精灵血脉四部曲-第5部分

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ince　the　retaking　of　Mithril　Hall；　the　only　metal　ringing　in　the　dwarven　tunnels　was　the　miner's　pick　and　shovel　and　the　craftsman's　sledge；　and　the　trails　between　Mithril　Hall　and　Silverymoon　were　rarely　dangerous　or　adventurous　to　the　skilled　Drizzt。　This　news　held　particular　interest　for　the　drow。　Drizzt　was　a　ranger；　dedicated　to　defending　the　good　races；　and　he　despised　spindly…armed；　foul…smelling　goblins　above　all　the　other　evil　races　in　the　world。

Bruenor　led　the　two　over　to　Regis's　table；　though　every　other　table　in　the　large　hall　was　empty。　〃Supper's　done；〃　the　red…bearded　dwarf　king　huffed；　sweeping　the　plates　from　in　front　of　the　halfling　to　land；　crashing；　on　the　floor。

〃Go　and　get　Wulfgar；〃　Bruenor　growled　into　the　halfling's　dubious　expression。　〃Ye　got　a　count　of　fifty　to　get　back　to　me。　Longer　than　that；　and　I　put　ye　on　half　rations！〃

Regis　was　through　the　door　in　an　instant。

On　Bruenor's　nod；　Dagna　pulled　a　hunk　of　coal　from　his　pocket　and　sketched　a　rough　map　of　the　new　region　on　the　table；　showing　Bruenor　where　they　had　encountered　the　goblin　sign；　and　where　further　scouting　had　indicated　the　main　lair　to　be。　Of　particular　interest　to　the　two　dwarves　were　the　worked　tunnels　in　the　region；　with　their　even　floors　and　squared　walls。

〃Good　for　surprising　stupid　goblins；〃　Bruenor　explained　to　Drizzt　with　a　wink。

〃You　knew　the　goblins　were　there；〃　Drizzt　accused　him；　realizing　that　Bruenor　was　more　thrilled；　and　less　surprised；　by　the　news　of　potential　enemies　than　of　potential　riches。

〃Figured　there　might　be　goblins；〃　Bruenor　admitted。　〃Seen　'em　down　there　once；　but　with　the　ing　of　the　dragon；　me　father　and　his　soldiers　never　got　the　time　to　clean　the　vermin　out。　Still；　it　was　a　long；　long　time　ago；　elf〃—the　dwarf　stroked　his　long　red　beard　to　accentuate　the　point—〃and　I　couldn't　be　sure　they'd　still　be　there。〃

〃We　are　threatened？〃　came　a　resonant　baritone　voice　behind　them。　The　seven…foot…tall　barbarian　moved　to　the　table　and　leaned　low　to　take　in　Dagna's　diagram。

〃Just　goblins；〃　Bruenor　replied。

〃A　call　to　war！〃　Wulfgar　roared；　slapping　Aegis…fang；　the　mighty　warhammer　Bruenor　had　forged　for　him；　across　his　open　palm。

〃A　call　to　play；〃　Bruenor　corrected；　and　he　exchanged　a　nod　and　chuckle　with　Drizzt。

〃By　me　own　eyes；　don't　ye　two　seem　eager　to　be　killing；〃　Catti…brie；　standing　behind　with　Regis；　put　in。

〃Bet　on　it；〃　Bruenor　retorted。

〃Ye　found　some　goblins　in　their　own　hole；　not　to　bothering　anybody；　and　ye're　planning　for　their　slaughter；〃　Catti…brie　went　on　in　the　face　of　her　father's　sarcasm。

〃Woman！〃　Wulfgar　shouted。

Drizzt's　amused　smile　evaporated　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　replaced　by　an　expression　of　amazement　as　he　regarded　the　towering　barbarian's　scornful　mien。

〃Be　glad　for　that；〃　Catti…brie　answered　lightly；　without　hesitation　and　without　being　distracted　from　the　more　important　debate　with　Bruenor。　〃How　do　ye　know　the　goblins　want　a　fight？〃　she　asked　the　king。　〃Or　do　ye　care？〃

〃There's　mithril　in　those　tunnels；〃　Bruenor　replied；　as　if　that　would　end　the　debate。

〃Would　that　make　it　the　goblins'　mithril？〃　Catti…brie　asked　innocently。　〃Rightfully？〃

〃Not　for　long；〃　Dagna　interjected；　but　Bruenor　had　no　witty　remarks　to　add；　taken　aback　by　his　daughter's　surprising　line　of　somewhat　incriminating　questions。

