Page 112 of Keeper of the Word

“You speak falsely,” the queen said. “Tell me.”

If Elanna wasn’t feeling so terrified of the queen—she had to admit she was beginning to feel pity for Wenonah—she would be impressed. The queen could read an expression.

A ripple of woe snaked down Elanna’s spine. A kernel of some future for Queen Ferika meant to bruise Elanna.

Correction.She thought.Bruise the realm.

She shook it off.

“’Twas nothing, Your Majesty. Nothing to concern yourself?—”

“Hold your tongue. I am the Queen of the Capella Realm. All matters in the realm concern me. And if you are to be the next queen, you might consider those words carefully.”

Wenonah sought her hands in her lap. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. ’Twas a conflict on the borders of Firthdale and Preyton. Scores of men fought. ’Twas at a distance, but a village burned, and I am certain that what I witnessed were…bodies lying in the meadow.” She met the queen’s eyes. “’Twas frightening and agonizing. I’ve ne’er seen anything of the like.”

The women were quiet. The queen, too. Her demeanor was measured. Elanna puzzled over her expression: a mask of repose, but underneath a deep worry and a confirmation of sorts, mayhap? The sovereign must have informed his queen of what Griffith had let slip. Skirmishes. Malcontents. Upheaval not meant to exist in the Capella Realm.

The queen swept pointed looks at the StarSeers.

She wishes to know if we’ve Seen this.

The door opened again, and the steward appeared, dressed in ornate amber-colored livery. The ruffle of his collar and gleam ofthe golden thread left naught to the imagination that this was a special occasion.

“’Tis time, Your Majesty.”

Queen Ferika nodded and rose, carrying with her the whole of the room to their feet.

Wenonah pursed her lips and creased her brows. Not so elegant now, ’twould seem.

The group sauntered through the maze of corridors, the queen setting the pace. After the queen, four of her queensguard, Elanna and Tara, Wenonah, trailed by the ladies-in-waiting, Joss and Barrett, Sir Goodsell and his men, all of whom had waited in the corridor during tea. The stroll was somber, and they were met with a number of castle guards saluting or upper servants bowing.

They turned a corner, and far down the opposite corridor, Elanna spotted two familiar persons. The first made her heart jolt, and she stiffened her jaw against it. Hux. The second made her crane her neck to take another gander, for she clearly detected that Hux argued with the other. Daved.

Elanna scratched the back of her neck, craning her head as she passed in the hopes of observing more. But the party continued, and there was naught more she could do now.

The remainder of the procession to the Great Hall was spent fighting curiosity. At one point, Tara gave her an elbowed nudge. If they could only StarSpeak. But without any open sky above, ’twas impossible.

Mayhap ’twas not as I observed.

There was no more considering it, for they now stood in a line in the center of the Great Hall. The queen stood to the left of Wenonah, as was tradition. A sign that the Lenforese-born queen blessed the next sovereign’s spouse, born of Grenden.

Elanna couldn’t cage the fear that fluttered. Did the future include Wenonah standing someday next to a maiden of Lenfore? She loosed a sigh. What could be done now?

The sovereign sat upon his throne on the dais hedged by his council members, Griffith to his direct right. King Rian gripped the arms of his throne. He did not appear joyous.

To the right of the dais stood an older nobleman who Elanna assumed was Wenonah’s father, Lord Ulara of Norcliffe. He, too, had an entourage in tow. Lining the hall, shoulder to shoulder, were gathered more courtiers and visitors than Elanna could count. Many could not resist a gape at her and Tara, quick or otherwise. Against the walls, at attention, were the Warins and a host of castle guards. The Great Hall had ne’er seemed so crowded. Stars, how many people were needed to sign and seal a betrothal contract? The only person whowasmissing—and noticeably so—was Prince Dashiell.

He cannot still be locked in his rooms?

Tara cast a worried gaze onto Elanna. This was all wrong. Like Elanna, she, no doubt, prickled and pined for an outcome different than what was about to transpire.

But ’tis still better than using Shroud Magic.

Could the realm still be safe with Dashiell wed to Wenonah? Elanna burned her eyes into the woman until Wenonah noticed and shot back an uncomfortable glance.

And what of Dashiell’s happiness?The thought, though involuntary, rang true. Elanna had grownfondof Dashiell. What had begun as merely a desperate venture to secure the realm now seemed a divided goal. Aye, the realm was first, but did not Dashiell’s happiness matter?

You think this because you know your happiness will ne’er matter.