精灵血脉四部曲-第41部分

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For　Regis；　staring　helplessly；　not　daring　to　intervene；　and　for　any　of　the　region's　nocturnal　creatures　that　might　have　been　watching；　there　were　no　words　to　describe　the　amazing　dance；　the　interweaving　of　colors　as　Twinkle　and　the　assassin's　glowing　blade　passed；　the　violet　sparkle　of　Drizzt's　eyes；　the　red　heat　of　Entreri's。　The　scrape　of　blades　became　a　symphony；　a　myriad　of　notes　playing　to　the　dance；　evoVmg　a　sVraige　setvse　oi　VaT？？？Y？　belviecv。　these　most　bitter　enemies。

They　stopped　in　unison；　a　few　feet　apart；　both　understanding　that　there　would　be　no　end　to　that　spinning　dance；　no　advantage　by　either　player。　They　stood　like　matching　bookends　of　identical　weight。

Entreri　laughed　aloud　at　the　realization；　laughed　so　that　he　might　savor　this　moment；　this　many　act　play　that　perhaps　would　see　the　dawn；　and　perhaps　would　never　be　resolved。

Drizzt　found　no　humor；　and　his　private　eagerness　at　the　beginning　of　the　challenge　had　flown；　leaving　him　with　the　weight　of　responsibility—for　Regis　and　for　his　friends　back　in　the　tunnels。

The　assassin　came　in　low　and　hard；　sword　darting；　climbing　with　each　strike　as　Entreri　gradually　straightened　his　stance；　taking　a　full　measure　of　Drizzt's　defenses　from　a　variety　of　cunning　angles。

Entreri　settled　him　into　a　parrying　rhythm；　then　broke　the　melody　with　a　vicious　dagger　cut。　The　assassin　howled　in　glee；　thinking　for　a　moment　that　his　blade　had　slipped　through。

Twinkle's　hilt　had　intercepted　it　cleanly；　had　caught　it　and　held　it；　barely　an　inch　from　Drizzt's　side。　The　assassin　grimaced　and　stubbornly　tried　to　push　on　as　he　came　to　understand　the　truth。

Drizzt's　expression　was　colder　still；　the　dagger　did　not　move。

A　twist　of　the　drow's　wrist　sent　both　blades　flying　wide。　Entreri　was　wise　enough　to　push　off　and　break　the　clench；　to　circle　back　and　wait　for　the　next　opportunity　to　present　itself。

〃I　almost　had　you；〃　he　teased。　He　hid　his　frown　well　as　Drizzt　in　no　way　responded；　not　with　words；　not　with　body　movements；　not　with　the　unyielding　set　of　his　ebony…skinned　features。

A　scimitar　snapped　across；　ringing　loudly　through　the　breeze　as　Entreri　brought　his　blocking　sword　in　its　path。

The　sudden　sound　assaulted　Drizzt；　reminded　him　that　Vierna　might　not　be　far　away。　He　pictured　his　friends　in　dire　trouble；　captured　or　dead；　felt　a　special　twinge　of　remorse　for　Wulfgar　that　he　could　not　explain。　He　locked　stares　with　Entreri；　reminded　himself　that　this　man　had　been　the　one　to　cause　it　all；　that　this　enemy　had　tricked　him　into　the　tunnels；　had　separated　him　from　his　friends。

And　now　Drizzt　could　not　protect　them。

A　scimitar　snapped　across；　the　other　came　slashing　in　the　other　way。　Drizzt　repeated　the　routine；　then　a　third　time；　each　movement；　each　ring　of　metal　against　metal；　bringing　his　thoughts　more　in　line　with　this　task；　lifting　his　emotional　preparations；　heightening　his　warrior　senses。

Each　strike　was　perfectly　aimed；　and　each　parry　intercepted　the　attacking　blades　perfectly；　yet　neither　Drizzt　nor　Entreri；　locked　through　their　staring　eyes　into　mental　bat；　watched　their　hands　through　the　physical　movements。　Neither　one　blinked；　not　when　the　breeze　of　Drizzt's　high　slice　moved　the　hair　atop　the　assassin's　head；　not　when　Entreri's　sword　thrust　came　to　a　parried　stop　a　hairsbreadth　from　Drizzt's　eye。

Drizzt　felt　his　momentum　building；　felt　the　give　and　take　of　the　battle　corning　quicker；　strike　and　parry。　Entreri；　as　consumed　as　the　ranger；　paced　him。

