精灵血脉四部曲-第140部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



　　　Jarlaxle　rocked　back　on　his　heels。　He　had　heard　the　rumors；　of　course；　that　Baenre's　tooth　pendant　contained　the　soul　of　an　ancient　dwarf　king；　but　never　had　he　suspected　such　a　connection。　He　realized　then；　suddenly；　that　this　entire　foray　to　Mithril　Hall　was　not　about　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　that　the　renegade　was　merely　a　connection；　an　excuse；　for　something　Baenre　had　desired　for　a　very　long　time。

　　　Jarlaxle　looked　at　Baenre　suddenly；　curiously。　〃Two　thousand　years？〃　he　echoed　aloud；　while　he　silently　wondered　just　how　old　this　withered　drow　really　was。

　　　〃I　have　kept　his　soul　through　the　centuries；〃　Baenre　went　on；　eyeing　the　old　dwarf　directly。　〃During　the　time　Lloth　could　not　hear　our　call；　the　item　was　destroyed　and　Gandalug　came　forth；　alive　again。〃　She　walked　over；　put　her　snarling　visage　right　up　to　the　battered；　naked　dwarf's　long；　pointed　nose；　and　put　one　hand　on　his　round；　solid　shoulder。　〃Alive；　but　no　more　free　than　he　was　before。〃

　　　Gandalug　cleared　his　throat　as　if　he　meant　to　spit　on　Baenre。　He　stopped；　though；　when　he　realized　that　a　spider　had　crawled　out　of　the　ring　on　her　hand；　onto　his　shoulder；　and　was　now　making　its　way　along　his　neck。

　　　Gandalug　understood　that　Baenre　would　not　kill　him；　that　she　needed　him　for　her　proposed　conquest。　He　did　not　fear　death；　but　would　have　preferred　it　to　this　torment　and　weighed　against　the　realization　that　he　might　unwittingly　aid　in　the　fall　of　his　own　people。　Baenre's　gruesome　mind　flayer　had　already　scoured　Gandalug's　thoughts　more　than　once；　taking　information　that　no　beatings　could　ever　have　extracted　from　the　stubborn　old　dwarf。

　　　Rationally；　Gandalug　had　nothing　to　fear；　but　that　did　little　to　fort　him　now。　Gandalug　hated　spiders　above　all　else；　hated　and　feared　them。　As　soon　as　he　felt　the　hairy；　crawly　thing　on　his　neck；　he　froze；　eyes　unblinking；　sweat　beading　on　his　forehead。

　　　Baenre　walked　away；　leaving　her　pet　spider　on　the　dwarf's　neck。　She　turned　to　Jarlaxle　again；　a　supreme　look　on　her　face；　as　though　Gandalug's　presence　should　make　all　the　difference　in　the　world　to　the　doubting　mercenary。

　　　It　didn't。　Jarlaxle　never　once　doubted　that　Menzoberranzan　could　defeat　Mithril　Hall；　never　once　doubted　that　the　conquest　would　be　successful。　But　what　of　the　aftermath　of　that　conquest？　The　drow　city　was　in　turmoil；　there　would　soon　be　a　fierce　struggle；　perhaps　even　an　open　war；　to　fill　the　vacancy　left　by　both　House　Oblodra's　demise　and　the　death　of　Ghenni'tiroth　Tlabbar。　Living　for　centuries　on　the　edge　of　disaster　with　his　secretive　band；　the　mercenary　understood　the　perils　of　overextending　his　grab　for　power；　understood　that　if　one　stretched　his　forces　too　far；　they　could　simply　collapse。

　　　But　Jarlaxle　knew；　too；　that　he　would　not　convince　Matron　Baenre。　So　be　it；　he　decided。　Let　Baenre　march　to　Mithril　Hall　with　no　further　questions　from　him。　He　would　even　encourage　her。　If　things　went　as　she　planned；　then　all　would　be　the　better　for　it。

　　　If　not。。。

　　　Jarlaxle　didn't　bother　to　entertain　those　possibilities。　He　knew　where　Gromph　stood；　knew　the　wizard's　frustration　and　the　frustrations　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；　a　band　almost　exclusively　male。　Let　Baenre　go　to　Mithril　Hall；　and　if　she　failed；　then　Jarlaxle　would　take　Baenre's　own　advice　and　〃rise　up　from　despair。〃

