Darksong Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

between them.
     
    “Firis has indicated you wished to speak with him." Gatrune’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.
     
    Firis has learned a lot... Anna smiled. “I’m neither here to recruit your captain, nor to use him as
    a spy. But I need to know what people think... how his men feel. Would you like to sit in?”
     
    “I think Firis will speak more freely without me, and you will find our views are similar."
     
    “Then, tell me" Anna suggested, “what he will say.”
     
    “He will try to be tactful, and he will be charming.” Gatrune laughed, but the sound died almost
    hollowly. “He worries, and so do I. In the past two seasons, many of the trades people in Pamr
    have become less friendly. Yet none has said a hostile word, not that they would. Several of the
    serving girls and cooks’ helpers have begged to move onto my lands, yet none could explain
    why.”
     
    Anna frowned, feeling a coldness grip her stomach, recalling the deserted feeling of Pamr when
    she had ridden through the town.
     
    “I cannot tell you how candid he may be, but”—Gatrune frowned—"the armsmen that he holds
    and trains have become most skilled. And their consorts and children have asked to live here
    upon the lands, even unto offering to pay rents, rather than remain among the townsfolk.”
     
    “That hasn’t happened before? People begging to move onto a lord’s lands?”
     
    “Not that I recall” Gatrune stood. "Best you talk to Firis. I will tell him that you await him.”
     
    “Thank you.” Anna rose as well.
     
    “Thank you, my lady. You concern yourself about my problems, and that is more than any Lord
    of Defalk in memory did.”
     
    Anna did not wait long in the dimness of the private study.
     
    Firis bowed as he entered. “As you requested, Regent. These days I no longer question the worth
    of sorceresses.” His face remained somber, but a hint of amusement lay behind the words.
     
    Anna stood beside the broad table, then gestured toward the caned straight-backed chair before
    taking a seat behind the table. “I don’t question the value of captains and armsmen either," she
    replied after sitting. “I wish we had more good ones.”
     
    Firis sat on the edge of the chair. “I am most pleased to be in the service—”
     
    “I’m not recruiting you, Firis. From what I’ve seen and heard, and from what Lady Gatrune has
    said, you’ve done a good job here." Anna paused. “Something here is bothering you, and, as
    Regent, I need to know that sort of thing.” She waited.
     
    “It is most difficult..." After a moment, the overcaptain added, “The town of Pamr... it was not
    this way when I became Lady Gatrune’s captain. At first, I thought the strangeness I felt was
    because I was an outsider, but many of the armsmen have lived all their lives in the demesne of
    Pamr, and most of those have even moved their families to the lands."   Firis snorted. “Most
    times, armsmen will keep their women and consorts as far as they can from a lord’s holding.”
     
    “It sounds strange’ Anna said. “Do you know why?”
     
    “Would that I did, lady. Would that I did. Many feel as I do, yet none has heard or seen anything
    that would give voice to the cause of those feelings."
     
    “Well…I would appreciate it if you or Lady Gatrune would let me know if anything happens…"
    Anna held in a yawn. The day had been all too long.
     
    “By your leave, Regent?”
     
    Anna stood. “By my leave, Firis.”
     
    After Firis left, Gatrune appeared in the open study doorway. “You were right,” Anna admitted,
    stifling a yawn. “He was gallant and tactful, and he’s worried.” So are you, but what exactly can
    you do?
     
    “We will watch and inform you of what we discover.”
     
    Anna couldn’t stop the next yawn. Lord, she was tired.
     
    “You are tired. We can talk more in the morning.” Gatrune waited for Anna.
     
    Lejun followed the two down the corridor to the guest