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Chapter Two
Unanswered Questions
第二章
不解之谜
Sunlight cascaded down from the open skylight in the cathedral’s vaulted ceiling. Dust motes spiraled in a lazy dance, blown by the soft wind that wafted through the grandiose hall.
sunlight: 日光 cascade: 瀑布般落下 skylight: 天窗 cathedral: 大教堂 vaulted: 拱形的 ceiling: 天花板 dust: 灰尘 mote: 微尘 spiral: 盘旋的 blown: 刮起的 waft: 吹送 grandiose: 宏伟的 hall: 大厅
阳光从圣光明教堂的天窗里洒进来，轻风吹过宏伟的大厅，卷起一阵细尘。
Rows of large, white candles stood before the base of an immense triptych window of stained glass. The image of a proud, regal warrior was depicted in the window.
row: 一排 candles: 蜡烛 base: 基座 immense: 巨大的 triptych: 三幅一联 stain: 着色的 proud: 自豪的 regal: 庄严的 warrior: 战士 depict: 描绘
白色的大蜡烛整齐的排列在教堂巨大的彩色窗户前，窗户前是一幅庄严的的战士画像。
Thousands of tiny, colored shards of glass portrayed the man’s broad features and noble bearing.
tiny: 极小的 colored: 染色的 shard: 碎片 portray: 刻画 broad: 宽阔的 features: 容貌 noble: 高贵的 bearing: 风度
数以千计的彩色玻璃碎片点缀着他宽阔的面容和贵族般的气质。
Surrounded by a halo of golden light, the man held a mighty warhammer in one hand and a large, leatherbound tome in the other.
surrounded: 被包围 halo: 光辉 golden: 金色的 mighty: 巨大的 warhammer: 战锤 leatherbound: 皮面精装的 tome: 书
他全身被金色的光辉包围，一手拿着巨大的战锤，一手捧着一本皮面的书。
The inscription on the tome read: “Esarus thar no’Darador”—“By Blood and Honor We Serve.”
inscription: 铭刻 tome: 书 honor: 荣耀 serve: 侍奉
书的标题清晰可见 “Esarus thar no’Darador”——以鲜血捍卫荣耀。
Tirion Fordring looked up toward the colorful image and felt his spirit soar. Kneeling upon an ornately carved dais, Tirion humbly bowed his head in prayer.
look up: 抬头看 spirit: 精神 soar: 翱翔 kneel: 跪下 ornately: 装饰华丽的 carved: 雕刻了的 dais: 讲台 humbly: 谦卑的 bow: 弯腰 prayer: 祈祷
提里奥弗丁望着这彩色的画像不禁心驰神往。他跪在雕饰华丽的讲坛前，谦恭的弯下腰祈祷着。
To his left, a group of somber men dressed in flowing white robes stood in attendance. They were clerics—warrior priests—who hailed from the Northshire region.
somber: 严峻的 dressed: 穿着 robe: 长袍 attendance: 出席 cleric: 教士 warrior: 战士 priest: 牧师 hail from: 来自 Northshire: 北郡 region: 地区
他左边，一排人身着白袍，神情肃穆的站着。他们是来自北郡的传教士——战斗牧师。
The pious clerics were present in order to offer Tirion their support and spiritual guidance, should he require it.
pious: 虔诚的 cleric: 教士 present: 出席的 in order to: 为了 offer: 提供 support: 支持 spiritual: 精神的 guidance: 引导 require: 需要
这些虔诚的牧师们是来给提里奥提供必要的支持和精神慰籍的。
To his immediate right, another group stood in observance, all dressed in heavy suits of highly polished armor. They were the Knights of the Silver Hand—the Paladins.
immediate: 紧靠的 observance: 惯例 dressed: 穿着 suit: 套装 highly: 非常 polished:擦亮的 armor: 盔甲 knight: 骑士 Silver Hand: 白银之手 Paladin: 圣骑士
在他右手，另一群人身披重甲，他们是白银之手的骑士——圣骑士。
The shining Paladins were the champions of Lordaeron and the Alliance. They stood in support of Tirion—the newest initiate to their hallowed ranks.
shining: 华丽的 Paladin: 圣骑士 champion: 保卫者 Lordaeron: 洛丹伦 Alliance: 联盟 support: 支持 initiate: 新加入的 hallowed: 神圣的 ranks: 队伍
这些圣骑士乃是洛丹伦以及全联盟的守护者。他们也是赶来支持提里奥的——这神圣头衔的新获得者。
Before him was a vast altar that lay directly beneath the enormous stained glass window.
vast: 巨大的 altar: 祭坛 directly: 直接的 beneath: 在下方 enormous: 巨大的 stained:着色的 glass: 玻璃
在他面前，就是彩色玻璃窗下巨大的祭坛。
The streaming sunlight was focused at the center of the altar, where another robed man sat in meditative silence, cradling a large book in his lap.
streaming: 流动 sunlight: 日光 focus: 聚集 center: 中央 altar: 祭坛 robed: 穿着长袍的 meditative: 冥想的 silence: 寂静 cradle: 捧着 lap: 膝盖
阳光洒向祭坛，另一个身着长袍，膝头摆了一本厚书的人正端坐在祭坛中央沉思着什么。
Tirion was only vaguely aware of the others gathered in the cathedral behind him, chatting anxiously while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
vaguely: 模糊的 aware: 知道的 gather: 聚集 cathedral: 大教堂 chatting: 聊天 anxiously: 焦虑的 waitingfor: 等待 ceremony: 仪式
提里奥依稀记得，其他人跟着他走进大教堂后，焦虑的交谈着，等待仪式开始。
The robed man on the altar raised his hand, calling for the gathered masses to fall silent. Tirion held his breath. This was the moment for which he had waited.
robed: 穿着长袍的 altar: 祭坛 raise: 举起 calling for: 需要 gather: 聚集 masses: 群众 silent: 安静的 breath: 呼吸 moment: 时刻
祭坛上的长袍男子举手示意大家安静，提里奥屏住了呼吸，他等待已久的时刻就要来临了。
The robed man stood and slowly walked forward to address the kneeling Tirion.
robed: 穿着长袍的 slowly: 慢慢地 forward: 向前的 kneel: 跪下
长袍男子慢慢起身，走向跪在祭坛前的提里奥。
The Archbishop stopped as he reached the ornate dais and opened the large book he had been holding. With a voice like thunder, the Archbishop read aloud:
Archbishop: 大主教 ornate: 华丽的 dais: 讲台 holding: 托住 thunder: 雷声 aloud: 大声地
大主教在讲台前停下，翻开手中的书，声如洪钟的念了起来：
“In the Light, we gather to empower our brother. In its grace, he will be made anew. In its power, he shall educate the masses. In its strength, he shall combat the shadow.
gather: 聚集 empower: 授予权力 grace: 恩惠 anew: 重新 educate: 教导 masses: 群众 strength: 力量 combat: 战斗
“我们以圣光之名聚集于此授予我们的兄弟以力量。圣光之耀，使其脱胎换骨，圣光之能，使其劝谕大众，圣光之力，使其力据黑暗。
And, in its wisdom, he shall lead his brethren to the eternal rewards of paradise.” Finishing the verse, the Archbishop closed the book and turned toward the men on the left.
wisdom: 智慧 lead: 引导 brethren: 同胞 eternal: 永恒的 reward: 报答 paradise: 天堂 verse: 祷文 Archbishop: 大主教
圣光之智，使其引领同胞，永浴天堂。”念完祷文，大主教合上书走到提里奥左边。
Tirion felt a rush of excitement sweep through his body. He breathed in deeply and tried to focus on the solemnity of the moment.
rush: 急流 excitement: 激动 sweep: 掠过 breath: 呼吸 deeply: 深深地 focus: 集中 solemnity: 严肃 moment: 时刻
提里奥感到一阵激动。他深吸一口气，试图在这神圣一刻集中精神。
“Clerics of the Northshire, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him,” the Archbishop said in a ritualistic tone.
cleric: 教士 Northshire: 北郡 deem: 相信 worthy: 值得的 blessing: 祝福 Archbishop:大主教 ritualistic: 仪式的 tone: 语气
“北郡的传教士们，如果你们信任他，给他祝福吧，”大主教用神圣的口吻说。
One of the white-robed men walked forward, carrying an embroidered dark blue stole in his hands.
robed: 穿着长袍的 forward: 向前的 embroidered: 绣花的 stole: 圣带
一个白袍男子手拿一件深蓝色镶边的披肩站了出来。
The Cleric reached the dais and reverently placed the blessed stole around Tirion’s neck. He dipped his thumb in a small vial of sacred oil and anointed Tirion’s sweating brow with it.
cleric: 教士 dais: 讲台 reverently: 虔诚地 blessed: 受祝福的 stole: 圣带 neck: 脖子 dip: 浸 thumb: 拇指 vial: 小瓶 sacred: 神圣的 oil: 油 anoint: 涂油于 sweating: 出汗的 brow: 额头
传教士走到讲坛前面，虔诚的把披肩披在提里奥脖子上，大拇指在一小瓶圣油里蘸了一下，抹在提里奥眉宇之间。
“By the grace of the Light, may your brethren be healed,” the Cleric said in a whisper. He bowed and backed away to stand once more amongst his fellows.
grace: 恩惠 brethren: 同胞 heal: 使治愈 cleric: 教士 whisper: 低声地说 bow: 鞠躬 back away: 后退 amongst: 在…之间
“圣光保佑你的同胞们得救，”传教士喃喃低语，鞠了一躬又退了回去。
The Archbishop turned to the men on the right and spoke again: “Knights of the Silver Hand, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.”
