jr.shapechangers-第14部分

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　For　a　moment　she　gazed　blindly　at　the　shadows　and　wondered
　forlornly　if　she　would　ever　see　her　home　again。　Then　the　enor…
　mity　of　her　plight　crept　upon　her。　Alix　pulled　her　knees　to　her
　chest　and　hugged　them；　hiding　her　face　in　her　torn　and　stained　skirts。
　Liren；　said　a　gentle　voice；　so　empathetic　it　nearly　undid　her。
　Liren。
　Alix　turned　her　head　against　the　rough　weave　of　her　gown　and　saw　Storr　waiting　quietly　in　the　moonlight。　For　a　moment　resentment　replaced　her　grief；　then　it　faded。　She　knew；　somehow；　Slorr　had　e　on　his　own；　not　because　he　was　sent　to　take　her　back　to　camp。
　/　was　not　sent；　he　said。　/　came　because　you　are　in　pain；　and　in　need。
　〃You　speak　as　a　wise　old　man；〃　she　whispered。
　I　am　a　wise…old　wolf。　he　said；　sounding　amused。　But　there　is　not　so　much　difference；　for　all　that。
　Alix　smiled　at　him　and　put　out　a　hand。　Storr　moved　to　her　and　allowed　her　to　place　a　hand　on　his　head。　For　a　moment　she　was　stunned　at　what　she　did；　touching　a　wolf；　she　thought　silently。　But　Storr　was　patient　and　very　gentle；　and　she　did　not　fear　him。
　〃You　are　Finn's　ffr；〃　she　murmured。　〃How　can　you　be　so　wise　and　trustworthy　and　belong　to　Aun？〃
　Storr's　eyes　closed　as　she　ran　fingers　through　his　thick　pelt。　My　lir　is　not　always　so　hasty　and　unwise。　You　have　confused　him。
　〃I！〃
　He　saw　you　and　wanted　you。　Then　he　found　you　were　Cheysuli；　and　his　rujholla。　He　has　had　no　one　but　Duncan　for　too　long。
　〃Well；　he　will　not　have　me。〃
　You　must　take　someone。。。　someday。
　〃I　will　not　have　a　beast　like　him！〃
　Storr　sighed。　Remember；　what　name　you　give　him　fits　you　also。　You　are　Cheysuli。　It　may　seem　strange　now；　but　you　will　be　happier　among　us　than　elsewhere。
　〃I　would　sooner　go　home。　Home　home；　not　this　Keep。〃
　Even　knowing　you　are　not　like　others？
　〃Aye；　And　I　am　no　different。〃
　But　you　are。　Knowing　yourself　different　makes　you　different。
　Think　of　the　qu'mahlm。　The　Mujhar's　decree　applies　also　toyou。
　〃I　am　his　granddaughter。〃
　And　Cheysuli。　You　do　not　know　Shaine。　But　know　this＋if　your　kinship　to　him　were　more　important　than　your　race；　you　would　be　in　Homana…Mujhar。
　She　knew　he　was　right。　But　she　could　not　say　it；　even　when　he
　nudged　her　hand　and　went　away。　
　〃I　am　sorry　for　my　rujholli。〃　Duncan　moved　softly　out　of　the
　shadows。　〃You　must　not　give　credence　to　his　words。　All　too　often　Finn　speaks　without　thought。〃
　Alix　looked　at　him　and　wished　herself　as　far　from　Duncan　and　his　brother　as　could　be。　But　since　the　wish　did　not　work；　she　answered　him。
　〃You　arc　nothing　alike。〃
　〃We　are。　You　have　not　seen　it　yet。〃
　〃You　cannot　make　me　believe　you　are　as　angry；　or　as　cruel。〃　She　sighed　in　surrender　and　picked　at　the　moss。　〃Or　else　you　do　not　show　it。〃
　Duncan　squatted　before　her；　hands　hanging　loosely　over　his　knees。　〃Finn　was　but　three　when　the　qu'mahlin　began。　He　has　little　memory　of　the　peace　in　our　clan＋or　in　the　land＋before　it。　He　knows　only　the　darkness　and　blood　and　pain　of　Shaine's　war。〃
　〃What　of　you？〃
　He　stared　at　the　moss　she　was　destroying　with　rigid；　nervous　fingers。　〃I　was　five；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Like　him；　I　awoke　in　the　middle　of　the　night　when　our　pavilion　fell　under　me　hooves　of　Homanan　horses。　It　was　set　on　fire　even　though　the　Mujhar's　men　saw　we　were　only　children；　and　too　small　to　do　much　harm。　They　did　not　care。〃　He　caught　her　hand　suddenly；　stilling　it　as　if　its　movements　disturbed　him。　His　eyes　were　pale　in　Ac　moonlight。　〃You　must　understand。　We　were　small；　but　such　things　remain　clear。〃
