精灵血脉四部曲-第89部分

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ped　Twinkle　in　a　short　loop；　striking　the　draw's　sword　on　the　other　side。　Overbalanced　by　the　sudden　release；　the　drow　soldier　stumbled　and　could　not　reverse　his　pressure　on　the　sword。

His　blade　dove　low　and　flew　out　wide　across　his　body；　twisting　him　to　the　side。　He　tried　to　get　his　other　sword　around　for　a　block；　but　Drizzt's　second　scimitar　was　too　quick；　jabbing　hard　into　the　side　of　his　abdomen。

He　fell　back；　reeling；　one　sword　dropping　to　the　stone。

Drizzt　heard　a　call；　someone　rammed　him　hard　in　the　shoulder；　slamming　him　against　the　stone　wall。　He　bounced　off　and　spun；　scimitars　up。

Entreri！　Drizzt's　jaw　dropped　with　his　guard。

Catti…brie　spotted　Drizzt　on　the　ledge；　saw　the　other　drow　fall　away；　clutching　his　side；　and　she　cried　out　as　another　dark　form　rushed　from　a　cranny　and　barreled　into　Drizzt。　She　put　her　bow　up；　but　realized　that　if　the　enemy's　body　did　not　stop　her　arrow；　it　would　drive　through　to　strike　Drizzt。　Besides；　a　wave　of　dizziness　assaulted　the　young　woman　as　the　effects　of　the　sleeping　poison　began　to　course　through　her　veins。

She　kept　Taulmaril　ready　and　staggered　on；　but　the　fifty…or…so　feet　to　Drizzt　seemed　like　a　hundred　miles。

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Entreri's　sword　flared　a　green　light；　further　revealing　the　assassin。　But　how　could　it　be？　Drizzt　wondered。　He　had　defeated　this　one；　had　left　Entreri　for　dead　in　a　windy　ravine　outside　Mithril　Hall。

Apparently；　not　everyone　had　left　Entreri　for　dead。

The　sword　came　in　a　devilish　two…stroke　routine；　thrusting　low　at　Drizzt's　hip；　then　slashing　high；　nearly　connecting　across　the　draw's　eyes。

Drizzt　tried　to　recover　his　balance；　and　his　sensibilities；　but　Entreri　was　all　over　him；　hacking　wildly；　growling　all　the　while。　A　snap　kick　caught　the　ranger　in　the　knee；　and　he　had　to　throw　himself　away　from　the　wall　as　the　green…glowing　sword　sliced　down；　igniting　a　line　of　sparks。

The　snarling　assassin　spun　with　Drizzt；　sending　his　dirk　in　a　wide…flying　hook。　Drizzt's　scimitar　banged　against　the　shorter　weapon　and　it　flew　away；　but　Entreri's　hand　came　on；　balling　into　a　fist；　now　inside　the　blocking　angle　of　Drizzf　s　weapon。

A　split　second　before　the　assassin's　fist　smacked　into　his　nose；　Drizzt　realized　that　Entreri　had　been　one　step　ahead　of　him；　had　expected；　even　desired；　that　exact　parry。

The　stunned　ranger　tumbled　backward。　Only　a　narrow　stalagmite　mound　prevented　Drizzt　from　flying　over　the　ledge。　Entreri　was　on　him　instantly。　Sparks；　green　and　blue；　erupted　as　a　brutal　swipe　of　the　assassin's　sword　took　Twinkle　from　Drizzf　s　hands。

Drizzf　s　remaining　blade　parried　the　ensuing　backhand；　but　before　he　could　begin　to　bend　to　retrieve　his　dropped　weapon；　Entreri　crouched　and　kicked　Twinkle　from　the　ledge。

Still　off　balance；　Drizzt　tried　a　downward　chop　that　was　easily　foiled；　and　the　assassin　countered　with　another　heavy　punch；　connecting　solidly　with　Drizzf　s　belly。

Up　swooped　Entreri；　his　sword　running　an　outward…circling　arc；　taking　Drizzf　s　scimitar　with　it。　It　was　a　game　of　chess；　and　Entreri　was　playing　white；　advantage　gained；　and　not　relinquishing　the　offensive。　Sword　and　scimitar　out　wide；　the　enraged　assassin　hurled　himself　into　the　ranger；

