Page 20 of Shadow Queen
“Bhastian told me what happened, all that he’s done,” Soren said.
Norah glanced at Bhastian in surprise. The guardsman gave her a small nod. She wanted to hug him.
“It’s important you know those things weren’t on my orders,” the commander added, “nor were they done with my knowledge.”
Her eyes narrowed. “If you had known, would you really have done anything?”
“I would have,” he said angrily, as if offended.
Freezing droplets of rain hit her cheek, and she looked to the sky. “The storm,” she said.
“There’s a hillside house,” he told her. “We’ll take shelter there and continue to Ashan in the morning.”
The thought of staying with the lord commander even longer soured her stomach, but she supposed she didn’t have a choice. She looked at the bodies of the fallen men.
“Leave them,” the commander called back to Bhastian. “Bring only the horses.”
Mounted again, Norah followed the commander, with Bhastian behind. She shivered as the freezing rain soaked through her layers. They hurried their horses, but the biting wind made Norah want to slow.
She followed the commander down a trail and through the crag of a mountain. The rain fell harder, and the trail became slick.
“Careful,” he called back to her.
Around a turn, the crag narrowed with barely enough room for their horses to pass through. It didn’t seem like a path to shelter. They wound upward until the crag opened wider, revealing a hillside looking out over the mountains. Norah straightened in surprise. A quaint house sat carved into the side stone.
Soren dismounted and led his horse to cover under a recess in the rock, and Norah slipped down, off the mare. They were drenched by the time they reached the door.
“Does anyone live here?” she asked through her chattering teeth.
“No. Almost no one knows it exists. This is a royal safe house, and it’s stocked.” He led them inside and motioned down a small hallway. “There’s an armoire in the back room. You’ll find clothes there.”
She turned toward the back room but paused. “I’m sorry about Artem.”
“He didn’t deserve mercy,” he said angrily. “Or your sympathy.” He turned toward the fireplace. “I’ve wanted to kill him for a long time.”
Norah had wanted him dead for a long time. Well, days. But it felt like a long time. Now that he was, she carried a twinge of regret. Not that she felt sympathy for Artem, but the end of any man’s life held a great sadness.
She took to the back room to see what clothes might be available and was surprised to find the armoire filled with a variety of options: riding gowns, sleepwear, underclothes. And beside garments for her hung those for Mikael. She reached out and drew her fingers across them. In a way, she was glad to be returning to Ashan. She’d missed him, but her stomach turned at the thought of facing him again. She’d said straight to his face that she wouldn’t betray him, yet she’d left. Would he understand?
She settled on a navy, front-fastening riding dress, the only one she could manage herself. There was no denying it was good to get into dry clothes again, although her body still shook with cold.
When she returned to the front sitting room, she found the commander tending the fire. His cloak hung nearby to dry, but he still wore his damp breeches. As usual, he was without a shirt, wearing only his weapons strappings, and she watched the inked flesh of his arms work as he fostered the growing flames. It was silly he hadn’t worn his heavy tunic, given the return of winter. She hoped he was cold. Very cold.
“Where’s Bhastian?” she asked.
“Outside. He’s not permitted in. No one is.”
She pursed her lips. “Exceptyou.”
“I’m permitted everywhere.”
“You’re notwantedeverywhere,” she cut back, sharper than she’d intended.
He paused. “Do you want me to leave?”
She gritted her teeth. She did want him to leave, but she also wanted him to tend the fire. Norah saw a wine bottle on a small side table, and she walked over and poured herself a cup.
“I know you hate me,” he said.
