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pulled the wire away and threw it into the street； moaning as she saw the livid discoloring as blood stained his neck。
〃He is alive； Alix；〃 Carillon said； kneeling over the warrior。
〃Alive。〃
She put gentle fingers to his bloodied throat； feeling the erratic pulse…beat。 Carefully she cradled his head in her lap； fighting back the rush of bile into her throat as she realized how close he had e to death。
Duncan's hand twitched and moved instinctively to the empty sheath at his belt。 Carillon reached out and stopped the searching hand。
〃No；〃 he said clearly。 〃We are not your enemy。〃
〃Duncan！〃 she cried。 〃Duncan。。。〃
His eyes opened and blinked。 For a moment he said nothing；
lying limply against her lap； men bolted upright into a sitting
position。 Carillon moved back； squatting； and Alix hastily wiped
tears off her cheeks。 Duncan； in all his Cheysuli pride； would not want to see her cry。
Duncan looked silently at the body of the Solindish soldier。 Then his eyes traveled to me felled Ihiini； lying so close。 After a moment he put bloodstained fingers to his throat。
He looked directly at Carillon。 〃Tell me I did not hear her；〃 he rasped。 〃Tell me I somehow imagined she was here。〃
Carillon began to smile。 His eyes slid past Duncan to Alix； and his smile became a grin。 Then he shook his head。
〃I will not tie to you； shapechanger。 You have only to look。〃
Duncan winced and turned his head。 Alix swallowed welling tears away as she saw the sliced welt rising on his throat； still weeping blood。 But Duncan ignored it as he looked at her in dismay。
〃Alix。。。〃
She bit her lip in response to the ragged sound of his voice。
Then she shrugged her shoulders unfortably。
〃I am sorry； Duncan； that you are burdened with such a disobedient woman。 I am not at all the proper sort for a clan leader's cheysula。〃
She saw his eyes travel over her blood…smeared face to the dark stains on her ragged shirt。 One hand reached out and touched her arm； tracing the sticky flesh。 Then he drew up his legs into a cross…legged position and sat there。 Silent。
〃Duncan＋〃 she began tentatively； then broke off as she recalled the infant。 She jumped to her feet and ran； ignoring Carillon's startled question。
Alix knelt by the jerkin…wrapped child and smiled； gathering it up carefully。 〃There is someone you should meet； small one；〃 she whispered。 〃Someone very special。〃
She half…rose； cradling the child against her chest。 Then some…thing stopped her； cutting through her happiness like a scythe。
The child was cold； too cold。 He made no sound as her hand gently touched his face。 Carefully Alix knelt back on me cobbles and fought down the sudden painful fear as she slid a hand beneath the jerkin and felt his body…Horror came slowly。 Then the pain。 〃No！〃 she cried。 〃Not the child！〃
He lay unmoving； unbreathing。 Alix shuddered over him； rubbing hands against his cold flesh as if her warmth would bring him back to life。 She Tieard footsteps behind her and the clank of a sword sliding home in its sheath。
〃Alix；〃 said Duncan's hoarse voice。
She shook her head violently in denial； still rubbing the child's cold flesh。
Duncan's hand was on her shoulder； pulling her away gently。
〃There is nothing to be done； cheysula。〃
She jerked away and knelt over the child。 〃He is mine。 Mine！
I will not let him die。〃
Duncan pulled her away。 Dimly she saw Carillon kneel by the infant and touch a hand to its chest。 Then he glanced up at Duncan and shook his head。
〃He is mine；〃 she repeated。
〃No；〃 Duncan said hoarsely。 He put his hand against her stomach。 〃Here is our child。〃
She stared into his face。 〃I only put him down for a moment。 You needed my help。 The Ihiini would have slain you。 So I put him down to go to you。〃 Her eyes closed。 〃Why did the gods make me choose between you？〃
Duncan sighed。 〃Do not torture yourself like this； Alix。 It does no good。〃
〃It was only a child！〃
〃I know； small one。 But he was more fortunate than most。 He did not know what he faced； before it claimed him。〃 Something crept through his eyes and she saw the vestiges of remembered horror。 〃He did not know what it was to look into the eyes of death so close。〃
Alix shivered and pressed herself against him。 〃Duncan； I could not bear to lose you。 I could not bear it。〃
〃Well； you have made certain I will live a little longer。〃 He smiled crookedly at her and traced me bloodstains on her nose。 〃I have taken myself a warrior instead of a woman。〃
Carillon's boots scraped against the cobbles。 Alix looked at him and saw the weariness and determination in his face。
He gestured toward the red walls rising in the near distance Ч 〃Homana…Mujhar； my friends。 It waits for us。〃
Duncan nodded。 Alix slipped from his arms； cast one more longing glance at the jerkin…wrapped bundle in the er； then turned from it resolutely。
But the pain remained。
Chapter Three
They found shelter in the shadows of the high walls； avoiding the Solindish soldiers who gathered in the torchlight spilling from sconces set into the red brick。 Cai perched himself in a nearby tree； for the proximity of Ihiini kept him from conversing with Duncan； and even Alix felt the weakness in her mind。 She did not wish to expend energy she might need later； so she kept herself from conversing with the hawk。
Duncan leaned one shoulder against the cool walls and looked at Carillon… 〃We need a way in； my lord。 As normal men。 I have no recourse to fir…shape here。〃
Carillon's hand idly caressed the hilt of his massive sword。 〃There is a way。 I played here as a child； and I knew all the secrets of this place。 I am only glad me Solindish do not。〃
〃Alone？〃 Alix whispered。
Duncan shook his head and felt gently at his bruised throat。
〃If you can； Atix； summon the lir。 They will bring the warriors。〃
Apprehension flared in her。 〃But you said I should not use
what power I have。 Because of the child＋〃
〃We have no choice。 If we are to succeed； we must get to
Shame。〃 His hand engulfed and pressed her shoulder。 〃Cheysula； I would not ask it otherwise。〃
She nodded and leaned back against the wall； detaching her…self from immediate awareness。 She no longer felt Duncan's hand on her； or heard Carillon's startled question。 She was aware only of the heaviness in the air and the great effort it took to reach the lir。
At last she felt Storr's familiar pattern questioning her。 Alix smiled weakly and told him to bring his lir； and the others。 His acquiescence came just as her strength failed her。
Alix sagged limply against the wall and felt Duncan catch her。 He swore something in the Old Tongue that broke halfway through his exclamation and set her upright； pressing her against the wall。 She heard Carillon's sharp question； but Duncan made no answer。 At last she dragged her eyes open and looked into their faces； seeing their mutual fear。
Alix managed a faint smile。 〃They e。 The lir。 and their warriors。〃
〃I am sorry。。。〃 Duncan rasped uneasily。
She shook her head。 〃It＋it was only that they are so far。 I will be well enough in a moment。〃
Carillon flicked a dark glance at Duncan。 〃/ would not use her so； shapechanger。〃
Duncan's face ha