精灵血脉四部曲-第64部分

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

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R。　A。　Salvatore

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

The　panther　bumped　close　to　Catti…brie's　leg　and　moved　off；　apparently　with　purpose；　and　Catti…brie　went　right　behind。　Many　heads　turned　to　regard　the　curious　couple；　the　road…dirty　woman　and　her　unusual　panion；　but　the　gazes　were　innocuous　enough；　and　not　one　person　screamed　or　hurried　away　in　fright。

ing　around　one　sweeping　avenue；　Guenhwyvar　almost　ran　headfirst　into　a　pair　of　talking　elves。　They　jumped　back　instinctively　and　looked　from　the　panther　to　the　young　woman。

〃Most　marvelous！〃　one　of　them　said　in　a　singsong　voice。

〃Incredible；〃　the　other　agreed。　He　reached　toward　the　panther　slowly；　testing　the　reaction。　〃May　I？〃　he　asked　Catti…brie。

She　didn't　see　the　harm　and　nodded。

The　elf　s　face　beamed　as　he　ran　his　slender　fingers　along　Guenhwyvar's　muscled　neck。　He　looked　to　his　more　hesitant　panion；　his　smile　seeming　wide　enough　to　take　in　his　ears。

〃Oh；　buy　the　cat！〃　the　other　agreed　excitedly。

Catti…brie　winced；　Guenhwyvar's　ears　flattened；　and　the　panther　let　out　a　roar　that　echoed　about　the　buildings　throughout　the　city。

Catti…brie　knew　that　elves　were　fast　afoot；　but　these　two　were　out　of　sight　before　she　could　even　explain　to　them　their　mistake。　〃Guenhwyvar！〃　she　whispered　harshly　into　the　panther's　flattened　ear。

The　caf　s　ears　came　up；　and　the　panther　turned　and　rose　on　its　haunches；　putting　a　thick　paw　atop　each　of　Catti…brie's　shoulders。　It　bumped　its　head　into　Catti…brie's　face　and　twisted　to　rub　against　her　smooth　cheek。　Catti…brie　had　to　struggle　just　to　keep　her　balance　and　it　took　her　a　long　while　to　explain　to　the　panther　that　the　apology　was　accepted。

As　they　went　on；　pointing　fingers　acpanied　the　stares；　and　more　than　one　person　slipped　across　the　avenues　ahead　to　get　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street　and　let　the　woman　and　cat　pass。　Catti…brie　knew　that　they　had　attracted　too　much　attention；　she　began　to　feel　foolish　for　bringing

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Starless　Night

Guenhwyvar　here　in　the　first　place。　She　wanted　to　dismiss　the　cat　back　to　the　Astral　Plane；　but　she　suspected　that　she　couldn't　do　so　without　attracting　even　more　attention。

She　wasn't　surprised　a　few　moments　later；　when　a　host　of　armed　soldiers　wearing　the　new　silver…and…light…blue　uniforms　of　the　city　guard；　surrounded　her　at　a　fortable　distance。

〃The　panther　is　with　you；〃　one　of　them　reasoned。

〃Guenhwyvar；〃　Catti…brie　replied。　〃I　am　Catti…brie；　daughter　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer；　Eighth　King　of　Mithril　Hall。〃

The　man　nodded　and　smiled；　and　Catti…brie　relaxed　with　a　deep　sigh。

〃It　is　indeed　the　draw's　cat！〃　another　of　the　guardsmen　blurted。　He　blushed　at　his　uncalled…for　outburst；　looked　to　the　leader；　and　promptly　lowered　his　eyes。

〃Aye；　Guen's　the　friend　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Catti…brie　replied。　〃Is　he　about　in　the　city？〃　she　couldn't　help　asking；　though；　logically；　she　would　have　preferred　to　ask　the　question　of　Alustriel；　who　might　give　her　a　more　plete　answer。

〃Not　that　I　have　heard；〃　replied　the　guard　leader；　〃but　Silverymoon　is　honored　by　your　presence。　Princess　of　Mithril　Hall。〃　He　dipped　a　low　bow；　and　Catti…brie　blushed；　not　used　to梠r　fortable　with梥uch　treatment。

She　did　well　to　hide　her　disappointment　about　the　news；　reminding　herself　that　finding　Drizzt　was　not　likely　to　be　easy。　Even　if　Drizzt　had　e　into　Silverymoon；　he　had　probably　done　so　secretly。

