[相关作品] 魔晶仆从[小白试译，第一章，初稿完]

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1^# 大中小发表于 2006-3-17 16:48 只看该作者

魔晶仆从[小白试译，第一章，初稿完]

第一篇

困于网中
出处：离恨天
翻译：无一物* g& e, S7 Y& ^; e5 \3 t7 {* h

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我生活在一个真切存在着罪恶化身的世界。我所指的不是恶人，也不是小妖精——那些通常意义上的邪恶象征——甚至也不是我那些比小妖精更加邪恶的同胞，黑暗精灵。他们全都可能是残忍的造物，但即使在最糟糕的情况下他们也都不是罪恶的真正化身。不，这个头衔属于另外的存在，属于那些通常是由牧师和法师所召唤来的恶魔。这些低层界的造物是最纯粹的罪恶，永远可憎的不受控制的存在。他们无可救药，无望在他们不幸而几乎是永恒的存在中有任何的建树——而这存在似乎仅仅出于上天的仁慈。
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我曾好奇于这些造物是否能屏弃那理性竞争之心中的黑暗而生存。他们到底是如恶人或卓尔一般的罪恶之源，还是作为一种充溢了太多心灵之腐败的物质性证明而存在的罪恶之果？4 e6 G' O" u6 {- }: O

我相信是后者。恶魔们没有被理性生物召唤而来的话就不能存在于主物质界，这绝不是巧合。我明白他们不过是一件工具，一个效劳于真正罪恶之源而实施其罪恶行径的道具。
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那么克林辛尼朋呢？它是一样物品，一件远古的人工造物——尽管它有感知——但却并不具有等同于理性生物的智能。因为它不能成长，不会改变，不能改进自己的生存方式。它唯一尝试着去改进的不足只是当它试图更好地控制那些被它所吸引的心灵时那种追求操纵的不当企图。它甚至不能反复考量自己不顾一切想要达到的最终目标——不，它的目标永远都是单一的。

那么，它是真正的罪恶吗？

不。

不久之前我的想法是不同于此的，那时我随身携带着这危险的造物并开始逐渐对它有着更深的理解。只是到了最近，当读取了一个寄自高飞之灵高阶牧师凯德立·邦那杜斯的冗长详细讯息之后，我终于认清了碎魔晶的真相并意识到这物品本身就是一个非自然的存在，是一种错误，而它那不惜任何代价、对力量与荣耀的无尽欲望只是对其第二任创造者——那以某种方式被禁锢入这人工造物最基质的第八灵魂——原本意图的一种曲解。

凯德立了解到，最初碎魔晶出自七位意在创造出一件最强力物品的巫妖之手。作为对那些不死之王打算征服的种族的更进一步羞辱，它们将这造物创造为生命之源太阳本身的完全对立面。在参与施法完成之时巫妖们遭到了毁灭。尽管很多智者相信那些可憎创造者的感知被拖入了这物品所拥有的力量，但凯德立坚持事实并非如此，更确切地说，是被它太阳般辉煌的特性湮灭了。因此，它们的蓄意羞辱转而加诸其自身从而使之只遗留下尸体和其被毁灵魂的全然残片。" ?% x# L. O; A' i

大量碎魔晶的初期历史广为人知，甚至也包括那些对这造物孜孜以求的恶魔们。然而凯德立未曾有所保留而坦诚相告的第二个故事是一个更加难解的传说，它揭示了克林辛尼朋的真相，这造物作为一种曲解善良意图的根本失败。$ S2 P0 }* p' R; w5 z
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数百年之前克林辛尼朋在札哈拉的久远大陆初现于主物质界。那时它不过是一件法师法物，尽管是很伟大和强力的一件，一个能抛掷火球、创造出足够剧烈的光之炽烧高墙以燃尽骨血的人工造物。在落入一位苏丹之手以前很少有人得以获悉它的黑暗过去。这位姓名已湮没在岁月中的伟大领袖了解到克林辛尼朋的真相，并在他手下众多宫廷法师的帮助下断定当初巫妖们的工作尚未完成。于是碎魔晶的“再创造”就此开始，以提升它的力量与其受限的自我意识。
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这苏丹并不曾梦想支配，只希望能与自己众多的好战邻国和平共处。因此，借助着这造物的最新力量，他设想、进而创造出了一列水晶塔。塔群自他的首都延伸，穿越空旷的沙漠直达王国第二大城市，那是一座常常遭袭的边境城市，塔与塔之间均等间隔着一天行程的距离。他列出了多达上百的水晶塔，这道强大的防线几乎就要完成了。
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但是很不幸的，苏丹过度使用了克林辛尼朋的力量，尽管他相信每一座塔的创造都会使这造物变得更加强大，事实上，他正在将碎魔晶及其威力分散得过于薄弱。之后很快发生了一场席卷整个沙漠的巨大沙暴，天灾揭开了一场接壤酋长国入侵的序幕，水晶塔的墙壁如此脆弱以致塔群随着苏丹国泰民安的梦想一起如玻璃般粉碎。+ J: w  f1 K! u( Y

