精灵血脉四部曲-第181部分

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d；　Deudermont　tossed　him　a　pouch　full　of　gold　coins。　〃Caerwich；〃　the　captain　explained。　〃I　want　a　map　to　Caerwich。〃

　　　〃Caerwich？〃　Dunkin　echoed　skeptically。

　　　〃West　and　south；　by　tales　I've　heard；〃　Deudermont　replied。

　　　Dunkin　gave　a　sour　look　and　moved　to　toss　the　coins　back；　but　Deudermont　raised　a　hand　to　stop　him。　〃The　Lords　of　Waterdeep　will　not　be　pleased　to　learn　that　Mintarn's　hospitality　was　not　extended　to　one　of　their　ships；〃　the　captain　was　quick　to　point　out。　〃If　you　are　not　a　free　port　for　the　legal　ships　of　Waterdeep；　then　you　proclaim　yourself　an　open　haven　only　to　outlaws。　Your　Lord　Tarnheel　will　not　be　pleased　at　the　results　of　such　a　proclamation。〃

　　　It　was　as　close　to　a　threat　as　Deudermont　wanted　to　get；　and　he　was　much　relieved　when　Dunkin　clutched　the　bag　of　coins　tightly　once　more。

　　　〃I　will　speak　with　his　tyrancy；〃　the　short　man　asserted。　〃If　he　agrees　。　。　。〃　Dunkin　let　it　go　at　that；　waving　his　hand。

　　　Deudermont　popped　the　pipe　back　into　his　mouth　and　nodded　to　Catti…brie；　who　came　out　of　hiding；　her　bow　relaxed；　all　arrows　replaced　in　her　quiver。　She　never　blinked　as　she　walked　past　Dunkin；　and　he　matched　her　stare。

　　　His　resolve　melted　a　moment　later；　though；　when　Drizzt　slipped　out　of　the　brush　to　the　side。　And　if　the　sight　of　a　drow　elf　wasn't　enough　to　fully　unnerve　the　man；　surely　the　sudden　presence　of　a　six…hundred　pound　black　panther　dropping　to　the　ground　barely　five　feet　to　Dunkin's　side；　was。



*****



　　　Dunkin　rowed　out　to　the　Sea　Sprite　the　very　next　day。　Despite　the　fact　that　Deudermont　weled　him　warmly；　he　came　aboard　tentatively；　as　though　he　was　in　awe　of　this　vessel　that　was　so　fast　being　a　legend　along　the　Sword　Coast。

　　　They　greeted　Dunkin　on　the　open　deck；　in　full　view　of　the　crew。　Guenhwyvar　was　at　rest　in　her　astral　home；　but　Robillard　and　Harkle　joined　the　others　this　time；　standing　together；　and　Drizzt　thought　that　a　good　thing。　Perhaps　Robillard；　an　adept　wizard；　could　keep　Harkle's　powers　under　control；　the　drow　reasoned。　And　perhaps　Harkle's　perpetual　smile　would　rub　off　on　the　grumpy　Robillard！

　　　〃You　have　my　information？〃　Deudermont　asked；　ing　right　to　the　point。　The　Sea　Sprite　had　sat　calm　and　undisturbed　thus　far；　but　Deudermont　held　no　illusions　about　their　safety　in　Mintarn　Harbor。　The　captain　knew　that　no　less　than　a　dozen　ships　now　in　port　desired　their　demise；　and　the　sooner　the　schooner　was　out　of　Mintarn；　the　better。

　　　Dunkin　motioned　to　the　door　to　the　captain's　private　quarters。

　　　〃Out　here；〃　Deudermont　insisted。　〃Give　it　over　and　be　gone。　I've　not　the　time　for　any　delays；　and　I　need　no　privacy　from　my　crew。〃

　　　Dunkin　looked　around　and　nodded；　having　no　desire　to　debate　the　point。

　　　〃The　information？〃　Deudermont　asked。

　　　Dunkin　started；　as　if　surprised。　〃Ah；　yes；〃　he　stuttered。　〃We　have　a　map；　but　it's　not　too　detailed。　And　we　cannot　be　sure；　of　course；　for　the　island　you　seek　might　be　no　more　than　legend；　and　then；　of　course；　there　would　be　no　correct　map。〃

　　　His　humor　was　not　appreciated；　he　soon　realized；　and　so　he　calmed　himself　and　cleared　his　throat。

　　　〃You　have　my　gold；〃　Deudermont　said　after　yet　another　long　pause。

　　　〃His　tyrancy　wishes　a　different　payment；〃　Dunkin　replied。　〃More　than　the　gold。〃

　　　Deudermont's　eyes　narrowed　dangerously。　He　put　his　pipe　in　his　mouth　deliberately　and　took　a　long；　long　draw。

