You did have this idea about settling everything in Defalk before winter. Anna almost groaned. No one will be expecting you in Arien, anyway.
Anna wiped the water—a combination of condensation from under the hat and water from the rain—from her forehead. She tried to make out where the road went as it curved eastward past a hill covered with leafless trees. Supposedly, there was a town with stables and an inn ahead, but still several deks south, and Cheor was at least another day away, maybe longer if the roads got worse.
Riding beside her on her left, Jimbob was silent.
A taller figure and his mount loomed out of the rain, as Himar rode up beside the Regent. “The scouts say it is less than three deks, and there are two stables. It will be crowded, but we can manage.”
“Good. How are the men coming?” Anna almost had to shout over the wind and the cold slapping of the rain on everything.
The arms commander eased his mount closer to Anna. “They know they will find warm beds in Synfal. That helps. I will pass the word about our stop. That will also help.” Himar turned his mount back northward, and a glop of mud splattered against Anna’s boots and lower trousers.
Falar rode forward from somewhere behind Anna, and leaned toward her. “Are all your journeys so eventful?”
“No. Some are more eventful,” Anna managed.
The redhead laughed. “Did the arms commander say that there was a dry roof ahead?”
“He did. About three deks ahead. It’ll be crowded, but it will get everyone out of the rain, and most of the mounts, I hope.”
“Good. I must pass that on to my men.” Like Himar, he turned his mount back along the column.
“Have you ridden in worse?” Jimbob asked loudly.
“A few times as bad as this—in Dumar when we were chasing Lord Ehara. There weren’t any friendly towns or inns there.”
“You said we were going to Synfal, and then Arien.”
“I haven’t decided whether you should go to Arien or stay in Synfal. Synfal is your keep, and the people haven’t seen much of you since last spring.”
“That is true. What do you think, Lady Anna?”
Anna paused. The question was the first time, she thought, that Jimbob had actually asked her advice and seemed to mean it. “I’d like you to think about it first before I say anything. What I have to do at Arien, I’m afraid, is like what I did at Westfort. Lord Tybel has poisoned his sister and her sons to hand her lands over to their brother.”
“He doesn’t know you, does he?”
Tybel doesn’t want to, like a lot of the Thirty-three. “I don’t think so.”
“I have not spent much time in Synfal … perhaps I should seek Herstat’s thoughts on that.” Another pause followed. “You do not require my answer now, do you, Lady Anna?”
“Heavens, no.”
A squall line of even more intense rain swept over the column, and Anna had to grab her hat to keep it from being blown off her head. More of the cold rain poured down her neck.
Anna hoped it didn’t take them too long to get to the unnamed town.
104
The column of Defalkan riders rode northward from the town of Cheor along the straight road that bisected the flat fields south of Synfal itself. Anna peered through the foggy mist that had replaced the cold rain of the day before, looking for the low wall of ancient yellow bricks that would show that the keep was but a dek farther north. She had hoped that the mist would dissipate by midday, but it was already early afternoon, and the fog still remained hugging the ground, although, occasionally, she saw patches of blue overhead.
“How much farther, Regent?” asked Falar, riding on the shoulder of the road and calling past Himar, who rode on Anna’s left.
“Not more than two or three deks—a dek after we reach the old brick wall.”
“Less than half a dek to the wall,” predicted Jimbob. “The big ditches running from the one beside the road are about eight hundred yards apart, and there are three small ones between them. I think we passed the last big one before the wall and one of the little ones. It can’t be that much farther.”
Almost as he finished speaking, Anna could see one of the smaller ditches branching off the big canal to the right of the road. She hid a grin as she asked, “Are all the ditches laid out like that, Jimbob?”
“Only the ones in the flat here. Herstat made me draw a map of them when I was here last.”
“Why?” asked Falar, easing his mount closer to Jimbob’s.
“He said that I should know every rod and furl of my lands.” Jimbob shrugged. “He had me ride much of the land and draw maps.”
