精灵血脉四部曲-第84部分

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of　light　might　be　some　remote　indication　of　a　changing　of　the　dark　elves'　dark　ways。　He　had　always　connected　the　perpetual　gloom　of　the　Underdark　to　the　dark　demeanor　of　drow；　or；　at　least；　had　thought　the　darkness　a　fitting　result　of　his　kin's　dark　ways。

Why　the　lights？　Drizzt　was　not　arrogant　enough　to　think　that　their　presence　might　be　somehow　connected　to　the　hunt　for　him。　He　did　not　think　that　he　was　that　important　to　the　drow；　and　had　little　more　than　the　deep　gnomes'　supposition　that　things　were　awry。　（He　had　no　idea　that　plans　were　being　laid　for　an　all…out　surface　raid。）　He　wanted　to　question　one　of　the　other　drow　on　the　matter梩he　female；　in　particular；　would　likely　have　some　information梑ut　how　could　he　broach　the　subject　without　giving　away　his　identity　as　an　outsider？

As　if　on　cue；　the　female　was　at　his　side；　sitting　unfortably　close。

〃The　days　are　long　on　the　Isle　of　Rothe；〃　she　said　coyly；　obvious　attraction　reflected　in　her　red…glowing　eyes。

〃I　will　never　get　used　to　the　light；〃　Drizzt　replied；　changing　the　subject　and　looking　back　toward　the　city。　He　kept　his　eyes　operating　in　the　normal　spectrum　and　hoped　that　his　leading　statements　might　prompt　some　conversation　on　the　matter。　〃It　stings　my　eyes。〃

〃Of　course　it　does；〃　the　female　purred；　moving　closer；　even　putting　a　hand　inside　Drizzt's　elbow。　〃But　you　will　get　used　to　it　in　time。〃

In　time？　In　time　for　what？　Drizzt　wanted　to　ask；　for　he　suspected　from　her　tone　that　she　was　referring　to　some　specific　event。　He　had　no　idea　of　how　to　begin　the　question；　though；　and；　as　the　female　moved　ever　closer；　he　found　that　he　had　more　pressing　problems。

In　drow　culture；　males　were　subservient；　and　to　refuse　the　advances　of　a　female　could　invite　serious　trouble。　〃I　am　Khareesa；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear。　'Tell　me　that　you　wish　to　be　my　slave。〃

Drizzt　jumped　up　suddenly　and　snapped　his　scimitars

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from　their　sheaths。　He　turned　away　from　Khareesa；　focused　his　attention　on　the　lake　to　make　sure　that　she　understood　he　meant　no　threat　against　her。

〃What　is　it？〃　the　surprised　female　demanded。

〃A　movement　in　the　water；〃　Drizzt　lied。　〃A　subtle　undercurrent；　as　though　something　large　just　passed　under　our　craft。〃　Khareesa　scowled　but　stood　and　peered　into　the　gloomy　lake。　It　was　mon　knowledge　in　Menzoberranzan　that　dark　things　resided　under　the　usually　still　waters　of　Donigarten。　One　of　the　games　the　slavers　played　was　to　make　the　goblins　and　ores　swim　from　the　isle　to　the　shore；　to　see　if　any　of　them　would　be　pulled　down　to　terrible　deaths。

A　few　moments　passed　quietly；　the　only　sound　the　continual　moaning　chants　of　the　ores　lining　the　sides　of　the　raft。

A　third　drow　joined　Drizzt　and　Khareesa　on　the　prow；　eyeing　Drizzt's　blue…flaring　scimitar。　You　mark　us　for　every　enemy　in　the　area；　his　hands　flashed　in　the　silent　code。

Drizzt　slid　the　scimitars　away　and　let　his　eyes　drift　back　into　infravision。　//　our　enemies　are　beneath　the　waters；　then　the　motion　of　our　craft　marks　us　more　than　any　light；　his　hands　answered。

〃There　are　no　enemies；〃　Khareesa　added；　motioning　for　the　third　drow　to　go　back　to　his　station。　When　he　left；　she　turned　a　lewd　look　upon　Drizzt。　〃A　warrior？〃　she　asked；　carefully　regarding　the　purple…eyed　male。　〃A　patrol　leader；　perhaps？〃

