精灵血脉四部曲-第56部分

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　to

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R。　A。　Salvatore

think　about　that；　her　eyes　focused　on　the　bed。　It　was　made；　covers　tucked　neatly；　though　that　was　not　unusual　for　the　dark　elf。

Catti…brie　slipped　over　to　the　bed　and　inspected　the　folds。　They　were　neat；　but　not　tight；　and　she　understood　that　this　bed　had　been　made　a　long　while　ago；　that　this　bed　had　not　been　slept　in　the　previous　night。

〃Whaf　s　all　this？〃　the　young　woman　asked。　She　took　a　quick　look　around　the　small　room；　then　made　her　way　back　out　into　the　hall。　Drizzt　had　gone　out　from　Mithril　Hall　without　warning　before；　and　often　he　left　at　night。　He　usually　journeyed　to　SUverymoon；　the　fabulous　city　a　week's　march　to　the　east。

Why；　this　time；　did　Catti…brie　feel　that　something　was　amiss？　Why　did　this　not…so…unusual　scene　strike　Catti…brie　as　very　out　of　place？　The　young　woman　tried　to　shrug　it　away；　to　overrule　her　heartfelt　fears。　She　was　just　worried；　she　told　herself。　She　had　lost　Wulfgar　and　now　felt　overprotective　of　her　other　friends。

Catti…brie　walked　as　she　thought　it　over；　and　soon　paused　at　another　door。　She　tapped　lightly；　then；　with　no　response　forthing　（though　she　was　certain　that　this　one　was　not　yet　up　and　about）；　she　banged　harder。　A　groan　came　from　within　the　room。

Catti…brie　pushed　the　door　open　and　crossed　the　room；　sliding　to　kneel　beside　the　tiny　bed　and　roughly　pulling　the　bedcovers　down　from　sleeping　Regis；　tickling　his　armpits　as　he　began　to　squirm。

〃Hey！〃　the　plump　halfling；　recovered　from　his　trials　at　the　hands　of　the　assassin　Artemis　Entreri；　cried　out。　He　came　awake　immediately　and　grabbed　at　the　covers　desperately。

〃Where's　Drizzt？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　tugging　the　covers　away　more　forcefully。

〃How　would　I　know？〃　Regis　protested。　〃I　have　not　been　out　of　my　room　yet　this　morning！〃

〃Get　up。〃　Catti…brie　was　surprised　by　the　sharpness　of　her　own　voice；　by　the　intensity　of　her　mand。　The　unfortable　feelings　tugged　at　her　again；　more　forcefully。　She　looked　around　the　room；　trying　to　discern　what　had　triggered　her　sudden　anxiety。

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Starless　Night

She　saw　the　panther　figurine。

Catti…brie's　unblinking　stare　locked　on　the　object；　Drizzt's　dearest　possession。　What　was　it　doing　in　Regis's　room？　she　wondered。　Why　had　Drizzt　left　without　it？　Now　the　young　woman's　logic　began　to　fall　into　agreement　with　her　emotions。　She　skipped　across　the　bed；　buried　Regis　in　a　jumble　of　covers　（which　he　promptly　pulled　tight　around　his　shoulders）；　and　retrieved　the　panther。　She　then　hopped　back　and　tugged　again　at　the　stubborn　halfling's　blanket　shell。

〃No！〃　Regis　argued；　yanking　back。　He　dove　facedown　to　his　mattress；　pulling　the　ends　of　the　pillow　up　around　his　dimpled　face。

Catti…brie　grabbed　him　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　yanked　him　from　the　bed；　and　dragged　him　across　the　room　to　seat　him　in　one　of　the　two　wooden　chairs　resting　at　opposite　sides　of　a　small　table。　Pillow　still　in　hand；　still　tight　against　his　face；　Regis　plopped　his　head　straight　down　on　the　table。

Catti…brie　took　a　firm　and　silent　hold　on　the　end　of　the　pillow；　quietly　stood；　then　yanked　it　suddenly；　tearing　it　from　the　surprised　halfling's　grasp　so　that　his　head　knocked　hard　against　the　bare　wood。

Groaning　and　grumbling；　Regis　sat　straight　in　the　chair　and　ran　stubby　fingers　through　his　fluffy　and　curly　brown　locks；　their　bounce　undiminished　by　a　long　night's　sleep。

〃What？〃　he　demanded。

Catti…brie　slammed　the　panther　figurine　atop　the　table；　leaving　it　before　the　seated　halfling。　〃Where　is　Drizzt？〃　she　asked　again；　evenly。

