Part 23 (1/2)

The difference was that on the south wall was a second, wider archway that led into a small study with a full wall of built-in bookcases on the east wall, and an ancient table-desk and chair backed up the west wall The south wall boasted more windows, with a view of the domed sorcery workshop beyond the hold walls.

”Impressive, your hold,” observed Jecks.

”It gets more impressive, the more I see.”...But when will you ever be able to spend much time here? She turned to Jecks with a smile. ”I need to get washed up and ready for dinner.”

”I stand dismissed, my lady.” The twinkle in his hazel eyes belied the formality of the words.

”Excused... never dismissed, my lord Jecks.” Anna smiled. ”Never dismissed.”

”For that I have come to be most grateful.”

Anna wanted to reach out and touch him for a moment, but the moment pa.s.sed, and, instead, she smiled gently. ”So am I. I'll see you shortly.”

The hazel-eyed lord bowed and turned, leaving with Rickel and Lejun, who stationed themselves outside the closed door. Anna stood alone for a time in the unfamiliar chamber, before turning back to the bathchamber and jakes area.

As the cold water filled the capacious stone tub, Anna wandered back to the study, letting her eyes range across the volumes on the bookshelves. Many had no t.i.tles at all on their spines, and the t.i.tles she did see encompa.s.sed a variety of subjects: Historie of Wei, NordAphorisms, Reisefuhr Botanisch, Kunstmusik.

She shook her head slowly-nearly two hundred leather-bound volumes-a fortune of sorts in a world where books were copied and bound by hand.

She picked up the saddlebags as she headed back to the bathchamber, although she knew that she would wear one of the gowns Florenda had transferred into the master suite. Tonight, she would eat and rest. Tomorrow-it would be another day- and a long one.

34.

After breakfast the next morning, Anna stood on the fourth step of the central stone staircase and glanced out at the hold's key staff. Quies stood in front, with his redheaded son Albero by his side. Serna and Florenda stood a few paces back, while Frideric and Gero stood to the right of the women.

Rickel and Lejun stood behind Anna, but a step up and several paces to each side. Wiltur stood to the right of Lejun. Despite the older guard's grizzled appearance and his silver hair, the steady eyes, the blade in the well-worn scabbard, and the long scar across his cheek marked him as perhaps more to be feared than the two younger men.

”You all know I have not been able to come home to Loiseau as much as I would have liked,” Anna began. ”That isn't likely to change soon. I cannot maintain the hold with sorcery when I am not here.” She looked around. ”But I do want Loiseau maintained. You were all helpful when I knew nothing about Defalk and Liedwahr, and for that I thank you. I will only be making one large change...

and one I make reluctantly.” Anna scanned the group, but no one's face seemed tofall or appear displeased. ”Sometime after harvest, I will be bringing in a saalmeister who has run a much larger holding. He will probably have to bring in more people to make sure Loiseau remains well kept, because I cannot use sorcery from a distance, as much as I am gone. But I will make sure that all of you will remain here, if you wish, and that you are rewarded for your loyalty, both to me and to Lord Brill. Also, Serna, Quies, Albero.. . Wiltur... you will all, if you wish, and I hope you will, continue to do as you have. You will lose no responsibilities. Halde is young, but has much experience, and I have cautioned him to heed your knowledge. He will be here to do some of those things which otherwise I would do, not to do what you all have done so well.” Anna offered a sad smile. ”I cannot be here to do them, and I do not wish to see Loiseau ill served.”

She paused once more, then added, ”I'd like to meet with each of you individually in my study upstairs, starting with Quies in just a moment.” With a smile, Anna turned and went up the stairs. While using her personal chamber was not perfect, there were no private rooms-that she knew of-on the main level of the hold.

As she had suggested, Quies was the first to step into the chamber, looking around, as if he had never been there.

”Over here,” called Anna, standing by the ancient table-desk, on which rested a leather pouch.

The stablemaster stepped through the archway.

Anna took two golds from the pouch and pressed them on the older stablemaster.

”Quies, I appreciate all you've done to hold things together... and for finding Farinelli for me.”

The short and wiry Quies bowed his head. ”I wasn't sure... Lady Anna... but Serna, she said you'd be back... and when the scrolls and the coins came...

well... she was right.”

”If I can come back, I will, as often as I can.”

”We know that, lady.” Quies smiled.

Next was Gero, the former a.s.sistant to Brill.

Anna offered him a gold. ”Just keep the workrooms and pool in shape.” She paused. ”Are they prepared now?”

The youth nodded. ”Yes, Lady Anna... when the messenger arrived, I cleaned it and set it up just as Lord Brill always, instructed me.” He bowed.

”I'll be going there shortly... and thank you.”

”Thank you, lady.” Gero looked down, then slipped away.

The white-haired Serna was third in the line, accompanied by her daughter Florenda. Serna bowed twice, once as she entered the chamber, and once as she came through the archway to the study area. ”Lady and Regent.”

”I understand you were the one who really kept people together...”

”Lady... I did what any houseminder would do-”

”Lady... she did all that and more,” interjected the diminutive Florenda.

”Mum... she wouldn't admit anything.”Anna couldn't help grinning. ”The loyal daughter.”

”That she be,” admitted Serna.

”She's also right, I'll bet.” Anna offered three golds to Serna, and two to Florenda. ”For keeping the house together, and,” she added to Florenda, ”for all the altering and extra food.”

Serna's mouth opened as she realized the coins were golds. ”My Lady... never...”

”I cannot be here to tell you how much I value you and your work.” Anna shrugged. ”Gold's a poor subst.i.tute, but all I can do.”

The two women bowed deeply.

Albero was next, and the hold armorer smiled shyly. ”l owe you more than you realize, Albero, especially for teaching me about knives.” She slipped him two golds. ”Thank you.”

”Lady... I did what...”

”You did well.” She smiled.

Frideric and Wiltur came in together, and each of the hold guards received two golds. As had the others, they bowed reverently.

”Said you don't forget... good or evil,” offered Wiltur. ”Good thing.” He grinned briefly.

”I try not to,” Anna answered. ”We'll be going to the workroom building in a bit, after I finish.”

”I'll be waiting by the stables, lady,” Wiltur confirmed.

After the two left, Anna retrieved the lutar before heading back down the hallway and then down the stone steps to the main level, followed once more by her guards. At the base of the stairs, she looked through the stone arch to the front entry hall, but the hall remained empty. Where is Jecks? Or did he mention something about blade lessons for Kinor and Jimbob?