Page 200 of Shadow Queen
And when two people changed, what was left between them? She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. She nodded solemnly, then turned back to the castle, leaving him alone in the courtyard.
Alexander walked through the castle without intention, lost in his mind. His chest felt it would cave under an invisible weight—a weight that forced the air from his lungs and crushed his heart.
“Alexander,” a man’s voice called.
He stopped, not sure from where it had come.
“Alexander,” it called again.
He turned around to see Councilmen Edward and Alastair walking toward him. He frowned. Edward had called him by his name only a handful of times over his life, usually when he was trying to convince him of something.
“Are you well?” Edward said with a worried brow.
He wasn’t well. He would never be well. But he didn’t answer. What did Edward want from him now?
“Will you join us?” Edward asked him, motioning toward a small side hall.
Alexander didn’t want to join them. He didn’t want to hear whatever it was Edward was going to peddle, but one didn’t simply ignore an elder councilman, even a lord justice. And he knew where they were headed. The councilmen had a small library in the east wing, more of a shared study, not large—a good place for talking and thinking. He didn’t want to talk or think right now, but still he followed.
“Perhaps you’re concerned, as we are, regarding this morning’s council meeting?” Alastair said as they walked.
The council meeting. He’d almost forgotten—add it to the list of things that weighed on his shoulders.
When they reached the council’s library, Alexander unbuckled his sword belt and set the blade at the foot of the oversize chair by the bookshelf that stretched to the ceiling. He forgot all proprieties and sank down into the soft leather. He just needed to sit.
“Here.” Edward poured wine into a chalice and held it for him. “Have a drink. Ease your mind.”
Norah closed the door of her chamber and leaned back against it. Her heart started to slow as she tried to cool her anger. Everyone wanted to tell her who she should be, who she shouldn’t, even Alexander. But she knew who she was.
She knew now.
“Salara, are you all right?” Vitalia said, coming quickly to her side.
She nodded.
“You don’t look all right.” Vitalia knew her well. She pulled Norah to the chair by the small table and sat down across from her, pouring them both a cup of wine. She pushed Norah’s cup in front of her. “Is it those old bastards again?” she asked as she took a drink from her own cup.
Norah smiled appreciatively. “They are old bastards, aren’t they?”
Vitalia smiled.
Norah let out a long breath. “I’ve decided to return to Kharav.”
Her maid’s face grew serious, and she swallowed. “Surely it’s not safe, Salara.”
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be,” Norah countered. “Mikael still has a full army. He lost nothing to the sickness, and he has the additional forces of Mercia and Aleon. The armies of Japheth and Rael have been devastated by the fever. They can’t move against us, at least not now. I should return. And I want to go home.”
Vitalia swayed slightly in her chair.
Norah knew the news would disappoint her. Vitalia would be upset to leave if Serene stayed, which was likely. They had become very close friends. “I’ll ask Serene to return with us,” she said, “but I’ll leave it her choice.”
Vitalia didn’t respond. Shewasdisappointed, Norah was sure. But Norah hadn’t expected her silence.
“Would you… want to stay in Mercia?” Norah hadn’t thought Vitalia would want to stay, given Mercia’s narrow moral views and constant judgment. She didn’t know what she’d do for a maid, but if Vitalia wanted to stay in Mercia with Serene, she’d allow her to.
Still, Vitalia didn’t answer.
Suddenly, the chalice dropped from the maid’s hands, but she didn’t move to catch it.