游牧民族蹂躏了这个国家并在无助苏丹的眼前杀死了他的家人。虽然敌方残忍的酋长并没有杀死苏丹——他希望痛苦的回忆永远啃噬这可怜的人——但克林辛尼朋带走了他的生命，至少，带走了他的一部分灵魂。$ d9 m  q8 n6 B: n7 b; t

那久远岁月的更多细节几乎无人知晓，即使对在他的信徒之间几乎达到半神地位的凯德立而言也是如此，但这位迪耐的年轻高阶牧师深信碎魔晶的“再创造”仍旧是这造物现今欲望的关键。当初只要克林辛尼朋发挥出了它极致的力量，只要水晶塔群保持坚固，那些游牧民族就将被击退，而苏丹的家人，他亲爱的妻子和美丽的孩子们，也就不会被杀死。

如今这造物，被七个盘曲交缠的逝亡巫妖和苏丹那饱受煎熬的灵魂所浸透，继续不顾一切地寻求以达到并保持自身的极致力量，不惜任何代价。

这个故事有着多种隐藏含义。凯德立在他的讯息里向我暗示了这一点，虽然他并不曾给出任何确凿的结论说水晶塔的创造实际上起了入侵的催化作用，邻近酋长国的首领担心它们会很快蔓延至本国的边陲。那么，碎魔晶对我们而言是否一个很大的教训？它是否向我们揭示了过度野望的愚蠢，即使那特殊的野望是源于良善意愿？苏丹需要实力以防卫自己的和平国度，但他索取了过于强大的力量。

而那正是毁灭了他本人、他的家人乃至整个王国之所在。& X- B) T0 _. u' R/ r3 {5 n
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那么，碎魔晶的现任持有者贾拉索又怎样呢？我应该追上他并尝试带回这造物，然后将它交付凯德立予以销毁吗？毫无疑问，若没有了这强大而危险的物品，这个世界会变得更加美好。  F2 ^5 o9 a, d8 @3 T" R. y

然后再一次地，又将出现另一个服务于邪恶象征的工具，另一个它们邪恶本质的化身，那可能是一只恶魔，一个恶棍，或者一个雷同于克林辛尼朋的畸形造物。5 J( U$ }4 `4 k! |$ L
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不，那些化身并非问题所在，因为如果没有那些深藏在理性生物心中的罪恶，他们就无法存在进而兴盛。6 R; f% m1 |4 C) U6 b+ O; X  y4 C* _
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要当心，贾拉索。当心啊。) y& {7 I4 _$ L0 @+ ?$ T

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——崔斯特·杜垩登* Q  e2 {& e! B# M& F, b
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第一章
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自省内心

瓦维尔·泰戈维斯蹑手蹑脚地走进位于自己的组织黄铜赌局低层尽头后方的一个昏暗小房间。瓦维尔，半身人女性中的佼佼者——精于其计谋、匕首，更长于其智慧——过去并不惯于在此地如此谨慎行走，尽管这是在整个卡林港所能找到的最安全之所。毕竟，对方是阿提密斯·恩崔立，而当这个致命的杀手在附近出没时全世界没有任何一个地方能真的被认为是安全的。

当她走进房间时他正来回踱着步，根本没有特别留意到她的现身。瓦维尔好奇地注视着这个男人。她清楚最近杀手身处刀锋之上，同时，她也是巴萨多尼工会之外寥寥无几了解那隐藏在尖锐危险背后真相的知情者之一。黑暗精灵已抵达并渗透了卡林港的大街小巷，而杀手则扮演着他们运作的出面人物。如果说瓦维尔对那些卓尔的真正可怕之处曾保持任何预想性的猜测，只消看恩崔立一眼便能确切地证实这一切绝非虚言。过去他从不是一个神经紧张的人——半身人并不确定他现在如此——而且也并非一个她能指望发现其正与自我矛盾斗争的人。" S0 L* S0 g1 ?5 \; }) H& S

而更令人好奇的是，恩崔立邀请了她分享自己的秘密。这本不是他的行事作风。尽管如此，瓦维尔也觉察到这并非陷阱，而是，她知道，更确切地说它看起来像是，一种极度的出人意料。与其说杀手在跟她交谈还不如说他在自言自语，以此作为一种澄清自己思绪的方式，而因着某些半身人没能理解的原因，他给予了她聆听的机会。6 |) s( ^: R5 T8 f$ e( W
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她将此视为一种对她自身的最高褒扬，同时也意识到这褒扬伴随着潜在的危险。脑中思绪混乱着，半身人工会女主人安静地在一张椅子落座并小心地倾听，努力捕捉一些蛛丝马迹，试图洞察问题实质。首先并且也是最最令她惊讶的发现是，当她无意中瞥见一张靠着房间后墙放置的椅子，椅子上静置着的赫然是一个半空的月影威士忌酒瓶。2 j8 R, f! Z. a$ T

