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e led her deeper into the forest。
〃Storr？〃 she asked softly。
〃He is behind； watching。 He＋like the others＋will fight the Mujhar's men。〃
Finn pulled her down under cover of a broken tree trunk leaning drunkenly against another。 Quickly he set deadfall over them； weaving a rapid shelter。 When it was done he pushed her down on her stomach and kneh beside her。 Alix； still shaken from the silent voices； watched from a distance as he loosened his belt…knife and effortlessly nocked a yellow…fletched black arrow to his pact； powerful bow。
Alix put her head down on one arm and longed for the security of her father's croft。
〃Watch my back； mei jha；〃 Finn said roughly。 〃I have no time for women's fears。〃
She wrenched her head up and glared at him。 His back was to her； presenting an excellent target for a furious fist； but the precariousness of their position was uppermost in her mind。 She put away the urge to do him harm and turned instead to watch behind him； as he had bidden。
Alix's head ached。 She scrubbed at her forehead as if to drive the pain away； but it did no good。 The voices were gone； only a figment of memory； but it was enough to leave a residue。 Her entire body ached with me indignities she had been forced to endure： sores remained on her legs from continued riding； brusies dotted her flesh and her bones and muscles felt like rags。 Her mind； she knew dimly； was as exhausted。 For all they insisted they would do her no harm； the Cheysuli had accounted for more pain and fatigue than she had ever thought possible。
At first she thought it was a Cheysuli horse crashing through the brush toward their thin shelter。 Alix stared silently up at me man a moment before she realized he was a mailed man…at…arms in the scarlet…and…black tunic livery of me Mujhar； sword drawn。
Relief flooded through her。 She would escape Finn and the others now； putting herself into the care of a Mujharan guardsman； who would surely rescue her from her plight。 Alix sighed in relief and crawled forward as the man's eyes fell on hers。 The beginnings of her smile of greeting faded。
The sword lifted in a gloved hand； swinging back over his shoulder。 Transfixed； Alix stared at the bright blade。 It hung over her； poised to fall； and in a blinding flash of realization she knew Duncan's words were true。 They would slay her where she stood； and call her shapechanger。
Alix lunged backward into Finn。 He turned sharply and hissed something； men saw why she moved。 He said nothing more。 The arrow's flight was unmarked in passing； but Alix saw me feathered shaft quiver out of the guardsman's throat。 He fell back in the saddle； crying out something in a gurgling voice。 Then he tumbled from his bolting horse。
She stuffed a fist into her mouth to keep from screaming； aware only that Finn had left her and was fighting hand…to…hand with yet another guardsman。 Alix recoiled； staring open…mouthed at me straining men。 A bough jabbed her in the small of her back； tearing through me woolen fabric and into her flesh； but she was oblivious to me pain。
Finn bent the man's knife arm away from his throat； a fearful
rictus of concentration bums ba teeth。 Muscles bulged beneath his annbands aa he fought to keep the Made ffOBB his tfaroat。
Alix mumbled somelfamg to herself； unaware she spoke。 Rim drove his knife upward into die guardsman's stomach； but not before the man managed to bring his own weapon down in a slashing motion that penetrated Finn's rib cage。
Alix cried out again； men heard a strange moaning sound and saw me Cheysuli blur himself into his wolf…shape。 Before her horrified eyes the wolf leaped on me man and bore him to the ground； ripping his throat away。
Sickened； she leaped to her feet and fled the shelter。
〃Alix！〃
She ran on； ignoring Finn's human cry。
〃Alix！〃
An agonized glance over her shoulder showed him ing after her； bloodied knife in one hand。 She blurted out a garbled denial and ran on； breaking her way with outstretched hands。
A horse drove through the brush before her； pawing hooves flailing at her head as its rider jerked to to a halt。 Alix ducked down and threw up a beseeching hand； expecting a blow from one of me hooves。 She saw an enraged face hanging over her as the guardsman drew his broadsword。
〃Shapechanger witch！〃
〃No！〃 she shrieked。 〃No！〃
〃You'll not tive to bear more of the demons！〃 he cried； lowering me blade in a hideous slash。
Alix threw herself flat onto the ground and heard an eerie whistle as the blade flew past her head。 Then she scrambled up and instinctively dashed directly at me horse。
The wolf…shape hurtled past her； leaping； and took me man from me horse in one sweeping lunge。 Alix heard the guardsman cry out。 The horse screamed and reared； striking out。
The guardsman's broadsword fell at her feet as she stumbled away from me terrified horse。 The man； now on foot； lifted his knife to slash at the wolf leaping toward his throat。 The point slid sideways and tore open one furred shoulder； driving me wolf back。
The soldier bent for his sword； caught it up and advanced on me snarling animal。 〃Demon！〃 he hissed。 〃Know what it is to die in mat shape！〃
Alix threw herself forward and grabbed at his arm； thwarting
his blow。 The mail bit into her hands and face as she hung onto
the arm。 One Jerk knocked her to the ground so hard she lay
mere； hatf…stunned…
Gloating； the man turned back to me wolf。 But me animal was
gne。 in to place stood a Cheysu wamor whose knife found a XBW sheath in the guardsman's throat。 His Mood splattered Alix as the body fell next to her。
Finn stood over her； clasping his left shoulder。 His jerkin was heavy with blood from me wound in his ribs。 Amazed； Alix saw a grin on his battered face。
〃So； meijha。 you feel enough for me to risk your own life。〃
Burgeoning panic and me sickening smell of blood drove her to her feet。 Alix stood before him unsteadily； trembling with rage and reaction。 She wiped a band across her face and felt me dampness of me man's blood。
〃I wish death on no one； shapechanger… Not even you。〃
Another horse crashed through me trees； leaping mailed bod…ies as they lay scattered on the forest floor。 Alix swung around in panic and saw Carillon on his chestnut wafhorse。 He wore his Cheysuli sword but had not unsheathed it。
〃Alix！〃 He Jerked the horse to a halt。 staring down at the man Finn had slain。 The Cheysuli warrior； weaponless； glared wrathfufly at me prince。
〃Do you slay me now； lordling？〃 he demanded； lowering his hand from me wound in his shoulder。
Carillon ignored him and reached out to Alix。 〃Quickly。
Climb up behind me。〃
She moved forward； stunned by the suddenness of her rescue； but Finn's bloody hand on her arm stopped her。
〃Meijha。。。〃
She wrenched her arm free。 〃I go with Carillon；〃 she said firmly。 〃As I told you once before。〃
〃Alix； waste no time；〃 Carillon urged。
〃Meijha。 stay with your clan；〃 Finn said。
Alix grasped Carillon's hand and pulled herself onto the horse's broad hindquarters。 Her arms settled around the prince's hips； resting on his swordbelt。 She sent Finn a significant look of triumph。
〃I do not stay。 I go home。。； with Carillon。〃
Finn