Part 52 (1/2)
”They are beautiful. They offer great pleasure,” he says smoothly.
”I am sure that they do.” Krienn's eyes go to the archway, then to the closed door that leads to - the main part of the palace. a door barred from inside. ”You would know more than I.”
”Trust me.” Again comes the boyish smile.
As they rise, Rabyn steps back and gestures toward the archway. His eyes flicker to the candied nuts, the nuts which he has not sampled, and he smiles, coldly.
He steps up beside her, smiling, his hand on her bare shoulder, as they step through the archway.
64.
The road through the gorge was no more than ten deks in length. And yet, with six stops and a dozen spells, the sun had touched the western walls of the valley, turning the dark clouds purplish, before Anna and her armsmen rode through the open gates of Stromwer, after Alvar and a score of armsrnen had inspected the keep--at Hanfor's insistence.
”Stromwer lies open and loyal to you,” Alvar had announced.
Anna hoped a bath, a good hot bath, also lay open- except she had unfinished business. Business she hoped she could complete, half-dazed and double-visioned as she was, although she had used no Darksong on the emplacements in the gorge. Just the good solid brute force of Clearsong. . . b.l.o.o.d.y Clearsong. She was punchy and found herself holding back hysterical laughter at the idea that Clearsong magic could be so much more b.l.o.o.d.y than Darksong.
The dark clouds offered a faint drizzle by the time Anna reined up outside the keep's stable, in a courtyard ringed with her armsmen.
”All are loyal,” Hanfor announced.
Score one for my last effort at Darksong ”I'm going to groom Farinelli” She glanced at Alvar. ”Have the saalmeister or seneschal or whoever ready to meet me in the hall.”
”I can do that.” Alvar smiled.
Jecks and Hanfor both frowned.
”Lady Wendella... if she's still alive;” Anna dismounted and led Farinelli into the stables behind Rickel, who carried his blade bared. She forced her steps to be deliberate.
”We are your servants!” called a thin-faced man in gray leathers from his knees on the straw.
”I accept your allegiance,” Anna said. ”I also remember that you pledged the same to Lord Dencer.”
”Lady...”
”Serve Defalk, and no one will suffer,” Anna said more softly.
Their eyes wide, two stable boys looked at the big gelding as Anna led Farinelli past. By the time Anna had groomed Farinelli and ensured he had grain and some water-not too much-a full-fledged downpour greeted her at the stable door where Fhurgen and Jecks waited.
”The saalmeister is in the corridor there,” Fhurgen announced, pointing through the rain to the arched doorway that stood fifteen yards away, across the rain-slicked cobblestones and the scattered puddles.
”Alvar is with him.”
Anna glanced across the rain-pelted courtyard, then at Rickel and Phurgen. ”Better dust than mud on the road, I guess.”
”Far better, lady.” Anna walked through the rain, fearing she might fall if she ran, ignoring the roll of thunder and a single flash of lightning.
Four figures waited in the corridor-Hanfor, Alvar, Jecks, and the saalmeister. Anna wiped the water from her hair and face, knowing she scarcely looked like a regent, but more like a damp and s.h.a.ggy dog, a thin-faced, dark-eyed, and haggard s.h.a.ggy dog. She didn't even want to think about how she smelled.
Unlike the stablemaster, the saalmeister was heavyset. Dark circles ringed his eyes, a sign, Anna felt that he had suffered from the conflicts of the loyalty spell. ”Darflan, this is the Lady Anna,” Alvar announced.
Darflan went to his knees. ”We serve you and the Regency.”
”You can stand,” Anna said, trying to keep the exasperation from her voice. ”Where is the lady Wendella?”
”The . . . lady . . . Wendella?”
”I'm sure you've heard of the lady.”
”Ah... where Lord Dencer left her. We did not know. It was said ...”
”Enough. Take us there, and bring the keys.”
Jecks glanced at Hanfor. Alvar shrugged.
”Two loyalty spells are enough for anyone,” Anna said. ”Oh, where is the heir, her son?”
”In his nursery, lady.”
”Get his nurse and bring him here.”
That got another exchange of glances between Jecks and Hanfor.
”She is his mother.” Anna didn't feel like explaining.
”Now... lady?”
”Now.” Anna's voice chilled. She was damp, sweaty, tired, and wasn't much interested in explanations.
Darflan nodded and waddled quickly down the corridor. ”Alvar,” Hanfor said, ”If you would make arrangements with the cooks for feeding our annsmen? I had not gotten to that.”
”Yes, ser.” Alvar turned and headed back down the steps.
”I'm sorry,” Anna said.
”That is my job, not yours,” the veteran said quietly.
The nurse, in faded brown, a squirming child in her arms, bustled toward Anna and her entourage, with Darflan at her side.
Anna glared. The nurse's bustling confidence transformed into a bow. ”Regent...Lady...you wished to see young Condell?”
”I did.” Anna looked at the child, already sporting a dark thatch of curly hair. ”Please follow us.”
The nurse glanced to the saalmeister. The saalmeister nodded.