jr.shapechangers-第3部分

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　Alix；　both　furious　and　frightened；　only　glared　at　him。　His　dark　face　twisted　in　an　ironic　smile　and　he　took　the　reins　of　his　own　horse　from　another　warrior。　He　gestured　toward　the　odd　gear　on　the　animal's　back。　It　did　not　quite　resemble　a　Homanan　saddle；　with　its　large　saddletree　and　cantle　designed　to　hold　in　a　fighting　man；　but　served　an　identical　purpose。　Alix　hesitated；　then　placed　her　bare　foot　in　me　leather　stirrup　and　hoisted　herself　into　the　saddle。　Before　she　could　say　anything　to　prevent　him；　Finn　vaulted　onto　the　horse's　rump　behind　her。　She　felt　his　arms　e　around　her　waist　to　take　up　the　reins。
　〃You　see；　mei　jha　You　can　hardly　avoid　me。〃
　She　did　her　best。　The　ride　was　long　and　she　was　wearied　from　riding　stiffly　upright　before　him　when　at　last　Finn　halted　the　horse。　She　stared　in　surprise　at　the　encampment　before　her；　for　it　was　well　hidden　in　the　thick；　shadowed　forests。
　Woven　tents　of　greens；　browns；　grays　and　slates　huddled　in　the　twilight；　nearly　indistinguishable　from　the　trees　and　under…brush　of　the　forest　and　the　tumbled　piles　of　mountain　boulders。　Small　fires　glowed　flickeringly　across　the　narrow　clearing。
　Alix　straightened　as　Finn　reined　in　the　horse。　She　turned　quickly　to　search　for　Carillon；　lost　among　the　black…haired；　yellow…eyed　Cheysuli　warriors；　but　Finn　prevented　her。　His　left　arm　came　around　her　waist　snugly；　possessive　as　he　leaned　forward；　pressing　against　her　rigid　back。
　〃Your　princeling　will　recover；　mei　jha。　He　is　in　some　pain　now；　but　it　will　pass。〃　His　voice　dropped　to　a　provocative　whisper。　〃Or　I　will　make　it。〃
　She　ignored　him；　sensing　a　slow；　defiant　and　somehow　frightening　rage　building　within　her。　〃Why　did　you　set　your　wolf　on　him？〃
　〃He　drew　Hale's　sword；　mei　jha。　Doubtless　he　knows　how　to　use　it；　even　against　a　Cheysuli。〃　He　laughed　softly。　〃Perhaps　especially　against　a　Cheysuli。　But　we　are　too　few　as　it　is。　My　death　would　not　serve。〃
　〃You　set　a　beast　on　him！〃
　〃Storr　is　no　beast。　He　is　my。　And　he　only　did　it　to　keep　Carillon　from　getting　himself　slain；　for　I　would　have　taken　his　life　to　keep　my　own。〃
　She　glanced　at　the　wolf　waiting　so　silently　and　patiently　by　the　horse。　〃Your　lir！　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃That　wolf　is　my　lir。　It　is　a　Cheysuli　thing；　which　you　could
　not　possibly　understand。　There　is　no　Homanan　word　for　our
　bond。〃　He　shrugged　against　her。　〃Storr　is　a　part　of　me；　and　I　him。〃
　〃Shapechanger。。。〃　she　whispered　involuntarily。
　〃Cheysuli；〃　he　whispered　back；
　〃Is　any　wolfing　this　fir？〃
　〃No。　I　am　bonded　with　Storr　only；　and　he　was　chosen　by　the　old　gods　to　be　my　lir。　They　are　born　knowing　it。　Each　warrior　has　only　one；　but　it　can　be　any　creature。〃　He　picked　a　leaf　from　Alix's　hair；　even　as　she　stiffened…　〃It　is　too　new　for　you　to　understand；　mei　jha。　Do　not　try。〃
　She　felt　him　slide　from　behind　and　a　moment　later　he　pulled　her　from　the　horse。　Alix　stifled　a　blurt　of　surprise　and　felt　each　sinew　tighter　as　his　hand　crept　around　her　neck。
　〃You　may　release　me；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃I　can　hardly　run　from　a　wolf。〃
