精灵血脉四部曲-第141部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



　　　〃He　was　scared；〃　Drizzt　went　on。　〃Nothing　in　the　world　frightened　mighty　Wulfgar　more　than　the　thought　of　losing　his　Catti…brie。〃

　　　〃His　Catti…brie？〃　she　echoed。

　　　Drizzt　laughed　at　her　oversensitivity。　〃His　Catti…brie；　as　he　was　your　Wulfgar；〃　he　said；　and　Catti…brie's　smirk　fell　away　as　fully　as　her　trap　of　words。

　　　〃He　loved　you；〃　Drizzt　went　on；　〃with　all　his　heart。〃　He　paused；　but　Catti…brie　had　nothing　to　say；　just　sat　very　still；　very　quiet；　hearing　his　every　word。　〃He　loved　you；　and　that　love　made　him　feel　vulnerable；　and　frightened　him。　Nothing　anyone　could　do　to　Wulfgar；　not　torture；　not　battle；　not　even　death；　frightened　him；　but　the　slightest　scratch　on　Catti…brie　would　burn　like　a　hot　dagger　in　his　heart。

　　　〃So　he　acted　the　part　of　the　fool　for　a　short　while　before　you　were　to　be　wed；〃　Drizzt　said。　〃The　very　next　time　you　saw　battle；　your　own　strength　and　independence　would　have　held　a　mirror　up　to　Wulfgar；　would　have　shown　him　his　error。　Unlike　so　many　of　his　proud　people；　unlike　Berkthgar；　Wulfgar　admitted　his　mistakes　and　never　made　them　again。〃

　　　As　she　listened　to　the　words　of　her　wise　friend；　Catti…brie　remembered　exactly　that　incident；　the　battle　in　which　Wulfgar　had　been　killed。　Those　very　fears　for　Catti…brie　had　played　a　large　part　in　the　barbarian's　death；　but　before　he　was　taken　from　her；　he　had　looked　into　her　eyes　and　had　indeed　realized　what　his　foolishness　had　cost　him；　had　cost　them　both。

　　　Catti…brie　had　to　believe　that　now；　recalling　the　scene　in　light　of　the　drow's　words。　She　had　to　believe　that　her　love　for　Wulfgar　had　been　real；　very　real；　and　not　misplaced；　that　he　was　all　she　had　thought　him　to　be。

　　　Now　she　could。　For　the　first　time　since　Wulfgar's　death；　Catti…brie　could　remember　him　without　the　pangs　of　guilt；　without　the　fears　that；　had　he　lived；　she　would　not　have　married　him。　Because　Drizzt　was　right；　Wulfgar　would　have　admitted　the　error　despite　his　pride；　and　he　would　have　grown；　as　he　always　had　before。　That　was　the　finest　quality　of　the　man；　an　almost　childlike　quality；　that　viewed　the　world　and　his　own　life　as　getting　better；　as　moving　toward　a　better　way　in　a　better　place。

　　　What　followed　was　the　most　sincere　smile　on　Catti…brie's　face　in　many；　many　months。　She　felt　suddenly　free；　suddenly　plete　with　her　past；　reconciled　and　able　to　move　forward　with　her　life。

　　　She　looked　at　the　drow；　wide…eyed；　with　a　curiosity　that　seemed　to　surprise　Drizzt。　She　could　go　on；　but　exactly　what　did　that　mean？

　　　Slowly；　Catti…brie　began　shaking　her　head；　and　Drizzt　came　to　understand　that　the　movement　had　something　to　do　with　him。　He　lifted　a　slender　hand　and　brushed　some　stray　hair　back　from　her　cheek；　his　ebony　skin　contrasting　starkly　with　her　light　skin；　even　in　the　quiet　light　of　night。

　　　〃I　do　love　you；〃　the　drow　admitted。　The　blunt　statement　did　not　catch　Catti…brie　by　surprise；　not　at　all。　〃As　you　love　me；〃　Drizzt　went　on；　easily；　confident　that　his　words　were　on　the　mark。　〃And　I；　too；　must　look　ahead　now；　must　find　my　place　among　my　friends；　beside　you；　without　Wulfgar。〃

　　　〃Perhaps　in　the　future；〃　Catti…brie　said；　her　voice　barely　a　whisper。

　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Drizzt　agreed。　〃But　for　now。。。〃

　　　〃Friends；〃　Catti…brie　finished。

　　　Drizzt　moved　his　hand　back　from　her　cheek；　held　it　in　the　air　before　her　face；　and　she　reached　up　and　clasped　it　firmly。

