精灵血脉四部曲-第47部分

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wyvar's　progress；　saw　the　slender　forms　of　the　approaching　dark　elf　band。

She　put　an　arrow　into　the　air　and　used　its　silvery　light　to　discern　the　dark　elves'　exact　positions。　Her　face　locked　in　a　merciless　grimace　and　the　battered　young　woman　rose　behind　the　arrow's　silvery　wake　to　steadily　begin　stalking　her　enemies；　knocking　another　arrow　as　she　went。

Vengeance　for　Wulfgar　dominated　her　every　thought。　She　knew　no　fear；　did　not　even　flinch　as　she　heard　the　expected　reply　from　handcrossbows。　Two　quarrels　stung　her。

Another　arrow　went　off；　this　one　catching　a　dark　elf　in　the　shoulder　and　hurling　him　to　the　floor。　Before　its　streaking　light　had　dissipated；　Catti…brie　fired　a　third；　this　one　screeching　like　a　banshee　as　it　careened　off　the　worked　tunnel's　stone　walls。

Still　the　young　woman　walked　on。　She　knew　the　dark　elves　could　see　her　every　step；　while　she　caught　only　silhouetted　glimpses　of　the　elves　as　her　arrows　streaked　past。

Instinct　told　her　to　put　an　arrow　up　high；　and　she　smiled　grimly　as　it　connected　with　a　levitating　drow；　catching　him　squarely　in　the　face　as　he　rose；　blowing　his　head　apart。　The　force　of　the　blow　spun　the　body　over；　and　it　hung；　motionless；　in　midair。

Catti…brie　did　not　see　her　next　arrow　go　off；　and　only　then　did　she　realize　that　the　dark　elves　had　put　a　globe　of　darkness　over　her。　How　foolish！　she　thought；　for　now　they　could　not　see　her　as　she　could　not　see　them。

Still　she　walked；　out　of　the　globe；　firing　again；　killing　another　of　her　enemies。

A　crossbow　quarrel　hit　the　side　of　her　face；　scraped　painfully　against　her　jawbone。

Catti…brie　walked　on；　jaw　set；　teeth　gritted　tightly。　She　saw　the　red…glowing　eyes　of　the　remaining　two　drow　closing　on　her　fast；　knew　that　they　had　drawn　swords　and　charged。　She　put　the　bow　up；　using　their　eyes　as　beacons。

A　globe　of　darkness　fell　over　her。

Terror　welled　up　inside　the　young　woman；　but　she　fought　it　back　stubbornly；　her　expression　not　changing。　She　knew　she　had　only　moments　before　a　drow　sword　plunged　through　her。　Her　mind　recalled　the　last　positions　in　which　she　had　seen　her　enemies；　showed　her　the　angles　for　her　shot。

She　put　another　arrow　up；　heard　the　slightest　scuffle　ahead　and　to　the　left；　turned；　and　fired。　Then　she　loosed　a　third　and　a　fourth；　using　no　guidance　beyond　her　instinct；　hoping　that　she　might　at　least　wound　the　charging　dark　elves　and　slow　their　progress。　She　fell　flat　to　the　floor　and　fired　sidelong；　then　winced　as　her　arrow　soared　away　in　the　blackness；　apparently　not　connecting。

Instincts　guiding　her　still；　Catti…brie　rolled　to　her　back　and　fired　above　her；　heard　a　dull　thump；　then　a　sharp　crack　as　the　missile　drove　through　a　floating　drow　and　into　the　ceiling。　Chunks　of　rubble　fell　from　above；　and　Catti…brie　covered　up。

She　remained　in　a　defensive　position　for　a　long　while；　expecting　the　ceiling　to　fall　on　her；　expecting　a　dark　elf　to　rush　up　and　slash　her　apart。



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He　got　his　sword　near　the　dwarf　far　more　often　than　the　dwarf's　bulky　axe　came　near　to　hitting　him；　but　the　lone　drow　facing　Bruenor　knew　he　could　not　win；　could　not　stop　this　enraged　enemy。　He　called　upon　his　innate　magic　and　lined　Bruenor　with　blue…glowing；　harmless　flames—　faerie　fire；　it　was　called—distinctively　outlining　the　dwarf's　form　and　presenting　the　drow　with　an　easier　target。

Bruenor　didn't　even　flinch。

The　drow　came　with　a　vicious；　straightforward　thrust　that　forced　the　dwarf　back　on　his　heels；　then　turned　and　fled；　thinking　to　put　a　few　feet　between　him　and　his　enemy；　then　turn　and　drop　a　darkness　globe　over　the　dwarf。

