精灵血脉四部曲-第97部分

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against　the　outer　stone　door。

An　enchanted　arrow　sizzled　into　its　back。

〃Huh？〃　it　asked　and　tried　to　turn。

A　second　arrow　blew　into　its　side；　collapsing　a　lung。

〃Huh？〃　it　asked　breathlessly；　stupidly；　finally　turning　enough　to　see　Catti…brie；　standing　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　grim…faced　and　with　that　wicked　bow　out　in　front　of　her。

The　third　arrow　blew　into　the　side　of　the　minotaur's　face。　The　beast　took　a　step　forward；　but　the　fourth　arrow　slammed　it　in　the　chest；　knocking　it　back　against　its　dead　rade。

〃Huh？〃

It　got　hit　five　more　times梐nd　didn't　feel　any　of　them？before　Entreri　could　get　to　Catti…brie　and　tell　her　that　the　fight　was　over。

〃We　are　fortunate　that　there　were　no　drow　about；〃　the　assassin　explained；　looking　nervously　to　the　twelve　doors　and　alcoves　lining　this　circular　room。　He　felt　for　the　locket　in　his　pouch；　then　turned　to　the　floor…to…ceiling　central　pillar。

Without　a　word　of　explanation；　the　assassin　ran　to　the　pillar。　Sensitive　fingers　rubbed　against　its　smooth　surface。

〃What　do　ye　know？〃　Catti…brie　asked　when　Entreri's　hands　stopped　moving　and　he　turned　and　smiled　her　way。　She　asked　again　and；　in　response；　the　assassin　pushed　on　the　stone；　and　a　portion　of　the　marble　slid　away；　revealing　that　this　pillar　was　hollow。　Entreri　went　in；　pulling　Catti…brie　along　with　him；　and　the　door　closed　of　its　own　accord　behind　them。

〃What　is　it？〃　Catti…brie　demanded；　thinking　that　they　had　just　gone　into　a　closet。　She　looked　to　the　hole　in　the　ceiling　to　her　left；　and　the　one　in　the　floor　to　her　right。

Entreri　didn't　answer。　Following　the　lockef　s　pull；　he　inched　over　to　the　hole　in　the　floor；　then　crouched　to　one　knee　and　peered　down　it。

Catti…brie　slid　down　beside　him；　looking　to　him　curiously　when　she　saw　no　ladder。　Then　she　looked　around　the　unremarkable　marble　room；　searching　for　some　place　to　set　a　rope。

〃Perhaps　there　is　a　foothold；〃　Entreri　remarked；　and　he　slid　over　the　edge；　easing　himself　down　the　shaft。　His

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Starless　Night

expression　became　incredulous　as　he　felt　the　weight　lifted　from　his　body；　felt　himself　floating　in　midair。

〃What　is　it？〃　Catti…brie　asked　impatiently；　seeing　the　amazed　look。

Er。treri　lifted　his　hands　from　the　floor；　held　them　wide；　and　smiled　smugly　as　he　gently　descended。　Catti…brie　was　into　the　hole　right　behind　him；　floating　freely；　gently　descending　through　the　darkness。　Catti…brie　noticed　Entreri　below　her；　replacing　the　magical　mask　of　disguise　now；　and　concentrating。

〃You　are　my　prisoner；〃　the　assassin　said　coldly；　and　for　an　instant；　Catti…brie　did　not　understand；　thought　that　Entreri　had　double…crossed　her。　As　she　came　down　to　the　floor　beside　him；　the　assassin　motioned　for　Taulmaril；　and　she　recognized　his　intentions。

〃The　bow；〃　Entreri　said　impatiently。

Catti…brie　stubbornly　shook　her　head；　and　the　assassin　knew　her　better　than　to　argue　the　point。　He　moved　to　the　closest　wall　and　began　feeling　about；　and　soon　had　the　door　to　this　level　open。　Two　drow　males　were　waiting　for　them；　hand…crossbows　up　and　ready；　and　Catti…brie　wondered　if　she　had　been　wise　in　holding　fast　to　her　bow。

How　quickly　those　crossbows　（and　two　drow　jaws）　dropped　when　the　guards　saw　Trie！　Baenre　standing　before　them！

