精灵血脉四部曲-第129部分

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　　　Across　the　table　from　Drizzt　stood　a　short；　stout　dwarf；　Buster　Bracer；　the　noted　armorer；　the　one；　in　fact；　who　had　forged　Drizzt's　own　supple　chain　mail；　back　in　Icewind　Dale。　Drizzt　didn't　dare　greet　the　dwarf　now；　fearing　to　upset　his　obvious　concentration。　Buster　stood　with　his　feet　wide　apart。　Every　so　often；　he　took　an　exaggerated　breath；　then　held　perfectly　steady；　for　in　his　hands；　wrapped　in　wetted　cloth　of　the　finest　material；　he　held。。。　eyeballs。

　　　Drizzt　had　no　idea　of　what　was　going　on　until　a　voice；　a　familiar；　bubbly　voice；　startled　him　from　his　shock。

　　　〃Greetings；　O　One　of　the　Midnight　Skin！〃　the　disembodied　wizard　said　happily。

　　　〃Harkle　Harpell？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　〃Could　it　be　anyone　else？〃　Regis　remarked　dryly。

　　　Drizzt　conceded　the　point。　〃What　is　this　about？〃　he　asked；　pointedly　looking　toward　the　halfling；　for　he　knew　that　any　answer　from　Harkle　would　likely　shed　more　dimness　on　the　blurry　situation。

　　　Regis　lifted　the　mixing　bowl　a　bit。　〃A　poultice　from　Silverymoon；〃　he　explained　hopefully。　〃Harkle　has　overseen　its　mixing。〃

　　　〃Overseen；〃　the　absent　mage　joked；　〃which　means　they　held　my　eyes　over　the　bowl！〃

　　　Drizzt　didn't　manage　a　smile；　not　with　the　head　of　the　all…important　figurine　still　lying　at　the　sculpted　body's　feet。

　　　Regis　snickered；　more　in　disdain　than　humor。　〃It　should　be　ready；〃　he　explained。　〃But　I　wanted　you　to　apply　it。〃

　　　〃Drow　fingers　are　so　dexterous！〃　Harkle　piped　in。

　　　〃Where　are　you？〃　Drizzt　demanded；　impatient　and　unnerved　by　the　outrageous　arrangement。

　　　Harkle　blinked；　those　eyelids　appearing　from　thin　air。　〃In　Nesme；〃　he　mage　replied。　〃We　will　be　passing　north　of　the　Trollmoors　soon。〃

　　　〃And　then　to　Mithril　Hall；　where　you　will　be　reunited　with　your　eyes；〃　Drizzt　said。

　　　〃I　am　looking　forward　to　it！〃　Harkle　roared；　but　again　he　laughed　alone。

　　　〃He　keeps　that　up　and　I'm　throwin'　the　damned　eyes　into　me　forge；〃　Buster　Bracer　growled。

　　　Regis　placed　the　bowl　on　the　table　and　retrieved　a　tiny　metal　tool。　〃You'll　not　need　much　of　the　poultice；〃　the　halfling　said　as　he　handed　the　delicate　instrument　to　Drizzt。　〃And　Harkle　has　warned　us　to　try　to　keep　the　mixture　on　the　outside　of　the　joined　pieces。〃

　　　〃It　is　only　a　glue；〃　the　mage's　voice　added。　〃The　magic　of　the　figurine　will　be　the　force　that　truly　makes　the　item　whole。　The　poultice　will　have　to　be　scraped　away　in　a　few　day's　time。　If　it　works　as　planned；　the　figurine　will　be。。。〃　He　paused；　searching　for　the　word。　〃Will　be　healed；〃　he　finished。

　　　〃If　it　works；〃　Drizzt　echoed。　He　took　a　moment　to　feel　the　delicate　instrument　in　his　hands；　making　sure　that　the　burns　he　had　received　when　the　figurine's　magic　had　gone　awry　were　healed；　making　sure　that　he　could　feel　the　item　perfectly。

　　　〃It　will　work；〃　Regis　assured。

　　　Drizzt　took　a　deep；　steadying　breath　and　picked　up　the　panther　head。　He　stared　into　the　sculpted　eyes；　so　much　like　Guenhwyvar's　own　knowing　orbs。　With　all　the　care　of　a　parent　tending　its　child；　Drizzt　placed　the　head　against　the　body　and　began　the　painstaking　task　of　spreading　the　gluelike　poultice　about　its　perimeter。

　　　More　than　two　hours　passed　before　Drizzt　and　Regis　exited　the　room；　moving　into　the　audience　hall　where　Bruenor　was　still　meeting　with　Lady　Alustriel's　emissary　and　several　other　dwarves。

