Darksong Rising (4 page)

That didn’t include the thousand golds she still owed the Ranuan Exchange, golds her

predecessor had borrowed to pay for the armsmen to fight off the Ebrans. Or the golds she

needed to build her own national army so that Defalk wouldn’t always be at the mercy of its

adventurous neighbors—and of the fractious nobles of its own Thirty-three. She took a deep

breath.

As the first houses of Pamr appeared, Anna forced herself into a more erect and regal position in

the saddle.

A gray-haired woman looked up from the basket she carried, saw the horses, and the Regent’s

banner, then bowed her head to Anna. A door opened on the porch of the next house, but no one

stepped out The old woman quickly lifted her basket of laundry and struggled into a scurry

toward the back of the nearer house.

The dusty main street of Pamr remained empty, all the way to the center of the town. There, as

Anna guided Farinelli to the right onto the street that would become the north road to Lady

Gatrune’s holding, her eyes went to the chandlery on the street leading westward out of the

center of town. She found herself shaking her head ever so slightly, recalling how Forse the

chandler had tried to rape her—and she’d scarcely been that provocative, not in trousers and shift

and vest and covered with road dust. All she’d wanted had been directions, and she’d ended up

turning him to ashes when he'd barred the door and turned a bow on her after she’d refused his

advances.

Anna looked back over her shoulder, realizing that the entire town had been quiet, that outside of

a dog and the older woman carrying laundry, she had seen no one. The rain?

She frowned, then straightened in the saddle and looked ahead along the road. It would be good

to see Lady Gatrune’s friendly face.

The day was darkening into twilight and sprinkles of rain had begun to fall a good half-glass

before Anna’s force and her players rode slowly through the stone gates a dek or so north of

Pamr. The duty guards rang a bronze bell by the gates—an innovation since Anna’s last visit—

and Captain Firis was waiting by the stables. Even in the dim light of late twilight Anna could

tell that Firis' salt-and-pepper beard was even whiter than it had been a year before, although his

face remained almost as young-looking as ever, despite the few additional lines around his eyes.

“Regent and lady.” Firis bowed as Anna reined up. “More beautiful than ever.”

“Captain Firis, bold as ever.” She couldn’t help grinning at the man’s effrontery. “It’s good to

see you.”

“I but follow your example as Regent and leader?"

Anna shook her head and dismounted, trying not to stagger as her legs took up her weight and

holding the raised cantle of the saddle for a moment before stepping a pace or so away from

Farinelli.

“You will groom him? Before you go to meet Lady Gatrune.”

 
“It won’t take long." Anna nodded. Farinelli suffered only Tirsik in Falcor, Quies in Mencha,

and a handful of other grooms in all Defalk to approach him except to feed him. One of the

drawbacks of a raider beast. “Is there some sort of shelter for my players—and armsmen?" She

beckoned. “Liende?"

The chief player eased her mount forward, stopping beside Himar.

“Himar is my overcaptain,” Anna explained, “and Liende my chief player. You may recall

Liende. She was with us at the Sand Pass battle?"

“The players—Lady Gatrune said that they would be quartered in the main house, as would your

officers. Lady Gatrune asked me to join you and…the senior members of your party for dinner,

once you have all refreshed yourselves.” Firis paused. “You have fivescore…?”

“Armsmen, yes.”

“It will be crowded, but between the hall in the west barracks and the few empty caserns in the

older barracks, we can shelter all of them. I would be pleased to show Overcaptain Himar...”

Firis nodded again. “The front large stall has been swept and cleaned for you."

“Thank you. If you would show Himar..." Anna said tiredly, beginning to lead Farinelli out of

the light rain and toward the stable.

“I would be pleased.”

“This way..." said Fins to Himar.

While Lejun unsaddled and groomed both guards’ mounts, Rickel stood watch as Anna began to

groom Farinelli. Before Anna knew it, Firis had returned. He peered over the stall wall. “It

amazes me to see a regent grooming her mount.”

“Why? He’s saved my life more times than I can count.” The discomfort of the remark, almost

like a faint sense of Darksong, prompted Anna to add, “A good handful of times, at least.” After

setting aside the brush, she left the stall, carrying the lutar that had been strapped behind her

saddle. Lejun carried the saddlebags with her few changes of clothes and limited toiletries.

“How are you doing in training the lady’s forces?” Anna asked the captain, as she stepped out of

the stable into the light rain.

