Darksong Rising (94 page)

Lady Siobion rule in his late liege’s place. She has restored the old line of Ebra, if with the new

free port of Elahwa, and she has apparently placed a distinguished Neserean arms commander on

the throne of the Prophet.”

‘What does the woman want?”

“Security…peace, sire.” Bassil wipes his forehead again. “You should wait for her messengers.

Should you then wish war, you will know what she wants and how best to oppose it.”

“Go!” Konsstin frowns, and his lips are tight. “I will consider your fair words, Bassil.” As the

lancer officer bows deeply, the Liedfuhr adds under his breath. “Foul as they may be.”

102

 
Anna glanced out the narrow window of the guest chamber, to the south, but the late-afternoon

sky was clear, although she knew from her earlier inspection of the hold that clouds were

gathering to the northeast.

“Arms Commander Himar,” announced Fielmir.

“Come on in.” Anna turned from the window.

As always, Himar bowed after entering. “All the lancers and the players are prepared to ride

tomorrow.” He raised his sandy eyebrows. “You have not said what you plan, Regent.”

“We’re riding straight to Arien. That’s why we need to get moving. We still have a lot to do

before the full winter closes in. We’ll take the trading road directly to Cheor, and we’ll stay at

Synfal. Then we’ll take the Synor River Road east. All the lancers will come with us—except the

purple company—as far as Synfal. Then one company will go north to Falcor along the Falche

River Road."

“That will leave you with but fivescore lancers.” Himar frowned.

“I think I can persuade Falar to accompany us.”

“You have something in mind for him?”

“We’ll see,” Anna temporized. “He’s a young scoundrel, but an honest one, and I have a thought

he might prove useful.”

“He has near-on twoscore with him, and some are most experienced armsmen.”
 
Himar laughed.

“I shouldn’t ask about their past lives.”

“All one has to do is look.”

"That’s what I thought, but they seem loyal to him. Will they be loyal to me?”

“So long as you offer hope to him.”

“I’ll offer to pay them.” Anna nodded.

“That is even better.”

“On your way out, would you have one of the guards summon the scoundrel? And Kinor. I have

a few things I need to discuss with them—individually.”

“That I will”

Anna stood behind the table, then bent and took a long swallow of water from the scratched but

clean goblet

What would she do about Mossbach? The Regent shrugged. That depended on what Jecks had

found out about heirs. She hoped an answer would be waiting for her when she reached Synfal.

Jecks had been right about not saying anything before she’d dealt with Rabyn, but that had left

yet another loose end trailing. Then, all Defalk was loose ends. Was that because she’d done

everything backward, by dealing with the outside threats before the inside ones?

She shook her head. Hitler and a lot of tyrants had done the same thing, except that they’d never

gotten around to the inside problems, not the real ones. You have to be different. You have to be.

“Falar to see you. Regent.”

“Have him come in.”

The door opened, and the slender redheaded man stepped inside, bowing.

“You had summoned me, Lady Anna?” Falar smiled, not quite a rogue’s smile, but close.

“I did.” Anna wanted to get to the heart of the matter. “I have considered several things. First, the

succession of Fussen.” She tried to be thoughtful. “I have seen your brother, and I have seen you.

It’s fair to say that I like you better. It’s probably fair to say that you’d make a better lord. But...

unlike Lord Jearle or Lord Dannel, your brother has not lifted arms against me. He hasn’t done

anything that other lords would find offensive.”

Falar nodded, thoughtfully. “And many lords remain who bridle at the Regency. You wish to

make no enemies you need not make.”

“I think you understand.” Anna smiled. “There is one other thing. I can only suggest, Falar, but

I’d like to suggest that you and your armsmen accompany me. We will be traveling to Synfal,

and then to Arien, and then to Flossbend. If you choose to come, I will supply your men, and I

will pay them.

“Do you expect many battles within Defalk?”

“I do not plan to fight any battles. I may employ sorcery, and it would be good to have lancers

and armsmen. I can promise nothing, but I’d like to learn more about you.” Anna laughed wryly.

