jr.shapechangers-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　He　smelled　of　leather　and　gold　and　demand。　〃Mei　jha；〃　he　said　roughly；　〃I　cannot。。。〃
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　cry　out　as　he　pressed　a　knee　between　her　thighs。　But　before　she　could　make　a　sound　the　familiar　tone　she　associated　with　Storr　came　quietly　into　their　minds。
　Lir；　you　should　not。
　It　drove　Finn　from　Alix。　He　shoved　her　harshly　against　the　ground　as　she　hitched　up　on　one　arm；　cursing　violently　beneath　his　breath；　and　she　winced　against　the　force　of　his　hand　against　her　shoulder。　He　knelt　by　her；　stiff　with　tension；　and　she　saw　he　looked　at　the　wolf。
　Storr　waited　in　a　thick　copse　of　trees；　staring　unwaveringly　at　Finn。　Alix　could　only　bless　the　wolfs　timely　appearance　and　intervention；　for　all　she　could　not　prehend　it。　Slowly　she　eased　herself　onto　one　elbow。
　〃Storr！〃　Finn　hissed。
　She　is　not　for　you。
　Finn　turned　on　her；　furious。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　She　kept　her　voice　steady　with　effort…　〃I　have　said。〃
　He　settled　one　hand　around　her　vulnerable　throat。　It　rested　without　pressure；　promising　only；　but　she　felt　the　violence　in　his　body。
　〃You　have　said　nothing！　Who　are　you？〃
　〃I　am　a　croft…girl！　My　father　is　Torrin　and　my　mother　was　Leyda。　He　was　arms…master　to　Shaine　the　Mujhar　before　he　turned　to　the　land。〃　She　glared　at　him。　〃I　am　his　daughter。　Nothing　more。〃
　Finn's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Anns…master　to　the　Mujhar。　When？〃
　Alix　took　a　weary　breath。　〃I　am　seventeen。　He　left　the　Mujhar's　service　a　year　before　I　was　born；　and　took　a　valley　girl　to　wife…　But　I　cannot　say　how　long　he　served　Shaine。　He　does　not　speak　of　those　days。〃
　〃Does　he　not？〃　Finn　said　musingly；　taking　his　hand　from　her　throat。　He　sat　back　on　his　haunches　and　frowned　thoughtfully；　pushing　heavy　black　hair　from　his　face。
　Alix；　feeling　safe　for　the　moment；　sat　upright　and　straightened　her　twisted　gown。　The　welt　on　her　face　stung；　as　did　the　scratches　and　bruises　on　her　legs；　but　she　touched　none　of　them。　She　would　not　give　him　the　satisfaction。
　Finn　stared　at　her　impassively。　〃Do　you　know　the　story　of　the
　qu'mahlinT'
　〃There　are　two　of　them。〃　She　covered　her　legs　decorously。
　He　grinned。　〃Aye。　And　I　heard　you　speak　of　one　to　the　princeling；　even　when　he　would　dissuade　you　of　it。　Which　do　you　believe？〃
　His　change　in　attitude　made　her　wary；　but　also　relieved。　No　longer　did　she　fear　he　would　pounce　on　her　like　a　mountain　cat　taking　a　rabbit。　With　renewed　confidence　she　told　him。
　〃Shaine's　daughter　broke　the　betrothal　made　between　Homana
　and　Solinde。　It　would　have　allied　the　lands　after　centuries　of
　warfare；　but　she　would　have　none　of　Bellam's　son；　EUic。　She　went　instead　with　a　Cheysuli。〃
　〃Hale；〃　Finn　agreed。　〃Shaine's　sworn　liege　man。〃
　Alix　shrugged。　〃I　cannot　say。　I　only　overheard　my　father　speaking　of　it　once；　to　my　mother；　when　he　thought　I　could　not　hear。〃
　〃It　is　true；　meijha；〃　he　said　seriously…　〃Hale　took　Lindir　with　him　into　the　forests　of　Homana；　but　only　because　she　asked　him　to；　and　only　because　she　wanted　no　marriage　with　Ellic　of　Solinde。〃
