jr.shapechangers-第46章
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〃I punish him because he threw wine over my father；〃 the man said firmly。 〃He is fortunate I did not order him slain。〃
Alix froze。 Thorne。。。 Thorne！ This man is Keough's heir！
His dark eyes narrowed。 〃What do you do here； gyri？〃
〃You saw me。 I cut the boy free。〃
〃Why？〃
She lifted her chin defiantly。 〃Because Carillon desired it。〃
〃Carillon is a prisoner。〃 His accent twisted the name。 〃His desires are nothing to me。〃
〃Let me go；〃 she said； knowing the request was futile。
Thorne arched a dark brow。 〃I think not。 But tell me why you desire to leave a prince's presence so quickly。〃
〃There is another prince whose pany I prefer。〃
He stared at her malignantly。 Alix began to regret antagonizing him； for fear of the reprisals that might affect Carillon。
〃My father will wish to see you；〃 Thome said abruptly； and dragged her into the scarlet pavilion。
Keough； Lord of Atvia； sat at a heavy slab table in the shadows of the pavilion。 Braziers had been set out to ward off me chill and torches flamed in each er。 Alix stared at him and began to be very afraid for the first time。
He was huge。 His massive body dwarfed the chair he sat in； which had been bound with iron to lend it strength。 His bared forearms rested on the table。 She saw freckles and red hairs bleached golden by the sun。 A white ridge of scar tissue snaked across the flesh and up his left arm。 His hair also was red； threaded with white； and his beard was bushy。 His deep…set eyes watched her in calm deliberation。
〃What have you brought me； Thome？〃
〃A woman dressed as a boy。 You will have to ask her the reason for it。〃
Keough's eyes narrowed。 His Atvian mouth formed the Homanan syllables harshly； without the liquid grace she was accustomed to。
〃She does not look like a camp follower。 They； at least wear skirts。〃 His fingers bed his beard。 〃Are you a woman who prefers those of her own sex？〃
〃No！〃 Alix hissed； against her will。 She saw Keough's small smile； and it rankled。 〃I am a Homanan； my lord。 That is all you need know。〃
〃Then you are my enemy。〃
〃Aye。〃 It was heartfelt。
The beard and mustache parted as he grinned； displaying discolored teem as big as the rest of him。 〃Have you e hoping to fight？ If so； you are too late。 The battle is already won。 Prince Fergus and the generals are slain； executed。 Most of the captains are dead； though I save a few for later exhibition。 Even Carillon is in my hands。〃 Keough paused。 〃There is little left for you to champion。〃
Alix was done with this。 She reached for the magic in her bones that would give her fir…shape before their eyes。 But Thome； seeming to sense something； twisted the arm he held until the sinews cracked。 The sudden pain drove away the concentration the shapechange required。
〃What do I do with her？〃 Thome asked。 〃Will you use her； or do I take her for myself？〃
Keough looked at her as she hung on her tiptoes。 〃Leave her with me。 See if Carillon is still among us。〃
Thome released her and left the tent。 Alix cradled her aching arm against her chest； glaring at Keough。 For the moment she was helpless； and knew it。
The Atvian lord smiled and sat back in his massive chair。
〃You are not a light woman。 You are not a soldier。 What are
you？*'
〃Someone who will seek your downfall； Atvian； when I am given the chance。〃
〃I could have you slain； girl。 Or do it myself。〃 He raised his huge hands。 〃Your slender throat would not live long in these fingers。〃
〃And your heart will not live long with a Cheysuli arrow piercing it；〃 Duncan said quietly。
Alix swung around； shocked as she saw him standing inside the pavilion。 His eyes rested on her briefly； expressionlessly； then returned to Keough。 In his hands was the black war bow； its string invisible in the shadows。 Eerily； it seemed the bow required no string to send its arrow winging into men's flesh。
Keough made a sound。 Alix turned back and saw him stare at Duncan as if demons pursued his soul。 His small eyes slid from Duncan to Alix； and she heard the malevolence in his tone。
