The Shadow Sorceress
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Authors: Jr. L. E. Modesitt
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For Susan, Kacy, and Ava
Anna
Former Regent of Defalk; Sorceress and Lady of Loiseau (Mencha)
Secca
Lady of Flossbend (Synope) and sorceress; sorceress heir to Loiseau
.
Robero
Lord of Defalk, and Lord of Elheld, Falcor, and Synfal (Cheor)
Alyssa
Consort of Robero
Dythya
Counselor of Finance
Jirsit
Arms-commander of Defalk
Lords of Defalk: The Thirty-Three:
Alseta
Lady of Mossbach; consort is Barat; son is Lyendar
Birke
Lord of Abenfel; consort is Reylana; mother is Fylena
Cataryzna
Lady of Sudwei; consort is Skent; heir is Skansor
Chelshay
Lady of Wendel; consort is Nerylt, son of Clethner
Clethner
Lord of Nordland; son and heir is Lythner
Dinfan
Lady of Suhl; consort is Wasle, brother of Birke
Dostal
Lord of Aroch; consort is Ruetha
Ebraak
Lord of Nordfels
Falar
Warder of Uslyn, heir to Fussen; also consort to Herene, Lady of Pamr
Fustar
Lord of Issl; son and sole heir is Kylar
Gylaron
Lord of Lerona; consort is Reylan; heir is Gylan; father of Reylana
Herene
Lady of Pamr; consort is Falar; heir is Kysar
Kinor
Lord of Westfort [Denguic] and Lord of the Western Marches
Mietchel
Lord of Morra, brother of Lady Wendella of Stromwer
Selber
Lord of Silberfels; heir is Helbar; sister is Belvera
Tiersen
Lord of Dubaria; consort is Lysara; eldest son and heir is Lystar
Uslyn
Lord heir of Fussen; father was Ustal, mother Yelean
Ytrude
Lady of Mossbach, sister of Tiersen; consort is Cens
Wendella
Lady of Stromwer, heir is Condell
Zybar
Lord of Arien
Sorcerers and Sorceresses:
Anandra
Sorceress assistant to Clayre
Clayre
Sorceress of Defalk
Jolyn
Assistant Sorceress of Defalk
Fosterlings, Apprentices, and Pages:
Jeagyn
Fosterling/sorceress apprentice at Loiseau
Kerisel
Fosterling/sorceress apprentice at Loiseau
Richina
Apprentice sorceress to Secca; daughter of Dinfan
Defalkan Armsmen:
Elfens
Chief Archer, Loiseau
Drysel
Captain, Loiseau
Quebar
Captain, Loiseau
Rickel
Lord's Guard-Captain, Falcor
Wilten
Overcaptain, Loiseau
Defalkan Players:
Bretnay
Violino, Loiseau
Delvor
Chief of second players, Loiseau
Duralt
Falk-horn, Loiseau
Palian
Chief Player, Loiseau
Rowal
Woodwind, Loiseau
Yuarl
Chief Player, Falcor
Others Outside Defalk:
Alya
Matriarch of Ranuak; consort is Aetlen
Alcaren
Cousin to the Matriarch
Ashtaar
Leader, Council of Wei, Nordwei
Ayselin
Holder of Netzla, Neserea
Belmar
Holder of Worlan, Neserea
Clehar
Lord High Counselor of Dumar; without consort
Hadrenn
Lord High Counselor of Ebra; Lord of Synek, Ebra; consort is Belvera; heir is Haddev; younger son is Verad
.
Hanfor
Lord High Counselor of Neserea; consort is Aerlya; eldest daughter and heiress is Annayal
Kestrin
Liedfuhr of Mansuur; brother of Aerlya
Maitre of Sturinn
Leader of Sturinn; master of the Sea-Priests
Motolla
Holder of Itzel, Neserea; heir is Chyalar
Mynntar
Lord of Dolov, Ebra
Stepan
Arms-master of Synek
Svenmar
Holder of Nesalia, Neserea
Veria
Second Counselor, Freewomen of Elahwa
Two sorceresses stood beside the scrying pool in the domed outbuilding that lay to the south of the main keep of Loiseau. The taller woman had fine white-blonde hair, hair that could have belonged to the young woman of nineteen that her appearance conveyed. Her thin and finely drawn face was without blemish, without lines, and her piercing blue eyes were clear. Only the fineness of Anna's features attested to her true age. Her figure was nearly as slender, and far more girlish than that of the smaller redhead who stood next to her.
Anna eased into a straight-backed chair behind the small writing table, then looked at the redhead. “Seccaâ¦our good Lord Robero has requested that you visit him at Elheld, preferably within the next two weeks.”
