精灵血脉四部曲-第95部分

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Catti…brie　looked　at　the　bottle　and　the　cork　curiously；　then　popped　the　cork　back　on；　eliminating　the　voice。　〃What　was　that？〃　she　asked；　not　understanding　a　word　of　the　Drow　language。

〃I　know　not；〃　Entreri　replied　harshly。　〃Do　not　touch　anything！〃

Catti…brie　shrugged　as　the　assassin　went　back　to　his　work　on　the　desk；　trying　to　make　sure　that　he　uttered　the

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password　for　the　drawer　perfectly。　He　recalled　his　conversation　with　Jarlaxle；　when　the　mercenary　had　given　him　the　word。　Had　Jarlaxle　been　honest；　or　was　this　whole　thing　part　of　some　elaborate　game？　Had　Jarlaxle　baited　him　to　this　place；　so　that　he　might　speak　some　false　word；　open　the　drawer；　and　destroy　himself　and　half　of　Sorcere？　It　occurred　to　Entreri　that　Jarlaxle　might　have　put　a　phony　replica　of　the　spider　mask　in　the　drawer；　then　tricked　Entreri　into　ing　here　and　setting　off　Gromph's　powerful　wards；　thus　destroying　the　evidence。

Entreri　shook　the　disturbing　thoughts　away。　He　had　mitted　himself　to　this　course；　had　convinced　himself　that　his　attempt　to　free　Drizzt　was　somehow　part　of　the　framework　of　Jarlaxle's　grand　plans；　whatever　they　might　be；　and　he　could　not　surrender　to　his　fears　now。　He　uttered　the　phrase　and　pulled　open　the　drawer。

The　spider　mask　was　waiting　for　him。

Entreri　scooped　it　up　and　turned　to　Catti…brie；　who　had　filled　the　top　of　a　small　hourglass　with　fine　white　sand　and　was　watching　it　slip　away　with　the　moments。　Entreri　leaped　from　the　dwarf　bone　desk　and　scrambled　across　the　room；　ripping　the　item　to　the　side。

Catti…brie　eyed　him　curiously。

〃I　was　keeping　the　time；〃　she　said　calmly。

〃This　is　no　timepiece！〃　the　assassin　roughly　explained。　He　tipped　the　hourglass　upside　down　and　carefully　removed　the　sand；　replacing　it　in　its　packet　and　gently　resealing　it。　〃It　is　an　explosive；　and　when　the　sand　runs　out；　all　the　area　bursts　into　flame。　You　must　not　touch　anything！〃　he　scolded　harshly。　〃Gromph　will　not　even　know　that　we　have　been　here　if　all　is　in　proper　order。〃　Entreri　looked　around　at　the　jumbled　room　as　he　spoke。　〃Or；　at　least；　in　proper　disorder。　He　was　not　here　when　Jarlaxle　returned　the　spider　mask。〃

Catti…brie　nodded　and　appeared　genuinely　ashamed；　but　it　was　only　a　facade。　The　young　woman　had　suspected　the　general；　if　not　the　exact；　nature　of　the　hourglass　all　along；　and　would　not　have　let　the　sand　run　out。　She　had　only　started　it　running　to　get　some　confirmation　from　the　worldly　Entreri。

The　two　quickly　departed　the　wizard's　room　and　Sor…

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cere。　Catti…brie　did　not　let　on　that　she　had　several　more　of　those　dangerous　hourglasses；　and　their　corresponding　packets　of　detonating　sand；　lucked　into　a　belt　pouch。

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BREAK…IN

u'ellarz'orl；　the　plateau　occupied　by　some　of　the　proudest　noble　houses；　was　strangely　quiet。　Entreri；　appearing　as　a　mon　drow　soldier　again；　and　Catti…brie　made　their　silent　and　inconspicuous　way　along　the　great　mushroom　grove；　toward　the　twenty…foot…high　spiderweb　fence　surrounding　the　Baenre　pound。

Panic　welted　in　both　the　panions　and　neither　said　a　thing；　forced　themselves　to　concentrate　on　the　stakes　in　this　game：　ultimate　victory　or　ultimate　loss。

