Page 151 of Keeper of the Word

Gus eyed it. “Who would do this?”

“Mayhap Greenwood. Anscom? Or Crevan,” Tolvar returned. Stars, the last few years had not made Tolvar a novice to being a “wanted” man, but he’d done naught to earn it this time.

Clever Crevan.

“‘For attempted assassination of the sovereign,’” Gus read. “Stars, m’lord. This is grave news.”

Tolvar hadn’t read that statement but offered a glance that said, “you jest not.”

“This framing will have me hunted down thrice as worse as last time.”

Gus nodded. “But this time, you have a StarSeer on your side, m’lord.”

“True. Unfortunately, as far as the realm is concerned, that may complicate matters. Read the bottom.”

He handed the banner to Gus, who produced impressive cuss words after reading.

The StarSeers, Elanna in particular, were being blamed for the attempted demise of the sovereign. So much so that Elanna was wanted for questioning by a number of provinces, including, not surprisingly, Anscom and Greenwood.

Clever again.

“But I cannot understand this. There were witnesses. Manywitnesses. The queen especially. Stars, Lady Tara isstillthere at Castle Sidra. Will she be safe?”

“That’s the thing about rumors,” Tolvar said. “They usually need little evidence behind them. This WANTED banner most likely did not come from Asalle. After we left, Queen Ferika sealed its gate. No one to enter. No one to leave. What better circumstances does one need to start a rumor?”

“What’s happening?” Joss stood next to them, followed by the others.

Tolvar thought again of Crevan’s words:Bring down the light.Certainly, a falsely accused and hunted StarSeer would do the trick. He nodded to Gus, who shared the news.

Elanna paled but said nothing.

No one did.

Joss, ever the dame, began to brainstorm ideas to combat the WANTED banner and rumors. In that moment, even if there was naught they could do, Tolvar was beyond grateful. A pang of guilt at the memory of Bernwald crept over him.

Tolvar knew himself to be the cause. Despite stars speaking to him or Sloane’s ghost visiting him in visions, the guilt stung.

In a way, this hurt worse than losing his father and Thorin Court. He had a blasted StarSeer with him, who’d told him not to leave Asalle, and he’d bungled everything anyway. The death of Bernwald. The likely death of the sovereign. Rumors of the Wolf turning traitor. Had he stayed…

“How far is South from here?” Tolvar asked.

Stars. He’d ne’er itched like he itched now.

“About one hour’s time, m’lord,” Gus said.

He nodded and went to saddle Valko.

“M’lord, where are you going?” Gus said. “I shall come with you.”

“As will we,” Joss echoed.

Tolvar was too ashamed to say what he was about to do, and he couldn’t have the others tag along. “Peace. I need no escort. South is insignificant, and certainly, no one there has yet received this same news. Who would think to include them?”

Despite these words, Tolvar gazed at Elanna to assess whether or not she would halt him. She gave the slightest of headshakes.

Stars’ shadow.

He gritted his teeth, hurled Valko’s saddle onto the ground, and stomped away from camp, shouting death to anyone who followed him.