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〃No。〃
〃Carillon！〃 she hissed。
〃I will not；〃 he said firmly。 〃I would rather remain a prisoner than risk you。〃
She glared at him； teeth and fists clenched。 '〃They will take
you to Mujhara！ Tynstar is there； with Beilam。 Carillon； you will
be slain
He remained silent。
Alix ground her teeth and flung a furious glance around the area。 Finally she hunched over； propping her chin on one hand。
〃I have e all this way for you； and you will not let me help you。 I defied my husband； who said Homana…Mujhar is more important than Homana's prince； and I have risked the life of my child for you； and still you will not let me do this。〃
〃Child；〃 he said sharply； straightening。 〃You have conceived？〃
She scowled at him。 〃Aye。 I have assumed the form of wolf and falcon。 I have no knowledge what such magic will do to an unbom child； but I did it for you。 For you。 Carillon。〃
He closed his eyes。 〃Alix；〃 he said in despair； 〃you have been a foolish woman。〃
She picked at the leather of her borrowed leggings。 〃Aye； perhaps I have。 But I cannot go back now。〃 She brightened。 〃Would it change your mind if I said the Cheysuli will e here？〃
He stared at her suspiciously。 〃Cheysuli？〃
She straightened； growing excited。 〃We were on our way to Mujhara； to aid Shaine。 But Duncan will doubtless seek me here； when Cai tells him what I have done。〃 She smiled slowly； proudly。 〃He will not let me do this alone。 He will e after me。〃
Carillon sighed wearily and fingered the bruise on his cheek。 〃Alix； if you arc anything like your mother； I am not surprised she said no to royal betrothal and fled with a shapechanger。 I think you are more stubborn than any woman I have known。〃
〃They will e；〃 she said softly。 〃The Cheysuli。 And you will be freed。〃
He raised a single eyebrow。 〃Duncan has no knowledge you are here？〃
She averted her face。 〃No。 He would have forbidden it。〃
〃As would I；〃 he retorted。 〃Perhaps he and I are more like than I thought。〃
She watched emotion moving in his face； and his struggle to maintain a calm demeanor。 She leaned forward and placed a gentle hand on his manacled forearm。
〃Carillon； the Cheysuli are not so different from the Homanans。
They have only retained the gifts of the old gods。〃 She paused。
〃Do not curse us for it。〃
〃Alix； you are more eloquent than my uncle's courtiers。〃
〃Will you not admit it？〃 she asked earnestly。 〃Will you not see we are not demons and beasts。。。 not what men brand us？〃
〃I cannot say。 I have been taught to fear and mistrust them all my life。 Alix。。。 I have seen what they can do to men in battle。。。 what they leave when they kill。〃
〃That is battle；〃 she said quietly。 〃You should know； now；
what price it exacts。〃 Her fingers tightened on his arm。 〃You know them； now。 You know me。〃
Carilton drew up his legs； chains clashing； and stared over his knees at her。 ' 'If they e＋if they e＋there is little I can say against them。 They will have proven their service to the Mujhar's heir。〃 He smiled bleakly。 〃But they will not e。〃
〃 came。〃
For a long moment he said nothing； studying her face。 She sensed the conflict within him； realizing she had suffered her own measure of it when Duncan first insisted she go to the Keep。
It is not easily done； she reflected。 And he is no kind of man at all if he accedes so swiftly to words he has been taught not to hear。
〃Alix；〃 he said finally； 〃perhaps； in time； I will believe you。
But not yet。〃
She removed her hand and stood。 〃If I cannot free you； perhaps there is something else。 Can I steal food for you？ Water？〃
〃I do not hunger。 Inactivity and chains take the appetite from a man。〃 His eyes were grim； hidden in shadow。 〃There is only one thing I would ask； and I cannot ask it of you。〃
〃Tell me。〃
He pushed grimy fingers through tangled tawny hair； baring his face to the moonlight。 Alix saw the glitter in his eyes。
〃There is a boy。 Rowan。 A Homanan boy no more than twelve； who came to serve his lord however he could。〃 His eyes closed a moment。 〃He told me he acted as a runner between the captains； carrying messages。 But he； like me； was caught and made helpless。 Keough's son took Rowan from the prisoners＋as he did me＋and made him serve the Atvian lords。〃 Carillon's face tightened into bitterness as he remembered。 〃1 was forced to watch him； ix Keough's field pavilion。 His eyes followed me everywhere；。。 and I could see the confusion in his face。 I was his prince＋why could I not win his release？〃
〃Carillon；〃 she said softly。
Chains rattled and glinted in the moonlight。 〃Rowan did well
enough at first。 But he was tired； aching from the cuffs they had
given him all night。 They even made him serve me； though it
was done as if I were no better than the poorest cur。〃 Breath
hissed between his teeth。 〃Rowan tripped and fell across the
table； and spilled wine all over Keough himself。 When they
picked him up he was crying in fear and exhaustion； but his
face when he looked at me＋accepted what they would do to
him。 He knew。〃 He swore beneath his breath。 〃I tried to
gainsay it。 I tried to assuage Keough's anger by offering to take
the boy's punishment myself＋by the gods； I begged for it！ I got on my knees to Keough。。。 when I would not do it before； when they asked for it！ But the boy was worth it。〃
〃They would not accept it；〃 Alix said。
〃No。 Thome＋Keough's son＋took Rowan out and had him flogged until the skin fell off his back。。。 and then left him tied to the post。〃
〃I have seen him。〃
Carillon gave up his breath as if he would breathe no more。 〃Only a boy； who wished to serve his lord。 And do you see what that service has won him？〃
She felt for the knife in her right boot and found it。 Then she
smiled at Carillon。 〃I will free him for you； my lord。 You will
see；〃
〃Alix！〃 he cried； jerking upright； but she had already blurred
into the darkness。
Chapter Six
Alix flew to the post and perched upon it。 The boy was still slumped at its base； but now she could see the movement of his back that told her he breathed。 The flesh had nearly been stripped from his rib cage。 She winced to herself； then looked closely at the field pavilions surrounding the area。
The scarlet one was largest； and the finest。 Men had set tall torches in the ground before it； illuminating its front。 Two other smaller pavilions stood on either side of it； but the torchlight did not extend to them。 Alix assured herself there were no guards near the post； then drifted down and blurred into human form。
She drew the knife from her boot and knelt at the boy's side。 She put a hand on his shoulder； carefully avoiding his lacerated flesh。 He made no movement and she feared his unconsciousness would hinder her ability to get him away safely。
I will take him to the forest's edge； she decided。 Somehow I wilt get him there； and have him wait。 When Duncan es； I can take him to this boy。 Rowan。
He winced and moaned； stirring under her fingers。 His eyes opened wide； dilated； pale in the moonlight。 Fear changed his bruised face into a mask of terror。
Alix moved around so he could see her clearly。 〃No； Rowan；〃
she said softly。 〃I am not your enemy。 I am sent from Pr