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Carillon flicked a dark glance at Duncan。 〃/ would not use her so； shapechanger。〃
Duncan's face hardened。 〃It is for your sake I asked it； princeling。〃
Alix put a hand up and pushed herself away from the wall； straightening her tired shoulders。 〃Enough of this。 If you wish Homana reconciled with her Cheysuli forebears； you will have to begin with yourselves。〃 She glared at them。 〃Yourselves！〃
Carillon looked guilty。 Duncan； mouth twisting in Finn's ironic manner； nodded to himself。
Alix sighed and rubbed wearily at an eye。 〃I think they e。
Here is Storr。〃
The silver wolf came out of the shadows silently； feral eyes gleaming in the darkness。 With him came Finn； who had a wide smear of blood across his jerkin and a victorious glint in his eye。
〃You wanted me； mei jha
〃Duncan wanted you。 And the others。〃
Finn glanced at his brother； then frowned。 He stepped close and examined the bloody slice in Duncan's throat。 After a moment he stepped back and raised his brows。
〃Did you tangle； somehow； with an Atvian bowstring instead of an arrow？〃
Duncan smiled。 〃An Ihlini garrote； rujho。〃
Finn gmnted。 〃They are ever troublesome。 We should teach the Ihlini something； someday。〃 His eyes belied the irony in his tone。 〃Rujho。。。 you are not badly hurt？〃
Duncan shrugged。 〃I am well enough。 Growing voiceless； perhaps； but you may prefer me that way。〃
Finn's teeth flashed。 〃Aye； rujho； I believe I may。〃
The others had gathered。 Alix saw not a single warrior was missing。 She wondered； in remembered horror； how many men lay dead at shapechanger hands。
〃We will go in；〃 Duncan said in his broken voice。 〃We will go in and give what aid we can to Shaine the Mujhar。〃
〃How？〃 demanded Finn。 〃We cannot seek far…shape so close to the Ihlini。 And we can hardly scale me walls without being seen。〃
Duncan gestured to Carillon。 ' 〃The prince has said he can get us in。〃
Finn's face expressed doubt。 No one else moved； but Alix sensed their unspoken disbelief。 Then Carillon shifted against the wall and stood upright。
〃You have little enough reason to trust me。 It would be a simple matter for me to let you in and lead you into a trap of the Mujhar's making。*' He smiled grimly。 〃While I have not precisely been your enemy； neither have I been your ally。〃
〃I think we are in agreement for the first time； princeling；〃 Finn said in careful condescension。
Carillon； to Alix's surprise； appeared unoffended。 He smiled calmly at Finn。 〃You need my aid； shapechanger。 Mine。〃
Finn grunted。 〃I need nothing of yours。〃
Carillon turned to Duncan。 〃I will get in； and then I will open
one of the smaller gates。 I leave it to you to rid yourselves of the
Solindish guards。〃 He gestured toward the darkness。 〃It is but a
short distance that way。 I will meet you；〃
He faded into the shadows。 Finn spat out a curse between his teeth and looked as if he had swallowed something sour。
Duncan observed him impassively。 〃1 trust him； Finn。 He will do as he says。〃
〃He is Homanan。〃
〃They are not our enemy。〃
Finn's eyes narrowed。 〃Then what of the qu'mahlin
〃It was begun by a single man； not by a nation。 It can also be ended by a single man。〃 Duncan sighed and felt at his tender throat。 〃Shaine began it。 Carillon； I think； is the man who will end it。〃
〃Do not speak so much；〃 Alix admonished him； then shot Finn a scathing glance。 〃Carillon expects us； rujholli。 Should we not go where he said？〃
He grinned at her and gestured with a flourish in the direction Carillon had indicated。 When she did not move he shook his head reprovingly and went into the darkness。 The others followed。
Alix turned away as the Cheysuli slew the Solindish guards…Her flesh crawled as she remembered the sensations in her when she had plunged her knife into the Ihlini's back。 She would have run from the renewed violence had Duncan not kept her by him。
As the last man died； the narrow gate swung open。 Carillon stepped through。 His leather…and…mail dripped with water； pooling at his feet。 His hair was plastered darkly against his head； but his smile was subtly triumphant as he gestured。
〃There is a culvert few know about。 Now； through here； if you please。 And you are well e to Homana…Mujhar。〃
He led them into a small bailey； avoiding the larger one which opened onto the front of me massive palace。 He paused as Duncan whispered to him； and waited as the clan…leader turned to his warriors。
〃It would be better to go in separately； should the Mujhar
send men against us。 Slay only if you must； for these men are not truly our enemies。 When you can； make your way to the Great Hall。〃 He smiled at Carillon's involuntary start of suiprise。 〃Have you forgot； my lord； mat Hale was my foster…father？ I was here as a small child。 I know this place。〃 He looked up at the dark bulk of stone。 〃A long time ago； I walked the halls and corridors with impunity。 Shaine once called me by name and bade me serve him as well as Hale did。〃 His mouth tightened。 〃A very long time ago。〃
Finn stepped between them。 〃But I was never here； princeling。
I was left at the Keep。 You may serve as my guide。〃
Carillon turned away and moved toward the palace。 The others melted away。 Alix walked at Duncan's side as they followed Carillon and Finn into the castle。
They went unaccosted； though the servants and guardsmen within the halls grew red…faced or frightened as they saw me Cheysuli。 Only Carillon's presence kept the guardsmen from moving against them； and Alix saw that Finn marked it。 She wondered if it made a difference to him。
At last they reached me hammered silver doors of me audience
chamber she recalled so clearly。 She felt a shiver of remembered
apprehension mn down her spine。 Shaine had frightened her that
day； before he made her angry。 Then she smiled as she called to
mind the Mujhar's terror as Cai swept into the hall…
〃Boirowed glory；〃 Finn muttered。 〃Borrowed。〃
Alix glanced at him。 〃What do you say？ This place is magnificent！〃
〃This place is Cheysuli；〃 he retorted。 After a moment his voice softened as he glanced around。 〃Cheysuli。〃
Carillon thrust open me unattended doors。 Alix would have gone through immediately but Duncan held her back。 She looked at him in puzzlement； then saw his gesture toward Carillon。 Understanding； she stepped back。
The prince entered me long hall slowly。 He left a trail of water behind。 For a moment Alix saw a vision of the tall prince forcing his way through the narrow culvert； and smiled。 Then she went in with Duncan。
Shaine sat upon the throne； hands clasping me curving lion paws。 His eyes stared broodingly into the massive firepit。 It had died to coals and the hall was chilly。 The Mujhar seemed to notice no one as they approached the dais。
Duncan paused at the firepit； allowing Carillon to continue on alone。 Alix waited also。 as did Finn。 They watched as Carillon paced the length of the firepit and halted before the dais。
〃You； my lord Mujhar； have been a fool；〃 he said coldly。
Shaine looked at Carillon。 Slowly he rose to his feet； taller man his heir only by virtue of the dais； staring at him in amazement。
〃Carillon。。。〃 he whispered。
〃A fool；〃 Carillon rep