精灵血脉四部曲-第106部分

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He　connected　squarely　on　the　weapon　master's　face；　staggering　Dantrag　back　several　steps。　Drizzt　sprang　right　ahead；　。all　over　the　stunned　drow　in　a　wild　flurry。　Now　he　was　forcing　the　moves；　striking　repeatedly　so　that　his　opponent　could　not　again　gain　the　offensive；　could　not　use　that　unbelievable　speed　to　its　fullest　advantage。

Now　it　was　Dantrag　who　was　reacting　to　Drizzt's　blinding　attacks；　scimitars　snapping　in　at　him　from　every　conceivable　angle。　Drizzt　didn't　know　how　long　he　could　keep　up　the　wild　flurry；　but　he　understood　that　he　could　not　allow　Dantrag　to　regain　the　offensive；　could　not　allow　Dantrag　to　again　put　him　back　on　his　heels。

To　Dantrag's　credit；　he　managed　to　keep　his　balance　well　enough　to　defeat　the　attacks；　and　the　weapon　master

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dodged　aside　whenever　a　scimitar　slipped　through。　Drizzt　noticed　that　only　Dantrag's　hands　seemed　possessed　of　that　impossible　speed；　the　rest　of　the　draw's　body　moved　well；　perfectly　balanced；　as　would　be　expected　of　a　Baenre　weapon　master。　But；　ultimately；　except　for　the　hands；　Dantrag　moved　no　faster　than　Drizzt　could　move。

Twinkle　went　straight　in。　Dantrag's　sword　banged　against　its　side。　Sly　Drizzt　twisted　the　scimitar；　used　its　curving　blade　to　roll　it　over　the　weapon　master's　sword　and　bite　at　his　arm。

Dantrag　leaped　back；　trying　to　break　the　clinch；　but　Drizzt　paced　him；　scimitars　waving。　Again；　then　a　third　time；　Drizzt　turned　Dantrag's　perfect　parries　into　minor　hits；　the　fluid　motions　of　his　curving　blades　trapping　the　straight　blocks　of　the　swords。

Could　Dantrag　anticipate　Drizzt's　moves　as　well　as　Drizzt　had　anticipated　the　weapon　master's？　Drizzt　wondered　with　more　than　a　little　sarcasm；　and　he　sublimated　his　wicked　smile。　Straight　ahead　went　Twinkle；　and　out　snapped　the　blocking　sword；　the　only　possible　defense。　Drizzt　started　to　twist　the　blade；　and　Dantrag　started　to　retract　the　arm。

But　Drizzt　stopped　suddenly　and　reversed　the　flow。　Twinkle　shooting　across　faster　than　Dantrag　could　react。　The　deadly　scimitar　gashed　deeply　into　the　weapon　master's　other　forearm；　poking　it　out　wide；　then　came　back　across；　Drizzt　stepping　into　the　move　so　that　his　extended　blade　slashed　a　tight　line　across　Dantrag's　belly。

Wincing　in　pain；　the　weapon　master　managed　to　leap　back　from　his　deadly　adversary。　〃You　are　good；〃　he　admitted；　and　though　he　tried　to　keep　his　confident　facade；　Drizzt　could　tell　by　the　quiver　in　his　voice　that　the　last　hit　had　been　serious。

Dantrag　smiled　unexpectedly。　〃Berg'inyon！〃　he　called；　looking　to　the　side。　His　eyes　widened　indeed　when　he　saw　that　his　brother　was　no　longer　there。

〃He　wishes　to　be　the　weapon　master；〃　Drizzt　reasoned　calmly。

Dantrag　roared　in　outrage　and　leaped　ahead；　his　attacks　ing　in　rapid　fire；　suddenly　stealing　the　offensive。

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*　？*　*　？

Up　flashed　the　sword　and　in　stepped　the　furious　assassin；　his　jeweled　dagger　drinking　eagerly　of　his　opponent's　lifeblood。　Entreri　jerked　the　weapon　once；　then　again；　then　stepped　back　and　let　the　dead　drow　fall　to　the　stone。

The　assassin　kept　the　presence　of　mind　to　immediately　jump　to　the　side　of　the　passage；　and　shook　his　head　helplessly　as　several　darts　knocked　against　the　corridor　wall　opposite　the　opening。

Entreri　turned　to　the　still…kneeling　Catti…brie　and　demanded　again　to　know　what　she　was　up　to。

