精灵血脉四部曲-第22部分

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Cobble　grabbed　Pwent's　shoulder　（and　got　a　nasty　cut　on　one　finger　from　the　many…ridged　armor　in　the　process）　to　confirm　the　woman's　observation　and　silently　warn　the　wild　battlerager　not　to　press　this　point。

Bruenor　wouldn't　have　listened　to　any　arguments　anyway。　The　red…bearded　dwarf　king；　fires　aglow　in　his　dark　eyes；　again　blasted　past　Pwent　and　Wulfgar　and　led　the　charge　out　of　the　room。



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The　image　came　into　focus　slowly；　surrealistically；　and　by　the　time　Drizzt　Do'Urden　fully　awakened；　he　clearly　recognized　his　sister　Vierna；　bending　low　to　regard　him。

〃Purple　eyes；〃　the　priestess　said　in　the　drow　tongue。

A　sense　that　he　had　played　out　this　identical　scene　a　hundred　times　in　his　youth　nearly　overwhelmed　the　trapped　dark　elf。

Vierna！　The　only　member　of　his　family　that　Drizzt　had　ever　cared　for；　besides　the　dead　Zaknafein；　stood　before　him　now。

She　had　been　Drizzt's　wean…mother；　assigned　to　bring　him；　as　a　prince　of　House　Do'Urden；　into　the　dark　ways　of　drow　society。　But　thinking　back　to　those　distant　memories；　to　times　of　which　he　had　few；　if　any；　recollections；　Drizzt　knew　there　was　something　different　about　Vierna；　some　underlying　tenderness　buried　beneath　the　wicked　robes　of　a　priestess　of　the　Spider　Queen。

〃How　long　has　it　been；　my　lost　brother？〃　Vierna　asked；　still　using　the　language　of　the　dark　elves。　〃Nearly　three　decades？　And　how　far　you　have　e；　and　yet　so　close　again　to　where　you　began；　and　where　you　belong。〃

Drizzt　steeled　his　gaze；　but　had　no　practical　retort—not　with　his　hands　bound　behind　him　and　a　dozen　drow　soldiers　milling　about　the　small　chamber。　Entreri　was　there；　too；　talking　to　a　most　curious　dark　elf　who　wore　an　outrageously　plumed　hat　and　a　short；　open…front　vest　that　showed　the　rippling　muscles　of　his　slender　stomach。　The　assassin　had　the　magical　mask　tied　to　his　belt；　and　Drizzt　feared　the　mischief　Entreri　might　cause　if　he　were　allowed　to　return　to　Mithril　Hall。

〃What　will　you　think　when　you　walk　again　into　Menzoberranzan？〃　Vierna　asked　Drizzt；　and　though　the　question　was　again　rhetorical；　it　drew　his　attention　fully　back　to　her。

〃I　will　think　as　a　prisoner　thinks；〃　Drizzt　replied。　〃And　when　I　am　brought　before　Matr…before　wicked　Malice…〃

〃Matron　Malice！〃　Vierna　hissed。

〃Malice；〃　Drizzt　repeat　defiantly；　and　Vierna　slapped　him　hard　across　the　face。　Several　dark　elves　turned　to　regard　the　incident；　then　gave　quiet　chuckles　and　went　back　to　their　conversations。

Vierna；　too；　erupted　in　laughter；　long　and　wild。　She　threw　her　head　back；　her　flowing　white　tresses　flipping　back　from　her　face。

Drizzt　regarded　her　silently；　having　no　idea　of　what　had　precipitated　the　explosive　reaction。

〃Matron　Malice　is　dead；　you　fool！〃　Vierna　said　suddenly；　snapping　her　head　forward　to　within　an　inch　of　Drizzt's　face。

Drizzt　did　not　know　how　to　react。　He　had　just　been　told　that　his　mother　was　dead；　and　he　had　no　idea　of　how　the　information　should　affect　him。　He　felt　a　sadness；　distantly；　but　dismissed　it；　understanding　that　it　came　from　a　sense　of　never　knowing　a　mother；　not　from　the　loss　of　Malice　Do'Urden。　As　he　settled　back；　digesting　the　news；　Drizzt　came　to　feel　a　calmness；　an　acceptance　that　brought　not　an　ounce　of　grief。　Malice　was　his　natural　parent；　never　his　mother；　and　by　all　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　estimation；　her　death　was　not　a　bad　thing。

〃You　do　not　even　know；　do　you？〃　Vierna　laughed　at　him。　〃How　long　you　have　been　gone；　lost　one！〃

