精灵血脉四部曲-第30部分

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tted。　〃Our　raiding　party　is　not　large—and　apparently　five　fewer　now。〃

Vierna　turned　back　sharply　on　Entreri。　〃You　who　seem　to　know　the　ways　of　these　people　so　well；〃　she　prompted　with　more　than　a　bit　of　sarcasm；　〃what　do　you　suggest　we　do？〃

〃Go　after　the　fleeing　band；〃　Entreri　replied；　pointing　to　the　blackened　corridor　beyond　the　blasted　door。　〃Catch　them　and　kill　them　before　they　can　get　back　to　the　dwarven　plex　and　muster　support。　I　will　find　your　brother　for　you。〃

Vierna　eyed　him　suspiciously；　a　look　Entreri　most　certainly　did　not　like。

〃But　I　am　awarded　another　fight　against　Drizzt；〃　he　insisted；　baiting　the　plan　with　some　measure　of　believability。

〃When　we　are　rejoined；〃　Vierna　added　coldly。

〃Of　course。〃　The　assassin　swept　into　a　low　bow　and　leaped　for　the　chute。

〃And　you　will　not　go　alone；〃　Vierna　decided。　She　gave　a　look　to　Jarlaxle；　and　he　motioned　for　two　of　his　soldiers　to　acpany　the　assassin。

〃I　work　alone；〃　Entreri　insisted。

〃You　die　alone；〃　Vierna　corrected；　〃against　my　brother　in　the　tunnels；　I　mean；〃　she　added　in　softer；　teasing　tones；　but　Entreri　knew　that　Vierna's　promise　had　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　her　brother。

He　saw　little　point　in　continuing　to　argue　with　her；　so　he　just　shrugged　and　motioned　for　one　of　the　dark　elves　to　lead　the　way。

Actually；　having　a　drow　with　the　levitational　powers　beneath　him　made　the　ride　down　the　dangerous　chute　much　more　fortable　for　the　assassin。

The　leading　dark　elf　came　out　into　the　lower　corridor　first；　Entreri　landing　nimbly　behind　him　and　the　second　drow　ing　in　slowly　behind　the　assassin。　The　first　drow　shook　his　head　in　apparent　confusion　and　kicked　lightly　at　the　prone　body；　but　Entreri；　wiser　to　Drizzt's　many　tricks；　pushed　the　dark　elf　aside　and　slammed　his　sword　down　onto　the　apparent　corpse。　Gingerly；　the　assassin　turned　the　dead　drow　over；　confirming　that　it　was　not　Drizzt　in　a　clever　disguise。　Satisfied；　he　slipped　his　sword　away。

〃Our　enemy　is　clever；〃　he　explained；　and　one　of　his　panions；　understanding　the　surface　language；　nodded；　then　translated　for　the　other　drow。

〃That　is　Ak'hafta；〃　the　dark　elf　explained　to　Entreri。　〃Dead；　as　Vierna　predicted。〃　He　led　his　drow　panion　toward　the　assassin。

Entreri　was　not　at　all　surprised　to　find　the　slain　soldier　right　below　the　chute。　He；　above　anyone　else　in　Vierna's　party；　understood　how　deadly　their　opponent　might　be；　and　how　efficient。　Entreri　did　not　doubt　that　the　two　acpanying　him；　skilled　fighters　but　inexperienced　concerning　the　ways　of　their　enemy；　would　have　little　chance　of　catching　Drizzt。　By　Entreri's　estimation；　if　these　unknowing　dark　elves　had　e　through　the　chute　alone；　Drizzt　might　well　have　cut　them　down　already。

Entreri　smiled　privately　at　the　thought；　then　smiled　even　more　widely　as　he　realized　that　these　two　didn't　understand　their　ally；　let　alone　their　enemy。

His　sword　jabbed　to　the　side　as　the　trailing　drow　passed　by　him；　neatly　skewering　both　of　the　unfortunate　elf's　lungs。　The　other　drow；　quicker　than　Entreri　had　expected；　wheeled　about；　handcrossbow　leveled　and　ready。

A　jeweled　dagger　came　first；　nicking　the　draw's　weapon　hand　hard　enough　to　deflect　the　shot　harmlessly　wide。　Undaunted；　the　dark　elf　snarled　and　produced　a　pair　of　finely　edged　swords。

