Page 66 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Sixty

TOLVAR

T he Wolf had a grim feeling. His shoulders tensed, his back twitched; he could not pinpoint the cause. The six of them rode some distance from the Lenforese North Road. Far enough so they could avoid encounters. Close enough that they could scout anyone’s approach.

So far, they’d only had to hide thrice. It disturbed everything in him that made him a knight. Skulking in trees and waiting for dozens of men to ride by? ’Twas unbearable. He shrugged off the notion of weakness.

They were northwest of Asalle now and would soon need to decide whether or not to take the longer road toward Shepton, first through the province of Cattacor, then Namid, or take the shorter route through the North Forest.

“The North Forest has…changed. There are tales.” That is what Turas had said. The group would follow Tolvar’s direction. Cutting through the forest would trim off almost four days of travel. And on a quest to save an entire realm, that seemed beneficial.

The grim feeling leapt up again, and Tolvar found that he’d absent-mindedly pulled Valko’s reins. The horse sidestepped and nickered, irritated. Tolvar gave him an apologetic pat and regained his concentration. Surveying the others, everyone appeared as though they, too, fought unease.

And stars, Elanna was the essence of weariness. The StarSeer had been using every effort and power she had to aid their safe travel, begging the stars nightly for a protected path the next day. And the more Elanna asked, the more drained she became.

Part of it, she’d explained a few times during this journey, was that she felt stunted by not being able to sense or communicate with the three missing StarSeers.

Tolvar was inclined to think the worst, but the thought of the small child, Maristel, slain by the Brones, was a thought spiked in despair.

Killing a StarSeer was akin to killing a Vathnavian dragon or an Orlan phoenix.

Stars, even the folkloric hoshefers. One did not commit those acts.

One did not harm the rare purities in the world.

But they did not face normal enemies. They faced Adrienne itself, did they not?

When they finally arrived at the crossroad, everyone turned to Tolvar.

“Well, Lord Wolf,” Hux said. “Where shall our destiny lead us?”

“Elanna, pray, have you Seen anything ?”

“The stars are silent on this.” She bowed her head.

“Why? Why would they be silent now?” Joss asked.

“It means that either path is laced with outcomes that are ultimately dependent upon our choices.”

“Is that not how it always is?”

“Aye, fortunes are never finite. The choice is always ours. And that is why the stars have remained so. This path truly is our choice to make.”

Siria’s skirt.

Either way, the path would lead to some consequence. Damn.

In his earlier years, Tolvar would have easily selected the North Forest. The Wolf wasn’t one to be frightened of rumors. And he still wasn’t. But peering down the road leading to the North Forest, Tolvar chose to do something he was ne’er accused of doing: give thought before he acted .

If Anscom was frightened of the North Forest, mayhap whatever was terrorizing his men would aid them.

And ’twould cut four days off their journey. Why, that could be paramount to making all the difference.

On the other hand, if there was something in the forest: banshees, more shadow cats—he’d had enough of those to last a lifetime—beguile birds, four days would mean naught if they could not exit the forest.

Hux said, “Shall we toss a coin into the air to decide?”

“Douse out, Hux.”

And what of the road through Shepton? Was Tolvar’s face plastered on banners in Cattacor? Would more trouble reach them if they traveled in the open?

“Of all the tales I have heard of the Wolf, indecisiveness has ne’er been part of them,” Hux said.

“Hux, cease,” Elanna said. “We await your decision, keeper of the word.”

Stars.

Joss and Barrett exchanged a glance, and Tolvar pictured one of the two of them grieving for the other dead on the road. He cocked his head, gauging if the grim feeling could guide him. Either direction did not quell his misgivings.

Damn.

Tolvar was not a praying man. But Siria’s skirt, he certainly cursed the stars.

“Either way, Sir Tolvar, you will see this through to the end.” Elanna gave Rasa a pat as the horse pranced in place.

“We shall continue on the North Road toward Shepton and skirt the forest. I would keep everyone here safe.”

Elanna inclined her head, and they started off.

They picked up speed. Tolvar wished again all six steeds were Ashwinian Lusters, but no matter, they rode hard, racing along the open countryside of northern Lenfore, a terrain filled with evergreen trees, emerald fields, and, more days than not, rain.

Although they were often soaked, at least it was the warm bursts of summer and not chilled downpours of spring or autumn.

The grim feeling returned three days into their journey.

