Darksong Rising (28 page)

“Lord Hulber of Silberfels once told Lord Jecks that his great grandsire found nuggets of gold, small

ones, in the Chean, but there were no mines, not in recent memory.”

Silberfels? Then Anna laughed. Silver rocks? That was what the name meant in German. Except she

couldn’t recall where Silberfels was. “Is that far from Mencha?”

“One, perhaps, two days’ ride north of Mencha. Silberfels is a small holding, and very old. It was there

even before the Corian lords ruled the north.”

After a knock on the receiving-room door, Menares slipped inside, bowing, then extending a scroll toward

Anna. “Lady and Regent, you have a scroll from Lady Gatrune.”

“Thank you,” Anna read though the missive, skipping over the compliments.

... As you requested, Regent and Lady, Captain Firis had discreet inquiries made. Some unknown

magics have been reported in the chandlery of Farsenn, the son of Forse, and some say that his

brother Giersan has constructed a strange assemblage of drums... few would answer anyone from

my lands, and this is troubling. That is why some indirection was required and why I have been

so long in responding to your request....

...You might also be interested to know that Herene sent a messenger asking for clothing for her wards, or

a skilled seamstress, and since we have several I dispatched one to Suhl.... Herene is working hard to

instruct the children, both on their letters and figures and on other matters as well..... The

daughter is most bright, but Herene has some doubts about the sons....

So did you. Anna reflected, then stopped as the receiving room door opened yet again.

Jecks slipped inside and hurried toward Anna. “My lady Anna, there is an emissary from the

Liedfuhr of Mansuur—an overcaptain of lancers with some sort of gift.”

“A gift... more like a Trojan horse…” murmured Anna.

Jecks and Dythya exchanged glances at the unfamiliar term, but Anna didn’t bother to explain.

“Have them come in, with the guards.” Anna smoothed her hair back, almost unconsciously, and

stepped back onto the dais, where she stood by the high-backed and heavy carved chair she used

to receive people on a more formal basis.

Jecks slipped from the receiving room, to return moments later with Rickel and Blaz. The Lord

High Counselor gestured for the two to flank Anna on the dais. As the guards stepped into place,

the receiving room doors opened.

“The emissary of the Liedfuhr of Mansuur,” Skent announced.

Flanking Anna, Rickel and Blaz stiffened, easing forward slightly as two lancers in maroon

carried in a chest and set it on the receiving-room floor before the dais. The lancers were

accompanied by Kerhor and Lejun. who watched not Anna, but the lancers.

The two lancers withdrew, leaving the single officer in maroon. He bowed, deeply, almost

reverently. “Regent. Sorceress of Power, Lady of Mencha. . . we are here to convey a message

from the Liedfuhr and to bring his greetings and best wishes.”

Anna inclined her head slightly to the lancer officer. “You are most welcome, and I appreciate

the effort you have made to come so far.”

The officer extended a scroll, but Jecks stepped forward, took it, studied it. and then passed it to

the Regent.

“How did you come here?" asked Anna as she took the scroll. “We took one of the Liedfuhr’s

fastest ships to Narial, and then rode through Dumar to Stromwer and thence to Falcor.”

Anna glanced at the maroon and gold ribbons that twined the scroll. “And how long did it take?”

“More than two weeks at great speed,” admitted the lancer with a smile. “Mansuus is not close to

Falcor.”

“I appreciate your effort. If you would wait for a moment..." Anna broke the seal and began to

read through the scroll.

Regent of Defalk, and Sorceress of Power,

Greetings from Mansuus and from the people of Mansuur to those of Defalk and to their most

wise and puissant Regent...

Anna skimmed over the paragraph of flowery praise and formality, her eyes settling on the next

lines.

Many have speculated about what actions may be taken by Mansuur in the days and years to

come.... You have shown, by your actions in Dumar, that the Maitre of Sturinn is the greatest

threat to all Liedwahr. You have also risked greatly for all those who wish Liedwahr’s destiny to

be controlled by its peoples, and not those who would chain us to traditions that are not ours. ...

He definitely has an idea who you are. Anna’s lips crinkled slightly at the blatantly veiled

reference to the chains of adornment used by the Sturinnese on their women.

