精灵血脉四部曲-第94部分

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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　mask　to

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appear　as　a　drow　soldier；　and　Catti…brie　moved　quietly　and　swiftly　along　the　winding　ways　of　Menzoberranzan；　cutting　a　northeastern　path　along　the　stalagmite　mounds；　toward　the　higher　level　of　Tier　Breche　and　the　drow　Academy。

*　*　*　？？

He　saw　again　the　tiered　steps　of　the　great　dwarven　Undercity；　the　heart　of　Mithril　Hall；　He　imagined　the　entry…way　from　the　western　gate；　through　Keeper's　Dale；　and　pictured　again　the　great　chasm　known　as　Garumn's　Gorge。

Drizzt　fought　hard　to　warp　those　images；　to　distort　the　truth　about　Mithril　Hall；　but　the　details　were　so　clear　to　him！　It　was　as　if　he　were　there　again；　walking　freely　beside　Bruenor　and　the　others。　In　the　throes　of　the　mind　flayer's　hypnosis；　Drizzt　found　himself　overwhelmed。　He　had　no　more　barriers　to　stack　against　the　mental　intrusion　of　Matron　Baenre's　pet；　no　more　willpower　against　the　mental　giant。

As　the　images　came　to　Drizzt；　he　felt　them　stripped　away；　mentally　scraped　from　his　brain；　like　so　much　food　for　the　wretched　illithid。　Each　intrusion　burned　painfully；　shot　electrical　shocks　along　the　synaptical　connections　of　the　drow　ranger's　mind。

Finally　Drizzt　felt　the　creature's　insidious　tentacles　loosening　their　grip　on　the　skin　of　his　forehead；　and　he　slumped；　his　mind　a　jumble　of　confusing　images　and　his　head　throbbing　with　agony。

〃We　have　gained　some　information　this　day；〃　he　heard　the　distant；　watery　voice　say。

Gained　some　information。。。

The　words　rang　over　and　over　ominously　in　Drizzt's　mind。　The　illithid　and　Matron　Baenre　were　still　talking；　but　he　was　not　listening；　concentrating　on　those　three　words；　remembering　the　implications　of　those　three　terrible　words。

Drizzt's　lavender　orbs　slipped　open；　but　he　kept　his　head　bowed；　covertly　peeking　at　Methil。　The　creature　had　its　back　to　him；　was　only　a　couple　of　feet　away。

The　illithid　now　knew　part　of　the　layout　of　Mithril　Hall；　and　its　continuous　intrusions　into　Drizzt's　mind　would　soon　show　it　the　entire　plex。

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Drizzt　could　not　let　that　happen；　slowly　the　drow's　hands　clenched　more　tightly　on　the　chains。

Drizzt's　bare　foot　came　up；　his　heel　slamming　the　wretched　creature's　spongy　head。　Before　Methil　could　move　away；　the　ranger　wrapped　his　legs　about　Methil's　neck　in　a　choke　hold　and　began　thrashing　back　and　forth；　trying　to　snap　the　thing's　neck。

Drizzt　felt　the　tentacles　probing　for　his　skin；　felt　them　boring　into　his　legs；　but　he　fought　away　his　revulsion　and　thrashed　wildly。　He　saw　wicked　Vendes　ing　around　the　side　and　knew　what　would　e；　but　he　concentrated　on　his　task。　For　the　sake　of　his　friends；　Methil　had　to　be　killed！

The　illithid　threw　its　weight　straight　back；　trying　to　confuse　Drizzt　and　break　the　hold；　but　the　skilled　drow　ranger　turned　with　the　move　and　Methil　fell　to　the　ground；　half　slumped　against　the　wall　and　half　held　aloft　by　Drizzf　s　strong　hold。　Drizzt　heaved　him　up　and　slammed　him　back；　releasing　the　ineffective　choke。　Illithids　were　not　physically　imposing　creatures；　and　Methil　raised　his　three…fingered　hands　pitifully；　trying　to　fend　the　sudden　barrage　of　stomping　feet。

Something　hard　slammed　Drizzt　at　the　base　of　his　ribs；　stealing　his　breath。　He　stubbornly　continued　to　stomp；　but　was　slammed　again；　then　a　third　time　and　a　fourth。

