Page 68 of War Queen
Her brows drew together. “I could have not been dressed yet, you know.”
“Well, then you would’ve been late, and it would’ve been your own fault,” he said shortly, not caring. “Everyone is assembling. It’s time to go.”
Norah pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and turned to him with a frown. “About that. I was thinking you could find something else to do while I go to the wedding.”
His face wrinkled in disapproval. “Why?”
“You don’t even want to go.”
His eyes narrowed. “Maybe I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Well, I don’t want you to not want me to go.”
She sighed. “It’s not that I don’twantyou to go. Princess Daiyona remembers—and brought up—what happened to her brother when he foolishly crossed the border into Kharav. You know, when you killed his friends like a manic fiend? I just don’t want to stir up ill feelings. We’re guests, and it’s her wedding day.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, whatever you did yesterday. Or take Calla to the sparring field because shereallydoesn’t want to go to the wedding either.”
“I don’t,” chimed Calla from the corner chair she sat in. She’d been so quiet Norah had almost forgotten she was there.
He grumbled. “I already saw the sparring field, and tested swords against the Aleon king.”
“Wait… what?” Her heart quickened. “Did you hurt him?”
“He made it to the celebration last night, didn’t he?” He pushed out an irritated breath. “He’s… very good with a sword. Unfortunately.”
Curse the gods. She just wanted to get through this wedding and back to Mercia with everyone alive. Specifically Phillip. Things hadn’t started off as well as she would’ve liked, and she feared them going even more poorly.
“Just stay here, or at least out of sight,” she said.
He scowled at her.
“Watch him,” she told Calla.
The girl gave a smile, happy to be out of going to the wedding, and Norah stepped out of the chamber. Titus and Caspian picked up behind her, followed by the rest of the Crest.
After a series of awkward wrong turns, she made it to the great hall. Soren was right—everyone had assembled.
“I hope they don’t do the clapping thing,” Titus muttered.
No one clapped, thankfully, and Norah made her way to the front right of the hall as the guest of honor and took her seat. Titus, Caspian, and the rest of the Crest took their posts against the wall.
Phillip stood at the front of the room and gave her a small smile. Despite the awkward end to their conversation the night before, he seemed to hold no personal animosity now. Suddenly, everyone rose. Norah turned around to see Princess Daiyona entering through the double iron doors at the back of the hall.
The Osan princess walked the mainway, toward Phillip. This was what Norah’s wedding would have been. This is what her future would have been—queen of an empire, living in a beautiful city in wealth and extravagance.
But all she could think about was how much she missed Mikael. As beautiful as Valour was, she’d give anything to slip back into the comfort of the shadows and find warmth in the arms of the man she loved. They were too far apart, and she needed to get back to him.
The wedding passed as weddings typically do—meaningful words spoken, people smiling… and waiting for the end. They exchanged rings, and the priest wrapped a ribbon around their joined hands and pronounced them married. Daiyona looked at Phillip with a broad smile on her face. She was happy about this wedding.
And Norah was happy for her.
The celebration followed in normal fare and fashion, with no expense spared. Norah stood contently at the side of the floor, watching the dancing as she shoved another shrimp into her mouth. The food was delicious.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Caspian said beside her.
