Page 108 of War Queen
Soren held back the impatience growing in his chest. There was work to be done, and they were standing here chatting.
The king motioned for a servant. “Prato will show you to your chamber,” he told Caspian. “Freshen up. Get something to eat, then meet us in my study. He’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you,” Caspian said. He gave another nod to Soren and then followed the servant to his chambers.
Phillip turned to Soren. “Shall we?”
Finally.“Lead the way,” he replied irritably.
Soren followed the king down a series of halls. They reached a back study, and his eyes widened as he caught sight of a large table map of Aleon and the lands beyond. He stepped slowly to the table and ran his hands along the smooth edging of polished wood. Now this—this was a work of art. Kharav was exhaustive in planning, and Soren considered his own maps to be some of the best in the world, but this in front of him… he could only admire. The line topography was meticulous. Moveable figures in polished iron marked the placement of forces, both those of Aleon and of Mercia, as well as those of Japheth and Rael. And this Aleon king was well informed.
“Does it meet your expectations?” Phillip asked him.
Soren glanced at him, and the king smiled. Distractingly so. Soren forced his eyes back to the table. “It isn’t disappointing.”
He set his mind on the task at hand, staring at the figures of enemy forces along the inside border of Japheth. Rael would likely make the first move, and there were two options. Cyrus could advance north against Eilor, the southernmost kingdom of the Aleon Empire. This was the least-favored option to Soren, as Kharavian forces would have to give up the advantage of the Canyonlands to join the battle. But Soren had a hunch: Gregor wanted Aleon, and Cyrus wanted Kharav—they would attack Kharav. Rael was the more powerful force, Gregor the weaker in both strength and courage. Cyrus would get what he wanted. And Soren planned to make it a more appealing option as well.
Phillip stepped to the table map beside Soren. “What do you think, Lord Commander?”
Soren tapped on Aleon’s southern kingdom of Eilor. “Put your forces on your southern border and show Aleon as a less desirable option. Push Rael and Japheth toward Kharav, and when they take the pass, you’ll move south and keep pressure on them to stay along the canyons.”
“And then?”
Soren drew his finger along the map and stopped at the central Canyonlands—the land he knew like his own flesh. “Once they reach here, you’ll push them back into the canyons, where my men will finish them.”
Phillip leaned across the table and clasped two of Aleon’s battalion figurines. Soren’s eyes caught on the lines of his lean-muscled arm, but he quickly pulled his gaze away. Phillip moved them on the map just north of the Canyonlands. “Two or three?”
Forcing his attention on the map, Soren said, “All of your forces.”
Phillip looked at Soren in surprise. “All?”
“You have to come with enough power that they won’t consider moving north.”
He stared at Soren a moment. “All?”
“All.”
“Even my forces in Bahoul?”
Especially his forces in Bahoul. “My Northmen will keep the stronghold.”
Phillip chuckled. “And how do I know this isn’t your strategy to get me out of there?”
Perhaps it was. The stronghold belonged to Kharav and the North, not to Aleon. “Even so, it’s still the right move. I need your cavalry and swordsmen at the southern border of Eilor.”
“Youneed?” Phillip’s eyes were a piercing blue, challenging. “Are you commandeering my army, Lord Commander?”
“Is that not why I’m here?” Soren said shortly. Diplomacy, he reminded himself. He drew in a breath. “Forgive my overreach. It’s not my intention to take command.”
The corner of Phillip’s mouth curved up ever so slightly. “Perhaps I want you to.”
Their stares locked, and Soren froze. Was the king giving him the Aleon army? His pulse quickened. Was there another meaning to his words?No. He swallowed and tore his eyes away, looking back to the map. The army—the king meant the army. But when he raised his gaze again, he caught Phillip’s smile, and the glint in his eye—
The doors to the study opened, and Caspian stepped in.Thank the North gods.
“Lord Justice,” Phillip said, motioning to the map. “We were just talking about positioning.”
Soren shifted.
