“I’ll always be worried.” She forced a laugh. “That seems to go with being Regent.” After a pause, Anna asked, “You got the scrolls from Synfal?” She took another mouthful of cheese and bread.
“There were two.”
“I sent just two before we left for Arlen.” She swallowed more of the bread, then took another sip of cider, conscious—very conscious—of Jecks’ eyes resting upon her. “So much happened.”
Jecks waited—with far more patience than she would have shown—for her to tell him what had happened.
“Lord Tybel … somehow he’d raised nearly thirtyscore armsmen. He staged a phony parley and was going to attack, … .” In between bites, Anna began to fill Jecks in on the details of her efforts since leaving Falcor, first what had happened at Arien and then at Flossbend and Pamr, and finally the bits that hadn’t been in her scroll from Synfal.
“So … young Zybar is now Lord of Arien, and your little Secca is truly the Lady of Flossbend?”
Anna nodded. “I left Lejun and half a score armsmen with one of Himar’s older captains there. It was the best I could do. And Herene seems to be rebuilding both her hold and the town. Falar begged my leave to stay there for a time. I told her she was free to accept him as a consort, and equally free to reject him.” She laughed. “He can be very charming, but she’s stubborn.”
“Some men are charming.” Jecks nodded. “Others are not.”
Anna sensed the meaning behind the words, and could feel the closest thing she would ever hear to a plea from the white-haired lord. Lord … I’m not ready for this. “What do you think about Kinor as Lord of Denguic?” Anna glanced up after swallowing another mouthful of bread and cheese, not quite looking at her lord high counselor. “He has a lot to learn, and we’ll have to keep a rein on him … but I wanted someone young, and someone who would stand up to Jimbob.”
“He will do both. I like Lord Kinor.” Jecks laughed. “So long as he is not made Lord of the Western Marches, or not for many, many years.”
“No. Lord Nelmor has earned that. He fought when no other lord did, and because he thought it necessary.” Anna grinned. “He did fight most cautiously, but I didn’t mention that. Anyway, we need cautious fighters.”
“The others of the Thirty-three cannot fault that you made him Lord of the Western Marches.”
“There’s plenty that they can fault. They can fault the dreadful sorceress.” Anna shook her head, recalling other words, other times, and how those words had a different meaning. Be not proud, for though some have called you mighty and dreadful , you are not so … . Donne hadn’t meant the words that way, but you certainly have no reason to be proud … not after this season.
“Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart,” Jecks said quietly. His eyes were warm and deep—and fixed on her.
“What?” With the intensity of Jecks’ words, Anna looked closely at her lord high counselor.
“You said that … you spoke of … but that was before you went to Arien. The words are yours, but you do not take them to your heart.”
The words belonged to a true poet, one she’d sometimes wished had seen more of his work put to the music she’d once sung. “We all make sacrifices … and sometimes they go on. You’ve left Elheld to come to Falcor for Jimbob.”
“I did not come to Falcor just for him, my lady.”
Anna knew that, somehow welcomed and dreaded the words at the same time. “I know that. I’ve known it for a long time. I’m glad you did.” You said it … you are glad.
“Lady … would you return to the mist world … if you could?” Jecks’ voice was soft, deep, concerned.
Would you return if you could … would you … The words seemed to spin through Anna’s mind … over and over. Would she return? Her mouth was dry, and her hands trembled. She clasped them together tightly. “That’s an impossible question. I can’t. I can barely send a message once a season, and I risk my life doing that.”
“You know you cannot,” Jecks persisted. “But would you if you could?”
Anna swallowed. To see Elizabetta and Mario again … A colder, harder voice appeared. And then what? And then what? Do you want to go back to struggling as an untenured professor? How would you even get a job … or explain two years’ absence? And what would you do when Elizabetta graduates and starts living her own life?
Would you if you could? The words rattled through her like an ice-edged blade.
Jecks sat, patiently, a man of action, yet one who had stood by her, helped her, reined in his nature, even changed who he had been. His eyes were bright.
Anna swallowed. “ … and we are here, as on a darkling plain …” Another poet, another set of words. But our armies aren’t that ignorant … “They don’t have to be …”
Jecks raised his eyebrows at her murmured words.