“These are your lands, as well … as Falcor, I mean?” Falar’s mouth opened.
“Well … I didn’t inherit them the way I will Elheld or Falcor,” Jimbob admitted. “Lord Arkad didn’t have any heirs, and he tried to kill Lady Anna, and that meant that his lands were forfeit. Lady Anna is Regent, and she said that they were mine, except they’re really not quite yet, not until I’m older, and she and my grandsire and Herstat think I know enough.” Jimbob smiled and inclined his head to Anna. “That’s about right, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I thought that one of the problems Lord Barjim had was that he didn’t have enough coins to be an effective lord. I didn’t want Lord Jimbob to have that problem.”
Falar bowed to Anna, with an appraising look. “There is much I have not heard, and more I should know.”
“Much more,” suggested Himar, from where he had ridden in front of the three. “The Regent is more than she seems.”
“There’s the wall,” Jimbob said. “The old one, I mean. Grandsire said it’s older than the time of the Suhlmorrans.” He pointed ahead to his left where the yellow bricks of a two-yard-high wall protruded above a low hedgerow that had been trimmed to allow the top of the wall to show.
“It won’t be long before we see Synfal,” Anna said.
For a time, none of the riders spoke.
“The banner to the fore!” announced Himar.
The lancer with the banner rode around Falar, Jimbob, and Anna and her guards to take station ahead of Himar and the column of riders.
Its weathered yellow-brick walls looming out of the misting rain, sitting on the isolated hill that had to have been the ruins of many earlier strongholds, Synfal looked, more than Anna recalled, like a relic of Defalk’s even more violent past—old, scarred, and the site of who knew what unspeakable cruelties. For Defalk, that’s saying a lot.
The crossed spears and crown on the purple banner were hardly visible to Anna, and she doubted that few in the stronghold would see them. The gates stood wide, and what seemed to be half the staff lined the courtyard of the keep and watched as Anna and Jimbob rode through the gates.
“Regent! Lord Jimbob!”
Anna glanced sideways, noting the flush rising in the young lord’s face. “Remember,” she said, “praise is fleeting. People praised your father, and then Lord Behlem.”
Jimbob jerked in the saddle.
Falar gave Anna a searching look, but did not offer any words.
Anna raised an arm to acknowledge the greetings and whispered to Jimbob. “Go ahead. Show them you appreciate their greeting. You are the Lord of Synfal. Just remember that greetings can be fickle.”
Jimbob smiled and waved several times, looking around the courtyard as he did. Then he and Anna rode slowly to the stables.
Bielttro, the young head ostler, stepped out from where he had stood by the stable doors, wearing what appeared to be the same dark brown trousers and leather vest as he had worn when Anna had first met him. He bowed. “Regent.”
“Bielttro, how are your stables?”
“I have fixed the roof in the corner, and they are clean and dry.” Bielttro grinned. “You can see for yourself, Regent Anna.”
“I will.” Anna smiled back, then dismounted and led Farinelli into the stable. Rickel and Fielmir followed closely, leaving their mounts with the other guards.
> “You have the big front stall, as before.” Bielttro studied Farinelli. “He is thinner.”
“We’ve ridden a lot this fall, from Falcor to Synek, and back to Falcor, then to Denguic, and here. I’ve tried to get him grain … but it’s not always been as much as he needs.”
“He is not too thin, but I will see that there is grain here. I would give him but a third portion, and not until after you have groomed him. And only a little water at first.”
Anna nodded.
“If you will please excuse me, lady, while I see to the others?”
“Please. Farinelli and I will be fine.”
The old stables were dry, and smelled clean, as before, with fresh straw, and a pail of grain had been left beside the manger for Farinelli. Anna smiled, then unfastened the lutar case, wrapped in oiled canvas in addition to its normal cover, and set it beside the stall wall. Then came the mirror case, and the saddlebags, probably soaked through.
