Traitor's Moon

sword and headed for the door.
    â€œI don’t speak much ’faie, my lord, but I didn’t like the sound of that,” Steb growled as Seregil handed him back his weapon.
    Emiel í Moranthi has just confessed. He tried to murder Klia. Kill him
. That’s all it would have taken.
    Locking the words away behind a bloodied smile, Seregil shook his head. “See that no harm comes to our guest, riders. Not so much as a harsh word.”
    As he’d feared, news traveled fast among the Urgazhi. Alec was waiting for him just outside.
    â€œNow what have you done?” he demanded, turning Seregil’s face toward the watch fire to inspect the latest damage.
    Seregil pulled away and continued on into the house. “Don’t worry, it was my own doing.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m worried about.”
    â€œIt wasn’t like last time. I goaded him to see what he’d say. It was atui that made him swing at me.”
    â€œSo it’s honorable for him to hit you?”
    â€œAbsolutely. While he was at it, however, he let slip a few valuable bits of insight.” He stopped just short of the great hall and lowered his voice. “As we’d feared, Ulan has done us a great deal of harm. Phoria’s honor is in question, and some of those who supported us while Idrilain lived are wavering. But from what Emiel said just now, Torsin’s secret meetings with Ulan aren’t common knowledge.” He fingered a tender spot next to his eye, hoping it wasn’t going to swell. “Maybe we can use that to cast doubt back on Virésse. If we do, and prove that Klia was poisoned, perhaps we can sway some clans back to our side. I have to talk to Adzriel.”
    â€œShe’s in the hall.”
    Seregil clapped him on the shoulder. “See what you can find back in the hills. We need to know what Haman’s role in all this is.”
    â€œIt’s going to take some doing,” Alec admitted. “If they threw away something during the ride, chances are we’ll never find it.”
    â€œWe have to try. Otherwise, we can just stick our heads up our backsides and let it all fall to pieces.”
    Adzriel was talking with Rhylin and Mercalle beside the hall hearth. Drawing her into the mourning chamber, Seregil and Alec outlined the evening’s findings.
    â€œYou can’t believe the Haman are innocent?” she asked, searching Seregil’s face.
    â€œI’m not ready to say that yet, but something isn’t right. I think Emiel is capable of it, but if he was going to go to the extreme of murder to get his way, wouldn’t his uncle be a more logical target?”
    â€œWhat about Nazien?” asked Alec. “He could have played us all for fools.”
    Seregil shrugged. “That seems even less likely. As much as I hate to admit it, he strikes me as an honorable man.”
    Adzriel touched Seregil’s bruised cheek, frowning. “What will you do now?”
    â€œKeep searching. Am I correct in guessing that anyone who falls under reasonable suspicion can be excluded from the vote?”
    â€œYes, the Haman must prove themselves innocent, or you must prove them guilty within a moon’s span.”
    â€œWe don’t have that long,” said Alec.
    â€œPerhaps not,” Adzriel replied. “Please, Alec, I’d like a moment alone with Seregil before he goes.”
    Alec cast a worried look at Seregil, then bowed. “Of course, my lady.”
    Adzriel gave him a wink. “Don’t worry, I’ll send him back to you soon, talí.”
    She watched Alec fondly out of sight, then turned and touched a finger to Seregil’s swollen lip.
    â€œYou must stop this,” she said softly. “It’s wrong to seek this out from them.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” he asked, folding his arms.
    â€œYou know exactly what I mean! Do you think Mydri kept the last occurrence from me? What is it you expect from such behavior? Justice? Atonement?”
    â€œIt wasn’t like that this time,” Seregil countered. “Sometimes you have to fool your enemy into doing what you want them to do. By letting Emiel think—”
    â€œAnd what will everyone else think when they look at you tomorrow?” she demanded angrily. “For once in your life, listen to good counsel. Hear me, if not as your elder, then as the khirnari of the clan I pray you will one day rejoin. To allow a Haman to