Page 43 of Keeper of the Word

’Twould be difficult to find any further sign. But backward meant he’d lose Crevan’s trail.

Where are you, you miserablefox?He needed to track Crevannow.

“Sir?” Gus asked.

Forbearance,the breeze seemed to whisper.

Tolvar paused. “Very well. Let us return.”

On the ride back to camp, Tolvar grasped the realization that for the past few hours, he had not once considered the vulnerability in which he’d left Elanna and the others. And all to find a fewwalnut shells. A thickness formed in his throat. He swallowed his guilt, kicked Valko, and thundered toward camp.

When they arrived, the scene was uneventful, thank the stars.

Joss stood to meet them, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression angry. “A word, m’lord,” she said through gritted teeth.

Tolvar owed her nothing. He was her commander and earl. But he respected his knight-captain. He was prepared to let her dish out whatever words she wanted him to feed upon.

Out of earshot of the others, Joss’s face softened. “M’lord, four years ago, your brother did a heinous thing. I know that it…changed you in some ways.” She studied the ground. “I understand why. That day changed me as well.” She lifted the back of her shirt, and even though it was dark, Tolvar could make out the long scar that ran diagonally across her back. He’d no idea Joss was grossly injured that day. “But, m’lord, you need not remain so altered. You were the Wolf long before that day and have returned here as the Wolf, still. Do not forget who you are in the search for vengeance.”

“Joss, you know that the best course of action is to track and kill Crevanbeforehis next plot can?—”

One moon ago, Tolvar would ne’er have believed his knight-captain was capable of interrupting him, but she did, and with force. “The best course of action is to keep your pledge to Lady Elanna. We are only days from Asalle. See her safely there first, andthenseek out the ghost of your brother if you must.”

Her lip quivered. She was afraid of his repercussions.

“The ghost? He is alive.”

“M’lord, you’ve no proof. But if he is alive, that is all the more reason to see Elanna safely in Asalle first. There, the sovereign’s personal guard, the Warins, may protect her.” Joss met his eyes. “Sir Tolvar, she’s aStarSeer! Do not forget that.”

“I had no idea your faith was so strong, Joss.”

“Why would I have reason to question it?” She met his eyes.

He should berate her, but she spoke plain and true. Sir Bernwald had known what he was doing in promoting her.

He nodded in agreement. “We shall leave at dawn.”

Tolvar did not stophis earnest search for signs of clues, although he didn’t share this with anyone. But as they rode, his eyes scanned the green fields, his ears strained for strange sounds, and he inspected the surrounding area wherever they camped.

Blissfully, no one made any remarks. Yet only someone daft would not notice he still hunted.

For the past two nights, he’d asked Elanna if she’d Seen anything new relating to danger along the way. He kept his words vague, but she knew what he pestered her for. She Saw nothing.

“We must reach Asalle,” was all she repeated.

So Tolvar spent all his waking hours, his senses heightened, his shoulders tight, feeling like a pawn. The others kept their distance as much as possible, afraid the Wolf might bite.

Mayhap he should concede that his behavior was a tad suspicious.

In his distracted vigilance, it registered with him one evening that Hux and Elanna were rarely apart. From across the camp, he observed Hux speaking in that stupid grinning way of his, Elanna’s eyes laughing.

Stars. Must that Ravyn always vex him?

He considered marching over there to sit between them, especially after Joss’s eyes darted from them to him, but he wished to scout the west side of the camp again. He could have his knights do it. He could choose not to do it at all. But ensuring the safety of the area wasn’t unreasonable. And he was much better at it than anyone else. And he could take care of both matters at once.

He nodded at Joss to guard Elanna. “Hux, with me. We need to finish scouting.”

The Ravyn’s stony expression made him chuckle under his breath.