精灵血脉四部曲-第23部分

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o　the　Spider　Queen；　even　to　save　your　very　life。　What　useless　modities　are　these　ideals　you　hold　so　precious！〃

Vierna　slapped　him　one　more　time；　for　no　particular　reason　that　Drizzt　could　discern；　and　she　twirled　away；　her　hot　form　blurred　by　the　shielding　flow　of　her　clerical　robes。　How　fitting　that　image　seemed　to　Drizzt；　that　the　true　outline　of　his　sister　should　be　hidden　beneath　the　garments　of　the　perverting　Spider　Queen。

The　curious…looking　drow　that　had　been　conversing　with　Entreri　walked　over　to　Drizzt　then；　his　high　boots　clacking　loudly　on　the　stone。　He　gave　Drizzt　an　almost　sympathetic　look；　then　shrugged。

〃A　pity；〃　he　remarked；　as　he　produced　the　glowing　Twinkle　from　under　the　folds　of　his　shimmering　cape。

〃A　pity；”　he　said　again；　and　he　walked　away；　this　time　his　boots　making　not　a　whisper　of　sound。



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The　amazed　guards　snapped　to　rigid　attention　when　their　king　unexpectedly　entered　their　chamber；　acpanied　by　his　daughter；　Wulfgar；　Cobble；　and　a　strangely　armored　dwarf　that　they　did　not　know。

〃Ye　heared　from　the　drow？〃　Bruenor　asked　the　guards；　the　dwarf　king　going　straight　for　the　heavy　bar　on　the　stone　door　as　he　spoke。

Their　silence　told　Bruenor　all　he　needed　to　know。　〃Get　to　General　Dagna；〃　he　instructed　one　of　the　guardsmen。　〃Tell　him　to　gather　together　a　war　party　and　get　down　the　new　tunnels！〃

The　dwarven　guard　obediently　kicked　up　his　heels　and　darted　away。

Bruenor's　four　panions　came　beside　him　as　the　bar　clanged　to　the　stone；　Wulfgar　and　Cobble　bearing　blazing　torches。

〃Three；　then　two；　is　the　draw's　signal；〃　the　remaining　guard　explained　to　Bruenor。

〃Three；　then　two；　it　is；〃　Bruenor　replied；　and　he　disappeared　into　the　gloom；　forcing　the　others；　particularly　Thibbledorf；　who　still　did　not　think　it　a　good　thing　that　the　king　of　Mithril　Hall　was　even　down　there；　to　scamper　quickly　just　to　keep　pace。

Cobble　and　even　hardy　Pwent　glanced　back　and　grimaced　as　the　stone　door　slammed　shut；　while　the　other　three；　bent　forward　with　the　weight　of　their　fears　for　their　missing　friend；　did　not　even　hear　the　sound。



Chapter　12

The　Truth　Be　Known



“Blood；〃　Catti…brie　muttered　grimly；　holding　a　I　torch　and　bending　low　over　the　line　of　droplets　in　the　corridor；　near　the　entry　way　of　a　small　I　chamber。

〃Could　be　from　the　goblin　fight；〃　Bruenor　said　hopefully；　but　Catti…brie　shook　her　head。

〃Still　wet；〃　she　replied。　〃The　blood　from　the　goblin　fight'd　be　long　dried　by　now。〃

〃Then　from　them　crawlers　we　seen；〃　Bruenor　reasoned；　〃tearing　apart　the　goblin　bodies。〃

Still　Catti…brie　was　not　convinced。　Stooping　low；　torch　held　far　in　front　of　her；　she　went　through　the　short　doorway　of　the　side　chamber。　Wulfgar　clambered　in　behind　and　pushed　past　her　as　soon　as　the　passage　widened　again；　ing　up　defensively　in　front　of　the　young　woman。

The　barbarian's　action　did　not　sit　well　with　Catti…brie。　Perhaps；　from　Wulfgar's　point　of　view；　he　was　merely　following　a　prudent　course；　getting　his　battle…ready　body　in　front　of　one　encumbered　with　a　torch　and　whose　eyes　were　on　the　floor。　But　Catti…brie　doubted　that　possibility；　felt　that　Wulfgar　had　e　in　so　urgently　because　she　had　been　in　the　lead；　because　of　his　need　to　protect　her　and　stand　between　her　and　any　possible　danger。　Proud　and　able；　Catti…brie　was　more　insulted　than　flattered。

