The Soprano Sorceress: The First Book of the Spellsong Cycle (28 page)

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Authors: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

BOOK: The Soprano Sorceress: The First Book of the Spellsong Cycle

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“Sorcerers and sorceresses are not as powerful as the technology wizards, not in my land,” Anna said carefully. “Our worlds are very different in that way. The technology wizards build steel birds … that carry hundreds of men thousands of leagues in the air, or they can destroy whole cities in the blink of an eye.”

“Could not you have brought such magics here? Rather than uncertain sorcery?” asked Anientta.

“Such technology magic does not work here. I brought a few things, but they are useless.” Anna forced a smile, repeating, “Our worlds are different.”

Anientta opened her mouth, then closed it as a square-faced man with short-cut black hair walked up and stopped short of the table. His leathers were worn, but clean, and he wore a pale green sash. A blade hung from the left side of his worn and broad belt, matched by a knife on the right. “You sent for me, lord?”

Hryding rose. “I did. Might I present you to the lady Anna? This is my captain Gestatr.”

Anna stood also. She had seen the man before, although she did not know where, but it had to have been at the Sand Pass fort, since it could have been nowhere else.

“Lady.” Gestatr inclined his head.

“Captain. Did I see you at the Sand Pass?”

“Yes, lady.” Gestatr looked at Anna. “Lady … you are the same … and different, but I cannot say how.”

“Battles have a way of changing things,” Daffyd suggested.

“That they do, master player. That they do.” The captain slipped into the chair that Nerio had brought. “But the lady appears … more rested … younger.”

Anna and Hryding sat down.

“You were in charge of Lord Hryding’s forces … .” ventured Daffyd.

Gestatr glanced toward the lord, then nodded. “There were not many of us there. Synope has one of the lower calls.” He laughed, almost bitterly. “That was what saved us. We were marshaled above the stables, to provide assistance to larger groups. Afterwards, Captain Firis—he was some lord’s captain—just told us to head home, that our lord would need us in the days to come.” Gestatr laughed. “So we did. No one seemed to want us, and there wasn’t much point in throwing away less than twoscore lives.”

“Your call was only twoscore?” asked Anna. Lord Jecks had been required to bring ten times that.

“Unhappily … no. We had fourscore. Twoscore is what I brought back, and reckoned us lucky for that after the thunderbolts and the Ebran archers.”

Nerio reappeared. “The table is ready, ser.”

“Good.” Hryding stood.

So did everyone else.

Anna and Daffyd followed the lord and his lady out from under the high awning and into the sunlight, along the terrace wall. Gestatr walked on Anna’s left.

In the courtyard below was a central plaza surrounded by a miniature park, with grass, trees, flowers, and the fountain Anna had predicted. The group walked halfway around the upper level of the hall until they stood under a second awning almost directly across the courtyard from where they had been sitting. The long table, covered with a pale green cloth, was set for seven, a place at the head, and three on each side.

Hryding stopped behind the head chair and gestured to
the place at his left. “Lady Anna.” Then to the place beside Anna. “Ser player.”

“The children?” asked the lord, still standing.

“I hear them,” answered Anientta.

The ubiquitous Nerio arrived, following a boy and a smaller girl, almost as though the servitor were a rear guard.

“This is Kurik.” Anientta smiled at the sandy-haired boy. “He’s ten. His older brother Jeron is out riding with my sire today.”

Kurik was a square and stocky boy with a too-round face and a spoiled look about him that Anna didn’t like. His smile was perfunctory, and his bow more so.

Standing at the corner of the table was a petite red-haired girl with bright green eyes. Like her brother, she wore a pale green armless tunic, trimmed in silver, and trousers. She was barefoot, while Kurik wore boots. That bothered Anna. So did the fact that Kurik plopped himself into his chair beside his mother’s place without even a glance at either his father or mother.

“This is Secca. She is my youngest.” Anientta’s smile was marginally tighter.

The redheaded girl nodded, and bowed to her father.

“You may sit,” Hryding said. “Everyone … please.”

Anna was glad of that. She’d not drunk much of the berry juice, and her head hurt. Hunger did that to her, and she’d been a lot hungrier of late, a lot hungrier. She slipped into the high-backed wooden chair, following Hryding’s example.

