to memory her secret sessions of sweating concentration and fearfully hissed spells, and just idle her days away, drifting inevitably into the boredom of marriage to the favorite lout, dandy, or stonehead of some noble family favored by the Hawkwinters. So gods-be-damnably easy. She tossed her head and glared at a startled servant as they turned into Teshla's Tower and began to climb the spiral stairs to the rooms Grandmama Hawkwinter never left.
3 ]) w1 F. F$ o9 G9 U: X' S艾布瑞妮匆忙的从镜子旁过去，怒视着镜子里面的自己。要想放弃实在太容易了。她可以把她的在秘密课程上付出的努力和极多咝咝声的符咒从自己的记忆里赶走，然后仅仅虚度自己的时光。最终不可避免的漂进无聊的婚姻，与受宠的蠢人、花花公子，或者受到家族宠爱的某个贵族家族的石头脑袋结合。这该受诅咒的神。她轻轻晃着头，瞪着一个惊愕的仆人，他们正好一起走进苔什拉的塔楼。然后她踏上螺旋形的楼梯去冬鹰奶奶从没离开过的房间。0 Y, K) n0 \# Q/ B) w( }/ Q2 R
That ease is why it must never happen, she vowed silently. I'll not become another wisp-headed cat's claw. I'll see Hawkwinter House hurled down into its own cesspools first!; T- e, P9 j! R" I' c5 s
安逸就是为什么它从来没有发生，她暗暗发誓。我不会成为另一个没有思想的猫爪。我要先看着冬鹰家族被丢进它自己的污水坑。
$ T/ a0 s- R% G# }# QThe seneschal came to the door at the end of the worn red shimmerweave carpet and rang the graceful spiral of brass chimes that hung beside it. Unlatching the heavy door, he swung it wide, stepping smoothly back to usher Ambreene within.' {" n7 b* F) C7 n" V9 X
管家走进门，站在旧的红色微光地毯尽头，敲响了镌刻着优美螺旋纹饰的黄铜钟。他拉开门闩，将笨重的门大敞，然后平静的返回去迎接艾布瑞妮进去。2 L7 r. q' C6 c: |" K7 o
The youngest daughter of the Hawkwinters strode past him with the absently confident air that made the servants privately call her the Little Lady Queen of All Waterdeep. She walked into the dim, quiet apartments that were all the kingdom the once-mighty dowager Lady Hawkwinter had left.6 c' P+ g9 f# j. \
冬鹰家族最小的女儿大步走过他，视他如无物；她这样的神情使得仆人们私下里称她为整个深水城的小女王。她走进暗淡寂静的房间，那是整个的王国，是曾一度强势的冬鹰夫人留下的。
. g }3 T5 `, V) vPriceless glowstone sculptures drifted in slow dances as she passed. Enchanted, shimmering paintings of flying elven hunts and dancing lords and ladies flourished their endless animations. A fascinated Ambreene was a good twenty paces into the luxurious chamber when she realized she was alone. There was no trace of the three elderly chamberladies who always lounged by the central bedchamber stair, waiting to be summoned up into Teshla's presence. Ambreene glided to a graceful halt amid the empty lounges, uncertain what to do.
$ { W0 }7 q4 C7 [( U' p% B昂贵的发光石雕刻品随着她的经过而轻微摇晃，像缓慢的舞蹈。关于飞翔精灵狩猎的微光油画使人着迷，跳舞的勋爵和小姐们炫耀着他们无穷的活力。入迷的艾布瑞妮意识到自己是单独一个人时，她已正好迈了二十步走进了这个豪华的房间。房间里没有那三个老寝室侍女的影子，她们总是在中央卧室的楼梯边上慵懒的打发时间，期待着她们能吸引苔什拉到场。艾布瑞妮走向两个雅致的长沙发中间，不知道该做什么。. `% q1 n1 z' Y
An eye winked open in the smooth ivory sphere adorning one bottom stairpost, and a mouth appeared in the other, speaking in the familiar dry, waspish tones of Grandmama Teshla. "Come up, girl; I've not much time left."; _# D6 _4 D. Z" w
一只眼睛眨着从楼梯底部一只光滑的象牙球形装饰物上睁开，一张嘴在另一只上出现，是苔什拉奶奶严厉尖刻的语气。“上来，女孩；我剩下的时间不多了。”
0 T7 P+ {. V8 ]# XA little chill arose inside Ambreene at that calm state-ment. Obediently she set foot on the curving stair. It was the summons she'd dreaded, come at last. She gathered her skirts and mounted the steps in haste.
% u" X: w$ D) {1 J一丝寒意从艾布瑞妮平静的内心深处升起。她顺从的踏上弯曲的楼梯。那就是她所担心的召唤，最终还是来了。她赶紧拎起裙子，迈步上去。
$ C' l4 @$ [: s9 C7 z, v% P7 DShe should have visited Grandmama more often, and stayed longer, despite the watchful, over scented old chamber ladies with their vague, condescending comments and endless bright, cultured, empty phrases about the weather. She should have told Lady Teshla-who'd dabbled in dark and daring magic in her younger days, they said-about her own fumbling attempts to master magic. She should have ...
# g& D7 a- m+ j0 h, ]她常来拜访奶奶，逗留很长时间，不管那些洒了大量香水的寝室侍女用字斟句酌的空洞字眼没完没了的大声谈论天气，神态暧昧又傲慢。她告诉苔什拉女士——人们说她年轻时涉足黑暗和大胆的魔法——她独自摸索，试图掌握魔法。她还……: f0 j4 n! y1 g% k: [
Ambreene reached the head of the stairs and came to a shocked halt. Grandmama was quite alone, lying propped up on her pillows in bed. She must have sent the servants away and unbound her hair herself.
/ T& Y+ q: A8 B' y4 T艾布瑞妮走到了楼梯的尽头，震惊的停下了。奶奶躺在床上靠枕头支撑着身体，显得很孤独。她已经支开了仆人，并自己解开了头发。
" v$ Q3 x$ ?. V8 W, E( t1 iA soft-hued drift globe hovered above the bed, and Ambreene could see that Lady Teshla was wearing a black robe whose arms were writhing, leaping flames of red silk-robes better suited to an evil seductress than the matron of one of the oldest, proudest houses in all Waterdeep. She looked dangerous, and the glint in her old, knowing eyes made that impression even stronger.
. \$ z8 i' s a8 |2 [1 N F一个色调柔和的球体飘荡在床的上方，艾布瑞妮看到苔什拉女士穿着一件黑色长袍，袖子上用红丝绸绣着蜿蜒跳跃的火焰；这件长袍更适合一个邪恶的荡妇，而不是深水城任何一个家庭里最年长最骄傲的寡妇。她让人觉得危险，而且她世故的眼睛里的闪光使这一印象更加强烈。3 I' U& p" R; d+ |" a) T
Ambreene swallowed. "Grandmama, I came as qui-"2 G8 Z4 [3 q& U9 B/ R( l* ^0 F
艾布瑞妮压下自己的感觉。“奶奶，我尽……”+ H% j& u- Q) m6 Y+ \: Y8 g9 d
"Quickly enough, it seems," the dry voice said, with just a hint of weariness. "I breathe yet. Stand not there quivering like an unschooled courtesan, girl, but come and give me a kiss-or you may yet be too late."; C- b& E: V* c. h( {/ G) G
“够快了，似乎是，”干枯的嗓音响起来，显得很疲劳。“我还在呼吸。不要站在那像个没受过教育的交际花；女孩，过来吻我，否则就太晚了。”
$ O+ {' {+ v0 p9 \, M" n* ^/ ^Numbly, Ambreene did as she was bid. The old arms trembled as they went around her, but the lips were as firm and imperious as ever. Ambreene looked into the black, bottomless pools of Grandmama's eyes-a falcon's eyes, her father had once called them-and said, "Grandmama, there's something I must tell you. I've been trying to-"
8 v& _8 Z3 o8 {2 a8 y艾布瑞妮麻木的按照命令做了。老朽的胳膊颤抖的来回抚摸着她，但是那副嘴唇像以前一样坚硬专制。艾布瑞妮看向那双黑色、无底深潭一般的眼睛——一双猎鹰的眼睛，她的父亲曾经那么形容——说：“奶奶，有些事情我必须告诉你。我已经开始试图……”+ F2 V$ Z5 R8 \5 d9 n# ?# P
"Weave a few spells," Lady Teshla finished the sentence almost impatiently. "Do you think I don't know this, girl? What way does my favorite window face, now?"! h# ]* `( {" L0 j, s" f
“编造一些魔法，”苔什拉女士急躁地说完这句话。“你以为我不知道这个，女孩？现在我最喜欢朝向哪里的窗户？”
+ o( \6 s0 u' Z4 O! S9 ZToward Ambreene's own bedchamber windows, of course, but.. .
1 [& }2 H$ b; D; {! _5 W) s# f: `朝向艾布瑞妮卧室的窗户，当然是了，但……
: v0 G) }( d: L% o, s- p"I'm glad you used the word 'trying.' A right mess you made of the darkshadow cloak," Teshla said dryly. "But you have all the grand gestures right, girl. Some young blade'll quake in his boots if he ever tries too much at a dance and you hurl the pig-face curse his way!"- b4 U( l. c& K
“我很高兴你是用‘试图’这个词。一项权利妨碍你了解阴影披风，”苔什拉的声音干涩。“但是你拥有所有重大表决的权利，女孩。有些纨绔子弟会在他的靴子里发抖，如果他都把精力花在舞会上了，而你恶狠狠的咒骂他的行径是猪头所为！” I/ f9 L/ m" N
Ambreene flushed in embarrassment-how had Grand-mama, shut in this dim tower, seen that? She was sure she'd managed to restore the old war hound's rightful looks before his frightened yelps had ...5 j$ ]! H/ @5 k2 S
艾布瑞妮窘的面颊绯红——深闭在幽暗塔楼里的奶奶是怎么知道这些的？她确信她已经设法还了那个好战的老狗面子，在他惊恐的狗吠之前……7 F6 B u( u) | Y0 T& u1 l
The driftglobe swirled and drew her eyes-and suddenly its heart flashed into a view of distant Castle Waterdeep, from above, as if she were standing atop Mount Waterdeep looking down on it!0 z! n" l! l6 {+ s
那个飘荡的球旋转着吸引了她的眼睛，它的中心突然闪现出一幅从上方远距离俯视深水城堡的景象，就像她站在深水山顶向下看到的一样！' B0 j: {* d1 p4 Q6 m2 ?
"That's how I see all," Teshla told her as the scene faded. Touch the sphere."
8 X+ E; M0 v* M2 R$ ]1 _“这就是我如何看到的，”那景象暗下去时，苔什拉告诉她。“摸一下那个球。”
# o* Z- S4 m+ K, {. ^Wonderingly, Ambreene did so. A tingling spread through her from her fingertips, and Teshla nodded approvingly.
. A d. p" z5 ^艾布瑞妮疑惑的照做了。一阵刺痛从指尖穿过她，苔什拉满意的点了点头。
% A8 |2 }1 Z1 i' ]$ G"The globe will follow you, now. When you go, all can think I was just bestowing a little magic on my kin before I went to the arms of the gods-but this is why I summoned you."
