Nyal had gone ashen. "No, she would not—"

Alec placed a hand on Nyal's shoulder. "I know that you care for her. I've seen the two of you together several times, and that she shared some fear with you regarding her husband."

"You spied on me?"

"You're not the only one with long ears," Alec said evasively, but a betraying hint of color rose in his fair cheeks.

Nyal slumped back in his chair. "She did come to me, now and then. And you're right in thinking I would protect her. But we're not lovers. I swear it."

Still silent, Beka stared down at her hands.

"But you are her confidant?" said Seregil.

Nyal shrugged. "Before we met again in Gedre, I hadn't seen her for several years. Glad as I was for a chance to be near her without her husband glowering, I could tell that something was wrong. She told me of the child she carries, but also hinted at something amiss. We spoke several times on the journey, and again after we reached Sarikali. She was unhappy, that I could see, but she would only speak vaguely of her husband's fears for his clan, and for the outcome of the negotiations.

"She hinted that his behavior was sometimes alarming, that he was not himself. He grew more troubled after Queen Idrilain's death, but worse was to come. He'd become convinced that Lord Torsin was plotting secretly with Ulan, offering a different bargain, one in which Gedre would be closed again after Skala's war ended, leaving Akhendi as badly off as ever."

"Did you tell him this?" Seregil demanded, ignoring his sister's startled look.

Nyal lurched to his feet, angry now. "How could I, when I knew nothing of it? You have distrusted me from the beginning, but I am no spy! I worked among you in good faith, and resisted Amali's entreaties and even those of my own khirnari to pass on what I heard

among you. You know my gift, Seregil; it's one that can strain or destroy the possessor's atui if he doesn't learn restraint. I know when not to listen."

"But Amali did question you?" Seregil pressed.

"Of course she did! How could she not? I gave her what comfort I could and assured her that Klia was acting in good faith, even if Torsin was not."

"Why didn't you come to me about this?" Beka demanded.

"Because I didn't want you to think I was asking you to betray a confidence!" Nyal shot back. "Besides, I didn't believe it. Why would Torsin betray the woman he was sent to serve?"

"Did Amali ever mention Alec's charm after you gave it to her? Did you try to retrieve it?"

"I asked her about it once, not long after I'd given it to her, but she said she wanted to return it to Alec herself. I didn't think anything more of it."

"Would you swear that in front of a truth knower? " asked Thero.

"I will speak anything you like without fear of any wizard."

"And will you swear to these things before the Iia'sidra?" asked Seregil. "The life of the Haman may depend on it."

"Yes, of course!"

"What exactly did Amali say of her husband's behavior?" Seregil pressed.

"At first, only that he was concerned about how the vote would go. As time went on, though, she seemed to grow more frightened, saying he acted strangely, falling into black moods and weeping in the night. Just recently, though, she told me that being here in Sarikali had had a healing influence, for his spirits improved suddenly."

"Just before the Viresse banquet, perhaps?"

Nyal thought a moment, then shrugged. "Possibly."

"And that's as much as you know?"

"Yes."

Seregil rose to stand over the man. "Then tell me this. Why did you go after us? According to Thero, you weren't asked to; you volunteered. You've told Beka that you did it to protect us, yet you claim to know nothing of Rhaish's motives. You must have suspected something; otherwise, why assume we needed protection in Akhendi territory?"

Nyal shifted uncomfortably. "On the day of your disappearance, after the Haman had declared teth'sag, I saw Rhaish approach Nazien i Hari. I–I overheard him say something about a certain pass. I suspected you'd go that way, not knowing it had been

destroyed by avalanches. Perhaps Rhaish guessed the same, I told myself, yet why would he tell the Haman? It was then that I began to fear that there was something more behind his melancholy. There was no time to confront him—he wouldn't speak to me anyway, and Amali was gone. I reasoned that if I were the one to find you, I could keep you safe, perhaps even let you escape. I still don't understand what this has to do with the poisonings, though."

"You said it yourself," Alec replied. "Rhaish thought Torsin had betrayed him and took matters into his own hands, discrediting the Haman and Viresse so that they would be kept from the vote."

"And you believe Amali aided him?" Nyal said softly.

"I plan to find that out tonight, once and for all," said Seregil.

"Will you tell the Iia'sidra what you've told us here?" asked Adzriel.

"What choice do I have, Khirnari?" Nyal replied sadly. "I swear to you, Seregil, by Aura's Light, that I thought only to protect you. I trusted that you would not have left without good reason. I hope what I did helps you trust me." He touched a hand to his sen'gai."My rash action may cost me dearly."

"You haven't told any of this to Moriel a Moriel?" Adzriel asked.

"No, Khirnari. I had hoped I wouldn't need to, but I will not lie to her, either."

Seregil looked over at Thero, who'd chanced a forbidden spell as Nyal spoke. The wizard nodded slightly; the Ra'basi was telling the truth.

"I'll have to take back some of the things I've said about you, my friend," said Seregil, clapping him on the shoulder and giving Beka a surreptitious wink. "Captain, I'm putting him under your escort until this is over."

"I'll see to it, my lord," Beka assured him.

Alone again with Nyal, Beka found herself at a loss for words. An uncomfortable silence ensued, leaving her stranded by the window.

Duty or not, she'd been wrong. He'd risked so much to be her friend, her lover—more than she had begun to guess. In return, she'd been blind, suspicious, ready to believe the worst of him. She wanted to say something, but still no words would come. Forcing herself to look up, she found him staring pensively at his clasped hands.

"Seregil's right about Amali, I think," he said at last. "She's always used me, and I've let myself be used." He glanced up, coloring. "I shouldn't talk of her to you, perhaps—"

"No, it's all right. Go on."

He sighed. "We were to be married, but she changed her mind. For the good of her clan, she said. The khirnari needed her." He let out a bitter laugh. "Her family was delighted, of course. They liked that match far better than the prospect of a wanderer like me coming into the family. That's what's most important here: duty, family, honor."

The last words were spoken with a mix of regret and bitterness that surprised her. "You don't sound like you agree."

He shrugged. "I've traveled more than most 'faie, and it seems to me that sometimes you must step outside the laws in order to maintain what is right."

She had to suppress a smile at this. "That doesn't say much for you, then, does it?" she asked.

He gave a her a hurt look. "What do you mean?"

"I've been talking with my riders and some of the Bokthersans today. It seems no one knew we were gone until late the next morning, yet you told us just now that you knew where we were going all along. So you kept your mouth shut long enough to give us a head start, then let Seregil go when you found him."

She strode over to face Nyal, fists on her hips. He leaned back in his chair, staring up at her uncertainly.

"On top of everything else," she growled, "I find out that you've stayed loyal for years to a woman who broke your heart, letting her reel you in by the balls anytime she likes, instead of telling her to take a long stroll off the nearest short quay. Extraordinary behavior, all around! I know what I'd do if you were under my command."