精灵血脉四部曲-第104部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


y　she　went　for　it；　but　came　up

296

Starless　Night

immediately　and　cried　out；　〃Suren　ifs　too　tight！〃

〃Damn；　she　has　no　blade；〃　Entreri　groaned；　realizing　his　mistake。

Drizzt　drew　out　Twinkle　and　skipped　back　atop　the　rope；　determined　to　die　beside　his　dear　Catti…brie。　But　the　young　woman　hooked　Taulmaril　over　her　shoulder　and　leaped　out　onto　the　tentative　bridge；　wearing　an　expression　of　sheer　terror。　She　came　across　hanging　under　the　hemp；　hands　and　knees　locked　tight。　Ten　feet　out；　then　fifteen；　halfway　to　her　friends。

The　dark　elves　dosed　quickly；　seeing　that　no　more　of　those　wicked　arrows　would　be　ing　at　them。　The　lead　drow　were　nearly　up　to　the　rope；　hand…crossbows　ing　up；　and　Catti…brie　would　be　an　easy　target　indeed！

But　then　the　dark　elves　in　front　skidded　to　a　sudden　stop　and　began　scrambling　to　get　away；　some　leaping　off　the　bridge。

Drizzt　did　not　understand　what　he　was　seeing；　and　had　no　time　to　sort　it　out　as　a　ball　of　fire　exploded　on　the　other　walkway；　right　between　the　converging　groups　of　dark　elves。　Walls　of　flame　rolled　out　at　Drizzt；　and　he　fell　back；　throwing　his　hands　up　in　front　of　him。

A　split　second　later；　Entreri　cried　out　and　the　rope；　burned　through　on　the　other　walkway；　began　to　whip　past　them；　with　Guenhwyvar　more　than　balancing　Catti…brie's　weight。

Entreri　and　Drizzt　were　quick　enough　to　dive　and　grab　at　the　rope　when　it　stopped　flying　past；　when　valiant　Guenhwyvar；　understanding　that　Catti…brie　would　be　knocked　from　her　tentative　grasp　as　she　collided　with　the　side　of　the　walkway；　let　go　and　plummeted　into　the　darkness。

The　bridge　across　the　way　creaked　apart　and　fell；　crashing　against　one　levitating　drow　who　had　survived　the　wand　explosion；　and　dropping　those　dark　elves　remaining　on　the　platform。　Most　of　those　still　alive　could　levitate；　and　would　not　fall　to　their　deaths；　but　the　explosion　had　certainly　bought　the　panions　precious　time。

Catti…brie；　her　face　red　from　the　heat　and　small　flames　dancing　along　her　cloak；　kept　the　presence　of　mind　to　reach　up　and　grab　Drizzf　s　offered　hand。

297

R。　A。　Salvatore

〃Let　Guen　go！〃　she　pleaded　breathlessly；　her　lungs　pained　by　the　heat；　and　Drizzt　understood　immediately。　Still　holding　fast　to　the　woman's　hand；　the　ranger　fished　the　figurine　out　of　Catti…brie's　pouch　and　called　for　Guenhwyvar　to　be　gone。　He　could　only　hope　that　the　magic　took　hold　before　the　panther　hit　the　floor。

Then　the　ranger　heaved　Catti…brie　up　to　the　walkway　and　wrapped　her　in　a　tight　hug。　Entreri；　meanwhile；　had　retrieved　the　grappling　hook　and　was　tying　it　off。　A　deft　shot　put　the　thing　through　the　hole　Catti…brie　had　created　by　blasting　away　the　stalactite。

〃Go！〃　the　assassin　said　to　Drizzt；　and　the　drow　was　off；　climbing　hand　over　hand　as　Entreri　anchored　the　rope　around　the　metal　railing。　Catti…brie　went　next；　not　nearly　as　fast　as　Drizzt；　and　Entreri　shouted　curses　at　her；　thinking　that　her　slowness　would　allow　their　enemies　to　catch　up　with　them。

Drizzt　could　already　see　dark　elves　levitating　up　from　the　cavern　floor　beneath　his　newest　position；　though　it　would　take　them　many　minutes　to　get　that　high。

〃It　is　secured！〃　Drizzt　called　from　the　tunnel　above？and　all　were　indeed　relieved　to　learn　that　there　truly　was　a　tunnel　up　above；　and　not　just　a　small　cubby！

Entreri　let　go　of　his　hold；　then　sprang　onto　the　rope　as　it　swung　directly　under　the　hole。