Drizzt　cocked　a　curious　eye；　suspecting　that　some　further；　even　greater；　revelation　was　yet　to　be　spoken。

〃By　your　own　actions　House　Do'Urden　was　destroyed；　and　you　do　not　even　know！〃　Vierna　cackled　hysterically。

〃Destroyed？〃　Drizzt　asked；　surprised　but；　again；　not　overly　concerned。　In　truth；　the　renegade　drow　felt　no　more　for　his　own　house　than　for　any　other　in　Menzoberranzan。　In　truth；　Drizzt　felt　nothing　at　all。

〃Matron　Malice　was　charged　with　finding　you；〃　Vierna　explained。　〃When　she　could　not；　when　you　slipped　through　her　grasp；　so；　too；　did　the　favor　of　Lloth。〃

〃A　pity；〃　Drizzt　interjected；　his　voice　dripping　with　sarcasm。　Vierna　hit　him　again；　harder；　but　he　held　firm　to　his　stoic　discipline　and　did　not　blink。

Vierna　spun　away　from　him；　clenched　her　delicate　but　deceptively　strong　hands　in　front　of　her　and　found　breath　hard　to　e　by。

〃Destroyed；〃　she　said　again；　suddenly　obviously　pained；　〃taken　down　by　the　will　of　the　Spider　Queen。　They　are　dead　because　of　you；〃　she　cried；　spinning　back　at　Drizzt　and　pointing　accusingly。　〃Your　sisters；　Briza　and　Maya；　and　your　mother。　All　the　house；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　dead　because　of　you！〃

Drizzt　gave　no　outward　expression；　an　accurate　reflection　of　his　absence　of　feelings；　for　the　incredible　news　Vierna　had　just　thrown　at　him。　〃And　what　of　our　brother？〃　he　asked；　more　to　discern　information　about　this　raiding　force　than　for　any　sincere　cares　about　Dinin's　well…deserved　demise。

〃Why；　Drizzt；〃　Vierna　said　with　obviously　feigned　confusion；　〃you　have　met　him　yourself。　You　nearly　took　one　of　his　legs。〃

Drizzt's　confusion　was　genuine—until　Vierna　finished　the　thought。

〃One　of　his　eight　legs。〃

Again　Drizzt　managed　to　keep　his　features　expressionless；　but　the　stunning　information　that　Dinin　had　bee　a　drider　certainly　had　caught　him　by　surprise。

〃Again　the　blame　is　yours！〃　Vierna　snarled；　and　she　watched　him　for　a　long　moment；　her　smile　gradually　fading　as　he　did　not　react。

〃Zaknafein　died　for　you！〃　Vierna　cried　suddenly；　and；　though　Drizzt　knew　she　had　said　it　only　to　evoke　a　reaction；　this　time　he　could　not　remain　calm。

〃No！〃　he　shouted　back　in　rage；　lurching　forward　from　the　floor；　only　to　be　easily　pushed　back　to　his　seat。

Vierna　smiled　evilly；　knowing　she　had　found　Drizzt's　weak　spot。

〃Were　it　not　for　the　sins　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　Zaknafein　would　live　still；〃　she　prodded。　〃House　Do'Urden　would　have　known　its　highest　glories　and　Matron　Malice　would　sit　upon　the　ruling　council。〃

〃Sins？〃　Drizzt　spat　back；　finding　his　courage　against　the　painful　memories　of　his　lost　father。　〃Glories？〃　he　asked。　〃You　confuse　the　two。〃

Vierna's　hand　shot　up　as　though　to　lash　out　again；　but　when　stoic　Drizzt　did　not　flinch；　she　lowered　it。

〃In　the　name　of　your　wretched　deity；　you　revel　in　the　evilness　of　the　drow　world；〃　the　indomitable　Drizzt　went　on。　〃Zaknafein　died　。。　。　no；　was　murdered；　in　pursuit　of　false　ideals。　You　cannot　convince　me　to　accept　the　blame。　Was　it　Vierna　who　held　the　sacrificial　dagger？〃

The　priestess　seemed　on　the　verge　of　an　explosion；　her　eyes　glowing　intensely　and　her　face　flushed　hot　to　Drizzt's　heat…seeing　eyes。

〃He　was　your　father；　too；〃　Drizzt　said　to　her；　and　she　winced　in　spite　of　her　efforts　to　sustain　her　rage。　It　was　true　enough。　Zaknafein　had　sired　two；　and　only　two；　children　with　Malice。

