精灵血脉四部曲-第40部分

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with　him　even　now。〃

〃And　it　might　be　that　he　needs　us；〃　Catti…brie　argued；　pulling　free　of　Bruenor's　gentle　touch。　She　flipped　the　bow　over　her　shoulder　and　crossed　her　arms　over　her　chest；　her　face　grim　and　determined。

〃We're　going　home；　girl；〃　Bruenor　ordered　sternly。　〃We're　not　for　knowing　where　Drizzt　might　be。　I'm　only　guessing；　and　hoping；　that　he　really　is　alive！〃

〃Are　ye　willing　to　take　the　chance？〃　Catti…brie　asked　simply。　〃Are　ye　willing　to　risk　that　he's　needing　us？　We　lost　one　friend；　maybe　two　if　the　assassin　finished　off　Regis。　I'm　not　for　giving　up　on　Drizzt；　not　for　any　risk。〃　She　winced　as　another　memory　flashed　through　her　mind；　a　memory　of　being　lost　on　Tarterus；　another　plane　of　existence；　when　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　bravely　faced　unspeakable　horrors　to　bring　her　home。

〃Ye　remember　Tarterus？〃　she　said　to　Bruenor；　and　the　thought　made　the　helpless…feeling　dwarf　blink　and　turn　away。

〃I'm　not　giving　up；〃　Catti…brie　said　again；　〃not　for　any　risk。〃　She　looked　to　the　tunnel　entrance　across　the　way；　where　the　escaping　dark　elves　apparently　had　taken　flight。　〃Not　for　any　damned　dark　elves　and　their　hell…spawned　friends！〃

Bruenor　stayed　quiet　for　a　long　while；　thinking　of　Wulfgar；　milling　over　his　daughter's　determined　words。　Drizzt　might　be　about；　might　be　hurt；　might　be　caught　again。　If　it　was　Bruenor　lost　down　there；　and　Drizzt　up　here；　the　dwarf　had　no　doubt　which　course　Drizzt　would　choose。

He　looked　again　at　Catti…brie　and　at　the　pile　behind　her。　He　had　just　lost　Wulfgar。　How　could　he　risk　losing　Catti…brie　as　well？

Bruenor　looked　more　closely　at　Catti…brie；　saw　the　seething　determination　in　her　eyes。　〃That's　me　girl；〃　the　dwarf　said　quietly。

They　retrieved　the　remaining　torch　and　left　through　the　exit　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　chamber；　moved　deeper　into　the　tunnels　in　search　of　their　missing　friend。



*　*　*　*　*



One　who　had　not　been　raised　in　the　perpetual　gloom　of　the　Underdark　would　not　have　noticed　the　subtle　shift　in　the　depth　of　the　darkness；　the　slight　tingling　breeze　of　fresher　air。　To　Drizzt　the　changes　came　as　obviously　as　a　slap　across　the　face；　and　he　picked　up　his　pace；　hoisting　Regis　tight　to　his　side。

〃What　is　it？〃　the　scared　halfling　demanded；　glancing　about　as　if　he　expected　Artemis　Entreri　to　jump　out　of　the　nearest　shadows　and　devour　him。

They　passed　a　wide　but　low　side　passage；　sloping　upward。　Drizzt　hesitated；　his　direction　sense　screaming　to　him　that　he　had　just　passed　the　correct　tunnel。　He　ignored　those　silent　pleas；　though；　and　continued　on；　hopeful　that　the　opening　to　the　outside　world　would　be　accessible　enough　for　him　and　Regis　to　get　a　wele　breath　of　fresh　air。

It　was。　They　rounded　a　bend　in　the　tunnel　and　felt　the　chilly　burst　of　wind　in　their　faces；　saw　a　lighter　opening　ahead；　and　saw　beyond　it　towering　mountains　。　。　。　and　stars！

The　halfling's　profound　sigh　of　relief　echoed　Drizzt's　sentiments　perfectly　as　he　carried　Regis　on。　When　they　came　out　of　the　tunnel；　both　of　them　were　nearly　overe　by　the　splendor　of　the　mountainous　scene　spread　wide　before　them；　by　the　sheer　beauty　of　the　surface　world　under　the　stars；　so　removed　from　the　starless　nights　of　the　Underdark。　The　wind；　rushing　past　them；　seemed　a　vital　and　alive　entity。

