卷八 2920年

Last Seed

末种(月份)

Book Eight of 2920

卷八 2920年

The Last Year of the First Era

第一纪元的最后一年

by

Carlovac Townway

卡罗瓦克唐威

1 Last Seed, 2920, Mournhold, Morrowind

1st,末种，2920，哀伤之城，晨风

They were gathered in the Duke's courtyard at twilight,

他们在薄暮中聚集在公爵的庭院里，享受着用干树枝和只有些许绿意的树叶点起

enjoying the smell and warmth of a fire of dry branches and

来的篝火散发出的味道和温暖。小小的火星时不时迸发到上方的空气中，飘荡了

bittergreen leaves. Tiny embers flew into the sky, hanging

一会儿后慢慢消失。

for a few moments before vanishing.

“I was rash,” agreed the Duke, soberly. “But Lorkhan had

“我太轻率了，”公爵神志清醒地说。“但还好上天保佑，一切都还来得及。既然

his laugh, and all is well. The Morag Tong will not

我给莫拉格帮会报酬已经沉入内海的海底，那么他们也不会再去刺杀皇帝了。

assassinate the Emperor now that my payment to them is at

the bottom of the Inner Sea. I thought you had made some

我以为你已经跟魔神们签订过一种和平契约了。”

sort of a truce with the Daedra princes.”

“What your sailors called a daedra may not have been one,”

“你的部将们口中的魔族可能并不是一个魔族，”索塔希尔说道。“可能是一个

said Sotha Sil. “Perhaps it was a rogue battlemage or even

中立的战斗法师，或者甚至可能只是一道闪电恰巧摧毁了你的船而已。”

a lightning bolt that destroyed your ship.”

“The Prince and the Emperor are en route to take possession

“根据我和帝国签订的和平条约，皇帝和王子应该正在去艾德兰贝斯城以取得

of Ald Lambasi as our truce agreed. It is certainly typical

控制权的路上。对于塞洛蒂尔来讲，他们所做的让步永远都留有余地，但我们不

of the Cyrodiil to assume that their concessions are negotiable, while ours are not,” Vivec pulled out a map.

是，”维瓦克摊开一张地图。“我们可以在这儿与他们会面，这个在艾德兰贝斯西

“We can meet them here, in this village to the north-west

南面的村庄，法文希尔。”

of Ald Lambasi, Fervinthil.”

“But will we meet them to talk,” ask Almalexia. “Or to make

“但我们是为了谈判去见他们，”阿玛莱希雅问。“还是为了另一场战争?”

war?”

No one had an answer to that.

没有人知道这个问题的答案。

15 Last Seed, 2920, Fervinthil, Morrowind

15th，末种，2920，法文希尔，晨风

A late summer squall blew through the small village,

一阵夏末的风暴袭击了这座小镇，天空一片昏黑，只能隐约看见像杂技演员一样

darkening the sky except for flashing of lightning which

在云朵中跳跃穿梭的闪电的亮光。雨水倾盆般倒入狭窄的小巷，道路上积了至少

leapt from cloud to cloud like acrobats. Water rushed down the narrow streets ankle-deep, and the Prince had to shout

脚踝深的雨水，王子必须得大声喊叫才能让他的队长听见他在说什么，即使队长

to be heard by his captains but a few feet away from him.

其实就离他几步远而已。

“There's an inn up ahead! We'll wait there for the storm

“前面有一个旅馆!我们得在那儿休息一下，等风暴过去了再继续向艾德兰贝斯

to pass before pressing on to Ald Lambasi!”

前进!”

The inn was warm and dry, and bustling with business.

旅馆里温暖而干燥，挤满了各类人士。酒吧的女侍忙着进进出出，给客人送去酒

Barmaids were rushing back and forth, bringing greef and wine to a back room, evidently excited about a famous

水，脸上带着碰见名贵的大客户的激动兴奋。看起来似乎有人能比泰姆瑞尔皇帝

visitor. Someone who was attracting more attention than the

的唯一继承人更加引人注意。朱历克王子被这个想法逗笑了，心情愉悦地看着这

mere heir to the Empire of Tamriel. Amused, Juilek watched

一幕，直到他偶然听见一个名字―维瓦克。

them run until he overheard the name of “Vivec.”

