精灵血脉四部曲-第217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！



　　　Still；　Bruenor　dropped　his　heavy　axe　on　the　dead　imp's　head　for　good　measure；　before　the　corporeal　form　faded　away　altogether。　〃Good　choice；〃　the　dwarf　agreed。

　　　Soon　after；　Regis　was　snoring　contentedly；　and　Catti…brie　was　fast　asleep。　Drizzt　did　not　sleep；　preferring　to　keep　a　watchful　eye　over　his　friends；　though　even　the　wary　drow　expected　no　more　trouble　from　Errtu　that　night。　He　paced　a　perimeter　about　the　camp；　scanning　the　horizons　and　more　often　than　not；　looking　up　to　the　bright　stars；　letting　his　heart　fly　with　the　freedom　that　was　Icewind　Dale。　At　that　moment；　under　that　spectacle　of　sheer　beauty；　Drizzt　understood　why　he　had　truly　returned；　and　why　Berkthgar　and　the　others　from　Settlestone　had　e　running　home。

　　　〃Ye're　not　to　find　many　monsters　peeking　at　us　from　behind　the　durned　stars；〃　came　a　gruff　whisper　from　behind。　Drizzt　turned　as　Bruenor　approached。　The　dwarf　was　already　dressed　in　his　battlegear；　his　one…horned　helmet　tilted　to　the　side　and　his　many…notched　axe　fortably　resting　across　his　shoulder；　in　anticipation　of　the　ing　march。

　　　〃Balors　can　fly；〃　Drizzt　reminded　him；　though　they　both　knew　that　Drizzt　was　not　looking　up　at　the　sky　in　anticipation　of　any　enemy。

　　　Bruenor　nodded　and　moved　beside　his　friend。　There　ensued　a　long　period　of　quiet；　each　of　them　alone　in　the　wind；　alone　among　the　stars。　Drizzt　sensed　Bruenor's　somber　mood　and　knew　that　the　dwarf　had　e　out　of　the　camp　for　a　reason；　likely　to　tell　him　something。

　　　〃I　had　to　e　back；〃　Bruenor　said　at　length。

　　　Drizzt　looked　to　him　and　nodded；　but　Bruenor　was　still　staring　up　at　the　sky。

　　　〃Gandalug's　got　Mithril　Hall；〃　Bruenor　remarked；　and　it　sounded　to　Drizzt　as　though　the　red…bearded　dwarf　was　making　excuses。　〃Rightfully　his。〃

　　　〃And　you　have　Icewind　Dale；〃　Drizzt　added。

　　　Bruenor　turned　to　him　then；　as　if　he　meant　to　protest；　to　further　explain　himself。　One　look　into　Drizzt's　lavender　orbs　told　the　dwarf　that　he　didn't　have　to。　Drizzt　understood　him　and　understood　his　actions。　He　had　to　e　back。　That　was　all　that　he　needed　to　say。

　　　The　pair　spent　the　rest　of　the　night　standing　in　the　chill　wind；　watching　the　stars；　until　dawn's　first　glow　stole　the　majestic　view；　or　rather；　replaced　it　with　yet　another。　Stumpet　was　up　soon　after；　walking　zombielike　again。　The　pair　roused　Catti…brie　and　Regis。　The　friends　went　off　in　pursuit；　together。



Chapter　25

TO　THE　BERGS



　　　Over　a　ridge；　they　saw　the　icebergs　and　shifting　floes　floating　about　in　the　dark　waters　of　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice。　Logic　told　them　that　they　should　be　nearing　their　goal；　but　all　of　them　feared　that　Stumpet　would　keep　moving；　would　pick　her　way　across　those　treacherous　expanses；　from　floe　to　floe；　up　and　down　the　conical　bergs。　Crenshinibon　was　known　to　produce　towers；　another　of　the　artifact's　names　was　Cryshal…Tirith；　which　literally　translated　from　elvish　meant　〃crystal　tower。〃　A　ridge　blocked　their　view　of　the　actual　shoreline；　but　surely　any　tower　before　the　sea　would　have　been　visible　to　them　by　this　time。

　　　Stumpet；　seeming　oblivious　to　it　all；　continued　her　march　to　the　sea。　She　came　over　the　ridge　first；　the　friends　rushing　to　keep　close　behind；　when　a　barrage　of　icy　snowballs　assailed　them　all。

