Traitor's Moon

she announced. “Stand in Aura’s sight and speak the truth.”
    She struck the chime again and withdrew to a small platform. Brythir í Nien rose first to speak.
    â€œBrothers and sisters of the Iia’sidra, and all people of Aura in this place,” he began. “Klia ä Idrilain, Princess of Skala, seeks audience today. Are there any who object to her presence, or that of her ministers?”
    There was a weighty pause; then the khirnari of Haman, Lhapnos, and Goliníl rose as one.
    â€œWe object to the presence of the exile, Seregil of Rhíminee,” stated Galmyn í Nemius.
    Alec and Thero both shot Seregil worried glances, but he’d expected as much.
    â€œYour objections are noted,” Brythir í Nien told the dissenters. “Any others? Very well, then. Klia ä Idrilain, you may speak.”
    Klia rose and made the assembly a dignified bow. “Honored Khirnari and people of Aurënen, I come before you today as a representative of my mother, Queen Idrilain. From her I bear greetings and a proposition.
    â€œAs you know, Plenimar is once more making war against Skala and our ally, Mycena. From your own agents we also know that they have courted the favor of your own enemy, Zengat. Aurënen has fought with us against Plenimar before. I stand before you today as a warrior who has faced this aggressor in the field, and they are as mighty now as in the days of the Great War.
    â€œAlready our trade routes with the northlands have been cut off. Mycena will almost surely fall. We Skalans are great warriors, yetwithout allies or supplies, how long can we stand come winter? If Plenimar lays claim to the Three Lands and their territories, how long will it be before their fleets and those of the Zengati pirates mass along your coast?
    â€œOur two races stood against Plenimar through the dark days of the Great War. For many years we mixed our blood and called each other kin. In the face of this new crisis, Queen Idrilain proposes a renewed alliance between our two lands for our mutual defense and benefit.”
    Galmyn í Nemius of Lhapnos was the first to respond. “You speak of supplies, Klia ä Idrilain. You already have these from us, do you not? Aurënfaie goods are still carried north from Virésse by Tírfaie ships.”
    â€œBut few of them are Skalan ships these days,” she replied. “Few of our vessels can reach Virésse, and fewer still return. Plenimaran ships lurk behind every island. They attack without provocation, pillage the cargoes, kill the crew, and send the ships to the bottom of the Osiat Sea. Then they sail back to trade at your port. And their reach is growing. My own ship was attacked no more than a day’s voyage from Gedre.”
    â€œWhat would you have of us, then?” asked the Khatme, Lhaär ä Iriel.
    Klia motioned to Lord Torsin. “The list, please.”
    The envoy stepped forward and unrolled a parchment. Clearing his throat, he read: “Queen Idrilain asks first that the Iia’sidra Council grant Skala a second open port, Gedre, and leave to mass ships there and in the Ea’malie Islands for no longer than the duration of the present conflict. In return, she pledges increased payments for Aurënfaie horses, grain, and weapons.
    â€œIn addition, the queen proposes a military alliance for the mutual benefit and defense of our two lands. She asks that you commit to a levy of Aurënfaie warships, soldiers, and wizards, with her pledge in kind to provide the same in the event that Aurënen is attacked.”
    â€œA hollow pledge, from a land that cannot even defend itself,” observed a Haman. Torsin pressed on as if he hadn’t heard.
    â€œFinally, she earnestly desires to reestablish the accord that once existed between our two peoples. In this dark time, she prays that the Iia’sidra will honor the call of blood to blood and once again treat Skala as her friend and ally.”
    Nazien í Hari was on his feet before Torsin finished rolling up his scroll. “Are the memories of the Tír so short, Torsin í Xandus?” hedemanded. “Has your queen forgotten what sundered our peoples in the first place? I am not the only one present today who is old enough to recall the outcry of your people against Corruth í Glamien when he married the first Idrilain, or how he disappeared immediately after her death—murdered by Skalans. Adzriel ä Illia,