Page 28 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Three

ELANNA

T he following week fell into a pleasant routine.

The four broke their fast together in the Crown Hall when Elanna awoke in the late morning.

Then she took in morning prayer before they enjoyed a leisurely ride through Asalle’s countryside—an escort of a dozen Sidra knights trailing behind—after which the three stood guard outside the Delara while Elanna knelt again in midday prayer.

Evenings found them in the queen’s garden, walking and talking and even, at times, laughing.

At first, Joss carried the solemn air of her earl, but even she relaxed, falling into hushed conversation with Barrett at times.

Hux was like the breeze on an early summer day.

Some middays, before returning to the castle and the duty of prayer, they’d spread a small picnic of stellaberries, honeycakes, and egg pies.

Hux told Deogolian folktales of a group of lovable bandits who practiced robbing nobility to give wealth to the downtrodden.

His stories of mishaps and vivid characters almost seemed like they carried a bit of truth to them.

At other times, he’d sing. Elanna found his voice to be rich and refined.

He even learned a Lenforese ballad about the StarSeers, though he’d altered some lyrics to allude to a certain golden-haired Seer of stars.

Elanna’s cheeks warmed, and she’d turned to suffer Joss’s reaction, but the dame was occupied speaking with Barrett.

’Twas after a week that Hux broached Elanna about taking an excursion into Asalle.

“Tomorrow is the last day of the Mead Moon Festival in the west borough. Nearest to the castle. You can experience what ’tis like to be amongst people.”

Before Elanna could reply, Joss interjected, “Most certainly not, Hux. Lord Tolvar would ne’er approve of this.”

Hux ignored her. “What do you say, Lady?”

Elanna had ne’er experienced anything resembling a festival. She bit her lip.

“M’lady—” Joss started.

“Come now, Joss,” Hux said. “When was the last time you two were able to visit a city without being regarded merely as the Wolf’s lackeys? Would it not be pleasant to have one day of your own?”

Joss exchanged a glance with Barrett.

“For one day, we’ll be ordinary citizens on an ordinary day. Besides, I thought you said Asalle was the most peaceful and safe city on the continent?”

“You are most right about that fact, Deogolian!” Joss said. “The Heart is everything the tales say it is.”

“Then what are you afraid of?” Hux smiled like a barn cat toying with a rodent.

Barrett shrugged at Joss. “We will have the sovereign’s guards.”

“It does sound like a lovely day,” Elanna admitted. “Joss?”

“M’lady, ’tis my duty to?—”

“Aye, aye, we know Dame Joss. But you deserve a day spent in frivolity. Not even a day. Three hours. Four hours.”

“We’d need the sovereign’s permission, of course. As he’s occupied by Lady Wenonah’s impending arrival, I am uncertain ’tis a good idea to inquire.”

“Leave that to me.” Hux smiled.

Early the next morning, Elanna dressed in the simple gown she’d worn to travel. Mayhap she’d draw less attention to herself. Thank the stars it had been laundered. Joss entered the room, carrying a brown muslin cap.

“Here you are, m’lady.” Joss handed it to her.

“I’m still not certain this is a good idea.

” She surveyed Elanna in her looking glass as she tucked her hair inside the cap.

“Hux said that he, Barrett, and the sovereign’s guards would meet us at the servant’s side gate. A peculiar place, don’t you think?”

Elanna adjusted the cap on her head. “How do I look? Like an ordinary person?”

“Nay, m’lady,” Joss said. “You will ne’er look ordinary. But hopefully, the cap will help.” Her eyebrows refused to relax.

When the two entered the courtyard leading to the servants’ gate, they found it void of anyone but Hux and Barrett. Four guards stood near the gate in the distance.

“Where is our escort of sovereign’s guards?” Joss asked, scanning the area.

“Oh, aye,” Hux said, a sly smile combing his face. “You see, yesterday, I decided that we should take the approach of beseeching forgiveness in lieu of permission.”

Joss retreated a step. “Meaning?”

