jr.shapechangers-第9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！

　in　her　thoughts；　even　the　Cheysuli；　he　had　also　instilled　in　her　the　apprehension　all　felt　concerning　the　race。
　She　heard　a　rustle　in　the　leaves　and　glanced　up　swiftly；　frightened　Finn　had　followed　her　again。　She　did　not　entirely　trust　his　intentions；　for　all　he　claimed　to　be　her　half…brother。　Alix　sensed　something　elemental　in　him；　untamed　and　demanding。
　A　hawk　rested　lightly　on　a　swinging　branch；　feathers　ruffling　in　the　breeze。　Though　its　coloring　was　the　same；　she　realized　it　was　not　Cai。　This　hawk　was　smaller；　more　streamlined；　a　swift　hunting　hawk　able　to　plummet　after　small　prey　and　snatch　it　up　instantly。
　Alix　shivered　involuntarily　as　she　thought　of　the　deadly　talons　curving　around　the　branch。
　Have　you　decided　to　stay？　it　asked。
　She　stared　at　it；　astonished　to　discover　the　great　distinction　between　its　tone　and　Cai's。　It　regarded　her　from　bright　eyes；　unmoving　on　the　branch。
　Do　you　stay？　it　asked　again。　〃Or　do　you　go？
　Resentful　and　defiant；　Alix　started　to　push　the　tone　away。　She　would　not　allow　the　Cheysuli　so　to　manipulate　her　mind。　She　would　keep　herself　apart　from　them　and　their　sorcery；　regardless　of　the　seductiveness　of　their　power。
　But　even　as　she　decided　she　felt　the　fear　slip　away；　replaced　by　wonder。　First　she　had　spoken　with　a　wolf　who　seemed　perfectly　capable　of　speaking　back；　then　Cai。　And　now　this　smaller　hawk。
　By　the　gods；　the　animals　are　mine　to　converse　with！　She　took　a　trembling　breath。　If　this　is　sorcery；　it　cannot　be　demon…sent。　It　is　a　true　gift。
　The　hawk　regarded　her　approvingly。　Already　you　begin　to　learn。　The　lir…bond　is　truly　magic；　but　does　harm　to　no　one。　And　you　are　special；　for　no　other　can　converse　with　all　the　lir。　Through　you；　perhaps；　we　can　win　back　some　of　our　blood…pride　and　esteem。
　〃You　lost　it　through　Hale's　selfish　action！〃　she　retorted；　then　winced　at　her　audacity。　Carefully　she　looked　at　the　hawk　to　see　if　it　was　offended。
　It　seemed　amused。　For　the　Cheysuli；　aye；　it　would　have　been　better　had　he　never　set　eyes　on　Lindir。　But　then　you　would　not　live。
　〃And　what　am　I？〃　she　shot　back。　〃Merely　a　woman　a　foolish　warrior　wanted　for　his　own。〃
　Finn　does；　occasionally；　allow　his　emotions　to　overrule　his　judgment。　But　it　makes　him　what　he。　is。
　〃A　beast；〃　she　grumbled；　picking　a　stem　from　the　grass。
　He　is　a　man。　Beasts　have　more　wisdom；　better　sense　and　far　better　manners。　Do　not　liken　him　to　what　he　cannot　emulate。
　Alix；　startled　by　the　hawk's　wry　words；　laughed　up　at　him　delightedly。　〃I　am　sorry　he　cannot　hear　you；　bird。　Perhaps　he　would　reconsider　his　rash　actions。〃
　Finn　reconsiders　very　little。
　She　stared　at　the　bird；　eyes　narrowing　shrewdly。　The　stem　she　had　picked　drooped　in　her　fingers。　〃If　you　are　not　Cai；　who　are　you？　Show　yourself。〃
　Another　time；　perhaps；　the　bird　said　obliquely。　But　know　I　am　one　who　cares。
　It　detached　itself　from　the　swinging　branch　and　flew　into　the　blue　sky。
