精灵血脉四部曲-第82部分

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　few　drow　guards　to　get　the　caravan　moving；　down　the　runnel　to　the　right。

After　a　moment；　she　turned　a　cold　glare　on　Drizzt。

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〃Why　are　you　standing　there？〃　she　demanded。

Drizzt　pointed　to　the　goblin　in　the　pool；　floundering　badly　now；　barely　able　to　keep　its　mouth　out　of　the　water。　He　managed　a　laugh；　as　if　he　was　enjoying　the　macabre　spectacle；　but　he　seriously　considered　rushing　over　and　cutting　the　evil　female　down　at　that　moment。

All　the　way　out　of　the　small　cavern；　Drizzt　looked　for　opportunities　to　get　over　to　the　goblin；　to　pull　the　creature　out　of　the　water　so　that　it　would　have　a　chance　to　get　away。　The　female　drow　never　stopped　eyeing　him；　though；　not　for　an　instant；　and　Drizzt　understood　that　she　had　more　on　her　mind　than　simply　including　him　in　the　slave　caravan。　After　all；　why　hadn't　she　taken　the　break　when　the　new　slaver　unexpectedly　arrived？

The　dying　goblin's　last　splashes　followed　Drizzt　out　of　that　place。　The　renegade　drow　swallowed　hard　and　fought　away　his　revulsion。　No　matter　how　many　times　he　witnessed　it；　he　would　never　get　used　to　the　brutality　of　his　kin。

And　Drizzt　was　glad　of　that。

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atti…brie　had　never　seen　such　creatures。　They　somewhat　resembled　gnomes；　at　least　in　stature；　being　about　three　feet　tall；　but　they　had　no　hair　on　their　lumpy；　ruddy　heads；　and　their　skin；　in　the　starlight　afforded　her　by　the　magical　circlet；　showed　grayish。　They　were　quite　stout；　nearly　as　muscular　as　dwarves；　and　judging　from　the　fine　tools　they　carried　and　the　well…fitting　metal　armor　they　wore；　they　were；　like　dwarves；　adept　at　mining　and　crafting。

Drizzt　had　told　Catti…brie　of　the　svirfnebli；　the　deep　gnomes；　and　that　is　what　she　presumed　she　was　looking　upon。　She　couldn't　be　sure；　though；　and　was　afraid　that　this　might　be　some　offshoot　of　the　evil　duergar；　gray　dwarves。

She　crouched　amid　a　cluster　of　tall；　thin　stalagmites　in　an　area　of　many　crisscrossing　corridors。　The　deep　gnomes；　if　that's　what　they　were；　had　e　down　the　opposite　way；　and　were　now　milling　about　one　wide；　flat　section　of　corridor；　talking　among　themselves　and　paying　little　heed　of　the　stalagmite　cluster　twenty　feet　away。

Catti…brie　was　not　sure　of　how　she　should　proceed。　If

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these　were　svirfnebli；　and　she　was　fairly　sure　of　that；　they　could　prove　to　be　valuable　allies；　but　how　might　she　approach　them？　They　certainly　did　not　speak　the　same　language　and　probably　were　as　unfamiliar　with　humans　as　she　was　with　them。

She　decided　that　her　best　course　would　be　simply　to　sit　tight　and　let　the　creatures　pass。　Catti…brie　had　never　experienced　the　strangeness　of　infravision；　though；　and　she　did　not　hilly　appreciate　that；　sitting　among　the　cool　stalagmites；　her　body　temperature　fully　thirty　degrees　warmer　than　the　stone；　she　was　practically　glowing　to　the　svirfnebli's　heat…seeing　eyes。

Even　as　the　young　woman　crouched　and　waited；　deep　gnomes　fanned　out　in　the　runnels　around　her；　trying　to　discern　if　this　drow　（for　Catti…brie　still　wore　the　magical　mask）　was　alone　or　part　of　a　larger　band。　A　few　minutes　slipped　by；　Catti…brie　looked　down　to　her　hand；　thinking　that　she　felt　something　in　the　stone；　a　slight　vibration；　perhaps。　The　young　woman　continued　to　stare　at　her　tingling　hand　curiously。　She　did　not　know　that　deep　gnomes　municated　in　a　method　that　was　part　telepathy　and　part　psychokinesis；　sending　their　thought　patterns　to　each　other　through　the　stone；　and　that　a　sensitive　hand　could　sense　the　vibrations。

