jr.shapechangers-第50章

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　His　free　hand　slid　up　to　her　face　and　cupped　it　gently。　〃Then　I　leave　my　fate　in　your　hands。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Your　fate　is　your　own。　Tahtmorra。〃
　The　Cheysuli　went　into　Mujhara　under　cover　of　darkness。　Carillon；　submitting　to　the　summoning　of　earth　magic　that　renewed　his　strength　and　sent　vigor　sweeping　through　his　bones；　rode　the　Atvian　mount　stolen　for　him。　Alix　sat　behind　Duncan　once　more　and　stared　in　dismay　at　the　city。
　It　lay　in　shambles。　The　glittering　magnificence　had　shattered　beneath　the　continued　onslaught　of　Ihlini　sorcery。　Walts　lay　tumbled；　oddly　charred　as　if　unholy　fire　had　leached　life　from　stone　blocks　once　raised　by　Cheysuli　hands　so　many　centuries　before。　Many　of　the　dwellings　had　been　destroyed　pletely；
　others　showed　no　signs　of　life　within。　Crumbling　casements　stared　blindly　at　the　streets　as　if　the　eyes　had　been　plucked　from　them　by　unseen　hands。
　Alix　shivered　and　held　more　tightly　to　Duncan。　Here　and　there　someone　moved　out　of　the　shadows　to　avoid　them；　as　if　they　feared　Ihlini　retribution；　and　Alix　longed　to　tell　them　differently。　But　she　could　not　find　her　voice。
　Mujhara。。。　she　mourned　within　her　heart。
　She　looked　at　Carillon　and　saw　him　sitting　erect　in　the　saddle；　Cheysuli　sword　fastened　to　his　leather　belt。　His　face；　as　he　looked　on　the　city；　was　perfectly　blank。　His　eyes　were　not。
　Duncan　halted　his　horse　and　waited　until　the　warriors　gathered　around　him　in　a　narrow　alley。　Their　silence　was　eloquent。
　〃We　are　too　late　to　keep　the　city　from　me　Ihlini；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　Homana…Mujhar　we　must　look　to。　If　the　palace　falls；　so　falls　the　realm。〃
　Carillon　shifted　in　his　saddle。　〃The　palace　has　stood　against　strong　foes　for　centuries；　shapechanger。　It　will　not　fall　to　dark　sorcery。〃
　Duncan　slowly　lifted　his　hand　and　indicated　the　charred；　still…smoking　ruins　of　a　tall　dwelling　near　them。　〃There　is　the　smell　of　death　in　the　air；　my　lord。　Does　it　matter　so　much　if　it　is　achieved　at　the　hands　of　sorcerers；　or　mere　men？〃
　Carillon　scowled。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　〃That　if　you　continue　to　believe　in　the　infallibility　of　Shame　and　the　palace　in　which　he　hides　himself；　you　are　foolish　indeed。〃　He　smiled　bitterly。　〃Carillon；　once　my　own　race　was　arrogant　enough　to　believe　we　would　ever　hold　the　regard　of　Homanans。　See　how　that　faith　has　turned　to…folly？　Tynstar　is　powerful　indeed。　If　Homana…Mujhar　can　be　taken＋and　any　castle　can　be＋the　Ihlini　will　do　it。〃
　The　prince's　blue　eyes　were　bleak。　〃I　do　not　deny　the　demon　his　arts；　nor　his　strength。　I　have　only　to　see　what　he　has　done　already。　But　it　is　a　hard　thing　to　realize　the　strength　of　a　land　resides　in　a　single　Mujhar。〃　His　mouth　thinned。　〃I　am　not　so　much　like　my　uncle；　I　think。　But　I　will　do　what　I　can　to　keep　this　land　free　of　Bellam's　grasp。〃
　Finn's　dun…colored　horse　stomped　against　the　ash…covered　cobbles；　raising　fine　gray　dust。　The　warrior　astride　the　animal　set　his　hand　to　the　hilt　of　his　knife。
　〃We　acplish　little　here；　rujho。　Let　us　go　on　to　Homana…Mujhar。〃
　Alix　felt　Duncan's　subtle　sigh。　Then　he　straightened　and　nodded。　〃What　we　do　now　may　well　settle　the　future　of　the　Cheysuli。〃　He　stared　levelly　at　Carillon。　〃Can　you　truly　cling　to　the　belief　that　we　mean　me　Mujhar's　blood　only　ill；　my　lord？〃
　Carillon　slid　the　sword　free　of　its　sheath。　The　moonlight　and
　dying　flames　from　the　burning　buildings　glinted　off　the　blade　and　set　the　ruby　to　glowing　like　a　crimson　eye。
　〃I　have　said　you　will　know　what　I　believe　when　I　am　Mujhar；　shapechanger。　Shaine　still　lives。〃　His　grim　face　softened　slightly。　〃But　your　aid　is　wele　this　night。〃
　Finn　laughed　curtly。　〃That　is　something；　I　suppose；　from　you。　Well；　princeling；　shall　you　show　us　how　a　fine　Homanan　lord　fights　to　save　his　land？〃
　〃I　will　fight　how　I　can；　shapechanger。　As　you　will　see。〃
　Duncan　gathered　the　reins　of　his　mount。　〃We　go　separately；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Cheysuli…fashion；　when　the　odds　are　so　high。　When　we　have　reached　Homana…Mujhar；　we　will　see　to　the　Mujhar's　welfare。〃
