精灵血脉四部曲-第157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！



　　　That　notion　bothered　the　weapon　master　of　Barrison　del'Armgo　more　than　a　little。　If　Berg'inyon　was　in　Mithril　Hall；　and　Drizzt　Do'Urden　was　there；　the　renegade　might　fall　to　the　son　of　House　Baenre。　Thus　Uthegental　and　the　small　band　of　a　half…dozen　elite　warriors　he　took　in　tow　now　sought　the　narrow　ways　that　would　get　them　to　the　lowest　gate　of　Mithril　Hall　proper。　Those　tunnels　should　be　open；　with　the　dark　elves　filtering　out　from　the　Undercity　to　clear　the　way。

　　　The　weapon　master　and　his　escort　came　into　the　cavern　that　had　previously　served　as　Bruenor's　mand　post。　It　was　deserted　now；　with　only　a　few　parchments　and　scraps　from　clerical　preparations　to　show　that　anyone　had　been　in　the　place。　After　the　fall　of　the　tunnels　and　the　collapse　of　portions　of　Tunult's　Cavern　（and　many　side　tunnels；　including　the　main　one　that　led　back　to　this　chamber）；　Bruenor's　lower　groups　apparently　had　been　scattered；　without　any　central　mand。

　　　Uthegental　passed　through　the　place；　hardly　giving　it　a　thought。　The　drow　band　moved　swiftly　down　the　corridors；　staying　generally　east；　silently　following　the　weapon　master's　urgent　lead。　They　came　to　a　wide　fork　in　the　trail　and　noticed　the　very　old　bones　of　a　two…headed　giant　lying　against　the　wall梚ronically；　a　kill　Bruenor　Battlehammer　had　made　centuries　before。　Of　more　concern；　though；　was　the　fork　in　the　tunnel。

　　　Frustrated　at　yet　another　delay；　Uthegental　sent　scouts　left　and　right；　then　he　and　the　rest　of　his　group　went　right；　the　more　easterly　course。

　　　Uthegental　sighed；　relieved　that　they　had　at　last　found　the　lower　door；　when　his　scout　and　another　drow；　a　priestess；　met　him　a　few　moments　later。

　　　〃Greetings；　Weapon　Master　of　the　Second　House；〃　the　priestess　greeted；　affording　mighty　Uthegental　more　respect　than　was　normally　given　to　mere　males。

　　　〃Why　are　you　out　in　the　tunnels？〃　Uthegental　wanted　to　know。　〃We　are　still　far　from　the　Undercity。〃

　　　〃Farther　than　you　think；〃　the　priestess　replied；　looking　disdainfully　back　toward　the　east；　down　the　long　tunnel　that　ended　at　the　lower　door。　〃The　way　is　not　clear。〃

　　　Uthegental　issued　a　low　growl。　Those　dark　elves　should　have　taken　the　Undercity　by　now；　and　should　have　opened　the　passages。　He　stepped　by　the　female；　his　pace　revealing　his　anger。

　　　〃You'll　not　break　through；〃　the　priestess　assured　him；　and　he　spun　about；　scowling　as　though　she　had　slapped　him　in　the　face。

　　　〃We　have　been　striking　at　the　door　for　an　hour；〃　the　priestess　explained。　〃And　we　shall　spend　another　week　before　we　get　past　that　barricade。　The　dwarves　defend　it　well。〃

　　　〃Ultrin　sargtlin！〃　Uthegental　roared；　his　favorite　title；　to　remind　the　priestess　of　his　reputation。　Still；　despite　the　fact　that　Uthegental　had　earned　that　banner　of　〃Supreme　Warrior；〃　the　female　did　not　seem　impressed。

　　　〃A　hundred　drow；　five　wizards；　and　ten　priestesses　have　not　breached　the　door；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃The　dwarves　strike　back　against　our　magic　with　great　spears　and　balls　of　flaming　pitch。　And　the　tunnel　leading　to　the　door　is　narrow　and　filled　with　traps；　as　well　defended　as　House　Baenre　itself。　Twenty　minotaurs　went　down　there；　and　those　dozen　that　stumbled　past　the　traps　found　hardy　dwarves　waiting　for　them；　ing　out　of　concealment　from　small；　secret　cubbies。　Twenty　minotaurs　were　slain　in　the　span　of　a　few　minutes。

