精灵血脉四部曲-第201部分

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　　　Drizzt　set　his　jaw　firmly　and　nodded。　〃And　Catti…brie's　help；〃　he　replied。　〃She　will　be　here　when　we　call　to　Errtu。〃



Chapter　15

DARKNESS　INCARNATE



　　　His　smoking　bulk　nearly　filled　the　circle。　His　great　leathery　wings　could　not　extend　to　their　fullest；　else　they　would　have　crossed　the　boundary　line　where　the　fiend　could　not　pass。　Errtu　clawed　at　the　stone　and　issued　a　guttural　growl；　threw　back　his　huge　and　ugly　head　and　laughed　maniacally。　Then　the　balor　suddenly　calmed；　and　looked　forward；　his　knowing　eyes　boring　into　the　gaze　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　Many　years　had　passed　since　Drizzt　had　looked　upon　mighty　Errtu；　but　the　ranger　surely　recognized　the　fiend。　His　ugly　face　seemed　a　cross　between　a　dog　and　an　ape；　and　his　eyes梕specially　those　eyes梬ere　black　pits　of　evil；　sometimes　wide　with　outrage　and　red　with　flame；　sometimes　narrowed；　slanted；　intense　slits　promising　hellish　tortures。　Yes；　Drizzt　remembered　Errtu　well；　remembered　their　desperate　fight　on　the　side　of　Kelvin's　Cairn　those　years　before。

　　　The　ranger's　scimitar；　the　one　he　had　taken　from　the　white　dragon's　lair；　seemed　to　remember　the　fiend；　too；　for　Drizzt　felt　it　calling　to　him；　urging　him　to　draw　it　forth　and　strike　at　the　balor　again　that　it　might　feed　upon　Errtu's　fiery　heart。　That　blade　had　been　forged　to　battle　creatures　of　fire；　and　seemed　particularly　eager　for　the　smoking　flesh　of　a　fiend。

　　　Catti…brie　had　never　seen　such　a　beast；　darkness　incarnate；　evil　embodied；　the　most　foul　of　the　foul。　She　wanted　to　take　up　Taulmaril　and　shoot　an　arrow　into　the　beast's　ugly　face；　and　yet　she　feared　that　to　do　so　would　loose　wicked　Errtu　upon　them；　something　the　young　woman　most　certainly　did　not　desire。

　　　Errtu　continued　to　chuckle；　then　with　terrifying　speed；　the　great　fiend　lashed　out　toward　Drizzt　with　its　many…thonged　whip。　The　weapon　snapped　forward；　then　stopped　fast　in　midair；　as　though　it　had　hit　a　wall；　and　indeed　it　had。

　　　〃You　cannot　send　your　weapons；　your　flesh；　or　your　magic　through　the　barrier；　Errtu；〃　Cadderly　said　calmly梩he　old　priest　seemed　not　shaken　in　the　least　by　the　true　tanar'ri。

　　　Errtu's　eyes　narrowed　wickedly　as　the　balor　dropped　his　gaze　over　Cadderly；　knowing　that　it　was　the　priest　who　had　dared　to　summon　the　balor。　Again　came　that　rumbling　chuckle　and　flames　erupted　at　Errtu's　huge；　clawed　feet；　burning　white　and　hot；　blazing　so　high　that　they　nearly　blocked　the　panions'　view　of　the　balor。　The　three　friends　squinted　against　the　intense；　stinging　heat。　At　last；　Catti…brie　fell　away　with　a　shout　of　warning；　and　Drizzt　heeded　that　call；　went　with　her。　Cadderly　remained　in　place；　though；　standing　impassively；　confident　that　the　rune…etched　circles　would　stop　the　fires。　Sweat　beaded　on　his　face；　droplets　falling　from　his　nose。

　　　〃Desist！〃　Cadderly　yelled　above　the　crackle。　Then　he　recited　a　string　of　words　in　a　language　that　neither　Drizzt　nor　Catti…brie　had　ever　heard　before；　an　arcane　phrase　that　ended　with　the　name　of　Errtu；　spoken　emphatically。

　　　The　balor　roared　as　if　in　pain；　and　the　fire　walls　fell　away　to　nothingness。

　　　〃I　will　remember　you；　old　man；〃　the　great　balor　promised。　〃When　I　walk　again　on　the　plane　that　is　your　world。〃

　　　〃Do　pay　me　a　visit；〃　Cadderly　replied　evenly。　〃It　would　be　my　pleasure　to　banish　you　back　to　the　filth　where　you　truly　belong。〃

　　　Errtu　said　no　more；　but　growled　and　focused　once　more　upon　the　renegade　drow；　the　most…hated　Drizzt　Do'Urden。

