Spellsong - Darksong Rising Part 21

"Not afraid enough," Anna replied. "They took everything, and that means that they're still planning something." She lifted the lutar once more.

Mirror, mirror, let us now see Fa.r.s.enn the chandler where he may be.

Show the image bright and clear...

Fa.r.s.enn appeared, along with his brother, in a cellar of some sort, with the clay statue set in a dim corner. The two men appeared to be arguing, with strong gestures.

Anna and Jecks watched, but the argument continued, and Anna sang a release couplet. Then she tried three other spells to see if she could locate the pair.

The first image revealed square house set on a dusty road. Anna sighed. They'd pa.s.sed dozens of dwellings virtually identical.

The second image showed farmlands and the Chean River, but the location could have been anywhere in a hundred deks to either side of Pamr. The third image was blank.Anna swayed.

Jecks caught her, and eased her into the chair that did not hold the mirror.

"You can do no more."

Anna sat quietly for a moment, then leaned forward and laid the lutar on the bench at the foot of the bed. "Now... what do I do? I can't think of any better way to find him, and he can wait longer than we can."

"He cannot believe he can stand against you, not if he fled so precipitously,"

Jecks pointed out. "Best you deal with your task at Mencha and then determine what you must do."

"You're not excited about going into Ebra, are you?"

"No, my lady, but I was not eager to enter Dumar, or for you to attack Vult, either." Jecks laughed sardonically. "You managed well despite my fears."

"I only made it through Dumar because of you," she pointed out, finally standing. "We need to eat, and I shouldn't keep everyone waiting any longer."

The two waiked down the corridor, Rickel following, Kerhor remaining to guard her chamber.

Lady Gatrune stood at the door to the long hall on the second level. Beside her in the hallway waited Jimbob, Kinor, Kyrun, Fins, Liende, and Himar, as well as two men and a woman who were unfamiliar to Anna.

The Lady of Pamr extended an arm toward the three strangers. "Lady Anna, might I present Lord Kysar's younger sister Je'elasia and her consort Dvoyal, and Dvoyal's brother Zybar? They are returning to Arien."

"I'm so pleased to meet you." Anna smiled. Are they related to Anientta, Secca's mother? With Anientta's father the lord of Arien, that would be just your luck.

"And we you, Lady Anna," replied Dvoyal smoothly, so smoothly that Anna felt her guard rising.

"Indeed," added Je'elasia.

"I apologize for delaying supper." Anna felt herself flus.h.i.+ng as she inclined her head to Gatrune. "There was a pressing mat-ter... involving..." She shook her head. "I'll explain after everyone gets a chance to eat."

"Then let us eat." Lady Gatrune nodded toward Anna. Anna led the way into the dining hall, and, once more, Anna found herself at the head of the table, with Gatrune on her right, and Jecks on her left. Jimbob sat beside Gatrune, and Je'elasia beside Jecks. Zybar sat beside Jimbob, and Dvoyal beside his consort.

Then came Kyrun, Liende, Himar, Firis, and Kinor. Anna almost felt sorry for the redheaded student at the bottom of the table, except that he was across from Firis, who was always animated.

The dinner was simple-a heavy lamb stew laden with potatoes and vegetables, accompanied by dark rye bread. Anna took her normal huge helping, ignoring the glances from Dvoyal and Zybar.

Gatrune poured an amber wine into Anna's goblet, and then Jecks', before pa.s.sing the pitcher down the table. Once the wine had reached Kinor, the Lady of Pamr lifted her goblet, "To the Regent, and a good dinner.""To the Regent."

Anna, feeling slightly light-headed, ate several mouthfuls of stew before stopping and looking at Gatrune, and speaking to the lady, directly and softly, under the louder voices from the lower end of the table. "I mentioned...

sorcerous work. You remember the chandler? He and his brother fled the town after we rode through. He's been working Darksong, and one of the reasons why we came to Pamr was to look into what he was doing... except he's disappeared."

"You cannot scry him with your sorcery?" murmured Gatrune.

"I can, but all the mirror shows is a simple house like dozens of others. I'll try more later...." Anna shrugged apologetically. "He is working Darksong. I'd have Firis strengthen your walls and gates."

Gatrune nodded. "I will talk to him."