　His　hand　slid　from　her。　She　felt　her　braid　lifted　from　her　neck
　and　his　lips　upon　her　nape。　〃Then　you　are　learning　already；
　mei　jha。　Before　she　could　protest　he　turned　her　face　to　his　and　bent　her　head　back　as　his　mouth　came　down　on　hers。　Alix　struggled　against　him　with　no　effect　except　to　feel　herself　held　more　securely。　He　was　far　too　strong　for　her；　stronger　than　she　had　ever　imagined　a　man　could　be。
　You　should　not；　lir；　said　a　quiet　voice　in　Alix's　mind。
　She　stiffened　in　fear；　wondering　how　Finn　spoke　without　saying　anything。　Then　she　was　pushed　from　him　unexpectedly　as　he　moved　back　a　single　step。　She　saw　he　had　not　spoken；　scantly　or　aloud；　but　whatever　had　formed　the　words　had　greatly　upset　him。　His　eyes；　watching　her　warily；　were　slitted。　Slowly　he　looked　at　the　wolf。
　〃Storr。。。〃　he　said　softly；　in　amazement。
　You　should　not；　said　the　tone　again。
　Finn　swung　back　to　her；　suddenly　angry。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃What？〃
　His　hand　clasped　her　braid　and　tugged　sharply；　jerking　at　her　scalp。　〃What　manner　of　woman　are　you；　to　draw　Stores　concern？〃
　The　wolf？　she　wondered　blankly。
　Finn　peered　closely　at　her；　fingers　painfully　closing　on　her　jaw　until　she　had　no　choice　but　to　look　directly　into　his　shadowed　face。　The　gold　earring；　wolf…shaped；　gleamed。
　〃You　are　dark　enough　for　one　of　us；　but　you　have　not　the　eyes；〃　he　muttered。　〃Brown；　like　half　of　Homana；　Yet　why　else　would　Storr　protest　my　pleasure？　It　is　not　for　the　lir　to　do。〃
　〃I　am　none　of　yours！〃　she　hissed；　profoundly　shaken。　〃I　am
　daughter　to　Torrin　of　Homana。　Do　not　curse　me　by　naming　me　Cheysuli；　shapechanger！〃
　His　hand　tightened　and　she　cried　out。　Faintly　she　heard　Carillon's　worried　tone　carry　across　the　way。　〃Alix！〃
　Finn　released　her　so　curtly　she　stumbled　back。　〃Go　to　your　princeling；　meijha。　Tend　his　wound　like　a　proper　light　woman。〃
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　protest　his　unseemly　words；　then　bit
　them　back　and　whirled；　hastening　to　Carillon…　He　stood　by　his
　Cheysuli　mount；　unsteady；　cradling　his　bound　wrist　against　his
　chest。　His　face；　even　in　the　shadows；　was　drawn　with　pain…
　〃Did　he　harm　you？〃　he　asked　harshly。
　Alix　shook　her　head；　recalling　the　anger　in　Finn's　hand　upon
　her　chin。　〃No；　I　am　well　enough。　But　what　of　you？*'
　He　half…shrugged。　〃It　is　my　sword　arm。　Without　it　I　am　not　much　of　a　prince；　nor　even　a　man…　Otherwise　I　would　not　speak　of　it。〃
　She　smiled　and　touched　his　uninjured　arm　gently。　〃We　have　nowhere　else　to　go；　my　lord。　Let　us　move　into　the　firelight　where　I　can　see　to　your　wrist。〃
　Finn　came　to　them　silently　and　gestured　toward　a　green　tent　not　far　from　where　they　stood。　Mutely　Alix　followed　the　Cheysuli　leader；　keeping　one　hand　on　Carillon's　arm。　That　he　had　said　anything　at　all　about　his　wound　worried　her；　for　it　indicated　the　wolf　bite　was　worse　than　she　suspected。
　Finn　watched　them　kneel　down　on　a　blue　woven　rug　before　his　tent　and　then　disappeared　within；　ignoring　them。　Alix　cast　a。　quick　glance　around　me　small　encampment；　seeking　a　way　out；　but　there　were　too　many　warriors。　And　Carillon's　face　was　already　fever…flushed　and　warm　when　she　set　her　hand　against　it。
