Chapter 27 Chapter 22 The Grace of God

Regis gasped and groaned in pain, every slightest writhing he made only made the situation worse.The shaft of the spear vibrated with every movement of the halfling, sending waves of burning pain through his body. Bruenor blinked hard to squeeze out any tears that might well up as he brushed any soft thoughts from his mind - realizing that his sympathy wasn't going to help his badly wounded friend. "Do it quickly," he said to Drizzt.The dwarf knelt beside Regis, pinning himself firmly to the ground, pinching the halfling's shoulders and pushing one knee against his back to keep him in an even position.

But Drizzt wasn't sure what to do with the wound.But at least he judged that there were barbs on the tip of the spear, so he couldn't simply "pull it out".But if the point of the spear pierced through his shoulder and then pulled out from the other side, the damage caused by this cruel way of dealing with the wound would not be small. No one can guarantee that Regis will survive after going through all this .So, can Drizzt cut off the spear smoothly and as soon as possible, and save Regis from this unbearable pain?In fact, raising the shaft even slightly would have made the halfling scream in pain, so what would the shock of cutting a spear with a cutlass do to him?

"Grab the spear, and use both your hands," Catti-brie suggested, "cover the wound with one hand, and grab the shaft with the other. Grab it wherever you want the rod to snap. " Drizzt looked at her and saw that Tamari was back in her hand, and had mounted a silver arrow.He looked in the direction pointed by the point of the arrow, and his eyes finally fell on the shaft of the spear stuck in the halfling's body.Drizzt understood her intentions, but was very skeptical of the feasibility of this method—it required such precise aiming techniques.Drow seemed to have no choice, though, gripping the part of the spear that sank into the wound, and then suddenly let go.He glanced back at Bruenor, who was trying to hold Regis up - the latter made sure the poor halfling was steady by moving, forced another whimper from the former, and nodded gloomily.

Drizzt nodded to Katie, and the red-haired woman was bending over to follow the arrow's path with her eyes, making sure it didn't stray from any of her friends.She knew that if she hadn't hit it perfectly, or if she had just been unlucky, her arrow would have deflected badly, and there would have been another badly wounded companion on the deck beside Regis.With that in mind, Catti-brie slackened her bowstring a bit, but Regis began to sob again, reminding her poor little friend that time was running out. She took a few steps back, took a perfect aim, and let go of the bowstring.The blindingly bright arrow hissed past, passed cleanly through the shaft of the spear, and punctured the other side of the cabin wall before disappearing across the river.

Even though Drizzt was mentally prepared, he was taken aback by the sudden flash of light and stayed in place for a moment.After forcing his thoughts to keep up with the scene in front of him, he handed the half of the spear in his hand to Bambor. "Help me lift him up as lightly as possible," Drow said to Bruno.The dwarf complied, slowly lifting the halfling's wounded shoulder off the deck. Then the eyes of the drow were stained with sadness and helplessness.He grabbed hold of the short remaining shaft of the spear and began to stab slowly across the other shoulder. Regis wailed, screamed, and writhed so desperately that the resigned Drizzt stopped instantly.Confused and in pain, he let go of the spear, and stretched out his hands to Bruenor for help.

"That ruby ​​pendant." Catti-brie seemed to suddenly remember something, and knelt down beside her friends. "We have to make him think of something nice." After Bruno put the moaning Reggie As Sis lifted a little higher, she quickly reached into the halfling's shirt and pulled out the dazzling ruby ​​pendant. "Look at it closer," Catti-brie said to Regis several times.She held the gem up to the halfling's half-closed eyelids, and it spun in a seductive fashion on the end of the chain.Regis' head began to droop, but Katie squeezed his chin and forced him to stare at the pendant.

"Do you remember the party after we got you out of Pook?" she asked calmly, trying to force a big smile on her face. Step by step, she brought Regis into the illusion woven by words, and reminded him of that delightful party—it was the party that made Regis most intoxicated.The halfling looked intoxicated now, too; he stopped moaning, and his eyes were firmly caught in the sparkling ruby ​​pendant. "Ah, you had a lot of fun in that room full of pillows, didn't you?" said Catti-brie, starting to talk about the harem in Pook's house. "We thought you'd never come out!" As she said those words, she looked at Drizzt and nodded.The drow once again took the half of the spear embedded in the halfling's body.He glanced at Bruenor to make sure the dwarf was holding Regis securely, and began slowly pushing the point of the spear inward.

