精灵血脉四部曲-第191部分

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　　　〃As　you　are；〃　Robillard　explained；　〃practiced　in　matters　of　sorcery。〃

　　　〃Me？〃　he　squeaked。　〃Oh；　no。　Not　allowed　at　the　Ivy　Mansion；　not　for　twenty　years。　Too　many　problems。　Too　many　fiends　walking　around　eating　Harpells！〃

　　　〃Then　who　will　get　us　the　answers？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

　　　〃There　are　wizards　in　Luskan　who　practice　sorcery；〃　Robillard　offered；　〃as　do　some　priests　in　Waterdeep。　Neither　will　e　cheaply。〃

　　　〃We　have　the　gold；〃　Deudermont　said。

　　　〃That　is　the　ship's　gold；〃　Drizzt　put　in。　〃For　all　crew　of　the　Sea　Sprite。〃

　　　Deudermont　waved　a　hand　at　him　as　he　spoke；　the　captain　shaking　his　head　with　every　syllable。　〃Not　until　Drizzt　Do'Urden　and　Catti…brie　came　aboard　have　we　enjoyed　such　a　business　and　such　a　profit；〃　he　told　the　drow。　〃You　are　a　part　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　a　member　of　her　crew；　and　all　will　donate　their　share　as　you　would　donate　yours　to　help　another。〃

　　　Drizzt　could　find　no　argument　against　that　offer；　but　he　did　note　a　bit　of　grumbling　when　Robillard　added；　〃Indeed。〃

　　　〃Waterdeep　or　Luskan；　then？〃　Deudermont　asked　Robillard。　〃Do　I　sail　north　of　the　Moonshaes；　or　south？〃

　　　〃Waterdeep；〃　Harkle　unexpectedly　answered。　〃Oh；　I　would　choose　the　priest；〃　the　wizard　explained。　〃A　goodly　priest。　Better　with　fiends　than　a　wizard　because　the　wizard　might　have　other　duties　or　questions　he　wishes　to　ask　of　the　beast。　Not　good　to　get　a　fiend　too　involved；　I　say。〃

　　　Drizzt；　Catti…brie　and　Deudermont　looked　at　the　man　curiously；　trying　to　decipher　what　he　was　talking　about。

　　　〃He　is　right；〃　the　Sea　Sprite's　wizard　quickly　explained。　〃A　goodly　priest　will　stick　to　the　one　task；　and　we　can　be　sure　that　such　a　person　will　call　to　a　fiend　only　to　better　the　cause　of　good；　of　justice。〃　He　looked　at　Drizzt　as　he　said　this；　and　the　drow　got　the　feeling　that　Robillard　was　suddenly　questioning　the　wisdom　of　this　search；　the　wisdom　of　following　the　blind　witch's　words。　Questioning　the　course；　and　perhaps；　Drizzt　realized；　the　motive。

　　　〃Freeing　Zaknafein　from　the　clutches　of　Lloth；　or　of　a　matron　mother　would　be　a　just　act；〃　Drizzt　insisted；　a　bit　of　anger　seeping　into　the　edges　of　his　voice。

　　　〃Then　a　goodly　priest　is　our　best　choice；〃　the　Sea　Sprite's　wizard　replied　casually；　no　apologies　forthing。



*****



　　　Kierstaad　looked　into　the　black；　dead　eyes　of　the　reindeer　lying　still；　so　very　still；　upon　the　flat　tundra；　surrounded　by　the　colorful　flowers　that　rushed　to　bloom　in　Icewind　Dale's　short　summer。　He　had　killed　the　deer　cleanly　with　one　throw　of　his　great　spear。

　　　Kierstaad　was　glad　of　that。　He　felt　little　remorse　at　the　sight　of　the　magnificent　beast；　for　the　survival　of　his　people　depended　upon　the　success　of　the　hunt。　Not　a　bit　of　this　proud　animal　would　be　wasted。　Still；　the　young　man　was　glad　that　the　kill；　his　first　kill；　had　been　clean。　He　looked　into　the　eyes　of　the　dead　animal　and　gave　thanks　to　its　spirit。

　　　Berkthgar　came　up　behind　the　young　hunter　and　patted　him　on　the　shoulder。　Kierstaad；　too　overwhelmed　by　the　spectacle；　by　the　sudden　realization　that　in　the　eyes　of　the　tribe　he　was　no　more　a　boy；　hardly　noticed　as　the　huge　man　strode　past　him；　a　long　knife　in　hand。

　　　Berkthgar　crouched　beside　the　animal　and　shifted　its　legs　out　of　the　way。　His　cut　was　clean　and　perfect；　long　practiced。　Only　a　moment　later；　he　turned　about　and　stood　up；　holding　his　bloody　arms　out　to　Kierstaad；　holding　the　animal's　heart。

