Page 99 of Keeper of the Word
Elanna raised an eyebrow. “What makes you believe thatyouneed not make amends?”
Tara gaped. “What?”
“Glad I am that you now believe me, as you’ve Seen for yourself, but you ne’er should have doubted my words when I returned from the Dasei Moors.” Elanna’s voice strengthened. “The stars commanded me here, Tara. I did not leave Ashwin twice on a whim! You should have trusted what I Saw!”
Many of the sentinels eyed the ground, feigning they’d not heard Elanna’s shout.
Tara’s nostrils flared. “Mayhap if you had informed mebeforeyou fled Ashwin! Do you know the distress you caused?”
“’Twould seem it would not have mattered if I told you, as you made it your business to control me. The Lucien Law?” Elanna snorted. “You lied.”
“Youlied. Or withheld your thoughts, anyway. I would have gone with you to the Dasei Moors had you asked.”
Elanna focused on a nearby hedge. “As ’tis in the past, I suppose we shall ne’er know.”
They let the night’s silence surround them for a time.
Elanna broke the silence. “How could you tell us the Lucien Law had been invoked? And for what?” Her eyes flitted to Goodsell.
“As someone who kept her own secrets, how can you ask that?”
“For the last time, I kept no secret. The stars commanded me to flee Ashwin. And I begged you to listen upon my return!” Her blood rushed. “’Tis not the same at all. You lied.”
“I lied.” Tara threw up her hands before resting them in her lap. “There is naught I may say in defense. I do not expect you to understand all my motivations. You ask me if I e’er wish my life was different? Mayhap, aye, I do. I wish it. Goodsell has long been a counselor to me, and if our friendship warmed into something more?” She shrugged. “Not that I did not try to fend off my feelings, but mayhap you have a glimmer of understanding as you’ve been in the world now. We are outsiders, and that is…strenuous at times.”
Elanna’s first thought was of Hux; she did not want to admit how close Tara was to echoing her own jumble of feelings. But Tara had lied. Lied about a sacred ordinance. And she still stung from Tara’s disbelief.
Tara lifted her chin. “But I ne’er put a strain on our cord of light as you did. You cut us off! Buried your cord. I felt it plunge into the depths. I could not reach you. Even when I was almost here, I?—”
“Cease,” Elanna said. “We have greater matters at hand. As you’veSeen. Let us put this quarrel to rest for now.” She sensed thecord of light tug between them. “For that, I am sorry. ’Twas excruciating for me to bury it. And you know not what ordeals I’ve passed through.” Her thumb and index finger grazed her neck.
Tara opened her mouth, but said nothing. Not even in StarSpeak.
The two witnessed the stars shift above as the hours passed. Never did it become congenial—the dregs of anger between them could not be completely obscured—but the tension, at least, loosened.
We are still sisters,Elanna said in StarSpeak.We must work together to find the path away from doom.
Tara’s gaze did not leave the sky.Agreed.Then Tara said aloud, “Now. Tell me all that has occurred here. And show me this moonstone that Sir Tolvar left in your care.”
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
TOLVAR
Tolvar offered Kyrie his tent for the night, but she opted to sleep in the open, stating that she prayed the stars would give her direction.
After an hour of staring at the canvas ceiling, Tolvar belted his sword to his waist and set out toward Anscom’s camp. He hoped, since Turas’s men had been there with Kyrie, mayhap he would be the most reasonable.
The quiet walk with naught but the melody of night creatures calmed Tolvar, and he was ready to wear patience like a shield when he came upon Turas’s camp.
The camp was noiseless, as would be expected after midnight. Tolvar slowed his pace so he could announce himself to Turas’s guards. But no one challenged him.
He came to a standstill. A knot clenched his middle. Where were the guards? Had Greenwood ambushed them?
Tolvar silently dodged behind a bush and leaned forward, listening. A few men sat around a crackling campfire, but not close enough for Tolvar to hear anything. In the darkness, ’twas difficult to make out distinct details. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Just a battle camp sitting around waiting for dawn.
But where were the sentries?
