精灵血脉四部曲-第98部分

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　I　thought　I　was　offering　the　supreme　sacrifice　for　the　good　of　those　dear　to　me。

When　Catti…brie　entered　my　cell　in　House　Baenre；　when；　through　half…closed　eyes；　I　glimpsed　her　fair　and　deceivingly　delicate　features；　I　learned　the　truth。　I　did　not　understand　my　own　motivations　when　I　walked　from　Mithril　Hall。　I　was　too　full　of

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unknown　grief　to　recognize　my　own　resignation。　I　was　not　courageous　when　I　walked　into　the　Underdark；　because；　in　the　deepest　corner　of　my　heart；　I　felt　as　if　I　had　nothing　to　lose。　I　had　not　allowed　myself　to　grieve　for　Wulfgar；　and　that　emptiness　stole　my　will　and　my　trust　that　things　could　be　put　aright。

Courageous　people　do　not　surrender　hope。

Similarly；　Artemis　Entreri　was　not　courageous　when　he　came　with　Catti…brie　to　rescue　me。　His　actions　were　wrought　of　sheer　desperation；　for　if　he　remained　in　Menzoberranzan；　he　was　surely　doomed。　Entreri's　goals；　as　always；　were　purely　selfish。　By　his　rescue　attempt　he　made　a　conscious　choice　that　ing　after　me　was　his　best　chance　for　survival。　The　rescue　was　an　act　of　calculation；　not　of　courage。

By　the　time　Catti…brie　had　run　out　of　Mithril　Hall　in　pursuit　of　her　foolish　draw　friend；　she　had　honestly　overe　her　grief　for　Wulfgar。　The　grieving　process　had　e　full　circle　for　Catti…brie；　and　her　actions　were　motivated　only　by　loyalty。　She　had　everything　to　lose；　yet　had　gone　alone　into　the　savage　Underdark　for　the　sake　of　a　friend。

I　came　to　understand　this　when　first　I　looked　into　her　eyes　in　the　dungeons　of　House　Baenre。　I　came　to　understand　fully　the　meaning　of　the　word　courage。

And　I　came；　for　the　first　time　since　Wulfgar　fell；　to　know　inspiration。　I　had　fought　as　the　hunter；　savagely；　mercilessly；　but　it　wasn't　until　I　looked　again　upon　my　loyal　friend　that　I　regained　the　eyes　of　the　warrior。　Gone　was　my　resignation　and　acceptance　of　fate；　gone　was　my　belief　that　all　would　be　right　if　House　Baenre　got　its　sacrifice梘ave　my　heart　to　Uoth。

In　that　dungeon；　the　healing　potions　returned　strength　to　my　battered　limbs；　the　sight　of　grim；　determined　Catti…brie　returned　strength　to　my　heart。　I　vowed　then　that　I　would　resist；　that　I　would　fight　the　overwhelming　events；　and　would　fight　to　win。

When　I　saw　Catti…brie；　I　remembered　all　that　I　had　to　lose。

桪rizzt　Do'Urden

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DUK…TAK

he　reached　for　an　arrow；　then　shifted　her　bow　out　in　front　of　her　in　defense　as　a　glob　of　greenish　goo　erupted　from　the　wand　and　flew　at　her。　Catti…brie's　bow　was　suddenly　tight　against　her　chest；　and　she　was　flying；　to　smack　hard　against　the　wall。　One　arm　was　pinned　tightly　against　her　chest；　the　other　tightly　to　her　hip；　and　she　could　not　move　her　legs。　She　could　not　even　fall　from　the　wall！

She　tried　to　call　out；　but　her　jaw　would　not　work；　and　one　eye　would　not　open。　She　could　see；　barely；　with　the　other　eye；　and　she　somehow　managed　to　continue　to　draw　breath。

Entreri　spun　about；　sword　and　dagger　ing　to　the　ready。　He　dove　to　the　side；　to　the　middle　of　the　room；　in　front　of　Catti…brie；　when　he　saw　the　three　drow　females　enter；　two　of　them　aiming　loaded　hand…crossbows　his　way。

The　agile　assassin　rolled　back　to　his　feet　and　started　forward；　rising　up　as　if　he　would　leap　into　his　attackers。　Then　he　dove　low；　sword　leading。

