精灵血脉四部曲-第202部分

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　　　〃The　repairs　are　well　underway；〃　replied　Waillan。　〃Many　of　Carradoon's　fishermen　have　joined　in　to　help。　They　have　even　found　a　tree　suitable　to　replace　the　mast。〃

　　　〃A　friendly　lot；　these　men　of　Carradoon；〃　Dunkin　put　in。

　　　Deudermont　regarded　Dunkin　for　a　while；　pleased　at　the　subtle　changes　he　had　witnessed　in　the　man。　This　was　not　the　same　surly　and　conniving　emissary　who　had　first　e　to　the　Sea　Sprite　in　the　name　of　Lord　Tarnheel　Embuirhan　in　search　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　The　man　was　a　fine　sailor　and　a　fine　panion　according　to　Waillan；　and　Deudermont　planned　to　offer　him　a　full…time　position　as　a　crewman　aboard　the　Sea　Sprite　as　soon　as　they　figured　out　how　to　get　the　ship　back　in　the　Sea　of　Swords　where　she　belonged。

　　　〃Robillard　is　in　Carradoon；〃　Waillan　said　unexpectedly；　catching　the　captain　off　guard；　though　Deudermont　never　doubted　that　the　wizard　had　survived　the　storm　and　would　eventually　find　them。　〃Or　he　was。　He　might　have　gone　back　to　Waterdeep　by　now。　He　says　that　he　can　get　us　back　where　we　belong。〃

　　　〃But　it　will　cost　us；〃　added　Dunkin。　〃For　the　wizard　will　need　help　from　his　brotherhood；　an　exceptionally　greedy　lot；　by　Robillard's　own　admission。〃

　　　Deudermont　wasn't　very　concerned　about　that。　The　Lords　of　Waterdeep　would　likely　reimburse　any　expenses。　The　captain　did　note　Dunkin's　use　of　the　word　〃us；〃　and　that　pleased　him　more　than　a　little。

　　　〃Robillard　said　that　it　would　take　him　some　time　to　organize　it　all；〃　Waillan　finished。　〃But　we're　two　weeks　from　repairing　the　Sea　Sprite　in　any　case；　and　with　the　help；　it's　easier　fixing　her　here　than　in　Waterdeep。〃

　　　Deudermont　only　nodded。　Pikel　came　bobbing　over　then；　stealing　the　attention　of　Waillan　and　Dunkin。　That　was　fine　with　Deudermont。　The　details　of　returning　the　Sea　Sprite　where　she　belonged　would　work　themselves　out；　he　did　not　doubt。　Robillard　was　a　petent　and　loyal　wizard。　But　the　captain　saw　a　parting　of　the　ways　in　his　immediate　future；　for　two　friends　（three；　counting　Guenhwyvar）　wouldn't　likely　go　back　with　the　ship；　or　if　they　did；　they　wouldn't　likely　remain　with　her　for　long。



Chapter　16

THE　BAIT



　　　〃Icewind　Dale；〃　Drizzt　said；　before　the　three　had　even　left　the　room　of　summoning。

　　　Cadderly　looked　surprised；　but　as　soon　as　Catti…brie　heard　the　words；　she　understood　what　Drizzt　was　talking　about　and　agreed　with　his　reasoning。　〃Ye're　thinking　that　the　fiend'll　go　after　the　crystal　shard；〃　she　explained；　more　for　Cadderly's　sake　than　for　any　need　of　confirmation。

　　　〃If　ever　Errtu　does　get　back　to　our　world；　then　he　will　certainly　go　for　the　artifact；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　Cadderly　knew　nothing　about　this　crystal　shard　they　referred　to；　but　he　realized　that　the　pair　believed　they　were　on　to　something　important。　〃You　are　sure　of　this？〃　he　asked　Drizzt。

　　　The　drow　nodded。　〃When　first　I　met　Errtu；　it　was　on　a　windswept　mountain　above　the　Spine　of　the　World；　in　the　place　called　Kelvin's　Cairn　in　Icewind　Dale；〃　he　explained。　〃The　fiend　had　e　to　the　call　of　the　wizard　who　possessed　Crenshinibon梩he　crystal　shard梐　most　powerful　artifact　of　evil。〃

　　　〃And　where　is　this　artifact？〃　Cadderly　asked；　suddenly　seeming　quite　concerned。　The　priest　had　some　experience　in　dealing　with　evil　artifacts；　had　once　put　his　own　life　and　the　lives　of　those　he　loved　in　jeopardy　for　the　sake　of　destroying　such　an　item。

