Part 27 (2/2)
”She will pay... most dearly,” interjects Ulgar from the corner of the study. He has been so still that Alya had not even noted her father's presence. ”Even now, the young Prophet of Music gathers his forces to a.s.sault the western lords of Defalk.”
”He is proving more cunning than his sire... and less perceptive,” says the Matriarch. ”All too many will suffer for that.”
”The Regent of Defalk will turn back, then? When she has barely begun to march into Ebra?” Alya's voice is almost flat.
”Since young Hadrenn has pledged to her, she remains in Defalk,” explains the silver-haired Ulgar. ”And she will not turn back.”
”Father... you know what I meant.”
”Yet your father is correct,” answers the Matriarch, ”for what was western Ebra is now Defalk, as well may be all of Ebra.”
”Why did the sorceress wait so long?” asks Alya plaintively. ”Why did she stop to use sorcery to wrench gold from the ground?”
”Without that gold, daughter, the sorceress could not afford to march to Elahwa.
Who would lend her the coins? Certainly not the Exchange. And how would she guarantee them? Nor could she let the Thirty-three know of such resources before she marched. or they would demand that she use the coins to reduce their liedgeld.”
”Men...” Alya's voice is close to a sigh.
”Women are no better. Consider Abslim. Like those of the Defalkan Thirty-three, she considers the weight of coins first and sees what she will see, and not what is there to see.”
”Still... I would that the sorceress could have reached Elahwa before the dog of the north.”
”Your sister could not expect to be rescued by the very ruler she condemned.”
points out Ulgar. ”Not even by the twisted laws of Darksong.”
Alya draws along, slow, and silent breath.
45.
Anna smoothed the green traveling gown into place, checking the cinches at her waist, far smaller than she had ever thought to see again, centered the link necklace, wiggled her toes in the loose sandals, then glanced around the guest chamber-a single large room without bathing facilities, although an older bra.s.s tub had been dragged in and hurriedly polished, then surrounded by screens. A pair of ancient porcelain chamber pots glazed with a faded rose pattern rested in the far corner of the room away from the tub, the writing desk, and the fourpostered bedstead and its array of netting.
The windows bore no gla.s.s, only heavy outer shutters and louvered inner ones, both sets oiled at some time in the distant past, but not recently.No wonder Hadrenn needs help. She couldn't help but consider the wisdom of her decision to support the young lord of Synek. Except, as always, the alternatives appear worse, especially with Ebra under the heavy male thumb of Bertmynn... so you will accept the lighter thumb of Hadrenn?
She winced as she considered the scenes of Elahwa she had called up in the mirror. You couldn't have gotten there in time, even if you'd gone straight from Pamr. But if you'd decided earlier... As she opened the door, she shook her head. You can't live on ”ifs.”
Four guards were stationed in the brick-floored and dusty hall outside Anna's door-Rickel, Lejun, Kerhor, and Blaz. Anna raised her eyebrows.
”This hold is less secure,” answered Rickel. ”Both Lord Jecks and the overcaptain agree.”
”I wouldn't dispute either on that.” Anna offered a short, wry laugh, then managed to contain a sneeze. She'd definitely need a bit of sorcery before she slept in the guest bed, or she'd be so allergenic she'd spend the entire night sneezing, and that would weaken her voice for days. That was something she certainly couldn't afford.
”I am gladdened that you would not.” Jecks stepped from the door down the hall, wearing the blue dress tunic that served the same purpose as Anna's gown. He bowed, then smiled as he straightened. ”As always, you are most beautiful.”
”Beautiful?” Anna's lips curled, and she leaned forward and murmured almost into his ear. ”I look more like a boy than a woman.”
”No one would mistake your beauty for other than it is-”
”What? That of a tightened bow, of a woman most solitary and stern?” Anna couldn't resist the paraphrase of Yeats. though she doubted she was any Maude Gonne. Or Helen. Then... do you really want to be?
A momentary frown crossed the white-haired 1ord's face, then vanished. ”Lord Hadrenn will be most astonished.”
”He might be, but for all the wrong reasons.”
Followed by both Rickel and Kerhor, Anna and Jecks descended the main staircase, its wooden bal.u.s.trade rails polished by generations of hands, toward the central foyer. Before they reached the wide steps below the landing, the stocky Hadrenn hurried toward them, now wearing a green-velvet jacket of sorts over a mostly white-silk s.h.i.+rt. He stood, waiting as the two descended, his eyes taking in all of Anna, just a fraction short of pure lechery. ”Ah... Lady Anna.”
”Remember, Lord Hadrenn,” she said, lightly, ”I have children of your age.”
”One... would never know that.” The scar on the left side of his face turned pinkish, then faded. ”You are an ornament to any company, any land, any table.”
He gestured toward the age-darkened double doors of the dining hail. ”The hall... and the poor best we have... await you and your company.”
Anna managed not to wince at the thought of being an ornament as Jecks slipped beside her, not quite possessively, offering his arm. She took it, squeezing his muscled forearm, if lightly and briefly, before leading the way toward the dining area. Again, both Rickel and Kerhor flanked them.The hal1, while large for a private home, was smaller than the main dining hall at Loiseau. Anna stood behind the seat at the end of the table, with Jecks to her left, and waited for Jimbob, Kinor, Himar, and Liende to join them.
Hadrenn arrived first, smiling. ”I had thought that Gestatr might join us, as my commander.”
”That would be good,” Anna said, smiling and turning as the dark-haired and square-faced Gestatr neared. ”I'm glad to see you again, Gestatr. Frideric and Markan send their best.”
The man who had been Lord Hryding's captain nodded. ”Lady Anna... it appears that we both have come far since last we met.”
Anna could sense the puzzlement from Jecks and some of the others. ”Overcaptain Gestatr... or arms commander... he was the lead armsman for Lord Hryding of Synope during the years when the Evult ruled Ebra. Because his family had served the previous lords of Ebra, his first allegiance has always been to his homeland, and he returned when he had the chance. Anna looked at Gestatr. ”I hope I got that right... but that's what I heard.”
Gestatr inclined his head and returned the smile. ”Lord Hryding had said you would not forget much, and you have not. My grandsire was the arms commander for Lord Julenn, Lord Hadrenn's grandsire.”
As the well-muscled Gestatr slipped into place beside Jecks, Anna noted that his once-jet-black hair was shot with white. Or didn't you notice that in Synope?
She sat down, ignoring the frown from Jimbob as the youth realized that Gestatr sat above him at the table. Anna suspected Jecks had managed that... somehow.
A serving girl poured pale, amber-tinged wine into the silver goblets.
'A toast!” Hadrenn lifted his goblet. ”To the Regent!”
”To the Regent.”
Anna lifted her goblet in acknowledgment, but did not drink. When the goblets were lowered, she responded, ”To Lord Hadrenn and his hospitality.”
Everyone but Hadrenn drank to her toast, but the young lord lifted his goblet in response.
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