精灵血脉四部曲-第46部分

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The　words　burned　in　Drizzt's　blood；　turned　his　heart　to　stone。

All　your　pitiful　friends　are　dead！

Catti…brie；　Wulfgar；　and　Bruenor；　everything　Drizzt　Do'Urden　held　dear；　were　lost　to　him；　taken　by　a　heritage　that　he　had　not　been　able　to　escape。

He　could　hardly　see　his　opponent's　movements；　though　he　knew　his　scimitars　were　intercepting　every　attack　with　perfection；　moving　in　a　precise　blur　that　offered　his　enemies　no　openings。

All　your　pitiful　friends　are　dead！

He　was　the　hunter　again；　surviving　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　He　was　beyond　the　hunter；　the　warrior　incarnate；　fighting　on　perfect　instinct。

A　sword　thrust　in　from　the　right。　Drizzt's　scimitar　slapped　down　across　it；　driving　its　tip　to　the　ground。　Faster　than　the　agile　evil　drow　could　react；　Drizzt　turned　his　blade　pletely　over　the　sword　and　heaved　high；　throwing　the　drow　back　a　step。

Across　flashed　the　scimitar；　severing　the　triceps　muscles　on　the　back　of　the　swordsman's　arm。　The　pained　drow　yelled　but　somehow　held　his　weapon；　though　it　did　him　no　good　as　the　scimitar　came　back　across；　squealing　as　it　cut　through　the　fine　mesh　armor；　drawing　a　line　of　blood　across　the　drow's　chest。

Drizzt　flipped　the　blade　over　in　his　hand　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　and　the　scimitar　flashed　back　the　other　way；　high。　He　flipped　it　again　and　sent　it　back　a　fourth　time；　and　the　only　reason　he　missed　the　mark　was　that　the　head　that　had　been　his　intended　target　was　already　flying　free。

All　the　while；　the　scimitar　in　Drizzt's　other　hand　had　parried　the　other　opponent's　attacks。

Vierna　gasped；　as　did　the　remaining　soldier　facing　Drizzt；　and　Drizzt　would　have　fallen　over　him　just　as　easily。　He　saw　Jarlaxle's　arm　pumping；　though；　from　beyond　the　opening　left　by　the　fallen　opponent。

Drizzt's　next　dance　was　pure　and　furious　desperation。　His　first　scimitar　rang　out　with　a　metallic　impact。　Twinkle　came　across　and　batted　a　second　dagger　aside。

It　was　over　in　a　mere　second；　five　daggers　knocked　away　by　a　dark　elf　that　hadn't　even　consciously　seen　them　ing。

Jarlaxle　fell　back　on　his　heels；　then　began　to　circle；　laughing　all　the　while；　amazed　and　thrilled　by　the　stunning　display　and　the　continuing　battle。

Drizzt's　troubles　were　not　ended；　though；　for　Vierna；　crying　for　Lloth　to　be　with　her；　leaped　ahead　to　lend　support　to　the　soldier；　and　her　snake…headed　whip　presented　more　problems　by　far　than　had　the　dead　drow　soldier's　single　sword。



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Regis　huddled　back　into　as　small　a　ball　as　he　could　manage　when　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　drifting　silently　past　the　opening　of　the　side　passage。　The　halfling　relaxed　when　the　group　had　passed；　was　daring　enough　to　crawl　nearer　to　the　entrance　and　use　his　infravision　to　try　to　discern　if　these　were　more　evil　dark　elves。

Those　red…glowing　eyes　gave　him　away；　a　sixth　soldier　was　moving　behind　the　first　group。

Regis　fell　back　with　a　squeak。　He　grabbed　a　rock　in　his　plump　little　hand　and　held　it　out　before　him。　A　pitiful　weapon　indeed　against　the　likes　of　a　drow　elf！

The　dark　elf　considered　the　halfling　and　the　tunnel　all　about　Regis；　carefully；　then　entered；　ing　in　cautiously。　A　smile　widened　as　he　came　to　realize　Regis's　apparent　helplessness。

〃Already　wounded？〃　he　asked　in　the　mon　tongue。

It　took　Regis　a　moment　to　sort　through　the　heavy　and　unfamiliar　accent。　He　lifted　the　rock　threateningly　as　the　drow　edged　in　close；　kneeling　to　Regis's　level　and　holding　a　long　and　cruel　sword　in　one　hand；　a　dagger　in　the　other。

