精灵血脉四部曲-第68部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



The　statement　was　true；　Berg'inyon　would　never　forget；　could　never　forget；　that　Dantrag　had　been　his　mentor。

〃Are　you　prepared　to　face　the　likes　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　again？〃　The　blunt　question　nearly　sent　Berg'inyon　from　his　mount。

〃It　would　seem　a　possibility；　since　we　are　to　travel　to　Mithril　Hall；〃　Dantrag　added　coolly。

Berg'inyon　blew　a　long　and　low　sigh；　thoroughly　flustered。　He　and　Drizzt　had　been　classmates　at　Melee…Magthere；　the　Academy's　school　of　fighters。　Berg'inyon；　trained　by　Dantrag；　had　gone　there　fully　expecting　to　be　the　finest　fighter　in　his　class。　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　the　renegade；　the　traitor；　had　beaten　him　for　that　honor　every　year。　Berg'inyon　had　done　well　at　the　Academy；　by　every　standard　except　Dantrag's。

〃Are　you　prepared　for　him？〃　Dantrag　pressed；　his　tone　growing　more　serious　and　angry。

〃No！〃　Berg'inyon　glowered　at　his　brother；　sitting　astride　the　hanging　lizard；　a　cocky　grin　on　his　handsome　face。　Dantrag　had　forced　the　answer　for　a　reason；　Berg'inyon　knew。　Dantrag　wanted　to　make　certain　that　Berg'inyon　knew　his　place　as　a　spectator　if　they　should　happen　to　encounter　the　rogue　Do'Urden　together。

91

R。　A。　Salvatore

And　Berg'inyon　knew；　too；　why　his　brother　wanted　the　first　try　at　Drizzt　Drizzt　had　been　trained　by　Zak'nafein；　Dantrag's　principal　rival；　the　one　weapon　master　in　Menzo…berranzan　whose　fighting　skills　were　more　highly　regarded　than　those　of　Dantrag。　By　all　accounts；　Drizzt　had　bee　at　least　Zak'nafein's　equal；　and　if　Dantrag　could　defeat　Drizzt；　then　he　might　at　last　e　out　from　under　Zak'nafein's　considerable　shadow。

〃You　have　fought　us　both；〃　Dantrag　said　slyly。　〃Do　tell　me；　dear　brother；　who　is　the　better？〃

Berg'inyon　couldn't　possibly　answer　that　question。　He　hadn't　fought　against；　or　even　beside；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　for　more　than　thirty　years。　〃Drizzt　would　cut　you　down；〃　he　said　anyway；　just　to　peeve　his　upstart　sibling。

Dantrag's　hand　flashed　faster　than　Berg'inyon　could　follow。　The　weapon　master　sent　his　wickedly　sharp　sword　across　the　top　strap　of　Berg'inyon's　saddle；　easily　cutting　the　binding；　though　it　was　enchanted　for　strength。　Dantrag's　second　hand　came　across　equally　fast；　slipping　the　bridle　from　the　lizard's　mouthpiece　as　Berg'inyon　plummeted　from　his　seat。

The　younger　brother　turned　upright　as　he　fell。　He　looked　into　that　area　of　innate　magic　mon　to　all　drow；　and　stronger　in　drow　nobles。　Soon　the　descent　had　ceased；　countered　by　a　levitation　spell　that　had　Berg'inyon；　death　lance　still　in　hand；　slowly　rising　back　up　to　meet　his　laughing　brother。

Matron　Baenre　would　kill　you　if　she　knew　that　you　had　embarrassed　me　so　in　front　of　the　mon　soldiers；　Berg'inyon's　hand　flashed　in　the　silent　code。

Better　to　have　your　pride　cut　than　your　throat；　Dantrag's　hands　flashed　in　reply；　and　the　older　Baenre　walked　his　mount　away；　back　around　the　stalactites。

Beside　the　lizard　again；　Berg'inyon　worked　to　retie　the　top　strap　and　fasten　together　the　bridle。　He　had　claimed　Drizzt　to　be　the　better　fighter；　but；　in　considering　what　Dantrag　had　just　done　to　him；　a　perfectly　aimed　two…hit　attack　before　he　could　even　begin　to　retaliate；　the　younger　Baenre　doubted　his　claim。　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　he　decided；　would　be　the　one　to　pity　if　and　when　the　two