　　　Friends。

　　　The　moment　lingered；　the　two　staring；　not　talking；　and　it　would　have　gone　on　much；　much　longer；　except　that　there　came　a　motion　from　the　trail　behind　them；　and　the　sound　of　voices　they　both　recognized。

　　　〃Stupid　elf　couldn't　do　this　inside！〃　blustered　Bruenor。

　　　〃The　stars　are　more　fitting　for　Guenhwyvar；〃　huffed　Regis　breathlessly。　Together　they　crashed　through　a　bush　not　far　behind　the　plateau　and　stumbled　and　skidded　down　to　join　their　two　friends。

　　　〃Stupid　elf？〃　Catti…brie　asked　her　father。

　　　〃Bah！〃　Bruenor　snorted。　〃I'm　not　for　saying。。。〃

　　　〃Well；　actually；〃　Regis　began　to　correct；　but　changed　his　mind　when　Bruenor　turned　his　scarred　visage　the　halfling's　way　and　growled　at　him。

　　　〃So　ye're　right　and　I　said　stupid　elf！〃　Bruenor　admitted；　speaking　mostly　to　Drizzt；　as　close　to　an　apology　as　he　ever　gave。　〃But　I've　got　me　work　to　do。〃　He　looked　back　up　the　trail；　in　the　direction　of　Mithril　Hall's　eastern　door。　〃Inside！〃　he　finished。

　　　Drizzt　took　out　the　onyx　figurine　and　placed　it　on　the　ground；　purposely　right　before　the　dwarf's　heavy　boots。　〃When　Guenhwyvar　is　returned　to　us；　I　will　explain　how　inconvenienced　you　were　to　e　and　witness　her　return；〃　Drizzt　said　with　a　smirk。

　　　〃Stupid　elf；〃　Bruenor　muttered　under　his　breath；　and　he　fully　expected　that　Drizzt　would　have　the　cat　sleep　on　him　again；　or　something　worse。

　　　Catti…brie　and　Regis　laughed；　but　their　mirth　was　strained　and　nervous；　as　Drizzt　called　quietly　for　the　panther。　The　pain　they　would　have　to　bear　if　the　magic　of　the　figurine　had　not　healed；　if　Guenhwyvar　did　not　return　to　them；　would　be　no　less　to　the　panions　than　the　pain　of　losing　Wulfgar。

　　　They　all　knew　it；　even　surly；　blustery　Bruenor；　who　to　his　grave　would　deny　his　affection　for　the　magical　panther。　Silence　grew　around　the　figurine　as　the　gray　smoke　came　forth；　swirled；　and　solidified。

　　　Guenhwyvar　seemed　almost　confused　as　she　regarded　the　four　panions　standing　about　her；　none　of　them　daring　to　breathe。

　　　Drizzt's　grin　was　the　first　and　the　widest；　as　he　saw　that　his　trusted　panion　was　whole　again　and　healed；　the　black　fur　glistening　in　the　starlight；　the　sleek　muscles　taut　and　strong。

　　　He　had　brought　Bruenor　and　Regis　out　to　witness　this　moment。　It　was　fitting　that　all　four　of　them　stood　by　when　Guenhwyvar　returned。

　　　More　fitting　would　it　have　been　had　the　sixth　panion；　Wulfgar；　son　of　Beornegar；　joined　them　on　that　plateau；　in　the　quiet　night；　under　the　stars；　in　the　last　hours　of　Mithril　Hall's　peace。



Part　4

THE　DROW　MARCH



　　　I　noticed　something　truly　amazing；　and　truly　heartwarming；　as　we；　all　the　defenders　of　Mithril　Hall　and　the　immediate　region；　neared　the　end　of　preparations；　neared　the　time　when　the　drow　would　e。

　　　I　am　drow。　My　skin　proves　that　I　am　different。　The　ebony　hue　shows　my　heritage　clearly　and　undeniably。　And　yet；　not　a　glare　was　aimed　my　way；　not　a　look　of　consternation　from　the　Harpells　and　the　Longriders；　not　an　angry　word　from　volatile　Berkthgar　and　his　warrior　people。　And　no　dwarf；　not　even　General　Dagna；　who　did　not　like　anyone　who　was　not　a　dwarf；　pointed　an　accusing　finger　at　me。

