精灵血脉四部曲-第57部分

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　in　peace。　Then　he　had　e　to　the　surface；　and　soon　after；　had

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Starless　Night

decided　that　this　place梩his　place　of　buzzing　bees　and　chirping　birds；　of　warm　sunlight　and　alluring　moonlight？should　be　his　home；　not　the　eternal　darkness　of　those　tunnels　far　below。

Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　chosen　the　surface；　but　what　did　that　choice　mean？　It　meant　that　he　would　e　to　know　new；　dear　friends；　and　by　his　mere　presence；　trap　them　into　his　dark　legacy。　It　meant　that　Wulfgar　would　die　by　the　summons　of　Drizzt's　own　sister；　and　that　all　of　Mithril　Hall　might　soon　be　in　peril。

It　meant　that　his　choice　was　a　false　one；　that　he　could　not　stay。

The　disciplined　drow　calmed　quickly　and　took　out　some　more　food；　forcing　it　past　the　angry　lump　in　his　throat。　He　considered　his　course　as　he　ate。　The　road　before　him　would　lead　out　of　the　mountains　and　past　a　village　called　Pen…gallen。　Drizzt　had　been　there　recently；　and　he　did　not　wish　to　return。

He　would　not　follow　the　road　at　all；　he　decided　at　length。　What　purpose　would　going　to　Silverymoon　serve？　Drizzt　doubted　that　Lady　Alustriel　would　be　there；　with　the　trading　season　open　in　full。　Even　if　she　was；　what　could　she　tell　him　that　he　did　not　already　know？

No；　Drizzt　had　already　determined　his　ultimate　course　and　he　did　not　need　Alustriel　to　confirm　it。　He　gathered　his　belongings　and　sighed　as　he　considered　again　how　empty　the　road　seemed　without　his　dear　panther　panion。　He　walked　out　into　the　bright　day；　straight　toward　the　east；　off　the　southeastern　road。

Her　stomach　did　not　plain　that　breakfast梐nd　lunch梙ad　passed　and　still　she　lay　motionless　on　her　bed；　caught　in　a　web　of　despair。　She　had　lost　Wulfgar；　barely　days　before　their　planned　wedding；　and　now　Drizzt；　whom　she　loved　as　much　as　she　had　the　barbarian；　was　gone　as　well。　It　seemed　as　though　her　entire　world　had　crumbled　around　her。　A　foundation　that　had　been　built　of　stone　shifted　like　sand　on　the　blowing　wind。

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Catti…brie　had　been　a　fighter　all　of　her　young　life。　She　didn't　remember　her　mother；　and　barely　recalled　her　father；　who　had　been　killed　in　a　goblin　raid　in　Ten…Towns　when　she　was　very　young。　Bruenor　Battlehammer　had　taken　her　in　and　raised　her　as　his　own　daughter；　and　Catti…brie　had　found　a　fine　life　among　the　dwarves　of　Bruenor's　clan。　Except　for　Bruenor；　though；　the　dwarves　had　been　friends；　not　family。　Catti…brie　had　forged　a　new　family　one　at　a　time梖irst　Bruenor；　then　Drizzt；　then　Regis；　and；　finally；　Wulfgar。

Now　Wulfgar　was　dead　and　Drizzt　gone；　back　to　his　wicked　homeland　with；　by　Catti…brie's　estimation；　little　chance　of　returning。

Catti…brie　felt　so　very　helpless　about　it　all！　She　had　watched　Wulfgar　die；　watched　him　chop　a　ceiling　down　onto　his　own　head　so　that　she　might　escape　the　dutches　of　the　monstrous　yochlol。　She　had　tried　to　help；　but　had　failed　and；　in　the　end；　all　that　remained　was　a　pile　of　rubble　and　Aegis…fang。

In　the　weeks　since；　Catti…brie　had　teetered　on　the　edge　of　control；　trying　futilely　to　deny　the　paralyzing　grief。　She　had　cried　often；　but　always　had　managed　to　check　it　after　the　first　few　sobs　with　a　deep　breath　and　sheer　willpower。　The　only　one　she　could　talk　to　had　been　Drizzt。

Now　Drizzt　was　gone；　and　now；　too；　Catti…brie　did　cry；　a　flood　of　tears；　sobs　wracking　her　deceptively　delicate　frame。　She　wanted　Wulfgar　back！　She　protested　to　whatever　gods　might　be　listening　that　he　was　too　young　to　be　taken　from　her；　with　too　many　great　deeds　ahead　of　him。

