Behind the cheerful voice was what Saryn would have termed good-natured coolness.
“I’m the arms-commander”-Saryn smiled-“but I’d never claim to be fearsome.”
“No point in that at all. If you are, you don’t need to trumpet it, and if you’re not, you’re lying, and that’s to no one’s benefit.” Deolyn looked intently at Saryn, then glanced at Zeldyan. “I can hold my own in battle, but you’re better off having the commander on your side.”
“I know that, Lord Deolyn, but I’d be interested to know why you think that.”
“She has to hold your interests more dearly than any one lord-holder possibly could. She would not be here were this not so. She also would not be here if she were not more than a match for any commander in Lornth. The Marshal of Westwind could send no less. Westwind cannot risk any impression of weakness.”
Deolyn’s understanding impressed Saryn, but she waited to see Zeldyan’s response.
“Do you think the Marshal’s interests are those of the regency?”
“I would not say that,” replied Deolyn. “Her interests are in a peaceful Lornth that will not attack Westwind. At present, those interests are in supporting the regency, for so long as it remains in power.”
“And if it does not?”
“Then I would not wish to be a lord-holder in Lornth, even as I am.” Deolyn’s smile was warm enough, but behind it lay worry. “Those who would replace the regency would find themselves bound to attack Westwind-or be attacked by those who would. That would be so, even were the Suthyans not distributing coins and mercenaries to some who oppose Westwind and the regency.”
“To whom are those coins and mercenaries going? Do you know?”
“I do not know all their destinations, but it is no secret that in Duevek lies your greatest foe. I would guess that Keistyn of Hasel is also receiving coins, and Kelthyn of Veryna, if only to keep young Kelthyn from snapping at your legs. Other than that…” Deolyn shrugged.
“Oh?” Zeldyan raised her eyebrows, then her goblet, and sipped.
“It’s simple enough, Lady Zeldyan. Your strongest supporters are in the north, and some of those are wavering, despite your sire. Your bringing the arms-commander-and her slaughter of the Suthyan marauders-solidifies that support. That’s well and good, but what do you intend to do about Henstrenn and Keistyn…and that puppet of theirs, Kelthyn?”
“What do you suggest?” Zeldyan smiled pleasantly.
Saryn could sense the regent’s worries behind the smile.
“Crush them quickly, and one by one, before they unite against you and your sire.”
“With what do you suggest I crush them? My two companies?” asked Zeldyan. “And how will I explain to all the other lords who will flock to them for fear I will turn on them next?”
“You have at least three companies with the commander’s forces, I would judge.”
“We brought but half a company.” Saryn tried to focus a breeze on herself as she spoke.
“They are worth twice their numbers. I saw them ride in, and I saw how much deference the armsmen gave them. The Lady Regent’s squad leader conveyed to my captain that the single squad from Westwind took on and destroyed more than threescore Suthyan marauders.”
“They were not armsmen, but a motley gathering of marauders,” replied Saryn.
“Half or more were former armsmen, and you lost but one woman.” Deolyn smiled. “Henstrenn and Keistyn may delude themselves, but I will not. All of our armsmen have other tasks and duties. Yours may as well, Commander, but it is certain that they are trained first to kill. Even your weapons speak to that. Men prefer long blades because they believe such proclaim their masculinity. Your blades are far better for mounted combat. I have heard that you alone have killed many by throwing blades through your enemies.” The blond lord shrugged. “It may be that I have heard in error, but I do not believe so.” He glanced at Zeldyan. “Have I?”
Zeldyan shook her head. “She sparred with Lord Barcauyn’s son and could have killed him three times over in moments. He failed to understand, then insulted her, and me. She broke his jaw with the flat of her blade and threw him to the stone. Then she flung a blade through a shield and half through an oak door behind it. None could remove it, save her.”
Deolyn nodded, then looked to Saryn. “You could kill without weapons, could you not?”
“I am no mage, but I was trained to kill with arms, hands, elbows, knees, what ever opportunity might be offered.”
“It is there for those who would see,” pointed out Deolyn. “I may not see all, but I see enough, and I will stand behind you both.”
Saryn understood what lay beneath his words-that Deolyn’s support rested in part, if not in whole, upon Westwind’s backing of the regency…as Ryba had obviously foreseen.
LVIII
The wind blew through the doors at the north end of the room, beyond which was the verandah with a fountain whose splashing was just loud enough to drown out the sounds from elsewhere in the structure, which was, Saryn realized, neither a castle, a palace, a keep, a villa, nor a mansion, but a dwelling that incorporated some features of each. The verandah beyond the fountain, where Zeldyan sat in the shade talking to her son, might have been more suited to a villa, but the study, where Saryn had just seated herself in a captain’s chair across from the gray-haired Gethen, might better have belonged in a castle or a mansion, especially with the dark wooden bookcases filled with leather-bound volumes.
After another four hot days on the road, Saryn was grateful for the breeze cooled by the spray of the fountain and for the chilled white wine that Gethen had provided. She was also happy that she was not expected to prove as much, as least not directly, although she was still concerned as to exactly how Gethen regarded her-and Westwind.
“You’ve met a number of the lords of the north,” said Gethen. “What do you think of them?”
“They impress me far more than those of the south I’ve met.” Saryn paused and took another small swallow of the cool wine. “Rather, I’d say that I liked and appreciated them better. I fear that Keistyn, Henstrenn, and Kelthyn might be more impressive in battle, except perhaps for Deolyn. Lord Barcauyn speaks more loudly than he fights, I fear, and might lack caution in some situations. Lord Maeldyn…I don’t know.”
“Maeldyn is more formidable than he appears,” said Gethen. “Between them, he and Deolyn could raise close to three companies of decently trained and mounted armsmen. They would not compare to your guards, but they would be a match for Henstrenn and Keistyn.”
“I would hope so since we did remove almost half a company of Henstrenn’s armsmen in the spring.”
“By now he will have replaced them, doubtless with the help of Suthyan golds.”
Saryn had few doubts about that possibility. “If I might ask, why did Rulyarth fall so easily back to the Suthyans?”
“After the losses we sustained against the Cyadorans, no lord would offer armsmen to help me hold the city and the lands surrounding the river. I was selfish enough not to wish to lose everything I had for lords who would offer nothing. Those who were willing to help me, such as Spalkyn and Maeldyn, had too few armsmen remaining to make a difference. Only Deolyn had more than a company, and I saw no point in both of us losing everything.”
“Especially since you had already lost a son.”
“I lost two. Relyn never returned after he was wounded on the Roof of the World.”
“He lost a hand,” Saryn said. “Nylan crafted him a false one, with which he could hold a dagger, but he vowed he would never return to Lornth. He was strong and healthy, and better than ever with a blade when he did leave Westwind for the east.”
“He was bitter, I suspect, about how Lady Ellindyja manipulated Sillek into offering lands for any who would destroy Westwind and concealing just how powerful you angels were. Like Fornal, he was proud and wanted to earn lands, not be given a pittance, which would have been all I could have bequeathed him. If he returned to Lornth, he would have had to fight lord after lord, and he would not have beggared me and Fornal to obtain arms and men. He was too honorable for that.” Gethen shrugged sadly. “I cannot say that events and you angels have treated those of The Groves easily.”