Page 122 of Keeper of the Word
“Hangings are forbidden.”
“That so? Should have told the Sidra soldiers who ransacked this place.” Her chuckle made Elanna’s skin crawl. “There’s to be worse. You mark my words when you return to the castle.”
Elanna’s brows drew together in confusion. But there was too much else to worry about now.
Tara came to stand beside them. “I meant no offense, but we are here on a grave and consequential errand.”
“I have scried your coming here. But we are not meant to meet. And I cannot help you. Besides, she’s dead.” Her hood inclined toward the door.
They gazed back at the lonely door in the alleyway. “She was the one who was hanged?”
She did not answer. “’Tis ill fortune you are here. I can feel the shades of night tremble. Surely you can feel the same in your stars.”
“The stars commanded us here.”
“To perform Shroud Magic?” She coughed again in an attempt to laugh.
“Aye. Mightyouperform it?”
“Not anymore. I am a witch no longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why would a witch be living in Asalle and not the mountains? I have been banished from the coven. E’er since the leader, Jordain, decided to side with usurpers.”
“What usurpers?”
“I know not who they are. But you have greater troubles than a rogue prince. We came down from the mountains and met with a man who called himself the Fox. An idiotic name. I ne’er observed anything fox-like about him but his sly, toothy smile, which was slicked with the traces of Adrienne.”
Tara grimaced, and Elanna stumbled back at the word.
The woman snickered and removed her hood. Underneath, one eye was milky white, and Elanna wondered if she could see through it. The other eye was as black as oil with no whites at all. Yet, a second later, ’twas only the pupil that was black; the iris turned hazel.
Her cunning smile cut at them, visibly pleased by their uncomfortable reaction.
Elanna regained herself. “If you are not a witch any longer, how is it that you are still scrying?”
“I was. No longer. My orb was smashed a week ago during a burglary in my rooms. I have no power without it since I no longer have a coven.” The witch scanned the surroundings. “’Tis not safe for me to speak to you. We had been left in peace until my sister spotted you in the square.” Her eye flashed solid black once more.
A wash of guilt flooded Elanna, even though she knew this hanging was not her fault.
“I am sorry about your sister,” Tara said. “We understand what it is like to be bound by sisterhood and lose a sister.” She glanced at Elanna. “Is there no other way?”
“Another way? Even if I had an orb, I would not aidyou. I have lost everything.”
“But—”
“I care not for this realm, StarSeer. I only wish to stay out of what comes.”
“Did she have an orb?” Hux said, coming to stand beside Elanna.
A crash a block away made everyone tense. The witch flashed another glare. “’Tis there.” She nodded at the door. “But ’tis guarded with a protective ward.”
“Cannot you open it?” Joss asked.
“Daft or dumb, you must be. Did you not hear me? If I have no orb, I have no power.”
The door was inspected. Despite the witch’s words, Goodsell and Kennel, one of his knights, both attempted to pry it open with the sword Goodsell carried. The only thing that happened was that the steel bent into a ninety-degree angle.
