精灵血脉四部曲-第86部分

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〃But　now　she　is；〃　said　the　first；　and　they　looked　in　unison　at　the　female。

Khareesa　had　long　caught　on　to　their　wicked　game　and　was　steadily　backing　away　from　them；　sword　and　whip　in　hand。　She　stopped　as　she　felt　the　tip　of　yet　another　sword　gently　prod　her　fine　armor　from　behind；　and　she　held　her　hands　out　wide。

〃House　H'kar？　she　began；　but　abruptly　ended　as　the　drow　behind　her　plunged　his　fabulous　drow…made　sword　through　the　fine　armor　and　through　a　kidney。　Khareesa　jerked　as　the　male　yanked　the　weapon　back　out。　She　slumped　to　one　knee；　trying　to　hold　her　concentration　against　the　sudden　assault　of　agony；　trying　to　hold　fast　to　her　weapons。

The　four　soldiers　fell　over　her。　There　could　be　no　wit…

nesses。

193

R。　A。　Salvatore

Drizzf　s　gaze　remained　toward　the　strangely　lighted　city　as　the　raft　slipped　slowly　across　Donigarten's　dark　waters。

Torches？　The　thought　hung　heavily　in　his　mind；　for　he　had　pretty　much　convinced　himself　that　the　drow　were　preparing　a　huge　excursion　to　the　surface。　Why　else　would　they　be　stinging　their　sensitive　eyes　so？

As　the　raft　floated　across　the　weedy　bay　of　the　Isle　of　Rothe；　Drizzt　noticed　that　no　other　craft　were　docked　at　the　island。　He　gave　it　little　thought　as　he　climbed　over　the　prow　and　sprang　lightly　to　the　mossy　beach。　The　ores　had　barely　put　up　their　oars　when　another　drow　whisked　past　Drizzt　and　sprang　into　the　boat；　ordering　the　slave　crew　to　put　back　out　for　the　mainland。

Ore　rothe　herders　congregated　by　the　shore；　each　squatting　in　the　mossy　muck；　ragged　cloaks　pulled　tight。　This　was　not　unusual；　for　there　was　really　little　for　them　to　do。　The　isle　was　not　large；　barely　a　hundred　yards　long　and　less　than　mat　in　width；　but　it　was　incredibly　thick　with　low　vegetation；　mainly　mosses　and　fungi。　The　landscape　was　broken；　filled　with　valleys　and　steep…sloping　hillocks；　and　the　biggest　job　facing　the　ores；　aside　from　taking　rothe　from　the　isle　to　the　mainland　and　chasing　down　strays；　was　simply　to　make　sure　that　none　of　the　herd　fell　into　any　ravines。

So　the　slaves　sat　down　by　the　shore；　silent　and　brooding。　They　seemed　somewhat　edgy　to　Drizzt；　but；　consumed　by　his　fears　over　what　was　happening　in　the　city；　he　again　gave　it　little　thought。　He　did　glance　about　to　the　drow　slaver　posts；　and　took　fort　in　the　fact　that　all　the　dark　elves　were　apparently　in　place；　standing　quietly　and　calmly。　The　Isle　of　Rothe　was　not　an　eventful　place。

Drizzt　headed　straight　inland；　away　from　the　small　bay　and　toward　the　highest　point　on　the　island。　Here　stood　the　isle's　lone　structure；　a　small；　two…chambered　house　constructed　of　gigantic　mushroom　stalks。　He　considered　his　strategy　as　he　moved；　thought　of　how　he　might　get　the　necessary　information　from　Khareesa　without　open　confrontation。　Events　seemed　to　be　moving　quickly　about　him；　though；　and　he　resolved　that　if　he　had　to　use　his　scimitars　to　〃convince〃　her；　he　would。

194

Starless　Night

Barely　ten　feet　from　the　structure's　door；　Drizzt　stopped　and　watched　as　the　portal　gently　swung　in。　A　drow　soldier　stepped　to　the　threshold　and　casually　tossed　Khareesa's　severed　head　at　Drizzf　s　feet。

〃There　is　no　way　off　the　island；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　the　drow　remarked。

Drizzt　didn't　turn　his　head；　but　shifted　his　eyes；　trying　to　get　a　clear　measure　of　his　surroundings。　He　inconspicuously　worked　one　toe　under　the　soft　moss；　burying　his　foot　to　the　ankle。