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forearm　leading；　smashing　Drizzt　in　the　face　and　snapping　the　draw's　head　back　brutally　against　the　stone。　Entreri's　sword　hit　the　scimitar　again；　knocking　it　straight　out；　then　again；　straight　up；　and　Drizzt；　with　his　sword　arm　high　and　Entreri's　poised　to　e　in　at　him；　recognized　his　doom。　He　rolled　away　to　his　right　as　the　sword　sliced　across；　slashing　through　his　fine　cloak；　banging　hard　against　his　dwarf…forged　armor　and　cutting　a　line　across　his　armpit；　aiding　the　momentum　of　his　dive。

Then　Drizzt　was　flying　free　over　the　ledge；　diving　face　first　into　the　muck。

Entreri　instinctively　leaped　and　rolled　as　he　noticed　a　flash　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　A　silver…streaking　arrow　sliced　across　the　jumble　of　man　and　cloak；　then　continued　on　along　the　ledge；　leaving　Entreri　prone　on　the　stone；　groaning。　He　managed　to　slip　a　hand　out　from　under　him；　ringers　inching　to　his　dropped　dirk。

〃Drizzt！〃　Catti…brie　called；　her　grogginess　temporarily　defeated　by　the　sight　of　her　fallen　friend。　Drawing　her　sword；　the　woozy　woman　increased　her　pace；　not　sure　of　whether　to　finish　the　assassin　first　or　look　for　the　downed　draw。

Nearing　the　spot；　she　veered　for　the　stalagmite；　but　the　choice　was　moot；　for　the　assassin　sprang　to　his　feet；　apparently　unhurt。　The　arrow　had　missed；　cutting　only　a　clean　hole　in　Entreri's　flapping　cloak。

Catti…brie　fought　through　teary　eyes　and　gritted　teeth；　smacked　aside　Entreri's　first　sword　thrust　and　reached　for　the　jeweled　dagger　on　her　belt。　Her　movements　were　sluggish；　though；　for　the　insidious　sleeping　poison　was　fast　overwhelming　the　adrenaline　rush；　and；　as　her　fingers　closed　on　the　dagger；　she　suddenly　found　her　sword　slapped　away　and　a　dirk　pressing　the　back　of　her　hand；　pinning　it　in　place　against　the　dagger　hilt。

Entreri's　sword　tip　was　up；　dangerously　high　and　dangerously　free。

The　end　was　upon　her；　Catti…brie　knew；　and　all　her　world　had　flown　away。　She　felt　only　the　cold　steel　of　Entreri's　sword　slipping　through　the　tender　skin　of　her　neck。

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FALSE　PRIDE

e　is　alive；　the　soldier　signaled　to　Jarlaxle　as　he

inspected　the　downed　ranger。

The　mercenary　leader　motioned　for　the

soldier　to　turn　the　fallen　Drizzt　so　that　his　head

was　out　of　the　water。　Jarlaxle　looked　across　the　still　lake；　understanding　that　the　sound　of　battle　had　echoed　clearly　across　its　waters。　The　mercenary　saw　the　distinctive；　pale　blue　glow　of　driftdisks；　flying　disks　of　energy　typically　used　to　carry　matron　mothers　across　the　city；　floating　out　from　the　banks。　They　held　House　Baenre　soldiers；　Jarlaxle　knew。

Leave　him；　the　mercenary　leader　signaled　to　his　soldier；　and　his　equipment。　Almost　as　an　afterthought；　Jarlaxle　pulled　his　whistle　out　once　more；　put　it　to　his　lips；　and　faced　Drizzt；　then　blew　a　high　note。　The　whistle's　dweomer　showed　him　that　the　ranger　wore　magical　armor；　at　least　as　fine　as　drow　make；　and　Jarlaxle　sighed　when　he　saw　the　intensity　of　Twinkle's　enchantment。　He　would　have　loved　to　add　that　scimitar　to　his　armory；　but　it　was　well　known　in　Menzober…ranzan　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　fought　with　two　scimitars；　and

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if　one　was　missing；　the　mercenary　would　only　be　inviting　trouble　from　Matron　Baenre。

Drizzt　carried　little　else　that　was　enchanted；　except　for　one　item　that　caught　and　held　the　mercenary's　attention。　Its　magic　was　strong　indeed；　shining　in　the　hues　mon　to　charm　enchantments；　exactly　the　type　of　item　that　cagey　Jar…laxle　used　to　best　effect。

His　soldier；　having　shifted　the　unconscious　ranger　so　that　Drizzt's　face　was　above　the　murky　water；　started　toward　Jarlaxle；　but　the　mercenary　leader　stopped　him。　Take　the　pendant；　Jarlaxle's　fingers　instructed。