Hanging　limply　from　the　chains；　the　ranger　tried　to　curl　up　to　protect　the　area　as　Vendes　hammered　away。　Drizzt　thought　that　he　was　surely　dead　when　he　looked　into　the　furious　eyes　of　wicked　Duk…Tak；　which　were　filled　with　a　mixture　of　venom　and　hatred　and　ecstacy；　as　she　was　allowed　to　vent　that　perpetual　fury。

She　stopped；　sooner　than　Drizzt　dared　to　hope；　and　calmly　walked　away；　leaving　Drizzt　hanging　from　the　shackles；　trying　to　curl　but　unable　to　find　the　strength。

Methil　had　joined　Matron　Baenre；　who　sat　fortably　on　her　driftdisk；　and　was　looking　back　at　Drizzt　with　his　pupilless；　milky　white　eyes。

Drizzt　knew　that　the　next　time　the　illithid　encroached　on　his　mind；　Methil　would　go　out　of　his　way　to　make　the　pain　even　more　intense。

〃No　potion　for　him；〃　Matron　Baenre　instructed　Dantrag；　standing　impassively　by　the　door。　Dantrag　followed　his

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mother's　gaze　to　several　flasks　along　the　wall　to　Drizzf　s　left　and　nodded。

〃Dobluth；〃　she　said　to　Drizzt；　using　the　derisive　drow　word　for　outcast。　〃The　high　ritual　will　be　better　served　with　our　knowledge　that　you　are　here　in　agony。〃　She　nodded　to　Vendes；　who　wheeled　about；　hurling　a　small　dart　as　she　turned。

It　caught　Drizzt　in　the　stomach；　and　he　felt　a　small　but　stinging　pinch。　Then　his　entire　belly　felt　as　if　it　had　ignited　into　roaring　fires。　He　gagged；　tried　to　scream；　then　sheer　agony　gave　him　the　strength　to　curl　up。　The　change　in　posture　didn't　help。　The　magical　little　dart　continued　to　pump　its　droplets　of　poison　into　him；　continued　to　burn　at　his　insides。

Through　tear…filled　eyes；　Drizzt　saw　the　driftdisk　slide　from　his　cell；　Vendes　and　Methil　obediently　following　Matron　Baenre。　Dantrag；　expressionless；　remained　leaning　against　the　doorjamb　for　some　time；　then　walked　over　near　Drizzt。

Drizzt　forced　himself　to　stop　screaming；　and　merely　groaned　and　grunted　through　gritted　teeth　with　the　weapon　master　standing　so　close　to　him。＇奇＋书＋网＇

〃You　are　a　fool；〃　Dantrag　said。　〃It　your　attempts　force　my　mother　to　kill　you　before　I　get　the　chance；　I　promise　you　that　I　will　personally　torture　and　slaughter　every　living　creature　that　calls　itself　a　friend　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden！〃

Again　with　speed　that　defied　Drizzf　s　vision；　Dantrag　smacked　Drizzt　across　the　face。　The　ranger　hung　limp　for　just　a　second；　then　was　forced　to　curl　up　again　as　the　fiery　explosions　of　the　poisoned　dart　erupted　across　his　stomach。

Out　of　sight；　around　the　er　at　the　base　of　the　wide　stairs　leading　to　Tier　Breche；　Artemis　Entreri　tried　hard　to　recall　an　image　of　Gromph　Baenre；　the　archmage　of　the　city。　He　had　seen　Gromph　only　a　few　times；　mostly　while　spying　for　Jarlaxle。　（Jarlaxle　had　thought　that　the　archmage　was　shortening　the　nights　in　Menzoberranzan　by　lighting　the　lingering　heat　fires　in　the　time　clock　of　Narbondel　a　few

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instants　too　soon；　and　was　interested　in　what　the　dangerous　wizard　might　be　up　to；　and　so　he　had　sent　Entreri　to　spy　on　the　drow。）

Entreri's　cloak　changed　to　the　flowing　robes　of　the　wizard；　his　hair　became　thicker　and　longer；　a　great　white　mane；　and　subtle；　barely　visible　wrinkles　appeared　about　his　eyes；

〃I　cannot　believe　ye're　trying　this；〃　Catti…brie　said　to　him　when　he　moved　out　of　the　shadows。

