Darksong Rising (90 page)

Jimbob nodded. “I am not so good at hearing words and understanding."

At least he understands that. Maybe there’s some hope there, yet.

Himar reappeared with a squat and swarthy figure riding beside him, an officer even darker than

Alvar, who had served Anna so well and now was Arms Commander of Dumar.

Both officers reined up, then bowed in their saddles, waiting. “This is Dutral, Lady Anna. He has

been serving as the captain of the purple company these past weeks.” Himar nodded in the

direction of Kinor. “This is Kinor, Dutral. He is an aide to the Regent, and has been tutored by

her. He will be going with you to inform Lord Jearle of our needs.” Himar laughed harshly. “You

will take the purple company, and you will see what you can, and return to escort the Regent."

“Yes, Regent... Overcaptain... Arms Commander." Dutral offered a knowing smile.

‘Thank you,” Anna said warmly. “And you, too, Kinor." Once the purple company had left,

Anna dismounted to stretch her legs, looking to the north, where a fringe of low clouds had

appeared on the horizon. She hoped that they didn’t herald more rain or snow.

Once again, she was waiting, but at times waiting was far better than rushing in. The problem

was that she didn’t always have the time to wait.

She had remounted by the time Kinor and Dutral returned. “You are bid welcome,” Kinor said,

“but there are many armsmen, and all I saw wear two blades, both the shortsword and the longer

battle blade.”

"That is true,” affirmed Dutral. “Yet we saw no archers. Nor any crossbowmen.”

“How many armsmen?” questioned Himar.

‘Threescore, perhaps four, that we could see."

Anna thought. Might as well do this right. “Kinor... if you would send a messenger to Lord Jearle

saying we will be there presently.”

“You have a plan?” asked Kinor.

Anna nodded. “But I need to talk to your... to the chief player."

This time Kinor was the one to conceal a smile at Anna’s near slip in referring to his mother.

“And to Lord Nelmor and Falar... and Himar and I need to work out a few details.”

Kinor bowed his head. “I will send a messenger.” Then he rode back to where the purple

company had reined up.

Anna flicked the reins, and Farinelli stepped easily across the brown grass. The sorceress went to

find Liende first.

The chief player and the other players were standing by their mounts a hundred yards east of

where Anna had been viewing the keep.

“Lady Regent?”

“Liende.” Anna paused. “I will need a spellsong just before we reach the gates. Can you have the

players ready to dismount and play? The flame song. It’ll be a different spell, but the same tune.”

Liende frowned.

“This one is not for killing, but for disarming. Lord Jearle has welcomed us, and double-armed

his men.”

“Does he think you blind?”

“Probably. I’m only a woman, and I did nothing when we visited him in the fall."

“The more fool he.” Liende snorted. “We will prepare to play just before the gates.” She walked

toward the players. “Here! We have a task!”

Still flanked by her ubiquitous guards, Anna rode Farinelli westward across the hillside to where

Lord Nelmor and Falar stood, also holding the reins of their mounts.

“Lady Anna.”

“Regent.”

“Lord Nelmor, Falar,” Anna looked at both—the lord and the would-he lord. “I would like your

support one last time on this campaign. I have to ask, here, not order, and if you’re not com-

fortable with this, I understand.” She paused. “Lord Nelmor, we had once discussed the duties of

the Lord of the Western Marches. One of those duties is to bid one’s Regent welcome.” A cold

smile crossed her face. “While we have been bid welcome, all the armsmen in Westfort carry

double blades."

Nelmor’s face paled. Falar frowned.

“I intend to use sorcery to disarm the keep, but I will need armsmen to hold it while I look into

what has occurred...."

“You will not use the fire spells?” asked Nelmor.

“Not against any armsmen who do not attack me—and not at first.”

The tall blond lord nodded. “We will ride in with you."

“And so will we,” seconded Falar.

“Himar will order the riders,” Anna said.

“We will follow."

Anna inclined her head. “Thank you.” She turned Farinelli back toward Himar and Jimbob.

Himar was waiting at the head of the ranks forming up— with Kinor and Jimbob—when Anna

and her entourage returned. “What will you?”

