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her doublet。
〃Take me with you。 Tell the Mujhar whatever you choose； but do not make me stay in this place！〃
〃You understand what the bird says？〃
〃In my head。 A voice。〃 She could sense his shock and sought to convince him。 〃Not words。 A tone。。。 I can understand what he thinks。〃
〃Alix。。。〃
〃You said you would take me；〃 she whispered。
He put out a hand to point at Cai； ruby signet flashing。 〃You converse with animals！〃
Alix closed her eyes； releasing him。 〃Then you will leave me。〃
〃Shapechanger sorcery。。。〃 he said slowly。
She looked at him； judging his face and the feelings reflected there。 Then his hands grasped her shoulders so hard it hurt。
〃You are no different；〃 he said。 〃You are still Alix。 I look at you and see a strong； proud woman whose soul is near to destroyed by these shapechanger words。 Alix； I will still have you by me。〃
You are meant/or another； the hawk said gently。 The prince is not for you。 Stay。
〃By all the gods；〃 she whispered； staring blindly at Carillon； 〃will none of you let me be？〃
〃Alix！〃
But she tore herself from him and ran from them both； seeking escape in the forest。
She fled to a lush grassy glade lying in a splash of sunlight。 There Alix sank to her knees and sat stunned； trying to regain control of her disordered mind。 She shook convulsively。
Shapechanger！ Spawn of a shapechanger demon and a king's daughter！ she cried within her soul。
Alix scrubbed at her stinging eyes with the heels of her hands； fighting back tears。 She had never been one for crying； but the tension and fear of the past hours had taken away her natural reserve。 She wanted security and solace like a child seeking fort at a mother's breast。
Mother！ she cried。 Was I birthed by a Homanan valley girl； or a haughty； defiant princess？
Alix felt the conflict in her soul。 She longed for Carillon's confidence in her Homanan origins； yet felt the seductive tug of mystery attending the legendary magic of the Cheysuli。 And though Torrin had raised her to be fair to all men in her thoughts； even the Cheysuli； he had also instilled in her the apprehension all felt concerning the race。
She heard a rustle in the leaves and glanced up swiftly； frightened Finn had followed her again。 She did not entirely trust his intentions； for all he claimed to be her half…brother。 Alix sensed something elemental in him； untamed and demanding。
A hawk rested lightly on a swinging branch； feathers ruffling in the breeze。 Though its coloring was the same； she realized it was not Cai。 This hawk was smaller； more streamlined； a swift hunting hawk able to plummet after small prey and snatch it up instantly。
Alix shivered involuntarily as she thought of the deadly talons curving around the branch。
Have you decided to stay？ it asked。
She stared at it； astonished to discover the great distinction between its tone and Cai's。 It regarded her from bright eyes； unmoving on the branch。
Do you stay？ it asked again。 〃Or do you go？
Resentful and defiant； Alix started to push the tone away。 She would not allow the Cheysuli so to manipulate her mind。 She would keep herself apart from them and their sorcery； regardless of the seductiveness of their power。
But even as she decided she felt the fear slip away； replaced by wonder。 First she had spoken with a wolf who seemed perfectly capable of speaking back； then Cai。 And now this smaller hawk。
By the gods； the animals are mine to converse with！ She took a trembling breath。 If this is sorcery； it cannot be demon…sent。 It is a true gift。
The hawk regarded her approvingly。 Already you begin to learn。 The lir…bond is truly magic； but does harm to no one。 And you are special； for no other can converse with all the lir。 Through you； perhaps； we can win back some of our blood…pride and esteem。
〃You lost it through Hale's selfish action！〃 she retorted； then winced at her audacity。 Carefully she looked at the hawk to see if it was offended。
It seemed amused。 For the Cheysuli； aye； it would have been better had he never set eyes on Lindir。 But then you would not live。
〃And what am I？〃 she shot back。 〃Merely a woman a foolish warrior wanted for his own。〃
Finn does； occasionally； allow his emotions to overrule his judgment。 But it makes him what he。 is。
〃A beast；〃 she grumbled； picking a stem from the grass。
He is a man。 Beasts have more wisdom； better sense and far better manners。 Do not liken him to what he cannot emulate。
Alix； startled by the hawk's wry words； laughed up at him delightedly。 〃I am sorry he cannot hear you； bird。 Perhaps he would reconsider his rash actions。〃
Finn reconsiders very little。
She stared at the bird； eyes narrowing shrewdly。 The stem she had picked drooped in her fingers。 〃If you are not Cai； who are you？ Show yourself。〃
Another time； perhaps； the bird said obliquely。 But know I am one who cares。
It detached itself from the swinging branch and flew into the blue sky。
Alix dropped the stem and stared after me fleet bird dispiritedly。 For a moment she had felt an uprush of awe and amazement that she conversed with the /i'r； now she was a frightened and con…fused girl。 Slowly she got to her feet and wandered back to the Cheysuli encampment。
She was startled to find the tents pulled down and rolled into pact bundles。 The warriors tied them onto their horses and made certain the fire cairns were broken up and scattered。 AliX stood in the center of the naked clearing and realized her soul and self…image had been as neatly swept clean。
Carillon came to her as she stared blindly at the swift alternation of the camp。 He touched her hand； then folded it into his much larger one。
〃I will be with you；〃 he said softly。 〃They have said I must go with them。〃 He grimaced。 〃They say I am not yet strong enough for the ride to Mujhara； but they did not lie about the wound。 It is near healed； and I feel strong enough to fight any of them。〃
She looked at the wrist and saw healing ridges marking the wolf bite。 The swelling and seepage was gone； replaced by new skin。
They have healing arts at their beck； she said silently； unconsciously echoing Finn's words。
〃Well； my lord。 perhaps it is best；〃 she said aloud。 〃I do not seek to lose you so soon。〃
〃I have said you will e with me to Homana…Mujhar。〃
She smiled sadly into his face。 〃As your light woman？〃
Carillon grinned …and lifted her hand to brush his lips across her wrist。 〃If it must be done； Alix； I will not prove unwilling。〃
She blushed and tried to withdraw her hand； but he held it firmly。 He shook his head slightly and smiled。 〃I do not seek to disfit you。 I have merely said what is in my mind。〃
〃I am your cousin。〃 She did not entirely believe him。
Carillon shrugged。 〃Cousins often wed in royal houses； to secure the succession。 This bond would not be a thing Homanans disapprove of。〃
Alix tried to answer… 〃My lord。。。〃
His brows lifted ironically。 〃Surely you can dispense with my title if we discuss our futures in this way。〃
Alix wanted to laugh at him but could not。 She had longed for such thoughts and words from him all through their brief acquaintanceship； though she had never thought them possible。 Now she could not pre