Secca reminded Anna of Elizabetta, and the sorceress’s eyes filled. Anna swallowed, and looked down. “She’s precious … .” the sorceress said huskily, and looked down.

“You are upset by a child?” asked Anientta, drawing her chair up to the table.

“No—not upset, not that way. I was summoned here … and my children … they …” Anna tightened her lips and shook her head. Battles she could handle, and lecherous men, and riding, and wounds—but not children.

“You are so young … so very young.”

Anna ignored the condescending tone and blotted her eyes, hating herself for revealing the pain. “My oldest daughter would have been almost as old as you, Lady Anientta. My son is twenty-four, and my youngest daughter, who looked like … Secca here … she is eighteen.”

Hryding was the one to swallow. “Even for a sorceress … that is hard to believe … . Your seeming youth …”

“The price was high. Very high, and it wasn’t even my choice.” Anna looked down at the neatly arranged apple slices on the plate at her place, then toward Secca.

Hryding and Anientta glanced toward Daffyd.

“She did not seek it. Somehow it happened when Lord Brill died and the darksingers were trying to bring down the fort. Lady Anna destroyed the darksingers close to the fort and almost half the Ebran armsmen before she could do no more.” Daffyd offered a shrug.

“I thought sorceresses could do anything they wanted,” Secca announced.

“Oh, how I wish … .” Anna smiled at the girl. “You do look like Elizabetta.”

“Elizabetta—that’s a pretty name. Is she pretty?”

“She is, just like you are.”

Secca blushed.

“Ahh …” Gestatr cleared his throat. “I did see part of that, Lady Anientta. The sorceress stood on the open battlements and threw her own whips of fire at the Ebrans. She destroyed more than half their forces. That’s why we got away after they crushed the walls. They had to bring up reinforcements from deks back.” He nodded toward Anna. “I saw her fall. That’s why I thought they’d felled her.”

“I did fall,” Anna said.

“But why, if you are so great?” asked Anientta.

Anna wanted to flame the bitchy lady, who seemed determined to put Anna down with every word.

“It’s like a horse, or a runner, that gallops at full speed. That’s sorcery,” Daffyd explained. “You run too long, and you fall. Sometimes, sorcerers die from trying to do too much. Lady Anna was trying to hold back the Ebrans by
herself after Lord Brill died. She killed so many that the moat was filled with bodies, but the dark ones kept coming.” The player shivered.

“You must be the most powerful sorceress ever,” said Secca.

“I don’t think so, young lady.” Anna smiled again at the girl.

Nerio had moved silently from one diner to the next as they talked, filling the goblets, pewter like the ones that had held the berry juice, with a dark red wine. The two children got splashes of wine, and a second set of goblets filled with the berry juice.

“To our guests,” offered Hryding once the goblets were filled.

Anna took the smallest sip of the wine, then a slightly larger one after she realized that it was decent, not vinegary like Brill’s.

Hryding broke off a chunk of bread, lighter, ryelike, and passed the basket to Anna. She took some and passed it across to Anientta.

“Surely, you could do good works here, Lady Anna? Would not a patron make your life more secure?” asked Hryding.

It probably would, but not with your consort’s attitude toward me
, Anna thought, saying instead, “Right now, Lord Hryding, most of what I know is how to destroy, and a number of powerful people are seeking me. Some have already tried to kill me.”

“She took a war arrow through the shoulder several weeks before the battle for the Sand Pass,” Daffyd announced.

“You are more durable than you appear,” Hryding said. “Or enchantment covers your wounds.”

“They’ve healed—with some help.”

Hryding raised his eyebrows.

“I know some ways to make healing … antiseptics … and Lord Brill … provided some help.”

“Darksong is dangerous, it’s said,” mused Gestatr.

“He seldom used it,” Daffyd said. “But he felt the Lady Anna would be of great help—otherwise, why would the dark ones have tried so hard to kill her?”

“I saw why,” added Gestatr. “I doubt that the dark ones have ever taken such losses.”

“So … why are you here?” asked Anientta.

“Where else would I go?” countered Anna politely. “Mencha was about to fall to the dark ones, and I know no one else in all of Liedwahr, except for people who died in the battle. Daffyd’s sister has been kind enough to guest me.”

