精灵血脉四部曲-第172部分

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　The　scrag　roared　in　agony　and　dove　back　and　to　the　side；　directly　opposite　the　angle　of　Twinkle's　nasty　bite。　The　sickly　flesh　peeled　from　the　scrag's　arm；　all　the　way　from　its　biceps　to　its　wrist。　The　torn　lump　fell　to　the　deck　with　a　sickening　thud。

　　　His　black　eyes　filled　with　outrage　and　hatred。　The　scrag　looked　down　to　the　exposed　bone；　to　the　writhing　lump　of　troll　flesh　on　the　deck。　And　finally；　to　Drizzt；　who　stood　casually；　scimitars　crossed　down　low　in　front　of　him。

　　　〃Damn　you；　Drizzt；〃　the　monstrous　pirate　growled。

　　　〃Strike　your　colors；〃　Drizzt　ordered。

　　　〃You　think　you　have　won？〃

　　　In　response；　Drizzt　looked　down　to　the　slab　of　meat。

　　　〃It　will　heal；　foolish　dark　elf！〃　the　pirate　insisted。

　　　Drizzt　knew　that　the　scrag　spoke　truly。　Scrags　were　close　relatives　of　trolls；　horrid　creatures　renowned　for　their　regenerative　powers。　A　dead　dismembered　troll　could　e　back　together。

　　　Unless　。　。　。

　　　Drizzt　called　upon　his　innate　abilities　once　more；　that　small　part　of　magic　inherent　in　the　dark　elf　race。　A　moment　later；　purplish　flames　climbed　the　towering　scrag's　form；　licking　at　green　scales。　This　was　only　faerie　fire；　harmless　light　the　dark　elves　could　use　to　outline　their　opponents。　It　had　no　power　to　burn；　nor　could　it　prevent　the　regenerative　process　of　a　troll。

　　　Drizzt　knew　that；　he　was　betting　that　the　monster　did　not。

　　　The　scrag's　gruesome　features　twisted　in　an　expression　of　sheer　horror。　He　flailed　his　good　arm；　beat　it　against　his　leg　and　hip。　The　stubborn　purple　flames　would　not　relent。

　　　〃Strike　your　colors　and　I　will　release　you　of　the　flames　that　your　wounds　might　heal；〃　Drizzt　offered。

　　　The　scrag　snapped　a　look　of　pure　hatred　at　the　drow。　He　took　a　step　forward；　but　up　came　Drizzt's　scimitars。　He　decided　he　didn't　want　to　feel　their　bite　again；　especially　if　the　flames　prevented　him　from　healing！

　　　〃We　will　meet　again！〃　the　scrag　promised。　The　creature　wheeled　about　to　see　dozens　of　faces桪eudermont's　crew　and　captured　pirates梥taring　at　him　in　disbelief。　He　howled　and　charged　across　the　deck；　scattering　those　in　the　way　of　the　furious　rush。　The　pirate　leaped　from　the　rail；　back　to　the　sea；　back　to　his　true　home　where　he　might　heal。

　　　So　quick　was　Drizzt　that　he　got　across　the　deck　and　managed　yet　another　hit　on　him　before　the　scrag　got　off　the　rail。　The　drow　had　to　stop　there；　unable　to　pursue　and　fully　aware　that　the　sea　troll　would　indeed　regenerate　to　plete　health。

　　　He　hadn't　even　gotten　a　curse　of　frustration　out　of　his　mouth　when　he　saw　a　fast　movement　to　his　side；　a　rush　of　black。　Guenhwyvar　leaped　past　Drizzt；　flew　out　from　the　rail；　and　splashed　into　the　sea　right　behind　the　troll。

　　　The　panther　disappeared　under　the　azure　blanket　and　the　rough　and　choppy　waves　quickly　covered　any　indication　that　the　scrag　and　the　cat　had　gone　in。

　　　Several　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　boarding　party　peered　intently　over　the　rail；　worried　for　the　panther　who　had　bee　such　a　friend　to　them。

　　　〃Guenhwyvar　is　in　no　danger；〃　Drizzt　reminded　them；　producing　the　figurine　and　holding　it　high　so　that　all　could　see。　The　worst　the　scrag　could　do　was　send　the　panther　back　to　the　Astral　Plane；　where　the　cat　would　heal　any　wounds　and　be　ready　to　return　to　Drizzt's　next　call。　Still；　the　drow's　expression　was　not　bright　as　he　considered　the　spot　where　Guenhwyvar　had　gone　in；　as　he　considered　that　the　panther　might　be　in　pain。

