Page 48 of War Queen
“Thank the North gods. But if I’m wrong and thereisa life beyond, I’d want to make sure I was with you.”
She held his arm tighter, but she was smiling.
The ceremony had been short and private. Only those closest to Alexander were there to see him placed in the tomb of the king in the Hall of Souls. Soren and Mikael had helped seal it. Adrian had stood silently beside Norah, still mourning his brother. Catherine had given no more objections to Alexander taking a place in the Hall of Souls. Surely she, too, couldn’t bring herself to let him go.
After, Norah sat in the gardens. Had she made the right decision? There was comfort in knowing Alexander was still with her, that his spirit was still watching over. Was he watching her now? If she spoke to him, would he hear her?
“Queen Norah,” Caspian’s voice came from behind. It held an urgency that made her stiffen. “You need to come,” he said. “A letter has arrived from Kharav.”
Who would have sent a letter? “Has something happened?”
“Katya writes of Rael amassing forces at the border. She thinks they’re preparing to attack.”
“Where is my husband now?”
“In the judisaept, with most of the others.”
The others—those who had become her de facto council—Soren, Adrian, Caspian, and three of several nobles who had been loyal to Norah through the coup: Lord Bosley, Lord Branton, and Lord Semaine.
Norah hurried toward the judisaept. Catherine joined her in the hall and hurried along beside her.
“Have you heard?” Norah said breathlessly.
“Just now.”
Mikael was waiting when they arrived. He held a letter in his hand and gave it to Norah as she neared him.
“I have to return,” he said. “Their numbers near the eastern pass double each day. I brought the entire Kharavian army to take back the North. Now there’s no one to protect Kharav other than the border forces and the Uru. The Canyonlands provide natural protection, but even if a small army gets through, they could take the kingdom.”
“And what about you?” she countered. “If they move to confront you on your journey back—alone against Japheth and Rael, you can’t take them both.”
“I’ll march the army back through the Tribelands and through the western pass, then move north so the eastern Canyonlands will be between us. It will take longer to get the army through, but we should be able to clear it before anyone knows.”
Her stomach turned at the thought of him leaving her. “I’m going with you.”
He shook his head. “No. You just got your kingdom back. You’ll stay here.”
“We have to leave today,” Soren said.
Mikael drew in a long breath, and his eyes met his commander’s. “Brother,” he said softly. “I don’t want to deny you a good fight should it come to that with Rael, but you know what’s most important to me.”
Soren glanced at Norah and then back at Mikael. He gave a stiff nod.
No,he needed Soren. “You need a commander,” Norah insisted.
The corner of his mouth gave the hint of a smile. “I’ve told you this before, but I’m beginning to think you don’t believe me—Icancommand an army.”
Norah took his hand. “Of course you can, but I don’t like the thought of you going alone.”
“I won’t be alone. I have the entire Kharavian army. And I’ll take Adrian.”
Adrian gave a nod.
Mikael reached up and brushed Norah’s cheek, giving her a soft kiss on her forehead, then he led Adrian out to prepare the forces for departure. Soren followed after with Caspian and the lords, leaving Norah and Catherine.
Norah glanced at Catherine, but the woman said nothing. She narrowed her eyes. “No objections to him taking Adrian?”
Her grandmother frowned. “Why would I?”