　　　〃Nothing　so　difficult；〃　Dunking　was　quick　to　assure。　〃And　my　lord　offers　more　than　a　simple　map。　You'll　need　a　wizard　or　a　priest　to　create　a　hold　large　enough　to　carry　ample　supplies。〃

　　　〃That　would　be　us；〃　Harkle　put　in；　draping　an　arm　over　Robillard's　shoulders　as　he　spoke；　then　quickly　withdrawing　it　upon　seeing　the　grumpy　wizard's　threatening　scowl。

　　　〃Ah；　yes；　but　no　need；　no　need；〃　Dunkin　blurted。　〃For　his　tyrancy　has　a　most　wonderful　chest；　a　magical　hold；　it　is；　and　he　will　give　it　to　you　on　loan；　along　with　the　map；　for　the　pouch　of　gold；　which　was　not　so　much；　and　one　other　little　favor。〃

　　　〃Speak　it；〃　demanded　Deudermont；　growing　weary　of　the　cryptic　game。

　　　〃Him；〃　said　Dunkin；　pointing　to　Drizzt。

　　　Only　Drizzt's　quick　reaction；　lifting　a　blocking　arm；　kept　Catti…brie　from　leaping　forward　and　punching　the　man。

　　　〃Him？〃　Deudermont　asked　incredulously。

　　　〃Just　to　meet　with　the　drow；〃　Dunkin　quickly　explained；　realizing　that　he　was　treading　on　dangerous　ground　here。　The　water　was　cold　about　Mintarn　and　the　man　had　no　desire　for　a　long　swim　back　to　shore。

　　　〃A　curiosity　piece？〃　Catti…brie　snapped；　pushing　against　Drizzt's　blocking　arm。　〃I'll　give　ye　something　for　yer　stupid　tyrant！〃

　　　〃No；　no；〃　Dunkin　tried　to　explain。　He　never　would　have　gotten　the　words　out　of　his　mouth；　would　have　been　tossed　overboard　for　simply　making　the　seemingly　absurd　request；　had　not　Drizzt　intervened；　a　calming　voice　that　revealed　no　offense　taken。

　　　〃Explain　your　lord's　desire；〃　the　drow　said　quietly。

　　　〃Your　reputation　is　considerable；　good　drow；〃　Dunkin　stammered。　〃Many　pirates　limping　into　Mintarn　speak　of　your　exploits。　Why；　the　main　reason　that　the　Sea　Sprite　has　not　been　。　。　。〃　He　stopped　and　glanced　nervously　at　Deudermont。

　　　〃Has　not　been　attacked　in　Mintarn　Harbor；〃　Deudermont　finished　for　him。

　　　〃They　wouldn't　dare　e　out　and　face　you；〃　Dunkin　dared　to　finish；　looking　back　to　Drizzt。　〃My　lord；　too；　is　a　warrior　of　no　small　reputation。〃

　　　〃Damn；〃　Catti…brie　muttered；　guessing　what　was　to　e；　and　Drizzt；　too；　could　see　where　this　speech　was　leading。

　　　〃Just　a　contest；〃　Dunkin　finished。　〃A　private　fight。〃

　　　〃For　no　better　reason　than　to　prove　who　is　the　better；〃　Drizzt　replied　distastefully。

　　　〃For　the　map；〃　Dunkin　reminded　him。　〃And　the　chest；　no　small　reward。〃　After　a　moment's　thought；　he　added；　〃You　will　have　those　whether　you　win　or　lose。〃

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　Catti…brie；　then　to　Deudermont；　then　to　all　the　crew；　who　were　making　no　effort　anymore　to　disguise　the　fact　that　they　were　listening　intently　to　every　word。

　　　〃Let　us　be　done　with　it；〃　the　drow　said。

　　　Catti…brie　grabbed　him　by　the　arm；　and　when　he　turned　to　face　her；　he　realized　that　she　did　not　approve。

　　　〃I　cannot　ask　you　to　do　such　a　thing；〃　Deudermont　said。

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　him　directly；　and　with　a　smile。　〃Perhaps　my　own　curiosity　over　who　is　the　better　fighter　is　no　less　than　Tarnheel's；〃　he　said；　looking　back　to　Catti…brie；　who　knew　him　and　knew　his　motivations　better　than　that。

　　　〃Is　it　any　different　than　your　own　fight　with　Berkthgar　over　Aegis…fang　before　the　dark　elves　came　to　Mithril　Hall？〃　Drizzt　asked　simply。

