精灵血脉四部曲-第213部分

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ed　the　war；　particularly　the　very　young　and　the　very　old；　for　there　simply　were　not　enough　hunters　left　alive　to　provide　for　all。

　　　But　the　fresh　carcasses　of　reindeer　had　been　found　along　the　trail　as　the　nomadic　barbarians　had　moved　west　with　the　herd；　killed　cleanly　and　left　for　the　tribe。　The　work　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　Revjak　and　many　of　the　elders　agreed；　the　drow　who　had　defended　Ten…Towns　against　the　barbarians。　Revjak　had　never　forgotten　the　significance　of　that　act　of　kindness；　nor　had　many　of　the　older　barbarians。

　　　〃Well　met；　to　you；〃　Kierstaad　replied。　〃It　is　good　that　you　have　returned。〃

　　　〃Not　everyone　agrees　with　that　view；〃　Drizzt　remarked。

　　　Kierstaad　snorted　and　shrugged　nonmittally。　〃I　am　sure　that　Bruenor　is　glad　to　see　the　likes　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　again；〃　he　said。

　　　〃And　of　Catti…brie；〃　Drizzt　added。　〃For　she　returned　at　my　side。〃

　　　Again　the　young　man　nodded　and　Drizzt　could　tell　that　he　wanted　to　say　something　more　profound　than　the　polite　conversation。　He　kept　looking　back　over　his　shoulder；　though；　to　the　departing　form　of　Berkthgar；　his　leader。　His　loyalties　were　obviously　split。

　　　Finally；　Kierstaad　sighed　and　turned　to　face　the　drow　directly；　the　internal　battle　decided。　〃Many　remember　the　truth　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　he　said。

　　　〃And　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer？〃

　　　Kierstaad　nodded。　〃Berkthgar　leads　the　tribe；　by　right　of　deed；　but　not　all　agree　with　his　every　word。〃

　　　〃Then　let　us　hope　that　Berkthgar　soon　remembers　that　truth；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　Kierstaad　glanced　back　one　more　time；　to　see　that　Berkthgar　had　stopped　and　had　turned　to　regard　him。　The　young　barbarian　understood　then　what　was　expected　of　him；　and　he　gave　a　quick　nod　to　Drizzt；　not　even　offering　a　parting　word；　and　ran　off　to　join　the　giant　man。

　　　Drizzt　spent　a　long　time　considering　the　implications　of　that　sight；　the　young　man　blindly　running　to　Berkthgar's　will；　though　he　did　not　share　many　of　his　leader's　views。　Then　Drizzt　considered　his　own　course。　He　had　meant　to　go　back　to　the　encampment　for　a　word　with　Revjak；　but　that　seemed　a　useless；　even　dangerous　proposition　now。

　　　Now　that　Berkthgar　spoke　for　the　tribe。



*****



　　　While　Drizzt　was　running　north　of　Kelvin's　Cairn；　another　traveler　was　traversing　the　tundra　to　the　south　of　the　mountain。　Stumpet　Rakingclaw　rambled　on；　her　back　bent　for　the　weight　of　her　huge　pack；　her　eyes　focused　on　that　singular　goal：　the　towering　peaks　of　the　Spine　of　the　World。

　　　Crenshinibon；　hanging　through　a　loop　on　the　dwarf's　belt；　was　silent　and　pleased。　The　artifact　had　invaded　Stumpet's　dreams　every　night。　Its　munications　with　the　dwarf　had　been　more　subtle　than　was　usual　for　the　domineering　artifact；　for　Crenshinibon　held　a　healthy　respect　for　this　one；　both　dwarf　and　priestess　of　a　goodly　god。　Gradually；　over　the　weeks；　Crenshinibon　had　worn　away　Stumpet's　resistance；　had　slowly　convinced　the　dwarf　that　this　was　not　a　foolishly　dangerous　trek；　but　rather　a　challenge　to　be　met　and　conquered。

　　　And　so　Stumpet　had　e　out　the　previous　day；　striding　determinedly　to　the　south；　weapon　in　hand　and　ready　to　meet　any　monsters；　ready　to　climb　any　mountain。

　　　She　wasn't　yet　near　the　mountains；　about　halfway　from　Redwaters；　the　southernmost　of　the　three　lakes。　Crenshinibon　planned　to　remain　silent。　The　artifact　was　a　work　of　the　ages　and　a　few　days　meant　nothing　to　it。　When　they　got　to　the　mountains；　the　wilderness；　the　artifact　would　find　a　more　suitable　wielder。

