Darksong Rising (60 page)

threshold, as if he had tried to hold back the horde, lay a dark-haired, dark-bearded figure.

Within the light of the torch held by Kinor, sprawled more than a half-score of figures. Others

lay farther away from Firis.

“Most would not die so well,” murmured Himar.

Anna swallowed. The dashing captain had always claimed Anna had brought him fortune. Not

this time.

“Lady... if you would abide, with your guards,” Jecks suggested.

The sorceress and Regent nodded, knowing what he had in mind. “I’ll wait here. You won’t find

anyone alive.”

Jecks’ lips curled, but he did not speak as he and Himar stepped gingerly through the ruined

doors.

“Was this the work of the rebels?” asked Jimbob, his voice simultaneously puzzled and

deferential.

“They weren’t rebels,” Anna said slowly, finding she still clutched the lutar. “They were deluded

men spelled with Darksong by a young man who didn’t understand, and who didn’t want to."

“Peasants...”

“No.” Anna kept her voice level. “Your grandfather was right about the evil that can be done

with drums. Two men did evil, and the others died because of it.”

“Could you have done aught—” Jimbob’s question halted with the jab to the ribs from Kinor.

“If I had ... then we couldn’t have gone into Ebra, and we’d be facing another enemy to the east.”

You hope your judgment was correct. Enough people had already paid.

The returning glow of the torch showed Jecks and Himar as they walked slowly back through the

ruined doors toward Anna and the others.

“Both the lady. . . and her son...” Jecks’ voice was flat, emotionless.

“I should have acted before.” Anna could feel the dampness on her cheeks.

“You could not. . . not if you wanted to ensure that Ebra remains an ally,” pointed out Jecks.

“Even you, mighty as you are, can do but what you can.” Jecks paused, then asked more gently,

“Would you have wished to kill men who had done nothing then, suspecting only that they might

do ill?”

Anna winced at the question. You had thought about it.

Was that another part of being Regent? Choosing when no action was without negative

consequences? Letting things happen because there was no proof of evil that could justify

action? Or was that just the lot of Defalk?

“You can do no more until first light,” Jecks said gently.

Anna wished he could hold her, if but for a moment. Instead, she stiffened. “We will have much

to do tomorrow.” Too much... like every other day.

65

Anna stood beside the ash-dusted steps that led to the ruined main dwelling. She looked down

the slight rise toward the half-ruined stables and barracks and the meadow beyond where her

lancers had camped. Blaz and Lejun stood perhaps a yard behind her, with Jecks beside her. A

raw cool wind blew out of the east, in surging gusts, as if presaging a cold rain, but the clouds

were thin and high.

In the light of a gray morning, the hold looked even worse than the night before, and Anna didn’t

feel as though she had slept either well or long enough. Her eyes burned; her head still ached,

even after forcing herself to eat; and her nose itched from something, perhaps from grooming

and saddling Farinelli, or from the fine ash that was everywhere, so much that she almost wanted

to tear at her face. Her riding clothes bore spots of blood that she hadn’t noticed before. She

moistened her lips as she watched her chief player walk slowly up the lane toward her.

Jecks did not speak, though his eyes also surveyed the devastation, and far larger patches of

blood stained his tunic.

Liende stopped and bowed. “Lady Anna?” The chief player straightened, her tunic smeared with

ash, one sleeve bearing a splotch of blood.

“How are you doing this morning?”

“We were fortunate. Delvor has a bruise on one leg, and Duralt and Palian have small cuts on

their arms. They can still play."

“How about you?”

A wintry smile appeared, and Liende’s freckled face appeared younger for a moment. “I have

seen worse.”

Anna nodded. “Could you and the players manage a spell this morning? After last night?”

“One... that we can do... or two, if it be the same spell.”

“Depending on how they feel, we might repeat it for the stables and barracks. If everyone feels

strong enough.”

“Players play.” Liende bowed slightly. “I will gather them.” Just like you... she’s another woman

who had no idea where things would lead, but she’s not exactly happy about it all. Then, in

Liende’s shoes—or boots—Anna wouldn’t have been all that happy either.

