Jennifer Roberson Cheysuli 1 Shape Changers

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Alix lifted her chin defiantly- "I will be with him soon enough, when he
returns for me."
"Your place is with us," he said seriously. "We are your people. You do not
belong with valley crofters or the majesty of the Mujhar and his heir."
She knelt on me thick fur, leaning forward in supplication.
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"You took me from my people. You stole me, as the Homanans say Hale did to
Lindir. Can you not understand how I feel about
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the race you say is mine? By the gods, Finn, you even threatened to force me!"
"I did not think you would have me willingly."
Alix released a breath in frustration. "Why will you not hear me? Are you ever
so witless as you seem?"
"Witless!"
"Do you do anything with any thought put to the conse-
quences?"
"The qu'mahlin has left us little time for thought. Most of die time we act
because we must."
"You use that as an excuse!" she cried. "You prate about the qu'mahlin as if
only you have suffered. Yet you leave me no room to think perhaps your race
has the right to curse Shaine, because you behave as if you are free to do
what you wish.
Duncan would have me see you are men like any other, yet you behave as if the
Cheysuli tire demons with no understanding of what you do to others."
"You need learning," he said bluntly. "When we have reached me Keep and you
have spoken to the shar tahl. you will under-
stand better what it is to be Cheysuli. You will understand what the qu'mahlin
has done. Until then you are lost."
"Take me home," she said softly. "Finn, take me home."
He set the cup down and looked at her levelly. "I do.*'
Alix ground the heels of her hands against her eyes, feeling the grittiness of
exhaustion and tension. Her desperation was growing, swelling up inside her
until it threatened to burst her chest and force tears from her eyes. She had
no wish to cry before Finn of all people, and the sensation of futility and
helplessness hurt so bad she could think only to hurt back.
"I will escape," she said firmly. "When I have the time, and me opportunity, I
will win free of you. Even does it come to putting a knife into you."
He smiled. "You could not."
"I could."
"You have neither me spirit nor the strength to do it." "
Furious, Alix snatched up the pot of bubbling honey drink and threw it at him.
She saw the contents strike his upraised arm and part of his face, then she
was on her feet running.
Finn caught her before she reached the edge of the firelight.
Alix cried out as he caught one arm and twisted it behind her back. Then he
jerked her around until she faced him, and she was suddenly terrified as he
bent over her.
"If you would be so bold as to do that, meijha, and yet be caught, you had
best be prepared to suffer the consequences."
Alix cried out again. She could feel his breath on her face; the
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dampness of the spilled drink as it stained her gown. She felt her
Up caught in his teeth, then stumbled back as Finn was jerked away from her.
Alix gasped in pain and shock as Finn came off the ground, hand to his knife.
Then he froze, staring angrily at his assailant.
"You will not force a Cheysuli woman," Duncan said coldly.
Finn took his hand from his knife. "She may have our blood, Duncan, but she
has been reared Homanan. She wants humbling.
If you leave her to me, I will see to it she behaves with more decorum."
"We do not humble our women, either," Duncan snapped.
"Leave her be."
"Why?" Finn demanded, all affronted male pride. "So yon can take her?"
"No."
"If she is what you want as cheysula, clan-leader, then you had best follow
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tradition and ask for her clan-rights in Council."
Duncan smiled thinly. "I ask no clan-rights of any woman this year, rujfw. But
if you are so hot to take her, you should hear your own words. She is no light
woman, Finn. Ask for her clan-rights, when she has been proven to have mem."
Finn glared at him. "I have no need of formal clan-rights where a woman is
concerned. There are enough to be had without taking a cheysula."
"Stop!" Alix cried, so loudly they both stared at her in surprise.
Self-consciously she swept "back her loose hair and scowled at them. "I know
nothing of these traditions you speak of, or clan-rights, or Council . . or
anything1. But you had best
know I will do nothing against my will! You may have forced me to come with
you now, but there will be a time when you do not watch me, and I will get
free of you all. Do you hear? You cannot keep me!"
"You will stay," Duncan said calmly. "No one escapes the
Cheysuli."
Finn smiled. "The clan-leader has spoken, mei jha. We may disagree, my rujho
and I, but not on this."
Alix felt me tears welling in her eyes. She widened them instinctively, trying
to take back the moisture, but the first tear fell. On a choked sob she spun
and ran from them, wondering what animal they would send to fetch her back.
She found a damp mossy area beneath a huge beech tree not far from camp and
sat down quickly, loose-limbed and awkward.
For a moment she gazed blindly at the shadows and wondered forlornly if she
would ever see her home again. Then the enor-
mity of her plight crept upon her. Alix pulled her knees to her
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chest and hugged them, hiding her face in her torn and stained skirts.
Liren, said a gentle voice, so empathetic it nearly undid her.
Liren.
Alix turned her head against the rough weave of her gown and saw Storr waiting
quietly in the moonlight. For a moment resent-
ment replaced her grief, then it faded. She knew, somehow, Slorr had come on
his own, not because he was sent to take her back to camp.
/ was not sent, he said. / came because you are in pain, and in need.
"You speak as a wise old man," she whispered.
I am a wise-old wolf. he said, sounding amused. But there is not so much
difference, for all that.
Alix smiled at him and put out a hand. Storr moved to her and allowed her to
place a hand on his head. For a moment she was stunned at what she did;
touching a wolf, she thought silently.
But Storr was patient and very gentle, and she did not fear him. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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