动乱 Turmoil

“为什么要大老远的把我们派到这呢？”士兵靠在门房的墙上，双手交叉抱在胸前。“雄都的街头还在流血，而我们却被派到了边境？”

“Why send us all the way out here?” said the soldier leaning against the wall of the gatehouse, arms folded across his chest. “There’s blood on the streets of the Great City, and we’re sent to the border?”

他叫巴克，希思莉亚从来都不喜欢他——什么事到他眼里都是坏事，不过老实讲，这一次他说的话不无道理。

His name was Bakker, and Cithria had never warmed to him—he was prone to seeing the bad in every situation, though to be fair, in this case there was truth in his words.

其余的战友们都站在附近。看上去大家对目前所处的窘境都不怎么开心。

The rest of their comrades stood nearby. None of them looked particularly happy about their predicament.

希思莉亚默不作声。她是这群德玛西亚士兵中最年轻的，不过她绝非未经历练的新兵。在她加入这支部队的那一年里，她已经证明自己是一名善战的士兵，刀剑功夫也属一流，但还是有许多次——比如这次——她感到局面超出了自己能力范围，所以局促不安。

Cithria remained silent. She was the youngest of the Demacian soldiers, though she was by no means an untested recruit. In the year she’d spent among their ranks she had proven herself a capable soldier, and one of the fastest with a blade, yet there were plenty of times—this among them—when she felt out of her depth and unsure of herself.

她穿着整套的、闪亮的板甲，所有士兵都是如此。她的盾牌背在身后，头盔夹在腰侧，黑发编成的长辫从肩膀上垂下来。

She wore full, gleaming plate armor, as did they all. A shield was slung across her back, and she carried her helmet under one arm, leaving her dark hair, tied back in a long braid, hanging free.

士兵们站在高耸的灰大门前方，守卫着德玛西亚的东北边境。这扇门名不符实，因为整个关口都是用纯白的石料建造的。人们普遍的理解是它得名于附近的灰页岩悬崖，但在这里驻扎的士兵，尤其是那些从南部或者沿海地带来的士兵，则怨声载道地认为这个名字是在说北边那片永远阴沉的天空。

The soldiers stood before the immense Graygate, guarding the northeast border of Demacia. The name was anomalous, for the bastion was built of pristine white stone. It was generally understood that the name had come from the gray shale cliffs nearby, though soldiers stationed here, particularly those who hailed from the south or the coast of Demacia, moaned it had more to do with the perpetually overcast, northern skies.

大门哨塔的两侧，白色的石墙向远方延伸。从山峦吹来的微风掀起了一面面三角旗，哨兵们在冷风中保持戒备，望向东方。

To either side of the gate tower stretched tall, white stone walls. Pennants fluttered in the breeze from the crenulations, and sentries stood vigil in the cold wind, looking eastward.

“应该派我们跟营队一起走，去森林里搜查那个逆贼和他的乌合之众。”另一名士兵开口说道。

“We should be deployed with the rest of the battalion, scouring the forests for that traitor and his rabble,” another soldier said.

“法师，”巴克充满恨意地吐出这两个字。“真想把他们赶尽杀绝。”

“Mages,” said Bakker, speaking the word with loathing. “We should be rid of the lot of them.”

这种交谈让希思莉亚感到不安。她从未亲自对抗过魔法，至少在她的认知中不曾有过，但在她从小到大的印象中，只要是使用魔法的人就是可怕的、可疑的。最近从都城传来的消息证明这种恐惧很有必要。

Such talk made Cithria uneasy. She herself had never encountered magic, or at least none that she was aware of, but she had been raised to fear and distrust those that were able to wield it. News from the capital made that fear seem justified.

就在一个月前，外逃的法师塞拉斯成功越狱，同时也将德玛西亚的心脏割裂。那名失去理智、同时又拥有可怕力量的反叛者在王国全境引燃了一场骚乱，就在现在，雄都仍处于戒严状态，军队在街头巡逻，维护秩序。

It was only a month since the rogue mage Sylas had escaped imprisonment and ripped the heart of Demacia apart. That insane, horrifically powerful rebel had ignited a wave of unrest across the kingdom, and even now the Great City was locked down, the military controlling the streets to ensure order.

希思莉亚也同意，他们在别处能派上更大用场，但战友们言语中的狠毒让她感到不适。

Cithria agreed they would be more useful elsewhere, but the venom in her comrade’s voice disturbed her.

“要我说，他们全都该——”巴克话说到一半，希思莉亚突然打断。

“I say the whole lot of them should—” Bakker started saying, but Cithria cut him short.

“注意。盾士长回来了。”

“Heads up. The shield-sergeant’s back.”

身材敦实的盾士长冈萨正迈着敏捷的步伐向他们走来。两个带着罩帽的男人一左一右与他并行。

The short, stocky figure of Shield-Sergeant Gunthar was heading toward them at a brisk pace. A pair of hooded men walked with him, one to either side.

“跟他一起的是什么人？”

“Who’s that with him?”

“我不知道。”希思莉亚说。

“I don’t know,” said Cithria.

士兵们整齐地立正站好，迎接他们的长官和两位神秘的同伴。

The soldiers snapped sharply to attention as their sergeant and his mysterious companions drew near.

“行了，都听着，”冈萨说。“你们肯定都想问，保护神在上，凭什么把我们排到这么远的地方。”

“Alright you lot,” Gunthar said. “I know you’re all wondering why in the Protector’s name we’ve been sent all the way out here.”

盾士长的眼神扫过士兵的行列。

The sergeant cast his gaze across their ranks.

“一位来自阿柏马克的特使即将抵达边境，我们的任务是护送这位特使安全前往都城。”

“A foreign envoy from the Arbormark will soon be arriving here at the border, and we have been tasked with escorting them safely to the capital.”

护送任务？

Escort duty?

即使对希思莉亚来说，这个任务也显得出奇地平凡。但她和其他士兵一个字也没说，全都坚定地目视前方。

Even to Cithria, it seemed a strangely mundane task. Still, neither she nor any of the other soldiers said a word, and all remained staring resolutely forward.

“特使的保卫工作是我们的首要任务，”冈萨继续说。“如果特使在我们的保护下伤到了哪怕是一根头发，也是德玛西亚荣誉的污点。阿柏马克一直以来都是我们的盟国，我们不能容许邦交友谊受到任何损害。祖国期待着我们用荣誉、优雅和善意完成这次任务。”

“The envoy’s protection is our highest priority,” continued Gunthar. “Were even so much as a hair on their head to be harmed while under our guard, it would tarnish the honor of Demacia. The Arbormark have long been our allies, and we must not allow anything to damage that relationship. It is expected we fulfill this duty with honor, grace, and good faith.”

