精灵血脉四部曲-第176部分

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ry　cargo；　they　carried　warriors。

　　　If　Deudermont　had　seemed　indecisive　before；　not　so　now。　Up　came　the　Sea　Sprite's　sails　to　full。　Catti…brie　hooked　Taulmaril　over　her　shoulder　and　began　the　climb　to　the　crow's　nest；　and　Robillard　was　ordered　to　take　his　place　on　the　poop　deck　and　to　use　his　magic　to　further　fill　the　sails。　But　the　natural　wind　was　already　strong　from　the　northwest；　from　astern　it　already　filled　the　sails　of　both　the　Sea　Sprite　and　the　running　pirate　ship；　and　the　chase　would　be　a　long　one。

　　　At　center　deck；　the　ship's　musicians　took　up　a　rousing　tune；　and　Drizzt　came　back　from　the　forward　beam　earlier　than　usual　to　stand　beside　Deudermont　at　the　wheel。

　　　〃Where　will　we　tow　her　once　captured？〃　the　drow　asked；　a　usual　question　on　the　high　seas。　They　were　still　closer　to　Water…deep　than　to　Baldur's　Gate；　but　the　wind　was　from　the　north　generally；　favoring　a　southern　course。

　　　〃Orlumbor；〃　Deudermont　answered　without　hesitation。

　　　Drizzt　was　surprised　by　that。　Orlumbor　was　a　rocky；　windswept　island　halfway　between　Waterdeep　and　Baldur's　Gate；　an　independent　city…state；　lightly　populated　and　hardly　equipped　to　hold　a　caravel　full　of　pirates。

　　　〃Will　the　shipwrights　even　take　her？〃　the　drow　asked　doubtfully。

　　　Deudermont　nodded；　his　face　stern。　〃Orlumbor　owes　much　to　Waterdeep；〃　he　explained。　〃They　will　hold　her　until　another　ship　of　Waterdeep　arrives　to　tow　her　away。　I　will　instruct　Robillard　to　use　his　powers　to　contact　the　Lords　of　Waterdeep。〃

　　　Drizzt　nodded。　It　seemed　perfectly　logical；　yet　perfectly　out　of　place。　The　drow　understood　now　that　this　was　no　ordinary　run　for　the　normally　patient　Sea　Sprite。　Never　before　had　Deudermont　left　off　a　captured　ship　and　crew　for　another　to　pick　up　in　his　wake。　Time　had　never　seemed　an　issue　out　here；　amidst　the　steady　and　eternal　roll　of　the　sea。　The　Sea　Sprite　would　normally　run　until　she　found　a　pirate　ship；　snag　her　or　sink　her；　then　return　to　one　of　the　friendly　ports　and　hand　her　over；　however　long　that　might　take。

　　　〃Our　business　in　Baldur's　Gate　must　be　urgent；〃　the　drow　remarked；　cocking　a　suspicious　eye　the　captain's　way。

　　　Deudermont　turned　to　look　at　him　directly；　to　stare　long　and　hard　at　Drizzt　for　the　first　time　this　voyage。　〃We　are　not　going　to　Baldur's　Gate；〃　he　admitted。

　　　〃Then　where？〃　Drizzt's　tone　showed　that　he　was　not　surprised　by　that　revelation。

　　　The　captain　shook　his　head　and　turned　his　stare　forward；　adjusting　the　wheel　slightly　to　keep　them　in　line　with　the　running　caravel。

　　　Drizzt　accepted　that。　He　knew　that　Deudermont　had　graced　him　by　even　admitting　that　they　would　not　sail　for　Baldur's　Gate。　He　also　knew　that　the　captain　would　confide　in　him　as　Deudermont　needed。　Their　business　now　at　hand　was　the　pirate　ship；　still　far　ahead；　her　square　sails　barely　visible　on　the　blue　line　of　the　horizon。

　　　〃More　wind；　wizard！〃　Deudermont　casually　called　back　to　Robillard；　who　grunted　and　waved　his　hand　at　the　captain。　〃We'll　not　catch　her　before　dusk　unless　we　have　more　wind。〃

　　　Drizzt　offered　a　smile　to　Deudermont；　then　made　his　way　forward；　back　to　the　beam；　to　the　smell　and　the　spray；　to　the　hissing　sound　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　run；　to　the　solitude　he　needed　to　think　and　to　prepare。

