jr.shapechangers-第8部分

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　〃If　what　you　tell　me　is　true；　there　is　one　more　thing；〃　she　said　hollowly。　〃You　are　my　brother；　like　Finn。〃
　Duncan　smiled。　〃No。　Finn　and　I　share　ajehana；　but　Hale　was　to　me　what　the　Homanans　call　foster…father。　My　jehan　died　when　I　was　very　young。〃
　She　smoothed　the　weave　of　her　skirts。　〃I　do　not　entirely　understand。　You　said　Hale　took　Lindir　away　and　got　a　child　on　her。　Me。〃　The　word　was　dry　in　her　mourn。　〃But　if　he　was　father　to　Finn；　and　foster…father　to　you。。。　I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃Hale　was　liege　man　to　Shaine。　It　is　a　Cheysuli　thing；　hereditary　service　to　the　Mujhars　and　their　blood。　Until　the　purge；　the　Mujhars　of　Homana　ever　had　a　Cheysuli　liege　man；〃　Duncan　smiled　faintly。　〃Hale　spent　most　of　his　dme　at　Homana…Mujhar；　serving　this　lord；　according　to　custom。　Lindir　was　a　golden　child　who　took　great　joy　in　teasing　berjehan's　fierce　liege　man；　it　was　a　game　to　her。　Then　she　was　no　longer　a　child；　and　Hale　was　no　longer　indifferent　to　the　promise　of　her　beauty。　She　had　fulfilled　mat　promise。〃　He　saw　Alix's　shocked　face　and　laughed　softly。　〃The　Homanans　hide　their　meijhas　and　call　mem　light　women。　The　Cheysuli　keep　cheysulas　and　meijhas　wives　and　mistresses　and　honor　mem　both。〃
　〃But　Hale　left　your　mother！〃
　〃He　did　what　he　wished。　That　is　understood　among　us。　Men　and　women　have　the　freedom　to　take　whom　they　choose；　when　they　choose。〃　He　grimaced。　〃Though　now　we　have　few　warriors；　and　fewer　women。〃
　Alix　swallowed　with　effort。　〃I　would　rather　be　Homanan。〃
　Duncan's　eyes　narrowed。　〃But　you　are　half　Cheysuli。　In　our　dan；　that　is　counted　whole。〃
　But　her　mind　had　gone　past　that；　grasping　the　slippery　strands　of　prehension。　She　put　the　relationships　together　until　she　had　an　understanding　of　them。　Then　she　looked　at　Duncan。
　〃Lindir　bore　a　daughter　and　Shaine　lost　the　heir　he　wanted。〃
　〃Aye；〃　he　agreed。
　〃So　he　turned　to　his　brother；　Fergus；　who　had　a　son。〃
　〃Aye。〃
　Alix　took　a　shaking　breath。　〃He　made　that　son　his　nephew
　heir…　Prince　of　Homana　Ч　〃
　Duncan　watched　her　closely。　〃Aye。〃
　She　feel　her　heart　begin　to　hurt。　〃Then　Carillon　is　my　cousin！〃
　〃Aye；〃　Duncan　said　softly；　understanding。
　Alix　drew　up　her　knees　and　clasped　her　arms　around　them　tightly。　She　pressed　her　forehead　against　them　and　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　in　denial　and　realization。
　Before　I　was　only　a　croft…girl；　but　one　who　put　him　at　ease。　Now　I　am　Cheysuli　shapechangerlaccursed；　and　his　bastard　cousin。　Grief　surged　into　her　throat。　He　will　never　e　to　me　again！
　She　hugged　her　knees　and　keened　silently　in　the　shapechanger's　tent。
　Chapter　Five
　Alix；　at　dawn；　sat　warmly　wrapped　in　a　brown　blanket；　numbly　aware　she　had　slept　in　the　shapechanger's　presence。　She　had　not　meant　to。　She　vaguely　recalled　her　silent　tears　and　his　urging　of　her　to　sleep；　but　no　more。　Now　she　sat　alone　in　his　pavilion；　bereft　of　the　heritage　she　had　known　all　her　life。
　The　doorflap　stirred　and　Alix　glanced　up；　expecting　Duncan。　Instead　she　saw　Carillon　and　stood　up　with　a　cry；　letting　the　blanket　slide　to　the　ground。
