精灵血脉四部曲-第24部分

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e　strand　so　easily。

〃Agreed；〃　Entreri　replied；　〃but　they　do　not　kill　when　they　stand　to　gain　by　not　killing。　Pragmatic。　You　will　not　shake　this　alliance；　doomed　Drizzt。　It　is　of　mutual　benefit；　you　see；　to　your　inevitable　loss。〃

Drizzt　paused　a　long　while　to　digest　the　information；　to　find　some　way　to　regain　that　potentially　unwinding　strand；　that　loose　end　that　he　believed　always　existed　when　treacherous　individuals　came　together　on　any　cause。

〃Not　mutual　benefit；〃　he　said　quietly；　noting　Entreri's　curious　glance　his　way。

〃Explain；〃　Entreri　bade　him　after　a　long　moment　of　silence。

〃I　know　why　you　came　after　me；〃　Drizzt　reasoned。　〃It　was　not　to　have　me　killed；　but　to　kill　me　yourself。　And　not　just　to　kill　me；　but　to　defeat　me　in　even　bat。　That　possibility　seems　less　likely　now；　in　these　tunnels　beside　merciless　Vierna　and　her　desires　for　simple　sacrifice。〃

〃So　formidable　even　when　all　is　lost；〃　Entreri　remarked；　his　superior　tones　pulling　that　elusive　strand　from　Drizzt's　reach　once　more。　〃Defeat　you　in　bat；　I　will—that　is　the　deal；　you　see。　In　a　chamber　not　so　far　from　here；　your　kin　and　I　will　part　pany；　but　not　until　you　and　I　have　settled　our　rivalry。〃

〃Vierna　would　not　let　you　kill　me；〃　Drizzt　retorted。

〃But　she　would　allow　me　to　defeat　you；〃　Entreri　answered。　〃She　desires　that　very　thing；　desires　that　your　humiliation　be　plete。　After　I　have　settled　our　business；　then　she　will　give　you　to　Lloth　。。。　with　my　blessings。

〃e　now；　my　friend；〃　Entreri　purred；　seeing　no　response　ing　from　Drizzt；　seeing　Drizzt's　face　screwed　up　in　an　uncharacteristic　pout。

〃I　am　not　your　friend；〃　Drizzt　growled　back。

〃My　kindred；　then；〃　Entreri　teased；　his　delight　absolute　when　Drizzt　turned　an　angry　glower　at　him。

〃Never。〃

〃We　fight；〃　Entreri　explained。　〃We　both　fight　so　very　well；　and　fight　to　win；　though　our　purposes　for　battle　may　vary。　I　have　told　you　before　that　you　cannot　escape　me；　cannot　escape　who　you　are。〃

Drizzt　had　no　answer　for　that；　not　in　a　corridor　surrounded　by　enemies　and　with　his　hands　tied　behind　his　back。　Entreri　had　indeed　made　these　claims　before；　and　Drizzt　had　reconciled　them；　had　e　to　terms　with　the　decisions　of　his　life　and　with　the　path　he　had　chosen　as　his　own。

But　seeing　the　obvious　pleasure　on　the　evil　assassin's　face　disturbed　the　honorable　drow　noheless。　Whatever　else　he　might　do　in　this　seemingly　hopeless　situation；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　determined　then　not　to　give　Entreri　his　satisfaction。

They　came　to　an　area　of　many　side　passages；　winding；　scalloped　tunnels；　worm　holes；　they　seemed；　meandering　and　rolling　about　in　every　direction　at　once。　Entreri　had　said　that　the　room；　the　parting　of　ways；　was　close；　and　Drizzt　knew　he　was　running　out　of　time。

He　dove　headlong　to　the　floor；　tucked　his　feet　in　tight；　and　slipped　his　arms　over　them；　then　brought　them　back　in　front；　as　he　rolled　to　a　standing　position。　By　the　time　he　turned　back；　the　ever…alert　Entreri　already　had　his　sword　and　dagger　in　hand；　but　Drizzt　charged　him　anyway。　Weaponless；　the　drow　had　no　practical　chance；　but　he　guessed　that　Entreri　would　not　strike　him　down；　guessed　that　the　assassin　would　not　so　impulsively　destroy　the　even　challenge　he　desperately　craved；　the　very　moment　Entreri　had　worked　so　very　hard　to　achieve。

Predictably；　Entreri　hesitated；　and　Drizzt　was　beyond　his　half…hearted　defenses　in　a　moment；　leaping　into　the　air　and　landing　a　double…footed　kick　on　Entreri's　face　and　chest　that　sent　the　man　flying　away。