8 v5 @3 X( z E+ D$ B# v; c6 Q ?“当你离开时，所有人都会以为我在回归神的怀抱之前，只是给自己的亲人赠送了一点儿小魔法，这就是我找你来的原因。”
9 i; y. k; y* N/ qA wrinkled hand moved with surprising speed, drawing up the fine chain that had gleamed down into Teshla's shrunken bodice for as long as Ambreene could remember-and bringing into view a delicate silvery metal dragon's head, in profile. Its single eye was a huge dark glossy gem of a sort Ambreene had never seen before in a lifetime of watching wealth drift languidly by at feasts and revels. She stared at it ... and it seemed to stare back at her.
8 P4 l. ?4 a3 c/ F一只满是皱纹的手以令人惊讶的速度抓住一根纤细精美的链条——它隐现在苔什拉皱缩的紧身胸衣里，艾布瑞妮时常记起，一个闪烁着银色光泽的金属龙头造型映入视野。它的独眼是一颗散发着黑色光泽的硕大宝石，那种类艾布瑞妮从没在任何节日和宴会上见过。她盯着它，它似乎也盯着她。9 r( f, C1 X9 @& z0 K
"What is it?" she whispered as Teshla drew the chain off over her head with arms once more slow and weary, and held it out./ x0 ^' j4 n% d- u2 N% H
“这是什么？”她低声说道。苔什拉把链子拉过她的头顶，胳膊显得更加迟钝而疲倦，并把它取了下来。6 r2 D& G4 l* r+ d
The Eye of the Dragon, child," Teshla said softly. "May it serve you better than it did me-and may you use it far more wisely than I did. Take it."$ i8 R: A* T1 ]; q; W- E: p
“龙之眼，孩子。”苔什拉和蔼的说。“它可能会更好的帮助你，比它为我做的更好；而且你可能比我更明智的使用它。拿着。”
0 T& O6 b# s0 a7 q0 C: J2 NThe youngest daughter of House Hawkwinter swallowed, and then lifted her head and calmly reached out for the gem. Teshla chuckled at the imperious manner, and then tilted her head to watch her descendant closely ... almost warily.
; {. m- n5 D% J! l* S/ ^* u, [+ _冬鹰家族的小女儿抑制住情绪，抬起头向宝石伸出了手。苔什拉发出急切的轻笑，然后转过头仔细的注视着她的后裔，不放过任何细节。
; s7 ]6 a. W! C4 _2 wIn Ambreene's awed fingers, the gem seemed warm and alive-and weightless, as if it could float on its own. It held power, strong magic that Ambreene could feel through her entire body. She stared at it in amazement, and then looked up almost reluctantly.
. E$ B* z* I* a/ ^$ x3 i在艾布瑞妮充满敬畏的手指间，宝石温暖而有活力，却没有丝毫重量，就像它能自行飘浮。它拥有力量，艾布瑞妮能感到强大的魔力穿过她的全身。她惊异的凝视着它，然后几乎是不情愿的查看着。
1 g* P; K5 `; |"I-I never dreamed so precious a thing was in this house," she said wonderingly. "And to be given it... Thank you, Grandmama! All my thanks! I don't know how to say it well enough, but-"
8 H# I& T( {2 D; [* Q V' f“我，我从没想到这间房子里有如此贵重的东西，”她惊奇的说。“而且还得到了它。谢谢你，奶奶！我全部的谢意！我不知道怎么说它有多好，但是……”
, K. W( O+ i5 n% d$ @, b: P0 b"Know what it does before being so free and eager with your joy," Teshla cautioned her. "It is your true inheritance, for only a sorceress can use it. Keep it secret. No one else in this house knows of it... and it is a thing of great power."
6 {4 Z9 p5 Y$ p3 e6 U3 p“随心所欲以前，首先知道它是什么，”苔什拉警告她。“这是你真正继承的遗产，只有一个女法师能使用它。保守秘密。在这个家族没有其他人知道它。而且它拥有强大的力量。”
$ O& ^, Q! i/ {Her dark eyes stared somberly into Ambreene's own. "Be warned, girl-learn its ways thoroughly, and use it only with great care, for it steals and stores memories, and can leave a man a hollow husk ... as I learned, to my cost."
1 x" U3 t: ?+ A她黑色的眼睛严肃的凝视着艾布瑞妮的眼睛。“注意，女孩——彻底掌握它的力量，并万分小心的使用它，因为它会窃取并储存记忆，最后只剩一幅男人空洞的躯壳。这是我的代价。”
2 n+ h, H8 _1 ~+ N! f$ @# m: c& iA frown playing about her brows, Ambreene stared at the old woman. Grandmama turning a man into a ... husk? What man could she have been be so interested in-or who would even look at her? It must have been some reckless thief, come to the tallest tower of Hawk-winter House in hopes of stealing some baubles....) ]9 E* Y5 K. W6 k W) g* [+ j
艾布瑞妮蹙着眉，盯着这个老女人。奶奶把一个男人变成了空壳？她好奇是哪个男人，或者仅仅是看着奶奶?一定是某个不知天高地厚的贼，闯进了这座冬鹰家族最高的塔楼想偷点儿小玩意儿。6 n1 t7 S5 t5 G
"Speculate all you want," Teshla told her, as if reading her thoughts, "but waste not the breaths left to me in foolish questions of who and why. That is my own business, and you can learn the truth from the Eye after I am gone. But remember, and beware: it steals memory."
$ j# T* c m% t( U! n- |% S8 z1 I“想你所想的，”苔什拉告诉她，就像能读到她的思想，“但是不要在谁和为什么这样愚蠢的问题上浪费我的呼吸。这是我自己的事情。在我离去之后，你将通过龙之眼看到事实。但请记住并小心：它偷取记忆。”( B1 H/ D( _* U
Ambreene had been about to put the chain over her own neck. She stopped abruptly, looked at the pendant as if it might bite her, and hurriedly slid it into the outermost pocket of her robes.% u2 Q( P' R6 h4 ~! o3 A3 e
艾布瑞妮正将链坠戴在自己的脖子上。她突然停下，看着这个坠饰，就像它会咬她，然后慌忙把它丢进长袍最外面的口袋。& @4 U" e5 _8 D
"Wise," Teshla said, falling back into her pillows. "Now that that is done, and . . ." Her eyes closed, and her voice trailed away.% R: X; [8 n; x" a( X
“明智，”苔什拉边说边重新落回她的枕头。“现在事情，事情妥当了，而且……”她闭上了眼睛，声音也越来越微弱。
" F4 p- D" ~" }4 j2 H5 PAmbreene stared at her in alarm. "Grandmama?" she cried. "Gra-". i s7 O. O) l6 N7 h" K/ ^
艾布瑞妮惊慌的盯着她。“奶奶？”她叫喊道。“奶……”
" r9 b4 \- @& `4 c: aAnd then she heard the rattle of a drawn breath, and-slowly and unsteadily-another. Grandmama still lived ... and yet, this would be her deathbed. Soon.
& {" m R# r! k1 l2 w然后她听到一阵急促无力的呼吸声，接着就慢下来，时紧时缓的呼吸。奶奶还活着…可是，这将是她的最后时刻、生命垂危，已是弥留之际。很快。
' T0 B+ g( y& A0 UAmbreene stood silently by Lady Teshla's bed for a long time, thinking furiously-and then whirled and left the room, striding hard. The driftglobe sailed silently along in her wake. }5 K3 L1 S) w1 s7 A- }5 a7 k
艾布瑞妮在苔什拉女士床边伫立良久，思绪如惊涛骇浪；然后急急转身大步离开了这个房间。那颗浮球静静的跟随着她。
. n2 v5 h0 S% a) XShe was almost running when she swept past the seneschal, ignoring his surprised look and murmured question. She traversed the Hall of Clouds faster than the old warrior had ever seen her move before; he had to trot to keep up. Instead of storming into her rooms or bursting into tears when her chambermaids rose to greet her, the young lass turned abruptly aside to descend the back stair to the stables, and thence to the gates., `* a# Z9 Z* f! a
她几乎是跑着冲过管家身边，没注意到他惊讶的目光和不停的轻声询问。在经验丰富的家族武士注意到她之前，她早已快速的穿过了阴影大厅；武士不得不小跑着跟上。她回到寝室，寝室侍女罗斯向她问候。她既没大发脾气，也没让眼泪涌出；少女突然稳定了情绪，然后走向了家族府邸的大门。( H. i( i$ w: |* i* k n( \8 \& _
The seneschal clattered after her, clutching his scabbard to keep it from tangling in his legs and sending him into a headlong tumble. "Lady Ambreene!" he puffed, his voice imperious. "This is most irregular! Your father said nothing about your going out this day, and with the Great Lady Teshla so nea-"
3 D8 h, V4 ?! n7 b, X管家跟在后面不停的劝说，他抓住自己的剑鞘以免妨碍自己，甚至跌倒。“艾布瑞妮小姐！”他气喘吁吁的跟着，急切的说。“这很不合规矩！你的父亲没有说你今天要出去，而且在你的奶奶，苔什拉夫人如此……”
5 C5 E$ ^# K( q: i ^& R9 BAmbreene did not bother to turn her head. "Did he not? Well, go to him, and he shall tell you-but stand in my path at your peril!" The lie came to her in an easy rush, and she found herself quivering with excitement and anger. No one was going to stop her, not even Lord Piergeiron himself! Grandmama was her only real friend-and Ambreene had no intention of losing such a precious thing, whatever Teshla might think of the time left to her....
7 d8 B& k, }' K3 _- n. F7 t艾布瑞妮不耐烦地转过头。“他没有？好，现在去见他，他会告诉你的；而不是在这儿挡住我的路，让你自己承担风险！”谎言轻易的从她嘴里涌出，她发现自己正因为激动和愤怒而颤抖。没人能阻止他，即使皮尔哲阿尔恩勋爵他自己也不能！奶奶是她惟一真正的朋友，而且艾布瑞妮不想失去如此珍贵的感情，而不管苔什拉可能留了给她多少时间。
9 o4 g5 `2 i7 l' h# J8 \3 hA few breaths ago, Ambreene Hawkwinter had been powerless to do anything about Grandmama's slow wasting. But that was before the Eye of the Dragon had come into her hand.
3 q p2 I' X1 |6 W/ ^3 _9 H- i不久前，艾布瑞妮•冬鹰面对奶奶生命的流逝而无能为力。但这是在她得到龙之眼之前。
; f8 d# P# l' b& [! hIt was beautiful, yes-so beautiful!-and a thing of power, besides. But what were those things, set against the warmth and wisdom of Grandmama, there to laugh with Ambreene, chide her, and teach her the ways of spells and men and Waterdeep itself?& [ y0 z) v* J( N8 I8 e
真是太美妙了，是的，太美妙了！一件拥有力量的物品，还有……别的那都是些什么？与奶奶的关爱和智慧完全相反。那都是对艾布瑞妮的讥笑、斥责，还有学习魔力的课程，还有男人，还有深水城它本身。 J# u& ^4 S: s5 R( i" H
In all the city, men said, there was no mage as mighty as Khelben Blackstaff. If he could make the dead live and gods whole, he could surely restore one old woman! He would want this Eye of the Dragon, and doubtless do such a small and kind service in return for it.
