jr.shapechangers-第22部分

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　〃Because　Carillon　required　convincing　we　were　not　the　de…mons　he　believed。〃
　She　shifted；　easing　a　sore　hip。　Her　entire　body　ached　with　the　fall　from　the　horse。　〃What　did　you　mean　when　you　spoke　to　Carillon　as　we　left？　It　sounded　as　if　you　spoke　from　certain　knowledge。〃
　He　tended　the　sizzling　grouse　and　sipped　at　a　cup　of　honey　brew。　〃I　spoke　from　the　knowledge　of　the　prophecy。　Carillon　is　not　named　in　it＋no　man　is＋but　I　think　he　is　me　one。〃
　〃Speak　plainly　with　me。〃
　Duncan　smiled　crookedly　at　her。　〃I　cannot。　You　have　no　knowledge　of　the　prophecy。　That　will　be　given　to　you　by　the　shar　tahl；　and　then　you　will　know。〃
　〃Why　must　you　shroud　your　words　in　so　much　darkness？　You　would　have　me　think　it　is　some　sorcery　you　seek　to　do。〃
　〃it　is　no　sorcery　to　serve　Ac　gods。〃
　〃As　does　Tynstar？〃
　Hestiffened。　〃Tynstar　serves　me　dark　gods　of　the　netherworld。
　He　is　evil。　He　seeks　only　to　end　the　prophecy　before　its　time　is
　e。
　〃So　he　said。〃　Alix　sighed　and　rubbed　at　her　brow。　〃Where　did　you　go　when　my　horse　ran？〃
　〃First　1　dew　two　of　me　thieves。　The　third　ran。　I　went　to　find　you。〃
　〃Why　did　you　not　simply　send　Cai？　Or　seek　h'r…shape？〃
　〃I　could　not　take　fir…shape。　I　sensed　the　presence　of　an　Dilini；　though　I　did　not　know　who。　As　for　Cai。。。　him　I　sent　to　Homana…Mujhar。〃
　'Homana…Mujhar！〃
　〃I　thought　you　had　returned　to　Carillon。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　astonished；　then　felt　a　strange　bubble　of　laughter　welling　within。　〃You　will　have　me　think　you　are　Jeal…ous　of　him。〃
　He　scowled。　〃I　am　not　jealous。〃
　Alix　smiled　in　wonder；　then　laughed　outright。　〃So；　I　am　to　mink　me　Cheysuli　are　not　capable　of　such　a　Homanan　emotion？　Yet　your　brother＋who　is　also　mine＋seems　well　able　to　display　it。〃
　〃Finn　is　young。〃
　〃And　you　not　much　older。〃
　Color　came　into　his　face。　〃I　left　my　youth　behind　me　day　my　first　Keep　was　invaded　by　the　Mujhar's　men。　It　was　only　the　will　of　the　gods　I　was　not　slain；　as　so　many　others　were。〃
　〃Duncan＋〃
　〃You　will　see　when　we　have　reached　the　Keep。〃
　〃Are　so　few　left？〃
　〃Perhaps　fifty　women；　half　of　which　cannot　bear　children。　The　rest　are　old　men；　girls；　and　boys。　Of　warriors。。。　there　are　perhaps　sixty。〃
　The　horror　of　me　qu'mahlin　swept　into　her　for　the　first　time。
　〃Duncan。。。〃
　He　looked　old　suddenly。　〃Once　this　land　was　ours。　More　man　fifty　clans　ranged　Homana；　from　Hondarth　on　die　Idrian　Ocean　into　the　mountains　of　me　north；　across　toe　Bluetooth　River。　Now　they　are　all　slain；　leaving　only　my　own　clan。　And　we　are　not　so　strong　as　we　were。〃
　〃Shame's　doing。。。〃
　He　reached　out　and　caught　one　of　her　arms；　eyes　beseeching　her。　〃Do　you　see　it　now？　Do　you　understand　why　we　steal　women　and　force　them　to　bear　our　children？　Alix；　it　is　me　survival　of　a　race。　It　is　not　you　me　Council　will　see；　but　your　race　and　your　youth。　You　must　serve　your　race；　cheysula。〃
　She　sat　straight　upon　die　pelt。　〃And　will　they　hear　you　have　called　me　that？〃
　He　released　her　arm。　〃I　will　ask　for　you。　It　is　my　tahlmorra。〃
　103
　Duncao　gestured　slowly；　spreading　his　fingers。　〃You　are　Hate's　daughter　I　think　they　will　not　deny　me。〃
　She　felt　chilled。　〃But＋they　could？　They　could　refuse　you？〃
　His　hand　dropped。　〃Aye。　First　you　must　be　acknowledged　within　the　clan；　given　me　knowledge　in　the　old　fashion；　made　aware　ofyourbirthlines。　The　shar　tahi　will　say　if　you　are　truly　Cheysuli。〃
　〃But＋you　have　said！〃