Crouched　in　the　shadows　behind　a　stalagmite；　the　two　watched　as　a　grand　procession；　led　by　several　priestesses　sitting　atop　blue…glowing　driftdisks；　made　its　way　through　the　open　pound　and　toward　the　great　doors　of　the　huge　central　chapel。　Entreri　recognized　Matron　Baenre　and　knew　that　some　of　the　others　near　her　were　probably　her　daughters。　He　watched　the　many　disks　curiously；　ing　to　understand　that　matron　mothers　of　other　houses　were　in　the　procession。

It　was　a　high　ritual；　as　Jarlaxle　had　said；　and　Entreri

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snickered　at　how　pletely　the　sly　mercenary　had　arranged　all　of　this。

〃What　is　it？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　not　understanding　the　private　joke。

Entreri　shook　his　head　and　scowled；　indicating　that　the　troublesome　young　woman　should　shut　her　mouth。　Catti…brie　bit　her　bottom　lip　and　did　not　spew　the　many　venomous　replies　she　had　in　mind。　She　needed　Entreri　now；　and　he　needed　her；　their　personal　hatred　would　have　to　wait。

And　wait　is　exactly　what　Catti…brie　and　Entreri　did。　They　squatted　behind　the　mound　for　many　minutes　as　the　long　procession　gradually　disappeared　into　the　domed　chapel。　Entreri　figured　that　many　more　than　a　thousand　drow；　maybe　even　two　thousand；　had　gone　into　the　structure；　and　few　soldiers；　or　lizard…riders；　could　now　be　seen　from　his　position。

Another　benefit　of　their　timing　soon　showed　itself　as　songs　to　Lloth　filtered　out　of　the　chapel's　doors；　filling　the　air　about　the　pound。

〃The　cat？〃　Entreri　whispered　to　Catti…brie。

Catti…brie　felt　the　statuette　in　her　pouch　and　considered　the　question；　then　looked　doubtfully　at　the　Baenre　web　fence。　〃When　we　get　over；〃　she　explained；　though　she　had　no　idea　of　how　Entreri　meant　to　pass　that　seemingly　imperable　barrier。　The　strands　of　the　fence　were　as　thick　as　Catti…brie's　forearm。

Entreri　nodded　his　agreement　and　took　out　the　black　velvet　spider　mask　and　slipped　it　over　his　head。　Catti…brie　couldn't　contain　a　shudder　as　she　regarded　the　assassin；　his　head　now　resembling　some　grotesque　caricature　of　a　huge　spider。

〃I　will　warn　you　only　once；〃　the　assassin　whispered。　〃You　are　a　merciful　one；　foolishly　so；　but　there　is　no　place　for　mercy　in　the　realm　of　the　drow。　Do　not　think　to　wound　or　knock　unconscious　any　opponents　we　cross。　Go　for　the　kill。〃

Catti…brie　didn't　bother　to　reply；　and　if　Entreri　could　see　into　the　fires　raging　inside　the　young　woman；　he　would　not　have　bothered　to　utter　the　remark。

He　motioned　for　her　to　follow；　then　picked　his　careful　way　from　shadow　to　shadow　to　the　base　of　the　fence。

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Entreri　touched　the　strands　tentatively；　making　certain　that　his　fingers　would　not　stick；　then　he　took　a　firm　hold　and　bade　Catti…brie　to　climb　on　his　back。

'Take　care　that　you　do　not　touch　the　fence！〃　he　warned。　〃Else　I　will　have　to　remove　whatever　limb　you　have　stuck。〃

Catti…brie　gingerly　took　hold　of　the　evil　man；　wrapping　her　arms　about　his　chest；　one　over　one　shoulder；　the　other　under　Entreri's　arm。　She　clasped　her　hands　tightly　and　squeezed　with　all　her　strength。

Entreri　was　not　a　big　man；　not　forty　pounds　heavier　than　Catti…brie　herself；　but　he　was　strong；　his　muscles　honed　for　fighting；　and　he　easily　began　his　ascent；　keeping　his　body　as　far　from　the　dangerous　fence　as　possible　so　that　the　young　woman's　hands　did　not　get　entangled。　The　trickiest　part　came　at　the　top　of　the　barrier；　particularly　when　Entreri　spotted　a　couple　of　lizard…riding　soldiers　approaching。

〃Do　not　even　breathe；〃　he　warned　Catti…brie；　and　he　inched　along　the　top　rim　of　the　fence　to　take　as　much　cover　as　possible　in　the　shadows　of　an　anchoring　stalagmite　post。