“My Lord Vivec,” he said, bursting into the back room. “You

“维瓦克阁下，”王子说道，突然闯入那个房间。“你一定要相信我，在事情发生

must believe me, I knew nothing about the attack on Black

之前，我对黑暗之门的那场袭击一无所知。我们，当然，一定会立刻将它归还于

Gate until after it happened. We will, of course, be

你。我写了一封关于此事的信寄到你在巴尔莫拉的宫殿那里，但很显然你当时不

returning it to your care forthwith. I wrote you a letter to that effect at your palace in Balmora, but obviously

在，”他停下来，双眼扫过房间里陌生的面孔。“对不起，让我自我介绍一下。我

you're not there,” he paused, taking in the many new faces

是朱历克塞洛蒂尔。”

in the room. “I'm sorry, let me introduce myself. I'm Juilek Cyrodiil.”

“My name is Almalexia,” said the most beautiful woman the

“我叫阿玛莱希雅，”那个王子认为是他一生中见过最美的女子说。“你要加入我

Prince had ever seen. “Won't you join us?”

们的谈话吗?”

“Sotha Sil,” said a serious-looking Dunmer in a white cloak,

“索塔 希尔，”一个看起来很严肃，穿着一身白袍的暗精灵说，握了握王子的手，

shaking the Prince's hand and showing him to a seat.

带着他走向旁边的一个座位。

“Indoril Brindisi Dorom, Duke-Prince of Mournhold,” said

“因多瑞尔 布林迪西多隆姆，哀伤之城的公爵，”王子坐下来后，一个坐在他

the massively-built man next to him as he sat down.

旁边，身材肥胖的男人说。

“I recognize that the events of the last month suggest, at“关于上个月的那场袭击，我必须澄清一下，那支帝国军并不在我的控制之下，”

best, that the Imperial Army is not under my control,” said

王子叫来一杯酒后说道。“真相是，那支军队属于我的父亲。”

the Prince after ordering some wine. “This is true. The army is my father's.”

“I understood that the Emperor was going to be coming to

“我想皇帝应该也会到艾德兰贝斯去吧，”阿玛莱希雅说。

Ald Lambasi as well,” said Almalexia.

“Officially, he is,” said the Prince cautiously.

“表面上来说，是的，”王子谨慎地说。“实际上呢，他还在帝都。因为他不幸地

“Unofficially, he's still back in the Imperial City. He's

遭遇了一场意外的事故。”

met with an unfortunate accident.”

Vivec glanced the Duke quickly before looking at the Prince

维瓦克快速瞥了一眼公爵，然后又迅速将目光转向王子。“意外事故?”

“An accident?”

“He's fine,” said the Prince quickly. “He'll live, but it

“他很好，”王子快速回答道。“他还活着，但似乎会失去一只眼睛。那只是一次

looks like he'll lose an eye. It was an altercation that has nothing to do with the war. The only good news is that

和战争完全没有关系的争执。唯一的好消息是在他的恢复期间，我可以使用他的

while he recovers, I have the use of his seal. Any agreement

印章。在此时此地，任何我们所做的协议都会和帝国绑在一起，无论是在我父亲

we make here and now will be binding to the Empire, both

的统治下，还是我的统治下。”

in my father's reign and in mine.”

“Then let's start agreeing,” smiled Almalexia.

“那现在让我们好好谈谈这个协议的事情，”阿玛莱希雅轻轻勾起嘴角。

16 Last Seed, 2920, Wroth Naga, Cyrodiil

16th,末种，2920，狂暴娜迦，塞洛蒂尔

The tiny hamlet of Wroth Naga greeted Cassyr with its

在凯索的视线远处的海角上，坐落着狂暴娜迦的一个小村庄。华美的房屋向下

colorful houses perched on a promontory overlooking the

俯瞰着沃斯格里安平原和再远一点的高石。如果他现在的心情再好一点的话，这

stretch of the Wrothgarian mountain plain and High Rock beyond. Had he been in a better mood, the sight would have

景象定能让他感叹不已甚至忘了呼吸。现实是，他现在唯一的想法是，像这种规

been breathtaking. As it was, he could only think that in

模的小村庄只能给他和他的马匹提供一点点可怜的补给。

practical terms, a small village like this would have meager provisions for himself and his horse.

