精灵血脉四部曲-第9部分

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　a　ing　charge　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　hurled　the　dead　thing　at　its　panions；　scattering　them。

〃Tempus！〃　the　barbarian　roared。　He　took　up　his　war…hammer　in　both　hands　and　rushed　into　the　bulk　of　the　surrounding　group；　whipping　Aegis…fang　back　and　forth　repeatedly。　Any　goblin　that　could　not　flee　that　furious　charge；　could　not　get　out　of　deadly　range；　found　a　piece　of　its　body　utterly　destroyed。

Wulfgar　pivoted　and　came　back　at　the　group　he　knew　was　behind　him。　The　goblins　had　indeed　begun　an　advance；　but　when　the　mighty　warrior　spun　about；　his　face　contorted　in　wild…eyed　frenzy；　the　goblins　turned　about　and　ran　away。　Wulfgar　heaved　his　hammer；　crushing　one；　then　pivoted　again　and　rushed　back　the　other　way；　at　the　other　group。

These；　too；　fled；　apparently　not　caring　that　the　wild　human　was　unarmed。

Wulfgar　caught　one　of　them　by　the　elbow；　spun　it　about　to　face　him；　and　clamped　his　other　hand　over　its　face；　bending　it　over　backward　to　the　ground。　Aegis…fang　reappeared　in　his　hand；　and　the　barbarian's　fury　doubled。

Bruenor　had　to　plant　a　boot　solidly　to　free　his　many…notched　axe　from　the　chest　of　his　latest　victim。　When　the　blade　pulled　free；　a　burst　of　blood　followed　it；　showering　the　dwarf。　Bruenor　didn't　care；　sure　that　the　goblins　were　evil　things；　that　the　results　of　his　savage　attacks　bettered　the　world。

Smiling　with　abandon；　the　dwarf　king　darted　this　way　and　that　in　the　tight　press；　finally　finding　another　target。　The　goblin　swung　first；　its　club　smashing　apart　when　it　connected　with　Bruenor's　fine　shield。　The　stupid　goblin　stared　at　its　broken　weapon　in　disbelief；　then　looked　at　the　dwarf　just　in　time　to　see　the　axe　dive　between　its　eyes。

A　flash　cut　right　by　the　dwarf；　frightening　the　pleasure　from　him。　He　realized　it　was　Catti…brie's　doing；　though；　and　saw　the　victim　a　dozen　feet　away；　pinned　to　the　stone　floor　by　the　quivering　silver…shafted　arrow。

〃Damn　good　bow；〃　the　dwarf　muttered；　and　in　looking　back　to　his　daughter；　he　noticed　a　goblin　scrambling　up　onto　the　platform。

〃No；　ye　don't！〃　the　dwarf　cried；　rushing　to　the　slab　and　diving　into　a　roll　atop　it。　He　came　up　beside　the　creature；　ready　to　exchange　blows；　when　another　flash　forced　him　to　jump　back。

The　goblin　still　stood；　looking　down　to　its　chest　as　though　it　expected　to　find　an　arrow　sticking　there。　It　found　a　hole　instead；　right　through　both　lungs。

The　goblin　poked　a　finger　in；　in　a　ridiculous　attempt　to　stem　the　blood　flow；　then　it　fell　dead。

Bruenor　planted　his　hands　on　hips　and　stared　hard　at　his　daughter。　〃Hey；　girl；〃　he　scolded。　〃Ye're　stealing　all　me　fun！〃

Catti…brie's　fingers　began　to　pull　on　her　bowstring；　but　she　relaxed　it　immediately。

Bruenor　considered　the　woman's　curious　action；　then　understood　as　a　goblin　club　connected　heavily　with　the　back　of　his　head。

〃I　left　that　one　for　yerself；〃　Catti…brie　said　with　a　shrug；　a　lame　movement　when　weighed　against　the　glower　of　Bruenor's　dark　eyes。

Bruenor　wasn't　listening。　He　threw　his　shield　up；　blocking　the　next　predictable　attack；　and　whirled；　his　axe　leading　the　way。　The　goblin　sucked　in　its　belly　and　hopped　back　to　its　tiptoes。

〃Not　far　enough；〃　the　dwarf　told　it；　politely　using　its　own　tongue；　and　his　words　were　proven　true　as　the　goblin's　guts　spilled　out。