Drizzt　pulled　Catti…brie　in　and　considered　the　climbing　man。　He　could　cut　the　rope　and　drop　Entreri　to　his　death；　and　surely　the　world　would　have　been　a　better　place　without　the　assassin。　But　honor　held　Drizzt　to　his　word；　to　Catti…brie's　word。　He　could　not　dispute　the　assassin's　daring　efforts　to　get　them　all　this　far；　and　he　would　not　now　resort　to　treachery。

He　grabbed　Entreri　when　the　man　got　close　and　hauled　him　in。　Holding　Taulmaril；　Catti…brie　went　back　to　the　hole；　looking　for　any　dark　elves　that　might　be　on　their　way。　Then　she　noticed　something　else：　the　purple　faerie　fire　of　the　great；　domed　chapel；　almost　directly　below　her　position。　She　thought　of　the　expression　on　the　faces　of　those　drow　at　the　high　ritual　inside　if　Guenhwyvar　had　crashed　through　that　roof梐nd　that　notion　led　her　mind　to　other　ideas。　She

298

Starless　Night

smiled　wickedly　as　she　looked　again　to　the　dome；　and　to　the　ceiling　above　it。

The　tunnel　was　natural　and　uneven；　but　wide　enough　for　the　three　to　walk　abreast　A　flash　stole　the　darkness　up　ahead；　telling　the　panions　that　they　were　not　alone。

Drizzt　ran　ahead；　scimitars　in　hand；　thinking　to　clear　the　way。　Entreri　moved　to　follow；　but　hesitated；　seeing　that　Catti…brie　was　inexplicably　going　back　the　other　way。

〃What　are　you　about？〃　the　assassin　demanded；　but　the　woman　didn't　answer。　She　merely　fitted　an　arrow　to　her　bow　as　she　measured　her　steps。

She　fell　back　and　cried　out　as　she　crossed　a　side　passage　and　a　drow　soldier　leaped　out　at　her；　but　before　he　got　his　sword　in　line；　a　hurled　dagger　sank　into　his　rib　cage。　Entreri　rushed　in；　meeting　the　next　drow　in　line；　calling　for　Catti…brie　to　run　back　the　other　way；　to　join　Drizzt。

〃Hold　them！〃　was　all　the　explanation　the　young　woman　offered；　and　she　continued　on　in　the　opposite　direction。

〃Hold　them？〃　Entreri　echoed。　He　cut　down　the　second　drow　in　line　and　engaged　the　third　as　two　others　ran　off　the　way　they　had　e。

Drizzt　careened　around　a　bend；　even　leaped　onto　the　curving　wall　to　keep　his　desperate　speed。

〃Valiant！〃　came　a　greeting　call；　spoken　in　the　Drow　tongue；　and　the　ranger　slowed　and　stopped　when　he　saw　Dantrag　and　Berg'inyon　Baenre　sitting　casually　atop　their　lizard　mounts　in　the　middle　of　the　passage。

〃Valiant　attempt！〃　Dantrag　reiterated；　but　his　smile　mocked　the　whole　escape；　made　Drizzt　feel　that　all　their　efforts　had　done　no　more　good　than　offer　amusement　to　the　cocky　weapon　master　and　his　unbeatable　charge。

299

Starless　Night

Chapter　26

CATTI…BRIE'S　SURPRISE

thought　that　your　lizard　was　shot　out　from　under　you；〃　Drizzt　remarked；　trying　to　sound　confident　in　the　face　of　his　disappointment。

Berg'inyon　steeled　his　red…glowing　gaze　upon　the　impetuous　renegade　and　did　not　respond。

〃A　fine　shot；〃　Dantrag　agreed；　〃but　it　was　only　a　lizard；　after　all；　and　well　worth　the　entertainment　you　and　your　pitiful　friends　have　provided。〃　Dantrag　casually　reached　over　and　took　the　long　death　lance　from　his　brother's　hand。　〃Are　you　ready　to　die；　Drizzt　Do'Urden？〃　he　asked　as　he　lowered　the　deadly　tip；

Drizzt　crouched　low；　feeling　his　balance；　and　crossed　his　scimitars　in　front　of　him。　Where　were　Catti…brie　and　Entreri？　he　wondered；　and　he　feared　that　they　had　met　resistance桪antrag's　soldiers？梑ack　in　the　corridor。

Despair　washed　over　him　suddenly　with　the　thought　that　Catti…brie　might　already　be　dead；　but　the　ranger　pushed　it　away；　reminded　himself　to　trust　her；　to　trust　that　she　could　take　care　of　herself。