“我在这邪恶城市腹地的每一个拐角和每一条街道都见到这种家伙。”杀手说着，“将自己的伤疤和武器当作一种荣誉徽章自夸地显露，男男女女如此醉心于声名以致忽略了自己真正想要得到的东西。他们为地位和荣誉而搏命，除此之外没有更好的生存目标。”

他说话的语音并不是太含糊，但对半身人而言显而易见他确实喝了些威士忌。6 ?" Y3 b9 s- }' S8 z, d! f
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“从什么时候开始阿提密斯·恩崔立竟因那些街头小贼的爱好而困扰自己了呢？”瓦维尔问。

恩崔立停止了踱步转而凝视着她，不动声色。“我谨慎地观察和留意他们，因为我深知自己的名声已经是高于本人的存在。因为这名声，街上有很多人会很乐于把匕首插进我的心脏。”杀手回答，并且再次开始踱步，“到时那杀手会得到多显赫的声望啊。他们知道我现在已经比较老了，也认为我的速度变慢了——而事实上，他们的推测是正确的。我已经无法像十年前那么迅捷地行动了。”

半身人因这惊人的坦率陈述眯起了眼睛。; h5 _1 @/ Z# Q; {' ^% w

“但随着身体的衰老和动作的迟钝，我的思维变得更加敏锐。”恩崔立继续说道，“我也同样关心着名声，但并不是以过去的那种方式。我生活的目标曾在于不管做什么、击败敌人和超越敌方的深谋远虑，都要绝对做得最好。我曾渴望成为完美战士，而一个被我轻视的黑暗精灵向我指出了我生存方式的错误。那次作为贾拉索‘客人’的意外魔索布莱之行贬抑了我为了成为最好而付出过的狂热努力，也向我展示了一个充满我曾最想成为的那种人的世界是多么无益。身处魔索布莱，我在每一个街角都看见自己的镜影，那些对自身周遭的一切都冷酷无情的战士，如此专注于自己的目标以致他们根本无法享受到为了达到它而经历的过程。”. b% `! s$ {' a, f, i9 i: ~
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“他们是卓尔，”瓦维尔说，“我们永远无法理解他们的真正动机。”

“他们的城市是一个美丽的地方，我的小朋友，”杀手答道，“也有着超乎你想象之外的强大力量。但是，因着种种原因魔索布莱是一个虚伪和空虚的地方，除了憎恨之外被剥夺了所有激情。从这个有着两万杀手的城市归来之后我真的改变了，质疑着自己生存的最基质。最终，它的要义何在？”
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半身人把她那胖乎乎小手的十指互锁起来然后举到唇边，专心研究着眼前的男人。恩崔立是在宣布自己的引退吗？她想要知道。他是否否定了自己曾所知的生存方式及曾博取的种种荣誉？她无声地叹口气，摇了摇头，说：“我们都必须自己解答这疑问，不是吗？那要义在于黄金或尊崇或财富或权力……”, l6 U" y) t$ z3 B& s

“的确，”他冷淡地回答，“现在我保有对自己到底是谁及眼下哪些挑战是对我真正重要这一更透彻的理解而活。我并不清楚自己想去往何处，在我眼前有着怎样的挑战，但现在我的确明白了重要的事情在于享受这个达到目标的过程。”

“我关心我的名声是否依然高高在上吗？”杀手忽然问，几乎就在瓦维尔要开口询问他是否对自己的种种前路有所打算的同时——鉴于巴萨多尼工会的势力，这是很重要的信息。“我是否希望能继续盘踞卡林港杀手的成就之颠？”
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“两者都是肯定的，但却出于和那些街角的自大蠢货不同的理由，不同于他们中的大多数人妄图攻击我的原因——那些家伙的唯一结局只能是死在排水沟里。不，我关心名声是因为它能使我在完成自己选择要做的事时能更有效率。我关心名声，但只因为它能蒙蔽使得敌人更畏惧我，超出理性思考和适当谨慎范围地惧怕我。他们会感觉恐惧，甚至当他们在追踪我时也将如此，但不同于有益的敬畏，这恐惧几乎会使他们麻痹，会让在他们举手投足之间不断自我预期可怖的结局。我能利用这恐惧来对抗他们。凭借一个小小的简单欺骗或假象，我能利用疑惑将他们引向一个完全不利的处境。因为我能佯作暴露出弱点同时利用可捕捉的优势击败那些大意的敌人，当我真的露出破绽时，那些谨慎的敌人也不敢贸然发起攻击。”# j! G+ r3 f+ k' {4 x
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他停下来点了点头，而半身人明白杀手已经理清了思路。“果然是令人羡慕的处境。”她表示肯定。* b* X0 k' `; [1 u$ @# A

