精灵血脉四部曲-第144部分

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　　　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　would　not　kill　the　man　for　his　words；〃　Besnell　said　with　all　confidence；　for　he　had　met　Drizzt　on　many　occasions　during　the　dark　elf's　frequent　visits　to　Silverymoon。

　　　Berkthgar　knew　the　elf　spoke　truly；　and　so　the　barbarian　leader　relented；　backing　off　a　few　steps。

　　　〃Bruenor　would　kill　him；〃　Berkthgar　did　say；　though。

　　　〃Agreed；〃　said　Besnell。　〃And　many　others　would　take　up　arms　in　the　dark　elf's　defense。　But；　as　I　have　said；　enough　of　this。　All　joined；　we　are　a　hundred　and　niy　calvary；　e　to　aid　in　the　cause。〃　He　looked　all　around　as　he　spoke　and　seemed　taller　and　more　imposing　than　his　elven　frame　would　normally　allow。　〃A　hundred　and　niy　e　to　join　with　Berkthgar　and　his　proud　warriors。　Rarely　have　four　such　groups　converged　as　allies。　The　Longriders；　the　Riders　of　Nesme；　the　Knights　in　Silver；　and　the　warriors　of　Settlestone；　all　joined　in　mon　cause。　If　the　war　does　e梐nd　looking　at　the　allies　I　have　discovered　this　day；　I　hope　it　does梠ur　deeds　shall　be　echoed　throughout　the　Realms！　And　let　the　drow　army　beware！〃

　　　He　had　played　perfectly　on　the　pride　of　all　of　them；　and　so　they　took　up　the　cheer　together；　and　the　moments　of　tension　were　passed。　Besnell　smiled　and　nodded　as　the　shouts　continued；　but　he　understood　that　things　were　not　as　solid　and　friendly　as　they　should　be。　Longsaddle　had　sent　fifty　soldiers；　plus　a　handful　of　wizards；　a　very　great　sacrifice　from　the　town　that；　in　truth；　had　little　stake　in　Bruenor's　well…being。　The　Harpells　looked　more　to　the　west；　to　Waterdeep；　for　trade　and　alliance；　than　to　the　east；　and　yet　they　had　e　to　Bruenor's　call；　including　their　leader's　own　daughter。

　　　Silverymoon　was　equally　mitted；　both　by　friendship　to　Bruenor　and　Drizzt　and　because　Alustriel　was　wise　enough　to　understand　that　if　the　drow　army　did　march　to　the　surface；　all　the　world　would　be　a　sadder　place。　Alustriel　had　dispatched　a　hundred　knights　to　Berkthgar；　and　another　hundred　rode　independently；　skirting　the　eastern　foothills　below　Mithril　Hall；　covering　the　more　rugged　trails　that　led　around　Fourthpeak's　northern　face；　to　Keeper's　Dale　in　the　west。　All　told；　there　were　two　hundred　mounted　warriors；　fully　two…fifths　of　the　famed　Knights　in　Silver；　a　great　contingent　and　a　great　sacrifice；　especially　with　the　first　winds　of　winter　blowing　cold　in　the　air。

　　　Nesme's　sacrifice　was　less；　Besnell　understood；　and　likely　the　Riders　of　Nesme's　mitment　would　be　too。　This　was　the　town　with　the　most　to　lose；　except　of　course　for　Settlestone；　and　yet　Nesme　had　spared　barely　a　tenth　of　its　seasoned　garrison。　The　strained　relations　between　Mithril　Hall　and　Nesme　were　no　secret；　a　brewing　feud　that　had　begun　before　Bruenor　had　ever　found　his　homeland；　when　the　dwarf　and　his　fellow　panions　had　passed　near　Nesme。　Bruenor　and　his　friends　had　saved　several　riders　from　marauding　bog　blokes；　only　to　have　the　riders　turn　on　them　when　the　battle　had　ended。　Because　of　the　color　of　Drizzt's　skin　and　the　reputation　of　his　heritage；　Bruenor's　party　had　been　turned　away；　and　though　the　dwarf's　outrage　had　been　later　tempered　somewhat　by　the　fact　that　soldiers　from　Nesme　had　joined　in　the　retaking　of　Mithril　Hall；　relations　had　remained　somewhat　strained。

