精灵血脉四部曲-第171部分

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he　drow　called　upon　his　innate　powers；　summoned　a　globe　of　imperable　darkness　and　dropped　it　over　the　man。

　　　He　clenched　his　fist　when　he　saw　the　globe　moving　along　the　caravel's　deck；　for　he　had　hit　the　mark　and　the　globe's　magic　had　caught　the　wizard。　It　would　follow　and　blind　him；　until　he　found　some　way　to　counter　the　magic。　Even　more　than　that；　the　ten…foot　ball　of　blackness　marked　the　dangerous　wizard　clearly。

　　　〃Catti…brie！〃　Drizzt　cried。

　　　〃I　have　him！〃　she　replied；　and　Taulmaril　sang　out；　once　and　then　again；　sending　two　streaks　into　that　ball　of　blackness。

　　　Still　it　continued　its　run。　Catti…brie　hadn't　dropped　the　wizard；　but　surely　she　and　Drizzt　had　given　the　man　something　to　think　about！

　　　A　second　ballista　bolt　soared　out　from　the　Sea　Sprite；　cutting　across　the　bow　of　the　caravel；　and　then　a　fireball　from　Robillard　exploded　high　in　the　air　before　the　rushing　ship。　The　caravel；　not　agile　and　no　longer　equipped　with　an　able　wizard；　rushed　right　into　the　explosions。　As　the　fireball　disappeared；　both　masts　of　the　square…rigger　were　tipped　in　flames；　giant　candles　on　the　open　sea。

　　　The　caravel　tried　to　respond　with　its　catapult；　but　Catti…brie's　arrows　had　done　their　work　and　the　throwing　beam　split　apart　as　soon　as　the　crew　cranked　too　much　tension　on　it。

　　　Drizzt　rushed　back　to　the　wheel。　〃One　more　pass？〃　he　asked　Deudermont。

　　　The　Captain　shook　his　head。　〃Time　for　only　one；〃　he　explained。　〃And　no　time　to　stop　and　board。〃

　　　〃Two　thousand　yards！　Two　ships！〃　Catti…brie　called　out。

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　Deudermont　with　sincere　admiration。　〃More　of　Pinochet's　allies？〃　he　asked；　already　knowing　the　answer。

　　　〃That　caravel　alone　could　not　defeat　us；〃　the　seasoned　captain　coolly　added。　〃Carrackus　knows　that　and　so　would　Pinochet。　She　was　to　lead　us　in。〃

　　　〃But　we　were　too　fast　for　that　tactic；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。

　　　〃Are　you　ready　for　a　fight？〃　Deudermont　asked　slyly。

　　　Before　the　drow　could　even　answer；　Deudermont　pulled　hard　and　the　Sea　Sprite　leaned　into　a　starboard　turn　until　it　came　about　to　face　the　slowed　caravel。　The　square…sailed　ship's　topmasts　were　burning　and　half　her　was　crew　busy　trying　to　repair　the　rigging；　to　at　least　keep　her　under　half…sail。　Deudermont　angled　his　ship　to　intercept；　to　cut　across　the　prow；　in　what　the　archers　called　a　〃bow　rake。〃

　　　And　the　wounded　caravel　couldn't　maneuver　out　of　harm's　way。　Her　wizard；　though　blinded；　had　kept　the　presence　of　mind　to　put　up　a　wall　of　thick　mist；　the　standard　and　effective　defensive　seaboard　tactic。

　　　Deudermont　measured　his　angle　carefully；　wanting　to　turn　the　Sea　Sprite　right　against　the　edge　of　that　mist　and　the　whipping　water；　to　get　as　close　to　the　caravel　as　he　could。　This　was　their　last　pass；　and　it　had　to　be　devastating　or　else　the　caravel　would　be　able　to　limp　into　the　fight　with　its　sister　ships；　which　were　closing　fast。

　　　There　came　a　flash　on　the　square…rigged　ship's　deck；　a　spark　of　light　that　countered　Drizzt's　darkness　spell。

　　　From　her　high　perch　above　the　defensive　magic；　Catti…brie　saw　it。　She　was　already　training　on　the　darkness　when　the　wizard　emerged。　The　robed　man　went　immediately　into　a　chant；　meaning　to　hurl　a　devastating　spell　in　the　path　of　the　Sea　Sprite　before　she　could　cross　the　caravel's　bow；　but　only　a　couple　of　words　had　escaped　his　lips　when　he　felt　a　tremendous　thump　against　his　chest　and　heard　the　planks　of　the　ship's　deck　splinter　behind　him。　He　looked　down　at　the　blood　beginning　to　pour　onto　the　decking　and　realized　that　he　was　sitting；　then　lying；　and　all　the　world　grew　dark。

