Traitor's Moon

36 TESTING THE WIND

The confrontation with the Haman left Seregil oddly pensive. "Do you think Nazien was telling the truth when he said he'd support Skala?" Alec asked when the others had left the hall. "It's plausible. We'll go have a listen around town, see how the wind blows once word of all this gets around." "If we split up—"

"No," Seregil shook his head, frowning. "I still don't want any Skalan out alone anywhere."

Alec grinned. "Suddenly cautious, are we?" Seregil chuckled. "Let's just say even I can learn from my own poor example."

That evening, they wandered the city's taverns and squares, picking up threads of outraged opinion.

They went openly among the friendlier clans and heard Viresse alternately denounced and defended. Less was said against the Haman; word of Alec's discovery had not yet spread.

Later, they ventured into enemy territory, going so far as to scale the wall of Nazien i Hari's garden to see how the Haman were conducting themselves in the wake of the accusations. The house lay in darkness, with no smell of an evening meal.

"A sign of humility and atonement," Seregil whispered to Alec as they crept away. "Nazien's taking his nephew's actions hard."

By contrast, Viresse tupa was ablaze with light well past midnight. Keeping to the shadows, they spotted the sen'gai of half a dozen clans among the people out on the streets. The house of Ulan i Sathil was too risky to burgle, but lurking nearby, they saw the khirnari of Khatme enter, accompanied by Moriel a Moriel of Ra'basi.

Despite this apparent show of support, bands of Viresse watchmen patrolled the boundaries of the tupa, where angry supporters of Klia roamed looking for a fight. Many wore the green-and-brown sen'gai of Akhendi.

"Do you suppose that's a spontaneous show of support, or is our friend Rhaish i Arlisandin making certain his greatest rival is made uncomfortable?" asked Seregil.

"Perhaps we should pay Akhendi tupa one last visit."

The whole of the Akhendi delegation seemed to have taken to the streets for the night, and Seregil and Alec were hailed as friends, commiserated with, and plied with liquor and questions.

News of the poisoner's ring had sealed Ulan's fate in the minds of most, and some were convinced that the Haman were in collusion with him. All agreed that it was a great coup for Akhendi, having their most hated opponent besmirched with even the hint of scandal.

"We knew they'd do anything to protect themselves, but assassination!" a taverner exclaimed, treating them to mugs of her best. "Maybe the Khatme are right about too much contact with outsiders. No offense to present company of course. I'm talking of the Plenimarans."

"You won't hear us defending them," Seregil assured her.

Stopping in at another tavern, they met Rhaish i Arlisandin, accompanied by several younger kinsmen. The khirnari seemed surprised to see them.

"With all the unrest in the city tonight, we thought we'd stop by and see that you and your people are safe," Seregil explained, joining him at a long table and accepting a mug of ale.

"I thank you for that," Rhaish replied. "These are uncertain times indeed when the insidious weapons of Plenimar are found in Sarikali."

"It chills my heart," Seregil agreed. "I thought you'd be at Torsin's funeral."

Rhaish shook his head sadly. "As you say, the mood of the city is so uncertain tonight, I thought it would be better if I remained with my own people."

As if to underscore this, the sound of angry shouting broke out suddenly in the direction of Khatme tupa.

"Aura protect us!" Rhaish groaned, sending men to investigate. "See that none of our people are doing violence!"

"Perhaps you're wise to remain close to home," Seregil observed. "Those who struck at us may strike at our closest allies, too."

"Just as you say," Rhaish acknowledged wearily. "But surely the guilt of the Viresse is clear? Why hasn't Klia declared teth'sag against them?"

"Skalans." Seregil shrugged and spread his hands, as if that explained everything.

"I must attend my people," Rhaish said, rising to go. "I trust you'll keep me informed of any new discoveries?"

"Of course. Aura's Light shine on you."

"And you." The khirnari's escort closed ranks behind him as he continued on his way.

Alec watched the stooped figure fade into the night. "Poor fellow. Except for Gedre and us, no one else stands to lose as much when everything goes to pieces. And it's going to, isn't it?"

Seregil said nothing for a moment, listening as the distant shouting took on a more dire tone. "I didn't come home for this, Alec. Not to watch the two lands I've called home bring each other down. We've got to uncover the truth of all this, and soon."

A moment later a tiny point of bluish light flickered into being just in front of them, one of Thero's message spheres. The wizard's voice issued softly from it, drained of emotion: "Come back at once."