精灵血脉四部曲-第61部分

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t　of　her　fabulous　robes；　producing　a　chain　on　which　hung　a　ring；　bone　white　and　fashioned；　so　it　appeared；　out　of　a　large　tooth。　〃Do　you　know　of　this？〃　she　asked；　holding　the　item　up　in　plain　view。

〃It　is　said　to　be　the　tooth　of　a　dwarf　king；　and　that　his　trapped　and　tormented　soul　is　contained　within　the　ring；〃　the　mercenary　replied。

〃A　dwarf　king；〃　Matron　Baenre　echoed。　〃And　there　are　not　so　many　dwarvish　kingdoms；　you　see。〃

Jarlaxle's　brow　furrowed；　then　his　face　brightened。　〃Mithril　Hall？〃　he　asked。

Matron　Baenre　nodded。　〃Fate　has　played　me　a　mar…velous　coincidence；〃　she　explained。　〃Within　this　ring　is　the　soul　of　Gandalug　Battlehammer；　First　King　of　Mithril　Hall；　Patron　of　Clan　Battlehammer。〃

Jarlaxle's　mind　whirled　with　the　possibilities。　No　wonder；　then；　that　Lloth　had　instructed　Vierna　to　go　after　her　renegade　brother！　Drizzt　was　just　a　tie　to　the　surface；　a　pawn　in　a　larger　game　of　conquest。

〃Gandalug　talks　to　me；〃　Matron　Baenre　explained；　her　voice　as　content　as　a　cat's　purr。　〃He　remembers　the　ways　of　Mithril　Hall。〃

Sos'Umptu　Baenre　entered　then；　ignoring　Jarlaxle　and　walking　right　by　him　to　stand　before　her　mother。　The　matron　mother　did　not　rebuke　her；　as　the　mercenary　would　have　expected　for　the　unannounced　intrusion；　but　rather；　turned　a　curious　gaze　her　way　and　allowed　her　to　explain。

〃Matron　　Mez'Barris　　Armgo　　grows　　impatient；〃

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R。　A。　Salvatore

Sos'Umptu　said。

In　the　chapel；　Jarlaxle　realized；　for　Sos'Umptu　was　caretaker　of　the　wondrous　Baenre　chapel　and　rarely　left　the　place。　The　mercenary　paused　for　just　a　moment　to　consider　the　revelation。　Mez'Barris　was　the　matron　mother　of　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　the　city's　second…ranking　house。　But　why　would　she　be　at　the　Baenre　pound　if；　as　Matron　Baenre　had　declared；　Barrison　Del'Armgo　had　already　agreed　to　the　expedition？

Why　indeed。

〃Perhaps　you　should　have　seen　to　Matron　Mez'Barris　first；〃　the　mercenary　said　slyly　to　Matron　Baenre。　The　withered　old　matron　accepted　his　remark　in　good　cheer；　it　showed　her　that　her　favorite　spy　was　thinking　dearly。

〃K'yorl　was　the　more　difficult；〃　Baenre　replied。　〃To　keep　that　one　waiting　would　have　put　her　in　a　fouler　mood　than　usual。　Mez'Barris　is　calmer　by　far；　more　understanding　of　the　gains。　She　will　agree　to　the　war　with　the　dwarves。〃

Matron　Baenre　walked　by　the　mercenary　to　the　marble　cylinder；　Sos'Umptu　was　already　inside；　waiting。　〃Besides；〃　the　first　matron　mother　added　with　a　wicked　grin；　〃now　that　House　Oblodra　has　e　into　the　alliance；　what　choice　does

Mez'Barris　have？〃

She　was　too　beautiful；　this　old　one；　Jarlaxle　agreed。　Too　beautiful。　He　cast　one　final；　plaintive　look　at　the　marvelous　diamonds　on　the　arms　of　Baenre's　throne；　then　sighed　deeply　and　followed　the　two　females　out　of　House　Baenre's　great　stronghold。

50

Chapter　4

THE　FIRE　IN　HER　EYES

atti…brie　pulled　her　gray　cloak　about　her　to　hide　the　dagger　and　mask　she　had　taken　from　Regis。　Mixed　feelings　assaulted　her　as　she　neared　Bruenor's　private　chambers；　she　hoped　both　that　the　dwarf　would　be　there；　and　that　he　would　not。

How　could　she　leave　without　seeing　Bruenor；　her　father；　one　more　time？　And　yet；　the　dwarf　now　seemed　to　Catti…brie　a　shell　of　his　former　self；　a　wallowing　old　dwarf　waiting　to　die。　She　didn't　want　to　see　him　like　that；　didn't　want　to　take　that　image　of　Bruenor　with　her　into　the　Underdark。