　She　scowled　at　him；　strangely　confident　in　the　face　of　his　new　self。　〃What　was　this　to　do　with　me？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　he　told　her　bluntly。　〃It　has　to　do　with　me；　and　why　you　are　here。　What　I　said　before　is　true。　The　qu'mahlin　has　slain　most　of　the　warriors　and　many　of　the　women。　As　a　race　we　are　nearly　destroyed；　because　of　Shaine。　And　now　the　daughter　of　the　Mujhar's　former　arms…master　who　witnessed　the　very　beginnings　of　the　qu'mahlin　is　in　my　hands。〃　He　smiled　slowly；　gesturing。　She　saw　again　the　spread　fingers　and　lifting　palm。　〃It　is　tahlmorra；　perhaps。〃
　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　〃Fate。　Destiny。　It　is　a　Cheysuli　word　meaning　what　is　meant　will　happen；　and　cannot　be　gainsaid；　for　it　is　in　the　hands　of　the　gods。〃　Finn　smiled　ironically　at　her。　〃It　has　to　do　with　the　prophecy。〃
　〃Prophecy；〃　she　muttered　in　disgust；　weary　of　his　attitude　and　hinted…at　knowledge。　She　looked　at　the　patient　wolf。　〃What　has　Storr　to　do　with　me？〃
　Finn　scowled。　〃I　cannot　say；　but　it　is　something　1　would　learn。　Now。〃　He　fixed　her　with　a　baleful　glare。　〃Why　does　he　keep　me　from　you？〃
　She　glared　back。　〃That　/　cannot　say；　snapechanger；　save　to　pliment　his　actions。〃
　He　startled　her　by　laughing。　Then　he　got　to　his　feet　and　reached　for　her；　pulling　her　up。　She　stood　stiffly；　wary　of　him；　ignoring　the　provocative　appraising　look　in　his　eyes。
　Storr　yawned。　/　think　she　is　not　as　frightened　of　you　as　she　would　have　you　believe；　Ur。
　Finn　smiled　at　the　wolf；　then　looked　back　at　her。　His　dark　brows　rose。　〃Are　you　so　brave；　mei　jhaf　Do　you　dissemble　before　me？〃
　Alix　slanted　a　reproving　glance　at　the　wolf。　〃He　knows　me　not　at　all；　snapechanger。　Do　not　listen　to　him。〃
　〃To　my　own　Ur　He　laughed。　〃If　I　forsake　Storr；　I　forsake　my　soul。　You　will　learn　that；　soon　enough。〃
　Storr　shook　himself　and　padded　into　the　clearing。　Enough；　lir；
　you　do　not　understand　the　girl。　And　she　does　not　understand　what　is　in　her　blood。
　〃My　blood？〃　Alix　asked；　shaken。
　Finn's　eyes　narrowed　as　the　equanimity　left　his　face。　He　turned　slowly　to　her；　reaching　to　close　a　wide　hand　on　her　jaw。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　She　swallowed；　suddenly　frightened　again。　She　fought　back　a　shudder　at　his　touch。　〃The　wolf。　He　said　something　of　my　blood。　What　does　he　say？〃
　The　hand　tightened　until　she　winced。　〃My　wolf？〃　he　hissed。
　〃You　heard　him？〃
　She　closed　her　eyes。　〃Aye。〃
　Finn　released　her。　Alix　opened　her　eyes　and　found　him　staring　at　her　speculatively。　The　gold　in　his　ear　glinted　as　he　shoved　hair　back　from　his　face。　Slowly　he　smiled。
　〃Then　the　story　is　true。〃
　〃Story？〃
　He　folded　his　arms　over　his　chest　and　grinned　at　her。　〃Your　crofter　father　did　not　tell　your　mother　all　he　knew；　or　else　you　did　not　hear　it。〃
　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　Finn　flicked　a　glance　at　Storr。　〃Do　I　have　the　right　of　it；　for？〃
　Can　you　not　see　it　for　yourself？
　The　warrior　laughed　to　himself　and　turned　back　to　her。　Play…fully　he　caught　her　braid　in　one　hand　and　threaded　blunt　fingers　into　the　loosened　plait。
　〃You　hear　Storr；　meijha；　because　you　are　only　half　Homanan。
　The　other　half　is　Cheysuli。〃