They　were　on　a　narrow　ledge；　two…thirds　of　the　way　to　the　bottom　of　a　steep；　thousand…foot　cliff。　A　narrow　path　wound　up　to　their　right；　down　to　the　left；　but　at　only　a　slight　angle；　which　offered　little　hope　that　it　would　continue　long　enough　to　get　them　either　up　or　down　the　cliff。

Drizzt　considered　the　towering　wall。　He　knew　he　could　easily　manage　the　few　hundred　feet　to　the　bottom；　could　probably　get　up　to　the　top　without　too　much　trouble；　but　he　didn't　think　he'd　be　able　to　bring　Regis　with　him　and　didn't　like　the　prospect　of　being　in　an　unknown　stretch　of　wilderness；　not　knowing　how　long　it　might　take　him　to　get　back　to　Mithril　Hall。

His　friends；　not　so　far　away；　were　in　trouble。

〃Keeper's　Dale　is　up　there；〃　Regis　remarked　hopefully；　pointing　to　the　northwest；　〃probably　no　more　than　a　few　miles。〃

Drizzt　nodded　but　replied；　〃We　have　to　go　back　in。〃

While　Regis　did　not　seem　pleased　by　that　prospect；　he　did　not　argue；　understanding　that　he　could　not　get　off　this　ledge　in　his　present　condition。

〃Well　done；〃　came　Entreri's　voice　from　up　around　the　bend。　The　assassin's　dark　silhouette　came　into　sight；　the　jewels　of　his　belted　dagger　glimmering　like　his　heat…seeing　eyes。　〃I　knew　you　would　e　to　this　place；〃　he　explained　to　Drizzt。　〃I　knew　you　would　sense　the　clean　air　and　make　for　it。〃

〃Do　you　congratulate　me　or　yourself？〃　the　drow　ranger　asked。

〃Both！〃　Entreri　replied　with　a　hearty　laugh。　The　white　of　his　teeth　disappeared；　replaced　by　a　cold　frown；　as　he　continued　to　approach。　〃The　tunnel　you　passed　fifty　yards　back　will　indeed　take　you　to　the　higher　level；　where　you'll　likely　find　your　friends—your　dead　friends；　no　doubt。〃

Drizzt　didn't　take　the　bait；　didn't　let　his　rage　send　him　charging　ahead。

〃But　you　cannot　get　there；　can　you？〃　Entreri　teased。　〃You　alone　could　keep　ahead　of　me；　could　avoid　the　fight　I　demand。　But；　alas　for　your　wounded　panion。　Think　of　it；　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　Leave　the　halfling　and　you　can　run　free！〃

Drizzt　didn't　justify　the　absurd　thought　with　a　reply。

〃I　would　leave　him；〃　Entreri　remarked；　dropping　his　cold　glare　over　Regis　as　he　spoke。　The　halfling　gave　a　curious　whimper　and　slumped　under　the　strong　hold　of　Drizzt's　arm。

Drizzt　tried　not　to　imagine　the　horrors　Regis　had　suffered　at　Entreri's　vile　hands。

〃You　will　not　leave　him；〃　Entreri　continued。　〃We　long　ago　established　that　difference　between　us；　the　difference　you　call　strength；　but　that　I　know　to　be　weakness。〃　He　was　only　a　dozen　strides　away；　his　slender　sword　hissed　free　of　its　scabbard；　illuminating　him　in　its　blue…green　glow。　〃And　so　to　our　business；〃　he　said。　〃And　so　to　our　destiny。　Do　you　like　the　battlefield　I　have　prepared？　The　only　way　off　this　ledge　is　the　tunnel　behind　you；　and　so　I；　like　yourself；　cannot　flee；　must　play　it　out　to　the　end。〃　He　looked　over　the　cliff　as　he　spoke。　〃A　deadly　drop　for　the　loser；〃　he　explained；　smiling。　〃A　fight　with　no　reprieve。〃

Drizzt　could　not　deny　the　sensations　that　came　over　him；　the　heat　in　his　breast　and　behind　his　eyes。　He　could　not　deny　that；　in　some　repressed　corner　of　his　heart　and　soul；　he　wanted　this　challenge；　wanted　to　prove　Entreri　wrong；　to　prove　the　assassin's　existence　to　be　worthless。　Still；　the　fight　would　never　have　happened　if　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　been　given　a　reasonable　choice。　The　desires　of　his　ego；　he　understood　and　fully　accepted；　were　no　valid　reason　for　mortal　bat。　Now；　with　Regis　helpless　behind　him　and　his　friends　somewhere　above；　facing　dark　elf　enemies；　the　challenge　had　to　be　met。

