精灵血脉四部曲-第113部分

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ow；　the　ball　of　her　foot　touching　down　first；　instead　of　the　more　mon　human　heel…toe　method。　Her　time　in　the　Underdark；　chasing　Drizzt　to　Menzoberranzan；　had　served　her　well。

　　　The　drow　nodded　his　approval　but　made　no　ment。　Catti…brie　had　already　earned　her　pride　points　this　day；　he　figured。　No　sense　in　puffing　up　her　ego　any　more。

　　　The　corridors　were　empty　and　growing　increasingly　dark。　Drizzt　did　not　miss　this　point。　He　even　let　his　vision　slip　into　the　infrared　spectrum；　where　the　varying　heat　of　objects　showed　him　their　general　shapes。　Human　Catti…brie　did　not　possess　such　Under…dark　vision；　of　course；　but　around　her　head　she　wore　a　thin　silver　chain；　set　in　its　front　with　a　green　gemstone　streaked　by　a　single　line　of　black：　a　cat's　eye　agate。　It　had　been　given　to　her　by　Lady　Alustriel　herself；　enchanted　so　that　its　wearer　could　see；　even　in　the　darkest；　deepest　tunnels；　as　though　she　were　standing　in　an　open　field　under　a　starry　sky。

　　　The　two　friends　had　no　trouble　navigating　in　the　darkness；　but　still；　they　were　not　fortable　with　it。　Why　weren't　the　torches　burning？　they　each　wondered。　Both　had　their　hands　close　to　weapon　hilts；　Catti…brie　suddenly　wished　she　had　brought　Taul…maril　the　Heartseeker；　her　magical　bow；　with　her。

　　　A　tremendous　crash　sounded；　and　the　floor　trembled　under　their　feet。　Both　were　down　in　a　crouch　immediately；　Drizzt's　scimitars　appeared　in　his　hands　so　quickly　that　Catti…brie　didn't　even　register　the　movement。　At　first　the　young　woman　thought　the　impossibly　fast　maneuver　the　result　of　the　magical　bracers；　but；　in　glancing　at　Drizzt；　she　realized　he　wasn't　even　wearing　them。　She　likewise　drew　her　sword　and　took　a　deep　breath；　privately　scolding　herself　for　thinking　she　was　getting　close　in　fighting　skill　to　the　incredible　ranger。　Catti…brie　shook　the　thought　aside梟o　time　for　it　now梐nd　concentrated　on　the　winding　corridor　ahead。　Side　by　side；　she　and　Drizzt　slowly　advanced；　looking　for　shadows　where　enemies　might　hide　and　for　lines　in　the　wall　that　would　indicate　cunning　secret　doors　to　side　passages。　Such　ways　were　mon　in　the　dwarven　plex；　for　most　dwarves　could　make　them；　and　most　dwarves；　greedy　by　nature；　kept　personal　treasures　hidden　away。　Catti…brie　did　not　know　this　little…used　section　of　Mithril　Hall　very　well。　Neither　did　Drizzt。

　　　Another　crash　came；　and　the　floor　trembled　again；　more　than　before；　and　the　friends　knew　they　were　getting　closer。　Catti…brie　was　glad　she　had　been　training　so　hard；　and　gladder　still　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　was　by　her　side。

　　　She　stopped　moving；　and　Drizzt　did　likewise；　turning　to　regard　her。

　　　〃Guenhwyvar？〃　she　silently　mouthed；　referring　to　Drizzt's　feline　friend；　a　loyal　panther　that　the　drow　could　summon　from　the　Astral　Plane。

　　　Drizzt　considered　the　suggestion　for　a　moment。　He　tried　not　to　summon　Guenhwyvar　too　often　now；　knowing　there　might　soon　be　a　time　when　the　panther　would　be　needed　often。　There　were　limits　on　the　magic；　Guenhwyvar　could　only　remain　on　the　Material　Plane　for　half　a　day　out　of　every　two。

　　　Not　yet；　Drizzt　decided。　Bruenor　had　not　indicated　what　Regis　might　be　doing　down　here；　but　the　dwarf　had　given　no　hint　that　there　might　be　danger。　The　drow　shook　his　head　slightly；　and　the　two　moved　on；　silent　and　sure。

　　　A　third　crash　came；　followed　by　a　groan。

　　　〃Yer　head；　ye　durned　fool！〃　came　a　sharp　scolding。　〃Ye　gots　to　use　yer　stinkin'　head！〃

