精灵血脉四部曲-第81部分

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leader　to　retain　its　dignity；　had　kept　herself　appearing　as　a　potentially　dangerous　enemy；　and　had　strategically　placed　six　hundred　pounds　of　fighting　ally　right　at　the　goblin　leader's　feet。

〃Nying　so；　wucka；〃　the　goblin　said　again；　pointing　to　Guenhwyvar；　then　to　the　far　exit；　and　it　gingerly　stepped　aside　so　that　the　drow　could　pass。

Catti…brie　swept　across　the　rest　of　the　chamber；　backhand　slapping　one　goblin　that　didn't　get　far　enough　out　of　her　path。　The　creature　came　right　back　at　her；　sword　raised；　but　Catti…brie　didn't　flinch；　and　a　cry　from　the　goblin　leader；　still　with　the　panther　curled　about　its　ankles；　stopped　the　goblin's　response。

Catti…brie　laughed　in　its　ugly　face；　showed　it　that　she　held　her　own　dagger；　a　magnificent；　jeweled　thing；　ready　under　the　folds　of　her　beautiful　robes。

She　made　it　to　the　narrower　tunnel　and　continued　walking　slowly　for　many　steps。　Then　she　stopped；　glanced　back；　and　pulled　out　the　panther　figurine。

Back　in　the　chamber；　the　goblin　leader　was　showing　off　its　new　acquisition　to　the　tribe；　explaining　how　it　had　outsmarted　a　〃stupid　drow　female　thing；〃　and　had　taken　the　cat　as　its　own。　It　didn't　matter　that　the　other　goblins　had　witnessed　the　whole　affair；　in　goblin　culture；　history　was　recreated　almost　daily。

The　leader's　smug　smile　waned　quickly　when　a　gray　mist　rose　up　about　the　panther；　and　the　caf　s　material　form　began　to　melt　away。

The　goblin　wailed　a　stream　of　protests　and　curses　and　dropped　to　its　knees　to　grab　the　fast…fading　cat。

A　huge　paw　shot　out　of　the　mist；　hooked　around　the　leader's　head；　and　yanked　the　wretch　in。　Then　there　was　only　mist；　the　surprised　and　not…too…smart　goblin　leader　going　along　with　the　panther　on　a　ride　to　the　Astral　Plane。

The　remaining　goblins　hooted　and　ran　all　about；　bumping　into　and　falling　over　each　other。　Some　thought　to　take　up　the　chase　for　the　departing　drow；　but　by　the　time　they　began　to　organize；　Catti…brie　was　long　gone；　running　with　all　speed　along　the　corridor　and　thinking　herself　positively　clever。

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Starless　Night

The　tunnels　were　familiar　to　him梩oo　familiar。　How　many　times　had　young　Drizzt　Do'Urden　traveled　these　ways；　usually　serving　as　the　point　in　a　drow　patrol？　Then　he　had　Guenhwyvar　with　him；　now　he　was　alone。

He　limped　slightly；　one　of　his　knees　still　a　bit　weak　from　the　svirfheblin　nooker。

He　couldn't　use　that　as　an　excuse　to　remain　in　Blingden…stone　any　longer；　though。　He　knew　that　his　business　was　pressing；　and　Belwar；　though　the　parting　stung　the　burrow　warden；　had　not　argued　with　Drizzf　s　decision　to　be　on　his　way；　an　indication　to　Drizzt　that　the　other　svirfnebli　wished　him　gone。

That　had　been　two　days　ago；　two　days　and　about　fifty　miles　of　winding　caverns。　Drizzt　had　crossed　the　trails　of　at　least　three　drow　patrols　on　his　way；　an　unusually　high　number　of　warriors　to　be　out　so　far　from　Menzoberranzan；　and　that　led　credence　to　Belwar's　claim　that　something　dangerous　was　brewing；　that　the　Spider　Queen　was　hungry。　On　all　three　of　those　occasions；　Drizzt　could　have　tracked　down　the　drow　group　and　attempted　to　link　up。　He　thought　of　concocting　some　story　that　he　was　an　emissary　from　a　merchant　of　Ched　Nasad。　All　three　times；　Drizzt　had　lost　his　nerve；　had　kept　moving　instead　toward　Menzoberranzan；　putting　off　that　fateful　moment　when　he　would　make　contact。

