"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?"

"Has Klia said anything about who attacked her?" asked Alec.

"She can't speak yet, but she's more herself today. She still refuses to demand vengeance against the Haman, though, or anyone else."

Seregil sighed. "That's just as well. I think we've discovered our poisoner. Come, I want to speak to Klia before the others wear her out."

Korathan sat next to his sister's bed. On the far side, Mydri bent over Klia's damaged hand, changing dressings.

"You're back sooner than I expected, Haba!" Mydri exclaimed, glancing up as he came in. "Should I be glad?"

"It was my own choosing," Seregil replied, approaching the bed.

Klia greeted him with a rueful little smile. She lay propped up against a pile of cushions, dressed in a loose blue gown. Her face was still deathly pale, the skin too slack, but her eyes were bright and alert.

When Mydri removed the last of the bandages, however, Seregil's stomach did a slow lurch.

"Maker's Mercy!" Alec whispered, echoing his own dismay.

Klia's first and middle fingers were gone. Mydri had cut away flesh and bone at an angle, from the knuckle of the ring finger to the base of the thumb. The raw edges were sewn together with heavy black silk, and although the flesh was still swollen and red, it appeared to be healing clean. The hand itself, once strong and slender, now looked like a splayed bird's claw.

"Those white patches spread and turned to dry gangrene, just as Nyal said they would," Mydri explained, applying a pungent unguent to the incision. "It would have killed her in time. We were

lucky, only having to do it once. I'm afraid she won't draw a bow again, though."

Seregil looked up to find Klia watching him with mute resignation.

"You only need one hand to wield a sword," Seregil told her. She gave him a wink.

"I've explained something of what you two did for her and for Skala," said Korathan. "I'll leave the rest of it to you."

He exchanged a look with Mydri and she withdrew.

"Thank you, my lord." With Alec's help, Seregil explained what had happened once they'd parted from Beka, showing Klia the Akhendi sen'gai and the sealed bottle. Tears glittered in her eyes as they outlined their suspicions against the khirnari and his wife.

Betrayed again, Seregil thought sadly.

"I can't open the bottle just yet, as I don't want to give Rhaish any warning. Before I go to the Iia'sidra, I need you to think, Klia. Did the charm Amali gave you have any marks or cracks in the wood?"