jr.shapechangers-第30部分

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　〃But　if　Duncan　said　яю＋〃
　〃Duncan　said　aye；〃　he　reminded　her。　〃Duncan　has　said　I　may　have　you。〃
　She　stared　up　at　him。　〃And　if　I　refuse　you？　If　I　stand　up　in　Council　and　say　I　will　not　have　you？〃
　The　mocking　smile　was　back。　〃Do　not　forget　our　third　gift；　meijha。　What　you　will　not　do　willingly；　you　may　be　forced　to　do。〃
　〃Please；〃　she　said。
　Finn　looked　down　on　her　pleading　face。　〃No；〃　he　said。　and　left　her。
　Alix　stood　outside　the　slate…colored　pavilion　and　closed　her　eyes；　summoning　her　courage。　Finally　she　scratched　at　me　doorflap　and　waited。　Duncan　called　for　her　to　enter。
　She　hesitated；　then　pulled　the　doorflap　aside。　It　dropped　be…hind　her　as　she　stood　there；　letting　her　eyes　adjust　to　the　dim　light。　Duncan　was　hunched　over　a　low　worktable；　a　slender　metal　stylus　held　in　one　hand　as　he　scraped　carefully　at　gleaming　gold。
　〃Aye？〃　he　asked；　without　looking　up。
　。Alix　wet　her　lips。　〃Duncan。〃
　The　line　of　his　shoulders　and　arms　stiffened。　For　a　moment　he　coatinued　working　on　the　glom　ornament；　then　he　set　it　aside　and　dropped　his　tool　down。　It　rattled　against　the　gold　and　wood；　roiling　across　me　table。　Alix　watched　it　move；　unable　to　meet　his　eyes。
　**I　have　e　to　you　because　you　are　clan…leader；〃　she　said　carefully。
　〃Sit　down；　Alix。〃
　She　knelt　on　me　other　side　of　me　worktabte。　still　not　looking　at　nun。　Her　heels　dug　into　her　thighs　as　she　folded　her　legs　under　her。　Finally　she　brought　her　head　up。
　〃Him　came　to　me。　He　said　he　has　spoken　to　you；　mat　he　will　ask　for　my　clan…rights　at　Council。〃
　He　wore　his　solemn　clan…leader　face。　〃Aye。〃
　Her　breath　was　unsteady　as　she　drew　it　in。　〃Duncan。。。　I　do　not　wish　for　Finn；　You　know　mat。〃
　〃it　has　been　settled；〃　be　said　remotely。　〃And　if　you　bring　dus　up　again；　I　cannot　be　only　a　clan…leader　to　you。〃
　Alix　smiled　at　the　unspoken　warning。　At　least　he　was　not　totally　indifferent　to　her。　〃I　have　not　e　to　ask　you　to　reconsider　your　offer　to　me；〃　she　told　him。　〃You　have　made　it　plain　what　you　will　do；　and　I　am　done　begging　for　more。〃
　His　eyes　flickered。　〃Then　what　do　you　seek；　Alix？〃
　〃I　want　you　to　withdraw　your　permission　to　Finn。　I　wast　nothing　to　do　with　him。　We　could　never　make　a　marriage　between　us。。。　and　I　mink　it　might　be　me　death　of　one　of　us　if　we　were　forced。　I　think　it　would　be　his　death。。。　not　mine。〃
　Duncan　smiled　briefly；　though　he　banished　it　quickly　enough。
　〃it　would　not　be　a　tedious　match。〃
　〃it　will　not　be　a　match　at　all；〃　she　said　darkly。　〃Duncan；　withdraw　your　permission。〃
　〃On　what　grounds？〃
　She　scowled　at　him。　〃I　do　not　want　him！〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Those　are　not　grounds。　That　is　merely　contrari…ness　speaking；　and　women　are　prone　to　mat。〃
　Alix　stared　at　him。　〃You　cannot　want　me　to　take　him！〃
　His　face　twisted。　〃No；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　do　not　want　you　to　take　him。　But　to　refuse　him　because　of　mat　speaks　of　prejudice；　and　a　clan…leader　cannot　be　so　petty。　Alix；　me　match　will　be　good　for　me　clan。〃
　〃Is　mat　all　you　can　say？〃　she　demanded。　〃Can　you　only　see