2 ^& W; _! w' Y, q在这个城市——人们说——没有像科海尔本•黑杖一样强大的魔法师。如果他能制造死灵生物和生命体系，他也一定能让一个老女人恢复健康！他会要这颗龙之眼，无疑也愿意做这样一个小小的、仁慈的服务作为报答。9 W7 W' }3 Q) |& d
Briefly Ambreene thought of how powerful the Eye might make her, and how slow her mastery of magic was sure to be without it... but no. Without Grandmama's direction and teaching, she might never learn to wield even the pendant, let alone spells of her own!
, X" X7 B) U( S) T1 }艾布瑞妮简单的想了想龙之眼可能会使她变得多强大；以及如果没有它，她学习魔法是多么的迟钝。但是，不。没有奶奶的教导，她大概永远也不会使用这个坠饰，除了她自己的魔力！
+ F4 l6 y+ L: @6 x( |She strode down the street as folk stared at the speeding driftglobe and the red-faced old seneschal puffing along after her. A dozen smirking, hastily assembled Hawkwinter armsmen completed the train. Ambreene didn't care. She needed only her eyes to head for the dark and distant needle of Blackstaff Tower.
! s$ y5 l0 k$ h) N, l她大步走过街道，浮球快速的跟着她，管家在后面追的脸红气喘。人们都在盯着他们。一打冬鹰家族武装卫士——脸上挂着富有优越感的笑意——仓促集合起来，排成队列。艾布瑞妮全不在意。她只需要她的眼睛，指引她向远处黑色的黑杖城堡前进。9 [& @* [3 q) M! M- D1 Y+ a0 k5 S
Every child in Waterdeep knew it; the home of a man whose spells were mighty enough to hurl back liches, mind flayers, and beholders all at once, and whose stern justice frightened even proud heads of the richest noble houses. Ambreene quailed inwardly as she marched along. But she was a Hawkwinter, on a truly noble mission-and Ambreene's name might well some day ring down the streets of Waterdeep as grandly as that of Khelben Arunsun. She lifted her chin and strode on without slowing . .. and behind her, the seneschal rolled his eyes and wheezed along. Fear was on his face as she passed into the shadow of Blackstaff Tower.5 A2 i* d2 X3 O* A9 c: w* t
深水城的每个孩子都知道：一个魔力足够强的人，他的家里会丢出尸体、丧失了神智的人和所有的旁观者；谁强烈的正义感与最有钱的骄傲贵族发生冲突。艾布瑞妮前进时，内心里感到恐惧。但她是一个冬鹰，一个真正的贵族——而且艾布瑞妮的威名在深水城还是有些响亮的——与科海尔本•阿如桑一样显赫。她抬起下巴，毫不减速，大步向前。在她后面，管家转动眼睛，艰难的喘息。她走进黑杖城堡的阴影里，他的脸孔被恐惧占据。1 k3 Q7 {% ]' ^8 g
*****
+ i5 _2 A- w4 U5 S/ I: J( qA single taper flickered in Ambreene's bedchamber as she shot the door bolt into place with steady hands. She hurried to the dusty space behind her wardrobe, where her few scraps of magic were hidden.
8 W: H S0 i# M. B1 B********
+ V$ O4 n4 @+ i5 W卧室的门被牢牢的插上，一只小细蜡烛在里面闪动。她冲向衣橱后面满是灰尘的地方，她在那里藏着一些关于魔法的文章。
7 w8 }$ x) X2 B. H& QShe almost made it. Two paces shy of her secret place, hot tears of rage and grief burst forth, blinding her. She blundered forward, sobbing, until she ran into the wardrobe's polished side and raised trembling fists to strike it, again and again, heedless of the pain.6 R# L6 ^) n% L2 p$ r
她差点就成功了。离她的秘密之处只有两步远时，愤怒和悲痛的热泪盈眶而出，模糊了她的双眼。她跌跌撞撞、泪雨潸潸地冲到衣柜被磨光了的那边，颤抖地举起拳头，不断击打，一下又一下，毫不在意疼痛。# n L$ c3 S& C2 }" i, X! Q
Khelben had granted immediate audience, and hope had soared like a flame within her until the moment: A7 d) |/ }4 g( A
科海尔本立即答应接见，希望就像火焰一样在她内心深处剧增，直到那时。
r) G3 e8 t7 c( tAmbreene had given him her name. He looked at her gravely and uttered words that would burn in her brain forever: "Teshla Hawkwinter? No, child. Not that one. She knows why, and has accepted her death . . . and so must you."
; q* B2 P/ }; p t1 ?2 }0 @0 J& ?艾布瑞妮告诉对方她的名字。他严肃地看着她，不容置疑的措辞将永远在她的头脑里灼烧：“苔什拉•冬鹰？不，孩子。不是那个。她知道为什么，并已经接受了她的死亡。而且你也必须接受。”+ g2 ?% h0 V8 s g5 B; H0 @
That was all he would say, despite tearful pleadings. At last Ambreene rose from her knees, lifted her chin, turned in silence, and left, unheralded. Khelben didn't even look up from his papers as she went out!
+ ~$ z1 }* n1 ?7 v$ h2 O6 F6 U那就是所有他愿意说的，丝毫不顾满眼泪水的请求。最后艾布瑞妮安静下来，昂起下巴，抬起脚离开了，没有任何预兆。她离开时，科海尔本甚至没从他的卷宗上抬起头来看一眼。
" X1 [: @9 E' u3 OShe stumbled away, the seneschal and guards treading close around her but not daring to speak. At home, the folk were as white faced as she was, and silence reigned over Hawkwinter House, save for muffled weeping behind closed doors. The dowager Lady Teshla Hawkwinter was dead.
$ ]4 q& k" j8 f2 R* e) _4 m# U2 |3 R9 P她步履蹒跚，管家和卫士们跟在她周围，没人敢出声。在家里，家人们的脸跟她一样苍白。沉默笼罩了冬鹰家族，除了门后压抑的哭泣声。苔什拉•冬鹰夫人去世了。% n$ A0 I W4 j* Q! T3 f, s+ r
The priests of half a dozen temples murmured and chanted around the high-canopied bed. Ambreene wasn't even allowed in to see what was left of her Grandmama- sleeping forever now, a small and shrunken thing in the great spill of silken pillows-until the haughty strangers were done.! [: x$ w/ |( n! n3 l
六位牧师围在那张高吊盖床周围低声吟唱着赞美诗。直到那些傲慢的陌生人唱完了，才允许艾布瑞妮进去看看她的奶奶留下了什么——现在永眠了，像是一个从丝质枕头溢出的小小的皱巴巴的东西。
+ ]* K k3 G0 J& tHer father was there. He said her name once, gently, and reached for her-but Ambreene stepped around him and looked upon the Lady Teshla alone and in silence. When she had turned to go, her father had signed to the servants not to follow, and for that gentle mercy she must remember to thank him when she could. But not now. Oh, not now.
5 q2 f3 D5 `: H他的父亲在那里。他叫她的名字，轻轻的，并向她伸出手；但是艾布瑞妮走到离他稍远一点的地方，独自静静的看向苔什拉女士。当她转身离开时，她的父亲示意仆人不要跟随。为了这点小小的仁慈，她必须记得适时地表达感激。但不是现在。啊，不是现在。
. u2 B- h! Z/ TShe drew herself up in the darkness, her throat boiling with an anger that made her want to scream and rake herself and break things. She hissed in a voice that fought hoarsely through tears, "I will make you pay for her death, oh great grand Lord Mage Khelben Blackstaff Arunsun. Ambreene Hawkwinter will make you plead for aid as I pleaded . . . and I will show you the same mercy you showed me. This I swear."8 L: A3 @7 P* H+ n, ^9 B" m
她待在黑暗里，由于激愤，她想要尖叫，放纵自己，打碎东西。她沙哑的哭泣，发出咝咝的声音。“我要让你为她的死付出代价，嗬，法师之王科海尔本•黑杖•阿如桑勋爵。艾布瑞妮•冬鹰要让你恳求帮助就像我做过的。而且我将向你表示慈悲，就像你对我做的。我发誓。”9 [5 Y' {3 U; h3 e3 Z' F
Her last words seemed to echo around her, and Ambreene shivered suddenly and clung to the wardrobe for support. So this was what it felt like to swear a death oath. And against the most powerful archmage in all Waterdeep, too. She sighed once, and then hurried to the door. She must get Grandmama's spellbooks and magic things before some maid spirited them away to make fair coin, and they were lost. The Lady Ambreene Hawkwinter had much work to do....6 F. l5 D: ~' h7 Y+ }0 t# M
最后一个词就像回声旋绕在身周，艾布瑞妮颤抖着，紧贴着衣橱以免倒下。这是一个死亡诅咒。它与深水城大多数强大的首席法师对立。她叹息一声，冲进门里。她必须拿到奶奶的魔法书和魔法物品，赶在某些女仆偷走它们换成零钱之前，要么它们也会被遗失。艾布瑞妮•冬鹰有很多事情要做。2 G) X# M, @- |4 R$ n! k
*****7 D5 F5 l) q( B2 I, T7 ]# k
A month later, Ambreene stood beside the wardrobe and looked at herself in her glass. A gaunt, hollow-eyed maid with white skin and dark, burning eyes gazed back at her. She knew the servants whispered that her wits had been touched by the Lady Teshla's death, but she cared not a whit.9 n1 [" \" L$ J& a5 Y9 Q$ ?4 r
********
" I8 G2 _0 q# T8 V- X8 ?一个月后，艾布瑞妮站在衣橱前看着镜子里的自己。一个形容憔悴、肤色苍白、眼窝深陷的少女用一双深色的眼睛看着她，眼神炽烈。仆人们秘密的谈论她的才智被苔什拉女士的死触动了；这些她都知道，但她毫不在意。
: ~9 r8 F( P# t" A' A% W0 F0 G; sAmbreene was almost ready. Mastery of all the spells in Teshla's books-her books, now-might take years, but the Eye of the Dragon shone openly on her breast, and at night quivered warmly against her skin, whispering to her in her dreams.
2 i; _" s' N. l" m4 c' m; V9 r9 M艾布瑞妮就要准备好了。掌握苔什拉的书——现在是她的——里的全部魔法大概需要数年，但是龙之眼在她的胸口灼灼闪耀，夜间兴奋的在她的皮肤上震动，在她的梦中低语。) U+ h; h3 ~5 h/ J& {* O# p
All too often the night visions it sent drifted away in smoky tatters, but when her will was strong enough to hold steady to them, they showed her how to command the pendant to take memories . . . and to yield its memories up, like the scenes acted out at revels.8 b6 M* M1 M" w9 A2 O. @
在许多个夜晚它发送的梦境就像冒烟的破布慢慢散去。随着她的意志逐渐强大，她已能稳稳得抓住它们，它们向她展示如何命令坠饰带走记忆，以增长它的记忆，就像不同场景的狂欢表演。' q6 j9 [0 k/ v ]3 ?