It　never　ceased　to　amaze　Entreri　how　easily　these　dark　elves　fought　so　well　with　two　weapons　of　equal　length。　He　whipped　his　thin　leather　belt　from　his　breeches　and　looped　it　double　in　his　free　left　hand；　waving　it　and　his　sword　out　in　front　to　keep　his　opponent　at　bay。

〃You　side　with　Drizzt　Do'Urden！〃　the　drow　accused。

〃I　do　not　side　with　you；〃　Entreri　corrected。　The　drow　came　at　him　hard；　swords　crossing；　going　back　out　wide；　then　crossing　in　close　again；　forcing　Entreri　to　bat　them　with　his　own　sword；　then　promptly　retreat。　The　attack　was　skilled　and　deceptively　quick；　but　Entreri　immediately　recognized　the　primary　difference　between　this　drow　and　Drizzt；　the　subtle　level　of　skill　that　elevated　Drizzt—and　Entreri；　for　that　matter—from　these　other　fighters。　The　double　crossing　attack　had　been　launched　as　finely　as　any　Entreri　had　ever　seen；　but　during　the　few　seconds　he　had　taken　to　execute　the　maneuver；　the　dark　elf's　defenses　had　not　been　aligned。　Like　so　many　other　fine　fighters；　this　drow　was　a　one…way　warrior；　perfect　on　the　attack；　perfect　on　defense；　but　not　perfect　on　both　at　the　same　time。

It　was　a　minor　thing；　the　drow's　quickness　pensated　so　well　that　most　fighters　would　never　have　noticed　the　apparent　weakness。　But　Entreri　was　not　like　most　fighters。

Again　the　drow　pressed　the　attack。　One　sword　darted　straight　for　Entreri's　face；　only　to　be　swatted　aside　at　the　last　moment。　The　second　sword　came　in　low；　right　behind；　but　Entreri　reversed　his　weapon's　momentum　and　batted　the　thrusting　tip　to　the　ground。

Furiously　the　drow　came　on；　swords　flying；　diving　for　any　apparent　opening；　only　to　be　intercepted　by　Entreri's　sword　or　hooked　and　pulled　wide　by　the　leather　belt。

And　all　the　while　the　assassin　willingly　retreated；　bided　his　time；　waited　for　the　sure　kill。

The　swords　crossed；　went　out　wide；　and　crossed　again　as　they　charged　for　Entreri's　midsection；　the　dark　elf　repeating　his　initial　attack。

The　defense　had　changed；　the　assassin　moving　with　sudden；　terrifying　speed。

Entreri's　belt　looped　around　the　tip　of　the　sword　in　the　drow's　right　hand；　which　was　crossed　under　the　other；　and　then　the　assassin　jerked　back　to　his　left；　pulling　the　swords　tightly　together　and　forcing　them　both　to　the　side。

The　doomed　dark　elf　started　backing　at　once；　and　both　swords　easily　came　free　of　the　awkward　belt；　but　the　drow；　his　defensive　balance　forfeited　in　the　offensive　routine；　needed　a　split　second　to　recover　his　posture。

Entreri's　flashing　sword　didn't　take　that　split　second。　It　dove　hungrily　into　the　drow's　exposed　left　flank；　tip　twisting　as　it　weaved　its　way　into　the　soft　flesh　beneath　the　rib　cage。

The　wounded　warrior　fell　back；　his　belly　wickedly　torn；　and　Entreri　did　not　pursue；　instead　falling　into　his　balanced　battle　stance。

〃You　are　dead；〃　he　said　matter…of…factly　as　the　drow　struggled　to　stand　and　keep　his　swords　level。

The　drow　could　not　dispute　the　claim；　and　could　not　hope；　through　the　blinding　and　burning　agony；　to　stop　the　assassin's　impending　attack。　He　dropped　his　weapons　to　the　floor　and　announced；　〃I　yield。〃

〃Well　spoken；”　Entreri　congratulated　him；　then　the　assassin　drove　his　sword　into　the　foolish　dark　elf's　heart。

He　cleaned　the　blade　on　his　victim's　piwafwi；　retrieved　his　precious　dagger；　then　turned　to　regard　the　empty　tunnel；　running　fairly　straight　both　ways　beyond　the　range　of　his　somewhat　limited　infravision。　〃Now；　dear　Drizzt；〃　he　said　loudly；　〃things　are　as　I　had　planned。〃　Entreri　smiled；　congratulating　himself　for　so　perfectly　manipulating　such　a　dangerous　situation。

