精灵血脉四部曲-第16部分

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I　know　the　enemy。〃

〃I　lost　the　guild；〃　Regis　admitted；　〃just　two　weeks　after　you　left　Calimport。〃

The　news　did　not　surprise　the　drow。

〃Artemis　Entreri；〃　Regis　said　grimly；　lifting　his　cherubic　face　to　stare　at　Drizzt　directly；　studying　the　drow's　every　movement。

〃Entreri　took　the　guild？〃　Drizzt　asked。

Regis　nodded。　〃He　didn't　have　such　a　hard　time　of　that。　His　work　reached　to　my　most　trusted　colleagues。〃

〃You　should　have　expected　as　much　from　the　assassin；〃　Drizzt　replied；　and　he　gave　a　small　laugh；　which　made　Regis's　eyes　widen　with　apparent　surprise。

〃You　find　this　funny？〃

〃The　guild　is　better　in　Entreri's　hands；〃　Drizzt　replied；　to　the　halfling's　continued　surprise。　〃He　is　suited　for　the　double…dealing　ways　of　miserable　Calimport。〃

〃I　thought　you　。　。　。〃　Regis　began。　〃I　mean；　don't　you　want　to　go　and　。。。〃

〃Kill　Entreri？〃　Drizzt　asked　with　a　soft　chuckle。　〃My　battle　with　the　assassin　is　ended；〃　he　added　when　Regis's　eager　nod　confirmed　his　guess。

〃Entreri　might　not　think　so；〃　Regis　said　grimly。

Drizzt　shrugged—and　noticed　that　his　casual　attitude　seemed　to　bother　the　halfling　more　than　a　little。　〃As　long　as　Entreri　remains　in　the　southland；　he　is　of　no　concern　to　me。〃　Drizzt　knew　that　Regis　didn't　expect　Entreri　to　remain　in　the　south。　Perhaps　that　was　why　Regis　would　not　stay　in　the　upper　levels　during　the　goblin　fight；　Drizzt　thought。　Perhaps　Regis　feared　that　Entreri　might　sneak　into　Mithril　Hall。　If　the　assassin　found　both　Drizzt　and　Regis；　he　probably　would　go　after　Drizzt　first。

〃You　hurt　him；　you　know；〃　Regis　went　on；　〃in　your　fight；　I　mean。　He's　not　the　type　to　forgive　something　like　that。〃

Drizzt's　look　became　suddenly　grave；　Regis　shifted　back；　putting　more　distance　between　himself　and　the　fires　in　the　drow's　lavender　eyes。　〃Do　you　believe　he　has　followed　you　north？〃　Drizzt　asked　bluntly。

Regis　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃I　arranged　things　so　it　would　look　like　I　had　been　killed；〃　he　explained。　〃Besides；　Entreri　knows　where　Mithril　Hall　is。　He　could　find　you　without　having　to　follow　me　here。

〃But　he　won't；〃　Regis　went　on。　〃From　all　I　have　heard；　he　has　lost　the　use　of　one　arm；　and　lost　an　eye　as　well。　He　would　hardly　be　your　fighting　equal　anymore。〃

〃It　was　the　loss　of　his　heart　that　stole　his　fighting　ability；〃　Drizzt　remarked；　more　to　himself　than　to　Regis。　Despite　his　casual　attitude；　Drizzt　could　not　easily　dismiss　his　long…standing　rivalry　with　the　deadly　assassin。　Entreri　was　his　opposite　in　many　ways；　passionless　and　amoral；　but　in　fighting　ability　he　had　proven　to　be　Drizzt's　equal—　almost。　Entreri's　philosophy　maintained　that　a　true　warrior　be　a　heartless　thing；　a　pure；　efficient　killer。　Drizzt's　beliefs　went　in　exactly　the　opposite　direction。　To　the　drow；　who　had　grown　up　among　so　many　warriors　holding　similar　ideals　as　the　assassin；　the　passion　of　righteousness　enhanced　a　warrior's　prowess。　Drizzt's　father；　Zaknafein；　was　unequaled　in　Menzoberranzan　because　his　swords　rang　out　for　justice；　because　he　fought　with　the　sincere　belief　that　his　battles　were　morally　justified。

〃Do　not　doubt　that　he　will　ever　hate　you；〃　Regis　remarked　grimly；　stealing　Drizzt's　private　contemplations。

