Anna lowered the lutar and studied the image in the scrying pool—clear enough to see that Jearle remained behind the walls of Westfort, and that more than twentyscore Neserean lancers patrolled the heights across the valley.
“That has not changed in a week,” murmured Jecks.
Himar merely nodded.
“But why would they leave twentyscore at Westfort?” asked Anna. “A third or half of that would be more than enough to keep Jearle inside his walls.”
“They would keep you from avoiding the main body of Rabyn’s forces and going straight into Neserea.”
The sorceress frowned.
“With the Mansuuran lancers, the Nesereans have more than one hundred fifty—score elsewhere in Defalk. Twentyscore is not that many for them,” pointed out Jecks.
Anna doubted she could have raised twentyscore in real armsmen even if she had stripped Loiseau, Pamr, the Sand Fort, and Falcor. Lifting the lutar, she tried a second spell, one seeking Hanfor. This brought a picture of Hanfor reined up on a hillside road, looking westward, or so it seemed, with the morning sun falling on the backs of the arms commander and the lancers behind him.
The third spell called forth a troop of Mansuuran lancers who had dismounted beside a stream running through a deep and
arrow gorge. The image in the pool shivered once, then again, as if being vibrated. Abruptly, timbers and planks lay beside the stream and pillars of steam rose from blackened soil where the stand of pines had been. Armsmen scurried forward on foot and began to lift the timbers and carry them toward the gorge.
“Darksong … the whelp is using Darksong,” muttered Jecks.
The way things had been going for the last few weeks, that didn’t surprise Anna at all. Eventually, Rabyn would have to cut back on Darksong, or it would kill him, but she doubted that he’d live long enough to worry about that, one way or the other. You might not, either.
As Anna, Jecks, and Himar watched, the armsmen began to place the timbers across the gorge.
“They are yet chasing Hanfor, and Rabyn grows impatient,” Jecks said. “He would use sorcery to hurry his lancers across the gorge.”
Anna nodded and sang the release couplet.
Let this scene of scrying, mirror filled with light,
vanish like the darkness when the sun is bright … .
“Should the Nesereans get too close to Hanfor … I like that dark spell not,” Himar said slowly.
“Nor I,” admitted Jecks.
“Can we leave tomorrow?” asked Anna, looking at Himar. “I’d like to get to Hanfor before Rabyn does.”
“Aye, but we will not have so many lancers.”
“How many lancers do we have?” Anna bent and eased the lutar into its case.
“There were fivescore left here, and you brought near-on six back. Dannel killed twoscore and eight,” answered the overcaptain.
Another thought struck Anna. You should have thought about that earlier. She pulled the lutar from the case, quickly checking the tuning. “There’s one other thing.” She concentrated on trying to find the words she wanted.
Show me now and as bright as may be
other lords who fight to keep us free,
those from Defalk who lift a blade and lance … .
The mirror offered a single image—that of a tall blond man at the head of a column riding down a narrow lane.
“Nelmor,” Anna said quietly. “Of all the western lords, he has the least to offer.”
“He has honor and courage,” Jecks pointed out.
Anna was more impressed with the courage, but she nodded, and sang the release couplet, then replaced the lutar in its case.
“Let’s go down to the receiving room,” she suggested, lifting the lutar case. “We can finish planning there.” She opened the door and stepped into the corridor to find three guards there.
Rickel bowed. With him was another man in the purple and green of a Regent’s guard. “Lady Anna, this is Bersan.”
“Lady Regent.” Bersan bowed. His deep-set black eyes were even darker than the short-cut black hair and the trimmed short black beard.
“It’s good to meet you, Bersan.”
The new guard bowed again, then stepped back.
The three guards followed Anna, Jecks, and Himar down the corridor toward the steps to the main level.
“Sorcery … one would swear … not a soul in that room,” Fielmir murmured to Rickel and Bersan.
“The Regent is a sorceress,” Rickel replied mildly. “Best you both recall that.”
Anna couldn’t contain a brief smile, but it faded quickly as she thought of all those—like Gatrune and Lysara and more than fourscore lancers who had paid for her sorcery.
Lejun waited outside the receiving room with Alseta, who had clearly appointed herself the duty page for the day.
“Good day, Lady Anna.” Alseta bowed.
“Good morning, Alseta … Lejun.”
Lejun and Fielmir stationed themselves outside the doors, while Alseta reseated herself on the page’s stool. Himar let Anna and Jecks enter the receiving hall, then followed and closed the door.
