精灵血脉四部曲-第65部分

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Starless　Night

Suspicious　as　she　was；　thinking　that　Drizzt　would　try　to　avoid　her　and　that　Alustriel　would　undoubtedly　go　along　with　his　wishes；　Catti…brie　found　that　she　believed　the　woman。

〃Ah；　well。〃　Alustriel　sighed；　sincerely　and　obviously　disappointed。　She　perked　up　immediately。　〃And　how　is　your　father？〃　she　asked　politely。　〃And　that　handsome　Wulf…gar？〃

Alustriel's　expression　changed　suddenly；　as　though　she　had　just　realized　that　something　must　be　terribly　out　of　place。　〃Your　wedding？〃　she　asked　hesitantly　as　Catti…brie's　lips　thinned　in　a　scowl。　〃I　was　preparing　to　visit　Mithril　Hall。。。〃

Alustriel　paused　and　studied　Catti…brie　for　a　long　while。

Catti…brie　sniffed　and　braced　herself。　〃Wulfgar　is　dead；〃　she　said　evenly；　〃and　me　father　is　not　as　ye　remember　him。　I've　e　in　search　of　Drizzt；　who　has　gone　out　from　the　halls。〃

〃What　has　happened？〃　Alustriel　demanded。

Catti…brie　rose　from　her　chair。　〃Guenhwyvar！〃　she　called；　rousing　the　panther。　〃I've　not　the　time　for　tales；〃　she　said　curtly　to　Alustriel。　〃If　Drizzt　has　not　e　to　Silvery…moon；　then　I've　taken　too　much　of　yer　time　already；　and　too　much　o'　me　own。〃

She　headed　for　the　door　and　noticed　it　briefly　glow　blue；　its　wood　seeming　to　expand　and　tighten　in　the　jam。　Catti…brie　walked　up　to　it　anyway　and　tugged　on　the　handle；　to　no　avail。

Catti…brie　took　a　few　deep　breaths；　counted　to　ten；　then　to　twenty；　and　turned　to　face　Alustriel。

〃I've　a　friend　needing　me；〃　she　explained；　her　tone　even　and　dangerous。　〃Ye'd　best　be　opening　the　door。〃　In　days　to　e；　when　she　looked　back　on　that　moment；　Catti…brie　would　hardly　believe　that　she　had　threatened　Alustriel；　the　ruler　of　the　northwest's　largest　and　most　powerful　inland　city！　She　had　threatened　Alustriel；　reputably　among　the　most　powerful　mages　in　all　the　north！

At　that　time；　though；　the　fiery　young　woman　meant　every　grim　word。

〃I　can　help；〃　Alustriel；　obviously　worried；　offered。　〃But

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first　you　must　tell　me　what　has　transpired。〃

〃Drizzt　hasn't　the　time/'　Catti…brie　growled。　She　tugged　futilely　on　the　wizard…locked　door　again；　then　banged　a　fist　against　it　and　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　glare　at　Alustriel；　who　had　risen　and　was　slowly　walking　her　way。　Guenhwy…var　remained　on　the　divan；　though　the　cat　had　lifted　its　head　and　was　regarding　the　two　intently。

〃I　have　to　find　him；〃　Catti…brie　said。

〃And　where　will　you　look？〃　replied　Alustriel；　her　hands　out　defenselessly　as　she　stepped　before　the　young　woman。

The　simple　question　took　the　bluster　out　of　Catti…brie's　ire。　Where　indeed？　she　wondered。　Where　to　even　begin？　She　felt　helpless；　standing　there；　in　a　place　she　did　not　belong。　Helpless　and　foolish　and　wanting　nothing　more　than　to　be　back　home；　beside　her　father　and　her　friends；　beside　Wulfgar　and　Drizzt；　with　everything　the　way　it　had　been　。　。　。　before　the　dark　elves　had　e　to　Mithril　Hall。

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Chapter　6

DIVINE　SIGN

atti…brie　awoke　the　next　morning　on　a　pillowy　soft　bed　in　a　plush　chamber　filled　with　fine　lace　draperies　that　let　the　filtered　sunrise　gently　greet　her　sleepy　gaze。　She　was　not　used　to　such　places；　wasn't　even　used　to　sleeping　above　ground。　She　had　refused　a　bath　the　night　before；　even　though　Lady　Alustriel　had　promised　her　that　the　exotic　oils　and　soaps　would　bubble　around　her　and　refresh　her。　To　Catti…brie's　dwarven…reared　sensibilities；　this　was　all　nonsense　and；　worse；　weakness。　She　bathed　often；　but　in　the　chill　waters　of　a　mountain　stream　and　without　scented　oils　from　far…off　lands。　Drizzt　had　told　her　that　the　dark　elves　could　track　enemies　by　their　scent　for　miles　through　the　Under…dark's　twisting　caverns；　and　it　seemed　silly　to　Catti…brie　to　bath　in　aromatic　oils　and　possibly　aid　her　enemies。

