精灵血脉四部曲-第77部分

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Catti…brie　spun　and　ran　on；　around　the　back　side　of　the　wide　mound。　She　heard　a　roar　from　Guenhwyvar；　followed　by　the　profound　screams　of　another　group　of　goblins。　Ahead；　a　huddled　form　was　running　away　from　her；　and　she　lifted　her　bow；　ready　to　clear　the　path。

Something　jolted　her　on　the　hip。　She　released　the　bowstring；　and　the　arrow　zipped　wide　of　the　mark；　scorching　a　hole　in　the　wall。

Catti…brie　stumbled　off　balance；　startled　and　hurt。　She　banged　her　shin　against　a　jutting　stone　and　nearly　pitched　headlong；　skidding　to　a　stop　down　on　one　knee。　As　she　reached　down　to　get　another　arrow　from　her　quiver；　she　felt　the　wet　warmth　of　her　lifeblood　pouring　generously　from　a　deep　gash　in　her　hip。　Only　then　did　stunned　Catti…brie　realize　the　hot　waves　of　agony。

She　kept　her　wits　about　her　and　turned　as　she　fitted　the　arrow。

The　goblin　was　right　above　her；　its　breath　ing　hot　and　smelly　through　pointed　yellow　teeth。　Its　sword　was　high　above　its　head。

Catti…brie　let　fly。　The　goblin　jerked　up　into　the　air；　but　came　back　to　its　feet。　Behind　it；　another　goblin　caught　the　arrow　under　the　chin；　the　powerful　bolt　blowing　the　back　of　its　skull　off。

Catti…brie　thought　she　was　dead。　How　could　she　have　missed？　Did　the　arrow　slip　under　the　goblin's　arm　as　it　jumped　in　fright？　It　made　no　sense　to　her；　but　she　could　hardly　stop　to　think　it　over。　The　moment　of　death　was　upon　her；　she　was　sure；　for　she　could　not　maneuver　her　bow　quickly　enough　to　parry　the　goblin's　next　strike。　She　could　not　block　the　descending　sword。

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But　the　sword　did　not　descend。　The　goblin　simply　stopped；　held　perfectly　still　for　what　seemed　to　Catti…brie　an　interminable　time。　Its　sword　then　clanged　to　the　stone；　a　wheeze　issued　from　the　center　of　its　rib　cage；　followed　by　a　thick　line　of　blood。　The　monster　toppled　to　the　side；　dead。

Catti…brie　realized　that　her　arrow　had　indeed　hit　the　mark；　had　driven　cleanly　through　the　first　goblin　to　kill　the　second。

Catti…brie　forced　herself　to　her　feet。　She　tried　to　run　on；　but　waves　rolled　over　her；　and　before　she　understood　what　had　happened；　she　was　back　to　the　floor；　back　to　one　knee。　She　felt　a　coldness　up　her　side；　a　swirling　nausea　in　her　stomach；　and；　to　her　horror；　saw　yet　another　of　the　miserable　goblins　fast　closing；　waving　a　spiked　club。

Summoning　all　of　her　strength；　Catti…brie　waited　until　the　very　last　moment　and　whipped　her　bow　across　in　front　of　her。　The　goblin　shrieked　and　fell　backward；　avoiding　the　hit；　but　its　sudden　retreat　gave　Catti…brie　the　time　to　draw　her　short　sword　and　the　jeweled　dagger。

She　stood；　forcing　down　the　pain　and　the　sick　feeling。

The　goblin　uttered　something　in　its　annoying；　high…pitched　voice；　something　threatening；　Catti…brie　knew；　though　it　sounded　like　a　typical　goblin　whine。　The　wretched　creature　came　at　her　all　of　a　sudden；　whipping　the　club　to　and　fro；　and　Catti…brie　leaped　back。

A　jolting　flare　of　agony　rushed　up　her　side；　nearly　costing　her　her　balance。　On　came　the　goblin；　crouched　and　balanced；　sensing　victory。

It　continued　to　talk　to　her；　taunt　her；　though　she　could　not　understand　its　language。　It　chuckled　and　pointed　to　her　wounded　leg。