Anna lifted her voice toward the three from Arien. "Perhaps you could tell me something about Arien. I haven't had the chance to visit there."

Dvoyal and Zybar exchanged glances before Dvoyal. who appeared to be the older sibling, replied, "Arien lies in the most fertile valley to the west and north of where the Ostfels turn west toward Synope. Lord Tybel has worked long and hard to ensure that peace and prosperity are the lot of the people of Arien."

"Are you related to Lord Tybel?" asked Anna with what she hoped was apparent ingenuousness. "Forgive my ignorance, but, as you must know, I do not come from Liedwahr."

"Lord Tybel is our uncle."

"Oh... so your mother or father is related to Lady Anientta of Flossbend."

"Anientta is our father's younger sister."

Anna nodded politely. "And your father is?"

"Beltyr," replied Zybar.

"It sounds as though your father and Lord Tybel are close."

"Indeed they are, as brothers should be," emphasized Dvoyal. Tybel's requests to consolidate his holdings with those of Anientta made a great deal more sense.

"Brothers should be close and respect each other. They do not, always, unfortuuately, even in Defalk."

Dvoyal frowned, almost quizzically, while Zybar looked as though he were about to nod before catching himself.

Interesting difference between the brothers. "You two are brothers, but do you always agree?" asked Anna.

"Family must always agree," answered Dvoyal smoothly, but quickly. "If we do not, there will always be others who would put us at each other."

Zybar gave a slightly ironic smile that vanished quickly.

"I don't know that outsiders are always the problem. I've already been requested to deal with problems involving brothers and their inheritances." Anna smiled faintly. "So it's good to hear that your father and Lord Tybel get along well.Who might be Lord Tybel's heirs? You might know that if they're younger, I'd be pleased to invite them to Falcor."

"He has two sons," answered Dvoyal. "Altyr is near-on thirty, but Reralt is but fourteen."

"Well... there are a number of fosterlings at Falcor, and your uncle might well consider the possibility." Anna smiled, then pitched her voice toward young Kyrun, who was trying to squelch a yawn. "Kyrun...would you like to come to Falcor when you're older? If your mother approves, of course."

Kyrun offered a wide-eyed look, as if to say that he'd never considered the matter.

Anna laughed gently. "You have a few years to think about it."

"You are headed. . . if I might inquire?" asked Lady Gatrune. "To Loiseauu... my holding at Mencha," Anna replied. "I haven't been able to get there in more than a year, and I'm afraid there's more to be done than I'll have time to accomplish."

"Your holding?" asked Zybar.

"Mine." Anna smiled, feeling her face would drop off from all the semifalse smiles she had already offered. "I received it from Lord Brill... in a manner of speaking, after his death...." Anna went on to recount how she had gained the lands and the keep of Loiseau, careful to keep eating between fragments of the story, knowing she would need the food and the energy in the days to come.

31.

As the sun cleared the eastern horizon, Anna stood on the portico steps and turned a last time to Lady Gatrune. "Please keep an eye out for the chandler."

"You have warned us, and Captain Firis will ensure we are well kept, lady. You must take care of your own lands." The rangy white-and-blonde-haired lady smiled. "And whatever else is needful for Defalk and the Regency." Her eyebrows lifted. "I will not pry, but knowing you, you would not have come all this way with so many lancers merely to set your lands in order. Few others would know, and I will not speak of it, but be there anything we can offer..."

"The provisions and the food and shelter and company were all very welcome."

Anna returned Gatrune's smile warmly. "What means the most to me is your friends.h.i.+p from the beginning, when no one knew who I was."

"That you have continued to accord us that friends.h.i.+p, after many more glorious in Defalk have sought you... that, Lady Anna, is why you are Regent, and why we always look to your visits." Gatrune inclined her head. "May your journey prove fruitful."

"Thank you. Thank you very much." Anna leaned forward and lifted the cased Lutar, then turned and walked down the paved way toward the stables. Jimbob, Kinor, and Jecks had already said their farewells and were down readying their mounts.

Firis stood by Farinelli's stall as Anna entered the stable, followed as always by her guards, this time Rickel and Blaz. "Good day, Lady Regent."