Tolvar wanted to voice this to Elanna, but one evening when she rejoined the group after Seeing the stars, a grin shone on her face.

“My sisters are alive. I Saw a sign tonight.”

But then, why the grim feeling?

“Elanna! That is gladdened news!” Hux exclaimed, picking her up and spinning her around. “Does that mean you feel them now?” he asked, as he placed her back on her feet.

She shook her head. “But I know they are alive.” Her eyes were glossed over. “They are alive!”

Everyone gave cheers or words of confidence. Joss and Barrett sneaked a glance.

“Oh stars!” Tolvar said. “Enough, you two. If you believe you are keeping a secret, you are far mistaken.”

“M’lord!” Joss’s face reddened. “What do you mean?”

Gus chuckled. “Joss, come now. True, it took Lord Tolvar longer than most to notice, but the obviousness of you two is short of shouting your relationship to the sky.”

The others laughed.

“That is insubordination!” Tolvar laughed along with the others before sobering. “But I jest not. If the ex-thief and the StarSeer can tromp around in love, why not you two?”

Barrett and Joss tentatively gazed at each other. “Are you in earnest, m’lord?” Joss asked. “You are not angry? This is highly out of order. We meant no insolence. I swear that we did try.”

Tolvar snorted. “Stars help you that you did not wish to succeed.”

“We are no less committed to serving the House of Weslyn, m’lord.” Joss studied her feet.

“I have no doubt,” Tolvar said. “Stars, simply because I am alone does not mean the rest of you should be. ”

“What about me, m’lord?” Gus guffawed. The others joined in the laughter, but Tolvar noticed that Elanna’s amusement was short-lived, laced with fatigue.

He regarded her in question, and she gave the slightest of headshakes. He nodded.

“Speaking of keeping secrets,” Barrett said. “Hux, you ne’er told us why you argued with Elanna’s brother that day in the corridor.”

“Aye!” Elanna echoed with curiosity. “You ne’er have said. And the way you spoke seemed to say you suspected Daved was one of the conspirators.”

“What?” Tolvar said.

“Nay.” Hux cracked a grin. “Nothing like that.” At her expression, he held up his hands. “Mayhap I did for a moment. But nay.”

“Well?” Joss demanded.

“Well, what?”

“Why did you argue?” Elanna half-shouted.

“I convinced him to help the prince escape.”

Everyone but Tolvar began speaking at once.

“Why did you not tell us!” Joss said.

“It did not seem important at the time!” Hux chuckled.

“It seemed not important to tell us that you were behind Dashiell’s escape?”

’Twas not a light topic, but after a moment’s chatter, the mood did lighten.

Even laughter followed.

Tolvar surveyed the others. Joss and Barrett met eyes before she gulped and reddened her cheek. She had no desire to be seen as incapable in her role as his second in command.

Tolvar took that as a signal to give his knights a moment to speak freely. Aye, his knights had become friends of sorts, but especially with Joss, there was still that line.

Besides, they’d had so few moments filled with matters other than distress, dashing, or doom. This moment felt significant to the group. And Tolvar did not wish to sour it for them .

His short walk had him leaning against a giant evergreen, surveying the field creatures of night.

Why the grim feeling?

The full moon hung in the sky, and Tolvar realized ’twas the Prodigal Moon, the same moon he’d prayed to one year ago in Deogol.

So much blood.

So much has occurred.

Tolvar removed Sloane’s prayer moon cuff from his pocket and gave the leather band a sniff. It no longer carried her scent.

“Oh Sloane,” he whispered, peering at the full moon. “My grief is long. I shall go to my grave lamenting for what could have been. For all the time we did not have.”

And the short time they had possessed had been afflicted with the Befallen. To save them, Sloane had sacrificed herself to it.

The Befallen could not return.

He withdrew the Edan Stone and held it in his other palm. “I do this with your strength as my sky.” The word he kept edged on his tongue. “I do this with your faith as my guiding star.”

He closed his eyes. Could he will himself to be in the white room with her?

The goddess of the Prodigal Moon was not so generous.

Out of the copse of trees, Elanna joined him, and they stood in companionable silence. Eventually, he numbed into the Wolf—a knight taking the first watch of the evening.

“The appeasement you gave Joss and Barrett this evening was very generous. Joss, especially, has fretted a great deal about your reaction and possible retribution.”

“Aye, I am quite the hero,” Tolvar scoffed.

“In many ways.” Elanna glanced at the moon cuff before he could hide it. “She would be proud.”