She　did　not　know　that　the　minute　tingling　was　the　confirmation　from　the　deep　gnome　scouts　that　this　drow　crouching　in　the　stalagmite　cluster　was　indeed　alone。

One　of　the　svirfnebli　ahead　suddenly　burst　into　motion；　chanting　a　few　words　that　Catti…brie　did　not　understand　and　hurling　a　rock　her　way。　She　dipped　lower　behind　the　stones　for　cover　and　tried　to　decide　whether　to　call　out　a　surrender　or　take　out　her　bow　and　try　to　frighten　the　creatures　away。

The　stone　bounced　harmlessly　short　and　shattered；　its　flecks　spreading　in　a　small　area　before　the　stalagmite　cluster。　Those　flecks　began　to　smoke　and　sizzle；　and　the　ground　began　to　tremble。

Before　Catti…brie　knew　what　was　happening；　the　stones　before　her　rose　up　like　a　gigantic　bubble；　then　took　on　the　shape　of　a　giant　fifteen…foot…tall　humanoid；　its　girth　practically　filling　the　corridor。　The　creature　had　huge；　rocky　arms　that　could　smash　a　building　to　pieces。　Two　of　the　front

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stalagmites　had　been　caught　up　in　the　monstrous　formation　and　now　served　as　dangerous　spikes　protruding　from　the　front　of　the　monster's　massive　chest。

Down　the　passage；　the　deep　gnomes　let　out　battle　cries梒alls　that　echoed　in　corridors　all　about　the　frightened　woman。

Catti…brie　scrambled　backward　as　a　gigantic　hand　swooped　in　and　took　the　top　from　one　stalagmite。　She　dropped　the　onyx　figuring　and　called　frantically　for　Guen…hwyvar；　all　the　while　fitting　an　arrow　to　her　bowstring。

The　earth　elemental　shifted　forward；　its　bulky　legs　melding　with；　slipping　right　through；　the　stony　stalagmites　in　its　way。　It　moved　again　to　grab　the　woman；　but　a　silver…streaking　arrow　ripped　through　its　rock　face；　blowing　a　clean　crevice　between　the　monster's　eyes。

The　elemental　straightened　and　reeled；　then　used　its　hands　to　push　its　halved　head　back　into　one　piece。　It　looked　back　to　the　cluster　and　saw　not　the　female　drow；　but　a　huge　cat；　tamping　down　its　hind　legs。

Catti…brie　came　out　the　back　of　the　cluster；　thinking　to　flee；　but　found　deep　gnomes　ing　down　every　side　passage。　She　ran　along　the　main　corridor；　cutting　from　mound　to　mound　for　cover；　not　daring　to　glance　back　at　Guenhwy…var　and　the　elemental。　Then　something　hard　banged　against　her　shin；　tripping　her；　and　she　sprawled　headlong。　She　squirmed　about　to　see　another　of　the　svirfnebli　rising　from　behind　one　mound；　a　pickaxe　still　angled　out　as　it　had　been　placed　to　trip　her。

Catti…brie　pulled　her　bow　around　and　shifted　into　a　sitting　position；　but　the　weapon　was　batted　away。　She　instinctively　rolled　to　the　side；　but　heard　shuffling　feet　as　three　gnomes　kept　pace　with　her；　heavy　mauls　lifted　high　to　squash　her。

Guenhwyvar　snarled　and　soared；　thinking　to　fly　right　past　the　behemoth　and　turn　it　about。　The　elemental　was　faster　than　the　panther　suspected；　though；　and　a　great　rocky　hand　shot　out；　catching　the　cat　in　midflight　and　pulling　it　to　its　massive　chest。　Guenhwyvar　shrieked　as　a　stalagmite　spike　dug　into　a　shoulder；　and　the　deep　gnomes；　running　up　beside　their　champion；　shrieked　as　well；　in　glee　that　the

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drow　and　her　unexpected　ally　were　apparently　soon　to　be　finished。

