Page 11 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Ten

ELANNA

W hen she had not budged, Gus and Barrett attempted to grab her forearms, but her scream drove them back. She was not accustomed to touch, and certainly, she was not accustomed to force.

“Do not do that again,” Elanna said, surprised by her tone of anger—another thing she was not accustomed to.

Aye, there were visions she Saw that drew out that emotion, but they were of the indignant sort, the pitying sort, the compassionate sort.

StarSeers had no reason to feel anger on behalf of themselves.

The two knights shrunk away, but the Wolf stepped forward.

“Do not make this more difficult for any of us. Yourself included.” He extended an arm, and ’twas Elanna’s turn to shrink back.

“Lady Tara does not have my affinity, but you must understand that I am a knight of my word. Mayhap when you return to Ashwin, you can speak to your sisters about what you think you’ve Seen. ”

Think. The man didn’t know how he insulted her with that remark. StarSeers were not questioned. Ever. Why else did they live as they did? Away from the rest of the world, unbiased, unscathed.

Mayhap there was still a way to convince him they needed to go to Asalle as they rode back to Ashwin. Although she’d already said too much. What the stars had shown Elanna was not yet to be shared with others at will. And there was much she still did not understand.

But if Tara had Seen them enter Ashwin together, then Elanna was certainly right about one thing.

The Wolf stood in front of her exactly as the stars planned.

He’d been brought here to help her . Even if he was yet unaware of it.

Elanna Saw too many flashes of danger before her, but she couldn’t See everything.

Trust the stars. Always.

She would convince him.

“Very well. Yet on one condition. And I require your word. For as you say, you keep it.”

Tolvar tilted his head in curiosity.

“I must have your word that you will stay in Ashwin for five days after we’ve returned. That you will not leave until that time has elapsed.” He clenched and unclenched his jaw, clearly thinking. “As my guest,” Elanna added.

“Oh ho!” Hux said. “Do tell me that means we shall be able to leave our quarters.”

Tolvar glared at Hux, but when he refocused on her, he wasn’t entirely scowling. “Why?”

“Just give me your word.”

“I do not suppose StarSeers hold banquets?” Hux asked, making Tolvar bark very unfriendly words back.

Elanna studied Hux, his dark hair slightly shaggier than the other men, his eyes carefree. She still wasn’t quite certain what to make of the Deogolian man. By now, she’d Seen something of the others’ fortunes, but when she regarded him, there was nothing.

“Not to my recollection,” Elanna returned, making Hux’s shoulders drop.

Tolvar scratched his beard, deciding. “And what if your sisters do not share your offer of hospitality?”

“They cannot deny what I ask. Despite what you may think, the Five are equals in our rule.” She almost flinched at how she’d said “rule.” StarSeers didn’t rule anything.

They served. They advised. They prayed. They spent hours in council meetings with members of the Order of Siria discussing what they Saw.

Elanna had never considered herself a ruler of any kind.

How could one so isolated presume to rule?

But the word had made the Wolf give pause.

And she was accustomed to a reaction like that, at least.

A world away from anything and a world away from where I started.

What would Daved think of that?

“So long as Lady Tara does not command us away, you have my word. Five days.”

Elanna nodded. She would convince him.

After she’d gained Tolvar’s promise to stay in Ashwin for five days, Elanna had been confident in her skill to convince him of how crucial, nay, how critical journeying to Asalle—the whole of the Capella Realm depended on it—was when they returned to Ashwin.

But once they set off, it dawned on her how impossible ’twould be to leave once she was behind the gates again.

Kyrie would lecture her. Casta would guilt her. And Tara would simply place her under guard. StarSeers did not leave Ashwin.

As they rode, Elanna was barely aware of the countryside surroundings; she considered the possibility of convincing her sisters.

But there was a flaw in that plan. In all her visions of doom and destruction, Elanna had never Seen her sisters there with her.

’Twas unlikely any of them had Seen a vision that could corroborate hers.

Yet they cannot think me mad, can they? Tolvar’s words still stung.

Never in studying any of the lengthy written histories of the StarSeers had she read of one leaving Ashwin.

But she could not—would not—deny that the stars had beckoned her.

Elanna knew in her soul, etched with stardust, that she would not be carrying these fortunes had she stayed in Ashwin.

Reflecting on the last twenty days, ’twas undeniable that what she’d Seen—what she’d asked to See—was too dark a fortune for inside the walls of Ashwin.