“让那些蠢货追着我来吧，一个个饥渴的杀手接踵而至，”恩崔立又点点头说，“随着每一次杀戮，我会更加睿智，而随着智慧的积淀，我将变得更加强大。”' U5 k* Q* n5 i5 Z7 `
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杀手在大腿上拍了拍他那顶古怪的黑色窄檐波列罗帽，靠着手腕的一挥将它旋上自己手臂并巧妙地滚过肩头最后停留在头顶，这使他那新近理过的发型看起来更合衬了。直到这时瓦维尔才留意到男人也已修整了下颚浓密的胡子，只留着漂亮的髭须和下唇下一片小小的绒须，它向下延伸直至下颚然后又向两侧延伸开来如同一个倒置的T。

恩崔立望向半身人，使了个狡猾的眼色，大步走出房间。1 y3 b! u5 q" A. {

这一切意味着什么？瓦维尔思考着。她真的很高兴看到杀手已经整理了自己的仪表，因为她意识到他反常的不修边幅是一个失去自控的讯号，更糟的是，那代表他失去了自己的心。* T( c0 ^' |4 x1 ?

她静坐了很长一段时间，心不在焉举起紧握的双手抵在微微皱起的下唇，想知道为什么自己会受邀来见证这一幕，为什么，阿提密斯·恩崔立会觉得有必要向她，向任何一个人——甚至向他自己，敞开心扉。这个男人已经有了某种顿悟，半身人意识到，同时也发现自己有了相似的认知。
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阿提密斯·恩崔立是她的朋友。

[本章完]
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本章翻译得很是过瘾呀~! ><& c0 L9 P2 {4 I* |, m2 t
感想之一：终于能看到阿恩直白说出心事了，被无声里的语焉不详折磨得头晕的某只感泪，而且，那几段话一气呵成说得偶眉飞色舞呀啊啊~ 这样说起来，这样说起来，心境有了这样的转变之后，或许幸福也不是那么遥不可及了是不是，或许我还是可以祈望他最终得到心灵的平静和满足是不是^o^5 y# z. N1 {3 P9 {4 ]
感想之二：皮卡皮卡星星眼羡慕小瓦ING~~~ 朋~友~啊~~~6 ?9 f- D' j( V( ?' `$ [1 L8 ?  R5 n
感想之三：关于奇怪的帽子@_@ bolero的注解中有一条是“一种开口的女用短上衣”，狂汗~ 阿恩我承认你现在戴帽子的那套动作是很帅啦，但是你确定帽子可以从肩头滚到头顶？^^bb 又，为虾米我莫名想起老贾的热带鸟装……>< 阿恩你要小心表跟他学得一些怪品位喔^3^bbbb) _0 p8 R4 m. ~' [
感想之最后：亲爱的，胡子很……性感……（喷血炸飞）

