精灵血脉四部曲-第99部分

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ntment；　but　all　his　efforts　proved　useless；　his　muscles　continued　their　involuntary　twitching。

Swords　cut　in　at　Drizzt　from　every　angle。　One　drew　a　line　on　his　cheek；　stinging　him　painfully。　The　skilled　females；　working　perfectly　in　concert；　kept　him　pinned　near　the　corner；　gave　him　no　room　to　maneuver。　Still；　Drizzf　s　parrying　work　was　excellent；　and　Vendes　applauded　his　outstanding；　if　futile；　efforts。

Drizzt　knew　that　he　was　in　serious　trouble。　Unarmored　and　still　weak　（though　the　magical　potions　continued　to　flow　through　his　veins）；　he　had　few　tricks　that　could　get　him　past　so　powerful　a　tandem。

A　sword　cut　low；　Drizzt　hopped　the　blade。　Another　chopped　down；　from　the　other　side；　but　Drizzt；　crouching　as　he　leaped；　got　Twinkle　up　to　deflect　it。　His　other　scimitar　snapped　back　and　forth　in　front　of　him；　defeating　the　two　middle…height　attacks；　one　from　each　female；　and　pleting　the　four…parry。

But　Drizzt　could　not　counter　with　any　offensive　routines　as　the　relentless　barrage　continued；　forcing　him　back　on　his　heels；　forcing　him　to　react　in　awkward　angles。

He　hopped　and　ducked；　spun　his　blades　this　way　and　that；　and　somehow　managed　to　keep　those　stinging　swords　from　cutting　any　deep　holes　in　his　vulnerable　body；　though

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the　minor　hits　were　beginning　to　add　up。

The　ranger　glanced　forlornly　at　Catti…brie；　terrified　at　the　prospects　of　what　she　would　soon　face。

Entreri　continued　to　wage　his　futile　war；　then　finally　slumped　low；　defeated；　thinking　that　he　could　not　possibly　fight　his　way　past　the　powerful　enchantment。

But　the　assassin　had　not　survived　the　streets　of　dangerous　Calimport；　had　not　risen　to　a　position　of　leadership　in　the　evil　underworld　of　the　southern　city；　by　accepting　defeat。　He　changed　his　thinking；　decided　that　he　had　to　work　within　the　parameters　offered　to　him。

Entreri's　arm　shot　up　above　him。　His　fingers　did　not　grasp梙e　did　not　try　to　grasp梑ut　rather；　he　slapped　his　arm　hard　against　the　binding　goo。

That　was　all　the　grip　he　would　need。

With　tremendous　effort；　Entreri　coiled　his　stuck　arm　and　pulled　himself　halfway　up　beside　the　trapped　woman。

Catti…brie　was　watching　him；　helpless　and　hopeless；　having　no　idea　what　he　meant　to　do。　She　even　winced　and　tried　to　duck　（though　of　course　her　head　would　not　move　an　inch）　as　the　assassin's　free　arm　swung　about；　as　though　she　feared　that　he　meant　to　strike　her。

It　was　not　the　jeweled　dagger　perched　in　that　free　hand；　though；　but　the　spider　mask；　and　Catti…brie　began　to　understand　as　it　came　over　the　very　top　of　her　head。　It　wouldn't　slip　down　very　far　at　first；　blocked　by　the　binding　goo；　but　that　greenish　sludge　instantly　began　to　give　way　to　the　item's　mighty　magic。

Catti…brie　was　fully　blinded　as　a　wave　of　goo；　then　the　bottom　lip　of　the　spider　mask；　covered　her　one　free　eye。

A　moment　later；　her　other　eye　blinked　open。

Sparks　flew　as　the　battle　intensified；　the　females　pressing　more　fiercely　against　the　stubborn　defenses　of　the　renegade　male。

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〃Be　done　with　it！〃　impatient　Vendes　growled。　〃Take　him　down；　that　we　might　drag　him　to　the　chapel；　that　he　might　bear　witness　as　we　sacrifice　the　foolish　woman　to　Lloth！〃

Of　all　the　things　that　Vendes　could　have　said；　of　all　the　threats　that　she　could　have　then　laid　upon　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　none　would　have　been　so　foolish。　The　notion　of　Catti…brie；　dear　and　innocent　Catti…brie；　being　given　to　the　horrid；　wretched　Spider　Queen　was　too　much　for　Drizzf　s　sensibilities　to　bear。

