精灵血脉四部曲-第105部分

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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　away；　frantically　batting　at　the　dangerous　and　enchanted　lance　as　it　passed　just　under　his　high…flying　arm。　Dantrag；　incredibly　fast；　snapped　off　a　backhanded　slap　into　Drizzf　s　face　as　he　passed。　Drizzt；　both　his　blades　intent　on　keeping　the　lance　at　bay；　could　not　respond。

Back　came　the　weapon　master；　impossibly　quick；　and　Drizzt　had　to　dive　to　the　side　as　the　mighty　lance　scratched　a　deep　line　into　the　stone。　Drizzt　reversed　his　direction　imme…

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diately；　hoping　to　score　a　hit　as　the　lance　went　past；　but　again　Dantrag　was　too　quick；　snapping　out　his　own　sword　and　not　only　deflecting　Drizzf　s　lunge；　but　countering　with　a　slapping　strike　against　the　side　of　Drizzt's　outstretched　hand。　And　then　the　sword　went　back　into　its　sheath；　too　fast　for　Drizzt　to　follow　the　move。

Around　wheeled　the　lizard；　going　up　on　a　wall　for　this　pass　and　sending　Drizzt　into　a　frantic　roll　back　the　other　way。

〃How　long；　Drizzt　Do'Urden？〃　the　cocky　weapon　master　asked；　knowing　that　Drizzt；　with　all　his　frantic　dodging　had　to　be　tiring。

Drizzt　growled　and　could　not　disagree；　but　as　he　rose　from　the　floor；　turning　to　follow　the　lizard's　progress；　the　ranger　saw　a　glimmer　of　hope　from　the　er　of　his　eye：　the　wele　face　of　a　certain　black　panther　as　it　bounded　around　the　corridor's　bend。

Dantrag　was　just　turning　his　mount　about　for　a　fifth　pass　when　Guenhwyvar　barreled　in。　G*ver　went　the　lizard；　with　Dantrag　strapped　in　for　the　ride。　The　weapon　master　managed　to　somehow　get　loose　of　his　bindings　as　the　beasts　continued　to　roll；　and　he　came　up；　quite　shaken；　facing　the　ranger。

〃Now　the　fight　is　fair；〃　Drizzt　declared。

A　crossbow　quarrel　whistled　past　Dantrag；　and　past　Drizzt's　blocking　scimitar；　to　score　a　hit　on　the　ranger's　shoulder。

〃Hardly；〃　Dantrag　corrected；　his　smile　returning。　Faster　than　Drizzt's　eye　could　follow；　he　snapped　his　two　swords　from　their　sheaths　and　began　his　measured　advance。　In　his　head　his　sentient　sword；　hungering　for　this　fight　perhaps　more　than　the　weapon　master　himself；　telepathically　agreed。

Hardly。

〃What　are　you　about？〃　Entreri　screamed　when　Guenhwyvar　bounded　past　him；　giving　no　apparent　regard　to　his　opponent。　The　flustered　assassin　took　out　his　frustration　on　the　lone　drow　facing　him；　hitting　the　unfortunate　soldier

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with　a　three…cut　bination　that　left　him　off　balance　and　with　one　of　his　arms　severely　bleeding。　Entreri　probably　could　have　finished　the　fight　right　then；　except　that　his　attention　was　still　somewhat　focused　on　Catti…brie。

〃I'm　just　digging　holes；〃　the　young　woman　said；　as　though　that　should　explain　everything。　Several　more　bow　shots　followed　in　rapid　succession；　chipping　away　at　the　hard　stone　of　an　enormous　stalactite。　One　arrow　went　through　then；　back　into　the　cavern　below。

〃There　is　fighting　ahead；〃　Entreri　called。　〃And　dark　elves　will　soon　be　floating　through　that　hole　in　the　ceiling。〃

〃Then　be　done　with　yer　work！〃　Catti…brie　shouted　at　him。　〃And　be　leaving　me　to　me　own！〃

Entreri　bit　back　his　next　retort；　gnawed　on　his　lips　instead；　and　determined　that　if　he　was　alive　when　this　was　all　over；　Catti…brie　would　wish　that　she　was　not。

The　drow　facing　the　assassin　came　on　suddenly；　thinking　that　his　opponent　was　distracted　and　thinking　to　score　a　quick　victory。　But　Entreri's　sword　snapped　left；　right；　and　straight　ahead；　batting　aside　both　weapons　and　scoring　a　minor　hit；　again　on　the　bleeding　arm。

