jr.shapechangers-第21部分

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　She　glared　at　him。　A　strange　sense　of　defiance　and　exhilara…tion　crept　into　her　heart　and　nearly　consumed　her。　She　smiled　at　him　in　vindictive　joy　and　opened　her　mouth　as　if　to　cry　out。
　Duncan　silenced　her　instantly。　This　time　be　did　not　use　his
　hand。　Alix；　shocked　to　me　core；　felt　herself　caught　in　a　harsh　embrace　and　kissed　as　if　he　would　take　the　soul　from　her。
　She　stiffened　instantly；　pressing　palms　against　his　chest　to　push　him　away。　In　that　moment　she　realized　the　absolute　strength　of　a　determined　man　and　was　amazed　by　it。　She　sought　to　escape　but　was　trapped　within　his　arms。
　Alix　shuddered　once；　recalling　Finn's　harshness　and　me　in…stinctive　fear　he　had　provoked。　Then；　oddly；　the　thought　fell　away。
　A　new　awareness　slid　through　her　as　Duncan's　mouth　moved　on　hers。　It　was　imperceptive；　yet　she　felt　it；　and　he　no　longer　forced　her。　The　pain　he　had　inflicted　at　first　was　gone；　altering　in　some　subtle　fashion。　When　a　second　shiver　coursed　through　her　it　was　of　another　origin。
　Duncan　is　not　his　brother；　she　thought　dazedly；　and　I　do　not　fear　this　man。。。
　Alix　felt　the　wall　at　her　back　as　he　lifted　his　mourn　from　hers。　An　odd　expression　of　inner　conflict　moved　through　his　pate　eyes；　tautening　his　face　into　blankness。　Alix；　wanting　only　to　see　me　possessive　determination　in　him　again；　touched　his　chin。
　〃Is　this　your　tahlmorraT'　she　asked　breathlessly。　〃Is　this　why？〃
　The　tight　line　of　his　mouth　relaxed。　〃Perhaps　it　will　not　be　so　long　a　time　to　wait　after　all。〃
　〃Duncan。。。　I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃I　have　e　to　you　as　Finn；　forcing　myself　on　a　woman　who　does　not　wish　it。〃　he　said　grimly。　〃Have　I　earned　me　enmity　you　promised？〃
　〃I　have　forgot　what　I　said。〃
　His　lips　twitched。　〃Forgot？　You？〃
　Alix　turned　her　head　away；　realizing　she　still　clung　to　him。　Her　wantonness　made　her　ashamed；　but　when　she　tried　to　slide　away　be　kept　her　pressed　against　the　wall。
　〃Alix；　you　have　only　to　listen　to　what　is　in　you。　Heed　it。　I　will　not　force　you　again。〃　Duncan　moved　away　from　her；　releasing　her　to　stand　in　solitude　against　me　wall。　Alix　sensed　impatience　in　him　and　the　slow　rising　of　an　odd　anxiety　and　urgency　in　herself。
　By　the　gods；　what　has　this　man　done　to　me？　Why　do　I　want　him　by　me？　She　closed　her　eyes。　It　is　Carillon　/　want；　not　this　Cheysuli　warrior　I　have　known　so　brief　a　time。
　〃Alix；〃　he　said　gently；　〃I　am　sony。　You　are　too　young　to　understand。〃
　Her　eyes　opened。　The　torchlight　from　the　palace　painted　his
　shoulders　and　glinted　off　the　gold　on　his　arms。　Suddenly　she　wanted　the　warmth　of　him　against　her　again。
　〃Duncan；　I　mink　no　woman　is　too　young　to　understand。〃
　He　blinked　in　surprise。　Then　he　laughed　silently　and　relaxed　visibly。　His　hand　slid　around　her　neck　and　caught　in　the　braids　coiled　against　her　head；　cradling　her　against　his　chest　He　mur…mured　something　in　the　Old　Tongue；　and　Alix　wished　she　spoke　h。
　Hastening　footsteps　echoed　across　the　bailey；　scraping　on　die　cobbles。　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　cried。
　Duncan　cursed　and　jerked　around。　His　hand　slipped　to　the　knife　at　his　belt。
