精灵血脉四部曲-第212部分

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　the　summoned　fiend；　no　longer　a　deterrence；　nor　were　any　of　the　protection　spells　that　the　wizard　had　placed　upon　his　person。

　　　Errtu；　too；　had　no　magic　that　he　could　hurl　in　the　face　of　that　dead　magic　stone；　but　the　powerful　tanar'ri；　a　thousand　pounds　of　muscle　and　catastrophe；　hardly　needed　any。

　　　Dosemen's　fellow　wizards　entered　his　private　room　later　that　night；　fearful　for　their　guild…brother。　They　found　a　shoe；　just　one；　and　a　splotch　of　dried　blood。

　　　Errtu；　having　replaced　the　sapphire　in　the　coffer；　which　could　shield　even　against　such　wicked　antimagic；　was　far；　far　away　by　then；　flying　fast　to　the　north　and　the　west梩o　Icewind　Dale；　where　Crenshinibon；　an　artifact　that　the　balor　had　coveted　through　centuries；　waited。



*****



Chapter　22

LIKE　OLD　TIMES



　　　The　ranger　ran　with　the　wind　in　his　ears；　that　constant　humming。　It　had　shifted　more　from　the　north　now；　off　the　glaciers　and　the　great　bergs　of　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice；　as　the　season　drifted　away　from　summer；　through　the　short　fall　and　into　the　long　and　dark　winter。

　　　Drizzt　knew　this　change　on　the　tundra　as　well　as　any。　He　had　lived　in　Icewind　Dale　for　just　a　decade；　but　in　that　time　he　had　e　to　know　well　the　land　and　its　ways。　He　could　tell　by　the　texture　of　the　ground　exactly　what　time　of　year　it　was　to　within　a　ten…day。　Now　the　ground　was　hardening　once　more；　though　there　remained　a　bit　of　sliding　under　his　moving　feet；　a　subtle　hint　of　mud　below　the　dry　surface；　the　last　remnant　of　the　short　summer。

　　　The　ranger　kept　his　cloak　tight　about　his　neck；　warding　off　the　chilly　breeze。　Though　he　was　bundled；　and　though　he　could　not　hear　much　above　the　incessant　moan　of　the　wind；　the　drow　was　alert；　always　alert。　Creatures　venturing　out　onto　the　open　plain　of　Icewind　Dale　who　were　not　careful　did　not　survive　for　long。　Drizzt　noted　tracks　of　tundra　yeti　in　several　places。　He　also　found　one　group　of　footprints　close　together；　moving　side　by　side；　the　way　a　goblin　band　might　travel。　He　could　read　those　prints；　where　they　had　e　from　and　where　they　were　going；　and　he　had　not　e　out　from　Kelvin's　Cairn　for　any　fight。　He　took　special　note　of　them　now　simply　to　avoid　the　creatures　who　had　made　them。

　　　Soon　Drizzt　found　the　tracks　he　desired；　two　sets　of　prints　from　soft　boots；　man…sized；　traveling　slowly；　as　a　hunter　would　stalk。　He　noted　that　the　deepest　depression　by　far　was　near　the　ball　of　the　foot。　Barbarians　walked　in　a　toe…heel　manner；　not　the　heel…toe　stride　used　by　most　of　the　peoples　of　the　Realms。　There　could　be　no　doubt　now　for　the　ranger。　He　had　ventured　near　to　the　barbarian　encampment　the　night　before；　meaning　to　go　in　and　speak　with　Revjak　and　Berkthgar。　Listening　secretly　from　the　darkness；　however；　the　drow　had　discovered　that　Berkthgar　intended　to　go　out　on　a　hunt　the　next　day；　alone　with　Revjak's　son。

　　　That　news　unsettled　Drizzt　at　first梔id　Berkthgar　mean　to　indirectly　strike　a　blow　at　Revjak　and　kill　the　boy？

　　　Drizzt　had　quickly　dismissed　that　silly　notion；　he　knew　Berkthgar。　For　all　their　differences；　the　man　was　honorable　and　no　murderer。　More　likely；　Drizzt　reasoned；　Berkthgar　was　trying　to　win　over　the　trust　of　Revjak's　son；　strengthening　his　base　of　power　within　the　tribe。

　　　Drizzt　had　stayed　out　of　the　encampment　all　the　night；　in　the　darkness；　undetected。　He　had　moved　safely　away　before　the　dawn　and　had　subsequently　circled　far　to　the　north。

