jr.shapechangers-第30章

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　Duncan　took　her　to　a　brown　pavilion　that　bore　a　gold…colored　fox
　on　its　sides。　He　pulled　me　doorflap　aside　and　gestured　her　to　go
　in；　Alix　did　so　without　meeting　his　eyes。　She　felt　horribly
　shamed　without　me　braid；　for　though　she　still　felt　more　Horoanan
　than　Cheysuli　Duncan's　disparagement　of　her　brought　the　impli…
　cations　of　her　braidless　state　home　with　real　impact。
　A　woman　stepped　from　behind　a　curtain　dividing　the　pavilion
　into　two　sections。　Her　black　hair　was　generously　threaded　with
　gray；　but　she　had　woven　silver　laces　into　multiple　braids　cunningly；
　fastening　diem　to　her　bead　with　an　intricate　silver　b。　Her
　dress　was　fine…spun　black　wool　threaded　with　scarlet　ribbons　at
　collar　and　cuffs；　and　a　delicate　chain　of　silver　bells　clasped　her
　waist。　She　was　no　longer　young；　but　she　was　a　handsome
　woman。　Her　face　reflected　her　Cheysuli　blood　with　its　high
　cheekbones；　narrow　nose　and　wide；　smooth　brow。　Her　yellow
　eyes　were　warm　as　she　looked　at　Alix。
　〃Raissa；　this　is　the　girt；〃　Duncan　said。　〃Alix。〃
　The　woman　smiled　at　Alix　and　men　looked　steadily　at　Duncan。
　〃Who　has　shorn　her　hair？〃
　His　jaw　tightened。　〃I　have。〃
　Her　brows　lifted。　〃But　it　is　for　Council　to　decide　if　she
　remains　solitary。〃
　Alix　heard　the　unspoken　reproach　and　stole　a　glance　at　Duncan；
　Xurprised　to　see　him　bow　his　head　in　acceptance。　Then　it　lifted
　again。
　〃She　had　made　the　decision　for　herself。。。　I　merely
　acquiesced。〃
　〃He　did　not　tell　me　he　would　cut　off　my　hair；〃　Alix　said
　bitterly。
　Raissa　moved　forward。　The　tiny　bells　chimed　and　winked　in
　the　folds　of　her　black　gown。　Her　slender　hand　touched　the
　ragged　curling　tendnis　at　Alix's　neck　and　jaw。
　〃I　am　sorry　he　acted　so　hastily。　He　should　have　explained　me
　custom　to　you。〃　Her　lips　twitched　with　a　half…hidden　smile。　〃I
　have　never　known　Duncan　to　act　without　reason；　so　be　must
　have　been　driven　to　it。〃
　〃He　did　it　out　of　jealousy。〃
　Raissa　withdrew　her　hand。　〃Duncan？　Why　do　you　say　so？〃
　Alix　slewed　her　eyes　sideways　to　look　at　him。　〃He　told　me　be
　would　ask　for　me　in　Council。。。　as　his　cheysula。　Then＋finding
　his　former　consort　had　conceived　and　was　free　again＋he　refused
　me　honorable　marriage　and　offered　only　to　have　me　as　his　light
　woman。〃　She　looked　back　at　Raissa。　〃Of　course　I　refused。〃
　The　woman　was　solemn。　〃Among　us　a　mei　jha　has　honor；
　Alix。　Here　she　is　not　treated　like　filth；　as　are　the　whores　of
　Mujhara。　We　are　too　few；　now；　to　place　so　much　value　on　a
　woman's　married　or　unmarried　status。　Mei　jha　is　not　a　dishonor…
　able　position。〃
　Alix's　stubborn　chin　came　up。　〃I　have　much　left　to　learn　of
　Cheysuli　customs；　but　this　will　take　me　most　trouble；　I　think。〃
　She　swallowed　and　set　her　jaw。　〃I　will　not　accept　a　lesser
　position　with　any　man。〃
　The　older　woman　smiled。　〃Ah。。。　it　is　everything　or　nothing；
　with　you。　Well；　perhaps　you　are　not　so　wrong。　Once　I　said　me
　same　to　my　cheysul。〃　She　glanced　at　Duncan。　〃AH　of　this　will
　be　settled　in　Council。　Until　her　birth　lines　are　studied　and　she　is
　formally　accepted；　I　will　keep　her　by　me　and　teach　her　what　she
　must　know。　My　thanks；　Duncan；　for　bringing　a　lost　one　back　to
　us。〃
　He　said　nothing；　merely　inclined　his　head　and　left　me　pavilion
　without　looking　at　Alix。　She　stood　there；　bereft；　hating　Finn　all
　the　more　for　beginning　it　all　with　his　abduction　of　her。
　Raissa　guided　Alix　to　a　gray　pelt　and　gestured　for　her　to　sit。
　Alix　did　so；　staring　at　her　hands　as　they　twisted　themselves　into　the
　fabric　of　her　gown。　Raissa　arranged　her　own　skirts　and　sat　down
　before　her。
　〃Duncan　would　not　offer　unfairiy；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃I　know
　the　man。。。　he　is　not　one　to　trouble　a　gyri　that　way。〃
　〃He　did　not　know　about　Mahna　until　we　arrived；〃　Alix
　admitted。　〃But　Ron　wasted　no　time　in　making　certain　his　brother
　learned　of　it　quickly　enough。〃
　〃Him　has　ever　been　jealous　of　Duncan；〃　Raissa　said。
　〃Why？〃
　She　spread　her　hands　eloquently。　〃An　elder　son　is　ever　fa…
