精灵血脉四部曲-第49部分

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

The　friends　kept　to　themselves　mostly　as　the　interminably　long　hours　crawled　by。　Drizzt；　Bruenor；　and　Catti…brie　saw　each　other　rarely；　and　none　of　them　saw　Regis。

None　of　them　knew　that　the　halfling　had　gone　out　from　Mithril　Hall；　out　the　west　exit；　into　Keeper's　Dale。

Regis　inched　out　onto　a　rocky　spur；　fifty　feet　above　the　jagged　floor　of　the　southern　end　of　a　long　and　narrow　valley。　He　came　upon　a　limp　figure；　hanging　by　the　shreds　of　a　torn　cloak。　The　halfling　lay　atop　the　garment；　hugging　close　to　the　exposed　stone　as　the　winds　buffeted　him。　To　his　amazement；　the　man　below　him　shifted　slightly。

〃Alive？〃　the　halfling　whispered　approvingly。　Entreri；　his　body　obviously　broken　and　torn；　had　been　hanging　for　more　than　a　day。　〃Still　you're　alive？〃　Always　cautious；　especially　where　Artemis　Entreri　was　concerned；　Regis　took　out　the　jeweled　dagger　and　placed　its　razor　edge　under　the　remaining　seam　of　the　cloak　so　that　a　flick　of　his　wrist　would　send　the　dangerous　assassin　falling　free。

Entreri　managed　to　tilt　his　head　to　the　side　and　groan　weakly；　though　he　could　not　find　the　strength　to　form　words。

〃You　have　something　of　mine；〃　Regis　said　to　Mm。

The　assassin　turned　a　little　more；　straining　to　see；　and　Regis　winced　and　pulled　back　a　bit　at　the　grotesque　sight　of　the　man's　shattered　face。　His　cheekbone　blasted　to　powder；　the　skin　torn　from　the　side　of　his　face；　the　assassin　obviously　could　not　see　out　of　the　eye　he　had　turned　toward　Regis。

And　Regis　was　certain　that　the　man；　his　bones　broken；　agony　assaulting　him　from　every　garish　wound；　wasn't　even　aware　that　he　could　not　see。

〃The　ruby　pendant；〃　Regis　said　more　forcefully；　spotting　the　hypnotic　gemstone　as　it　hung　low　on　its　chain　beneath　Entreri。

Entreri　apparently　prehended；　for　his　hand　inched　toward　the　item　but　fell　limp；　too　weak　to　continue。

Regis　shook　his　head　and　took　up　his　walking　stick。　Keeping　the　dagger　firm　against　the　cloak；　he　reached　below　the　spur　and　prodded　Entreri。

The　assassin　did　not　respond。

Regis　poked　him　again；　much　harder；　then　several　more　times　before　he　was　convinced　the　assassin　was　indeed　helpless。　His　smile　wide；　Regis　worked　the　tip　of　the　walking　stick　under　the　chain　around　the　assassin's　neck　and　gently　angled　it　out　and　around；　lifting　the　pendant　free。

〃How　does　it　feel？〃　Regis　asked　as　he　gathered　in　his　precious　ruby。　He　poked　down　with　the　stick；　popping　Entreri　on　the　back　of　the　head。

〃How　does　it　feel　to　be　helpless；　a　prisoner　of　someone　else's　whims？　How　many　have　you　put　another　in　the　position　you　now　enjoy？〃　Regis　popped　him　again。　〃A　hundred？〃

Regis　moved　to　strike　again；　but　then　he　noticed　something　else　of　value　hanging　on　a　cord　from　the　assassin's　belt。　Retrieving　this　item　would　be　far　more　difficult　than　getting　the　pendant；　but　Regis　was　a　thief；　after　all；　and　he　prided　himself　（secretly；　of　course）　on　being　a　good　one。　He　looped　his　silken　rope　about　the　spur　and　swung　low；　placing　his　foot　on　Entreri's　back　for　balance。

The　mask　was　his。

For　good　measure；　the　thieving　halfling　fished　his　hands　through　the　assassin's　pockets；　finding　a　small　purse　and　a　fairly　valuable　gemstone。

Entreri　groaned　and　tried　to　swing　about。　Frightened　by　the　movement；　Regis　was　back　on　the　spur　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　the　dagger　again　firmly　against　the　tattered　cloak's　seam。

