精灵血脉四部曲-第180部分

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sires　of　the　one。　Only　when　we　admit　to　our　failures　and　recognize　our　weaknesses　can　we　rise　above　them。

　　　Together。

　　　桪rizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　7

MINTARN



　　　It　took　some　effort　for　Drizzt　to　spot　the　panther。　The　island　of　Mintarn；　four　hundred　miles　southwest　of　Waterdeep；　was　cloaked　in　thick　trees；　and　Guenhwyvar　was　perfectly　blended；　reclining　on　a　branch　twenty　feet　from　the　ground；　camouflaged　so　well　that　a　deer　might　walk　right　under　the　cat；　never　realizing　its　doom。

　　　Guenhwyvar　was　not　hunting　deer　this　day。　The　Sea　Sprite　had　put　into　port　barely　two　hours　before；　flying　no　flag；　no　colors　at　all；　and　with　her　name　covered　by　tarps。　The　three…masted　schooner　was　likely　recognizable；　though；　for　she　was　unique　along　the　Sword　Coast；　and　many　of　the　rogues　now　visiting　the　free　port　had　run　from　her　in　the　past。　So　it　was　that　Drizzt；　Catti…brie　and　Deudermont　had　been　approached　soon　after　they　had　entered　the　Freemantle；　a　tavern　just　off　the　docks。

　　　Now　they　waited　for　their　contact；　half　expecting　an　ambush　in　the　thick　woods　barely　a　hundred　yards　from　the　town　mon。

　　　There　and　then；　Deudermont　could　truly　appreciate　the　value　of　such　loyal　and　powerful　friends。　With　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie；　and　ever…alert　Guenhwyvar　keeping　watch；　the　captain　feared　no　ambush；　not　if　all　the　pirates　of　the　Sword　Coast　rose　against　him！　Without　these　three　around　him；　Deudermont　would　have　been　terribly　vulnerable。　Even　Robillard；　undeniably　powerful　but　equally　unpredictable；　could　not　have　afforded　the　captain　such　fort。　More　than　their　skill；　Deudermont　trusted　in　these　three　for　their　loyalty。　They'd　not　desert　him；　not　one　of　them；　no　matter　the　risk。

　　　Guenhwyvar's　ears　flattened　and　the　panther　gave　a　low　growl；　a　sound　the　other　three　felt　in　their　bellies　rather　than　heard　with　their　ears。

　　　Drizzt　went　into　a　low　crouch　and　scanned　the　region；　he　pointed　east　and　north；　then　slipped　into　the　shadows；　silent　as　death。　Catti…brie　moved　behind　a　tree　and　fixed　an　arrow　to　Taul…maril's　bowstring。　She　tried　to　follow　Drizzt's　movements；　using　them　to　discern　the　approach　of　their　contact；　but　the　drow　was　gone。　It　seemed　he　had　simply　vanished　soon　after　he　had　entered　the　thick　growth。　As　it　turned　out；　she　didn't　need　Drizzt's　movements　as　a　guide；　for　their　visitors　were　not　so　adept　at　traveling　silently　and　invisibly　through　the　woods。

　　　Deudermont　stood　calmly　in　the　open；　his　hands　folded　behind　his　back。　Every　now　and　then　he　brought　out　one　hand　to　adjust　the　pipe　that　hung　in　his　mouth。　He；　too；　sensed　the　proximity　of　other　men；　several　men；　taking　up　positions　in　the　woods　about　him。

　　　〃You　do　not　belong　here；〃　came　an　expected　voice　from　the　shadows。　The　speaker；　a　tiny　man　with　small　dark　eyes　and　huge　ears　poking　out　from　under　his　bowl…cut　brown　hair；　had　no　idea　that　he　had　been　spotted　twenty　steps　from　his　current　position；　which　was　still　more　than　a　dozen　yards　from　the　captain。　He　did　not　know　that　his　seven　panions；　too；　were　known　to　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie；　and　especially　to　Guenhwyvar。　The　panther　was　a　moving　shadow　among　the　branches；　positioning　herself　close　enough　to　get　to　four　of　the　men　with　a　single　leap。

　　　Off　to　the　speaker's　left　side；　one　of　his　panions　spotted　Catti…brie　and　brought　his　own　bow　up；　putting　an　arrow　in　line　with　the　woman。　He　heard　a　rustle；　but　before　he　could　react；　a　dark　form　rushed　past　him。　He　gave　a　short　yelp；　fell　back；　and　saw　the　forest　green　of　a　cape　swish　past。　Then　the　form　was　gone；　leaving　the　man　stunned　and　unharmed。

