精灵血脉四部曲-第208部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


s　a　solidification　of　his　position　as　leader。

　　　No。　He　could　not　abandon　his　father；　however　angry　he　might　be。　He　would　take　up　his　weapon　against　Berkthgar　if　need　be；　and　kill　the　man　or　die　in　order　to　restore　his　family's　honor。　He　would　not　desert　his　father。

　　　That　option　also　seemed　ridiculous　to　the　young　man；　and　he　sat　alone；　overwhelmed；　under　the　vastness　of　Icewind　Dale's　canopy；　a　tortured　soul。



Chapter　20

EARNING　THEIR　PAY



　　　Both　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　had　bee　quite　proficient　at　riding　horses　on　their　trip　from　Mithril　Hall　to　Waterdeep。　But　that　had　been　six　years　before；　and　the　only　thing　the　panions　had　ridden　since　then　were　waves。　By　the　time　the　caravan　got　around　the　western　edge　of　the　Spine　of　the　World；　five　days　out　from　Luskan；　the　two　had　settled　back　into　the　rhythm；　though　both　had　painful　sores　on　their　legs　and　buttocks。

　　　They　were　at　the　lead；　far　ahead　of　the　caravan　when　they　reached　the　dale。　Reached　the　dale！

　　　Drizzt　was　about　to　call　for　Catti…brie　to　slow　up；　but　she；　as　awestruck　as　the　drow；　was　pulling　tight　her　reigns　before　he　ever　began　the　mand。

　　　They　were　home；　truly　home；　within　a　hundred　miles　of　the　place　where　they　had　first　met　and　where　their　lives　and　their　most　important　friendships　had　been　shaped　and　forged。　All　the　memories　washed　over　them　at　that　moment　as　they　looked　across　the　windswept　tundra；　heard　that　forlorn　moan；　the　incessant　call　of　the　winds　blowing　off　the　glaciers　to　the　north　and　east。　The　icewind　that　gave　the　dale　its　name。

　　　Catti…brie　wanted　to　say　something　to　Drizzt；　something　profound　and　meaningful；　and　he　fostered　the　same　desires。　Neither　could　find　the　words。　They　were　too　overwhelmed　by　simply　seeing　the　spectacle　of　Icewind　Dale　again。

　　　〃e　along；〃　Drizzt　said　finally。　The　drow　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　to　see　the　six　wagons　of　the　caravan　gaining　ground；　then　looked　ahead；　to　the　beautiful　and　wonderful　emptiness　that　was　Icewind　Dale。　Kelvin's　Cairn　was　not　in　sight；　was　still　too　far　away；　but　it　would　not　be　long。

　　　Suddenly　the　drow　desperately　wanted　to　see　that　mountain　again！　How　many　hours　and　days　had　he　spent　on　the　side　of　that　rocky　place？

　　　How　many　times　had　he　sat　upon　the　barren　stones　of　Kelvin's　Cairn；　looking　at　the　stars　and　at　the　twinkling　campfires　of　the　distant　barbarian　encampments？

　　　He　started　to　tell　Catti…brie　to　begin　moving；　but　again；　the　woman　seemed　to　share　his　thoughts；　for　she　set　her　mount　off　and　running　before　he　could　get　his　own　horse　moving。

　　　Something　else　struck　Drizzt　Do'Urden　then；　another　memory　of　Icewind　Dale；　a　warning　from　his　ranger　sensibilities　that　this　was　not　a　safe　place。　Turning　the　final　corner　around　the　Spine　of　the　World　had　put　them　truly　in　the　wilderness　again；　where　fierce　tundra　yeti　and　tribes　of　wild　goblins　roamed。　He　didn't　want　to　steal　the　moment　from　Catti…brie；　not　yet；　but　he　hoped　that　she　was　sharing　his　thoughts　once　again。

　　　Unwary　people　did　not　survive　long　in　the　unforgiving　land　called　Icewind　Dale。

　　　They　met　up　with　no　trouble　that　day　or　the　next；　and　were　on　the　road　early　before　the　dawn；　making　great　progress。　The　mud　from　the　spring　thaw　had　dried　and　the　ground　was　solid　and　flat　beneath　them；　the　wagon　wheels　turning　easily。

