精灵血脉四部曲-第197部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


our　a　moment　to　even　realize　that　it　was　a　voice；　a　human　voice；　for　the　Spirit　Soaring　seemed　to　have　a　melody　all　its　own。

　　　The　grounds　were　no　less　spectacular。　A　grove　of　trees　lined　a　cobblestone　walk　that　led　up　to　the　temple's　massive　front　doors。　Outside　that　perfectly　straight　tree　line　was　a　manicured　lawn；　thick　and　rich；　bordered　by　perfectly…shaped　hedgerows　and　filled　with　various　flower　beds；　all　red　and　pink；　purple　and　white。　Several　leafy　bushes　dotted　the　lawn　as　well；　and　these　had　been　shaped　to　resemble　various　woodland　animals梐　deer　and　a　bear；　a　huge　rabbit　and　a　group　of　squirrels。

　　　Catti…brie　blinked　several　times　when　she　spotted　the　gardener；　the　most　unusual　dwarf　she；　who　had　been　raised　by　dwarves；　had　ever　seen。　She　poked　Drizzt；　pointing　out　the　little　fellow；　and　the　others　noticed；　too。　The　gardener　saw　them；　and　began　bobbing　their　way；　smiling　widely。

　　　His　beard　was　green梘reen！梥plit　in　half　and　pulled　back　over　his　large　ears；　then　twisted　with　his　long　green　hair　into　a　single　braid　that　dangled　more　than　halfway　down　his　back。　He　wore　a　thin　sleeveless　robe；　pale　green　in　color；　that　hung　halfway　to　the　knee；　leaving　bare　his　bowed　legs；　incredibly　hairy　and　powerfully　muscled。　Bare　too　were　the　dwarf's　large　feet；　except　for　the　thin　straps　of　his　open…toed　sandals。

　　　He　cut　an　intersecting　course；　ing　onto　the　cobblestones　thirty　feet　ahead　of　the　foursome。　There　he　skidded　to　a　stop；　stuck　two　fingers　in　his　mouth；　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　gave　a　shrill　whistle。

　　　〃What？〃　came　a　call　a　moment　later。　A　second　dwarf；　this　one　looking　more　like　what　the　foursome　would　expect；　rose　up　from　the　shade　of　the　tree　closest　to　the　temple　door。　He　had　broad；　square　shoulders　and　a　yellow　beard。　Dressed　all　in　brown；　he　wore　a　huge　axe　strapped　on　his　back　and　a　helmet　adorned　with　deer　antlers。

　　　〃I　telled　ye　I'd　help　ye！〃　the　yellowbeard　roared。　〃But　ye　promised　me　sleep　time！〃　Then　this　second　dwarf　noticed　the　foursome　and　he　stopped　his　tirade　immediately　and　bobbed　down　the　path　toward　the　group。

　　　The　green…bearded　dwarf　got　there　first。　He　said　not　a　word；　but　gave　a　dramatic　bow；　then　took　up　Catti…brie's　hand　and　kissed　it。　〃Hee　hee　hee；〃　he　squeaked　with　a　blush；　moving　in　turn　from　Catti…brie　to　Deudermont；　to　Drizzt；　to　。　。　。

　　　Back　to　Drizzt；　where　the　little　one　ducked　low；　peeking　up　under　the　full　hood。

　　　The　drow　obliged　him；　pulling　back　the　hood　and　shaking　out　his　thick　white　mane。　First　meetings　were　always　difficult　for　Drizzt；　especially　so　far　from　those　places　where　he　was　known　and　accepted。

　　　〃Eek！〃　the　little　one　squealed。

　　　〃A　stinkin'　drow！〃　roared　the　yellowbeard；　running　down　the　path；　tearing　the　axe　off　of　his　back　as　he　came。

　　　Drizzt　wasn't　surprised；　and　the　other　three　were　more　embarrassed　than　startled。

　　　The　greenbeard　continued　to　hop　up　and　down　and　point；　benign　enough；　but　the　yellowbeard　took　a　more　direct　and　threatening　course。　He　brought　his　axe　up　high　over　his　head　and　bore　down　on　Drizzt　like　a　charging　bull。

　　　Drizzt　waited　until　the　last　possible　second；　then；　using　the　magical　anklets　and　his　honed　reflexes；　he　simply　sidestepped。　The　yellowbeard　stumbled　as　he　passed；　running　headlong　into　the　tree　behind　the　drow。

　　　The　greenbeard　looked　to　the　other　dwarf；　then　to　Drizzt；　seeming　for　a　moment　as　if　he；　too；　meant　to　charge。　Then　he　looked　back　to　the　other　dwarf；　noting　the　axe　now　stuck　in　the　tree。　He　walked　toward　the　yellowbeard；　bracing　himself　and　slapping　the　dwarf　hard　on　the　side　of　the　head。