　〃No！〃　Alix　cried；　grasping　at　his　hand。
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　shouted　again。
　〃Here；〃　she　answered；　and　heard　Duncan's　swift　indrawn　breath。
　The　prince　found　them　in　me　darkness。　For　a　moment　he　stiffened　as　be　saw　Duncan；　but　he　made　no　hostile　movement。　His　mourn　was　a　grim　line　as　he　looked　at　Alix。
　〃You　have　driven　the　Mujhar　into　a　rage。　He　swears　he　win　have　me　hawk　hunted　and　slain；　and　you　exiled　upon　me　Crystal　Isle。　Imprisoned。〃　He　sighed。　〃Alix；　I　have　spoken　with　him。　it　does　no　good。　I　will　take　you　to　Ton…in's　croft。〃
　〃She　es　with　me；　Homanan；〃　Duncan　said　ominously。
　〃Does　she？〃　Carillon　snapped。　〃Do　you　speak　for　her；　shapechanger？〃
　〃You　have　no　place　in　this；〃　Duncan　answered。　〃She　is　not　for　you。〃
　Alix　moved　between　them。　〃Carillon；　something　happened　to　me　in　the　hall。　Something。。。　came　to　life　in　me。　When　me　Mujhar　called　me　witch　and　cursed　me　for　my　blood；　I　felt　no　shame。　I　felt　no　hoiror；　no　fear。　I　fen　only　anger　that　a　man　could　hate　so　powerfully；　and　do　so　much　harm　to　a　race。　it　was　as　if　me　Cheysuli　in　me　finally　came　to　life。〃　She　touched　his　aim　beseechingfy。　〃I　want　no　more　of　this　place。〃
　〃I　have　said　I　will　take　you　to　Ton…in。　When　I　can；　I　will　e　to　you。〃
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃I　think＋I　think　what　is　between　us　must　stay　unknown；　or　unnamed。〃　She　pressed　his　arm。　〃Do　you　know　what　I　say？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　so　harshly　she　knew　he　did。
　〃The　Cheysuti　are　not　your　enemy；〃　Alix　said　softly；　〃it　is
　me　Souodish；　and　me　Duini。　Turn　your　anger　on　mem。　Do　not
　let　Shame's　madness　infect　you　also。　You　said　once　you　would
　accept　me　whatever　I　was。　Now　I　ask　you　to　accept　the　others　of　my　race。〃
　〃Alix；　I　cannot。〃
　〃Do　you　sentence　yourself　to　serve　me　Mujhar's　insanity？〃
　He　reached　out　and　clasped　her　shoulders。　〃Alix；　I　want　you　where　you　will　be　safe。〃
　She　smiled　at　him；　certain　of　her　words。　〃Duncan　will　see　I　am　kept　safe。〃
　His　fingers　tightened　painfully。　〃Do　you　go　willingly　with　him；　then？　Or　has　he　ensorcelled　you　with　shapechanger　arts？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　softly。　〃I　think　it　is　something　within　myself。
　I　have　no　words　for　it；　but　it　exists。〃
　Duncan；　eloquently　silent；　stretched　out　his　hand。　She　saw　me　familiar　gesture　of　spread　fingers　and　bared　palm。
　And　she　understood。
　Alix　stepped　away　from　Carillon。　His　empty　hands　fell　limply　to　his　sides。　He　looked　at　Duncan；　then　at　her；　eyes　shadowed　with　pain　and　confusion。　But　she　also　saw　acknowledgment。
　〃I　will　get　you　mounts；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃I　have　horees；〃　Duncan　answered。
　〃How　do　you　propose　to　get　over　me　walls　with　her？　Atix　cannot　fly　in　the　guise　of　a　hawk。〃
　Duncan's　face　tightened。　〃No。　But　the　eight　guardsmen　are　simple　enough　to　put　out　of　my　way；　if　I　must。〃
　Carillon　sighed　wearily。　〃Shapechanger；　I　begin　to　understand　me　arrogance　of　your　race。　And　its　strength；　as　Ton…in　said。　Do　you　know　Shaine　sent　fifty　men　against　you　in　the　forests　and　only　eleven　survive？〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃How　many　did　you　lose？〃
