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middle of the night when our pavilion fell under me hooves of Homanan horses。 It was set on fire even though the Mujhar's men saw we were only children； and too small to do much harm。 They did not care。〃 He caught her hand suddenly； stilling it as if its movements disturbed him。 His eyes were pale in Ac moonlight。 〃You must understand。 We were small； but such things remain clear。〃
〃What do you say？〃 she whispered； sensing his need to have her prehension。
〃That you should understand why he plagues you。 He is bitter
toward Shaine； and Homanans in general。 Carillon is the Mujhar*s
heir。〃 He paused。 〃And you want him。。。 not Finn。'*
〃But if your story is true； Finn is my brother！〃
Duncan sighed。 〃You were raised apart。 Why should he not desire a woman； even after he has teamed she is bloodkin to him？〃
Alix stared at him； hand still caught in his。 The stubborn conflict she felt rise at Finn's name faded beneath a new＋and more frightening＋prehension。 She saw before her a solemn…faced warrior who seemed to be waiting fix something from her。
For a moment she nearly rose and fled； unable to face die conflict。 But she restrained the instinct。 There was the faintest whisper of knowledge within her soul； die realization of a power she had never thought she might have； and it astonished her。
〃Duncan。。。〃 she said softly； 〃what is this tahlmorra you say I should feel？〃
〃You will know it。〃
〃How？〃
〃You will know it。〃
〃And do you say。。。 do you say every Cheysuli has this tahlmorra'！〃
〃It is something that binds us all； as tightly as the prophecy。 But it has weakened in many of us because so many of us have been lost and forced to take Homanan women to get children。〃 His mouth twisted into a wry smile。 〃I am not proud of that。 But it must be done； if we are to survive。 But there are some of us who feel tahlmorra more clearly than others。〃 He brought her hand up； smoothing his thumb over the back of her palm。 〃Mine has told me what will e。 When we reach the Keep I will seek out the shar tahl and have him show me the prophecy runes to be certain。 But I know it already。〃
Alix withdrew her hand； uneasy。 〃It has nothing to do with me。〃
〃it is never wrong。 The prophecy was given to us by me Firstborn； who were sired by the old gods。 It unveils itself in the fairness of tone； and to those who listen and understand。 I am one of those who follow its path； Alix。 I would give my life to see the prophecy fulfilled。〃 He smiled suddenly。 〃I will give my life to see the prophecy fulfilled。 That much is clear。〃
〃You know your own death？〃 she whispered。
〃Only that I will die as I am meant； serving the tahlmorra of the prophecy。 The Firstborn have said。〃
Alix looked away from me steadiness of his gaze。 〃You confuse me。〃
〃When you have spoken with the shar tahl。 me confusion will leave you。 Be sure of that。〃
〃And does Finn serve this same tahlmorra
Duncan laughed。 〃Finn follows a sort of tahlmorra。 I think he makes his own。〃
〃I am no part of it；〃 she told him severely。
His eyes were gentle。 〃Of Finn's。。。 no。 The threads of your tahlmorra are entwined with those of another man。〃
〃Carillon？〃 she asked in a blaze of sudden hope。
He did not answer。 She understood him then。 Her head came up until she met his gaze squarely。 Then she got to her feet and shook out her tattered skirts。
〃If I am Cheysuli； I make my own tahlmorra。 Like Finn。〃
She looked down on him。 〃You cannot force me； Duncan。〃
〃I would not。〃 He shook his head and rose； looming over her in the darkness。 〃There is BO need。〃
〃You will not force me！〃
His hand touched her face gently。 〃I would not； small one。
Your own tahlmorra will。〃
Alix stepped away from him； holding his eyes with her own and denying him what she saw in his face。 Then her resolution wavered。
She turned and fled into the shadows of the camp。
Chapter Nine
The warning came as the warrior band rode through the thick forest； making their own track。 Cai broke through the mm veil of tree limbs and foliage to seek out Duncan。 Alix； glancing up in surprise； saw the hawk wing down and light upon a branch。
They e； lir； the bird said。 Mounted men in the Mujhar's colors。 Half…a…league； no more。
Duncan pulled his horse to a halt。 Alix； seeking to remain upright on the animal； caught at Duncan's waist。 She felt the tension in his body as if it were her own。
He half…turned in the saddle； muttering something under his breath。 Then； 〃I must find a place for you。〃
〃You will fight them？〃
〃They will give us no choice； Alix。 Why do you think they e； save to slay us all？〃
Alix opened her mouth to retort but suddenly could find no words。 Her mind was ablaze with sound so intense she knew it was not something she beard with her ears。 She thought her head would burst with words； and it was only grabbing at Duncan's waist that kept her on the horse。 She mumbled something； closing her eyes against me weight of voices； and vaguely heard the approach of a horse。 Duncan took no note of her sudden weakness。
〃Well； rujho。〃 Finn's voice said； 〃the princeling did not lie。
He has given us little time。〃
Alix forced her eyes open and glared at him； though a part of her attention was still claimed by me multitude of voices。
Do they not hear them？ she wondered。
Duncan peached around and caught her arm； easing her down
from the horse until she had to scramble to stay upright。 〃Take
her；〃 he told Finn；
Alix forcibly detached her mind from the other voices。 〃No！
Not with him！〃
〃See to her； rujho； Duncan said calmly。 〃I will not have her
harmed。 These men will see only a shapechanger woman； and
would do her injury。 I leave her to you。'*
Finn grinned down at her。 〃Do you see； met jha The clan…leader passes you back to me。〃
〃I wilt have none of you；〃 she said with effort； trying to speak beneath the weight of words in her mind。 〃Do you hear？〃
Duncan said something to her but Alix heard nothing； she saw only that his mouth moved。 She clapped hands over her ears and bowed her head； trying to withstand the patterns and tones in her mind。
Finn's hands came down on her shoulders。 Dimly she saw Duncan lead his horse away； leaving Finn on foot with her。 She peered at him uncertainly。
〃You have been given into my keeping；〃 he announced。 〃I do not intend to let you out of it。〃
〃Is it sorcery？〃 she gasped。 〃Do you seek to take my mind from me？〃
Finn scowled at her。 〃You do not make sense； meijha。 But I have no time to listen to you now。。。 can you not hear them？〃
〃I hear their voices'〃 she cried； trembling。 Finn's look on her was strange。 〃I speak of their horses； mei jha。 I hear no voices。〃
For a moment she pushed away the soundless words and listened to reality。 Through me forest came me sounds of men battering their way through delaying brush。 Her eyes flew to Finn's。
〃They will slay you；〃 he said gently。
The weight began to fall from her mind。 Faintly she heard echoes of the tones and patterns； but she did not feel so bound by diem。 Her strength was spent。 She nodded wearily at Finn and did not protest as he led her deeper into the forest。
〃Storr？〃 she asked softly。
〃He is behind； watching。 He＋like