Page 68 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

The blinding light waved and quaked, first through the circle and then the camp behind them. Everyone—including the witches—in the path of the vibrating sunlight fell first to their knees and then dropped unconscious face-first into the dirt.

The light seemed to have no impact on the StarSeers.

For a breath, the battle paused. Everyone stood motionless, transfixed on Elanna.

Elanna, eyes closed, collapsed to her side.

“Elanna!” Hux cried, pushing his way through the combatants. This resumed the conflict .

“Shatter the orb!” Kyrie shouted to Gus, who seized the now-dim orb and smashed it to the ground. The orb splintered into innumerable pieces.

Two other witches appeared from out of a tent and cried out, writhing their long, bony fingers in distress.

Gus didn’t wait for Hux, who struggled to reach them through the battle. He gathered Elanna in his arms, yelled to Kyrie to follow, and darted through the diminishing skirmish to the edge of the camp.

Tolvar pierced his sword through another man, one eye on their escape. His objective was Greenwood. The earl stood to the side observing the conflict while, behind him, Turas swore and twisted in rage that so many men had been lost.

Cowards.

Gus was almost to the edge of camp. No one pursued him.

Then the first arrow hit Gus’s back. He kept jogging.

A second arrow.

He tripped and dropped Elanna’s unconscious body on the ground. Kyrie and Casta, who carried Maristel, halted. The third arrow hit.

“Gus!” Tolvar bellowed.

Casta released Maristel and shouted for her to run as she and Kyrie lifted Elanna between them. The child toddled away, peering behind her distractedly more than pumping her legs.

Tolvar changed his course and raced toward them, hacking his sword through men as he did. He was almost to them.

Kyrie and Casta had taken three steps when Maristel’s scream brought everything to a standstill.

Crevan stood a few paces away from the other StarSeers. He held Maristel in one arm. The other arm held a knife at her throat.

Tolvar halted.

His brother was a stranger. His greasy, red hair flopped over his ears, neck, and forehead. His skin looked…grey. The last time Tolvar had seen him, half of Crevan’s face had been streaked with darkness. Now, his neck, too, was oiled black. As was his hand that held the knife .

Maristel whimpered.

Tolvar met her eyes. “’Tis all right, Maristel. ’Tis all right.”

Her lip trembled, and she attempted a brave nod.

Tolvar took a cautious step forward. “Crevan, do not do this. You cannot return from this. Not only is she a StarSeer, she is a child.”

Crevan callously regarded Tolvar. “Think you that there is anything I can return from, Tolvar? I told you that day in the dirt, bringing down the light is the only way now.”

Near him, Casta and Kyrie shivered. A half-dozen men joined Crevan. As did another witch, patches of baldness on her scalp.

Crevan said, “I thought you said all Five would come.”

The witch’s voice was like a scrape of slate against steel. “I says you would have a fate with all Five. I ne’er said that ’twas this fortuity.”

Crevan swore and tightened his grip on the knife. “I need them. I need them together.”

Tolvar pinched his brows together. “Crevan, release her,” he pleaded.“Your quarrel is with me. Let the child go.”

“I would certainly recommend it,” Hux said, from behind Tolvar.

Tolvar dared a glance behind him and found Hux pinning Turas with a knife to his throat and Barrett holding Greenwood.

“You know you cannot carry out your grand plan without your conspirators,” Hux said. Turas tried to speak, but Hux embedded his knife further, and only rasps came out before Turas cowered into silence. “Now, you release the StarSeers, and I shall give you back your fellow traitors.”

Crevan’s face screwed up into a smirk. “Go ahead. I need no collaborators.”

“Why you—” Greenwood shouted, but his words died.

An arrow shot by one of Crevan’s men sunk into his neck.

Barrett released Greenwood, who tore at his neck, blood scouring down.

Gurgling sounds chilled over Tolvar. ’Twas a terrible way to die.

No one moved. Another arrow plunged into Greenwood’s chest, and he fell .

