Page 10 of Shadow Queen
The Shadowman shrugged. “If I said no, she’d just come herself. We’ll cut them loose when we’re clear from the canyons.”
Caspian suppressed a chuckle. “Just like the queen. There’s no telling her not to do something.”
The Shadowman stopped. He stared at Caspian with a strange stillness in his eyes.
“Commander?”
“If she’s not fleeing, then I think I know where she’s headed.”
Caspian furrowed his brow. “Where?”
“Get your horse.”
Caspian’s pulse quickened as he saddled a horse from the Uru. It was a larger beast than he was used to, and he couldn’t help but admire the quality of the stock. He gave the animal a light pat on the shoulder and turned, nearly colliding with Tahla right behind him.
The corners of her mouth turned up in amusement. “You’re a long way from home, Northman.”
Her voice held a smokiness, and it lingered in his ear. His mind told him to step back from her, to put space between them, but his body refused. She held him with a force unseen to the eye. He had a task at hand, but he could no longer recall it. What was this power?
“Are you an enchantress?” he asked her.
Tahla laughed, leaning closer. “Do you find yourself enchanted?”
“Enchanted, bewitched,” he said. “What other explanation?”
“Do you wish to be free?” she asked in a low voice.
He didn’t answer, gripped by her nearness.
Tahla’s smile softened. “Can I ask something of you?”
“Anything.” He meant it.
She held out a soft leather sachet of scented gifts. “Will you give this to Salara, with my well-wishes?”
The mention of the queen brought him back, and he let out a breath, freed temporarily from the trance. “That seems like hardly an ask at all,” he said. “But I’ll deliver it to her hands myself.”
Tahla smiled. He couldn’t get enough.
She cast a wary eye toward the commander and then back to him. “You should be on your way. Soren won’t be too keen on me giving a handsome Northman my attention.”
Caspian leaned back, glancing at the commander, then back to her. Of course she’d be taken, a woman like this. “My apologies. I, uh… I didn’t know you two were…”
Tahla laughed as she shook her head. “No. We’re not. But Soren is protector of the Uru, and our family.”
Strange to think the Destroyer protective over anyone, but his pulse quickened, and he gave an encouraged nod. “Well… did I hear correctly that you found me handsome?” Then he cursed himself silently.Stupid thing to say. This shouldn’t be the topic on his mind, but how easy it was for her to pull his attention, to make him forget even his name.
“Hair of the sun. How can I not?”
He smiled. “Then I can’t let you meet another Northman.”
She let out another laugh. Then, growing more serious, she asked, “Will I see you again?”
“I’ll make certain of it,” he promised. And he meant it.
Chapter four
Hisdestriermovedanxiouslyunderneath him with an uneven gait, as it did just before the charge into battle. No doubt it felt the tension in its rider, and Alexander was indeed in the midst of a battle, a battle of mind and heart.
