"He cares for you."

"I know... care for him."

Anna put a hand on her forehead again. "Try to rest."

Lysara closed her eyes even before Anna left the room and gently shut the door behind her.

"What do you think, Regent?" whispered Tiersen.

"So far, she's all right. I think Liende got the alcohol through the entire wound. That's probably one reason she's tired. It had to hurt, but... it might do the job." You hope...

Tiersen swallowed. "The healer said... most don't live with a cut that deep. She said you did, though."Anna patted his shoulder. "We'll have to see." Is there anything else you could do any sorcery? That isn't Darksong? "I'll send someone up. She told me to tell you to get some sleep. You can come back later."

"I wasn't there," "Tiersen mumbled. "I tried."

Anna touched his shoulder. "You did what you could. That's all any of us can do." And that sort of rationalization doesn't help much at all. After a moment, she picked up the lutar and headed back down the stairs to the main level. So much for the safety of fosterlings in Falcor. She was lucky ... so far... that the children of the various lords were still alive. The pages and Lysara had taken the worst of it, and Lysara looked better than she had a right to, especially in Defalk.

Anna made a mental note to use the spell to distill more alcohol.

She stopped outside the receiving room and looked at the strawberry blond guard.

"Rickel... I have a favor to ask. Could you spare either Blaz or Lejun to relieve young Tiersen? He's been standing guard outside the door of Lord Birfels' daughter's room since last night." Anna paused, then added. "Lysara was one of the targets of the raid."

Rickel nodded. "I have already asked Overcaptain Himar for some men he would trust as guards for you, and I would have to work with them at first anyway."

Blaz smiled. "The young lord fought his way across the courtyard, they said, like a wild man. I would be happy to let him rest."

"We will take care of it, Lady Anna," Rickel affirmed.

"Thank you both." Anna offered a heartfelt smile.

As she stepped into the receiving room, carrying the lutar in her left hand, Anna looked at the blackened lines on the walls and then down at those etched on the floor stones. She supposed they could be removed by sorcery, but that wasn't exactly her highest priority-not with injured lancers and even fewer armsmen than ever-and an invader ravaging the western part of Defalk. And whose fault is that?

Her stomach growled, the result of eating too much, too quickly, and under too much tension, yet knowing that if she did not eat, the results could easily be worse, especially if she had to do more sorcery. Recently, she'd had to sing more spells than she'd antic.i.p.ated, and not under the best of conditions.

That recalled something else. If she were to confront Rabyn. that meant sorcery, and she couldn't afford to keep getting caught off guard. She made a mental note to ensure that she always had bread and hard crackers in a small pouch beside her saddle so that her blood sugar didn't totally crash-and to drink lots of water whether she felt like it or not. The only problem with those ideas was that medieval-style nutrition wasn't conducive either to carbohydrate loading or to quick and heavy sugar intakes.

She picked up the quill, dipped it and jotted down the idea of a food pouch.

Maybe if it's handy...

Surprisingly, after the turmoil of the last day, the scrolls lay where she had left them, and after she replaced the lutar in its case, she bent and retrieved the one she had dropped the afternoon before. She did not read the rivermen's pet.i.tion again, but set it back on the table with the others.

The morning rain beat on the shutters. Would it pa.s.s, or would it rain for days and leave the roads a mess? A mess... the way things have been going lately.She glanced at the scrolls. They could wait a moment, perhaps longer, because there was no way, with the rain, the injuries, and the attack, that she was leaving Defalk on the next day. According to what she and Himar had figured out, in the gla.s.s or so of fighting, Lord Dannel's surprise attack had killed another twoscore of Anna's armsmen and lancers, one of the cooks, a stable boy, probably a dozen townspeople, Giellum, and Resor. Cens and Barat would recover, and hopefully, Lysara. Ytrude had a shallow slash on one arm. The toll on Lord Dannel's forces was complete-more than tenscore bodies, plus Dannel and three others-presumably Hoede and his two older brothers.

On the positive side, if it could be called positive, Tirsik and the stable boys had rounded up over a hundred mounts, and most of the lances and blades of the invaders had been recovered as well. Now... if you had armsmen and lancers to wield them.

She looked at the scrolls again. They weren't going away. Perhaps she could deal with some of them. She pulled up the chair. Setting aside the rivermen's pet.i.tion, she lifted the next scroll and began to read.

Nearly a gla.s.s had pa.s.sed, and her eyes were watering when Anna stood, made her way to the doors, and peered out of the receiving room. "Do we have any pages or messengers?"

Besides Rickel and Lejun, three young women stood there- Alseta, Cataryzna, and Ytrude.

"We thought we could do it, Lady Anna," announced the blonde Cataryzna. "Kinor's really almost a subofficer now, and Tiersen is still guarding Lysara."

Anna smiled. She should have seen that one coming. "Fine. But only within the liedburg for right now."

The three nodded. So did Lejun, standing beside the door.

Then she paused. "Is Tiersen still up there?"

"Oh, no... Blaz took his place," answered Cataryzna. "Tiersen was so tired that he didn't protest."

