Page 162 of Keeper of the Word

That is love’s effect.

Dashiell wore the same clothes he’d escaped Asalle in, a cobalt doublet trimmed with gold thread and dark leather hose. They’d been cleaned, but one could see traces of wear and want.

Prince no more.At least not tothisworld. Elanna’s heart rose, recounting what she’d Seen, first on the Dasei Moors, then with Tara, knowing what was in store. Aye, the House of Sidra would find its way back someday. Some may find it difficult to accept a prince going into hiding as a victory, but StarSeers were meant tounderstand the whole of time, not simply their own brief walk through it.

Besides, one only had to gaze between Dashiell and Aven to understand their bond of love was one written in the stars. They would venture into their new life together as partners. In a way, Dashiell would experience a contentment that none of his predecessors ever had.

Tolvar stood next to the prince. Next to Aven stood a young woman with brassy hair, a childhood friend to whom they’d been introduced. Elanna stood next to the constable to validate the marriage. Although the prince would ne’er be heard from again, tales would travel and recount the last of the House of Sidra being sealed in marriage by Elanna the Fourth. Tales would turn into lore. Lore would turn into legend.

She closed her eyes and let the next eras play out.

Connecting eyes with Tolvar, she found he scrutinized her. His hand was in his pocket, no doubt gripping the Edan Stone.

Wondering how all this shall unfold.

Chapter

Sixty

TOLVAR

The Wolf had a grim feeling. His shoulders tensed, his back twitched; he could not pinpoint the cause. The six of them rode some distance from the Lenforese North Road. Far enough so they could avoid encounters. Close enough that they could scout anyone’s approach.

So far, they’d only had to hide thrice. It disturbed everything in him that made him a knight. Skulking in trees and waiting for dozens of men to ride by? ’Twas unbearable. He shrugged off the notion of weakness.

They were northwest of Asalle now and would soon need to decide whether or not to take the longer road toward Shepton, first through the province of Cattacor, then Namid, or take the shorter route through the North Forest.

“The North Forest has…changed. There are tales.”That is what Turas had said. The group would follow Tolvar’s direction. Cutting through the forest would trim off almost four days of travel. And on a quest to save an entire realm, that seemed beneficial.

The grim feeling leapt up again, and Tolvar found that he’d absent-mindedly pulled Valko’s reins. The horse sidestepped and nickered, irritated. Tolvar gave him an apologetic pat and regainedhis concentration. Surveying the others, everyone appeared as though they, too, fought unease.

And stars, Elanna was the essence of weariness. The StarSeer had been using every effort and power she had to aid their safe travel, begging the stars nightly for a protected path the next day. And the more Elanna asked, the more drained she became.

Part of it, she’d explained a few times during this journey, was that she felt stunted by not being able to sense or communicate with the three missing StarSeers. Tolvar was inclined to think the worst, but the thought of the small child, Maristel, slain by the Brones, was a thought spiked in despair. Killing a StarSeer was akin to killing a Vathnavian dragon or an Orlan phoenix. Stars, even the folkloric hoshefers. One did not commit those acts. One did not harm the rare purities in the world.

But they did not face normal enemies. They faced Adrienne itself, did they not?

When they finally arrived at the crossroad, everyone turned to Tolvar.

“Well, Lord Wolf,” Hux said. “Where shall our destiny lead us?”

“Elanna, pray, have you Seenanything?”

“The stars are silent on this.” She bowed her head.

“Why? Why would they be silent now?” Joss asked.

“It means that either path is laced with outcomes that are ultimately dependent upon our choices.”

“Is that not how it always is?”

“Aye, fortunes are never finite. The choice is always ours. And that is why the stars have remained so. This path truly is our choice to make.”

Siria’s skirt.

Either way, the path would lead to some consequence. Damn.

In his earlier years, Tolvar would have easily selected the North Forest. The Wolf wasn’t one to be frightened of rumors. And he still wasn’t. But peering down the road leading to the North Forest, Tolvar chose to do something he was ne’er accused of doing: give thought before he acted.