精灵血脉四部曲-第8部分

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More　effective　was　the　dwarven　response。　Catti…brie　led　it；　putting　the　Heartseeker　up　in　an　instant　and　loosing　a　magical；　silver…shafted　arrow　that　seemed　to　trail　lightning　in　its　deadly　flight。　It　blasted　a　clean；　smoking　hole　through　one　goblin；　did　likewise　to　a　second　farther　back；　and　drove　into　the　chest　of　a　third。　All　three　dropped　to　the　floor。

A　hundred　dwarves　roared　and　charged　forward；　heaving　axes　and　warhammers　into　the　charging　goblin　throng。

Catti…brie　fired　again；　and　then　again；　and；　with　just　the　three　shots；　her　kill　count　was　up　to　eight。　Now　it　was　her　turn　to　give　Wulfgar　a　superior　stare；　and　the　barbarian；　humbled；　promptly　looked　away。

The　floor　bucked　wildly；　Bruenor　heard　the　roars　of　the　wounded　giant　beneath　him。

〃Down！〃　the　dwarf　king　manded　above　the　sudden　roar　of　battle。

The　ferocious　dwarves　needed　little　encouragement；　for　the　leading　goblins　were　close　to　the　platform　by　then。　Out　came　living　dwarven　missiles；　crushing　into　the　goblin　ranks；　flailing　away　with　fists　and　boots　and　weapons　before　they　even　stopped　bouncing。



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A　supporting　pillar　cracked　in　half　as　the　ettin　inadvertently　struck　it；　trying　to　bring　its　club　around　to　get　at　Drizzt。　Down　came　the　platform；　pinning　the　stupid　beast。

Drizzt；　crouched　safely　below　the　level　of　the　giant's　girth；　could　not　believe　how　badly　the　goblins—and　the　ettin—　had　thought　out　their　plan。　〃How　did　you　ever　mean　to　get　out　of　here？〃　he　asked；　though；　of　course；　the　ettin　could　not　understand　him。

Drizzt　shook　his　head；　almost　in　pity；　then　his　scimitars　went　to　work　on　the　monster's　face　and　throat。　A　moment　later；　Guenhwyvar　sprang　onto　the　other　head；　claws　raking　deep　gouges。

In　mere　seconds；　the　ranger　and　his　feline　panion　sprinted　out　from　under　the　low…riding　platform；　their　business　finished。　Knowing　that　his　unique　talents　could　be　of　better　use　in　other　ways；　Drizzt　avoided　the　wild　melee　of　battle　and　moved　to　the　side　along　the　cavern　wall。

A　dozen　corridors　led　into　this　main　chamber；　he　could　see；　and　goblins　were　pouring　in　through　nearly　every　one。　Of　more　concern　were　the　unexpected　allies　of　the　goblin　forces；　though；　for；　to　Drizzt's　surprise；　he　noticed　several　more　gigantic　ettins　standing　still　and　quiet　behind　stalagmites；　waiting　for　the　moment　when　they　might　join　the　fray。



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Catti…brie；　still　on　the　platform　and　firing　into　the　goblin　horde；　was　the　first　to　spot　Drizzt；　halfway　up　a　stalagmite　mound　to　the　left…hand　side　of　the　cavern　and　motioning　back　for　her　and　Wulfgar。

A　goblin　came　up　out　of　the　fighting　mass　and　charged　the　young　woman；　but　Wulfgar　stepped　in　front　of　her　and　whaled　on　it　with　his　great　hammer；　sending　it　flying　a　dozen　feet　over　the　edge。　The　barbarian　spun　about　as　fast　as　he　could；　trying　to　ready　a　defense；　for　another　goblin　had　e　up　to　the　side；　closing　with　a　spear　point　leading　the　way。

It　nearly　got　the　spear　in　for　a　strike；　but　its　head　exploded　under　the　impact　of　a　silver…streaking　arrow。

〃Drizzt　is　needing　us；〃　Catti…brie　explained；　and　she　led　the　barbarian　to　their　left　along　the　tilting　platform；　Wulfgar　running　along　the　edge　and　pounding　any　goblins　that　tried　to　scramble　up。

When　they　were　clear　of　the　main　fighting；　Drizzt　motioned　for　Catti…brie　to　hold　her　position　and　for　Wulfgar　to　e　forward　cautiously。

〃He　has　found　some　giants；〃　Regis；　hidden　below　the　pair；　explained　to　them；　〃behind　those　mounds。〃

