Page 114 of Keeper of the Word

King Rian barred his son’s path with an unbearable toll thrust upon the prince.

The sovereign had one chance. One choice.

And he had to make the right one, or the bond between them would be snapped in twain and would ne’er be repaired.

And then Tara and I shall have no choice.

The reflected stained-glass sunlight played tricks then. Elanna cocked her head as it skimmed across the council members’ faces. Nay, they could not appear shadowed? ’Twas not right. She blinked rapidly and found the red hue discolored them, too. A simple scheme of her vision clouded by her own worry, nothing more.

“Your Majesty!” Elanna shouted, the full weight of her vision and the urgency of everyone’s future making her knees buckle, “Donot—” ’Twas the only words she could utter. Joss caught her from behind, preventing Elanna from crashing to the marble floor.

People were suddenly everywhere. Voices were laced with dread. The pattering of feet moving through the hall or out the doors. Too many things happened at once.

She knew what the steward’s words would be. But it took a moment for her mind to catch up and for her ears to hear them.

“Dashiell is missing.”

Chapter

Forty-Two

ELANNA

“He has insulted everyone at court. But most grievous is the reality that he has insulted Your Majesty.” Griffith eyed a chair, but the only two persons in the Royal Solar who sat were King Rian and Queen Ferika.

A few of the councilors mumbled in agreement and gave swift nods.

Elanna stood next to Tara, her mouth a tight line. She sought to keep her words to herself. Tara appeared very much in the same distress.

The realm hangs in the balance.

“How did he escape?” King Rian muttered, his chin resting on his palm.

“Escape?” The queen threw up her hands. “Listen to yourself. Escape? He is the heir to the Capella Realm, not a prisoner. And our son! Had you not kept me in the dark about all this—” She gestured to the StarSeers. “None of this would be happening.”

King Rian clenched the arms of his chair. “Do not tell me what I should and should not be doing?—”

“Or what?” Queen Ferika’s voice dropped.

Crack.Elanna shuddered. More cracks.

The sovereign and his queen were known and celebrated for their loving marriage. This could not tear them apart.

Stars.

“Your Highness,” Griffith attempted.

“And you!” The queen leapt from her chair and stood before the chancellor. “How have you helped matters?”

“That is enough, Ferika,” King Rian said.

Queen Ferika blinked at his tone and straightened her shoulders.

“We’ve already scores of soldiers out searching for Prince Dashiell, my queen,” Griffith said.

Tara winced.

The queen took notice. “And what would the stewardesses of the realm say?”