Page 65 of Keeper of the Word

“I still do not follow you,”Tolvar said to Turas, the Earl of Anscom.

They met in Turas’s tent, a luxurious yellow and blue canvas that housed two plush chairs in which they sat. A large chest stood in the corner, an expensive lace cloth draped over it, which held several glass decanters filled with colorful liquids. Tolvar silently counted how many moons it had been since he’d had a drop of liquor. Almost five. He could make it to the next full moon. For Sloane. He fidgeted with his pocket for a moment before remembering, yet again, that Elanna had the Edan Stone. His other hand found the moon cuff in the opposite pocket. He gave it a squeeze while ignoring the goblet of wine that had been placed on the round table next to him.

Across from him, Turas swirled his goblet. The refined man, who was about a dozen years Tolvar’s senior, had the beginnings of a paunch accentuated in his seated position. His round arms and thighs revealed an earl who no longer trained but instead let his wealth buy him an army to demonstrate his might. Anscom, the closest Lenforese province to Asalle, was the largest and wealthiest of the country's provinces. Its capital, Blagdon, where Turas hailed, was close to the size of Asalle itself and was the third largest port along the Glendower River.

Tolvar’s father had fostered Turas for a time while he’d trained as a squire. Tolvar, not yet a page, had shadowed Turas, eager to please a young Sir Bernwald, who’d recently been knighted into his father’s service. The man in front of him resembled nothing of that energetic youth.

“What is there to follow?” Turas sipped his wine. “After receiving the message of the third attack from Greenwood along our border, I had to act. I came here to witness it for myself. I even offered to parley with Greenwood, but that old goat refused.”

“I was told Greenwood has tried to parley with you but thatyourefused.”

“Well, I did refuse after he attacked my army again following my arrival. What sort of coward attacks and then offers parley?”

“Mayhap he did not yet know you’d arrived. At any rate, Greenwood swears ’tis you who attacked him first.”

“You insult me, Lord Tolvar. First, you come here to aid Greenwoodwithout discovering all the facts, and now you accuse me of aggression! That man is a liar and is clearly after acreage from my land. He’s always wanted the north of the Greenwood Forest.”

Tolvar chuckled. “Well, as the forest is called Greenwood Forest, he may have a point. Besides, what is that skimming of forest to you? How much land is it? A little less than one hundred acres? There are three other forests in Anscom.”

“Two.”

“What do you mean?”

“The North Forest has”—Turas swirled the contents of his goblet—“changed. There are tales.”

“What tales?” Tolvar hated being on the outside of news.

“Over the course of the last moon, travelers have gone missing there.”

Tolvar sputtered a laugh. “How? The North Forest’s Road is wider in places than the Capella Road.”

Turas shrugged. “I know not, and there have been no signs of bandits. But my last large export to Namid disappeared without a trace. A dozen of my farmers lost their goods and coin, too, I might add. Blagdon has had to subsidize numerous spring crops this season.”

Tolvar didn’t roll his eyes. Loss of coin. ’Twas well known Turas had as much income as the House of Sidra.

The North Forest was an essential resource for Lenfore. One-third of the country’s lumber came from there. And it was a main thoroughfare for trade. If the North Forest couldn’t be accessed, reaching the northern provinces of Lenfore would take weeks, besides reaching the provinces to the south—Askella itself would have trade delays. But Tolvar couldn’t consider that now.

“Regardless. ’Tis one hundred acres. Hardly a reason to be locked here in battle. Blast it! We should all be sitting here together. I’m not some go-between ninny page boy. I have my own goings-on.”

“Aye. I hear that you’re at service to an unusual maiden at present.”

Tolvar wasn’t surprised that news had traveled to all places,especially Blagdon, but he still didn’t like it. He chose not to respond.

“Might we meet with Greenwood? You say he attacked you. He says you attacked him. Clearly, this is a misunderstanding and a waste of all our time and resources. Especially if you have other issues like catching highwaymen in the North Forest.”

Turas took another sip of wine. “’Tis not highwaymen. ’Tis something else.”

“You cannot be certain.” Stars. “Let us end this, and I’ll help you track them down myself. This issue of the North Forest sounds to be a much greater problem than Greenwood wanting a few of your trees.”

Turas’s face screwed up into a red ball of anger. “That man is a liar, and I shall not give him a twig. I did not attack first.”

Tolvar ran his hand through his hair.The honor of honor’s sake. Stars.

“Very well. I shall return to Greenwood. But I want your word that you will not open battle again until I return to this camp.”

Turas gaped at him, affronted. “I do not think you realize what you’ve walked into, Tolvar. And as I said, I did not begin this war. If I see Greenwood enter the field, I shall not tarry.”

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