jr.shapechangers-第11章

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　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　left　to　me　to　discover。　I　cannot　say。〃
　〃Alix〃
　〃I　cannot　say。　Carillon。〃
　Duncan　came　up　before　Carillon　could　speak　again。　He　led　a　bay　horse　and　carried　the　oddly　pact　bow　he　had　polished　tile　evening　before。　Carillon；　looking　sharply　at　it；　sucked　in　his　breath。
　Duncan　frowned　at　him。　〃My　lord？〃
　〃Your　bow。〃
　The　Cheysuli　held　it　up。　〃This？　It　is　not　so　much。　I　have　better　at　the　Keep。　This　is　for　raiding　and　hunting；　and　expendable。〃
　〃But　it　is　still　a　Cheysuli　bow；〃　Carillon　said　seriously…　〃I　have　heard　of　them　all　my　life。〃
　Duncan　smiled　briefly　and　held　it　out。　〃Here。　But　keep　in　mind　it　is　not　the　best　I　have　made。〃
　Carillon　disregarded　the　modest　statement　and　took　the　bow　almost　reverently；　fingering　his　enemy's　weapon。　It　was　finely　crafted；　age…polished　hardwood。　The　grip　was　laced　with　leather　to　cushion　a　man's　palm。　Odd　runic　symbols　ran　from　top　to　bottom；　winding　around　the　bow　like　a　serpent。
　Carillon　looked　at　Duncan。　〃You　know　what　is　said　of　a　Cheysuli　bow。〃
　Duncan　smiled　ironically。　〃That　an　arrow　loosed　by　one　cannot　miss。　But　that　is　all　it　is；　my　lord；　a　legend。〃　His　eyes　narrowed　in　cynicism。　〃Though　it　serves　us　well。　If　Shaine's　troops　fear　a　Cheysuli　bow；　it　is　all　the　better　for　us。〃
　〃Do　you　say　a　man　can　miss　with　this　bow？〃
　Duncan　laughed。　〃Any　arrow　can　miss　its　mark。　It　is　only　rare　for　a　Cheysuli　to　loose　one　with　poor　aim。〃　His　smile　faded　into　implacability。　〃It　es　from　fighting　for　survival；　my　lord。　When　you　are　hunted　down　like　a　be　plagued　animal　by　the　Mujhar's　guardsmen；　you　leam　to　fight　back　how　you　can。〃
　Carillon's　face　tautened。　〃The　legend　of　these　bows　was　known　before　the　purge；　shapechanger。〃
　Duncan's　mouth　twisted。　〃Then　let　us　say　the　skill　was　refined　by　it；　prince。〃
　Carillon　thrust　out　the　bow。　Duncan　took　it　without　ment　and　looked　at　Alix。　〃It　is　time　to　go。　Will　you　ride　with　me？〃
　Her　head　lifted。　〃I　told　your　brother　ride　with　the　prince。〃
　Duncan　handed　the　reins　of　the　bay　horse　to　Carillon。。　〃Your　warhorse　will　be　returned　when　you　are　better；　my　lord。　For　now　you　may　have　mine。〃
　Carillon　mounted　silently。　Before　Alix　could　attempt　a　scrambling　mount　Duncan　lifted　her　up　behind　the　Cheysuli　saddle。　She　looked　down　into　his　impassive　eyes　and　felt　a　faint　tug　of　familiarity。　But　he　walked　away　before　she　could　question　it。
　Finn；　mounted　on　a　dun…colored　horse；　rode　up　beside　them。　〃Should　the　princeling　falter　before　you；　rujholta；　I　will　be　more　than　happy　to　take　you　onto　my　horse。〃
　Alix　looked　directly　into　his　angular；　mocking　face　and　said　nothing　at　all；　ignoring　him　as　pointedly　as　she　could。
　Finn　merely　grinned　and　fell　into　place　before　them。　The　journey　was　begun。
　Chapter　Six
　The　long　ride　took　the　heart　from　Alix　as　she　clung　to　Carillon…
　She　drooped　dispiritedly　against　his　broad　back；　longing　for
　respite　from　the　steady　motion　of　the　horse。　Whenever　Finn　rode
　by　she　straightened　and　arranged　her　face　into　an　expression　of
　determined　spirit；　but　when　he　left　them　she　returned　to　her　haze　of　weariness。
　The　Cheysuli　did　not　tell　either　captive　where　they　rode；　only　that　their　Keep　lay　at　the　end　of　their　journey。　When　Carillon　demanded　his　instant　release　and　that　of　Alix；　threatening　the　Mujhar's　displeasure　and　retribution；　Duncan　refused　courteously。　Alix；　watching　him　silently　during　much　of　the　day's　ride；　wondered　at　the　difference　so　evident　in　the　brothers。　Finn　seemed　the　more　aggressive　of　the　two；　Duncan　kept　his　own　council　and　gave　nothing　away　to　supposition。　Though　Alix　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　leave　the　shapechangers'　presence　with　Carillon　acpanying　her；　she　far　preferred　Duncan's　pany　to　Finn's。