Archbishop: 大主教 knight: 骑士 Silver Hand: 白银之手 deem: 相信 worthy: 值得的 blessing: 祝福
大主教转向右边的人群再次朗声说道：“白银之手的骑士们，如果你们信任他，给他祝福吧。”
Two of the armored men moved forward with obvious pride on their faces and stood solemnly in front of the dais.
armored: 武装的 forward: 向前的 obvious: 明显的 pride: 自豪 solemnly: 严肃地 dais:讲台
两个全副武装的男人一脸骄傲的走了出来，肃立在讲坛前面。
One of the men held a great, two-handed warhammer. The hammer’s silvery head was etched with holy runes and its haft was meticulously wrapped in blue leather.
two-handed: 双手的 warhammer: 战锤 silvery: 银色的 etch: 雕刻 holy: 神圣的 rune:符文 haft: 柄 meticulously: 细致地 wrapped: 有包装的 leather: 皮革
其中一人手拿一把巨大的双手战锤。锤子银色的头部刻着圣诗，锤子的柄则用蓝色皮革小心的包裹着。
Tirion could only marvel at the weapon’s exceptional craftsmanship and beauty. The knight laid the hammer on the dais before Tirion’s feet. He then bowed his head and backed away.
marvel: 惊异于 weapon: 武器 exceptional: 独特的 craftsmanship: 工艺 knight: 骑士 hammer: 锤子 dais:讲台 bow: 弯腰 back away: 后退
提里奥惊异于这件武器不同寻常的工艺与精致。骑士把锤子放在跪着的提里奥面前，低了低头又走了回去。
The second knight, carrying dual ceremonial shoulder plates, stepped forward and looked Tirion in the eye. He was Saidan Dathrohan, one of Tirion’s closest friends.
knight: 骑士 dual: 双层的 ceremonial: 仪式的 shoulder: 肩膀 plate: 铠甲
第二位骑士手拿一副肩甲，跟上来打量着提里奥。他就是赛伊达达索汉，提里奥最亲密的好友之一。
The knight’s face was alight with pride and excitement. Tirion smiled knowingly.
alight with: 因…而发光 pride: 自豪 excitement: 激动 knowingly: 会意地
骑士脸上洋溢着自豪和激动，提里奥则会心的朝他微笑。
Visibly composing himself, Saidan placed the silver shoulder plates upon Tirion’s shoulders and spoke in a stern voice. “By the strength of the Light, may your enemies be undone.”
compose: 使镇静 silver: 银色的 shoulder plates: 肩甲 shoulder: 肩膀 stern: 严肃的 strength: 力量 undone:毁灭
赛伊达把银色的肩甲披在提里奥肩上，严肃地说道“愿圣光之力助你扫除一切敌人。”
After he finished speaking, Saidan adjusted the silver plates so that the blue stole streamed out from beneath them.
adjust: 调整 silver: 银色的 plate: 铠甲 stole: 圣带 stream: 流动 beneath: 在下方
他说完后，赛伊达调整了一下银色护甲好让他们下边的蓝色圣带能够飘出来。
He then backed away and returned to the group of attendant knights. Tirion’s heart pounded in his chest. He was so overcome with joy that he felt almost light-headed.
attendant: 伴随的 knight: 骑士 pounded: 击打 chest: 胸膛 overcome: 充满的 joy: 喜悦 light-headed: 头晕的
然后他就退回去，转身回到出席的骑士们当中。提里奥的心敲击着他的胸膛。他真是无比喜悦，甚至有些飘飘然起来。
The Archbishop strode forward once again and placed his hand upon Tirion’s head.
Archbishop: 大主教 stride: 大步走 forward: 向前的 placed: 放置
大主教再一次大步走上前来，把手放在提里奥的头上。
“Arise and be recognized,” he said. Tirion got to his feet and marveled at the sheer magnitude of the honor being bestowed upon him.
arise: 起身 recognized: 公认的 get to ones feet: 站起来 marveled: 惊奇 sheer: 完全的 magnitude: 数量 honor: 荣誉 bestow: 授予
“站起来，让大家重新认识你。”他说。提里奥抬脚站起，他感到自己被赠与无比的荣耀，心情无法平静。
The Archbishop leveled his gaze at Tirion, then read aloud from the book.
Archbishop: 大主教 gaze: 注视 aloud: 大声地
大主教目光平视，注视着提里奥，然后大声地开始照书念。
“Do you, Tirion Fordring, vow to uphold the honor and codes of the Order of the Silver Hand?”
vow: 发誓 uphold: 维护 honor: 荣誉 code: 法规 Silver Hand: 白银之手
“你，提里奥弗丁，发誓维护白银之手骑士团的荣誉与法规吗？”
“I do,” Tirion replied earnestly.
reply: 回答 earnestly: 诚挚的
“我发誓，”提里奥诚挚地回答。
“Do you vow to walk in the grace of the Light and spread its wisdom to your fellow man?”
vow: 发誓 grace: 恩惠 spread: 传布 wisdom: 智慧
“你发誓将依照圣光的恩典行事，并且对你的属下发扬其智慧吗？”
“I do.”
“我发誓。”
“Do you vow to vanquish evil wherever it be found, and protect the weak and innocent with your very life?”
vow: 发誓 vanquish: 击败 evil: 邪恶 protect: 保护 weak: 弱的 innocent: 无辜的
“你发誓无论在哪里都会击退遇到的邪恶，用自己的生命保护弱者和无辜的人吗？”
Tirion swallowed hard and nodded while saying, “By my blood and honor, I do.” He exhaled softly, overcome with emotion.
swallow: 咽口水 nod: 点头 honor: 荣耀 exhale: 呼气 overcome: 充满的 emotion: 激情
提里奥费劲地咽了一口，然后点着头说，“凭我的血与荣耀，我发誓。”他轻轻地呼出这几个字，完全被情感征服了。
The Archbishop closed the book and walked back toward the center of the altar.
Archbishop: 大主教 toward: 朝 center: 中心 altar: 祭坛
大主教合上书，向着祭坛中心走回去。
Turning to face the entire assembly, the Archbishop said, "Brothers—you who have gathered here to bear witness—raise your hands and let the Light illuminate this man.”
entire: 全部的 assembly: 与会者 Archbishop: 大主教 gather: 聚集 bear: 承担 witness: 目击者 raise: 举起 illuminate: 照亮
转身面对与会者们，大主教说，“手足兄弟们－你们今天聚集至此并且亲眼见证－举起你们的手，让圣光使这个男人辉煌。”
Each of the Clerics and knights raised their right hands and pointed toward Tirion. To Tirion’s amazement, their hands began to glow with a soft, golden radiance.
cleric: 教士 knight: 骑士 raise: 举起 pointed: 指 amazement: 惊奇 glow: 发光 golden:金色的 radiance:光辉
每一位牧师和骑士都举起他们的右手，直指着提里奥。让提里奥感到惊奇的是，他们的手开始发出柔弱的金色光辉。
He supposed that, in the excitement of the moment, his eyes were playing tricks on him.
supposed: 猜想的 excitement: 激动 trick: 戏法
他觉得是此时此刻自己过于激动，眼睛和自己开了个玩笑。
Yet, as he watched in wonder, the sunlight that poured in from above began to move slowly across the floor.
wonder: 惊奇 sunlight: 日光 pour: 倾洒 above: 上面 slowly: 慢慢地 floor: 地面
当他睁大眼睛想知道怎么回事的时候，日光从上方洒下，开始慢慢地移动扫过地面。
As if in response to the assembly’s command, the light came to rest upon Tirion himself.
response: 响应 assembly: 与会者 command: 控制 rest: 静止
好像受到了与会者们的指使，那光来到提里奥的身上就停下了。
Partially blinded by the intense radiance, Tirion felt his body warmed and energized by its holy power. Every fiber of his being was ignited by divine fire.
partially: 部分地 blind: 失明的 intense: 强烈的 radiance: 光辉 warm: 变暖 energized:充能的 holy: 神圣的 fiber: 纤维 being: 身心 ignite: 点燃 divine: 神圣的
由于这剧烈的光辉，眼睛有点看不清了，提里奥感到自己的身体被神圣的力量所温和充能。他自己的每根神经都被神圣之火点燃了。
He could sense life-giving energies flowing through his limbs, energies enough to heal any wound or cure any disease.
sense: 感觉 life-giving: 赋予生命的 limb: 肢体 heal: 治愈 wound: 伤口 cure: 祛除 disease: 疾病
他能感到赐予生命的力量在他的四肢中流动，这能量能治愈任何伤口和祛除任何疾病。
He mused that these energies were enough to burn even the souls of the accursed denizens of the shadow. Despite himself, he shuddered involuntarily.