3 R, T# P7 E6 m# ?8 V
以下是原文：

Part 1
0 ^0 k8 M% \9 i" q
                  STICKING TO THE WEB

   I live in a world where there truly exists the : \5 _+ t: ]3 B1 \- A. |$ D
embodiment of evil. I speak not of wicked men, nor of " a% g% Z0 B" d3 N# t5 _* ^: I
goblins-often of evil weal-nor even of my own people, the
dark elves, wickeder still than the goblins. These are 7 \1 n0 m( {+ z5 v, Y
creatures-all of them-capable of great cruelty, but they are
not, even in the very worst of cases, the true embodiment of
evil. No, that title belongs to others, to the demons and
devils often summoned by priests and mages. These creatures
of the lower planes are the purest of evil, untainted ' i( f# i( s( ^! P: V" q, [
vileness running unchecked. They are without possibility of
redemption, without hope of accomplishing anything in their
unfortunately nearly eternal existence that even borders on
goodness.; F3 j0 H3 l  s: A3 |6 A2 x6 R
   I have wondered if these creatures could exist without 1 F# R8 s1 ~" o+ i( X
the darkness that lies within the hearts of the reasoning 0 ]. B* O0 W, G9 v) K, @
races. Are they a source of evil, as are many wicked men or
drow, or are they the result, a physical manifestation of
the rot that permeates the hearts of far too many?, s( k1 L. e. G1 _7 K( P
   The latter, I believe. It is not coincidental that ) M# |  }& m. S1 q. d- {
demons and devils cannot walk the material plane of   k% h2 |" G( L" Z7 u/ G6 [: `" l5 q
existence without being brought here by the actions of one
of the reasoning beings. They are no more than a tool, I 3 M2 ~/ b6 p4 k* h5 A- H
know, an instrument to carry out the wicked deeds in service 6 C  U3 C/ \% X, r8 \" ~, P
to the truer source of that evil.
   What then of Crenshinibon? It is an item, an artifact- ! L3 l( m2 x$ z% x! n
albeit a sentient one-but it does not exist in the same ; j" @; d) f0 d# b* F/ O
state of intelligence as does a reasoning being. For the 0 K$ ~$ b. Q* c
Crystal Shard cannot grow, cannot change, cannot mend its
ways. The only errors it can learn to correct are those of
errant attempts at manipulation, as it seeks to better grab ! \& r/ \; V1 Y6 E& Y9 N
at the hearts of those around it. It cannot even consider, ; T' @4 d. A+ o, }: P
or reconsider, the end it desperately tries to achieve-no, * Z8 E) U3 j( g+ p0 C5 M, c
its purpose is forever singular.
   Is it truly evil, then?
   No.( N3 _4 t' F$ t6 }+ e3 q3 N% s; g' A
   I would have thought differently not too long ago, even + d# t8 _; O* E; t; Y
when I carried the dangerous artifact and came better to , o' l( L9 E5 Z' a9 `3 U* H
understand it. Only recently, upon reading a long and & C' C# x9 l6 L5 T& Y5 a% V9 L7 w2 [
detailed message sent to me from High Priest Cadderly
Bonaduce of the Spirit Soaring, have I come to see the truth
of the Crystal Shard, have I come to understand that the
item itself is an anomaly, a mistake, and that its never-
ending hunger for power and glory, at whatever cost, is
merely a perversion of the intent of its second maker, the
eighth spirit that found its way into the very essence of 7 y' P3 k" B& P8 [$ L5 ^% i! I
the artifact.' K; A  B7 [' I7 O
   The Crystal Shard was created originally by seven
liches, so Cadderly has learned, who designed to fashion an
item of the very greatest power. As a further insult to the
races these undead kings intended to conquer, they made the ; ]/ U0 _1 ^# I( i* ?
artifact a draw against the sun itself, the giver of life. . F: R- ]! D; v: [$ J5 Y5 B* Z2 M
The liches were consumed at the completion of their joining
magic. Despite what some sages believe, Cadderly insists & o) L% O9 U2 B, J/ @3 P3 ~1 B( \
that the conscious aspects of those vile creatures were not
drawn into the power of the item, but were, rather,
obliterated by its sunlike properties. Thus, their intended
insult turned against them and left them as no more than ; N/ S- `4 {' d. S
ashes and absorbed pieces of their shattered spirits.
   That much of the earliest history of the Crystal Shard + J) _9 K' |- q8 z3 M+ O0 ]+ M( [
is known by many, including the demons that so desperately ' E5 X& }# E, T' K, k. O
crave the item. The second story, though, the one Cadderly ( `- n9 W5 ~# D1 m
uncovered, tells a more complicated tale, and shows the
truth of Crenshinibon, the ultimate failure of the artifact
as a perversion of goodly intentions.
   Crenshinibon first came to the material world centuries # V( G7 K; o0 Y6 {: m$ e$ U2 W0 Q; \
ago in the far-off land of Zakhara. At the time, it was
merely a wizard's tool, though a great and powerful one, an 2 y0 {, T6 d7 o% L3 `, i  e
artifact that could throw fireballs and create great blazing
walls of light so intense they could burn flesh from bone. # V8 E# b- F+ A8 q- y, {4 Z