　　　〃Brer'Cannon？〃　the　man　addressing　Deudermont　asked；　and　there　came　rustling　from　several　positions。

　　　〃I'm　okay；〃　a　shaken　Brer'Cannon　replied　quickly；　straightening　himself　and　trying　to　understand　what　that　pass　had　been　about。　He　figured　it　out　when　he　at　last　looked　back　to　his　bow　and　saw　that　the　bowstring　had　been　cut。　〃Damnation；〃　Brer'Cannon　muttered；　scanning　the　brush　frantically。

　　　〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　speaking　with　shadows；〃　Deudermont　called　out　clearly；　his　voice　unshaken。

　　　〃You　are　not　alone；〃　the　speaker　replied。

　　　〃Nor　are　you；〃　Deudermont　said　without　hesitation。　〃So　do　e　out　and　let　us　be　done　with　this　business梬hatever　business　you　might　have　with　me。〃

　　　More　rustling　came　from　the　shadows；　and　more　than　one　whispering　voice　told　the　speaker；　a　man　named　Dunkin；　to　go　talk　to　the　Sea　Sprite's　captain。

　　　At　last；　Dunkin　mustered　the　courage　to　stand　up　and　e　forward；　taking　one　step　and　looking　all　around；　then　another　step　and　looking　all　around。　He　walked　right　under　Guenhwyvar　and　didn't　know　it；　which　brought　a　smile　to　Deudermont's　lips。　He　walked　within　three　feet　of　Drizzt　and　didn't　know　it；　but　he　did　spot　Catti…brie；　for　the　woman　was　making　no　real　effort　to　conceal　herself　behind　the　tree　just　to　the　side　of　the　small　clearing　where　Deudermont　stood。

　　　Dunkin　fought　hard　to　regain　his　posure　and　his　dignity。　He　walked　to　within　a　few　paces　of　the　tall　captain　and　straightened　himself。　〃You　do　not　belong　here；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　cracked　only　once。

　　　〃It　was　my　understanding　that　Mintarn　was　a　free　port；〃　Deudermont　replied。　〃Free　for　scalawags　only？〃

　　　Dunkin　pointed　a　finger　and　started　to　reply；　but　the　words　apparently　did　not　suffice　and　he　stopped　after　uttering　only　a　meaningless　grunt。

　　　〃I　have　never　known　of　any　restrictions　placed　on　vessels　desiring　to　dock；〃　Deudermont　went　on。　〃Surely　my　ship　is　not　the　only　one　in　Mintarn　Harbor　flying　no　colors　and　with　her　name　covered。〃　The　last　statement　was　true　enough。　Fully　two…thirds　of　all　the　vessels　that　put　into　the　free　port　did　so　without　any　open　identification。

　　　〃You　are　Deudermont　and　your　ship　is　the　Sea　Sprite；　out　of　Waterdeep；〃　Dunkin　said；　his　tone　accusing。　He　tugged　at　his　ear　as　he　spoke；　a　nervous　tick；　the　captain　reasoned。

　　　Deudermont　shrugged　and　nodded。

　　　〃A　law　ship；〃　Dunkin　went　on；　finding　some　courage　at　last。　He　let　go　of　his　ear。　〃Pirate　hunter；　and　here；　no　doubt；　to？

　　　〃Do　not　presume　to　know　my　intentions；〃　Deudermont　interrupted　sharply。

　　　〃The　Sea　Sprite's　intentions　are　always　known；〃　Dunkin　retorted；　his　voice　equally　firm。　〃She's　a　pirate　hunter；　and　yes；　there　are　indeed　pirates　docked　in　Mintarn；　including　one　you　chased　this　very　week。〃

　　　Deudermont's　expression　grew　stern。　He　understood　that　this　man　was　an　official　of　Mintarn；　an　emissary　from　his　tyrancy；　Tarnheel　Embuirhan；　himself。　Tarnheel　had　made　his　intentions　of　keeping　Mintarn　in　line　with　its　reputation　as　a　free　port　quite　clear　to　all　the　lords　along　the　Sword　Coast。　Mintarn　was　not　a　place　to　settle　vendettas；　or　to　chase　fugitives。

　　　〃If　we　came　in　search　of　pirates；〃　Deudermont　said　bluntly；　〃the　Sea　Sprite　would　have　e　in　under　the　flag　of　Waterdeep；　openly　and　without　fear。〃

