精灵血脉四部曲-第33部分

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that　any　direction　choice　he　might　make　at　this　point；　with　no　feasible　landmarks　to　guide　him；　would　be　mere　guesswork。

Then　he　came　to　an　intersection　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　fleeting；　shadowy　figure　darting　along　an　apparently　parallel　tunnel　to　his　right　flank。

Drizzt　knew　instinctively　that　it　was　Entreri；　and　it　seemed　obvious　that　Entreri　would　know　the　other　way　out　of　this　level。

To　the　right　Drizzt　went；　in　crouched；　measured　steps；　now　the　pursuer；　not　the　pursued。

He　paused　when　he　got　to　the　parallel　tunnel；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　peeked　around。　The　shadowy　figure；　moving　quickly；　was　far　ahead；　turning　unexpectedly　right　once　more。

Drizzt　considered　this　course　change　with　more　than　a　little　suspicion。　Shouldn't　Entreri　have　kept　to　the　left；　kept　close　to　the　course　he　thought　Drizzt　was　taking？

Drizzt　suspected　then　that　the　assassin　knew　he　was　being　followed　and　was　leading　Drizzt　to　a　place　Entreri　considered　favorable。　Drizzt　couldn't　afford　the　delay　of　heeding　his　suspicions；　though；　not　while　the　fate　of　his　overmatched　friends　lay　in　the　balance。　To　the　right　he　went；　quickly；　only　to　find　that　he　had　not　gained　any　ground；　that　Entreri's　course　had　led　them　both　into　quite　a　maze　of　crisscrossing　passageways。

With　the　assassin　no　longer　in　sight；　Drizzt　concentrated　on　the　floor。　To　his　relief；　he　was　close　enough　behind　so　that　the　residual　heat　of　Entreri's　passing　footsteps　was　still　visible；　though　barely；　to　his　superior　infravision。　He　realized　that　he　was　vulnerable；　head　down；　with　little　idea　of　how　many　seconds　ahead　of　him　the　assassin　might　be；　or　how　many　seconds　behind；　Drizzt　knew；　for　he　felt　certain　that　Entreri　had　led　him　to　this　region　so　that　he　could　double　back　and　e　at　Drizzt　from　the　back。

His　pace　barely　matched　Entreri's　as　the　narrow　tunnels　gave　way　to　wider　natural　chambers。　The　footsteps　remained　obscure　and　fast　cooling；　but　Drizzt　somehow　managed。

A　small　cry　ahead　gave　him　pause。　It　wasn't　Entreri；　Drizzt　knew；　but　he　believed　he　was　not　yet　close　enough　to　link　up　with　his　friends。

Who　had　it　been；　then？

Drizzt　used　his　ears　instead　of　his　eyes　and　sorted　through　the　tiny　echoes　to　follow　a　barely　audible　whimpering。　He　was　glad　then　for　his　drow　warrior　training；　for　years　of　studying　echo　patterns　in　winding　tunnels。

The　whimpering　grew　louder；　Drizzt　knew　its　source　was　just　around　the　bend；　in　what　appeared　to　him　from　his　angle　to　be　a　small；　oval　side　chamber。

One　scimitar　drawn；　another　hand　on　Twinkle's　hilt；　the　drow　dashed　around　the　corner。

Regis！

Battered　and　torn；　the　plump　halfling　lay　sprawled　against　the　far　wall；　his　hands　tightly　bound；　a　thin　gag　pulled　tightly　across　his　mouth；　and　his　cheeks　caked　with　blood。　Drizzt's　first　instincts　sent　him　running　forward　for　his　injured　friend；　but　he　skidded　to　a　halt；　fearing　another　of　clever　Entreri's　many　tricks。

Regis　noticed　him；　looked　desperately　to　him。

Drizzt　had　seen　that　expression　before；　recognized　its　sincerity　beyond　anything　a　disguised　Entreri；　mask　or　no　mask；　could　hope　to　duplicate。　He　was　at　the　halfling's　side　in　a　moment；　cutting　the　bonds；　tearing　free　the　tight。

〃Entreri。。。〃　the　halfling　began　breathlessly。

〃I　know；〃　Drizzt　said　calmly。

〃No；〃　Regis　retorted　sharply；　demanding　the　drow's　attention。　〃Entreri。。。　was　just。。。〃

