Part 28 (1/2)
Large platters of beef covered in a brown sauce appeared, as did ca.s.serole dishes of sliced and roasted potatoes. Anna took her usual enormous helping, forcing herself to wait until most had a chance at being served before she took the first bite. Despite the sauce, the meat was dry, but she was hungry enough that it didn't matter too much.
”Perhaps... Regent Anna,” suggested Hadrenn, ”you could begin by telling us how you came to be Regent.”
Anna took another mouthful of potatoes before she replied, ignoring the glance at her less-than-supremely..endowed chest, still glad that the gown was comparatively high-necked. ”It's rather simple, Lord Hadrenn, but I'll be happy to tell that story. A rather strange combination of spells on both the mist world and on Erde combined to bring me to Mencha, near the hold of the sorcerer Brill...” Anna cut down the tale to close to the bare essentials, concluding with, ”... and I found myself Regent of Defalk.”
Hadrenn pulled at his thick, but short-trimmed brown beard. ”It is said that you have killed men, not only with sorcery, but with a blade.”
”One,” Anna answered. ”With a dagger.” Because you were stupid and careless...
”And that you have been wounded innumerable times, but saved by sorcery.”
Anna laughed. ”I've been wounded badly twice, and no sorceress can save herself through sorcery. I had to heal the hard way.”
”She took a war arrow in one shoulder, and iron crossbow bolts in the chest and arm,” interjected Jecks.
Hadrenn shook his head. ”Most do not survive one such wound.”
”I'm a survivor,” Anna replied. A better survivor than a fighter, still...
”And you are here... surely not merely to visit,” suggested Gestatr.
”No. . . we're not here just to visit.” Anna nodded toward Jimbob. ”I also thought Lord Jimbob should meet you, Lord Hadrenn”
”I still find it hard to believe that you brought the heir with you.” Hadrenn's bushy eyebrows rose.
”Lord Jecks and I felt he should experience matters more directly. That's hard to do with a tutor in Falcor.”
”Ah... I could see that.” Hadrenn refilled his silver goblet. Anna took a sip of the wine, which had begun to taste metallic. Wine was better in gla.s.s, even poor wine-much better.
”If I might inquire about Markan and Frideric...” ventured the black-haired Gestatr after another silence.
”Markan is now the lead armsman at SuhI.. .' Anna began, after finis.h.i.+ng the rest of the beef on her platter, then taking a sip of the amber wine. She explained how the two had left Flossbend after Lord Hryding's death. ”...and Frideric was overseeing the stables and mounts and arms supplies of the hold.
Lady Herene is there to serve as the guardian of the heirs.”
Hadrenn frowned. ”Sargol revolted, and you let his children keep the lands?”
”The oldest child is eight, Lord Hadrenn. Their guardian and tutor is indebted to me.” Anna shrugged. ”You would have me disinherit every lord who questions?
How then would I be different from the Evult?”
Gestatr laughed, easily. ”You see, my lord, why many would have her as Regent for the years to come. Lord Hryding entrusted her with his daughter.” He turned toward Anna.
”Secca is well. She's with the other fosterlings in Falcor, and has made friends with several. She is a very determined young lady,” Anna said, without looking at Jimbob, ”and believes, as did her father, in doing right” After a moment, she continued, ”Markan said that Stepan had joined you here.”
”He has, and he is captain over the levies of the north.”
Anna nodded. ”And how have you found Ebra since you returned?”
”Ebra was once rich, with the most fertile of lands. Now... farming is a struggle, and none are rich. Here... the lands have held their strength....”Anna finished her meal as first Gestatr, and then others, talked. She spoke seldom, and only to ask a question that prompted another's stories.
When it was clear all had finished, Anna turned to Hadrenn. ”We have some things to discuss,” she said pleasantly. ”Himar, Lord Jecks and I, and you, and Gestatr. A more private meeting.”
”You have just arrived...”
Anna's eyes were cool. ”Lord Hadrenn... your hospitality and your greetings are most wecome... and generous. But much as I appreciate your hospitality and the beauty of Ebra, it's best that we do what needs to be done quickly.”
Hadrenn swallowed, as if he were trying to hold back a flush of anger.
”I am here to aid you. I wouldn't be here otherwise, but we must work quickly.”
Anna smiled warmly.
After only a momentary hesitation, Hadrenn rose, as did Anna, and the group followed the Lord of Synek down the corridor, boots and shoes scuffing the hollowed and worn yellow bricks in the dim light of candles in scattered wall sconces. The private study was small, the green carpet laid over the yellowbrick floor faded and worn.
Rickel and Kerhor stationed themselves at the study door.
You are not... as others... of Defalk,” Hadreun said slowly, standing by the small carved desk, glancing toward the closed door.
”I'm not like either the lords of the Thirty-three, nor like most women of Liedwahr,” Anna acknowledged. ”If I were, you'd be facing Bertmynn alone, and you'd lose. From what the mirrors tell me, he lost almost as many armsmen... in taking Elahwa as you have.” Anna knew she was being too blunt, but her guts told her that flattery and indirection would have been lost on Hadrenn.
”That is doubtless true.” Gestatr nodded. ”When Bertmynn's strength became known. I suggested, and Lord Hadrenn agreed that an alliance...a fealty to Defalk. . .was our only hope.”
”I understand that Bertmynn slaughtered almost all the free-women.” Anna's voice was flat.
”Many escaped into the marshes, and they say that some are gathering in the northern part of the Sand Hills to await forces from Ranuak,” suggested Gestatr smoothly.
”I doubt there will be any forces from Ranuak,” Anna answered. 'There do not appear to be any lancers or armsmen moving northward. There are no more s.h.i.+ps in the harbor at Encora, either.”
”I see...” murmured Hadrenn. After a moment, he added, ”Still... Regents do not risk their sorcery and their forces for naught....”
”No...they don't,” Anna agreed, forcing herself to wait, meeting Hadrenn's deep brown eyes, but making sure that her eyes did not waver and that they promised nothing.
”What do you wish? The fealty of all of Ebra?”
”That's a start,” Anna agreed.”This land is poor, and you have already ravaged it once, lady. That was justified, but there is little left to take.”
”Beyond liedgeld, I don't want any more golds,” Anna said. ”I want some other conditions.”
”That is good.” Hadrenn gestured around the ancient room. ”As you can see, golds are not plentiful.”
”What might Defalk wish?” asked Gestatr.
”Let's talk about what you'd like first,” suggested Anna. ”What do you want?”
”To hold and restore my family's lands and patrimony. Is that not obvious?”