Traitor's Moon

“Klia is gotten out of the way, and Phoria gains justification for taking what she wants from Aurënen.”
    Shock was already giving way to anger. Beka rose, pulse racing the way it did before a raid. “We have to get Klia away to safety before the ’faie find out.”
    Thero shook his head. “She’s far too ill to move.”
    â€œWhat about by magic?”
    â€œEspecially not by magic,” Thero replied. “Even if we could find someone to do a translocation, the flux would kill her.”
    â€œShe’s safe here,” said Seregil.
    â€œHow can you say that? Beka snapped, rounding on him. “Take a good look at her! This is what all their talk of guest laws and sacred ground amounts to. Now they’re fighting each other in the streets!”
    â€œI wouldn’t have thought it possible, not in Sarikali,” Seregil admitted. “But now we know the danger, and we’re guarded by your riders and by the Bôkthersans.”
    â€œI’ve put protections in place around the grounds,” Thero added. “No one will get in or visit any magicks on us without my knowing about it.”
    â€œThat still leaves us trapped here when word of Korathan’s mission gets out,” Beka growled.
    â€œI know,” said Seregil. “That’s why we’ve got to do as Magyana’s asked—try to head him off before anyone’s the wiser.”
    â€œHow do you suggest we manage that? I doubt sending him a polite note is going to do it, even if it got to him in time.”
    Seregil exchanged a veiled look with Alec. “I think it’s time I prove Idrilain right in sending me along.”
    â€œThere’s a traitor’s moon tonight,” Alec told her, as if that explained everything.
    Seregil chuckled. “How’s that for an omen, eh?”
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?” Beka demanded. “We’ve got to find a way to stop Korathan—” Breaking off, she stared at him. “You’re not saying
you
mean to go?”
    â€œWell, Alec and I.”
    Alec grinned. “Know anyone else you trust with this information who can pass as Aurënfaie?”
    â€œBut the proscriptions! If you’re caught they’ll kill you. And maybe Alec, too!”
    Suddenly it wasn’t a spy or coconspirator she was looking at but the man who’d been friend and uncle to her since her birth, who’d carried her on his shoulders, brought exotic presents, and taught her the finer points of fighting. And Alec—Tears stung her eyes and she turned quickly away.
    Seregil clasped her shoulders, turning her to face him again. “Then we’d damn well better not get caught,” he told her. “Besides, we’ll be in Akhendi territory, then Gedre. They may haul meback, but they won’t hurt me. I know it’s risky, but there’s no other way. Your father would understand. I’m hoping you will, too. We need your help, Captain.”
    The subtle rebuke stung just enough to clear her head. “All right, then. What’s the soonest Korathan will reach Gedre?”
    â€œWith a good following wind? Four or five days. We can reach the coast in three and sail out to meet him before he comes in sight of the port.”
    â€œTime enough, barring accidents,” she said, frowning. “But I still say it’s suicide for you to go. Perhaps Alec and I could pull it off, or Thero.”
    Seregil shook his head. “Korathan is going to take a lot of convincing to cross his sister, and with all due respect, I think I’m the one who can best carry that off. He knows me, and he knows the regard his mother had for me. Loyal as he is to Phoria, he’s the more reasonable of the pair. I think I can sway him.”
    â€œHow do you plan to reach Gedre without getting caught? I assume someone will go after you as soon as they find out you’re missing.”
    â€œThey’ll have to find us first. There are other routes over the mountains. The one I have in mind is tough going in places, but shorter than the trail we came over. My uncle used to bring us down that way on smuggling runs.”
    â€œAre those passes protected by magic, too?” asked Thero. “If anything happens to you, what will Alec do? He can’t get through that any more than we could.”
    â€œWe’ll worry about that when we need to,” Seregil replied. “Right now we need