Traitor's Moon

generations out of mind, to walk away from the house of her ancestors. It has brought our clan ill luck.
    â€œIt is even more difficult for my husband, both as our khirnari and as one who has lived so long and remembers what the Akhendi once were. I assure you, he will do all in his power to support your lady’s mission, as will I.”
    Alec bowed, wondering again what she and Nyal had been doing together on that dark trail in the mountains.
    Anxious as she was to see Sarikali, Beka found herself wishing they could stay longer in Akhendi. This country reminded her of the rolling forests she’d roamed as a girl, and of the peaceful life she’d taken for granted.
    They stopped for the night in one of the larger villages, and their arrival created quite a stir, if a quiet one at first. A few at a time, villagers gathered to greet Amali and gawk at the Tírfaie visitors. Before long, the Skalans were surrounded by a silent, staring throng.
    â€œWe’re as much creatures of legend here as the ’faie are in the northlands,” Beka told her riders. “Come on. Give them a smile!”
    A small girl was the first to approach. Pulling free of her mother’s hand, she marched up to Sergeant Braknil and stared with unabashed curiosity at his grizzled beard. The old veteran returned the stare with amusement, then presented his chin for closer inspection. The girl dug her fingers into it and burst out giggling. At this, otherchildren came forward, touching beards, clothing, and weapon hilts with delighted wonder. The adults followed, and anyone who spoke both languages soon had their hands full translating questions back and forth.
    Beka’s hair and freckles were the focus of especially intent curiosity. Pulling her braid loose, she shook out her hair and sat grinning as children and adults gently lifted the strands to see the coppery play of sunlight through them. Looking up, she saw Nyal watching her over the heads of the others, his leaf-and-water eyes tilted up at the corners with silent amusement. He winked and she looked quickly away as her cheeks went warm. Turning, she found herself face-to-face with the little girl who’d walked so boldly up to Braknil, who was now accompanied by a young man about Alec’s age.
    The child pointed to Beka and said something about “making.”
    Beka shook her head, showing that she didn’t understand.
    The young man held out his hand, showing her a bundle of colorful leather thongs. He covered them with his other hand, rubbed his palms together, then presented her with an intricately braided bracelet with loose strands at each end for tying.
    â€œChypta,” she said, delighted. She’d watched Seregil do this sort of sleight of hand most of her life.
    He gestured that he was not finished. Taking it back from her, he held it by one end and pulled it slowly through the fingers of his other hand. When he was done, a small wooden frog dangled from the middle of the weave.
    The little girl tied it around Beka’s left wrist, then touched a hand to her scabbard and the bruise on her forehead, talking excitedly.
    â€œIt’s a charm to help wounds heal,” explained Seregil, who’d wandered over with Alec. “She says she’s never seen a woman soldier before, but she can tell you are very brave and so probably get hurt a lot. She’s not old enough to make charms herself yet, so her cousin here obliged, but the gift was her idea.”
    â€œChypta!” Beka said again, touched by the gift. “Hold on a minute, I want to give her something, too. Damn, what have I got with me?”
    Rummaging in her pouch, she found a sack of fancy gaming stones she’d bought in Mycena, jasper lozenges inlaid with silver. “For you,” she said in Aurënfaie, placing one in the child’s hand.
    The little girl clasped the piece in her fist and gave Beka a kiss on the cheek.
    â€œAnd thank you.” Beka looked up at the cousin, doubtful that he’d be impressed by such a reward.
    He leaned down and touched a finger to his cheek. Beka took the hint and gave him a kiss. Laughing, he led the little girl away.
    â€œDid you see that performance?” Beka asked Seregil, admiring the bracelet. “It reminds me of tricks you used to do for us after supper.”
    â€œWhat you just saw was magic, not sleight of hand. So is the charm, though not a very powerful sort. The Akhendi are known for their