Anna gestured to the chairs around the conference table and sat down, knowing neither man would until she did. Then she filled three goblets with orderspelled water. “You said we had tenscore or elevenscore lancers. We can’t take them all. That would leave the liedburg defenseless.” Anna frowned. “What if I take fivescore?”
Jecks winced.
The Regent took a long swallow of water.
“Ninescore,” suggested the white-haired Lord High Counselor.
“Seven,” countered Anna, with a smile. “I can use sorcery.”
Thrap! The three looked up at the knock.
“A scroll … the messenger said it was urgent.” Fielmir half stepped in and bowed. “Oh … and a young fellow by the name of Halde awaits you.”
Anna could see Lejun behind the new guard, and motioned for Fielmir to bring the scroll. “Tell Halde to wait. I’ll see him after I finish with Lord Jecks and Overcaptain Himar.”
“As you wish, Regent.” Fielmir bobbed his head and handed her the scroll.
Before the door closed, Anna had broken the seal on the rolled parchment and had begun to read the heavy black script.
Honored Regent and Sorceress,
I am deeply saddened to inform you that sickness has indeed taken its toll here at Flossbend. My beloved younger sister Anientta has breathed her last, as have her sons.
For the moment, awaiting your decision, I am administering the hold and lands on behalf of my brother Tybel … .
The Regent’s eyes skipped over the rest of the polite words to the signature at the bottom—Beltyr. “So that was why … Tybel and Dannel were plotting this together. Probably some of the armsmen were Tybel’s. Shit …”
Jecks raised his eyebrows. “You are distressed, my lady.”
“Read this and tell me if you wouldn’t be?” Anna handed him the scroll. Shit! Now Secca’s the only heir to Flossbend, not that Tybel and his brother intended it. Secca may not have been that well treated by her mother, but she doesn’t need this. Not now. Not ever. Anna waited as Jecks read.
When he was done, he looked up. “They are as bad as was Arkad.”
“Worse.” She motioned for Jecks to hand the scroll to the
overcaptain. “Arkad didn’t run around killing children.” That really messes things up. If Secca and Jimbob are consorted, he’ll end up owning half of Defalk, and you’ll never shrink his head down to size. Plus … all the lords of the Thirty-three will believe you’re going around doing them out of their lands to hand over to the heir. Shit …
Himar returned the scroll to Anna, and his eyes flicked from the Regent to Jecks and back again.
“Another thing I put off dealing with, and it’s just gotten worse.”
“You could have done nothing,” Jecks said.
“It doesn’t matter; I didn’t, and I can’t. Not now. If I don’t go and fight off Rabyn, there won’t be much of Defalk left to worry about … .”
Himar’s head bobbed in affirmation.
“Has this always happened?” asked Anna.
“Has what always occurred?” replied Jecks, a wariness in his voice.
“When the Lord of Defalk was occupied trying to save the country, the Thirty-three played games and tried to grab more lands behind his back.”
“It has occurred more often than not,” conceded the white-haired lord of Elheld.
“Was that another reason why you were worried about my going into Ebra?”
“I had not thought any would move so swiftly. I expected some such once you were occupied with Rabyn.”
“So I can count on this infighting to get worse?”
Jecks shrugged. “Mayhap.”
“All right. It will get worse. That’s because they all know I can’t deal with them while I’m fighting Rabyn. Will you hold Falcor for me?”
Jecks swallowed. “I had hoped …”
“I can’t leave Falcor unarmed. Not now. If I leave Himar here, anyone can attack and claim that Himar’s only a hired gun.”
Jecks frowned in puzzlement.
“A hired blade,” Anna explained. “If they attack you, they attack one of their own, and one who is the grandsire of the heir. That should stop some of this nonsense.”
“What of Jimbob?”
“He still gets that puzzled look on his face. I think he should come with me. With Kinor, I think.”
Jecks nodded slowly. “As do I.”
Himar’s eyebrows rose.
“She can protect him better than can I,” Jecks said. “And I can summon some of my own armsmen here from Elheld, enough that you need leave but twoscore. Or three.” The white-haired lord shrugged. “Only the Regent can hold Defalk together in these times. Being here will not help Jimbob, and he should see with his own eyes how perilous is the life and conduct of a ruler.”
“I’ll take sevenscore, and leave you three,” Anna said, “if you send out a message today summoning armsmen from Elheld.”
Jecks’ lips quirked. “Sevenscore for you … but try not to have them fight. They should but protect you so that you may deal with Rabyn and his evil Darksong.”
“I can’t afford to have them fight any real battles.” Anna grinned ironically. “I won’t have any lancers left at all if I do.” Not against forces twenty times yours.
