Traitor's Moon

exile,” added Seregil. “Hereditary rule makes no sense to my people. This isn’t going to raise their opinion of it much.”
    â€œWho was there?” Klia asked, pinning Alec with an unfathomable glare.
    Alec listed off those he’d seen.
    â€œAnd what was their response to this revelation of Ulan’s?”
    â€œI couldn’t see everyone, but from what I heard, confusion. Silmai argued in your favor; the Haman sounded pleased.”
    â€œJust what Ulan í Sathil intended, I’m sure,” said Thero.
    Klia nodded. “How do you think he came by this information?”
    â€œI’ve been considering that,” said Seregil. “There are several possibilities. He could have had it from the Plenimarans. They keep an ear or two among the Lerans. Perhaps someone involved in the Teukros debacle let something slip? Or Ulan may have known about this for years, and simply bided his time until he could make the best use of the information.”
    â€œI can well imagine,” Klia said. “But you think there are other explanations?”
    Seregil cast a quick glance at Alec, who nodded slightly and turned away.
    â€œLord Torsin, my lady—”
    â€œTorsin?”
    â€œTorsin met secretly with someone in Khatme tupa one night, about two weeks after our arrival,” said Seregil. “At least one person at that meeting was a Virésse. There’s evidence that Ulan summoned him to that meeting. It was only by chance that Alec discovered he’d gone out.”
    Klia gave Alec a dubious look that made the younger man color guiltily. “When I ordered you two not to spy without my permission, that included spying on our own people.”
    Seregil started to reply but she cut him off abruptly. “Hear me, both of you. You needn’t concern yourself with Torsin. Wherever Ulan may have gotten this damaging information against my sister, I assure you, it did not come from Torsin. I suggest you concentrate on learning where it
did
come from.”
    She knows about her envoy’s midnight meetings, or thinks shedoes
, thought Seregil, smarting under the unexpected reprimand. It hadn’t occurred to him that Klia might keep secrets from him. On the other hand, he was fairly certain Torsin knew nothing of his or Alec’s true talents. If that were so, then Klia was playing a more complex game than he’d guessed. He glanced at the wizard, wondering how much Thero knew. He didn’t appear much surprised by this exchange.
    â€œIf it came from Plenimar, then that might also explain those Plenimaran warships that ambushed us in the Ea’malies,” Thero mused. “Perhaps the honorable khirnari paid for information with information.”
    Klia nodded slowly. “I’d very much like to know the truth of that. The negotiations have limped along too long. Every dispatch I get from Phoria is more impatient than the last. Today’s all but accuses me of purposefully stalling.”
    â€œHow could Phoria think that?” exclaimed Alec.
    â€œWho can explain what my sister thinks these days, or why?” Klia rubbed wearily at her eyelids. “This business with Virésse might be just the thing to turn matters our way. Tell me, my Aurënfaie adviser, would it be safe to say that Ulan has acted dishonorably toward me?”
    â€œAn argument could be made,” said Seregil. “Of course, if we had to explain to the Iia’sidra how you found out about it, it would put Alec on chancy ground.”
    â€œI’ll leave it up to you to keep us from having to explain anything to anyone. Two days from now, we and the Eleven are to be the guests of Ulan í Sathil.”
    â€œAre you suggesting what I think, my lady?”
    Klia gave an eloquent shrug. “What’s the use of bringing fine coursing hounds to the hunt if you never slip the lead? First thing tomorrow I’ll speak in private to Lord Torsin and Adzriel ä Illia of all you’ve told me tonight. My principal adviser and our best ally must not be taken by surprise, either.”
    â€œWill you tell Torsin that I spied on him?” Alec asked nervously.
    â€œNo, but I want your word that you won’t do it again. Is that understood?”
    â€œYes, my lady.”
    Klia leveled a knowing look at Seregil. “That includes you, as well.”
    â€œYou have my word. What about Nyal? If it hadn’t been for him,we might have missed