精灵血脉四部曲-第206部分

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　　　The　two　were　awake　when　Cadderly　got　back　to　the　Deneirian　temple；　speaking　with　the　other　priests　and　gathering　supplies　for　the　long　road　ahead。　Drizzt　accepted　one　gift　reverently；　a　pair　of　waterskins　filled　with　blessed　water　from　the　temple's　font。　The　drow　didn't　see　any　practical　use　for　the　water；　but　the　significance　that　a　human　priest　of　a　goodly　god　had　given　it　to　him；　a　drow　elf；　was　not　lost　on　him。

　　　〃Your　fellows　are　a　good　lot；〃　Drizzt　remarked　to　Cadderly；　when　he；　the　old　priest；　and　Catti…brie　were　at　last　alone。　Cadderly　had　already　explained　the　provisions　that　had　been　made；　including　the　time　and　place；　where　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　were　to　meet　with　the　caravan。　The　merchants　were　putting　out　this　very　day；　giving　the　pair　less　than　an　hour　to　get　out　on　the　road。　They　knew　that　this　was　yet　another　parting。

　　　〃They　do　Deneir　proud；〃　Cadderly　agreed。

　　　Drizzt　was　busy　with　his　pack　then；　and　so　Catti…brie　quietly　pulled　Cadderly　aside。　Her　thoughts　were　on　Danica；　her　friend。

　　　Cadderly　smiled　warmly；　seeming　to　understand　what　this　private　conversation　might　be　about。

　　　〃Ye've　got　many　responsibilities；〃　Catti…brie　began。

　　　〃My　god　is　not　so　demanding；〃　Cadderly　said　coyly；　for　he　knew　that　Catti…brie　was　not　speaking　of　his　duties　to　Deneir。

　　　〃I'm　meaning　the　twins；〃　Catti…brie　whispered。　〃And　Danica。〃

　　　Cadderly　nodded。　No　argument　there。

　　　Catti…brie　paused　for　a　long　while；　seeming　to　struggle　with　the　words。　How　might　she　put　things　so　as　not　to　insult　the　old　priest？

　　　〃Ivan　telled　me　something　about　yer　。　。　。　condition；〃　Catti…brie　admitted。

　　　〃Oh？〃　Cadderly　replied。　He　wasn't　going　to　make　this　easy　for　the　young　woman。

　　　〃The　dwarf　says　ye　expected　to　die　as　soon　as　the　Spirit　Soaring　was　pleted；〃　Catti…brie　explained。　〃Says　ye　looked　like　ye　would；　too。〃

　　　〃I　felt　like　I　would；〃　Cadderly　admitted。　〃And　the　visions　I　had　of　the　cathedral　made　me　believe　that　to　be　the　truth。〃

　　　〃That　was　more　than　a　year　ago；〃　Catti…brie　remarked。

　　　Cadderly　nodded　again。

　　　〃The　dwarf　says　ye　look　like　ye're　getting　younger；〃　Catti…brie　pressed。　〃And　stronger。〃

　　　Cadderly's　smile　was　wide。　He　understood　that　Catti…brie　was　looking　out　for　Danica's　interests　and　her　apparently　deep　friendship　with　his　wife　warmed　his　heart　profoundly。　〃I　cannot　be　certain　of　anything；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃but　the　dwarf's　observations　seem　to　be　accurate。　I　am　stronger　now；　much　stronger　and　more　energetic　than　when　the　cathedral　was　first　pleted。〃　Cadderly　reached　up　and　pulled　straight　a　few　strands　of　hair；　mostly　gray；　but　with　several　sandy…colored　strands　mixed　in。　〃Brown　hairs；〃　the　old　priest　went　on。　〃It　was　white；　all　white；　when　first　the　cathedral　was　pleted。〃

　　　〃Ye're　gettin'　younger！〃　Catti…brie　proclaimed　with　much　enthusiasm。

　　　Cadderly　blew　a　long　and　deep　sigh；　and　then；　couldn't　help　but　nod。　〃So　it　would　seem；〃　he　admitted。

　　　〃I　cannot　be　sure　of　anything；〃　he　said　as　if　he　was　afraid　of　speaking　his　hopes　out　loud。　〃The　only　explanation　that　I　can　figure　is　that　the　visions　shown　to　me梫isions　of　my　impending　death梐nd　the　fatigue　I　felt　at　the　pletion　of　the　Spirit　Soaring　were　a　test　of　my　ultimate　loyalty　to　the　precepts　and　mandments　of　Deneir。　I　honestly　expected　to　die　as　soon　as　the　first　service　in　the　new　cathedral　was　pleted；　and　indeed；　when　it　was　done；　a　great　weariness　overcame　me。　I　went　to　my　room桰　was　practically　carried　by　Danica　and　Ivan梐nd　went　to　sleep；　expecting　to　never　again　open　my　eyes　upon　this　world。　I　accepted　that。〃　He　paused　and　closed　his　eyes；　recalling　that　fateful　date。