　〃Of　twelve　men；　we　lost　two。　One　to　death；　one　to　the　soulless　men。〃
　Alix　shivered　at　the　relentless　tone　in　his　voice。　She　sensed　me　purpose　and　determination　in　the　man　and　realized　had　she　refused　to　go　with　him　he　could　easily　have　forced　her。
　Carillon　nodded。　〃I　will　escort　you　through　the　gates。　The　guard　will　not　stop　me；　even　do　I　walk　with　a　shapechanger。〃
　Duncan　laughed　harshly。　〃Once　we　walked　freely　within　this　place；　prince。　But　you　will　have　my　gratitude；　regardless。〃
　Carillon　turned　to　lead　them　to　the　bronze…and…timber　gates。　Before　he　could　move　away　Duncan　reached　out　and　caught　his　arm。　The　prince　stiffened。
　〃Carillon。　There　is　much　you　do　not　understand。　Peinaps　you　cannot；　yet。　But　Shaine　will　not　always　be　Mujhar。〃
　〃What　do　you　say。　shapechanger？〃
　〃That　we　are　not　your　enemy。　We　cannot　alter　（fie　qu'mahim　while　Shaine　lives。　He　has　struck　well　and　quickly；　reducing　us　to　less　than　a　quarter　of　what　we　were。　Even　now　we　grow　fewer　with　each　year　as　the　qu'mahUn　continues。　Carillon；　it　is　in　you　to　stop　this。〃
　The　prince　smiled。　〃I　have　been　raised　on　tales　of　your　perfidy。　Stories　of　your　demon　ways　and　cruel　arts。　Tell　me　why　I　should　halt　my　uncle's　purge。〃
　Duncan's　hand　rested　on　Alix's　shoulder。　〃For　her；　my　lord。
　For　the　woman　we　both　want。〃
　Alix　stood　immobile；　unable　to　answer　the　resolve　in　Duncan's　voice。　Something　in　him　had　reached　out　to　her；　seeking　some…thing　from　her；　and　she　wanted　very　much　to　give　it　to　him。
　Carillon　swallowed。　〃It　is　true　the　Mujhar　alarms　me　with　his　vehemence　in　dealing　with　your　race。　He　does　not　even　curse　Bellam　or　the　Bliini　as　he　does　the　Cheysuli。　There　is　an　unnatu…ral　anger　in　him。〃
　Duncan　nodded。　〃Hale　served　him　for　thirty…five　years；　my　lord；　with　a　loyalty　only　the　Cheysuli　can　give。　They　were　more　than　brothers。　It　is　a　binding　service　which　our　race　had　honored　for　centuries。　Hale　shattered　mat　bond　and　hereditary　service　by　his　actions。　Any　man　would　take　it　ill　and　swear　revenge；　but　Shaine　also　lost　a　daughter　and　consequently　found　his　realm　plunged　into　war　once　again。　I　understand　why　he　has　done　this　thing。　Carillon；　even　as　it　destroys　my　race。〃
　〃Then　you　are　more　forgiving　man　me　Mujhar。〃
　〃What　of　you？〃　Duncan　asked　calmly。　〃Do　you　serve　me　qu'mahlin　when　you　are　king？〃
　Carillon　smiled　crookedly。　〃When　I　am　king；〃　he　said　gently；　〃you　will　know。〃
　He　turned　and　walked　to　the　gates。　The　guards；　answering　his　bidding；　opened　mem　instantly。　Duncan　took　Alix's　arm　and　led　her　silently　from　Homana…Mujhar。
　Chapter　Three
　Duncan　took　her　through　me　shadows　of　tall　buildings　to　the　horses。　From　his　saddtepack　he　pulled　a　dark　hooded　cloak　and　gently　draped　me　folds　around　her。
　〃You　wear　fine　clothing　and　rich　Jewels；　my　lady　princess；〃
　he　said　quietly。　〃I　am　only　one　man；　and　thieves　may　mink　it　a　simple　matter　to　slay　me　and　steal　your　wealth。　Or　even　you。〃
　He　pinned　the　cloak　at　her　left　shoulder　with　a　large　topaz　brooch　carved　into　a　hawk　shape　and　set　in　gold。　Silently　be　pulled　me　hood　over　her　gameted　hair　and　settled　it。
　〃Duncan；〃　she　said　softly；　trembling　even　at　his　lightest　touch。
　〃A