Hux shrugged. “It shall merely be us. But worry not. I do not think we shall need either. I have a plan all laid out. No one shall be the wiser of our absence.”

Elanna gaped.

“Hux,” Barrett said. “We cannot leave.”

“Why not? The gate is directly ahead. Lady, what say you?”

“Do not ask her to make a foolish decision!” Joss said.

Indeed, the gate was directly ahead. And guards didn’t bar people from leaving the castle. Elanna readjusted her cap, registering how much she’d been looking forward to these few hours. It was more than any frivolity in store for them at the festival.

Elanna longed to feel as ordinary as possible for one day. Since yesterday, when Hux had suggested attending the festival, she’d thought of little else but walking around as unnoticed and unseen as she’d e’er experienced. The anticipation of a day of enjoyment had made her lose sleep .

The gate opened, and after being validated by the guards, two servants walked up the path toward them. Neither even glanced in Elanna’s direction.

“M’lady, ’tis not too late. We may still beg the sovereign’s permission,” Joss pleaded.

But what if the answer was no?

Tara would come undone if she knew I did this.

“’Twill be but a few hours. I shall be back in the Delara by early afternoon.”

“M’lady, nay.” Joss crossed her arms.

Elanna took a step. “Please, Joss. ’Tis only for a short time. And you and Barrett shall be there to protect me.” A slight jab of concern tugged at her, remembering the other times she’d left without permission.

“I loathe you,” Joss spewed at Hux.

“Please,” Elanna repeated.

Joss’s expression turned to defeat; the knight-captain pursed her lips in indecision. Elanna knew Joss had conceded when she exchanged a glance with Barrett.

“I am most grateful, Joss!”

They stepped through the gate, the guards paying no attention to them.

“How will we gain entrance again?” Elanna asked, nervously glancing back at the closed gate as they made their way down the stretch of cobblestone road.

“Through the front gate, of course,” Hux said. “They would never bar a StarSeer from entering the castle.”

“That’s your plan?” Joss shouted, while she cursed herself for going along with it. She halted and grabbed Elanna’s arm, directing her back to the gate.

“Shhh,” Hux shushed, blocking Joss’s path. “Are you daft? We cannot go back that way. King Rian will be alerted at once.”

“How is he not to be alerted when we walk through the front gate?” Joss said.

“Aye,” Elanna agreed. She checked her cap before instinctively skimming her neck with her fingers. The bruising on her neck had long since vanished, but if she let her mind trail, the sensation of tenderness was very much there. Phantom fingers lingered.

“Trust me. My plan is as strong as starstone. For now, let us focus on enjoying a wonderful day.”

“Stars,” Barrett said next to them. “Lord Tolvar will have us hanged.”

“Only if something goes wrong.” Hux’s eyes twinkled.

At first, Elanna could not help but feel on edge.

What was she doing? Leaving the safety of Castle Sidra?

And all so she could have a few hours’ reprieve?

This behavior was not in her character. A few times, she paused as if to turn back.

But each time, Hux’s dark eyes coaxed her toward the borough square.

Joss and Barrett did not help. Joss brought a hidden dagger out of her boot and carried it as if in warning to the very meaning of menace itself.

By and by, Elanna, Joss, and Barrett began to relax. Asalle’s enormity enticed an outsider to swivel her head to and fro; the smells and sounds made the simple act of striding down the road an adventure.

When they arrived in Asalle, Elanna’s preoccupation had been so squarely on Prince Dashiell and the required task at hand, she’d barely made note of the capital.

But now. Stars. Ashwin was a mere village comparatively.

And while Ashwin was a city of peace and quiet, Asalle was alive.

Chatter. Laughter. Hundreds of bodies moving together, yet in so many directions.

’Twas as if Asalle’s citizens were in a dance.

Where one minstrel or band’s song ended, on the next block, another song could be heard.

Handcarts and carriages ambled along, carrying a parade of shiny, scented, or colorful wares.

