精灵血脉四部曲-第74部分

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inkle　flaring　to　blue…glowing　life。

He　spotted　the　remaining　priestess　down　to　the　left。　She　stood　beside　a　tall；　narrow　mound；　one　arm　out　touching　a　svirfneblin。　The　gnome　made　no　moves　against　her；　only　stood　and　groaned；　trembling　from　the　priestess's　magical　assaults。　Black　energy　crackled　up　the　drow　female's　arm　as　she　literally　sucked　the　life　force　from　her　unfortunate　victim。

Drizzt　tucked　Twinkle　under　his　other　arm　and　leaped　out；　hooking　the　top　of　that　narrow　mound　and　rotating　about　it　as　he　quickly　descended。　He　hit　the　floor　right　beside　the　priestess　and　snapped　his　weapons　back　to　the　ready。

The　startled　drow　female　uttered　a　series　of　sharp　mands；　apparently　thinking　Drizzt　an　ally。　Twinkle　dove　into　her　heart。

The　half…drained　gnome　eyed　Drizzt　curiously；　then　fainted　away。　Drizzt　ran　on；　calling　out　warnings　to　the　gnomes；　in　their　own　tongue；　that　dark　elves　were　in　position　near　the　far　exit。　The　ranger　took　care　to　keep　out　of　the　open；　though；　realizing　that　any　gnome　he　encountered　would　likely　attack　him；　and　any　drow　he　encountered　might　recognize　him。

He　tried　not　to　think　of　what　he　had　just　done；　tried　not　to　think　of　the　female's　eyes；　so　similar　to　his　sister　Vierna's。

He　rushed　in　hard　and　put　his　back　against　a　mound；

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the　cries　of　battle　all　about　him。　A　gnome　jumped　out　from　behind　another　stalagmite；　waving　a　hammer　dangerously；　and　before　Drizzt　could　explain　that　he　was　no　enemy；　another　drow　came　around　the　side；　to　stand　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Drizzt。

The　suddenly　hesitant　gnome　looked　about；　looked　for　an　escape　route；　but　the　newest　opponent　leaped　at　him。

Purely　on　instinct；　Drizzt　slashed　the　drow's　weapon　arm；　his　scimitar　drawing　a　deep　gash。　The　ebon…skinned　elf　dropped　his　sword　and　half…turned　to　look　back　in　horror　at　this　drow　who　was　not　an　ally。　Stumbling；　the　surprised　drow　focused　ahead；　just　in　time　to　catch　a　gnomish　hammer　in　the　face。

The　gnome　didn't　understand　it；　of　course；　and　as　the　dark　elf　fell；　all　he　thought　about　was　readying　his　hammer　for　this　second　enemy。　But　Drizzt　was　long　gone。

With　the　priestesses　down；　a　gnome　shaman　ran　over　to　the　felled　elemental。　He　placed　a　stone　atop　the　pile　of　rubble　and　crushed　it　with　his　mattock；　then　began　chanting。　Soon　the　elemental　reformed；　as　large　as　ever；　and　lumbered　away　like　a　moving　avalanche　in　search　of　enemies。　The　shaman　watched　it　go；　but　he　should　have　been　watching　his　own　situation　instead；　for　another　dark　elf　crept　out　behind　him；　mace　held　high　for　a　killing　strike。

The　shaman　realized　the　danger　only　as　the　mace　came　crashing　down　。。。　and　was　intercepted　by　a　scimitar。

Drizzt　shoved　the　shaman　aside　and　stood　to　face　the　stunned　drow。

Friend？　the　fingers　of　the　drow's　free　hand　quickly　asked。

Drizzt　shook　his　head；　then　sent　Twinkle　slamming　against　the　drow's　mace；　batting　it　aside。　The　ranger's　second　scimitar　quickly　followed　the　same　path；　ringing　loudly　off　the　metal　mace　and　knocking　it　far　out　to　Drizzf　s　left。

Drizzt's　advantage　of　surprise　was　not　as　great　as　he　had　supposed；　though；　for　the　drow's　free　left　hand　had　already　slipped　to　his　belt　and　grabbed　a　slender　dirk。　Out　of　the　folds　of　the　drow's　piwafwi　cloak　shot　the　new　weapon；　straight　for　Drizzf　s　heart；　the　evil　drow　snarling　in　apparent　victory。