冈萨的表情又坚毅了一分。“即使它有悖于我们的个人判断，也要坚决完成。”他补充道。

Gunthar’s expression hardened. “Even if it goes against our better judgment,” he added.

士兵们训练有素，最后这番话并没有引起任何明显的反应，但希思莉亚感到了自己和其他人的不安。这话是什么意思？

The soldiers were well-disciplined, and made no overt reaction to those final words, but Cithria felt and mirrored their unease. What was that meant to mean?

冈萨示意身边两个没露面的同伴，他们向前一步，撤下罩帽。

Gunthar gestured to his cloaked companions, who stepped forward, lowering their hoods.

希思莉亚瞪大了双眼。

Cithria’s eyes widened.

二人之中年长的那一位，是个表情严峻的中年男子，胡乱剪短的头发已经斑白，脸上的眉间纹很深，还带着好几道伤疤。另一个人比较年轻，身材更加纤细，神情稍显紧张，一缕黑发垂在脸庞一侧。

The older of the pair was a stern-looking man of middling years, his short-cropped hair going to gray, and his skin weathered with deep frown-lines and more than a few scars. The other was a younger man, slimmer of build and nervous-looking, with a sweep of dark hair hanging to one side of his face.

两个人都戴着与制服配套的半截面具，肩膀处用一枚暗灰色的纹饰石盘别住斗篷。

Both wore form-fitting golden half-masks, and dull gray discs of engraved stone pinned at their shoulders holding their cloaks in place.

希思莉亚轻吁一口气，她居然没意识到自己被蒙在鼓里。

Cithria let out a slow breath that she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

搜魔人。

Mageseekers.

“这位是卡斯通，搜魔人社团的资深干事，这位是他的副手，阿尔诺。”冈萨介绍完后，两位搜魔人上身微微前倾。“他们将和我们一起护送特使前往都城。”

“This is Cadstone, a senior adept of the mageseeker order, and his associate, Arno,” said Gunthar, by way of introduction. The mageseekers bowed ever-so-slightly. “They will be accompanying us as we escort the envoy to the capital.”

房门塔楼上方传来号角声。

Horns sounded atop the gatehouse.

“有马队接近，执旗阿柏马克！”上方的哨兵喊道。

“Riders approaching, under the banner of the Arbormark!” came a cry from a sentry up above.

盾士长冈萨对卫兵点了下头，大门缓缓打开，铰链在重量的拉伸下发出呻吟。铁栅吊闸升了上去，铁链碰撞，门外的巨大吊桥慢慢放下。随着一声雷鸣般的闷响，吊桥落地。清晨的阳光从门口流淌进墙内。

Shield-Sergeant Gunthar nodded to the guards, and the great gates were heaved open, hinges groaning under the weight. The ironwork portcullis was raised, chains clanking, and the immense drawbridge beyond was lowered. It slammed down with a boom like thunder. Early morning sunlight streamed in through the open gate.

“跟我走。”冈萨命令道，然后和两位搜魔人并肩前进。希思莉亚和其他士兵迈着经过训练与磨合的一致步调紧随其后。

“With me,” Gunthar ordered, striding forward with the mageseekers at his side. Cithria and the other soldiers fell in behind them, moving with well-drilled precision.

希思莉亚并不确定自己心目中的特使应该是什么样子的，但她绝没想到是这个等在这里的体型巨大、皮肤黝黑的人。他身穿熊皮外衣，手持一根重木手杖。见到德玛西亚人出门迎接，他露出豪爽的笑容。

Cithria wasn’t sure exactly what she was expecting from the envoy, but it wasn’t the massive, dark-skinned man who waited for them. He was clad in bearskins, and carried a staff of heavy wood. He smiled broadly as the Demacians marched forth to meet him.

希思莉亚警惕地望着他。

Cithria watched him warily.

他骑的马是希思莉亚有生以来见过最高大的，毛色黑亮，钉掌的马蹄上方覆有蓬松轻柔的软毛。与他同行的是二十名骑手，全都穿着锁甲长衣，背着战斧和盾牌。其中一人举着大旗，上面画着阿柏马克的交叉双斧纹章，战士们的盾牌上也有同样的纹章。

He rode the biggest horse Cithria had ever seen, jet-black and with thick feathering covering its iron-shod hooves. Accompanying him were twenty riders, all wearing long scale mail coats, and carrying axes and shields. One of them bore a standard, depicting the crossed axes heraldry of the Arbormark, which was mirrored on the warriors’ shields.

特使下了马，走上前面见冈萨和他的随员，依然带着豪爽的笑容。他健硕的身躯更像是士兵，或者铁匠，总之和她预想中的法师完全不同。她一直都以为法师必定奸诈狡猾，喜欢用诡计花招而不是身体上的力量。

The envoy dismounted, and strode forward to meet Gunthar and his entourage, smiling broadly. He had the heavily muscled build of a soldier, or a smith; definitely not what she was expected of a mage. She had always imagined them as sneaking, cunning types, preferring subterfuge and trickery to physical strength.

他停在德玛西亚众人面前，用左手的手掌轻触额头，然后伸向天空。希思莉亚迅速握住剑柄，以为他要使用某种奥术幻影，然后突然意识到，这估计是阿柏马克习俗中的敬礼。她感到自己面颊滚烫，咒骂自己的愚蠢。

Halting before the Demacians, he touched the palm of his left hand to his forehead, then extended it to the sky. Cithria clasped her hand around the hilt of her sword, thinking he was performing some arcane conjuration, before realizing it was likely an Arbormark salute. Feeling her cheeks burn, she cursed herself for a fool.

盾士长冈萨用自己的方式向他回礼。

Shield-Sergeant Gunthar gave the man a salute of his own.

“我叫阿尔真，在此代表阿柏马克领主致以问候。”特使一边说着，一边低头致意。

“My name is Arjen, and I bring greetings from the Lord of the Arbormark,” said the envoy, bowing his head.

“恭迎。我是盾士长冈萨，来自第七兵团。这位是，”他接着又补充道，“卡斯通，来自搜魔人社团。”

“Welcome. I am Shield-Sergeant Gunthar, seventh battalion. And this,” he added, “is Cadstone, of the Order of Mageseekers.”

“您在此之前曾到德玛西亚境内做过客，对吧？”卡斯通开门见山地说。“您应该知道石规吧？”

“You have been a guest within the borders of Demacia before, have you not?” said Cadstone, without any pretense of small talk. “You are aware of the Laws of Stone?”

“是的，我此前来过这，善良的搜魔人，”阿尔真说，“我知道贵国的规矩和制度。我将最受石规，绝不在贵国境内使用我的……天赋。我郑重承诺。”

“Yes, I have been here before, good seeker,” said Arjen, “and I am aware of your kingdom’s rules and regulations. I shall honor the Laws of Stone and make no use of my… talents… while within your realm. I give you my word.”

