精灵血脉四部曲-第170部分

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take　up　the　guide　rope　in　both　hands。　He　steadied　himself　and　remained　silent；　his　gaze　to　the　horizon；　to　the　square…rigged　ship　growing　larger　by　the　minute。　Drizzt　felt　deep　within　himself；　mentally　preparing　for　the　ing　battle。　He　immersed　himself　in　the　hiss　and　splash　of　the　water　below　him；　in　the　rousing　music　cutting　the　wind；　and　in　Catti…brie's　calls。

　　　Fifteen　hundred；　a　thousand。

　　　〃Black　cutlass；　lined　in　red！〃　the　young　woman　shouted　down　when；　thanks　to　her　spyglass；　she　was　able　to　discern　the　design　on　the　snapping　flag　of　the　caravel。

　　　Drizzt　didn't　know　the　insignia；　didn't　care　about　it。　The　caravel　was　a　pirate　ship；　one　of　the　many　who　had　overstepped　their　bounds　near　Waterdeep's　harbors。　As　in　any　waters　with　trading　routes；　there　had　always　been　pirates　on　the　Sword　Coast。　Until　the　last　few　years；　though；　the　pirates　had　been　somewhat　civil；　following　specific　codes　of　conduct。　When　Deudermont　had　defeated　Pinochet　in　Asavir's　Channel；　he　had　subsequently　let　the　pirate　go　free。　That　was　the　way；　the　unspoken　agreement。

　　　No　longer　was　that　the　case。　The　pirates　of　the　north　had　bee　bolder　and　more　vicious。　Ships　were　no　longer　simply　looted；　but　the　crews；　particularly　if　any　females　were　aboard；　were　tortured　and　murdered。　Many　ruined　hulks　had　been　found　adrift　in　the　waters　near　Waterdeep。　The　pirates　had　crossed　the　line。

　　　Drizzt；　Deudermont；　and　all　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew；　were　being　paid　handsomely　for　their　work；　but　down　to　every　last　man　and　woman　（with　the　possible　exception　of　the　wizard；　Robillard）　they　weren't　chasing　pirates　for　the　gold。

　　　They　were　fighting　for　the　victims。

　　　〃Five　hundred！〃　Catti…brie　called　down。

　　　Drizzt　shook　himself　from　his　trance　and　looked　to　the　caravel。　He　could　see　the　men　on　her　decks　now；　scrambling；　preparing　for　the　fight；　an　army　of　ants。　The　Sea　Sprite's　crew　was　outnumbered；　possibly　two　to　one；　Drizzt　realized；　and　the　caravel　was　heavily　armed。　She　carried　a　fair…sized　catapult　on　her　stern　deck；　and　probably　a　ballista　beneath　that；　ready　to　shoot　out　from　the　open　windows。

　　　The　drow　nodded　and　turned　back　to　the　deck。　The　crossbows　fixed　on　the　bridge　and　the　ballista　were　manned；　many　of　the　crew　lined　the　rail；　testing　the　pull　of　their　longbows。　The　minstrels　played　on　as　they　would　right　up　until　the　boarding　began。　High　above　the　deck；　Drizzt　spotted　Catti…brie；　Taulmaril　in　one　hand；　her　spyglass　in　the　other。　He　whistled　to　her　and　she　gave　a　quick　wave　in　response；　her　excitement　obvious。

　　　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　The　chase；　the　wind；　the　music；　and　the　knowledge　that　they　were　doing　good　work　here。　Smiling　widely；　the　drow　skittered　back　along　the　beam　and　then　the　rail；　joining　Deudermont　at　the　wheel。　He　noticed　Robillard　the　wizard；　looking　bored　as　usual；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　poop　deck。

　　　Every　so　often　he　waved　one　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　mainmast。　Robillard　wore　a　huge　ring　on　that　hand；　a　silver　band　set　with　a　diamond；　and　its　sparkle　now　came　from　more　than　a　reflection　of　the　light。　With　every　gesture　from　the　wizard；　the　ring　loosed　its　magic；　sending　a　strong　gust　of　wind　into　the　already　straining　sails。　Drizzt　heard　the　creak　of　protest　from　the　mainmast　and　understood　their　uncanny　speed。

　　　〃Carrackus；〃　Captain　Deudermont　remarked　as　soon　as　the　drow　was　beside　him。　〃Black　cutlass　outlined　in　red。〃

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　him　curiously；　not　knowing　the　name。