〃I　have　e　to　speak　with　Lady　Alustriel；〃　Catti…brie　explained。

〃You　should　have　been　escorted　from　the　gate；〃　the　guard　leader　groused；　angered　by　the　lack　of　proper　protocol。

Catti…brie　understood　the　man's　frustration　and　realized　that　she　had　probably　just　gotten　the　unwitting　soldiers　at　the　Moonbridge；　the　invisible　structure　spanning　the　great　River　Rauvin；　in　trouble。　〃They　did　not　know　me　name；〃　she　added　quickly；　〃or　me　quest。　I　thought　it　best　to　e　through　on　me　own　and　see　what　I　might。〃

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'They　did　not　question　the　presence　of　such　a？　He　wisely　caught　himself　before　saying　〃pet。〃　〃A　panther？〃　he　went　on。

〃Guen　was　not　beside　me；〃　Catti…brie　replied　without　thinking；　then　her　face　crinkled　up；　realizing　the　million　questions　she　had　probably　just　inspired。

Fortunately；　the　guards　did　not　belabor　the　point。　They　had　heard　enough　descriptions　of　the　impassioned　young　woman　to　be　satisfied　that　this　was　indeed　the　daughter　of　Bruenor　Battlehammer。　They　escorted　Catti…brie　and　Guen…hwyvar　（at　a　respectful　distance）　through　the　city；　to　the　western　wall　and　the　graceful　and　enchanting　palace　of　Lady　Alustriel。

Left　alone　in　a　waiting　chamber；　Catti…brie　decided　to　keep　Guenhwyvar　by　her　side。　The　panther's　presence　would　give　her　tale　credibility；　she　decided；　and　if　Drizzt　had　been　about；　or　still　was；　Guenhwyvar　would　sense　it。

The　minutes　slipped　by　uneventfully；　and　restless　Catti…brie　grew　bored。　She　moved　to　a　side　door　and　gently　pushed　it　open；　revealing　a　decorated　powder　room；　with　a　wash　basin　and　a　small；　gold…trimmed　table；　plete　with　a　large　mirror。　Atop　it　was　an　assortment　of　bs　and　brushes；　a　selection　of　small　vials；　and　an　opened　coffer　containing　many　different　colored　packets　of　dye。

Curious；　the　young　woman　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　make　sure　that　all　was　quiet；　then　moved　in　and　sat　down。　She　took　up　a　brush　and　roughly　ran　it　through　her　tangled　and　thick　auburn　hair；　thinking　she　should　try　to　appear　her　best　when　standing　before　the　Lady　of　Silverymoon。　She　scowled　when　she　noticed　dirt　on　her　cheek；　and　quickly　dipped　her　hand　in　the　water　basin　and　rubbed　it　roughly　over　the　spot；　managing　a　smile　when　it　was　gone。

She　peeked　out　of　the　anteroom　again；　to　make　sure　that　no　one　had　e。　Guenhwyvar；　lying　fortably　on　the　floor；　looked　up　and　growled。

〃Oh；　shut　yer　mouth；〃　Catti…brie　said；　and　she　slipped　back　into　the　powder　room　and　inspected　the　vials。　She　removed　the　tight　top　of　one　and　sniffed；　and　her　blue　eyes　opened　wide　in　surprise　at　the　powerful　aroma。　From　outside　the　door；　Guenhwyvar　growled　again　and　sneezed；　and　Catti…

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Starless　Night

brie　laughed。　〃I　know　what　ye　mean；〃　she　said　to　the　cat。

Catti…brie　went　through　several　of　the　vials；　crinkling　her　nose　at　some；　sneezing　at　more　than　one；　and　finally　finding　one　whose　aroma　she　enjoyed。　It　reminded　her　of　a　field　of　wildflowers；　not　overpowering；　but　subtly　beautiful；　the　background　music　to　a　spring　day。

She　nearly　jumped　out　of　her　boots；　nearly　stuffed　the　vial　up　her　nose；　when　a　hand　grasped　her　shoulder。

Catti…brie　spun　about；　and　her　breath　was　stolen　away。　There　stood　Alustriel梚t　had　to　be！梙er　hair　shining　silver　and　hanging　halfway　down　her　back　and　her　eyes　sparkling　more　clearly　than　any　Catti…brie　had　ever　seen梞ore　clearly　than　any　eyes　except　Wulfgar's　sky…blue　orbs。　The　memory　pained　her。

