精灵血脉四部曲-第38部分

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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　drow　was　still　standing　when　he　came　back　to　the　floor；　still　holding　his　sword；　his　expression　revealing　that　he　was　not　quite　sure　what　had　just　happened。

Catti…brie　grabbed　her　bow　like　a　club　and　jumped　up　to　meet　him；　pressing　him　fiercely　until　his　mind　registered　the　fact　that　he　was　dead。

She　looked　back　once；　to　see　Wulfgar　grabbed　by　one　of　the　yochlol's　tentacles；　then　another。　All　the　barbarian's　incredible　strength　could　not　keep　him　from　the　waiting　maw。



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Bruenor　could　see　nothing　but　the　black　of　the　drider's　torso　as　he　continued　to　bull　in；　continued　to　drive　Dinin　backward。　He　could　hear　nothing　except　the　sounds　of　flying　blades；　the　clang　of　metal　against　metal；　or　the　sound　of　cracking　shell　whenever　his　axe　struck　home。

He　knew　instinctively　that　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar；　his　children；　were　in　trouble。

Bruenor's　axe　finally　caught　up　with　the　retreating　creature　with　full　force　as　the　drider　slammed　against　the　wall。　Another　spider　leg　fell　away；　Bruenor　planted　his　feet　and　heaved　with　all　his　strength；　launching　himself　several　feet　back。

Dinin；　weirdly　contorted；　two　legs　lost；　did　not　immediately　pursue；　glad　for　the　reprieve；　but　ferocious　Bruenor　came　back　in；　the　dwarf's　savagery　overwhelming　the　wounded　drider。　Bruenor's　shield　blocked　the　first　axe；　his　helmet　blocked　the　following　strike；　a　blow　that　should　have　dropped　him。

Straight　across　whipped　the　dwarf's　many…notched　axe；　above　the　hard　exoskeleton　to　cut　a　jagged　line　across　the　bloated　drider's　belly。　Hot　gore　spewed　out。　Fluids　ran　down　the　drider's　legs　and　Bruenor's　pumping　arms。

Bruenor　went　into　a　frenzy；　his　axe　smacking　repeatedly；　incessantly；　into　the　crook　between　the　drider's　two　foremost　legs。　Exoskeleton　gave　way　to　flesh；　flesh　opened　to　spill　more　gore。

Bruenor's　axe　struck　hard　yet　again；　but　he　took　a　hit　atop　the　shoulder　of　his　weapon　arm。　The　drider's　awkward　angle　stole　most　of　the　strength　from　the　blow；　and　the　axe　did　not　get　through　Bruenor's　fine　mithril　mail；　but　a　blast　of　hot　agony　assaulted　Bruenor。

His　mind　screamed　that　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　needed　him！

Grimacing　against　the　pain；　Bruenor　whipped　his　axe　in　an　upward　backhand；　its　flat　back　cracking　against　the　drider's　elbow。　The　creature　howled　and　Bruenor　brought　the　weapon　to　bear　again；　angled　up　the　other　way；　catching　the　drider　in　the　armpit　and　shearing　the　creature's　arm　off。

Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　needed　him！

The　drider's　longer　reach　got　its　second　axe　around　the　dwarf's　blocking　shield；　its　bottom　edge　drawing　a　line　of　blood　up　the　back　of　Bruenor's　arm。　Bruenor　tucked　the　shield　in　close　and　shoulder…blocked　the　monster　against　the　wall。　He　bounced　back；　drove　his　axe　in　hard　at　the　monster's　exposed　side；　then　shoulder…blocked　again。

Back　bounced　the　dwarf；　in　chopped　his　axe；　and　Bruenor's　stubby　legs　twitched　again；　sending　him　hurtling　forward。　This　time；　Bruenor　heard　the　drider's　other　axe　fall　to　the　floor；　and　when　he　bounced　back；　he　stayed　back；　chopping　wildly　with　his　axe；　driving　the　drider　to　the　stone；　splitting　flesh　and　breaking　ribs。

Bruenor　turned　about；　saw　Catti…brie　in　mand　of　her　situation；　and　took　a　step　toward　Wulfgar。

〃Wishya！〃

Waves　of　energy　hit　the　dwarf；　lifting　his　feet　from　the　ground　and　launching　him　a　dozen　feet　through　the　air；　to　slam　against　the　wall。