Little was known of Crenshinibon's dark past until it fell : W" p$ g) F  W3 A$ W, i/ B, x
to the hands of a sultan. This great leader, whose name has
been lost to the ages, learned the truth of the Crystal
Shard, and with the help of his many court wizards, decided 4 R' N  o4 j$ C: K7 |# q; @
that the work of the liches was incomplete. Thus came the + T, ?2 g) x' r9 l  _3 S
"second creation" of Crenshinibon, the heightening of its & A! i& C! `( S2 j6 l
power and its limited consciousness.
   This sultan had no dreams of domination, only of ) K# i6 @# F; l1 M
peaceful existence with his many warlike neighbors. Thus, 1 D5 U2 F0 K' \- k; u* R7 I
using the newest power of the artifact, he envisioned, then : \! p$ |7 b& ]+ h" H
created, a line of crystalline towers. The towers stretched
from his capital across the empty desert to his kingdom's
second city, an oft-raided frontier city, in intervals
equating to a single day's travel. He strung as many as a 2 r  U7 |* v: Z' G+ h; @
hundred of the crystalline towers, and nearly completed the
mighty defensive line.5 Z1 Y( S, H% B. E! L; t1 l
   But alas, the sultan overreached the powers of
Crenshinibon, and though he believed that the creation of 3 X# [7 C: O1 N3 C0 ^7 [* g- x
each tower strengthened the artifact, he was, in fact,
pulling the Crystal Shard and its manifestations too thin.
Soon after, a great sandstorm came up, sweeping across the . e8 c' C1 S, Y# \8 R
desert. It was a natural disaster that served as a prelude
to an invasion by a neighboring sheikdom. So thin were the
walls of those crystalline towers that they shattered under
the force of the glass, taking with them the sultan's dream ; W. S, X* \0 y  }' B
of security.6 w7 g- Q/ c' H" O! m2 [( g' t
   The hordes overran the kingdom and murdered the sultan's / \* Y; R7 K; E3 u6 q6 {
family while he helplessly looked on. Their merciless sheik
would not kill the sultan, though-he wanted the painful
memories to burn at the man-but Crenshinibon took the
sultan, took a piece of his spirit, at least.
   Little more of those early days is known, even to ' o  b! T; E1 K
Cadderly, who counts demigods among his sources, but the % |' F( ~, w# Z. k3 U
young high priest of Deneir is convinced that this "second ! a6 j3 B. g+ e/ Y  J, X; I
creation" of Crenshinibon is the one that remains key to the
present hunger of the artifact. If only Crenshinibon could ( K' U- i- Z7 |8 J. L; ?& p
have held its highest level of power. If only the
crystalline towers had remained strong. The hordes would
have been turned away, and the sultan's family, his dear 2 r- w+ a( f0 G& N: o
wife and beautiful children, would not have been murdered.6 a$ ^/ K* N6 \
   Now the artifact, imbued with the twisted aspects of . R# \7 G% E! ?) @1 Y4 F- ]! {. d
seven dead liches and with the wounded and tormented spirit + r4 h7 \; R2 H4 k) @
of the sultan, continues its desperate quest to attain and ! C6 Y% Y# u, L" ?) y
maintain its greatest level of power, whatever the cost.. |0 W$ u/ C/ l) t, N  l5 K
   There are many implications to the story. Cadderly ) B; h, ^. w  D+ E7 S
hinted in his note to me, though he drew no definitive
conclusions, that the creation of the crystalline towers # p+ V8 A. S8 k, o
actually served as the catalyst for the invasion, with the
leaders of the neighboring sheikdom fearful that their $ k" Q' s6 x5 x$ Q6 J
borderlands would soon be overrun. Is the Crystal Shard, / {' `- ~9 V3 O7 x2 X
then, a great lesson to us? Does it show clearly the folly , |3 `1 g' B' }- {0 v& A9 _2 w
of overblown ambition, even though that particular ambition
was rooted in good intentions? The sultan wanted strength % y. ^' o" E/ ?7 O$ o
for the defense of his peaceable kingdom, and yet he reached ( }3 _# n2 F5 X1 J$ `
for too much power.. [0 h! w, D  m, O: _
   That was what consumed him, his family, and his kingdom.
   What of Jarlaxle, then, who now holds the Crystal Shard? ) Y  b% C. U0 m1 v
Should I go after him and try to take back the artifact, 4 u4 F6 u$ C4 }- @" H* C( O/ P. T
then deliver it to Cadderly for destruction? Surely the $ a- w  R, p% C4 E' L7 o) i
world would be a better place without this mighty and
dangerous artifact.! Q4 b7 W6 s- D
   Then again, there will always be another tool for those
of evil weal, another embodiment of their evil, be it a
demon, a devil, or a monstrous creation similar to * D7 J4 o- t) a$ y
Crenshinibon.+ Y+ F) N* S1 _0 q; F- @
   No, the embodiments are not the problem, for they cannot
exist and prosper without the evil that is within the hearts 8 U+ k5 W5 z; i6 I
of reasoning beings.5 w1 Z' \  g" Z, Y6 X5 W
   Beware, Jarlaxle. Beware./ P# a" }2 k. t1 R0 o9 y( ]0 @) e* h
                                          -Drizzt Do'Urden

