精灵血脉四部曲-第166部分

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　　　*****



　　　Quenthel　shook　off　Gandalug's　heavy　blow　and　instinctively　moved　for　her　sister。　Then；　suddenly；　her　mother　was　dead　and　the　priestess　rushed　back　toward　the　wall　instead；　through　the　green…edged　portal；　back　into　the　corridor　beyond。　She　dropped　some　silvery　dust　as　she　passed　through；　enchanted　dust　that　would　dispel　the　portal　and　make　the　wall　smooth　and　solid　once　again。

　　　The　stone　spiraled　in；　fast　transforming　back　into　a　solid　barrier。

　　　Only　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　moving　with　the　speed　of　the　enchanted　anklets；　got　through　that　opening　before　it　snapped　shut。



　　　*****



　　　Jarlaxle　and　his　lieutenants　were　not　far　away。　They　knew　that　a　group　of　wild　dwarves　and　a　wolfman　had　met　Baenre's　other　elite　guards　in　the　tunnels　across　the　way；　and　that　the　dwarves　and　their　ally　had　overwhelmed　the　dark　elves　and　were　fast　bearing　down　on　the　chamber。

　　　From　a　high　vantage　point；　looking　out　from　a　cubby　on　the　tunnel　behind　that　chamber；　Jarlaxle　knew　the　approaching　band　of　furious　dwarves　had　already　missed　the　action。　Quenthel's　appearance；　and　Drizzt's　right　behind　her；　told　the　watching　mercenary　leader　the　conquest　of　Mithril　Hall　had　e　to　an　abrupt　end。

　　　The　lieutenant　at　Jarlaxle's　side　lifted　a　hand…crossbow　toward　Drizzt；　and　seemed　to　have　a　perfect　opportunity；　for　Drizzt's　focus　was　solely　on　the　fleeing　Baenre　daughter。　The　ranger　would　never　know　what　hit　him。

　　　Jarlaxle　grabbed　the　lieutenant's　wrist　and　forced　the　arm　down。　Jarlaxle　motioned　to　the　tunnels　behind；　and　he　and　his　somewhat　confused；　but　ultimately　loyal；　band　slipped　silently　away。

　　　As　they　departed；　Jarlaxle　heard　Quenthel's　dying　scream；　a　cry　of　〃Sacrilege！〃　She　was　yelling　out　a　denial；　of　course；　in　Drizzt　Do'Urden's梙er　killer's梖ace；　but　Jarlaxle　realized　she　could　just　as　easily；　and　just　as　accurately；　have　been　referring　to　him。

　　　So　be　it。



　　　*****



　　　The　dawn　was　bright　but　cold；　and　it　grew　colder　still　as　Stumpet　and　Terrien　Doucard；　of　the　Knights　in　Silver；　made　their　way　up　the　difficult　side　of　Keeper's　Dale；　climbing　hand　over　hand　along　the　almost　vertical　wall。

　　　〃Ye're　certain？〃　Stumpet　asked　Terrien；　a　half…elf　with　lustrous　brown　hair　and　features　too　fair　to　be　dimmed　by　even　the　tragedy　of　the　last　night。

　　　The　knight　didn't　bother　to　reply；　other　than　with　a　quick　nod；　for　Stumpet　had　asked　the　question　more　than　a　dozen　times　in　the　last　twenty　minutes。

　　　〃This　is　the　right　wall？〃　Stumpet　asked；　yet　another　of　her　redundant　questions。

　　　Terrien　nodded。　〃Close；〃　he　assured　the　dwarf。

　　　Stumpet　came　up　on　a　small　ledge　and　slid　over；　putting　her　back　against　the　wall；　her　feet　hanging　over　the　two…hundred…foot　drop　to　the　valley　floor。　She　felt　she　should　be　down　there　in　the　valley；　helping　tend　to　the　many；　many　wounded；　but　if　what　the　knight　had　told　her　was　true；　if　Lady　Alustriel　of　Silverymoon　had　fallen　up　here；　then　this　trip　might　be　the　most　important　task　Stumpet　Rakingclaw　ever　pleted　in　her　life。

　　　She　heard　Terrien　struggling　below　her　and　bent　over；　reaching　down　to　hook　the　half…elf　under　the　shoulder。　Stumpet's　powerful　muscles　corded；　and　she　easily　hoisted　the　slender　knight　over　the　ledge；　guiding　him　into　position　beside　her　against　the　wall。　Both　the　half…elf　and　the　dwarf　breathed　heavily；　puffs　of　steam　filling　the　air　before　them。

