Darksong Rising (96 page)

here. I’ve tried to get him grain... but it’s not always been as much as he needs.”

“He is not too thin, but I will see that there is grain here. I would give him but a third portion,

and not until after you have groomed him. And only a little water at first.”

Anna nodded.

“If you will please excuse me, lady’ while I see to the others?”

‘Please. Farinelli and I will be fine.”

The old stables were dry, and smelled clean, as before, with fresh straw, and a pail of grain had

been left beside the manger for Farinelli. Anna smiled, then unfastened the lutar case, wrapped in

oiled canvas in addition to its normal cover, and set it beside the stall wall. Then came the mirror

case, and the saddlebags, probably soaked through.

“Big stalls..." murmured Fielmir.

“It’s a large keep,” Rickel responded. “Older and bigger than Falcor.”

Anna finished unsaddling Farinelli, then groomed him, and finally let him have some water, but

not too much, before she poured some of the grain into the manger. The gelding whuffed and

tossed his head as Anna lifted the bucket. “That’s enough for now. Bielttro will give you more,

you pig." She patted his shoulder, then picked up the lutar.

Fielmir carried the saddlebags and mirror case, and he and Rickel followed her.

Herstat was waiting as Anna, Jimbob, and Himar stepped into the entry hall, followed by Rickel

and Lejun. The saalmeister bowed deeply. “We are all glad you have arrived safely in this rain.”

He smiled. “Some thought you might be delayed, but I assured them that the Regent is seldom

delayed."

“We try not to be late.” Anna gestured to Falar. “This is Falar, second in succession to the lands

of Fussen. He is traveling with us and offering us his armsmen.” She gave a wry smile. “This

year’s been hard on everyone, especially the armsmen and lancers." Her eyes next went to

Himar. “Himar has taken over as arms commander, now that Hanfor is the Lord High Counselor

of Neserea.”

“We have chambers most suitable,” Herstat replied. “Lord Jecks had sent several scrolls by fast

messenger.” After a pause, he continued, “If you would follow me...”

Anna still held on to the lutar as she climbed the steps behind Herstat toward the upper levels of

the keep. Blaz carried the saddlebags, and Lejun the mirror case. The bricks that formed the

floors had been thoroughly cleaned and covered with a shimmering varnish of some sort since

Anna had last been at Synfal. The walls had also been scrubbed and repainted with a form of

whitewash. The keep looked lighter, and smelled far better, although there was a lingering hint of

mold still.

Halfway down the second-floor corridor, Herstat opened a polished-oak door, stepping through

and gesturing. “The guest chamber that will always be yours, Regent Anna.” Herstat bowed.

‘Thank you. It looks much better. Much cleaner.”

“There has been much done in the main keep, and much left to do.”

Fielmir carried in the saddlebags and mirror, then took station outside the door, as did Rickel. As

the two guards departed, Anna studied the room. On the fresh white-painted plaster of the wall

hung a newer mirror. Herstat had clearly remembered what her scrying did to mirrors. There

were also tapestry covered floor screens set around a copper tub in the corner of the room away

from the shuttered windows.

Anna swallowed as she looked at the stacks of scrolls set on the old oaken working table

between the bed and the windows.

“The top one is from Lord Jecks. He suggested you might wish to read that first.” Herstat bowed.

“Is there aught else you might require, Lady Anna?”

"Ah... some cheese and bread, any fruit you might have, and several buckets of water for a bath.”

“The tub is filled already. I took the liberty of having that done. And I will have someone bring

you the food.” The saalmeister bowed again, then eased back out the door.

Anna picked up the top scroll from Jecks, then set it down. She decided the scrolls could wait

until she had something to eat and had taken a bath and gotten into dry clothes. She glanced

around the chamber once more. There was even a large robe lying on the foot of the bed. Herstat

definitely knew his business, but, then, that was why she and Jecks had selected him to run

Synfal for Jimbob.

She went to the window and eased the shutters full open. The fog had become a white

shimmering mist that promised the sun would burn through. Yet, as she watched, the mist

dimmed into a darker, milkier white.

“Lady Anna?” came a voice from the door.

“Yes?” Anna turned.

