jr.shapechangers-第5章
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〃You may try； princeling； but I do not think you will acplish it。 We are meant for something other than death at one another's hands； we two。〃
〃What do you say？〃 Alix demanded。
He glanced at her。 〃You do not know the prophecy of the Firstborn； meijha。 When you have learned it； you wilt have your answers。〃 He rose in a fluid motion that put her in mind of a supple mountain cat。 〃And it will give you more questions。〃
〃What prophecy？〃 she asked。
〃The one which gives the Cheysuli purpose。〃 He stretched out his right hand in a palm…up； spread…fingered gesture。 ' 'You will understand what this is another time。 For now； I must see my rujholli。 You may sleep here or within my tent； it is all one to me。 Storr will keep himself by you while I am gone。〃
He turned and walked away silently； fading into the shadows。 lost to sight instantly。 Alix shivered as the wolf rose and came to the blue blanket。 He lay down near them； watching them with an odd equanimity in his amber eyes。
Alix recalled Finn's odd words earlier； his strange reaction to the gentle tone she had heard in her mind。 Carefully； apprehensively； she formed her own。
Wolf？ she asked。 Do you speak？
Nothing echoed in her head。 The wolf； called lir。 did not seem so fierce now as he rested his jaws on his paws； pink tongue lolling idly。 But the intelligence in his feral eyes。 so unlike a man's； could not be ignored。
Lir？ she questioned。
/ am called Stwr； he said briefly。
Alix jerked and recoiled on the blanket； fighting down nausea。
She stared at the animal； horrified； but he had not moved。
Something like a smile gleamed in his eyes。
Do not be afraid of me。 There is no need。 Not/or you。
〃By the gods。。。〃 she whispered。
Carillon looked at her。 〃Alix？〃
She could not take her eyes from the wolf to look at Carillon。 A shiver of fear ran through her as she considered the madness of her discovery。 It was not possible。
〃Alix；〃 he said again。
Finally she looked at Kirn。 His face was pale； puzzled； fatigue dulled his blue eyes。 But even were he alert and well； she could not tell him she heard the wolf speak。 He would never believe her； and she was not certain she did。
〃I am only confused；〃 she said softly； mostly to herself。
〃Confused。〃
He shifted the arm into a more fortable position； running a tentative finger over the puffy teeth marks left by the wolf。 But even she could see it had the look of healing to it。
〃You must leave；〃 he said。
She stared at him。 〃You still wish me to go； even after what the shapechanger said？〃
Carillon stalled。 〃He sought only to frighten you。〃
〃The wolf。。。〃
〃The shapechanger will not leave him with us forever。 When you have the chance； you must go。〃
She watched Carillon ease himself down on the blue blanket； stretching out long legs booted to the thighs and wrapping the green cloak over his arm。
〃Carillon。。。〃
〃Aye； Alix？〃 he asked on a weary sigh。
She bit at her lip； ashamed of her hesitation。 〃I will go… When I have the chance。〃
He smiled faintly and fell into an exhausted slumber。 Alix looked at him sadly。
What is it about an ill or injured man that turns a woman into an acquiescent fool？ she wondered。 Why is it I am suddenly willing to do anything for him？ She sighed and picked at me wrinkles in her gown。 But he would go himself； were he well enough； so I will do as he asks。
She looked curiously at the wolf； wondering if he could hear her thoughts。 But me animal only watched her idly； as if he had nothing better to do。
Perhaps he does not； she decided and drew up her knees to stare sightlessly into the flames。
Chapter Three
The fire had died to glowing coals when she felt an odd touch in
her mind； almost like a probing； … was feather…light and very
gentle； but terrifying。 Alix jerked her head off her knees and
stared around wide…eyed； afraid it was some form of Cheysuli
torture。 …
Nothing was there。 The camp was oddly empty； for； like Finn；
each warrior had gone to a single slate…colored tent at the far end of the small encampment。
Alix looked at the wolf and found his amber eyes fastened on her。 〃No；〃 she whispered。
The faint touch faded from her mind。 Alix put a trembling hand to her ear。 〃You cannot speak to me。 I cannot hear you。〃
You hear； said the warm tone。
〃What do you do to me？〃 she demanded violently； struggling to keep her voice down so as not to waken Carillon。
/ seek； he answered。
She closed her eyes but was still intensely aware of his gaze。
〃I am gone mad；〃 she whispered。
No； said the tone。 You are only weary； and frightened； and very much alone。 But there is no need。
〃You said you sought something； wolf。〃 Alix took a trembling breath； giving in to her madness for the moment。 〃What do you seek in me？〃
Storr lifted his head from his paws。 / cannot say。
His clear gaze made her uneasy。 Carillon slept soundly； lines of pain washed from his face； and she wished he could give her the words she needed to banish this strangeness from her mind…She wished also she could lose herself in such soothing sleep； but every fiber in her body was stretched taut with apprehension and a longing to run away。
Wolf？ she asked silently。
He said nothing。 After a moment he rose and shook himself； rippling his silver coat。 He sent her an oddly intent glance； then padded away into the darkness； as deliberate as any dog among his people。
Alix stared after him。 A quick glance told her no one was near； she saw no other animals。 She looked longingly at Carillon unmoving form a moment； wanting to smooth the hair from his hot brow； but she kept herself from it。 Such intimacy； if it ever occurred； would have to begin with him。 She was too far from his rank to initiate anything。
She released a rushing breath； trying to control the raggedness
of it； and got to her feet。 She shook her skirts free of folds。
curling her bare toes away from the cool ground。 Her feet were
cold； bruised； but she could waste no time regretting her lost
slippers。
Silently Alix slipped into the darkness of the encampment。 She was no shadow…wraith like the Cheysuli； but she was forest…raised and could move with little noise。 Carefully she eased past the last tent and entered the clustered trees。
Needles and twigs snapped beneath her feet； digging painfully
into her flesh。 Alix bit her lip against the sharp； nagging pain and went on； ignoring the fear in her soul； A shiver coursed down her body as she moved through the silent forest。 She longed for the warmth and safety of her father's croft and the hot spiced cider he brewed。
It is for Carillon； she whispered silently。 For him。 Because a prince has asked me。 Irrationally she nearly laughed aloud。 But he does not have to be a prince to bid me serve him。 I would do it willingly。
She grasped a tree and felt the rough bark bite into her palms as she dug fingernails into it。 Her forehead rested against the tree as she smiled； inwardly laughing at her conflicting emotions。 Fear was still the primary element in her soul； but so was her wish to do as Carillon asked。 She was fair caught in the trap mat bound so many women。
A twig snapped。 Alix jerked her head up and stared into the trees； suddenly so badly frightened she lost all track of other emotions。 Her fingers clutched spasmodically at the bark and she sucked in a ragged breath。
The wolf stood in the shadows； little more than a faint outline against the darkness beyond。 For a moment she felt fear slip away； for somehow Storr did not threaten her； men she realized it was not Storr。 This one was larger； ruddy instead of silver。 Its yellow eyes held a gleam of invitation。
The fear came back。 Alix pressed her body against the tree； seeking its protection。 A broken bough〃 jabbed into her thigh but she ignored it； wishing only she could somehow scale the tree into branches far above the ground。
The wolf moved slowly forward into a small clearing。 Moon…light set its rich red pelt to glowing； pinpointing yellow eyes into an eerie intelligence。 Teeth gleamed； and Alix saw its taunting smile。
The wolf began to change。
Cold； primitive fear crawled through her mind。 The form before her eyes altered； subtly blurring
