Traitor's Moon

weathered.
    â€œI’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Alec said as they combed a site together on foot. “Killing is forbidden, and murder is rare among the ’faie, yet your sword has clearly seen some use.”
    â€œAs has yours,” Säaban replied with a knowing look at Alec’s scabbard. “We fight Zengati raiders, mostly. The slavers grow bolder by the decade.”
    â€œI thought Seregil’s father made peace with them?”
    â€œWith some, not all. They’re a tribal people, not controlled by any one ruler. Rather like the Aurënfaie, I suppose,” he added with a fleeting smile.
    â€œAnd there are bandits in the mountains, too,” said Kheeta, whose scabbard showed considerably less wear. “There’s a troublesome band of them who range north of Bôkthersa—a real mongrel pack: teth’brimash, mostly, with some Zengati and Dravnians mixed in. They steal, slave, whatever takes their fancy.” He tugged proudly at his lock of white hair. “That’s how I got this. The first time I went out to fight them, one of the faithless bastards tried to take my head off. I dodged just in time to get away with a nick, then returned the favor, but lower.”
    â€œWe may abhor fighting, but those of us who live on the coasts and borders must train our children to the bow and sword as soon as they can hold them,” said Säaban.
    â€œThen it wasn’t just life in Skala that made Seregil so good?”
    Kheeta snorted. “No, he comes from a long line of swordsmen: his father, his uncle, their father before them.”
    â€œThat’s the way it is with our people, too,” said Sergeant Braknil, who’d been following the conversation.
    â€œI’ve watched you Skalans at your practices,” said Kheeta. “I would rather fight beside you than against you.”
    â€œWe should put on a demonstration for the Iia’sidra,” Alec joked. “Maybe that would sway them to helping us.”
    â€œThe final outcome of the vote will have little to do with Skala.” Säaban told him.
    â€œWhat about what’s happened to Klia and Torsin? I thought the harming of a guest was a great crime, especially at Sarikali,” said Alec.
    â€œIt is a grievous offense, but it is a matter of atui, not unlike what happened when Seregil committed his unfortunate act. Bôkthersa was banned from the Iia’sidra until the matter was tried and teth’sag satisfied, just as the Haman are now.”
    â€œIt was only out of respect for the rhui’auros that the matter was settled as it was,” said Kheeta.
    â€œThe rhui’auros?” Alec looked at the two men in surprise.
    Säaban exchanged a look with Kheeta. “Then it is true. Seregil has not told you what happened.”
    â€œNot much.” Alec shifted uncomfortably. “Just that the Iia’sidra spared his life after he was questioned by a rhui’auros.”
    â€œIt was the rhui’auros who saved Seregil from execution, not the Iia’sidra,” Säaban explained. “His guilt was clear and the Haman demanded the two bowls in spite of his youth. Korit í Solun did not contest the sentence. Before it could be carried out, however, a rhui’auros intervened, asking that Seregil be brought to Sarikali. He was in the Nha’mahat for three days. At the end, the rhui’auros themselves ordered his banishment. Seregil was transported directly to Virésse and sent to Skala.”
    â€œThree days?” Alec recalled how uneasy Seregil had been that night they’d gone there. “What did they do to him?”
    â€œNo one knows exactly, but I was there when he came out afterward,” Kheeta replied, suddenly grim. “He wouldn’t look at any of us, and wouldn’t speak. The ride to Virésse took over a week, and he hardly said a word the whole way. The one time I got close enough to talk to him, he said he wished they’d just killed him.”
    â€œSome say the rhui’auros took part of his khi from him,” Säaban murmured.
    â€œI think it was Ilar who did that,” said Alec. “But you said that what’s happened here now is somehow the same?”
    â€œIn some ways,” the older Bôkthersan replied. “As a descendant of Corruth í Glamien, Klia may be able to claim teth’sag. In the meantime, a clan under suspicion cannot