As Grandmama had warned, the Eye could drink thoughts-and when she got the right chance, she'd use it on Khelben, to steal his magic. Then she would be a great sorceress, and he'd be left a shambling, slack-jawed idiot. A fitting fate, she thought. . . until that dark day when the pendant showed her why he'd refused to keep Grand-mama alive.
x. O O$ G4 x/ g) K6 x" O( J正如奶奶警告的，龙之眼能吸取思想。当有合适的机会时，她要用在科海尔本身上，偷走他的魔力。那时她就是个强大的魔法师了，而他将变成一个只会蹒跚行走和发呆的白痴。一个合适的运气，她想着。直到那昏暗的一天，坠饰向她展示他为什么拒绝治疗奶奶。
2 \) L! z' T+ f VAmbreene saw how it all had happened, saw it through the Eye.$ T M% n# i8 G
艾布瑞妮通过龙之眼看到了事件的整个过程。
* j9 E3 @8 Y! m" D% z: D! uTeshla had been a lush, dark beauty in her youth, all flashing eyes, flowing raven hair, full cruel lips . . . and a proud and amoral spirit. Many men longed for her, but she saw them as passing fancies to be duped into making her richer and more powerful. She professed undying love for one wizard-but in her bed, the Eye pressed between them by their bodies and her mouth entrapping his-she drained all Endairn's magic away, becoming a mage of power in one night.) ~6 ~8 Q7 [+ n+ o: Y N: `
苔什拉年轻时是个深色皮肤的性感美女，明亮的眼睛、飘逸的黑发、丰满冷酷的嘴唇，以及骄傲自尊的气质。许多男人被她吸引，他们在她眼里就像过时的花色织物，被她愚弄、欺骗，让她更富有、更强大。她宣称一个叫恩达尔的男法师是她永爱。在她的床上，她的嘴诱骗了他。龙之眼在他们身体之间，她吸走了他全部魔力，一夜之间成了一个强大的法师。
2 S+ W/ i( m: D+ ?: x# g0 DWith her newfound arts, she chained the emptied mage in a dark cellar, bound in spell-silence, and set forth to lure the most cunning merchant of the city to wed her.( {6 U9 s |7 @5 j$ j# M" V
她带着新获得的能力，把耗尽了魔力的法师锁进黑暗的地窖，与魔法隔绝。然后引诱城里的狡猾商人与她结婚。
/ |$ |+ D3 l: n7 E; E8 IHorthran Hawkwinter was rich indeed. She did not refuse his shower of coins, but it was his wits she truly wanted, his judgment of folk and knowledge of their pasts, schemes, alliances, and abilities. It was his wits she took on another night like the first, in the very bed he had given to her, the bed in which she was to die. The confused Horthran had been confined to his chambers from then on, visited by Teshla only when she wanted an heir, and then another child in case misfortune befell the first.; j3 A d1 N9 @' F
豪斯兰•冬鹰很富有。她从不拒绝他的钱财，但她真正想要得是他的才智、他对人的判断力，以及他们的过往、计划、联盟和才干。他的才智，就是她在另一个晚上获得的，就像她对第一个做的。在同一张床上他给了她，她也在那张床上死去。豪斯兰意识混乱，从此就被囚禁在他的卧室，只有苔什拉去看望他，当她想要一个后嗣时。然后第一个孩子不幸降生。8 l- i, h. ]4 j2 `
Ambreene shivered as the Eye showed her infant elders set aside in a nursery. Meanwhile, Teshla clawed and carved her subtle way to dominance, making the Hawkwinters a grand and respected house in Waterdeep., e& j8 G1 o& L% r8 l1 M" F. w( ^
艾布瑞妮颤抖的通过龙之眼看到她的哥哥姐姐们幼年时被丢在保育室的情景。其间，苔什拉四处钻营雕琢她微妙的优势地位，把冬鹰家族变成一个在深水城广受尊敬的主要家族。
/ @% s6 {9 P7 R" a1 vShe wept when the Eye showed a bored Teshla bringing together her husband and the mindless wizard and goading them into fighting each other for her amusement. They both died-sharing a look of heartfelt gratitude as they stared into each other's eyes and throttled each other.
" u: i4 u2 V( m她流着泪看到苔什拉无聊的时候把她的丈夫和那个白痴法师聚在一起，驱赶他们互相殴斗以供消遣。他们怀着由衷地感激互相凝视着对方，掐死了对方。
+ y/ \2 F* A' u- D: G. RThat look troubled Teshla, even after she had the bodies burned and the ashes scattered at sea by a Hawkwinter ship. Eventually her nightmares about it frightened her servants so much that they called in the Lord Mage of Waterdeep. Khelben stripped away all her spellbooks and things of power except the Eye and left her alone in her turret room. The look he gave her as he departed haunted Teshla almost as much as the dying looks of Endairn and Horthran.
/ S- W- e/ L5 s5 c, k他们的表情使苔什拉不安。她甚至命人烧掉了尸体，用船把骨灰撒进海里。最终，这件事成了她的梦魇。长期以来，畏惧的仆人们找来了深水城的法师之王。科海尔本夺走了她的魔法书和魔法物品，除了龙之眼，把她单独留在她的塔楼里。在她面前，他的表情恰如以往如鬼魁般萦绕于苔什拉心头，跟恩达尔和豪斯兰将死时的一样。
4 z6 s' [: o' lOver the long years, Teshla built up her magic again, scroll by scroll, her coins reaching where she could not, to win for her-often with bloodied blades-magic she dared not seek openly. Her son and heir, Eremoes, grew into a man of wisdom and justice under the best tutors the Hawkwinter coffers could buy. There came the day when he returned to Hawkwinter House with a new and beautiful wife, the sorceress Merilylee Caranthor of Athkatla.
8 O9 @! T+ Q1 ]! \& g% [" r多年以后，苔什拉恢复了她的魔法，一个卷轴一个卷轴的，她的钱做到了她所不能的——通常伴随着血腥——为她得到她不敢公开寻找的魔法。她的儿子兼继承人，伊瑞莫斯，长成了一个博识且富有正义感的男人——这都归功于冬鹰能聘到的最好的家庭教师。他跟年轻漂亮的妻子，埃斯卡特拉的梅瑞莱丽•凯兰赛，一起回到冬鹰家族。那一天也跟着来了。% S" m! R. _" S
Seeing her mother clearly in the memory-visions, Ambreene watched numbly as the Amnian woman sought Khelben's protection against the Eye. Cloaked in his spell, she tried to seize Teshla's magic for her own.
8 W- d( [* e6 { L" N7 [$ t* e面对着她的妈妈清晰的记忆幻象，艾布瑞妮麻木的注视着那个安姆女人找到了被科海尔本禁制的龙之眼。在他的魔法保护下，她试图夺取苔什拉的魔法。
( }/ n& Z3 T8 j+ J: XThe sorcerous attack on Hawkwinter House left no trace of his beloved Merilylee, slew half his servants, and razed the upper floors of the family mansion. Eremoes always thought this destruction the work of a rival house, not the result of a sorcerous duel between his mother and his wife. A duel Teshla did not loose.. V: }4 P) m% Q9 ?( y+ k p1 L
这场发生在冬鹰家族的魔法攻击，他心爱的梅瑞莱丽没有留下丝毫痕迹，杀死了半数仆人，毁掉了这栋家族豪宅高层的地板。伊瑞莫斯一直认为这场家族斗争活动的破坏不是他的母亲和妻子两个法师之间决斗的结果。苔什拉从不轻视任何决斗。
# }6 j- S) h6 @, Y& R% P; c6 mAmbreene wept as she saw herself shielded in her nursery by Teshla's spells. From the first, her Grand-mama had chosen Ambreene to be her friend and sorcerous heir, and shaped her into the role coldly and caleulatingly.
, C" h5 D7 V4 ~+ J3 @艾布瑞妮哭泣着看到在她的保育室里，她自己被苔什拉的魔咒保护着。第一次，她的奶奶选择艾布瑞妮作为她的朋友和魔法继承人，并按这个目标培养她，冷酷而深谋远虑。
% \9 v' h. d( a7 O# k) SWhen she came to the end of the long, long years of memories the Eye had seen, Ambreene spent a tearful night on her knees. At last she rose, dry-eyed, Khelben's hated face still burning in her mind.
2 V" R4 b% {6 e" I当她看到龙之眼多年记忆的尽头，艾布瑞妮已满含泪水跪了一夜。最后她泪已流干，站起来时，科海尔本那可恨的脸孔仍在她的头脑里灼烧。0 \$ n V# h" c9 |3 A8 V
Why hadn't he stopped Grandmama? He was Lord Mage of Waterdeep, and had a duty. Why had he let Ambreene's mother be blasted to nothing, and the Hawk-winters groomed to Teshla's wishes? He knew her deeds and ambitions, and did nothing. What made him any better than Lady Teshla Hawkwinter? z, S( j4 Y/ S9 e6 G
他为什么不阻止奶奶？他可是深水城的法师之王，他理应有这个义务。他为什么让艾布瑞妮的妈妈变为虚无？为什么冬鹰家族屈服于苔什拉的意志？他知道她的劣迹和野心，却什么也没做。什么使他比苔什拉•冬鹰女士更受人爱戴？
g1 U- x7 _+ nNothing. She was gone, leaving behind only spells, the Eye, and . . . shame. But he lived still, and had dismissed Ambreene without even a look, and let the house of Hawkwinter become what Teshla had twisted it into. And her father did not even know. ...6 c, I) x: y2 }
微不足道。她已经死了，只留下魔法书、龙之眼，还有羞愧。但是他还活着，甚至都没看艾布瑞妮一眼就把她撵开，还把冬鹰家族变成了苔什拉意欲扭曲的样子。甚至她的父亲根本就不知道。……
8 b; ?, `' ]: J- r& N- uThat very morning Eremoes Hawkwinter had broken his mourning silence. To the palace and every grand house in the city, he had sent forth invitations to a grand feast. And they would come; Hawkwinter hospitality was legendary. j: p( L/ P. i& Y, P! P2 x
那天早晨，伊瑞莫斯•冬鹰打破了他悲恸的沉默。他邀请王宫和这座城市的每个首要贵族参加一场盛大的宴会。而且他们会到的，冬鹰的好客是出了名的。
! v, P0 ?: ]- N' d" Q% SKhelben Arunsun's name was on one of those invitations . . . and he would be there. After Ambreene told the Lady Laeral that she was thinking of studying magic and very much wanted to see the Lord Mage of Waterdeep at Hawkwinter House, Laeral would see that he attended.0 j8 s. F, {3 F4 ?$ B9 |$ u
科海尔本•阿如桑的名字在其中一张请柬上，而且他也会到场的。之后艾布瑞妮告诉莱拉女士，她想学习魔法并非常想在冬鹰家族一睹深水城法师之王的风采；莱拉会看到他到场的。1 }6 W8 C3 X/ I" E8 l% X3 h. n4 I
Ambreene smiled slowly as she opened a spellbook. The feast was a tenday hence; she had little time to prepare herself to greet Khelben properly. She suspected it might not be all that easy to make an archmage kill himself.! T8 f: k5 \9 c, ]' b0 m7 S
艾布瑞妮悠悠微笑着翻开一本魔法书。宴会十天后举行；她有少许时间来准备欢迎科海尔本。她认为不可能那么简单让一名首席法师自杀。
, ]; U8 i# h7 J6 r*****- `& C# R- \; K0 `. V& I4 w
The gate greetings were done, and the many-colored driftglobes she'd conjured (to her father's smiling approval) were becoming useful as dusk drew down. From a distance, across the dance floor, Ambreene smiled and waved at Laeral as the arriving Lord and Lady Mage of Waterdeep were welcomed by her father-and then allowed herself to be swept away into a chalantra by one more would-be suitor.. L% N$ F0 h$ t2 B9 l$ x- Y2 H9 s& y
门口的欢迎仪式结束了，她召唤的各色浮球（经过了她父亲的同意）将在黄昏降临时派上用场。他的父亲欢迎陆续到来的男女贵族法师，艾布瑞妮隔着舞厅在远处朝莱拉微笑挥手，然后她就变成了一个自称自许的起诉者。
/ t" F' Y0 Z/ n- M5 FShe'd scarcely recognized herself in the glass when the chamberladies had finished with her, but she could have resembled a sack of unwashed potatoes and still been nearly trampled by every younger noble son of the city. As the night wore on, Ambreene kept a smile firmly on her face and used magic to keep her hair up and her feet just a breath above the tiles. She wasn't nearly as weary and footsore as she should have been after moonrise, when she slipped away from a sweating Talag Ilvastarr and sought somewhere private.* Z* e: ~% q" |7 ^! s! H* ^7 y/ x( Z% V# P
寝室侍女们把她打扮一番之后，她几乎没认出自己；她看起来就像一袋没洗的马铃薯，仍被这个城市里每一个年轻贵族轻视。随着夜色降临，艾布瑞妮始终保持微笑；并用魔法让头发直竖，随着呼吸在地砖上漂浮。月出之后，当她从热的出汗的塔拉格•伊弗斯塔溜出来寻找隐蔽地点时，她几乎看不出疲态走痛了脚。
' r; Z+ b' t7 _( I8 G5 ?; S2 cMany couples had stolen away from the laughter, minstrelsy, and chatter to enjoy the beauty of the extensive gardens of Hawkwinter House. A part of Ambreene ached to be giggling and caressing the night away in the arms of a handsome young blade, but she had sworn an oath. It was perhaps the first time she had resolved to do something important with her life. Ambreene Hawkwinter would now keep her oaths. All her oaths.