〃He　passed　through　here　no　more　than　a　minute　ahead　of　me；〃　Drizzt　finished；　not　wanting　Regis　to　struggle　any　more　than　necessary　for　his　labored　breath。

Regis　nodded；　his　round　eyes　darting　about　as　though　he　expected　the　assassin　to　charge　back　in　and　slay　them　both。

Drizzt　was　more　concerned　with　an　examination　of　the　halfling's　many　wounds。　Taken　individually；　each　of　them　appeared　superficial；　but　together　they　added　up　to　a　severe　condition　indeed。　Drizzt　let　Regis　take　a　few　moments　to　get　the　blood　circulating　through　his　recently　untied　hands　and　feet；　then　tried　to　get　the　halfling　to　stand。

Regis　shook　his　head　immediately；　a　great　wave　of　dizziness　knocked　him　from　his　feet；　and　he　would　have　hit　the　stone　floor　hard　had　not　Drizzt　been　there　to　catch　him。

〃Leave　me；〃　Regis　said；　showing　an　unexpected　measure　of　altruism。

Indomitable；　the　drow　smiled　fortingly　and　hoisted　Regis　to　his　side。

〃Together；〃　he　explained　casually。　〃I　would　not　leave　you　any　more　than　you　would　leave　me。〃

The　assassin's　trail　was；　by　then；　too　cool　to　follow；　so　Drizzt　had　to　go　on　blindly；　hoping　he　would　stumble　on　some　clue　as　to　the　location　of　the　passage　to　the　higher　level。　He　drew　out　Twinkle　now；　instead　of　his　other　blade；　and　used　the　light　to　help　him　avoid　any　small　jags　in　the　floor；　that　he　might　keep　Regis's　walk　more　fortable。　All　measure　of　stealth　had　been　lost　anyway；　with　the　groaning　halfling　held　at　his　side；　Regis's　feet　more　often　scraping　than　stepping　as　Drizzt　pulled　him　along。

〃I　thought　he　would　。　。　。　kill。　。　。　me；〃　Regis　remarked　after　he　had　caught　and　held　enough　of　his　hard…to…find　breath　to　utter　a　plete　sentence。

〃Entreri　kills　only　when　he　perceives　it　to　his　advantage；〃　Drizzt　replied。

〃Why　did　he　。。。　bring　me　along？〃　Regis　honestly　wondered。　〃And　why　。。。　did　he　let　you　find　me？〃　Drizzt　looked　at　his　little　friend　curiously。　〃He　led　you　to　me；〃　Regis　reasoned。　〃He　。。。〃　The　half…ling　slumped　heavily；　but　Drizzt's　strong　arm　continued　to　hold　him　upright。

Drizzt　understood　exactly　why　Entreri　had　led　him　to　Regis。　The　assassin　knew　that　Drizzt　would　carry　Regis　along—by　Entreri's　measure；　that　was　exactly　the　difference　between　him　and　Drizzt。　Entreri　perceived　that　very　passion　to　be　the　draw's　weakness。　In　all　truth；　the　stealth　had　been　lost；　and　now　Drizzt　would　have　to　play　this　game　of　cat　and　mouse　by　Entreri's　rules；　showing　as　much　attention　to　his　burdening　friend　as　to　the　game。　Even　if　luck　showed　Drizzt　the　way　up　to　the　next　level；　he　would　have　a　difficult　time　getting　to　his　friends　before　Entreri　caught　up　to　him。

Even　more　important　than　the　physical　burden；　Drizzt　realized；　Entreri　had　given　Regis　back　to　him　to　ensure　an　honest　fight。　Drizzt　would　play　out　their　inevitable　battle　wholeheartedly；　with　no　intention　of　running　away；　with　Regis　lying　helpless　somewhere　nearby。

Regis　slipped　in　and　out　of　consciousness　over　the　next　half　hour；　Drizzt　unplaining　and　carrying　him　along；　every　now　and　then　switching　arms　to　balance　the　load。　The　drow　ranger's　skill　in　the　tunnels　was　considerable；　and　he　felt　confident　that　he　was　making　headway　in　sorting　through　the　maze。

They　came　into　a　long；　straight　passage；　a　bit　higher…roofed　and　wider　than　the　many　they　had　crossed。　Drizzt　placed　Regis　down　easily　against　a　wall　and　studied　the　patterns　in　the　rock。　He　noticed　a　barely　perceptible　incline　in　the　floor；　rising　to　the　south；　but　the　fact　that　they；　traveling　north；　were　going　slightly　down　did　not　disturb　the　drow　at　all。

