精灵血脉四部曲-第11部分

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voiding　each　other。

〃It's　the　boy；〃　Bruenor　told　him；　noticing　his　interest。

〃He　did　not　think　a　woman　should　be　at　the　battle；〃　Drizzt　replied。

〃Bah！〃　snorted　the　red…bearded　dwarf。　〃She's　as　fine　a　fighter　as　we've　got。　Besides；　five　dozen　dwarf　women　came　along；　and　two　of　'em　even　got　killed。〃

Drizzt's　face　twisted　with　surprise　as　he　regarded　the　dwarf　king。　He　shook　his　white　shock　of　hair　helplessly　and　started　away　to　join　Catti…brie；　but　stopped　and　looked　back　after　only　a　few　steps；　shaking　his　head　yet　again。

〃Five　dozen　of　'em；〃　Bruenor　reiterated　into　his　doubting　expression。　〃Dwarf　women；　I　tell　ye。〃

〃My　friend；〃　Drizzt　answered；　moving　off　once　more；　〃I　never　could　tell　the　difference。〃



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Coble’s　forces　joined　the　other　dwarves　two　hours　later；　reporting　rear　areas　clear　of　enemies。　The　rout　was　plete；　as　fare　as　Bruenor　and　his　manders　could　discern；　with　not　a　single　enemy　left　alive。

Non　of　the　dwarven　forces　had　noticed　the　slender；　dark　forms…　dark　elves；　Jarlaxle’s　spies　–　floating　among　the　stalactites　near　critical　areas　of　the　battle；　watching　the　dwarven　movements　and　battle　techniques　with　more　than　passive　interest。

The　goblin　threat　was　ended；　but　that　was　the　least　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer’s　problems。



Chapter　5

Ye　of　Little　Faith



Dinin　watched　Vierna's　every　move；　watched　how　his　sister　went　through　the　precise　rituals　I　to　honor　the　Spider　Queen。　The　drow　were　in　a　Ismail　chapel　Jarlaxle　had　secured　for　Vierna's　use　in　one　of　the　minor　houses　of　Menzoberranzan。　Dinin　remained　faithful　to　the　dark　deity　Lloth　and　willingly　had　agreed　to　acpany　Vierna　to　her　prayers　this　day；　but；　in　truth；　the　male　drow　thought　the　whole　thing　a　senseless　facade；　thought　his　sister　a　ridiculous　mockery　of　her　former　self。

〃You　should　not　be　so　doubting；〃　Vierna　remarked　to　him；　still　going　about　her　ritual　and　not　bothering　to　look　over　her　shoulder　to　regard　Dinin。

At　the　sound　of　Dinin's　disgusted　sigh；　though；　Vierna　did　spin　about；　an　angry　red　glower　in　her　narrow…set　eyes。

〃What　is　the　purpose？〃　Dinin　demanded；　facing　her　wrath　bravely。　Even　if　she　was　out　of　Lloth's　favor；　as　Dinin　stubbornly　believed；　Vierna　was　larger　and　stronger　than　he　and　armed　with　some　clerical　magic。　He　gritted　his　teeth；　firmed　his　resolve；　and　did　not　back　down；　fearful　that　Vierna's　mounting　obsession　again　would　lead　those　around　him　down　a　path　to　destruction。

In　answer；　Vierna　produced　a　curious　whip　from　under　the　folds　of　her　clerical　robes。　While　its　handle　was　unremarkable　black　adamantite；　the　instrument's　five　tendrils　were　writhing；　living　snakes。　Dinin's　eyes　widened；　he　understood　the　weapon's　significance。

〃Lloth　does　not　allow　any　but　her　high　priestesses　to　wield　these；〃　Vierna　reminded　him；　affectionately　petting　the　heads。

〃But　we　lost　favor　。。。〃　Dinin　started　to　protest；　but　it　was　a　lame　argument　in　the　face　of　Vierna's　demonstration。

Vierna　eyed　him　and　laughed　evilly；　almost　purred；　as　she　bent　to　kiss　one　of　the　heads。

〃Then　why　go　after　Drizzt？〃　Dinin　asked　her。　〃You　have　regained　the　favor　of　Lloth。　Why　risk　everything　chasing　our　traitorous　brother？〃

〃That　is　how　I　regained　the　favor！〃　Vierna　screamed　at　him。　She　advanced　a　step；　and　Dinin　wisely　backed　away。　He　remembered　his　younger　days　at　House　Do'Urden；　when　Briza；　his　oldest　and　most　vicious　sister；　often　tortured　him　with　one　of　those　dreaded；　snake…headed　whips。

