精灵血脉四部曲-第17部分

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Blood　surging；　muscles　corded；　Wulfgar　felt　no　pain。



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〃Put　up　the　torch；〃　the　drow　whispered。

〃Light　will　alert　our　enemies；〃　Regis　argued　in　similarly　hushed　tones。

They　heard　a　growl；　low　and　echoing；　down　the　corridor。

〃The　torch；〃　Drizzt　instructed；　handing　Regis　a　small　tinderbox。　〃Wait　here　with　the　light。　Guenhwyvar　and　I　will　circle　about。〃

〃Now　I　am　bait？〃　the　halfling　asked。

Drizzt；　his　senses　tuned　outward　for　signs　of　danger；　did　not　hear　the　question。　One　scimitar　drawn；　Twinkle　and　its　telltale　glow　waiting　poised　in　its　sheath；　he　slipped　silently　ahead　and　disappeared　into　the　gloom。

Regis；　still　grumbling；　struck　flint　to　steel　and　soon　had　the　torch　blazing。　Drizzt　was　out　of　sight。

A　growl　spun　the　halfling　about；　mace　at　the　ready；　but　it　was　only　Guenhwyvar；　ever　alert；　doubling　back　down　a　side　passage。　The　panther　padded　past　the　halfling；　following　Drizzt's　course；　and　Regis　quickly　shuffled　behind；　though　he　could　not　hope　to　keep　pace　with　the　beast。

He　was　alone　again　in　seconds；　his　torch　casting　elongated；　ominous　shadows　along　the　uneven　walls。　His　back　to　the　stone；　Regis　inched　on；　as　quiet　as　death。

The　black　mouth　of　a　side　passage　loomed　just　a　few　feel　away。　The　halfling　continued　walking；　holding　the　torch　straight　out　behind　him；　his　mace　leading　the　way。　He　sensed　a　presence　around　that　corner；　something　inching　up　to　the　edge　at　him　from　the　other　direction。

Regis　carefully　laid　the　torch　on　the　stone　and　brought　his　mace　in　close　to　his　chest；　gently　sliding　his　feet　to　perfectly　balance　his　weight。

He　went　around　the　corner　in　a　blinding　rush；　chopping　with　the　mace。　Something　blue　flashed　to　intercept；　then　came　the　ring　of　metal　on　metal。　Regis　instantly　brought　his　weapon　back　and　sent　it　whipping　in　sidelong；　lower。

Again　came　the　distinctive　ring　of　a　parry。

Out　came　the　mace；　and　back　in；　deftly　along　the　same　course。　The　halfling's　skilled　adversary　was　not　fooled　though；　and　the　blocking　blade　was　still　in　place。

〃Regis！〃

The　mace　twirled　above　the　halfling's　head；　ready　to　dart　ahead；　but　Regis　swung　it　down　at　arm's　length　instead；　suddenly　recognizing　the　voice。

〃I　told　you　to　remain　back　there　with　the　light；〃　Drizzt　scolded　him；　stepping　out　of　the　shadow。　〃You　are　fortunate　I　did　not　kill　you。〃

〃Or　that　I　did　not　kill　you；〃　Regis　replied　without　missing　a　beat；　and　his　calm；　cold　tone　made　Drizzt's　face　contort　with　surprise。　〃Have　you　found　anything？〃　the　halfling　asked。

Drizzt　shook　his　head。　〃We　are　close；〃　he　replied　quietly　〃Both　Guenhwyvar　and　I　are　certain　of　that。〃

Regis　walked　over　and　picked　up　his　torch；　then　tucked　his　mace　into　his　belt；　within　easy　reach。

Guenhwyvar's　sudden　growl　echoed　at　them　from　farther　down　the　long　corridor；　launching　them　both　into　a　run。　〃Don't　leave　me　behind！〃　Regis　demanded；　and　he　grabbed　hold　of　Drizzt's　cloak　and　would　not　let　go；　his　furry　feet　skipping；　jumping；　even　skidding　along　as　he　tried　to　keep　pace。

Drizzt　slowed　when　Guenhwyvar's　yellow…green；　glassy　eyes　reflected　back　at　him　from　just　beyond　the　leading　edge　of　the　torchlight；　at　a　corner　where　the　passageway　turned　sharply。

〃I　think　we　found　the　dwarves；〃　Regis　muttered　grimly。　He　handed　Drizzt　the　torch　and　let　go　of　the　cloak；　following　the　drow　up　to　the　bend。

Drizzt　peeked　around—Regis　saw　him　wince—then　brought　the　torch　into　the　open；　casting　light　on　the　dreadful　scene。

