精灵血脉四部曲-第48部分

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The　mention　of　the　lightning　bolt　reminded　Drizzt　of　the　wand；　reminded　Drizzt　that　this　drow　was　still　very　dangerous。　He　went　down　in　a　crouch；　circling　defensively。

Jarlaxle　winced　in　pain　and　held　an　empty　hand　up　in　front　of　him　to　calm　the　alerted　ranger。　〃The　wand　is　put　away；〃　he　assured　Drizzt。　〃I　would　have　no　desire　to　use　it　if　I　had　you　helpless—as　you　believe　you　have　me。〃

〃You　meant　to　kill　me；〃　Drizzt　replied　coldly。

Again　the　mercenary　shrugged；　and　a　smile　widened　on　his　face。　〃Vierna　would　have　killed　me　if　she　had　won　and　I　had　not　e　to　her　aid；〃　he　explained　calmly。　〃And；　skilled　as　you　may　be；　I　thought　she　would　win。〃

It　seemed　logical　enough；　and　Drizzt　knew　well　that　pragmatism　was　a　mon　trait　among　dark　elves。　〃Lloth　would　reward　you　still　for　my　death；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。

〃I　do　not　slave　for　the　Spider　Queen；〃　Jarlaxle　replied。　〃I　am　an　opportunist。〃

〃You　make　a　threat？〃

The　mercenary　laughed　loudly；　then　winced　again　at　the　throb　in　his　broken　leg。

Bruenor　rushed　into　the　chamber　from　the　side　passage。　He　glanced　at　Drizzt；　then　focused　on　Jarlaxle；　his　rage　not　yet　played　out。

〃Hold！〃　Drizzt　manded　him　as　the　dwarf　started　for　the　apparently　helpless　mercenary。

Bruenor　skidded　to　a　stop　and　put　a　cold　stare　on　Drizzt；　a　look　made　more　ominous　by　the　dwarf's　ripped　face；　his　right　eye　badly　gouged　and　a　line　of　blood　running　from　the　top　of　his　forehead　to　the　bottom　of　his　left　cheek。　〃We're　not　for　needing　prisoners；〃　Bruenor　growled。

Drizzt　considered　the　venom　in　Bruenor's　voice　and　considered　the　fact　that　he　had　not　seen　Wulfgar　anywhere　in　this　fight。　〃Where　are　the　others？〃

〃I'm　right　here；〃　replied　Catti…brie；　ing　into　the　chamber　from　the　main　tunnel；　behind　Drizzt。

Drizzt　turned　to　regard　her；　her　dirty　face　and　incredibly　grim　expression　revealing　much。　〃Wulf…〃　he　started　to　ask；　but　Catti…brie　shook　her　head　solemnly；　as　though　she　could　not　bear　to　hear　the　name　spoken　aloud。　She　walked　near　Drizzt　and　he　winced；　seeing　the　small　crossbow　quarrel　still　sticking　from　the　side　of　her　jaw。

Drizzt　gently　stroked　Catti…brie's　face；　then　took　hold　of　the　obscene　dart　and　yanked　it　free。　He　brought　his　hand　immediately　to　the　young　woman's　shoulder；　lending　her　support　as　waves　of　nausea　and　pain　swept　over　her。

〃I　pray　I　did　not　harm　the　panther；〃　Jarlaxle　interrupted；　〃a　magnificent　beast　indeed！〃

Drizzt　spun　about；　his　lavender　eyes　flashing。

〃He's　baiting　ye；〃　Bruenor　remarked；　his　fingers　moving　eagerly　over　the　handle　of　his　bloody　axe；　〃begging　for　mercy　without　the　begging。〃

Drizzt　wasn't　so　sure。　He　knew　the　horrors　of　Menzoberranzan；　knew　the　lengths　that　some　drow　would　travel　to　survive。　His　own　father；　Zaknafein；　the　drow　Drizzt　had　loved　most　dearly；　had　been　a　killer；　had　served　as　Matron　Malice's　assassin　out　of　a　simple　will　to　survive。　Might　it　be　that　this　mercenary　was　of　similar　pragmatism？

Drizzt　wanted　to　believe　that。　With　Vierna　dead　at　his　feet；　his　family；　his　ties　to　his　heritage；　were　no　more；　and　he　wanted　to　believe　that　he　was　not　alone　in　the　world。