〃This　is　the　main　corridor　of　the　region；〃　he　decided　at　length。　Regis　looked　to　him；　puzzled。

〃It　once　ran　fast　with　water；〃　Drizzt　explained；　〃probably　cutting　through　the　mountain　to　exit　at　some　distant　waterfall　to　the　north。〃

〃We're　going　down？〃　Regis　asked。

Drizzt　nodded。　〃But　if　there　is　a　passageway　back　up　to　the　lower　levels　of　Mithril　Hall；　it　will　likely　lie　along　this　route。〃

〃Well　done；〃　came　a　reply　from　somewhere　in　the　distance。　A　slender　form　stepped　out　of　a　side　passage；　just　a　few　dozen　feet　ahead　of　Drizzt　and　Regis。

Drizzt's　hand　went　instinctively　inside　his　cloak；　but；　putting　more　trust　in　his　scimitars；　he　retracted　it　immediately　as　the　assassin　approached。

〃Have　I　given　to　you　the　hope　you　so　desired？〃　Entreri　teased。　He　said　something　under　his　breath—a　call　to　his　weapon　probably；　for　his　slender　sword　began　glowing　fiercely　in　bluish…green　hues；　revealing　the　assassin's　graceful　form　in　dim　outline　as　he　sauntered　toward　his　waiting　enemy。

〃A　hope　you　will　e　to　regret；〃　Drizzt　replied　evenly。

The　whiteness　of　Entreri's　teeth　gleamed　in　the　aqua　light　as　he　answered　through　a　wide　smile。　〃Let　us　see。〃



Chapter　18

mon　Danger



His　noise　will　bring　the　whole　of　the　Underdark　on　our　heads；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　Bruenor；　referring　to　the　battlerager's　continually　squealing　armor。　Pwent；　realizing　the　same；　had　gone　far　ahead　of　the　others　and　was　gradually　outpacing　them；　for　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar；　human　and　not　blessed　with　eyes　that　could　see　in　the　infrared　spectrum；　had　to　nearly　crawl　along；　one　hand　on　Bruenor　at　all　times。　Only　Guenhwyvar；　sometimes　leading；　more　often　moving　as　a　silent　emissary　between　Bruenor　and　the　battlerager；　maintained　any　semblance　of　munication　between　the　principals　of　the　small　troupe。

Another　grating　squeal　from　ahead　brought　a　grimace　to　Bruenor's　face。　He　heard　Catti…brie's　resigned　sigh　and　agreed　with　it。　Even　more　so　than　his　daughter；　the　experienced　Bruenor　understood　the　futility　of　it　all。　He　thought　of　making　Pwent　remove　the　noisy　armor　but　dismissed　the　notion　immediately；　realizing　that　even　if　all　four　of　them　walked　naked；　their　footfalls　would　sound　as　clearly　as　a　marching　drumbeat　to　the　sensitive　ears　of　the　enemy　dark　elves。

〃Put　up　the　torch；〃　he　instructed　Wulfgar。　〃Surely　ye　cannot；〃　Catti…brie　argued。　〃They're　all　about　us；〃　Bruenor　replied。　〃I　can　sense　the　dogs；　and　they'll　see　us　as　well　without　the　light　as　with。　We've　no　chance　of　getting　through　without　another　fight—I'm　knowing　that　now—so　we　might　as　well　fight　'em　on　terms　better　suited　for　our　side。〃

Catti…brie　turned　her　head　about；　though　she　could　see　nothing　at　all　in　the　pitch　blackness。　She　sensed　the　truth　of　Bruenor's　observations；　though；　sensed　that　dark　and　silent　shapes　were　moving　all　about　them；　closing　a　noose　about　the　doomed　party。　A　moment　later　she　had　to　blink　and　squint　when　Wulfgar's　torch　came　up　in　a　fiery　blaze。　Flickering　shadows　replaced　absolute　blackness；　Catti…brie　was　surprised　at　how　uncut　this　tunnel　was；　much　more　natural　and　rough　than　those　they　had　left。　Soil　mixed　with　the　stone　along　the　ceiling　and　walls；　giving　the　young　woman　less　confidence　in　the　stability　of　the　place。　She　became　acutely　aware　of　the　hundreds　of　tons　of　earth　and　rock　above　her　head；　aware　that　a　sli