友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

精灵血脉四部曲-第85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!



187

R。 A。 Salvatore

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 put all thoughts of Khareesa from his mind。 His task; and dangers; lay ahead; in the city proper; and he honestly did not know where he would begin looking for answers。 He feared that it would all e down to his surrender; that he would have to give himself over to protect the friends that he had left behind。

He thought of Zak'nafein; his father and friend; who had been sacrificed to the evil Spider Queen in his stead。 He thought of Wulfgar; his lost friend; and memories of the young barbarian strengthened Drizzf s resolve。

He offered no explanation to the surprised slavers awaiting the craft on the beach。 His expression alone told them not to question him as he walked past their encampment; away from Donigarten。

Soon he moved easily; warily; along the winding ways of Menzoberranzan。 He passed close by several dark elves; under the more…than…curious eyes of dozens of house guards; standing watch from their parapets along the sides of hollowed stalactites。 Drizzt carried with him an irrational notion that he might be recognized; and had to tell himself many times that he had been out of Menzoberranzan for more than thirty years; that Drizzt Do'Urden; even House Do'Urden; was now part of Menzoberranzan's history。

But; if that were true; why was he here; in this place where he did not want to be?

Drizzt wished that he had a piwafwi; the black cloak typical of drow outerwear。 His forest…green cloak; thick and warm; was more suited to the environs of the surface world and might connect him; in the eyes of onlookers; to that rarely seen place。 He kept the hood up; the cowl low; and pushed on。 This would be one of many excursions into the city proper; he believed; as he familiarized himself once more with the winding avenues and the dark ways。

The flicker of light around a bend surprised him; stung his heat…seeing eyes; and he moved tightly against the wall of a stalagmite; one hand under his cloak; grasping Twinkle's hilt。

A group of four drow males came around the bend;

188

Starless Night

talking easily; paying Drizzt no heed。 They wore the symbol of House Baenre; Drizzt noted as his vision shifted back to the normal spectrum; and one of them carried a torch!

Little that Drizzt had witnessed in all his life seemed so out of place to him。 Why? he asked himself repeatedly; and he felt that this all was somehow related to him。 Were the drow preparing an offensive against some surface location?

The notion rocked Drizzt to his core。 House Baenre soldiers carrying torches; getting their Underdark eyes desensitized to the light。 Drizzt did not know what to think。 He would have to go back to the Isle of Rothe; he decided; and he figured that that out…of…the…way place was as good a base as any he could secure in the city。 Perhaps he could get Khareesa to tell him the meaning of the lights; so that the next excursion into the city proper might prove fruitful。

He stalked back through the city; cowl low; thoughts inward; and did not notice the movements shadowing his own; few in Menzoberranzan ever noticed the movements of Bregan D'aerthe。

Catti…brie had never viewed anything so mysterious and wonderful and; in the starlight of her vision; the glow of the stalagmite towers and hanging stalactites seemed more wonderful still。 The faerie fires of Menzoberranzan highlighted ten thousand wondrous carvings; some of definite shape (mostly spiders); and others free…flowing forms; surrealistic and beautiful。 She would like to e here under different circumstances; Catti…brie decided。 She would like to be an explorer that discovered an empty Menzoberranzan; that she might study and absorb the incredible drow workmanship and relics in safety。

For; as overwhelmed as Catti…brie was by the magnificence of the drow city; she was truly terrified。 Twenty thousand draw; twenty thousand deadly enemies; were all about her。

As proof against the fear; the young woman tightly clasped Alustriel's magic locket and thought of the picture therein; of Drizzt Do'Urden。 He was here; somewhere close;

189

R。 A。 Salvatore

she believed; and her suspicions were confirmed when the locket flared suddenly with warmth。

Then it cooled。 Catti…brie moved methodically; turning back to the north; to the secret runnels Firble had taken her through to get to this place。 The locket remained cool。 She shifted to her right and faced west; across the chasm near her梩he Clawrift; it was called梐nd past the great; sweeping steppes that led to a higher level。 Then she faced south; toward the highest and grandest section of all; judging from the elaborate; glowing designs。 Still the locket remained cool; then began to warm as the young woman continued to turn; looking past the nearest stalagmite mounds to the relatively clear section in the east。