　〃What　do　you　say？〃　she　whispered；　sensing　his　need　to　have　her　prehension。
　〃That　you　should　understand　why　he　plagues　you。　He　is　bitter
　toward　Shaine；　and　Homanans　in　general。　Carillon　is　the　Mujhar*s
　heir。〃　He　paused。　〃And　you　want　him。。。　not　Finn。'*
　〃But　if　your　story　is　true；　Finn　is　my　brother！〃
　Duncan　sighed。　〃You　were　raised　apart。　Why　should　he　not　desire　a　woman；　even　after　he　has　teamed　she　is　bloodkin　to　him？〃
　Alix　stared　at　him；　hand　still　caught　in　his。　The　stubborn　conflict　she　felt　rise　at　Finn's　name　faded　beneath　a　new＋and　more　frightening＋prehension。　She　saw　before　her　a　solemn…faced　warrior　who　seemed　to　be　waiting　fix　something　from　her。
　For　a　moment　she　nearly　rose　and　fled；　unable　to　face　die　conflict。　But　she　restrained　the　instinct。　There　was　the　faintest　whisper　of　knowledge　within　her　soul；　die　realization　of　a　power　she　had　never　thought　she　might　have；　and　it　astonished　her。
　〃Duncan。。。〃　she　said　softly；　〃what　is　this　tahlmorra　you　say　I　should　feel？〃
　〃You　will　know　it。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃You　will　know　it。〃
　〃And　do　you　say。。。　do　you　say　every　Cheysuli　has　this　tahlmorra'！〃
　〃It　is　something　that　binds　us　all；　as　tightly　as　the　prophecy。　But　it　has　weakened　in　many　of　us　because　so　many　of　us　have　been　lost　and　forced　to　take　Homanan　women　to　get　children。〃　His　mouth　twisted　into　a　wry　smile。　〃I　am　not　proud　of　that。　But　it　must　be　done；　if　we　are　to　survive。　But　there　are　some　of　us　who　feel　tahlmorra　more　clearly　than　others。〃　He　brought　her　hand　up；　smoothing　his　thumb　over　the　back　of　her　palm。　〃Mine　has　told　me　what　will　e。　When　we　reach　the　Keep　I　will　seek　out　the　shar　tahl　and　have　him　show　me　the　prophecy　runes　to　be　certain。　But　I　know　it　already。〃
　Alix　withdrew　her　hand；　uneasy。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　me。〃
　〃it　is　never　wrong。　The　prophecy　was　given　to　us　by　me　Firstborn；　who　were　sired　by　the　old　gods。　It　unveils　itself　in　the　fairness　of　tone；　and　to　those　who　listen　and　understand。　I　am　one　of　those　who　follow　its　path；　Alix。　I　would　give　my　life　to　see　the　prophecy　fulfilled。〃　He　smiled　suddenly。　〃I　will　give　my　life　to　see　the　prophecy　fulfilled。　That　much　is　clear。〃
　〃You　know　your　own　death？〃　she　whispered。
　〃Only　that　I　will　die　as　I　am　meant；　serving　the　tahlmorra　of　the　prophecy。　The　Firstborn　have　said。〃
　Alix　looked　away　from　me　steadiness　of　his　gaze。　〃You　confuse　me。〃
　〃When　you　have　spoken　with　the　shar　tahl。　me　confusion　will　leave　you。　Be　sure　of　that。〃
　〃And　does　Finn　serve　this　same　tahlmorra
　Duncan　laughed。　〃Finn　follows　a　sort　of　tahlmorra。　I　think　he　makes　his　own。〃
　〃I　am　no　part　of　it；〃　she　told　him　severely。
　His　eyes　were　gentle。　〃Of　Finn's。。。　no。　The　threads　of　your　tahlmorra　are　entwined　with　those　of　another　man。〃
　〃Carillon？〃　she　asked　in　a　blaze　of　sudden　hope。
　He　did　not　answer。　She　understood　him　then。　Her　head　came　up　until　she　met　his　gaze　squarely。　Then　she　got　to　her　feet　and　shook　out　her　tattered　skirts。
　〃If　I　am　Cheysuli；　I　make　my　own　tahlmorra。　Like　Finn。〃
　She　looked　down　on　him。　〃You　cannot　force　me；　Duncan。〃
　〃I　would　not。〃　He　shook　his　head　and　rose；　looming　over　her　in　the　darkness。　〃There　is　BO　need。〃
　〃You　will　not　force　me！〃
　His　hand　touched　her　face　gently。　〃I　would　not；　small　one。
