jr.shapechangers-第44部分

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　Carillon's　mouth　tightened。　〃I　seek　only　to　get　to　MuJhara　and　free　my　city　from　the　Dilini　demons。　And　Bellam　of　Solinde。〃　His　fingers　were　bone…white　as　he　clenched　them　on　the　sword。
　〃You　will　not　get　there　without　our　aid；〃　Finn　said　curtly。　〃Yet　last　night　you　were　willing　enough　to　let　us　use　our　gifts　on　the　enemy。〃
　〃Using　your　magic　to　release　your　liege　lord　is　one　thing；〃　Carillon　retorted。　〃Subverting　my　will　with　it　is　entirely　another。〃
　Finn　laughed　scornfully。　〃See　how　quickly　he　calls　himself　our　lord！　Only　months　ago　you　lay　in　our　hands；　princeling；　and　did　our　bidding。　Could　we　not　have　forced　sorcery　on　you　then　if　we　wished　it？　Or　is　it　that　you　lift　yourself　higher；　now；　because　Fergus　of　Homana　is　slain？〃
　〃Rujho；〃　Duncan　said　quietly。
　Carillon's　eyes　were　hard　as　stone　as　he　shook　his　head。　〃Let
　him　speak。　I　have　learned　much　of　men　because　of　this　war；　and
　I　find　there　are　times　a　man　must　consider　himself　first。　Long
　have　I　allowed　the　Mujhar　to　manipulate　me；　but　no　longer。　My
　father　is　slain　by　Atvian　hands　and　it　is　my　place　to　do　what　he
　would。〃　Carillon　smiled　slowly；　without　humor。　〃You　may　not　like　it；　shapechanger；　but　I　will　be　lord　of　Homana　one　day。　You　had　better　accustom　yourself　to　it。〃
　Color　surged　into　Finn's　face　as　he　stiffened。　The　yellow　blaze　in　his　eyes　gave　away　the　depths　of　the　rage　he　felt；　and　Alix　grinned　delightedly。　She　caught　his　eyes　on　her　and　did　not　hide　her　reaction；　which　only　angered　him　further。　Finn　turned　and　walked　away　from　the　clustered　warriors。
　Duncan；　legs　spread　and　arms　folded；　smiled　ironically　down　on　Carillon。　〃My　lord　prince；　you　may　well　be　our　liege　lord。　But　it　remains：　you　cannot　ride　into　Mujhara　in　this　fashion。　You　would　not　last　the　journey。〃
　Carillon　placed　one　hand　flat　against　the　ground　and　pushed　himself　upright；　tensing　his　body　with　the　effort　it　took。　Alix　stifled　the　movement　she　longed　to　make　to　help　him；　knowing　to　do　so　would　diminish　tite　impact　of　his　rising。　He　stood　taller　than　most　of　them；　though　the　Cheysuli　were　a　tall　race；　and　his　broad　shoulders　stretched　against　the　leather…and…mail　he　wore。　Only　his　eyes　gave　away　the　immensity　of　effort　it　took　for　him　to　remain　standing　erectly　before　them。
　〃If　I　cannot　ride　into　my　own　city；　I　have　no　business　attempting　to　free　her　from　the　Ihlini　terror。〃
　〃Carillon；〃　she　said　softly；　〃it　will　not　hurt。　It　will　only　strengthen　you。〃
　His　eyes　burned　into　hers　as　he　stretched　out　his　left　hand。　The　stiff　sleeve　of　his　fighting　leathers　and　mail　drew　back　on　his　arm；　baring　the　ridged　purple　weak　still　weeping　fluid　from　the　shackle…wounds。
　〃I　care　little　if　it　hurts；　Alix。　Have　I　not　learned　to　deal　with　pain？〃
　Duncan's　hand　pressed　against　her　shoulder　as　if　bidding　her　into　silence。　Alix　longed　to　answer　Carillon's　bitterness　but　refrained。　As　she　listened　to　Duncan　she　realized　nothing　she　said　could　change　Carillon's　mind。　But　Duncan's　words　might。