Drizzt　noted　a　sparkle　in　the　halfling's　eye　and　took　it　as　an　indication　of　Regis's　burning　hatred　of　Entreri。　Did　Regis　want；　expect；　him　to　go　back　to　Calimport　and　finish　his　war　with　Entreri？　the　drow　wondered。　Did　Regis　expect　Drizzt　to　deliver　the　thieves'　guild　back　to　him；　deposing　its　assassin　leader？

〃He　hates　me　because　my　way　of　life　shows　his　to　be　an　empty　lie；〃　Drizzt　remarked　firmly；　somewhat　coldly。　The　drow　would　not　go　back　to　Calimport；　would　not　go　back　to　do　battle　with　Artemis　Entreri；　for　any　reason。　To　do　so　would　put　him　on　the　assassin's　moral　level；　something　the　drow；　who　had　turned　his　back　on　his　own　amoral　people；　feared　more　than　anything　in　all　the　world。

Regis　looked　away；　apparently　catching　on　to　Drizzt's　true　feelings。　Disappointment　was　obvious　in　his　expression；　the　drow　had　to　believe　that　Regis　really　did　hope　he　would　regain　his　precious　guild　at　the　end　of　Drizzt's　scimitars。　And　Drizzt　didn't　really　take　much　hope　in　the　halfling's　claims　that　Entreri　would　not　e　north。　If　the　assassin；　or　at　least　agents　of　the　assassin；　would　not　be　about；　then　why　had　Regis　remained　tight　to　Drizzt's　side　when　they　went　down　to　fight　the　goblins？

〃e；〃　the　drow　bade；　before　his　mounting　anger　could　take　hold　of　him。　〃We　have　many　more　miles　to　cover　before　we　break　for　the　night。　We　must　soon　send　Guenhwyvar　back　to　the　Astral　Plane；　and　our　chances　of　finding　the　dwarves　are　better　with　the　panther　beside　us。〃

Regis　stuffed　his　remaining　food　in　his　small　pack；　doused　the　torch；　and　fell　in　step　behind　the　drow。　Drizzt　looked　back　at　him　often；　somewhat　amazed；　somewhat　disappointed；　by　the　angry　glow　in　the　red　dots　that　were　the　halfling's　eyes。



Chapter　8

Sparks　A…Flying



Beads　of　glistening　sweat　rolled　along　the　barbarian's　sculpted　arms；　shadows　of　the　flickering　I　hearth　drew　definitive　lines　along　his　biceps　I　and　thick　forearms；　accentuating　the　enormous；　corded　muscles。

With　astounding　ease；　as　though　he　were　swinging　a　tool　made　for　slender　nails；　Wulfgar　brought　a　twenty…pound　sledge　down　repeatedly　on　a　metal　shaft。　Bits　of　molten　iron　flew　with　every　ringing　hit　and　spattered　the　walls　and　floor　and　the　thick　leather　apron　he　wore；　for　the　barbarian　had　carelessly　overheated　the　metal。　Blood　surged　in　Wulfgar's　great　shoulders；　but　he　did　not　blink　and　he　did　not　tire。　He　was　driven　by　the　certainty　that　he　had　to　work　out　the　demon　emotions　that　had　grabbed　his　heart。

He　would　find　solace　in　exhaustion。

Wulfgar　had　not　worked　the　forge　in　years；　not　since　Bruenor　had　released　him　from　servitude　back　in　Icewind　Dale；　a　place；　a　life；　that　seemed　a　million　miles　removed。

Wulfgar　needed　the　iron　now；　needed　the　unthinking；　instinctual　pounding；　the　physical　duress　to　overrule　the　confusing　jumble　of　emotions　that　would　not　let　him　rest。　The　rhythmic　banging　forced　his　thoughts　into　a　straight　line　pattern；　he　allowed　himself　to　consider　only　a　single　plete　thought　between　each　interrupting　bang。

He　wanted　to　resolve　so　many　things　this　day；　mostly　to　remind　himself　of　those　qualities　that　initially　had　drawn　him　to　his　soon…to…be　bride。　At　each　interval；　though；　the　same　image　flashed　to　him：　Aegis…fang　twirling　dangerously　close　to　Drizzt's　head。

He　had　tried　to　kill　his　dearest　friend。

With　suddenly　renewed　vigor；　he　sent　the　sledge　pounding　home　on　the　metal　and　again　sent　lines　of　sparks　flying　throughout　the　small；　private　chamber。

What　in　the　Nine　Hells　was　happening　to　him？

Again；　the　sparks　flew　wildly。

How　many　times　had　Drizzt　Do'Urden　saved　him？　How　empty　would　his　life　have　been　without　his　ebon…skinned　friend？

