精灵血脉四部曲-第155部分

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　　　Still；　Bella　remained　unfortable　and　wanted　this　all　to　end　so　that　she　could　return　to　her　normal　physiology。　Harkle　had　studied　illithids　intently；　and　knew　as　much　about　them　as　perhaps　any　wizard　in　all　the　Realms。　Their　mentally　debilitating　blasts　were　conical；　he　had　assured　her；　and　so；　if　he　and　she　could　get　close；　only　the　top　half　of　their　bodies　would　be　affected。

　　　Thus　they　had　enacted　the　physical　transformation　enchantment；　wherein　Harkle　and　Bella　appeared　the　same；　yet　had　transfigured　two　areas　of　their　makeup；　their　brains　and　their　buttocks。

　　　Harkle　smiled　at　his　cleverness　as　the　wedge　rolled　on。　Such　a　transformation　had　been　a　delicate　thing；　requiring　many　hours　of　study　and　preparation。　But　it　had　been　worth　the　trouble；　every　second；　the　Harpell　believed；　recalling　the　sour　looks　on　the　ugly　illithid　faces！



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　　　The　rumbles　from　the　collapse　of　the　bridges；　and　of　all　the　antechambers　near　Garumn's　Gorge；　were　felt　in　the　lowest　tunnels　of　Mithril　Hall；　even　beyond；　in　the　upper　passages　of　the　wild　Underdark　itself。　How　much　work　Bruenor's　people　would　have　if　ever　they　tried　to　open　the　eastern　door　again！

　　　But　the　drow　advance　had　been　stopped；　and　was　well　worth　the　price。　For　now　General　Dagna　and　his　force　of　defenders　were　free　to　go。

　　　But　where？　the　tough；　battle…hardened　dwarf　wondered。　Reports　came　to　him　that　the　Undercity　was　under　full　attack；　but　he　also　realized　that　the　western　door；　near　Keeper's　Dale；　was　vulnerable；　with　only　a　few　hundred　dwarves　guarding　the　many　winding　tunnels　and　with　no　provisions　for　such　catastrophic　measures　as　had　been　taken　here　in　the　east。　The　tunnels　in　the　west　could　not　be　pletely　dropped；　there　had　not　been　time　to　rig　them　so。

　　　Dagna　looked　around　at　his　thousand　troops；　many　of　them　wounded；　but　all　of　them　eager　for　more　battle；　eager　to　defend　their　sacred　homeland。

　　　〃The　Undercity；〃　the　general　announced　a　moment　later。　If　the　western　door　was　breached；　the　invaders　would　have　to　find　their　way　through；　no　easy　task　considering　the　myriad　choices　they　would　face。　The　fighting　had　already　e　to　the　Undercity；　so　that　was　where　Dagna　belonged。

　　　Normally　it　would　have　taken　many　minutes；　a　half　hour　or　more；　for　the　dwarves　to　get　down　to　the　fighting；　even　if　they　went　the　whole　way　at　a　full　charge。　But　this；　too；　had　been　foreseen；　so　Dagna　led　his　charges　to　the　appointed　spot；　new　doors　that　had　been　cut　into　the　walls　connecting　to　chimneys　running　up　from　the　great　furnaces。　As　soon　as　those　doors　were　opened；　Dagna　and　his　soldiers　heard　the　battle；　so　they　went　without　delay；　one　after　another；　onto　the　heavy　ropes　that　had　been　set　in　place。

　　　Down　they　slid；　fearlessly；　singing　songs　to　Clanggedon。　Down　they　went；　hitting　the　floor　at　a　full　run；　rushing　out　of　the　warm　furnaces　and　right　into　the　fray；　streaming　endlessly；　it　seemed；　as　were　the　drow　ing　in　from　the　lower　tunnels。

　　　The　fighting　in　the　Undercity　grew　ever　furious。



Chapter　25

KEEPER'S　DALE



　　　Berg'inyon's　force　swept　into　Keeper's　Dale；　the　sticky…footed　lizards　making　trails　where　none　could　be　found。　They　came　down　the　northern　wall　like　a　sheet　of　water；　into　the　misty　valley；　ominous　shadows　slipping　past　tall　pillars　of　stone。