muse: 沉思 burn: 灼伤 soul: 灵魂 accursed: 被诅咒的 denizen: 居民 despite: 不管 shudder: 发抖 involuntarily: 无心地
他深思着这股力量的强大，甚至能够灼伤受诅咒的暗影生物的灵魂。除了他自己，他下意识地颤抖了一下。
Ablaze with hope and joy, Tirion knelt down and took hold of the mighty hammer—the symbol of his holy appointment and station.
ablaze: 激昂的 joy: 喜悦 kneel: 跪下 take hold: 抓住 mighty: 强有力的 hammer: 锤子 symbol: 标志 holy: 神圣的 appointment: 使命 station: 身份
带着希望与喜悦地兴奋，提里奥跪下抓起那把强有力的锤子－他的神圣使命与身份的标志。
With joyous tears streaming down his face, he raised his head and looked toward the Archbishop, who smiled warmly back at him.
joyous: 喜悦的 tear: 眼泪 streaming: 流动 raise: 抬起 Archbishop: 大主教 warmly:亲切地
喜悦的泪水从他脸上径直流下，他抬起头向着大主教望去，作为回答，大主教正亲切地向他笑着。
“Arise, Tirion Fordring—Paladin defender of Lordaeron. Welcome to the Order of the Silver Hand.”
arise: 起身 Paladin: 圣骑士 defender: 保卫者 Lordaeron: 洛丹伦 Silver Hand: 白银之手
“站起身，提里奥弗丁－洛丹伦的保卫者。欢迎加入白银之手。”
The entire assembly erupted in cheers. Trumpets blared from the high balconies and the cheerful din echoed through the vastness of the Cathedral of Light.
entire: 全部的 assembly: 与会者 erupt: 爆发 cheer: 欢呼 Trumpet: 喇叭声 blare: 发嘟嘟声 balcony: 阳台 cheerful: 欢乐的 din: 喧嚣声 echo: 回响 vastness: 广阔的 cathedral: 大教堂
整个场面爆发出欢呼声。各种号嘟嘟的演奏声从高出的阳台传来，欢呼的喧闹声在圣光大教堂广阔的空间中回荡。
Tirion woke with a start. The sound of children’s frolicking laughter came through the nearby window.
woke: 醒来 start: 吃惊 frolicking: 嬉戏 laughter: 笑声 nearby: 附近的
提里奥惊醒过来。孩子们欢乐嬉闹的声音穿过了附近的窗户。
Outside he could hear the familiar sounds of commerce and trade being conducted within the grounds of Mardenholde keep.
familiar: 熟悉的 commerce: 买卖 trade: 贸易 conduct: 经营 ground: 土地 Mardenholde: 玛登霍尔德 keep:成败
从外面他能听到熟悉的叫卖声，那些买卖都是在玛登霍尔德城堡的地面上成交。
He was home, in his own bed. Shaking his head to clear his groggy mind, he wondered how long he had slept.
shaking: 摇动 groggy: 摇晃的 wonder: 想知道
他此时正在家里，自己的床上。摇了摇头，清醒自己模糊的意识，他琢磨着自己睡了多久了。
His sheets were soaked with sweat and he smelled as if he hadn’t bathed in a week. His head was pounding so hard he felt as if it would burst.
sheet: 床单 soaked: 湿透的 sweat: 汗 smell: 闻 bath: 洗澡 pounding: 重创 burst:炸裂
他的床单都被汗浸湿了，闻起来好像一个星期没有洗澡那样。他的头好似正在玩命猛敲，好像要炸了一样。
Sighing heavily, he remembered that he had been dreaming.
sighing: 叹气
深深地叹了口气，他回想起自己刚一直在做梦。
He tried to recall the dream’s details, but due to the incessant pounding in his skull, he could only grasp the faintest flashes of imagery:
recall: 回忆 detail: 细节 due to: 由于 incessant: 连续的 pounding: 重创 skull: 头颅 grasp: 抓住 faintest:模糊的 flash: 瞬间 imagery: 意象
他努力回忆梦的细节，不过由于他的颅骨好似不断地猛击一般，他只能抓住幻象中最模糊的几个瞬间：
a robed man, a shiny hammer, and a vicious orc. A vicious orc?
robed: 穿长袍的 shiny: 发光的 hammer: 锤子 vicious: 邪恶的 orc: 兽人
一个穿长袍的男人，一把发光的锤子，一个邪恶的兽人。一个邪恶的兽人？
He surmised that he had dreamt of his appointment as a Paladin. But surely there were no orcs present at that joyous ceremony.
surmise: 推测 appointment: 使命 Paladin: 圣骑士 surely: 的确地 orc: 兽人 present:在场的 joyous: 喜悦的 ceremony: 典礼
他臆测自己梦到了作为一名圣骑士的使命。不过在那个喜悦的典礼上肯定没有什么兽人。
Slowly, more images began to flash in his mind. There had been a fight between himself and the orc—and he had lost. Nonsense, he thought absently.
image: 意象 flash: 闪现 orc: 兽人 nonsense: 荒谬 absently: 心不在焉地
慢慢地更多的意象在他的意识中闪现。他自己和那个兽人有一场角斗－并且他输了。无稽之谈，他心不在焉地想着。
He mused that his dreams were becoming even more imaginative in his old age.
muse: 沉思 imaginative: 富于想象力的
他沉思着，觉得他的梦只是因为自己老了才变得更有想象力。
Lifting his head from the sweat-soaked pillow, he attempted to get up and out of bed. A searing pain shot through him and he lay back down, panting for breath.
lift: 抬起 sweat: 汗 soaked: 湿透的 pillow: 枕头 attempt: 试图 searing: 灼热的 pain:疼痛 lay: 躺下 panting: 喘气 breath: 呼吸
从汗浸透的枕头上把头抬起，他想起身下床。一阵剧烈的疼痛射穿了他，他向后躺倒，气喘吁吁。
He stripped the blankets from his body and saw that his entire midsection had been neatly bandaged. Bruises and small lacerations covered most of his aching body.
strip: 除去 blanket: 毛毯 entire: 整个的 midsection: 腹部 neatly: 整齐的 bandaged:打绷带的 bruise: 瘀伤 laceration: 伤口 cover: 覆盖 aching: 疼痛的
他从身上撤去毯子，他看到他的整个身体中部都被整齐地打了绷带。瘀伤和小口子几乎遍布他疼痛的全身。
He was surprised to find that his arm had also been dressed and bandaged. Frantically, he tried to recall what had happened to him. Had the fight against the orc been real?
surprised: 感到惊讶的 arm: 手臂 dress: 涂药包扎 bandaged: 打绷带的 frantically: 疯狂地 recall: 回忆 against: 对抗 orc: 兽人
他吃惊的发现自己的胳膊也被上药打上了绷带。他疯狂地回忆自己发生了什么事。难道和兽人的角斗是真的？
For some strange reason, his memory seemed hazy and sluggish. His face contorted with pain as he struggled out of bed.
strange: 奇怪的 reason: 原因 seem: 似乎 hazy: 朦胧的 sluggish: 迟钝的 contorted:扭曲的 pain: 疼痛 struggled: 努力
由于某些不一般的原因，他的记忆变得朦胧而迟钝。他努力要下床，可是疼得他表情都扭曲了。
Wrapping himself in his dressing robe, he made his way toward the sitting room of his private chambers.
wrap: 包裹 robe: 长袍 sitting room: 起居室 private: 私人的 chamber: 房间
给自己裹上内衣袍子，他就向自己家的起居室走去。
He found his young wife, Karandra, sitting quietly with her needlework in a large plush chair near an open window.
wife: 妻子 quietly: 安静地 needlework: 针线活 plush: 长毛绒 chair: 椅子
他发现他年轻的妻子，卡兰达拉，正安静地坐在一把大的长毛绒椅子上做针线活，就在一扇开着地窗户旁边。
At seeing him enter the room, Karandra threw down her embroidery and rushed to meet him. She hugged him warmly, careful not to squeeze him too tightly.
enter: 进入 throw down: 扔下 embroidery: 刺绣 hug: 拥抱 warmly: 热情地 squeeze:挤压 tightly: 紧紧地
看见他进屋，卡兰达拉扔下手里的针织品，跑上来迎他。她小心而温暖地抱着他，而不过紧地挤压他。
“Thank the Light, you’re awake,” she said. Her young, delicate features were fixed with both relief and concern. Her blue eyes seemed to stare straight through him, as they always did.
awake: 醒来 delicate: 娇弱的 features: 容貌 relief: 宽慰 concern: 关心 stare: 凝视 straight: 直的
“感谢圣光，你醒过来了，”她说。她年轻而柔弱的相貌夹带着宽慰和关心。她蓝色的眼睛直视着他，就像他们以往一样。
He smiled back and kissed her forehead lightly. He marveled, for perhaps the ten thousandth time, at her beauty.
forehead: 前额 lightly: 轻轻的 marveled: 感到惊讶 perhaps: 也许
作为回复，他笑着轻吻着她的额头。他感到惊讶，也许是第一万次了，于她的美貌。
“I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep clear through midyear,” she said. His eyebrow arched questioningly as he stroked her soft, golden hair.
