Part 65 (2/2)

The lancers of the green company used the shoulder of the road to make their way around the players and Anna. The sorceress coughed as the dust rose around her.

The standard-bearer did not follow the green company, but led the main body of the column.

As the score and a half lancers rode eastward, the four armsmen in the pale green of Flossbend reined up on a high spot on the road, less than half a dek away, looking at the approaching lancers and the purple banner. Then all four turned and spurred their mounts eastward, raising a far larger cloud of dust in returning to Flossbend than they had in leaving it.

”I think they will be telling Beltyr that the sorceress is on her way to Flossbend,” Liende said.

”Will you need the lancers to attack?” questioned Himar.

”I'd rather have them ready to protect me and the players.” Anna looked back at the chief player. ”There's no point in losing lancers in an attack. We'll have to plan on the flame spell, the long one.”

”The one that singles out the traitors?” asked Liende.

Anna nodded. ”I wish I dared to try something else, but this fall I've lost tenscore armsmen. Where we'll get more, I don't know. Beltyr has seized these lands, and he and Tybel killed every heir but Secca. They tried to kill her.”

Anna took a deep breath. ”I can't just turn my back on Beltyr.”

”None of us chose this.” Liende's smile was both warm and wintry. ”What we chose far earlier led us here.”

Is that true! Anna coughed, then continued to watch as the four lancers turned their mounts up the lane that led to Flossbend.

'There is little cover, and no hill or knoll near the keep,” Himar pointed out.

”To defend the players will be hard if Lord Beltyr sends forth lancers or armsmen.”

Anna s.h.i.+fted her weight in the saddle before replying. ”When I was here before, Lord Hryding didn't even have twoscore armsmen left after the mess at the Sand Pa.s.s. Nearly a score of those left with Markan. Most of them are with Ytrude at Suhl. I'm sure Beltyr brought his own armsmen, but he was the younger son, and with all those that Tybel had... I can't believe he has any more than we do.”

”If that be so, then I would judge less.”

”Far less,” added Falar, who had ridden up past Blaz and Fielmir to join the other three. ”As a younger son, I know what coins it has taken for my poor score and a half of armsmen.

At his rueful smile, Anna laughed. ”You would know.””You think this Beltyr will not attack?” questioned Himar.

'There's no movement outside the hold.” Anna gestured toward the lane and the keep above. ”And your scouts haven't reported anything. We could get attacked- like Tybel did-but I don't think that will happen. I'd say that Beltyr would hole up in the keep.” Anna frowned. ”He might do that because we don't have that big a force. Not enough to storm a keep, not even Flossbend.” And none of these people seems to believe in your sorcery until they've experienced it.

The green company had reined up and waited at the base of the lane that wound up toward the white-plastered building. Anna and the players kept riding until they neared the green company.

”Riders, halt!” Himar ordered before turning his mount back to Anna and Liende.

Anna could see the roof of the stable for travelers, where she'd first tethered Farinelli when she had met Lord Hryding. Is Calmut still around? Unpleasant as ever?

”I would not ride more than to the midpoint of the lane,” Himar suggested.

”Could you work your sorcery from below that small cot there?” He pointed.

”That's a small stable for travelers, and I think that my voice will carry-if the wind doesn't pick up.”

Liende glanced westward, toward the few scattered clouds that hugged the horizon. ”There will not be more wind in the next gla.s.s or so.”

”Let's go halfway up,” Anna suggested. ”The sooner we do this, the less chance Beltyr will have to come up with something.”

”A moment. Lady Anna?” requested Rickel, as he unstrapped the large s.h.i.+eld from behind his saddle.

Anna nodded, as did Himar. There might be archers.

Once their s.h.i.+elds were in place, Lejun and Rickel eased their mounts ahead of Anna.

”Riders, forward!” ordered Himar.

Anna tried another vocalise, and was relieved to find that her cords and throat were clear. Not even halfway up the lane, Anna could see that every window was shuttered, every door barred. Not a soul was in sight, and the only sounds were those from her lancers and players.

'They fear you,” murmured Liende.

”Not enough to have done what was right.” Anna answered quietly. Not nearly enough. She rubbed her forehead. You've defeated two enemies, one to the east and one to the west, and are trying to negotiate something lasting with the Liedfuhr, but you're still dealing with backward lords at home. Then, your foreign enemies know more about you than do half the lords of the Thirty-three.

”Riders, halt!”

At Himar's command, Anna nodded to Liende.

”Dismount and stand ready to play!”

Anna waited until the tuning died away before she dismounted. Flossbend remained silent. without even a single head appearing above the wall, not a singleshutter moving. Let's hope Beltyr doesn't have any nasty surprises... been enough of those this year. She stepped forward, still flanked by the s.h.i.+eld- bearing Rickel and Lejun, then inclined her head to the chief player. ”Now.”

”On my mark... the long flame song!” Liende called. ”Mark!”

After the first three introductory bars, Anna began the spell, her voice open and free and cascading across the white-plastered stone walls of Flossbend.

Turn to fire, turn to flame all those against the true heir's name turn to fire, turn to flame, who stand against the Regent's claim.

While fire hissed from the sky, that fire came in arrows, rather than in a solid sheet, as had happened at Arien.

As Anna stepped back, Rickel and Lejun stepped forward, raising their s.h.i.+elds to guard the sorceress. Anna watched as the last of the flame arrows died away.

Almost expectantly, Liende glanced at the Regent, waiting but not inquiring.

Anna stood, studying the walls and the few crenellations irregularly set in the upper walls, but the keep remained silent.

Abruptly, the barred doors on the lower level were flung open, and an armsman in a pale green surcoat stepped out, car-rying an irregular square of white cloth tied to a pole. He glanced from side to side, his head darting in one direction, then another, as he waved the makes.h.i.+ft white flag.

Anna turned, remaining behind the s.h.i.+elds. ”Arms Commander. . . if you would send a company to see if those who remain will accept the true heir to Flossbend?”

”Green company, forward!” ordered Himar.

”Have them ready with the short flame song-just in case,” the sorceress told Liende.

”Stand ready for the short flame song!” ordered the chief player.

<script>