　　　〃A　stinkin'　drow！〃　the　yellowbeard　growled；　taking　one　hand　from　his　axe　handle　to　fend　off　the　continuing　slaps。　Finally　he　managed　to　yank　his　axe　free；　but　when　he　leaped　about；　he　found　three　of　the　four；　the　drow　included；　standing　impassively。　The　fourth；　though；　the　auburn…haired　woman；　held　a　bow　taut　and　ready。

　　　〃If　we　wanted　ye　dead；　we'd've　cut　ye　down　afore　ye　got　up　from　yer　nap；〃　she　said。

　　　〃I　mean　no　ill；〃　Drizzt　added。　〃I　am　a　ranger；〃　he　said；　mostly　to　the　greenbeard；　who　seemed　the　more　levelheaded　of　the　two。　〃A　being　of　the　forest；　as　are　you。〃

　　　〃Me　brother's　a　druid；〃　the　yellowbeard　said；　trying　to　appear　firm　and　tough；　but　seeming　rather　embarrassed　at　the　moment。

　　　〃Doo…dad！〃　the　greenbeard　agreed。

　　　〃Druid　dwarf？〃　Catti…brie　asked。　〃I've　lived　most　o'　me　life　with　dwarves；　and　have　never　heared　of　a　druid　among　the　race。〃

　　　Both　dwarves　cocked　their　heads　curiously。　Surely　the　young　woman　sounded　dwarfish　with　her　rough　accent。

　　　〃What　dwarves　might　that　be？〃　the　yellowbeard　asked。

　　　Catti…brie　lowered　Taulmaril。　〃I　am　Catti…brie；〃　she　said。　〃Adopted　daughter　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　Eighth　King　of　Mithril　Hall。〃

　　　The　eyes　of　both　dwarves　popped　open　wide；　and　their　mouths　similarly　dropped　open。　They　looked　hard　at　Catti…brie；　then　at　each　other；　back　to　Catti…brie；　and　back　to　each　other。　They　bumped　their　foreheads　together；　a　firm；　smacking　sound；　then　looked　back　to　Catti…brie。

　　　〃Hey；〃　the　yellowbeard　howled；　poking　a　stubby　finger　Drizzt's　way。　〃I　heared　o'　ye。　Ye're　Drizzt　Dudden。〃

　　　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　drow　corrected；　giving　a　bow。

　　　〃Yeah；〃　the　yellowbeard　agreed。　〃I　heared　o'　ye。　Me　name's　Ivan；　Ivan　Bouldershoulder；　and　this　is　me　brother；　Pikel。〃

　　　〃Me　brudder；〃　the　greenbeard　agreed；　draping　an　arm　across　Ivan's　sturdy　shoulders。

　　　Ivan　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder；　to　the　deep　cut　he　had　put　in　the　tree。　〃Sorry　about　me　axe；〃　he　said。　〃I　never　seen　a　drow　elf。〃

　　　〃Ye　e　to　see　the　cathedr　。　。　。　the　catheter　。　。　。　the　cathe　。　。　。　the　durned　church？〃　Ivan　asked。

　　　〃We　came　to　see　a　man　named　Cadderly　Bonaduce；〃　Deudermont　answered。　〃I　am　Captain　Deudermont　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　sailing　out　of　Waterdeep。〃

　　　〃Ye　sailed　across　land；〃　Ivan　said　dryly。

　　　Deudermont　had　his　hand　up　to　wave　away　that　expected　response　before　the　dwarf　ever　began　it。

　　　〃We　must　speak　with　Cadderly；〃　Deudermont　said。　〃Our　business　is　most　urgent。〃

　　　Pikel　slapped　his　hands　together；　put　them　aside　his　tilted　head；　closed　his　eyes　and　gave　a　snore。

　　　〃Cadderly's　takin'　his　nap；〃　Ivan　explained。　〃The　little　ones　wear　him　out。　We'll　go　and　see　Lady　Danica　and　get　ye　something　to　eat。〃　He　winked　at　Catti…brie。　〃Me　and　me　brother're　wanting　to　hear　more　about　Mithril　Hall；〃　he　said。　〃Word　says　an　old　one's　running　the　place　since　Bruenor　Battlehammer　packed　up　and　left。〃

　　　Catti…brie　tried　to　hide　her　surprise；　even　nodded　as　though　she　was　not　surprised　by　what　Ivan　had　to　say。　She　glanced　at　Drizzt；　who　had　no　response。　Bruenor　had　left？　Suddenly　both　of　them　wanted　to　sit　and　talk　with　the　dwarves　as　well。　The　meeting　with　Cadderly　could　wait。

