精灵血脉四部曲-第198部分

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　　　Drizzt　looked　from　Danica　to　Catti…brie；　saw　a　resemblance　there　in　spirit；　if　not　in　body。

　　　〃I　give　ye　Drizzt　Dudden；〃　Ivan　began；　pulling　the　deer…antlered　helmet　from　his　head。　〃Catti…brie；　daughter　of　Bruenor　of　Mithril　Hall；　Captain　Deudermont　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　outa　Waterdeep；　and　。　。　。〃　The　yellow…bearded　dwarf　stopped　and　looked　curiously　at　the　skinny　wizard。　〃What'd　ye　say　yer　name　was？〃　he　asked。

　　　〃Harpell　Harkle　。　。　。　er；　Harkle　Harpell；〃　Harkle　stuttered；　obviously　enchanted　by　Danica。　〃Of　Longsaddle。〃

　　　Danica　nodded。　〃Well　met；〃　she　said　to　each　of　them　in　turn；　ending　with　the　drow。

　　　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　ranger　corrected。

　　　Danica　smiled。

　　　〃They　came　to　speak　to　Cadderly；〃　Ivan　explained。

　　　Danica　nodded。　〃Go　and　wake　him；〃　she　said；　still　holding　Drizzt's　hand。　〃He　will　not　want　to　miss　an　audience　with　such　distinguished　visitors。〃

　　　Ivan　hopped　away；　rambling　down　the　hallway。

　　　〃Ye've　heared　of　us？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

　　　Danica　looked　at　her　and　nodded。　〃Your　reputation　precedes　you；〃　she　assured　the　young　woman。　〃We　have　heard　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer　and　the　fight　to　reclaim　Mithril　Hall。〃

　　　〃And　the　war　with　the　drow　elves？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　Danica　nodded。　〃In　part；〃　she　replied。　〃I　hope　that　before　you　leave　you　will　find　the　time　to　tell　us　the　story　in　full。〃

　　　〃What　do　ye　know　o'　Bruenor's　leavin'？〃　Catti…brie　asked　bluntly。

　　　〃Cadderly　knows　more　of　that　than　I；〃　Danica　replied。　〃I　have　heard　that　Bruenor　abdicated　his　reclaimed　throne　to　an　ancestor。〃

　　　〃Gandalug　Battlehammer；〃　Drizzt　explained。

　　　〃So　it　is　said；〃　Danica　went　on。　〃But　where　the　king　and　the　two　hundred　loyal　to　him　went；　that　I　do　not　know。〃

　　　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　exchanged　glances；　both　having　a　fair　guess　as　to　where　Bruenor　might　have　gone。

　　　Ivan　returned　then；　along　with　an　old；　but　sprightly　man　dressed　in　a　tan…white　tunic　and　matching　trousers。　A　light　blue　silken　cape　was　pulled　back　from　his　shoulders；　and　a　wide…brimmed　hat；　blue　and　banded　in　red　topped　his　head。　At　the　front　center　of　the　hat　band　sat　a　porcelain　and　gold　pendant　that　depicted　a　candle　burning　above　an　eye；　which　all　of　the　four　recognized　as　the　holy　symbol　of　Deneir梩he　god　of　literature　and　art。

　　　The　man　was　of　average　height；　around　six　feet；　and　was　muscular；　despite　his　advanced　age。　His　hair；　what　was　left　of　it；　was　mostly　silver　in　hue；　with　a　hint　of　brown。　Something　about　his　appearance　seemed　strangely　out　of　place　to　the　panions。　Drizzt　finally　recognized　it　to　be　the　man's　eyes；　striking　gray　orbs　that　seemed　full　of　sparkle；　the　eyes　of　a　younger　man。

　　　〃I　am　Cadderly；〃　he　said　warmly　with　a　humble　bow。　〃Wele　to　the　Spirit　Soaring；　the　home　of　Deneir　and　of　Oghma；　and　of　all　the　goodly　gods。　You　have　met　my　wife；　Danica？〃

　　　Catti…brie　looked　from　the　old　Cadderly；　to　Danica；　who　could　not　have　been　much　older　than　Catti…brie；　certainly　not　yet　out　of　her　twenties。

　　　〃And　yer　twins；〃　Ivan　added　with　a　smirk；　eyeing　Catti…brie　as　she　studied　Danica。　It　seemed　to　perceptive　Drizzt　and　Deudermont　that　the　dwarf　was　familiar　with　such　confusion　upon　such　an　introduction；　a　fact　that　led　them　both　to　think　that　Cadderly's　advanced　age　was　no　natural　thing。