The　drow　laughed　aloud。　〃You　will　strike　me　down　with　your　pebble？〃　he　taunted；　and　he　moved　his　arms　out　wide；　presenting　Regis　an　easy　opening　for　his　chest。　〃Hit　me；　then；　little　halfling。　Amuse　me　before　my　dagger　digs　a　fine　line　across　your　throat。〃

Regis；　trembling；　moved　the　rock　in　a　jerking　motion；　as　though　he　meant　to　take　the　drow　up　on　the　offer。　It　was　the　halfling's　other　hand　which　shot　forward；　though；　the　hand　holding　Artemis　Entreri's　dropped　dagger。

The　jewels　in　the　deadly　blade　flared　appreciatively；　as　though　the　weapon　had　a　life　and　a　hunger　of　its　own；　when　it　ripped　past　the　fine　mesh　armor　and　sank　deeply　into　the　startled　dark　elf's　soft　skin。

Regis　blinked　in　amazement　at　how　easily　the　dagger　had　perated。　It　seemed　as　though　his　opponent　wore　thin　parchment　instead　of　metallic　chain　mail。　The　half…ling's　hand　was　nearly　thrown　from　the　weapon　hilt　as　a　surge　of　power　coursed　through　the　dagger；　into　his　arm。　The　drow　tried　to　respond；　and　Regis　would　have　had　no　defense　if　he　had　brought　either　weapon　to　bear。

But　the　drow　did　not；　for　some　reason　could　not。　His　eyes　remained　wide　in　shock；　his　body　jerked　spasmodically；　and　it　seemed　to　Regis　as　if　his　very　life　force　was　being　stolen　away。　His　own　mouth　agape；　Regis　stared　into　the　most　profound　expression　of　horror　he　had　ever　seen。

More　vital　energy　surged　up　the　halfling's　arm；　he　heard　the　drow's　weapons　fall　to　the　stone。　Regis　could　think　only　of　old　tales　his　papa　had　told　him　of　frightening　night　creatures。　He　felt　as　he　imagined　a　vampire　must　feel　when　feeding　on　the　blood　of　its　victims；　felt　a　perverse　warmth　wash　over　him。

His　wounds　were　on　the　mend！

The　drow　victim　slumped　lifelessly　to　the　stone。　Regis　sat　staring　blankly　at　the　magical　dagger。　He　shuddered　many　times；　recalling　vividly　each　occasion　when　he　had　nearly　felt　that　weapon's　wicked　sting。



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The　two　drow　moved　silently　but　swiftly　through　the　winding　tunnels　that　would　bring　them　to　Vierna　and　Jarlaxle。　They　were　confident　they　had　outdistanced　the　outrageous　dwarf；　did　not　know　that　Pwent　had　sidetracked　and　had　gotten　to　Vierna　first。

Nor　did　they　know　that　another　dwarf　had　entered　the　tunnels；　a　red…bearded　dwarf　whose　teary　eyes　promised　death　to　any　enemy　he　stumbled　upon。

The　dark　elves　turned　a　bend　into　the　tunnel　that　would　get　them　to　the　side　room；　parallel　to　the　main　tunnel。　They　saw　the　short　but　wide　form　of　the　dwarf　swing　about；　just　a　few　strides　ahead　of　them；　and　charge　in　fearlessly；　wildly。

The　three　opponents　intertwined　in　a　confused　jumble；　Bruenor　shield…rushing　with　abandon；　whipping　his　many…notched　axe　about　him　blindly。

〃Ye　killed　me　boy！〃　the　dwarf　bellowed；　and　though　neither　of　his　opponents　could　understand　the　mon　tongue；　they　could　discern　Bruenor's　rage　clearly　enough。　One　of　the　drow　regained　his　footing　and　slipped　his　sword　over　the　emblazoned　shield；　scoring　a　hit　on　the　dwarf's　shoulder　that　should　have　stolen　the　strength　from　that　arm。

If　Bruenor　even　knew　he　had　been　hit；　he　did　not　show　it。

〃Me　boy！〃　he　growled；　slapping　aside　the　other　drow's　sword　with　a　powerful　swipe　of　his　heavy　axe。　The　drow　replaced　the　sword　with　his　second　sword；　again　pressing　the　dwarf。　But　Bruenor　accepted　the　hit；　didn't　even　flinch；　his　thoughts　purely　aimed　for　the　kill。