“You must rebuild it now?” asked Jecks once Liende was beyond earshot.

“Yes.”

‘There is no lord to hold it.”

“Lady Herene will take it and refurnish it to her taste. I think one of the older fosterlings, perhaps

Ytrude, can replace her at Suhl.”

“Lady Herene?” Jecks frowned, as if attempting to recall the name.

“I don’t think you ever met her. She was Gatrune’s sister.

She’s the ward for Sargol’s heirs, but she’s the only relative of Gatrune I’d trust here, and a lady

will be replaced by a lady. Especially here.” Anna found her voice getting harsh, and she

softened it. “I’m not angry at you.”

“You are angry,” Jecks pointed out.

“I am angry,” she admitted. “But that won’t change anything.”

“You wish to change Defalk within seasons, and most do not wish change. Yet you are angry

that they will not accept such.”

“They want to live, don’t they? They’d rather not be under the Evult’s iron fist. Or Behlem’s.”

Anna shrugged, feeling how tight her shoulders were from all the tension she carried.

“They’d have to change one way or the other. This way would be easier.”

“My lady, they do not see it. Nor do most of the lords.”

“I know.” Anna sighed. “I know”

“You must do what you can,” Jecks added. “Some have come to see, and others will.”

“We need to talk to Himar.” Anna looked toward Blaz. ‘Would you please ask Overcaptain

Himar if he could spare a moment?”

“Yes, Lady Anna.”

Anna looked at Jecks. “I’m going to ask him who should remain here—I’d like Skent to do it...

but he’d need an experienced senior armsman or undercaptain with him.”

“Young Skent... that would be good. He is loyal, and he will live longer here.”

Anna tried not to wince. Was anyone who followed her doomed to injury or death? Was it that

bad?

“My lady...in this world, any who must bear arms risk death. You save more than other leaders,

but you cannot expect to preserve them all.”

Why not?

Himar walked briskly up from the stable area, followed discreetly by Blaz.

“You had inquired after me, Regent?”

“Himar, before we leave this morning, I’m going to use a spell to try to rebuild the hold here, and

then the stables and barracks. We’ll need to leave a company to hold it and support the next lady

when she arrives.”

Himar nodded. “You would suggest young Skent and some other undercaptain he can rely

upon?”

“I had thought so, but I haven’t told anyone because I wanted to talk to you first.” Anna’s eyes

went to Jecks. “Except Lord Jecks.”

The overcaptain smiled. “Again, Lady Anna, I am glad a what you understand.”

“After last night?” Anna almost snorted.

“Regent,” Himar said soberly, “in all lands in Defalk there are uprisings. Without you and your

sorcery, many more would have died. Armsmen live with death, but we do not welcome it.

Those who have seen battles would have you over any ruler in Liedwahr.”

“About Skent?” Jecks prompted, clearly sensing Anna’s discomfort.

“I would spare Jirsit to advise him. He has seen every battle since you became Regent, and has

served well.”

Anna understood. Jirsit could stand a respite, and Skent listened to Jirsit.

“I would also like to move some lancers between companies—a few older men for stability, and

a few who might best serve with more training from them.”

“I’ll leave the arrangements to you, Himar.”

‘Thank you, Regent.” Himar inclined his head. “By your leave?”

“Thank you, Himar.” She turned to Jecks. “What do you think?” Then she laughed, softly.

“That’s backwards. I should have asked before I acted.”

“You do what you think will be best, not always what will be easily accepted at first.” Jecks

smiled crookedly, but warmly. ‘Those who have followed you still remain willingly, and few

rulers who fight battles can say such."

“Thank you. I hope they won’t be too disappointed.” She tried to clear her throat. “I need to

warm up before the players get here, or I’ll be the one holding things up.”

“I will see that all is ready for our departure, my lady.”

“Thank you,” she repeated.

Warming up took Anna a long time. Jecks had returned, accompanied by Jimbob and Kinor. All

three stood back to give her space, and the players were all gathered and tuning when Anna was