jr.shapechangers-第12章

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　〃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　Storr。　Once　again　the　image　of　Finn　shifting　his　shape　before　her　eyes　rose　into　her　mind；　and　it　was　only　with　consider…able　effort　she　kept　the　frightened　awe　from　her　voice。
　〃Carillon；　will　you　allow　him　to　denounce　me？〃
　He　sighed　and　closed　his　eyes；　withdrawing　his　hand。　He　rubbed　wearily　at　his　brow　and　irritably　shoved　hair　from　his　eyes。
　〃Shaine　is　not　an　easy　man　to　convince。　If　you　go　before　him　claiming　you　are　a　shapechanger；　and　his　granddaughter；　you　touch　his　pride。　My　uncle　is　a　vain　man　indeed。〃　Carillon　smiled　at　her　grimly。　〃But　I　will　not　allow　him　to　harm　you。　I　will　have　that　much　of　him。〃
　Alix　drew　up　her　knees；　clasping　her　arms　around　them。　〃Tell　me　of　Homana…Mujhar；　Carillon。　I　have　ever　been　afraid　to　ask　before；　but　no　more。　Tell　me　of　the　Mujhar's　great　walled　palace。〃
　He　smiled　at　her　wistful　tone。　〃It　is　a　thing　of　men's　dreams。
　A　fortress　within　a　city　of　thousands。　I　know　little　enough　of　its　history；　save　it　has　stood　proudly　for　centuries。　No　enemy　force　has　ever　broken　its　walls；　nor　entered　its　halls　and　corridors。　Homana…Mujhar　is　more　than　a　palace；　Alix；　it　is　the　heart　of　Homana。〃
　〃And　you　have　lived　their　always？〃
　〃I？　No。　I　have　lived　at　Joyenne；　my　father's　castle。　It　is　but　three　days　from　Mujhara。　I　was　born　there。〃　He　smiled　as　if　reminiscing。　〃My　father　has　ever　preferred　to　keep　himself　from　cities；　and　I　echo　his　feelings。　Mujhara　is　lovely；　a　jeweled　city；　but　I　care　more　for　the　country。〃　He　sighed。　〃Until　my　acclamation　as　formal　heir　last　year；　I　lived　at　Joyenne。　I　spent　time　at　Homana…Mujhar；　I　am　not　indifferent　to　its　magnificence。〃
　〃And　I　have　not　even　seen　Mujhara；〃　she　said　sadly。
　〃That　is　something　I　cannot　understand。　The　city　belongs　to　the　Mujhar　and　it　is　well…protected。　Women　and　children　go　in　safety　among　its　streets。〃
　Alix　kept　her　eyes　from　his。　〃Perhaps　it　was　a　promise　made　to　the　Mujhar　by　Torrin；　that　he　would　not　allow　Lindir's　shapechanger　daughter　to　enter　the　city。〃
　Carillon　stiffened。　〃If　you　are　that　child。〃
　Alix　closed　her　eyes。　〃I　begin　to　think　I　am。〃
　〃Alix。。。〃
　She　turned　her　head　and　rested　her　unblemished　cheek　against
　one　knee；　looking　solemnly　into　Carillon's　face。　〃I　converse
　with　the　animals；　my　lord。　And　I　understand。　If　that　is　not
　shapechanger　sorcery；　then　I　must　be　a　creature　of　the　dark
　gods。*'
　His　hand　fell　upon　her　shoulder。　〃Alix；　I　will　not　have　you　say　this。　You　are　no　demon's　get。〃
　〃And　if　I　am　Cheysuli？〃
　Carillon's　eyes　slid　over　the　shadowed　camp；　marking　each　black…haired；　yellow…eyed　warrior　in　supple　leathers　and　barbaric　glom。　He　looked　back　at　Alix　and　for　a　moment　saw　the　leaping　of　flames　reflected　in　her　eyes；　turning　them　from　amber　to　yellow。
　He　swallowed；　forcing　himself　to　relax。　〃It　does　not　matter。
　Whatever　you　are；　I　accept　it。〃
　Alix　smiled　sadly　and　touched　his　hand。　〃Then　if　you　accept　me；　you　must　accept　the　others。〃
　He　opened　his　mouth　to　deny　it；　then　refrained。　He　saw　the　bleakness　in　her　eyes　and　the　weariness　of　her　movements　as　she　shifted　into　a　more　fortable　position。　Carillon　put　a　long　arm　out　and　drew　her　against　his　chest。
　〃Alix；　I　have　said　it　does　not　matter。〃
　〃You　are　the　heir；〃　she　said　softly。　〃It　must　matter。〃
　〃Until　I　am　the　Mujhar；　what　I　believe　does　not　matter　at
　all。〃
　And　when　you　are　the　Mujhar；　will　you　slay　my　kin？　she
　wondered。
　In　the　morning　Duncan　led　Carillon's　chestnut　warhorse　to　them。　Alix　looked　from　the　horse　to　the　clan…leader　and　marked　his　solemn　expression。　Finn；　standing　with　him；　smiled　at　her　suggestively。　Alix　colored　and　ignored　him；　watching　Duncan　instead。
　〃You　rode　well　enough　yesterday；　my　lord；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃You　have　our　leave　to　go。　Finn　will　acpany　you。〃
　Carillon　glared　at　him。　〃I　can　find　my　own　way　back；　shapechanger。〃
　Duncan's　lips　twitched。　〃I　have　no　doubt　of　that。　But　the　Cheysuli　have　spent　twenty…five　years　fleeing　the　unnatural　wrath　of　the　Mujhar；　and　we　would　be　foolish　indeed　to　lead　his　heir　to　our　new　home。　Finn　will　see　you　do　not　follow　us　to　the　Keep。〃