Drizzt　nodded　and　it　was　no　lie；　he　had　indeed　been　a　patrol　leader。

〃Good；〃　Khareesa　remarked。　〃I　like　males　who　are　worth　the　trouble。〃　She　looked　up　then；　took　note　that　they　were　fast　approaching　the　Isle　of　Rothe。　〃We　will　speak　later；　perhaps。〃　Then　she　turned　and　swept　away；　brushing　her　hands　behind　her　so　that　her　robes　rode　high　on　her　shapely　legs。

Drizzt　winced　as　though　slapped。　The　last　thing　Khareesa　had　on　her　mind　was　speaking。　He　couldn't　deny　that　she　was　beautiful；　with　sculpted　features；　a　thick　mane　of　well…groomed　hair；　and　a　finely　toned　body。　But　in　his　years　among　the　drow；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　learned　to　look　beyond　physical　beauty　and　physical　attraction。　Drizzt　did

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not　separate　the　physical　from　the　emotional。　He　was　a　superb　fighter　because　he　fought　with　his　heart　and　would　no　sooner　battle　merely　for　the　sake　of　battle　than　he　would　mate　for　the　sake　of　the　physical　act。

〃Later；〃　Khareesa　said　once　more；　glancing　back　over　her　delicate；　perfectly　squared　shoulder。

〃When　worms　eat　your　bones；〃　Drizzt　whispered　through　a　phony　smile。　For　some　reason；　he　thought　of　Catti…brie　then；　and　the　warmth　of　that　image　pushed　away　the　chill　of　this　hungry　drow　female。

Blingdenstone　charmed　Catti…brie；　despite　her　obvious　predicament　and　the　fact　that　the　svirfnebli　did　not　treat　her　as　a　long…lost　friend。　Stripped　of　her　weapons；　armor；　jewelry；　and　even　her　boots；　she　was　taken　into　the　city　in　just　her　basic　clothes。　The　gnome　escorts　did　not　abuse　her；　but　neither　were　they　gentle。　They　tightly　clasped　her　arms　at　the　elbows　and　hoisted　her　and　pulled　her　around　the　narrow；　rocky　ways　of　the　city's　defensible　anterooms。

When　they　had　taken　the　circlet　from　the　woman's　head；　the　gnomes　had　easily　e　to　guess　its　function；　and　as　soon　as　the　anterooms　were　past；　they　gave　the　precious　item　back　to　Catti…brie。　Drizzt　had　told　her　of　this　place；　of　the　deep　gnomes'　natural　blending　with　their　environment；　but　she　had　never　pictured　that　the　drow's　words　would　ring　so　true。　Dwarves　were　miners；　the　best　in　all　the　world；　but　the　deep　gnomes　went　beyond　that　description。　They　were　part　of　the　rock；　it　seemed；　burrowing　creatures　wholly　at　one　with　the　stone。　Their　houses　could　have　been　the　randomly　rumbled　boulders　of　a　long…past　volcanic　eruption；　their　corridors；　the　winding　ways　of　an　ancient　river。

A　hundred　sets　of　eyes　followed　Catti…brie's　every　step　as　she　was　led　across　the　city　proper。　She　realized　that　she　was　probably　the　first　human　the　svirfnebli　had　ever　seen；　and　she　did　not　mind　the　attention；　for　she　was　no　less　enchanted　by　the　svirfnebli。　Their　features；　seeming　so　gray　and　dour　out　in　the　wild　tunnels；　appeared　softer　now；　gentler。　She　wondered　what　a　smile　would　look　like　on　the　face

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of　a　svirfneblin；　and　she　wanted　to　see　it。　These　were　Drizzt's　friends；　she　kept　reminding　herself；　and　she　took　fort　in　the　drow　ranger's　judgment。

She　was　brought　into　a　small；　round　room。　A　guard　motioned　for　her　to　sit　in　one　of　three　stone　chairs。　Catti…brie　did　so　hesitantly；　for　she　recalled　a　tale　that　Drizzt　had　told　her；　of　a　svirfneblin　chair　that　had　magically　shackled　him　and　held　him　fast。

No　such　thing　happened　now；　though；　and　a　moment　later；　a　very　unusual　deep　gnome　entered　the　room；　dangling　the　magical　locket　with　Drizzf　s　picture　from　the　end　of　a　hand　that　was　crafted　into　a　mithril　pickaxe。

〃Belwar；〃　Catti…brie　stated；　for　there　could　not　be　two　gnomes　who　so　perfectly　fit　Drizzt's　description　of　his　dear　svirfneblin　friend。