　　　The　wall　of　mist　the　wizard　had　put　up　fell　away。

　　　Robillard　saw　it；　recognized　it；　and　clapped　his　hands　and　sent　twin　bolts　of　lightning　slashing　across　the　caravel's　deck；　slamming　the　masts　and　killing　many　pirates。　The　Sea　Sprite　crossed　in　front　of　the　caravel；　and　the　archers　let　fly。　So；　too；　did　the　ballista　crew；　but　they　did　not　hurl　a　long　spear　this　time。　They　used　a　shortened　and　unbalanced　bolt；　trailing　a　chain　lined　with　many…pronged　grapnels。　The　contraption　twirled　as　it　flew；　entangling　many　lines；　fouling　up　the　caravel's　rigging。

　　　Another　missile；　a　living　missile；　six　hundred　pounds　of　sleek　and　muscled　panther；　soared　from　the　Sea　Sprite　as　she　crossed　by　and　caught　the　caravel's　beam。

　　　〃Are　you　ready；　drow？〃　Robillard　called；　seeming　excited　for　the　first　time　this　fight。

　　　Drizzt　nodded　and　motioned　to　his　fighting　panions；　the　score　of　veterans　who　prised　the　Sea　Sprite's　crack　boarding　crew。　They　scrambled　toward　the　wizard　from　all　sections　of　the　ship；　dropping　their　bows　and　drawing　out　weapons　for　close　melee。　By　the　time　Drizzt；　leading　the　rush；　got　near　to　Robillard；　the　wizard　already　had　a　shimmering　field梐　magical　door梠n　the　deck　beside　him。　Drizzt　didn't　hesitate；　charging　right　through；　scimitars　in　hand。　One　of　them；　Twinkle；　glowed　a　fierce　blue。

　　　Out　the　other　end　of　Robillard's　magical　tunnel　he　came；　arriving　in　the　midst　of　many　surprised　pirates　aboard　the　caravel。　Drizzt　slashed　left　and　right；　clearing　a　hole　in　their　ranks；　and　he　darted　through；　his　feet　a　blur。　He　turned　sharply；　fell　to　the　side　and　rolled　as　one　archer　shot　harmlessly　above　him。　He　came　back　to　his　feet；　darted　straight　for　the　bowman　and　cut　him　down。

　　　More　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　warriors　poured　through　the　gate　and　the　middle　of　the　caravel　erupted　in　wild　battle。

　　　The　confusion　on　the　caravel's　bow　was　no　less　as　Guenhwyvar；　all　teeth　and　claws　she　seemed；　slashed　and　tore　through　the　mass　of　men　who　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　be　away　from　this　mighty　beast。　Many　were　pulled　down　under　those　powerful　claws；　and　several　others　simply　turned　to　the　side　and　leaped　overboard；　ready　to　take　their　chances　with　the　sharks。

　　　Again　the　Sea　Sprite　bent　low　in　the　water；　Deudermont　pulling　her　hard　to　port；　angling　away　from　the　caravel　and　turning　to　meet　the　charge　of　the　ing　duo　head…on。　The　tall　captain　smiled　as　he　heard　the　fighting　on　the　ship　behind　him；　confident　in　his　boarding　party；　though　they　were　still　likely　outnumbered　two　to　one。

　　　The　dark　elf　and　his　panther　tended　to　even　such　odds。

　　　From　her　high　perch；　Catti…brie　picked　several　more　shots；　each　one　taking　down　a　strategically…placed　pirate　archer；　and　one　driving　through　a　man　to　kill　the　pirate　goblin　sitting　next　to　him！

　　　Then　the　young　woman　turned　her　attention　away　from　the　caravel；　looking　forward　in　order　to　direct　the　Sea　Sprite's　movements。

　　　Drizzt　ran　and　rolled；　leaped　in　confusing　spins　and　always　came　down　with　his　scimitars　angled　for　an　enemy's　most　vital　areas。　Under　his　boots；　he　wore　bands　of　gleaming　mithril　rings　secured　around　black　material；　enchanted　for　speed。　Drizzt　had　taken　these　from　Dantrag　Baenre；　a　famed　drow　weaponmaster。　Dantrag　had　used　them　as　bracers　to　speed　his　hands；　but　Drizzt　understood　the　truth　of　the　items。　On　his　ankles；　they　allowed　the　drow　to　run　and　dart　like　a　wild　hare。