No　longer　was　he　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　for　his　rational　identity　was　replaced　by　the　welling　urges　of　the　primal　hunter；　the　savage。

The　female　on　his　left　came　with　another　measured　counter；　but　the　one　on　his　right　struck　more　daringly；　one　of　her　swords　thrusting　far　beyond　the　tip　of　Drizzt's　blocking　scimitar。｜Qī…shū…ωǎng｜

It　was　a　cunning　move；　but　in　the　heightened　sensibilities　of　the　hunter；　that　thrusting　sword　seemed　to　move　almost　in　slow　motion。　Drizzt　let　the　tip　get　within　a　few　inches　of　his　vulnerable　abdomen　before　the　blade　in　his　left　hand　slashed　across；　deflecting　the　sword　out　wide；　crossing　under　his　upraised　arm　as　his　other　scimitar　worked　against　the　female's　second　sword。

His　scimitars　then　crossed　in　a　powerful　diagonal　parry；　alternating　their　targets；　his　left　arm　shooting　across　and　up；　his　right　across　and　down。

He　dove　to　his　knees；　straight　ahead；　using　his　closest　enemy's　body　to　prevent　the　other　female　from　hitting　him。　In　came　his　right　hand；　deftly　turning　the　blade　so　that　it　slashed　against　the　outside　of　his　opponent's　knee；　buckling　the　leg。　Drizzt　punched　out　with　his　left；　connecting　on　the　female's　belly　and　throwing　her　back　over　that　collapsing　leg。

Still　on　his　knees；　the　ranger　spun　desperately；　hacking　across　with　his　left　as　the　other　female　rushed　in　on　him。

She　was　too　high。　The　scimitar　took　one　sword　out　wide；　but　the　other　sword　poked　lower。

The　hunter's　second　scimitar　intercepted　it　and　turned　it　aside；　though　it　slashed　Drizzf　s　skin　and　nicked　a　rib。

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Back　and　forth　went　the　parries　and　thrusts；　the　hunter　feeling　no　pain　from　this　newest　and　most　serious　wound。　It　seemed　impossible　to　Vendes；　but　Drizzt　managed　to　get　a　foot　under　him　and　was　soon　standing　even　with　her　skilled　soldier。

The　other　female　writhed　on　the　ground；　clutching　her　blasted　leg　and　tucking　her　arm　tightly　over　her　slashed　belly。

〃Enough！〃　Vendes　cried；　holding　her　wand　Drizzf　s　way。　She　had　enjoyed　the　spectacular　battle；　but　had　no　intention　of　losing　any　females。

〃Guenhwyvar！〃　came　a　shrill　cry。

Vendes　looked　to　the　side；　to　the　human　woman梬earing　the　spider　mask！梒rouching　low；　away　from　the　binding　goo。　Catti…brie　charged　out　from　the　wall；　dropping　the　magical　figurine　and　scooping　up　a　certain　dagger　as　she　went

Instinctively；　Vendes　loosed　another　gob　of　goo；　but　it　seemed　to　pass　right　through　the　charging　woman　to　splat　harmlessly　against　the　wall。

Somewhat　disoriented　and　certainly　off　balance；　Catti…brie　simply　dove　forward；　dagger　out。　She　managed　to　nick　Vendes'　hand；　but　the　parrying　wand　rushed　across　and　turned　the　deadly　blade　before　it　could　dig　in；

Catti…brie　crashed　heavily　into　the　draw's　thighs；　and　both　females　went　sprawling；　the　woman　trying　to　hold　on；　and　Vendes　kicking　and　scrambling　fiercely　to　get　away。

Drizzt's　scimitars　banged　against　the　remaining　female's　swords　so　rapidly　that　it　sounded　like　one　long；　scraping　ring。　She　kept　up　with　his　fury　for　a　few　moments；　to　her　credit；　but　gradually　her　parries　came　later　and　later　against　the　barrage　of　thrusts　and　cuts。

A　sword　snapped　up　to　her　right；　defeating　Twinkle。　Her　second　sword　turned　up　and　out　to　take　the　second　thrusting　scimitar　to　the　side。

But　the　second　scimitar　was　not　really　thrusting；　and　it　was　the　female's　sword　that　went　out。　She　recognized　the　feint　and　halted　her　own　weapon's　progress；　bringing　it