The softest of unheard chords echoed through her mind, and she rose and stepped around the table-desk. As he stood, she took his hands.
Those strong weathered hands and muscular arms slipped around her, and Anna’s arms went around Jecks, the lord who had always been there … and who always would be, through the seasons … through Darksong and Clearsong.
CHARACTERS
Anna Regent of Defalk and Lady of Loiseau [Mencha]
Jimbob Heir to Defalk, and Lord of Falcor and Synfal [Cheor]
Hanfor Arms Commander of Defalk
Dythya Counselor of Finance
Essan Lady and widow of Lord Donjim
Herene Younger sister of Lady Gatrune [Pamr]; warder of Dinfan, heir to Suhl
Herstat Saalmeister of Synfal [Cheor]
Menares Counselor
LORDS OF DEFALK
Jecks Lord of Elheld [Elhi], Lord High Counselor to the Regent
Birfels Lord of Abenfel; consort is Fylena
Clethner Lord of Nordland
Dannel Lord of Mossbach; consort is Resengna
Dinfan Underage daughter of late Lord Sargol; heir to Suhl
Ebraak Lord of Nordfels
Fustar Lord of Issl
Gatrune Lady of Pamr
Geansor Lord of Sudwei
Genrica Lord of Wendel
Gylaron Lord of Lerona, consort is Reylan
Hryding Lord of Flossbend [Synope]; consort is Anientta
Hulber Lord of Silberfels
Jearle Lord of Denguic
Klestayr Lord of Aroch
Mietchel Lord of Morra, brother of Lady Wendella of Stromwer
Nelmor Lord of Dubaria; consort is Delyra; eldest son and heir is Tiersen
Tybel Lord of Arien
Vlassa Lord of Fussen; heirs are twin sons, Ustal and Falar
Vyarl Rider of Heinene
Wendella Lady of Stromwer
FOSTERLINGS AND PAGES
Alseta Daughter of Chief Player Liende
Barat Page
Birke Heir of Lord Birfels [Abenfel]
Cataryzna Daughter and heir of Lord Geansor [Sudwei]
Cens Page
Clayre Younger daughter of Lord Birfels [Abenfel]
Hoede Youngest son of Lord Dannel [Mossbach]
Kinor Son of Chief Player Liende
Lysara Daughter of Lord Birfels [Abenfel]
Resor Page
Secca Daughter of Lord Hryding [Flossbend]
Skent Page
Tiersen Son and heir of Lord Nelmor [Dubaria]
Ytrude Daughter of Lord Nelmor [Dubaria]
DEFALKAN ARMSMEN
Alvar Overcaptain
Himar Overcaptain
Jirsit Undercaptain
DEFALKAN PLAYERS
Daffyd Viola; first chief player
Liende Woodwind; second chief player
Delvor Violino
Duralt Falk-horn
Hassett Violino
Palian Violino
Yuarl Violino
OTHERS OUTSIDE DEFALK
Ashtaar Spymistress of Nordwei
Bertmynn Lord of Dolov, Ebra
Hadrenn Lord of Sy
nek, Ebra
Konsstin Liedfuhr of Mansuur; heir is Kestrin; eldest daughter is Aerlya
Maitre of Sturinn Leader of Sturinn; master of the Sea-Priests
Matriarch Head of State, Ranuak; consort is Ulgar
Nubara Overcaptain of Lancers, Mansuur, stationed in Neserea as Regent
Rabyn Prophet of Music, Lord of Neserea; regent is Nubara
Siobion Widow of Lord Ehara; Regent of Dumar
Tybra Leader, Council of Wei, Nordwei
TOR BOOKS BY L. E. MODESITT, JR.
