精灵血脉四部曲-第37部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


gger；　and　dagger　again；　the　last　thrust　painfully　nicking　the　barbarian's　hip。

The　drow　smiled　wickedly。

Aegis…fang　appeared　in　Wulfgar's　waiting　hands。

With　one　hand；　grasping　low　on　the　warhammer's　handle；　Wulfgar　sent　the　weapon　into　a　flowing　circular　motion　in　front　of　him。　The　drow　took　careful　measure　of　the　weapon's　speed—Wulfgar　carefully　appraised　the　drow's　examination。

In　darted　the　dagger；　behind　the　flowing　hammer。　Wulfgar's　other　hand　clapped　against　the　handle　just　under　his　weapon's　head　and　abruptly　reversed　the　direction；　parrying　the　drow's　attack　aside。

The　drow　was　quick；　snapping　his　sword　in　a　downward　angle　for　Wulfgar's　shoulder　even　as　his　dagger　hand　was　knocked　wide。　Wulfgar's　huge　forearm　flexed　with　the　strain　as　he　halted　the　heavy　hammer's　flow；　snapping　it　back　up　in　front　of　him。　He　caught　Aegis…fang　halfway　up　the　handle　with　his　free　hand　and　jabbed　diagonally　up；　the　warhammer's　solid　head　intercepting　the　sword　and　driving　it　harmlessly　away。

The　end　of　the　parry　left　the　drow　with　one　arm　wide　and　low；　the　other　wide　and　high；　and　left　Wulfgar　standing　before　his　opponent　in　perfect　balance；　both　hands　grasping　Aegis…fang。　Before　the　dark　elf　could　recover　his　wide…flying　blades；　before　he　could　set　his　feet　to　dive　away；　Wulfgar　chopped　him；　the　hammer　crunching　under　his　shoulder　and　driving　down　toward　his　opposite　hip。　The　drow　fell　back　from　the　blow；　then；　as　though　the　full　weight　of　the　incredible　hit　had　not　immediately　registered；　went　into　an　involuntary　backward　hop　that　slammed　him　against　the　wall。

One　leg　buckling；　one　lung　collapsed；　the　drow　brought　his　sword　horizontally　before　his　face　in　a　meager　defense。　Hands　low　on　the　handle；　Wulfgar　brought　the　hammer　up　behind　him　and　slammed　it　home　with　all　his　strength；　through　the　blade　and　into　the　drow's　face。　With　a　sickening　crack；　the　drow's　skull　exploded；　crushed　between　the　unyielding　stone　of　the　wall　and　the　unyielding　metal　of　the　mighty　Aegis…fang。



*　*　*　*　*



A　blinding　streak　of　silver　halted　the　drider's　attacks　and　saved　Bruenor　Battlehammer。　The　arrow　didn't　hit　the　drider；　however。　It　soared　high；　pegging　the　wounded　drow　（who　had　just　about　climbed　back　to　the　blasted　ledge）　to　the　stone　wall。

The　distraction；　the　moment　to　recover　from　the　daggers；　was　all　Bruenor　needed。　He　came　in　hard　again；　his　many…notched　axe　smashing　the　drider's　closest　leg；　his　shield　up　high　to　block　the　now　off…balance　axe　swipes。　The　dwarf　pressed　right　into　the　beast；　using　its　bulk　to　offer　him　some　cover　from　the　enemies　in　the　corridor；　and　bulled　it　backward　before　it　could　set　its　many　legs　against　the　charge。

Another　of　Catti…brie's　arrows　whipped　past　him；　sparking　as　it　ricocheted　along　the　stone　of　the　corridor。

Bruenor　grinned　widely；　thankful　that　the　gods　had　delivered　to　him　an　ally　and　friend　as　petent　as　Catti…brie。



*　*　*　*　*



The　first　two　arrows　enraged　Vierna；　the　third；　ing　down　the　corridor；　nearly　took　off　her　head。　Jarlaxle　raced　back　from　his　position　near　the　chamber's　entrance　to　join　her。

〃Formidable；〃　the　mercenary　admitted。　〃I　have　dead　soldiers　in　the　room。〃

Vierna　raced　forward；　focusing　on　the　dwarf　battling　her　mutated　brother。　〃Where　is　Drizzi　Do'Urden？〃　she　demanded；　using　magic　to　focus　her　voice　so　that　Bruenor　would　hear　her　through　the　drider。

