精灵血脉四部曲-第72部分

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〃It　was　a　valiant　chase；〃　Fret　replied。　〃Your　father　will　be　proud　of　your　effort；　but？

Catti…brie　rushed　up　to　the　dwarf；　pushed　him　aside；　and　stumbled　down　toward　the　back　of　the　cave；　toward　the　blackness　of　a　descending　tunnel　entrance。　She　stubbed　her　toe　hard　against　a　jag　in　the　floor；　but　refused　to　cry　out；　even　to　grunt；　not　wanting　Fret　to　think　her　ridiculous。　In　fumbling　with　her　pack；　though；　trying　to　get　to　her　tinder…box；　lantern；　and　oil；　Catti…brie　thought　herself　so　just　the　same。

〃Do　you　know　that　she　likes　you？〃　Fret　asked　casually。

The　question　stopped　the　young　woman。　She　looked　back　to　regard　the　dwarf；　who　was　just　a　short；　dark　silhouette　before　the　lighter　gray　of　the　outside　night。

〃Alustriel；　I　mean；〃　Fret　clarified。

Catti…brie　had　no　answer。　She　hadn't　felt　fortable　around　the　magnificent　Lady　of　Silverymoon；　far　from　it。　Intentionally　or　not；　Alustriel　had　made　her　feel　little；　perfectly　insignificant。

〃She　does；〃　Fret　insisted。　〃She　likes　you　and　admires　you。〃

〃In　an　ore's　thoughts；〃　Catti…brie　huffed。　She　thought　she　was　being　mocked。

〃You　remind　her　of　her　sister；〃　Fret　went　on；　without　missing　a　beat；　〃Dove　Falconhand；　a　spirited　woman　if　ever　there　was　one。〃

Catti…brie　did　not　reply　this　time。　She　had　heard　many　tales　of　Alustriel's　sister；　a　legendary　ranger；　and　had　indeed　fancied　herself　somewhat　like　Dove。　Suddenly　the　dwarfs　claims　did　not　seem　so　outrageous。

〃Alas　for　Alustriel；〃　Fret　remarked。　〃She　wishes　that　she　could　be　more　like　you。〃

〃In　an　ore's　thoughts！〃　Catti…brie　blurted；　unable　to　stop　herself。　The　notion　that　Alustriel；　the　fabulous　Lady　of

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Silverymoon；　could　be　the　least　bit　jealous　of　Catti…brie　seemed　absurd。

〃In　a　human's　thoughts；　I　say！〃　Fret　replied。　〃What　is　it　about　your　race　that　none　of　you　can　seem　to　properly　weigh　your　own　value？　Every　human　seems　to　think　more　of　herself　than　she　should；　or　less　of　herself　than　is　sensible！　Alus…triel　likes　you；　I　say；　even　admires　you。　If　she　did　not；　if　she　thought　you　and　your　plans　were　silly；　then　why　would　she　go　to　this　trouble？　Why　would　she　send　me；　a　valuable　sage；　along　with　you？　And　why；　daughter　of　Bruenor　Battleham…mer；　would　she　give　you　mis？〃

He　lifted　one　hand；　holding　something　delicate　that　Catti…brie　could　not　make　out。　She　paused　a　moment　to　digest　what　he　had　said；　then　walked　back　over　to　him。

The　dwarf　held　a　fine　silver　chain；　a　circlet　headdress；　with　a　gemstone　set　into　it。

〃It　is　beautiful；〃　Catti…brie　admitted；　studying　the　pale　green　gem；　a　line　of　black　running　through　its　center。

〃More　than　beautiful；〃　Fret　said；　and　he　motioned　for　Catti…brie　to　put　it　on。

She　clasped　it　in　place；　the　gem　set　against　the　middle　of　her　forehead；　and　then　she　nearly　swooned；　for　the　images　around　her　suddenly　blurred　and　wavered。　She　could　see　the　dwarf梟ot　just　his　silhouette；　but　actually　Fret's　features！　She　glanced　about　in　disbelief；　focusing　on　the　back　of　the　cave。　It　seemed　as　if　it　was　bathed　in　starlight；　not　brightly；　but　Catti…brie　could　make　out　the　jags　and　the　nooks　clearly　enough。

Catti…brie　could　not　see　it；　of　course；　but　the　thin　black　line　along　the　middle　of　the　gemstone　had　widened　like　a　pupil。