〃Probably　in　the　Undercity；〃　Regis　grumbled；　running　his　tongue　all　about　his　cottony…feeling　teeth。　〃Why　don't　you　go　ask　Bruenor？〃

The　mention　of　the　dwarvish　king　set　Catti…brie　back　on　her　heels。　Go　ask　Bruenor？　she　silently　scoffed。　Bruenor　would　hardly　speak　to　anyone；　and　was　so　immersed　in　despair　that　he　probably　wouldn't　know　it　if　his　entire　clan　up　and　left　in　the　middle　of　the　night！

〃So　Drizzt　left　Guenhwyvar；〃　Regis　remarked；　thinking　to　downplay　the　whole　thing。　His　words　fell　awkwardly　on　the　perceptive　woman's　ears；　though；　and　Catti…brie's　deep　blue　eyes　narrowed　as　she　studied　the　halfling　more　closely。

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R。　A。　Salvatore

Starless　Night

〃What？〃　Regis　asked　innocently　again；　feeling　the　heat　of　that　unrelenting　scrutiny。

〃Where　is　Drizzt？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　her　tone　dangerously　calm。　〃And　why　do　ye　have　the　cat？〃

Regis　shook　his　head　and　wailed　helplessly；　dramatically　dropping　his　forehead　again　against　the　table。

Catti…brie　saw　the　act　for　what　it　was。　She　knew　Regis　too　well　to　be　taken　in　by　his　wily　charms。　She　grabbed　a　handful　of　curly　brown　hair　and　rugged　his　head　upright；　then　grabbed　the　front　of　his　nightshirt　with　her　other　hand。　Her　roughness　startled　the　halfling；　she　could　see　that　clearly　by　his　expression；　but　she　did　not　relent。　Regis　flew　from　his　seat。　Catti…brie　carried　him　three　quick　steps；　then　slammed　his　back　against　the　wall。

Catti…brie's　scowling　visage　softened　for　just　a　moment；　and　her　free　hand　fumbled　with　the　halfling's　nightshirt　long　enough　that　she　could　determine　that　Regis　was　not　wearing　his　magical　ruby　pendant；　an　item　she　knew　he　never　removed。　Another　curious；　and　certainly　out…of…place；　fact　that　assailed　her　sensibilities；　fed　her　growing　belief　that　something　indeed　was　terribly　wrong。

〃Suren　there's　something　going　on　here　thaf　s　not　what　if　s　supposed　to　be；〃　Catti…brie　said；　her　scowl　returning　tenfold。

〃Catti…brie！〃　Regis　replied；　looking　down　to　his　furry…topped　feet；　dangling　twenty　inches　from　the　floor。

〃And　ye　know　something　about　it；〃　Catti…brie　went　on。

〃Catti…brie！〃　Regis　wailed　again；　trying　to　bring　the　fiery　young　woman　to　her　senses。

Catti…brie　took　up　the　halfling's　nightshirt　in　both　her　hands；　pulled　him　away　from　the　wall；　and　slammed　him　back　again；　hard。　〃I've　lost　Wulfgar；〃　she　said　grimly；　pointedly　reminding　Regis　that　he　might　not　be　dealing　with　someone　rational。

Regis　didn't　know　what　to　think。　Bruenor　Battleham…mer's　daughter　had　always　been　the　levelheaded　one　of　the　troupe；　the　calm　influence　that　kept　the　others　in　line。　Even　cool　Drizzt　had　often　used　Catti…brie　as　a　guidepost　to　his　conscience。　But　now　。。。

Regis　saw　the　promise　of　pain　set　within　the　depths　of

26

Catti…brie's　deep　blue；　angry　eyes。

She　pulled　him　from　the　wall　once　more　and　slammed　him　back。　〃Ye're　going　to　tell　me　what　ye　know；〃　she　said　evenly。

The　back　of　Regis's　head　throbbed　from　the　banging。　He　was　scared；　very　scared；　as　much　for　Catti…brie　as　for　himself。　Had　her　grief　brought　her　to　this　point　of　desperation？　And　why　was　he　suddenly　caught　in　the　middle　of　all　this？　All　that　Regis　wanted　out　of　life　was　a　warm　bed　and　a　warmer　meal。

〃We　should　go　and　sit　down　with　Brue？　he　began；　but　he　was　summarily　interrupted　as　Catti…brie　slapped　him　across　the　face。

