Page 141 of North Queen
Morning couldn’t come soon enough. Captain Artem had been on a task outside the city, and Norah had to wait for his return. Her stomach twisted at the thought of having to talk to him, but she didn’t dare take the matter to the commander. She’d never see Bremhad again.
She strode toward the stables with her guard close behind. Kiran was among them. Her heart hurt for him. Surely it was all he could do to act unaffected, as no one knew Bremhad was his father. His nearness didn’t help her own anxiousness.
She found Artem walking out just as she was approaching. He held his helm under his arm and his gloves neatly in his hand. Her brow stitched down. He didn’t even appear to have traveled; his armor was still clean.
“North Queen,” he greeted.
But she didn’t care for his greeting, and she didn’t care to offer one back. “You’ll release the greenskeeper,” she said firmly.
The captain of the Crest frowned. “I’m not sure what greenskeeper you speak of.”
Were they all liars? “The greenskeeper that was with me when you harassed me in the gardens with the lord commander,” she said shortly. “The greenskeeper that’s been thrown in the dungeon. I want him released. Now.”
He gave a dip of his brow, feigning concern. “I’m not familiar with the situation, but even so, only the lord commander or salar can grant pardon.”
“Pardon?” she asked angrily. “He’s done nothing wrong! What’s his crime?”
He shook his head, frowning through the cruel smile underneath. “As I said, I’m not familiar with the situation. You should talk to the lord commander.”
Yes, rely on the man who’dcausedher grievance tofixher grievance. Hardly.
“I think I’ll talk to the king,” she replied sharply.
“As you wish.”
Norah hated this man just as much as the lord commander. She cursed herself. They were probably the best of friends. She gritted her teeth and breathed deep to keep herself calm, then spun on her heel, heading back toward the castle.
The morning was still early. She’d find Mikael before breakfast—before Artem could tell the commander what she was trying to do. She cursed herself for not going straight to Mikael, but Artem was a captain, and she was queen. Even if not the queen of the Shadowlands yet, she expected his compliance. Shewouldbe his queen. And she fully rejected the idea he couldn’t free Bremhad.
She hated the idea of going to Mikael. He already felt she was too biased against his commander, and she was bringing yet another grievance. And she was queen in her own right—it diminished her authority. But she’d do it for Bremhad. Time was of the essence. She’d sort the rest out later.
Norah found the king stepping out of his study. “North Queen,” he greeted when he saw her. “This is a surprise.”
“I have a pressing matter I need to discuss with you.”
His brow creased, and he gave her a small nod. “Of course.”
“The greenskeeper,” she said.
His brow creased further. “The greenskeeper?”
“Yes, the greenskeeper, the old man I was planting flowers with in the garden. The lord commander put him in your dungeon. I want him released.”
“The greenskeeper?” he asked again.
She resisted the urge to tell him to pay attention. Now she felt like Catherine.
“What’s he done?” he asked.
“He talked to me in Northern tongue. Tell me, is that a crime?”
The line of his mouth thinned. “Of course it’s not.”
“The commander—”
“The lord commander wouldn’t condemn a man for no reason.”
Norah scoffed. “The lord commander would knife a man for breathing.”