〃Walking　into　the　Underdark　under　a　blazing　torch　is　not　the　wisest　move；〃　Fret　remarked。　〃A　single　candle　would　mark　you　as　out　of　place　and　would　leave　you　vulnerable。　And　how　much　oil　could　you　carry；　in　any　case？　Your　lantern　would　be　useless　to　you　before　the　first　day　had　ended。　The　Caf　s　Eye　eliminates　the　need；　you　see。〃

〃Caf　s　eye？〃

〃Caf　s　Eye　agate；〃　Fret　explained；　pointing　to　the　gem…stone。　〃Alustriel　did　the　enchanting　herself。　Normally　a　gem

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Starless　Night

ensorcelled　such　would　show　you　only　shades　of　gray；　but　the　lady　does　favor　starlight。　Few　in　the　Realms　could　claim　the　honor　of　receiving　such　a　gift。〃

Catti…brie　nodded　and　didn't　know　how　to　reply。　Pangs　of　guilt　acpanied　her　scrutiny　of　her　feelings　for　the　Lady　of　Silverymoon；　and　she　thought　herself　ridiculous　for　ever　doubting梐nd　for　ever　allowing　jealousy　to　cloud　her　judgment。

〃I　was　instructed　to　try　to　dissuade　you　from　the　dangerous　course；〃　the　dwarf　went　on；　〃but　Alustriel　knew　that　I　would　fail。　You　are　indeed　so　like　Dove；　headstrong　and　stubborn；　and　feeling　positively　immortal。　She　knew　that　you　would　go；　even　into　the　Underdark；〃　Fret　said。　〃And；　although　Alustriel　fears　for　you；　she　knows　that　nothing　could　or　should　stop　you。〃

The　dwarfs　tone　was　neither　sarcastic　nor　demeaning；　and　again　Catti…brie　was　caught　off　guard；　unprepared　for　the　words。

〃Will　you　stay　the　night　in　the　cave？〃　Fret　asked。　〃I　could　start　a　fire。〃

Catti…brie　shook　her　head。　Drizzt　was　already　too　far　ahead　of　her。

〃Of　course；〃　the　tidy　dwarf　muttered　quietly。

Catti…brie　didn't　hear　him；　she　was　already　walking　toward　the　back　of　the　cave；　toward　the　tunnel。　She　paused　and　summoned　Guenhwyvar；　realizing　that　she　would　need　the　panther's　support　to　get　going。　As　the　cat　materialized；　Catti…brie　looked　back　to　the　cave　entrance　to　tell　the　dwarf　to　relay　her　thanks　to　Alustriel；　but　Fret　was　already　gone。

〃e　along；　Guen；〃　the　young　woman　said；　a　strained　smile　on　her　face。　〃We　have　to　find　Drizzt。〃　The　panther　poked　about　the　tunnel　entrance　for　a　bit；　then　started　down；　apparently　on　the　trail。

Catti…brie　paused　a　long　moment；　staring　back　to　the　cave　entrance　and　the　starry　sky　beyond。　She　wondered　if　she　would　ever　see　those　stars　again。

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e　crossed　through　narrow　tunnels　and　halls　that　spread　beyond　vision　to　either　side　and　above。　He　trotted　along　muddy　flats　and　bare　stone；　without　splashes；　without　sound。　Every　step　Drizzt　Do'Urden　took　in　the　deeper　tunnels　of　the　Underdark　jogged　his　memory　a　little　bit　more；　brought　him　back　to　the　days　when　he　had　survived　the　wilds；　when　he　had　been　the　hunter。

He　had　to　find　that　inner　being；　that　primal　savage　within　him；　that　heard　the　call　of　his　instincts　so　very　well。　There　was　no　time　for　rational　calculations　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark；　there　was　only　time　to　act。

Drizzt　hated　the　prospect　of　giving　in　to　that　savage　element；　hated　this　whole　journey；　but　he　had　to　go　on；　knowing　that　if　he　failed；　if　he　was　killed　in　the　wilds　before　he　ever　got　to　Menzoberranzan；　his　quest　would　prove　detrimental　to　his　friends。　Then　he　would　be　gone；　but　the　dark　elves　would　not　know　it　and　would　still　go　after　Mithril　Hall。　For　the　sake　of　Bruenor；　Regis；　and　dear　Catti…brie；　Drizzt　had　to　go　on；　and　had　to　bee　the　primal　hunter　once　more。

