精灵血脉四部曲-第96部分

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〃So　give　it　to　him。〃

Easier　said　than　done；　Entreri　knew　well；　for　Jarlaxle　had　never　mentioned　any　password　to　the　inner　Baenre　structures。　Entreri　would　have　to　take　issue　with　the　mercenary　over　that　small　slip；　he　decided梚f　he　ever　got　the　chance。

The　monstrous　minotaur　advanced　a　threatening　step；　waving　a　spiked　adamantite　rod　out　in　front　of　it。

〃As　if　minotaurs　aren't　formidable　enough　without　giving　them　drow…made　weapons；〃　Entreri　whispered　to　Catti…brie。

Another　step　put　the　minotaur　barely　ten　feet　from　the　panions。

〃Usstan　belbol。　。　。　usstan　belbau　ulu　。。　。　dos；〃　Entreri　stuttered；　and　he　jingled　a　pouch　on　his　belt。　〃Dosst？〃

The　minotaur　stopped　its　advance　and　screwed　up　its　bullish　features。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　Catti…brie　whispered。

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Entreri　admitted；　though　he　thought　he　had　mentioned　something　about　a　gift。

A　low　snarl　emitted　from　the　increasingly　impatient　minotaur　guard's　mouth。

〃Dossil〃　Catti…brie　asked　boldly；　holding　out　her　bow　in　one　hand　and　trying　to　appear　cheerful。　She　smiled　widely　and　bobbed　her　head　stupidly；　as　though　offering　the　bow；　all　the　while　slipping　her　other　hand　inside　the　folds　of　her　traveling　cloak；　feeling　for　an　arrow　in　the　quiver　at　her　hip。

〃Dosst？〃　she　asked　again；　and　the　minotaur　poked　itself　in　the　chest　with　a　huge；　stubby　finger。

〃Yeah；　yerself！〃　Catti…brie　growled；　and　out　snapped　the　arrow；　fitted　to　the　string　and　fired　before　the　stupid　minotaur　even　got　its　back　down。　The　arrow　slammed　into　the　monster's　chest　and　sent　it　staggering　backward。

〃Use　yer　finger　to　fill　the　hole！〃　Catti…brie　roared；　fitting　another　arrow。　〃And　how　many　fingers　ye　got？〃

She　glanced　quickly　to　Entreri；　who　was　staring　at　her　dumbfoundedly。　Catti…brie　laughed　at　him　and　put　another　arrow　into　the　monster's　chest；　driving　it　back　several　more　steps；　where　it　toppled　into　the　wider　room　beyond　the　corridor。　When　it　fell；　more　than　half　a　dozen　other　minotaurs　were　ready　to　take　its　place。

〃You　are　crazy！〃　Entreri　shouted　at　the　woman。

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Not　bothering　to　answer；　Catti…brie　slammed　an　arrow　into　the　closest　minotaur's　belly。　It　doubled　over　in　pain　and　was　plowed　under　by　its　charging　rades。

Entreri　drew　out　his　blades　and　met　the　charge；　realizing　that　he　had　to　keep　the　giants　away　from　Catti…brie　so　that　she　might　utilize　her　bow。　He　met　the　first　minotaur　two　steps　in　from　the　end　of　the　corridor；　throwing　his　sword　up　to　deflect　a　blow　from　the　creature's　spiked　rod　（and　the　assassin's　whole　side　tingled　with　numbness　from　the　sheer　weight　of　the　blow）。

Much　quicker　than　the　lumbering　giant；　Entreri　countered　with　three　rapid　dagger　strikes　to　the　monster's　mid…section。　Down　swooped　the　spiked　rod；　and；　though　his　sword　intercepted　the　blow；　Entreri　had　to　spin　a　plete　circuit　to　absorb　the　shock　and　get　out　of　harm's　way。

He　came　around　with　his　sword　leading；　its　green…glowing　point　cutting　a　neat　line　under　the　minotaur's　jaw；　slicing　through　bone　and　the　creature's　cowlike　tongue。

Blood　spewed　from　the　beast's　mouth；　but　it　swung　again；　forcing　Entreri　back。

A　silver　streak　stole　the　sight　from　both　batants　as　Catti…brie's　arrow　flew　over　the　engaged　minotaur's　shoulder　to　drive　into　the　thick　skull　of　the　next　creature　in　line。

