Page 131 of Shadow Queen
“What?” he growled. “I’m just being truthful.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head again. “Sometimes you’re just mean.”
Norah and Adrian walked through the courtyard as the afternoon waned. They were spending more and more time together, and Norah had started to think of him as her own brother. His playful candor, his cheeky teases, his easy laugh—he made the distance of family seem not so far.
“Anything new from your brother?” she asked him.
“I got a letter from him yesterday, but nothing new. He mainly just asks about me, and if I’m seeing to all my duties.” He chuckled.
Norah smiled sadly. “I hope you write him regularly. I’m sure he misses you. You’re the only family he’s ever had, other than your parents, and now you’re gone.”
Adrian glanced at her. His mouth opened slightly, but he hesitated before saying, “We had another brother. Did you not know?”
Norah stopped, stunned. She shook her head. How had she not known this?
“He died.”
“Oh, Adrian,” she breathed. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea. No one’s ever talked about him.”
“No, I know. And it’s all right. It was a long time ago, before I was born. I never knew him. But he and Alexander were close.” He started forward again, and they continued walking. “Lucien was his name.”
So many questions flooded her mind, but all seemed prying and intrusive. What does one say in times like these, other thanSorry?
“And I did send a letter,” he said, turning the conversation back to Alexander. “I let him know you were well.”
Norah smiled appreciatively. She didn’t think it appropriate for her to write him just to tell him how she fared, but he would worry for her, and she did want him to know she was doing all right. “How’s Sevina?” she asked.
A bashful grin came to his face, and he looked down at his feet. “She’s well. I, uh… I’ve been meaning to talk to you… about her.”
She smiled at his nervousness.
“I, um… I plan to ask for her hand.”
Norah’s eyes widened as she searched for words. “Adrian, that’s exciting and… unexpected!” She paused. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I know I’m young, but I can still know what I want.”
She didn’t disagree, but it was such a big decision. “Have you thought about asking Alexander’s advice?”
Adrian quieted, then he said, “No, he wouldn’t approve of a Kharavian wife.”
Norah’s heart hurt that Adrian would keep something from Alexander, and something so significant. “But he’s going to find out eventually,” she said. “And that would make things very hard between the two of you.”
He bit his bottom lip but didn’t answer.
“I’m not saying to ask his permission,” she said. “Of course you can make your own decisions. But you should still talk to him. Just think about it, okay?”
He nodded.
As they drew nearer to the castle, Nora slowed. Two wagons sat by the fountain, with Mikael beside them reading a letter in his hand. His face was dark and fixed, and Norah knew him well enough to know something bothered him.
“I’ll catch up with you later,” she told Adrian.
“Of course,” he said, and headed back toward the sparring field.
“Is something wrong?” she called to Mikael as she approached.
He looked up from the letter and folded it before slipping it inside his jacket. “Nothing you need trouble yourself with,” he said.
