jr.shapechangers-第39部分

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　Carillon　set　the　sword　across　his　lap　and　stared　at　the　Homanan　lion　crest　stamped　into　its　hilt。　Then　he　let　the　pain　and　fatigue　take　his　mind；　and　he　fell　asleep　with　Hale's　sword　held　firmly　against　his　chest。
　Alix　looked　on　his　bruised；　gaunt　face　and　suddenly　longed　for　the　first　days　of　their　meetings　in　the　forest　near　the　croft。　His　fine　clothes　were　gone；　replaced　by　soiled　and　scarred　leathers　and　blood…rusted　chain　mail。　His　sword…belt　was　missing　and　his　hair　had　grown　shaggy　and　tangled　in　weeks　of　captivity　Ч　The　only　thing　princely　about　him　was　the　ruby　seal　ring　on　his　right　forefinger；　and　the　determination　inherent　in　his　face　even　in　exhausted　sleep。
　She　sighed　and　felt　a　hollowness　enter　her　spirit；　knowing　Carillon's　personal　tahlmorra　would〃　take　him　farther　from　her　yet。
　Duncan　rose　and　turned　to　her；　looking　down　on　her　expressionlessly。　Something　in　his　eyes　made　her　realize　her　face　gave　away　her　feelings；　and　for　an　odd　moment　she　saw　before　her　a　stem　shapechanger　warrior　who　had　forced　her　into　his　clan　against　her　wishes。
　Then　the　oddness　slid　away　and　she　saw　him　clearly。
　He　is　Duncan；　she　recalled。　Duncan。。。。_。
　Somehow；　it　was　enough。　*
　He　moved　to　her　and　slowly　raised　her。　She　felt　the　strength　in　his　hand　on　her　arm　and　marveled　again　mat　this　man　had　taken　an　unschooled　croft…girl　into　his　pavilion；　when　he　might　have　had　another。
　〃e　with　me；〃　he　said　softly；　guiding　her　out　of　the　clearing　to　the　forest　beyond。
　When　he　found　a　shattered　tree　stump　he　set　her　down　upon　it　and　stood　resolutely　before　her；　dark　face　unreadable　in　the　shadows。
　〃Duncan？〃
　〃1　cannot　fault　you　for　what　you　have　done。　You　determined　what　it　was　that　needed　doing；　and　you　did　it。〃　He　shrugged　crookedly。　〃As　any　warrior　does。〃
　Alix　stared　at　the　ground；　dreading　his　wrath。　Duncan's　was　ever　worse　than　anyone's。
　〃I　understand　what　it　is　to　care　deeply　for　someone；　so　deeply　you　must　do　what　you　can；　regardless　of　oute；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃You　know　I　would　sacrifice　myself　for　you；　or　Finn；　or　any　other　warrior　of　my　clan。〃
　After　a　moment　she　dared　to　look　up　at　him。　Nervously　she　wet　her　lips。　〃If　you　mean　to　be　angry；　Duncan；　do　it。　I　cannot　wait　for　it　all　night。〃
　His　face；　still　in　shadow；　showed　her　nothing。　But　his　voice　was　surprised。　〃I　am　not　angry　with　you。　What　you　did　was　not　wrong＋only　inconsiderate。〃
　She　stiffened。　〃Inconsiderate！〃
　Duncan　sighed　and　stepped　forward；　into　a　shaft　of　moonlight　threading　its　way　through　the　trees。　She　saw　his　smile　and　warm　eyes　as　his　hands　settled　possessively　on　her　shoulders。
　〃Do　you　forget　me　child？　Do　you　forget　the　magic　in　your　soul？〃
　〃Duncan〃
　〃I　will　not　risk　losing　you　because　of　bearing　the　child　too　soon。　Such　things　can　take　a　woman's…life。　But　neither　will　I　risk　the　child；　who　deserves　to　Uve　as　a　warrior。　Alix；　you　have　taken　/ir…shape　while　carrying　an　unborn　child。　Had　you　not　thought　what　that　might　mean？〃
　Instinctively　a　hand　slipped　to　her　stomach。　Suddenly　she　was　very　frightened。
　〃Duncan＋it　will　not　harm　the　child？　It　will　not　take　him　from　me？〃
　He　traced　the　worried　creases　from　her　brow。　〃I　think　it　will　not　harm　me　child；　cheysula；　but　it　cannot　do　it　much　good。　Would　you　have　a　poor　unformed　soul　shifting　shape　before　it　even　knows　its　own？〃
