精灵血脉四部曲-第73部分

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nly　for　an　instant；　ensuring　that　they　had　no　light　sources。　How　obvious　he　would　be　if　a　torch　passed　near　him！

But　hiding　in　the　lightless　Underdark　was　very　different　from　hiding　in　a　forest；　even　on　a　dark　night。　The　trick　here　was　to　blur　the　distinctive　lines　of　body　heat；　and　Drizzt　felt　confident　that　the　air　about　him；　and　the　stalagmites；　was　at　least　as　warm　as　his　outer　cloak。

He　heard　goblin　footsteps　barely　a　few　feet　away；　knew　that　the　large　troupe梚t　numbered　at　least　twenty；　Drizzt　believed梬as　all　about　him。　He　considered　the　exact　movements　it　would　take　for　him　to　gel　his　hands　most　quickly　to　his　scimitars。　If　one　of　the　goblins　brushed　against　him；　the　game　would　be　up　and　he　would　explode　into　motion；　ripping　at　their　ranks　and　trying　to　get　beyond　them　before

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they　even　realized　that　he　was　there。

It　never　came　lo　that。　The　goblin　troupe　continued　on　its　way　through　the　host　of　stalactites　and　stalagmites　and　the　one　drow　that　was　not　a　mound　of　rock。

Drizzt　opened　his　lavender　eyes；　which　blazed　with　the　inner　fires　of　the　hunter。　He　remained　perfectly　still　for　a　few　moments　longer；　to　ensure　that　there　were　no　stragglers；　then　he　ran　off；　making　not　a　sound。

Catti…brie　knew　immediately　that　Drizzt　had　killed　this　six…legged；　tentacled；　pantherlike　beast。　Kneeling　over　the　carcass；　she　recognized　the　curving；　slashing　wounds　and　doubted　that　anyone　else　could　have　made　so　clean　a　kill。

〃It　was　Drizzt；〃　she　muttered　to　Guenhwyvar；　and　the　panther　gave　a　low　growl。　〃No　more　than　two　days　old。〃

This　dead　monster　reminded　her　of　how　vulnerable　she　might　be。　If　Drizzt；　with　all　his　training　in　stealth　and　in　the　ways　of　the　Underdark；　had　been　forced　into　bat；　then　how　could　she　hope　to　pass　unscathed？

Catti…brie　leaned　against　the　black　panther's　muscled　flank；　needing　the　support。　She　couldn't　keep　Guenhwyvar　with　her　for　much　longer；　she　knew。　The　magical　cat　was　a　creature　of　the　Astral　Plane　and　needed　to　return　there　often　to　rest。　Catti…brie　had　meant　to　spend　her　first　hour　in　the　tunnel　alone；　had　meant　to　leave　the　cave　without　the　panther　beside　her；　but　her　nerve　had　waned　with　the　first　few　steps。　She　needed　the　tangible　support　of　her　feline　ally　in　this　foreign　place。　As　the　day　had　gone　on；　Catti…brie　had　bee　somewhat　more　fortable　with　her　surroundings　and　had　planned　to　dismiss　Guenhwyvar　as　soon　as　the　trail　became　more　obvious；　as　soon　as　they　found　a　region　with　fewer　side　passages。　It　seemed　that　they　had　found　that　place；　but　they　had　found；　too；　the　carcass。

Catti…brie　started　ahead　quickly；　instructing　Guenhwyvar　to　keep　close　to　her　side。　She　knew　that　she　should　release　the　panther　then；　not　tax　Guenhwyvar's　strength　in　case　she　should　need　the　cat　in　an　emergency；　but　she　justified　her　delay　by　convincing　herself　that　many　carrion

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monsters；　or　other　six…legged　feline　beasts；　might　be　about。

Twenty　minutes　later；　with　the　tunnels　dark　and　quiet　around　them；　the　young　woman　stopped　and　searched　for　her　strength。　Dismissing　Guenhwyvar　then　was　among　the　most　courageous　things　Catti…brie　had　ever　done；　and　when　the　mist　dissolved　and　Catti…brie　replaced　the　statuette　into　her　pouch；　she　was　glad　indeed　for　the　gift　Alustriel　had　given　her。

She　was　alone　in　the　Underdark；　alone　in　deep　tunnels　filled　with　deadly　foes。　She　could　see；　at　least；　and　the　starry　illusion梑eautiful　even　here　against　the　gray　stone梑olstered　her　spirits。