　　　〃You'll　not　break　through；〃　the　priestess　said　again；　her　tone　matter…of…fact　and　in　no　way　insulting。　〃None　of　us　will　unless　those　who　have　entered　the　dwarven　plex　strike　at　the　defenders　of　the　door　from　behind。〃

　　　Uthegental　wanted　to　lash　out　at　the　female；　mostly　because　he　believed　her　claim。

　　　〃Why　would　you　wish　to　enter　the　plex？〃　the　female　asked　unexpectedly；　slyly。

　　　Uthegental　eyed　her　with　suspicion；　wondering　if　she　was　questioning　his　bravery。　Why　wouldn't　he　want　to　find　the　fighting；　after　all？

　　　〃Whispers　say　your　intended　prey　is　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　priestess　went　on。

　　　Uthegental's　expression　shifted　from　suspicion　to　intrigue。

　　　〃Other　whispers　say　the　renegade　is　in　the　tunnels　outside　Mithril　Hall；〃　she　explained；　〃hunting　with　his　panther　and　killing　quite　a　few　drow。〃

　　　Uthegental　ran　a　hand　through　his　spiked　hair　and　looked　back　to　the　west；　to　the　wild　maze　of　tunnels　he　had　left　behind。　He　felt　a　surge　of　adrenaline　course　through　his　body；　a　tingling　that　tightened　his　muscles　and　set　his　features　in　a　grim　lock。　He　knew　that　many　groups　of　enemies　were　operating　in　the　tunnels　outside　the　dwarven　plex；　scattered　bands　fleeing　the　seven…chambered　cavern　where　the　first　battle　had　been　fought。　Uthegental　and　his　panions　had　met　and　slain　one　such　group　of　dwarves　on　their　journey　to　this　point。

　　　Now　that　he　thought　about　it；　it　made　sense　to　Uthegental　that　Drizzt　would　be　out　here　as　well。　It　was　very　likely　the　renegade　had　been　in　the　battle　in　the　seven…chambered　cavern；　and；　if　that　was　true；　then　why　would　Drizzt　flee　back　into　Mithril　Hall？

　　　Drizzt　was　a　hunter；　a　former　patrol　leader；　a　warrior　that　had　survived　a　decade　alone　with　his　magical　panther　in　the　wild　Underdark梟o　small　feat；　and　one　that　even　Uthegental　respected。

　　　Yes；　now　that　the　priestess　had　told　him　the　rumor；　it　made　perfect　sense　to　Uthegental　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　would　be　out　there；　somewhere　back　in　the　tunnels　to　the　west；　roaming　and　killing。　The　weapon　master　laughed　loudly　and　started　back　the　way　he　had　e；　offering　no　explanation。

　　　None　was　needed；　to　the　priestess　or　to　Uthegental's　panions；　who　fell　into　line　behind　him。

　　　The　weapon　master　of　the　second　house　was　hunting。



　　　*****



　　　〃We　are　winning；〃　Matron　Baenre　declared。

　　　None　of　those　around　her梟ot　Methil　or　Jarlaxle；　not　Matron　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin；　of　the　fourth　house；　or　Auro'pol　Dyrr；　matron　mother　of　House　Agrach　Dyrr；　now　the　fifth　house；　not　Bladen'Kerst　or　Quenthel　Baenre梐rgued　the　blunt　statement。

　　　Gandalug　Battlehammer；　dirty　and　beaten；　his　wrists　bound　tightly　by　slender　shackles　so　strongly　enchanted　that　a　giant　could　not　break　them；　cleared　his　throat；　a　noise　that　sounded　positively　gloating。　There　was　more　bluster　than　truth　in　the　dwarf's　attitude；　for　Gandalug　carried　with　him　a　heavy　weight。　Even　if　his　folk　were　putting　up　a　tremendous　fight；　dark　elves　had　gotten　into　the　Under…city。　And　they　had　e　to　that　place　because　of　Gandalug；　because　of　his　knowledge　of　the　secret　ways。　The　old　dwarf　understood　that　no　one　could　withstand　the　intrusions　of　an　illithid；　but　the　guilt　remained；　the　notion　that　he；　somehow；　had　not　been　strong　enough。

　　　Quenthel　moved　before　Bladen'Kerst　could　react；　smacking　the　obstinate　prisoner　hard　across　the　back；　her　fingernails　drawing　lines　of　blood。