〃I　have　not　forgotten　the　sewers　of　Calimport；　Drizzt　Do'Urden！〃　he　shouted；　his　anger　suddenly　boiling　over。　〃Nor　have　I　forgiven！〃

Entreri　calmed　at　once；　reminding　himself　that　his　rage　had　been　his　weakness　on　that　occasion　when　he　had　battled　Drizzt　in　the　southern　city。

〃Take　heart；　my　respected　friend；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃for　now　we　can　begin　our　play；　as　it　was　always　meant　to　be。〃



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Drizzt　circled　back　to　the　chute　area　soon　after　Entreri　had　departed。　He　knew　at　once　what　had　transpired　when　he　saw　the　two　new　corpses；　and　he　realized　that　none　of　this　had　occurred　by　accident。　Drizzt　had　baited　Entreri　in　the　chamber　above；　had　refused　to　play　the　game　the　way　the　assassin　had　desired。　But　Entreri　apparently　had　anticipated　Drizzt's　reluctance　and　had　prepared；　or　improvised；　an　alternative　plan。　Now　he　had　Drizzt；　just　Drizzt；　in　the　lower　tunnels；　one　against　one。　Now；　too；　if　it　came　to　bat；　Drizzt　would　fight　with　all　his　heart；　knowing　that　to　win　was　to　at　least　have　some　chance　of　freedom。　Drizzt　nodded　his　head；　silently　congratulating　his　opportunistic　enemy。　But　Drizzt's　priorities　were　not　akin　to　Entreri's。　The　dark　elf's　main　concern　was　to　find　his　way　through；　to　circle　back　around；　that　he　might　rejoin　his　friends　and　aid　them　in　their　peril。　To　Drizzt；　Entreri　was　no　more　than　another　piece　of　the　larger　threat。

If　　he　happened　to　encounter　Entreri　on　his　way；　though；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　meant　to　finish　the　game。



Chapter　16

Drawing　Lines



I　am　not　pleased；〃　Vierna　remarked；　standing　｜　with　Jarlaxle　in　the　tunnel　near　the　conjured　iron　wall；　with　poor　Cobble's　squashed　body　I　underneath。

〃Did　you　believe　it　would　be　so　easy？〃　the　mercenary　replied。　〃We　have　entered　the　runnels　of　a　fortified　dwarven　plex　with　a　contingent　of　barely　fifty　soldiers。　Fifty　against　thousands。

〃You　will　recapture　your　brother；〃　Jarlaxle　added；　not　wanting　Vierna　to　get　overly　anxious。　〃My　troops　are　well…trained。　Already　I　have　dispatched　nearly　three　dozen；　the　entire　Baenre　plement；　to　the　single　corridor　leading　out　of　Mithril　Hall　proper。　None　of　Drizzt's　allies　shall　enter　that　way；　and　his　trapped　friends　shall　not　escape。〃　〃When　the　dwarves　learn　we　are　about；　they　will　send　an　army；〃　Vierna　reasoned　grimly。

〃If　they　learn；〃　Jarlaxle　corrected。　〃The　tunnels　of　Mithril　Hall　are　long。　It　will　take　our　adversaries　some　time　to　muster　a　significant　force—days　perhaps。　We　will　be　halfway　to　Menzoberranzan；　with　Drizzt；　before　the　dwarves　are　organized。〃

Vierna　paused　for　a　long　while；　considering　her　next　course　of　action。　There　were　only　two　ways　up　from　the　bottom　level：　the　chute　in　the　nearby　room　and　winding　tunnels　some　distance　to　the　north。　She　looked　to　the　room　and　moved　into　it　to　regard　the　chute；　wondering　if　she　had　done　wrong　in　sending　only　three　after　Drizzt。　She　considered　ordering　her　entire　force—a　dozen　drow　and　the　drider—down　in　pursuit。

〃The　human　will　get　him；〃　Jarlaxle　said　to　her；　as　though　he　had　read　her　mind。　〃Artemis　Entreri　knows　our　enemy　better　than　we；　he　has　battled　Drizzt　across　the　wide　expanses　of　the　surface　world。　Also；　he　wears　still　the　earring；　that　you　might　track　his　progress。　Up　here　we　have　Drizzt's　friends；　only　a　handful　by　my　scouts'　reckoning；　to　deal　with。〃

〃And　if　Drizzt　eludes　Entreri？〃　Vierna　asked。

〃There　are　only　two　ways　up；〃　Jarlaxle　remi