Page 150 of Keeper of the Word

His mouth gaped open.

The Edan Stone continued to float until, finally, it kissed the sphere of starlight Elanna gently held in place. The two became one, and a flash of light ricocheted outward.

Gripped by the scene in front of him, Tolvar warmed, and the same voice of the stars touched his heart.

He heard within himself a singular word. A word unknown and strikingly exquisite. Tolvar closed his eyes and memorized the blest word. He imagined rolling it off his tongue like the sweetness of an early summer day. He imagined hearing it again, a rich, pure melody. Tolvar knew he could search any library in Lenfore and find no definition. This word was not of this world. But even still, he felt it. Felt that it encompassed every enchanting and worthy thing. The word was a safeguard. And he would die sooner than not protect it.

A tear rolled down his cheek, and Tolvar opened his eyes and wiped it away, breaking his clasped hands apart.

Elanna stared at him.

The light had vanished. The Edan Stone, onyx laced with silver once more, lay casually in the clover. Everything seemed ordinary.

“And now, keeper of the word, be you ready. I will know when ’tis time. Until then, you must guard the Edan Stone with everything you have.”

Chapter

Fifty-Six

TOLVAR

Elanna was right. The Edan Stone was a burden. He’d already experienced it, but he’d assumed ’twas because it reminded him that he was alive and Sloane was not. But the weight of it—and what it encased—tested him.

The race to Ashwin seemed like a lost cause, although Tolvar kept this to himself. He vowed to be the knight Elanna Saw in him. ’Twas not that he believed Ashwin could not defend itself, and they had his own army at their disposal, but it nagged at him that they might finally—finally—encounter Crevan. He longed to be rid of his notions of revenge. He did.

Traveling, Tolvar noticed that two pairs had formed while he’d been away in Greenwood. Joss and Barrett were the first, although, stars be good, they weretryingto keep their relationship a secret from him. It brought a much-needed lightness to Tolvar’s overall gloomy mood. Observing the two attempt to shuffle off separately or dart ogling glances at one another almost brought a laugh.

He considered informing them that he knew but was inclined to let the entertainment play out a little while longer. Stars knew Joss’s first reaction would be a drastic self-berating.

The second pair gave Tolvar much more consternation. Hux and Elanna. He’d first noticed it the night Elanna had come undone, and Hux had been the only one who could give her solace.

But since that night, the two kept their distance from one another. ’Twas obvious that Hux, who’d earlier professed his feelings but claimed he’d ne’er act upon them,had indeedacted upon them.

Elanna was more obvious, however coy she thought she was. Her side-glances were awkward, at best.

What Tolvar could not estimate was why the two so blatantly avoided each other. If Elanna had rejected him, wouldn’t she simply ignore him?Trulyignore him.

A spat of some sort?

True, Hux was a wealth of idiotic ramblings. Mayhap he’d offended her.

Whatever it was, ’twas irritating, nonetheless. Tolvar shook his head. What did he care? He should revel to see the vexing Ravyn suffer.

But he didn’t. Tolvar scratched his beard, observing Hux groom his stallion at one end of the camp and Elanna groom Rasa at the other. Their uncomfortable glances were so frequent, one might wonder if the two were engaged in some sort of staring competition.

“M’lord.” Gus approached, holding a parchment. “This arrived via messenger from South.”

When they’d stopped at the last village that had ravens, Tolvar had sent messages to the ten biggest towns in Askella inquiring for news and instructing them to send a reply to South, a village along the Cresswell—their last stop before making it to Ashwin.

Tolvar broke the wax seal and read.

“Siria’s skirt,” he swore. Other colorful words escaped his lips as he read to the bottom.

Greenwood had breached Kelton, and the town was now under his authority. Those who’d attempted to flee had been killed. “A blood bath,” the description had read. Tolvar frowned, consideringhow long it would be until the town of Shaen suffered the same fate. Rumors of frays between Namid and Elendura, as well as some provinces in Grenden, were snaking their way through Lenfore. The only relatively positive news was that ’twas also rumored that a band of Anscom’s men had been lost in what was now becoming quite the mysterious North Forest. Some villages were even coining it a new moniker: The Uninvited Forest.

But ’twas not enough to help Tolvar’s distress. The note had stated that the last portion of news—confusing and terrifying—was a matter Tolvar needed to see for himself.

A second page of parchment was attached to the note. Tolvar carefully slid it from under the note. It was a WANTED banner. He swallowed. A drawn depiction of his own face stared back at him.