　　　They　ran　for　three　hours　before　the　caravel　was　close　enough　for　Catti…brie；　in　the　crow's　nest　with　her　spyglass；　to　even　confirm　that　it　was　indeed　a　pirate　ship。　The　day　was　long　then；　the　sun　halfway　from　peak　to　the　western　horizon；　and　the　chasers　knew　they　would　be　cutting　this　one　close。　If　they　couldn't　catch　the　pirate　ship　before　sunset；　she　would　sail　off　into　the　darkness。　Robillard　had　some　spells　to　try　to　keep　track　of　her　movements；　but　the　pirate　ship　no　doubt　had　a　wizard　of　her　own；　or　a　cleric；　at　least。　Though　neither　would　likely　be　very　powerful；　certainly　not　as　acplished　as　Robillard；　such　tracking　spells　were　easily　defeated。　Also；　pirates　never　ventured　too　far　from　their　secret　ports；　and　the　Sea　Sprite　certainly　couldn't　chase　this　one　all　the　way　home；　where　her　friends　might　be　waiting。

　　　Deudermont　didn't　seem　overly　concerned。　They　had　lost　pirates　to　the　night　before；　and　would　again。　There　would　always　be　another　outlaw　to　chase。　But　Drizzt；　keeping　a　covert　eye　on　the　captain；　never　remembered　seeing　him　quite　this　casual。　Obviously；　it　had　something；　or　everything；　to　do　with　the　incident　in　Waterdeep　and　the　mysterious　destination　that　Deudermont　would　not　discuss。

　　　The　drow　tightened　his　hold　on　the　line　of　the　flying　jib　and　sighed。　Deudermont　would　tell　him　in　his　own　time。

　　　The　wind　lessened　and　the　Sea　Sprite　made　up　some　ground。　It　seemed　as　though　this　pirate　ship　might　not　get　away　after　all。　The　band　of　minstrels；　which　had　broken　up　during　the　long　and　tedious　middle　hours　of　the　chase；　came　back　together　again　and　took　up　the　tune。　Drizzt　knew　that　soon　the　pirates　would　hear　the　music；　it　would　reach　to　them　across　the　waves；　a　harbinger　of　their　doom。

　　　Now　things　seemed　back　to　normal；　more　relaxed　despite　the　fact　that　a　battle　seemed　imminent。　Drizzt　tried　to　convince　himself　that　Deudermont　was　calm　because　he　had　known　they　would　catch　the　pirate　ship。　Everything　was　back　to　normal。

　　　〃Spray　astern！〃　came　a　cry；　turning　all　hands　about。

　　　〃What　is　that？〃　more　than　one　voice　cried。　Drizzt　looked　to　Catti…brie；　who　had　her　spyglass　aimed　behind　the　Sea　Sprite；　and　was　shaking　her　head　curiously。

　　　The　drow　skittered　along　the　rail；　pulling　up　to　a　halt　amidships；　and　leaning　out　to　catch　his　first　glimpse　of　the　unknown　pursuer。　He　saw　a　high　wedge　of　spray；　the　spray　the　giant　dorsal　fin　of　a　killer　whale　might　make　if　any　whale　in　all　the　world　could　move　so　quickly。　But　this　was　no　natural　animal；　Drizzt　knew　instinctively；　and　so　did　everyone　else　aboard　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　〃She's　going　to　ram！〃　warned　Waillan　Micanty；　near　to　the　ballista　mounted　on　the　ship's　stern。　Even　as　he　spoke；　the　strange　rushing　pursuer　veered　to　starboard　and　cut　by　the　Sea　Sprite　as　though　she　was　standing　still。

　　　No　whale；　Drizzt　realized　as　the　creature；　or　whatever　it　was；　plowed　past；　twenty　yards　from　the　Sea　Sprite；　but　close　enough　to　lift　a　wall　of　water　against　the　side　of　the　schooner。　The　drow　thought　he　saw　a　form　inside　that　spray；　a　human　form。

　　　〃It's　a　man！〃　Catti…brie　called　from　above；　confirming　Drizzt's　suspicions。

　　　All　the　crew　watched　in　disbelief　as　the　speeding　creature　rushed　away　from　the　Sea　Sprite；　closing　the　ground　to　the　caravel。

　　　〃A　wizard？〃　Deudermont　asked　Robillard。

　　　Robillard　shrugged；　as　did　all　of　the　others　nearby；　none　of　them　having　any　explanation　whatsoever。　〃The　more　important　question；〃　the　wizard　finally　said；　〃would　be　to　inquire　as　to　the　loyalty　of　this　newer。　Friend；　or　foe？〃

