Traitor's Moon

myself,” she assured him.

31
D EATHWATCH
    A sense of foreboding enveloped the household. All through the night the servants went quietly on about their business, cooking food that went uneaten, turning down beds no one slept in. Lord Torsin lay forgotten for the moment.
    Leaving Klia in Mydri’s care, Seregil enlisted Alec, Thero, and Adzriel to go over every flask, knife, and piece of jewelry confiscated from the Haman. Neither sharp eyes nor magic turned up any evidence of poison.
    â€œYou said yourself they wouldn’t keep anything that would give them away,” Alec insisted. “I want to go back to that clearing. There wasn’t time to look around properly before.”
    â€œIf Klia touched the object that contained the poison, I could locate it,” offered Thero.
    â€œYou’re needed here,” Seregil told him.
    â€œSäaban has the gift,” said Adzriel. “He knows the way to the clearing, as well. Shall I ask him to make arrangements?”
    â€œIf we leave before dawn, we’ll be back by midday,” Alec added.
    â€œI suppose you’d better,” said Seregil. “Where’s Nyal, by the way?”
    â€œI haven’t seen him since you got back,” said Thero. “Perhaps he’s with Beka?”
    â€œThe one time I want the man and he’s nowhere to be found,” Seregil grumbled,suddenly weary beyond words. “Fetch him. He may have heard something of use.”
    The night wore on. The three of them sat on the floor beside the dhima, listening to Mydri’s soft songs of healing through the felt walls; now and then each took a turn inside.
    Sitting by Klia, hair and clothes plastered damply against his skin, Seregil allowed his mind to wander back to the dhimas beneath the Nha’mahat and the rhui’auros’s words to him there:
Smiles conceal knives
. The Haman had certainly been smiling when they rode out that morning.
    He didn’t know he was dozing until Mydri touched his arm.
    â€œYou should rest,” she said, yawning herself.
    Thero and Alec were asleep where they sat just outside the dhima. Seregil passed them silently and went to the window to cool his face. Looking out, he saw the dwindling moon disappearing behind the western towers.
    Almost Illior’s Moon
, he thought.
Or rather, Aura’s Bow
. He was back among his people at last; it was time he started thinking like a ’faie.
    â€œYou’re a child of Aura, a child of Illior,”
Lhial had told him. Aura Elustri, creator of the ’faie, mother of dragons. Illior Lightbearer, patron of wizards, madmen, and thieves. Light and darkness. Male and female. Wisdom and madness.
    Different faces for all comers
, thought Seregil, smiling as he slipped out the window and set off for the stable yard.
Just like me
.
    The barracks were heavily guarded, but the long building itself was empty except for Kallas, Steb, and Mirn standing guard over their sullen prisoner. Emiel sat on a pallet in the corner furthest from the door. A clay lamp hanging overhead cast an uncertain light across the prisoner’s face. Emiel didn’t look up at Seregil’s approach but sat staring out a tiny window under the eaves, watching the moon.
    â€œLeave us,” Seregil ordered the guards. When they hesitated, he added impatiently, “Lend me a sword, and stay by the door. I promise you, he won’t get past me.”
    Steb gave Seregil his sword and moved off with the others.
    Seregil walked slowly over to the prisoner.
    â€œHere to murder another Haman, Exile?” Emiel asked, as calmly as if inquiring about the weather.
    â€œI have one too many of your people on my conscience as it is.” Seregil rested the blade point on the floor. This was the first timesince Nysander’s death that he’d allowed himself to touch a sword; it felt awkward in his hand. “However, teth’sag is not murder, is it?”
    The Haman’s gaze did not waver. “To kill me here would be murder.”
    â€œBut for you to kill my kinswoman, Klia ä Idrilain, was that teth’sag?”
    â€œShe’s dead?”
    â€œAnswer my question. If a Haman killed Klia ä Idrilain, would it be teth’sag against Bôkthersa? Against me?”
    â€œNo, the tie is too distant.” Emiel rose to his feet and faced him. “Even if it weren’t, I would never bring shame on my clan for the likes of you. You are dead to us,