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you are young and healthy and new to me clan。 But I mink you will take me； because＋for all that has happened between us＋you know me。〃
〃I will take Duncan；〃 she said firmly； knowing it as a weapon against Finn。 〃Duncan。〃
Finn's mouth twisted。 〃I also spoke with Duncan about your clan…rights； rujholla。 He is clan…leader。 It is his place to know what clan…rights wifl be asked； and who will do the asking。〃
She stared at him。 〃I do not understand。〃
〃A clan…leader can ever deny a warrior me woman he wishes。 Taking a cheysula is a formal thing。 The clan…leader must give his permission。〃
Alix felt cold and hollow； and very much alone。 〃And Dun…can。。。？〃
〃He gave me permission； Alix。 He will not interfere。〃
Duncan！ she cried within her soul。
〃If it is not me； it will be another；〃 Finn said gently。
Alix looked at him。 For die first tune he spoke softly to her； without the mocking mannerisms she had e to expect。 She summoned up me image of him shapechanging before her； but it no longer frightened her。 She had her own ability； though no one knew of it yet。 Part of him； she knew； must be like Duncan。 If he was harsh and taunting and impulsive； it was because Duacan was not； and Finn must make his own way。
She moved forward on her knees； sitting before him with leaves spread all around them。 Alix slowly touched his hand； then pulled it into her own。 She saw the startled flicker in his eyes。
〃Finn；〃 she said softly； 〃Rujho。。。〃 She swallowed and smiled。 〃Take me home。〃
His hand stiffened and jerked away。 〃Home。。。〃
〃To the croft；〃 she said。 〃To Torrin。 To the life I know。〃
His face masked itself。 〃This is your home。 I will take you 〃nowhere。〃
〃Finn。。。〃 she said softly； 〃I give you a chance to pay back what you took from me。 Take me home。〃
Finn got to his feet and looked down on her as she knelt in the leaves。 〃I could not let you go；〃 be said clearly。 〃Not now； when you are nearly mine。 You forget； rujholla。。。 I stole you because I wanted you。 I will not give you up so easily。〃
〃But if Duncan said яю＋〃
〃Duncan said aye；〃 he reminded her。 〃Duncan has said I may have you。〃
She stared up at him。 〃And if I refuse you？ If I stand up in Council and say I will not have you？〃
The mocking smile was back。 〃Do not forget our third gift； meijha。 What you will not do willingly； you may be forced to do。〃
〃Please；〃 she said。
Finn looked down on her pleading face。 〃No；〃 he said。 and left her。
Alix stood outside the slate…colored pavilion and closed her eyes； summoning her courage。 Finally she scratched at me doorflap and waited。 Duncan called for her to enter。
She hesitated； then pulled the doorflap aside。 It dropped be…hind her as she stood there； letting her eyes adjust to the dim light。 Duncan was hunched over a low worktable； a slender metal stylus held in one hand as he scraped carefully at gleaming gold。
〃Aye？〃 he asked； without looking up。
。Alix wet her lips。 〃Duncan。〃
The line of his shoulders and arms stiffened。 For a moment he coatinued working on the glom ornament； then he set it aside and dropped his tool down。 It rattled against the gold and wood； roiling across me table。 Alix watched it move； unable to meet his eyes。
**I have e to you because you are clan…leader；〃 she said carefully。
〃Sit down； Alix。〃
She knelt on me other side of me worktabte。 still not looking at nun。 Her heels dug into her thighs as she folded her legs under her。 Finally she brought her head up。
〃Him came to me。 He said he has spoken to you； mat he will ask for my clan…rights at Council。〃
He wore his solemn clan…leader face。 〃Aye。〃
Her breath was unsteady as she drew it in。 〃Duncan。。。 I do not wish for Finn； You know mat。〃
〃it has been settled；〃 be said remotely。 〃And if you bring dus up again； I cannot be only a clan…leader to you。〃
Alix smiled at the unspoken warning。 At least he was not totally indifferent to her。 〃I have not e to ask you to reconsider your offer to me；〃 she told him。 〃You have made it plain what you will do； and I am done begging for more。〃
His eyes flickered。 〃Then what do you seek； Alix？〃
〃I want you to withdraw your permission to Finn。 I wast nothing to do with him。 We could never make a marriage between us。。。 and I mink it might be me death of one of us if we were forced。 I think it would be his death。。。 not mine。〃
Duncan smiled briefly； though he banished it quickly enough。
〃it would not be a tedious match。〃
〃it will not be a match at all；〃 she said darkly。 〃Duncan； withdraw your permission。〃
〃On what grounds？〃
She scowled at him。 〃I do not want him！〃
He shrugged。 〃Those are not grounds。 That is merely contrari…ness speaking； and women are prone to mat。〃
Alix stared at him。 〃You cannot want me to take him！〃
His face twisted。 〃No；〃 he said at last。 〃I do not want you to take him。 But to refuse him because of mat speaks of prejudice； and a clan…leader cannot be so petty。 Alix； me match will be good for me clan。〃
〃Is mat all you can say？〃 she demanded。 〃Can you only see
me clan； and not me？ By the gods； Duncan； I thought we had
more between us。 What has bee of this precious tahtmorraV
Color surged into his face； then slowly fell away。 〃Will you accept another warrior？〃
〃You know there is only one warrior I will accept。〃 Then the choice is yours。〃 he said softly。 〃Be mei jha to me。。。 or cheysula to another man。'* 〃Why？〃
*'I promised Malina when we were eight years old；〃 he said quietly。 〃A Cheysuli oam is binding。〃
〃She broke it。〃
〃She did not mink I meant what I said。〃 Duncan touched the golden ornament on his table。 〃She went to Borrs because she thought I would change my mind。 When I did not。。。 she was feiriy caught。 The clan…leader had given his permission for Borrs to ask for her clan…rights； and once done that is not rescinded。 It fe binding。〃 He looked at her bleakly。 〃I did what you have done。 I asked me clan…leader to withdraw his permission to Borrs； so mat I could ask for Malina。 He would not do it。。。 and they were formally acknowledged before Council。〃
Alix frowned。 〃But I thought you were clan…leader； and that was why you would not take a cheysula。〃
He looked weary。 〃Tieman died of a sickness。 It took months。 AH knew I would be his successor； so I made my decision to remain solitary before he died。 But he was still clan…leader。 And when he died； Malina was already cheysula to Borrs。〃
〃But the child。。。〃
**It could be mine。 it could be Borrs's。〃 He sighed faintly。
〃We are not a race mat places much honor on fidelity。〃
She recoiled。 〃She was wed…to him？〃
Duncan smiled。 〃I did not think you would understand。'*
〃Do you mean you are willing to take Malina and myself； and yet may also seek other women？〃
He frowned thoughtfully。 〃I cannot say what I will do。 What man could？〃
This new side of him shocked her。 She peered into his face uncertainly。 〃Duncan。。。 do you mean this？〃
He shrugged。 〃I have never been a man for all women。 One suffices。 I doubt I would trouble you mat way。〃
〃Duncan！〃
〃Alix； she carries a child that may be mine。〃
〃And I do not；〃 she said dully。
〃Alix〃
〃If she had not conceived； would you be so ready to make her your cheysula？〃