精灵血脉四部曲-第20部分

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〃Ye　realize　Pwent　will　surely　insult　the　boy；〃　Cobble；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　Bruenor's　chair；　whispered　to　the　dwarf　king。

〃Gold　against　silver　on　the　boy；　then；〃　Bruenor　offered　quietly。　〃Pwent's　good　and　wild；　but　he　ain't　got　the　strength　to　handle　that　one。〃

〃Not　a　bet　I'd　take；〃　Cobble　replied；　〃but　if　Wulfgar　lifts　a　hand　against　that　one；　he's　to　get　stung；　not　to　doubt。〃

〃Good；〃　Catti…brie　put　in　unexpectedly。　Both　Bruenor　and　Cobble　turned　incredulous　looks　on　the　young　woman。　〃Wulfgar's　needing　some　stinging；〃　she　explained　with　uncharacteristic　callousness。

。　〃Well；　there　ye　have　it　then！〃　Pwent　roared　in　Wulfgar's　face；　leading　the　barbarian　across　the　room　as　he　spoke。　〃If　I　was　fighting　anyone；　if　I　was　fighting　yerself；　and　ye　dropped　yer　weapon；　I'd　let　ye　bend　and　pick　it　up。〃

Wulfgar　nodded　in　agreement；　but　jumped　back　as　Pwent　snapped　his　dirty　fingers　right　under　Wulfgar's　nose。　〃And　then　I'd　put　me　spike　right　through　the　top　o'　yer　thick　head！〃　the　battlerager　finished。　〃I　ain't　no　damned　stupid　warrior；　ye　damned　fool！　I'm　a　battlerager；　the　battlerager；　and　don't　ye　ever　forget　that　the　Pwent　plays　to　win！〃　He　snapped　his　fingers　again　Wulfgar's　way；　then　stormed　past　the　stunned　barbarian；　stomping　over　to　stand　before　Bruenor。

〃Ye　got　some　outrageous　friends；　but　I'm　not　surprised；〃　Pwent　roared　at　Bruenor。　He　regarded　Catti…brie　with　his　broken…toothed　smile。　〃But　yer　girl'd　be　a　cute　one　if　ye　could　find　a　way　to　put　some　hair　on　her　chin。〃

〃Take　it　as　a　pliment；〃　Cobble　quietly　offered　to　Catti…brie；　who　only　shrugged　and　smiled　with　amusement。

〃Battlehammers　always　kept　a　soft　spot　in　their　hearts　for　them　that　wasn't　dwarf…kin；〃　Pwent　went　on；　directing　his　remarks　at　Wulfgar　as　the　tall　man　moved　beside　him。　〃And　we　let　'em　be　our　kings　anyway。　Never　could　figure　that　part　out。〃

Bruenor's　knuckles　whitened　under　the　strain　as　he　grabbed　hard　on　the　arms　of　his　chair；　trying　to　control　himself。　Catti…brie　dropped　a　hand　over　his；　and　when　he　looked　at　her　tolerant　eyes；　the　storm　quickly　passed。

〃Speaking　of　that；〃　Pwent　went　on；　〃there's　an　ugly　rumor　making　the　rounds　that　ye've　got　a　drow　elf　standing　beside　ye。　There　be　any　truth　o'　that？〃

Bruenor's　first　reaction　was　one　of　anger—always　the　dwarf　had　been　defensive　about　his　oft…maligned　drow　friend。

Catti…brie　spoke　first；　though；　her　words　directed　more　to　her　father　than　to　Pwent；　a　reminder　to　Bruenor　that　Drizzt's　skin　had　thickened　and　that　he　could　take　care　of　himself。　〃Ye'll　be　meeting　the　drow　soon　enough；〃　she　told　the　battlerager。　〃Suren　that　one's　a　warrior　to　fit　yer　description；　if　ever　there　was　one。〃

Pwent　roared　in　derisive　laughter；　but　it　faded　as　Catti…brie　continued。

〃If　ye　came　at　him　to　start　a　fight；　but　dropped　yer　pointy　helm；　he'd　pick　it　up　for　ye　and　put　it　back　on　yer　head；〃　she　explained。　〃Of　course；　then　he'd　take　it　back　off　and　stuff　it　down　the　back　of　yer　pants；　and　give　ye　a　few　boots；　just　so　ye'd　get　'the　Pwent。'〃

The　battlerager's　lips　seemed　to　tie　themselves　up　in　a　neat　knot。　For　the　first　time　in　many　days；　Wulfgar　seemed　to　approve　pletely　of　Catti…brie's　reasoning；　and　the　nod　of　his　head；　and　of　Bruenor's　and　of　Cobble's；　was　certainly　appreciative　when　Pwent　made　no　move　to　answer。

