The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [8]
"No. But the slavers who took us were not the ordinary lot. They struck too far inland, and they had a necromancer with them." He paused, weighing his words. "I wouldn't have thought of Ulan, except that Yhakobin mentioned to Alec that he traded with him."
"It's no secret that Viresse trades with Plenimar. Who can blame the khirnari for saving his own people any way he can? I'd do the same, in his place."
"Yes, but it's also no secret here that Alec is half Hazadrielfaie. Ulan could have told his friend Yhakobin about Alec to buy favor."
"That is conjecture, Seregil, not proof."
"It just seems like too many coincidences."
"I'd like to see Sebrahn again," Adzriel said, rising and going to the door of the colos.
Seregil smiled as he followed; she'd spoken more like a khirnari just now than a sister.
Together they went down to Alec's room. Sebrahn was on the bed at Alec's side. Magyana and Thero were with them, too, and there were bakshi stones and coins strewn across the quilt.
Sebrahn retreated closer to Alec as Adzriel sat on the bed next to him.
"Give me your hand, Sebrahn," she said softly. Sebrahn let her clasp it. She continued to look at him intently, and Seregil knew she was seeing whatever it was that the wizards did.
"I feel no evil in him. Riagil mistakes power for that," she murmured. "Alec, can you control his singing?"
"You told her?" Alec asked, surprised and none too pleased, either.
"I had no choice," Seregil explained. "We need to go to Bokthersa, and she deserves to know the whole truth. There's a man named Tyrus there who might be able to help us; he knows more about dragons and their lore than anyone I've ever met. He's called Dragon Friend."
"Why?"
"Because he lives with the young ones, and talks to the old ones."
"There are dragons in Bokthersa?" Alec's eyes were as wide as Micum's little daughter's when Seregil brought her a present.
"Don't you remember what I told you when we first met, when I was trying to talk you into staying with me?"
"That you'd seen dragons flying under a full moon?"
"You'll see them, too, tali."
"How? When?"
Seregil grinned and exchanged a look with his sister. "I'd rather have it be a surprise."
"Have it your way," he said, bemused. He turned to Adzriel. "You think Sebrahn is actually a dragon?"
"No, but he seems to be connected to them in some way, if only through the oracle. Since Sarikali is out of the question, you must bring him to Tyrus."
"Why can't we go to Sarikali?" asked Alec.
"I'll explain later. What do you say, tali?" asked Seregil.
"I say we go!"
Seregil smiled. "Then it's settled. Thank you, sister."
She rose and kissed them both on the forehead. "I'll send word to my captain to get the ship provisioned. It will take some time, but Alec must have more time to regain his strength."
"I'm fine!"
Adzriel laughed as she went out. "That's for Mydri to say, little brother."
Seregil chuckled, too, knowing that Alec was heartily sick of people fussing over him. The promise of Bokthersa was probably more than enough to make it bearable, though.
Going home at last, he thought with a mix of excitement and concern.
Micum and the wizards came back soon after Adzriel had gone. Micum limped over to the bed and sat down. "We overheard your sister speaking with our host. I take it we're not settling down here?"
"'Guests and fish stink after three days,' as they say," Seregil told him with a crooked grin. "Are you all going back to Skala together?"
Micum raised an eyebrow. "If you think you two are going anywhere without me, you'd better think again. I'm not letting you out of my sight until you're both safely settled, since you can't seem to keep out of trouble."
"What about Kari?" asked Alec.
"Thero's already taken care of that with one of those message spells."
"What did she say?" asked Seregil, though he had a pretty good notion.
Thero grimaced. "That she'd skin both me and Micum if we let anything else happen to either of you.