精灵血脉四部曲-第143部分

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dows　of　Matron　Baenre's　display　against　Oblodra；　and　thus　she　had　placed　a　great　weight　upon　Uthegental's　broad　shoulders。

　　　Uthegental　marched　for　the　glory　of　Barrison　del'Armgo；　Matron　Baenre　knew；　marched　fanatically；　along　with　his　force　of　more　than　three　hundred　drow　warriors。

　　　To　Berg'inyon；　that　was　not　a　good　thing；　for　he；　and　not　Matron　Baenre；　was　in　direct　petition　with　the　powerful　weapon　master。

　　　Matron　Baenre　considered　all　the　news　in　light　of　her　son's　expression；　and；　in　the　end；　she　thought　Uthegental's　daring　a　good　thing。　The　petition　would　push　Berg'inyon　to　excellence。　And　if　he　failed；　if　Uthegental　was　the　one　who　killed　Drizzt　Do'Urden　（for　that　was　obviously　the　prize　both　sought）；　even　if　Berg'inyon　was　killed　by　Uthegental；　then　so　be　it。　This　march　was　greater　than　House　Baenre；　greater　than　anyone's　personal　goals梕xcept；　of　course；　for　Matron　Baenre's　own。

　　　When　Mithril　Hall　was　conquered；　whatever　the　cost　to　her　son；　she　would　be　in　the　highest　glory　of　the　Spider　Queen；　and　her　house　would　be　above　the　schemes　of　the　others；　if　all　the　others　bined　their　forces　against　her！

　　　〃You　are　dismissed；〃　Baenre　said　to　Uthegental。　〃Back　to　the　forefront。〃

　　　The　spike…haired　weapon　master　smiled　wickedly　and　bowed；　never　taking　his　eyes　from　Berg'inyon。　Then　he　spun　on　his　heel　to　leave；　but　spun　again　immediately　as　Baenre　addressed　him　once　more。

　　　〃And　if　you　chance　to　e　upon　the　tracks　of　the　fleeing　svirfnebli；〃　Baenre　said；　and　she　paused；　looking　from　Uthegental　to　Berg'inyon；　〃do　send　an　emissary　to　inform　me　of　the　chase。〃

　　　Berg'inyon's　shoulders　slumped　even　as　Uthegental's　grin；　showing　those　filed；　pointy　teeth；　widened　so　much　that　it　nearly　took　in　his　ears。　He　bowed　again　and　ran　off。

　　　〃The　svirfnebli　are　mighty　foes；〃　Baenre　said　offhandedly；　aiming　the　remark　at　Berg'inyon。　〃They　will　kill　him　and　all　of　his　party。〃　She　didn't　really　believe　the　claim；　had　made　it　only　for　Berg'inyon's　sake。　In　looking　at　her　wise　son；　though；　she　realized　he　didn't　believe　it　either。

　　　〃And　if　not；〃　Baenre　said；　looking　the　other　way；　to　Quenthel；　who　stood　by　impassively；　appearing　quite　bored；　and　to　Methil；　who　always　seemed　quite　bored；　〃the　gnomes　are　not　so　great　a　prize。〃　The　matron　mother's　gaze　snapped　back　over　Berg'inyon。　〃We　know　the　prize　of　this　march；〃　she　said；　her　voice　a　feral　snarl。　She　didn't　bother　to　mention　that　her　ultimate　goal　and　Berg'inyon's　goal　were　not　the　same。

　　　The　effect　on　the　young　weapon　master　was　instantaneous。　He　snapped　back　to　rigid　attention；　and　rode　off　on　his　lizard　as　soon　as　his　mother　waved　her　hand　to　dismiss　him。

　　　Baenre　turned　to　Quenthel。　See　that　spies　are　put　among　Uthegental's　soldiers；　her　fingers　subtly　flashed。　Baenre　paused　a　moment　to　consider　the　fierce　weapon　master；　and　to　reflect　on　what　he　would　do　if　such　spies　were　discovered。　Males；　Baenre　added　to　her　daughter；　and　Quenthel　agreed。

　　　Males　were　expendable。

　　　Sitting　alone　as　her　driftdisk　floated　amidst　the　army；　Matron　Baenre　turned　her　thoughts　to　more　important　issues。　The　rivalry　of　Berg'inyon　and　Uthegental　was　of　little　consequence；　as　was　Uthegental's　apparent　disregard　for　proper　mand。　More　disturbing　was　the　svirfneblin　absence。　Might　the　wicked　gnomes　be　planning　an　assault　on　Menzoberranzan　even　as　Baenre　and　her　force　marched　away？

