Part 45 (1/2)

Anna nodded, smiling. Hanfor was certainly obeying orders, and using the lands of Fussen as the area from which he hara.s.sed Rabyn. Anna almost would have laughed at the scene, had she not seen young Rabyn's use of Darksong... and the thoughtlessness with which the young ruler had already used it.

Anna sang the release spell, then blotted her forehead before half squatting to retrieve the mirror and replace it in the leather case. As she straightened, carrying the mirror, she glanced toward Liende.

The chief player brushed back hair that had gotten progressively whiter since Anna had come to Liedwahr, so that now only thin streaks of pale red remained.

”He will use more Darksong.”

”I know. That's why we need to keep riding.” if you can get there in time...

”You have tried to do much,” said Liende. ”We will stand ready.” She stepped back and walked toward the tree under which the players waited.

”Thank you.” Anna lifted the lutar and mirror.

Had it been that necessary to help Hadrenn? To stop Bertmynn? To keep the Sturinnese from getting a foothold in Liedwahr? Had it been worth Gatrune's death? The deaths of scores of her lancers and thousands of others? And yet, what else could she do now-except ride westward and try to stop the Nesereans?

Then what? Even if you win, you don't, have the lancers to take over Neserea.

So... will that mean letting the Liedfuhr annex his grandson's land? She shook her head as she strapped the lutar and mirror behind her saddle, and mounted Farinelli. She'd think of something.

She had to.

76.

NORTH-NORTHWEST OF FUSSEN, DEFALK.

The dark-haired Prophet of Music paces across the cream-and-blue carpet that comprises the floor of the tent-six paces one way, an abrupt turn, and six paces back the other way. The wall panels of alternating blue-and-cream silk billow in the evening breeze, but the chill wind is not strong enough to flicker the flames of the pair of candles in crystal holders and clear crystal mantles set upon the blue linen of the camp table. Rabyn rips a single large grape from the bunch in the carved wooden bowl beside the nearest candle.

Nubara watches the thin-faced young man, waits and s.h.i.+vers under his heavy cloak of maroon wool.

”We could take them like this!” Rabyn holds the large golden grape up, almost pointing it at Nubara, then crushes it and tosses it aside before licking his fingers clean. ”Yet they will not let us near them. Why will they not stand and face us? Because they cannot without the power of the sorceress! Yet Overcaptain Relour cannot seem to bring these cowardly dogs to bay. Nor have you been any help, Nubara.”

”I might add, honored Prophet, that we have twentyscore fewer armsmen-””Cowards! All of them! Just because she used Darksong to make them fear her...

and now they can't-or won't march against her. Some of them were Prophet's Guards! And you let that happen.” Rabyn glares at Nubara.

”I was not there. I could have done nothing.”

”It doesn't matter. They can fight against that Defalkan lord. That shows how little she knows. She spent herself on a Darksong spell that is almost useless.

We still have thirty times the forces she does, and my Darksong is far stronger.”

Nubara s.h.i.+vers.

”There is no reason we should not destroy her and her handful of armsmen. We have more men, and stronger sorcery.” The thin-faced Rabyn lifts a vial from his wallet. ”If we do not engage the Defalkans before the day after tomorrow, Nubara. . . you will receive no more of this.”

Nubara blots his pale face, damp despite the chill wind that has strengthened, almost as if in response to Rabyn's angry tone, and now whips across the camp, fluttering the silk walls that surround the two. ”I cannot order the Defalkans to meet you where you will, Lord Rabyn. What you do to me will not affect their commander. Nor will it hinder nor hurry the sorceress. You have told me of how mighty your Darksong is, and displayed to all the world how you can bring down great forests to speed our way across gorge and stream and marsh. The sorceress will come to you, because only she can face you.” Nubara forces a shrug.

”Arrange your forces where your Darksong will be the mightiest. Then use it to destroy her. When she is gone, nothing can stand before you, o mighty Prophet.”

Rabyn raises the vial as if to throw it. ”You will not mock me, Nubara.”

”I am not mocking you, honored Prophet.” The voice of the Mansuuran officer is thick, ragged, and tired. ”You are the mightiest darksinger of the ages, but your sorcery cannot reach beyond the sound of your drums. So the sorceress must come to your drums. I cannot change that. You cannot change that. You can watch me die, and it will change nothing.”

Rabyn lowers the vial, not quite pouting. ”You will address me with respect. You will, or nothing will save you.”

”Yes, honored Prophet.”

”You will send scouts to determine if the sorceress will soon arrive, and from where.”

”Yes, most honored Prophet.”

”And you will find another small blonde girl for my enjoyment.

Nubara bows deeply. ”As you command.”

”I want one who will do exactly as I wish.”

”I will endeavor to find such, lord Prophet.” Nubara s.h.i.+vers, drawing the cloak tighter about himself.

”I knew you would, Nubara. You may go.” Rabyn smiles, and his white teeth s.h.i.+mmer like the icebergs of the far south. ”Do not keep me waiting.”

”I will do as I can, lord Prophet.” Nubara moves slowly from the tent, s.h.i.+vering more violently as he steps into the cool twilight wind.77 Anna finished the vocalise and glanced around the hilltop clearing that lay less than fifty yards to the south of the road they had traveled from Falcor. To the east, the morning's white puffy clouds had turned darker and begun to climb into thunderheads. To the west, the skies still appeared clear, and the midafternoon sun was pleasantly warm, if with a hint of chill in the breeze out of the west.

Before her, propped against a fallen tree, was her traveling mirror. Absently, she adjusted and tuned the lutar once more.

Himar, Liende, Jimbob, and Kinor stood slightly behind the line of her shoulders, waiting for her to begin. Anna cleared her throat a last time, then began the scrying spell.

Mirror, mirror, on the ground, show me lancers to be found, those of Rabyn whom I seek....

The gla.s.s of the traveling mirror silvered over. The s.h.i.+mmering surface slowly evaporated to reveal a narrow stream that had cut a gorge perhaps three yards deep and ten yards wide. Yellow- and red-leafed bushes were scattered along the sides of the streambed at the bottom of the gorge. On the left side of the stream two companies of lancers had reined up. As Anna and the others watched, arrows arched over both the stream and gorge. Yet, after the sprinkling of arrows, only a single lancer in maroon clutched his arm. Another flock of arrows followed, but Anna could not see any but the single casualty among the Mansuurans. Hanfor told you that his bowmen weren't that good without your spells.

The maroon-clad lancers wheeled away from the gorge by the stream, leaving a score or so of riders in blue. Abruptly, a large pile of planks appeared beside the gorge, raising gouts of dust.

Anna, Himar, and the others continued to watch. A stack of wide planks appeared.

She blinked. Had the stand of pines behind the lancers vanished?

”Darksong....” murmured Liende. ”He is using Darksong'

”Darksong,” Kinor repeated in a lower whisper.

Jimbob looked from Kinor to Liende, and then to Anna, but the heir did not speak.

Anna nodded to herself. Of course, to make planks from trees meant handling living things, and that was Darksong. How long can he use Darksong? The answer came quickly enough. Long enough to use it against you, and anyone strong enough to level forests, young as he may be, is someone to worry about.