“很好，”卡斯通说，“搜魔人阿尔诺和我将与您同行，从现在开始，到您离开德玛西亚为止。我们的职责是监督您信守承诺。请知悉，若您不遵守我们的法律，就会招致相应的后果。但如果您对您……所谓的天赋……有相应的自制，那就一切都好。”

“Good,” said Cadstone. “Mageseeker Arno and I will be with you, from now until the moment you leave Demacia. It is our task to hold you to your word. Know that there will be repercussions if you do not abide by our laws. But if you abstain from using your… talents, as you call them… then all will be well.”

阿尔真身鞠一躬，依然保持微笑。

Arjen bowed deeply, still smiling.

“那就启程吧，”冈萨说，“当然了，您的卫队需要留在边境线以外。”

“Then let us be on our way,” said Gunthar. “Your personal guard will need to remain beyond the border, of course.”

“当然，当然。”阿尔真说着，转身挥一挥手，打发走了随员。“喔嗤！你们走开！”

“Of course, of course,” Arjen said, before turning and waving his attendants away. “Shoo!” he said. “Be off with you!”

希思莉亚看到他奇怪的行为强忍住笑。那些不苟言笑的骑手转过了身，其中一人抓着特使坐骑的缰绳，一言不发地离开了。

Cithria stifled a smile at the man’s bizarre behavior. The stoic riders turned, one of them grabbing the reins of the envoy’s horse, and galloped away without a word.

“我们也上路吧！”阿尔真将双手拍在一起说道。

“Let us be on our way then!” said Arjen, clapping his hands together.

距离河港小镇麦特里奇有三小时的路程，那里已经备好了帆船，将载他们驶进都城。希思莉亚很意外，阿柏马克的特使居然没有拖慢速度，轻松跟上了冈萨定下的步调，他每走一步都坚定地把木杖敲在地面上。

It was three hours’ solid march northwest to Meltridge, a small river town, where they would board a waiting ship and sail the rest of the way to the capital. Cithria was surprised to find that the envoy from the Arbormark did not slow them, easily matching the punishing pace Gunthar set, his heavy staff striking the ground firmly with every step.

他们的行军穿过了强风吹拂的荒野和溪谷。从北方冷山上吹下来的大风像鞭子一样抽在身上，让希思莉亚寒冷彻骨。德玛西亚一行人继续跋涉，他们裹紧了斗篷的领口，尽可能御寒保暖。穿着熊皮的特使似乎并没有受天气影响。

The march took them across windswept moors and dales. The gales whipping down from the frozen north chilled Cithria to the bone. The Demacians trudged on, cinching their cloaks around their necks for additional warmth. Wrapped in bearskins, the envoy seemed unaffected by the weather.

在希思莉亚的所知所感中，阿尔真是个友善随和、很容易让人产生好感的人。但她提醒自己千万不要被安全的假象诱骗。奥术魔法充满了欺骗和花招。虽然德玛西亚人全都表情严峻、不苟言笑，显然在这名法师身边感到极不自在，但是阿尔真倒是轻松地讲着他家乡的故事打发时间。大多数故事都在讲豪饮麦酒、彰显力量、还有夸张的英雄功绩，不过他很会讲故事，所以这样打发时间总比始终沉默要好。

For all Cithria’s apprehension, Arjen was an affable and easily likeable man. She forced herself not to be lulled into a false sense of security, however. The ways of the arcane were full of deception and trickery. While the Demacians were tight-lipped and stoic, clearly uneasy around this mage, Arjen himself passed the time telling stories of his homeland. Most of them involved lots of drinking of ale, feats of strength, and farfetched heroics, but he had a gift for storytelling, and it certainly passed the time better than silence.

“……然后那头巨兽大吼一声。它说：‘你到这，不是来打猎的吧？’”

“…and then the great beast growled. ‘You don’t come here for the hunting, do you?’ it said.”

这个高大的人被自己的脏段子逗得哈哈大笑，弯下腰用力拍自己粗壮的大腿。希思莉亚在队形中的位置紧挨着这位特使，她发现自己也下意识地露出了微笑，虽然她明明是在对故事里的不雅频频摇头。

The big man guffawed with laughter at his own ribald joke, slapping one of his meaty thighs in mirth. Cithria, marching just to the envoy’s side, found herself smiling despite herself, even as she shook her head at the inappropriateness of the story.

“听懂了吗，妮子？”阿尔真直接问希思莉亚。“他这么说是因为他以为那个人是——”

“You get it, lass?” said Arjen, addressing Cithria directly. “He says that because he thinks the man—“

“哎，我知道。”希思莉亚连忙说道，同时抬起一只手打住阿尔真的解释。

“Oh, I get it,” said Cithria hastily holding up her hand to stop Arjen’s explanation.

在他们走到一半路程的时候，天空开始下雪。最初雪花很小很轻，但很快就开始变得厚重，最后甚至严重影响了能见度。很快，地面和道路就全都盖满了白雪。空中的落雪阻隔了一切声音。特使在整个纵队的最中间，希思莉亚走在特使身边。她越过肩膀向后偷瞄，看到两名搜魔人落后了几步，拉开的距离刚好让他们处于听觉范围之外。而且两名搜魔人都戴上了罩帽御寒。

Snow began to fall around halfway to their destination. At first, the flakes were small and light, but they quickly became heavier, until visibility was reduced dramatically. Soon, the ground and road were completely blanketed. The snowfall dampened all sound. Cithria walked near the envoy, who was guarded in the middle of the column of soldiers. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the two mageseekers had fallen a few steps back, just out of earshot. They had both drawn their hoods over their heads against the cold.

“我很好奇。”希思莉亚压低了声音，希望只有特使能听到。

“I’m curious,” Cithria said, in a low voice that she hoped only the envoy hear.

“好奇的力量很强大，”阿尔真说，“有的时候还很危险。”

“Curiosity is a powerful thing,” said Arjen. “Sometimes dangerous.”

旁边的士兵瞪了她一眼，似乎是要她保持安静。希思莉亚把话咽了回去，他不确定是否应该继续问清楚，还是应该就此作罢。她的好奇心占了上风。

A nearby soldier gave her a glance, as if willing her to remain silent. Cithria paused, wondering if she should finish her thought, or let it pass. Her curiosity got the better of her.

“你知道石规，也应该至少听说最近德玛西亚遭遇了一些……挑战。”她说。

“You know of the Laws of Stone, and at least something of the… challenges that currently beset Demacia,” she said.

“我知道。”阿尔真说。他的轻率荡然无存，表情严肃下来。“这就是领主派我过来的原因。这就是你们所有盟国都派来特使的原因。”

“I do,” said Arjen. All of his levity was gone now, and his expression somber. “It is for this reason that I have come, sent by my lord. It is for this reason envoys are coming from all of your nation’s allies.”

