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daughter. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine. You’re the one who’s always telling me to be careful.” Anna paused, if but briefly, before asking, “How is our Lord of Defalk?” Her tone verged on the sarcastic, as it often did when she mentioned Robero.
    â€œHe was most cheerful. He set up a dinner for just three of us—me, him, and Lythner. Lythner’s—”
    â€œLord Clethner’s eldest. I know. Robero wrote about that, too. The smartest thing Clethner ever did was to consort Nerylt with Chelshay. Robero’s trying to do the same for Lythner.”
    â€œLythner seems quite nice.”
    Anna laughed. “I’ve always hated that word. Nice. It’s like cute. Baby ducks are cute. Simpering idiots are nice.”
    Secca couldn’t help but laugh at Anna’s phrases.
    â€œRobero was sort of cute as a boy,” Anna went on. “He never grew out of it, not all the way,” mused Anna. “You’re going to have to watch out for him.”
    â€œMe? You’ll be around—”
    â€œFor a few years, I hope, but not forever. Clayre’s a good woman, but she’s an old-style sorceress, and Jolyn…” Anna shrugged. “We know about her.”
    â€œWhat are you worried about?” Secca shifted her weight on the footchest. She was sore from all the riding.
    â€œI didn’t sleep that well last night. I had this dream that the Harmonies were shifting. They weren’t the Harmonies, exactly, either. I’m not sure it was a dream.” The ageless blue eyes focused on Secca. “You have to learn to trust how you feel.”
    â€œI know. You’ve told me that…”
    â€œSomething’s going to happen, and you’ll be the one who’ll have to deal with it. I can give you advice.”
    Again, Secca wanted to frown. Anna had never talked that way about Secca being the one to deal with problems, especially major ones. That had been true even when Anna had sent Secca out to sing shadow sorcery or do the mining spells to get the iron and gold that sustained Loiseau. Anna had just told Secca what to do, as if each occasion had been an exception or a learning experience.
    â€œDo you know what it is?” asked Secca.
    The older sorceress shook her head. “With the Harmonies, you don’t.”
    â€œRobero?”
    â€œNo. It could be the Maitre of Sturinn. Jolyn sent a message about his sending more fleets to the Ostisles. Or it could be something in Ebra. Hadrenn’s always been a weak reed. Or Dumar. Dumar’s always bothered me, ever since Alvar died anyway.”
    â€œHave you heard from Hanfor recently?”
    â€œHis younger daughter’s happy with young Eryhal, but he still doesn’t have a consort for Annayal, and she’s the heir. He should have consorted Annayal to Eryhal, not Aerfor.” Anna paused, adding soberly, “It’s hard to find a good match. If Robero’s boy Robal were even five years older…but he’s not. Maybe Verad, that younger son of Hadrenn.”
    Secca waited, then asked, “Is there anything you need from me tonight?”
    Anna smiled, warmly. “Not a thing. I’m glad you’re back safely. I do still worry, even at your age.”
    â€œAt more than a score and a half?”
    â€œYou never get over it, Secca.” Anna rose and stepped frombehind the desk. “Go on. You’re tired. I can see it in your eyes. They’re almost pink. I won’t be up that much longer myself.”
    Secca eased herself up from the chest, then stepped forward and hugged Anna. Then, with a smile, Secca turned and slipped from the room, somehow both relieved to see Anna in such good spirits, and slightly troubled by what the older sorceress had said.
    Trouble with the Harmonies?

8
    Secca reined up the chestnut outside the domed sorcery building to the south of the main keep of Loiseau. Vyren—the head