"Not more than a half-score of times, anyway," quipped Alseta.

"Oh... will one of you-beside Ytrude-ask Lord Jecks to meet me outside the scrying room in half a gla.s.s-if he can. If he can't, please let me know." Anna looked at Ytrude. 'I'd like to talk to you, Ytrude." At the look of concern that crossed the face of the tall and gangly blonde, Anna added, "It's nothing bad."

"I'll find Lord Jecks," offered the strawberry blonde Alseta, her thin face revealing the animation that once had marked her mother Liende's face, Anna suspected.

Anna gestured for Ytrude to enter the receiving room.

The tall blonde shivered as she stepped inside. "What do you wish of me? Have I offended you, my lady? Even if I have, don't send me back to Dubaria."

After closing the door, Anna held up a hand. "Wait. Listen to me before you jump to conclusions... and sit down. And no, you haven't offended me in any way." The Regent took the seat behind the table, not the gilt chair on the dais where she formally received people.Slowly, Ytrude eased herself into one of the straight-backed chairs that matched the one in which Anna sat. Her eyes did not meet the Regent's.

"First. I have some news. It's not very good." Anna paused. studying the tall blonde girl across the table from her.

Ytrude swallowed. "Father?"

"No...so far as I know, your father is fine. So is Tiersen, other than being exhausted from staying up worrying about Lysara."

"Lysara? Will she be all right?"

"I think so... but I don't know," Anna replied honestly. "It's about your aunt, the lady Gatrune. There was a rebellion in Pamr. It was led by a darksinger. He and his followers killed about twoscore of my lancers. We couldn't reach your aunt's holding in time. They killed her and Kyrun, and everyone else. I'm sorry.

I wish I didn't have to be the one to tell you." Anna paused briefly, then added, "None of the rebels survived."

Ytrude looked down. "She was good. Everyone said she was. Why? Why would they kill her?"

"For the same reason that Lord Ehara sent armsmen into Defalk or Lord Bertmynn slaughtered hundreds of freewomen in Elahwa." Anna knew her answer wasn't strictly and factually true, but in spirit, it was. Neither Fa.r.s.enn nor his father had been able to accept women as anymore than objects, and both were willing to kill to preserve their belief. And both had died. along with a lot of other innocents.

"Does... father know?"

"I don't think so. We returned as quickly as possible. I had meant to send a messenger, but then Lord Dannel..."

Ytrude nodded.

"After we finish, I will be sending a scroll to him." Anna paused, then added, "In a way, the other thing I wanted to talk over with you is tied up with your aunt. I have a task for you- if your father consents, and if you're willing."

The shy blonde forced her eyes from the floor stones and raised her head so that she looked down at Anna. "Yes, Lady Anna?"

"You recall that the lady Herene was acting as guardian for Lord Sargol's heirs?"

"Oh, yes. Is she ill or...?" Ytrude shook her head. "Of course..."

"She's your father's youngest sister, isn't she?"

"Kylera was, but she died of the flux two years ago, and she never consorted.

I'm glad you're not considering Je'elasia. She was only a half sister to Lord Kysar."

"Lady Herene is the only heir to Pamr." The only one you'll consider. "She needs to return there as soon as possible. I need someone I can trust to run the holding at Suhl and ensure that Dinfan and her brothers are tutored and cared for. Would you be interested?""Me?" Ytrude looked down again, then forced her eyes to meet Anna's. "I am honored... but why would you ask me?"

"I had already thought of you, but after yesterday and today, I'm even more certain you'd do a good job. If you are willing, I'll send a scroll to your father, saying that I will send you to Suhl, unless he voices any objection."

"He will not," Ytrude said with a surprising smile that faded with her next words. "He will be most upset at my aunt's death. He will say not a word, but be will grieve. He will like my being a tutor in Suhl. Such a task would show you find favor with me and make me more attractive as a consort."

Is that all these girls think about? "Do you want to be someone's consort?"

Ytrude looked down again for a moment, her posture recalling the extreme shyness she had shown when she had first come to Falcor. "I would like to find favor in a consort's eyes." Her eyes slowly lifted. "If he found favor in mine."

"You do not have to accept the first offer," Anna said. "Or any offer."

'Thank you, Lady Anna." Ytrude moistened her lips. "It is said that Lord Dannel attacked you because you would not allow Lysara to consort with Hoede. Is that so?"

Anna nodded. "Yes. Lysara did not wish to be Hoede's consort."

Ytrude licked her lips again.

"I can't promise you a true love, Ytrude," Anna said. "But I will stand behind you if you cannot abide someone proposed as consort for you."

The tall girl nodded slowly. 'Thank you. We all thank you."

'That's all I wanted to tell you," Anna said, standing.

Ytrude rose quickly. "By your leave, Regent."

"By my leave," Anna replied softly. "I will send the scroll to your father by tomorrow."

