精灵血脉四部曲-第54部分

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When　I　look　into　Catti…brie's　eyes；　when　I　look　upon　Bruenor's　horrid　scars；　I　am　reminded　that　hopeful　supposition　is　a　feeble　and　dangerous　thing。　My　evil　kin　have　taken　one　friend　from　me。

They　will　take　no　more。

I　can　find　no　answers　in　Mithril　Hall；　will　never　know　for　certain　if　the　dark　elves　hunger　still　for　vengeance；　unless　another　force　from　Menzoberranzan　es　to　the　surface　to　claim　the　bounty　on　my　head。　With　this　truth　bending　low　my　shoulders；　how　could　1　ever　travel　to　Silverymoon；　or　to　any　other　nearby　town；　resuming　my　normal　lifestyle？　How　could　I　sleep　in　peace　while　holding　within　my　heart　the　very　real　fear　that　the　dark　elves　might　soon　return　and　once　more　imperil　my　friends？

The　apparent　serenity　of　Mithril　Hall；　the　brooding　quiet；　will　show　me　nothing　of　the　future　designs　of　the　drow。　Yet；　for　the　sake　of　my　friends；　I　must　know　those　dark　intentions。　I　fear　that　there　remains　only　one　place　for　me　to　look。

Wulfgar　gave　his　life　so　that　his　friends　might　live。　In　good　conscience；　could　my　own　sacrifice　be　any　less？

桪rizzt　Do'Urden

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Chapter　1

THE　AMBITIOUS　ONE

he　mercenary　leaned　against　the　pillar　anchoring　the　wide　stairway　of　Tier　Breche；　on　the　northern　side　of　the　great　cavern　that　housed　Menzoberranzan；　the　city　of　drow。　Jarlaxle　removed　his　wide…brimmed　hat　and　ran　a　hand　over　the　smooth　skin　of　his　bald　head　as　he　muttered　a　few　curses　under　his　breath。

Many　tights　were　on　in　the　city。　Torches　flickered　in　the　high　windows　of　houses　carved　from　natural　stalagmite　formations。　Lights　in　the　drow　city！　Many　of　the　elaborate　structures　had　long　been　decorated　by　the　soft　glow　of　faerie　fire；　mostly　purple　and　blue　hues；　but　this　was　different。

Jarlaxle　shifted　to　the　side　and　winced　as　his　weight　came　upon　his　recently　wounded　leg。　Triel　Baenre　herself；　the　matron　mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　among　the　highest…ranking　priestesses　in　the　city；　had　tended　the　wound；　but　Jarlaxle　suspected　that　the　wicked　priestess　had　purposely　left　the　job　unfinished；　had　left　a　bit　of　the　pain　to　remind　the　mercenary　of　his　failure　in　recapturing　the　renegade　Drizzt　Do'Urden。

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R。　A。　Salvatore

〃The　glow　wounds　my　eyes；〃　came　a　sarcastic　remark　from　behind。　Jarlaxle　turned　to　see　Matron　Baenre's　oldest　daughter；　that　same　Triel。　She　was　shorter　than　most　drow；　nearly　a　foot　shorter　than　Jarlaxle；　but　she　carried　herself　with　undeniable　dignity　and　poise。　Jarlaxle　understood　her　powers　（and　her　volatile　temperament）　better　than　most；　and　he　certainly　treated　the　diminutive　female　with　the　greatest　caution。

Staring；　glaring；　out　over　the　city　with　squinting　eyes；　she　moved　beside　him。　〃Curse　the　glow；〃　she　muttered。

〃It　is　by　your　matron's　mand；〃　Jarlaxle　reminded　her。　His　one　good　eye　avoided　her　gaze；　the　other　lay　beneath　a　patch　of　shadow；　which　was　tied　behind　his　head。　He　replaced　his　great　hat；　pulling　it　low　in　front　as　he　tried　to　hide　his　smirk　at　her　resulting　grimace。

Triel　was　not　happy　with　her　mother。　Jarlaxle　had　known　that　since　the　moment　Matron　Baenre　had　begun　to　hint　at　her　plans。　Triel　was　possibly　the　most　fanatic　of　the　Spider　Queen's　priestesses　and　would　not　go　against　Matron　Baenre；　the　first　matron　mother　of　the　city梟ot　unless　Lloth　instructed　her　to。

〃e　along；〃　the　priestess　growled。　She　turned　and　made　her　way　across　Tier　Breche　to　the　largest　and　most　ornate　of　the　drow　Academy's　three　buildings；　a　huge　structure　shaped　to　resemble　a　gigantic　spider。

