"I would hope that you could, my lady, but I know as little about the man as you. Less perhaps, for I do not see all that you do."

"Flattery-that's another danger of being Regent."

"Only if you heed it, my lady." Jecks smiled.

Anna enjoyed the smile. "How do you think Ustal will feel?"

"From the words he used in his scrolls, he will believe you have to come to confirm his claim. He will be angry if you do not."

"I've been afraid of that," Anna admitted. "If I don't, what will he do?"

"That is why you have armsmen and players, is it not, though he will not go that far, I think."

You think? Ah, yes... once more into the breach, dear friends, with flame and fire and sorcery-the sorceress' universal answer to each problem. Anna's lips curled into a sardonic, self-mocking smile. "I hope we don't have to use them.

The mirror showed no danger."

"That was before you decide," Jecks reminded her. "Hope you do not need sorcery, but prepare yourself to use it."

Anna nodded. Then she turned in the saddle and motioned for Skent and Himar to ride closer to her.

Jecks said nothing, but eased his mount back on the dusty road to allow the two others to ride beside the Regent."I will be talking," Anna began, "to Lord Ustal. Skent, I think you will see some of the younger folk. I would ask that you talk to them. Do not talk about Falcor or me, or as little as you can. Try to get them to talk to you. Ask about Fussen, about its prosperity, about the old lord, and only then about Ustal. Do not ask about any of the lord's family except him and his father." Anna glanced at Himar. "If you would do the same... and if there are one or two senior armsmen of ours that you trust totally, if you would ask them to do the same."

"We can do that, Lady Anna," affirmed Himar.

"Yes, Lady Anna," said Skent.

Anna then called for Liende, and went through her explanation with the chief player.

Liende smiled. "Players do talk, and we will hear what we can hear:"

When Liende had dropped back, and Jecks rode up beside Anna, he said in a low voice, "You did not ask me." His tone was not plaintive, but even, almost flat.

For a moment, Anna missed the twinkle in the hazel eyes. Then she laughed. "You!

You'll be with me most of the time. Besides, you have the brains to do that anyway."

A faint smile creased Jecks' lips. "You honor me too much"

"Enough of the false humility, you..." She shook her head.

Jecks said nothing, but his eyes were warm.

They had ridden no more than a half-dek closer to Fussen when the road curved slightly north. Less than fifty yards after the curve was a bridge that spanned a narrow rocky gorge less than ten yards wide. The bridge was wooden, heavy planks barely wide enough for a wagon and a single horse abreast, with flimsy- looking sides composed of two planks set sideways and fastened to posts attached to the planks and the two heavy timbers that formed the roadbed. Below the plank roadbed, the stream foamed through the narrow defile less than three yards below. The narrow bridge flexed noticeably as the scouts crossed, one after the other.

"A moment, Lady Anna." Himar eased his mount past Anna and Jecks and onto the bridge. Then he turned and rode back. "No more than two mounts on the bridge at once."

He motioned for Anna's guards-Kerhor and Blaz-to cross first.

Once the two were on the far side, Anna and Jecks followed. Farinelli's hoofs echoed on the heavy worn planks of the bridge. Anna could feel the narrow bridge flex. She glanced at Jecks.

"The bridge planks should be replaced," Jecks affirmed. "It would be dangerous for an ironmonger's wagon." With a quick look at Anna, he added, "and it should not be replaced through sorcery, my lady and Regent."

"Not now, at least," Anna agreed.

Lord Jecks snorted. "You would replace every bridge in Defalk, could you do so."

"And every major road that's dirt," she said pleasantly.Less than a hundred yards beyond the bridge, the road curved back through fields of maize that had grown saddle-high toward its previous course. A redstone wall a yard high and extending but five yards on either side of the road marked the eastern boundary of the town proper. At the wall, the maize ended, and beyond the gateless entry, the road was paved with slabs of red stone.

An inn stood on the left, its signboard portraying a pitcher tilted upside down with a single drop of ale clinging to the lip. Beyond the Last Drop Inn was a chandlery, also of red stone.

Anna shivered as she saw the emblem of the crossed candles, thinking about Forse's son, and the Darksong with which the young man in Pamr had infused his chandlery. Would Gatrune be able to shed more light on his actions?

Two men stood on the porch of the inn, their pale gray tunics tinged red by the light of the sun low above the western hills.

"...has to be the Regent ... Regency banner there."

"...looks young, like a boy..."