She　lifted　her　hand　to　knock　on　the　door　to　Bruenor's　sitting　room；　then　gently　cracked　the　door　open　instead　and　peeked　in。　She　saw　a　dwarf　standing　off　to　the　side　of　the　burning　hearth；　but　it　wasn't　Bruenor。　Thibbledorf　Pwent；　the　battlerager；　hopped　about　in　circles；　apparently　trying　to　catch　a　pesky　fly。　He　wore　his　sharp…ridged　armor　（as　always）；　plete　with　glove　nails　and　knee　and　elbow　spikes；　and　other　deadly　points　protruding　from　every　plausible　angle。　The　armor　squealed　as　the　dwarf　spun　and

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R。　A。　Salvatore

jumped；　an　irritating　sound　if　Catti…brie　had　ever　heard　one…Pwent's　open…faced　gray　helm　rested　in　the　chair　beside　him；　its　top　spike　half　as　tall　as　the　dwarf。　Without　it；　Catti…brie　could　see；　the　battlerager　was　almost　bald；　his　remaining　thin　black　strands　of　hair　matted　greasily　to　the　sides　of　his　head；　then　giving　way　to　an　enormous；　bushy　black　beard。

Catti…brie　pushed　the　door　a　little　farther　and　saw　Bruenor　sitting　before　the　low…burning　fire；　absently　trying　to　flip　a　log　so　that　its　embers　would　flare　to　life　again。　His　halfhearted　poke　against　the　glowing　log　made　Catti…brie　wince。　She　remembered　the　days　not　so　long　ago；　when　the　boisterous　king　would　have　simply　reached　into　the　hearth　and　smacked　the　stubborn　log　with　his　bare　hand。

With　a　look　to　Pwent　（who　was　eating　something　that　Catti…brie　sincerely　hoped　was　not　a　fly）；　the　young　woman　entered　the　room；　checking　her　cloak　as　she　came　in　to　see　that　the　items　were　properly　concealed。

〃Hey；　there！〃　Pwent　howled　between　crunchy　bites。　Even　more　than　her　disgust　at　the　thought　that　he　was　eating　a　fly；　Catti…brie　was　amazed　that　he　could　be　getting　so　much　chewing　out　of　it！＇奇＋书＋网＇

〃Ye　should　get　a　beard！〃　the　battlerager　called；　his　customary　greeting。　From　their　first　meeting；　the　dirty　dwarf　had　told　Catti…brie　that　she'd　be　a　handsome　woman　indeed　if　she　could　only　grow　a　beard。

〃I'm　working　at　it；〃　Catti…brie　replied；　honestly　glad　for　the　levity。　〃Ye've　got　me　promise　that　I　haven't　shaved　me　face　since　the　day　we　met。〃　She　patted　the　battlerager　atop　the　head；　then　regretted　it　when　she　felt　the　greasy　film　on　her　hand。

〃There's　a　good　girl；〃　Pwent　replied。　He　spotted　another　flitting　insect　and　hopped　away　in　pursuit。

〃Where　ye　going？〃　Bruenor　demanded　sharply　before　Catti…brie　could　even　say　hello。

Catti…brie　sighed　in　the　face　of　her　father's　scowl。　How　she　longed　to　see　Bruenor　smile　again！　Catti…brie　noted　the　bruise　on　Bruenor's　forehead；　the　scraped　portion　finally　scabbing　over。　He　had　reportedly　gone　into　a　tirade　a　few　nights　before；　and　had　actually　smashed　down　a　heavy　wooden　door　with　his　head　while　two　frantic　younger

52

Starless　Night

dwarves　tried　to　hold　him　back。　The　bruise　bined　with　Bruenor's　garish　scar；　which　ran　from　his　forehead　to　the　side　of　his　jaw；　across　one　socket　where　his　eye　had　once　been；　made　the　old　dwarf　seem　battered　indeed！

〃Where　ye　going？〃　Bruenor　asked　again；　angrily。

〃Settlestone；〃　the　young　woman　lied；　referring　to　the　town　of　barbarians；　Wulfgar's　people；　down　the　mountain　from　Mithril　Hall's　eastern　exit。　'The　tribe's　building　a　cairn　to　honor　Wulfgar's　memory。〃　Catti…brie　was　somewhat　surprised　at　how　easily　the　lie　came　to　her；　she　had　always　been　able　to　charm　Bruenor；　often　using　half…truths　and　semantic　games　to　get　around　the　blunt　truth；　but　she　had　never　so　boldly　lied　to　him。

