能者上位 Fit to Rule

作者：John O'Bryan

“我有点要出汗了，贝亚尔。拜托，别让我出汗。”

“I’m starting to sweat, Bayal. Please, do not let me sweat.”

奇亚娜话音刚落，仆人就变得局促起来。他使出自己仅有的一点对元素的掌控力，集中力量汇起一团云雾。不到几秒钟，那团雾气就围绕着奇亚娜，冷了下来，驱走了丛林中的热气。

Qiyana’s servant fretted at the words. He mustered what little control he had over the elements, concentrating on forming a magical cloud of mist. In seconds, the mist surrounded Qiyana and grew cooler, dispelling the heat of the jungle.

“好多了，”奇亚娜说，“接下来的事，可是需要我全神贯注的。”

“That’s better,” said Qiyana. “If I am to do this, I must be able to focus.”

她开始将奥勒塔尔环刃慢慢绕着自己的身躯旋转。丛林的矮树丛随着环刃的转动开始弯曲，每转一圈，矮树丛就伏下一些。根须和茎梗跳出地面，带起小块的泥土。最后，一条狭窄的小路浮现在矮树丛中。

She began to swivel her ohmlatl slowly around her body, causing the jungle thicket to bend and part with each rotation of the ring-blade. Roots and stems popped, tossing up bits of soil until, at last, a narrow trail revealed itself in the brush.

“来了。”奇亚娜轻巧地踏上蜿蜒的小路。

“Here it is,” Qiyana said, and promptly started down the winding path.

她的奥勒塔尔环刃每转一下，雨林华盖下浓密的藤蔓都会在她面前退却。而在她身后，那些藤蔓又爬回到小路上，将这条路封锁。贝亚尔被甩在身后，勉强没有被翻滚生长的植被淹没。

With each twist of her ohmlatl, the thick vines of the rainforest receded before her. Behind her, they slithered back across the path to conceal it. Bayal fell behind just long enough to be caught in the growth of the writhing plants.

“跟紧，贝亚尔。”奇亚娜说，“说真的，就这么一个要求。”

“Keep up, Bayal,” said Qiyana. “Honestly, you have one task.”

那名仆人分开重新长出的草丛，举步维艰地跟上奇亚娜的步伐，同时还要保持她周围云雾的温度。

The servant hurdled the freshly grown thicket, struggling to catch up to Qiyana, and to maintain the temperature of her mist cloud.

当二人终于钻出了密林，太阳已然低垂，金色的暮光映着一座小村子。奇亚娜最后回了一下头，亲眼确认那条密道已经彻底隐没在了丛林中。三名村长老迎了出来，双臂在胸前相交，向她致以以绪塔尔礼，然后带领她走进村落中间的广场。

When the two finally emerged from the forest, the sun had sunk low in the sky, its golden dusklight shining on a small village. Qiyana took one last look behind her to see the secret path was now completely buried in jungle. Three village elders greeted her with a respectful Ixtali salute, arms held tightly across their chests, and led her into a plaza just inside the settlement.

在广场另一端，一台巨大的皮尔特沃夫机器死气沉沉地瘫在那里——它是最近一次在丛林中发生的小冲突的战利品。奇亚娜没有在意那台机器，她坐到了给自己准备的座位上，面前的小桌上精心摆着水果和坚果。

At the far end of the plaza, a great Piltovan machine sat lifeless and defeated—spoils from a recent skirmish in the jungle. Qiyana paid it little mind as she took the seat presented to her at a small table, modestly set with fruits and nuts.

“育恩之女，不知您大驾光临，有失远迎。”一名年长的老妇人问道，为了看清奇亚娜，她正费力地向前探出身子。

“To what do we owe this honor, Child of the Yun?” asked an elderly woman, leaning forward to get a better look at Qiyana.

“听闻你们的郡守不幸逝世。我深表哀痛。”奇亚娜说。

“I have heard the news of your prefect’s passing. You have my condolences,” said Qiyana.

“是被异邦人杀害的。”一个老人指着身后的皮尔特沃夫机器说道，“为了阻止那种玩意砍树。”

“Killed by the outlanders,” said an old man, pointing at the Piltovan machine to his rear. “Tried to stop one of those from felling trees for their mine.”

“和我听闻的一样。”奇亚娜说。她笔直地端坐着，因为她马上就要提到此行的真正目的了。

“So I was told,” said Qiyana. She sat perfectly upright as she arrived at the purpose of her visit.

“看起来缇可拉斯需要一名更有能力的统治者。有能力面对这群异邦人，和他们的玩具。”奇亚娜自信地说，“如我这般的能力。”

“It seems that Tikras needs a more capable governor. One who is strong enough to stand up to the outlanders, and their toys,” said Qiyana with confidence. “Someone like me.”

几位老者面面相觑，饱经风霜的脸上满是疑惑。

The elders turned to each other, confusion showing through their weathered faces.

“可是，尊贵的育恩阿莱，我们已经有了……如您这般的人选了，”那名老妇人说，“您的姐姐已经驾到多时。”

“But Yunalai, respectfully, we already have… someone like you,” said the old woman. “Your sister is here.”