　　　Though　it　was　warmer　here　than　on　the　open　northern　face；　the　drow　were　unfortable。　There　were　no　formations　like　this　in　the　Underdark；　no　misty　valleys；　except　those　filled　with　the　toxic　fumes　of　unseen　volcanoes。　Scouting　reports　had　been　plete；　though；　and　had　specifically　outlined　this　very　spot；　the　doorstep　of　Mithril　Hall's　western　door；　as　safe　for　passage。　Thus；　the　Baenre　lizard　riders　went　into　the　valley　without　question；　fearing　their　own　volatile　matron　mother　more　than　any　possible　toxic　fumes。

　　　As　they　entered　the　vale；　they　heard　the　fighting　on　the　southern　side　of　the　mountain。　Berg'inyon　nodded　when　he　took　the　moment　to　notice　that　the　battle　was　ing　closer梐ll　was　going　as　planned。　The　enemy　was　in　retreat；　no　doubt；　being　herded　like　stupid　rothe　into　the　valley；　where　the　slaughter　would　begin　in　full。

　　　The　moving　shadows　that　were　Berg'inyon's　force　slipped　quietly　through　the　mist；　past　the　stone　sentinels；　trying　to　get　a　lay　of　the　valley；　trying　to　find　the　optimum　ambush　areas。

　　　Above　the　mist；　a　line　of　fire　broke　the　general　darkness　of　the　night　sky；　streaking　fast　and　angling　into　the　vale。　Berg'inyon　watched　it；　as　did　so　many；　not　knowing　what　it　might　be。

　　　As　she　crossed　above　the　force；　Alustriel　loosed　the　last　barrage　of　her　magic；　a　blast　of　lightning；　a　rain　of　greenish　pulses　of　searing　energy；　and　a　shower　of　explosive　fireballs　that　liquified　stone。

　　　The　alert　dark　elves　responded　before　the　chariot　crossed　over　the　northern　lip　of　the　vale；　hit　back　with　enchanted　crossbow　quarrels　and　similar　spells　of　destruction。

　　　The　flames　of　the　chariot　flared　wider；　caught　in　the　midst　of　a　fireball；　and　the　whole　of　the　cart　jerked　violently　to　the　side　as　a　line　of　lightning　blasted　against　its　base。

　　　Alustriel's　magic　had　killed　more　than　a　few；　and　taken　the　mounts　out　from　under　many　others；　but　the　real　purpose　in　the　wizard's　passing　had　been　the　part　of　decoy；　for　every　drow　eye　was　turned　heavenward　when　the　second　battalion　of　the　Knights　in　Silver　joined　the　fray；　charging　through　Keeper's　Dale；　horseshoes　clacking　deafeningly　on　the　hard　stone。

　　　Lances　lowered；　the　knights　barreled　through　the　initial　ranks　of　drow；　running　them　down　with　their　larger　mounts。

　　　But　these　were　the　Baenre　lizard　riders；　the　most　elite　force　in　all　of　Menzoberranzan；　a　plement　of　warriors　and　wizards　that　did　not　know　fear。

　　　Silent　mands　went　out　from　Berg'inyon；　passed　from　waggling　fingers　to　waggling　fingers。　Even　after　the　surprise　barrage　from　the　sky　and　the　sudden　charge　of　the　force　that　the　drow　did　not　know　were　in　Keeper's　Dale；　the　dark　elf　ranks　outnumbered　the　Knights　in　Silver　by　more　than　three　to　one。　Had　those　odds　been　one…to…one；　the　Knights　in　Silver　still　would　have　had　no　chance。

　　　The　tide　turned　quickly；　with　the　knights；　those　who　were　not　taken　down；　inevitably　falling　back　and　regrouping　into　tight　formations。　Only　the　mist　and　the　unfamiliar　terrain　prevented　the　slaughter　from　being　wholesale；　only　the　fact　that　the　overwhelming　drow　force　could　not　find　all　the　targets　allowed　the　valiant　knights　to　continue　to　resist。

　　　Near　the　rear　of　the　dark　elf　ranks；　Berg'inyon　heard　the　motion　as　one　unfortunate　human　got　separated　and　confused；　galloping　his　mount　unintentionally　toward　the　north；　away　from　his　rades。

　　　The　Baenre　son　signaled　for　his　personal　guards　to　follow　him；　but　to　stay　behind；　and　took　up　the　chase；　his　great　lizard　slinking　and　angling　to　intercept。　He　saw　the　shadowy　figure？and　what　a　magnificent　thing　Berg'inyon　thought　the　rider　to　be；　so　high　and　tall　on　his　powerful　steed。

