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of Homana。 One day。。。 you will。〃
〃The Cheysuli throne； Duncan？〃 Carillon mocked； and grinned。
〃I have not forgotten。〃
〃Nor have we。〃
Carillon abruptly got to his feet。 He stared down at Alix。
〃Cousin； once you told a naive； arrogant princeling the truth
of Shaine's qu'mahlin； and he denied it。 He even denied you。 I
am sorry for it。 You are wiser than any I have known。〃 He
reached down and took her hand； pulling her to her feet。 〃You have been truer to your blood than I could ever hope。〃
〃Carillon。。。〃
He shook his head and released her hand。 〃I have a horse。 And； I believe； a shapechanger sworn to be the Mujhar's liege man。 Like his father。〃
Finn rose and grinned into Alix's stricken face。 〃There； meijha； you rid yourself of me at last。〃
She said nothing； unable to speak past the pain closing her throat。
Finn looked at Duncan。 〃Rujho。 care for your cheysula。 She is not one to be treated lightly。〃
Duncan smiled and rose； sliding a hand around Alix's waist。 With the other he held out the black war bow； ornamentation gleaming。
〃Here； my lord Mujhar。 Finn will show you how to use it。〃
Carillon hesitated。 〃But only a Cheysuli may shoot a Cheysuli bow。〃
〃Traditions change；〃 Duncan said softly。
Carillon took it silently。 Then he walked from the pavilion like a man turning his back on a past； intent on making a future。
〃Storr！〃 Alix cried。
The wolfs eyes were warm。 Tahlmorra； liren。
Alix watched in mute pain as Finn followed Carillon； silver wolf flanking him。 She was hardly aware of Duncan's hands settling at her hips； pulling her close against him。 She was conscious only of the deep anguish and regret swelling in her breast。
〃They will be well； cheysula。〃
〃Why must they both go？〃
He laughed softly。 〃Have you not longed for Finn's absence from your lire？〃
She swallowed。 〃I have。。。 grown accustomed to him。 That is all。〃
〃The Mujhar is ever served by a Cheysuli； as Finn said in Homana…Mujhar。 As Hale served Shame。 And even before。〃
Alix stared out the open doorflap and wiped quickly at me
tears on her face； 〃I cannot see Finn and Carillon acplishing
much more than argument
His hands tightened。 〃Argument； as you should know； has its place。 I am certain Shaine and Hale argued； on occasion。〃
〃Look at the result。〃
Duncan moved behind her and gently rested his chin on her head。 〃Carillon is not his uncle。〃
〃No； he is not。〃 Alix sighed heavily。 〃He is only Carillon。〃
〃He will e back。'*
Alix stiffened； but refused to turn to him for fear she would see something she could not bear。
〃Duncan。。。 do you speak of tahlmorra
〃Perhaps。〃 He turned her until she stared into his face。 〃Do you think Finn and Storr will allow their princeling to stay long from their home？〃
Something fluttered briefly within her。 In amazement Alix put a hand to her stomach； then smiled and placed Duncan's hand there as well so he could feel the child move。
〃When Carillon returns； cheysul； he will have a new kinsman to see。〃
〃And a realm to win back from Bellam；〃 Duncan said gravely。
She stared into his solemn yellow eyes。 〃Can he acplish it？ Does the prophecy say he will acplish it？〃
He smoothed back her hair with his free hand。 〃I cannot say； small one。 It is Carillon's fdhinwrra。〃
Carillon's tahlmorra。。。 she echoed sadly within her mind； and instinctively sought an answer in the power the gods had given her。
There she found it； and smiled。
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