Jarlaxle　pointedly　groaned　as　he　moved；　and　lost　ground　with　every　limping　step。　His　attempt　to　solicit　a　bit　more　healing　magic　was　not　successful；　though；　for　Triel　merely　paused　at　the　doorway　to　the　great　structure　and　waited　for　him　with　a　patience　that　was　more　than　a　bit　out　of　character；　Jarlaxle　knew；　for　Triel　never　waited　for　anything。

As　soon　as　he　entered　the　temple；　the　mercenary　was　assaulted　by　myriad　aromas；　everything　from　incense　to　the　drying　blood　of　the　latest　sacrifices；　and　chants　rolled　out　of　every　side　portal。　Triel　took　note　of　none　of　it；　she　shrugged　past　the　few　disciples　who　bowed　to　her　as　they　saw　her　walking　the　corridors。

The　single…minded　Baenre　daughter　moved　into　the　higher　levels；　to　the　private　quarters　of　the　school's　mistresses；　and

14

Starless　Night

walked　down　one　small　hallway；　its　floor　alive　with　crawling　spiders　（including　a　few　that　stood　as　tall　as　Jarlaxle's　knee）。

Triel　stopped　between　two　equally　decorated　doors　and　motioned　for　Jarlaxle　to　enter　the　one　on　the　right。　The　mercenary　paused；　did　well　to　hide　his　confusion；　but　Triel　was　expecting　it。

She　grabbed　Jarlaxle　by　the　shoulder　and　roughly　spun　him　about。　〃You　have　been　here　before！〃　she　accused。

〃Only　upon　my　graduation　from　the　school　of　fighters；〃　Jarlaxle　said；　shrugging　away　from　the　female；　〃as　are　all　of　Melee…Magthere's　graduates。〃

〃You　have　been　in　the　upper　levels；〃　Triel　snarled；　eyeing　Jarlaxle　squarely。　The　mercenary　chuckled。

〃You　hesitated　when　I　motioned　for　you　to　enter　the　chamber；〃　Triel　went　on；　〃because　you　know　that　the　one　to　the　left　is　my　private　room。　That　is　where　you　expected　to

go…〃

〃I　did　not　expect　to　be　summoned　here　at　all；〃　Jarlaxle　retorted；　trying　to　shift　the　subject。　He　was　indeed　a　bit　off　guard　that　Triel　had　watched　him　so　closely。　Had　he　underestimated　her　trepidation　at　her　mother's　latest　plans？

Triel　stared　at　him　long　and　hard；　her　eyes　unblinking　and　Jaw　firm。

〃I　have　my　sources；〃　Jarlaxle　admitted　at　length。

Another　long　moment　passed；　and　still　Triel　did　not　blink。

〃You　asked　that　I　e；〃　Jarlaxle　reminded　her。

〃I　demanded；〃　Triel　corrected。

Jarlaxle　swept　into　a　low；　exaggerated　bow；　snatching　off　his　hat　and　brushing　it　out　at　arm's　length。　The　Baenre　daughter's　eyes　flashed　with　anger。

〃Enough！〃　she　shouted。

〃And　enough　of　your　games！〃　Jarlaxle　spat　back。　〃You　asked　that　I　e　to　the　Academy；　a　place　where　I　am　not　fortable；　and　so　I　have　e。　You　have　questions；　and　I；　perhaps；　have　answers。〃

His　qualification　of　that　last　sentence　made　Triel　narrow　her　eyes。　Jarlaxle　was　ever　a　cagey　opponent；　she　knew　as　well　as　anyone　in　the　drow　city。　She　had　dealt　with　the　cunning　mercenary　many　times　and　still　wasn't　quite　sure　if　she

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R。　A。　Salvatore

had　broken　even　against　him　or　not。　She　turned　and　motioned　for　him　to　enter　the　left…hand　door　instead；　and；　with　another　graceful　bow；　he　did　so；　stepping　into　a　thickly　carpeted　and　decorated　room　lit　in　a　soft　magical　glow。

〃Remove　your　boots；〃　Triel　instructed；　and　she　slipped　out　of　her　own　shoes　before　she　stepped　onto　the　plush　rug。

Jarlaxle　stood　against　the　tapestry…adorned　wall　just　inside　the　door；　looking　doubtfully　at　his　boots。　Everyone　who　knew　the　mercenary　knew　that　these　were　magical。

