精灵血脉四部曲-第29部分

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w；　his　hard…skinned　legs　clacking　against　the　stone；　Silence！

Jarlaxle　crawled　to　the　edge　of　the　blasted　door；　cocked　an　ear　to　the　imperable　blackness　of　the　conjured　globes。　He　heard　a　slight　shuffling　and　drew　out　a　dagger　signaling　to　the　crossbowmen　to　stand　ready。

Jarlaxle　stood　them　down　when　the　figure；　his　scout；　crawled　out　of　the　darkness　and　entered　the　room。

〃They　have　gone；〃　the　scout　explained　as　Vierna　rushed　over　to　join　the　mercenary　leader。　〃A　small　group；　and　smaller　still　with　one　crushed　under　your　most　excellent　wall。〃　Both　Jarlaxle　and　the　guard　bowed　low　in　respect　to　Vierna；　who　smiled　wickedly　in　spite　of　the　sudden　disaster。

〃What　of　Iftuu？〃　Jarlaxle　asked；　referring　to　the　guard　they　had　left　watching　the　corridor　where　the　trouble　had　begun。

〃Dead；〃　the　scout　replied。　'Torn　and　ripped。〃

Vierna　turned　sharply　on　Entreri。　〃What　do　you　know　of　our　enemies？〃　she　demanded。

The　assassin　eyed　her　dangerously；　remembering　Drizzt's　warnings　against　alliances　with　his　kin。　〃Wulfgar；　the　large　human；　hurled　the　hammer　that　broke　the　door；〃　he　answered　with　all　confidence。　Entreri　looked　to　the　two　fast…cooling　forms　splayed　out　across　the　stone　floor。　〃You　can　blame　the　deaths　of　those　two　on　Catti…brie；　another　human；　female。〃

Vierna　turned　to　Jarlaxle's　scout　and　translated　what　Entreri　had　told　her　into　the　drow　tongue。　〃Were　either　of　these　under　the　wall？〃　the　priestess　asked　of　the　scout。

〃Only　a　single　dwarf；〃　the　drow　replied。

Entreri　recognized　the　drow　word　for　the　bearded　folk；　〃Bruenor？〃　he　asked　rhetorically；　wondering　if　they　had　inadvertently　assassinated　the　king　of　Mithril　Hall。

〃Bruenor？〃　Vierna　echoed；　not　understanding。

〃Head　of　Clan　Battlehammer；〃　Entreri　explained。　〃Ask　him；〃　he　bade　Vierna；　indicating　the　scout；　and　he　grabbed　at　his　clean…shaven　chin　with　his　hand；　as　though　stroking　a　beard。　〃Red　hair？〃

Vierna　translated；　then　looked　back；　shaking　her　head。　〃There　was　no　light　out　there。　The　scout　could　not　tell。〃

Entreri　silently　cursed　himself　for　being　so　foolish。　He　just　couldn't　get　used　to　this　heat…sight；　where　shapes　blurred　indistinctly　and　colors　were　based　on　amount　of　heat；　not　reflecting　hues。

〃They　are　gone　and　are　no　longer　our　concern；〃　Vierna　said　to　Entreri。

〃You　would　let　them　escape　after　killing　three　in　your　entourage？〃　Entreri　started　to　protest；　seeing　where　this　line　of　reasoning　would　take　them—and　not　so　sure　he　liked　that　path。

〃Four　are　dead；〃　Vierna　corrected；　her　gaze　leading　the　assassin　to　Drizzt's　victim　lying　beside　the　revealed　chute。

〃Ak'hafta　went　after　your　brother；〃　Jarlaxle　quickly　put　in。

〃Then　five　are　dead；〃　Vierna　replied　grimly；　〃but　my　brother　is　below　us　and　must　get　through　us　to　rejoin　his　friends。〃

She　began　talking　to　the　other　drow　in　their　native　tongue；　and；　though　he　had　not　e　close　to　mastering　the　language；　Entreri　realized　that　Vierna　was　organizing　the　departure　down　the　chute　in　pursuit　of　Drizzt。

〃What　of　my　deal？〃　he　interrupted。

Vierna's　reply　was　to　the　point。　〃You　have　had　your　fight。　We　allow　you　your　freedom；　as　agreed。〃

Entreri　acted　pleased　by　that　reply；　he　was　worldly　enough　to　understand　that　to　show　his　outrage　would　be　to　join　the　other　fast…cooling　forms　on　the　floor。　But　the　assassin　was　not　about　to　accept　his　losses　so　readily。　He　looked　around　frantically；　searching　for　some　distraction；　some　way　to　alter　the　apparently　done　deal。

