精灵血脉四部曲-第93部分

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ot　understand　how　he；　a　human；　had　gained　such　vision。

She　dearly　wished　that　she　possessed　it　as　well。　The　darkness　continued　to　overwhelm　her；　to　swallow　her。　Her　skin　felt　extra　sensitive；　all　her　senses　were　on　their　very　edge。

She　wanted　to　scream；　but　would　not　give　her　captors　the　satisfaction。

Jarlaxle　uttered　a　word　that　Catti…brie　did　not　understand；　and　the　room　was　suddenly　bathed　in　soft　blue　light。

〃hi　here；　you　will　see；〃　Jarlaxle　said　to　her。　〃Out1　there；　beyond　your　door；　there　is　only　darkness。〃　He　teasingly　held　the　circlet　before　Catti…brie's　longing　gaze；　then　dropped　it　into　a　pocket　of　his　breeches。

〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　softly　to　Catti…brie；　taking　her　off　her　guard。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　torment　you；　but　I　must　maintain　my　security。　Matron　Baenre　desires　you梣uite　badly　I　would　guess；　since　she　keeps　Drizzt　as　a　prisoner梐nd　knows　that　you　would　be　a　fine　way　to　gnaw　at　his　powerful

will。〃

Catti…brie　did　not　hide　her　excitement；　fleeting　hope；　at　the　news　that　Drizzt　was　alive。

〃Of　course　they　have　not　killed　him；〃　the　mercenary　went　on；　speaking　as　much　to　Entreri；　the　assassin　realized；　as　to　Catti…brie。　〃He　is　a　valuable　prisoner；　a　wellspring　of　information；　as　they　say　on　the　surface。〃

〃They　will　kill　him；〃　Entreri　remarked梥omewhat　angrily；　Catti…brie　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　note。

〃Eventually；〃　Jarlaxle　replied；　and　he　chuckled。　〃But　both　of　you　will　probably　be　long　dead　of　old　age　by　then；　and　your　children　as　well。　Unless　they　are　half…drow；〃　he　added　slyly；　tossing　a　wink　at　Catti…brie。

She　resisted　the　urge　to　punch　him　in　the　eye。

〃It's　a　pity；　really；　that　events　followed　such　a　course；〃　Jarlaxle　continued。　〃I　did　so　wish　to　speak　with　the　legendary　Drizzt　Do'Urden　before　Baenre　got　him。　If　I　had　that　spider　mask　in　my　possession；　I　would　go　to　the　Baenre

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pound　this　very　night；　when　the　priestesses　are　at　the　high　ritual；　and　sneak　in　for　a　talk　with　him。　Early　in　the　ceremony；　of　course；　in　case　Matron　Baenre　decides　to　sacrifice　him　this　very　night。　Ah；　well。〃　He　ended　with　a　sigh　and　a　shrug　and　ran　his　gentle　fingers　through　Catti…brie's　thick　hair　one　final　time　before　he　turned　for　the　door。

〃I　could　not　go　anyway；〃　he　said　to　Entreri。　〃I　must　meet　with　Matron　Ker　Horlbar　to　discuss　the　cost　of　an　investigation。〃

Entreri　only　smiled　in　response　to　the　pointedly　cruel　remark。　He　rose　as　the　mercenary　passed；　fell　in　behind　Jarlaxle；　then　stopped　suddenly　and　looked　back　to　Catti…brie。

〃I　think　I　will　stay　and　speak　with　her；〃　the　assassin　said。

〃As　you　will；〃　the　mercenary　replied；　〃but　do　not　harm　her。　Or；　if　you　do；〃　he　corrected　with　another　chuckle；　〃at　least　do　not　scar　her　beautiful　features。〃

Jarlaxle　walked　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind；　then　let　his　magical　boots　continue　to　click　loudly　as　he　walked　along　the　stone　corridor；　to　let　Entreri　be　confident　that　he　had　gone。　He　felt　in　his　pocket　as　he　went；　and　smiled　widely　when　he　discovered；　to　no　surprise；　that　the　circlet　had　just　been　taken。

Jarlaxle　had　sown　the　seeds　of　chaos；　now　he　could　sit　back　and　watch　the　fruit　of　his　labors　grow。

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Starless　Night

Chapter　21

THE　LAYERS　STRIPPED　AWAY

atti…brie　and　Entreri　spent　a　long　moment　staring　at　each　other；　alone　for　the　first　time　since　her　capture；　in　the　small　room　at　Bregan　D'aerthe's　secret　plex。　By　the　expression　on　Entreri's　face；　Catti…brie　knew　that　he　was　up　to　something。