The　horrified　creature　regarded　them　in　disbelief。

〃Ye　shouldn't　be　hitting　me　when　I'm　not　looking；〃　was　all　the　apology　it　would　get　from　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　and　his　second　swipe；　angled　in　at　the　goblin's　neck；　took　the　creature's　head　from　its　shoulders。

With　the　platform　clear　of　enemies；　both　Bruenor　and　Catti…brie　turned　to　regard　the　general　battle。　Catti…brie　brought　her　bow　up；　but　then　didn't　see　the　point　of　releasing　any　more　arrows。　Most　of　the　goblins　were　in　flight；　but　with　Dagna's　troops　lined　across　the　chamber；　they　had　nowhere　to　go。

Bruenor　leaped　down　and　put　his　forces　into　an　organized　pursuit；　and；　like　a　great；　snapping　maw；　the　dwarven　hosts　closed　over　the　goblin　horde。



Chapter　4

Dwarven　Toy



Drizzt　slipped　down　a　quiet　passageway；　the　clamor　of　the　wild　battle　lost　behind　him。　The　drow　was　not　worried；　for　he　knew　that　his　1　shadow；　his　Guenhwyvar；　was　padding　along　silently　not　too　far　ahead。　Of　more　concern　to　Drizzt　was　Regis；　still　stubbornly　close　to　his　back。　Fortunately；　the　halfling　moved　as　silently　as　the　drow；　keeping　equally　well　to　the　shadows；　and　did　not　seem　to　be　a　liability　to　Drizzt。

The　need　for　silence　was　the　only　thing　that　kept　Drizzt　from　questioning　the　halfling　then　and　there；　for　if　they　stumbled　on　a　number　of　goblins；　Drizzt　did　not　know　how　Regis；　who　was　not　skilled　in　battle；　would　keep　out　of　harm's　way。　Ahead；　the　black　panther　paused　and　looked　back　at　Drizzt。　The　cat；　darker　than　the　darkness；　then　slipped　through　an　opening　and　moved　to　the　side　into　a　chamber。　Beyond　the　opening　Drizzt　heard　the　unmistakable　snarling　voices　of　goblins。

Drizzt　looked　back　to　Regis；　to　the　red　dots　that　showed　the　halfling's　heat…sensing　infravision。　Halflings；　too；　could　see　in　the　dark；　but　not　nearly　as　well　as　drow　or　goblins。　Drizzt　held　one　hand　up；　motioned　for　Regis　to　wait　in　the　corridor；　then　slipped　ahead　to　the　entrance。

The　goblins；　at　least　six　or　seven；　were　huddled　near　the　center　of　the　small　chamber；　milling　about　many　natural；　toothlike　pillars。

To　the　right；　along　the　wall；　Drizzt　sensed　a　slight　movement　and　knew　it　was　Guenhwyvar；　patiently　waiting　for　him　to　make　the　first　move。

How　wondrous　a　fighting　panion　that　panther　was；　Drizzt　reminded　himself。　Always；　Guenhwyvar　let　Drizzt　determine　the　course　of　battle；　then　discerned　the　best　way　to　fit　in。

The　drow　ranger　moved　to　the　nearest　stalagmite；　belly…crawled　to　another；　and　rolled　behind　yet　another；　ever　closer　to　his　prey。　He　made　out　nine　goblins　now；　apparently　discussing　their　best　course　of　action。

They　had　no　guard　posted；　had　no　clue　that　danger　was　near。

One　rolled　around　to　put　its　back　against　a　stalagmite；　separated　from　the　others　by　a　mere　five　feet。　A　scimitar　sliced　up　through　its　belly；　into　its　lungs　before　it　could　utter　a　sound。

Eight　remained。

Drizzt　eased　the　corpse　to　the　ground　and　took　its　place；　putting　his　back　to　the　stone。

A　moment　later；　one　of　the　goblins　called　to　him；　thinking　he　was　the　dead　goblin。　Drizzt　grunted　in　reply。　A　hand　reached　around　to　pat　his　shoulder；　and　the　drow　couldn't　hide　his　smile。

The　goblin　tapped　him　once；　then　again；　more　slowly；　then　the　thing　began　feeling　around　the　drow's　thick　cloak；　apparently　noticing　Drizzt's　taller　stature。

A　curious　expression　on　its　ugly　face；　the　goblin　peeked　around　the　mound。

Then　there　were　seven；　and　Drizzt　leaped　out　into　their　midst；　scimitars　flashing　in　a　flurry　that　took　the　two　nearest　goblins　down　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。

