Page 130 of Keeper of the Word

“I’m not certaincollaboratingis the term I’d use. More like using him and his madness to my benefit. And, of course, using the new…company he keeps.”

Why did Turas pause at the word “company”?

“And true, I did lose scores of men.” Turas crouched again. “And I asked myself why. Why did I exert such resources into winning back a castle I cared naught for?”

“You were fostered at Thorin Court!”

Turas shrugged. “I was at the bidding of my sovereign, who, over the years, has been more and more greedy about ensuring that Blagdon not outshine theblessedAsalle. Did you know I was the only earl to have my taxes raised in the last three years? And ’twas right after I’d won back Askella for the sovereign, ne’er asking to be reimbursed by Asalle. What did I care for Countess Pamella? She was your betrothed, not mine. And when I am sovereign, I shall see to it that circumstances change.”

Tolvar snorted. “Whenyouare sovereign?”

“Do not look so incredulous. As I said, everything is proceeding quite nicely.”

“But Crevan? Turas, you’re mad. Crevan is under the influence of Adrienne. Which means that he, like the Curse, cannot be ‘used’ as you put it.” Tolvar huffed. “I would say you must be under the influence, too, but hearing all this illustrates your utter stupidity.”

Turas socked Tolvar. His teeth cut his lip in the blow.

Tolvar spit blood. “And how exactly do you think you shall attain this? Will you waltz into Asalle with an army and overthrow it? You’ll ne’er breach it. ’Tis impenetrable. Not to mention, guarded by the stars themselves.”

Turas flexed his hand that had punched Tolvar—obviously out of practice—and topped off his goblet. “As I said, a grand plan. Trythreearmies. And they have a way in. You could say that, in a way, we’vealreadybreached Asalle. And, of course, ’tis only protected if the StarSeers live.”

Tolvar’s head jerked.

“As I said, you could have died a hero.”

Tolvar’s eyes widened as he considered Turas’s words. His own army on their way to Ashwin with Kyrie, who was outside her protective walls.

Elanna!

Turas scratched his neck; Tolvar thought he detected a dark trace of a line there. “How did your brother put it? If you cannot call up the darkness, bring down the light?”

Chapter

Forty-Nine

ELANNA

By the time they’d revived Tara and returned, exhausted, to Castle Sidra’s main gate, dawn had shifted the shadows of Asalle’s city blocks into dewy morning light. The morning star had faded.

They were at the main gate before anyone noticed it.

The head of the ravenmaster on a pike.

Joss made to block Elanna’s view, but ’twas too late. She sucked in her breath as if some force had knocked the wind from her.

“Stars be good,” Goodsell said.

Everyone stood in shocked silence.

Finally, Hux took Elanna by the elbow. “Come. There’s naught that can be done, and there’s naught that can be helped by staring.”

They entered through the castle gate, some guards eyeing them warily, some appearing as though the insides of their stomachs might come up.

Tara made her way straight to the Delara and clicked the door closed behind them when the two had entered.

“Tara, I am sorry,” Elanna blurted. “Before we go on, I need to tell you that.”

“As am I,” Tara returned. “Truly. You are my sister. No more secrets between us. No more disbelief. I was wrong.” Tara still held her hand to her chest, clutched in her other arm. Her skin appeared ashen.