Traitor's Moon

tip as Nyal scrambled back down to where he waited.
    â€œI hope you have an extra,” he said, thrusting the Radly into Alec’s hands. “Mine won’t fit this.”
    Alec took a fresh string from his belt pouch and stood to bend the bow. Bracing one limb tip against his foot, he pushed down on the upper one and let out a grunt as pain flared in his shoulder again. Nyal took the bow and fitted the string into place.
    â€œCan you draw?”
    Alec flexed his arm again. “I think so.”
    â€œAnd you can see?” Nyal said, shaking his head in amazement.
    â€œIt’s something to do with the Bash’wai, I think,” Alec offered, thinking of the strange farewell they’d given him.
    â€œThey certainly must have taken a liking to you. Come on. Let’s find Seregil.”
    Dusk was coming on quickly now, and they spotted the yellow gleam of firelight high above the slide area choking the pass. Skirting the ruined trail, Nyal led him up a winding track that brought them out on a shelf of rock overlooking the top of a cliff. Eight men stood on a level stretch of ground near the edge. Several held torches, giving Alec enough light to shoot by. Behind them Seregil slumped on his knees and elbows, hands bound in front of him. His head was down, hair in his face. A man stood over him with his own sword while the others argued among themselves.
    â€œIt’s not right!” one man said angrily.
    â€œIt’s not your place to question,” a younger man retorted, speaking with the authority of a leader. “There’s no dishonor in it.”
    So even Aurënfaie bandits fretted over atui? Alec eased an arrow from his quiver and set it to the string. Beside him, Nyal did the same. Just then, several of the men threw up their arms and walked a few paces off. Seregil fought weakly as two others grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him toward the cliff, clearly meaning to throw him over.
    Alec brought his bow up and let fly, praying the shaft didn’t find Seregil instead. He needn’t have worried. His aim was off and it struck the ground harmlessly just in front of Seregil’s would-be killers. Startled, they jumped back and Seregil twisted free, scrambling back from the edge. Most of the ambushers scattered, ducking for cover. Nyal hit two of them before they’d gotten ten feet. The leader grabbed for Seregil and Alec shot again, this time hitting his mark square in the chest. Seregil saw his chance and dashed away into the shadows.
    Alec managed to take down one more man before the rest disappeared.
    â€œThis way.” Nyal led him down another rock-strewn track, supporting him when Alec’s bad leg gave out. The sound of horses came to them on the quiet night air as they reached the cliff, echoing up from the direction of the main trail.
    â€œDamn, they got away!”
    â€œHow many?” wondered Nyal.
    â€œEnough to be trouble if we don’t get out of here fast,” said a familiar voice overhead.
    Alec looked up to find Seregil half hidden behind a boulder. He emerged and slid down the loose slope to join them, hands still tied but clutched now around the hilt of his sword.
    â€œI take it that you can see?” he asked, giving Alec a thoughtful look.
    Alec shrugged.
    â€œHow many were there?” Nyal asked.
    â€œI didn’t have a chance to take a count before they knocked me out,” Seregil replied, leading them back to where the dead lay. There were five bodies.
    â€œJust our luck, running into bandits,” Alec muttered.
    Seregil rubbed at a new bruise developing over his right cheekbone. “They did have the good grace to debate about killing me. Some of them didn’t like the idea. They thought they’d killed you, though, Alec, and so did I, for that matter. When I saw you go off your horse like that—” Extending a hand to Nyal, he said almost grudgingly, “I guess I should be glad to see you. It seems we owe you our lives.”
    Nyal clasped hands with him. “Perhaps you’ll repay me by speaking to Beka on my behalf. I imagine she’s still cursing my name.”
    â€œSo you found her, too?” Alec groaned, feeling a fool to be so easily tracked after all their planning. “Where is she?”
    â€œNot as far away as she thought. We caught up with her at dawn this morning, less than ten miles from here.”
    â€œWe?” Seregil’s eyes