Entreri　roughly　grabbed　Catti…brie　and　pulled　her　forward。

〃Drizzt　Do'Urden！〃　he　cried　in　Triel's　voice。

The　guards　wanted　no　argument　with　the　eldest　Baenre　daughter。　Their　orders　said　nothing　about　escorting　Triel；　or　anyone　other　than　Matron　Baenre；　to　the　valuable　Drizzt；　but　their　orders　had　mentioned　nothing　about　any　human　female　prisoners。　One　scrambled　ahead；　while　the　other　rushed　to　grab　Catti…brie。

The　young　woman　slumped；　dropping　her　bow；　and　forcing　one　of　the　dark　elves　and　Entreri　to　support　her；　one　under　each　arm。　The　other　drow　quickly　retrieved　Taulmaril；　and　Catti…brie　couldn't　help　a　slight　wince　in　seeing　the　magnificent　weapon　in　the　hands　of　an　evil　creature。

They　walked　along　a　dark　corridor；　past　several　iron…

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bound　doors。　The　drow　in　front　stopped　before　one　of　these　and　took　out　a　tiny　rod。　He　rubbed　it　down　a　metal　plate　beside　the　door　handle；　then　tapped　the　plate　twice。　The　door　popped　open。

The　leading　drow　started　to　turn；　smiling　as　though　he　was　grateful　to　please　Triel。　Entreri's　hand　slapped　across　his　mouth；　jerking　his　head　back　and　to　the　side；　and　the　assassin's　dagger　hand　followed　swiftly；　the　blade　plunging　through　the　stunned　draw's　throat。

Catti…brie's　assault　was　not　as　skilled；　but　even　more　brutal。　She　pivoted　on　one　foot；　her　other　leg　flying　high　to　slam　the　drow　in　the　belly　as　they　crashed　against　the　wall。　Catti…brie　hopped　back　half　a　step　and　snapped　her　head　forward；　her　forehead　splattering　the　draw's　delicate　nose。

A　flurry　of　punches　followed；　another　knee　to　the　belly；　and　Catti…brie　wrestled　her　opponent　into　the　room。　She　came　up　behind　the　drow；　lifting　him　from　the　floor；　with　her　arms　wrapped　under　the　draw's　armpits　and　her　fingers　clenched　tightly　behind　his　neck。

The　drow　thrashed　wildly　but　could　not　break　the　hold。　Entreri　was　in　by　then；　and　had　dropped　the　corpse　to　the　side。

〃No　mercy！〃　Catti…brie　growled　through　clenched　teeth。

Entreri　calmly　walked　over。　The　drow　kicked　out；　banging　his　foot　off　Entreri's　blocking　forearm。

〃Triel！〃　the　confused　soldier　cried。

Entreri　stepped　back；　smiled；　and　took　off　the　mask；　and　as　an　expression　of　horror　widened　over　the　helpless　draw's　face；　Entreri　whipped　a　dagger　into　his　heart。

Catti…brie　felt　the　dark　elf　jerk；　then　go　limp。　A　sick　feeling　washed　over　her；　but　it　did　not　take　hold　as　she　glanced　to　the　side　and　saw　Drizzt；　beaten　and　chained。　He　hung　from　the　wall；　groaning　and　trying　futilely　to　curl　up　into　a　ball。　Catti…brie　dropped　the　dead　drow　to　the　floor　and　ran　to　her　dear　friend；　immediately　noticing　the　small　but　obviously　wicked　dart　protruding　from　his　stomach。

〃I've　got　to　take　it！〃　she　said　to　Drizzt；　hoping　that　he　would　agree。　He　was　beyond　reason；　though；　she　didn't　think　he　even　realized　that　she　was　in　the　room。

Entreri　came　up　beside　her。　He　gave　only　a　slight　glance

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at　the　dart；　more　concerned　with　the　bindings　holding　Drizzt。

With　a　quick　puff　of　steadying　breath；　Catti…brie　took　hold　of　the　nasty　dart　and　tugged　it　free。

Drizzt　curled　and　gave　a　sharp　cry　of　pain；　then　fell　limp；　unconscious。

〃There　are　no　locks　to　pick！〃　Entreri　snarled；　seeing　that　the　shackles　were　solid　rings。

〃Move　away；〃　came　Catti…brie's　instructions　as　she　ran　out　from　the　wall。　When　Entreri　turned　to　regard　her；　he　saw　the　woman　lifting　her　deadly　bow　and　promptly　skittered　to　the　side。

