Darksong Rising: The Third Book of the Spellsong Cycle

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  “Gold?” Dythya raised her eyebrows.

  “Or silver, but gold would be better.” Anna reached for the water goblet.

  “There were mines near Nordland,” answered the counselor slowly. “Lord Clethner would know.”

  Anna had to concentrate. Nordland? She shook her head. Nordland was practically in Nordwei. “Is there anywhere east of Falcor?”

  “Lord Hulber of Silberfels once told Lord Jecks that his great grandsire found nuggets of gold, small ones, in the Chean, but there were no mines, not in recent memory.”

  Silberfels? Then Anna laughed. Silver rocks? That was what the name meant in German. Except she couldn’t recall where Silberfels was. “Is that far from Mencha?”

  “One, perhaps, two days’ ride north of Mencha. Silberfels is a small holding, and very old. It was there even before the Corian lords ruled the north.”

  After a knock on the receiving-room door, Menares slipped inside, bowing, then extending a scroll toward Anna. “Lady and Regent, you have a scroll from Lady Gatrune.”

  “Thank you.” Anna read though the missive, skipping over the compliments.

  … As you requested, Regent and Lady, Captain Firis had discreet inquiries made. Some unknown magics have been reported in the chandlery of Farsenn, the son of Forse, and some say that his brother Giersan has constructed a strange assemblage of drums … few would answer anyone from my lands, and this is troubling. That is why some indirection was required and why I have been so long in responding to your request … .

  … you might also be interested to know that Herene sent a messenger asking for clothing for her wards, or a skilled seamstress, and since we have several I dispatched one to Suhl … . Herene is working hard to instruct the children, both on their letters and figures and on other matters as well … . The daughter is most bright, but Herene has some doubts about the sons … .

  So did you. Anna reflected, then stopped as the receiving room door opened yet again.

  Jecks slipped inside and hurried toward Anna. “My lady Anna, there is an emissary from the Liedfuhr of Mansuur—an overcaptain of lancers with some sort of gift.”

  “A gift … more like a Trojan horse …” murmured Anna.

  Jecks and Dythya exchanged glances at the unfamiliar term, but Anna didn’t bother to explain.

  “Have them come in, with the guards.” Anna smoothed her hair back, almost unconsciously, and stepped back onto the dais, where she stood by the high-backed and heavy carved chair she used to receive people on a more formal basis.

  Jecks slipped from the receiving room, to return moments later with Rickel and Blaz. The Lord High Counselor gestured for the two to flank Anna on the dais. As the guards stepped into place, the receiving room doors opened.

  “The emissary of the Liedfuhr of Mansuur,” Skent announced.

  Flanking Anna, Rickel and Blaz stiffened, easing forward slightly as two lancers in maroon carried in a chest and set it on the receiving-room floor before the dais. The lancers were accompanied by Kerhor and Lejun, who watched not Anna, but the lancers.

  The two lancers withdrew, leaving the single officer in maroon. He bowed, deeply, almost reverently. “Regent, Sorceress of Power, Lady of Mencha … we are here to convey a message from the Liedfuhr and to bring his greetings and best wishes.”

  Anna inclined her head slightly to the lancer officer. “You are most welcome, and I appreciate the effort you have made to come so far.”

  The officer extended a scroll, but Jecks stepped forward, took it, studied it, and then passed it to the Regent.

  “How did you come here?” asked Anna as she took the scroll.

  “We took one of the Liedfuhr’s fastest ships to Narial, and then rode through Dumar to Stromwer and thence to Falcor.”

  Anna glanced at the maroon and gold ribbons that twined the scroll. “And how long did it take?”

  “More than two weeks at great speed,” admitted the lancer with a smile. “Mansuus is not close to Falcor.”

  “I appreciate your effort. If you would wait for a moment …” Anna broke the seal and began to read through the scroll.

  Regent of Defalk, and Sorceress of Power,

  Greetings from Mansuus and from the people of Mansuur to those of Defalk and to their most wise and puissant Regent …

  Anna skimmed over the paragraph of flowery praise and formality, her eyes settling on the next lines.