　〃No！〃
　He　frowned。　〃But　even　for　all　that；　it　is　strange。　The　women　do　not　take　lir；　nor　do　they　converse　with　them。　Yet　it　only　serves　to　make　me　certain　who　you　are。〃
　Alix　felt　a　renewal　of　fear。　〃I　have　said　who　I　am。　You　speak　lies　to　me。〃
　He　tugged　on　her　braid。　〃You　have　much　to　learn；　mei　jha。　You　have　grown　up　apart　from　your　clan。　You　are　sadly　lacking　in　the　wisdom　and　customs　of　the　Cheysuli。〃
　〃I　am　Homanan　V
　〃Then　say　to　me　how　it　is　you　can　hear　my　lir　when　no　other　can；　save　myself。〃
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　reply　angrily　but　no　sound　came　out。　After　a　moment　she　jerked　her　braid　free　of　him　and　turned　away；　hugging　herself　for　warmth　and　security。　She　stiffened　as　his　hands　came　down　on　her　shoulders。
　〃Mei　jha；〃　he　said　softly；　〃it　is　not　so　bad　a　fate。　We　are　children　of　the　Firstborn；　who　were　sired　by　the　old　gods。　The　Homanans　are　nothing　when　you　understand　the　heritage　we　claim。〃
　〃I　am　not　a　shapechanger！〃
　Fingers　dug　into　her　shoulders。　〃You　are　Cheysuli。　Cheysuli。
　Else　Storr　would　not　offer　you　his　protection。〃
　〃You　accept　the　word　of　a　wolf？〃　Abruptly　Alix　clapped　hands　over　her　mouth　and　spun；　staring　at　him。　〃What　do　I　say？　What　do　I　hear　from　my　own　tongue？〃　She　swallowed　heavily。　〃He　is　a　wolf。　A　beast　And　you　are　demon…sent　to　make　me　believe　otherwise！〃
　〃I　am　not　a　demon；〃　Finn　said；　affronted。　〃Nor　is　Storr。　I　have　said　what　I　am；　and　what　he　is；　and　by　all　the　old　gods　what　you　are。　Now；　e　with　me。〃
　She　wrenched　away　from　his　reaching　hand。　〃Do　not　touch　me！〃
　Finn　glared　at　her。　〃Your　blood　has　saved　you　from　my　attentions；　meijha；　for　a　time。　Do　not　seek　to　anger　me。　or　I　may　renew　them。〃
　Alix　stiffened　as　he　took　her　arm　and　led　her　through　the　trees。　He　brought　her　to　a　slate…colored　tent　set　in　a　tumbled　circle　of　stone。　The　fire　cairn　still　burned　next　to　a　blood…red　rug；　and　she　dragged　her　eyes　from　it　in　time　to　e　face…to…face　with　a　hawk　perching　on　a　staff　before　the　tent。　She　stumbled　back；　gasping。
　The　bird　was　large；　even　with　wings　folded。　He　was　a　myriad　of　rich　browns　and　golds；　with　dark　eyes　that　watched　her；　half…lidded。　His　deadly；　curving　beak　shone　in　the　muted　firelight；　and　she　felt　a　whisper　of　awe　and　appreciation　in　her　mind。
　A　man　who　has　such　a　lir　is　powerful　indeed。。。
　〃Cai；〃　Finn　said　quietly。　〃This　is　my　brother's　pavilion。　He　is　clan…leader；　and　needs　to　be　told　who　you　are。〃
　Wearily　Alix　rubbed　a　grimy　hand　across　her　brow。　〃And　what　will　you　tell　him；　shapechanger？〃
　〃That　Hate's　daughter　has　e　back　to　us。〃
　She　felt　the　strength　pour　out　of　her　limbs。　〃Hate's。。。〃
　His　eyes　were　bright　and　mocking。　〃What　do　you　think　I　told　you　of　Lindir　and　the　Cheysuli　she　wanted？　You　are　their　daughter。〃
　Alix　felt　very　cold。　She　hugged　herself　against　his　words。
　〃No。〃
　〃You　have　only　to　ask　my　fir。〃
　〃A　wolf！〃
　〃The　lir　are　kin　to　The　old　gods；　mei　jha。　They　know　many　things　we　do　not。〃
　〃No。〃
　He　sighed。　〃Wait　here；　rujholia。　I　wilt　speak　to　Duncan　first。〃
　Anger　spurred　her　out　of　her　immobility。　〃What　do　you　call　me　now；　shapechanger？〃
　〃Rujholia？〃　His　smile　faded　into　regret。　〃It　is　Chey