Page 19 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Fifteen

ELANNA

D espite the downpour of rain concealing the sky, the stars still called to Elanna. She tossed and turned on the sunken mattress, listening to the patter on the window and, every now and then, the shifting of one of the knights in the corridor outside her door.

Elanna. Daughter of Light. Over and over, the stars’ voices called.

Finally, she could bear it no longer.

She ensured her door was locked so she could not be disturbed, unbolted the shutters, and opened them. Rain pounded on her face and the windowsill. Squinting, she tried to make out a speck of light beyond the black clouds. Nothing.

A clap of thunder rumbled across the sky.

After a few moments’ failure to See anything, Elanna was about to give up when she thought she discerned, through the torrent, a parting in the clouds. She wiped her brow and leaned out the window, desperately straining to catch a better view.

Elanna was all she heard.

Her hair quickly became soaked. Lightning and another roll of thunder. The pelting of rain made her blind to everything else .

A thump from the corridor made Elanna lean back in. Tolvar and Gus were speaking. She tiptoed to the door and placed her ear to it, all too aware that the drum of the rain made listening next to impossible.

“What if…raining?” Elanna could make out only a few of Gus’s words.

“Either way, be ready at dawn,” Tolvar answered. “We need to…more haste.”

Elanna smiled in the darkness. Good. Tolvar had listened.

Gus said something too muffled for Elanna to make out, then, “Night, m’lord.” His footsteps trailed off, then the corridor was silent.

Elanna stood at the door, picturing Tolvar standing outside on guard. It reminded her of when Daved had hidden her in a closet so the brunt of their father’s abuse would be taken out on him.

The creak of a floorboard sounded behind her.

Elanna turned. Out of the darkness, hands shot out, one covering her mouth, the other shoving her to the floor. The faintest yelp escaped her as her captor withdrew a knife and straddled her.

The cold steel of the knife dug into her throat. A foul odor from the man’s hand stung her nose.

“Shhh. Go to sleep for good, little starling. The fox has greater schemes than ye.”

Stars! He means to kill me.

Flickers of visions Seen surged through her.

The first was a flash projected down the distance of the future. A red-headed man. A gruesome scar.

Then, the vision blinked backward to mere moments ahead of this very instant.

Tolvar tries the door. It is locked.

Stars.

With the knife pressed against her, she froze. In the dark, Elanna could not make out much of the man’s face, but she pierced his eyes with her own. Enough that she knew he sensed the heat of the starlight behind them. Enough that he gave pause.

Unable to look away from her eyes, the man’s grip loosened on the knife for a split second as he shifted his body uncomfortably. Elanna wriggled one arm free. She batted her fist against his forearm, and the knife thumped to the floor.

Elanna dug her fingernails into the man’s arm as he strained to grab the knife. But his other elbow pinned her shoulder while that hand stayed firm on her mouth. She couldn’t scream, couldn’t get out from under him, but she managed to kick the foot of her bed.

“Lady Elanna?” Tolvar’s voice came from the corridor.

The knife too far from reach, the man shifted again and grasped both hands around her throat, cutting off her air.

Tap. Tap. “Lady Elanna?” Tolvar’s voice seemed far away.

The man’s grip tightened. Elanna kicked the bed again. ’Twas impossible to concentrate on anything but his calloused hands.

The knob of the door jiggled.

She could no longer hear the rain outside. Only a buzzing in her ears. Pressure in her head.

“Elanna!” Tolvar yelled. He pounded on the door. “Elanna! Let me in!”

Her arms and feet went limp. Somewhere in the painful tunnel of darkness she drifted further and further into, the pounding on the door kept her from blacking out completely.

“Elanna!” Tolvar’s voice sounded like it was underwater now.

Her eyes closed. Her heartbeat slowed.

There was nothing.

Suddenly, the man’s weight was thrown off her. Air rushed into her lungs as his fingers broke from her neck.

She gasped, taking in huge breaths, the pressure gone, but the pain very much real.

She was vaguely aware of two shadows fighting.

One shoved the other into the wardrobe, the pitcher and basin smashing to the floor.

The other kicked his thigh and then punched him square in the face.