〃The　fight's　more　important　to　ye；　to　all　of　ye；〃　Catti…brie　went　on；　turning　her　knowing　blue　eyes　to　regard　all　four　of　the　group；　〃than　any　treasures　to　be　found。　Ye　hunger　for　the　excitement。　Ye'd　go　after　the　goblins　if　the　tunnels　were　no　more　than　bare　and　worthless　stone！〃

〃Not　me；〃　Regis　piped　in；　but　nobody　paid　much　attention。

〃They　are　goblins；〃　Drizzt　said　to　her。　〃Was　it　not　a　goblin　raid　that　took　your　father's　life？〃

〃Aye；〃　Catti…brie　agreed。　〃And　if　ever　I　find　that　tribe；　then　be　knowing　that　they'll　fall　in　piles　for　their　wicked　deed。　But　are　they　akin　to　this　tribe；　a　thousand　miles　and　more　away？〃

〃Goblins　is　goblins！〃　Bruenor　growled。

〃Oh？〃　Catti…brie　replied；　crossing　her　arms　before　her。　〃And　are　drow？〃

〃What　talk　is　this？〃　Wulfgar　demanded　as　he　glowered　at　his　soon…to…be　bride。

〃If　ye　found　a　dark　elf　wandering　yer　tunnels；〃　Catti…brie　said　to　Bruenor；　ignoring　Wulfgar　altogether—…even　when　he　stormed　over　to　stand　right　beside　her—〃would　ye　draw　up　yer　plans　and　cut　the　creature　down？〃

Bruenor　gave　an　unfortable　glance　Drizzt's　way；　but　Drizzt　was　smiling　again；　understanding　where　Catti…brie's　reasoning　had　led　them—and　where　it　had　trapped　the　stubborn　king。

〃If　ye　did　cut　him　down；　and　if　that　drow　was　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　then　who　would　ye　have　beside　ye　with　the　patience　to　sit　and　listen　to　yer　prideful　boasts？〃　the　young　woman　finished。

〃At　least　I'd　kill　ye　clean；〃　Bruenor；　his　blustery　bubble　popped；　muttered　to　Drizzt。

Drizzt's　laughter　came　straight　from　his　belly。　〃Parley；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃By　the　well…spoken　words　of　our　wise　young　friend；　we　must　give　the　goblins　at　least　a　chance　to　explain　their　intentions。〃　He　paused　and　looked　wistfully　at　Catti…brie；　his　lavender　eyes　sparkling　still；　for　he　knew　what　to　expect　from　goblins。　〃Before　we　cut　them　down。〃

〃Cleanly；〃　Bruenor　added。

〃She　knows　nothing　of　this！〃　Wulfgar　griped；　bringing　the　tension　back　to　the　meeting　in　an　instant。

Drizzt　silenced　him　with　a　cold　glare；　as　threatening　a　stare　as　had　ever　passed　between　the　dark　elf　and　the　barbarian。　Catti…brie　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　her　expression　pained；　then　she　tapped　Regis　on　the　shoulder　and　together　they　left　the　room。

〃We're　gonna　talk　to　a　bunch　o'　goblins？〃　Dagna　asked　in　disbelief。

〃Aw；　shut　yer　mouth；〃　Bruenor　answered；　slamming　his　hands　back　to　the　table　and　studying　the　map　once　more。　It　took　him　several　moments　to　realize　that　Wulfgar　and　Drizzt　had　not　finished　their　silent　exchange。　Bruenor　recognized　the　confusion　underlying　Drizzt's　stare；　but　in　looking　at　the　barbarian；　he　found　no　subtle　undercurrents；　no　hint　that　this　particular　incident　would　be　easily　forgotten。



*　*　*　*　*



Drizzt　leaned　back　against　the　stone　wall　in　the　corridor　outside　Catti…brie's　room。　He　had　e　to　talk　to　the　young　woman；　to　find　out　why　she　had　been　so　concerned；　so　adamant；　in　the　conference　about　the　goblin　tribe。　Catti…brie　had　always　brought　a　unique　perspective　to　the　trials　facing　the　five　panions；　but　this　time　it　seemed　to　Drizzt　that　something　else　was　driving　her；　that　something　other　than　goblins　had　brought　the　fire　to　her　speech。

Leaning　on　the　wall　outside　the　door；　the　dark　elf　began　to　understand。

〃You　are　not　going！〃　Wulfgar　was　saying—loudly。　〃There　will　be　a　fight；　despite　your　attempts　to　put　it　off。　They　are　goblins。　They'll　take　no　parley　with　dwarves！〃

