Page 101 of Keeper of the Word

“What has happened, Sir Tolvar?” Kyrie and the Order knights had crowded their way past everyone, and the StarSeer stood in front of him.

“A fool’s mission,” Tolvar said.

“I am sorry.”

Tolvar wiped the blood onto his hose and unfolded the note.

The message was short and clear. Ashwin was in danger. Crevan had not signed this one.

Kyrie snatched the message away.

“We’re leaving,” she said to the captain.

“Wait!” Tolvar said. “’Tis too dangerous.”

“Casta and Maristel are there.” She cocked her head as if she knew what Tolvar would say next.

“You cannot ride there alone. Even a dozen men are not enough. Take my army.”

Behind him, murmurs slipped out.

“You and your army? Or only your army? I hear the prince’s wedding was moved. Are you still the keeper of your word?”

There would be no way to return to Asalle in time for the wedding if he himself led his army to Ashwin. ’Twas too far. But he would not suffer Crevan attacking Ashwin.

Sir Bernwald came out of the tent and met Tolvar’s eyes. Too much was happening at once.

“Only my army.”

The smoke was all toovisible this morning. Tolvar kept seven men with him and Bernwald. He stared as the rest of his army left with Kyrie.

Bernwald had mentioned that he was well enough to ride as their commander, but Tolvar had flat out said nay. There had been a moment’s pause between them.

“I have been loyal to the Weslyn House for half a century,m’lord.And I continue to be.”

Tolvar had not retorted, which was almost worse. Bernwald held a sad look before snapping his mouth shut.

Scouts from Anscom had begged permission to enter and inquired what news came with the warning horn. With an entire army missing, ’twas evident something was amiss.

Tolvar scrawled out a brief message to Anscom that he’d been notified Ashwin was in danger. Mayhap he could finally break up this nonsense by directing their attention to a cause that actually mattered—the sacred city.

He wrote a similar note to Greenwood and sent it with Bernwald since he was the closet person standing there.

Splashing water on his face did naught. Tolvar again had to concede he couldn’t make a next move before getting some rest. He posted men around the camp and fell onto his cot, sleep overtaking him before he could remove his boots.

In the late afternoon, Tolvar roused himself; the distant din of battle could be heard.

“What’s happening?” Stars, he hated how much that question had escaped his mouth as of late.

“The battle resumed an hour ago, m’lord,” Herry, one of the knights, said.

“Why did no one wake me?” Tolvar growled before setting his mouth in a firm line.

Little wonder why someone would not want to wake him. Besides, what was he supposed to do now? Stand in the middle of the field by himself?

I suppose they did not reconcile after all. Nor take heed that Ashwin needed aid.

“Saddle Valko and your own steed, Herry. We’re paying Greenwood a visit.”