精灵血脉四部曲-第13部分

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〃Bah；　ye're　too　soft…hearted；　elf；〃　Bruenor　grumbled；　〃and　ye're　taking　me　along　with　ye！〃　He　looked　to　the　huge　barbarian；　obviously　akin　to　Wulfgar；　and　nodded。　〃Send　out　me　wele　to　Nesme；　then；　but　I'll　be　needing　a　count　o'　them　that's　to　attend！〃

The　barbarian　cast　an　appreciative　look　at　Drizzt；　then　bowed　and　was　gone；　though　his　departure　did　little　to　stop　Bruenor's　grumbling。

〃A　hunnerd　things　to　do；　elf；〃　the　dwarf　plained。

〃You　try　to　make　your　daughter's　wedding　the　grandest　the　land　has　ever　seen；〃　Drizzt　remarked。

〃I　try；〃　Bruenor　agreed。　〃She's　deserving　it；　me　Catti…brie。　I've　tried　to　give　her　what　I　could　all　these　years；　but。　。　。〃　Bruenor　held　his　hands　out；　inviting　a　visual　inspection　of　his　stout　body；　a　pointed　reminder　that　he　and　Catti…brie　were　not　even　of　the　same　race。

Drizzt　put　a　hand　on　his　friend's　strong　shoulder。　〃No　human　could　have　given　her　more；〃　he　assured　Bruenor。

The　dwarf　sniffled；　Drizzt　did　well　to　hide　his　chuckle。

〃But　a　hunnerd　damned　things！〃　Bruenor　roared；　his　fit　of　sentimentality　predictably　short…lived。　〃King's　daughter　has　to　get　a　proper　wedding；　I　say；　but　I'm　not　for　getting　much　help　in　doing　the　damned　thing　right！〃

Drizzt　knew　the　source　of　Bruenor's　overblown　frustration。　The　dwarf　had　expected　Regis；　a　former　guildmaster　and　undeniably　skilled　in　etiquette；　to　help　in　planning　the　huge　celebration。　Soon　after　Regis　had　arrived　in　the　halls；　Bruenor　had　assured　Drizzt　that　his　troubles　were　over；　that　〃Rumblebelly'll　see　to　what's　needin'　seein'　to。〃

In　truth；　Regis　had　taken　on　many　tasks；　but　hadn't　performed　as　well　as　Bruenor　had　expected　or　demanded。　Drizzt　wasn't　sure　if　this　came　from　Regis's　unexpected　ineptitude　or　Bruenor's　doting　attitude。

A　dwarf　rushed　in；　then；　and　handed　Bruenor　twenty　different　scrolls　of　possible　layouts　for　the　great　dining　hall。　Another　dwarf　came　in　on　the　first　one's　heels；　bearing　an　armful　of　potential　menus　for　the　feast。

Bruenor　just　sighed　and　looked　helplessly　to　Drizzt。

〃You　will　get　through　this；〃　the　drow　assured　him。　〃And　Catti…brie　will　think　it　the　grandest　celebration　ever　given。〃　Drizzt　meant　to　go　on；　but　his　last　statement　gave　him　pause　and　a　concerned　expression　crossed　his　brow　that　Bruenor　did　not　miss。

〃Ye're　worried　for　the　girl；〃　the　observant　dwarf　remarked。

〃More　for　Wulfgar；〃　Drizzt　admitted。

Bruenor　chuckled。　〃I　got　three　masons　at　work　to　fixing　the　lad's　walls；〃　he　said。　〃Something　put　a　mighty　anger　in　the　boy。〃

Drizzt　only　nodded。　He　had　not　revealed　to　anyone　that　he　had　been　Wulfgar's　target　on　that　particular　occasion；　that　Wulfgar　probably　would　have　killed　him　blindly　if　the　barbarian　had　won。

〃The　boy's　just　nervous；〃　Bruenor　said。

Again　the　drow　nodded；　though　he　wasn't　certain　he　could　bring　himself　to　agree。　Wulfgar　was　indeed　nervous；　but　his　behavior　went　beyond　that　excuse。　Still；　Drizzt　had　no　better　explanations；　and　since　the　incident　in　the　room；　Wulfgar　had　bee　friendly　once　more　toward　Drizzt；　had　seemed　more　his　old　self。

〃He'll　settle　down　once　the　day　gets　past；〃　Bruenor　went　on；　and　it　seemed　to　Drizzt　that　the　dwarf　was　trying　to　convince　himself　more　than　anyone　else。　This；　too；　Drizzt　understood；　for　Catti…brie；　the　orphaned　human；　was　Bruenor's　daughter　in　heart　and　soul。　She　was　the　one　soft　spot　in　Bruenor's　rock…hard　heart；　the　vulnerable　chink　in　the　king's　armor。

