精灵血脉四部曲-第62部分

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he　business　of　living。　Especially　now；　Catti…brie　reminded　herself；　with　another　of　her　friends　apparently　walking　into　peril。

In　a　stone　coffer　atop　the　desk　Catti…brie　found　what　she　was　looking　for：　a　small　locket　on　a　silver　chain；　a　gift　to

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Bruenor　from　Alustriel；　the　Lady　of　Silverymoon。　Bruenor　had　been　thought　dead；　lost　in　Mithril　Hall　on　the　friends'　first　passage　through　the　place。　He　had　escaped　from　the　halls　sometime　later；　avoiding　the　evil　gray　dwarves　who　had　claimed　Mithril　Hall　as　their　own；　and　with　Alustriel's　help；　he　found　Catti…brie　in　Longsaddle；　a　village　to　the　southwest。　Drizzt　and　Wulfgar　had　left　long　before　that；　on　their　way　south　in　pursuit　of　Regis；　who　had　been　captured　by　the　assassin　Entreri。

Alustriel　had　then　given　Bruenor　the　magical　locket。　Inside　was　a　tiny　portrait　of　Drizzt；　and　with　this　device　the　dwarf　could　generally　track　the　drow。　Proper　direction　and　distance　from　Drizzt　could　be　determined　by　the　degrees　of　magical　warmth　emanating　from　the　locket。

The　metal　bauble　was　cool　now；　colder　than　the　air　of　the　room；　and　it　seemed　to　Catti…brie　that　Drizzt　was　already　a　long　way　from　her。

Catti…brie　opened　the　locket　and　regarded　the　perfect　image　of　her　dear　drow　friend。　She　wondered　if　she　should　take　it。　With　Guenhwyvar　she　could　likely　follow　Drizzt　anyway；　if　she　could　get　on　his　trail；　and　she　had　kept　it　in　the　back　of　her　mind　that；　when　Bruenor　learned　the　truth　from　Regis；　the　fire　would　e　into　his　eyes；　and　he　would　rush　off　in　pursuit。

Catti…brie　liked　that　image　of　fiery　Bruenor；　wanted　her　father　to　e　charging　in　to　her　aid；　and　to　Drizzt's　rescue；　but　that　was　a　child's　hope；　she　realized；　unrealistic　and　ultimately　dangerous。

Catti…brie　shut　the　locket　and　snapped　it　up　into　her　hand。　She　slipped　out　of　Bruenor's　bedroom　and　through　his　sitting　room　（with　the　red…bearded　dwarf　still　seated　before　the　fire；　his　thoughts　a　million　miles　away）；　then　rushed　through　the　halls　of　the　upper　levels；　knowing　that　if　she　didn't　get　on　her　way　soon；　she　might　lose　her　nerve。

Outside；　she　regarded　the　locket　again　and　knew　that　in　taking　it；　she　had　cut　off　any　chances　that　Bruenor　would　follow。　She　was　on　her　own。

That　was　how　it　had　to　be；　Catti…brie　decided；　and　she　slipped　the　chain　over　her　head　and　started　down　the　mountain；　hoping　to　get　to　Silverymoon　not　so　long　after　Drizzt。

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He　slipped　as　quietly　and　unobtrusively　as　he　could　along　the　dark　streets　of　Menzoberranzan；　his　heat…seeing　eyes　glowing　ruby　red。　All　that　he　wanted　was　to　get　back　to　Jarlaxle's　base；　back　with　the　drow　who　recognized　his　worth。

〃Waela　riwil！〃　came　a　shrill　cry　from　the　side。

He　stopped　in　his　tracks；　leaned　wearily　against　the　pile　of　broken　stone　near　an　unoccupied　stalagmite　mound。　He　had　heard　those　words　often　before梐lways　those　two　words；　said　with　obvious　derision。

〃Waela　riwil！〃　the　drow　female　said　again；　moving　toward　him；　a　russet　tentacle　rod　in　one　hand；　its　three　eight…foot…long　arms　writhing　of　their　own　accord；　eagerly；　as　though　they　wanted　to　lash　out　with　their　own　maliciousness　and　slap　at　him。　At　least　the　female　wasn't　carrying　one　of　those　whips　of　fangs；　he　mused；　thinking　of　the　multi…snake…headed　weapons　many　of　the　higher…ranking　drow　priestesses　used。

