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〃What did you do？〃
〃I summoned the healing touch of the earth； it is magic mat
resides in all me lands； but only the Cheysuli may summon it〃
〃I will miss Council；〃 she said。
〃Aye。 It will take time for your strength to return。〃
Her eyes closed。 〃It is better so。 I have no wish to see you ask
for Malina；〃
〃Or have Finn ask for you？〃
Her eyes flew open。 〃Duncan。。。 do not tease me。 Not about this。〃
〃I do not tease；〃 he said gently。 〃And I should not long prolong this for either of us。〃 He took her right hand and laced his fingers into hers。 〃Finn will not be asking for your clan…rights this night。 Or ever。〃
〃You have refused him？〃
〃There is another warrior who takes precedence over Finn。〃
〃Another！〃 Her fingers stiffened。 〃DuBcan＋〃
His free band covered her mouth again。 〃Listen to me； small one； do not be so ready to fight me when there is no need。〃 He smiled at her。 〃I went to see Malina after you had left。 I had every intention of asking for her clan…fights this night。 But she let fall me truth of me child。。。 mat it was Borrs's。 and she knew it。 She said nothing because she did not wish to lose me to you。〃 His expression was wry。 〃I had not thought myself the gort of man two women would want so badly； but I will not task myself over it。 I will simply accept roe wisdom of the gods。〃
Alix grinned at him； amused by his masculine assurance。 Her
fingers tightened in his。 〃If you will not have Malina＋〃
〃＋I will have you。〃 He bent and kissed her tenderly。 〃If you will take me。〃
〃There is no question；〃 she whispered； fighting against drowsiness。 〃None。〃
He put something in her hand； curling her fingers around the coolness of metal。 Alix opened her eyes and stared at roe thing。 it was a curving neck torque of purest gold； beaten into hundreds of gleaming facets… At the lowest point stretched the fluted wings of a soaring hawk； and in its talons was clasped a glowing lump of dark amber。
〃it is Cheysuli custom；〃 he said。 〃The warrior offers the woman a torque； to signify the bond； and if she accepts it they are considered wed。〃
〃What of these clan…rights you speak of？〃
Duncan smiled。 〃I will ask for them formally in Council； but it would not hurt anything if we preceded roe formality a little。 If you are willing。〃
She ran a trembling finger over roe gleaming hawk； down to the amber。 〃I must ask it； Duncan。〃
〃Then ask。〃
〃You said your race does not place so much honor on fidelity。〃
He smiled。 〃1 thought it might be that。 Small one； you need fear nothing。 While it is true the Cheysuli do not often keep themselves to one woman； it does not mean we cannot。 I respect your Homanan ideals； cheysula。 I do not intend to give you reason to cast me out of your heart。〃
She closed her eyes to hide her tears。 〃Duncan。。。 if this is the lahlmomt you spoke of。。。 I think I can follow it faithfully。〃
He bent and kissed her brow。 〃Hush。 1 must leave you now； for Council； but I will return。 Rest； cheysula。〃
She wanted to keep him by her but let him go。 When he had left her Raissa came and knelt； covering her with a soft blanket。
〃Now you see the strength in him； Alix。 For all Shaine's qu'mahlin changed his life； it has made him a warrior。〃
She feft herself drifting。 〃You speak as if you have known him longer than any。〃
Raissa smiled。 〃I have。 I bore him。〃
Alix's eyes snapped open。 〃You are Duncan's mother？〃
〃And Finn's。〃
She stared at me woman blankly。 〃You did not say。。。〃 She thought it over。 〃Nor did they。〃
〃There was no need。 But have I not proven a good ear for you to rant of Finn's arrogance while you silently longed for Duncan？〃
Alix closed her eyes。 〃You shame me； lady。 I have said things no mother should hear。〃
Raissa laughed。 〃I know all of Finn's faults； small one。 And
you fool yourself if you think Duncan has none。'*
〃I have not seen any；〃 Alix said distinctly。
The woman laughed again and smoothed back her shortened hair。 〃Only because you will not let yourself。 Have you not lost most of your hair because of his jealousy？〃
Alix smiled through her exhaustion。 〃Perhaps that is one fault lean accept。〃
〃Rest now； small one；〃 Raissa said gently。 〃He will e back to you。〃
Alix struggled for awareness a moment longer。 〃I am Bale's daughter； lady。 How can you show kindness to the daughter of me man who left you for another？〃
〃It does not matter； Alix。 That is all in the past。〃
〃I know now Finn hates；〃 Alix said quietly。 〃I would not have you hate me like that。〃
〃Hale was a Cheysuli warrior。 He conducted himself accord…ing to his lights； b is the custom among us； Alix； you are wele in my pavilion。 If I can have Hale back through you。 I am glad of it。〃
〃Raissa＋〃
〃Hush。 If you wish； we will speak of this another time。
Perhaps mere are things you would like to know about your
jehan；'
Alix slid farther into dreamless sleep； lost within me realiza…tion she would be Duncan's woman after all。
But she also wondered at the magic in Lmdir's soul to so ensorcel a man。
And she wondered if she had not her own measure of it
Two days later she was installed in Duncan's pavilion； propped
up on her pallet by mounds of rolled furs。 It seemed strange to
be in his place； knowing it was now hers as well； but as he Stood lover her soticitously she knew only she was the happiest she had '。'ever been。
； 〃I am well； Duncan；〃 she said softly。
He looked down at her sternly。 〃Then tell me how you came by an arrow wound。〃
I' Alix laughed at him。 〃It was a young hunter。 EUasian； I must
believe。〃
I。 He frowned at her。 〃Tell me why a hunter would shoot you； I… rather than seek other things with you。〃
； She looked down at her blanketed legs； wiggling her toes
tbeneath me wool。 Finally she glanced back up。 〃Because；〃 she
gently； 〃he thought I was a wolf。〃
Duncan*s brows lifted。 〃I hardly see bow he could mistake
。you for a woy； Alix。 Perhaps he saw Storr； and simply missed。〃
I。 The time had e for an admission。 She had missed Council；
l。wfaen she would have shown her skill to them； and had not said
1…cayming to Duncan regarding me accident。 She had cradled her
knowledge to her like a child； keeping it secret and anticipating
Xme joy in telling him。 Now it proved more difficult man she had
imagined。
〃He did not miss；〃 she said finally； fingering the healing
I； wound in her shoulder。 〃He mistook me for a wolf because I
H3f one。〃
Duncan made a skeptical sound and sat down at his tow
woAtable； picking up his tools and a gold brooch she had
watched him work on for two days。 The ir…torque rested against
her throat； warmed by her skin。
〃You do not believe me？〃 she asked。
〃You weave me a tale； cheysula；
〃I am telling you the truth。 Duncan。。。 I can do more than apeak with the tir。 I take ir…shape； too。〃 a for a moment he continued to work on me brooch。 Then； when she said nothing more； he looked at her from beneath lowered brows。
〃Alix； would you truly have me believe＋〃
〃You had better！〃 she flung at him。 〃I would hardly lie about somemmg so close to a Cheysuli warrior。 I will even prove it to you。〃
She moved as if to get up。 Duncan； rising rapidly