“You intend to stay here … ?” Anientta raised her eyebrow again.

“No. I had thought to head back to Falcor.” Anna realized how lame her words might sound, and tried to strengthen them. “I would like to stop the dark ones. They need to be stopped.”

“Why do you not wish to return home … to your children?” asked Anientta, a skeptical tone in her voice. “You are, still, a mother.”

“I would like that—except that I cannot send myself home, and no one I have yet encountered knows how. Some claim it cannot be done at all.” Anna shrugged. “And if the dark ones win, I have been led to believe that there will be no way to return.”

“You cannot send—”

“Anientta,” said Hryding firmly, “even
I
know that the most basic rule of sorcery is that a sorcerer—or a sorceress—can do nothing to affect herself directly. Now that Lord Brill is dead, there are no other powerful sorcerers in Defalk or anywhere close. Lady Anna’s choices are, perforce, rather limited.”

“What would you hope to find in Falcor?” Gestatr’s voice was openly curious.

That is a damned good question,
Anna thought
. What do I think I’ll find there?
“I do not know.” She offered a rueful smile. “Except that I feel I must.”

Hryding nodded slowly. “Sometimes, what we feel is
indeed what we must do.” Then he smiled. “Enough of this serious stuff. Pass the meat!”

“Might I have more berry juice?” asked Secca, squirming ever so slightly in her chair across the table from Anna and Daffyd.

“That could be arranged,” laughed Hryding, nodding at Nerio, who eased toward the little redhead.

Anna studied the girl’s open face, thinking about how long it had been since Elizabetta or Mario—or Irenia—had been that young. Irenia … why Irenia? Why any child or young person?

And why was she getting more and more deeply involved in a war in a place she’d never even heard of—or dreamed about? Why her?

Anna the sorceress took a sip of the wine, only a sip, and mellow as it was, the vintage tasted bitter.

T
he faintest breeze ruffled the roof awning, and Anna looked up toward the end of the garden where Anientta worked on something that seemed to be cross-stitch. The lady of Flossbend never looked at Anna, but the sorceress felt a constant scrutiny.

Anna laughed silently. Let Anientta scrutinize. Anna hadn’t the faintest interest in Hryding, except that he seemed a decent sort in a place where decency was a luxury. Then her eyes went to the little redhead across the table from her.

Secca stared intently at the game board, then picked up two of the black stones and placed them in adjacent slots in the lattice to Anna’s far right. “There!”

Vorkoffe was similar to the box game Anna had played in college, where whoever got the most boxes completed
won, but in Liedwahr the object was to distribute stones by twos. Five stones completed a lattice.

So far Anna was holding her own. She’d lost the first several games, but had won the last, not that winning or losing was any great gain or loss, but she hated to seem incompetent.

Anna spread her two stones, placing them in the lattices at the opposite corners of the board.

“I don’t like it when you do that, Lady Anna.” Secca said, with a hint of a pout.

“No pouting.” Anna laughed. “Do you know that when I was your age, every time I started to pout, or stick my lip out … do you know what my mother said?”

“What?” Secca grinned. “That must have been a long time ago,” she added.

“She said that she could ride my lip all the way to town.”

Secca laughed. “Was your mother blonde? Only people from Pelara are blonde.”

“She wasn’t blonde. She had reddish brown hair, and she was from a place called Cumberland, in the mountains.”

“Oh … here’s father.”

Anna turned her head.

Hryding stood in the archway, his eyes flickering from Anna to Anientta, and then back again. Finally, he walked over, a scroll rolled tightly and held in his left hand. “Secca … I need to talk to the lady Anna for a moment. It will only be a moment.”

“Promise?”

“I promise, little one.” Hryding laughed, and Secca scampered toward Anientta.

“I beat her, Mommy. I beat the lady Anna!”

Anientta set down her needlepoint.

“Have you ever played Vorkoffe before?” Hryding asked.

“No, but I’m learning.”

“I have just received a message—or a proclamation,”
said Hryding wryly, “from the self-styled Prophet of Music, Lord Behlem.”

“Oh?” Anna’s stomach tightened. If Daffyd had been correct, Behlem was one of those seeking her.

