Part 64 (2/2)
”How many were there?” Anna asked.
”A half-score, all older lancers except this one.”
Anna studied the man with the slightly frizzy henna-colored hair. She should have recognized him, but her mind wouldn't come up with a name or from where she knew him.
”Will you slaughter me as well, lady?” he finally asked.
The voice was familiar as well. Yet she could not place him. ”Why should there be any more killing?”
”So that you can dispose of my uncle's lands as you please.”
Zybar... the younger brother at Gatrune's.
”Did he fight?” Anna asked Himar.
”He rode and he had his blade. He was wise enough not to use it after the others fell.”
Anna shook her head at the irony.
Zybar flushed. ”You mock me as well!”
”No...I'm not mocking you, Zybar. You didn't think what your uncle and your father did was right, did you? But you didn't want to cross them? Or you feared them?”
”I stood with them.”
”That is not what I asked.”
”Best you answer the Regent,” suggested Himar.
Rickel and Lejun raised their bare steel blades slightly.
Zybar s.h.i.+fted his weight, and his eyes finally dropped from Anna's level gaze.
”You had given Lord Hryding's lands to his consort for his heirs. That was right. I would not, held I lands, have wished it otherwise. Better even a daughter hold her father's birthright than an outsider or a distant cousin.”
Zybar flushed. ”I like you not, Regent, but with the lands have you been fair.”
Anna nodded. ”I'm glad you think so, Lord Zybar.”
Zybar looked directly at Anna. 'You say you do not mock me, yet you call me lord, after you have slain even my brothers and my father and uncle with your sorcery.”
”I used a special spell. Zybar-it only killed those who opposed the Regency. Why do you think you're alive?””Yet you have shamed me, for I did not stand in my heart with my father.” Zybar lifted his head, but his eyes avoided Anna's.
”You stood for what you thought was right,” Anna pointed out.
”The more fool I. For I will die later as sooner.”
Anna shook her head, waiting. ”You say that you think lands could go to daughters as well as sons.”
”Aye. What of Lord Hryding's lands?”
”His daughter still lives,” Anna said. ”Lord Dannel attacked the liedburg in Falcor. His men tried to kill several daughters of lords who were their father's only heirs. They failed. Lord Dannel is dead. I did seize his lands for that, and that attack was partly why I came to Arien. The other reason was the strange death of Anientta and her sons.”
Zybar's face paled. ”My uncle... he...”
”The 'illness' that killed Anientta and her sons was a little too convenient, wouldn't you say?”
”You have shamed my family... yet... I feared such.” Zybar lowered his eyes once more.
”Look at me,” Anna said quietly.
Zybar raised his eyes.
Anna's eyes were like ice as she addressed him. ”You can worry about shame, or you can get on with redeeming your family's honor by supporting the Regency and what you know to be right. What will it be, Lord Zybar? Will you be Lord of Arien, and support the Regency and the rights of daughters?”
”Altyr has two boys living, and they are in the hold at Arien,” Zybar said slowly. ”The oldest is but five. Altyr's older son died of the flux two years ago.”
”Tybel's older son may have children, Zybar, but two generations of treachery is enough for me. If you wish to be their guardian, you may do so, but only with the condition that they will never be lords in Defalk. Nor will their children, and you must ensure that. Nor the children of any others except for you.”
”If I cannot undertake such?” questioned the henna-haired man.
”I'll have them fostered somewhere in the far south or north, as far from Arien as possible.”
”I will foster them myself, save that you allow it.” Zybar's voice was hoa.r.s.e.
”I will allow it.” Anna continued to study the young man. ”Will you swear fealty to the Regency?”
Zybar lowered his head for a moment, then raised his pale green eyes to Anna's.
”In honor, I have no choice. You have acted with greater honor than my own kin.”
He laughed hoa.r.s.ely. ”Yet, so far removed was I that I have no consort, for none...” he shook his head.”I doubt you will have trouble with that now,” Anna said dryly. After a moment, she added, ”You and your remaining armsmen may return to Arien. You can tell your brother's consort and your cousin's consort and anyone else that, if anything happens to you, I will exile every living relation of Tybel's and will use sorcery to destroy whoever lifts a hand against you.
You are your family's sole hope, Zybar. You'd better make good on it.”
Zybar's eyes met Anna's. ”Dare I do otherwise?”
”No.” Anna glanced toward Himar. ”Escort him back to his mount and his men. Then untie him, and let him go.”
She watched the young man walk slowly downhill in the twilight, his steps uneven.
”You are hard, lady,” offered Falar, who had slipped up beside Anna's guards.
”Hard? Not as hard as Tybel would have been.”
”He must atone for two generations of wrongs, and know that you could destroy him in a moment” Falar shook his head. ”He must change everything his sire and his uncle believed in. He knew they were wrong, and he was not strong enough to stand up to them, and you did, and you are a woman.”
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