Page 21 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Seventeen

TOLVAR

’ T was not a trap. In fact, ’twas nothing.

Despite that, when they rode into yet another abandoned camp, Tolvar ordered his men to search for signs of direction. Nothing. They combed the area. Nothing.

Nothing, except more bootprints. One was definitely Crevan’s size. And a few scraps of walnuts. Crevan’s favorite.

Who is the sly one now?

“M’lord, ’tis been two hours now,” Gus broached later. “We should return soon before it grows darker.”

’Tis after dusk already?

’Twould be difficult to find any further sign. But backward meant he’d lose Crevan’s trail.

Where are you, you miserable fox ? He needed to track Crevan now.

“Sir?” Gus asked.

Forbearance, the breeze seemed to whisper.

Tolvar paused. “Very well. Let us return.”

On the ride back to camp, Tolvar grasped the realization that for the past few hours, he had not once considered the vulnerability in which he’d left Elanna and the others.

And all to find a few walnut shells. A thickness formed in his throat.

He swallowed his guilt, kicked Valko, and thundered toward camp.

When they arrived, the scene was uneventful, thank the stars.

Joss stood to meet them, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression angry. “A word, m’lord,” she said through gritted teeth.

Tolvar owed her nothing. He was her commander and earl. But he respected his knight-captain. He was prepared to let her dish out whatever words she wanted him to feed upon.

Out of earshot of the others, Joss’s face softened.

“M’lord, four years ago, your brother did a heinous thing.

I know that it…changed you in some ways.

” She studied the ground. “I understand why. That day changed me as well.” She lifted the back of her shirt, and even though it was dark, Tolvar could make out the long scar that ran diagonally across her back.

He’d no idea Joss was grossly injured that day.

“But, m’lord, you need not remain so altered.

You were the Wolf long before that day and have returned here as the Wolf, still.

Do not forget who you are in the search for vengeance. ”

“Joss, you know that the best course of action is to track and kill Crevan before his next plot can?—”

One moon ago, Tolvar would ne’er have believed his knight-captain was capable of interrupting him, but she did, and with force.

“The best course of action is to keep your pledge to Lady Elanna. We are only days from Asalle. See her safely there first, and then seek out the ghost of your brother if you must.”

Her lip quivered. She was afraid of his repercussions.

“The ghost? He is alive.”

“M’lord, you’ve no proof. But if he is alive, that is all the more reason to see Elanna safely in Asalle first. There, the sovereign’s personal guard, the Warins, may protect her.” Joss met his eyes. “Sir Tolvar, she’s a StarSeer ! Do not forget that.”

“I had no idea your faith was so strong, Joss.”

“Why would I have reason to question it?” She met his eyes.

He should berate her, but she spoke plain and true. Sir Bernwald had known what he was doing in promoting her.

He nodded in agreement. “We shall leave at dawn.”

Tolvar did not stop his earnest search for signs of clues, although he didn’t share this with anyone. But as they rode, his eyes scanned the green fields, his ears strained for strange sounds, and he inspected the surrounding area wherever they camped.

Blissfully, no one made any remarks. Yet only someone daft would not notice he still hunted.

For the past two nights, he’d asked Elanna if she’d Seen anything new relating to danger along the way. He kept his words vague, but she knew what he pestered her for. She Saw nothing.

“We must reach Asalle,” was all she repeated.

So Tolvar spent all his waking hours, his senses heightened, his shoulders tight, feeling like a pawn. The others kept their distance as much as possible, afraid the Wolf might bite.

Mayhap he should concede that his behavior was a tad suspicious.

In his distracted vigilance, it registered with him one evening that Hux and Elanna were rarely apart. From across the camp, he observed Hux speaking in that stupid grinning way of his, Elanna’s eyes laughing.

Stars. Must that Ravyn always vex him?

He considered marching over there to sit between them, especially after Joss’s eyes darted from them to him, but he wished to scout the west side of the camp again.

He could have his knights do it. He could choose not to do it at all.

But ensuring the safety of the area wasn’t unreasonable.

And he was much better at it than anyone else.

And he could take care of both matters at once.

He nodded at Joss to guard Elanna. “Hux, with me. We need to finish scouting.”

The Ravyn’s stony expression made him chuckle under his breath.

“Cannot someone else accompany you, Lord Wolf?”

“They can, but I have instructed you.”