“什么？”奇亚娜怒道。

“What?” fumed Qiyana.

就像彩排好了一样，一队村里的仆人穿过广场向奇亚娜走来，其中四人肩上扛着一座轿子。

As if on cue, a procession of local servants marched across the plaza toward Qiyana. Four of them carried a palanquin on their shoulders.

轿子越来越近，奇亚娜看到里头有一张毛绒床、几个真丝枕头，还有她姐姐玛拉，手里正握着一支高脚杯。她身边的银色托盘上盛着各种山珍野味，两名仆人正用元素魔法为她解暑，看上去可比贝亚尔的手法强多了。奇亚娜从眉毛上抹下一滴汗水，对自己的仆人怒目而视。

As the palanquin came closer, Qiyana could see a plush bed, several fine silk pillows, and her sister Mara, reclining with a goblet of wine in her hand. A silver tray of exquisite dishes rested beside her, and two servants cooled her with elemental magic far stronger than Bayal’s. As Qiyana wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, she glared bitterly at her servant.

“奇亚娜。见到你可真是……高兴。”玛拉有些紧张。与此同时，她的轿子平稳地落到地上。

“Qiyana. So… good to see you,” said Mara uneasily, as her palanquin came to rest on the ground.

“玛拉。看来你兴致不错啊。”奇亚娜说。

“Mara. You seem to be enjoying yourself,” said Qiyana.

玛拉在妹妹凌人的目光下不知所措，看上去像是要钻回床单里躲起来。

Mara squirmed under her sister’s penetrating stare, seemingly trying to retreat into the plush bedding.

“小酌一杯如何？”玛拉提议道。她举起自己的酒杯，紧张地抿了一口。

“Would you care for some wine?” offered Mara, as she took a tense, joyless sip from her goblet.

“你要做的是保护这里，不是清空村里的粮仓。”奇亚娜回绝了品酒的邀请。“请你自觉退下。让我做郡守。”

“You’re supposed to protect this village, not empty its larders,” said Qiyana, declining the drink. “You should step down. Let me be prefect.”

玛拉僵住了，用力把酒咽下。

Mara froze as she forced wine down her rigid throat.

“我做不到，”她说，“你也知道，我比你年长。”

“I cannot do that,” she said. “You know this. I am older than you.”

“长我一整岁，”奇亚娜说，“却落后我不知多少。”

“A whole year older,” replied Qiyana. “Yet so far behind.”

她靠近姐姐的床，脸上的得意慢慢转变成恐吓。

She approached her sister’s bed, her smug expression slowly transforming into a scowl.

“我只是在陈述事实。你心里清楚。如果那些挖矿人发现了这座村庄怎么办？”

“I say this only as a statement of fact. You know it is true. What would happen if these miners discovered this village?”

“我会守护这里。”玛拉没底气地说。

“I would defend it,” said Mara meekly.

“你会死的。全村人都会死。你我都清楚。”奇亚娜的声音让整个广场上的人都听得见。“我能保护他们。”

“You would die. So would everyone in this village. This we both know,” said Qiyana, for everyone in the plaza to hear. “I can protect them.”

广场上传出一阵呢喃的骚动。玛拉咬着下嘴唇——她从小就这样，尤其是被妹妹占上风的时候。

A murmur spread about the plaza. Mara bit her bottom lip—something she had done since childhood, particularly when her younger sister had gotten the better of her.

“我……我没法让给你。育恩塔尔不会允许的。”玛拉胆怯地说。

“I… cannot give it to you. The Yun Tal will not allow it,” said Mara timidly.

“只要你主动请辞，他们就会允许，”奇亚娜说，“回以绪奥肯去吧。回去打理你的喷泉花园。我会承担你在这里的责任。”

“They will if you resign,” said Qiyana. “Go home to Ixaocan. Tend your water garden. I will assume your responsibilities here.”

她看到玛拉的视线在几名长老中间来回，似乎是在给自己找台阶下。

She watched Mara’s eyes dart around at the elders, as if looking for some way to save face.

“律法写得很清楚，”玛拉说，“只要我还有能力执政，就没有别人能做这个郡守。”

“The law is clear,” said Mara. “No one else may be prefect, as long as I am capable of governing.”

奇亚娜愤怒地咬紧了牙，转身看向广场尽头的那台巨大机器。她把奥勒塔尔环刃绕着身体转了几圈，几位长老在座位上吓了一跳。她从广场周围抽取元素之力注入环刃，然后将力量投向那台机器。一瞬间，那只金属巨兽同时遭受了寒冰的封锁、岩石的猛击以及藤蔓的撕扯，最后破碎崩倒——所有元素都在听从这位年轻的育恩阿莱。

Clenching her jaw in anger, Qiyana turned toward the great machine resting at the far end of the plaza. She spun her ohmlatl around her body, startling the elders from their seats. Drawing elements from all around the plaza to the blade, she launched them toward the machine. In an instant, the great metal behemoth was entombed in ice, battered by rocks, and ripped apart by vines—all at the command of the young Yunalai.