He　held　his　hand　up　before　him　and　shifted　his　fingers；　and　the　Cat's　Eye　agate　dropped　to　the　end　of　its　silver　chain。

Catti…brie　stared　at　it　curiously；　unsure　of　the　assassin's　motives。　He　had　stolen　it　from　Jarlaxle's　pocket；　of　course；　but　why　would　he　risk　a　theft　from　so　dangerous　a　dark　elf？　〃Ye're　as　much　a　prisoner　as　I　am；〃　Catti…brie　finally　reasoned。　〃He's　got　ye　caught　here　to　do　his　bidding。〃

〃I　do　not　like　that　word；〃　Entreri　replied；　〃prisoner。　It　implies　a　helpless　state；　and　I　assure　you；　I　am　never　helpless。〃

He　was　nine　parts　bravado；　one　part　hope；　Catti…brie

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knew；　but　she　kept　the　thought　to　herself。

〃And　what　are　ye　to　do　when　Jarlaxle　finds　it　missing？〃　she　asked。

〃I　shall　be　dancing　on　the　surface　by　that　time；〃　the　assassin　replied　coolly。

Catti…brie　studied　him。　There　it　was；　spoken　plainly　and　dearly；　beyond　intrigue。　But　why　the　circlet？　she　continued　to　wonder；　and　then　she　grew　suddenly　afraid。　Entreri　may　have　decided　that　its　starlight　was　preferable　to；　or　plementary　to；　his　infravision。　But　he　would　not　have　told　her　that　he　meant　to　go　if　he　meant　to　leave　her　behind梐live。

〃Ye　do　not　need　the　thing；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned；　trying　to　keep　her　voice　steady。　〃Ye've　been　given　the　infravision　and　can　see　yer　way　well　enough。〃

〃But　you　need　it；〃　Entreri　said；　tossing　the　circlet　to　the　young　woman。　Catti…brie　caught　it　and　held　it　in　her　hands；　trying　to　weigh　the　consequences　of　putting　it　on。

〃I　cannot　lead　ye　to　the　surface；〃　she　said；　thinking　that　the　assassin　had　miscalculated。　〃I　found　me　way　down　only　because　I　had　the　panther　and　the　locket　showing　me　the　way　to　follow　Drizzt。〃

The　assassin　didn't　blink。

〃I　said　I　cannot　lead　ye　out　o'　here；〃　she　reiterated。

〃Drizzt　can；〃　Entreri　said。　〃I　offer　you　a　dea！；　one　that　you　are　in　no　position　to　refuse。　I　will　get　both　you　and　Drizzt　out　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　you　two　will　escort　me　back　to　the　surface。　Once　there；　we　go　our　separate　ways；　and　may　they　stay　separate　through　all　eternity。〃

Catti…brie　took　a　long　moment　to　digest　the　startling　proposition。　〃Ye're　thinking　that　I'm　to　trust　ye？〃　she　asked；　but　Entreri　didn't　answer；　didn't　have　to　answer。　Catti…brie　sat　imprisoned　in　a　room　surrounded　by　fierce　drow　enemies；　and　Drizzt's　predicament　was　likely　even　worse。　Whatever　the　evil　Entreri　might　offer　her；　it　could　be　no　worse　than　the　alternatives。

〃What　about　Guenhwyvar？〃　Catti…brie　asked。　〃And　me　bow？〃

〃I've　the　bow　and　quiver；〃　Entreri　answered。　〃Jarlaxle　has　the　panther。〃

'I'll　not　leave　without　Guenhwyvar；〃　Catti…brie　said。

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R。　A。　Salvatore

Starless　Night

Entreri　looked　at　her　incredulously；　as　if　he　thought　she　were　bluffing。

Catti…brie　threw　the　circlet　to　his　feet。　She　hopped　up　on　the　edge　of　a　small　table　and　crossed　her　arms　defiantly　over　her　chest。

Entreri　looked　down　to　the　item；　then　to　Catti…brie。　〃I　could　make　you　leave；〃　he　promised。

〃If　ye　think　ye　could；　then　ye're　thinking　wrong；〃　Catti…brie　answered。　〃I'm　guessing　that　ye'll　need　me　help　and　cooperation　to　get　through　this　place；　and　I'm　not　to　give　it　to　ye；　not　for　meself　and　not　for　Drizzt；　without　the　cat。

