精灵血脉四部曲-第107部分

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Thus；　Drizzt　was　not　surprised　to　see　a　familiar；　outrageous　dark　elf　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　corridor；　wide…brimmed　hat　in　hand；　waiting　to　greet　him　and　his　fleeing　panions。

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Catti…brie；　still　seething；　still　on　her　warrior's　edge；　brought　Taulmaril　up　immediately。　〃Ye're　not　for　running　free　this　time；〃　she　muttered　under　her　breath；　remembering　how　the　crafty　Jarlaxle　had　eluded　them　after　the　fight　in　Mithril　Hall。

Entreri　grabbed　the　arrow　before　Catti…brie　had　bent　the　bow；　and　the　young　woman；　seeing　that　Drizzt　was　making　no　move　to　go　for　his　weapons；　did　not　continue。

〃Please；　dear　and　beautiful　woman；〃　the　mercenary　said　to　her。　〃I　have　only　e　out　to　say　farewell。〃

His　words　grated　on　Catti…brie's　nerves；　but　at　the　same　time；　she　could　not　deny　that　Jarlaxle　had　treated　her　with　dignity；　had　not　abused　her　when　she　had　been　bis　helpless　prisoner。

〃From　my　perspective；　that　would　seem　a　strange　thing；〃　Drizzt　remarked；　taking　care　to　keep　his　voice　calm。　He　felt　in　the　pouch　for　the　onyx　figurine；　but　took　little　fort　in　its　presence；　knowing　that　if　he　found　the　need　to　summon　Guenhwyvar；　they　would　all　likely　die。　Both　Drizzt　and　Entreri；　understanding　the　methods　of　Bregan　D'aerthe　and　the　precautions　of　its　elusive　leader；　knew　that　they　were　surrounded　by　skilled　warriors　in　overwhelming　numbers。

〃Perhaps　I　was　not　so　opposed　to　your　escape；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　as　you　seem　to　think；〃　Jarlaxle　replied；　and　there　was　no　doubt　in　anyone's　mind　that　he　had　aimed　that　remark　directly　at　Artemis　Entreri。

Entreri　did　not　seem　surprised　by　the　claim。　Everything　had　fallen　neatly　into　place　for　the　assassin桟atti…brie's　circlet　and　the　locket　that　helped　to　locate　Drizzt；　the　spider　mask；　Jarlaxle's　references　to　the　vulnerability　of　House　Baenre　during　the　high　ritual；　even　the　panther　figurine；　waiting　for　him　to　take　it；　on　Jarlaxle's　desk。　He　did　not　know　how　purposeful　and　involved　Jarlaxle　had　been　in　arranging　things；　but　he　certainly　understood　that　the　mercenary　had　anticipated　what　might　e　to　pass。

'Tou　betrayed　your　own　people；〃　the　assassin　said。

〃My　own　people？〃　Jarlaxle　balked。　〃Define　that　term；　people。〃　Jarlaxle　paused　a　few　moments；　then　laughed；　hearing　no　answer　to　his　request。　〃I　did　not　cooperate　with　the　plans　of　one　matron　mother；〃　he　corrected。

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〃The　first　matron　mother；〃　Entreri　put　in。

〃For　now；〃　the　mercenary　added　with　a　wistful　smile。　〃Not　all　the　drow　of　Menzoberranzan　were　so　pleased　by　the　alliance　Baenre　had　formed梟ot　even　all　of　Matron　Baenre's　own　family。〃

〃Triel；〃　Entreri　said；　more　to　Drizzt　than　to　the　mercenary。

〃Among　others；〃　said　Jarlaxle。

〃What're　the　two　talking　about？〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　Drizzt；　who　only　shrugged；　not　understanding　the　larger　picture。

〃We　are　discussing　the　fate　of　Mithril　Hall；〃　Jarlaxle　explained　to　her。　〃I　mend　your　aim；　dear　and　beautiful　lady。〃　He　swept　into　a　graceful　bow　that；　for　some　reason；　made　Catti…brie　more　than　a　little　unfortable。

Jarlaxle　looked　to　Drizzt。　〃I　would　pay　dearly　for　a　glimpse　of　the　expressions　worn　by　those　matron　mothers　inside　the　Baenre　chapel　when　your　lovely　panion's　stalactite　spear　plunged　through　the　roof！〃

Both　Drizzt　and　Entreri　turned　to　stare　at　Catti…brie；　who　just　shrugged　and　smiled　innocently。

