jr.shapechangers-第26部分

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r　undercoat。　It　itches；　but　you　know　it　will　mean　added　warmth　in　the　coldest　season。　Your　tail　grows　bushier；　more　luxuriant；　and　you　are　lovely；　Uren。
　She　was。
　You　nave　the　endurance　to　travel　many　leagues　in　a　single　day；　without　food　and　little　wafer。　Your　sinews　and　nerves　are　strongly　knit　and　your　heart　is　large。　You　are　young　and　strong　and　joyous　in　Ufe。
　Alix　fete　warm　blood　pulsing　through　her　veins；　felt　the　vi…brancy　and　exhilaration　of　youth。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　met　Storr's　on　a　level；　realizing　she　knelt　in　me　leaves　like　any　four…footed　creature。
　The　world　spun。　It　picked　her　up　like　a　leaf　on　a　whirlwind　and　turned　her　upside　down。
　AKx　put　a　band　out　toward　Storr；　silently　asking　his　help；　but　she　saw　only　a　padded；　furred　paw　with　black　nails。
　She　cried　out；　and　heard　her　voice　echoing　in　the　woods　like　tie　howl　of　a　lonely　wolf。
　Disorientation　took　her。　Dizzily　she　clasped　her　head　in　her　hands；　conscious　they　were　human　once　more。
　〃Stoir　she　said　weakly。
　　A　was　too　fast；　Urw。　You　must　not　fear　the　shapechange。　You　^…'。cannot　harm　yourself　in　Ur…shape；　but　it　is　not　wise　to　shift　too　　auickty。　The　mind　cannot　adjust。
　　Stowly　her　stomach　settled　itself。　Her　eyes　saw　clearly　again　…　id　the　ache　in　her　head　died　to　nothingness。　She　smiled　wearily；。　triumphantly；　and　looked　into　the　wolfs　wise　eyes。　〃I　have　done　it。〃　it　will　be　better；　after　this。
　Perhaps；　Cai　said　gently；　you　will　amaze　even　my　lir。
　Chapter　Six
　Alix　sat　hunched　on　the　broken　stump　of　a　felled　tree；　toes
　digging　through　die　velvet　of　her　court　slippers　into　the　soft
　'　ground。　The　slippers　were　torn　and　stained；　nearly　useless；　for
　'　they　had　been　made　for　Shame's　palace　and　not　the　wikmess　of　a
　Cheysuli　Keep。　Her　ruined　gown　had　been　changed　for　a　woolen
　dress　of　palest　orange；　her　ragged　hair　trimmed　so　that　it　did　not
　。　straggle　so　much；　but　she　had　returned　the　slippers　to　recall　her　brief　moment　of　glory。
　The　glory　had　gone。　Only　in　her　dreams　did　she　recall　me
　；　richness　of　Homana…Mujhar　and　the　fine　glittering　city　surround…
　Ng　its　rose…colored　walls。　Her　days　left　her　no　time　to　think；　for
　the　hours　were　filled　with　Raissa's　words　as　she　taught　Alix　the
　customs　she　must　know。　Her　hands　were　never　still；　she　needs
　must　learn　how　to　weave　a　tapestry；　how　to　tend　two　fires　at
　ooce。　how　to　cook　Cheysuli　dishes。。。　and　how　to　prepare
　herself　to　take　a　cheysul。　The　shar　tahi　had　yet　to　see　her
　'　personally　but　Raissa　said　there　was　no　need；　the　man　spent　his
　〃　time　researching　the　birth　lines　to　trace　her　history　and　ancestors　ao　mat　BO　one　could　question　her　birth。
　They　bind　me。。。　she　thought。　They　seek　to　bind　me　tightly　within　the　coils　of　their　prophecy；　so　I　have　no　choice　but　to　do　as　they　wish。
　Alix　smoothed　die　soft　wool　over　her　knees；　fingering　me　nap。
　She　had　been　shocked　to　find　the　skill　so　evident　in　Cheysuli
　craftsmanship。　She　had　grown　up　believing　them　little　better　than
　1；　barbarians　without　the　niceties　of　Homanan　culture　and　crafts；　but　five　days　with　the　clan　had　already　altered　her　perceptions。
　Their　fabrics　were　close…woven　and　fine；　dyed　muted　dudes　of　every　cotor　and　often　beaded　with　semi…precious　stones　or　bright…ened　with　gleaming　metals。
