精灵血脉四部曲-第44部分

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The　army　swung　about；　the　clerics　called　upon　their　spells　to　light　up　the　area；　and　the　drow；　outnumbered　four　to　one；　wisely　turned　and　fled。　They　had　no　reason　to　fear　their　way　back　blocked；　not　with　so　many　tunnels　before　them。　They　had　a　good　idea　of　the　dwarven　numbers　and　were　certain　that　fewer　than　half　of　their　options　would　be　blocked。

Down　the　very　first　path　they　chose；　they　came　to　understand　their　error；　though；　running　up　against　a　freshly　constructed　iron　door；　barred　from　the　other　side。　The　dark　elves　could　see　around　the　edges　of　the　portal—　the　dwarves　hadn't　had　the　time　to　fit　it　perfectly　into　the　oddly　shaped　tunnel—but　there　was　no　way　to　slip　through。

The　next　tunnel　seemed　more　promising；　and；　by　the　hopes　of　the　fleeing　drow；　it　had　to　be；　for　the　dwarven　force；　dogs　barking　wildly；　was　right　on　their　heels　again。　Turning　a　corner；　the　dark　elves　found　a　second　door；　heard　the　hammers　of　the　working　dwarves　behind　it；　putting　in　the　finishing　touches。

The　desperate　dark　elves　dropped　spells　of　darkness　on　the　other　side　of　the　door；　slowing　the　work。　They　found　the　widest　cracks　along　the　jam　and　fired　their　crossbows　blindly　at　the　workers；　adding　to　the　confusion。　One　drow　got　his　hand　around　and　located　the　locking　bar。

Too　late。　The　dogs　rounded　the　corner；　and　the　dwarven　force　fell　over　them。

Darkness　descended　over　the　area　of　battle。　A　dwarven　cleric；　his　powers　nearly　exhausted；　countered　it；　but　then　another　drow　blackened　the　area　once　more。　The　brave　dwarves　fought　blindly；　matching　drow　skill　with　sheer　fury。

One　dwarf　felt　the　hot　burn　as　an　unseen　enemy's　sword　slipped　between　his　ribs；　slashing　through　his　lung。　The　dwarf　knew　the　wound　would　prove　mortal；　felt　the　blood　filling　his　lungs　and　choking　off　his　breathing。　He　could　have　retreated；　hoped　to　fall　out　of　the　darkened　area　close　enough　to　a　cleric　with　curative　spells　to　treat　the　wound。　In　that　critical　instant；　though；　the　dwarf　knew　his　opponent　was　vulnerable；　knew　that　if　he　retreated；　one　of　his　rades　might　next　feel　the　dark　elf's　cruel　sword。　He　lunged　ahead；　the　draw's　sword　impaling　him　further；　and　chopped　with　his　warhammer；　connecting　once；　then　again　on　his　enemy。

He　went　down　atop　the　dead　drow　and　died　with　a　grim　smile　of　satisfaction　splayed　across　his　bearded　face。

Two　dwarves；　driving　in　deeply　side　by　side；　felt　their　intended　target　dive　between　them；　but　turned　too　late　to　avoid　a　collision　on　the　iron　door。　Disoriented　but　sensing　movement　to　the　side；　each　of　them　launched　mighty　swings　with　his　hammer；　each　connecting　on　the　other。

Down　they　went　in　a　heap；　and　they　felt　the　rush　of　air　as　the　dark　elf　came　back　over　them—this　time　at　the　end　of　a　dwarven　spear—to　be　slammed　hard　against　the　door。　The　drow　fell　wounded　atop　the　two　dwarves；　and　they　had　enough　wits　and　strength　remaining　to　grab　on　to　the　gift。　They　kicked　and　bit；　punched　out　with　their　weapon　hilts　or　with　their　gauntleted　hands。　In　mere　seconds；　they　ripped　the　unfortunate　dark　elf　apart。

More　than　a　score　of　dwarves　died　at　the　end　of　drow　weapons　in　that　narrow　corridor；　but　so；　too；　did　fifteen　dark　elves；　half　of　the　force　that　had　stood　to　block　the　way　into　the　new　sections。



