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n and loved but a few weeks。
〃Carillon〃 she began；
〃No；〃 he said flatly； removing his hands to stand stiffly before her。 〃I have no need to see demons to know they exist。 The breed is accursed； Alix； outlawed in this land。〃
〃By your uncle's doing！〃
〃Aye！〃 he snapped。 〃Punishment for a transgression which required harsh measures。 By the gods； girl； it was a Cheysuli who stole a king's daughter my own cousin and brought civil war to this land！〃
〃Hale did not steal Lindir！〃 Atix cried。 〃She went willingly！〃
He recoiled from her； though he did not move。 Suddenly before her was an angry young man who was more prince than anything else； and therefore entitled to a short temper。
〃You freely admit you are an unschooled crofter's daughter；〃 he began coldly； 〃yet you seek to lesson me in my House*s history。 What right do you have？ Who has said such things to you？〃
Her hands curled into fists。 〃My father was arms…master to Shaine the Mujhar for thirty years； my lord； before he became a crofter。 He lived within the walls LHomana…Mujhar and spoke often with me Mujhar。 He was there when Lindir went away with the Cheysuli she loved； and he was there when Shaine called curses on the race and outlawed them。 He was there when the Mujhar started this war！〃
Muscles moved beneath the flesh of his jaw。 〃He speaks treason。〃
〃He speaks the truth！〃 Alix whirled from him and stalked through the grass； stopping only to remove a Thom from her bare foot。 Her slippers； she recalled glumly； were back where they had begun this discussion。
〃Alix〃 he said。
〃By the gods。 Carillon； it was the Cheysuli who settled this land！〃 she said crossly。 〃Do you think they seek this purge？ It is Shaine's doing； not theirs。〃
〃With just cause。〃
Alix sighed and set down her foot。 They stared at one another silently a long moment； both recognizing they jeopardized the tenuous friendship they had built。 She waited for his curt dismissal。
Carillon's hand idly smoothed the hilt of the sword at his belt；
caressing the glowing cabochon ruby set in gold。 He was silent； thoughtful； not the blustering or coldly arrogant prince she anticipated。
Finally he sighed… 〃Girl； for your entire father had my uncle's ear； he was not privy to all things。 He could not know everything about the beginnings of the war。 Nor； for that matter； can me。 I am but newly made heir； and Shaine treats me as little more than a child。 If you will listen； I will tell you what I know of the matter。〃
She opened her mouth to reply； but a third voice broke into their conversation。
〃No； princeling。 Let someone who has experienced Shaine's purge tell her what he knows of the matter。〃
Alix jerked around and saw the man at me edges of the forest；
leather…clad in jerkin and leggings； black…haired and dark…skinned。 For a moment she stared speechlessly at him； astonished； then her eyes widened as she saw the heavy gold bands on his bare arms and the gray wolf at his side。
〃Carillon！〃 she cried； backing away from the man。 She heard the hissing of Carillon's sword as he drew it from its sheath； but saw only the streaking gray form of me wolf as it hurtled silently across the space between them。 The animal's jaws closed on Carillon's wrist。
Alix turned to run but the stranger caught her easily。 Hands grasped her shoulders and spun her； she stared wide…eyed into a laughing face with yellow eyes。
Beast…eyes！ she cried silently。
〃e now； meijha； do not struggle so；〃 her captor said； grinning。 A gold ornament gleamed in his left ear； flashing against black hair and bronzed skin。 Alix was conscious of his soft sleeveless leather jerkin and bare arms as he held her against him。 〃You championed my race but a moment ago； meijha。 Surety you do not lose your principles so quickly。〃
She froze in his hands； staring into his angular； high…planed face。 〃You are Cheysuli！〃
〃Aye；〃 he agreed。 〃Finn。 When I heard you defending my race to the heir of the man who nearly destroyed us； I could not bear to let the princeling force your beliefs against us。 Too many will not hear the truth。〃 He grinned at her。 〃I will tell you what truly happened； meijha； and why Shaine has called us accursed and outlawed。〃
〃Shapechanger！ Demon！〃 Carillon called furiously。
Alix twisted so she could see him； afraid he had been badly injured； but she saw only an angry young man on me ground； hitched up on one elbow as he cradled his wrist against his chest。
The wolf； a big silver male； sat at his side。 There was no question in Alix's mind the animal stood guard。
The Cheysuli*s hands tightened on Alix and she winced。 〃I am no demon； princeling。 Only a man； like you； though admittedly the gods like us better。 If you would have us called demon…spawn and consign us to the netherworld； you had best look to the Mujhar first。 He cried qu'mahlin on us； not the other way。〃 The contempt in his voice sent a shiver through Alix。
〃And you make me think you wish to be his heir； princeling； in
all things。*
Color raced through Carillon's face and he moved as if to rise。 The wolf tautened silently； amber eyes slitting； and after a moment the prince remained where he was。 Alix saw pain and frustration in his face。
〃Let me go to him；〃 she said。
〃To the princeling？〃 The Cheysuli laughed。 〃Are you his meijha； men？ Well； and I had thought to make you mine。〃
She stiffened。 〃I am no man's light woman； if that is what your barbaric word means。〃
〃It is the Old Tongue； meijha； a gift of the old gods。 Once it was the only tongue in this land。〃 His breath warmed her ear。 〃I will teach it to you。〃
〃Let me go！〃
〃I have only just got you。 I do not intend to let you go so quickly。〃
〃Release her；〃 Carillon ordered Jtatly。
Finn laughed joyously。 〃The princeling orders me。' But now the Cheysuli no longer recognize the Mujhar's laws； my young lord； or his wishes。 Shaine effectively severed our hereditary obedience to the Mujhar and his blood when he declared qu'mahlin on our race。〃 The laughter died。 〃Perhaps we can return the favor； now we have his heir at hand。〃
〃You have me； then；〃 Carillon growled。 〃Release Alix。〃
The Cheysuli laughed again。 〃But it was the woman I came for； princeling。 I have only got you in the bargain。 And I do not intend to lose either of you。〃 His hand slid across Alix's breast idly。 〃You both will be guests in a Cheysuli raiding camp this night。〃
〃My father。。。〃 Alix whispered。
〃Your father will e looking for you； mei jha； and when he does not find you he will assume the beasts of the forest got you。〃
〃And he will have the right of it！〃 she snapped。 His hand
cupped her jaw and lifted it。 〃Already you join your princeling
L' in cursing us。
〃Aye！〃 she agreed。 〃When you behave like a beast there is little else I can do！〃
The hand tightened until it nearly crushed her jaw。 〃Who is to blame for that； meijha He turned her head until she was forced to look at Carillon。〃You see before you the heir to the man who drove us from our homeland； making outlaws of warriors； denying us our rights。 Is not Shaine the Mujhar a maker of beasts； then？ if you would call us that？〃
〃He is your liege lord！〃 Carillon hissed through gritted teeth。
〃No；〃 Fin