Page 119 of North Queen
He looked at Titus to his right. “We go fast and hard. I’ll take the Destroyer. You get the queen and ride for Aleon. Do not stop. After this, there will be no Mercian army. Only King Phillip will be able to protect her. Get her to him. At all costs.”
The giant of a soldier nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
Alexander swept his gaze across his cavalry and tightened his grip on his sword. His destrier pawed the earth and trembled underneath him, feeling the charge building. “With me!” he roared. He hit the face cover of his helm into place with his blade and spurred his destrier forward. His eyes locked on Norah and the Destroyer. He pushed everything else out. Nothing else mattered except getting her to safety.
A battle horn sounded from the Shadowmen at the top of the canyons, and Alexander pushed his mount faster. The Shadowmen would sweep down and overwhelm his army quickly, but not before he reached Norah, not before Titus got her away.
The Destroyer pulled up his massive battle-axe—a weapon Alexander had fought before, held by a monster he’d fought before.
Ten years of war. And this was the beginning of the end.
But just before Alexander reached them, Norah spun her horse in front of the Destroyer, putting herself between them. “Stop!” she cried out.
Alexander’s destrier came to a grinding halt, and the rest of the mounted soldiers swept around them in a circle. What was she doing? Confusion flooded him. “Norah! What’s the meaning of this?”
“Put down your sword!”
Alexander raised it higher, and his horse reared.
“Put down your sword!” she demanded again.
He pulled his destrier back in bewilderment, looking at Norah and then back to the Destroyer. He gave a quick glance at Titus, who sat ready to snatch her but paused in his own bewilderment.
“The lord commander comes under treaty,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “He’s with me.” She shot the Destroyer a warning look, and he lowered his axe.
Withher? “How?” Alexander seethed. He glanced back at the Shadow army on the ridge, then back to Norah.
“It’s not for us to discuss here.”
What did that mean? He looked at the carts behind her and pointed his sword at them. “What’s that?”
“Provisions,” she said, “for our soldiers. Let’s return to the army, and I’ll explain.”
“You negotiate with the Destroyer?” he asked icily. He pointed his sword at the monster. “Get off your horse,” he ordered him.
“He’ll do no such thing,” Norah snapped, taking him aback. “I’m queen, and I said put down your weapons. I won’t be made to explain myself as I suffer to avoid war. Draw back, Lord Justice, and let him pass!”
Her ferocity stunned him, and Alexander pulled his destrier back. Norah urged her horse toward the Mercian army with the Destroyer beside her. Alexander gave another look to Titus, who stared back at him wide-eyed, and he pressed his destrier to follow.
The Mercian archers still had their bows drawn. The Destroyer’s horse reared and let out a ghostly scream, but Norah called out to the army to stand down.
The Northmen looked at each other, as equally confused as Alexander, but they obeyed and parted for the carts and the Shadowmen delivering them. The Shadowmen pulled the carts to a stop and stood, waiting for their next command. Did Norah really command them?
“We’ll take them from here,” she said. “You can return.” The Shadowmen left to rejoin their army as the Northmen, including Alexander, watched in shock.
“What about him?” Alexander called, pointing his sword at the Destroyer.
She glanced at the monster, who sat silently, but he didn’t fool Alexander. There was still an evil within.
“He stays with me,” she said.
Alexander could only gape at her and grip his sword tighter.
They rode to the back of the army, up a small hill where a tent already stood, and dismounted. Alexander’s eyes searched Norah for answers. What was going on?
“There will be no battle,” she said abruptly. “Tell the men to rest and make camp.”
No battle?Rest? “It’s early still,” Alexander argued. “And what do you mean, there will be no battle?”
