按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃The Captive〃
Chapter One
She sat by the creek； half…hidden in lush grasses。 Carefully she twined purple summer flowers into her single dark brown braid； and dabbled bare feet in the rushing water。 Stems and crushed blooms littered the coarse yellow gown she wore and damp earth stained the garment； but she paid it no mind。 She was purpose…fully intent on her work； for if she allowed her thoughts to range freely she would be overtaken by the knowledge and the hope that he still might e。
A songbird called from the forest behind and she glanced up； smiling at the delicate melody。 Then her attention was caught by an approaching rider； and she let fall the flowered braid from limp fingers。
Sunlight glittered off the gold of his mount's trappings and painted the chestnut warhorse bright red。 She heard the jingle of bit and bridle and the heavy snort of the big stallion。 His rider； who had yet to see her； rode unconcernedly through the meadowlands。
She drew her knees up and clasped her arms around them； resting her chin on their tops。 She felt the familiar leap of excitement； anticipation and wonder within her breast； and quickly tried to dismiss it。 If she allowed him to see it she would be no different from anyone else to him； and therefore of no account。
And I want to be of account to him； she thought intently。
His tawny…dark head was bent as he rode blue eyes on the shedding of his gloves。 He wore black hunting leathers； she saw； and had thrown a thin green woolen mantle back from broad shoulders。 A flash of green and gold glittering at his left shoulder caught her eye： the emerald cloak…brooch he favored。 At his heavy belt was hung a massive two…handed broadsword。
The warriors splashed into the creek； splattering her liberally。 She grinned in devious anticipation and straightened in the deep grass； wiping water from her sun…browned skin。
〃I did not think you would e；〃 she said； pitching her voice to carry over the noisy horse。
The animal reacted to her unexpected appearance with alacrity。
He plunged sideways； halfway out of die creek； men unceremonious
Lousy slid down the muddy bank into the water again。 His rider；
equally startled； reined the animal in with a curse and shot a glare over his shoulder。 When he saw her his face cleared。
〃Alix！ Do you seek to unseat me？〃
She grinned at him and shook her head as he tried to settle the horse… The creek bottom offered treacherous footing to any beast； and me warhorse had yet to find a fortable spot； Finally his rider cursed again in exasperation and spurred him through the water onto the bank； where he stared down at her from the chestnut's great height。
〃So； you wish to see Homana's prince take an unexpected bath；〃 he said menacingly； but she saw the amusement in his eyes。
〃No； my lord；〃 she responded promptly； very solemn and
proper。 Then she grinned again…
He sighed and dismissed the topic with an idle wave of his hand。 A ruby signet ring flashed on the forefinger of his right hand； reminding her of his rank and the enormity of his presence before her。
By the gods； she whispered within her mind； he is prince of this land and es to see me！
The prince stared down at her quizzically； one tawny eyebrow rose。 〃What have you been doing harvesting all the flowers？ You are fair covered with them。〃
Hurriedly she brushed her skirts free of clinging stems and blossoms and began to pick them from her braid。 Before she could strip them away entirely he swung down from the horse and caught her hands； kneeling。
〃I did not say you presented an unattractive sight； Alix。〃 He grinned… 〃More like a wood nymph； I would say。〃
She tried to draw her hands from his large weapon…callused ones。 〃My lord。。。〃
〃Carillon；〃 he said firmly。 〃There are no titles between us。
Before you I am as any other man。〃
But you are not。。。 she thought dimly； forcing a smile even as she let her hands stay trapped。 After a moment he released one and lifted her to her feet。 He led her along the creek； purposely matching his steps to hers。 She was tall for a woman； but he was taller still than most men and twice as broad； for all his eighteen years。 Carillon of Homana； even did he ever put on the garments of a mon crofter； was a prince to the bone。
〃Why did you think I would not e？〃 he asked。 〃I have ever done it before； when I said I would。〃
Alix watched her bare toes as she walked； not wishing to meet his steady blue eyes。 But she was honest before all else； and gave him a blunt answer。
〃I am only a crofter's daughter； and you heir to Shaine the Mujhar。 Why should you e？〃
〃I said I would； I do not lie。〃
She shrugged a shoulder。 〃Men say many filings they do not mean。 It does not have to be a lie。 I am； after all； not the sort of woman a prince converses with ordinarily。〃
〃You put me at ease； Alix。 There is a way about you I find forting。〃
She slanted him a bright； amused glance。 〃Men are not always seeking fort； my lord。 At least； not in conversation。〃
Carillon laughed at her； clasping her hand more tightly。 〃You do not mouth idle words with me； do you？ Well； I would not have it another way。 That is part of the reason I seek you out。〃
Alix stopped； which forced him to。 Her chin lifted and she met his eyes squarely。 〃And what is the other part； my lord prince of Homana？〃
She saw the brief conflict in his face； following each emotion as it passed across his boyish features。 Carillon； even at eighteen； was an open sort； but she was more perceptive than most。
Yet Carillon did not react as she expected； and inwardly
dreaded。 Instead of embarrassment or condescension or arrogant
male pride； there was only laughter in his face。 His hands rested
on her shoulders…
〃Alix； if I wanted to take you as my light woman and give you chambers within Homana…Mujhar； I would seek a better way of telling you。 For all that； first I would ask you。〃 He smiled into her widening eyes。 〃Do not think I am indifferent to you；
you are woman enough for me。 But I e to you because I can speak with you freely； and not worry that I have said the wrong thing to the wrong ears； hearing it later from the wrong mouth。
You are different； Alix〃
She swallowed heavily； suddenly hurt。 〃Aye；〃 she agreed hollowly。 〃I am an unschooled crofter's daughter with no fine conversation。 I am very unlike the sleek court ladies you are accustomed to。〃
〃The gods have made a place for every man and woman on this earth； Alix。 Do not chafe at yours。〃
She scowled at him。 〃It is easy for a man of your rank to say such a thing； my lord。 But what of the poor who live in Mujhara's streets； and the tenant crofters who must live on the questionable bounty of their lords？ For all that； what sort of place has Shaine left to the Cheysuli？〃
His hands tightened on her shoulders。 〃Do not speak to me of shapechangers。 They are demons。 My uncle's purge will rid Homana of their dark sorcery。〃
〃How do you know they are demons？〃 she demanded； arguing out of fairness rather than conviction。 〃How can you say when you have never met one？〃
Carillon's face went hard and cold before her； aloof。 Suddenly she longed for the even…tempered young man she had known and love