精灵血脉四部曲-第103部分

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〃We　must　be　off！〃　Entreri　prodded　them；　grabbing　Drizzt　and　trying　to　tug　him　on。　The　ranger　held　his　ground；　though；　and　watched　with　faith　as　Catti…brie　turned　again　to　the　side　and　fired　another　of　her　arrows。　It　smacked　solidly　into　the　weakened　stone。

The　targeted　stalactite　groaned　in　protest　and　slipped　down　on　one　side　to　hang　at　an　awkward　angle。　A　moment　later；　it　fell　free　into　the　far　drop　below。　For　a　moment；　Drizzt　thought　that　it　might　hit　the　purple…glowing　chapel　dome；　but　it　smashed　to　the　stone　floor　a　short　distance　away；　shattering　into　a　thousand　pieces。

Drizzt；　his　ears　keen；　widened　his　eyes　as　he　focused　on　the　hole；　a　flicker　of　hope　evident　in　his　expression。　〃Wind；〃　he　explained　breathlessly。　〃Wind　from　the　tunnel！〃

It　was　true。　An　unmistakable　sound　of　rushing　wind　emanated　from　the　hole　in　the　ceiling　as　the　air　pressure　in　the　caves　above　adjusted　to　match　the　air　pressure　in　the　great　cavern。

〃But　how　are　we　to　get　there？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

Entreri；　convinced　now；　was　already　fumbling　with　his　pack。　He　took　out　a　length　of　rope　and　a　grappling　hook　and　soon　had　the　thing　twirling　above　him。　With　one　shot；　he　hooked　it　over　the　bridge　nearest　the　tunnel。　Entreri　rushed　to　the　nearest　railing　of　his　own　walkway　and　tied　off　the　rope；　and　Drizzt；　without　the　slightest　hesitation；　hopped　atop　the　cord　and　gingerly　began　to　walk　out。　The　agile　drow　picked　up　speed　as　he　went；　gaining　confidence。

That　confidence　was　shattered　when　an　evil　dark　elf　suddenly　appeared。　ing　out　of　an　invisibility　enchantment；　he　slashed　at　the　rope　with　his　fine…edged　sword。

Drizzt　dropped　flat　to　the　rope　and　held　on　desperately。　Two　cuts　sliced　it　free　of　the　grappling　hook；　and　Drizzt　swung　down　like　a　pendulum；　rocking　back　and　forth　ten　feet　below　his　panions　on　the　walkway。

The　enemy　drow's　smug　smile　was　quickly　wiped　away　by　a　silver…streaking　arrow。

Drizzt　started　to　climb；　then　stopped　and　flinched　as　a　dart　whistled　past。　Another　followed　suit；　and　the　drow　looked　down　to　see　a　handful　of　soldiers　approaching；　levitating　up　and　firing　as　they　came。

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Starless　Night

Entreri　tugged　fiercely　at　the　rope；　trying　to　help　the　ranger　back　to　the　walkway。　As　soon　as　Drizzt　grabbed　the　lip；　the　assassin　pulled　him　over；　then　took　the　rope　from　him。　He　looked　at　it　doubtfully；　wondering　how　in　the　Nine　Hells　he　was　supposed　to　hook　it　again　over　the　distant　walkway　without　the　grappling　hook。　Entreri　growled　determinedly　and　made　the　cord　into　a　lasso；　then　turned　to　search　for　a　target。

Drizzt　threw　one　knee　over　the　bridge　and　tried　to　get　his　feet　under　him；　just　as　a　thunderous　blast　struck　the　walkway　right　below　them。　Both　the　ranger　and　Catti…brie　were　knocked　from　their　feet。　Drizzt　fell　again；　to　hang　by　his　fingertips；　and　the　stone　under　Catti…brie　showed　an　unmistakable　crack。

A　crossbow　quarrel　hit　the　stone　right　in　front　of　the　drow's　face；　another　popped　against　the　bottom　of　his　boot　but　did　not　get　through。　Then　Drizzt　was　glowing；　outlined　by　distinctive　faerie　fire；　making　him　an　even　easier　target。

The　ranger　looked　down　to　the　approaching　dark　elves　and　called　upon　his　own　innate　abilities；　casting　a　globe　of　darkness　in　front　of　them。　Then　he　pulled　himself　up　over　the　lip　of　the　bridge；　to　find　Catti…brie　exchanging　volleys　with　the　dark　elves　behind　them　on　the　walkway；　and　Entreri　pulling　in　the　thrown　lasso；　cursing　all　the　while。