If　there　had　been　no　lights　hi　the　Baenre　pound；　the　two　surely　would　been　caught；　their　warm　forms　showing　distinctively　against　the　cooler　stone　of　the　mound。　But　lights　were　on；　including　many　burning　torches；　and　the　Baenre　soldiers　were　not　using　their　infravision　as　they　walked　their　posts。　They　passed　by　the　fence　no　more　than　a　dozen　feet　from　the　two　intruders；　but　so　adept　at　hiding　in　the　shadows　was　Artemis　Entreri　that　they　never　noticed　the　strange　jut　in　the　previously　smooth　stalagmite。

When　they　were　gone；　Entreri　pulled　himself　to　a　standing　position　atop　the　fence　and　twisted　to　the　side；　so　that　Catti…brie　could　brace　herself　against　the　mound。　He　had　only　intended　to　take　a　short　rest；　but　the　young　woman；　desperate　to　be　on　with　things；　unexpectedly　shifted　off　his　back；　onto　the　mound；　and　half　slid；　half　climbed　down　its　back　side；　ing　to　a　roll　hi　the　Baenre　pound。

Entreri　hustled　down　the　fence　to　join　her；　snapped　off　the　mask；　and　glared　at　her；　thinking　her　actions　rash　and　stupid。

Catti…brie　did　not　retreat　from　that　look；　just　eyed　the　hated　assassin　dangerously　and　mouthed；　〃Where？〃

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Entreri　slipped　a　hand　into　one　pocket　and　felt　for　the　magical　locket；　then　turned　about；　facing　different　directions　until　the　item　seemed　most　warm。　He　had　guessed　Drizzf　s　location　before　the　locket　had　even　confirmed　it：　the　great　mound；　the　best　guarded　position　in　the　entire　pound。

They　could　only　hope　that　most　of　Baenre's　elite　soldiers　were　attending　the　high　ritual。

Crossing　the　pound　to　the　elaborate　structure　was　not　difficult；　for　few　guards　were　apparent；　the　shadows　were　many；　and　the　singing　emanating　from　the　chapel　amply　covered　any　noise。　No　house　would　expect　an　attack；　or　dare　to　invoke　the　Spider　Queen's　anger　by　launching　an　attack；　during　a　high　ritual；　and　since　the　only　possible　threat　to　House　Baenre　was　from　another　drow　house；　security　in　the　pound　was　not　at　its　highest　point。

〃In　there；〃　Entreri　whispered　as　he　and　Catti…brie　came　flat　against　the　walls　flanking　the　doorway　to　the　huge；　hollowed　stalagmite。　Gently；　Entreri　touched　the　stone　door　to　try　to　discern　any　traps　（though　he　figured　that　any　traps　would　be　magical　in　nature　and　he　would　find　them　when　they　blew　up　in　his　face）。　To　his　surprise；　the　portal　suddenly　rose；　disappearing　into　a　crack　in　the　top　of　the　jamb　and　revealing　a　narrow；　dimly　lit　corridor。

He　and　Catti…brie　exchanged　doubtful　looks；　and　after　a　long；　silent　pause；　both　stepped　in　together梐nd　both　nearly　fell　over　with　relief　when　they　realized　that　they　were　still　alive　in　the　corridor。

Their　relief　was　not　long…lived；　however；　for　it　was　stolen　by　a　guttural　call；　a　question；　perhaps。　Before　the　pair　could　decipher　any　of　the　words；　the　form　of　a　huge；　muscular　humanoid；　easily　seven　feet　tall　and　as　wide　as　the　five…foot　corridor；　stepped　into　the　other　end；　almost　pletely　stealing　the　diminutive　light　The　creature's　sheer　bulk；　and　its　distinctive；　bull…like　head；　revealed　its　identity。

Catti…brie　nearly　jumped　out　of　her　boots　when　the　door　slid　closed　behind　her。

The　minotaur　grunted　the　question　again；　in　the　Drow　tongue。

〃He's　asking　for　a　password；〃　Entreri　whispered　to　Catti…brie。　〃I　think。〃

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〃So　give　it　to　him。〃

Easier　said　than　done；　Entreri　knew　well；　for　Jarlaxle　had　never　mentioned　any　password　to　the　inner　Bae