Page 196 of Keeper of the Word

“Cease!” With one last burst of power, he unsheathed the dagger from his side and hurled it in Crevan’s direction.

He missed.

But the act distracted Jordain, and she stumbled backward. He rose, seizing his sword, and bashed it into Crevan. The blade ripped halfway through Crevan’s sword arm, and his brother dropped the weapon.

Jordain shouted, “The Seers. I see them!” With that, she staggered off.

Tolvar spit blood. He held his sword at his brother’s chest. “Give me the Edan Stone.”

Crevan’s hideous, curse-filled face smiled sourly. He took the stone in both hands as if to break it in half. “You shall have to kill me for it.”

Tolvar steadied his arm; his broken body trembled.

Chapter

Seventy-Two

ELANNA

Thethumpof the battering ram grew louder and louder as they approached the city gate. Elanna had not asked but knew the stars guided their course.

A few times, they’d heard shouts.

“StarSeers!” The word had been uttered both in hope and in horror. But no one impeded their ride to where they finally halted as close as they dared to the gate.

“There are too many of them!” Casta said. “How will we possibly get there?”

Hux searched distractedly down the field. “Lord Wolf!” he shouted.

Elanna couldn’t see Tolvar, but he must be close.

Three men approached them on foot, crazed expressions melting their faces. “This is all your fault!” one yelled. “You were supposed to protect the Capella Realm!” He ran at them with a dagger, but Hux drove his giant black stallion into him, the horse rearing and trampling him while Hux used his dagger to stab the second who’d run to his comrade’s rescue, then drive it into the last.

Elanna and her sisters stared queasily; Huxtsked.“Elanna, this is war.”

As if needing proof, more men came at them. Hux and the Order knights shouted for them to get behind them as they drew swords and fought off the attackers. Elanna held her breath.

“Right! Left! Turn!” she began to shout to Hux. Casta and Kyrie began to shout similar directions at the knights. Asking to See the near future would fatigue her quickly. ’Twas not long before her arms hung heavy at her sides, and she wobbled in the saddle.

Eventually, they’d downed the attackers. No one else in the fray seemed to notice them. The StarSeers dismounted to check the wounds of Hux and the others.

Then, as on that festival day in Asalle’s square, Elanna felt the eyes of a witch on her.

A witch with tufts of stringy black and white hair, milky eyes, and leathery, wrinkled skin stood only paces from them.

“I Seen you comin’ here.”

Her grin was cruel and revealed missing teeth. She withdrew an orb from the cloak she wore, muttered unintelligibly, and thrust her arm out to them. Immediately, Hux and the Order knights sunk to the ground, flailing in pain.

Adrienne. It ran down the witch’s fingers like thick, black veins. Casta and Kyrie whimpered. They had already experienced the effects of her darkness.

The witch inched closer, and Elanna shoved her sisters behind her. This was Jordain, the leader of the coven whom Gethwin had spoken.

“Come no closer.”

Elanna gazed up. Thrice. To call upon the Light of Siria thrice was a danger. And truly, Elanna wasn’t certain shecould, as she had exerted so much of her starlit well moments ago.

She had to try.