jr.shapechangers-第33章

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　He　nulled　his　legs　in　and　sat　upright　on　the　stump。　〃You　did
　not　conceive　Ч　〃
　Heat　coursed　through　her　face　as　she　went　rigid。　〃What　do　you　know　of　it？〃
　His　eyes　were　amused；　though　be　did　not　laugh　at　her。　〃Among　Ч　the　Cheysuli　such　things　are　not　kept　locked　behind　doors。　We　are　too　few　to　look　upon　it　as　a　woman's　mystery。　It　is　a　reason　to　rejoice；　Alix；　when　a　Cheysuli　woman　has　conceived。〃　He　paused　as　she　stared　hard　at　the　ground。　〃Raissa　told　me　when　I　asked　this　morning。　There　is　no　child。〃
　〃Raissa　had　no　right　to　tell　you　anything；　nor　you　the　right　to
　k。〃
　〃I　had　every　right。　I　intend　to　ask　for　your　clan…rights　in　Council　this　night。〃
　Alix's　bead　jerked　up。　〃No！〃
　〃Duncan　will　not　nave　you；〃　he　said　ruthlessly…　〃That　has　been　made　plain　to　all　of　us。　He　will　take　Malina；　as　he　has　ever　intended。　There　is　no　hope　left　to　you。〃
　〃There　is　ever　hope；〃　she　said　fiercely；　though　she　knew　he　was　right…He　moved　off　the　stump　and　knelt　in　the　leaves　before　her；　catching　her　hands　before　she　could　escape　his　closeness。
　〃You　have　said　you　will　be　no　man's　mei　jha。　That　is　your　Homanan　blood　speaking；　but　I　will　respect　it。　1　am　not　entirely　blind　to　your　needs；　Alix。〃　He　smiled　at　her　ironically。　〃I　will　sacrifice　a　part　of　my　freedom。〃
　She　tried　to　break　free　of　his　clasping　hands　but　could　not。　Once　again　she　fete　helpless；　trapped；　and　the　famihar　fright　rose　up。　She　knelt　before　him；　trembling；　hands　icy　cold　in　me　warmth　of　his。
　〃Fum。。。　I　cannot。　There　can　never　be　peace　between　us。　You　made　that　impossible　from　the　very　first　day。　I　would　hardly　be　a　docile；　acmodating　cheysula。〃
　His　grin　flashed。　〃If　I　wanted　that　sent　of　cheysula；　I　would　never　ask　for　you。〃
　She　managed　to　glare　at　him。　〃Then　why　do　you　ask　for　me？〃
　〃I　have　wanted　you　from　the　beginning/*　he　said　deliberately。
　〃I　will　take　you　however　I　can　get　you。〃
　Alix　recoiled　from　him；　finally　breaking　free。　〃I　would　never
　take　you。。。　never　By　all　the　gods；　Finn。。。　you　are　my
　half…brother！　You　stole　me！　You　took　my　life　and　destroyed　it；
　and　now　you　seek　to　make　a　new　one　I　want　no　part　of。　It　is
　Duacan　I　want。。。　notyouV
　His　face　remained　set　and　closed；　but　me　color　drained　slowly　until　he　resembled　a　dead　man。　But　the　intensity　in　his　eyes　showed　his　blood　still　ran　beneath　his　flesh。
　〃Duncan　wants　Malina；〃　be　said　coldly。　〃Not　you。　Else　he　would　renounce　the　old　oath　he　made　to　her　so　long　ago；　and　take　you　as　his　cheysula。〃　He　shrugged　dismissively。　〃You　will　grow　out　of　wanting　Duncan；　my　Homanan　rujholla；　if　only　because　such　desires　die　if　not　fed。〃
　〃There　is　ever　hope；〃　she　said　blankly。
　**There　is　none；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　turned　from　Carillon　to　Duncan。　In　time；　you　will　turn　from　my　ruifwUi　to　me。〃
　〃You　cannot　make　me！〃　she　cried。
　〃I　will　not　have　to。〃　Finn　glanced　down　at　his　hands　as　be　idly　separated　me　leaves　by　colors。　〃I　spoke　to　me　shar　tahl。　You　will　be　acknowledged　at　Council；　and　formally　accepted　into　the　clan。　With　that　acceptance　es　clan…rights；　which　any　warrior　may　ask　for。〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃Others　may　ask　for　you；　Alix。　because　you　are　young　and　healthy　and　new　to　me　clan。　But　I　mink　you　will　take　me；　because＋for　all　that　has　happened　between　us＋you　know　me。〃
　〃I　will　take　Duncan；〃　she　said　firmly；　knowing　it　as　a　weapon　against　Finn。　〃Duncan。〃
　Finn's　mouth　twisted。　〃I　also　spoke　with　Duncan　about　your　clan…rights；　rujholla。　He　is　clan…leader。　It　is　his　place　to　know　what　clan…rights　wifl　be　asked；　and　who　will　do　the　asking。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃A　clan…leader　can　ever　deny　a　warrior　me　woman　he　wishes。　Taking　a　cheysula　is　a　formal　thing。　The　clan…leader　must　give　his　permission。〃
　Alix　felt　cold　and　hollow；　and　very　much　alone。　〃And　Dun…can。。。？〃
　〃He　gave　me　permission；　Alix。　He　will　not　interfere。〃
　Duncan！　she　cried　within　her　soul。
　〃If　it　is　not　me；　it　will　be　another；〃　Finn　said　gently。
