精灵血脉四部曲-第34部分

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　She　became　acutely　aware　of　the　hundreds　of　tons　of　earth　and　rock　above　her　head；　aware　that　a　slight　shift　in　the　stone　could　instantly　crush　her　and　her　panions。

〃What're　ye　about？〃　Bruenor　asked　her；　seeing　her　obvious　anxiety。　He　turned　to　Wulfgar　and　saw　the　barbarian　growing　similarly　unnerved。

〃Unworked　tunnels；〃　the　dwarf　remarked；　ing　to　understand。　〃Ye're　not　so　used　to　the　wild　depths。〃　He　put　a　gnarly　hand　on　his　beloved　daughter's　arm　and　felt　beads　of　cold　sweat。

〃Ye'll　get　used　to　it；〃　the　dwarf　gently　promised。　〃Just　remember　that　Drizzt　is　alone　down　here　and　needing　our　help。　Keep　yer　mind　on　that　fact　and　ye'll　fast　forget　the　stone　above　yer　head。〃

Catti…brie　nodded　resolutely；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　determinedly　wiped　the　sweat　from　her　brow。　Bruenor　moved　ahead　then；　saying　that　he　was　going　to　the　front　edge　of　the　torchlight　to　see　if　he　could　locate　the　leading　battlerager。

〃Drizzt　needs　us；〃　Wulfgar　said　to　Catti…brie　as　soon　as　the　dwarf　had　gone。

Catti…brie　turned　to　him；　surprised　by　his　tone。　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　while；　Wulfgar　had　spoken　to　her　without　a　hint　of　either　protective　condescension　or　mounting　rage。

Wulfgar　walked　up　to　her；　put　his　arm　gently　against　her　back　to　move　her　along。　She　matched　his　slow　stride；　all　the　while　studying　his　fair　face；　trying　to　sort　through　the　obvious　torment　in　his　strong　facial　features。

〃When　this　is　through；　we　have　much　to　discuss；〃　he　said　quietly。

Catti…brie　stopped；　eyeing　him　suspiciously—and　that　seemed　to　wound　the　barbarian　even　more。

〃I　have　many　apologies　to　offer；〃　Wulfgar　tried　to　explain；　〃to　Drizzt；　to　Bruenor；　but　mostly　to　you。　To　let　Regis—Artemis　Entreri—fool　me　so！〃　Wulfgar's　mounting　excitement　flew　away　when　he　took　the　moment　to　look　closely　at　Catti…brie；　to　see　the　stern　resolve　in　her　blue　eyes。

〃What　happened　over　the　last　few　weeks　surely　was　heightened　by　the　assassin　and　his　magical　pendant；〃　the　young　woman　agreed；　〃but　I'm　fearing　that　the　problems　were　there　afore　Entreri　ever　arrived。　First　thing；　ye　got　to　admit　that　to　yerself。〃

Wulfgar　looked　away；　considered　the　words；　then　nodded　his　agreement。　〃We　will　talk；〃　he　promised。

〃After　we're　through　with　the　drow；〃　Catti…brie　said。

Again　the　barbarian　nodded。

〃And　keep　yer　place　in　mind；〃　Catti…brie　told　him。　〃Ye've　a　role　to　play　in　the　group；　and　it's　not　a　role　of　looking　out　for　me　own　safety。　Keep　yer　place。〃

〃And　you　keep　yours；〃　Wulfgar　agreed；　and　his　ensuing　smile　sent　a　burst　of　warmth　through　Catti…brie；　a　poignant　reminder　of　those　special；　boyish　qualities；　innocent　and　unjudging；　that　had　so　attracted　her　to　Wulfgar　in　the　first　place。

The　barbarian　nodded　again　and；　still　smiling；　started　away；　Catti…brie　at　his　side—but　no　longer　behind　him。



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〃I　have　given　you　all　of　this；〃　Entreri　prodded；　moving　slowly　toward　his　rival；　his　glowing　sword　and　jeweled　dagger　held　out　wide　as　though　he　were　guiding　a　tour　around　some　vast　treasure　hoard。　〃Because　of　my　efforts；　you　have　hope　once　more；　you　can　walk　these　very　dark　tunnels　with　some　belief　that　you　will　again　see　the　light　of　day。〃　Drizzt；　jaw　set　firm；　scimitars　in　hand；　did　not　reply。　〃Are　you　not　grateful？〃