　Duncan　smiled　sadly。　〃There　is　no　doubt；　small　one；　it　is　only　custom。　But　you　have　been　raised　Homanan。　In　the　eyes　of　me　Council；　you　are　tainted。　Until　the　shar　tahl　has　declared　you　free　of　it。〃
　Desolate；　she　closed　her　eyes。　Her　growing　security　in　him　was　destroyed　with　but　a　few　words。　Then　her　eyes　snapped　open。
　〃They　would　not　give　me　to　Finn！〃
　Duncan's　face　was　a　mixture　of　surprise　and　amusement；　men　consideration。　He　frowned。
　Alix　was　suddenly　frightened。　〃Duncan；　they　would　not！〃
　He　turned　the　spitted　bird　slowly。　〃I　am　clan…leader；　but　not　the　sole　power　in　the　clan。　It　is　Council　that　says　what　will　be。〃
　She　leaped　to　her　feet　and　stumbled　to　the　rock　wall　facing　her。　She　stared　at　it　blindly；　hugging　the　blanket　around　her　aching　body。　The　new　knowledge　of　what　Duncan　meant　to　her　twisted　in　her　entrails　like　a　serpent；　setting　jagged　teeth　into　her　spirit。
　To　lose　him　when　I　have　only　just　found　him。。。
　Duncan's　hands　settled　on　her　shoulders。　〃I　will　not　let　you　go　so　easily。〃
　Trembling；　she　turned　to　him。　〃Could　you　gainsay　it；　if　they　wished　to　give　me　to　another　man？〃
　Muscles　rolled　beneath　me　smooth　flesh　of　his　jaw。　〃No。〃
　〃Then　what　of　this　tahlmorra　you　prate　about？〃
　〃It　is　mine；　Alix；〃　he　said　somberly。　〃It　does　not　mean　it　is　the　clan's。〃
　She　whispered　his　name。　Then　she　lifted　her　face　and　touched　his　arm。　〃If　I　went　before　this　Council　already　carrying　your　chad。。。？〃
　His　eyes　flickered　in　surprise。　Then　he　smiled　faintly。　〃If　you　made　such　a　sacrifice；　small　one；　were　would　be　little　they　could　say　about　the　match。〃
　Alix　let　we　blanket　drop。　The　gown　beneath；　ungirdled；　hung　loosely。　Slowly　she　undid　the　fastenings　at　the　neck。　Duncan　watched　her　mutely；　held　by　the　strength　in　her　eyes。　His　breath　came　harsh。
　When　we　gown　was　undone　she　let　it　fall　to　her　feet。　Her　hair；　unbound；　streamed　over　her　shoulders　like　a　mantle。
　*'I　am　new　to　mis。。。〃　she　whispered；　trembling　with　some…thing　other　than　fear。　〃Duncan。。。　it　cannot　be　so　very　difficult　to　conceive。。。〃
　〃No；〃　he　breathed；　reaching　for　her。　〃It　is　not　so　very　difficult。〃
　He　took　her　from　Homana　into　Ellas；　the　realm　bordering　Horoana's　eastern　side。　Alix；　clasping　his　lean　waist　with　a　new　and　wonderful　possessiveness；　felt　regret　and　anger　stir　within　her　that　her　grandsire　could　so　malignantly　drive　her　race　from　their　homeland　into　a　strange　realm…When　at　last　Duncan　halted　Alix　saw　before　her　a　large　half…circle　wall　of　piled　stone。　The　wall　ran　a　distance　before　circling　back；　and　at　we　wide　opening　she　saw　three　warriors　with　weir　Ur。　They　waited　silently；　and　she　realized　they　were　guards。
　〃The　Keep；〃　Duncan　said；　and　rode　past　we　warriors。　Huge　oiled　pavilions　billowed　in　a　faint　breeze。　All　were　dyed　warm　colors；　dwarfing　the　small　tents　she　had　seen　at　the　raiding　camp。　Each　had　its　own　firepit　before　flapped　entrances；　but　smoke　drifted　from　the　poled　peaks　and　she　realized　smaller　fires　were　tended　within。　Each　pavilion；　regardless　of　its　color；　bore　a　painted　animal　on　its　sides。　By　the　shapes　she　could　know　what　lir　lived　were。
　The　curving　wall　of　undressed；　unmoitared　stone　hugged　the　shoulder　of　a　craggy　mountain。　The　half…circle　blended　into　thick；　sheltering　trees。　Alix　realized　such　anonymity　was　we　safety　of　the　Cneysuli。
　Duncan　halted　we　horse　before　a　green　pavilion。　She　looked　for　the　hawk　painting　on　its　side　but　saw　only　a　wolf。　She　stiffened。　〃Why　do　we　stop　here？〃
