精灵血脉四部曲-第173部分

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　　　One　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　cutlass；　Deudermont　cautiously　approached；　scanning　carefully　before　each　step。　The　alleyway　seemed　empty　enough。

　　　〃Far　enough！〃　Deudermont　said　suddenly；　stopping　the　sea　dog　in　his　tracks。　〃If　you　have　news　for　me；　then　speak　it；　and　speak　it　now。〃

　　　〃Some　things　shouldn't　be　said　too　loudly；〃　the　old　man　replied。

　　　〃Now；〃　Deudermont　insisted。

　　　The　salty　sea　dog　smiled　widely　and　coughed；　perhaps　laughing。　He　ambled　back　a　few　steps；　stopping　barely　three　feet　from　Deudermont。

　　　The　smell　of　the　man　nearly　overwhelmed　the　captain；　who　was　accustomed　to　powerful　body　odors。　There　wasn't　much　opportunity　to　bathe　on　a　ship　at　sea　and　the　Sea　Sprite　was　often　out　for　weeks；　even　months；　at　a　time。　Still；　the　bination　of　cheap　wine　and　old　sweat　gave　this　one　a　particularly　nasty　flavor　that　made　Deudermont　scrunch　up　his　face；　even　put　a　hand　over　his　nose　to　try　to　intercept　some　of　the　fumes。

　　　The　sea　dog；　of　course；　laughed　hysterically　at　that。

　　　〃Now！〃　the　captain　insisted。

　　　Even　as　the　word　left　Deudermont's　lips；　the　sea　dog　reached　out　and　caught　him　by　the　wrist。　Deudermont；　not　afraid；　turned　his　arm；　but　the　old　man　held　on　stubbornly。

　　　〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　of　the　dark　one；〃　the　sea　dog　said；　and　it　took　Deudermont　a　moment　to　realize　that　the　man's　dockside　accent　was　gone。

　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Deudermont　insisted；　and　he　tugged　fiercely；　to　no　avail。　Only　then　did　Deudermont　realize　the　truth　of　the　superhuman　grip；　he　might　as　well　have　been　pulling　against　one　of　the　great　fog　giants　that　lived　on　the　reef　surrounding　Delmarin　Island；　far　to　the　south。

　　　〃The　dark　one；〃　the　old　man　repeated。　With　hardly　any　effort；　he　yanked　Deudermont　deeper　into　the　alleyway。

　　　The　captain　went　for　his　cutlass；　and　though　the　old　man　held　Deudermont's　right　hand　fast；　he　could　fight　fairly　well　with　his　left。　It　was　somewhat　awkward　extracting　the　curving　blade　from　its　sheath　with　that　hand；　and　before　the　cutlass　came　fully　free；　the　old　man's　free　hand　shot　forward；　open…palmed；　to　slam　Deudermont　in　the　face。　He　flew　backward；　crashing　against　the　wall。　Keeping　his　wits　about　him；　he　drew　out　the　blade；　transferred　it　to　his　now…free　right　hand；　and　slashed　hard　at　the　ribs　of　the　approaching　sea　dog。

　　　The　fine　cutlass　gashed　deep　into　the　sea　dog's　side；　but　he　didn't　even　flinch。　Deudermont　tried　to　block　the　next　slap；　and　the　next　after　that；　but　his　defenses　simply　were　not　strong　enough。　He　tried　to　get　his　cutlass　in　line　to　parry；　but　the　old　man　slapped　it　away；　sent　it　spinning　from　his　hand；　then　resumed　the　battering。　Open　palms　came　in　with　the　speed　of　a　striking　snake；　heavy　blows　that　knocked　Deudermont's　head　tilting；　and　he　would　have　fallen；　except　that　the　old　man　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulder　and　held　him　fast。

　　　Through　bleary　eyes；　Deudermont　peered　at　his　foe。　Confusion　crossed　his　stern　features　as　his　enemy's　face　began　to　melt　away　and　then　to　reform。

　　　〃The　dark　one？〃　he；　it；　asked　again；　and　Deudermont　hardly　heard　the　voice；　his　voice；　so　dumbfounded　was　he　at　the　spectacle　of　his　own　face　leering　back　at　him。



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　　　〃He　should　be　here　by　now；〃　Catti…brie　remarked；　leaning　on　the　bar。