The awning fluttered lightly in a breeze that died almost immediately.

“Some of it applies to me … .” The Lord of Synope’s words faded as he unrolled the parchment and began to read.

“‘All lords, regardless of past acts or loyalties, are requested to accept the sovereignty of Neserea as necessary to protect their lands and lives from the depredations of Ebra. Lords are requested to offer their levies and trained armsmen to the Prophet of Music, as they would have to the former Lord of Defalk … .’” Hryding paused, then commented, “A very polite way of saying that we can keep what we have if we support his claim to Defalk. The next part is the one of interest to you.”

Anna waited.

“‘Further, it is also requested that the sorceress known as the lady Anna also offer her loyalty, and with that loyalty from henceforth her standing as a lady of Defalk and Neserea is recognized and affirmed, and none shall impede her in her travels to Falcor or in the performance of her duties in support of the lands. Furthermore, any who impede, or otherwise attempt discourtesy or harm, shall be considered as enemies of the realms … .’” Hryding cleared his throat and paused. “There’s not much more, except flowery words suggesting that Behlem will return Defalk to its former glory and that we all should be grateful that he and his armsmen have arrived to save us from the Ebrans.”

“Can he?” asked Anna.

“Who knows? His consort is the daughter of the Liedfuhr of Mansuur, and Behlem has more armsmen than anyone east of Mansuur, except for the Norweians and, of course, the Ebrans. With his levies and those remaining in Defalk—and you …” He shrugged.

The sorceress pursed her lips.

“Have you ever met the Prophet?” asked Hryding.

“I don’t know who he is, except by title, and a brief glimpse in a mirror,” Anna admitted. “He and his sorcerers have been looking for me.”

“I would judge that your value is high, higher than that of his captains and advisors.” The lord rolled up the scroll. “It appears that your feeling about going to Falcor was correct.”

“I didn’t know,” murmured Anna. “I just felt it.”

“I’d not go against your feelings.” Hryding laughed gently. “Or you, lady.”

“I don’t know that I should just ride into Falcor, but I also wonder if I have much choice.”

“You’re wise to be cautious.” Hryding scratched the back of his silver thatch. “I think we might both profit.”

“Oh?”

“Please allow me to send at least a few armsmen with you.”

“Your losses have been great,” Anna said. “How could you spare them?”

“I am not being totally charitable, lady. If you arrive with my guards, under my banner, then Behlem’s armsmen will give your presence greater credence. Behlem will also look more favorably upon us, I hope. That is very important, since Synope is poor, and I could not oppose the Neserean forces.” He smiled. “You see. By helping you, I hope to help myself.”

“Put that way, Lord Hryding, I would be pleased to accept some few armsmen—but only a few.”

“I had thought three. Two might be enough for you, but they will need to return, and most ruffians will not attack three armed men.”

“You are most generous.”

“With this”—he raised the scroll—“I can see that your concerns about remaining in Synope were well founded. Would tomorrow morning be too early?”

“I think not,” Anna said.
Not with your consort following my every move
. “I will need to send a message to Daffyd.”

“That can certainly be managed.” He turned and raised his voice. “Secca. You can finish your game.”

“Are you done with your business?” asked Anientta.

Anna winced at the sicky-sweet tone, but answered. “We were discussing my departure tomorrow.”

“The lady’s presence has been requested in Falcor—by Lord Behlem,” explained Hryding as he walked toward Anientta.

“How immensely flattering. His consort must still be in Esaria.” Anientta’s teeth flashed.

“I wouldn’t know,” Anna said. “I’ve never met him. I’ve never met anyone from … his land.” She couldn’t remember the name of the country Behlem ruled. Then she looked down as Secca dashed up.

“You aren’t leaving so soon?” asked the little redhead.

Anna wondered if children ever just walked. “I’m afraid I must. Not until tomorrow.”

After reaching the end of the awning, Hryding slipped into the empty chair beside his consort. “ … might be some good out of all of this …”

“ … do hope so, dear … .”

Anna tried not to bristle at the condescending tone.

“Then we can play some more?” asked the redhead.

“We can play some more.” Anna agreed, conscious of how much she missed Elizabetta.