〃And　know　ye　that　Drizzt　will　agree　with　me　choice；〃　Catti…brie　went　on；　hammering　home　the　point。　〃Guenhwy…var's　a　friend　to　us　both；　and　we're　not　for　leaving　friends　behind！〃

Entreri　hooked　his　toe　under　a　loop　in　the　circlet　a'nd　casually　flipped　it　across　the　room　to　Catti…brie；　who　caught　it　once　more　and；　this　time；　put　it　on　her　head。　Without　another　word；　the　assassin　motioned　for　the　woman　to　sit　tight；　and　he　abruptly　left　the　room。

The　single　guard　outside　Jarlaxle's　private　room　showed　little　interest　in　the　approaching　human；　Entreri　practically　had　to　prod　the　drow　to　get　his　attention。　Then　the　assassin　pointed　to　the　strange；　flowing　door　and　asked；　〃Jarlaxle？〃

The　soldier　shook　his　head。

Entreri　pointed　again　to　the　watery　door；　his　eyes　suddenly　popping　wide　with　surprise。　When　the　soldier　leaned　over　to　see　what　was　wrong；　the　assassin　grabbed　him　across　the　shoulders　and　heaved　him　through　the　portal；　both　of　them　slipping　through；　into　the　watery　corridor。　Entreri　tugged　and　twisted　in　a　slow…motion　wrestling　match　with　the　surprised　drow。　He　was　bigger　than　this　one；　and　equally　agile；　and　gradually　made　progress　in　moving　the　guard　along。

They　plunged　out　the　other　side；　falling　into　Jarlaxle's　room。　The　drow　went　for　his　sword；　but　Entreri's　left　hook　staggered　him。　A　quick　bination　of　punches　followed；　and　when　the　drow　went　down　to　one　knee；　the　assassin's　foot　slammed　hard　against　his　cheek。

Entreri　half…dragged；　half…carried　the　drow　to　the　side　of

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the　room；　where　he　slammed　him　against　the　wall。　He　slugged　him　several　times　to　make　sure　that　he　would　offer　no　further　resistance。　Soon　he　had　the　dark　elf　helpless；　down　on　his　knees；　barely　conscious；　with　his　hands　tied　behind　his　back　and　his　mouth　tightly　gagged。　He　pinned　the　drow　against　the　wall　and　felt　about　for　a　releasing　mechanism。　The　door　to　a　secret　cubby　slid　open；　and　Entreri　forced　the　drow　inside。

Entreri　considered　whether　or　not　to　kill　this　one。　On　the　one　hand；　if　he　killed　the　drow；　there　would　be　no　witnesses　and　Jarlaxle　would　have　to　spend　some　time　figuring　out　who　had　mitted　the　crime。　Something　held　Entreri's　dagger　hand　in　check；　though；　some　instinct　that　told　him　to　；j　proceed　with　this　operation　cleanly；　with　no　losses　to　Bregan　D'aerthe。

It　was　all　too　easy；　Entreri　realized　when　he　found　not　；　only　the　figurine　of　Guenhwyvar；　but　Catti…brie's　magical　｛　mask　as　well；　waiting　for　him梱es；　waiting　for　him！梠n　｜　Jarlaxle's　desk。　Entreri　picked　them　up　gingerly；　looking　for　｜？some　devious　traps　nearby　and　checking　to　make　sure　that　；：'　these　were　the　genuine　items。

Something　strange　was　going　on。

Entreri　considered　the　not…so…subtle　hints　that　Jarlaxle　had　been　dropping；　the　fact　that　the　mercenary　had　taken　him　to　Sorcere　and　conveniently　showed　him　the　way　to　the　spider　mask。　He　reached　into　a　pocket　and　took　out　the　magical　locket　of　Alustriel；　the　homing　beacon　to　Drizzt　Do'Urden　that　Jarlaxle　had　casually　tossed　to　him。　Jarlaxle　had　even　managed　to　slip　in　the　proper　time　for　the　attempt；　the　early　hours　of　the　high　ritual　being　celebrated　at　House　Baenre　this　very　night。

What　was　it　all　about？　Entreri　wondered。　Jarlaxle　had　some　private　agenda；　one　that　apparently　went　against　House　Baenre's　designs　on　Mithril　Hall。　Standing　there　in　the　mercenary's　office；　it　seemed　obvious　to　Entreri　that　Jarlaxle　had　set　him　up　as　a　pawn。

Entreri　clutched　the　locket　tightly；　then　thrust　it　back　into　his　pocket。　Very　well；　he　decided。　He　would　be　an　effective　pawn　indeed。

Twenty　minutes　later；　Entreri；　using　the　magical