　　　We　did　not　know　why　the　drow　had　e；　be　it　for　me　or　for　the　promise　of　treasure　from　the　rich　dwarven　plex。　Whatever　the　cause；　to　the　defenders；　I　was　without　blame。　How　wonderful　that　felt　to　me；　who　had　worn　the　burden　of　self…imposed　guilt　for　many　months；　guilt　for　the　previous　raid；　guilt　for　Wulfgar；　guilt　that　Catti…brie　had　been　forced　by　friendship　to　chase　me　all　the　way　to　Menzoberranzan。

　　　I　had　worn　this　heavy　collar；　and　yet　those　around　me　who　had　as　much　to　lose　as　I　placed　no　burden　on　me。

　　　You　cannot　understand　how　special　that　realization　was　to　one　of　my　past。　It　was　a　gesture　of　sincere　friendship；　and　what　made　it　all　the　more　important　is　that　it　was　an　unintentional　gesture；　offered　without　thought　or　purpose。　Too　often　in　the　past；　my　〃friends〃　would　make　such　gestures　as　if　to　prove　something；　more　to　themselves　than　to　me。　They　could　feel　better　about　themselves　because　they　could　look　beyond　the　obvious　differences；　such　as　the　color　of　my　skin。

　　　Guenhwyvar　never　did　that。　Bruenor　never　did　that。　Neither　did　Catti…brie　or　Regis。　Wulfgar　at　first　despised　me；　openly　and　without　excuse；　simply　because　I　was　drow。　They　were　honest；　and　thus；　they　were　always　my　friends。　But　in　the　days　of　preparation　for　war；　I　saw　that　sphere　of　friendship　expand　many　times　over。　I　came　to　know　that　the　dwarves　of　Mithril　Hall；　the　men　and　women　of　Settlestone；　and　many；　many　more；　truly　accepted　me。

　　　That　is　the　honest　nature　of　friendship。　That　is　when　it　bees　sincere；　and　not　self…serving。　So　in　those　days；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　came　to　understand；　once　and　for　all；　that　he　was　not　of　Menzoberranzan。

　　　I　threw　off　the　collar　of　guilt。　I　smiled。

　　　桪rizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　17

BLINGDENSTONE



　　　They　were　shadows　among　the　shadows；　flickering　movements　that　disappeared　before　the　eye　could　take　them　in。　And　there　was　no　sound。　Though　three　hundred　dark　elves　moved　in　formation；　right　flank；　left　flank；　center；　there　was　no　sound。

　　　They　had　e　to　the　west　of　Menzoberranzan；　seeking　the　easier　and　wider　tunnels　that　would　swing　them　back　toward　the　east　and　all　the　way　to　the　surface；　to　Mithril　Hall。　Blingdenstone；　the　city　of　svirfnebli；　whom　the　drow　hated　above　all　others；　was　not　so　far　away；　another　benefit　of　this　roundabout　course。

　　　Uthegental　Armgo　paused　in　one　small；　sheltered　cubby。　The　tunnels　were　wide　here；　unfortably　so。　Svirfnebli　were　tacticians　and　builders；　in　a　fight　they　would　depend　on　formations；　perhaps　even　on　war　machines；　to　pete　with　the　more　stealthy　and　individual…minded　drow。　The　widening　of　these　particular　tunnels　was　no　accident；　Uthegental　knew；　and　no　result　of　nature。　This　battlefield　had　long　ago　been　prepared　by　his　enemies。

　　　So　where　were　they？　Uthegental　had　e　into　their　domain　with　three　hundred　drow；　his　group　leading　an　army　of　eight　thousand　dark　elves　and　thousands　of　humanoid　slaves。　And　yet；　though　Blingdenstone　itself　could　not　be　more　than　a　twenty　minute　march　from　his　position梐nd　his　scouts　were　even　closer　than　that梩here　had　been　no　sign　of　svirfnebli。

　　　The　wild　patron　of　Barrison　del'Armgo　was　not　happy。　Uthegental　liked　things　predictable；　at　least　as　far　as　enemies　were　concerned；　and　had　hoped　that　he　and　his　warriors　would　have　seen　some　action　against　the　gnomes　by　now。　It　was　no　accident　that　his　group；　that　he；　was　at　the　forefront　of　the　drow　army。　That　had　been　a　concession　by　Baenre　to　Mez'Barris；　an　affirmation　of　the　importance　of　the　second　house。　But　with　that　concession　came　responsibility；　which　Matron　Mez'Barris　had　promptly　dropped　on　Uthegental's　sturdy　shoulders。　House　Barrison　del'Armgo　needed　to　e　out　of　this　war　with　high　glory