　Alix　dropped　the　stem　and　stared　after　me　fleet　bird　dispiritedly。　For　a　moment　she　had　felt　an　uprush　of　awe　and　amazement　that　she　conversed　with　the　/i'r；　now　she　was　a　frightened　and　con…fused　girl。　Slowly　she　got　to　her　feet　and　wandered　back　to　the　Cheysuli　encampment。
　She　was　startled　to　find　the　tents　pulled　down　and　rolled　into　pact　bundles。　The　warriors　tied　them　onto　their　horses　and　made　certain　the　fire　cairns　were　broken　up　and　scattered。　AliX　stood　in　the　center　of　the　naked　clearing　and　realized　her　soul　and　self…image　had　been　as　neatly　swept　clean。
　Carillon　came　to　her　as　she　stared　blindly　at　the　swift　alternation　of　the　camp。　He　touched　her　hand；　then　folded　it　into　his　much　larger　one。
　〃I　will　be　with　you；〃　he　said　softly。　〃They　have　said　I　must　go　with　them。〃　He　grimaced。　〃They　say　I　am　not　yet　strong　enough　for　the　ride　to　Mujhara；　but　they　did　not　lie　about　the　wound。　It　is　near　healed；　and　I　feel　strong　enough　to　fight　any　of　them。〃
　She　looked　at　the　wrist　and　saw　healing　ridges　marking　the　wolf　bite。　The　swelling　and　seepage　was　gone；　replaced　by　new　skin。
　They　have　healing　arts　at　their　beck；　she　said　silently；　unconsciously　echoing　Finn's　words。
　〃Well；　my　lord。　perhaps　it　is　best；〃　she　said　aloud。　〃I　do　not　seek　to　lose　you　so　soon。〃
　〃I　have　said　you　will　e　with　me　to　Homana…Mujhar。〃
　She　smiled　sadly　into　his　face。　〃As　your　light　woman？〃
　Carillon　grinned　…and　lifted　her　hand　to　brush　his　lips　across　her　wrist。　〃If　it　must　be　done；　Alix；　I　will　not　prove　unwilling。〃
　She　blushed　and　tried　to　withdraw　her　hand；　but　he　held　it　firmly。　He　shook　his　head　slightly　and　smiled。　〃I　do　not　seek　to　disfit　you。　I　have　merely　said　what　is　in　my　mind。〃
　〃I　am　your　cousin。〃　She　did　not　entirely　believe　him。
　Carillon　shrugged。　〃Cousins　often　wed　in　royal　houses；　to　secure　the　succession。　This　bond　would　not　be　a　thing　Homanans　disapprove　of。〃
　Alix　tried　to　answer…　〃My　lord。。。〃
　His　brows　lifted　ironically。　〃Surely　you　can　dispense　with　my　title　if　we　discuss　our　futures　in　this　way。〃
　Alix　wanted　to　laugh　at　him　but　could　not。　She　had　longed　for　such　thoughts　and　words　from　him　all　through　their　brief　acquaintanceship；　though　she　had　never　thought　them　possible。　Now　she　could　not　prehend　it。　The　revelation　of　her　ancestry　destroyed　the　roots　she　had　depended　on。
　〃I　will　wed　a　princess；　one　day；〃　he　said　lightly；　〃to　get　heirs　for　me　throne。　But　princes　have　mistresses　often　enough。〃
　She　heard　the　echo　of　Duncan's　voice　in　her　mind；　explaining　the　casual　Cheysuli　custom　of　wives　and　mistresses。　An　open　practice　she　could　not　prehend。
　Yet　Carillon　offers　me　much　the　same。。。　She　shivered
　convulsively。　Who　has　the　right　of　it　the　Cheysuli　or　the　Homanans？
　〃Alix？〃
　She　carefully　freed　her　hand　from　his　and　met　his　blue　eyes。
　〃I　cannot　say；　Carillon。　We　are　not　even　free　of　this　place　yet。〃
　He　started　to　say　something；　but　Finn's　approach　drove　him　into　silence。　Carillon　glared　at　the　Cheysuli　warrior；　who　merely　laughed　mockingly。　Then　Finn　turned　to　Alix。
　〃Will　you　ride　with　me；　rujhoila
　She　noted　the　change　of　address　and　felt　a　mixture　of　gratitude　and　resentment。　She　would　acknowledge　no　blood　relationship　to　him；　nor　would　she　accept　the　sort　of　physical　mitment　he　wanted　from　her。