〃You　didn't　kill　many　drow；〃　Jarlaxle　quickly　added。　〃Only　a　handful　in　the　chapel；　and　no　more　than　two　dozen　throughout　your　entire　escape。　House　Baenre　will　recover；　though　it　may　take　a　while　to　figure　out　how　to　extract　your　handiwork　from　their　no…longer…perfectly…domed　ceiling！　House　Baenre　will　recover。〃

〃But　the　alliance；〃　Drizzt　remarked；　beginning　to　understand　why　no　drow　other　than　Bregan　D'aerthe　had　e　into　the　runnels　in　pursuit。

〃Yes；　the　alliance；〃　Jarlaxle　replied；　offering　no　explanation。　〃In　truth；　the　alliance　to　go　after　Mithril　Hall　was　dead　the　minute　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　was　taken　captive。

〃But　the　questions！〃　Jarlaxle　continued。　〃So　many　to　be　answered。　That　is　why　I　have　e　out；　of　course。〃

The　three　panions　looked　to　each　other；　not　understanding　what　the　mercenary　might　be　hinting　at。

〃You　have　something　that　I　must　return；〃　Jarlaxle　explained；　looking　directly　at　Entreri。　He　held　out　his　empty　hand。　〃You　will　turn　it　over。〃

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〃And　if　we　don't？〃　Catti…brie　demanded　fiercely。

Jarlaxle　laughed。

The　assassin　immediately　produced　the　spider　mask。　Of　course　Jarlaxle　would　need　to　put　it　back　in　Sorcere；　else　he　would　be　implicated　in　the　escape。

Jarlaxle's　eyes　gleamed　when　he　saw　the　item；　the　one　piece　left　to　put　into　his　pleted　puzzle。　He　suspected　that　Triel　Baenre　had　watched　Entreri　and　Catti…brie's　every　step　when　they　had　gone　into　Sorcere　to　pilfer　the　thing。　Jarlaxle's　actions　in　guiding　the　assassin　to　the　mask；　though；　in　precipitating　the　escape　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　were　perfectly　in　line　with　the　eldest　Baenre　daughter's　desires。　He　took　faith　that　she　would　not　betray　him　to　her　mother。

If　he　could　just　get　that　mask　back　into　Sorcere梟o　difficult　feat梑efore　Gromph　Baenre　realized　that　it　was　missing。。。

Entreri　looked　to　Drizzt；　who　had　no　answers；　then　tossed　the　mask　to　Jarlaxle。　Almost　as　an　afterthought；　the　mercenary　reached　up　and　took　a　ruby　pendant　off　his　neck。

'It　is　not　so　effective　against　drow　nobles；〃　he　explained　dryly；　and　threw　it　unexpectedly　to　Drizzt。

Drizzf　s　hand　snapped　out；　too　soon；　and　the　pendant；　Regis's　pendant；　slapped　against　the　ranger's　forearm。　Quick　as　could　be；　Drizzt　snapped　his　hand　back　in；　catching　the　thing　before　it　had　fallen　half　an　inch。

〃Dantrag's　bracers；〃　Jarlaxle　said　with　a　laugh　as　he　noticed　the　ranger's　covered　wrist。　〃I　had　suspected　as　much　of　them。　Fear　not；　for　you　will　get　used　to　them；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　and　then　how　much　more　formidable　you　will　be！〃

Drizzt　said　nothing；　but　didn't　doubt　the　mercenary's　words。

Entreri；　not　yet　free　of　his　rivalry　with　Drizzt；　eyed　the　ranger　dangerously；　not　the　least　bit　pleased。

〃And　so　you　have　defeated　Matron　Baenre's　plans；〃　Jarlaxle　went　on　grandly；　sweeping　into　another　bow。　〃And　you；　assassin；　have　earned　your　freedom。　But　look　ever　over　your　shoulders；　daring　friends；　for　the　memories　of　dark　elves　are　long　and　the　methods　of　dark　elves　are　devious。〃

There　came　an　explosion；　a　blast　of　orange　smoke；　and

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Starless　Night

when　it　cleared；　Jarlaxle　was　gone。

〃And　good　riddance　to　ye；〃　Catti…brie　muttered。

〃As　1　will　say　to　you　when　we　part　pany　on　the　surface；〃　Entreri　promised　grimly。

〃Only　because　Catti…brie　gave　you　her　word；〃　Drizzt　replied；　his　tone　equally　grave。　He　and　Entreri　locked　unpromising　stares；　looks　of　pure　hatred；　and　Catti…brie；　standing　between　them；　felt　unfortable　indeed。

