精灵血脉四部曲-第63部分

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bear；　another　a　wild　pig。　These　were　the　marks　of　rangers；　and　with　an　approving　nod；　the　drow　searched　the　lower　boughs　of　the　tree；　finally　discovering　a　well…concealed　hollow。　He　reached　in　gingerly　and　pulled　out　a　pack　of　dried　food；　a　hatchet；　and　a　skin　filled　with　fine　wine。　Drizzt　took　only　a　small　cup　of　the　wine；　but　regretted　that　he　could　not　add　anything　to　the　cache；　since　he　would　need　all　the　provisions　he　could　cany；　and　more；　in　his　long　trek　through　the　dangerous　Under…dark。

He　replaced　the　stores　after　using　the　hatchet　to　split　some　nearby　deadwood；　then　gently　carved　his　own　ranger　mark；　the　unicorn；　in　the　moss　at　the　base　of　the　trunk　and　returned　to　the　nearest　log　to　start　a　fire　for　his　meal。

〃You　are　no　ordinary　drow；〃　came　a　melodic　voice　from　behind　him　before　his　meal　was　even　cooked。　The　language　was　Elvish；　as　was　the　pitch　of　the　voice；　more　melodic　than　that　of　a　human。

Drizzt　turned　slowly；　understanding　that　several　bows　were　probably　again　trained　on　him　from　many　different　angles。　A　single　elf　stood　before　him。　She　was　a　young　maiden；　younger　than　even　Drizzt；　though　Drizzt　had　lived　only　a　tenth　of　his　expected　life。　She　wore　forest　colors；　a　green　cloak；　much　like　Drizzt's；　and　a　brown　tunic　and　leggings；　with　a　longbow　resting　easily　over　one　shoulder　and　a　slender　sword　belted　on　one　hip。　Her　black　hair　shone　so　as　to　be　bluish　and　her　skin　was　so　pale　that　it　reflected　that　blue　hue。　Her　eyes；　too；　bright　and　shining；　were　blue　flecked　with　gold。　She　was　a　silver　elf梐　moon　elf；　Drizzt　knew。

In　his　years　of　living　on　the　surface；　Drizzt　Do'Urden　had　encountered　few　surface　elves；　and　those　had　been　gold　elves。　He　had　encountered　moon　elves　only　once　in　his　life；　on　his　first　trip　to　the　surface　in　a　dark　elf　raid　in　which　his

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kin　had　slaughtered　an　small　elf　clan。　That　horrible　memory　rushed　up　at　Drizzt　as　he　faced　this　beautiful　and　delicate　creature。　Only　one　moon　elf　had　survived　that　encounter；　a　young　child　that　Drizzt　had　secretly　buried　beneath　her　mother's　mutilated　body。　That　act　of　treachery　against　the　evil　drow　had　brought　severe　repercussions；　costing　Drizzfs　family　the　favor　of　Lloth；　and；　in　the　end；　costing　Zak'nafein；　Drizzt's　father；　his　life。

Drizzt　faced　a　moon　elf　once　more；　a　maiden　perhaps　thirty　years　of　age；　with　sparkling　eyes。　The　ranger　felt　the　blood　draining　from　his　face。　Was　this　the　region　to　which　he　and　the　drow　raiders　had　e？

〃You　are　no　ordinary　drow；〃　the　elf　said　again；　still　using　the　Elvish　tongue；　her　eyes　flashing　dangerously　and　her　tone　grim。

Drizzt　held　his　hands　out　to　the　side。　He　realized　that　he　should　say　something；　but　simply　couldn't　think　of　any　words梠r　couldn't　get　them　past　the　lump　in　his　throat。

The　elf　maiden's　eyes　narrowed；　her　lower　jaw　trembled；　and　her　hand　instinctively　dropped　to　the　hilt　of　her　sword。

〃I　am　no　enemy；〃　Drizzt　managed　to　say；　realizing　that　he　must　either　speak　or；　likely；　fight。

The　maiden　was　on　him　in　the　blink　of　a　lavender　eye；　sword　flashing。

Drizzt　never　even　drew　his　weapons；　just　stood　with　his　hands　out　wide；　and　his　expression　calm。　The　elf　slid　up　short　of　him；　her　sword　raised。　Her　expression　changed　suddenly；　as　though　she　had　noticed　something　in　Drizzfs　eyes。