wonder: 怀疑 midyear: 年中的 eyebrow: 眉毛 arched: 弓形的 questioningly: 疑惑地 stroke: 抚 golden: 金色的
“我刚在琢磨你是不是要睡过整个中年时期。”她说。当他捋着她柔软金色的头发的时候，她的眉毛如同问问题般画成弧形。
“What do you mean? How long have I slept?” he asked.
slept: 睡
“你想说什么呢？我睡了多久？”他问。
“Nearly four days,” she replied flatly. Tirion blinked in disbelief.
nearly: 差不多 reply: 回答 flatly: 断然地 blink: 眨眼 disbelief: 怀疑
“差不多4天了，”她断然答到。提里奥不相信地眨着眼。
“Four days,” he mumbled to himself. That would explain the hazy memory, he mused.
mumble: 含糊地说 explain: 解释 hazy: 模糊的 memory: 记忆 muse: 沉思
“4天了，”他对自己咕哝着。这就解释了那朦胧的记忆，他思忖着。
“Karandra, what’s happened to me? Why have I slept so long?” he asked. She shrugged, shaking her head slightly.
shrug: 耸肩 shaking: 摇动 slightly: 轻微的
“卡兰达拉，我出了什么事？为什么我睡了这么久？”他问。她耸了下肩膀，轻轻地摇了摇头。
“We’re not exactly sure what happened to you,” she replied.
exactly: 确切地 reply: 回答
“我们并不完全清楚你出了什么事，”她答道。
“You left in the morning to go hunting and were gone for hours. Since you’re almost never late in returning, I was worried that you’d been hurt. I sent Arden out to find you.”
hunting: 打猎 almost: 几乎 worry: 担心 hurt: 受伤 sent: 派遣
“你早上就走了去打猎，去了4个小时。因为你基本上不会晚回来，我就担心你是不是受伤了。我打发阿尔顿去找你。”
Tirion smiled. Arden was the captain of the keep’s guards, and perhaps his most loyal friend. He should have guessed that Arden would go searching for him.
captain: 队长 keep: 城堡 guard: 守卫 perhaps: 也许 loyal: 忠诚的 guess: 猜测 searching: 搜索
提里奥笑了。阿尔顿是城堡的守卫队长，也许是他最忠实的朋友了。他该猜到阿尔顿会去找他。
Karandra continued, “Just as he was leaving the keep, he came across you atop Mirador.
continue: 继续 keep: 成败 come across: 遇到 atop: 在顶上
卡兰达拉继续说，“就在他离开城堡那时候，他就撞见在米拉达背上的你。
He said that you were unconscious when he found you, and that you’d been tied to the saddle with your own reins.”
unconscious: 失去知觉的 tied: 系 saddle: 马鞍 rein: 缰绳
他说发现你的时候你已经意识不清，并且你被你自己的缰绳绑在了马鞍上。”
Tirion cupped his aching head in his hands. “Tied to my saddle? None of this makes any sense,” he said wearily.
cupped: 窝起手 aching: 疼痛的 tied: 系 saddle: 马鞍 sense: 感觉 wearily: 疲倦地
提里奥用手轻捶着自己疼痛的头。“绑到我的马鞍上？这一点都不合乎道理，”他疲倦地说。
She placed her cool hand against his forehead, soothingly.
placed: 放置 against: 紧贴着 forehead: 前额 soothingly: 安慰地
她把她凉凉的手放在他的额头上，安慰地说：
“Your ribs were broken and your arm had been sliced open. We feared you had been attacked by a rogue bristlebear. Barthilas healed you as soon as Arden brought you inside.”
rib: 肋骨 arm: 手臂 slice: 切开 fear: 害怕 rogue: 凶猛的 bristlebear: 棕熊 heal: 治疗
“你的肋骨断了，你的胳膊也被切开。我们害怕你是被一头凶猛的棕熊攻击了。阿尔顿刚把你带进来，巴瑟拉斯就对你进行了治疗。”
Tirion sat down heavily in her chair. Barthilas? Barthilas had healed him?
chair: 椅子 heal: 治疗
提里奥在她的椅子上重重地坐下来。巴瑟拉斯? 巴瑟拉斯治疗过他？
The youth was only recently anointed as a Paladin, and Tirion was surprised to hear that his powers had developed so quickly.
youth: 年轻人 recently: 最近 anoint: 受神圣仪式的 Paladin: 圣骑士 surprised: 感到惊讶的 develop: 进步
那个年轻人只是刚刚通过圣化仪式成为一名圣骑士，提里奥很惊讶地听到他的力量提升的这么快。
The somewhat arrogant but devout Barthilas had been assigned as Tirion’s Second—his successor as Lord Paladin over Hearthglen.
somewhat: 多少 arrogant: 自大的 devout: 虔诚的 assign: 委派 second: 副手 successor: 继承人 Hearthglen:壁炉谷
这有点自大了，不过虔诚的巴瑟拉斯已经被分配为提里奥的副官，一个可能继承他壁炉堡执政官地位的人。
He had tutored the young Paladin in the ways of their holy Order and instructed him in the protocols of the political arena.
tutor: 训导 Paladin: 圣骑士 holy: 神圣的 order: 阶级 instructed: 教导 protocol: 外交礼节 political: 政治的 arena: 舞台
他以白银之手骑士团神圣的方式教授这位年轻的圣骑士，并且教诲他政界活动中的各种礼节。
Though he was glad the youth had been able to heal him, he had other matters to ponder. Had the fight with the orc really taken place?
though: 尽管 glad: 高兴的 youth: 年轻人 heal: 治疗 matter: 时间 ponder: 反思 orc:兽人 take place: 发生
尽管他很高兴看到这位年轻人已经能够治疗他，还是有些事让他反思。和兽人的战斗真的发生了？
Karandra kneeled down, close to him. “Barthilas’ healing taxed you greatly, and left him exhausted. As you slept, you cried out a number of times in delirium,” she said.
kneel: 跪下 close to: 靠近 healing: 治疗 tax: 使受压力 greatly: 极大的 exhausted:精疲力竭的 cried out:大声呼喊 delirium: 胡言乱语
卡兰达拉跪下来，贴近他。“巴瑟拉斯的治疗让你受到很大压力，也把他累坏了。你睡的时候，说胡话大喊了好多次，”她说。
He looked at her questioningly. “And?” he asked.
questioningly: 疑惑地
他疑惑地看着她。“然后呢？”他问。
“Well,” she began with a look of concern crossing her face, “you were rambling on about orcs, Tirion. You said that there were orcs in Hearthglen.”
concern: 关心 rambling: 语言杂乱无章的 orc: 兽人 Hearthglen: 壁炉谷
“嗯，”她带着一丝关心的表情掠过脸庞说，“你一直在胡扯着关于兽人的事情，提里奥。你说在壁炉堡有兽人。”
He laid back in the chair wearily. The memories of the furious encounter came rushing back at him. The fight had been real. He looked into her crystal blue eyes and nodded grimly.
lay: 躺下 chair: 椅子 wearily: 疲倦地 memory: 记忆 furious: 猛烈的 encounter: 遭遇 rush: 猛冲 crystal:水晶 nod: 点头 grimly: 严肃的
他疲倦地倒进椅子背里。那次狂暴的冲突的记忆再度向他袭来。那角斗是真实发生的事。他的目光落在她水晶蓝的眼目上，严肃地点了点头。
“It was an orc,” he told her. Karandra sat back on her feet, mouth agape.
orc: 兽人 agape: 目瞪口呆的
“确实有一个兽人，”他告诉她。卡兰达拉跪坐到自己的脚踝上，目瞪口呆。
“Light save us,” she muttered. Just then the door slammed open and five-year-old Taelan came bounding into the room.
mutter: 低声说 slam: 砰然的 bound: 跳跃
“圣光保佑我们，”她低声说。就在这时，门砰然打开，五岁大的泰兰跳着进了屋。
“Poppa! Poppa!” the boy shouted, running over to his parents.
poppa: 爸爸 shout: 呼喊 parents: 双亲
“爸爸！爸爸！”男孩喊着，向他的父母跑上去。
Karandra straightened and stood up as Taelan leaped up into Tirion’s lap. Tirion grunted as the small boy threw himself against his sore chest.
straighten: 挺直 stand up: 站起来 leap: 跳跃 lap: 膝盖 grunt: 咕噜声 against: 撞着 sore: 疼痛的 chest:胸膛
兰达拉直起身站起来，泰兰跳上提里奥的大腿。当小男孩撞到他疼痛的胸部的时候，提里奥发出低沉的嗯的一声。
“Taelan, my boy, how are you?” he asked, wrapping his son up in a hearty hug. Taelan beamed a coy smile up at him and shrugged his shoulders.
wrap: 环绕 hearty: 热烈地 hug: 拥抱 beam: 微笑 coy: 腼腆的 shrug: 耸肩 shoulder: 肩膀
“泰兰，我的儿子，怎么样啊？”他问，完全把他的儿子包在自己怀里。泰兰抬起头忸怩地堆满笑容耸了下肩膀。
“Have you been good for your mother?” Taelan nodded excitedly.
