Part 44 (2/2)
”I know. But many can ride with me. I'm asking more of you, Markan. Much more, I'm entrusting you with the heir of SuhI, and with the lady Herene, once she arrives. You must keep them safe, and you must ensure that all here respect and love the Regency and the reign of Lord Jimbob to come. That's not easy.”
Building things is much harder than destroying them. That was becoming all too clear.
”I will do my best.”
”I know: You need to find a lot of people. . including a good stablemaster.” Anna shook her head.
”1 will take that on, lady,” volunteered Fridric. ”Until we find one. My father ran the stable in Aroch.”
”Thank you.” Anna smiled.
The smaller armsman flushed.
Hanfor rode back from the lower section of the courtyard. ”Lady, all are ready.”
”I'll be right there.” She nodded to the arms commander, then turned to Markan. ”I've told you what needs to be done. You have those lists. Don't hesitate to send a scroll to Herstat at Synfal or Dythya in Falcor if you need something.”
”Yes, Lady Anna”
”Good.” She turned Farinelli toward the gate, and Jecks eased his mount beside hers.
”He will find out how hard are those tasks you have laid for him,” Jecks prophesied as they, rode down the causeway in the hazy morning light to join Hanfor at the head of the column.
”We all find that out.”
”A good armsman we could use, and the half-score you left with him and the wounded,” murmured Rickel from behind Anna.
”We could,” Anna admitted, leaning forward in the saddle and giving Farinelli a solid pat on the neck.
'Taking Suhl, we lost a score, one way or another. Would you like to lose that many again? Or hundreds, without sorcery, if Suhl rebels again?”
Fhurgen, to the left of Anna, guffawed. ”Winning battles, my friend Rickel, that is just the start. That's why we're armsmen. Be glad you are.”
”The battles you don't have to fight, Rickel,” Jecks added, ”those are the ones that could save your life.”
Anna could sense the young blond armsman's embarra.s.sment, and she turned her head to him. ”Rickel . .
it takes time. Even I thought about just winning battles, just getting through them.” She laughed ruefully.
”Sometimes I still do.''
For how long?
She had no answer to that question. So she smiled as she rode to join Hanfor, Jecks beside her, and her guards flanking and trailing them. Hanfor raised a hand in salute, and, she returned the gesture, trying not to sneeze as the dust tickled her nose.
Across the valley, past the raw earth of the ma.s.s graves that held most of those who had served Sargol, lay the road to Lerona.
49.
STROMWER, DEFALK.
The b.i.t.c.h avoided Sargol's traps-all of them. And her archers-they turned his armsmen into targets.”
Dencer shakes his head, and the brown-and-gray hair flops onto his too-high forehead.
”One attacks a sorceress most safely from afar.” The officer in crimson, standing before the wide table, bows his head slightly. ”As you have prepared to do, Lord Dencer.
”Oh, spare me the compliments, Captain Gortin.” The lanky lord bobs his head. ”Your master sent two companies of lancers to aid Lord Sargol, and she destroyed them with a few words of song and then turned his keep into a flaming abattoir.”
”Yes, she did that.” Gortin's words are neutral.
”Well... Captain Gortin? What will you do? She is riding south to Gylaron's keep.” Dencer pushes back the chair and stands, like a predatory heron, jaw forward, beady eyes on the lancer.
''Let Gylaron face her. She lost some-score men at Suhl. She will lose more at Lerona.” Gortin smiles easily. ”Then we will see.”
”Will you send for more lancers?” Dencer lurches around the writing table and steps to the bookcase, where he extracts a small leather volume.
”They could not reach Stromwer before the sorceress,” says Gortin.
”So they could not. And what am I to do? Throw myself on her mercy? Die so that my ungrateful consort shall hold my patrimony?” Dencer smiles bitterly. ”Where is Dumar's friends.h.i.+p now?”
”I am here, Lord Dencer. So are my lancers. We stand with you.”
”Stand with me.... Ah, that sounds so rea.s.suring.” The tall lord lifts the leatherbound volume. ”Here.
Tactics against sorcery. From Pelletara. 'Do not allow a sorcerer close to your men. If possible, fight any battles in rain or snow, preferably in a heavy thunderstorm.'” Dencer looks at Gortin. ”Perhaps your master can bring us a thunderstorm.”
”Thunderstorms are possible here in the Sudbergs.” Gortin shrugs. ”I question whether the sorceress would choose to attack in one. Or whether we could find one at the right gla.s.s to cover any movement we might make.”
”For a representative of a mighty power, you offer little comfort.”
”I am here to fight, Lord Dencer”
”Fight you will.” Dencer closes the book with a snap. ”You may go.”
”Thank you, Lord Dencer.” Gortin nods and turns.
50.
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