　　　She　was　growing　impatient；　Drizzt　realized；　and　not　because　Deudermont　was　late梩he　captain　was　often　detained　at　one　function　or　another　in　Waterdeep梑ut　because　the　sailor　on　the　other　side　of　her；　a　short　and　stocky　man　with　a　thick　beard　and　curly　hair；　both　the　color　of　a　raven's　wing；　kept　bumping　into　her。　He　apologized　each　time；　looking　over　his　shoulder　to　regard　the　beautiful　woman；　often　winking　and　always　smiling。

　　　Drizzt　turned　so　that　his　back　was　against　the　waist…high　bar。　The　Mermaid's　Arms　was　nearly　empty　this　night。　The　weather　had　been　fine　and　most　of　the　fishing　and　merchant　fleets　were　out。　Still；　the　place　was　loud　and　rowdy；　full　of　sailors　relieving　months　of　boredom　with　drink；　panionship；　much　bluster　and　even　fisticuffs。

　　　〃Robillard；〃　Drizzt　whispered；　and　Catti…brie　turned　and　followed　the　drow's　gaze　to　see　the　wizard　slipping　through　the　crowd；　moving　to　join　them　at　the　bar。

　　　〃Good　evening；〃　the　wizard　said　without　much　enthusiasm。　He　didn't　look　at　the　panions　as　he　spoke；　and　didn't　wait　for　the　bartender　to　e　near；　merely　waggled　his　fingers　and　a　bottle　and　a　glass　magically　came　to　his　place。　The　bartender　started　to　protest；　but　a　pile　of　copper　pieces　appeared　in　his　hand。　The　bartender　shook　his　head　with　disdain；　never　caring　much　for　the　Sea　Sprite's　wizard　and　his　arrogant　antics；　and　moved　away。

　　　〃Where　is　Deudermont？〃　Robillard　asked。　〃Squandering　my　pay；　no　doubt。〃

　　　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　exchanged　smiles　wrought　of　continued　disbelief。　Robillard　was　among　the　most　distant　and　caustic　men　either　of　them　had　ever　known；　more　grumpy　even　than　General　Dagna；　the　surly　dwarf　who　served　as　Bruenor's　garrison　mander　at　Mithril　Hall。

　　　〃No　doubt；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　Robillard　turned　to　regard　him　with　an　accusing；　angry　glare。

　　　〃Of　course；　Deudermont's　one　to　steal　from　us　all　the　time；〃　Catti…brie　added。　〃Takes　a　fancy　to　the　finest　o'　ladies　and　the　finest　o'　wine；　and　is　free　with　what's　not　his　to　be　free　with。〃

　　　A　growl　escaped　Robillard's　thin　lips　and　he　pushed　off　the　bar　and　walked　away。

　　　〃I'd　like　to　know　that　one's　tale；〃　Catti…brie　remarked。

　　　Drizzt　nodded　his　accord；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　departing　wizard's　back。　Indeed；　Robillard　was　a　strange　one；　and　the　drow　figured　that　something　terrible　must　have　happened　to　him　somewhere　in　his　past。　Perhaps　he　had　unintentionally　killed　someone；　or　had　been　rejected　by　a　true　love。　Perhaps　he　had　seen　too　much　of　wizardry；　had　looked　into　places　where　a　man's　eyes　were　not　meant　to　go。

　　　Catti…brie's　simple　spoken　thought　had　sparked　a　sudden　interest　within　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　Who　was　this　Robillard；　and　what　precipitated　his　perpetual　boredom　and　anger？

　　　〃Where　is　Deudermont？〃　came　a　question　from　the　side；　breaking　Drizzt's　trance。　He　turned　to　see　Waillan　Micanty；　a　lad　of　barely　twenty　winters；　with　sandy…colored　hair；　cinnamon　eyes　and　huge　dimples　that　always　showed　because　Waillan　never　seemed　to　stop　smiling。　He　was　the　youngest　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew；　younger　even　than　Catti…brie；　but　with　an　uncanny　eye　on　the　ballista。　Waillan's　shots　were　fast　being　legend；　and　if　the　young　man　lived　long　enough；　he　would　no　doubt　assemble　quite　a　reputation　along　the　Sword　Coast。　Waillan　Micanty　had　put　one　ballista　bolt　through　the　window　of　a　pirate　captain's　quarters　at　four　hundred　yards　and　had　skewered　the　pirate　captain　as　the　man　was　buckling　on　his　cutlass。　The　momentum　of　the　heavy　spear　had　hurled　the　pirate　right　through　his　closed　cabin　door　and　out　onto　the　deck。　The　pirate　ship　struck　her　colors　immediately；　the　capture　ended　before　the　fighting　had　really　even　begun。