Entreri　had　planned　things　perfectly　to　this　point；　except　that；　in　the　motion；　he　hadn't　been　able　to　get　into　the　chute　behind　Drizzt。　Alone　down　below；　he　and　his　archrival　would　have　had　the　time　to　settle　things　once　and　for　all；　but　now　the　prospect　of　getting　Drizzt　alone　for　a　fight　seemed　remote　and　moving　farther　away　with　every　second。

The　wily　assassin　had　wormed　his　way　through　more　precarious　predicaments　than　this—except；　he　prudently　reminded　himself；　that　this　time　he　was　dealing　with　dark　elves；　the　masters　of　intrigue。



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〃Shhh！〃　Bruenor　hissed　at　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie；　though　it　was　Thibbledorf　Pwent；　deep　in　sleep　and　snoring　as　only　a　dwarf　can　snore；　who　was　making　all　the　noise。　〃I　think　I　heared　something！〃

Wulfgar　angled　the　battlerager's　helmet　point　against　the　wall；　slapped　one　hand　under　Pwent's　chin；　closing　the　battlerager's　mouth；　then　clamped　his　fingers　around　Pwent's　wide　nose。　Pwent's　cheeks　bulged　weirdly　a　couple　of　times；　and　a　strange　squeaky…smacking　type　of　noise　came　out　from　somewhere。　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie　exchanged　looks；　Wulfgar　even　bent　to　the　side；　wondering　if　the　outrageous　dwarf　had　just　snored　out　of　his　ears！

Bruenor　cringed　at　the　unexpected　blast；　but　was　too　intent　to　turn　and　scold　his　panions。　From　down　the　corridor　there　came　another　slight　shuffling　noise；　barely　perceptible；　and　then　another；　still　closer；　Bruenor　knew　they　soon　would　be　found；　how　could　they　escape　when　both　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie　needed　torchlight　to　navigate　the　twisting　runnels？

Another　scuffle　came；　just　outside　the　small　chamber。

〃Well；　e　on　out；　ye　pointy…eared　ore　kisser！〃　the　frustrated　and　frightened　dwarf　king　roared；　hopping　through　the　small　opening　around　the　slab　Wulfgar　had　used　to　partially　block　the　passageway。　The　dwarf　lifted　his　great　axe　high　above　his　head。

He　saw　the　black　form；　as　expected；　and　tried　to　chop；　but　the　form　was　by　him　too　quickly；　springing　into　the　small　chamber　with　hardly　a　whisper　of　noise。

〃What？〃　the　startled　dwarf；　axe　still　high；　balked；　swinging　himself　around　and　nearly　spinning　to　the　floor。

〃Guenhwyvar！〃　he　heard　Catti…brie　call　from　beyond　the　slab。

Bruenor　rambled　back　into　the　chamber　just　as　the　mighty　panther　opened　its　maw　wide　and　let　drop　the　valuable　figurine—along　with　the　ebon…skinned　hand　of　the　unfortunate　dark　elf　who　had　grabbed　for　it　when　Guenhwyvar　had　made　the　break。

Catti…brie　gave　a　sour　look　and　kicked　the　disembodied　hand　far　from　the　figurine。

〃Damn　good　cat；〃　Bruenor　admitted；　and　the　rugged　dwarf　was　truly　relieved　that　a　new　and　powerful　ally　had　been　found。

Guenhwyvar　roared　in　reply；　the　mighty　growl　reverberating　off　the　tunnel　walls　for　many；　many　yards　in　every　direction。　Pwent　opened　his　weary　eyes　at　the　sound。　Wide　those　dark　orbs　popped　indeed　when　the　battlerager　caught　sight　of　the　six…hundred…pound　panther　sitting　only　three　feet　away！

Adrenaline　soaring　to　new　heights；　the　wild　battlerager　flubbed　out　sixteen　words　at　once　as　he　scrambled　and　kicked　to　regain　his　footing　（inadvertently　kneeing　himself　in　the　shin　and　drawing　some　blood）。　He　almost　got　there；　until　Guenhwyvar　apparently　realized　his　intent　and　absently　slapped　a　paw；　claws　retracted；　across　his　face。