He rode down into the main square, where an inn called the

凯索一直骑到中心的广场中，停在一个名叫雄鹰之鸣的旅馆前。凯索将马匹交给

Eagle's Cry stood. Directing the stable boy to house and

马童并让他好好喂一喂它，然后走进旅馆，惊讶于屋内的气氛。一个他只在吉德

feed his horse, Cassyr walked into the inn and was surprised by its ambience. A minstrel he had heard play once in

戴尔见过一次的吟游诗人正在向当地居民演奏一首欢快的老调子。但很显然欢乐

Gilderdale was performing a jaunty old tune to the clapping of the mountain men. Such forced merriment was not what

的笑声并不适合这时候的凯索。一个阴沉忧郁的暗精灵女人坐在旅馆里唯一一张

Cassyr wanted at that moment. A glum Dunmer woman was seated

远离欢声笑语的桌子旁，所以他拿着他的杯子走到那里并坐在旁边，虽说他并没

at the only table far from the noise, so he took his drink

收到任何邀请。当凯索坐下来之后，他才注意到那个女人正抱着一个刚出生的婴

there and sat down without invitation. It was only when he

儿。

did so that he noticed that she was holding a newborn baby.

“I've just come from Morrowind,” he said rather awkwardly,

“我从晨风来的，”他相当笨拙地低声说道。“我曾为维瓦克和哀伤之城公爵同帝

lowering his voice. “I've been fighting for Vivec and the

国军队战斗过。我猜你会说我是个叛徒。”

Duke of Mournhold against the Imperial army. A traitor to my people, I guess you'd call me.”

“I am also a traitor to my people,” said the woman, holding

“如果真是这样，那我也是，”女人回答，举起她的手向凯索展示她手掌上的烙

up her hand which was scarred with a branded symbol. “It

印。“这个印记意味着我此生永不能回到我的家乡。”

means that I can never go back to my homeland.”

“Well, you're not thinking of staying here, are you?”

“好吧，我想你不会一直呆在这里，对吧?”凯索尴尬地笑了笑。“这听起来挺

laughed Cassyr. “It's certainly quaint, but come wintertide,

有趣的，但要是冬天来了，这里的雪能一直堆到你的眼睫毛那个高度。这对于一

there's going to be snow up to your eyelashes. It's no

个新生儿来讲可不是个好地方。她叫什么名字?”

place for a new baby. What is her name?”

“Bosriel. It means 'Beauty of the Forest.' Where are you

“波斯瑞尔。意思是‘森林中降生的美人’。你的目的地是哪里?”

going?”

“Dwynnen, on the bay in High Rock. You're welcome to join

“德温安，高石的一个海湾。你要一起来吗?我需要一个同行的伙伴。”凯索伸

me, I could use the company.” He held out his hand. “Cassyr

出他的手。“凯索 惠特利。”

Whitley.”

“Turala,” said the woman after a pause. She was going to

“特艾拉，”女人思考片刻后答道。她本来想说出她的姓氏，如往常一样，但

use her family's name first, as is tradition, but she

很快意识到那已经不再是她的名字了。“我很高兴能加入你，谢谢。”

realized that it was no longer her name. “I would love to accompany you, thank you.”

19 Last Seed, 2920, Ald Lambasi, Morrowind

19th，末种，2920，艾德兰贝斯，晨风

Five men and two women stood in the silence of the Great

五个男人和两个女人无声地站在城堡的大厅内，唯一的声音是羽毛笔在羊皮纸上

Room of the castle, the only sound the scrawl of quill on

摩擦的窸窣声以及雨滴打在大玻璃窗上的啪嗒声。当王子将塞洛蒂尔的印章盖在

parchment and the gentle tapping of rain on the large picture window. As the Prince set the seal of Cyrodiil on

文件上时，和平条约正式成立。哀伤之城公爵突然发出一声高兴的吼叫，叫来一

the document, the peace was made official. The Duke of Mournhold broke out in a roar of delight, ordering wine

些好酒来庆祝这场持续了八十年的战争的终结。

brought in to commemorate the end of eighty years of war.