　Alix　watched　as　the　warriors　melted　into　the　darkness。　After　a　moment　only　she　and　Duncan　remained　with　Carillon。
　Finn　kneed　his　horse　out　of　the　shadows。　〃Duncan；　I　hope　this　is　what　you　have　wanted　so　long；〃　he　said　obscurely。
　Alix　frowned　at　him。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　Finn　stared　at　his　brother。　〃He　has　ever　warned　the　clan　against　unrestrained　retribution　for　the　qu'mahlin。　It　has　ever　been　Duncan；　swaying　the　Council；　who　kept　us　in　the　forests　of　Ellas；　when　we　would　strike　against　Shaine's　patrols　and　any　other　serving　the　Mujhar。〃　Something　glinted　wickedly　in　his　eyes。　〃You　do　not　know；　meijha；　what　it　is　to　fight　a　Cheysuli　in　all　extremity。　We　might　have　slain　many　more　who　sought　to　slay　us；　had　Duncan　allowed　it。〃
　〃The　prophecy　does　not　speak　of　utter　annihilation；　Finn；〃　Duncan　retorted…　〃It　speaks　of　a　final　peace　between　warring　lands　and　races。　Should　it　not　begin　with　our　own　realm？〃
　〃Shaine　would　sooner　see　us　dead。〃
　〃Shaine　will　see　us；　rujho；　but　we　will　not　be　dead。〃　Duncan　kneed　his　horse　forward。　〃Do　you　e　with　us？〃
　〃No。〃　Finn　gathered　his　reins。　〃I　fight　alone；　Duncan；　as　ever。〃　His　eyes　flickered　over　Alix。　〃You　are　a　foolish　woman；　meijha。　You　should　be　at　the　Keep；　with　the　others　who　wait。〃
　〃I　could　not　bear　it；〃　she　said　quietly。
　Finn　stared　harshly　at　her　a　moment　longer；　then　wheeled　his　horse　and　rode　into　the　shadows。　A　silver　wolf　loped　silently　at　his　side。
　Alix　wrapped　her　arms　around　Duncan　and　pressed　herself　against　his　back　as　they　rode　through　the　streets。　〃Duncan；　1　am　afraid。〃
　〃There　is　no　dishonor　in　fear。　It　is　only　when　you　fail　to　do　what　you　must　that　the　dishonor　es。〃
　She　sighed　and　put　her　forehead　against　his　shoulder。　〃Do　not
　speak　to　me　as　a　clan…leader；　Duncan。　I　am　in　no　mood　to　listen。〃
　Carillon；　riding　abreast；　grinned　at　her。　〃Have　you　ever　been　in　the　mood　to　listen？　No。　Else　you　would　not　be　here；　and　afraid。〃
　She　shot　him　a　dark　glance　and　refrained　from　saying　anything　for　fear　it　would　not　be　seemly。
　They　rode　through　streets　unfamiliar　to　her；　and　even　Duncan　at　last　gave　way　to　Carillon；　who　knew　the　city　better　than　any。　The　people　who　passed　them　went　cloaked　and　hooded；　saying　nothing。　Carillon　rode　silently　but　Alix　saw　the　tension　in　his　body　and　realized　what　the　knowledge　of　what　had　happened　did　to　him。
　Duncan　pulled　his　horse　to　a　halt　at　a　large　recessed　stable　opening　of　a　deserted　dwelling…　Alix　waited；　unprehending；　as　he　slipped　from　the　saddle　and　turned　to　help　her　down。　When　she　stood　on　the　cobbles　she　stared　into　his　face　and　opened　her　mouth　to　speak。
　Duncan　put　gentle　fingers　across　her　lips。　〃I　would　have　you　remain　here；　cheysula；　out　of　harm's　way。　That　you　have　e　so　far　with　me　is　risk　enough。　I　will　not　have　you　e　farther　into　the　enemy's　trap。〃
　She　pried　his　fingers　away。　〃Do　you　leave　me　here？〃
　〃Aye。　The　street　is　empty；　the　buildings　deserted。　I　think　you　will　be　safe　here；　if　you　do　as　I　say。〃
　Alix　glanced　briefly　past　him　and　saw　Carillon's　silhouette　against　the　shine　of　moonlight。　He　had　halted　his　horse　near　the　end　of　the　street；　giving　them　privacy。
　〃Then　I　will　be　waiting　again；　unknowing；〃　she　protested。
　〃It　will　be　no　different　than　at　the　Keep。〃
　His　hands　clasped　her　belted　waist　possessively。　〃Alix；　I　understand　what　you　fear。　In　your　place；　I　could　not　do　it。　But　I　cannot　have　you　by　my　side　as　I　go　into　war。　It　would　divide　my　concentration；　and　that　is　deadly　to　any　warrior。〃
　〃By　myself？〃　she　whispered。
　〃I　will　leave　Cai。　I　would　not　have　you　go　unattended。〃　He　smoothed　back　her　tousled　hair。　〃Cheysula；　say　you　will　do　as　I　ask。〃
　〃Duncan；　how　am　I　to　deal　with　this？　You　leave　me　in　the　middle　of　a　fallen　city　and　say　I　must　not　worry。　That　is　the　cruelest　torture　I　could　know。〃
　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　Carillon　returning。　He　sighed　and　left　his　horse　in　the　street；　taking　Alix　into　the　building　half…destroyed　by　Ihlini　sorcery。　Before　she　could　protest；　Duncan　lifted　her　and　set　her　on　a　tumbled　wall。
　〃You　will　stay　here；　with　Cai。〃
　〃Without　your　Ur　you　cannot　shapechange。〃
　〃There　are　Ihlini　here。　I　cannot　seek；ir…shape　anyway。〃
　〃Duncan＋〃
　〃Do　as　I　ask。　Keep　yourse