　　　It　was　a　silly　thought；　one　Matron　Baenre　quickly　dismissed。　More　than　half　the　dark　elves　remained　in　Menzoberranzan；　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　Mez'Barris　Armgo；　Triel；　and　Gromph。　If　the　gnomes　attacked；　they　would　be　utterly　destroyed；　more　to　the　Spider　Queen's　glory。

　　　But　even　as　she　considered　those　city　defenses；　the　thought　of　a　conspiracy　against　her　nagged　at　the　edges　of　Baenre's　consciousness。

　　　Triel　is　loyal　and　in　control；　came　a　telepathic　assurance　from　Methil；　who　remained　not　so　far　away　and　was　reading　Baenre's　every　thought。

　　　Baenre　took　some　fort　in　that。　Before　she　had　left　Menzoberranzan；　she　had　bade　Methil　to　scour　her　daughter's　reactions　to　her　plans；　and　the　illithid　had　e　back　with　a　pletely　positive　report。　Triel　was　not　pleased　by　the　decision　to　go　to　Mithril　Hall。　She　feared　her　mother　might　be　overstepping　her　bounds；　but　she　was　convinced；　as　most　likely　were　all　the　others；　that；　in　the　face　of　the　destruction　of　House　Oblodra；　Lloth　had　sanctioned　this　war。　Thus；　Triel　would　not　head　a　coup　for　control　of　House　Baenre　in　her　mother's　absence；　would　not；　in　any　way；　go　against　her　mother　at　this　time。

　　　Baenre　relaxed。　All　was　going　according　to　design；　it　was　not　important　that　the　cowardly　gnomes　had　fled。

　　　All　was　going　even　better　than　design；　Baenre　decided；　for　the　rivalry　between　Uthegental　and　Berg'inyon　would　provide　much　entertainment。　The　possibilities　were　intriguing。　Perhaps　if　Uthegental　killed　Drizzt；　and　killed　Berg'inyon　in　the　process；　Matron　Baenre　would　force　the　spike…haired　savage　into　House　Baenre　to　serve　as　her　own　weapon　master。　Mez'Barris　would　not　dare　protest；　not　after　Mithril　Hall　was　conquered。



Chapter　18

UNEASY　GATHERINGS



　　　〃Even　now　is　Regweld；　who　shall　lead　us；　meeting　with　Bruenor；　who　is　king；〃　said　a　rider；　a　knight　wearing　the　most　unusual　of　armor。　There　wasn't　a　smooth　spot　on　the　mail；　it　was　ridged　and　buckled；　with　grillwork　pointing　out　at　various　angles；　its　purpose　to　turn　aside　any　blows；　to　deflect　rather　than　absorb。

　　　The　man's　fifty　rades梐　strange…looking　group　indeed？were　similarly　outfitted；　which　could　be　readily　explained　by　looking　at　their　unusual　pennant。　It　depicted　a　stick…man；　his　hair　straight　up　on　end　and　arms　held　high；　standing　atop　a　house　and　throwing　lightning　bolts　to　the　sky　（or　perhaps　he　was　catching　lightning　hurled　down　at　him　from　the　clouds梠ne　could　not　be　sure）。　This　was　the　banner　of　Longsaddle　and　these　were　the　Longriders；　the　soldiers　of　Longsaddle；　a　capable；　if　eccentric；　group。　They　had　e　into　Settlestone　this　cold　and　gloomy　day；　chasing　the　first　flakes　of　the　first　snow。

　　　〃Regweld　shall　lead　you；〃　answered　another　rider；　tall　and　sure　on　his　saddle；　carrying　the　scars　of　countless　battles。　He　was　more　conventionally　armored；　as　were　his　forty　panions；　riding　under　the　horse…and…spear　banner　of　Nesme；　the　proud　frontier　town　on　the　edge　of　the　dreaded　Trollmoors。　〃But　not　us。　We　are　the　Riders　of　Nesme；　who　follow　no　lead　but　our　own！〃

　　　〃Just　because　you　got　here　first　doesn't　mean　you　pick　the　rules！〃　whined　the　Longrider。

　　　〃Let　us　not　forget　our　purpose；〃　intervened　a　third　rider；　his　horse　trotting　up；　along　with　two　panions；　to　greet　the　newest　arrivals。　When　he　came　closer；　the　others　saw　from　his　angular　features；　shining　golden　hair；　and　similarly　colored　eyes　that　he　was　no　man　at　all；　but　an　elf；　though　tall　for　one　of　his　race。　〃I　am　Besnell　of　Silverymoon；　e　with　a　hundred　soldiers　from　Lady　Alustriel。　We　shall　each　find　our　place　when　battle　is　joined；　though　if　there　is　to　be　any　leader　among　us；　it　shall　be　me；　who　speaks　on　behalf　of　Alustriel。〃