This　morning；　though；　with　the　sun　cascading　through　the　gauzy　curtains；　and　the　wash　basin　filled　again　with　steamy　water；　the　young　woman　reconsidered。　〃Suren　ye're　a　stubborn　one；〃　she　quietly　accused　Lady　Alustriel；　realizing　that　Alustriel's　magic　was　likely　the　reason　that　steam

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once　again　rose　off　the　water。

Catti…brie　eyed　the　line　of　bottles　and　considered　the　long　and　dirty　road　ahead；　a　road　from　which　she　might　never　return。　Something　welled　inside　her　then；　a　need　to　indulge　herself　just　once；　and　before　her　pragmatic　side　could　argue；　she　had　stripped　off　her　clothes　and　was　sitting　in　the　hot　tub；　the　fizzing　bubbles　thick　about　her。

At　first；　she　kept　glancing　nervously　to　the　room's　door；　but　soon　she　just　let　herself　sink　lower　in　the　tub；　perfectly　relaxed；　her　skin　warm　and　tingling。

〃I　told　you。〃　The　words　jolted　Catti…brie　from　her　near…slumber。　She　sat　up　straight；　then　sank　back　immediately；　embarrassed；　as　she　noticed　not　only　Lady　Alustriel；　but　a　curious　dwarf；　his　beard　and　hair　snowy　white　and　his　gowns　silken　and　flowing。

〃In　Mithril　Hall；　we've　the　habit　o'　knocking　before　we　go　into　someone's　private　room；〃　Catti…brie；　regaining　a　measure　of　her　dignity；　remarked。

〃I　did　knock；〃　Alustriel　replied。　〃You　were　lost　in　the　warmth　of　the　bath。〃

Catti…brie　brushed　her　wet　hair　back　from　her　face；　getting　a　handful　of　suds　on　her　cheek。　She　managed　to　salvage　her　pride　and　ignore　the　froth　for　a　moment；　then　angrily　slapped　it　away。

Alustriel　merely　smiled。

〃Ye　can　be　leaving；〃　she　snapped　at　the　too　dignified　lady。

〃Drizzt　is　indeed　making　for　Menzoberranzan/'　Alustriel　announced；　and　Catti…brie　came　forward　again；　anxiously；　her　embarrassment　lost　in　the　face　of　more　important　news。

〃I　ventured　into　the　spirit　world　last　night；〃　Alustriel　explained。　〃There　one　might　find　many　answers。　Drizzt　traveled　north　of　Silverymoon；　through　the　Moonwood；　on　a　straight　line　for　the　mountains　surrounding　Dead　Ore　Pass。〃

Catti…brie's　expression　remained　quizzical。

〃That　is　where　Drizzt　first　walked　from　the　Under…dark；〃　Alustriel　went　on；　〃in　a　cave　east　of　the　fabled　pass。　It　is　my　guess　that　he　means　to　return　by　the　same　route　that　led　him　from　the　darkness。〃

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Starless　Night

〃Get　me　there；〃　the　young　woman　demanded；　rising　from　the　water；　too　intent　for　modesty。

〃I　will　provide　mounts；〃　Alustriel　said　as　she　handed　the　younger　woman　a　thick　towel。　〃Enchanted　horses　will　allow　you　to　speed　across　the　land。　The　journey　should　take　you　no　more　than　two　days。〃

〃Ye　cannot　use　yer　magic　to　just　send　me　there？〃　Catti…brie　asked。　Her　tone　was　sharp；　as　though　she　believed　that　Alustriel　was　riot　doing　all　that　she　could。

〃I　do　not　know　cave's　location；〃　the　silver…haired　lady　explained。

Catti…brie　stopped　toweling　herself；　nearly　dropped　her　clothing；　which　she　had　gathered　together；　and　stared　blankly；　helplessly。

〃That　is　why　I　have　brought　Fret；〃　Alustriel　explained；　holding　up　a　hand　to　calm　the　young　woman。

