Traitor's Moon

Vicegerent of Skala, and blood kin to the woman they tried to murder.”
    â€œWithout a claim to Bôkthersan kinship, none of that will matter,” Seregil told him. “That blood tie is your trump card, my lord, and Klia’s. Let Adzriel help you use it to your best advantage. Of course, they may not allow you in at all. Whatever happens, though, Alec and I have to get to Sarikali and present the evidence we’ve found against Akhendi.”
    â€œThey’ll listen to you, but not to me?” asked Korathan. “Is this another of your risky gambles?”
    â€œYes, my lord, it is,” Alec interjected. “He could face a death sentence by going back. If you still have any doubts as to our loyalties—”
    Seregil cut him short with a warning look. “I think who our evidence clears and who it implicates will be proof enough of our good faith, my lord.”
    Korathan gave Alec another of those dismissive glances, making it clear he considered him little more than a servant, and one who would do well to hold his tongue. “I know of the terms of your return, Seregil, and what it meant to defy them. It strikes me as quite a sacrifice for a man to make for a country he abandoned two years ago, and for a queen he clearly does not trust.”
    Seregil bowed. “Meaning no disrespect, my lord, but we’re doing this for Klia’s sake, and for our own. And if Alec and I had abandoned Skala, as you put it, we wouldn’t have undertaken this mission in the first place. Just so we understand one another.”
    â€œWe do,” Korathan replied with a tight smile that sent a ripple of unease up Alec’s back. “Your declaration of loyalty is most appreciated.”
    â€œI don’t trust him,” Alec whispered when they were safely above decks again and out of the prince’s hearing. “And you weren’t much help. You practically insulted the queen to his face!”
    â€œThat truth knower of his was still lurking outside the door. Besides, I doubt I told him anything he hasn’t already guessed. Heknew it was foolish to try an attack; I’ve shown him a way to come out of this a winner.”
    â€œIf we can get back to the city,” muttered Alec, ticking his doubts off on his fingers. “If the Gedre or Akhendi don’t execute you on Haman’s behalf before we get there. If the Iia’sidra believes us, and if we’re right about the Akhendi at all.”
    Seregil draped an arm over Alec’s shoulders. “One problem at a time, talí. We’ve gotten this far, haven’t we?”

48
A N U NEASY T RUCE
    B eka waited for nightfall before coming out onto the main road again. Cold, hungry, and footsore, she hummed ballads under her breath to keep her spirits up and her mind clear of questions she had no answers for.
    Just before midnight she reached a village and helped herself to a horse. She hadn’t seen a dog since she’d arrived in Aurënen.
A good thing, now that I’m turning thief
, she thought, grinning wryly to herself as she led the horse away.
    When she was out of earshot, or at least bowshot, she mounted it bareback, wrapped her hands in the mane, and urged it into a trot, hoping it would respond to leg pressure since she had no reins. When it did, she kicked it into a gallop, laughing with relief.
    Further down the road, she snagged a clean tunic and sen’gai from a washline and attempted to make herself a bit less conspicuous, binding her long red hair out of sight and making the best job of the sen’gai that she could.
    By dawn she guessed she might be within a day’s ride of the city, barring trouble. It was achancy thing, staying on the road, but a growing sense of urgency drove her on. Her place was at Klia’s side.
    The bay mare was as good as any she’d ever ridden. Horse thieving would be a profitable profession here, she thought, if every nag stolen hastily in the dark proved as fine as one you’d have to raid a noble’s stable for in Skala.
    She encountered more people on the road as the morning wore on, but most were intent on business of their own and didn’t waste a second glance on a poor, barefoot stranger. When there were more than a few people together, she turned aside and waited behind the shelter of the trees for them to pass. She kept a lookout to the rear, as well, but no one seemed in any hurry to overtake her.
    This plan worked