Traitor's Moon

just as easily.”
    Even in this light, Seregil could see the faint blush of pleasure that darkened his friend’s cheeks.
    â€œWhat about you?” Alec asked, belting on his sword.
    Seregil glanced down at the remaining sen’gai lying untouched on the bed. “No. If I ever do put on one again, it will be one I have a right to.”
    Thero slipped in and closed the door behind him. “I thought it must be time. Are you ready?”
    Seregil exchanged a quick look with Alec, then nodded. “You go ahead and make sure the way is clear. We’ll be right behind you.”
    The unlit stable yard appeared deserted. Thero stood a moment, then motioned for Seregil and Alec to follow. Sending a silent thanks to Beka, Seregil strode across to the stable.
    Inside, a lone woman was saddling a horse with Aurënfaie tack by the glow of a lightstone. Two other horses, one Aurënfaie, one Skalan, were ready to go. She heard them come in and turned, pushing back the brim of her helmet.
    â€œBilairy’s Balls!” Seregil growled.
    It was Beka. She’d traded her captain’s gorget for a dispatch pouch and wore the worn tabard of a common rider. Her long red hair was bound up tightly at the back of her neck.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Thero hissed, equally surprised.
    â€œGoing with them as far as need be,” she whispered back, handing Alec and Seregil the reins of the Aurënfaie horses.
    â€œYou’re needed here!”
    â€œI’ve been wresting with that all day,” she said. “This is a command decision. Right now, nothing is more important than stopping Korathan. Rhylin and Braknil can manage here until we get all this sorted out. And if we don’t—well, it may not matter.”
    Seregil laid a hand on the wizard’s arm, forestalling further argument. “She’s right.”
    Frowning, Thero gave in. “I can shield you until you’re out of the city,” he offered, drawing his wand.
    â€œNo, you’d better not. There are too many folk around who’d smell your magic on us. We’ll manage, with two of us—” He gave Thero the quick, subtle sign for “Watcher.”
    Alec saw and nodded at Beka. “Perhaps it’s time we made it three? I think Magyana would approve.”
    â€œI believe she would,” Seregil agreed. “A bit sooner than we’d planned, perhaps, but there’s no doubt of her worth.”
    â€œYou mean it?” Beka breathed, wide-eyed.
    He grinned. The Watchers were a strange, fractured group—even he did not know who all the members were—but Beka had seen too much growing up not to have formed some ideas of her own.
    â€œDo you understand what it means, Beka, to be a Watcher?” asked Thero.
    â€œEnough,” she replied, confirming Seregil’s suspicions. “If it means serving Skala as Seregil and my father have, then I’m in.”
    â€œThere’s a great deal more to it than that, but we’ll deal with that later,” Seregil said, hoping she wouldn’t have cause to regret this hasty decision during the dark days ahead. “Do it, Thero.”
    Thero pulled an ancient ivory dagger from his belt and set it spinning inches from Beka’s face. This was the test of truth, and one that allowed for no mistakes. Beka stood unflinching, her gaze fixed on Thero.
    The sight brought a lump to Seregil’s throat. This same knife had belonged to Nysander. It had spun in front of his own face when he took the oath as a very young man. Years later, Alec had felt its threat and passed the challenge.
    â€œBeka, daughter of Kari,” Thero whispered. “A Watcher must observe carefully, report truthfully, and keep the secrets that must be kept. Do you swear by your heart and eyes and by the Four to do these things?”
    â€œI do.”
    The knife tumbled harmlessly into Thero’s outstretched hand. “Then welcome, and luck in the shadows to you.”
    Only then did she betray relief. “That wasn’t so bad.”
    â€œThat’s the easy part,” Alec told her, grinning as broadly as she was. “Now you’re really in the middle of it.”
    Seregil felt his heart skip a beat as she turned to him, eyes full of quiet triumph. “Whatever comes, I’m with you.”
    â€œFirst the commission; now this. Your poor mother will never speak to me again.” Seregil gave her shoulder a quick