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be。 Where do you go； my told？〃
〃Where you wish； lady。 I serve you。〃
Alix looked into his smooth face； seeking an indication of his true intent； but she saw only serenity。 He was richly clad； though not ostentatious； and his manner was that of some high lord。
〃Do you serve the Mhghar？〃 she asked； suddenly apprehensive。
He smiled； white teem gleaming。 〃No； lady； I do not。 I serve the gods。〃
It relieved her past measure。 Silently Alix took the gems from her ears and held them out。
But he would not take them。 〃I have no need of your jewels； lady。 What I do for you requires no payment。〃 He gestured smoothly。 〃Where do you go。 lady？ I will take you there。〃
〃A croft；〃 she said quietly。 〃In roe valley。 U is perhaps tea leagues from here。〃
His eyes glinted in gentle humor。 〃You do not have me appearance of a croft…girt； lady。 I see more in you than mat。〃
Her hand gripped the garnet earring？。 〃Do you seek to humble me； my lord？ There is no need。 I know my place。〃
He moved closer。 The light seemed to follow him。 His eyes were soft。 sweet； like his voice； and deep as the well from which they drank。
〃Do you？〃 he asked softly。 〃Do you truly know your place？〃
Alix frowned at him； baffled by his manner； and lost hereelf in me dominance of his black eyes。
He lifted his right hand。 For a moment she thought he would make die Cheysuli gesture of tahimorra； but he did not。 Instead a hissing line of purple light streaked out of the darkness and pooled in his hand； throwing a violet glare over her face and his。
〃So you have learned your legacy；〃 he said quietly。 〃After au this time。 I had thought Undir's child lost； and of no more account。〃
Alix gasped。
The flame leaped in his hand。 〃You bold more of roe prophecy within you man any I have yet seen。 And I have watched for years。。。 waiting。〃
Her voice hurt。 〃What do you say？〃
Black eyes narrowed and held dominion over her。 〃Can it be you do not fully understand？ Have the Cheysuli not yet bound you to their tahtmorra？〃
〃Who are you？〃
He smiled。 〃I have many names。 Most are used by petty men woo fear me。 Others are revered； as they should be。〃
Alix shivered。 〃What manner of man are you？〃
〃One who serves tile gods。〃
She wanted to leave him but the power in his fathomless black eyes held her。 Purple light glowed in his palm。
〃What do you want of me？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he said calmly； 〃if you remain unknowing。 It is only if you recognize the tahlmorra within yourself mat I will be forced to gainsay you。 In any way I can。〃
Her palm burned where the earrings bit into her flesh。 〃You are not Cheysuli。〃
〃No。〃
〃Yet you speak of their tahlmorra。 and the prophecy。 What is it to you？〃
〃My bane。〃 he said softly。 〃The end of me； should it be fulfilled。 And the Cheysuli know it。〃
Cold knowledge crept within her mind。 Consciously she forced her body to relax； then lifted her head。 〃I know you。 I know you。〃 She took another breath。 〃Ihliru。〃
〃Aye；〃 he said softly。
〃Tynstar。。。〃
His eyes smiled。 〃Aye。〃
〃What do you do here？〃 she whispered。
〃Tliat is for me to know。 But I will tell you this＋already Bellam breaks Shaine's borders and invades。 Homana will fall； lady。。。 soon。 It will be mine。〃 He smiled。 〃As it was ever meant。〃
〃Shaine will never allow it。〃
〃Shaine is a fool。 He was a fool when he sent me Cheysuli from their homeland and sentenced them to death。 Without mem； he cannot win。 When he does not； the prophecy will fail。 And I will be lord of this land。〃
〃By your unnatural arts！〃 Alix cried。
The sorcerer laughed softly。 〃You are party to your own unnatural arts； lady。。； you have only to learn them。 But until you do； you remain insignificant； and of no account to me。〃 He shrugged。 〃So I will let you live。〃
〃Let me live。。。〃 she echoed。
〃For now；〃 Tynstar agreed Ughuy。
A winged shadow passed over them； blotting me violet glow a
moment。 Tynstar glanced up and watched me shadow； men looked at Alix。
〃You summon the lir； lady； even though you do not know it。
Perhaps you are not me naive child you would have me believe。〃
Cat！ she cried silently； staring up at the hawk。
Tynstar's hand was on his horse。 The other still held hissing purple flame。 He smiled at her across its glow and sketched a twisted rune in the air。 Its path glowed against the darkness a moment； men flared into a column of cold fire。 When it had gone； so had he。
〃Alix。〃
She spun and stared at Duncan。 He stood silently with his horse at his back； left arm streaked with blood。 A bruise darkened his cheekbone and he bore a shallow slice across his forehead； but he seemed whole。
Alix looked at him。 The defiance she had struck him with earlier had faded。 Her words then； angry and frightened； had no more meaning。 Something whispered in her soul； tapping at her mind； and she began to understand it。
〃The horse ran away；〃 she said unsteadily。
His eyes were fixed on her。 〃I found nun。 He is lamed； but will recover。〃
〃I am glad he was not badly hurt。〃 She knew the words they said held no meaning。 Their munication lay on another level。
〃Will you suffer to ride with me？〃 he asked。 〃I cannot waste more time seeking another horse。 The clan has need of me。〃
Alix walked slowly toward him； eyes dwelling on every visi…ble wound and bruise。 A strange trembling weakness crept into her limbs as his yellow gaze remained on her in a calm； deliber…ate perusal。 The hawk…earring glittered in the strands of his black hair。
She halted before him。 〃It was Tynstar。〃
〃I saw him。〃
She put out a hesitant hand and gently touched the drying Mood on his arm。 〃Duncan； I did not mean to hurt you。〃
He flinched at her soft touch but she realized it was not from pain。 Something told her this man was hers to hold； to keep； and the enormity of it stunned her。
〃Duncan。。。〃 She swallowed heavily and met his blazing eyes。 〃Duncan； please hold me so I know I am real。〃
He whispered something in the Old Tongue and took her into his arms。
Alix； hair spilling down her back； melted against his firm
warrior's body until she was boneless。 The strange weakness wag
new to her； but she weled it
Duncan sank a hand deep in her hair and jerked her head back。
〃Do you deny it？ Do you deny the tahlmorra in our blood？〃
She did not answer。 She caught her hands in the thick hair curling at his neck and dragged this mouth down on hers。
Chapter Four
Duncan found them a cave in the hills beyond Mujhara and spread furred pelts over the stone floor。 Alix sat on one； pulling his red blanket around her shoulders； and watched him build a small fire。 When it was done he took die small grouse he had caught； spitted it； and set it over the fire。
〃Does your arm hurt？〃 she asked。
He flexed the scabbing forearm… 〃No。 The men were not skilled with their weapons。〃
〃Finn has said you can heal。 Will you not do it？〃
〃Not for myself； or for so trivial a wound。 The healing arts are used only in great need； and usually only on others。〃
〃Finn healed Carillon's wrist。〃
〃Because Carillon required convincing we were not the de…mons he believed。〃
She shifted； easing a sore hip。 Her entire body ached with the fall from the horse。 〃What d