jr.shapechangers-第54章

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Something　crept　through　his　eyes　and　she　saw　the　vestiges　of　remembered　horror。　〃He　did　not　know　what　it　was　to　look　into　the　eyes　of　death　so　close。〃
　Alix　shivered　and　pressed　herself　against　him。　〃Duncan；　I　could　not　bear　to　lose　you。　I　could　not　bear　it。〃
　〃Well；　you　have　made　certain　I　will　live　a　little　longer。〃　He　smiled　crookedly　at　her　and　traced　me　bloodstains　on　her　nose。　〃I　have　taken　myself　a　warrior　instead　of　a　woman。〃
　Carillon's　boots　scraped　against　the　cobbles。　Alix　looked　at　him　and　saw　the　weariness　and　determination　in　his　face。
　He　gestured　toward　the　red　walls　rising　in　the　near　distance　Ч　〃Homana…Mujhar；　my　friends。　It　waits　for　us。〃
　Duncan　nodded。　Alix　slipped　from　his　arms；　cast　one　more　longing　glance　at　the　jerkin…wrapped　bundle　in　the　er；　then　turned　from　it　resolutely。
　But　the　pain　remained。
　Chapter　Three
　They　found　shelter　in　the　shadows　of　the　high　walls；　avoiding　the　Solindish　soldiers　who　gathered　in　the　torchlight　spilling　from　sconces　set　into　the　red　brick。　Cai　perched　himself　in　a　nearby　tree；　for　the　proximity　of　Ihiini　kept　him　from　conversing　with　Duncan；　and　even　Alix　felt　the　weakness　in　her　mind。　She　did　not　wish　to　expend　energy　she　might　need　later；　so　she　kept　herself　from　conversing　with　the　hawk。
　Duncan　leaned　one　shoulder　against　the　cool　walls　and　looked　at　Carillon…　〃We　need　a　way　in；　my　lord。　As　normal　men。　I　have　no　recourse　to　fir…shape　here。〃
　Carillon's　hand　idly　caressed　the　hilt　of　his　massive　sword。　〃There　is　a　way。　I　played　here　as　a　child；　and　I　knew　all　the　secrets　of　this　place。　I　am　only　glad　me　Solindish　do　not。〃
　〃Alone？〃　Alix　whispered。
　Duncan　shook　his　head　and　felt　gently　at　his　bruised　throat。
　〃If　you　can；　Atix；　summon　the　lir。　They　will　bring　the　warriors。〃
　Apprehension　flared　in　her。　〃But　you　said　I　should　not　use
　what　power　I　have。　Because　of　the　child＋〃
　〃We　have　no　choice。　If　we　are　to　succeed；　we　must　get　to
　Shame。〃　His　hand　engulfed　and　pressed　her　shoulder。　〃Cheysula；　I　would　not　ask　it　otherwise。〃
　She　nodded　and　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　detaching　her…self　from　immediate　awareness。　She　no　longer　felt　Duncan's　hand　on　her；　or　heard　Carillon's　startled　question。　She　was　aware　only　of　the　heaviness　in　the　air　and　the　great　effort　it　took　to　reach　the　lir。
　At　last　she　felt　Storr's　familiar　pattern　questioning　her。　Alix　smiled　weakly　and　told　him　to　bring　his　lir；　and　the　others。　His　acquiescence　came　just　as　her　strength　failed　her。
　Alix　sagged　limply　against　the　wall　and　felt　Duncan　catch　her。　He　swore　something　in　the　Old　Tongue　that　broke　halfway　through　his　exclamation　and　set　her　upright；　pressing　her　against　the　wall。　She　heard　Carillon's　sharp　question；　but　Duncan　made　no　answer。　At　last　she　dragged　her　eyes　open　and　looked　into　their　faces；　seeing　their　mutual　fear。
　Alix　managed　a　faint　smile。　〃They　e。　The　lir。　and　their　warriors。〃
　〃I　am　sorry。。。〃　Duncan　rasped　uneasily。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃It＋it　was　only　that　they　are　so　far。　I　will　be　well　enough　in　a　moment。〃
　Carillon　flicked　a　dark　glance　at　Duncan。　〃/　would　not　use　her　so；　shapechanger。〃
　Duncan's　face　hardened。　〃It　is　for　your　sake　I　asked　it；　princeling。〃
　Alix　put　a　hand　up　and　pushed　herself　away　from　the　wall；　straightening　her　tired　shoulders。　〃Enough　of　this。　If　you　wish　Homana　reconciled　with　her　Cheysuli　forebears；　you　will　have　to　begin　with　yourselves。〃　She　glared　at　them。　〃Yourselves！〃
　Carillon　looked　guilty。　Duncan；　mouth　twisting　in　Finn's　ironic　manner；　nodded　to　himself。
　Alix　sighed　and　rubbed　wearily　at　an　eye。　〃I　think　they　e。
　Here　is　Storr。〃
　The　silver　wolf　came　out　of　the　shadows　silently；　feral　eyes　gleaming　in　the　darkness。　With　him　came　Finn；　who　had　a　wide　smear　of　blood　across　his　jerkin　and　a　victorious　glint　in　his　eye。
　〃You　wanted　me；　mei　jha
　〃Duncan　wanted　you。　And　the　others。〃
　Finn　glanced　at　his　brother；　then　frowned。　He　stepped　close　and　examined　the　bloody　slice　in　Duncan's　throat。　After　a　moment　he　stepped　back　and　raised　his　brows。
　〃Did　you　tangle；　somehow；　with　an　Atvian　bowstring　instead　of　an　arrow？〃
