精灵血脉四部曲-第4部分

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He　soon　came　to　the　upper　level's　hall　area；　the　city　above　the　wondrous　Undercity。　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar　roomed　in　this　area；　as　did　Bruenor　most　of　the　time；　as　he　prepared　for　the　spring　trading　season。　Most　of　the　other　twenty…five　hundred　dwarves　of　the　clan　were　far　below；　in　the　mines　and　in　the　Undercity；　but　those　in　this　region　were　the　manders　of　the　house　guard　and　the　elite　soldiers。　Even　Drizzt；　so　weled　in　Bruenor's　home；　could　not　go　to　the　king　unannounced　and　unescorted。

A　square…shouldered　rock　of　a　dwarf　with　a　sour　demeanor　and　a　long　brown　beard　that　he　wore　tucked　into　a　wide；　jeweled　belt；　led　Drizzt　down　the　final　corridor　to　Bruenor's　upper…level　audience　hall。　General　Dagna；　as　he　was　called；　had　been　a　personal　attendant　of　King　Harbromme　of　Citadel　Adbar；　the　mightiest　dwarven　stronghold　in　the　northland；　but　the　gruff　dwarf　had　e　in　at　the　head　of　Citadel　Adbar's　forces　to　help　Bruenor　reclaim　his　ancient　homeland。　With　the　war　won；　most　of　the　Adbar　dwarves　had　departed；　but　Dagna　and　two　thousand　others　had　remained　after　the　cleansing　of　Mithril　Hall；　swearing　fealty　to　clan　Battlehammer　and　giving　Bruenor　a　solid　force　with　which　to　defend　the　riches　of　the　dwarven　stronghold。

Dagna　had　stayed　on　with　Bruenor　to　serve　as　his　adviser　and　military　mander。　He　professed　no　love　for　Drizzt；　but　certainly　would　not　be　foolish　enough　to　insult　the　drow　by　allowing　a　lesser　attendant　to　escort　Drizzt　to　see　the　dwarf　king。

〃I　told　ye　he'd　be　back；〃　Drizzt　heard　Bruenor　grumbling　from　beyond　the　open　doorway　as　they　approached　the　audience　hall。　〃Th'　elf'd　not　be　missing　such　a　thing　as　yer　wedding！〃

〃I　see　they　are　expecting　me；〃　Drizzt　remarked　to　Dagna。

〃We　heared　ye　was　about　from　the　folks　o'　Settlestone；〃　the　gruff　general　replied；　not　looking　back　to　Drizzt　as　he　spoke。　〃Figerred　ye'd　e　in　any　day。〃

Drizzt　knew　that　the　general—a　dwarf　among　dwarves；　as　the　others　said—had　little　use　for　him；　or　for　anyone；　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie　included；　who　was　not　a　dwarf。　The　dark　elf　smiled；　though；　for　he　was　used　to　such　prejudice　and　knew　that　Dagna　was　an　important　ally　for　Bruenor。

〃Greetings；〃　Drizzt　said　to　his　three　friends　as　he　entered　the　room。　Bruenor　sat　on　his　stone　throne；　Wulfgar　and　Catti…brie　flanking　him。

〃So　ye　made　it；〃　Catti…brie　said　absently；　feigning　disinterest。　Drizzt　smirked　at　their　running　secret；　apparently　Catti…brie　hadn't　told　anyone　that　she　had　met　him　just　outside　the　eastern　door。

〃We　had　not　planned　for　this；〃　added　Wulfgar；　a　giant　of　a　man　with　huge；　corded　muscles；　long；　flowing　blond　locks；　and　eyes　the　crystal　blue　of　the　northland's　sky。　〃I　pray　that　there　may　be　an　extra　seat　at　the　table。〃

Drizzt　smiled　and　bowed　low　in　apology。　He　deserved　their　chiding；　he　knew。　He　had　been　away　a　great　deal　lately；　for　weeks　at　a　time。

〃Bah！〃　snorted　the　red…bearded　Bruenor。　〃I　told　ye　he'd　e　back；　and　back　to　stay　this　time！〃

Drizzt　shook　his　head；　knowing　he　soon　would　go　out　again；　searching　for　。。。　something。

〃Ye　hunting　for　the　assassin；　elf？〃　he　heard　Bruenor　ask。

Never；　Drizzt　thought　immediately。　The　dwarf　referred　to　Artemis　Entreri；　Drizzt's　most　hated　enemy；　a　heartless　killer　as　skilled　with　the　blade　as　the　drow　ranger；　and　determined—obsessed！—to　defeat　Drizzt。　Entreri　and　Drizzt　had　battled　in　Calimport；　a　city　far　to　the　south；　with　Drizzt　luckily　winning　the　upper　hand　before　events　drove　them　apart。　Emotionally　Drizzt　had　brought　the　unfinished　battle　to　its　conclusion　and　had　freed　himself　from　a　similar　obsession　against　Entreri。