“既然知道，为什么你的领主还派你来呢？”

“But knowing all that, why would your lord send you?”

阿尔真低头看她，提起一边的眉毛。“我是阿柏马克的首席顾问，我是合适的人选。”他说。他看到了她的惊讶，于是露出苦笑。“你们边境以外的世界是不一样的。如果你想讨论打铁的事，就要找铁匠，对吧？而像这种情况，还有谁比一名法师更合适呢？”

Arjen looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. “I am chief advisor to the hall of the Arbormark, so it is my place to come,” he said. He saw her surprise, and smiled wryly. “Things are different beyond your borders. If you wished to discuss matters of the forge, you would summon a smith, yes? At a time like this, who better, then, to send than a mage?”

希思莉亚开口想说些什么，然后又闭上了嘴。

Cithria opened her mouth to say something, then closed it.

就好好把他安全送到都城吧。她对自己说。

Let’s just get him to the capital safely, she told herself.

越快完成这次任务越好。

The sooner they completed this mission, the better.

当他们接近麦特里奇镇的白墙的时候，黄昏已经临近了。城门的守卫向他们敬礼，镇上的人们毕恭毕敬地站在路旁，一行人沿着主路向前行进。

Dusk was approaching as they made their way into the white-walled town of Meltridge. The guards at the gate saluted, and townspeople stood respectfully aside as the band marched down the main thoroughfare.

“我们在下个交汇口往西北方拐，”卡斯通说。大雪开始变得稀疏，他撤下了罩帽指向西北方。“码头就在那个下坡的尽头。”

“We turn northwest at the next junction,” said Cadstone. The snow was easing, and he lowered his hood, pointing. “The docks lie at the foot of that hill.”

“你以前来过这里喽，搜魔人殿下？”士兵们收到冈萨的命令，开始向搜魔人所指的方向前进，于是希思莉亚问道。那位搜魔人点了点头。

“You’ve been here before, then, lord seeker?” said Cithria, after Gunthar ordered the soldiers to follow the mageseeker’s directions. The mageseeker nodded.

“曾有个小女孩住在这里，”他说。“她是个强大的法师。”

“A young girl lived here,” he said. “Powerful mage.”

“你……逮捕她了？”希思莉亚睁大眼睛问道。

“You… captured her?” said Cithria, wide-eyed.

“她是自首的，”阿尔诺轻描淡写地说。“她的灾疾是良性的。也给她登记在册了。一般来讲，像她那样的不应该被收监，但自从——”

“She gave herself in,” chimed in Arno. “She was benign. Registered. Normally, one such as her wouldn’t be taken in, but ever since—”

“阿尔诺！”卡斯通厉声打断他。

“Arno!” snapped Cadstone.

年轻的搜魔人闭上了嘴，看上去很受打击。

The younger mageseeker fell quiet, looking chastened.

“走吧，”卡斯通说，“我们最好不要耽搁。”

“Let us move,” said Cadstone. “It would be best for us not to linger.”

在这样的傍晚，通往码头的小路十分繁忙。

At this time of early evening, the narrow road down to the docks was busy.

结束一天劳作的船夫正在爬上坡，走在各自回家的路上，或者走进沿途众多小酒馆的某一间。孩童在雪中互相追逐打闹，一对精神的猎犬齐步并进。店主们纷纷站在自家店门口，街上的摊贩在叫卖自己商品的价格。

Boatmen finishing work for the day were climbing the hill, making their way home or to one of the numerous taverns that lined the way. Children raced to and fro, chasing each other through the snow, a pair of excited hounds keeping pace. Shopkeepers stood in the doorways of their stores, and peddlers on the street shouted the prices of their wares.

士兵们还没走完下坡的三分之一，希思莉亚就感到街上的气氛变了。

The soldiers were not even a third of the way down the hill before Cithria felt the mood of the street change.

一开始只是路人的黑脸和几句呢喃。几撮镇民聚在门口和巷角，一边低声交谈一边指指点点。一名渔夫往地上啐了一口，一脸愤怒。

At first it was just a few dark looks and a few muttered words by passers-by. Clusters of townsfolk gathered in doors and alleys, talking in low voices and pointing. A fisherman spat on the ground, his eyes burning with anger.

“让路，公民。”冈萨吼道。那个人让开了，看上去极不情愿。

“Move along, citizen,” growled Gunthar. The man did so, somewhat reluctantly.

希思莉亚很惊诧。她没想到德玛西亚人能表现出如此直接的敌意，虽然说都城里发生了那么多事。

Cithria was shocked. She did not expect such outright hostility from Demacians, despite all that had been happening in the capital.

“收紧队形。”冈萨说。士兵们立刻做出反应，把那名法师和两名搜魔人保护在纵队的中心。

“Tighten ranks,” Gunthar said, and the soldiers responded instantly, keeping the mage and the mageseekers protected at the heart of the column.

一块石头打在一名士兵的头盔侧面。又一块石头，从另一个角度扔出来，擦过卡斯通的额头，见了血。

A rock struck one of the soldiers in the side of their helmet. Another, thrown from a different direction, glanced from Cadstone’s forehead, drawing blood.

希思莉亚借着喘息咒骂街道的狭窄。几乎没有什么回旋的空间，而他们下坡的路已经走出太远，不能回头了。他们必须继续走到码头。

Cithria cursed under her breath at the narrowness of the street. There was little room to maneuver, and they were already too far down the hill to turn back. They had to continue on down to the docks.

“架盾！”冈萨大喊一声，盾士长显然也得出了同样的结论。“前进，急行军！”

“Shields up!” barked Gunthar, the shield-sergeant clearly coming to the same conclusion. “Forward, double-time!”

士兵们立刻加快了脚步，沿着街道向前猛冲。

The soldiers instantly picked up their pace, surging forward along the street.

“皇威在上，谁敢挡路！让开！”冈萨大吼道。大多数镇民都遵命让路，跌跌撞撞地从士兵前方躲开，但在前面稍远的地方，希思莉亚看到的东西让她全身血液冰凉。

“By order of the crown, clear the way! Move!” Gunthar shouted. Most of the townsfolk did so, scrambling out of the soldiers’ path, but up ahead, Cithria saw something that made her blood run cold.

两台推车从前方的小巷里冒了出来，挡住了他们的去路。愤怒的镇民挤在他们前方。希思莉亚左右扫视，两侧店面的白色石墙越来越近，他们就像身处一道峡谷。她突然发现所有的门窗都被关严锁紧了。

A pair of wagons were rolled from alleys ahead, blocking their way. Angry townsfolk crowded before them. Cithria glanced left and right. The white stone walls of shop fronts pressed in on either side, like the sides of a chasm. She realized the doors were all closed and barred, the windows shuttered.

