精灵血脉四部曲-第193部分

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on　made　legendary　by　one　of　the　tribe。〃

　　　〃Yer　talk　is　getting　old；〃　Bruenor　warned。

　　　〃And　you　are　getting　old；　dwarf；〃　Berkthgar　retorted。　〃You　should　not　have　returned。〃　With　that；　Berkthgar　stormed　from　the　tent。

　　　〃Ye　should　be　watchin'　that　one；〃　Bruenor　said　to　Revjak。

　　　The　barbarian　leader　nodded。　〃Berkthgar　has　been　caught　in　a　web　spun　of　his　own　words；〃　he　replied。　〃And　so　have　many　others；　mostly　the　young　warriors。〃

　　　〃Always　full　o'　fight；〃　Bruenor　remarked。

　　　Revjak　smiled　and　did　not　disagree。　Berkthgar　was　indeed　one　to　be　watched；　but　in　truth；　there　was　little　Revjak　could　do。　If　Berkthgar　wanted　to　split　the　tribe；　enough　would　agree　and　follow　him　so　that　Revjak　could　not　stop　him。　And　even　worse；　if　Berkthgar　demanded　the　Right　of　Challenge　for　the　leadership　of　the　united　tribe；　he　would　have　enough　support　so　that　Revjak　would　find　it　difficult　to　refuse。

　　　Revjak　was　too　old　to　fight　Berkthgar。　He　had　thought　the　ways　of　the　barbarians　of　Icewind　Dale　changed　when　Wulfgar　had　united　the　tribes。　That　is　why　he　had　accepted　the　offered　position　as　leader　when　Wulfgar　had　left；　though　in　the　past　such　a　title　could　be　earned　only　by　inheritance　or　by　bat；　by　deed　or　by　blood。

　　　Old　ways　died　hard；　Revjak　realized；　staring　at　the　tent　flap　through　which　Berkthgar　had　departed。　Many　in　the　tribe；　especially　those　who　had　returned　from　Mithril　Hall；　and　even　a　growing　number　of　those　who　had　remained　with　Revjak　waxed　nostalgic　for　the　freer；　wilder　days　gone　by。　Revjak　often　happened　upon　conversations　where　older　men　retold　tales　of　the　great　wars；　the　unified　attack　upon　Ten…Towns；　wherein　Wulfgar　was　captured　by　Bruenor。

　　　Their　nostalgia　was　misplaced；　Revjak　knew。　In　the　unified　attack　upon　Ten…Towns；　the　warriors　had　been　so　pletely　slaughtered　that　the　tribes　had　barely　survived　the　ensuing　winter。　Still；　the　stories　of　war　were　always　full　of　glory　and　excitement；　and　never　words　of　tragedy。　With　the　excitement　of　Berkthgar's　return　along　with　the　return　of　Bruenor　and　the　dwarves；　many　remembered　too　fondly　the　days　before　the　alliance。

　　　Revjak　would　indeed　watch　Berkthgar；　but　he　feared　that　to　be　all　he　could　do。



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　　　Outside　the　tent；　another　listener；　young　Kierstaad；　nodded　his　agreement　with　Bruenor's　warning。　Kierstaad　was　truly　torn；　full　of　admiration　for　Berkthgar　but　also　for　Bruenor。　At　that　moment　though；　little　of　that　greater　struggle　entered　into　the　young　man's　thoughts。

　　　Bruenor　had　confirmed　that　Aegis…fang　was　in　the　dale！



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　　　〃Might　be　the　same　storm　that　hit　us　near　the　Gull　Rocks；〃　Robillard　remarked；　eyeing　the　black　wall　that　loomed　on　the　eastern　horizon　before　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　〃But　stronger；〃　Deudermont　added。　〃Taking　power　from　the　water。〃　They　were　still　in　the　sunshine；　six　days　out　from　Caerwich；　with　another　eight　to　the　Moonshaes；　by　Deudermont's　figuring。

　　　The　first　hints　of　a　head　wind　brushed　against　the　tall　captain's　face；　the　first　gentle　blows　of　the　gales　that　would　soon　assault　them。

　　　〃Hard　to　starboard！〃　Deudermont　yelled　to　the　sailor　at　the　wheel。　〃We　shall　go　north　around　it；　north　around　the　Moonshaes；〃　he　said　quietly；　so　that　only　Robillard　could　hear。　〃A　straighter　course　to　our　port。〃

