Well, if the icy wind and brooding skies weren’t enough of a clue, Mondstille’s upon us, and the end of the year close behind. Of course, some say the end of the world’s looming as well, but they always do around this time. Something about being forced to spend more time with their families, I reckon. Never understood it myself.
要是那拧着眉毛的阴郁天色，裹挟着刺骨的寒风都没把你吹明白，那我告诉你吧，冬静节①撵上来了，年关也跟着要到咯。当然啦，也有人说终焉之日将近，但他们每年都这么说。我看说这话的多半是被逼着跟一家老小多处了几天给憋的，好在我不用遭这个罪。
We’ve had a sizeable pack of wolves take up residence on the mountainside south of the keep. I tell you, I’ve heard a lot and seen more, but their howls still send a shiver along my spine. Right nasty bunch these wolves are too, with a scar-faced leader who looks like he’s got a nasty bit of cleverness hiding in his noggin. One of Ulric’s own, I shouldn’t imagine. If ever there was a god who liked reminding everyone that he’s the big cheese, it’s Ulric, and he probably reckons we’ve been getting a bit uppity of late.
最近一大波狼群在塔尔之角南面的山坡上落了户。我跟你讲，像你洛爷我这样见多识广的人，听它们嚎起来也还得背脊发凉。
那群畜生就不是好相与的，尤其那只疤脸的头狼，一看就没憋什么好屁，你说它是尤里克养的我都信。尤里克不是老喜欢提醒人们他才是老大嘛，八成是他觉得咱们最近有点蹬鼻子上脸。
After the lurking lupines (as distinct to lupins, which are no bother to anyone, really) ate that messenger boy … poor lad … our old Kruber decided to resurrect an old Mondstille tradition. He’s been hunting ‘em down, skinning ‘em and nailing their pelts to fence, beam and signpost to warn off the survivors, and to let old Ulric know that we’re not about to let his furry children take liberties around Taal’s Horn Keep, thank you very much.
Never seen Kruber so happy, if I’m honest. I think it’s something to do with the fact that, for once, he’s not engaged in a life or death struggle with something unbelievably ghastly. It’s just man versus nature, and man’s bloody to the elbows. Then again, I’d be a bit cheerier myself if Kruber hadn’t taken to wearing the spare pelts and living out in the wilds. Worse, he keeps giving the wolf meat to Bardin, and we all remember ‘Stewed Fox Surprise’ well enough to know how that’s going to play out.
说实话，我还没见克鲁伯这么开心过。我琢磨着，比起跟混沌、斯卡文鼠人搏命，干回老本行肯定更开心。
这可是人与自然的战斗，斗得克鲁伯浑身浴血——全是狼的。
话说回来，要不是克鲁伯开始披着狼皮直接把荒野当家，我还能跟着他高兴那么一点。
更糟的是，他一个劲儿把狼肉往巴丁那儿送——当初吃了巴丁牌“谜狐一锅炖”的下场我们都还记忆犹新。这次轮到狼肉了，接下来是个什么光景我都不敢想。
Still, I think the end’s in sight. Scar-Face is about the only wolf left now, and Kerillian’s insisted on joining the hunt to – and I quote – ‘put the lumbering brute out of his misery once and for all’.
不过，这事儿也快到头了。眼下就只剩刀疤脸这只头狼了，凯瑞莲还非要加入这场狩猎，她说什么“让那个笨手笨脚的畜森册底解脱，一了百了”④。
I don’t think she means Kruber, but I’ve learned it’s best not to make assumptions where our elf is concerned. I might ask Sienna to tag along, just for safety.
她……不会是在说克鲁伯吧？我早就学乖了，精灵的心思你别猜。
不行，我还是让西耶娜跟着去一趟，保险起见……吧。
