jr.shapechangers-第21章

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　Torrin　removed　his　hands　and　sat　back　from　her　as　if　to
　illustrate　the　sacrifice　he　made。　〃Go　with　the　prince。　Alix。　I
　would　keep　you；　if　I　could；　but　it　is　not　tee　will　of　die　gods。〃　He　smiled；　but　the　pain　remained　in　his　eyes。　〃The　path　to　your　tahlmorra　lies　another　way。〃
　*'I　will　stay；〃　she　whispered。
　Carillon　rose　quietly　and　moved　to　her。　〃e；　cousin。　It　is　time　you　met　your　grandsire。〃
　〃You　have　brought　me　home。　Cannon。　It　is　enough。〃
　He　bent　and　grasped　her　arms。　pulling　her　upright。　Alix　jerked　around　and　glared　at　him。　〃You　would　have　me　think　you　no　better　than　Finn＋ordering　me　this　way　and　mat！〃
　He　grinned　at　her。　〃Then　perhaps　he　has　me　right　of　it。　What　else　can　a　man　do　when　a　woman　defies　him；　save　force　her？〃
　She　took　a　step　away　from　him。　〃I　will　see　me　Mujoar　another　time。〃
　〃If　you　do　not　e　now；　you　will　never　do　it。〃　Carillon　glanced　at　Torrin　and　saw　me　confirmation　in　his　eyes。　The　prince　smiled　faintly　and　took　her　arm　once　again。
　〃You　will　e　here　another　time；〃　Torrin　said。
　Alix；　testing　Carillon's　grip　tentatively；　gave　it　up。　She　looked　down　on　the　slump…shouldered　man　who　had　been　a　king's　arms…master　before　taking　a　halfling　girl…child　to　his　heart。
　〃I　have　loved　you　well；〃　she　whispered。
　Torrin　rose；　looking　at　her　as　if　he　hurt。　Then　he　cradled　her　head　in　his　gnarled　hands　and　kissed　her　forehead。
　Carillon　led　her　from　the　croft。
　The　prince　took　her　out　of　tee　forests　and　the　valleys　into　Mujhara；　and　through　its　cobbled　streets。　Alix　sat　behind　him　silently；　clinging　to　his　waist　as　if　his　closeness　would　give　her　confidence。　The　gleaming　city　with　its　winding；　narrow　streets　took　away　her　powers　of　speech。　Alix　was　acutely　aware　of　her　torn　and　stained　garments　and　bare　feet。
　〃I　do　not　belong　here；〃　she　muttered。
　〃You　belong　wherever　you　wish　to　be；〃　Carillon　said。　He　gestured。　〃Homana…Mujhar。〃
　She　looked　past　his　arm　and　saw　the　stone　walls　rising　before　her。　The　fortress…palace　stood　on　a　gentle　rise　within　the　city　itself；　hidden　behind　time…woro　walls　of　rose…colored；　undressed　stone。　Before　teem　towered　massive　bronze…and…timber　gates；　attended　by　eight　men　liveried　in　tee　Mujhar's　colors。　Alix　saw　red　tunics　over　light　chain　mail；　emblazoned　with　a　rampant　black　lion。　It　was　tee　proud　coat…of…arms　she　had　seen　etched　into　Carillon's　ruby　seal　ring；　and　stamped　into　tee　heavy　gold　of　me　sword　hilt。
　The　guardsmen　swung　open　tee　huge　gates；　acknowledging
　Carillon　with　brief　salutes。　As　their　incurious　eyes　fell　on　her　she　let　go　of　Carillon's　waist；　blushing　in　shame。
　〃Carillon。。。　take　me　back　to　tee　croft！　I　should　not　be
　heiel〃
　〃Be　silent；　Alix。　This　place　is　your　legacy。**
　〃And　Shaine　sent　TOG　from　it〃'
　He　did　not　answer　her。　She　was　forced　to　sit　quietly　on　his　warhorse　and　ride　inexorably　toward　tee　huge　palace。　Alix　closed　her　eyes　as　they　entered　the　bailey　and　wished　herself　elsewhere。
　Duncan　was　right。。。　Homana…Mujhar　is　not/or　me。
　Carillon　stopped　the　horse　before　a　flight　of　marble　steps　teat　led　up　to　tee　palace　of　Homanan　kings。　A　groom　raced　over　to　catch　the　reins　and　bowed　reverently；　Carillon　jumped　down　and　lifted　Alix　from　tee　horse　before　she　could　protest。　She　kept　her　head　lowered　as　he　took　her　up　the　smooth；　dark…veined　steps　into　tee　rose…colored　palace；　until　she　saw　the　first　servant　stare　at　her　with　undisguised　contempt。　Carillon　did　not　see　it；　but　Alix　was　instantly　aware　how　her　arrival　would　be　regarded。　Every…one　would　think　her　some　lice…ridden　woman　of　tee　streets　if　she　behaved　as　one；　so　she　resolutely　lifted　her　head。　She　summoned　her　pride　and　confidence　and　went　with　Carillon　as　if　she　be…longed　with　him。
　She　saw　magnificent　tapestries　picked　out　in　rainbow　colors；
　candle　racks　holding　fresh　candles　glowing　with　flame；　thick　rugs　and　clean　rushes；　ornaments　and　heavily　embroidered　arrases　at　doorways。　Liveried　servants　bowed　respectfully　to　Carillon　and　included　her　in　their　homage。　Inwardly　she　smiled　at　tee　change　in　attitude　a　little　arrogance　brought。
