精灵血脉四部曲-第100部分

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Catti…brie　hated　this　with　all　her　generous　heart。　The　killing　revolted　her；　especially　a　fight　such　as　this；　where　she　would　have　to　watch　for　agonizing　seconds；　minutes　perhaps；　while　she　suffocated　her　opponent。

She　spied　Entreri's　dagger　not　far　away　and　grabbed　it。　Tears　of　rage　and　innocence　lost　filled　her　blue　eyes　as　she　brought　the　deadly　blade　to　bear。

*　*　*　*　*

Guenhwyvar　skidded　to　a　stop；　and　Drizzt　roughly　retracted　the　embedded　blade　and　took　a　step　back。

〃Nau？〃　shinned　Vendes　repeated；　the　drow　word　for　〃no。〃　Vicious　Duk…Tak　seemed　little　to　Drizzt　then；　almost

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pitiful。　She　was　doubled　over　in　pain；　trembling　violently。

She　fell　over　at　Drizzf　s　feet。　Her　mouth　moved；　forming　the　denying　word　one　last　time；　but　no　sound　came　from　her　breathless　lips　and　the　red　glow　left　her　eyes　forever。

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HEADFIRST

rizzt　came　back　into　his　cell　to　see　Catti…brie　still　lying　on　the　stone　floor；　holding　the　spider　mask　and　gasping　heavily　as　she　tried　to　steady　her　breathing。　Behind　her；　Entreri　hung　awkwardly　by　one　arm；　twisted　and　stuck　to　the　gooey　wall。

〃This'll　get　him　down；〃　Catti…brie　explained；　tossing　the　mask　to　Drizzt。

Drizzt　caught　the　mask　but　made　no　move；　having　much　more　on　his　mind　than　freeing　the　assassin。

〃Regis　telled　me；〃　Catti…brie　explained；　though　that　point　seemed　obvious　enough。　〃I　made　him　tell　me。〃　〃You　came　alone？〃

Catti…brie　shook　her　head；　and　for　a　moment　Drizzt　nearly　swooned；　thinking　that　another　of　his　friends　might　be　in　peril；　or　might　be　dead。　But　Catti…brie　motioned　to　Guenhwyvar；　and　the　ranger　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃You　are　a　fool；〃　Drizzt　replied；　his　words　wrought　of　sheer　incredulity　and　frustration。　He　scowled　fiercely　at　Catti…brie；　wanting　her　to　know　that　he　was　not　pleased。

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〃No　more　than　yerself；〃　the　young　woman　answered　with　a　wistful　smile；　a　smile　that　stole　the　scowl　from　Drizzt's　face。　The　dark　elf　couldn't　deny　his　joy　at　seeing　Catti…brie　again；　even　in　this　dangerous　circumstance。

〃Are　ye　wanting　to　talk　about　it　now？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　smiling　still。　〃Or　are　ye　wanting　to　wait　until　we're　back　in　Mithril　Hall？〃

Drizzt　had　no　answer；　just　shook　his　head　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　thick　mane。　He　looked　to　the　spider　mask　then；　and　to　Entreri；　and　his　scowl　returned。

〃We've　a　deal；〃　Catti…brie　quickly　put　in。　〃He　got　me　to　ye；　and　said　he'd　get　us　both　out；　and　we're　to　guide　him　back　to　the　surface。〃

〃And　once　there？〃　Drizzt　had　to　ask。

〃Let　him　go　his　way；　and　we're　to　go　our　own；〃　Catti…brie　answered　firmly；　as　though　she　needed　to　hear　the　strength　of　her　voice　for　the　sake　of　her　own　resolve。

Again　Drizzt　looked　doubtfully　from　the　mask　to　the　assassin。　The　prospects　of　setting　Artemis　Entreri　free　on　the　surface　did　not　sit　well　in　the　noble　ranger's　gut。　How　many　would　suffer　for　Drizzf　s　actions　now？　How　many　would　again　be　terrorized　by　the　darkness　that　was　Artemis　Entreri？

〃I　gived　me　word；〃　Catti…brie　offered　in　the　face　of　her　friend's　obvious　doubts。

Drizzt　continued　to　ponder　the　consequences。　He　couldn't　deny　Entreri's　potential　value　on　the　ensuing　journey；　particularly　the　fight　they　would　likely　face　in　getting　out　of　。the　Baenre　plex。　Drizzt　had　fought　beside　the　assassin　before　on　similar　occasions；　and　together　they　had　been　nothing　short　of　brilliant。

