jr.shapechangers-第9章
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ce and laughed softly。 〃The Homanans hide their meijhas and call mem light women。 The Cheysuli keep cheysulas and meijhas wives and mistresses and honor mem both。〃
〃But Hale left your mother！〃
〃He did what he wished。 That is understood among us。 Men and women have the freedom to take whom they choose； when they choose。〃 He grimaced。 〃Though now we have few warriors； and fewer women。〃
Alix swallowed with effort。 〃I would rather be Homanan。〃
Duncan's eyes narrowed。 〃But you are half Cheysuli。 In our dan； that is counted whole。〃
But her mind had gone past that； grasping the slippery strands of prehension。 She put the relationships together until she had an understanding of them。 Then she looked at Duncan。
〃Lindir bore a daughter and Shaine lost the heir he wanted。〃
〃Aye；〃 he agreed。
〃So he turned to his brother； Fergus； who had a son。〃
〃Aye。〃
Alix took a shaking breath。 〃He made that son his nephew
heir… Prince of Homana Ч 〃
Duncan watched her closely。 〃Aye。〃
She feel her heart begin to hurt。 〃Then Carillon is my cousin！〃
〃Aye；〃 Duncan said softly； understanding。
Alix drew up her knees and clasped her arms around them tightly。 She pressed her forehead against them and squeezed her eyes shut in denial and realization。
Before I was only a croft…girl； but one who put him at ease。 Now I am Cheysuli shapechangerlaccursed； and his bastard cousin。 Grief surged into her throat。 He will never e to me again！
She hugged her knees and keened silently in the shapechanger's tent。
Chapter Five
Alix； at dawn； sat warmly wrapped in a brown blanket； numbly aware she had slept in the shapechanger's presence。 She had not meant to。 She vaguely recalled her silent tears and his urging of her to sleep； but no more。 Now she sat alone in his pavilion； bereft of the heritage she had known all her life。
The doorflap stirred and Alix glanced up； expecting Duncan。 Instead she saw Carillon and stood up with a cry； letting the blanket slide to the ground。
Then she froze。 His eyes were withdrawn from her； strange； and she saw none of me warm wele she had e to expect。
They have told him。。。
Alix's arms dropped to her sides。 Desolation swept in to fill
her soul。 She would not look into his face and see his rejection
ofher
〃Alix。。。〃
〃You need say nothing； my lord；〃 she said remotely。 〃I understand how a prince must feel to leam the croft…girl he has kept pany with is a shapechanger。〃
He moved into the pavilion。 〃Are you so certain they have the right of it？〃
Her head jerked up。 〃Then you do not believe them？〃
He smiled。 〃Do you think I am so easily manipulated； Alix？ I think they lie to you。 There is nothing Cheysuli about you。 Your hair is brown； not black； and your eyes amber。 Not beast…yellow。〃
Carillon let her melt against his chest； sobbing quietly。 Her fears of suggesting an intimacy she was not due faded away as she sought solace in his strength。 His anns slipped around her and held her close； for the first time since they had met。
〃You will e with me when I am released；〃 he said into her tangled hair。 〃They cannot keep you。〃
She lifted her face。 〃Duncan has said I must stay。〃
〃I will take you back with me。〃
〃How do you know they will let you go？〃
He smiled wryly。 〃I am worth too much to my uncle for them to keep me long。〃
〃And I？〃
〃You。 Alix？〃
She wet her lips。 〃If I am what they say； then I am the Mujhar's granddaughter。 Lindir's daughter。〃
〃So you will admit to shapechanger blood if only to get royal blood as well；〃 he said； amused。
Alix pulled away from him。 〃No！ I only seek acknowledg…ment。。。 the truth！ Carillon； if I am Shaine's granddaughter will he not free me from this place？〃
〃Do you think the Mujhar will acknowledge a half…shapechanger bastard granddaughter？〃
She recoiled from the cruel question… 〃Carillon*'
〃You must accustom yourself。 If what the shapechangers say is true； we are cousins。 But Shaine will never claim you。 He will never offer a single coin for your return；〃 Carillon shook his head。 〃They are harsh words； I know； but I cannot let you expect something you cannot have。〃