　And　the　jewelry。。。　Alix　realized　even　the　finest　of　Mujhara's　goldsmiths　could　not　match　me　skill　of　Cheysuli　craftsmanship。　The　warriors　wore　thick　fir…bands　on　their　arms　and　a　single　earring；　but　their　talents　stretched　farther　than　that。　Already　Alix　had　seen　small　casks　filled　with　delicate　ornaments　fit　to　bedeck　any　king　or　queen。
　A　strange　thing。。。　she　thought；　that　a　race　so　dedicated　to　war　can　also　make　such　delicate；　beautiful　things。
　The　hands　came　over　her　shoulders　and　rested　mere；　one　thumb　caressing　her　neck。　The　intimacy　of　the　touch　brought　home　all　the　longing　she　felt　for　Duncan；　for　he　had　not　seen　her　except　in　passing。　Alix　lowered　her　bead　and　stared　blindly　at　me　leaf…carpeted　ground；　wishing　Duncan　would　not　play　with　her　emotions　so。
　〃I　have　missed　you；〃　he　said。
　Alix　stiffened　and　spun　out　from　under　the　hands；　leaping　up　and　stumbling　away。　Finn's　hands　slowly　dropped　back　to　his　sides。
　Her　breath　came　harshly；　whistling　through　her　constricted　throat。　One　hand　spread　across　her　neck；　guarding　it；　the　other　tangled　itself　in　her　skirts。
　〃What　is　it　you　want　of　me？〃　she　asked。
　Finn's　lips　twitched。　〃That；　I　think；　you　know　already。〃
　Alix　lowered　her　hand　and　stood　stiffly　before　him。　〃Why　have　you　e？〃
　*To　speak　with　you。〃　He　sat　down　on　her　deserted　stump　and　stretched　out　his　legs。　Thigh　muscles　bunched　and　rolled　beneath　me　snug　fit　of　his　learner　leggings。　His　face　still　bore　the　thread　of　pinkish　scar　tissue　over　one　black　eyebrow。
　〃What　would　you　and　I　have　to　speak　about？*'
　〃You　and　I；〃　he　said　quietly。
　Alix　frowned　at　him。　**I　do　not　understand。〃
　Finn　sighed　and　gestured。　〃I　will　not　leap　on　you；　meijha；　I　promise。　But　I　cannot　speak　to　you　if　you　persist　in　being　so　frightened　of　me。　Your　eyes　are　like　those　of　a　doe　when　facing　…　hunter。〃　He　smiled。　〃Sit；　if　you　will。〃
　Alix　hesitated；　still　defiant　before　him；　but　she　was　caught　by　the　lightness　in　his　tone。　He　had　shed　the　ironic　mocking　she　hated　so　much。　Carefully　she　sealed　down　in　the　leaves　and　spread　her　skirts　around　her　folded　legs。
　〃Council　has　been　called　for　this　night。〃
　She　felt　blood　leave　her　face。　〃Council。。。〃
　〃At　sunset。〃
　〃What　is　the　subject　of　it？〃
　〃AH　manner　of　things；　many　of　which　concern　you。〃
　Alix　bit　at　her　lip。　〃I　thought　it　might　be　that。〃
　〃I　have　e　to　save　you　some　trouble。〃
　Her　chin　lifted。　〃You　do　not　save　trouble；　Finn；　you　make　it。〃
　He　had　me　grace　to　color。　〃For　you。。。　perhaps　I　did。　I　admit　it。〃　He　smiled　crookedly。　〃But　admitting　is　not　an　apology；　and　I　will　never　apologize　for　following　my　judgment。〃
　Alix　stared　at　him；　growing　more　baffled　by　me　moment。
　〃Finn；　you　had　best　be　plain　with　me。〃
　He　nulled　his　legs　in　and　sat　upright　on　the　stump。　〃You　did
　not　conceive　Ч　〃
　Heat　coursed　through　her　face　as　she　went　rigid。　〃What　do　you　know　of　it？〃
　His　eyes　were　amused；　though　be　did　not　laugh　at　her。　〃Among　Ч　the　Cheysuli　such　things　are　not　kept　locked　behind　doors。　We　are　too　few　to　look　upon　it　as　a　woman's　mystery。　It　is　a　reason　to　rejoice；　Alix；　when　a　Cheysuli　woman　has　conceived。〃　He　paused　as　she　stared　hard　at　the　ground。　〃Raissa　told　me　when　I　asked　this　morning。　There　is　no　child。〃
　〃Raissa　had　no　right　to　tell　you　anything；　nor　you　the　right　to
　k。〃
　〃I　had　every　right。　I　intend　to　ask　for　your　clan…rights　in　Council　this　night。〃
　Alix's　bead　jerked　up。　〃No！〃
　〃Duncan　will　not　nave　you；〃　he　said　ruthlessly…　〃That　has　been　made　plain　to　all　of　us。　He　will　take　Malina；　as　he　has　ever　intended。　There　is　no　hope　left　to　you。〃
