精灵血脉四部曲-第135部分

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　　　Five　days　had　passed　since　that　sixth　summoning；　five　days　wherein　the　gnomish　priests　and　all　of　Blingdenstone　had　prayed　to　Segojan；　had　begged　him　to　no　longer　turn　against　them。

　　　Unknown　to　the　svirfnebli；　those　five　days　had　also　seen　the　end　of　the　Time　of　Troubles；　the　realignment　and　correction　of　the　pantheon。

　　　Belwar　watched　now　as　the　robed　priests　began　their　dance　about　the　rune…emblazoned　circle　they　had　drawn　on　the　ground。　Each　carried　a　stone；　a　small　green　gem　previously　enchanted。　One　by　one；　they　placed　a　gem　on　the　perimeter　of　the　circle　and　crushed　it　with　a　huge　mallet。　When　that　was　pleted；　the　high　priest　walked　into　the　circle；　to　its　very　center；　placed　his　gem　on　the　ground；　and；　crying　out　a　word　of　pletion；　smashed　it　under　his　mithril　mallet。

　　　For　a　moment　there　was　only　silence；　then　the　ground　began　to　tremble　slightly。　The　high　priest　rushed　out　of　the　circle　to　join　his　huddling　panions。

　　　The　trembling　increased；　multiplied；　a　large　crack　ran　about　the　circumference　of　the　enchanted　area；　separating　that　circle　from　the　rest　of　the　chamber。　Inside　the　circle；　rock　split　apart；　and　split　again；　rolling　and　roiling　into　a　malleable　mud。

　　　Bubbles　grew　and　blew　apart　with　great　popping　sounds；　the　whole　chamber　warmed。

　　　A　great　head梐　huge　head！梡oked　up　from　the　floor。

　　　On　the　ledge；　Belwar　and　his　cohorts　groaned。　Never　had　they　seen　so　tremendous　an　elemental！　Suddenly；　they　were　all　plotting　escape　routes　rather　than　attack　routes。

　　　The　shoulders　came　forth　from　the　floor；　an　arm　on　each　side梐n　arm　that　could　sweep　the　lot　of　the　priests　into　oblivion　with　a　single　movement。　Curious　looks　mixed　with　trepidation　on　the　faces　of　priests　and　warriors　alike。　This　creature　was　not　like　any　elemental　they　had　ever　seen。　Though　its　stone　was　smoother；　with　no　cracks　showing；　it　appeared　more　unfinished；　less　in　the　image　of　a　bipedal　creature。　Yet；　at　the　same　time；　it　exuded　an　aura　of　sheer　power　and　pletion　beyond　anything　the　gnomes　had　ever　known。

　　　〃The　glory　of　Segojan　are　we　witnessing！〃　one　gnome　near　Belwar　squealed　in　glee。

　　　〃Or　the　end　of　our　people；〃　Belwar　added　under　his　breath　so　that　none　would　hear。

　　　By　the　girth　of　the　head　and　shoulders；　the　gnomes　expected　the　monster　to　rise　twenty　feet　or　more；　but　when　the　trembling　stopped　and　all　was　quiet　again；　the　creature　barely　topped　ten　feet梟ot　as　tall　as　many　of　the　elementals　even　single　svirfneblin　priests　had　previously　summoned。　Still；　the　gnomes　had　no　doubt　that　this　was　a　greater　achievement；　that　this　creature　was　more　powerful　than　anything　they　had　ever　brought　forth。　The　priests　had　their　suspicions梥o　did　Belwar；　who　had　lived　a　long　time　and　had　listened　carefully　to　the　legends　that　gave　his　people　their　identity　and　their　strength。

　　　〃Entemoch！〃　the　most　honored　burrow　warden　gasped　from　his　perch；　and　the　name；　the　name　of　the　Prince　of　Earth　Elementals；　was　echoed　from　gnome　to　gnome。

　　　Another　name　predictably　followed；　the　name　of　Ogremoch；　Entemoch's　evil　twin；　and　it　was　spoken　sharply　and　with　open　fear。　If　this　was　Ogremoch　and　not　Entemoch；　then　they　all　were　doomed。

　　　The　priests　fell　to　their　knees；　trembling；　paying　homage；　hoping　beyond　hope　that　this　was　indeed　Entemoch；　who　had　always　been　their　friend。

　　　Belwar　was　the　first　down　from　the　ledge；　hitting　the　ground　with　a　grunt　and　running　off　to　stand　before　the　summoned　creature。

　　　It　regarded　him　from　on　high；　made　no　move；　and　offered　no　sign　as　to　its　intentions。