They　had　indeed　found　the　missing　dwarves；　sliced　and　slaughtered；　some　lying；　some　propped　against　the　walls　at　irregular　intervals　along　a　short　expanse　of　worked　stone　corridor。



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〃If　ye're　not　for　wearing　the　apron；　then　don't　ye　be　wearing　it！〃　Bruenor　said　in　frustration。　Catti…brie　nodded；　finally　hearing　the　concession　she　had　wanted　from　the　beginning。

〃But；　me　king；。。。〃　protested　Cobble；　the　only　other　one　in　the　private　chamber　with　Bruenor　and　Catti…brie。　Both　he　and　Bruenor　sported　severe　holy　water　headaches。

〃Bah！〃　the　dwarf　king　snorted　to　silence　the　good…intentioned　cleric。　〃Ye're　not　knowing　me　girl　as　well　as　meself。　If　she's　saying　she　won't　be　wearing　it；　then　all　the　giants　o'　the　Spine　of　the　World　couldn't　be　changing　her　mind。〃

〃Bah　yerself！〃　came　an　unexpected　call　from　outside　the　room；　followed　by　a　tremendous　knock。　〃I　know　ye're　in　there；　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　who　calls　himself　king　o'　Mithril　Hall！　Now　be　opening　yer　door　and　meet　your　better！〃

〃Do　we　know　that　voice？〃　asked　Cobble；　he　and　Bruenor　exchanging　confused　glances。

〃Open　it；　says　me！〃　came　another　cry；　followed　by　a　sharp　rap。　Wood　splintered　as　a　glove　nail；　a　large　spike　set　into　the　face　of　a　specially　constructed　metal　gauntlet；　wedged　itself　through　the　thick　door。

〃Aw；　sandstone；〃　came　a　quieter　call。

Bruenor　and　Cobble　looked　to　each　other　in　disbelief。　〃No；〃　they　said　in　unison；　wagging　their　heads　back　and　forth。

〃What　is　it？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　growing　impatient。

〃It　cannot　be；〃　Cobble　replied；　and　it　seemed　to　the　young　woman　that　he　hoped　with　all　his　heart　that　his　words　were　true。

A　grunt　signaled　that　the　creature　beyond　the　door　had　finally　extracted　his　spike。

〃What　is　it？〃　Catti…brie　demanded　of　her　father；　her　hands　planted　squarely　on　her　hips。

The　door　burst　open；　and　there　stood　the　most　curious…looking　dwarf　Catti…brie　had　ever　seen。　He　wore　a　spiked　steel　gauntlet；　open…fingered；　on　each　hand；　had　similar　spikes　protruding　from　his　elbows；　knees；　and　the　toes　of　his　heavy　boots；　and　wore　armor　（custom…fitted　to　his　short；　barrellike　form）　of　parallel；　horizontal　metal　ridges　half　an　inch　apart　and　ringing　his　body　from　neck　to　midhigh　and　his　arms　from　shoulder　to　forearm。　His　gray　helmet　was　open…faced；　with　thick　leather　straps　disappearing　under　his　monstrous　black　beard；　and　sported　a　gleaming　spike　atop　it；　nearly　half　again　as　tall　as　the　four…foot…high　dwarf。

〃It；〃　Bruenor　answered；　his　tone　reflecting　his　obvious　disdain；　〃is　a　battlerager。〃

〃Not　just　'a　battlerager〃　the　curious；　black…bearded　dwarf　put　in。　〃The　battlerager！　The　most　wild　battlerager！〃　He　walked　toward　Catti…brie　and　smiled　widely　with　his　hand　extended　toward　her。　His　armor；　with　every　movement；　issued　grating；　scraping　noises　that　made　the　young　woman's　hair　stand　straight　up　on　the　back　of　her　neck。

〃Thibbledorf　Pwent　at　yer　service；　me　good　lady！〃　the　dwarf　introduced　himself　grandly。　〃First　fighter　o'　Mithril　Hall。　Yerself　must　be　this　Catti…brie　I've　heared　so　much　tell　of　back　in　Adbar。　Bruenor's　human　daughter；　so　they　telled　me；　though　still　I'm　a　bit　shaken　at　seeing　any　Battle…hammer　woman　without　a　beard　to　tickle　her　toes！〃

The　smell　of　the　creature　nearly　overwhelmed　Catti…brie。　Had　he　taken　that　armor　off　anytime　this　century？　she　had　to　wonder。　〃I'll　try　to　grow　one；〃　she　promised。

〃See　that　ye　do！　See　that　ye　do！〃　Thibbledorf　hooted；　and　he　hopped　over　to　stand　before　Bruenor；　the　noise　of　his　armor　scraping　at　the　marrow　of　Catti…brie's　bones。

