White Road

attacked you and Alec?”
    “Yes. And that’s the only time. Then again, we’ve only had him for a few weeks. I have no idea what else he’s capable of.”
    She raised a disapproving eyebrow at him. “I can still tell when you’re lying to me, Haba.”
    “Yes, I suppose you can. All right then, here’s all of it.” Seregil lowered his voice, though it would have been difficult for anyone to hear them over the wind. “He can raise the dead.”
    “Raise the dead?” This time she was clearly surprised.
    “Yes. Alec wasn’t just hurt in Plenimar. He was killed.” The words came out in a rush now. “We were totally outnumbered by Yhakobin’s men. Alec was struck by two arrows and that’s when Sebrahn sang; it killed every man left standing. I killed Yhakobin myself.” He rubbed at his eyes. “But Alec was dying when I got back to him. That’s why he’s in such bad shape now, and I’m not.” Tears stung his eyes; the memory was too raw. “Sebrahn brought him back from Bilairy’s gate.”
    “But—are you certain he was actually dead?”
    “Yes!” Seregil’s voice was suddenly a little unsteady. “I held him in my arms and watched the blood stop flowing from his wounds. I saw his eyes fix. I
know
what death looks like, Adzriel. He was dead.”
    “I see.” She was quiet for some time. At last, she laid a hand on his arm. “Then, yes, you must come to Bôkthersa and speak with Tyrus. If Sebrahn is somehow a dragon, then Tyrus will know. Even if he doesn’t, then at least you’ll besafe for a time with us. You can rest and decide what to do next.”
    “Sebrahn may be a danger to the clan, you know.”
    “That is my responsibility. And what about Alec? Don’t you want him safe?”
    “Of course.” He squeezed her hand. “Thank you, eldest sister.”
    “Then that’s settled. But you haven’t said who kidnapped you. Micum and Thero spoke of finding the slavers who took you, but they seemed to think there was more to it.”
    “Indeed. The slavers told them that Ulan í Sathil ransoms slaves from Virésse and Goliníl.”
    Her grey eyes widened in dismay. “You don’t think that Ulan í Sathil had something to do with this?” If true, it was an unforgivable breach of
atui—
Aurënfaie clan honor—and could spark a bloody feud with Akhendi, in whose
fai’thast
they’d been ambushed, as well as with Bôkthersa and Gedre, whose people had been killed along with the Skalan escort. “Do you have any proof of this?”
    “No. But the slavers who took us were not the ordinary lot. They struck too far inland, and they had a necromancer with them.” He paused, weighing his words. “I wouldn’t have thought of Ulan, except that Yhakobin mentioned to Alec that he traded with him.”
    “It’s no secret that Virésse trades with Plenimar. Who can blame the khirnari for saving his own people any way he can? I’d do the same, in his place.”
    “Yes, but it’s also no secret here that Alec is half Hâzadriëlfaie. Ulan could have told his friend Yhakobin about Alec to buy favor.”
    “That is conjecture, Seregil, not proof.”
    “It just seems like too many coincidences.”
    “I’d like to see Sebrahn again,” Adzriel said, rising and going to the door of the colos.
    Seregil smiled as he followed; she’d spoken more like a khirnari just now than a sister.
    Together they went down to Alec’s room. Sebrahn was on the bed at Alec’s side. Magyana and Thero were with them,too, and there were
bakshi
stones and coins strewn across the quilt.
    Sebrahn retreated closer to Alec as Adzriel sat on the bed next to him.
    “Give me your hand, Sebrahn,” she said softly. Sebrahn let her clasp it. She continued to look at him intently, and Seregil knew she was seeing whatever it was that the wizards did.
    “I feel no evil in him. Riagil mistakes power for that,” she murmured. “Alec, can you control his singing?”
    “You told her?” Alec asked, surprised and none too pleased, either.
    “I had no choice,” Seregil explained. “We need to go to Bôkthersa, and she deserves to know the whole truth. There’s a man named Tyrus there who might be able to help us; he knows more about dragons and their lore than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s called Dragon Friend.”
    “Why?”
    “Because he lives with the young ones, and talks to the old ones.”
    “There are dragons in Bôkthersa?” Alec’s eyes were as wide as Micum’s little daughter’s when Seregil brought her a