He　chopped　his　axe　in　a　low　swoop。　The　drow　hopped　the　blade；　but　Bruenor　stopped　the　swing　and　turned　it　about。　The　drow　tried　to　hop　a　second　time　as　soon　as　he　landed；　but　Bruenor's　movement　was　too　quick；　the　dwarf　jerking　the　axe　around　the　drow's　ankle　and　heaving　with　all　his　strength；　taking　the　drow　from　his　feet。

The　other　dark　elf　came　over　the　dwarf；　trying　to　shield　his　downed　panion。　His　sword　slashed　across；　scarring　Bruenor's　face；　blinding　the　dwarf　in　one　eye。　Again　Bruenor　ignored　the　searing　agony；　bulled　ahead　within　striking　distance。

〃Me　boy！〃　he　cried　again；　and　he　chopped　down　with　all　his　strength；　his　axe　blade　cracking　through　the　scrambling　drow's　spine。

Bruenor　threw　his　shield　up　just　in　time　to　stop　a　sword　thrust　from　the　standing　drow。　Off　balance　and　shuffling　backward；　the　dwarf　tugged　repeatedly；　finally　tearing　the　weapon　free。



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Snake　heads　seemed　to　work　independently　of　each　other；　assaulting　Drizzt　from　different　angles；　snapping　and　coiling　to　snap　again。　Spurred　on　by　the　sight　of　Vierna　fighting　beside　him；　the　male　drow　pressed　Drizzt　as　well；　sword　and　dirk　working　furiously；　that　he　might　score　the　kill　for　the　priestess；　for　the　glory　of　the　wicked　Spider　Queen。

Drizzt　kept　his　posure　throughout　the　assault；　worked　his　scimitars　and　his　feet　in　harmony　to　block　or　dodge；　and　to　keep　his　opponents；　particularly　Vierna；　back　from　him。

He　knew　he　was　in　trouble；　though；　especially　when　he　noticed　Jarlaxle；　the　devious　mercenary；　circling　behind；　finding　an　opening　between　Vierna　and　the　male　soldier。　Drizzt　expected　another　series　of　flying　daggers；　did　not　honestly　know　how　he　would　escape　their　bite　this　time　with　Vierna's　whip　demanding　his　attention。

His　fears　doubled　when　he　saw　the　mercenary　point　out　at　him；　not　with　a　dagger；　but　a　wand。

〃A　pity；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　mercenary　said。　〃I　would　give　many　lives　to　own　a　warrior　of　your　skills。〃　He　began　to　chant　in　the　drow　tongue。　Drizzt　tried　to　go　to　the　side；　but　Vierna　and　the　other　drow　worked　him　hard；　kept　him　in　line。

There　came　a　flash；　a　lightning　bolt；　beginning　just　ahead　of　the　ducking　Vierna　and　the　drow　soldier。　But　there　came；　too；　just　as　the　mercenary　uttered　the　triggering　words；　a　flying　black　form；　from　behind　Drizzt；　that　clipped　the　drow　ranger's　shoulder　as　it　leaped　past　him　and　flew　through　the　opening　between　Vierna　and　her　male　ally。

Guenhwyvar　took　the　blast　full　force；　absorbed　the　energy　of　the　lightning　bolt　before　it　ever　got　started。　The　panther　soared　through　its　magical　force；　slamming　into　the　surprised　mercenary　and　driving　him　to　the　stone。

The　sudden　flash；　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　panther；　did　not　distract　the　veteran　Drizzt。　Nor　did　Vierna；　so　filled　with　hatred；　so　obsessed　with　this　kill；　turn　her　attention　from　the　furious　battle。　The　other　drow；　though；　squinted　at　the　sudden　flash　and　turned　his　head　for　an　instant　to　look　over　his　shoulder。

In　that　instant；　when　the　drow　turned　back　to　the　battle；　he　found　Twinkle's　deadly　point　already　passing　through　his　armor　and　reaching　for　his　heart。



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The　flash　had　lasted　no　more　than　a　split　second；　and　it　hadn't　brought　too　much　light　into　the　main　corridor　beyond　the　entrance　of　the　side　chamber；　but　in　that　split　second；　Catti…brie；　crouched　farther　down　the　hall　to　watch　Guenhwyvar's　progress；　saw　the　slend