jr.shapechangers-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lew　his　first　wife　and　denied　his　second　living　children。〃　Duncan　paused。　〃And　that　began　the　qu'mahlw。〃
　〃War；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃The　qu'mahlin　is　more　than　war。　It　is　annihilation　for　the　Cheysuli　race。　The　Mujhar　wants　every　last　one　of　us　slain；　me　race　destroyed。〃　His　yellow　eyes　met　hers。　〃His　decree　touches　even　his　granddaughter。〃
　Alix　felt　color　drain　from　her　face。　〃Shame's　granddaughter。。。〃
　〃'Y（jehana　was　Lindir　of　Homana。　You　are　the　Mujhar's　granddaughter。〃
　〃No。　No；　you　tell　me　lies。〃
　Duncan　smiled　for　the　first　time。　〃I　do　not　lie；　small　one。　But　if　you　wish；　you　may　ask　my　lir。　Cai　has　told　me　you　have　a　gift　of　the　gods；　and　can　converse　with　all　the；i'r。〃
　〃The　hawk。。。〃　she　whispered。
　A　golden　tone　stirred　within　her　mind；　softly。　You　are　Hole's　daughter；　liren；　and　bloodkin　to　us　all。　Do　not　deny　your　heritage；　or　the　gift　of　the　gods。
　Duncan　saw　the　anguish　and　fear　in　her　face。　He　touched　her　trembling　hands　gently。　〃If　you　wish　to　rest；　I　can　finish　the　story　another　time。〃
　〃No！〃　she　said　wildly。　〃No；　I　will　listen！　What　more　can　you　say　that　will　not　destroy　what　prehension　I　have　left　to　me？〃
　He　took　his　hand　away。　〃Hale　was　slain　in　me　qu'mahlin　by　Shaine's　troops；　as　he　sought　from　me　beginning。　Lindir；　carrying　a　child；　returned　to　her　jehan　to　beg　his　understanding。　She　wanted　shelter　for　her　child。〃　Duncan's　face　was　grim。　〃The　Mujhar　needed　an　heir。　He　had　no　son；　and　his　lady…wife　made　barren。　Lindir's　child；　were　it　a　boy；　Ч　would　be　that　heir。〃
　A　chill　washed　through　her；　leaving　apprehension　in　its　wake。
　〃But　there　was　no　son。。。〃
　〃No。　Lindir　bore　a　daughter；　and　died…　The　Mujhar；　still　dedicated　to　his　purge；　ordered　the　halfling　girl…child　taken　to　the　forests　and　left　to　die。〃
　〃But　it　was　only　a　child。。。〃
　〃A　shapechanger。　A　demon。〃　His　voice　was　rough　as　he　said　the　Homanan　words。　〃A　halfling　best　left　to　the　beasts。〃
　Alix　looked　up　into　his　impassive　face。　She　saw　it　soften　into　understanding　and　sympathy　and　sternness。　He　had　told　her；　she　realized；　and　he　expected　her　to　believe　him。
　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃　she　asked。　〃You？〃
　〃It　has　been　told　to　the　shar　tahl；　who　has　given　it　to　me　clan。〃
　〃The　shar　tahl
　〃Our　priest…historian；　the　Homanans　would　call　him。　He　keeps　me　rituals　and　the　traditions；　and　makes　certain　all　know　me　proper　heritage　of　me　Cheysuli。　Mostly　he　tends　to　me　words　of　me　prophecy。〃
　〃What　is　this　prophecy　you　prate　of？〃　she　asked；　irritable。
　〃Finn　speaks　of　little　else。〃
　〃That　is　not　for　me　to　say。　The　shar　tahl　will　speak　with　you　when　it　is　the　proper　time。〃　He　shrugged；　lifting　his　spread…fingered　palm。　〃Tahlmorra。〃
　Alix　looked　at　him　in　the　flickering　shadows　of　the　slate…colored　pavilion。　He　was　alien　to　her；　part　of　the　vague　dreams　she　had　dreamed　over　the　years；　growing　up　knowing　the　Cheysuli　were　accursed　and　outlawed　and　sentenced　to　death　by　the　Mujhar。　But　she　knew　he　did　not　lie　to　her；　for　all　she　wished　to　believe　it。　There　was　no　deceit　in　his　eyes。
　〃If　what　you　tell　me　is　true；　there　is　one　more　thing；〃　she　said　hollowly。　〃You　are　my　brother；　like　Finn。〃
　Duncan　smiled。　〃No。　Finn　and　I　share　ajehana；　but　Hale　was　to　me　what　the　Homanans　call　foster…father。　My　jehan　died　when　I　was　very　young。〃
