jr.shapechangers-第47章

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　〃You　are　safe'〃
　She　smiled　and　slid　a　quick　sideways　glance　at　Duncan。
　〃Aye；　I　am。〃
　Carillon　blinked　in　surprise　as　he　saw　the　Cheysuli　warrior。　Then　a　wariness　came　into　his　face。　〃What　have　you　e　for；　shapechanger？〃
　Duncan　regarded　Carillon　solemnly。　〃I　lost　something；　my　lord…　I　came　to　recover　it。〃　He　spread　his　hands。　〃But　while　I　am　here；　I　may　as　well　see　to　your　welfare。　My　foolish　cheysula　has　forced　me　to　do　her　bidding。〃
　Carillon　nearly　smiled。　Alix　saw　the　struggle　in　his　face　as　he　tried　to　keep　his　emotional　distance　from　the　Cheysuli…　But　his　relief　and　good　nature　won　out。
　〃She　is　a　foolish　woman。　I　told　her　so　when　first　she　appeared；　but　she　would　have　none　of　it。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Women　are　willful　creatures。〃
　Duncan　lost　his　solemnity　and　grinned。　〃Aye；　especially　this　one。　I　think　it　is　the　royalty　in　her。〃
　Carillon　laughed。　Alix；　disgruntled　by　the　amusement　in　them
　both　at　her　expense；　glared　at　Duncan；
　〃Have　you　brought　the　keys　for　nothing；　Duncan？　See　to　your　prince！〃
　Duncan　banished　his　smile　but　not　the　glint　in　his　eyes。　He　bent　and　unlocked　the　leg　shackles。　Then　he　unlocked　the　heavy　bands　around　his　wrists。
　The　iron　fell　away。　Alix　hissed　as　she　saw　the　raw　wounds　ringing　Carillon's　wrists；　as　if　he　still　wore　the　shackles。　Care…fully　he　stretched　out　his　hands　and　tried　to　work　them。
　Duncan　stopped　him。　〃Do　not。　If　you　will　suffer　it；　1　can　take　away　the　pain　when　we　are　free　of　this　place。〃　His　eyes　were　very　watchful。　〃Will　you　suffer　it？〃
　Carillon　sighed。　〃It　seems　1　must。　Alix　has　chastised　me　for　my　unremitting　distrust　of　your　race。　Perhaps　it　is　time　　listened　toner。〃
　A　glow　came　into　Duncan's　eyes。　〃If　she　has　caused　you　to　reconsider　the　feelings　most　Homanans　hold　for　us；　then　her　foolishness　has　some　merit。〃
　〃Duncan！〃　she　cried　in　frustration。
　His　brows　lifted　as　he　turned　to　her。　〃Well；　it　was　foolishness。　First　you　left　me　Keep；　where　1　ordered　you　to　remain；　then　you　joined　us　when　I　would　have　you　go　back；　and　now　you　have　e　into　an　enemy　camp。　What　else　am　I　to　think　of　your　behavior？〃
　Alix　took　a　deep　bream　and　glared　at　him；　hands　on　hips。
　〃My　behavior　is　mine　to　do。　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　you。　Because　I　have　wed　you　according　to　your　barbaric　shapechanger　custom　and　carry　your　halfling　child　does　not　mean　you　have　the　ordering　of　me。〃
　〃Alix！〃　Carillon　cried…　He　looked　first　at　Duncan；　then　at　her。　After　a　moment　he　looked　back　at　Duncan。　〃Does　she　always　speak　this　way？〃
　〃When　it　seats　her。　I　have　not　found　her　a　diplomatic　cheysu。〃
　Alix　scowled　at　him。
　Carillon　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃No；　I　think　not。　I　had　not
　known　of　her　sharp　tongue。〃　He　grinned　suddenly。　〃Well；　that
　is　not　entirely　true。　I　recall　her　words　when　I　destroyed　her　garden。〃
　Alix　shoved　her　hair　back　from　her　face。　〃I　begin　to　wish　I　had　not　e。〃
　Carillon　frowned　at　her。　〃Who　cut　off　your　hair？〃
　〃Duncan。〃
　Carillon；　astonished；　looked　at　the　warrior…　〃Why？〃
　Duncan's　mouth　twisted。　〃She　required　a　lesson。〃　He　dropped　the　keys　and　stretched　out　his　hand。　〃e；　my　lord；　it　is　time　we　took　you　from　this　place。〃
　Carillon　heaved　himself　from　the　tumbril　with　Duncan's　help。　His　face　went　white　and　he　gasped　in　pain　as　his　muscles　screamed　their　agony。　He　remained　on　his　feet　only　because　Duncan　held　him　there。
　〃Give　me　a　sword；〃　Carillon　said　between　clenched　teeth。　〃I　must　have　a　sword。　I　owe　a　death　to　someone。〃
　〃I　have　none。〃　Duncan's　eyes　were　opaque　and　blank。　〃The　last　sword　the　Cheysuli　held　was　Hale's。　You；　my　lord；　have　lost　it　for　us。〃
　Carillon　blanched　beneath　the　quiet　reproach。　〃I　had　little　to　do　with　it！　Thome　disarmed　me；　and　took　it。〃　His　pale　face　twisted。　〃I　will　slay　that　man。　I　have　been　chained　tike　a　beast　and　treated　as　mon　filth。　They　have　made　me　watch　as　they　ordered　my　men　slain；　and　Thome　has　laughed　at　it　all。〃　He　took　a　slow　breath。　〃But　the　worst　has　nothing　to　do　with　me。　It　was　the　boy。　Because　of　him；　and　the　rest；　Thome　will　die　by　my　hand。〃
　Alix　moved　closer。　〃The　boy。　Carillon。　I　saw　him　closely。　Is　he　Cheysuli？〃
