Page 165 of Shadow Queen
It wasn’t the same, but she didn’t have time on her side to appreciate the difference. “It’s what I need to do, then.”
“But, Salara,” he warned, “don’t be naive to think Aleon won’t try to take Kharav. If we support Japheth’s fall, you need to ensure we can stand against Aleon after.”
“The council would never support a war against Aleon,” she admitted. “Especially as we fight an unknown foe on our own soil.”
“The Bear would. If you asked him. Your army follows him, not your council, and he comes to your call.”
No. Norah shook her head. “Alexander’s loyal to Mercia.”
“He’s loyal to hisqueen,” he countered.
Silence hung between them.
Soren stepped nearer to her. “If you accept the Aleon king’s proposal, you must be willing to protect Kharav. You must be willing to bring the Bear.”
How quickly things had turned—from Soren feverishly working to get Alexander out of Kharav to now calling for him back. But he was right. She would need Alexander to bring her army if Aleon turned against them. Norah swallowed. That would mean she would defy her own council and ask Alexander to do the same—to turn his back on Mercia. But she didn’t think it would come to that.
“Will you do that, Salara? Will you bring the Bear?”
Norah drew her bottom lip between her teeth. She would. “If Aleon tries to take Kharav, I’ll call Alexander.”
He nodded. “Then ask Aleon for men to help you.”
Norah thought about her plan for a long time. Despite it sounding the best option, and even after her conversation with Soren, it still twisted her stomach. It was a gamble, for sure.
Now to do what twisted her stomach even more—tell Mikael.
She found him in his study with Soren, poring over maps and plans. He stopped and looked up when she entered. She wondered if Soren might have already told him.
“I’ve decided to accept King Phillip’s request to base his forces in Bahoul,” she announced. “In exchange, I’ll ask him to send men to Mercia to help me with the attacks on my villages.”
Mikael’s face hardened. Soren hadn’t told him. “So you’ll allow him to position himself to march against our ally?” he asked. There was already an edge of anger in his voice. She’d known he wouldn’t be happy about her decision.
“Is that really what you think Gregor is?” she asked.
“I don’t know what he is,” he said sharply. She could see his anger growing. He nodded, but it wasn’t a nod of acceptance. “So you’ve decided, on your own, that you will divide Kharav and Japheth. This is a move I won’t be able to recover with him. You would do this to me?”
“Mikael, he’s not an ally,” she insisted.
“You don’t know that!” He leaned over his desk, gripping its sides. “Then what?” he asked. “I’m to stand alone against Aleon?”
“Of course not,” she replied, forcing a calm back to her voice. “You’ll have my lord justice, and the Mercian army.”
He scoffed in disbelief. “You would call him back? He would fight against me, not for me.”
“He’ll fight for me,” she insisted.
“Do you not see what you do? You set in motion the war in the vision. The four kingdoms on the battlefield! And you call back the man who will end me.”
“We’re not fighting! We’re letting Aleon wage a war that benefits us both.”
“You’re a fool if you believe that. You know nothing about war.”
“Soren does,” she cut back.
Mikael shook his head in bewilderment and turned to Soren. “You agree with this?”
“I’m not in disagreement,” he said. “If Salara can influence Aleon to remove a threat against Kharav, she should.”