　　　Apparently；　those　on　the　caravel　didn't　know　the　answer　to　that　either；　for　some　stared　silently　from　the　rail；　while　others　picked　up　crossbows。　The　pirate　ship's　catapult　crew　even　launched　a　ball　of　flaming　pitch　at　the　newer；　but　he　was　moving　too　fast　for　them　to　gauge　the　distance　and　the　missile　hissed　harmlessly　into　the　surf。　Then　the　rushing　man　moved　up　alongside　the　caravel；　easily　outpacing　her。　The　wake　diminished　and　then　disappeared　in　an　instant；　to　reveal　a　robed　man　wearing　a　heavy　pack　and　standing　atop　the　waves；　waving　his　arms　frantically　and　calling　out。　He　was　too　far　from　the　Sea　Sprite　now　for　any　of　the　crew　to　make　out　exactly　what　he　was　saying。

　　　〃Suren　he's　to　casting　a　spell！〃　Catti…brie　yelled　down　from　the　crow's　nest。　〃He's？　She　stopped　abruptly；　drawing　a　concerned　look　from　Drizzt；　and　though　the　drow　couldn't　make　her　out　clearly　from　his　angle　so　far　below；　he　could　tell　that　she　was　confused　and　could　see　that　she　was　shaking　her　head；　as　if　in　denial　of　something。

　　　Those　on　the　deck　of　the　Sea　Sprite　struggled　to　figure　out　exactly　what　was　going　on。　They　saw　a　flurry　of　activity　near　the　rail　facing　the　man　as　he　stood　upon　the　water。　They　heard　shouts　and　the　clicking　sound　of　crossbows　firing；　but　if　any　bolts　struck　the　man；　he　did　not　show　it。

　　　Suddenly；　there　came　a　tremendous　flash　of　fire　that　dissipated　immediately　into　a　huge　cloud　of　thick　fog；　a　ball　of　white　where　the　caravel　had　been。　And　it　was　growing！　Soon　the　cloud　covered　the　water…walking　spellcaster　as　well；　and　spread　out　thick　and　wide。　Deudermont　kept　his　course　straight　and　fast；　but　when　he　finally　neared　the　location；　he　had　to　slow　to　a　drifting　crawl；　not　daring　to　enter　the　unexplained　bank。　Frustrated；　cursing　under　his　breath；　Deudermont　turned　the　Sea　Sprite　broadside　to　the　misty　veil。

　　　All　hands　stood　ready　along　the　rail。　The　heavy　mounted　crossbows　were　armed　and　ready；　as　was　the　ballista　on　the　Sea　Sprite's　stern　deck。

　　　Finally；　the　fog　began　to　lift；　to　roll　back　under　the　press　of　the　stiff　breeze。　A　ghostly　figure　appeared　just　within　the　veil；　standing　on　the　water；　chin　in　palm；　looking　disconcertingly　at　the　spot　where　the　caravel　had　been。

　　　〃Ye're　not　to　believe　this；〃　Catti…brie　called　down　to　Drizzt；　a　groan　acpanying　her　words。

　　　Indeed；　Drizzt　did　not；　for　he　also　came　to　recognize　the　unexpected　arrival。　He　noted　the　carmine　robe；　decorated　with　wizardly　runes　and　outrageous　images。　These　were　stick　figures；　actually；　depicting　wizards　in　the　throes　of　spellcasting；　something　an　aspiring　wizard　the　ripe　age　of　five　might　draw　in　a　play　spellbook。　Drizzt　also　recognized　the　hairless；　almost　childish　face　of　the　man梐ll　dimples　and　huge　blue　eyes梐nd　the　brown　hair；　long　and　straight；　pulled　back　tight　behind　the　man's　ears　so　that　they　stood　out　from　his　head　at　almost　right　angles。

　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Deudermont　asked　the　drow。

　　　〃Not　what；〃　Drizzt　corrected。　〃But　who。〃　The　drow　gave　a　short　laugh　and　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。

　　　〃Who　then？〃　Deudermont　demanded；　trying　to　sound　stern　though　Drizzt's　chuckles　were　both　forting　and　infectious。

　　　〃A　friend；〃　Drizzt　replied；　and　he　paused　and　looked　up　at　Catti…brie。　〃Harkle　Harpell　of　Longsaddle。〃

　　　〃Oh；　no；〃　Robillard　groaned　from　behind　them。　Like　every　wizard　in　all　the　Realms；　Robillard　had　heard　the　tales　of　Longsaddle　and　the　eccentric　Harpell　family；　the　most　uni