　　　Now　he　had　found　the　tracks；　two　men；　side　by　side。　They　were　an　hour　ahead　of　him；　but　moving　as　hunters；　and　so　Drizzt　was　confident　that　he　would　find　them　in　but　a　few　minutes。

　　　The　ranger　slowed　his　pace　a　moment　later　when　he　found　that　the　tracks　split；　the　smaller　set　going　off　to　the　west；　the　larger　continuing　straight　north。　Drizzt　followed　the　larger；　figuring　them　to　be　Berkthgar's；　and　a　few　minutes　later；　he　spotted　the　giant　barbarian；　kneeling　on　the　tundra；　shielding　his　eyes　and　peering　hard　to　the　north　and　west。

　　　Drizzt　slowed　and　moved　cautiously。　He　discovered　that　he　was　nervous　at　the　sight　of　the　imposing　man。　Drizzt　and　Berkthgar　had　argued　many　times　in　the　past；　usually　when　Drizzt　was　serving　Bruenor　as　liaison　to　Settlestone；　where　Berkthgar　ruled。　This　time　was　different；　Drizzt　realized。　Berkthgar　was　back　home　now；　needing　nothing　from　Bruenor；　and　that　might　make　the　man　more　dangerous。

　　　Drizzt　had　to　find　out。　That　was　why　he　had　e　out　from　Kelvin's　Cairn　in　the　first　place。　He　moved　silently；　step　by　step；　until　he　was　within　a　few　yards　of　the　still…kneeling；　apparently　oblivious　barbarian。

　　　〃My　greetings；　Berkthgar；〃　the　ranger　said。　His　sudden　voice　did　not　appear　to　startle　the　barbarian；　and　Drizzt　believed　that　Berkthgar；　so　at　home　on　the　tundra；　had　sensed　his　approach。

　　　Berkthgar　rose　slowly　and　turned　to　face　the　drow。

　　　Drizzt　looked　to　the　west；　to　a　speck　on　the　distant　tundra。　〃Your　hunting　partner？〃　he　asked。

　　　〃Revjak's　son；　Kierstaad　by　name；〃　Berkthgar　replied。　〃A　fine　boy。〃

　　　〃And　what　of　Revjak？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　Berkthgar　paused　a　moment；　jaw　firm。　〃It　was　whispered　that　you　had　returned　to　the　dale；〃　he　said。

　　　〃Is　that　a　good　thing　in　the　eyes　of　Berkthgar？〃

　　　〃No；〃　came　the　simple　reply。　〃The　tundra　is　wide；　drow。　Wide　enough　so　that　we　will　not　have　to　meet　again。〃　Berkthgar　began　to　turn　away；　as　if　that　was　all　that　had　to　be　said；　but　Drizzt　wasn't　ready　to　let　things　go　just　yet。

　　　〃Why　would　you　desire　that？〃　Drizzt　asked　innocently；　trying　to　push　Berkthgar　into　playing　his　hand　openly。　Drizzt　wanted　to　know　just　how　far　the　barbarians　were　moving　away　from　the　dwarves　and　the　folk　of　Ten…Towns。　Were　they　to　bee　invisible　partners　sharing　the　tundra；　or；　as　they　once　had　been；　sworn　enemies？

　　　〃Revjak　calls　me　friend；〃　Drizzt　went　on。　〃When　I　left　the　dale　those　years　ago；　I　named　Revjak　among　those　I　would　truly　miss。〃

　　　〃Revjak　is　an　old　man；〃　Berkthgar　said　evenly。

　　　〃Revjak　speaks　for　the　tribe。〃

　　　〃No！〃　Berkthgar's　response　came　fast　and　sharp。　Then　he　quickly　calmed　and　his　smile　told　Drizzt　that　the　denial　was　true。　〃No　more　does　Revjak　speak　for　the　tribe；〃　Berkthgar　went　on。

　　　〃Berkthgar；　then？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　The　huge　barbarian　nodded；　smiling　still。　〃I　have　returned　to　lead　my　people；〃　he　said。　〃Away　from　the　errors　of　Wulfgar　and　Revjak；　back　to　the　ways　we　once　knew；　when　we　were　free；　when　we　answered　to　no　one　but　our　own　and　our　god。〃

　　　Drizzt　thought　on　that　for　a　moment。　The　proud　young　man　was　truly　deluding　himself；　the　drow　realized；　for　those　old　times　that　Berkthgar　spoke　of　so　reverently　were　not　as　carefree　and　wonderful　as　the　huge　man　apparently　believed。　Those　years　were　marked　by　war；　usually　between　tribes　peting　for　food　that　was　often　scarce。　Barbarians　starved　to　death　and　froze　to　death；　and　often　wound　up　as　meals　for　tundra　yeti；　or　for　the　great　white　bears　that　also　followed　the　reindeer　herd　along　the　coast　of　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice。

