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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； manipulated Carillon's hands with little regard for his
pain。
〃Can you not let diem be？〃 Carillon asked between gritted
teeth。 〃They will heal。〃
〃It is worth the pain to let me see to them； my lord。 Iron can damage more than flesh。 It can take away the little life within the muscles themselves。 But you； I think； will hold a sword again。〃
〃And when I hold that sword； I will plunge it into Theme's
black heart。〃
Alix's eyes widened as she saw Finn step out of the darkness into the ring of firelight。 Storr flanked him on one side。
〃What sword will you use； princeling？〃 Finn demanded。
〃You have lost the one my jehan gifted to the Mujhar。〃
Color flooded Carillon's face。 *'I admit it。〃
Finn raised one eyebrow。 〃Well； I had expected denials and excuses from you。 You surprise me。〃
〃This can wait；〃 Duncan said reprovingly。
Finn moved closer and drew a tooled leather sheath from behind his back。 The gold hilt of a broadsword gleamed in the firelight； and the brilliant may in it glistened like blood。
The warrior lifted it into the light； focusing ali eyes on it。
〃Hale's sword was meant for one man。 Carillon。 I cannot say if
that man is you； but if it I had best take care。 This is
twice you have lost my jehan's sword。 Next time I may not see it back in your hands。〃
Carillon said nothing as Finn held the sheathed weapon down。 For a long moment his hands lay still in his lap； where Duncan had released them。 Then； when Finn made no move to withdraw it。 Carillon closed one hand around the scabbard。
〃If you are so dedicated to overing my succession；〃 he began； 〃why； then； do you persist in restoring this blade to me？ hi your hands it might prove far more powerful。〃
Finn shrugged； folding bronzed arms across his chest。 〃A Cheysuli warrior does not bear a sword。 And I am that before anything else。〃
Carillon set the sword across his lap and stared at the Homanan lion crest stamped into its hilt。 Then he let the pain and fatigue take his mind； and he fell asleep with Hale's sword held firmly against his chest。
Alix looked on his bruised； gaunt face and suddenly longed for the first days of their meetings in the forest near the croft。 His fine clothes were gone； replaced by soiled and scarred leathers and blood…rusted chain mail。 His sword…belt was missing and his hair had grown shaggy and tangled in weeks of captivity Ч The only thing princely about him was the ruby seal ring on his right forefinger； and the determination inherent in his face even in exhausted sleep。
She sighed and felt a hollowness enter her spirit； knowing Carillon's personal tahlmorra would〃 take him farther from her yet。
Duncan rose and turned to her； looking down on her expressionlessly。 Something in his eyes made her realize her face gave away her feelings； and for an odd moment she saw before her a stem shapechanger warrior who had forced her into his clan against her wishes。
Then the oddness slid away and she saw him clearly。
He is Duncan； she recalled。 Duncan。。。。_。
Somehow； it was enough。 *
He moved to her and slowly raised her。 She felt the strength in his hand on her arm and marveled again mat this man had taken an unschooled croft…girl into his pavilion； when he might have had another。
〃e with me；〃 he said softly； guiding her out of the clearing to the forest beyond。
When he found a shattered tree stump he set her down upon it and stood resolutely before her； dark face unreadable in the shadows。
〃Duncan？〃
〃1 cannot fault you for what you have done。 You determined what it was that needed doing； and you did it。〃 He shrugged crookedly。 〃As any warrior does。〃
Alix stared at the ground； dreading his wrath。 Duncan's was ever worse than anyone's。
〃I understand what it is to care deeply for someone； so deeply you must do what you can； regardless of oute；〃 he said quietly。 〃You know I would sacrifice myself for you； or Finn； or any other warrior of my clan。〃
After a moment she dared to look up at him。 Nervously she wet her lips。 〃If you mean to be angry； Duncan； do it。 I cannot wait for it all night。〃
His face； still in shadow； showed her nothing。 But his voice was surprised。 〃I am not angry with you。 What you did was not wrong＋only inconsiderate。〃
She stiffened。 〃Inconsiderate！〃
Duncan sighed and stepped forward； into a shaft of moonlight threading its way through the trees。 She saw his smile and warm eyes as his hands settled possessively on her shoulders。
〃Do you forget me child？ Do you forget the magic in your soul？〃
〃Duncan〃
〃I will not risk losing you because of bearing the child too soon。 Such things can take a woman's…life。 But neither will I risk the child； who deserves to Uve as a warrior。 Alix； you have taken /ir…shape while carrying an unborn child。 Had you not thought what that might mean？〃
Instinctively a hand slipped to her stomach。 Suddenly she was very frightened。
〃Duncan＋it will not harm the child？ It will not take him from me？〃
He traced the worried creases from her brow。 〃I think it will not harm me child； cheysula； but it cannot do it much good。 Would you have a poor unformed soul shifting shape before it even knows its own？〃
Her fingers tightened spasmodically against her stomach。
〃Duncan！〃
He sighed and pulled her to her feet； wrapping hard arms around her shoulders。 She turned her face against him。
〃I have not said this to worry you； Alix。 Only to make you think。〃
She clung to him。 〃I have thought； Duncan。；。 and I am afraid！〃
〃The child is Cneysuli； small one； and bears the Old Blood。 I think it will be well enough。〃
She drew back。 〃But what if I have harmed it？ What if it is not whole？〃
Duncan muttered something under his bream and pulled her against his chest roughly。 〃I am sorry I said anything。 I should not have put this in your mind。〃
〃You are right to；〃 she said clearly； trying to see his face in the shadows。 〃I have been foolish。。。 as you said。〃
〃Would you say that to Carillon； whom you have freed from captivity？〃
〃fou freed him。〃
〃But had you not defied me to begin with； I would not have gone to the Atvian encampment at all。 It was Mujhara I was bound for。〃
Alix sighed； trying to deal with two fears。 〃Do you send me
back； then？ Do you forbid me to go with you to the city； and
make me wait at the Keepi〃
He laughed softly。 〃Why can you not be as other women？ Why must you put on men's garb＋my own； I have seen＋and act the part of a warrior？〃
She scowled。 〃How can I say？ I am myself。〃
He nodded。 〃I have seen that。 It is not entirely unpleasing； in its place。 As for Mujhara； you will have to e with us。 I will not have you take fir…shape again； and I will not have you return to the Keep alone。 I can spare no men to take you。〃 He shrugged； sighing。 〃So you will e。〃
Alix said nothing for a long moment。 Then she clenched her hands against his ribs。 〃I cannot say if I am pleased or not。 I would not be happy at the Keep； waiting in fear； but neither will I be happy to see you risk yourself for Shaine's city。〃
H