Drizzt　leaped　down　around　the　stalagmite；　then　came　diving　back　out；　turning　defensive　somersaults　with　an　ettin　in　close　pursuit；　twin　clubs　ready　to　squash　the　drow。

The　giant　jerked　upright　when　Catti…brie's　arrow　thudded　into　its　chest；　scorching　the　filthy　animal　hide　it　wore。

A　second　arrow　knocked　it　off　balance；　then　Wulfgar's　hurled　hammer；　flying　to　the　barbarian's　resounding　cries　of　〃Tempus！〃　blasted　the　creature　away。

Guenhwyvar；　still　on　the　side　of　the　mound；　leaped　atop　the　second　ettin　as　it　came　barreling　out；　muscled　claws　raking　viciously；　blinding　both　the　monster's　heads　until　Drizzt　got　in　close　enough　to　put　his　scimitars　to　work。

The　next　giant　came　around　the　other　side　of　the　mound；　but　Catti…brie　was　ready　for　it；　and　arrow　after　arrow　slammed　it；　spun　it　around；　and　finally　dropped　it；　dead；　to　the　ground。

Wulfgar　charged　forward；　catching　his　magical　war…hammer　back　in　his　grasp。　Drizzt　had　finished　with　the　giant　by　the　time　the　barbarian　caught　up　to　him；　and　the　dark　elf　joined　his　friend　as　they　met　the　next　of　the　charging　monsters　side　by　side。

〃Like　old　times；〃　Drizzt　remarked。　He　didn't　wait　for　an　answer；　but　dove　into　a　roll　in　front　of　Wulfgar。

Both　of　them　winced；　blinded　for　an　instant；　as　Catti…brie's　next　arrow　sliced　between　them；　slamming　into　the　nearest　giant's　belly。

〃She　did　that　to　make　a　point；　you　know；〃　Drizzt　remarked；　and　he　didn't　wait　for　an　answer；　but　dove　into　a　roll　in　front　of　Wulfgar。

Understanding　Drizzt's　diversionary　tactics；　the　barbarian　heaved　Aegis…fang　right　over　the　rolling　form；　and　the　ettin；　stooping　for　a　hit　at　Drizzt；　caught　the　warhammer　squarely　on　the　side　of　one　head。　The　other　head　remained　alive；　but　dazed　and　disoriented　for　the　split　second　it　took　to　take　control　of　the　entire　body。

A　split　second　was　far　too　long　when　dealing　with　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　The　agile　drow　came　up　in　a　leap；　easily　avoiding　a　lumbering　swing；　and　sent　his　scimitars　in　a　crossing　swipe　that　drew　two　parallel　lines　along　the　giant's　throat。

The　ettin　dropped　both　its　clubs　and　clutched　at　the　mortal　wound。

An　arrow　blew　it　to　the　ground。

Two　more　ettins　remained　behind　the　mound；　but　they—all　four　heads—had　seen　quite　enough　of　the　fighting　panions。　Out　a　side　tunnel　the　beasts　went。

Right　into　Dagna's　rambling　force。

One　wounded　ettin　stumbled　back　into　the　main　chamber；　a　dozen　hurled　hammers　bouncing　off　its　stooped　back　for　every　lumbering　step　it　took。　Before　Drizzt；　Wulfgar；　or　even　Catti…brie　with　her　bow；　could　make　a　move　at　the　beast；　a　multitude　of　dwarves　rushed　out　of　the　tunnel　and　leaped　upon　it；　bore　it　to　the　ground；　and　hacked　and　pounded　away　with　battle…crazed　abandon。

Drizzt　looked　at　Wulfgar　and　shrugged。

〃Fear　not；　my　friend；〃　the　barbarian　replied；　smiling。　〃There　are　many　more　enemies　to　hit！〃　With　another　bellow　to　his　battle　god；　Wulfgar　turned　about　and　charged　for　the　main　fight；　trying　to　pick　out　Bruenor's　one…horned　helmet　amidst　a　writhing　sea　of　tangled　goblins　and　dwarves。

Drizzt　didn't　follow；　though；　for　he　preferred　single　bat　to　the　wildness　of　general　melee。　Calling　Guenhwyvar　to　his　side；　the　drow　made　his　way　along　the　wall；　eventually　exiting　the　main　chamber。