He　grunted　as　the　hammer　hit　home。

But　the　drow　had　kissed　Catti…brie—Wulfgar's　Catti…brie！—outside　Mithril　Hall　on　the　day　of　his　return！

Wulfgar's　breathing　came　in　labored　gasps；　but　his　arm　pumped　fiercely；　playing　his　fury　through　the　smithy　hammer。　His　eyes　were　closed　as　tightly　as　the　hand　that　clenched　the　hammer；　his　muscles　swelled　with　the　strain。

〃That　one　for　throwin'　around　corners？〃　he　heard　a　dwarf's　voice　ask。

Wulfgar's　eyes　popped　open　and　he　spun　about　to　see　one　of　Bruenor's　kinfolk　shuffling　past　the　partly　opened　doorway；　the　dwarf's　laughter　echoing　as　he　made　his　way　along　the　stone…worked　corridor。　When　the　barbarian　looked　back　to　his　work；　he　understood　the　dwarf's　mirth；　for　the　metal　spear　he　had　been　shaping　was　now　badly　bowed　in　the　middle　from　the　too…hard　slams　on　the　overheated　metal。

Wulfgar　tossed　the　ruined　shaft　aside　and　let　the　hammer　drop　to　the　stone　floor。＇奇＋书＋网＇

〃Why　did　you　do　it　to　me？〃　he　asked　aloud；　though；　of　course；　Drizzt　was　too　far　away　to　hear　him。　His　mind　held　a　conjured　image　of　Drizzt　and　his　beloved　Catti…brie　embraced　in　a　deep　kiss；　an　image　the　beleaguered　Wulfgar　could　not　let　go；　even　though　he　had　not　actually　seen　the　two　in　the　act。

He　wiped　a　hand　across　his　sweaty　brow；　leaving　a　line　of　soot　on　his　forehead；　and　slumped　to　a　seat　on　the　edge　of　a　stone　table。　He　hadn't　expected　things　to　bee　this　plicated；　hadn't　anticipated　Catti…brie's　outrageous　behavior。　He　thought　of　the　first　time　he　had　seen　his　love；　when　she　was　barely　more　than　a　girl；　skipping　along　the　tunnels　of　the　dwarven　plex　in　Icewind　Dale—carelessly　skipping；　as　though　all　the　ever…present　dangers　of　that　harsh　region；　and　all　the　memories　of　the　recent　war　against　Wulfgar's　people　simply　fell　away　from　her　delicate　shoulders；　bounced　off　her　as　surely　as　did　her　lustrous　auburn　tresses。

It　didn't　take　young　Wulfgar　long　to　understand　that　Catti…brie　had　captured　his　heart　with　that　carefree　dance。　He　had　never　met　a　woman　like　her；　in　his　male…dominated　tribe；　women　were　virtual　slaves；　cowering　to　the　often　unreasonable　demands　of　the　menfolk。　Barbarian　women　did　not　dare　to　question　their　men；　certainly　did　not　embarrass　them；　as　Catti…brie　had　done　to　Wulfgar　when　he　had　insisted　that　she　not　acpany　the　force　sent　to　parley　with　the　goblin　tribe。

Wulfgar　was　wise　enough　now　to　admit　his　own　shortings；　and　he　felt　a　fool　for　the　way　he　had　spoken　to　Catti…brie。　Still；　there　remained　in　the　barbarian　a　need　for　a　woman—a　wife—that　he　could　protect；　a　wife　that　would　allow　him　his　rightful　place　as　a　man。

Things　had　bee　so　very　plicated；　and　then；　just　to　make　matters　worse；　Catti…brie；　his　Catti…brie；　had　shared　a　kiss　with　Drizzt　Do'Urden！

Wulfgar　bounced　up　from　his　seat　and　rushed　to　retrieve　the　hammer；　knowing　that　he　would　spend　many　more　hours　at　the　forge；　many　more　hours　transferring　the　rage　from　his　knotted　muscles　to　the　metal。　For　the　metal　had　yielded　to　him　as　Catti…brie　would　not；　had　plied　to　the　undeniable　call　of　his　heavy　hammer。

Wulfgar　sent　the　hammer　down　with　all　his　might；　and　a　newly　heated　metal　bar　shuddered　with　the　impact。　Pong　Sparks　whipped　across　Wulfgar's　high　cheekbones；　one　nipping　at　the　edge　of　his　eye。

Blood　surging；　muscles　corded；　Wulfgar　felt　no　pain。



*　*　*　*　*



〃Put　up　the　torch；〃　the　drow　whispered。

〃Light　will　alert　our