精灵血脉四部曲-第26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！



The　assassin's　sword　cut　across；　nicking　Drizzt　on　the　tip　of　his　nose；　forcing　his　head　to　flinch　to　the　side。　He　reached　up　casually　with　his　thumb　and　index　finger；　pinching　the　flow　of　blood。

〃Coward；〃　Entreri　teased；　feigning　a　straightforward　lunge　and　still　circling。

Drizzt　turned　to　keep　him　directly　in　front；　not　bothered　at　all　by　the　ridiculous　insult。

〃e　now；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Jarlaxle　intervened；　drawing　looks　from　both　Drizzt　and　Entreri。　〃You　know　you　are　doomed；　but　will　you　not　gain　any　pleasure　in　killing　this　human；　this　man　who　has　done　you　and　your　friends　so　many　wrongs？〃

〃What　have　you　to　lose？〃　Entreri　asked。　〃I　cannot　kill　you；　only　defeat　you—that　is　my　deal　with　your　sister。　But　you　may　kill　me。　Surely　Vierna　would　not　intervene；　and　might　even　be　amused；　at　the　loss　of　a　simple　human　life。〃

Drizzt　remained　impassive。　He　had　nothing　to　lose；　they　claimed。　What　they　apparently　did　not　understand　was　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　did　not　fight　when　he　had　nothing　to　lose；　only　when　he　had　something　to　gain；　only　when　the　situation　necessitated　that　he　fight。

〃Draw　your　weapons；　I　beg；〃　Jarlaxle　added。　〃Your　reputation　is　considerable　and　I　would　dearly　love　to　see　you　at　play；　to　see　if　you　are　truly　the　better　of　Zaknafein。〃

Drizzt；　trying　to　play　it　calm；　trying　to　hold　fast　to　his　principles；　could　not　hide　his　grimace　at　the　mention　of　his　dead　father；　reputably　the　finest　weapons　master　ever　to　draw　swords　in　Menzoberranzan。　In　spite　of　himself；　he　drew　his　scimitars；　Twinkle's　angry　blue　glow　sincerely　reflecting　the　welling　rage　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　could　not　fully　suppress。

Entreri　came　on　suddenly；　fiercely；　and　Drizzt　reacted　with　warrior　instincts；　scimitars　ringing　against　sword　and　dagger；　defeating　every　attack。　Taking　the　offensive　before　he　even　realized　what　he　was　doing；　acting　solely　on　instinct；　Drizzt　began　turning　full　circles；　his　blades　flowing　around　him　like　the　edging　of　a　screw；　every　turn　bringing　them　in　at　his　opponent　from　different　heights　and　different　angles。

Entreri；　confused　by　the　unconventional　routine；　missed　as　many　parries　as　he　hit；　but　his　quick　feet　kept　him　out　of　reach。　〃Always　a　surprise；〃　the　assassin　admitted　grimly；　and　he　winced　jealously　at　the　approving　sighs　and　ments　from　the　dark　elves　lining　the　room。

Drizzt　stopped　his　spin；　ending　perfectly　squared　to　the　assassin；　blades　low　and　ready。

〃Pretty；　but　to　no　avail；〃　Entreri　cried　and　rushed　forward；　sword　flying　low；　dagger　slicing　high。　Drizzt　twisted　diagonally；　one　blade　knocking　the　sword　aside；　the　other　forming　a　barrier　that　the　dagger　could　not　get　through　as　it　cut　harmlessly　high。　Entreri's　dagger　hand　continued　a　plete　circuit—　Drizzt　noticed　that　he　flipped　the　blade　over　in　his　fingers—while　his　sword　darted　and　thrust；　this　way　and　that；　to　keep　Drizzt　busy。

Predictably；　the　assassin's　dagger　hand　came　about；　dipping　down　to　the　side；　and　he　whipped　the　dagger　free。

Ringing　like　a　hammer　on　metal；　Twinkle　darted　into　the　missile's　path　and　batted　it　away；　knocking　it　across　the　room。

〃Well　done！〃　Jarlaxle　congratulated；　and　Entreri；　too；　backed　off　and　nodded　his　sincere　approval。　With　just　a　sword　now；　the　assassin　came　in　more　cautiously；　loosing　a　measured　strike。