He　rebounded　in　a　redirected　run；　and　he　cried　a　single　note　of　rage　as　he　bore　down　on　the　entrance　to　the　distant　tunnel；　the　eyes　of　several　drow　watching　him　from　farther　within。

〃Wishya！〃　came　the　cry　once　more；　and　Bruenor　was　moving　backward　suddenly。

〃How　many　ye　got？〃　the　tough　dwarf　roared；　shrugging　off　this　newest　hit　against　the　wall。

The　eyes；　every　set；　turned　away。

A　globe　of　darkness　fell　over　the　dwarf；　and　he　was；　in　truth；　glad　for　its　cover；　for　that　last　slam　had　hurt　him　more　than　he　cared　to　admit。



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A　fourth　soldier　joined　Vierna；　Jarlaxle；　and　their　one　bodyguard　as　they　again　moved　deeper　into　the　tunnels。

〃Dwarf　to　the　side；〃　the　newer　explained。　〃Insane；　wild　with　rage。　I　put　him　down　a　pit；　but　I　doubt　he　is　stopped！〃

Vierna　began　to　reply；　but　Jarlaxle　interrupted　her；　pointing　down　a　side　passage；　to　yet　another　drow　signaling　to　them　frantically　in　the　silent　hand　code。

Devil　cat！　the　distant　drow　signaled。　A　second　form　rushed　by　him；　followed　by　a　third　a　few　seconds　later。　Jarlaxle　understood　the　movements　of　his　troops；　knew　that　these　three　were　the　survivors　of　two　separate　battles；　and　understood　that　both　the　ledge　and　the　side　passage　below　it　had　been　lost。

We　must　go；　he　signaled　to　Vierna。　Let　us　find　a　more　advantageous　region　ivhere　we　might　continue　this　fight。

〃Lloth　has　answered　my　call！〃　Vierna　growled　at　him。　〃A　handmaiden　has　arrived！〃

〃More　the　reason　to　be　gone；〃　Jarlaxle　replied　aloud。　〃Show　your　faith　in　the　Spider　Queen　and　let　us　be　on　with　the　hunt　for　your　brother。〃

Vierna　considered　the　words　for　just　a　moment；　then；　to　the　worldly　mercenary's　relief；　nodded　her　agreement。　Jarlaxle　led　her　along　at　a　great　pace；　wondering　if　it　could　be　true　that　only　seven　of　his　skilled　Bregan　D'aerthe　force；　himself　and　Vierna　included；　remained。



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Wulfgar's　arms　slapped　wildly　at　the　waving　tentacles；　his　hands　clasped　over　those　appendages　wrapping　him；　trying　to　break　free　of　their　iron　grip。　More　tentacles　slapped　in　at　him；　forcing　his　attention。

He　was　jerked　out　straight；　yanked　sidelong　into　the　great　maw；　and　he　understood　these　newest　slapping　attacks　to　be　merely　diversions。　Razor…edged　teeth　dug　into　his　back　and　ribs；　tore　through　muscle；　and　scraped　against　bone。

He　punched　out　and　grabbed　a　handful　of　slimy　yochlol　skin；　twisting　and　tearing　a　hunk　free。　The　creature　did　not　react；　continued　to　bite　bone；　razor　teeth　working　back　and　forth　across　the　trapped　torso。

Aegis…fang　came　back　to　Wulfgar's　hand；　but　he　was　twisted　awkwardly　for　any　hits　against　his　enemy。　He　swung　anyway；　connecting　solidly；　but　the　fleshy；　rubbery　hide　of　the　evil　creature　seemed　to　absorb　the　blows；　sinking　deep　beneath　the　weight　of　Aegis…fang。

Wulfgar　swung　again；　twisted　about　despite　the　searing　pain。　He　saw　Catti…brie　standing　free；　the　second　drow　lying　dead　at　her　feet；　and　her　face　locked　in　an　expression　of　open　horror　as　she　stared　at　the　white　of　Wulfgar's　exposed　ribs。

Still；　the　image　of　his　love；　free　from　harm；　brought　a　grimace　of　satisfaction　to　the　barbarian's　face。

A　bolt　of　silver　flashed　right　below；　startling　Wulfgar；　blasting　the　yochlol；　and　the　barbarian　thought　his　salvation　at　hand；　thought　that　his　beloved　Catti…brie；　the　woman　he　had　dared　to　underestimate；　would　strike　his　attacker　down。

