Darksong Rising (5 page)

“That was nice. I’ve never heard it quite that way,” said Gatrune, as a serving girl offered the

large platter to Anna.

Perhaps you didn't recall it quite so well as you thought "Thank you.” Anna speared two large

slabs of meat with her knife and eased them onto her plate, knowing she would probably need a

third or fourth, just to keep her weight up, especially after the effort she’d made at Sorprat. She

took an entire potato coated with cheese as well, and broke off a large chunk of crusty bread

before passing the willow basket to Liende. “This looks wonderful."

“Especially after days of travel,” added Himar.

A third serving girl filled the heavy crystal goblet before Anna with an amber wine. Anna took a

small sip. “This is good, too.”

“You did not say why you chose to repair the ford now. I would not pry…” Gatrune let her

words trail off.

“That’s simple enough,” Anna replied dryly. “I’ve worried about it ever since I destroyed it

when we defeated the Evult’s forces. This was the first opportunity I’ve had to do anything about

it. Even so, we’ll have to hurry back to Falcor.”

“Did you build a bridge, as we heard you did across the Fal?" asked Firis.

“No. I replaced the ford with one made of stone, but wider and shallower than before. It should

be solid enough for wagons, except when it floods.”

Firis nodded.

“That will speed travel to the east,” observed Gatrune.

“Indeed,” mumbled Firis, swallowing quickly.

“It may last longer than Defalk,” suggested Liende. “When the Regent creates a sorcery, it is

powerful indeed.”

“Not always.” replied Anna. “There was this dam—”

“The flood was powerful... was it not?” countered the chief player. “And the dam remains, a

third cataract on the Falche.”

“This was the dam that tilted and started the flood that swept away most of Dumaria and Narial?"

asked Firis.

Anna nodded as she took another mouthful of the beef, dry beneath the brown gravy. The dam

she’d created across the Falche near Abenfel had drained her energies for weeks, and it had

almost been a relief when it bad slipped loose from the canyon walls and tilted forward—except

for the wall of water that had swept through Dumar, killing thousands, and precipitating the

Spellsong War with Lord Ehara.

“They say that it created a new lake leagues long. Is that true?"

“There’s a new lake there,” Anna answered. “How long it is, I don’t know.” A good reminder of

how trying to do too much with spellsong can create an even worse mess.

“Will Dumar keep the agreement?” asked Gatrune bluntly.

“Lady Siobion serves as regent for her son. Her armsmaster serves me. If she fails to keep the

agreement, I could let the dam at Abenfel fail completely.” Anna took two more slices of beef, as

delicately as she could. But how can you be delicate when you have to stuff yourself to maintain

the energy you need for spellsinging?

Gatrune nodded. “It is good that you do not rely just upon faith.”

Necessary, but not good “I’ve discovered that.” Anna paused, then asked, “How does the harvest

look?”

“Better than in years, but now we must worry about late rains.” Gatrune shook her head. “In past

years, we could count on dry weather for harvesting what little survived the dry and heat. Now

the fields are high and full—but we could have too much rain.”

“Let us hope not.” Anna took another sip of the amber wine. “Have you heard from your sister

lately?"

“Herene has written often. She is well, but she finds herself... less sure than she will admit.”

Anna smiled at the wry tone. “She asks for advice?”

The white-and-blonde-haired Lady of Pamr laughed, openly and without rancor. "Truly, it is

amazing how matters Change?"

“I thought she would be a good warder for Sargol’s heirs?”

“You were most gracious to allow them to retain their sire’s lands, after his treason,” pointed out

the Lady of Pamr.

“He didn’t see it as treason,” Anna pointed out. “I am a woman, and from another world. Women

with power are not easily accepted in Defalk.”

‘That is true, but you are the Regent for the heir to Defalk, and you were confirmed by the

Thirty-three. Attacking such a regent is treason.” Gatrune’s voice was firm as she added. “You

were gracious.”

“Not quite so gracious,” Anna admitted. “I have indicated that Dinfan will be the heir. She’s the

oldest.”