　**I　would　see　my　ra/Ao；〃　he　said　quietly；　slipping　from　the　horse。　He　turned　to　lift　her　down。
　〃Why？　I　want　nothing　to　do　with　Finn。〃
　Duncan　eyed　her　thoughtfully。　〃When　last　I　saw　him；　he　was　feverish　from　the　wounds　gotten　in　the　forest　battle。〃　His　mouth　was　firm。　〃Wounds　won　protecting　you。〃
　Chastened；　Alix　slipped　silently　into　his　arms　and　allowed　him　to　lead　her　into　me　pavilion。
　Finn　was　stretched　out　on　a　pallet　of　wick　furs；　wrapped　in　a　soft　woven　blanket。　As　he　saw　them　he　hoisted　himself　up　on　one　elbow　and　grinned　at　her。
　〃So；　my　ruifw　managed　to　win　you　away　from　the　wealth　of　Homana…Mujhar。。。　and　Carillon。〃
　She　had　been　prepared　to　wish　him　well；　feeling　guilty　over　his　injuries　gotten　in　her　behalf。　But　now；　facing　hie　mocking　eyes　and　words；　her　good　intentions　evaporated。
　〃I　came　willingly　enough；　when　my　grandsire　called　me
　shapechanger　witch　and　threatened　to　have　me　slain。'*
　〃I　soul　your　place　was　with　us；　meijha；　not　among　me　walls　of　Shame's　palace。。。　or　within　me　princeling's　arms。〃
　She　glared　at　him。　〃You　do　not　look　feverish　to　me。〃
　He　laughed。　〃I　am　fully　recovered；　meijha。　Or　nearly。　I　wiu　be　plaguing　you　soon　enough；　when　I　am　on　my　feet。〃
　〃You　do　not　require　feet　to　do　that！〃　She　scowled　at　turn。
　〃You　need　only　be　in　my　presence。〃
　Finn　grinned　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　hair。　She　saw　his　eyes　were　alert　and　unclouded　by　illness；　though　his　color　was　not　as　deep　as　usual。　Inwardly　she　was　grateful　he　had　not　been　badly　injured；　but　she　would　not　say　it　to　him。
　〃Will　you　two　never　admit　peace　between　you？〃　Duncan　growled。　〃Must　I　ever　seek　to　placate　you；　one　at　a　time？〃
　〃She　is　a　woman；　nyfco；〃　Finn　said　airily。　〃And　they　are　ever　me　cause　of　much　agitation。〃
　Before　Alix　could　answer　Duncan　put　a　firm　hand　on　her　shoulder；　pressing　gently。　She　said　nothing；　but　saw　Finn's　eyes　narrow　suspiciously。　Alix　could　not　keep　her　face　from　turning　bright　red。
　He　smiled　slowly；　watching　her；　eyes　very　bright。　He　was　not　stupid；　she　knew。　He　looked　at　Duncan　with　a　blank　mask　on　his　face。
　〃Malina　has　conceived。〃
　Duncan's　hand　bit　into　Alix's　shoulder。　She　stared　at　him　in　surprise；　seeing　him　go　pale　beneath　his　Cheysuli　coloring。　She　was　new　to　a　woman's　intuition　for　her　mate。　but　understood　instantly　that　something　had　deeply　shaken　him。
　〃Is　it　certain？〃　Duncan　asked　in　a　peculiar　voice。
　Finn　nodded。　〃She　is　four　months　gone。〃　His　face　twisted
　mockingly。　〃Was　it　not　four　months　ago　when　she　fumed　from
　you　to　Borrs；　and　took　him　as　her　cheysuH〃
　〃I　count；　Finn！〃　Duncan　said　angrily。
　The　younger　man　looked　at　Alix's　unprehending　face。　He　smiled　more　broadly。　〃And　now　Borrs　is　among　me　soulless　men；　seeking　his　death…ritual。　Malina　is　free　again。〃
　Instinctively　Alix　reached　for　Duncan's　clenched　fist。　But　he　withdrew　his　hand　from　her　seeking　fingers　and　stepped　away；　putting　distance　between　them。
　106
　〃Has　she　declared　me　unborn　child　before　Council　yet？〃　he　asked　harshly。
　Finn；　solemn　again；　shook　his　head。　〃She　has　been　in　formal　mourning　for　the　last　three　days；　since　she　learned　of　the　news。　But　it　will　have　to　be　a　brief　mourning；　if　she　is　to　take　another　cheysul。〃
　〃Did　Borrs　know　of　the　child？〃
　Finn　hunched　a　shoulder。　〃He　said　nothing　of　it　to　me。　But　men　he　knew　you　and　I　are　close；　ruifw；　and　he　would　hardly　speak　of　such　a　thing　to　the　rujholl