精灵血脉四部曲-第120部分

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llows　of　mead。

　　　〃A　few　more　passes；〃　Catti…brie　whispered；　forcing　herself　to　be　patient。

　　　And　so　she　played　on　as　the　minutes　passed；　as　Berkthgar's　breathing　came　as　loudly　as　the　moaning　wind。　Through　each　attack；　Catti…brie　confirmed　her　final　routine；　one　that　took　advantage　of　the　fact　that　Berkthgar's　huge　blade　and　thick　arms　made　a　perfect　optical　barricade。



　　　*****



　　　Drizzt　suffered　through　the　half…hour　of　rude　ments。

　　　〃Never　has　he　lasted　this　long！〃　offered　one　barbarian。

　　　〃Berkthgar　the　Brauzen！〃　cried　another；　the　barbarian　word　for　stamina。

　　　〃Brauzen！〃　all　the　rowdy　men　shouted　together；　lifting　their　mugs　in　cheer。　Some　of　the　women　in　the　back　of　Hengorot　tittered　at　the　bawdy　display；　but　most　wore　sour　expressions。

　　　〃Brauzen；〃　the　drow　whispered；　and　Drizzt　thought　the　word　perfectly　fitting　for　describing　his　own　patience　during　those　insufferably　long　minutes。　As　angry　as　he　was　at　the　rude　jokes　at　Catti…brie's　expense；　he　was　more　fearful　that　Berkthgar　would　harm　her；　perhaps　defeat　her　in　battle　and　then　take　her　in　other　ways。

　　　Drizzt　worked　hard　to　keep　his　imagination　at　bay。　For　all　his　boasting；　for　all　of　his　people's　boasting；　Berkthgar　was　an　honorable　man。　But　he　was　drunk。。。

　　　I　will　kill　him；　Drizzt　decided；　and　if　anything　the　drow　feared　had　e　to　pass；　he　indeed　would　cut　mighty　Berkthgar　down。

　　　It　never　got　to　that　point；　though；　for　Berkthgar　and　Catti…brie　walked　back　into　the　tent；　looking　a　bit　ruffled；　the　barbarian's　stubbly　beard　darkened　in　one　area　with　some　dried　blood；　but　otherwise　seeming　okay。

　　　Catti…brie　winked　subtly　as　she　passed　the　drow。

　　　Hengorot　fell　into　a　hush；　the　drunken　men　no　doubt　expecting　some　lewd　tales　of　their　leader's　exploits。

　　　Berkthgar　looked　to　Catti…brie；　and　she　wouldn't　blink。

　　　〃I　will　not　carry　Aegis…fang；〃　the　barbarian　leader　announced。

　　　Moans　and　hoots　erupted；　as　did　speculation　about　who　won　the　〃contest。〃

　　　Berkthgar　blushed；　and　Drizzt　feared　there　would　be　trouble。

　　　Catti…brie　went　up　on　the　table。　〃Not　a　better　man　in　Settle…stone！〃　she　insisted。

　　　Several　barbarians　rushed　forward　to　the　table's　edge；　willing　to　take　up　that　challenge。

　　　〃Not　a　better　man！〃　Catti…brie　growled　at　them；　her　fury　driving　them　back。

　　　〃I'll　not　carry　the　warhammer；　in　honor　of　Wulfgar；〃　Berkthgar　explained。　〃And　for　the　honor　of　Catti…brie。〃

　　　Blank　stares　came　back　at　him。

　　　〃If　I　am　to　properly　suit　the　daughter　of　King　Bruenor；　our　friend　and　ally；〃　the　barbarian　leader　went　on；　and　Drizzt　smiled　at　that　reference；　〃then　it　is　my　own　weapon；　Bankenfuere；　that　must　bee　legend。〃　He　held　high　the　huge　flamberge；　and　the　crowd　roared　with　glee。

　　　The　issue　was　ended；　the　alliance　sealed；　and　more　mead　was　passed　about　before　Catti…brie　even　got　down　from　the　table；　heading　for　Drizzt。　She　stopped　as　she　walked　beside　the　barbarian　leader；　and　gave　him　a　sly　look。

　　　〃If　ye　ever　openly　lie；〃　she　whispered；　taking　care　that　no　one　could　hear；　〃or　if　ye　ever　even　hint　that　ye　bedded　me；　then　be　knowin'　that　I'll　e　back　and　cut　ye　down　in　front　o'　all　yer　people。〃