〃I　could　show　mercy；〃　the　halfling　remarked；　looking　up　to　the　vultures　circling　overhead；　the　carrion　birds　that　had　shown　the　way　to　Entreri。　〃I　could　get　Bruenor　and　Drizzt　to　bring　you　in。　Perhaps　you　have　information　that　might　prove　valuable。〃

Regis's　memories　of　Entreri's　tortures　came　flooding　back　when　he　noticed　his　own　hand；　missing　two　fingers　that　the　assassin　had　cut　away—with　the　very　dagger　Regis　now　held。　How　beautifully　ironic；　Regis　thought。

〃No；〃　he　decided。　〃I　do　not　feel　particularly　merciful　this　day。〃　He　looked　up　again。　〃I　should　leave　you　hanging　here　for　the　vultures　to　pick　at；〃　he　said。

Entreri　in　no　way　reacted。

Regis　shook　his　head。　He　could　be　cold；　but　not　to　that　level；　not　to　the　level　of　Artemis　Entreri。　〃The　enchanted　wings　saved　you　when　Drizzt　let　you　fall；〃　he　said；　〃but　they　are　no　more！〃

Regis　flicked　his　wrist；　severing　the　cloak's　remaining　seam；　and　let　the　assassin's　weight　do　the　rest。

Entreri　was　still　hanging　when　Regis　slid　back　off　the　spur；　but　the　cloak　had　begun　to　tear。

Artemis　Entreri　had　run　out　of　tricks。



Chapter　25

In　The　Palm　Of　Her　Hand



Matron　Baenre　sat　back　easily　in　the　cushioned　chair；　her　withered　fingers　tapping　impatiently　on　the　hard　stone　arms　of　the　seat。　A　similar　I　chair；　the　only　other　furnishing　in　this　particular　meeting　room；　rested　across　from　her；　and　in　it　sat　the　most　extraordinary　mercenary。

Jarlaxle　had　just　returned　from　Mithril　Hall　with　a　report　that　Matron　Baenre　had　fully　expected。

〃Drizzt　Do'Urden　remains　free；〃　she　muttered　under　her　breath。　Oddly　enough；　it　seemed　to　Jarlaxle　as　if　that　fact　did　not　displease　the　conniving　matron　mother。　What　was　Baenre　up　to　this　time？　the　mercenary　wondered。

〃I　blame　Vierna；〃　Jarlaxle　said　calmly。　〃She　underestimated　the　wiles　of　her　younger　brother。〃　He　gave　a　sly　chuckle。　〃And　paid　for　her　mistake　with　her　life。〃

〃I　blame　you；〃　Matron　Baenre　quickly　put　in。　〃How　will　you　pay？〃

Jarlaxle　did　not　smile；　but　simply　returned　the　threat　with　a　solid　glare。　He　knew　Baenre　well　enough　to　understand　that；　like　an　animal；　she　could　smell　fear；　and　that　smell　often　guided　her　next　actions。

Matron　Baenre　matched　the　stern　look；　fingers　tap…tapping。

〃The　dwarves　organized　against　us　more　quickly　than　we　believed　possible；〃　the　mercenary　went　on　after　a　few　unfortable　moments　of　silence。　〃Their　defenses　are　strong；　as　is　their　resolve　and；　apparently；　their　loyalty　to　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　My　plan〃—he　emphasized　the　personal　reference—〃worked　perfectly。　We　took　Drizzt　Do'Urden　without　much　trouble。　But　Vierna；　against　my　wishes；　allowed　the　human　spy　his　deal　before　she　had　put　enough　distance　between　us　and　Mithril　Hall。　She　did　not　understand　the　loyalty　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　friends。〃

〃You　were　sent　to　retrieve　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Matron　Baenre　said　too　quietly。　〃Drizzt　is　not　here。　Thus；　you　have　failed。〃

Jarlaxle　went　silent　once　more。　There　was　no　sense　in　arguing　Matron　Baenre's　logic；　he　knew；　for　she　needed　no　approval；　and　sought　none；　in　any　of　her　actions。　This　was　Menzoberranzan；　and　in　the　drow　city；　Matron　Baenre　had　no　peer。

Still；　Jarlaxle　wasn't　afraid　that　the　withered　matron　mother　would　kill　him。　She　continued　with　her　tongue…lashing；　her　voice　rising　into　a　shriek　by　the　time　she　was　done　with　the　scolding；　but；　through　it　all；　Jarlaxle　got　the　distinct　impression　that　she　was　enjoying　herself。　The　game　was　still　on；　after　all；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　remained　free　and　waiting　to　be　caught；　and　Jarlaxle　knew　that　Matron　Baenre　would　not　see　the　loss　of　a　couple　dozen　soldiers—　male；　at　that—and　Vierna　Do'Urden　as　any　great　price。