The　skilled　drow　females　held　their　shots　through　the

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assassin's　feint；　then　brought　their　hands　in　line。　The　first　dart　hit　Entreri's　shoulder　and　jolted　him　more　than　he　would　have　expected。　Suddenly；　his　momentum　was　stolen　and　he　was　standing　straighter。　Black　arcs　of　electricity；　writhing　like　sparking　tentacles；　shot　out　from　the　dart；　burning　him；　jolting　him　back　a　few　steps。

The　second　dart　got　him　in　the　belly　and；　though　the　initial　hit　did　not　pain　the　assassin　too　greatly；　a　huge　electrical　blast　followed；　hurling　him　backward　to　the　floor。　His　sword　went　flying；　narrowly　missing　the　trapped　Catti…brie。

Entreri　came　to　a　stop　at　the　young　woman's　feet。　He　still　clutched　his　Jeweled　dagger；　and　thought　immediately　that　he　might　have　to　throw　the　thing。　But　he　could　only　watch　in　astonishment　as　the　fingers　of　that　hand　twitched　involuntarily；　his　grasp　on　the　dagger　weakening。　He　willed　his　arm　to　heave　the　blade；　but　his　muscles　would　not　respond；　and　the　dagger　soon　toppled　out　of　his　trembling　hand。

He　lay　on　the　stone　at　Catti…brie's　feet；　confused　and　scared。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　those　finely　honed　warrior　muscles　would　rot　answer　his　call。

It　was　the　third　female；　in　the　middle　of　the　trio；　that　held　Drizzf　s　attention：　Vendes　Baenre；　Duk…Tak；　his　merciless　torturer　for　all　these　long　days。　Drizzt　stood　very　still；　holding　the　coat　of　chain　mail　in　front　of　him；　not　even　daring　to　blink。　The　females　flanking　the　cruel　Baenre　daughter　put　away　their　hand…crossbows　and　drew　two　shining　swords　each。

Drizzt　expected　to　be　blown　away；　or　held　by　some　magical　intrusion；　as　Vendes　quickly　chanted　under　her　breath。

〃Valiant　friends；〃　the　wicked　noble　remarked　sarcastically；　using　perfect　surface　mon。

Drizzt　understood　the　nature　of　her　spell　then；　a　dweomer　that　allowed　her　to　municate　with　Entreri　and　Catti…brie。

Entreri's　mouth　moved　weirdly；　and　the　expression　on　his　face　revealed　what　he　was　trying　to　say　more　than　any　decipherable　words。　〃High　ritual？〃

〃Indeed；〃　Vendes　replied。　〃My　mother　and　sisters；　and

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Starless　Night

many　visiting　matron　mothers；　are　gathered　in　the　chapel。　I　was　excused　from　the　initial　ceremonies　and　was　instructed　to　bring　Drizzt　Do'Urden　in　to　them　later。〃　She　eyed　Drizzt　and　seemed　perfectly　content。　〃I　see　that　your　friends　have　saved　me　the　trouble　of　forcing　the　healing　potions　down　your　throat。

〃Did　you　really　expect　to　so　easily　walk　into　House　Baenre；　steal　our　most　valuable　prisoner；　and　walk　out？〃　Vendes　asked　Entreri。　〃You　were　seen　before　you　ever　crossed　the　web　fence梐nd　there　will　be　inquiries　as　to　how　you　got　your　unclean　hands　on　my　brother's　mask！　Gromph；　or　perhaps　that　dangerous　Jarlaxle；　will　have　many　questions　to　answer。

〃I　am　surprised　at　you；　too；　assassin；〃　she　went　on。　〃Your　reputation　precedes　you桰　would　have　expected　a　better　performance。　Did　you　not　understand　the　significance　of　mere　males　guarding　our　prized　catch？〃

She　looked　to　Drizzt　and　shook　her　head。　〃Those　pretend　guards　I　put　in　place　were　expendable；　of　course；〃　she　said。　Drizzt　made　no　move；　showed　no　reply　in　his　features。　He　felt　the　strength　returning　to　him　as　the　healing　potions　did　their　work；　but　that　strength　would　make　little　difference；　he　realized；　facing　the　likes　of　Vendes　and　two　supremely　armed　and　trained　females。　The　ranger　looked　to　his　coat　of　armor　disdainfully梚t　would　do　him　little　good　held　in　his　hands。

Entreri's　mind　was　working　more　clearly　now；　but　his　body　was　not。　The　electrical　impulses　continued；　defeating　any　coordinated　attempt　at　movement。　He　did　manage　to　drop　one　hand　into　his　pouch；　though；　in　response　to　something　Vendes　had　said；　some　hint　at　fleeting　hope。

