Traitor's Moon

around frantically, he knew that he couldn’t save everything; the fire was bursting up through the floor in earnest now, licking at the corners of the room
.
    He knew he should run and warn Adzriel. He longed to save familiar mementos but could not decide what to take, what to sacrifice. And all this time, he was still trying to gather the glistening spheres. Looking down, he saw that some had turned to iron and threatened to smash the more fragile ones. Others were filled with smoke or liquid. Confused and frightened, he stood helpless as smoke boiled up around him, blotting out the light—
    Seregil woke drenched in sweat, with his heart trying to hammer its way out of his chest. It was still dark, but he had no intention of sleeping again in this place. Finding his clothes, he slipped out.
    The stars were still bright enough to cast faint shadows. Dressing quickly, he climbed up to the dragon stones overlooking the water.
    â€œAura Lightbearer, send me insight,” he whispered, stretching out on his back to wait for dawn.
    â€œWelcome home, Korit’s son,” a strange little voice replied, close to his ear.
    Seregil looked around in surprise. No one was there. Leaning over the edge of the rock, he peered underneath. A pair of shining yellow eyes looked back at him, then tilted as the creature moved its head.
    â€œAre you khtir’bai?” asked Seregil.
    The eyes tilted in the other direction. “Yes, child of Aura. Do you know me?”
    â€œShould I, Honored One?” Seregil had encountered only one such being, the khtir’bai of an aunt who’d taken the form of a white bear. This creature was far too small.
    â€œPerhaps,” the voice told him. “You have much to do, son of Korit.”
    â€œWill I ever be called that again?” Seregil asked as it finally sank in that the khtir’bai had addressed him by his true name.
    â€œWe shall see.” The eyes blinked and were gone.
    Seregil held his breath, listening, but no sound came from under the rock. He lay back again, staring up at the stars as he pondered this new turn of events.
    A few minutes later he caught the soft scuff of bare feet on stone. Sitting up, he saw Alec climbing up to join him.
    â€œYou should have come sooner. There was a khtir’bai under there, one who knew my name.”
    Alec’s look of disappointment was almost comical. “What did it look like?”
    â€œIt was just a voice in the dark, but it welcomed me home.”
    Alec sat down next to him. “At least someone has. Couldn’t you sleep?”
    Seregil told Alec all he could recall of his dream: the glass balls, the flames, the childhood memories. Alec listened quietly, gazing out across the mist-covered water.
    â€œYou’ve always claimed to have no magic, but your dreams—!” Alec said when he’d finished. “Remember those visions you had before we found Mardus?”
    â€œBefore he found us, you mean? The warnings I didn’t understand until it was too late? A lot of good that did us.”
    â€œMaybe you’re not supposed to do anything about them. Maybe you’re just supposed to be ready.”
    Seregil sighed, thinking again of the khtir’bai’s words.
You have much to do, son of Korit
. “No, this was different. Just a dream. What about you, talí? Any great revelations?”
    â€œI wouldn’t call it that. I dreamt about being aboard Mardus’s ship with Thero, only when Thero turned around, he was you and you were weeping. Then the ship sailed over a waterfall and into atunnel and that was the end of it. I don’t think I’d make much of an oracle.”
    Seregil chuckled softly. “Or a navigator, from the sound of it. Well, they say all answers can be found at Sarikali. Perhaps we’ll turn up a few there. How’s the ear?”
    Alec fingered the swollen skin and winced. “My whole neck hurts. I should have brought the lissik.”
    â€œCome on, I know something even better.” Rising, Seregil pulled Alec to his feet and led him down to the water’s edge. “Get in and give it a good soak.”
    â€œNo. I already told you—”
    â€œWho’s to know?” Seregil challenged with a wink. “Go on now, before I toss you in. The ride ahead of us will be uncomfortable enough. Take what healing you can get.”
    â€œWell, did anyone else dream last night?” Klia asked as they stood