〃If　there　is　a　fight；　then　ye'll　be　wanting　me　there；〃　Catti…brie　retorted。

〃You　are　not　going。〃

Drizzt　shook　his　head　at　the　finality　of　Wulfgar's　tone；　thinking　that　never　before　had　he　heard　Wulfgar　speak　this　way。　He　changed　his　mind；　though；　remembering　when　he　first　had　met　the　rough　young　barbarian；　stubborn　and　proud　and　talking　nearly　as　stupidly　as　now。

Drizzt　was　waiting　for　the　barbarian　when　Wulfgar　returned　to　his　own　room；　the　drow　leaning　against　the　wall　casually；　wrists　resting　against　the　angled　hilts　of　his　magical　scimitars　and　his　forest…green　cloak　thrown　back　from　his　shoulders。

〃Bruenor　sends　for　me？〃　Wulfgar　asked；　confused　as　to　why　Drizzt　would　be　in　his　room。

Drizzt　pushed　the　door　closed。　〃I　am　not　here　for　Bruenor；〃　he　explained　evenly。

Wulfgar　shrugged；　not　catching　on。　〃Wele　back；　then；〃　he　said；　and　there　was　something　strained　in　his　greeting。　〃Too　oft　you　are　out　of　the　halls。　Bruenor　desires　your　pany—〃

〃I　am　here　for　Catti…brie；〃　Drizzt　interrupted。

The　barbarian's　ice…blue　eyes　narrowed　immediately　and　he　squared　his　broad　shoulders；　his　strong　jaw　firm。　〃I　know　she　met　with　you；〃　he　said；　〃outside　on　the　trails　before　you　came　in。〃

A　perplexed　look　crossed　Drizzt's　face　as　he　recognized　the　hostility　in　Wulfgar's　tone。　Why　would　Wulfgar　care　if　Catti…brie　had　met　with　him？　What　in　the　Nine　Hells　was　going　on　with　his　large　friend？

〃Regis　told　me；〃　Wulfgar　explained；　apparently　misunderstanding　Drizzt's　confusion。　A　superior　look　came　into　the　barbarian's　eye；　as　though　he　believed　his　secret　information　had　given　him　some　sort　of　advantage。

Drizzt　shook　his　head　and　brushed　his　thick　white　mane　back　from　his　face　with　slender　fingers。　〃I　am　not　here　because　of　any　meeting　on　the　trails；〃　he　said；　〃or　because　of　anything　Catti…brie　has　said　to　me。〃　Wrists　still　fortably　resting　against　his　weapon　hilts；　Drizzt　strolled　across　the　wide　room；　stopping　opposite　the　large　bed　from　the　barbarian。

〃Whatever　Catti…brie　does　say　to　me；　though；〃　he　had　to　add；　〃is　none　of　your　affair。〃

Wulfgar　did　not　blink；　but　Drizzt　could　see　that　it　took　all　of　the　barbarian's　control　to　stop　from　leaping　over　the　bed　at　him。　Drizzt；　who　thought　he　knew　Wulfgar　well；　could　hardly　believe　the　sight。

〃How　dare　you？〃　Wulfgar　growled　through　gritted　teeth。　〃She　is　my—〃

〃Dare　I？〃　Drizzt　shot　back。　〃You　speak　of　Catti…brie　as　if　she　were　your　possession。　I　heard　you　tell　her；　mand　her；　to　remain　behind　when　we　go　to　the　goblins。〃

〃You　overstep　your　bounds；〃　Wulfgar　warned。

〃You　puff　like　a　drunken　ore；〃　Drizzt　returned；　and　he　thought　the　analogy　strangely　fitting。

Wulfgar　took　a　deep　breath；　his　great　chest　heaving；　to　steady　himself。　A　single　stride　took　him　the　length　of　the　bed　to　the　wall；　near　the　hooks　holding　his　magnificent　warhammer。

〃Once　you　were　my　teacher；〃　Wulfgar　said　calmly。

〃Ever　was　I　your　friend；〃　Drizzt　replied。

Wulfgar　snapped　an　angry　glare　on　him。　〃You　speak　to　me　like　a　father　to　a　child。　Beware；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　you　are　not　the　teacher　anymore。〃

Drizzt　nearly　fell　over；　especially　when　Wulfgar；　still　eyeing　him　dangerously；　pulled　Aegis…fang；　the　mighty　warhammer；　from　the　wall。

〃Are　you　the　teacher　now？〃　the　dark　elf　asked。

Wulfgar　nodded　slowly；　then　blinked　in　surprise　as　the　scimitars　suddenly　appeared　in　Drizzt's　hands。　Twinkle；　the　magical　blade　the　wizard　Malchor　Harpel　had　given　Drizzt；　glowed　with　a　soft　blue　flame。

〃Remember　when　first　we　met？〃　t