“A serving girl with bread and cheese”

“Escort her in” Anna was probably getting paranoid, but it sometimes seemed like a lot of people

wanted her out of the way.

Fielmir came in with the young woman, a girl really, whose eyes widened as she took in the

sorceress. The serving girl carried a wooden tray with a basket holding two loaves of bread,

several wedges of cheese, an apple, and a quince.

“Thank you.” Anna smiled.

“Regent... the saalmeister...” The girl half bowed, managing to keep the tray level. ”He said...

you..."

“I appreciate the bread and cheese. It’s been a long ride.” The serving girl seemed frozen in

place, as her eyes remained fixed on Anna.

“I am the Regent,” Anna said, “and I do have children far older than you, but probably most of

the other tales you’ve heard have been exaggerated.”

Fielmir stepped forward and took the tray.

“If you would put it on the bench at the foot of the bed..." Anna gestured.

The serving girl swallowed.

“Come, girl,” Fielmir said gently. “She’s the Regent. She won’t turn you into ashes or ice or

some such."

The girl bowed abruptly, then practically darted from the chamber.

The sorceress shook her head, afraid that such reactions would get worse the longer she was in

Defalk and the more successful she was. If you are.

Anna ate an entire loaf of the dark bread, as well as almost all of one of the cheese wedges. Then

she picked up the lutar, hoping that the spell for heating and cleaning the water wouldn’t give her

too much of a headache.

While the steaming water cooled enough for her to climb into the tub, she used the lutar once

more, this time to dry and clean her single traveling gown. The bath helped with various aches,

but her eyes kept straying beyond the screens toward the pile of scrolls. So, in the end, she

washed more quickly than she’d thought, including her short blonde hair, then dried herself and

dressed.

Once she seated herself at the writing desk, Anna took out Jecks’ scroll, skimming through it

quickly, trying to root out the important points. She’d have to read it again, and probably again

after that.

Lord Dannel left two daughters, but Lady Resengna fled with them... northward, it is believed, to

seek safety in Nordwei with them, taking more than two thousand golds. I have dispatched Gelen

to take the hold under his control... not be my first choice, but will not disobey me...

Anne frowned. The same problem—not enough. people either she or Jecks could trust.

 
...Lord Genrica weakens, but will doubtless last for some seasons yet... and Lord Clethner paid

the hold a visit, at my suggestion....

The Regent smiled—that might hold off the greedy Fustar for a bit—at least until she could deal

with the problems in the south.

the lady Ytrude arrived safely in Suhl... seems to have taken the household reins gently but

firmly...

you will see.. . Lord Tybel claims that Flossbend must be ceded to his brother Beltyr... and

protests the actions of the Regent in seizing and redistributing lands of the Thirty-three against

custom...

Anna frowned. So far, she hadn’t “redistributed” any lands, unless he meant those of Pamr, and

that Anna should have given them to Dvoyal because he was the consort of Lord Kysar’s half

sister. That’s just an excuse to put them in his nephew’s very male paws. She’d have to look at

that scroll carefully.

...young undercaptain Skent sent a scroll. He and Jirsit have added another score to the guards

at Pamr. As you requested, I have summoned Jirsit and have taken the liberty of confirming both

Jirsit and Skent as junior captains...

Anna smiled at that. Skent needed more experience, but if he could wait just a bit longer, then

Lord Geansor might just be persuaded to allow his daughter to consort with Skent. You hope...

 
...several missives from Lord Hadrenn... has secured an envoy from Ranuak and reports that the

free-women have set up a city guard in Elahwa and a council... like that of Wei, I believe.

...also received scroll from the Mistress of the Exchange in Encora,. informing you that all lords

in Defalk will receive the favored terms of trade granted all of the peaceful realms in

Liedwahr....

That was most interesting. Because of the establishment of the Free State of Elahwa? Anna went

to the third roll of parchment.

 
...Halde sent several reports from Mencha.. . have enclosed those, since Mencha is your

demesne, and I felt you would prefer to review them in more detail. He does seem most careful

and conscientious....

After reading all of Jecks’ reports, and just looking at the pile of scrolls, Anna almost wondered

why she was in Synfal. Because you can’t just rule this place. You have to change it, and you

can’t change it from Fakor. She glanced at the scrolls again. After a moment, she began to sort