She　screamed　wildly　and　started　to　swing；　but　Drizzt；　too　quick　for　her；　leaped　forward；　caught　her　weapon　arm　in　one　hand；　and　wrapped　his　other　arm　about　her；　pulling　her　close　and　hugging　her　so　tightly　that　she　could　not　continue　the　fight。　He　expected　her　to　claw　him；　or　even　bite　him；　but；　to　his　surprise；　she　fell　limply　into　his　arms　and　slumped　low；　her　face　buried　in　his　chest　and　her　shoulders　bobbing　with　sobs。

Before　he　could　begin　to　speak　words　to　fort；　Drizzt　felt　the　keen　tip　of　an　elven　sword　against　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　let　go　of　the　female　immediately；　his　hands　out

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Starless　Night

wide　once　more；　and　another　elf；　older　and　more　stern；　but　with　similarly　beautiful　features；　came　from　the　trees　to　collect　the　young　maiden　and　help　her　away。

〃I　am　no　enemy；〃　Drizzt　said　again。

〃Why　do　you　cross　the　Moonwood？〃　the　unseen　elf　behind　him　asked　in　the　mon　tongue。

〃Your　words　are　correct；〃　Drizzt　replied　absently；　for　his　thoughts　were　still　focused　on　the　curious　maiden。　〃I　mean　only　to　cross　the　Moonwood；　from　the　west　to　the　east；　and　will　bring　no　harm　to　you　or　the　wood。〃

〃The　unicorn；〃　Drizzt　heard　another　elf　say　from　behind；　from　near　the　huge　oak　tree。　He　figured　that　the　elf　had　found　his　ranger　mark　in　the　moss。　To　his　relief；　the　sword　was　taken　away　from　his　neck。

Drizzt　paused　a　long　moment；　figuring　that　it　was　the　elves'　turn　to　speak。　Finally；　he　mustered　the　nerve　to　turn　about梠nly　to　find　that　the　moon　elves　were　gone；　disappeared　into　the　brush。

He　thought　of　tracking　them；　was　haunted　by　the　image　of　that　young　elven　maiden；　but　realized　that　it　was　not　his　place　to　disturb　them　in　this；　their　forest　home。　He　finished　his　meal　quickly；　made　sure　that　the　area　was　cleaned　and　as　he　had　found　it；　then　gathered　up　his　gear　and　went　on　his　way。

Less　than　a　mile　down　the　trail；　he　came　upon　another　curious　sight。　A　black…and…white　horse；　fully　saddled；　its　bridle　lined　with　tinkling　bells；　stood　quietly　and　calmly。　The　animal　pawed　the　ground　when　it　saw　the　drow　ing。

Drizzt　spoke　softly　and　made　quiet　sounds　as　he　eased　over　to　it。　The　horse　visibly　calmed；　even　nuzzled　Drizzt　when　he　got　near。　The　animal　was　fine；　the　ranger　could　tell；　well　muscled　and　well　groomed；　though　it　was　not　a　tall　beast。　Its　coat　held　black　and　white　splotches；　even　on　its　face；　with　one　eye　surrounded　by　white；　the　other　appearing　as　though　it　was　under　a　black　mask。

Drizzt　searched　around；　but　found　no　other　prints　in　the　ground。　He　suspected　that　the　horse　had　been　provided　by　the　elves；　for　him；　but　he　couldn't　be　sure；　and　he　certainly　didn't　want　to　steal　someone's　mount。

He　patted　the　horse　on　the　neck　and　started　to　walk

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past。　He　had　gone　only　a　few　steps　when　the　horse　snorted　and　wheeled　about。　It　galloped　around　the　drow　and　stood　again　before　him　on　the　path。

Curious；　Drizzt　repeated　the　movement；　going　by　the　beast；　and　the　horse　followed　suit　to　stand　before　him。

〃Did　they　tell　you　to　do　this？〃　Drizzt　asked　plainly；　stroking　the　animal's　muzzle。

〃Did　you　instruct　him　so？〃　Drizzt　called　loudly　to　the　woods　around　him。　〃I　ask　the　elves　of　Moonwood；　was　this　horse　provided　for　me？〃

All　that　came　in　response　was　the　protesting　chatter　of　some　birds　disturbed　by　Drizzf　s　shout。

The　drow　shrugged　and　figured　that　he　would　take　the　horse　to　the　end　of　the　wood；　it　wasn't　so　far　anyway。　He　mounted　up　and　galloped　off；　making　great　progress　along　the　wide　and　flat　trail。

