Page 156 of Keeper of the Word

She walked the perimeter of the city. Her steps were deliberate, full of purpose.

Patches of green in the scorched grass that she could detect. Pieces of stone not charred. Birds overhead. These were the details Elanna concentrated on.

Or it shall become too much.

Chapter

Fifty-Eight

TOLVAR

Tolvar observed from a respectful distance as Elanna wandered around Ashwin’s bones. Her uneven steps, hands pressing to her throat or chest, and downcast gaze told him that she fought. Fought the grief of losing her city, her home, and stars be good, mayhap even her sisters.

At midday, Tolvar bore anxiousness. They had still not departed from the fallen Ashwin, but Elanna would not leave until she was ready.

“I shall ne’er see Ashwin again. I need to have it memorized so I may leave plans.”

This both sobered everyone and ceased Tolvar’s further inquiry of when they might leave.

But eventually, Elanna gave one last glance at the ghost of Ashwin before burrowing her face in the neck of her roan stallion and weeping.

Tolvar could think of few other scenes he had witnessed that were as tragic.

Backtracking seemed to take less time, and in days, they reached the borders of South, the small town that Elanna had keptTolvar from earlier. They waited until nightfall to determine whether or not it was safe to enter, and Tolvar felt inept that he could not make that call. Instead, he waited with everyone else while Elanna searched the stars for the evening’s future before indicating there would be an inn to sleep in for the night.

Tolvar and Hux braced an exhausted Elanna as they strode to the inn after they’d hobbled their horses to the town stables for the evening. The dirt road was quiet and peaceful. This town was well off the beaten path along the foothills of the Ena Mountains. If one ventured up the road behind the town, they’d find a few silver and cynth mines.

When they entered the inn, a basic yet clean establishment, the scent of ale greeted Tolvar like a friend returned from a long crusade.

“I shall stay with you,” Hux said casually.

Tolvar shrugged Hux’s hand off his shoulder. “You can do what you like, it makes no difference to me, but if you think to dissuade me from spending the evening here”—he sat on an empty stool at a high tabletop—“you are mistaken.”

Hux eyed Elanna, who was being assisted to sleeping quarters by Joss and Barrett.

“You have been sober for moons. What would Sloane say?”

“Nothing, Hux.” Tolvar nodded to the barkeep to bring a pint. “She’s dead.”

“Oh, I see. The Wolf is having a celebration of misfortunes. Very well, then. I am great company where that is concerned.” He sat across from Tolvar and motioned to the barkeep to bring another drink. For a moment, Tolvar envisioned grabbing Hux by the ears and slamming his face into the table. A half-smile donned his face.

“Two pints, sir,” the barkeep said, sliding the mugs onto the table, spilling some of the contents of Tolvar’s.

Hux raised his drink. “What shall we drink to?”

Tolvar sniffed the ale. The hoppy scent made him salivate. “I am simply drinking.”

He lifted his pint.

“Wait,” Hux said. “Why?” He nodded toward Tolvar’s mug. “The other night, I understand your desire to drown yourself in liquor, and I understand the significance of the loss of Ashwin. But if you do this now for naught but the sake of it, then what?” Hux set his pint on the table, leaned back, and folded his arms.

Tolvar glanced into his mug, the head of the ale white and frothy. He should tell Hux to douse out. Instead, he thought of the stars’ long-ago words.Forbearance.

He hated it, but Hux was right.Then what?

Then he had a thought; his continued abstention of liquor was just the beginning. In his youth, even with the knowledge he’d someday inherit the title of earl, once Tolvar had been knighted, he was a knight. His greatest desire hadalwaysbeen to be remembered as the Wolf.

And for what shall the Wolf be remembered?