〃Kill　the　dog；　or　we　drag　him　back；〃　Bruenor　growled；　his　patience　exhausted。

〃What　would　be　your　choice；　Drizzt　Do'Urden？〃　Jarlaxle　asked　calmly。

Drizzt　considered　Jarlaxle　once　more。　This　one　was　not　so　much　like　Zaknafein；　he　decided；　for　he　remembered　his　father's　rage　when　it　was　rumored　that　Drizzt　had　slain　surface　elves。　There　was　indeed　an　undeniable　difference　between　Zaknafein　and　Jarlaxle。　Zaknafein　killed　only　those　he　believed　deserved　death；　only　those　serving　Lloth　or　other　evil　minions。　He　would　not　have　walked　beside　Vierna　on　this　hunt。

The　sudden　rage　that　welled　up　in　Drizzt　almost　sent　him　rushing　at　the　mercenary。　He　fought　the　impulse　back；　though；　remembering　again　the　weight　of　Menzoberranzan；　the　burden　of　pervasive　evil　that　bowed　the　backs　of　those　few　dark　elves　who　were　not　of　typical　demeanor。　Zaknafein　had　admitted　to　Drizzt　that　he　had　almost　lost　himself　to　the　ways　of　Lloth　many　times；　and　in　his　own　trek　through　the　Underdark　Drizzt　Do'Urden　often　feared　what　he　would；　what　he　had；　bee。

How　could　he　pass　judgment　on　this　dark　elf？　The　scimitars　went　back　into　their　sheaths。

〃He　killed　me　boy！〃　Bruenor　roared；　apparently　understanding　Drizzt's　intentions。　Drizzt　shook　his　head　resolutely。

〃Mercy　is　a　curious　thing；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Jarlaxle　remarked。　〃Strength；　or　weakness？〃　〃Strength；〃　Drizzt　answered　quickly。　〃It　can　save　your　soul；〃　Jarlaxle　replied；　〃or　damn　your　body。〃　He　tipped　his　wide…brimmed　hat　to　Drizzt；　then　moved　suddenly；　his　arm　ing　free　of　his　cloak。　Something　small　slammed　the　floor　in　front　of　Jarlaxle；　exploding；　filling　that　area　of　the　chamber　with　opaque　smoke。

〃Damn　him！〃　Catti…brie　growled；　and　she　snapped　off　a　streaking　shot　that　cut　through　the　haze　and　thundered　against　the　stone　of　the　far　wall。　Bruenor　rushed　in；　axe　flailing　wildly；　but　there　was　nothing　there　to　hit。　The　mercenary　was　gone。

By　the　time　Bruenor　came　out　of　the　smoke；　both　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　were　standing　over　the　prone　form　of　Thibbledorf　Pwent。

〃He　dead？〃　the　dwarf　king　asked。

Drizzt　bent　to　the　battlerager；　remembered　that　Pwent　had　been　hit　viciously　by　Vierna's　snake…headed　whip。　〃No；〃　he　replied。　〃The　whips　are　not　designed　to　kill；　just　to　paralyze。〃

His　keen　ears　caught　the　words　as　Bruenor　muttered；　〃Too　bad；〃　under　his　breath。

It　took　them　a　few　moments　to　revive　the　battlerager。　Pwent　hopped　up　to　his　feet—and　promptly　fell　over　once　more。　He　struggled　back　up；　humbled　until　Drizzt　made　the　mistake　of　thanking　him　for　his　valuable　help。

In　the　main　corridor；　they　found　the　five　dead　drow；　one　still　hanging　near　the　ceiling　in　the　area　where　the　globe　of　darkness　had　been。　Catti…brie's　explanation　of　where　this　small　band　had　e　from　sent　a　shudder　through　Drizzt。

〃Regis；〃　he　breathed；　and　he　rushed　off　down　the　hallway；　to　the　side　passage　where　he　had　left　the　halfling。

There　sat　Regis；　terrified；　half…buried　under　a　dead　drow；　holding　the　jeweled　dagger　tightly　in　his　hand。

〃e　on；　my　friend；〃　the　relieved　Drizzt　said　to　him。　〃It　is　time　we　went　home。〃



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The　five　beaten　panions　leaned　on　each　other　as　they　made　their　way　slowly　and　quietly　through　the　tunnels。　Drizzt　looked　around　at　the　ragged　group；　at　Bruenor　with　his　eye　closed　and　Pwent　still　having　trouble　coordinating　his　muscles。　Drizzt's　own　foot　throbbed　painfully。　The　realization　of　the　wound　became　clearer　as　the　adrenaline　rush　of　battle　slowly　ebbed。　It　was　not　the　physical　problems　that　most　alarmed　the　drow　ranger；　though。　The　impact　of　Wulfgar's　loss　seemed　to　have　fully　sunk　in　for　all　those　who　had　been　his　panions。

