Traitor's Moon

all work?”
    For a moment Seregil could almost feel the oppressive heat of the dhima, hear the clink of glass against glass. “Oh, yes. I have a gift for this sort of thing.”

47
K ORATHAN
    F our warships appeared from the northeast at sunset, dark outlines against the fading sky. Watching them approach, Alec made out the banner of the Skalan royal house flying from the mast of the foremost ship. This vessel drew in alongside their own, and sailors swung weighted boarding lines across for them.
    â€œI haven’t done this in a while,” Seregil said, balancing precariously on the rail to grasp the rope.
    â€œI never have,” Alec muttered, forcing himself not to look down into the narrow, surging channel between the two ships. Following Seregil’s lead, he clutched the rope high, wrapped its loose end around the ankle of his good leg, and pushed bravely off, letting the motion of the other vessel help swing him across to the far deck. He even managed to land on his feet once he got there.
    Alec had seen Prince Korathan only from a distance a few times, but there was no mistaking the man. He was plain and fair-skinned like his sister and mother, and had the same sharp, appraising eyes. His black coat and close-fitting trousers were of military cut, but he wore the heavy gold chain of the vicegerent on his breast.
    A wizard stood with the prince. He was aportly, balding man, unremarkable except for the pinned-up sleeve of his ornate green robe.
    â€œWydonis?” Alec whispered.
    Seregil nodded.
    â€œSeregil? Sakor’s Flame, man, what are you doing here?” the prince demanded, sounding none too pleased.
    Perhaps Seregil had overestimated the man’s fond memories of their younger days after all, Alec thought uneasily.
    Seregil managed a courtly bow despite his bruises and filthy clothes. “We’ve gone to considerable trouble to reach you, my lord. The news we bring must be shared in private.”
    Korathan raked them both with a bleak glare, then gestured curtly for them to follow.
    â€œWho’s this?” he asked, jerking a thumb at Alec as they entered his cabin.
    â€œAlec of Ivywell. A friend, my lord,” Seregil told him.
    â€œAh, yes.” Korathan spared Alec a second glance. “I thought he was blond.”
    Seregil’s lips twitched the tiniest bit. “He usually is, my lord.”
    The cabin was as austere as the man who occupied it. Korathan seated himself at a small table and motioned curtly for Seregil to take the room’s only other chair. Alec settled on the lid of a sea chest.
    â€œAll right, then, out with it,” said Korathan.
    â€œI know why you’re here,” Seregil told him, no less blunt. “I thought you were a wiser gambler than that. This is a fool’s errand.”
    The prince’s pale eyes narrowed. “Don’t presume too much on our past association.”
    â€œIt’s for the sake of that, and my love for your family, that I’m here at all,” Seregil retorted. “This plan to capture Gedre can only end in disaster. And not just for Klia and the rest of us trapped there. For Skala as well. It’s insane! You must know that.”
    To Alec’s surprise, Korathan appeared to consider Seregil’s harsh words. “How do you know my mission?”
    â€œYour sister’s not the only one with spies in other camps,” Seregil replied.
    â€œOld Magyana, was it?”
    Seregil said nothing.
    Korathan tapped a finger on the tabletop. “All right then, we’ll sort that out later. Phoria has the backing of the generals in this venture. As vicegerent, I’m obligated to obey.”
    â€œClearly, the generals don’t know what the Aurënfaie are capable of if they feel sufficiently threatened or insulted,” Seregil replied, earnest now. “They trusted your mother, and many of them still trust Klia. She’s a skillful diplomat, this half-sister of yours. She’d already swayed some of the opposing clans to our favor before news arrived of Idrilain’s death. Phoria is another matter, though. Within days of the news, the Virésse were spreading the story that she’d betrayed her own mother and collaborated with the Lerans. Ulan í Sathil has the documents to prove it. Did you know of this?”
    The prince eyed him levelly. “You seem to know quite a lot of things you shouldn’t. How does that happen?”
    â€œDo