Only Sotha Sil stood apart from the group. His face betrayed

只有索塔希尔站在欢呼的人群外，面无表情。那些最了解他的人都知道，他不

no emotion. Those who knew him best knew he did not believe

是那种相信开始或结束的人，他相信一切都只是不断循环的历史中的一环而已。

in endings or beginnings, but in the continuous cycle of which this was but a small part.

“My Prince,” said the castle steward, unhappy at breaking

“王子殿下，”城堡的管家说道，对于必须打断庆祝而有些闷闷不乐。“外面有一

the celebration. “There is a messenger here from your

个来自您母亲，也就是皇后那儿的信使。那个信使要求要面见您的父亲，但既然

mother, the Empress. He asked to see your father, but as

他没在这儿―”

he did not arrive --”

Juilek excused himself and went to speak with the messenger.

朱历克向众人告退然后走到外面跟信使谈话。

“The Empress does not live in the Imperial City?” asked

“难道皇后没住在帝都里吗?”维瓦克问。

Vivec.

“No,” said Almalexia, shaking her head sadly. “Her husband

“不，”阿玛莱希雅伤心地摇了摇头否定。“她的丈夫将她囚禁在黑沼泽那儿，因

has imprisoned her in Black Marsh, fearing that she was

为怀疑皇后正谋划一场针对他的革命。皇后很富裕且在科洛文西部地区有不少

plotting a revolution against him. She is extremely wealthy and has powerful allies in the western Colovian estates so

强大的盟友，所以皇帝不能另外再娶一个妻子或是将皇后处刑。这个僵局保持了

he could not marry another or have her executed. They've

十七年，而十七年前朱历克还只是个孩子。”

been at an impasse for the last seventeen years since Juilek was a child.”

The Prince returned a few minutes later. His face betrayed

王子几分钟后就回来了。脸上充满焦虑，虽然他尽力掩盖这种情绪。

his anxiety, though he took troubles to hide it.

“My mother needs me,” he said simply. “I'm afraid I must

“母亲需要我，”他直白地说道。“恐怕我现在就得离开。如果我可以拿走一份

leave at once. If I may have a copy of the treaty, I will

协议的备份，我就可以带上它然后让皇后明白我们今天做了个多明智的决定，接

bring it with me to show the Empress the good we have done

着我会将它带回帝都并尽量使它成为一份正式的文件。

today, and then I will carry it on to the Imperial City so it may be made official.”

Prince Juilek left with the fond farewells of the Three of

朱历克王子在晨风三神温柔的告别中离去。他们看着王子骑着马在大雨滂沱的夜

Morrowind. As they watched him ride out into the rainswept

色中向南方的黑沼泽前进，维瓦克突然说，“当他坐上王位之后，泰姆瑞尔必能

night south towards Black Marsh, Vivec said, “Tamriel will

恢复到之前的鼎盛状态。”

be much healed when he has the throne.”

31 Last Seed, 2920, Dorsza Pass, Black Marsh

31st，末种，2920，多斯扎帕斯，黑沼泽

The moon was rising over the desolate quarry, steaming with

苍白的月亮挂在荒凉的采石场上空，王子和他的两个随行护卫一走出森林就感觉

swamp gas from a particularly hot summer as the Prince and

到湿热的潮气混着沼气扑面而来。道路两边堆着大量泥土和粪便，看上去有些年

his two guard escort rode out of the forest. The massive

纪了，似乎是由一个早已灭绝的古老黑沼泽原始部落搭建而成，希望能以此将来

piles of earth and dung had been piled high in antiquity by some primitive, long-dead tribe of Black Marsh, hoping

自北方的邪恶力量隔绝出他们的领地。但很显然，最终这股邪恶力量还是侵蚀进

to keep out some evil from the north. Evidently, the evil

多斯扎帕斯，那条狰狞的，在泥墙上无情穿过的裂缝证明了这一点。

had broken through at Dorsza Pass, the large crack in the sad, lonely rampart that stretched for miles.

