精灵血脉四部曲-第31部分

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th。〃

〃And　if　Drizzt　eludes　Entreri？〃　Vierna　asked。

〃There　are　only　two　ways　up；〃　Jarlaxle　reminded　her　again。

Vierna　nodded；　her　decision　made；　and　walked　across　to　the　chute。　She　took　a　small　wand　out　of　a　fold　in　her　ornamental　robes　and　closed　her　eyes；　beginning　a　soft　chant。　Slowly　and　deliberately；　Vierna　traced　precise　lines　across　the　opening；　the　tip　of　the　wand　spewing　sticky　filament。　Perfectly；　the　priestess　outlined　a　spiderweb　of　thin　strands；　covering　the　opening。　Vierna　stepped　back　to　examine　her　work。　From　a　pouch　she　produced　a　packet　of　fine　dust；　and；　beginning　a　second　chant；　she　sprinkled　it　over　the　web。　Immediately　the　strands　thickened　and　took　on　a　black　and　silvery　luster。　Then　the　shine　faded　and　the　warmth　of　the　enchantment's　energy　cooled　to　room　temperature；　leaving　the　strands　practically　invisible。

〃Now　there　is　one　way　up；〃　Vierna　announced　to　Jarlaxle。　〃No　weapon　can　cut　the　strands。〃

〃To　the　north；　then；〃　Jarlaxle　agreed。　〃I　have　sent　a　handful　of　runners　ahead　to　guard　the　lower　tunnels。〃

〃Drizzt　and　his　friends　must　not　join；〃　Vierna　instructed。

〃If　Drizzt　sees　his　friends　again；　they　will　already　be　dead；〃　the　cocky　mercenary　replied　with　all　confidence。



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〃There　may　be　another　way　into　the　room；〃　Wulfgar　offered。　〃If　we　could　strike　at　them　from　both　sides—〃

〃Drizzt　is　gone　from　the　place；〃　Bruenor　interrupted；　the　dwarf　fingering　the　magical　locket　and　looking　to　the　floor；　sensing　that　his　friend　was　somewhere　below　them。

〃When　we've　killed　all　our　enemies；　yer　friend'll　find　us；〃　Pwent　reasoned。

Wulfgar；　still　holding　the　battlerager　off　the　ground　by　his　helmet　spike；　gave　him　a　little　shake。

〃I've　no　heart　for　fighting　drow；〃　Bruenor　replied；　and　he　gave　both　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　concerned　sidelong　glances；　〃not　like　this。　We're　to　keep　away　from　them　if　we　can；　hit　at　'em　only　when　we　find　the　need。〃

〃We　could　go　back　and　get　Dagna；〃　Wulfgar　offered；　〃and　sweep　the　tunnels　clean　of　dark　elves。〃

Bruenor　looked　to　the　maze　of　corridors　that　would　bring　him　back　to　the　dwarven　plex；　considering　the　path。　He　and　his　friends　could　lose　perhaps　an　hour　in　working　their　roundabout　way　to　Mithril　Hall；　and　several　hours　more　in　rounding　up　a　sizable　force。　Those　were　several　hours　that　Drizzt　probably　didn't　have　to　spare。

〃We　go　for　Drizzt；〃　Catti…brie　decided　firmly。　〃We　got　yer　locket　to　point　us　right；　and　Guenhwyvar　will　take　us　to　him。〃

Bruenor　knew　Pwent　would　readily　agree　to　anything　that　opened　the　possibility　for　a　fight；　and　Guenhwyvar's　fur　was　ruffled；　the　panther　anxious；　sleek　muscles　tense。　The　dwarf　looked　to　Wulfgar　and　nearly　spat　at　the　lad　for　the　worried；　condescending　expression　splayed　across　his　face　as　he　studied　Catti…brie。

Without　warning；　Guenhwyvar　froze　in　place；　issuing　a　low；　quiet　growl。　Catti…brie　immediately　doused　the　low…burning　torch　and　crouched　low；　using　the　red…glowing　dots　of　dwarven　eyes　to　keep　her　bearings。

The　group　came　closer　together；　Bruenor　whispering　for　the　others　to　remain　in　the　side　chamber　while　he　went　out　to　see　what　the　cat　had　sensed。

〃Drow；〃　he　explained　when　he　returned　a　moment　later；　Guenhwyvar　at　his　side；　〃just　a　handful；　moving　fast　and　to　the　north。〃

