jr.shapechangers-第7章
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〃Nothing；〃 he told her bluntly。 〃It has to do with me； and why you are here。 What I said before is true。 The qu'mahlin has slain most of the warriors and many of the women。 As a race we are nearly destroyed； because of Shaine。 And now the daughter of the Mujhar's former arms…master who witnessed the very beginnings of the qu'mahlin is in my hands。〃 He smiled slowly； gesturing。 She saw again the spread fingers and lifting palm。 〃It is tahlmorra； perhaps。〃
〃What do you say？〃
〃Fate。 Destiny。 It is a Cheysuli word meaning what is meant will happen； and cannot be gainsaid； for it is in the hands of the gods。〃 Finn smiled ironically at her。 〃It has to do with the prophecy。〃
〃Prophecy；〃 she muttered in disgust； weary of his attitude and hinted…at knowledge。 She looked at the patient wolf。 〃What has Storr to do with me？〃
Finn scowled。 〃I cannot say； but it is something 1 would learn。 Now。〃 He fixed her with a baleful glare。 〃Why does he keep me from you？〃
She glared back。 〃That / cannot say； snapechanger； save to pliment his actions。〃
He startled her by laughing。 Then he got to his feet and reached for her； pulling her up。 She stood stiffly； wary of him； ignoring the provocative appraising look in his eyes。
Storr yawned。 / think she is not as frightened of you as she would have you believe； Ur。
Finn smiled at the wolf； then looked back at her。 His dark brows rose。 〃Are you so brave； mei jhaf Do you dissemble before me？〃
Alix slanted a reproving glance at the wolf。 〃He knows me not at all； snapechanger。 Do not listen to him。〃
〃To my own Ur He laughed。 〃If I forsake Storr； I forsake my soul。 You will learn that； soon enough。〃
Storr shook himself and padded into the clearing。 Enough； lir；
you do not understand the girl。 And she does not understand what is in her blood。
〃My blood？〃 Alix asked； shaken。
Finn's eyes narrowed as the equanimity left his face。 He turned slowly to her； reaching to close a wide hand on her jaw。 〃What do you say？〃
She swallowed； suddenly frightened again。 She fought back a shudder at his touch。 〃The wolf。 He said something of my blood。 What does he say？〃
The hand tightened until she winced。 〃My wolf？〃 he hissed。
〃You heard him？〃
She closed her eyes。 〃Aye。〃
Finn released her。 Alix opened her eyes and found him staring at her speculatively。 The gold in his ear glinted as he shoved hair back from his face。 Slowly he smiled。
〃Then the story is true。〃
〃Story？〃
He folded his arms over his chest and grinned at her。 〃Your crofter father did not tell your mother all he knew； or else you did not hear it。〃
〃What do you say？〃
Finn flicked a glance at Storr。 〃Do I have the right of it； for？〃
Can you not see it for yourself？
The warrior laughed to himself and turned back to her。 Play…fully he caught her braid in one hand and threaded blunt fingers into the loosened plait。
〃You hear Storr； meijha； because you are only half Homanan。
The other half is Cheysuli。〃
〃No！〃
He frowned。 〃But even for all that； it is strange。 The women do not take lir； nor do they converse with them。 Yet it only serves to make me certain who you are。〃
Alix felt a renewal of fear。 〃I have said who I am。 You speak lies to me。〃
He tugged on her braid。 〃You have much to learn； mei jha。 You have grown up apart from your clan。 You are sadly lacking in the wisdom and customs of the Cheysuli。〃
〃I am Homanan V
〃Then say to me how it is you can hear my lir when no other can； save myself。〃
She opened her mouth to reply angrily but no sound came out。 After a moment she jerked her braid free of him and turned away； hugging herself for warmth and security。 She stiffened as his hands came down on her shoulders。
〃Mei jha；〃 he said softly； 〃it is not so bad a fate。 We are children of the Firstborn； who were sired by the old gods。 The Homanans are nothing when you understand the heritage we claim。〃
〃I am not a shapechanger！〃
Fingers dug into her shoulders。 〃You are Cheysuli。 Cheysuli。
Else Storr would not offer you his protection。〃
