The Shapechangers by Jennifer Roberson

Author:Jennifer Roberson [Roberson, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 1984-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Duncan took her to a brown pavilion that bore a gold-colored fox on its sides. He pulled the doorflap aside and gestured her to go in; Alix did so without meeting his eyes. She felt horribly shamed without the braid, for though she still felt more Homanan than Cheysuli Duncan’s disparagement of her brought the implications of her braidless state home with real impact.

A woman stepped from behind a curtain dividing the pavilion into two sections. Her black hair was generously threaded with gray, but she had woven silver laces into multiple braids cunningly, fastening them to her head with an intricate silver comb. Her dress was fine-spun black wool threaded with scarlet ribbons at collar and cuffs, and a delicate chain of silver bells clasped her waist. She was no longer young, but she was a handsome woman. Her face reflected her Cheysuli blood with its high cheekbones, narrow nose and wide, smooth brow. Her yellow eyes were warm as she looked at Alix.

“Raissa, this is the girl,” Duncan said. “Alix.”

The woman smiled at Alix and then looked steadily at Duncan. “Who has shorn her hair?”

His jaw tightened. “I have.”

Her brows lifted. “But it is for Council to decide if she remains solitary.”

Alix heard the unspoken reproach and stole a glance at Duncan, surprised to see him bow his head in acceptance. Then it lifted again.

“She had made the decision for herself…I merely acquiesced.”

“He did not tell me he would cut off my hair,” Alix said bitterly.

Raissa moved forward. The tiny bells chimed and winked in the folds of her black gown. Her slender hand touched the ragged curling tendrils at Alix’s neck and jaw.

“I am sorry he acted so hastily. He should have explained the custom to you.” Her lips twitched with a half-hidden smile. “I have never known Duncan to act without reason, so he must have been driven to it.”

“He did it out of jealousy.”

Raissa withdrew her hand. “Duncan? Why do you say so?”

Alix slewed her eyes sideways to look at him. “He told me he would ask for me in Council…as his cheysula. Then—finding his former consort had conceived and was free again—he refused me honorable marriage and offered only to have me as his light woman.” She looked back at Raissa. “Of course I refused.”

The woman was solemn. “Among us a meijha has honor, Alix. Here she is not treated like filth, as are the whores of Mujhara. We are too few, now, to place so much value on a woman’s married or unmarried status. Meijha is not a dishonorable position.”

Alix’s stubborn chin came up. “I have much left to learn of Cheysuli customs, but this will take the most trouble, I think.” She swallowed and set her jaw. “I will not accept a lesser position with any man.”

The older woman smiled. “Ah…it is everything or nothing, with you. Well, perhaps you are not so wrong. Once I said the same to my cheysul.” She glanced at Duncan. “All of this will be settled in Council.

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