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〃Duncan；〃 she said softly； trembling even at his lightest touch。
〃Aye； small one？〃
〃What is this thing？ What is this within me？〃 She swallowed and tried to hide the hesitation in her voice。 〃I have lost myself； somehow。〃
He smoothed back a strand of dark hair from her cheekbone； fingertips lingering。 〃You have lost nothing； save a measure of your innocence。 In time； you will understand it all。 It is not my place to tell you。 You will know。〃 He removed his hand。 〃Now； mount your horse。 We have a long way to ride。〃
She was muffled by the weight of me unaccustomed gown and me folds of the cloak。 Duncan's firm hands held her close as he lifted her into the saddle。 Alix settled her wrappings as he turned to his own mount； men dutifully set out to follow him through me city streets。 She was well aware of what she did； though days before she would never have admitted she could act so strangely。 But something within her told her she would be safe with him； and that it was the will of me gods she go with him。
〃Duncan；〃 she said quietly； 〃you spoke of losing someone to the soulless men。 What did you truly…say？〃
Torchlight caught and flashed on his armbands； but he re…mained shadowed and indistinct as he led her through Mujhara。 She thought again how easily me Cheysuli melted into the darkness。
〃I have said what it is to be Uriess。〃 he said at last； pitching his low voice to cany over the tap of hoof on stone。 〃A Ur was lost； and Borrs seeks the death ritual in the forests。〃
〃And you let him go？〃
〃It is our way； Alix。 Our custom。 We do not turn our backs on what has been within the clan for centuries。〃
Wearily she pushed the hood off her face and let it fall to her shoulders。 〃Duncan； where do you take me？〃
〃To the Keep。〃
〃What will happen to me there？〃
〃You will see the shar tahl； and leam what it is to be Cheysuli。〃
〃You are so certain your clan will accept me？〃
He cast her a sharp glance over a shoulder。 〃They must。 I
have little doubt of your place in the prophecy；〃
〃Mine！〃
〃The shar tahl wfll explain it to you。 it is not my place。*'
Rustratwo rose withm her； shaipemng her vok into a demand。 〃Duocan！ Do not shroud your words in obscurity and expect me to meekly accept them。 You have taken me from all 1 have ever taKro； aiMleveoiTOwyoxikadniemtom （weIcaniK）tcooq）rcheod。
TeH me what is before mel〃
He reined in his horse and allowed her to catch up。 Paint Illumination showed his face clearly to her； limning rigid determination。 His mouth was a taut line。
〃Must you know all before its time？〃 he asked harshly。 〃Can you not wait？〃
She glared at him。 〃No。〃
His eyes； beastial in the torchlight； narrowed into pale sots。
**Then I will speak plainly； so plainly even you may understand。〃
She nodded。
〃What I have seen in my own tahlmorra is mat me old gods ntteoted you arel I fwow another。 From us will e the next link in me prophecy of me Firstborn。 You are Qieysuli。 You have no choice。〃
He was a stranger suddenly。 The gentleness he had used before fled beneath the hardness of his voice and words and Alix nearly quailed from it Then the full meaning and implications of what he bad said flared within her mind。
〃You and I。。。〃
〃If you would feel your own tahlmorra； you would see it as deariy as I。〃
Alix's bream came harsh in her throat。 Her hands tightened pulsively on the reins。 'Ten days ago I was a valley gyri （ending her father's animals。 New you tell me I must accept the will of this euxAedpropbecy and serve it accordingly。〃 Her voice wavered； then grew firm again。 〃Wen； I win not I choose my own way。〃
〃You cannot。〃
She glared at him through angry tears。 〃I have been cast from my grandsire's palace； threatened with imprisonment and death。 Evea Torrin says I must follow this tahinwrra； as you do。 But I wiH do as I choose！ I am not an empty vessel to be filled with other men's desires and plottings！ I am more！〃
Duncan sighed。 〃Have you not yet learned all men are no more than empty vessels for me gods？ Cheysula； do not rail so aft your fate。 It is not so bad。〃
〃What do you call me？〃
He stiffened； rigidly upright in me saddle。 〃I have some
honor； gyri。 I will accede to me dictates of my own tahlrrwrra。
but I will also honor yours。 I know bow it is with Homanans and
propriety； so I will renounce my vow of solitude。 You I wiD take according to Cheysuli custom； and make you a wife。〃
〃You will not/〃
〃Alix〃
〃No！ When I bee a wife it will be because I wish it； and to a man I can be at ease with。 You frighten me with your shadowed soul and mutterings of prophecy I cannot even understand。 Leave me to myseff！〃
He pressed his horse closer and caught her arm。 Alix stmggled against him as he pulled her effortlessly out of her saddle and sat her upright against his chest。 In one terrifying instant she saw me echo of his brother in him； and all of Finn's fierce determination。
〃Duncan＋no！9'
〃You have asked for it！〃 he snapped； settling her across his lap。
Cai； drifting down from me rooftops； circled over mem。 You should not。 tir。
Alix； trapped within me hard circle of Duocan's arm and fearful of his intentions； saw me conflict in his face。 His hand was on her jaw； imprisoning it； but he made no further move against her。 She waited stiffly； not breathing； afraid even to Xmove。
Abruptly he kneed his horse to hers again and deposited her roughly into her own saddle。 Alix grabbed at me reins and pommel； fighting to stay upright。 When she cast an anxious glance over her cloaked shoulder she saw him visibly constrain the force of his emotion。 Then his face was a mask to her。
〃It seems；〃 he began stiffly； 〃you have alt the fir at your bidding。 First Storr gainsays my rujholli from forcing you； now Cai does so with me。 Them is more wimin you than I thought。〃
〃Perhaps you should heed it！〃
Duncan's face twisted。 〃I think the gods laughed when they
determined we should serve the prophecy together。 It will be no
simple task 〃
She glared at him。 〃It will be no task at all； shapechanger。 / have determined that。〃
He swore something in me Old Tongue； forsaking me control he had so recently won back。 Alix； startled by me savagery in ffls voice； reined her horse back two steps。
Lir！ Cai cried in warning。
Duncan turned swiftly in the saddle； hand to his knife； but the men were on him。 Three of mem； clothed in dark garments； dragged him from his mount。
Alix gasped as she saw him stand braced against his horse；
knife drawn to face the men。 Suddenly her anger and frustration evaporated； replaced by stark fear for his life。
A swift feathered weight piummaed fiom the night sky； wingdps brushing her hair。 Cai shrieked into the darkness and fell； talons outstretched。 Alix's horse； terrified by the bird； reared。
She cried out and scrabbled for a solid handhold； tangling reins and mane in her rigid fingers。 She had little knowledge of horses； always before she had ridden with someone。 Now she struggled to keep the horse from striking Duncan with its pawing hooves。
A hoarse outcry followed Cai's attack。 Alix tried to see if Duncan was safe； but her horse denied it to her。 It reared again and danced backward；