精灵血脉四部曲-第2部分

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of　Menzoberranzan's　dark　cavern；　was　a　true　home；　a　place　of　friendship　and　peace　where　I　might　hang　my　scimitars　above　the　mantle　of　a　warm　hearth　and　share　stories　with　trusted　panions。

I　have　found　all　that　now；　beside　Bruenor　in　the　hallowed　halls　of　his　youth。　We　prosper。　We　have　peace。　I　wear　my　weapons　only　on　my　five…day　journeys　between　Mithril　Hall　and　Silvery…moon。

Was　I　wrong？

I　do　not　doubt；　nor　do　I　ever　lament；　my　decision　to　leave　the　vile　world　of　Menzoberranzan；　but　I　am　beginning　to　believe　now；　in　the　（endless）　quiet　and　peace；　that　my　desires　at　that　critical　time　were　founded　in　the　inevitable　longing　of　inexperience。　I　had　never　known　that　calm　existence　I　so　badly　wanted。

I　cannot　deny　that　my　life　is　better；　a　thousand　times　better；　than　anything　I　ever　knew　in　the　Underdark。　And　yet；　I　cannot　remember　the　last　time　I　felt　the　anxiety；　the　inspiring　fear；　of　impending　battle；　the　tingling　that　can　e　only　when　an　enemy　is　near　or　a　challenge　must　be　met。

Oh；　I　do　remember　the　specific　instance—just　a　year　ago；　when　Wulfgar；　Guenhwyvar；　and　I　worked　the　lower　tunnels　in　the　cleansing　of　Mithril　Hall—but　that　feeling；　that　tingle　of　fear；　has　long　since　faded　from　memory。

Are　we　then　creatures　of　action？　Do　we　say　that　we　desire　those　accepted　cliches　of　fort　when；　in　fact；　it　is　the　challenge　and　the　adventure　that　truly　give　us　life？

I　must　admit；　to　myself　at　least；　that　I　do　not　know。

There　is　one　point　that　I　cannot　dispute；　though；　one　truth　that　will　inevitably　help　me　resolve　these　questions　and　which　places　me　in　a　fortunate　position；　for　now；　beside　Bruenor　and　his　kin；　beside　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie　and　Guenhwyvar；　dear　Guenhwyvar；　my　destiny　is　my　own　to　choose。

I　am　safer　now　than　ever　before　in　my　sixty　years　of　life。　The　prospects　have　never　looked　better　for　the　future；　for　continued　peace　and　continued　security。　And　yet；　I　feel　mortal。　For　the　first　time；　I　look　to　what　has　passed　rather　than　to　what　is　still　to　e。　There　is　no　other　way　to　explain　it。　I　feel　that　I　am　dying；　that　those　stories　I　so　desired　to　share　with　friends　will　soon　grow　stale；　with　nothing　to　replace　them。

But；　I　remind　myself　again；　the　choice　is　mine　to　make。



—Drizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　1

Spring　Dawning



Drizzt　Do'Urden　walked　slowly　along　a　trail　in　the　jutting　southernmost　spur　of　the　Spine　of　the　World　Mountains；　the　sky　brightening　around　him。　Far　away　to　the　south；　across　the　plain　to　the　Evermoors；　he　noticed　the　glow　of　the　last　lights　of　some　distant　city；　Nesme　probably；　going　down；　replaced　by　the　growing　dawn。　When　Drizzt　turned　another　bend　in　the　mountain　trail；　he　saw　the　small　town　of　Settlestone；　far　below。　The　barbarians；　Wulfgar's　kin　from　faraway　Icewind　Dale；　were　just　beginning　their　morning　routines；　trying　to　put　the　ruins　back　in　order。

Drizzt　watched　the　figures；　tiny　from　this　distance；　bustle　about；　and　he　remembered　a　time　not　so　long　ago　when　Wulfgar　and　his　proud　people　roamed　the　frozen　tundra　of　a　land　far　to　the　north　and　west；　on　the　other　side　of　the　great　mountain　range；　a　thousand　miles　away。

Spring；　the　trading　season；　was　fast　approaching；　and　the　hardy　men　and　women　of　Settlestone；　working　as　dealers　for　the　dwarves　of　Mithril　Hall；　would　soon　know　more　wealth　and　fort　than　they　ever　would　have　believed　possible　in　their　previous　day…by…day　existence。　They　had　e　to　Wulfgar's　call；　fought　valiantly　beside　the　dwarves　in　the　ancient　halls；　and　would　soon　reap　the　rewards　of　their　labor；　leaving　behind　their　desperate　nomadic　ways　as　they　had　left　behind　the　endless；　merciless　wind　of　Icewind　Dale。

