Page 192 of Shadow Queen
He stiffened but let her cling to him until her emotion passed. Then he pushed her back so he could look her in the eye. “The Bear’s cleaning up, then he’s coming here. Don’t let him see you like this. Pull yourself together.”
She nodded. “Thank—”
“Don’t,” he said as he stepped back from her.
Norah swallowed back the rest of her words. She only nodded again, and he took his leave. She wiped her face and raked her fingers through her hair, then set back to pacing the room. Alexander was safe. Her relief threatened her with emotion again.
Years seemed to pass before a knock came to the door, and it opened. Alexander stepped inside. She could only look at him. It hadn’t even been two months since he’d last left Mercia, but he looked older. He looked tired.
“Queen Norah,” he said finally.
She crossed the space between them. His eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn’t read—worry? Sadness? She wanted to hug him, she wanted to touch him, but she didn’t. His eyes didn’t hold the same softness toward her, they didn’t beg her nearness the way they usually did.
“You sent the Destroyer?” he asked. There was judgment in his tone. His expression was clear now—disapproval. And it angered her. “Why didn’t you send the horse?” he asked. “Or the ransom?”
“I sent what was required. And I willnotnegotiate with someone who tries to force my hand.”
“This isn’t who you are.” His voice was softer now, but it still held the sting of a cut.
“Then perhaps you don’t know me,” she knifed back.
“There were families there, and you sent the Destroyer and a legion! For a few men!”
Anger radiated through her. “Who are you to judge me? You marched the entire Mercian army across the Tribelands, for one!”
“You’re queen!” he thundered. “I’m nothing!”
But he wasn’t nothing.
“And I would do things very differently now,” he added.
What did that mean? He’d do things differently… He was different… now.
Silence came again. They stood in the quiet of the candlelit room, with only the sound of their hearts beating. What was this strangeness between them? Was it only his anger?
She let out a long exhale. She couldn’t resolve it tonight. “The council will want to speak with you in the morning,” she said, shifting the conversation away from one of emotion. “They’re not very happy with me.”
The air between them calmed, and the heat dissipated. His lips tightened in frustration still, but he nodded. “I’ll help smooth things out.”
It wouldn’t be an easy task, to settle things with the council, but Alexander held their respect. Norah would talk to her grandmother too.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. What else could she say?
“Of course.”
“Goodnight, Alexander.”
“Goodnight.”
Chapter fifty-seven
WithAlexander’spoliticalsavvy,the council seemed to calm over the next few days. Norah kept Soren away, busy with what she was sure he felt were trivial tasks—assessing arrivals and risks from the ports, combing the isle for weaknesses—but there was nothing trivial about keeping busy and keeping the peace.
She walked the great hall with the dogs trailing behind her, her frustration growing. She felt chained, unable to move, just waiting for war. How long would it be like this?
Footfalls sounded from her left, and she turned to see a Kharavian soldier approaching—a messenger—with a letter in his hand. When she saw the black seal, she smiled—a letter from Mikael.
“Thank you,” she said as she took it and broke the seal.