Regis flinched as the rest of the lance rips through the halfling's shoulder and emerges from the front, but doesn't really fight back, doesn't scream.Drizzt drew the flying spear all the way out without a hitch. A great deal of blood spurted out as the spear point was pulled out, and Drizzt and Bruenor had to stop the bleeding quickly and effectively.Even then, when they gently laid Regis down on his back, they found his arms drained of color. "He's bleeding inside." Bruno squeezed the words through clenched teeth, "If we can't stop the bleeding, we should take this arm off!"

Drizzt didn't answer, just continued to bandage his little friend.He pulled the bandages away and tried to work his nimble fingers into the wound, pressing on the veins to stop the bleeding. Catti-brie continued to speak those comforting words, very successfully distracting the halfling's attention.She was so engrossed in the task in front of her that she could only manage to shift her nervous gaze slightly toward Drizzt. If Regis saw Drow's expression now, even the magic power of the Ruby Pendant would dissipate.For Drizzt knew he was in trouble, and he knew that his little friend was now in dire danger.He couldn't stop the bleeding.Perhaps there was indeed a need for the bold approach proposed by Bruno: amputation.But even so, Drizzt knew it might kill the halfling.

"Have you stopped the bleeding?" Bruno kept asking over and over again, "Have you stopped the bleeding?" Frowning, Drizzt stared straight at Bruenor's blood-stained axe, before continuing with more determination.In the final stages, he carefully released the tight veins little by little, a little, and a little more, and his breathing became a little easier.He eased the pressure on the veins and felt the blood no longer gushing from the tear. "I'm going to cut the damn arm off!" Bruenor declared, misreading Drizzt's resigned expression. Drow raised one hand and shook his head: "The bleeding has stopped."