“We’ll enter Westfort,” Anna said, “as if nothing were wrong."

“We will lead with two companies,” Himar proposed.

“Then the players… Anna added her own spell strategy for disarming Jearle’s forces. “This will

happen once those companies hold the courtyard."

Himar nodded. ‘That is best—before you enter the keep. And it will leave our lancers safer as

well. If there is a problem with the spell, you remain outside.”

Anna nodded. But there shouldn’t be. As the lancers formed up, she went over the spell in her

mind, time after time.

The sun had finally reached midday before the column started downhill toward Westfort, but the

chill winds made white steam of some mounts’ breath.

The gates to Westfort were open.

Anna watched as the purple company swept through them, three abreast, then the green

company. Farinelli was less than ten yards from the open gates, and the guards in red and black

when Anna reined up and turned to Liende, who, with the players, rode right behind Kinor and

Jimbob.

“Now!” ordered the Regent

Alarm crossed the faces of the two guards at the gates, but neither said a word as a pair of

lancers appeared next to each with bared blades.

Anna didn’t even dismount, but sang full voice from the saddle, letting her spell flood into the

courtyard and the keep of Westfort.

Turn to water, turn to rust,

 
turn each Westfort blade into dust.

 
Break the shafts that fly from any strings....

Holding her lutar ready, Anna watched as one of the Westfort guards in red and black tried to

draw a blade, and found himself with a handful of red dust. She nodded, and called back to

Liende. ‘That’s all for now.”

Himar nodded, then ordered, “Purple company! Green company! Take the keep!” He looked at

Anna. “Best you wait at the gates.”

Surrounded by her guards, Kinor, and Jimbob, Anna waited. She held the lutar, her eyes darting

to the high walls, and then into the lancer-held courtyard. Farinelli sidestepped once or twice,

almost as if to say that he was ready for a stall and some grain.

In less than half a glass, Himar rode back across the courtyard and out through the gates to Anna.

“The hold is ours."

“Was anyone hurt?”

“One lancer was stabbed with a kitchen knife by an armsman in red. That armsman will not stab

another. Other than that..." Himar shook his head. “Lord Jearle awaits you in the entry hall."

Anna dismounted, but kept the lutar, and let Rickel and Lejun, using their shields, lead the way

through the open double doors into the dimly lit entry hall.

Jearle stood, flanked by Defalkan armsmen, just inside the great entry hall of Westfort His face

was flushed as she stepped toward him, and his jaw seemed to quiver. A pair of armsmen in red

and black stood behind Jearle. Both wore twin scabbards, empty.

Carrying the already-tuned lutar, Anna stepped forward, accompanied by Rickel and Lejun.

Kinor advanced beside them, and Jimbob remained several paces behind the older redhead.

“I have invited you into Westfort, and this is how you have mocked me!” Jearle blustered. “The

Thirty-three will hear of this. They will, and they will strip your Regency."

“I was invited into a hold where all armsmen wore double blades,” Anna countered. “I was

invited into a hold that made no effort to break its siege while other lords hazarded all that they

had to help Defalk.”

Jearle studied Anna. “You knew Rabyn would invade Defalk. You knew he would attack

Westfort. Yet you took your forces into Ebra, and left us to fend for ourselves. You abandoned

the Thirty-three."

Doesn’t he understand anything? “No,” Anna said quietly. “I did not abandon the Thirty-three. I

returned, and your lands are safe, and will be for years to come. You made the decision two

years ago to allow Lord Behlem through your lands to save your soul and your lands and your

golds. Don’t condemn me for letting his son come into Defalk so that I could save it.”

“You play with words, Lady." Jearle’s face turned from red to almost purple.

Anna nodded. “Blaz, Fielmir. Tie up his lordship." Jearle lunged forward, coming up and in low

toward Anna with a thin shining dagger.

Although Rickel and Lejun closed shields, another figure was quicker.

“No!” Kinor crashed into the older lord, and both dagger and lord went down. The dagger slid

along the stones, leaving a trail of dark liquid.

“Poison!” snapped a voice from somewhere.