〃We　suspected　that　the　human　woman　was　alive；〃　Vendes　explained；　〃in　the　clutches　of　Jarlaxle；　most　likely？and　we　hardly　hoped　that　she　would　be　so　easily　delivered　to　us。〃

Entreri　had　to　wonder　if　Jarlaxle　had　double…crossed　him。　Had　the　mercenary　concocted　this　elaborate　plan　for　no　better　reason　than　to　deliver　Catti…brie　to　House　Baenre？　It　made　no　sense　to　Entreri梑ut　little　about　Jarlaxle's　actions　these　last　hours　made　sense　to　him。

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The　mention　of　Catti…brie　brought　a　measure　of　fire　to　Drizzt's　eyes。　He　couldn't　believe　that　the　young　woman　was　here；　in　Menzoberranzan；　that　she　had　risked　so　much　to　e　after　him。　Where　was　Guenhwyvar？　he　wondered。　And　had　Bruenor　or　Regis　e　along　beside　Catti…brie？

He　winced　as　he　eyed　the　young　woman；　wrapped　in　greenish　goo。　How　vulnerable　she　seemed；　how　utterly　helpless。

The　fires　burned　brighter　in　Drizzt's　lavender　eyes　when　he　returned　his　gaze　to　Vendes。　Gone　was　his　fear　of　his　torturer；　gone　was　his　resignation　about　how　things　had　to　end。

In　one　swift　motion；　Drizzt　dropped　the　suit　of　armor　and　snapped　out　his　scimitars。

On　a　nod　from　Vendes；　the　two　females　were　on　Drizzt；　one　circling　to　each　side。　One　tapped　her　sword　against　Twinkle's　curving　blade；　indicating　that　Drizzt　should　drop　the　weapon。　He　looked　down　to　Twinkle；　and　all　logic　told　him　to　ply。

He　spun　the　scimitar　in　a　wild　arc　instead；　swishing　the　female's　sword　aside。　His　second　blade　came　up　suddenly；　defeating　a　thrust　from　the　other　side　before　it　ever　began。

〃O　fool！〃　Vendes　cried　at　him　in　obvious　glee。　〃I　do　so　wish　to　see　you　fight；　Drizzt　Do'Urden梥ince　Dantrag　is　so　intent　on　slaughtering　you！〃

The　way　she　said　it　made　Drizzt　wonder　who　Vendes　would　want　to　win　that　potential　fight。　He　had　no　tune　to　ponder　the　continuing　intrigue　of　the　chaotic　world；　though；　not　with　two　drow　females　pressing　him　so。

Vendes　reverted　to　the　Drow　language　then；　manding　her　soldiers　to　beat　Drizzt　fiercely；　but　not　to　kill　him。

Drizzt　turned　a　sudden　spin；　like　a　screw；　his　blades　weaving　a　dangerous　pattern　on　all　sides。　He　came　out　of　it　suddenly；　viciously；　snapping　a　thrust　at　the　female　on　his　left。　He　scored　a　minor　hit；　doing　no　real　damage　against　the　fabulous　drow　armor梐rmor　that　Drizzt　was　not　wearing。

That　point　was　driven　home　by　the　tip　of　a　sword　that　then　nicked　Drizzt　from　the　right。　He　grimaced　and　pivoted　back；　his　backhanded　cut　taking　the　sword　away　before　it　could　do　any　real　damage。

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*　？*　*　？

Entreri　prayed　that　Vendes　was　as　intent　on　the　fight　as　her　soldiers；　for　every　movement　he　made　seemed　so　very　clumsy　and　obvious。　Somehow；　he　managed　to　get　the　spider　mask　out　of　his　pouch　and　over　his　trembling　hand；　and　then　he　reached　up　and　grabbed　Catti…brie's　belt。

His　trembling　fingers　could　not　support　the　hold；　though；　and　he　fell　back　to　the　floor。

Vendes　glanced　casually　his　way；　snickered梐pparently　not　noticing　the　mask梐nd　turned　back　to　the　fight。

Entreri　sat　half…propped　by　the　wall；　trying　to　find　some　inner　control　to　ward　off　the　nasty　drow　enchantment；　but　all　his　efforts　proved　useless；　his　muscles　continued　their　involuntary　twitching。

Sw