“There’s definitely a shortage of people who are able and whom I can trust.” Are you being too

blunt? Probably.

Those words got a thoughtful nod. “From another I would suspect merely the use of hope to

obtain hired blades, Too many speak of your honor.” A crooked smile crossed the young man’s

face. “And you have rewarded fairly those who have served you longest.”

Thank heaven that got across. “I try... and I try to see where people can do what they can do

best.”

“We will come with you. Mayhap my accompanying you will turn my brother’s vaunted good

digestion. And curdle his thoughts.”

“You have an evil mind, young man,” Anna said, not quite succeeding in keeping a straight face.

“My brother deserves to have his thoughts curdled, but,” pointed out Falar, “if my serving the

Regent sours them, then the fault is his.”

“You have a point there.” Anna added, “I will also pay you what a captain gets. That’s only fair,

because that is the job you’ll be doing.”

“Then I can honestly write my brother and tell him that I have taken paid service with the

Regent.” The boyish grin reappeared. “That will sour his thoughts further.”

“We leave in the morning. You answer to Himar.”

“Yes, Regent.” Falar bowed, spoiling the gesture with yet another roguish grin.

Anna managed—barely—to keep a straight face.

The next person waiting to see Anna was Kinor, and he bowed twice on the way into the guest

chamber.

Anna looked at Kinor. As much as he had aged over the campaign, he was still painfully young

for what Anna had thrust upon him. But he was perceptive, intelligent, and loyal, and there were

few indeed among the Thirty-three who met those criteria.

“Kinor... I think you know. I’ve given you a lot to handle. It’s going to take everything you have

to hold Westfort. I could give you a lot of advice. I won’t. I’ll tell you the three things that I think

are most important. First, if something seems wrong, or people seem to be doing something in a

strange way... before you do anything or order anything or change anything, find out why they’re

doing it the way they are.” She paused.

Kinor nodded.

“Second, if you don’t know about something... ask. And ask quickly. People will often forgive

what you don’t know when you first start something. They won’t later. And last, don’t give the

impression of being indecisive. If you’re not sure about something, ask for opinions, then say

you’ll think over what everyone has said. Then do something. Either announce that matters

won’t change, or that you want it done a certain way, or, if you have to, say that it’s my problem,

and send me a scroll, and tell everyone you have.” Anna laughed. “Just make sure it is my

problem.”

“Yes, lady.”

“Dutral and the purple company are here to support you until spring. That’s about a third of a

year.” Anna paused. “I wish I could offer more, but I can’t.”

“That is much, Lady Anna. I know how few lancers you have, and you can ill spare even those.”

“I can ill spare losing Westfort, either,” Anna pointed out. “If you have any questions for me,

you’d better think of them between now and tomorrow morning. That’s when we leave.”

Kinor did not protest. “I had thought so when Himar summoned me.” He paused. “I thank you

for all you have done. Though it would be ill done, I would ask one last favor.”

Anna nodded.

“Should aught happen to me... I would think Alseta is much like you, and could well run a keep.

And she is my closest heir.”

“I don’t want you to think about that,” Anna replied. “I will consider your request... if I have to,

and not before.”

“That be all I could ask.”

Anna was touched by Kinor’s request—thinking about his younger sister, and probably as a way

to provide for Liende. Would Mario have done the same in Kinor’s boots? Anna hoped so, but

she wouldn’t ever know.

Kinor bowed.

“And Kinor? You’d better work on building up your own force of trusted armsmen. I wouldn’t

rely completely on those who served Lord Jearle.”

“Dutral and I have talked about such.”

“Good. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Anna stood silently as the young lord bowed a last time and departed.

The door clicked shut, leaving her alone.

Anna hoped she hadn’t leaned too hard on Kinor about the armsmen, but Defalk wasn’t exactly

the most peaceful of lands. She laughed to herself. If it had been peaceful and medievally

oppressive, she’d never have become Regent, and probably nothing in Liedwahr would have

changed. She was making some changes... and if she could hang on, there would be more. And

more sorcery and destruction.