                       Chapter 13 p  P4 H+ Y+ x  X# w: M. X+ J) k3 B
                 WHEN HE LOOKED INSIDE
, ~/ e6 P7 L' Z2 ?
   Dwahvel Tiggerwillies tiptoed into the small, dimly lit " }* m* g2 w( S! W7 w
room in the back of the lower end of her establishment, the
Copper Ante. Dwahvel, that most competent of halfling   b  w! @' h. U; X: _3 B
females-good with her wiles, good with her daggers, and
better with her wits-wasn't used to walking so gingerly in / E# |: ]& i3 O6 o' [& ?* h
this place, though it was as secure a house as could be
found in all of Calimport. This was Artemis Entreri, after 1 A4 b9 A& G9 C0 `/ }
all, and no place in all the world could truly be considered   j. H4 u: e2 W7 {  _* Y! R( d! [
safe when the deadly assassin was about.
   He was pacing when she entered, taking no obvious note ! P7 h5 L- m. R
of her arrival at all. Dwahvel looked at him curiously. She
knew that Entreri had been on edge lately and was one of the ! I( n/ K& g% p2 c4 B4 z3 N
very few outside of House Basadoni who knew the truth behind 2 B! g  ~) |1 [
that edge. The dark elves had come and infiltrated : ?; \4 s8 ^% z5 k! W( S
Calimport's streets, and Entreri was serving as a front man
for their operations. If Dwahvel held any preconceived
notions of how terrible the drow truly could be, one look at
Entreri surely confirmed those suspicions. He had never been
a nervous one-Dwahvel wasn't sure that he was now-and had
never been a man Dwahvel would have expected to find at odds 2 R1 b$ O1 O+ {& R$ k; y
with himself.$ V4 @, W* m$ d# `" Y+ @
   Even more curious, Entreri had invited her into his
confidence. It just wasn't his way. Still, Dwahvel suspected : C: R* j: }$ ^3 V6 b
no trap. This was, she knew, exactly as it seemed, as
surprising as that might be. Entreri was speaking to himself
as much as to her, as a way of clarifying his thoughts, and
for some reason that Dwahvel didn't yet understand, he was
letting her listen in.
   She considered herself complimented in the highest way $ S6 ^! R2 F( ]
and also realized the potential danger that came along with
that compliment. That unsettling thought in mind, the
halfling guildmistress quietly settled into a chair and 0 x) R' [- R) f$ ], ~$ p2 m1 T
listened carefully, looking for clues and insights. Her
first, and most surprising, came when she happened to glance # R# A3 F( `9 P* E
at a chair set against the back wall of the room. Resting on 0 _, J' _! |5 V2 c" _. h/ J$ Q# h
it was a half-empty bottle of Moonshae whiskey.
   "I see them at every corner on every street in the belly
of this cursed city," Entreri was saying. "Braggarts wearing 2 B7 b  m8 o: Q# F
their scars and weapons like badges of honor, men and women : T+ ^+ L2 n8 v% I: m# q8 P7 g
so concerned about reputation that they have lost sight of ; d( p+ |, B0 k3 Y
what it is they truly wish to accomplish. They play for the : S, L& s2 _* K% Q3 N1 \/ I# n9 @
status and the accolades, and with no better purpose."3 q! j4 \2 a9 c, b
   His speech was not overly slurred, yet it was obvious to : r1 }! v5 ?, m
Dwahvel that Entreri had indeed tasted some of the whiskey.- i1 N8 I7 g3 D9 K
   "Since when does Artemis Entreri bother himself with the
likes of street thieves?" Dwahvel asked.& _6 L! L2 ^( G6 K2 U
   Entreri stopped pacing and glanced at her, his face ; {) l9 w, Q7 A1 @6 i
passive. "I see them and mark them carefully, because I am , T- W$ M& B4 E- K# F& o6 @
well aware that my own reputation precedes me. Because of 9 X' ?% Y; p9 V2 A5 {
that reputation, many on the street would love to sink a
dagger into my heart," the assassin replied and began to 4 h. g: d% u6 B: K  _4 a3 V9 Z# s
pace again. "How great a reputation that killer might then + |* z2 i( P3 s) M5 G% r$ `. o. Q: X* O. ~
find. They know that I am older now, and they think me
slower-and in truth, their reasoning is sound. I cannot move " R$ m% v0 T' k) ?
as quickly as I did a decade ago."
   Dwahvel's eyes narrowed at the surprising admission., L6 N5 \, X9 |# a; O5 Z
   "But as the body ages and movements dull, the mind grows + t; ^% S2 S0 F$ h
sharper," Entreri went on. "I, too, am concerned with   H0 }) ]) I4 j8 s! r
reputation, but not as I used to be. It was my goal in life 7 q$ |8 [- ?( J8 ^
to be the absolute best at that which I do, at out-fighting 9 @* j3 h- L. [1 _
and out-thinking my enemies. I desired to become the perfect
warrior, and it took a dark elf whom I despise to show me , ~; O* c, @* u6 `$ ]+ e
the error of my ways. My unintended journey to
Menzoberranzan as a 'guest' of Jarlaxle humbled me in my
fanatical striving to be the best and showed me the futility 1 F. V2 E* u& ~; e
of a world full of that who I most wanted to become. In
Menzoberranzan, I saw reflections of myself at every turn,
warriors who had become so callous to all around them, so
enwrapped in the goal, that they could not begin to