〃Fredegar　Rockcrusher；〃　the　dwarf　corrected　in　a　strangely　melodic；　singsong　voice；　and　he　swept　his　arm　out　dramatically　and　dipped　a　graceful　bow。　Catti…brie　thought　he　sounded　somewhat　like　an　elf　trapped　in　a　dwarfs　body。　She　furrowed　her　brow　as　she　closely　regarded　him　for　the　first　time；　she　had　been　around　dwarves　all　of　her　life　and　had　never　seen　one　quite　like　this。　His　beard　was　neatly　trimmed；　his　robes　perfectly　clean；　and　his　skin　did　not　show　the　usual　hardness；　rockiness。　Too　many　baths　in　scented　oils；　the　young　woman　decided；　and　she　looked　contemptuously　at　the　steaming　tub。

〃Fret　was　with　the　party　that　first　tracked　Drizzt　from　the　Underdark；〃　Alustriel　continued。　〃After　Drizzt　had　left　the　area；　my　curious　sister　and　her　panions　backtracked　the　drow's　trail　and　located　the　cave；　the　entrance　to　the　deep　tunnels。

〃I　hesitate　to　point　the　way　for　you；〃　the　Lady　of　Silverymoon　said　after　a　long　pause；　her　concern　for　the　young　woman's　safety　evident　in　her　tone　and　expression。

Catti…brie's　blue　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　quickly　pulled　on　her　breeches。　She　would　not　be　looked　down　upon；　not　even　by　Alustriel；　and　would　not　have　others　deciding　her　course。

〃I　see；〃　remarked　Alustriel　with　a　nod　of　her　head。　Her

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immediate　understanding　set　Catti…brie　back。

Alustriel　motioned　for　Fret　to　retrieve　Catti…brie's　pack。　A　sour　expression　crossed　the　tidy　dwarf's　face　as　he　moved　near　the　dirty　thing；　and　he　lifted　it　gingerly　by　two　extended　fingers。　He　glanced　forlornly　at　Alustriel；　and　when　she　did　not　bother　to　look　back　at　him；　he　left　the　room。

〃I　did　not　ask　ye　for　any　panion；〃　Catti…brie　stated　bluntly。

〃Fret　is　a　guide　to　the　entrance；〃　Alustriel　corrected；　〃and　nothing　more。　Your　courage　is　admirable；　if　a　bit　blind；〃　she　added；　and　before　the　young　woman　could　find　the　words　to　reply；　Alustriel　was　gone。

Catti…brie　stood　silently　for　a　few　moments；　water　from　her　wet　hair　dripping　down　her　bare　back。　She　fought　away　the　feeling　that　she　was　just　a　little　girl　in　a　big　and　dangerous　world；　that　she　was　small　indeed　beside　the　tall　and　powerful　Lady　Alustriel。

But　the　doubts　lingered。

Two　hours　later；　after　a　fine　meal　and　a　check　on　provisions；　Catti…brie　and　Fret　walked　out　of　Silverymoon's　eastern　gate；　the　Sundabar　Gate；　beside　Lady　Alustriel；　an　entourage　of　soldiers　keeping　a　respectful　but　watchful　distance　from　their　leader。

A　black　mare　and　a　shaggy　gray　pony　awaited　the　two　travelers。

〃Must　I？〃　Fret　asked　for　perhaps　the　twentieth　time　since　they　had　left　the　castle。　〃Would　not　a　detailed　map　suffice？〃

Alustriel　just　smiled　and　otherwise　ignored　the　tidy　dwarf。　Fret　hated　anything　that　might　get　him　dirty；　anything　that　would　keep　him　from　his　duties　as　Alustriel's　best…loved　sage。　Certainly　the　road　into　the　wilds　near　Dead　Ore　Pass　qualified　on　both　counts。

〃The　horseshoes　are　enchanted；　and　your　mounts　will　fly　like　the　wind　itself；〃　Alustriel　explained　to　Catti…brie。　The　silver…haired　woman　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　the　grumbling　dwarf。

Catti…brie　was　not　quick　to　respond；　offered　no　thanks　for　Alustriel's　effort。　She　had　said　nothing　to　Alustriel　since　their　meeting　earlier　that　morning；　and　had　carried　herself

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Starless　Night

with　an　unmistakably　cool　demeanor。

〃With　luck；　you　will　arrive　at　the　cave　before　Drizzt；〃　Alustriel　said。　〃Reason　with　him　and　bring　him　home；　I　beg。　He　has　no　place　in　the　Underdark；　not　a