Entreri　could　only　hope　that　the　minotaur　was　similarly　blinded　as　he　made　his　desperate　rush；　jabbing　viciously　with　his　dagger；　cutting　his　sword　in　a　brutal　downward　slash。　He　scored　lightning…fast　hit　after　hit　on　the　stunned　and　wounded　beast；　and　his　sight　returned　as　the　minotaur　slumped　down　in　front　of　him。

Entreri　didn't　hesitate。　He　sprang　right　atop　the　thing's　back；　then　leaped　farther　along　to　the　back　of　the　next　dead　beast；　using　its　bulk　to　bring　him　up　even　with　the　next　monster　in　line。　His　sword　beat　the　minotaur　to　the　attack；　scoring　a　solid　hit　on　the　creature's　shoulder。　Entreri　thought　this　one　an　easy　kill　as　its　weapon　arm　inevitably　slumped　useless　at　its　side；　but　he　had　never　fought　the　likes　of　a　bull…headed　minotaur　before；　and　his　surprise　was　plete　when　the　creature　snapped　a　head　butt　that　caught　him　in　the　chest。

The　minotaur　jerked　to　the　side　and　began　a　charge　across　the　room；　still　carrying　the　assassin　between　its　horns。

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〃Oh；　damn；〃　Catti…brie　muttered　as　she　saw　the　line　between　her　and　the　remaining　monsters　suddenly　open。　She　dropped　to　one　knee　and　began　frantically　tearing　out　her　arrows　and　launching　them　down　the　corridor。

The　blinding　barrage　dropped　one；　then　two　minotaurs；　but　the　third　in　line　grabbed　the　falling　second　and　hoisted　it　up　as　a　shield。　Catti…brie　managed　to　skip　an　arrow　off　that　one's　thick　head；　but　it　did　no　real　damage　and　the　minotaur　rapidly　closed。

The　young　woman　fired　off　one　more　shot；　as　much　to　blind　the　monsters　as　in　any　hope　of　stopping　the　charge；　then　she　dove　to　the　floor　and　boldly　scrambled　ahead；　sliding　aside　the　trampling　legs。

The　minotaur　crashed　hard　into　the　outer　door。　Holding　its　dead　rade　in　front　of　it；　it　could　not　tell　that　Catti…brie　had　slipped　away；　and　it　heaved　the　huge　corpse　back　from　the　wall　and　slammed　it　in　again　repeatedly。

Still　on　the　floor；　Catti…brie　had　to　pick　her　way　past　three　sets　of　treelike　legs。　All　three　minotaurs　were　roaring；　offering　some　cover；　for　they　thought　that　the　one　in　front　was　squashing　the　puny　woman。

She　almost　made　it。

The　last　minotaur　in　line　felt　a　brush　against　its　leg　and　looked　down；　then　bellowed　and　grabbed　its　spiked　rod　in　both　hands。

Catti…brie　rolled　to　her　back；　her　bow　ing　out　in　front。　Somehow　she　got　off　a　shot；　knocking　the　creature　back　for　just　an　instant。　The　woman　instinctively　threw　her　feet　straight　up　and　over　her；　launching　herself　into　a　backward　roll。

The　blinded　minotaur's　rod　took　a　fair…sized　chunk　out　of　the　stone　floor　an　inch　below　Catti…brie's　angled　back。

Catti…brie　came　right　to　her　feet；　facing　the　beast。　She　whipped　her　bow　across　in　front　of　her　and　spun　away；　stumbling　out　of　the　corridor。

The　breath　was　taken　from　his　body　with　the　impact。　The　minotaur　wrapped　its　good　arm　about　Entreri's　waist；

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holding　him　steady；　and　hopped　back；　obviously　meaning　to　slam　the　assassin　into　the　wall　once　more。　Just　a　few　feet　away；　another　minotaur　cheered　its　winning　rade　on。

Entreri's　dagger　arm　pumped　wildly；　futilely　trying　to　perate　the　beast's　thick　skull。

The　assassin　felt　as　though　his　backbone　had　shattered　when　they　hit　the　wall　a　second　time。　He　forced　himself　to　see　through　the　pain　and　the　fear；　forced　himself　to　take　a　quick　survey　of　his　situation。　A　cool　head　was　the　fighter's　best　advantage；　Entreri　knew；　and　his　tactics　quickly　changed。　Instead　of　just　smashing　the　dagger　down　against　solid　bone；　he　placed　its　tip　on　the　flesh　between　the　creature's　bull　horns；　then　ran　it　down　the　side　of　the　minotaur's　face；　applying　equal　pressure　to　slide　it　and　push　it　in。