　　　The　deck　of　the　captured　caravel　went　perfectly　quiet；　save　the　creaking　of　the　old　vessel's　timbers。

　　　An　explosion　to　the　south　turned　all　heads；　all　eyes　strained　to　perceive　tiny　sails；　still　far　away。　One　of　the　pirate　ships　had　turned　away；　the　other　caravel　was　burning　while　the　Sea　Sprite　literally　sailed　circles　about　her。　Flash　after　flash　of　silver　streaking　arrows　came　from　the　Sea　Sprite's　crow's　nest；　battering　the　hull　and　masts　of　the　damaged；　seemingly　helpless　ship。

　　　Even　from　this　great　distance；　the　people　on　the　captured　caravel　could　see　the　pirate　flag　go　down　the　mainmast；　colors　struck　in　surrender。

　　　That　brought　a　cheer　from　the　Sea　Sprite's　boarding　party；　a　rousing　yell　that　was　halted　abruptly　by　churning　waters　just　off　the　side　of　the　caravel。　They　saw　green　scales　and　black　fur　tumbling　in　the　turmoil。　A　scrag　arm　floated　out　from　the　mass；　and　Drizzt　was　able　to　sort　the　confusing　scene　out　enough　to　realize　that　Guenhwyvar　had　gotten　onto　the　scrag's　back。　Her　forelegs　were　tight　about　the　monster's　shoulders；　her　back　legs　were　kicking；　raking　wildly；　and　the　panther's　powerful　jaws　were　clamped　tight　onto　the　back　of　the　scrag's　neck。

　　　Dark　blood　stained　the　sea；　mixing　with　torn　pieces　of　the　pirate's　flesh　and　bone。　Soon　enough；　Guenhwyvar　sat　still；　teeth　and　claws　securely　in　place　on　the　back　of　the　dead；　floating　scrag。

　　　〃Better　fish　the　thing　out；〃　one　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　boarding　party　remarked；　〃or　we'll　be　growing　a　whole　crew　o'　stinking　trolls！〃

　　　Men　arrived　at　the　rail　with　long　gaff　hooks　and　began　the　gruesome　task　of　hauling　in　the　carcass。　Guenhwyvar　got　back　to　the　caravel　easily　enough；　clambering　over　the　rail　and　then　giving　a　good　shake；　spraying　water　on　all　those　nearby。

　　　〃Scrags　don't　heal　if　they're　out　o'　the　sea；〃　a　man　remarked　to　Drizzt。　〃We'll　haul　this　one　up　the　yardarm　to　dry；　then　burn　the　damned　thing。〃

　　　Drizzt　nodded。　The　boarding　party　knew　their　duty　well　enough。　They　would　organize　and　supervise　the　captured　pirates；　freeing　the　rigging　and　getting　the　caravel　as　seaworthy　as　possible　for　the　trip　back　to　Waterdeep。

　　　Drizzt　looked　to　the　southern　horizon　and　saw　the　Sea　Sprite　returning。　The　damaged　pirate　ship　limped　alongside。

　　　〃Thirty…eight　and　thirty…nine；〃　the　drow　muttered。

　　　Guenhwyvar　gave　a　low　growl　in　reply　and　shook　vigorously　again；　soaking　her　dark　elf　panion。



Chapter　2

THE　FIRST　MESSENGER



　　　Captain　Deudermont　seemed　out　of　place　indeed　as　he　strolled　down　Dock　Street；　the　infamous；　rough　and　tumble　avenue　that　lined　Waterdeep　Harbor。　His　clothes　were　fine　and　perfectly　tailored　to　his　tall　and　thin　frame；　his　posture　was　perfect；　and　his　hair　and　goatee　meticulously　groomed。　All　about　him；　the　scurvy　sea　dogs　who　had　put　in　for　their　weeks　ashore　staggered　out　of　taverns；　reeking　of　ale；　or　fell　down　unconscious　in　the　dust。　The　only　thing　protecting　them　from　the　many　robbers　lurking　in　the　area　was　the　fact　that　they　had　no　money　or　valuables　to　steal。

　　　Deudermont　ignored　the　sights；　and　didn't　fancy　himself　any　better　than　those　sea　dogs。　In　fact；　there　was　an　aspect　of　their　way　of　life　that　intrigued　the　gentlemanly　captain；　an　honesty　that　mocked　the　pretentious　courts　of　nobles。