He　offered　no　resistance　as　she　moved　to　stand　right　in　front　of　him；　respectfully　lowered　his　eyes　as　Jarlaxle　had　taught　him。　He　suspected　that　she；　too；　was　moving　through　the　streets　inconspicuously梬hy　else　would　a　drow　female；　powerful　enough　to　be　carrying　one　of　those　wicked　rods；　be　crawling　about　the　alleys　of　this；　the　lesser　section　of　Menzoberranzan？

She　issued　a　string　of　drow　words　in　her　melodic　voice；　too　quickly　for　this　newer　to　understand。　He　caught　the　words　quarth；　which　meant　mand；　and　harl'il'cik；　or　kneel；　and　expected　them　anyway；　for　he　was　always　being　manded　to　kneel。

Down　he　went；　obediently　and　immediately；　though　the　drop　to　the　hard　stone　pained　his　knees。

The　drow　female　paced　slowly　about　him；　giving　him　a　long　look　at　her　shapely　legs；　even　pulling　his　head　back　so　that　he　could　stare　up　into　her　undeniably　beautiful　face；　while　she　purred　her　name；　〃Jerlys。〃

She　moved　as　if　to　kiss　him；　then　slapped　him　instead；　a　stinging　smack　on　his　cheek。　Immediately；　his　hands　went　to

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Starless　Night

his　sword　and　dirk；　but　he　calmed　and　reminded　himself　of　the　consequences。

Still　the　drow　paced　about　him；　speaking　to　herself　as　much　as　to　him。　Iblith；〃　she　said　many　times；　the　drow　word　for　excrement；　and　finally　he　replied　with　the　single　word　〃abban；〃　which　meant　ally；　again　as　Jarlaxle　had　coached　him。

〃Abban　del　darthiir！〃　she　cried　back；　smacking　him　again　on　the　back　of　his　head；　nearly　knocking　him　flat　to　his　face。

He　didn't　understand　pletely；　but　thought　that　darthiir　had　something　to　do　with　the　faeries；　the　surface　elves。　He　was　beginning　to　figure　out　then　that　he　was　in　serious　trouble　this　time；　and　would　not　so　easily　get　away　from　this　one。

〃Abban　del　darthiir！〃　Jerlys　cried　again；　and　this　time　her　tentacle　rod；　and　not　her　hand；　snapped　at　him　from　behind；　all　three　tentacles　pounding　painfully　into　his　right　shoulder。　He　grabbed　at　the　wound　and　fell　flat　to　the　stone；　his　right　arm　useless　and　the　waves　of　pain　rolling　through　him。

Jerlys　struck　again；　at　his　back；　but　his　sudden　movement　had　saved　him　from　a　hit　by　all　three　of　the　tentacles。

His　mind　raced。　He　knew　that　he　had　to　act　fast。　The　female　kept　taunting　him；　smacking　her　rod　against　the　alley　walls；　and　every　so　often　against　his　bleeding　back。　He　knew　for　certain　then　that　he　had　caught　this　female　by　surprise；　that　she　was　on　a　mission　as　secret　as　his　own；　and　that　he　would　not　likely　walk　away　from　this　encounter。

One　of　the　tentacles　slapped　off　the　back　of　his　head；　dazing　him。　Still　his　right　arm　remained　dead；　weakened　by　the　magic　of　a　simultaneous　three…strike。

But　he　had　to　act。　He　moved　his　left　hand　to　his　right　hip；　to　his　dirk；　then　changed　his　mind　and　brought　it　around　the　other　side。

〃Abban　del　darthiir！〃　Jerlys　cried　again；　and　her　arm　came　forward。

He　spun　about　and　up　to　meet　it；　his　sword；　not　of　drow　make；　flaring　angrily　as　it　connected　with　the　tentacles。　There　came　a　green　flash；　and　one　tentacle　fell　free；　but　one　of　the　others　snaked　its　way　through　the　parry　and　hit　him

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in　the　face。

〃Jiwin！〃　the　amused　drow　cried　the　word　for　play；　and　she　elaborated　most　graciously；　thanking　him　for　his　foolish　retaliation；　for　making　it　all　such　fun。

〃Play　with　this；〃　he　said　back　at　her；　and　he　came　forward；　straight　ahead　with　the　sword。