Pwent's　helmet　rung　out　a　clear　note　as　he　rebounded　off　the　wall；　and　he　thought　then　that　another　nap　might　do　him　good。　But　he　was　a　battlerager；　he　reminded　himself；　and；　by　his　estimation；　a　most　wild　battle　was　about　to　be　fought。　lie　produced　a　large　flask　from　under　his　cloak　and　took　a　hearty　swig；　then　whipped　his　head　about　to　clear　the　cobwebs；　his　thick　lips　flapping　noisily。　Somehow　seeming　revived；　the　battlerager　set　his　feet　firmly　under　him　for　a　charge。

Wulfgar　grabbed　him　by　the　helmet　point　and　hoisted　him　off　the　floor；　Pwent's　stubby　legs　pumping　helplessly。

〃What're　ye　about？〃　the　battlerager　snarled　in　protest。

but　even　Thibbledorf　Pwent　had　his　bluster　drained；　along　with　the　blood　in　his　face；　when　Guenhwyvar　looked　to　him　and　growled；　ears　flattened　and　pearly　teeth　bared。

〃The　panther　is　a　friend；〃　Wulfgar　explained。

'The　wh—who　is　。。。　the　damn　cat？〃　Pwcnt　stuttered。

〃Damn　good　cat；〃　Bruenor　corrected；　ending　the　debate。　The　dwarf　king　went　back　to　watching　the　hall　then；　glad　to　have　Guenhwyvar　beside　them；　knowing　that　they　would　need　everything　Guenhwyvar　could　give；　and　perhaps　a　little　bit　more。



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Entreri　noticed　one　wounded　drow　propped　against　the　wall；　being　tended　by　two　others；　the　bandages　they　applied　quickly　growing　hot　with　spilling　blood。　He　recognized　the　injured　dark　elf　as　one　that　had　reached　for　the　statuette　soon　after　Drizzt　had　called　for　the　cat；　and　the　reminder　of　Guenhwyvar　gave　the　assassin　a　new　ploy　to　try。

〃Drizzt's　friends　will　pursue　you；　even　down　the　chute；〃　Entreri　remarked　grimly；　interrupting　Vierna　once　more。

The　priestess　turned　to　him；　obviously　concerned　about　his　reasoning—as　was　the　mercenary　standing　beside　her。

〃Do　not　underestimate　them；〃　Entreri　continued。　〃I　know　them；　and　they　are　loyal　beyond　anything　in　the　dark　elf　world—except　of　course　for　a　priestess's　loyalty　to　the　Spider　Queen；〃　he　added；　in　deference　to　Vierna　because　he　didn't　want　his　skin　peeled　off　as　a　drow　trophy。　〃You　plan　now　to　go　after　your　brother；　but　even　if　you　catch　him　at　once　and　head　with　all　speed　for　Menzoberranzan；　his　loyal　friends　will　chase　you。〃

〃They　were　but　a　few；〃　Vierna　retorted。

〃But　they　will　be　back　with　many　more；　especially　if　that　dwarf　under　the　wall　was　Bruenor　Battlehammer；〃　Entreri　countered。

Vierna　looked　to　Jarlaxle　for　confirmation　of　the　assassin's　claims；　and　the　more　worldly　dark　elf　only　shrugged　and　shook　his　head　in　helpless　ignorance。

〃They　will　e　better　equipped　and　better　armed；〃　Entreri　went　on；　his　new　scheme　formulating；　his　banter　building　momentum。　〃With　wizards；　perhaps。　With　many　clerics；　surely。　And　with　that　deadly　bow〃—he　glanced　at　the　body　near　the　wall—〃and　the　barbarian's　warhammer。〃

〃The　tunnels　are　many；〃　Vierna　reasoned；　seemingly　dismissing　the　argument。　〃They　could　not　follow　our　course。〃　She　turned；　as　if　her　argument　had　satisfied　her；　to　go　back　to　formulating　her　initial　plans。

〃They　have　the　panther！〃　Entreri　growled　at　her。　〃The　panther　that　is　the　dearest　friend　of　all　to　your　brother。　Guenhwyvar　would　pursue　you　to　the　Abyss　itself　if　there　you　carried　Drizzt's　body。〃

Again　distressed；　Vierna　looked　to　Jarlaxle。　〃What　say　you？〃　she　demanded。

Jarlaxle　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　pointy　chin。　〃The　panther　was　well　known　among　the　scouting　groups　when　your　brother　lived　in　the　city；〃　he　admitted。　〃Our　raiding　party　is　not　large—and　apparently　five　fewer　now。〃

Vierna　turned　back　sharply