Catti…brie　took　a　deep　breath　and　steadied　herself。　She　remembered　Wulfgar　and　spoke　again　her　vow　that　no　other　friends　would　be　lost。　Drizzt　needed　her；　she　could　not　let　her　fears　defeat　her。

She　took　up　the　heart…shaped　locket；　holding　it　rightly　in　her　hand　so　that　its　magical　warmth　would　keep　her　on　the　proper　path。　She　set　off　again；　forcing　one　foot　in　front　of　the　other　as　she　moved　farther　from　the　world　of　the　sun。

Drizzt　quickened　his　pace　after　the　hot　springs；　for　he　now　remembered　the　way；　and　remembered；　too；　many　of　the　enemies　he　had　to　take　care　to　avoid。

Days　passed　uneventfully；　became　a　week；　and　yien　two　for　the　running　drow。　It　had　taken　Drizzt　more　than　a　month　to　get　to　the　surface　from　Blingdenstone；　the　gnome　city　some　forty　to　fifty　miles　west　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　now；　with　his　belief　that　danger　was　pressing　Mithril　Hall；　he　was　determined　to　shorten　that　time。

He　came　into　runnels　winding　and　narrow；　found　a　familiar　fork　in　the　trail；　one　corridor　cutting　north　and　one　continuing　to　the　west。　Drizzt　suspected　that　the　northern　route　would　get　him　more　quickly　to　the　drow　city；　but　he　stayed　the　course　west；　hoping　that　he　might　gain　more　information　along　that　more　familiar　route；　and　secretly　hoping　that　he　might　find　some　old　friends　along　the　way。

He　was　still　running　a　couple　of　days　later；　but　he　now

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paused　often　and　put　his　ear　to　the　stone；　listening　for　a　rhythmic　tap…tapping　sound。　Blingdenstone　was　not　far　away；　Drizzt　knew；　and　deep　gnome　miners　might　well　be　about。　The　halls　remained　silent；　though；　and　Drizzt　began　to　realize　that　he　did　not　have　much　time。　He　thought　of　going　straight　into　the　gnome　city；　but　decided　against　that　course。　He　had　spent　too　long　on　the　road　already；　it　was　time　to　draw　near　to　Menzoberranzan。

An　hour　later；　cautiously　rounding　a　bend　in　a　low　corridor　that　was　lined　with　glowing　lichen；　Drizzt's　keen　ears　caught　a　distant　noise。　At　first　the　drow　smiled；　thinking　that　he　had　found　the　elusive　miners；　but　as　he　continued　to　listen；　catching　the　sounds　of　metal　scraping　metal；　even　a　cry；　his　expression　greatly　changed。

A　battle　was　raging；　not　so　far　away。

Drizzt　sprinted　off；　using　the　increasingly　loud　echoes　to　guide　his　steps。　He　came　into　one　dead　end　and　had　to　backtrack；　but　soon　was　on　the　course　again；　scimitars　drawn。　He　came　to　a　fork　in　the　corridor；　both　tunnels　continuing　on　in　a　similar　direction；　though　one　rose　sharply；　and　both　resounding　with　the　cries　of　battle。

Drizzt　decided　to　go　up；　running；　crouching。　Around　a　bend　he　spotted　an　opening　and　knew　that　he　had　e　upon　the　fight。　He　eased　out　of　the　tunnel；　moving　onto　a　ledge　twenty　feet　above　a　wide　chamber；　its　floor　broken　and　dotted　with　stone　mounds。　Below；　svirfnebli　and　drow　forms　scrambled　all　about。

Svirfnebli　and　drow！　Drizzt　fell　back　against　the　wall；　his　scimitars　slipping　down　to　his　sides。　He　knew　that　the　svirfnebli；　the　deep　gnomes；　were　not　evil；　understood　in　his　heart　that　the　drow　had　been　the　ones　to　instigate　this　fight；　probably　laying　an　ambush　for　the　gnome　mining　party。　Drizzfs　heart　screamed　at　him　to　leap　down　to　aid　the　sorely　pressed　gnomes；　but　he　could　not　find　the　strength。　He　had　fought　drow；　had　killed　drow；　but　never　with　a　clear　conscience。　These　were　his　kin；　his　blood。　Might　there　be　another　Zak'nafein　down　there？　Another　Drizzt　Do'Urden？