　　　Berkthgar's　expression　grew　somber　at　that；　and　even　more　somber　as　he　turned　to　watch　Catti…brie　depart；　to　see　her　deadly　drow　friend　standing　easily；　hands　on　scimitar　hilts；　his　lavender　eyes　telling　the　barbarian　in　no　uncertain　terms　his　feelings　for　Catti…brie。　Berkthgar　didn't　want　to　tangle　with　Catti…brie　again；　but　he　would　rather　battle　her　a　hundred　times　than　fight　the　drow　ranger。

　　　〃You'll　e　back　and　cut　him　down？〃　Drizzt　asked　as　they　exited　the　town；　revealing　to　Catti…brie　that　his　keen　ears　had　caught　her　parting　words　with　the　barbarian。

　　　〃Not　a　promise　I'd　ever　want　to　try；〃　Catti…brie　replied；　shaking　her　head。　〃Fighting　that　one　when　he's　not　so　full　o'　mead　would　be　about　the　same　as　walking　into　the　cave　of　a　restless　bear。〃

　　　Drizzt　stopped　abruptly；　and　Catti…brie；　after　taking　a　couple　more　steps；　turned　about　to　regard　him。

　　　He　stood　pointing　at　her；　smiling　widely。　〃I　have　done　that！〃　he　remarked；　and　so　Drizzt　had　yet　another　tale　to　recount　as　the　two　（and　then　three；　for　Drizzt　was　quick　to　recall　Guenhwyvar）　made　their　way　along　the　trails；　back　into　the　mountains。

　　　Later；　as　the　stars　twinkled　brightly　and　the　campfire　burned　low；　Drizzt　sat　watching　Catti…brie's　prone　form；　her　rhythmic　breathing　telling　the　drow　that　she　was　fast　asleep。

　　　〃You　know　I　love　her；〃　the　drow　said　to　Guenhwyvar。

　　　The　panther　blinked　her　shining　green　eyes；　but　otherwise　did　not　move。

　　　〃Yet；　how　could　I？〃　Drizzt　asked。　〃And　not　for　the　memory　of　Wulfgar；〃　he　quickly　added；　and　he　nodded　as　he　heard　himself　speak　the　words；　knowing　that　Wulfgar；　who　loved　Drizzt　as　Drizzt　loved　him；　would　not　disapprove。

　　　〃How　could　I　ever？〃　the　drow　reiterated；　his　voice　barely　a　whisper。

　　　Guenhwyvar　issued　a　long；　low　growl；　but　if　it　had　any　meaning；　other　than　to　convey　that　the　panther　was　interested　in　what　the　drow　was　saying；　it　was　lost　on　Drizzt。

　　　〃She　will　not　live　so　long；〃　Drizzt　went　on　quietly。　〃I　will　still　be　a　young　drow　when　she　is　gone。〃　Drizzt　looked　from　Catti…brie　to　the　panther；　and　a　new　insight　occurred　to　him。　〃You　must　understand　such　things；　my　eternal　friend；〃　the　drow　said。　〃Where　will　I　fall　in　the　span　of　your　life？　How　many　others　have　you　kept　as　you　keep　me；　my　Guenhwyvar；　and　how　many　more　shall　there　be？〃

　　　Drizzt　rested　his　back　against　the　mountain　wall　and　looked　to　Catti…brie；　then　up　to　the　stars。　Sad　were　his　thoughts；　and　yet；　in　many　ways；　they　were　forting；　like　an　eternal　play；　like　emotions　shared；　like　memories　of　Wulfgar。　Drizzt　sent　those　thoughts　skyward；　into　the　heavenly　canopy；　letting　them　break　apart　on　the　ceaseless　and　mournful　wind。

　　　His　dreams　were　full　of　images　of　friends；　of　Zaknafein；　his　father；　of　Belwar；　the　svirfneblin　gnome；　of　Captain　Deudermont；　of　the　good　ship　Sea　Sprite；　of　Regis　and　Bruenor；　of　Wulfgar；　and　most　of　all；　of　Catti…brie。

　　　It　was　as　calm　and　pleasant　a　sleep　as　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　ever　known。

　　　Guenhwyvar　watched　the　drow　for　some　time；　then　rested　her　great　feline　head　on　wide　paws　and　closed　her　green　eyes。　Drizzt's　ments　had　hit　the　mark；　except；　of　course；　his　intimation　that　her　memory　of　him　would　be　inconsequential　in　the　centuries　ahead。　Guenhwyvar　had　indeed　e　to　the　call　of　many　masters；　most　goodly；　some　wicked；　in　the　past　millennium；　and　even　beyond　that。　Some　the　panther　remembered；　some　not；　but　Drizzt。。。

