精灵血脉四部曲-第35部分

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ng　viciously。

Metal　rang　against　metal　a　dozen　times；　two　dozen；　as　Drizzt　impossibly　defeated　each　attack。　Then　the　second　drow　joined　the　melee　and　Drizzt；　as　skilled　as　he　was；　found　himself　sorely　pressed。　Twinkle　snapped　across　to　block　the　short　sword；　darted　farther　ahead　and　low　to　knock　down　the　tip　of　the　thrusting　broadsword；　then　rifled　back　the　other　way；　barely　deflecting　the　darting　dirk。

So　it　went　for　several　long　and　frantic　moments；　with　the　two　soldiers　of　Bregan　D'aerthe　working　in　harmony；　each　measuring　his　attacks　in　light　of　the　other's；　each　raising　appropriate　defenses　whenever　his　panion　seemed　vulnerable。

Drizzt　was　not　so　sure　he　could　win　against　these　two；　and　knew　that　even　if　he　did；　this　battle　would　take　a　long　time　to　turn　his　way。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　to　see　Entreri　beginning　to　back　off　from　his　attack　routines；　falling　into　a　more　mundane　rhythm　against　his　skilled　opponent。

The　assassin　noticed　Drizzt；　and　apparently　noted　Drizzt's　predicament。　He　gave　a　slight　nod；　and　Drizzt　caught　a　subtle　shift　in　the　way　Entreri　was　holding　his　jeweled　dagger。

Drizzt　went　forward　in　a　sudden　burst；　driving　back　the　sword　and　dirk　wielder；　then　spun　to　the　other　drow；　scimitars　starting　low　and　sweeping　upward；　forcing　the　drow's　broadsword　high。

Drizzt　released　the　move　immediately；　snapped　his　scimitar　from　the　blade　of　the　broadsword；　and　skipped　two　steps　backward。

The　enemy　drow；　not　understanding；　kept　his　broadsword　high　for　another　instant—an　instant　too　long—　before　he　began　his　countering　advance。

The　jewels　of　Entreri's　dagger　gave　a　multicolored　flicker　as　the　weapon　cut　through　the　air；　thudding　into　the　vulnerable　drow's　ribs；　below　his　raised　sword　arm。　He　grunted　and　hopped　to　the　side；　crashed　against　the　wall；　but　kept　his　balance　and　kept　both　his　swords　defensively　out　in　front。

His　rade　came　ahead　immediately；　understanding　what　Drizzt　would　do。　Long　sword　darted　low；　darted　high；　then　came　up　in　a　twirl　for　a　high　slice。

Drizzt　blocked；　blocked　again；　then　ducked　under　the　predictably　high　third　attack　and　veered　to　the　side；　both　his　blades　working　in　sudden；　short　snaps　that　opened　the　defenses　of　the　slumping；　wounded　drow。　One　scimitar　jabbed　into　drow　flesh　just　beside　the　dagger；　the　other　followed　at　once；　sinking　deeper；　finishing　the　job。

Instinctively；　Drizzt　threw　his　retracted　blade　out　horizontally　and　up　high；　the　metal　singing　a　perfect　note　as　it　stopped　the　overhead　chop　from　the　second　drow's　descending　sword。　The　dark　elf　battling　Entreri　went　on　the　offensive　as　soon　as　the　assassin　relinquished　his　dagger。　Twin　swords　worked　Entreri's　remaining　blade　high　and　low；　to　one　side；　then　the　other。　When　he　had　prepared　the　assassin's　stance　to　his　liking；　thinking　the　end　at　hand；　the　drow　came　with　a　straight　double…thrust；　both　swords　parallel　and　knifing　in　at　the　assassin。

Entreri's　sword　hit　one；　then　the　other；　impossibly　fast；　knocking　both　attacks　wide。　He　hit　the　sword　on　his　right　a　second　time　with　a　backhand；　nearly　sending　the　blade　from　the　drow's　hand；　then　a　third　time；　his　sword　driving　his　enemy's　high。

Drizzt's　second　scimitar　came　free　of　the　dead　drow's　chest；　but　Drizzt　did　not　bring　the　blade　to　bear　on　his　present　opponent。　Rather；　he　angled　the　tip　under　the　crosspiece　of　the　stuck　dagger　and；　when　he　saw　Entreri　prepared　to　receive　it；　he　jerked　his　blade　around；　sending　the　dagger　flying　across　the　way。