　　　Bruenor　did　not　appear　happy；　but　Drizzt　noted　he　seemed　more　at　ease　than　he　had　since　the　onset　of　this　strange　time。

　　　〃It　ain't　a　trick　o'　the　drow；〃　the　dwarf　king　said　as　soon　as　Drizzt　and　Regis　approached。　〃Or　the　damned　drow　are　more　powerful　than　anyone　ever　thought！　It's　all　the　world；　so　says　Alustriel。〃

　　　〃Lady　Alustriel；〃　corrected　the　emissary；　a　very　tidy…looking　dwarf　dressed　in　flowing　white　robes　and　with　a　short　and　neatly　trimmed　beard。

　　　〃My　greetings；　Fredegar；〃　Drizzt　said；　recognizing　Fredegar　Rockcrusher；　better　known　as　Fret；　Lady　Alustriel's　favored　bard　and　advisor。　〃So　at　last　you　have　found　the　opportunity　to　see　the　wonders　of　Mithril　Hall。〃

　　　〃Would　that　the　times　were　better；〃　Fret　answered　glumly。

　　　〃Pray　tell　me；　how　fares　Catti…brie？〃

　　　〃She　is　well；〃　Drizzt　answered。　He　smiled　as　he　thought　of　the　young　woman；　who　had　returned　to　Settlestone　to　convey　some　information　from　Bruenor。

　　　〃It　ain't　a　trick　o'　the　drow；〃　Bruenor　said　again；　more　emphatically；　making　it　clear　that　he　didn't　consider　this　the　proper　time　and　place　for　such　light　and　meaningless　conversation。

　　　Drizzt　nodded　his　agreement梙e　had　been　assuring　Bruenor　that　his　people　were　not　involved　all　along。　〃Whatever　has　happened；　it　has　rendered　Regis's　ruby　useless；〃　the　drow　said。　He　reached　over　and　lifted　the　pendant　from　the　halfling's　chest。　〃Now　it　is　but　a　plain；　though　undeniably　beautiful；　stone。　And　the　unknown　force　has　affected　Guenhwyvar；　and　reached　all　the　way　to　the　Harpells。　No　magic　of　the　drow　is　this　powerful；　else　they　would　have　long　ago　conquered　the　surface　world。〃

　　　〃Something　new？〃　Bruenor　asked。

　　　〃The　effects　have　been　felt　for　several　weeks　now；〃　Fret　interjected。　〃Though　only　in　the　last　couple　of　weeks　has　magic　bee　so　totally　unpredictable　and　dangerous。〃

　　　Bruenor；　never　one　to　care　much　for　magic；　snorted　loudly。

　　　〃It's　a　good　thing；　then！〃　he　decided。　〃The　damned　drow're　more　needin'　magic　than　are　me　own　folk；　or　the　men　o'　Settlestone！　Let　all　the　magic　drain　away；　I'm　sayin'；　and　then　let　the　drow　e　on　and　play！〃

　　　Thibbledorf　Pwent　nearly　jumped　out　of　his　boots　at　that　thought。　He　leaped　over　to　stand　before　Bruenor　and　Fret；　and　slapped　one　of　his　dirty；　smelly　hands　across　the　tidy　dwarf's　back。　Few　things　could　calm　an　excited　battlerager；　but　Fret's　horrified；　then　outraged；　look　did　just　that；　surprising　Pwent　pletely。

　　　〃What？〃　the　battlerager　demanded。

　　　〃If　you　ever　touch　me　again；　I　will　crush　your　skull；〃　Fret；　who　wasn't　half　the　size　of　powerful　Pwent；　promised　in　an　even　tone；　and　for　some　inexplicable　reason；　Pwent　believed　him　and　backed　off　a　step。

　　　Drizzt；　who　knew　tidy　Fret　quite　well　from　his　many　visits　to　Silverymoon；　understood　that　Fret　couldn't　stand　ten　seconds　in　a　fight　against　Pwent梪nless　the　confrontation　centered　around　dirt。　In　that　instance；　with　Pwent　messing　up　Fret's　meticulous　grooming；　Drizzt　would　put　all　of　his　money　on　Fret；　as　sure　a　bet　as　the　drow　would　ever　know。

　　　It　wasn't　an　issue；　though；　for　Pwent；　boisterous　as　he　was；　would　never　do　anything　against　Bruenor；　and　Bruenor　obviously　wanted　no　trouble　with　an　emissary；　particularly　a　dwarven　emissary　from　friendly　Silverymoon。　Indeed；　all　in　the　room　had　a　good　laugh　at　the　confrontation；　and　all　seemed　more　relaxed　at　the　realization　that　these　strange　events　were　not　connected　to　the　mysterious　dark　elves。