　　　Drizzt　went　into　a　flurry；　cut　left　and　right；　ducking　and　slapping　away　at　the　hurled　missiles　with　his　scimitars。　Regis　and　Catti…brie　fell　flat　to　the　ground；　but　the　two　dwarves；　particularly　poor　Stumpet；　who　just　continued　her　walking；　got　pummeled。　Bloody　welts　rose　on　the　priestess's　face　and　she　staggered　more　than　once。

　　　Catti…brie；　recovered　from　the　shock；　put　her　feet　under　her　and　rushed　ahead；　tackling　Stumpet　and　falling　over　her　protectively。

　　　The　barrage　stopped　as　abruptly　as　it　had　begun。

　　　Drizzt　had　the　onyx　figurine　on　the　ground　in　front　of　him；　quietly　calling　in　his　panther　ally。　He　saw　the　enemy　then；　they　all　did；　though　none　of　them　knew　what　to　make　of　the　creatures。　They　came　as　ghosts；　slipping　from　the　white　ice　onto　the　still…brown　shore　so　smoothly　that　they　seemed　part　of　the　land。　They　were　humanoid；　bipedal；　large　and　strong　and　covered　in　shaggy　white　hair。

　　　〃I'd　be　mean　too；　if　I　was　that　ugly；〃　Bruenor　remarked；　moving　close　to　Drizzt　so　they　could　calculate　their　next　move。

　　　〃You　are；〃　Regis　said　from　his　prone　position。

　　　Neither　the　drow　nor　the　dwarf　had　the　time　or　punction　to　respond　to　the　halfling。　More　and　more　enemies　came　off　the　icy　sea梖lanking　left　and　right梩wo　score；　three；　and　still　they　came。

　　　〃I'm　thinking　we　might　want　to　turn　about；〃　Bruenor　remarked。

　　　Drizzt　hated　that　thought；　but　it　seemed　their　only　choice。　He　and　his　friends　could　dole　out　considerable　damage；　had　battled　many　mighty　enemies；　but　no　less　than　a　hundred　of　these　creatures　faced　them　now。　They　were　obviously　not　stupid　beasts；　moving　in　an　organized　and　cunning　fashion。

　　　Guenhwyvar　was　there　then；　beside　her　master；　ready　to　spring。

　　　〃Perhaps　we　can　scare　them　off；〃　Drizzt　whispered　to　Bruenor；　and　with　a　word；　he　sent　the　cat　springing　away；　a　powerful　rush　straight　ahead。

　　　A　hail　of　iceballs　slapped　against　the　panther's　black　sides；　and　even　those　creatures　directly　in　Guenhwyvar's　line　did　not　retreat；　did　not　waver　at　all。　Two　of　them　were　buried　where　they　stood；　but　a　host　of　others　closed　in；　whacking　at　the　cat　with　heavy　clubs。　Soon　it　was　Guenhwyvar　who　was　in　full　retreat。

　　　Catti…brie；　meanwhile；　had　climbed　up　from　Stumpet梬ho　immediately　rose　and　resumed　her　march　until　Regis　likewise　tackled　her梐nd　strung　Taulmaril。　She　quickly　surveyed　the　scene　and　sent　fly　an　arrow；　putting　the　bolt　right　between　the　wide…spread　legs　of　the　largest　creature　to　the　left　of　her。　Again；　the　merciful　Catti…brie　wanted　only　to　scare　the　things　away；　and　was　surprised　by　the　savage　response。　The　creature　didn't　flinch；　as　though　it　didn't　care　whether　it　lived　or　died；　and　it　responded；　as　did　a　score　of　creatures　near　to　it；　by　hurling　iceballs　at　the　woman。

　　　Catti…brie　dove　and　rolled；　but　got　hit　several　times。　One　strike　on　the　temple　nearly　knocked　her　senseless。　She　came　up　in　a　short　run；　getting　to　the　side　of　Drizzt；　Bruenor；　and　the　returned　panther。

　　　〃I'm　thinking　that　our　road　just　turned　the　other　way；〃　she　remarked；　rubbing　the　bruise　on　her　forehead。

　　　〃A　true　warrior　knows　when　to　turn　away；〃　Drizzt　agreed；　but　his　eyes　continued　to　scan　the　icebergs　on　the　dark　sea；　looking　for　some　hint　of　Cryshal…Tirith；　some　hint　that　Errtu　was　nearby。

　　　〃Would　someone　please　tell　that　to　the　damned　dwarf！〃　called　a　flustered　Regis；　holding　fast　to　one　of　Stumpet's　sturdy　legs。　The　entranced　priestess　merely　walked　along　with　him；　dragging　him　across　the　tundra。

