jr.shapechangers-第16部分

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our　horse　in　check；　I　will　stay　aboard。〃
　She　saw　questions　in　his　eyes　but　he　did　not　ask　mem。
　Eloquently；　silently；　he　gestured　toward　the　hawk。
　Alix　stared　up　at　it；　aware　of　a　sensation　of　regret。　〃If　you　would　stop　me；　shapechanger；　you　must　do　as　your　brother…　And　to　do　mat　earns　you　my　enmity。〃
　The　bird　paused　in　mid　flight。　That；　it　said　after　a　moment；　is　not　entirely　what　I　seek。
　〃Then　let　me　go。〃
　The　hawk　said　nothing　more。　It　circled　a　last　time；　men　soared　higher　into　the　sky　and　flew　away。
　CariUon　touched　her　shoulder。　〃Alix？〃
　Strangely　defeated　and　somehow　bereft；　she　turned　to　him。　She　spread　her　hands。　〃You　may　take　me　to　Homana…Mujhar；　my　lord；　and　to　my　grandsire。〃
　His　hand　tightened　on　her　shoulder。　〃I　have　warned　you　what　he　may　feel　when　he　sees　you。〃
　She　smiled　grimly　through　her　dirt　and　blood　stains。　〃I　will　take　that　chance。〃
　Carillon　caught　her　waist　and　swung　her　up　on　me　quieted　horse。　He　put　her　in　the　saddle　and　she　clutched　at　it；　surprised。　He　mounted　behind　her　and　took　up　the　reins；　setting　his　arms　around　her　waist。
　〃I　think　the　Mujhar　may　find　his　granddaughter　is　no　simple　crofter's　child。〃
　Alix　smiled　wearily　as　me　stallion　moved　on。　〃He　raised　a　willful　daughter。　Let　him　see　how　that　spirit　serves　Undir's　child。〃
　BOOK　II
　〃The　Mei　jha〃
　Chapter　One
　Carillon　took　Alix　first　to　the　croft　so　she　could　see　Torrin　and　show　him　she　was　well…　As　they　rode　down　the　hills　into　tfae　valley　Alix　had　known　all　her　life；　she　felt　a　strange　sense　of　bomeing　mixed　with　loneliness。　Her　relief　at　seeing　the　lush　valley　again　was　tinged　with　sadness　and　regret；　for　she　realized　her　few　days　with　the　Cheysuli　had　altered　her　perceptions　forever。
　〃It　seems　odd；〃　Carillon　said　quietly　as　he　guided　the　chest…nut　toward　the　stone　crofter's　cottage　built　along　the　treeline。
　〃Odd？〃
　〃Torrin　lived　among　the　halls　of　Homana…Mujhar。　privy　to　much　of　Shaine's　confidences。　Yet　he　gave　it　up　to　work　the　land　like　a　tenant…crofter　owing　yearly　rents　to　his　lord。〃
　Alix；　slumped　wearily　in　the　saddle；　nodded。　〃My　father＋〃　She　broke　off；　then　continued　in　a　subtly　altered　tone。　〃Torrin　has　ever　been　a　man　of　deepness　and　dark　silences。　I　begin　to　see　why；　I　think。〃
　〃If　the　story　is　true；　he　has　carried　a　burden　on　his　soul　for　many　years。〃
　Alix　straightened　as　the　whitewashed　door　of　the　croft　squeaked　open。　Torrin　came　out　and　stood　staring　as　Carillon　took　the　horse　in　to　him。
　〃By　me　gods。。；〃　Torrin　said　hoarsely；　〃I　thought　you　taken　by　beasts；　Alix。〃
　She；　seeing　him　through　different　eyes；　marked　the　seams　of　age　in　his　worn　face　and　the　dunning　of　his　graying　hair　cropped　close　against　his　head。　His　hands；　once　so　powerful；　had　callused　and　gnarled　with　crofter's　work　over　the　years；　so　different　from　an　arms…master's　craft。　Even　his　broad　shoulders　had　shrunk；　falling　in　as　if　the　weight　of　me　realm　rested　on　mem。
　What　manner　of　man　was　he　before　he　took　me　from　the　Mujhar？　she　wondered。　What　has　this　burden　done　to　him？
　Alix　slid　free　of　the　horse　as　Carillon　halted　him。　standing　straight　and　tall　before　the　man　she　had　called　father　all　her　life。　Then　she　put　out　her　hand。　palm　up；　and　spread　her　fingers。
　〃Know　you　what　this　is？〃　she　asked　softly。
　Torrin　stared　transfixed　at　her　hand。　Color　leached　from　his
　weatber…bumed　face　until　he　resembled　little　more　than　a　dead　man　with　glistening　eyes。
