精灵血脉四部曲-第90部分

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

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D'aerthe　soldiers　moved　to　join　the　assassin。　One　of　them　stopped　to　finish　off　the　squirming　drow　with　the　wounded　side。

His　rage　taking　control；　Entreri　instinctively　swung　again　at　Catti…brie；　but　this　time　the　woman　lifted　a　stiffened　hand　and　turned　her　wrist；　subtly　diverting　the　blow。

Then　Jarlaxle　was　between　them；　eyeing　Catti…brie　with　more　than　a　passing　interest。　〃By　the　luck　of　a　Lloth…blessed　spider；〃　the　mercenary　leader　remarked；　and　he　lifted　a　hand　to　stroke　Catti…brie's　bruised　cheek。

〃Baenre　approaches；〃　the　soldier　behind　the　mercenary　leader　reminded；　using　the　Drow　tongue。

〃Indeed；〃　Jarlaxle　replied　absently；　again　in　the　surface　language。　He　seemed　wholly　absorbed　by　this　exotic　woman　standing　before　him。　〃We　must　be　on　our　way。〃

Catti…brie　straightened；　as　though　she　expected　the　killing　blow　to　fall。　Jarlaxle　reached　up　instead　and　removed　the　circlet　from　her　head；　in　effect；　blinding　her。　She　offered　no　resistance　as　Taulmaril　and　her　quiver　were　taken　from　her；　and　knew　that　it　was　Entreri's　rough　grasp　that　snapped　the　jeweled　dagger　from　her　belt　sheath。

A　strong　but　surprisingly　gentle　hand　hooked　her　upper　arm　and　led　her　away梐way　from　the　fallen　Drizzt。

Caught　again；　Drizzt　thought；　and　this　time　he　knew　that　the　reception　would　not　be　as　pleasant　as　his　stay　in　Blingdenstone。　He　had　walked　into　the　spider's　web；　had　delivered　the　prized　catch　to　the　dinner　table。

He　was　shackled　to　a　wall；　standing　on　his　tiptoes　to　keep　from　hanging　by　his　sore　wrists。　He　did　not　remember　ing　to　this　place；　did　not　know　how　long　he　had　hung　here；　in　the　dark　and　dirty　room；　but　both　his　wrists　ached　and　showed　hot　welts　to　his　infravision；　as　though　most　of　the　skin　had　been　worn　away。　Drizzf　s　left　shoulder　also　hurt；　and　he　felt　an　unfortable　stretch　along　his　upper　chest　and　armpit；　where　Entreri's　sword　had　hit　him。

He　realized；　though；　that　one　of　the　priestesses　must　have　cleaned　the　gash　and　healed　him；　for　the　wound　had

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been　worse　when　he　had　gone　off　the　ledge。　That　supposition　did　little　to　bolster　Drizzf　s　spirits；　though；　for　drow　sacrifices　were　usually　in　the　very　best　of　health　before　they　were　given　to　the　Spider　Queen。

But；　through　it　all；　the　pain　and　the　helplessness；　the　ranger　fought　hard　to　find　some　measure　of　fort。　In　his　heart　Drizzt　had　known　all　along　that　it　would　end　this　way；　that　he　would　be　taken　and　killed　so　that　his　friends　in　Mithril　Hall　might　live　in　peace。　Drizzt　had　long　ago　accepted　death；　and　had　resigned　himself　to　that　probability　when　he　had　last　ventured　from　Mithril　Hall。　But　why；　then；　was　he　so　unfortable？

The　unremarkable　room　was　just　a　cave　with　shackles　built　into　the　stone　along　three　walls　and　a　cage　hanging　from　the　ceiling。　Drizzf　s　survey　of　the　place　was　cut　short　as　the　iron…bound　door　creaked　open　and　two　uniformed　drow　female　soldiers　rushed　in；　going　to　rigid　attention　at　either　side　of　the　portal。

Drizzt　firmed　his　jaw　and　set　his　gaze；　determined　to　face　his　death　with　dignity。

An　illithid　walked　through　the　door。

Drizzt's　mouth　dropped　open；　but　he　quickly　regained　his　posure。　A　mind　flayer？　He　balked；　but　when　he　took　the　moment　to　consider　the　creature；　he　came　to　realize　that　he　must　be　in　House　Baenre's　dungeon。　That　was　not　a　forting　thought；　for　either　him　or　his　friends。

