精灵血脉四部曲-第21部分

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pons　and　let　it　loose。　Teach　me　with　your　skills　what　your　words　cannot。〃

〃You　still　do　not　understand；〃　Drizzt　replied　calmly；　his　head　cocked　to　the　side　and　a　smug；　sincere　grin　widening　on　his　face。　〃I　would　not　presume　to　teach　you　anything。　Artemis　Entreri　is　not　worth　my　time。〃

Entreri's　eyes　flared　in　sudden　rage　and　he　leaped　forward；　sword　high　as　if　to　strike　Drizzt　down。

Drizzt　didn't　flinch。

〃Draw　your　weapons　and　let　us　continue　our　destiny；〃　Entreri　growled；　falling　back　and　leveling　his　sword　at　the　draw's　eye　level。

〃Fall　on　your　own　blade　and　meet　the　only　end　you'll　ever　deserve；〃　Drizzt　replied。

〃I　have　your　cat！〃　Entreri　snapped。　〃You　must　fight　me；　or　Guenhwyvar　will　be　mine。〃

〃You　forget　that　we　are　both　soon　to　be　captured—or　killed；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。　〃Do　not　underestimate　the　hunting　skills　of　my　people。〃

〃Then　fight　for　the　halfling；〃　Entreri　growled。　Drizzt's　expression　showed　that　the　assassin　had　hit　a　nerve。　〃Had　you　forgotten　about　Regis？〃　Entreri　teased。　〃I　have　not　killed　him；　but　he　will　die　where　he　is；　and　only　I　know　of　that　place。　I　will　tell　you　only　if　you　win。　Fight；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　if　for　no　better　reason　than　to　save　the　life　of　that　miserable　halfling！〃

Entreri's　sword　made　a　lazy　thrust　at　Drizzt's　face　again；　but　this　time　it　went　flying　wide　to　the　side　as　a　scimitar　leaped　out　and　banged　it　away。

Entreri　sent　it　right　back　in；　and　followed　it　closely　with　a　dagger　strike　that　nearly　found　a　hole　hi　Drizzt's　defenses。

〃I　thought　you　had　lost　the　use　of　an　arm　and　an　eye；〃　the　drow　said。

〃1　lied；〃　Entreri　replied；　stepping　back　and　holding　his　weapons　out　wide。　〃Must　I　be　punished？〃

Drizzt　let　his　scimitars　answer　for　him；　rushing　in　quickly　and　chopping　repeatedly；　left　and　right；　left　and　right；　then　right　a　third　time　as　his　left　blade　twirled　up　above　his　head　and　came　straight　ahead　in　a　blinding　thrust。

Sword　and　dagger　countering；　the　assassin　batted　aside　each　attack。

The　fight　became　a　dance；　movements　too　synchronous；　too　much　in　perfect　harmony　for　either　to　gain　an　advantage。　Drizzt；　knowing　that　time　was　running　out　for　him；　and　more　particularly　for　Regis；　maneuvered　near　the　low…burning　torch；　then　stomped　down　on　it；　rolling　it　about　and　smothering　the　flames；　stealing　the　light。

He　thought　his　racial　night　vision　would　gain　him　the　edge；　but　when　he　looked　at　Entreri；　he　saw　the　assassin's　eyes　glowing　in　the　telltale　red　of　infravision。

〃You　thought　the　mask　gave　me　this　ability？〃　Entreri　reasoned。　〃Not　true；　you　see。　It　was　a　gift　from　my　dark　elf　associate；　a　mercenary；　not　so　unlike　myself。〃　His　words　ended　at　the　beginning　of　his　charge；　his　sword　ing　high　and　forcing　Drizzt　to　twist　and　duck　to　the　side。　Drizzt　grinned　in　satisfaction　as　Twinkle　came　up；　the　scimitar　ringing　as　it　knocked　Entreri's　dagger　aside。　A　subtle　twist　put　Drizzt　back　on　the　offensive。　Twinkle　ing　around　Entreri's　dagger　hand　and　slicing　at　the　assassin's　exposed　chest。

Entreri　already　had　begun　to　roll；　straight　backward；　and　the　blade　never　got　close。

In　the　dim　light　of　Twinkle's　glow；　their　skin　colors　lost　in　a　mon　gray；　they　seemed　alike；　brethren　e　from　the　same　mold。　Entreri　approved　of　that　perception；　but　Drizzt　surely　did　not。　To　the　renegade　drow；　Artemis　Entreri　seemed　a　dark　mirror　of　his　soul；　an　image　of　what　he　might　have　bee　had　he　remained　in　Menzoberranzan　beside　his　amoral　kin。

