Traitor's Moon

needed, Captain,” she said, clearly as uncomfortable as Beka.
    â€œNo.” Beka turned away to the glass on the wall, fidgeting with her gorget.
    But still Mercalle lingered. “I also thought you might want to know that there’s a rumor going around that Nyal is in some sort of trouble with his khirnari.”
    Beka glanced at her in the mirror’s reflection. “How do you know that?”
    â€œI was on sentry duty until a few minutes ago. Kheeta í Branín came by with the news. It’s something to do with him not telling folks soon enough that you’d gone.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? He set them on us and led them right to me.”
    â€œWell, as I understand it, you three left the night before. He didn’t say anything to anyone until the next day, like he wanted to give you a head start. It was the Khatme who broke the news.”
    Beka fought back a surge of hope. “And you took it upon yourself to come tell me?”
    Mercalle straightened to attention. “I’m sorry if I overstepped, Captain. I know how you feel about what I did. But Nyal’s been a good help and—”
    â€œAnd what?” Beka snapped.
    â€œNothing, Captain.” Mercalle saluted quickly and turned to go.
    â€œWait. Tell me something. Why did you keep quiet about what Phoria told you to do?”
    â€œThose were my orders, Captain. I’ve lived my life by orders, and for a good part of it those orders came from Phoria herself. That’s what you do if you’re a soldier.” She broke off and Beka couldn’t blind herself to the grief in the older woman’s eyes, much as she wanted to. “A sergeant can’t afford to pick and choose which ones she obeys, Captain,” Mercalle went on. “We can’t be like you and Lord Seregil, defying the Iia’sidra, or the commander.”
    Beka opened her mouth to protest, but Mercalle cut her off. “Klia was too sick to have given you any orders. Braknil knows it. So does Rhylin, though we’ve all tried to keep it from the riders. You did what you thought was best and I hope it turns out the way you want.But even if it does, don’t ever forget that you were lucky; choice is a luxury, one your average soldier can’t afford.”
    She looked away, and when she spoke again her voice was softer. “All the same, if I could change the way things turned out, I would. I never thought it would bring harm to you or Commander Klia. Since Sir Alec caught me out, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Phoria’s changed since I served with her, or maybe I’ve gotten to an age where I look at things a little differently.…” She trailed off. “When we get home, Captain, I’ll be leaving the regiment. That’s what I came in to say, and to ask you to give Nyal a chance to prove himself before you cast him off.” She gave Beka the hint of a smile. “It’s not my place to say, Captain, but I will anyway. Men like that don’t come along every day for women like us.”
    â€œAnd what if I told you he came to me with Alec’s blood on his hands?” Beka snapped. “Or Seregil’s? There’s someone’s blood on him, and until I find out whose, I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.”
    â€œYour pardon. I didn’t know.” Mercalle saluted stiffly and went out, leaving Beka alone with a quandary she saw no way of resolving.

51
S ARIKALI
    A nyone who traveled these mountains carried the necessary medicines for dragon bite. Riagil kept Seregil’s hand bound with poultices of wet clay and herbs and had his men brew healing draughts of willow and serpentwood bark. All the same, Seregil’s left arm quickly swelled to the elbow like a blue-mottled sausage. Dark spots danced in front of his eyes and he ached in every joint. Clinging grimly to the saddlebow with his good hand, he let Alec lead his horse.
    By nightfall they reached the forested foothills of Akhendi and made camp in a clearing there. The grass was soft and the air sweet, but he spent the night tossing through feverish dreams and woke too stiff to rise without help.
    â€œYou should eat something,” Alec advised, bringing him another dose of Riagil’s infusion.
    Seregil shook his head but accepted a mug of tea laced with some strong spirit Alec had scrounged up among the soldiers. With help, he clambered back into the saddle and waited