"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
1
TWO sorceresses stood beside the scrying pool in the domed outbuilding that lay to the south of the main keep of Loiseau. The taller woman had fine white-blonde hair, hair that could have belonged to the young woman of nineteen that her appearance conveyed. Her thin and finely drawn face was without blemish, without lines, and her piercing blue eyes were clear. Only the fineness of Anna’s features attested to her true age. Her figure was nearly as slender, and far more girlish than that of the smaller redhead who stood next to her.
Anna eased into a straight-backed chair behind the small writing table, then looked at the redhead. “Secca...our good Lord Robero has requested that you visit him at Elheld, preferably within the next two weeks.”
“Doubtless he has yet another heir or lord for me to meet, Lady Anna.” Secca’s mouth offered a sardonic smile as she perched on the tiled edge of the scrying pool. Part of her smile was because Anna had never been able to say “Robero” without a twist to her lips. Then Secca had difficulty herself. When Secca had been growing up in Falcor under Anna’s tutelege, Robero had been “Jimbob.” Only when he’d become Lord of Defalk had he decided “Jimbob” was too undignified and changed his name to Robero. “After all these years, he would still have me consorted.”
“You aren’t thatold.” Anna added, “He doesn’t understand you, but he does care for you.”
“That may be, for he understands women not at all. He understands but strength and power, and that is why he respects you, lady.”
Anna sighed gently. “I wish it were otherwise. Certainly we tried.”
Secca nodded sympathetically. While Anna almost never used Lord Jecks’ name, Anna often said “we” when referring to what the two had accomplished for Defalk in the less than half score of years when Anna had been regent and sole ruler of Defalk. The former regent spoke seldom of Lord Jecks, but Secca had seen the lamps of Anna’s rooms still lit late into many nights over the ten years since his death. While Anna and Jecks had been friends and certainly lovers, consorting had been out of the question. ThatSecca had understood from the beginning, when Anna had effectively adopted her after the deaths of Secca’s parents, for Jecks had been a powerful lord in his own right, and the grandsire of Lord Robero, during the time when Anna had been Sorceress-Regent for the underage Robero.
“Despite his inclinations, Robero has learned much,“ Anna continued, “and I am thankful for Alyssa.”
“So am I,“ replied Secca.
“You know I never would have consorted you to him.”
“Alyssa made it that much easier.”
The two sorceresses laughed. Then Anna cleared her throat.
“You have something else I am to do?” asked Secca.
“Kylar...” Anna said.
Secca winced. “The one who suffocated his consort and claimed she died of consumption?” Anna nodded.
“You wish me to go to Issl as well?”
“I think you should go there first.” The older sorceress smiled. “You will be paying my respects to Lord Fustar. He will be most happy to see your young and smiling face.” The smile vanished. “The pool shows that Kylar does not understand what has happened in Defalk, and that he will abuse any woman he can. He now seeks yet another consort.” Anna looked at Secca. “You understand how you must deal with Kylar, and with Lord Fustar? Nothing must happen to Kylar while you are at Issl.”
“I understand, lady. Nothing will occur.” Secca inclined her head. “I could take the players, and we could stop and add a dek to the road between Mencha and the River Chean on the south end, and then add another dek or so on our return journey from Elheld.”
Anna shook her head. “You dislike Robero, and yet you would work to finish paving the road he demands.”
“Why not? He is likely to be lord for many years to come, and it will speed our travel from Loiseau to Elheld.” She laughed. “At times, I would that there were other ways to build his roads.”
“In Defalk, there are no other ways.” Anna shook her head. “Robero doesn’t have enough men or engineers--or the golds to pay for them--and he cannot call on the Lords for anything other than their liedgeld and their levies in battle.”
“So we must build roads and bridges.”
“It’s not all drudgery without rewards, Secca,“ Anna pointed out. “People know we build roads and bridges, and it helps associate sorcery with good things. Given how this land has regarded sorceresses in the past, that’s not all bad.”
“I know.” Secca grinned suddenly. “I could also use sorcery to repair a wall or bridge or something for Lord Fustar...as a gesture from Loiseau.”
The older sorceress smiled. “That might help.”
“It is hard to see shadows in the light of a favor.”
“Sometimes,“ Anna replied. “Sometimes. Other times, light makes the shadows more obvious. This time, I think you’re right.”
“When should I leave? Tomorrow?”
“If you wish to spend time on the highway and several days being a charming guest at Issl.”
Secca nodded, then tilted her head. “Lady Anna?”
“Yes? You have that serious tone.”
“I would that you would wait until I return before you send your next scroll to your daughter in the Mist Worlds.”
Anna nodded politely.
“At least I could play for you and lessen the effort.”
“We will see,“ replied the Sorceress and Lady of Mencha. “I’m not ancient yet.”
“Lady...” Secca tried not to plead, but to convey her concern.
“Secca...” Anna laughed. “Don’t turn me into a doddering old lady.”
“No one could do that.” The younger sorceress smiled at Anna’s tone, smiled in spite of her worries, for she had seen the deepening darkness behind her foster-mother’s eyes, and sensed the ever-increasing strain that even the lightest of Clearsong spells placed on Anna, for all that Anna looked little different from what she had more than a score of years earlier when first she had arrived in Defalk from the Mist Worlds.
Copyright © 2001 by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 11799545-6
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001336721
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR001386148
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.62. Seller Inventory # G184149089XI3N00
Book Description Condition: vg++. vg++ 1st Orbit 2002 edition paperback, In stock shipped from our UK warehouse. Seller Inventory # 191388
Book Description Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. Seller Inventory # 353-184149089X-gdd
Book Description Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. Shows only minor signs of wear, and very minimal markings inside (if any). Seller Inventory # 353-184149089X-vrg
Book Description paperback. Condition: Good. Book is in good condition. All pages are intact and unmarked. Creasing to the spine. Seller Inventory # G0229944
Book Description Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9781841490892
Book Description Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781841490892