　〃We　go　nowhere；　yet；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃We　must；〃　he　answered；　carefully　unwrapping　his　injured　wrist。　The　flesh　was　scored　with　teeth　marks。　The　bleeding　had　stopped；　but　the　wound　was　open　and　seeping。
　〃We　have　no　choice；〃　Alix　whispered。　〃Perhaps　in　the　morning；　when　you　are　better。〃
　Light　from　me　small　fire　Caim　built　before　me　tent　flickered　over　his　jaw。　She　saw　me　stubborn　set　to　the　prominent　bones。　〃Alix；　I　will　not　remain　in　a　shapechanger　camp。　They　are　demons。〃
　〃They　are　also　our　captors；〃　she　agreed　wryly。　〃Do　you　think　to　escape　memo　so　easily？　You　could　hardly　get　half　a　league　with　this　wolf…wound。〃
　〃You　could。　You　could　reach　your　father's　croft。　He　could　ride　to　Mujhara　for　help。〃
　〃Alone。。。〃　she　whispered。　〃And　so　far。〃
　He　rubbed　his　unwounded　forearm　across　his　brow。　〃I　do　not
　wish　to　send　you　into　the　darkness　alone；　no　matter　how　far　the
　distance　is。　But　I　have　no　choice；　Alix。　I　would　go　myself；
　willingly；　as　I　think　you　know。〃　He　lifted　his　bloody　arm。　〃I　do
　recognize　my　own　limitations。〃　His　smile　came　swiftly；　and　left
　as　quickly。　〃I　have　faith　in　you；　my　girl；　more　so　than　in　any
　man　who　might　be　with　me　in　this　Ч　〃
　Pain　squeezed　her　heart　so　that　it　nearly　burst。　In　the　brief　weeks　she　had　known　him　he　had　bee　everything　to　her；　a　hero　she　could　worship　from　the　depths　of　her　romantic　soul　and　a　man　she　could　dream　of　in　the　long　nights。　To　have　him　look　at　her　so　warmly　and　with　such　trust　nearly　undid　her　convictions　about　not　allowing　him　to　see　her　vulnerability。
　〃Carillon。。。〃
　〃You　must；〃　he　said　gently。　〃We　cannot　remain　here。　My　uncle；　when　he　leans　of　this；　will　send　mounted　troops　immediately　to　destroy　this　nest　of　demons。　Alix；　you　must　go。〃
　〃Go　where？〃　demanded　Finn　from　the　tent's　doorflap。
　Alix　twitched　in　surprise　at　his　stealth；　but　Carillon　glared　at　the　Cheysuli。　Somehow　Finn　seemed　more　substantial；　a　thing　of　the　darkness；　illuminated　by　me　firelight　dancing　off　the　gold　on　his　arms　and　in　his　ear。　Alix　forced　herself　to　look　away　from　his　yellow　eyes　and　stared　instead　at　the　earring　half…hidden　in　thick　black　hair。　It；　tike　the　armbands　he　wore　above　the　elbows；　bore　a　skillful　figure　of　a　wolf。
　For　his　lir。。。　she　realized　blankly；　and　wondered　anew　at　the　strangeness　of　his　race。
　The　Cheysuli　smiled　mockingly　and　moved　to　stand　over　them。　His　steps　were　perfectly　silent　and　hardly　left　a　mark　in　the　dirt。
　He　is　like　the　shadows　themselves。。。
　〃My　prince；〃　he　said　vibrantly；　〃you　must　doubtless　believe　this　insubstantial　girl　could　make　her　way　through　a　hostile　forest　without　aid　of　any　sort。　Were　she　Cheysuli；　she　could；　for　we　are　creatures　of　the　forests　instead　of　cities；　but　she　is　not。　And　I　have　gone　to　far　too　much　trouble　to　lose　either　of　you　so　quickly。〃
　〃You　have　no　right　to　keep　us；　shapechanger；〃　Carillon　said。
　〃We　have　every　right；　princeling！　Your　uncle　has　done　what
　he　could　to　slay　every　Cheysuli　in　Homana　land　we　made！　He
　has　e　closer　than　even　he　knows；　for　it　is　true　out　numbers