Page 174 of Shadow Queen
Mikael took a step back. The thought seemed to strike something deep within him—a fear, a sadness. “Then she goes to warn him,” he said quietly.
“Who?” Soren asked.
“The Bear.”
Soren’s chest tightened. The last thing Kharav needed was the threat of war against yet another kingdom, especially the North. Why would he think she’d ride to warn the Bear? “What did you say to her?” he asked again.
Mikael didn’t answer. He stripped off his breastplate. “She’s chosen. And now she rides for the North.”
“They would respond to their queen fleeing Kharav with certain war. They’re waiting for a reason. She wouldn’t do that.”
“She would for him.”
Soren didn’t recognize this man before him—was he giving up? “I’m going after her,” he said.
“You won’t find her if she’s on Savantahla.”
“Cohen’s with her.”
“The mute?”
“He’s not mute, he’s deaf,” Soren snapped.
Mikael’s nostrils flared at the small defiance, and his anger shifted to Soren. “I didn’t think that when I made you swear to her, you’d so easily turn on me.” His words cut like knives.
“You question my loyalty to you?”
Mikael bared his teeth. “You stand with Salara while she accepts a treaty with Aleon.”
“I don’t stand against you,” Soren argued. “She doesn’t oppose you!”
“She opposes me now!” Mikael bellowed. “And she must choose! Me or the Bear, and that’s how I know she rides for the North.” His eyes blazed. “And now you must choose, brother. Perhaps I should be especially grateful you didn’t seed her with your child. Then I might have none of your loyalty left.”
Soren grabbed Mikael by the throat and shoved him against the wall. “If you speak those words again, I’ll cut them from your mouth,” he snarled. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the door to the chamber was closed and Mikael hadn’t been overheard. Then he tightened his grip and leaned close so that their foreheads were almost touching. “That’s how you lose your salara and your kingdom. It’s how you lose everything. Do you understand?”
Mikael’s body slackened under Soren’s grip. Soren had never seen him this way. He pulled Mikael to him in a tight embrace, as the king shuddered under the weight of his burdens.
“She rides for the North,” Mikael said hoarsely. “I know it.”
“She wouldn’t betray you. Not even for the Bear. I’ll find her, brother,” Soren assured him, “and show you this is madness.”
A heavy thunder of hooves rang through the night as Soren drove his destrier east. Salara had fled the castle on her mare of the Wild faster than her guard could follow, but he knew where he might find her. She wouldn’t be headed to the North. She wouldn’t betray Mikael. Not even in his madness. Not even for the Bear.
When he reached the hillside house, he wasn’t surprised to see a second horse standing with Salara’s mare in the night. Both were without saddles, having been taken in haste. Cohenhadbeen able to follow her. He wasn’t surprised. Cohen’s abilities didn’t surprise him anymore. He had put the boy and his sister to train with the Crest. If they were going to be around Salara, they would have the best training of the Kharavian army. He hadn’t expected them to perform so well.
While they hadn’t picked up all the skills of a well-rounded soldier of the Crest, they both excelled in their specialty—the girl with her bow and the boy with his sword. Cohen was perhaps even better than Adrian, who Soren considered one of the best. He only cursed the boy being deaf. His disability created too much risk—too much weakness—to put him in the ranks of the Crest. But it was moments like this Soren questioned that decision.
He pushed the door of the hillside house open and stepped inside, where he was quickly greeted by the tip of a sword to his neck. He couldn’t help a wry smile as he turned his head to find the raven-haired boy with his arm outstretched, the blade like an extension of his hand. What pleased Soren most was that he had no doubt the boy could kill him.
He pulled down the wrap from his face so Cohen could read his words. “Salara can shake the Crest, but not you?” he said. “I’m impressed, boy, as usual. Where is she?”
“What do you want?” she answered as she stepped into the foyer in front of him. She nodded to the boy, and he lowered his sword. “He sent you?” she asked, looking back to Soren.
He shook his head. “No. But he knows I’ve come.”
Her face hardened. She looked ready for a fight. “So, you’ve come to drag me back?” she asked, her voice sharp and challenging.
Soren eyed her for a moment. He wouldn’t dare. “You forget I serveyou.”