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right　back　in。

She　was　too　late。　Drizzf　s　scimitar　plunged　through　the　fine　mesh　armor。　He　was　open　to　any　counter；　but　the　female　had　no　strength；　no　life；　left　as　the　wicked　scimitar　jabbed　at　her　heart。　She　shuddered　as　Drizzt　withdrew　the　blade。

*****

A　flurry　of　punches　battered　Catti…brie's　head　as　she　hugged　tightly　to　the　vicious　draw's　tegs。　The　spider　mask　had　turned　about；　and　Catti…brie　could　not　see；　but　she　realized　that　if　Vendes　had　a　weapon　handy；　she　would　be　in　trouble。

Blindly；　Catti…brie　reached　up　with　one　hand；　trying　to　grab　at　a　drow　wrist。　Vendes　was　too　quick　for　the　move；　though；　and　not　only　got　her　arm　out　of　the　way；　but　wriggled　one　leg　free　as　well。　She　coiled　and　kicked；　and　Catti…brie　nearly　swooned。

Vendes　pushed　powerfully　against　her；　slipping　free；　then　Catti…brie　was　scrambling；　trying　to　catch　up　to　the　suddenly　receding　legs。　The　young　woman　hesitated　for　just　an　instant；　to　pull　the　troublesome　mask　from　her　face；　then　cried　out　in　denial　as　she　saw　Vendes's　feet　slipping　too　far　from　her　grasp。　The　Baenre　daughter　quickly　regained　her　footing　and　ran　from　the　room。

Catti…brie　could　easily　fathom　the　consequences　of　letting　this　one　get　away。　Stubbornly；　she　put　her　arms　under　her　and　started　to　rise；　but　was　pushed　back　to　the　floor　by　a　gentle　hand　as　someone　came　over　her。　She　saw　the　bare　feet　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　hit　the　stone　floor　in　front　of　her；　in　full　pursuit。

Drizzt　twisted　weirdly　as　he　came　into　the　corridor。　He　threw　himself　backward　and　to　the　floor　so　fiercely　that　Catti…brie　feared　he　had　been　clotheslined。　She　understood　the　move　as　Drizzf　s　own　doing；　though；　as　a　gob　of　greenish　goo　flew　harmlessly　above　him。

A　twisting　roll　realigned　Drizzt　and　put　his　feet　back　under　him；　and　he　shot　off　like　a　springing　cat。

And　a　springing　cat；　Guenhwyvar；　followed；　leaping　over　Catti…brie　and　into　the　corridor；　turning　so　perfect　an

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angle；　the　instant　the　paws　touched　the　stone；　that　Catti…brie　had　to　blink　to　make　sure　she　was　not　seeing　things。

〃Naui〃　came　the　doomed　draw's　cry　of　protest　from　out　in　the　corridor。　The　warrior　whom　Vendes　had　tortured；　had　beaten　without　mercy；　was　upon　her；　his　eyes　raging　with　fires　of　vengeance。

Guenhwyvar　came　right　behind；　desperate　to　help　Drizzt；　but　in　the　instant　it　took　the　cat　to　reach　the　fighting；　a　scimitar　had　already　plunged　deep　into　Vendes's　stomach。

A　groan　from　the　side　refocused　Catti…brie's　attention。　She　spotted　the　wounded　female　crawling　for　her　dropped　weapons。

Catti…brie　scrambled　immediately；　staying　on　the　floor；　and　wrapped　her　legs　about　the　draw's　neck；　squeezing　with　all　her　strength。　Both　ebon…skinned　hands　came　up　to　tear　at　her；　to　punch　at　her。　But　then　the　female　calmed；　and　Catti…brie　thought　she　had　surrendered梪ntil　she　noticed　the　draw's　lips　moving。

She　was　casting　a　spell！

Purely　on　instinct；　Catti…brie　poked　her　finger　repeatedly　into　the　draw's　eyes。　The　chant　became　cries　of　pain　and　protest；　and　they　became　no　more　than　a　wheeze　as　Catti…brie　clamped　her　legs　down　tighter。

Catti…brie　hated　this　with　all　her　generous　heart。　The　killing　revolted　her；　especially　a　fight　such　as　this；　where　she　would　have　to　watch　for　agonizing　sec