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Finn slid a bright glance at Alix。 〃Will you beg me for his
life； meijha
〃I will not；〃 she said clearly。 〃But if you slay him here； I myself will see to yow death。〃
His eyebrows shot up in mock astonishment。 Then he grinned into Carillon's still face。 〃Well； princeling； you have women to argue for you。 Perhaps I should respect that。〃 He shrugged and stepped away； returning the knife to his belt。 〃But she is Cheysuli； and my rujholla； and I will not risk it。〃
Duncan bent and picked up the scarlet reins Carillon had dropped。 He held them out。 Silently the prince slid his sword home in its silver…laced leather sheath and took them。
〃Finn will escort you to Mujhara。〃
Carillon looked only at Alix。 〃I will e back for you。〃
〃Carillon。。。〃
〃I will e back for you。〃
Alix nodded and hugged herself； hunching her shoulders
defensively。 She knew he could not win her freedom without
sacrificing himself； which would give her no freedom at all… The
Cheysuli had disarmed both of them…
Carillon turned away from her and mounted the big chestnut。
From the horse's great height he looked down on them all。
〃You are foolish；〃 he said stiffly； 〃to free me without requiring gold。〃
Fmn laughed。 〃You seek to instruct us at the risk of your own welfare？〃
〃It is only that I do not understand。〃
Duncan smiled。 〃The Cheysuli do not require gold； my lord；
save to fashion the fir…tokens and the ornaments our women
wear。 We desire only to end this war the Mujhar wages against
us； and the chance to live as we once did。 Freely； without
fearing our children will be slain because of their yellow eyes；〃
〃If you had not sought to throw down Homanan rule〃
Duncan interrupted sharply。 〃We did not。 We have ever served the blood of me Mujhars。 Hale； in taking Lindir from her rehem； freed her of a marriage she did not desire。 In doing that he performed the service to which he bound himself he served the Mujhar's blood。〃 He smiled slightly。 〃It was not what Shaine expected of his service； perhaps； for Hale was his man。 It was only he wanted Lindir more。〃
〃Your jehana was a willful woman；〃 Finn said to Alix； deliberately distinct as if to hammer the point home。 〃Do you echo her？〃
She brought her head up haughtily； defying him。 〃Were / within Homana…Mujhar； I would not leave it to go into the forests with a Cheysuli warrior。 Do not judge me by my mother。〃
Finn grinned； triumphant。 〃If I have at last got you to admit to your blood； meijha。 I will judge you by anything。〃
Before she could retort he famed and faded into the trees。 Alix glared after him。 men scowled as he returned a moment later on his dun…colored horse。
Duncan moved to Carillon's horse； looking up at me prince。 〃I would send greetings to Shaine the Mujhar； did I think he would accept them。 We do not desire this war。〃
Carillon smiled mirthlessly。 〃I think the Mujhar has made his desires clear； shapechanger。〃
Duncan put a hand on the warhorses burnished shoulder idly。 〃If you seek to continue the qu'mahlin； my lord； you are not the man I believe you arc。 The prophecy has said。〃 He smiled and stepped away； using the spread…fingered gesture。 〃Tahlmorra。 Carillon。〃
〃I renounce your prophecy；〃 the prince said flatly。
The clan…leader reached out and caught Alix's arm。 drawing her close。 〃If you do that； my lord； you renounce her。〃
Alix shivered once under his hand。 〃Let me go with Carillon。〃
〃No。〃
Finn moved his horse alongside the chestnut and smiled sardonically at the prince。 〃Waste no more time。 I would not wish the Mujhar angrier than he must be。 e； princeling。 We ride。〃
He brought his hand down on the chestnut's wide rump and sent him lunging forward。 Finn crowded his mount behind so that Carillon could not wheel back； and the last Alix saw of the prince was his tawny…dark head ducking a low branch。
She made an involuntary movement to follow and again Duncan's hand held her back。 After a moment he released her。
〃It is not so bad；〃 he said quietly。 〃You have much to leam； but it will e quickly enough when you have accepted your blood。〃
Alix drew a shaky breath and stared hard at him。 〃I will not claim you a liar； shapechanger； but neither will I submit to your rule。 If I accept this as your tahlmorra； I do it on my own terms。〃
A tall warrior smiled at her。 〃A Cheysuli could do it no other way。〃
Alix scowled at him。 Mutinously； she followed him through the trees to his waiting horse。
Chapter Seven
