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1、AbouttheAuthorALISONSINCLAIRistheauthorofthesciencefictionnovelsLegacies,Blueheart,andCavalcade(whichwasnominatedfortheArthurC.Clarkeaward).Darkbornisherfirstfantasynovel,whichbeganwithameditationonthelight-darkmotifasitisusedinfantasy,metupwithyearsofeclecticreadingand
2、citiesrememberedandimagined,andtookflightindirectionsalmostasunexpectedtothewriterastothecharacters.AlisonSinclairpresentlylivesinMontréal,wheresheisworkingonthesequelstoDarkborn.OneBalthasarTheknockonBalthasar’sdoorcameasthebelltolledsunrise.ForImogene’sDarkborn,itwast
3、hehourofcriminalsandsuicides,thehourofviolenceordesperation.InthiscivilizedcityofMinhorne,theancientlawofsuccorwashalfforgotten,andmanymightnothaveopenedthedoortoanunknown’sknockatthebrinkofdawn.BalthasarHearnewasnotoneofthose;hehurriedtothedoorandpulleditopen,heavyasit
4、was.Onthestepstoodalonewomanmuffledinathicktravelingcloak.Hesonnednocarriageatherback,nolivingmovementwithinhisrangeexcepttwocatsandasmallindistinctflutteringofbirds.Thisclosetosunrisethestreetwasquitedeserted.“Formercy’ssake,”thewomanbeggedbreathlessly,“letmein.”Hecoul
5、dalreadyfeelthestingofimminentdaylightonhisskin.Hesteppedbackandshestumbledheavilyoverthethreshold,pullingawayfromhissteadyinghandandfetchingupagainstthelittlehalltable.“Oh,sweetImogene.”Shepanted,leaninghardonitwithbothhands.“IthoughtIwouldneverreachhereintime.Ithought
6、Imustsurelyburn.”Heshutandlockedthedooragainsttheday.Therewasnothingelsetodo.Leftoutside,shewouldburntoashinaninstantatsunrise,aswouldhe.ThatwastheDarkborn’slegacyofArchmageImogene’sCurse.Herheavycloakhadsnaggedandwasdraggingoneoftheornamentsonthetable,andBalreachedouta
7、ndfreeditbeforeitfell.Itwasoneofhiswife’sfavorites,ahorsewithitsfoalpressedtoitsflank.Hehelditcradledinhishandsasthewomanstraightenedwithaneffortandturnedtofacehim.Hefelthersonnsweepoverhim,shapinghimforherperception:aplain,slendermanalittlebelowaverageheight,decentlybu
8、tnotfashionablydressed.Certainlynotasbefittedthehusbandofaduke’sdaughter,ifsheknewwhomshefaced.Hereturnedtheso