Nightrunners 03 - Traitor's Moon (75 page)

"What about her?" she demanded, keeping her voice low. "Have you been able to get any more out of her about who attacked her?"

"No, the poisoning affected her memory. She seems to recall little after the morning of the hunt."

"That's too bad. I don't like the idea of leaving Aurenen before we see justice done."

"That's not Klia's main concern," Thero told her. "Don't let it blind you, either. There's still the vote to come. Your duty lies there."

Returning to the barracks at last, Beka was met with a round of cheers from the riders waiting for her there.

"You look like you had a hard go of it, Captain," Braknil exclaimed, handing her a mug of rassos.

She downed it gratefully, welcoming the warmth it spread through her aching muscles. "No worse than usual," she replied, managing a grin to match those around her. "I just didn't have you all there to help me."

After checking the order of the watches, she left Braknil in charge and retreated to her room to clean up. Smoothing a clean tabard over her shirt, she rested a hand on the regimental device stitched on its front: crossed sabers supporting a crown.

Duty.

She recalled Nyal sitting across the fire from her, watching her with hazel eyes that spoke only of patience.

I
wanted to make certain you were safe
—

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come," she mumbled, wiping quickly at her eyes.

It was Mercalle. Giving Beka a stiff salute, she closed the door quietly behind her.

Here was another situation designed to twist knots in her belly. The two of them had spoken less than ten words to each other since the sergeant had confessed to spying for Phoria. If they hadn't all been trapped together in a foreign land, Beka would have packed her off to another regiment at once.

"I was wondering if there was anything you needed, Captain," she said, clearly as uncomfortable as Beka.

"No." Beka turned away to the glass on the wall, fidgeting with her gorget.

But still Mercalle lingered. "I also thought you might want to know that there's a rumor going around that Nyal is in some sort of trouble with his khirnari."

Beka glanced at her in the mirror's reflection. "How do you know that?"

"I was on sentry duty until a few minutes ago. Kheeta i Branin came by with the news. It's something to do with him not telling folks soon enough that you'd gone."

"What do you mean? He set them on us and led them right to me."

"Well, as I understand it, you three left the night before. He didn't say anything to anyone until the next day, like he wanted to give you a head start. It was the Khatme who broke the news."

Beka fought back a surge of hope. "And you took it upon yourself to come tell me?"

Mercalle straightened to attention. "I'm sorry if I overstepped, Captain. I know how you feel about what I did. But Nyal's been a good help and—"

"And what?" Beka snapped.

"Nothing, Captain." Mercalle saluted quickly and turned to go.

"Wait. Tell me something. Why did you keep quiet about what Phoria told you to do?"

"Those were my orders, Captain. I've lived my life by orders, and for a good part of it those orders came from Phoria herself. That's what you do if you're a soldier." She broke off and Beka couldn't blind herself to the grief in the older woman's eyes, much as she wanted to. "A sergeant can't afford to pick and choose which ones she obeys, Captain," Mercalle went on. "We can't be like you and Lord Seregil, defying the Iia'sidra, or the commander."

Beka opened her mouth to protest, but Mercalle cut her off. "Klia was too sick to have given you any orders. Braknil knows it. So does Rhylin, though we've all tried to keep it from the riders. You did what you thought was best and I hope it turns out the way you want.

But even if it does, don't ever forget that you were lucky; choice is a luxury, one your average soldier can't afford."

She looked away, and when she spoke again her voice was softer. "All the same, if I could change the way things turned out, I would. I never thought it would bring harm to you or Commander Klia. Since Sir Alec caught me out, I've been doing a lot of thinking. Phoria's changed since I served with her, or maybe I've gotten to an age where I look at things a little differently...." She trailed off. "When we get home, Captain, I'll be leaving the regiment. That's what I came in to say, and to ask you to give Nyal a chance to prove himself before you cast him off." She gave Beka the hint of a smile. "It's not my place to say, Captain, but I will anyway. Men like that don't come along every day for women like us."

"And what if I told you he came to me with Alec's blood on his hands?" Beka snapped. "Or Seregil's? There's someone's blood on him, and until I find out whose, I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself."

"Your pardon. I didn't know." Mercalle saluted stiffly and went out, leaving Beka alone with a quandary she saw no way of resolving.

51

Sarikali

Anyone who traveled these mountains carried the necessary medicines for dragon bite. Riagil kept Seregil's hand bound with poultices of wet clay and herbs and had his men brew healing draughts of willow and serpentwood bark. All the same, Seregil's left arm quickly swelled to the elbow like a blue-mottled sausage. Dark spots danced in front of his eyes and he ached in every joint. Clinging grimly to the saddlebow with his good hand, he let Alec lead his horse.

By nightfall they reached the forested foothills of Akhendi and made camp in a clearing there. The grass was soft and the air sweet, but he spent the night tossing through feverish dreams and woke too stiff to rise without help.

"You should eat something," Alec advised, bringing him another dose of Riagil's infusion.

Seregil shook his head but accepted a mug of tea laced with some strong spirit Alec had scrounged up among the soldiers. With help, he clambered back into the saddle and waited miserably for the order to move on.

"Do you feel any better today?" Korathan inquired, walking his horse past.

Seregil managed a grin. "No, my lord, but I don't feel any worse either."

Korathan gave him
an
approving nod.
"Good. It wouldn't do
to leave you behind."

Alec grew increasingly watchful as they entered the more populated part of Akhendi. Whenever they stopped for water or news, he made certain that they were safely surrounded by uniformed Skalans. He also kept his ears open and learned that Amali had gone home after he and Seregil had escaped. Rhaish was still in Sarikali.

