Part 79 (1/2)
”We have. So long as you report victories, little will happen.”
”But we don't know for sure-even with my scrying. We haven't seen one scroll from Falcor.”
”No . . that is the difficulty with extended campaigns.' Jecks offered a bland smile, ”With those in Defalk, all should be well.”
”But we don't know.”
”No.”
”Everyone loves a winner. Let's hope. that's enough.”. She paused. ”You checked Ehara's treasury?”
”There is little enough there-a few thousand golds, probably what he could not take with him. Mysara- he is the cbief bookkeeper, like Dythya is-he said that Ehara rode off with two large chests. He thought there were two thousand golds in each.”
”Dumar is going to pay for this war.” Anna shook her head. ”But I can't take everything, or it will make things worse.”
”Mayhap we can recover the golds.”
”I don't think we can count on that.”
”The lady Siobion,'' announced Ehurgen from the study door. ”At your request.”
Both Jecks and Anna stood.
The slender brunette stepped into the study and bowed. ”What would you have of me?”
”Your loyalty,” Anna said bluntly after Fburgen had closed the study door. ”Defalk deserves that at least.
Your consort fomented rebellion in my land.”
”What matters my loyalty now? My consort flees you, and you will kill him.” A sad smile crossed Siobion's thin lips. ”And us, at your pleasure, no matter what you promise now.”
Anna wanted to shake her head. ”Please sit down.”
Siobion eased into the chair directly across the writing table from Anna. her eyes flicking toward Jecks, then back to Anna, who seated herself.
Jecks sat last, with a quirk of his lips, as though at some unspoken jest.
”I probably will kill your consort if he remains in Dumar, if I possibly can,” answered Anna. ”But someone has to rule this place, and I'm not interested in creating some sort of empire,” Anna said. ”First, even if I were, it wouldn't last. Those things don't. Second, what's the point?” We can maybe get Jimbob to be a good ruler of Defalk, but an empire would be too much, especially if he takes power young.
”Do not jest with me . . .I beg of you.” Siobion's voice was thin, but firm.
”Lady Siobion. I don't jest or joke.”
”Many have discovered that, to their rue,” added Jecks.
”I really want to clean up this mess in Dumar and go home.”
”Did you not create... this mess?”
Anna admired the woman's s s.p.u.n.k, but not her naivete. ”Not until your consort started funding rebellions and sending lancers into Defalk.” The sorceress squared her shoulders. ”Which child of yours is most fit to be Lord of Dumar?”
Siobion pursed her lips, remaining mute.
With a sigh, Anna stood and walked to the bookcase, reclaiming the lutar and tuning it as she stood there.
”Do you want me to enchant your will? Or just drag in all your children?”
Siobion' s eyes widened. ”You cannot drag in Haeron. He is with his sire.”
”Then he will probably die,” Anna said coolly. ”Do you wish to tell me...” She turned to Jecks. ”Have the remaining children brought in.”
”No...” After a moment, Siobion stammered, tears running from her cheeks. ”Clehar. He is strong, and he is just.”
”You're not doing that to save another?”
”No...” Siobion's voice was low. ”Byon is but six, and Feharn five, and Eryhal is still in the cradle.”
Anna set the lutar on the thin-planked floor beside the table leg, then looked at Jecks.
The white-haired lord stood and walked to the door, opening it. ”Rickel, have Clehar, the son of Lord Ehara, brought here, if you would.”
”Yes, ser.”
Jecks closed the door and took his seat again.
”No...” sobbed Siobion. ”No...he has done little wrong. Spare him.... Please spare him.”
Anna looked coldly across the writing table, knowing she must appear a total b.i.t.c.h. She almost didn't care; no one ever seemed to want to take her at face value, and it didn't seem as though that would change anytime soon. ”Lady Siobion, you're a.s.suming I'm like your consort. I'm not There's no point in my talking about it, though. No one believes me”
Anna seated herself to wait.
Sidbion fidgeted ever so slightly in the chair.
”Young Lord Clehar,” Fhurgen announced, escorting the youth into the room.
Clehar was thin like his mother, but dark-haired like his father, and looked to be slightly younger than Jimbob-eleven or twelve, Anna judged. He stood just in front of his mother's shoulder, his thin lips like his mother's, set tight.
Anna rose and looked at the two. ”Try to listen. Try to understand what I am telling you. Even when three lords rebelled against me in Defalk, I did not kill the heirs. The only lands I took were those of one who died without heirs-and his offspring died long before I ever came to Liedwahr. You can believe me or not, but it is true.” Anna paused, wondering if anything she said penetrated.
”I sent your consort a scroll, Lady Siobion. I asked for peace between our lands and a thousand golds in payment for the unrest he created in sending armsmen of Dumar into Defalk. Your consort mocked me, and demanded golds of me. I blocked the river, and requested peace and the thousand golds. He refused that. The river destroyed much of Dumaria and Narial, and your consort still refused peace. What choice did I have? To let him continue to send armsmen into my land? I would not have it, and I will not.”
Anna's eyes hardened, and she fixed the brunette with them. ”You will be loyal to me and Defalk, and you may rule as regent for your son until he is of age.
”Now. It's very simple, Lady Siobion. You are the Lady Regent of Dumar. You will administer Dumar, with the a.s.sistance of who ever I name as your chief armsman. You will also pay for the cost of my coming into Dumar. Once those costs are paid off, you owe Defalk nothing except free and open trade, and resistance to all invaders. And, of course, the continued appointment of who ever the Regency chooses as your chief armsman. We do expect formal friends.h.i.+p. I doubt that any of us will remain too fondly in your thoughts, but blame that on your consort.”
”You jest...” Siobion's tone was uncertain, for the first time.
”I don't jest. I never have. All I'm interested in is keeping Defalk strong and independent and keeping the dissonant Sea-Priests out of Liedwahr.” Anna paused. ”And probably keeping the Liedfuhr out of any place he isn't already.”
”You do not intend to make an example of....us?”