Traitor's Moon

men are free to bring home any Aurënfaie bride who’ll have them, too.”
    â€œBilairy’s Balls, Seregil, that’s coldhearted, turning the best turma in Skala into breeding stock!”
    â€œWhen it comes to the survival of a nation, there’s not much that’s considered beyond the pale. It’s not even that unusual. Remember my sojourn among the Dravnians? I kept up my duties as guest, so to speak. Who knows how many of my own offspring are toddling around somewhere up in the Asheks as we speak?”
    Alec raised an eyebrow at this. “You’re joking.”
    â€œI’m not. As for our current situation, it’s all for the greater glory of Skala, which makes it honorable enough. How patriotic are
you
feeling these days?”
    Alec ignored the jibe, but found himself watching the Urgazhi more closely during the banquet that followed.
    Seregil was eating breakfast with Klia and Torsin in the hall early the next morning when Thero came shuffling in. His face was grey and he held himself as if his insides were made of glass and poorly packed.
    â€œBy the Light!” Torsin exclaimed. “My dear Thero, shall I send for a healer?”
    â€œI’m fine, my lord, just a bit under the weather,” Thero replied, coming to a halt behind an empty chair and grasping the back of it.
    â€œYou’re not fine,” Klia retorted, turning to look at him.
    â€œIt could be river fever,” Seregil offered, suspecting it was no such thing. “I’ll send for Mydri.”
    â€œNo!” Thero said quickly. “No, that’s not necessary. It’s just a slight distemper. It will pass.”
    â€œNonsense. Take him back to his room, Seregil,” Klia ordered.
    Thero’s skin felt hot and clammy, and he leaned heavily on Seregil’s arm as he limped back upstairs. Reaching his room, he laid down but refused to undress.
    Seregil stood over him, frowning. “So, what happened?”
    Thero closed his eyes and ran a hand over his unshaven cheek. “A dragon bit me.”
    â€œBilairy’s Balls, Thero! Where in Sarikali did you find one big enough to make you this sick?”
    The wizard managed a sickly smile. “Where do you think?”
    â€œAh, of course. You’d better let me have a look.”
    â€œI’ve used lissik on it already.”
    â€œLissik won’t do for large bites. Come on now, where is it? Arm? Leg?”
    With a sigh, Thero pulled up the front of his robe.
    Seregil’s eyes widened. “You said Alec’s ear looked like a grape when he got bitten by that little one. This looks more like—”
    â€œI
know
what it looks like!” Thero snarled, covering himself.
    â€œThis needs attention. I’ll get something from Mydri. No one has to know the details.”
    â€œThank you,” Thero rasped, staring up at the ceiling.
    Seregil shook his head. “You know, I’ve never heard of anyone getting bitten on the—”
    â€œIt was an accident. Just
go!
” Thero pleaded.
    An accident?
Seregil thought, hurrying next door.
Not if the rhui’auros had anything to do with it
.
    To his considerable relief, Mydri asked few questions. He described the injury in general terms, and she mixed several infusions and a bowl of poultice. Eyeing the latter, Seregil hoped Thero was up to treating himself.

16
A N E VENING’S E NTERTAINMENT
    T hero kept to his bed through the next day. Having been bitten himself, Alec couldn’t share Seregil’s amused attitude and was happy enough to keep Thero’s secret.
    He was thankful when Klia decided that he was of more use wandering at large than at the Iia’sidra. Aurënfaie deliberation was conducted at a glacial pace, every issue seemingly tied to centuries of history and precedent. Except for occasional visits to stay abreast of developments, he found other ways to occupy himself.
    As a result, he saw little of Seregil during the day, and the evenings were taken up by a seemingly endless number of banquets with clans major and minor, each fraught with unspoken undercurrents of influence and will.
    When they finally did reach their room again, sometimes only a few hours before dawn, Seregil either fell asleep immediately or disappeared up to the colos to pace in the dark. Alec had seen enough already to know the rejection Seregil faced each day. In public, all but a few avowed friends kept their distance. Members of