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respite from the steady motion of the horse。 Whenever Finn rode
by she straightened and arranged her face into an expression of
determined spirit； but when he left them she returned to her haze of weariness。
The Cheysuli did not tell either captive where they rode； only that their Keep lay at the end of their journey。 When Carillon demanded his instant release and that of Alix； threatening the Mujhar's displeasure and retribution； Duncan refused courteously。 Alix； watching him silently during much of the day's ride； wondered at the difference so evident in the brothers。 Finn seemed the more aggressive of the two； Duncan kept his own council and gave nothing away to supposition。 Though Alix wanted nothing more than to leave the shapechangers' presence with Carillon acpanying her； she far preferred Duncan's pany to Finn's。
In the evening she sat before a small fire with Carillon； staring into the flames in exhaustion。 The prince had shed his green cloak and draped it over her shoulders。 She folded it around herself gratefully。 He looked as tired and worn as he stretched his hands out to the fire's warmth； for all it was the beginning of summer； the nights were still cold。 Alix knew her own appearance was no better。 Her braid was loosened and tangled and her gown showed the results of too long a time spent in it。 Her face felt grimy and the welt left by me tree limb stung。
The Cheysuli； she marked； took little with them on a raiding mission。 Their mounts were packed lightly and the warriors carried only a belt…knife and the hunting bows for weaponry。 Alix eyed them glumly as they quickly set up a small camp。 spreading blankets where they would sleep and building tiny fires to heat their evening ration of journey…stew。 The colored pavilions were kept packed away； Alix realized she would spend the night unprotected by anything save a blanket。
Uneasily she slanted a glance at Carillon； seated next to her on Duncan's blood…red blanket。 〃I would near give my soul to be safe in my own bed in my father's croft。〃
Carillon； gazing blankly into the fire； looked over to her with an effort… Then he smiled。 〃Had I a choice； I would be in my own chambers within Homana…Mujhar。 But even your croft would do me well this night。〃
〃Better than here；〃 she agreed morosely。
Carillon shifted and sat cross…legged。 The flames glinted off the whiteness of his teeth as he smiled maliciously。
〃When I have the chance； Alix； these demons will regret what they have done。〃
A strange chill slid down her spine as she looked sharply at his determined face。 〃You would have them all slain？〃
His eyes narrowed at her reproving tone。 Then his face relaxed
and he touched her ragged braid； moving it to lie across her shoulder。 〃A woman； perhaps； does not understand。 But a man must serve his liege lord in all things； even to the slaying of others。 My uncle's purge still holds； Alix。 I would not serve him by letting this nest of demons live。 They have been outlawed。 Sentenced to death by the Mujhar himself。〃
Alix pulled the cloak more tightly around her shoulders。
〃Carillon； what if there was no sorcery used against your House？ What if the Cheysuli have the right of it？ Would you still see to their deaths？〃
〃The shapechangers cursed my uncle's House when Hale took Lindir away with him。 The queen consequently died of a wasting disease； and Shaine's second wife bore no living children。 If not sorcery； what else could cause these things？〃
Alix sighed and stared at her hands clasping the green wool。 She pitched her voice purposely low； almost placating。 But what she said had nothing to do with placation。
〃Perhaps it was what the Cheysuli call tahlmorra。 Perhaps it was no more than the will of the gods。〃
His hand moved from her braid to her Jaw and lifted her face into the light。 〃Do you champion the demons again； Alix？ Do you listen to them because of what you have learned？〃
She looked at him steadily。 〃I do not champion them。 Carillon。 I give them their beliefs。 It is only fitting to acknowledge the convictions of others。〃
〃Even when the Mujhar denounces them as sorcerers of the dark gods？〃
Alix touched his wrist gently and felt the ridged scars of the bite from Storr。 Once again the image of Finn shifting his shape before her eyes rose into her mind； and it was only with consider…able effort she kept the frightened awe from her voice。
〃Carillon； will you allow him to denounce me？〃
He sighed and closed his eyes； withdrawing his hand。 He rubbed wearily at his brow and irritably shoved hair from his eyes。
〃Shaine is not an easy man to convince。 If you go before him claiming you are a shapechanger； and his granddaughter； you touch his pride。 My uncle is a vain man indeed。〃 Carillon smiled at her grimly。 〃But I will not allow him to harm you。 I will have that much of him。〃
Alix drew up her knees； clasping her arms around them。 〃Tell me of Homana…Mujhar； Carillon。 I have ever been afraid to ask before； but no more。 Tell me of the Mujhar's great walled palace。〃
He smiled at her wistful tone。 〃It is a thing of men's dreams。
A fortress within a city of thousands。 I know little enough of its history； save it has stood proudly for centuries。 No enemy force has ever broken its walls； nor entered its halls and corridors。 Homana…Mujhar is more than a palace； Alix； it is the heart of Homana。〃
〃And you have lived their always？〃
〃I？ No。 I have lived at Joyenne； my father's castle。 It is but three days from Mujhara。 I was born there。〃 He smiled as if reminiscing。 〃My father has ever preferred to keep himself from cities； and I echo his feelings。 Mujhara is lovely； a jeweled city； but I care more for the country。〃 He sighed。 〃Until my acclamation as formal heir last year； I lived at Joyenne。 I spent time at Homana…Mujhar； I am not indifferent to its magnificence。〃
〃And I have not even seen Mujhara；〃 she said sadly。
〃That is something I cannot understand。 The city belongs to the Mujhar and it is well…protected。 Women and children go in safety among its streets。〃
Alix kept her eyes from his。 〃Perhaps it was a promise made to the Mujhar by Torrin； that he would not allow Lindir's shapechanger daughter to enter the city。〃
Carillon stiffened。 〃If you are that child。〃
Alix closed her eyes。 〃I begin to think I am。〃
〃Alix。。。〃
She turned her head and rested her unblemished cheek against
one knee； looking solemnly into Carillon's face。 〃I converse
with the animals； my lord。 And I understand。 If that is not
shapechanger sorcery； then I must be a creature of the dark
gods。*'
His hand fell upon her shoulder。 〃Alix； I will not have you say this。 You are no demon's get。〃
〃And if I am Cheysuli？〃
Carillon's eyes slid over the shadowed camp； marking each black…haired； yellow…eyed warrior in supple leathers and barbaric glom。 He looked back at Alix and for a moment saw the leaping of flames reflected in her eyes； turning them from amber to yellow。
He swallowed； forcing himself to relax。 〃It does not matter。
Whatever you are； I accept it。〃
Alix smiled sadly and touched his hand。 〃Then if you accept me； you must accept the others。〃
He opened his mouth to deny it； then refrain