　　　〃Entemoch！〃　Belwar　shouted。　Behind　him；　the　priests　lifted　their　faces；　some　found　the　courage　to　stand　and　walk　beside　the　brave　burrow　warden。

　　　〃Entemoch！〃　Belwar　called　again。　〃Answered　our　call；　you　have。　Are　we　to　take　this　as　a　sign　that　all　is　right　with　Segojan；　that　we　are　in　his　favor？〃

　　　The　creature　brought　its　huge　hand　to　the　floor；　palm　up；　before　Belwar。　The　burrow　warden　looked　to　the　high　priest　standing　at　his　right。

　　　The　priest　nodded。　〃To　trust　in　Segojan　is　our　duty；〃　he　said；　and　he　and　Belwar　stepped　onto　the　hand　together。

　　　Up　they　rose；　ing　to　a　stop　right　before　the　behemoth's　face。　And　they　relaxed　and　were　glad；　for　they　saw　passion　there；　and　friendship。　This　was　indeed　Entemoch；　they　both　knew　in　their　hearts；　and　not　Ogremoch；　and　Segojan　was　with　them。

　　　The　elemental　prince　lifted　its　hand　above　its　head　and　melted　back　into　the　ground；　leaving　Belwar　and　the　high　priest　in　the　center　of　the　circle；　perfectly　reformed。

　　　Cheers　resounded　through　the　chamber；　more　than　one　rough…hewn　svirfneblin　face　was　streaked　with　tears。　The　priests　patted　themselves　on　the　back；　congratulated　themselves　and　all　the　gnomes　of　Blingdenstone。　They　sang　praises　to　King　Schnicktick；　whose　guidance　had　led　them　to　this　pinnacle　of　svirfneblin　achievement。

　　　For　at　least　one　of　them；　Belwar；　the　celebration　was　shortlived。　Their　god　was　back　with　them；　it　seemed；　and　their　magic　was　returning；　but　what　did　that　mean　for　the　drow　of　Menzoberranzan？　the　most　honored　burrow　warden　wondered。　Was　the　Spider　Queen；　too；　returned？　And　the　powers　of　the　drow　wizards　as　well？

　　　Before　all　of　this　had　begun；　the　gnomes　had　e　to　believe；　and　not　without　reason；　that　the　drow　were　planning　for　war。　With　the　onset　of　this　chaotic　time；　that　war　had　not　e；　but　that　was　reasonable；　Belwar　knew；　since　the　drow　were　more　dependent　on　magic　than　were　the　gnomes。　If　things　were　indeed　aright　once　more；　as　the　arrival　of　Entemoch　seemed　to　indicate；　then　Blingdenstone　might　soon　be　threatened。

　　　All　about　the　most　honored　burrow　warden；　gnomish　priests　and　warriors　danced　and　cried　out　for　joy。　How　soon；　he　wondered；　might　those　cries　be　screams　of　pain　or　shrieks　of　grief？



Chapter　13

REPAIRING　THE　DAMAGE



　　　〃Delicately！〃　Fret　whispered　harshly；　watching　Drizzt's　hands　as　the　drow　scraped　and　chipped　away　the　dried　salve　around　the　neck　of　the　panther　figurine。　〃Oh；　do　be　careful！〃

　　　Of　course　Drizzt　was　being　careful！　As　careful　as　the　drow　had　ever　been　in　any　task。　As　important　as　the　figurine　appeared　to　be　to　Fret；　it　was　a　hundred　times　more　important　to　Drizzt；　who　treasured　and　loved　his　panther　panion。　Never　had　the　drow　taken　on　a　more　critical　task；　not　with　his　wits　or　his　weapons。　Now　he　used　the　delicate　tool　Fret　had　given　him；　a　slender　silver　rod　with　a　flattened　and　slightly　hooked　end。

　　　Another　piece　of　salve　fell　away梐lmost　a　half　inch　along　the　side　of　the　panther's　neck　was　clear　of　the　stuff。　And　clear　of　any　crack；　Drizzt　noted　hopefully。　So　perfectly　had　the　salve　bonded　the　onyx　figurine　that　not　a　line　could　be　seen　where　the　break　had　been。

　　　Drizzt　sublimated　his　excitement；　understanding　that　it　would　inevitably　lead　him　to　rush　in　his　work。　He　had　to　take　his　time。　The　circumference　of　the　figurine's　neck　was　no　more　than　a　few　inches；　but　Drizzt　fully　expected；　and　Fret　had　agreed　with　the　estimate；　that　he　would　spend　the　entire　morning　at　his　work。

