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A muscle twitched in his jaw。 〃Then you must accept all
customs as your own。〃
She glared back at him defiantly。 〃I do。〃
His hand darted to his belt and came up with his knife。 Alix。
terrified； spun to flee。
Duncan caught her by the heavy braid and in one slash severed
it at her neck。
Alix； stumbling； gasped in shock as the hair fell away。 Her
hands clasped the ragged edges left to her。 Duncan stood silently；
dark braid hanging from his hand。
〃What have you done？〃
〃A Cheysuli custom；'* he said； deliberately casual。 〃When a
woman refuses her place within the clan as cheysula or mei jha；
her hair is shorn so all men know her intent。 This way she cannot
change her mind。〃
〃I see a stranger before me。。。〃 she whispered。
He dropped the braid to me fire。 It caught and smoldered；
filling the pavilion with the stench of burning hair。
Duncan returned the knife to his belt and gestured toward the
doorflap。 〃Now； ruifwtia。 I will escort you to Raissa。〃
Chapter Five
Duncan took her to a brown pavilion that bore a gold…colored fox
on its sides。 He pulled me doorflap aside and gestured her to go
in； Alix did so without meeting his eyes。 She felt horribly
shamed without me braid； for though she still felt more Horoanan
than Cheysuli Duncan's disparagement of her brought the impli…
cations of her braidless state home with real impact。
A woman stepped from behind a curtain dividing the pavilion
into two sections。 Her black hair was generously threaded with
gray； but she had woven silver laces into multiple braids cunningly；
fastening diem to her bead with an intricate silver b。 Her
dress was fine…spun black wool threaded with scarlet ribbons at
collar and cuffs； and a delicate chain of silver bells clasped her
waist。 She was no longer young； but she was a handsome
woman。 Her face reflected her Cheysuli blood with its high
cheekbones； narrow nose and wide； smooth brow。 Her yellow
eyes were warm as she looked at Alix。
〃Raissa； this is the girt；〃 Duncan said。 〃Alix。〃
The woman smiled at Alix and men looked steadily at Duncan。
〃Who has shorn her hair？〃
His jaw tightened。 〃I have。〃
Her brows lifted。 〃But it is for Council to decide if she
remains solitary。〃
Alix heard the unspoken reproach and stole a glance at Duncan；
Xurprised to see him bow his head in acceptance。 Then it lifted
again。
〃She had made the decision for herself。。。 I merely
acquiesced。〃
〃He did not tell me he would cut off my hair；〃 Alix said
bitterly。
Raissa moved forward。 The tiny bells chimed and winked in
the folds of her black gown。 Her slender hand touched the
ragged curling tendnis at Alix's neck and jaw。
〃I am sorry he acted so hastily。 He should have explained me
custom to you。〃 Her lips twitched with a half…hidden smile。 〃I
have never known Duncan to act without reason； so be must
have been driven to it。〃
〃He did it out of jealousy。〃
Raissa withdrew her hand。 〃Duncan？ Why do you say so？〃
Alix slewed her eyes sideways to look at him。 〃He told me be
would ask for me in Council。。。 as his cheysula。 Then＋finding
his former consort had conceived and was free again＋he refused
me honorable marriage and offered only to have me as his light
woman。〃 She looked back at Raissa。 〃Of course I refused。〃
The woman was solemn。 〃Among us a mei jha has honor；
Alix。 Here she is not treated like filth； as are the whores of
Mujhara。 We are too few； now； to place so much value on a
woman's married or unmarried status。 Mei jha is not a dishonor…
able position。〃
Alix's stubborn chin came up。 〃I have much left to learn of
Cheysuli customs； but this will take me most trouble； I think。〃
She swallowed and set her jaw。 〃I will not accept a lesser
position with any man。〃
The older woman smiled。 〃Ah。。。 it is everything or nothing；
with you。 Well； perhaps you are not so wrong。 Once I said me
same to my cheysul。〃 She glanced at Duncan。 〃AH of this will
be settled in Council。 Until her birth lines are studied and she is
formally accepted； I will keep her by me and teach her what she
must know。 My thanks； Duncan； for bringing a lost one back to
us。〃
He said nothing； merely inclined his head and left me pavilion
without looking at Alix。 She stood there； bereft； hating Finn all
the more for beginning it all with his abduction of her。
Raissa guided Alix to a gray pelt and gestured for her to sit。
Alix did so； staring at her hands as they twisted themselves into the
fabric of her gown。 Raissa arranged her own skirts and sat down
before her。
〃Duncan would not offer unfairiy；〃 she said quietly。 〃I know
the man。。。 he is not one to trouble a gyri that way。〃
〃He did not know about Mahna until we arrived；〃 Alix
admitted。 〃But Ron wasted no time in making certain his brother
learned of it quickly enough。〃
〃Him has ever been jealous of Duncan；〃 Raissa said。
〃Why？〃
She spread her hands eloquently。 〃An elder son is ever fa…
vored by a jehan。 k grates particularly hard when your own
blood father favors a foster son。 Hale treated them equally； but
Duncan matured quickly。 He felt me weight of the qu'mahlin
mare。 And it has cost him； though Finn does not fully under…
stand that。〃 Raissa's eyes were expressive。 〃And now； Alix；
you have given Finn reason for jealousy again。〃
…I have？〃
Raissa looked at her solemnly。 〃Would you have Finn as your
cheysul
〃No。 Never。〃
〃You see？ You will have Duncan； or none。 It cannot be easy
for Finn to know once again his ruifwili takes precedence。〃 She
smiled。 〃Wanting Duncan； you could not want Finn。 I know
mat。 'nicy are too dissimilar。 But Finn is not so bad as he seems；
Alix。。。 he might make a fine cheysul。〃
〃Finn stole me。 He would have forced me； had Storr not kept
him from it。 How can you say he would be a good husband？〃
Raissa smiled。 〃There is much of men you do not understand。
But you must team that for yourself； it is not my place to teach
you such things。〃
Alix recalled the determination in Finn's face when he said be
would have her。 And now she was no longer promised to Duncan。
〃Raissa！〃 she said； suddenly frightened。 〃They would not
force me to take Finn； would they？〃
Raissa glanced down at her skirts； settling the tiny bells into
perfect symmetry。 〃This will be hard for you； I know。 Particu…
larly since you were raised Homanan and feel no loyalty for your
true race。〃 The yellow eyes came up。 〃We arc too few。 now。
The clans have been destroyed； save for us； and even now
Shame works to slay what remains of us。 We need children。 Ч。
we need women who will bear them。〃 Light flashed off the
silver in her hair。 〃You are Cheysuli； Anx。 You must take your
place in the future of the clan。。。 in its tahinwrra。 You must
bear children for us。 If you will not have Duncan； or even Finn；
men it will have to be another warrior。〃
〃You would force met〃
Raissa reached out and grabbed her hands； holding diem even
Xs Alix sought to withdraw。 〃No woman wishes to be used as
breeding stock； Alixl Children are a gift of m