　　　The　wizard　nodded。　He　knew　that　Deudermont　did　not　want　to　turn　to　the　north；　where　the　wind　was　less　predictable　and　the　waters　choppier　and　colder；　but　he　understood　that　they　had　little　choice　at　this　point。　If　they　tried　to　dodge　the　storm　to　the　south；　they　would　wind　up　near　the　Nelanther；　the　Pirate　Isles；　a　place　the　Sea　Sprite；　such　a　thorn　in　the　side　of　the　pirates；　did　not　want　to　be。

　　　So；　north　they　would　go；　around　the　storm；　and　around　the　Moonshaes。　That　was　the　hope；　anyway。　In　looking　at　the　wall　of　blackness；　often　creased　by　a　shot　of　lightning；　Robillard　was　not　sure　they　could　run　fast　enough。

　　　〃Do　go　and　fill　our　sails　with　your　magical　wind；〃　Deudermont　bade　him；　and　the　captain's　quiet　tone　showed　that　he　obviously　shared　the　wizard's　trepidation。

　　　Robillard　moved　to　the　rail　of　the　poop　deck　and　sat　down；　slipping　his　legs　under　the　rail　so　that　he　was　facing　the　mainmast。　He　held　his　left　hand　up　toward　the　mast　and　called　on　the　powers　of　his　ring　to　create　a　gust　of　wind。　Such　a　minor　enchantment　would　not　tax　the　powers　of　the　wizard's　mighty　ring；　and　so　Robillard　enacted　it　again　and　again；　filling　the　sails；　launching　the　Sea　Sprite　on　a　swift　run。

　　　Not　swift　enough。　The　black　wall　closed　in　on　them；　waves　rocking　the　Sea　Sprite　and　soon　turning　her　ride　into　more　of　a　bounce　than　a　run。　A　grim　choice　lay　before　Deudermont。　He　could　either　drop　the　sails　and　batten　everything　down　in　an　attempt　to　ride　out　the　storm；　or　keep　up　the　run；　skirting　the　edge　of　the　storm　in　a　desperate　attempt　to　slip　off　to　the　north　of　it。

　　　〃Luck　be　with　us；〃　the　captain　decided；　and　he　tried　the　run；　keeping　the　sails　full　until；　at　last；　the　storm　engulfed　them。

　　　She　was　among　the　finest　ships　ever　built；　crewed　by　a　hand…picked　group　of　expert　sailors　that　now　included　two　powerful　wizards；　Drizzt；　Catti…brie　and　Guenhwyvar；　and　she　was　captained　by　one　of　the　most　experienced　and　well…respected　seamen　anywhere　along　the　Sword　Coast。　Great　indeed　were　the　powers　of　the　Sea　Sprite　when　measured　by　the　standards　of　man；　but　tiny　she　seemed　now　in　the　face　of　the　sheer　weight　of　nature。　They　tried　to　run；　but　like　a　skilled　hunter；　the　storm　closed　in。

　　　Guide　ropes　snapped　apart　and　the　mast　itself　bent　for　the　strain。　Robillard　tried　desperately　to　counter；　so　did　Harkle　Harpell；　but　even　their　bined　magic　could　not　save　the　mainmast。　A　crack　appeared　along　the　main　vertical　beam；　and　the　only　thing　that　saved　it　was　the　snapping　of　the　horizontal　guide　beam。

　　　Out　flapped　the　sail；　knocking　one　man　from　the　rigging　to　splash　into　the　churning　sea。　Drizzt　moved　immediately；　yelling　to　Guenhwyvar；　calling　the　panther　to　his　side　and　then　sending　her　over　the　rail　in　search　of　the　sailor。　Guenhwyvar　didn't　hesitate梩hey　had　done　this　before。　Roaring　all　the　way；　the　cat　splashed　into　the　dark　water　and　disappeared　immediately。

　　　Rain　and　hail　pelted　them；　as　did　the　walls　of　waves　that　splashed　over　the　bow。　Thunder　boomed　all　about　the　tossing　ship；　more　than　one　bolt　of　lightning　slamming　into　the　tall　masts。

　　　〃I　should　have　stopped　the　run　sooner！〃　Deudermont　cried；　and　though　he　screamed　with　all　his　strength；　Drizzt；　standing　right　beside　him；　could　barely　hear　him　over　the　roar　of　the　wind　and　the　pounding　of　the　thunder。

　　　The　drow　shook　his　head。　The　ship　was　nearly　battened　down；　most　of　the　crew　had　gone　below；　and　still　the　Sea　Sprite　was　being　tossed　wildly。　〃We　are　on　the　edges　because　of　the　run；〃　the　drow　said　firmly。　〃If　you　had　stopped　earlier；　we　would　be　in　the　heart　of　the　storm　and　surely　doomed！〃

