Page 197 of War Queen
“Regal High!”
But she kept going. She had to keep going.
“Norah!”
Her legs were numb. She ignored them too. Another small ridge rose in front of her, and she charged up it.
Titus’s arms came around her. “Norah!”
“No!” she cried. “We have to keep going. I have to get the army!”
“You have to stop!”
“Let me go!” she screamed.
“Stop!”
Norah threw back her elbow, catching him in the chin and dropping him to a knee, and he released her. She ripped away from him, but he caught her calf, and she fell forward. They moved slowly from exhaustion, but still she managed to kick him off and took the ridge again. She stumbled once, then again. Days of travel, days without sleep. Without much food. Her body was failing her, but still she pushed on.
“Norah!”
No!But she didn’t have the energy to scream it back. She focused everything she had on just reaching the top. And as she did, she stopped.
And let out a cry.
Before her stretched the Mercian army—marching toward them.
Norah staggered down the ridge toward the army. She wanted to cry, to laugh, but the only thing she had energy for was keeping herself upright. She saw a rider break toward her, and she knew it was Soren. She cried in relief as she ran, not trusting herself not to fall, but not caring.
When he reached her, he dropped from his mount and caught her in his arms. “Salara!”
She clutched him. “Soren!”
He held her tightly. “What happened?”
Tears threatened, but she swallowed them back.Stupid emotion—not now!“Lucien’s launching an attack from the west. Aleon was a trick!” She gasped between breaths. “We have to get the Mercian army to Bahoul.”
He nodded. “I know—we’re headed there now.”
“We’re not going to reach him in time. Osan’s fallen. I’ve sent word to both Katya and Tahla to come, but it won’t be enough.”
“You called Katya and Tahla?”
She nodded.
“And you came to retrieve the North army to take back to Bahoul?”
Her brows dipped. “Of course I did.”
The corners of his eyes smiled slightly.
She shook her head. Her mind wasn’t even working to draw anything from what he was saying. “What?”
“You’re a proper war queen now.”
She’d be amused later. “We have to go to Bahoul. Right now.”
“We’re going,” he assured her.