　vored　by　a　jehan。　k　grates　particularly　hard　when　your　own
　blood　father　favors　a　foster　son。　Hale　treated　them　equally；　but
　Duncan　matured　quickly。　He　felt　me　weight　of　the　qu'mahlin
　mare。　And　it　has　cost　him；　though　Finn　does　not　fully　under…
　stand　that。〃　Raissa's　eyes　were　expressive。　〃And　now；　Alix；
　you　have　given　Finn　reason　for　jealousy　again。〃
　…I　have？〃
　Raissa　looked　at　her　solemnly。　〃Would　you　have　Finn　as　your
　cheysul
　〃No。　Never。〃
　〃You　see？　You　will　have　Duncan；　or　none。　It　cannot　be　easy
　for　Finn　to　know　once　again　his　ruifwili　takes　precedence。〃　She
　smiled。　〃Wanting　Duncan；　you　could　not　want　Finn。　I　know
　mat。　'nicy　are　too　dissimilar。　But　Finn　is　not　so　bad　as　he　seems；
　Alix。。。　he　might　make　a　fine　cheysul。〃
　〃Finn　stole　me。　He　would　have　forced　me；　had　Storr　not　kept
　him　from　it。　How　can　you　say　he　would　be　a　good　husband？〃
　Raissa　smiled。　〃There　is　much　of　men　you　do　not　understand。
　But　you　must　team　that　for　yourself；　it　is　not　my　place　to　teach
　you　such　things。〃
　Alix　recalled　the　determination　in　Finn's　face　when　he　said　be
　would　have　her。　And　now　she　was　no　longer　promised　to　Duncan。
　〃Raissa！〃　she　said；　suddenly　frightened。　〃They　would　not
　force　me　to　take　Finn；　would　they？〃
　Raissa　glanced　down　at　her　skirts；　settling　the　tiny　bells　into
　perfect　symmetry。　〃This　will　be　hard　for　you；　I　know。　Particu…
　larly　since　you　were　raised　Homanan　and　feel　no　loyalty　for　your
　true　race。〃　The　yellow　eyes　came　up。　〃We　arc　too　few。　now。
　The　clans　have　been　destroyed；　save　for　us；　and　even　now
　Shame　works　to　slay　what　remains　of　us。　We　need　children。　Ч。
　we　need　women　who　will　bear　them。〃　Light　flashed　off　the
　silver　in　her　hair。　〃You　are　Cheysuli；　Anx。　You　must　take　your
　place　in　the　future　of　the　clan。。。　in　its　tahinwrra。　You　must
　bear　children　for　us。　If　you　will　not　have　Duncan；　or　even　Finn；
　men　it　will　have　to　be　another　warrior。〃
　〃You　would　force　met〃
　Raissa　reached　out　and　grabbed　her　hands；　holding　diem　even
　Xs　Alix　sought　to　withdraw。　〃No　woman　wishes　to　be　used　as
　breeding　stock；　Alixl　Children　are　a　gift　of　me　gods。。。　not
　coin　with　which　to　barter！　But　we　have　too　few。。。　we　are
　dying。　You　will　not　be　forced　to　lay　with　a　man　you　cannot
　abide；　but　die　censure　of　the　clan　is　no　light　burden　to　bear。〃
　〃Then　I　will　go　back；〃　Alix　said　flatly。　〃I　will　go　back　to　the
　croft。〃
　Raissa　squeezed　her　hands。　〃No。　You　must　stay。　By　the　gods；
　Alix；　you　are　Hale's　daughter！　We　need　his　blood。〃
　〃Through　Finn？〃　Alix　disengaged　her　hands。　〃He　is　my
　half…brother。〃
　〃Aye；　but　you　were　raised　apart。　Hale's　blood　must　e
　back　into　the　clan。〃
　〃Then　tell　Finn　to　get　himself　children！〃　she　said　angrily。
　〃He　would　do　so　willingly　enough。。。　were　you　his　cheysula。
　Or　meijha；〃　Raissa　said　steadily。
　〃What　if　I　have　already　conceived？〃　Alix　asked　in　desperation。
　Raissa's　eyes　sharpened。　〃Already　conceived。。。　you　have
　tern　with　Duncan？'*
　Alix　nodded　silently；　suddenly　apprehensive。　〃Was　it　wrong？〃
　she　whispered。　〃Is　it　wrong　to　lay　with　a　clan…leader　while　he
　rules？〃
　The　older　woman　smiled。　**A　clan…leader　does　not　rule。。。
　we　have　no　kings；　Alix。　And　no；　it　was　not　wrong。　Do　you　think
　Duncan　keeps　himself　chaste？　It　would　be　a　burden　no　man
　should　carry。〃
　Alix　looked　away；　embarrassed。　〃Then　what　wifl　happen？*'
　Raissa　sighed。　〃Well；　it　would　change　things。　The　Council
　might　be　willing　to　let　you　remain　solitary。。。　they　would
　respect　your　shorn　hair；　regardless　of　me　reasons　for　it　You
　would　have　the　freedom　you　desire　if　you　refuse　to　take　a
　cheysul。　and　have　already　conceived。　But　that　is　still　a　Council
　decision。〃
　〃I　should　never　have　e；*'　Alix　said。　〃I　should　never　have
　allowed　Duncan　to　take　me　out　of　Mujhara。〃
　〃　〃This　is　your　home。〃
　〃1　should　have　let　Carillon　take　me　back　to　the　croft。〃
　〃It　will　not　be　so　harsh＋I　promise＋when　you　are　accustomed。
　Alix；　we　are　your　people。〃
　Alix　looked　at　the　woman　and　saw　me　innate　strength　and
　pride　reflected　in　her　Cheysuli　face。　She　put　a　hand　to　her　own；
　tracing　the　identical　high　cheekbones。　Her