THE COREAN CHRONICLES
Legacies
Scepters
Cadmian’s Choice
Darknesses
Alector’s Choice
Soarer’s Choice
THE SPELLSONG CYCLE
The Soprano Sorceress
The Spellsong War
The Shadow Sorceress
Darksong Rising
Shadowsinger
THE SAGA OF RECLUCE
The Magic of Recluce
The Magic Engineer
The Death of Chaos
The Chaos Balance
Colors of Chaos
Scion of Cyador
The Towers of the Sunset
The Order War
Fall of Angels
The White Order
Magi’i of Cyador
Wellspring of Chaos
Ordermaster
Natural Ordermage
THE ECOLITAN MATTER
Empire & Ecolitan
(comprising The Ecolitan Operation and The Ecologic Secession)
Ecolitan Prime
(comprising The Ecologic Envoy and The Ecolitan Enigma)
The Forever Hero
(comprising Dawn for a Distant Earth, The Silent Warrior,
and In Endless Twilight)
Timegods’ World
(comprising The Timegod and Timediver’s Dawn)
THE GHOST BOOKS
Of Tangible Ghosts
The Ghost of the Revelator
Ghost of the White Nights
The Parafaith War
Adiamante
The Octagonal Raven
The Green Progression
The Hammer of Darkness
Gravity Dreams
Archform: Beauty
The Ethos Effect
Flash
The Eternity Artifact
The Elysium Commission
PRAISE FOR L. E. MODESITT, JR., AND THE SPELLSONG CYCLE
Darksong Rising
“Third in the talented Modesitt’s Spellsong Cycle, completing the trilogy … . Top-notch stuff: grab all three books.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Modesitt can tell an entertaining story, with panache.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Expressive prose and sophisticated and complex world building.”
—Booklist
The Spellsong War
“Mr. Modesitt captivates us with his strong and graceful heroine who never loses sight of what really counts.”
—Romantic Times (4 1/2 stars)
“I read slowly, ’tis true, but I stayed up until two-thirty to finish The Spellsong War … that’s a good indication for any reader that Modesitt tells a damned good tale. Even if you’re a tenor.
“Totally off the wall and delightful … I’m glad there’ll be a third so we can get rid of the nasty Sea Priests who are simply too chauvinistic to learn a damn thing from experiences with a Good Soprano.”
—Anne McCaffrey
“Among the pleasures of the book are Modesitt’s descriptions of the rigors of sorcery, the dilemmas of finding oneself suddenly somewhere else without a wardrobe, and the political ambiguities of her role.”
—San Jose Mercury News
“The gritty details of this world make it as real as any in science fiction. As usual, Mr. Modesitt’s sense of power makes the fantastic background more plausible.”
—Philadelphia Press & Review
“A deeply philosophical novel disguised as an action-adventure fantasy, The Spellsong War is highly recommended for all YA collections.”
—VOYA
The Soprano Sorceress
“From the first page of this engrossing novel, you will find yourself unwilling to travel back to Earth, for fear that you might miss some of the action on Erde.”
—Tahoe World (Tahoe City, CA)
“Resplendent feminist fantasy with an inventive and expertly handled scenario, life-sized characters, and flawless plotting.”
—Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)
“Soprano is a solid opening volume to this series. Fantasy people who like political machinations with their magic will enjoy the layered plots.”
—Starlog
“Begins a new, enchantingly musical series … Modesitt paints a convincing picture of a mature woman with integrity who, when given power and opportunity, rises from doormat to beneficent leader … . While the plot holds a few surprises, watching Anna disprove the old adage about absolute power and corruption makes this feminist frolic a good deal of fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A new world of musical magic … Modesitt draws interesting, realistic characters. Watching Anna grow in political and magical power as she acclimates herself to her new surroundings is part of the pleasure in reading this book. Following her adventures in upcoming volumes will no doubt also prove enjoyable.”
—Amarillo Globe-News
“A compelling tale where mystery of melody can literally mean the difference between life and death … Like a master composer, the author waves a fascinating symphony of sights, sounds, and situations that delivers not only wonderful wizardry but also melodic mayhem and Machiavellian intrigue. It’s a marvelous fable that should be the first of many such euphonious exploits for both Anna and her sure-to-be legion of fans.”
—SF Site
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
DARKSONG RISING
Copyright © 1999 by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Edited by David G. Hartwell
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
eISBN 9781429913812
First eBook Edition : March 2011
First Edition: October 1999
First Mass Market Edition: January 2001
Darksong Rising: The Third Book of the Spellsong Cycle Page 55
