Traitor's Moon

know of her opposition?” asked Alec.
    â€œI suspect some of them do,” Torsin replied bleakly.
    â€œTwo days!” Klia slammed a hand down on the polished desktop, making the others jump. “Our mother dead for two days and she sends me no word? What if the Aurënfaie already know? What must they think?”
    â€œWe can find out, my lady,” Alec told her. “If this was Rhíminee, Seregil and I would have paid a few night visits to your opponents already. Isn’t that why the queen wanted us here in the first place?”
    â€œPerhaps, but I’m the one who makes those decisions here,” Klia warned. “For
any
Skalan to be caught spying could destroy everything we’ve worked for. And consider Seregil’s position. What do you think would happen to him if he were caught? No, we’ll wait a bit longer. Come with me to the council today, both of you. I want your impressions.”
    Torsin exchanged an uneasy look with Seregil, then said gently, “You mustn’t go to the Iia’sidra today, my lady.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. Now more than ever—”
    â€œHe’s right,” said Seregil. Going to her, he knelt and rested a hand on her knee. This close, he could see how red her eyes were. “Mourning is a deeply sacred rite among the Aurënfaie; it can last for months. You must at least observe the Skalan four-day ritual. The same applies to me, I suppose, considering how much we’ve made of my kinship to your family. Alec can be my eyes and ears.”
    Klia rested her head on one hand and let out a shakey sigh. “You’re right, of course. But Plenimar presses closer to the heart of Skala every day I’m here without an answer. This delay is the
last
thing Mother would have wanted!”
    â€œWe may be able to wring some advantage from it, all the same,” Seregil assured her. “According to Aurënfaie custom, the khirnari are expected to visit you. This could offer certain opportunities for, shall we say, private debate?”
    Klia regarded him quizzically. “I can’t appear publicly, yet I can scheme and intrigue from behind a veil of mourning?”
    Seregil gave her a crooked grin. “That’s right. I’ll wager certain people will be watching quite closely to see who comes to you and how long they stay.”
    â€œYet how are we to announce the queen’s death?” Thero asked suddenly. “If it weren’t for Magyana, we wouldn’t even know.”
    â€œWhat am I supposed to do? Lie?” Klia asked, angry again. “Dissemble until our new queen sees fit to inform me of this turn of events? If lack of mourning would dishonor me in the eyes of the Iia’sidra, what would that do, eh? That could well be Phoria’s purpose. By the Four, I won’t be her dupe!”
    â€œQuite right, my lady,” Torsin agreed. “Your forthrightness has been our greatest asset.”
    â€œVery well, then. Lord Torsin, you’ll go to the Iia’sidra today and announce the queen’s passing. Let Phoria worry for herself where we came by the information. Alec and Thero will accompany you, together with a full honor guard. I want a detailed report of the day’s proceedings. Captain, find black sashes for your riders and see that their cloaks are reversed and the horses’ manes cropped. My mother was a Skalan warrior; she’ll be accorded a warrior’s honors.”
    Beka rose to attention. “Do you wish me to announce the queen’s death to my riders?”
    â€œYes. You’re dismissed. Now, Seregil, what else must I do to satisfy Aurënfaie convention?”
    â€œYou’d better talk to my sisters. I’ll fetch them.”
    â€œThank you, my friend. we aren’t bested yet. Now if you’ll excuse us, I need a moment with Lord Torsin.”
    Its time we learned whether she knows of his meeting with Khatme
, Seregil thought, following the others out. As he turned to close the door, something on the floor next to the doorjamb caught his eye: a small, flattened clod of moist earth. Kneeling, he examined it more closely.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Thero, already halfway to the stairs.
    â€œHow old do you make this?” Seregil asked Alec.
    Alec squatted down beside him and nudged at it with a forefinger. “Not more than a few minutes. The floor’s still damp beneath it, and no sign of drying