精灵血脉四部曲-第80部分

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It　seemed　like　old　times　to　Drizzt；　it　seemed　like　the

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very　pressing　problems　that　had　burdened　his　shoulders　had　been　temporarily　lifted。　How　good　it　was　to　see　his　old　friend　again；　this　gnome　who　had　gone　out　with　him；　out　of　loyalty　alone；　into　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark；　who　had　been　captured　beside　Drizzt　by　the　dreaded　mind　flayers　and　had　fought　his　way　out　beside　Drizzt。

〃It　was　a　coincidence；　fortunate　for　both　me　and　your　fellows　in　the　tunnels；　that　I　happened　into　the　area　when　I　did；〃　Drizzt　said。

〃Not　so　much　a　chance　of　fate；〃　Belwar　replied；　and　a　grim　demeanor　clouded　his　cheerful　expression。　〃The　fights　have　bee　too　mon。　One　a　week；　at　least；　and　many　svirfnebli　have　died。〃

Drizzt　closed　his　lavender　eyes　and　tried　to　digest　the　unwele　news。

〃Lloth　is　hungry；　so　it　is　said；〃　Belwar　went　on；　〃and　life　has　not　been　good　for　the　gnomes　of　Blingdenstone。　The　cause　of　it　all　we　are　trying　to　learn。〃

Drizzt　took　it　all　in　stride；　feeling　then；　more　than　ever　before；　that　he　had　done　right　in　returning。　More　was　happening　than　a　simple　drow　attempt　to　recapture　him。　Bel…war's　description；　the　assertion　that　Lloth　was　hungry；　seemed　on　the　mark。

Drizzt　got　prodded　again；　hard；　and　he　popped　open　his　eyes　to　see　the　smiling　burrow　warden　staring　down　at　him；　the　cloud　of　recent　events　apparently　passed。　〃But　enough　of　the　darkness！〃　Belwar　declared。　〃Twenty　years　we　have　to　recall；　you　for　me　and　me　for　you！〃　He　reached　down　and　hooked　one　of　Drizzt's　boots；　lifting　it　up　and　sniffing　at　the　sole。　〃You　found　the　surface？〃　he　asked；　sincerely　hopeful。

The　two　friends　spent　the　rest　of　that　day　trading　tales；　with　Drizzt；　who　had　gone　into　so　different　a　world；　doing　most　of　the　talking。　Many　times　Belwar　gasped　and　laughed；　once　he　shared　tears　with　his　drow　friend；　seeming　sincerely　hurt　by　the　loss　of　Wulfgar。

Drizzt　knew　at　that　moment　that　he　had　rediscovered　another　of　his　dearest　friends。　Belwar　listened　intently；　with　caring；　to　Drizzf　s　every　word；　let　him　share　the　most　personal　moments　of　his　last　twenty　years　with　the　silent　sup…

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port　of　a　true　friend。

After　they　dined　that　night；　Drizzt　took　his　first　tentative　steps；　and　Belwar；　who　had　seen　the　debilitating　effects　of　a　well…wielded　nooker　before；　assured　the　drow　that　he　would　be　running　along　rubble…filled　walls　again　in　a　day　or　so。

That　news　came　as　a　mixed　blessing。　Drizzt　was　glad　that　he　would　heal；　of　course；　but　a　small　part　of　him　wished　that　the　process　would　take　longer；　that　he　might　extend　his　visit　with　Belwar。　For　Drizzt　knew　that；　the　moment　his　body　was　able；　the　time　would　be　at　hand　for　him　to　finish　his　journey；　to　return　to　Menzoberranzan　and　try　to　end　the　threat。

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ait　here；　Guen；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　the　panther；　both　of　whom　stared　at　the　wider　area；　a　chamber　relatively　clear　of　stalagmites；　that　loomed　up　ahead。　Many　goblin　voices　came　from　that　chamber。　Catti…brie　guessed　that　this　was　the　main　host；　probably　growing　nervous　since　their　scouh'ng　party　hadn't　returned。　Those　few　surviving　goblins　were　likely　ing　fast　behind　her；　the　young　woman　knew。　She　and　Guen　had　done　a　fine　job　in　prodding　them　on　their　way；　had　sent　them　running　in　the　opposite　direction　down　the　corridor；　but　they　likely　had　already　turned　about。　And　that　fight　had　occurred　less　than　an　hour's　hike　from　this　spot。