　〃Alix。。。〃　he　said　gently。　〃Alix；　I　could　not　tell　you。　I　feared　to　lose　you　to　them。〃
　〃But　I　have　e　back。〃　she　said。　〃I　have　been　with　mem；　and　I　have　e　back。〃
　He　aged　before　her　eyes。　〃I　could　not　tell　you。〃
　Carillon　stepped　off　his　horse　and　walked　slowly　forward；　skin　stretched　taut　across　the　bones　of　his　face。　〃Then　it　is　true；　this　shapechanger　tale。　Lindir　went　willingly；　forsaking　the　betrothal　because　of　Shaine's　liege　man。〃
　Tomn　sighed　and　ran　a　gnarled　hand　through　his　hair。　〃It　was　a　long　time　ago。　I　have　put　much　of　it　away。　But　I　see　you　must　know　it；　now。〃　He　smiled　a　little。　〃My　lord　prince；　when　last　I　saw　you；　you　were　but　a　year　old。　It　is　hard　to　believe　that　squalling　infant　has　bee　a　man。〃
　Alix　stepped　up　to　Torrin　and　took　one　of　his　hands　in　hers。
　She　felt　the　weariness　and　resignation　in　his　body。
　〃I　will　go　to　my　grandsire；〃　she　said　softly。　〃But　first　I　will　hear　the　truth　of　my　begetting。〃
　Torrin　led　them　inside　and　gestured　for　Carillon　to　seat　him…self　at　a　rectangular　slab　table　of　scarred　wood。　Alix　paced　the　room　like　a　fretful　dog；　seeking　security　in　the　familiarity　she　had　ever　known。
　Finally；　knowing　it　eluded　her；　she　stopped　before　the　fire…place　and　faced　Torrin。　〃Tell　me。　I　would　know　it　all。〃
　He　nodded；　pouring　a　cup　of　thin　wine　for　Carillon　and　another　for　himself。　Then　he　sat　down　on　a　stool　and　stared　fixedly　at　me　beaten　dirt　floor。
　〃Lindir　refused　Ellic　of　Solinde　from　the　very　first。　She　would　not　be　marriage　bait；　she　said；　to　be　given　to　Ellic　like　a　tame　puppy。　Shame　was　furious　and　ordered　her　to　do　his　bidding。　When　she　remained　defiant；　he　said　he　would　place　her　under　guard　and　sent　her　to　Lestra；　Bellam's　city。　Lindir　was　ever　a　determined　woman；　but　she　also　recognized　me　strength　in　her　father。　He　would　have　done　it。〃
　〃So　she　fled；〃　Atix　said　softly。
　〃Aye。〃　Torrin　blew　out　a　heavy　breath。　〃Hale　did　not　steal　her。　That　was　a　tale　the　Mujhar　put　out；　to　justify　the　affront　to　his　pride。　Later；　when　Ellinda　died　and　Lorsilla　bore　no　living　children；　he　decided　it　was　a　curse　laid　against　his　House　by　roe　Cheysuli。　What　Lindir　did　made　him　half…mad；　I　thought。　She　had　kept　her　secret　well。　None　knew　of　her　feelings　for　Hate。〃
　〃He　had　a　woman　at　the　Keep；〃　Alix　said。　〃Yet　he　left　her　for　Lindir。〃
　Torrin　looked　at　her　steadily。　〃You　will　understand　such　tilings　one　day；　Alix；　when　you　have　met　me　man　you　will　have。　Lindir　was　the　sort　all　men　loved；　but　she　would　have　no　one；　until　Hale。〃　He　shrugged。　〃She　was　eighteen；　and　more　beauti…ful　man　anything　I　have　ever　seen。　Had　she　been　born　a　boy＋　with　all　her　pride　and　strength＋she　would　have　made　Shaine　die　finest　heir　a　king　could　want。〃
　〃But　she　refused　Ellic。〃
　Torrin　snorted。　〃I　did　not　say　she　was　acquiescent。　Lindir　had　a　way　about　her　mat　ensorcelled　all　men；　even　her　father；　until　he　would　wed　her　to　the　Solindish　heir。　Then　she　showed　her　own　measure　of　the　Mujhar's　strength　and　stubbornness。〃
　Carillon　sipped　his　wine；　men　set　the　cup　down。　〃My　uncle　never　speaks　of　it。　What　I　have　beard　has　e　from　others。〃
　〃Aye；〃　Torrin　agreed。　〃The　Mujhar　was　a　proud　man。　Lin…dir　defeated　him。　Few　men　of　so　much　pride　will　speak　of　such　things。〃
　〃What　happened？〃　Alix　asked；　hugging　herself　before　the　fire。
