Part 35 (1/2)
”Now you are a prophet?”
Ba.s.sil laughs at the Liedfuhr's ironic tone. ”No, sire. He schemes openly. He has poisoned wenches and innocent girls alike because they displease him, and he will soon take those goods and women he wants. With each taking, more will hate him, until there are so many against him that he will have no supporters. Even should he defeat the sorceress, he cannot take Defalk. Who has the lancers to wage thirty-three separate campaigns a land away?”
”The sorceress has taken Defalk.”
”No, I must differ, sire. She has improved the lot of perhaps half the lords, and cowed the others into submission. Some of those cowed will rebel, or plot, or both, for they detest a woman of power, and it will take years for her to deal with them all in order to truly unite Defalk. And she acts to restore the old line, which gains her much of her appeal. Rabyn would not have the support of any lords.”
”We shall see, Ba.s.sil.”
”Yes, sire.”
”Best you are right.”
Ba.s.sil nods. He does not wipe his damp forehead, a forehead that has perspired despite the cool breeze from the open windows of the Liedfuhr's study.
59.
Anna glanced into the low sun, squinting through the dust to see if she could make out the outlines of Loiseau, but all she saw was a flock of sheep to the right of the road and a half a dek north.
”Sheep-there wasn't anything out here last year,” she said to Jecks, holding off a cough from the dust until she finished her words.
”So long as they do not graze too many,” he said.
Anna had to nod at his words. That was something else she needed to discuss or leave a scroll about for Halde-the condition of the land and to watch that it wasn't overgrazed. She shook her head. She didn't even know when Halde was leaving Synfal. Even using the scrying mirror, there was so much she didn't know, and half the time she ended up with headaches from trying to find out too much through scrying.
Her legs were sore, and a.s.sorted aches permeated muscles she'd not been aware she had. At least, not since the last long trip. Harvest had probably come inmost of Defalk while she'd been gone, and the days were shorter, and the nights definitely cooler than when they had departed.
”...there be the sorceress' holding...” called someone from the vanguard.
Anna squinted again, trying to see Loiseau against the glare of the near-setting sun. After more than a week of travel back from the battle north of Elahwa, she was riding up to the gates of her own hold. And it would take nearly another two weeks, if not longer-a.s.suming the roads remained dry-before she reached the area west of Defalk where Rabyn's forces were chasing Hanfor. She just hoped the wily veteran could keep from losing too many armsmen until she could get there.
Though, Lord knows, you've lost too many even with sorcery Thoughts and speculations of how she might better have planned things preoccupied her, and she kept riding, straightening in the saddle when Farinelli's hoofs struck the stone causeway leading to the open gates of Loiseau.
”It's the Regent!” called one of the lancers on the wall, part of the detachment Anna had left to guard both the hold and the spell-concealed gold in the strongroom beneath it, although she had told no one, except Jecks, her personal guards, and Skent and a few of his men most trusted by Himar, all of whom had helped move it, that the gold was there. And none of them could see it now. Not while you live... anyway. . . and after that... who cares?
”The Regent!”
Anna plastered a smile in place, nodding as she rode into the courtyard, and guided Farinelli to the right.
The white-haired stablemaster Quies was waiting as Anna reined up beside the smaller personal stable inside the walls on the north side of the hold. ”Welcome back, Lady Anna.”
”It's good to be here, if only for a short time.” And it'll be better to sleep in a bed, get a bath and clean clothes without sorcery. She dismounted gingerly, holding to the saddle for a moment until her legs adjusted to her weight.
”That raider beast of yours, he could use a mite bit more grain,” Quies said, eyeing Farinelli as Anna led the big gelding into his stall. ”Other'n that, he looks good.”
”Are you trying to say that he looks better than his rider, Quies?” Anna grinned.
”Ah...no...beggin' your pardon, Lady Anna.”
”He probably does.” Anna laughed tiredly. She unstrapped the lutar, and then the mirror, then handed the saddlebags to Kerhor, then bent and loosened the girths.
Farinelli shook himself slightly and whuffed once Anna had the saddle and blanket off.
”I know. It feels good, I'm sure.” She picked up the brush and took it to the palomino's coat.
”He still comes first,” offered Jecks from the end of the stall.
”Only when it comes to grooming and feeding,” she replied. ”He deserves it.”When she finished with Farinelli, Quies filled the feeding box, then cleared his throat.
Anna looked at the old ostler.
”Lady.... I'd a been mentioning Vyren to you... and you said...”
”I said you could start to train him.”
”I thought as you'd like to meet him....”
”Of course.” Anna smiled in spite of her tiredness. ”Is he around?”
Quies gestured, and a thin black-haired youth stepped shyly forward. ”This is Vyren, Lady Anna.” He looked at the boy. ”And this be the lady Anna, Lady of Mencha, and Regent of all Defalk, and the most powerful lady in all Erde.”
”Ah... that's...” Anna flushed. No matter what she said, it would be wrong. ”I'm sure there are others...”
”Not many, likewise.” Quies grinned, then tapped Vyren on the shoulder.
”Manners, lad.”
Vyren bowed, his eyes not quite meeting Anna's. ”Lady... Regent... thank you...”
”Just learn everything Quies can teach you, Vyren.” Anna smiled again.
Vyren looked down, then stepped back.
”Thank you, Quies,” Anna said.
”Being my pleasure, lady.”
Anna and Jecks walked across the paved stones toward the main hall. Anna carried the lutar, Jecks the mirror and his saddlebags, while Kerhor carried her saddlebags, and Lejun surveyed the darkening courtyard. She marveled again at the comparative airiness and beauty of Loiseau. No wonder poor Brill had never wanted to leave it. The more she saw of Liedwahr, the more a compact marvel her own holding seemed to be.
”You are deep in thought,” Jecks ventured.
”Just appreciating Loiseau. I forget how elegant it is.” And how clean.
”As is its holder.”