〃Handful　o'　dead　drow；〃　Pwent　corrected。　The　others　could　hear　the　battlerager　eagerly　rubbing　his　hands　together；　the　shoulder　joints　of　his　armor　scraping　too　noisily。

〃No　fighting！〃　Bruenor　whispered　as　loudly　as　he　dared；　and　he　grabbed　Pwent's　arms　to　stop　the　motion。　〃I'm　thinking　that　this　group　might　have　an　idea　of　where　to　find　Drizzt；　that　they're　out　looking　for　him；　but　we　got　no　chance　of　keeping　up　with　them　without　light。〃

〃And　if　we　put　up　the　torch；　we'll　find　ourselves　fighting　soon　enough；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned。

〃Then　light　the　damned　torch！〃　Pwent　said　hopefully。

〃Shut　yer　mouth；〃　Bruenor　answered。　〃We're　going　out　slow　and　easy—and　ye　keep　the　torch；　make　it　two　torches；　ready　for　lighting　at　the　first　signs　of　a　fight；〃　he　told　Wulfgar。　Then　he　motioned　to　Guenhwyvar　to　lead　them；　bidding　the　cat　to　keep　the　pace　slow。

Pwent　shoved　his　large　flask　into　Catti…brie's　hand　as　soon　as　they　exited　the　tunnel。　〃Take　a　hit　o'　this；〃　he　instructed；　〃axvdpaa？。　t　about。〃

Catti…brie　blindly　moved　her　hands　about　the　item；　finally　discerning　it　to　be　a　flask。　She　gingerly　sniffed　the　foul…smelling　liquid　and　started　to　hand　it　back。

〃Ye'll　think　the　better　of　it　when　a　drow　elf　puts　a　poisoned　dart　into　yer　backside；〃　the　crude　battlerager　explained；　patting　Catti…brie　on　the　rump。　〃With　this　stuff　flowing　about　yer　blood；　no　poison's　got　a　chance！〃

Reminding　herself　that　Drizzt　was　in　trouble；　the　young　woman　took　a　deep　draw　on　the　flask；　then　coughed　and　stumbled　to　the　side。　For　a　moment；　she　saw　eight　dwarf　eyes　and　four　cat　eyes　staring　at　her；　but　the　double　vision　soon　went　away　and　she　passed　the　flask　on　to　Bruenor。

Bruenor　handled　it　easily；　offering　a　sigh　and　a　profound；　though　quiet；　belch　when　he　had　finished。　〃Warms　yer　toes；〃　he　explained　to　Wulfgar　when　he　passed　it　along。

After　Wulfgar　had　recovered；　the　group　set　off；　Guenhwyvar's　padded　paws　quietly　marking　the　way；　and　Pwent's　armor　squealing　noisily　with　every　eager　stride。



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Forty　battle…ready　dwarves　followed　the　stomping　boots　of　General　Dagna　through　the　lower　mines　of　Mithril　Hall　to　the　final　guardroom。

〃We'll　make　right　for　the　goblin　hall；〃　the　general　explained　to　his　charges；　〃and　branch　out　from　there。〃　He　went　on　to　instruct　the　door　guards；　setting　up　a　series　of　tapping　signals　and　leaving　directions　for　any　subsequent　troops　that　came　in；　explicitly　manding　that　no　dwarves　in　groups　less　than　a　dozen　were　to　be　allowed　into　the　new　sections。

Then　stern　Dagna　put　his　soldiers　in　line；　placed　himself　bravely　and　proudly　at　their　lead；　and　moved　through　the　opened　door。　Dagna　really　didn't　believe　that　Bruenor　was　in　peril；　figured　that　perhaps　a　pocket　of　goblin　resistance　or　some　other　minor　inconvenience　remained　to　be　cleared。　But　the　general　was　a　conservative　mander；　preferring　overkill　to　even　odds；　and　he　would　take　no　chances　where　Bruenor's　safety　was　concerned。

The　heavy　footsteps　of　hard　boots；　clanking　armor；　and　even　a　grumbling　war　chant　now　and　then　heralded　the　approach　of　the　force；　and　every　third　dwarf　held　a　torch。　Dagna　had　no　reason　to　believe　that　this　formidable　force　would　need　stealth；　and　hoped　that　Bruenor　and　any　other　allies　who　might　be　wandering　about　down　here　would　be　able　to　find　the　boisterous　troupe。

