Page 1 of Shadow Queen
Chapter one
Timewasoftheessence now. Collective footsteps echoed through the halls of the Kharavian castle. The sun hadn’t yet reached its peak, but Soren worried the day was too far gone. The queen had fled, and every moment counted in recovering her.
He strode quickly, and his men followed in unison. Artem strode beside him, like an equal.
But he was not.
Soren waved his men and Artem to wait as he turned into the alcove of Mikael’s study, and he paused as he took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. He had never felt anxious about delivering bad news. But today was different. This was different. Mikael was different now.
He pushed open the ash-wood door and found the king at his desk, mulling over a letter. Mikael lifted his head on hearing him enter, and leaned back in his chair, tossing the letter to the edge of the desk for Soren to see. “Aleon has sent additional forces to their borders. Nearer to Japheth, and nearer to us.”
Aleon had long been the North’s ally. Now, with an alliance between the North and Kharav, the North Queen would have Mikael believe Aleon was a friend. But Kharav was still allies with the Aleon king’s brother, the king of Japheth, and the conflict between the brothers would be resolved only when one of them was dead. Aleon would never be a friend.
Soren picked up the letter and read through it. His uneasiness grew. The Bear was in Aleon now. It was as they feared. The Bear was bringing Aleon against them.
The king sighed, unsettled. “They’re preparing. But whether it’s with intention of—”
“The North Queen is gone,” Soren interrupted him. No sense delaying.
Mikael stopped in his words and looked up in surprise. “Gone where?” he asked as he rose from his desk. “What happened?”
“She went riding this morning and”—Soren paused—“went through great lengths to escape the Crest. This isn’t a coincidence.”
Mikael rested the knuckles of his closed fists on the smooth hardwood of his desk as he stood, and he leaned his weight forward. “If the North plots against me, she’s promised she has no part in it.”
Soren’s jaw tightened as he fought his irritation. The king’s love for this woman blinded him to reality.
Mikael moved to the window and looked out across the city. “Was Artem with her?”
The mere mention of the Crest captain’s name irritated him. “He was.”
“Where is he?”
Soren sighed. He’d already gotten the details from Artem and needed to leave now to catch the queen. This was a waste of time. “He’s in the hall.”
Mikael drew in a breath of what Soren knew was forced composure. “Bring him in.”
Soren opened the door and summoned the captain, and Artem strode in, bowing low. “Salar,” he said with a smooth but needling voice.
A quiet growl rumbled in the back of Soren’s throat as he tried to not show his annoyance. Artem—always seeking to be at the top, yet always over the top.
Mikael stepped back to his desk. “I’m told Salara’s gone. Evaded you.”
“Yes, Salar. She rides for the North.”
Mikael nodded. He calmly stacked the parchments on his desk, but Soren knew the storm below the surface. “Tell me, how is it possible for her to slip the elite soldiers of the Crest and their captain?”
Artem shifted uncomfortably. “Salar, this is the same woman who stole the lord commander’s horse from under him at the base of Bahoul.”
Soren bristled. Artem was a pisspot coward who did whatever he needed to do to deflect from himself. Soren’s father, Tyrhar Nazim, had once been captain of the Crest, and Artem defiled the honor of the position. Artem had taken over as captain under Mikael’s father when the former king charged Tyrhar to look after Bahoul. Artem had no principles, and Soren couldn’t stand a man with no principles.
“She led us to the overlook at Hava Lake,” the captain continued. “When we reached the top, a madness took hold of her, and she jumped.”
Mikael shifted back in surprise. “Into the water?”
Artem gave a nod. “Yes, Salar. She swam to shore, and by the time we got back to the horses, she was gone.”
Mikael stood silently for a moment. He reached down and moved the bottle of ink in line with the parchments. “Madness, you say?”