92

Starless　Night

fighters　faced　off。

The　thought　pleased　young　Berg'inyon。　Since　his　days　in　the　Academy；　he　had　lived　in　Drizzf　s　shadow；　much　as　Dantrag　had　lived　in　Zak'nafein's。　If　Dantrag　defeated　Drizzt；　then　the　Brothers　Baenre　would　be　proven　the　stronger　fighters；　and　Berg'inyon's　reputation　would　rise　simply　because　of　his　standing　as　Dantrag's　protegee。　Berg'inyon　liked　the　thought；　liked　that　he　stood　to　gain　without　having　to　stand　toe…to…toe　against　that　devilish　purple…eyed　Do'Urden　again。

Perhaps　the　fight　would　e　to　an　even　more　promising　conclusion；　Berg'inyon　dared　to　hope。　Perhaps　Dantrag　would　kill　Drizzt；　and　then；　weary　and　probably　wounded；　Dantrag　would　fall　easy　prey　to　Berg'inyon's　sword。　Berg'inyon's　reputation；　as　well　as　his　position；　would　rise　further；　for　he　would　be　the　logical　choice　to　replace　his　dead　brother　in　the　coveted　position　as　weapon　master。

The　young　Baenre　rolled　over　in　midair　to　find　his　place　on　the　repaired　saddle；　smiling　evilly　at　the　possibilities　afforded　him　in　this　uping　journey　to　Mithril　Hall。

*　*　？*　？

〃Jerlys；〃　the　drow　whispered　grimly。

〃Jerlys　Horlbar？〃　JarlaxJe　asked；　and　the　mercenary　leaned　against　the　rough　wall　of　the　stalagmite　pillar　to　consider　the　startling　news。　Jerlys　Horlbar　was　a　matron　mother；　one　of　the　two　high　priestesses　presiding　over　House　Horlbar；　the　twelfth　house　of　Menzoberranzan。　Here　she　lay；　dead；　under　a　pile　of　rubble；　her　tentacle　rod　ruined　and　buried　beside　her。

It　is　good　we　followed　him；　the　soldier's　flicking　fingers　remarked；　more　to　placate　the　mercenary　leader　than　to　make　any　pertinent　revelations。　Of　course　it　was　good　that　Jarlaxle　had　ordered　that　one　followed。　He　was　dangerous；　incredibly　dangerous；　but；　seeing　a　matron　mother；　a　high　priestess　of　the　Spider　Queen；　lying　dead；　sliced　by　a　wicked　sword；　the　mercenary　had　to　wonder　if　he；　too；　had　underestimated。

We　can　report　it　and　absolve　ourselves　of　responsibility；

93

R。　A。　Salvatore

another　of　Bregan　CXaerthe's　dark　band　signaled。

At　first；　that　notion　struck　Jarlaxle　as　sound　advice。　The　matron　mother's　body　would　be　found；　and　there　would　be　a　serious　inquiry；　by　House　Horlbar　if　by　no　one　else。　Guilt　by　association　was　a　very　real　thing　in　Menzoberranzan；　especially　for　such　a　serious　crime；　and　Jarlaxle　wanted　no　part　of　a　covert　war　with　the　twelfth　house；　not　now；　with　so　many　other　important　events　brewing。

Then　Jarlaxle　let　the　circumstances　lead　him　down　another　avenue　of　possibility。　As　unfortunate　as　this　event　seemed；　the　mercenary　might　still　turn　it　to　profit。　There　was　at　least　one　wild　card　in　this　game　that　Matron　Baenre　played；　an　unknown　factor　that　could　take　the　impending　chaos　to　new　levels　of　glory。

Bury　her　once　more；　the　mercenary　signaled；　deeper　under　the　pile　this　time；　but　not　pletely。　I　want　the　body　found；　but　not　for　a　while。

His　hard　boots　making　not　a　sound；　his　ample　jewelry　quiet；　the　mercenary　leader　started　from　the　alley。

Are　we　to　rendezvous？　one　soldier　flashed　to　him。

Jarlaxle　shook　his　head　and　continued　on；　out　of　the　remote　alley。　He　knew　where　to　find　the　one　who　had　killed　Jerlys　Horlbar；　and　knew；　too；　that　he　could　use　this　information　against　him；　perhaps　to　heighten　his　slavish　loyalty　to　Bregan　D'aerthe；　or　perhaps　for　other　reasons。　Jarlaxle　had　to　play　the　whole　thing　very　carefully；　he　knew。　He　had　to　walk　a　narrow　line　between　intrigue　and　warfare。