Still。。。

〃I　came　in　good　faith；〃　Entreri　stuttered　through　chattering；　barely　controlled　teeth。　〃I　saved　。。。　I　。。。　saved　that　one。〃　His　free　arm　twitched　out　as　though　to　indicate　Catti…brie；　but　it　jerked　suddenly；　violently；　and　banged　against　the　wall　instead。

〃I'll　have　your　word　then；〃　Drizzt　offered；　moving　toward　the　man。　He　meant　to　go　on　and　exact　a　promise　from　Entreri　that　his　evil　deeds　would　be　at　an　end；　even

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that　once　on　the　surface　he　would　willingly　stand　trial　for　his　dark　past。　Entreri　saw　it　ing　clearly；　though；　and　cut　Drizzt　short；　his　rising　anger　giving　him　temporary　control　over　his　uncooperative　muscles。

〃Nothing！〃　he　snarled。　〃You　have　what　I　offered　to　her！〃

Drizzt　immediately　looked　back　to　Catti…brie；　who　was　up　and　moving　for　her　bow。

〃I　gived　me　word；〃　she　replied；　more　emphatically；　matching　his　doubtful　stare。

〃And　we　are　running　。　。　。　short　。。。　of　time；〃　Entreri　added。

The　ranger　moved　the　last　two　steps　swiftly　and　plopped　the　mask　over　Entreri's　head。　The　man's　arm　slid　out　of　the　goo　and　he　dropped　to　the　floor；　unable　to　gain　enough　control　to　even　stand。　Drizzt　went　for　the　remaining　potion　bottles；　hoping　that　they　might　restore　the　assassin's　muscle　control。　He　still　wasn't　wholly　convinced　that　showing　Entreri　back　to　the　surface　was　the　right　choice；　but　he　decided　that　he　couldn't　wait　around　and　debate　the　issue。　He　would　free　Entreri；　and　together　the　three　and　Guenhwy…var　would　try　to　escape　the　pound　and　the　city。　Other　problems　would　have　to　be　dealt　with　later。

It　would　all　be　moot；　after　all；　if　the　potion's　healing　magic　did　not　help　the　assassin；　for　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　surely　could　not　carry　the　man　out　of　there。

But　Entreri　was　standing　again　before　he　had　even　finished　his　first　draw　on　the　ceramic　flask。　The　effects　of　the　dart　were　temporary　and　fast　fading；　and　the　revitalizing　potion　spurred　the　recovery　even　more　quickly。

Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　shared　another　flask；　and　Drizzt；　after　strapping　on　his　armor；　belted　on　two　of　the　six　remaining　and　gave　two　each　to　his　panions。

〃We　have　to　go　back　out　of　Baenre's　great　mound；〃　Entreri　said；　readying　himself　for　the　journey。　〃The　high　ritual　is　still　in　progress；　no　doubt；　but　if　the　slain　minotaurs　on　the　higher　level　have　been　discovered；　then　we'll　likely　find　a　host　of　soldiers　waiting　for　us。〃

〃Unless　Vendes；　in　her　arrogance；　came　down　here　alone；〃　Drizzt　replied。　His　tone；　and　the　assassin's　respond…

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ing　stare　revealed　that　neither　of　them　thought　that　possibility　likely。

〃Head　first；〃　Catti…brie　offered。　Both　her　panions　looked　to　her；　not　understanding。

〃The　dwarven　way；〃　the　young　woman　explained。　〃When　ye've　a　back　to　yer　wall；　ye　put　yer　head　down　low　and　let　it　lead。〃

Drizzt　looked　to　Guenhwyvar；　to　Catti…brie　and　her　bow；　to　Entreri　and　his　deadly　blades；　and　to　his　own　scimitars梙ow　convenient　for　cocky　Dantrag；　in　anticipation　of　his　fight　with　the　captured　ranger；　to　have　placed　all　of　Drizzt's　items　so　near　at　hand！　〃They　may　have　us　cornered；〃　Drizzt　admitted；　〃but　I　doubt　that　they　understand　what　it　is　they　have　cornered！〃

Matron　Baenre；　Matron　Mez'Bams　Armgo；　and　K'yorl　Odran　stood　in　a　tight　triangle　atop　the　central　altar　of　House　Baenre's　immense　chapel。　Five　other　matron　mothers；　rulers　of　the　fourth…　to　eighth…ranking　houses　of　the　city；　formed　a　ring　about　the　trio。　This　elite　group；　Menzoberran…zan's　ruling　council；　met　often　in　the　small；　secret　room　used　as　council　chambers；　but　not　in　centuries　had　they　e　together　in　prayer。