Catti…brie　was　confident　that　she　could　defeat　the　goblin；　but　she　feared　that　it　would　be　to　no　avail。　Even　if　she　and　Guenhwyvar　won　out；　killed　all　the　goblins　or　sent　them　fleeing；　what　might　e　next？　Her　leg　would　barely　support　her梒ertainly　she　could　not　continue　her　quest梐nd　she　doubted　that　she　could　properly　clean　and　dress　the　wound。　The　goblins　might　not　kill　her；　but　they　had　stopped　her；　and　the　waves　of　pain　continued　unabated。

Catti…brie's　eyes　rolled　back　and　she　started　to　sway。

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Her　eyes　blinked　open　and　she　steadied　herself　as　the　goblin　took　the　bait　and　charged。　When　it　realized　the　ruse；　it　tried　to　stop；　but　skidded　in　the　slippery　mud。

The　goblin　whipped　its　club　across　frantically；　but　Catti…brie's　short　sword　intercepted　it；　locking　against　one　of　the　spikes。　Knowing　that　she　had　not　the　strength　to　force　the　club　aside；　she　pressed　forward；　into　the　goblin；　tucking　her　sword　arm　in　close　as　she　went；　forcing　the　goblin's　arm　to　hook　about　her　as　she　turned。

All　the　while；　the　jeweled　dagger　led　the　way；　reaching　for　the　creature's　belly。　The　goblin　got　its　free　arm　up　to　block；　and　only　the　dagger's　tip　slipped　through　its　skin。

Catti…brie　did　not　know　how　long　she　could　hold　the　clinch。　Her　strength　was　draining；　she　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　curl　up　in　a　little　ball　and　faint　away。

Then；　to　her　surprise；　the　goblin　cried　out　in　agony。　It　whipped　its　head　back　and　forth；　shook　its　whole　body　wildly　in　an　effort　to　get　away。　Catti…brie；　barely　holding　the　dangerous　club　at　bay；　had　to　keep　pace　with　it。

A　burst　of　energy　pulsed　through　the　dagger　and　coursed　up　her　arm。

The　young　woman　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　it；　didn't　know　what　was　happening；　as　the　goblin　went　into　a　series　of　violent　convulsions；　each　one　sending　another　pulse　of　energy　flowing　into　its　foe。

The　creature　fell　back　against　a　stone；　its　blocking　arm　limp；　and　Catti…brie's　momentum　carried　her　closer；　the　wicked　dagger　sinking　in　to　the　hilt。　The　next　pulse　of　energy　nearly　knocked　Catti…brie　away；　and　her　eyes　widened　in　horror　as　she　realized　that　Artemis　Entreri's　weapon　was　literally　eating　away　at　the　goblin's　life　force　and　transferring　it　to　her！

The　goblin　sprawled　over　the　arcing　edge　of　the　stalagmite　mound；　its　eyes　open　and　unblinking；　its　body　twitching　in　death　spasms。

Catti…brie　fell　back；　taking　the　bloodied　dagger　with　her。　She　worked　hard　to　draw　breath；　gasping　in　disbelief　and　eyeing　the　blade　with　sheer　revulsion。

A　roar　from　Guenhwyvar　reminded　her　that　the　battle　was　not　ended。　She　replaced　the　dagger　on　her　belt　and

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Starless　Night

turned；　thinking　that　she　had　to　find　her　bow。　She　had　gone　two　running　steps　before　she　even　realized　that　her　leg　was　easily　supporting　her　now。

From　somewhere　in　the　shadows；　a　goblin　heaved　a　spear；　which　skipped　off　the　stone　just　behind　the　running　woman　and　stole　her　train　of　thought。　Catti…brie　skidded　down　in　the　mud　and　scooped　up　her　bow　as　she　slid　past。　She　looked　down　to　her　quiver；　saw　its　powerful　magic　already　at　work　replacing　the　spent　arrows。

She　saw；　too；　that　no　more　blood　was　ing　from　her　wound。　Gingerly；　the　young　woman　ran　a　hand　over　it；　felt　a　thick　scab　already　in　place。　She　shook　her　head　in　disbelief；　took　up　her　bow；　and　began　firing。

Only　one　more　goblin　got　dose　to　Catti…brie。　It　sneaked　around　the　back　side　of　the　thick　mound。　The　young　woman　started　to　drop　her　bow　and　draw　out　her　weapons　for　melee；　but　she　stopped　（and　so　did　the　goblin！）　when　a　great　panther's　paw　slapped　down　atop　the　creature's　head　and　long　daws　dug　into　the　goblin's　sloping　forehead。