300

Dantrag's　lizard　leaped　ahead；　then　skittered　sideways　along　a　wall。　Drizzt　had　no　idea　of　which　way　the　creature　would　veer　when　it　came　near　him。　Back　to　the　floor？　Higher　on　the　wall？　Or　might　it　turn　right　up　onto　the　ceiling　and　carry　its　hanging　rider　right　above　the　target？

Dantrag　knew　that　Drizzt　had　been　on　the　surface；　where　there　were　no　ceilings；　for　many　years梔id　he　think　the　last　choice　the　most　devious？

Drizzt　started　toward　the　opposite　wall；　but　fell　to　his　knees　instead　at　the　same　instant　that　Dantrag　coaxed　his　fast…running；　sticky…footed　mount　up　to　the　ceiling。　The　tip　of　the　long　lance　just　missed　the　ducking　ranger's　head；　and　Drizzt　leaped　up　as　the　rider　passed；　grabbing　at　the　weapon's　shaft。

He　felt　a　sting　in　his　lower　back；　and　turned　to　see　Berg'inyon　sitting　calmly　atop　his　mount；　reloading　his　hand…crossbow。

〃It　does　not　have　to　be　a　fair　fight；　Drizzt　Do'Urden！〃　Dantrag　explained　with　a　laugh。　He　swung　his　well…trained　mount　about；　brought　it　back　to　the　floor；　and　lowered　the　lance　once　more。

Sword　and　dagger　flashed　wildly　as　Entreri　tried　to　finish　the　stubborn　dark　elf。　This　one　was　a　skilled　fighter；　though；　and　his　parries　were　fast　and　on　target。　Behind　the　drow；　the　other　dark　elves　were　steadily　inching　toward　Entreri；　gaining　confidence　as　they　watched　their　panion　hold　the　assassin's　devilish　attacks　at　bay。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Entreri　demanded　of　Catti…brie；　seeing　her　kneeling　beside　a　large　mound　of　rock。　The　woman　stood　up　and　fired　an　arrow　into　the　stone；　then　a　second；　then　dropped　back　to　her　knees。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Entreri　demanded　more　emphatically。

〃Stop　yer　whining　and　be　done　with　the　drow；〃　Catti…brie　snarled　back；　and　Entreri　regarded　her　incredulously；　suddenly　not　so　sure　of　what　to　make　of　this　surprising　creature。　Almost　as　an　afterthought；　Catti…brie　tossed　the　onyx

301

R。　A。　Salvatore

panther　figurine　to　the　floor。　〃e　back；　Guenhwyvar；〃　she　said　too　calmly。　〃Me　heroic　panion's　needing　yer　help。〃

Entreri　growled　and　went　at　his　opponent　with　renewed　fury梛ust　the　effect　conniving　Catti…brie　had　hoped　for。　His　sword　went　into　a　circular　movement；　and　his　jeweled　dagger　poked　in　behind　it　at　every　opportunity。

The　dark　elf　called　out　something；　and　one　of　those　nearest　him　mustered　some　courage　and　came　forward　to　join　the　batants。　Entreri　growled　and　reluctantly　fell　back　a　step；　across　the　corridor。

A　streaking　arrow　cut　in　front　of　the　assassin；　stealing　his　sight；　and　when　his　vision　returned；　he　faced　only　one　drow　again；　and　those　others　watching　from　behind；　in　the　side　passage；　were　long　gone。

Entreri　put　a　sarcastic　glance　at　Catti…brie；　but　she　was　firing　into　the　stone　again　（and　talking　to　the　returned　panther）　and　did　not　hear。

Drizzt　felt　the　burn　of　drow　poison　in　his　back；　but　felt；　too；　the　tingling　of　the　recently　quaffed　healing　potions。　He　started　to　swoon梡urposely梐nd　heard　Dantrag　laughing　at　him；　mocking　him。　The　predictable　click　of　Berg'inyon's　crossbow　sounded；　and　Drizzt　fell　right　to　the　stone；　the　dart　arcing　over　him　and　stealing　the　mirth　from　the　smug　weapon　master　as　it　skipped　off　the　stone　not　so　far　from　Dantrag's　head。

Dantrag's　charge　was　on　before　Drizzt　was　fully　back　to　his　feet；　the　weapon　master　ing　straight　at　him　this　time。　Drizzt　fell　to　one　knee；　shot　back　up；　and　spun　a