　　　All　except　for　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　Drizzt　would　not　relax　until　the　figurine　was　repaired；　its　magic　restored；　and　poor　Guenhwyvar　could　return　to　her　home　on　the　Astral　Plane。



Chapter　10

THE　THIRD　HOUSE



　　　It　wasn't　that　Jarlaxle；　who　always　thought　ahead　of　others；　hadn't　been　expecting　the　visit；　it　was　simply　the　ease　with　which　K'yorl　Odran　entered　his　camp；　slipped　past　his　guards　and　walked　right　through　the　wall　of　his　private　chambers；　that　so　unnerved　him。　He　saw　her　ghostly　outline　enter　and　fought　hard　to　pose　himself　as　she　became　more　substantial　and　more　threatening。

　　　〃I　had　expected　you　would　e　many　days　ago；〃　Jarlaxle　said　calmly。

　　　〃Is　this　the　proper　greeting　for　a　matron　mother？〃　K'yorl　asked。　Jarlaxle　almost　laughed；　until　he　considered　the　female's　stance。　Too　at　ease；　he　decided；　too　ready　to　punish；　even　to　kill。　K'yorl　did　not　understand　the　value　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；　apparently；　and　that　left　Jarlaxle；　the　master　of　bluff　and　the　player　of　intrigue；　at　somewhat　of　a　disadvantage。

　　　He　came　up　from　his　fortable　chair；　stepped　out　from　behind　his　desk；　and　gave　a　low　bow；　pulling　his　wide…brimmed　and　outrageously　plumed　hat　from　his　head　and　sweeping　it　across　the　floor。　〃My　greetings；　K'yorl　Odran；　Matron　Mother　of　House　Oblodra；　Third　House　of　Menzoberranzan。　Not　often　has　my　humble　home　been　so　graced。。。〃

　　　〃Enough；〃　K'yorl　spat；　and　Jarlaxle　came　up　and　replaced　the　hat。　Never　taking　his　gaze　from　the　female；　never　blinking；　the　mercenary　went　back　to　his　chair　and　flopped　down　fortably；　putting　both　his　boots　atop　his　desk　with　a　resounding　slam。

　　　It　was　then　Jarlaxle　felt　the　intrusion　into　his　mind；　a　deeply　unsettling　probe　into　his　thoughts。　He　quickly　dismissed　his　many　curses　at　the　failure　of　conventional　magic梪sually　his　enchanted　eye　patch　would　have　protected　him　from　such　a　mental　intrusion？and　used　his　wits　instead。　He　focused　his　gaze　on　K'yorl；　pictured　her　with　her　clothes　off；　and　filled　his　mind　with　thoughts　so　base　that　the　matron　mother；　in　the　midst　of　serious　business；　lost　all　patience。

　　　〃I　could　have　the　skin　flailed　from　your　bones　for　such　thoughts；〃　K'yorl　informed　him。

　　　〃Such　thoughts？〃　Jarlaxle　said　as　though　he　had　been　wounded。　〃Surely　you　are　not　intruding　on　my　mind；　Matron　K'yorl！　Though　I　am　but　a　male；　such　practices　are　surely　frowned　on。　Lloth　would　not　be　pleased。〃

　　　〃Damn　Lloth；〃　K'yorl　growled；　and　Jarlaxle　was　stunned　that　she　had　put　it　so　clearly；　so　bluntly。　Of　course　everyone　knew　that　House　Oblodra　was　not　the　most　religious　of　drow　houses；　but　the　Oblodrans　had　always　kept　at　least　the　pretense　of　piety。

　　　K'yorl　tapped　her　temple；　her　features　stern。　〃If　Lloth　was　worthy　of　my　praise；　then　she　would　have　recognized　the　truth　of　power；〃　the　matron　mother　explained。　〃It　is　the　mind　that　separates　us　from　our　lessers；　the　mind　that　should　determine　order。〃

　　　Jarlaxle　offered　no　response。　He　had　no　desire　to　get　into　this　argument　with　so　dangerous　and　unpredictable　a　foe。

　　　K'yorl　did　not　press　the　point；　but　simply　waved　her　hand　as　if　throwing　it　all　away。　She　was　frustrated；　Jarlaxle　could　see；　and　in　this　one　frustration　equated　with　danger。

　　　〃It　is　beyond　the　Spider　Queen　now；〃　K'yorl　said。　〃I　am　beyond　Lloth。　And　it　begins　this　day。〃

　　　Jarlaxle　allowed　a　look　of　surprise　to　cross　his　features。

　　　〃You　expected　it；〃　K'yorl　said　accusingly。

　　　That　was　true　enough桱arlaxl