Traitor's Moon

not, he’s going to answer for this.”
    â€œJust behind us, under guard,” Beka replied.
    Seregil drew Klia’s dagger from its sheath. “She didn’t have time to defend herself.”
    â€œI noticed that.” Alec dismounted and leaned unsteadily against his horse’s side. “He must have taken her by surprise.”
    Beka bowed her head. “I failed her.”
    â€œNo, Captain, the guilt lies on my clan,” Nazien í Hari told her, his voice hollow with grief. “Your princess should have needed no protection among my people.”
    â€œThere’ll be time enough for all that later. Get her inside!” Seregil ordered.
    Thero met them in the hall and took charge. “Here, lay her on the table. There’s no time to be lost. The rest of you, get back. Give her air.” He bent over Klia and pressed his hands to her temples, throat, and chest.
    Meanwhile, Seregil opened the front of her tunic to inspect the wounds there more closely. The skin between her chin and the breast band she wore beneath her linen shirt was scored with shallow scratches.
    Braknil came to the door, helmet in hand. “How is she?”
    â€œAlive,” Alec told him.
    â€œAh, thank the Four! We’ve got the Haman under guard in the stable yard.”
    â€œI’ll be out shortly,” said Seregil, still focused on Klia.
    Mydri hurried in with Kheeta on her heels. “By the Light, what’s happened?”
    â€œAlec will explain,” Seregil told her. Leaving Klia to those who could best help her, he headed for the yard.
    Good for you, Alec
, he thought again, seeing Emiel’s battered face. The young Haman sat on a low stool, ignoring the armed soldiers surrounding him. The rest of the Haman hunting party stood dourly behind him. Braknil’s riders had their swords drawn and looked as if a single word from their sergeant would be all the orders they needed to cut the accused to pieces.
    Nazien stood a little apart, grey with shame.
    You’ve worn your hatred for me like a mark of honor
, Seregil thought with satisfaction.
Perhaps now you’ll savor my family’s shame a bit less
.
    The accused was another matter. Emiel showed his usual contempt as Seregil came to a halt just in front of him.
    â€œAlec í Amasa says he saw you attack Princess Klia,” Seregil said.
    â€œMust I speak to this exile, Khirnari?”
    â€œYou will, and truthfully!” Nazien snarled.
    Emiel turned back to Seregil with distaste. “Alec í Amasa is mistaken.”
    â€œTake off your tunic and shirt.”
    Standing, Emiel undid his belt with exaggerated slowness, then pulled off the two garments together and tossed them down on thestool. For all his bravado, however, he flinched at Seregil’s touch as he examined Emiel’s hands and arms. There were a few fresh scratches on the backs of his hands. Otherwise, the callused fingers and palms showed only the soil of a long day’s hunt. His chest, neck, and throat were also unmarked.
    â€œHe was seized immediately after the attack?” Seregil asked.
    â€œYes, my lord,” Braknil assured him. “Alec said this man was still choking her when he found them.”
    â€œShe fell. I was trying to help her,” Emiel retorted. “Perhaps it was a fit of some sort. The Tír are prone to disease, or so I hear. You’d know more about that than I.”
    Seregil resisted the urge to slap the arrogant sneer off the man’s face. The arrival of Alec and Kheeta at the kitchen door provided a welcome distraction.
    â€œWhat does he say?” Alec demanded, striding over to them.
    â€œThat he was trying to help her.”
    Alec lunged for Emiel, but Seregil wrestled him back. “Don’t do this,” he muttered, close to his ear. “Go back inside and wait. We have to talk.” Alec quit struggling, but didn’t back off.
    â€œIf she dies, Haman, there’ll be no dwai sholo for you!” Alec hissed.
    â€œEnough.
Go!
” Seregil nodded to Kheeta, and the Bôkthersan took Alec by the arm, drawing him back inside.
    â€œDo you have anything more to say?” Seregil asked Emiel.
    â€œI’ve nothing to say to you, Exile.”
    â€œVery well. Sergeant, search this man and his saddlebags.” He paused, then without looking at Nazien í Hari, added, “Search all the Haman who went today and bring me whatever you find. They’re to