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reared again and danced backward； then spun and bolted。
Shod hooves slid on cobbles； striking sparks。 The horse cared little for obstacles in its path； leaping anything in its way。 Alix clung to the animal with all her strength； unable to control its flight； and sought the mercies of me gods。
The horse leaped a bushel and slipped badly on landing； sliding spread…legged； nearly throwing Alix from the saddle。 The cloak； whipping back； dragged at her。 She felt the woven strands of garnets and pearls break free of her hair； spilling loosened braids over her shoulders in disarray。 She took two trembling wraps in the reins； snugging them around her hands； and pulled me horse's bead sideways in an instinctive bid to slow it。
Dimly she heard the animal's wheezing bream and felt the lash of bloodied saliva against her face。 The horse slid and thrashed all four legs in an effort to maintain momentum； but Alix kept her painful grip on me reins。 She felt the cloak torn from her； whipped back into the darkness。
The horse folded beneath her suddenly； without warning； and tumbled her painfully into the street。
Stunned； knocked dizzy with me farce of her sprawled landing； Alix felt me tug at her left arm。 The twisted reins still wrapped themselves about her wrist； threatening to drag her as the animal fought to regain its feet。 Dazedly she picked at the taut leather with her other hand； freeing her wrist at last…She beard a rattle of pebbles and dimly realized the jeweled lacings in her hair had broken； scattering garnets and pearls across the cobbles。 A searching hand at her hips told her me girdle was also gone； and her skirts were torn and stained。 But she dismissed that and got painfully to her hands and knees。
The horse； defeated in its attampt to rise； lay wheezing on its side near her。 Alix stared at it blankly； wanting to go to n； afraid of what she might find if she did。
Hair tumbled over her shoulders into her bruised face； drag…
ging on me cobbles。 Wearily she pushed it behind her ears and discovered me garnets in her ears remained。 Alix got to her feet and waited for the pain to begin。 When she found she could stand it； she picked up her heavy skirts and moved slowly back the way she had e。
Duncan was missing when she found the place。 Alix moved into the pool of faint torchlight and stared vaguely at the cobbles； seeing two bodies。 One man lay on his back with a deep knife wound in his abdomen。 The other； clawing hands clasped to his face in death； had had his forehead rent by talons。 He bled freely from a wound in his throat。
The third man was nowhere。 Alix wobbled unsteadily and put born hands over her mouth to force back the sour bile rushing into her throat。
A lantern flared in a door across from her as it opened。 Alix squinted against it； trapped in the spilling illumination。 An old man peered out； one hand grasping the collar of a growling dog。 He lifted the lantern to shed more light into me street and Alix instinctively shrank from it； pressing herself against the wall。
But he saw her。 His dark eyes widened； then narrowed as he stared at the slain men。 His voice came harsh as he looked back at her。
〃Witch！ Shapechanger witch！〃
Alix put a trembling hand to her face； realizing how deeply
she bore her father's stamp。 In the darkness； illuminated by me
lantern light； she was branded by the Mujhar's hatred…
〃No；〃 she said clearly。
His hand loosened on the dog's collar。 Alix； fearing he would set me animal on her； gathered up her skirts and fled。
She ran until her lungs screamed their protest and her legs faltered。 Breathlessly she fell against a stone well set in me intersection of cobbled streets。 She clutched at me cross…beams of me well and held herself upright； gasping from knifing pain in her chest and sides。
When some of the bream…demand had gone she cranked up the bucket。 The cool water was sweet on her raw throaty trickling down to soothe her heaving stomach。 It splashed over me rim and stained the velvet of her fine garments； but she did not care。
〃Could you spare some water for a thirsty horse； my lady？〃 asked a quiet voice。
Alix jerked upright； dropping me bucket down the well。 Her hands clenched spasmodically in her skirts as she stared at the man。
He moved softly； silently； forsaking me shadows like a wraith。
She saw a dark cloak felling to his booted feet。 An oddly twisted silver brooch pinned it to his left shoulder； but he had pulled the folds back from a silver sword hilt at his hips。 Somehow； though he moved in darkness； he brought the light with him。
His face was smooth； serene。 Strength of a sort she had never seen shone from the fine features； and his smile was gently beguiling。 His hair and beard were inky dark； carefully trimmed； and flecked with silver。 His eyes； black as the horse who fol…lowed him； were soothing and sweet。
〃Do not fear me； my lady。 I seek only water for my horse。〃
He smiled gently。 〃Not some light woman for the evening。〃
Alix； even bruised and weary； felt me insult keenly。 She drew herself up and glared at him； disdaining to answer。 But as her eyes met his the defiance slid away； leaving her powerless before him。
She gestured weakly。 〃The well is yours； my lord。〃
He cranked up the bucket and held it steady in gloved hands； letting the horse take its fill。 He watched her in a manner almost paternal。
〃You have seen trouble this night； lady；〃 he said quietly。
〃Are you harmed？〃
〃No。 I am well enough。〃
〃Do not seek to hide the truth from me。 I have only to look at your eyes。〃
She swallowed； aware of her loose hair and stained doming。
〃We were set upon by thieves； my lord。〃
〃You are alone now。〃
〃The man I rode with stayed to fight the thieves。 My horse was frightened； and ran。 In order to stop him I was forced to pot him down on （he stones。〃 She shrugged slightly； dismissing me remembered fright。 〃So now I walk。〃
〃What of your escort？〃 '^
Alix looked away from him。 〃I cannot say； my lord。 Perhaps
he is slain。〃 The vision rose before her eyes； showing her
Duncan twisted on die cobbles； slain。 She shuddered and felt me ；
horrible anguish in her soul。
〃With such words you place yourself in my hands。〃 he said
gently。 ｜｜…
A chill of apprehension slid through her。 but she was aching ^i…
and weary； too dazed to care。 〃If it be so； my lord。 what will you （
do with me？〃
He sent the bucket back to the depths of me well and caressed '〃
the horse's silky jaw。 〃Help you； lady。 I will give you my aid。〃 j｜
His beguiling smile soothed her。 〃e into me light and look； …
upon me。 If I truly seem treacherous； you have only to leave me。 Ij。…
I will not gainsay you。 But if you find me honest in my intentions； you are wele to e with me。〃
Slowly Alix answered his summons； moving into the torchlight。 His appearance was calm； gentle…seeming； and his affection for the horse indicated goodwill。 She met his eyes for a long moment； searching for an answer mere。
At last she sighed。 〃I am so wearied from this day and night I care little what your intentions may be。 Where do you go； my told？〃
〃Where you wish； lady。 I serve you。〃
Alix looked into his smoo