. a3 E/ }/ ?6 [3 X+ {已有许多人在一起纵情大笑、欣赏吟游诗歌，或边聊天边欣赏冬鹰家族广阔的美丽花园。艾布瑞妮也渴望在一个年轻剑手的臂弯里拥吻、爱抚、咯咯傻笑着度过一个浪漫的夜晚，但是她有誓言和诅咒。这大概是她生命中第一次如此下定决心要做些重要的事情。艾布瑞妮•冬鹰现在要遵守她的誓言。她所有的誓言。" z# o) \$ I, u1 ~2 {- c
She was alone in a room that was dark enough. A few gestures and a hissed word, and Ambreene's muscles shifted in the loose gown she'd chosen. It felt peculiar, this sliding and puffing, as she became fatter, her cheeks and chin chubby, her hair russet red. Now no suitor would recognize her as the highly desirable Hawkwinter heiress.
2 ~4 k% Z0 \+ i* |1 h F她单独待在一个黑暗的房间里。一些手势和咝咝作响的单词之后，艾布瑞妮的肌肉在她特意挑选的宽松长袍里面发生了变化。感觉奇妙，身体不断调整，就像被吹起来。她变胖了，面颊和下巴变得圆胖，头发成了赤红褐色。现在没有求爱者能认出她就是那个高贵性感的冬鹰女继承人。2 A, i+ _/ ]! k5 \7 Q4 Q
She smiled grimly into the darkness, and went in search of the Lord Mage of Waterdeep.
$ H* E8 n7 x& c% B6 j/ z她朝着黑暗残忍的微笑，然后去寻找深水城的法师之王。
# { f# \& h6 Z+ j; p" B! tHe was not on the dance floor, nor in any of the noisy, crowded antechambers that gave off it, where older nobles were busy loudly insulting each other, gossiping, gorging, and drinking themselves silly. Nor was he where Ambreene had expected to find him-the dim, smoky rooms on the floor above, where men who thought themselves wise and powerful muttered darkly about plots and trade treaties and the black days ahead for Waterdeep, and added new layers of refinements and pacts to the already labyrinthine entanglements of the city's intrigues.
0 ^. _. ~/ G; b7 f N! I' r: f' k他不在舞池里；也不在充斥着噪声又拥挤的接待室里，老贵族们在那里大声地互相侮辱、闲聊、饕餮、半醉半醒的自斟自饮。他不在艾布瑞妮所希望他在的任何地方——舞池上方昏暗、烟雾缭绕的屋子，自认为英明强势的男人们都在里面小声讨论着黑暗的阴谋、私下里的交易条款以及深水城阴暗的前景，向已经错综复杂纠缠不清的城市密谋里添加精妙的条款和协约。
, r: K3 i7 A$ O, D6 E% t% YAmbreene sent a seeking spell on a tour of the bedchambers and servants' rooms. The magical probe left her blushing and her eyebrows raised . . . perhaps permanently. In one, she found Laeral and her father together- but they were only talking. Relieved at not having to add the Lady Mage of Waterdeep to the ranks of those she must destroy, Ambreene continued her search, but found no trace of Lord Khelben.
6 K2 @8 E3 d9 m- J1 _艾布瑞妮施放了一个探查魔法，遍历所有的卧室和仆人们的房间。侦测魔法使她脸红并翘起了眉毛，这可能要持续一段时间。在其中一个房间里，她发现莱拉和她父亲在一起——他们只是在谈话。这才没使她把这个深水城的女法师也添加到她誓要毁灭的行列里去。艾布瑞妮继续搜寻，但是没有发现科海尔本勋爵的踪迹。4 R2 ^. _5 F$ E
Finally, she sighted him far away across the moonlit gardens, speaking to a succession of young party guests idly strolling the grounds. Hmmph. Dispensing wizardly wisdom, no doubt. Ambreene's eyes narrowed, and she cast another spell. There was a sound like the faint jangle of harp strings, and then:1 ?+ u* _7 |: k# m
"Grand night, to be sure," someone who was not there said loudly in her ear, "but my gut's rolling like a ship being beached through breakers!"
1 t4 H( z3 U1 S7 C( y最后，她看到他远远的徘徊在月光下花园的另一边，跟一群年轻的客人说话。嗯。在炫耀魔法的智慧，无疑。艾布瑞妮眯起眼，释放了另一个魔法。一阵类似竖琴弦的模糊刺响，然后：“夜固然威严，”有人在她耳边大声地说，可那人并不在那儿，“但是我的肠胃正如穿过浪花冲向沙滩的海船一般翻滚！”* O# A0 e; J& D3 _5 R" d
"It's that wine," another, thinner voice replied. "If you must try to drink the Hawkwinter cellars dry all by yourself..."
8 J& }' i) P* l2 r! b: b% w0 x“就是那酒，”另一个空洞的声音回应。“如果你一定要把冬鹰的酒窖喝干……”
O1 d6 h0 G; T% h B+ ^Her spell was working, but where was Khelben's voice? Ambreene frowned and bent her will in the wizard's direction.2 ~8 Z) H' B* Z8 ?% ?7 [
她的魔法生效了，但是科海尔本的声音在哪儿？艾布瑞妮皱眉，把自己的意志专注于男法师的方向。! r1 L- u. i; S5 b- S# g6 m- X e0 Z
A third, cheerful voice said, "Fair even, Lor-" and then stopped as if cut off by a knife.
* E" e1 C: \! u2 B! a第三个愉快的声音说：“公平一致，勋……”声音就像被刀子切断似的，戛然而止。
+ R6 m9 G) ?& F6 J! ^Ambreene juggled the fading wisps of her first spell into life once more, and saw the man who must have spoken ... a man in a half-cloak, purple hose, and a doublet of slashed golden silk . . . standing conversing with Khel-ben. Gods-be-damned . . . the wizard must have a spell-shield up to prevent eavesdroppers from hearing what was said!3 W$ m7 w0 X1 H
艾布瑞妮又召回了衰弱的第一个魔法，然后看到那个刚说过话的男人。一个男人穿着半身斗篷、紫色紧身裤、一对满是刃痕的金丝紧身衣……与科海尔本站着交谈。该死的神。那个男法师一定有防止窃听的魔法护盾！' a' z! t. A+ U7 |, T1 t
Her eyes narrowed. What words, at a party, could be so important that they must be hidden from all?. E/ c& a' W3 W6 u
她眯起眼。在一场宴会里，什么事情如此重要而他们必须在众人前秘密行事。
$ [4 p7 e% d3 `$ iThen she had a sudden thought, and sent her clairaudience spell whirling back across Hawkwinter House to the private chamber where Eremoes and Laeral sat.
& h' }) S3 \/ w5 \" n. E她闪念迸发，神听术急速穿过冬鹰宅邸到达了伊瑞莫斯和莱拉所在的那间卧室。
& ^2 \% y) g9 I: E- ]"Your service to the Harp is timely and enjoyable, as always," the Lady Mage was saying, "and I want you to know that it is not unappreciated or taken for granted, Lord."& A% h0 ^% J- A: ]
“你的竖琴表演总是及时又令人愉快，”女法师说，“而我希望你知道，那不受赏识和承认，勋爵。”& Z$ Y6 m! Q$ ?
Ambreene blinked. Her father a Harper? Gods above!/ J3 j8 u7 C8 ~. J3 D
神明在上！她父亲，一个竖琴手？艾布瑞妮不敢相信。
1 O/ u8 m; \7 G: w, c, T4 A"I know that's not the case," her father replied, "but I must confess I had my own selfish reason for this gathering. . . ."
1 B6 k# o: C2 ^, B0 B3 F7 L; i“我知道这不是理由，”她父亲辩解道，“但我必须承认，对这次聚会我有自私的原因。”
$ P# i, x+ k1 n# E"And would this reason be your youngest daughter's growing mastery of magic?" Laeral asked smoothly.
' O' `; e; P7 B/ n5 v“这个理由就是你的小女儿快速成长的魔法能力？”莱拉平静的问。
( j3 Y% @% \# \: P- n- L4 G- T"It would," Eremoes Hawkwinter said. "I know Black-staff Tower always has more would-be apprentices than either you or Khelben have time for, but if you'd be willing to explore her powers .. . and, I confess, her thoughts and feelings; she's been more affected by my mother's death than her siblings or most folk her age would be ... I'd be most grateful. I cannot hire the right tutor until I know her strengths and interests, and to query her directly would upset her, diminish me in her eyes, and yet fail to yield the truth."
% X, ?& ^* V1 a* E9 B' ]5 ^% I: O“是的。”伊瑞莫斯说。“我知道黑杖城堡一直想要更多的学徒，比你或科海尔本都更有时间。但是如果你愿意探测她的力量…而且我承认她的思想和感情；我母亲的死对她影响太大了，远远超过了对她的兄弟姐妹的，甚至超过了大多数与她同龄的亲人… 对此我深怀感激。在我知道她的实力和兴趣之前，我不能为她聘请家庭教师。如果我直接去问她，只会使她心烦意乱，降低我在她心中的地位，并最终在她对我的忠诚上失败。”
1 H' W/ m& k( P" {0 m"I can do that in the morning, if you'd like," Laeral said in kindly tones-and Ambreene shrieked in fear! Her prying spell collapsed.
