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〃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？〃
He looked away。 〃If Borrs had lived； and the child still
mine。。。〃 Duncan sighed deeply。 〃I mink I would have said
notfaing。'*
She stared at him。 〃Then it is the child。。。〃
〃I have ever cared for Malina；〃 be said steadily。
〃And if the child is not yours？〃
His jaw tightened。 〃I cannot take that chance。〃
〃Yet she is willing to share you with me？〃
〃I made it a condition；〃 he said softly。 〃I said I would take her for the sake of the child。。。 and if she would accept you as my meijha。〃
〃Duncan！〃
〃Small one； had she said no I would have made you my cheysula。 But there is much between Malina and myself； and 1 could not forsake her so easily。〃
〃But you foreake me。。。 you give me to Finn！〃
〃Because he has asked； and there is no reason to deny him。 It is not for me to do。〃
〃I will not have him。 I have told him mat； and now I tell you。〃 She fisted^ her hands in her skirt。 〃I am Cheysuli； clan…leader； and you cannot pel me。〃
〃We will do whatever we must； Alix；〃 he said gently… 〃Even to one of our own。〃
She rose slowly； shaking her skirts into order。 Somehow she summoned a smile。 〃You cannot force me； Duncan。 That you will see。〃
She turned on her heel and left him。
BOOK III
〃The Cheysula〃
Chapter One
Alix stood before Raissa's pavilion and called Cat and Storr to her。 The Ur came and acpanied her to the lightning…scored tree； saying nothing； though she was sure they knew what she planned to do。 She needed practice in assuming ft'r…shape； if she wanted to impress upon the Council the magnitude of her abilities； she had better do it petently。
Cai perched above her on a stout limb； preening his feathers into perfection。 Storr sat down and watched her from wise amber eyes。
〃Help me；〃 she said。
You need only think yourself a wolf； he said； and you will be one。
She recalled the words he had used before； the sensations coursing through her body as she made tee transition。 A part of it still frightened her； but she also recognized it for the gift it was。 And it might keep her from Finn； if she showed Council what she could do。
Alix opened her eyes and crawled out of the deep hollow； shaking her shaggy red…gray coat。 Sounds came more sharply to her twitching ears； and her nose told her more than she dreamed possible。 She smiled； baring gleaming teeth。
Storr and the young wolf…bitch shouldered through the underbrush。 Alix delighted in the feel and sensation of things she normally paid no mind to。 She found she did not lose awareness of herself as a person； rather that knowledge and awareness were enhanced and extended until she could prehend both Hfe processes。 Her intelligence was neither diminished nor improved；
she merely understood things as both human and wolf。
She had lost her human speech but needed no words with the Ur。 Thoughts from Cai and Storr still formed themselves in patterns easily prehended。 With an uprush of pride and ecstasy she knew in full measure what it was to be Cheysuli。
And in that same instant she understood why Shaine the Mujoar hated her race。
He thinks the Cheysuli will use their arts in retribylion for the au'mahlin。 He will never rescind it。'
Now ywjuify understand； Iven； Csd chimed。 Shame cannot forgive himself his own pride； or his own/ear。
Alix； new to her wolf senses and tost in contemplation； did not hear the snapping of twigs in the underbrush。 Cai winged higher and Storr slipped into me shadows； but she＋glowing ruddy…gray in vibrant health＋provided an inviting target to die mounted hunter。
A bough cracked beneath the horse's hooves。 Alix spun around。 Alarm spread through her sinews and charged her thudding heart wim shock。
She twisted； leaping into the air； yelping in fear and pain as the arrow sliced into the ruff at her neck。
The hunter； dismounting to locate me downed wolf…bitch； parted the underbrush and found himself looking into the dilated eyes of a woman。
He stumbled back a step as she clasped the flesh at me top of her left shoulder； blood welling between her fingers。 She gripped die arrow in her free hand and threw it at him； trembling with duck and pain。
Alix's words tumbled over themselves as she cursed him； hardly able to speak through tee violence of clenched teem。 He turned and crashed back through the underbrush to his horse。
She moaned softly and rocked on her knees； one arm clasping her bleeding shoulder； the other stretched across her roiling stomach。
You must return to the Keep！ Storr said in alarm as he melted out of me trees。
〃I c…cannot。。。〃 she gasped。
Cai came down to a nearby branch； agitated and mantling。
SM…en； you must get to the Keep。
Alix could only force out a weakened denial and slipped bonelessly to me leafy ground； blood spilling rapidly from her shoulder。
She was aware of pain when me arms took her from me ground and cradled her against a broad chest。 Alix fought to open her eyes； achieved it； and stared dimly at Duncan's face… It was drawn and pale； and in his eyes she saw fear。
〃Duncan。。。〃
〃Be silent； small one。 I will take you to me Keep。〃
〃How did you know？〃 she asked weakly。
〃The Ur came。 Cai told me。〃
〃What of Council？〃
His anas tightened。 〃Be silent； Alix！ I will not have you weaken yourself with such worries。〃
He took her to Raissa's pavilion and settled her on her thick furred pallet； shifting her limbs carefully。 Though her mind was sluggish and strangely dull she was conscious of his gentleness and concern。 But when she tried to ask him another question he placed a hand over her mouth。
〃If you will allow it； small one。 I will let you feel the healing arts of me Cheysuli。 But it must be soon。〃
Her ears rang and her bones fett heavy as stone。 Her eyes saw only fuzziness。 〃I would not consign myself to death；〃 she whispered as he removed his hand。 〃Do what you will。〃
He settled himself next to her pallet； crossing his legs。 He did not touch her； but his eyes were fixed on her with absolute possessiveoess and determination。
Suddenly she found herself trembling； unable to feel me soft furs beneath her or me warmth of the blood still spilling from her shoulder。 Only air was beneath her； and when she tensed against ns feather touch she felt the earth under her hands。 Her fingers curled against it； clawing into its softness。 It enveloped her in rich gentleness； entering the pores of her skin。
She opened her mouth to scream but could find no voice。 A blurring came into her mind； fogging her eyes； stopping her ears。 She sought to lift a trembling hand and found her body would not answer her。
Duncan's hand smoothed hair from her damp forehead。 〃It is done； small one。 Rest yourself。 I promise you will be better。〃
Her eyes cleared slowly。 She saw him by her； himself again； though he looked weary。 〃Duncan。。。〃
〃Hush；〃 he said softly； running a gentle hand over me wounded shoulder。 〃It is healed； but it will take time for you to recover your strength。 The earth magic does not give back everything。〃
〃What did you do？〃
〃I summ