  Many have speculated about what actions may be taken by Mansuur in the days and years to come … . You have shown, by your actions in Dumar, that the Maitre of Sturinn is the greatest threat to all Liedwahr. You have also risked greatly for all those who wish Liedwahr’s destiny to be controlled by its peoples, and not those who would chain us to traditions that are not ours … .

  He definitely has an idea who you are. Anna’s lips crinkled slightly at the blatantly veiled reference to the chains of adornment used by the Sturinnese on their women.

  … As Liedfuhr, I wish to assure you that Mansuur has no designs upon the lands of Defalk, nor of Dumar, now that Dumar has declared its allegiance to Defalk. To assure you that these words are written in honesty and honor and not empty, I have sent a chest to demonstrate both my gratitude for your actions in opposing the Maitre of Sturinn, and the strength of my word that no forces of Mansuur under the command of officers loyal to the Liedfuhr, will be brought against the forces of Defalk … .

  Anna frowned at the wording, then smoothed her face and continued.

  … I must, regretfully, inform you that Mansuur cannot be held responsible for any actions taken by the Prophet of Music of Neserea, since the Prophet has renounced any guidance from Mansuur … I will be dispatching shortly fiftyscore lancers to Neserea in an effort to ensure restraint by the Prophet in dealing with Defalk and to attempt to assure continuing peacefulness between Neserea and Defalk. Knowing how your powers have destroyed hundreds of scores of lancers, I trust that you will not regard these fiftyscore lancers as a reason to distrust my pledge and honor … .

  The scroll concluded with more praise and formality, and was signed: “Konsstin, Liedfuhr of Mansuur.”

  As she looked up from the scroll, Anna did not look at the chest, but she could see from its size that it had to contain more than a thousand golds. A thousand … and he’s sending another fiftyscore lancers to Neserea?

  “We thank you, Overcaptain …”

  “Captain Gislhem, Regent.” Gislhem bowed.

  “ … and we thank the Liedfuhr for his wisdom and his warm gestures. I will have a response for you to take back tomorrow, and we look forward to seeing you at dinner. I hope you will be able to tell us about your journey.”

  “You are most kind.”

  Anna glanced at Dythya. “If you would ensure that the captain is conveyed to Arms Commander Hanfor and that arrangements are made for him and his men … ?”

  “Yes, Regent.” Dythya bowed.

  “And then you’d better come back. We’ve a lot more to do.” Anna smiled crookedly. “And send in Skent, if you would.”

  Once the door closed, Anna looked at Jecks, then started toward the chest.

  “Regent …” Lejun coughed.

  Anna nodded and stepped back.

  Lejun opened the chest lid, gingerly. His swallow was more than audible in the silence of the receiving room. A single gold coin slipped from those heaped in the chest and clanked on the stone floor.

  Anna swallowed as well. There have to be thousands of them … “You can close it for now, Lejun.”

  The guard replaced the single missing coin and closed the chest’s lid.

  Anna looked at the four guards and smiled. “It looks like everyone will get paid.”

  The faintest trace of a smile appeared on Rickel’s face. Giellum looked puzzled. Lejun and Blaz nodded, if barely.

  Anna stepped off the dais and lifted the bell off the conference table, ringing it once.

  “Lady Anna?” The dark-haired Skent peered into the receiving room.

&nb
sp; “Would you find Arms Commander Hanfor and tell him that I would like to see him once he has settled his business with the Mansuuran lancers?”

  “Yes, Lady Anna.” Skent flashed a smile before departing and closing the door.

  Anna looked at the guards, each in turn. “Thank you all. Lord Jecks and I have some things to discuss.” She handed Jecks the Liedfuhr’s scroll as the guards walked from the receiving room.

  Jecks read the scroll, slowly.

  “What do you think?” Anna asked when he had finished.

  “I think that the Liedfuhr is most sincere.” Jecks laughed. “Or he is most willing to spend coins on allaying your concerns.”

  “We’ll have to use the scrying pool to see what we can over the next few days.”

  “That would be wise.”

