精灵血脉四部曲-第88部分

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It　is　a　defeat　of　the　spirit　to　learn　that　one's　arrogance　causes　such　loss　and　pain。　Pride　invites　you　to　soar　to　heights　of　personal　triumph；　but　the　wind　is　stronger　at　those　heights　and　the　footing；　tentative。　Farther；　then；　is　the　fall。

桪rizzt　Do'Urden

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VALIANT　FAILURE

he　noticed　a　dark　elf　on　the　isle's　dock；　waving

his　arms　and　motioning　for　her　to　go　back。　He

seemed　to　be　alone。

Catti…brie　lifted　Taulmaril　and　let　fly。　The

arrow　cut　the　darkness　as　would　a　bolt　of　lightning；　slamming　into　the　surprised　draw's　chest　and　hurling　him　back　a　dozen　feet。　Catti…brie　and　Guenhwyvar　stepped　onto　the　beach　a　minute　later。　The　young　woman　felt　the　locket　and　started　to　tell　Guenhwyvar　to　run　around　to　the　right；　but　the　panther　had　already　sensed　the　nearness　of　its　master；　was　already　in　full　flight　across　the　broken　landscape；　veering　in　from　the　beach　as　it　ran。

The　woman　followed　as　quickly　as　she　could；　but　lost　sight　of　the　speeding　cat　almost　immediately　as　Guenhwyvar　cut　a　sharp　turn　around　the　base　of　the　nearest　hillock；　claws　throwing　up　moist　turf。

Catti…brie　heard　a　startled　cry　and；　when　she　came　around　the　base　of　that　mound；　she　saw　a　dark　elf　soldier；　looking　away　from　her；　his　gaze　apparently　following　the　run　of　the　panther。　One　of　his　arms　was　upraised；　steadying

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a　hand…crossbow。

Catti…brie　fired　on　the　run；　her　arrow　going　high　and　scorching　a　hole　in　the　side　of　the　mound；　just　inches　above　the　draw's　head。　He　spun　about　immediately　and　retaliated；　the　dart　clipping　the　turf　near　the　diving　and　rolling　woman。

Quick　to　fit　another　arrow；　Catti…brie　fired　next；　driving　a　hole　in　the　drow　soldier's　trailing　piwafivi　as　he　scrambled　to　the　side。　He　skidded　to　one　knee；　fitted　a　quarrel　as　he　went；　and　raised　his　arm　again。

Catti…brie　fired　also；　the　arrow　blasting　through　the　hand…crossbow　and　the　drow's　hand；　slicing　out　his　wrist　and　burying　deep　in　his　upper　chest。

She　had　won　the　duel；　but　had　lost　precious　time。　Disoriented；　the　young　woman　needed　the　locket　again　to　direct　her；　and　off　she　ran。

His　skilled　opponents'　fierce　attacks　soon　became　measured　strikes　as　Drizzt　parried　every　move　and　often　managed　an　effective　counter。　One　of　the　drow　held　just　one　weapon　now；　with　his　dirk　arm　tucked　in　close　to　his　side　to　stem　the　flow　of　blood　from　a　curving　scimitar　gash。

Drizzf　s　confidence　continued　to　soar。　How　many　enemies　were　here　on　the　isle？　he　wondered；　and　he　dared　to　believe　that　he　might　win。

His　blood　froze　when　he　heard　a　roar　behind　him；　thinking　that　some　monstrous　ally　had　e　to　his　enemies'　aid。　The　wounded　drow　soldier　widened　his　eyes　in　terror　and　began　to　backpedal；　but　Drizzt　took　little　fort　in　that。　Most　drow　allies　were　tentative　at　best；　chaotic　creatures　of　incredible　and　unpredictable　power。　If　this　were　indeed　some　summoned　monster；　some　demonic　ally；　stalking　from　behind　him；　then　Drizzt　was　surely　its　primary　target。

The　backpedaling　drow　broke　into　a　dead　run；　fleeing　along　the　ledge；　and　Drizzt　used　his　departure　to　work　around　to　the　side；　to　try　to　get　a　look　at　what　he　would　face　next。

A　black　feline　form　whipped　past　him；　pursuing　his　fleeing　enemy。　For　an　instant；　he　thought　that　some　drow