〃You accept the word of a wolf？〃 Abruptly Alix clapped hands over her mouth and spun； staring at him。 〃What do I say？ What do I hear from my own tongue？〃 She swallowed heavily。 〃He is a wolf。 A beast And you are demon…sent to make me believe otherwise！〃
〃I am not a demon；〃 Finn said； affronted。 〃Nor is Storr。 I have said what I am； and what he is； and by all the old gods what you are。 Now； e with me。〃
She wrenched away from his reaching hand。 〃Do not touch me！〃
Finn glared at her。 〃Your blood has saved you from my attentions； meijha； for a time。 Do not seek to anger me。 or I may renew them。〃
Alix stiffened as he took her arm and led her through the trees。 He brought her to a slate…colored tent set in a tumbled circle of stone。 The fire cairn still burned next to a blood…red rug； and she dragged her eyes from it in time to e face…to…face with a hawk perching on a staff before the tent。 She stumbled back； gasping。
The bird was large； even with wings folded。 He was a myriad of rich browns and golds； with dark eyes that watched her； half…lidded。 His deadly； curving beak shone in the muted firelight； and she felt a whisper of awe and appreciation in her mind。
A man who has such a lir is powerful indeed。。。
〃Cai；〃 Finn said quietly。 〃This is my brother's pavilion。 He is clan…leader； and needs to be told who you are。〃
Wearily Alix rubbed a grimy hand across her brow。 〃And what will you tell him； shapechanger？〃
〃That Hate's daughter has e back to us。〃
She felt the strength pour out of her limbs。 〃Hate's。。。〃
His eyes were bright and mocking。 〃What do you think I told you of Lindir and the Cheysuli she wanted？ You are their daughter。〃
Alix felt very cold。 She hugged herself against his words。
〃No。〃
〃You have only to ask my fir。〃
〃A wolf！〃
〃The lir are kin to The old gods； mei jha。 They know many things we do not。〃
〃No。〃
He sighed。 〃Wait here； rujholia。 I wilt speak to Duncan first。〃
Anger spurred her out of her immobility。 〃What do you call me now； shapechanger？〃
〃Rujholia？〃 His smile faded into regret。 〃It is Cheysuli the Old Tongue for sister。〃 He sighed… 〃Hale was my father； also。〃
Chapter Four
When Finn at last pulled the pavilion doorflap aside and motioned her inside； Ahs went numbly； without protest。 She had considered； briefly； running again； but his words had dulled her senses。 She was incapable of making a decision。 She answered his beckoning hand。
First she saw only the torch in the er； squinting against its acrid smoke。 Then Alix's eyes fell on the seated man who held a pact bow in his hands。 Transfixed； she stared at his hands；
firm and brown； long…fingered and supple。 Slowly he smoothed fine oil into the dark wood； rubbing it to a gleaming patina of age and richness。 As she stared he put aside the bow and waited。
He was much like Finn； she saw。 recognizing characteristic features of the Cheysuli race。 But there was something more in the bones of his face。 Promised strength； calm intelligence and the same inherent mand she saw maturing in Carillon。
He rose smoothly to his feet and she saw he was taller than Finn； long…boned and less heavy。 His face was wide…browed with a narrow nose。 with the same high cheekbones and smooth planes as Finn's… Like his brother he wore a sleeveless jerkin and leather leggings； but his gold armbands bore the sweeping image of a magnificent hawk； lined with odd runes。 At his left ear hung a golden hawk with wings outspread。
AUx straightened under his calm perusal； lifting her chin as she tried to regain some of her vanished posure。 He put out a hand and turned her head so the torchlight fell on her cheek。
〃What has happened to your face？〃
His voice was untroubled； smooth and low。 Alix was taken aback by his question。 〃A tree limb； shapechanger。〃
Something glinted in his eyes as she used a purposely rude tone。 For a moment she was very afraid。
This man is more subtle than Finn； she thought apprehensively； and far less predictable。
He released her chin。 〃How did a tree limb e to desire the taste of your skin？〃
She slid a look at Finn； who remained exceedingly silent。 But the other man saw the exchange and l