The　movements　of　their　bodies　began　to　catch　the　blur　of　hands　and　weapons。　Entreri　dipped　a　shoulder；　sword　lashing　out　straight　ahead；　Drizzt　spun　a　plete　circle；　parrying　behind　his　back　as　he　flitted　out　of　reach。

Images　of　Bruenor　and　Catti…brie　captured　by　Vierna　tormented　the　ranger；　he　pictured　Wulfgar；　wounded　or　dying；　a　drow　sword　at　his　throat。　He　imagined　the　barbarian　atop　a　funeral　pyre；　a　conjured　image　that；　for　some　reason　Drizzt　could　not　understand；　would　not　be　easily　dismissed。　Drizzt　accepted　the　images；　gave　the　mental　assault　his　full　attention；　let　the　fears　for　his　friends　fuel　his　passion。　That　had　been　the　difference　between　him　and　the　assassin；　he　told　himself；　told　that　part　of　himself　that　argued　for　him　to　keep　his　mind　clear　and　his　movements　precise　and　well　considered。

That　was　how　Entreri　played　the　game；　always　in　control；　never　feeling　anything　beyond　the　enemy　at　hand。

A　slight　growl　escaped　Drizzt's　lips；　his　lavender　eyes　simmered　in　the　starlight。　In　his　mind　Catti…brie　screamed　out　in　pain。

He　came　at　Entreri　in　a　wild　rush。

The　assassin　laughed　at　him；　sword　and　dagger　working　furiously　to　keep　the　two　scimitars　at　bay。　〃Give　in　to　the　rage；〃　he　chided。　〃Let　go　of　your　discipline！〃

Entreri　didn't　understand；　that　was　precisely　the　point。

Twinkle　chopped　in；　to　be　predictably　parried　by　Entreri's　sword。　It　wouldn't　be　that　easy　for　the　assassin　this　time；　though。　Drizzt　retracted　and　struck　again；　and　again；　repeatedly；　willingly　slamming　his　blade　against　the　assassin's　already　poised　weapon。　His　other　blade　came　in　furiously　from　the　other　side；　Entreri's　dagger　turned　it　aside。

Drizzt's　ensuing　flurry；　sheer　madness；　it　seemed；　kept　the　assassin　back　on　his　heels。　A　dozen　hits；　two　dozen；　sounded　like　one　long　cry　of　ringing　steel。

Entreri's　expression　betrayed　his　laughter。　He　had　not　expected　this　wild　an　offensive　routine；　had　not　expected　Drizzt　to　be　so　daring。　If　he　could　get　one　of　his　blades　free　for　just　an　instant；　the　drow　would　be　vulnerable。

But　Entreri　could　not　free　up　sword　or　dagger。　Fires　drove　Drizzt　on；　kept　his　pace　impossibly　fast　and　his　concentration　perfect。　To　the　Nine　Hells　with　his　own　life；　he　decided；　for　his　friends　needed　him　to　prevail。

On　and　on　the　offensive　routine　continued；　Regis　covered　his　ears　at　the　horrid　wail　and　screech　of　the　blades；　but　the　halfling　could　not；　for　all　his　terror；　take　his　gaze　from　the　fighting　masters。　How　many　times　Regis　expected　one　or　both　to　pitch　over　the　cliff！　How　many　times　he　thought　a　sword　or　scimitar　thrust　had　struck　home！　But　they　somehow　kept　on　fighting；　each　attack　just　missing；　each　defense　in　line　at　the　last　possible　instant。

Twinkle　hit　the　sword；　Drizzt's　following　strike　from　the　other　side　was　not　parried　but　went　in　short　as　Entreri　shifted　his　foot　and　fell　back　a　step。

The　assassin's　dagger　arm　shot　forward。　Entreri　released　a　primal　scream　of　victory；　thinking　Drizzt　had　slipped　up。

Twinkle　came　across　from　its　high　perch　faster　than　Entreri　expected；　faster　than　the　assassin　believed　possible；　gashing　his　forearm　an　instant　before　he　got　the　dagger　to　Drizzt's　exposed　belly。　Back　flew　the　scimitar；　backhanding　the　sword　away。　Entreri　leaped　ahead　to　get　in　close；　realizing　his　vulnerability。