　Her　fingers　tightened　spasmodically　against　her　stomach。
　〃Duncan！〃
　He　sighed　and　pulled　her　to　her　feet；　wrapping　hard　arms　around　her　shoulders。　She　turned　her　face　against　him。
　〃I　have　not　said　this　to　worry　you；　Alix。　Only　to　make　you　think。〃
　She　clung　to　him。　〃I　have　thought；　Duncan。；。　and　I　am　afraid！〃
　〃The　child　is　Cneysuli；　small　one；　and　bears　the　Old　Blood。　I　think　it　will　be　well　enough。〃
　She　drew　back。　〃But　what　if　I　have　harmed　it？　What　if　it　is　not　whole？〃
　Duncan　muttered　something　under　his　bream　and　pulled　her　against　his　chest　roughly。　〃I　am　sorry　I　said　anything。　I　should　not　have　put　this　in　your　mind。〃
　〃You　are　right　to；〃　she　said　clearly；　trying　to　see　his　face　in　the　shadows。　〃I　have　been　foolish。。。　as　you　said。〃
　〃Would　you　say　that　to　Carillon；　whom　you　have　freed　from　captivity？〃
　〃fou　freed　him。〃
　〃But　had　you　not　defied　me　to　begin　with；　I　would　not　have　gone　to　the　Atvian　encampment　at　all。　It　was　Mujhara　I　was　bound　for。〃
　Alix　sighed；　trying　to　deal　with　two　fears。　〃Do　you　send　me
　back；　then？　Do　you　forbid　me　to　go　with　you　to　the　city；　and
　make　me　wait　at　the　Keepi〃
　He　laughed　softly。　〃Why　can　you　not　be　as　other　women？　Why　must　you　put　on　men's　garb＋my　own；　I　have　seen＋and　act　the　part　of　a　warrior？〃
　She　scowled。　〃How　can　I　say？　I　am　myself。〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　have　seen　that。　It　is　not　entirely　unpleasing；　in　its　place。　As　for　Mujhara；　you　will　have　to　e　with　us。　I　will　not　have　you　take　fir…shape　again；　and　I　will　not　have　you　return　to　the　Keep　alone。　I　can　spare　no　men　to　take　you。〃　He　shrugged；　sighing。　〃So　you　will　e。〃
　Alix　said　nothing　for　a　long　moment。　Then　she　clenched　her　hands　against　his　ribs。　〃I　cannot　say　if　I　am　pleased　or　not。　I　would　not　be　happy　at　the　Keep；　waiting　in　fear；　but　neither　will　I　be　happy　to　see　you　risk　yourself　for　Shaine's　city。〃
　He　smoothed　back　her　hair。　〃It　is　not　Shaine's　city；　small　one。　Once　it　was　Cheysuli。　We　have　only　to　win　back　what　was　ours。〃
　She　turned　her　face　up　to　his。　〃Duncan＋had　the　Cheysuli　not　given　up　the　throne　to　Homanans＋could　you　have　been　Mujhar？〃
　He　smiled。　〃I　am　clan…leader；　cheysula。　It　is　enough。〃
　Something　turned　in　her　heart。　〃But　you　have　lost　so　much。。。〃
　His　eyes　were　very　clear　in　the　moonlight　as　he　looked　into　her　face。　'*I　have　lost　something；　perhaps；　but　I　have　found　even　more。〃
　〃Duncan〃
　〃Hush；　cheysula。　It　is　time　you　let　our　child　rest。〃
　She　sighed　and　felt　her　left　hand　clasped　firmly　in　his　as　he　led　her　back　to　the　tiny　camp。
　I　am　not　the　proper　sort　of　woman　for　this　man。。。　she
　thought　in　aching　regret；
　Cai；　hidden　in　the　darkness；　sent　her　his　warm　reassurance。
　Liren。。。　you　are　the　only　woman/or　this　man。
　Alix　drew　closer　to　Duncan　and　hoped　the　hawk　was　nght。
　BOOK　IV
　〃The　Warrior〃
　Chapter　One
　〃I　will　not　subject　myself　to　Cheysuli　sorcery；〃　Carillon　said　firmly　in　the　morning。
　He　sat　upright　against　his　log；　hands　folded　over　the　scab…barded　sword　Finn　had　returned　to　him。　The　Cheysuli　warriors　faced　him　silently；　yet　disapproving　even　in　their　silence。
　Alix　saw　defiant　determination　in　the　prince's　battered　face。
　〃Carillon；〃　she　reproved　softly。
　His　eyes　flickered　as　he　looked　at　her；　standing　at　Duncan's　side。　〃Alix；　such　sorcery　is　evil。　I　cannot　deny　your　own　measure　of　it；　but　I　know　you。　You　would　never　seek　to　bring　down　Homana's　heir。〃
