精灵血脉四部曲-第3部分

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s　Underdark　bird；　adorned　his　clean…shaven　head。　A　slender　sword　dancing　beside　one　hip　and　a　long　dirk　on　the　other　were　his　only　visible　weapons；　but　those　who　knew　the　sly　mercenary　realized　that　he　possessed　many　more　than　that；　concealed　on　his　person；　but　easily　retrieved　if　the　need　arose。

Pulled　by　curiosity；　Jarlaxle　picked　up　his　pace。　As　soon　as　he　realized　the　length　of　his　strides；　he　forced　himself　to　slow　down；　reminding　himself　that　he　wanted　to　do　fashionably　late　for　this　unorthodox　meeting　that　crazy　Vierna　had　arranged。

Crazy　Vierna。

Jarlaxle　considered　the　thought　for　a　long　while；　even　stopped　his　walk　and　leaned　against　the　tunnel　wall　to　recount　the　high　priestess's　many　claims　over　the　last　few　weeks。　What　had　seemed　initially　to　be　a　desperate；　fleeting　hope　of　a　broken　noble；　with　no　chance　at　all　of　success；　was　fast　being　a　solid　plan。　Jarlaxle　had　gone　along　with　Vierna　more　out　of　amusement　and　curiosity　than　any　real　beliefs　that　they　would　kill；　or　even　locate；　the　long…gone　Drizzt。

But　something　apparently　was　guiding　Vierna—Jarlaxle　had　to　believe　it　was　Lloth；　or　one　of　the　Spider　Queen's　powerful　minions。　Vierna's　clerical　powers　had　returned　in　full；　it　seemed；　and　she　had　delivered　much　valuable　information；　and　even　a　perfect　spy；　to　their　cause。　They　were　fairly　sure　now　where　Drizzt　Do'Urden　was；　and　Jarlaxle　was　beginning　to　believe　that　killing　the　traitorous　drow　would　not　be　such　a　difficult　thing。

The　mercenary's　boots　heralded　his　approach　as　he　clicked　around　a　final　bend　in　the　tunnel；　ing　into　a　wide；　low…roofed　chamber。　Vierna　was　there；　with　Dinin；　and　it　struck　Jarlaxle　as　curious　（another　note　made　in　the　calculating　mercenary's　mind）　that　Vierna　seemed　more　fortable　out　here　in　the　wilds　than　did　her　brother。　Dinin　had　spent　many　years　in　these　tunnels；　leading　patrol　groups；　but　Vierna；　as　a　sheltered　noble　priestess；　had　rarely　been　out　of　the　city。

If　she　truly　believed　that　she　walked　with　Lloth's　blessings；　however；　then　the　priestess　would　have　nothing　to　fear。

〃You　have　delivered　our　gift　to　the　human？〃　Vierna　asked　immediately；　urgently。　Everything　in　Vierna's　life；　it　seemed　to　Jarlaxle；　had　bee　urgent。

The　sudden　question；　not　prefaced　by　any　greeting　or　even　a　remark　that　he　was　late；　caught　the　mercenary　off　guard　for　a　moment；　and　he　looked　to　Dinin；　who　responded　with　only　a　helpless　shrug。　While　hungry　fires　burned　in　Vierna's　eyes；　defeated　resignation　lay　in　Dinin's。

〃The　human　has　the　earring；〃　Jarlaxle　replied。

Vierna　held　out　a　flat；　disc…shaped　object；　covered　in　designs　to　match　the　precious　earring。　〃It　is　cool；〃　she　explained　as　she　rubbed　her　hand　across　the　disc's　metallic　surface；　〃thus　our　spy　has　already　moved　far　from　Menzoberranzan。〃

〃Far　away　with　a　valuable　gift；〃　Jarlaxle　remarked；　traces　of　sarcasm　edging　his　voice。

〃It　was　necessary；　and　will　further　our　cause；〃　Vierna　snapped　at　him。

〃If　the　human　proves　to　be　as　valuable　an　informant　as　you　believe；〃　Jarlaxle　added　evenly。

〃Do　you　doubt　him？〃　Vierna's　words　echoed　through　the　tunnels；　causing　Dinin　further　distress　and　sounding　clearly　as　a　threat　to　the　mercenary。

〃It　was　Lloth　who　guided　me　to　him；〃　Vierna　continued　with　an　open　sneer；　〃Lloth　who　showed　me　the　way　to　regain　my　family's　honor。　Do　you　doubt…〃