A　tentacle　wrapped　around　Catti…brie's　ankles　and　jerked　her　from　her　feet。　Her　head　hit　the　stone　hard；　her　precious　bow　fell　from　her　grasp；　and　she　offered　little　resistance　as　the　yochlol　began　to　pull　her　in。

〃No！〃　Wulfgar　roared；　and　he　whacked　again　and　again；　futilely；　at　the　rubbery　beast。　He　cried　out　for　Bruenor；　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　the　dwarf　stumble　out　of　a　dark　globe；　far　away　and　dazed。

The　yochlol's　maw　crunched　mercilessly；　a　lesser　man　would　have　long　since　collapsed　under　the　force　of　that　bite。

Wulfgar　could　not　allow　himself　to　die；　though；　not　with　Catti…brie　and　Bruenor　in　danger。

He　began　a　hearty　song　to　Tempus；　his　god　of　battle。　He　sang　with　lungs　fast　filling　with　blood；　with　a　voice　that　came　from　a　heart　that　had　pumped　mightily　for　more　than　twenty　years。

He　sang　and　he　forgot　the　waves　of　crippling　pain；　he　sang　and　the　song　came　back　to　his　ears；　echoing　from　the　cavern　walls　like　a　chorus　from　the　minions　of　an　approving　god。

He　sang　and　he　tightened　his　grip　on　Aegis…fang。

Wulfgar　struck　out；　not　against　the　beast；　but　against　the　alcove's　low　ceiling。　The　hammer　chopped　through　dirt；　hooked　about　stone。

Pebbles　and　dust　fell　all　around　the　barbarian　and　his　attacker。　Again　and　again；　all　the　while　singing；　Wulfgar　slammed　at　the　ceiling。

The　yochlol；　not　a　stupid　beast；　bit　fiercely；　shook　its　great　maw　wildly；　but　Wulfgar　had　passed　beyond　the　admission　of　pain。　Aegis…fang　chopped　upward；　a　chunk　of　stone　followed　its　inevitable　descent。

As　soon　as　she　recovered　her　wits；　Catti…brie　saw　what　the　barbarian　was　doing。　The　yochlol　was　no　longer　interested　in　her；　was　no　longer　pulling　her　in；　and　she　managed　to　claw　her　way　back　to　her　bow。

〃No；　me　boy！〃　she　heard　Bruenor　cry　from　across　the　way。

Catti…brie　nocked　an　arrow　and　turned　about。

Aegis…fang　slammed　against　the　ceiling。

Catti…brie's　arrow　sizzled　into　the　yochlol　an　instant　before　the　ceiling　gave　way。　Huge　boulders　toppled　down；　any　space　between　them　quickly　filled　with　piles　of　rock　and　soil；　spewing　clouds　of　dust　into　the　air。　The　chamber　shook　violently；　the　collapse　resounded　through　all　the　tunnels。　Neither　Catti…brie　nor　Bruenor　still　stood。　Both　huddled　　on　the　floor；　their　arms　defensively　over　their　heads　as　the　cave…in　slowly　ended。　Neither　could　see　amid　the　darkness　and　the　dust；　neither　could　see　that　both　the　monster　and　Wulfgar　had　disappeared　under　tons　of　collapsing　stone。



Part　5

End　Game



When　I　die。。。

I　have　lost　friends；　lost　my　father；　my　mentor；　to　I　that　greatest　of　mysteries　called　death。　Ihave　known　I　grief　since　the　day　I　left　my　homeland；　since　the　day　wicked　Malice　informed　me　that　Zaknafein　had　been　given　to　the　Spider　Queen。　It　is　a　strange　emotion；　grief；　its　focus　shifting。　Do　I　grieve　for　Zaknafein；　for　Montolio；　for　Wulfgar？　Or　do　I　grieve　for　myself；　for　the　loss　I　must　forever　endure？It　is　perhaps　the　most　basic　question　of　mortal　existence；　and　yet　it　is　one　for　which　there　can　be　no　answer。。。。　Unless　the　answer　is　one　of　faith。

I　am　sad　still　when　I　think　of　the　sparring　games　against　my　father；　when　I　remember　the　walks　beside　Montolio　through　the　mountains；　and　when　those　memories　of　Wulfgar；　most　intense　of　all；　flash　through　my　mind　like　a　summary　of　the　last　se