　　　Indeed。



Chapter　16

OPEN　HEARTS



　　　Drizzt　found　her　on　the　same　east…facing　plateau　where　she　had　practiced　all　those　weeks；　the　very　spot　where　she　had　at　last　gained　control　of　her　strong…willed　sword。　Long　shadows　rolled　out　from　the　mountains；　the　sun　low　in　the　sky　behind　them。　The　first　stars　shone　clearly；　twinkling　above　Silverymoon；　and　Sundabar　to　the　east　beyond　that。

　　　Catti…brie　sat　unmoving；　legs　bent　and　knees　pulled　in　tightly　to　her　chest。　If　she　heard　the　approach　of　the　almost　silent　drow；　she　gave　no　indication；　just　rocked　gently　back　and　forth；　staring　into　the　deepening　gloom。

　　　〃The　night　is　beautiful；〃　Drizzt　said；　and　when　Catti…brie　did　not　jump　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　he　realized　she　had　recognized　his　approach。　〃But　the　wind　is　chill。〃

　　　〃The　winter's　ing　in　full；〃　Catti…brie　replied　softly；　not　taking　her　gaze　from　the　darkened　eastern　sky。

　　　Drizzt　sought　a　reply；　wanted　to　keep　talking。　He　felt　awkward　here；　strangely　so；　for　never　in　the　years　he　had　known　Catti…brie　had　there　been　such　tension　between　them。　The　drow　walked　over　and　crouched　beside　Catti…brie；　but　did　not　look　at　her；　as　she　did　not　look　at　him。

　　　〃I'll　call　Guenhwyvar　this　night；〃　Drizzt　remarked。

　　　Catti…brie　nodded。

　　　Her　continued　silence　caught　the　drow　off　guard。　His　calling　of　the　panther；　for　the　first　time　since　the　figurine　was　repaired；　was　no　small　thing。　Would　the　figurine's　magic　work　properly；　enabling　Guenhwyvar　to　return　to　his　side？　Fret　had　assured　him　it　would；　but　Drizzt　could　not　be　certain；　could　not　rest　easily；　until　the　task　was　pleted　and　the　panther；　the　healed　panther；　was　back　beside　him。

　　　It　should　have　been　important　to　Catti…brie　as　well。　She　should　have　cared　as　much　as　Drizzt　cared；　for　she　and　Guenhwyvar　were　as　close　as　any。　Yet　she　didn't　reply；　and　her　silence　made　Drizzt；　anger　budding　within　him；　turn　to　regard　her　more　closely。

　　　He　saw　tears　rimming　her　blue　eyes；　tears　that　washed　away　Drizzt's　anger；　that　told　him　that　what　had　happened　between　himself　and　Catti…brie　had　apparently　not　been　so　deeply　buried。　The　last　time　they　had　met；　on　this　very　spot；　they　had　hidden　the　questions　they　both　wanted　to　ask　behind　the　energy　of　a　sparring　match。　Catti…brie's　concentration　had　to　be　plete　on　that　occasion；　and　in　the　days　before　it；　as　she　fought　to　master　her　sword；　but　now　that　task　was　pleted。　Now；　like　Drizzt；　she　had　time　to　think；　and　in　that　time；　Catti…brie　had　remembered。

　　　〃Ye're　knowin'　it　was　the　sword？〃　she　asked；　almost　pleaded。

　　　Drizzt　smiled；　trying　to　fort　her。　Of　course　it　had　been　the　sentient　sword　that　had　inspired　her　to　throw　herself　at　him。　Fully　the　sword；　only　the　sword。　But　a　large　part　of　Drizzt梐nd　possibly　of　Catti…brie；　he　thought　in　looking　at　her梬ished　differently。　There　had　been　an　undeniable　tension　between　them　for　some　time；　a　plicated　situation；　and　even　more　so　now；　after　the　possession　incident　with　Khazid'hea。

　　　〃Ye　did　right　in　pushing　me　away；〃　Catti…brie　said；　and　she　snorted　and　cleared　her　throat；　hiding　a　sniffle。

　　　Drizzt　paused　for　a　long　moment；　realizing　the　potential　weight　of　his　reply。　〃I　pushed　you　away　only　because　I　saw　the　pommel；〃　he　said；　and　that　drew　Catti…brie's　attention　from　the　eastern　sky；　made　her　look　at　the　drow　directly；　her　deep　blue　eyes　locking　with　his　violet　orbs。