His　surprise　was　absolute　when　Drizzt　did　not　parry；　when　Drizzt　missed　not　one　deflection；　but　two　and　the　thrusting　weapon　slipped　past　the　scimitar　defense。　The　sword　quickly　recoiled；　never　reaching　its　vulnerable　mark。　Entreri　came　in　again；　feigning　another　straightforward　thrust；　but　snapping　the　weapon　back　and　around　instead。

He　had　Drizzt　beaten；　could　have　ripped　the　drow's　shoulder；　or　neck；　apart　with　that　simple　feint！　Drizzt's　knowing　smile　stopped　him；　though。　He　turned　his　sword　to　its　flat　edge　and　smacked　it　against　the　drow's　shoulder；　doing　no　real　damage。

Drizzt　had　let　him　through；　both　times；　was　now　mocking　the　assassin's　precious　fight　with　a　pretense　of　inability！

Entreri　wanted　to　scream　out　his　protests；　let　all　the　other　dark　elves　in　on　Drizzt　s　private　game。　The　assassin　decided　that　this　battle　was　too　personal；　though；　something　that　should　be　settled　between　himself　and　Drizzt；　and　not　through　any　intervention　by　Vierna　or　Jarlaxle。

〃I　had　you；〃　he　teased；　using　the　rocky　Dwarvish　language　in　the　hopes　that　those　drow　around　him；　except；　of　course；　for　Drizzt；　would　not　understand　it。

〃You　should　have　ended　it；　then；〃　Drizzt　replied　calmly；　in　the　mon　surface　language；　though　he　spoke　the　Dwarvish　tongue　perfectly　well。　He　wouldn't　give　Entreri　the　satisfaction　of　removing　this　to　a　personal　level；　would　keep　the　fight　public　and　ridicule　it　openly　with　his　actions。

〃You　should　have　fought　better；〃　Entreri　retorted；　reverting　to　the　mon　tongue。　〃For　the　sake　of　your　halfling　friend；　if　not　for　yourself。　If　you　kill　me；　then　Regis　will　be　free；　but　if　I　walk　from　here　。。。〃　He　let　the　threat　hang　in　the　air；　but　it　grew　less　ominous　indeed　when　Drizzt　laughed　at　it　openly。

〃Regis　is　dead；〃　the　drow　ranger　reasoned。　〃Or　will　be；　whatever　the　oute　of　our　battle。〃

〃No—〃　Entreri　began。

〃Yes；〃　Drizzt　interrupted。　〃I　know　you　better　than　to　fall　prey　to　your　unending　lies。　You　have　been　too　blinded　by　your　rage。　You　did　not　anticipate　every　possibility。〃

Entreri　came　in　again；　easily；　not　making　any　blatant　strikes　that　would　make　this　continuing　charade　obvious　to　the　gathered　dark　elves。

〃He　is　dead；〃　Drizzt　asked　as　much　as　stated。

〃What　do　you　think？〃　Entreri　snapped　back；　his　snarling　tone　making　the　answer　seem　obvious。

Drizzt　realized　the　shift　in　tactics；　understood　that　Entreri　now　was　attempting　to　enrage　him；　to　make　him　fight　in　anger。

Drizzt　remained　impassive；　let　fly　a　few　lazy　attack　routines　that　Entreri　had　little　trouble　defeating—and　that　the　assassin　could　have　countered　to　devastating　effect　if　he　had　so　desired。

Vierna　and　Jarlaxle　began　to　speak　in　whispers；　and　Drizzt；　thinking　they　might　grow　tired　of　the　charade；　came　on　more　forcefully；　though　still　with　measured　and　ineffective　strikes。　Entreri　gave　a　slight　but　definite　nod　to　show　that　he　was　beginning　to　understand。　The　game；　the　subtle　and　silent　undercurrents　and　munications；　were　getting　personal；　and　Drizzt；　as　much　as　Entreri；　did　not　want　Vierna　intervening。

〃You　will　savor　your　victory；〃　Entreri　promised　uncharacteristically；　a　leading　phrase。

〃It　will　e　as　no　gain；〃　Drizzt　replied；　a　response　the　assassin　was　obviously　fully　beginning　to　expect。　Entreri　wanted　to　win　this　fight；　wanted　to　win　it　even　more　badly　because　Drizzt　did　not　seem　to　care。　Drizzt　knew　that　Entreri　was　not　stupid；　though；　and　while　he　and　Drizzt　were　of　similar　fighting　skills；　their　motivations　surely　separated　them。　Entreri　would　fight　with　all　his　heart　against　Drizzt　just　to　prove　something；　but　Drizzt　honestly　felt　that　he　had　nothing　to　prove；　not　to　the　assassin。