The　remaining　five　shrieked　and　ran　about；　some　colliding　with　stalagmites；　others　slapping　and　falling　all　over　each　other。

A　goblin　came　straight　for　Drizzt；　its　mouth　flapping　a　steady　stream　of　undiscernible　words　and　its　hands　held　wide；　as　though　in　a　gesture　of　friendship。　Apparently　the　evil　creature　only　then　recognized　this　dark　elf　was　no　potential　rade；　for　it　began　to　frantically　back　away。　Drizzt's　scimitars　crossed　in　a　downward　slash；　drawing　an　X　of　hot　blood　on　the　creature's　chest。

Guenhwyvar　streaked　beside　the　drow　and　attacked　a　goblin　fleeing　toward　the　far　side　of　the　cavern。　With　a　single　swipe　of　the　panther's　huge　claw；　the　count　was　down　to　three。

Finally；　two　goblins　regained　their　senses　enough　to　e　at　the　drow　in　a　coordinated　fashion；　weapons　drawn。　One　launched　its　club　in　a　roundhouse　swing；　but　Drizzt　slapped　the　weapon　wide　before　it　ever　got　close。

His　scimitar；　the　same　he　had　used　to　deflect　the　blow；　darted　left；　then　right；　left　and　right；　and　again　a　third　time；　leaving　the　stunned　creature　with　six　mortal　wounds。　It　stared　dumbfounded　as　it　fell　backward　to　the　floor。

All　the　while；　Drizzt's　second　scimitar　easily　parried　the　other　goblin's　many　desperate　attacks。

When　the　drow　turned　to　face　this　creature　fully；　it　knew　it　was　doomed。　It　hurled　its　short　sword　at　Drizzt；　again　with　little　effect；　and　darted　behind　the　nearest　stone　pillar。

The　last　of　the　confused　creatures　crossed　behind　it；　startling　the　drow；　and　securing　the　other's　escape。　Drizzt　cursed　the　goblin's　apparent　luck。　He　wanted　none　to　get　away；　but　these　two　were；　either　wisely　or　fortunately；　fleeing　in　opposite　directions。　A　split　second　later；　though；　the　drow　heard　a　resounding　crack　from　behind　the　pillar；　and　the　goblin　that　had　thrown　its　short　sword　toppled　back　out　from　behind　the　mound；　its　skull　shattered。

Regis；　holding　his　little　mace；　peeked　around　the　pillar　and　shrugged。

Drizzt　was　at　a　loss　and　simply　returned　the　stare；　then　spun　about　to　pursue　the　remaining　goblin；　which　was　fast　weaving　its　way　around　the　cavern　teeth　toward　a　corridor　at　the　chamber's　far　end。

The　drow；　faster　and　more　agile；　gained　steadily。　He　noticed　Guenhwyvar；　the　panther's　maw　glowing　hot　with　the　blood　of　a　fresh　kill；　loping　along　a　parallel　course　and　gaining　on　the　goblin　with　every　long　stride。　Drizzt　was　confident　then　that　the　creature　had　no　chance　of　escape。

At　the　corridor's　entrance；　the　goblin　jolted　to　a　stop。　Drizzt　skidded　aside；　as　did　Guenhwyvar；　both　diving　for　the　cover　of　pillars；　as　a　series　of　snapping　and　sparking　explosions　ignited　all　about　the　goblin's　body。　It　shrieked　and　jerked　wildly；　this　way　and　that；　pieces　of　its　clothing　and　its　flesh　blew　away。

The　continuing　explosions　held　the　goblin　up　long　after　it　was　dead。　Finally；　they　ended　and　the　creature　fell　to　the　floor；　trailing　thin　lines　of　smoke　from　several　dozen　blasted　wounds。

Drizzt　and　Guenhwyvar　held　steady；　perfectly　silent；　not　knowing　what　new　monster　had　arrived。

The　chamber　lit　up　suddenly　with　a　magical　light。

Drizzt；　fighting　hard　to　bring　his　eyes　into　focus；　clutched　his　scimitars　tightly。

〃All　dead？〃　he　heard　a　familiar　dwarven　voice　say。　He　blinked　his　eyes　open　just　in　time　to　see　the　cleric　Cobble　enter　the　room；　one　hand　in　a　large　belt　pouch；　the　other　holding　a　shield　out　before　him。

Several　soldiers　came　in　behind；　one　of　them　mutt