Page 25 of Keeper of the Word

After a time, Kyrie’s arms suddenly dropped to the ground, and she folded herself in half at the waist, her head resting on her knees. Her breath heaved.

“Lady Kyrie?” Tolvar knelt beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, taking in any surrounding sound or movement that might feel off.

“I am well, Sir Tolvar,” Kyrie whispered, her words deliberate. “Thank you for being my sentry. You performed well.”

Tolvar wasn’t certain what to make of that remark but was satisfied that Kyrie’s voice grew stronger. She lifted her head and rested her palms on her knees. She was about to speak when footsteps behind them drew their attention. Tolvar’s head cocked. Two? Nay, three people. Men, judging by their gait. They paused andshushedeach other over what sounded like someone rifling through a bag.

Hidden here, Tolvar wondered if Kyrie would stand and make their presence known. Instead, she placed her finger to her lips.

“You have finally received word?” a male voice split the night.

“Aye, from Goodsell himself,” another voice returned.

Goodsell?Commander Goodsell was the head of the Order of Siria. The tales of his knight’s career were legendary. Goodsell the Good, he’d been coined. A hero of the Seven Leagues War. A defender supreme of the Capella Realm. And now, the most important member of the Order, posted these past two decades in Garreth, the northernmost city of Ashwin.

So, we spy on Order knights?Based on Tolvar’s recent ordeal in Deogol’s Dara Keep, he did not have a particular affinity for the Order of Siria, but hearing Commander Goodsell’s name made him want to declare his presence. The Wolf was no stickybeak meddler. But Kyrie’s hand found his arm again. Had she intended them to be here all along?

ShecouldSee the future, he supposed.

“And?” the first voice asked.

“’Tis what we speculated. Lady Tara is invoking the Lucien Law.”

“What’s that?” the third voice asked.

“Drake, I know you’re green, but honestly. The Lucien Law is the decree of guardianship over StarSeers.”

There was a pause in which Tolvar could only assume Drake was wearing an idiotic expression.

“It means that the Five shall each be given to a guardian who shall be bound to her by the stars. By the Lucien Oath. Her lifeshall become his life. They shall be their protectors at all times.” There was a pause. “And the StarSeers will not be able to be without them.”

“Meaning?” Drake said.

“Meaning,” the second voice was full of impatience—and rightly so, “one cannot flee again, first of all. Lady Tara told Goodsell ’tis the only way to keep them safe. She has Seen that the time has come for the need of guardians over the StarSeers.”

Before Tolvar could consider everything he heard, the first voice asked, “How long has it been since the Lucien Law was in force?”

“More than an age. Since the chimera fled to Vathnava, I think.”

Tolvar’s eyes widened at Kyrie, who nodded her confirmation. A thousand years ago.

“Stars, who do you think shall be chosen?” Drake asked. “I do not fancy myself worthy enough to be bound to a StarSeer.”

Tolvar rolled his eyes.That counts two of us.

“Who is to say? The stars decide, Lady Tara informed Goodsell. She told him to be prepared.”

The stars decide.

“One from the Order, though, I imagine?”

“The histories show no one who was not in the Order as a guardian.”

“Good. I, for one, shall be glad when the Wolf and his band have left.” Drake snorted. “Nonbeliever.”

“Agreed. Why Lady Tara sent for him to find Lady Elanna when that isourduty is beyond me.”

The three began predicting names as their footsteps trod off.