jr.shapechangers-第15部分
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e led her deeper into the forest。
〃Storr？〃 she asked softly。
〃He is behind； watching。 He＋like the others＋will fight the Mujhar's men。〃
Finn pulled her down under cover of a broken tree trunk leaning drunkenly against another。 Quickly he set deadfall over them； weaving a rapid shelter。 When it was done he pushed her down on her stomach and kneh beside her。 Alix； still shaken from the silent voices； watched from a distance as he loosened his belt…knife and effortlessly nocked a yellow…fletched black arrow to his pact； powerful bow。
Alix put her head down on one arm and longed for the security of her father's croft。
〃Watch my back； mei jha；〃 Finn said roughly。 〃I have no time for women's fears。〃
She wrenched her head up and glared at him。 His back was to her； presenting an excellent target for a furious fist； but the precariousness of their position was uppermost in her mind。 She put away the urge to do him harm and turned instead to watch behind him； as he had bidden。
Alix's head ached。 She scrubbed at her forehead as if to drive the pain away； but it did no good。 The voices were gone； only a figment of memory； but it was enough to leave a residue。 Her entire body ached with me indignities she had been forced to endure： sores remained on her legs from continued riding； brusies dotted her flesh and her bones and muscles felt like rags。 Her mind； she knew dimly； was as exhausted。 For all they insisted they would do her no harm； the Cheysuli had accounted for more pain and fatigue than she had ever thought possible。
At first she thought it was a Cheysuli horse crashing through the brush toward their thin shelter。 Alix stared silently up at me man a moment before she realized he was a mailed man…at…arms in the scarlet…and…black tunic livery of me Mujhar； sword drawn。
Relief flooded through her。 She would escape Finn and the others now； putting herself into the care of a Mujharan guardsman； who would surely rescue her from her plight。 Alix sighed in relief and crawled forward as the man's eyes fell on hers。 The beginnings of her smile of greeting faded。
The sword lifted in a gloved hand； swinging back over his shoulder。 Transfixed； Alix stared at the bright blade。 It hung over her； poised to fall； and in a blinding flash of realization she knew Duncan's words were true。 They would slay her where she stood； and call her shapechanger。
Alix lunged backward into Finn。 He turned sharply and hissed something； men saw why she moved。 He said nothing more。 The arrow's flight was unmarked in passing； but Alix saw me feathered shaft quiver out of the guardsman's throat。 He fell back in the saddle； crying out something in a gurgling voice。 Then he tumbled from his bolting horse。
She stuffed a fist into her mouth to keep from screaming； aware only that Finn had left her and was fighting hand…to…hand with yet another guardsman。 Alix recoiled； staring open…mouthed at me straining men。 A bough jabbed her in the small of her back； tearing through me woolen fabric and into her flesh； but she was oblivious to me pain。
Finn bent the man's knife arm away from his throat； a fearful
rictus of concentration bums ba teeth。 Muscles bulged beneath his annbands aa he fought to keep the Made ffOBB his tfaroat。
Alix mumbled somelfamg to herself； unaware she spoke。 Rim drove his knife upward into die guardsman's stomach； but not before the man managed to bring his own weapon down in a slashing motion that penetrated Finn's rib cage。
Alix cried out again； men heard a strange moaning sound and saw me Cheysuli blur himself into his wolf…shape。 Before her horrified eyes the wolf leaped on me man and bore him to the ground； ripping his throat away。
Sickened； she leaped to her feet and fled the shelter。
〃Alix！〃
She ran on； ignoring Finn's human cry。
〃Alix！〃
An agonized glance over her shoulder showed him ing after her； bloodied knife in one hand。 She blurted out a garbled denial and ran on； breaking her way with outstretched hands。
A horse drove through the brush before her； pawing hooves flailing at her head as its rider jerked to to a halt。 Alix ducked down and threw up a beseeching hand； expecting a blow from one of me hooves。 She saw an enraged face hanging over her as the guardsman drew his broadsword。
〃Shapechanger witch！〃
〃No！〃 she shrieked。 〃No！〃
〃You'll not tive to bear more of the demons！〃 he cried； lowering me blade in a hideous slash。
Alix threw herself flat onto the ground and heard an eerie whistle as the blade flew past her head。 Then she scrambled up and instinctively dashed directly at me horse。
The wolf…shape hurtled past her； leaping； and took me man from me horse in one sweeping lunge。 Alix heard the guardsman cry out。 The horse screamed and reared； striking out。
The guardsman's broadsword fell at her feet as she stumbled away from me terrified horse。 The man； now on foot； lifted his knife to slash at the wolf leaping toward his throat。 The point slid sideways and tore open one furred shoulder； driving me wolf back。
