Page 91 of Keeper of the Word

“Only the steward and my escort, Sir Hux.”

“You trust him?” He leaned into the door.

“Aye. He is the Wolf’s own man.”

Dashiell nodded as if satisfied. “As I told you that day, I no longer trust some in this castle.”

“Who?”

“We shall get to that. I’m certain with Griffith being dismissed, my father will be here any moment, and I have more to tell you. Avenisfrom Grenden, but I will be forbidden to marry her nonetheless.”

“Why?”

“Because she is a peasant.”

Chapter

Thirty-Three

ELANNA

What would Elanna’s reaction have been? Neither she nor Prince Dashiell had a second to find out as doors to the solar burst open and King Rian stood there flanked by his Warins—Daved one of them— Chancellor Griffith, and Dashiell’s guards. Everyone had fury-stained faces.

“What in stars’ name is this folly?” The statement could have been for Dashiell or Elanna but was most likely for both.

“We were merely waiting for you, Father,” Dashiell bowed, slipping into his smile.

Elanna threw Hux a pained expression before the doors slammed shut on him and the steward.

“You have deceived me for the last time.” The sovereign’s flushed cheeks darkened in the dim firelight.

“Deceived you?” Dashiell held his chin high. “How? Am I not free to roam about in my ownhome,Father?”

“You must cease fleeing from your guards like a naughty, little boy.”

“Mayhap if you did not treat me like a naughty, little boy, I would have no reason to.” Dashiell paced and ruffled a hand through his hair. “Guards? Guards that I ne’er had until thisbetrothal nonsense. Why have you placed me under guard? And for the last time, where is Karro?”

“Enough, Dashiell.” The sovereign’s voice was low as he stepped in front of his son. “That is quite enough. You shall not question my actions. As your fatherandas your sovereign, if I wishtwentyguards around you, I shall have it!”

Crack.

Elanna’s heart split. The cracks.Thiswas thecrack.This splinter between father and son. This severing between sovereign and heir to the throne. The sounds that only she could…Hear? Could a Seer Hear the future? She’d never read of such a notion.

The end of the world. The end of the realm.Moons ago, on the Dasei Moors, the stars had revealed everything…and she was not stopping it at all.

“Your Majesty!” she burst out, not realizing that she’d been dazed and now interrupted King Rian.

His glare snapped in her direction.

“Your Majesty, we must speak of Dashiell’s marriage.”

“Not this again,” King Rian said.

“M’lady!” Dashiell went white. His head shook furiously. “What are you doing?” His voice was helpless.

It would work. It had to work. Dashiell had to marry a maiden from Grenden. It would keep the House of Sidra intact. It would keep the realm intact. It could repair thecrackbetween father and son. That iswhyshe was here, to protect the future as a StarSeer. It would work.

“Your Highness, ’tis all right.” Elanna gave what she hoped was a comforting smile. “Your Majesty, the marriage contract to Lady Wenonah is not yet sealed.”