He　felt　the　hard　metal　of　his　scimitar　hilts　in　his　hands；　let　his　eyes　slip　back　fully　into　the　normal　spectrum　of　light　as　Twinkle　flared　its　angry　blue。

Entreri　halted；　sword　at　one　side；　dagger　at　the　other；　and　motioned　for　Drizzt　to　approach。

For　the　third　time　in　less　than　a　day；　Twinkle　slapped　hard　against　the　assassin's　slender　blade；　the　third　time；　and；　as　far　as　both　Drizzt　and　Entreri　were　concerned；　the　very　last　time。

They　started　easily；　each　measuring　his　steps　on　the　unorthodox　arena。　The　ledge　was　perhaps　ten　feet　wide　at　this　point；　but　narrowed　considerably　just　behind　Drizzt　and　just　behind　Entreri。

A　backhand　slash　with　the　sword　led　Entreri's　routine；　dagger　thrust　following。

Two　solid　parries　sounded；　and　Drizzt　snapped　one　scimitar　for　the　opening　between　Entreri's　blades；　an　opening　that　was　closed　by　a　retreating　sword　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　with　Drizzt’s　attack　slapped　harmlessly　aside。

They　circled；　Drizzt　inside　and　near　the　wall；　the　assassin　moving　easily　near　the　drop。　Entreri　slashed　low；　unexpectedly　leading　with　the　dagger　this　time。

Drizzt　hopped　the　shortened　cut；　came　with　a　two…chop　bination　for　the　ducking　assassin's　head。　Entreri's　sword　darted　left　and　right；　worked　horizontally　above　his　head　to　block　ensuing　blows；　and　shifted　its　angle　slightly　to　poke　ahead；　to　keep　the　drow　at　bay　while　the　assassin　came　back　to　equal　footing。

〃It　will　not　be　a　quick　kill；〃　Entreri　promised　with　an　evil　smile。　As　if　to　disprove　his　own　claim；　he　leaped　ahead　furiously；　sword　leading。｜Qī…shū…ωǎng｜

Drizzt's　hands　worked　in　a　blur；　his　scimitars　hitting　the　deftly　angled　weapon　repeatedly。　The　dark　elf　worked　to　the　side；　kept　his　back　from　flattening　against　the　wall。

Drizzt　agreed　fully　with　the　assassin's　estimate—this　would　not　be　a　quick　kill；　whoever　might　win。　They　would　fight　for　many　minutes；　for　an　hour；　perhaps。　And　to　what　end？　Drizzt　wondered。　What　gain　could　he　expect？　Would　Vierna　and　her　cohorts　show　up　and　bring　the　challenge　to　a　premature　conclusion？

How　vulnerable　Drizzt　and　Regis　would　be　then；　with　nowhere　to　run　and　a　drop　of　several　hundred　feet　just　inches　away！

Again　the　assassin　pressed　the　attack；　and　again　Drizzt　worked　his　scimitars　through　the　proper；　perfectly　balanced　defenses；　Entreri　getting　nowhere　near　to　hitting　him。

Entreri　went　into　a　spin　then；　imitating　Drizzt's　movements　in　their　previous　two　encounters；　working　his　two　blades　like　the　edge　of　a　screw　to　force　Drizzt　back　to　a　narrower　position　on　the　ledge。

Drizzt　was　surprised　that　the　assassin　had　learned　the　daring　and　difficult　maneuver　so　pletely　after　only　two　observations；　but　it　was　a　move　Drizzt　had　designed；　and　he　knew　how　to　counter　it。

He；　too；　went　into　a　spinning　rotation；　scimitars　flowing；　up　and　down。　Blades　connected　repeatedly　with　each　turn；　sometimes　lighting　sparks　in　the　dark　night；　metal　screeching；　green　and　blue　mixing　in　an　indistinct　blur。　Drizzt　moved　right　by　Entreri—the　assassin　reversed　his　spin　suddenly；　but　Drizzt　saw　the　shift　and　came　to　a　stop；　both　blades　blocking　the　reversed　cut　of　sword　and　dagger。

Drizzt　began　once　more；　counter　to　Entreri；　and　this　time；　when　Entreri　again　turned　his　rotation　back　the　other　way；　the　drow　anticipated　it　so　fully　that　he　actually　reversed　direction　first。

For　Regis；　staring　helplessly；　not　daring　to　intervene；　and　for　any　of　the　region's　nocturnal　creatures　that　might　have　been　watching；　th