精灵血脉四部曲-第112部分

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xle　had　entered。

　　　〃You　have　done　as　I　asked？〃　she　questioned；　still　looking　at　the　continuing　work　on　the　domed　ceiling。

　　　〃Greetings　to　you　as　well；　First　Matron　Mother；〃　the　always　sarcastic　male　replied。　That　turned　Baenre　to　face　him；　and　she　scowled；　as　she　and　so　many　other　of　Menzoberranzan's　ruling　females　scowled　when　they　looked　at　the　mercenary。

　　　He　was　swaggering梩here　was　no　other　word　to　describe　him。　The　dark　elves　of　Menzoberranzan；　particularly　the　lowly　males；　normally　donned　quiet；　practical　clothes；　dark…hued　robes　adorned　with　spiders　or　webs；　or　plain　black　jerkins　beneath　supple　chainmail　armor。　And；　almost　always；　both　male　and　female　drow　wore　camouflaging　piwafwis；　dark　cloaks　that　could　hide　them　from　the　probing　eyes　of　their　many　enemies。

　　　Not　so　with　Jarlaxle。　His　head　was　shaven　and　always　capped　by　an　outrageous　wide…brimmed　hat　feathering　the　gigantic　plume　of　a　diatryma　bird。　In　lieu　of　a　cloak　or　robe；　he　wore　a　shimmering　cape　that　flickered　through　every　color　of　the　spectrum；　both　in　light　and　under　the　scrutiny　of　heat…sensing　eyes　looking　in　the　infrared　range。　His　sleeveless　vest　was　cut　high　to　show　the　tight　muscles　of　his　stomach；　and　he　carried　an　assortment　of　rings　and　necklaces；　bracelets；　even　anklets；　that　chimed　gratingly梑ut　only　when　the　mercenary　wanted　them　to。　Like　his　boots；　which　had　sounded　so　clearly　on　the　hard　chapel　floor；　the　jewelry　could　be　silenced　pletely。

　　　Matron　Baenre　noted　that　the　mercenary's　customary　eye　patch　was　over　his　left　eye　this　day；　but　what；　if　anything；　that　signified；　she　could　not　tell。

　　　For　who　knew　what　magic　was　in　that　patch；　or　in　those　jewels　and　those　boots；　or　in　the　two　wands　he　wore　tucked　under　his　belt；　and　the　fine　sword　he　kept　beside　them？　Half　those　items；　even　one　of　the　wands；　Matron　Baenre　believed；　were　likely　fakes；　with　little　or　no　magical　properties　other　than；　perhaps；　the　ability　to　fall　silent。　Half　of　everything　Jarlaxle　did　was　a　bluff；　but　half　of　it　was　devious　and　ultimately　deadly。

　　　That　was　why　the　swaggering　mercenary　was　so　dangerous。

　　　That　was　why　Matron　Baenre　hated　Jarlaxle　so；　and　why　she　needed　him　so。　He　was　the　leader　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；　a　work　of　spies；　thieves；　and　killers；　mostly　rogue　males　made　houseless　when　their　families　had　been　wiped　out　in　one　of　the　many　inter…house　wars。　As　mysterious　as　their　dangerous　leader；　Bregan　D'aerthe's　members　were　not　known；　but　they　were　indeed　very　powerful梐s　powerful　as　most　of　the　city's　established　houses？and　very　effective。

　　　〃What　have　you　learned？〃　Matron　Baenre　asked　bluntly。

　　　〃It　would　take　me　centuries　to　spew　it　all；〃　the　cocky　rogue　replied。

　　　Baenre's　red…glowing　eyes　narrowed；　and　Jarlaxle　realized　she　was　not　in　the　mood　for　his　flippancy。　She　was　scared；　he　knew；　and；　considering　the　catastrophe　at　the　high　ritual；　rightly　so。

　　　〃I　find　no　conspiracy；〃　the　mercenary　honestly　admitted。

　　　Matron　Baenre's　eyes　widened；　and　she　swayed　back　on　her　heels；　surprised　by　the　straightforward　answer。　She　had　enacted　spells　that　would　allow　her　to　detect　any　outright　lies　the　mercenary　spoke；　of　course。　And　of　course；　Jarlaxle　would　know　that。　Those　spells　never　seemed　to　bother　the　crafty　mercenary　leader；　who　could　dance　around　the　perimeters　of　any　question；　never　quite　telling　the　truth；　but　never　overtly　lying。