None　in　the　city　could　do　that　better。

Uthegental　will　be　prominent　in　the　days　to　e。

Dantrag　Baenre　cringed　when　the　thought　drifted　into　his　mind。　He　understood　its　source；　and　its　subtle　meaning。　He　and　the　weapon　master　of　House　Barrison　DerAnngo；　House　Baenre's　chief　rival；　were　considered　the　two　greatest　fighters　in　the　city。

Matron　Baenre　will　use　his　skills；　the　next　telepathic　message　warned。　Dantrag　drew　out　his　surface…stolen　sword　and　looked　at　it。　It　flared　a　thin　red　line　of　light　along　its　impossi…

94

Starless　Night

bly　sharp　edge；　and　the　two　rubies　set　into　the　eyes　of　its　demon…sculpted　pommel　flared　with　inner　life。

Dantrag's　hand　clasped　the　pommel　and　warmed　as　Khazid'hea；　Cutter；　continued　its　munication。　He　is　strong　and　will　fare　well　in　the　raids　on　Mithril　Hall。　He　lusts　for　the　blood　of　the　young　Do'Urden；　the　legacy　of　Zak'nafein；　as　greatly　as　you　do梡erhaps　even　more。

Dantrag　sneered　at　that　last　remark；　thrown　in　only　because　Khazid'hea　wanted　him　on　the　edge　of　anger。　The　sword　considered　Dantrag　its　partner；　not　its　master；　and　knew　that　it　could　better　manipulate　Dantrag　if　he　was　angry。

After　many　decades　wielding　Khazid'hea；　Dantrag；　too；　knew　all　of　this；　and　he　forced　himself　to　keep　calm。

〃None　desire　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　death　more　than　I；〃　Dantrag　assured　the　doubting　sword。　〃And　Matron　Baenre　will　see　to　it　that　I；　not　Uthegental；　have　the　opportunity　to　slay　the　renegade。　Matron　Baenre　would　not　want　the　honors　that　would　undoubtedly　acpany　such　a　feat　to　be　granted　to　a　warrior　of　the　second　house。〃

The　sword's　red　line　flared　again　in　intensity　and　reflected　in　Dantrag's　amber　eyes。　Kill　Uthegental；　and　her　task　will　bee　easier；　Khazid'hea　reasoned。

Dantrag　laughed　aloud　at　the　notion；　and　Khazid'hea's　fiendish　eyes　flared　again。　〃Kill　him？〃　Dantrag　echoed。　〃Kill　one　that　Matron　Baenre　has　deemed　important　for　the　mission　ahead？　She　would　flay　the　skin　from　my　bones！〃

But　you　could　kill　him？

Dantrag　laughed　again；　for　the　question　was　simply　to　mock　him；　to　urge　him　on　to　the　fight　that　Khazid'hea　had　desired　for　so　very　long。　The　sword　was　proud；　at　least　as　proud　as　either　Dantrag　or　Uthegental；　and　it　wanted　desperately　to　be　in　the　hands　of　the　indisputably　finest　weapon　master　of　Menzoberranzan；　whichever　of　the　two　that　might　be。

〃You　must　pray　that　I　could；〃　Dantrag　replied；　turning　the　tables　on　the　impetuous　sword。　〃Uthegental　favors　his　trident；　and　no　sword。　If　he　proved　the　victor；　then　Khazid'hea　might　end　up　in　the　scabbard　of　a　lesser　fighter。〃

He　would　wield　me。

95

R。　A。　Salvatore

Dantrag　slid　the　sword　away；　thinking　the　preposterous　claim　not　even　worth　answering。　Also　tired　of　this　useless　banter；　Khazid'hea　went　silent；　brooding。

The　sword　had　opened　some　concerns　for　Dantrag。　He　knew　the　importance　of　this　uping　assault。　If　he　could　strike　down　the　young　Do'Urden；　then　all　glory　would　be　his；　but　if　Uthegental　got　there　first；　then　Dantrag　would　be　considered　second　best　in　the　city；　a　rank　he　could　never　shake　unless　he　found　and　killed　Uthegental。　His　mother　would　not　be　pleased　by　such　events；　Dantrag　knew。　Dantrag's　life　had　been　miserable　when　Zak'nafein　Do'Urden　had　been　alive；　with　Matron　Baenre　constantly　urging　him　to　find　and　slay　the　legendary　weapon　master。

This　time；　Matron　Baenre　probably　wouldn't　even　allow　him　that　option。　With　Berg'inyon　ing　into　excellence　as　a　fighter；　Matron　Baenre　might　simply　sacrifice　Dantrag　and　turn　the　coveted　position　of　weapon　master　over　to　her