〃I'll　accept　your　surrender；〃　the　drow　went　on；　〃You　cannot？

The　drow　stopped　abruptly　as　a　wad　of　moss　flew　at　his　face。　He　snapped　out　his　sword　and　instinctively　threw　his　hands　up　before　him　in　defense。

Drizzt's　charge　followed　the　moss　divot。　The　ranger　sprang　across　the　ten　feet　to　his　enemy；　then　dropped　in　a　deceptive　spin；　pivoting　on　one　planted　knee。　Using　his　momentum；　Drizzt　sent　Twinkle　in　a　wicked；　low　cut　that　caught　the　surprised　drow　on　the　side　of　the　knee。　The　drow　turned　a　plete　somersault　over　that　stinging　hit；　striking　the　soft　ground　with　a　thud　and　a　cry　of　pain　as　he　clutched　at　his　ripped　leg。

Drizzt　sensed　that　other　dark　elves　were　in　the　house　behind　this　one；　so　he　was　up　and　running　quickly；　around　the　structure　and　out　of　sight　of　the　door；　then　down　the　hillock's　steep　back　slope。　He　dove；　skidded；　and　rolled　to　build　momentum；　his　thoughts　a　jumble；　his　desperation　mounting。

Several　dozen　rothe　milled　about　the　mossy　bank；　and　they　bleated　and　grunted　as　Drizzt　scrambled　among　them。　Drizzt　heard　several　clicks　behind　him；　heard　a　hand…crossbow　quarrel　slap　into　one　rothe。　The　creature　tumbled；　asleep　before　it　hit　the　ground。

Drizzt　kept　low；　scrambling；　trying　to　figure　where　he　could　run。　He　had　been　on　the　island　only　a　short　time；　had　never　been　here　in　his　earlier　years　in　the　city；　and　wasn't　familiar　with　its　landscape。　He　knew　that　this　hillock　dropped　into　a　steep　ravine；　though；　and　thought　that　was　his　best　chance。

195

R。　A；　Salvatore

More　shots　came　from　behind；　a　javelin　joined　the　quarrels。　Muck　and　divots　flew　wildly　as　the　rothe；　frightened　by　the　rushing　dark　elf　and　missiles；　kicked　about；　threatening　to　stampede。　They　were　not　large　creatures；　only　three　feet　high　at　the　shoulder；　but　were　solidly　built。　If　caught　on　his　hands　and　knees　in　the　midst　of　a　rothe　stampede；　Drizzt　knew　he　would　be　crushed。

His　problems　pounded　as　he　neared　the　back　of　the　rothe　herd；　for　between　the　legs　of　one　creature　he　spotted　boots。　Hardly　thinking；　Drizzt　lifted　his　shoulder　and　barreled　sidelong　into　the　rothe；　pushing　it　down　the　slope；　into　his　enemy。　One　scimitar　went　up　high　and　sang　as　it　struck　a　descending　sword；　another　scimitar　jabbed　low；　under　the　rothe's　belly；　but　the　enemy　draw　hopped　back；　out　of　range。

Drizzt　coiled　his　legs　under　him　and　heaved　with　all　his　strength；　using　the　ground's　fairly　steep　angle　to　his　advantage。　The　rothe　lifted　off　the　ground　and　skipped　sidelong；　slamming　the　drow。　He　was　agile　enough　to　lift　a　leg　over　the　creature's　low　back　and　e　cleanly　over　it；　spinning　about　in　an　attempt　to　face　Drizzt　squarely。　But　Drizzt　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

A　bleat　to　the　side　was　the　only　warning　the　drow　got　as　the　fierce　ranger　rushed　in；　scimitars　flashing。　The　surprised　drow　threw　both　his　swords　out　in　front　as　he　spun　about；　barely　deflecting　the　scimitar　cuts。　One　foot　skidded　out　from　under　him；　but　he　came　back　up　quickly；　fire　in　his　eyes　and　his　swords　thrusting　wildly；　holding　Drizzt　at　bay。

Drizzt　moved　quickly　to　the　right；　gained　the　higher　ground　again；　though　he　knew　that　that　move　would　put　his　back　to　the　archers　at　the　top　of　the　hillock。　He　kept　his　scimitars　moving；　his　eyes　focused　ahead；　but　listened　to　sounds　from　the　back。

A　sword　darted　in　low；　was　caught　by　Twinkle　and　held　down。　A　second　thrust　came　in　parallel　to　the　first　but　a　bit　higher；　and　Drizzt's　second　scimitar　responded；　ing　unexpectedly　straight　across；　angling　the　draw's　sword　right　for　Drizzf　s　low　arm。