　She　smoothed　the　weave　of　her　skirts。　〃I　do　not　entirely　understand。　You　said　Hale　took　Lindir　away　and　got　a　child　on　her。　Me。〃　The　word　was　dry　in　her　mourn。　〃But　if　he　was　father　to　Finn；　and　foster…father　to　you。。。　I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃Hale　was　liege　man　to　Shaine。　It　is　a　Cheysuli　thing；　hereditary　service　to　the　Mujhars　and　their　blood。　Until　the　purge；　the　Mujhars　of　Homana　ever　had　a　Cheysuli　liege　man；〃　Duncan　smiled　faintly。　〃Hale　spent　most　of　his　dme　at　Homana…Mujhar；　serving　this　lord；　according　to　custom。　Lindir　was　a　golden　child　who　took　great　joy　in　teasing　berjehan's　fierce　liege　man；　it　was　a　game　to　her。　Then　she　was　no　longer　a　child；　and　Hale　was　no　longer　indifferent　to　the　promise　of　her　beauty。　She　had　fulfilled　mat　promise。〃　He　saw　Alix's　shocked　face　and　laughed　softly。　〃The　Homanans　hide　their　meijhas　and　call　mem　light　women。　The　Cheysuli　keep　cheysulas　and　meijhas　wives　and　mistresses　and　honor　mem　both。〃
　〃But　Hale　left　your　mother！〃
　〃He　did　what　he　wished。　That　is　understood　among　us。　Men　and　women　have　the　freedom　to　take　whom　they　choose；　when　they　choose。〃　He　grimaced。　〃Though　now　we　have　few　warriors；　and　fewer　women。〃
　Alix　swallowed　with　effort。　〃I　would　rather　be　Homanan。〃
　Duncan's　eyes　narrowed。　〃But　you　are　half　Cheysuli。　In　our　dan；　that　is　counted　whole。〃
　But　her　mind　had　gone　past　that；　grasping　the　slippery　strands　of　prehension。　She　put　the　relationships　together　until　she　had　an　understanding　of　them。　Then　she　looked　at　Duncan。
　〃Lindir　bore　a　daughter　and　Shaine　lost　the　heir　he　wanted。〃
　〃Aye；〃　he　agreed。
　〃So　he　turned　to　his　brother；　Fergus；　who　had　a　son。〃
　〃Aye。〃
　Alix　took　a　shaking　breath。　〃He　made　that　son　his　nephew
　heir…　Prince　of　Homana　Ч　〃
　Duncan　watched　her　closely。　〃Aye。〃
　She　feel　her　heart　begin　to　hurt。　〃Then　Carillon　is　my　cousin！〃
　〃Aye；〃　Duncan　said　softly；　understanding。
　Alix　drew　up　her　knees　and　clasped　her　arms　around　them　tightly。　She　pressed　her　forehead　against　them　and　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　in　denial　and　realization。
　Before　I　was　only　a　croft…girl；　but　one　who　put　him　at　ease。　Now　I　am　Cheysuli　shapechangerlaccursed；　and　his　bastard　cousin。　Grief　surged　into　her　throat。　He　will　never　e　to　me　again！
　She　hugged　her　knees　and　keened　silently　in　the　shapechanger's　tent。
　Chapter　Five
　Alix；　at　dawn；　sat　warmly　wrapped　in　a　brown　blanket；　numbly　aware　she　had　slept　in　the　shapechanger's　presence。　She　had　not　meant　to。　She　vaguely　recalled　her　silent　tears　and　his　urging　of　her　to　sleep；　but　no　more。　Now　she　sat　alone　in　his　pavilion；　bereft　of　the　heritage　she　had　known　all　her　life。
　The　doorflap　stirred　and　Alix　glanced　up；　expecting　Duncan。　Instead　she　saw　Carillon　and　stood　up　with　a　cry；　letting　the　blanket　slide　to　the　ground。
　Then　she　froze。　His　eyes　were　withdrawn　from　her；　strange；　and　she　saw　none　of　me　warm　wele　she　had　e　to　expect。
　They　have　told　him。。。
　Alix's　arms　dropped　to　her　sides。　Desolation　swept　in　to　fill
　her　soul。　She　would　not　look　into　his　face　and　see　his　rejection
　ofher
　〃Alix。。。〃
　〃You　need　say　nothing；　my　lord；〃　she　said　remotely。　〃I　understand　how　a　prince　must　feel　to　leam　the　croft…girl　he　has　kept　pany　with　is　a　shapechanger。〃
　He　moved　into　the　pavilion。　〃Are　you　so　certain　they　have　the　right　of　it？〃
　Her　head　jerked　up。　〃Then　you　do　not　believe　them？〃
　He　smiled。　〃Do　you　think　I　am　so　easily　manipulated；　Alix？　I　think　they　lie　to　you。　There　is　nothing　Cheysuli　about　you。　Your　hair　is　brown；　not　black；　and　your　eyes　amber。　Not　beast…yellow。〃
