Part 56 (1/2)
Birfels stopped and threw open the carved double doors. ”These are the sorceress's guest chambers. We haven't had a sorceress stay in them since my father was a lad.” He shook his head. ”Hard to believe.”
Anna stepped inside. On the polished redstone floor was a deep green braided rug. Apparently, braided rugs were the thing in southern Defalk. The guest chambers were truly a suite, with a bedehamber, a second chamber on one side that contained the reflecting pool and a table with chairs, and a bathchamber on the other side of the bedchamber.
Fhurgen and Lejun set Anna's bags on the low chest at the foot of the high bed with the carved headboard that depicted a woman in a flowing gown and an arm raised to a star over a garden of some sort. Anna set the lutar beside her bags.
”The headboard-that's a depiction of the first Lady Peuletar. There were several, all cousins, descendants of sisters, of course.
”Of course,” Anna agreed, knowing that by custom and perhaps by Erde itself, sorceresses had no offspring.
Birfels picked up a striker and lit the candle on the small writing table. ”Lady Anna, Fylena and I took the liberty of having warm water placed in the bath. Supper will be in a gla.s.s, if that would be satisfactory.
”That would be fine,” Anna said. ”Thank you for everything.”
”It is more than our pleasure.” Birfels bowed and turned to the white-haired lord. ”Your chamber is on the other side, Lord Jecks.”
”I can stand this sort of place,” Anna said to herself after the door closed and she was alone.
The writing desk even had a stack of paper and a recently filled inkwell. Anna shook her head, wondering exactly what Birfels wanted-or was it merely to offer amends now that it had become obvious that she was indeed a powerful sorceress. She fingered the golden-green brocade coverlet on the high bed-fine needlework, but somewhat frayed around the edges.
Anna walked back to the sorceress's room, clearly a working arrangement with a polished, if old, conference table on one side and the reflecting pool almost against the inner wall. A heavy black drape was drawn back from the narrow window.
She glanced at the pool, its waters silvery even without sorcery. Sometime, when she was rested, she'd have to use a pool to see if she could view Elizabetta-when more time had pa.s.sed.
Then she went to the bathchamber, where a soft white dressing robe and a large green towel were draped across a wooden and bronze stand. The sorceress dipped a finger into the bathwater-tepid, almost cold.
With a sigh she went back to the bedchainber and reclaimed and tuned the lutar, then returned to the bathchamber.
”Water, water, in the bath below, both hot and soothing flow..
Once Anna had the water nearly steaming, she replaced the lutar, undressed, and slipped into the tub, trying to let sore muscles loosen, trying not to think at all.
Later, probably too much later, she dressed slowly, easing into the single gown she had carried, glad for the time to relax without anyone around. A timid knock interrupted her woolgathering.
”Ah... yes?”
”Lady Anna?”
”Yes?” Anna repeated, padding across the cool floor barefooted.
Lejun announced, ”A young lady with a message.
A dark-haired girl-vaguely familiar, although Anna knew she had never seen her before-peered in.
”Lady Anna, my sire would welcome you to supper.”
Anna motioned the girl into the chamber and plopped herself onto one of the chairs. ”You seem familiar.”
”I am Clayre, Lady Anna. We have not met, but I wanted to see you. So I asked if I could announce sup- per.
”Are you Lysara's sister?” Anna could see the facial resemblance between the two, although Lysara had red hair.
”Yes. She is two years the elder.”
At the regretful tone, Anna shook her head. ”Look at it the other way. You're always going to be younger.
For most of your life, it's going to be more fun to be younger than your sister.”
The hazel green eyes twinkled momentarily. ”I had not thought of that.”
Anna reached for the green slipper shoes, glad she didn't have to wear boots.
”Lysara said you were beautiful,”
”She's kind. I don't feel beautiful.” I just feel tired. Her feet were somewhat swollen, and the shoes barely fit, even as soft as the leather was.
”You look tired. Was it a long ride?”
”Five days in the saddle is long anytime. I think I've spent half a season riding since the beginning of spring.”
Anna stood. 'I'm ready.” As she stepped out of her quarters, this time, Lejun slipped from his post to follow them. The black-haired Kerhor remained guarding her door.
”We're going to eat in the family hall,” Clayre announced. ”It's much nicer than the main hall.”
The long marble corridor remained dim, with but one candle in every third or fourth wall sconce being lit. A single large taper in a bronze stand lit the foyer. Rickel waited outside the ancient redstone archway to the family dining hall, nodding as Anna approached. ”Good evening.
Regent.”
”Good evening, Rickel. I hope you've gotten something to eat.”
”I ate earlier, Lady Anna.”
A group of people, including Jecks and Hanfor, already waited inside. Everyone paused, and the conversation died as Anna and Clayre entered. Birfels bowed and stepped forward. ”Lady Anna, you truly grace us.
”I'm pleased to be here, and happy not to be riding.” Anna smiled. ”I appreciate your kind hospitality and the chance to see Abenfel. It's truly a grand keep.”
Birfels gestured to the head of the table. ”If you would?”
”Thank you.” Anna stepped toward the table, while the others arranged themselves behind places.
Birfels nodded toward his consort. ”You and Fylena have met, and you know Birke.” He inclined his head toward the end of the table. ”That is Wasle, and then Clayre.” A younger redheaded youth sat farther down the table, but above Clayre.
Anna tried not to bristle at the position of the dark-haired young woman below her younger brother.
”Clayre came to tell me about supper. I have not met Wasle.” She paused, then asked Hanfor, ”Arms Commander Hanfor, how are you finding things?”
The gray-haired and green-eyed veteran nodded. ”We appreciate the hospitality, the men especially. You have good barracks here, Lord Birfels.”
”Old, but good. They date back over three hundred years to the last Suhlmorran uprising, when Lord-”
”My lord,” suggested Fylena mildly, ”we could sit and eat and then talk. In greater comfort.”