nod: 点头 excitedly: 激动地
“你好好对待母亲了吗？”泰兰玩命点头。
“He’s mindful often enough,” Arden’s strong voice boomed from the doorway. “But he’s just as rambunctious as his father ever was.”
mindful: 留心的 doorway: 门口 rambunctious: 喧闹的
“他总是相当地留心，”阿尔顿粗壮的声音从门口隆隆地传来。“但是他就像他爸爸儿时那样到处闹腾。”
Karandra smiled warmly at the loyal guardsman as he entered the room.
warmly: 亲切地 loyal: 忠实地 guardsman: 守卫 enter: 进入
当这位忠实的守卫走进屋里时，卡兰达拉热情地对着他笑。
“I hope I’m not intruding on anything. I saw Taelan there heading this way like a raging ogre and thought to catch him before he woke you, Tirion. It seems I shouldn’t have worried.”
intrude: 打扰 intrude on: 侵扰 raging: 狂暴的 ogre: 食人魔 woke: 叫醒 seem: 似乎
“我希望我没有打扰到你们什么。我在那边看见泰兰像一头愤怒的食人魔那样朝这边过来，就想先抓住他，别让他吵了你，提里奥。看来我不该担心的。”
With a grunt, Tirion rose with Taelan in his arms and walked forward to greet his old friend. The two shook hands heartily.
grunt: 咕噜声 rise: 起身 arm: 手臂 greet: 问候 shake: 摇动 heartily: 衷心地
发出低沉的咕噜声，提里奥抱着泰兰站起来，走上去问候他的老朋友。两个人真心地握着手。
“Karandra tells me that I should thank you for hauling me back to the keep. Honestly, Arden, if I had a gold mark for every time you’ve fished me out of trouble . . .”
haul: 拖 keep: 城堡 honestly: 哎呀 gold mark: 金奖章 fish: 拖出 trouble: 麻烦
“卡兰达拉告诉我是你把我脱回到城堡来的，我该好好谢谢你。哎呀，阿尔顿，如果每次在你帮我脱离困境之后，我有一个金奖章……”
“Nonsense. I just led your horse back. If you thank anyone, it should be Barthilas. He just about burnt himself out trying to heal you.
nonsense: 无意义的 lead: 牵引 burnt: 燃烧 heal: 治疗
“没必要。我只是把你的马牵回来。要是你想谢谢谁，找巴瑟拉斯吧。为了努力治疗你，他把自己的力量都耗光了。
You’d taken a pretty good beating, old friend. In any case, I’m glad to see you back amongst the living. You had us concerned there for a while.”
take a beating: 挨揍 in any case: 无论如何 amongst: 在…之间 concerned: 担心的 while:一会儿
你看来是被玩命暴揍了一顿，兄弟。无路如何，很高兴看你回到活人堆儿里。你那会儿真是让我们担心了好一阵。”
“I know,” Tirion said. “There are some things we should discuss, immediately.” Arden nodded, casting a sidelong look at Taelan and Karandra.
discuss: 讨论 immediately: 立即 nod: 点头 cast: 投向 sidelong: 侧面的
“我知道的，”提里奥说。“我们有些事得谈谈，就现在。”阿尔顿点着头，侧头看着旁边的泰兰和卡兰达拉。
Catching the captain’s subtle hint, Karandra took Taelan from Tirion’s arms and said, “I’ll leave you both to it, then. You’ve got plans to make. And this little one needs to go down for his nap.”
catch: 发觉 captain: 队长 subtle: 微秒的 hint: 暗示 arm: 手臂 leave: 留下 plan: 计划 nap: 小睡
理解了队长的微妙暗示，卡兰达拉从提里奥的胳膊上接过泰兰，说，“那么我就留你们俩在这。你们有事情商量。小家伙也需要躺下睡会儿。”
She kissed the boy on the cheek. Taelan, whining with displeasure, struggled to break free of her firm grasp. Karandra laughed softly to herself.
cheek: 脸蛋 whine: 呜咽 displeasure: 不高兴的 struggled: 努力 break free: 挣脱 firm: 牢固的 grasp: 抓握 softly: 温柔地
她亲了下孩子的脸。泰兰不乐意地哼哼着，想要努力脱开母亲紧握的手。卡兰达拉温柔地对自己笑着。
“Just like his father,” she said with a giggle. Both Tirion and Arden smiled as she left.
giggle: 格格地笑 leave: 离开
“和你父亲一样，”她格格笑着说。提里奥和阿尔顿都微笑着看她离开。
“I’ll see you later, son,” Tirion said, watching them leave. Once they were out of earshot, he turned to face Arden, his face a mask of concern.
leave: 离开 earshot: 听力所及范围 face: 面对 concern: 忧虑
“待会儿见，儿子，”提里奥说，目送他们出屋。当他们听不到这边说话时，他转脸向阿尔顿，他一脸的焦虑。
“It was an orc, Arden. More than likely, it’s still alive. As far as I could tell, it was alone out there.
orc: 兽人 more than likely: 更可能 alive: 活着的 as far as I could tell: 据我所知 alone:独自一人
“有个兽人，阿尔顿。很有可能，他还活着。就我所知道的，他在外头只有一个人。
And, until we know otherwise, I want to keep this between us and whoever else was on hand when you brought me in.
otherwise: 其他方面 whoever: 无论是谁 on hand: 到场
在我们进一步了解之前，这事我希望只有我们俩知道，当然还有你把我带回来时在场的人知道。
I don’t want to panic the entire province in case this was just a solitary incident.”
panic: 使…惊慌 entire: 整个的 province: 省 in case: 万一 solitary: 单独的 incident:事件
我可不想让这事闹得整个省区恐慌，万一这只是一个孤立事件呢。”
Arden’s strong jaw tightened noticeably.
jaw: 下颚 tighten: 绷紧 noticeably: 明显地
阿尔顿强壮的下巴明显地收紧。
“There may be a problem on that front already, milord. Barthilas and I were both on hand while you slept. We both heard you mutter about the orc,” he said.
problem: 问题 milord: 老爷 on hand: 到场 mutter: 低声说 orc: 兽人
“在这一点上可能已经有点问题了，老爷。巴瑟拉斯和我在你睡着的时候都在场。我们都听到你念道那兽人的事，”他说。
Tirion grimaced as Arden continued.
grimace: 作苦相 continue: 继续
阿尔顿继续说着，提里奥则一脸苦相。
“You know Barthilas as well as I do. Once he heard you say ‘orc,’ he flew into a rage and started calling for a full regiment to scour the countryside in search of any more of the brutes.
orc: 兽人 rage: 狂怒 call for: 要求 regiment: 团 scour: 搜寻 countryside: 乡村 brute:野兽
“你和我都了解巴瑟拉斯。当他一听你说‘兽人’，他勃然大怒，然后开始召集一整个编制团在乡下遍地追寻，看是不是还有那种凶猛的怪物。
I nearly had to sit on him to calm him down.”
nearly: 几乎 sit on: 压制 calm: 镇静
我真是不得不把他压下来让他冷静会儿。”
“I appreciate the lad’s enthusiasm, but his fervor could be problematic,” Tirion stated wryly.
appreciate: 赏识 lad: 小伙子 enthusiasm: 热情 fervor: 热诚 problematic: 有问题的 stated: 陈述 wryly: 表情冷漠的
“我赞许这小伙子的激情，不过他的热情会造成问题，”提里奥表情冷漠地说着。
“That would be an understatement,” Arden added, smiling. Both men had recognized early on Barthilas’ almost zealous obsession to face orcs in battle.
understatement: 没有充分地陈述实情 add: 附言 recognize: 认可 almost: 几乎 zealous:狂热的 obsession: 着迷 face: 面对 orc: 兽人 battle: 战斗
“你这是个不充分的陈述，”阿尔顿一边附和着说，一边微笑。两个人很早就明白巴瑟拉斯那近乎狂热的着迷于与兽人作战。
Barthilas’ parents had been murdered by orcs during the war, which had left the traumatized youth orphaned and inconsolable.
parents: 双亲 murdered: 被杀 orc: 兽人 war: 战争 leave: 留下 traumatized: 受到创伤的 youth: 年轻人 orphan: 孤儿 inconsolable: 悲痛欲绝的
巴瑟拉斯的父母在那次战争中被兽人残杀了，这使得这位受到精神创伤的孩子成了孤儿并且极度伤心。
Deciding to spend the rest of his life combating the orcs’ evil, Barthilas underwent years of rigorous training and study.
deciding: 决定 spend: 花费 rest: 其余的 combat: 战斗 orc: 兽人 evil: 邪恶 underwent: 经历 rigorous: 严酷的 training: 训练
是决定他的余生都要与兽人的邪恶作战，巴瑟拉斯承受了多年的严酷训练与学习。
Yet, tragically, the fiery youth was accepted as a Paladin only after the war had ended.
yet: 然而 tragically: 悲惨地 fiery: 激情的 youth: 年轻人 accepted: 录取 Paladin: 圣骑士 end: 结束
然而悲惨的是，这位感情激烈的年轻人在那场战争刚刚结束的时候被允许成为一名圣骑士。
Despite all his training and preparation, Barthilas was tortured by the fact that he wouldn’t have the chance to avenge his slaughtered parents.