　　　〃We　held　the　dale；〃　Stumpet　said　cheerily；　trying　to　coax　the　agonized　expression　from　the　half…elf's　face。

　　　〃Would　the　victory　have　been　worth　it　if　you　had　watched　Bruenor　Battlehammer　die？〃　the　half…elf　replied；　his　teeth　chattering　a　bit　from　the　frigid　air。

　　　〃Ye're　not　for　knowing　that　Alustriel　died！〃　Stumpet　shot　back；　and　she　pulled　the　pack　from　her　back；　fumbling　about　inside。　She　had　wanted　to　wait　a　while　before　doing　this；　hopefully　to　get　closer　to　the　spot　where　Alustriel's　chariot　had　reportedly　gone　down。

　　　She　took　out　a　small　bowl　shaped　of　silvery　mithril　and　pulled　a　bulging　waterskin　over　her　head。

　　　〃It　is　probably　frozen；〃　the　dejected　half…elf　remarked；　indicating　the　skin。

　　　Stumpet　snorted。　Dwarven　holy　water　didn't　freeze；　at　least　not　the　kind　Stumpet　had　brewed；　dropping　in　a　little　niy…proof　to　sweeten　the　mix。　She　popped　the　cork　from　the　waterskin　and　began　a　rhythmic　chant　as　she　poured　the　golden　liquid　into　the　mithril　bowl。　She　was　lucky梥he　knew　that梖or　though　the　image　her　spells　brought　forth　was　fuzzy　and　brief；　an　area　some　distance　away；　she　knew　this　region；　and　knew　where　to　find　the　indicated　ledge。

　　　They　started　off　immediately　at　a　furious　and　reckless　pace；　Stumpet　not　even　bothering　to　collect　her　bowl　and　skin。　The　half…elf　slipped　more　than　once；　only　to　be　caught　by　the　wrist　by　Stum…pet's　strong　grasp；　and　more　than　once　Stumpet　found　herself　falling；　and　only　the　quick　hands　of　Terrien　Doucard；　deftly　planting　pitons　to　secure　the　rope　between　them；　saved　her。

　　　Finally；　they　got　to　the　ledge　and　found　Alustriel　lying　still　and　cold。　The　only　indication　that　her　magical　chariot　had　ever　been　there　was　a　scorch　mark　where　the　thing　had　crashed；　on　the　floor　of　the　ledge　and　against　the　mountain　wall。　Not　even　debris　remained；　for　the　chariot　had　been　wholly　a　creation　of　magic。

　　　The　half…elf　rushed　to　his　fallen　leader　and　gently　cradled　Alustriel's　head　in　one　arm。　Stumpet　whipped　out　a　small　mirror　from　her　belt　pouch　and　stuck　it　in　front　of　the　lady's　mouth。

　　　〃She's　alive！〃　the　dwarf　announced；　tossing　her　pack　to　Terrien。　The　words　seemed　to　ignite　the　half…elf。　He　gently　laid　Alustriel's　head　to　the　ledge；　then　fumbled　in　the　pack；　tearing　out　several　thick　blankets；　and　wrapped　his　lady　warmly；　then　began　briskly　rubbing　Alustriel's　bare；　cold　hands。　All　the　while；　Stumpet　called　upon　her　gods　for　spells　of　healing　and　warmth；　and　gave　every　ounce　of　her　own　energy　to　this　wondrous　leader　of　Silverymoon。

　　　Five　minutes　later；　Lady　Alustriel　opened　her　beautiful　eyes。　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　shuddered；　then　whispered　something　neither　Stumpet　nor　the　knight　could　hear；　so　the　half…elf　leaned　closer；　put　his　ear　right　up　to　her　mouth。

　　　〃Did　we　hold？〃

　　　Terrien　Doucard　straightened　and　smiled　widely。　〃Keeper's　Dale　is　ours！〃　he　announced；　and　Alustriel's　eyes　sparkled。　Then　she　slept；　peacefully；　confident　that　this　furiously　working　dwarven　priestess　would　keep　her　warm　and　well；　and　she　was　confident　that；　whatever　her　own　fate；　the　greater　good　had　been　served。

　　　For　the　good　of　all　goodly　folk。

　　　EPILOGUE

　　　Berg'inyon　Baenre　was　not　surprised　to　find　Jarlaxle　and　the　soldiers　of　Bregan　D'aerthe　waiting　for　him　far　below　the　surface；　far　from　Mithril　Hall。　As　soon　as　he　had　heard　reports　of　desertion；　Berg'inyon　realized　that　the　pragmatic　mercenary　was　probably　among　those　ranks　of　drow　fleeing　the　war。