Drizzt's　rage　led　him　now　in　another　series　of　dazzling　thrusts　and　cunning；　sweeping　cuts；　his　curved　blades　weaving　tight　lines　about　each　other；　hitting　at　Entreri　from　a　different　angle　with　every　attack。

Sword　and　dagger　played　equally　well；　blocking　and　returning　cunning　counters；　then　blocking　the　countering　counters　that　the　assassin　seemed　to　anticipate　with　ease。

Drizzt　could　fight　him　forever；　would　never　tire　with　Entreri　standing　opposite　him。　But　then　he　felt　a　sting　in　his　calf　and　a　burning；　then　numbing；　sensation　emanating　throughout　his　leg。

In　seconds；　he　felt　his　reflexes　slowing。　He　wanted　to　shout　out　the　truth；　to　steal　the　moment　of　Entreri's　victory；　for　surely　the　assassin；　who　so　desired　to　beat　Drizzt　in　honest　bat；　would　not　appreciate　a　win　brought　on　by　the　poisoned　quarrel　of　hidden　allies。

Twinkle's　tip　dipped　to　the　floor　and　Drizzt　realized　he　was　dangerously　vulnerable。

Entreri　fell　first；　similarly　poisoned。　Drizzt　sensed　the　dark　shapes　slipping　in　through　the　low　door　and　wondered　if　he　had　time　to　bash　in　the　fallen　assassin's　skull　before　he；　too；　slumped　to　the　ground。

He　heard　one　of　his　own　blades；　then　the　other；　clang　to　the　floor；　but　he　was　not　aware　that　he　had　dropped　them。　Then　he　was　down；　his　eyes　closed；　his　dimming　consciousness　trying　to　fathom　the　extent　of　this　disaster；　the　many　implications　for　his　friends　and　for　him。

His　thoughts　were　not　eased　with　the　last　words　he　heard；　a　voice　in　the　drow　language；　a　voice　from　somewhere　in　his　past。

〃Sleep　well；　my　lost　brother。〃



Part　3

Legacy



What　dangerous　paths　I　have　trod　in　my　life；　what　I　crooked　ways　these　feet　have　walked；　in　my　home…I　land；　in　the　tunnels　of　the　Underdark；　across　the　surface　Northland；　and　even　in　the　course　of　following　my　friends。

I　shake　my　head　in　wonderment—is　every　corner　of　the　wide　world　possessed　of　people　so　self…absorbed　that　they　cannot　let　others　cross　the　paths　of　their　lives？　People　so　filled　with　hatred　that　they　must　take　up　chase　and　vindicate　themselves　against　perceived　wrongs；　even　if　those　wrongs　were　no　more　than　an　honest　defense　against　their　own　encroaching　evils？

I　left　Artemis　Entreri　in　Calimport；　left　him　there　in　body　and　with　my　taste　for　vengeance　rightfully　sated。　Our　paths　had　crossed　and　separated；　to　the　betterment　of　us　both。　Entreri　had　no　practical　reason　to　pursue　me；　had　nothing　to　gain　in　finding　me　but　the　possible　redemption　of　his　injured　pride。

What　a　fool　he　is。

He　has　found　perfection　of　the　body；　has　honed　his　fighting　skills　as　perfectly　as　any　I　have　known。　But　his　need　to　pursue　reveals　his　weakness。　As　we　uncover　the　mysteries　of　the　body；　so　too　must　we　unravel　the　harmonies　of　the　soul。　But　Artemis　Entreri；　for　all　his　physical　prowess；　will　never　know　what　songs　his　spirit　might　sing。　Always　will　he　listen　jealously　for　the　harmonies　of　others；　absorbed　with　bringing　down　anything　that　threatens　his　craven　superiority。

So　much　like　my　people　is　he；　and　so　much　like　many　others　I　have　met；　of　varied　races：　barbarian　warlords　whose　positions　of　power　hinge　on　their　ability　to　wage　war　on　enemies　who　are　not　enemies；　dwarf　kings　who　hoard　riches　beyond　imagination；　while　when　sharing　but　a　pittance　of　their　treasures　could　better　the　lives　of　all　those　around　them　and　in　turn　allow　them　to　take　down　their　ever…present　military　defenses　and　throw　away　their　consuming　paranoia；　haughty　elves　who　avert　their　eyes　to　the　sufferings　of　any　who　are　not　elven；　feeling　that　the　〃lesser　races〃　somehow　brought　their　pains　unto　themselves。

