Darksong Rising (19 page)

looked like those of an eighteen-year-old—except for the darkness behind them. Even without

makeup and jewelry, she looked nearly regal. Careful... don't flatter yourself. Regal is as regal

does.

After a last look in the glass, Anna turned and left the guest chamber. As she stepped through the

heavy oak door, she found Jecks waiting, standing beside Lejun. Clean-shaven and washed, in

the blue of Elheld, he bowed.

“You look most handsome, my lord,” Anna said. Incredibly handsome... and what am I to do

with you... with us?

“You are... more than beautiful, my lady. You always surprise me.” The slight huskiness in his

compliments discomfited Anna, and she spoke quickly to cover her vulnerability. "Thank you.

Shall we see what we can discover about Lord Ustal?”

Jecks looked at Anna. “You are worried.”

“Shouldn’t I be? Ustal looks like the perfect Defalkan lord. He’s handsome, probably as strong

as a bull. He says the right things, and he expects to get his way.”

“So it would seem... yet his brother has garnered some support.” Jecks smiled and stopped

speaking as he looked down the steps, where Ustal was waiting.

The lord-claimant’s eyes widened as he saw Anna in the green gown. The lord frankly surveyed

the Regent, clearly surprised at her appearance. "I had not expected..."

“A Regent who appeared so young?” Anna smiled politely. “You must have heard the story of

what happened at the Sand Pass.” How couldn’t he? All of Liedwahr must have heard it by now.

“I had heard, much later, but... the story does not do you justice." Ustal offered a broad smile and

a second bow, with a gesture toward the hall, before leading the way into the dark and high-

ceilinged room, lit both by wall sconces, and a series of five-branched wrought-iron candelabra

set at intervals along a table that stretched nearly ten yards.

Anna could tell that the others had been waiting, and felt guilty for the time it had taken her to

dress. Will you ever get over feeling guilty, even for little things?

‘This is my consort, Yelean.” Ustal inclined his head in the direction of the pale dark-haired

woman in green that Anna had observed through the glass.

“I am pleased to meet you,” Anna answered.

“And I, you, your grace.” Yelean’s smile was shy, almost frightened.

Ustal rattled off a series of names, the only one of which Anna fixed in her mind being that of

Weyrt, the chief of arms-men, who was seated directly across the long table from Himar.

Again…you’ve let your blood sugar get too low... and you’re probably dehydrated. Once seated,

Anna took a sip, a very small sip, of the red wine from her goblet, wondering whether it would

be the swill she’d first tasted at Mencha or the polished vintages of Lerona. It was neither,

merely an acceptable red table wine. “The wine tastes good, Lord Ustal.”

“Not so fine as those of Lerona or Abenfel I fear, but good for accompanying a meal.”

“It is far better than comes from my lands in Mencha,” she managed.

A puzzled expression flitted across the blond lord’s face.

“Lady Anna is not only Regent, but sole holder of Mencha as well,” Jecks said, his voice almost

melodious. “She finds herself in the odd position of both paying and receiving liedgeld. She was

Lady of Mencha before she became Regent.”

As the white-haired lord spoke, Anna heaped her platter with the fowl and with the cheese-

clotted potatoes.

“Ah... so she knows some of the troubles of a holder,” suggested Ustal.

“My lands are not so rich as yours,” Anna said, after swallowing her first mouthful, “and I see

them seldom these days. Mencha is farther from Falcor than Fussen is. And your wine is better.”

A faint smile crossed Yelean’s face.

Ustal’s eyes widened as he watched Anna eat everything on the platter and then finish a second

helping.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ustal, but it has been a long ride, and I was more hungry than I’d thought.”

Anna broke off another small chunk of bread, and nibbled on it. Amazing what sorcery does to

your appetite and metabolism.

“I had heard that sorceresses required... much sustenance...

“It’s true.” Anna took another sip of wine. For the first time in days, she was beginning to feel

she wasn’t running on the edge of hunger and fatigue. You’ve been under-eating again.... Won't

you ever learn that being overweight isn’t your problem? The sorceress’ equivalent of anorexia

is. Except old patterns were hard to unlearn. Anna wanted to snort, or something. If she were in a

novel, she’d have no problems unlearning old habits. Just recognize them, and they’d be gone.

Time to get this back on track. “I did not have the pleasure of meeting your sire. Would you say

that you are much like him? Or different?”