　In　the　evening　she　sat　before　a　small　fire　with　Carillon；　staring　into　the　flames　in　exhaustion。　The　prince　had　shed　his　green　cloak　and　draped　it　over　her　shoulders。　She　folded　it　around　herself　gratefully。　He　looked　as　tired　and　worn　as　he　stretched　his　hands　out　to　the　fire's　warmth；　for　all　it　was　the　beginning　of　summer；　the　nights　were　still　cold。　Alix　knew　her　own　appearance　was　no　better。　Her　braid　was　loosened　and　tangled　and　her　gown　showed　the　results　of　too　long　a　time　spent　in　it。　Her　face　felt　grimy　and　the　welt　left　by　me　tree　limb　stung。
　The　Cheysuli；　she　marked；　took　little　with　them　on　a　raiding　mission。　Their　mounts　were　packed　lightly　and　the　warriors　carried　only　a　belt…knife　and　the　hunting　bows　for　weaponry。　Alix　eyed　them　glumly　as　they　quickly　set　up　a　small　camp。　spreading　blankets　where　they　would　sleep　and　building　tiny　fires　to　heat　their　evening　ration　of　journey…stew。　The　colored　pavilions　were　kept　packed　away；　Alix　realized　she　would　spend　the　night　unprotected　by　anything　save　a　blanket。
　Uneasily　she　slanted　a　glance　at　Carillon；　seated　next　to　her　on　Duncan's　blood…red　blanket。　〃I　would　near　give　my　soul　to　be　safe　in　my　own　bed　in　my　father's　croft。〃
　Carillon；　gazing　blankly　into　the　fire；　looked　over　to　her　with　an　effort…　Then　he　smiled。　〃Had　I　a　choice；　I　would　be　in　my　own　chambers　within　Homana…Mujhar。　But　even　your　croft　would　do　me　well　this　night。〃
　〃Better　than　here；〃　she　agreed　morosely。
　Carillon　shifted　and　sat　cross…legged。　The　flames　glinted　off　the　whiteness　of　his　teeth　as　he　smiled　maliciously。
　〃When　I　have　the　chance；　Alix；　these　demons　will　regret　what　they　have　done。〃
　A　strange　chill　slid　down　her　spine　as　she　looked　sharply　at　his　determined　face。　〃You　would　have　them　all　slain？〃
　His　eyes　narrowed　at　her　reproving　tone。　Then　his　face　relaxed
　and　he　touched　her　ragged　braid；　moving　it　to　lie　across　her　shoulder。　〃A　woman；　perhaps；　does　not　understand。　But　a　man　must　serve　his　liege　lord　in　all　things；　even　to　the　slaying　of　others。　My　uncle's　purge　still　holds；　Alix。　I　would　not　serve　him　by　letting　this　nest　of　demons　live。　They　have　been　outlawed。　Sentenced　to　death　by　the　Mujhar　himself。〃
　Alix　pulled　the　cloak　more　tightly　around　her　shoulders。
　〃Carillon；　what　if　there　was　no　sorcery　used　against　your　House？　What　if　the　Cheysuli　have　the　right　of　it？　Would　you　still　see　to　their　deaths？〃
　〃The　shapechangers　cursed　my　uncle's　House　when　Hale　took　Lindir　away　with　him。　The　queen　consequently　died　of　a　wasting　disease；　and　Shaine's　second　wife　bore　no　living　children。　If　not　sorcery；　what　else　could　cause　these　things？〃
　Alix　sighed　and　stared　at　her　hands　clasping　the　green　wool。　She　pitched　her　voice　purposely　low；　almost　placating。　But　what　she　said　had　nothing　to　do　with　placation。
　〃Perhaps　it　was　what　the　Cheysuli　call　tahlmorra。　Perhaps　it　was　no　more　than　the　will　of　the　gods。〃
　His　hand　moved　from　her　braid　to　her　Jaw　and　lifted　her　face　into　the　light。　〃Do　you　champion　the　demons　again；　Alix？　Do　you　listen　to　them　because　of　what　you　have　learned？〃
　She　looked　at　him　steadily。　〃I　do　not　champion　them。　Carillon。　I　give　them　their　beliefs。　It　is　only　fitting　to　acknowledge　the　convictions　of　others。〃
　〃Even　when　the　Mujhar　denounces　them　as　sorcerers　of　the　dark　gods？〃
　Alix　touched　his　wrist　gently　and　felt　the　ridged　scars　of　the　bite　from