And she could feel the guarding Light of the city within her.

There can be no doubt this is the Heart of an empire.

When they came to the west borough’s square, ’twas as if all the movement and sound and smells collected here like a pool at the bottom of a waterfall.

Elanna was all senses.

And the most wondrous part was she hadn’t received a single flash of fortune from the stars. ’Twas true what Hux had promised. Today, she was simply Elanna.

Barrett and Joss took the lead, and she and Hux followed them around the stands and stages all morning. Barrett had been given an allowance of coin from Tolvar, and soon, he’d convinced Joss to spend a bit.

“We are already here. We may as well allow her to make the most of it.”

At first, Joss only shot angry stares at Hux, and sometimes at Barrett, but when she spied a dried dew fruit stand, she finally relented.

The three—even Joss—pushed a variety of tarts, nuts, and ciders in front of Elanna.

“Try this!”

“Lady, you shall love this!”

“You must try this!”

Elanna tried to convince her companions that she had tasted plenty of decadent food before this day.

StarSeers weren’t like the Stillmoon Priestesses, she’d exclaimed.

But they heard none of it. And secretly, Elanna reveled in their enjoyment.

Joss and Barrett were finally looking her in the eyes.

Smiling at her. She and Joss even shared a joke regarding two left shoes from one morning of dressing her. Almost like a friend.

After a couple of hours, Joss instructed that ’twas time to return.

“Allow her to see one more show,” Barrett said. “There is a jongleur beginning in a moment.” He pointed across the crowd to the largest of the stages.

“Barrett,” Joss said, but her eyes did not match her tone. “Oh, very well.”

“You’ve made the right call,” Hux said. “There’s a spot against the wall there. Let us make our way there.”

Without glancing back, Hux took Elanna’s hand and started toward the unoccupied area. Elanna’s eyes didn’t move from their hands until he promptly let go after he’d satisfied himself with an ideal location, one where they could observe. Elanna glanced behind her.

“Where are Joss and Barrett?”

Hux eyed the crowd. “It appears that Barrett is making another purchase. They’re making their way. Glad I am that I do not have to answer to the Wolf for the amount of coin spent today.” He chuckled.

The jongleur began strumming his lute, drawing the crowd’s attention.

Elanna sensed eyes on her.

She searched the crowd for the source. Yet in the mass of people, she may as well have been seeking a mouse instead of a person.

“We must go, m’lady.” Joss came to stand next to her, which was becoming more difficult as the crowd had increased in number. “We’ve lingered too long.”

“Anything amiss?” Hux’s attention was on the crowd.

“I think people are beginning to notice her. ’Twould be safest for us to leave now.”

At that moment, Elanna sensed another pair of eyes on her. But this time right in front of them. A small child had her eyes concentrated on Elanna, her finger in her mouth as if deciphering the reason Elanna should be drawing her attention.

“Of course,” Elanna said, giving the girl a smile and receiving one in return.

They were near the square’s exit when Elanna finally made eye contact with the person who’d been fixed on her.

The flash struck her with such force that ’twas as if she’d been shoved. Hux and Joss caught her from diving face-first into the stone.

“Do you give this?…”

“Your blood for my blood…”

A guttural cackle scratched at her ears.

Then, Elanna Saw Tara standing before her. She appeared … wrong.

“Elanna!” Hux’s voice brought her back. “Elanna! ”

The jongleur had just performed a line to make the crowd burst into peals of laughter. The aroma of black tea hit her nose.

“Are you well, m’lady?” Joss asked.

“Aye. Give me a moment.”

Her elbows resting in Hux’s and Joss’s arms for support, Elanna stood and scoured the crowds.

Had she truly met eyes with whom she thought she had?

Perpendicular from where they stood, there was a cut-in entrance to a narrow alley. A person stood at the edge, just within the shadow. Elanna gritted her teeth and took a step so her view was no longer blocked by the crowd. She had to know.

They locked eyes again, and the warmth and Light within her drained.

’Twas a witch.