“You see?” Maeldyn smiled. “You already think as an overlord should. In time, if it is not true already, you will be stronger than your Marshal.” He paused. “Do not tell me you have not thought about it.” His face was serious, but Saryn could detect amusement behind the words.
“I did not…not until we reached Duevek. Still…just assuming that I agree to your idea, Lord Maeldyn, how will you and all the other lord-holders feel if I insist that every lord-holder name his eldest daughter as his heir, and if he does not have a daughter, his sister’s eldest daughter? Or perhaps his eldest son’s consort?”
“Do you think that wise?”
“Wise? I don’t know, but something has to be done to stop this practice of bloodying the entire land to prove who is mightier.”
“How would the daughters prove their ability?”
“I have an idea about that.”
“I thought you might.” Maeldyn’s voice was dry.
Yet Saryn could not sense either anger or dissatisfaction behind the dour-looking lord’s words. “I would have them all trained at arms in the Westwind style, and none who could not be guards would be allowed to become lady-holders.”
“You seem to have that ability to train women.”
Saryn shook her head. “I can, but Captain Hryessa has done all the training in Lornth. I’ve had little enough time.”
“Except to teach my daughters more in an afternoon than I could have in an eightday. Your captain is also most adept at recruiting. In your name.”
Saryn smiled wryly. Already, more than a score of local women had appeared outside the holding walls, begging to be trained as guards.
“Before we reach Lornth, you will have more than two companies under arms. That is twice, perhaps four times what any other lord-holder now has available for men at arms. Even your head ostler was able to kill two men.”
Two? Saryn hadn’t realized that, but she hadn’t asked, either.
“Oh, one other matter. Spalkyn, Lady Zeldyan, and I all agree that, should you agree to become overlord, you will also receive Duevek as your holding, as well as Lornth. With two holdings, you will have enough in income, in addition to tariffs, to support the forces required of an overlord.”
“And the others? Will they agree?”
“The ones who are no longer with us and have no heirs certainly cannot object. From what Lady Zeldyan has indicated, neither Jharyk nor Barcauyn will object, and that would suggest a majority will support you.”
“Or not oppose me openly,” said Saryn.
“They will all know that the alternatives are far worse.”
“What about Lord Spalkyn?”
“He cannot state so openly, but he would be most relieved if one of his daughters could succeed him.”
“They do show promise,” Saryn admitted.
Maeldyn glanced toward the study door. “If you would excuse me, Commander, I believe Lady Zeldyan would like a word with you.”
“You all have talked this over, haven’t you?”
Maeldyn stood, then shrugged. “Like you, we wish the fighting and the bloodshed to end. I especially agree with your point about Lornth needing a tyrant-a benevolent and intelligent tyrant, but one who will not hesitate to destroy a rebellious lord. Times have changed, and if we do not change with them, we will perish. I would preserve what we can, rather than lose all.”
Saryn stood. “I would like to talk to Zeldyan before I make a final decision.” As if you already haven’t, but there is the business of being political.
“That is most reasonable and right.” Maeldyn smiled knowingly.
Saryn almost shook her head ruefully. She definitely needed Maeldyn as one of her advisors.
The stern-faced lord opened the door, holding it for Zeldyan, who entered quietly. Maeldyn stepped out and closed the door behind himself. Saryn gestured to the table, but only reseated herself as Zeldyan sat down.
“You are going to become overlord, aren’t you?” said Zeldyan, although her tone made clear that she was not really asking the question.
“Lord Maeldyn requested that I consider it. I told him that I would not decide until after I talked with you.”
“You don’t need my approval.”
“But your advice and support I do need,” said Saryn as warmly as she could. “You will be one of the most influential holders if I so decide.”
“You are kind.”
“I’m trying to be practical. You deserve to hold your family’s lands. You deserve to be the overlord…” Saryn hoped Zeldyan would reply.
“The other lord-holders would not agree, and I do not have the power or the ability at arms that you have shown. You have bested everyone who has come against you.” Zeldyan smiled. “Besides…does either of us have a choice?”
Saryn laughed softly. “You have me, Lady. For everyone’s sake, including my own…what choice do I have? I cannot return to Westwind. Westwind cannot support another two companies of guards at present.” Nor could I deal with Ryba any longer. “There is no lord-holder powerful enough to hold Lornth together or to stand against the Suthyans or the Jeranyi.” Saryn stopped.
“And what of me, now that I have served your purpose, Saryn?”
“You did not serve my purpose.” Saryn smiled sadly. “I came to Lornth with only the goal of preserving your regency. The problem was-”
“That to preserve me, you ended up destroying the Lornth that was, just as the other angels began that destruction in order to save me. Now, what of me?”
“I would still be your friend and your supporter. You hold The Groves, Lady, in your own right, and you may consort as you like, if that is your choice, or not. One way or another, you will determine your family’s holdings. I will stand behind you, as I always have. You know, as do Lord Maeldyn and Lord Spalkyn, that the time has come for change.” Saryn shook her head. “You may not believe me, but I never left the Roof of the World with this, or anything like it, in mind.”
Zeldyan smiled wanly. “That I do know, and that makes it all the sadder, that we could not resolve our differences, and that an angel from beyond the Rational Stars must descend to set things right. You will create a legend, you know, and generations of girls will look to you.”
And if that is so, generations of men will curse me. “Only if I am successful, and that will be so only if you and others support me.”
“How could I not? You saved my life, and you are the only one who will grant me my due as my father’s daughter.”
“For your sake,” Saryn said gently, “I wish it had not come to this.”
“I thank you for those words.” Zeldyan offered another sad smile.
Saryn could sense the mixture of sadness, acceptance, and appreciation…and the grief beneath, which the former regent might bear all the rest of her days. “I would also be your friend…Zeldyan.”
“I would be yours…also.”
“I would like that very much.” And that, also, was truth, Saryn knew, for, if matters did work out, Zeldyan might well be the only woman in all Lornth who would understand a fraction of what Saryn felt.
XCV
Immediately after breakfast on fiveday-prepared and served in a cheery breakfast room by a kitchen staff that seemed exceedingly happy to welcome Saryn as the new lady-holder, Saryn made her way down the main corridor to the small guest chamber where Dealdron lay on the wide bed, propped up at a slight angle.
“Good morning,” she offered as she stepped into the room.
“Good morning, Commander.” His brow furrowed. “I dreamed you were here earlier. So was Lady Zeldyan…before my chest was bound.”
“We were.” And I have been several times when you didn’t recognize me. “You didn’t dream it. She came to thank you for saving her life. She and the other lord-holders have returned to their holdings for the present.” Maeldyn and Spalkyn had actually provided an escort for Zeldyan, and half of Maeldyn’s armsmen would remain at The Groves, along with what remained of Zeldyan’s armsmen, to keep order and control over the prisoners rebuilding and repairing the villa and its outbuildings.