Entreri　caught　it　with　his　free　hand　and　redirected　its　momentum；　sticking　it　into　his　opponent's　exposed　ribs　under　the　high…riding　swords。　The　assassin　jumped　back；　the　dying　drow　stared　at　him　in　disbelief。

What　a　pitiful　sight；　Entreri　thought；　watching　his　enemy　try　to　lift　swords　with　arms　that　no　longer　had　any　strength。　He　shrugged　callously　as　the　drow　toppled　to　the　floor　and　died。

One　against　one；　the　remaining　drow　soon　realized　that　he　was　no　match　for　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　He　kept　his　movements　defensive；　angling　around　to　Drizzt's　side；　then　noticed　a　desperate　opportunity。　Sword　working　furiously　to　keep　the　darting　scimitars　at　bay；　he　flipped　his　dirk　over　in　his　hand　as　if　to　throw。

Drizzt　immediately　went　into　defensive　maneuvers；　one　scimitar　flashing　across　any　possible　missile　path　while　the　other　kept　the　pressure　on。

But　the　enemy　warrior　glanced　to　the　side；　to　the　half…ling；　sprawled　helpless　on　the　floor　not　so　far　away。

〃Surrender　or　I　kill　the　halfling！〃　the　evil　dark　elf　cried　in　the　drow　tongue。

Drizzt's　lavender　eyes　flared　wickedly。

A　scimitar　hit　the　evil　drow's　wrist；　taking　the　dirk　from　his　grasp；　Drizzt's　other　blade　batted　the　sword　once；　then　darted　low；　slicing　against　his　enemy's　knee。　Twinkle　came　across　in　a　blue　flash；　batting　aside　the　descending　sword；　and　straight　ahead　came　the　free；　low…riding　scimitar；　taking　the　drow　in　the　thigh。

The　doomed　dark　elf　grimaced　and　wobbled；　trying　to　back　away；　trying　to　utter　something；　some　word　of　surrender；　to　call　off　his　attacker。　But　his　threat　against　Regis　had　put　Drizzt　past　the　point　of　reasoning。

Drizzt's　advance　was　slow　and　deadly　even。　Scimitars　low　to　his　side；　he　still　got　one　or　the　other　up　to　destroy　any　attempted　strikes　long　before　they　got　near　his　body。

All　that　Drizzt's　opponent　could　watch　was　Drizzt's　simmering　eyes；　and　nothing　this　drow　had　ever　before　seen；　neither　the　snake…headed　whips　of　merciless　priestesses　nor　the　rage　of　a　matron　mother；　had　promised　death　so　pletely。

He　ducked　his　head；　screamed　aloud；　and；　giving　in　to　his　terror；　threw　himself　forward　desperately。

Scimitars　hit　him　alternately　in　the　chest。　Twinkle　took　his　biceps　cleanly；　keeping　his　sword　arm　helplessly　pinned　back；　and　Drizzt's　other　blade　came　up　fast　under　his　chin；　lifting　his　face；　that　he　might；　at　the　moment　of　his　death；　look　once　more　into　those　lavender　eyes。

Drizzt；　his　chest　heaving　with　the　rush　of　adrenaline；　his　eyes　burning　from　inner　fires；　shoved　the　corpse　away　and　looked　to　the　side；　eager　to　be　done　with　his　business　with　Entreri。

But　the　assassin　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。



Chapter　19

Sacrifice



Thibbledorf　　Pwent　stood　at　the　end　of　the　narrow　tunnel；　scanning　the　wide　cavern　beyond　with　his　infravision；　registering　the　shifting　gradations　of　heat；　that　he　might　better　understand　the　layout　of　the　dangerous　area　ahead。　He　made　out　the　many　teeth　of　the　ceiling；　stalactites　long　and　narrow；　and　saw　two　distinctly　cooler　lines　indicating　ledges　on　the　high　walls—one　directly　ahead；　the　other　along　the　wall　on　his　right。　Dark　holes　lined　the　walls　at　floor　level　in　several　places；　Pwent　knew　that　one　immediately　to　his　left；　two　directly　across　from　where　he　stood；　and　another　diagonally　ahead　and　to　the　right；　under　the　ledge；　likely　were　long　tunnels；　and　figured　several　others　to　be　smaller　side　chambers　or　alcoves。