  Anna wasn’t certain what the pool would show, or if it would show anything. She’d already discovered that the Mansuuran lancers in Neserea were somewhere in eastern Neserea, but how close they were to Elioch—and Defalk—was another question. Even with the scrying pool, hard information was difficult to come by. But if they had in fact finally reached Elioch, as reported, were they there to help with an attack on Defalk—or to prevent it?

  “Arms Commander Hanfor,” announced Skent, his words spaced with heavy breathing.

  “That was quick,” said the Regent, as Hanfor entered the chamber.

  “I had Undercaptain Jirsit settle Captain Gislhem and his men.” Hanfor bowed, then nodded. His quick eyes flitted from Anna to Jecks to the chest.

  “A gesture from the Liedfuhr,” Anna explained. “Several thousand golds, it appears.”

  Hanfor’s eyes narrowed.

  The Regent glanced at Jecks. “He should read the scroll.”

  Jecks extended the message to the weathered senior officer.

  Hanfor took longer to read the message, but finally he looked up. “I cannot say. The Liedfuhr may mean what he says, or he may wish to deceive you. Yet he could deceive with far less than such.” Hanfor pointed to the brass-bound chest.

  Anna cleared her throat. “But what if … if he says what he means? Why would he go to such lengths?”

  “He has no great fleet, as does Sturinn, or Nordwei,” mused Jecks.

  “If he must fight you, lady, he would have to move his forces far from Mansuus,” pointed out Hanfor. “It would take him weeks to return them, more time than it would take the Sturinnese to send a fleet to invade Mansuur.”

  “Is he that worried about Sturinn?” Anna wondered. “And why would the lancers he sent earlier be in Elioch if he is so worried about the Sturinnese?”

  “Perhaps he tells the truth, but wishes that you act otherwise in a manner that will benefit him?” suggested Jecks. “The lancers, they are not under his command, but under his regent’s command.”

  “That’s still Nubara, and I trust him less than the Liedfuhr.” Anna shook her head, then pulled out her chair at the conference table and sank into it.

  “Mayhap …” began Hanfor slowly, “ … you should decide what is best for Defalk first.”

  Far easier said than done. What will benefit Defalk? More war? She snorted. More sorcery? “Best?”

  “Each of the Thirty-three would have an answer different from his peers … .” suggested Jecks.

  His peers? What about “her peers”? “What if I take a few companies—tenscore—and the players, and lead Hadrenn’s forces in support of the freewomen?” asked Anna, her tone almost idle.

  “That would be most dangerous, my lady Anna,” offered Jecks.

  “More dangerous than doing nothing?”

  Hanfor offered an apologetic shrug. “Perhaps not, but you have said that young lord Rabyn has placed fiftyscore lancers in Elioch. If he and the Liedfuhr know that you are in Ebra—or making your way there—then they also know that nothing will stand between them and Falcor.”

  “And if they take Falcor, and I return … then what?”

  Jecks smiled wryly. “No one doubts your ability to defeat them, my lady.” Jecks smiled wryly. “Many of the Thirty-three might feel that you had sacrificed their lands and crops on behalf of Ebra.”

  “So if I neutralize Ebra—”

  “A year ago, you destroyed the Evult,” Jecks replied. “Many thought that would end the threat from the east.”

  Does each fight lead to another? How do you stop that? “How many levies can we call up after harvest?” Anna turned to Jecks.

  “If you call them all, perhaps one hundred fifty—score.”

  “And what if they all were assembled in Deguic? Would Rabyn attack them?”

  “He can muster twice that,” ventured Hanfor.

  “But would he?”

  “You have something in mind, my lady?”

  “Well … I really should go tend to my own lands, in Mencha.” Anna smiled. And try something else along the way. “Perhaps I should do that, soon, before the Mansuuran lancers reach Elioch.”

  Hanfor and Jecks exchanged glances, but Anna decided against explaining. Yet … until you decide for certain.

  25

  Anna served herself her usual heaping platter of food—three slabs of meat, plus early potatoes, as well as bread and cheese—then waited for Jecks and her guest as Dalila carried the meat platter to them.

  “Are you from Mansuus, Captain Gislhem?” Anna asked.

