“What do we do with all these?” The flowers were still there, scattered around Alec. Together they scooped them up and threw them under the bed.
“What’s keeping you, brothers?” Adzriel called.
“Nothing. Just a little—upset.” Seregil gave Alec a worried look, then let her in. Mydri was with her.
“It turns out that Sebrahn is frightened of being left alone,” Seregil explained.
“He’s not used to it, that’s all.” Alec pulled Sebrahn close to his side, hoping they didn’t notice that he was still shaking. “This is the first time we ever tried to leave him on his own. He’s fine now—” He stopped, tasting blood and feeling it trickling down his lip.
Mydri pulled out a lacy handkerchief and gave it to him to stanch the flow. “Press under your nose. What happened?”
“Sebrahn was struggling.”
“He does still look frightened, poor thing.” Adzriel paused and looked at Alec and the others. “You three look rather shaken, yourselves.”
“We were just surprised,” Alec said quickly.
“Ah, well. Do come along as soon as you can!”
Mydri gave them a look over her shoulder as she followed her sister out.
When she was gone, Micum sat down in her place and held out his hands to Sebrahn. “Well now, little sprout, you’ve caused some trouble tonight.” He looked up at the others, face grave. “You were both white as milk when I came in. So Sebrahn sang again, did he?”
“Well, it was actually more of a screech,” Seregil pointed out, attempting to make light of it. “Just one that made my head feel like it was going to burst.”
“Don’t forget that I’ve seen the results of the power of his voice,” Micum replied, not amused.
“He couldn’t have meant to hurt us, though,” Seregil said, studying Sebrahn, who was still clinging to Alec, looking very much like a scared little boy. “At least not Alec. I think he lost control of himself. And that’s a frightening prospect.”
Alec looked down at the rhekaro. “Sebrahn, you won’t make that hurting noise again, right?”
“Baaad.”
“That’s right, bad. So, now what do we do?”
Seregil rested his head in his hands. “Either we don’t go to the dance, which will break Adzriel’s heart and raise questions, or we take him with us and risk him finding another reason to sing.”
“That wasn’t a killing song,” Alec pointed out.
“We don’t know that. He doesn’t hurt those he trusts—luckily he trusts Micum! Maybe no one else was close enough to be affected. And you were hurt, all the same.”
“Why not you?” wondered Micum.
“You know me and magic,” replied Seregil. “But I do have a nasty headache.”
“I’ll go tell them you’re both indisposed,” said Micum.
“Tell Adzriel not to spoil her own fun on our account, and that I’ll talk to her later, when I’m feeling better. Try to keep her from coming back, if you can.”
Micum grinned. “You know how persuasive I am with the ladies. But what if Mydri wants to come heal you?”
“Damn. Tell her we’re napping.”
“I’ll do my best and come back when I won’t be missed.”
“Thank you.”
When he was gone, Alec flopped down on the bed beside Seregil. “So, we start packing?”
Seregil closed his eyes and nodded. “If we needed a sign, that was it.”
Sebrahn climbed in between them and sat looking from one to another, hair loose around his shoulders.
Frowning, Alec reached up and lifted a strand of hair near his face. “Seregil, look at this.” Thero’s magic had turned Sebrahn’s hair the same blond as Alec’s, and given color to his skin. But now there was a thin streak of silver in his hair, and, when Alec pushed his sleeves back, a patch of white skin showing through, too. Alec combed through Sebrahn’s hair and found more silvery streaks. They were small enough to mingle with the blond so as not to be especially noticeable, but there were a lot of them. While he was looking, Alec found another blotch of white on the nape of Sebrahn’s neck.
“Thero did say the magic might not last on him,” Seregil reminded him. “The hair’s not so bad, but we don’t want people thinking he’s a leper.”
Alec found another white patch on Sebrahn’s right calf. “Maybe it’s another sign.”
Adzriel was still flushed with dancing when she tapped at their door again a few hours later. “Oh, brothers! To miss Alec’s first—” She stopped in the doorway, looking at the packs lying on the bed. “What’s this? Oh. Did Sebrahn do something?”
Seregil took her hand and drew her into the room. “Nothing serious. All the same, we have to go before something worse happens.”
Adzriel sank into a chair, all traces of merriment fled.
“I warned you in Gedre that something like this could happen,” Seregil pointed out.
“Yes, you did. I’d just hoped it wouldn’t.”
“At least we got to talk to Tyrus,” he said with a sad smile.
“I’m so sorry, Khirnari.” Alec said the title with the deep respect that he truly felt for her.
Seregil held out a hand to his sister. “We’ll stay in this room tonight and leave tomorrow. Everything’s ready.”
Adzriel stared at them in silence, and Alec was certain he saw a fight between her roles as sister and khirnari in those clear grey eyes. “I thought perhaps—You seemed so happy here.”
“I told you’d we’d have to go, sister.”
“Very well. But you must make your farewells before you go, and not sneak away like thieves in the night.” She looked sadly at Sebrahn. “He’s been so good, all this time.”
Seregil made his sister a deep bow. “I give you my word, Khirnari. You’ll have no more trouble from us.”
“If you have no objections, I’d like to stay with them,” said Micum.
“Of course.” She glanced at the packs again. “You will promise me you’ll stay here until tomorrow?”
“Of course, older sister.” He kissed her on the cheek. “And we were sorry to miss the dancing.”
“Oh, Haba. You always were the one to get into trouble.” She stood to go. “Good night, all of you. May it be a peaceful one.”
Micum followed her out. “I’m going to go find us some supper. We can enjoy that much, anyway. I won’t be long.”
When they were alone, Seregil rummaged in his pack and pulled out a worn pack of cards. “I don’t think we’ll be sleeping much tonight, do you?”
Micum came back with a large plate of cold meats and a jug of turab. They sat on the floor to eat, then passed the jug around.
Micum lit his pipe and took a long puff as Alec shuffled and dealt the cards for a game of Blue Goose.
“Well, I guess we’d better let Thero know we’re heading back.” Going to his pack again, Seregil took out one of the painted message sticks the wizard had given them and snapped it in half. A tiny message sphere appeared in front of him. “Thero,” Seregil said quietly. “We’re leaving Bôkthersa for Skala. I’m not sure how long it will take to get there, so I will send another message when we make landfall. When you come, please bring us some Skalan clothing and our horses. They’re at the Wheel Street house.” He touched the little orb with a fingertip, and it sped away. A moment later another appeared. Seregil touched it.
“I understand,” they heard Thero’s voice say. “Magyana and I haven’t found anything of use, I’m afraid. Do try to stay out of trouble, won’t you?”
The light winked out, and Seregil gave the others a rueful look. “I’m glad he wasn’t here tonight.”
Mydri came to fetch them early the following morning. “Everything is ready. Adzriel insists you two make use of the baths and take breakfast with her. Come to the morning room when you’re ready.”
Seregil would rather not have prolonged the process, but he could tell Mydri was heartbroken to see him go.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, just Adzriel, Akaien, Mydri, and Säaban. Seregil was glad; they didn’t need any great send-off. Adzriel graciously put Alec on her left, but Seregil saw how she kept an eye on Sebrahn, crouched on a chair between Alec and Micum.