White Road

followed in silence.
    Birds chirped and sang overhead, and somewhere nearby an osprey was defending its territory with harsh cries. In the distance the gulls croaked and argued as they returned to their nests and ledges.
    Alec had to remind himself to go slowly. Seregil didn’t complain, but Alec caught him holding his side. Alec thought he’d pushed him too far when Seregil paused at the foot of an ancient oak and bent over, but it was only to pick something up. It was a long barred owl feather. He twirled it between his fingers, then presented it to Alec. “You have something on your mind, talí.”
    Alec took the feather and stared down at it. “I’ve been thinking about Sebrahn.”
    “I thought you might be.”
    This was more difficult than he’d feared. He sat down on a log and took a deep breath, owl feather clutched, forgotten, in one hand. His eyes stung and his throat felt tight as he said, “I think—I think you were right. We should let Rieser take him back to Ravensfell. He’ll be safe there, and there are others like him and—” He fought back tears as Seregil sat down and put an arm around him. “If we keep him, he’ll always be in danger. We’ll always be looking over our shoulder for someone trying to take him.”
    “You’re right, talí. I know you think I’ve been wanting to get rid of him—Oh hell, you know I have, but when the time comes, it’s not going to be easy for me, either, if you can believe that. Whatever else he is, he’s a part of you, and I owe him everything I have in the world for saving you. But it will be safer for him.”
    Alec took a shuddering breath as he struggled with what he had to say next. “Since we left him? I’ve missed him, but—well, we couldn’t have done all we did with him there, could we?”
    “No, talí.”
    “And that’s what we’re meant to do. When I met you and you brought me into your world, that’s where I wanted to be. I still do.”
    “I’m glad.” The emotion behind the words spoke volumes.
    “And once it’s over and we’re back in Rhíminee, I want to stay there. I want the Rhíminee Cat to hunt again, and visit your whores in the Street of Lights and play the nobles in Wheel Street and—”
    “We will, talí,” Seregil assured him, then laughed softly. “And I promise you, I’ll never complain of boredom again!”
    Alec managed a weak smile. “I doubt that.”
    They sat in silence for a little while with the sunlight streaming down through the branches all around them, listening to the sound of the birds and the breeze and the distant sigh of the ocean. Finally Alec stood up and said resolutely, “I’ll tell Rieser when we get back to the ship.”
    Seregil gave him a sad smile. “I’m glad you came to it on your own, Alec. It had to be your decision.”
    Alec held up the bent feather. “Should we burn it?”
    Seregil took it and tucked it behind Alec’s left ear, then touched the dragon bite there. “No, let’s save it. A gift from the Lightbearer. I think Illior must be pleased enough with you for now.”
    Alec’s heart felt a little lighter, now that he’d voiced his decision. “I’m going to miss him,” he said as they started back for the ship.
    “I will, too. But who knows? Maybe he was meant to be with the Hâzad all along.”
    Alec mustered a shaky smile. “Are you talking fate again?”
    “If I am, we’ll never know what else might have happened. And I know what this means for you; I don’t think the Hâzad are going to change their attitude toward uninvited guests in their valley. It’s too bad, really, to come so close but not get to meet any of your mother’s people.”
    “Why would I want to? I saw enough of them at Sarikali.”
    “You saw the ones who killed her. You don’t know that they’re all like that.”
    “They’re Hâzad. They wouldn’t welcome a half-breed like me.”
    “It doesn’t matter. You’re Bôkthersan now, and well loved there.”
    And I’ll get a warmer welcome, next time, if I don’t bring a threat with me
, Alec thought. But right now that wasn’t much comfort.
    Aboard the ship again, Alec went straight to Rieser’s cabin and found him awake.
    “I have something to tell you,” he said, standing just inside the door.
    Rieser’s eyes were dull with pain, but he lifted his head and beckoned him closer. “What is it?”
    “I’ll give you Sebrahn when we get back.”
    “Of course. But it’s better that we aren’t forced to take him from