　　　〃But　now；〃　Catti…brie　prompted。

　　　〃Perhaps　Deneir　tested　me；　tested　my　loyalty；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃It　might　be　that　I　passed　that　test；　and　so　now　my　god　has　chosen　to　spare　me。〃

　　　〃If　he's　a　goodly　god；　then　the　choice　is　made；〃　Catti…brie　said　firmly。　〃No　good　god'd　take　ye　from　Danica　and　the　twins；　and　。　。　。〃

　　　She　paused　and　bit　her　lip；　not　wanting　to　give　away　Danica's　secret。

　　　〃Deneir　is　a　goodly　god；〃　Cadderly　replied　with　equal　determination。　〃But　you　speak　of　the　concerns　of　mortals　and　we　cannot　understand　Deneir's　will　or　his　ways。　If　Deneir　takes　me　from　Danica　and　my　children；　then　that　does　not　make　him　anything　less　than　the　goodly　god　that　he　truly　is。〃

　　　Catti…brie　shook　her　head　and　didn't　seem　convinced。

　　　〃There　are　higher　meanings　and　higher　principles　than　we　humans　can　understand；〃　Cadderly　said　to　her。　〃I　hold　faith　that　Deneir　will　do　what　is　ultimately　right　by　his　needs　and　his　designs；　which　outweigh　my　own。〃

　　　〃But　ye　hope　it's　true；〃　Catti…brie　said；　her　tone　showing　the　words　to　be　an　accusation。　〃Ye　hope　ye　get　young　again；　as　young　as　yer　bride；　that　ye　might　live　out　yer　life　beside　her　and　with　yer　kids！〃

　　　Cadderly　laughed　aloud。　〃True　enough；〃　he　finally　admitted；　and　Catti…brie　was　appeased。

　　　So　was　Drizzt；　listening　in　with　those　keen　drow　ears　of　his；　only　half　his　attention　focused　upon　the　task　of　packing　his　haversack。

　　　Catti…brie　and　Cadderly　shared　a　hug；　and　then　the　old　priest；　who　seemed　not　so　old；　went　to　Drizzt　and　offered　a　sincere　handshake。　〃Bring　to　me　the　artifact；　this　crystal　shard；〃　Cadderly　said。　〃Together　we　will　discover　a　way　to　rid　the　world　of　its　evil。

　　　〃And　bring　your　father　as　well；〃　Cadderly　went　on。　〃I　feel　that　he　would　enjoy　a　stay　at　the　Spirit　Soaring。〃

　　　Drizzt　gripped　Cadderly's　hand　all　the　tighter；　thankful　for　the　priest's　confidence　that　he　would　succeed。　〃The　artifact　will　give　me　。　。　。　give　us；〃　he　corrected；　looking　to　Catti…brie；　〃the　excuse　we　need　to　make　the　journey　back　to　Carradoon。〃

　　　〃A　journey　I　must　make　now；〃　Cadderly　said；　and　so　he　left　the　pair。

　　　They　said　nothing　when　they　were　alone；　just　went　about　finishing　their　preparations　for　the　road。

　　　The　road　home。



Chapter　19

AND　ALL　THE　WORLD　IS　THEIRS



　　　Revjak　knew　that　it　would　e　to　this；　had　guessed　it　as　soon　as　he　had　realized　that　Berkthgar　did　not　mean　to　split　off　from　the　Tribe　of　the　Elk　to　recreate　one　of　the　other　tribes。　So　now　Revjak　stood　facing　the　brutish　barbarian　within　a　ring　of　all　their　people。　Everyone　in　the　tribe　knew　what　was　to　e；　but　it　had　to　be　done　properly；　by　the　rules　of　ancient　traditions。

　　　Berkthgar　waited　for　the　gathering　to　quiet。　He　could　be　patient　because　he　knew　that　the　whispers　were　leaning　in　his　favor；　that　the　arguments　for　his　ascension　were　gaining　momentum。　Finally；　after　what　seemed　to　Revjak　to　be　many　minutes；　the　crowd　went　silent。

　　　Berkthgar　lifted　his　arms　high　to　the　sky；　his　hands　reaching　wide。　Behind　him；　strapped　diagonally　across　his　back；　loomed　Bankenfuere；　his　huge　flamberge。　〃I　claim　the　Right　of　Challenge；〃　the　huge　barbarian　declared。

