“And I’ve told him he’s to obey your commands as my own,” he added.
She didn’t know what to say. He’d given her control over the most powerful man in his kingdom, a man he loved as a brother. He’d told her he would deal with the commander. And he had. Whether the commander obeyed her—that was a different matter. But this was a good start. “Thank you,” she said finally.
They ate in silence, with their eyes catching each other occasionally. The tumbling in her stomach returned, and Norah couldn’t help the small smile on her lips. When they were finished, they stood.
“Can I walk you?” he asked as he moved to her end of the table and offered his arm. She slipped hers underneath, and he covered her hand in his, leading her toward her sanctuary. She was starting to like this walk.
When they reached the hall, he stopped, but he didn’t let her go. “Can I take you to your door?”
A nervous flutter hit her stomach. Why was she nervous? She did want to bridge this gap between them, for them to be closer… She nodded.
When they reached her sanctuary door, she moved to pull her hand from his arm, but he tightened his hold, and they both stilled. His dark eyes flickered between hers, and his lips parted slightly. Then they closed, as if he were nervous too. Was he nervous? Her stomach fluttered more.
“Can I kiss you, Salara?” he asked ever so softly. He lowered his head to hers, but paused, waiting for her answer.
Her breath hitched in her chest. She wanted him to kiss her. So why couldn’t she say yes? This was a harsh kingdom, and he was a harsh king. The memory of him killing the Serran envoy’s guard filled her mind. He could be ruthless, and cruel. Although he wasn’t cruel to her.
But that wasn’t enough.
He’d given her control over the commander, she reminded herself. He’d asked her what he needed to change. For her…
His lips were so close. Her body threatened to betray her warring mind, conspiring with the gravities of the earth to pull her closer. She only needed to lift her chin.
He drew in a breath as he gave a small nod and pulled back. She’d hesitated too long, and her stomach dropped. She could still tell him yes—
“Good night, then,” he said, his voice polite.
She could still tell him… “Good night,” she whispered.
He turned and walked back the way they’d come.
Chapter forty-eight
The ink dried slowly on the parchment as she wrote, and Norah blew the letters dry. It had been hard to write a letter to her grandmother. She’d started over many times and still wondered if she should start again. She folded it, stamped her seal, and watched the wax harden.
The door opened, and Vitalia entered, carrying a plate of dried fruit and bread. She smiled at Norah. “Is that a letter you’re sending?”
She looked at the folded parchment in her fingers. “To my grandmother.” She wondered what Catherine was doing at that moment.
“Do you miss her?”
Norah did. “Salara-Mae reminds me of her.”
Vitalia frowned. “So, no?”
Norah couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. It pushed the sadness away, if only for a moment. The quiet returned. “I do miss her. I wish she understood.” She inhaled, trying to breathe energy back into herself and shift her mind to lighter thoughts. “I want to do something different today.” She thought for a moment. “Do you think we could go to the market?”
“I doubt the lord commander would approve of that.”
Norah shrugged. “The lord commander has no say.” There was a freedom to the words. “And I’ll take a proper guard.”
“That does sound amazing.” Vitalia grinned. “I’ll fetch your cloak.”
Norah stepped out of the castle and breathed in the winter morning. It felt good. She decided to walk through the gardens on her way to the front gates, and she smiled when she saw Bremhad tending a tall set of shrubs.
“Salara,” he greeted her with a bow as she approached.
“Good morning, Bremhad.”
She gazed over at the rows of small shoots that had been planted a few weeks prior. They seemed to be coming along. “I was wondering about the planter boxes under the windows outside the great hall. In my sanctuary, there’s a balcony. Could you put the same there?”
“Of course, Salara. I would be happy to.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Norah’s step had a new spring of life. She grinned at Vitalia as they left the walls of the castle and wandered into the busy market of the city. Finally. The feeling of freedom was one she’d hungered for—one that had escaped her, even in Mercia. But not any longer. She glanced over her shoulder at her guard behind her and saw Kiran didn’t share her same glee. She couldn’t help but be amused. Beside him was Bhastian. She didn’t see him as much as the others in the Crest. A close man of the lord commander, he took duties for the brute often, no doubt spying on her for him.
Norah strolled through the market stalls, looking over the handiworks and art. She hadn’t expected to garner so much attention, but all eyes were on her. Many bowed as she passed, and some smiled. No one was unkind.
“Here, taste this,” Vitalia said as she held out a small red treat.
Norah put it in her mouth and laughed at the burst of sweetness. “What is that?” she asked.
“They’re candies made from mountain berries.”
“They’re delicious!”
“Here.” Vitalia dumped a pile into Norah’s hand.
Norah laughed as they walked on. Just then, a child ran across the cobbled street, but stopped abruptly when he saw her. He stared at her, wide-eyed. She smiled and held out one of the sweets for him, but he only stood frozen. Just when she thought he might not take it, he grabbed it from her hand and ran away. She looked at Vitalia with amusement and laughed again.
A few moments later, a cluster of children came, eager to see the North Queen who was handing out treats. Bhastian scolded them, and they scampered off, but not without leaving her empty of sweets.
“I see you’re already gaining favor,” Vitalia told her with a grin.
Across the way, in a larger market stall, Norah noticed a beautiful sheer fabric and wandered toward it. “What is this?” she asked the woman in the stall as she ran her fingers over it. The woman answered in Kharavian tongue.
“Butterfly silk,” Vitalia told her.
“From butterflies?” Norah asked incredulously.
“From the valley.”
“How do I buy some?” she asked her maid in a hushed voice. “Do I need to go get money?”
“No, Salara. They’ll charge the castle. Just take what you like.”
The woman smiled, folding the rolls of silk and chattering excitedly. Norah didn’t even know what she’d use it for, but she’d figure something out. Perhaps as a gift for her grandmother. Suddenly, Vitalia’s face fell, and Norah turned, following her gaze to Captain Artem approaching.
“You can’t be out here,” Artem said when he reached her.
“That’s not your call.”
“I’m charged with your safety.”
Nice try. “The lord commander is to take my words as Salar’s. You can tell him I’ll return when I’m ready.”