A　globe　of　conjured　darkness　fell　over　him。

〃Jivvin！〃　Jerlys　laughed　again　and　came　forward　to　smack　with　her　rod。　But　this　one　was　no　novice　in　fighting　dark　elves；　and；　to　the　female's　surprise；　she　did　not　find　him　within　her　globe。

Around　the　side　of　the　darkness　he　came；　one　arm　hanging　limp；　but　the　other　flashing　this　way　and　that　in　a　mar…velous　display　of　swordsmanship。　This　was　a　drow　female；　though；　highly　trained　in　the　fighting　arts　and　armed　with　a　tentacle　rod。　She　parried　and　countered；　scoring　another　hit；　laughing　all　the　while。

She　did　not　understand　her　opponent。

He　came　in　a　straightforward　lunge　again；　spun　about　to　the　left　as　if　to　continue　with　a　spinning　overhand　chop；　then　reversed　his　grip　on　the　weapon；　pivoted　back　to　the　right；　and　heaved　the　sword　as　though　it　were　a　spear。

The　weapon's　tip　dove　hungrily　between　the　surprised　female's　breasts；　sparking　as　it　sliced　through　the　fine　drow　armor…He　followed　the　throw　with　a　leaping　somersault　and　kicked　both　feet　forward　so　that　they　connected　on　the　quivering　sword　hilt；　plunging　the　weapon　deeper　into　the　malevolent　female's　chest。

The　drow　fell　back　against　the　rock　pile；　stumbling　over　it　until　the　uneven　wall　of　the　stalagmite　supported　her　at　a　half…standing　angle；　her　red　eyes　locked　in　a　wide　stare。

〃A　pity；　Jerlys；〃　he　whispered　into　her　ear；　and　he　softly　kissed　her　cheek　as　he　grasped　the　sword　hilt　and　pointedly　stepped　on　the　writhing　tentacles　to　pin　them　down　on　the　floor。　〃What　pleasures　we　might　have　known。〃

He　pulled　the　sword　free　and　grimaced　as　he　considered　the　implications　of　this　drow　female's　death。　He　couldn't　deny　the　satisfaction；　however；　at　taking　back　some　of　the　control　in　his　life。　He　hadn't　gone　through　all　his　battles　just

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Starless　Night

to　wind　up　a　slave！

He　left　the　alley　a　short　while　later；　with　Jerlys　and　her　rod　buried　under　the　stones；　and　with　a　bounce　returned　to　his　step。

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Chapter　5

OVER　THE　YEARS

rizzt　felt　the　gazes　on　him。　They　were　elven　eyes；　he　knew；　likely　staring　down　the　length　of　readied　arrows。　The　ranger　casually　continued　his　trek　through　the　Moonwood；　his　weapons　tucked　away　and　the　hood　of　his　forest…green　cloak　back　off　his　head；　revealing　his　long　mane　of　white　hair　and　his　ebon…skinned　elven　features。

The　sun　made　its　lazy　way　through　the　leafy　green　trees；　splotching　the　forest　with　dots　of　pale　yellow。　Drizzt　did　not　avoid　these；　as　much　to　show　the　surface　elves　that　he　was　no　ordinary　drew　as　for　his　honest　love　of　the　warmth　of　sunlight。　The　trail　was　wide　and　smooth；　unexpected　in　a　supposedly　wild　and　thick　forest。

As　the　minutes　turned　into　an　hour　and　the　forest　deepened　around　him；　Drizzt　began　to　wonder　if　he　might　pass　through　the　Moonwood　without　incident。　He　wanted　no　trouble；　certainly；　wanted　only　to　be　on　with；　and　be　done　with；　his　quest。

He　came　into　a　small　clearing　some　time　later。　Several　logs　had　been　arranged　into　a　square　around　a　stone…blocked

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Starless　Night

fire　pit。　This　was　no　ordinary　campsite；　Drizzt　knew；　but　a　designated　meeting　place；　a　shared　campground　for　those　who　would　respect　the　sovereignty　of　the　forest　and　the　creatures　living　within　its　sheltered　boughs。

Drizzt　walked　the　camp's　perimeter；　searching　the　trees。　Looking　to　the　moss　bed　at　the　base　of　one　huge　oak；　the　drow　saw　several　markings。　Though　time　had　blurred　their　lines；　one　appeared　to　be　a　rearing　bear；　another　a　wild　pig。　These　were　the　marks　of　rangers；　and　with　an　approving　nod；　the　drow　searc