Page 49 of War Queen
Whywouldn’tshe?
“You’ve brought Mercia a strong king, Norah,” Catherine said. “A fiendish king, with his… fiendlings… but a protector of the North. We should make an effort to keep him.”
An emotional smile worked its way along her mouth. “You’d like Kharav, you know.”
Catherine scowled. “Don’t push it.”
Chapter thirteen
Thefogofherbreath lingered as Norah stood in the courtyard in the cold of morning. Winter was almost upon them. Mikael and his warriors readied to depart. The Kharavian army waited on the mainland outside the castle isle. It would take them two weeks to reach the Canyonlands and pass through its maze on the western side as Japheth and Rael amassed their forces in the east.
The Canyonlands posed fatal threats to those who didn’t know them. Most who tried to pass got lost, then died of hunger or dehydration. Deep trenches funneled large armies into smaller groups, who could be picked off by arrows from the top. The smaller Kharavian army could defend against one three times its size, or more. But if they didn’t reach the Canyonlands, they’d be overwhelmed and defeated with Rael’s numbers.
It was a significant risk, but Mikael had left Kharav undefended in order to retake Mercia, and he had no choice—he had to return, and he had to return now.
The Kharavian army was feared by many, but these men were not the monsters of stories told. Regardless of how skilled they were, they were only men. Norah worried for them, and for her Shadow King husband. They needed to reach the safety of the Canyonlands, and Kharav beyond.
Soren stood beside her, no worry in his eyes. How was he so calm? As if they were marching to dinner.
Adrian checked the saddle on his horse, then turned to Norah. He gave her a respectful bow of his head, but she reached out and pulled him into a hug.
“Stay safe,” she told him. “The gods watch over you.”
“And Alec,” he said.
“And Alec,” she whispered back.
He mounted his horse.
Soren stepped up, waving him close, and Adrian leaned down. Soren clutched him by the breastplate and pulled him even closer. “This is what you’ve trained for, Little Bear. Protect your king.”
Norah smiled at Soren’s nickname for him. She’d heard it a few times now.Little Bear.Adrian was anything but little. He was larger than Alexander, larger than most Northmen, almost as large as Mikael. But to Soren he was the little Bear.
Adrian nodded.
“Keep your shield up. You get markings for kills, not wounds. Salta Tau will see them all.” Soren released him and gave an affectionate beat on his breastplate with his fist. “Keep well, brother.”
When they were ready to depart, Mikael stepped to her. His face was long, and shadows hung from his brow.
“Why do you look worried?” she asked him. “I’m the one who should be worried.”
“Don’t worry for me. I’ll be safe as soon as I reach the Canyonlands.”
“I know you won’t listen, but I still think you should take a Northern legion as well.”
He shook his head. “No. If things go poorly, I want the entire Northern army here with you. We still don’t know Aleon’s intentions.”
“Well, Phillip’s not going to attack Mercia with Japheth and Rael still threatening.”
He clasped the side of her neck warmly. “I take no chances when it comes to you.” He dropped his head and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
He looked to the castle at the top of the stair, where her grandmother stood, and gave the woman a nod before mounting his destrier.
Norah watched as they rode out of the courtyard and across the bridge to the mainland and beyond. She stood there, her cloak pulled tight around her, until long after they were gone. And as Mikael disappeared from her sight, she couldn’t shake the sweeping feeling of loss, that she was all alone now.No. She wasn’t alone, she reminded herself, and looked at Soren, who stood beside her.
“I want to start dining together again in the evenings,” she told him. “Like we did in Kharav.”