　〃Homana　lies　in　her　death　struggle；〃　he　said　clearly。　〃I　believe　you　realize　that。　It　is　a　harsh　thing　to　prehend；　when　you　are　prince　of　a　land　and　must　someday　ascend　the　throne；　but　it　is　something　you　must　deal　with。　The　Cheysuli　denied　the　truth　of　the　prophecy　once；　Carillon；　and　suffered　because　of　it。　If　you　deny　it；　you　also　will　suffer。〃
　〃I　am　not　Cheysuli；〃　Carillon　said　sharply。　〃A　shapechanger　prophecy　cannot　foretell　what　will　bee　of　a　Homanan。　I　have　no　place　in　it。〃
　〃You　cannot　know；〃　Duncan　said　softly。　〃Nor　can　any　man。
　You　must　allow　things　their　own　path　if　you　are　to　survive。　This
　prophecy　has　foretold　what　will　bee　of　you；　my　lord；　even　though　you　be　Homanan。　I　believe　you　are　the　Mujhar　it　speaks　of＋the　one　who　wilt　end　the　qu'mahlin　and　restore　our　race　to　peace　and　our　homeland。〃　Duncan　sighed　as　Carillon's　face　expressed　patent　disbelief。　〃We　cannot　turn　the　flow　of　die　prophecy。　But　we　can　withstand　the　dark　arts　of　Ihlini　interference。〃
　〃You　cannot　tell　me　what　has　happened　was　meant'。〃　the　prince　snapped。　〃My　father's　death？〃
　〃A　man　must　die　before　his　son　is　fully　a　man；〃　Duncan　said　gently。　〃And　the　throne　of　Homana　must　once　again　fall　into　Cheysuli　hands。〃
　Alix　saw　bitterness　and　resentment　wash　color　from　Carillon's　face。　〃Cheysuli　hands？〃　he　asked　ominously。　〃You　say　Homana's　throne　will　be　in　shapechanger　hands？〃
　She　stepped　from　Duncan　and　stood　between　them；　fearing　little　would　be　settled　over　such　an　emotional　score。　Gently　she　touched　Carillon's　hand　as　it　clung　to　the　sword。
　*'I　have　learned　once　this　land　was　Cheysuli；〃　she　said　softly。　〃before　ever　the　Homanans　came。　It　was　the　Cheysuli　who　gave　the　throne　to　your　ancestors。　Duncan　does　not　mean　he　will　deny　your　right　to　it。　It　is　only　that　you　must　have　it　before　it　goes　again　to　a　Cheysuli　Mujhar。〃　Alix　took　a　careful　breath。　〃Carillon；　can　we　not　be　one　race　instead　of　two？〃
　〃You　will　rule　in　Mujhara；　my　lord；〃　Duncan　said　calmly；　〃but　only　if　we　get　you　there。〃
　Carillon　said　nothing。　It　was　Alix　who　smiled　into　his　face　and　insisted　gently。　〃I　will　not　let　them　harm　you。　I　promise。〃
　His　free　hand　slid　up　to　her　face　and　cupped　it　gently。　〃Then　I　leave　my　fate　in　your　hands。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Your　fate　is　your　own。　Tahtmorra。〃
　The　Cheysuli　went　into　Mujhara　under　cover　of　darkness。　Carillon；　submitting　to　the　summoning　of　earth　magic　that　renewed　his　strength　and　sent　vigor　sweeping　through　his　bones；　rode　the　Atvian　mount　stolen　for　him。　Alix　sat　behind　Duncan　once　more　and　stared　in　dismay　at　the　city。
　It　lay　in　shambles。　The　glittering　magnificence　had　shattered　beneath　the　continued　onslaught　of　Ihlini　sorcery。　Walts　lay　tumbled；　oddly　charred　as　if　unholy　fire　had　leached　life　from　stone　blocks　once　raised　by　Cheysuli　hands　so　many　centuries　before。　Many　of　the　dwellings　had　been　destroyed　pletely；
　others　showed　no　signs　of　life　within。　Crumbling　casements　stared　blindly　at　the　streets　as　if　the　eyes　had　been　plucked　from　them　by　unseen　hands。
　Alix　shivered　and　held　more　tightly　to　Duncan。　Here　and　there　someone　moved　out　of　the　shadows　to　avoid　them；　as　if　they　feared　Ihlini　retribution；　and　Alix　longed　to　tell　them　differently。　But　she　could　not　find　her　voice。