There　was　no　other　apparent　way　around　the　chamber；　and　Catti…brie　understood　without　even　seeing　the　goblin　horde　that　there　were　simply　too　many　of　the　wretches　to　fight　or　scare　off。　She　looked　down　to　her　ebon…skinned　hands　one　last　time；　took　some　fort　in　their　accurate　drow　appearance；　then　straightened　her　thick　hair梥howing　stark　white　now　instead　of　its　normal　auburn梐nd　plush

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robes；　and　defiantly　strode　forward。

The　closest　goblin　sentries　fell　back　in　terror　as　the　drow　priestess　casually　entered　their　lair。　Numbers　alone　kept　the　group　from　running　off　altogether；　for；　as　Catti…brie　had　guessed；　more　than　a　hundred　goblins　were　camped　here。　A　dozen　spears　came　up；　angled　in　her　direction；　but　she　continued　to　walk　steadily　toward　the　center　of　the　cavern。

Goblins　gathered　all　around　the　young　woman；　cutting　off　any　retreat。　Others　crouched　facing　the　tunnel　from　which　Catti…brie　had　emerged；　not　knowing　if　other　drow　would　e　strolling　through。　Still；　the　sea　of　flesh　parted　before　the　unexpected　visitor；　Catti…brie's　bravado　and　disguise　had　apparently　put　the　creatures　off　their　collective　guard。

She　reached　the　chamber's　halfway　point；　could　see　the　corridor　continuing　on　across　the　way；　but　the　sea　closed　around　her；　giving　ground　more　slowly　and　forcing　the　woman…turned…drow　to　slow　her　pace　as　well。

Then　she　was　stopped；　goblin　spears　pointing　her　way　from　every　direction；　goblin　whispers　filling　the　room。　〃Cund　ha；　moga　moga；〃　she　demanded。　Her　mand　of　the　Goblin　tongue　was　rudimentary　at　best；　and　she　wasn't　quite　sure　if　she　had　said；　〃move　aside　and　let　me　pass；〃　or　〃move　my　mother　into　the　ditch。〃

She　hoped　it　was　the　former。

〃Moga　gund；　geek…ik　moon'ga'woon'gaV　rasped　one　huge　goblin；　nearly　as　large　as　a　man；　and　it　shifted　through　the　horde　to　stand　right　before　Catti…brie。　The　young　woman　forced　herself　to　remain　calm；　but　a　large　part　of　her　wanted　to　cry　out　for　Guenhwyvar　and　run　away；　and　a　smaller　part　wanted　to　break　out　in　laughter。　This　was　obviously　the　goblin　leader；　or　the　tribe's　shaman；　at　least。

But　the　creature　needed　a　few　fashion　tips。　It　wore　high　black　boots；　like　those　of　a　nobleman；　but　with　the　sides　cut　out　to　allow　for　its　wide；　ducklike　feet。　A　pair　of　women's　pantaloons；　ringed　with　wide　frills；　served　as　its　breeches；　and；　though　it　was　obviously　male；　the　beast　wore　a　woman's　underpants　and　corset；　as　well；　plete　with　cups　for　very　ample　breasts。　Several　mismatched　necklaces；　some　gold；　some　silver；　and　one　strand　of　pearls；　circled　its　skinny

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neck；　and　a　gaudy　ring　adorned　every　crooked　finger。　Catti…brie　recognized　the　goblin's　headdress　as　religious；　though　she　wasn't　quite　certain　of　the　sect。　It　resembled　a　sunburst　trimmed　with　long　gold　ribbons；　but　Catti…brie　was　fairly　sure　that　the　goblin　had　it　on　backward；　for　it　leaned　forward　over　the　ugly　creature's　sloping　brow；　one　ribbon　dangling　annoyingly　before　the　goblin's　nose。

No　doubt；　the　goblin　thought　itself　the　height　of　thieving　fashion；　dressed　in　the　clothing　of　its　tribe's　unfortunate　victims。　It　continued　to　ramble　in　its　high…pitched　voice；　too　fast　for　Catti…brie　to　make　out　more　than　a　single　word　here　or　there。　Then　the　creature　stopped；　abruptly；　and　pounded　a　fist　against　its　chest。

〃Do　ye　speak　the　surface　tongue？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　trying　to　find　some　mon　ground。　She　fought　hard　to　hold　her　nerve；　but　expected　a　spear　to　plunge　into　her　back　at　any　moment。