Crevan nodded to his archer to nock another arrow, but Hux put up a hand.

“Cease, you melty fool. What do you think shall happen when you have not the clout of the earldoms at your disposal? Think you that you shall still have their wealth to fund your scheme? Think you their armies will simply follow you? A known lunatic?”

“Watch it,” Crevan interrupted, but Tolvar recognized that his brother considered Hux’s words.

“You need them,” Hux repeated. “Or him, I suppose.” He shrugged, and Turas wriggled against the blade. “You Weslyn brothers certainly relish the idea of killing first and then asking questions.”

He’s never going to release all of us .

Stars, Crevan could have them all shot in moments.

Elanna lay motionless on the ground. There is always a choice.

“Cease,” Tolvar said. “Release everyone, and I shall give you something in return.”

“What could you possibly have that I desire?” Crevan asked.

“Me,” Tolvar said.

Casta blanched.

“Two fools,” Hux whispered. “What are you doing?”

Tolvar waved his hand to silence Hux. His eyes darted to Kyrie, who narrowed her eyes at him with interest.

Crevan guffawed. “Why would I possibly want you?”

“For one, I would be out of your way. But two, I have this.” Tolvar held up the Edan Stone, making certain that it caught the eye of the witch. As he predicted, the witch whispered wildly into Crevan’s ear.

“I could simply take it,” Crevan said.

“You could. Stars know you’re accustomed to that. But if you do and you kill me, you will not have the word that accompanies it.”

The witch filled Crevan’s ears with more whispers while Kyrie looked on. She inclined her head slightly.

Stars.

Everyone froze as Crevan considered.

“Be ready to run,” Tolvar uttered softly to Hux and the others.

Hux sighed. “I ne’er heard tales of the Wolf’s stupidity.”

Tolvar glanced back, nostrils flaring at Hux.

“This is the only way. Get them to Ghlee and Alvie and finish this. I made a promise to keep my word. This is how I can fulfill my promise to Slo—Elanna, and keep everyone safe.” He pocketed the stone, accepted a dagger that Joss handed him, and traded places with Hux to hold Turas.

“You are quite a fortunate man,” Tolvar whispered in Turas’s ear. “But before this is all over, I shall kill you.”

But he needed the Earl of Anscom alive for the present. He needed him to help the others escape. Turas shuddered under Tolvar’s words but remained quiet.

Finally, the witch whispered one more phrase in Crevan’s ears. He lifted an eyebrow.

His smile was grotesque.

“Very well, brother. The StarSeers and your four knights—oops—three knights may leave. We shall give them a few moments’ time before we pursue. You shall stay here and give me the moonstone you carry.”

Tolvar gave a short nod, and Joss and Barrett raced to collect the horses.

He grimaced down at Gus’s body. Gus, who had been so loyal.

He wanted to give Valko a pat as Barrett hurried past him, but holding Turas was a matter of life and death at the moment.

Crevan gave an exaggerated bow and stepped aside, all the while eyeing Tolvar like a shadow cat would its supper.

The StarSeers mounted Valko and the roan that had been Gus’s, and Hux held the unconscious Elanna against his chest, leading Rasa behind him.

Hux gave a strained smile from atop his black stallion.

“No barb to offer?” Tolvar asked.

“I shall wait until we meet again.”

Tolvar snorted and nodded them away.

No time had passed before Crevan ordered his men to pursue. Hopefully, the Seers’ aid would be enough to evade recapture .

“Do not, Crevan,” Tolvar said, tightening his hold on Turas. “I will not think twice. Give them the time you promised.”

Crevan sniggered and again gave the order to pursue.

Stars.

They stood at an impasse, Tolvar holding the dagger taut at Turas’s throat. He didn’t fool himself. He had a laughable amount of time before he was overpowered, but he hoped ’twas enough. He thought of Sloane and the promises to Elanna. And vowed that no matter what, he was the keeper of the word .

The torture began that evening.