The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [68]
“And so?”
“And so I propose taking a somewhat indirect route to the city: moving east a bit and then doubling back to attack.” His finger described a half arc.
“We can send a smaller mounted force the obvious way and have them camp to provoke the waiting force to settle. They’ll have orders to retreat back to Poelscild. By that time we should have the position we want.”
Anne nodded. “If you think this is the way to do it.”
“We could take a larger force, but that would leave Eslen weakened, and we would still be delayed. If we go heavy on cavalry and light infantry, I think Copenwis might fall quickly.”
“We’ll try that, then. And if we’re taking mostly horse, I’ve a mind to take Cape Chavel with us.”
Artwair frowned a bit. “His reputation is good,” he said. “His mounted archers are said to be without equal. But he got those from his father, and the man himself hasn’t been tested in battle. Besides that, I worry about his loyalties.”
“You think his allegiance to me is feigned?”
“I don’t know what to think, Majesty. That’s just the problem. I don’t know him.”
“Aren’t we better putting him to the test now rather than later?”
“I suppose. But with you riding along…”
“Not that again, I hope.”
He looked very much as if he did want to revisit that subject, but instead he shook his head.
“We’ll try him,” she said.
“As you wish, Majesty. Now, if we can talk about the defenses along the coast…”
Another two bells of that, and Anne headed up to her rooms, ready for a rest. She hardly had begun to undress when she heard a soft rap at the door. Throwing on a dressing gown, she went to see who it was.
The knock was from the Sefry guard, of course.
“Forgive me, Majesty,” he said, “but someone requests an audience.”
“In my rooms?”
“Majesty, it’s Mother Uun.”
“Ah.” She hadn’t seen the ancient Sefry for a long while. It wasn’t her habit to drop by for no reason.
“Send her up, then,” she said. “And find some of that tea she drinks.”
“Majesty.”
A few moments later, two Sefry women were shown in.
Mother Uun was old even for a Sefry, and Sefry lived for hundreds of years. Even in the dusk light coming through the window, the spider work of veins in her face showed through translucent skin. She had her hair in a braid so long that it was wrapped around her waist three times, like a sash.
The other woman looked very young, but with the Sefry it was hard to know what that meant exactly. Her face was oval, her eyes some dark color, her mouth a bit crooked, as if she were always on the verge of a deprecating smile.
“Majesty,” Mother Uun said, bowing. “May I present Nerenai of the House Sern.”
The young woman bowed again. “A pleasure, Majesty.”
Her voice was pleasantly husky, with a lilting accent Anne did not recognize.
“The pleasure is mine,” Anne said. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“Intrusion, I’m sure you mean,” Mother Uun said. “I’m sorry for the late hour. I won’t keep you long.”
“Sit,” Anne said. “Please.”
The two took their places on a bench, and Anne settled in her armchair.
Mother Uun’s gaze seemed to pick through her. “Your power is growing,” she said. “I can see it all around you. I can feel you when I close my eyes.”
Anne suddenly realized how glad she was the Sefry had come, happy to have someone she could talk to who might not think her merely mad.
“I—things are happening to me. I do things I don’t understand sometimes, as if I’m in a dream. I think things…” She sighed. “Can you tell me what’s happening to me?”
“Not everything, I’m sure, but Nerenai and I have come to offer what knowledge we have.”
The tea arrived at that moment, and Anne waited impatiently while the two had a sip.
“There is a woman I see,” Anne said. “She burns, and she has power. She helps me, but I don’t know if I can trust her.”
“A woman? Not one of the Faiths?”
“She killed the Faiths,” Anne said.
Mother Uun’s eyes widened. “That’s interesting,” she said. “I don’t know what that might mean. Nerenai?”
“The Faiths are advisers,” Nerenai said.
“Not very good ones,” Anne replied.