Part 10 (2/2)
”Fussen welcomes the Regent and the Lord Counselor!” Ustal's voice was a strong baritone, true in tone. ”Welcome to Fussen!” He bowed, then looked expectantly up at Anna.
Anna inclined her head. ”We are most pleased to be here, and look forward to learning more about Fussen and meeting with you all.” She offered a wide smile, hoping it wasn't too forced. ”Lord Jecks, the Lord High Counselor. Overcaptain Himar. My chief of players, Liende, and one of our pages, Skent.” As she finished the introductions, Anna wondered whom she'd forgotten.
”All of you are most welcome.” Ustal extended a hand, as if to offer Anna a.s.sistance, but Anna swung out of the saddle, easily, hoping that after the long ride her legs wouldn't cramp when her boots touched the stones of the courtyard.
She managed standing erect without hanging on to the saddle, and got a low whuff from Farinelli, as if the big gelding were happy she had dismounted.
”It feels good to stand,” she said, to cover the silence. ”and to be here, Lord Ustal.”
”We are pleased that you saw fit to visit Fussen, humble as it may be.”
Anna just smiled once more, aware that Ustal could out-”please” her. He'd been raised on courtly nothings.
”Might I escort you...?”
”After I stable Farinelli.” She nodded toward the gelding.
Ustal took a long look at the palomino. ”Ah... it is true. He is a raider beast, and only you can... approach him?” The lord stepped toward Farinelli, as if to test what Anna had said.
The gelding snorted, edged back.
So did Ustal, nodding. ”I will await you at the entrance there. Giesil will show you the guest stable.” He smiled, formally. bowing again.
”Thank you. I won't be long.” Anna returned the smile and followed the sour- faced armsman in maroon.
Even with Rickel and Blaz taking the saddle, blanket, saddlebags, and lutar from her, and leaving her to deal directly with Farinelli, stabling and grooming the gelding took Anna longer than normal. Her bands felt clumsy, and she knew she was too hungry and dehydrated to function well.
Finally, she gave Farinelli a last pat and picked up the lutar case. Rickel lifted off the saddlebags, and Blaz the mirror. Kerhor and Lejun remained empty-handed. All remained close behind Anna as she recrossed the courtyard in the fading light of day.
Standing inside the entrance, Ustal glanced from the four guards to Anna to Jecks, and back to the Regent.
”You are cautious.”
”I've learned that nothing in Defalk is quite what it seems. Lord Ustal, and since I am a stranger, I must be more cautious than you might be in my position.” Anna forced another smile.
”I understand. With Neserea so close to the west, we also have learned caution, if of a different type.”
”I was not aware that the new Prophet had created trouble. Is this something I should know?”
”We know little here, save that Mansuuran lancers have been posted to Elioch, or somewhere near there.”
”That's not surprising,” Anna said. ”The new Prophet is increasing his armsmen, and he would prefer the Mansuurans be as far from Esaria as possible.”
”We should talk of such after you are refreshed. For you to have ridden here in four days is remarkable.”
For a woman? Anna nodded. ”It was a pleasant ride.”
”Let me show you to the guest chambers, such as they are.”
Ustal turned. Anna and Jecks followed through a set of heavy oak double doors, along a corridor, and up one set of stairs.
”There is the dining hall,” said Ustal as he turned up the second set of redstone stairs.
The guest chamber was moderate in size, a single room with a tub s.h.i.+elded by a screen, and a large and ornate armoire in the corner by the tub. The bed was set under a headboard decorated with carved hunting scenes, and a settee rested at the footboard. Under one open window was a writing desk.
A small alcove led to a curtained jakes set against the outer wall.
”This is very pleasant.” Anna smiled and inclined her head to Ustal.
”I will send up the servants with hot water. Once you are refreshed, we look forward to seeing you at dinner and showing you the cooking of Fussen.”
”I also look forward to that.” Anna inclined her head.
Ustal bowed and eased out of the chamber. Rickel and Blaz deposited her mirror and saddlebags, then slipped out to station themselves outside her door.
Anna looked at Jecks and smiled. ”I'll see you in a bit.”
He smiled back and bowed.
While waiting for the servants and the water, Anna took the mirror from where Blaz had set it on the settee and eased it from its case, setting it on the writing table. Then she took out the lutar and tuned it. Next came thevocalises, and more coughing and mucus than she would have liked. Finally, she was ready for the spell.
Show from Fussen. danger to fear, Ustal's threats to me bright and clear....
When the mirror remained blank silver, Anna tried a second spell.
Mirror, mirror, in your frame, Show me young Ustal in his fame, Where'er he may stand or be, Show him now to me.
The mirror silvered, then showed Ustal in a sitting room, pacing before a dark- haired and pale young woman, who was seated on a low couch at the foot of a large bedstead. Ustal stopped and leveled an index finger at her accusingly, almost violently. The woman, wearing a tentlike dress, seemed to cringe from each motion of the pointed finger offered by the young lord. Anna realized the woman was pregnant, and nodded to herself, quickly singing a release couplet to cut off the image in the gla.s.s. So... Ustal is not the pleasant soul in private.
Anna's lips tightened as she set the lutar on the bed and sank into the straight-backed chair, waiting for the servants with the water.
Once the servants arrived-three young girls, each with two large buckets-Lejun accompanied them in, standing between Anna and the servants.
When the chamber was clear again, Anna slipped the iron bolt and bathed, after using another spell to clean and reheat the water-and getting a throbbing headache with the third spell. After bathing, and after ma.s.saging her forehead, she slipped into the single green gown she had brought, and into the green slipper shoes, and studied herself in the mirror.
The figure looking back from the gla.s.s had blonde hair cut short, shorter than a bob. The fine features were those of a more mature woman than would have belonged to the almost girlish figure below-trim and muscular, with lightly tanned and flawless skin and clear blue eyes that looked like those of an eighteen-year-old-except for the darkness behind them. Even without makeup and jewelry, she looked nearly regal. Careful... don't flatter yourself. Regal is as regal does.
After a last look in the gla.s.s, Anna turned and left the guest chamber. As she stepped through the heavy oak door, she found Jecks waiting, standing beside Lejun. Clean-shaven and washed, in the blue of Elheld, he bowed.
”You look most handsome, my lord,” Anna said. Incredibly handsome... and what am I to do with you... with us?
”You are... more than beautiful, my lady. You always surprise me.” The slight huskiness in his compliments discomfited Anna, and she spoke quickly to cover her vulnerability. ”Thank you. Shall we see what we can discover about Lord Ustal?”
Jecks looked at Anna. ”You are worried.”
”Shouldn't I be? Ustal looks like the perfect Defalkan lord. He's handsome, probably as strong as a bull. He says the right things, and he expects to get his way.”
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