〃I've　no　way　to　hook　it；〃　the　assassin　growled；　and　he　didn't　have　to　spell　out　the　implications。　Drow　were　behind　them　and　below　them；　inevitably　working　their　way　toward　the　band。　The　walkway；　weakened　by　the　magical　assaults；　seemed　not　so　secure　anymore；　and；　just　to　seal　their　doom；　the　panions　saw　Guenhwyvar　rushing　back　to　them；　apparently　in　full　retreat。

〃We're　not　to　surrender；〃　Catti…brie　whispered；　her　eyes　filled　with　determination。　She　put　another　arrow　back　down　the　walkway；　then　fell　to　her　belly　and　hooked　her　arms　over　the　lip。　The　ascending　drow　wizard　was　just　ing　through　Drizzt's　darkness　globe；　a　wand　pointed　for　the　walkway。

Catti…brie's　arrow　hit　that　wand　squarely；　split　it　apart；　then　gashed　the　drow's　shoulder　as　it　whistled　past　him。　His　scream　was　more　of　terror　than　of　pain　as　he　regarded　his　shattered　wand；　as　he　considered　the　release　of　magical

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energy　that　would　follow。　With　typical　drow　loyalty；　the　wizard　threw　the　wand　below　him；　into　the　darkness　and　into　the　midst　of　his　rising　rades。　He　urged　his　levita…tion　on　at　full　speed　to　get　away　from　the　unseen；　crackling　lightning　balls；　and　heard　the　horrified　calls　of　his　dying　panions。

He　should　have　looked　up　instead；　for　he　never　knew　what　hit　him　as　Catti…brie's　next　arrow　shattered　his　backbone。　That　threat　eliminated；　or　at　least　slowed；　the　young　woman　went　back　up　to　her　knees　and　opened　up　another　barrage　on　the　stubborn　dark　elves　behind　her　on　the　walkway。　Their　hand…crossbows　couldn't　reach　Catti…brie；　and　they　couldn't　hope　to　hurl　their　javelins　that　far；　but　the　woman　knew　that　they　were　up　to　something；　plotting　some　way　to　cause　havoc。

Guenhwyvar　was　no　ordinary　panther；　it　possessed　an　intelligence　far　beyond　the　norm　of　its　feline　land。　ing　fast　toward　the　cornered　panions；　Guenhwyvar　quickly　discerned　their　troubles　and　their　hopes。　The　panther　was　sorely　wounded；　carrying　a　dozen　poisoned　crossbow　darts　in　its　hide　as　it　ran；　but　its　fierce　loyalty　was　fully　with　Drizzt

Entreri　fell　back　and　cried　aloud　as　the　cat　suddenly　rushed　up　and　bit　the　rope　from　his　hand。　The　assassin　went　immediately　for　his　weapons；　thinking　that　the　cat　meant　to　attack　him；　but　Guenhwyvar　skidded　to　a　stop梜nocking　both　Entreri　and　Drizzt　several　feet　back梩urned　a　right　angle；　and　leaped　away；　flying　through　the　air；

Guenhwyvar　tried　to　stop；　daws　raking　over　the　top　of　the　target　walkway's　smooth　stone。　The　cafs　momentum　was　too　great；　though；　and　Guenhwyvar；　still　clamping　tightly　to　the　rope；　pitched　over　the　far　side；　ing　to　a　jerking　stop　at　the　rope's　end；　some　twenty　feet　below　the　bridge。

More　concerned　for　the　cat　than　for　himself；　Drizzt　instinctively　sprang　onto　the　taut　rope　and　ran　across；　without　regard　for　the　fact　that　Guenhwyvar's　hold　was　tentative　at　best

Entreri　grabbed　Catti…brie　and　pulled　her　over；　motioning　for　her　to　follow　the　drow。

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Starless　Night

〃I　cannot　walk　a　tightrope！〃　the　desperate　woman　explained；　eyes　wide　with　horror。

〃Then　learn！〃　the　assassin　roughly　replied；　and　he　pushed　Catti…brie　so　hard　that　she　nearly　fell　right　over　the　side　of　the　walkway。　Catti…brie　put　one　foot　up　on　the　rope　and　started　to　shift　her　weight　to　it；　but　she　fell　back　immediately；　shaking　her　head。