The darkness that covered the world could not transcend that safeguard.

And if I return…

What would five days do? The knights may have believed she’d said five days as a sign. A symbol of the Five. Mayhap even a clue that she relayed a message from the stars.

But she’d simply said “five” to buy time.

Now that they were headed in the wrong direction, she had to make Tolvar understand reason.

Mayhap if she convinced one of the others.

Gus and Barrett seemed to be no help. Brave knights, aye, but followers.

From what she’d observed between Tolvar and Hux, convincing him would only inspire Tolvar to ride with greater haste to Ashwin.

Joss, mayhap? The woman captain was exceptional. But, nay, she didn’t have Tolvar’s ear. Not yet, anyway. Elanna wondered if the Wolf was fully aware of her.

When they halted for the night, Joss set the other two knights to work as if it were second nature.

She’d even snapped at Hux to collect kindling.

But Joss had shared much of the work, hauling two full waterskins from a nearby stream.

She glanced at Tolvar now and then—the Wolf skinning a rabbit he’d caught—but he paid no notice to the orderly way in which Joss took charge.

No one had asked Elanna to do any task, but she certainly was not ignored.

Everyone’s glance fell on her again and again as they made camp.

It was rare and disconcerting and, in a way, comical.

The only time Elanna met with outsiders was when knights from the Order of Siria visited every moon—and they weren’t truly outsiders—or rare visits from nobles or their messengers.

Elanna’s hands itched to not be idle as she observed everyone else at work. Had Joss not asked her to do anything because she was a StarSeer or because she did not think her capable?

The question disturbed her.

“What may I do?” Elanna asked her when she stood beside Joss, building a cookfire.

Everyone gawked.

“Nothing, m’lady,” Joss said, struggling to bow, but as she was crouched, it appeared as if she’d lost her balance. “What may we do to make you more comfortable?”

Elanna flushed. She pivoted and found Tolvar observing her, his head cocked, his eyes dancing. On the opposite side of camp, Hux, too, grinned.

They do think I’m incapable!

“I need not comfort, Dame Joss; I wish to help.”

“Well.” Perspiration broke on Joss’s forehead. “Very well, m’lady. You may…” She pointed to Hux. “Help gather more kindling.”

Hux’s eyes drew to the giant pile of kindling that had already been collected. “Aye,” he said. “Come, Lady Elanna. I would be glad for your help.”

“Hux,” Tolvar said. His face seemed to be in a permanent glare whenever he spoke to the Deogolian.

“Lord Wolf, when shall you find your trust in me?” Hux pivoted and strode through the trees. Elanna gathered her skirts and jogged to catch up.

When she stood next to Hux, she found him muttering to himself, collecting twigs.

“Are you well?” Elanna asked. A cross expression on Hux was new.

Hux straightened and smiled. “Aye. ’Course. Nothing an amusing little raid or kidnapping would not cure.”

Elanna retreated.

“I jest.” Hux snorted a laugh before turning somber. “You and I may be more alike than one would say. We belong nowhere.”

“I beg your pardon. I know exactly where I belong.”

“Then why are you insistent you do not return?”

“It may be difficult for you to understand since you are not from the Capella Realm, but words I say, any words I say, should be heeded.”

Hux stared at her.

She was unsettled by the way his dark eyes roved her face. And by how it warmed her. “Are you listening?”

“Not entirely. ”

Her mouth dropped open at his ill manners.

“But goddesses of the moon, you are beautiful, aren’t you? I may switch creeds.”

With that, Hux added more twigs to his stack. Elanna recovered and followed likewise.

Impertinent man.

She had a bundle in her arms before she stung herself with a sliver of wood. Wincing, she dropped it, droplets of blood issuing from her fingertip.

“Well, we cannot have that,” Hux said, taking her hand. With deftness, he plucked out the splinter before holding her finger at eye level to gauge if there was more. His hands were rough, different than she’d expected. Although she’d had so few men touch her, she didn’t know what she expected.

She drew away her hand. “My thanks.”

“I would say the pleasure was mine, but I’d take no pleasure in seeing you harmed.” He cracked a grin and strode in the direction of camp. “Come, I smell food.”

“What of the kindling?” she said, following him.

“Oh, sweet lady, this was merely a diversion.”

“A diversion from what? I wished to be of help!” Elanna jerked him by the shoulder to face her. “I was in earnest. I can collect firewood, same as anyone.”