Gatrune’s laugh was almost raucous. “And Herene is her warder, and the armsmaster is beholden

to you. Even my own brother found that morsel hard to swallow. Yet, he finds his sisters with as

much power as he—thanks to you, Regent”

“I’m not trying to replace men with women.” Anna took a sip of the amber wine, a very small

sip. “I’m just trying to have the best people do the job. If a woman is better...” She shrugged.

“Some of the older lords find that thought disturbing."

“I know. Some have made it very clear?”

As the serving girl took Anna’s empty plate, the Regent wanted to shake her head. Once, if she’d

eaten four huge slabs of gravied beef, an enormous potato, and half a loaf of bread, she would

have gained who knew how many pounds. Now she worried that she might not have eaten

enough for the sorcery she had performed and might be called on to perform daily.

“We have but white cheese and melon,” Gatrune apologized. "That’s fine,” Anna said. “We

didn’t give you much warning, and you’ve been very gracious.”

The serving girls set melon—a half melon—before each guest at the table, accompanied by a

thick wedge of the white cheese.

“Most gracious.” affirmed Liende.

“How do you find your quarters?” asked Gatrune.

“Comfortable…and dry.” answered the chief player. “All the players appreciate that, and the

food.”

“You and the Regent deserve far more than that, but we provide what we can.” The Lady of

Pamr smiled.

“We are grateful,” replied Liende.

“So am I,” Anna said.

When all had finished the cheese and melon, Firis inclined his head toward Anna, then toward

Gatrune. “If we might be excused, ladies? There are a few matters we must consider for the

Regent’s armsmen.”

“And I also?” asked Liende. “I should see to my players."

Anna accepted the excuse and smiled. “Of course. I had not realized we had kept you."

“Would that we were kept so more often,” answered Firis.

Liende offered the slightest of wry headshakes, and even stolid Himar cracked a smile at the

younger overcaptain’s brazen gallantry.

Once the doors closed behind the officers. Anna inclined her head toward the older-looking

woman.

“Let us repair to my study,” suggested Gatrune, rising.

The study was similar to many Anna had come to visit in Defalk—wood-paneled, with a wall of

shelves only partly filled with books, and with a working tablelike desk, several chairs, and two

side tables between the three chairs facing the desk. The two candles in the wall sconces barely

flickered,, but also provided but dim illumination. The Lady of Pamr took one of the armed

wooden chairs before the desk. This time, Lejun stood outside the doors, presumably to let

Rickel get something to eat.

Anna took the one farthest from Gatrune’s, leaving a chair vacant between them.

“Firis has indicated you wished to speak with him." Gatrune’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.

Firis has learned a lot... Anna smiled. “I’m neither here to recruit your captain, nor to use him as

a spy. But I need to know what people think... how his men feel. Would you like to sit in?”

“I think Firis will speak more freely without me, and you will find our views are similar."

“Then, tell me" Anna suggested, “what he will say.”

“He will try to be tactful, and he will be charming.” Gatrune laughed, but the sound died almost

hollowly. “He worries, and so do I. In the past two seasons, many of the trades people in Pamr

have become less friendly. Yet none has said a hostile word, not that they would. Several of the

serving girls and cooks’ helpers have begged to move onto my lands, yet none could explain

why.”

Anna frowned, feeling a coldness grip her stomach, recalling the deserted feeling of Pamr when

she had ridden through the town.

“I cannot tell you how candid he may be, but”—Gatrune frowned—"the armsmen that he holds

and trains have become most skilled. And their consorts and children have asked to live here

upon the lands, even unto offering to pay rents, rather than remain among the townsfolk.”

“That hasn’t happened before? People begging to move onto a lord’s lands?”

“Not that I recall” Gatrune stood. "Best you talk to Firis. I will tell him that you await him.”

“Thank you.” Anna rose as well.

“Thank you, my lady. You concern yourself about my problems, and that is more than any Lord

of Defalk in memory did.”

Anna did not wait long in the dimness of the private study.

Firis bowed as he entered. “As you requested, Regent. These days I no longer question the worth

of sorceresses.” His face remained somber, but a hint of amusement lay behind the words.

Anna stood beside the broad table, then gestured toward the caned straight-backed chair before