〃How　long　will　Drizzt　be　gone？〃　the　barbarian　asked；　to　change　the　subject　before　Pwent　could　find　his　irritating　voice。

〃The　tunnels　are　long；〃　Bruenor　replied。

〃He　will　return　for　the　ceremony？〃　Wulfgar　asked；　and　there　seemed　to　Catti…brie　to　be　some　ambivalence　in　his　tone；　an　uncertainty　of　which　answer　he　would　prefer。

〃Be　sure　that　he　will；〃　the　young　woman　put　in　evenly。　〃For　be　sure　that　there'll　be　no　wedding　until　Drizzt　is　back　from　the　tunnels。〃　She　looked　at　Bruenor；　thoroughly　squashing　his　protests　before　he　ever　uttered　them。　〃And　I'm　not　for　caring　if　all　the　kings　and　queens　of　the　North　are　kept　waiting　a　month！〃

Wulfgar　seemed　on　the　verge　of　an　explosion；　but　he　was　wise　enough　to　direct　his　mounting　anger　away　from　volatile　Catti…brie。　〃I　should　have　gone　with　him！〃　he　growled　at　Bruenor。　〃Why　did　you　send　Regis　along？　What　good　might　the　halfling　do　if　enemies　are　found？〃

The　ferocity　of　the　lad's　tone　caught　Bruenor　off　his　guard。

〃He's　right；〃　Catti…brie　snapped　in　her　father's　ear；　not　that　she　wanted　to　agree　with　Wulfgar　on　any　point；　but　that　she；　like　Wulfgar；　saw　the　opportunity　to　vent　her　anger　openly。

Bruenor　sank　back　in　his　chair；　his　dark　eyes　darting　from　one　to　the　other。　〃Dwarves're　lost；　is　all；〃　he　said。

〃Even　if　that　is　true；　what　will　Regis　do　but　slow　down　the　drow？〃　Catti…brie　reasoned。

〃He　said　he'd　find　a　way　to　fit　in！〃　Bruenor　protested。

〃Who　said？〃　Catti…brie　demanded。

〃Rumblebelly！〃　shouted　her　flustered　father。

〃He　did　not　even　wish　to　go！〃　Wulfgar　shot　back。

〃Did　too！〃　Bruenor　roared；　leaping　up　from　his　seat　and　pushing　the　leaning　Wulfgar　back　two　steps　with　a　sturdy　forearm　slam　to　the　lad's　chest。　〃'Twas　Rumblebelly　that　telled　me　to　send　him　along　with　the　drow；　I　tell　ye！〃

〃Regis　was　here　with　yerself　when　ye　got　the　news　o'　the　missing　dwarves；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned。　〃Ye　didn't　say　a　thing　about　Regis　telling　ye　to　send　him。〃

〃He　telled　me　before　that；〃　Bruenor　answered。　〃He　telled　。　。　。〃　The　dwarf　stopped　suddenly；　realizing　the　illogic　of　it　all。　Somehow；　somewhere　in　the　back　of　his　mind；　he　remembered　Regis　explaining　that　he　and　Drizzt　should　go　after　the　missing　dwarves；　but　how　could　that　be；　since　Bruenor　had　made　the　decision　as　soon　as　they　all　learned　that　dwarves　were　missing？

〃Have　ye　been　tasting　the　holy　water　again；　me　king？〃　Cobble　asked　respectfully　but　firmly。

Bruenor　held　his　hand　out；　motioning　for　them　all　to　be　quiet　while　he　sought　his　recollections。　He　remembered　Regis's　words　distinctly　and　knew　he　was　not　imagining　them；　but　no　images　acpanied　the　memory；　no　scene　where　he　could　place　the　halfling　and　thus　straighten　out　the　apparent　time　discrepancy。

Then　an　image　came　to　Bruenor；　a　swirling　array　of　shining　facets；　spiraling　down　and　drawing　him　with　them　into　the　depths　of　a　wondrous　ruby。

〃Rumblebelly　telled　me　that　the　dwarves'd　be　missing；〃　Bruenor　said　slowly　and　clearly；　his　eyes　closed　as　he　forced　the　memory　from　his　subconscious。　〃He　telled　me　I　should　send　himself；　and　Drizzt；　to　find　them；　that　them　two　alone'd　get　me　dwarves　back　to　the　halls　safely。〃

〃Regis　could　not　have　known；〃　Cobble　reasoned；　obviously　doubting　Bruenor's　words。

〃And　even　if　he　did；　the　little　one　would　not　have　wished　to　go　along　to　find　them；〃　Wulfgar　added；　equally　doubtful。　〃Is　this　a　dream—？〃