　　　The　man　from　Nesme　and　the　man　from　Longsaddle　regarded　each　other　helplessly。　Their　respective　towns；　particularly　Nesme；　were　surely　under　the　shadow　of　Silverymoon；　and　their　respective　rulers　would　not　challenge　Alustriel's　authority。

　　　〃But　you　are　not　in　Silverymoon；〃　came　a　roaring　reply　from　Berkthgar；　who　had　been　standing　in　the　shadows　of　a　nearby　doorway；　listening　to　the　argument；　almost　hoping　it　would　erupt　into　something　more　fun　than　bandied　words。　〃You　are　in　Settle…stone；　where　Berkthgar　rules；　and　in　Settlestone；　you　are　ruled　by　Berkthgar！〃

　　　Everyone　tensed；　particularly　the　two　Silverymoon　soldiers　flanking　Besnell。　The　elven　warrior　sat　quietly　for　a　moment；　eyeing　the　huge　barbarian　as　Berkthgar；　his　gigantic　sword　strapped　across　his　back；　steadily　and　calmly　approached。　Besnell　was　not　overly　proud；　and　his　rank　alone　in　the　Silverymoon　detachment　proved　that　he　never　let　pride　cloud　good　judgment。

　　　〃Well　spoken；　Berkthgar　the　Bold；〃　he　politely　replied。　〃And　true　enough。〃　He　turned　to　the　other　two　mounted　leaders。　〃We　have　e　from　Silverymoon；　and　you　from　Nesme；　and　you　from　Longsaddle；　to　serve　in　Berkthgar's　cause；　and　in　the　cause　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer。〃

　　　〃We　came　to　Bruenor's　call；〃　grumbled　the　Longrider；　〃not　Berkthgar's。〃

　　　〃Would　you　then　take　your　horse　into　the　dark　tunnels　beneath　Mithril　Hall？〃　reasoned　Besnell；　who　understood　from　his　meetings　with　Berkthgar　and　Catti…brie　that　the　dwarves　would　handle　the　underground　troubles；　while　the　riders　would　join　with　the　warriors　of　Settlestone　to　secure　the　outlying　areas。

　　　〃His　horse　and　he　might　be　underground　sooner　than　he　expects；〃　Berkthgar　piped　in；　an　open　threat　that　shook　the　Longrider　more　than　a　little。

　　　〃Enough　of　this；〃　Besnell　was　quick　to　interject。　〃We　have　all　e　together　as　allies；　and　allies　we　shall　be；　joined　in　a　mon　cause。〃

　　　〃Joined　by　fear；〃　the　Nesme　soldier　replied。　〃We　in　Nesme　once　met　Bruenor's。。。〃　He　paused；　looking　to　the　faces　of　the　other　leaders；　then　to　his　own　grim　men　for　support；　as　he　searched　for　the　proper　words。　〃We　have　met　King　Bruenor's　dark…skinned　friend；〃　he　said　finally；　his　tone　openly　derisive。　〃What　good　might　e　from　association　with　evil　drow？〃

　　　The　words　had　barely　left　his　mouth　before　Berkthgar　was　upon　him；　reaching　up　to　grab　him　by　a　crease　in　his　armor　and　pull　him　low　in　the　saddle；　that　he　might　look　right　into　the　barbarian's　snarling　visage。　The　nearby　Nesme　soldiers　had　their　weapons　out　and　ready；　but　so；　too；　did　Berkthgar's　people；　ing　out　of　every　stone　house　and　around　every　corner。

　　　Besnell　groaned　and　the　Longriders；　every　one；　shook　their　heads　in　dismay。

　　　〃If　ever　again　you　speak　ill　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Berkthgar　growled；　caring　nothing　of　the　swords　and　spears　poised　not　so　far　away；　〃you　will　offer　me　an　interesting　choice。　Do　I　cut　you　in　half　and　leave　you　dead　on　the　field；　or　do　I　bring　you　in　to　Drizzt；　that　he　might　find　the　honor　of　severing　your　head　himself？〃

　　　Besnell　walked　his　horse　right　up　to　the　barbarian　and　used　its　heavy　press　to　force　Berkthgar　back　from　the　stunned　Nesme　soldier。

　　　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden　w