Page 109 of War Queen
Caspian stepped to the table and eyed the setup. “Impressive,” he said.
Phillip smiled proudly as he looked back down at it. A bronze lock fell over his brow, and he brushed it back. He glanced up at Soren, his blue eyes shining. Soren hated blue eyes. But these blue eyes…
“The lord commander believes the best course is for me to move the entirety of my forces south to Eilor,” Phillip said. “Push Japheth and Rael back into the Canyonlands.”
Caspian nodded. “It makes sense, but it’s a great risk. Your advantage before was your overwhelming numbers, but that’s not in our favor now, not with Rael. It’s essentially a bluff, and if they break through, you’ve no defenses to stop them from moving up through Aleon.”
Phillip nodded, mulling. “I’d rather position my forces farther north, in Songs.”
Caspian’s brow creased. “You’d give up Eilor?”
“Temporarily, yes. For more advantageous ground. If I put all my forces south in Eilor and am overwhelmed, I would have to trust the Shadowlands to come to my defense.”
“Do you not?” Soren quipped.
Phillip’s eyes met Soren’s again, locking them into a stare once more. “I want to.”
The king’s reply stole whatever smart response sat on his tongue.
Phillip looked back down at the table, pausing. “I’ve never shied from a risk, if the reward is worth it.” Then he brought his gaze back to Soren’s. “This is a dangerous path for me.” He gave a faint smile. “But I’m willing.”
That smile wasn’t about the battle. Soren shook his head—of course he was talking about the battle. What else would he be talking about? Soren’s pulse thrummed faster, and he clenched the edges of the table.
Phillip stepped around to where Soren stood, reaching across and taking Aleon’s figurine from Bahoul. Their shoulders brushed. Soren tensed as a jolt of electricity ran through him. Their eyes locked again as Phillip moved the figurine to the border of Eilor.
“Together, or spread along the border?” Phillip asked.
Soren swallowed the fire that was building in his throat. He tried to push it down. “Together,” he said. “Moving together as Rael progresses.” A strange grip held him. He needed to get away from this man.
Phillip moved the rest of the Aleon figurines to Eilor. Their shoulders still touched as they both leaned on the table over the map.
Never had someone stood so casually close to him before. Never had someone dared to touch him. Still, Soren couldn’t bring himself to move away.
“I’m choosing to trust you,” Phillip said. He turned and his eyes found Soren’s again.
Fire rippled across Soren’s skin. Phillip was talking about the battle. Nothing else. But the way he looked at him…
“Let’s think on it,” Caspian said. “For now, I want to see if my men have settled in the barracks.”
“Go,” Phillip said, “we’ll think more on it and reconvene.”
Caspian gave a small nod and departed.
Soren moved to leave, but Phillip caught him.
“You own the next move, Lord Commander.” The corners of his mouth turned upward, and he left out the door and disappeared down the hall.
The battle.He was talking about the battle. Soren pulled down his wrap and wiped his face. He pushed out a long breath. He needed to get his mind back.
The afternoon passed too slowly, and too quickly. Soren found himself back at the map with Phillip. They’d already met with Caspian again and confirmed the plan from before. Phillip would move the entirety of his forces south, putting pressure on Japheth and Rael to keep them along the Canyonlands and giving the advantage to Kharav. If they were lucky, they’d contain the war there, and finish it.
Caspian left to write orders for the legions.
It was a bold plan, and a risky one for Phillip, Soren knew. The Aleon king would be placing his trust in an enemy he had warred against for ten years, an enemy who had dreamed of his death many times over, who still dreamed of it. Although Soren had to admit, he dreamed of it a little less now. This king puzzled him, both in mind and… He didn’t know how to describe it. Phillip was different from what he’d thought. It cooled Soren’s anger toward him.
And the way Phillip looked at him…
Soren sucked in a breath. It was all in his head. He needed to get out of this kingdom. It was messing with his mind. He turned his thoughts to something he could think about more rationally—war. War was coming. He felt solid with this plan he’d devised with Phillip and Caspian.
