Traitor's Moon

morning? I need to speak with him.”
    â€œNyal?” said Mirn. “He went out riding not long after Captain Beka was summoned to the house.”
    â€œRight after? Are you sure?” asked Seregil.
    â€œGuess her moving around woke him up.” Mirn smirked, earning a quick elbow and a dark look from his comrade.
    Seregil brushed this aside. “This morning, though, he went riding as soon as she went to the main house?”
    â€œWell, not just that minute,” Steb explained. “He stayed on to breakfast with us, then headed out. We saw him leave.”
    â€œI expect he’ll be back soon. He always is,” Mirn added.
    â€œThen this isn’t the first dawn ride he’s made?”
    â€œNo, my lord, though more often than not the captain goes with him. That’s what makes some folks think—”
    â€œYou tell them to keep that sort of thinking to themselves,” Seregil snapped.
    In the barracks, he found Beka conferring with her three sergeants.
    â€œGood, you’re all here,” Seregil said, joining them. “Seems we may have an eavesdropper in the house.”
    Mercalle looked up sharply. “What makes you think that, my lord?”
    â€œJust a hunch,” he replied. “Keep an eye on who enters the house. The upper floors are off-limits anyway, so there shouldn’t be anyone going up there except Klia’s people and the servants.”
    Beka gave him a look that said she suspected there was more behind his request than he was letting on, just the sort of quiet, questioning glance her father would have used.
    Seregil gave her a nod, then let himself out the back gate and crossed to Adzriel’s door.
    Entering this early had a bittersweet familiarity about it. As a boy, he’d often slipped out to ride before dawn or stayed out all night with a gang of companions when he could get away with it. How many times, he wondered, had he and Kheeta sneaked in by a certain back door and crept like thieves up to their beds?
    For a fleeting moment he was tempted to try it now and come sauntering down as if—
    as if I belonged here
.
    Tucking this new bit of heartache away for later scrutiny, he knocked and was led to a room near the kitchen, where his sistersand their household were just starting an informal breakfast. Another twinge struck as he took in the cozy family tableau.
    Mydri was the first to notice him. “What’s the matter, Seregil? What’s happened?”
    Adzriel and the others turned, hands poised motionless over their torn bread and boiled eggs.
    â€œOur—your kinswoman, Idrilain, is dead,” he informed them, glad of a plausible excuse for what must have been a very long face.
    Alec took his place behind Lord Torsin and Thero in the Iia’sidra circle and looked around, only to find himself being watched in turn by the Virésse khirnari.
    Already seated among his delegation, Ulan í Sathil gave Alec a cordial nod as their eyes met. Alec returned it and hastily looked away, making a show of greeting Riagil í Molan. People were already taking note of Klia’s empty chair, and Adzriel’s.
    Brythir í Nien of Silmai leaned forward in his chair and peered across at Torsin. “Will Princess Klia not attend today?”
    The ambassador rose with melancholy dignity. “Honored Khirnari, I bring tragic news. We have just received word that Queen Idrilain of Skala is dead, felled by wounds received in battle. Princess Klia begs your patience while she mourns.”
    Säaban í Irais stood. “Adzriel ä Illia also sends her regrets. She and our sister Mydri must attend Klia to mourn the passing of our kinswoman.”
    Most registered regret or surprise at this news. Khatme was inscrutable, Virésse solemn. Rhaish í Arlisandin of Akhendi gazed stonily at the floor. Beside him, Amali looked stunned.
    The Silmai khirnari pressed both hands over his heart and bowed to Torsin. “May Aura’s light guide her khi. Please convey our great sorrow, Torsin í Xandus. Will the princess not return to Skala to mourn?”
    â€œIt was Idrilain’s wish that her daughter stay until her mission among you here is accomplished. Princess Klia asks that you grant her four days to conduct the proper rites, after which she prays that our long debate may see a timely conclusion.”
    â€œAre there any objections?” the old Silmai asked the assembly. “Very well, then