　　　But　then；　unexpectedly；　the　crystal　shard　sensed　a　presence；　powerful　and　familiar。

　　　A　tanar'ri。

　　　Stumpet　stopped　her　run　a　moment　later；　her　face　screwed　up　with　curiosity　as　she　considered　the　item　on　her　belt。　She　felt　the　vibrations　from　it；　as　though　it　was　a　living　thing。　As　she　studied　the　item；　she　recognized　those　vibrations　as　a　call。

　　　〃What　then？〃　the　dwarf　asked；　lifting　the　crystal　shard　from　the　loop。　〃What're　ye　about？〃

　　　Stumpet　was　still　eyeing　the　shard　when　a　ball　of　blackness　swept　out　of　the　blue　haze　of　the　distant　horizon；　hearing　the　call　now　and　speeding　fast　on　leathery　wings。　Finally；　the　dwarf　shrugged　her　shoulders。　Not　understanding；　she　replaced　the　shard；　then　looked　up。

　　　Too　late。

　　　Errtu　came　in　hard　and　fast；　overwhelming　the　dwarf　before　she　could　even　lift　her　weapon。　In　mere　seconds；　the　fiend　held　Crenshinibon　in　his　clutches；　a　union　both　desired。

　　　Stumpet；　on　the　ground　and　dazed；　her　weapon　knocked　far　from　her　hands；　propped　herself　on　her　elbows　and　looked　upon　the　tanar'ri。　She　started　to　call　to　her　god；　but　Errtu　would　have　none　of　that。　He　kicked　her　hard；　launching　her　a　dozen　feet　away　and　moved　in　for　the　torturous　kill。

　　　Crenshinibon　stopped　him。　The　artifact　did　not　disdain　brute　force；　nor　did　it　hold　any　sympathy　for　the　dwarf。　But　a　simple　reminder　to　Errtu　that　enemies　such　as　Stumpet　could　be　used　to　his　advantage　gave　the　fiend　pause。　Errtu　knew　nothing　about　Bruenor　Battlehammer　and　the　quest　for　Mithril　Hall；　knew　nothing　about　the　clan's　departure　from　the　dale；　let　alone　their　return。　But　the　fiend　did　know　of　Drizzt's　previous　allegiance　to　the　dwarves　of　Icewind　Dale。　If　Drizzt　Do'Urden　was　in　the　dale；　or　if　he　ever　came　back；　he　would　likely　once　again　befriend　the　dwarves　that　worked　the　mines　south　of　the　mountain　called　Kelvin's　Cairn。　This　female；　obviously；　was　of　that　clan。

　　　Errtu　towered　over　her；　menacing　her；　preventing　her　from　holding　any　concentration　that　she　would　need　to　cast　a　spell；　or　even　to　retrieve　her　weapon。　The　fiend　held　out　one　hand；　on　his　second　finger　was　a　ring　adorned　with　a　blackish…purple　gemstone。　Errtu's　black　eyes　blazed　into　orange　flames　as　he　began　to　chant　in　the　guttural　language　of　the　Abyss。

　　　The　gemstone　flared　a　purplish　light　that　washed　over　Stumpet。

　　　Suddenly　Stumpet's　perspective　changed。　She　was　no　longer　looking　up　at　the　fiend；　but　was　rather　looking　down；　on　her　own　body！　She　heard　Errtu's　cackling　laughter；　sensed　the　approval　of　the　crystal　shard；　and　then　watched　helplessly　as　her　form　rose　up　from　the　ground　and　moved　about；　collecting　the　dropped　items。

　　　Zombielike；　moving　stiff…legged；　the　soulless　dwarven　body　turned　about　and　walked　off　to　the　north。

　　　Stumpet's　soul　remained；　trapped　within　the　purplish　gem；　hearing　the　cackles；　sensing　the　sentient　waves　that　the　evil　artifact　sent　out　to　Errtu。



*****



　　　That　same　night；　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　sat　atop　Bruenor's　climb　with　the　red…bearded　dwarf　and　Regis；　basking　in　the　starlight。　Both　the　dwarf　and　the　halfling　recognized　the　uneasiness　of　their　panions；　sensed　that　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　were　keeping　a　secret。