Drizzt　had　seen　himself　in　the　assassin；　had　seen　what　he　might　have　bee　had　he　stayed　in　Menzoberranzan。　He　could　not　stand　the　image；　hungered　only　to　destroy　it。

Catti…brie；　dear　and　plicated　Catti…brie；　had　taught　Drizzt　the　truth；　about　Entreri　and　about　himself。　If　he　never　saw　Entreri　again；　Drizzt　would　be　a　happier　person　indeed。

〃I've　no　desire　to　meet　that　one　again；〃　Drizzt　answered。　He　looked　to　Catti…brie；　who　sat　impassively。　She　shot　Drizzt　a　sly　wink　to　show　that　she　understood　and　approved。

〃There　are　many　sights　in　the　wide　world；　dear　dwarf；〃　Drizzt　went　on；　〃that　cannot　be　seen　from　the　shadows；　many　sounds　more　pleasant　than　the　ring　of　steel；　and　many　smells　preferable　to　the　stench　of　death。〃

〃Cook　another　feast！〃　Bruenor　snorted；　hopping　up　from　his　stone　seat。　〃Suren　the　elf　has　his　eyes　fixed　on　j　another　wedding！〃

Drizzt　let　the　remark　pass　without　reply。

Another　dwarf　rushed　into　the　room；　then　exited；　I　pulling　Dagna　out　behind　him。　A　moment　later；　the　flustered　general　returned。

〃What　is　it？〃　Bruenor　grumbled。

〃Another　guest；〃　Dagna　explained　and；　even　as　he　i　spoke；　a　halfling；　round　in　the　belly；　bopped　into　the　room。

〃Regis！〃　cried　a　surprised　Catti…brie；　and　she　and　Wulfgar　rushed　over　to　greet　their　friend。　Unexpectedly；　the　five　panions　were　together　again。

〃Rumblebelly！〃　Bruenor　shouted　his　customary　nick…i　name　for　the　always　hungry　halfling。　〃What　in　the　Nine　Hells—〃

What　indeed；　Drizzt　thought；　curious　that　he　had　not　spotted　the　traveler　on　the　trails　outside　Mithril　Hall。　The　friends　had　left　Regis　behind　in　Calimport；　more　than　a　thousand　miles　away；　at　the　head　of　the　thieves　guild　the　i　panions　had　all　but　decapitated　in　rescuing　the　halfling。

〃Did　you　believe　I　would　miss　this　occasion？〃　Regis　huffed；　acting　insulted　that　Bruenor　even　doubted　him。

〃The　wedding　of　two　of　my　dearest　friends？〃

Catti…brie　threw　a　hug　on　him；　which　he　seemed　to　enjoy　immensely。

Bruenor　looked　curiously　at　Drizzt　and　shook　his　head　when　he　realized　that　the　drow　had　no　answers　for　this　surprise。　〃How'd　ye　know？〃　the　dwarf　asked　the　halfling。

〃You　underestimate　your　fame；　King　Bruenor；〃　Regis　replied；　gracefully　dipping　into　a　bow　that　sent　his　belly　dropping　over　his　thin　belt。

The　bow　made　him　jingle　as　well；　Drizzt　noted。　When　Regis　dipped；　a　hundred　jewels　and　a　dozen　fat　pouches　tinkled。　Regis　had　always　loved　fine　things；　but　Drizzt　had　never　seen　the　halfling　so　garishly　bedecked。　He　wore　a　gem…studded　jacket　and　more　jewelry　than　Drizzt　had　ever　seen　in　one　place；　including　the　magical；　hypnotic　ruby　pendant。

〃Might　ye　be　staying　long？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

〃I　am　in　no　hurry；〃　Regis　replied。　〃Might　I　have　a　room；〃　he　asked　Bruenor；　〃to　put　my　things　and　rest　away　the　weariness　of　a　long　road？〃

〃We'll　see　to　it；〃　Catti…brie　assured　him　as　Drizzt　and　Bruenor　exchanged　glances　once　more。　They　both　were　thinking　the　same　thing：　that　it　was　unusual　for　a　master　of　a　back…stabbing；　opportunistic　thieves'　guild　to　leave　his　place　of　power　for　any　length　of　time。

〃And　for　yer　attendants？〃　Bruenor　asked；　a　loaded　question。

〃Oh；〃　stammered　the　halfling。　〃I。。。　came　alone。　The　Southerners　do　not　take　well　to　the　chill　of　a　northern　spring；　you　know。〃

