Page 18 of Keeper of the Word
Tolvar held his groan.
“I suppose we ought to find this horse of hers. The way she spoke of it, one might suppose we searched for a pup.”
Hux chuckled as if they shared a joke. “To her, he probably is. She’s quite green in the world.”
Tolvar had to agree there. Brought to Ashwin as a child, never leaving. He thought about the child, Maristel, who would grow into womanhood in the same manner.
Whydidshe leave Ashwin?
But to ask her would mean he’d have to listen to her answer, and ’twas clear that she was already full of words to say. Nay, ’twas none of his affair. King Rian had ordered him to Ashwin to help the Five. Done. The Five had only asked him to return her, nothing more. Stars knew that Tolvar taking a stab at finding answers only led to heartache. And scars.
The stallion, Rasa, was surprisingly easy to locate. And true to Elanna’s words, the beast was as tame as a newborn lamb. When Tolvar and Hux led the horse into the clearing where the others sat, Rasa flicked his head away from Tolvar’s hand that held his halter and trotted eagerly to his mistress. She whispered into his ear, and his tail swooshed like a happy hound. The three knights did their best not to stare. Stars, she was green. True, Tolvar and Valko were partners —one must respect his steed if he was to count on him—but certainly, the horse was not his pet. No doubt Elanna had never been properly trained how to work with her horse.
Siria’s skirt! Stop concerning yourself about it. What does it matter?
Elanna drew back from Rasa, that same serene countenance on her face.
“Sir Tolvar, we must speak.”
Stars.
“Lady Elanna, I’ve already told you what my duty here is to the Five. You, of all people, must know how important it is for you to return. Lady Tara spoke of the thread of light that runs between you.” He shook his head. It sounded like such a foolish phrase to say. His former self, before meeting Sloane, certainly would have thought so.
Lady Elanna stood, unblinking, her mouth in a firm line.
“Sir Tolvar.” Her voice was calm. “Lady Tara is not wrong about that light being stretched thin at present, but I must go to Asalle to?—”
“Asalle? Nay, m’lady. You must return home.”
Still, Elanna didn’t blink. He was keenly aware that the others observed this exchange with wide eyes. He’d try another tactic. “Besides, Lady Tara told me she Saw us ride through Ashwin’s gates together.”
There was a slight crease of Elanna’s eyebrows, a quiver of her lip.
“Nay, she is incorrect.”
“M’lady,” Joss spoke, her face pale. “Surely, you doubt not the Sight of your sisters.”
Tolvar lifted his brow as if that settled it.
“I ne’er doubt the Sight of my sisters, but you must not doubt mine. Hear me. Asalle is in danger. The sovereign is in danger.” Her voice rose, and she took enough steps to stand directly before Tolvar. “The whole of the Capella Realm is in danger!”
“How?” Tolvar crossed his arms.
“I have not yet Seenall, but I have Seen enough. In ways, too much. Time is not on our side. We must hasten to Asalle.”
“I vote for that,” Hux said in the background. “Much more amusing than Ashwin.”
None of this made sense. StarSeers did not leave Ashwin. Ever.
“Is this what you’re after? Amusement?”
“How dare you doubt my words.Iam a StarSeer, same as Lady Tara.”
“She is the head of the Five.Andshe did not run away like a child for me to find. She is not causing her sisters undue stress. Sheis behaving as she should. Mayhap a quarrel between you drove you away? Your desire to see the world? I know not, but I am fulfilling the task thatsheset. I was just in Asalle and can speak for its current safety firsthand. You are returning to the StarSeers in Ashwin.”
He gave a curt nod when he finished speaking. Aye, this all made sense. This all had to be some elaborate scheme for amusement.
Elanna appeared as though someone had knocked the wind from her. “You actually are an unbeliever.”