　　　The　sun　came　up　in　their　faces；　stinging　their　eyes；　particularly　Drizzt's　lavender　orbs；　designed　by　heredity　for　the　lightless　Underdark。　Even　after　more　than　two　decades　on　the　surface；　after　six　years　of　sailing　the　bright　waters　of　the　Sea　of　Swords；　Drizzt's　sensitive　eyes　had　not　fully　adjusted　to　the　surface　light。　He　didn't　mind　the　sting；　though；　reveled　in　it；　greeting　the　bright　dawn　with　a　smile；　using　the　light　as　a　reminder　of　how　far　he　had　e。

　　　Later　that　morning；　when　the　sun　climbed　high　in　the　clear　southeastern　sky　and　the　horizon　before　them　became　distinct　and　perfectly　clear；　they　caught　what　Drizzt　claimed　to　be　their　first　true　sight　of　the　area　that　had　been　their　home；　a　single　flash　that　Drizzt　decided　had　to　be　a　reflection　of　the　sun　off　the　crystalline　snow　topping　Kelvin's　Cairn。

　　　Catti…brie　was　not　so　sure　of　that。　Kelvin's　Cairn　was　not　so　high；　and　they　were　still　two　days　of　hard　riding　away。　She　didn't　express　any　doubts；　though；　hoping　that　the　drow　was　right。　She　wanted　to　be　home！

　　　As　did　Drizzt；　and　their　pace　quickened；　became　so　great　that　they　left　the　wagons　even　farther　behind。　Finally；　reason　and　a　terse　call　from　the　driver　of　the　lead　wagon　reminding　them　of　their　duty；　slowed　them　down。　The　pair　exchanged　knowing　smiles。

　　　〃Soon；〃　Drizzt　promised。

　　　The　pace　was　still　swift；　for　a　short　while。　Then；　Drizzt　began　to　slow　his　horse；　glancing　all　around；　sniffing　the　air。

　　　That　was　all　the　warning　Catti…brie　needed。　She　brought　her　horse　to　a　trot　and　scanned　the　ground。

　　　Everything　seemed　unremarkable　to　Drizzt。　The　ground　was　flat；　brown　and　gray；　and　unbroken。　He　could　see　nothing　unusual；　and　could　hear　nothing　save　the　clip…clop　of　hooves　on　the　hard　ground　and　the　moan　of　the　wind。　He　could　smell　nothing　other　than　the　wet　scent　that　Icewind　Dale's　summer　wind　always　carried。　But　that　did　not　allow　the　drow　to　sit　easier　on　his　mount。　No　signs；　but　that　was　the　way　with　monsters　in　the　dale。

　　　〃What　do　ye　know？〃　Catti…brie　whispered　finally。

　　　Drizzt　continued　to　look　about。　There　was　about　a　hundred　yards　between　them　and　the　wagons；　and　the　distance　was　fast　closing。　Still；　Drizzt's　eyes　told　him　nothing；　nor　did　his　keen　ears；　nor　even　his　sense　of　smell。　But　that　sixth　warrior　sense　knew　better；　knew　that　he　and　Catti…brie　had　missed　something；　had　passed　something　by。

　　　Drizzt　took　the　onyx　figurine　from　his　pouch　and　softly　called　to　Guenhwyvar。　As　the　mist　grew　and　the　panther　took　shape；　the　drow　motioned　for　Catti…brie　to　ready　her　bow；　which　she　was　already　doing；　and　then　to　circle　back　toward　the　wagons；　flanking　right　while　he　flanked　out　to　the　left。

　　　The　young　woman　nodded。　The　hairs　on　the　back　of　her　neck　were　tingling；　her　warrior　instincts　yelling　at　her　to　be　ready。　She　had　an　arrow　on　Taulmaril；　holding　the　weapons　easily　in　one　hand　while　her　other　guided　the　horse。

　　　Guenhwyvar　came　onto　the　tundra　with　her　ears　flat；　knowing　from　both　the　secretive　tone　of　Drizzt's　call　and　her　own　incredible　senses　that　enemies　were　about。　The　cat　looked　right　to　Catti…brie；　then　left　to　Drizzt；　then　padded　silently　up　the　middle；　ready　to　spring　to　the　aid　of　either。

　　　Noticing　the　movement　of　his　point　guards；　and　then　the　presence　of　the　panther；　the　lead　driver　slowed　his　wagon；　then　called　for　a　general　halt。　Drizzt　held　high　a　scimitar；　showing　his　agreement　with　the　stop。