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He　climbed　to　the　ceiling　of　a　high　corridor　for　his　first　break　and　slept　lightly；　hanging　upside　down；　his　legs　wedged　up　to　the　knees　in　a　narrow　crack；　his　fingers　hooked　under　his　belt；　near　his　scimitars。

An　echo　down　a　distant　tunnel　woke　him　after　only　an　hour　of　dozing。　It　had　been　a　slight　sound；　a　step　into　sucking　mud；　perhaps；　but　Drizzt　held　perfectly　still；　sensing　the　disturbance　in　the　still　air；　hearing　minute　residual　echoes　and　correctly　guessing　the　direction。

He　pulled　out　his　legs　and　rolled；　dropping　the　fifteen　feet　to　the　ground；　the　toes　of　his　soft　boots　touching　first　to　absorb　the　impact　and　bring　him　down　without　a　whisper。　He　ran　on；　taking　care　to　keep　far　from　those　echoes；　desiring　no　more　conflicts　before　he　got　to　the　drow　city。

He　grew　more　confident　with　every　step。　His　instincts　were　returning；　along　with　his　memories　of　that　time　he　spent　alone　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　He　came　to　another　muddy　area；　where　the　air　was　warm；　and　the　sound　of　hot；　aerated　water　hissed　and　gurgled。　Wet；　gleaming　stalagmite　and　stalactites；　glowing　warm　to　the　drow's　heat…seeing　eyes；　dotted　the　area；　breaking　this　single　tunnel　into　a　virtual　maze。

Drizzt　knew　this　place；　remembered　it　from　the　journey　he　had　taken　to　the　surface。　That　fact　brought　both　relief　and　trepidation　to　the　drow。　He　was　glad　that　he　was　on　course；　but　he　could　not　deny　his　fear　that　he　was　on　course。　He　let　the　water　sound　guide　him　along；　knowing　that　he　would　find　the　proper　tunnels　just　beyond　the　hot　springs。

The　air　grew　steadily　warmer；　soon　unfortably　so；　but　Drizzt　kept　his　cloak　on　and　drawn　tight；　not　wanting　to　get　caught　up　with　anything　more　than　a　scimitar　in　his　hands　in　this　dangerous　area。

And　the　drow　knew　that　this　was　indeed　a　dangerous　area。　Any　number　of　monsters　might　be　crouched　behind　one　of　the　ever…present　mounds；　and　it　took　great　effort　for　Drizzt　to　move　silently　through　the　thickening　mud。　If　he　kept　his　foot　in　one　position　for　any　length　of　time；　the　clinging　stuff　ran　up　around　his　boot；　and　subsequently　lifting　the　gummed　foot　would　inevitably　result　in　a　sucking　sound。　On　one　such　occasion；　Drizzt　paused　as　he　slowly　hoisted

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his　foot；　trying　to　discern　the　echo　patterns。　It　took　only　a　moment　for　him　to　understand　that　the　responding　sounds　he　heard　were　made　by　more　feet　than　his　own。

Drizzt　quickly　surveyed　the　area　and　considered　the　air　temperature　and　the　intensity　of　the　stalagmites'　glow。　The　footsteps　grew　louder；　and　Drizzt　realized　that　a　band　of　more　than　a　few　approached。　He　scanned　every　side　tunnel；　quickly　ing　to　the　conclusion　that　this　band　carried　no　light　source。

Drizzt　moved　under　one　narrow　spike　of　a　stalactite；　its　tip　hanging　no　more　than　four　feet　from　the　floor。　He　hacked　his　legs　under　him　and　knell　beneath　the　thing。　He　positioned　his　cloak　about　his　knees　in　a　conical　fashion；　taking　care　so　that　there　were　no　obvious　jags；　like　a　foot　sticking　out　too　far；　along　all　his　body。　Then　the　drow　looked　up　to　the　stalactite；　studied　its　form。　He　lifted　his　hands　to　feel　its　tip；　then　ran　them　up　and　around　the　stalactite；　joining　with　it　smoothly；　making　sure　that　its　tip　remained　the　smallest　taper。

He　closed　his　eyes　and　tucked　his　head　between　his　upper　arms。　He　swayed　a　few　times；　feeling　his　balance；　smoothing　the　outer　edges　of　his　form。

Drizzt　became　a　stalagmite　mound。

He　soon　heard　sucking　sounds；　and　squeaking；　croaking　voices　that　he　knew　to　be　goblins'；　all　about　him。　He　peeked　out　only　once；　and　only　for　an　instant；　ensuring　that　they　had　no