Firis smiled. "The training here goes well.” His smile faded.

“There’s a problem.” Anna glanced around. “Perhaps you should come and see me later?”

Fins frowned, then smiled wryly. “Almost, Lady Regent, I would have deferred. Yet I recall our

first meeting. After you are refreshed, and we dine, I will attend you at Lady Gatrune’s will.”

“That might be best.” Anna was glad Firis had suggested consulting Gatrune. You’ve got to get

out of the habit of saying what comes to mind when you’re tired and hungry. People listen to

every word. With a faint smile, Anna nodded, recalling her first meeting with Firis. She’d been

tired and not thinking clearly, and Firis had suggested sorceresses were worse than useless. She’d

almost turned Firis into a bonfire—targeting his goblet instead of him, before apologizing. Then,

after the near-disastrous Sand Pass battle, he’d gathered Lord Kysar’s arms-men after the lord’s

death, and returned the forces to Pamr, where he’d become the chief armsman for Lady Gatrune.

Anna lifted the leather-cased lutar, and the two began to walk across the nearly flat ground

toward the dwelling. Rickel and Lejun followed them through the misting rain.

The tall and big-boned Gatrune was waiting on the wide stone steps for Anna. In the light of the

lamps beside the double doors, her smile was wide and genuine. “All of Pamr welcomes you,

lady, sorceress, and Regent” Lady Gatrune bowed deeply. Beside her, her son bowed, if a trifle

after his mother.

Anna struggled to remember the boy’s name.

“As do Kyrun and I,” the Lady of Pamr added smoothly, as if she had sensed Anna’s inability to

remember the heir’s name.

"I am most glad to be here, Lady Gatrune, in the hold that was the first to welcome and support

me, and for that I will always be truly and deeply grateful.” Political as her words had been,

Anna still meant them. “Both to you and Kyrun.”

“What brings you so far east? Will you stay long?" Gatrune stepped back and gestured toward

the entry ball beyond the doors.

Anna laughed. “We’re returning from Sorprat. . . I finally managed to find time to repair the ford

there...the one I destroyed more than a year ago.” Just a year ago... it seems Like it’s been two or

three.

“Let me offer you the guest chamber—and a bath—before we eat.”

“That would be wonderful.” Anna didn’t have to feign gratitude for the offer as she followed

Gatrune down the side corridor.

Kyrun and Firis remained in the entry ball, as did Lejun, but Rickel followed his Regent; eyes

flicking from side to side along the dim-lit corridor.

The Lady of Pamr stopped perhaps fifteen yards down the passage and opened the heavy dark-

oak door. Beyond the door was a bedchamber, a room large enough to hold not only the oversize

bedstead, but a love seat before the yellow-brick hearth, and a small writing desk with chair.

Two wall candles lit the room.

The older-looking blonde led the way to the second door— one that led to a combined dressing

room and bathchamber. The copper-enameled tub was already filled, and the doors of the

wardrobe against the inside wall lay open. “I know you travel light—like an armsman. There are

several gowns in the wardrobe, should you find one you like.”

"Thank you." still holding the lutar, Anna smiled. “I won’t be long."

“We await you, lady, and look forward to what you may say." Gatrune bowed and eased out of

the chambers.

Once the doors closed, with Rickel stationed outside them, Anna uncased the lutar and tuned it,

then accompanied herself on the water-heating spell.

Hot and steaming, clean and clear,

now make this water to appear...

Setting aside the lutar, she peeled off her dusty riding clothes and slipped into the copper-

enameled tub, where she luxuriated in the hot water for a time before rousing herself and

dressing in a green dress from the wardrobe—possibly the same one she had worn the year

before. She also borrowed a pair of sandals. Then she opened the chamber door and walked back

down the corridor, hoping she hadn’t delayed dinner unduly for the others.

Both Himar and Gatrune bowed as Anna approached. A moment later, so did Liende. As if the

big-boned, but rangy Lady of Pamr had been waiting but a few moments for Anna, Gatrune

gestured toward the open double doors of the dining hall.

Anna did not argue, but took the seat at one end of the table. Gatrune took the other end, and

Firis and Himar sat on the side to Anna’s right, Liende to her left. Two sets of twin-branched

candelabra provided the light.

Gatrune glanced at Anna.

Anna recalled a grace greeting from somewhere and spoke slowly. “In the name and spirit of

harmony, may we be blessed and may this food pass our lips.”