　　　Now　far　to　the　right；　Catti…brie　was　the　first　to　spot　an　enemy。　It　was　deep　into　the　soil；　just　the　top　of　its　shaggy　brown　head　visible；　poking　from　a　hole。　A　tundra　yeti；　the　fiercest　hunter　of　Icewind　Dale。　Shaggy　brown　in　the　summer；　snow　white　in　the　winter；　tundra　yetis　were　known　to　be　masters　of　camouflage。　Catti…brie　nodded　at　that　assessment；　almost　in　appreciation　of　their　skills。　She　and　Drizzt；　no　novices；　had　walked　their　mounts　right　past　the　beasts；　oblivious　to　the　danger。　This　was　Icewind　Dale；　the　young　woman　promptly　reminded　herself。　Merciless　and　unforgiving　of　the　smallest　error。

　　　But　the　error　this　time　was　the　yeti's；　Catti…brie　decided　grimly；　lifting　her　bow。　Off　streaked　an　arrow；　hitting　the　unsuspecting　beast　right　in　the　back　of　the　head。　It　lurched　forward；　rebounded　back　violently；　then　slumped　dead　in　its　hole。

　　　A　split　second　later；　the　very　ground　seemed　to　explode　as　half　a　dozen　yetis　leaped　up　from　similar　trenches。　They　were　powerful；　shaggy　beasts；　looking　like　a　cross　between　a　human　and　a　bear梐nd　indeed；　the　lore　of　Icewind　Dale's　barbarian　tribes　claimed　that　they　were　exactly　that！

　　　Back　behind　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie；　right　in　the　middle　of　the　flanking　pair；　Guenhwyvar　hit　one　beast　in　full　stride。　She　knocked　it　back　into　its　hole；　the　panther's　momentum　carrying　her　in　right　behind　it。

　　　The　yeti　grabbed　on　with　all　its　might；　thinking　to　squeeze　the　life　from　the　cat；　but　Guenhwyvar's　powerful　rear　legs　raked　at　the　beast　and　held　it　at　bay。

　　　Meanwhile；　Drizzt　went　into　a　full　gallop；　racing　right　beside　one　spinning　yeti　and　double　slashing　at　it　with　his　scimitars　as　he　held　fast　to　his　mount　with　his　strong　legs。

　　　The　bloodied　beast　fell　away；　roaring　and　howling　in　protest；　and　Drizzt；　bearing　down　on　a　second　yeti；　paid　it　no　more　heed。　This　second　yeti　was　ready　for　him；　and　even　worse；　it　was　ready　for　his　horse。　Yetis　had　been　known　to　stop　a　horse　at　full　charge；　breaking　the　animal's　neck　in　the　process。

　　　Drizzt　couldn't　risk　that。　He　angled　his　charge　to　the　left　of　the　yeti；　then　lifted　his　left　leg　over　the　saddle　and　dropped　from　his　speeding　mount　into　a　run；　his　enchanted　anklets　allowing　him　to　get　his　feet　under　him　in　but　a　few　speedy　strides。

　　　He　went　by　the　surprised　yeti　in　a　wild；　slashing　blur；　scoring　several　wicked　hits　before　he　was　too　far　away　to　strike。　Drizzt　kept　running；　knowing　that　the　yeti；　far　from　finished；　had　turned　in　pursuit。　When　he　had　put　enough　ground　between　himself　and　the　beast；　he　turned　back；　angling　for　another　swift　pass。

　　　Then　Catti…brie；　too；　went　into　a　full　gallop；　using　her　legs　to　hold　herself　steady　and　she　leaned　low　in　the　saddle；　taking　a　bead　on　the　next　closest　beast。

　　　She　fired；　and　missed；　but　had　another　arrow　up　and　ready　in　an　instant　and　fired　again；　taking　the　yeti　in　the　hip。

　　　The　beast　flailed　at　the　arrow　and　spun　in　a　circle；　taking　another　arrow；　and　then　another　in　the　chest　as　it　came　around　to　face　the　closing　woman。　Still　it　was　standing；　stubbornly；　as　Catti…brie　came　upon　it。　Ready　to　improvise；　the　woman　hooked　Taulmaril　over　the　horn　of　her　saddle　and　in　one　flashing　motion；　drew　out　Khazid'hea；　her　fabulous　sword。

　　　Catti…brie　rambled　past；　swiping　hard　in　a　downward　arc；　the　fine　edge　of　Khazid'hea　caving　in　the　dying　beast's　skull；　finishing　the　grim　task。　Down　went　the　beast；　its　brain　spilling　from　its　skull　onto　the　brown　plain。

　　　Catti…brie　went　right　by　the