Page 97 of War Queen
“One is never sure of gossip. But it appears Rael is focused on Kharav, and Japheth on Aleon.”
“It would explain why Gregor didn’t join Cyrus when Rael moved against you.” She frowned. “But they’re bickering over who to go to war with? Surely now they know Aleon, Mercia, and Kharav stand together, so what would it matter? And, if anything, the threat should strengthen their alliance.”
He nodded. “As I said, one can never be sure of gossip.” He took another drink from his cup. “I would like you to come with me to Salta Tau. Tonight.”
Salta Tau was the ink mastera who marked the stories on his skin. “Oh,” she breathed. His comment caught her by surprise.
“For the story of taking the North,” he said.
Taking the North.The idea knifed her and left her breathless—it hurt. Why? Of course he’d want to get the markings of victory for taking Mercia, and why shouldn’t he?
Because it wasn’t an accomplishment. It wasn’t something to celebrate. Having to march against her own kingdom was a great tragedy, and with everything she’d lost in the process… for him to want it proudly displayed on his skin felt like a slap in the face.
She couldn’t speak. She only found herself nodding, but why? Why was she nodding? She didn’t want to see the markings. She didn’t want them on his skin. Forever. But after everything he’d done for her, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him not to.
He rose from the table and stopped beside her, leaning down to kiss her as he had done when he arrived. “I’ll see you this evening.”
“This evening,” she echoed blankly.
Salara-Mae stood as well. “Be at my chamber within the hour. I’ll have the seamstresses ready a fitting space for you.” Then she whisked out of the room, leaving Norah to herself.
Norah sat at the table in silence. She tried to shake off the misgiving growing in her stomach. Don’t be ridiculous, she scolded herself. Why shouldn’t Mikael be proud? It was a significant feat to take back Mercia from the council, which had been defended by some of the most renowned mercenaries in the world, and it was to put her back on the throne. But no matter how logical she made it sound to herself, she still couldn’t shake the emotion against it.
She pushed a breath out. She still needed to tell him of the visions—that his fate still remained—and how Alexander had come to her. In Mercia, she’d been desperate to tell him, to have him help her make sense of it all, but now it seemed an impossible task. Why was it so hard?
Because she’d loved Alexander.
A dress fitting was the opposite of what she wanted to be doing right now. She leaned forward against the table and rested her cheek against her palm. There was really no avoiding it. She stood and headed to Salara-Mae’s chamber.
As she walked down the hall, she spotted Katya outside through the glass. A woman stood beside her, holding a small child. Norah’s heart beat with happiness. Of course Katya would have had her baby by now. She made her way quickly to the doors at the end and out to catch them.
“Katya!” she called as she approached.
“Salara,” Katya bowed her head in greeting.
“Is this your little one?”
Katya nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry, Salara. My mother only brought him by to say hello.”
“Don’t be sorry! I’m so happy to see you.” She stepped closer to the child.
Katya smiled as she presented him. “My son, Araseth. And my mother, Delina.”
“Lovely to meet you,” Norah told the older woman, who smiled with a bow of her head. Then she turned her attention to the boy. He was a plump child with a full head of black hair. But his eyes were a deep cerulean blue. A Northman’s eyes, no doubt. “Katya. He’s beautiful.”
The captain’s smile grew. “That he is.” She looked to the ground, her smile fading and her pain showing through. “His father fell taking back Mercia.”
Norah reached out and clasped her arm. “Oh, Katya, I’m so sorry.” Norah knew loss, yes, but to lose the father of a child, she couldn’t imagine. To raise a child alone… Then she remembered: “Katya, Mercia grants provisions for children of fallen heroes. If you only record the child—”
“No,” Katya said quickly. “I know that Kharav and the North view intimacy and marriage differently. And a child out of wedlock… I won’t dishonor his father’s legacy.”
Norah stared at her, speechless. Then she shook her head. “You know what, it’s perfectly fine. You don’t even need to record the child. I’ll make sure—”
“No, Salara. Really. I want for nothing here. I have everything I need.”
Norah’s heart broke. She wanted to do more, to offer more, but Katya would refuse, she knew. She nodded. “All right. Well, if there’s ever anything…”
“I’ll let you know.”