Alix was so weary by me time the evening fell she let Duncan lead her to his fire and push her down onto a thick tawny pelt without saying a word。 A crofter's daughter spent little time on horseback； her muscles ached and her legs had raw sores rubbed on them。 She huddled on the pelt numbly and pulled her tattered skirts around her bare feet as best she could。 When Duncan put a bowl of hot stew into her hands she thanked him shakily and began to spoon it into her mouth…He sat down on another pelt across from her and picked up the bow Carillon had praised。 Silently he began to rub it with an oiled cloth； eyes on his work。
Alix sipped at the cup of honey brew he had given her； nearly choking on its vitriolic taste。 She kept her reaction from him by covering her mouth with a hand； trying not to gasp aloud。 She did not wish him to see her disability； or her weariness。
He seemed oblivious to her as she scraped up the last of the stew and set the bowl aside； rattling the wooden spoon。 She felt better for a fill！ stomach； but it also made her more alert to the dangers she faced… She could no longer take refuge in the haze of exhaustion and helplessness that had dogged her during the long ride。 Now she could look across me small campsite and see the dark warriors so intent on taking her away from her people。
Alix was still apprehensive； but most of the overpowering
fright had left her。 Duncan had treated her with calm kindness all
day； and with Finn gone she sensed no threat to her person or her equilibrium。 She had the chance to consider her plight from a more sensible angle。
〃Will you answer my questions； shapechanger？〃
Duncan did not look up。 〃I have told you my name。 Use it if you would speak with me。〃
Alix studied his bowed head； marking how the black hair fell forward into his face as he worked。 The gold earring winked through thick strands。 Then she glanced at the hawk who sat so silently in the nearest tree。
〃How does one get himself a /ir？〃
The bow gleamed in his supple hands。 〃When a Cheysuli bees a man he must go into the forests or mountains and seek his；ir。 It is a matter of time； perhaps even weeks。 He lives apart； opening himself to the gods； and there the animal who will bee his lir seeks him out。〃
〃Do you say the animal does the choosing？〃
〃It is tahlmorra。 Every Cheysuli is bom to a lir； and a lir to him。 It is only a matter of finding one another。〃
〃Yet not all animals are lir； Finn said。〃
〃No。 Just as all men are not Cheysuli。〃
Unwillingly she smiled at his wry tone； though he did not look at her。 〃What happens if the lir is not found？〃
His hands stopped their work as his eyes came up to meet hers。 〃A Cheysuli with no lir is only half a man。 We are born with it in our souls。 If it lacks； we arejiot whole。〃
〃Not whole。。。〃
〃It is a thing you cannot prehend； but a man who is not whole has no purpose。 He cannot serve the prophecy。〃
Alix frowned at him thoughtfully。 〃If you are not whole。。。 what happens to you ifCai is slam？〃
Duncan's hands tensed on the bow。 First he looked at the hawk perching in the tree； then he set the bow aside and gave her his full attention。 He leaned forward intently and Alix felt the full power of his strength。
〃You do not ask out of mere curiosity。 If you seek to escape by slaying my lir you will be Cheysuli…cursed。 It is not a simple thing to live with。〃 A flicker passed across his face； 〃But you would not live long enough to truly suffer。〃
Alix recoiled from the deadly promise in his voice。 She shook her head in speechless denial。
〃I will tell you； regardless of your intent；〃 he said quietly；
〃so you will know。 I put my life in your hands。〃 He watched
her closely； Judgmental。 〃If a man seeks to slay a Cheysuli； he
need only slay his fir。 Does he imprison that lir； he imprisons a
CheysuU。 He is powerless； without recourse to the gifts the gods have given us。〃 He relaxed minutely。 〃And now you know the price of the A'r…bond。〃
〃How can it be so consuming？〃 she demanded。 〃You are a man； Cai a bird。 How is it you keep this bond？〃
Duncan shrugged as he smoothed the leather of his snug leggings。 〃I cannot say clearly。 It is a gift of the old gods。 It has been so for centuries； and will doubtless continue。〃 He grimaced。 〃Unless the Mujhar slays us all。 Then Homana will lose her ancestors。〃
〃Ancestors！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You would have me believe you made this land what it is； if you speak so。〃
Duncan smiled oddly。 〃Perhaps。〃
Alix scowled at him。 〃I do not believe you。〃
〃Believe what you wish。 If you ask； the lir will tell you。〃
Her eyes went to the hawk。 But she refused to hear it from the
bird。 She preferred to draw Duncan out。 〃And if you are slain；
what bees of the Ur
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