　　　A　chorus　of　cheers　rose　up；　not　a　strong　as　Berkthgar　would　have　liked；　but　showing　that　he　had　quite　a　bit　of　support。

　　　〃By　what　birthright　do　you　make　such　a　claim？〃　Revjak　responded　properly。

　　　〃Not　by　blood；〃　Berkthgar　promptly　answered；　〃but　by　deed！〃　Again　came　the　cheers　from　the　younger　man's　supporters。

　　　Revjak　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　no　reason；　if　blood　does　not　demand　a　challenge；〃　he　protested；　and　his　supporters；　though　not　as　vocal　as　Berkthgar's；　gave　their　own　burst　of　cheering。　〃I　have　led　in　peace　and　in　strength；〃　Revjak　finished　firmly；　a　claim　that　was　all　too　true。

　　　〃As　have　I！〃　Berkthgar　was　quick　to　interrupt。　〃In　Settlestone；　so　far　from　our　home。　I　have　brought　our　people　through　war　and　peace；　and　have　led　the　march　all　the　way　back　to　Icewind　Dale；　our　home！〃

　　　〃Where　Revjak　is　King　of　the　Tribe　of　the　Elk；〃　the　older　man　put　in　without　hesitation。

　　　〃By　what　birthright？〃　Berkthgar　demanded。

　　　Revjak　had　a　problem　here；　and　he　knew　it。

　　　〃What　birthright　does　Revjak；　son　of　Jorn　the　Red；　who　was　not　a　king；　claim？〃　Berkthgar　asked　slyly。

　　　Revjak　had　no　answer。

　　　〃The　position　was　given　to　you；〃　Berkthgar　went　on；　telling　a　tale　that　was　nothing　new　to　his　people；　but　from　a　slightly　different　perspective　than　they　normally　heard。　〃It　was　handed　to　you；　through　no　challenge　and　no　right；　by　Wulfgar；　son　of　Beornegar。〃

　　　Kierstaad　watched　it　all　from　the　sidelines。　At　that　moment；　the　young　man　came　to　understand　the　real　reason　why　Berkthgar　had　launched　a　campaign　to　discredit　Wulfgar。　If　the　legend　of　Wulfgar　still　loomed　larger　than　life　to　the　barbarians；　then　his　father's　claim　as　king　would　be　strong　indeed。　But　with　Wulfgar　somewhat　discredited　。　。　。

　　　〃Who　rightly　claimed　the　kingship　from　Heafstaag；　who　was　by　birthright；　rightly　king；〃　Revjak　reasoned。　〃How　many　here；〃　he　asked　the　general　gathering；　〃remember　the　battle　wherein　Wulfgar；　son　of　Beornegar；　became　our　king？〃

　　　Many　heads　bobbed；　mostly　of　the　older　folk　who　had　remained　in　Icewind　Dale　through　all　the　years。

　　　〃I；　too；　remember　the　battle。〃　Berkthgar　growled　defiantly。　〃And　I　do　not　doubt　Wulfgar's　claim；　nor　all　the　good　he　did　for　my　people。　But　you　have　no　claim　of　blood；　no　more　than　my　own；　and　I　would　lead；　Revjak。　I　demand　the　Right　of　Challenge！〃



　　　The　cheers　were　louder　than　ever。

　　　Revjak　looked　to　his　son　and　smiled。　He　could　not　avoid　Berkthgar's　claim；　no　more　than　he　could　possibly　defeat　the　huge　man　in　bat。　He　turned　back　to　Berkthgar。　〃Granted；〃　he　said；　and　the　cheers　were　deafening　then；　from　both　Berkthgar's　supporters　and　Revjak's。

　　　〃In　five　hours；　before　the　sun　runs　low　along　the　horizon；〃　Berkthgar　began。

　　　〃Now；〃　Revjak　said　unexpectedly。

　　　Berkthgar　eyed　the　man；　trying　to　discern　what　trick　he　might　be　pulling。　Normally　a　Right　of　Challenge　would　be　answered　later　in　the　day　on　which　it　was　made；　after　both　batants　had　the　time　to　prepare　themselves　mentally　and　physically　for　the　bat。

　　　Berkthgar　narrowed　his　blue　eyes　and　all　the　crowd　hushed　in　anticipation。　A　smile　widened　on　the　huge　man's　face。　He　didn't　fear　Revjak；　not　now；　not　ever。　Slowly；　the　huge　man's　hand　went　up　over　his　shoulder；　grasping　the　hilt　of　Bankenfuere；　drawing　the　massive　blade　up　from　its　scabbard。　That　sheath　had　been　cut　along　its　top　edge　so　that　Berkthgar　could　draw　the　weapon　quickly。　He　did　so；