　Alix　looked　at　him。　For　die　first　tune　he　spoke　softly　to　her；　without　the　mocking　mannerisms　she　had　e　to　expect。　She　summoned　up　me　image　of　him　shapechanging　before　her；　but　it　no　longer　frightened　her。　She　had　her　own　ability；　though　no　one　knew　of　it　yet。　Part　of　him；　she　knew；　must　be　like　Duncan。　If　he　was　harsh　and　taunting　and　impulsive；　it　was　because　Duacan　was　not；　and　Finn　must　make　his　own　way。
　She　moved　forward　on　her　knees；　sitting　before　him　with　leaves　spread　all　around　them。　Alix　slowly　touched　his　hand；　then　pulled　it　into　her　own。　She　saw　the　startled　flicker　in　his　eyes。
　〃Finn；〃　she　said　softly；　〃Rujho。。。〃　She　swallowed　and　smiled。　〃Take　me　home。〃
　His　hand　stiffened　and　jerked　away。　〃Home。。。〃
　〃To　the　croft；〃　she　said。　〃To　Torrin。　To　the　life　I　know。〃
　His　face　masked　itself。　〃This　is　your　home。　I　will　take　you　〃nowhere。〃
　〃Finn。。。〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　give　you　a　chance　to　pay　back　what　you　took　from　me。　Take　me　home。〃
　Finn　got　to　his　feet　and　looked　down　on　her　as　she　knelt　in　the　leaves。　〃I　could　not　let　you　go；〃　be　said　clearly。　〃Not　now；　when　you　are　nearly　mine。　You　forget；　rujholla。。。　I　stole　you　because　I　wanted　you。　I　will　not　give　you　up　so　easily。〃
　〃But　if　Duncan　said　яю＋〃
　〃Duncan　said　aye；〃　he　reminded　her。　〃Duncan　has　said　I　may　have　you。〃
　She　stared　up　at　him。　〃And　if　I　refuse　you？　If　I　stand　up　in　Council　and　say　I　will　not　have　you？〃
　The　mocking　smile　was　back。　〃Do　not　forget　our　third　gift；　meijha。　What　you　will　not　do　willingly；　you　may　be　forced　to　do。〃
　〃Please；〃　she　said。
　Finn　looked　down　on　her　pleading　face。　〃No；〃　he　said。　and　left　her。
　Alix　stood　outside　the　slate…colored　pavilion　and　closed　her　eyes；　summoning　her　courage。　Finally　she　scratched　at　me　doorflap　and　waited。　Duncan　called　for　her　to　enter。
　She　hesitated；　then　pulled　the　doorflap　aside。　It　dropped　be…hind　her　as　she　stood　there；　letting　her　eyes　adjust　to　the　dim　light。　Duncan　was　hunched　over　a　low　worktable；　a　slender　metal　stylus　held　in　one　hand　as　he　scraped　carefully　at　gleaming　gold。
　〃Aye？〃　he　asked；　without　looking　up。
　。Alix　wet　her　lips。　〃Duncan。〃
　The　line　of　his　shoulders　and　arms　stiffened。　For　a　moment　he　coatinued　working　on　the　glom　ornament；　then　he　set　it　aside　and　dropped　his　tool　down。　It　rattled　against　the　gold　and　wood；　roiling　across　me　table。　Alix　watched　it　move；　unable　to　meet　his　eyes。
　**I　have　e　to　you　because　you　are　clan…leader；〃　she　said　carefully。
　〃Sit　down；　Alix。〃
　She　knelt　on　me　other　side　of　me　worktabte。　still　not　looking　at　nun。　Her　heels　dug　into　her　thighs　as　she　folded　her　legs　under　her。　Finally　she　brought　her　head　up。
　〃Him　came　to　me。　He　said　he　has　spoken　to　you；　mat　he　will　ask　for　my　clan…rights　at　Council。〃
　He　wore　his　solemn　clan…leader　face。　〃Aye。〃
　Her　breath　was　unsteady　as　she　drew　it　in。　〃Duncan。。。　I　do　not　wish　for　Finn；　You　know　mat。〃
　〃it　has　been　settled；〃　be　said　remotely。　〃And　if　you　bring　dus　up　again；　I　cannot　be　only　a　clan…leader　to　you。〃
　Alix　smiled　at　the　unspoken　warning。　At　least　he　was　not　totally　indifferent　to　her。　〃I　have　not　e　to　ask　you　to　reconsider　your　offer　to　me；〃　she　told　him。　〃You　have　made　it　plain　what　you　will　do；　and　I　am　done　begging　for　more。〃
　His　eyes　flickered。　〃Then　what　do　you　seek；　Alix？〃
　〃I　want　you　to　withdraw　your　permission　to　Finn。　I　wast　nothing　to　do　with　him。　We　could　never　make　a　marriage　between　us。。。　and　I　mink　it　might　be　me　death　of　one　of　us　if　we　were　forced。　I　think　it　would　be　his　death。。。　not　mine。〃
　Duncan　smiled　briefly；　though　he　banished　it　quickly　enough。
　〃it　would　not　be　a　tedious　match。〃
　〃it　will　not　be　a　match　at　all；〃　she　said　darkly。　〃Duncan；　withdraw　your　permission。〃
　〃On　what　grounds？〃
　She　scowled　at　him。　〃I　do　not　want　him！〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Those　are　not　grounds。　That　is　merely　contrari…ness　speaking；　and　women　are　prone　to　mat。〃
　Alix　stared　at　him。　〃You　cannot　want　me　to　take　him！〃
　His　face　twisted。　〃No；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　do　not　want　you　to　take　him。　But　to　refuse　him　because　of　mat　speaks　of　prejudice；　and　a　clan…leader　cannot　be　so　petty。　Alix；　me　match　will　be　good　for　me　clan。〃
　〃Is　mat　all　you　can　say？〃　she　demanded。　〃Can　you　only　see
　me　clan；　and　not　me？　By　the　gods；　Duncan；　I　thought　we