Page 59 of Keeper of the Word

You’ve Seen him. You know what his fortune holds.She did. Her faith. Her very being could—would—carry him to his path.

Tolvar clasped her hand on his forearm and placed the stone into her palm, cradling his fingers over hers around it. Itwasa weight. Smooth. Cold. Very cold to her touch. She lifted her hand to eye level and studied the coal-black ovoid rock. A curious, deep blue fissure streaked through it.

“Edan Stone. As in the Edan Lore? There is no mention of a stone in the prophecy.”

“Correct. However, this stone allowed Sloane to speak to the goddess of the Azure Moon. It also protected the one holding it from the Befallen.”

Elanna nodded. She understood. She did not need Tolvar to say more. Sloane had obviously given this to Tolvar at some point, and it had saved him—not her.

“The stone is a piece of the moon itself,” Tolvar said, his eyes still clinging to it. “Or so I was told.”

Elanna gave a half-smile. So that is why it felt cold to her touch. The moon’s pale beam and the stars’ glittering heat were contrasting lights.

And a new understanding unveiled itself to Elanna.

The Edan Stone disappeared safely into the pocket of her dress, and their eyes met. “Farewell, Sir Tolvar. This shall be yours once more upon your return.”

Tolvar nodded, and if Elanna hadn’t known better, she would have sworn he seemed relieved to give it up for a time.

A day spentin prayer was comfortable. Natural. Albeit a bit prosaic after weeks outside Ashwin, but ’twas entirely what Elanna needed. To fill her starlit well. To feel close to the heavens. To rest.

When she stepped out of the Delara and into the late afternoon light, she found Joss and Hux standing in the courtyard.

“Did you make sure to pray for me, too, Lady?” Hux grinned.

Elanna smirked. “Are you in need of prayers?”

“Of course. Mayhap more so than any other man.”

“Hux, we are in her service.” Joss’s scowl mirrored the glower her earl would give. “Where may we escort you, m’lady?” Joss asked.

“Have you two been standing here this entire time?” Elanna asked.

“’Course,” they said together, though in very different tones.

The trio made their way through the corridors to the Crown Hall, only being halted twice, once by a passing Warin, who questioned their direction, and again by a castle messenger, who feigned to need direction so he could speak to the StarSeer. Joss spoke to both, throwing her shoulders back as she did so.

Elanna was gladdened she could dine in the sovereign’s smaller hall, away from the frivolity of the Great Hall. She suspected that the sovereign was glad, too. He did not seem to want much attention directed toward Elanna. After dinner, Barrett relieved Joss. The two men followed Elanna into the gardens, neither saying much to her.

She didn’t know if the stars would call to her this evening, but in obedience and from habit, she stayed out under the night sky well after the stars dotted the darkness. Seated on an uncomfortable stone bench at the edge of the queen’s garden that bordered the sovereign’s labyrinth, Elanna watched courtiers pass by. Most were in groups of five or six, but one pair, giggling and clinging to one another, entered the labyrinth without noticing her.

They melted into each other’s embrace at the entrance, and Elanna’s chest stung to watch. Her fingertips grazed her mouth. What would it feel like to have another’s lips on hers? The woman giggled once more, and they disappeared.

Her eyes turned to the sky, the stars silent.

“Think we should report them?” Hux’s teasing voice spoke from behind before he came to sit next to her.

Elanna relaxed her shoulders.

’Tis because of the lengthy journey spent together. Not to mention his rescue of you in Tam’s Ford,she reasoned.

Nevertheless, a smile crept to her face as she brushed her eyes over him. “Seems terribly unfair, as they do not know we are here.”

“’Tis why you should always be careful in your acts.”

“I find that I have little concern regarding that dilemma. I am oft watched, and even if I were not, I do little that would be of concern to anyone.”

Hux chuckled, folding his hands into his lap. “If today is any indication of how you usually spend your days, I’ve no doubt of that. But mayhap all this is a sign that you should live a little.”