despite: 尽管 training: 训练 preparation: 准备 torture: 折磨 fact: 事实 chance: 机会 avenge: 报仇 slaughter: 屠杀 parents: 双亲
尽管他做了那么多训练和准备，巴瑟拉斯没有机会为他的被屠杀的父母报仇，这个事实折磨着他。
He also felt that he could only win the respect of his superiors by bloodying his hands gloriously in battle, as they had during the war.
feel: 觉得 win: 赢得 respect: 尊敬 superior: 长辈 bloodying: 染血的 gloriously: 光荣的 battle: 战斗
他还觉得只有一个方法能赢得他的长辈们的尊敬，就是通过战斗让双手染满鲜血，就像他们过去那样。
He dreamed of becoming a mighty hero and taking vengeance upon the creatures that had taken his family from him.
dream: 梦想 become: 成为 mighty: 强大的 hero: 英雄 vengeance: 报复 creature:生物 family: 家人
他梦想着成为一名强大的英雄，报复那些把他家人从他身边夺走的生物。
Although he empathized with the younger Paladin, Tirion knew that that kind of thinking could lead to disaster.
although: 尽管 empathized: 表示同情 Paladin: 圣骑士 thinking: 思想 lead: 致使 disaster: 灾难
尽管他同情这位年轻的圣骑士，提里奥明白这种思维会导致灾难。
“I doubt he’s been tight-mouthed about my encounter. Especially after he healed my wounds. How many know about this, Arden?” Tirion asked anxiously.
doubt: 怀疑 tight-mouthed: 守口如瓶的 encounter: 遭遇 especially: 特别 heal: 治疗 wound: 伤口 anxiously:忧虑地
“我怀疑他会对我的遭遇保持缄默。特别是他治疗了我的伤口以后。多少人知道这事，阿尔顿？”提里奥焦虑地问。
“Rumors have been flying all around the keep for the past few days.
rumor: 流言 all around: 四处 keep: 城堡
“过去几天里流言已经飞遍了整个城堡。
Personally, I’ve heard just about everything from an orc raiding party to a full-fledged invasion force waiting to descend upon us.
personally: 作为个人 orc: 兽人 raiding party: 突击小队 full-fledged: 羽翼丰满的 invasion:侵略 force: 军队 descend: 袭击 descend upon: 袭击
光我自己就听到了各种说法，从一个兽人突击小队，到一支羽翼丰满的大军正等着突袭我们。
You know how it is. People are terrified that the Horde will return. And Barthilas, specifically, is terrified that he won’t get to defeat it singlehandedly if it ever does,” Arden replied.
terrified: 恐惧的 Horde: 部落 specifically: 特别地 defeat: 击败 singlehandedly: 独力地 reply: 回答
你猜怎么着。人们都吓坏了，以为部落将归来。还有，特别是巴瑟拉斯，他很害怕如果敌人像以前那样再来一次自己不能一个人击退它们，”阿尔顿答道。
Tirion patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
pat: 轻拍 reassuringly: 安慰地 shoulder: 肩膀
提里奥安慰地拍了拍他的肩膀。
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” Tirion said in earnest. “Assemble my advisors. We’ll discuss this further in council.”
earnest: 认真的 assemble: 召集 advisor: 顾问 discuss: 讨论 further: 进一步地 council: 会议
“让我们祈愿事情不会变成那样，”提里奥认真地说。“召集我的顾问们。我们会在会议时进一步讨论这事。”
Arden saluted crisply and turned to leave. Tirion cleared his throat. “Arden,” he said softly. “One last thing . . .”
salute: 行礼 crisply: 爽快的 leave: 离开 clear: 清 throat: 喉咙 softly: 轻柔的
阿尔顿爽快地行了个礼，然后转身离开了。提里奥清了清喉咙。“阿尔顿，”他轻轻地说，“最后一件事……”
Arden stopped in his tracks and stiffened. “You saw the shape I was in when you found me?”
track: 轨迹 stiffen: 挺直 shape: 外形
阿尔顿停下脚步定住。“在你找到我的时候，你看见我当时的样子了？”
“Yes,” Arden replied.
reply: 回答
“是，”阿尔顿回答道。
“There’s no way I could have tied myself to Mirador and found my way home in that condition.”
tied: 系 condition: 情况
“我不可能自己把自己捆到米拉达身上，并且在那种情况下找到回家的路。”
“No, milord. There’s no way.”
milord: 老爷
“是，老爷。那不可能。”
“And you saw no one else out there? No one who could have helped me and led the horse back here?”
lead: 牵引
“那你当时没看见任何其他的人在那？没有个帮助我的人还把我的马领回到这？”
“No, milord. There was no one about. I even went back later to search for tracks. I found nothing.
milord: 老爷 search: 搜寻 track: 痕迹
“没有，老爷。周围没人。我甚至后来回去找痕迹。什么也没找到。
Someone definitely tied you to your horse. And, for the life of me, I can’t figure out who,” Arden finished. Tirion nodded and motioned for him to go.
definitely: 确切地 tied: 系 horse: 马 for the life of me: 即使要我的命也… figure out: 想出 nod: 点头 motion: 示意
肯定有人把你绑到了你的马上。并且以我的生命担保，我说不出是谁，”阿尔顿说完了。提里奥点着头示意他离开。
Left alone, Tirion pondered on who his anonymous savior could have been. As far as he knew, the only two people in the woods that morning were himself and the mysterious old orc.
leave: 留下 alone: 独自一人 ponder: 沉思 anonymous: 无名的 savior: 救助者 as far as he knew: 就他所知 woods: 树林 mysterious: 神秘的 orc: 兽人
自己一个人，提里奥仔细地回想着是哪个无名的救星做的。就他所知，那天早上在林子里的两个人就是他自己和那个神秘的老兽人。
Briefly, Tirion wondered if it was the orc that had saved him. His past experience with the creatures prompted him to disregard the notion. The bestial creatures had no notion of honor.
briefly: 简短地 wonder: 想知道 orc: 兽人 past: 过去的 experience: 经历 creature: 生物 prompt: 促使 disregard: 忽视 notion: 想法 bestial: 野蛮的 notion: 观念 honor:荣誉
简单地说，提里奥想知道是不是那个兽人救了他。他过去与这种生物的经历促使他排除了这种想法。那些兽类的生物没有荣誉观念。
From all he had seen of them, he was certain that they would never go out of their way to show compassion toward another creature, least of all a hated enemy.
certain: 确定的 compassion: 同情 toward: 朝 creature: 生物 least: 最少的 hate: 憎恨 enemy: 敌人
从他对它们的见识来讲，他可以肯定它们从来不会对另外一种生物表示出它们的怜悯方式，尤其不会对一个令人生厌的敌人。
Still, despite his convictions, Tirion’s instincts told him that it had been the orc after all.
still: 然而 despite: 不管 conviction: 信服 instinct: 直觉 orc: 兽人 after all: 终究
然而，不管他相信与否，提里奥的直觉告诉他这一切都和那个兽人有关。
Candles fluttered in the medium-size council room.
candle: 蜡烛 flutter: 摆动 medium-size: 中等的 council: 会议 council room: 会议室
蜡烛在中型的议会厅里摇摆。
At the room’s center sat a large oak table, covered by an immense map that displayed the lands of Hearthglen down to the most minute detail.
center: 中央 oak: 橡木 cover: 覆盖 immense: 巨大的 display: 显示 Hearthglen: 壁炉谷 minute: 微小的 detail: 细节
厅中间放着一张大的橡木桌，上面盖着一张巨大的地图，显示出壁炉堡的土地细致到最小的细节。
Six men were seated around the table, conversing amongst themselves.
seat: 坐 converse: 交谈 amongst: 在…之间
六个男人坐在桌边，他们互相交谈着。
At the head of the table sat Tirion, who stared quietly at the section of map that indicated the woodlands surrounding the ruined tower.
stared: 凝视 section: 部分 indicate: 标示 woodland: 林地 surrounding: 围绕 ruined:毁坏的 tower: 塔
桌前边坐着提里奥，他盯着地图上的某个区域，那里显示出一块林地围绕着一座塔的废墟。
Lost in thought, Tirion was disinterested in his advisors’ idle conversation. He couldn’t tear his mind from the nagging question—who had saved him and led his horse home?
lost in: 沉迷在 thought: 沉思 disinterested: 不感兴趣的 advisor: 顾问 idle: 无意义的 conversation: 谈话 tear:折磨 nagging: 纠缠不休的 lead: 牵引
在沉思中，提里奥对顾问们无根据的说法毫无兴趣。他不能让那个牵肠挂肚的问题折磨自己的思想－是谁救了他并把他的马领回家的？
He remembered clearly that the orc had saluted him when he allowed the creature a reprieve during their combat.
orc: 兽人 salute: 行礼 allow: 容许 creature: 生物 reprieve: 暂缓 combat: 战斗
他清楚地回忆起那个兽人向他敬礼，当时在战斗中他允许那个生物缓口气。
Perhaps the brute had some semblance of honor after all, Tirion mused. No, it had to be a mistake.
