精灵血脉四部曲-第204部分

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piled　nearly　as　high　as　Kierstaad　in　one　corner。　The　bed　was　not　made；　was　a　tumble　of　blankets　and　pillows。

　　　Kierstaad　hardly　noticed　any　of　it。　The　moment　the　door　had　opened；　his　eyes　had　fixed　upon　a　single　object　set　on　the　wall　at　the　head　of　Bruenor's　bed。

　　　Aegis…fang。　Wulfgar's　warhammer。

　　　Hardly　breathing；　Kierstaad　crossed　the　small　room　to　stand　beside　the　mighty　weapon。　He　saw　the　gorgeous　runes　etched　into　its　gleaming　mithril　head梩he　twin　mountains；　the　symbol　of　Dumathoin；　dwarven　god　and　keeper　of　secrets。　Looking　closer；　Kierstaad　made　out　portions　of　another　rune　buried　under　the　twin　mountain　disguise。　So　perfect　was　the　overlay　that　he　could　not　determine　what　it　might　be。　He　knew　the　legend　of　Aegis…fang；　though。　Those　hidden　runes　were　the　marks　of　Moradin；　the　Soul　Forger；　greatest　of　the　dwarven　gods　on　one　side；　and　the　axe　of　Clangeddin；　the　dwarven　battle　god；　on　the　other。

　　　Kierstaad　stood　for　a　long　time；　staring；　thinking　of　the　legend　that　was　Wulfgar；　thinking　of　Berkthgar　and　Revjak。　Where　would　he　fit　in？　If　the　conflict　exploded　between　the　former　leader　of　Settlestone　and　the　current　leader　of　the　Tribe　of　the　Elk；　what　role　might　Kierstaad　play？

　　　A　greater　one；　he　knew；　if　he　held　Aegis…fang　in　his　hands。　Hardly　considering　the　movement；　Kierstaad　reached　out　and　clasped　the　warhammer；　lifting　it　from　its　hooks。

　　　How　heavy　it　seemed！　Kierstaad　brought　it　in　close；　then；　with　great　effort；　lifted　it　above　his　head。

　　　It　banged　against　the　low　ceiling；　and　the　young　man　nearly　fell　sidelong　as　it　bounced　out　too　wide　for　him　to　properly　control　its　momentum。　When　he　at　last　regained　his　balance；　Kierstaad　laughed　at　his　foolishness。　How　could　he　hope　to　wield　mighty　Aegis…fang？　How　could　he　hope　to　follow　in　the　giant　footsteps　of　mighty　Wulfgar？

　　　He　brought　the　fabulous　warhammer　in　close　to　his　chest　again；　wrapping　his　arms　about　it　reverently。　He　could　feel　its　strength；　its　perfect　balance；　could　almost　feel　the　presence　of　the　man　who　had　wielded　it　so　long　and　so　well。

　　　Young　Kierstaad　wanted　to　be　like　Wulfgar。　He　wanted　to　lead　the　tribe　in　his　own　vision。　He　didn't　agree　with　Wulfgar's　course　any　more　than　he　now　agreed　with　Berkthgar's；　but　there　was　a　place　in　between；　a　promise　that　would　give　the　barbarians　the　freedom　of　the　old　ways　and　the　alliances　of　the　new。　With　Aegis…fang　in　hand；　Kierstaad　felt　as　if　he　could　do　that；　could　take　control　and　lead　his　people　on　the　best　possible　course。

　　　The　young　barbarian　shook　his　head　and　laughed　again；　mocking　himself　and　his　grand　dreams。　He　was　barely　more　than　a　boy；　and　Aegis…fang　was　not　his　to　wield。　That　thought　made　the　young　man　glance　back　over　his　shoulder；　to　the　open　door。　If　Bruenor　returned　and　found　him　in　here　holding　the　warhammer；　the　taciturn　dwarf　would　likely　cut　him　in　half。

　　　It　wasn't　easy　for　Kierstaad　to　replace　the　hammer　on　its　hooks；　and　it　was　harder　still　for　him　to　leave　the　room。　But　he　had　no　choice。　Empty…handed；　he　quietly　and　cautiously　snuck　back　out　of　the　tunnels；　back　under　the　open　sky；　and　ran　all　the　way　back　to　his　tribe's　encampment；　some　five　miles　across　the　tundra。



*****



　　　The　dwarf　reached　as　high　as　she　possibly　could；　her　stubby　fingers　brushing　aside　the　crusty　snow　and　grasping　desperately　at　the　rock。　The　last　ledge；　the　doorway　to　the　top；　the　very　top。