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Starless　Night

must　have　a　figurine　similar　to　his　own；　must　have　summoned　a　cat　similar　to　Guenhwyvar。　But　this　was　Guenhwy…var！　Drizzt　knew　instinctively。　This　was　his　Guenhwyvar！

Excitement　fast　turned　to　confusion。　Drizzt　thought　that　Regis　must　have　called　the　panther；　back　in　Mithril　Hall；　and　that　the　cat　must　have　e　running　out　after　him。　It　made　no　sense；　though；　for　Guenhwyvar　could　not　remain　on　the　Material　Plane　long　enough　to　make　the　journey　all　the　way　from　the　dwarven　stronghold。　The　figurine　had　to　have　been　carried　to　Menzoberranzan。

A　cunning　sword　thrust　slipped　through　Drizzt's　defenses　momentarily；　the　weapon　tip　nicking　into　his　fine　armor　and　stinging　his　breast。　It　brought　the　distracted　ranger　from　his　reverie；　reminding　Drizzt　that　he　had　to　take　one　enemy　and　one　problem　at　a　time。

He　came　forward　in　a　blinding　burst；　scimitars　waving　and　rolling；　cutting　in　at　the　opposing　dark　elf　from　many　different　angles。　The　drow　soldier　was　up　to　the　test；　though；　his　swords　banging　away　the　deadly　blades；　even　smacking　the　side　of　Drizzf　s　boot　as　the　ranger　tried　to　kick　out　at　the　drow's　knee。

〃Patience；〃　Drizzt　reminded　himself；　but　with　Guenhwyvar's　appearance　and　so　many　unanswered　questions；　patience　was　hard　to　e　by。

The　fleeing　drow　rounded　a　bend。　Then；　with　the　panther　quickly　gaining；　he　hooked　his　good　arm　around　a　narrow　stalagmite　and　spun　to　the　right；　leaping　over　the　ledge　to　splash　into　the　muck。　He　got　his　feet　back　under　him　and　was　bent　over；　trying　to　recover　his　dropped　sword；　when　Guenhwyvar　crashed　down；　driving　him　into　the　water。

He　spun　and　kicked　briefly；　and　when　the　jumble　sorted　out；　the　panther's　maw　was　clamped　about　the　pinned　drow's　neck；　squeezing。　He　had　his　face　above　the　water；　but　could　not　draw　breath；　would　never　again　draw　breath。

Guenhwyvar　came　up　from　the　kill；　turned　to　spring　back　the　dozen　feet　to　the　ledge；　but　dropped　low　and　turned　its　head；　snarling　suspiciously　as　a　rainbow…hued

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bubble　floated　over　it。　Before　Guenhwyvar　could　react；　the　strange　thing　burst；　and　Guenhwyvar　was　showered　by　flecks　of　tingling　material。

Guenhwyvar　leaped　for　the　ledge；　but　felt　as　though　the　intended　target　was　getting　farther　and　farther　away。　The　panther　roared　again；　in　protest；　understanding　then　the　nature　of　those　flecks；　understanding　that　they　were　sending　it　back　to　its　own　plane　of　existence。

The　roar　was　soon　lost　to　the　gentle　lapping　of　the　stirred　ripples　and　the　clang　of　steel　from　up　on　the　ledge。

Jarlaxle　leaned　against　the　stone　wall；　considering　this　new　development。　He　put　away　his　valuable　metal　whistle；　the　item　that　had　dismissed　the　dangerous　panther；　and　lifted　one　of　his　boots　so　that　he　could　wipe　the　muck　from　it。　Casually；　the　cocky　mercenary　looked　up　to　the　continuing　sounds　of　battle；　confident　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden　would　soon　be　taken。

Catti…brie　was　pinned　down　in　the　ravine；　two　dark　elves　stood　sheltered　behind　twin　mounds　directly　ahead　of　her；　and　a　third　plucked　away　with　his　hand…crossbow　from　the　base　of　the　hillock　to　her　left。　She　squeezed　in　close　to　her　own　stalagmite　cover　as　best　she　could；　but　still　felt　vulnerable　as　darts　ricocheted　all　about　her。　Every　now　and　then　she　managed　a　shot；　but　her　enemies　were　well　under　cover　and　the　streaking　arrows　skipped　and　sparked　harmlessly　off　the　many　stones。