　　　〃I　have　him；　drow；〃　the　fiend　teased。　〃In　the　Abyss。〃

　　　〃Who？〃　Drizzt　demanded；　but　the　balor's　response　was　yet　another　burst　of　maniacal　laughter。

　　　〃Who　do　you　have；　Errtu？〃　Cadderly　asked　firmly。

　　　〃No　questions　must　I　answer；〃　the　balor　reminded　the　priest。　〃I　have　him；　that　you　know；　and　the　one　way　you　have　of　getting　him　back　is　to　end　my　banishment。　I　will　take　him　to　this；　your　land；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　and　if　you　want　him；　then　you　must　e　and　get　him！〃

　　　〃I　will　speak　with　Zaknafein！〃　Drizzt　yelled；　his　hand　going　to　the　hilt　of　his　hungry　scimitar。　Errtu　mocked　him；　laughed　at　him；　thoroughly　enjoying　the　spectacle　of　Drizzt's　frustration。　It　was　just　the　beginning　of　the　drow's　torment。

　　　〃Free　me！〃　the　fiend　roared；　silencing　the　questions。　〃Free　me　now！　Each　day　is　an　eternity　of　torture　for　my　prisoner；　your　beloved　fa？　Errtu　stopped　abruptly；　letting　the　teasing　word　hang　in　the　air。　The　balor　waggled　a　finger　at　Cadderly。　〃Have　I　been　tricked？〃　Errtu　said；　feigning　horror。　〃Almost　did　I　answer　a　question；　something　that　is　not　required　of　me。〃

　　　Cadderly　looked　to　Drizzt；　understanding　the　ranger's　dilemma。　The　priest　knew　that　Drizzt　would　willingly　leap　into　the　circle　and　fight　Errtu　here　and　now　for　the　sake　of　his　lost　father；　of　a　friend；　or　of　any　goodly　person；　but　to　free　the　fiend　seemed　a　desperate　and　dangerous　act　to　the　noble　drow；　a　selfish　act　for　the　sake　of　his　father　that　might　jeopardize　so　many　others。

　　　〃Free　me！〃　roared　the　balor；　his　thunderous　voice　echoing　about　the　chamber。

　　　Drizzt　relaxed　suddenly。　〃That　I　cannot　do；　foul　beast；〃　he　said　quietly；　shaking　his　head；　seeming　to　gain　confidence　in　his　decision　with　every　passing　second。

　　　〃You　fool！〃　Errtu　roared。　〃I　will　flail　the　skin　from　his　bones！　I　will　eat　his　fingers！　And　I　will　keep　him　alive；　I　promise；　alive　and　conscious　through　it　all；　telling　him　before　each　torture　that　you　refused　to　help　him；　that　you　caused　his　doom！〃

　　　Drizzt　looked　away；　relaxed　no　more；　his　breathing　ing　in　hard；　angry　gasps。　He　knew　the　truth　of　Zaknafein；　though；　understood　his　father's　heart；　and　knew　that　the　weaponmaster　would　not　wish　Drizzt　to　free　Errtu；　whatever　the　cost。

　　　Catti…brie　took　Drizzt's　hand；　as　did　Cadderly。

　　　〃I'll　not　tell　you　what　to　do；　good　drow；〃　the　old　priest　offered；　〃but　if　the　fiend　imprisons　a　soul　undeserving　of　such　a　fate；　then　it　is　our　responsibility　to　save　。　。　。〃

　　　〃But　at　what　price？〃　Drizzt　said　desperately。　〃At　what　cost　to　the　world？〃

　　　Errtu　was　laughing　again；　wildly。　Cadderly　turned　to　quiet　the　fiend；　but　Errtu　spoke　first。　〃You　know；　priest；〃　the　fiend　accused。　〃You　know！〃

　　　〃What　does　the　ugly　thing　mean？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

　　　〃Tell　them；〃　Errtu　bade　Cadderly；　who　seemed　unfortable　for　the　first　time。

　　　Cadderly　looked　at　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　and　shook　his　head。

　　　〃Then　I　shall　tell　them！〃　Errtu　shouted；　the　balor's　tremendous；　throaty　voice　echoing　again　about　the　stone　room；　paining　their　ears。

　　　〃You　shall　be　gone！〃　Cadderly　promised；　and　he　began　a　chant。　Errtu　jerked　suddenly；　violently；　then　seemed　smaller；　seemed　as　if　he　was　falling　back　in　on　himself。

　　　〃I　am　free　now！〃　the　balor　proclaimed。

　　　〃Wait；〃　Drizzt　bade　Cadderly；　and　the　priest　obeyed。

　　　〃I　shall　go　where　I　please；　foolish　Drizzt　Do'Urden！　By　your　will　I　have　touched　the　ground　of　the　Prime　Material　Plane；　and　thus　my　banishment　is　at　its　end。　I　can　return　to　the　call　of　any！〃

