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ce。〃
Carillon heaved himself from the tumbril with Duncan's help。 His face went white and he gasped in pain as his muscles screamed their agony。 He remained on his feet only because Duncan held him there。
〃Give me a sword；〃 Carillon said between clenched teeth。 〃I must have a sword。 I owe a death to someone。〃
〃I have none。〃 Duncan's eyes were opaque and blank。 〃The last sword the Cheysuli held was Hale's。 You； my lord； have lost it for us。〃
Carillon blanched beneath the quiet reproach。 〃I had little to do with it！ Thome disarmed me； and took it。〃 His pale face twisted。 〃I will slay that man。 I have been chained tike a beast and treated as mon filth。 They have made me watch as they ordered my men slain； and Thome has laughed at it all。〃 He took a slow breath。 〃But the worst has nothing to do with me。 It was the boy。 Because of him； and the rest； Thome will die by my hand。〃
Alix moved closer。 〃The boy。 Carillon。 I saw him closely。 Is he Cheysuli？〃
Carillon sighed。 〃I thought so。 He had the color for it。 But he said no； when I asked him。 He was afraid。 I think； if anything； he is a bastard got on some Cheysuli woman。 He said he was raised Homanan by a man and a woman not his parents。〃 He looked back at Duncan。 ' 'If I cannot have a sword； shapechanger； then lend me a knife。〃
Duncan's eyes narrowed。 〃I have a name； princeling。 You would do well to use it。 I have mitted my clan to your survival； and that of Homana。 You and I have； I think； gone beyond being opponents of any sort。 There is more than that between us； now。 My lord。〃 Duncan studied him dispassionately。 ' 'If you would earn the respect of the Cheysuli＋which you must have to keep Homana intact＋you would do well to save your hatred for the Bilini。〃
Alix feared they might e to blows。 Carillon glared angrily
at Duncan； as if he would slay him； and Duncan exhibited no intention of retracting his sharp words。
Finally she put a hand on each of their arms。 〃e； my warriors。 We should leave this place。〃 When Duncan made no signs of moving she deliberately pressed her nails into his bare arm。 〃Cheysul； so you forget I carry your son？ Get me free of this place。〃
That drove both of mem into motion。 Carillon wavered on his feet； recovered； and made as if to walk。 Duncan caught his arm and led him away from the tumbril。 But his other hand was on Alix's wrist； and she felt herself dragged after him。
Satisfied she had achieved her goal； she smiled to herself and went along amicably。
Chapter Seven
Duncan stole an Atvian horse and helped Carillon mount。 The prince's face was stretched taut with pain and the struggle to keep it unspoken； but Alix sensed every screaming fiber of Carillon's mistreated body。 Silently she watched him pose himself in the saddle； gathering reins with swollen； discolored hands。
Duncan turned to her。 〃Ride behind him； cheysula。〃
Carillon glared at him。 〃I have no need of a woman to keep me in the saddle； shapechanger。〃
〃This woman has accounted for your rescue； princeling；〃 Duncan returned。 〃And as for your ability to keep yourself in the saddle； that is for you to do。 It is Alix I am concerned about； and the health of our child。〃
Carillon； about to say something more； snapped his mouth shut。
Alix shook her head。 〃I go with you； Duncan。〃
〃The others leave this place in；w…shape；〃 he said calmly。 〃I will walk； leading this horse。 Whether you realize it yet； you are doubtless weary。 Ride； Alix。〃
Duncan's words awoke all the trembling in her limbs and the
prehension of what she had acplished。 Alix felt her
bones turn to water。 Though she longed to protest she withheld it
as she saw the understanding in Duncan's eyes。 Silently she let
him lift her onto the horse； and carefully clasped her fingers into tire leather of Carillon's belt。
〃Where do we go？〃 he asked。
〃Not far。 Perhaps two leagues from here。〃 Duncan took the horse's bridle and led it out。 〃e； we will see to your welfare when we are free of this place。〃
Duncan took them from the open plains into me depths of the shadowed forests； moving so silently Alix heard only the horse's steps muffled against the bedding of the forest floor。 Occasion…ally she saw flitting shapes of animals slipping by and realized me far and their warriors gave the clan…leader and his charges protection。 She felt very safe。
At last Duncan turned the horse into a tiny clearing invisible to the untrained eye。 Alix pushed free of the horse and dropped to me ground； ignoring Duncan's disapproving ment。 She stepped out of the way and watched as he helped Carillon dismount。
〃I will be well enough；'〃Carillon said curtly。
Duncan did not remove his steadying arm。 〃It is no disgrace to require help after so much time spent in close confinement。*' He met Carillon's eyes。 〃Or is it only Cheysuli aid you spurn？〃
Alix sighed wearily and pushed hair from her face。 〃Must you ever go at one another with no basis other than pride and arrogance？〃 she asked。 〃Can neither of you forget your race and simply conduct yourselves as men？〃
Carillon stared at her。 After a moment something softened his expression and twisted his mouth briefly。 He looked back at Duncan。
〃You have proven your loyalty to me； at least； this night。 It is
not my place to reprove you for h；〃
Duncan smiled and indicated a fallen log。 〃e； my lord。
We will see if you are worth saving。〃
Alix followed as Duncan led Carillon to the log。 The prince lowered himself carefully to the ground and leaned against the fallen tree； sighing as his limbs fell once more into the positions they had grown accustomed to in captivity。
〃Build a fire； cheysula。〃 Duncan said quietly as he knelt by Carillon's side。
She feel a spasm of fear in her chest。 〃So close to the Atvians？〃
〃We must； Alix。 Carillon can go no farther this night。〃
Unhappily she did his bidding； locating stones and building them into a small fire cairn。 She lay small sticks and broken kindling upon it； and kept herself from twitching in surprise as a Cheysuli warrior appeared to light it。 When she glanced up she saw the clearing was filled with returned warriors。
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Flames licked at the kindling and caught； illuminating the clearing into eerie； flickering shadows。 Alix saw the dark face of each man and the glowing yellow eyes； acknowledging again her own kinship to the magic of the gods。 The lir； four…footed and winged； waited silently with their warriors。
Can she asked silently。
He rustled in the nearest tree。 Here； liren。
I acplished what I said I would。
Aye； liren。 He sounded amused。 You are truly Cheysuli。
Alix grinned。 Those words from you are honor indeed； Cai。
Yet once you would not admit it； liren。
Alix sighed and knelt by the fire； watching her husband at
Carillon's side。 But then 1 was foolish； Cai； and unwilling to
learn。
You have learned much； the bird agreed。 But there is still
much left to you。
She peered into the tree； trying to distinguish the hawk's form from distorting branches。 What do you say？
In time； you will know。
A stifled exclamation from Carillon took her attention from
the bird and she moved closer to the prince。 Duncan； she saw in
alarm； manipula