"...sorcery... what you expect from a sorceress..."

"...no good of her being here..."

"Better a Regent deciding than having house fight house..."

Anna strained, but she was already too far away to hear more. Red stone-that was the predominant building material in the town of Fussen. Redstone walls and dark-slate roofs. A few dwellings were of wattle and plaster, and some of wood, but Fussen was mainly solid stone and square.

Only a handful of people were on the streets or in the main square, and all studied the Regency banner and Anna, silently, unlike the two men at the Last Drop. She was almost relieved when she and Jecks reached the gateless walls at the west side of the town. There, beyond the town buildings, the road, its paving stones newer, angled up the slope to the keep, its entire length exposed to the parapets above.

Two lancers in maroon-and-green livery waited there. Both inclined their heads.

"Regent Anna?" asked the more slight and gray-haired armsman.

"She is the Lady Anna." Himar had edged his mount alongside Farinelli.

"Yes, I'm Anna," the Regent confirmed. "This is Lord Jecks of Elheld. He is head of the Council of Lords advising the Regency, the Lord High Counselor."

"Your grace and your honor, if you would but follow us."

Anna nodded, and the two armsmen turned their mounts.

"I am pleased to know that I am Lord High Counselor. I would that you had let me know such earlier." Jecks laughed softly.

"That's what you've been doing all along. I just thought you needed a t.i.tle to go with the work." Anna grinned.

The oiled wooden gates overlooking Fussen were bound with heavy strap iron and swung wide. Two rows of eight lancers in green and maroon formed an honor guard and an entry corridor that led to the back of the courtyard. As Anna and Jecksand Himar rode through the gates and neared the honor guard, a short fanfare- off-key-echoed from three trumpeters standing in the corner behind the lancers of Fussen.

A tall figure in green and maroon stepped forward toward Anna, even before she had reined Farinelli up. Ustal was tall for someone from Liedwahr, almost a head and a half taller than Anna, and a head taller than Jecks. His shimmering blood hair was square-cut level with his jaws, and his green tunic was spotless-and displayed his well-developed muscles effectively.

"A blond Prince Valiant," Anna murmured to herself squaring herself slightly in the saddle.

"Fussen welcomes the Regent and the Lord Counselor!" Ustal's voice was a strong baritone, true in tone. "Welcome to Fussen!" He bowed, then looked expectantly up at Anna.

Anna inclined her head. "We are most pleased to be here, and look forward to learning more about Fussen and meeting with you all." She offered a wide smile, hoping it wasn't too forced. "Lord Jecks, the Lord High Counselor. Overcaptain Himar. My chief of players, Liende, and one of our pages, Skent." As she finished the introductions, Anna wondered whom she'd forgotten.

"All of you are most welcome." Ustal extended a hand, as if to offer Anna a.s.sistance, but Anna swung out of the saddle, easily, hoping that after the long ride her legs wouldn't cramp when her boots touched the stones of the courtyard.

She managed standing erect without hanging on to the saddle, and got a low whuff from Farinelli, as if the big gelding were happy she had dismounted.

"It feels good to stand," she said, to cover the silence. "and to be here, Lord Ustal."

"We are pleased that you saw fit to visit Fussen, humble as it may be."

Anna just smiled once more, aware that Ustal could out-"please" her. He'd been raised on courtly nothings.

"Might I escort you...?"

"After I stable Farinelli." She nodded toward the gelding.

Ustal took a long look at the palomino. "Ah... it is true. He is a raider beast, and only you can... approach him?" The lord stepped toward Farinelli, as if to test what Anna had said.

The gelding snorted, edged back.

So did Ustal, nodding. "I will await you at the entrance there. Giesil will show you the guest stable." He smiled, formally. bowing again.

"Thank you. I won't be long." Anna returned the smile and followed the sour- faced armsman in maroon.

Even with Rickel and Blaz taking the saddle, blanket, saddlebags, and lutar from her, and leaving her to deal directly with Farinelli, stabling and grooming the gelding took Anna longer than normal. Her bands felt clumsy, and she knew she was too hungry and dehydrated to function well.

Finally, she gave Farinelli a last pat and picked up the lutar case. Rickel lifted off the saddlebags, and Blaz the mirror. Kerhor and Lejun remained empty-handed. All remained close behind Anna as she recrossed the courtyard in the fading light of day.

Standing inside the entrance, Ustal glanced from the four guards to Anna to Jecks, and back to the Regent.