　　　〃Buried；〃　Catti…brie　replied。　〃Buried　under　a　mountain　o'　snow　and　rock　by　an　avalanche　down　the　side　o'　Kelvin's　Cairn。〃　She　looked　more　at　Drizzt　than　the　priest　as　she　spoke；　her　expression　showing　that　she　was　beginning　to　doubt　the　drow's　reasoning。

　　　〃The　item　is　sentient；〃　the　ranger　reminded　her。　〃A　malignant　tool　that　will　not　accept　such　solitude。　If　Errtu　gets　back　to　our　world；　he　will　go　to　Icewind　Dale　in　search　of　Crenshinibon；　and　if　he　is　near　to　the　thing；　it　will　call　out　to　him。〃

　　　Cadderly　agreed。　〃You　must　destroy　this　crystal　shard；〃　he　said　so　determinedly　that　he　caught　them　by　surprise。　〃That　is　paramount。〃

　　　Drizzt　wasn't　sure　that　he　agreed　with　that　priority；　not　with　his　father　apparently　held　prisoner　by　the　balor。　But　he　did　agree　that　the　world　would　be　a　better　place　without　the　likes　of　Crenshinibon。

　　　〃How　does　one　destroy　so　powerful　an　artifact？〃　the　ranger　dared　to　ask。

　　　〃I　do　not　know。　Each　artifact　has　specific　ways　in　which　it　may　be　undone；〃　Cadderly　replied。　〃A　few　years　ago；　when　I　was　young；　it　was　asked　by　my　god　to　destroy　the　Ghearufu；　a　sentient　and　evil　thing。　I　had　to　seek　。　。　。　to　demand　assistance　from　a　great　red　dragon。〃

　　　〃A　few　years　ago　when　I　was　young；〃　Catti…brie　repeated　under　her　breath；　so　that　neither　of　the　others　could　hear。

　　　〃Thus　I　put　it　upon　you　now　to　find　and　destroy　Crenshinibon；　this　artifact　that　you　call　the　crystal　shard。〃

　　　〃I'm　not　knownin'　any　dragons；〃　Catti…brie　remarked　dryly。

　　　Drizzt　actually　did　know　of　another　red；　but　he　kept　that　quiet；　having　no　desire　to　face　the　great　wyrm　called　Hephaestus　again　and　hoping　that　Cadderly　would　offer　an　alternative。

　　　〃When　you　have　the　item　in　your　possession　and　Errtu　is　dealt　with；　then　bring　it　back　to　me；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃Together；　with　the　guidance　of　Deneir；　we　will　discover　how　the　crystal　shard　might　be　destroyed。〃

　　　〃Ye　make　it　sound　so　easy；〃　Catti…brie　added；　and　again；　her　tone　was　ripe　with　sarcasm。

　　　〃Hardly；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃But　I　hold　fast　my　faith。　Would　it　please　you　more　if　I　said　'if'　instead　of　'when'？　〃

　　　〃I'm　gettin'　yer　point；〃　Catti…brie　replied。

　　　Cadderly　smiled　broadly　and　draped　an　arm　about　the　young　woman's　sturdy　shoulders。　Catti…brie　didn't　shy　away　from　that　embrace　in　the　least；　finding　that　she　truly　liked　the　priest。　There　was　nothing　about　Cadderly　that　made　her　unfortable；　except　perhaps　the　casual　way　in　which　Cadderly　dealt　with　such　powers　as　Errtu　and　the　crystal　shard。　Now　that　was　confidence！

　　　〃We　can't　be　gettin'　the　crystal　shard　out　from　under　the　pile；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned　to　Drizzt。

　　　〃Likely；　it　will　find　its　own　way　out；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃Likely；　it　already　has。〃

　　　〃Or　Errtu　will　discover　it；〃　said　Drizzt。

　　　〃So　we're　to　go　to　Icewind　Dale　and　wait？〃　Catti…brie　huffed；　suddenly　realizing　the　depth　of　the　task　before　them。　〃Ye're　wanting　to　sit　and　serve　as　guardians？　For　how　many　centuries？〃

　　　Drizzt　also　wasn't　pleased　by　the　prospect；　but　the　responsibility　seemed　clear　to　him；　now　that　Errtu　was　apparently　freed。　The　thought　of　seeing　Zaknafein　again　would　hold　the　drow　even　if　it　meant　centuries　of　servitude。

　　　〃We　will　take　it　as　the　fates　give　it　to　us；〃　Drizzt　told　Catti…brie。　〃We　have　a　long　road　ahead　of　us；　and　yes；　perhaps　a　long　wait　after　that。〃

　　　〃There　is　a　temple　of　Deneir　in　Luskan；〃　Cadderly　interjected。　〃That　is　near　to　this　place　called　Icewind　Dale；　is　it　not？〃