　　　Deudermont　heard　only　a　few　of　the　words；　but　he　understood　the　gist　of　what　his　dark　elven　friend　was　trying　to　municate。　Grateful；　he　put　a　hand　on　Drizzt's　shoulder；　but　suddenly　went　flying　away；　slamming　hard　against　the　rail　and　nearly　toppling　over；　as　a　huge　wave　nearly　lay　the　Sea　Sprite　down　on　her　side。

　　　Drizzt　caught　up　to　him　in　an　instant；　the　drow's　enchanted　bracers　and　sheer　agility　allowing　him　to　navigate　on　the　rocking　deck。　He　helped　the　captain　to　his　feet　and　the　two　struggled　for　the　hatch。

　　　Deudermont　went　down　first；　Drizzt　stopping　to　survey　the　deck；　to　make　sure　that　everyone　else　had　gone　below。　Only　Robillard　remained；　wedged　in　with　his　thighs　pressing　against　the　rail；　cursing　the　storm　and　throwing　magical　gusts　into　the　teeth　of　the　raging　wind。　The　wizard　noticed　that　Drizzt　was　looking　at　him；　and　he　waved　the　drow　away；　then　pointed　to　his　ring；　reminding　Drizzt　that　he　had　enough　magical　power　to　save　himself。

　　　As　soon　as　he　got　into　the　cramped　deck　below；　Drizzt　took　out　the　panther　figurine。　He　had　to　hope　that　Guenhwyvar　had　found　the　sailor　and　had　him　in　her　grasp；　for　if　he　waited　any　longer；　the　man　would　surely　be　drowned　anyway。　〃Go　home；　Guenhwyvar；〃　he　said　to　the　statue。

　　　He　wanted　to　call　Guenhwyvar　back　almost　immediately；　to　find　out　if　the　man　had　been　saved；　but　a　wave　slammed　the　ship　and　the　figurine　flew　off　into　the　darkness。　Drizzt　scrambled；　trying　to　follow　its　course；　but　it　was　too　cramped　and　too　dark。

　　　In　the　blackness　belowdecks；　the　terrified　crew　had　no　way　of　really　knowing　if　this　was　the　same　storm　that　had　battered　them　before。　If　it　was；　then　it　had　indeed　intensified；　for　this　time；　the　Sea　Sprite　was　tossed　about　like　a　toy。　Water　washed　over　them　from　every　crack　in　the　deck　above；　and　only　their　frantic　bailing；　coordinated　and　disciplined　despite　the　darkness　and　the　terror；　kept　the　ship　afloat。　It　went　on　for　more　than　two　hours；　two　horrible　gut…wrenching　hours；　but　Drizzt's　estimate　of　the　value　of　Deudermont's　run　was　accurate。　The　Sea　Sprite　was　on　the　fringe　of　the　storm；　not　in　its　heart；　no　ship　in　all　the　Realms　could　have　survived　this　storm　in　full。

　　　Then　all　went　quiet；　except　for　the　occasional　thunder　boom；　growing　ever　more　distant。　The　Sea　Sprite　was　listing　badly　to　port；　but　she　was　up。

　　　Drizzt　was　the　first　on　deck；　Deudermont　right　behind　him。　The　damage　was　extensive；　especially　to　the　mainmast。

　　　〃Can　we　repair　her？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　Deudermont　didn't　think　so。　〃Not　without　putting　into　port；〃　he　replied；　not　bothering　to　mention　the　fact　that　the　nearest　port　might　be　five　hundred　miles　away。

　　　Catti…brie　came　up　soon　after；　bearing　the　onyx　figurine。　Drizzt　wasted　no　time　in　calling　to　the　panther；　and　when　the　cat　came　on　deck；　she　was　escorted　by　a　very　sorry…looking　sailor。

　　　〃There　is　a　tale　for　your　grandchildren；〃　Deudermont　said　in　a　chipper　voice　to　the　man；　clapping　him　on　the　shoulder　and　trying　to　keep　up　the　morale　of　those　near　him。　The　stricken　sailor　nodded　sheepishly　as　two　other　crewmen　helped　him　away。

　　　〃So　fine　a　friend；〃　Deudermont　remarked　to　Drizzt；　indicating　Guenhwyvar。　〃The　man　was　surely　doomed。〃

　　　Drizzt　nodded　and　dropped　a　hand　across　Guenhwyvar's　muscled　flank。　Never　did　he　take　the　cat's　friendship　for　gr