Page 86 of Keeper of the Word

They waited.

A few moments later, silent footsteps approached. Two pairs of footsteps? Elanna couldn’t be certain. When she was sure they were at the far end of the corridor, she peeked from the curtain.

’Twas two Warins. The yellow band on both their arms stood out in the dim light. She couldn’t discern who the second was, but as for the first, even though she’d only seen him twice here, it was undoubtedly Daved.

This corridor seemed awfully busy considering it seemed to be a covert area of sorts. But the Warinswerethe sovereign’s personal guard.

“Odd.” Hux peered after them as well. “Those two are off their schedule.” He gazed off in thought, then asked, “How did you know they approached?”

Elanna only gave a close-mouthed smile.

“Of course. You know, your gift could be most handy for some less than virtuous situations.”

Despite herself, Elanna smirked.

“Now what do we do? We did not exactly bump into the chancellor as planned?”

“Didn’t we?” He winked. Elanna forced her fluttering heart to quiet. “And, fear not, Lady. You heard King Rian say you’re to have an audience with him. Even better. Let us make for the Delara where you are currently praying.”

The ravenmaster had shownhis loyalty. Every detail of Elanna’s visit to the message tower was retold to her as soon as she’d presented herself to the sovereign. Chancellor Griffith stood to the side of the room, evidently keeping notes for King Rian.

“If you had newfound fears about my son, why in stars’ name did you not share that with me?”

“Concerns, not fears, Your Majesty,” Elanna said, keeping hereyes on his soft leather shoes. Besides the internal battle she fought to not mention the initial fears she’d stated upon arriving in Asalle, she wrestled with whether or not to inform King Rian of the distress that Dashiell had longed to confess to her in the Delara.

But the prince petitioned for your confidence.She set her jaw.

“And have you any Sight to share that might assist with what the ravenmaster has informed me? The prince has been sending daily messages to a town in Anscom. Have you Seen anything?”

“Would that I could say I have Seen something new, Your Majesty, but the stars have remained veiled on the matter. I shall continue my endeavor, however.”

“Would you like to send for the prince, Your Majesty, so that you might question him?” Chancellor Griffith asked. “The prince would not dare stay silent to you.”

King Rian descended the steps of the dais and focused out the window.

Elanna and Chancellor Griffith made uncomfortable glances at each other.

“Your Majesty?”

“I say this only because you are my trusted advisor, and Elanna is StarSeer to the realm. Something deeply troubles my son, and ’tis driving a wedge between us. Dragging him in here, yet again, shall only deepen that. The prince has claimed I trust him not. ’Tis becoming clear that his trust in me wanes. Aye, we could conduct him here to question. I am his sovereign, true. Yet I am also his father, and he is my son.”

“And has the bold-headedness of youth, Your Majesty. Prince Dashiell is not gifted with the same strong qualities of Your Majesty.”

Elanna’s eyes widened. King Rian chuckled and kept his attention outside. “There is that tongue of yours again, Griffith.”

The chancellor paled. “Your Majesty, I’m only striving to?—”

“And yet I do hear your words. But ’tis his destiny to rule. Is that not correct, Lady Elanna?” King Rian faced them. His tight-lipped smile did not reach his eyes.

Elanna inclined her head. “And I am here to see that destinyfulfilled. If it pleases Your Majesty, mayhap I may serve you in another way. Allow me to try to discover what ails the prince.” She considered asking outright if she could sit next to Dashiell at this evening’s banquet and dance with him, but she didn’t want to hint that she was familiar with the banquets as she’d attended only one of them. “Mayhap I may gently guide your son to speak with his father.”

King Rian and Chancellor Griffith eyed each other. The chancellor, still blanching, seemed determined not to offer a suggestion first this time.

“If news is spread that the prince is engaged privately with a StarSeer, the people will fear something is amiss with his fortune. And blast it, as if rumors are not already circling his betrothal. I cannot suffer more.”

Was that why Dashiell had been hidden from her? Is that why she’d been kept from court?

“I understand, Your Majesty,” Elanna said. “Mayhap a public venue.”