Page 189 of War Queen
A stir behind him made him spin around and reach for the short sword at his back.
He was met with a grinning face. Adrian chuckled from atop his horse. “Looks like you found our defenses.”
Soren hissed out a breath but couldn’t help a small smile. “Little Bear.”
Adrian dropped down from his mount and reached for him. They clasped arms, cuffing each other on the shoulders.
“Where’s the king?” Soren asked.
“Not far. He’ll be glad to see you.”
Soren exhaled the fear that had been consuming him. Phillip was all right. He could breathe again. He tightened his grip and jerked Adrian closer. “You almost hurt my horse.”
Adrian still wore his grin. “Yeah, well, I didn’t expect you to come tearing across the hills and get caught in our own traps. It was a good set, though, right?” He looked past Soren to Cohen. “Didn’t dropyou, though.”
Soren glanced over his shoulder, and the boy smiled. Of course Cohen had seen it. He had an eye. And while Soren had admittedly been distracted, he couldn’t deny the handiwork. “It was a good set.” At least Aleon had some defenses now.Wait—“What’s going on? Where is everyone?” He’d expected to arrive straight into a full-fledged battle.
“That’s a good question,” Adrian answered. “Japheth and Rael stopped just short of our borders. They wait.”
That didn’t make any sense. “For what?”
Adrian shook his head. “We don’t know. Come on, I’ll take you to King Phillip.”
Soren and Cohen followed Adrian through the hills and across the river to the army camp of Aleon. Before they even reached Phillip, Soren could already see what Adrian had been talking about. Across the flatlands to the south, from horizon to horizon, spanned the largest army he’d ever seen. But they waited, just short of the border. The armies were split in two: part of the army, presumably Japheth, lay to the east, and Rael just to the west.
“Why are they split?” Soren asked.
Adrian shrugged. “We have suspicions. It’s best to show you.”
Interesting…
“This way.” Adrian led him to a large center tent and ducked between the flaps.
Soren followed, and when he stepped inside, he stopped.
Phillip sat, pouring over letters. When he looked up, he stood in surprise, and a smile came to his face. That beautiful smile that made Soren’s chest hurt—the smile he’d feared he wouldn’t see again.
Phillip wore only a few pieces of armor. The lion surrounded by four stars, representing the four kingdoms of the empire, shone proudly on his breastplate. He stepped to Soren and stared at him for a moment. Then he reached up and clutched him by the shoulders and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Soren stiffened. Adrian and Cohen’s presence ate into his mind. Soren wasn’t one for affection, and certainly not so publicly, and not so openly with the Aleon king.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Phillip said as he clutched him even tighter.
How could he think he wouldn’t come? Soren forgot all thoughts of watching eyes. He leaned back and caught Phillip’s eyes with his own. “You didn’t think I’d come? I told you I would.”
“I know where your duty lies.”
Soren gripped the nape of Phillip’s neck, holding him close. “I told you I’d come for you.”
Phillip’s eyes glistened, and Soren felt his own rush of emotion. Remembering himself, he stepped back and glanced at Adrian and Cohen, but they looked at him as though nothing were amiss, as if they hadn’t just seen his heart in his hands. And he loved them all the more. The battle, he reminded himself. “Caspian follows with the Northern army; they’re another day behind, maybe two.”
Phillip smiled, emotion still in his eyes. “You bring the Mercian army?”
“Salar and Salara send them for you.”
Phillip shook his head. “No, they send them for you. And I’m grateful.”
Soren’s own emotion still lingered. “I was so certain Rael would march on Kharav first. I’m sorry.”