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A　handful　of　drow　kept　ahead　of　their　pig…riding　pursuers　long　enough　to　make　their　way　into　the　back　chambers；　into　the　very　room　where　Drizzt　and　Entreri　had　fought　for　the　enjoyment　of　Vierna　and　her　minions。　The　blasted　door　and　several　dead　panions　told　the　soldiers　that　Vierna's　group　had　been　hit　hard；　but　they　nevertheless　believed　their　salvation　at　hand　when　the　first　of　them　leaped　for　the　chute—leaped　and　got　stuck　on　the　webbing　barring　the　way。

The　stuck　drow　flailed　helplessly；　both　his　arms　fully　trapped。　His　panions；　with　no　thoughts　of　aiding　their　doomed　friend；　looked　to　the　room's　other　door　for　their　salvation。

War　pigs　grunted；　a　dozen　dwarven　riders　whooped　in　joy　as　they　kicked　their　mounts　across　the　blasted　wooden　door。

General　Dagna　came　into　the　room　barely　five　minutes　later　to　see　five　dark　elves；　two　dwarves；　and　three　pigs　lying　dead　on　the　floor。

Satisfied　that　no　other　enemies　were　about；　the　general　ordered　an　inspection　of　the　remarkable　area。　Grief　stung　their　hearts　when　they　found　Cobble's　crushed　form　under　the　conjured　wall　of　iron；　but　it　was　mixed　with　some　measure　of　hope；　for　Bruenor　and　the　others　obviously　had　hit　the　enemy　hard　in　this　place；　and　apparently；　with　the　exception　of　poor　Cobble；　had　survived。

〃Where　are　ye；　Bruenor？〃　the　general　asked　down　the　empty　corridors。　〃Where　are　ye？〃



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Sheer　determination；　pure　denial　of　defeat；　was　their　only　strength　as　Catti…brie　and　Bruenor；　weary　and　wounded　and　leaning　on　each　other　for　support；　made　their　way　through　the　winding　tunnels；　deeper　into　the　natural　corridors。　Bruenor　held　the　torch　in　his　free　hand。　Catti…brie　kept　her　bow　ready。　Neither　of　them　believed　they　would　stand　a　chance　if　they　again　encountered　the　dark　elves；　but；　in　their　hearts；　neither　of　them　believed　that　they　could　possibly　lose。

〃Where's　that　damned　cat？〃　Bruenor　asked。　〃And　the　wild　one？〃

Catti…brie　shook　her　head；　having　no　definite　answers。　Who　knew　where　Pwent　might　have　gotten　to？　He　had　flown　from　the　chamber　in　typical　blind　rage　and　could　have　run　all　the　way　back　to　Garumn's　Gorge　by　this　time。　Guenhwyvar　was　a　different　story；　though。　Catti…brie　dropped　her　hand　into　her　pouch；　sensitive　fingers　tracing　the　intricate　work　of　the　figurine。　She　sensed　that　the　panther　was　no　longer　about；　and　trusted　the　feeling；　for　if　Guenhwyvar　had　not　left　the　material　plane；　the　panther　'would　have　made　contact　with　them　by　this　time。

Catti…brie　stopped；　and　Bruenor；　after　a　few　steps；　turned　back　curiously　and　did　likewise。　The　young　woman；　on　one　knee；　held　the　figurine　in　both　hands；　studying　it　intently；　her　bow　on　the　floor　by　her　side。

〃Gone？〃　Bruenor　asked。

Catti…brie　shrugged　and　placed　the　statue　on　the　floor；　then　called　softly　to　Guenhwyvar。　For　a　long　moment；　nothing　happened；　but　just　as　Catti…brie　was　about　to　retrieve　the　item；　the　familiar　gray　mist　began　to　gather　and　take　shape。

Guenhwyvar　looked　haggard　indeed！　The　panther's　muscles　drooped；　slack　from　exhaustion；　and　the　black…furred　skin　of　one　shoulder　hung　out；　torn；　revealing　sinew　and　cordlike　tendons　underneath。

〃Oh；　go　back'。〃　Catti…brie　cried；　horrified　by　the　sight。　She　scooped　up　the　figurine　and　moved　to　dismiss　the　panther。

Guenhwyvar　moved　faster　than　either　Catti…brie　or　the　dwarf　would　have　believed　possible；　given　the　cat's　desperate　state。　A　paw　slashed　up　at　Catti…brie；　batting　the　figurine　to　the　ground。　The　panther　flattened　its　ears　and　issued　an　angry　growl。