〃I　doubt　nothing　where　our　deity　is　concerned；〃　Jarlaxle　promptly　interrupted。　〃The　earring；　your　beacon；　has　been　delivered　as　you　instructed；　and　the　human　is　well　on　his　way。〃　The　mercenary　swept　into　a　respectfully　low　bow；　tipping　his　wide…brimmed　hat。

Vierna　calmed　and　seemed　appeased。　Her　red　eyes　flashed　eagerly；　and　a　devious　smile　widened　across　her　face。　〃And　the　goblins？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　thick　with　anticipation。

〃They　will　soon　make　contact　with　the　greedy　dwarves；〃　Jarlaxle　replied；　〃to　their　dismay；　no　doubt。　My　scouts　are　in　place　around　the　goblin　ranks。　If　your　brother　makes　an　appearance　in　the　inevitable　battle；　we　will　know。〃　The　mercenary　hid　his　conniving　smile　at　the　sight　of　Vierna's　obvious　pleasure。　The　priestess　thought　to　gain　only　the　confirmation　of　her　brother's　whereabouts　from　the　unfortunate　goblin　tribe；　but　Jarlaxle　had　much　more　in　mind。　Goblins　and　dwarves　shared　a　mutual　hatred　as　intense　as　that　between　the　drow　and　their　surface　elf　cousins；　and　any　meeting　between　the　groups　would　ensure　a　fight。　What　better　opportunity　for　Jarlaxle　to　take　an　accurate　measure　of　the　dwarven　defenses？　And　the　dwarven　weaknesses？

For；　while　Vierna's　desires　were　focused—all　that　she　wanted　was　the　death　of　her　traitorous　brother—Jarlaxle　was　looking　at　the　wider　picture；　of　how　this　costly　exploration　up　near　the　surface；　perhaps　even　onto　the　surface；　might　bee　more　profitable。

Vierna　rubbed　her　hands　together　and　turned　sharply　to　face　her　brother。　Jarlaxle　nearly　laughed　aloud　at　Dinin's　feeble　attempt　to　imitate　his　sister's　beaming　expression。

Vierna　was　too　obsessed　to　notice　her　less…than…enthusiastic　brother's　obvious　slip。　〃The　goblin　fodder　understand　their　options？〃　she　asked　the　mercenary；　but　she　answered　her　own　question　before　Jarlaxle　could　reply。　〃Of　course；　they　have　no　options！〃

Jarlaxle　felt　the　sudden　need　to　burst　her　eager　bubble。　〃What　if　the　goblins　kill　Drizzt？〃　he　asked；　sounding　innocent。

Vierna's　face　screwed　up　weirdly　and　she　stammered　unsuccessfully　at　her　first　attempts　at　a　reply。　〃No！〃　she　decided　at　length。　〃We　know　that　more　than　a　thousand　dwarves　inhabit　the　plex；　perhaps　two　or　three　times　that　number。　The　goblin　tribe　will　be　crushed。〃

〃But　the　dwarves　and　their　allies　will　suffer　some　casualties；〃　Jarlaxle　reasoned。

〃Not　Drizzt；〃　Dinin　unexpectedly　answered；　and　there　was　no　promise　in　his　grim　tone；　and　no　argument　forthing　from　either　of　his　panions。　〃No　goblin　will　kill　Drizzt。　No　goblin　weapon　could　get　near　his　body。〃

Vierna's　approving　smile　showed　that　she　did　not　understand　the　sincere　terror　behind　Dinin's　claims。　Dinin　alone　among　the　group　had　faced　off　in　battle　against　Drizzt。

〃The　tunnels　back　to　the　city　are　clear？〃　Vierna　asked　Jarlaxle；　and；　on　his　nod；　she　swiftly　departed；　having　no　more　time　for　banter。

〃You　wish　this　to　end；〃　the　mercenary　remarked　to　Dinin　when　they　were　alone。

〃You　have　not　met　my　brother；〃　Dinin　replied　evenly；　and　his　hand　instinctively　twitched　near　the　hilt　of　his　magnificent　drow…made　sword；　as　though　the　mere　mention　of　Drizzt　put　him　on　the　defensive。　〃Not　in　bat；　at　least。〃

〃Fear；　Khal'abbil？〃　The　question　went　straight　to　Dinin's　sense　of　honor；　sounded　more　like　a　taunt。　Still；　the　fighter　made　no　attempt　to　deny　it。　〃You　should　fear　your　sister　as　well；〃　Jarlaxle　reasoned；　and　he　meant　every　word。　Dinin　donned　a　disgusted　expression。