　Carillon　let　her　melt　against　his　chest；　sobbing　quietly。　Her　fears　of　suggesting　an　intimacy　she　was　not　due　faded　away　as　she　sought　solace　in　his　strength。　His　anns　slipped　around　her　and　held　her　close；　for　the　first　time　since　they　had　met。
　〃You　will　e　with　me　when　I　am　released；〃　he　said　into　her　tangled　hair。　〃They　cannot　keep　you。〃
　She　lifted　her　face。　〃Duncan　has　said　I　must　stay。〃
　〃I　will　take　you　back　with　me。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　they　will　let　you　go？〃
　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　am　worth　too　much　to　my　uncle　for　them　to　keep　me　long。〃
　〃And　I？〃
　〃You。　Alix？〃
　She　wet　her　lips。　〃If　I　am　what　they　say；　then　I　am　the　Mujhar's　granddaughter。　Lindir's　daughter。〃
　〃So　you　will　admit　to　shapechanger　blood　if　only　to　get　royal　blood　as　well；〃　he　said；　amused。
　Alix　pulled　away　from　him。　〃No！　I　only　seek　acknowledg…ment。。。　the　truth！　Carillon；　if　I　am　Shaine's　granddaughter　will　he　not　free　me　from　this　place？〃
　〃Do　you　think　the　Mujhar　will　acknowledge　a　half…shapechanger　bastard　granddaughter？〃
　She　recoiled　from　the　cruel　question…　〃Carillon*'
　〃You　must　accustom　yourself。　If　what　the　shapechangers　say　is　true；　we　are　cousins。　But　Shaine　will　never　claim　you。　He　will　never　offer　a　single　coin　for　your　return；〃　Carillon　shook　his　head。　〃They　are　harsh　words；　I　know；　but　I　cannot　let　you　expect　something　you　cannot　have。〃
　She　set　cold　hands　against　her　face。　〃Then　you　will　leave　me　hero。。。。〃
　He　caught　her　arms；　pulling　her　hands　from　her　face。　〃I　will　not　leave　you　here！　I　will　take　you　to　Homana…Mujhar；　but　I　cannot　say　what　your　reception　will　be。〃
　〃You　would　not　have　to　tell　him　who　I　am。〃
　〃Do　I　say　you　are　my　light　woman；　then？　A　valley…girl　I　have　been　seeing？〃　He　sighed　as　he　saw　her　expression。　〃Alix；　what　else　would　I　tell　him？〃
　〃The　truth。〃
　〃And　have　him　order　you　slain？〃
　〃He　would　not1。〃
　His　hands　tightened　on　her　arms。　〃The　Mujhar　has　declared
　the　Cheysuli　accursed；　outlawed；　subject　to　death　by　anyone's
　hands。　Do　you　think　he　will　gainsay　his　own　purge　for　the　daughter　of　the　man　who　stole　his　daughter？〃
　Alix　jerked　away　from　him。　〃She　was　not　stolen！　She　went　willingly！　Duncan　said〃　she　broke　off　abruptly；　horrified。
　Carillon　sighed　heavily。　〃So；　you　accept　their　words。　With　so　little　a　fight；　Alix；　do　you　deny　your　Homanan　blood　and　turn　to　the　shapechangers？〃
　〃No！〃
　You　are　Cheysuli；　liren。　Came　the　hawk's　golden　tone。　Do　not　deny　yourself　the　truth。　Remain。
　Alix　ripped　me　doorflap　aside　and　stared　into　the　sky。　Cai　drifted　far　above；　floating　on　a　summer　breeze。
　〃I　must　go！〃　she　cried。
　This　is　your　place；　liren。
　〃No！〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　moved　to　her　and　grabbed　her　arm。　〃To　whom　do　you　speak？〃
　Homana…Mujhar　is　not/or　you；　the　bird　said　softly。
　〃I　cannot　stay；〃　she　insisted；　amazed　at　her　willingness　to　speak　to　a　bird。　〃I　cannot！〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　exclaimed。
　She　gestured　wildly。　〃The　bird！　The　hawk！　There。〃
　He　dropped　her　arms　instantly；　staring　at　her　in　alarm。　Slowly　his　eyes　went　to　the　graceful　hawk。
　〃Let　me　go　with　Carillon；〃　she　pleaded；　knowing　only　that　me　bird　sought　to　keep　her。
　/　cannot　gainsay　you；　liren。　I　can　only　ask。
　Alix　tore　her　eyes　from　the　hawk　and　looked　beseechingly　at　Carillon。　Frantically　she　reached　out　to　catch　her　hands　in　his　black　leather　doublet。
　〃Take　me　with　you。　Tell　the　Mujhar　whatever　you　choose；　but　do　not　make　me　stay　in　t