〃So； you are a shapechanger witch sent to distract me while the others work against us。〃
〃No；〃 she said clearly。 〃I am Cheysuli。 aye； but I came only
for Carillon。 You bind him harshly； my lord。 There is no honor
in your heart。〃
Keough laughed at her… 〃I have no heart； witch。 None at all。'*
Duncan moved forward until he stood next to Alix。 〃My
cheysula has the right of it。 Carillon deserves better。〃
Keougb pressed his hands against me table and rose。 He was
unarmed save for a sheathed knife at his belt； but he did not
reach for it。
〃I warn you； shapechanger。 I am not an easy man to slay。〃
Duncan smiled grimly。 〃You will not be slain this night； my lord。 It is not your tahlmorra。 It would not serve the prophecy。〃
Keough's red brows lanced down。 〃What mean you？〃
〃Nothing； save I desire Carillon's release。〃
〃Your price for leaving me alive？〃 Keough laughed。 〃What
if I refuse？〃
Duncan shrugged。 〃I have said you will not die this night。 I have never lied。 Even to my enemies。〃
The huge Atvian lord smiled。 〃I give you nothing； shapechanger。
What you will have； you must take。〃
Alix sensed the billowing of the doorflap behind and turned quickly； expecting an Atvian guard。 But instead she saw a familiar silver wolf； and Finn beside him。
He grinned at her。 〃So； meijha； you will do for yourself what you cannot convince us to do。〃
〃I asked；〃 she said tightly。 〃You would not e。〃
〃Enough；〃 Duncan said softly。
Thorne burst through the draped pavilion entrance； sword drawn and raised to slash its way into flesh and bone。 Finn spun noiselessly and drew his knife； knocking the blade away。 Thorne fell sprawling to the ground； a Cheysuli knife pressed against his throat as Finn knelt by him。
Duncan looked solemnly at Keough。 〃Your son's life； my lord； in exchange for Carillon's release。〃
Keough spat out an Atvian oath between his teeth and grabbed up the keys from an open chest。 He flung mem at Duncan。
Alix followed Duncan's silent order and left the pavilion。 Duncan followed her out； leaving Finn and Storr to keep the Atvian rulers contained。
〃Where is he？〃 Duncan asked。
〃By the horses。 Duncan＋〃
〃We will speak of it another time。〃
Alix winced。 〃What else could I do？〃
〃We will speak of it another time。〃
She stopped to protest； then became aware of the odd stillness shrouding the encampment。 She realized not a single Atvian or Solindish soldier moved against the Cheysuli invaders。
Alix turned puzzled eyes on Duncan。 〃What have you done？〃
He smiled grimly。 〃We have used the third gift of the gods； Alix。 We could not force all into submission； but we found the captains and took their minds from them for a time。 They； in turn； do as we ordered； and keep the mon soldiers from fighting。 The Homanan captives have been freed。〃
She drew back a step。 〃By the gods。。。 you are so powerful？〃
〃It is a thing we rarely do。 It takes the spirit from a man； and that is a thing no Cheysuli would do if there were another way。〃 His eyes were reproving。 〃You have brought this about； cheysula。〃
Her hands clenched into fists。 〃I would do the same for you！〃 she burst out。 〃For you I would give my life。 How can you deny me this for Carillon？〃
He sighed and jangled the keys against his leg。 〃Alix； we will speak of this later。 You have forced me to free the prince； so let me be about it。 Do you e？〃
She started to walk on； then stopped stiffly and turned back。
〃The boy！〃
〃What boy？〃
〃Rowan。〃 She gestured at the post and saw the boy was
gone。 〃He was there。 Tied。 I freed him。〃 She frowned。 〃I
thought he had not the strength to leave this place。〃 Alix's face
cleared。 〃But if he is Cheysuli＋〃
Duncan took her arm。 〃e； cheysula。 If the boy is free； it is fortunate for him。〃
She went with him to Carillon。
The prince still sat in the tumbril； legs drawn up。 Moonlight spilled across the iron on his legs and hands； illuminating the drawn hollows around his eyes。 When he saw Alix he shifted forward； ignoring the clank of chain。
〃You are safe'〃
She smiled and slid a quick sideways glance at Duncan。
〃Aye； I am。〃
Carillon blinked in surpris
