Page 10 of War Queen
“Thank you.”
He nodded, and she watched him disappear toward the stables.
Norah made her way past the garden topiaries, trying to breathe calmness back into her body. But calmness wouldn’t come. Day after day they remained in this hold. When would it end?
The flutter of a small bird drew her gaze. It lighted close by on a manicured laurel, looking at her curiously. She smiled.
Then the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
She knew this kind of bird. A small brown bird with black eyes, watching. Watching her. And on its head—a smeared marking.
It washim. The man who had sent the assassins. The man who wanted her dead.
“Have you returned?” she called bitterly. She always knew he would. Eventually. “What do you want?” How long had he been watching her, waiting? Why now, after so long? He was obviously sending her a message in letting her see him. Did he think himself clever? Dangerous?
Well, she was dangerous too. “Have the courage to come yourself, coward!” she yelled as she hurled the book at him. He took flight and disappeared into the gardens.
Norah turned on her heel and stormed toward the armory. As she walked briskly through the courtyard, Kiran fell in close behind her.
“Is everything all right, Salara?” he asked.
Everything was not all right.
The guards bowed their heads as she entered the armory and swept past them. She had been here enough times with Soren; she knew exactly what she was looking for.
Norah tore open the cabinets lining the far wall and pulled a crossbow from its pegs. Soren’s words echoed in her mind. She’d show this man how the Shadow Queen welcomed him.
Norah swung open the door to Mikael’s study, followed closely by Calla and Kiran. In her hand, she held the shaft of an arrow that was speared through a small brown bird. Breathlessly, she smacked it on the desk in front of Mikael.
“He’s back.”
Mikael looked at the bird a moment before lifting his eyes to hers. His brows drew together in question. “Who?”
“Him,” she said.
His face darkened. “The one who sent the assassins?”
“This is his bird. Look at the blood on its head.” In the time that had passed since the assassination attempt against her, since her suspecting of being spied on by a bird, she’d almost convinced herself she’d imagined that detail, or misremembered. It sounded like lunacy—being watched by animals with blood markings. But lunacy or not, here it was in front of her, and she was sure now. The blood had to be part of his sorcery somehow.
Mikael stood and picked up the arrow, staring at the dead bird impaled on the end. “So, he’s returned.”
He didn’t even question her mind. He believed her, no matter how absurd it sounded, and she loved him for it.
His brow dipped. “Didyouhit this bird?”
Calla snorted behind her. “Are you serious?”
Mikael looked at the girl.
“Apologies, Salar,” Calla said quickly.
Norah shot her a chastising glance to hide her own smile. For a moment, the air lightened. “I might have made a fool of myself with a crossbow before Calla stepped in,” she admitted.
“With a longbow?” he asked.
“Yes, Salar,” Calla answered.
He looked back at the bird and frowned. “An impressive shot.”
