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Duncan stepped behind her； so close she could feel his knees against her back。 *'I suppose you will tell me why。。。 eventually。〃
〃it was not what Finn said！〃
〃WeH；〃 Duncao said； sighing； 〃it was too much to expect you to obey me。 I should have put a spell on you。〃
She jerked around so hard me blanket slid off a shoulder。
〃You can do that？〃
He laughed and moved next to her； squatting down。 He took a stick and stirred the coals。 〃You do not know all of our gifts yet； cheysula。 There are three。 The Cheysuli can assume ft'r…shape； borrow the earth magic to heal； and also force submission on any save an Dilini。〃 He smiled。 〃But that we save for extremity。〃
〃Duncan！〃
He grinned at the coals。 〃I would not truly do it； cheysula。
But you tempt me； with your forward ways。〃
She scowled at him。 〃You know I have e mostly because of you； Duncan。〃 She took a breath。 〃But also because of Carillon。〃
His hand stopped stirring me coals。 〃Why？〃
〃He requires our help。〃
〃How would you know that？ Or can you also read the minds of men in addition to the /i'r？〃
She disliked the mocking glint in his eyes。 〃You know I cannot。 But I met a man who says he saw Fergus slain and Carillon taken by Thome； Keough of Atvia's son。 It was a bloody battle； from the appearance of his garments。〃
〃War is often bloody； Alix。 Why else would I seek to keep you from it？〃
〃We must find Carillon。〃
〃The prince is no half…grown boy； Alix。 And be is valuable。 His captivity may well be unpleasant； but it will not be me death of him。 Bellam＋perhaps even Tynstar＋will want him alive； for a time。〃
She stared at him。 〃I begin to think you will allow this jealousy to prevent his rescue。〃
〃I am jealous of no one！〃 he snapped； and reddened as he heard Finn's spurt of laughter。
〃Duncan； we must go to him。〃
〃We go to Mujhara； to fight the Mini… They are a bigger threat than Keough。〃
〃Then you sentence Carillon to death！〃
Duncan sighed heavily。 〃If his death is meant； it will happen。
Carillon may not be Cheysuli； but he has his own sort of
tahlmorra。
〃Duncan！〃 she cried incredulously； aware the others watched in silent interest。 〃You cannot mean to forsake him like this！〃
He looked at her harshly。 〃The Ihlini have taken Mujhara。 If
the palace falls； Homana is in me hands of Tynstar。 Do you not
see？ Carillon will be kept alive while Bellam wants him； but if Homana…Mujhar falls he will slay aB threats to his control。 First Shaine； then Carillon。〃 He released a weary breath。 **I know you care for him； cheysula； but we cannot seek out a single man when an entire city may be destroyed。〃
〃He is your prince；〃 she whispered。
〃And I am your cheysul。〃
She scowled at him。 〃Do you send me back； men？〃
〃Would you go if I did？〃
〃No。〃
He grunted。 〃Then I will save my breath。〃 He raised her； removed Finn's blanket and led her over to his pallet。 He pressed her down with a hand on her shoulder。 〃Sleep； cheysula we ride earfy。〃
〃Sleep？〃 she inquired impishly as he lowered himself next to her and encircled her with his hard arms。
He laughed softly。 〃Sleep。 Would you give my rujholli more to make sport of？〃
〃It is ever Finn；〃 she said grumpily； pulling a blanket over mem both。
Duncan settled her head upon his shoulder。 After a moment he sighed。 〃If it pleases you； small one； I will send Cai to the prince。 He can bring word of Carillon's welfare。〃
〃Well；〃 she said after a silence； 〃it is something。〃
His hand tightened threateningly on her throat。 〃Can you never be satisfied； Alix？〃
〃If I told you aye； you would cease trying to please me。〃 She spread her fingers against the hollow of his throat； feeling its pulse。 〃Duncan；〃 she whispered after a moment； 〃why have you never said you loved me？〃
He was very still。 〃Because tfae Cheysuli do not speak of love。〃
Alix sat bolt upright； dragging me blanket from him。 〃What do you say？〃
His hand reached out and caught hers； pulling her back down against his chest。 〃I said we do not speak of love。 It weakens a warrior； who should think of other matters。〃 He smiled into the darkness。 〃For all mat； words do not always serve。〃
〃Then am I supposed to guess
He laughed softly and settled me blanket over them again。 〃There is no need for you to guess。 I have given you answer enough； before。〃 His hand slid down to rest across her stomach as he whispered。 〃You bear my son。 Alix。 Is mat not enough？〃
She stared into the darkness。 〃For now。。。**
Chapter Four
Alix spent her days behind Duncan on horseback； clasping his lean waist and anticipating what they would do when they reached Mujhara。 She had decided not to bother Duncan with entreaties to go instead to Carillon； for he had sent Cai as promised four days before； and his arguments made sense。 For all she still held great esteem and affection for Carillon； she knew even the prince would be more concerned with the welfare of Homana…Mujhar men himself。
Duncan was unusually solicitous of her； so much so that Finn； riding next to them； finally demanded an explanation。 Alix； looking at him in surprise； realized Duncan had said nothing of the child。
〃Well mei jha！〃 he asked。 〃Have you sickened； or does my
ruifw simply worry himself over women's things； now he has a
cheysula
She felt color rise in her face。 〃I have not sickened。〃
Duncan shot Finn a dark glance。 〃Do not plague her； rujho。
You have done enough of that in the。past。〃
Finn kneed his horse closer。 〃Do you seek to tell me some…thing without speaking？〃
〃No；〃 ABx said quickly。
Duncan laughed softly； 〃Perhaps it is time； cheysula。 You will not be able to be silent about it much longer。〃
〃Duncan。。。〃 she protested。
Finn scowled at them。 〃What do you say？〃
〃Alix has conceived。 She bears me a son in six months。〃
She waited for Finn's mocking words and twisted mouth； dreading what he might say。 But he said nothing。 He glanced at her quickly； men away； head bent as if he studied the ground beneath his horse's hooves。 His face was masklike； as if he feared to set free an emotion he could not control。
Duncan frowned。 〃Finn？〃
Finn glanced up and smiled at his brother。 His eyes slid to Alix； men away。 〃I wish you well of it； Duncan。 It is a good thing to know the Cheysuli increase； even if only by one。〃
〃One is enough for now；〃 Alix said firmly。
ffis grin crept back。 〃Aye； meijha； perhaps it is。 I will be glad enough to be uncle to one。〃
She watched him； puzzled by his manner。 He was a different man。 She saw his yellow eyes settle broodingly on Duncan； then a strange regretful smile twisted his mouth。 He glanced up and saw her watching him； then gestured expressively with a hand。
Tahlmorra。
Alix opened her mouth to ask a question； sensing something
she could not quite understand。 But she said nothing as Duncan stiffened before her。 She felt the sudden tensing of his muscles as he shuddered once； violently。
〃Duncan！〃
He did not answer her。 Instead he jerked the horse to a stop so unruly it slid Alix along smooth hindquarters until she clutched helplessly at Duncan； trying to stay horseback。 It was futile。 She landed awkwardly on her feet； hanging onto the stirrup to steady hersel