　　　That　image　did　not　deter　the　weapon　master　of　Menzoberranzan's　first　house。　He　came　around　a　pillar　of　stone；　just　to　the　side　of　the　knight；　and　called　out　to　the　man。

　　　The　great　horse　skidded　and　stopped；　the　knight　wheeling　it　about　to　face　Berg'inyon。　He　said　something　Berg'inyon　could　not　understand；　some　proclamation　of　defiance；　no　doubt；　then　lowered　his　long　lance　and　kicked　his　horse　into　a　charge。

　　　Berg'inyon　leveled　his　own　mottled　lance　and　drove　his　heels　into　the　lizard's　flanks；　prodding　the　beast　on。　He　couldn't　match　the　speed　of　the　knight's　horse；　but　the　horse　couldn't　match　the　lizard's　agility。　As　the　opponents　neared；　Berg'inyon　swerved　aside；　brought　his　lizard　right　up　the　side　of　a　thick　stone　pillar。

　　　The　knight；　surprised　by　the　quickness　of　the　evasion；　couldn't　bring　his　lance　out　fast　enough　for　an　effective　strike；　but　as　the　two　passed；　Berg'inyon　managed　to　prod　the　running　horse　in　the　flank。　It　wasn't　a　severe　hit；　barely　a　scratch；　but　this　was　no　ordinary　lance。　The　ten…foot　pole　that　Berg'inyon　carried　was　a　devilish　death　lance；　among　the　most　cunning　and　wicked　of　drow　weapons。　As　the　lance　tip　connected　on　the　horseflesh；　cutting　through　the　metal　armor　the　beast　wore　as　though　it　were　mere　cloth；　dark；　writhing　tentacles　of　black　light　crawled　down　its　length。

　　　The　horse　whinnied　pitifully；　kicked　and　jumped　and　came　to　a　skidding　stop。　Somehow　the　knight　managed　to　hold　his　seat。

　　　〃Run　on！〃　he　cried　to　his　shivering　mount；　not　understanding。　〃Run　on！〃

　　　The　knight　suddenly　felt　as　though　the　horse　was　somehow　less　substantial　beneath　him；　felt　the　beast's　ribs　against　his　calves。

　　　The　horse　threw　its　head　back　and　whinnied　again；　an　unearthly；　undead　cry；　and　the　knight　blanched　when　he　looked　into　the　thing's　eyes；　orbs　that　burned　red　with　some　evil　enchantment。

　　　The　death　lance　had　stolen　the　creature's　life…force；　had　turned　the　proud；　strong　stallion　into　a　gaunt；　skeletal　thing；　an　undead；　evil　thing。　Thinking　quickly；　the　knight　dropped　his　lance；　drew　his　huge　sword；　and　sheared　off　the　monster's　head　with　a　single　swipe。　He　rolled　aside　as　the　horse　collapsed　beneath　him；　and　came　to　his　feet；　hopping　around　in　confusion。

　　　Dark　shapes　encircled　him；　he　heard　the　hiss　of　nearby　lizards；　the　sucking　sounds　as　sticky　feet　came　free　of　stone。

　　　Berg'inyon　Baenre　approached　slowly。　He；　too；　lowered　his　lance。　A　flick　of　his　wrist　freed　him　from　his　binding　saddle；　and　he　slid　off　his　mount；　determined　to　test　one　of　these　surface　men　in　single　bat；　determined　to　show　those　drow　nearby　the　skill　of　their　leader。

　　　Out　came　the　weapon　master's　twin　swords；　sharp　and　enchanted；　among　the　very　finest　of　drow　weapons。

　　　The　knight；　nearly　a　foot　taller　than　this　adversary；　but　knowing　the　reputation　of　dark　elves；　was　rightfully　afraid。　He　swallowed　that　fear；　though；　and　met　Berg'inyon　head…on；　sword　against　sword。

　　　The　knight　was　good；　had　trained　hard　for　all　of　his　adult　life；　but　if　he　trained　for　all　of　his　remaining　years　as　well；　they　would　not　total　the　decades　the　longer…living　Berg'inyon　had　spent　with　the　sword。

　　　The　knight　was　good。　He　lived　for　almost　five　minutes。



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　　　Alustriel　felt　the　chill；　moist　air　of