　me　clan；　and　not　me？　By　the　gods；　Duncan；　I　thought　we　had
　more　between　us。　What　has　bee　of　this　precious　tahtmorraV
　Color　surged　into　his　face；　then　slowly　fell　away。　〃Will　you　accept　another　warrior？〃
　〃You　know　there　is　only　one　warrior　I　will　accept。〃　Then　the　choice　is　yours。〃　he　said　softly。　〃Be　mei　jha　to　me。。。　or　cheysula　to　another　man。'*　〃Why？〃
　*'I　promised　Malina　when　we　were　eight　years　old；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃A　Cheysuli　oam　is　binding。〃
　〃She　broke　it。〃
　〃She　did　not　mink　I　meant　what　I　said。〃　Duncan　touched　the　golden　ornament　on　his　table。　〃She　went　to　Borrs　because　she　thought　I　would　change　my　mind。　When　I　did　not。。。　she　was　feiriy　caught。　The　clan…leader　had　given　his　permission　for　Borrs　to　ask　for　her　clan…rights；　and　once　done　that　is　not　rescinded。　It　fe　binding。〃　He　looked　at　her　bleakly。　〃I　did　what　you　have　done。　I　asked　me　clan…leader　to　withdraw　his　permission　to　Borrs；　so　mat　I　could　ask　for　Malina。　He　would　not　do　it。。。　and　they　were　formally　acknowledged　before　Council。〃
　Alix　frowned。　〃But　I　thought　you　were　clan…leader；　and　that　was　why　you　would　not　take　a　cheysula。〃
　He　looked　weary。　〃Tieman　died　of　a　sickness。　It　took　months。　AH　knew　I　would　be　his　successor；　so　I　made　my　decision　to　remain　solitary　before　he　died。　But　he　was　still　clan…leader。　And　when　he　died；　Malina　was　already　cheysula　to　Borrs。〃
　〃But　the　child。。。〃
　**It　could　be　mine。　it　could　be　Borrs's。〃　He　sighed　faintly。
　〃We　are　not　a　race　mat　places　much　honor　on　fidelity。〃
　She　recoiled。　〃She　was　wed…to　him？〃
　Duncan　smiled。　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　understand。'*
　〃Do　you　mean　you　are　willing　to　take　Malina　and　myself；　and　yet　may　also　seek　other　women？〃
　He　frowned　thoughtfully。　〃I　cannot　say　what　I　will　do。　What　man　could？〃
　This　new　side　of　him　shocked　her。　She　peered　into　his　face　uncertainly。　〃Duncan。。。　do　you　mean　this？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃I　have　never　been　a　man　for　all　women。　One　suffices。　I　doubt　I　would　trouble　you　mat　way。〃
　〃Duncan！〃
　〃Alix；　she　carries　a　child　that　may　be　mine。〃
　〃And　I　do　not；〃　she　said　dully。
　〃Alix〃
　〃If　she　had　not　conceived；　would　you　be　so　ready　to　make　her　your　cheysula？〃
　He　looked　away。　〃If　Borrs　had　lived；　and　the　child　still
　mine。。。〃　Duncan　sighed　deeply。　〃I　mink　I　would　have　said
　notfaing。'*
　She　stared　at　him。　〃Then　it　is　the　child。。。〃
　〃I　have　ever　cared　for　Malina；〃　be　said　steadily。
　〃And　if　the　child　is　not　yours？〃
　His　jaw　tightened。　〃I　cannot　take　that　chance。〃
　〃Yet　she　is　willing　to　share　you　with　me？〃
　〃I　made　it　a　condition；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　said　I　would　take　her　for　the　sake　of　the　child。。。　and　if　she　would　accept　you　as　my　meijha。〃
　〃Duncan！〃
　〃Small　one；　had　she　said　no　I　would　have　made　you　my　cheysula。　But　there　is　much　between　Malina　and　myself；　and　1　could　not　forsake　her　so　easily。〃
　〃But　you　foreake　me。。。　you　give　me　to　Finn！〃
　〃Because　he　has　asked；　and　there　is　no　reason　to　deny　him。　It　is　not　for　me　to　do。〃
　〃I　will　not　have　him。　I　have　told　him　mat；　and　now　I　tell　you。〃　She　fisted^　her　hands　in　her　skirt。　〃I　am　Cheysuli；　clan…leader；　and　you　cannot　pel　me。〃