A　maul　descended　toward　Catti…brie's　head。　She　snapped　out　her　short　sword　and　caught　it　at　the　joint　between　handle　and　head；　deflecting　it　enough　so　that　it　banged　loudly　off　the　floor。　The　young　woman　scampered　and　parried；　trying　to　get　far　enough　from　the　gnomes　to　regain　her　footing；　but　they　paced　her；　every　which　way；　banging　their　mauls　with　shortened；　measured　strokes　so　that　this　fast…tiring　dark　elf　had　no　opportunities　for　clear　counterstrikes。

The　sight　of　the　marvelous　panther；　soon　to　be　fully　impaled　and　crushed；　brought　victorious　thrills　to　a　handful　of　the　trailing　svirfhebli；　but　brought　only　confusion　to　two　others。　Those　two；　Seldig　and　Pumkato　by　name；　had　played　with　such　a　panther　as　fledglings；　and　since　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　the　drow　renegade　they　had　played　beside　almost　thirty　years　before；　had　just　passed　through　Bling…denstone；　they　felt　the　panther's　appearance　could　not　be　coincidence。

〃Guenhwyvar！〃　Seldig　cried；　and　the　panther　roared　in　reply。

The　name；　so　perfectly　spoken；　struck　Catti…brie　profoundly　and　made　those　three　deep　gnomes　about　her　hesitate　as　well。

Pumkato；　who　had　summoned　the　elemental　in　the　first　place；　called　for　the　monster　to　hold　steady；　and　Seldig　quickly　used　his　pickaxe　to　scale　partway　up　the　behemoth。　〃Guenhwyvar？〃　he　asked；　just　a　few　feet　from　the　panther's　face。　The　trapped　caf　s　ears　came　up；　and　it　put　a　plaintive　look　on　the　somewhat　familiar　gnome。

〃Who　is　that？〃　Pumkato　demanded；　pointing　to　Catti…brie。

Although　she　did　not　understand　any　of　the　svirfneblin's　words；　Catti…brie　realized　that　she　would　never　find　a　better　opportunity。　She　dropped　her　sword　to　the　stone；　reached　up　with　her　free　hand　and　pulled　off　the　magical　mask；　her　features　immediately　reverting　to　those　of　a　young　human　woman。　The　three　deep　gnomes　near　her　cried　out　and　fell　back；　regarding　her　with　less…than…

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plimentary　sour　expressions；　as　though　her　new　appearance　was　quite　ugly　by　their　standards。

Pumkato　mustered　the　courage　to　shuffle　over　to　her；　and　he　stood　right　in　front　of　her。

He　had　known　one　name；　Catti…brie　realized；　and　she　hoped　that　he　would　recognize　another。　She　pointed　to　herself；　then　held　her　arms　out　wide　and　pulled　them　in　as　if　hugging　someone。　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden？〃　she　asked。

Pumkato's　gray　eyes　widened；　then　he　nodded；　as　though　he　should　not　have　been　surprised。　Hiding　his　disgust　at　the　human's　appearance；　the　gnome　extended　one　hand　and　helped　Catti…brie　to　her　feet。

Catti…brie　moved　slowly；　obviously；　as　she　took　out　the　figurine　and　dismissed　Guenhwyvar。　Pumkato；　likewise；　sent　his　elemental　back　into　the　stone。

〃Kolsen'shea　orbb；〃　Jarlaxle　whispered；　an　arcane　phrase　rarely　uttered　in　Menzoberranzan　that　roughly　translated　to　〃pull　the　legs　off　a　spider。〃

The　seemingly　plain　wall　before　the　mercenary　reacted　to　the　passwords。　It　shifted　and　twisted　into　a　spiderweb；　then　rotated　outward；　its　strands　tucked　together；　to　leave　a　hole　for　the　mercenary　and　his　human　escort　to　climb　through。

Even　Jarlaxle；　usually　one　step　ahead　of　other　drow；　was　somewhat　surprised梡leasantly　surprised梩o　find　Triel　Baenre　waiting　for　him　in　the　small　office　beyond；　the　private　chambers　of　Gromph　Baenre　at　Sorcere；　the　school　of　magic　in　the　drow　Academy。　Jarlaxle　had　hoped　that　Gromph　would　be　about；　to　witness　the　return；　but　Triel　was　an　even　better　witness。

Entreri　came　in　behind　the　mercenary　and　wisely　stayed　behind　at　the　sight　of　volatile　Triel。　The　assassin　eyed　the　intriguing　room；　perpetually　bathed　in　soft…glowin