　　　Gandalug　snorted　again；　and　this　time　Bladen'Kerst　whacked　him　with　her　five…tonged　snake…headed　whip；　a　blow　that　sent　the　sturdy　dwarf　to　his　knees。

　　　〃Enough！〃　Matron　Baenre　growled　at　her　daughters；　a　hint　of　her　underlying　frustration　showing　through。

　　　They　all　knew梐nd　it　seemed　Baenre　did　as　well；　despite　her　proclamation梩hat　the　war　was　not　going　according　to　plan。　Jarlaxle's　scouts　had　informed　them　of　the　bottleneck　near　Mithril　Hall's　lowest　door；　and　that　the　eastern　door　from　the　surface　had　been　blocked　soon　after　it　was　breached；　at　a　cost　of　many　drow　lives。　Quenthel's　magical　munications　with　her　brother　told　her　that　the　fighting　was　still　furious　on　the　southern　and　western　slopes　of　Fourthpeak；　and　that　the　western　door　from　the　surface　had　not　yet　been　approached。　And　Methil；　who　had　lost　his　two　illithid　panions；　had　telepathically　assured　Matron　Baenre　that　the　fight　for　the　Undercity　was　not　yet　won；　not　at　all。

　　　Still；　there　was　a　measure　of　truth　in　Baenre's　prediction　of　victory；　they　all　knew；　and　her　confidence　was　not　pletely　superficial。　The　battle　outside　the　mountain　was　not　finished；　but　Berg'inyon　had　assured　Quenthel　that　it　soon　would　be梐nd　given　the　power　of　the　force　that　had　gone　out　beside　Berg'inyon；　Quenthel　had　no　reason　to　doubt　his　claim。

　　　Many　had　died　in　these　lower　tunnels；　but　most　of　the　losses　had　been　humanoid　slaves；　not　dark　elves。　Now　those　dwarves　who　had　been　caught　outside　their　plex　after　the　tunnel　collapse　had　been　forced　into　tactics　of　hunt　and　evade；　a　type　of　warfare　that　surely　favored　the　stealthy　dark　elves。

　　　〃All　the　lower　tunnels　will　soon　be　secured；〃　Matron　Baenre　elaborated；　a　statement　made　obvious　by　the　simple　fact　that　this　group；　which　would　risk　no　encounters；　was　on　the　move　once　more。　The　elite　force　surrounding　Baenre　was　responsible　for　guiding　and　guarding　the　first　matron　mother。　They　would　not　allow　Baenre　any　advancement　unless　the　area　in　front　of　them　was　declared　secure。

　　　〃The　region　above　the　ground　around　Mithril　Hall　will　also　be　secured；〃　Baenre　added；　〃with　both　surface　doors　to　the　plex　breached。〃

　　　〃And　likely　dropped；〃　Jarlaxle　dared　to　put　in。

　　　〃Sealing　the　dwarves　in　their　hole；〃　Matron　Baenre　was　quick　to　respond。　〃We　will　fight　through　this　lower　door；　and　our　wizards　and　priestesses　will　find　and　open　new　ways　into　the　tunnels　of　the　plex；　that　we　might　filter　among　our　enemy's　ranks。〃

　　　Jarlaxle　conceded　the　point；　as　did　the　others；　but　what　Baenre　was　talking　about　would　take　quite　a　bit　of　time；　and　a　drawn　out　siege　had　not　been　part　of　the　plan。　The　prospect　did　not　sit　well　with　any　of　those　around　Matron　Baenre；　particularly　the　other　two　matron　mothers。　Baenre　had　pressured　them　to　e　out；　so　they　had；　though　their　houses；　and　all　the　city；　was　in　a　critical　power　flux。　In　exchange　for　the　personal　attendance　of　the　matron　mothers　in　the　long　march；　House　Xorlarrin　and　House　Agrach　Dyrr　had　been　allowed　to　keep　most　of　their　soldiers　at　home；　while　the　other　houses；　particularly　the　other　ruling　houses；　had　sent　as　much　as　half　their　plement　of　dark　elves。　For　the　few　months　that　the　army　was　expected　to　be　away；　the　fourth　and　fifth　Houses　seemed　secure。

　　　But　Zeerith　and　Auro'pol　had　other　concerns；　worries　of　power　struggles　within　their　families。　The　hierarchy　of　any　drow　house；　except　perhaps　for　Baenre；　was　always　tentative；　and　the　two　matron　mothers　knew　that　if　they　were　away　for　too　long；　they　might　return