The　auburn…haired　woman；　so　deceptively　innocent…looking；　smiled　widely　and　held　up　the　last　of　the　loaded　hourglasses；　then　put　it　into　one　of　her　arrow…blasted　holes。

The　blood　drained　from　the　assassin's　face　as　he　realized　how　Catti…brie　had　blown　up　the　walkway　back　in　the　cavern；　as　he　realized　what　she　was　doing　now。

〃We　should　be　running；〃　Catti…brie　remarked；　ing　up　from　her　crouch；　Taulmaril　in　hand。

Entreri　was　already　moving；　not　even　looking　down　the　side　corridor　as　he　passed　it。

Catti…brie　came　right　behind；　actually　laughing。　She　paused　long　enough　at　the　hole　in　the　floor；　leading　back　into　the　main　cavern；　to　shout　out　to　those　levitating　dark　elves　drifting　up　toward　her　that　they　weren't　likely　to　enjoy　the　reception。

*****

Thrust　left；　thrust　right；　down…cut　left；　down…cut　right。　Dantrag's　attack　came　brutally　swift　and　hard；　but　Drizzf　s　scimitars　were　in　place　for　the　parries　and　blocks；　and　again　the　cunning　ranger　used　a　third　weapon梙is　boot梩o　counter。　He　snapped　his　foot　up　to　slam　the　weapon　master's　already　wounded　belly。

Dantrag　couldn't　stop　from　lurching　over；　and　then　he　was　back　on　the　defensive　again；　reacting　desperately　as　Drizzt　relentlessly　waded　in。

Around　the　bend　came　Entreri。　〃Run　on！〃　he　cried；　and

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though　the　assassin　needed　Drizzt　for　his　ultimate　escape；　he　did　not　dare　to　stop　and　pull　the　ranger　along。

Catti…brie　came　next；　just　in　time　to　see　Drizzf　s　scimitars　flash　straight　ahead；　to　be　taken　out　wide　and　held　by　Dantrag's　blocking　swords。　Up　came　Drizzt's　knee；　quicker　than　Dantrag's；　as　the　two　inevitably　moved　together；　and　in　a　sudden　explosion　of　agony；　the　wounded　weapon　master　understood　that　he　could　not　hold　Drizzt　back。

Drizzt　turned　Twinkle　over　the　blocking　sword　and　put　it　in　line　for　Dantrag's　ribs；　then　the　two　seemed　to　pause　for　an　instant；　eye　to　eye。

〃Zak'nafein　would　have　defeated　you；〃　the　ranger　promised　grimly；　and　he　plunged　Twinkle　deep　into　Dantrag's　heart。

Drizzt　turned　to　Catti…brie；　trying　to　fathom　the　level　of　terror　apparent　in　her　wide　eyes。

Then　she　was　ing　at　him；　weirdly；　and　it　took　the　ranger　a　moment　to　even　realize　that　she　was　off　her　feet；　propelled　by　the　shock　wave　of　an　explosion。

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SORTING　IT　OUT

t　creaked　and　groaned　in　protest；　shock　waves　and　searing　flames　melting　its　hold　on　the　cavern　ceiling。　Then　it　fell；　like　a　great　spear；　whistling　along　its　thousand…foot　descent。

Helpless　and　horrified；　those　dark　elves　levitating　nearby　watched　it　fly　past。

Inside　the　domed　chapel；　the　ceremony　continued　undisturbed。

A　female　soldier；　an　elite　guard　of　House　Baenre　but　certainly　no　noble；　rushed　up　to　the　central　dais；　screaming　wildly。　At　first。　Matron　Baenre　and　（he　others　thought　her　caught　up　in　the　outrageous　frenzy；　an　all…too…mon　sight　in　the　out…of…control　drow　rituals。　Gradually　they　came　to　understand　that　this　soldier　was　screaming　cries　of　warning。　Seven　matron　mothers　turned　suddenly　suspicious　gazes　on　Matron　Baenre；　and　even　her　own　daughters　did　not　know　what　she　was　about。　Then　the　stalactite　hit。

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Drizzt　caught　Catti…brie　in　midair；　then　he；　too；　was　flying。　He　rolled　over　as　the　two　touched　down；　burying　the　young　woman　under　him　protectively。

They　were　both　screaming；　but　neither　heard　anything　beyond　the　thunderous　roar　of　the　widening　fireball。　Drizzf　s　back　warmed；　and　his　cloak　ignited　in　several　places　as　the　very　edge　of　the　firestorm　rolled　over　him。