　　　This　time　the　expected　opponents　were　dark　elves　and；　no　doubt；　that　fact　alone　had　reminded　the　wary　men　of　Nesme　of　their　distrust　for　Bruenor's　closest　friend。　But　at　least　they　had　e；　and　forty　were　better　than　none；　Besnell　told　himself。　The　elf　had　openly　proclaimed　Berkthgar　the　leader　of　all　four　groups；　and　so　it　would　be　（though；　if　and　when　battle　was　joined；　each　contingent　would　likely　fall　into　its　own　tactics；　hopefully　plementing　each　other）；　but　Besnell　saw　a　role　for　himself；　less　obvious；　but　no　less　important。　He　would　be　the　peacemaker；　he　would　keep　the　factions　in　line　and　in　harmony。

　　　If　the　dark　elves　did　e；　his　job　would　be　much　easier；　he　knew；　for　in　the　face　of　so　deadly　an　enemy；　petty　grievances　would　fast　be　forgotten。



　　　*****



　　　Belwar　didn't　know　whether　to　feel　relief　or　fear　when　word　came　from　the　spying　elemental　that　the　drow；　a　single　drow　at　least；　had　indeed　gone　into　Blingdenstone；　and　that　a　drow　army　had　marched　past　the　deserted　city；　finding　the　tunnels　back　to　the　east；　the　route　to　Mithril　Hall。

　　　The　most　honored　burrow　warden　sat　again　in　his　now　customary　perch；　staring　out　at　the　empty　tunnels。　He　thought　of　Drizzt；　a　dear　friend；　and　of　the　place　the　dark　elf　now　called　home。　Drizzt　had　told　Belwar　of　Mithril　Hall　when　he　had　passed　through　Blingdenstone　on　his　way　to　Menzoberranzan　several　months　earlier。　How　happy　Drizzt　had　been　when　he　spoke　of　his　friends；　this　dwarf　named　Bruenor；　and　the　human　woman；　Catti…brie；　who　had　crossed　through　Blingdenstone　on　Drizzt's　heels；　and　had；　according　to　later　reports；　aided　in　Drizzt's　wild　escape　from　the　drow　city。

　　　That　very　escape　had　facilitated　this　march；　Belwar　knew；　and　yet　the　gnome　remained　pleased　that　his　friend　had　gotten　free　of　Matron　Baenre's　clutches。　Now　Drizzt　was　home；　but　the　dark　elves　were　going　to　find　him。

　　　Belwar　recalled　the　true　sadness　in　Drizzt's　lavender　eyes　when　the　drow　had　recounted　the　loss　of　one　of　his　surface…found　friends。　What　tears　might　Drizzt　know　soon；　the　gnome　wondered；　with　a　drow　army　marching　to　destroy　his　new　home？

　　　〃Decisions　we　have　to　make；〃　came　a　voice　behind　the　sturdy　gnome。　Belwar　clapped　his　mithril　〃hands〃　together；　more　to　clear　his　thoughts　than　anything　else；　and　turned　to　face　Firble。＇奇＋书＋网＇

　　　One　of　the　good　things　that　had　e　from　all　of　this　confusion　was　the　budding　friendship　between　Firble　and　Belwar。　As　two　of　the　older　svirfnebli　of　Blingdenstone；　they　had　known　each　other；　or　of　each　other；　a　very　long　time；　but　only　when　Belwar's　eyes　（because　of　his　friendship　with　Drizzt）　had　turned　to　the　world　outside　the　gnomish　city　had　Firble　truly　e　into　his　life。　At　first　the　two　seemed　a　plete　mismatch；　but　both　had　found　strength　in　what　the　other　offered；　and　a　bond　had　grown　between　them？though　neither　had　as　yet　openly　admitted　it。

　　　〃Decisions？〃

　　　〃The　drow　have　passed；〃　said　Firble。

　　　〃Likely　to　return。〃

　　　Firble　nodded。　〃Obviously；〃　the　round…shouldered　councilor　agreed。　〃King　Schnicktick　must　decide　whether　we　are　to　return　to　Blingdenstone。〃

　　　The　notion　hit　Belwar　like　the　slap　of　a　cold；　wet　towel。　Return　to　Blingdenstone？　Of　course　they　were　to　return　to　their　homes！　the　most　honored　burrow　warden's　thoughts　screamed　out　at　him。　Any　other　option　was　too　ridiculous　to　entertain。　But　as　he　calmed　and　considered　Firble's　grim　demeanor；　Belwar　began　to　see　the　truth　of　it　all。　The　drow　would　be　back；　and　if　they　had　made　a　conquest　near　or　at　the　surface；　a　conquest　of　Mithril　Hall；　as　most　believed　was　their　intention；　then　there　would　likely　remain　an　open　route　between　Menzoberranzan　and　that　distant　place；　a　route　that　passed　too　close　to　Blingdenstone。