　　　Deudermont　pulled　his　layered　cloak　tighter　about　his　neck；　warding　off　the　chill　night　breeze　that　blew　in　off　the　harbor。　Normally　one　would　not　walk　alone　down　Dock　Street；　not　even　in　the　light　of　noonday；　but　Deudermont　felt　secure。　He　carried　his　decorated　cutlass　at　his　side；　and　knew　how　to　use　it　well。　Even　more　than　that；　the　word　had　been　passed　through　every　tavern　and　every　pier　in　Waterdeep　that　the　Sea　Sprite's　captain　had　been　afforded　the　personal　protection　of　the　Lords　of　Waterdeep；　including　some　very　powerful　wizards　who　would　seek　out　and　destroy　anyone　bothering　the　captain　or　his　crew　while　they　were　in　port。　Waterdeep　was　the　Sea　Sprite's　haven；　and　so　Deudermont　thought　nothing　of　walking　alone　down　Dock　Street。　He　was　more　curious　than　fearful　when　a　wrinkled　old　man；　bone　skinny　and　barely　five　feet　tall；　called　to　him　from　the　edge　of　an　alleyway。

　　　Deudermont　stopped　and　looked　about。　Dock　Street　was　quiet；　except　for　the　overspill　of　sound　from　the　many　taverns　and　the　groan　of　old　wood　against　the　incessant　sea　breeze。

　　　〃Ye's　is　Doo…dor…mont…ee；　asin't　yer？〃　the　old　seabones　called　softly；　a　whistle　acpanying　each　syllable。　He　smiled　widely；　almost　lewdly；　showing　but　a　couple　of　crooked　teeth　set　in　black　gums。

　　　Deudermont　stopped　and　eyed　the　man　patiently；　silently。　He　felt　no　pulsion　to　answer　the　question。

　　　〃If　ye　be；〃　the　man　wheezed；　〃then　oi've　got　a　bit　o'　news　for　yer。　A　warnin'　from　a　man　yer's　is　rightly　fearin'。〃

　　　The　captain　stood　tall　and　impassive。　His　face　showed　none　of　the　questions　that　raced　about　in　his　mind。　Who　would　he　be　afraid　of？　Was　the　old　dog　talking　of　Pinochet？　That　seemed　likely；　especially　considering　the　two　caravels　the　Sea　Sprite　had　escorted　into　Waterdeep　Harbor　earlier　that　week。　But　few　in　Waterdeep　had　any　contact　with　the　pirate；　whose　domain　was　much　farther　to　the　south；　south　of　Baldur's　Gate　even；　in　the　straights　near　the　Moonshae　Isles。

　　　But　who　else　might　the　man　be　talking　about？

　　　Smiling　still；　the　sea　dog　motioned　for　Deudermont　to　e　to　the　alley。　The　captain　didn't　move　as　the　old　man　turned　and　took　a　step　in。

　　　〃Well；　be　yer　fearin'　old　Scaramundi？〃　the　sea　dog　whistled。

　　　Deudermont　realized　it　could　be　a　disguise。　Many　of　the　greatest　assassins　in　the　Realms　could　look　as　helpless　as　this　one；　only　to　put　a　poisoned　dagger　into　their　victim's　chest。

　　　The　sea　dog　came　back　to　the　entrance　to　the　alley；　then　walked　right　out　into　the　middle　of　the　street　toward　Deudermont。

　　　No　disguise；　the　captain　told　himself；　for　it　was　too　plete；　too　perfect。　Besides；　he　recollected　that　he　had　seen　this　same　old　man　before；　usually　sitting　right　near　to　this　very　same　alleyway；　which　probably　served　as　his　home。

　　　What　then？　Might　there　be　an　ambush　set　down　that　alley？

　　　〃Have　it　yer　own　way　then；〃　the　old　man　wheezed　as　he　threw　up　one　hand。　He　leaned　heavily　on　his　walking　stick　and　started　back　to　the　alley；　grumbling。　〃Just　a　messenger；　I　be；　and　not　fer　carin'　if　yer　hears　the　news　or　not！〃

　　　Deudermont　cautiously　looked　all　around　again。　Seeing　nobody　nearby；　and　no　likely　hiding　spots　for　an　ambush　party；　he　moved　to　the　mouth　of　the　alleyway。　The　old　sea　dog　was　ten　short　paces　in；　at　the　edge　of　the　slanting　shadows　cast　by　the　building　to　the　right；　and　barely　visible　in　the　dimness。　He　laughed　and　coughed　and　moved　in　yet　another　step。

　　　One　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　cutlass；　Deudermont　cautiously　approached；　scanning　carefully　before　each　step