　She　moved　closer　to　Carillon。　〃I　ride　with　the　prince。〃
　〃And　likely　have　him　fall　off　the　horse　from　in　front　of　you。〃
　Carillon　glared　at　him。　〃I　will　keep　to　my　horse；　shapechanger。〃
　Finn's　earring　winked　as　he　laughed。　〃You　had　better　change　your　name　for　us；　princeling；　or　you　insult　your　cousin　as　well。〃
　〃You　seek　to　do　that；　not　him！〃　Alix　snapped。
　He　grinned　at　her；　then　shot　a　mocking　glance　at　Carillon。。　〃Have　you　forgot？　You　have　gained　more　than　just　your　light　woman　as　a　cousin　this　day。　You　also　have　kin　among　the　rest　of　us。〃
　〃Kin　among　you？'*　Carillon　asked　disparagingly。
　〃Aye；〃　Finn　said　equably。　〃Myself。　She　is　my　rujholla；　princeling；　though　only　by　half。　But　it　makes　you　and　I　cousins；　of　a　sort。〃　He　laughed。　〃I　am　kin　to　Homana's　prince；　who　would　serve　his　Uege　lord　by　slaying　us　all。　But　to　do　that　you　would　have　to　slay　her；　would　you　not？〃
　Color　surged　into　Carillon's　face。　〃If　I　slay　any　shapechanger；　it　will　be　you。　I　leave　the　rest　to　my　uncle　the　Mujhar。〃
　〃Carillon！〃　Alix　said；　horrified。
　Finn　laughed　at　them　both；　spreading　his　hands。　〃Do　you　see；　princeling？　What　you　say　of　us　concerns　her。　Beware　your　intentions；　do　you　seek　to　keep　her　safe。〃
　Carillon's　hand　dropped　to　the　heavy　sword　belted　at　his　hips；
　Alix　was　still　amazed　the　Cheysuli　had　let　him　keep　it。　But　he　did　not　draw　the　blade。　Finn　smiled　at　them　both　and　walked　away；　calling　to　another　warrior　in　the　Old　Tongue。
　〃He　only　seeks　to　goad　you；〃　Alix　said　softly。　〃To　satisfy　his　own　craving　for　a　place。〃
　Carillon　glanced　at　her　in　surprise。　Then　he　smiled。　〃Do　you　prophesy　for　me；　Alix？　Can　you　see　into　my　heart　as　well　as　his？〃
　Inwardly　she　flinched　away　from　the　reference　to　sorcery；　and
　that　at　her　own　mand。　〃No。　I　only　say　what　I　feel　in　him。　As　for　you。。。*'　She　hesitated；　then　smiled。　*'I　think　you　will　be　Mujhar；　one　day。〃
　He　laughed　at　her　and　pulled　her　into　his　arms；　lifting　her　into　the　air。　〃Alix；　I　thank　the　gods　I　rode　my　warhorse　through　your　garden　that　day！　Else　I　would　not　have　you　sharing　such　wisdom　with　me。〃
　She　grinned　down　at　him；　delighting　in　the　feelings　spilling　through　her　body。　His　hands　on　her　waist　were　firm　and　sure；　possessive；　betraying　no　signs　of　weakness　from　the　wolf…wound。　Alix　let　one　hand　curve　itself　around　his　neck；　tangling　in　his　tawny　hair。
　〃And　did　I　not　share　my　wisdom　with　you　when　you　trampled　all　my　fine　young　plants？〃
　He　spun　her　again；　then　set　her　down　with　a　rueful　grin。
　〃Aye；　that　you　did。　You　near　made　me　ashamed　of　my　birth。〃
　Alix　laughed　at　him。　〃Even　a　prince　can　manage　to　go　around　a　garden　when　his　prey　avoids　it。　I　cared　little　for　the　fine　clothes　you　wore　or　me　gold　you　threw　at　me　to　pay　for　the　damage。〃　She　lifted　her　head　haughtily；　mimicking　the　actions　of　a　high…born　court　lady。　〃I　cannot　be　bought；　my　lord　prince；　for　all　you　are　heir　of　Homana。〃
　〃But　can　you　be　won？〃　he　asked　steadily。
　Her　smile　faded。　She　averted　her　face。　〃If　I　can　be　won。　it　is　something　lef