　　　This　time；　though；　he　had　answered　bluntly；　and　right　to　the　heart　of　the　obvious　question。　And　as　far　as　Matron　Baenre　could　tell；　he　was　telling　the　truth。

　　　Baenre　could　not　accept　it。　Perhaps　her　spell　was　not　functioning　as　intended。　Perhaps　Lloth　had　indeed　abandoned　her　for　her　failure；　and　was　thus　deceiving　her　now　concerning　Jarlaxle's　sincerity。

　　　〃Matron　Mez'Barris　Armgo；〃　Jarlaxle　went　on；　referring　to　the　matron　mother　of　Barrison　del'Armgo；　the　city's　second　house；　〃remains　loyal　to　you；　and　to　your　cause；　despite　the。。。〃　He　fished　about　for　the　correct　word。　〃The　disturbance；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃to　the　high　ritual。　Matron　Mez'Barris　is　even　ordering　her　garrison　to　keep　on　the　ready　in　case　the　march　to　Mithril　Hall　is　resumed。　And　they　are　more　than　eager　to　go；　I　can　assure　you；　especially　with。。。〃　The　mercenary　paused　and　sighed　with　mock　sadness；　and　Matron　Baenre　understood　his　reasoning。

　　　Logically；　Mez'Barris　would　be　eager　to　go　to　Mithril　Hall；　for　with　Dantrag　Baenre　dead；　her　own　weapon　master；　mighty　Uthegental；　was　indisputably　the　greatest　in　the　city。　If　Uthegental　could　get　the　rogue　Do'Urden；　what　glories　House　Barrison　del'Armgo　might　know！

　　　Yet　that　very　logic；　and　Jarlaxle's　apparently　honest　claim；　flew　in　the　face　of　Matron　Baenre's　fears；　for　without　the　assistance　of　Barrison　del'Armgo；　no　bination　of　houses　in　Menzoberran…zan　could　threaten　House　Baenre。

　　　〃The　minor　shuffling　among　your　surviving　children　has　menced；　of　course；〃　Jarlaxle　went　on。　〃But　they　have　had　little　contact；　and　if　any　of　them　plan　to　move　against　you；　it　will　be　without　the　aid　of　Triel；　who　has　been　kept　busy　in　the　Academy　since　the　escape　of　the　rogue。〃

　　　Matron　Baenre　did　well　to　hide　her　relief　at　that　statement。　If　Triel；　the　most　powerful　of　her　daughters；　and　certainly　the　one　most　in　Lloth's　favor；　was　not　planning　to　rise　against　her；　a　coup　from　within　seemed　unlikely。

　　　〃It　is　expected　that　you　will　soon　name　Berg'inyon　as　weapon　master；　and　Gromph　will　not　oppose；〃　Jarlaxle　remarked。

　　　Matron　Baenre　nodded　her　agreement。　Gromph　was　her　elder…boy；　and　as　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan；　he　held　more　power　than　any　male　in　the　city　（except　for；　perhaps；　sly　Jarlaxle）。　Gromph　would　not　disapprove　of　Berg'inyon　as　weapon　master　of　House　Baenre。　The　ranking　of　Baenre's　daughters　seemed　secure　as　well；　she　had　to　admit。　Triel　was　in　place　as　Mistress　Mother　of　Arach…Tinilith　in　the　Academy；　and；　though　those　remaining　in　the　house　might　squabble　over　the　duties　and　powers　left　vacant　by　the　loss　of　Vendes；　it　didn't　seem　likely　to　concern　her。

　　　Matron　Baenre　looked　back　to　the　spike　Drizzt　and　his　panions　had　put　through　the　ceiling；　and　was　not　satisfied。　In　cruel　and　merciless　Menzoberranzan；　satisfaction　and　the　smugness　that　inevitably　acpanied　it　too　often　led　to　an　untimely　demise。



Chapter　2

THE　GUTBUSTER　BRIGADE



　　　〃Ye're　thinking　we'll　need　the　thing？〃　Catti…brie　asked　as　she　and　Drizzt　made　their　way　along　the　lower　levels　of　Mithril　Hall。　They　moved　along　a　corridor　that　opened　wide　to　their　left；　into　the　great　tiered　cavern　housing　the　famed　dwarven　Undercity。

　　　Drizzt　paused　and　regarded　her；　then　went　to　the　left；　drawing　Catti…brie　behind　him。　He　stepped　through　the　opening；　emerging　on　the　second　tier　up　from　the　huge　cavern's　floor。

