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she said softly。 〃I am not your enemy。 I am sent from Prince Carillon； who would have you free of this place。〃
His face was hidden behind his tied arm； but she could see the gleam of his light eyes。 He swallowed visibly。 〃Prince Carillon？〃
Alix set her knife to the rope binding his legs and cut them。
〃He knows you have served his House；〃 she said soothingly。 〃He knows what loyalty you have given him。 He would not have you so poorly treated for honorable service。〃
〃I have not served honorably；〃 the boy said miserably。 〃I ran。 I ran。〃 His head dropped。 〃And I was captured。〃
〃Carillon was also captured；〃 she told him。 〃He fought； but was beaten。〃 Inwardly she flinched at so undermining Carillon's prowess。 But it was the truth。 〃You were here。 Rowan。 You came to serve。 He has seen the honor in you； and he has done what he could to get you free。 I have e in his name； because he asked it。〃 She bent closer to him。 〃He called you by name and told me to e straight here； to release you。〃
〃I am not worthy。〃
She freed his hands and moved back to his side； sliding the knife into her boot。 Carefully she helped him sit up。
〃You are more than worthy。 Why else would the prince himself insist you be freed？〃
The light fell clearly on his face for the first time。 It was bruised and grimy； but his eyes； staring at her； were as yellow as Duncan's。
Alix sucked in a breath。 〃Cheysuli*
Rowan recoiled from her； then winced。 〃No！〃 he cried。 〃I am not a demon！〃
She put a trembling hand toward his face。 〃No。。。 oh no
。。。 you are not a demon。 It is not a curse。 Rowan＋〃
〃What do you do？〃 asked an accented voice from behind。
Alix leaped to her feet and whirled； staring wide…eyed at the man。 He stood before her like a demon in shadow； backlighted by the torches。 He was dark…haired； bearded； and the color of his eyes was indeterminate。 Before she could move he reached out and caught her arm。
〃Who arc you； boy？〃
She was thankful for her warrior's garb； 〃I am a servant of the prince； my lord。 Prince Carillon。〃
He glanced down at Rowan； shivering against the post。 The man smiled grimly and jerked Alix toward the scarlet pavilion； into the torchlight。
She saw he was near Duncan's age； but there the resemblance
ended。 He was tall and slender； strongly built。 She saw cruelty
and determination in the lines of his face； glinting in his brown
eyes。 He was richly dressed in black save for a blue tunic that bore the crest of a scarlet hand clasping a white lightning bolt。 His mail； glinting in the light； was little more than ceremonial。
His hand was tight on her arm。 〃You are no boy；〃 he said； surprised。 He turned her face into the light。 〃No boy at all。〃 And he smiled。
She tugged ineffectually against his grip。 When she saw she could not break free she gave it up and waited silently。
〃Who are you？ Why do you free that worthless child？〃
〃He is not worthless！〃 she cried。 〃He only sought to serve his prince； as befits a loyal man。 Yet you punish him for that！〃
〃I punish him because he threw wine over my father；〃 the man said firmly。 〃He is fortunate I did not order him slain。〃
Alix froze。 Thorne。。。 Thorne！ This man is Keough's heir！
His dark eyes narrowed。 〃What do you do here； gyri？〃
〃You saw me。 I cut the boy free。〃
〃Why？〃
She lifted her chin defiantly。 〃Because Carillon desired it。〃
〃Carillon is a prisoner。〃 His accent twisted the name。 〃His desires are nothing to me。〃
〃Let me go；〃 she said； knowing the request was futile。
Thorne arched a dark brow。 〃I think not。 But tell me why you desire to leave a prince's presence so quickly。〃
〃There is another prince whose pany I prefer。〃
He stared at her malignantly。 Alix began to regret antagonizing him； for fear of the reprisals that might affect Carillon。
〃My father will wish to see you；〃 Thome said abruptly； and dragged her into the scarlet pavilion。
Keough； Lord of Atvia； sat at a heavy slab table in the shadows of the pavilion。 Braziers had been set out to ward off me chill and torches flamed in each er。 Alix stared at him and began to be very afraid for the first time。
He was huge。 His massive body dwarfed the chair he sat in； which had been bound with iron to lend it strength。 His bared forearms rested on the table。 She saw freckles and red hairs bleached golden by the sun。 A white ridge of scar tissue snaked across the flesh and up his left arm。 His hair also was red； threaded with white； and his beard was bushy。 His deep…set eyes watched her in calm deliberation。
〃What have you brought me； Thome？〃
〃A woman dressed as a boy。 You will have to ask her the reason for it。〃
Keough's eyes narrowed。 His Atvian mouth formed the Homanan syllables harshly； without the liquid grace she was accustomed to。
〃She does not look like a camp follower。 They； at least wear skirts。〃 His fingers bed his beard。 〃Are you a woman who prefers those of her own sex？〃
〃No！〃 Alix hissed； against her will。 She saw Keough's small smile； and it rankled。 〃I am a Homanan； my lord。 That is all you need know。〃
〃Then you are my enemy。〃
〃Aye。〃 It was heartfelt。
The beard and mustache parted as he grinned； displaying discolored teem as big as the rest of him。 〃Have you e hoping to fight？ If so； you are too late。 The battle is already won。 Prince Fergus and the generals are slain； executed。 Most of the captains are dead； though I save a few for later exhibition。 Even Carillon is in my hands。〃 Keough paused。 〃There is little left for you to champion。〃
Alix was done with this。 She reached for the magic in her bones that would give her fir…shape before their eyes。 But Thome； seeming to sense something； twisted the arm he held until the sinews cracked。 The sudden pain drove away the concentration the shapechange required。
〃What do I do with her？〃 Thome asked。 〃Will you use her； or do I take her for myself？〃
Keough looked at her as she hung on her tiptoes。 〃Leave her with me。 See if Carillon is still among us。〃
Thome released her and left the tent。 Alix cradled her aching arm against her chest； glaring at Keough。 For the moment she was helpless； and knew it。
The Atvian lord smiled and sat back in his massive chair。
〃You are not a light woman。 You are not a soldier。 What are
you？*'
〃Someone who will seek your downfall； Atvian； when I am given the chance。〃
〃I could have you slain； girl。 Or do it myself。〃 He raised his huge hands。 〃Your slender throat would not live long in these fingers。〃
〃And your heart will not live long with a Cheysuli arrow piercing it；〃 Duncan said quietly。
Alix swung around； shocked as she saw him standing inside the pavilion。 His eyes rested on her briefly； expressionlessly； then returned to Keough。 In his hands was the black war bow； its string invisible in the shadows。 Eerily； it seemed the bow required no string to send its arrow winging into men's flesh。
Keough made a sound。 Alix turned back and saw him stare at Duncan as if demons pursued his soul。 His small eyes slid from Duncan to Alix； and she heard the malevolence in his tone。
〃So； you are a shapechanger witch sent to distract me while the others work against us。〃
〃No；〃 she said clearly。 〃I am Cheysuli。 aye