With　the　immediate　threat　of　Menzoberranzan　apparently　behind　them；　it　seemed　as　though　the　old　enemies　had　bee　enemies　again。

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he　panions　did　not　go　back　to　the　cave　beyond　Dead　Ore　Pass。　With　Guenhwyvar's　guidance；　they　came　into　the　tunnels　far　beneath　Mitiv　ril　Hall；　and　Entreri　knew　the　way　well　enough　from　there　to　guide　them　back　to　the　tunnels　connecting　to　the　lower　mines。　The　assassin　and　the　ranger　parted　pany　on　the　same　ledge　where　they　had　once　battled；　under　the　same　starry　sky　they　had　seen　the　night　of　their　duel。

Entreri　walked　off　along　the　ledge；　pausing　a　short　distance　away　to　turn　and　regard　his　hated　rival。

〃Long；　too；　is　my　own　memory；〃　he　remarked；　referring　to　Jarlaxle's　parting　words。　〃And　are　my　methods　less　devious　than　those　of　the　drow？〃

Drizzt　did　not　bother　to　respond。　〃Suren　I'm　cursing　me　own　words；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　Drizzt。　〃I'd　be　liking　nothing　better　than　to　put　an　arrow　through　that　one's　back！〃

Drizzt　hooked　his　arm　over　the　young　woman's　shoulder　and　led　her　back　into　the　tunnels。　He　would　not　disagree　that　Catti…brie's　shot；　if　taken；　would　have　made　the　world　a　better

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place；　but　he　was　not　afraid　of　Artemis　Entreri　anymore。

Entreri　had　a　lot　on　his　mind；　Drizzt　knew。　The　assassin　hadn't　liked　what　he　had　seen　in　Menzoberranzan；　such　a　dear　mirror　to　his　own　dark　soul；　and　he　would　be　long　in　recovering　from　his　emotional　trials；　long　in　turning　his　thoughts　back　to　a　drow　ranger　so　very　far　away。

Less　than　an　hour　later；　the　two　friends　came　upon　the　site　of　Wulfgar's　death。　They　paused　and　stood　before　it　for　a　long　while；　silently；　arm　in　arm。

By　the　time　they　turned　to　leave；　a　score　of　armed　and　armored　dwarves　had　appeared；　blocking　every　exit　with　engines　of　war。

〃Surrender　or　be　squished！〃　came　the　cry；　followed　by　howls　of　surprise　when　the　two　intruders　were　recognized。　In　rushed　the　dwarven　soldiers；　surrounding；　mobbing　the　pair。

'Take　them　to　the　watch　mander！〃　came　a　call；　and　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　were　shuffled　off　at　breakneck　speed；　along　the　winding　ways　and　through　the　formal　entrance　to　the　tunnels　of　Mithril　Hall。　A　short　distance　from　there；　they　found　the　aforementioned　mander；　and　the　two　friends　were　as　startled　to　see　him　in　that　position　as　Regis　was　to　see　them。

〃The　mander？〃　was　Catti…brie's　first　words　as　she　looked　again　at　her　little　friend。　Regis　bounded　over　and　leaped　into　her　arms；　at　the　same　time　throwing　an　arm　about　Drizzf　s　neck。

〃You're　back！〃　he　cried　repeatedly；　his　cherubic　features　beaming　brightly。

〃mander？〃　Catti…brie　asked　again；　no　less　incredulously。

Regis　gave　a　little　shrug。　〃Somebody　had　to　do　it；〃　he　explained。

〃And　he's　been　doing　it　fine　by　me　own　eyes；〃　said　one　dwarf。　The　other　bearded　folk　in　the　room　promptly　agreed；　putting　a　blush　on　the　halfling's　deceivingly　dimpled　face。

Regis　gave　a　little　shrug；　then　kissed　Catti…brie　so　hard　that　he　bruised　her　cheek。

Bruenor　sat　as　if　turned　to　stone；　and　the　other　dwarves　in　his　audience　hall；　after　giving　their　hearty　weles　to

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Catti…brie；　wisely　departed。

〃I　bringed　him　back；〃　the　young　woman　began　matter…of…factly　when　she　and　her　father　were　alone；　trying　to　sound　as　if　nothing　spectacular　had　occurred。　〃And　suren　ver　eves　should　feast　on　the　sights　of　Menzoberranzan！

Bruenor　winced；　tears　welled　in　his　blue…gray　eye。