jr.shapechangers-第1章

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　〃The　Captive〃
　Chapter　One
　She　sat　by　the　creek；　half…hidden　in　lush　grasses。　Carefully　she　twined　purple　summer　flowers　into　her　single　dark　brown　braid；　and　dabbled　bare　feet　in　the　rushing　water。　Stems　and　crushed　blooms　littered　the　coarse　yellow　gown　she　wore　and　damp　earth　stained　the　garment；　but　she　paid　it　no　mind。　She　was　purpose…fully　intent　on　her　work；　for　if　she　allowed　her　thoughts　to　range　freely　she　would　be　overtaken　by　the　knowledge　and　the　hope　that　he　still　might　e。
　A　songbird　called　from　the　forest　behind　and　she　glanced　up；　smiling　at　the　delicate　melody。　Then　her　attention　was　caught　by　an　approaching　rider；　and　she　let　fall　the　flowered　braid　from　limp　fingers。
　Sunlight　glittered　off　the　gold　of　his　mount's　trappings　and　painted　the　chestnut　warhorse　bright　red。　She　heard　the　jingle　of　bit　and　bridle　and　the　heavy　snort　of　the　big　stallion。　His　rider；　who　had　yet　to　see　her；　rode　unconcernedly　through　the　meadowlands。
　She　drew　her　knees　up　and　clasped　her　arms　around　them；　resting　her　chin　on　their　tops。　She　felt　the　familiar　leap　of　excitement；　anticipation　and　wonder　within　her　breast；　and　quickly　tried　to　dismiss　it。　If　she　allowed　him　to　see　it　she　would　be　no　different　from　anyone　else　to　him；　and　therefore　of　no　account。
　And　I　want　to　be　of　account　to　him；　she　thought　intently。
　His　tawny…dark　head　was　bent　as　he　rode　blue　eyes　on　the　shedding　of　his　gloves。　He　wore　black　hunting　leathers；　she　saw；　and　had　thrown　a　thin　green　woolen　mantle　back　from　broad　shoulders。　A　flash　of　green　and　gold　glittering　at　his　left　shoulder　caught　her　eye：　the　emerald　cloak…brooch　he　favored。　At　his　heavy　belt　was　hung　a　massive　two…handed　broadsword。
　The　warriors　splashed　into　the　creek；　splattering　her　liberally。　She　grinned　in　devious　anticipation　and　straightened　in　the　deep　grass；　wiping　water　from　her　sun…browned　skin。
　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　e；〃　she　said；　pitching　her　voice　to　carry　over　the　noisy　horse。
　The　animal　reacted　to　her　unexpected　appearance　with　alacrity。
　He　plunged　sideways；　halfway　out　of　die　creek；　men　unceremonious
　Lousy　slid　down　the　muddy　bank　into　the　water　again。　His　rider；
　equally　startled；　reined　the　animal　in　with　a　curse　and　shot　a　glare　over　his　shoulder。　When　he　saw　her　his　face　cleared。
　〃Alix！　Do　you　seek　to　unseat　me？〃
　She　grinned　at　him　and　shook　her　head　as　he　tried　to　settle　the　horse…　The　creek　bottom　offered　treacherous　footing　to　any　beast；　and　me　warhorse　had　yet　to　find　a　fortable　spot；　Finally　his　rider　cursed　again　in　exasperation　and　spurred　him　through　the　water　onto　the　bank；　where　he　stared　down　at　her　from　the　chestnut's　great　height。
　〃So；　you　wish　to　see　Homana's　prince　take　an　unexpected　bath；〃　he　said　menacingly；　but　she　saw　the　amusement　in　his　eyes。
　〃No；　my　lord；〃　she　responded　promptly；　very　solemn　and
　proper。　Then　she　grinned　again…
　He　sighed　and　dismissed　the　topic　with　an　idle　wave　of　his　hand。　A　ruby　signet　ring　flashed　on　the　forefinger　of　his　right　hand；　reminding　her　of　his　rank　and　the　enormity　of　his　presence　before　her。
　By　the　gods；　she　whispered　within　her　mind；　he　is　prince　of　this　land　and　es　to　see　me！
　The　prince　stared　down　at　her　quizzically；　one　tawny　eyebrow　rose。　〃What　have　you　been　doing　harvesting　all　the　flowers？　You　are　fair　covered　with　them。〃
　Hurriedly　she　brushed　her　skirts　free　of　clinging　stems　and　blossoms　and　began　to　pick　them　from　her　braid。　Before　she　could　strip　them　away　entirely　he　swung　down　from　the　horse　and　caught　her　hands；　kneeling。
　〃I　did　not　say　you　presented　an　unattractive　sight；　Alix。〃　He　grinned…　〃More　like　a　wood　nymph；　I　would　say。〃
　She　tried　to　draw　her　hands　from　his　large　weapon…callused　ones。　〃My　lord。。。〃
　〃Carillon；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃There　are　no　titles　between　us。
　Before　you　I　am　as　any　other　man。〃
　But　you　are　not。。。　she　thought　dimly；　forcing　a　smile　even　as　she　let　her　hands　stay　trapped。　After　a　moment　he　released　one　and　lifted　her　to　her　feet。　He　led　her　along　the　creek；　purposely　matching　his　steps　to　hers。　She　was　tall　for　a　woman；　but　he　was　taller　still　than　most　men　and　twice　as　broad；　for　all　his　eighteen　years。　Carillon　of　Homana；　even　did　he　ever　put　on　the　garments　of　a　mon　crofter；　was　a　prince　to　the　bone。
