jr.shapechangers-第41部分

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　〃I　punish　him　because　he　threw　wine　over　my　father；〃　the　man　said　firmly。　〃He　is　fortunate　I　did　not　order　him　slain。〃
　Alix　froze。　Thorne。。。　Thorne！　This　man　is　Keough's　heir！
　His　dark　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　do　you　do　here；　gyri？〃
　〃You　saw　me。　I　cut　the　boy　free。〃
　〃Why？〃
　She　lifted　her　chin　defiantly。　〃Because　Carillon　desired　it。〃
　〃Carillon　is　a　prisoner。〃　His　accent　twisted　the　name。　〃His　desires　are　nothing　to　me。〃
　〃Let　me　go；〃　she　said；　knowing　the　request　was　futile。
　Thorne　arched　a　dark　brow。　〃I　think　not。　But　tell　me　why　you　desire　to　leave　a　prince's　presence　so　quickly。〃
　〃There　is　another　prince　whose　pany　I　prefer。〃
　He　stared　at　her　malignantly。　Alix　began　to　regret　antagonizing　him；　for　fear　of　the　reprisals　that　might　affect　Carillon。
　〃My　father　will　wish　to　see　you；〃　Thome　said　abruptly；　and　dragged　her　into　the　scarlet　pavilion。
　Keough；　Lord　of　Atvia；　sat　at　a　heavy　slab　table　in　the　shadows　of　the　pavilion。　Braziers　had　been　set　out　to　ward　off　me　chill　and　torches　flamed　in　each　er。　Alix　stared　at　him　and　began　to　be　very　afraid　for　the　first　time。
　He　was　huge。　His　massive　body　dwarfed　the　chair　he　sat　in；　which　had　been　bound　with　iron　to　lend　it　strength。　His　bared　forearms　rested　on　the　table。　She　saw　freckles　and　red　hairs　bleached　golden　by　the　sun。　A　white　ridge　of　scar　tissue　snaked　across　the　flesh　and　up　his　left　arm。　His　hair　also　was　red；　threaded　with　white；　and　his　beard　was　bushy。　His　deep…set　eyes　watched　her　in　calm　deliberation。
　〃What　have　you　brought　me；　Thome？〃
　〃A　woman　dressed　as　a　boy。　You　will　have　to　ask　her　the　reason　for　it。〃
　Keough's　eyes　narrowed。　His　Atvian　mouth　formed　the　Homanan　syllables　harshly；　without　the　liquid　grace　she　was　accustomed　to。
　〃She　does　not　look　like　a　camp　follower。　They；　at　least　wear　skirts。〃　His　fingers　bed　his　beard。　〃Are　you　a　woman　who　prefers　those　of　her　own　sex？〃
　〃No！〃　Alix　hissed；　against　her　will。　She　saw　Keough's　small　smile；　and　it　rankled。　〃I　am　a　Homanan；　my　lord。　That　is　all　you　need　know。〃
　〃Then　you　are　my　enemy。〃
　〃Aye。〃　It　was　heartfelt。
　The　beard　and　mustache　parted　as　he　grinned；　displaying　discolored　teem　as　big　as　the　rest　of　him。　〃Have　you　e　hoping　to　fight？　If　so；　you　are　too　late。　The　battle　is　already　won。　Prince　Fergus　and　the　generals　are　slain；　executed。　Most　of　the　captains　are　dead；　though　I　save　a　few　for　later　exhibition。　Even　Carillon　is　in　my　hands。〃　Keough　paused。　〃There　is　little　left　for　you　to　champion。〃
　Alix　was　done　with　this。　She　reached　for　the　magic　in　her　bones　that　would　give　her　fir…shape　before　their　eyes。　But　Thome；　seeming　to　sense　something；　twisted　the　arm　he　held　until　the　sinews　cracked。　The　sudden　pain　drove　away　the　concentration　the　shapechange　required。
　〃What　do　I　do　with　her？〃　Thome　asked。　〃Will　you　use　her；　or　do　I　take　her　for　myself？〃
　Keough　looked　at　her　as　she　hung　on　her　tiptoes。　〃Leave　her　with　me。　See　if　Carillon　is　still　among　us。〃
