jr.shapechangers-第40章

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na's　ancient　race。　The　pavilion　was　a　speck　of　slate　against　the　neutral　tones　of　me　Keep　and　surrounding　forest。
　Then　Alix　put　away　the　joy　of　such　freedom　and　flew　on　to　seek　a　lir。
　But　she　wearied　quickly。　Unaccustomed　to　prolonged　flight；　Alix　at　last　admitted　defeat　and　perched　herself　upon　a　tree。　She　was　weary　and　hungry；　tense　with　the　effort　to　keep　fir…shape；　and　realized　she　had　nearly　reached　her　limit。
　She　flew　again　to　me　ground　and　blurred　herself　from　her　falcon…shape　into　human　fonn。　Again　she　marveled　at　the　gods…given　ability　of　me　fir…bond；　for　her　clothing　changed　with　her　when　she　assumed　fir…shape；　and　returned　when　she　shifted　back。
　That　is　fortunate；　she　thought　wryly。　/　would　not　care　to　be　caught　in　the　middle　of　a　forest　unclothed。
　Atix　climbed　up　a　gentle　spill　of　dirt　packed　against　the　mountainside　and　halted　as　she　found　a　brush…covered　hollow　half…hidden　in　the　shadows　of　dusk。　Carefully　she　moved　closer；　peering　through　me　boughs。　The　limbs　and　leafy　branches　had　been　woven　together　roughly；　as　if　to　form　a　cover；　and　as　she　inspected　it　closely　she　knew　to　could　only　be　human…made。　She　pulled　the　covering　aside　and　crept　into　me　shallow　cave。
　She　discovered　a　coarse；　poorly　woven　brown　blanket　spread
　on　me　uneven　floor　of　the　rocky　cave。　Next　to　it　lay　a　leather
　bag　fastened　with　a　wooden　pin；　and　a　small　fire　snapped　at　freshly　piled　kindling。　She　hesitated；　wondering　suddenly　if　she　would　not　be　wele。　Perhaps　she　trusted　too　easily。
　The　sound　of　breaking　twigs　sent　her　whirling　on　hands　and　knees；　eyes　widened　in　fear。
　The　man　ducked　his　head　as　he　crawled　into　the　cave　through　the　narrow　opening；　eyes　on　the　stone　floor。　Over　his　shoulder　he　wore　a　crude　bow；　but　the　long…knife　at　his　been　looked　more　efficient。　Under　one　arm　he　held　the　drooping　body　of　a　slain　rabbit。
　Alix　withdrew　farther；　stone　wall　biting　at　her　back　as　she　pressed　against　it。　The　sound　penetrated　the　silence　like　an　enemy's　shout。　The　man　dropped　the　rabbit　and　drew　his　long…knife　in　a　single　motion；　bracing　himself　on　one　knee　as　he　came　up　from　me　floor　to　strike。
　Then　she　saw　shock　and　amazement　flare　in　his　brown　eyes　as　he　realized　she　was　a　woman。
　He　swore　softly　in　wonder　and　shoved　me　knife　back　into　its　sheath…　Carefully　he　eased　into　a　squatting　position；　as　if　he　feared　to　frighten　her。
　〃Lady；　I　will　not　harm　you。　If　you　seek　shelter　here；　you　must　be　a　refugee　from　Bellam's　troops　also。〃
　〃Refugee！〃
　He　nodded。　〃Aye。　Rom　the　war。〃　He　frowned。　〃Surely　you　have　heard　of　the　war；　lady。〃
　〃I　have　beard。〃　She　stared　blankly　at　his　crusted；　age…cracked　leather…and…mail；　and　me　soiled　scarlet　tunic　bearing　the　Mujhar's　rampant　black　lion。　His　mail　was　rusted；　as　if　washed　with　blood；　and　she　shivered　against　the　sudden　foreboding　in　her　bones。
　〃My　name　is　Oran；〃　he　said；　rubbing　a　dirty　hand　through
　matted；　lank　brown　hair。　〃I　am　a　soldier　of　Homana。'*
　She　frowned　at　him。　〃Then　why　are　you　here？　Should　you　not　be　with　your　lord？〃
　〃My　lord　is　slam。　Keough　of　Atvia；　Bellam's　foul　acplice；　overran　me　army　twenty　days　ago　like　a　pack　of　savage　dogs。〃　His　eyes　narrowed　angrily。　〃It　was　night；　moonless　and　dark。　We　slept；　wearied　from　a　three…day　battle。　The　Atvian　host　crept　upon　us　in　all　stealth；　and　routed　us　before　UK　dawn。〃
　Alix　wet　her　dry　lips。　〃Where；　Oran？　Mujhara？〃
　He　laughed。　〃Not　Mujhara。　I　am　not　one　of　the　Mujhar's　fine　guard。　I　am　a　mon　soldier　who　once　was　a　tenant　crofter　for　Prince　Fergus；　the　Mujhar's　own　brother。〃
　〃Fergus。〃　She　eased　herself　away　from　the　rocky　wall；　kneeling　before　him。　〃Then　it　was　Fergus　you　served　in　the　field？〃
　〃Aye；　aeven　days*　ride　out　of　Mujhara。〃　He　hawked　and　spat；　turning　his　head　from　her。　He　wiped　the　spittle　from　his　lips　and　looked　at　her　bleakly。　〃Prince　Fergus　was　slain。〃
　〃Why　did　you　not　stay？〃　she　demanded。　〃Why　did　you　forsake　your　lord？〃