7 o+ j/ Y, ?: @0 i. {6 A“如果你愿意，我可以在早上做，”莱拉爽快地说。艾布瑞尼恐惧的尖叫！她的侦听魔法崩溃了。
8 W% C& N, W8 I% o' B* XShe must act now! Once Laeral poked into her mind, she'd have no secrets left, and Khelben'd turn her into a frog or bookend or his slave while she was still whimpering under the Lady Mage's mindprobe... .& I ^: s+ K9 G8 X+ [0 Z# K
她必须现在行动！一旦莱拉侵入了她的思想，她就没什么秘密了。科海尔本会把她变成一只青蛙或者书挡，要么是他的奴隶；而她仍会在那个女法师的思想探查魔法之下呜咽。
& b5 s1 u# T) M2 hTrembling in haste, Ambreene shifted her form again. A young woman who was alluring indeed raced down the closest stair to the gardens, startling couples out of their embraces as she rushed past, and found the moonlight as quickly as she could.
9 V. z; [8 i# F# ^艾布瑞尼在紧迫中战栗，她再次变化外表。一个妩媚的年轻女人从离她最近的台阶急冲进花园——一对拥抱着的夫妇在她冲过时吃惊的松开了怀抱——然后尽快的找到了月光。
" W6 o s9 J9 b8 ?# R! @1 U/ mThe succession of Harper agents seemed to have finished their business with the Lord Mage of Waterdeep, and for one chilling moment Ambreene thought Khelben was gone from Hawkwinter House, and she'd missed her chance.
1 C! }- A& N9 i竖琴手的义务代理人似乎已与深水城的法师之王完成了他们的交易；迅速冷静下来之后，艾布瑞妮认为科海尔本已经离开了冬鹰家族，而且她已经失去了机会。+ Q5 J4 V: \5 g, W2 J# |, _
Then she caught sight of him in a far corner of the gardens, sitting alone on a bench in the bright moonlight. Pulling the Eye's chain off over her head, Ambreene held the pendant ready inside her sleeve, panted until she regained control of her breath, and then set off slowly toward her quarry.! t) I9 ?0 _) n# M" q7 t4 `
然后她看到在明亮月光下他独自坐在花园远处一角的长椅上。视线越过她的头，艾布瑞妮手藏在袖子里攥着项坠，平复呼吸，然后向她的目标慢慢的前进。6 c) Q6 E) B8 ?7 k
This would be her only chance. To keep her oath, she must not fail now. Ambreene moved as quietly as she could without seeming to creep; if Khelben turned his head and saw her, she wanted to look alluring, not like a thief darting guiltily about.2 \0 }1 v) T: n
这是她惟一的机会。要遵守誓言，她不能失败。艾布瑞妮尽量安静的移动，又不能蹑手蹑脚；如果科海尔本转头看到她，她希望自己看起来很妩媚，而不是像个贼一样心虚的来加逡巡。9 c- }+ ]& E* y* B
He was stroking his chin as she drew near, and studying the bright belt of stars overhead as if they were telling him something.
! f3 l5 E9 v* p她靠近时，他正摸着下巴仰望明亮的星河，就像它们正向他诉说什么。' W2 r; E: C" p8 i1 i
"Well met, Lord Wizard," she said enticingly, when she was only a few paces away. She kept her voice low and rich and laced with laughter, like a seductive courtesan she'd once overheard at the palace entertaining a Cal-ishite merchant. "Moonlight becomes thee."
% [1 v& j, \) p' I“极好的邂逅，法师勋爵，”只距离几步远时，她勾人的说。她使自己的声音低沉、圆润，还和着笑声，就像一个勾人的交际花；她曾在一场宫廷宴会上偶尔听到一位克利萨商人说起过。“月光与汝相宜。“
: a/ y4 ~0 R& z# D% F- p"I believe that last line should be mine, lady," Khelben replied calmly, studying her with eyes that seemed to bore right through her magical disguise.
" p8 J; x9 N. H. ] F5 [' o“我相信最后一缕将是我的，女士。”科海尔本平静的回答，并观察着她的眼睛似乎要彻底看穿她的魔法伪装。7 w% R) x" p) q6 a. @. S6 F
"I'm young yet," she returned lightly, "and still working on my scroll of blandishments and flirtations. All Water-deep knows of your dedication to justice and your fidelity to the Lady Laeral, my lord, but I was wondering if you'd mind if a lass who prefers wits and maturity to the empty swaggering of young men practiced a line or two on you ... and perhaps grew so bold .. ."8 P$ r9 E5 Z0 x {. @3 n. h
“我还年轻，”她回复了冷淡，“而且还在我的哄骗和调情名册上努力。整个深水城都知道您为正义做出的贡献以及您对莱拉女士的忠诚，我的神啊，但我好奇您是否介意一个少女跟您练习一两次？与空虚傲慢的小男人相比，我更喜欢睿智与成熟。而且我们或许如此大胆的…”
8 I+ d+ g1 D8 [6 _1 G1 TShe leaned near, giving the Lord Mage of Waterdeep a spectacular view of the fine leaping-dragons lace that edged her bodice, and continued slowly and huskily, "... as to share a kiss with me? Something I'd remember fondly and privately, mind, not shout from the rooftops...."+ n7 U- N4 O* p, N- @
说到这时她靠近了些，向深水城的法师之王展示了一幅壮观的风景——精美的跳跃而行的龙造型项坠靠在她的紧身胸衣旁边，“…想要分享一个吻？有些事情我愿意天真的当做私下里的记忆，并多加留心，而不是公之于众……”
* Y" M6 s# }, S+ ]* G9 d# vThe Lord Mage regarded her. Something that was almost a smile seemed to play about his lips. "What precisely did you have in mind, O enthusiastic young lady?"
! c+ L s. f5 E: m0 S法师之王打量着她。一丝类似讥讽的笑意在他唇边玩耍。“哟，热情的年轻女士，你正打算着什么？”( y$ Q! H) w! f8 P" ]1 b5 C
Ambreene let the fullness of her sleeve hold the Eye, and stretched forth that hand for Khelben to see. His gaze flicked from one of her empty, ringless hands to the other as she knelt, so that their eyes were level.. @) B, w! W. i# b3 M9 Z% o+ }: @
艾布瑞妮用那只圆胖的胳膊举着龙之眼，向前伸出手让科海尔本看着。她屈膝跪下使双方视线水平；他来回看着她的两只手，从那只空的没有戒指的手到另一只。
. J; `+ |( e$ D5 s9 F# P0 b"I'm no disguised monster, only a lonely maid," she purred, staring invitingly and challengingly into his eyes, "and I'd very much like a kiss." She licked her lips and whispered, "I'll submit to whatever magic you want to use, to be sure I'm . .. safe."
* C9 X9 u/ ?& k: {“我没有掩饰什么，我只是一个孤独的少女，”她的声音就像小猫般轻柔，动人的挑逗的望着他的眼睛，“而且我非常渴望一个吻。”她咂咂嘴，耳语着，“我愿意顺从你要对我用的任何魔法，以确保我…无害。”
& x) m/ d- ^, kThe mage they called the Blackstaff raised an eyebrow. "And why go to all this trouble-possible humiliation and danger-just for one kiss from an old man?"
+ }. W6 _# [& O2 q2 Q0 L+ q叫做黑杖的法师抬起一条眉毛。“为什么要自寻烦恼——屈辱又危险——仅仅为了一个老男人的吻？”
* S5 |9 j7 D* t6 K8 w& a1 d"I've heard what they say about wizards," she whispered, eyes bright.
4 M" M& K$ ^" i“我听说了他们那些关于男法师的说辞，”她耳语着，双眼闪耀着鲜媚的光芒。9 w% c" ^% p: ~- |* }
Khelben looked swiftly around, as if to be sure that no one was watching, and then extended his arms. "Come, then, lass, and try whatever you're trying to do ..."
- Q: q7 [0 }/ l/ C科海尔本迅速的向四周看了看，好像为了确定没有人注意到，然后伸出了他的手臂。“来吧，那么，女孩，尝试所有你想要的……”0 x: [4 ~0 t: P
Ambreene's eyes narrowed at his choice of words, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. Opening her mouth hungrily, she glided into his embrace-and then twisted in his arms, whipping the pendant out and around his neck like a striking snake. The Eye of the Dragon flashed as she snarled, "Take his memories! Take them all! And give them to me!"( T- m5 @" b. m; j5 S( t8 V
艾布瑞妮品味着他的措词，但是机会实在好的无法拒绝。她饥渴的张开嘴，投进他的怀抱，在他的臂弯里扭动；项坠鞭子似的抖出，像一条吐信的蛇一般绕向他的脖子。龙之眼随着她的怒骂闪光，“带走他的记忆！全部带走！然后都给我！”6 f! v0 ^. ~$ W+ w% Y2 ~7 l4 d, k
The chain tightened cruelly around the mage's throat, but he only pulled her closer and growled, "You wanted a kiss, remember?"& V' |" p; O' B Y$ f
项坠残忍的勒紧了法师的咽喉，但他只是把她拉的更近了，咆哮道，“你想要一个吻，记的吗？”* t* |* [. p# T9 W% B! r) `
His lips were warm, but Ambreene shook her head violently and tried to bite him. When her mouth was free, she spat in his face and hissed, "Plead! Plead for your magic, archmage!"
6 l4 m% f1 f- z: D6 w他的唇炽烈的迎上，但艾布瑞妮猛烈的摇着头试着去咬他。她的嘴重获自由后，她一耳光打在他的脸上，嘘声道，“我要！我要你的魔力，首席法师！”
, }9 i- c) V9 t5 U3 I, OShe jerked the chain tight across Khelben's windpipe. He did not turn the purple hue she expected, but only smiled faintly.4 }$ @/ z* a) A8 I7 I% e
她绕过他的喉咙猛的拉紧项坠。他的脸色却没有像她预料的那样变紫，只是带着微微的笑意。
6 V$ I/ { x9 g"Don't you know what this is?" she snarled, tugging on the chain again.
9 e0 A. q0 ^) I3 Q“你不知道这是什么吗？”她咆哮着，用力拉着项坠。8 a& P0 a( h' d6 U$ n) j$ @
The wizard nodded. "The Eye of the Dragon," he said calmly. "It's been years, lass, since I've seen it. Well, well...". P: G" }4 z1 _' @, P, u2 o
男法师点着头。“龙之眼，”他平静的说。“很多年前我就见过了，女孩。很好，很好……”* }7 r/ |$ D* _% N* {
"Years?" Ambreene could barely get the word out through lips that were suddenly twisting and slipping. . . . Her face and body were sliding back into their true shape!
r6 d( v* o! Q( V2 A; d, d“很多年？”艾布瑞妮几乎说不出这个词，她的唇突然扭曲、渐渐松驰……她的脸和身体恢复了原貌！
5 t: c' {: s- f9 _$ T4 xThe craggy, bearded face so close to hers was melting and shifting too. When Ambreene saw what it became, the color fled from her face and her teeth began to chatter in terror.1 v, o' Y, t. Q/ [. r
那张满是皱纹、长着胡子脸紧靠着她的，那张脸正在融化移位。当艾布瑞妮看到那张脸的最终模样时，她的脸变的毫无血色，她的牙齿开始恐怖的颤抖。
0 z- m3 M" y: G; XShe'd seen the Old Mage of Shadowdale only once, but the wizard they called Elminster was unmistakable. He grinned at her. "If ye'd live a little longer, lass," he said gently, "never try to bosom thy way up to the real Khel-ben. He's not that trusting, know ye ... after all, he's had several centuries of comely wenches trying that sort of thing on him, and most of them were his apprentices."