　　　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　straightened　immediately　and　relaxed　their　grips　on　their　weapons。　〃Pwent；〃　they　said　together；　referring　to　Thibbledorf　Pwent；　the　outrageous　battlerager；　the　most　obnoxious　and　bad…smelling　dwarf　south　of　the　Spine　of　the　World　（and　probably　north　of　it；　as　well）。

　　　〃Next　ye'll　be　wantin'　to　wear　a　stinkin'　helmet！〃　the　tirade　continued。

　　　Around　the　next　bend；　the　two　panions　came　to　a　fork　in　the　corridor。　To　the　left；　Pwent　continued　roaring　in　outrage；　to　the　right　was　a　door　with　torchlight　showing　through　its　many　cracks。　Drizzt　cocked　his　head；　catching　a　slight　and　familiar　chuckle　that　way。

　　　He　motioned　for　Catti…brie　to　follow　and　went　through　the　door　without　knocking。　Regis　stood　alone　inside；　leaning　on　a　crank　near　the　left…hand　wall。　The　halfling's　smile　lit　up　when　he　saw　his　friends；　and　he　waved　one　hand　high　to　them梤elatively　high；　for　Regis　was　small；　even　by　halfling　standards；　his　curly　brown　hair　barely　topping　three　feet。　He　had　an　ample　belly；　though　it　seemed　to　be　shrinking　of　late；　as　even　the　lazy　halfling　took　seriously　the　threat　to　this　place　that　had　bee　his　home。

　　　He　put　a　finger　over　pursed　lips　as　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　approached；　and　he　pointed　to　the　〃door〃　before　him。　It　didn't　take　either　of　the　panions　long　to　understand　what　was　transpiring。　The　crank　next　to　Regis　operated　a　sheet　of　heavy　metal　that　ran　along　runners　above　and　to　the　side　of　the　door。　The　wood　of　the　door　could　hardly　be　seen　now；　for　the　plate　was　in　place　right　before　it。

　　　〃Go！〃　came　a　thunderous　mand　from　the　other　side；　followed　by　charging　footsteps　and　a　grunting　roar；　then　a　tremendous　explosion　as　the　barreling　dwarf　hit；　and　of　course　bounced　off；　the　barricaded　portal。

　　　〃Battlerager　training；〃　Regis　calmly　explained。

　　　Catti…brie　gave　Drizzt　a　sour　look；　remembering　what　her　father　had　told　her　of　Pwent's　plans。　〃The　Gutbuster　Brigade；〃　she　remarked；　and　Drizzt　nodded；　for　Bruenor　had　told　him；　too；　that　Thibbledorf　Pwent　meant　to　train　a　group　of　dwarves　in　the　not…so…subtle　art　of　battleraging；　his　personal　Gutbuster　Brigade；　highly　motivated；　skilled　in　frenzy；　and　not　too　smart。

　　　Another　dwarf　hit　the　barricaded　door；　probably　headfirst；　and　Drizzt　understood　how　Pwent　meant　to　facilitate　the　third　of　his　three　requirements　for　his　soldiers。

　　　Catti…brie　shook　her　head　and　sighed。　She　did　not　doubt　the　military　value　of　the　brigade桺went　could　outfight　anyone　in　Mithril　Hall；　except　for　Drizzt　and　maybe　Bruenor；　but　the　notion　of　a　bunch　of　little　Thibbledorf　Pwents　running　around　surely　turned　her　stomach！

　　　Behind　the　door；　Pwent　was　thoroughly　scolding　his　troops；　calling　them　every　dwarven　curse　name；　more　than　a　few　that　Catti…brie；　who　had　lived　among　the　clan　for　more　than　a　score　of　years；　had　never　heard；　and　more　than　a　few　that　Pwent　seemed　to　be　making　up　on　the　spot；　such　as　〃mule…kissin'；　flea…sniffin'；　water…drinkin'；　who…thinks…ye…squeeze…the…durned…cow…to…get…the…durned…milk；　lumps　o'　sandstone。〃

　　　〃Wo　are　off　to　Settlestone；〃　Drizzt　explained　to　Regis；　the　drow　suddenly　anxious　to　be　out　of　there。　〃Berkthgar　is　being　difficult。〃

　　　Regis　nodded。　〃I　was　there　when　he　told　Bruenor　he　wanted　the　warhammer。〃　The　halfling's　cherubic　face　turned　up　into　one　of　his　mon；　wistful　smiles。　〃I　truly　believed　Bruenor　would　cleave　him　down　the　middle！〃