　　　〃Words；　there　are；　and　from　many　with　influence；　that　we　should　go　farther　west；　to　find　a　new　cavern；　a　new　Blingdenstone；〃　Firble　said。　From　his　tone　it　was　obvious　the　little　councilor　was　not　thrilled　at　that　prospect。

　　　〃Never；〃　Belwar　said　unconvincingly。

　　　〃King　Schnicktick　will　ask　your　opinion　in　this　most　important　matter；〃　Firble　said。　〃Consider　it　well；　Belwar　Dissengulp。　The　lives　of　us　all　may　hinge　on　your　answer。〃

　　　A　long；　quiet　moment　passed；　and　Firble　gave　a　curt　nod　and　turned　to　leave。

　　　〃What　does　Firble　say？〃　Belwar　asked　before　he　could　scurry　off。

　　　The　councilor　turned　slowly；　determinedly；　staring　Belwar　straight　in　the　eye。　〃Firble　says　there　is　only　one　Blingdenstone；〃　he　answered　with　more　grit　than　Belwar　had　ever　heard；　or　ever　expected　to　hear；　from　him。　〃To　leave　as　the　drow　pass　by　is　one　thing；　a　good　thing。　To　stay　out　is　not　so　good。〃

　　　〃Worth　fighting　for　are　some　things；〃　Belwar　added。

　　　〃Worth　dying　for？〃　Firble　was　quick　to　put　in；　and　the　councilor　did　turn　and　leave。

　　　Belwar　sat　alone　with　his　thoughts　for　his　home　and　for　his　friend。



Chapter　19

IMPROVISING



　　　Catti…brie　knew　as　soon　as　she　saw　the　dwarven　courier's　face；　his　features　a　mixture　of　anxiety　and　battle…lust。　She　knew；　and　so　she　ran　off　ahead　of　the　messenger；　down　the　winding　ways　of　Mithril　Hall；　through　the　Undercity；　seeming　almost　deserted　now；　the　furnaces　burning　low。　Many　eyes　regarded　her；　studied　the　urgency　in　her　stride；　and　understood　her　purpose。　She　knew；　and　so　they　all　knew。　The　dark　elves　had　e。

　　　The　dwarves　guarding　the　heavy　door　leading　out　of　Mithril　Hall　proper　nodded　to　her　as　she　came　through。　〃Shoot　straight；　me　girl！〃　one　of　them　yelled　at　her　back；　and；　though　she　was　terribly　afraid；　though　it　seemed　as　if　her　worst　nightmare　was　about　to　e　true；　that　brought　a　smile　to　her　face。

　　　She　found　Bruenor；　Regis　beside　him；　in　a　wide　cavern；　the　same　chamber　where　the　dwarves　had　defeated　a　goblin　tribe　not　so　long　ago。　Now　the　place　had　been　prepared　as　the　dwarf　king's　mand　post；　the　central　brain　for　the　defense　of　the　outer　and　lower　tunnels。　Nearly　all　tunnels　leading　to　this　chamber　from　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark　had　been　thoroughly　trapped　or　dropped　altogether；　or　were　now　heavily　guarded；　leaving　the　chamber　as　secure　a　place　as　could　be　found　outside　Mithril　Hall　proper。

　　　〃Drizzt？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

　　　Bruenor　looked　across　the　cavern；　to　a　large　tunnel　exiting　into　the　deeper　regions。　〃Out　there；〃　he　said；　〃with　the　cat。〃

　　　Catti…brie　looked　around。　The　preparations　had　been　made；　everything　had　been　set　into　place　as　well　as　possible　in　the　time　allowed。　Not　so　far　away；　Stumpet　Rakingclaw　and　her　fellow　clerics　crouched　and　knelt　on　the　floor；　lining　up　and　sorting　dozens　of　small　potion　bottles　and　preparing　bandages；　blankets；　and　herbal　salves　for　the　wounded。　Catti…brie　winced；　for　she　knew　that　all　those　bandages　and　more　would　be　needed　before　this　was　finished。

　　　To　the　side　of　the　clerics；　three　of　the　Harpells桯arkle；　Bidderdoo；　and　Bella　don　DelRoy梒onferred　over　a　small；　round　table　covered　with　doz