〃Not　a　dream！〃　Bruenor　growled。　〃He　telled　me　。。。　with　that　ruby　of　his。〃　Bruenor's　face　screwed　up　as　he　tried　to　remember；　tried　to　call　upon　his　dwarven　resistance　to　magic　to　fight　past　the　stubborn　mental　block。

〃Regis　would　not—〃　Wulfgar　started　to　say　again；　but　this　time　it　was　Catti…brie；　knowing　the　truth　of　her　father's　claims；　who　interrupted　him。

〃Unless　it　wasn't　really　Regis；〃　she　offered；　and　her　own　words　made　her　mouth　drop　open　with　their　terrible　implications。　The　three　had　been　through　much　beside　Drizzt；　and　they　all　knew　well　that　the　drow　had　many　evil　and　powerful　enemies；　one　in　particular　who　would　have　the　wiles　to　create　such　an　elaborate　deception。

Wulfgar　looked　equally　stricken；　at　a　loss；　but　Bruenor　was　fast　to　react。　He　jumped　down　from　the　throne　and　blasted　between　Wulfgar　and　Pwent；　nearly　knocking　them　both　from　their　feet。　Catti…brie　went　right　behind；　Wulfgar　turning　to　follow。

〃What　in　the　head　of　a　goblin　are　them　three　talking　about？〃　Pwent　demanded　of　Cobble　as　the　cleric；　too；　rambled　past。

〃A　fight；〃　Cobble　replied；　knowing　well　how　to　deflect　any　of　Pwent's　demands　for　a　lengthy　explanation。

Thibbledorf　Pwent　dropped　to　one　knee　and　rolled　his　burly　shoulder；　punching　his　fist　triumphantly　out　in　front　of　him。　〃Yeeeeeah！〃　he　cried　in　glee。　〃Suren　it's　good　to　be　back　serving　a　Battlehammer！〃



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〃Are　you　in　league　with　them；　or　is　this　all　a　terrible　coincidence？〃　Drizzt　asked　dryly；　still　refusing　to　turn　about　and　give　Artemis　Entreri　the　satisfaction　of　viewing　his　torment。

〃I　do　not　believe　in　coincidence；〃　came　the　predictable　answer。

Finally；　Drizzt　did　turn　around；　to　see　his　dreaded　rival；　the　human　assassin　Artemis　Entreri；　standing　easily　at　the　ready；　fine　sword　in　one　hand；　jeweled　dagger　in　the　other。　The　torch；　still　burning；　lay　at　his　feet。　The　magical　transformation　from　halfling　to　human　had　been　plete；　clothing　included；　and　this　fact　somewhat　confused　Drizzt。　When　Drizzt　had　used　the　mask；　it　had　done　no　more　than　alter　the　color　of　his　skin　and　hair；　and　his　amazement　now　was　obvious　on　his　face。

〃You　should　better　learn　the　value　of　magical　items　before　you　so　casually　toss　them　aside；〃　the　assassin　said　to　him；　understanding　the　look。

There　was　a　note　of　truth　in　Entreri's　words；　apparently；　but　Drizzt　had　never　regretted　leaving　the　magical　mask　in　Calimport。　Under　its　protective　camouflage；　the　dark　elf　had　walked　freely；　without　persecution；　among　the　other　races。　But　under　that　mask；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　walked　in　a　lie。

〃You　could　have　killed　me　in　the　goblin　fight；　or　a　hundred　other　times　since　your　return　to　Mithril　Hall；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。　〃Why　the　elaborate　games？〃

〃The　sweeter　es　my　victory。〃

〃You　wish　me　to　draw　my　weapons；　to　continue　the　fight　we　began　in　Calimport's　sewers。〃

〃Our　fight　began　long　before　there；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　assassin　chided。　He　casually　poked　his　blade　at　Drizzt；　who　neither　flinched　nor　reached　for　his　scimitars　as　the　fine　sword　nicked　him　on　the　cheek。

〃You　and　I；〃　Entreri　continued；　and　he　began　to　circle　to　Drizzt's　side；　〃have　been　mortal　enemies　from　the　day　we　learned　of　each　other；　each　an　insult　to　the　other's　code　of　fighting。　I　mock　your　principles；　and　you　insult　my　discipline。〃

〃Discipline　and　emptiness　are　not　the　same；〃　Drizzt　answered。　〃You　are　but　a　shell　that　knows　how　to　use　weapons。　There　is　no　substance　in　that。〃

〃Good；〃　Entreri　purred；　tapping　Drizzt's　hip　with　his　sword。　〃I　feel　your　anger；　drow；　though　you　try　so　desperately　to　hide　it。　Draw　your　weapo