The　goblin　leader　regarded　her　curiously；　apparently　not　understanding　a　word　she　had　said。　It　scanned　the　woman　up　and　down；　its　red…glowing　eyes　finally　ing　to　rest　on　the　locket　that　hung　about　Catti…brie's　neck。　〃Nying　so；　wucka；〃　it　remarked；　and　it　pointed　to　the　locket；　then　to　Catti…brie；　then　swept　its　hand　about　to　indicate　the　far　exit。

Had　the　locket　been　a　normal　piece　of　jewelry；　Catti…brie　willingly　would　have　given　it　over　in　exchange　for　passage；　but　she　needed　the　magic　item　if　she　was　to　have　any　chance　of　locating　Drizzt。　The　goblin　repeated　its　demand；　its　tone　more　urgent；　and　the　young　woman　knew　that　she　had　to　think　fast。

On　sudden　inspiration；　she　smiled　and　stuck　an　upraised　finger　before　her。　〃Nying；〃　she　said；　thinking　that　to　be　the　goblin　word　for　gift。　She　clapped　her　hands　sharply　twice　before　her　and　called　out；　〃Guenhwyvar！〃　without　looking　back　over　her　shoulder。

A　startled　cry　from　the　goblins　at　the　back　end　of　the　chamber　told　her　that　the　panther　was　on　its　way。

〃e　in　with　calm；　Guen；〃　Catti…brie　called。　〃Walk　to　me　side　without　a　fight。〃

The　panther　stalked　slowly　and　steadily；　head　down　and　ears　flattened。　Every　so　often；　Guenhwyvar　let　out　a　low

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growl；　just　to　keep　the　closest　goblins　on　their　heels。　The　crowd　parted　widely；　giving　the　magnificent　cat　a　large　open　path　to　the　drow　priestess。

Then　Guenhwyvar　was　at　Catti…brie's　side；　nuzzling　the　woman's　hip。

〃Nying；〃　Catti…brie　said　again；　pointing　from　the　panther　to　the　goblin。　〃Ye　take　the　cat　and　I　walk　out　the　passage；〃　she　added；　motioning　as　best　she　could　with　her　hands　to　convey　the　message。　The　ugly　goblin　fashion　king　scratched　its　head；　shifting　the　headpiece　awkwardly　to　the　side。

〃Well；　go　over　and　make　nice；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　Guenhwyvar。　She　pushed　the　cat　away　with　her　leg。　The　panther　looked　up　to　her；　seemed　more　than　a　little　annoyed　by　it　all；　then　padded　over　to　the　goblin　leader　and　plopped　down　at　its　feet　｛and　the　blood　drained　from　the　monster's　face！）。

〃Nying；〃　Catti…brie　said　again；　motioning　that　the　goblin　should　reach　down　and　pet　the　cat。　The　creature　eyed　her　incredulously；　but　gradually；　with　her　coaxing；　the　goblin　mustered　the　nerve　to　touch　the　cat's　thick　fur。

The　goblin's　pointy…toothed　smile　widened；　and　it　dared　to　touch　the　cat　again；　more　solidly。　Again　it　dipped；　and　again；　and　each　stroke　went　more　firmly　over　the　panther's　back。　Through　it　all；　Guenhwyvar　leveled　a　withering　stare　at　Catti…brie。

〃Now；　ye're　to　stay　here　with　this　friendly　goblin；〃　Catti…brie　instructed　the　cat；　making　sure　that　her　tones　did　not　give　away　her　true　meaning。　She　patted　her　belt　pouch；　the　one　holding　the　figurine；　and　added；　〃I'll　be　calling　ye；　don't　ye　doubt。〃

Then　Catti…brie　straightened　and　faced　the　goblin　leader　squarely。　She　slapped　a　hand　against　her　chest；　then　snapped　it　straight　out　and　pointed　to　the　far　exit；　her　expression　a　scowl。　〃I　go！〃　she　declared　and　took　a　step　forward。

At　first；　the　goblin　leader　seemed　as　though　it　would　move　to　hinder　her；　but　a　quick　glance　to　the　powerful　cat　at　its　feet　changed　the　creature's　mind。　Catti…brie　had　played　the　game　perfectly；　she　had　allowed　the　overly　proud　goblin

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leader　to　retain　its　digni