The　soldier　turned　about　and　seemed　to　notice　the　approaching　driftdisks　for　the　first　time。　〃Baenre？〃　he　asked　quietly　as　he　turned　back　to　his　leader。

They　will　find　their　quarry；　Jarlaxle　signaled　confidently。　And　Matron　Baenre　will　know　who　delivered　Drizzt　Do'Urden　to　her。

Entreri　wasn't　about　to　ask　what　drow　female　he　was　killing　this　time。　He　was　working　in　concert　with　Bregan　D'aerthe；　and　this　drow；　like　the　one　in　the　mushroom　house；　had　interfered；　and　was　a　witness。

A　timely　glance　showed　him　something　that　gave　him　pause；　though；　showed　him　a　familiar　jeweled　dagger　hanging　on　this　draw's　belt。

Entreri　studied　the　female　closely；　kept　his　sword　tip　at　her　neck；　drawing　small　droplets　of　blood。　He　shifted　the　weapon　deftly；　and　a　subtle　ridge　showed　along　the　female's　smooth　skin。

〃Why　are　you　here？〃　Entreri　asked　breathlessly；　honestly　surprised。　He　knew　that　this　one　had　not　e　to　Menzo…berranzan　beside　Drizzt桟ouncilor　Firble　of　Blingdenstone　certainly　would　have　mentioned　her。　Jarlaxle　certainly　would　have　known　about　her！

Yet；　here　she　was；　surprisingly　resourceful。

Entreri　shifted　his　sword　again　from　her　neck；　then　delicately　tipped　it　up　under　the　crease　beneath　her　chin　and　used　it　to　remove　the　magical　mask。

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Starless　Night

Catti…brie　fought　hard　to　sublimate　her　mounting　terror。　This　was　too　much　like　the　first　time　she　had　been　in　Artemis　Entreri's　clutches；　the　assassin　evoked　an　almost　irrational　horror　in　her；　a　deep　fear　that　no　other　monster；　neither　a　dragon　nor　a　fiend　of　Tarterus；　could　bring。

Here　he　was　again；　amazingly　alive；　with　his　sword　to　her　vulnerable　throat。

〃An　unexpected　bonus；〃　Entreri　mused。　He　chuckled　evilly；　as　though　he　was　trying　to　sort　out　the　best　way　to　make　his　prisoner　profitable。

Catti…brie　thought　of　leaping　over　the　ledge梚f　she　had　been　near　a　cliff　a　thousand　feet　in　the　air；　she　would　have　considered　it！　She　felt　the　hairs　on　the　back　of　her　neck　tingle；　felt　sweat　beading　on　her　brow。

〃No；〃　she　uttered；　and　Entreri's　features　twisted　with　confusion。

〃No？〃　he　echoed；　not　understanding　that　her　remark　had　been　aimed　inward。

Catti…brie　steeled　her　gaze　at　him。　〃So　ye've　survived；〃　she　remarked　matter…of…factly。　〃To　go　and　live　among　those　who're　most　akin　to　ye。〃

She　saw　by　the　assassin's　slight　grimace　that　Entreri　did　not　like　that　description。　He　confirmed　that　fact　by　punching　her　with　his　sword　hilt；　raising　a　welt　on　the　woman's　cheek　and　bringing　a　trickle　of　blood　from　her　nose。

Catti…brie　fell　back；　but　straightened　immediately；　and　stared　at　the　assassin　with　unblinking　eyes。　She　would　not　give　Entreri　the　satisfaction　of　terror；　not　this　time。

〃I　should　kill　you；〃　Entreri　whispered。　〃Slowly。〃

Catti…brie　laughed　at　him。　〃Then　do；〃　she　replied。　〃Ye've　no　hold　over　me；　not　since　I've　seen　the　proof　that　Drizzt　is　yer　better。〃

Entreri；　in　sudden　rage；　almost　ran　her　through。　〃Was；〃　he　corrected；　then　he　looked　wickedly　to　the　ledge。

〃I've　seen　ye　both　fall　more　than　once；〃　Catti…brie　asserted　with　as　much　conviction　as　she　could　muster　in　that　dark　moment。　〃I'll　not　call　either　of　ye　dead　until　I've　felt　the　cold　body！〃

〃Drizzt　is　alive；〃　came　a　whisper　from　behind；　spoken　in　perfect　surface　mon；　as　Jarlaxle　and　two　Bregan

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D'