"Good day." Anna replied, despite feeling slightly queasy. Early rising had always done that to her, and being on Erde hadn't changed that. She slipped intothe stall and patted the gelding, then slipped the blanket in place, followed by the saddle.

Farinelli whuffed.

"There are rumors, Lady Anna... that you might stray east of Mencha." Firis looked at Anna as she stood beside Farinelli. "I would that some of our armsmen- and I-might serve you again."

"Rumors are only rumors, Captain Firis." Anna smiled, looking straight at the dark-haired Firis. "I would like to take some of your armsmen, and you, Firis, but they might be needed here."

"Here?"

Anna nodded. "I have told Lady Gatrune. The chandler Fa.r.s.enn has been trying Darksong, and I do not think he will be friendly to any lord or lady. My sorcery cannot locate him, and the needs of Defalk mean that I cannot remain here.

Fa.r.s.enn has been using Darksong to convert men to follow him. If you weakened your force to strengthen mine..."

"A chandler?" Fins laughed.

Anna smiled gently. "Once, Firis, I was only a teacher."

The dark-haired captain's face sobered. "From any but you, Lady Anna, I would still laugh. When you say such, my soul chills...."

"You have a task, Firis. It may not be glorious, but it remains solid and important." She bent to fasten the girths.

Fins laughed. "You would protect me from my own nature, yet again."

"I just want you to protect Lady Gatrune." Anna took the saddlebags from Blaz and eased them up in place behind the saddle, tying the leather thongs quickly, but firmly. Then came the mirror and lutar, heavier by far than the few garments she carried.

"I hear, and I will do so. Even with my life." After a moment, Firis added, "Not that I do not worry about your adventures."

"You can worry. Just keep Gatrune and the hold safe." Anna checked the bridle.

After leading Farinelli out to join Jecks and the others- already horsed-Anna mounted and offered a wave that she hoped would do for a salute and farewell before guiding Farinelli to the head of the column.

"I worry about leaving them without dealing with the chandler," she finally murmured to Jecks as they approached the gate.

"You worry too much, my lady," offered Jecks. "You have frightened off the chandler, and you have warned the lady and her captain. As you said, you cannot be everywhere, and you have determined that the eastern borders must be secured."

"I brood. You know that, my lord Jecks." And you know that jobs left undone are always worse when they have to be done later or redone. Yet a relatively new Regent cannot kill even a chandler-if you could locate him-merely for suspicion of Darksong-not without creating even more unrest among the lords of the Thirty- three.Anna squinted into the sun, wondering what she would find at Loiseau, hoping the mess would not be too great, and that the staff had managed to keep things in some semblance of order. As they pa.s.sed beyond the gate, she inclined her head to Meris, the armsman who had first eased her way into seeing Lady Gatrune and whom she'd failed to recognize a year later. "Take care, Meris."

"You, too, Lady Anna." The older man smiled.

Anna glanced back at the house on the rise, hoping that she wasn't making too much of a mistake in leaving Pamr. Yet what can you do? You don't know Defalk well enough to find the chandler, and you can't be away from Falcor too long, or Rabyn will have armsmen running from the West Pa.s.s all the way to Falcor. You're standing before two doors, and they both say "d.a.m.ned."

With a sigh, she pulled her floppy hat forward on her head to try to s.h.i.+eld her eyes from the morning sun.

32.

OUTSIDE OF PAMR, DEFALK.

Outside the small cot, the road is empty, and the dust of the riders has settled, long settled, before the dark-bearded man goes to the window and opens the shutters just enough to peer between them. "She has departed ... and left no armsmen behind to bother us."

"They did not bother us. They did not seek us or leave lancers," says Giersan.

"Why would they?"

"The sorceress has sought me in her gla.s.s. I have sensed that. Lady Gatrune's lackeys have inquired after us, but they did not find us." The dark-haired Fa.r.s.enn nods, almost to himself as he steps back. "We have much to do... now."

Giersan stares at Fa.r.s.enn, almost disgustedly. "Why did we run this time? What excuse will you offer?"

"I was not prepared. Nor were you."

"When will you be prepared, 0 great master of Darksong?" Giersan snorts, rudely.

"You have promised and promised. I had thought I was the cautious one. She would have seen nothing. One would think you were a mouse and not a sorcerer."