Alustriel　was　fully　half　a　foot　above　Catti…brie's　five　and　a　half；　and　gracefully　slender。　She　wore　a　purple　gown　of　the　finest　silk；　with　many　layers　that　seemed　to　hug　her　womanly　curves　and　hide　them　alluringly　all　at　once。　A　high　crown　of　gold　and　gems　sat　atop　her　head。

Guenhwyvar　and　the　lady　apparently　were　not　strangers；　for　the　panther　lay　quietly　on　its　side；　eyes　dosed　contentedly。

For　some　reason　that　she　did　not　understand；　that　bothered　Catti…brie。

〃I　have　wondered　when　we　would　at　last　meet；〃　Alustriel　said　quietly。

Catti…brie　fumbled　to　replace　the　cap　on　the　vial　and　replace　it　on　the　table；　but　Alustriel　put　her　long；　slender　hands　over　the　young　woman's　（and　Catti…brie　felt　like　a　young　and　foolish　girl　at　that　moment！）　and　eased　the　vial　into　her　belt　pouch　instead。

〃Drizzt　has　spoken　often　of　you；〃　Alustriel　went　on；　〃and　fondly。〃

That　thought；　too；　bothered　Catti…brie。　It　might　have　been　unintentional；　she　realized；　but　it　seemed　to　her　that　Alustriel　was　being　just　a　bit　condescending。　And　Catti…brie；　standing　in　road…dusty　traveling　clothes；　with　her　hair　hardly　brushed；　certainly　was　not　fortable　beside　the　fabulous　woman。

〃e　to　my　private　chambers；〃　the　lady　invited。

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〃There　we　might　speak　more　fortably。〃　She　started　out；　stepping　over　the　sleeping　panther。　〃Do　e　along；　Guen！〃　she　said；　and　the　cat　perked　up　immediately；　shaking　away　its　laziness。

〃Guen？〃　Catti…brie　mouthed　silently。　She　had　never　heard　anyone　besides　herself；　and　very　rarely　Drizzt；　call　the　panther　so　familiarly。　She　gave　a　look　to　the　cat；　her　expression　hurt；　as　she　obediently　followed　Alustriel　out　of　the　room。

What　had　at　first　seemed　to　Catti…brie　an　enchanted　palace　now　made　her　feel　terribly　out　of　place　as　Alustriel　led　her　along　the　sweeping　corridors　and　through　the　fabulous　rooms。　Catti…brie　kept　looking　to　her　own　trail；　wondering　fearfully　if　she　might　be　leaving　muddy　tracks　across　the　polished　floors。

Attendants　and　other　guests梩rue　nobility；　the　young　woman　realized梥tared　as　the　unlikely　caravan　passed；　and　Catti…brie　could　not　return　the　gazes。　She　felt　small；　so　very　small；　as　she　walked　behind　the　tall　and　beautiful　Alustriel。

Catti…brie　was　glad　when　they　entered　Alustriel's　private　sitting　room　and　the　lady　closed　the　door　behind　them。

Guenhwyvar　padded　over　and　hopped　up　on　a　thickly　upholstered　divan；　and　Catti…brie's　eyes　widened　in　shock。

〃Get　off　there！〃　she　whispered　harshly　at　the　panther；　but　Alustriel　only　chuckled　as　she　walked　past；　dropping　a　hand　absently　on　the　fortable　caf　s　head　and　motioning　for　Catti…brie　to　take　a　seat。

Again　Catti…brie　turned　an　angry　gaze　on　Guenhwyvar；　feeling　somewhat　betrayed。　How　many　times　had　Guenhwyvar　plopped　down　on　that　very　same　couch？　she　wondered。

〃What　brings　the　daughter　of　King　Bruenor　to　my　humble　city？〃　Alustriel　asked。　〃I　wish　I　had　known　that　you　would　be　ing。　I　could　have　better　prepared。〃

〃I　seek　Drizzt；〃　Catti…brie　answered　curtly；　then　winced　and　sat　back　at　the　sharper…than…intended　tone　of　her　reply。

Alustriel's　expression　immediately　grew　curious。　〃Drizzt？〃　she　echoed。　〃I　have　not　seen　Drizzt　in　some　time。　I　had　hoped　that　you　would　tell　me　that　he；　too；　was　in　the　city；　or　at　least　on　his　way。〃

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Starless　Night

Suspic