They　hit　the　wall　again。

Entreri　held　his　hand　steady；　confident　that　the　dagger　would　do　its　work。　At　first；　the　blade　slipped　evenly；　not　able　to　perate；　but　then　it　found　a　fleshy　spot　and　Entreri　immediately　changed　its　angle　and　plunged　it　home。

Into　the　minotaur's　eye。

The　assassin　felt　the　hungry　dagger　grab　at　the　creature's　life　force；　felt　it　pulse；　sending　waves　of　strength　up　his　arm。

The　minotaur　shuddered　for　a　long　while；　holding　steady　against　the　wall。　Its　watching　rade　continued　to　cheer；　thinking　that　it　was　making　mush　of　the　human。

Then　it　fell　dead；　and　Entreri；　light…footed；　hit　the　ground　running；　ing　up　into　the　other's　chest　before　it　could　react。　He　launched　a　one…two…three　bination；　sword…dagger…sword；　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。

The　surprised　minotaur　fell　back；　but　Entreri　paced　it；　keeping　his　dagger　firmly　embedded；　drawing　out；　feeding　on　this　one's　energy　as　well。　The　dying　creature　tried　a　lame　swing　with　its　club；　but　Entreri's　sword　easily　parried。

And　his　dagger　feasted。

She　came　into　the　small　room　running；　spun　a　half…circle　as　she　fell　to　one　knee。　There　was　no　need　to　aim；　Catti…brie

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Starless　Night

knew；　for　the　bulk　of　the　pursuing　minotaurs　fully　filled　the　corridor。

The　closest　one　was　not　at　full　speed；　fortunately；　having　an　arrow　driven　halfway　through　its　inner　thigh。　The　wounded　minotaur　was　a　stubborn　one；　though；　taking　brutal　hit　after　hit　and　still　ing　on。

Behind　the　beast；　the　next　minotaur　screamed　frantically　for　the　third；　the　one　pressing　a　corpse　against　the　wall；　to　go　the　other　way。　But　minotaurs　were　never　known　for　intelligence；　and　the　last　in　line　insisted　that　it　had　the　human　pinned　and　squashed。

The　last　arrow　was　point　blank；　its　tip；　as　it　left　Taul…maril；　only　half　a　foot　from　the　charging　creature's　nose。　It　split　the　nostrils　and　the　skull；　nearly　halving　the　stubborn　minotaur's　head。　The　creature　was　dead　instantly；　but　its　momentum　carried　it　on；　bowling　over　Catti…brie。

She　wasn't　badly　injured；　but　there　was　no　way　that　she　could　extract　her　body　and　bow　in　time　to　stop　the　second　charging　minotaur；　just　ing　out　of　the　corridor。

A　sliding　figure　cut　across　the　monster's　path；　slashing　and　jabbing；　and　when　the　blur　had　passed；　the　minotaur　stood　in　a　crouch　and　grabbed　at　its　torn　knees。　It　lumbered　to　the　side　in　pursuit　of　this　newest　foe；　but　Entreri　spun　up　to　his　feet　and　easily　danced　away。

He　ran　to　the　center　of　the　room；　behind　a　black　marble　pillar；　and　the　minotaur　followed；　leaning　forward。　Entreri　went　around；　and　the　minotaur；　thinking　quickly　（for　a　minotaur）；　allowed　itself　to　fall　into　a　staggered　run；　hooked　one　arm　about　the　pillar；　and　used　its　momentum　to　whip　around。

Entreri　had　thought　quicker。　As　soon　as　he　knew　that　he　was　out　of　the　minotaur's　line　of　sight；　he　stopped　his　rush　about　the　pillar　and　took　a　couple　of　steps　back。　The　spinning　minotaur　rolled　right　in　between　the　assassin　and　the　pillar；　affording　Entreri　a　dozen　clean　jabs　at　its　side　and　back。

Artemis　Entreri　never　needed　that　many。

The　minotaur　hoisted　its　dead　panion　and　jumped　back　three　steps；　then　roared　ahead；　slamming　the　thing

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against　the　outer　stone　door。

An　enc