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...
Anne 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 free-women 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 Fakor. 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.
"Rickel. . . if you would have someone summon Lord Jimbob for me? I'd like to see him now."
Rickel tightened his lips, as if concealing a smile. "My pleasure, Regent."
Anna closed the door-except not quite all the way-and listened.
"Regent... good for that boy. Full of himself until she took hold of him... had that look in her eye... bet she's going to straighten him up proper again..."
Not quite in that way. Anna eased the door closed all the way and returned to the latest scroll from Lord Clethner.
...being that Wendell sits near-astride the border with Nordwei and Lord Genrica's consort is the cousin of one of the counselors.
Thrap.
Anna looked up at the knock. "Yes?"
"It's Lord Jimbob, Lady Anna."
"Come on in." Anna set down Clethner's scroll and stood behind the table, waiting.
Jimbob stepped inside gingerly.
Anna motioned for him to close the door. "You see those?" She pointed to the scrolls on the bench.
"Yes, Lady Anna."
She smiled. "You're going to get a better understanding of something else. Jimbob... I want you to read every one of these. Right now, while I go through some of the others." She pointed again to the stack of scrolls she had preselected. There were a few, such as those from Tybel, Jecks, and Clethner, that she didn't want him to see.
"Me, Lady Anna?"
"You were the one who told me you learned more by doing. These are what I have to deal with. I want you to think over each, and then write down two or three lines of what you would do if you were in my boots."
Jimbob swallowed.
Anna smiled. "Oh. . . and you'll do it here, because those scrolls aren't leaving me. You can also ask me questions, if you need to."
"Ah... yes, Lady Anna." The redhead pulled a straight-backed chair next to the bench and sat down. Slowly, lie p
icked up a scroll on the side, almost as if the parchment were fire that might burn him.
Anna searched to find the scroll from Lord Tybel. After she read it, she was seething. She took a deep breath, and a swallow of water, then studied it again.
...while it is most commendable for a female Regent to attempt to maintain the lineage of the lords of Defalk from father to son... under the ancient and honorable traditions of Defalk, all lands must pass from fathers to sons, or nephews or brothers. Otherwise and one might as well say that Defalk is no more...
The sorceress-Regent forced herself to take another slow breath.
...first you as Regent have let women hold lands for sons, and now you would have women hold lands for daughters... the Thirty-three cannot accept such a perversion of what has always been and what must be for Defalk... I will raise the entire south against the Regency should this continue...
She shook her head. Was Tybel an idiot? Hadn't he heard what had happened to Dannel? Or was he so isolated that he couldn't believe it? Or did he truly believe in some sort of harmonic divine right of primogeniture? She slowly rolled up the scroll. Somehow, she had the feeling that Tybel wasn't going to back down, that his beliefs justified the murder of his daughter and her children. So your beliefs justify his death?
She didn't have the armsmen to force him to submit, and she couldn't risk those she had, and she couldn't risk another attack like the one that Dannel had led. And that doesn't leave a lot of options.
She looked helplessly at the wall for a long time before picking up the next scroll.
After more than a glass, Jimbob set down the last of the scrolls he had been poring over and looked at Anna. "These are not all, are they?"
Anna set down the goblet of water she had been sipping. "No. You'll see some of the others as you get more experience. Now... remember, you have to draft a short suggestion on each for me."
Jimbob nodded.
Another knock sounded on the door. "Lady Anna... the saalmeister would like to inform you and Lord Jimbob that dinner will be ready in a quarter glass... unless you would like it later."
"No... we'll be ready." Anna looked at Jimbob. "You can think about the scrolls tonight and write up your suggestions in the morning. I'll be writing most of the day, I suspect." She stood. "We shouldn't keep the others waiting." Most of them didn't get snacks....
Jimbob stood. "I am hungry."
Anna smiled. She hadn't known many thirteen or fourteen year-olds who weren't hungry. "Let's go."
105
In the gray that preceded sunrise, Anna looked at the lutar case on the bench at the foot of the high carved bed. One full day in Synfal really hadn't been enough, although the redheaded young Lord of Synfal who had just stepped into her chamber had probably thought so with all the scrolls Anna had pushed at him.
She studied Jimbob, but he looked back steadily.
"I wanted to talk to you again before I left," Anna said. "Do you understand why I don't think you ought to be on this journey?"
Jimbob nodded, and his longish red hair flopped over his ears. "You don't think I should be involved when you have to decide who inherits lands?"
"Whoever does what I'm going to do isn't going to be popular for a while. It's better that people look forward to your rule than feel that you won't be any different from me."
"Grandsire says you're the best ruler Defalk has ever had."
"I appreciate his words, and his support. But you have to remember that what people feel isn't necessarily the way it should be. Sometimes, when you do what is right, it's not very popular, especially with the Thirty-three." Is that ever the truth. "I think you'd do fine on the trip. You've done well so far, but you need more time with Herstat, and more time here to learn about Synfal and so that the people will come to take you as their lord in their hearts as well as their heads."
"Their hearts as well as their heads..." Jimbob smiled shyly. "Sometimes, your words... they sound... well, I wish I could talk like you do."