One　dark　elf；　in　hot　pursuit　of　a　wounded　gnome；　scrambled　up　the　side　of　a　rocky　mound；　only　to　find　that　it　had　bee　a　living　rock；　an　earth　elemental；　ally　of　the

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gnomes。　Great　stony　arms　wrapped　about　the　dark　elf　and　crushed　him；　the　elemental　taking　no　notice　of　the　weapons　that　nicked　harmlessly　off　its　natural　rocky　armor。

Drizzt　winced　at　the　gruesome　sight；　but　was　somewhat　relieved　to　see　the　gnomes　holding　their　own。　The　elemental　slowly　turned　about；　smashing　down　a　blocking　stalagmite　and　tearing　its　great　chunks　of　feet　from　the　stone　floor。

The　gnomes　rallied　behind　their　giant　ally；　trying　to　reform　some　semblance　of　ranks　amid　the　general　chaos。　They　were　making　progress；　many　of　them　zigzagging　through　the　rocky　maze　to　link　up　with　their　mounting　central　force；　and　the　dark　elves　inevitably　fell　back　from　the　dangerous　giant。　One　burly　gnome；　a　burrow　warden；　Drizzt　guessed；　called　for　a　straight　march　across　the　cavern。

Drizzt　crouched　low　on　the　ledge。　From　his　vantage　point；　he　could　see　the　skilled　drow　warriors　fanning　out　about　the　gnomes；　flanking　and　hiding　behind　mounds。　Another　group　slipped　toward　the　far　exit；　the　gnomes'　destination；　and　took　up　strategic　positions　there。　If　the　elemental　held　out；　though；　the　gnomes　would　likely　punch　their　way　through；　and；　once　into　the　corridor；　they　could　put　their　elemental　behind　them　to　block　the　way　and　run　on　to　Blingdenstone。

Three　drow　females　stepped　out　to　confront　the　giant。　Drizzt　sighed；　seeing　that　they　wore　the　unmistakable　spider…emblazoned　robes　of　Lloth　worshippers。　He　recognized　that　these　were　priestesses；　possibly　high　priestesses；　and　knew　then　that　the　gnomes　would　not　escape。

One　after　another；　the　females　chanted　and　threw　their　hands　out　in　front　of　them；　sending　forth　a　spray　of　fine　mist。　As　the　moisture　hit　the　rocky　elemental；　the　giant　began　to　dissolve；　streaks　of　mud　replacing　the　solid　stone。

The　priestesses　kept　up　their　chants；　their　assaults。　On　came　the　rocky　giant；　growling　with　rage；　its　features　distorted　by　the　slipping　mud。

A　blast　of　mist　hit　it　squarely；　sending　a　thick　line　of　mud　running　down　the　monster's　chest；　but　the　priestess　who　had　made　the　assault　was　too　concerned　with　her　attack　and　did　not　get　back　fast　enough。　A　rock　arm　shot　out　and　punched　her；　breaking　bones　and　hurling　her　through　the　air

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to　crash　against　a　stalagmite。

The　remaining　two　drow　hit　the　elemental　again；　dissolving　its　legs；　and　it　crashed　helplessly　to　the　floor。　It　began　to　reform　its　appendages　immediately；　but　the　priestesses　continued　their　deadly　spray。　Seeing　that　the　ally　was　lost；　the　gnome　leader　called　for　a　charge；　and　the　svirfnebli　rushed　on；　overwhelming　one　priestess　before　the　flanking　dark　elves　closed　in　like　a　biting　maw。　The　fight　was　on　in　full　again；　this　time　right　below　Drizzt　Do'Urden。

He　gasped　for　breath　as　he　witnessed　the　spectacle；　saw　a　gnome　slashed　repeatedly　by　three　drow；　to　fall；　screaming；　dying；　to　the　floor。

Drizzt　was　out　of　excuses。　He　knew　right　from　wrong；　knew　the　significance　of　the　appearance　of　Lloth's　priestesses。　Fires　simmered　in　his　lavender　eyes；　out　came　his　scimitars；　Twinkle　flaring　to　blue…glowing　life。

He　spotted　the　remaining　priestess　down　to　the　left。　She　stoo