Darksong Rising (26 page)

lords have of you matters. This will have the armsmen and lords saying you’re spoiled and

willful, and lords wouldn’t follow a spoiled and willful leader, especially a young one." They

won’t even follow a good leader unless coerced....

“Lord Jimbob..." Jecks drawled out the word ‘lord” sardonically, “You might recall that more

than half the lords of Defalk are beholden to the Regent. You might also recall that she is a

sorceress and that she has the only professional armsmen in Defalk—except for those who serve

me and Lady Gatrune.”

“You’re all against me..."

“Jimbob," Anna said coldly, “if we were against you, you’d already be dead."

Jimbob’s eyes traveled from Anna, then to Jecks, and then across the faces of the two guards. His

shoulders slumped.

“You are my grandson, but if you are not worthy to become Lord of Defalk, I will work with the

Regent and the Thirtythree to find another who is. After this, it will take a great deal of proving

for us to find you worthy of more than mucking out stable stalls." Jecks lifted the boy by one

arm. “Stand up. You’re going to take your punishment like a man.”

“There is one other matter, Lord Jimbob,” Anna said. “Defalk is more important than your

vanity, and both your grandsire and I have worked to preserve this land. When you try to play us

against each other, you’re showing contempt for what we have worked for, and you’re also

showing how unsuited you are. Do you honestly think we don’t talk to each other about you and

your skills and abilities?” Anna could feel the withering scorn in her voice that infused her last

sentence.

Jimbob paled. Then he actually bowed his head, but he did not speak.

Anna had the feeling the youth was so angry and yet so humiliated that he was unable to find

words. “I tried to be gentle with you so you wouldn’t be humiliated when I went to Elheld and

you questioned me. I guess that was a mistake. I guess you’ll have to learn everything the hard

way.” She looked at Jecks. “I’d suggest that you have Arms Commander Hanfor work out his

punishment. But make sure Hanfor knows that we’re both serious, if Hanfor has any questions,

he can come to me.” Anna paused. “Once you have that taken care of, I’d like to see you and

then the counselors in the receiving room.”

“Yes, Regent.” Jecks’ voice was formal.

Knowing the pain of a child’s ingratitude, Anna wanted to reach out and hug Jecks, but she

merely nodded. What if this doesn’t work? What if Jimbob’s so spoiled that he won’t see? What

can you do... who else is there? Anna waited until Jecks and Jimbob started down the wide stone

steps before she began to walk in the same direction. She did not look at either guard who

followed her, her mind on Elizabetta, almost always grateful, and on Jecks, saddled with an

ungrateful grandson.

Outside the receiving room, Resor was the page waiting. “Good morning, Lady Anna.”

“Good morning, Resor." Anna smiled, briefly, at the cheerful greeting, before slipping into the

receiving room.

There, waiting for Jecks, she took the top scroll from the pile, one she hadn’t seen, a scroll bound

with intertwined crimson and blue ribbons. From Dumar? She broke the seal and began to read,

still standing behind her working table.

My Lady and Regent,

I said I would write. I am poor at words, but I will report on what I know. We had some trouble

at first with the City Patrol in Dumaria. Now, matters are fine, and I have heard some say that

the city is safer than ever.

We have reclaimed the golds from the ruins of Envaryl. Some were stolen before we found them.

We erected the small memorial to Lord Ehara, as you instructed. I have sent five thousand golds

under guard, and they will follow this scroll. Lady Siobion has said that for your mercy you

deserve the extra thousand for your own use. I leave that to you. She said that few conquerors

would have destroyed but one city after all the insults offered by Lord Ehara....

After noting Alvar’s signature, Anna set down the scroll. Destroying Envaryl when Ehara had

refused to face her—that had bothered her at the time, and it still did. Hanfor had said that such

destruction had been necessary. Necessary to leave the mark of Anna’s power, necessary to

ensure that all Dumar respected the sorceress and Regent of Defalk.

But you still deliberately killed innocents.... She frowned. All the other times, either she had

killed armsmen or rebels, but she had not directed her sorcery at innocents and armsmen alike.

Even the disaster created when her damming of Falche had failed had not been directed at

innocents. Does that make a difference? Did you accept Hanfor’s advice because it was easier?