Two　drow　priestesses；　one　small　and　vicious…looking；　her　face　angular　and　her　mouth　tight　in　a　perpetual　pout；　the　other　taller；　more　dignified；　but　no　less　imposing；　came　in　behind　the　illithid。　Then　came　the　legendary；　withered　matron　mother；　sitting　easily　on　a　floating　driftdisk；　flanked　by　another　female；　a　younger；　more　beautiful　version　of　Matron　Baenre。　At　the　end　of　the　train　came　two　males；　fighters；　judging　from　their　attire　and　weapons。

The　glow　from　Matron　Baenre's　disk　allowed　Drizzt　to　shift　his　gaze　to　the　normal　spectrum梐nd　he　noticed　a　pile　of　bones　under　one　of　the　other　pairs　of　shackles。

Drizzt　looked　back　to　the　entourage；　to　the　drow　males；　his　gaze　settling　on　the　younger　of　the　two　for　a　long　moment。　It　was　Berg'inyon；　he　believed；　a　classmate　of　his　at

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the　drow　Academy；　the　second…ranking　fighter　of　Drizzf　s　class梥econd　behind　Drizzt。

The　three　younger　females　fanned　out　in　a　line　behind　Matron　Baenre's　driftdisk；　the　two　males　stood　beside　the　female　soldiers　at　the　door。　The　illithid；　to　Drizzt's　amazement；　and　supreme　disfort；　paced　about　the　captured　drow；　its　tentacles　waving　near　Drizzf　s　face；　brushing　his　skin；　teasing　him。　Drizzt　had　seen　such　tentacles　suck　the　brains　out　of　a　dark　elf；　and　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　hold　his　nerve　with　the　wretched　creature　so　near。

〃Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Matron　Baenre　remarked。

She　knew　his　name。　Drizzt　realized　that　to　be　a　bad　sign。　That　sickly；　unfortable　feeling　welled　within　him　again；　and　he　was　beginning　to　understand　why。

〃Noble　fool！〃　Matron　Baenre　snapped　suddenly。　'To　e　to　Menzoberranzan；　knowing　the　price　upon　your　pitiful　head！〃　She　came　forward；　off　the　driftdisk；　in　a　sudden　rush　and　slapped　Drizzt　across　the　face。　〃Noble；　arrogant　fool！　Did　you　dare　to　believe　that　you　could　win？　Did　you　think　that　five　thousand　years　of　what　has　been　could　be　disrupted　by　pitiful　you？〃

The　outburst　surprised　Drizzt；　but　he　kept　his　visage　solid；　his　eyes　straight　ahead。

Matron　Baenre's　scowl　disappeared；　replaced　suddenly　by　a　wry　smile。　Drizzt　always　hated　that　typical　trait　of　his　people。　So　volatile　and　unpredictable；　dark　elves　kept　enemies　and　friends　alike　off　guard；　never　letting　a　prisoner　or　a　guest　know　exactly　where　they　stood。

〃Let　your　pride　be　appeased；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Matron　Baenre　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃I　introduce　my　daughter　Bladen'Kerst　Baenre；　second　eldest　to　Triel。〃　She　indicated　the　female　in　the　middle。　〃And　Vendes　Baenre；〃　she　continued；　indicating　the　smallest　of　the　three。　〃And　Quenthel。　Behind　stand　my　sons；　Dantrag　and　Berg'inyon；　who　is　known　to　you。〃

〃Well　met；〃　Drizzt　said　cheerily　to　Berg'inyon。　He　managed　a　smile　with　his　salutation　and　received　another　vicious　slap　from　the　matron　mother。

〃Six　Baenres　have　e　to　see　you；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Matron　Baenre　went　on；　and　Drizzt　wished　that　she　would

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quit　repeating　his　name　with　every　sentence！　〃You　should　feel　honored；　Drizzt　Do'Urden。〃

〃I　would　clasp　wrists；〃　Drizzt　replied；　〃but　。　。　。〃　He　looked　helplessly　up　to　his　chained　hands　and　barely　flinched　as　another　stinging　slap　predictably　came　against　his　face。

〃You　know　that　you　will　be　given　to　Lloth；〃　Baenre　said。

Drizzt　looked　her　straight　in　the　eye。　〃In　body；　but　never　in　soul。〃

〃Good；〃　purred　the　matron　mother。　〃You　will　not　die　quickly；　I　promise。　You　will　prove　a　wellspring　of　information；　Drizzt　Do'Urden。〃