Now　the　tunnels　were　too　familiar；　and　that　moment　was　nearly　upon　him。

He　measured　every　step；　maintaining　perfect　silence；　as　he　crossed　into　one　wider　way。　He　heard　some　noise　up　ahead；　a　shuffle　of　many　feet。　Not　drow　feet；　he　knew；　dark　elves　made　no　noise。

The　ranger　scaled　the　uneven　wall　and　moved　along　a　ledge　half　a　dozen　feet　up　from　the　main　floor。　Sometimes　he　found　himself　grasping　with　fingertips　and　pulling　himself　forward；　his　feet　dangling；　but　Drizzt　was　not　hindered；　and　he　did　not　make　a　sound。

He　froze　in　place　at　the　din　of　more　movement　ahead。　Fortunately；　the　ledge　widened　once　more；　freeing　his　hands；　and　he　gingerly　slipped　his　scimitars　free　of　their

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sheaths；　concentrating　to　keep　Twinkle　from　flaring　with　inner　light。

Slurping　sounds　led　him　around　a　bend；　where　he　viewed　a　host　of　short；　huddled　humanoids；　wearing　ragged　cloaks　with　cowls　pulled　over　their　faces。　They　spoke　not　at　all；　but　milled　about　aimlessly；　and　only　their　floppy　feet　showed　Drizzt　that　they　were　goblins。

Goblin　slaves；　he　knew　by　their　movements；　by　their　slumped　posture；　for　only　slaves　carried　such　a　weight　of　broken　resignation。

Drizzt　continued　to　watch　silently　for　a　while；　trying　to　spot　the　herding　drow。　There　were　at　least　four　score　goblins　in　this　cavern；　lining　the　edge　of　a　small　pond　that　the　drow　called　Heldaeyn's　Pool；　scooping　water　up　under　their　low…pulled　cowls　as　though　they　had　not　drunk　in　many　days。

They　probably　had　not。　Drizzt　spotted　a　couple　of　rothe；　small　Underdark　cattle；　milling　nearby；　and　he　realized　that　this　group　probably　was　out　of　the　city　in　search　of　the　missing　creatures。　On　such　trips；　slaves　were　given　little　or　nothing　to　eat；　though　they　carried　quite　a　bit　of　supplies！　The　acpanying　drow　guards；　though；　ate　handsomely；　usually　right　in　front　of　their　starving　slaves。

The　crack　of　a　whip　brought　the　goblins　back　to　their　feet　and　shuffling　back　from　the　pool's　edge。　Two　drow　soldiers；　one　male；　one　female；　came　into　Drizzf　s　view。　They　talked　casually；　the　female　every　so　often　cracking　her　whip。

Another　drow　called　out　some　mands　from　the　other　side　of　the　cavern；　and　the　goblins　began　to　fall　into　a　rough　line；　more　of　an　elongated　huddle　than　any　organized　formation。

Drizzt　knew　that　the　most　opportune　moment　was　upon　him。　Slavers　were　among　the　least　organized　and　least　regimented　of　Menzoberranzan's　extracity　bands。　Any　slaver　contingent　usually　prised　dark　elves　from　several　different　houses　and　a　plement　of　young　drow　students　from　each　of　the　Academy's　three　schools。

Drizzt　quietly　slipped　down　from　the　ledge　and　walked　around　the　jutting　wall；　flashing　the　customary　hand　signal　greetings　（though　his　fingers　felt　awkward　going　through　the　intricate　routine）　to　the　drow　in　the　cavern。

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Starless　Night

The　female　pushed　her　male　escort　forward　and　stepped　to　the　side　behind　him。　Immediately　the　male's　hand　came　up；　holding　one　of　the　typical　drow　hand…crossbows；　its　dart　coated；　most　likely；　with　a　powerful　sleeping　potion。

Wfeo　are　you？　the　female's　hand　asked　over　the　male's　shoulder。

〃All　that　is　left　of　a　patrol　group　that　ventured　near　Blingdenstone；〃　Drizzt　answered。

〃You　should　go　in　near　Tier　Breche；　then；〃　the　female　answered　aloud。　Hearing　her　voice；　so　typical　of　drow　females；　voices　that　could　be　incredibly　melodic　or　incredibly　shrill；　sent　Drizzt's　thoughts　cascading　back　to　those　long　years　past。　He　realized　then；　fully；　that　he　was　just　a　few　hundred　yards　from　Menzoberranzan。