Two　shots　took　out　the　chains；　and　Drizzt　fell；　to　be　caught　by　Entreri。　The　wounded　ranger　somehow　managed　to　open　one　swollen　eye。　He　could　hardly　prehend　what　was　happening；　didn't　know　if　these　were　friends　or　foes。

〃The　flasks；〃　he　begged。

Catti…brie　looked　about　and　spotted　the　rows　of　bottles　resting　against　the　wall。　She　rushed　over；　found　a　full　one；　and　brought　it　to　Drizzt。

〃He　should　not　be　alive；〃　Entreri　reasoned　when　she　came　up　with　the　foul…smelling　liquid。　〃His　scars　are　too　many。　Something　has　sustained　him。〃

Catti…brie　looked　doubtfully　at　the　flask。

The　assassin　followed　her　gaze　and　nodded。　〃Do　it！〃　he　manded；　knowing　that　they　would　never　get　Drizzt　out　of　the　Baenre　pound　in　this　condition。

Catti…brie　shoved　the　flask　against　Drizzt's　lips　and　forced　his　head　back；　pelled　him　to　take　a　huge　swallow。　He　sputtered　and　spat；　and　for　a　moment；　the　young　woman　feared　that　she　had　poisoned　or　drowned　her　dearest　friend。

〃How　are　you　here？〃　Drizzt　asked；　both　eyes　suddenly　wide；　as　the　strength　began　to　flow　through　his　body。　Still；　the　drow　could　not　support　himself　and　his　breath　was　dangerously　shallow。

Catti…brie　ran　over　to　the　wall　and　came　back　with　several　more　flasks；　sniffing　them　first　to　make　sure　that　they　smelled　the　same；　then　pouring　them　down　Drizzt's　throat。　In　just　a　few　minutes；　the　ranger　was　standing　solidly；　looking　more　than　a　little　amazed　to　see　his　dearest　friend　and

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his　worst　enemy　standing　before　him　side　by　side。

〃Your　equipment；〃　Entreri　remarked；　roughly　turning　Drizzt　about　to　see　the　pile。

Drizzt　looked　more　to　Entreri　than　to　the　pile；　wondering　what　macabre　game　the　evil　assassin　was　playing。　When　Entreri　noticed　the　expression；　the　two　enemies　locked　unblinking　stares。

〃We've　not　the　time！〃　Catti…brie　called　harshly。

〃I　thought　you　dead；〃　Drizzt　said。

〃You　thought　wrong；〃　Entreri　answered　evenly。　Never　blinking；　he　stepped　past　Drizzt　and　lifted　the　suit　of　chain；　holding　it　out　for　the　following　drow。

〃Watch　the　corridor；〃　Entreri　said　to　Catti…brie。　The　young　woman　turned　that　way　just　as　the　iron…bound　door　swung　in。

Turned　that　way　to　look　down　the　length　of　Vendes　Baenre's　wand。

EartS

EYE　OF　A　WARRIOR

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ourage。

In　any　language；　the　word　has　a　special　ring　to　it；　as　much；　I　suspect；　from　the　reverent　way　in　which　it　is　spoken　as　from　the　actual　sounds　of　the　letters。　Courage。　The　word　evokes　images　of　great　deeds　and　great　character：　the　grim　set　of　the　faces　of　men　defending　their　town's　walls　from　raiding　goblins；　the　resilience　of　a　mother　caring　for　young　children　when　all　the　world　has　seemingly　turned　hostile。　In　many　of　the　larger　cities　of　the　Realms；　young　waifs　stalk　the　streets；　without　parents；　without　homes。　Theirs　is　a　unique　courage；　a　braving　of　hardships　both　physical　and　emotional。

I　suspect　that　Artemis　Entreri　fought　such　a　battle　in　the　mud…filled　lanes　of　Calimport。　On　one　level；　he　certainly　won；　certainly　overcame　any　physical　obstacles　and　rose　to　a　rank　of　incredible　power　and　respect。

On。another　level；　Artemis　Entreri　surely　lost。　What　might　he　have　been；　I　often　wonder；　if　his　heart　had　not　been　so　tainted？　But　I　do　not　mistake　my　curiosity　for　pity。　Entreri's　odds　were　no　greater　than　my　own。　He　could　have　won　out　over　his　struggles；　in　body　and　in　heart。

I　thought　myself　courageous；　altruistic；　when　I　left　Mithril　Hall　determined　to　end　the　threat　to　my　friends。　I　thought　I　was　offering　the　supreme　sacrific