For　the　first　time　in　the　conversation；　a　dark　cloud　crossed　Drizzt's　features。

〃I　will　torture　him。　Mother；〃　Vendes　offered　eagerly。

〃Duk…Tak！〃　Matron　Baenre　scolded；　turning　sharply　on　her　daughter。

〃Duk…Tak；〃　Drizzt　mouthed　under　his　breath；　then　he　recognized　the　name。　In　the　Drow　tongue；　duk…tak　meant；　literally；　unholy　executioner。　It　was　also　the　nickname　of　one　of　the　Baenre　daughters梩his　one　apparently梬hose　handiwork；　in　the　form　of　dark　elves　turned　into　ebony　statues；　was　often　on　display　at　the　drow　Academy。

〃Wonderful；〃　Drizzt　muttered。

〃You　have　heard　of　my　precious　daughter？〃　Matron　Baenre　asked；　spinning　back　to　the　prisoner。　〃She　will　have　her　time　with　you；　I　promise；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　but　not　before　you　provide　me　with　valuable　information。〃

Drizzt　cast　a　doubting　look　the　withered　draw's　way。

〃You　can　withstand　any　torture；〃　Matron　Baenre　remarked。　〃That　I　do　not　doubt；　noble　fool。〃　She　lifted　a　wrinkled　hand　to　stroke　the　illithid　who　had　moved　to　her　side。　〃But　can　you　withstand　the　intrusions　of　a　mind　flayer？〃

Drizzt　felt　the　blood　drain　from　his　face。　He　had　once　been　a　prisoner　of　the　cruel　illithids；　a　helpless；　hapless　fool；　his　mind　nearly　broken　by　their　overpowering　wills。　Could　he　fend　such　intrusions？

〃You　thought　this　would　end；　O　noble　fool！〃　Matron　Baenre　screeched。　〃You　delivered　the　prize；　stupid；　arrogant；　noble　fool！〃

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Drizzt　felt　that　sick　feeling　return　tenfold。　He　couldn't　hide　his　cringe　as　the　matron　mother　went　on；　her　logic　following　an　inescapable　course　that　tore　into　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　heart。

〃You　are　but　one　prize；〃　she　said。　〃And　you　will　aid　us　in　the　conquest　of　another。　Mithril　Hall　will　be　ours　more　easily　now　that　King　Bruenor　Battlehammer's　strongest　ally　is　out　of　the　way。　And　that　very　ally　will　show　us　the　dwar…ven　weaknesses。

〃Methil！〃　she　manded；　and　the　illithid　walked　directly　in　front　of　Drizzt。　The　ranger　closed　his　eyes；　but　felt　the　four　octopuslike　tentacles　of　the　creature's　grotesque　head　squirm　across　his　face；　as　if　looking　for　specific　spots。

Drizzt　cried　out　in　horror；　snapped　his　head　about　wildly；　and　even　managed　to　bite　one　of　the　tentacles。

The　illithid　fell　back。

〃Duk…Tak！〃　Matron　Baenre　manded；　and　eager　Vendes　rushed　forward；　slamming　a　brass…covered　fist　into　Drizzt's　cheek。　She　hit　him　again；　and　a　third　time；　gaining　momentum；　feeding　off　the　torture。

〃Must　he　be　conscious？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　pleading。

〃Enough！〃　Drizzt　heard　Matron　Baenre　reply；　though　her　voice　seemed　far　away。　Vendes　smacked　him　once　more；　then　he　felt　the　tentacles　squirm　over　his　face　again。　He　tried　to　protest；　to　move　his　head　about；　but　he　hadn't　the　strength。

The　tentacles　found　a　hold；　Drizzt　felt　little　pulses　of　energy　run　through　his　face。

His　screams　over　the　next　ten　minutes　were　purely　instinctive；　primal；　as　the　mind　flayer　probed　his　mind；　sent　horrid　images　careening　through　his　thoughts　and　devoured　every　mental　counter　Drizzt　had　to　offer。　He　felt　naked；　vulnerable；　stripped　of　his　very　emotions。

Through　it　all；　Drizzt；　though　he　did　not　know　it；　fought　valiantly；　and　when　Methil　moved　back　from　him；　the　illithid　turned　to　the　matron　mother　and　shrugged。

〃What　have　you　learned？〃　Matron　Baenre　demanded。

Thi