"You have time to learn. Just listen. Words help, but actions speak as well, sometimes better." Anna cocked her head. "Any last questions?"
"I can't think of any."
"I need to saddle Farinelli. You can come with me if you'd like."
"I'd like to." Jimbob picked up the saddlebags and the mirror case. "I can carry these down."
'Thank you." Anna glanced at the saddlebags that held the two sets of riding gear, the single gown, and only the scroll from Jecks. The one from Tybel she had folded into her belt wallet.
Bersan and Fielmir followed them down to the stable.
There Bielttro was waiting. "Lady Anna. . . here are two sacks of grain, and they fasten behind the saddle with these loops. They're not heavy, and you can feed him one tonight, and one tomorrow night."
"In short, you're telling me that he really ought to stay a few more days under your care and feeding?" Anna grinned.
Bielttro shifted his weight and looked down at the straw, then at Anna. "Mayhap your care and my feeding, lady?"
"We'll try to do better, Bielttro."
"You do better than many, Regent... but he is a good mount."
Anna accepted the reproach. "I know."
Bielttro nodded, then smiled. "Will you be back soon?"
"I hope so."
The ostler glanced toward the courtyard.
"I understand, Bielttro. You can deal with the other problems."
"Thank you, lady." The young ostler slipped away from the stall.
"He told you that you should handle your mount better," Jim-bob said.
"He was right," Anna pointed out. "And he was tactful about telling me. He is a good head ostler, and he will get better. Treat him with respect, and listen to him, and he'll save you horses and coins."
Jimbob nodded. "Many would take umbrage."
"Just because I'm Regent doesn't mean I'm always right. People will tell you you're right because you're a lord. You have to know which are telling you the truth and which are flattering you." You're probably laying it on too thick, but he needs all the reinforcement he can get on that point.
"Grandsire said that, too. But an ostler never told him-"
"Your grandsire is far more experienced with horses than I am. He wouldn't make a mistake like that. I've heard Dythya and Herstat correct him on coins and numbers, though."
"Oh... I had not thought..."
You'd better...
"I need to get moving, Jimbob," Anna suggested as she finished tightening the girths and adjusting the saddle.
"I know." The young lord handed her the saddlebags, the small grain bags. the mirror case and then the lutar. "I'll watch from the hall door." He stopped. "You be careful, Lady Anna."
"I will." She watched as the embarrassed young man bowed and darted out of the stall.
Once she had led Farinelli out of the stable, Anna mounted and surveyed the courtyard, her breath steaming in the cold morning air. Himar was already mounted, and lining up the lancer companies. Falar, with his men along the east wail, flashed a roguish smile, one that Anna returned with a nod.
"Lady Anna, the players are ready," offered Liende.
Anna turned in the saddle. The chief player and the other players were mounted, and waiting, behind her guards. "Thank you."
"As are your guards," added Rickel from behind her right shoulder.
Anna turned and offered another acknowledgment. She'd wished that they'd been able to leave the day before, but just going through everything that Jecks had sent had taken two full days. Then, three nights with solid food and dry beds and stalls had probably been worth it to all the lancers and their mounts. You feel better, too. And...she'd had time to adapt the spells she'd need at Arien and Flossbend.
Jimbob had crossed the courtyard and stood on the mounting block by the carriage entrance to the hall, looking toward Anna. Herstat waited on the steps several yards behind the young lord.
Himar rode toward her. "All is ready. The gold company will
stay here today, if you approve, and then leave for Falcor in the morning."
"Playing it safe, I see," Anna said. At the puzzled expression that crossed the arms commander's face, she added, "You want to make sure nothing happens on our way out of Synfal and through Cheor."
"Yes, Regent. And I know Finsul will ride hard to Falcor, no matter what order I leave with him." A crooked smile crossed Himar's lips.
Anna returned the smile. "That's fine. Let's go."
"Van forward!" Himar slid his mount around beside Anna.
The sorceress had the feeling that Jimbob watched until she was well out of the gate, but she didn't look back.
106
As she tried not to bounce in the saddle, Anna unfastened her jacket to avoid sweating under a clear sky and a midday sun that was almost summerlike. She reached for a water bottle and drank deeply. After replacing it, she stripped off the jacket, glad of the slight coolness remaining in the late morning.
"The mist worlds must be chill indeed," said Falar, riding to her right, still wearing his heavy leather jacket.
"Compared to Liedwahr, they are... or mine was." Anna peered eastward, but the road looked the same, winding around rises too low to be proper hills.
The Synor River Road had gotten more rutted and less traveled after they had passed the south road to Suhl, but when they had turned south on the trade road that led past Arien to Sudwei, the way had smoothed out again. But another day later, when they had turned eastward toward Arien, the road had quickly degenerated into a hole-filled and rutted country lane. Anna had checked the mirror twice to make sure they were headed to Arien, but the aerial view in the glass had confirmed it.
So she swayed in the saddle, with their progress slower than she would have hoped.
"Even my brother keeps better roads than these," offered Falar, "and I thought his efforts poor indeed."
Darksong Rising Page 49