〃Well；　off　with　ye；　then；〃　manded　Bruenor。　〃Suren　it　be　me　turn　to　set　out　a　feast　for　the　pleasure　of　yer　belly。〃

Drizzt　took　a　seat　beside　the　dwarf　king　as　the　other　three　scooted　out　of　the　room。

〃Few　folk　in　Calimport　have　ever　heared　o'　me　name；　elf；〃　Bruenor　remarked　when　he　and　Drizzt　were　alone。

〃And　who　south　o'　Longsaddle　would　be　knowing　of　the　wedding？〃

Bruenor's　sly　expression　showed　that　the　experienced　dwarf　agreed　exactly　with　Drizzt's　feeling。　〃Suren　the　little　one　brings　a　bit　of　his　treasure　along　with　him；　eh？〃　the　dwarf　king　asked。

〃He　is　running；〃　Drizzt　replied。

〃Got　himself　into　trouble　again—〃　Bruenor　snorted　〃—or　I'm　a　bearded　gnome！〃



*　*　*　*　*



〃Five　meals　a　day；〃　Bruenor　muttered　to　Drizzt　after　the　drow　and　the　halfling　had　been　in　Mithril　Hall　for　a　week。　〃And　helpings　bigger　than　a　half…sized　one　should　hold！〃

Drizzt；　always　amazed　by　Regis's　appetite；　had　no　answer　for　the　dwarf　king。　Together　they　watched　Regis　from　across　the　hall；　stuffing　bite　after　bite　into　his　greedy　mouth。

〃Good　thing　we're　opening　new　tunnels；〃　Bruenor　grumbled。　〃I'll　be　needing　a　fair　supply　o'　mithril　to　keep　that　one　fed。〃

As　if　Bruenor's　reference　to　the　new　explorations　had　been　a　cue；　General　Dagna　entered　the　dining　hall。　Apparently　not　interested　in　eating；　the　gruff；　brown…bearded　dwarf　waved　away　an　attendant　and　headed　straight　across　the　hall；　toward　Drizzt　and　Bruenor。

〃That　was　a　short　trip；〃　Bruenor　remarked　to　Drizzt　when　they　noticed　the　dwarf。　Dagna　had　gone　out　just　that　morning；　leading　the　latest　scouting　group　to　the　new　explorations　in　the　deepest　mines　far　to　the　west　of　the　Undercity。

〃Trouble　or　treasure？〃　Drizzt　asked　rhetorically；　and　Bruenor　only　shrugged；　always　expecting—and　secretly　hoping　for—both。

〃Me　king；〃　Dagna　greeted；　ing　in　front　of　Bruenor　and　pointedly　not　looking　at　the　dark　elf。　He　dipped　in　a　i　curt　bow；　his　rock…set　expression　giving　no　clues　about　which　of　Drizzt's　suppositions　might　be　accurate。

〃Mithril？〃　Bruenor　asked　hopefully。

Dagna　seemed　surprised　by　the　blunt　question。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃The　tunnel　beyond　the　sealed　door　j　intercepted　a　whole　new　plex；　rich　in　ore；　from　what　we　can　tell。　The　legend　of　yer　gem…sniffing　nose'll　continue　to　grow；　me　king。〃　He　dipped　into　another　bow；　this　one　'。　even　lower　than　the　first。

〃Knew　it；〃　Bruenor　whispered　to　Drizzt。　〃Went　down　that　way　once；　afore　me　beard　even　came　out。　Killed　me　and　‘ettin。。。〃

〃But　we　have　trouble；〃　Dagna　interrupted；　his　face　still　expressionless。

Bruenor　waited；　and　waited　some　more；　for　the　tiresome　dwarf　to　explain。　〃Trouble？〃　he　finally　asked；　realizing　that　Dagna　had　paused　for　dramatic　effect；　and　that　the　stubborn　general　probably　would　stand　quietly　for　the　remainder　of　the　day　if　Bruenor　didn't　offer　that　prompt。

〃Goblins；〃　Dagna　said　ominously。

Bruenor　snorted。　〃Thought　ye　said　we　had　trouble？〃

〃A　fair…sized　tribe；〃　Dagna　went　on。　〃Could　be　hundreds。〃

Bruenor　looked　up　to　Drizzt　and　recognized　from　the　sparkle　in　the　drow's　lavender　eyes　that　the　news　had　not　disturbed　his　friend　any　more　than　it　had　disturbed　him。

〃Hundreds　of　goblins；　elf；〃　Bruenor　said　slyly。　〃What　do　ye　think　o'　that？〃

Drizzt　didn't　reply；　just　continued　to　smirk　and　let　the　gleam　in　his　eye　speak　for　itself。　Times　had　bee　uneventful　since　the　retaking　of　Mithril　Ha