Vierna　calmed　immediately；　though；　and　looked　back　to　her　dark；　（both　live　and　sculpted）　spider…covered　altar。　〃Our　family　fell　because　of　Matron　Malice's　weakness；〃　she　explained。　〃Malice　failed　in　the　most　important　task　Lloth　ever　gave　her。〃

〃To　kill　Drizzt；〃　Dinin　reasoned。

〃Yes；〃　Vierna　said　simply；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder　to　regard　her　brother。　〃To　kill　Drizzt；　wretched；　traitorous　Drizzt。　I　have　promised　his　heart　to　Lloth；　have　promised　to　right　the　family's　wrong；　so　that　we—you　and　I—might　regain　the　favor　of　our　goddess。〃

〃To　what　end？〃　Dinin　had　to　ask；　looking　around　the　unremarkable　chapel　with　obvious　scorn。　〃Our　house　is　no　more。　The　name　of　Do'Urden　cannot　be　spoken　anywhere　in　the　city。　What　will　be　the　gain　if　we　again　find　Lloth's　favor？　You　will　be　a　high　priestess；　and　for　that　I　am　glad；　but　you　will　have　no　house　over　which　to　preside。〃

〃But　I　will！〃　Vierna　retorted；　her　eyes　flashing。　〃I　am　a　surviving　noble　of　a　destroyed　house；　as　are　you；　my　brother。　We　have　all　the　Rights　of　Accusation。〃

Dinin's　eyes　went　wide。　Vierna　was　technically　correct；　the　Rights　of　Accusation　was　a　privilege　reserved　for　surviving　noble　children　of　destroyed　houses；　wherein　the　children　named　their　attackers　and　thus　brought　the　weight　of　drow　justice　upon　the　guilty　party。　In　the　continuing　back…room　intrigue　of　chaotic　Menzoberranzan；　though；　justice　was　selectively　meted　out。

〃Accusation？〃　Dinin　stammered；　barely　able　to　get　the　word　out　of　his　suddenly　dry　mouth。　〃Have　you　forgotten　which　house　it　was　that　destroyed　our　own？〃

〃It　is　all　the　sweeter；〃　purred　his　stubborn　sister。

〃Baenre！〃　Dinin　cried。　〃House　Baenre；　First　House　of　Menzoberranzan！　You　cannot　speak　against　Baenre。　No　house；　alone　or　in　alliance；　will　move　against　them；　and　Matron　Baenre　controls　the　Academy。　Where　will　your　force　of　justice　be　garnered？

〃And　what　of　Bregan　D'aerthe？〃　Dinin　reminded　her。　〃The　very　band　of　mercenaries　that　took　us　in　helped　defeat　our　house。〃　Dinin　stopped　abruptly；　considering　his　own　words；　ever　amazed　by　the　paradox；　the　cruel　irony；　of　drow　society。

〃You　are　a　male　and　cannot　understand　the　beauty　of　Lloth；〃　Vierna　replied。　〃Our　goddess　feeds　from　this　chaos；　considers　this　situation　all　the　sweeter　simply　because　of　the　many　furious　ironies。〃

〃The　city　will　not　wage　war　against　House　Baenre；〃　Dinin　said　flatly。

〃It　will　never　e　to　that！〃　Vierna　snapped　back；　and　again　came　that　wild　flash　in　her　red…glowing　orbs。　〃Matron　Baenre　is　old；　my　brother。　Her　time　has　long　past。　When　Drizzt　is　dead；　as　the　Spider　Queen　demands；　I　will　be　granted　an　audience　in　House　Baenre；　wherein　I。。。　we　will　make　our　accusation。〃

〃Then　we　will　be　fed　to　Baenre's　goblin　slaves；〃　Dinin　replied　dryly。

〃Matron　Baenre's　own　daughters　will　force　her　out　so　that　the　house　might　regain　the　Spider　Queen's　favor；〃　the　excited　Vierna　went　on；　ignoring　her　doubting　brother。　〃To　that　end；　they　will　place　me　in　control。〃

Dinin　could　hardly　find　the　words　to　rebut　Vierna's　preposterous　claims。

〃Think　of　it；　my　brother；〃　Vierna　went　on。　〃Envision　yourself　standing　beside　me　as　I　preside　over　the　First　House　of　Menzoberranzan！〃

〃Lloth　has　promised　this　to　you？〃

〃Through　Triel；〃　Vierna　replied；　〃Matron　Baenre's　oldest　daughter；　herself　Matron　Mistress　of　the　Academy。〃