3 @ ~- I- u. f/ X, N" G/ C虽然她只见过阴影溪谷的老法师一次，但被人称做艾尔明斯特的男法师是绝不会认错的。他朝她咧嘴而笑。“如果你想活的久一点，女孩，”他缓和的说道，“永远也不要试图向真的科海尔本隐匿你的目的。他不是那么相信别人，而且了解你……毕竟，与漂亮的年轻女人做那事他也有好几个世纪了，而且大多数都是他的徒弟。”/ X0 b& v; S& B# A# [
"But. .. how . . . ?"
9 c8 U( l3 a! O' K# t$ M“但是……怎么……？“
7 G) |) ~, Z: d"Khelben had to hurry back to Blackstaff Tower on some Harper business begun here tonight," the Old Mage explained. "Both he and Laeral felt your probing spells- really, lass, take a little more care with such things, eh?-so he called me in to do a little impersonation in case other Harpers came to report... or ye decided to do something spectacularly stupid."
& e5 Y' `! B' q8 e" S4 t% a0 N; H“由于今晚在这儿发生的一些竖琴手同盟的事务，科海尔本不得不赶回黑杖城堡，”老法师解释道。他和莱拉都感知到了你的探测魔法——在这类事情上，女孩，确实是过分小心了些，嗯？——所以他让我来顶替一会，以防万一其他竖琴手前来报告，或者你意欲做一些壮观的愚行。“
& q7 I' R- o9 l0 S& ?2 ^"And was what I did so stupid?" Ambreene asked with menacing softness, her hands twisting the chain until it cut deep into his throat.0 x* z; C, U" J: j5 m, b' {
“我做了什么愚蠢的事？”艾布瑞妮以带有威胁性的温柔口气问道。她的手铰扭着项坠，使它深深的陷进他的喉咙。
# d% ]* b1 |% SElminster smiled unconcernedly, and chucked her under the chin as if she was a small girl. "Well, 'twas certainly spectacular ..." he murmured. "7 wouldn't wear a gown like that."+ B$ Q- @( N! h* S! S5 w( [
艾尔明斯特毫不在乎的微笑，抚弄着她的下巴就像她是个小女孩。“很好，确实壮观……”他咕哝着。“7不会这样穿法袍。”
$ R% `. o- M$ _' B- PHe bent his head to her bodice and peered. "Ah, leaping dragons ... Thayan work; very nice ...") Q! [7 H8 Y' c* n- X' C0 p4 I
他弯着头盯着她的紧身胸衣。“啊，跳跃而行的龙……塞恩人的工艺；很精美……”
. Q8 ^$ {5 D7 x$ @$ V% O- d4 cAmbreene thrust herself against him, hooking her legs around his and pressing as much of herself to Elminster's body as she possibly could. She put her head over his shoulder and dug her chin down with bruising force, holding him with all the strength in her quivering body.
! D+ G% U1 w r2 i$ D8 @) h艾布瑞妮把自己用力的推向他，把腿勾在他身上，尽量把全身的重量压在艾尔明斯特身上。她的头放在他的肩膀上，以能造成瘀伤的力量把下巴戳下去，以她颤抖的身体全部的力量抓着他。9 s4 }4 Y4 h* W# ?% [% u
"Now," she said into his ear, "any harmful spell you work on me will hurt you as well. Khelben wronged my Grandmama and my family; my revenge was for him. But your magic will serve me just as well, giving me spells enough to destroy him another way . . . can you feel the memories leaving you?"/ X2 j# d" W# E3 I) U9 P+ T
“现在，”她在他的耳边说，“你向我施放的任何能伤害我的魔法同样会伤到你。科海尔本诽谤我的奶奶和我的家族；我的报复是给他的。但是你的魔力也无妨，给我足够的魔力以另一种方式毁灭他。你能感觉到记忆正离你而去吗？”
( j4 S! M7 d# E/ a$ G5 B) `"No," Elminster said lightly. "I know how to make the Eye work as its creator intended it to. I'm giving ye only the memories I want ye to have ... and keeping them, not letting them drain away."
+ v! F; @2 \0 a8 h0 w“不，”艾尔明斯特轻松的说。“我知道如何使龙之眼运作，就像它的设计者。我只给你我想让你拥有的记忆。保存它们，不要让它们流失。”
0 [9 ^9 i: B; c% I8 ^Ambreene favored him with a disbelieving sneer. "And just how can you do that? Lady Teshla could not, and the Eye hasn't shown me any way to wield it thus! What makes you such an expert?"( _+ ?" S1 ?8 b: h! M; A0 n9 f
艾布瑞妮回以一个不相信的冷笑。“你怎么能做到？苔什拉女士不能，而且龙之眼从没向我展示这种使用方法！什么使你如此内行？”
* V0 b' w& i/ d: Z0 V5 r4 u# OMirth glinted in Elminster's eyes as he said mildly, "Why, lass, I created the thing in the first place. In Myth Drannor, 'twas ... in my spare time."
9 ]! ]1 E1 j$ t% P+ [) a% m高兴的笑意在艾尔明斯特的眼睛里闪烁。他温和的说：“为什么，女孩，是我创造的它。在迷斯卓诺，它是 ...在我的闲暇时间制作的。”9 v0 \1 j. t0 e+ l; e: {, k8 C
Ambreene shook her head derisively, but said nothing. He was so calm . . . what if it were true?
6 \* t) o8 J$ x+ Y( t/ R艾布瑞妮嘲弄的摇头，但什么也没说。他太镇静了。如果是真的怎么办？, M1 o7 S! v4 h* `4 n$ J6 s
And then she gasped and stiffened as the world around her vanished in a flood of memories that were not her own. Images as vivid as if they were befalling here and now and she were living them. . . . She was dimly aware that her nails were raking someone's back, that he was growling in protest, and that there was a sudden strong smell of pipe smoke, but. . .# q" p. [- h0 Z5 H
然后她变的僵硬，透不过气；她周围的世界在一片不属于她自己的记忆汪洋中消失。映像就像发生于此时此地一般生动，而她就存在于它们之中……她模糊的意识到她的指甲正抓着某人的背，而他正埋怨抗议，而且一股强烈的管烟味道迅即掠过，但是……
- R2 }! X6 I% y" ~6 ?She was standing on the deck of a storm-tossed ship, watching as a grandly robed man turned his back on his son-who laughed and hurled a bolt of lightning with both hands. The blast cut his father's body in two from top to bottom and sent the front of the ship boiling up into flames.. . .) W& k" N f6 h- B
她站在一条飘摇于风雨中的船上，以一个身穿制服的严肃男人的视角观察。这个男人背对着他的儿子不予理睬。男孩正得意洋洋的两手释放出闪电。闪电带来的爆炸把他的父亲从头到脚切成了两片，船头在火焰中沸腾……
. z1 ~: E$ [) ~( m9 G% |" e2 ~! uThen she was in a bedchamber where a sword pinned a man to a door, his lifeblood spreading on the floor. He gasped, "Why, Maruel? Why have you done this?"
' P1 t" L- J h3 D& X, D接下来，她身处一间卧室，一个男人被一柄剑钉在门上，大量的血液在地板上漫延。他喘气的说：“为什么，玛若尔？你为什么这么做？”% `, e; [ Y8 w' k
"Because I want to," the breathtakingly beautiful woman on the bed said with a sneer that matched Ambreene's best. "And because at last I have the power to. I am the Shadowsil, and from now on I will take what I want. . . not beg for it!" She waved a casual hand, and by itself the long blade obediently slid out of the man, all black with his blood. He crumpled to the floor, gasping, "But I loved .. . you."
% j& c& a* Q+ d3 F* Q4 Y“因为我想这么做，”非凡美貌的女人在床上以一副嘲笑的口吻说，那神情与艾布瑞妮极为相配。“而且因为最终我拥有力量这么做。我是个幽影西尔，而且从今以后我将予取予求，而不再乞求！”她不经意的挥手，剑锋带着发黑的血顺从的从男人体内滑出。他倒在地上喘着气，痉挛着：“但是我爱…你。“
/ r1 L* [) t# |+ U& }2 j0 a# G) s"And what is that to me, fool?" she laughed. . . .4 k I) B) ~3 _* O5 S e! a
“而那对我来说算什么，笨蛋？”她大笑着。
$ y$ ?$ c' K& u1 C; |$ sThe scene whirled away, and Ambreene was somewhere else again. . . .
$ m6 N% X& ^! L3 k/ O; o; h- n5 V场景疾转，艾布瑞妮又置身另一处。6 X" E; P2 ]3 W! q' ?0 N# h
A tower, where a woman wept, smoke curling away from her empty hands and ashes all around her. Nearby, a man who sat on empty air said, "And so your trick has turned to visit itself on thee. Well done, Alatha-oh, well done indeed!"5 X/ m. U2 i: x. o
一座塔楼里。一个女人在哭泣，烟正冉冉远离她空荡荡的手和她周围的灰烬。旁边，一个男人坐在虚空中说：“现在你的诡计都回到你身上了。干的不错，阿拉赛——噢，干的真好！”
. c6 M0 ~4 Q. AThe woman's raw howl of grief whirled Ambreene away into a scene of a sorceress betraying her tutor, then another, of an ambitious magistress turning to evil and mistakenly slaying the man she loved. . ..
9 a9 I/ N( d: [* v8 r- H' Y那个女人悲痛的嚎哭把艾布瑞妮卷入一幅女法师背叛她的导师的场景。然后，她又看到另一个野心勃勃的魔法祭祀变的罪恶累累并错杀了她所爱的男人…………
8 H) y. s. {! S1 w. u' M9 Y"All of these happened, lass, and I was there to see them," Elminster told her gently. "Have ye such a hunger to join them?"
& C$ R7 u& e) W5 F( aAmbreene wept and tried to pull away from him, shaking her head and straining to think of things she chose . . . but her thoughts were dragged ruthlessly back into the whirlwind of revenge and grief and evil. ...