Dagna　didn't　know　about　the　dark　elves。

The　dwarves'　rolling　pace　soon　got　them　near　the　first　intersection；　in　sight　of　the　piled　ettin　bones　from　Bruenor's　long…ago　kill。　Dagna　called　for　〃side　watchers〃　and　started　forward；　meaning　to　continue　straight　ahead；　straight　for　the　main　chamber　of　the　goblin　battle。　Before　he　even　reached　the　side　passage；　Dagna　slowed　his　troops　and　called　for　a　measure　of　quiet。

The　general　glanced　all　about　curiously；　nervously；　as　he　began　to　cross　through　the　wider　intersection。　His　warrior　instincts；　honed　over　three　centuries　of　fighting；　told　him　that　something　wasn't　right；　the　thick　layers　of　hair　on　the　back　of　his　neck　tingled　weirdly。

Then　the　lights　went　out。

At　first；　the　dwarf　general　thought　something　had　extinguished　the　torches；　but　he　quickly　realized；　from　the　clamor　arising　behind　him　and　from　the　fact　that　his　infravision；　when　he　was　able　to　refocus　his　eyes；　was　utterly　useless；　that　something　more　ominous　had　occurred。

〃Darkness！〃　cried　one　dwarf。

〃Wizards！〃　howled　another。

Dagna　heard　his　panions　jostle　about；　heard　something　whistle　by　his　ear；　followed　by　the　grunt　of　one　of　his　undermanders　standing　immediately　behind　him。　Instinctively；　the　general　began　to　backtrack；　and；　only　a　few　short　strides　later；　he　emerged　from　the　globe　of　conjured　darkness　to　find　his　charges　rushing　all　around。　A　second　globe　of　darkness　had　split　the　dwarven　force　almost　exactly　in　half；　and　those　in　front　of　the　spell　were　calling　out　to　those　caught　within　it　and　to　those　behind；　trying　to　muster　some　organization。

〃Wedge　up！〃　Dagna　cried　above　the　tumult；　demanding　the　most　basic　of　dwarven　battle　formations。　〃It's　a　spell　of　darkness；　nothing　more！〃　Beside　the　genera！；　a　dwarf　clutched　at　his　chest；　pulled　out　some　small　type　of　dart　that　Dagna　did　not　recognize；　and　tumbled　to　the　ground；　snoring　before　he　ever　hit　the　stone。

Something　nicked　at　Dagna's　shin；　but　he　ignored　it　and　continued　his　mands；　trying　to　orient　the　group　into　a　single　and　unified　fighting　unit。　He　sent　five　dwarves　rushing　out　to　the　right　flank；　around　the　darkness　globe　and　into　the　beginning　of　the　intersecting　passage。

〃Find　me　that　damned　wizard！〃　he　ordered　them。　〃And　find　out　what　in　the　Nine　Hells　we're　fighting　against！〃

Dagna's　frustration　only　fueled　his　ire；　and　soon　he　had　the　remaining　dwarven　force　in　a　tight　wedge　formation；　ready　to　punch　through　the　initial　darkness　globe。

The　five　flanking　dwarves　rambled　into　the　side　passage。　Once　convinced　that　no　enemies　lurked　down　that　way；　they　quickly　looped　about　the　blackness　globe；　heading　for　the　narrow　opening　between　the　sphere　and　the　entryway　farther　along　the　main　corridor。

Two　dark　forms　emerged　from　the　shadows；　dropping　to　one　knee　before　the　dwarves　and　leveling　small　crossbows。

The　leading　dwarf；　hit　twice；　stumbled　but　still　managed　to　call　for　the　charge。　He　and　his　four　panions　launched　themselves　at　their　enemy　in　full　flight；　taking　no　notice　until　it　was　too　late　that　other　enemies；　other　dark　elves；　were　levitating　above　and　dropping　down　all　about　them。

〃What　the。。。〃　a　dwarf　gasped　as　a　drow　nimbly　landed　beside　him；　smashing　in　the　side　of　his　skull　with　a　powerfully　enchanted　mace。

〃Hey；　yerself　ain't　Drizzt！〃　another　dwarf　managed　to　remark　a　split　second　before　a　drow　sword　sliced　his　throat。

The　group　leader　wanted　to　call　for　a　retreat；　but　even　as　he　started　to　yell；　the　floor　rushed　up　and　swallowed　him。　It　was　a　fine　bed　for　a　sleeping　dwarf；　but　from　this　slumber；　the　vulnerable　soldier　would　never　awaken。

In　the　span　of　five　seconds；　only　two　dwarves