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that she was in uniform. “And you’ve been promoted, I see.”
    â€œI’m here on the Queen’s business,” she told him. “My riders know nothing of what I’m about to tell you, and I need to keep it that way for now.” She pulled a sealed parchment from her tunic and handed it to him. “Commander Klia needs your help, Seregil. She’s leading a delegation to Aurënen.”
    â€œAurënen?” He stared down at the unopened document. “She knows that’s impossible.”
    â€œNot anymore.” Dismounting with practiced ease, Micum pulled his stick from the bedroll behind his saddle and limped over to his friend’s side. “Idrilain squared things for you. Klia’s in charge of the whole thing.”
    â€œThere’s no time to lose, either,” Beka urged. “The war’s going badly—Mycena could fall any day now.”
    â€œWe get rumors, even here,” Alec told her.
    â€œAh, but there’s worse news than that,” Beka went on. “The queen’s been wounded and the Plenimarans are pushing their way west every day. Last we knew, they were halfway to Wyvern Dug. Idrilain’s still in the field, but she’s convinced that an alliance with Aurënen is our only hope.”
    â€œWhat does she need with me?” asked Seregil, handing the unread summons to Alec. “Torsin’s dealt with the Iia’sidra for years without my help.”
    â€œNot like this,” Beka replied. “Klia needs you as an additional adviser. Being Aurënfaie, you understand the nuances of both languages better than anyone, and you certainly know the Skalans.”
    â€œGiven all that, I could end up with neither side trusting me. Besides which, my presence would be an affront to half the clans of Aurënen.” He shook his head. “Idrilain actually got the Iia’sidra to let me return?”
    â€œTemporarily,” Beka amended. “The queen pointed out that since you’re kin to her through Lord Corruth, it would be an affront to Skala to exclude you. Apparently it was also made clear that it was you who solved the mystery of Corruth’s disappearance”
    â€œAlec and I,” he corrected absently, clearly overwhelmed by this news. “She told them about that?”
    Before Nysander’s death he, Alec, and Micum had been part of the wizard’s network of spies and informers, the Watchers. Even the queen had not known of their role in that until he and Alec had helped uncover a plot against her life. In the process, they’d discovered the mummified body of Corruth í Glamien, who’d been murdered by Lerans dissenters two centuries earlier.
    â€œI don’t suppose it hurt that your sister is a member of the Iia’sidra now,” said Micum. “Word is that the faction favoring open trade is stronger than ever.”
    â€œSo you see, there’s no problem with all that,” Beka broke in impatiently. If she had her way, they’d be riding back down the mountain before sunset.
    Her heart sank when Seregil merely stared down at his muddy boots and mumbled, “I’ll have to give it some thought.”
    She was about to press him when Alec laid a hand on Seregil’s shoulder and gave her a warning look. Clearly, some wounds hadn’t healed.
    â€œYou say Idrilain is still in the field?” he asked. “How badly was she hurt?”
    â€œI haven’t seen her. Hardly anyone has, but my guess is it’s worse than anyone is letting on. Phoria is War Commander now.”
    â€œIs she?” Seregil’s tone was neutral, but she caught the odd look that passed between him and her father. The “Watcher look,” her mother called it, resenting the secrets that lay between the two men.
    â€œThe Plenimarans have necromancers,” Beka added. “I haven’t met up with any yet, but those who have claim they’re the