Page 56 of Keeper of the Word
“Ah, Lord Tolvar, I was hopeful I’d find you out here.” He held out a message, the sealing wax on which was broken. “The sovereign instructed me to give this to you.”
Tolvar stepped closer to the torchlight by the doorway.
…More come every day… losses are near one hundred now… ask, nay, beg Your Majesty to send reinforcements, either from Asalle or mayhap from Askella.
The message was from the Earl of Greenwood.
“What is it?” Hux asked.
“When did this arrive?” Agitation seeped through his voice.
“I cannot say, m’lord.” Griffith shrugged in ignorance. “What shall I tell the sovereign?”
“Is he in his solar?”
Griffith nodded. “I shall inform him that you will make your way there now.” He returned to the castle.
“What has happened?” Hux’s face was earnest. Yet Tolvar sorely missed Ghlee at this moment.
“Greenwood’s land is under attack. From Anscom.”
“Anscom? The province we just traveled through? I didn’t sense any misgivings there.”
“Nor I.”
“And did you not say—was not Greenwood the province who attacked your land when we first arrived?”
“Aye.” Tolvar ran his hand through his hair, considering the message again. Great losses.
“This makes no sense,” the men said in unison.
Hux cracked a grin. “Ah, see, look what friends we are now.”
“Blast.” Tolvar put a hand to his sword’s hilt at his waist. Whatwasgoing on? He had a knight’sitchto find out. Deeds were beginning to pile up. It reminded him of the Brones complicating an already thorny undertaking not so many moons ago. But he couldn’t be in two places at once, and he’d sworn to protect Elanna.
Mayhap if the matter of moving up Dashiell’s wedding was settled. Preparations in place would ease both Elanna’s and his mind. But Greenwood called for reinforcements now.
And, in the back of his mind, he had to admit, if he could set out on his own, and if he happened to track down a certain bastard brother, that would be most convenient to put an end to whateverthatwas.
“Watching you think is fascinating. I feel as though I need a seat and some spiced dates, so drawn I am in watching you.”
“Douse out, Hux. I’m thinking.”
“Marvelous.” Hux leaned against the wall.
“Come,” Tolvar said over his shoulder as he entered the castle toward the Royal Solar.
When they arrived, they found three Warins guarding the door.
“You were not here before.” Tolvar stood in front of a brown-haired, clean-shaven youth.
“How did you—” Hux asked. At the same time, an older knight with a bald head and steady eyes—Tolvar thought he remembered his name was Kaff—said, “He’s one of the new Warins, Lord Tolvar.” Kaff smirked. “When I was told you had an audience with the sovereign, I made a wager with myself that you’d notice Sir Petre.”
Tolvar grinned his Wolf grin. “I hope you won.”
“Aye, m’lord. You may enter.” He put a hand up to Hux. “Only Lord Tolvar.”
“’Tis agreeable by me. I’ll bid you good night, then, Lord Wolf.”