　　　All　about　them；　the　creatures　continued　to　flank；　passing　those　nasty　iceballs　down　the　line　for　another　barrage梠ne　that　the　panions　suspected　would　be　acpanied　by　a　wild　charge。

　　　They　had　to　leave；　but　had　not　the　time　to　drag　Stumpet　along　with　them。　If　she　would　not　turn　with　them；　surely　she　would　be　killed。



*****



　　　〃You　sent　them　out！〃　Errtu　roared　accusingly　at　the　crystal　shard　as　it　hovered　in　midair　in　the　highest　room　of　the　Cryshal…Tirith。　From　the　scrying　mirror；　the　mighty　balor　watched　his　minions；　the　taers；　as　they　blocked　the　passage　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　something　Errtu　most　certainly　did　not　desire。

　　　〃Admit　it！〃　the　fiend　bellowed。

　　　You　take　dangerous　chances　concerning　the　rogue　drow；　came　the　telepathic　reply。　I　cannot　allow　that。

　　　〃The　taers　are　mine　to　mand！〃　Errtu　screamed。　The　fiend　knew　that　he　merely　had　to　think　of　his　responses　and　the　sentient　crystal　shard　would　〃hear〃　them；　but　Errtu　needed　to　hear　the　sound　of　his　own　roar　at　that　grim　time；　had　to　vent　his　outrage　verbally。

　　　〃No　matter；〃　the　fiend　decided　a　moment　later。　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden　is　no　small　foe。　He　and　his　panions　will　chase　off　the　taers。　You　have　not　stopped　him！〃

　　　They　are　unthinking　tools；　came　Crenshinibon's　casual　and　confident　reply。　They　obey　my　mand；　and　will　fight　to　the　death。　Drizzt　Do'Urden　is　stopped。

　　　Errtu　didn't　doubt　the　declaration。　Crenshinibon；　though　it　had　certainly　been　weakened　by　its　joust　with　the　antimagic　sapphire；　was　strong　enough　to　dominate　the　stupid　taers。　And　those　creatures；　more　than　a　hundred　in　number；　were　too　strong　and　too　numerous　for　Drizzt　and　his　friends　to　defeat。　They　might　escape梩he　fleet…footed　drow　at　least梑ut　Stumpet　was　doomed；　as　was　Bruenor　Battlehammer　and　the　chubby　halfling。

　　　Errtu　considered　swooping　out　of　his　tower　then；　or　of　using　his　magical　abilities　to　get　to　that　beach；　to　face　off　with　the　drow　then　and　there。

　　　Crenshinibon　read　his　thoughts　easily　and　the　image　in　the　scrying　mirror　disappeared　as　did　Errtu's　magical　teleportation　options；　for　the　balor　wasn't　even　sure　of　where　that　particular　beach　might　be。　He　could　take　wing；　of　course；　and　he　had　a　general　idea　of　where　Stumpet　would　make　the　Sea　of　Moving　Ice；　but　he　realized　that　by　the　time　he　arrived；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　would　likely　be　dead。

　　　The　fiend　turned　angrily　on　the　crystal　shard；　and　Crenshinibon　met　his　rage　with　a　stream　of　soothing　thoughts；　of　promises　of　greater　power　and　glory。

　　　The　sentient　artifact　didn't　prehend　the　level　of　Errtu's　hatred；　didn't　understand　that　the　fiend's　most　important　reason　for　ing　to　the　Prime　Material　Plane　was　to　exact　revenge　on　Drizzt　Do'Urden。

　　　Errtu；　impotent　and　confused；　stalked　from　the　room。



*****



　　　〃We　cannot　leave　Stumpet；〃　Catti…brie　said；　and　of　course；　Drizzt　and　Bruenor　agreed。

　　　〃Hit　at　them　hard；〃　the　drow　instructed。　〃Shoot　your　arrows　to　kill。〃

　　　Even　as　he　spoke　the　words；　the　iceball　volley　slapped　in。　Poor　Stumpet　got　hit　repeatedly；　Regis　took　one　in　the　head　and　let　go　of　the　dwarf。　She　continued　her　slow　walk　until　three　missiles　hit　her　simultaneously；　dropping　her　to　the　ground。

　　　Catti…brie　killed　two　taers　in　rapid　succession；　then　rushed　after　Drizzt；　Bruenor　and　Guenhwyvar　as　they　charged　to　form　a　defensive　ring　about　Stumpet　and　Regis。　The　taers　were　out　of　iceballs　then；　and　on　they　came；　fearlessly；　brandishing　clubs　and　howling　like　the　north　wind。

　　　〃There's　only