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Drizzt　spun　to　the　right；　backstepping　out　of　harm's　way。　He　brought　his　closest　scimitar　back　across　and　down；　hooking　the　dirk's　hilt　and　pulling　the　drow's　arm　out　straight。　He　pleted　his　spin；　putting　his　back　tightly　against　his　opponent's　chest；　wrapping　the　outstretched　arm　right　about　him。　The　drow　tried　to　work　his　mace　into　an　angle　so　that　he　could　strike　at　Drizzt；　but　Drizzt　was　in　the　better　position　and　was　the　quicker。　He　stepped　away；　then　came　back　in；　elbow　flying　high　to　smash　into　his　opponent's　face；　once；　twice；　and　then　again　in　rapid　succession。

Drizzt　flung　the　drow's　dirk　hand　out　wide；　and　wisely　reversed　his　spin；　getting　Twinkle　up　just　in　time　to　catch　the　swinging　mace。　Drizzf　s　other　arm　shot　forward；　the　hilt　of　his　scimitar　crushing　the　drow's　face。

The　evil　drow　tried　to　hold　his　balance；　but　he　was　clearly　dazed。　A　quick　twist　and　snap　of　Twinkle　sent　the　mace　flying　into　the　air；　and　Drizzt　punched　out　with　his　left　hand；　Twinkle's　hilt　catching　the　drow　on　the　side　of　the　｝aw　and　dropping　him　to　the　floor。

Drizzt　looked　to　the　gnome　shaman；　who　stood　open…mouthed；　clutching　his　hammer　nervously。　All　around　them；　the　fight　had　bee　a　rout；　with　the　revived　elemental　leading　the　svirfnebli　to　a　decisive　victory。

Two　other　gnomes　joined　the　shaman　and　eyed　Drizzt　with　suspicion　and　fear。　Drizzt　paused　a　moment　to　consider　the　Svirfneblin　tongue；　a　language　that　used　the　melodic　inflections　similar　to　surface　Elvish　alongside　the　hard　consonant　sounds　more　typical　of　Dwarvish　talk。

〃I　am　no　enemy；〃　he　said；　and　to　prove　his　point　he　dropped　his　scimitars　to　the　ground。

The　drow　on　the　floor　groaned。　A　gnome　sprang　upon　him　and　lined　his　pickaxe　up　with　the　back　of　the　dark　elf's　skull。

〃No！〃　Drizzt　cried　in　protest；　starting　forward　and　bending　low　to　intercept　the　strike。

Drizzt　stood　up　straight　suddenly；　though；　as　a　searing　flash　of　pain　erupted　along　his　backbone。　He　saw　the　gnome　finish　the　dazed　drow；　but　couldn't　begin　to　contemplate　that　brutal　action　as　a　series　of　minor　explosions　went　off

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down　his　spine。　The　lip　of　some　devious；　flat…edged　dub　ran　down　his　vertebrae　like　a　board　snapping　across　a　picket　fence。

Then　it　was　over　and　Drizzt　stood　motionlessly　for　what　seemed　like　a　very　long　time。　He　felt　his　legs　tingle；　as　though　they　had　gone　to　sleep；　then　felt　nothing　at　all　below　his　waist。　He　fought　to　hold　his　balance；　but　wobbled　and　fell；　and　lay　scratching　at　the　stone　floor　and　trying　to　find　his　breath。

He　knew　that　the　darkness　of　unconsciousness梠r　a　deeper　darkness　still梬as　fast　approaching；　for　he　could　hardly　remember　where　he　was　or　why　he　had　e。

He　did　hear　the　shaman；　but　that　small　flicker　of　consciousness　that　Drizzt　had　remaining　was　not　forted　by　the　shaman's　words。

〃Kill　him。〃

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FUTILITY

his　the　place？〃　the　battlerager　asked；　shouting　so　that　his　gruff　voice　could　be　heard　over　the　whipping　wind。　He　had　e　out　of　Mithril　Hall　with　Regis　and　Bruenor梙ad　forced　the　halfling　to　take　him　out；　actually梚n　search　of　the　body　of　Artemis　Entreri。　〃Ye　find　the　clues　where　ye　find　them；〃　Pwent　had　said　in　typically　cryptic　explanation。

Regis　pulled　the　cowl　of　his　oversized　cloak　low　to　ward　off　the　wind's　sting。　They　were　in　a　narrow　valley；　a　gully；　the　sides　of　which　seemed　to　focus　the　considerable　wind　into　a　torrent。　〃It　was　around　here；〃　Regis　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders　to　indicate　that　he　could　not　be　sure。　When　he　had　e　out　to　find　the　battered　Entreri；　he　had　taken　a　higher　route；　along　the　top　of　the　ravine　and　other　ledges。　He　was　certain　that　he　was　in　the　general　region；　but　things　looked　too　different　from　this　perspective　to　be　sure。