“这是陷阱！”她嘶声说道。

“This is a trap!” she hissed.

“没错。”冈萨说。他借着气息咒骂了一声。

“Aye,” said Gunthar. He cursed under his breath.

“停！向后转！”盾士长大喊道。士兵们立刻做出反应，原地转身。他们全都架起了盾牌，但没人抽出武器。

“Halt! About-face!” the shield-sergeant shouted. The soldiers responded instantly, turning in place. All had their shields raised, though none had drawn weapons.

两名搜魔人紧紧站在特使两侧。他们三个被保护在盾阵的中心。

The mageseekers stood close to the envoy, one to either side. The three of them were kept protected at the center of the soldiers’ formation.

“不好！”希思莉亚大喊。“这边也被挡住了。”

“It’s no good!” shouted Cithria. “This way is blocked, too.”

现在他们面向来时的路，看到镇民迅速推出另一台推车，挡住了他们的退路。

Now facing the way they’d come, they could see the townsfolk had hurriedly rolled out another wagon, blocking their retreat.

“把他交给我们，谁都不用受伤！”一个壮实的男人站在推车顶上说。他看上去像是当地的铁匠，身上穿着厚皮围裙，手上拿着一把锤子。

“让路！”冈萨命令到。

“Give him to us, and no one needs get hurt!” shouted a burly man from atop the wagon. He looked like the local blacksmith, wearing a thick leather apron and holding a hammer in hand.

那名铁匠可能是这群暴民的发言人，他一动没动。

“Clear the street!” Gunthar ordered.

“没那么容易，小子。”他一边说着，把锤头敲在另一只手的掌心，是在无言地威胁。

The blacksmith, who appeared to be the spokesperson for the angry crowd, appeared unmoved.

虽然一些人逃离了着紧张的对峙现场，但更多镇民都聚集在街道的两端。其中许多人手里都握着农具、伐木斧、还有其他能凑合当武器使的东西，但也有几个人腰间挎着入鞘的刀剑。虽然他们的装备远不及面前这群士兵，但他们并没有被吓住。

“Not gonna happen, lad,” he said, gently tapping his hammer into his open hand as an unspoken threat.

“我再说一遍，让路。”冈萨说。

While some people ran to get clear of the tense standoff, more townsfolk joined those gathered at either end of the street. Many of them carried farming tools, woodcutter’s axes, and other makeshift weapons, but more than a few had swords scabbarded at their waists. While they were clearly outclassed by the soldiers they faced, they would not be intimidated.

作为回应，一块石头打在了希思莉亚的盾牌上。她身边的士兵——巴克——想要抽剑出鞘，剑刃舔着剑鞘发出嘶嘶声。

“I say again, clear the way,” said Gunthar.

“别亮剑！”希思莉亚大喊着，用手顶住了剑柄。“这些是德玛西亚人，是我们发誓要保护的人。”

In response, a stone struck Cithria’s shield. The soldier alongside her—Bakker—made to draw his sword, the blade hissing as he began to slide it from its scabbard.

巴克比希思莉亚的年龄和资历都更老，他怒吼一声把她推开，但他们的盾士长用一声严厉的命令阻止了他。

“No blades!” Cithria cried, putting her hand on the hilt of the sword. “These are Demacians, those we are sworn to protect!”

“她说得对，”冈萨低吼道，“没我的命令不许拔剑。”

Bakker, older and more senior than Cithria, scowled, and went to brush her aside, but their shield-sergeant stopped him with a sharp order.

人群变得更加激愤，吵吵嚷嚷、咄咄逼人。

“She’s right,” Gunthar growled. “No sword will be drawn unless I order it.”

在喧闹之中，希思莉亚听清了几个人的话。

The crowd became ever-more aggressive, shouting and closing in threateningly.

“你会付出代价的，猪猡！”一个女人叫喊。

Among the din, Cithria made out several individual voices.

“拿下他，拿下他！”一个已经步入暮年的老汉大吼，他的举止有点像是一名老兵。

“You’ll pay, you swine!” shouted one woman.

“我们应该把他交出去。”巴克嘟囔着说。

“Get him, get him!” roared a man well into his twilight years, though he had the bearing of an ex-soldier.

希思莉亚瞪了他一眼。“阿尔真特使是我们宣誓保护的人！”她厉声说，“你荣誉何在？”

“We should just give him to them,” muttered Bakker.

“他只不过是个法师。”另一名士兵说，不过希思莉亚并没看到说话的是谁。

Cithria glared at him. “Envoy Arjen is under our sworn protection!” she snapped. “Where is your honor?”

一口陶罐扔到了士兵们的防线上，打在一面盾牌上以后摔成了碎片。一大块砌墙用的石砖击中了另一个士兵的肩甲，由于从正上方直接抛下，打得他跪倒在地。他的战友们迅速扶他站起来，希思莉亚抬起头看到周围的房顶上人头攒动。

“He’s just a mage,” said another soldier, though Cithria couldn’t see who had spoken.

她看到屋顶上一个带着罩帽的人扔出了什么东西。希思莉亚本能地擎起盾牌，保护身后的特使。一块生锈的马蹄铁打在了盾牌弯曲的表面上，当啷一声掉在地面，没有伤到任何人。如果它命中目标，足以夺人性命。

A heavy earthenware jar struck the soldiers’ line, shattering on a shield in an explosion of shards. A heavy chunk of masonry hit another soldier in the pauldron, dropped from above, and driving him to his knees. His comrades helped him quickly back to his feet, and Cithria looked up to see people appearing on the rooftops around them.

那名法师点头致谢。现在他露不出笑容了。

She saw a hooded man up there throw something. Instinctively, Cithria lifted her shield high to protect the envoy standing behind her. A rusted horseshoe struck its curved surface before clattering away harmlessly. Had it struck home, it could have been lethal.

“我们将把你毫发无伤地带出去，以我的荣誉起誓。”希思莉亚说。

The mage nodded his thanks. He wasn’t smiling now.

镇民包围了他们，依然在大吼大叫，不过暂时似乎还没有人想要靠得太近。即便如此，希思莉亚知道距离某个人冲撞阵线只是时间问题，而她更怕的是开始冲撞阵线以后还会发生什么。

“We’ll get you out of this unscathed, on my honor,” Cithria said.

“我们必须离开这里！”她大喊道，这时更多石块、砖头和瓦砾碎屑开始在士兵们的铠甲上敲敲打打。

The townsfolk had closed in around them, still shouting, though none of them yet seemed willing to get too close. Nevertheless, Cithria knew it was only a matter of moments before someone charged the line, and she feared what would happen once they did.

