Part 68 (1/2)
”Because you need to be here,” Anna said sweetly to the uncomfortable captain.
”As my lady wishes.”
”Enjoy the food,” Anna suggested.
”We can all do that,” Jecks said dryly, ”especially after all the riding.”
”1 had Waerya prepare something special,” Wendella said. ”An apple-spiced lamb.”
The serving girl carried in a large platter. While Anna had feared seeing a whole lamb splayed across the traylike serving dish, the dish contained more than a dozen cylinders of rolled meat covered with a thick brown sauce.
”The lamb is wrapped around the stuffing,” Wendella added, ”and the sauce is a family specialty-from the days of Suhlmorra.” A faint smile crossed her lips as she glanced at Jecks.
”I don't mind food from Suhlmorra,” he rumbled, ”just those who still want to bring back another realm.”
”Even my dear brother would be too wise to attempt that,” Wendella answered. ”Mietchel will always be loyal to the Lord of Falcor, or any Regency that supports that lord.”
Since the serving platter was tendered to Anna, she stabbed one of the lamb rolls and transferred it to her plate, then a second, and a third. The serving girl's brown eyes flickered from Anna to the platter and back to Anna.
”Thank you,” the sorceress murmured to the girl.
”Your brother would be wise to remain so,” Jecks suggested to Wendella, before stabbing a smothered lamb roll.
”And what if Defalk is ruled by a lady? Say, if Jimbob has only daughters?” asked Anna.
”That would distress him, were he to live so long,” answered Wendella.
”How does he feel about lady holders in the Thirty-three?” Anna pursued, almost idly, breaking off a chunk of dark bread. In a way, being Wendella's guest was almost liberating. The Lady of Stromwer didn't like Anna, and yet had to be loyal. So Anna could be more forthright.
”I had thought that there were few. Am I not the only woman holding lands in Defalk? Besides Lady Gatrune,” Wendella added quickly.
”Lady Anientta holds the lands for her heirs,” Jecks answered for Anna. ”And Lady Anna holds Falcor for Jimbob.”
”Lady Herene is acting as guardian for Dinfan at Suhl,” Anna added.
”You named the daughter as heir?” Wendella asked.
”She is the oldest,” Anna answered after swallowing a mouthful of the lamb, dry despite the spices and gummy sauce-gravy. Her own stuffed pork chops or apple crown roast were far better, but whether she could have done so well over an open kitchen fire was another question.
”And,” murmured Hanfor, ”Lady Anna holds Loiseau and Mencha in her own right.”
Wendella laughed softly. ”That is almost a fifth of the Thirty-three, and in but a year. No marvel that my late lord feared you, Lady Anna. Or that the Sea-Priests would give a kingdom for your death.”
”You know that from what source?” Jecks held a chunk of bread, suspended in a large hand, as his eyes fixed on Wendella.
”None, save my own feelings.” Wendella offered a nervous laugh. ”Yet I'd wager that feeling against all others.”
”So would I,” added Liende quietly in the momentary silence.
Alvar swallowed loudly enough to punctuate the chief player's words.
”That will change,” Anna said. ”The business about women, that is.”
”It changes already,” Jecks pointed out.
”True enough,” Anna interposed quickly. ”But that's enough about it.” Her eyes went to Wendella. ”Lady Wendella, could you tell us, or me, since I know too little about Defalk, where you grew up and how you came to Stromwer?”
After a moment, Wendella began. ”I am the youngest child, and the third daughter, of Lord Mietch. The oldest was Mietchel, and he now holds Morra. My eldest sister- that was Haerl-she was consorted to Arkad, but she died with child, and so did the child.”
”Was she his second consort?” asked Anna.
”His third.” Wendella paused. ”When I was young, Morra was a happy place, with the rose trees always in bloom against the garden walls. My sire said the walls dated back to the days when Suhlmorra was great, when Defalk was a poor land but a sliver of its present demesne...”
Anna leaned back slightly in the chair and listened as Wendella detailed her background.
”... And then I came to Stromwer to be Dencer's consort when his first betrothed died of a fever in the year that the Falche flooded all the lowlands. You know the rest.” The dark-haired lady shrugged.
”Thank you. I wish we could enjoy this longer,” Anna said after a moment of silence. ”I need all of you to join me and look at something.”
”All of us?” asked Wendella.
”Why not? It concerns all of you.” Anna rose, and the others followed her out of the hall and down the corridor to the stone steps. Hanfor ducked away briefly and rejoined the group carrying brown paper and the flat board upon which he sketched battle plans and maps.
Anna nodded to herself. Hanfor and Jecks knew what was coming.
Up in the guest chambers, the five watched, standing in a half-circle around Anna and the wall mirror, as she took out the lutar and retuned it.
Outside the half-opened shutter, There was the ter-whit of a bird that rose momentarily over the hum of insects.
Anna smiled at the lone bird call, cleared her throat, and then sang the spell.
”Mirror, minor, show all to see where Ehara and his forces be...”
The silvered gla.s.s of the wall mirror displayed a line of mounted armsmen heading toward a rocky defile, a long line of armsmen, behind the crimson banners of Dumar. Behind the hors.e.m.e.n were wagons and spare mounts. The road appeared to slope upward.
Wendella nodded. ”That looks like the road to Dumar, though it cannot be far.”
”How might you know that?” inquired Jecks.
”I once rode with my late lord to Finduma-that is the first trading town inside Dumar. If my memory serves me, that part of the road leads to the Vale of Cuetayl.” She shrugged. ”That was when first I came to Stromwer, though I think the road has changed little.”
Anna was grateful for Wendella's knowledge. ”It is clear that Ehara plans to attack.”
Yet the spell left so much undetermined. What could she do? In the silence, she launched into an improvised second spell immediately.
”Danger near the Vale, soon so near, show me that land bright and clear..”