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.The catamount found its feet and turned snarling at Rowan.Christy saw its fangs.Its eyes glowed green in the meager light from the banked fire, as it's ears flattened.Rowan moved too quickly for Christy's eyes to follow, but he must have drawn his knife.One moment the cougar crouched there, tail lashing, ready to strike, and the next it had curled into a ball, madly clawing at the knife that protruded from its left eye.Cat screams filled the night while the creature wound in upon itself and fought for what seemed to Christy like an hour, before it jerked twice and leapt for her again.Rowan's second kick lifted the cougar's body up and away from Christy for a second time while he uttered a muffled cry and grabbed at his bad leg.The animal landed heavily and did not regain its feet.Swiftly, Rowan recovered his knife from the trembling carcass.Christy sat up and touched her throat where the animal's teeth had grazed her skin.Rowan knelt at her side, tilting her chin up with his fingers to make sure she was not badly injured Christy stared across the fire at the twins.They had awakened in terror, but Rowan offered soothing reassurances until they settled down again.Unable to find words, Christy caught Rowan's hand, as he wiped away a single drop of blood.Swiftly as any predator, Rowan's mouth met hers.His arms swept her close.Christy could hear his heart beating in a wild rhythm, a match for her own fear-stirred spirit.His lips tasted sweet, and for a moment she responded to his touch.When Rowan released her, Christy shivered.He drew the Buffalo robe about her shoulders, threw more wood on the fire, and went to dispose of the dead animal.Christy's teeth were chattering when Rowan returned carrying the bundled hide.Still without speaking, he cleaned his knife and poked the fire until flames burned brightly.A warm glow reflected from Christy's skin.But shock had lowered her body temperature, and the sound of her chattering teeth gave her away.Finally, Rowan drew her into his embrace once more in an attempt to warm her.“Better now?”“Yes.” Christy felt his heat drive away the cold and fear.“Much better.Thank you.”Christy was almost asleep in his arms when Rowan asked, “What is Alexander's totem?”“I don't know what you mean.”“Among my people, at the Sun Dance, sometimes an animal will appear in visions to help a man strengthen his spirit.” Rowan's arms tightened around Christy as her head drooped on his shoulder.“My totem is the wolf--he lends me his cunning, his fierceness, and his strength.I ask only because I think maybe Alexander's totem is a cat.”Christy sat up.She stared at Rowan, her eyes wide.“Don't be silly! Just because some wildcat wandered into camp by accident, you can't think it had anything to do with Alexander! Why that's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.”“Is it? Alexander may be a poor thief, but he must have strong magic if he plans to marry a spirit walker.Tonight, when his spirit is troubled by the words you wrote on the talking paper, might he not send a sign of his anger?”Christy shook her head.“No one can get a wild animal to do their bidding.”“No?” In the dark Rowan's voice sounded amused.“No.” Christy started to pull away.What could he possibly find funny at a time like this? Outside their camp and too close for comfort, a wolf bayed.His call was answered by another on the other side of camp.Christy jerked upright.“Wolves? That's all we need!”“Do not fear.” Rowan eased her back into his embrace.“The wolf is my totem, remember? I have called my brothers to keep watch until Sun Chief rides once more.”Christy felt a shiver wash over her.She drew a deep breath and let it out in a ragged sigh.“You mean you signaled those wolves--that's impossible.Surely, it's just a coincidence.Wolves? Wildcats? Who knows what else is lurking out here?”“If no one sent that cat, he was a long way from his home on the Backbone of the World.”“Backbone--? Oh.You mean the mountains! Well, I guess they could live out here too.There are plenty of rabbits and--” Christy forced herself to relax.“--I don't believe in magic.And anyway, Alexander is two thousand miles away.”“Yes, I know.” Rowan sighed and clasped her closer.“Alexander lives in your fine white man's city, built of brick and steel.A place filled with many wonders, where no man hunts, but all are fed, where fire and warmth appear without effort and water pours forth at the touch of a finger.Amid all these miracles, is there no room for magic?”“Even if there were, I wouldn't believe in it.”Rowan's gaze met hers in the darkness.“Why do you doubt your own power?”“Because there's no such thing.”“Is it so?” One of the wolves cried again and Christy shivered.Surely what he claimed couldn't be true.Rowan pulled her back into the warmth of his embrace.Christy yawned and stretched, liking the feel of him solid behind her, his arms around her.As warmth stole over her once more, she remembered her dream.If one thought of Alexander in a certain way, the man was rather cat-like.Christy sighed and her eyes closed.* * *More than an hour later, from the other side of the fire, Larch watched the moon set, sure that both Christy and Rowan slept.When he poked Lolly in the side, her voice came softly as she turned over [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]