Page 33 of Shadow Queen
Soren shook with fury but yielded, quieting.
“Salara’s joined me in my chamber,” Mikael told him. “She is my wife and rules by my side, and you’ll respect her as such.”
“And what of the Bear?” Soren demanded.
“I’ve committed to her his safety.”
Soren’s eyes blazed. “He plots against you!”
“If you engage him, there will be consequences.” Although, when had Soren ever cared for consequences? “Severe ones,” he added.
Mikael released him, then turned and walked away. But he didn’t head back to his chamber. He had another matter to address.
He had promised Salara the Bear’s safety, but he couldn’t tolerate treason.
Mikael found the lord justice with the Mercian captain and several Northmen outside by the forge, looking curiously over the hearth. No doubt they found it far less advanced than the forges of the North that produced Mercian steel. Mercian steel would advance his army to near invincible heights, and it was something Mikael needed to speak to Salara about. He should have bargained it as part of their marriage arrangement, but he hadn’t, because the only thing he’d been focused on getting washer. He’d deal with it later. He had more pressing things to focus on now.
The Northmen stiffened when they saw him. “Northmen,” Caspian called, and led them away for Mikael and the justice to speak alone.
Mikael watched them leave, noting the captain lingering a distance away should he be needed. He didn’t mind. Caspian struck him as a man that would equally stop the Bear from doing something stupid as much as he’d give his life to save him. He was a respectable man, and Mikael had no intentions of doing unrespectable things. Not yet, anyway.
Mikael spoke first. “Let’s not bother with courtesies,” he said as he eyed the Bear.
The justice puffed a small breath in amusement, clearly never having intended to.
“You’re not welcome in Kharav. I tolerate you because it’s Salara’s wish, but this is my realm, and regardless of whether you see me as your king, I am. And there will be rules.”
The Bear snorted.
Mikael used every ounce of his strength to temper his rising anger. “You think my rules don’t apply to you? Well, they apply to everyone, and if you wish to discuss it with your queen, you’ll find her in my chamber where she’s taken residence.”
The Bear showed no emotion, but Mikael knew he’d wounded him.
“You’ll cease your work of division. Kharav and Mercia are united.Salara and Iare united. If you seek to divide us again, there will be no one to save you, not even Salara. If you engage my lord commander again, there will be consequences, and as I’ve told him, they’ll be severe. While you’re in my realm, you’re subject tomyrule. You aremine.”
Then he turned and left the justice in the wake of his anger.
Chapter ten
“Another!”Alexanderbellowedasa Mercian soldier picked himself up off the ground of the sparring field. He didn’t usually participate as the army practiced their drills, but he desperately needed an outlet for his anger. It had been two days since his confrontation with the Shadow King, but time had done nothing to temper his frustration, his disappointment in himself. He was failing. Failing himself and Norah.
And his challenge with the Destroyer had almost killed her. He’d been blinded by his emotion, the fear that her marriage to the Shadow King wasn’t in name only.
And the king had practically confirmed it.
He waited for another soldier to step from the ranks. He had lost count of how many men he’d tested this morning on the field. His body was tiring, but he’d take a few more to help ease his troubled mind.
Another Northman stepped forward with his shield and sword.
But Alexander’s mind swirled—the Shadow King had said she resided in his chamber. Did she do so willingly? It was beyond his comprehension. Did she want this marriage to be more than in name only? And worse—what turned his stomach and haunted his dreams—had she given herself to him?
He pulled up his sword again, and let the soldier make the first attack. The Northman lunged forward with an overhead swing, and Alexander met it with an upstroke of his blade. The steel echoed through the early morning. Alexander pivoted, throwing his shoulder against the chest of his opponent, and sent the man stumbling backward.
His thoughts drifted. This alliance would fail. He could understand her logic that a marriage to the Shadow King would stop the war between their kingdoms. And it had temporarily, but it wouldn’t last forever. Successful alliances were formed by those who shared common goals, held common values. But the Shadowlands warred against everything Mercia stood for, against everything they believed in. And if her marriage to the Shadow King truly was complete, it would be hard to exercise any other options in the wake of a fall.
The Mercian soldier launched another attack, and Alexander found himself having to focus to counter against the well-coordinated maneuvers. His soldiers’ training was coming along nicely in the Shadowlands. His men made good use of the advanced practice stations, and they had learned a few things from watching the Shadowmen run their drills. He felt both pleased and irritated, but he forced his irritation aside—if his men were improving, it was a good thing.
As the Mercian soldier broke from his attack, Alexander’s mind shifted back to Norah. Did the Shadow King require her to share his chamber? Despite his loathing for the man, the king did seem to genuinely care for her. He didn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, but Alexander had seen him yield to her. If what the Shadow King said was true, if they now shared a bed, he couldn’t get past the thought that this was Norah’s decision. And he would want it to be her decision, yet…