　　　〃We　are　expecting　the　man；〃　Drizzt　answered；　his　mood　brightening　simply　at　the　sight　of　the　beaming　young　man。　Drizzt　couldn't　help　but　notice　the　contrast　between　this　youngster　and　Robillard；　who　was　probably　the　oldest　of　the　crew；　except　for　Drizzt。

　　　Waillan　nodded。　〃Should　be　here　by　now；〃　he　remarked　under　his　breath；　but　the　drow's　keen　ears　caught　every　word。

　　　〃You　are　expecting　him？〃　Drizzt　was　quick　to　ask。

　　　〃I　need　to　speak　with　him；〃　Waillan　admitted；　〃about　a　possible　advance　on　earnings。〃　The　young　man　blushed　deep　red　and　moved　close　to　Drizzt　so　that　Catti…brie　could　not　hear。　〃A　lady　friend；〃　he　explained。

　　　Drizzt　found　his　smile　widening　even　more。　〃The　captain　is　overdue；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sure　he　will　not　be　much　longer。〃

　　　〃He　was　less　than　a　dozen　doors　down　when　I　last　saw　him；〃　Waillan　said。　〃Near　to　the　Foggy　Haven　and　heading　this　way。　I　thought　he'd　beat　me　here。〃

　　　For　the　first　time；　Drizzt　grew　a　bit　concerned。　〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃

　　　Waillan　shrugged。　〃I　been　here　since　the　fight　before；〃　he　said。

　　　Drizzt　turned　and　leaned　back　against　the　bar。　He　and　Catti…brie　exchanged　concerned　looks　this　time；　for　many　minutes　had　passed　since　the　previous　two　fights。　There　wasn't　much　to　interest　the　captain　between　the　Mermaid's　Arms　and　the　place　Waillan　spoke　of；　certainly　nothing　that　should　have　detained　Deudermont　for　this　long。

　　　Drizzt　sighed　and　took　a　long　swallow　of　the　water　he　was　drinking。　He　looked　to　Robillard；　now　sitting　by　himself；　though　a　table　not　far　from　the　man　held　open　chairs　beside　the　four　that　were　occupied　by　members　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew。　Drizzt　wasn't　too　concerned。　Perhaps　Deudermont　had　forgotten　some　business；　or　had　simply　changed　his　mind　about　ing　to　the　Mermaid's　Arms　this　night。　But　still；　Dock　Street　in　Waterdeep　was　a　dangerous　place；　and　the　drow　ranger's　sixth　sense；　that　warrior　instinct；　told　him　to　be　wary。



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　　　Deudermont；　practically　senseless；　did　not　know　how　long　the　beating　went　on。　He　was　lying　on　the　cold　ground　now；　that　much　he　knew。　The　thing；　whatever　it　was；　having　assumed　his　exact　form；　clothing；　even　weapons；　was　sitting　on　his　back。　The　physical　torture　was　not　so　great　anymore；　but　even　worse　than　the　beating；　the　captain　felt　the　creature　within　his　mind；　probing　his　thoughts；　gaining　knowledge　that　it　could　no　doubt　use　against　his　friends。

　　　You　will　taste　fine；　Deudermont　heard　in　his　thoughts。　Better　than　the　old　Scaramundi。

　　　Despite　the　unreality　of　it　all；　the　lack　of　true　sensation；　the　captain　felt　his　stomach　churning。　He　believed　he　knew；　in　that　distant　corner　of　consciousness；　what　monster　had　e　to　him。　Dopplegangers　were　not　mon　in　the　Realms；　but　the　few　who　had　made　themselves　known　had　certainly　caused　enough　havoc　to　secure　the　wretched　reputation　of　the　alien　race。

　　　Deudermont　felt　himself　being　lifted　from　the　ground。　So　strong　was　the　grasp　of　the　creature　that　the　captain　felt　as　if　he　were　weightless；　simply　floating　to　his　feet。　He　was　spun　around　to　face　the　thing；　to　face　himself；　and　he　expected　then　to　be　devoured。

　　　〃Not　yet；〃　the　creature　replied　to　his　unspoken　fears。　〃I　need　your　thoughts；　good　Captain　Deudermont。　I　need　to　know　enough　about　you　and　your　ship　to　sail　it　out　of　Wa