“如果我们发起冲锋的话，会造成公民伤亡的。”盾士长冈萨说。

“We have to get out of here!” she shouted, as more stones, bricks and loose detritus clattered off the soldiers’ armor.

“可能这是我们的唯一选择了。”卡斯通说。希思莉亚不得不承认这个事实。除非……

“If we charge through them, there will be citizen casualties,” said Shield-Sergeant Gunthar.

“那扇门！”她一边呼喊，一边指着附近一扇锁住的商店正门。

“That might be our only option,” said Cadstone. Reluctantly, Cithria had to agree. Unless…

“值得一试，”冈萨说。“以我为准，半圆阵！”

“That door!” she called out, gesturing toward a locked and barred shopfront nearby.

士兵们流畅地变换阵型，组成了一道弧形的盾墙，背靠着商店门面。

“Worth a try,” said Gunthar. “Half circle, on me!”

“希思莉亚！巴克！”冈萨命令道，“把门撞开！”

The Demacians smoothly shifted their formation, forming a curving shieldwall with their backs to the shopfront.

二人走出阵列，搜魔人和阿尔真依然在防线的保护中，巴克不耐烦地推搡着擦过特使。

“Cithria! Bakker!” ordered Gunthar. “Break down those doors!”

“别挡路，法师。”他没好气地说。

The pair of them stepped out of the ranks. The mageseekers and Arjen stood within the protective cordon of soldiers, and Bakker impatiently pushed by the envoy.

希思莉亚看到阿尔真深吸一口气，冷静地未作反应。她绕开法师迅速来到门前，对巴克点了下头。

“Out of the way, mage,” he snarled.

“数到三，”他说，“一，二，三！”

Cithria saw Arjen take a breath to remain calm and not respond. She hurried to the doors, stepping around the mage, and nodded to Bakker.

他们踢在两扇门板上，力道十足。

“On three,” he said. “One, two, three!”

“再来！”

Together, they kicked the double-doors, hard.

他们又踢了三次，把全身的重量都用在脚上，最后随着一声清脆的木料破裂声，两扇门向内侧轰然敞开。

“Again!”

“走！”冈萨喊道。“带上特使和搜魔人，找出口！我们在这拦住他们！”

Three more times they struck, putting their full weight into the kicks, before there was a sharp, splintering crack, and the doors slammed inwards.

看到他们千夫所指的目标即将逃脱，暴民们立刻向前迸发，冲撞盾墙。

“Go!” shouted Gunthar. “Take the envoy and the seekers, and find a way out! We will hold them here!”

“跟我走！”希思莉亚命令道，然后进入了黑暗的店铺，面前架着盾牌。“一定有后门。”

Seeing the object of their ire about to escape, the mob of townsfolk surged forward, charging into the shieldwall.

“Come with me!” Cithria ordered, entering the darkened shop, shield raised before her. “There’s got to be a back door.”

看起来，这家店是做蜡烛的。架子上排列着上百根蜡烛，同时还有许多种花香袭击希思莉亚的口鼻。

The shop, it seemed, belonged to a candle-maker. Hundreds of wax candles lined the shelves, and an array of floral scents assailed Cithria.

“这儿！”巴克喊了一声，消失在店铺后面。

“Here!” shouted Bakker, disappearing towards the rear of the shop.

“跟紧了，”希思莉亚说。阿柏马克的特使和他一左一右两名搜魔人立刻跟了上来，然后她循着巴克的方向进入店铺深处。

“Stay close,” said Cithria, and the envoy from the Arbormark, flanked by the pair of mageseekers, dropped in behind her as she followed Bakker deeper into the shop.

他找到了一扇通往储藏室的门，里面摆满了木桶、麻袋和码起来的板条箱。屋里漆黑一片，希思莉亚只能勉强看到巴克的身影在她面前几尺远的地方。

The door he found led to a storeroom, filled with barrels, stacks of crates, and sacks. It was so dark that Cithria could barely see Bakker’s shape a few feet in front of her.

“要是有根蜡烛就好了，嗯？”阿尔真轻轻地说，希思莉亚扑哧一声，赶快用手捂住嘴。现在可不是开玩笑的时间。

“If only we had a candle, eh?” remarked Arjen mildly, making Cithria snort, then cover her mouth to stop herself. It was hardly a time for levity.

然后随着一声木料碎裂的声音，光线突然进入这间储藏室，是巴克把后门踢开了。门外的小巷没有人。

Then there was a sound of cracking timber, and light suddenly entered the storeroom as Bakker kicked the back door open. The alley beyond was clear.

巴克让出门口，示意希思莉亚和其他几人先走。

Bakker ushered Cithria and the others forward.

“走！”他说，“我断后！”

“Move!” he said. “I’ll take the rearguard!”

希思莉亚点点头，向前开路，带着阿尔真和两名搜魔人走了出去。她走出门还没到十步，就有一个人从旁边的阴影中站了出来，挡住了她的路。

Cithria nodded, and plowed forward, leading Arjen and the mageseekers. She’d gone no more than ten paces when someone stepped out of the shadows of a side-alley, blocking her path.

这是一位赤褐色头发的妇女，她双手捧着一把重弩。就在希思莉亚打着滑站定、举起一只手警告后面的人的同时，那名妇女举起武器对准了他们的方向。

It was an auburn-haired woman, and she cradled a heavy crossbow in her arms. Even as Cithria slid to a standstill, one hand raised in warning to those behind, the woman leveled the weapon in their direction.

时间似乎变慢了。

Time seemed to slow.

雪片又开始飘落，厚重的雪花无声地落下。人群的喧闹和她战友们的喊声变得十分微弱，在主路旁的这条后巷里，一切都很安静。

Snow was falling again, the heavy flakes drifting soundlessly down. The clamor of the crowd and the shouts of her fellow soldiers were faint, here in the quiet alley behind the main thoroughfare.

希思莉亚看到那个妇女的眼眶湿红，似乎刚刚哭过，而且她的表情悲痛欲绝。

Cithria saw that the woman’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying, and her expression was one of desperation.

是什么东西把这个镇子变成这种状态？在希思莉亚的阅历中，她祖国的人民向来都遵纪守法、恬淡寡欲。为什么这座镇子如此愤怒？

What had driven this town to such a state? In Cithria’s experience, the people of her homeland were lawful and stoic. Why was this town so angry?

“请让开，”那名妇女对希思莉亚说道，她的双眼在恳求。她的声音颤抖哽咽，饱含的情绪喷薄欲出。“谢谢。”

“Get out of the way,” the woman said to Cithria, eyes pleading. Her voice was cracked and choked with emotion. “Please.”

“这个人是盟国来的特使，”希思莉亚用平静的声音说，就像是在对一匹易受惊的马儿说话，“我不能让他受到伤害。”

“This man is an envoy from an allied nation,” Cithria said, in a calm voice, the kind she might use around a skittish horse. “I cannot allow any harm to befall him.”