Bruenor　didn't　try　to　match　the　drow's　long　strides。　He　brought　his　axe　in；　clasped　it　in　both　hands；　and　pulled　it　back　over　his　head。

〃Me　boy！〃　the　dwarf　yelled　with　all　his　rage；　and　with　all　his　strength　he　hurled　the　axe；　end　over　end。　It　was　a　daring　move；　a　move　offered　by　the　desperation　of　a　father　who　had　lost　his　child。　Bruenor's　axe　would　not　return　to　him　as　Aegis…fang　had　to　Wulfgar。　If　the　axe　did　not　hit　the　mark。。。

It　caught　the　drow　just　as　he　was　turning　the　corner　back　into　the　winding　side　tunnel；　diving　into　his　hip　and　back　and　hurling　him　across　the　way　to　collide　with　the　opposite　corner。　He　tried　to　recover；　wriggled　about　on　the　floor　for　a　few　moments；　searching　for　his　lost　sword　and　air　to　breathe。

As　his　hand　neared　the　hilt　of　his　fallen　weapon；　a　dwarven　boot　slammed　down　atop　it；　crushing　the　fingers。

Bruenor　considered　the　angle　of　the　sticking　axe　and　the　gush　of　blood　pouring　all　about　the　weapon's　blade。　〃Ye're　dead；〃　he　said　coldly　to　the　dark　elf；　and　he　tore　the　weapon　free　with　a　sickening　crackle。

The　drow　heard　the　words　distantly；　but　his　mind　had　shut　down　by　that　time；　his　thoughts　flowing　away　from　him　as　surely　as　was　his　life's　blood。



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Vierna　did　not　relent　as　her　panion　fell　dead；　showed　no　signs　that　she　cared　at　all　for　the　battle's　sudden　turn。　Drizzt's　stomach　turned　at　the　sight　of　his　sister；　her　features　locked　in　the　hatred　that　the　Spider　Queen　so　often　fostered；　a　rage　beyond　reason；　beyond　consciousness　and　conscience。

Drizzt　did　not　let　his　ambivalence　affect　his　swordplay；　though；　not　after　Vierna　had　proclaimed　his　friends　dead。　He　hit　the　snapping　snake　heads　often；　but　couldn't　seem　to　connect　solidly　enough　to　seriously　damage　any。

One　got　its　fangs　into　his　arm。　Drizzt　felt　the　numbing　tingle　and　whipped　his　other　blade　across　to　sever　the　thing。

The　movement　left　his　opposite　flank　open；　though；　and　a　second　head　got　him　on　the　shoulder。　A　third　came　in　for　the　side　of　his　face。

His　backhand　slash　took　the　nearest　viper's　head　and　drove　the　other　attacking　snake　away。

Vierna's　whip　had　only　three　heads　remaining；　but　the　hits　had　staggered　Drizzt。　He　rocked　back　a　few　steps；　found　some　support　in　the　solid　wall　along　the　side　of　the　entryway。　He　looked　to　his　shoulder；　horrified　to　see　the　severed　head　of　the　snake　still　holding　fast；　its　fangs　deeply　embedded。

Only　then　did　Drizzt　notice　the　familiar　silver　flashes　of　Taulmaril；　Catti…brie's　bow。　Guenhwyvar　was　alive　and　about；　Catti…brie　was　out　in　the　hall；　fighting；　and；　from　somewhere　far　down　the　other　corridor；　the　one　along　the　right…hand　side　of　the　small　chamber；　Drizzt　heard　the　unmistakable　roar　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer's　litany　of　rage。

〃Me　boy！〃

〃You　said　they　were　dead；〃　Drizzt　remarked　to　Vierna。　He　steadied　himself　against　the　wall。

〃They　do　not　matter！〃　Vierna　yelled　back　at　him；　obviously　as　amazed　as　Drizzt　by　the　revelation。　〃You　are　all　that　matters；　you　and　the　glories　your　death　will　bring　me！〃　She　launched　herself　forward　at　her　wounded　brother；　three　snake　heads　leading　the　way。

Drizzt　had　found　his　strength　again；　had　found　it　in　the　presence　of　his　friends；　in　the　knowledge　that　they；　too；　were　involved　in　this　fight　and　would　need　him　to　win。