Wulfgar's　erratic；　domineering　behavior　had　not　escaped　the　wise　dwarf；　it　seemed。　But；　while　Wulfgar's　attitude　obviously　bothered　Bruenor；　Drizzt　did　not　believe　the　dwarf　would　do　anything　about　it—not　unless　Catti…brie　asked　him　for　help。

And　Drizzt　knew　that　Catti…brie；　as　proud　and　stubborn　as　her　father；　would　not　ask—not　from　Bruenor　and　not　from　Drizzt。

〃Where　ye　been　hiding；　ye　little　trickster？〃　Drizzt　heard　Bruenor　roar；　and　the　dwarf's　sheer　volume　startled　Drizzt　from　his　private　contemplations。　He　looked　over　to　see　Regis　entering　the　hall；　the　halfling　looking　thoroughly　flustered。

〃I　ate　my　first　meal　of　the　day！〃　Regis　shouted　back；　and　he　got　a　sour　look　on　his　cherubic　face　and　put　a　hand　on　his　grumbling　tummy。

〃No　time　for　eating！〃　Bruenor　snapped　back。　〃We　got　a—〃

〃Hunnerd　things　to　do；〃　Regis　finished；　imitating　the　dwarf's　rough　accent　and　holding　up　his　chubby　hand　in　a　desperate　plea　for　Bruenor　to　back　off。

Bruenor　stomped　a　heavy　boot　and　stormed　over　to　the　pile　of　potential　menus。　〃Since　ye're　so　set　on　thinking　about　food；　。　。　。〃　Bruenor　began　as　he　gathered　up　the　parchments　and　heaved　them；　showering　Regis。　〃There'll　be　elves　and　humans　aplenty　at　the　feast；〃　he　explained　as　Regis　scrambled　to　put　the　pile　in　order。　〃Give　'em　something　their　sensitive　innards'll　take！〃

Regis　shot　a　pleading　look　at　Drizzt；　but　when　the　drow　only　shrugged　in　reply；　the　halfling　picked　up　the　parchments　and　shuffled　away。

〃I'd've　thought　that　one'd　be　better　at　this　wedding　planning　stuff；〃　Bruenor　remarked；　loudly　enough　for　the　departing　halfling　to　hear。

〃And　not　so　good　at　fighting　goblins；〃　Drizzt　replied；　remembering　the　halfling's　remarkable　efforts　in　the　battle。

Bruenor　stroked　his　thick　red　beard　and　looked　to　the　empty　doorway　through　which　Regis　had　just　passed。　〃Spent　lots　of　time　on　the　road　beside　the　likes　of　us；〃　the　dwarf　decided。

〃Too　much　time；〃　Drizzt　added　under　his　breath；　too　quietly　for　Bruenor　to　hear；　for　it　was　obvious　to　the　drow　that　Bruenor；　unlike　Drizzt；　thought　the　surprising　revelations　about　their　halfling　friend　a　good　thing。



*　*　*　*　*



A　short　while　later；　when　Drizzt；　on　an　errand　for　Bruenor；　neared　the　entrance　to　Cobble's　chapel；　he　found　that　Bruenor　was　not　the　only　one　flustered　by　the　hectic　preparations　for　the　uping　wedding。

〃Not　for　all　the　mithril　in　Bruenor's　realm！〃　he　heard　Catti…brie　emphatically　shout。

〃Be　reasonable；〃　Cobble　whined　back　at　her。　〃Yer　father's　not　asking　too　much。〃

Drizzt　entered　the　chapel　to　see　Catti…brie　standing　atop　a　pedestal；　hands　resolutely　on　her　slender　hips；　and　Cobble　down　low　before　her；　holding　out　a　gem…studded　apron。

Catti…brie　regarded　Drizzt　and　gave　a　curt　shake　of　her　head。　〃They're　wanting　me　to　wear　a　smithy's　apron！〃　she　cried。　〃A　damned　smithy's　apron　on　the　day　o'　me　wedding！〃

Drizzt　prudently　realized　that　this　was　not　the　time　to　smile。　He　walked　solemnly　to　Cobble　and　took　the　apron。

〃Battlehammer　tradition；〃　the　cleric　huffed。

〃Any　dwarf　would　be　proud　to　wear　the　raiment；〃　Drizzt　agreed。　〃Must　I　remind　you；　though；　that　Catti…brie　is　no　dwarf？〃

〃A　symbol　of　subservience　is　what　it　is；〃　the　auburn…haired　woman　spouted。　〃Dwarven　females　are　expected　to　labor　at　the　forge　all　the　day。　Not　ever　have　I　lifted　a　smithy's　hammer；　and　。。。〃