I　have　run　from　these　people；　passed　these　people　by；　and　heard　countless　stories　of　them　from　travelers　of　every　known　land。　And　I　know　now　that　I　must　battle　them；　not　with　blade　or　army；　but　by　remaining　true　to　what　I　know　in　my　heart　is　the　rightful　course　of　harmony。

By　the　grace　of　the　gods；　I　am　not　alone。　Since　Bruenor　regained　his　throne；　the　neighboring　peoples　take　hope　in　his　promises　that　the　dwarven　treasures　of　Mithril　Hall　will　better　all　the　region。　Catti…brie's　devotion　to　her　principles　is　no　less　than　my　own；　and　Wulfgar　has　shown　his　warrior　people　the　better　way　of　friendship；　the　way　of　harmony。

They　are　my　armor；　my　hope　in　what　is　to　e　for　me　and　for　all　the　world。　And　as　the　lost　chasers　such　as　Entreri　inevitably　find　their　paths　linked　once　more　with　my　own；　I　remember　Zaknafein；　kindred　of　blood　and　soul。　I　remember　Montolio　and　take　heart　that　there　are　others　who　know　the　truth；　that　if　I　am　destroyed；　my　ideals　will　not　die　with　me。　Because　of　the　friends　I　have　known；　the　honorable　people　I　have　met；　I　know　I　am　no　solitary　hero　of　unique　causes。　I　know　that　when　1　die；　that　which　is　important　will　live　on。

This　is　my　legacy；　by　the　grace　of　the　gods；　I　am　not　alone。



—Drizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　11

Family　Business



Clothing　flew　wildly；　bric…a…brac　smashed　against　the　wall　across　the　room；　assorted　weapons　spun　up　into　the　air　and　twirled　back　down；　I　some　bouncing　off　Bruenor's　back。　The　dwarf；　top　half　buried　in　his　private　locker；　felt　none　of　it；　didn't　even　grunt　when；　as　he　rose　for　a　moment；　the　flat　side　of　a　throwing　axe　struck　and　dislodged　his　one…homed　helmet。　〃It's　in　here！〃　the　dwarf　growled　stubbornly；　and　a　half…pleted　suit　of　chain　mail　whipped　over　his　shoulder；　nearly　clobbering　the　others　in　the　room。　〃By　Moradin；　the　damned　thing's　got　to　be　in　here！〃

〃What　in　the　Nine—〃　Thibbledorf　Pwent　began；　but　Bruenor's　ecstatic　cry　cut　him　short。

〃I　knowed　it！〃　the　red…bearded　dwarf　proclaimed；　spinning　up　and　turning　away　from　the　dismantled　chest。　In　his　hand　he　held　a　small；　heart…shaped　locket　on　a　golden　chain。

Catti…brie　recognized　it　instantly　as　the　magical　gift　Lady　Alustriel　of　Silverymoon　had　given　Bruenor；　that　he　might　find　his　friends　who　had　gone　into　the　Southland。　Inside　the　locket　was　a　tiny　portrait　of　Drizzt；　and　the　item　was　attuned　to　the　drow；　would　give　its　possessor　general　information　about　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　whereabouts。

〃This'll　lead　us　to　the　elf；〃　Bruenor　proclaimed；　holding　the　locket　up　high　before　him。

〃Then　give　it　over；　me　king；〃　said　Pwent；　〃and　let　me　find　this　strange　。。。　friend　o'　yers。〃

〃I　can　work　it　well　enough；〃　Bruenor　growled　in　reply；　replacing　his　one…horned　helm　atop　his　head　and　taking　up　his　many…notched　axe　and　golden　shield。

〃Ye're　king　of　Mithril　Hall！〃　Pwent　protested。　〃Ye　cannot　be　running　off　into　the　danger　of　unknown　tunnels。〃

Catti…brie　ripped　off　an　answer　before　Bruenor　got　the　chance。

〃Shut　yer　mouth；　battlerager；〃　the　young　woman　insisted。　〃Me　Dad'd　throw　the　halls　to　the　goblins　afore　he'd　be　letting　Drizzt　stay　in　trouble！〃

Cobble　grabbed　Pwent's　shoulder　（and　got　a　nasty　cut　on　one　finger　from　the　many…ridged　armor