　〃Nor　would　we；〃　Duncan　said　flatly。　He　sighed。　〃You　would　not　believe　it；　perhaps；　but　the　Cheysuli　never　meant　to　give　up　their　proper　place　next　to　the　Homanan　Mujhars。　Until　Hale　left；　Cheysuli　warriors　ever　served　Homanan　kings。　We　seek　no　quarrel　with　you。〃
　Finn　stood　apart　from　the　others；　smiling　crookedly　in　his　familiar　mocking　manner。　〃You　seek　the　quarrel；　I　think。〃
　Carillon's　mouth　tightened。　〃I　seek　only　to　get　to　MuJhara　and　free　my　city　from　the　Dilini　demons。　And　Bellam　of　Solinde。〃　His　fingers　were　bone…white　as　he　clenched　them　on　the　sword。
　〃You　will　not　get　there　without　our　aid；〃　Finn　said　curtly。　〃Yet　last　night　you　were　willing　enough　to　let　us　use　our　gifts　on　the　enemy。〃
　〃Using　your　magic　to　release　your　liege　lord　is　one　thing；〃　Carillon　retorted。　〃Subverting　my　will　with　it　is　entirely　another。〃
　Finn　laughed　scornfully。　〃See　how　quickly　he　calls　himself　our　lord！　Only　months　ago　you　lay　in　our　hands；　princeling；　and　did　our　bidding。　Could　we　not　have　forced　sorcery　on　you　then　if　we　wished　it？　Or　is　it　that　you　lift　yourself　higher；　now；　because　Fergus　of　Homana　is　slain？〃
　〃Rujho；〃　Duncan　said　quietly。
　Carillon's　eyes　were　hard　as　stone　as　he　shook　his　head。　〃Let
　him　speak。　I　have　learned　much　of　men　because　of　this　war；　and
　I　find　there　are　times　a　man　must　consider　himself　first。　Long
　have　I　allowed　the　Mujhar　to　manipulate　me；　but　no　longer。　My
　father　is　slain　by　Atvian　hands　and　it　is　my　place　to　do　what　he
　would。〃　Carillon　smiled　slowly；　without　humor。　〃You　may　not　like　it；　shapechanger；　but　I　will　be　lord　of　Homana　one　day。　You　had　better　accustom　yourself　to　it。〃
　Color　surged　into　Finn's　face　as　he　stiffened。　The　yellow　blaze　in　his　eyes　gave　away　the　depths　of　the　rage　he　felt；　and　Alix　grinned　delightedly。　She　caught　his　eyes　on　her　and　did　not　hide　her　reaction；　which　only　angered　him　further。　Finn　turned　and　walked　away　from　the　clustered　warriors。
　Duncan；　legs　spread　and　arms　folded；　smiled　ironically　down　on　Carillon。　〃My　lord　prince；　you　may　well　be　our　liege　lord。　But　it　remains：　you　cannot　ride　into　Mujhara　in　this　fashion。　You　would　not　last　the　journey。〃
　Carillon　placed　one　hand　flat　against　the　ground　and　pushed　himself　upright；　tensing　his　body　with　the　effort　it　took。　Alix　stifled　the　movement　she　longed　to　make　to　help　him；　knowing　to　do　so　would　diminish　tite　impact　of　his　rising。　He　stood　taller　than　most　of　them；　though　the　Cheysuli　were　a　tall　race；　and　his　broad　shoulders　stretched　against　the　leather…and…mail　he　wore。　Only　his　eyes　gave　away　the　immensity　of　effort　it　took　for　him　to　remain　standing　erectly　before　them。
　〃If　I　cannot　ride　into　my　own　city；　I　have　no　business　attempting　to　free　her　from　the　Ihlini　terror。〃
　〃Carillon；〃　she　said　softly；　〃it　will　not　hurt。　It　will　only　strengthen　you。〃
　His　eyes　burned　into　hers　as　he　stretched　out　his　left　hand。　The　stiff　sleeve　of　his　fighting　leathers　and　mail　drew　back　on　his　arm；　baring　the　ridged　purple　weak　still　weeping　fluid　from　the　shackle…wounds。
　〃I　care　little　if　it　hurts；　Alix。　Have　I　not　learned　to　deal　with　pain？〃
　Duncan's　hand　pressed　against　her　shoulder　as　if　bidding　her　into　silence。　Alix　longed　to　answer　Carillon's　bitterness　but　refrained。　As　she　listened　to　Duncan　she　realized　nothing　she　said　could　change　Carillon's　mind。　But　Duncan's　words　might。
　〃Homana　lies　in　her　death　struggle；〃　he　said　clearly。　〃I　believe　you　realize　that。　It　is　a　harsh　thing　to　prehend；　when　you　are　prince　of　a　land　and　must　someday　as