Dinin　was　beginning　to　catch　on。　If　Triel；　much　more　powerful　than　Vierna；　meant　to　replace　her　admittedly　ancient　mother；　she　certainly　would　claim　the　throne　of　House　Baenre　for　herself；　or　at　least　allow　one　of　her　many　worthy　sisters　to　take　the　seat。　Dinin's　doubts　were　obvious　as　he　half…sat　on　one　bench；　crossing　his　arms　in　front　of　him　and　shaking　his　head　slowly；　back　and　forth。

〃I　have　no　room　for　disbelievers　in　my　entourage；〃　Vierna　warned。

〃Your　entourage？〃　Dinin　replied。

〃Bregan　D'aerthe　is　but　a　tool；　provided　to　me　so　that　I　might　please　the　goddess；〃　Vierna　explained　without　hesitation。

〃You　are　insane；〃　Dinin　said　before　he　could　find　the　wisdom　to　keep　the　thought　to　himself。　To　his　relief；　though；　Vierna　did　not　advance　toward　him。

〃You　shall　regret　those　sacrilegious　words　when　our　traitorous　Drizzt　is　given　to　Lloth；〃　the　priestess　promised。

〃You'll　never　get　near　our　brother；〃　Dinin　replied　sharply；　his　memories　of　his　previous　disastrous　encounter　with　Drizzt　still　painfully　clear。　〃And　I'll　not　go　along　with　you　to　the　surface—not　against　that　demon。　He　is　powerful；　Vierna；　mightier　than　you　can　imagine。〃

〃Silence！〃　The　word　carried　magical　weight；　and　Dinin　found　his　next　planned　protests　stuck　in　his　throat。

〃Mightier？〃　Vierna　scoffed　a　moment　later。　〃What　do　you　know　of　power；　impotent　male？〃　A　wry　smile　crossed　her　face；　an　expression　that　made　Dinin　squirm　in　his　seat。　〃e　with　me；　doubting　Dinin；〃　Vierna　bade。　She　started　for　a　side　door　in　the　small　chapel；　but　Dinin　made　no　move　to　follow。

〃e！〃　Vierna　manded；　and　Dinin　found　his　legs　moving　under　him；　found　himself　leaving　the　single　stalagmite　mound　of　the　lesser　house；　then　leaving　Menzoberranzan　altogether；　faithfully　following　his　insane　sister's　every　step。



*　*　*　*　*



As　soon　as　the　two　Do'Urdens　walked　from　view；　Jarlaxle　lowered　the　curtain　in　front　of　his　scrying　mirror；　dispelling　the　image　of　the　small　chapel。　He　thought　he　should　speak　with　Dinin　soon；　to　warn　the　obstinate　fighter　of　the　consequences　he　might　face。　Jarlaxle　honestly　liked　Dinin　and　knew　that　the　drow　was　heading　for　disaster。

〃You　have　baited　her　well；〃　the　mercenary　remarked　to　the　priestess　standing　beside　him；　giving　her　a　devious　wink　with　his　left　eye—the　uncovered　one　this　day。

The　female；　shorter　than　Jarlaxle　but　carrying　herself　with　an　undeniable　strength；　snarled　at　the　mercenary；　her　contempt　obvious。

〃My　dear　Triel；〃　Jarlaxle　cooed。

〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　Triel　Baenre　warned；　〃or　I　will　tear　it　out　and　give　it　to　you；　that　you　might　hold　it　in　your　hand。〃

Jarlaxle　shrugged　and　wisely　shifted　the　conversation　back　to　the　business　at　hand。　〃Vierna　believes　your　claim；〃　he　remarked。

〃Vierna　is　desperate；〃　Triel　Baenre　replied。

〃She　would　have　gone　after　Drizzt　on　the　simple　promise　that　you　would　take　her　into　your　family；〃　the　mercenary　reasoned；　〃but　to　bait　her　with　delusions　of　replacing　Matron　Baenre。。。〃

〃The　greater　the　prize；　the　greater　Vierna's　motivation；〃　Triel　replied　calmly。　〃It　is　important　to　my　mother　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　be　given　to　Lloth。　Let　the　fool　Do'Urden　priestess　think　what　she　will。〃

〃Agreed；〃　Jarlaxle　said　with　a　nod。　〃Has　House　Baenre　prepared　the　escort？〃

〃A　score　and　a　half　will　slip　out　beside　the　fighters　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；〃　Triel　replied。　〃They　are　only　males；〃　she　added　derisively；　〃and　expendable。〃　The　first　daughter　of　House　Baenre　cocked