They　were　no　more　than　a　tumbling　ball　of　fur　and　scales；　Guenhwyvar　and　the　subterranean　lizard　locked　in　a　raking；　biting　jumble。　With　its　longer　neck；　the　lizard　had　its　head　far　to　the　side；　biting　at　Guenhwyvar's　flank；　but　Guenhwyvar　stubbornly　kept　a　firm　hold　on　the　base　of　the　lizard's　neck。　More　deadly　still；　the　panther's　claws　were　inside　the　lizard's　reach；　affording　Guenhwyvar　a　distinct　advantage　as　they　rolled。　The　panther's　front　claws　kept　a　tight　and　steady　hold；　while　Guenhwyvar's　rear　legs　tucked　in　close　and　began　a　vicious　kicking　rake；　tearing　at　the　reptilian　beast。

Victory　was　at　hand　for　the　beleaguered　panther；　but　then　Guenhwyvar　feft　a　wicked　sting　in　the　back；　the　sting　of　a　sword。

The　panther　whipped　its　maw　about　in　a　frenzy；　tearing　out　a　chunk　of　the　lizard's　shoulder；　but　the　pain　brought

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blackness；　and　Guenhwyvar；　already　battered　from　the　run　along　the　walkways；　had　to　give　in；　had　to　melt　away　into　an　insubstantial　mist　and　follow　the　tunnel　back　to　the　Astral　Plane。

The　torn　lizard　rolled　about　on　the　stone；　bleeding　from　its　neck　and　sides；　its　belly　hanging　free　of　its　skin。　It　crept　away　as　swiftly　as　it　could；　seeking　a　hole　in　which　to　crawl。

Berg'inyon　paid　it　no　heed。　He　simply　sat　back　on　his　own　mount　and　watched　the　impending　battle　with　more　than　a　passing　interest。　He　started　to　load　his　hand…crossbow；　but　changed　his　mind　and　just　sat　back。

It　occurred　to　Berg'inyon　then　that　he　stood　only　to　gain；　no　matter　who　won　this　contest。

Hands　out；　his　sword　blades　resting　across　his　shoulders；　the　weapon　master　casually　walked　up　to　stand　before　Drizzt　He　started　to　say　something；　so　Drizzt　thought；　when　a　sword　abruptly　whipped　out。　Drizzt　heaved　his　own　weapon　up　to　block；　heard　the　ring　of　steel　on　steel；　then　Dantrag　sliced　out　with　his　second　blade；　and　punched　ahead　with　the　hilt　of　his　first。

Drizzt　could　hardly　register　the　moves。　He　got　Twinkle　up　in　time　to　block　the　second　blade；　and　got　punched　solidly　in　the　face。　Then　he　was　struck　in　the　face　a　second　time　as　Dantrag's　other　hand　flew　up；　too　quick　for　Drizzt　to　catch。

What　magic　did　this　drow　possess？　Drizzt　wondered；　for　he　did　not　believe　that　anyone　could　move　so　quickly。

The　razorlike　edge　of　one　of　Dantrag's　swords　began　to　glow　a　distinct　line　of　red；　though　it　seemed　no　more　than　a　dull　blur　to　Drizzt　as　the　weapon　master　continued　his　lightning…fast　routines。　Drizzt　could　only　react　to　each　move；　snap　his　blades　this　way　and　that　and　take　some　relief　in　hearing　the　ring　of　steel。　All　thoughts　of　countering　the　moves　were　gone；　Drizzt　could　hope　only　that　Dantrag　would　quickly　tire。

But　Dantrag　smiled；　realizing　that　Drizzt；　like　any　other　drow；　could　not　move　fast　enough　to　effectively　counter。

Twinkle　caught　a　slice　ing　in　at　Drizzt's　left；　Dantrag's　other　sword；　the　glowing　one；　arced　out　wide　to　the　right；　and　Drizzt　was　somewhat　off　balance　as　his　second　scimitar　rushed；　tip　straight　up；　to　block。　The　sword