Drizzt　bounced　back　to　his　feet　and　rushed　toward　the　entrance　to　the　nearest　side　tunnel；　blocked　by　a　single　drow　guard。　Again　Drizzt　came　on　fearlessly；　hoping　that　Vierna　had　promised　incredible　torments　to　anyone　who　stole　her　sacrifice—a　hope　that　seemed　confirmed　when　Drizzt　glanced　back　to　Vierna；　to　see　her　hand　holding　back　Jarlaxle's；　the　mercenary's　fingers　clutching　a　throwing　dagger。

The　blocking　drow　fighter；　as　agile　as　a　cat；　punched　out　at　the　charging　Drizzt；　hilt　first。　But　Drizzt；　quicker　still；　snapped　his　hands　straight　up；　and　the　ties　binding　his　wrists　hooked　the　fighter's　weapon　hand　and　threw　his　sword　harmlessly　high。　Drizzt　slammed　into　him；　body　to　body；　lifting　his　knee　as　they　came　together；　and　connecting　cleanly　on　his　opponent's　abdomen。　The　fighter　doubled　over　and　Drizzt；　with　no　time　to　spare；　pushed　past　him；　throwing　him　down　to　trip　up　the　next　soldier；　and　Entreri；　ing　in　fast。

Around　a　bend；　down　a　short　expanse；　then　diving　into　yet　another　side　passage；　Drizzt　barely　managed　to　keep　ahead　of　the　pursuit—so　close　were　his　enemies　in　fact；　that　as　he　turned　into　the　next　passage；　he　heard　a　quarrel　skip　along　the　wall　to　the　side。

Even　worse；　the　drow　ranger　noted　other　forms　slipping　in　and　out　of　the　openings　to　the　sides　of　the　tunnel。　There　had　been　no　more　than　seven　dark　elves　in　the　corridor　with　him；　but　he　knew　that　more　than　twice　that　number　had　acpanied　Vierna；　not　to　mention　the　larger　force　that　had　been　left　behind　not　so　long　ago。　The　missing　soldiers　were　all　about；　Drizzt　knew；　flanking　and　scouting；　feeding　reports　along　prescribed　routes　in　silent　codes。

Around　another　bend　he　went；　then　another；　turning　back　opposite　the　first。　He　scrambled　up　a　short　wall；　then　cursed　his　luck　when　the　branching　corridor　atop　it　sloped　back　down　to　the　previous　level。

Around　another　bend　he　saw　a　flash　of　heat　glowing　fiercely　and　knew　it　was　a　signal　speculum；　a　metal　plate　magically　heated　on　one　side；　which　the　dark　elves　used　for　signaling。　The　heated　side　glowed　like　a　mirror　in　sunlight　to　beings　using　infravision。　Drizzt　cut　down　a　side　passage；　realizing　that　the　webs　were　tightening　about　him；　knowing　that　his　attempt　would　not　succeed。

Then　the　drider　reared　up　in　front　of　him。

Drizzt's　revulsion　was　absolute；　and　he　backpedaled　in　spite　of　the　dangers　he　knew　were　behind　him。　To　see　his　brother　in　such　a　state！　Dinin's　bloated　torso　moved　in　harmony　with　the　eight　scrabbling　legs；　his　face　an　expressionless　death　mask。

Drizzt　quieted　his　churning　emotions；　his　need　to　scream　out；　and　looked　for　a　practical　way　to　get　past　this　obstacle。　Dinin　had　turned　his　twin　axes　to　their　blunt　sides；　waving　them　wildly；　and　his　eight　legs　kicked　and　bucked；　giving　Drizzt　no　obvious　opening。

Drizzt　had　no　choice；　he　spun　about；　intending　to　flee　back　the　other　way。　Vierna；　Jarlaxle；　and　Entreri　turned　the　corner　to　greet　him。

They　conversed　quietly　in　the　mon　tongue。　Entreri　said　something　about　settling　his　score　then　and　there；　but　apparently　changed　his　mind。

Vierna　advanced　instead；　her　whip　of　five　living　snake　heads　waving　ominously　before　her。

〃If　you　defeat　me；　then　you　can　have　back　your　freedom；〃　she　teased　in　the　drow　tongue；　as　she　tossed　Twinkle　to　the　floor　at　Drizzt's　feet。　He　went　for　the　weapon　and　Vierna　struck；　but　Drizzt　had　expected　as　much　and　he　fell　back　short　of　his　dropped　scimitar；　leaving　Twinkle　just　out　of　reach。

