jr.shapechangers-第52章

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　bending；　and　took　me　knife　from　her　boot。　The　feel　of　it　in　her　hand　gave　her　a　measure　of　renewed　confidence；　and　she　walked
　on　softly。
　You　can　go　back；　Cai　said。　You　can　wait　for　my　lir；　as　he　　wished。
　No；　she　said　silently。
　Uren。。。
　No。
　Alix　felt　better　for　her　determination；　recalling　the　urge　that　had　originally　driven　her　into　the　streets…　For　all　she　was　frightened　of　what　might　befall　her；　she　was　more　frightened　of　what　might　happen　to　Duncan。　She　would　far　prefer　being　with　him；　in　danger；　than　without　him　in　parative　safety。
　A　stone　rattled　on　the　cobbles　before　her。　Alix　slipped　into　a　recessed　doorway；　knife　drawn　up　to　her　chest　in　readiness。
　Another　stone　skittered　across　the　uneven　street　and　came　to　rest　near　her　foot。　She　followed　its　path　with　her　eyes　until　she　saw　the　figure　move　silently　through　the　street。
　It　was　a　man；　'she　thought；　for　the　cloaked　form　was　tall　and　moved　with　me　subtle　grace　of　a　warrior。　She　had　seen　its　like　in　warriors　of　the　clan；　marveling　at　the　body's　ability　to　take　on　the　aspect　of　animal　suppleness　while　maintaining　human　form。　For　a　moment　she　thought　the　man　Cheysuli；　then　recalled　none　had　gone　cloaked　on　this　mission　into　Mujhara。　Alix　drew　in　a　breath　and　waited。
　He　moved　past　her；　half…hidden　in　the　shadowy　folds　of　his　cloak。　For　a　moment　he　paused；　very　near　her；　and　she　feared　discovery。　A　hand　rose　and　pushed　the　hood　free　of　his　face；　sliding　me　draped　material　to　his　shoulders。　Alix；　certain　he　somehow　knew　her　presence；　waited　for　him　to　speak。
　But　the　man　said　nothing。　He　glanced　into　the　sky；　marked　the　hawk's　idle　flight；　and　smiled　to　himself。　Then　he　moved　on。
　Alix　waited　until　he　was　gone。　Then　she　slipped　out　of　the　doorway　and　hastened　from　the　street；　fearing　belated　discovery。　When　she　reached　for　Cai's　soothing　pattern　she　felt　an　odd　current　pushing　against　her；　almost　as　if　it　sought　to　prevent　munication　with　the　hawk。　She　strengthened　her　call　and　relaxed　as　the　bird's　tone　came　to　her。
　Ihlini。　liren。
　Alix　paused；　frowning　against　the　effort　it　took　to　hear　him。
　Ihlini？
　Aye；　the　cloaked　man。
　She　stared　into　the　darkness。　Then　why　do　I　hear　you　at　all？
　Perhaps　it　is　the　blood　in　you；　liren。　Perhaps　whatever　power　it　is　that　prevents　other　Cheysuli　from　seeking　their　HR　does　not　block　you　from　it。　His　shadow　drifted　over　her。　Liren；　you　are　fortunate　indeed。
　But　she　felt　the　strain　within　the　pattern　and　sensed　a　draining　of　her　resources。　It　frightened　her；　for　she　dared　not　risk　me　child。　She　broke　off　me　link　to　Cai　and　decided　to　keep　it　broken；　for　fear　it　might　harm　the　unborn。　Cai　seemed　to　approve；　and　she　went　on　in　greater　solitude　than　before。
　Alix　knew　herself　lost。　Her　visit　to　Mujhara　with　Carillon　had　not　accustomed　her　to　the　twistings　and　turnings　of　the　narrow　streets；　and　she　realized　she　might　be　moving　farther　from　Homana…Mujhar　instead　of　going　to　it。　Frustrated　and　fearful；　she　turned　yet　again　and　kept　her　steady　pace。　She　longed　to　question　Cai；　knowing　he　could　tell　her。　but　fought　down　the　in…stinct。　She　would　not　involve　the　hawk　unless　forced　to。
　She　heard　a　child　crying　in　the　distance。　As　she　drew　closer
　the　piteous　wail　drove　into　her　spirit　tike　a　shaft；　beckoning　her。　Alix　broke　into　a　trot；　then　a　run　as　the　crying　seemed　to　weaken。　She　was　breathless　as　she　rounded　a　er　and　tripped　over　a　body　in　the　street。
　It　was　a　woman；　clothed　in　a　soiled　and　torn　gown。　Alix　got　to　her　knees　and　replaced　her　knife　as　she　put　a　trembling　hand　toward　the　woman's　face。　Then　she　saw　the　staring　eyes　were　blank；　bulging　in　death；　and　something　elemental　curled　deeply　within　her　soul。　She　hesitated；　then　put　gentle　fingers　to　the　eyelids　and　closed　them。　The　cold　stillness　of　the　flesh　shot　a　convulsive　shudder　down　her　spine。
　The　crying　renewed　itself。　Alix　jerked　her　head　around　and　stared　wide…eyed　into　me　darkness。　After　a　moment　she　located　the　focus　of　the　sound　and　rose；　moving　quietly　to　the　broken　wall　of　a　charred　building。　Behind　the　scattered　stone；　placed　carefully　beneath　a　sheltering　piece　of　broken　door；　lay　a　naked　baby。