　　　Cadderly　began　his　chant　again；　more　urgently；　and　Errtu　began　to　fade　away。

　　　〃e　to　me；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　balor's　now…distant　voice　beckoned。　〃If　you　would　see　him　again。　I'll　not　e　for　you。〃

　　　Then　the　fiend　was　gone；　leaving　the　three　panions　exhausted　in　the　empty　room。　Most　weary　among　them　was　Drizzt；　who　slumped　back　against　the　wall；　and　it　seemed　to　the　others　as　if　the　solid　stone　was　the　only　thing　keeping　the　weary　ranger　on　his　feet。

　　　〃Ye　didn't　know；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned；　understanding　the　guilt　that　so　weighed　on　her　friend's　shoulders。　She　looked　to　the　old　priest　who　hardly　seemed　bothered　by　the　revelations。

　　　〃Is　it　true？〃　Drizzt　asked　Cadderly。

　　　〃I　cannot　be　certain；〃　the　priest　replied。　〃But　I　believe　that　our　summoning　of　Errtu　to　the　Prime　Material　Plane　might　have　indeed　ended　the　balor's　banishment。〃

　　　〃And　ye　knew　it　all　along；〃　Catti…brie　said　in　accusing　tones。

　　　〃I　suspected；〃　Cadderly　admitted。

　　　〃Then　why　did　you　let　me　call　to　the　beast？〃　Drizzt　asked；　pletely　surprised。　He　would　never　have　figured　that　Cadderly　would　end　the　banishment　of　such　an　evil　monster。　When　he　looked　at　the　old　priest　now；　though；　it　seemed　to　Drizzt　as　if　Cadderly　wasn't　bothered　in　the　least。

　　　〃The　fiend；　as　is　always　the　case　with　such　denizens；　can　get　to　the　Prime　Material　Plane　only　with　assistance　from　a　priest　or　a　wizard；〃　Cadderly　explained。　〃Any　of　that　ilk　who　so　desired　such　a　beast　could　find　many；　many　waiting　for　their　call；　even　other　balors。　The　freeing　of　Errtu；　if　indeed　Errtu　is　free；　is　not　so　much　a　travesty。〃

　　　Put　in　that　context；　it　made　sense　to　Drizzt　and　to　Catti…brie。　Those　who　desired　to　call　a　fiend　to　their　service　would　find　no　shortage；　the　Abyss　was　full　of　powerful　denizens；　all　eager　to　e　forth　and　wreak　havoc　among　the　mortals。

　　　〃The　thing　I　fear；〃　Cadderly　admitted；　〃is　that　this　particular　balor　hates　you　above　all；　Drizzt。　He　may；　despite　his　last　words；　seek　you　out　if　he　ever　gets　back　to　our　world。〃

　　　〃Or　I　will　seek　out　Errtu；〃　Drizzt　replied　evenly；　unafraid；　and　that　brought　a　smile　to　Cadderly's　lips。　It　was　just　the　response　he　had　hoped　to　hear　from　the　courageous　drow。　Here　was　a　mighty　warrior　in　the　war　for　good；　Cadderly　knew。　The　priest　held　great　faith　that　if　such　a　battle　were　to　e　about；　Drizzt　and　his　friends　would　prevail；　and　the　torment　of　Drizzt's　father　would　e　to　an　end。



*****



　　　Waillan　Micanty　and　Dunkin　Tallmast　arrived　at　the　Spirit　Soaring　later　that　day；　and　found　Captain　Deudermont　outside　the　structure；　relaxing　in　the　shade　of　a　tree；　feeding　strange　nuts　to　a　white　squirrel。

　　　〃Percival；〃　Deudermont　explained　to　the　two　men；　holding　his　hand　out　to　the　squirrel。　As　soon　as　Percival　snatched　the　treat；　Deudermont　pointed　out　Pikel　Bouldershoulder；　hard　at　work　as　always；　tending　his　many　gardens。　〃Pikel　over　there　informs　me　that　Percival　is　a　personal　friend　of　Cadderly's。〃

　　　Waillan　and　Dunkin　exchanged　doubting　looks；　neither　having　a　clue　as　to　what　Deudermont　might　be　talking　about。

　　　〃It　is　not　important；〃　the　captain　remarked；　rising　to　his　feet　and　brushing　the　twigs　from　his　trousers。　〃What　news　on　the　Sea　Sprite？〃

　　　〃The　repairs　are　well　underway；〃　replied　Waillan。　〃Many　of　Carradoon's