"You're certain of this?" Thero gasped.

"My spies there are most reliable. I cannot give them credit by name, of course, but I suspect Seregil would recognize one or two of them."

"Ilar?" Seregil rasped as a bolt of sick apprehension tore through him. "He's alive?"

The khirnari smile was inscrutable. "I have had no communication with that man since his disappearance, but even if it were he, surely you of all people must admit that exiles may have their uses?"

Since his disappearance? Why would the khirnari of Viresse know a young Chyptaulos at all, unless he had good reason to? Meeting Ulan's cool gaze, Seregil knew in his bones what the answer to that question would be. He knew with equal certainty that

Ulan would never reveal that truth unless it were in his own interest to do so.

"The timing of this tribal war was very fortunate," Thero observed. "It would have been disastrous for Aurenen if the Zengati and Plenimar forged a bond."

"Luck can be an expensive thing," Ulan replied with a meaningful look. "Yet who can put a price on the security of one's homeland? But that need not concern you, as it may work to your benefit one day."

"You believe Plenimar will win this time, don't you?" asked Seregil, controlling himself with an effort.

"Yes. Why sacrifice Aurenfaie lives, Aurenfaie magic, to a lost cause?"

"How could Torsin agree to such an arrangement?" Thero demanded angrily.

"He is a Tirfaie, measuring the future in his own short spans. The same can be said of Klia and her line, clever though they undoubtedly are." Ulan waved a dismissive hand at them. "The two of you are still too young to see how slowly the tides of history turn. It is not that I wish to see Skala suffer; I am determined that Viresse shall not. Daughter of Idrilain or not, Phoria will not prove a worthy ally."

"But the Overlord of Plenimar and his necromancers will?" Seregil exclaimed. "The name of Raghar Ashnazai is not unknown to you, Khirnari. I knew the man's kinsman, a necromancer."

"And you overcame him, as well as a dyrmagnos," Ulan returned indifferently. "If you were able to accomplish that with a handful of Tir, what should the Aurenfaie fear from them?"

"It was only one dyrmagnos, and a handful of necromancers, but it took the life of the great Nysander i Azusthra to defeat them," Thero said softly, and something in his voice made Seregil glance nervously at his friend. For an instant Seregil thought he saw the wizard's eyes flash gold. Probably a trick of the light. "Beware what you trade away for prosperity, Ulan i Sathil," Thero went on. "There are those with vision even longer than yours."

Ulan went to the door and opened it. "Torsin was my friend and I grieve his loss. There is nothing more to be said. As for what happened to Klia beneath my roof, it is a most grievous offense, but one she perhaps brought upon herself. She's sown discord in a city that has known only peace for time out of mind. Perhaps this is Aura's punishment."

Thero blanched at this but held his tongue.

Seregil felt less restraint. "The Lightbearer had nothing to do with this," he growled. "Mark my words, Khirnari, the truth of this will come out. I'll see to it."

"You?" Ulan made no effort to hide his contempt. "What do you know of truth?"

35 ACCUSATIONS

Alec saw Seregil waiting for him on the front steps when he and his search party returned., "Any luck?" he called.

Alec swung down from the saddle and presented him with the Akhendi charm. "It's Klia's, all right. It must have come loose in the struggle."

"Illior's Fingers!" Seregil exclaimed, examining the blackened carving.

"Kheeta's gone to fetch Rhaish," Alec told him. "Saaban claims he should be able to use it to tell us who caused this. It was still white before the hunt. Care to lay any bets on who changed that?"

Seregil took the poisoner's ring from a pouch. "Not just yet, I think."

"Where did you find that?"

"In the fish pond outside Ulan's bedchamber. So far, Thero hasn't been able to divine anything from it, though. He says it's masked."

Alec cocked an eyebrow. "How hard is that to do?"

"Hard enough to make me think that we're dealing with someone powerful."

"Damn! Then this charm may be, too."

"It may be useful to learn that it is," said Seregil, examining the bracelet again. "That would suggest that whoever masked one

masked the other, as well. Chances are they'd have to be there to do so after Emiel had attacked her."

"So we find out who in the hunting party was also at the Viresse banquet?"

Seregil shrugged. "If this turns out to be masked, then yes."

Kheeta arrived with the Akhendi khirnari, and Seregil ushered him into the sitting room off the main hall, where Alec and Thero were waiting.

"You found something in the forest?" Rhaish asked.

"This," said Alec, giving him the blackened charm. "Can you tell us who did this?"

The khirnari held it a moment. "Ah, yes, this is my wife's work. It would be best if I took it to her. I'll send you word of what she finds. She is not well enough today to go out."

"If you don't mind, Khirnari, we'll save you the trouble and come along now," Seregil interrupted.

"Very well," Rhaish replied, clearly taken aback by such presumption. One did not demand access to the home of a khirnari.

"Forgive my rudeness," Seregil quickly added, hoping to smooth it over. "But time is of the essence, for Klia's sake."

"Of course. I was not thinking. Akhendi will do all in its power to ensure her recovery."

"Thank you, Khirnari." Motioning for Alec to accompany them, Seregil led the man out.

Akhendi tupa was modest in comparison to the Viresse, and the faded appointments spoke of better days.

They found Amali resting on a silken couch in one of the garden courts, picking listlessly at a dish of dried kindle berries while she watched several of her women play at dice.

She brightened a bit at the sight of her husband. "Back so soon, tali? And with company for me!"

"Forgive an unforgivable intrusion," Seregil said gallantly. "I would not disturb you if it were not of the utmost urgency."

"Think nothing of it," she replied, sitting up. "What brings you here?"

Seregil showed her the bracelet. "My lady, your gift to Klia was well thought of. I believe it can lead us to her attacker."

"How wonderful!" she exclaimed, taking the soiled bracelet gingerly between two fingers. "But what's happened to it?"

"Klia lost it during the hunt," Alec explained. "I found it when I went back this morning."

"I see." Pressing the charm between her palms, she murmured a spell over it. A moment later she let out a gasp and slumped back against the cushions, face drained of color. "A Haman!" she said faintly. "I see his face, contorted with anger. I know this man: He is here in the city. The nephew of Nazien i Hari."

"Emiel i Moranthi?" asked Alec, shooting Seregil a victorious look.

"Yes, that is his name," Amali whispered. "Such anger and contempt. Such violence!"

"Can you tell us anything more, my lady?" Seregil asked, leaning forward.

"Enough!" Lips tight with anger, Rhaish tore the bracelet from her grasp as if it were a poisonous snake. "Talia, you are not well enough for this." Turning to Seregil, he said sternly, "You see her condition. What more do you need?»

"If she could tell us more of the nature of this attack, Khirnari, it would be of great value."

"Leave this with us for now, then. When she has recovered her strength, perhaps she can see more in it."

"I'd prefer to keep this with me," Seregil told him. "When your lady is well I'll bring it back."

"Very well." Rhaish looked thoughtfully at the bracelet, then handed it back. "How odd, for so much to depend on such a simple object."