“See that you hold to that resolve, my lady.”
“I will.” She turned to Himar. “Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, before the turn of the day’s second glass.” The overcaptain glanced toward the receiving-room doors.
“You may go …” Anna laughed gently. “I haven’t left you much time.”
Himar eased back the straight-backed chair and rose. He bowed. “I will have most of the experienced lancers accompany us.” He looked at Jecks. “Would you not agree, Lord High Counselor?”
“I would insist … but that is the Regent’s decision.”
Anna had to laugh at the mock-seriousness in both men’s voices. “All right. All right. You’ve made your points.”
Himar bowed, a twinkle in his eyes. “We will be ready.”
As the receiving-room door closed behind the overcaptain, Anna’s eyes went to Jecks. “You have a scroll to write.”
“Alas …” He shook his head “I would be with you.”
“You can ease my worries more by holding Falcor.”
“That I can accept, but I do not like it.”
From somewhere, half-familiar words came to her, and she
murmured them, “Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart.” Will your heart be stone … if you even survive?
Jecks did not speak, and Anna reached out and touched his arm. “I know. I don’t like it either.”
Jecks rose, gracefully as ever, muscular and competent, and bowed. “I will send the scroll, and then inform young Jimbob and Kinor of their duties.”
“Thank you.”
After Jecks had left, Anna looked at the stack of scrolls and groaned. Too much to do … but if she didn’t get moving to deal with Rabyn, she’d have even greater problems. And she needed to look in on Lysara again … and …
She took a swallow from the goblet before reaching for the bell to summon Halde.
“Yes, Regent?” Alseta peered into the receiving room.
“Is Halde still there?”
“He awaits your pleasure.”
“Have him come in.”
Halde stepped into the room, then immediately bowed. “I rode as quickly as I could, Regent.”
“You did fine, Halde.” Anna motioned to the chair across from her. “I don’t have much time. So this will be quick. Are you willing to be my saalmeister?”
“Yes, lady. Herstat has told me much.”
“Loiseau has never had a saalmeister, not in years and years, anyway. I have told everyone there to expect you. Serna is the housekeeper, and she has a chest of five hundred golds for your use in maintaining the place. Those must last until spring—at least …” Anna quickly ran through brief backgrounds on the older and more experienced staff members. Then she looked at the dark-haired and dark-bearded young man. “Do you understand?”
Halde bowed and nodded. “I trust I do, Regent. If I mark your words, your holding almost does not need a saalmeister, saving that you will be there seldom, and my task is to make sure that all goes well with those who already do their jobs well, to ensure it is guarded, because there has always been a sorcerer to guard before, to make the rounds to collect the rents and to refrain from collecting the rents where there has been
death or trouble, and to discover ways to manage those aspects of the hold once handled by sorcery.”
“And anything else that you feel should be done and isn’t being done—after you discuss it with Serna and Quies.” Anna paused. “I am not saying that their judgment should override yours, but I do not want you making a decision—except where there is no time—without talking it over with them so that you know how it will be received and can adjust your plans for implementing things, if necessary.”
“A light but gently firm rein?” Halde offered a smile.
“Yes … and I will expect a scroll from you every two weeks, sooner if you think necessary. The armsmen there know they will have to act as couriers on occasion.”
Halde bowed again.
“If you have any questions later … send me a scroll. Lord Jecks will know where to find me.” Anna stood. “Oh … one other thing.” She grinned. “What is a good saalmeister paid?”
Halde swallowed … for the first time. “Ah … I know not. I received two silvers a week as the assistant at Synfal.”
“All right. Let’s start at twice that, with an initial bonus of five golds for taking the job, and if either of us thinks you should get more … then we’ll talk about it.”
Anna fumbled with her belt wallet, glad she’d filled it before leaving Loiseau, and then extended seven golds. “That’s your bonus plus your pay until close to spring. You tell me when I’m supposed to pay you again.”
Halde’s eyes widened as the words sank in. Then he shifted his weight from one boot to the other, uneasily.
“I operate on trust, Halde.” Anna’s eyes fixed on the saalmeister. “If I can’t trust someone … they leave. I don’t have time to do your job and mine, and if you aren’t doing yours, I’ll know soon enough. Understood?”
“Yes, Regent. You … are most generous.”
“I hope you’ll always feel that way. Now …” She gestured toward the pile of scrolls. “I have to read those before I leave tomorrow.”
Halde bowed again.
Once Halde had left, Anna glanced at the piles of scrolls and reached for the one closest to her. Lord …