Part 67 (1/2)
”Thank you. That would be good. I won't be long.” Anna inclined her head and flicked the reins gently.
Farinelli followed her guidance and carried her to the area before the stable where Hanfor, with the stablemaster standing by the arms commander's mount, directed the armsmen.
”Purple Company-that's the rear section to the right...” Hanfor nodded to Anna, then continued.
”...subofficers check all blades before supper.”
The sorceress swung out of the saddle. For a moment, her knees felt like jelly as she stood on the stone.
Then she headed into the stable.
The dark-haired stable boy bowed as Anna led Farinelli through the open sliding door. ”Regent and lady, the front corner stall... it is ready.”
”Thank you.” Anna smiled.
Farinelli whuffed once as Anna stepped into the stall, swept and filled with fresh straw. A bucket of oats also awaited the big horse.
”Grain, too.”
”They all respect their regent here,” said Jecks with a laugh from the adjoining stall.
”If it weren't required by spells, I'd be happier.” Anna loosened the girths, then racked the saddle and hung the saddle blanket next to the saddle. She groomed the big gelding without speaking.
When she was finished, she carried the lutar and scroll across the courtyard and up the steps to the private study, accompanied by Hanfor and Jecks, and trailed as always by a pair of guards, this time Lejun and Rickel. One of the younger guards followed with the leather-cased traveling mirror and her saddlebags.
All three halted and stationed themselves in the dim stone-walled corridor while Jecks and Anna entered the study where Wendella waited.
Anna set the lutar on a chest. Jecks surveyed the study, then nodded at Hanfor who closed the heavy door gently, but firmly.
”You wished my presence, Lady Anna?” asked Wendella, still holding a sleeping Condell.
”I did. I thought you might like to hear what our neighbor Lord Ehara has to say to us.
”Your lands are the closest,” Jecks added as a reminder.
The Lady of Stromwer inclined her head.
Anna broke the dark red sealing wax and rolled open the scroll. Her eyes scanned the dark letters and the words quickly, and she nodded as she read, her lips quirked as she discovered that Jecks had indeed understood Ehara.
After she finished, she glanced at Wendella, Jecks, and then Hanfor. 'Here's what he says, the most important parts anyway.
”...Once I might have considered peace, but never can there be accord with a nation that turns the rivers of Liedwahr against her people. Never can there be harmony with a ruler who will not fight in honor and who usurps the very nature of the earth....
”...I will put every woman in Dumar, every woman in Liedwahr in adorning chains, before I will treat with you...
”We march on Dumar, and all the way through it.” Anna's voice sounded tired, even to her.
”Narial is gone, and the lower sections of Dumaria are ruins,” said Jecks, a quizzical note in his voice.
”You must defeat Ehara, but why would you proceed?”
Anna lifted the scroll and read aloud, ”Never can there be harmony...”
”We still have nowhere near the forces Lord Ehara can muster,” observed Hanfor, his voice mild.
”I don't intend to fight honorably,” snapped Anna. ”I intend to win. I intend to gain the pledge of every armsman in Dumar or wipe out everyone who will not be loyal to Defalk, and I intend to destroy every Sea-Priest left in Liedwahr.”
Wendella smiled tightly.
Jecks stepped back at the venom in Anna's voice.
The faintest of nods came from Hanfor.
”Are you surprised, Lord Jecks? I won't live forever. You've told me that. Am I supposed to wait until Dumar is strong again and so that I can kill twice as many innocents? I tried reason and scrolls to get a meaningful agreement from Lord Ehara. That was refused-with scorn. Then I tried sorcery to avoid this senseless war, and what happened? More people died. Because they died, Lord Ehara has to kill me or die trying.”
Anna paused, finding she was breathing hard. 'I'm tired of this sort of thing. Fine... we're going to stop it all-if I possibly can. Sturinn can't get reinforcements here fast enough, and by then I'll hold Dumar-or be dead. One way or another, no one will have to worry.”
They think you're crazy.
Only Hanfor nodded, once more, and for that Anna was grateful. He seemed to understand. Jecks was having trouble in reconciling what he had seen with too many years of tradition-that was what Anna felt.
”I'm going to take a bath, and then we'll eat. After that, we'll discuss exactly how we'll take Dumar.”
Anna knew she was sounding imperious, hated herself for it, and hated herself for not saying anything.
But they all want it handled like I happen to be the tooth fairy, like there's no cost to anything.
”Yes, Regent.” Jecks bowed Hanfor bowed, half-smile upon his lips.
Wendella bowed. ”Supper will be ready as you wisb, Lady Anna. The guest quarters are ready, and there is water in the tub.”
'Thank you.” Anna turned and walked toward the study door.
94.
Thrap.. . thrap.
The sorceress readjusted her single, spell-cleaned gown and glanced at the closed door to the guest chamber. ”Yes?”
”Lord Jecks for you,” announced Rickel.
”He can come in.”
The door eased open.
”Lady Anna.” The white-haired and muscular lord bowed, then smiled. His warm hazel eyes twinkled.