appreciate the process of attaining it."
   "They are drow," Dwahvel said. "We cannot understand . i- d; o4 ~: {2 V) L9 V
their true motivations."
   "Their city is a beautiful place, my little friend," 9 W% m4 e0 N0 q4 K: {
Entreri replied, "with power beyond anything you can 2 W$ t+ S& _, ~! ^6 r% F/ }+ x+ [+ ~
imagine. Yet, for all for that, Menzoberranzan is a hollow
and empty place, bereft of passion unless that passion is
hate. I came back from that city of twenty thousand 2 d- V4 H8 \1 z( Q: x! r
assassins changed indeed, questioning the very foundations - i" h3 F7 f' p/ M
of my existence. What is the point of it, after all?"5 @0 L  g2 L' I  N! ^0 ^
   Dwahvel interlocked the fingers of her plump little
hands and brought them up to her lips, studying the man 1 \+ _, G% K6 U+ U
intently. Was Entreri announcing his retirement? she ' n! t6 Y1 x6 Q' s9 X& Z% y
wondered. Was he denying the life he had known, the glories
to which he had climbed? She blew a quiet sigh, shook her : Y3 ~( `6 v0 ^5 L6 s6 x
head, and said, "We all answer that question for ourselves, 0 G# @; I( Q: g( {% n7 s" D
don't we? The point is gold or respect or property or power
..."
   "Indeed," he said coldly. "I walk now with a better
understanding of who I am and what challenges before me are
truly important. I know not yet where I hope to go, what
challenges are left before me, but I do understand now that ( H$ z8 e& i* L, w$ N& z- P# K
the important thing is to enjoy the process of getting ' w8 V' p* |! @' U# l, k1 D0 L
there.( \1 }' Y- m- A0 a
   "Do I care that my reputation remains strong?" Entreri
asked suddenly, even as Dwahvel started to ask him if he had * @7 R% ^" \/ x3 }& N- M
any idea at all of where his road might lead- important
information, given the power of the Basadoni Guild. "Do I
wish to continue to be upheld as the pinnacle of success
among assassins within Calimport?
   "Yes, to both, but not for the same reasons that those
fools swagger about the street corners, not for the same : N, d! m9 ?, o  D
reasons that many of them will make a try for me, only to
wind up dead in the gutter. No, I care about reputation
because it allows me to be so much more effective in that
which I choose to do. I care for celebrity, but only because
in that mantle my foes fear me more, fear me beyond rational
thinking and beyond the bounds of proper caution. They are 9 E/ \, b, ~. ~4 m3 V
afraid, even as they come after me, but instead of a healthy
respect, their fear is almost paralyzing, making them
continuously second-guess their own every move. I can use
that fear against them. With a simple bluff or feint, I can
make the doubt lead them into a completely erroneous
position. Because I can feign vulnerability and use
perceived advantages against the careless, on those
occasions when I am truly vulnerable the cautious will not
aggressively strike."
   He paused and nodded, and Dwahvel saw that his thoughts & n1 i, t, B# @& L
were indeed sorting out. "An enviable position, to be sure,"
she offered.1 G' X8 n, x# v/ T3 Q  X
   "Let the fools come after me, one after another, an , ~: Y3 \6 W1 d
endless line of eager assassins," Entreri said, and he % P- P6 ?8 ?( r. Z  j* e
nodded again. "With each kill, I grow wiser, and with added   W2 S% E5 k2 q9 z7 y
wisdom, I grow stronger."; L6 m* R" m7 F6 R8 e+ U  R+ \
   He slapped his hat, that curious small-brimmed black ) x6 v  \- {9 j: e/ H4 Y6 `
bolero, against his thigh, spun it up his arm with a flick 1 m  M  D# m! {! t; G
of his wrist so that it rolled right over his shoulder to
settle on his head, complementing the fine haircut he had ! g' N, d0 G: o2 t
just received. Only then did Dwahvel notice that the man had : g3 Y' w4 C  ]9 P, b
trimmed his thick goatee as well, leaving only a fine
mustache and a small patch of hair below his lower lip,
running down to his chin and going to both sides like an + u6 p# O  [: _' k, R- ]
inverted T.# `& A: b# @3 W0 c
   Entreri looked at the halfling, gave a sly wink, and . l$ [( i- j; Q0 k$ b
strode from the room.
   What did it all mean? Dwahvel wondered. Surely she was ) |3 o4 U- U  x( E5 F/ ^1 U
glad to see that the man had cleaned up his look, for she , @" b! E% D* T
had recognized his uncharacteristic slovenliness as a sure
signal that he was losing control, and worse, losing his 4 ]0 j# l- ^# h  c4 I' h" H
heart.' m" e) k2 l+ v
   She sat there for a long time, bouncing her clasped . S9 B; o% p) X* D
hands absently against her puckered lower lip, wondering why
she had been invited to such a spectacle, wondering why . ]! w+ e% y9 T) \7 @: _
Artemis Entreri had felt the need to open up to her, to
anyone-even to himself. The man had found some epiphany,
Dwahvel realized, and she suddenly realized that she had,
too.4 M- c$ ^  I3 m7 J7 X
   Artemis Entreri was her friend.

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