　But　when　Carillon　escorted　her　up　a　winding　stairway　of　red　stone　to　a　doorway　of　hammered　bronze；　Alix　halted　abruptly。　〃Where　do　you　take　me？〃
　〃These　are　tee　chambers　of　the　Lady　Lorsilla。〃
　〃Shaine's　wifeT'
　〃She　will　see　to　it　you　are　bathed　and　dressed　as　befits　a　princess；　before　you　meet　the　Mujhar。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　〃Alix；　I　promise　you　will　be　safe。〃
　She　swallowed　and　glared　at　him。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　be　safe。　I　wish　to　go　back　to　tee　croft。〃
　Carillon　ignored　her　and　rapped　on　tee　bronze　door。　Alix　closed　her　eyes　and　consigned　herself　to　the　netherworld。　The　defiance　she　had　held　in　abundance　when　first　learning　of　her　heritage　fled；　leaving　her　cold　and　lonely　within　tee　massive　palace。
　〃Carillon！〃　cried　a　woman's　voice　as　the　door　swung　open。
　〃You　are　returned　so　soon？〃
　Alix　opened　her　eye*。　She　saw　a　chambermaid　at　the　door；　curtsying　to　Carillon；　and　beyond　her　a　tiny　Moode　woman　in　a　silken　blue　robe　banded　with　white　fur。
　〃I　have　brought　back　what　I　said　I　would；〃　Carillon　said　gravely。　〃Regardless　what　my　uncle　wishes。〃
　The　woman　sighed　and　smiled　wryly。　〃You　are　more　like　Shaine　man　you　know；　at　times。　Well；　let　me　see　her。〃
　Carillon　led　Alix　forward。　She　heard　the　door　shut　behind　them　and　swallowed　against　the　sudden　fear　in　her　throat。
　The　woman　sat　on　a　cushioned　bench　of　dark　stone。　She　settled　the　rich　robe　more　fortably　around　her　shoulders。　〃Alix；　you　are　well　e。〃
　〃No；〃　Atix　said。　〃I　am　not　Shaine　cast　me　out　before；　I　have　no　doubt　he　would　do　so　again。〃
　Lorsilla；　queen　of　Homana；　smiled　warmly。　〃He　must　see　you；　first。　And　I　think　he　will　hold　his　tongue；　if　only　from　sheer　amazement。〃
　〃Or　hatred。〃
　〃He　cannot　bate　what　he　does　not　know；〃　Lorsilla　said　gently。　〃Alix；　be　is　your　grandsire。　His　anger　was　never　at　you；　but　at　himself　for　losing　Lindir。　Had　he　treated　her　more　gently　when　she　refused　EUic；　she　might　have　remained　here。〃
　Alix　gestured　helplessly；　indicating　her　tatters　and　blood…streaked　face。　〃I　am　not　the　sort　a　king　would　acknowledge。〃
　Carillon　laughed。　〃You　will　be；　when　she　has　done　with　you。　As　for　me；　I　will　leave　you　to　the　lady。　When　I　e　for　you。　you　will　be　ready　to　face　even　me　harshest　of　men。〃
　Instinctively　she　whirled　and　caught　his　hand。　〃Carillon！〃
　He　detached　himself　gently。　〃I　must　go；　Alix。　It　is　not　my　place　to　see　you　bathed　and　dressed。〃　His　grin　was　amused。　〃Though　I　would　not　mind　it　so　much；　myself。〃
　Lorsilla　lifted　a　delicate　brow。　〃Carillon；　conduct　yourself　with　more　decorum。〃
　He　laughed　at　her　and　bowed；　men　took　his　leave。
　Alix　stood　before　the　queen　of　Homana　and　shivered　once；　involuntarily。　Her　feet　ached　and　her　face　burned　with　shame。
　Lorsilla　rose　and　moved　forward。　She　touched　a　soft　hand　across　the　healing　weft　on　Alix's　face　and　brushed　away　the　dried　remains　of　the　guardsman's　blood。　Her　voice　was　very　gentle。
　〃You　have　no　need　to　fear　me；　Alix。　I　am　your　granddame。〃
　Alix's　voice　shook。　〃But　I　am　a　halfling。。。〃
　The　tiny　woman　smiled　sadly。　〃I　will　have　no　children　of　my　own；　and　no　grandchildren。　Let　me　at　least　have　Undir's　daughter；　for　a　time。〃
　She　bowed　her　head　and　nodded；　hiding　the　welling　of　grief　in　her　heart。　She　heard　the　woman　older　a　barn　drawn　and　clothing　to　be　prepared。　Then　Lorsilla　laughed　sofdy。
　〃You　have　been　raised　a　croft…giri；　AKx。　Now　you　will　know　what　it　is　to　claim　me　heritage　Shaine　denied　you。　I　will　make　you　a　princess；　my　girl。〃
　She　swallowed　painfully。　〃But　I　am　Cheysuli。〃
　Lorsilla's　delicate　face　grew　stem。　〃it　does　not　matter。　You　are　Shame's　granddaughter；　and　mat　is　enough　for　me。〃
　But　what　of　him？　she　wondered　apprehensively。　What　of　the　't　Mnfhar　himself？
　Chapter　Two
　Alix　went　before　her　grandsire　in　silks　and　velvets；　girdled　with　gold　and　garnets。　The　rich　brown　fabrics　whispered　against　her　legs　and　fine　slippers　hugged　her　bruised　feet。　Her　head　felt　heavy　with　the　weight　of　her　hair；　laced　with　pearls　and　tiny　garnets。　Her　ears　ached　dully　with　fresh　piercing；　but　me　gems　guttering　in　them　assuaged　her　pain。
　The　croft…giri　was　gone　as　she　stood　before　me　Mujhar　of
　Homana；　and　she　wondered　if　th