〃How　far　we　have　all　e；〃　Drizzt　remarked　to　the　chill　emptiness　of　the　morning　air；　and　he　chuckled　at　the　double…meaning　of　his　words；　considering　that　he　had　just　returned　from　Silverymoon；　a　magnificent　city　far　to　the　east；　a　place　where　the　beleaguered　drow　ranger　never　before　dared　to　believe　that　he　would　find　acceptance。　Indeed；　when　he　had　acpanied　Bruenor　and　the　others　in　their　search　for　Mithril　Hall；　barely　two　years　before；　Drizzt　had　been　turned　away　from　Silverymoon's　decorated　gates。

〃Ye've　done　a　hundred　miles　in　a　week　alone；〃　came　an　unexpected　answer。

Drizzt　instinctively　dropped　his　slender　black　hands　to　the　hilts　of　his　scimitars；　but　his　mind　caught　up　to　his　reflexes　and　he　relaxed　immediately；　recognizing　the　melodic　voice　with　more　than　a　little　of　a　Dwarvish　accent。　A　moment　later；　Catti…brie；　the　adopted　human　daughter　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　came　skipping　around　a　rocky　outcropping；　her　thick　auburn　mane　dancing　in　the　mountain　wind　and　her　deep　blue　eyes　glittering　like　wet　jewels　in　the　fresh　morning　light。

Drizzt　could　not　hide　his　smile　at　the　joyous　spring　in　the　young　girl's　steps；　a　vitality　that　the　often　vicious　battles　she　had　faced　over　the　last　few　years　could　not　diminish。

Nor　could　Drizzt　deny　the　wave　of　warmth　that　rushed　over　him　whenever　he　saw　Catti…brie；　the　young　woman　who　knew　him　better　than　any。　Catti…brie　had　understood　Drizzt　and　accepted　him　for　his　heart；　and　not　the　color　of　his　skin；　since　their　first　meeting　in　a　rocky；　wind…swept　vale　more　than　a　decade　before；　when　she　was　but　half　her　present　age。

The　dark　elf　waited　a　moment　longer；　expecting　to　see　Wulfgar；　soon　to　be　Catti…brie's　husband；　follow　her　around　the　bluff。

〃You　have　e　out　a　fair　distance　without　an　escort；〃　Drizzt　remarked　when　the　barbarian　did　not　appear。

Catti…brie　crossed　her　arms　over　her　chest　and　leaned　on　one　foot；　tapping　impatiently　with　the　other。　〃And　ye're　beginning　to　sound　more　like　me　father　than　me　friend；〃　she　replied。　〃I　see　no　escort　walking　the　trails　beside　Drizzt　Do'Urden。〃

〃Well　spoken；〃　the　drow　ranger　admitted；　his　tone　respectful　and　not　the　least　bit　sarcastic。　The　young　woman's　scolding　had　pointedly　reminded　Drizzt　that　Catti…brie　could　take　care　of　herself。　She　carried　with　her　a　short　sword　of　dwarven　make　and　wore　fine　armor　under　her　furred　cloak；　as　fine　as　the　suit　of　chain　mail　that　Bruenor　had　given　to　Drizzt！　Taulmaril　the　Heartseeker；　the　magical　bow　of　Anariel；　rested　easily　over　Catti…brie's　shoulder。　Drizzt　had　never　seen　a　mightier　weapon。　And；　even　beyond　the　powerful　tools　she　carried；　Catti…brie　had　been　raised　among　the　sturdy　dwarves；　by　Bruenor　himself；　as　tough　as　the　mountain　stone。

〃Is　it　often　that　ye　watch　the　rising　sun？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　noticing　Drizzt’s　east…facing　stance。

Drizzt　found　a　flat　rock　to　sit　upon　and　bade　Catti…brie　to　join　him。　〃I　have　watched　the　dawn　since　my　first　days　on　the　surface；〃　he　explained；　throwing　his　thick　forest…green　cloak　back　over　his　shoulders。　〃Though　back　then；　it　surely　stung　my　eyes；　a　reminder　of　where　I　came　from；　I　suppose。　Now；　though；　to　my　relief；　I　find　that　I　can　tolerate　the　brightness。〃

