jr.shapechangers-第55部分

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　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　repeated。
　But　Shaine　was　not　undone　by　Carillon's　unexpected　presence。　He　was　a　king　before　all　else；　and　could　still　mand　a　powerful　presence　when　he　chose。
　〃You　will　not　speak　to　me　until　you　find　the　proper　words　of　respect　to　your　liege　lord。〃
　The　prince　laughed　openly。　〃Respect。　You　have　earned　none　of　mine；　uncle。〃
　Shaine's　gray　eyes　glared。　His　voice　dropped　to　the　ominous　tone　Alix　recalled　so　clearly。
　〃I　will　excuse　your　poor　manners　this　once。　Doubtless　you　grieve　for　your　father；　and　you　appear　to　have　been　poorly　treated　at　Keough's　hands。　But　I　will　not　hear　such　words　from　you　again。〃
　Carillon　smiled　grimly。　〃My　father　is　fortunate　in　his　death；　uncle。　He　does　not　face　the　knowledge　that　die　Mujhar　has　failed　Homana。　/　have　to　deal　with　that。。。　and　so　must　you。〃
　〃You　call　me　a　fool！〃　Shaine　roared。　〃What　do　you　know　of　the　things　I　have　had　to　order　these　past　months？　What　do　you　know　of　the　harsh　decisions　I　have　had　to　make？〃
　〃Safe　within　your　walls！〃　Carillon　shouted　back。　〃/　have
　been　ita　me　field　with　thousands　of　Homanan　soldiers＋some　of
　them　boys！　What　do　you　know　of　that；　my　lord　Mujhar？　You
　make　the　mands＋we　carry　them　out。　And　we　are　the　ones
　who　die　beneath　Bellam　and　Keough's　hordes；　uncle＋notyout〃
　Shaine's　face　congested。　〃You　would　have　me　die；　men；　my　lord　heir？　So　you　may　do　better　in　my　place？　Is　that　what　you　seek？〃
　Carillon　was　rigid。　〃I　want　Homana　safe　again；　my　lord　Mujhar。　And　you　alive　to　see　it。〃
　Before　Shaine　could　reply　a　quiet　voice　echoed　down　the　hall。　〃And　/　want　you　alive　as　well；　Shaine　the　Mujhar。　Else　I　cannot　have　the　pleasure　of　taking　your　life。〃
　Alix　stiffened　as　Finn　threw　the　words　down　the　hall；　moving　to　approach　the　Mujhar。　Storr　padded　at　his　side　silently。　She　sensed　me　wolf's　loyalty　to　Finn　more　strongly　than　ever　before。　She　nearly　went　after　them　both；　suddenly　frightened；　but　Dun…can　kept　her　back。
　〃It　is　for　him　to　do；〃　he　said　softly。　〃It　is　his　tahlmorra。〃
　〃He　will　slay　him！〃
　〃Perhaps。　Be　silent；　Alix。　This　is　for　Finn　to　do。〃
　She　clenched　her　teeth　and　turned　back；　hating　the　calm　acceptance　in　Duncan's　broken　voice。　Like　him；　she　could　only　watch。
　Finn　stopped　before　the　dais。　He　waited；
　Shaine　stared　at　him。　Color　drained　from　his　face　until　only　a　death　mask　remained。　His　lips　were　bluish；　hands　shaking。　An　inarticulate　sound　burst　from　his　throat。　Then　he　swallowed　visibly　and　forced　a　single　word　between　his　lips。
　〃ffaie。〃
　Finn　laughed。　〃No。　His　son。〃
　〃Hale　is。。。　slain。。。〃
　〃By　your　order。〃
　〃He　had　to　die。。。　had　to。。。〃　Shaine　stiffened　before　Finn　and　brushed　a　trembling　hand　across　his　staring　eyes。　〃He　had　to　die。〃
　〃WAy？〃
　Shaine　blinked。　〃He　took　her　away。　Lindir；　My　daughter。〃
　He　swallowed。　〃Took　her　from　me。〃
　〃She　chose　to　go。　You　drove　her　away；　my　lord　Mujhar。　You。　Lindir　left　Homana…Mujhar　of　her　own　will；　because　she　desired　it。　Because　she　desired　a　Cheysuli！〃
