Traitor's Moon

Virésse, and this muddied the waters. The minute I put it in your hands you guessed what had happened and began to stall and try to get it back from me.”
    Seregil paused, shaking his head. “From the start, the evidence didn’t fit the supposed events. There was too much of it, and too readily found. You gave yourself away at last, hunting us down.” He held up the sen’gai again. “You couldn’t chance the possibility that we had discovered your secret, which brings me back to Nyal.”
    Nyal came forward again, not looking at the Akhendi as he outlined what he had said earlier in Adzriel’s sitting room. “Amali could tell me no reason for his strange moods, and I inferred nothing of what you have just heard until the day I left in search of the three fugitives,” he explained. “Like Seregil, I’d seen without understanding. I just wanted to protect Beka, whom I love. I did help Seregil and Alec escape from the men who waylaid them. These men meant to kill them and would have succeeded if I hadn’t happened along. I left them afterward still in ignorance. I wanted to protect Amali, too, until I was shown her duplicity with the charm. Even love has its limits.”
    A hush fell over the chamber.
    â€œYou must answer these charges, Rhaish í Arlisandin,” Brythir said at last.
    The Akhendi rose and drew himself up proudly. “No teth’sag has been declared. I refute the accusations.”
    â€œWhat say you, Korathan í Malteus?” the Silmai asked.
    â€œI stand by what has been said here, and demand justice,” the prince said gruffly.
    â€œHave you any other evidence to offer, Seregil?”
    This sounded dangerously like a dismissal. “No, Honored One.”
    Brythir shook his head, looking older than ever. “These are heavy matters, my brothers and sisters. The Iia’sidra must deliberate deeply upon them. Rhaish, you will summon your wife to answer the charges made against her. Until then, this matter is with Aura—”
    â€œWhat?” Korathan objected, but Adzriel laid a hand on his arm, whispering earnestly.
    Alec shot Seregil a dismayed look, but he shook his head and led the way to seats among the Skalans.
    The old Silmai raised his voice again. “There remains the matter of Haman’s claim of teth’sag against Seregil the Exile. He has broken teth’sag with both the Haman and with the Iia’sidra in defying the conditions of his return.”
    â€œWas it oath breaking to follow the orders of those he now serves?” asked Iriel ä Kasrai.
    â€œHe is Aurënfaie, and subject to the laws,” Galmyn í Nemius maintained.
    â€œBut he is exiled, and serves the Skalans,” said Ulan í Sathil. “Is he therefore not cut off from the law as well as the comfort of his own kind? If he is not allowed to act as one of the people, is he subject to the same law?”
    Seregil gave the Virésse an appraising look, knowing that self-interest lurked somewhere close to the surface of this unexpected support.
    â€œDo the restrictions he and the Skalans agreed to mean nothing, then?” retorted Lhaär ä Iriel. “If so, then may the Tírfaie simply not take what they want from us, regardless of what we say? You offer a dangerous precedent, Ulan. Conditions were laid down and agreed to. The Skalans and the Exile must abide by them.”
    â€œThe Skalans have been wronged!” Adzriel objected.
    Brythir raised his hands for order. “This, too, must be debated with care. We must have time for reflections. Nazien í Hari, do you maintain the claim of teth’sag against this man, Seregil of Rhíminee?”
    â€œI must, for honor’s sake, Khirnari,” Nazien replied solemnly. “He broke teth’sag. His khirnari must again accept responsibility for him.”
    Alec’s knuckles went white as he clenched his fists. “That ungrateful son of—”
    â€œNo, Alec,” Seregil whispered quickly. “He has no choice.”
    Adzriel rose and bowed deeply. “With great sorrow, Khirnari, I accept the justice of your claim. By my honor and that of my clan, I pledge to keep guard over him until judgment has been passed.”
    â€œVery well,” said Brythir. “We will meet tomorrow morning and resume the debate. Rhaish í Arlisandin, you will summon Amali ä Yassara. Korathan í Malteus, you have until the