... As Liedfuhr, I wish to assure you that Mansuur has no designs upon the lands of Defalk, nor of

Dumar, now that Dumar has declared its allegiance to Defalk. To assure you that these words

are written in honesty and honor and not empty, I have sent a chest to demonstrate both my

gratitude for your actions in opposing the Maitre of Sturinn, and the strength of my word that no

forces of Mansuur under the command of officers loyal to the Liedfuhr, will be brought against

the forces

Anna frowned at the wording, then smoothed her face and continued.

... I must, regretfully, inform you that Mansuur cannot be held responsible for any actions taken

by the Prophet of Music of Neserea, since the Prophet has renounced any guidance from

Mansuur... I will be dispatching shortly fiftyscore lancers to Neserea in an effort to ensure

restraint by the Prophet in dealing with Defalk and to attempt to assure continuing peacefulness

between Neserea and Defalk. Knowing how your powers have destroyed hundreds of scores of

lancers, I trust that you will not regard these fiftyscore lancers as a reason to distrust my pledge

and honor....

The scroll concluded with more praise and formality, and was signed: “Konsatin, Liedfuhr of

Mansuur.”

As she looked up from the scroll, Anna did not look at the chest, but she could see from its size

that it had to contain more than a thousand golds. A thousand... and he's sending another

fiftyscore lancers to Neserea?

“We thank you, Overcaptain. .

“Captain Gislhem, Regent.” Gisihem bowed.

“...and we thank the Liedfuhr for his wisdom and his warm gestures. I will have a response for

you to take back tomorrow, and we look forward to seeing you at dinner. I hope you will be able

to tell us about your journey.”

“You are most kind.”

Anna glanced at Dythya. ‘If you would ensure that the captain is conveyed to Arms Commander

Hanfor and that arrangements are made for him and his men...?”

“Yes, Regent.” Dythya bowed.

“And then you’d better come back. We’ve a lot more to do.” Anna smiled crookedly. “And send

in Skent, if you would.”

Once the door closed, Anna looked at Jecks, then started toward the chest.

“Regent...“ Lejun coughed.

Anna nodded and stepped back.

Lejun opened the chest lid, gingerly. His swallow was more than audible in the silence of the

receiving room. A single gold coin slipped from those heaped in the chest and clanked on the

stone floor.

Anna swallowed as well. There have to be thousands of them…
 
“You can close it for now,

Lejun.”

The guard replaced the single missing coin and closed the chest’s lid.

Anna looked at the four guards and smiled. “It looks like everyone will get paid.”

The faintest trace of a smile appeared on Rickel’s face. Giellum looked puzzled. Lejun and Blaz

nodded, if barely.

Anna stepped off the dais and lifted the bell off the conference table, ringing it once.

“Lady Anna?” The dark-haired Skent peered into the receiving room.

“Would you find Arms Commander Hanfor and tell him that I would like to see him once he has

settled his business with the Mansuuran lancers?”

“Yes, Lady Anna.” Skent flashed a smile before departing and closing the door.

Anna looked at the guards, each in turn. “Thank you all. Lord Jecks and I have some things to

discuss.” She handed Jecks the Liedfuhr’s scroll as the guards walked from the receiving room.

Jecks read the scroll, slowly.

“What do you think?” Anna asked when he had finished.

“I think that the Liedfuhr is most sincere.” Jecks laughed. “Or he is most willing to spend coins

on allaying your concerns.”

“We’ll have to use the scrying pool to see what we can over the next few days.”

“That would be wise.”

Anna wasn’t certain what the pool would show, or if it would show anything. She’d already

discovered that the Mansuuran lancers in Neserea were somewhere in eastern Neserea, but how

close they were to Elioch—and Defalk—was another question. Even with the scrying pool, hard

information was difficult to come by. But if they had in fact finally reached Elioch, as reported,

were they there to help with an attack on Defalk— or to prevent it?

“Arms Commander Hanfor,” announced Skent, his words spaced with heavy breathing.

“That was quick,” said the Regent, as Hanfor entered the chamber.

“I had Undercaptain Jirsit settle Captain Gisihem and his men.” Hanfor bowed, then nodded. His

quick eyes ffitted from Anna to Jecks to the chest.

“A gesture from the Liedfuhr,” Anna explained. “Several thousand golds, it appears.”

Hanfor’s eyes narrowed.

The Regent glanced at Jecks. “He should read the scroll."