〃But　you　do　not　care　about　that；〃　Drizzt　reasoned　immediately。　〃Zaknafein　was　just　a　male；　after　all；　and　males　do　not　count　in　the　world　of　the　drow。

〃But　he　was　your　father；〃　Drizzt　had　to　add。　〃And　he　gave　more　to　you　than　you　will　ever　accept。〃

〃Silence！〃　Vierna　snarled　through　gnashing　teeth。　She　slapped　Drizzt　again；　several　times　in　rapid　succession。　He　could　feel　the　warmth　of　his　own　blood　oozing　down　his　face。

Drizzt　remained　quiet　for　the　moment；　caught　in　private　reflections　of　Vierna；　and　of　the　monster　she　had　bee。　She　now　seemed　more　akin　to　Briza；　Drizzt's　oldest　and　most　vicious　sister；　caught　up　in　the　frenzy　that　the　Spider　Queen　always　seemed　ready　to　promote。　Where　was　the　Vierna　that　had　secretly　shown　mercy　to　young　Drizzt？　Where　was　the　Vierna　who　went　along　with　the　dark　ways；　as　did　Zaknafein；　but　never　seemed　to　fully　accept　what　Lloth　had　to　offer？

Where　was　Zaknafein's　daughter？

She　was　dead　and　buried；　Drizzt　decided　as　he　regarded　that　heat…flushed　face；　buried　beneath　the　lies　and　the　empty　promises　of　twisted　glory　that　perverted　everything　about　the　dark　world　of　the　drow。

〃I　will　redeem　you；〃　Vierna　said；　calm　again；　the　heat　gradually　leaving　her　delicate；　beautiful　face。

〃More　wicked　ones　than　you　have　tried；〃　Drizzt　replied；　misunderstanding　her　intent。　Vierna's　ensuing　laughter　revealed　that　she　recognized　the　error　of　his　conclusions。

〃I　will　give　you　to　Lloth；〃　the　priestess　explained。　〃And　I　will　accept；　in　return；　more　power　than　even　ambitious　Matron　Malice　ever　hoped　for。　Be　of　cheer；　my　lost　brother；　and　know　that　you　will　restore　to　House　Do'Urden　more　prestige　and　power　than　it　ever　before　knew。〃

〃Power　that　will　wane；〃　Drizzt　replied　calmly；　and　his　tone　angered　Vierna　more　than　his　insightful　words。　〃Power　that　will　raise　the　house　to　another　precipice；　so　that　another　house；　finding　the　favor　of　Lloth；　might　push　Do'Urden　down　once　more。〃

Vierna's　smile　widened。

〃You　cannot　deny　it；〃　Drizzt　snarled　at　her；　and　it　was　he　who　now　faltered　in　the　war　of　words；　he　who　found　his　logic；　however　sound；　to　be　inadequate。　〃There　is　no　constancy；　no　permanence；　in　Menzoberranzan　beyond　the　Spider　Queen's　latest　whim。〃

〃Good；　my　lost　brother；〃　Vierna　purred。

〃Lloth　is　a　damned　thing！〃

Vierna　nodded。　〃Your　sacrilege　cannot　harm　me　any　more；〃　the　priestess　explained；　her　tone　deathly　calm；　〃for　you　are　not　of　me　anymore。　You　are　nothing　more　than　a　houseless　rogue　whom　Lloth　has　deemed　suitable　for　sacrifice。

〃So　do　continue　to　spit　your　curses　at　the　Spider　Queen；〃　Vierna　went　on。　〃Do　show　Lloth　how　proper　this　sacrifice　will　be！　How　ironic　it　is；　for　if　you　repented　your　ways；　if　you　came　back　to　the　truth　of　your　heritage；　then　you　would　defeat　me。〃

Drizzt　bit　his　lip；　realizing　that　he　would　do　well　to　hold　his　silence　until　he　better　fathomed　the　depth　of　this　unexpected　meeting。

〃Do　you　not　understand？〃　Vierna　asked　him。　〃Merciful　Lloth　would　wele　back　your　skilled　sword；　and　my　sacrifice　would　be　no　more。　Thus　would　I　live　as　an　outcast；　like　you；　a　houseless　rogue。〃

〃You　do　not　fear　to　tell　me　this？〃　Drizzt　asked　her　coyly。

Vierna　understood　her　renegade　brother　better　than　he　believed。　〃You　will　not　repent；　foolish；　honorable　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　she　replied。　〃You　would　not　utter　such　a　lie；　would　not　proclaim　your　fealty　to　the　Spider　Queen；　even　to　save　your　very　life。　What　useless　modities　are　these　ideals　you　hold　so