He　brought　his　hand　up　to　the　stinging　cheek；　felt　the　angry　welt　rising　there。　He　never　blinked；　eyeing　the　young　woman　with　disbelief。

Catti…brie's　violent　reaction　had　apparently　surprised　her　as　much　as　Regis。　The　halfling　saw　tears　welling　in　her　gentle　eyes。　She　trembled；　and　Regis　honestly　didn't　know　what　she　might　do。

The　halfling　considered　his　situation　for　a　long　moment；　ing　to　wonder　what　difference　a　few　days　or　weeks　could　make。　〃Drizzt　went　home；〃　the　halfling　said　softly；　always　willing　to　do　as　the　situation　demanded。　Worrying　about　consequences　could　e　later。

Catti…brie　relaxed　somewhat。　〃This　is　his　home；〃　she　reasoned。　〃Suren　ye　don't　mean　Icewind　Dale。〃

〃Menzoberranzan；〃　Regis　corrected。

If　Catti…brie　had　taken　a　crossbow　quarrel　in　her　back；　it　would　not　have　hit　her　harder　than　that　single　word。　She　let　Regis　down　to　the　floor　and　tumbled　backward；　falling　into　a　sitting　position　on　the　edge　of　the　halfling's　bed。

〃He　really　left　Guenhwyvar　for　you；〃　Regis　explained。　〃He　cares　for　both　you　and　the　cat　so　very　much。〃

His　soothing　words　did　not　shake　the　horrified　expression　from　Catti…brie's　face。　Regis　wished　he　had　his　ruby　pendant；　so　that　he　might　use　its　undeniable　charms　to　calm　the　young　woman。

〃You　can't　tell　Bruenor；〃　Regis　added。　〃Besides；　Drizzt　might　not　even　go　that　far。〃　The　halfling　thought　an　embell…

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R。　A。　Salvatore

ishment　of　the　truth　might　go　a　long　way。　〃He　said　he　was　off　to　see　Alustriel；　to　try　to　decide　where　his　course　should　lead。〃　It　wasn't　exactly　true桪rizzt　had　only　mentioned　that　he　might　stop　by　Silverymoon　to　see　if　he　might　confirm　his　fears梑ut　Regis　decided　that　Catti…brie　needed　to　be　given　some　hope。

〃You　can't　tell　Bruenor；〃　the　halfling　said　again；　more　forcefully。　Catti…brie　looked　up　at　him；　her　expression　was　truly　one　of　the　most　pitiful　sights　Regis　had　ever　seen。

〃He'll　be　back；〃　Regis　said　to　her；　rushing　over　to　sit　beside　her。　〃You　know　Drizzt。　He'll　be　back。〃

It　was　too　much　for　Catti…brie　to　digest。　She　gently　pulled　Regis's　hand　off　her　arm　and　rose。　She　looked　to　the　panther　figurine　once　more；　sitting　upon　the　small　table；　but　she　had　not　the　strength　to　retrieve　it。

Catti…brie　padded　silently　out　of　the　room；　back　to　her　own　chambers；　where　she　fell　listlessly　upon　her　bed。

*　*　*　*　*

Drizzt　spent　midday　sleeping　in　the　cool　shadows　of　a　cave；　many　miles　from　Mithril　Hall's　eastern　door。　The　early　summer　air　was　warm；　the　breeze　off　the　cold　glaciers　of　the　mountains　carrying　little　weight　against　the　powerful　rays　of　the　sun　in　a　cloudless　summer　sky。

The　draw　did　not　sleep　long　or　well。　His　rest　was　filled　with　thoughts　of　Wulfgar；　of　all　his　friends；　and　of　distant　images；　memories　of　that　awful　place；　Menzoberranzan。

Awful　and　beautiful；　like　the　dark　elves　who　had　sculpted　it。

Drizzt　moved　to　his　shallow　cave's　entrance　to　take　his　meal。　He　basked　in　the　warmth　of　the　bright　afternoon；　in　the　sounds　of　the　many　animals。　How　different　was　this　from　his　Underdark　home！　How　wonderful！

Drizzt　threw　his　dried　biscuit　into　the　dirt　and　punched　the　floor　beside　him。

How　wonderful　indeed　was　this　false　hope　that　had　been　dangled　before　his　desperate　eyes。　All　that　he　had　wanted　in　life　was　to　escape　the　ways　of　his　kin；　to　live　in　peace。　Then　he　had　e　to　the　surface；　and　soon　after；　had

28

Starless　Night

decided　that