　　　That　was　the　danger　of　nostalgia；　Drizzt　realized。　One　often　remembered　the　good　of　the　past　while　forgetting　the　troubles。

　　　〃Then　Berkthgar　speaks　for　the　tribes；〃　Drizzt　agreed。　〃Will　he　lead　them　to　despair？　To　war？〃

　　　〃War　is　not　always　despair；〃　the　barbarian　said　coolly。　〃And　do　you　forget　so　soon　that　following　the　course　of　Wulfgar　led　us　to　war　with　your　own　people？〃

　　　Drizzt　had　no　response　to　that　statement。　It　hadn't　happened　exactly　like　that；　of　course。　The　drow　war　was　far　more　an　accident　of　chance　than　of　anything　Wulfgar　had　done。　But　still；　the　words　were　true　enough；　at　least　from　Berkthgar's　stilted　perspective。

　　　〃And　before　that；　Wulfgar's　course　led　the　tribes　to　war　in　helping　to　reclaim　the　throne　for　your　ungrateful　friend；〃　Berkthgar　pressed。

　　　Drizzt　glared　hard　at　Berkthgar。　Again　the　man's　words　were　true；　if　stilted；　and　the　drow　realized　that　there　was　no　practical　response　he　could　offer　to　sway　Berkthgar。

　　　They　both　noticed　then　that　the　speck　on　the　tundra　was　larger　now　as　Kierstaad　approached。

　　　〃We　have　found　the　clean　air　of　the　tundra　again；〃　Berkthgar　proclaimed　before　the　lad　arrived。　〃We　have　returned　to　the　old　ways；　the　better　ways；　and　those　do　not　allow　for　friendship　with　drow　elves。〃

　　　〃Berkthgar　forgets　much；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　〃Berkthgar　remembers　much；〃　the　giant　barbarian　answered；　and　walked　away。

　　　〃You　would　do　well　to　consider　the　good　that　Wulfgar　did　for　your　people；〃　Drizzt　called　after　him。　〃Perhaps　Settlestone　was　not　the　place　for　the　tribe；　but　Icewind　Dale　is　an　unforgiving　land；　a　land　where　allies　are　the　most　valuable　assets　for　any　man。〃

　　　Berkthgar　didn't　slow。　He　came　up　to　Kierstaad　and　walked　right　past　the　young　man。　Kierstaad　turned　and　watched　him　for　a　short　time；　the　young　man　quickly　deciphering　what　had　just　happened。　Then　Kierstaad　turned　back　to　Drizzt　and；　recognizing　the　drow；　sprinted　over　to　stand　before　him。

　　　〃Well　met；　Kierstaad；〃　Drizzt　said。　〃The　years　have　done　you　well。〃

　　　Kierstaad　straightened　a　bit　at　that　remark；　thrilled　to　have　Drizzt　Do'Urden　say　anything　plimentary　to　him。　Kierstaad　was　just　a　boy　of　twelve　when　Drizzt　left　Mithril　Hall；　and　so　he　did　not　know　the　drow　very　well。　He　knew　of　Drizzt；　though；　the　legendary　warrior。　Once　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　had　e　to　Hengorot；　the　mead　hall　in　Settlestone；　and　Drizzt　had　leaped　upon　the　table；　giving　a　speech　that　called　for　a　strengthened　alliance　between　the　dwarves　and　the　barbarians。　By　all　the　old　ways　that　Berkthgar　so　often　spoke　of；　no　drow　elf　should　have　been　allowed　in　Hengorot；　and　certainly　none　would　have　been　shown　any　respect。　But　the　mead　hall　showed　respect　to　Drizzt　Do'Urden　that　day；　a　testament　to　the　drow's　battle　prowess。

　　　Kierstaad　could　not　forget；　too；　the　stories　his　father　had　told　him　of　Drizzt。　In　one　particularly　vicious　battle　with　the　folk　of　Ten…Towns；　the　barbarian　warriors　invading　Ten…Towns　were　badly　beaten；　in　no　small　part　because　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　After　that　fight；　the　ranks　of　the　barbarians　were　greatly　diminished。　With　winter　ing　on；　it　seemed　that　many　hardships　would　befall　those　who　had　survived　the　war；　particularly　the　very　young　and　the　very　old；　for　there　simply　were　not　enough　hunters　l