jr.shapechangers-第36部分

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　She　frowned　at　him。　〃Then　why　are　you　here？　Should　you　not　be　with　your　lord？〃
　〃My　lord　is　slam。　Keough　of　Atvia；　Bellam's　foul　acplice；　overran　me　army　twenty　days　ago　like　a　pack　of　savage　dogs。〃　His　eyes　narrowed　angrily。　〃It　was　night；　moonless　and　dark。　We　slept；　wearied　from　a　three…day　battle。　The　Atvian　host　crept　upon　us　in　all　stealth；　and　routed　us　before　UK　dawn。〃
　Alix　wet　her　dry　lips。　〃Where；　Oran？　Mujhara？〃
　He　laughed。　〃Not　Mujhara。　I　am　not　one　of　the　Mujhar's　fine　guard。　I　am　a　mon　soldier　who　once　was　a　tenant　crofter　for　Prince　Fergus；　the　Mujhar's　own　brother。〃
　〃Fergus。〃　She　eased　herself　away　from　the　rocky　wall；　kneeling　before　him。　〃Then　it　was　Fergus　you　served　in　the　field？〃
　〃Aye；　aeven　days*　ride　out　of　Mujhara。〃　He　hawked　and　spat；　turning　his　head　from　her。　He　wiped　the　spittle　from　his　lips　and　looked　at　her　bleakly。　〃Prince　Fergus　was　slain。〃
　〃Why　did　you　not　stay？〃　she　demanded。　〃Why　did　you　forsake　your　lord？〃
　His　grimy；　stubbled　face　was　ugly。　〃I　sickened　of　it。　I　was　not　meant　to　slay　men　like　beasts　on　the　order　of　a　man　who　keeps　himself　safe　behind　die　ensorcelled　walls　of　Homana…Mujhar。〃　Oran　spat　again…　〃Shame　has　set　wards；　lady；　instruments　of　sorcery　to　keep　the　Ihlini　out。　He　keeps　himself　safe；　while　thousands　die　in　his　name。〃
　Alix　drew　a　trembling　breath；　clenching　fists　against　her　knees。
　〃What　of　Carillon？　What　of　the　prince？〃
　Oraa's　mouth　twisted。　〃Carillon　is　prisoner　to　Keough　himself。〃
　〃Prisoner！〃
　〃Aye。　I　saw　him　slay　two　who　sought　to　take　him；　fighting　like　a　demon；　but　it　was　Keough's　own　son　who　broke　his　guard　and　disarmed　him。　Thome。　The　Atvian　prince　took　Carillon's　sword；　then　Carillon　himself；　and　marched　him　to　his　father。〃　Oran　stared　at　her　narrowly。　〃They　will　slay　him；　lady；　or　take　him　to　Bellam　in　Mujhara。〃
　〃No。。。〃
　He　shrugged。　〃It　is　his　lot。　He　is　me　Mujhar's　heir；　and　valuable。　Keoogh　will　keep　him　close　until　he　is　in　Beilam's　hands。　OrTynstar's。〃
　Alix　closed　her　eyes　and　summoned　up　his　face；　recalling　his　warm　blue　eyes　and　stubborn　jaw。　And　his　smile；　whenever　he　looked　on　her。
　Oran　shifted　and　she　opened　her　eyes。　He　grinned；　displaying　broken；　yellowed　teeth；　and　took　up　the　leather　pouch。　He　undid　me　pin　and　spilled　OK　contents　across　the　blanket。
　It　was　a　stream　of　gems　glowing　richly　in　the　shadowed　cave。　Brooches；　rings　of　delicate　gold　and　silver；　and　a　wristband　of　copper。　Oran　prodded　the　cache　with　a　finger。
　〃Solindish；　lady。　And　fine；　as　you　can　see。〃
　She　frowned　at　mem。　〃Where　did　you　get　mem？〃
　He　laughed　crudely。　〃From　men　who　no　longer　had　need　of　such　things。〃
　She　recoiled。　〃You　stole　them　from　dead　men？〃
　〃How　else　does　a　poor　soldier　make　his　way？　I　am　not　one　of　your　rich　lonflings；　like　Carillon；　nor　am　I　a　Mujhara　noble　born　to　silks　and　jewels。　How　else　am　I　to　get　such　dungs？〃
　Avarice　glinted　in　his　eyes。　She　saw　them　travel　her　body　expectantly。　She　wore　the　golden　/ir…torque　Duncan　had　given　her　and　delicate　topaz　drops　hung　at　her　ears。
