Page 161 of Shadow Queen
Mikael sighed. “We’re making assumptions on rumor alone, none of which may be true. Gregor might still be an ally, with merely a disagreement on trade between us.”
Soren’s face told him he didn’t believe that. Mikael wasn’t sure if he did either.
“There’s too much we don’t know,” Soren said. “Aleon may see us as a target as well, for Kharav would be a powerful stronghold in a position against Japheth, helping Phillip surround his brother. We need to pull back our forces. We need all men in Kharav, including the unit in the North.”
Mikael shook his head. “Salara’s using those men to protect her villages. And”—he rubbed his temples with stiff fingers—“did the Bear not send us this warning? In thanks, I turn and pull our forces when he still needs them?”
“Kharav needs them more,” Soren pressed. “And you have no choice. You can’t give Narsing and the nobles another reason to doubt you.”
Mikael gripped his temple. This wouldn’t sit well with Salara, but Soren was right. The threats were too great, and even if he could spare men to the North, he was already on the cusp of losing his nobles’ support. He sighed, then nodded. “Call them back.”
Soren gave a single nod. “I’ll also send a message to the Uru, for them to draw back into the canyons and send half their warriors to the western pass.”
“Call back our men from Bahoul as well,” Mikael said.
His commander shifted his weight back. “What?”
Mikael knew Soren wouldn’t agree, but the Bear could keep Bahoul for now. Some solace for the North, surely. “How many men do we have there?” he asked. “Three thousand? Bring them back.”
“That will only leave Northern forces in Bahoul,” Soren argued.
“How many?”
“Two thousand Northmen.”
Two thousand men was enough to protect the stronghold, even it theywereNorthmen. “Do it.”
Soren scoffed in anger. “We’re giving it back to them?”
Mikael couldn’t fight all threats at the same time. He’d have to worry about the risk with the North later. “I need your attention focused on Kharav.”
Soren’s face darkened, but he nodded stiffly and left to see to his orders.
Mikael sank back into his chair and rubbed his face again in his hands. Not only did this news weigh on his shoulders, but Mercia still hadn’t sent their steel goods, and the nobles were growing restless. He knew Salara’s intentions were true, but the North’s council wasn’t cooperating.
How quickly everything could fall apart.
Norah found Mikael and the lord commander in the army’s planning office with several of their generals. She’d received Alexander’s letter at the same time she’d learned of Mikael’s decision to pull his warriors in Mercia back to Kharav. Heat of anger pulsed off her skin.
“You pull back your men from Mercia?” she asked as she stormed in.
Mikael nodded to his soldiers, who bowed and left. “I have no choice,” he said when they were gone. “Aleon dreams of war, and Japheth is an unknown threat. Kharav would be a prize for either one of them. I’ve pulled my forces back from Bahoul as well. This should please the Bear.”
Norah gaped at him. “Why would you do that, and why would it please Alexander?” Her voice betrayed her worry. “It means he can’t pull men from Bahoul if he needs them, which, if you recall the Kharavian units back from Mercia, he will.” She looked at Soren, desperate. “Surely you see this.”
But the commander said nothing.
“He needs your help!” she said angrily.
“I need the North’s help,” he snapped back. “It’s only a matter of time before Aleon has his eyes on Kharav, if he doesn’t already, and Japheth schemes with a new ally who holds ill will against me. The North doesnothingto show they stand with me.”
She could feel the anger radiating off him, but her own anger stripped her of her patience for it. “Aleon is not planning an attack on Kharav,” she argued. “It doesn’t even make sense that Phillip’s attention would be on you. The only thing he cares about is Gregor.”
“I don’t believe that,” he said, his voice rising with his anger. “If all he cares about is his brother, why did he take Tarsus? And if he were to take Kharav, he would further surround his brother. I need to show him we’re not an easy target.”
“So you’ll make Mercia one?” she cut back.
“I need to show my strength with the North behind me!” he boomed with fury. “I’ve not asked you for men, but I need them. And where’s the steel? Your council still refuses to send it.”