And　worried；　for　if　Wulfgar　was　so　fearful　of　her　safety；　then　he　might　well　make　a　tactical　mistake。　The　panions　had　survived　many　dangers　together　because　each　had　found　a　niche　in　the　band；　because　each　had　played　a　role　plementary　to　the　abilities　of　the　others。　Catti…brie　understood　clearly　that　a　disruption　of　that　pattern　could　be　deadly。

She　pushed　back　ahead　of　Wulfgar；　batting　aside　his　arm　when　he　held　it　out　to　block　her　progress。　He　glared　at　her；　and　she　promptly　returned　the　unyielding　stare。

〃What　d'ye　got　in　there？〃　came　Bruenor's　call；　deflecting　the　imminent　showdown。　Catti…brie　looked　back　to　see　the　dark　form　of　her　father　crouched　in　the　low　doorway；　Cobble　and　Pwent；　who　held　the　second　torch；　out　in　the　corridor　behind　him。

〃Empty；〃　Wulfgar　answered　firmly；　and　turned　to　go。

Catti…brie　kept　on　crouching　and　looking　about；　though；　as　much　to　prove　the　barbarian　wrong　as　in　an　honest　search　for　clues。

〃Not　empty；〃　she　corrected　a　moment　later；　and　her　superior　tone　turned　Wulfgar　back　around　and　lured　Bruenor　into　the　chamber。

They　flanked　Catti…brie；　who　bent　low　over　a　tiny　object　on　the　floor：　a　crossbow　quarrel；　but　far　too　small　for　any　of　the　crossbows　Bruenor's　fighters　carried；　or　any　similar　weapon　the　panions　had　ever　seen。　Bruenor　picked　it　up　in　his　stubby　fingers；　brought　it　close　to　his　eyes；　and　studied　it　carefully。

〃We　got　pixies　in　these　tunnels？〃　he　asked；　referring　to　the　diminutive　but　cruel　sprites　more　mon　to　woodland　settings。

〃Some　type　of—〃　Wulfgar　began。

〃Drow；〃　Catti…brie　interrupted。　Wulfgar　and　Bruenor　turned　on　her；　Wulfgar's　clear　eyes　flashing　with　anger　at　being　interrupted；　but　only　for　the　moment　it　took　him　to　understand　the　gravity　of　what　Catti…brie　had　announced。

〃The　elf　had　a　bow　that'd　fit　this？〃　Bruenor　balked。

〃Not　Drizzt；〃　Catti…brie　corrected　grimly；　〃other　drow。〃　Wulfgar　and　Bruenor　screwed　up　their　faces　in　obvious　doubt；　but　Catti…brie　felt　certain　of　her　guess。　Many　times　in　the　past；　back　in　Icewind　Dale　on　the　empty　slopes　of　Kelvin's　Cairn；　Drizzt　had　told　her　of　his　homeland；　had　told　her　of　the　remarkable　acplishments　and　exotic　artifacts　of　the　dark　elf　nation。　Among　those　artifacts　was　the　most　favored　weapon　of　the　dark　elves；　hand…held　crossbows；　with　quarrels　usually　tipped　in　poison。

Wulfgar　and　Bruenor　looked　to　each　other；　each　hopeful　that　the　other　would　find　some　logic　to　defeat　Catti…brie's　grim　assertions。　Bruenor　only　shrugged；　tucked　the　quarrel　away；　and　started　for　the　outside　passage。　Wulfgar　looked　back　to　the　young　woman；　his　face　flushed　with　concern。

Neither　of　them　spoke—neither　had　to—for　they　both　knew　well　the　horror…filled　tales　of　marauding　dark　elves。　The　implications　seemed　grave　indeed　if　Catti…brie's　guess　proved　correct；　if　drow　elves　had　e　to　Mithril　Hall。

There　was　something　more　in　Wulfgar's　expression　that　troubled　Catti…brie；　though；　a　possessive　protectiveness　that　the　young　woman　was　beginning　to　believe　would　get　them　all　in　trouble。　She　pushed　past　the　huge　man；　dipping　low　and　exiting　the　chamber；　leaving　Wulfgar　in　the　dark　with　his　inner　turmoil。



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The　caravan　made　its　slow　but　steady　way　through　the　tunnels；　the　passageways　being　ever　more　natural。　Drizzt　still　wore　his　armor　but　had　been　stripped　of　his　weapons　and　had　his　hands　tightly　bound　behind　his　back　by　some　magical　cord　that　would　not　loosen　in　the　least；　no　matter　how　he　managed　to　twist　his　wrists。