〃Me　king！〃　Thibbledorf　bellowed。　He　fell　to　a　bow—and　nearly　halved　Bruenor's　long；　pointy　nose　with　his　helmet　spike　as　he　did。

〃What　in　the　Nine　Hells　is　yerself　doing　here？〃　Bruenor　demanded。

〃Alive；　anyway；〃　Cobble　added；　then　he　returned　Bruenor's　incredulous　stare　with　a　helpless　shrug。

〃It　was　me　belief　that　ye　fell　when　the　dragon　Shimmer…gloom　took　the　lower　halls；〃　Bruenor　went　on。

〃His　breath　was　death！〃　Thibbledorf　shouted。

Look　who's　talking；　Catti…brie　thought；　but　she　kept　silent。

Pwent　roared　on；　dramatically　waving　his　arms　about　and　turning　a　spin　on　the　floor；　his　eyes　staring　at　nothing　in　particular；　as　though　he　was　recalling　a　scene　from　his　distant　past。　〃Evil　breath。　A　deep　blackness　that　fell　over　me　and　stole　the　strength　from　me　bones。

〃But　I　got　out　and　got　away！〃　Thibbledorf　cried　suddenly；　spinning　at　Catti…brie；　one　stubby　finger　pointing　her　way。　〃Out　a　secret　door　in　the　lower　tunnels。　Even　the　likes　o'　that　dragon　couldn't　stop　the　Pwent！〃

〃We　held　the　halls　for　two　more　days　afore　Shimmer…gloom's　minions　drove　us　into　Keeper's　Dale；〃　Bruenor　put　in。　〃I　heared　no　words　o'　yer　return　to　fight　beside　me　father　and　his　father；　the　then　king　o'　Mithril　Hall。〃

〃It　was　a　week　afore　I　got　me　strength　back　and　got　back　around　the　mountain　passes　to　the　western　door；〃　Pwent　explained。　〃By　then　the　halls　were　lost。

〃Sometime　later；〃　Pwent　continued；　parting　his　impossibly　thick　beard　with　one　of　his　glove　nails；　〃I　heared　that　a　bunch　of　the　younger　folk；　yerself　included；　had　gone　to　the　west。　Some　said　ye　were　to　work　the　mines　o'　Mirabar；　but　when　I　got　there；　I　heared　not　a　word。〃

〃Two　hunnerd　years！〃　Bruenor　growled　in　Pwenfs　face；　stealing　his　seemingly　perpetual　smile。　〃Ye　had　two　hunnerd　years　to　find　us；　but　not　once　did　we　hear　a　word　that　ye　was　even　alive。〃

〃I　came　back　to　the　east；〃　Pwent　explained　easily。　〃Been　living—living　well；　doing　mercenary　work；　mostly—in　Sundabar　and　for　King　Harbromme　of　Citadel　Adbar。　It　was　back　there；　three　weeks　past—I'd　been　off　to　the　south　for　some　time；　ye　see—that　I　first　heared　o'　yer　return；　that　a　Battlehammer　had　taken　back　the　halls！

〃So　here　I　be；　me　king；〃　he　said；　dipping　to　one　knee。　〃Point　me　at　yer　enemies。〃　He　gave　Catti…brie　a　garish　wink　and　poked　a　dirty；　stubby　finger　toward　the　tip　of　his　helmet　spike。

〃Most　wild？〃　Bruenor　asked；　somewhat　derisively。

〃Always　been；〃　Thibbledorf　replied。

〃I'll　call　ye　an　escort；〃　Bruenor　said；　〃so　ye　can　get　yerself　a　bath　and　a　meal。〃

〃I'll　take　the　meal；〃　Pwent　replied。　〃Keep　yer　bath　and　yer　escort。　I　know　me　way　around　these　old　halls　as　well　as　yerself；　Bruenor　Battlehammer。　Better；　I　say；　since　ye　was　but　a　stubble…chinned　dwarfling　when　we　was　pushed　out。〃　He　put　his　hand　out　to　pinch　Bruenor's　chin　and　had　it　promptly　slapped　away。　His　shrieking　laughter　like　a　hawk's　cry；　his　armor　squealing　like　talons　on　slate；　the　battlerager　stomped　away。

〃Pleasant　sort；〃　Catti…brie　remarked。

〃Pwent　alive；〃　Cobble　mused；　and　Catti…brie　could　not　tell　if　that　was　good　news　or　not。

〃Ye've　never　once　mentioned　that　one；〃　Catti…brie　said　to　Bruenor。

〃Trust　me；　girl；〃　Bruenor　replied。　〃That　one's　not　worth　men