"But how long will it last?" Katie asked, genuinely worried. Drizzt shook his head helplessly again. "We must go now." Bambor Thunderfist reminded when he saw that the commotion about Regis had finally subsided. "The goblins aren't very far from here." "Not now," Drizzt insisted. "We can't move him until we're sure the wound won't open." Bambor casts a worried look at his brother, and then they both look anxiously at their distant cousin. But Drizzt was right.Regis, of course, cannot be moved immediately.All three friends gathered around him; Catti-brie still clutched the Ruby Pendant, ready to use its hypnotic powers if need be.But for now, at least for now, Regis knew nothing but a comforting darkness in his subconscious. "You seem nervous," Kim Murray Obloza commented.The way Jarlaxle, who was usually unshakable, paced back and forth obviously brought him great pleasure. Jarlaxle stopped and glared at the untrusting psychic. "Nonsense," he emphasized. "Baltimazfas played the role of Pasha Basadoni perfectly." It is indeed believable.During the important meeting that morning, the doppelganger was a perfect impersonation of Pasha Basadoni, and there was not the slightest sign that the fellow was dead, and Baltimazfas had no way of knowing the insidious plans in his head .Of course, his role was met with only minimal hindrance at the meeting, as Charlotta explained to the other guild leaders that the Pasha was very old and not in very good health.Pasha Ronning was persuaded by the performance of the doppelganger.Since the mighty Ronning had already expressed his satisfaction, it was difficult for Domo Quirillo, who was a rat man, and the younger and more neurotic leaders of the Explorers' Guild to protest.The streets of Calimport were quiet again, and that was it, for the rest of us, that was the end of it. "What he told the guild leaders was exactly what we wanted to hear," Kim Murray said. "So, we should do the same to Drizzt and his friends," Jarlaxle assured the psychic. "Ah, but you know, the target this time is much more dangerous." Kim Murray, who is good at perceiving things, replied. "He's coming more alert...and more of a drow." Jarlaxle stopped again, glared rudely at the remnant of the Obrozas, and then laughed aloud, acknowledging his impatience. "It probably justifies my unwavering interest in Drizzt Do'Urden," he explained. "This kid has escaped time and time again from people he's thwarted with cunning, or just had a little more luck than them - those are the strongest enemies a man can imagine! Look at him now ’” he added, pointing to that magical discovery pool that Leckie had put in place. "Still alive, no, even alive and well. Matron Baenre herself wanted the guy's head as a trophy, and it was she, not him, who disappeared from the world in the end." "It's not his death we desire," Kim Murray reminded him. "Though his death also proved to be very beneficial." Jarlaxle shook his head violently. "He must not die," he said firmly. Kim Murray took a long time to watch the mercenary leader carefully: "Does this mean you're starting to 'like' that refugee?" he asked. "That's how Jarlaxle works, isn't it?" Jarlaxle laughed again. "Perhaps the word 'respect' would be better." "He will never join the Dayet mercenary group." The superhuman reminded him again. "Who knows..." the mercenary leader, the opportunist, replied. "Who knows." Jin Murray stopped asking this question, and instead looked at the Discovery Pool excitedly. "Pray that Baltimazfas is worth his commission," he said. After witnessing the utter failure of many futile raids against Drizzt and his friends, Jarlaxle was no doubt praying. Artemis Entreri entered the room as if Jarlaxle had invited him.He glanced at the two dark elves, and then carefully moved to the side of the discovery pool. After seeing the image inside, his eyes widened—the image of his greatest opponent. "Why are you so surprised?" Jarlaxle asked. "I said, I will give you what you want most." Entreri had a hard time keeping his breath steady, and he didn't want the mercenary chief to get too much pleasure from his apparent excitement.He now saw the truth of the whole thing, that it was Jarlaxle—damn Jarlaxle! — that's right.Standing in the pool was the source of all Entreri's cold emotion, making his past life a symbol of a lie.Standing there is an image that is a challenge even for this top killer, an image that prevents him from enjoying his current life and makes him constantly anxious. There it is, Drizzt Do'Urden.Entreri looked back at Jarlaxle, and nodded. The mercenary chief, who rarely expressed surprise, just smiled. Regis writhed and groaned, this time, trying to resist Catti-brie's ruby ​​pendant's hypnosis.Drizzt's fingers were quickly busy in the halfling's torn wound, perhaps startled by this sudden incident, until this moment, the red-haired woman resumed the process of hypnosis. Bruenor held Regis firmly, his ax at his side.Despite his help, Drizzt grumbled angrily, shaking his head in disappointment.The wound opened again, and what was worse, this time the drow with dexterous fingers couldn't close it up again. "Cut off the damn arm!" Drizzt finally yelled, in great frustration.He slumped back, blood soaking his own arms.The four dwarves behind him sighed simultaneously, but the usually steady and reliable Bruenor understood the fact and grabbed his axe without panic. Catti-brie was still saying something to Regis, but he couldn't hear her—nor any other voice, his mind was flying further and further away. Bruno raised the ax flatly and began to measure where the ax fell.Katie didn't make the inevitable argument with them, lifting the halfling's torn arm.She also understood that they had to stop the bleeding, even if that meant amputating the arm and cauterizing the wound with fire. "Cut it off," Drizzt ordered.The four dwarves behind sighed again. Bruenor clapped his hands and raised the axe, but a trace of doubt crept into his face, causing him to look down at his poor little friend. "Cut it!" Drizzt ordered forcefully. Bruenor raised the axe, then let it fall slowly again, gesturing back and forth on the point of impact. "Cut it off!" Katie yelled. "Stop!" A voice came from the side, and all the partners turned around, looking at the two men who were walking towards them quickly. "Cadley!" Catti-brie yelled.It was exactly as she had seen it, and the redhead was both surprised and delighted, as was Drizzt.Neither found him much older than when they had last seen him; though they knew that the priest was not aging, but was growing younger, just as his health was returning.Raising the magical Goofy Spirit from the rubble had done him so much that the young man had now fully