　〃There　is　ever　hope；〃　she　said　fiercely；　though　she　knew　he　was　right…He　moved　off　the　stump　and　knelt　in　the　leaves　before　her；　catching　her　hands　before　she　could　escape　his　closeness。
　〃You　have　said　you　will　be　no　man's　mei　jha。　That　is　your　Homanan　blood　speaking；　but　I　will　respect　it。　1　am　not　entirely　blind　to　your　needs；　Alix。〃　He　smiled　at　her　ironically。　〃I　will　sacrifice　a　part　of　my　freedom。〃
　She　tried　to　break　free　of　his　clasping　hands　but　could　not。　Once　again　she　fete　helpless；　trapped；　and　the　famihar　fright　rose　up。　She　knelt　before　him；　trembling；　hands　icy　cold　in　me　warmth　of　his。
　〃Fum。。。　I　cannot。　There　can　never　be　peace　between　us。　You　made　that　impossible　from　the　very　first　day。　I　would　hardly　be　a　docile；　acmodating　cheysula。〃
　His　grin　flashed。　〃If　I　wanted　that　sent　of　cheysula；　I　would　never　ask　for　you。〃
　She　managed　to　glare　at　him。　〃Then　why　do　you　ask　for　me？〃
　〃I　have　wanted　you　from　the　beginning/*　he　said　deliberately。
　〃I　will　take　you　however　I　can　get　you。〃
　Alix　recoiled　from　him；　finally　breaking　free。　〃I　would　never
　take　you。。。　never　By　all　the　gods；　Finn。。。　you　are　my
　half…brother！　You　stole　me！　You　took　my　life　and　destroyed　it；
　and　now　you　seek　to　make　a　new　one　I　want　no　part　of。　It　is
　Duacan　I　want。。。　notyouV
　His　face　remained　set　and　closed；　but　me　color　drained　slowly　until　he　resembled　a　dead　man。　But　the　intensity　in　his　eyes　showed　his　blood　still　ran　beneath　his　flesh。
　〃Duncan　wants　Malina；〃　be　said　coldly。　〃Not　you。　Else　he　would　renounce　the　old　oath　he　made　to　her　so　long　ago；　and　take　you　as　his　cheysula。〃　He　shrugged　dismissively。　〃You　will　grow　out　of　wanting　Duncan；　my　Homanan　rujholla；　if　only　because　such　desires　die　if　not　fed。〃
　〃There　is　ever　hope；〃　she　said　blankly。
　**There　is　none；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　turned　from　Carillon　to　Duncan。　In　time；　you　will　turn　from　my　ruifwUi　to　me。〃
　〃You　cannot　make　me！〃　she　cried。
　〃I　will　not　have　to。〃　Finn　glanced　down　at　his　hands　as　be　idly　separated　me　leaves　by　colors。　〃I　spoke　to　me　shar　tahl。　You　will　be　acknowledged　at　Council；　and　formally　accepted　into　the　clan。　With　that　acceptance　es　clan…rights；　which　any　warrior　may　ask　for。〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃Others　may　ask　for　you；　Alix。　because　you　are　young　and　healthy　and　new　to　me　clan。　But　I　mink　you　will　take　me；　because＋for　all　that　has　happened　between　us＋you　know　me。〃
　〃I　will　take　Duncan；〃　she　said　firmly；　knowing　it　as　a　weapon　against　Finn。　〃Duncan。〃
　Finn's　mouth　twisted。　〃I　also　spoke　with　Duncan　about　your　clan…rights；　rujholla。　He　is　clan…leader。　It　is　his　place　to　know　what　clan…rights　wifl　be　asked；　and　who　will　do　the　asking。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃A　clan…leader　can　ever　deny　a　warrior　me　woman　he　wishes。　Taking　a　cheysula　is　a　formal　thing。　The　clan…leader　must　give　his　permission。〃
　Alix　felt　cold　and　hollow；　and　very　much　alone。　〃And　Dun…can。。。？〃
　〃He　gave　me　permission；　Alix。　He　will　not　interfere。〃
　Duncan！　she　cried　within　her　soul。
　〃If　it　is　not　me；　it　will　be　another；〃　Finn　said　gently。
　Alix　looked　at　him。　For　die　first　tune　he　spoke　softly　to　her；　without　the　mocking　mannerisms　she　had　e　to　expect。　She　summoned　up　me　image　of　him　shapechanging　before　her；　but　it　no　longer　frightened　her。　She　had　her　own　ability；　though　no　one　knew　of　it　yet。　Part　of　him；　she　knew；　must　be　like