〃The　Spider　Queen；　or　one　of　Lloth's　minions；　has　been　talking　with　that　one；〃　Jarlaxle　added；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　his　shaken　panion。　At　first　glance；　Vierna's　obsession　seemed　a　desperate；　dangerous　thing；　but　Jarlaxle　had　been　around　the　chaos　of　Menzoberranzan　long　enough　to　realize　that　many　other　powerful　figures；　Matron　Baenre　included；　had　held　similar；　seemingly　outrageous　fantasies。

Nearly　every　important　figure　in　Menzoberranzan；　including　members　of　the　ruling　council；　had　e　to　power　through　acts　that　seemed　desperate；　had　squirmed　their　way　through　the　barbed　s　of　chaos　to　find　their　glory。

Might　Vierna　be　the　next　to　cross　that　dangerous　terrain？



Chapter　2

Together



The　River　Surbrin　flowing　in　a　valley　far　below　him；　Drizzt　entered　the　eastern　gate　of　Mithril　Hall　early　that　same　afternoon。　Catti…brie　had　skipped　in　some　time　before　him　to　await　the　〃surprise〃　of　his　return。　The　dwarven　guards　weled　the　drow　ranger　as　though　he　were　one　of　their　bearded　kin。　Drizzt　could　not　deny　the　warmth　that　flowed　through　him　at　their　open　wele；　though　it　was　not　unexpected　since　Bruenor's　people　had　accepted　him　as　a　friend　since　their　days　in　Icewind　Dale。

Drizzt　needed　no　escort　in　the　winding　corridors　of　Mithril　Hall；　and　he　wanted　none；　preferring　to　be　alone　with　the　many　emotions　and　memories　that　always　came　over　him　when　he　crossed　this　section　of　the　upper　plex。　He　moved　across　the　new　bridge　at　Garumn's　Gorge。

It　was　a　structure　of　beautiful；　arching　stone　that　spanned　hundreds　of　feet　across　the　deep　chasm。　In　this　place　Drizzt　had　lost　Bruenor　forever；　or　so　he　had　thought；　for　he　had　seen　the　dwarf　spiral　down　into　the　lightless　depths　on　the　back　of　a　flaming　dragon。

He　couldn't　avoid　a　smile　as　the　memory　flowed　to　pletion；　it　would　take　more　than　a　dragon　to　kill　mighty　Bruenor　Battlehammer！

As　he　neared　the　end　of　the　long　expanse；　Drizzt　noticed　that　new　guard　towers；　begun　only　ten　days　before；　were　nearly　pleted；　the　industrious　dwarves　having　gone　at　their　work　with　absolute　devotion。　Still；　every　one　of　the　busy　dwarven　workers　looked　up　to　regard　the　drow's　passing　and　give　Drizzt　a　word　of　greeting。

Drizzt　headed　for　the　main　corridors　leading　out　of　the　immense　chamber　south　of　the　bridge；　the　sound　of　even　more　hammers　leading　the　way。　Just　beyond　the　chamber；　past　a　small　anteroom；　he　came　into　a　wide；　high　corridor；　practically　another　chamber　in　itself；　where　the　best　craftsmen　of　Mithril　Hall　were　hard　at　work；　carving　into　the　stone　wall　the　likeness　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　in　its　appropriate　place　beside　sculptures　of　Bruenor's　royal　ancestors；　the　seven　predecessors　of　his　throne。

〃Fine　work；　eh；　drow？〃　came　a　call。　Drizzt　turned　to　regard　a　short；　round　dwarf　with　a　short…clipped　yellow　beard　barely　reaching　the　top　of　his　wide　chest。

〃Well　met；　Cobble；〃　Drizzt　greeted　the　speaker。　Bruenor　recently　had　appointed　the　dwarf　Holy　Cleric　of　the　Halls；　a　valued　position　indeed。

〃Fitting？〃　Cobble　asked　as　he　indicated　the　twenty…foot…high　sculpture　of　Mithril　Hall's　present　king。

〃For　Bruenor；　it　should　be　a　hundred　feet　tall；〃　Drizzt　replied；　and　the　good…hearted　Cobble　shook　with　laughter。　The　continuing　roar　of　it　echoed　behind　Drizzt　for　many　steps　as　he　again　headed　down　the　winding　corridors。

He　soon　came　to　the　upper　level's　hall　area；　the　city　above　the　wondrous　Undercity。　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　roomed　in　this　area；　as　did　Bruenor　most　of　the　time；　as　he