　Carillon　reddened　with　anger　but　ignored　the　Cheysuli's　dry　tone。　He　took　the　scarlet　leather　reins　from　Duncan　and　turned　to　Alix。
　〃You　may　ride　in　the　saddle　before　me。〃
　Duncan　stepped　swiftly　between　the　horse　and　Alix　as　she　moved　to　mount。　His　eyes　were　flat　and　hard。　〃You　remain　with　us。〃
　〃You　cannot　force　me　to　stay！〃　she　said　angrily。　〃I　nave
　listened　to　your　words；　and　I　respect　them；　but　I　will　not　go　with
　you。　My　home　is　with　my　father；〃
　〃Your　home　is　with　your　father's　people。〃
　Alix　felt　herself　grow　cold。　Without　thought　she　had　spoken　of　Torrin；　but　the　clan…leader　reminded　her；　in　a　single　sentence；　she　was　no　longer　a　simple　Homanan　croft…girl。
　She　steadied　her　breath　with　effort。　〃I　want　to　go　with　Carillon。〃
　His　hawk　earring　swung　as　he　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　Finn　laughed　at　her。　〃You　cannot　wish　to　leave　us　so　soon；　rujholla。　You　have　hardly　learned　our　names。　There　is　much　more　for　you　to　leam　of　the　clan。〃
　〃I　am　still　half　Homanan。〃　she　said　steadily。　〃And　free　of　any　man's　bidding　save　my　father's。〃　She　challenged　Duncan　with　a　defiant　glance。　〃I　will　go　with　Carillon。〃
　The　prince　moved　beside　her；　setting　a　possessive　hand　on　her
　shoulder。　〃By　your　own　words　you　have　said　she　is　my　cousin。　I
　will　have　her　with　me　in　Homana…Mujhar。　You　cannot　deny　her　that。〃
　Finn　raised　his　brows　curiously。　〃Can　we　not？　Your　fates　were　decided　in　Council　last　night；　while　you　slept。　It　was　my　position　we　should　keep　you　both；　forcing　you　to　see　we　are　not　me　demons　you　believe；　but　I　was　overruled。　My　rujholli　would　have　you　returned　safely　to　your　uncle；　who　will　send　guardsmen　to　strike　us　down。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Some　even　believed　you　would　be　won　to　the　belief　we　are　only　men；　like　yourself；　did　you　spend　time　with　us；　but　I　think　you　would　only　plan　to　harm　us　how　you　could。〃　Finn　smiled　humorlessly。　〃What　would　you　have　done；　princeling；　had　you　stayed　with　us？〃
　Carillon's　ringers　dug　into　Alix's　shoulder。　〃I　would　have　found　my　escape；　shapechanger；　and　made　my　way　back　to　Mujhara。　You　have　the　right　of　it。　I　would　aid　my　kinsman　in　setting　troops　after　you。〃
　〃At　the　risk　of　her　life？〃　Finn　asked　softly。
　Alix　shivered。　Carillon's　hand　dropped　to　his　sword　hilt。
　〃You　will　not　harm　her；　shapechanger。〃
　〃We　do　not　harm　our　own；〃　Duncan　said　coldly。　〃But　does　Shaine　bid　his　men　spare　the　life　of　a　single　CheysuU？　They　are　not　discriminating　men。　If　you　allow　them　to　follow　us　and　attack；　you　risk　the　girt。〃
　〃Then　let　me　go；〃　Alix　said。　〃Perhaps　the　Mujhar　would　not　send　his　troops。〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　said　sharply。
　Finn　grinned　cynically。　〃Do　you　see；　meijha；　what　manner　of　man　your　princeling　is？　Yet　he　would　have　you　believe　we　arc　the　bloodthirsty　demons。　I　say　it　was　the　Homanans　who　began　the　qu'mahlin　and　me　Homanans　who　perpetuate　it。　It　was　none　of　Cheysuli　doing。〃
　〃No　more　of　this！〃　Alix　cried。　〃No　more！〃
　Carillon　stepped　from　her　and　drew　his　sword　hissing　from　its
　sheath。　He　stood　before　them　with　the　massive　blade　gleaming；
　clenched　in　both　hands。　Alix　saw　the　ruby　wink　redly　in　the
　sunlight；　then　drew　in　her　breath。　Down　the　blade　ran　runic
　symbols　very　similar　to　those　on　Duncan's　bow…
　〃You　do　not　take　her；〃　Carillon　said　softly。　〃She　es　with　roe。〃
　Finn　crossed　both　arms　over　his　chest　and　waited　silently；　armbands　flashing　in　the　light。　Alix；　frozen　in　place；　felt　an　odd　slowing　of　time。　Carillon　stood　next　to　her　with　blade　bared；　feet　planted；　his　size　alone　warning　enough　to　any　man。　Yet　Duncan　stood　calmly　before　the　weapon　as　if　it　did　not　concern　him　in　the　least。
　Her　skin　contracted　with　foreboding。　Will　I　see　a　man　die　this　day　because　of　me？　She　swallowed　heavily；　wishing　she　could　look　away　and　knowing　she　could　not。　Lindir's　actions　set　the　purge　into　motion；　if　I　dm　truly　her　daughter；　does　this　not　add　to　it？
　Duncan　smiled　oddly。　〃You　had　best　recall　the　maker　of　that　blade；　my　lord。〃
　Finn's　teem　showed　in　a　fer