　　　He　used　them　now；　along　with　his　amazing　agility；　to　confuse　the　pirates；　to　keep　them　unsure　of　where　he　was；　or　where　they　could　next　expect　him　to　be。　Whenever　one　of　them　guessed　wrong　and　was　caught　off　guard；　Drizzt　seized　the　opportunity　and　came　in　hard；　scimitars　slashing　away。　He　made　his　way　generally　forward；　seeking　to　join　up　with　Guenhwyvar；　the　fighting　panion　who　knew　him　best　and　plimented　his　every　move。

　　　He　didn't　quite　get　there。　The　rout　on　the　caravel　was　nearly　plete；　many　pirates　dead；　others　throwing　down　their　weapons；　or　throwing　themselves　overboard　in　sheer　desperation。　One　of　the　crew；　the　most　seasoned　and　most　fearsome；　a　personal　friend　of　Pinochet；　wasn't　so　quick　to　surrender。

　　　He　emerged　from　his　cabin　under　the　forward　bridge；　his　body　bent　over　because　the　low　construction　of　the　ship　would　not　acmodate　his　ten…foot　height。　He　wore　only　a　sleeveless　red　vest　and　short　breeches；　which　barely　covered　his　scaly　green　skin。　Limp　hair　the　color　of　seaweed　hung　below　his　broad　shoulders。　He　carried　no　weapon　fashioned　on　a　smithy's　anvil　but；　his　dirty　claws　and　abundant　teeth　seemed　deadly　enough。

　　　〃So　the　rumors　were　true；　dark　elf；〃　he　said　in　a　wet；　bubbly　voice。　〃You　have　returned　to　the　sea。〃

　　　〃I　do　not　know　you；〃　Drizzt　said；　skidding　to　a　stop　a　cautious　distance　from　the　scrag。　He　guessed　the　pirate　to　be　Carrackus；　the　sea　troll　Deudermont　had　spoken　of；　but　could　not　be　sure。

　　　〃I　know　you！〃　the　scrag　growled。　He　charged；　his　clawed　hands　slashing　for　Drizzt's　head。

　　　Three　quick　steps　brought　Drizzt　out　of　the　monster's　path。　The　drow　dropped　to　one　knee　and　spun　about；　both　scimitars　slashing　across；　blades　barely　an　inch　apart。

　　　More　agile　than　Drizzt　expected；　the　opponent　turned　the　opposite　way　and　twirled；　pulling　in　his　trailing　leg。　The　drow's　scimitars　barely　nicked　the　monster　as　they　passed。

　　　The　scrag　charged；　meaning　to　bury　Drizzt　where　he　knelt；　but　again　the　drow　was　too　quick　for　such　a　straightforward　tactic。　He　came　up　to　his　feet　and　started　left；　then；　as　the　scrag　took　the　bait　and　began　to　turn；　Drizzt　came　back　fast　to　the　right；　underneath　the　monster's　swinging　arm。

　　　Twinkle　stabbed　a　hip　and　Drizzt's　other　blade　followed　with　a　deep　cut　along　the　scrag's　side。

　　　Drizzt　accepted　the　backhand　his　opponent　launched　his　way；　knowing　that　the　off…balance　scrag　couldn't　put　much　of　its　formidable　strength　and　weight　behind　it。　The　long　and　skinny　arm　thudded　off　the　drow's　shoulder　and　then　off　his　parrying　blades　as　he　spun　to　face　the　lurching　brute。

　　　Now　it　was　Drizzt's　turn　to　charge；　lightning　fast　and　straight　ahead。　He　slid　Twinkle　under　the　elbow　of　the　outstretched　scrag　arm；　drawing　a　deep　gash　and　then　hooked　the　fine…edged　and　curving　blade　underneath　the　hanging　flap　of　skin。　His　other　scimitar　poked　for　the　scrag's　chest；　slipped　past　the　frantic　block　of　the　other　arm。

　　　There　was　only　one　way　for　the　off…balance　monster　to　move。　Drizzt　knew　that；　anticipated　the　scrag's　retreat　perfectly。　The　drow　secured　his　grip　on　Twinkle；　even　braced　his　shoulder　against　the　weapon's　hilt　to　hold　it　firm。　The　scrag　roared　in　agony　and　dove　back　and　to　the　side；　directly　opposite　the　angle　of　Twinkle's　n