Traitor's Moon

there.”
    â€œI don’t understand. I thought he and your husband were enemies?”
    â€œThere is no good feeling between them,” Amali admitted, looking more distracted than ever. “That is why it worries me so. Whatever Ulan has to say, it cannot bode well for your princess, yet my husband will not tell me what the purpose of the meeting is to be. He has been so—so very upset by all this. I cannot imagine what would convince him to go to that man’s house.”
    â€œBut why tell me?”
    â€œIt was Nyal’s idea, as I said. I spoke with him earlier. ‘Bring this to Alec í Amasa as soon as you can!’ he said. Why would he send me to you?”
    â€œI can’t say, my lady, but I give you my word that your secrets are safe.”
    Amali clasped his hands between hers for a moment, tears standing in her eyes as she searched his face. “I love my husband, Alec í Amasa. I wish no harm or dishonor to come to him. I would not have spoken if I did not fear for him. I cannot explain it—there’s just been such a weight of dread on my heart since this whole dreadful debate began. Now more than ever, he is Klia ä Idrilain’s best ally.”
    â€œShe knows that. When are the khirnari to meet?”
    â€œAt the evening meal. The Virésse always wait until after sunset to dine.”
    Alec stored away this information. “Perhaps you should return to the hall now, before you’re missed?”
    She gave him a small, grateful smile and slipped out. Alec waited a few moments, then went out to the barracks to find Nyal.
    The Ra’basi was playing bakshi with Beka and several of her riders. As soon as Alec appeared in the doorway, however, he excused himself and walked with him into the stable.
    â€œI just spoke with Amali,” Alec told him.
    Nyal looked relieved. “I feared she would not go to you.”
    â€œWhy, Nyal? Why me?”
    The man gave him a wry look. “Who better than you to act on such information? Unless I’m mistaken, you and Seregil have certain—talents,shall we say? But Seregil is bound at Klia’s side by duty and blood ties, and by other concerns you are well aware of. You aren’t.”
    â€œConcerns such as atui?”
    The Ra’basi shrugged. “Sometimes honor is a matter of perspective, is it not?”
    â€œSo I’ve been told.” Alec wondered if he’d just been insulted or shared a confidence. “What’s the purpose of this meeting? Amali seems concerned for her husband’s safety.”
    â€œI have no idea. I’d heard nothing of it until she came to me. Ra’basi was not included in the invitation.”
    Ah, so that’s your angle!
Keeping the thought to himself, Alec went on ingenuously, “That’s odd. Moriel ä Moriel still supports Virésse, doesn’t she?”
    â€œPerhaps Virésse grows arrogant,” said Nyal, arching a sardonic eyebrow. “Perhaps Ulan í Sathil forgets that Ra’basi is one of the Eleven and not some minor clan who owes him loyalty.”
    â€œAnd if I do make use of this information, what then? What do you want from me in return?”
    Nyal shrugged. “Only to know of anything that affects my clan’s interests. Or Akhendi’s.”
    â€œAkhendi? You ask that on behalf of your khirnari?”
    Nyal colored visibly. “I ask for myself.”
    Alec frowned. “Or for Amali ä Yassara? How many lovers do you have, Nyal?”
    â€œOne lover,” he replied, meeting Alec’s look without flinching, “but many that I love.”
    Alec was waiting for Seregil when he emerged from the receiving chamber late that afternoon. Drawing him aside, Alec quickly repeated what Amali and Nyal had told him, then held his breath, waiting for Seregil to come up with some reason for him not to investigate. Not that it would stop him from going, of course.
    To his relief, Seregil finally gave a reluctant nod. “Klia must know nothing of it until you’re back.”
    â€œEasier to apologize than to get permission, eh?” Alec grinned. “I suppose you can’t—”
    Seregil dragged the fingers of one hand through his hair, scowling. “I hate this, you know. I hate not being able to act, being so damned constrained by honor and law and circumstance.”
    Alec raised a hand to his friend’s cheek, then let his fingers traildown to a fading