Entreri　leaped　past　her；　onto　the　rope。　〃Work　your　bow　well！〃　he　explained。　〃And　be　ready　to　untie　this　end！〃

Catti…brie　did　not　understand；　but　had　no　time　to　question　as　Entreri　sped　off；　walking　as　surefootedly　along　the　hemp　bridge　as　had　Drizzt。　Catti…brie　fired　down　the　walkway　behind　her；　then　had　to　spin　about　and　fire　the　other　way；　ahead；　at　those　drow　who　had　been　pursuing　Guenhwyvar。

She　had　no　time　to　aim　either　way　as　she　continued　to　turn　back　and　forth；　and　few　of　her　arrows　hit　any　enemies　at　all。

Catti…brie　took　a　deep　breath。　She　sincerely　lamented　the　future　she　would　never　know。　But　she　followed　the　sigh　with　a　resigned　but　determined　smile。　If　she　was　going　down；　then　Catti…brie　had　every　intention　of　taking　her　enemies　down　with　her；　had　every　intention　of　offering　Drizzt　his　freedom。

？*　*　？？

Some　of　those　inside　the　great　Baenre　chapel　had　heard　and　felt。the　stalactite　crash　on　the　pound's　floor；　but　only　slightly；　since　the　chapel's　walls　were　of　thick　stone　and　two　thousand　drow　voices　within　the　place　were　lifted　in　frantic　song　to　Lloth。

Matron　Baenre　was　notified　of　the　crash　several　moments　later；　when　Sos'Umptu；　her　daughter　in　charge　of　chapel　affairs；　found　the　opportunity　to　whisper　to　her　that　something　might　be　amiss　out　in　the　pound。

It　pained　Matron　Baenre　to　interrupt　the　ceremony。　She　looked　around　at　the　faces　of　the　other　matron　mothers；　her　only　possible　rivals；　and　remained　convinced　that　they　were　now　wholly　mitted　to　her　and　her　plan。　Still；　she　gave

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Sos'Umptu　permission　to　send　out梔iscreetly梐　few　members　of　the　chapel　elite　guard。

Then　the　first　matron　mother　went　back　to　the　ceremony；　smiling　as　though　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary梕xcept；　of　course；　this　extraordinary　gathering梬as　going　on。　So　secure　was　Matron　Baenre　in　the　power　of　her　house　that　her　only　fears　at　that　time　were　that　something　might　disturb　the　sanctity　of　the　ceremony；　something　might　lessen　her　in　the　eyes　of　Lloth。

She　could　not　imagine　the　antics　of　the　three　fugitives　and　the　panther　far；　far　above。

Hanging　low　over　the　bridge；　coaxing　his　dear；　wounded　panion；　Drizzt　did　not　hear　Entreri　touch　down　on　the　stone　behind　him。

〃There　is　nothing　we　can　do　for　the　cat！〃　the　assassin　said　roughly；　and　Drizzt　spun　about；　noticing　immediately　that　Catti…brie　was　in　dire　straits　across　the　way。

〃You　left　her！〃　the　ranger　cried。

〃She　could　not　cross！〃　Entreri　spat　back　in　his　face。　〃Not　yet！〃　Drizzt；　consumed　by　rage；　went　for　his　blades；　but　Entreri　ignored　him　and　focused　back　on　Catti…brie；　who　was　kneeling　on　the　stone；　fumbling　with　something　that　the　assassin　could　not　discern。

〃Untie　the　rope！〃　Entreri　called。　〃But　hold　fast　as　you　do　and　swing　out！〃

Drizzt；　thinking　himself　incredibly　stupid　for　not　understanding　Entreri's　designs；　released　his　grip　on　his　weapon　hilts　and　dove　down　to　help　Entreri　brace　the　hemp。　As　soon　as　Catti…brie　untied　the　other　end；　six　hundred　pounds　of　pressure梖rom　the　falling　panther梬ould　yank　the　rope。　Drizzt　held　no　illusions　that　he　and　Entreri　could　hold　the　panther　aloft　for　more　than　a　short　while；　but　they　had　to　make　the　tug　on　the　other　end　of　the　rope　less　violent；　so　that　Catti…brie　would　be　able　to　hold　on。

The　young　woman　made　no　immediate　move　for　the　rope；　despite　Entreri's　screams　and　the　dark　elves　approaching　from　both　sides。　Finally　she　went　for　it；　but　came　up

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Starless　Night

immediately　and