Because you were tired and angry? Or because power corrupts, even when you try not to be

corrupted? Or because no one respects anyone without power? But needing that respect... isn’t

that a form of corruption? Except, that without respect, as you’ve learned, even greater use of

force is required. As with Jimbob?

She took a deep breath.

“Lord Jecks,” Giellum announced.

Anna turned toward the door, waiting until it shut behind the haggard-looking Lord of Elheld.

“My lord Jecks..." she said softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to walk in, but I didn’t want him to

put us against each other.” She reached out and touched his arm, then squeezed his hand.

“For your words... there... my lady, I am most grateful. I do admit." A wintry smile appeared.

“You were right that he shouldn’t have gone to Fussen,” Anna said quietly.

“I did not mean for this..." Jecks looked down, not meeting her eyes. “I have not taken enough

time with him.”

‘The fosterlings play up to him too much, I think,” mused Anna, “especially Hoede, I’d bet. The

sooner we send Hoede home to daddy, the better.”

“Lord Dannel will not be pleased.”

“I’m sure he won’t, but I need Lord Nelmor more than Dannel, especially with that weasel Jearle

still trying to suggest, politely, that he get back his title as Lord of the Western Marches.

Geographically, it should be Ustal, Jearle, or Nelmor. Who would you have?”

“You can trust Nelmor, for you have his heirs, and his sister’s support, but none knows how well

he can command. Jearle can neither command nor be trusted, and the same is true of Ustal.”

Sorry mess that is…"We can wait, but my inclination is to name Nelmor, when we have to name

someone.”

“Of the choices you have, he would be the best.”

But certainly far from ideal. “Alvar is sending five thousand golds, including a thousand as a

tribute from Lady Siobion to me personally." Anna handed Jecks the scroll.

“You have golds enough to run your lands now. You might consider a saalmeister of your own.”

“Halde—the young assistant from Cheor?”

“You could do worse, far worse.”

“Could you send Herstat a message and ask for his thoughts about Halde?” asked Anna. “I think

he would be more open with you." She smiled. “After all, he was your saalmeister.”

“He might be less open for that,” replied Jecks.

“Not if you tell him that his judgment is for my saalmeister." Anna paused. "I could also ask

Dythya to write him. He might be more honest with his daughter.”

“Then you have Dythya write, and I will write, and we will see.” Jecks chuckled, before reading

the scroll slowly. After he finished he looked at Anna. “You chose wisely to leave Alvar in

Dumar.”

“Too bad I don’t have more choices in Defalk.” She took a sip of the orderspelled water.

“You have more power than any Lord of Defalk in generations, perhaps ever, my lady."

“Power doesn’t always allow any better choices. Sometimes, all the time, anymore, it seems,

sorcery is the only real tool I have.”

Thrap. At the rap on the door, both turned.

“Counselor Menares,” announced Resor.

“Come on in, Menares. Dythya should be here in a few moments.” Anna turned to Jecks.

“Somehow, it always gets back to that,” Anna said. “Which lords fear my power as a sorceress

enough to do as requested, and which don’t. If I don’t exhibit power, then none want to honor

their obligations. If I do, they complain about my being high-handed.”

“All lords respond to power, and little else,” Jecks pointed out. “Your being Regent does not

change that.”

“But I can’t ignore their complaints, because—” She broke off as there was a second rap on the

door.

“Lady Anna, the counselor Dythya.”

“Have her come in." Anna glanced at Jecks, then Menares. “Time to go over the accounts and

the obligations.”

Dythya bowed as she entered, carrying a stack of scrolls under each arm. “I have the accounts as

you requested, Regent."

Anna nodded. “Thank you." It was going to be a long, long day. Even patient Jecks rolled his

eyes.

23

With the late-afternoon sun shining through the high window behind her, Anna rubbed her

forehead and looked down at the conference table and the stacks of scrolls and accounts that

surrounded her. Slowly she reached for the pile that held the expenditures for armsmen and

lancers—Hanfor’s accounts.

“Lady Anna?”

Anna looked up as Menares peered around the door, “Yes, Menares?”

“Lady Anna... if I might have a word...?" The gray-haired advisor’s head bobbed up and down as

he stood inside the double doors.

What does the old schemer want? “Of course, Menares.” She gestured to the chair across from

her, and Menares closed the door behind him.