brute: 野兽 semblance: 些微 honor: 荣誉 muse: 沉思 mistake: 错误
也许那野蛮的生物到底还是有点荣誉观念的样子，提里奥沉思着。不，这肯定搞错了。
Orcs were vile and savage. Their kind knew nothing of civility or compassion, he reminded himself. But still, his heart told him that it was the orc who had saved him.
orc: 兽人 vile: 卑鄙的 savage: 野蛮的 civility: 谦恭 compassion: 怜悯 remind: 提醒
兽人罪恶而野蛮。它们这类根本不懂谦恭和怜悯，他提醒自己。但是，他的心仍旧告诉他是那个兽人救了他。
His thoughts were interrupted as the door swung open to admit a tall, slender young man.
interrupted: 中断的 swing: 转动 admit: 进入 tall: 身材高的 slender: 苗条的
当门呜地打开进来一个瘦高的年轻人的时候，他的思绪被打断了。
Resplendent in his silver plate armor, with a deep green cloak flowing behind him, Barthilas looked every bit the crusading Paladin.
resplendent: 华丽的 silver: 银色的 plate armor: 铠甲 deep: 深深的 cloak: 斗篷 crusading: 十字军 Paladin:圣骑士
他的银色铠甲很耀眼，深绿色的披风跟在他后边，巴瑟拉斯无论哪一点看来都像个扫荡军的圣骑士。
Though he was nearly thirty years younger than Tirion, Barthilas held his oath as a Knight of the Silver Hand as sacred as the elder Paladin did.
oath: 誓言 knight: 骑士 Silver Hand: 白银之手 elder: 长辈 Paladin: 圣骑士
尽管他比提里奥年轻近30岁，巴瑟拉斯遵守他的誓言，作为一名白银之手骑士团的圣骑士，他做得和他的长辈圣骑士们一样神圣。
As always, Barthilas moved with a fluid grace, barely even acknowledging the presence of the other men in the room.
fluid: 不稳定的 grace: 风度 barely: 仅仅 acknowledge: 对…打招呼 presence: 在场
像往常一样，巴瑟拉斯走起来显出不稳重的样子，只是向在屋子里的其他几个人打个招呼。
Brash and somewhat pompous, Barthilas rarely went out of his way to acknowledge anyone who was not a Light-blessed Paladin.
brash: 仓促的 pompous: 自负的 rarely: 很少 acknowledge: 对…打招呼 Light-bless:圣光祝福的 Paladin: 圣骑士
仓促且有点自负，巴瑟拉斯很少特地向不是被圣光祝福的圣骑士的人打招呼。
Tirion stood and saluted the younger man as he entered.
salute: 敬礼 enter: 进入
当他进来时，提里奥站起来向这位年轻的男人敬礼。
“Greetings, Barthilas. I thank you for your healing. If not for you, I’d have gone on my way to join the Light,” Tirion said, rubbing his still sore ribs.
greeting: 问候 healing: 治疗 Light: 圣光 rub: 揉 sore: 疼痛的 rib: 肋骨
“向你问好，巴瑟拉斯。我感谢你的治疗。要是没有你，可能我已经在加入圣光的路上了，”提里奥说时，摸着自己仍在疼痛的肋骨。
Although his wounds had healed completely, his body was still tender. Barthilas shook his head dismissively and returned Tirion’s salute.
wound: 伤口 heal: 治疗 completely: 完全地 tender: 虚弱的 shake: 摇动 dismissively:轻蔑的 salute: 敬礼
尽管他的伤口已经完全治疗过了，他的身体仍旧是一碰就疼。巴瑟拉斯不屑地摇着他的头，回了提里奥一个礼。
“It was nothing, milord. I did just as you would have done for me if the circumstances had been reversed,” Barthilas said confidently.
milord: 老爷 circumstance: 情况 reversed: 颠倒的 confidently: 自信地
“那不算什么，老爷。如果情形反过来，我所做的就如同你会对我做的事一样，”巴瑟拉斯自信地说。
“I dearly wish that it had been me facing that orc. If I had, its head would now adorn the keep’s battlements.” Tirion noticed a few of the advisors exchanging surprised glances.
dearly: 非常 wish: 希望 facing: 面对 orc: 兽人 adorn: 装饰 keep: 城堡 battlement:城垛 notice: 注意 advisor: 顾问 exchanging: 交换 surprised: 感到惊讶的 glance: 一瞥
“我真心希望是我面对那个兽人。如果是我的话，它的头现在就会为城堡的墙垛添彩。”提里奥注意到几个顾问互相惊讶地交换瞥视的眼神。
As was usually the case, the young Paladin’s enthusiasm bordered on impertinence. Tirion smiled at the young man with practiced patience.
usually: 通常 case: 情况 Paladin: 圣骑士 enthusiasm: 热情 border on: 近似于 impertinence: 无礼 practiced:熟练的 patience: 耐心
要是一般情况下，这位年轻的圣骑士的激情是近乎傲慢无礼的。提里奥带着已经习惯了的耐性对这位年轻人笑笑。
“Which, of course,” Barthilas continued, “is not to say that you couldn’t have defeated the brute yourself, milord.”
defeat: 击败 brute: 野兽 milord: 老爷
“当然，”巴瑟拉斯继续说，“这并不是说您自己无法击败那畜生，老爷。”
“Well, I’m sure you would have put the fear of the Alliance into it, at least, Barthilas. Just the same, for the time being, I don’t want any of you discussing this matter with anyone else.
fear: 恐慌 Alliance: 联盟 at least: 至少 discuss: 讨论 matter: 事件
“嗯，至少，我可以肯定你已经把联盟的恐慌带到了这件事上来，巴瑟拉斯。目前来讲，我还是需要你们任何一个人不要和其他人谈论这事。
I’d rather not rile the citizenry until we have a better understanding of what we’re dealing with here,” Tirion said.
rather: 最好 rile: 激怒 citizenry: 市民 understanding: 认识 dealing: 处理
我可不想激怒平民，直到我们对我们正在处理的这件事有了一个更深的认识，”提里奥说。
Barthilas nearly choked. “Milord, with respect, are you suggesting that we keep silent while the enemy creeps unhindered through our lands?
choke: 说不出话 milord: 老爷 respect: 尊敬 suggest: 建议 silent: 沉默的 enemy: 敌人 creep: 潜入 unhindered: 无阻的 land: 领土
巴瑟拉斯几乎说不出话来。“老爷，尊敬地讲，您是在暗示我们保持沉默吗？即使是在敌人悄悄前来不受阻碍地穿过我们的领地的时候？
We must scour the woods immediately! Every second we waste here could provide the orcs with enough time to—” Tirion cut him off.
scour: 洗刷 woods: 树林 immediately: 立即 second: 秒 waste: 浪费 provide: 提供 orc: 兽人 cut off: 打断
我们必须立刻洗刷所有的林子！我们在这里浪费的每一秒都会给兽人提供足够的时间来－”提里奥打断了他。
“You are assuming that there are more orcs out there, Barthilas. I was there, and I saw none. I will not sound the call to arms before we’ve confirmed the facts.
assuming: 假定 orc: 兽人 sound the call: 吹响号角 to arm: 武装 confirmed: 已确定的 fact: 事实
“你这是在想当然地认为在外边那有很多兽人，巴瑟拉斯。我曾经在那，并且什么都没看见。我也不会在已经确认事实之前就击响武装警报。
This is not the time to start jumping at shadows. We must remain calm and be vigilant.”
jumping at shadows: 捕风捉影 remain: 保持 calm: 冷静 vigilant: 警惕的
这不是我们捕风捉影的时候。我们必须保持冷静，也要警惕起来。”
“Jumping at shadows? An orcish force somehow slips undetected into our lands, one of its members beats you to a pulp, and you want to remain calm? This is madness!”
jumping at shadows: 捕风捉影 orcish: 兽人的 force: 军队 somehow: 设法 slip: 溜进 undetected: 未被发现的 beat: 打 pulp: 浆 remain: 保持 calm: 冷静 madness: 疯狂
“捕风捉影？一支兽人部队用某种方法在没人发现的情况下偷偷溜进我们的领地，其中一个成员还把你打成烂泥，你还要保持冷静？这真是疯了！”
A few of the advisors gasped at the young man’s audacity, but Barthilas continued, unabated. “We should mobilize a hunting party right this instant!”
advisor: 顾问 gasp: 喘息 audacity: 大胆 unabated: 不减弱的 mobilize: 动员 hunting party: 搜索队 instant: 立即
对于这个年轻男人的胆大妄为几个顾问倒吸一口凉气，可巴瑟拉斯仍旧继续，没有要减弱语气的样子。“我们现在马上应该动员一支搜捕队！”
Tirion clenched his fists and tried to keep his voice even. The advisors, who had kept silent during their heated exchange, seemed incensed by Barthilas’ disrespectful rantings.
clench: 握紧 fist: 拳头 even: 平坦的 advisor: 顾问 silent: 沉默的 heated: 激烈的 exchange: 交流 incense:激怒 disrespectful: 无礼的 rant: 大声叫嚷
提里奥握紧他的拳头尽力保持他的声音均匀平稳。顾问们在他们激烈的意见交换过程中保持安静，但是看起来被巴瑟拉斯失礼的叫嚷激怒了。
“You’ll watch your tone with me, boy. I am still governor of this province, and your direct superior as a Paladin.
