精灵血脉四部曲-第12部分

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〃A　score　and　a　half　will　slip　out　beside　the　fighters　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；〃　Triel　replied。　〃They　are　only　males；〃　she　added　derisively；　〃and　expendable。〃　The　first　daughter　of　House　Baenre　cocked　her　head　curiously　as　she　continued　to　regard　the　wily　mercenary。

〃You　will　acpany　Vierna　personally　with　your　chosen　soldiers？〃　Triel　asked。　〃To　coordinate　the　two　groups？〃

Jarlaxle　clapped　his　slender　hands　together。　〃I　am　a　part　of　this；〃　he　answered　firmly。

〃To　my　displeasure；〃　the　Baenre　daughter　snarled。　She　uttered　a　single　word　and；　with　a　flash；　disappeared。

〃Your　mother　loves　me；　dear　Triel；〃　Jarlaxle　said　to　the　emptiness；　as　if　the　Matron　Mistress　of　the　Academy　were　still　beside　him。　〃I　would　not　miss　this；〃　the　mercenary　continued；　thinking　out　loud。　By　Jarlaxle's　estimation；　the　hunt　for　Drizzt　could　be　only　a　good　thing。　He　might　lose　a　few　soldiers；　but　they　were　replaceable。　If　Drizzt　was　indeed　brought　to　sacrifice；　Lloth　would　be　pleased；　Matron　Baenre　would　be　pleased；　and　Jarlaxle　would　find　a　way　to　be　rewarded　for　his　efforts。　After　all；　on　a　simpler　level；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　as　a　traitorous　renegade；　carried　a　high　bounty　on　his　head。

Jarlaxle　chuckled　wickedly；　reveling　in　the　beauty　of　it　all。　If　Drizzt　managed　somehow　to　elude　them；　then　Vierna　would　take　the　fall；　and　the　mercenary　would　continue　on；　untouched　by　it　all。

There　was　another　possibility　that　Jarlaxle；　removed　from　the　immediate　situation　and　wise　in　the　ways　of　the　drow；　recognized；　and　if；　by　some　remote　chance；　it　came　to　pass；　he　again　would　be　in　a　position　to　profit　greatly；　simply　from　his　favorable　relationship　with　Vierna。　Triel　had　promised　Vierna　an　unbelievable　prize　because　Lloth　had　instructed　her；　and　her　mother；　to　do　so。　What　would　happen　if　Vierna　fulfilled　her　part　of　the　agreement？　the　mercenary　wondered。　What　ironies　did　conniving　Lloth　have　in　store　for　House　Baenre？

Surely　Vierna　Do'Urden　seemed　insane　for　believing　Triel's　empty　promises；　but　Jarlaxle　knew　well　that　many　of　Menzoberranzan's　most　powerful　drow；　Matron　Baenre　included；　had　seemed；　at　one　time　in　their　lives；　equally　crazy。



*　*　*　*　*



Vierna　pressed　through　the　opaque　doorway　to　Jarlaxle's　private　chambers　later　that　day；　her　crazed　expression　revealing　the　anxiety　for　the　ing　events。

Jarlaxle　heard　a　motion　in　the　outer　corridor；　but　Vierna　merely　continued　to　smile　knowingly。　The　mercenary　rocked　back　in　his　fortable　chair；　tapping　his　fingers　together　in　front　of　him　and　trying　to　discern　what　surprise　the　Do'Urden　priestess　had　prepared　for　him　this　time。

〃We　will　need　an　extra　soldier　to　plement　our　party；〃　Vierna　ordered。

〃It　can　be　arranged/'　Jarlaxle　replied；　beginning　to　catch　on。　〃But　why？　Will　Dinin　not　be　acpanying　us？〃

Vierna's　eyes　flashed。　〃He　will；〃　she　said；　〃but　my　brother's　role　in　the　hunt　has　changed。〃

Jarlaxle　didn't　flinch；　just　continued　to　sit　back　and　tap　his　fingers。

〃Dinin　did　not　believe　in　Lloth's　destiny；〃　Vierna　explained；　casually　taking　a　seat　on　the　edge　of　Jarlaxle's　desk。　〃He　did　not　wish　to　acpany　me　in　this　critical　mission。　The　Spider　Queen　has　demanded　this　of　us！〃　She　hopped　back　to　the　floor；　suddenly　ferocious；　and　stepped　back　toward　the　opaque　door。

