jr.shapechangers-第25部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
iled from it Then the full meaning and implications of what he bad said flared within her mind。
〃You and I。。。〃
〃If you would feel your own tahlmorra; you would see it as deariy as I。〃
Alix's bream came harsh in her throat。 Her hands tightened pulsively on the reins。 'Ten days ago I was a valley gyri (ending her father's animals。 New you tell me I must accept the will of this euxAedpropbecy and serve it accordingly。〃 Her voice wavered; then grew firm again。 〃Wen; I win not I choose my own way。〃
〃You cannot。〃
She glared at him through angry tears。 〃I have been cast from my grandsire's palace; threatened with imprisonment and death。 Evea Torrin says I must follow this tahinwrra; as you do。 But I wiH do as I choose! I am not an empty vessel to be filled with other men's desires and plottings! I am more!〃
Duncan sighed。 〃Have you not yet learned all men are no more than empty vessels for me gods? Cheysula; do not rail so aft your fate。 It is not so bad。〃
〃What do you call me?〃
He stiffened; rigidly upright in me saddle。 〃I have some
honor; gyri。 I will accede to me dictates of my own tahlrrwrra。
but I will also honor yours。 I know bow it is with Homanans and
propriety; so I will renounce my vow of solitude。 You I wiD take according to Cheysuli custom; and make you a wife。〃
〃You will not/〃
〃Alix〃
〃No! When I bee a wife it will be because I wish it; and to a man I can be at ease with。 You frighten me with your shadowed soul and mutterings of prophecy I cannot even understand。 Leave me to myseff!〃
He pressed his horse closer and caught her arm。 Alix stmggled against him as he pulled her effortlessly out of her saddle and sat her upright against his chest。 In one terrifying instant she saw me echo of his brother in him; and all of Finn's fierce determination。
〃Duncan+no!9'
〃You have asked for it!〃 he snapped; settling her across his lap。
Cai; drifting down from me rooftops; circled over mem。 You should not。 tir。
Alix; trapped within me hard circle of Duocan's arm and fearful of his intentions; saw me conflict in his face。 His hand was on her jaw; imprisoning it; but he made no further move against her。 She waited stiffly; not breathing; afraid even to Xmove。
Abruptly he kneed his horse to hers again and deposited her roughly into her own saddle。 Alix grabbed at me reins and pommel; fighting to stay upright。 When she cast an anxious glance over her cloaked shoulder she saw him visibly constrain the force of his emotion。 Then his face was a mask to her。
〃It seems;〃 he began stiffly; 〃you have alt the fir at your bidding。 First Storr gainsays my rujholli from forcing you; now Cai does so with me。 Them is more wimin you than I thought。〃
〃Perhaps you should heed it!〃
Duncan's face twisted。 〃I think the gods laughed when they
determined we should serve the prophecy together。 It will be no
simple task 〃
She glared at him。 〃It will be no task at all; shapechanger。 / have determined that。〃
He swore something in me Old Tongue; forsaking me control he had so recently won back。 Alix; startled by me savagery in ffls voice; reined her horse back two steps。
Lir! Cai cried in warning。
Duncan turned swiftly in the saddle; hand to his knife; but the men were on him。 Three of mem; clothed in dark garments; dragged him from his mount。
Alix gasped as she saw him stand braced against his horse;
knife drawn to face the men。 Suddenly her anger and frustration evaporated; replaced by stark fear for his life。
A swift feathered weight piummaed fiom the night sky; wingdps brushing her hair。 Cai shrieked into the darkness and fell; talons outstretched。 Alix's horse; terrified by the bird; reared。
She cried out and scrabbled for a solid handhold; tangling reins and mane in her rigid fingers。 She had little knowledge of horses; always before she had ridden with someone。 Now she struggled to keep the horse from striking Duncan with its pawing hooves。
A hoarse outcry followed Cai's attack。 Alix tried to see if Duncan was safe; but her horse denied it to her。 It reared again and danced backward; then spun and bolted。
Shod hooves slid on cobbles; striking sparks。 The horse cared little for obstacles in its path; leaping anything in its way。 Alix clung to the animal with all her strength; unable to control its flight; and sought the mercies of me gods。
The horse leaped a bushel and slipped badly on landing; sliding spread…legged; nearly throwing Alix from the saddle。 The cloak; whipping back; dragged at her。 She felt the woven strands of garnets and pearls break free of her hair; spilling loosened braids over her shoulders in disarray。 She took two trembling wraps in the reins; snugging them around her hands; and pulled me horse's bead sideways in an instinctive bid to slow it。
Dimly she heard the animal's wheezing bream and felt the lash of bloodied saliva against her face。 The horse slid and thrashed all four legs in an effort to maintain momentum; but Alix kept her painful grip on me reins。 She felt the cloak torn from her; whipped back into the darkness。
The horse folded beneath her suddenly; without warning; and tumbled her painfully into the street。
Stunned; knocked dizzy with me farce of her sprawled landing; Alix felt me tug at her left arm。 The twisted reins still wrapped themselves about her wrist; threatening to drag her as the animal fought to regain its feet。 Dazedly she picked at the taut leather with her other hand; freeing her wrist at last…She beard a rattle of pebbles and dimly realized the jeweled lacings in her hair had broken; scattering garnets and pearls across the cobbles。 A searching hand at her hips told her me girdle was also gone; and her skirts were torn and stained。 But she dismissed that and got painfully to her hands and knees。
The horse; defeated in its attampt to rise; lay wheezing on its side near her。 Alix stared at it blankly; wanting to go to n; afraid of what she might find if she did。
Hair tumbled over her shoulders into her bruised face; drag…
ging on me cobbles。 Wearily she pushed it behind her ears and discovered me garnets in her ears remained。 Alix got to her feet and waited for the pain to begin。 When she found she could stand it; she picked up her heavy skirts and moved slowly back the way she had e。
Duncan was missing when she found the place。 Alix moved into the pool of faint torchlight and stared vaguely at the cobbles; seeing two bodies。 One man lay on his back with a deep knife wound in his abdomen。 The other; clawing hands clasped to his face in death; had had his forehead rent by talons。 He bled freely from a wound in his throat。
The third man was nowhere。 Alix wobbled unsteadily and put born hands over her mouth to force back the sour bile rushing into her throat。
A lantern flared in a door across from her as it opened。 Alix squinted against it; trapped in the spilling illumination。 An old man peered out; one hand grasping the collar of a growling dog。 He lifted the lantern to shed more light into me street and Alix instinctively shrank from it; pressing herself against the wall。
But he saw her。 His dark eyes widened; then narrowed as he stared at the slain men。 His voice came harsh as he looked back at her。
〃Witch! Shapechanger witch!〃
Alix put a trembling hand to her face; realizing how deeply
she bore her father's stamp。 In the darkness; illuminated by me
lantern light; she was branded by the Mujhar's hatred…
〃No;〃 she said clearly。
His hand loosened on the dog's collar。 Alix; fearing he would set me animal on her; gathered up her skirts and fled。
She ran until her lungs screamed their protest and her legs faltered。 Breathlessly she fell against a stone well set in me intersection of cobbled streets。 She clutched at me cross…beams of me well and held herself upright; gasping from knifing pain in her chest and sides。
When some of the bream…demand had gone she cranked up the bucket。 The cool water was sweet on her raw throaty trickling down to soothe her heaving stomach。 It splashed over me rim and stained the velvet of her fine garments; but she did not care。
〃Could you spare some water for a thirsty horse; my lady?〃 asked a quiet voice。
Alix jerked upright