tone: 语气 governor: 统治者 province: 省 direct: 直接的 superior: 上级 Paladin: 圣骑士
“你要注意你对我说话的口气，孩子。我仍旧是这个省区的行政长官，并且作为一名圣骑士是你的直属上司。
For so long as I am, we will do things the way I see fit. You are to stand down and remain within the keep’s grounds until I order you to do otherwise. Is that clear?” Tirion growled.
fit: 适宜的 stand down: 退下 remain: 停留 keep: 城堡 order: 命令 otherwise: 否则 growl: 咆哮
我当了这么久，我们会以我感觉合适的方式去处理问题。你退下吧，就留在城堡里，直到我命令你做其他的。明白了吗？”提里奥咆哮着。
Barthilas was beside himself with rage. “I hope and pray to the Light that milord isn’t so shaken by his recent beating that he fears to do his clear duty.”
beside: 在…旁边 rage: 愤怒 pray: 祈祷 Light: 圣光 milord: 老爷 shake: 发抖 recent: 新近的 beating: 败北 fear: 害怕 duty: 职责
巴瑟拉斯带着怒气把自己侧到一旁。“我希望并且向圣光祷告，老爷并不是由于最近他被击败而如此动摇，以致于他害怕做他明明该做的事。”
“That will be enough, Barthilas! You’ve gone too far!” one of the councilor’s shouted. Bristling with anger, Tirion stepped up to the young Paladin and looked him dead in the eye.
councilor: 议员 shout: 呼喊 bristle: 怒发冲冠 anger: 愤怒 step up: 走近 Paladin: 圣骑士
“够了，巴瑟拉斯！你太过分了！”一个议会的成员喊道。全身充满了愤怒，提里奥向着年轻的圣骑士走上去，死死地盯着他。
“You may leave my council room now,” he said to Barthilas.
leave: 离开 council room: 议会厅
“你现在可以离开我的议会厅了，”他对巴瑟拉斯说。
The young Paladin choked back his rage and steadied himself. He calmed visibly. “Of course, milord,” he said in a strained voice.
Paladin: 圣骑士 choke: 抑制 rage: 愤怒 steady: 使稳定 calm: 平静下来 visibly: 明显地 milord: 老爷 strained: 不自然的
年轻的圣骑士憋回了自己的怒气，站稳了自己。他明显地镇定下来了。“当然，老爷，”他以一种拉紧的声音说着。
“I will await your orders eagerly.” With that he snapped a crisp salute and left the room.
await: 等待 order: 命令 eagerly: 渴望地 snap: 噼啪声 crisp: 干净利落的 salute: 敬礼
“我会很渴望地期待着您的命令。”说着，啪地一下给了个利索的敬礼，然后离开了房间。
“Yes, I’m sure you will,” Tirion said grimly. Everyone seemed to sigh as the tension drained from the room. Tirion rubbed his eyes wearily and sat back down.
grimly: 严肃的 seem: 像是 sigh: 叹气 tension: 紧张 drain: 排出 rub: 擦 wearily: 疲倦地
“是的，我肯定你会，”提里奥严肃地说。当紧张的气氛从屋里排出去的时候，好像大家都松了口气。提里奥疲倦地擦了擦自己的眼睛，然后坐了回来。
One of the advisors spoke. “Milord, he is brash, but he is a good man at heart. I’m sure he didn’t mean—”
advisor: 顾问 milord: 老爷 brash: 无礼的
一个顾问说道。“老爷，他性急无礼，但是心地善良。我保证他的意思并非要……”
“I know what he is. And I know what he meant. Barthilas has always been ruled by his passions. They’re what make him an exceptional Paladin.
rule: 支配 passion: 激情 exceptional: 杰出的 Paladin: 圣骑士
“我了解他是怎么回事。也知道他想说什么。巴瑟拉斯总是被他的各种情感支配。这使得他比一般的圣骑士优秀。
However, they also make him a liability in delicate situations,” Tirion stated. He felt tired, like an old man. “Once he calms down, he’ll come around. He always does.”
however: 然而 liability: 不利条件 delicate: 棘手的 situation: 局面 state: 陈述 tired:疲倦的 calm down: 平静下来 come around: 转变
但是，这也在棘手的情况下给他造成不利的因素，”提里奥说道。他感到累了，像一个老人。“一旦他冷静下来，他会回过劲来的。他总是这样。”
“But milord, what if he’s right? What if there are more orcs out there waiting to strike at us, and we sit here and do nothing?” the advisor asked.
milord: 老爷 orc: 兽人 strike at: 袭击 advisor: 顾问
“不过老爷，他说的要是对的怎么办？要是外边那有更多的兽人等着袭击我们，那我们就坐在这什么也不做？”那个顾问问道。
Tirion ran his fingers over the spot on the map that indicated the broken tower. “Under no circumstances will I do nothing, old friend. I’ll take care of this matter myself.”
run over: 在…上掠过 finger: 手指 spot: 地点 indicate: 标示 tower: 塔 circumstance:状况 take care: 注意 matter: 事件
提里奥的手指划过地图落在一个点上，那里指明了那座破损的塔。“没有情况的话，我们就按兵不动，老伙计。我会自己关注这件事的。”
Before they had a chance to argue the point further, he rose and walked toward the exit, leaving the advisors to stare at one another in confusion.
chance: 机会 argue: 争论 point: 要点 further: 进一步地 rise: 起身 exit: 出口 leaving:留下 advisor: 顾问 stare: 凝视 confusion: 疑惑
他们刚要进一步争论这一点，他站起来向出口走去，留下顾问们迷惑地互相盯着看。
“But on the off chance that he is right . . . may the Light help us all.”
on the off chance: 可能性小 Light: 圣光
“但是有极小的可能他是对的……愿圣光协助我们所有人。”
Later that evening, Tirion sat alone in the keep’s spacious dining hall. His plate of food had gone cold, and he picked at it absently with his fork.
alone: 独自的 keep: 城堡 spacious: 宽敞的 dining hall: 饭厅 plate: 盘子 pick at: 无食欲地吃 absently: 心不在焉地 fork: 叉子
当天晚上晚些时候，提里奥一个人坐在城堡宽敞的饭厅里。他盘子里的食物都凉了，他心不在焉地用他的叉子吃着。
He was thinking about the old orc again. Was it truly possible that the orc had saved his life? He would have to find out soon.
orc: 兽人 possible: 可能的 have to: 必须 find out: 查明
又思考着那个老兽人了。真的可能是那个兽人救了他的命？他不得不尽快找出答案。
If Barthilas was right, then everything he’d worked for could come crashing down at any moment.
crash: 崩溃
如果巴瑟拉斯是对的，那么他以前努力的每一件事都会随时导致全盘失败。
Behind him he heard a quiet scuffling of small feet. Looking around, he saw sleepy-eyed Taelan emerging from the adjoining sitting room.
quiet: 轻声的 scuffle: 拖着脚走路 looking around: 环视四周 sleepy-eyed: 睡眼惺忪的 emerge: 出现 adjoining:邻近的 sitting room: 起居室
从他身后他听见一阵轻轻地小脚拖着脚走路的声音。寻视周围，他看见睡眼惺忪的泰兰从旁边的起居室出来。
“Shouldn’t you be asleep, young man?” he asked. The boy crawled into his lap and looked up at him in awe.
asleep: 睡着的 crawl: 爬行 lap: 膝盖 look up: 抬头看 awe: 恐惧
“你不是该已经睡下了吗，小大人？”他问。男孩爬上他的大腿，带着恐惧抬头看着他。
Tirion smiled at his son, thinking how much the boy resembled his mother. Sandy blond hair. Big blue eyes. He was certainly a sweet, innocent child, Tirion thought.
resemble: 相似 sandy: 红黄色头发的 blond: 金发的 hair: 头发 certainly: 无疑地 innocent: 天真的
提里奥对他的儿子微笑，心想这孩子多像他母亲啊。棕黄又发金色的头发。大蓝眼睛。他肯定是一个惹人爱而天真的孩子，提里奥这么想着。
“Did the green men come back again, Poppa?” Taelan asked. Tirion nodded and ruffled the boy’s hair.
come back: 卷土重来 poppa: 爸爸 nod: 点头 ruffle: 弄乱
“绿人们会再次回来吗，爸爸？”泰兰问。提里奥点着头，来回摸着孩子的头发。
“Yes. But you don’t need to worry, son. You’ll be safe enough here in the keep.”
keep: 城堡
“是的。不过你不用担心，儿子。在城堡里你很安全。”
“Are you going to fight the green men, Poppa?” the boy asked. Tirion’s brow creased.
fight: 战斗 poppa: 爸爸 brow: 眉毛 crease: 弄皱
“你会和绿人们打吗，爸爸？”男孩问。提里奥的眉毛皱起。
“I don’t know yet, son. I just don’t know.”
“我还不知道，儿子。我实在不知道。”
作者：Chris Metzen 翻译：Sir Noran，Fanbu
解析：Wayne 编辑：Wayne
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