　　　〃It　was　the　sword；〃　Drizzt　said　quietly；　〃only　the　sword。〃

　　　Catti…brie　didn't　blink；　barely　drew　breath。　She　was　thinking　how　noble　this　drow　had　been。　So　many　other　men　would　not　have　asked　questions；　would　have　taken　advantage　of　the　situation。　And　would　that　have　been　such　a　bad　thing？　the　young　woman　had　to　ask　herself　now。　Her　feelings　for　Drizzt　were　deep　and　real；　a　bond　of　friendship　and　love。　Would　it　have　been　such　a　bad　thing　if　he　had　made　love　to　her　in　that　room？

　　　Yes；　she　decided；　for　both　of　them；　because；　while　it　was　her　body　that　had　been　offered；　it　was　Khazid'hea　that　was　in　control。　Things　were　awkward　enough　between　them　now；　but　if　Drizzt　had　relented　to　the　feelings　that　Catti…brie　knew　he　held　for　her；　if　he　had　not　been　so　noble　in　that　strange　situation　and　had　given　in　to　the　offered　temptation；　likely　neither　of　them　would　have　been　able　to　look　the　other　in　the　eye　afterward。

　　　Like　they　were　doing　now；　on　a　quiet　plateau　high　in　the　mountains；　with　a　chill　and　crisp　breeze　and　the　stars　glowing　ever　more　brightly　above　them。

　　　〃Ye're　a　good　man；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　grateful　woman　said　with　a　heartfelt　smile。

　　　〃Hardly　a　man；〃　Drizzt　replied；　chuckling；　and　glad　for　the　relief　of　tension。

　　　Only　a　temporary　relief；　though。　The　chuckle　and　the　smile　died　away　almost　immediately；　leaving　them　in　the　same　place；　the　same　awkward　moment；　caught　somewhere　between　romance　and　fear。

　　　Catti…brie　looked　back　to　the　sky；　Drizzt　did　likewise。

　　　〃Ye　know　I　loved　him；〃　the　young　woman　said。

　　　〃You　still　do；〃　Drizzt　answered；　and　his　smile　was　genuine　when　Catti…brie　turned　back　again　to　regard　him。

　　　She　turned　away　almost　at　once；　looked　back　to　the　bright　stars　and　thought　of　Wulfgar。

　　　〃You　would　have　married　him；〃　Drizzt　went　on。

　　　Catti…brie　wasn't　so　sure　of　that。　For　all　the　true　love　she　held　for　Wulfgar；　the　barbarian　carried　around　the　weight　of　his　heritage　and　a　society　that　valued　women　not　as　partners；　but　as　servants。　Wulfgar　had　climbed　above　many　of　the　narrow…thinking　ways　of　his　tribal　people；　but　as　his　wedding　to　Catti…brie　approached；　he　had　bee　more　protective　of　her；　to　the　point　of　being　insulting。　That；　above　anything　else；　proud　and　capable　Catti…brie　could　not　tolerate。

　　　Her　doubts　were　clear　on　her　face；　and　Drizzt；　who　knew　her　better　than　anyone；　read　them　easily。

　　　〃You　would　have　married　him；〃　he　said　again；　his　firm　tone　forcing　Catti…brie　to　look　back　to　him。

　　　〃Wulfgar　was　no　fool；〃　Drizzt　went　on。

　　　〃Don't　ye　be　blamin'　it　all　on　Entreri　and　the　halfling's　gem；〃　Catti…brie　warned。　After　the　threat　of　the　drow　hunting　party　had　been　turned　away；　after　Wulfgar's　demise；　Drizzt　had　explained　to　her；　and　to　Bruenor；　who　perhaps　more　than　anyone　else　needed　to　hear　the　justification；　that　Entreri；　posing　as　Regis；　had　used　the　hypnotic　powers　of　the　ruby　pendant　on　Wulfgar。　Yet　that　theory　could　not　fully　explain　the　barbarian's　outrageous　behavior；　because　Wulfgar　had　started　down　that　path　long　before　Entreri　had　even　arrived　at　Mithril　Hall。

　　　〃Surely　the　gem　pushed　Wulfgar　further；〃　Drizzt　countered。

　　　〃Pushed　him　where　he　wanted　to　go。〃

　　　〃No。〃　The　simple　reply；　spoken　with　absolute　surety；　almost　caught　Catti…brie　off　guard。　She　cocked　her　head　to　the　side；　her　thick　auburn　hair　cascading　over　one　shoulder；　waiting　for　the　drow　to　elaborate。

　　　〃He　was　scared；〃　Drizzt　went　on。　〃Nothing　in　the　world　frightened　mighty　Wulfgar　more　than　the　thought　of　losing　his　Catti…brie。〃

　　　〃H