Guenhwyvar　snapped　the　creature　backward　with　sudden；　savage　force　such　that　one　of　the　monster's　shoddy　boots　remained　where　it　had　been　standing。　Catti…brie　looked　away；　back　to　the　area　behind　them；　as　Guenhwy…var's　powerful　maw　closed　over　the　stunned　goblin's　throat　and　began　to　squeeze。

Catti…brie　saw　no　targets；　but　let　fly　another　arrow　to　brighten　the　end　of　the　corridor。　Half　a　dozen　goblins　were　in　full　flight；　and　Catti…brie　sent　a　shower　of　arrows　trailing　them；　chasing　them；　and　cutting　them　down。

She　was　still　firing　a　minute　later梙er　enchanted　quiver　would　never　run　short　of　arrows梬hen　Guenhwyvar　padded　over　to　her　and　bumped　against　her；　demanding　a　pat。　Catti…brie　sighed　deeply　and　dropped　a　hand　to　the　caf　s　muscled　flank；　her　eyes　falling　to　the　jeweled　dagger；　sitting　impassively　on　her　belt。

She　had　seen　Entreri　wield　that　dagger；　had　once　had　its　blade　against　her　own　throat。　The　young　woman　shuddered　as　she　recalled　that　awful　moment；　more　awful　now　that　she　understood　the　cruel　weapon's　properties。

Guenhwyvar　growled　and　pushed　against　her；　prodding

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her　to　motion。　Catti…brie　understood　the　panther's　urgency；　according　to　Drizzt's　tales；　goblins　rarely　traveled　in　the　Underdark　in　secluded　bands。　If　there　were　twenty　here；　there　were　likely　two　hundred　somewhere　nearby。

Catti…brie　looked　to　the　tunnel　behind　them；　the　tunnel　from　which　she　had　e　and　down　which　the　goblins　had　fled。　She　considered；　briefly；　going　that　way；　fighting　through　the　fleeing　few　and　running　back　to　the　surface　world；　where　she　belonged。

It　was　a　fleeting　thought　for　her；　an　excusable　instant　of　weakness。　She　knew　that　she　must　go　on；　but　how？　Catti…brie　looked　down　to　her　belt　once　more　and　smiled　as　she　untied　the　magical　mask。　She　lifted　it　before　her　face；　unsure　of　how　it　even　worked。

With　a　shrug　to　Guenhwyvar；　the　young　woman　pressed　the　mask　against　her　face。

Nothing　happened。

Holding　it　tight；　she　thought　of　Drizzt；　imagined　herself　with　ebony　skin　and　the　fine　chiseled　features　of　a　drow。

Biting　tingles　of　magic　nipped　at　her　every　pore。　In　a　moment；　she　moved　her　hand　away　from　her　face；　the　mask　holding　fast　of　its　own　accord。　Catti…brie　blinked　many　times；　for　in　the　magical　starlight　afforded　her　by　the　Caf　s　Eye；　she　saw　her　receding　hand　shining　perfectly　black；　her　fingers　more　slender　and　delicate　than　she　remembered　them。

How　easy　it　had　been！

Catti…brie　wished　that　she　had　a　mirror　so　that　she　could　check　the　disguise；　though　she　felt　in　her　heart　that　it　was　true。　She　considered　how　perfectly　Entreri　had　mimicked　Regis　when　he　had　e　back　to　Mithril　Hall；　right　down　to　the　halfling's　equipment。　With　that　thought；　the　young　woman　looked　to　her　own　rather　drab　garb。　She　considered　Drizzf　s　tales　of　his　homeland；　of　the　fabulous　and　evil　high　priestesses　of　Lloth。

Catti…brie's　worn　traveling　cloak　had　bee　a　rich　robe；　shimmering　purple　and　black。　Her　boots　had　blackened；　their　tips　curling　up　delicately。　Her　weapons　remained　the　same；　though；　and　it　seemed　to　Catti…brie；　in　this　attire；　that　Entreri's　jeweled　dagger　was　the　most　fitting。

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Starless　Night

Again　the　young　woman　focused　her　thoughts　on　that　wicked　blade。　A　part　of　her　wanted　to　drop　it　in　the　mud；　to　bury　it　where　no　one　could　ever　find　it。　She　even　went　so　far　as　to　close　her　fingers　over　its　hilt。

But　she　released