“什么？”那名妇女皱着眉头说。

“What?” said the woman, her brow furrowing.

“别这么做，”希思莉亚说，“这个人受到德玛西亚的保护。”

“Don’t do this,” said Cithria. “This man is under the protection of Demacia.”

然后那名妇女笑了，绝望的笑声近乎疯狂。

The woman laughed then, the sound desperate and almost manic.

“我要的不是他，”她说，“是搜魔人。那边那个。”

“It’s not him I want,” she said. “It’s the seeker. That one.”

那个时候希思莉亚才意识到，重弩瞄准的是卡斯通。

Only then did Cithria realize the crossbow was pointed at Cadstone.

“我的女儿从没犯过任何错！”妇女说着，泪水开始顺着脸颊向下流。“琪拉主动选择站出来，告诉搜魔人自己的能力。她不想给任何人添麻烦，不想让家里人伤心，不想让镇上的人难过。大家都爱她！所有这些事端——都是你挑起的！”

“My daughter never did anything wrong!” the woman said, and tears ran down her cheeks. “Kyra chose to step forward, to alert the mageseekers of her power. She didn’t want to get anyone into trouble, didn’t want to bring grief down upon her family, or on this town. Everyone loved her! All this trouble—you caused it all!”

“你带走了她女儿……”希思莉亚悄声说着，看向卡斯通。

“You took her daughter…” Cithria breathed, looking at Cadstone.

那位搜魔人严峻地点点头。

The mageseeker nodded grimly.

“我们别无选择，”他说，“法律已经修正了。任何已知带有魔法能力的公民，无论是否属于良性，都要求被带走接受审判。王国境内所有法师没有例外。”

“We had to,” he said. “The law was amended. Any citizen with known magical power, benign or otherwise, is now ordered to be brought in for judgment. Every mage in the kingdom.”

“她只是个孩子！”妇女大喊道，突然将弩戳向那个搜魔人的方向。“你把她关起来了！和那些罪犯关在一起！或者她已经被放逐了，独自一人在荒郊野外！你给她判了死刑！”

“She was just a girl!” shouted the woman, jabbing her crossbow in the mageseeker’s direction. “You locked her away! With all those criminals! Or maybe she has been exiled and is out beyond the borders, alone! You condemned her!”

希思莉亚抽了一口气，她确定这一发弩箭必定要射出来了……但却没有。至少暂时还没有。

Cithria sucked in a breath, certain a bolt was going to be loosed… but it wasn’t. Not yet, at least.

“琪拉危害不到任何人！”妇女哭喊道，“她总是哭着睡去，希望她天生与别人一样。而你却抓走了她。你是怪物！”

“Kyra was no threat to anyone!” the woman cried. “She used to cry herself to sleep, wishing she had been born like everyone else. And you took her. You’re a monster.”

“法律就是法律。”卡斯通说。

“The law is the law,” said Cadstone.

“法律错了，”妇女说，“她是我的生命，你把她夺走了。现在我也把你的夺走。”

“Then the law is wrong,” the woman said. “She was my life, and you took her from me. Now I will take yours from you.”

她的环过扳机的手指渐渐扣压扳机……但她犹豫了，因为希思莉亚挡在了她和搜魔人之间。

Her finger tightened around the trigger… but she hesitated as Cithria stepped in between her and the mageseeker.

“请让开，”妇女哭着说。“我不想让没责任的人受到伤害。”

“Move, please,” said the woman, crying. “I don’t want to see anyone harmed but the one responsible for this.”

“我不能让你这么做，”希思莉亚说，“把弩放下。”

“I cannot let you do this,” said Cithria. “Put the crossbow down.”

“我的命没了，”妇女说，“他的也不该留。”

“My life is over,” said the woman. “His should be too.”

“如果你这么做了，就回不了头了，”希思莉亚说，“如果你的女儿回家了，却发现你因为现在所做的选择而不在了，怎么办？”

“If you do this, there is no coming back,” said Cithria. “What happens when your daughter returns home, but you are not here because of the choice you make today?”

“被搜魔人带走的人都有去无回，”妇女说，“琪拉不可能回家了。”

“No one taken by the seekers is ever seen again,” said the woman. “Kyra is never coming home.”

她声音中的绝望令人心碎，刺中了希思莉亚的灵魂。

The depth of despair in her voice was heart-wrenching, cutting Cithria to her core.

“你怎么能那么肯定，”希思莉亚恳求道，“你欠她一份回家的等候。她需要你。”

“You can’t know that,” pleaded Cithria. “You owe it to her to be here if she does. She’ll need you.”

妇女的脸庞在悲伤中坍倒，泪水放纵地流淌。但她没有放下弩。

The woman’s face crumpled in grief, her eyes screwing shut, tears running freely. But she didn’t lower the crossbow.

希思莉亚向前迈出一步，向她伸出手。

Cithria took a step forward, reaching out to her.

“我来帮你，”希思莉亚说，“我向你保证，我将尽我所能，找到你的女儿。”

“I’ll help you,” Cithria said. “I promise you, I will do all I can to find out where your daughter is.”

希思莉亚可以肯定，她无法走到妇女身边。在这个距离，一把重弩的力道足以贯穿她的胸甲。

Cithria was certain she was failing to reach the woman. At this range, the sheer power of a heavy crossbow would punch straight through her breastplate.

“拜托了，”她说，“你需要坚强起来。为了琪拉。”

“Please,” she said. “You need to be strong. For Kyra.”

女人瘫倒在地，斗志全无。但她倒下的同时，也终于输给了悲伤和劳累，她的手指扣紧了扳机。

The woman collapsed to her knees, all the fight going out of her. But as she dropped, finally giving in to grief and exhaustion, her finger tightened on the trigger.

一声脆响，然后是一声急促的弦音，弩发射了。

There was a click, followed by a sharp snap, as the crossbow fired.

那支弩箭撕裂空气，打在小巷的白石壁上弹开。希思莉亚飞速转身，看到弩箭呼啸着经过卡斯通和阿尔诺，距离那位年轻的搜魔人只有几寸远，然后直直地飞向巴克。

The bolt sliced through the air and ricocheted off one of the alley’s white stone walls. Cithria spun as the deadly bolt hissed past Cadstone and Arno, missing the nervous young mageseeker by inches, and shot directly at Bakker.

希思莉亚看到阿柏马克的特使微微动了几根手指，稍稍转了下手腕。弩箭偏折了方向，就像是有一堵透明的墙斜着立在巴克的前方，最后弩箭从他肩膀上掠过，没有伤到人。

Cithria saw the envoy from the Arbormark make a slight motion with his fingers, a subtle twisting of his hand. The bolt was knocked off course, as if it had struck an invisible, angled wall just in front of Bakker, and it spun harmlessly over his shoulder.