The soldier bent for his sword； caught it up and advanced on me snarling animal。 〃Demon！〃 he hissed。 〃Know what it is to die in mat shape！〃
Alix threw herself forward and grabbed at his arm； thwarting
his blow。 The mail bit into her hands and face as she hung onto
the arm。 One Jerk knocked her to the ground so hard she lay
mere； hatf…stunned…
Gloating； the man turned back to me wolf。 But me animal was
gne。 in to place stood a Cheysu wamor whose knife found a XBW sheath in the guardsman's throat。 His Mood splattered Alix as the body fell next to her。
Finn stood over her； clasping his left shoulder。 His jerkin was heavy with blood from me wound in his ribs。 Amazed； Alix saw a grin on his battered face。
〃So； meijha。 you feel enough for me to risk your own life。〃
Burgeoning panic and me sickening smell of blood drove her to her feet。 Alix stood before him unsteadily； trembling with rage and reaction。 She wiped a band across her face and felt me dampness of me man's blood。
〃I wish death on no one； shapechanger… Not even you。〃
Another horse crashed through me trees； leaping mailed bod…ies as they lay scattered on the forest floor。 Alix swung around in panic and saw Carillon on his chestnut wafhorse。 He wore his Cheysuli sword but had not unsheathed it。
〃Alix！〃 He Jerked the horse to a halt。 staring down at the man Finn had slain。 The Cheysuli warrior； weaponless； glared wrathfufly at me prince。
〃Do you slay me now； lordling？〃 he demanded； lowering his hand from me wound in his shoulder。
Carillon ignored him and reached out to Alix。 〃Quickly。
Climb up behind me。〃
She moved forward； stunned by the suddenness of her rescue； but Finn's bloody hand on her arm stopped her。
〃Meijha。。。〃
She wrenched her arm free。 〃I go with Carillon；〃 she said firmly。 〃As I told you once before。〃
〃Alix； waste no time；〃 Carillon urged。
〃Meijha。 stay with your clan；〃 Finn said。
Alix grasped Carillon's hand and pulled herself onto the horse's broad hindquarters。 Her arms settled around the prince's hips； resting on his swordbelt。 She sent Finn a significant look of triumph。
〃I do not stay。 I go home。。； with Carillon。〃
Finn scowled blackly up at mem。 Carillon； smiling oddly； tapped his sword hilt。 〃Another time； shapechanger。〃 He spun the chestnut and sent him leaping back the way he had e。
Alix； clinging to him； saw with horror me carnage as they passed； liveried guardsmen lay scattered through me forest； some displaying me marks of beasts。 She shuddered and pressed her…self against Carillon's back； sickened by the results of me forest battle。
Carillon's horse broke into a clearing and galloped across a
lush meadow。 The edge of the forest fell behind them； and with it die grim toll of dead。
**I said I would e；〃 Carillon said above the sound of pounding hooves。
〃So many are slain。。。〃 she said。
〃The MuJhar's vengeance。〃
Alix swallowed and put a hand to her tangled； blood…matted hair。 〃I saw only slain guardsmen。 Carillon。 There were no Cheysuli。〃
She fete him stiffen and expected a curt reply； but the prince said nothing。 The golden hilt of his sword pressed against her left arm as she hung on； and she stared at its huge ruby and the golden Homanan lion crest in wonder。
Hole's sword。。。 she whispered within her mind。 My father？
A hawk broke free of the trees and flew to catch them。 It circled over mem； drifted a moment； men drove closer。 The warhorse； shying as me bird neared his bead； plunged sideways。
Alix saw me hawk as it streaked by mem； circling to return； it was me smaller one she had conversed with in the forest； and she nearly fell from me plunging horse as her grip loosened in shock。 Carillon； cursing； tried to rein the stallion into control。
The hawk drove close again； wings snapping against the horse's head。 Alix felt me smooth hindquarters bunch and slide from beneath her； though she grabbed at Carillon's leather doublet。 She cried out and tumbled awkwardly to me ground。
Carillon called her name but the frightened horse would not allow him to approach。 The prince wrestled with the reins； muttering dire threats under his bream； but Alix saw no good e of his words。 She sat up dazedly and fingered the lump on me back of her head。
Stay with me； the bird said。 Stay。
〃Let me go！〃 she cried； getting unsteadily to her feet。
Stay。
〃No！〃
/ ask； small one。 I am not Finn； who takes。 The bird hesitated。
/ ask。 〃
Realization flooded her。 〃Duncan！'
Stay with me。
〃Duncan。。。 let me go with him。 It is what I want。〃
It does not serve the prophecy。
〃It is not my prophecy！〃 she cried； lifting a fist into the air。
〃It is not mine！〃
And the tahlmorra？
Alix was conscious Carillon had calmed the warhorse somewhat。
Tile prince jumped off Die chestnut and dragged him behind； crossing to her with long steps。
〃Alix！〃
She stared at the hawk drifting idly in the sky。 〃It is not my
prophecy；〃 she said； more quietly。 〃Nor is it my tahinwrra。1'
But it is mine。；。
Alix turned to Carillon； shoving tangled loose hair out of her face。 〃I go with you。 If you can keep your horse in check； I will stay aboard。〃
She saw questions in his eyes but he did not ask mem。
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