　　　〃Ah；　yes；　the　twins；〃　Cadderly　said；　shaking　his　head　and　unable　to　contain　a　smirk　at　the　mere　thought　of　his　boisterous　legacy。

　　　The　wise　priest　studied　the　expressions　of　the　four；　appreciating　their　gracious　withholding　of　the　obvious　questions。　〃Twenty…nine；〃　he　remarked　offhandedly。　〃I　am　twenty…nine　years　old。〃

　　　〃Thirty　in　two　weeks；〃　Ivan　added。　〃Though　ye're　not　looking　a　day　over　a　hunnerd　and　six！〃

　　　〃It　was　the　task　of　building　the　cathedral；〃　Danica　explained；　and　there　was　just　a　hint　of　sorrow　and　anger　in　her　controlled　tones。　〃Cadderly　gave　to　the　place　his　life　force；　a　choice　he　made　for　the　glory　of　his　god。〃

　　　Drizzt　looked　long　and　hard　at　the　young　woman；　the　dedicated　warrior；　and　he　understood　that　Danica；　too；　had　been　forced　into　a　great　sacrifice　because　of　Cadderly's　choice。　He　sensed　an　anger　within　her；　but　it　was　buried　deep；　overwhelmed　by　her　love　for　this　man　and　her　admiration　for　his　sacrifice。

　　　Catti…brie　didn't　miss　any　of　it。　She；　who　had　lost　her　love；　surely　empathized　with　Danica；　and　yet；　she　knew　that　this　woman　was　undeserving　of　any　sympathy。　In　those　few　sentences　of　explanation；　in　the　presence　of　Cadderly　and　of　Danica；　and　within　the　halls　of　this　most　reverent　of　structures；　Catti…brie　understood　that　to　give　sympathy　to　Danica　would　belittle　the　sacrifice；　would　diminish　what　Cadderly　had　acplished　in　exchange　for　his　years。

　　　The　two　women　looked　into　each　other's　eyes；　locking　gazes；　Danica's　exotic　almond…shaped　orbs　and　Catti…brie's　large　eyes；　the　richest　shade　of　blue。　Catti…brie　wanted　to　say；　〃At　least　you　have　your　lover's　children；〃　wanted　to　explain　to　Danica　the　emptiness　of　her　own　loss；　with　Wulfgar　gone　before　。　。　。

　　　Before　so　much；　Catti…brie　thought　with　a　sigh。

　　　Danica　knew　the　story；　and　simply　in　sharing　that　long　look　with　Catti…brie；　she　understood　and　appreciated　what　was　in　the　woman's　heart。

　　　The　eight梖or　Pikel　soon　returned；　explaining　that　the　children　were　sleeping　in　the　gardens　and　being　watched　over　by　several　priests梥pent　the　next　two　hours　exchanging　tales。　Drizzt　and　Cadderly　seemed　kindred　spirits　and　indeed；　had　shared　many　adventures。　Both　had　faced　a　red　dragon　and　lived　to　tell　the　tale；　both　had　overe　legacies　of　their　past。　They　hit　it　off　splendidly；　as　did　Danica　and　Catti…brie；　and　though　the　dwarven　brothers　wanted　to　hear　more　of　Mithril　Hall；　they　found　it　hard　in　cracking　into　the　conversation　between　the　women；　and　the　one　between　Drizzt　and　Cadderly。　Gradually　they　gave　up；　and　spent　their　time　engaged　with　Harkle。　He　had　been　to　Mithril　Hall　and　had　participated　in　the　drow　war；　and　turned　out　to　be　quite　the　storyteller；　highlighting　his　tales　with　minor　illusions。

　　　Deudermont　felt　strangely　removed　from　it　all。　He　found　himself　missing　the　sea　and　his　ship；　longing　to　sail　again　out　of　Waterdeep　Harbor　to　chase　pirates　on　the　open　waters。

　　　It　might　have　gone　on　for　all　of　the　afternoon；　except　that　a　priest　knocked　on　the　door；　informing　Danica　that　the　children　were　awake。　The　woman　started　to　leave　with　the　dwarves；　but　Drizzt　stopped　her。　He　took　out　the　panther　figurine　and　called　to　Guenhwyvar。

　　　That　set　Ivan　back　on　his　heels！　Pikel　squealed；　too；　but　in　glee；　the　dwarfish　druid　always　willing　to　meet　with　such　a　magnificent　animal；　despite　the　fact　that　the　animal　could　tear　the　features　from　his　face。

　　　〃The　twins　will　enjoy　their　time　with　Guenhwyvar；〃　the　drow　explained。

　　　The　great　cat　ambled　out　of　the　room；　Pikel　in　close　pursuit；　grabbing　the　panther's　tail　that　Guenhwyvar　might　pull　him　along。