　Thome　released　her　and　left　the　tent。　Alix　cradled　her　aching　arm　against　her　chest；　glaring　at　Keough。　For　the　moment　she　was　helpless；　and　knew　it。
　The　Atvian　lord　smiled　and　sat　back　in　his　massive　chair。
　〃You　are　not　a　light　woman。　You　are　not　a　soldier。　What　are
　you？*'
　〃Someone　who　will　seek　your　downfall；　Atvian；　when　I　am　given　the　chance。〃
　〃I　could　have　you　slain；　girl。　Or　do　it　myself。〃　He　raised　his　huge　hands。　〃Your　slender　throat　would　not　live　long　in　these　fingers。〃
　〃And　your　heart　will　not　live　long　with　a　Cheysuli　arrow　piercing　it；〃　Duncan　said　quietly。
　Alix　swung　around；　shocked　as　she　saw　him　standing　inside　the　pavilion。　His　eyes　rested　on　her　briefly；　expressionlessly；　then　returned　to　Keough。　In　his　hands　was　the　black　war　bow；　its　string　invisible　in　the　shadows。　Eerily；　it　seemed　the　bow　required　no　string　to　send　its　arrow　winging　into　men's　flesh。
　Keough　made　a　sound。　Alix　turned　back　and　saw　him　stare　at　Duncan　as　if　demons　pursued　his　soul。　His　small　eyes　slid　from　Duncan　to　Alix；　and　she　heard　the　malevolence　in　his　tone。
　〃So；　you　are　a　shapechanger　witch　sent　to　distract　me　while　the　others　work　against　us。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　clearly。　〃I　am　Cheysuli。　aye；　but　I　came　only
　for　Carillon。　You　bind　him　harshly；　my　lord。　There　is　no　honor
　in　your　heart。〃
　Keough　laughed　at　her…　〃I　have　no　heart；　witch。　None　at　all。'*
　Duncan　moved　forward　until　he　stood　next　to　Alix。　〃My
　cheysula　has　the　right　of　it。　Carillon　deserves　better。〃
　Keougb　pressed　his　hands　against　me　table　and　rose。　He　was
　unarmed　save　for　a　sheathed　knife　at　his　belt；　but　he　did　not
　reach　for　it。
　〃I　warn　you；　shapechanger。　I　am　not　an　easy　man　to　slay。〃
　Duncan　smiled　grimly。　〃You　will　not　be　slain　this　night；　my　lord。　It　is　not　your　tahlmorra。　It　would　not　serve　the　prophecy。〃
　Keough's　red　brows　lanced　down。　〃What　mean　you？〃
　〃Nothing；　save　I　desire　Carillon's　release。〃
　〃Your　price　for　leaving　me　alive？〃　Keough　laughed。　〃What
　if　I　refuse？〃
　Duncan　shrugged。　〃I　have　said　you　will　not　die　this　night。　I　have　never　lied。　Even　to　my　enemies。〃
　The　huge　Atvian　lord　smiled。　〃I　give　you　nothing；　shapechanger。
　What　you　will　have；　you　must　take。〃
　Alix　sensed　the　billowing　of　the　doorflap　behind　and　turned　quickly；　expecting　an　Atvian　guard。　But　instead　she　saw　a　familiar　silver　wolf；　and　Finn　beside　him。
　He　grinned　at　her。　〃So；　meijha；　you　will　do　for　yourself　what　you　cannot　convince　us　to　do。〃
　〃I　asked；〃　she　said　tightly。　〃You　would　not　e。〃
　〃Enough；〃　Duncan　said　softly。
　Thorne　burst　through　the　draped　pavilion　entrance；　sword　drawn　and　raised　to　slash　its　way　into　flesh　and　bone。　Finn　spun　noiselessly　and　drew　his　knife；　knocking　the　blade　away。　Thorne　fell　sprawling　to　the　ground；　a　Cheysuli　knife　pressed　against　his　throat　as　Finn　knelt　by　him。
　Duncan　looked　solemnly　at　Keough。　〃Your　son's　life；　my　lord；　in　exchange　for　Carillon's　release。〃
　Keough　spat　out　an　Atvian　oath　between　his　teeth　and　grabbed　up　the　keys　from　an　open　chest。　He　flung　mem　at　Duncan。
　Alix　followed　Duncan's　silent　order　and　left　the　pavilion。　Duncan　followed　her　out；　leaving　Finn　and　Storr　to　keep　the　Atvian　rulers　contained。