He　came　to　the　eastern　end　of　Moonwood　late　that　afternoon；　long　shadows　rolling　out　from　the　tall　trees。　Figuring　that　the　elves　had　given　him　the　mount　only　so　that　he　could　be　gone　of　their　realm　more　quickly；　he　brought　the　horse　to　a　halt；　still　under　the　shadows；　meaning　to　dismount　and　send　it　running　back　into　the　forest。

A　movement　across　the　wide　field　beyond　the　forest　caught　the　draw　ranger's　eye。　He　spotted　an　elf　atop　a　tall　black　stallion；　just　outside　the　brush　line；　looking　his　way。　The　elf　put　his　hands　to　his　lips　and　gave　a　shrill　whistle；　and　Drizzt's　horse　leaped　out　from　the　shadows　and　ran　across　the　thick　grass。

The　elf　disappeared　immediately　into　the　brush；　but　Drizzt　did　not　bring　his　horse　up　short。　He　understood　then　that　the　elves　had　chosen　to　help　him；　in　their　distant　way；　and　he　accepted　their　gift　and　rode　on。

Before　he　set　camp　that　night；　Drizzt　noticed　that　the　elven　rider　was　paralleling　him；　some　distance　to　the　south。　It　seemed　that　there　was　a　limit　to　their　trust。

Catti…brie　had　little　experience　with　cities。　She　had　been　through　Luskan；　had　flown　in　an　enchanted　chariot　over　the

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Starless　Night

splendor　of　mighty　Waterdeep；　and　had　traveled　through　the　great　southern　city　of　Calimport。　Nothing；　though；　had　ever　e　close　to　the　sights　that　awaited　her　as　she　walked　the　wide　and　curving　avenues　of　Silverymoon。　She　had　been　here　once　before；　but　at　the　time；　she　had　been　a　prisoner　of　Artemis　Entreri　and　had　hardly　noticed　the　graceful　spires　and　free…flowing　designs　of　the　marvelous　city；

Silverymoon　was　a　place　for　philosophers；　for　artists；　a　city　known　for　tolerance。　Here　an　architect　could　let　his　imagination　soar　along　with　a　hundred…foot　spire。　Here　a　poet　could　stand　on　the　street　corner；　spouting　his　art　and　earning　a　fair　and　honest　living　on　the　trinkets　that　passers…by　happened　to　toss　his　way。

Despite　the　seriousness　of　her　quest；　and　the　knowledge　that　she　soon　might　walk　into　darkness；　a　wide　smile　grew　on　Catti…brie's　face。　She　understood　why　Drizzt　had　often　gone　from　Mithril　Hall　to　visit　this　place；　she　never　guessed　that　the　world　could　be　so　varied　and　wonderful。

On　impulse；　the　young　woman　moved　to　the　side　of　one　building；　a　few　steps　down　a　dark；　though　clean；　alleyway。　She　took　out　the　panther　figurine　and　set　it　on　the　cobblestones　before　her。

〃e；　Guenhwyvar；〃　Catti…brie　called　softly。　She　didn't　know　if　Drizzt　had　brought　the　panther　into　this　city　before　or　not；　didn't　know　whether　she　was　breaking　any　rules；　but　she　believed　that　Guenhwyvar　should　experience　this　place；　and　believed；　too；　for　some　reason；　that；　in　Silverymoon；　she　was　free　to　follow　her　heart。

A　gray　mist　surrounded　the　figurine；　swirled；　and　gradually　took　shape。　The　great　panther；　six…hundred　pounds　of　inky　black；　muscled　cat；　its　shoulders　higher　than　Catti…brie's　waist；　stood　before　her。　Its　head　turned　from　side　to　side　as　it　tried　to　fathom　their　location。

〃We're　in　Silverymoon；　Guen；〃　Catti…brie　whispered。

The　panther　tossed　its　head；　as　though　it　had　just　awakened；　and　gave　a　low；　calm　growl。

〃Keep　yerself　close；〃　Catti…brie　instructed；　〃right　by　me　side。　I'm　not　for　knowing　if　ye　should　be　here　or　not；　but　I　wanted　ye　to　see　the　place；　at　least。〃

They　came　out　of　the　alley　side　by　side。　〃Have　ye　seen

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the　place　before；　Guen？〃　Catti…brie　asked。　〃I'm　looking　for　Lady　Alustriel。　Might　ye　know