His　sudden　charge　saved　his　life；　but　while　Drizzt　could　not　angle　the　tip　of　his　free　blade　for　a　killing　thrust；　he　could；　and　did；　punch　out　with　the　hilt；　connecting　solidly　with　Entreri's　face；　sending　the　man　staggering　backward。

On　came　the　dark　elf；　blades　flashing　relentlessly；　driving　Entreri　back　to　within　an　inch　of　the　cliff。　The　assassin　tried　to　go　to　his　right；　but　one　scimitar　knocked　aside　his　blocking　sword　while　the　other's　maneuvering　kept　Drizzt　directly　in　front　of　him。　The　assassin　started　left；　but　with　his　wounded　dagger　arm　slow　to　react；　he　knew　he　could　not　get　beyond　the　drow's　reach　in　time。　Entreri　held　his　ground；　parrying　furiously；　trying　to　find　a　countering　routine　that　would　drive　this　possessed　enemy　back。

Drizzt's　breath　came　in　short　puffs　as　he　found　a　rhythm　to　his　frantic　pace。　His　eyes　flared；　unrelenting；　as　he　reminded　himself　over　and　over　that　his　friends　were　dying　—and　that　he　could　not　protect　them！

He　fell　too　far　into　the　rage；　hardly　registered　the　movement　as　the　dagger　flew　at　him。　At　the　very　last　instant；　he　ducked　aside；　the　skin　above　his　cheekbone　slashed　in　a　three…inch…long　cut。　More　importantly；　Drizzt's　forward　rhythm　was　shattered。　His　arms　ached　from　the　exertion；　his　momentum　had　played　itself　out。

On　came　the　snarling　assassin；　sword　poking；　even　scoring　a　slight　hit；　as　he　drove　Drizzt　back　and　around。　By　the　time　the　ranger　had　regained　his　balance　somewhat；　his　toes；　not　Entreri's；　were　squarely　facing　the　mountain　wall；　his　heels　feeling　the　free…flowing　emptiness　of　the　mountain　winds。

〃I　am　the　better！〃　Entreri　proclaimed；　and　his　ensuing　attack　almost　proved　his　claim。　Sword　slashing　and　darting；　he　drove　Drizzt's　heel　over　the　edge。

Drizzt　dropped　to　one　knee　to　keep　his　weight　forward。　He　felt　the　wind　keenly；　heard　Regis　scream　his　name。　…　Entreri　could　have　leaped　back　and　retrieved　his　dagger；　but　he　sensed　the　kill；　sensed　he　would　never　again　have　a　better　opportunity　to　end　the　game。　His　sword　banged　down　with　fury；　Drizzt　seemed　to　buckle　under　its　weight；　seemed　to　slip　even　farther　over　the　cliff　edge。

Drizzt　reached　to　his　inner　self；　to　the　innate　magic　of　his　heritage　。。。　and　produced　darkness。

Drizzt　dove　to　the　side　in　a　roll；　came　up　several　feet　along　the　ledge；　beyond　the　darkness　globe　he　had　created　near　Regis。

Incredibly；　Entreri　was　still　in　front　of　him；　pressing　him　wickedly。

〃I　know　your　tricks；　drow；〃　the　skilled　assassin　declared。

A　part　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　wanted　to　give　in　then；　to　simply　lie　back　and　let　the　mountains　take　him；　but　it　was　a　fleeting　moment　of　weakness；　one　from　which　Drizzt　recoiled；　one　that　fueled　his　indomitable　spirit　and　lent　strength　to　his　weary　arms。

But　so；　too；　was　hungry　Entreri　fueled。

Drizzt　slipped　suddenly　and　had　to　grab　for　the　ledge；　releasing　his　grip　on　his　blade。　Twinkle　toppled　over　the　cliff；　skipping　down　along　the　stones。

Entreri's　sword　slammed　down；　blocked　by　only　the　remaining　scimitar。　The　assassin　howled　and　jumped　back；　ing　right　back　with　a　thrust。

Drizzt　could　not　stop　it；　Entreri　knew；　his　eyes　going　wide　as　the　moment　of　victory　finally　presented　itself。　The　twisted　draw's　angle　was　all　wrong；　Drizzt　couldn't　possibly　get　his　remaining　blade　down　and　turned　in　line　in　time。

He　couldn't　stop　it！

Drizzt　didn't　try　to　stop　it。　He　had　quietly　coiled　one　leg　under　him　for　a　roll；　and　he　went　to　the　side　and　ahead　as　the　sword