The black twisted trees that grew on the barrier cast

泥墙上长着一株株黑色的树，向地面投下扭曲的阴影，就像一团团交错杂乱的鸟

strange shadows down, like a net tangling. The Prince's

巢。王子的心神一直聚焦在他母亲语意模糊的信，似乎在暗示一个正在入侵的威

mind was on his mother's cryptic letter, hinting at the

胁。他不，当然，不能将这件事告诉暗精灵，至少先等到他获得更多信息并且通

threat of an invasion. He could not, of course, tell the Dunmer about it, at the very least until he knew more and

知过他的父亲再说。毕竟，这封信是写给父亲的。母亲在信中焦急的语气让他不

had notified his father. After all, the letter was meant

假思索地决定立刻赶往吉迪恩。

for him. It was its urgent tone that made him decide to go directly to Gideon.

The Empress had also warned him about a band of former

皇后同样也警告过他有一群曾经是奴隶的抢匪在这一带附近藏匿着。皇后建议他

slaves who attacked caravans going into Dorsza Pass. She advised him to be certain to make his Imperial shield

确保他持有的帝国盾牌能暴露在空气中，这样那群奴隶就能清楚王子并不是那些

visible, so they would know he was not one of the hated

可恨的暗精灵奴隶贩子中的一员。他们骑上一条长满高大野草的小路，从远处看

Dunmer slavers. Upon riding into the tall weeds that

去就像正在渡过一条充满毒水的河流，因为皇后在信里特意强调的建议，王子命

flooded through the pass like a noxious river, the Prince

令两个守卫高举起他们的帝国盾牌。

ordered that his shield be displayed.

“I can see why the slaves use this,” said the Prince's

“我总算了解为什么这群奴隶驻守在这里，”王子的队长说道。“这真是一个

captain. “It's an excellent location for an ambush.”

适合埋伏的地点。”

Juilek nodded his head, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

朱历克点了点头表示同意，但他的思想又溜到别的地方去了。皇后发现了什么威

What threat of invasion could the Empress have discovered?

胁呢?是亚龙人又出现在海岸边了吗?如果是的话，他那正囚禁在吉奥维斯城堡

Were the Akaviri on the seas again? If so, how could his

牢房里的母亲又怎么会发现这一点呢?突然，一阵野草丛中的沙沙声以及他背后

mother from her cell in Castle Giovese know of it? A rustle

的喊叫声打断了王子的沉思。

in the weeds and a single sharp human cry behind him interrupted his ponderings.

Turning around, the Prince discovered that he was alone.

向四周看了看，王子发现周围只剩下他一个人，他的守卫都人间蒸发了。

His escort had vanished.

The Prince peered over the stretch of the moonlit sea of

王子凝视着月光下的野草海，夜晚的凉风吹过小径，使得野草以一种催人入眠的

grass which waved in almost hypnotic patterns to the ebb

节奏潮起潮落。在这种野草地上，不可能发现两个士兵奄奄一息的踪影，就算

and flow of the night wind billowing through the pass. It

还有一具体积庞大的马尸。不断呼啸的大风也能遮盖住受害者能发出的任何喊叫

was impossible to tell if a struggling soldier was beneath

声或求救声。

this system of vibrations, a dying horse behind another. A high, whistling wind drowned out any sound the victims of the ambush might be making.

Juilek drew his sword, and thought about what to do, his

朱历克拔出他的剑，努力思考接下来该怎么做，他正努力不让他的心因为恐惧跳

mind willing his heart not to panic. He was closer to the

得太快。他现在所处的位置离小路的出口比入口要近。那个杀了他的守卫的

exit of the pass than the entrance. Whatever had slain his

东西一定落后于他。如果他骑得够快，说不定他能逃脱出来。他拉起缰绳，用剑

escort must have been behind him. If he rode fast enough,

背拍了拍坐骑，鼓励他的马匹开始狂奔，向着被巨大屏障所遮掩的山峰跑去。

perhaps he could outrun it. Spurring his horse to gallop, he charged for the hills ahead, framed by the mighty black piles of dirt.