Someone made an oof sound. He recovered and swung two quick jabs.

The man staggered back into the wall but shook it off, drawing a knife.

There was no way to discern who was who.

The pounding on the door escalated .

How is Tolvar here and pounding on the door? The muddled thought came.

She crawled to the side of the bed, coughing and wheezing. She could barely lift her arms.

The clamor of the fight changed—metal against metal.

It ended with a hideous sound. Flesh being torn open, followed by a groan and a body dropping to the floor.

Not a second later, someone leapt in through the window. The clash of fighting resumed. The clink of metal against metal might never end.

There was a pause. Then, someone was shoved against the bed; it shook above her.

“Elanna!” someone called again from the corridor.

A body was slammed into the wall. Then, the vile noise again. Flesh being punctured.

Elanna’s throat burned; she was certain she would vomit. She gagged. Stars, everything was pain.

The whoosh of swords being sheathed startled her.

Stars.

Who had survived this fray?

The pounding on the door had halted. When she opened her eyes, Tolvar and Hux were kneeling over her.

“Lady, can you sit?” Hux’s expression was grave.

In answer, she closed her eyes again.

The door was unlocked and opened.

“Where is she? Is she hurt?” Joss asked.

“Gus, fetch the town surgeon,” Tolvar answered.

Elanna was lifted into someone’s arms and placed on the mattress. She swallowed, then shuddered. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. Two lanterns were lit, and someone, mayhap Gus, spoke to the innkeep in the corridor.

A cold, damp cloth was placed on her neck. At first, she startled, her hands forming claws. She took a swipe, and Tolvar drew away his arm.

“This will help,” Tolvar said, attempting again .

The coolness of the cloth didn’t make the pain subside, but it did help.

“I made it,” Hux said through a tight smile, sitting next to her on the mattress.

She noticed his hands had taken hers. There was something wet on one of them. She struggled to lift it; it was covered in blood. Her would-be killer’s blood.

Her sobs came out in hoarse hiccups.

Another damp cloth was placed on her forehead.

“Shhh.” Hux stroked her cheek, which she was surprised to discover did not trouble her. Behind him, Tolvar stood. His exhale was deliberately quiet.

When Elanna awoke, the smell of the afternoon’s rain made her breathe in deep. The pain that shot through her made it cut short, and she sat, holding her throat and releasing a slight cough. Every bit of her neck was tender. It felt torn.

Next to the open window, Tolvar sat in a chair, his gaze outside. Gazing at him pricked something in her Sight—something she’d Seen from last night but was unable to focus on. Gus leaned against the wall next to the door. Then she noticed Hux sat on the floor leaning against the bed, asleep.

“How do you feel?” Tolvar asked, his eyes still focused outside.

“Water,” Elanna whispered. Her voice was gone.

Gus brought her a cup; she couldn’t determine if the water hurt or relieved her throat.

The room had been cleaned of the fight’s mess—and the bodies.

Her head throbbed.

Wait. There were words. That man had whispered words. Odd words. Stars, her thoughts dragged.

“Is your vision blurred?” Tolvar asked.

Elanna shook her head.

He nodded, tilting his head sideways to scrutinize the outside.

“That is glad news. Do you think you can travel on the morrow? We can go slowly, but I wish to put as much distance between us and Tam’s Ford as possible.

I’ve sent a raven and a dozen knights from my Wesgate guard will be here with supplies by the day’s end.

They’ll accompany us from here—no more inns.

We’ll make do with camps. We cannot take any more chances.

It will not be the most comfortable way to travel, but?—”

She held up her hands and shook her head. Her comfort was of no consequence. Then she pointed to herself and nodded.

Tolvar inclined his head in understanding. “Good. Gus, tell Joss to buy the supplies on my list.” His knight left.

They sat quietly for a time, the incessant thrum of rain the only sound. She gave up on tugging at her memory. There were so many questions, but she was not yet keen on using her voice.

“Was it you?” Every syllable pained her. “Who saved me?”

“Nay. ’Twas Hux. Apparently, he arrived late last night but wished to sit in a ‘more exciting’ tavern across the road.

He overheard someone talking about…” He didn’t finish the sentence.