Instead　of　lashing　out　or　swiping　across；　Drizzt　let　then　snake　heads　e　to　him。　He　got　bit　again；　twice；　but　Twinkle　split　one　viper's　rushing　head　down　the　middle；　leaving　its　torn　body　writhing　uselessly。

Drizzt　kicked　off　the　wall；　driving　Vierna　back　in　surprise。　He　worked　his　blades　fast　and　hard；　aiming　always　for　the　snakes　of　Vierna's　whip；　though　more　than　once　he　felt　as　if　he　could　have　slipped　through　his　sister's　defenses　and　scored　a　hit　on　her　body。

Another　snake　head　dropped　to　the　floor。

Vierna　came　across　with　the　decimated　whip；　but　a　scimitar　sliced　deeply　into　her　forearm　before　she　could　snap　the　remaining　snake　head　forward。　The　weapon　flew　to　the　floor。　The　writhing　snake　became　a　lifeless　thong　as　soon　as　the　whip　left　Vierna's　hand。

Vierna　hissed—she　seemed　an　animal—at　Drizzt；　her　empty　hands　grasping　the　air　repeatedly。

Drizzt　did　not　immediately　advance；　did　not　have　to；　for　Twinkle's　deadly　tip　was　poised　only　inches　from　his　sister's　vulnerable　breast。

Vierna's　hand　twitched　toward　her　belt；　where　twin　maces；　carved　in　intricate　runes　of　spiderwebs；　awaited。　Drizzt　could　well　guess　the　power　of　those　weapons；　and　he　knew　firsthand　from　his　days　in　Menzoberranzan　Vierna's　skill　in　using　them。

〃Do　not；〃　he　ordered；　indicating　the　weapons。

〃We　were　both　trained　by　Zaknafein；〃　Vierna　reminded　him；　and　the　mention　of　his　father　stung　Drizzt。　〃Do　you　fear　to　find　out　who　best　learned　the　many　lessons？〃

〃We　were　both　sired　by　Zaknafein；〃　Drizzt　retorted；　tapping　Vierna's　hand　away　from　her　belt　with　Twinkle's　furiously　glowing　blade。　〃Do　not　continue　this　and　dishonor　him。　There　is　a　better　way；　my　sister；　a　light　you　cannot　know。〃

Vierna's　cackling　laughter　mocked　him。　Did　he　really　believe　he　could　reform　her；　a　priestess　of　Lloth？

〃Do　not！〃　Drizzt　manded　more　forcefully　as　Vierna's　hand　again　inched　toward　the　nearest　mace。

She　lurched　for　it。　Twinkle　plunged　through　her　breast；　through　her　heart；　its　bloody　tip　ing　out　her　back。

Drizzt　was　right　against　her　then；　holding　her　arms　in　tight；　supporting　her　as　her　legs　failed　her。

They　stared　at　each　other；　unblinking；　as　Vierna　slowly　slumped　to　the　floor。　Gone　was　her　rage；　her　obsession；　replaced　by　a　look　of　serenity；　a　rare　expression　on　the　face　of　a　drow。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　was　all　Drizzt　could　quietly　mouth。

Vierna　shook　her　head；　refusing　any　apology。　To　Drizzt；　it　seemed　as　if　that　buried　part　of　her　that　was　Zaknafein　Do'Urden's　daughter　approved　of　this　ending。

Vierna's　eyes　then　closed　forever。



Chapter　24

The　Long　Walk　Home



“Well　done。〃　The　words　came　at　Drizzt　unexpectedly；　jerked　him　into　the　realization　that　while　Vierna　was　dead；　the　battle　might　not　yet　be　won。　He　jumped　aside；　scimitars　ing　up　defensively　before　him。

He　lowered　the　weapons　when　he　considered　Jarlaxle；　the　mercenary　sitting　propped　against　the　chamber's　far　wall；　one　leg　sticking　out　to　the　side　at　a　weird　angle。

〃The　panther；〃　the　mercenary　explained；　speaking　the　mon　tongue　as　fluidly　as　if　he　had　spent　his　life　on　the　surface。　〃I　thought　I　would　be　killed。　The　panther　had　me　down。〃　Jarlaxle　gave　a　shrug。　〃Perhaps　my　lightning　bolt　hurt　the　beast。〃

The　mention　of　the　lightning　bolt　reminded　Drizzt　of　the　wand；　reminded　Drizzt　that　this　drow　was　still　very　dangerous。　He　went　down　in　a　crouch；　circling