　〃No！〃
　〃Aye；　my　lord！〃
　Carillon　stepped　toward　the　Cheysuli。　〃Finn＋〃
　〃Silence　yourself；　princeling！〃　Finn　snapped。　〃This　is　a　thing　between　men。〃
　〃Finn！〃
　〃Go；　princeling。　You　have　served　your　purpose…　You　have　delivered　the　Mujhar　to　me；　as　I　have　long　desired。〃　Finn　glared　at　him。　〃Go。〃
　Alix　started　forward　but　Duncan's　hand　inexorably　drew　her　back。
　Carillon　turned　again　to　his　uncle。　〃This　is　your　doing！　Once　the　Cheysuli　served　Homanan　kings　more　faithfully　man　＋　now　they　seek　only　to　destroy　the　man　who　ordered　the　qu'mohlin。　Is　this　what　you　wanted？〃
　Shaine's　face　was　deathly　white。　His　breath　came　hoarse　and　loud。　〃Hale。。。　it　is　Hale。。。〃
　〃No！〃　Carillon　shouted。
　The　Mujhar's　face　cleared　and　sense　crept　back　into　his　blank　eyes。　He　looked　upon　Finn　a　long　moment；　then　reached　out　to　point　at　the　Cheysuli。
　〃I　will　not　suffer　a　shapechanger　in　my　presence。　In　my　realm…　I　have　ordered　your　race　destroyed　and　I　will　have　it　done。　/　will　have　it　done！〃
　The　roar　swept　through　the　hall。　Finn　met　it　with　a　smile。　〃He　was　your　sworn　man；　Shaine　me　Mujhar。　A　Cheysuli　blood…oath…　He　fought　for　you；　slew　for　you；　loved　you　as　his　liege　lord。　And　you　had　him　slain　like　some　crazed　beast。〃
　〃Finn；〃　Duncan　said　at　last。
　Shaine's　eyes　sharpened　as　he　looked　past　Finn　and　Carillon。
　His　chest　heaved。
　〃No。〃　He　choked。　〃Not　the　Cheysuli。。。〃
　Carillon　glanced　at　him。　〃My　lord？〃
　The　Mujhar's　breath　was　uneven；　〃I＋will＋not＋have＋　Cheysuli＋here。。。〃
　〃It　seems　you　have　little　choice；　uncle。〃
　〃I　will　not　have　it！〃　Shaine　moved　to　the　throne　and　drew　a　scarlet　silk　bag　from　its　cushioned　seat。　He　turned　back　to　them　with　an　expression　of　gloating　triumph　in　his　eyes。　Slowly　he　poured　glowing　blue　cubes　into　me　palm　of　one　hand。
　Carillon　stared。　〃The　wards＋？〃
　〃Hale*s；　given　to　me　forty　years　ago。。。　should　I　ever　face　harsh　odds。　There　are　no　more　in　all　of　Homana。〃　Shaine　swallowed　as　heavy　color　rushed　into　his　face。　〃They　have　kept　the　Ihlini　from　Homana…Mujhar。　It　is　the　only　thing。　And　I　will　willingly　destroy　them　if　only　to　destroy　the　Cheysuli！〃
　Surprising　them　all　with　his　swiftness；　the　Mujhar　moved　agilely　to　the　coals　of　the　firepit。　Carillon　said　something　incoherently　and　leaped　for　him；　grabbing　for　me　outstretched　hand　clutching　the　blue　cubes。…Finn　drew　his　knife　and　advanced。
　But　the　Mujhar　was　too　quick。
　Blue　flames　roared　up　as　the　wards　burned。　Eerie　illumination　crept　across　Shaine's　tortured　features。　He　stood　stiffly　before　his　nephew　and　Finn。
　〃I　declared　qu'mahlin　on　the　Cheysuli　twenty…five　years　ago；〃　he　rasped。　〃It　has　not　ended！〃
　Alix　gasped。　She　saw　Shaine　look　past　Finn；　and　as　his　eyes　fell　on　her　face　she　saw　loathing　enter　them。
　〃Shapechanger。。。〃　he　hissed。　〃Shapechanger1。〃　He　drew　a　gasping　breath　and　pointed　at　her。　〃My　daughter　gave　her　life　in　exchange　for　a　halfling　witch！〃
　Alix　stared　at　him　in　shock　and　mute　pain；　stunned　by　the　virulence　of　his　hatred。　Then　Finn　said　something　in　the　Old　Tongue　and　lifted　his　knife　to　strike…Carillon　leaped；　grab