〃We'll　find　him；　me　king；〃　Thibbledorf　assured　Bruenor。

〃For　what　that's　worth；〃　the　dejected　Bruenor　grumbled。

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Regis　winced　at　the　dwarf's　deflated　tones。　He　recognized　clearly　that　Bruenor　was　slipping　back　into　despair。　The　dwarves　had　found　no　way　through　the　maze　of　tunnels　beneath　Mithril　Hall；　though　a　thousand　were　searching；　and　word　from　the　east　was　not　promising梚f　Catti…brie　and　Drizzt　had　gone　to　Silverymoon；　they　were　long　past　that　place　now。　Bruenor　was　ing　to　realize　the　futility　of　it　all。　Weeks　had　passed　and　he　had　not　found　a　way　out　of　Mithril　Hall　that　would　take　him　anywhere　near　his　friends。　The　dwarf　was　losing　hope。

〃But；　me　king！〃　Pwent　roared。　〃He　knows　the　way。〃

〃He's　dead；〃　Bruenor　reminded　the　battlerager。

〃Not　to　worry！〃　bellowed　Pwent。　〃Priests　can　talk　to　the　dead梐nd　he　might　have　a　map。　Oh；　we'll　find　our　way　to　this　drow　city；　I　tell　ye；　and　there　I'll　go；　for　me　king！　I'll　kill　every　stinking　drow梕xcept　that　ranger　fellow；〃　he　added；　throwing　a　wink　at　Regis；　〃梐nd　bring　yer　girl　back　home！〃

Bruenor　just　sighed　and　motioned　for　Pwent　to　get　on　with　the　hunt。　Despite　all　the　plaining；　though；　the　dwarf　king　privately　hoped　that　he　might　find　some　satisfaction　in　seeing　Entreri's　broken　body。

They　moved　on　for　a　short　while；　Regis　constantly　peeking　out　from　his　cowl；　trying　to　get　his　bearings。　Finally；　the　halfling　spotted　a　high　outcropping；　a　branchlike　jag　of　rock。

〃There；〃　he　said；　pointing　the　way。　〃That　must　be　it。〃

Pwent　looked　up；　then　followed　a　direct　line　to　the　ravine's　bottom。　He　began　scrambling　around　on　all　fours；　sniffing　the　ground　as　if　trying　to　pick　up　the　corpse's　scent。

Regis　watched　him；　amused；　then　turned　to　Bruenor；　who　stood　against　the　gully's　wall；　his　hand　on　the　stone；　shaking　his　head。

〃What　is　it？〃　Regis　asked；　walking　over。　Hearing　the　question　and　noticing　his　king；　Pwent　scampered　to　join　them。

When　he　got　close；　Regis　noticed　something　along　the　stone　wall；　something　gray　and　matted。　He　peered　closer　as　Bruenor　pulled　a　bit　of　the　substance　from　the　stone　and　held　it　out。

〃What　is　it？〃　Regis　asked　again；　daring　to　touch　it。　A　stringy　filament　came　away　with　his　retracting　finger；　and　it

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Starless　Night

took　some　effort　to　shake　the　gooey　stuff　free。

Bruenor　had　to　swallow　hard　several　times。　Pwent　ran　off；　sniffing　at　the　wall；　then　across　the　ravine　to　consider　the　stone　on　the　other　side。

〃It's　what's　left　of　a　web；〃　the　dwarf　king　answered　grimly。

Both　Bruenor　and　Regis　looked　up　to　the　jutting　rock　and　silently　considered　the　implications　of　a　web　strung　below　the　falling　assassin。

Fingers　flashed　too　quickly　for　him　to　follow；　conveying　some　instructions　that　the　assassin　did　not　understand。　He　shook　his　head　furiously；　and　the　flustered　drow　clapped　his　ebon…skinned　hands　together；　uttered；　〃Ibiith；〃　and　walked　away。

Ibiith；　Artemis　Entreri　echoed　silently　in　his　thoughts。　The　drow　word　for　offal；　it　was　the　word　he　had　heard　the　most　since　Jarlaxle　had　taken　him　to　this　wretched　place。　What　could　that　drow　soldier　have　exp