　　　〃We're　needing　Berkthgar；〃　Catti…brie　reminded　the　halfling；　Regis　pooh…poohed　that　thought　away。　〃Bluffing；〃　he　insisted。　〃Berkthgar　needs　us；　and　his　people　would　not　take　kindly　to　his　turning　his　back　on　the　dwarves　who　have　been　so　good　to　his　folk。〃

　　　〃Bruenor　would　not　really　kill　him；〃　Drizzt　said；　somewhat　unconvincingly。　All　three　friends　paused　and　looked　to　each　other；　each　considering　the　tough　dwarf　king；　the　old　and　fiery　Bruenor　returned。　They　thought　of　Aegis…fang；　the　most　beautiful　of　weapons；　the　flanks　of　its　gleaming　mithril　head　inscribed　with　the　sacred　runes　of　the　dwarven　gods。　One　side　was　cut　with　the　hammer　and　anvil　of　Moradin　the　Soulforger；　the　other　with　the　crossed　axes　of　Clanggedon；　dwarven　god　of　battle；　and　both　were　covered　perfectly　by　the　carving　of　the　gem　within　the　mountain；　the　symbol　of　Dumathoin；　the　Keeper　of　Secrets。　Bruenor　had　been　among　the　best　of　the　dwarven　smiths；　but　after　Aegis…fang；　that　pinnacle　of　creative　triumph；　he　had　rarely　bothered　to　return　to　his　forge。

　　　They　thought　of　Aegis…fang；　and　they　thought　of　Wulfgar；　who　had　been　like　Bruenor's　son；　the　tall；　fair…haired　youth　for　whom　Bruenor　had　made　the　mighty　hammer。

　　　〃Bruenor　would　really　kill　him；〃　Catti…brie　said；　echoing　the　thoughts　of　all　three。

　　　Drizzt　started　to　speak；　but　Regis　stopped　him　by　holding　up　a　finger。

　　　〃。。。　now　get　yer　head　lower！〃　Pwent　was　barking　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。　Regis　nodded　and　smiled　and　motioned　for　Drizzt　to　continue。

　　　〃We　thought　you　might？

　　　Another　crash　sounded；　then　another　groan；　followed　by　the　flapping　of　dwarven　lips　as　the　fallen　would…be　battlerager　shook　his　head　vigorously。

　　　〃Good　recovery！〃　Pwent　congratulated。

　　　〃We　thought　you　might　acpany　us；〃　Drizzt　said；　ignoring　Catti…brie's　sigh　of　disgust。

　　　Regis　thought　about　it　for　a　moment。　The　halfling　would　have　liked　to　get　out　of　the　mines　and　stretch　in　the　sunshine　once　more；　though　the　summer　was　all　but　over　and　the　autumn　chill　already　began　to　nip　the　air。

　　　〃I　have　to　stay；〃　the　unusually　dedicated　halfling　remarked。　〃I've　much　to　do。〃

　　　Both　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　nodded。　Regis　had　changed　over　the　last　few　months；　during　the　time　of　crisis。　When　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　had　gone　to　Menzoberranzan桪rizzt　to　end　the　threat　to　Mithril　Hall；　Catti…brie　to　find　Drizzt桼egis　had　taken　mand　to　spur　grieving　Bruenor　into　preparing　for　war。　Regis；　who　had　spent　most　of　his　life　finding　the　softest　couch　to　lie　upon；　had　impressed　even　the　toughest　dwarf　generals；　even　Thibbledorf　Pwent；　with　his　fire　and　energy。　Now　the　halfling　would　have　loved　to　go；　both　of　them　knew；　but　he　remained　true　to　his　mission。

　　　Drizzt　looked　hard　at　Regis；　trying　to　find　the　best　way　to　make　his　request。　To　his　surprise；　the　halfling　saw　it　ing；　and　immediately　Regis's　hands　went　to　the　chain　about　his　neck。　He　lifted　the　ruby　pendant　over　his　head　and　casually　tossed　it　to　Drizzt。

　　　Another　testament　to　the　halfling's　growth；　Drizzt　knew；　as　he　stared　down　at　the　sparkling　ruby　affixed　to　the　chain。　This　was　the　halfling's　most　precious　possession；　a　powerful　charm　Regis　had　stolen　from　his　old　guild　master　in　far…off　Calimport。　The　halfling　had　guarded　it；　coveted　it；　like　a　mother　lion　with　a　single　cub；　at　least　until　this　point。

　　　Drizzt　continued　to　look　at　the　ruby；　felt　himself　drawn　by　its　multiple　facets；　spiraling　down　to　depths　that　prom