Jarlaxle　made　no　move；　except　to　flex　the　fingers　on　his　dagger…throwing　hand；　as　Vierna's　tirade　continued。　The　priestess　swept　about　the　small　room；　praying　to　Lloth；　cursing　those　who　would　not　fall　to　their　knees　before　the　goddess；　and　cursing　her　brothers；　Drizzt　and　Dinin。

Then　Vierna　calmed　again　suddenly；　and　smiled　wickedly。　〃Lloth　demands　fealty；〃　she　said　accusingly。

〃Of　course；〃　replied　the　unshakable　mercenary。

〃Justice　is　for　a　priestess　to　deal。〃

〃Of　course。〃

Vierna's　eyes　flashed—Jarlaxle　quietly　tensed；　fearing　that　the　unsteady　female　would　lash　out　at　him　for　some　unknown　reason。　She　instead　went　back　to　the　door　and　called　loudly　for　her　brother。

Jarlaxle　saw　the　unremarkable；　veiled　silhouette　beyond　the　portal；　saw　the　opaque　material　bend　and　stretch　as　Dinin　started　in　from　the　other　side。

A　huge　spider　leg　slipped　into　the　room；　then　another；　then　a　third。　The　mutated　torso　came　through　next；　Dinin's　unclothed　and　bloated　body　transmuted　from　the　waist　down　into　the　lower　torso　of　a　giant　black　spider。　His　once　fair　face　now　seemed　a　dead　thing；　swollen　and　expressionless；　his　eyes　showing　no　luster。

The　mercenary　fought　hard　to　keep　his　breathing　steady。　He　removed　his　great　hat　and　ran　a　hand　over　his　bald；　sweating　head。

The　disfigured　creature　moved　into　the　room　fully　and　stood　obediently　behind　Vierna；　the　priestess　smiling　at　the　mercenary's　obvious　disfort。

〃The　quest　is　critical；〃　Vierna　explained。　〃Lloth　will　not　tolerate　dissent。〃

If　Jarlaxle　had　held　any　doubts　about　the　Spider　Queen's　involvement　with　Vierna's　quest；　they　were　gone　now。

Vierna　had　exacted　the　ultimate　punishment　of　drow　society　on　troublesome　Dinin；　something　only　a　high　priestess　in　the　highest　favor　of　Lloth　could　ever　acplish。　She　had　replaced　Dinin's　graceful　drow　body　with　this　grotesque　and　mutated　arachnid　form；　had　replaced　Dinin's　fierce　independence　with　a　malevolent　demeanor　that　she　could　bend　to　her　every　whim。

She　had　turned　him　into　a　drider。



Part　2

Perceptions



There　is　no　word　in　the　draw　language　for　love。　The　closest　word　I　can　think　of　is　ssinssrigg；　but　that　is　a　term　better　equated　with　physical　lust　or　selfish　greed。　The　concept　of　love　exists　in　the　hearts　of　some　draw；　of　course；　but　true　love；　a　selfless　desire　often　requiring　personal　sacrifice；　has　no　place　in　a　world　of　such　bitter　and　dangerous　rivalries。

The　only　sacrifices　in　draw　culture　are　gifts　to　Lloth；　and　those　are　surely　not　selfless；　since　the　giver　hopes；　prays；　for　something　greater　in　return。

Still；　the　concept　of　love　was　not　new　to　me　when　I　left　the　Underdark。　I　loved　Zaknafein。　I　loved　both　Belwar　and　Clacker。　Indeed；　it　was　the　capacity；　the　need；　for　love　that　ultimately　drove　me　from　Menzoberranzan。　Is　there　in　all　the　wide　world　a　concept　more　fleeting；　more　elusive？　Many　people　of　all　the　races　seem　simply　not　to　understand　love；　burden　its　beauteous　simplicity　with　preconceived　notions　and　unrealistic　expectations。　How　ironic　that　I；　walking　from　the　darkness　of　loveless　Menzoberranzan；　can　better　grasp　the　concept　than　many　of　those　who　have　lived　with　it；　or　at　least　with　the　very　real　possibility　of　it；　for　all　of　their　lives。

Some　things　a　renegade　draw　will　not　take　for　granted。

My　few　journeys　to　Silverymoon　in　these　past　weeks　have　invited　good…hearted　jests　from　my　friends。　〃Suren　the　elf　has　his　eyes　fixed　on　another　wedding！〃　Bruenor　has　often　crooned；　regarding　my　relationship　with　Alustriel；　the　Lady　of　Silvery…moon。　I　accept　the　taunts　in　light　of　the　sincere　warmth　and　hopes　behind　them；　and　have　not　dashed　those　hopes　by　explaining　to　my　dear　friends　that　their　notions　are　misguided。

