Traitor's Moon

hands wide in the ritual gesture of surrender. “Yes, Khirnari. I have returned to ask your forgiveness, knowing I am not worthy of any mercy.”
    â€œThis man broke teth’sag, my brothers and sisters,” Adzrielannounced. “By that act he must be reclaimed by his clan, Bôkthersa, for justice to be carried out against him. Yet he committed this offense in the service of the people to whom he was exiled, in order to remain loyal to Klia and her kin, as did his companions, Beka ä Kari and Alec í Amasa. I pray you, let them give evidence this day for the sake of justice.”
    â€œThis is an affront to all Aurënen!” Lhaär ä Iriel objected, rising angrily. “Who is this Tírfaie Korathan, to come uninvited to our land and demand that our laws be put aside for his convenience? The Exile has proven himself a traitor and an oath breaker. How dare he come here for anything other than punishment?”
    â€œLook at the mark the Exile now bears,” Riagil called out from his place among the lesser clans. “You Khatme pride yourselves on knowing the ways and meanings of dragons. Examine the mark and interpret it for us.”
    â€œWhat mark?” she demanded.
    Seregil stripped the bandage from his hand and held it up.
    The Khatme’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she walked out to scrutinize the bite mark. “I know what you are, Exile,” she hissed, too low for the others to hear. “This is some Skalan trickery.”
    â€œLook closer, Khirnari. No matter how much you may hate me, you’re too honorable not to speak the truth.”
    She gave him a withering glare, then seized the offered hand, handling it as if it were smeared with filth. She made no effort to be gentle, but he endured the discomfort willingly as she prodded and pressed. He’d happily have endured a good deal more to watch the expression of grudging awe that came over the old virago’s face.
    â€œHe bears the dragon’s true mark,” she announced at last. “A great mark; a sign of the Lightbearer’s favor, though why this should be so I cannot say.”
    â€œThank you,” said Brythir. “The Exile will answer for his actions, but for now, I vote that he shall speak, and his companions with him. How say the rest of you, my brothers and sisters?”
    One by one, the other khirnari assented.
    â€œI will speak first for Emiel í Moranthi,” Seregil began, turning to face the Haman.
    Emiel stood next to Nazien’s chair, watching Seregil warily, as if expecting some cruel joke at his expense. The khirnari’s face was more guarded.
    â€œHonored khirnari of the Iia’sidra,” Seregil went on, “as you know, proofs have been given that Emiel í Moranthi attacked Princess Klia, either through violence or poison. From the beginning,however, I had my doubts. I will now lay before you new proofs, ones that show his innocence.
    â€œKlia was brought home from the hunt dying, with the marks of an attack on her throat. Alec í Amasa and others had seen Emiel struggling with her and assumed that he was doing her harm.”
    He held a hand out toward Klia. “You know Klia ä Idrilain as a wise diplomat. But she is also a warrior, and would not suffer such an attack without fighting back. She had struggled; there was blood under her nails, but it was her own. Emiel bore no marks, no blood. She was choking, poisoned with the venom of the apaki’nhag hours earlier, and had clawed at her own throat in panic. Many of you have seen the effects of this poison; look at Klia as she is now. Speak with Mydri ä Illia and Nyal í Nhekai, who healed her. I believe the Haman speaks the truth when he claims that he was merely trying to help her when she fell ill.”
    â€œBut what of the Akhendi warding charm Klia wore?” asked the Ra’basi khirnari. “Surely you cannot refute that?”
    â€œThe charm proves that Emiel acted with violence, but not against Klia, and not that day.” Seregil unsealed the bottle and handed Alec the bracelet, glancing at Rhaish í Arlisandin as he did so. The man still betrayed nothing.
    Alec held up the bracelet. “The woven band is Klia’s, made by Amali ä Yassara of Akhendi. But the warding charm on it has been replaced. I know this, because this charm was mine. Emiel’s violence was directed at me, soon after our arrival in Sarikali. The men who were