  “Ah … Regent … no. I’m from Aleatur, at the foot of the Westfels.” The balding Gislhem limited himself to two slabs of the lamb.

  “As you must have heard,” Anna continued, “I’m not from Liedwahr, and I don’t know a great deal about Mansuur. What is Aleatur like? Is it dry or hot? Or wet?”

  “It’s high, Regent, and it rains but infrequently. Most folk are herders, and Aleatur is the market town where they sell their sheep and goats, and they’re shipped downriver from there. I couldn’t see being a herder … .” Gislhem shrugged. “So I learned something about arms from the trade guards, and then made my way to Robur and joined the lancers there. Must have been ten years ago.”

  “Dry …” Anna nodded. “Those are like my lands.” She took a sip of the amber wine sent to Falcor by Lord Gylaron of Lerona and nodded. It was much better than anything else in the cellars of Falcor, not that there was that much of anything.

  “Defalk is green once more,” ventured Gislhem.

  “Most of Defalk is,” Anna agreed pleasantly, “but I was talking about Loiseau. Those are the lands I inherited from Lord Brill.”

  “The Lady Anna,” Jecks added, “is not only Regent, but one of the Thirty-three in her own right.”

  “I see.” Gislhem looked puzzled.

  “It’s all very confusing, but a Regent—or a lord—of Defalk rules with the consent of the lords and ladies of Defalk, and there are thirty-three of them. So I only have to get agreement from the other thirty-two.” Anna laughed, then asked, “Do you get back to Aleatur often?”

  “No, lady. I have not been back since I left.”

  “It is hard to get to places when you’re required to be elsewhere. I’m hoping to go to Loiseau in a few days, and that will be the first time in more than a year. I won’t be able to stay long.” She offered a crooked smile. “It’s hard to be a Regent and a lady at the same time.”

  “I wouldn’t know … Lady Anna. I’m happy enough being a lancer.”

  “Better than being a herder in Aleatur?”

  “Much better,” affirmed the captain.

  “I don’t know,” mused Anna. “There are times I wish I could stay in Loiseau, but we can’t always do what we like. Still, I will get to see it for a few days.” She hoped she wasn’t being too transparent, but she needed the captain to carry back the message that she was going to Loiseau to look after her lands, not because it was on the way to Ebra. She turned to Jecks. “Do you miss Elheld?”

  Jecks laughed, and it was clear he understood. “Lady Anna, I often miss Elheld. But someone made me Lord High Counselor, and that means I must stay in Falcor more than
I might wish were matters otherwise.”

  Anna laughed in return, then glanced at Hanfor, sitting beside Jecks. “Arms Commander, was not your story similar to Captain Gislhem’s?”

  “Much the same,” affirmed the grizzle-bearded arms commander. “My father wished that I follow him … .”

  Anna took another sip of wine and listened.

  26

  The single scene in the scrying pool wavered, then split into two distinct images, each half-superimposed on the other, although each clearly depicted the front of the chandlery in Pamr. One image was darker, almost sinister, the other brighter, more sunny.

  Anna released the spell-image immediately, then walked to the door. “Blaz?” She peered out of the scrying-room door into the corridor.

  The guard jumped, and so did Cens, the duty page.

  The sorceress repressed a brief smile. She continued to forget that while she was in the room, it seemed empty to anyone looking in. So when she looked out, it appeared to the guards as though she had appeared from nowhere.

  “Yes, Regent Anna?” asked Blaz.

  “Actually, Cens is the one I need.” Anna turned to the youngster. “Would you find Lord Jecks and ask him to join me as quickly as he can?”

  Anna left the door open and walked back to the table against the wall, where she stood and lifted a goblet of water, drinking deeply before taking a solid bite out of the chunk of crusty bread that sat in the basket. She had finished the bread before Jecks appeared, following Cens.

  Jecks paused outside the open door, his eyes squinting as he peered into the room.

  Anna almost laughed at the quizzical expression on the face of the white-haired lord, but walked to the door and stepped into the hall. “I somehow spelled the room when I created it,” she explained. “When I’m inside, no one can see anything except the room itself.”