Guenhwyvar　was　at　the　battlerager's　side；　the　cat's　ears　flattened；　its　low　growl　barely　perceptible。　The　panther　sensed　the　danger；　too；　Pwent　realized。　He　motioned　for　Guenhwyvar　to　follow　him—suddenly　he　was　not　so　upset　at　having　so　unusual　a　panion—and　he　skittered　back　down　the　corridor　into　the　approaching　torchlight　to　stop　the　others　short　of　the　room。

'There　be　at　least　three　or　four　more　ways　in　or　out；〃　the　battlerager　told　his　panions　gravely；　〃and　lots　of　open　ground　across　the　place。〃　He　went　on　to　give　a　thorough　description　of　the　chamber；　paying　particular　attention　to　the　many　obvious　hiding　spots。

Bruenor；　sharing　Pwent's　dark　fears；　nodded　and　looked　to　the　others。　He；　too；　felt　that　their　enemies　were　near；　were　all　about　them；　and　had　been　steadily　closing　in。　The　dwarf　king　looked　back　the　way　they　had　e；　and　it　was　obvious　to　the　others　that　he　was　trying　to　figure　out　some　other　way　around　this　region。

〃We　can　turn　their　hoped…for　surprise　against　them；〃　Catti…brie　offered；　knowing　the　futility　of　Bruenor's　hopes。　The　panions　had　precious　little　time　to　spare　and　few　of　the　side　tunnels　they　had　passed　offered　little　promise　of　bringing　them　to　the　lower　regions；　or　to　wider　tunnels　where　they　might　find　Drizzt。

A　sparkle　of　battle…lust　came　into　Bruenor's　dark　eyes；　but　he　frowned　a　moment　later　when　Guenhwyvar　plopped　down　heavily　at　Catti…brie's　feet。

〃The　cat's　been　about　too　long；〃　the　young　woman　reasoned。　〃Guenhwyvar's　needing　a　rest　soon。〃　Wulfgar's　and　the　dwarves'　expressions　showed　that　they　did　not　wele　the　news。

〃More　the　reason　to　go　straight　ahead；〃　Catti…brie　said　determinedly。　〃Guen's　got　a　bit　of　the　fight　left；　don't　ye　doubt！〃

Bruenor　considered　the　words；　then　nodded　grimly　and　slapped　his　many…notched　axe　across　his　open　palm。　〃Got　to　get　in　close　to　this　enemy；〃　he　reminded　his　friends。

Pwent　produced　his　bitter　potion。　〃Take　another　hit；〃　he　offered　to　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar。　〃Got　to　make　sure　the　stuff's　fresh　in　yer　belly。〃

Catti…brie　winced；　but　she　did　take　the　flask；　then　handed　it　to　Wulfgar；　who　similarly　frowned　and　took　a　brief　draw。

Bruenor　and　Pwent　squatted　to　the　floor　between　them；　Pwent　quickly　scratching　a　rough　map　of　the　chamber。　They　had　no　time　for　detailed　plans；　but　Bruenor　sorted　out　areas　of　responsibility；　assigning　each　person　the　task　best　suited　to　his　or　her　battle　style。　The　dwarf　could　give　no　specific　directions　to　Guenhwyvar；　of　course；　and　didn't　bother　to　include　Pwent　in　much　of　the　discussion；　knowing　that　once　the　fighting　began；　the　battlerager　would　go　off　on　his　wild；　undisciplined　way。　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar；　too；　realized　Pwent's　forthing　role；　and　neither　plained；　understanding　that；　against　skilled　and　precise　opponents　such　as　drow　elves；　a　little　chaos　could　well　be　a。　good　thing。

They　kept　the　torch　burning；　even　lit　a　second　one；　and　started　cautiously　ahead；　ready　to　put　the　fight　on　their　own　terms。

As　the　torchlight　breached　the　room；　a　darting　black　form　cut　through；　going　into　the　darkness　in　full　flight。　Guenhwyvar　broke　to　the　right；　cut　left　toward　the　center　of　the　chamber；　then　darted　right　again；　toward　the　back　wall。

From　somewhere　ahead　there　came　the　sound　of　firing　crossbows；　followed　by　the　skip　of　quarrels　hitting　the　stone；　always　one　step　behind　the　dodging；　leaping　p