　Then　she　froze。　His　eyes　were　withdrawn　from　her；　strange；　and　she　saw　none　of　me　warm　wele　she　had　e　to　expect。
　They　have　told　him。。。
　Alix's　arms　dropped　to　her　sides。　Desolation　swept　in　to　fill
　her　soul。　She　would　not　look　into　his　face　and　see　his　rejection
　ofher
　〃Alix。。。〃
　〃You　need　say　nothing；　my　lord；〃　she　said　remotely。　〃I　understand　how　a　prince　must　feel　to　leam　the　croft…girl　he　has　kept　pany　with　is　a　shapechanger。〃
　He　moved　into　the　pavilion。　〃Are　you　so　certain　they　have　the　right　of　it？〃
　Her　head　jerked　up。　〃Then　you　do　not　believe　them？〃
　He　smiled。　〃Do　you　think　I　am　so　easily　manipulated；　Alix？　I　think　they　lie　to　you。　There　is　nothing　Cheysuli　about　you。　Your　hair　is　brown；　not　black；　and　your　eyes　amber。　Not　beast…yellow。〃
　Carillon　let　her　melt　against　his　chest；　sobbing　quietly。　Her　fears　of　suggesting　an　intimacy　she　was　not　due　faded　away　as　she　sought　solace　in　his　strength。　His　anns　slipped　around　her　and　held　her　close；　for　the　first　time　since　they　had　met。
　〃You　will　e　with　me　when　I　am　released；〃　he　said　into　her　tangled　hair。　〃They　cannot　keep　you。〃
　She　lifted　her　face。　〃Duncan　has　said　I　must　stay。〃
　〃I　will　take　you　back　with　me。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　they　will　let　you　go？〃
　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　am　worth　too　much　to　my　uncle　for　them　to　keep　me　long。〃
　〃And　I？〃
　〃You。　Alix？〃
　She　wet　her　lips。　〃If　I　am　what　they　say；　then　I　am　the　Mujhar's　granddaughter。　Lindir's　daughter。〃
　〃So　you　will　admit　to　shapechanger　blood　if　only　to　get　royal　blood　as　well；〃　he　said；　amused。
　Alix　pulled　away　from　him。　〃No！　I　only　seek　acknowledg…ment。。。　the　truth！　Carillon；　if　I　am　Shaine's　granddaughter　will　he　not　free　me　from　this　place？〃
　〃Do　you　think　the　Mujhar　will　acknowledge　a　half…shapechanger　bastard　granddaughter？〃
　She　recoiled　from　the　cruel　question…　〃Carillon*'
　〃You　must　accustom　yourself。　If　what　the　shapechangers　say　is　true；　we　are　cousins。　But　Shaine　will　never　claim　you。　He　will　never　offer　a　single　coin　for　your　return；〃　Carillon　shook　his　head。　〃They　are　harsh　words；　I　know；　but　I　cannot　let　you　expect　something　you　cannot　have。〃
　She　set　cold　hands　against　her　face。　〃Then　you　will　leave　me　hero。。。。〃
　He　caught　her　arms；　pulling　her　hands　from　her　face。　〃I　will　not　leave　you　here！　I　will　take　you　to　Homana…Mujhar；　but　I　cannot　say　what　your　reception　will　be。〃
　〃You　would　not　have　to　tell　him　who　I　am。〃
　〃Do　I　say　you　are　my　light　woman；　then？　A　valley…girl　I　have　been　seeing？〃　He　sighed　as　he　saw　her　expression。　〃Alix；　what　else　would　I　tell　him？〃
　〃The　truth。〃
　〃And　have　him　order　you　slain？〃
　〃He　would　not1。〃
　His　hands　tightened　on　her　arms。　〃The　Mujhar　has　declared
　the　Cheysuli　accursed；　outlawed；　subject　to　death　by　anyone's
　hands。　Do　you　think　he　will　gainsay　his　own　purge　for　the　daughter　of　the　man　who　stole　his　daughter？〃
　Alix　jerked　away　from　him。　〃She　was　not　stolen！　She　went　willingly！　Duncan　said〃　she　broke　off　abruptly；　horrified。
　Carillon　sighed　heavily。　〃So；　you　accept　their　words。　With　so　little　a　fight；　Alix；　do　you　deny　your　Homanan　blood　and　turn　to　the　shapechangers？〃