paid for the building of the temple. Cadley nodded to his companion, who rushed towards Regis immediately. "Fortunately, the place where we teleport is right next to you," said the priest.His accent was very peculiar, and he seemed to speak a dialect that none of these companions had heard. No one questioned him about that, though, because their friend Cadderly was standing beside the man, and certainly because he was bending over the crooked halfling and starting some sort of quiet chant. "My assistant, Arabelle, will treat that wound," Cadderly explained. "I'm really surprised to see you guys so far from home." "To see you," Bruno said. "Yes, I've changed my mind," said Baltimazfas, who had stolen Cadderly's appearance, in a theatrical tone, just as Jarlaxle had taught him. "I should have welcomed you in a grander way if you had reached the high-flying spirit. But your path now leads to another place, for you have a friend who is begging for help." "Wulfgar." Catti-brie gasped, and it seemed the others were thinking the same. Cadley nodded. "It looks like he's trying to keep up with you at some small village east of Baldur's Gate. The current downstream will take you there quickly." "Which village?" Bambor asked. The doppelganger shrugged and said no name. "Behind a bluff and trees sit four buildings whose names I don't know." "That should be Yogee Village," Donette insisted, and Bambor nodded in agreement. "You are guaranteed to be delivered within a day," the dwarf captain told Drizzt. Drow looked at Cadley suspiciously. "It would take me a day to prepare a teleportation spell like this," the fake priest explained. "Even if I'm ready, I can only take you there alone." Regis groaned again, drawing everyone's attention.To the amazement of his companions, and to their great delight, the halfling sat up looking much better, and was able to bend the fingers at the end of the injured arm. Beside him, Lecky smiled in his uncomfortable human shell, secretly thanking Ms. Rose for her incredible tolerance. "He can travel with you now, and soon," said the doppelganger. "Let's go now. Your friends are desperate for your help. It seems that his bad temper has angered the villagers there. They locked him up and planned to hang him. You still have time to go Save him, for they won't do it until their leader returns. But now, let's go." Drizzt nodded, and leaned over to pluck his pouch from the halfling's belt. "Will you come with us?" he asked, and even then the impatient Catti-brie, Bruenor, Regis, and the dwarves had the boat ready to go.Drizzt walked towards the old priest from the boat together with Cadderly's assistant. "No," replied the doppelganger, mimicking Cadderly's voice perfectly.The object of this imitation provided the strange creature with a high degree of intelligence and insight. "You won't need me, and I have some urgent matters to attend to." Drizzt nodded again, and handed over the pouch. "Be careful with this thing," he reminded. "It possesses the ability to summon creatures that might become allies." "I'll be back in Goofy Spirit in a few minutes," replied the doppelganger. Drizzt paused after hearing the weird words—did Cadley just say that he needed a whole day to memorize a teleportation spell? "Backtracking the Holy Word." Laiji hurriedly smoothed things over. "It is the Backtracking Word that brings us back to the home of the Goofy Spirit, and nowhere else." "Come on, elf!" Bruno yelled. "My boy is waiting for us!" "Go." Cadderly told Drizzt, putting a hand on Drizzt's shoulder as he put the pouch away, turning him to face the boat, "Go now, you have nothing left Time to waste." Silent alarm bells kept ringing loudly in Drizzt's mind, but he didn't have time to stop and think about it.The Mousefish had begun to slip into the river, and four sailors were turning her bow.Drizzt jumped briskly to join them, then turned to look at Cadderly, who was smiling and waving.His assistant had already entered a trance while casting the spell.The companions saw them disappear into the air before the boat moved away from shore. "Why doesn't that hateful fool take one of us to meet my boy right now?" Bruno asked. "Indeed, why?" Drizzt repeated, staring back at the empty river bank, thoughtful. Been thinking about it. Early next morning the Ratfish stopped on the bank about two hundred yards from York.The four companions, including Regis, who was feeling better, washed ashore in no time. They agreed that the dwarves should stay on the ship, and likewise, at Drizzt's suggestion, it was decided that Bruenor, Regis, and Catti-brie would negotiate with the villagers, while the ranger would take a look around the village, Get a comprehensive understanding of the area. Friendly villagers welcomed the three men into the village with all smiles on their faces, but when they asked about Wulfgar later, the villagers showed total bewilderment. "If there was such a person as you say, do you think we won't remember him?" asked an old lady, giggling. The three partners looked at each other bewilderedly. "Donette got the wrong village." Bruno sighed heavily. Doubtful thoughts filled Drizzt's mind.It was clear that a Word could bring Cadderly to the drow and his companions, and if Wulfgar was in such danger, why didn't the priest go to him instead of them first?He could of course explain the problem, since Regis was in a much more dangerous situation at the time.But why didn't Cadley go to one himself and send his assistant to the other?Again he came up with a logical explanation.Maybe the priests only prepared a teleportation spell that could only take them to one place, and they were forced to make such a choice.There was something bothering Drizzt, though, he just couldn't talk about it. Then he finally sorted out his inner confusion: how on earth did Cadderly find Wulfgar, a man he had never met and only vaguely heard about? "Just luck," he told himself, trying to explain the pastor's behavior in a logical way.It was obvious that the priest had followed the trail left by Drizzt, and had found Wulfgar somewhere not far from them.It was purely a matter of luck, which informed this great pastor. There were still holes in the logic, but Drizzt hoped that when they rescued Wulfgar, those holes would be filled by Wulfgar's narrative.With only this in mind, Drizzt walked towards the back half of the village, around the back of the rocky cliff, to the west of the village.He couldn't see the surprised exchanges between his friends and the villagers now - they really didn't know who Wulfgar was. But Drizzt must have guessed more or less before he rounded the ridge—before he saw a mirror image of Clinshinibon, a crystal tower gleaming in the morning light.