　　　Methil　had　informed　Jarlaxle　of　Berg'inyon's　approach；　and　the　mercenary　leader　was　indeed　surprised　to　find　that　Berg'inyon；　the　son　of　Matron　Baenre；　the　weapon　master　of　the　first　house；　had　also　run　off　in　desertion。　The　mercenary　had　figured　that　Berg'inyon　would　fight　his　way　into　Mithril　Hall　and　die　as　his　mother　had　died。

　　　Stupidly。

　　　〃The　war　is　lost；〃　Berg'inyon　remarked。　Unsure　of　himself；　he　looked　to　Methil；　for　he　hadn't　anticipated　that　the　illithid　would　be　out　here；　away　from　the　matriarch。　The　illithid's　obvious　wounds；　one　arm　hanging　limply　and　a　large　hole　on　the　side　of　his　octopus　head；　grotesque　brain　matter　oozing　out；　caught　Berg'inyon　off　guard　as　well；　for　he　never　expected　that　anyone　could　catch　up　to　Methil　and　harm　him　so。

　　　〃Your　mother　is　dead；〃　Jarlaxle　replied　bluntly；　drawing　the　young　Baenre's　attention　from　the　wounded　illithid。　〃As　are　your　two　sisters　and　Auro'pol　Dyrr。〃

　　　Berg'inyon　nodded；　seeming　hardly　surprised。

　　　Jarlaxle　wondered　whether　he　should　mention　that　Matron　Baenre　was　the　one　who　had　murdered　the　latter。　He　held　the　thought　in　check；　figuring　he　might　be　able　to　use　that　little　bit　of　information　against　Berg'inyon　at　a　later　time。

　　　〃Matron　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin　led　the　retreat　from　Mithril　Hall's　lower　door；〃　the　mercenary　went　on。

　　　〃And　my　own　force　caught　up　to　those　drow　who　tried；　and　failed；　to　get　in　the　eastern　door；〃　Berg'inyon　added。

　　　〃And　you　punished　them？〃　Jarlaxle　wanted　to　know；　for　he　was　still　unsure　of　Berg'inyon's　feelings　about　all　of　this；　still　unsure　if　he　and　his　band　were　about　to　fight　yet　another　battle　down　here　in　the　tunnels。

　　　Berg'inyon　scoffed　at　the　notion　of　punishment；　and　Jarlaxle　breathed　a　little　easier。

　　　Together；　they　marched　on；　back　for　the　dark　and　more　fortable　ways　of　Menzoberranzan。　They　linked　with　Zeerith　and　her　force　soon　after；　and　many　other　groups　of　dark　elves　and　humanoids　fell　into　line　as　the　days　wore　on。　In　all；　more　than　two　thousand　drow；　a　fourth　of　them　Baenre　soldiers；　had　died　in　the　assault　on　Mithril　Hall；　and　twice　that　number　of　humanoid　slaves　had　been　killed；　most　outside　the　mountain；　on　Fourthpeak's　south…ern　slopes　and　in　Keeper's　Dale。　And　a　like　number　of　humanoids　had　run　off　after　the　battles；　fleeing　to　the　surface　or　down　other　corridors；　taking　their　chances　in　the　unknown　world　above　or　in　the　wild　Underdark　rather　than　return　to　the　tortured　life　as　a　slave　of　the　drow。

　　　Things　had　not　gone　as　Matron　Baenre　had　planned。

　　　Berg'inyon　fell　into　line　as　the　quiet　force　moved　away；　letting　Zeerith　control　the　procession。

　　　〃Menzoberranzan　will　be　many　years　in　healing　from　the　folly　of　Matron　Baenre；〃　Jarlaxle　remarked　to　Berg'inyon　later　that　day；　when　he　came　upon　the　young　weapon　master　alone　in　a　side　chamber　as　the　army　camped　in　a　region　of　broken　caves　and　short；　connecting　tunnels。

　　　Berg'inyon　didn't　disagree　with　the　statement　and　showed　no　anger　at　all。　He　understood　the　truth　of　Jarlaxle's　words；　and　knew　that　much　trouble　would　befall　House　Baenre　in　the　days　ahead。　Matron　Zeerith　was　outraged；　and　Mez'Barris　Armgo　and　all　the　other　matron　mothers　would　be；　too；　when　they　learned　of　the　disaster。

　　　〃The　offer　remains；〃　Jarlaxle　said；　and　he　left　the　chamber；　left　Berg'inyon　alone　with　his　thoughts。

　　　House　Baenre　would　likely