〃Please　kill　him；〃　Drizzt　heard　battered　Regis　whisper；　possibly　the　most　pitifully　sounding　plea　the　drow　ranger　had　ever　heard。　He　looked　to　the　side　to　see　the　halfling　trembling　with　unbridled　fright；　gnawing　his　lips　and　twisting　his　still…swollen　hands　about　each　other。　What　horrors　Regis　must　have　experienced　at　Entreri's　hands；　Drizzt　realized。

He　looked　back　to　the　approaching　assassin；　Twinkle　flared　angrily。

〃Now　you　are　ready　to　fight；〃　Entreri　remarked。　He　curled　his　lips　up　in　his　customary　evil　smile。　〃And　ready　to　die？〃

Drizzt　flipped　his　cloak　back　over　his　shoulders　and　boldly　strode　ahead；　for　he　did　not　want　to　fight　Entreri　anywhere　near　Regis。　Entreri　might　just　flick　that　deadly　dagger　of　his　into　the　halfling；　for　no　better　reason　than　to　torment　Drizzt；　to　raise　Drizzt's　rage。

The　assassin's　dagger　hand　did　pump　as　if　he　meant　to　throw；　and　Drizzt　instinctively　dropped　into　a　crouch；　his　blades　ing　up　defensively。　Entreri　didn't　release　the　blade；　though；　and　his　widening　smile　showed　that　he　never　intended　to。

Two　more　strides　brought　Drizzt　within　sword's　reach。　His　scimitars　began　their　flowing　dance。

〃Nervous？〃　the　assassin　teased；　pointedly　slapping　his　fine　sword　against　Twinkle's　reaching　blade。　〃Of　course　you　are。　That　is　the　problem　with　your　tender　heart；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　the　weakness　of　your　passion。〃

Drizzt　came　in　a　cunning　cross；　then　swiped　at　a　low　angle　for　Entreri's　belt；　forcing　the　assassin　to　suck　in　his　belly　and　leap　back；　at　the　same　time　snapping　his　dagger　across　to　halt　the　scimitar's　progress。

〃You　have　too　much　to　lose；〃　Entreri　went　on；　seeming　unconcerned　for　the　close　call。　〃You　know　that　if　you　die；　the　halfling　dies。　Too　many　distractions；　my　friend；　too　many　items　keeping　your　focus　from　the　battle。〃　The　assassin　charged　as　he　spoke　the　last　word；　sword　pumping　fiercely；　ringing　from　scimitar　to　scimitar；　trying　to　open　some　hole　in　Drizzt's　defenses　that　he　might　slip　his　dagger　through。

There　were　no　holes　in　Drizzt's　defenses。　Each　maneuver；　skilled　as　it　might　have　been；　left　Entreri　back　where　he　had　started；　and　gradually　Drizzt　worked　his　blades　from　defense　to　offense；　driving　the　assassin　away；　forcing　another　break。

〃Excellent！〃　Entreri　congratulated。　〃Now　you　fight　with　your　heart。　This　is　the　moment　I　have　awaited　since　our　battle　in　Calimport。〃

Drizzt　shrugged。　〃Please　do　not　let　me　disappoint　you；〃　he　said；　and　came　ahead　viciously；　spinning　with　his　scimitars　angled　like　the　edging　of　a　screw；　as　he　had　done　in　the　chamber　above。　Again　Entreri　had　no　practical　defense　against　the　move—except　to　keep　out　of　the　scimitars'　shortened　reach。

Drizzt　came　out　of　the　spin　angled　slightly　to　the　assassin's　left；　Entreri's　dagger　hand。　The　drow　dove　ahead　and　rolled；　just　out　of　Entreri's　lunging　strike；　then　came　back　to　his　feet　and　reversed　momentum　immediately；　rushing　around　Entreri's　back　side；　forcing　the　assassin　to　spin　on　his　heels；　his　sword　whipping　about　in　a　frantic　effort　to　keep　the　thrusting　scimitars　at　bay。　Entreri　was　no　longer　smiling。

He　managed　somehow　to　avoid　being　hit；　but　Drizzt　pressed　the　attack；　kept　him　on　his　heels。

They　heard　the　soft　click　of　a　handcrossbow　from　somewhere　down　the　hall。　In　unison；　the　mortal　enemies　jumped　back　and　fell　into　rolls；　and　the　quarrel　skipped　harmlessly　between　them。

Five　dark　forms　advanced　steadily；　swords　drawn。　〃Your　friends；〃　Drizzt　remarked　evenly。　〃It　seems　our　fight　will　wait　once　more。〃

