Page 105 of Keeper of the Word

Daughters of Light.The voice of the evening star overhead painted itself in a rich depth of radiance.

They inclined their heads and waited for more.

Two paths, one clear, one full of dread

One keeping balance, the other swathed in dead

Cracks widen, frays, too

Soon shall turn to great warring anew

To protect the Heart, to escape utter doom

It must be hid in the shadow of the moon

Elanna did not glance at the Edan Stone, not while the stars poured prophecy down upon them, but a tremor fluttered through her.

Allies are scarce, belief will turn dim

The Curse grows stronger, farther, and grim

Fates shall fade, chances become blurred

There is one hope, the keeper of the word

The words ceased. Elanna held her eyes on the singular star. Flashes of the future spun before her eyes, sped as though she Saw the next moons—nay, the next years—nay, the next centuries—in a timeless blink of the eye. It raced, so unlike the vision she Saw onthe Dasei Moors that’d dragged doom before her like a drawn-out gash. The warmth between their palms heightened until ’twas as if the two held fire between them.

Elanna wriggled her fingers but did not withdraw from Tara. Everything she Saw was in a moment’s flash. She knew that in the recesses of her mind. But to pull so many centuries into a kernel of time scorched.

When the vision stopped, Tara wrenched her hands away from Elanna, and the blaze on her palms cooled. Elanna almost lifted her hands to her mouth to blow on them, but of course, the heat was internal.

Tara heaved. Elanna did the same, closing her eyes and leaning on her elbows in the grass, its cool blades a reprieve. The highlights of the vision, the roles that Elanna and her four sisters were meant to play, darted here and there through her. The cord of starlight in the well of her being tethered itself to the visions. To the pieces she had to remember.

When she was confident the gift of the evening star’s fortune was secure within her, a half-smile caught her lips.

Tara lay in the grass, her breath still giant gasps of air, her eyes still closed. Under her eyelids, Tara’s eyes traveled back and forth as if reading a text at the speed of light. She was unmistakably more fatigued from this vision than Elanna. Was that due to Elanna already Seeing some of these events before?

Elanna hesitated before placing her hand on Tara’s shoulder, but they were sister StarSeers first and foremost. The first StarSeer’s eyes peered open at Elanna’s touch. A spark of starlight was set in her pupil. Elanna imagined her eyes must appear the same.

At first, Tara’s whispers were inarticulate. But soon, Elanna plucked out phrases like, “the witch is not who we think,” “so many meaningless deaths,” “theword,” and “why could we not See Ashwin?” A whimper escaped before Tara said, “The Falling Leaves Moon.”

Elanna took the first StarSeer’s hand. Tara faltered as if she’d completely forgotten her sister sat beside her.

“’Tis as I feared. And yet you Saw the Wolf’s role?” Tara whispered.

“Aye. I Saw two differences in tonight’s vision from the one I Saw when I left Ashwin. Differences that shall save Asalle if it comes to it.”

Tara collected herself enough to sit. “I did See one of the matters you speak of. Shroud Magic. Oh, holy stars. They cannot mean for us to perform that. We’ve not gloves. Only Kyrie has them.”

“Shewill have them,” Elanna said, raising an eyebrow. She did not refer to Kyrie.

If Tara was not the first StarSeer, she might ask Elanna how she knew gloves would be provided, but instead, she said, “That is comforting and disconcerting all at once. The stars have been preparing us for this path.”

“And what of the effects it shall have on us?” Elanna dared not think of what she’d read about StarSeers using Shroud Magic.

“Let us hope that it is still a last resort. Mayhap King Rian will, as you said, relent.”

Elanna yearned to believe her own words. But stars, Seeing Shroud Magic was something entirely different and unexpected. Only one thought gave her any solace, and that was what she’d Seen of Tolvar. The cautions of Shroud Magic in question or not, the Wolf would be counted on.