〃Let　the　cat　stay；〃　Bruenor　said。

Catti…brie　gave　the　dwarf　an　incredulous　look。

〃Ain't　no　worse　than　the　rest　of　us；〃　Bruenor　explained。　He　walked　over　and　dropped　a　gentle　hand　on　the　panther's　head；　easing　the　tension。　Guenhwyvar's　ears　came　back　up；　and　the　cat　stopped　growling。　〃And　no　less　determined。〃

Bruenor　looked　back　to　Catti…brie；　then　to　the　corridor　beyond。　〃The　three　of　us；　then；〃　the　dwarf　said；　〃beat　up　and　ready　to　fall　down—but　not　afore　we　take　them　stinking　drow　down　under　us！〃



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Drizzt　could　sense　that　he　was　getting　close；　and　he　drew　his　second　blade；　Twinkle；　concentrating　hard　to　keep　the　scimitar's　blue　light　from　flaring。　To　his　delight；　the　scimitar　responded　perfectly。　Drizzt　was　hardly　aware　of　the　halfling　he　still　held　at　his　side。　His　keen　senses　were　instead　trained　in　all　directions　for　some　clue　that　the　enemy　was　about。　He　came　through　a　low　doorway　into　an　unremarkable　chamber；　barely　a　wider　section　of　hallway；　with　two　other　exits；　one　to　the　side　and　level；　the　other　straight　ahead；　ascending　once　more。

Drizzt　suddenly　pushed　Regis　to　the　ground；　fell　back　against　the　wall；　weapons　and　eyes　trained　to　the　side。　It　was　no　drow　that　came　through　the　side　entrance；　though；　but　a　dwarf；　possibly　the　most　odd…looking　creature　either　of　the　panions　had　ever　seen。

Pwent　was　barely　three　running　strides　from　the　dark　elf；　and　his　hearty　roar　showed　that　he　felt　confident　he　had　gained　the　advantage　of　surprise。　He　dipped　his　head；　put　his　spiked　helm　in　line　with　Drizzt's　belly；　and　heard　the　little　one　lying　to　the　side　squeak　out　in　alarm。

Drizzt　snapped　his　hands　up　above　his　head；　feeling　grooves　in　the　wall　with　strong；　sensitive　fingers。　He　still　held　both　his　blades；　and　there　wasn't　much　to　grab；　but　the　agile　drow　didn't　need　much。　As　the　confident　battlerager　barreled　in　blindly；　Drizzt　lifted　his　legs　up；　out；　and　over　the　spike。

Pwent　hit　the　wall　head…on；　his　spike　digging　a　three…inch…deep　gouge　in　the　stone。　Drizzt's　legs　came　down；　one　on　either　side　of　the　bent　battlerager's　head；　and　down；　too；　came　the　drow's　scimitars；　hilts　pounding　hard　against　the　back　of　Pwent's　exposed　neck。

The　dwarf's　spike；　bent　queerly　to　one　side；　squealed　and　scraped　as　he　dropped　flat　to　the　stone；　groaning　loudly。

Drizzt　leaped　away；　allowed　the　eager　scimitar　to　flare　up；　bathing　the　area　hi　a　blue　glow。

〃Dwarf；〃　Regis　mented；　surprised。

Pwent　groaned　and　rolled　over；　Drizzt　spotted　an　amulet；　carved　with　the　foaming　mug　standard　of　Clan　Battlehammer；　on　a　chain　about　his　neck。

Pwent　shook　his　head　and　leaped　suddenly　to　his　feet。

〃Ye　won　that　one！〃　he　roared；　and　he　started　for　Drizzt。

〃We　are　not　enemies；〃　the　drow　ranger　tried　to　explain。　Regis　cried　out　again　as　Pwent　came　in　close；　launching　a　one…two　punching　bination　with　his　glove　nails。

Drizzt　easily　avoided　the　short　punches　and　took　note　of　the　many　sharp　ridges　on　his　opponent's　armor。

Pwent　lashed　out　again；　stepping　in　behind　the　blow　to　give　it　some　range。　It　was　a　ruse；　Drizzt　knew；　with　no　chance　of　hitting。　Already　the　veteran　drow　understood　Pwent's　battle　tactics；　and　he　knew　the　phony　punch　was　designed　only　to　put　this　fearsome　dwarf　in　line；　that　he　might　hurl　himself　at　Drizzt。　A　scimitar　flashed　out　to　intercept　the　punch。　Drizzt　surprised　the　dwarf　by　twirling　his　second　blade　above　his　head　and　stepping　in　closer　（exactly　the　opposite　course　Pwent