　　　〃Then　you　admit　your　identity；〃　accused　Dunkin。

　　　〃We　hid　it　only　to　prevent　trouble　for　your　port；〃　Deudermont　replied　easily。　〃If　any　of　the　pirates　now　in　Mintarn　Harbor　sought　retribution；　we　would　have　had　to　sink　them；　and　I　am　certain　that　your　overlord　would　not　approve　of　so　many　wrecks　under　the　waves　of　his　harbor。　Is　that　not　exactly　why　he　sent　you　to　find　me　in　the　Freemantle；　and　why　he　bade　you　to　e　out　here　with　your　bluster？〃

　　　Dunkin　again　seemed　to　not　be　able　to　find　the　words　to　reply。

　　　〃And　you　are？〃　Deudermont　asked；　prompting　the　nervous　man。

　　　Dunkin　straightened　once　more；　as　if　remembering　his　station。　〃Dunkin　Tallmast；〃　he　said　clearly；　〃emissary　of　His　Tyrancy；　Lord　Tarnheel　Embuirhan　of　the　free　port　of　Mintarn。〃

　　　Deudermont　considered　the　obviously　phoney　name。　This　one　had　probably　crawled　onto　Mintarn's　docks　years　ago；　running　from　another　scalawag；　or　from　the　law；　and　over　time　had　found　his　way　into　Tarnheel's　island　guard。　Dunkin　was　not　a　great　choice；　as　an　emissary；　Deudermont　realized。　Not　practiced　in　diplomacy　and　not　long　on　courage。　But　the　captain　refused　to　underestimate　Tarnheel；　reputably　a　proficient　warrior　who　had　kept　the　relative　peace　on　Mintarn　for　many　years。　Dunkin　was　no　imposing　diplomat；　but　Tarnheel　had　probably　decided　that　he　would　be　the　one　to　meet　with　Deudermont　for　a　reason；　possibly　to　make　the　Sea　Sprite's　captain　understand　that　he　and　his　ship　were　not　considered　very　important　to　his　tyrancy。

　　　Diplomacy　was　a　curious　game。

　　　〃The　Sea　Sprite　has　not　sailed　in　to　engage　with　any　pirates；〃　Deudermont　assured　the　man。　〃Nor　in　search　of　any　man　who　might　be　in　hiding　on　Mintarn。　We　have　e　to　take　on　provisions；　and　in　search　of　information。〃

　　　〃About　a　pirate；〃　Dunkin　reasoned；　seeming　not　pleased。

　　　〃About　an　island；〃　Deudermont　replied。

　　　〃A　pirate　island？〃　Dunkin　retorted；　and　again　his　tone　made　the　question　seem　more　of　an　accusation。

　　　Deudermont　pulled　the　pipe　from　his　mouth　and　stared　hard　at　Dunkin；　answering　the　question　without　uttering　a　word。

　　　〃It　is　said　that　nowhere　in　all　the　Realms　can　a　greater　concentration　of　the　most　seasoned　sea　dogs　be　found　than　on　Mintarn；〃　Deudermont　began　at　length。　〃I　seek　an　island　that　is　as　much　legend　as　truth；　an　island　known　to　many　through　tales；　but　to　only　a　few　by　experience。〃

　　　Dunkin　didn't　reply；　and　didn't　seem　to　have　any　idea　of　what　Deudermont　might　be　talking　about。

　　　〃I　will　make　you　a　deal；〃　the　captain　offered。

　　　〃What　have　you　to　bargain　with？〃　Dunkin　replied　quickly。

　　　〃I；　and　all　of　my　crew；　will　remain　on　the　Sea　Sprite；　quietly；　and　far　out　in　the　harbor。　Thus　will　the　peace　of　Mintarn　remain　secure。　We　have　no　intention　of　hunting　any　on　your　island；　even　known　outlaws；　but　many　might　seek　us　out；　foolishly　thinking　the　Sea　Sprite　vulnerable　while　in　port。〃

　　　Dunkin　couldn't　help　but　nod。　Back　in　the　Freemantle；　he　had　already　heard　whispers　hinting　that　several　of　the　ships　now　in　port　were　not　pleased　to　see　the　Sea　Sprite；　and　might　join　together　against　her。

　　　〃We　will　remain　out　of　the　immediate　dock　area；〃　Deudermont　said　again；　〃and　you；　Dunkin　Tallmast；　will　find　for　me　the　information　I　desire。〃　Before　Dunkin　could　respond；　Deudermont　tossed　him　a　pouch　full　of　gold　coins。　〃Caerwich；〃　the　captain　explained。　〃I　want　a　ma