Page 48 of Keeper of the Word

Their wide-eyed stares almost made her snicker. Evidently, itwasdifferent here. Or mayhap ’twas Aura Hall that was different.

“Are you…” the male servant couldn’t finish.

“I am. And I’m in great need of locating the sovereign.”

Both servants eyed each other, trying to recover.

“M’lady, you are fairer than I could e’er imagine. Are you…”

Elanna kept hold of her patience. “I am Elanna the Fourth.”

“Stars be in heaven.” The female servant was now in tears. “If I could tell my gran this.” She lowered herself in a curtsy.

Elanna beamed, almost tearing up herself. In Ashwin, kept away from the world, ’twas difficult to rememberwhatshe was to people. Not merely sovereigns. But ordinary people, servants dusting the halls of a castle. She wished she Saw something for these two that would bring glad fortunes for them. But there was nothing.

“We aren’t privy to the sovereign’s whereabouts, m’lady,” the male servant offered. “But my cousin, one of the dining pages, said that the sovereign’s feast was scheduled an hour earlier thisevening. I believe that started a bit ago. The Great Hall is that way. I can show you.”

“No need. If you’ll simply direct me.”

“Aye. As you say. You make two lefts, and you’ll see the grand doors.”

“My thanks,” Elanna said, pivoting in that direction.

“Thank you, m’lady,” the female servant called after her.

“Whatever for?” Elanna returned.

“For speaking to us. This is the greatest moment of my life.” Her tears dripped onto the front of her uniform.

Elanna stepped back and took a hand from each of them in her own. She closed her eyes, scooped a fraction of starlight from the well deep within her being, and let it flow into her palms. The female gasped; the other’s eyes grew wide. From experience, Elanna knew a great warmth radiated through them akin to an embrace.

She opened her eyes and released their hands. “May the stars lead you to future’s fortune.”

A few minutes later, as she came to the largest doors she had ever laid eyes on—aye, “grand,” to say the least—a short giggle escaped. A small contentment absorbed her heart, and something dipped into her consciousness. A divine awareness from the stars. She was Elanna the Fourth. But she was Elanna. And being a StarSeer meant more than simply Seeing futures and praying for hours. It had to! There was more she could do. And at present, being a StarSeer meant taking charge.

She huffed a sigh and commanded the guards to open the doors.

Chapter

Nineteen

ELANNA

Elanna was fully unprepared for the spectacle in front of her. Aura Hall hosted no banquets, no festivities—save for Heddwyn’s Night, the Nay Moon following the Solstice Full Moon—and no elaborate celebrations. The Great Hall of the sovereign was an enormous, loud, dizzying circus—and this was merely King Rian’s nightly feast. On the opposite wall from Elanna, the sovereign’s long table stood on a dais. Two long tables stretched on either side of the room. Scores of servants and pages milled about, carrying large pewter trays or pitchers. In the middle of the hall, a troop of dancers performed in mid-motion.

Everyone was in mid-motion becauseeveryonewas fixed on Elanna.

She hadn’t expected this much of a scene. This many people.

While this was the largest assemblage she’d ever faced, she’d nonetheless taken part in enough court and council meetings to instinctively straighten her shoulders. She fought the urge to ensure that her hair covered her neck.

King Rian stood. He did not appear pleased by her presence.

Murmurs echoed across the expansive hall.

A tall, thin man carrying a wide scroll stepped beside her.

“Your name, madam.”