Then　it　was　done　as　quickly　as　it　had　begun。　Drizzt　rolled　off　Catti…brie；　scrambled　to　get　out　of　his　burning　cloak；　and　rushed　to　get　to　his　still…down　panion；　fearing　that　she　had　been　knocked　unconscious；　or　worse；　in　the　explosion。

Catti…brie　opened　a　blue　eye　and　flashed　a　wistful；　mischievous　smile。

〃I'm　betting　that　the　way　is　clear　behind　us；〃　she　smirked　and　Drizzt　nearly　laughed　aloud。　He　scooped　her　up　in　his　arms　and　hugged　her　tightly；　feeling　in　that　instant　as　though　they　might　actually　be　free　once　more。　He　thought　of　the　times　to　e　in　Mithril　Hall；　times　that　would　be　spent　beside　Bruenor　and　Regis　and　Guenhwyvar；　and；　of　course；　Catti…brie。

Drizzt　could　not　believe　all　that　he　had　almost　thrown　away。

He　let　Catti…brie　go　for　a　moment　and　rushed　back　around　the　bend；　just　to　confirm　that　all　those　drow　pursuing　them　were　gone。

〃Hello；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　under　her　breath；　looking　down　to　a　magnificent　sword　lying　next　to　the　fallen　weapon　master。　Catti…brie　gingerly　picked　the　weapon　up；　confused　as　to　why　an　evil　drow　noble　would　wield　a　sword　whose　hilt　was　sculpted　in　the　shape　of　a　unicorn；　the　symbol　of　the　goodly　goddess　Mielikki。

〃What　have　you　found？〃　Drizzt　asked；　returning　calmly。

〃I　think　that　this　one'd　suit　yerself；〃　Catti…brie　remarked；　holding　up　the　weapon　to　display　the　unusual　pommel。

Drizzt　stared　at　the　sword　curiously。　He　had　not　noticed　that　hilt　in　his　fight　with　Dantrag；　though　he　certainly　remembered　that　blade　as　the　one　that　had　so　easily　cut　through　the　stone　wall。　〃You　keep　it；〃　he　offered　with　a

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shrug。　〃I　favor　the　scimitar；　and　if　that　is　truly　a　weapon　of　Mielikki；　then　she　would　be　pleased　to　have　it　on　the　hip　of　Catti…brie。〃

Catti…brie　saluted　Drizzt；　smiled　widely；　and　slipped　the　sword　into　her　belt。　She　turned　about；　hearing　Entreri's　return；　as　Drizzt　bent　over　Dantrag's　body　and　quietly　slipped　the　bracers　off　the　dead　draw's　wrists；

〃We　cannot　delay！〃　the　obviously　flustered　assassin　snapped。　〃All　of　Menzoberranzan　knows　of　us　now；　and　a　thousand　miles　will　not　be　enough　ground　between　me　and　that　wretched　city。〃

For　perhaps　the　first　time；　Drizzt　found　that　he　pletely　agreed　with　the　assassin。

Belted　as　it　was　on　the　hip　of　the　human　woman　was　not　exactly　what　the　sentient　Khazid'hea　had　in　mind。　The　sword　had　heard　much　talk　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　and；　upon　Dantrag's　defeat；　had　altered　the　appearance　of　its　magical　pommel　so　that　it　might　rest　in　the　grasp　of　the　legendary　warrior。

Drizzt　hadn't　taken　the　bait；　but　the　sword　that　had　rightfully　earned　the　name　Cutter　could　wait。

The　going　was　smooth；　with　no　pursuit　evident　for　the　rest　of　that　day　and　long　into　the　night。　Finally　the　group　had　no　choice　but　to　stop　and　rest；　but　it　was　a　fitful　and　nervous　time　indeed。

So　it　went　for　three　days　of　running；　putting　the　miles　behind　them。　Drizzt　kept　the　lead；　and　kept　the　panions　far　from　Blingdenstone；　fearful　of　involving　the　svirmebli　in　any　of　this　incredible　and　dangerous　web。　He　could　not　understand　why　lizard…riding　draw　patrols　had　not　overtaken　them；　could　hardly　believe　that　scores　of　dark　elves　were　not　crouched　in　corridors　behind　them；　or　on　their　flanks；　waiting　to　spring　an　ambush。

Thus；　Drizzt　was　not　surprised　to　see　a　familiar；　outrageous　dark　elf　standing　in　the　middl