　　　Many　times；　the　drow　and　the　woman　exchanged　concerned　looks。

　　　〃Well；〃　Bruenor　said　at　length；　unable　to　bear　the　cryptic　glances。

　　　Catti…brie　chuckled；　the　tension　relieved　by　her　father's　acute　observations。　She　and　Drizzt　had　indeed　taken　Bruenor　and　Regis　up　here　this　night　to　discuss　more　than　the　beauty　of　the　moon　and　stars。　After　long　discussion；　the　drow　had　finally　agreed　with　Catti…brie's　reasoning　that　it　would　not　be　fair　to　keep　their　friends　in　the　dark　of　their　true　reasons　for　returning　to　Icewind　Dale。

　　　And　so　Drizzt　told　the　tale　of　his　last　few　weeks　aboard　the　Sea　Sprite；　of　the　attack　on　Deudermont　in　Waterdeep　and　the　run　to　Caerwich；　of　the　journey　to　Carradoon　caused　by　Harkle's　spell　and　the　windwalk　with　Cadderly　that　had　brought　them　to　Luskan。　He　left　nothing　out；　not　even　the　remnants　he　could　remember　of　the　blind　hag's　poem　and　the　intimations　that　his　father　was　a　prisoner　of　Errtu；　the　great　tanar'ri。

　　　Catti…brie　interjected　her　thoughts　often；　mostly　reassuring　her　father　that　a　big　part　of　the　reason　that　they　decided　it　was　time　to　e　home　was　because　this　was　home；　was　because　Bruenor　was　here；　and　Regis　was　here。

　　　Silence　fell　over　the　four　after　Drizzt　finished。　All　gazes　fell　over　Bruenor；　waiting　for　his　response　as　though　it　was　a　judgment　of　them　all。

　　　〃Ye　durned　elf！〃　he　bellowed　at　last。　〃Ye're　always　bringing　trouble！　Know　that　ye　make　life　interesting！〃

　　　After　a　short；　strained　laugh；　Drizzt；　Catti…brie　and　Bruenor　turned　to　hear　what　Regis　had　to　say　on　the　matter。

　　　〃I　do　have　to　widen　my　circle　of　friends；〃　the　halfling　remarked；　but　like　Bruenor's　outrage；　Regis's　despair　was　a　feigned　thing。

　　　Guenhwyvar　roared　in　the　night。

　　　They　were　together　again；　the　five　friends；　more　than　ready　to　face　whatever　odds；　more　than　ready　for　battle。

　　　They　didn't　know　the　depth　of　Errtu's　terror；　and　didn't　know　that　the　fiend　already　had　Crenshinibon　in　his　evil　clutches。



Chapter　23

CRYSHAL…TIRITH



　　　A　whisper　of　sound；　a　ball　of　flying　blackness　against　the　dark　night　sky；　the　fiend　rushed　north；　past　the　three　lakes；　past　Kelvin's　Cairn；　across　the　open　tundra　and　over　the　encampment　of　Berkthgar's　people。　Errtu　meant　to　go　to　the　farthest　reaches　of　the　tundra　to　set　up　his　fortresses；　but　when　he　got　to　that　point；　to　the　edge　of　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice；　the　fiend　discovered　a　better　and　more　forlorn　landscape。　Errtu；　a　creature　of　the　fiery　Abyss；　was　no　friend　of　snow　and　ice；　but　the　texture　of　the　great　icebergs　clogging　the　waters梐　mountain　range　built　among　defensible；　freezing　moats梥howed　him　potential　he　could　not　resist。

　　　Out　swooped　the　tanar'ri；　across　the　first　and　widest　expanse　of　open　water；　setting　on　the　side　of　the　visible　cone　of　the　closest　tall　iceberg。　He　peered　out　through　the　darkness；　first　using　his　normal　vision；　then　letting　his　eyes　slip　into　the　spectrum　of　heat。　Predictably；　a　cold　blackness　reflected　back　at　him　from　both　the　normal　and　the　infrared　spectrums；　cold　and　dead。

　　　The　fiend　started　to　move　on　again；　but　felt　the　will　of　Crenshinibon；　asking　him　to　look　more　closely。

　　　Errtu　expecting　to　find　nothing；　didn't　understand　the　point　to　such　scrutiny；　but　he　continued　his　scan。　He　was　surprised　indeed　when　he　did　see　a　patch　of　warmer　air　rising　from　a　hollow　on　the　side　of　an　iceberg　perhaps　a　hundred　yards　away。　That　was　too　far　for　Errtu　to　make　out　any　distinct　forms　so　the　great　tanar'ri　gave　a　short　flap　of　his　leathery　wings　and　halved　the　gap。

　　　Closer　st