Drizzt's　failings　in　this　fight　were　not　a　bluff；　were　not　something　that　Entreri　could　call　him　on。　Drizzt　would　lose；　taking　more　satisfaction　in　not　giving　Entreri　the　enjoyment　of　honest　victory。

And；　as　his　actions　now　revealed；　the　assassin　was　not　pletely　surprised　by　the　turn　of　events。

〃Your　last　chance；〃　Entreri　teased。　〃Here；　you　and　I　part　pany。　I　leave　through　the　far　door；　and　the　drow　go　back　down　to　their　dark　world。〃

Drizzt's　violet　eyes　flicked　to　the　side；　to　the　alcove；　for　just　a　moment；　his　movement　revealing　to　Entreri　that　he　had　not　missed　the　emphasis　on　the　word　〃down；〃　had　not　missed　the　obvious　reference　to　the　cloth…covered　chute。

Entreri　rolled　to　the　side　suddenly；　having　worked　himself　around　close　enough　to　retrieve　his　lost　dagger。　It　was　a　daring　maneuver；　and　again　a　revealing　move　to　his　opponent；　for　with　Drizzt's　fighting　so　obviously　lacking；　Entreri　had　no　need　to　take　the　risk　of　going　for　his　lost　weapon。

〃Might　I　rename　your　cat？〃　Entreri　asked；　shifting　his　waist　to　reveal　a　large　belt　pouch；　the　black　statuette　obvious　through　the　open　edges　of　its　bulging　top。

The　assassin　came　in　fast　and　hard　with　a　four…strike　routine；　any　of　which　could　have　slipped　through；　had　he　pressed　them；　to　nick　at　Drizzt。

〃e　now；〃　Entreri　said　loudly。　〃You　can　fight　better　than　that！　I　have　witnessed　your　skills　too　many　times—in　these　very　tunnels　even—to　think　you　might　be　so　easily　defeated！〃

At　first；　Drizzt　was　surprised　that　Entreri　had　so　obviously　let　their　private　munication　bee　so　public；　but　Vierna　and　the　others　probably　had　figured　by　that　point　that　Drizzt　was　not　fighting　with　all　his　heart。　Still；　it　seemed　a　curious　ment—until　Drizzt　came　to　understand　the　hidden　meanings　of　the　assassin's　words；　the　assassin's　bait。　Entreri　had　referred　to　their　fighting　in　these　tunnels；　but　those　battles　had　not　been　against　each　other。　On　that　unusual　occasion；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　and　Artemis　Entreri　had　fought　together；　side　by　side　and　back…to…back；　out　of　simple　desire　to　survive　against　a　mon　enemy。

Was　it　to　be　that　way　again；　here　and　now？　Was　Entreri　so　desperate　for　an　honest　fight　against　Drizzt　that　he　was　offering　to　help　him　defeat　Vierna　and　her　gang？　If　that　happened；　and　they　won；　then　any　following　battle　between　Drizzt　and　Entreri　would　certainly　give　Drizzt　something　to　gain；　something　to　honestly　fight　for。　If　together　he　and　Entreri　could　win　out；　or　get　away；　the　ensuing　battle　between　them　would　dangle　Drizzt's　freedom　before　his　eyes　with　only　Artemis　Enrreri　standing　in　his　way。

〃Tempus！〃　The　cry　stole　the　contemplations　from　both　opponents；　forced　them　to　react　to　the　obvious　forthing　distraction。

They　moved　in　perfect　harmony；　Drizzt　whipping　his　scimitar　across　and　the　assassin　dropping　his　defenses；　falling　back　and　turning　his　hip　to　stick　out　his　belt　pouch。　Twinkle　cut　through　the　pouch　cleanly；　spilling　the　figurine　of　the　enchanted　panther　onto　the　floor。

The　door；　the　same　door　through　which　they　had　entered　the　chamber；　blew　apart　under　the　weight　of　flying　Aegis…fang；　hurling　the　drow　standing　before　it　to　the　floor。

Drizzt　s　first　instinct　told　him　to　go　to　the　door；　to　try　to　link　up　with　his　friends；　but　he　saw　that　possibility　blocked　by　the　many　scrambling　dark　elves。　The　other