“Doubtless he has yet another heir or lord for me to meet, Lady Anna.” Secca's mouth offered a sardonic smile as she perched on the tiled edge of the scrying pool. Part of her smile was because Anna had never been able to say “Robero” without a twist to her lips. Then Secca had difficulty herself. When Secca had been growing up in Falcor under Anna's tutelege, Robero had been “Jimbob.” Only when he'd become Lord of Defalk had he decided “Jimbob” was too undignified and changed his name to Robero. “After all these years, he would still have me consorted.”
“You aren't
that
old.” Anna added, “He doesn't understand you, but he does care for you.”
“That may be, for he understands women not at all. He understands but strength and power, and that is why he respects you, lady.”
Anna sighed gently. “I wish it were otherwise. Certainly we tried.”
Secca nodded sympathetically. While Anna almost never used Lord Jecks' name, Anna often said “we” when referring to what
the two had accomplished for Defalk in the less than half score of years when Anna had been regent and sole ruler of Defalk. The former regent spoke seldom of Lord Jecks, but Secca had seen the lamps of Anna's rooms still lit late into many nights over the ten years since his death. While Anna and Jecks had been friends and certainly lovers, consorting had been out of the question.
That
Secca had understood from the beginning, when Anna had effectively adopted her after the deaths of Secca's parents, for Jecks had been a powerful lord in his own right, and the grandsire of Lord Robero, during the time when Anna had been Sorceress-Regent for the underage Robero.
“Despite his inclinations, Robero has learned much,” Anna continued, “and I am thankful for Alyssa.”
“So am I,” replied Secca.
“You know I never would have consorted you to him.”
“Alyssa made it that much easier.”
The two sorceresses laughed. Then Anna cleared her throat.
“You have something else I am to do?” asked Secca.
“Kylar⦔ Anna said.
Secca winced. “The one who suffocated his consort and claimed she died of consumption?” Anna nodded.
“You wish me to go to Issl as well?”
“I think you should go there first.” The older sorceress smiled. “You will be paying my respects to Lord Fustar. He will be most happy to see your young and smiling face.” The smile vanished. “The pool shows that Kylar does not understand what has happened in Defalk, and that he will abuse any woman he can. He now seeks yet another consort.” Anna looked at Secca. “You understand how you must deal with Kylar, and with Lord Fustar? Nothing must happen to Kylar while you are at Issl.”
“I understand, lady. Nothing will occur.” Secca inclined her head. “I could take the players, and we could stop and add a dek to the road between Mencha and the River Chean on the south end, and then add another dek or so on our return journey from Elheld.”
Anna shook her head. “You dislike Robero, and yet you would work to finish paving the road he demands.”
“Why not? He is likely to be lord for many years to come, and it will speed our travel from Loiseau to Elheld.” She laughed. “At times, I would that there were other ways to build his roads.”
“In Defalk, there are no other ways.” Anna shook her head. “Robero doesn't have enough men or engineersâor the golds to pay for themâand he cannot call on the Lords for anything other than their liedgeld and their levies in battle.”
“So we must build roads and bridges.”
“It's not all drudgery without rewards, Secca,” Anna pointed out. “People know we build roads and bridges, and it helps associate sorcery with good things. Given how this land has regarded sorceresses in the past, that's not all bad.”
“I know.” Secca grinned suddenly. “I could also use sorcery to repair a wall or bridge or something for Lord Fustarâ¦as a gesture from Loiseau.”
The older sorceress smiled. “That might help.”
“It is hard to see shadows in the light of a favor.”
“Sometimes,” Anna replied. “Sometimes. Other times, light makes the shadows more obvious. This time, I think you're right.”
“When should I leave? Tomorrow?”
“If you wish to spend time on the highway and several days being a charming guest at Issl.”
Secca nodded, then tilted her head. “Lady Anna?”
“Yes? You have that serious tone.”
“I would that you would wait until I return before you send your next scroll to your daughter in the Mist Worlds.”
Anna nodded politely.
“At least I could play for you and lessen the effort.”
“We will see,” replied the Sorceress and Lady of Mencha. “I'm not ancient yet.”
“Lady⦔ Secca tried not to plead, but to convey her concern.
“Secca⦔ Anna laughed. “Don't turn me into a doddering old lady.”
“No one could do that.” The younger sorceress smiled at Anna's tone, smiled in spite of her worries, for she had seen the
deepening darkness behind her foster-mother's eyes, and sensed the ever-increasing strain that even the lightest of Clearsong spells placed on Anna, for all that Anna looked little different from what she had more than a score of years earlier when first she had arrived in Defalk from the Mist Worlds.