A　quarrel　nicked　the　young　woman's　knee；　another　forced　her　to　duck　deeper　into　the　cubby；　forced　her　to　angle　her　body　so　that　she　probably　wouldn't　be　able　to　fire　her　bow　again。　Catti…brie　grew　scared　then；　thinking　that　defeat　had　caught　up　with　her。　There　was　no　way　she　could　win　against　three　well…trained　and　well…armed　drow　soldiers。

A　quarrel　stuck　into　the　heel　of　her　boot；　but　did　not　perate。　The　young　woman　took　a　long；　deep　breath。　She　told　herself　stubbornly　that　she　had　to　try　to　retaliate；　that　crouching　here　would　prove　worthless　and　would　ensure　her梐nd　Drizzf　s梔eath。

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The　thought　of　her　friend　gave　her　courage；　and　she　wriggled　about　for　a　shot。　She　cursed　aloud　as　she　fired；　for　her　enemies；　again；　were　well　hidden。

Or　were　they？　Catti…brie　scrambled　suddenly　to　the　back　side　of　the　stalagmite　cluster；　putting　as　much　interference　between　herself　and　the　drow　on　the　hillock　as　possible。　She　was　an　open　target　now　to　the　two　soldiers　ahead　of　her；　but　she　was　only　a　target　if　they　managed　to　get　off　any　shots。

Taulmaril　hummed　repeatedly；　continuously；　as　the　woman　loosed　a　mighty　barrage。　She　saw　no　dark　elf　forms　to　shoot　at；　but　went　after　then…　cover　instead；　each　enchanted　arrow　pounding　away　at　the　twin　stalagmites。　Sparks　flew　all　about　the　target　area。　Chips　of　flying　stone　sizzled　as　they　arced　into　the　air。

Unable　to　e　out　long　enough　to　retaliate；　the　two　drow　lost　their　nerve　and　fled　down　the　ravine。　Catti…brie　got　one　in　the　back；　then　lifted　an　arrow　for　the　second。

She　felt　a　sting　in　her　side　and　turned　about　to　see　another　enemy　barely　ten　feet　away；　smiling　confidently　with　his　hand…crossbow　out　in　front　of　him。

Catti…brie　whipped　about；　her　deadly　bow　falling　in　line。　The　draw's　mouth　opened　wide　in　a　suddenly　terrified　scream；　and　Catti…brie　put　the　arrow　right　into　his　face；　hurling　him　head　over　heels　through　the　air。

The　young　woman　looked　to　her　bleeding　side。　She　grimaced　and　yanked　out　the　stinging　quarrel；　then　pulled　herself　up　to　her　feet　and　looked　all　about。　She　couldn't　be　certain　that　this　last　drow　had　been　the　one　from　the　hillock；　but　she　felt　the　insidious　poison　creeping　into　her　limbs　and　knew　that　she　couldn't　wait　around　to　make　sure　that　no　other　enemies　were　creeping　behind　her。　Determinedly；　the　young　woman　began　to　scale　the　ravine's　broken　wall　and　soon　she　was　up　on　the　ledge；　trotting　along；　trying　to　keep　her　focus　and　her　balance。

Twinkle　hooked　inside　the　drow's　sword；　and　Drizzt　sent　it　rotating；　the　two　weapons　cutting　great　circles　in　the　air　between　the　batants。　His　opponent　sneaked　a　thrust

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in　behind　the　fast…flying　blades；　but　Drizzf　s　other　scimitar　was　in　line；　knocking　the　second　sword　harmlessly　aside。

Drizzt　kept　the　momentum　up；　even　increased　the　pressure　of　the　spin。　Around　went　the　blades；　low　and　high；　and　now　it　was　Drizzt　who　kept　his　free　weapon　slipping　in　through　their　wake；　with　cunning　strikes　that　kept　his　opponent　dancing　back　and　off　balance。　With　his　superior　agility；　Drizzt　was　in　control　of　the　circling　blades；　and　both　opponents　knew　that　the　ranger　was　gaining　the　advantage。

The　enemy　drow　tightened　his　muscles　to　apply　coun…terpressure　against　Twinkle梕xactly　what　cunning　Drizzt　had　been　waiting　for。　The　instant　he　felt　the　pressure　on　his　blade；　sword　and　scimitar　ing　up　again　before　his　eyes；　he　ended　his　roundabout　cut；　reversed　direction；　and　snapped　Twinkle　in　a　short　loop；　striking　the　draw's　sword　on　the　other　side。　Overbalanced　by　t