Part 74 (1/2)

”Half that.”

”Is it safe to give our armsmen a rest?”

”If they stay by their mounts.” Hanfor nodded.

”Do as you think best,” Anna said, Her instincts told her that the Dumarans weren't about to attack, not any time soon. Then, what happened if the Dumarans didn't attack at all? And where were the d.a.m.ned Sea-Priest and his magic javelins? The mirror hadn't shown him, and that bothered Anna.

”They would appreciate such a rest, Lady Anna,” said Hanfor. ”So would I.” He nodded to Alvar.

”Scouts! Maintain posts. All companies! Stand down for rations!'' bellowed the swarthy captain. ”Blades at hand! Blades at hand!”

”So they can remount and form up immediately,” said Jecks.

Anna had figured that out, but she nodded politely as she took the chunk of bread Jecks offered. She'd need every bit of nourishment and then some. She turned in the saddle toward the chief player. ”Liende, the players can dismount and stretch and... whatever. Just keep them close so that they can play quickly if the Dumarans decide to attack.”

”We will be ready.” The older woman nodded and turned her mount.

'Stand down for rations!...Down for rations!...” The commands echoed along the triple line with which Hanfor had advanced the Defalkan force the last dek or so. ”Blades at hand. Ready for remount!”

”Players,” called Liende from behind Anna, ”you can dismount. Have your instruments ready before you take water or food.”

Anna nodded. Her eyes went again to the fields and gra.s.slands to the west. The wind sighed across the vegetation, bringing only the smell of earth and dampness, of gra.s.s and a faint fragrance of something- bean blossoms? Anna didn't know the odor.

She took the reins from Rickel and walked Farinelli a dozen yards to a more lush patch of gra.s.s. Now what? The two forces could each sit on high ground until harvest time. The valley was small enough that her sorcery-if she wanted to exert all the force she could-might reach half of the Dumarans. Maybe...

She took a wedge of the hard yellow travel cheese from her provisions bag and gnawed off a corner. All that kept the cheese from being rank was that it was hard and dry. She forced herself through the entire wedge, knowing she'd need the nourishment.

Jecks stood beside her and ate, but far less than Anna, as always.

After almost a gla.s.s, a time of walking and studying the valley, and sipping from her water bottle, near midday, Anna took out the lutar once more.

This time the scrying spell revealed that the Dumaran forces had taken their mounts off the tielines and reformed in loose ranks, very loose ranks. None bad moved from their basic positions before and behind the hills.

Anna took a deep breath and replaced the lutar and mirror on Farinelli. Then she walked to the front of the ridgetop, accompanied by Fhurgen and Rickel and their omnipresent battle s.h.i.+elds.

Hazy clouds appeared just above the western horizon, and the wind had freshened, but still carried only the scent of damp earth and vegetation.

”Lady... what if they do not come?” asked Hanfor.

”Can the men wait longer?” she asked, ”I'd like to see if Ehara will attack.”

”Armsmen can always wait,” answered the gray veteran, with a low laugh. ”especially if there's a better chance of not getting killed.” He eased his mount away and back toward where Alvar had reined up.

Anna ate more of the stale bread that tasted more like sawdust than bread, and left crumbs everywhere.

”I wonder,” she said quietly, after eating the last of the loaf she'd taken from the canvas bag.

”Why do you pursue Lord Ehara?” asked Jecks, standing beside her as she again surveyed the empty valley.

”Why anything. I suppose. Why do I have to destroy half the armsmen in two countries to prove I'm serious? Why is it that someone like Madell would desert his consort and children because he can't beat her? Why do the Sturinnese want to put women in chains?” The sorceress sighed. ''It seems like so many people think they can do whatever they're strong enough to force others to do. But there's always someone out there stronger or nastier or meaner. . . or something...”

”Most men would not wish to admit that. Or many women, I think,” answered Jecks.

”So they want their women to be slaves, and they kill hundreds, destroy a country to keep women down?

Dencer went crazy when he thought Wendella had been even a bit influenced by me. Sargol sacrificed everything...for nothing.”

Jecks did not answer.

”But why?”

”We like to think we are in control of our own destiny, my lady. You who have been tossed between worlds, you understand that we often do not have such certainty. Most souls will not accept such.” The white-haired lord shrugged. ”Even for me, watching you, it is difficult.”

'It doesn't seem that hard for me to understand,” Anna said slowly.

”You do not understand how much you know that others cannot see even dimly, my lady. That is why you are regent and will always be regent.” Jecks chuckled.

”Maybe.” Anna wasn't convinced, but she didn't want to discuss it further, not before a battle, but she could feel her blood close to boiling. So many of the men of Liedwahr reminded her of the Arabs who'd chased her in London, who'd thought that any free woman was a wh.o.r.e, or a devil, or both. She shook her head. Liedwahr was definitely getting to her.

Almost a full gla.s.s pa.s.sed, and still the valley remained empty, the Dumaran armsmen waiting behind the hills, the Defalkan force resting on the low ridge.

To the west, the clouds had begun to build, mixed white and gray, climbing slowly until they blocked the early afternoon sunlight. The valley took on a grayish cast Anna climbed into the saddle and rode slowly northward along the ridge, with Fhurgen and Rickel s.h.i.+elding her, Jecks beside her.

'They will not attack,” opined Jecks. ”They wish you to attack and to weaken yourself.”

It made sense, but Anna didn't have to like it. ”We'll wait a little longer.” Suddenly, within a few moments, she felt tense, as though something were about. to happen. She scanned the valley, but nothing had changed, not that she could see.

Hurriedly, she dismounted, unfastened the mirror once more, and fumbled out the lutar. Jecks hurriedly vaulted to the ground and took the mirror, glancing toward the clouds and hills.

Anna sang the scrying song quickly.

The image wavered, showing two images, one that she'd seen earlier, the second of a figure in white easing along a hedgerow bearing something like a rifle. Rifle?

”Crossbow,” Jecks said.

Anna released the spell, glancing downward. The nearest hedgerow was less than half a dek below the ridge. She practically threw the lutar into its case and quickly fastened the mirror back in place before remounting and riding Farinelli back to where the players sat on the gra.s.s.

Liende stood. ”Lady Anna.”

”You need to warm up quickly.” Anna said. ”We'll do the long flame spellsong first-from the front of the ridge, about where Lord Jecks is. Let me know when you're ready.”

Liende inclined her head, and a strand of white-streaked red hair fell across her forehead. She bnished the lock of hair back as she straightened. ”Yes, Regent.”

”Thank you.” Anna guided Farinelli the handful of yards back to where Jecks, Hanfor, and her guards waited; all still surveying the valley and hills for any sign of movement.

Anna's stomach tightened. As she dismounted, her fingers brushed the round s.h.i.+eld in the open-topped case at her knee. Was it vibrating ever so faintly?

”Hanfor. Have them form up. Something's happening. Get the archers ready. But wait for my order. That will be the second spell.”

”Yes, Regent!” The arms commander turned to Alvar. ”Form up and stand ready! Archers to the front.