　　　〃Used　to　sail　with　Pinochet；〃　Deudermont　explained。　〃First　mate　on　the　pirate's　flagship。　He　was　among　those　we　battled　in　Asavir's　Channel。〃

　　　〃Captured？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　Deudermont　shook　his　head。　〃Carrackus　is　a　scrag；　a　sea　troll。〃

　　　〃I　do　not　remember　him。〃

　　　〃He　has　a　penchant　for　staying　out　of　the　way；〃　Deudermont　replied。　〃Likely　he　dove　overboard；　taking　to　the　depths　as　soon　as　Wulfgar　turned　us　about　to　ram　his　ship。〃

　　　Drizzt　remembered　the　incident；　the　incredible　pull　of　his　strong　friend　that　nearly　turned　the　original　Sea　Sprite　on　its　stern；　right　into　the　faces　of　so　many　surprised　pirates。

　　　〃Carrackus　was　there；　though；〃　Deudermont　continued。　〃By　all　reports；　it　was　he　who　rescued　Pinochet's　wounded　ship　when　I　set　him　adrift　outside　of　Memnon。〃

　　　〃And　is　the　scrag　allied　with　Pinochet　still？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　Deudermont　nodded　grimly。　The　implications　were　obvious。　Pinochet　couldn't　e　after　the　troublesome　Sea　Sprite　personally　because　in　return　for　his　freedom　he　had　sworn　off　vengeance　against　Deudermont。　The　pirate　had　other　ways　of　repaying　enemies。　He　had　many　allies　like　Carrackus　who　were　not　bound　by　his　personal　oath。

　　　Drizzt　knew　at　that　moment　that　Guenhwyvar　would　be　needed　and　he　took　the　intricate　figurine　from　his　pouch。　He　studied　Deudermont　carefully。　The　man　stood　tall　and　straight；　slender　but　well…muscled；　his　gray　hair　and　beard　neatly　trimmed。　He　was　a　refined　captain；　his　dress　impeccable；　as　at　home　in　a　grand　ball　as　on　the　open　sea。　Now　his　eyes；　so　light　in　hue　that　they　seemed　to　reflect　the　colors　about　them　rather　than　to　possess　any　color　of　their　own；　revealed　his　tension。　Rumors　had　followed　the　Sea　Sprite　for　many　months　that　the　pirates　were　organizing　against　the　vessel。　With　confirmation　that　this　caravel　was　allied　with　Pinochet；　Deudermont　believed　that　this　might　be　more　than　a　chance　crossing。

　　　Drizzt　glanced　back　at　Robillard；　who　was　up　on　one　knee　now；　arms　outstretched　and　eyes　closed；　deep　in　meditation。　Now　the　drow　understood　the　reason　Deudermont　had　put　them　at　such　a　reckless　speed。

　　　A　moment　later；　a　wall　of　mist　rose　around　the　Sea　Sprite；　dimming　the　view　of　the　caravel；　which　was　now　barely　a　hundred　yards　away。　A　loud　splash　to　the　side　told　them　that　the　catapult　had　begun　firing。　A　moment　later；　a　burst　of　fire　erupted　in　the　air　before　them；　dissipating　into　a　cloud　of　hissing　steam　as　they　and　their　defensive　mist　wall　streamed　through　it。

　　　〃They've　a　wizard；〃　Drizzt　remarked。

　　　〃Not　surprising；〃　Deudermont　was　quick　to　reply。　He　looked　back　to　Robillard。　〃Keep　your　measures　defensive；〃　he　ordered。　〃We　can　take　them　with　ballista　and　bow！〃

　　　〃All　the　fun　for　you；〃　Robillard　called　back　dryly。

　　　Deudermont　managed　a　smile；　despite　his　obvious　tension。

　　　〃Bolt！〃　came　a　cry；　several　cries；　from　forward。　Deudermont　instinctively　spun　the　wheel。　The　Sea　Sprite　leaned　into　the　leeward　turn　so　deeply　that　Drizzt　feared　they　would　capsize。

　　　At　the　same　moment；　Drizzt　heard　a　rush　of　wind　to　his　right　as　a　huge　ballista　bolt　ripped　past；　snapping　a　line；　skipping　off　the　edge　of　the　poop　deck　right　beside　a　surprised　Robillard　and　rebounding　to　tear　a　small　hole　in　the　crossjack梩he　sail　on　the　mizzenmast。