　　　True　enough；　Catti…brie　had　to　admit。　Before　the　drow　war；　Berkthgar　had　threatened　to　break　the　alliance　with　Bruenor　unless　the　dwarf　turned　Aegis…fang　over　to　him；　something　Bruenor　would　never　do。　Catti…brie　had　gone　to　Settlestone　and　had　ended　the　debate　by　defeating　Berkthgar　in　the　challenge　of　single　bat。　In　light　of　that　memory；　and　the　drow's　duty　now；　she　let　go　of　Drizzt's　arm。

　　　〃I　will　return　presently；〃　Drizzt　promised；　following　Dunkin　to　the　rail；　and　then　into　the　small　boat。

　　　Deudermont；　Catti…brie；　and　most　of　the　other　crewmen；　watched　them　row　away；　and　Catti…brie　noticed　the　sour　expression　on　the　captain's　face；　as　though　Deudermont　was　somewhat　disappointed；　something　the　perceptive　young　woman　understood　pletely。

　　　〃He's　not　wanting　to　fight；〃　she　assured　the　captain。

　　　〃He　is　driven　by　curiosity？〃　Deudermont　asked。

　　　〃By　loyalty；〃　Catti…brie　answered。　〃And　nothing　more。　Drizzt　is　bound　by　friendship　to　ye　and　to　the　crew；　and　if　a　simple　contest　against　the　man　will　make　for　an　easier　sail；　then　he's　up　to　the　fight。　But　there's　no　curiosity　in　Drizzt。　No　stupid　pride。　He's　not　for　caring　who's　the　better　at　swordplay。〃

　　　Deudermont　nodded　and　his　expression　brightened。　The　young　woman's　words　confirmed　his　belief　in　his　friend。

　　　The　minutes　turned　into　an　hour；　then　into　two；　and　the　conversation　on　the　Sea　Sprite　gradually　shifted　away　from　Drizzt's　confrontation　to　their　own　situation。　Two　ships；　square…riggers　both；　had　sailed　out　of　Mintarn。　Neither　had　gone　out　into　the　open　sea；　but　rather；　had　turned　into　the　wind　just　beyond　the　harbor；　tacking　and　turning　so　that　they　remained　relatively　still。

　　　〃Why　don't　they　just　drop　their　anchors？〃　Waillan　asked　a　crewman　who　was　standing　near　him　on　the　poop　deck；　just　behind　the　Sea　Sprite's　deadly　ballista。

　　　Catti…brie　and　Deudermont；　near　the　center　of　the　ship；　overheard　the　remark　and　looked　to　each　other。　Both　knew　why。

　　　A　third　ship　put　up　her　lower　sails　and　began　to　drift　out　in　the　general　direction　of　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　〃I'm　not　liking　this；〃　Catti…brie　remarked。

　　　〃We　may　have　been　set　up；〃　Deudermont　replied。　〃Perhaps　Dunkin　informed　our　sailor　friends　here　that　the　Sea　Sprite　would　be　without　a　certain　dark　elf　crewman　for　a　while。〃

　　　〃I'm　for　the　nest；〃　Catti…brie　said。　She　slung　Taulmaril　over　her　shoulder　and　started　up　the　mainmast。

　　　Robillard　and　Harkle　came　back　on　deck　then；　apparently　aware　of　the　potentially　dangerous　situation。　They　nodded　to　Deudermont　and　moved　astern；　beside　Waillan　and　his　ballista　crew。

　　　Then　they　waited；　all　of　them。　Deudermont　watched　the　creeping　movements　of　the　three　ships　carefully；　and　then　a　fourth　pushed　off　from　Mintarn's　long　docks。　Possibly　they　were　being　encircled；　the　captain　knew；　but　also　he　knew　that　the　Sea　Sprite　could　put　up　anchor　and　be　out　to　sea　in　mere　minutes；　especially　with　Robillard's　magic　aiding　the　run。　And　all　the　while；　between　the　ballista　and　the　archers；　particularly　Catti…brie　and　that　devastating　bow　of　hers；　the　Sea　Sprite　could　more　than　match　any　barrage　they　offered。

　　　Deudermont's　primary　concern　at　that　moment　was　not　for　his　ship；　but　for　Drizzt。　What　fate　might　befall　the　drow　if　they　had　to　leave　him　behind？

　　　That　notion　disappeared；　but　a　new　fear　materialized　when　Catti…brie；　spyglass　in　hand；　yelled　down　that　Drizzt　was　on　his　way　back。　Deudermont　and　many　others　followed　the　woman's　point　and　could　just　make　out　the　tiny　rowboat　in　front　and　to　starboard　of　the　third　ship　drifting　out　of　the　harbor。

　　　〃Robillard！〃　Deudermont　yelled。

　　　The　wizard　nodded　and