When he was thrown, it happened so suddenly, he was hurdling

一切都发生得太突然了，瞬间王子被扔下了马，他在半空中才意识到发生了什么。

forward before he was truly conscious of the fact. He landed

紧接着落到离他的马几码远的地方，他的肩膀和背似乎因为大力冲撞而骨折了。

several yards beyond where his horse had fallen, breaking his shoulder and his back on impact. A numbness washed over

他麻木地盯着前面奄奄一息的坐骑，这个马匹的腹部被几根长矛粗鲁地刨开。

him as he stared at his poor, dying steed, its belly sliced open by one of several spears jutting up just below the surface of the grass.

Prince Juilek was not able to turn and face the figure that

朱历克王子甚至还来不及转头来面对来自草丛的危险，也不被允许挥动利剑来保

emerged from the grass, nor able to move to defend himself.

卫自己的生命。他的喉咙一下子就被随意地割开了。

His throat was cut without ceremony.

Miramor cursed when he saw the face of his victim more

米拉莫在月光下看清了受害者的脸后咒骂了一声。他在博得朗姆战役中曾服从过

clearly in the moonlight. He had seen the Emperor at the

他的陛下的指令，也因此曾看过皇帝一眼，而眼前这个已经咽气的人很明显不是

Battle of Bodrum when he had fought in His Imperial Majesty's command, and this was clearly not the Emperor.

那个年老力衰的皇帝。米拉莫搜了搜尸体，他找到了一封信以及一张晨风代表维

Searching the body, he found the letter and a treaty signed

瓦克，阿玛莱希雅，索塔希尔以及哀伤之城公爵，塞洛蒂尔帝国代表朱历克王

by Vivec, Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and the Duke of Mournhold

子签署过的协议。

representing Morrowind and the Prince Juilek Cyrodiil, representing the Cyrodiil Empire.

“Curse my luck,” muttered Miramor to himself and the

“倒霉透顶，”米拉莫对着窸窣作响的草丛喃喃道。“我只杀了个王子。奖金全没

whispering grass. “I've only killed a Prince. Where's the

了。”

reward in that?”

Miramor destroyed the letter, as Zuuk had instructed him

米拉莫根据祖克的吩咐几下撕毁了信件，然后又将那份协议放入衣袋。至少这么

to do, and pocketed the treaty. At the very least, such a

稀少的东西总该有些市场价值吧。紧接着他取消了那些陷阱，同时思考他接下来

curiosity would have some market value. He disassembled the

该怎么做。回到吉迪恩找那个雇佣者要一点奖金为他至少杀掉继承人的行为?

traps as he pondered his next step. Return to Gideon and ask his employer for a lesser reward for killing the heir? Move on to other lands? At the very least, he considered,

或是远走他乡，在这附近销声匿迹?至少，米拉莫想道，他在博得朗姆战役中学

he had picked up two useful skills from the Battle of Bodrum.

到了两个十分有用的技能。从暗精灵那儿，他学会了如何制作尖刺长矛陷阱。

From the Dunmer, he had learned the excellent spear trap. And abandoning the Imperial army, he had learned how to

而从帝国军那里，他学会了如何在草丛中消隐自己的身影。

skulk in the grass.

The Year is Continued in Hearth Fire.

这一年会在‘炉火’中继续。

Locations：

Hag Rock Redoubt Ruin (The Reach), over the table.

女巫岩石堡垒废墟(马卡斯领地)，在桌子上。

Raldbthar (The Pale), near Alain Dufont.

拉德法尔(矮人遗迹，风盔城西南西)，在阿兰达方特(人名，强盗头目)

Redoran's Retreat (Whiterun Hold), on a crate in the back cavern.

雷德兰的休息所(雪漫领地)，在后面山洞的板条箱上。

480 ft E of Stendarr's Beacon (The Rift), next to a bed

斯腾达灯塔往东480尺(裂谷城领地)，在一个睡袋旁边。

roll.

Skill: Sneak

提升潜行能力