　　　Forever　would　Guenhwyvar　remember　the　renegade　dark　elf；　whose　heart　was　so　strong　and　so　good　and　whose　loyalty　was　no　less　than　the　panther's　own。



Part　2

THE　ONSET　OF　CHAOS



　　　Forever　after；　the　bards　of　the　Realms　called　it　the　Time　of　Troubles；　the　time　when　the　gods　were　kicked　out　of　the　heavens；　their　avatars　walking　among　the　mortals。　The　time　when　the　Tablets　of　Fate　were　stolen；　invoking　the　wrath　of　Ao；　Overlord　of　the　Gods；　when　magic　went　awry；　and　when；　as　a　consequence；　social　and　religious　hierarchies；　so　often　based　on　magical　strength；　fell　into　chaos。

　　　I　have　heard　many　tales　from　fanatical　priests　of　their　encounters　with　their　particular　avatars；　frenzied　stories　from　men　and　women　who　claim　to　have　looked　upon　their　deities。　So　many　others　came　to　convert　to　a　religion　during　this　troubled　time；　likewise　claiming　they　had　seen　the　light　and　the　truth；　however　convoluted　it　might　be。

　　　I　do　not　disagree　with　the　claims；　and　would　not　openly　attack　the　premise　of　their　encounters。　I　am　glad　for　those　who　have　found　enrichment　amidst　the　chaos；　I　am　glad　whenever　another　person　finds　the　contentment　of　spiritual　guidance。

　　　But　what　of　faith？

　　　What　of　fidelity　and　loyalty？　plete　trust？　Faith　is　not　granted　by　tangible　proof。　It　es　from　the　heart　and　the　soul。　If　a　person　needs　proof　of　a　god's　existence；　then　the　very　notion　of　spirituality　is　diminished　into　sensuality　and　we　have　reduced　what　is　holy　into　what　is　logical。

　　　I　have　touched　the　unicorn；　so　rare　and　so　precious；　the　symbol　of　the　goddess　Mielikki；　who　holds　my　heart　and　soul。　This　was　before　the　onset　of　the　Time　of　Troubles；　yet　were　I　of　a　like　mind　to　those　who　make　the　claims　of　viewing　avatars；　I　could　say　the　same。　I　could　say　that　I　have　touched　Mielikki；　that　she　came　to　me　in　a　magical　glade　in　the　mountains　near　Dead　Orc　Pass。

　　　The　unicorn　was　not　Mielikki；　and　yet　it　was；　as　is　the　sunrise　and　the　seasons；　as　are　the　birds　and　the　squirrels　and　the　strength　of　a　tree　that　has　lived　through　the　dawn　and　death　of　centuries。　As　are　the　leaves；　blowing　on　autumn　winds　and　the　snow　piling　deep　in　cold　mountain　vales。　As　are　the　smell　of　a　crisp　night；　the　twinkle　of　the　starry　canopy；　and　the　howl　of　a　distant　wolf。

　　　No；　I'll　not　argue　openly　against　one　who　has　claimed　to　have　seen　an　avatar；　because　that　person　will　not　understand　that　the　mere　presence　of　such　a　being　undermines　the　very　purpose　of；　and　value　of；　faith。　Because　if　the　true　gods　were　so　tangible　and　so　accessible；　then　we　would　no　longer　be　independent　creatures　set　on　a　journey　to　find　the　truth；　but　merely　a　herd　of　sheep　needing　the　guidance　of　a　shepherd　and　his　dogs；　unthinking　and　without　the　essence　of　faith。

　　　The　guidance　is　there；　I　know。　Not　in　such　a　tangible　form；　but　in　what　we　know　to　be　good　and　just。　It　is　our　own　reactions　to　the　acts　of　others　that　show　us　the　value　of　our　own　actions；　and　if　we　have　fallen　so　far　as　to　need　an　avatar；　an　undeniable　manifestation　of　a　god；　to　show　us　our　way；　then　we　are　pitiful　creatures　indeed。

　　　The　Time　of　Troubles？　Yes。　And　even　more　so　if　we　are　to　believe　the　suggestion　of　avatars；　because　truth　is　singular　and　cannot；　by　definition；　support　so　many　varied；　even　opposing　manifestations。

　　　The　unicorn　was　not　Mielikki；　and　yet　it　was；　for　I　have　touched　Mielikki。　Not　as　an　avatar；　or　as　a　unicorn；　but　as　a　way　of　viewing　my　place　in　the　world。　Mielikki　is　my　heart。　I　follow　her　precepts　because；　were　I　to　write　precepts　based　on　my　own　conscience；　they　would　be　the　same。　I　follow　Mielikki　because　she　represents　what　I　call　truth。

　　　Such