After　only　a　few　steps　and　a　warning　growl　from　his　trusted　panther　ally；　he　came　to　realize　that　Regis　wasn't　far　behind。



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Bruenor's　estimates　of　the　dwarven　prowess　seemed　on　target　as　the　battle　soon　became　a　rout。　In　trading　hits　with　the　armored　dwarves；　the　goblins　found　their　crude　swords　and　puny　clubs　to　be　no　match　against　the　tempered　weapons　of　their　enemies。　Bruenor's　people；　too；　were　better　trained；　holding　tight　formations　and　keeping　their　nerves；　which　was　difficult　amidst　all　the　chaos　and　the　cries　of　the　dying。

Goblins　fled　by　the　dozen；　most　finding　the　line　of　Dagna　and　his　charges　eagerly　waiting　to　kill　them。

With　all　the　confusion；　Catti…brie　had　to　pick　her　shots　carefully；　particularly　since　she　couldn't　be　certain　that　a　skinny　goblin　torso　would　stop　her　flying　arrows。　Mostly；　the　young　woman　concentrated　on　those　goblins　breaking　ranks；　fleeing　into　the　open　ground　between　the　main　fight　and　Dagna's　line。

For　all　her　talk　of　parley　and　all　the　accusations　she　had　leveled　at　Bruenor　and　the　others；　the　young　woman　could　not　deny　the　tingle；　the　adrenaline　rush；　that　swept　over　her　every　time　she　lifted　Taulmaril　the　Heartseeker。

Wulfgar's　eyes；　too；　gleamed　with　a　luster　that　indicated　the　fine　edge　of　survival。　Raised　among　a　warlike　people；　he　had　learned　the　battle…lust　at　an　early　age；　a　rage　that　had　been　tempered　only　when　Bruenor　and　Drizzt　had　taught　him　the　worth　of　his　perceived　enemies　and　the　many　sorrows　his　tribe's　wars　had　caused。

There　was　no　guilt　in　this　fight；　though；　not　against　evil　goblins；　and　Wulfgar's　charge　from　the　dead　ettins　to　the　larger　battle　was　acpanied　by　a　hearty　song　to　Tern…pus。　Wulfgar　found　no　target　clear　enough　for　him　to　chance　a　throw　with　his　hammer；　but　he　was　not　dismayed；　particularly　when　a　group　of　several　goblins　broke　clear　of　the　fighting　and　fled　his　way。

The　leading　three　hardly　realized　that　the　barbarian　was　there　when　Wulfgar's　first　sidelong　cut　with　Aegis…fang　swept　them　aside；　killing　two。　The　goblins　behind　stumbled　in　surprise；　but　came　on　anyway；　flowing　around　the　barbarian　like　a　river　around　a　rock。

A　goblin　head　exploded　under　Aegis…fang's　next　heavy　blow；　Wulfgar　snapped　the　hammer　across　one…handed　to　deflect　a　sword；　then　followed　with　a　punching　left　hook　that　shattered　his　would…be　attacker's　jaw　and　sent　the　creature　flying。

The　barbarian　felt　a　sting　in　his　side；　and　he　flinched　before　the　sword　could　dig　in　deeply。　His　free　hand　whipped　back　across；　clamping　atop　his　attacker's　head　and　lifting　the　squirming　creature　from　the　ground。　It　still　had　its　sword；　and　Wulfgar　realized　that　he　was　vulnerable。　He　found　his　only　possible　defense　in　sheer　savagery；　jerking　the　lifted　goblin　back　and　forth　so　violently　that　the　creature　could　not　get　its　bearings　for　a　strike。

Wulfgar　spun　around　to　drive　his　many　attackers　back；　using　his　momentum　to　aid　in　his　one…handed　hammer　swipe。　An　advancing　goblin　tried　to　backtrack；　and　lifted　its　arm　in　a　pitiful　defense；　but　the　warhammer　blasted　through　the　skinny　limb　and　crushed　on；　knocking　the　creature's　head　so　powerfully　that　when　the　goblin　fell　to　the　ground；　it　landed　on　its　back。　Its　face；　too；　was　squarely　against　the　stone。

The　stubborn；　stupid　goblin　in　the　air　nicked　Wulfgar's　huge　biceps。　The　barbarian　brought　the　creature　down　hard；　squeezed　and　twisted；　and　heard　the　satisfying　crack　of　neck　bone。　Seeing　a　ing　charge　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　hurled　the　dead　thing　a