Traitor's Moon

eh?”
    â€œI’m afraid not. What do you suppose that means?”
    â€œWho knows, with the Bash’wai.”
    He moved to the sitting room off the bedchamber. After a few moments he emerged with a wrinkled sheet of parchment held triumphantly aloft. “This just might be of use,” he whispered, examining it with the lightstone. “It’s the beginning of a letter, but a large splotch of ink has spoiled the page after a few lines. He’s not so fastidious as I thought, to leave this lying about.”
    Alec craned his neck for a look. “That’s not Aurënfaie lettering.”
    â€œPlenimaran.” Seregil’s brows shot up as he scanned the first lines. “Well now, how small the world is sometimes. The salutation is to one ‘honored Raghar Ashnazai.’ ”
    â€œAshnazai? Kin to Vargûl Ashnazai?”
    â€œOh, yes. Plenimaran families are very close-knit, especially the powerful ones. Necromancers, spies, diplomats, influence peddlers; what a charming lot the Ashnazai must be around the supper table.”
    He replaced the parchment where he’d found it. “Well, it’s better than nothing. At least we know whom he’s dealing with. We’d better get back now. I imagine Thero’s running low on tricks. They do require a sense of humor, after all.”
    Returning to the central courtyard, they parted ways and entered by different doors.
    Apparently Seregil had been right about Thero, Alec thought, finding the wizard in conversation with a small group that included their host, Klia, and the khirnari of Khatme. Adzriel and Säaban were with them, too, and everyone looked decidedly tense. Lhaär ä Iriel was actually shaking a finger at Thero.
    â€œThere you are,” Klia muttered as he stepped in beside her. “Poor Thero could do with a bit of support.”
    â€œBut I’ve seen Aurënfaie themselves use magic for innocent entertainment,” the embattled wizard was saying. “I assure you, I meant no offense.”
    â€œFools and children, perhaps,” Lhaär ä Iriel retorted sternly. “The power granted by Aura is a sacred thing, not to be toyed with.”
    â€œIs laughter not a gift of Aura, too, Lhaär ä Iriel?” Ulan í Sathil asked, coming to his guest’s defense.
    â€œIndeed, I’ve spent a good many rainy afternoons doing such tricks for the children of my own household,” Säaban added.
    Alec stifled a grin. “Dear me, Thero, whatever have you been up to?” The wizard pointedly ignored him.
    â€œCome now, this is my house and I declare no harm done,” Ulan said. “We must be tolerant of one another’s differences, must we not?”
    The Khatme gave him a dark look and glided away.
    Ulan winked at Thero. “Pay her no mind, Thero í Procepios. The Khatme are of a different mind on so many things. I am honored that you should exercise your talents for the benefit of my guests. I pray you do not let her harshness reflect insult on my house.”
    Thero bowed deeply. “If I have in any way repaid your magnanimous hospitality, Khirnari, then I am satisfied.”
    Alec remained with Thero as the rest of the group dispersed.
    â€œI was actually enjoying myself, until the Khatme took me to task,” Thero admitted. “You remember that trick Nysander had of making the wine jugs sing? I believe I carried it off rather well.” Pausing, he slipped Alec the hand sign for “any luck?”
    Alec nodded, then froze as the hint of a familiar scent tickled his nostrils.
    â€œWhat is it?” Thero asked.
    â€œI—I’m not certain.” The smell of the Bash’wai, if that is what it had been, was already gone. Alec turned, sniffing the air.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Seregil asked with a bemused smirk, coming over to join them.
    â€œI thought I smelled it again, just for a second,” Alec murmured.
    â€œSmelled what?” asked Thero.
    â€œSome people see the Bash’wai. Alec claims to smell them,” Seregil explained.
    â€œIt’s like a heavy perfume,” Alec said, still sniffing.
    â€œReally?” Thero glanced around. “I’d be hard put to pick out a ghost here, what with all the other aromas.”
    â€œIt could have been a Ykarnan.” Seregil pointed out several people wearing black tunics and sea-green sen’gai. “They favor a very distinctive