Page 74 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Sixty-Seven

ELANNA

S he stood at the edge of the world. Nay, not the edge of the world. The edge of a thought. The end crept toward them like a rolling fog.

The StarSeers waited on the bluff, gazing at the horizon growing darker and darker.

No one moved.

“This is the night,” Casta said, holding Maristel against her, the child as somber as they were. “They are coming. I know they are.”

When this all ended, Elanna would sorely miss her ever-optimistic sister.

Elanna was not so confident.

The fortnight they had waited had been brutal.

While she’d been away Sybyll Walking—she still could not believe she had achieved such a feat—Kyrie and Casta had employed all their energy, all their powers, to plead with the stars.

To help the others find success in rescuing Tolvar.

The plan was perilous and had roles for everyone, including Hux.

She did not fault Hux for leaving during her disappearance.

If anything, it gave her more credence in who he was at heart.

Still, there were many complications to the plan, and Elanna had spent the wait in prayer .

Casta’s confidence had not wavered, but Kyrie was much more sensible and, last night, had uttered, “Fortunes are never finite.”

Elanna’s stomach sank.

The wind kicked up, and it drew Elanna’s attention to the sliver of moon—almost waned into nothing. To the thought of the approaching Nay Moon of the Harvest Season.

Time was like the crescent moon itself. Expiring. They needed to make haste to Asalle and Tara.

If the stars had dictated a specific night to proffer a prophecy, they had but one chance.

She failed to keep her mind off Hux. Would he return? How many losses would they suffer in this rescue? How many losses would they suffer before the end?

A rider caught Elanna’s attention. One of the Order knights who’d stayed behind with them loped back from the valley where he’d ridden to scout for the return of the group. He shook his head.

“And what shall we do if they do not return?” Kyrie asked.

“Cease, Kyrie. They will return,” Casta said.

“We must make for Asalle,” Elanna conceded, ignoring Casta. “The prophecy shall not wait. These winds change, and with it comes the war.”

“Agreed,” Kyrie said. “I cannot believe we are in the midst of all this.” Her face contorted into something between awe and abhorrence. “I shall pray.”

Elanna’s eyes followed Kyrie as she strode away.

“I know how you were able to Sybyll Walk,” Casta said, her eyes still on the horizon.

“How?”

“Because you are no longer content to sit and pray and See. You acted all those moons ago, Elanna. And what if you had not?”

“StarSeers aren’t meant to act. Mayhap all this has been in vain. We know the end.”

“But ’tis not the end. Because of you, the realm shall have a chance. The continent shall not fall into forever darkness. You acted.” She glanced down at Maristel. “You have altered us. For the better. You have changed the course of the future. ”

Elanna had no reply, so the two waited, Maristel drifting off to sleep between them.

After midnight, Elanna was startled awake by the sound of approaching hooves.

“I told you,” Casta said, a gleam in her eye.

As soon as he’d dismounted, Hux lifted Elanna, kissing her face. “Oh, Lady. I did not want to leave. I was so distraught when you did not return that day. I pray you know that I left only upon Kyrie’s command. I pray you understand. I ne’er shall leave you again. You have my word.”

Elanna held him close to her, taking in his scent. “I know.”

She released Hux and went to Tolvar. The duration of the moon he’d been imprisoned had taken its toll. “Sir Tolvar, you are returned.”

“Thanks to you, I am certain.” His weakness showed. She could detect where the trace of Adrienne’s curse had been employed to torture him. “We had to flee without the Edan Stone.” His forehead puckered with defeat. “I failed. I failed. I am most sorry.”

Elanna nodded, considering how that fit into all that was yet before them. Stars, they were running out of time.

“The word is safe, I assure you.” Tolvar’s voice choked as he spoke.

“I would ne’er doubt you. We shall not fail until all is over. We shall find a way to gain it back.”

Tolvar’s friend, Ghlee, clapped him on the back; Tolvar winced. “Takes more than that to fell the Wolf.”

The two men embraced. “My thanks, Ghlee.”

“All this rescue business has got me starvin’,” Alvie said. “What’s there to eat around here?”

Led by Joss, the knights flung into action, starting a cookfire. Everyone’s adrenaline still ran high, and the group began an impromptu celebration of sorts. Hux tugged on Elanna’s arm to come dance, but she waved him off, saying she’d join shortly.

Tolvar sat with Ghlee on the bluff, fixed on the now black horizon.

“We are safe for tonight, if that is your concern,” Elanna said .

Ghlee gazed up at her and chuckled. “Having Seers of Stars is an advantage, ’twould seem.” He nudged Tolvar’s shoulder.

Tolvar grunted before blowing on his hot cup of dew fruit tea.

Ghlee’s eyes darted between them. “I shall see if Alvie needs assistance with the cooking.”

Elanna sat next to Tolvar. His gaze would not meet hers; he clenched his jaw.

“You said once you’ve Seen my future.”

She gazed outward.

“Did you know?”

“Know what?” she asked.

“That ’twould take all this to bring me to faith?”

“Not all of it.”

“I failed. The Edan Stone is gone.”

“’Tis not gone, Sir Tolvar,” she reassured. “As I said, we have not yet failed. There are still many tasks. We shall recover it.”

“Siria’s skirt. Look at me.” He swept his arm, upsetting his tea. “I do not know what else you expect of me. My body is beaten.”

“And yet you said you have a new faith.”

“I know what I desire. What I must do. But I must accept what has been done to me.” His snicker came out sour. “First, I lose my sword. Then I recover it, only to lose it again to the one person of whom I need to rid the world.” He groaned. “How much time do I have?”

“Not much time to recover. But we will retrieve the Edan Stone, and you will fulfill your destiny.”

Tolvar groaned again. “Not much of a destiny when all is said and done. Witnessing the end.”

Elanna echoed Casta’s words, “’Tis not the end.” She understood at that moment ’twas true. ’Twas never the end until everyone had given up. Until all hope had been lost. And sitting next to the Wolf, battered though he was, he, too, had not given up.

Their hope for the realm would lift each other until they had completed what they’d begun in a forest moons ago.