Page 135 of Shadow Queen
The island kingdom of Tarsus was small but extremely wealthy. It was a premier trading port, where merchants paid high royalties for inclusion, but collected wealth in the sale of their goods many times over. Only goods of exceptional quality were sold in Tarsus, and it was common for luxury merchants to deal only in trade that had been exchanged there, as demanded by their buyers. Mercia sold most of her steel goods there.
Few had ever dared to attack the trading nation. The island was known for their fierce warriors, who savagely protected their harbors.
Norah’s brows drew together. “Why would he take Tarsus?”
Caspian shrugged. “To accomplish what his grandfather couldn’t, perhaps? But Queen Norah, this will surely make Salar nervous. If Phillip is trying to succeed where his grandfather failed, he could set his sights on Kharav.”
Aleon had once tried to take Kharav.
Norah shook her head. “No. That doesn’t make sense. Phillip doesn’t have the power to war against Kharav and Mercia and Japheth.”
“But does Mercia really stand with Kharav? The council’s already been in contact with Phillip. You know this. You have a standing offer of marriage. And it’s rumored that Kharav and Japheth’s alliance is failing.”
“Where did you hear that?”
He frowned. “Most everywhere.”
Norah’s stomach twisted. This would put Mikael on edge.
Caspian held out a letter. “And this arrived for you.”
Norah’s breath caught in her throat. The letter bore Alexander’s seal. She nodded to her captain, excusing him. “Thank you, Caspian.”
She paused for a moment and sat down on a bench at the edge of the garden, holding the letter in her hands, desperate to open it but afraid. They hadn’t written to each other since she left Mercia. She imagined what its words held.
Norah ran her fingers over the seal, a steely blue wax that shimmered in the sunlight—the seal Alexander had poured and stamped with his own hand. Gathering her courage, she pulled the paper apart, careful not to crack the wax bear embossment.
But as she read the words, her heart sank. Then she rose, turning to the castle to find Mikael.
The king stood with the lord commander in his study, his face stoic and overly calm—the face that worried her.
“You’ve heard the news then?” he asked when he saw her enter.
She nodded. “Caspian’s just informed me.”
He frowned. “The Aleon Empire grows.”
“Why would he want Tarsus?” she asked.
“Who doesn’t want Tarsus?” Soren rumbled.
“It just doesn’t make sense that he would do it now.”
“Of course it makes sense,” Soren said. “This Aleon king is just like his grandfather.”
“But while he’s on the brink of war with Japheth?”
“It boosts Gregor’s confidence, I’m sure,” Mikael said. “To know his brother is occupied.”
He wasn’t seeing her point. Norah sighed. She didn’t come to debate Aleon. She held up the parchment from Alexander. “A letter’s come from Mercia.”
“From the Bear?” Soren asked.
She nodded. “The outlying villages of Mercia are still being attacked. The lord justice has stretched our forces across the kingdom, and it’s still not enough. He asks for men.”
Soren’s brow dipped in irritation. “We can’t send men to Mercia. Not while Aleon advances, and Japheth plays games.”
“Aleon does notadvance,” Norah argued. “Tarsus is in the opposite direction of Kharav.”