　Your　own　tahlmorra　will。〃
　Alix　stepped　away　from　him；　holding　his　eyes　with　her　own　and　denying　him　what　she　saw　in　his　face。　Then　her　resolution　wavered。
　She　turned　and　fled　into　the　shadows　of　the　camp。
　Chapter　Nine
　The　warning　came　as　the　warrior　band　rode　through　the　thick　forest；　making　their　own　track。　Cai　broke　through　the　mm　veil　of　tree　limbs　and　foliage　to　seek　out　Duncan。　Alix；　glancing　up　in　surprise；　saw　the　hawk　wing　down　and　light　upon　a　branch。
　They　e；　lir；　the　bird　said。　Mounted　men　in　the　Mujhar's　colors。　Half…a…league；　no　more。
　Duncan　pulled　his　horse　to　a　halt。　Alix；　seeking　to　remain　upright　on　the　animal；　caught　at　Duncan's　waist。　She　felt　the　tension　in　his　body　as　if　it　were　her　own。
　He　half…turned　in　the　saddle；　muttering　something　under　his　breath。　Then；　〃I　must　find　a　place　for　you。〃
　〃You　will　fight　them？〃
　〃They　will　give　us　no　choice；　Alix。　Why　do　you　think　they　e；　save　to　slay　us　all？〃
　Alix　opened　her　mouth　to　retort　but　suddenly　could　find　no　words。　Her　mind　was　ablaze　with　sound　so　intense　she　knew　it　was　not　something　she　beard　with　her　ears。　She　thought　her　head　would　burst　with　words；　and　it　was　only　grabbing　at　Duncan's　waist　that　kept　her　on　the　horse。　She　mumbled　something；　closing　her　eyes　against　me　weight　of　voices；　and　vaguely　heard　the　approach　of　a　horse。　Duncan　took　no　note　of　her　sudden　weakness。
　〃Well；　rujho。〃　Finn's　voice　said；　〃the　princeling　did　not　lie。
　He　has　given　us　little　time。〃
　Alix　forced　her　eyes　open　and　glared　at　him；　though　a　part　of　her　attention　was　still　claimed　by　me　multitude　of　voices。
　Do　they　not　hear　them？　she　wondered。
　Duncan　peached　around　and　caught　her　arm；　easing　her　down
　from　the　horse　until　she　had　to　scramble　to　stay　upright。　〃Take
　her；〃　he　told　Finn；
　Alix　forcibly　detached　her　mind　from　the　other　voices。　〃No！
　Not　with　him！〃
　〃See　to　her；　rujho；　Duncan　said　calmly。　〃I　will　not　have　her
　harmed。　These　men　will　see　only　a　shapechanger　woman；　and
　would　do　her　injury。　I　leave　her　to　you。'*
　Finn　grinned　down　at　her。　〃Do　you　see；　met　jha　The　clan…leader　passes　you　back　to　me。〃
　〃I　wilt　have　none　of　you；〃　she　said　with　effort；　trying　to　speak　beneath　the　weight　of　words　in　her　mind。　〃Do　you　hear？〃
　Duncan　said　something　to　her　but　Alix　heard　nothing；　she　saw　only　that　his　mouth　moved。　She　clapped　hands　over　her　ears　and　bowed　her　head；　trying　to　withstand　the　patterns　and　tones　in　her　mind。
　Finn's　hands　came　down　on　her　shoulders。　Dimly　she　saw　Duncan　lead　his　horse　away；　leaving　Finn　on　foot　with　her。　She　peered　at　him　uncertainly。
　〃You　have　been　given　into　my　keeping；〃　he　announced。　〃I　do　not　intend　to　let　you　out　of　it。〃
　〃Is　it　sorcery？〃　she　gasped。　〃Do　you　seek　to　take　my　mind　from　me？〃
　Finn　scowled　at　her。　〃You　do　not　make　sense；　meijha。　But　I　have　no　time　to　listen　to　you　now。。。　can　you　not　hear　them？〃
　〃I　hear　their　voices'〃　she　cried；　trembling。　Finn's　look　on　her　was　strange。　〃I　speak　of　their　horses；　mei　jha。　I　hear　no　voices。〃
　For　a　moment　she　pushed　away　the　soundless　words　and　listened　to　reality。　Through　me　forest　came　me　sounds　of　men　battering　their　way　through　delaying　brush。　Her　eyes　flew　to　Finn's。
　〃They　will　slay　you；〃　he　said　gently。
　The　weight　began　to　fall　from　her　mind。　Faintly　she　heard　echoes　of　the　tones　and　patterns；　but　she　did　not　feel　so　bound　by　diem。　Her　strength　was　spent。　She　nodded　wearily　at　Finn　and　did　not　protest　as　he　led　her　deeper　in