〃And　well　that　is；〃　Catti…brie　replied。　She　locked　the　draw's　marvelous　eyes　with　her　intense　gaze；　forced　him　to　look　at　her；　at　the　same　innocent　smile　he　had　seen　those　many　years　before　on　a　windswept　slope　in　Icewind　Dale。

The　smile　of　his　first　female　friend。

〃'Tis　sure　that　ye　belong　under　the　sunlight；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Catti…brie　continued；　〃as　much　as　any　person　of　any　race；　by　me　own　measure。〃

Drizzt　looked　back　to　the　dawn　and　did　not　answer。　Catti…brie　went　silent；　too；　and　they　sat　together　for　a　long　while；　watching　the　awakening　world。

〃I　came　out　to　see　ye；〃　Catti…brie　said　suddenly。　Drizzt　regarded　her　curiously；　not　understanding。

〃Now；　I　mean；〃　the　young　woman　explained。　〃We'd　word　that　ye'd　returned　to　Settlestone；　and　that　ye'd　be　ing　back　to　Mithril　Hall　in　a　few　days。　I've　been　out　here　every　day　since。〃

Drizzt's　expression　did　not　change。　〃You　wish　to　talk　with　me　privately？〃　he　asked；　to　prompt　a　reply。

Catti…brie's　deliberate　nod　as　she　turned　back　to　the　eastern　horizon　revealed　to　Drizzt　that　something　was　wrong。

〃I'll　not　forgive　ye　if　ye　miss　the　wedding；〃　Catti…brie　said　softly。　She　bit　down　on　her　bottom　lip　as　she　finished；　Drizzt　noted；　and　sniffled；　though　she　tried　hard　to　make　it　seem　like　the　beginnings　of　a　cold。

Drizzt　draped　an　arm　across　the　beautiful　woman's　strong　shoulders；　〃Can　you　believe　for　an　instant；　even　if　all　the　trolls　of　the　Evermoors　stood　between　me　and　the　ceremony　hall；　that　I　would　not　attend？〃

Catti…brie　turned　to　him—fell　into　his　gaze—and　smiled　widely；　knowing　the　answer。　She　threw　her　arms　around　Drizzt　for　a　tight　hug；　then　leaped　to　her　feet；　pulling　him　up　beside　her。

Drizzt　tried　to　equal　her　relief；　or　at　least　to　make　her　believe　that　he　had。　Catti…brie　had　known　all　along　that　he　would　not　miss　her　wedding　to　Wulfgar；　two　of　his　dearest　friends。　Why；　then；　the　tears；　the　sniffle　that　was　not　from　any　budding　cold？　the　perceptive　ranger　wondered。　Why　had　Catti…brie　felt　the　need　to　e　out　and　find　him　only　a　few　hours　from　the　entrance　to　Mithril　Hall？

He　didn't　ask　her　about　it；　but　it　bothered　him　more　than　a　little。　Anytime　moisture　gathered　in　Catti…brie's　deep　blue　eyes；　it　bothered　Drizzt　Do'Urden　more　than　a　little。



*　*　*　*　*



Jarlaxle's　black　boots　clacked　loudly　on　the　stone　as　he　made　his　solitary　way　along　a　winding　tunnel　outside　of　Menzoberranzan。　Most　drow　out　alone　from　the　great　city；　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark；　would　have　taken　great　care；　but　the　mercenary　knew　what　to　expect　in　the　tunnels；　knew　every　creature　in　this　particular　section。

Information　was　Jarlaxle's　forte。　The　scouting　work　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；　the　band　Jarlaxle　had　founded　and　taken　to　greatness；　was　more　intricate　than　that　of　any　drow　house。　Jarlaxle　knew　everything　that　happened；　or　would　soon　happen；　in　and　around　the　city；　and；　armed　with　that　information；　he　had　survived　for　centuries　as　a　houseless　rogue。　So　long　had　Jarlaxle　been　a　part　of　Menzoberranzan's　intrigue　that　none　in　the　city；　with　the　possible　exception　of　First　Matron　Mother　Baenre；　even　knew　the　sly　mercenary's　origins。

He　was　wearing　his　shimmering　cape　now；　its　magical　colors　cascading　up　and　down　his　graceful　form；　and　his　wide…brimmed　hat；　hugely　plumed　with　the　feathers　of　a　dialryma；　a　great　flightless　Underdark　bird；　adorned　his　clean…shaven　head。　A　slender　sword　dancing　beside　one　hip　and　a　long　d