'The　spider　mask　is　in　Gromph's　desk；〃　the　assassin　answered　coldly；　not　thrilled　with　the　prospects　either。　〃There　is　no　other　way　into　House　Baenre。〃

〃And　if　this　Gromph　is　sitting　at　his　desk？〃

〃Then　you　and　I　will　be　scattered　all　over　the　cavern；〃　Entreri　answered　gruffly；　and　he　swept　by　the　young　woman；　grabbed　her　hand；　and　pulled　her　up　the　wide　stairway。

Entreri　was　counting　as　much　on　luck　as　on　skill。　He　knew　that　Sorcere；　the　school　of　wizards；　was　full　of　reclusive　masters　who　generally　stayed　out　of　each　other's　way；　and　he　could　only　hope　that　Gromph；　though　only　a　male；　had　been　invited　to　House　Baenre's　high　ritual。　The　walls　of　the　secretive　place　were　protected　against　scrying　and　against　teleportation；　and　if　his　disguise　worked　against　whatever　magical　barriers　might　be　in　place；　he　should　be　able　to　get　in　and　out　of　Gromph's　room　without　too　much　interference。　The　city's　archmage　was　known　as　a　surly　one；　with　a　violent　temper；　no　one　got　in　Gromph's　way。

At　the　top　of　the　stairway；　on　the　level　of　Tier　Breche；　the　panions　saw　the　three　structures　of　the　drow　Academy。　To　their　right　was　the　plain；　pyramidal　structure　of　Melee…Magthere；　the　school　of　fighters。　Directly　ahead　loomed　the　most　impressive　structure；　the　great　spider…shaped　building　of　Arach…Tinilith；　the　school　of　Uoth。　Entreri　was　glad　that　he　did　not　have　to　try　to　enter　either　of　those　buildings。　Melee…Magthere　was　a　place　of　swarming　guardsmen　and　tight　control；　and　Arach…Tinilith　was　protected　by　the　high　priestesses　of　Lloth；　working　in　concert　for　the　good　of　their　Spider　Queen。　Only　the　gracefully　spired　structure　to　the　left；　Sorcere；　was　secretive　enough　to　perate。

Catti…brie　pulled　her　arm　away　and　nearly　bolted　in

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sheer　terror。　She　had　no　disguise　and　felt　totally　vulnerable　up　here。　The　young　woman　found　her　courage；　though；　and　did　not　resist　when　Entreri　roughly　grabbed　her　arm　once　more　and　tugged　her　along　at　a　great　pace。

They　walked　into　Sorcere's　open　front　doorway；　where　two　guards　promptly　blocked　their　way。　One　started　to　ask　Entreri　a　question；　but　the　assassin　slapped　him　across　the　face　and　pushed　past；　hoping　that　Gromph's　cruel　reputation　would　get　them　through。

The　bluff　worked；　and　the　guards　went　back　to　their　posts；　not　even　daring　to　mutter　to　themselves　until　the　arch…mage　was　far　away。

Entreri　remembered　the　twisting　ways　perfectly　and　soon　came　to　the　plain　wall　flanking　Gromph's　private　chambers。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　to　his　panion；　silently　reiterating　his　feelings　that　if　Gromph　was　behind　this　door；　they　were　both　surely　dead。

〃Kolsen'shea　orbb；〃　the　assassin　whispered。　To　Entreri's　relief；　the　wall　began　to　stretch　and　twist；　being　a　spider…web。　The　strands　rotated；　leaving　the　hole　and　revealing　the　soft　blue　glow；　and　Entreri　quickly　（before　he　lost　his　nerve）　rushed　through　and　pulled　Catti…brie　in　behind　him。

Gromph　was　not　inside。

Entreri　made　for　the　dwarf　bone　desk；　rubbing　his　hands　together　and　blowing　in　them　before　reaching　for　the　appropriate　drawer。　Catti…brie；　meanwhile；　intrigued　by　the　obviously　magical　paraphernalia；　walked　about；　eyeing　parchments　（from　a　distance）；　even　going　over　to　one　ceramic　bottle　and　daring　to　pop　off　its　cork。

Entreri's　heart　leaped　into　his　throat　when　he　heard　the　archmage's　voice；　but　he　relaxed　when　he　realized　that　it　came　from　the　bottle。

Catti…brie　looked　at　the　bottle　and　the　cork　curiously；　then　poppe