　　　The　place　was　bustling；　with　dwarves　running　every　which　way；　shouting　to　be　heard　over　the　continual　hum　of　great　pumping　bellows　and　the　determined　ring　of　hammer　on　mithril。　This　was　the　heart　of　Mithril　Hall；　a　huge；　open　cavern　cut　into　gigantic　steps　on　both　its　east　and　west　walls；　so　that　the　whole　place　resembled　an　inverted　pyramid。　The　widest　floor　area　was　the　lowest　level；　between　the　gigantic　steps；　housing　the　huge　furnaces。　Strong　dwarves　pulled　carts　laden　with　ore　along　prescribed　routes；　while　others　worked　the　many　levers　of　the　intricate　ovens；　and　still　others　tugged　smaller　carts　of　finished　metals　up　to　the　tiers。　There　the　various　craftsman　pounded　the　ore　into　useful　items。　Normally；　a　great　variety　of　goods　would　be　produced　here梖ine　silverware；　gem…studded　chalices；　and　ornate　helmets梘orgeous　but　of　little　practical　use。　Now；　though；　with　war　hanging　over　their　heads；　the　dwarves　focused　on　weapons　and　true　defensive　armor。　Twenty　feet　to　the　side　of　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie；　a　dwarf　so　soot…covered　that　the　color　of　his　beard　was　not　distinguishable　leaned　another　iron…shafted；　mithril…tipped　ballista　bolt　against　the　wall。　The　dwarf　couldn't　even　reach　the　top　of　the　eight…foot　spear；　but　he　regarded　its　barbed　and　many…edged　tip　and　chuckled。　No　doubt　he　enjoyed　a　fantasy　concerning　its　flight　and　little　drow　elves　all　standing　in　a　row。

　　　On　one　of　the　arcing　bridges　spanning　the　tiers；　perhaps　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet　up　from　the　two　friends；　a　substantial　argument　broke　out。　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　could　not　make　out　the　words　above　the　general　din；　but　they　realized　that　it　had　to　do　with　plans　for　dropping　that　bridge；　and　most　of　the　other　bridges；　forcing　any　invading　dark　elves　along　certain　routes　if　they　intended　to　reach　the　plex's　higher　levels。

　　　None　of　them；　not　Drizzt；　Catti…brie；　or　any　of　Bruenor's　people；　hoped　it　would　ever　e　to　that。

　　　The　two　friends　exchanged　knowing　looks。　Rarely　in　the　long　history　of　Mithril　Hall　had　the　Undercity　seen　this　kind　of　excitement。　It　bordered　on　frenzy。　Two　thousand　dwarves　rushed　about；　shouting；　pounding　their　hammers；　or　hauling　loads　that　a　mule　wouldn't　pull。

　　　All　of　this　because　they　feared　the　drow　were　ing。

　　　Catti…brie　understood　then　why　Drizzt　had　detoured　into　this　place；　why　he　had　insisted　on　finding　the　halfling　Regis　before　going　to　Settlestone；　as　Bruenor　had　bade　them。

　　　〃Let's　go　find　the　sneaky　one；〃　she　said　to　Drizzt；　having　to　yell　to　be　heard。　Drizzt　nodded　and　followed　her　back　into　the　relative　quiet　of　the　dim　corridors。　They　moved　away　from　the　Undercity　then；　toward　the　remote　chambers　where　Bruenor　had　told　them　they　could　find　the　halfling。　Silently　they　moved　along梐nd　Drizzt　was　impressed　with　how　quietly　Catti…brie　had　learned　to　move。　Like　him；　she　wore　a　fine　mesh　armor　suit　of　thin　but　incredibly　strong　mithril　rings；　custom　fitted　to　her　by　Buster　Bracer；　the　finest　armorer　in　Mithril　Hall。　Catti…brie's　armor　did　little　to　diminish　the　dwarf's　reputation；　for　it　was　so　perfectly　crafted　and　supple　that　it　bent　with　her　movements　as　easily　as　a　thick　shirt。

　　　Like　Drizzt's；　Catti…brie's　boots　were　thin　and　well　worn　but；　to　the　drow's　sharp　ears；　few　humans；　even　so　attired；　could　move　so　silently。　Drizzt　subtly　eyed　her　in　the　dim；　flickering　light　of　the　widely　spaced　torches。　He　noted　that　she　was　stepping　like　a　drow；　the　ball　of　her　foot　touching　down　first；　instead　of　the　more　mon　human　heel…toe　method。　Her　tim