Traitor's Moon

give someone your love and trust—I hate him for that! For robbing me of innocence too early. Spoiled and silly and willful as I was, I’d never had to hate anyone before. But it taught me things, too: what love and trust and honor really are, and that you can never take them for granted.”
    â€œI suppose if we ever met I’d have to thank him for that, at least—” Alec murmured, then froze as Seregil’s hand suddenly tightened around his.
    â€œYou wouldn’t have time, talí, before I cut his throat.”

4
N EW J OURNEYS
    S eregil found Beka alone by the corral the next morning. “When does this expedition of yours leave for Aurënen?”
    â€œSoon.” She turned and gave him an appraising look. Damn, she looked like her father. “Does that mean you’re coming?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThank the Flame! We’re to meet Commander Klia in a little fishing town below the Cirna Canal, by the fifteenth of the month.”
    â€œWhat route is she taking to Aurënen?”
    â€œI don’t know. The less information she gives out ahead of time, the less there’ll be for Plenimaran spies to pick up.”
    â€œVery wise.”
    â€œIf we push, we can be in Ardinlee in three days. How soon can you be ready?”
    â€œMmmm, I don’t know.” He looked around the place as if taking stock of some vast holding. “Is a couple of hours soon enough?”
    â€œIf that’s the best you can do.”
    Watching her stride briskly off toward the tents, he decided she had a good deal of her mother in her, too.
    Alec slipped his black-handled dagger into his boot and settled his sword belt more comfortably against his left hip.
    â€œDon’t forget this.” Seregil took their toolrolls from a high shelf and tossed Alec’s over to him. “With any luck, we’ll be needing them.”
    Alec unrolled the black leather case and checked the slender implements stored in its stitched pockets: lock picks, wires, limewood shims, and a small lightstone mounted on a knurled wooden handle. Seregil had made everything; these weren’t the sort of tools you found in the marketplace.
    Satisfied, Alec slipped it inside his coat, where it lay against his ribs with a comfortably familiar weight. That left only his bow, some clothes, a bedroll, and a few personal effects to pack. He’d never had much in the way of belongings; as Seregil was fond of saying, the only things of real value were those you could take away with you in a hurry. That suited Alec and made packing a simple matter.
    Seregil had finished with his own gear and was looking rather wistfully around the room. “This was a good place.”
    Coming up behind him, Alec wrapped an arm around his waist and rested his chin on Seregil’s shoulder. “A very good place,” he agreed. “But if it hadn’t been this moving us on, there would have been something else.”
    â€œI suppose so. Still, we’re spoiled with privacy,” Seregil said, pressing back against him with a lewd grin. “Just wait until we’re trapped aboard some ship, cheek by jowl with Beka’s soldiers. You’ll wish we were back here and so will I.”
    â€œHey in there, are you ready yet?” Beka demanded, appearing suddenly in the doorway. Seeing them together, however, she halted uncertainly.
    Alec jumped back, too, blushing.
    â€œYes, we’re ready, Captain,” Seregil told her, adding under his breath, “What did I tell you?”
    â€œGood.” Beka covered her own embarrassment brusquely. “What about all this?” She gestured around the little room. Except for their clothes and gear, the cabin looked much as it had last night. The fire was banked, and clean dishes lay drying on a shelf by the window.
    Seregil shrugged and headed for the door. “It’ll be of use to someone.”
    â€œHe’s still not wearing a sword?” Beka asked Alec when Seregil was gone.
    â€œNot since Nysander’s death.”
    She nodded sadly. “It’s a shame, a great swordsman like that.”
    â€œThere’s no point in arguing with him,” Alec said, and Beka guessed from his tone that this was a battle he’d lost with Seregil more than once.
    They set off at midmorning, following the road south.
    Despite Seregil’s misgivings, it felt good to be riding with Micum again. Every so often the two of them