Tolvar almost wished Hux defied him. He hadn’t been able to punch anyone since Tam’s Ford. But Hux rose, gave Elanna a backward glance, and followed Tolvar in the direction of the sunset.

“Why are you still doing this?” Hux said when they were alone.

They tramped through a clearing, the grass at their waists.

There were no clusters of trees in this area so close to the Glendower River, the massive river’s rushing water audible in the distance.

Tomorrow, they only had a half-day’s travel before they would cross the Stella Pohl Bridge to reach Asalle.

“Did you not scout your own camps, Ravyn?”

“ I didn’t. I utilized my men, of which you have many at the moment, I might add.”

Tolvar ignored him, transforming himself into a hunter.

He marked the landscape. It was said of the Wolf that he could memorize a territory in a matter of moments.

’Twas not quite that quick, but Tolvar was certainly no novice in collecting his bearings.

A light breeze carried the aroma of roasting quails from their camp, and beneath that, the scent of fresh water from the Glendower.

A dozen yards away, a covey of quails’ coos assured a sense of peace. Tolvar moved the other way.

“When you stalk like that, you remind me of my brother,” Hux said, his eyes drawn into the distance. “Brinley would walk on his toes just as you’re doing now.”

A bird fluttered overhead.

“Do you truly believe you could kill your own brother?” Hux asked.

Tolvar sighed and straightened his shoulders. “The list of reasons to justify why Crevan should be killed is longer than I can say.”

“Aye. But could you be the one to do it?”

“We’re not all as righteous as you, Ravyn. I care not for who he is now. That evil traitor took my father from me.”

“I almost killed my father,” Hux said, smirking at Tolvar’s expression of surprise. “Instead, I righteously formed the Ravyns. After years of pondering, I do not think I could have lived with myself had I, in fact, been the one to end his life. Even though he deserved it. ”

Hux crouched to inspect a groove in the dirt where a patch of grass had died. Tolvar knelt. A footprint? Hux said no more, and Tolvar took in his words as he scrutinized the ground. Hux had always hinted he was the son of a nobleman. But, like the dullard he was, he was waiting for Tolvar to ask.

Stars.

“I’ll snatch your bait. Why did your father deserve it?”

Hux continued to study the ground, but ’twas not because he still surveyed it. He appeared to be deep in thought.

“My father disowned my brother, Brinley.”

“Is that it? Mayhap Brinley deserved it.”

“Do not be an ass until you’ve heard all.” Hux’s dark eyes left no doubt to his wrath.

Tolvar nodded.

“Brinley and I are—were—the sons of a baron. What baron, I shall not say, for I no longer consider that my home. Brinley was the eldest and, of course, was expected to make a match of fortune. My father had a habit of gambling, you see, and drained much of his coffers. But Brinley refused the arranged match.”

“Why?” Tolvar hoped his sincere tone of curiosity made amends for his last statement.

“He almost did not. Brinley loved our father and wished to serve him as best he could, as first son. But Brinley felt it would go against his integrity and against the integrity of the woman. You see, he did not prefer the company of females.”

He eyed Tolvar again, daring him to cross him. But Tolvar simply nodded in understanding. He knew others like Brinley. He’d never concerned himself with such matters. Frankly, what did it matter to anyone else what person attracted another?

“When Brinley was forced to give his reason to our father, my father’s words were…

” Hux’s eyes glossed over. “Unkind, to say the least. Horrid, monstrous, in truth.

I always knew my father loved Brinley best and accepted it.

To hear my father spurn his son in an instant—turning away from the affinity I know he felt his whole life—well, I could not stand by.

“Brinley suggested that I take the lady’s hand in his stead, and I would have, for Brinley’s sake, that is.

And my father’s debt problems would have been solved.

But then, my father said his last piece to my brother.

” Hux paused. “He said, ‘Speak not to me about resolutions, for you are worse than no one to me. No longer my son.’ I stood in shock.

Then, I raged. I got in four good hits and a stab of my knife—I was going to kill him—before the guards tackled me to the floor.

“Brinley came to my defense, and fought his way out of the room, but was captured and taken to the dungeon. The dungeon! My father caged his son like an animal. My father’s steward told me he had worse than a dungeon planned for Brinley the next morning.

All to save his reputation and pride and, most terrible of all, to fulfill his loathing. ”

Tolvar thought of his own father. ’Twas unimaginable that he would react the same.