Dinin；　eight　legs　clicking　on　the　stone；　led　the　troupe；　with　Vierna　and　Jarlaxle　a　short　way　behind。　Several　in　the　twenty…drow　party　had　fallen　into　formation　behind　them；　including　the　two　keeping　watch　over　Drizzt。　They　intersected　once　with　the　larger；　flanking　band　of　House　Baenre　soldiers；　Jarlaxle　issuing　quiet　orders　and　the　second　drow　force　slipping；　melting；　away　into　the　shadows。

Only　then　did　Drizzt　begin　to　understand　the　import　of　the　raid　on　Mithril　Hall。　By　his　count；　somewhere　between　two　and　three　score　dark　elves　had　e　up　from　Menzoberranzan；　a　formidable　raiding　party　indeed。

And　it　had　all　been　for　him。

What　of　Entreri？　Drizzt　wondered。　How　did　the　assassin　fit　into　this？　He　seemed　to　mesh　so　well　with　the　dark　elves。　Of　similar　build　and　temperament；　the　assassin　moved　along　with　the　drow　ranks　easily；　inconspicuously。

Too　well；　Drizzt　thought。

Entreri　spent　some　time　with　the　shaven…headed　mercenary　and　Vierna；　but　then　dropped　back　rank　by　rank；　making　his　way　inevitably　toward　his　most…hated　enemy。

〃Well　met；〃　he　said　coyly　when　he　at　last　fell　into　step　beside　Drizzt。　A　look　from　the　human　sent　the　two　closest　dark　elf　guards　moving　respectfully　away。

Drizzt　eyed　the　assassin　closely　for　a　moment；　looking　for　clues；　then　pointedly　turned　away。

〃What？〃　Entreri　insisted；　grabbing　the　obstinate　drow's　shoulder　and　turning　him　back。　Drizzt　stopped　abruptly；　drawing　concerned　looks　from　the　drow　flanking　him；　particularly　Vierna。　He　started　moving　again　immediately；　though；　not　liking　the　attention　and；　gradually；　the　other　dark　elves　settled　into　their　fortable　pace　around　him。

〃I　do　not　understand；〃　Drizzt　remarked　offhandedly　to　Entreri。　〃You　had　the　mask；　had　Regis；　and　knew　where　I　could　be　found。　Why　then　did　you　ally　with　Vierna　and　her　gang？〃

〃You　presume　that　the　choice　was　mine　to　make；〃　Entreri　replied。　〃Your　sister　found　me—I　did　not　seek　her　out。〃

〃Then　you　are　a　prisoner；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。

〃Hardly；〃　Entreri　replied　without　hesitation；　chuckling　as　he　spoke。　〃You　said　it　correctly　the　first　time。　I　am　an　ally。〃

〃Where　my　kin　are　concerned；　the　two　are　much　the　same。〃

Again　Entreri　chuckled；　apparently　seeing　the　bait　for　what　it　was。　Drizzt　winced　at　the　sincerity　in　the　assassin's　laughter；　because　he　then　realized　the　strength　in　the　bonds　of　his　enemies；　ties　he　had　hoped；　in　a　fleeting　moment　of　any　hope；　he　might　stretch　and　exploit。

〃I　deal　with　Jarlaxle；　actually；〃　the　assassin　explained；　〃not　your　volatile　sister。　Jarlaxle；　the　pragmatic　mercenary；　the　opportunist。　That　one；　I　understand。　He　and　I　are　much　alike！〃

〃When　you　are　no　longer　needed—〃　Drizzt　began　ominously。

〃But　I　am　and　shall　continue　to　be！〃　Entreri　interrupted。　〃Jarlaxle；　the　opportunist；〃　he　reiterated　loudly；　drawing　an　approving　nod　from　the　mercenary；　who　apparently　understood　well　the　mon　tongue　of　the　surface。　〃What　gain　would　Jarlaxle　find　in　killing　me？　I　am　a　valuable　tie　to　the　surface；　am　I　not？　The　head　of　a　thieves'　guild　in　exotic　Calimport；　an　ally　that　might　well　prove　useful　in　the　future。　I　have　dealt　with　Jarlaxle's　kind　all　my　life；　guild…masters　from　a　dozen　cities　along　the　Sword　Coast。〃

〃Drow　have　been　known　to　kill　for　the　simple　pleasure　of　killing；〃　Drizzt　protested；　not　willing　to　let　go　of　this　one　loose　strand　so　easily。

〃Agreed；〃　Entreri　replied；　〃but　they　do　not　kill　when　they　stand　to　gain　by　n