　〃The　night　of　me　betrothal；　when　all　the　lords　of　Solinde　and　Homana　garnered　in　me　Great　Hall；　Lindir　walked　out　of　Homana…Mujhar　in　the　guise　of　a　serving　woman。　Hale　went　as　a　red　fox；　and　no　one　knew　either　of　them　as　they　left　the　city。　He　was　not　seen　again。〃
　〃What　of　Lindir？〃　Carillon　asked。
　Torrin　sighed。　〃She　disappeared。　Shaine　sent　troops　after　mem；　of　course；　swearing　Hale　had　stolen　her　for　himself。　But　neither　was　ever　found；　and　within　a　year　the　Lady　Ellinda　was　dead　of　a　wasting　disease。　Shaine's　second　wife；　me　Lady　Lorsilla；　was　made　barren　when　she　lost　the　boy　who　would　have　been　prince。　But　I　have　told　you　that。　Shaine　began　Us　purge　the　morning　after　the　boy　was　born　dead；　and　it　has　continued　since。〃
　Alix　shivered。　〃But。。。　Lindir　came　back；〃
　Torrin's　hands　clenched　against　his　knees。　〃She　came　back　eight　years　after　Shaine　began　the　purge。　Hale　was　dead　and　she　herself　was　ill。　The　Mujhar　accepted　her　only　because　he　needed　an　heir；　and　when　Lindir　died　after　bearing　a　gyri　he　would　not　accept　it。　He　said　me　purge　would　continue。　The　Lady　Lorsilla　and　myself　pleaded　with　him　not　to　have　roe　child　left　to　die　in　the　forests。　He　said　I　could　take　roe　girl；　if　I　left　his　service　and　swore　never　to　allow　her　in　Mujhara。　I　agreed。〃
　Alix　stared　at　him。　〃You　did　all　that　for　a　halfung　giri…child。。。〃
　He　swallowed　heavily。　〃Had　Shaine　cast　you　out；　I　could　not　have　served　him　again。　Taking　you　was　the　best　thing　I　have　ever　done。〃
　〃Then　they　are　not　demons？〃
　Torrin　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃The　Cheysuli　have　never　been　demons。　They　have　arts　we　do　not；　and　most　of　us　fear　them　for　it；　but　they　do　not　use　them　for　ill。〃
　〃Why　did　you　allow　me　to　believe　they　were？〃
　〃I　never　called　them　demons；　Alix。　But　neither　could　I　tell　you　differently；　or　your　own　innocence　in　defending　them　would　draw　suspicion。　Had　Shaine　ever　heard　of　you；　he　might　have　called　you　to　him。　He　might　have　rescinded　his　decision　to　let　me　keep　you　as　my　own。〃
　〃And　Hate？〃　she　asked　softly。
　Torrin's　head　bowed。　〃Hale　served　his　lord　with　a　loyalty　no　other　man　could　hope　for。　It　was　Lindir　who　twisted　that　loyalty。
　Hale　was　a　good　man。　You　have　no　need　to　fear　the　memory　of
　your　father。*'
　Alix　went　to　him　and　knelt　before　him；　placing　soft　hands　over　his　hardened　ones。　She　put　her　forehead　down　on　his　knee。
　〃You　will　ever　be　my　father！〃　she　said　brokenly。
　Torrin　placed　one　hand　on　her　bowed　head。　〃You　are　my　daughter；　Alix。　If　your　blood　begins　to　show　you　another　way；　I　understand　it。　There　is　magic　in　a　Cheysuli　soul。〃　He　sighed　and　smoothed　her　hair。　〃But　you　will　be　my　daughter　as　long　as　I　live。〃
　〃I　will　never　leave　you！〃
　He　cradled　her　head；　lifting　it　so　she　could　see　his　face。　〃Alix；　I　think　you　must。　I　served　with　the　Cheysuli　years　before　your　birth；　I　know　their　strength　and　dedication　and　their　magnifi…cent　honor。　They　did　not　ask　for　this　qu'mahlin。　But　they　realize　it　is　a　part　of　their　tahinwrra。〃
　〃You　speak　of　that！〃
　He　smiled　sadly。　〃I　have　reared　a　Cheysuli　girl…child　in　my　house；　and　in　my　heart。　How　could　I　not？〃
　A　chilling　sensation　rippled　through　her　body。　〃Then　you　knew。。。　one　day。。。〃
　〃I　have　ever　known。〃　He　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　brow　softly。　〃A　Cheysuli　can　never　deny　his　tahinwrra。　To　do　so　angers　the　gods。〃
　〃I　did　not　want　this；〃　she　said　dully。
　Torrin　removed　his　hands　and　sat　back　from　her　as　if　to
　illustrate　the　sacrifice　he　made。　〃Go　with　the　prince。　Alix。　I
　would　keep　you；　if　I　could；　but　it　is　no