Part 61 (1/2)

”Yes, Regent.” Falar bowed, spoiling the gesture with yet another roguish grin.

Anna managed-barely-to keep a straight face.

The next person waiting to see Anna was Kinor, and he bowed twice on the way into the guest chamber.

Anna looked at Kinor. As much as he had aged over the campaign, he was still painfully young for what Anna had thrust upon him. But he was perceptive, intelligent, and loyal, and there were few indeed among the Thirty-three who met those criteria.

”Kinor... I think you know. I've given you a lot to handle. It's going to take everything you have to hold Westfort. I could give you a lot of advice. I won't.

I'll tell you the three things that I think are most important. First, if something seems wrong, or people seem to be doing something in a strange way...

before you do anything or order anything or change anything, find out why they're doing it the way they are.” She paused.

Kinor nodded.

”Second, if you don't know about something... ask. And ask quickly. People will often forgive what you don't know when you first start something. They won't later. And last, don't give the impression of being indecisive. If you're not sure about something, ask for opinions, then say you'll think over what everyone has said. Then do something. Either announce that matters won't change, or that you want it done a certain way, or, if you have to, say that it's my problem, and send me a scroll, and tell everyone you have.” Anna laughed. ”Just make sure it is my problem.”

”Yes, lady.”

”Dutral and the purple company are here to support you until spring. That's about a third of a year.” Anna paused. ”I wish I could offer more, but I can't.”

”That is much, Lady Anna. I know how few lancers you have, and you can ill spare even those.”

”I can ill spare losing Westfort, either,” Anna pointed out. ”If you have any questions for me, you'd better think of them between now and tomorrow morning.

That's when we leave.”

Kinor did not protest. ”I had thought so when Himar summoned me.” He paused. ”I thank you for all you have done. Though it would be ill done, I would ask one last favor.”

Anna nodded.

”Should aught happen to me... I would think Alseta is much like you, and could well run a keep. And she is my closest heir.”

”I don't want you to think about that,” Anna replied. ”I will consider your request... if I have to, and not before.”

”That be all I could ask.”Anna was touched by Kinor's request-thinking about his younger sister, and probably as a way to provide for Liende. Would Mario have done the same in Kinor's boots? Anna hoped so, but she wouldn't ever know.

Kinor bowed.

”And Kinor? You'd better work on building up your own force of trusted armsmen.

I wouldn't rely completely on those who served Lord Jearle.”

”Dutral and I have talked about such.”

”Good. I'll see you at dinner.”

Anna stood silently as the young lord bowed a last time and departed.

The door clicked shut, leaving her alone.

Anna hoped she hadn't leaned too hard on Kinor about the armsmen, but Defalk wasn't exactly the most peaceful of lands. She laughed to herself. If it had been peaceful and medievally oppressive, she'd never have become Regent, and probably nothing in Liedwahr would have changed. She was making some changes...

and if she could hang on, there would be more. And more sorcery and destruction.

Violence has been the sire of all the world's values? Who had said that? Anna shook her head. Another line she did not remember-only those she had sung seemed locked with their authors inside her thoughts.

Her lips curled. If she were a character in one of Avery's novels, her problems would be all over. She'd defeated all the enemies outside of Defalk, and everyone would fall at her feet wors.h.i.+ping her for her power and skill. She snorted. Life didn't work that way, not even in strange worlds where there was magic. There were always people intriguing, and others with problems, and not enough money-or golds.

She glanced at the table-empty except for a few sheets of parchment she had saved in case she needed to scrawl out any last-moment scrolls. She had no doubt that she'd be writing something even before dinner.

103.

The rain beat out of the north, mostly across the backs of the riders, but it was cold, almost like liquid ice, and some dnbbled off of Anna's battered brown felt hat and down her neck. The oiled-leather jacket she had borrowed from Westfort-or been given by Kinor, who'd taken great pleasure in the act-was beginning to soak up the rain despite its oiled surface. And Farinelli was starting to whuff and toss his head.

You did have this idea about settling everything in Defalk before winter. Anna almost groaned. No one will be expecting you in Arien, anyway.

Anna wiped the water-a combination of condensation from under the hat and water from the rain-from her- forehead. She tried to make out where the road went as it curved eastward past a hill covered with leafless trees. Supposedly, there was a town with stables and an inn ahead, but still several deks south, and Cheor was at least another day away, maybe longer if the roads got worse.

Riding beside her on her left, Jimbob was silent.A taller figure and his mount loomed out of the rain, as Himar rode up beside the Regent. ”The scouts say it is less than three deks, and there are two stables. It will be crowded, but we can manage.”

”Good. How are the men coming?” Anna almost had to shout over the wind and the cold slapping of the rain on everything.

The anns commander eased his mount closer to Anna. ”They know they will find warm beds in Synfal. That helps. I will pa.s.s the word about our stop. That will also help.” Himar turned his mount back northward, and a glop of mud splattered against Anna's boots and lower trousers.

Falar rode forward from somewhere behind Anna, and leaned toward her. ”Are all your journeys so eventful?”

”No. Some are more eventful,” Anna managed.

The redhead laughed. ”Did the arms commander say that there was a dry roof ahead?”

”He did. About three deks ahead, It'll be crowded, but it will get everyone out of the rain, and most of the mounts, I hope.”

”Good. I must pa.s.s that on to my men.” Like Himar, he turned his mount back along the column.

”Have you ridden in worse?” Jimbob asked loudly.

”A few times as bad as this-in Dumar when we were chasing Lord Ehara. There weren't any friendly towns or inns there.”

”You said we were going to Synfal, and then Arien.”

”1 haven't decided whether you should go to Arien or stay in Synfal. Synfal is your keep, and the people haven't seen much of you since last spring.”

”That is true. What do you think. Lady Anna?”

Anna paused. The question was the first time, she thought, that Jimbob had actually asked her advice and seemed to mean it. ”I'd like you to think about it first before I say anything. What I have to do at Arien, I'm afraid, is like what I did at Westfort. Lord Tybel has poisoned his sister and her sons to hand her lands over to their brother.”

”He doesn't know you, does he?”

Tybel doesn't want to, like a lot of the Thirty-three. ”I don't think so.”