Traitor's Moon

Beka explained, blushing as she flicked an imaginary bit of lint from her skirts. She looked up in time to catch Alec and Thero staring and bristled. “What are you gawking at? You’ve seen me in a dress before.”
    Alec exchanged a sheepish glance with the wizard. “Yes, but not for a long time.”
    â€œYou look very—pretty,” Thero hazarded, and got a dark look for his trouble.
    â€œIndeed you do, Captain,” chuckled Klia. “An officer on the rise has to know how to carry herself in the salon as well as in the field. Isn’t that right, Sergeant?”
    Mercalle came to attention. “It is, my lady, though this war hasn’t given the younger officers much opportunity for anything except fighting.”
    Torsin came down the main stair and gave Beka an approving nod. “You do your princess and your country honor, Captain.”
    â€œThank you, my lord,” Beka replied, softening a bit.
    Adzriel had included Klia’s entire entourage in her invitation, and everyone was in high spirits as they walked over, even Seregil.
    â€œIt’s about time I brought you to meet my family,” he said, grinning crookedly as he slipped an arm around Alec and Beka.
    Adzriel greeted them, flanked by her husband and sister. “Welcome, welcome at last, and Aura’s light shine on you,” she cried, clasping hands with each in turn as they entered. Seregil and Alec were soundly kissed on both cheeks. The word “brother” was not spoken but seemed to hover on the air like a Bash’wai spirit.
    â€œThe Akhendi and Gedre are here already,” Mydri told them as they walked through several elegant chambers to a large courtyard beyond. “Amali is very taken with you, Klia. She’s talked of nothing else since she got here.”
    This house was larger, but seemed to Alec to be more welcoming, as if centuries of habitation by this family had imbued the harsh stone with something of their own warmth.
    Low, two-person couches for the highest ranking guests had been set out on a broad stone platform above an overgrown garden, positioned so that the members of the dinner party could watch the moon rise over the towers of Sarikali. Alec counted twenty-three people wearing the colors of Bôkthersa, and half again as many Akhendi and Gedre. The riders who’d accompanied Klia over the pass were seated at long tables in the garden among banks of fragrant, funnel-shaped white flowers. They called out happily to the Urgazhi, making space for them among their ranks.
    Amali was already stretched prettily beside her husband. She had not warmed to Seregil during the long ride, and showed no signs of thawing now. Alec was glad to be seated several couches away from her, near Adzriel and the Gedre khirnari.
    Sitting down next to Seregil, however, he studied the Akhendi khirnari with interest. Rhaish í Arlisandin sat with one arm claspedloosely around his wife, clearly pleased to be with her after a long absence. Looking up at Alec, he smiled. “Amali tells me you were the luckbringer of the journey?”
    â€œWhat? Oh, this.” Alec raised a hand to the dragon bite on his ear. “Yes, my lord. It was a bit of a surprise.”
    Rhaish arched an eyebrow at Seregil. “I would have thought you’d have told him all about such things.”
    Alec was close enough to feel Seregil tense, though he doubted anyone else noticed. “I’ve been very remiss, but I’ve always found it painful to—remember.”
    Rhaish raised a hand in what appeared to be some benediction. “May your time here be one of healing,” he offered kindly.
    â€œThank you, Khirnari.”
    â€œYou must sit with me as a most honored guest, Beka ä Kari,” Mydri invited, patting the empty place beside her. “Your family took our—took Seregil in. The Cavish clan will always be welcome at the hearths of Bôkthersa.”
    â€œI hope we can offer your people the same hospitality one day,” Beka returned. “Seregil has been a great friend to us, and saved my father’s life many times.”
    â€œUsually because I’d gotten him into trouble in the first place,” Seregil added, drawing laughter from many of the other guests.
    Servants brought in trays of food and wine as Adzriel made introductions. Alec quickly lost track of the names but noted with interest the various Bôkthersans. Many were referred to as