面对如此对力量的炫耀，广场上的长老和仆人们没有谁能不发出惊叹。

The elders and servants in the plaza gave an audible gasp at the display of power.

“你们以为已经有了‘如我这般’的统治者，”奇亚娜说，“但是，世上没有任何人能如我一般。”

“You think you already have ‘someone like me,’” said Qiyana. “But there is no one like me.”

长老们皱着眉，再次确认自己的决定。“只要身为育恩阿莱的玛拉有能力执政，这个位置就属于她。”

The elders frowned at her, reaffirming the decision. “As long as Yunalai Mara is capable of governing, the position belongs to her.”

这番话一直回荡在奇亚娜脑海中，她默默离开了广场，灰心丧气。她带着贝亚尔回到了村庄边缘，两个元素使卫兵正等着他们。

The words rang in Qiyana’s head as she turned and silently left the plaza, dejected. She led Bayal back to the edge of the village, where they were met by two elementalist wardens.

“免礼，留步。”奇亚娜说，“我认识路，也知道要怎么走。”

“No need to see us off,” said Qiyana. “I know the way, and what to do with it.”

她翻转奥勒塔尔环刃，分开了草丛，露出了回到丛林的路。她的仆人还在尽力为她解暑。她沿着密道向以绪奥肯的巨大生态建筑开始返程，同时把身后的路再次掩盖。

With a turn of her ohmlatl, she parted the brush to reveal the path that lead back through the jungle. With her servant struggling to cool her, she walked back toward the grand arcologies of Ixaocan, uncovering the secret path, and re-covering it behind her.

然而，他们刚一离开村子，奥勒塔尔环刃就慢了下来。在他们身后，那条通道不再继续被重新掩藏，而是明晃晃地袒露在夕阳下。

As soon as they were out of sight of the village, Qiyana’s ohmlatl slowed. Behind them, the path was now unconcealed, laid bare in the late day sun.

“育恩阿莱殿下——您忘记掩盖后路了。”贝亚尔说。

“My Yunalai—you’ve forgotten to cover the path,” said Bayal.

“贝亚尔，我唯一要求你做的事是当一个护路工吗？”奇亚娜问。

“Bayal, does your one task have anything to do with tending the path?” asked Qiyana.

“不是，育恩阿莱殿下。可是……万一有人发现了村子怎么办？”

“No, my Yunalai. But… what if someone finds the village?”

“不用担心。我相信新任郡守一定会保护好村子的。”奇亚娜说。

“Not to worry. I’m sure the new prefect will defend it.” said Qiyana.

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第二天早晨，奇亚娜在以绪奥肯被哭泣声唤醒。

The following morning, Qiyana awoke in Ixaocan to the sound of sobs.

“是异邦人，他们发现了缇可拉斯！”

“Outlanders. They found Tikras!”

姐姐的哭声从她卧室外面的门厅传来。奇亚娜穿上长袍，打开卧室的门，发现贝亚尔正扶着泣不成声的玛拉。

Her sister’s cries came from the hallway outside her bedroom. Qiyana put on her robe, and opened the bedroom door to find Mara, weeping in Bayal’s arms.

“玛拉。怎么了？”奇亚娜问道，她稍微努力让声音显得关切一些。

“Mara. What’s the matter?” asked Qiyana, making some effort to sound concerned.

她的姐姐转过身，面红耳赤、浑身发抖，身上处处是在丛林中奔跑留下的擦伤。

Her sister turned to her, red-faced and trembling, covered in scratches from running through the jungle.

“挖矿人……他们推平了村庄。死了一半人。另一半都藏了起来。我勉强逃出——”

“The miners… they leveled the village. Half the people are dead. The other half are hiding. I barely escaped—”

奇亚娜拥抱姐姐，在她肩膀上压抑着微笑。

Qiyana embraced her sister, suppressing a smile over her shoulder.

“现在你懂了吗？我也是为你好，”奇亚娜说，“身为郡守是一种危险的责任。”

“Do you see now? I was only looking out for you,” said Qiyana. “Being a prefect is a dangerous responsibility.”

“我听你劝就好了。你……你一定能解决那群皮尔特沃夫人。”玛拉用哭腔说道。

“I should’ve listened. You… You would have crushed the Piltovans,” lamented Mara.

“是的，我当然能。”奇亚娜说。她喜不自禁，想到那些挖矿人和佣兵——想到她将如何屠杀他们，以及幸存的长老们会如何感激她，像现在她姐姐这样意识到这个事实。

“Yes. I would have,” said Qiyana. She beamed as she thought of the miners and mercenaries that had plundered the village—how easily she would slaughter them, and how the surviving elders would grovel in thanks to her as they came to the same realization her sister was now reaching.

“你应该担任缇可拉斯的郡守。”玛拉说。

“You should be prefect of Tikras,” said Mara.

的确，奇亚娜心想。这是我应得的。

I should, thought Qiyana. I deserve it.