, ^$ l+ L$ t6 u) h% h9 Z“所有这些都是发生过的事实，女孩，而且我就在那儿看着他们，”艾尔明斯特温和的对她说。“你如此渴望加入他们吗？”
/ _$ }) j3 ^' o) }7 z"Gods! Oh, gods, stop! Have mercy!" she sobbed.1 z+ L+ Z8 h6 r% F5 c8 J
“神啊！噢，神啊，停下！求求你了！”她呜咽道。
/ q5 H$ f) |5 M/ {2 | `9 \"Better mercy than ye intended to show Khelben, I hope," the Old Mage said grimly, and abruptly she was seeing a young lass clad only in long, luxurious hair, who knelt amid glowing, floating symbols, in a chamber whose dark walls winked with stars., A0 ]) _" N3 s6 q: P2 z$ k
“乞求宽恕比你打算对科海尔本做的要好，我希望，”老法师严厉的说。然后她突然看到一位少女只穿着单薄的长衣，留着精美的发型，在一间黑色墙壁上镶着闪烁群星的卧室里，她正跪在散发着强烈光茫、浮空的魔法符号中。
4 e4 J2 y% G, ^' r+ r7 J"Who . . . ?"
' _0 n! G* Y8 U. b! v' Z# Z“谁……？”
9 g. N1 I1 Y6 g' \, o4 O"A lady in Myth Drannor, Grafting the first foresight spell," Elminster replied.! v9 o: z7 ^( K# r$ S% {
“一个在迷斯卓诺的女孩，移植了第一个预言魔法。”艾尔明斯特回答。
1 y6 t4 U) U2 Q- ]/ GAbruptly, the spell poured into Ambreene's own mind, writing itself in runes and whirling concepts of fire. She gasped and moaned as her mind stretched dizzily. A bright light seemed to be rushing through her, and . . .
5 P' |9 C6 h" `$ V7 e. K突然，这个魔法注入了艾布瑞妮自己的精神之中。神秘的字母构造的魔法激起了狂热的火焰。她急速喘息、呻吟，眩晕的好像她的思想被极度拉伸。一道明亮的光茫似乎快速的穿过了她。$ B% V* O6 o! E$ T9 M* X7 A
"Note that this magic allows thee only to see what lies ahead for others. If thy mind can encompass it and ye stay sane, 'twill become thy most useful tool-and thy greatest burden," Elminster said as she blinked and saw his face again in the moonlight, inches from her own.+ Y6 ~/ W) [; h, r- j7 r. N0 u+ q
“记住，这个魔法只能让你看到要对别人说的谎言。如果你的思想能够容纳它，你就能保持清醒。它将会成为你最有用的工具和最重大的责任。”艾尔明斯特说道。这时她又在月光下看到了他的脸，离她的脸只有几英寸，她满脸震惊。
5 m* f* I, S1 @: F9 ~2 |! Y. `# Z3 aGentle hands put the Eye of the Dragon into her hands. "Now . . . about that kiss . .."5 w* k9 ?( X) l @8 M C
一双温柔的手把龙之眼放在她的手里。“现在，关于那个吻……”. k; j, d$ a1 `
Ambreene seemed to be weeping again as warm lips brushed hers tenderly, and that old, wise voice said, 'Thanks for the memories."
) R+ |4 {8 }9 C* {& O当一双温暖的嘴唇温柔的拂过她的唇时，艾布瑞妮好像又落下了眼泪。然后那个苍老、多智的声音说：“谢谢，我会记住的。”7 c9 S! b6 m0 \6 @. F! A! r
Then the old wizard turned away in the moonlight. She stared after him with eyes that streamed the tears of a thousand years. Elminster strode across the garden, and as he went, his battered boots left the dewy grass and trod on air. Up on emptiness he walked, as if the starry sky was his own private staircase. Up over the garden wall he went, and on, over the rooftops of the city. I: B M% e' \8 H7 [
老法师在月光中走开了。她盯着他的背影，任凭泪水汩汩流下。艾尔明斯特大步穿过花园，他的旧靴离开了草地，浮空而行，就像踏在楼梯之上。他越过园墙，越过城市里最高的屋顶。- K0 {" J# Z, U: i
When she could see him no more, Ambreene looked down at the pendant in her hands. Suddenly it spoke with Elminster's voice, and she nearly flung it down in startle-ment.. f7 z; H) D* b0 @, o& ?: C
她再也看不见他时，艾布瑞妮看着她手里的坠饰。它突然用艾尔明斯特的声音说话了，使她震惊的差点扔掉。
- q' m: f+ D+ I" O- ]"Ah, lass," it said, "be not downcast, for ye heard aright what they say about wizards. Put this on whenever ye need to talk to me ... or to Khelben. He's waiting for ye to come and see him."
/ }, i% b l& L% U“啊，女孩，”它说，“不要灰心，他们说的关于男法师的事情都是正确的。戴上它，不论你什么时候想跟我说话都可以……或者跟科海尔本。他正等着你去看望他。”
; B1 H1 s0 I1 A1 b, CAmbreene stared up at the starlight for a very long time, too dazed to shed more tears, as still and silent as one of the nearby statues.7 H7 B( S+ P' z- n
艾布瑞妮久久凝视着闪闪星光，直到头晕、无泪可流，就像一尊静默的雕像。/ z0 u& b- P( c/ n: W
So it was that the young, softly chuckling couple strolled right past without noticing her. Ambreene knew the lass-Berentha Manthar, a shy noble maid of her own age, whom she'd smiled with at several feasts, heiress of House Manthar since the hunting death of her brother Carn-and almost stirred to speak a greeting. But as the thought struck her, Berentha's young and devastatingly handsome man, Ferentar from Amn, asked huskily, "So, Berentha, as Selune is our witness here this night . . . will you wed me, and cleave to me all your days?"
+ p2 K/ H* G7 E: Q1 z( g以致于一对年轻情侣咯咯轻笑着从她身边经过时都没注意到她。艾布瑞妮认识那位女士，并差点开口问候。她是波荏赛•曼萨，艾布瑞妮曾多次在宴会上向她微笑，一个在她的年龄特有羞涩的贵族少女。自从她的哥哥卡恩在一次狩猎中死后，她就成了曼萨家族的女继承人。波荏赛的未婚夫叫做佛伦塔来自安姆，年轻、英俊、富有征服欲。当问候的想法出现时，那个男人突然干哑的问道：“波荏赛，今晚苏伦为我们见证；你愿意嫁给我并永远忠于我吗？”
3 F& r. q0 s% a9 k% tAmbreene swallowed as she looked expectantly at Berentha's half-hidden face. She felt a tingling within her, and the need to know the truth that lurked behind honeyed words overcame everything. She seized on the foresight tingling within her.
- G$ {# Y: d& Z; S8 u7 W Z1 p3 X' X* M艾布瑞妮吞下口水，她期待的看着波荏赛半掩着的脸。她内心里一阵麻刺感，想要知道这甜言蜜语背后真相的想法超过了一切。预言魔法带来了麻刺感，她利用了。
" u8 \3 c& M+ i- c+ e1 ?2 lIt was a strange thing to wield, but she conquered it in time to know that Berentha meant it with all her heart when she replied softly, "I will. . . oh, Ferentar, I will! Do you promise, too, before Selune and all the watching gods, to be true to me?"$ V1 @" m2 o$ R- x
使用预言是件奇怪的事情，但她及时克服了，并知道波荏赛是真心诚意的。她轻柔的回答：“我愿意……噢，佛伦塔，我愿意！你也愿意在苏伦和所有在注视着我们的神面前许下诺言，说你对我是真心的吗？”
; B: V# Y4 w. x% l"Of course I do, beloved Berentha," the young man said softly.
4 [& i* i( m8 G“当然，我是的，亲爱的波荏赛。”她的未婚夫温柔的说。# }1 C8 q: S3 p
The chill that almost choked Ambreene left her trembling helplessly. Her foresight told her that Ferentar wanted to be Lord Manthar, with a dashing fur cloak and coins to spare on wine and dancers. He cared little for this stupid wide-eyed Waterdhavian cow gazing so ardently up at him-oh, she was pretty enough, but. ..6 o$ C9 m9 q) A* U
寒意袭来，艾布瑞妮无望的战栗，几乎窒息。预言告诉她佛伦塔想成为曼萨勋爵；他利用浮华的皮囊作伪装，只会在酒和舞女身上洒钱。他毫不关心这个愚蠢天真的深水城小母牛，尽管她如此热切的注视着他——噢，她已经够可怜了，但是……: m+ V% W3 h8 s! V) B" L/ }
Ambreene wanted to scream out a warning and thrust them apart forever-but the cursed foresight rolled on. She saw herself doing that, and Berentha's face freezing into that of a bitter foe . . . and the wedding day coming anyway, and then Lord Ferentar Manthar whispering at parties in all the high houses that Ambreene Hawkwinter was a wanton sorceress who'd tried to seduce him to gain House Manthar's riches for her own. Then she saw him laughing in satisfaction as he pushed Berentha over a benighted balcony to her death, and turning in anger to the masked lords to demand Ambreene Hawkwinter's arrest for the spell-slaying of the Lady Berentha Manthar . . . and then Ferentar's face seemed to melt into that of Grandmama Teshla, and she heard herself screaming, "Khelben! Lord Khelben! Help me!" |" O- Z7 C% H' P3 E
艾布瑞妮想大声的发出警告，把他们永远拆散；但是可恶的预言仍在进行。她看到自己那么做了；波荏赛的脸带着痛苦的敌意僵硬了，然而婚礼仍如期举行了。然后佛伦塔•曼萨在所有的高级贵族聚会上拨弄是非：艾布瑞妮•冬鹰是个放荡的女巫，她曾企图勾引他，来将曼萨家族的财富据为己有。后来，她看到他把波荏赛逼上绝路后，满足的大笑；然后他愤怒的在贵族议院指控艾布瑞妮•冬鹰用魔法杀死了波荏赛•曼萨小姐。接下来佛伦塔的脸融化变成了苔什拉奶奶，她听到自己尖叫道：“科海尔本！科海尔本勋爵！救我！”& L! _$ C5 d/ [' F3 q7 Z3 E
Strong arms were suddenly around her, and the gruff voice of Khelben Blackstaff said into her ear, "I'm here, lass-stand back, young Ferentar, or I'll turn out the cesspit of your mind for all Waterdeep to see!-I'm here." Ambreene turned her face toward the comfort of that voice, and as she heard a gasp of outrage that could only be Berentha, Faerun spun crazily around her-and plunged into darkness... .
* a8 v" j& ~/ E强壮的手臂突然环绕着她，科海尔本•黑杖粗哑的声音在她耳边响起：“我在这儿，女孩，在你后面。年轻的佛伦塔，或者所有你在深水城看到的污秽，我都将从你的头脑里清除出去！我在这儿。”艾布瑞妮转动脸庞，让自己舒服的朝着那个声音；然后她听到一阵让人透不过气的辱骂，那只可能是波荏赛的。佛伦塔围着她摇摇晃晃的打转，然后投入了黑暗。' K! J- j/ x5 V! W/ A+ ~: r g
She awoke in Blackstaff Tower, with Laeral's gentle hands holding out a mug of steaming rose tea. And from that day until the morning the gods willed that Ambreene Hawkwinter die, long years later, the Eye of the Dragon never left her breast.
+ X {2 c0 [7 b3 r9 n9 D1 n. Z她醒来时已在黑杖城堡里，看到莱拉和善的拿着一杯冒着热气的玫瑰花茶。从那天开始直到蒙神恩旨艾布瑞妮•冬鹰死去时，多年过去了，龙之眼从没从她胸前摘下来。