“Big stalls …” murmured Fielmir.
“It’s a large keep,” Rickel responded. “Older and bigger than Falcor.”
Anna finished unsaddling Farinelli, then groomed him, and finally let him have some water, but not too much, before she poured some of the grain into the manger. The gelding whuffed and tossed his head as Anna lifted the bucket. “That’s enough for now. Bielttro will give you more, you pig.” She patted his shoulder, then picked up the lutar.
Fielmir carried the saddlebags and mirror case, and he and Rickel followed her.
Herstat was waiting as Anna, Jimbob, and Himar stepped into the entry hall, followed by Rickel and Lejun. The saalmeister bowed deeply. “We are all glad you have arrived safely in this rain.” He smiled. “Some thought you might be delayed, but I assured them that the Regent is seldom delayed.”
“We try not to be late.” Anna gestured to Falar. “This is Falar, second in succession to the lands of Fussen. He is traveling with us and offering us his armsmen.” She gave a wry smile. “This year’s been hard on everyone, especially the armsmen and lancers.” Her eyes next went to Himar. “Himar has taken over as arms commander, now that Hanfor is the Lord High Counselor of Neserea.”
“We have chambers most suitable,” Herstat replied. “Lord Jecks had sent several scrolls by fast messenger.” After a pause, he continued, “If you would follow me …”
Anna still held on to the lutar as she climbed the steps behind Herstat toward the upper levels of the keep. Blaz carried the saddlebags, and Lejun the mirror case. The bricks that formed the floors had been thoroughly cleaned and covered with a shimmering varnish of some sort since Anna had last been at Synfal. The walls had also been scrubbed and repainted with a form of whitewash. The keep looked lighter, and smelled far better, although there was a lingering hint of mold still.
Halfway down the second-floor corridor, Herstat opened a polished-oak door, stepping through and gesturing. “The guest chamber that will always be yours, Regent Anna.” Herstat bowed.
“Thank you. It looks much better. Much cleaner.”
“There has been much done in the main keep, and much left to do.”
Fielmir carried in the saddlebags and mirror, then took station outside the door, as did Rickel. As the two guards departed, Anna studied the room. On the fresh white-painted plaster of the wall hung a newer mirror. Herstat had clearly remembered what her scrying did to mirrors. There were also tapestry-covered floor screens set around a copper tub in the corner of the room away from the shuttered windows.
Anna swallowed as she looked at the stacks of scrolls set on the old oaken working table between the bed and the windows.
“The top one is from Lord Jecks. He suggested you might wish to read that first.” Herstat bowed. “Is there aught else you might require, Lady Anna?”
“Ah … some cheese and bread, any fruit you might have, and several buckets of water for a bath.”
“The tub is filled already. I took the liberty of having that done. And I will have someone bring you the food.” The saalmeister bowed again, then eased back out the door.
Anna picked up the top scroll from Jecks, then set it down. She decided the scrolls could wait until she had something to eat and had taken a bath and gotten into dry clothes. She glanced around the chamber once more. There was even a large robe lying on the foot of the bed. Herstat definitely knew his business, but, then, that was why she and Jecks had selected him to run Synfal for Jimbob.
She went to the window and eased the shutters full open. The fog had become a white shimmering mist that promised the sun would burn through. Yet, as she watched, the mist dimmed into a darker, milkier white.
“Lady Anna?” came a voice from the door.
“Yes?” Anna turned.
“A serving girl with bread and cheese.”
“Escort her in.” Anna was probably getting paranoid, but it sometimes seemed like a lot of people wanted her out of the way.
Fielmir came in with the young woman, a girl really, whose eyes widened as she took in the sorceress. The serving girl carried a wooden tray with a basket holding two loaves of bread, several wedges of cheese, an apple, and a quince.
“Thank you.” Anna smiled.
“Regent … the saalmeister …” The girl half bowed, managing to keep the tray level. “He said … you …”
“I appreciate the bread and cheese. It’s been a long ride.”