Her　sobs　became　intense　growls；　fierce　denial。　Pillows　flew　across　the　room；　and　Catti…brie　grabbed　the　blankets　into　a　pile　and　heaved　them　as　well。　Then　she　overturned　her　bed　just　for　the　pleasure　of　hearing　its　wooden　frame　crack　against　the　hard　floor。

〃No！〃　The　word　came　from　deep　inside；　from　the　young　fighter's　belly。　The　loss　of　Wulfgar　wasn't　fair；　but　there　was　nothing　Catti…brie　could　do　about　that。

Drizzf　s　leaving　wasn't　fair；　not　in　Catti…brie's　wounded　mind；　but　there　was　nothing　。。。

The　thought　hung　in　Catti…brie's　mind。　Still　trembling；

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Starless　Night

but　now　under　control；　she　stood　beside　the　overturned　bed。　She　understood　why　the　drow　had　left　secretly；　why　Drizzt　had；　as　was　typical；　taken　the　whole　burden　on　himself。

〃No；〃　the　young　woman　said　again。　She　stripped　off　her　nightclothes；　grabbed　a…blanket　to　towel　the　sweat　from　her；　then　donned　breeches　and　chemise。　Catti…brie　did　not　hesitate　to　consider　her　actions；　fearful　that　if　she　thought　about　things　rationally；　she　might　change　her　mind。　She　quickly　slipped　on　a　chain…link　coat　of　supple　and　thin　mithril　armor；　so　finely　crafted　by　the　dwarves　that　it　was　barely　detectable　after　she　had　donned　her　sleeveless　tunic。

Still　moving　frantically；　Catti…brie　pulled　on　her　boots；　grabbed　her　cloak　and　leather　gloves；　and　rushed　across　the　room　to　her　closet。　There　she　found　her　sword　belt；　quiver；　and　Tauhrtaril　the　Heartseeker；　her　enchanted　bow。　She　ran；　didn't　walk；　from　her　room　to　the　halfling's　and　banged　on　the　door　only　once　before　bursting　in。

Regis　was　in　bed　again梑ig　surprise梙is　belly　full　from　a　breakfast　that　had　continued　uninterrupted　right　into　lunch。　He　was　awake；　though；　and　none　too　happy　to　see　Catti…brie　charging　at　him　once　more。

She　pulled　him　up　to　a　sitting　position；　and　he　regarded　her　curiously。　Lines　from　tears　streaked　her　cheeks；　and　her　splendid　blue　eyes　were　edged　by　angry　red　veins。　Regis　had　lived　most　of　his　life　as　a　thief；　had　survived　by　understanding　people；　and　it　wasn't　hard　for　him　to　figure　out　the　reasons　behind　the　young　woman's　sudden　fire。

〃Where　did　ye　put　the　panther？〃　Catti…brie　demanded。

Regis　stared　at　her　for　a　long　moment。　Catti…brie　gave　him　a　rough　shake。

〃Tell　me　quick；〃　she　demanded。　〃I've　lost　too　much　time　already。〃

〃For　what？〃　Regis　asked；　though　he　knew　the　answer。

〃Just　give　me　the　cat；〃　Catti…brie　said。　Regis　unconsciously　glanced　toward　his　bureau；　and　Catti…brie　rushed　to　it；　then　tore　it　open　and　laid　waste　to　the　drawers；　one　by　one。

〃Drizzt　won't　like　this；〃　Regis　said　calmly。

'To　the　Nine　Hells　with　him；　then！〃　Catti…brie　shot　back。　She　found　the　figurine　and　held　it　before　her　eyes；　marveling

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at　its　beautiful　form。

〃You　think　Guenhwyvar　will　lead　you　to　him；〃　Regis　stated　more　than　asked。

Catti…brie　dropped　the　figurine　into　a　belt　pouch　and　did　not　bother　to　reply。

〃Suppose　you　do　catch　up　with　him；〃　Regis　went　on　as　the　young　woman　headed　for　the　door。　〃How　much　will　you　aid　Drizzt　in　a　city　of　drow？　A　human　woman　might　stand　out　a　bit　down　there；　don't　you　think？〃

The　halfling's　sarcasm　stopped　Catti…brie；　made　her　consider　for　the　first　time　what　she　meant　to　do。　How　true　was　Regis's　reasoning！　How　could　she　get　into　Menzoberranzan？　And　even　if　she　did；　how　could　she　even　see　the　floor　ahead　of　her？