There was the slightest of pauses before Ustal set down his goblet. “My sire was well-known for

being honorable and for caring for his lands. The vineyards were his doing as a young man. So

was the sawmill..."

Anna listened intently, trying to sort out what the words revealed of Ustal and what they told of

Lord Vlassa.

“...my younger brother... let us just say that Falar and I differ.”

“You would be a lord more like your sire?” suggested Anna.

“Is that not why you are here, honored Regent—to offer your sanction to my succession.” Ustal

bowed, offering a dazzling smile of perfect white teeth, rare indeed in Defalk.

“I have come to see Fussen,” Anna replied, “and to meet you." “You should also meet Falar,”

Ustal said politely. “That way, you will understand why it is best that matters remain as they are.

“That is a wise suggestion, Lord Ustal," Jecks said smoothly. “But where might one find this

brother of yours? Surely, he would not be so foolish as to take quarters close to you?”

A frown flickered across the handsome lord’s face and vanished as he turned toward Jecks.

“Your prowess in the past struggles of Defalk is well known, Lord Jecks, and we are pleased to

see that you remain in good health and wit.” The lord paused. “There is a house, an old hold, in

Sudborte, which he claims as his. It once belonged to my mother’s grandsire, many years ago.”

Ustal shrugged. “It could be mine as well as his, but I have suffered to let him claim it. One

might find him there.”

Anna kept smiling. Careful... arrogant he may be, but he’s no fool. “Indeed Lord Jecks has

remained most wise and powerful, Lord Ustal, as many younger have discovered. I would that all

lords of Defalk were so able with arms and so devoted to maintaining the succession. We will

consider your suggestions most carefully.”

“I commend him, and you, my Regent, for ensuring that succession. As Lord of Fussen, I, too,

support the Regency and hope that the day will not be too distant when Lord Jimbob takes his

place in his sire’s seat.” Ustal frowned. “I had hoped he might grace us with his presence." A

smile followed. “Though such is certainly not necessary with your beauty and ability.”

“Lord Jimbob visited Cheor earlier this year and will be visiting other holds in the seasons to

come,” Jecks offered. “He also must learn what any wise ruler must, and study both arms and

strategy, and how best to use coins and men.”

“And his thoughts,” Anna added.

“Has he—or you—considered a match for his lordship?”

“Several have been considered,” Anna replied, “and I would hope to see him with a consort

before he becomes lord.” For Lots of reasons...

“So would we all.” Ustal paused. “And would you then advise him and his successors?”

Anna made sure her laugh was gentle. “Lord Ustal... a youth spell may allow me to live a few

more years, but I don’t think I’ll be around for very long by the time Jimbob’s children are ready

to rule." Assuming Jimbob is up to it in the first place.

Ustal flushed. “I did not know.”

“It isn’t that widely known.” Anna decided against telling Ustal anything that wasn’t fairly

common knowledge. He was the type to decide he was more fit to rule than Jimbob, or anyone

else. She turned toYelean. “Has it been hard, carrying this child?”

“It would seem hard, lady, but since he is my first. I do not know.”

“Usually, the first are the hardest, but my second was.”

“You have children?” Yelean barely managed to keep her mouth closed after her question.

“They’re all grown, but they’re in the mist worlds. My oldest would have been several years

older than Lord Ustal, but she was killed in a magic-carriage accident just before I was sum-

moned to Liedwahr…" Anna continued with a very abbreviated version of how she had come to

be Regent.

When she finished, Ustal nodded. “So... to keep your powers, you will have no children and

support Lord Jimbob."

“No,” Anna corrected him. “The youth spell stopped my ability to have children, and it seemed

far better to support the current succession than to create even more fighting over who would

found a new line. This way, at least some of our neighbors, such as Nordwei and Ranuak, have

indirectly provided assistance, rather than tried conquest.”

“You have received assistance from both?” Ustal’s voice was not quite incredulous.

“Yes. As well as most useful information” Anna smiled. “Now... if you would tell me what you

know about Neserea that is not widely told. You must, with your experience and living so close.”

Anna hoped Jecks wouldn’t burst out laughing at the blatant flattery and the warm smile she

offered.

Her white-haired and handsome lord merely nodded sagely, and added, “And anything your sire

may have passed down would also be most helpful.”