　Mujhara。。。　she　mourned　within　her　heart。
　She　looked　at　Carillon　and　saw　him　sitting　erect　in　the　saddle；　Cheysuli　sword　fastened　to　his　leather　belt。　His　face；　as　he　looked　on　the　city；　was　perfectly　blank。　His　eyes　were　not。
　Duncan　halted　his　horse　and　waited　until　the　warriors　gathered　around　him　in　a　narrow　alley。　Their　silence　was　eloquent。
　〃We　are　too　late　to　keep　the　city　from　me　Ihlini；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　Homana…Mujhar　we　must　look　to。　If　the　palace　falls；　so　falls　the　realm。〃
　Carillon　shifted　in　his　saddle。　〃The　palace　has　stood　against　strong　foes　for　centuries；　shapechanger。　It　will　not　fall　to　dark　sorcery。〃
　Duncan　slowly　lifted　his　hand　and　indicated　the　charred；　still…smoking　ruins　of　a　tall　dwelling　near　them。　〃There　is　the　smell　of　death　in　the　air；　my　lord。　Does　it　matter　so　much　if　it　is　achieved　at　the　hands　of　sorcerers；　or　mere　men？〃
　Carillon　scowled。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　〃That　if　you　continue　to　believe　in　the　infallibility　of　Shame　and　the　palace　in　which　he　hides　himself；　you　are　foolish　indeed。〃　He　smiled　bitterly。　〃Carillon；　once　my　own　race　was　arrogant　enough　to　believe　we　would　ever　hold　the　regard　of　Homanans。　See　how　that　faith　has　turned　to…folly？　Tynstar　is　powerful　indeed。　If　Homana…Mujhar　can　be　taken＋and　any　castle　can　be＋the　Ihlini　will　do　it。〃
　The　prince's　blue　eyes　were　bleak。　〃I　do　not　deny　the　demon　his　arts；　nor　his　strength。　I　have　only　to　see　what　he　has　done　already。　But　it　is　a　hard　thing　to　realize　the　strength　of　a　land　resides　in　a　single　Mujhar。〃　His　mouth　thinned。　〃I　am　not　so　much　like　my　uncle；　I　think。　But　I　will　do　what　I　can　to　keep　this　land　free　of　Bellam's　grasp。〃
　Finn's　dun…colored　horse　stomped　against　the　ash…covered　cobbles；　raising　fine　gray　dust。　The　warrior　astride　the　animal　set　his　hand　to　the　hilt　of　his　knife。
　〃We　acplish　little　here；　rujho。　Let　us　go　on　to　Homana…Mujhar。〃
　Alix　felt　Duncan's　subtle　sigh。　Then　he　straightened　and　nodded。　〃What　we　do　now　may　well　settle　the　future　of　the　Cheysuli。〃　He　stared　levelly　at　Carillon。　〃Can　you　truly　cling　to　the　belief　that　we　mean　me　Mujhar's　blood　only　ill；　my　lord？〃
　Carillon　slid　the　sword　free　of　its　sheath。　The　moonlight　and
　dying　flames　from　the　burning　buildings　glinted　off　the　blade　and　set　the　ruby　to　glowing　like　a　crimson　eye。
　〃I　have　said　you　will　know　what　I　believe　when　I　am　Mujhar；　shapechanger。　Shaine　still　lives。〃　His　grim　face　softened　slightly。　〃But　your　aid　is　wele　this　night。〃
　Finn　laughed　curtly。　〃That　is　something；　I　suppose；　from　you。　Well；　princeling；　shall　you　show　us　how　a　fine　Homanan　lord　fights　to　save　his　land？〃
　〃I　will　fight　how　I　can；　shapechanger。　As　you　will　see。〃
　Duncan　gathered　the　reins　of　his　mount。　〃We　go　separately；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Cheysuli…fashion；　when　the　odds　are　so　high。　When　we　have　reached　Homana…Mujhar；　we　will　see　to　the　Mujhar's　welfare。〃
　Alix　watched　as　the　warriors　melted　into　the　darkness。　After　a　moment　only　she　and　Duncan　remained　with　Carillon。
　Fi