　Duncan　smiled。　〃An　Ihlini　garrote；　rujho。〃
　Finn　gmnted。　〃They　are　ever　troublesome。　We　should　teach　the　Ihlini　something；　someday。〃　His　eyes　belied　the　irony　in　his　tone。　〃Rujho。。。　you　are　not　badly　hurt？〃
　Duncan　shrugged。　〃I　am　well　enough。　Growing　voiceless；　perhaps；　but　you　may　prefer　me　that　way。〃
　Finn's　teeth　flashed。　〃Aye；　rujho；　I　believe　I　may。〃
　The　others　had　gathered。　Alix　saw　not　a　single　warrior　was　missing。　She　wondered；　in　remembered　horror；　how　many　men　lay　dead　at　shapechanger　hands。
　〃We　will　go　in；〃　Duncan　said　in　his　broken　voice。　〃We　will　go　in　and　give　what　aid　we　can　to　Shaine　the　Mujhar。〃
　〃How？〃　demanded　Finn。　〃We　cannot　seek　far…shape　so　close　to　the　Ihlini。　And　we　can　hardly　scale　me　walls　without　being　seen。〃
　Duncan　gestured　to　Carillon。　'　〃The　prince　has　said　he　can　get　us　in。〃
　Finn's　face　expressed　doubt。　No　one　else　moved；　but　Alix　sensed　their　unspoken　disbelief。　Then　Carillon　shifted　against　the　wall　and　stood　upright。
　〃You　have　little　enough　reason　to　trust　me。　It　would　be　a　simple　matter　for　me　to　let　you　in　and　lead　you　into　a　trap　of　the　Mujhar's　making。*'　He　smiled　grimly。　〃While　I　have　not　precisely　been　your　enemy；　neither　have　I　been　your　ally。〃
　〃I　think　we　are　in　agreement　for　the　first　time；　princeling；〃　Finn　said　in　careful　condescension。
　Carillon；　to　Alix's　surprise；　appeared　unoffended。　He　smiled　calmly　at　Finn。　〃You　need　my　aid；　shapechanger。　Mine。〃
　Finn　grunted。　〃I　need　nothing　of　yours。〃
　Carillon　turned　to　Duncan。　〃I　will　get　in；　and　then　I　will　open
　one　of　the　smaller　gates。　I　leave　it　to　you　to　rid　yourselves　of　the
　Solindish　guards。〃　He　gestured　toward　the　darkness。　〃It　is　but　a
　short　distance　that　way。　I　will　meet　you；〃
　He　faded　into　the　shadows。　Finn　spat　out　a　curse　between　his　teeth　and　looked　as　if　he　had　swallowed　something　sour。
　Duncan　observed　him　impassively。　〃1　trust　him；　Finn。　He　will　do　as　he　says。〃
　〃He　is　Homanan。〃
　〃They　are　not　our　enemy。〃
　Finn's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Then　what　of　the　qu'mahlin
　〃It　was　begun　by　a　single　man；　not　by　a　nation。　It　can　also　be　ended　by　a　single　man。〃　Duncan　sighed　and　felt　at　his　tender　throat。　〃Shaine　began　it。　Carillon；　I　think；　is　the　man　who　will　end　it。〃
　〃Do　not　speak　so　much；〃　Alix　admonished　him；　then　shot　Finn　a　scathing　glance。　〃Carillon　expects　us；　rujholli。　Should　we　not　go　where　he　said？〃
　He　grinned　at　her　and　gestured　with　a　flourish　in　the　direction　Carillon　had　indicated。　When　she　did　not　move　he　shook　his　head　reprovingly　and　went　into　the　darkness。　The　others　followed。
　Alix　turned　away　as　the　Cheysuli　slew　the　Solindish　guards…Her　flesh　crawled　as　she　remembered　the　sensations　in　her　when　she　had　plunged　her　knife　into　the　Ihlini's　back。　She　would　have　run　from　the　renewed　violence　had　Duncan　not　kept　her　by　him。
　As　the　last　man　died；　the　narrow　gate　swung　open。　Carillon　stepped　through。　His　leather…and…mail　dripped　with　water；　pooling　at　his　feet。　His　hair　was　plastered　darkly　against　his　head；　but　his　smile　was　subtly　triumphant　as　he　gestured。
　〃There　is　a　culvert　few　know　about。　Now；　through　here；　if　you　please。　And　you　are　well　e　to　Homana…Mujhar。〃
　He　led　them　into　a　small　bailey；　avoiding　the　larger　one　which　opened　onto　the　front　of　me　massive　palace。　He　paused　as　Duncan　whispered　to　him；　and　waited　as　the　clan…leader　turned　to　his　warriors。
　〃It　would　be　better　to　go　in　separately；　should　the　Mujhar
　send　men　against　us。　Slay　only　if　you　must；　for　these　men　are　not　truly　our　enemies。　When　you　can；　make　your　way　to　the　Great　Hall。〃　He　smiled　at　Carillon's　involuntary　start　of　suiprise。　〃Have　you　forgot；　my　lord；　mat　Hale　was　my　foster…father？　I　was　here　as　a　small　child。　I　know　this　place。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　dark　bulk　of　stone。　〃A　long　time　ago；　I　walked　the　halls　and　corridors　with　impunity。　Shaine　once　called　me　by　name　and　bade　me　serve　him　as　well　as　Hale　did。〃　His　mouth　tightened。　〃A　very　long　time　ago。〃
　Finn　stepped　between　them。　〃But　I　was　never　here；　princeling。
　I　was　left　at　the　Keep。　You　may　serve　as　my　guide。〃
　Carillon　turned　away　and　moved　toward