Page 36 of Keeper of the Word
“I have Seen the betrothal of Prince Dashiell fail. I know not yet why. But ’twill set in motion many events that mean doom. And now, this eve, I have fears that I am certain are from my visions of the stars. You heard that man. Prince Dashiell has been recognized in these parts. Why? What if the princeisin Lenfore? And what if the reason is that he chooses another? From Lenfore? What will it mean for the balance of the line of Sidra if the prince goes against tradition? To go against the Seal of Asalle?”
Tolvar’s expression sorted through a mixture of emotions.
He didn’t mince words. “It would cause a war. Grenden would demand the marriage to Wenonah happen. Lenfore would attack Grenden under the guise of protecting the prince’s choice. There would be a war for control over Asalle.”
Elanna nodded.
“Blast it all! Why did you not tell me this before? We could have sent a raven to King Rian ages ago.”
“I tried to tell you a great many things when we met! I have Seen fortunes surrounding the royal ravenmaster. I dared not senda message. The stars have commanded the sovereign hear this from me.”
Tolvar ran his hand through his hair. “Siria’s skirt. Why would the prince do this? The Light of Asalle guides the royal family. Not to mention, he knows what it means to the peace of the empire.”
“There is more.”
“Stars. Nothing shall surprise me. Go on.”
“I have Seen…cracks.”
“What in stars’ shadow does that mean?”
“I cannot yet tell. There is something more than just the prince. Something stirs within the realm. The House of Sidra has ruled the Capella Realm in peace for a thousand years. If the line cannot be held intact, this war will destroy the Capella Realm, and the cracks I’ve Seen will open up and swallow Asalle’s Light.”
“Dare I ask if you mean the Curse of Adrienne?”
The word made her recoil. ’Twas as if she’d been stung in the chest.
“I am sorry,” Tolvar said, though he kept his face stern. “I know the word itself is cursed, but I must ask.”
“The Curse remains buried. For now.”
Chapter
Fifteen
ELANNA
Despite the downpour of rain concealing the sky, the stars still called to Elanna. She tossed and turned on the sunken mattress, listening to the patter on the window and, every now and then, the shifting of one of the knights in the corridor outside her door.
Elanna. Daughter of Light.Over and over, the stars’ voices called.
Finally, she could bear it no longer.
She ensured her door was locked so she could not be disturbed, unbolted the shutters, and opened them. Rain pounded on her face and the windowsill. Squinting, she tried to make out a speck of light beyond the black clouds. Nothing.
A clap of thunder rumbled across the sky.
After a few moments’ failure to See anything, Elanna was about to give up when she thought she discerned, through the torrent, a parting in the clouds. She wiped her brow and leaned out the window, desperately straining to catch a better view.
Elannawas all she heard.
Her hair quickly became soaked. Lightning and another roll of thunder. The pelting of rain made her blind to everything else.
Athumpfrom the corridor made Elanna lean back in. Tolvar and Gus were speaking. She tiptoed to the door and placed her ear to it, all too aware that the drum of the rain made listening next to impossible.
“What if…raining?” Elanna could make out only a few of Gus’s words.
“Either way, be ready at dawn,” Tolvar answered. “We need to…more haste.”