Matron　Baenre　felt　truly　at　the　pinnacle　of　her　power。　She　had　brought　them　together；　one　and　all；　had　banded　the　eight　ruling　houses　in　an　alliance　that　would　force　all　of　Menzoberranzan　to　follow　Matron　Baenre's　lead　to　Mithril　Hall。　Even　vicious　K'yorl；　so　resistant　to　the　expedition　and　the　alliance；　now　seemed　honestly　caught　up　in　the　budding　frenzy。　Earlier　in　the　ceremony；　K'yorl；　with　no　prompting；　had　offered　to　go　along　personally　on　the　attack；　and　Mez'Barris　Armgo梟ot　wanting　the　ruler　of　the　house　ranked　behind　her　own　to　shine　darker　in　Matron　Baenre's　eyes梙ad　immediately　offered　likewise。

Llotn　was　with　her。　Matron　Baenre　believed　with　all　of　her　evil　heart。　The　others　believed　that　Lloth　was　with　the　withered　matron　mother；　too；　and；　thus；　the　alliance　had　been　firmly　joined。

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Matron　Baenre　did　well　to　hide　her　smile　through　the　next　portions　of　the　ceremony。　She　tried　hard　to　be　patient　with　Vendes。　She　had　sent　her　daughter　to　get　Drizzt；　after　all；　and　Vendes　was　experienced　enough　in　the　ways　of　drow　rituals　to　understand　that　the　renegade　might　not　survive　the　ceremony。　If　Vendes　took　a　few　torturing　liberties　with　the　prisoner　now。　Matron　Baenre　could　not　fault　her。　Baenre　did　not　plan　to　sacrifice　Drizzt　at　the　ceremony。　She　had　many　games　left　to　play　with　that　one；　and　dearly　wanted　to　give　Dantrag　his　chance　to　outshine　all　other　weapon　masters　in　Menzoberranzan。　But　these　religious　frenzies　had　a　way　of　deciding　their　own　events；　Baenre　knew；　and　if　the　situation　demanded　that　Drizzt　be　given　over　to　Lloth；　then　she　would　eagerly　wield　the　sacrificial　dagger。

The　thought　was　not　an　unpleasant　one。

At　the　front　of　the　circular　structure；　beside　the　great　doors；　Dantrag　and　Berg'inyon　found　themselves　faced　with　equally　difficult　choices。　A　guard　sneaked　in；　whispering　word　that　some　motion　had　occurred　at　the　great　mound；　that　several　minotaurs　were　rumored　killed；　and　that　Vendes　and　her　escort　had　gone　to　the　lower　levels。

Dantrag　looked　down　the　rows　of　seated　dark　elves；　to　the　raised　central　dais。　All　of　his　other　sisters　were　down　there；　and　his　elder　brother；　Gromph；　as　well　（though　he　didn't　doubt　that　Gromph　would　have　eagerly　accepted　the　excuse　to　be　out　of　that　female…dominated　scene）。　The　high　ritual　was　a　ceremony　of　emotional　peaks　and　valleys；　and　the　ruling　matron　mothers；　turning　faster　and　faster　circles　on　the　dais；　slapping　their　hands　together　and　chanting　wildly；　were　surely　heading　for　a　peak。

Dantrag　looked　into　the　waiting　gaze　of　Berg'inyon；　the　younger　Baenre　obviously　at　a　loss　as　to　how　they　should　proceed。

The　weapon　master　moved　out　of　the　main　hall；　taking　the　guard　and　Berg'inyon　with　him。　Behind　them　there　came　a　succession　of　crescendos　as　the　frenzied　cheers　mounted。

Go　to　the　perimeter；　Dantrag's　hands　flashed　to

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Berg'inyon；　for　he　would　have　had　to　shout　to　be　heard。　See　that　it　is　secure。

Berg'inyon　nodded　and　moved　off　down　the　bending　corridor；　to　one　of　the　secret　side　doors；　where　he　had　left　his　lizard　mount。

Dantrag　took　a　quick　moment　to　check　his　own　gear。　Likely；　Vendes　had　the　situation梚f　there　even　was　a　situation梬ell　under　control；　but　deep　insi