Drizzt was there; in the east。 Catti…brie took a deep breath then another; to steady her nerves and muster the courage to e fully out of the protected tunnel。 She looked to her hands again; and her flowing robes; and took fort in the apparently perfect drow disguise。 She wished that she had Guenhwyvar beside her梤emembered the moment in Silverymoon when the panther had loped down the streets beside her梑ut wasn't sure how the cat would be received in Menzoberranzan。 The last thing she wanted to do was call attention to herself。

She moved quickly and quietly; throwing the hood of her robes low over her head。 She hunched as she walked; and kept her grasp on the locket to guide her way and bolster her strength。 She worked hard to avoid the stares of the many house sentries; and pointedly looked away whenever she saw a drow ing down the avenue toward her from the other direction。

She was almost past the area of stalagmites; could see the moss bed; the mushroom grove; even the lake beyond; when two drow came out of the shadows suddenly; blocking the way; though their weapons remained sheathed。

One of them asked her a question; which she; of course; did not understand。 She subconsciously winced and noticed that they were looking at her eyes。 Her eyes! Of course; they were not glowing with irtfravision; as the deep gnomes had informed her。 The male asked his question again; somewhat more forcefully; then looked over his shoulder; toward the

190

Starless Night

moss bed and the lake。

Catti…brie suspected that these two were part of a patrol; and that they wanted to know what business she might have on this side of the city。 She noted the courteous way they addressed her; and remembered those things that Drizzt had taught her about drow culture。

She was a female; they; only males。

The undecipherable question came again; and Catti…brie responded with an open snarl。 One of the males dropped his hands to the hilts of his twin swords; but Catti…brie pointed at them and snarled again; viciously。

The two males looked to each other in obvious confusion。 By their estimation; this female was blind; or at least was not using irtfravision; and the lights in the city were not that bright。 She should not have been able to see the movement clearly; and yet; by her pointing finger; she obviously had。

Catti…brie growled at them and waved them away; and to her surprise (and profound relief); the males backed off; eyeing her suspiciously but making no moves against her。

She started to hunch over; thinking to hide again under her cowl; but changed her mind instead。 This was Menzoberranzan; full of brash dark elves; full of intrigue; a place where knowing梕ven pretending to know梥omething your rival did not know could keep you alive。

Catti…brie threw off the hood and stood straight; shaking her head as her thick hair freed itself of the folds。 She stared at the two males wickedly and began to laugh。

They ran off。

The young woman nearly toppled with relief。 She took another deep breath; clasped the locket in a clenched fist; and headed toward the lake。

191

Chapter 17

EPITOME OF ENEMIES

o you know who he is? the drow soldier's fingers asked imperatively in the intricate hand code。

Khareesa rocked back on her heels; not quite understanding any of this。 A contingent of well…armed drow had e to the Isle of Rothe; demanding answers; interrogating both the ore and goblin slaves and the few drow slavers on the island。 They wore no house emblems and; as far as Khareesa could tell; were exclusively males。

That did not stop them from treating her roughly; though; without the proper protocol typically afforded her gender。

〃Do you?〃 the drow asked aloud。 The unexpected noise brought two of the male's rades rushing to his sides。

〃He is gone;〃 the male explained to calm his panions; 〃into the city。〃

But he is on his way back; a fourth drow replied in the silent hand code as he rushed to join the others。 We just received the code flashes from the shore。

The heightening intrigue was more than curious Kha…

192

Starless Night

reesa could take。 〃I am Khareesa H'kar;〃 she proclaimed; naming herself a noble of one of the city's lesser houses; but a noble noheless。 〃Who is this male you speak of? And why is he so important?〃

The four males looked to each other slyly; and the newer turned an evil glare on Khareesa。

〃You have heard of Daermon N'a'shezbaernon?〃 he asked softly。

Khareesa nodded。 Of course she had heard of the powerful house; House Do'Urden by its more mon name。 It had once been the eighth…ranked house in all the city; but had met a disastrous end。

〃Of their secondboy?〃 the male went on。

Khareesa pursed her lips; unsure。 She tried to remember the tragic story of House Do'Urden; something about a renegade; when another of the males jogged her memory。

〃Drizzt Do'Urden;〃 he said。

Khareesa started to nod梥he had heard the name before; in passing梩hen her eyes went wide as she realized the significance of the handsome; purple…eyed drow that had left the Isle of Rothe。

She is a witness; one of the males reasoned。

She was not; argued another; until we told her the renegade's name。

〃But now she is;〃 said the first; and they looked in unison at the female。

Khareesa had 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1
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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!