The　Most　Honored　Burrow　Warden　stopped　in　his　tracks　and　eyed　the　woman　suspiciously；　obviously　caught　off　guard　by　her　recognition。

〃Drizzt。。。　Belwar；〃　Catti…brie　said；　again　wrapping　her　arms　about　her；　as　though　hugging　someone。　She　pointed　to　herself　and　said；　〃Catti…brie　。　。　。　Drizzt；〃　and　repeated　the　motion。

They　could　not　speak　two　words　of　each　other's　language；　but；　in　a　short　time；　using　hand　and　body　language；　Catti…brie　had　won　over　the　burrow　warden；　had　even　explained　to　him　that　she　was　searching　for　Drizzt。

She　did　not　like　the　grave　face　Belwar　wore　at　that　remark；　and　his　explanation；　a　single　mon　name；　the　name　of　a　drow　city；　was　not　reassuring；　Drizzt　had　gone　into　Menzoberranzan。

She　was　given　a　meal　of　cooked　mushrooms　and　other　plantlike　growths　that　she　did　not　recognize；　then　she　was　given　back　her　items；　including　the　locket　and　the　onyx　panther；　but　not　the　magical　mask。

She　then　was　left　alone；　for　hours　it　seemed；　sitting　in　the　starlit　darkness；　silently　blessing　Alustriel　for　her　precious　gift　and　thinking　how　perfectly　miserable　the　trek　would　have　been　without　the　Caf　s　Eye。　She　would　not　even　have　seen　Belwar　to　recognize　him！

Her　thoughts　were　still　on　Belwar　when　he　at　last

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returned；　along　with　two　other　gnomes　wearing　long；　soft　robes；　very　unlike　the　rough；　leatherlike；　metal…plated　outfits　typical　of　the　race。　Catti…brie　figured　that　these　two　must　be　important；　perhaps　councilors。

〃Firble；〃　Belwar　explained；　pointing　to　one　of　the　svirfnebli；　one　that　did　not　look　happy。

Catti…brie　figured　out　why　a　moment　later；　when　Belwar　pointed　to　her；　then　to　Firble；　then　to　the　door　and　spoke　a　long　sentence；　the　only　word　of　which　Catti…brie　caught　was；　〃Menzoberranzan。〃

Firble　motioned　for　her　to　follow　him；　apparently　anxious　to　be　on　their　way；　and　Catti…brie；　though　she　would　have　loved　to　stay　in　Blingdenstone　and　learn　more　about　the　intriguing　svirfnebli；　thoroughly　agreed。　Drizzt　was　too　far　ahead　of　her　already。　She　rose　from　the　chair　and　started　out；　but　was　caught　at　the　arm　by　Belwar's　pickaxe　hand　and　turned　about　to　face　the　burrow　warden。

He　pulled　the　magical　mask　from　his　belt　and　lifted　it　to　her。　〃Drizzt；〃　he　said；　pointing　his　hammer　hand　at　her　face。　〃Drizzt。〃

Catti…brie　nodded；　understanding　that　the　burrow　warden　thought　it　would　be　wise　of　her　to　walk　as　a　drow。　She　turned　to　leave；　but；　on　a　sudden　impulse；　turned　back　and　gave　Belwar　a　peck　on　the　cheek。　Smiling　appreciatively；　the　young　woman　walked　from　the　house；　and；　with　Firble　leading　the　way；　strode　from　Blingdenstone。

〃How　did　you　get　Firble　to　agree　to　take　her　into　the　drow　city？〃　the　remaining　gnome　councilor　asked　the　burrow　warden　when　they　were　alone。

〃Bivrip！〃　Belwar　bellowed。　He　clapped　his　mithril　hands　together　and　immediately　sparks　and　arcing　lines　of　energy　ran　along　his　crafted　hands。　He　put　a　wry　look　on　the　councilor；　who　merely　laughed　in　a　squeaky　svirfneblin　way。　Poor　Firble。

Drizzt　was　glad　to　escort　a　group　of　ores　from　the　isle　back　to　the　mainland；　if　only　so　that　he　could　avoid　the　eager　Khareesa。　She　watched　him　go　from　the　shore；　her　expression

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caught　somewhere　between　a　pout　and　anticipation；　as　if　to　say　that　Drizzt　might　have　escaped；　but　only　for　now。

With　the　isle　behind　him；　Drizzt　pu