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The glory had gone。 Only in her dreams did she recall me
； richness of Homana…Mujhar and the fine glittering city surround…
Ng its rose…colored walls。 Her days left her no time to think； for
the hours were filled with Raissa's words as she taught Alix the
customs she must know。 Her hands were never still； she needs
must learn how to weave a tapestry； how to tend two fires at
ooce。 how to cook Cheysuli dishes。。。 and how to prepare
herself to take a cheysul。 The shar tahi had yet to see her
' personally but Raissa said there was no need； the man spent his
〃 time researching the birth lines to trace her history and ancestors ao mat BO one could question her birth。
They bind me。。。 she thought。 They seek to bind me tightly within the coils of their prophecy； so I have no choice but to do as they wish。
Alix smoothed die soft wool over her knees； fingering me nap。
She had been shocked to find the skill so evident in Cheysuli
craftsmanship。 She had grown up believing them little better than
1； barbarians without the niceties of Homanan culture and crafts； but five days with the clan had already altered her perceptions。
Their fabrics were close…woven and fine； dyed muted dudes of every cotor and often beaded with semi…precious stones or bright…ened with gleaming metals。
And the jewelry。。。 Alix realized even the finest of Mujhara's goldsmiths could not match me skill of Cheysuli craftsmanship。 The warriors wore thick fir…bands on their arms and a single earring； but their talents stretched farther than that。 Already Alix had seen small casks filled with delicate ornaments fit to bedeck any king or queen。
A strange thing。。。 she thought； that a race so dedicated to war can also make such delicate； beautiful things。
The hands came over her shoulders and rested mere； one thumb caressing her neck。 The intimacy of the touch brought home all the longing she felt for Duncan； for he had not seen her except in passing。 Alix lowered her bead and stared blindly at me leaf…carpeted ground； wishing Duncan would not play with her emotions so。
〃I have missed you；〃 he said。
Alix stiffened and spun out from under the hands； leaping up and stumbling away。 Finn's hands slowly dropped back to his sides。
Her breath came harshly； whistling through her constricted throat。 One hand spread across her neck； guarding it； the other tangled itself in her skirts。
〃What is it you want of me？〃 she asked。
Finn's lips twitched。 〃That； I think； you know already。〃
Alix lowered her hand and stood stiffly before him。 〃Why have you e？〃
*To speak with you。〃 He sat down on her deserted stump and stretched out his legs。 Thigh muscles bunched and rolled beneath me snug fit of his learner leggings。 His face still bore the thread of pinkish scar tissue over one black eyebrow。
〃What would you and I have to speak about？*'
〃You and I；〃 he said quietly。
Alix frowned at him。 **I do not understand。〃
Finn sighed and gestured。 〃I will not leap on you； meijha； I promise。 But I cannot speak to you if you persist in being so frightened of me。 Your eyes are like those of a doe when facing … hunter。〃 He smiled。 〃Sit； if you will。〃
Alix hesitated； still defiant before him； but she was caught by the lightness in his tone。 He had shed the ironic mocking she hated so much。 Carefully she sealed down in the leaves and spread her skirts around her folded legs。
〃Council has been called for this night。〃
She felt blood leave her face。 〃Council。。。〃
〃At sunset。〃
〃What is the subject of it？〃
〃AH manner of things； many of which concern you。〃
Alix bit at her lip。 〃I thought it might be that。〃
〃I have e to save you some trouble。〃
Her chin lifted。 〃You do not save trouble； Finn； you make it。〃
He had me grace to color。 〃For you。。。 perhaps I did。 I admit it。〃 He smiled crookedly。 〃But admitting is not an apology； and I will never apologize for following my judgment。〃
Alix stared at him； growing more baffled by me moment。
〃Finn； you had best be plain with me。〃
He nulled his legs in and sat upright on the stump。 〃You did
not conceive Ч 〃
Heat coursed through her face as she went rigid。 〃What do you know of it？〃
His eyes were amused； though be did not laugh at her。 〃Among Ч the Cheysuli such things are not kept locked behind doors。 We are too few to look upon it as a woman's mystery。 It is a reason to rejoice； Alix； when a Cheysuli woman has conceived。〃 He paused as she stared hard at the ground。 〃Raissa told me when I asked this morning。 There is no child。〃
〃Raissa had no right to tell you anything； nor you the right to
k。〃
〃I had every right。 I intend to ask for your clan…rights in Council this night。〃
Alix's bead jerked up。 〃No！〃
〃Duncan will not nave you；〃 he said ruthlessly… 〃That has been made plain to all of us。 He will take Malina； as he has ever intended。 There is no hope left to you。〃
〃There is ever hope；〃 she said fiercely； though she knew he was right…He moved off the stump and knelt in the leaves before her； catching her hands before she could escape his closeness。
〃You have said you will be no man's mei jha。 That is your Homanan blood speaking； but I will respect it。 1 am not entirely blind to your needs； Alix。〃 He smiled at her ironically。 〃I will sacrifice a part of my freedom。〃
She tried to break free of his clasping hands but could not。 Once again she fete helpless； trapped； and the famihar fright rose up。 She knelt before him； trembling； hands icy cold in me warmth of his。
〃Fum。。。 I cannot。 There can never be peace between us。 You made that impossible from the very first day。 I would hardly be a docile； acmodating cheysula。〃
His grin flashed。 〃If I wanted that sent of cheysula； I would never ask for you。〃
She managed to glare at him。 〃Then why do you ask for me？〃
〃I have wanted you from the beginning/* he said deliberately。
〃I will take you however I can get you。〃
Alix recoiled from him； finally breaking free。 〃I would never
take you。。。 never By all the gods； Finn。。。 you are my
half…brother！ You stole me！ You took my life and destroyed it；
and now you seek to make a new one I want no part of。 It is
Duacan I want。。。 notyouV
His face remained set and closed； but me color drained slowly until he resembled a dead man。 But the intensity in his eyes showed his blood still ran beneath his flesh。
〃Duncan wants Malina；〃 be said coldly。 〃Not you。 Else he would renounce the old oath he made to her so long ago； and take you as his cheysula。〃 He shrugged dismissively。 〃You will grow out of wanting Duncan； my Homanan rujholla； if only because such desires die if not fed。〃
〃There is ever hope；〃 she said blankly。
**There is none；〃 he told her。 〃You turned from Carillon to Duncan。 In time； you will turn from my ruifwUi to me。〃
〃You cannot make me！〃 she cried。
〃I will not have to。〃 Finn glanced down at his hands as be idly separated me leaves by colors。 〃I spoke to me shar tahl。 You will be acknowledged at Council； and formally accepted into the clan。 With that acceptance es clan…rights； which any warrior may ask for。〃 He looked at her。 〃Others may ask for you； Alix。 because you are young and healthy and new to