　　　The　inside　of　the　Spirit　Soaring　was　no　less　majestic　and　awe…inspiring　than　the　outside。　They　entered　the　main　area　of　the　cathedral；　the　central　chapel；　and　though　there　were　at　least　a　score　of　people　within；　so　large　was　the　place　that　the　four　strangers　each　felt　alone。　All　of　them　found　their　eyes　inevitably　moving　up；　up　to　the　soaring　columns；　past　several　ledges　lined　with　decorated　statues；　past　the　glow　ing　in　through　the　stained　glass　windows；　to　the　intricately　carved　vaulting　of　the　ceiling　more　than　a　hundred　feet　above　them。

　　　When　he　finally　managed　to　move　the　stricken　four　through　the　main　area；　Ivan　took　them　through　a　side　door；　into　rooms　more　normally　sized。　The　construction　of　the　place；　the　sheer　strength　and　detail　of　the　place；　continued　to　overwhelm　them。　No　supporting　arch　or　door　was　without　decoration；　and　one　door　they　went　through　was　so　covered　in　runes　and　sculptures　that　Drizzt　believed　he　could　stand　and　study　it　for　hours　and　hours　without　seeing　every　detail；　without　deciphering　every　message。

　　　Ivan　knocked　on　a　door；　then　paused　for　an　invitation　to　enter。　When　it　came；　he　swung　the　door　open。　〃I　give　ye　Lady　Danica　Bonaduce；〃　the　dwarf　said　importantly；　motioning　for　the　others　to　follow。

　　　They　started　in；　Deudermont　in　the　lead；　but　the　captain　stopped　short；　was　nearly　tripped；　as　two　young　children；　a　boy　and　a　girl；　cut　across　his　path。　Seeing　the　stranger；　both　skidded　to　a　halt。　The　boy；　a　sandy…haired　lad　with　almond…shaped　eyes；　opened　his　mouth　and　pointed　straight　at　the　drow。

　　　〃Please　excuse　my　children；〃　a　woman　across　the　room　said。

　　　〃No　offense　taken；〃　Drizzt　assured　her。　He　bent　to　one　knee；　and　motioned　the　pair　over。　They　looked　to　each　other　for　support；　then　moved　cautiously　to　the　drow；　the　boy　daring　to　reach　up　and　touch　Drizzt's　ebony　skin。　Then　he　looked　at　his　own　fingers；　as　if　to　see　if　some　of　the　coloring　had　rubbed　off。

　　　〃No　black；　Mum；〃　he　said；　looking　to　the　woman　and　holding　up　his　hand。　〃No　black。〃

　　　〃Hee　hee；〃　Pikel　chuckled　from　the　back。

　　　〃Get　the　brats　outa　here；〃　Ivan　whispered　to　his　brother。

　　　Pikel　pushed　through　so　that　the　children　could　see　him；　and　their　faces　brightened　immediately。　Pikel　stuck　a　thumb　into　each　ear　and　waggled　his　fingers。

　　　〃Oo；　oi！〃　the　children　roared　in　unison；　and　they　chased　〃Uncle　Pike〃　from　the　room。

　　　〃Ye　should　be　watching　what　me　brother's　teaching　them　two；〃　Ivan　said　to　Danica。

　　　She　laughed　and　rose　from　her　chair　to　greet　the　visitors。　〃Surely　the　twins　are　better　off　for　having　a　friend　such　as　Pikel；〃　she　said。　〃And　such　as　Ivan；〃　she　graciously　added；　and　the　tough…as…iron　dwarf　couldn't　hide　a　blush。

　　　Drizzt　understood　that　the　woman　was　a　warrior　simply　by　the　way　she　walked　across　the　room；　lightly；　silently；　in　perfect　balance　through　the　plete　motion　of　every　step。　She　was　slight　of　build；　a　few　inches　shorter　than　Catti…brie　and　no　more　than　a　hundred　and　ten　pounds；　but　every　muscle　was　honed　and　moved　in　harmony。　Her　eyes　were　even　more　exotic　than　those　of　her　children；　almond…shaped　and　rich　brown；　full　of　intensity；　full　of　life。　Her　hair；　strawberry　blond　and　as　thick　as　the　drow's　white　mane；　bounced　gaily　about　her　shoulders　as　though　the　abundance　of　energy　that　flowed　within　this　woman　could　not　be　contained。

　　　Drizzt　looked　from　Danica　to　Catti…brie；　saw　a　resemblance　there　in　spirit；　if　not　in　body。

　　　〃I　give　ye　Drizzt　Dudd