"What else can he do?" Seregil mumbled, hunched miserably in the saddle. "Either he's innocent and has no reason to run, or doesn't want to look guilty."

They reached the valley late in the day and found a cadre of Silmai lookouts waiting for them at the bridge. Iaanil i Khormai greeted Korathan in the Iia'sidra's name, then sent runners ahead to announce their arrival.

"A better welcome than Klia got," Seregil remarked, sounding more alert as he took his reins back from Alec. The swelling in his arm was already subsiding, though the skin was still discolored.

At the outskirts of the city they found a large crowd waiting to greet them. Foremost among them were nine white-clad members of the Iia'sidra. The khirnari of Viresse and Haman were not with them.

"Rhaish?" Seregil asked softly, craning his neck to see past a tall Skalan riding just in front of him.

"There," Alec said, spotting the Akhendi standing next to Adzriel and old Brythir.

"Good. Maybe he hasn't tumbled yet."

"Ulan and Nazien aren't here."

"That would hardly be tactful, now would it?"

The Silmai khirnari greeted Korathan, presenting him with a heavy golden torque. "I regret that such a circumstance brings you here."

"Or that we should meet for such a reason, my kinsman," said Adzriel, introducing herself.

"When you have rested and refreshed yourself, the Iia'sidra will hear your petition," Brythir went on. "Perhaps tomorrow morning?"

"I'd prefer to settle the matter tonight," Korathan replied brusquely. "I will visit my sister first to learn her condition."

Alec peered out from beneath the edge of his hood, watching

the faces of the various Iia'sidra members. Many were clearly offended at such haste, but no one was in a position to argue. Korathan was the aggrieved party and was within his rights to demand an assembly.

"Come, I'll take you to her," Adzriel said, stepping in graciously. "My sister Mydri is with her now, or she would have been here to greet you."

Saaban brought her a horse, and together they proceeded through the familiar streets.

Alec had never expected to enter this strange place again, or to feel the silvery play of its ancient magic across his skin. In spite of his underlying anxiety, he savored the moment. As if in response, he caught the rich, unmistakable scent of the Bash'wai and whispered his thanks.

"Look there," Seregil whispered.

Several rhui'auros stood beside the street, watching the newcomers pass. As they came abreast of them, one of the rhui'auros raised a hand at him in salute.

"They know!" Alec hissed.

"It's all right," Seregil replied quietly.

At the outskirts of Bokthersa tupa they were met by a crowd of well-wishers waiting to greet the prince. He acknowledged them with thinly masked impatience and pressed on.

Braknil's decuria were ranked at attention on the front stairs of the guest house. At the bottom Beka stood next to Thero, looking none the worse for her journey.

"Thank the Maker!" Alec exclaimed softly, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

"Looks like she got back in one piece after all," whispered Seregil. "But where's Nyal? I hope she didn't kill him on sight."

Beka went down on one knee in front of Korathan as he dismounted. "Captain Beka Cavish, my lord."

"My sister mentions you often in her field reports, Captain," Korathan replied, less curt with her than he had been with the Iia'sidra. "It seems her regard for you is well founded."

Beka rose and saluted.

"And in you as well, young wizard," he added, turning to Thero. "You were apprenticed to old Nysander before Magyana, weren't you?"

"Yes, Vicegerent."

Alec thought he caught a gleam of alarm in Thero's eyes; an association with Magyana was unlikely to win anyone favor at court just now. He was also struck, however, by how Korathan seemed to know a bit about anyone he was introduced to.

"A most talented young man," the wizard Wydonis remarked, coming forward with Elutheus to clasp hands with Thero. "Your master and I had our differences, but I see he managed not to ruin you."

Thero returned the greeting stiffly, then clasped hands more warmly with the younger wizard.

Did Thero know who all the Watchers were? wondered Alec.

He and Seregil followed unremarked as Beka led Korathan to his sister's chamber. The nobles and wizards crowded in, leaving the soldiers on guard in the corridor. As soon as Klia's door was safely shut, Alec drew Beka into Thero's room across the corridor and latched the door shut behind them.

"What is this?" she demanded sharply, pulling away from Seregil.

"Don't you know us, Captain?" he asked as he and Seregil pushed back their hoods.

"By the Flame!" She pulled back to stare at them both. "What are you doing back here?"

"I'll explain later," said Seregil. "Did Nyal find you again?"

"Again?" Her smile died, and Alec knew at once that something was amiss. "Then you did see him?"

"See him? He saved our lives!" said Alec.

"He told me—oh, hell." She sank down on the edge of Thero's bed and pressed a hand over her eyes. "He claimed he was trying to help us, that he let you go. But he had blood on his clothes."

"Didn't you notice me limping?" Alec asked. "I took an arrow through the leg. Where is he? You didn't hurt him, did you?"

"No." It was almost a groan. "He brought me back yesterday. But—I still thought he'd betrayed us. Even after he got me away from the Akhendi—"

Seregil's eyes narrowed. "You had a run-in with the Akhendi, too?"

Beka nodded. "Among others. The men Nyal left me with got jumped that same day by a bunch of freebooters. I got away from them and took off into the woods. Later, I met some Akhendi swordsmen on the road and they attacked me. Nyal helped me get away."

"Akhendi riders attacked you openly?" Seregil asked again.

Beka nodded. "Rhaish i Arlisandin is furious."

"Is he?" said Seregil. "Where's Nyal now? I need to speak with him."

"With the Ra'basi, I suppose. I told him to keep his distance. He knows something, Seregil. I saw it in his eyes when I asked about the Akhendi who attacked me."

Seregil gathered her into an awkward, one-armed hug and held her tight for a moment. "We'll sort it out soon," he promised. "I'm just glad to see you safe!"

Beka shrugged. "What did you expect?"