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ep her forever。〃
Alix。 recoiled from him； jerking her braid free of his hand。 Fear drove into her chest so quickly she could hardly breathe； and she felt a trembling begin in her bones。
He could do this； she realized。 He could。 He is a demon。。。
〃Let me go；〃 she pleaded。 〃Do not keep me with you。〃
His black brows lifted。 〃Do you sicken of my pany so soon； meijha？ YOU will injure me with such words。〃
〃Alix is none of yours；〃 Carillon said coldly。 〃If you seek to ransom me； you will do the same for her。 And if her father cannot meet your price； the Mujhar will pay it from his own coffers。〃
Finn did not bother to look at Carillon。 He stared penetratingly at Alix。 〃She is a prize of war； princeling。 My own personal war against the Mujhar。 And I would never take gold from a man who could order his men to slay an entire race。〃
〃I am no prize！〃 Alix cried。 〃I am a woman！ Not a brood mare to be judged by her ability to bear young or bring gold… You will not treat me so！〃
Finn caught one of her hands and held it； browned fingers encircling her wrist gently… She tried to pull away； but he exerted just enough force to keep her hand imprisoned。
〃I treat you how I choose；〃 he told her。 〃But I would have you know mei jhas are honored among the Cheysuli。 That a woman has no cheysul husband and yet takes a man as mate does not make her a whore。 Tell me； is that not a better life than the light women of Mujhara receive？〃
Her hand jerked in his grasp。 〃Let me go！〃
〃You are not the first woman won in such a fashion；〃 he said solemnly； 〃and doubtless you will not be the last。 But for now； you are mine to do with as I will。〃
Carillon reached out to grab Finn's arm； cursing him angrily； but the pain of his wrist prevented him。 His face went horribly white and he stopped moving instantly； cradling the wounded arm。 His breath hissed between his teeth。
Finn released Alix。 〃If you will allow it； I will heal the wound。〃
〃Heal！〃
〃Aye；〃 the Cheysuli said quietly。 〃It is a gift of the old gods。
We have healing arts at our beck。〃
Alix rubbed at the place he had held on her arm。 〃What do you say； shapechanger？〃
〃Cheysuli；〃 he corrected。 〃I can summon the earth magic。〃
〃Sorcery！〃 Carillon exclaimed。
Finn shrugged。 〃Aye； but it is a gift； for all that。 And used only for good。〃
〃I will not suffer your touch。〃
Finn moved and caught Carillon's wounded arm in a firm grasp。 The prince winced away； prepared to make a furious protest； but said nothing as astonishment crept across his face。
〃Carillon？〃 Alix whispered。
〃The pain。。。〃 he said dazedly。
〃The earth magic eases pain；〃 Finn said matter…of…factly； kneeling before me pale prince。 〃But it can also do much more。〃
Alix stared open…mouthed as me Cheysuli held the lacerated arm。 His yellow eyes had gone oddly piercing； yet detached； and she realized her escape lay open before her… He had somehow gone beyond them both。
She moved as if to go； coiling her legs to push herself upright； but the expression on Carillon's face prevented her。 She saw amazement； confusion and revulsion； and the beginnings of a protest。 But she also saw acknowledgment of the truth in Finn's words； and before she could voice a question； afraid of the sorcery the shapechanger used。 Finn released Carillon's wrist。
〃It is done； princeling。 It will heal cleanly； painlessly； though you will have scars to show for your foolishness。〃
〃Foolishness！〃 Carillon exclaimed。
Finn smiled grimly 〃It is ever foolishness for a man to threaten a Cheysuli before his h'r。〃 Finn nodded his head at the silver wolf who lay silently by the tent。 〃Storr will let no man harm me； even at the cost of his own life。〃 He frowned suddenly； eyes somber。 〃Though that has its price。〃
〃Then one day I will slay you both；〃 Carillon said clearly。
Alix felt the sudden flare of tension between the two； though
she could not put name to it。 And when Finn smiled ironically she felt chilled； recoiling from his twisted mouth。
〃You may try； princeling； but I do not think you will acplish it。 We are meant for something other than death at one another's hands； we two。〃
〃What do you say？〃 Alix demanded。
He glanced at her。 〃You do not know the prophecy of the Firstborn； meijha。 When you have learned it； you wilt have your answers。〃 He rose in a fluid motion that put her in mind of a supple mountain cat。 〃And it will give you more questions。〃
〃What prophecy？〃 she asked。
〃The one which gives the Cheysuli purpose。〃 He stretched out his right hand in a palm…up； spread…fingered gesture。 ' 'You will understand what this is another time。 For now； I must see my rujholli。 You may sleep here or within my tent； it is all one to me。 Storr will keep himself by you while I am gone。〃
He turned and walked away silently； fading into the shadows。 lost to sight instantly。 Alix shivered as the wolf rose and came to the blue blanket。 He lay down near them； watching them with an odd equanimity in his amber eyes。
Alix recalled Finn's odd words earlier； his strange reaction to the gentle tone she had heard in her mind。 Carefully； apprehensively； she formed her own。
Wolf？ she asked。 Do you speak？
Nothing echoed in her head。 The wolf； called lir。 did not seem so fierce now as he rested his jaws on his paws； pink tongue lolling idly。 But the intelligence in his feral eyes。 so unlike a man's； could not be ignored。
Lir？ she questioned。
/ am called Stwr； he said briefly。
Alix jerked and recoiled on the blanket； fighting down nausea。
She stared at the animal； horrified； but he had not moved。
Something like a smile gleamed in his eyes。
Do not be afraid of me。 There is no need。 Not/or you。
〃By the gods。。。〃 she whispered。
Carillon looked at her。 〃Alix？〃
She could not take her eyes from the wolf to look at Carillon。 A shiver of fear ran through her as she considered the madness of her discovery。 It was not possible。
〃Alix；〃 he said again。
Finally she looked at Kirn。 His face was pale； puzzled； fatigue dulled his blue eyes。 But even were he alert and well； she could not tell him she heard the wolf speak。 He would never believe her； and she was not certain she did。
〃I am only confused；〃 she said softly； mostly to herself。
〃Confused。〃
He shifted the arm into a more fortable position； running a tentative finger over the puffy teeth marks left by the wolf。 But even she could see it had the look of healing to it。
〃You must leave；〃 he said。
She stared at him。 〃You still wish me to go； even after what the shapechanger said？〃
Carillon stalled。 〃He sought only to frighten you。〃
〃The wolf。。。〃
〃The shapechanger will not leave him with us forever。 When you have the chance； you must go。〃
She watched Carillon ease himself down on the blue blanket； stretching out long legs booted to the thighs and wrapping the green cloak over his arm。
〃Carillon。。。〃
〃Aye； Alix？〃 he asked on a weary sigh。
She bit at her lip； ashamed of her hesitation。 〃I will go… When I have the chance。〃
He smiled faintly and fell into an exhausted slumber。 Alix looked at him sadly。
What is it about an ill or injured man that turns a woman into an acquiescent fool？ she wondered。 Why is i