“He tailed the man but did not realize there were two more tailing him. He took care of one before making it here in time. I made it in time to help dispatch the last.” Tolvar’s face screwed up in exasperation.

“Why did you lock your starsforsaken door?”

Elanna didn’t want to bother explaining the privacy StarSeers craved when being called. She shrugged.

Tolvar muttered something under his breath.

She studied Hux’s sleeping form. Hux saved her? Again, she tried to recall any visions of his fortune—still nothing. But even if she hadn’t Seen anything, thank the stars they had put Hux on the path that led his fortune to that tavern.

Everything became too much, and Elanna found herself holding back tears, her body heaving.

“Who would wish to harm a StarSeer?” she whispered. Elanna drew the cord of light tying herself to her sisters from the dark well inside. Only a fraction. To be a whit closer to them. She dared wrap the invisible cord once around her core to warm herself.

Tolvar’s eyes searched out the window again. “I do not know. But is it possible for you to pinpoint where you Saw the cracks you spoke of last night?”

She cocked her head at him, considering this question and folding the cord away again. She shivered at the sudden coolness. She’d not Seen anything.

Hux stirred and stretched his arms over his head, yawning. His focus drew to Elanna, and he moved to sit next to her. “Lady, you’re awake.” His eyes blinked away from her neck.

She gave a half-smile. “Thank you,” she croaked. “For saving my life.”

“’Tis what I do. Is that not right, Lord Wolf?”

“Stars’ shadow,” Tolvar muttered.

Elanna tried to gauge the time from the sky out the window. “I need your assistance this eve. I need to See the stars.”

Tolvar almost said nay. But he closed his mouth.

“Anything, Lady,” Hux supplied.

Later that night, Elanna knelt in the damp spring grass, her palms absently running across the cool blades, her throat throbbing. But she was here. Already, the night sky hummed above her.

Walking here to this field outside the town’s main gates, rather than being carried as Tolvar had all but insisted, helped to remind her of her strength.

The fresh night air caressed her cheeks.

Her head had stopped aching, and even though her throat still stung, it didn’t twinge quite as much.

The image of it, though. She should have known better than to request a looking glass.

Her neck was a black and blue, blotched mess.

She’d tucked her hair in front of her, attempting to hide it, although it was already dark as they trod through the streets.

She’d instructed Hux, Tolvar, and his knights to keep their distance.

Tolvar had said nay to that before she’d explained they could stand close enough to still see her clearly.

He’d stubbornly agreed. But her time with the stars was for them alone, and she would not be limited by the proximity to others, especially nonbelievers.

Her breaths were deep and even. Her eyes fixed on the glitter of stars cascading over her .

Elanna. Daughter of Light.

There would be no asking why the stars had not warned her. Mayhap they’d attempted to last night, but the storm had impeded them. She couldn’t question what was. StarSeers focused on the future.

As her headache subsided, she had strained to recall the brief blink of vision she had Seen last night.

’Twas a vision buried deep within the recesses of her StarSeer’s memory.

For as the stars shared fortunes with the Five, there were instances when what they Saw was too much or too fleeting to grasp.

Those visions sometimes seethed for days, fortnights, even many moons until somewhere they surfaced and provoked the StarSeer’s recollection, yet usually only leaving mere clues.

Last night, Elanna had Seen a past vision. One that could be years old.

“Stars neither new nor old. Give me again the light that has grown cold.”

She waited. Both for the stars’ answer and to grow tired. StarSeers were meant to receive, not to ask. To ask meant to accept fatigue. And sometimes, that fatigue meant a weariness beyond exhaustion. She could not describe it. No StarSeer could.

She waited. The stars glowed.

Daughter of Light, ’tis still kept within you.

Search you instead for the path that is true.

There are threats unforeSeen to tempt those with wounds.

Stray not from the path or accept certain doom.

The blinding light overhead dimmed, and Elanna wheezed out a gasp. She sank to her elbows.

“Lady Elanna!” Tolvar rushed to her, followed by the others.

Some other words were said, but she couldn’t make them out over her panting. Finally, lids half-closed, she gazed up at the knights.

“Now you may carry me, Sir Tolvar.”