　　　〃The　closest　city　south　of　the　mountains；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　〃I　can　get　you　there；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃Together　the　three　of　us　can　walk　the　wind　to　Luskan。〃

　　　Drizzt　considered　the　prospects。　It　was　nearly　midsummer　and　many　merchants　would　be　on　their　way　through　Luskan；　bound　for　Ten…Towns　to　trade　for　the　valuable　knucklehead　trout　scrimshaw。　If　Cadderly　could　get　them　to　Luskan　quickly；　they　would　have　little　trouble　in　joining　a　caravan　to　Icewind　Dale。

　　　Only　then　did　Drizzt　realize　yet　another　obstacle。　〃What　of　our　friends？〃　he　asked。

　　　Catti…brie　and　Cadderly　looked　to　each　other。　In　the　excitement；　they　had　both　nearly　forgotten　about　Deudermont　and　the　stranded　Sea　Sprite。

　　　〃I　cannot　take　so　many；〃　Cadderly　admitted。　〃And　certainly；　I　cannot　take　a　ship！〃

　　　Drizzt　thought　it　over　for　a　moment。　〃But　we　must　go；〃　he　said　to　Catti…brie。

　　　〃I'm　thinking　that　Deudermont's　to　like　sailin'　on　a　lake；〃　Catti…brie　retorted　sarcastically。　〃Not　many　pirates　about；　and　if　he　opened　the　Sea　Sprite's　sails　wide；　then　suren　he'd　find　himself　a　mile　into　the　stinkin'　woods！〃

　　　Drizzt　seemed　to　deflate　under　the　weight　of　her　honest　words。　〃Let　us　go　and　find　the　captain；〃　he　replied。　〃Perhaps　we　will　retrieve　Harkle　Harpell。　He　put　the　Sea　Sprite　in　Impresk　Lake；　let　him　get　her　back　where　she　belongs！〃

　　　Catti…brie　mumbled　something　under　her　breath；　her　tone　too　low　for　Drizzt　to　decipher　the　actual　words。　He　knew　what　she　thought　of　Harkle　though；　and　could　imagine　them　readily　enough。

　　　The　three　found　Deudermont；　Waillan　and　Dunkin　sitting　with　Ivan　and　Pikel　along　the　walk　outside　of　the　Spirit　Soaring's　front　doors。　Deudermont　told　them　the　news　of　Robillard　and　the　plan　to　get　back　where　they　belonged；　which　came　as　a　great　relief　to　both　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie。　The　two　looked　to　each　other；　and　Deudermont　knew　them　well　enough　to　understand　the　gist　of　what　was　going　on。

　　　〃You　are　leaving　us；〃　he　reasoned。　〃You　cannot　wait　the　two　or　three　weeks　it　will　take　Robillard　to　facilitate　our　return。〃

　　　〃Cadderly　can　get　us　to　Luskan；〃　Drizzt　replied。　〃In　less　than　two　or　three　weeks；　I　hope　to　be　in　Ten…Towns。〃

　　　The　news　put　a　pall　on　the　previously　lighthearted　conversation。　Even　Pikel；　who　hardly　knew　what　the　others　were　talking　about；　issued　a　long　and　forlorn；　〃Ooooo。〃

　　　Deudermont　tried　to　find　a　way　out　of　this；　but　he　recognized　the　inevitable。　His　place　was　with　the　Sea　Sprite；　and　given　the　high　stakes；　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　had　no　choice　but　to　follow　the　words　of　the　blind　seer。　Besides；　Deudermont　had　not　missed　their　expressions　when　Ivan　had　informed　them　that　Bruenor　had　left　Mithril　Hall。　Drizzt　said　he　was　going　back　to　Ten…Towns；　to　Icewind　Dale；　and　that　was　likely　where　Bruenor　had　gone。

　　　〃Perhaps　if　we　get　back　to　the　Sword　Coast　before　the　weather　turns　toward　winter；　I'll　sail　the　Sea　Sprite　around　the　bend　and　into　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice；〃　Deudermont　said；　his　way　of　bidding　his　friends　farewell。　〃I　would　like　to　visit　this　Icewind　Dale。〃

　　　〃My　home；〃　Drizzt　said　solemnly。

　　　Catti…brie　nodded　to　Drizzt　and　to　Deudermont。　She　was　never　fortable　with　goodbyes　and　she　knew　that　was　exactly　what　this　was。

　　　It　was　time　to　go　home。



Chapter　17

THE　FEEL　OF　POWER



　　　Stumpet　Rakingclaw　plodded　through　the　snow　halfway　up　the　side　of　Kelvin's　Cairn。　The　dwarf　k