Drizzt　heard　a　slight　whistle　behind　him。

The　enemy　drow　flashed　a　wicked　grin；　thinking　he　was　about　to　score　a　hit　as　the　blades　flashed　across；　but　Drizzt

1％

Starless　Night

sent　Twinkle　in　motion　as　well；　equally　fast；　taking　the　draw's　sword　arm　with　him　in　the　wide…flying　move。　Drizzt　swept　the　scimitars　under　and　up；　using　their　curving　blades　to　keep　the　swords　moving　in　line。　He　turned　a　plete　circuit；　moving　the　blades　high　above　his　head　and　moving　himself　one　step　to　the　side　of　the　enemy　drow。

His　trust　in　the　unseen　archer's　skill　was　not　misplaced；　and　his　melee　opponent　jerked　his　hips　to　the　side　in　a　frantic　effort　to　dodge　the　javelin。　He　took　a　stinging　hit　and　grimaced　in　pain。

Drizzt　heaved　him　away；　sent　him　skidding　down　the　slope。　The　drow　caught　his　balance　as　the　ranger　descended　over　him　in　a　wild　rush。

Scimitar　batted　sword　again　and　again　and　again。　Drizzt's　second　scimitar　worked　a　more　direct　and　devious　pattern；　thrusting　and　angling　for　the　draw's　belly。

The　wounded　draw's　parries　were　impressive　against　the　onslaught；　but　with　one　leg　numb　from　pain；　he　was　backing　up　and　inevitably　building　momentum。　He　managed　to　glance　back　and　noticed　one　spur　of　stone　rising　above　the　ledge　of　the　twenty…foot　sheer　drop。　He　thought　to　make　for　that　spur　and　put　his　back　against　it　for　support。　His　allies　were　rushing　down　the　slope；　they　would　be　beside　him　in　a　matter　of　seconds。

Seconds　he　didn't　have。

Both　scimitars　came　in　rapid　succession；　beating　against　the　steel　of　the　drow's　swords；　forcing　him　down　the　hill。　Near　the　drop；　Drizzt　launched　his　weapons　simultaneously；　side…by…side；　in　crossing　cuts；　turning　the　tips　of　his　enemy's　swords。　Then　Drizzt　launched　himself；　slamming　against　the　drow's　chest；　knocking　him　off　balance　to　crash　against　the　rocky　spur。　Explosions　went　off　in　the　dazed　drow's　head。　He　slumped　to　the　moss；　knowing　that　this　renegade；　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　and　his　wicked　scimitars　would　be　right　behind。

Drizzt　hadn't　the　time　or　the　desire　to　plete　the　kill。　Before　the　drow　finished　collapsing；　Drizzt　had　leaped　over　the　ledge；　hoping　to　find　moss　and　not　sharp　rocks；　below。

What　he　found　was　mud；　and　he　hit　with　a　splash；　turning　an　ankle；　then　turning　a　somersault。　He　finally　hauled　himself　out　and　ran　off　as　fast　as　he　could；　zigzagging

197

R。　A。　Salvatore

around　stalagmite　pillars；　keeping　low　to　the　cover　of　the　mounds；　for　he　expected　that　the　archers　would　soon　be　at　the　ledge。

Enemies　were　all　about　him；　and　very　close；　he　realized；　seeing　a　form　paralleling　him　along　a　stalagmite　row　to　his　right。　Drizzt　went　behind　one　mound　and；　instead　of　ing　out　the　other　side；　veered　to　meet　his　enemy　head…on。　He　dropped　to　his　knees　as　he　came　behind　the　second　mound；　slashing　across　low　in　the　expectation　that　his　enemy　would　be　back　there。

Twinkle　hit　a　low…riding　sword　this　time。　Drizzt　had　not　gained　surprise；　not　with　his　maneuver；　at　least；　but　the　drow　was　certainly　off　guard；　his　second　sword　high　for　a　strike；　when　Drizzt　snapped　his　second　scimitar　straight　up；　quicker　than　his　enemy　could　anticipate。　The　pointed　tip　punctured　the　draw's　diaphragm；　and　though　Drizzt；　as　he　continued　his　slide；　could　not　extend　his　arm　enough　to　plete　the　move；　the　drow　fell　back　against　the　stalagmite；