　Soundlessly　Alix　cried　out。　Then　her　hands　were　on　the　infant；　lifting　it　free　of　its　protection。　It　was　a　boy…child；　cold　to　the　touch；　and　his　chest　rose　feebly　in　an　attempt　to　breathe。　Alix　knelt　and　cradled　him　to　her　breast；　feeling　a　mixture　of　longing　and　pain　in　her　soul　as　she　sensed　the　ambiance　of　her　own　unborn　child。
　She　crooned　to　him　softly；　smoothing　his　silken　head。　He　was　no　more　than　a　few　weeks；　she　knew；　and　helpless　as　a　blind；　newbom　rabbit。　His　slender　limbs　trembled　from　exposure　and　unknown　fear；　and　after　a　moment　Alix　lay　him　down　in　the　street　and　stripped　out　of　her　supple　Jerkin　and　belt。　The　leather　was　not　much；　but　she　realized　some　wrapping　was　better　than　none。　Carefully　she　lifted　the　child　and　folded　the　jerkin　around　his　body。　snugging　the　belt　over　it　to　swaddle　him　as　warmly　as　possible。　Chill　nipped　through　the　loose　weave　of　her　improvised　shut；　but　she　ignored　it　as　she　lifted　the　baby　and　walked　on。
　At　last　Alix　turned　a　corner　and　saw　before　her　the　red　stones　of　Homana…Mujhar。　The　walls　rose　mutely　in　the　moonlight；　throwing　dark　shadows　into　surrounding　streets。　And　she　saw　the　Solindish　and　Atvian　guards　surrounding　the　place；　posted　at　every　gate。　She　wondered　if　Tynstar　had　yet　broken　through　Shaine's　wards；　taking　the　palace　for　Bellam。
　Alix　drew　back　in　the　sheltering　shadows；　suddenly　at　a　loss　for　what　to　do。　She　had　anticipated　finding　Duncan　no　matter　how　impossible　the　task　seemed；　even　in　the　cul…de…sacs　and　strange　turnings。　Now　she　stared　worriedly　at　the　bronze…and…timber　gates　and　feared　she　had　acted　wrongly。
　Where　are　they？　she　asked　fearfully。　Where　are　the　Cheysuli？
　The　child　whimpered　in　her　arms。　Alix　shifted　him　closer　to　her　chest　and　placed　gentle　lips　against　his　forehead；　silently　promising　him　safety。　But　she　also　feared　for　her　own。
　She　glanced　back　the　way　she　had　e　and　stiffened。　Through　the　narrow　street　walked　a　cloaked　figure；　moving　with　familiar　grace。　The　hood　was　drawn　up　again　to　hide　me　man's　features；　but　she　knew　him　by　his　movements。Alix　pressed　back　against　the　wall。
　Then　a　second　figure　slid　out　from　the　shadows；　just　behind　me　cloaked　Ihlini。　Alix　watched　in　painful　silence　as　the　second　man　moved　into　the　moonlighted　street；　then　caught　her　breath　in　a　gasp　as　muted　light　glinted　off　gold　/（/bands。
　〃Ihlini！〃　the　Cheysuli　whispered。
　The　cloaked　figure　spun　and　froze。　Alix　saw　him　push　his　hands　out　sideways；　away　from　his　body；　as　if　to　indicate　his　innocent　intent。　The　Cheysuli　moved　closer　and　a　shaft　of　moon…light　slanted　clearly　across　his　face。
　'　'Duncan！〃　she　whispered　in　horror；　clutching　at　the　child。
　The　Ihlini's　voice；　quiet　but　pitched　to　carry；　came　clearly　to　her。　〃We　should　not　fight；　you　and　I。　The　Cheysuli　and　flilini　are　much　alike。　You　have　your　gifts；　I　mine。　We　could　use　them　in　concert。〃
　She　heard　Duncan's　soft　laugh。　〃There　is　no　likeness　between　us；　sorcerer；　save　equal　determination　to　serve　our　own　gods。〃
　The　Ihlini　lowered　his　hands；　then　pulled　his　cloak　off　and　dropped　it　to　the　cobbles。　〃Then　I　will　serve　my　gods；　shapechanger；　by　ridding　this　land　of　one　more　Cheysuli。〃
　The　fight　was　sudden　and　vicious。　Alix　gasped　as　Duncan　closed　widi　the　Ihlini；　movements　half…hidden。　She　saw　only　the　glint　of　knives　and　heard　their　grunts　of　effort　as　each　sought　to　slay　the　other。
　〃By　the　gods；〃　she　whispered　to　herself；　horrified；　〃it　is　much　worse　than　I　thought。　Much　worse！〃
　The　child　whimpered　again　and　she　hugged　him　closer；　seeking　her　own　strength　in　his　need　for　security。　But　her　mind　was　with　Duncan。
　She　saw　the　Ihlini　stumble　back。　A　metallic　glint　flashed　from　his　left　shoulder　and　she　saw　the　hilt　of　a　Cheysuli　knife　stand　out　from　his　dark　leathers。　Duncan；　crouched　in　readiness；　straightened。　Alix　felt　overwhelming　relief　flood　her　body；　then　realized　how　much　she　had　longed　for　me　sorcerer's　death。　The　emotion　shocked　and　sickened　her。
　The　Ihlini　did　not　fall。　His　back　turned　to　her　and　she　saw　his　right　arm　move　to　pull　me　knife　from　his　shoulder。　Dunca