〃Very　well；〃　Triel　conceded；　closing　the　door　and　sweeping　past　him　to　take　a　seat　on　a　huge；　overstuffed　chair。　A　rolltop　desk　stood　behind　her；　in　front　of　one　of　many　tapestries；　this　one　depicting　the　sacrifice　of　a　gigantic　surface　elf　by　a　horde　of　dancing　drow。　Above　the　surface　elf　loomed　the　nearly　translucent　specter　of　a　half…drow；　haif…spider　creature；　its　face　beautiful　and　serene。

〃You　do　not　like　your　mother's　lights？〃　＇arlaxle　asked。　〃You　keep　your　own　room　aglow。〃

Triel　bit　her　lower　lip　and　narrowed　her　eyes　once　more。　Most　priestesses　kept　their　private　chambers　dimly　lit；　that　they　might　read　their　tomes。　Heat…sensing　infravision　was　of　little　use　in　seeing　the　runes　on　a　page。　There　were　some　inks　that　would　hold　distinctive　heat　for　many　years；　but　these　were　expensive　and　hard　to　e　by；　even　for　one　as　powerful　as　Triel。

Jarlaxle　stared　back　at　the　Baenre　daughter's　grim　expression。　Triel　was　always　mad　about　something；　the　mercenary　mused。　〃The　lights　seem　appropriate　for　what　your　mother　has　planned；〃　he　went　on。

〃Indeed；〃　Triel　remarked；　her　tone　biting。　〃And　are　you　so　arrogant　as　to　believe　that　you　understand　my　mother's　motives？〃

〃She　will　go　back　to　Mithril　Hall；〃　Jarlaxle　said　openly；　knowing　that　Triel　had　long　ago　drawn　the　same　conclusion。

〃Will　she？〃　Triel　asked　coyly。

The　cryptic　response　set　the　mercenary　back　on　his　heels。　He　took　a　step　toward　a　second；　less…cushiony　chair　in　the　room；　and　his　heel　clicked　hard；　even　though　he　was　walking　across　the　incredibly　thick　and　soft　carpet。

Triel　smirked；　not　impressed　by　the　magical　boots。　It

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Starless　Night

was　mon　knowledge　that　Jarlaxle　could　walk　as　quietly　or　as　loudly　as　he　desired　on　any　type　of　surface。　His　abundant　jewelry；　bracelets　and　trinkets　seemed　equally　enchanted；　for　they　would　ring　and　tinkle　or　remain　perfectly　silent；　as　the　mercenary　desired。

〃If　you　have　left　a　hole　in　my　carpet；　I　will　fill　it　with　your　heart；〃　Triel　promised　as　Jarlaxle　slumped　back　fortably　in　the　covered　stone　chair；　smoothing　a　fold　in　the　armrest　so　that　the　fabric　showed　a　clear　image　of　a　black　and　yellow　gee'antu　spider；　the　Underdark's　version　of　the　surface　tarantula。

〃Why　do　you　suspect　that　your　mother　will　not　go？〃　Jarlaxle　asked；　pointedly　ignoring　the　threat；　though　in　knowing　Triel　Baenre；　he　honestly　wondered　how　many　other　hearts　were　now　entwined　in　die　carpef　s　fibers。

〃Do　I？〃　Triel　asked。

Jarlaxle　let　out　a　long　sigh。　He　had　suspected　that　this　would　be　a　moot　meeting；　a　discussion　where　Triel　tried　to　pry　out　what　bits　of　information　the　mercenary　already　had　attained；　while　offering　little　of　her　own。　Still；　when　Triel　had　insisted　that　Jarlaxle　e　to　her；　instead　of　their　usual　arrangement；　in　which　she　went　out　from　Tier　Breche　to　meet　the　mercenary；　Jarlaxle　had　hoped　for　something　substantive。　It　was　quickly　being　obvious　to　Jarlaxle　that　the　only　reason　Triel　wanted　to　meet　in　Arach…Tinilith　was　that；　in　this　secure　place；　even　her　mother's　prying　ears　would　not　hear。

And　now；　for　ali　those　painstaking　arrangements；　this　all…important　meeting　had　bee　a　useless　bantering　session。

Triel　seemed　equally　perturbed。　She　came　forward　in　her　chair　suddenly；　her　expression　fierce。　〃She　desires　a　legacy！〃　the　female　declared。

Jarlaxle's　bracelets　tinkled　as　he　tapped　his　fingers　together；　thinking　that　now　they　were　finally　getting　somewhere。

〃The　rulership　of　Menzoberranzan