Reminding　herself　of　the　importance　behind　it　all；　she　looked　the　red…bearded　dwarf　in　the　eye　as　she　continued。　〃I'm　wanting　to　be　there　before　they　start　building。　If　they're　to　do　it；　then　they're　to　do　it　right。　Wulfgar　deserves　no　less。〃

Bruenor's　one　working　eye　seemed　to　mist　over；　taking　on　an　even　duller　appearance；　and　the　scarred　dwarf　turned　away　from　Catti…brie；　went　back　to　his　pointless　fire　poking；　though　he　did　manage　one　slight　nod　of　halfhearted　agreement。　It　was　no　secret　in　Mithril　Hall　that　Bruenor　didn't　like　talking　of　Wulfgar梙e　had　even　punched　out　one　priest　who　insisted　that　Aegis…fang　could　not；　by　dwarvish　tradition；　be　given　a　place　of　honor　in　the　Hall　of　Dumathoin；　since　a　human；　and　no　dwarf；　had　wielded　it。

Catti…brie　noticed　then　that　Pwent's　armor　had　ceased　its　squealing；　and　she　turned　about　to　regard　the　battlerager。　He　stood　by　the　opened　door；　looking　forlornly　at　her　and　at　Bruenor's　back。　With　a　nod　to　the　young　woman；　he　quietly　（for　a　rusty…armored　battlerager）　left　the　room。

Apparently；　Catti…brie　was　not　the　only　one　pained　by　the　pitiful　wretch　Bruenor　Battlehammer　had　bee。

〃Ye've　got　their　sympathy；〃　she　remarked　to　Bruenor；　who　seemed　not　to　hear。　〃All　in　Mithril　Hall　speak　kindly　of　their　wounded　king。〃

〃Shut　yer　face；〃　Bruenor　said　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。　He　still　sat　squarely　facing　the　low　fire。

Catti…brie　knew　that　the　implied　threat　was　lame；

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R。　A。　Salvatore

Starless　Night

another　reminder　of　Bruenor's　fall。　In　days　past；　when　Bruenor　Battlehammer　suggested　that　someone　shut　his　face；　he　did；　or　Bruenor　did　it　for　him。　But；　since　the　fights　with　the　priest　and　with　the　door；　Bruenor's　fire；　like　the　one　in　the　hearth；　had　played　itself　to　its　end。

〃Do　ye　mean　to　poke　that　fire　the　rest　o'　yer　days？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　trying　to　incite　a　fight；　to　blow　on　the　embers　of　Bruenor's　pride。

〃If　it　pleases　me；〃　the　dwarf　retaliated　too　calmly。

Catti…brie　sighed　again　and　pointedly　hitched　her　cloak　over　the　side　of　her　hip；　revealing　the　magical　mask　and　Entreri's　jeweled　dagger。　Even　though　the　young　woman　was　determined　to　undertake　her　adventure　alone；　and　did　not　want　to　explain　any　of　it　to　Bruenor；　she　prayed　that　Bruenor　would　have　life　enough　within　him　to　notice。

Long　minutes　passed；　quiet　minutes；　except　for　the　occasional　crackle　of　the　embers　and　the　hiss　of　the　unseasoned　wood。

〃I'll　return　when　I　return！〃　the　flustered　woman　barked；　and　she　headed　for　the　door。　Bruenor　absently　waved　her　away　over　one　shoulder；　never　bothering　to　look　at　her。

Catti…brie　paused　by　the　door；　then　opened　it　and　quietly　closed　it；　never　leaving　the　room。　She　waited　a　few　moments；　not　believing　that　Bruenor　remained　in　front　of　the　fire；　poking　it　absently。　Then　she　slipped　across　the　room　and　through　another　doorway；　to　the　dwarf's　bedroom。

Catti…brie　moved　to　Bruenor's　large　oaken　desk梐　gift　from　Wulfgar's　people；　its　polished　wood　gleaming　and　designs　of　Aegis…fang；　the　mighty　warhammer　that　Bruenor　had　crafted；　carved　into　its　sides。　Catti…brie　paused　a　long　while；　despite　her　need　to　be　out　before　Bruenor　realized　what　she　was　doing；　and　looked　at　those　designs；　remembering　Wulfgar。　She　would　never　get　over　that　loss。　She　understood　that；　but　she　knew；　too；　that　her　time　of　grieving　neared　its　end；　that　she　had　to　get　on　with　the　business　of　living。　Especially　now；　Catti…brie　reminded　herself；　with　another　of　her　friends　appa