　　　〃Eat　it　and　gain　the　deer's　strength　and　speed；〃　the　barbarian　leader　promised。

　　　Kierstaad　took　the　heart　tentatively　and　brought　it　near　to　his　lips。　This　was　part　of　the　test；　he　knew；　though　he　had　no　idea　that　this　would　be　expected　of　him。　The　gravity　in　Berkthgar's　voice　was　unmistakable；　he　could　not　fail。　No　more　a　boy；　he　told　himself。　Something　savage　welled　in　him　at　the　smell　of　the　blood；　at　the　thought　of　what　he　must　do。

　　　〃The　heart　holds　the　spirit　of　the　deer；〃　another　man　explained。　〃Eat　of　that　spirit。〃

　　　Kierstaad　hesitated　no　longer。　He　brought　the　blackish…red　heart　to　his　lips　and　bit　deeply。　He　was　hardly　conscious　of　his　next　actions；　of　devouring　the　heart；　of　bathing　in　the　spirit　of　the　slain　deer。　Chants　rose　around　him；　the　hunters　of　Berkthgar's　party　weling　him　to　manhood。

　　　No　more　a　boy。

　　　Nothing　more　was　expected　of　Kierstaad。　He　stood　impassively　to　the　side　while　the　older　hunters　cleaned　and　dressed　the　reindeer。　This　was　indeed　the　better　way　for　he　and　his　people；　living　free　of　the　bonds　of　wealth　and　the　ties　to　others。　In　that；　at　least；　Kierstaad　knew　that　Berkthgar　was　right。　Yet；　the　young　man　continued　to　bear　no　ill　will　toward　the　dwarves　or　the　folk　of　Ten…Towns；　and　had　no　intention　of　allowing　any　lies　to　diminish　his　respect　for　Wulfgar；　who　had　done　so　much　good　for　the　tribes　of　Icewind　Dale。

　　　Kierstaad　looked　to　the　harvesting　of　the　reindeer；　so　plete　and　perfect。　No　waste　and　no　disrespect　for　the　proud　animal。　He　looked　to　his　own　bloody　hands　and　arms；　felt　a　line　of　blood　running　down　his　chin　to　drip　onto　the　spongy　soil。　This　was　his　life；　his　destiny。　Yet　what　did　that　mean？　More　war　with　Ten…Towns；　as　had　happened　so　many　times　in　the　past？　And　what　of　relations　with　the　dwarves　who　had　returned　to　their　mines　south　of　Kelvin's　Cairn？

　　　Kierstaad　had　listened　to　Berkthgar　throughout　the　last　few　weeks。　He　had　heard　Berkthgar　arguing　with　Revjak；　Kierstaad's　father　and　the　accepted　leader　of　the　Tribe　of　the　Elk；　at　present　the　one　remaining　tribe　on　Icewind　Dale's　tundra。　Berkthgar　would　break　away；　Kierstaad　thought　as　he　looked　at　the　gigantic　man。　Berkthgar　would　take　the　other　young　warriors　with　him　and　begin　anew　the　Tribe　of　the　Bear；　or　one　of　the　other　ancestral　tribes。　Then　the　tribal　rivalry　that　had　for　so　long　been　a　way　of　life　for　Icewind　Dale's　barbarians　would　begin　anew。　They　would　fight　for　food　or　for　good　ground　as　they　wandered　the　tundra。

　　　It　was　one　possibility　only；　Kierstaad　reasoned；　trying　to　shake　the　disturbing　thoughts　away。　Berkthgar　wanted　to　be　the　plete　leader；　wanted　to　emulate　and　then　surpass　the　legend　of　Wulfgar。　He　could　not　do　that　if　he　splintered　the　remaining　barbarians；　who　in　truth　were　not　yet　numerous　enough　to　support　any　separate　tribes　of　any　real　power。

　　　Wulfgar　had　united　the　tribes。

　　　There　were　other　possibilities；　but　as　he　thought　about　it；　none　of　them　sat　well　with　him。

　　　Berkthgar　looked　up　from　the　kill；　smiling　widely；　accepting　Kierstaad　fully　and　with　no　ulterior　motives。　Yet　Kierstaad　was　the　son　of　Revjak；　and　it　seemed　to　him　now　that　Berkthgar　and　his　father　might　be　walking　a　troubled　course。　The　leader　of　a　barbarian　tribe　could　be　challenged。

