Part 7 (1/2)
”I had hoped so.” The second smile was even warmer, then faded. ”I know you do not have a high opinion of Lord Jearle... but it would not hurt to stop there as well, and his keep is but a few deks off the road from Fussen to Dubaria.”
Anna nodded reluctantly. ”And it will help make the western lords feel better.”
”It will not harm you.”
”What do I tell him about being Lord of the Western Marches? Or not tell him?”
”Say there is much to be considered, and that is why you are planning to visit his keep.” Jecks smiled. ”Besides, if you dislike him, you can ask for more grain and supplies for your travels. Supplying such is his duty to the Regency.”
”We'll consider that part. Will you have Menares wnte some flowery scrolls to Ustal, Jearle, and Nelmor, announcing that we will be visiting them?”
”I will so instruct Menares.”
”Good. He writes flowery scrolls well.” Anna took a sip of the spell-cleaned water. ”Then there's the problem in Ebra. Hadrenn is practically begging for more coins we don't have, or armsmen.” She took a deep breath. ”I wonder if Ebra will always be a problem?”
”What would you do?”
Anna frowned. ”I can't do anything about it, except for sending him a few more golds, but I worry about the mess in Ebra. Menares said something about Bertmynn sending troops to Elahwa to take over the city from the people. I tried to find out something in the scrying pool the other day. He's loading barges with armsmen. but I don't even know who holds Elahwa.” Anna looked at Jecks.
”There are rumors... you recall the blades you tried to purchase?”
”Yes. Some trader bought them.”
”They were sent to Elahwa-by the SouthWomen.”
Anna sighed. ”So the Matriarch is trying to grab some territory, too?””No. The South Women and the Matriarch-”
”Oh... Lady Essan told me something about that. The SouthWomen are the radicals...” Anna wanted to smile at the puzzled look that crossed Jecks' face when she used political terms from Earth. ”And they sent the b1ades... to these free-women that Hadrenn wrote me about in his scroll? Does that mean they're trying to set up a land for themselves?” Lord, all you need is a bunch of Liedwahran radical feminists with blades starting another conflict to complicate things.
”I do not know.” Jecks frowned. ”The SouthWomen keep matters to themselves.”
Anna nodded. ”Another thing to keep track of. We ought to send a few golds to Hadrenn. How many, do you think?”
”A hundred, if you can spare them.”
”Will you take care of that before we leave for Fussen?” I will.”
”Thank you.” Anna didn't have to force the smile.
11.
DOLOV, EBRA.
What news, Ceorwyn?” The blond man in the burgundy tunic smiles warmly as the gray-haired figure in battle leathers steps across the time-polished stones of the north wall of Castle Dolov.
”What we expected, Lord Bertmynn,” answers Ceorwyn. ”A Ranuan trader slipped past the Shoals of Discord, and ported in Elahwa. The cargo was grain from Encora-grain and blades supplied by the SouthWomen to the freewomen. The free- women now hold both the north and south sides of the river- and perhaps three leagues west along the river.”
”The Matriarch, for all her talk of peace and harmony!” Bertmynn's smile vanishes with his snort. ”Yet she sends cold iron to arm those rebel women.
Ceorwyn shakes his head. ”No...your seer-Lessted...
”Lessted. What says he?” asks Bertmynn, an ironic cast sliding across his smile.
”The arms came against the will of the Matriarch. The old woman struggles with her own Mercantile Exchange as well as with the SouthWomen. That is why she will throw what support she can into allowing the Sorceress of Defalk generous terms in repaying the debts incurred by Defalk in years past.”
”Better yet if the b.i.t.c.hes of the south are disunited. Still, I like it less that the Matriarch speaks well of the... sorceress.”
Ceorwyn nods.
Bertmynn turns and rests his elbows on the sun-warmed stone of the rampart, looking westward and downhill across the city to the wharves that line the eastern sh.o.r.e of the River Dol. He fingers his curly blond beard before asking, ”Are the barges ready?”
”Not before weekend, sire,” replies the armsmaster. ”Or perchance later.””I had thought as much. Promises come easy, but actions lag those promises.”
Bertmynn stretches, and his near-two-yard height becomes more apparent, even beside the tall and muscular Ceorwyn.
”The bargemasters would not act until they received the advance golds you promised.”
”We have enough golds to take the city before winter. Hadrenn cannot wage a winter war, and both the Sturinnese and the Liedfuhr will supply us.” A wry smile crosses Bertmynn's lips, and even his clear blue eyes smile. ”Especially now that cousin Hadrenn has thrown in with the sorceress.”
”He would claim you left him no choice,” points out Ceorwyn.
”I would have left him Synek and even Vult....”
”All that is left of Vult is the Zauberinfeuer-and it continues to spread its lava across what was once a fertile valley.”
”Proof enough that the Regent-sorceress is evil, do you not think, Ceorwyn?”
”I am loath to call any ruler who has saved her land evil, sire. Best you know that” Ceorwyn looks up as he faces his lord, but his dark brown eyes are clear and steady.
”Yet you serve me.”
”I owe you, sire. But owing you and following you does not mean I should abandon my judgment” Ceorwyn smiles ironically. ”By overthrowing the Evult, the sorceress has granted you the chance to reclaim the lands of your great uncle.
She has also freed her own people, and retained the old succession by choosing to act as Regent for young Jimbob. It is also said that she avoids the use of Darksong, though she has the power to call upon it. Few of power such as hers would act so.”
”Coerwyn... honest and forthright.” Bertmynn smiles broadly, shaking his head as he does. ”Yet you serve me. What other cautions have you?”
”Beware the Sturinnese. You saw how they promised friends.h.i.+p to Lord Ehara of Dumar. Yet they risked no more s.h.i.+ps when the sorceress destroyed their fleet and hounded Ehara to his death. Nor did they send armsmen or s.h.i.+ps against Defalk in retribution. Best you be most careful, sire. Lord Ehara thought the Sturinnese were his allies also. He lies dead in the ruins of Envaryl, and Dumar pays tribute to Defalk, and Sturinn does not act.”
'The Sturinnese will aid us. Who else will they aid?”
'They will aid you so long as the coins are few, and you make life unpleasant for the sorcercess... and no longer. Should you defeat Hadrenn early on, you will see no more coins from either the Liedfuhr or the Maitre of Sturinn.”
Bertmynn laughs. ”You would counsel me against attacking my posturing cousin?”