Would　Catti…brie　be　able　to　call　upon　her　rage　once　more；　to　ignore　the　emotional　battering　she　had　taken　and　fight　with　all　her　heart？　Would　Bruenor；　so　wickedly　wounded　that　Drizzt　was　not　certain　he　would　make　it　back　to　Mithril　Hall　alive；　be　able　to　guide　himself　through　yet　another　battle？

Drizzt　couldn't　be　sure；　and　his　sigh　of　relief　was　sincere　when　General　Dagna；　at　the　lead　of　the　dwarven　cavalry　and　its　grunting　mounts；　rounded　the　bend　in　the　tunnel　far　ahead。

Bruenor　allowed　himself　to　collapse　at　the　sight；　and　the　dwarves　wasted　little　time　in　getting　their　injured　king；　and　Regis；　strapped　to　war　pigs　and　ushered　out　of　the　untamed　plex。　Pwent　went；　too；　accepting　the　reins　of　a　pig；　but　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　did　not　take　a　direct　route　back　to　Mithril　Hall。　Acpanied　by　the　three　displaced　dwarven　riders；　General　Dagna　included；　the　young　woman　led　Drizzt　to　Wulfgar's　fateful　cave。

There　could　be　no　doubt；　Drizzt　realized　as　soon　as　he　looked　at　the　collapsed　alcove；　no　doubt；　no　reprieve。　His　friend　was　gone　forever。

Catti…brie　recounted　the　details　of　the　battle；　had　to　stop　for　a　long　while　before　she　mustered　the　voice　to　tell　of　Wulfgar's　valiant　end。

She　finally　looked　to　the　pile　of　rubble；　quietly　said　〃Good…bye；〃　and　walked　out　of　the　room　with　the　three　dwarves。

Drizzt　stood　alone　for　many　minutes；　staring　helplessly。　He　could　hardly　believe　that　mighty　Wulfgar　was　under　there。　The　moment　seemed　unreal　to　him；　against　his　sensibilities。

But　it　was　real。

And　Drizzt　was　helpless。

Pangs　of　guilt　assaulted　the　drow；　realizations　that　he　had　caused　his　sister's　hunt；　and　thus　had　caused　Wulfgar's　death。　He　summarily　dismissed　the　thoughts；　though；　refusing　to　consider　them　again。

Now　was　the　time　to　bid　farewell　to　his　trusted　panion；　his　dear　friend。　He　wanted　to　be　with　Wulfgar；　to　be　beside　the　young　barbarian　and　fort　him；　guide　him；　to　share　one　more　mischievous　wink　with　the　barbarian　and　boldly　face　together　whatever　mysteries　death　presented　to　them。

〃Farewell；　my　friend；〃　Drizzt　whispered；　trying　futilely　to　keep　his　voice　from　breaking。　〃This　journey　you　make　alone。〃



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The　return　to　Mithril　Hall　was　not　a　time　of　celebration　for　the　weary；　battered　friends。　They　could　not　claim　victory　over　what　had　happened　in　the　lower　tunnels。　Each　of　the　four；　Drizzt；　Bruenor；　Catti…brie；　and　Regis；　held　a　different　perspective　on　the　loss　of　Wulfgar；　for　the　barbarian's　relationship　had　been　very　different　for　each　of　them—as　a　son　to　Bruenor；　a　fiancé　to　Catti…brie；　a　rade　to　Drizzt；　a　protector　to　Regis。

Bruenor's　physical　wounds　were　most　serious。　The　dwarf　king　had　lost　an　eye　and　would　carry　an　angry　reddish　blue　scar　from　forehead　to　jawline　for　the　rest　of　his　days。　The　physical　pains；　though；　were　the　least　of　Bruenor's　troubles。

Many　times　over　the　next　few　days　the　sturdy　dwarf　suddenly　remembered　some　arrangement　yet　to　be　made　with　the　presiding　priest；　only　to　recall　that　Cobble　would　not　be　there　to　help　him　sort　things　out；　to　recall　that　there　would　be　no　wedding　that　spring　in　Mithril　Hall。

Drizzt　could　see　the　intense　grief　etched　on　the　dwarf's　face。　For　the　first　time　in　the　years　he　had　known　Bruenor；　the　ranger　thought　the　dwarf　looked　old　and　tired。　Drizzt　could　hardly　bear　to　look　at　him；　but　his　heart　broke　even　more　whenever　he　chanced　by　Catti…brie。

She　had　been　young　and　vital；　full　of　life　and　feeling　immortal。　Now　Catti…brie's　perception　of　the　world　ha