　　　That　notion　only　intensified　when　the　successful　hunting　party　neared　the　deerskin　tent　encampment　of　the　tribe；　only　to　intercept　one　Bruenor　Battlehammer　and　another　dwarf；　the　priestess　Stumpet　Rakingclaw。

　　　〃You　do　not　belong　here！〃　Berkthgar　immediately　growled　at　the　dwarven　leader。

　　　〃Well　met　to　yerself　too；〃　Stumpet；　never　the　one　to　sit　back　and　let　others　speak　for　her；　snarled　at　Berkthgar。　〃Ye're　forgettin'　Keeper's　Dale；　then；　as　we've　heard　ye　were？〃

　　　〃I　do　not　speak　to　females　on　matters　of　importance；〃　Berkthgar　said　evenly。

　　　Bruenor　moved　quickly；　extending　an　arm　to　hold　the　outraged　Stumpet　back。　〃And　I'm　not　for　talking　with　yerself；〃　Bruenor　replied。　〃Me　and　me　cleric　have　e　to　see　Revjak；　the　leader　of　the　Tribe　of　the　Elk。〃

　　　Berkthgar's　nostrils　flared。　For　a　moment；　Kierstaad　and　the　others　expected　him　to　hurl　himself　at　Bruenor；　and　the　dwarf；　bracing　himself　and　slapping　his　many…notched　axe　across　his　open　palm；　apparently　expected　it；　too。

　　　But　Berkthgar；　no　fool；　calmed　himself。　〃I；　too；　lead　the　hunters　of　Icewind　Dale；〃　he　said。　〃Speak　your　business　and　be　gone！〃

　　　Bruenor　chuckled　and　walked　past　the　proud　barbarian；　moving　into　the　settlement。　Berkthgar　howled　and　leaped；　landing　right　in　Bruenor's　path。

　　　〃Ye　led　in　Settlestone；〃　the　red…bearded　dwarf　said　firmly。　〃And　ye　might　be　leadin'　here。　Then　again；　ye　might　not。　Revjak　was　king　when　we　left　the　dale　and　Revjak's　king　still；　by　all　word　I'm　hearing。〃　Bruenor's　judging　gray　eyes　never　left　Berkthgar　as　he　walked　past　the　huge　man　once　more。

　　　Stumpet　turned　up　her　nose　and　didn't　bother　to　eye　the　giant　barbarian。

　　　For　Kierstaad；　who　liked　Bruenor　and　his　wild　clan；　it　was　a　painful　meeting。



*****



　　　The　wind　was　light；　the　only　sound　the　creaking　timbers　of　the　Sea　Sprite　as　it　glided　quietly　eastward　on　calm　waters。　The　moon　was　full　and　pale　above　them　as　it　crossed　a　cloudless　sky。

　　　Catti…brie　sat　on　the　raised　platform　of　the　ballista；　huddled　near　to　a　candle；　every　so　often　jotting　something　down　on　parchment。　Drizzt　leaned　on　the　rail；　his　parchment　rolled　and　in　a　pocket　of　his　cloak。　On　Deudermont's　wise　instructions；　all　six　who　had　been　in　the　blind　witch's　cave　were　to　write　down　the　poem　as　they　remembered　it。　Five　of　them　could　write；　an　extraordinary　percentage。　Waillan；　who　was　not　skilled　with　letters　would　dictate　his　recollection　to　both　Harkle　and　Robillard；　who　would　separately　pen　the　words；　hopefully　without　any　of　their　own　interpretations。

　　　It　hadn't　taken　Drizzt　long　to　write　down　the　verse；　at　least　the　parts　he　remembered　most　clearly；　the　parts　he　considered　vital。　He　understood　that　every　word　might　provide　a　necessary　clue；　but　he　was　simply　too　excited；　too　overwhelmed　to　pay　attention　to　minute　details。　In　the　poem's　second　line；　the　witch　had　spoken　of　Drizzt's　father；　and　had　intimated　at　Zaknafein's　survival　several　times　thereafter。　That　was　all　that　Drizzt　could　think　of；　all　that　he　could　hope　to　remember。

　　　Catti…brie　was　more　diligent；　her　written　record　of　the　verse　far　more　plete。　But　she；　too；　had　been　overwhelmed　and　surprised；　and　simply　couldn't　be　certain　of　how　accurate　her　recording　might　be。

　　　〃I　would　have　liked　to　share　a　night　such　as　this　with　him；〃　Drizzt　said；　his　voice　shattering　the　stillness　so　abruptly　that　the　young　woman　nearly　jabbed　her　quill　through　the　fragile　parchment。　She　looked　up　to　Drizzt；　whose　eyes　were　high；　his　gaze　focused　on　the　moon。

　　　〃Just　one；〃　the　drow　went　on。　〃Z