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connected　on　the　scimitar　near　its　tip；　and　Drizzt　knew　that　he　hadn't　the　strength　to　fully　stop　that　blow　with　that　difficult　angle。　He　dove　straight　down　as　his　blade　inevitably　tipped　in；　and　the　sword　swished　above　Ms　head；　went　right　across　as　Drizzt　spun　away；　to　slash　against梐nd　cut　deeply　into！梩he　stone　wall。

Drizzt　nearly　screamed　aloud　at　the　incredible　edge　that　weapon　displayed；　to　cut　stone　as　easily　as　if　it　had　been　a　wall　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer's　favorite　smelly　cheese！

〃How　long　can　you　continue？〃　Dantrag　asked　him；　mocked　him。　〃Already　your　moves　are　slowing；　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　I　will　have　your　head　soon。〃　In　stalked　the　confident　weapon　master；　even　more　confident　now　that　he　had　seen　the　legendary　renegade　in　battle。

Drizzt　had　been　caught　by　surprise；　back　on　his　heels　and　fearful　of　the　consequences　of　his　loss。　He　forced　himself　to　realize　that　now；　forced　himself　to　fall　into　a　meditative　trance；　purely　focused　on　his　enemy。　He　could　not　continue　to　react　to　Dantrag's　flashing　movements；　he　had　to　look　deeper；　to　understand　the　methods　of　his　cunning　and　skilled　adversary；　as　he　had　when　Dantrag　had　first　charged　on　the　lizard。　Drizzt　had　known　the　charging　Dantrag　would　go　to　the　ceiling；　because　he　had　managed　to　understand　the　situation　through　the　weapon　master's　eyes。

And　so　it　went　now。　Dantrag　came　with　a　left；　right；　left；　left；　thrust　bination；　but　Drizzf　s　blades　were　in　line　for　the　parry　every　time；　Drizzt　actually　beginning　the　blocks　before　Dantrag　had　begun　the　attacks。　The　weapon　master's　attacks　were　not　so　different　from　Zak'nafein's　during　all　those　years　of　training。　While　Dantrag　moved　faster　than　any　drow　Drizzt　had　ever　encountered；　the　ranger　began　to　suspect　that　Dantrag　could　not　improvise　in　the　middle　of　any　moves。

He　caught　a　high…riding　sword；　spun　a　plete　circuit　to　whip　Twinkle　across　and　knock　away　the　predictable　thrust　of　the　second。　It　was　true；　Drizzt　then　knew；　Dantrag　was　as　much　a　prisoner　of　his　own　speed　as　were　his　opponents。

In　came　a　vicious　thrust；　but　Drizzt　was　already　down　on　his　knees；　one　scimitar　snapping　up　above　his　head　to

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keep　Dantrag's　weapon　riding　high。　The　weapon　master's　second　strike　was　on　the　way；　but　it　fell　a　split　second　after　Twinkle　had　reached　out　and　cut　a　fine　line　on　the　side　of　Dantrag's　shin；　forcing　the　Baenre　into　a　hopping　retreat　instead。

With　a　growl　of　rage；　the　weapon　master　bore　right　back　in；　slapping　at　Drizzt's　blades；　slowly　working　them　up　high。　Drizzt　countered　every　move；　falling　in　line　with　the　attack　patterns。　At　first；　the　ranger's　mind　worked　ahead　to　find　an　effective　counterstrike；　but　then　Drizzt　understood　Dantrag's　aim　in　this　routine；　a　scenario　that　Drizzt　had　played　out　before　with　his　father。

Dantrag　could　not　know梠nly　Drizzt　and　Zak'nafein　knew梩hat　Drizzt　had　found　the　solution　to　this　usually　unbeatable　offense。

Up　higher　went　the　scimitars；　Dantrag　moving　under　them　and　in。　The　attack　was　called　double…thrust…low；　wherein　the　aim　was　to　get　your　opponent's　weapons　up　high；　then　step　back　suddenly　and　e　straight　in　with　both　your　own　blades。

Drizzt　hopped　back　and　snapped　his　crossed　scimitars　down　atop　the　flying　blades；　the　only　parry　against　the　cunning　move；　the　cross…down。　But　Drizzt　was　countering　even　as　he　blocked；　shifting　his　weight　to　his　lead　foot　as　his　back　foot　kicked　out；　between　his　scimitar　hilts；　between　Dantrag's　surprised　eyes。

He　connected　squarely　on　the　weapon　master's　face；　staggering　Dantrag　back　several　steps。　Drizzt　sprang　right　ahead；　。a