Page 134 of Keeper of the Word

Stars. What was happening?

But anything was better than that chair, so Tolvar stiffly followed Gus.

They made several strange twists and turns throughout the camp, oddly never encountering a soul. A few times, Gus paused and withdrew a folded piece of parchment, as if reading directions.

Siria’s skirt. What is he doing?

Finally, Gus led them into the southwest edge of the forest. Thetwo remained quiet. Tolvar concentrated on simply moving and not shouting out in agony every time he did.

’Twas at least an hour into the forest, Gus still moving southwest, rather than straight west toward Tolvar’s own camp, before they paused.

Tolvar leaned on the staff as Gus backtracked a few yards away to ascertain that they were not being tracked.

“I would have come sooner, m’lord, but her note instructed me to wait until tonight. Said it was the only path of success.”

“Whose note?”

“The StarSeer, m’lord. When I made it back to camp, everything was deserted. Well, deserted in that I found no one but three of your men dead.”

Tolvar exhaled.

“But there was a note attached to my bedroll,” Gus said.

Tolvar shook his head, which still throbbed like the banshees of the Hoarfrost Moon rattled against him. “I do not understand.”

“Her note told me exactly when and where to go, m’lord.” Gus shook his head. “In great detail. And to fashion you a walking staff, m’lord.”

Tolvar would have to ponder all that later. Now that they weren’t in the midst of Greenwood’s camp, Tolvar’s attention to detail caught up, and he noticed that Gus had a gash across one cheek and a patch of burns, partially healed, on his other.

“What happened in Trysinmar?”

“The town was on fire when we arrived. We were ambushed as we tried to rescue citizens who’d been trapped in the pub.” He paused. “I know ’tis been years since I’ve seen your brother, m’lord, but I believe Crevan was there. He was barely recognizable.”

Tolvar’s blood seethed.

“If ’twas him, he was unquestionably the leader, m’lord. His face. I can hardly describe it. But most who were with him had a…dark countenance. At one point, we fought. I wounded his shoulder. But the fire overcame everything, and I was forced to flee. But before I did, I heard someone tell Crevan that the Brones they’d sent to Thorin Court had breached its walls.”

“Nay.” Tolvar ran his hand through his hair.

“Do you know who the Brones are?”

Stars. Would Crevan at least leave the servants alive? Sir Connall?

“M’lord?”

He’d done this. Tolvar had left Thorin Court defenseless. Again. And all to hunt down Crevan, the Fox who’d known just how to trick a Wolf. But Thorin Court couldn’t be his task. Crevan could not be his quarry. He was more than the Wolf.

And he was going to save Asalle.

“M’lord?”

“Come. We must race back to Asalle. ’Tis a five-day ride, but we must try.”

“We might be able to make it in four, m’lord.”

Tolvar grimaced.

“The StarSeer left me one more surprise.”