　　　Stumpet　groaned　and　strained；　knowing　it　to　be　an　impossible　obstacle；　knowing　that　she　had　overreached　her　bounds　and　was　surely　destined　to　fall　thousands　of　feet　to　her　death。

　　　But　then；　somehow；　she　found　the　strength。　Her　fingers　latched　on　firmly　and　she　pulled　with　all　her　might。　Little　legs　kicked　and　scraped　at　the　rock；　and　suddenly　she　was　over；　onto　the　flat　plateau　at　the　top　of　the　tallest　mountain　in　all　the　world。

　　　The　resilient　dwarf　stood　tall　on　that　high　place　and　surveyed　the　scene　below　her；　the　world　conquered。　She　noted　the　crowds　then；　thousands　and　thousands　of　her　bearded　minions；　filling　all　the　valleys　and　all　the　trails。　They　were　cheering；　bowing　before　her。

　　　Stumpet　came　awake　drenched　in　sweat。　It　took　her　several　moments　to　orient　herself；　to　realize　that　she　was　in　her　own　small　room　in　the　dwarven　mines　in　Icewind　Dale。　She　gave　a　slight　smile　as　she　recalled　the　vivid　dream；　the　breathtaking　last　surge　that　got　her　over　the　top。　But　that　smile　was　lost　in　confusion　as　she　considered　the　subsequent　scene；　the　cheering　dwarves。

　　　〃Why'd　I　go　and　dream　that？〃　Stumpet　wondered　aloud。　She　never　climbed　for　glory；　simply　for　the　personal　satisfaction　that　conquering　a　mountain　gave　to　her。　Stumpet　didn't　care　what　others　thought　of　her　climbing　prowess；　and　she　rarely　even　told　anyone　where　she　was　going；　where　she　had　been；　or　whether　or　not　the　climb　had　been　a　success。

　　　The　dwarf　wiped　her　forehead　and　slipped　back　to　her　hard　mattress；　the　images　of　the　dream　still　vividly　clear　in　her　mind。　A　dream　or　a　nightmare？　Was　she　lying　to　herself　about　the　truth　of　why　she　climbed？　Was　there　indeed　a　measure　of　personal　satisfaction；　a　feeling　of　superiority；　when　she　conquered　a　mountain？　And　if　that　was　the　case；　then　was　that　feeling　a　measure　of　superiority　not　only　over　the　mountain；　but　over　her　fellow　dwarves？

　　　The　questions　nagged　the　normally…unshakable　cleric；　the　usually　humble　priestess。　Stumpet　hoped　the　thoughts　weren't　true。　She　thought　more　of　herself；　her　true　self；　than　to　be　concerned　with　such　pettiness。　After　a　long　while　of　tossing　and　turning；　the　dwarf　finally　fell　back　to　sleep。



*****



　　　No　more　dreams　came　to　Stumpet　that　long　night。　Crenshinibon；　resting　in　a　locker　at　the　foot　of　the　dwarf's　bed；　sensed　Stumpet's　dismay　and　realized　that　it　had　to　be　careful　in　imparting　such　dreams。　This　dwarf　was　not　an　easy　one　to　entice。　The　artifact　had　no　idea　of　what　treasures　it　could　promise　to　weaken　the　will　of　Stumpet　Rakingclaw。

　　　Without　those　insidious　promises；　the　crystal　shard　could　grab　no　firm　hold　over　the　dwarf。　But　if　Crenshinibon　became　more　overt；　more　forceful；　it　could　tip　Stumpet　off　to　the　truth　of　its　origins　and　its　designs。　And　certainly　the　artifact　did　not　want　to　arouse　the　suspicions　of　one　who　could　call　upon　the　powers　of　goodly　gods；　perhaps　even　learning　the　secrets　of　how　to　destroy　Crenshinibon！

　　　The　crystal　shard　closed　in　its　magic；　kept　its　sentient　thoughts　deep　within　its　squared　sides。　Its　long　wait　was　not　quite　over；　it　realized；　not　while　it　was　in　the　hands　of　this　one。



Part　4

ICEWIND　DALE



　　　I　remember　well　that　occasion　when　I　returned　to　Menzoberranzan；　the　city　of　my　birth；　the　city　of　my　childhood。　I　was　floating　on　a　raft　across　the　lake　of　Donigarten　when　the　city　came　into　view；　a　sight　I　had　feared　and　longed　for　at　the　same　time。　I　did　not　ever　want　to　return　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　yet；　I　had　to　wonder　what　going　there　would　feel　like。　Was　the　place　as　bad　as　my　memories　told　me？

