White Road

present.
    “Don’t you remember what I told you when we first met, when I was trying to talk you into staying with me?”
    “That you’d seen dragons flying under a full moon?”
    “You’ll see them, too,
talí.”
    “How? When?”
    Seregil grinned and exchanged a look with his sister. “I’d rather have it be a surprise.”
    “Have it your way,” he said, bemused. He turned to Adzriel. “You think Sebrahn is actually a dragon?”
    “No, but he seems to be connected to them in some way, if only through the oracle. Since Sarikali is out of the question, you must bring him to Tyrus.”
    “Why can’t we go to Sarikali?” asked Alec.
    “I’ll explain later. What do you say, talí?” asked Seregil.
    “I say we go!”
    Seregil smiled. “Then it’s settled. Thank you, sister.”
    She rose and kissed them both on the forehead. “I’ll send word to my captain to get the ship provisioned. It will take some time, but Alec must have more time to regain his strength.”
    “I’m fine!”
    Adzriel laughed as she went out. “That’s for Mydri to say, little brother.”
    Seregil chuckled, too, knowing that Alec was heartily sick of people fussing over him. The promise of Bôkthersa was probably more than enough to make it bearable, though.
    Going home at last
, he thought with a mix of excitement and concern.
    Micum and the wizards came back soon after Adzriel had gone. Micum limped over to the bed and sat down. “We overheard your sister speaking with our host. I take it we’re not settling down here?”
    “‘Guests and fish stink after three days,’ as they say,” Seregil told him with a crooked grin. “Are you all going back to Skala together?”
    Micum raised an eyebrow. “If you think you two are going anywhere without me, you’d better think again. I’m not letting you out of my sight until you’re both safely settled, since you can’t seem to keep out of trouble.”
    “What about Kari?” asked Alec.
    “Thero’s already taken care of that with one of those message spells.”
    “What did she say?” asked Seregil, though he had a pretty good notion.
    Thero grimaced. “That she’d skin both me and Micum if we let anything else happen to either of you. Even allowing for the auditory limits of the spell, I had the impression that she meant it quite literally. She won’t be happy if she finds out I’ve deserted you. To be honest, I wish I was going with you.” Thero grinned in a way Seregil never would have imagined him capable of.
    Micum laughed. “He’s finally gotten a taste of nightrunning and likes it. Don’t worry, Thero. I’ve had years of practice managing Seregil, and Alec’s not half the bother.”
    “I suspect it will be easier than facing the prince andlying,” the young wizard replied. “I’ve never done that before. I don’t think Nysander ever did, either.”
    “With Sebrahn’s powers, perhaps the rhekaro could end the war,” mused Magyana.
    “Or wipe out the court and a lot of innocent Skalans,” said Alec. “As you said, Thero, you and Magyana can best protect us by convincing everyone there that we’re still recuperating.”
    “When we’re not rummaging about in the Orëska vaults,” he said as he and Magyana rose to go.
    “I’m rather looking forward to it,” said Magyana. “It’s been a while since I poked around down there.”
    Seregil closed the door after them, then pulled off his boots and stretched out beside Alec, frowning.
    “You’re worried about taking him to Bôkthersa, aren’t you?” asked Alec.
    “Yes.” Seregil took Alec’s hand and absently rubbed his thumb over the scar on the palm. “But if Tyrus does know what Sebrahn is, that may go a long way to figuring out what to do. In the meantime, we need to keep a tight rein on him.” He looked at the rhekaro, who was now watching them from the foot of the bed. “No more singing, you. Understand? Bad.”
    “Baaaad.”
    “That’s right,” Alec said. “And now, I need a real bath!”
    “Yes, you do.” Basin baths could only accomplish so much, but Seregil didn’t really mind; when he was locked in that cold cellar room under Yhakobin’s house, beaten and sick, Alec’s unwashed scent on a pillow had saved his sanity and reaffirmed his resolve. It affected him the same way now, but this time Alec was safe beside him.
    Never again!
    “Talí?” He smoothed a hand over Alec’s back, letting his fingers count the knobs of the younger man’s spine.
    His only answer