　〃Why　did　you　think　I　would　not　e？〃　he　asked。　〃I　have　ever　done　it　before；　when　I　said　I　would。〃
　Alix　watched　her　bare　toes　as　she　walked；　not　wishing　to　meet　his　steady　blue　eyes。　But　she　was　honest　before　all　else；　and　gave　him　a　blunt　answer。
　〃I　am　only　a　crofter's　daughter；　and　you　heir　to　Shaine　the　Mujhar。　Why　should　you　e？〃
　〃I　said　I　would；　I　do　not　lie。〃
　She　shrugged　a　shoulder。　〃Men　say　many　filings　they　do　not　mean。　It　does　not　have　to　be　a　lie。　I　am；　after　all；　not　the　sort　of　woman　a　prince　converses　with　ordinarily。〃
　〃You　put　me　at　ease；　Alix。　There　is　a　way　about　you　I　find　forting。〃
　She　slanted　him　a　bright；　amused　glance。　〃Men　are　not　always　seeking　fort；　my　lord。　At　least；　not　in　conversation。〃
　Carillon　laughed　at　her；　clasping　her　hand　more　tightly。　〃You　do　not　mouth　idle　words　with　me；　do　you？　Well；　I　would　not　have　it　another　way。　That　is　part　of　the　reason　I　seek　you　out。〃
　Alix　stopped；　which　forced　him　to。　Her　chin　lifted　and　she　met　his　eyes　squarely。　〃And　what　is　the　other　part；　my　lord　prince　of　Homana？〃
　She　saw　the　brief　conflict　in　his　face；　following　each　emotion　as　it　passed　across　his　boyish　features。　Carillon；　even　at　eighteen；　was　an　open　sort；　but　she　was　more　perceptive　than　most。
　Yet　Carillon　did　not　react　as　she　expected；　and　inwardly
　dreaded。　Instead　of　embarrassment　or　condescension　or　arrogant
　male　pride；　there　was　only　laughter　in　his　face。　His　hands　rested
　on　her　shoulders…
　〃Alix；　if　I　wanted　to　take　you　as　my　light　woman　and　give　you　chambers　within　Homana…Mujhar；　I　would　seek　a　better　way　of　telling　you。　For　all　that；　first　I　would　ask　you。〃　He　smiled　into　her　widening　eyes。　〃Do　not　think　I　am　indifferent　to　you；
　you　are　woman　enough　for　me。　But　I　e　to　you　because　I　can　speak　with　you　freely；　and　not　worry　that　I　have　said　the　wrong　thing　to　the　wrong　ears；　hearing　it　later　from　the　wrong　mouth。
　You　are　different；　Alix〃
　She　swallowed　heavily；　suddenly　hurt。　〃Aye；〃　she　agreed　hollowly。　〃I　am　an　unschooled　crofter's　daughter　with　no　fine　conversation。　I　am　very　unlike　the　sleek　court　ladies　you　are　accustomed　to。〃
　〃The　gods　have　made　a　place　for　every　man　and　woman　on　this　earth；　Alix。　Do　not　chafe　at　yours。〃
　She　scowled　at　him。　〃It　is　easy　for　a　man　of　your　rank　to　say　such　a　thing；　my　lord。　But　what　of　the　poor　who　live　in　Mujhara's　streets；　and　the　tenant　crofters　who　must　live　on　the　questionable　bounty　of　their　lords？　For　all　that；　what　sort　of　place　has　Shaine　left　to　the　Cheysuli？〃
　His　hands　tightened　on　her　shoulders。　〃Do　not　speak　to　me　of　shapechangers。　They　are　demons。　My　uncle's　purge　will　rid　Homana　of　their　dark　sorcery。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　they　are　demons？〃　she　demanded；　arguing　out　of　fairness　rather　than　conviction。　〃How　can　you　say　when　you　have　never　met　one？〃
　Carillon's　face　went　hard　and　cold　before　her；　aloof。　Suddenly　she　longed　for　the　even…tempered　young　man　she　had　known　and　loved　but　a　few　weeks。
　〃Carillon〃　she　began；
　〃No；〃　he　said　flatly；　removing　his　hands　to　stand　stiffly　before　her。　〃I　have　no　need　to　see　demons　to　know　they　exist。　The　breed　is　accursed；　Alix；　outlawed　in　this　land。〃
　〃By　your　uncle's　doing！〃
　〃Aye！〃　he　snapped。　〃Punishment　for　a　transgression　which　required　harsh　measures。　By　the　gods；　girl；　it　was　a　Cheysuli　who　stole　a　king's　daughter　my　own　cousin　and　brought　civil　war　to　this　land！〃
　〃Hale　did　not　steal　Lindir！〃　Atix　cried。　〃She　went　willingly！〃
　He　recoiled　from　her；　though　he　did　not　move。　Suddenly　before　her　was　an　angry　young　man　who　was　more　prince　than　anything　else；　and　therefore　entitled　to　a　short　temper。
　〃You　freely　admit　you　are　an　unschooled　crofter's　daughter；〃　he　began　coldly；　〃yet　you　seek　to　lesson　me　in　my　House*s　history。　What　right　do　you　have？　Who　has　said　such　things　to　you？〃
　Her　hands　curled　into　fists。　〃My　father　was　arms…master　to　Shaine　the　Mujhar　for　thirty　years；　my　lord；　before　he　became　a　crofter。　He　lived　wi