　His　grimy；　stubbled　face　was　ugly。　〃I　sickened　of　it。　I　was　not　meant　to　slay　men　like　beasts　on　the　order　of　a　man　who　keeps　himself　safe　behind　die　ensorcelled　walls　of　Homana…Mujhar。〃　Oran　spat　again…　〃Shame　has　set　wards；　lady；　instruments　of　sorcery　to　keep　the　Ihlini　out。　He　keeps　himself　safe；　while　thousands　die　in　his　name。〃
　Alix　drew　a　trembling　breath；　clenching　fists　against　her　knees。
　〃What　of　Carillon？　What　of　the　prince？〃
　Oraa's　mouth　twisted。　〃Carillon　is　prisoner　to　Keough　himself。〃
　〃Prisoner！〃
　〃Aye。　I　saw　him　slay　two　who　sought　to　take　him；　fighting　like　a　demon；　but　it　was　Keough's　own　son　who　broke　his　guard　and　disarmed　him。　Thome。　The　Atvian　prince　took　Carillon's　sword；　then　Carillon　himself；　and　marched　him　to　his　father。〃　Oran　stared　at　her　narrowly。　〃They　will　slay　him；　lady；　or　take　him　to　Bellam　in　Mujhara。〃
　〃No。。。〃
　He　shrugged。　〃It　is　his　lot。　He　is　me　Mujhar's　heir；　and　valuable。　Keoogh　will　keep　him　close　until　he　is　in　Beilam's　hands。　OrTynstar's。〃
　Alix　closed　her　eyes　and　summoned　up　his　face；　recalling　his　warm　blue　eyes　and　stubborn　jaw。　And　his　smile；　whenever　he　looked　on　her。
　Oran　shifted　and　she　opened　her　eyes。　He　grinned；　displaying　broken；　yellowed　teeth；　and　took　up　the　leather　pouch。　He　undid　me　pin　and　spilled　OK　contents　across　the　blanket。
　It　was　a　stream　of　gems　glowing　richly　in　the　shadowed　cave。　Brooches；　rings　of　delicate　gold　and　silver；　and　a　wristband　of　copper。　Oran　prodded　the　cache　with　a　finger。
　〃Solindish；　lady。　And　fine；　as　you　can　see。〃
　She　frowned　at　mem。　〃Where　did　you　get　mem？〃
　He　laughed　crudely。　〃From　men　who　no　longer　had　need　of　such　things。〃
　She　recoiled。　〃You　stole　them　from　dead　men？〃
　〃How　else　does　a　poor　soldier　make　his　way？　I　am　not　one　of　your　rich　lonflings；　like　Carillon；　nor　am　I　a　Mujhara　noble　born　to　silks　and　jewels。　How　else　am　I　to　get　such　dungs？〃
　Avarice　glinted　in　his　eyes。　She　saw　them　travel　her　body　expectantly。　She　wore　the　golden　/ir…torque　Duncan　had　given　her　and　delicate　topaz　drops　hung　at　her　ears。
　〃So；〃　she　said　on　a　long　bream；　〃you　will　slay　me　fix　my　wealth　as　well。〃
　He　grinned。　〃There　need　be　no　slaying；　lady。　You　have　only　to　give　them　to　me。〃　He　stroked　his　bottom　lip。　〃1　have　never　aeen　your　like　before。　Are　you　some　lord's　light　woman？〃
　The　insult　did　not　touch　her。　Oran；　in　his　monness；　did　not　recognize　it　as　such。　And　me　Cheysuli　had　begun　to　change　her　perceptions　of　such　things。
　AUx　slowly　tensed。　〃No。〃
　〃Then　how　came　you　by　such　things？〃
　Enlightenment　flared　within　her　mind。　Carefully　she　damned　the　sudden　realization　of　her　power　and　looked　at　him　calmly。
　〃My　cheysul　gave　them　to　me。〃
　He　scowled　at　her。　〃Speak　Homanan；　lady。　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃My　husband；　Oran。　He　made　me　these　tilings。〃
　He　grinned。　〃Then　he　can　make　more。　Here；　lady；　give　mem　tome。〃
　〃No。〃　She　looked　at　him　levelly。　〃It　is　not　wise　for　a
　Homanan　to　seek　that　fashioned　by　a　Cheysuli…　**
　〃Cheysuli！〃　His　brows　slid　up。　〃You　live　among　the。　shapechangers？〃
　〃I　can　one。〃
　For　a　moment　fear　flashed　in　his　eyes。　Then　it　faded；　replaced　with　determination　and　greed。　〃The　shapechangers　are　under　the　Mujhar's　death　decree。　I　should　slay　you；　and　then　all　you　have　would　be　mine。〃
　It　angered　her　past　caution。　〃I　doubt　you　could　acplish　it。〃
　His　hand　flashed　to　his　knife。　〃Can　I　not；　shapechanger　witch？　You　do　not　frighten　me　with　your　sorcery。　Only　your　warriors　shift　their　shape；　so　you　offer　little　threat。〃
　He　grinned　and　lifted　the　knife。　〃What　do　you　say　now；　witch？〃
　Alix　said　nothing。　He　effectively　blocked　the　cave　entrance　with　his　mailed　bulk；　and　as　he　moved　slowly　toward　her　she　saw　she　had　no　chance　to　avoid　him。　The　wall　curved　snuggly　against　her　back。
　〃Do　not；〃　she　said　softly。
　Oran　laughed　silently　and　put　his　hand　on　the　torque　at　her　throat。
　Alix　summoned　the　magic　and　blurred　herself　into　a　wotf。
　He　gaped　at　her；　then　fell　back　with　a　cry　of　terror。　The　knife
　fell　from　limp　fingers　as　he　scrabbled　on　the　floor。　The　wolf…
　bitch　snaried　and　leaped　over　him；　avoiding　his　body；　but　forc…
　ing　him　flat　on　his　back　as　she　moved。　She　heard　his　scream　of　horror　as　she　drove　past　his　trembling　body　and　into　me　darkened　forest。
　She　paused　a　moment；　free　of　t