Page 53 of Keeper of the Word

“Did you hear that?”

“What?” Hux asked.

Mayhap the sound was merely an aftereffect from scanning through the future,she decided.

“Nothing. You are a welcome sight,” Elanna said. Her legs buckled, yet she stayed upright as she reached for and clung to a nearby trellis.

“For us, as well,” Hux said, as they approached.

Tolvar took her by the waist and helped her wobble to a stone bench.

“How did you know?” Elanna asked, shifting to balance herself so she did not collapse.

“Your grip,” Tolvar said as though that explained everything. “I have spoken to the sovereign. We are here to serve you.” His expression was so resolute, so solemn. It reminded Elanna of his importance, even if she did not understand it.

“I brought you a drink, m’lady,” Joss said, extending a goblet of cider to Elanna.

If Joss had not been in Elanna’s company for so long now and knew how liquid revived her after Seeing the stars, she might have asked how the dame knew to have a drink on hand. Instead, she nodded her appreciation to Joss and took a healthy gulp of the cool, crisp cider.

She scanned the area. The sound moments ago must have been merely her imagination. She closed her eyes, testing whether or not the sound would reverberate again.

“What is our next move, Lady?” Hux asked.

“Prince Dashiell understands the stakes and confirmed that hewould wed Lady Wenonah. But I have Seen thatmyfortune’s path is to bear witness of the marriage. After that, I shall return to Ashwin.”

Elanna gazed down into the half-empty goblet. “Something still troubles me.”

“Go on.”

“’Tis as I said. What if the prince holds favor for another? His mind may be resolved, but one’s heart is a different matter. He is young and bold. And what if hewasin Askella keeping company with a Lenforese lady in secret? There can be no future for them.” She paused. “Hemuststay the course.”

Tolvar made a gruff sound, his jaw muscles flexing under the light of the torches.

“Can King Rian be convinced to move up the wedding date?” Joss asked. “’Tis not to take place until the Harvest Nay Moon, but if it is sooner, mayhap Prince Dashiell will not do anything rash and to his detriment.”

The echo of the rumble reverberated through Elanna.What was that?

“Mayhap. Truly, I would rather not stay in Asalle for more moons than necessary. I must return to my sisters. The cord of light that binds us to one another will only grow more taut.”

“Let us hope that the sovereign finds favor with a Prodigal Moon wedding,” Hux said.

Tolvar ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Something else bothered him, and it seemed clear what it was.

“We are safely behind the sovereign’s castle walls now,” Elanna said. “Tell me what it is you saw last night.”

Tolvar’s expression pinched into a deeper frown.

“Dead birds, Lady,” Hux supplied. “And a grievous message drawn in the dirt.”

“About me?” Her hand drew to her throat instinctively.

“There is little doubt that it was,” Tolvar said. “Which is what troubles me. It must be the work of my brother.”

He said no more. Elanna could feel his internal war. A knight pledged to her. A knight vowed to hunt villains.

“I will inquire with King Rian about the wedding date, but?—”

The sound of stone cracking cleaved to her ears. She flinched. The cracks couldn’t be in Asalle.