Traitor's Moon

it’s time we had a chat with Nyal. I’ll ask Adzriel to have someone bring him to her house discreetly. We don’t want to attract attention.”
    Korathan shot him a questioning look. “Who is this Nyal?”
    â€œA confidant of Lady Amali’s, my lord. These are delicate matters. It would be best if he thinks himself among friends,” Seregil explained. “I’ll have Adzriel, Alec, and Thero as witnesses. I think Klia will agree that this is best. My lady?”
    Klia nodded slightly.
    â€œVery well,” Korathan said grudgingly.
    â€œThis shouldn’t take long,” Seregil promised. “Send word to the Iia’sidra that you’ll meet with them in two hours.” He paused. “Beka, do you want to be there for this?”
    She hesitated, flushing a bit behind her freckles. “With my lord’s permission?”
    â€œBe my eyes and ears, Captain,” said Korathan. “I’ll expect a full report.”
    With that settled, Seregil left the others and found Adzriel waiting just down the corridor.
    â€œI’ll send Kheeta to fetch Nyal,” she said. “I hope for Beka’s sake that he hasn’t betrayed you.”
    â€œSo do I. But I suspect she’s right about him knowing more than he’s let on.”
    Adzriel went down the back stairs and he followed, motioning for Alec and the others to remain behind.
    At the lower landing, just off the kitchen, he laid a hand on her arm. A ray of late-afternoon sun slanted in through the open door beyond, striking golden glints in her dark hair even as it highlighted the circles beneath her eyes. She looked older suddenly, and careworn.
    â€œI have something for you,” he told her, pressing Corruth’s ring into her hand. “It belongs here. Who knows what the Iia’sidra will decide.…” He faltered, unable for once to find the right words to shape his meaning.
    The light struck the ring’s large red stone, scattering bright spangles across her palm like tears of blood.
    She looked down at it, then leaned forward and kissed him, first on the brow, then on the back of his bandaged hand. “I’m proud of you, my brother. Whatever judgment the Iia’sidra passes, you returned and I’m very proud of you.” She touched his wounded hand again. “May I see?”
    The teeth marks had scabbed over cleanly, each darkly ringed with blue lissik.
    â€œMake certain the Iia’sidra see this,” she advised. “Let them see that the dragons have claimed you. Whatever the khirnari may say, you will carry this mark of favor forever, here”—she touched a hand to his heart—“and here. Come over when you’re ready. I’ll see that Nyal is there.”
    Seregil kissed her cheek, then returned upstairs to find the others crowded around Klia’s bed.
    â€œShe spoke!” Alec told him, making room. “She wants to go with us to the Iia’sidra.”
    â€œIs she strong enough?” Korathan asked, looking to Mydri.
    â€œIf we wrap her well and keep her from any jolts,” his sister said. Looking down at Klia, she shook her head. “Is it important enoughto justify the risk, my dear? You’re not strong enough to speak at any length.”
    â€œMust see me,” Klia whispered, her brow furrowed with effort.
    â€œShe’s right,” Seregil said, giving the sick woman a smile. “Let them see just how badly the laws of hospitality have been breached.” Leaning down, he clasped her sound hand and added softly, “If you weren’t a princess, I’d have had you working with me long ago.”
    Her fingers tightened around his as she gave him a fleeting grin.

52
L ONG E ARS
    A dzriel opened her own sitting room for the interrogation. Seregil, Alec, Beka, and Thero were already in place when Kheeta ushered the Ra’basi in. Beka acknowledged him with a terse nod, remaining where she was in the embrasure of the window.
    Nyal gaped in amazement at the two returned fugitives. “So you were captured after all?”
    â€œNo, we brought ourselves back,” Alec told him.
    â€œAfter all the trouble of getting away? Why?”
    â€œWe found out a few more things along the way,” Seregil told him. “We need your help again. I’m hoping you’ll give it as freely as you have in the past.”
    â€œWhatever I can do, my friends.”
    â€œGood. There are