　　　〃Not　as　much　as　me　brother；〃　Ivan；　still　a　bit　shaken；　remarked。

　　　Danica　was　going　to　ask　the　obvious　question　of　safety；　but　she　held　the　thought　in　check；　realizing　that　if　the　panther　wasn't　to　be　trusted；　Drizzt　would　never　have　brought　it　in。　She　smiled　and　bowed　graciously；　then　left　with　Ivan。　Catti…brie　would　have　gone；　but　Drizzt's　posture；　suddenly　formal；　told　her　that　it　was　time　to　speak　of　business。

　　　〃You　have　not　e　here　merely　to　exchange　tales；　fine　though　they　may　be；〃　Cadderly　said；　and　he　sat　up　straight；　folding　his　hands　in　front　of　him；　ready　to　hear　their　most　important　story　in　full。

　　　Deudermont　told　it；　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　adding　in　points　they　thought　necessary；　and　Harkle　constantly　highlighting　the　story　with　remarks　that　really　had　nothing　to　do　with　anything　as　far　as　the　other　four　could　tell。

　　　Cadderly　confirmed　that　he　had　read　of　Caerwich　and　the　blind　seer。　〃She　speaks　in　riddles　that　are　not　always　what　they　seem；〃　he　warned。

　　　〃So　we　have　heard；〃　Deudermont　agreed。　〃But　this　is　one　riddle　my　friends　cannot　ignore。〃

　　　〃If　the　seer　spoke　truthfully；　then　a　friend　lost；　my　father　Zaknafein；　is　in　the　clutches　of　an　evil　being；〃　Drizzt　explained。　〃A　minion　of　Lloth；　perhaps；　or　a　matron　mother　of　one　of　Menzoberranzan's　ruling　houses。〃

　　　Harkle　bit　hard　on　his　lip。　He　saw　a　mistake　here；　but　had　to　consider　the　limitations　of　his　spell。　He　had　read　the　blind　seer's　poem；　word　by　word；　at　least　a　score　of　times；　mitting　it　fully　to　memory。　But　that　was　privileged　information；　beyond　the　scope　of　his　spell。　The　fog　of　fate　facilitated　what　would　be；　but　if　Harkle　used　the　information　that　the　spell　privately　gave　to　him；　then　he　might　be　altering　fate。　What　that　might　mean；　catastrophe　or　better　conclusion；　the　wizard　could　only　guess。

　　　Cadderly　nodded；　not　disagreeing　with　Drizzt's　reasoning；　but　wondering　where　he　might　fit　in　all　of　this；　wondering　what　role　the　visitors　expected　him　to　play。

　　　〃I　expect　it　is　a　handmaiden；〃　Drizzt　went　on。　〃An　extraplanar　being　of　the　Abyss。〃

　　　〃You　wish　me　to　use　my　powers　to　confirm　this；〃　Cadderly　reasoned。　〃Perhaps　to　bring　forth　the　beast　that　you　might　bargain　or　battle　for　your　father's　soul。〃

　　　〃I　understand　the　depth　of　my　request；〃　Drizzt　said　firmly。　〃A　yochlol　is　a　powerful　being　。　。　。〃

　　　〃I　learned　long　ago　not　to　fear　evil；〃　Cadderly　calmly　assured　him。

　　　〃We　have　gold；〃　Deudermont　offered；　thinking　the　price　would　be　high。

　　　Drizzt　knew　better。　In　the　short　time　he　had　been　with　Cadderly；　the　drow　understood　the　man's　heart　and　motivations。　Cadderly　would　not　take　gold；　would　take　no　payment　at　all。　He　was　not　surprised　when　Cadderly　answered　simply；　〃One　soul　is　worth　saving。〃



Chapter　14

THE　FLUSTERED　WIZARD



　　　〃Where's　Deudermont？〃　Catti…brie　asked　of　Harkle　when　the　wizard　stumbled　into　a　small　side　room　where　the　young　woman　was　sitting　with　Drizzt。

　　　〃Oh；　out　and　about；　out　and　about；〃　the　distracted　Harpell　replied。　There　were　two　chairs　in　the　room；　both　set　before　a　large　window　that　looked　out　over　the　majestic　Snowflakes。　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　occupied　these；　half…facing　each　other　and　half…looking　out　to　the　beautiful　view。　The　dark　elf　reclined；　his　feet　up　on　the　window's　wide　sill。　Harkle　considered　the　scene　for　just　a　moment；　then　seemed　to　colle