The　drider　scrambled　ahead；　an　axe　clipping　Drizzt's　shoulder；　knocking　him　backward　toward　Vierna。　The　ranger　had　no　other　choice　now；　and　dove　headlong　for　his　blade；　his　fingers　barely　reaching　it。

Snake　fangs　dug　into　his　wrist。　Another　bite　took　him　on　the　forearm　and　three　more　dove　at　his　face　or　at　his　other　hand；　which　was　twisted　over　his　grasping　hand　in　a　feeble　defense。　The　sting　of　the　bites　was　vicious；　but　it　was　the　more　insidious　poison　that　defeated　Drizzt。　He　had　Twinkle　in　his　grasp；　he　thought；　but　he　couldn't　be　certain；　since　his　numbed　fingers　could　no　longer　feel　the　weapon's　metal。

Vierna's　cruel　whip　lashed　out　again；　five　heads　biting　eagerly　into　Drizzt's　flesh；　spreading　the　waves　of　numbness　throughout　his　battered　form。　The　merciless　priestess　of　a　merciless　goddess　beat　the　helpless　prisoner　a　dozen　times；　her　face　twisted　in　absolute；　evil　glee。

Drizzt　stubbornly　held　consciousness；　eyed　her　with　utter　contempt；　but　that　only　prodded　Vierna　on；　and　she　would　have　beaten　him　to　death　then　and　there　had　not　Jarlaxle；　and　more　pointedly；　Entreri；　e　beside　her　and　calmed　her。

For　Drizzt；　his　body　racked　with　agony　and　all　hope　of　survival　long　flown；　it　seemed　less　than　a　reprieve。



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〃Aaargh！〃　Bruenor　wailed。　〃Me　kinfolk！〃

Thibbledorf　Pwent's　reaction　to　the　gruesome　scene　of　seven　slaughtered　dwarves　was　even　more　dramatic。　The　battlerager　floundered　to　the　side　of　the　tunnel　and　began　slamming　his　forehead　against　the　stone　wall。　Undoubtedly　he　would　have　knocked　himself　cold　had　not　Cobble　quietly　reminded　him　that　his　hammering　could　be　heard　a　mile　away。

〃Killed　clean　and　fast；〃　Catti…brie　mented；　trying　to　keep　rational　and　make　some　sense　of　this　newest　clue。

〃Entreri；〃　Bruenor　growled。

〃By　all　our　guesses；　if　he's　truly　wearing　the　face　and　body　of　Regis；　these　dwarves　were　missing　afore　he　went　into　these　tunnels；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned。　〃Seems　the　assassin　might　have　bringed　some　helpers　along。〃　The　image　of　the　small　crossbow　bolt　played　in　her　mind　and　she　hoped　her　suspicions　would　prove　false。

〃Dead　helpers　when　I　get　me　hands　around　their　murdering　throats！〃　Bruenor　promised。　He　fell　to　his　knees　then；　hunched　over　a　dead　dwarf　who　had　been　a　close　friend。

Catti…brie　could　not　bear　the　sight。　She　looked　away　from　her　father；　to　Wulfgar；　standing　quietly　and　holding　the　torch。

Wulfgar's　scowl；　aimed　at　her；　caught　her　by　surprise。

She　studied　him　for　a　few　moments。　〃Well；　say　yer　thoughts；〃　she　demanded；　growing　unfortable　under　his　unrelenting　glare。

〃You　should　not　have　e　down　here；〃　the　barbarian　answered　calmly。

〃Drizzt　is　not　me　friend；　then？〃　she　asked；　and　she　was　surprised　again　at　how　Wulfgar's　face　crinkled　in　barely　explosive　rage　at　her　mention　of　the　dark　elf。

〃Oh；　he　is　your　friend；　I　do　not　doubt；〃　Wulfgar　replied；　his　tone　dripping　with　venom。　〃But　you　are　to　be　my　wife。　You　should　not　be　in　this　dangerous　place。〃

Catti…brie's　eyes　opened　wide　in　disbelief；　in　absolute　outrage；　showing　the　reflections　of　the　torchlight　as　though　some　inner　fire　burned　within　them。　〃'Tis　not　yer　choice　to　be　making！〃　she　cried　loudly—so　loudly　that　Cobble　and　Bruenor　exchanged　concerned　looks　and　the　dwarf　king　rose　from　his　dead　friend　and　moved　toward　his　daught