〃Ye　hit　me　and　ye're　meaning　to　talk？〃　the　dwarf　howled；　finishing　his　sentence　with　an　exclamation　point　in　the　form　of　a　chopping　axe。　One　of　Dinin's　legs　fell　free；　and　the　dwarf　barreled　on；　pushing　the　unbalanced　drider　back　another　few　strides。

Vierna　hardly　had　the　chance　to　begin　her　intended　spell　before　Jarlaxle　grabbed　her　and　hauled　her　down。　Her　instinctive　anger　toward　the　mercenary　was　lost　in　the　blast　of　yet　another　streaking　arrow；　this　one　driving　a　hole　into　the　stone　wall　where　the　priestess　had　been　standing。

Vierna　remembered　Entreri's　warning　about　this　group；　had　the　evidence　right　before　her　as　the　battle　continued　to　sour。　She　trembled　with　rage；　growled　in　decipher　ably　as　she　considered　what　the　defeat　might　cost　her。　Her　thoughts　fell　inward；　followed　the　path　of　her　faith　toward　her　dark　deity；　and　cried　out　to　Lloth。

〃Vierna！〃　Jarlaxle　called　from　someplace　remote。

Lloth　could　not　allow　her　to　fail；　had　to　help　her　against　this　unexpected　obstacle；　that　she　might　deliver　the　sacrifice。

〃Vierna！〃　She　felt　the　mercenary's　hands　on　her；　felt　the　hands　of　a　second　drow　helping　Jarlaxle　put　her　back　on　her　feet。

〃Wishya！〃　came　her　unintentional　cry；　then　she　knew　only　calm；　knew　that　Lloth　had　answered　her　call。

Jarlaxle　and　the　other　drow　slammed　against　the　tunnel's　walls　from　the　force　of　Vierna's　magical　outburst。　Each　looked　at　her　with　trepidation。

The　mercenary's　features　relaxed　when　Vierna　bade　him　to　follow　her　farther　along　the　corridor；　out　of　harm's　way。

〃Lloth　will　help　us　finish　what　we　have　started　here；〃　the　priestess　explained。



*　*　*　*　*



Catti…brie　put　another　arrow　into　the　corridor　for　good　measure；　then　glanced　about；　searching　for　a　more　apparent　target。　She　studied　the　battle　between　Bruenor　and　the　monstrous　drider；　but　she　knew　that　any　shots　she　made　at　the　bloated　monster　would　be　too　risky　given　the　furious　melee。

Wulfgar　apparently　had　his　situation　under　control。　A　drow　lay　dead　at　his　feet　as　he　peeked　about　the　rubble　of　the　collapsed　corridor　in　search　of　the　enemy　who　had　not　e　in。　Pwent　was　nowhere　to　be　found。

Catti…brie　looked　up　to　the　blasted　ledge　above　Bruenor　and　the　drider　for　the　draw　who　had　not　fallen；　then　to　the　other　ledge；　where　Guenhwyvar　had　disappeared。　In　a　small　alcove　below　that　area　the　young　woman　saw　a　curious　sight：　a　gathering　of　mists　similar　to　that　heralding　the　｜　panther's　approach。　The　cloud　shifted　colors；　became　orange；　almost　like　a　swirling　ball　of　flames。

Catti…brie　sensed　an　evil　aura；　gathering　and　overwhelming；　and　put　her　bow　in　line。　The　hairs　on　the　back　of　her　neck　tingled；　something　was　watching　her。

Catti…brie　dropped　the　Heartseeker　and　spun　about；　snapping　her　short　sword　from　its　sheath　with　her　turn；　barely　in　time　to　bat　aside　the　thrusting　sword　of　a　levitating　drow　that　had　silently　descended　from　the　ceiling。

Wulfgar；　too；　noticed　the　mist；　and　he　knew　that　it　demanded　his　attention；　that　he　must　be　ready　to　strike　out　at　it　as　soon　as　its　nature　was　revealed。　He　could　not　ignore　Catti…brie's　sudden　cry；　though；　and　when　he　looked　at　her；　he　found　her　hard　pressed；　nearly　sitting　on　the　floor；　her　short　sword　working　furiously　to　keep　her　attacker　at　bay。

In　the　shadows　some　distance　behind　the　young　woman　and　her　attacker；　another　dark　shape　began　its　descent。