She set cold hands against her face。 〃Then you will leave me hero。。。。〃
He caught her arms； pulling her hands from her face。 〃I will not leave you here！ I will take you to Homana…Mujhar； but I cannot say what your reception will be。〃
〃You would not have to tell him who I am。〃
〃Do I say you are my light woman； then？ A valley…girl I have been seeing？〃 He sighed as he saw her expression。 〃Alix； what else would I tell him？〃
〃The truth。〃
〃And have him order you slain？〃
〃He would not1。〃
His hands tightened on her arms。 〃The Mujhar has declared
the Cheysuli accursed； outlawed； subject to death by anyone's
hands。 Do you think he will gainsay his own purge for the daughter of the man who stole his daughter？〃
Alix jerked away from him。 〃She was not stolen！ She went willingly！ Duncan said〃 she broke off abruptly； horrified。
Carillon sighed heavily。 〃So； you accept their words。 With so little a fight； Alix； do you deny your Homanan blood and turn to the shapechangers？〃
〃No！〃
You are Cheysuli； liren。 Came the hawk's golden tone。 Do not deny yourself the truth。 Remain。
Alix ripped me doorflap aside and stared into the sky。 Cai drifted far above； floating on a summer breeze。
〃I must go！〃 she cried。
This is your place； liren。
〃No！〃
〃Alix！〃 Carillon moved to her and grabbed her arm。 〃To whom do you speak？〃
Homana…Mujhar is not/or you； the bird said softly。
〃I cannot stay；〃 she insisted； amazed at her willingness to speak to a bird。 〃I cannot！〃
〃Alix！〃 Carillon exclaimed。
She gestured wildly。 〃The bird！ The hawk！ There。〃
He dropped her arms instantly； staring at her in alarm。 Slowly his eyes went to the graceful hawk。
〃Let me go with Carillon；〃 she pleaded； knowing only that me bird sought to keep her。
/ cannot gainsay you； liren。 I can only ask。
Alix tore her eyes from the hawk and looked beseechingly at Carillon。 Frantically she reached out to catch her hands in his black leather doublet。
〃Take me with you。 Tell the Mujhar whatever you choose； but do not make me stay in this place！〃
〃You understand what the bird says？〃
〃In my head。 A voice。〃 She could sense his shock and sought to convince him。 〃Not words。 A tone。。。 I can understand what he thinks。〃
〃Alix。。。〃
〃You said you would take me；〃 she whispered。
He put out a hand to point at Cai； ruby signet flashing。 〃You converse with animals！〃
Alix closed her eyes； releasing him。 〃Then you will leave me。〃
〃Shapechanger sorcery。。。〃 he said slowly。
She looked at him； judging his face and the feelings reflected there。 Then his hands grasped her shoulders so hard it hurt。
〃You are no different；〃 he said。 〃You are still Alix。 I look at you and see a strong； proud woman whose soul is near to destroyed by these shapechanger words。 Alix； I will still have you by me。〃
You are meant/or another； the hawk said gently。 The prince is not for you。 Stay。
〃By all the gods；〃 she whispered； staring blindly at Carillon； 〃will none of you let me be？〃
〃Alix！〃
But she tore herself from him and ran from them both； seeking escape in the forest。
She fled to a lush grassy glade lying in a splash of sunlight。 There Alix sank to her knees and sat stunned； trying to regain control of her disordered mind。 She shook convulsively。
Shapechanger！ Spawn of a shapechanger demon and a king's daughter！ she cried within her soul。
Alix scrubbed at her stinging eyes with the heels of her hands； fighting back tears。 She had never been one for crying； but the tension and fear of the past hours had taken away her natural reserve。 She wanted security and solace like a child seeking fort at a mother's breast。
Mother！ she cried。 Was I birthed by a Homanan valley girl； or a haughty； defiant princess？
Alix felt the conflict in her soul。 She longed for Carillon's confidence in her Homanan origins； yet felt the seductive tug of mystery attending the legendary magic of the Cheysuli。 And though Torrin had raised her to be fair to all men in her thoughts； even the Cheysuli； he had also instilled in her the apprehension all felt concerni