Drizzt　calmed　her　with　an　outstretched　hand　and　a　plaintive　look。

〃She's　Bruenor's　daughter；〃　Cobble　pointed　out。　〃She　has　a　duty　to　please　her　father。〃

〃Indeed；〃　Drizzt；　the　consummate　diplomat；　agreed　once　more；　〃but　remember　that　she　is　not　marrying　a　dwarf。　Catti…brie　has　never　worked　the　forge—〃

〃It's　symbolic；〃　Cobble　protested。

〃—and　Wulfgar　lifted　the　hammer　only　during　his　years　of　servitude　to　Bruenor；　when　he　was　given　no　choice；〃　Drizzt　finished　without　missing　a　beat。

Cobble　looked　to　Catti…brie；　then　back　to　the　apron；　and　sighed。　〃We'll　find　a　promise；〃　he　conceded。

Drizzt　threw　a　wink　Catti…brie's　way　and　was　surprised　to　realize　that　his　efforts　apparently　had　not　brightened　the　young　woman's　mood。

〃I　have　e　from　Bruenor；〃　the　drow　ranger　said　to　Cobble。　〃He　mentioned　something　about　testing　the　holy　water　for　the　ceremony。〃

〃Tasting；〃　Cobble　corrected；　and　he　hopped　all　about；　looking　this　way　and　that。　〃Yes；　yes；　the　mead；〃　he　said；　obviously　flustered。　〃Bruenor's　wanting　to　settle　the　mead　issue　this　day。〃　He　looked　up　at　Drizzt。　〃We're　thinking　that　the　dark　stuff　will　be　too　much　for　the　soft…bellied　group　from　Silverymoon。〃

Cobble　rushed　about　the　large　chapel；　scooping　buckets　from　the　various　fonts　that　lined　the　walls。　Catti…brie　offered　Drizzt　an　incredulous　shrug　as　he　silently　mouthed　the　words；　〃Holy　water？〃

Priests　of　most　religions　prepared　their　blessed　water　with　exotic　oils；　it　should　have　e　as　no　surprise　to　Drizzt；　after　many　years　beside　rowdy　Bruenor；　that　the　dwarven　clerics　used　hops。

〃Bruenor　said　you　should　bring　a　generous　amount；〃　Drizzt　said　to　Cobble；　instructions　that　were　hardly　necessary　given　that　the　excited　cleric　already　had　filled　a　small　cart　with　flasks。

〃We're　done　for　the　day；〃　Cobble　announced　to　Catti…brie。　The　dwarf　ambled　quickly　to　the　door；　his　precious　cargo　bouncing　along。　〃But　don't　ye　be　thinking　that　ye've　had　the　last　word　in　all　of　this！〃　Catti…brie　snarled　again；　but　Cobble；　rambling　along　at　top　speed；　was　too　far　gone　to　notice。

Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　sat　side　by　side　on　the　small　pedestal　in　silence　for　some　time。　〃Is　the　apron　so　bad？〃　the　draw　finally　mustered　the　nerve　to　ask。

Catti…brie　shook　her　head。　〃Tis　not　the　garment；　but　the　meaning　of　the　thing　I'm　not　liking；〃　she　explained。　〃Me　wedding's　in　two　weeks。　I'm　thinking　that　I've　seen　me　last　adventure；　me　last　fight；　except　for　those　I'm　doomed　to　face　against　me　own　husband。〃

The　blunt　admission　struck　Drizzt　profoundly　and　alleviated　much　of　the　weight　of　keeping　his　fears　private。

〃Goblins　across　Faerun　will　be　glad　to　hear　that；〃　he　said　facetiously；　trying　to　bring　some　levity　to　the　young　woman's　dark　mood。　Catti…brie　did　manage　a　slight　smile；　but　there　remained　a　profound　sadness　in　her　blue　eyes。

〃You　fought　as　well　as　any；〃　Drizzt　added。

〃Did　ye　not　think　I　would？〃　Catti…brie　snapped　at　him；　suddenly　defensive；　her　tone　as　sharp　as　the　edges　of　Drizzt's　magical　scimitars。

〃Are　you　always　so　filled　with　anger？〃　Drizzt　retorted；　and　his　accusing　words　calmed　Catti…brie　immediately。

〃Just　scared；　I'm　guessing；〃　she　replied　quietly。

Drizzt　nodded；　understanding　and　appreciating　his　friend's　growing　dilemma。　〃I　must　go　back　to　Bruenor；〃　he　explained；　rising　from　the　pedestal。　He　would　have　left　it　at　that；　but　he　could　not　ignore　the　pleading　look　Catti…brie　then　gave　him。　She　turned　away　immediately；　staring　straight　ahead　under　the　cowl　of　her