　〃Where　is　he？〃　Duncan　asked。
　〃By　the　horses。　Duncan＋〃
　〃We　will　speak　of　it　another　time。〃
　Alix　winced。　〃What　else　could　I　do？〃
　〃We　will　speak　of　it　another　time。〃
　She　stopped　to　protest；　then　became　aware　of　the　odd　stillness　shrouding　the　encampment。　She　realized　not　a　single　Atvian　or　Solindish　soldier　moved　against　the　Cheysuli　invaders。
　Alix　turned　puzzled　eyes　on　Duncan。　〃What　have　you　done？〃
　He　smiled　grimly。　〃We　have　used　the　third　gift　of　the　gods；　Alix。　We　could　not　force　all　into　submission；　but　we　found　the　captains　and　took　their　minds　from　them　for　a　time。　They；　in　turn；　do　as　we　ordered；　and　keep　the　mon　soldiers　from　fighting。　The　Homanan　captives　have　been　freed。〃
　She　drew　back　a　step。　〃By　the　gods。。。　you　are　so　powerful？〃
　〃It　is　a　thing　we　rarely　do。　It　takes　the　spirit　from　a　man；　and　that　is　a　thing　no　Cheysuli　would　do　if　there　were　another　way。〃　His　eyes　were　reproving。　〃You　have　brought　this　about；　cheysula。〃
　Her　hands　clenched　into　fists。　〃I　would　do　the　same　for　you！〃　she　burst　out。　〃For　you　I　would　give　my　life。　How　can　you　deny　me　this　for　Carillon？〃
　He　sighed　and　jangled　the　keys　against　his　leg。　〃Alix；　we　will　speak　of　this　later。　You　have　forced　me　to　free　the　prince；　so　let　me　be　about　it。　Do　you　e？〃
　She　started　to　walk　on；　then　stopped　stiffly　and　turned　back。
　〃The　boy！〃
　〃What　boy？〃
　〃Rowan。〃　She　gestured　at　the　post　and　saw　the　boy　was
　gone。　〃He　was　there。　Tied。　I　freed　him。〃　She　frowned。　〃I
　thought　he　had　not　the　strength　to　leave　this　place。〃　Alix's　face
　cleared。　〃But　if　he　is　Cheysuli＋〃
　Duncan　took　her　arm。　〃e；　cheysula。　If　the　boy　is　free；　it　is　fortunate　for　him。〃
　She　went　with　him　to　Carillon。
　The　prince　still　sat　in　the　tumbril；　legs　drawn　up。　Moonlight　spilled　across　the　iron　on　his　legs　and　hands；　illuminating　the　drawn　hollows　around　his　eyes。　When　he　saw　Alix　he　shifted　forward；　ignoring　the　clank　of　chain。
　〃You　are　safe'〃
　She　smiled　and　slid　a　quick　sideways　glance　at　Duncan。
　〃Aye；　I　am。〃
　Carillon　blinked　in　surprise　as　he　saw　the　Cheysuli　warrior。　Then　a　wariness　came　into　his　face。　〃What　have　you　e　for；　shapechanger？〃
　Duncan　regarded　Carillon　solemnly。　〃I　lost　something；　my　lord…　I　came　to　recover　it。〃　He　spread　his　hands。　〃But　while　I　am　here；　I　may　as　well　see　to　your　welfare。　My　foolish　cheysula　has　forced　me　to　do　her　bidding。〃
　Carillon　nearly　smiled。　Alix　saw　the　struggle　in　his　face　as　he　tried　to　keep　his　emotional　distance　from　the　Cheysuli…　But　his　relief　and　good　nature　won　out。
　〃She　is　a　foolish　woman。　I　told　her　so　when　first　she　appeared；　but　she　would　have　none　of　it。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Women　are　willful　creatures。〃
　Duncan　lost　his　solemnity　and　grinned。　〃Aye；　especially　this　one。　I　think　it　is　the　royalty　in　her。〃
　Carillon　laughed。　Alix；　disgruntled　by　the　amusement　in　them
　both　at　her　expense；　glared　at　Duncan；
　〃Have　you　brought　the　keys　for　nothing；　Duncan？　See　to　your　prince！〃
　Duncan　banished　his　smile　but　not　the　glint　in　his　eyes。　He　bent　and　unlocked　the　leg　shackles。　Then　he　u