Shadowsinger by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

now?” asks Kestrin.
    â€œYour seers report that the Sturinnese fleet has sailed from the Ostisles.”
    â€œIt will not arrive in time to stop the shadowsinger from destroying the Sturinnese forces in Dumar.”
    â€œIf she can indeed do that,” replies Bassil. “There are more than a half-score of Sea-Priest sorcerers with the Sturinnese forces, and all have players and drummers.”
    â€œShe has already destroyed more than that, has she not?” Kestrin’s eyebrows lift. “Or have I been misled in the reports that have come to me?”
    â€œShe has, but it may take her much time to retake Dumar. She landed at a small fishing harbor to the southwest, and now rides across the high plains to aid Fehern. It will be at least a week before she can reach Envaryl. That is if she does not have to fight any skirmishes along the way, and if the weather holds.”
    â€œHow does that change anything? Once the snows melt, hopefully in the next three weeks, we can still send our lancers into Neserea to support Aerlya and Annayal. The Sturinnese will be in the south, contesting with the shadowsinger.”
    â€œYou may not wish to send them through the Mittpass, sire.” Bassil’s tone is apologetic. “Even when the snows melt.”
    Kestrin turns and faces the lancer overcaptain. “And why might that be?”
    â€œYour seers fear that the Sturinnese have set their course for Mansuur, not Nordwei, or Neserea, and certainly not for Dumar.”
    â€œThey fear? Do they not know?” snaps the Liedfuhr.
    â€œThe course is northerly, and that would be the same at the beginning for a destination of Mansuur or Neserea…or Nordwei. But the seers have glimpsed maps of Defuhr Bay.”
    â€œDo you believe them?”
    â€œI was doubtful, sire. I asked them to scry for me, and I also saw such maps on the chart tables.”
    â€œThat can only be a bluff,” Kestrin says. “Why would they leave such out, except for us to see? It must be a bluff.”
    â€œBluff or not, can you afford to leave Wharsus undefended—or lightly defended?” Bassil uses the back of his hand to blot away the water that has come from the snow melting in his short hair and that has begun to ooze down his face toward his eyes.
    â€œWhat other companies can we summon to Wharsus?” Kestrin’s voice bears both an edge and a hint of resignation.
    â€œYou can bring those from Hafen and Cealur, and detail most of those here in Mansuus to Wharsus.”
    â€œThat won’t be enough,” Kestrin says.
    â€œIf we took two thousand from the five thousand you have garrisoned in Unduval, we could still leave seventy-five companies there to enter Neserea—when the snows melt. That would be enough to keep Belmar from taking Esaria—if they are careful to strike only those forces that are not supported by sorcery and take care to avoid the sorcerer,” suggests Bassil.
    â€œThat will not be so easy as it sounds.” Kestrin gives a dramatic shrug. “Yet what else can I do?”
    â€œHope that the shadowsinging Sorceress Protector of the East and the Sorceress of Defalk will be more effective than they have been…and trust in the harmonies.”
    â€œSend a message to the Council of Wei,” Kestrin suggests, “telling them what you have discovered—except that you might tell them that the Sturinnese fleet could easily be headed to their shores.”
    â€œIt will be difficult to get a messenger there, sire. The Bitter Sea remains frozen, and no passes are open in the Westfels. We can send a ship to Elahwa and hope that the Sand Pass will be open—but that willtake weeks, and will not arrive until long after the Sea-Priest fleet does.”
    â€œForget the messenger. We must trust that their seers will see what ours have seen.” The Liedfuhr shakes his head. “Everywhere, I must trust others. Is there nothing else I can