*　*　*　*　*



The　warm　blood　of　his　torn　enemy　mingled　with　the　drool　on　Thibbledorf　Pwent's　beard。　The　drow　had　stopped　thrashing；　but　Pwent；　reveling　in　the　kill；　had　not。

A　crossbow　quarrel　pierced　his　ear。　His　head　came　up　as　he　roared；　the　impaled　helmet　spike　lifting　the　dead　drow's　arm　weirdly。　There　stood　another　enemy；　advancing　steadily。

Up　leaped　the　battlerager；　snapping　his　head　from　side　to　side；　whipping　the　caught　drow　back　and　forth　until　the　ebony　skin　ripped　apart；　freeing　the　helmet　spike。

The　approaching　dark　elf　stopped　his　advance；　trying　to　make　some　sense　of　the　gruesome　scene。　He　was　moving　again—back　the　other　way—when　indomitable　Pwent　took　up　the　roaring　charge。

The　drow　was　truly　amazed　at　the　stubby　dwarf's　frantic　pace；　amazed　that　he　could　not　easily　outdistance　this　enemy。　He　wouldn't　have　run　too　far　anyway；　though；　preferring　to　bait　this　dangerous　one　away　from　the　main　battle。

They　went　through　a　series　of　twisting　corridors；　the　dark　elf　ten　strides　ahead。　His　graceful　steps　barely　seemed　to　alter　as　he　leaped；　landing　and　spinning　about；　sword　ready　and　smile　wide。

Pwent　never　slowed。　He　merely　ducked　his　head　to　put　his　helmet　spike　in　line。　With　his　eyes　to　the　stone；　the　battlerager　realized　the　trap；　too　late；　as　he　crossed　the　rim　of　a　pit　the　drow　had　subtly　leaped　across。

Down　went　the　battlerager；　crashing　and　bouncing；　the　many　points　of　his　battle　armor　throwing　sparks　as　he　skidded　along　the　stone。　He　cracked　a　rib　against　the　rounded　top　of　a　stalagmite　mound　some　distance　down；　bounced　pletely　over；　and　landed　flat　on　his　back　in　a　lower　chamber。

He　lay　there　for　some　time；　admiring　the　cunning　of　his　enemy　and　admiring　the　curious　way　the　ceiling—tons　of　solid　rock—continued　to　spin　about。



*　*　*　*　*



No　novice　with　the　sword；　Catti…brie　worked　her　blade　marvelously；　using　every　defense　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　shown　her　to　gain　back　some　measure　of　equal　footing。　She　was　confident　that　the　drow's　initial　advantage　was　fading；　confident　that　she　could　soon　get　her　feet　under　her　and　e　back　up　evenly　against　this　opponent。

Then；　suddenly；　she　had　no　one　to　fight。

Aegis…fang　twirled　by　her；　its　windy　wake　bringing　her　thick　hair　about；　and　hit　the　surprised　dark　elf　full　force；　blasting　him　away。

Catti…brie　spun　about；　her　initial　appreciation　lost　as　soon　as　she　recognized　Wulfgar's　protectiveness。　The　mist　near　the　barbarian　was　forming　by　then；　taking　on　the　substantial；　corporeal　body　of　a　denizen　of　some　vile　lower　plane；　some　enemy　far　more　dangerous　than　the　dark　elf　Catti…brie　had　been　battling。

Wulfgar　had　e　to　her　aid　at　the　risk　of　his　own　peril；　had　put　her　safety　above　his　own。

To　Catti…brie；　confident　that　she　could　have　taken　care　of　her　own　situation；　that　act　seemed　more　stupid　than　altruistic。

Catti…brie　went　for　her　bow—she　had　to　get　to　her　bow。　Before　she　even　had　her　hands　on　it；　though；　the　monster；　the　yochlol；　came　fully　to　the　plane。　Amorphous；　it　somewhat　resembled　a　lump　of　half…melted　wax；　showing　eight　tentaclelike　appendages　and　a　central；　gaping　maw　lined　with　long；　sharp　teeth。

Catti…brie　sensed　danger　behind　her　before　she　could　call　out　to　Wulfgar。　She　spun；　bow　in　hand；　and　looked　up　to　her　enemy；　to　a　drow's　sword　fast　descending　for　her　head。

Catti…brie　shot　first。　The　arrow　jolted　the　drow　several　inches　from　the　floor　and　passed　right　through　the　dark　elf　to　explode　in　a　shower　of　sparks　against　the　ceiling。　The　dr