　〃So；〃　she　said　on　a　long　bream；　〃you　will　slay　me　fix　my　wealth　as　well。〃
　He　grinned。　〃There　need　be　no　slaying；　lady。　You　have　only　to　give　them　to　me。〃　He　stroked　his　bottom　lip。　〃1　have　never　aeen　your　like　before。　Are　you　some　lord's　light　woman？〃
　The　insult　did　not　touch　her。　Oran；　in　his　monness；　did　not　recognize　it　as　such。　And　me　Cheysuli　had　begun　to　change　her　perceptions　of　such　things。
　AUx　slowly　tensed。　〃No。〃
　〃Then　how　came　you　by　such　things？〃
　Enlightenment　flared　within　her　mind。　Carefully　she　damned　the　sudden　realization　of　her　power　and　looked　at　him　calmly。
　〃My　cheysul　gave　them　to　me。〃
　He　scowled　at　her。　〃Speak　Homanan；　lady。　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃My　husband；　Oran。　He　made　me　these　tilings。〃
　He　grinned。　〃Then　he　can　make　more。　Here；　lady；　give　mem　tome。〃
　〃No。〃　She　looked　at　him　levelly。　〃It　is　not　wise　for　a
　Homanan　to　seek　that　fashioned　by　a　Cheysuli…　**
　〃Cheysuli！〃　His　brows　slid　up。　〃You　live　among　the。　shapechangers？〃
　〃I　can　one。〃
　For　a　moment　fear　flashed　in　his　eyes。　Then　it　faded；　replaced　with　determination　and　greed。　〃The　shapechangers　are　under　the　Mujhar's　death　decree。　I　should　slay　you；　and　then　all　you　have　would　be　mine。〃
　It　angered　her　past　caution。　〃I　doubt　you　could　acplish　it。〃
　His　hand　flashed　to　his　knife。　〃Can　I　not；　shapechanger　witch？　You　do　not　frighten　me　with　your　sorcery。　Only　your　warriors　shift　their　shape；　so　you　offer　little　threat。〃
　He　grinned　and　lifted　the　knife。　〃What　do　you　say　now；　witch？〃
　Alix　said　nothing。　He　effectively　blocked　the　cave　entrance　with　his　mailed　bulk；　and　as　he　moved　slowly　toward　her　she　saw　she　had　no　chance　to　avoid　him。　The　wall　curved　snuggly　against　her　back。
　〃Do　not；〃　she　said　softly。
　Oran　laughed　silently　and　put　his　hand　on　the　torque　at　her　throat。
　Alix　summoned　the　magic　and　blurred　herself　into　a　wotf。
　He　gaped　at　her；　then　fell　back　with　a　cry　of　terror。　The　knife
　fell　from　limp　fingers　as　he　scrabbled　on　the　floor。　The　wolf…
　bitch　snaried　and　leaped　over　him；　avoiding　his　body；　but　forc…
　ing　him　flat　on　his　back　as　she　moved。　She　heard　his　scream　of　horror　as　she　drove　past　his　trembling　body　and　into　me　darkened　forest。
　She　paused　a　moment；　free　of　the　place；　and　sent　an　exultant　howl　soaring　to　me　dark　heavens。
　Then　she　went　on　in　tir…shape…
　The　wolf…bitch；　silvered　by　moonlight；　sifted　out　of　the　trees　into　the　Cheysuli　camp。　She　saw　me　huddled　forms　of　blanketed；　sleeping　warriors　and　the　shadowed　lumps　of　iir　scattered　through…out　the　camp。　She　sent　soothing　patterns　to　the　animals　so　they　would　not　give　me　alarm　and　moved　smoothly　toward　the　fire。　She　heard　Cai；　perched　in　a　tree；　send　a　single　word　to　his　Iir。
　Duncan　rolled　over　instantly　and　sat　up。　His　movement　awoke　Run；　next　to　him；　and　they　got　to　their　feet　in　silent　unison。　They　parted　smoothly；　unsheathing　knives；　watching　the　wolf…bitch　carefully。
　Alix；　realizing　they　thought　her　some　wild　creature；　laughed　within　her　mind。
　And　Duncan　named　me　helpless。。。
