Page 72 of War Queen
He sat quietly, but then shook his head. “No. He died too. When I took Tarsus.”
He. “Oh,” she breathed. Her heart hurt for him. “Phillip, I’m so sorry.”
He smiled sadly. “It was a good plan we had, though, wasn’t it? A good effort?”
She nodded.
They sat in silence.
“Why did you take Tarsus?” she asked finally. Mikael and Soren had been so sure Phillip was driven to accomplish what his grandfather could not—taking the island trading nation and further building his empire. It fueled their suspicion he would do the same to Kharav.
“Because it was Gregor’s primary source of trade revenues. When I heard rumors that he was pressing the Shadowlands for a change in trade terms and that the alliance was souring, I saw it as an opportunity for him to lose it all. It would have been a significant blow to him financially, and perhaps a fatal blow in my favor, as he employs mercenaries and must keep paying them to wage war against me. So I took Tarsus. But with heavy losses.”
Norah started to piece everything together. Gregor had been pressing Mikael for new terms and had even ventured so far as to skip due trade. Gregor had been so confident with Tarsus to fall back on, but Phillip had taken that away from him. Gregor needed a new alliance, and he must have found that in the Raelean king.
“Taking Tarsus was necessary,” he added. “But I still question if it was worth it. Had I known… what would happen to Jonah… I wouldn’t have.”
“His name was Jonah?”
Phillip nodded as he stared into the fountain. He let out a heavy sigh and turned his gaze back to her. Gently, he took her hand. “I’m not angry with you, Norah. I thought I’d brought the gods’ disfavor with the shame of my sin in whom I loved.”
Norah shook her head. “Don’t say that. There is no sin in love.”
His eyes glistened, and he gave an emotional smile. “I would feel favored once more to be considered a friend again, both to you and this Shadow King you speak so highly of.”
She put her hand over his and smiled. “I would love that.”
“And I’d like to invite your lord commander hunting with me tomorrow.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“He doesn’t like hunting?”
Soren liked hunting. “He doesn’t like people.”
He chuckled. “Well, will you ask him?”
She pursed her lips into a polite smile and forced a nod.
Chapter nineteen
Soren’seyesblazed.“IfI go hunting with that bastard, he’ll end up gutted.”
Norah shot him a disapproving look. “Soren, this is a diplomatic visit; can you try to be a little more… you know… diplomatic?”
“I’m not a diplomatic man.”
“Then pretend,” she snapped, her patience waning. “You insisted on coming. And perhaps no one’s ever told you this before, but being a commander is more than war and hate and wanting to kill people.”
“Alexander was the diplomat.”
“Alexander’s gone!” She sucked in a breath. “He’s gone. And I need more from you.”
Norah moved to the edge of the bed and sat down, struggling against the emotion that threatened. She waited for the calm to return.
“Phillip’s not an enemy,” she said as she gained back control. “He and I knew each other before I lost my memories. Surprisingly well, actually.” She looked down at her hands. “I found out we had an agreement, a long time ago: to wed and let each other be free. I was going to return to Alexander, and Phillip would have been free to be with his own love.”
Soren shifted. Quiet came, and they let it hang between them awhile. Then he sat on the edge of the bed beside her. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