Entreri's　eyes　narrowed　in　open　hatred　as　he　regarded　the　approaching　dark　elves。

Drizzt　understood　the　source　of　the　assassin's　frustration。　Would　Vierna　give　Entreri　another　battle；　especially　with　other　powerful　enemies　in　the　tunnels；　searching　for　Drizzt？　And　even　if　she　did；　Entreri　had　to　realize　that；　as　with　the　fight　before；　he　would　not　coax　Drizzt　into　this　level　of　battle；　not　with　Drizzt's　hopes　for　freedom　extinguished。

Still；　the　assassin's　next　words　caught　the　drow　ranger　somewhat　by　surprise。

〃Do　you　remember　our　time　against　the　Duergar？〃　Entreri　came　in　again　at　Drizzt　as　the　dark　elf　soldiers　continued　their　advance。　Drizzt　easily　parried　the　swift　but　not　well…aimed　attacks。

〃Left　shoulder；〃　Entreri　whispered。　His　sword　came　up　behind　his　words；　darting　for　Drizzt's　shoulder。　Twinkle　crossed　over　from　the　right　to　block；　but　missed；　and　the　assassin's　sword　nicked　in；　driving　clean　holes　in　the　draw's　cloak。

Regis　cried　out；　Drizzt　dropped　one　scimitar　and　lurched　to　the　side；　openly　revealing　his　agony。　Entreri's　sword　came　tip　in；　barely　five　inches　from　his　throat；　and　Twinkle　was　too　far　down　for　a　parry。

〃Yield！〃　the　assassin　cried。　〃Drop　your　weapon！〃

Twinkle　clanged　to　the　floor　and　Drizzt　continued　his　exaggerated　lean；　appearing　as　though　he　might　tumble　over　at　any　moment。　From　behind；　Regis　groaned　loudly　and　tried　to　shuffle　away；　but　his　weary；　bruised　limbs　would　not　support　him；　would　not　even　afford　him　the　strength　to　crawl　along。

The　dark　elves　came　tentatively　into　the　torchlit　area；　talking　among　themselves　and　nodding　appreciatively　at　the　assassin's　fine　work。

〃We　will　take　him　back　to　Vierna；〃　one　of　them　said　in　halting　mon。

Entreri　began　to　nod　his　agreement；　then　whirled　about　suddenly；　driving　his　sword　right　through　the　speaker's　chest。

Drizzt；　low　to　begin　with　and　not　at　all　wounded；　snatched　up　his　blades　and　came　up　in　a　spin；　one　scimitar　following　the　other　in　a　clean　slash　across　the　nearest　drow's　belly。　The　wounded　dark　elf　tried　to　fall　away；　but　Drizzt　was　too　quick；　reversing　his　grip　on　his　trailing　blade　and　thrusting　it　ahead　with　an　upward　backhand；　its　tip　cutting　under　the　dark　elf's　ribs　and　puncturing　his　chest　cavity。

Entreri　was　full　out　against　a　third　drow　by　this　time；　the　dark　elf's　twin　swords　working　frantically　to　keep　the　assassin's　sword　and　dagger　at　bay。　The　assassin　wanted　the　battle　over　quickly；　and　his　routines　were　purely　offensive；　designed　to　score　a　fast　kill。　But　this　drow；　a　longtime　soldier　of　Bregan　D'aerthe；　was　no　novice　to　battle　and　he　half…twisted　and　spun　plete　circles；　fell　into　a　backward　roll　and　pumped　his　swords　hand　over　hand　in　a　blinding　wall　of　defense。

Entreri　growled　in　dismay　but　kept　up　the　pressure；　hoping　his　adversary　would　make　even　the　slightest　mistake。

Drizzt　found　himself　squared　off　against　two；　and　one　of　these　smiled　wickedly　as　he　lifted　a　small　crossbow　in　his　free　hand。　Drizzt　proved　the　quicker；　though；　angling　his　scimitar　right　in　front　of　the　weapon　so　that　when　the　drow　fired；　the　quarrel　skipped　off　the　blade　and　flew　harmlessly　high。

The　drow　threw　the　handcrossbow　at　Drizzt；　forcing　the　ranger　back　long　enough　so　that　he　could　draw　a　dirk　to　plement　the　slender　sword　he　carried。

The　other　drow　seized　the　apparent　advantage　as　Drizzt　ducked　away；　his　broadsword　and　short　sword　weaving　viciously。

Metal　rang　against　metal　a　dozen　times；　two　dozen；　as　Drizzt　impossibly　defeated　ea