　Carillon　sighed。　〃I　thought　so。　He　had　the　color　for　it。　But　he　said　no；　when　I　asked　him。　He　was　afraid。　I　think；　if　anything；　he　is　a　bastard　got　on　some　Cheysuli　woman。　He　said　he　was　raised　Homanan　by　a　man　and　a　woman　not　his　parents。〃　He　looked　back　at　Duncan。　'　'If　I　cannot　have　a　sword；　shapechanger；　then　lend　me　a　knife。〃
　Duncan's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　have　a　name；　princeling。　You　would　do　well　to　use　it。　I　have　mitted　my　clan　to　your　survival；　and　that　of　Homana。　You　and　I　have；　I　think；　gone　beyond　being　opponents　of　any　sort。　There　is　more　than　that　between　us；　now。　My　lord。〃　Duncan　studied　him　dispassionately。　'　'If　you　would　earn　the　respect　of　the　Cheysuli＋which　you　must　have　to　keep　Homana　intact＋you　would　do　well　to　save　your　hatred　for　the　Bilini。〃
　Alix　feared　they　might　e　to　blows。　Carillon　glared　angrily
　at　Duncan；　as　if　he　would　slay　him；　and　Duncan　exhibited　no　intention　of　retracting　his　sharp　words。
　Finally　she　put　a　hand　on　each　of　their　arms。　〃e；　my　warriors。　We　should　leave　this　place。〃　When　Duncan　made　no　signs　of　moving　she　deliberately　pressed　her　nails　into　his　bare　arm。　〃Cheysul；　so　you　forget　I　carry　your　son？　Get　me　free　of　this　place。〃
　That　drove　both　of　mem　into　motion。　Carillon　wavered　on　his　feet；　recovered；　and　made　as　if　to　walk。　Duncan　caught　his　arm　and　led　him　away　from　the　tumbril。　But　his　other　hand　was　on　Alix's　wrist；　and　she　felt　herself　dragged　after　him。
　Satisfied　she　had　achieved　her　goal；　she　smiled　to　herself　and　went　along　amicably。
　Chapter　Seven
　Duncan　stole　an　Atvian　horse　and　helped　Carillon　mount。　The　prince's　face　was　stretched　taut　with　pain　and　the　struggle　to　keep　it　unspoken；　but　Alix　sensed　every　screaming　fiber　of　Carillon's　mistreated　body。　Silently　she　watched　him　pose　himself　in　the　saddle；　gathering　reins　with　swollen；　discolored　hands。
　Duncan　turned　to　her。　〃Ride　behind　him；　cheysula。〃
　Carillon　glared　at　him。　〃I　have　no　need　of　a　woman　to　keep　me　in　the　saddle；　shapechanger。〃
　〃This　woman　has　accounted　for　your　rescue；　princeling；〃　Duncan　returned。　〃And　as　for　your　ability　to　keep　yourself　in　the　saddle；　that　is　for　you　to　do。　It　is　Alix　I　am　concerned　about；　and　the　health　of　our　child。〃
　Carillon；　about　to　say　something　more；　snapped　his　mouth　shut。
　Alix　shook　her　head。　〃I　go　with　you；　Duncan。〃
　〃The　others　leave　this　place　in；w…shape；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃I　will　walk；　leading　this　horse。　Whether　you　realize　it　yet；　you　are　doubtless　weary。　Ride；　Alix。〃
　Duncan's　words　awoke　all　the　trembling　in　her　limbs　and　the
　prehension　of　what　she　had　acplished。　Alix　felt　her
　bones　turn　to　water。　Though　she　longed　to　protest　she　withheld　it
　as　she　saw　the　understanding　in　Duncan's　eyes。　Silently　she　let
　him　lift　her　onto　the　horse；　and　carefully　clasped　her　fingers　into　tire　leather　of　Carillon's　belt。
　〃Where　do　we　go？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　far。　Perhaps　two　leagues　from　here。〃　Duncan　took　the　horse's　bridle　and　led　it　out。　〃e；　we　will　see　to　your　welfare　when　we　are　free　of　this　place。〃
　Duncan　took　them　from　the　open　plains　into　me　depths　of　the　shadowed　forests；　moving　so　silently　Alix　heard　only　the　horse's　steps　muffled　against　the　bedding　of　the　forest　floor。　Occasion…ally　she　saw　flitting　shapes　of　animals　slipping　by　and　realized　me　far　and　their　warriors　gave　the　clan…leader　and　his　charges　protection。　She　felt　very　safe。
　At　last　Duncan　turned　the　horse　into　a　tiny　clearing　invisible　to　the　untrained　eye。　Alix　pushed　free　of　the　horse　and　dropped　to　me　ground；　ignoring　Duncan's　disapproving　ment。　She　stepped　out　of　the　way　and　watched　as　he　helped　Carillon　dismount。
　〃I　will　be　well　enough；'〃Carillon　said　curtly。
　Duncan　did　not　remove　his　steadying　arm。　〃It　is　no　disgrace　to　require　help　after　so　much　time　spent　in　close　confinement。*'　He　met　Carillon's　eyes。　〃Or　is　it　only　Cheysuli　aid　you　spurn？〃
　Alix　sighed　wearily　and　pushed　hair　from　her　face。　〃Must　you　ever　go　at　one　another　with　no　basis　other　than　pride　and　arrogance？〃　she　asked。　〃Can　neither　of　you　forget　your　race　and　simply　conduct　yourselves　as　men？〃
　Carillon　stared　at　her。　After　a　mo