Matron　Baenre　then　began　discussing　the　many　ways　that　she　might　torture　Jarlaxle　to　death—she　favored　〃skin…stealing；〃　a　drow　method　of　taking　a　victim's　skin；　one　inch　at　a　time；　using　various　acids　and　specially　designed　jagged　knives。

Jarlaxle　had　all　he　could　handle　in　biting　back　his　laughter　at　that　notion。

Matron　Baenre　stopped　suddenly；　and　the　mercenary　feared　that　she　had　figured　out　that　he　was　not　taking　her　seriously。　That；　Jarlaxle　knew；　could　be　a　fatal　mistake。　Baenre　didn't　care　about　Vierna　or　the　dead　males—she　apparently　was　pleased　that　Drizzt　was　still　on　the　loose—　but　to　wound　her　pride　was　to　surely　die　a　slow　and　agonizing　death。

Baenre's　pause　went　on　interminably；　she　even　looked　away。　When　she　turned　back　to　Jarlaxle；　he　breathed　a　sincere　sigh　of　relief；　for　she　was　at　ease；　smiling　widely　as　though　something　had　just　e　to　her。

〃I　am　not　pleased；〃　she　said；　an　obvious　lie；　〃but　I　will　forgive　your　failure　this　time。　You　have　brought　back　valuable　information。〃

Jarlaxle　knew　who　she　was　referring　to。

〃Leave　me；〃　she　said；　waving　her　hand　with　apparent　disinterest。

Jarlaxle　would　have　preferred　to　stay　longer；　to　get　some　hint　at　what　the　beautifully　conniving　matron　mother　might　be　plotting。　He　knew　better　than　to　contradict　Baenre　when　she　was　in　such　a　curious　mood；　though。　Jarlaxle　had　survived　as　a　rogue　for　centuries　because　he　knew　when　to　take　his　leave。

He　pulled　himself　up　from　the　chair　and　eased　his　weight　onto　a　broken　leg；　then　winced　and　nearly　fell　over　into　Baenre's　lap。　Shaking　his　head；　Jarlaxle　picked　up　his　cane。

〃Triel　did　not　plete　the　healing；〃　the　mercenary　said　apologetically。　〃She　treated　my　wound；　as　you　instructed；　but　I　did　not　feel　that　all　of　her　energy　was　into　the　spell。〃

〃You　deserve　it；　I　am　sure；〃　was　all　the　cold　Matron　Baenre　would　offer；　and　she　waved　Jarlaxle　away　once　more。　Baenre　had　probably　instructed　her　daughter　to　leave　him　in　pain；　and　was　probably　taking　great　pleasure　in　watching　him　limp　from　the　room。

As　soon　as　the　door　was　closed　behind　the　departing　mercenary；　Matron　Baenre　enjoyed　a　heartfelt　laugh。　Baenre　had　sanctioned　the　attempt　at　capturing　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　but　that　did　not　mean　that　she　hoped　it　would　succeed。　In　truth；　the　withered　matron　mother　was　hoping　that　things　would　turn　out　pretty　much　as　they　had。

〃You　are　not　a　fool；　Jarlaxle。　That　is　why　I　let　you　live；〃　she　said　to　the　empty　room。　〃You　must　realize　by　now　that　this　is　not　about　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　He　is　an　inconvenience；　a　moss　gnat；　and　hardly　worthy　of　my　thoughts。

〃But　he　is　a　convenient　excuse；〃　Matron　Baenre　went　on；　fiddling　with　a　wide　dwarven　tooth；　fashioned　into　a　ring　and　hanging　on　a　chain　about　her　neck。　Baenre　reached　up　and　undid　the　clasp　on　the　necklace；　then　held　the　item　aloft　in　the　palm　of　her　hand　and　chanted　softly；　using　the　ancient　Dwarvish　tongue。

For　all　the　dwarves　in　all　the　Realms

Heavy　shields　and　shining　helms；

Swinging　hammers；　hear　them　ring；

e　forth　my　prize；　tormented　King！

A　swirl　of　bluish　smoke　appeared　at　the　tip　of　the　dwarf　tooth