　　　I　remember　well　that　moment　when　we　drifted　past　the　cavern's　curving　wall；　the　sculpted　stalagmites　ing　into　view。

　　　It　was　a　disappointment。

　　　I　did　not　feel　any　anger；　nor　any　awe。　No　warmth　of　nostalgia；　true　or　false；　washed　over　me。　I　did　not　dwell　in　the　memories　of　my　childhood；　not　even　in　the　memories　of　my　good　times　with　Zaknafein。

　　　All　that　I　thought　of　in　that　critical　moment　was　the　fact　that　there　were　lights　burning　in　the　city；　an　unusual　and　perhaps　significant　event。　All　that　I　thought　of　was　my　critical　mission；　and　how　I　must　move　fast　to　get　the　job　done。　My　fears；　for　indeed　they　remained；　were　of　a　rational　nature。　Not　the　impulsive　and　unreasonable　fears　wrought　of　childhood　memories；　but　the　very　real　trepidations　that　I　was　walking　into　the　lair　of　a　powerful　enemy。

　　　Later；　when　the　situation　allowed；　I　reflected　on　that　moment；　confused　as　to　why　it　had　been　so　disappointing；　so　insignificant。　Why　hadn't　I　been　overwhelmed　by　the　sight　of　the　city　that　had　been　my　home　for　the　first　three　decades　of　my　life？

　　　Only　when　I　turned　around　the　northwestern　corner　of　the　Spine　of　the　World　mountain　range；　back　into　Icewind　Dale；　did　I　realize　the　truth。　Menzoberranzan　had　been　a　place　along　my　journey；　but　not　a　home；　never　a　home。　As　the　blind　seer's　riddle　had　inferred；　Icewind　Dale　had　been　my　home　that　was　first。　All　that　had　e　before；　all　that　had　led　to　that　windswept　and　inhospitable　place梖rom　Menzoberranzan；　to　Blingdenstone；　to　the　surface；　even　to　the　enchanted　grove　of　my　ranger　mentor；　Montolio　DeBrouchee梙ad　been　but　a　road；　a　path　to　follow。

　　　These　truths　came　clear　to　me　when　I　turned　that　corner；　facing　the　dale　for　the　first　time　in　a　decade；　feeling　the　endless　wind　upon　my　face；　the　same　wind　that　had　always　been　there　and　that　gave　the　place　its　name。

　　　It　is　a　plicated　word：　home。　It　carries　varied　definitions　to　nearly　every　person。　To　me；　home　is　not　just　a　place；　but　a　feeling；　a　warm　and　fortable　sensation　of　control。　Home　is　where　I　need　make　no　excuses　for　my　actions　or　the　color　of　my　skin；　where　I　must　be　accepted　because　this　is　my　place。　It　is　both　a　personal　and　a　shared　domain；　for　it　is　the　place　a　person　most　truly　belongs；　and　yet　it　is　so　only　because　of　those　friends　around　him。

　　　Unlike　my　first　glimpse　of　Menzoberranzan；　when　I　looked　upon　Icewind　Dale　I　was　filled　with　thoughts　of　what　had　been。　There　were　thoughts　of　sitting　on　the　side　of　Kelvin's　Cairn；　watching　the　stars　and　the　fires　of　the　roaming　barbarian　tribes；　thoughts　of　battling　tundra　yeti　beside　Bruenor。　I　remembered　the　dwarfs　sour　expression　when　he　licked　his　axe　and　first　learned　that　the　brains　of　a　tundra　yeti　tasted　terrible！　I　remembered　my　first　meeting　with　Catti…brie；　my　panion　still。　She　was　but　a　girl　then；　a　trusting　and　beautiful　spirit；　wild　in　nature　yet　always　sensitive。

　　　I　remembered　so　very　much；　a　veritable　flood　of　images；　and　though　my　mission　on　that　occasion　was　no　less　vital　and　pressing　than　the　one　that　had　taken　me　to　Menzoberranzan；　I　thought　nothing　of　it；　didn't　consider　my　course　at　all。

　　　At　that　moment；　it　simply　didn't　matter。　All　that　I　cared　about　was　that　I　had　e　home。

　　　桪rizzt　Do'Urden



Chapter　18