　　　〃Secure　that　line；〃　Deudermont　instructed　coolly。

　　　Drizzt　was　already　going　that　way；　his　feet　moving　impossibly　fast。　He　got　the　snapping　line　in　hand　and　quickly　tied　it　off；　then　got　to　the　rail　as　the　Sea　Sprite　straightened。　He　looked　to　the　caravel；　now　barely　fifty　yards　ahead　and　to　starboard。　The　water　between　the　two　ships　rolled　wildly。　Whitecaps　spit　water　that　was　blown　into　mist；　caught　in　a　tremendous　wind。

　　　The　crew　of　the　caravel　didn't　understand；　and　so　they　put　their　bows　in　line　and　began　firing；　but　even　the　heaviest　of　their　crossbow　quarrels　was　turned　harmlessly　aside　as　it　tried　to　cut　through　the　wall　of　wind　that　Robillard　had　put　between　the　ships。

　　　The　archers　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　accustomed　to　such　tactics；　held　their　shots。　Catti…brie　was　above　the　wind　wall　as　was　the　archer　poised　in　the　crow's　nest　of　the　other　ship梐n　ugly　seven…foot…tall　gnoll　with　a　face　that　seemed　more　canine　than　human。

　　　The　monstrous　creature　loosed　its　heavy　arrow　first；　a　fine　shot　that　sank　the　bolt　deep　into　the　mainmast；　inches　below　Catti…brie's　perch。　The　gnoll　ducked　below　the　wooden　wall　of　its　own　crow's　nest；　readying　another　arrow。

　　　No　doubt　the　dumb　creature　thought　itself　safe；　for　it　didn't　understand　Taulmaril。

　　　Catti…brie　took　her　time；　steadied　her　hand　as　the　Sea　Sprite　closed。

　　　Thirty　yards。

　　　Her　arrow　went　off　like　a　streak　of　lightning；　trailing　silver　sparks　and　blasting　through　the　feeble　protection　of　the　caravel's　crow's　nest　as　though　it　were　no　stronger　than　a　sheet　of　old　parchment。　Splinters　and　the　unfortunate　lookout　were　thrown　high　into　the　air。　The　doomed　gnoll　gave　a　shriek；　bounced　off　the　crossbeam　of　the　caravel's　mainmast；　and　spun　head　over　heels　to　splash　into　the　sea；　quickly　left　behind　by　the　speeding　ships。

　　　Catti…brie　fired　again；　angling　down；　concentrating　on　the　catapult　crew。　She　hit　one　man；　a　half…orcish　brute　by　the　looks　of　him；　but　the　catapult　launched　its　load　of　burning　pitch。

　　　The　caravel's　gunners　hadn't　properly　pensated　for　the　sheer　speed　of　the　Sea　Sprite　and　the　schooner　crossed　under　the　pitch　and　was　long　gone　by　the　time　it　hit　the　water；　hissing　in　protest。

　　　Deudermont　brought　the　schooner　alongside　the　caravel；　barely　twenty　yards　of　water　between　them。　Suddenly　the　water　in　that　narrow　channel　stopped　its　wind…whipped　turmoil　and　the　archers　of　the　Sea　Sprite　let　fly　many　of　their　arrows　that　sported　small　gobs　of　flaming　pitch。

　　　Catti…brie　let　fly　for　the　catapult　itself　this　time；　her　enchanted　arrow　blasting　a　deep　crack　along　the　machine's　throwing　beam。　Sea　Sprite's　deadly　ballista　drove　a　heavy　bolt　right　into　the　caravel's　hull　at　sea　level。

　　　Deudermont　spun　the　wheel　to　port；　angling　away；　satisfied　with　the　pass。　More　missiles；　many　flaming；　soared　between　the　ships　before　Robillard　created　a　wall　of　blocking　mist　behind　the　Sea　Sprite's　stern。

　　　The　caravel's　wizard　put　a　lightning　bolt　right　into　the　mist。　Though　the　energy　was　dispersed　somewhat；　it　crackled　all　about　the　edges　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　knocking　several　men　to　the　deck。

　　　Drizzt；　leaning　far　over　the　rail　and　straining　to　watch　the　caravel's　deck　with　his　hair　flying　wildly　from　the　energy　of　the　lightning　bolt；　spotted　the　wizard；　amidships；　near　the　mainmast。　Before　the　Sea　Sprite；　now　running　perpendicular　to　the　pirate　ship；　was　too　far　away；　the　drow　called　upon　his　innate　powers；　summoned　a　globe　of　imperable　darkness　and　dropped　it　over　th