　She　sensed　his　attentiveness。　Finn*　moving　silently；　stepped　closer　to　her。　She　considered　leaping　at　him　mock　attack；　but　gave　it　up　as　she　realized　he　would　very　likely　slay　her。
　Instead；　she　blurred　herself　into　human　form。
　Duncan　blinked；　men　frowned。
　Finn　laughed。　〃Well；　rujho；　1　have　not　given　you　proper　credit。　You　are　powerful　indeed　if　she　cannot　even　part　with　you　for　two　days。〃
　Alix；　suddenly　chilled　and　wearied　by　the　exertion　and　tension　of　me　past　hours；　ignored　him　and　walked　to　the　glowing　bed　of　coals。　There　she　dropped　to　her　knees　and　stretched　her　hands　over　me　embers。
　Duncan　slid　his　knife　home　in　its　sheath。　He　said　nothing。
　Finn　laughed　again　and　gathered　up　his　blanket；　dropping　it　over　her　shoulders　as　be　moved　softly　to　her。　〃There；　rujholla^'　he　said　mockingly。　〃If　he　will　let　you　freeze；　at　least　I　will　not。〃
　She　slid　him　a　resentful　glance　and　gathered　the　folds　about　her。　Finn　shrugged　eloquently　and　returned　to　his　sleeping　place；　settling　himself　cross…legged　on　the　flattened　earth。
　Duncan　stepped　behind　her；　so　close　she　could　feel　his　knees　against　her　back。　*'I　suppose　you　will　tell　me　why。。。　eventually。〃
　〃it　was　not　what　Finn　said！〃
　〃WeH；〃　Duncao　said；　sighing；　〃it　was　too　much　to　expect　you　to　obey　me。　I　should　have　put　a　spell　on　you。〃
　She　jerked　around　so　hard　me　blanket　slid　off　a　shoulder。
　〃You　can　do　that？〃
　He　laughed　and　moved　next　to　her；　squatting　down。　He　took　a　stick　and　stirred　the　coals。　〃You　do　not　know　all　of　our　gifts　yet；　cheysula。　There　are　three。　The　Cheysuli　can　assume　ft'r…shape；　borrow　the　earth　magic　to　heal；　and　also　force　submission　on　any　save　an　Dilini。〃　He　smiled。　〃But　that　we　save　for　extremity。〃
　〃Duncan！〃
　He　grinned　at　the　coals。　〃I　would　not　truly　do　it；　cheysula。
　But　you　tempt　me；　with　your　forward　ways。〃
　She　scowled　at　him。　〃You　know　I　have　e　mostly　because　of　you；　Duncan。〃　She　took　a　breath。　〃But　also　because　of　Carillon。〃
　His　hand　stopped　stirring　me　coals。　〃Why？〃
　〃He　requires　our　help。〃
　〃How　would　you　know　that？　Or　can　you　also　read　the　minds　of　men　in　addition　to　the　/i'r？〃
　She　disliked　the　mocking　glint　in　his　eyes。　〃You　know　I　cannot。　But　I　met　a　man　who　says　he　saw　Fergus　slain　and　Carillon　taken　by　Thome；　Keough　of　Atvia's　son。　It　was　a　bloody　battle；　from　the　appearance　of　his　garments。〃
　〃War　is　often　bloody；　Alix。　Why　else　would　I　seek　to　keep　you　from　it？〃
　〃We　must　find　Carillon。〃
　〃The　prince　is　no　half…grown　boy；　Alix。　And　be　is　valuable。　His　captivity　may　well　be　unpleasant；　but　it　will　not　be　me　death　of　him。　Bellam＋perhaps　even　Tynstar＋will　want　him　alive；　for　a　time。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃I　begin　to　think　you　will　allow　this　jealousy　to　prevent　his　rescue。〃
　〃I　am　jealous　of　no　one！〃　he　snapped；　and　reddened　as　he　heard　Finn's　spurt　of　laughter。
　〃Duncan；　we　must　go　to　him。〃
　〃We　go　to　Mujhara；　to　fight　the　Mini…　They　are　a　bigger　threat　than　Keough。〃
　〃Then　you　sentence　Carillon　to　death！〃
　Duncan　sighed　heavily。　〃If　his　death　is　meant；　it　will　happen。
　Carillon　may　not　be　Cheysuli；　but　he　has　his　own　sort　of
　tahlmorra。
　〃Duncan！〃　she　cried　incredulously；　aware　th