Darksong Rising by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m going to take a bath. Would you like to join me for dinner in a while? I won’t be
    long.”
     
    “I would be most pleased. Then I can tell you what has transpired in your absence.”
     
    “Not much, I hope.”
     
    “You may have been correct in feeling that the time was right to repair the ford at Sorprat.” His
    lips quirked into another smile.
     
    “Things are getting worse someplace. I can tell that.” She gestured toward the door. “Let me get
    cleaned up. I’ll see you in the small dining hall.” She paused. “You wouldn’t mind sending a
    message to the kitchen, would you? I don’t think I did.” She offered a rueful smile. “It’s been a
    long day.”
     
    “I would be most happy to ensure we are fed, my lady.” Jecks rose and bowed.
     
    Once the heavy door closed, Anna slid the bolt and walked to the bathchamber adjoining her bed
    and work chamber. The water— lukewarm—was already in the tub. Slowly, she tuned the lutar,
    then sang.
     
    Water, water, in the bath below,
    both hot and soothing flow....
     
    Once she had the water not quite steaming, and a headache from doing the spell on an empty
    stomach, she replaced the lutar in its case and plopped into the high-sided tub, spilling water onto
    the stone floor of her bathchamber. “Damn...” slipped from her lips.
     
    Anna pushed away the irritation at her clumsiness and concentrated on washing her face with the
    square of rough cloth. When she’d been a student in Europe, washcloths had been hard to find,
    and they weren’t exactly common in Defalk, necessary though she found them for removing road
    dust and other grime—especially since deodorants weren’t in the primitive chemical repertoire of
    Erde, and perfume was hard to come by, even for a regent.
     
    Then, everything was hard to come by in impoverished and beleaguered Defalk, although it was
    getting slightly less difficult, thanks to the golds she’d added to the treasury through subduing a
    few unruly lords—and Dumar. The battles in Dumar might well have been easier than the
    problems she still faced. Jecks’ very presence upon her arrival indicated his concern for her—
    and his concern for Defalk and the Regency for his grandson Jimbob. What was the problem?
    Something wrong in Dumar? Or with the lords of the Thirty-three? Or Neserea? Or… the list of
    possibilities was all too depressingly long. Probably some Defalkan lord...
     
    She washed and dressed quickly—choosing a plain green gown, since all but one of her limited
    workday cloths— trousers, shirts, and vests—were filthy. Amazing that you’re the ruler of a land
    and your wardrobe is less than when you were an assistant professor of music.
     
    Jecks was waiting outside the door, talking to Giellum and Kerhor—the two duty guards.
     
    "...and it’s still spouting flaming rock ..." The white-haired lord broke off his words as he saw
    Anna. “Lady...”
     
    “Yes, I look almost human without the road dust all over me, Lord Jecks.” She inclined her head
    to the guards in turn. "It's good to see you both. Did you get some rest while I was gone?"
     
    “Ah... some, Lady Anna,” admitted the black-haired Kerhor. “Except Lord Jecks and Arms
    Commander Hanfor had us drilling every day.”
     
    “Many glasses" added Giellum, his voice mock-mournful.
     
    ‘They needed the practice.” Jecks said, “and they don’t have the time when you’re around.”
     
    “I hope you worked hard and learned something:" Anna temporized.
     
    “Both Lord Jecks and Arms Commander Hanfor strike hard” Anna winced. She doubted Jecks
    had any business teaching arms yet. “You were out there with a blade?” she asked him, as they
    turned the corner and headed down the stone stairs to the lower floor and the small dining hall.
    “You’re not—”
     
    "I am mostly healed, my lady, thanks to your sorcery, and I will not sit around the liedburg and
    be thought a useless old dodderer.”
     
    “Even