〃No！〃　Catti…brie　shouted　at　length；　her　logic　blown　away　by　that　welling；　helpless　feeling。　〃I'm　going　to　him　anyway。　I'll　not　stand　by　and　wait　to　learn　that　another　of　me　friends　has　been　killed！〃

〃Trust　him；〃　Regis　pleaded；　and；　for　the　first　time；　the　halfling　began　to　think　that　maybe　he　would　not　be　able　to　stop　the　impetuous　Catti…brie。

Catti…brie　shook　her　head　and　started　for　the　door　again。

〃Wait！〃　Regis　called；　begged；　and　the　young　woman　pivoted　about　to　regard　him。　Regis　hung　in　a　precarious　position。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　should　run　out　shouting　for　Bruenor；　or　for　General　Dagna；　or　for　any　of　the　dwarves；　enlisting　allies　to　hold　back　Catti…brie；　physically　if　need　be。　She　was　crazy；　her　decision　to　run　off　after　Drizzt　made　no　sense　at　all。

But　Regis　understood　her　desire；　and　he　sympathized　with　her　with　all　his　heart。

〃If　it　was　meself　who　left；〃　Catti…brie　began；　〃and　Drizzt　who　wanted　to　follow　。。。〃

Regis　nodded　in　agreement。　If　Catti…brie；　or　any　of　them；　had　gone　into　apparent　peril；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　would　have　taken　up　the　chase；　and　taken　up　the　fight；　no　matter　the　odds。　Drizzt；　Wulfgar；　Catti…brie；　and　Bruenor　had　gone　more　than　halfway　across　the　continent　in　search　of　Regis　when　Entreri　had　abducted　him。　Regis　had　known　Catti…brie　since　she　was　just　a　child；　and　had　always　held　her　in　the

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Starless　Night

highest　regard；　but　never　had　he　been　more　proud　of　her　than　at　this　very　moment。

〃A　human　will　be　a　detriment　to　Drizzt　in　Menzoberranzan；〃　he　said　again。

〃I　care　not；〃　Catti…brie　said　under　her　breath。　She　did　not　understand　where　Regis's　words　were　leading。

Regis　hopped　off　his　bed　and　rushed　across　the　room。　Catti…brie　braced；　thinking　he　meant　to　tackle　her；　but　he　ran　past；　to　his　desk；　and　pulled　open　one　of　its　lower　drawers。　〃So　don't　be　a　human；〃　the　halfling　proclaimed；　and　he　tossed　the　magical　mask　to　Catti…brie。

Catti…brie　caught　it　and　stood　staring　at　it　in　surprise　as　Regis　ran　back　past　her；　to　his　bed。

Entreri　had　used　the　mask　to　get　into　Mithril　Hall；　had；　through　its　magic；　so　perfectly　disguised　himself　as　Regis　that　the　halfling's　friends；　even　Drizzt；　had　been　taken　in。

〃Drizzt　really　is　making　for　Silverymoon；〃　Regis　told　her。

Catti…brie　was　surprised；　thinking　that　the　drow　would　have　simply　gone　into　the　Underdark　through　the　lower　chambers　of　Mithril　Hall。　When　she　thought　about　it；　though；　she　realized　that　Bruenor　had　placed　many　guards　at　those　chambers；　with　orders　to　keep　the　doors　closed　and　locked。

〃One　more　thing；〃　Regis　said。　Catti…brie　looped　the　mask　on　her　belt　and　turned　to　the　bed；　to　see　Regis　standing　on　the　shifted　mattress；　holding　a　brilliantly　jeweled　dagger　hi　his　hands。

〃I　won't　need　this；〃　Regis　explained；　〃not　here；　with　Bruenor　and　his　thousands　beside　me。〃　He　held　the　weapon　out；　but　Catti…brie　did　not　immediately　take　it。

She　had　seen　that　dagger；　Artemis　Entreri's　dagger；　before。　The　assassin　had　once　pressed　it　against　her　neck；　stealing　her　courage；　making　her　feel　more　helpless；　more　a　little　girl；　than　at　any　other　time　in　her　life。　Catti…brie　wasn't　sure　that　she　could　take　it　from　Regis；　wasn't　sure　that　she　could　bear　to　carry　the　thing　with　her。

〃Entreri　is　dead；〃　Regis　assured　her；　not　quite　understanding　her　hesitation。

Catti…brie　nodded　absently；　though　her　thoughts

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R。　A。　Salvatore

remained　fi