Part 15 (1/2)
”They're awesome. Hawks.”
Jecks nodded. ”I prefer the black falcons of the north, the wild ones.”
”I'll bet they're spectacular.”
'They can stun a coney with their dive.”
Anna paused, recalling the time she'd seen a falconer with an eagle. Where had that been? At that Shakespeare Festival in southern Utah? ”Do you have many eagles here?”
”Only in the Ostfels. They say there are fish eagles on the cliffs of Nordwei, but I have never been there.”
”I never saw any eagles the one time I was in the Ostfels.” Then, you were worried about the road and the Evult.”Watch ahead,” Jecks cautioned, pointing to a wagon coming westward along the road.
The driver pulled on the reins until he had slowed the two-horse team and halted the empty wagon on the north side of the road. Himar gestured for the lancers in the vanguard to ride the road's south shoulder. The wagoner, a middle-aged man with a brown beard, watched impa.s.sively as the first of the lancers rode past.
Rickel eased his mount up to flank Anna on her left as she eased Farinelli onto the south shoulder of the road to pa.s.s the wagon and the pair of chestnut horses in the traces. The driver bowed his head as Rickel, Anna, and Jecks pa.s.sed.
”Best to you, Lady Regent.”
”And to you,” Anna called back as she guided Farinelli back onto the road.
Rickel dropped back slightly with a nod to the Regent.
”Thank you,” she said.
The head guard nodded in return.
For some reason, the wagon reminded Anna of a Wells Fargo wagon, though there was not the slightest resemblance. ”We do have to do something about a postal service-the couriers to lords, I mean.” Anna reflected. ”People don't know enough about what's going on, and that makes it hard for them to understand.”
”That blade bears two sharp edges,” Jecks said. ”Do you want all the Thirty- three to know that you share some sympathies with the Matriarch?”
”They'll find out sooner or later...”
”Best later, when you are in a stronger seat.”
”Maybe.” Anna cleared her throat, thinldng. After a moment, she asked, ”What should I do about Ustal? Send a scroll declaring that he is the Lord of Fussen?
Then wait until his lands rise in revolt?”
”If he tariffs his crafters as he is, within two years he will not have the coins to pay his liedgeld.” Jecks smiled sadly. ”And for that, you can remove a lord.”
”Won't some of the lords of the Thirty-three be upset about my removing a lord merely for golds? Especially if I remove the lordly and n.o.ble-looking Ustal, who treats horses and falcons well?”
”You do not like Ustal? I would scarce have guessed.”
”Let's hope it was not too obvious to him. He treats his falcons and mounts better than his consort. She shrinks away from him, even in public.”
”The older lords might say that was a sign of respect.” Jecks' laugh was ironic.
”They will have to change.”
”Are you saying that to placate me?” Anna arched her eyebrows.
”No. I am saying such because it is true. They will change, or they will not long last under the Regency.” Jecks shook his head. ”Had Barjim lived, Alasia would have changed that. Even under Lord Behlem some would have changed. The times change, but men change more slowly.” He shrugged and offered a broad and warm smile. ”Some of us essay such change before it is demanded.””You're doing quite nicely, thank you, Lord High Counselor. I am most appreciative-and thankful.” You're mare than thankful. Why can't you say so? Why do you keep backing away? Because you don't want to lose your independence after working so long to get it? Because every man has tried to tie you down?
Jecks inclined his head. ”For that, I am grateful.”
Anna smiled warmly, hoping he would understand, hoping she could work out her own tangled emotions.
22.
Anna stepped out of her chamber, hurrying, and feeling as though she were already behind, even though she'd arrived in Falcor but the night before. She made it to the corner that led to the stairs when she stopped abruptly at the sound of voices- loud voices. The sorceress froze just before the corner of the corridor and held out her hand to halt the guards who followed her from her scrying room down to the receiving room where she was to meet with Jecks, and then Dythya and Menares.
”You... and the Regent, you let that... commoner...go to Fussen, and I'm the heir.” Jimbob's voice carried. ”You've dishonored me. My own grandsire, and you let her dishonor me by letting a mere stable boy go to Fussen while I was kept in Falcor... like an infant.”
And you're behaving Like one! Anna shook her head, but gestured at Rickel and Giellum for silence.
”That... commoner, as you would call him, works hard. He Is worth two of you at the moment.” Jecks' voice carried an amount of contempt and scorn Anna had never heard. ”You are fortunate even to be alive. A woman who has no reason to care for you has had the honor to put her life in danger time after time to preserve your patrimony. That is honor, Lord Jimbob. She has saved your honor and your face. She has added to your lands and patrimony so that you will not face the problems your sire did. Talk not to me of honor.”
”You love her. That's all it is.”
”You are so blind, grandson, that you cannot see what is honorable. Not for all that it is laid before you with trumpets and harmony.”
”You love her, and you don't understand honor anymore. You've been turned to a weak old man because you love her.”
”You're not worthy to be in the same liedburg as she is.” Jecks' voice turned tight.
”Oh, spare me your talk of honor, grandsire. Spare me when you're rutting like an old goat...”
Crack!
There was a dull thud.
”You hit me....”
Anna glanced sideways. Rickel nodded approvingly, then turned his face blank as he realized Anna was watching him.
”I am the Lord of Defalk and you hit me... spit on you...” Crack!
”The first one was for ignorance. The second is for insolence. You will go on the punishment detail for all the lancers this afternoon, and you will work and be whipped as necessary. You have allowed your pride to blind you to your duties. You are a self-centered brat, and you will learn some respect.”
”You can't do this... I'm the heir. I'll go to the Lady Anna... she won't let you hurt me.”
Anna stepped around the corner.
Jimbob stood with his back against the wall, pinned there by Jecks' large hand around his neck. The heir's face was flushed.