　〃We　will　do　whatever　we　must；　Alix；〃　he　said　gently…　〃Even　to　one　of　our　own。〃
　She　rose　slowly；　shaking　her　skirts　into　order。　Somehow　she　summoned　a　smile。　〃You　cannot　force　me；　Duncan。　That　you　will　see。〃
　She　turned　on　her　heel　and　left　him。
　BOOK　III
　〃The　Cheysula〃
　Chapter　One
　Alix　stood　before　Raissa's　pavilion　and　called　Cat　and　Storr　to　her。　The　Ur　came　and　acpanied　her　to　the　lightning…scored　tree；　saying　nothing；　though　she　was　sure　they　knew　what　she　planned　to　do。　She　needed　practice　in　assuming　ft'r…shape；　if　she　wanted　to　impress　upon　the　Council　the　magnitude　of　her　abilities；　she　had　better　do　it　petently。
　Cai　perched　above　her　on　a　stout　limb；　preening　his　feathers　into　perfection。　Storr　sat　down　and　watched　her　from　wise　amber　eyes。
　〃Help　me；〃　she　said。
　You　need　only　think　yourself　a　wolf；　he　said；　and　you　will　be　one。
　She　recalled　the　words　he　had　used　before；　the　sensations　coursing　through　her　body　as　she　made　tee　transition。　A　part　of　it　still　frightened　her；　but　she　also　recognized　it　for　the　gift　it　was。　And　it　might　keep　her　from　Finn；　if　she　showed　Council　what　she　could　do。
　Alix　opened　her　eyes　and　crawled　out　of　the　deep　hollow；　shaking　her　shaggy　red…gray　coat。　Sounds　came　more　sharply　to　her　twitching　ears；　and　her　nose　told　her　more　than　she　dreamed　possible。　She　smiled；　baring　gleaming　teeth。
　Storr　and　the　young　wolf…bitch　shouldered　through　the　underbrush。　Alix　delighted　in　the　feel　and　sensation　of　things　she　normally　paid　no　mind　to。　She　found　she　did　not　lose　awareness　of　herself　as　a　person；　rather　that　knowledge　and　awareness　were　enhanced　and　extended　until　she　could　prehend　both　Hfe　processes。　Her　intelligence　was　neither　diminished　nor　improved；
　she　merely　understood　things　as　both　human　and　wolf。
　She　had　lost　her　human　speech　but　needed　no　words　with　the　Ur。　Thoughts　from　Cai　and　Storr　still　formed　themselves　in　patterns　easily　prehended。　With　an　uprush　of　pride　and　ecstasy　she　knew　in　full　measure　what　it　was　to　be　Cheysuli。
　And　in　that　same　instant　she　understood　why　Shaine　the　Mujoar　hated　her　race。
　He　thinks　the　Cheysuli　will　use　their　arts　in　retribylion　for　the　au'mahlin。　He　will　never　rescind　it。'
　Now　ywjuify　understand；　Iven；　Csd　chimed。　Shame　cannot　forgive　himself　his　own　pride；　or　his　own/ear。
　Alix；　new　to　her　wolf　senses　and　tost　in　contemplation；　did　not　hear　the　snapping　of　twigs　in　the　underbrush。　Cai　winged　higher　and　Storr　slipped　into　me　shadows；　but　she＋glowing　ruddy…gray　in　vibrant　health＋provided　an　inviting　target　to　die　mounted　hunter。
　A　bough　cracked　beneath　the　horse's　hooves。　Alix　spun　around。　Alarm　spread　through　her　sinews　and　charged　her　thudding　heart　wim　shock。
　She　twisted；　leaping　into　the　air；　yelping　in　fear　and　pain　as　the　arrow　sliced　into　the　ruff　at　her　neck。
　The　hunter；　dismounting　to　locate　me　downed　wolf…bitch；　parted　the　underbrush　and　found　himself　looking　into　the　dilated　eyes　of　a　woman。
　He　stumbled　back　a　step　as　she　clasped　the　flesh　at　me　top　of　her　left　shoulder；　blood　welling　between　her　fingers。　She　gripped　die　arrow