希思莉亚后脖颈的汗毛立刻直立，她知道自己刚刚看到了什么。

The hair on the back of Cithria’s neck suddenly stood on end at what she had just seen.

巴克目瞪口呆。弩箭本应该命中他的咽喉，希思莉亚能看出来，他自己也知道这一点。那位高大的穿着熊皮的特使对着她微微使了个眼色。

Bakker’s eyes were wide in shock. The bolt should have taken him in the neck, and Cithria could see that he knew it. The giant, bearskin-clad envoy gave her the slightest of winks.

年轻的搜魔人蹲到了地上，正在气喘吁吁。卡斯通紧紧靠着小巷一侧的墙壁。妇女跪坐在落雪的地面上，已经泣不成声。

The young mageseeker was on the ground, breathing hard. Cadstone was pressed up against one wall of the alleyway. The woman was kneeling on the ground in the snow, her body wracked with sobs.

希思莉亚急忙跑到她身边，从她颤抖的双手中温柔地拿开重弩。然后她抱住了那名妇女，心贴着心。

Cithria rushed to her side, and gently removed the crossbow from her shaking hands. Then she hugged the woman, drawing her close.

“别抓她，”希思莉亚看着卡斯通说，“这是一场意外，没别的。”

“Do not arrest her,” Cithria said, looking up at Cadstone. “It was an accident, nothing more.”

那位搜魔人犹豫着，看上去很焦虑。

The mageseeker hesitated, looking troubled.

“没人受到任何伤害，”希思莉亚继续说，“她已经受尽苦难了。拜托。”

“No harm befell anyone,” continued Cithria. “She has suffered enough. Please.”

卡斯通叹了口气，揉了揉眼睛。

Cadstone sighed, and rubbed his eyes.

“这不是我社团的管辖范围，”他最后开口说，“因为这里没有动用魔法，所以这件事由你们决定。”

“This is not a matter for my order,” he said, finally. “Since there was no magic performed here, I leave that decision to you.”

希思莉亚与巴克目光对视……但他什么都没有说。

Cithria caught Bakker’s eye… but he said nothing.

镇上的暴民正在一次次地冲撞德玛西亚士兵的盾墙，拳打脚踢。破瓶子、碎石头打在盾牌和头盔上，但士兵们依然没有拔刀。

The mob of townsfolk hurled themselves against the Demacian shieldwall, kicking and surging. Bottles and rocks clashed upon shields and helmets, but still the soldiers did not draw weapons.

随着一声大喊，希思莉亚再次出现在蜡烛商店里，带着那名红发妇女，一只手搂着她肩膀，然后镇民们后退了。

There was a shout as Cithria emerged from the candle shop once more, leading the red-haired woman, an arm around her shoulder, and the townsfolk backed off.

“罗莎琳？”壮硕的铁匠喊道。

“Rosalyn?” called the burly blacksmith.

“琪拉不会希望看到我们这样，”妇女呼喊道，“她不会希望任何人因她而受伤。”

“Kyra wouldn’t want this,” the woman called out. “She wouldn’t want anyone hurt on her account.”

她的突然出现让人群静止下来。少数几个人还在动手，对着盾墙推推搡搡，但其他人都推到后方，突然不知所措。

Her sudden appearance gave the crowd pause. A few of them fought on, shoving against the shieldwall, but others backed off, suddenly unsure of themselves.

“把街道让出来！”冈萨吼道。“马上离开，就不会深究！”

“Clear the street!” roared Gunthar. “Leave now, and there will be no repercussions!”

镇民们都看向那名铁匠。

The townspeople looked to the blacksmith.

“照他说的做吧，”他说，“结束了。”

“Do what he says,” he said, finally. “It’s over.”

人群的暴怒和憎恨消散了，就像曙光照耀下的晨雾一样。不一会，他们就变回了普通的公民，脸上再也没有扭曲的愤恨和狂怒。许多人都低下头呢喃着，自惭形秽。

The fury and resentment in the crowd dissipated, like an early morning fog beneath the sun’s rays. Within a few moments, they looked just like regular citizens once more, now that their faces were no longer twisted with anger and rage. Many in the crowd muttered and looked down, ashamed.

冈萨点了一下头，士兵们给铁匠让开了空隙，让他穿过阵线，拥抱那位妇女。

At a nod from Gunthar, the soldiers parted to allow the blacksmith through their ranks, who took the woman in his arms.

“你们其他人，回家去！”冈萨对附近磨磨蹭蹭的人群命令道。他本可以把他们全都聚成一堆，挨个扣押，但希思莉亚很高兴看到他选择了怀柔处置。

“The rest of you, go home!” Gunthar ordered the milling crowd. He could have had them all rounded up and clapped in irons, but Cithria was glad he chose leniency.

希思莉亚环顾四周。如同奇迹一般，除了几处剐蹭和淤青，无论是士兵还是麦特里奇的公民都没人真正受伤。镇民们渐渐散开，顺道拖走了推车。

Cithria looked around. Miraculously, other than a few scrapes and bruises, no one had been seriously harmed, either among the soldiers’ ranks, or the citizenry of Meltridge. The townsfolk drifted away, dragging the wagons with them.

盾士长冈萨看着希思莉亚，松了一口气。

Her shield-sergeant, Gunthar, looked at Cithria in relief.

“我不知道你做了什么，”他缓缓摇着头说，“但多亏了你，士兵，今天避免了一场灾难。”

“I don’t know what you did,” he said, shaking his head, “but whatever it was, you helped avert disaster today, soldier.”

希思莉亚突然感到身心俱疲，没有力量回答。她木讷地点点头，重重地坐在旁边的台阶上。

Cithria felt suddenly tired, and didn’t have the energy to respond. She nodded numbly, and sat heavily on a nearby step.

士兵们依然在谨慎地看着最后几个徘徊的镇民。巴克站在附近，他的脸上阴云密布。希思莉亚的目光游移到两位搜魔人身上，他们表情严峻，然后她又看向那名妇女，罗莎琳，她正在铁匠的怀中哭泣。

Soldiers were still watching the last lingering townsfolk warily. Bakker stood nearby, his expression clouded. Cithria’s gaze drifted to the pair of mageseekers, their expressions grim, then to the woman, Rosalyn, crying in the blacksmith’s arms.

所有这些人都是德玛西亚人，心中都怀着善意，但最近的行动却让他们兵戎相见。

All these people were Demacians, and all had good intentions at heart, yet recent actions had set them against each other.

德玛西亚即将迎来艰难时刻，她暗自想道。

A difficult time was coming to Demacia, she thought.

不，她纠正自己。

No, she corrected herself.

艰难时刻已经到来。

It was already here.