"You are cautious."

"I've learned that nothing in Defalk is quite what it seems. Lord Ustal, and since I am a stranger, I must be more cautious than you might be in my position." Anna forced another smile.

"I understand. With Neserea so close to the west, we also have learned caution, if of a different type."

"I was not aware that the new Prophet had created trouble. Is this something I should know?"

"We know little here, save that Mansuuran lancers have been posted to Elioch, or somewhere near there."

"That's not surprising," Anna said. "The new Prophet is increasing his armsmen, and he would prefer the Mansuurans be as far from Esaria as possible."

"We should talk of such after you are refreshed. For you to have ridden here in four days is remarkable."

For a woman? Anna nodded. "It was a pleasant ride."

"Let me show you to the guest chambers, such as they are."

Ustal turned. Anna and Jecks followed through a set of heavy oak double doors, along a corridor, and up one set of stairs.

"There is the dining hall," said Ustal as he turned up the second set of redstone stairs.

The guest chamber was moderate in size, a single room with a tub shielded by a screen, and a large and ornate armoire in the corner by the tub. The bed was set under a headboard decorated with carved hunting scenes, and a settee rested at the footboard. Under one open window was a writing desk.

A small alcove led to a curtained jakes set against the outer wall.

"This is very pleasant." Anna smiled and inclined her head to Ustal.

"I will send up the servants with hot water. Once you are refreshed, we look forward to seeing you at dinner and showing you the cooking of Fussen."

"I also look forward to that." Anna inclined her head.

Ustal bowed and eased out of the chamber. Rickel and Blaz deposited her mirror and saddlebags, then slipped out to station themselves outside her door.

Anna looked at Jecks and smiled. "I'll see you in a bit."

He smiled back and bowed.

While waiting for the servants and the water, Anna took the mirror from where Blaz had set it on the settee and eased it from its case, setting it on the writing table. Then she took out the lutar and tuned it. Next came thevocalises, and more coughing and mucus than she would have liked. Finally, she was ready for the spell.

Show from Fussen. danger to fear, Ustal's threats to me bright and clear....

When the mirror remained blank silver, Anna tried a second spell.

Mirror, mirror, in your frame, Show me young Ustal in his fame, Where'er he may stand or be, Show him now to me.

The mirror silvered, then showed Ustal in a sitting room, pacing before a dark- haired and pale young woman, who was seated on a low couch at the foot of a large bedstead. Ustal stopped and leveled an index finger at her accusingly, almost violently. The woman, wearing a tentlike dress, seemed to cringe from each motion of the pointed finger offered by the young lord. Anna realized the woman was pregnant, and nodded to herself, quickly singing a release couplet to cut off the image in the gla.s.s. So... Ustal is not the pleasant soul in private.

Anna's lips tightened as she set the lutar on the bed and sank into the straight-backed chair, waiting for the servants with the water.

Once the servants arrived-three young girls, each with two large buckets-Lejun accompanied them in, standing between Anna and the servants.

When the chamber was clear again, Anna slipped the iron bolt and bathed, after using another spell to clean and reheat the water-and getting a throbbing headache with the third spell. After bathing, and after ma.s.saging her forehead, she slipped into the single green gown she had brought, and into the green slipper shoes, and studied herself in the mirror.

The figure looking back from the gla.s.s had blonde hair cut short, shorter than a bob. The fine features were those of a more mature woman than would have belonged to the almost girlish figure below-trim and muscular, with lightly tanned and flawless skin and clear blue eyes that looked like those of an eighteen-year-old-except for the darkness behind them. Even without makeup and jewelry, she looked nearly regal. Careful... don't flatter yourself. Regal is as regal does.

After a last look in the gla.s.s, Anna turned and left the guest chamber. As she stepped through the heavy oak door, she found Jecks waiting, standing beside Lejun. Clean-shaven and washed, in the blue of Elheld, he bowed.

"You look most handsome, my lord," Anna said. Incredibly handsome... and what am I to do with you... with us?

"You are... more than beautiful, my lady. You always surprise me." The slight huskiness in his compliments discomfited Anna, and she spoke quickly to cover her vulnerability. "Thank you. Shall we see what we can discover about Lord Ustal?"

Jecks looked at Anna. "You are worried."

"Shouldn't I be? Ustal looks like the perfect Defalkan lord. He's handsome, probably as strong as a bull. He says the right things, and he expects to get his way."