Once the door closed, she seated herself at the table and began to draft the scroll that would contain the news of Gatrune's death and Anna's request for Ytrude to Lord Nelmor. Each word was difficult. How do you tell someone that his sister died? Anna wasn't about to take the total blame for it, even if it had occurred at least indirectly because Anna had killed Fa.r.s.enn's father in defending herself. And she couldn't say to the touchy Nelmor that part of the problem was that men in Defalk had an excessively exaggerated self-esteem. Don't most men anywhere? Even on Earth? She snorted. Most people did. She decided to concentrate on Gatrune's efforts and the resentment held against women in power by the chandler, and she added words about her actions in destroying all those a.s.sociated with Fa.r.s.enn. Nelmor would want to know what Anna had done to avenge his sister-that Anna did know. She took a deep breath Then she smiled, thinking about Lysara and Tiersen. Please let it work out for them. She wasn't even sure to whom or what she addressed the short prayer.

She dipped the quill again and resumed the draft to Nelmor. Then she began the second draft, the one to Herene. After it was completed, and laid out to dry beside the one to Nelmor, she stood and picked up the lutar case and opened the receiving-room door."I understand the pages"-Rickel grinned without looking at either Ytrude or Cataryzna-"let you know that Blaz has relieved young Tiersen." Rickel's smile dropped as he gestured to the swarthy and stocky man at the other side of the receiving-room door. "This is Fielmir. He was in the purple company. Overcaptain Himar thinks highly of him."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Fielmir."

The black-haired guard bowed. "I will do my very best, lady."

"We all do," Rickel said.

"I'm sure you will"

The two followed her up to the scrying room where, outside the door, Jecks waited.

"You requested my presence, Regent." Jecks' voice was cool. Anna supposed she deserved the chill. "I did. I wanted you to help me when I use the pool to see what I can discover about scheming before we decide what to do about Rabyn. And how quickly I need to leave Falcor." As she opened the door and stepped into the room that held the scrying pool, she gestured vaguely toward the unseen sky. "If this rain continues, I may not have much choice."

"The rain will pa.s.s. One can see the lighter clouds to the east."

"I hope you're right." She let Jecks close the door. "I'm going to try to see if the pool will tell me who else might be scheming against us. Before leaving Falcor."

"After yesterday, that would be wise."

Anna eased the lutar from the case and began to tune it. "What about your neighbors?"

Jecks frowned before he spoke. "Clethner will not scheme against you, nor will Vyarl. I would not trust Genrica so far as one could hurl a mount with one hand, although it is said he is most ill. Fustar.. . I do not know well."

"Well.. . we'll see." Anna took another deep breath before launching into the scrying spell.

Those in the Thirty-three who plot and scheme against me, show them now and show them clear...

Six separate images appeared. Anna just looked. Six! Was she that poor a Regent?

Even Jecks scowled.

"Do you recognize any of them?" asked Anna.

"That... that is Lord Fustar, and there is Lord Genrica of Wendell, and Lord Tybel... there, I think..."

"That's Jearle, and there's Ustal. And Klestayr." Anna paused to study the images before adding, "I think you're right about that being Lord Tybel..." She pointed to the image of a man with frizzy hair that was half henna brown and half gray. "He looks like Anientta."

"I have not met the woman, and Tybel but once when he was far younger.""Six of them." Anna shook her head. "I'm trying to make this country safe for everyone, including the lords. They don't seem to care. I'm attacked in the country's liedburg, and there are six more lords standing in line to do something else." The way Defalk operates... there won't be any Magna Carta... no privileges for the lords... except you're sounding Like a tyrant yourself. She turned to Jecks. "What am I supposed to do- replace every f.u.c.king son-of-a- b.i.t.c.hing lord in the entire land?"

At the vehemence of her words, perhaps its obvious crudity, even Jecks swallowed.

"I'm risking my life, your life, the heir's life, and all people like Dannel and Genrica-yes, I've heard the stories-all they want to do is screw every available woman in sight... and grab every piece of land they can, and they'll do it even if it means that it will tear the country apart..."

"Men are not..."

"No! It's not just men. There are just more of them in power," snapped Anna.

"Anientta's every bit as bad, poisoning her consort, and probably trying to do the same to her father. You people deserve a frigging tyrant! An Evult or a Liedfuhr! You deserve the Wicked Witch of the West." She found herself glaring at Jecks. She didn't like that, and she sighed. "It's not you."

"Mayhap..." Jecks drawled out the word. "Yet... if you would change Defalk, best you understand why Dannel attacked."

Anna forced herself to take another deep breath. "Go ahead. Tell me."

"You destroyed all hope for his son." Jecks held up a hand. "Hoede is the third or fourth in line to hold Mossbach . . . under the old way of inheriting. If he consorts with Lysara, there would always have been the chance for him to hold Abenfel. It would not be a great chance, but a better chance than becoming Lord of Mossbach. You removed that chance, and struck at Dannel's pride by suggesting that a woman was more to be considered than Hoede." Jecks shrugged. "That is the way the lords of the north think-or many of them."

"It's that important..." Anna shook her head. "I'm not sure I'll ever understand. He'd rather kill me and have Defalk under that creep Rabyn than accept that his son is an incompetent thick-skulled dunderhead?"