〃I　do　not　wish　to　'go　in'　at　all；〃　Drizzt　answered。　〃At　least；　not　announced。〃　The　reasoning　made　perfect　sense；　Drizzt　knew。　If　he　had　indeed　been　the　only　survivor　of　a　lost　patrol；　he　would　have　been　vigorously　interrogated　at　the　drow　Academy；　probably　even　tortured　until　the　masters　were　certain　that　he　played　no　treacherous　role　in　the　patrol's　fate；　or　until　he　died；　whichever　came　first。

〃Who　is　the　first　house？〃　the　female　asked；　her　eyes　locked　on　Drizzt's　lavender…glowing　orbs。

〃Baenre；〃　Drizzt　answered　immediately；　expecting　the　test。　Spying　dark　elves　from　rival　cities　were　not　unknown　in　Menzoberranzan。

〃Their　youngest　son？〃　the　female　asked　slyly。　She　curled　her　lips　up　in　a　lewd　and　hungry　smile；　Drizzt　realized　as　she　continued　to　stare　deeply　into　his　unusual　eyes。

By　fortunate　coincidence；　Drizzt　had　attended　the　Academy　in　the　same　class　as　House　Baenre's　youngest　son梐s　long　as　ancient　Matron　Baenre　had　not　reared　another　child　in　the　three　decades　Drizzt　had　been　gone。

〃Berg'inyon；〃　he　answered　confidently；　dropping　his　hands　in　a　cocky　cross　at　his　belt　（and　putting　them　near　his　scimitars）。

〃Who　are　you？〃　the　female　asked　again；　and　she　licked　her　lips；　obviously　intrigued。

〃No　one　who　matters；〃　Drizzt　replied；　and　he　matched　her　smile　and　the　intensity　of　her　stare。

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The　female　patted　her　blocking　male　on　the　shoulder　and　her　fingers　motioned　for　him　to　go。

Am　I　to　be　off　this　miserable　duty？　he　responded　silently　with　his　hands；　a　hopeful　expression　on　his　face。

〃The　bol　will　take　your　place　this　day；〃　the　female　purred；　labeling　Drizzt　with　the　drow　word　that　described　something　mysterious　or　intriguing。

The　male　smiled　widely　and　moved　to　put　his　hand…crossbow　away。　Noticing　that　it　was　cocked　and　ready；　and　looking　up　to　take　note　that　a　whole　herd　of　goblins　stood　nearby；　he　widened　his　smile　instead　and　lifted　the　weapon　to　fire。

Drizzt　offered　no　reaction；　though　it　pained　him　to　see　even　goblins　treated　so　miserably。

〃No；〃　the　female　said；　putting　her　hand　over　the　male's　wrist。　She　reached　up　and　removed　the　dart　from　the　hand…crossbow；　then　replaced　it　with　another。　〃Yours　would　put　the　creature　to　sleep；〃　she　explained；　and　she　cackled　in　laughter。

The　male　considered　her　for　just　a　moment；　then　apparently　caught　on。　He　took　aim　at　a　goblin　loitering　near　the　water's　edge　and　fired。　The　goblin　jerked　as　the　small　dart　jabbed　into　its　back。　It　started　to　turn　about；　but　toppled　instead；　into　the　pool。

Drizzt　gnawed　at　his　lips；　understanding；　by　the　goblin's　futile　flopping；　that　the　dart　the　female　had　supplied　was　coated　with　a　paralyzing　potion；　one　that　left　the　doomed　creature　fully　conscious。　The　goblin　had　little　control　of　its　limbs　and　would　surely　drown；　and；　worse；　it　would　know　its　cruel　fate。　It　managed　to　arch　its　back　enough　so　that　its　face　came　above　the　water　level；　but　Drizzt　knew　that　it　would　tire　long　before　the　wicked　potion　expired。

The　male　laughed　heartily；　replaced　the　hand…crossbow　in　its　small　holster；　which　lay　diagonally　across　his　lower　chest；　and　walked　off　down　the　tunnel　to　Drizzf　s　left。　Before　he　had　gone　even　a　dozen　steps；　the　female　began　cracking　her　whip　and　called　for　the　few　drow　guards　to　get　the　caravan　moving；　down　the　runnel　to　the　right