The serving girl seemed frozen in place, as her eyes remained fixed on Anna.
“I am the Regent,” Anna said, “and I do have children far older than you, but probably most of the other tales you’ve heard have been exaggerated.”
Fielmir stepped forward and took the tray.
“If you would put it on the bench at the foot of the bed …” Anna gestured.
The serving girl swallowed.
“Come, girl,” Fielmir said gently. “She’s the Regent. She won’t turn you into ashes or ice or some such.”
The girl bowed abruptly, then practically darted from the chamber.
The sorceress shook her head, afraid that such reactions would get worse the longer she was in Defalk and the more successful she was. If you are.
Anna ate an entire loaf of the dark bread, as well as almost all of one of the cheese wedges. Then she picked up the lutar, hoping that the spell for heating and cleaning the water wouldn’t give her too much of a headache.
While the steaming water cooled enough for her to climb into the tub, she used the lutar once more, this time to dry and clean her single traveling gown. The bath helped with various aches, but her eyes kept straying beyond the screens toward the pile of scrolls. So, in the end, she washed more quickly than she’d thought, including her short blonde hair, then dried herself and dressed.
Once she seated herself at the writing desk, Anna took out Jecks’ scroll, skimming through it quickly, trying to root out the important points. She’d have to read it again, and probably again after that.
… Lord Dannel left two daughters, but Lady Resengna fled with them … northward, it is believed, to seek safety in Nordwei with them, taking more than two thousand golds. I have dispatched Gelen to take the hold under his control … not be my first choice, but will not disobey me …
Anna frowned. The same problem—not enough people either she or Jecks could trust.
… Lord Genrica weakens, but will doubtless last for some seasons yet … and Lord Clethner paid the hold a visit, at my suggestion … .
The Regent smiled—that might hold off the greedy Fustar for a bit—at least until she could deal with the problems in the south.
… the lady Ytrude arrived safely in Suhl … seems to have taken the household reins gently but firmly …
… you will see … Lord Tybel claims that Flossbend must be ceded to his brother Beltyr … and protests the actions of the Regent in seizing and redistributing lands of the Thirty-three against custom …
Anna frowned. So far, she hadn’t “redistributed” any lands, unless he meant those of Pamr, and that
Anna should have given them to Dvoyal because he was the consort of Lord Kysar’s half sister. That’s just an excuse to put them in his nephew’s very male paws. She’d have to look at that scroll carefully.
… young undercaptain Skent sent a scroll. He and Jirsit have added another score to the guards at Pamr. As you requested, I have summoned Jirsit and have taken the liberty of confirming both Jirsit and Skent as junior captains … .
Anna smiled at that. Skent needed more experience, but if he could wait just a bit longer, then Lord Geansor might just be persuaded to allow his daughter to consort with Skent. You hope …
… several missives from Lord Hadrenn … has secured an envoy from Ranuak and reports that the freewomen have set up a city guard in Elahwa and a council … like that of Wei, I believe.
… also received scroll from the Mistress of the Exchange in Encora, informing you that all lords in Defalk will receive the favored terms of trade granted all of the peaceful realms in Liedwahr … .
That was most interesting. Because of the establishment of the Free State of Elahwa? Anna went to the third roll of parchment.
… Halde sent several reports from Mencha … have enclosed those, since Mencha is your demesne, and I felt you would prefer to review them in more detail. He does seem most careful and conscientious … .
After reading all of Jecks’ reports, and just looking at the pile of scrolls, Anna almost wondered why she was in Synfal. Because you can’t just rule this place. You have to change it, and you can’t change it from Falcor. She glanced at the scrolls again. After a moment, she began to sort through them, until she had a stack of a dozen, which she set beside the serving tray on the bench at the foot of the high bed. Then she nodded and went to the door, opening it.
Darksong Rising: The Third Book of the Spellsong Cycle Page 50