I　appreciate　Alustriel　and　the　goodness　she　has　shown　me。　I　appreciate　that　she；　a　ruler　in　a　too…often　unforgiving　world；　has　taken　such　a　chance　as　to　allow　a　dark　elf　to　walk　freely　down　her　city's　wondrous　avenues。　Alustriel's　acceptance　of　me　as　a　friend　has　allowed　me　to　draw　my　desires　from　my　true　wishes；　not　from　expected　limitations。

But　do　I　love　her？

No　more　than　she　loves　me。

I　will　admit；　though；　I　do　love　the　notion　that　I　could　love　Alustriel；　and　she　could　love　me；　and　that；　if　the　attraction　were　present；　the　color　of　my　skin　and　the　reputation　of　my　heritage　would　not　deter　the　noble　Lady　of　Silverymoon。

I　know　now；　though；　that　love　has　bee　the　most　prominent　part　of　my　existence；　that　my　bond　of　friendship　with　Bruenor　and　Wulfgar　and　Regis　is　of　utmost　importance　to　any　happiness　that　this　draw　will　ever　know。

My　bond　with　Catti…brie　runs　deeper　still。

Honest　love　is　a　selfless　concept；　that　I　have　already　said；　and　my　own　selflessness　has　been　put　to　a　severe　test　this　spring。

I　fear　now　for　the　future；　for　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　and　the　barriers　they　must；　together；　overe。　Wulfgar　loves　her；　I　do　not　doubt；　but　he　burdens　his　love　with　a　possessiveness　that　borders　on　disrespect。

He　should　understand　the　spirit　that　is　Catti…brie；　should　see　clearly　the　fuel　that　stokes　the　fires　in　her　marvelous　blue　eyes。　It　is　that　very　spirit　that　Wulfgar　loves；　and　yet　he　will　undoubtedly　smother　it　under　the　notions　of　a　woman's　place　as　her　husband's　possession。

My　barbarian　friend　has　e　far　from　his　youthful　days　roaming　the　tundra。　Farther　still　must　he　e　to　hold　the　heart　of　Bruenor's　fiery　daughter；　to　hold　Catti…brie's　love。

Is　there　in　all　the　world　a　concept　more　fleeting；　more　elusive？



—Drizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　6

A　Path；　Straight　and　Smooth



I’ll　not　accept　the　group　from　Nesme。'〃　Bruenor　growled　at　the　barbarian　emissary　from　Settle…I　stone。　〃But；　king　dwarf　。　。　。〃　the　large；　red…haired　man　stammered　helplessly。　〃No！〃　Bruenor's　severe　tone　silenced　him。　〃The　archers　of　Nesme　played　a　role　in　reclaiming　Mithril　Hall；〃　Drizzt；　who　stood　at　Bruenor's　side　in　the　audience　hall；　promptly　reminded　the　dwarf　king。　Bruenor　shifted　abruptly　in　his　stone　seat。　〃Ye　forgotten　the　treatment　the　Nesme　dogs　gave　ye　when　first　we　passed　through　their　land？〃　he　asked　the　drow。　Drizzt　shook　his　head；　the　notion　actually　bringing　a　smile　to　his　face。　〃Never；〃　he　replied；　but　his　calm　tones　and　expression　revealed　that；　while　he　had　not　forgotten；　he　apparently　had　forgiven。

Looking　at　his　ebon…skinned　friend；　so　at　peace　and　content；　the　huffy　dwarf's　rage　was　soon　deflated。　〃Ye　think　I　should　let　them　e　to　the　wedding；　then？〃

〃You　are　a　king　now；〃　answered　Drizzt；　and　he　held　out　his　hands　as　though　that　simple　statement　should　explain　everything。　Bruenor's　expression　showed　clearly　that　it　did　not；　though；　and　so　the　equally　stubborn　dark　elf　promptly　elaborated。　〃Your　responsibilities　to　your　people　lie　in　diplomacy/'　Drizzt　explained。　〃Nesme　will　be　a　valuable　trading　partner　and　a　worthwhile　ally。　Besides；　we　can　forgive　the　soldiers　of　an　oft…imperiled　town　for　their　reaction　to　the　sight　of　a　dark　elf。〃

〃Bah；　ye're　too　soft…hearted；　elf；〃　Bruenor　grumbled；　〃and　ye're　taking　me　along　w