　〃No！〃
　You　are　Cheysuli；　liren。　Came　the　hawk's　golden　tone。　Do　not　deny　yourself　the　truth。　Remain。
　Alix　ripped　me　doorflap　aside　and　stared　into　the　sky。　Cai　drifted　far　above；　floating　on　a　summer　breeze。
　〃I　must　go！〃　she　cried。
　This　is　your　place；　liren。
　〃No！〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　moved　to　her　and　grabbed　her　arm。　〃To　whom　do　you　speak？〃
　Homana…Mujhar　is　not/or　you；　the　bird　said　softly。
　〃I　cannot　stay；〃　she　insisted；　amazed　at　her　willingness　to　speak　to　a　bird。　〃I　cannot！〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　exclaimed。
　She　gestured　wildly。　〃The　bird！　The　hawk！　There。〃
　He　dropped　her　arms　instantly；　staring　at　her　in　alarm。　Slowly　his　eyes　went　to　the　graceful　hawk。
　〃Let　me　go　with　Carillon；〃　she　pleaded；　knowing　only　that　me　bird　sought　to　keep　her。
　/　cannot　gainsay　you；　liren。　I　can　only　ask。
　Alix　tore　her　eyes　from　the　hawk　and　looked　beseechingly　at　Carillon。　Frantically　she　reached　out　to　catch　her　hands　in　his　black　leather　doublet。
　〃Take　me　with　you。　Tell　the　Mujhar　whatever　you　choose；　but　do　not　make　me　stay　in　this　place！〃
　〃You　understand　what　the　bird　says？〃
　〃In　my　head。　A　voice。〃　She　could　sense　his　shock　and　sought　to　convince　him。　〃Not　words。　A　tone。。。　I　can　understand　what　he　thinks。〃
　〃Alix。。。〃
　〃You　said　you　would　take　me；〃　she　whispered。
　He　put　out　a　hand　to　point　at　Cai；　ruby　signet　flashing。　〃You　converse　with　animals！〃
　Alix　closed　her　eyes；　releasing　him。　〃Then　you　will　leave　me。〃
　〃Shapechanger　sorcery。。。〃　he　said　slowly。
　She　looked　at　him；　judging　his　face　and　the　feelings　reflected　there。　Then　his　hands　grasped　her　shoulders　so　hard　it　hurt。
　〃You　are　no　different；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　still　Alix。　I　look　at　you　and　see　a　strong；　proud　woman　whose　soul　is　near　to　destroyed　by　these　shapechanger　words。　Alix；　I　will　still　have　you　by　me。〃
　You　are　meant/or　another；　the　hawk　said　gently。　The　prince　is　not　for　you。　Stay。
　〃By　all　the　gods；〃　she　whispered；　staring　blindly　at　Carillon；　〃will　none　of　you　let　me　be？〃
　〃Alix！〃
　But　she　tore　herself　from　him　and　ran　from　them　both；　seeking　escape　in　the　forest。
　She　fled　to　a　lush　grassy　glade　lying　in　a　splash　of　sunlight。　There　Alix　sank　to　her　knees　and　sat　stunned；　trying　to　regain　control　of　her　disordered　mind。　She　shook　convulsively。
　Shapechanger！　Spawn　of　a　shapechanger　demon　and　a　king's　daughter！　she　cried　within　her　soul。
　Alix　scrubbed　at　her　stinging　eyes　with　the　heels　of　her　hands；　fighting　back　tears。　She　had　never　been　one　for　crying；　but　the　tension　and　fear　of　the　past　hours　had　taken　away　her　natural　reserve。　She　wanted　security　and　solace　like　a　child　seeking　fort　at　a　mother's　breast。
　Mother！　she　cried。　Was　I　birthed　by　a　Homanan　valley　girl；　or　a　haughty；　defiant　princess？
　Alix　felt　the　conflict　in　her　soul。　She　longed　for　Carillon's　confidence　in　her　Homanan　origins；　yet　felt　the　seductive　tug　of　mystery　attending　the　legendary　magic　of　the　Cheysuli。　And　though　Torrin　had　raised　her　to　be　fair　to　all　men　in　her　thoughts；　even　the　Cheysuli；　he　had　also　instilled　in　her　the　apprehe