　　　The　drow　ranger　moved　back　from　the　figurine　so　that　Fret　could　see　the　cleared　area。　The　tidy　dwarf　nodded　to　Drizzt　after　viewing　it；　even　smiled　hopefully。　Fret　trusted　in　Lady　Alustriel's　magic　and　her　ability　to　mend　a　tragedy。

　　　With　a　pat　on　Drizzt's　shoulder；　the　dwarf　moved　aside　and　Drizzt　went　back　to　work；　slowly　and　delicately；　one　tiny　fleck　at　a　time。

　　　By　noon；　the　neck　was　clear　of　salve。　Drizzt　turned　the　figurine　over　in　his　hands；　studying　the　area　where　the　break　had　been；　seeing　no　indication；　neither　a　crack　nor　any　residue　from　the　salve；　that　the　figurine　had　been　damaged。　He　clasped　the　item　by　the　head　and；　after　a　deep；　steadying　breath；　dared　to　hold　it　aloft；　with　all　the　pressure　of　its　weight　centered　on　the　area　of　the　cut。

　　　It　held　fast。　Drizzt　shook　his　hand；　daring　it　to　break　apart；　but　it　did　not。

　　　〃The　bonding　will　be　as　strong　as　any　other　area　on　the　item；〃　Fret　assured　the　drow。　〃Take　heart　that　the　figurine　is　whole　once　more。〃

　　　〃Agreed；〃　Drizzt　replied；　〃but　what　of　its　magic？〃

　　　Fret　had　no　answer。

　　　〃The　real　challenge　will　be　in　sending　Guenhwyvar　home　to　the　Astral　Plane；〃　the　drow　went　on。

　　　〃Or　in　calling　the　panther　back；〃　Fret　added。

　　　That　notion　stung　Drizzt。　The　tidy　dwarf　was　right；　he　knew。　He　might　be　able　to　open　a　tunnel　to　allow　Guenhwyvar　to　return　home；　only　to　have　the　panther　lost　to　him　forever。　Still；　Drizzt　entertained　no　thoughts　of　keeping　the　cat　beside　him。　Guenhwyvar's　condition　had　stabilized梐pparently　the　panther　could　indeed　remain　on　the　Material　Plane　indefinitely梑ut　the　great　cat　was　not　in　good　health　or　good　spirits。　While　she　seemed　no　longer　in　danger　of　dying；　Guenhwyvar　roamed　about　in　a　state　of　perpetual　exhaustion；　muscles　slack　along　her　once　sleek　sides；　eyes　often　closed　as　the　panther　tried　to　find　desperately　needed　sleep。

　　　〃Better　to　dismiss　Guenhwyvar　to　her　home；〃　Drizzt　said　determinedly。　〃Surely　my　life　will　be　diminished　if　I　cannot　recall　Guenhwyvar；　but　better　that　than　the　life　Guenhwyvar　must　now　endure。〃

　　　They　went　together；　the　figurine　in　hand；　to　Drizzt's　room。　As　usual；　Guenhwyvar　lay　on　the　rug　in　front　of　the　hearth；　absorbing　the　heat　of　the　glowing　embers。　Drizzt　didn't　hesitate。　He　marched　right　up　before　the　panther梬ho　lifted　her　head　sluggishly　to　regard　him梐nd　placed　the　figurine　on　the　floor　before　her。

　　　〃Lady　Alustriel；　and　good　Fret　here；　have　e　to　our　aid；　Guenhwyvar；〃　Drizzt　announced。　His　voice　quivered　a　bit　as　he　tried　to　continue；　as　the　realization　hit　him　that　this　might　be　the　last　time　he　ever　saw　the　panther。

　　　Guenhwyvar　sensed　that　disfort　and；　with　great　effort；　managed　to　sit　up；　putting　her　head　in　line　with　kneeling　Drizzt's　face。

　　　〃Go　home；　my　friend；〃　Drizzt　whispered；　〃go　home。〃

　　　The　panther　hesitated；　eyeing　the　drow　intently；　as　if　trying　to　discern　the　source　of　Drizzt's　obvious　unease。　Guenhwyvar；　too；　got　the　feeling梖rom　Drizzt　and　not　from　the　figurine；　which　seemed　whole　to　the　panther　once　more梩hat　this　might　be　a　final　parting　of　dear　friends。

　　　But　the　cat　had　no　control　in　the　matter。　In　her　exhausted　state；　Guenhwyvar　could　not　have　ignored　the　cal