She would overlook it, partly because she didn’t have the energy to argue with him and partly because she was here to thank him. She was already rethinking the latter. But maybe this could be the start of a civil relationship. He was lord commander of the Kharavian army, and she was salara. They couldn’t hate each other forever.
“Do you need something, North Queen?” His voice was rough and unwelcoming.
He didn’t call her Salara, something she had yet to correct him on. She didn’t know why she hadn’t. Each time he used it, she felt she lost more ground to demand it of him. She hated it. But she still couldn’t bring herself to correct him, even now. Especially now. She looked down at the folded parchment in her hand, reminding herself why she was here.
“Yes, um, I…” Why was this so hard? “I heard you sent a detachment out this morning and—”
“I do as I’m bid,” he said gruffly, cutting her off.
Of course. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her assumption the kindness had come from him. Of course it had been Mikael. And here she was, making a fool of herself, giving him more power. Her embarrassment turned to anger. “You know, a gracious person would just allow someone to say thank you. Maybe politely credit another.”
His brow furrowed. “Do you take me for a gracious person?” He almost seemed offended. “And did you really want to thank me?”
“I did,” she answered, her voice rising. “But I obviously don’t now.”
“Well, you’re welcome for that, then.”
She snorted. This man was unbelievable. “You’re an asshole.”
He raised a brow. “Is that all?”
Norah wasn’t sure if he was dismissing her or prompting her for more insults. Her breath shook, and she had to keep from crumpling the parchment in her hand. Forcing back the words on the tip of her tongue, she pursed her lips in festering rage and spun on her heel, leaving him in her wake of frustration.
She stormed down into the great hall, gritting her teeth. To think she went in there to thank him—never again. They could hate each other forever.
“Salara,” Mikael’s voice called her.
She stopped and turned to see him walking toward her.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she managed, trying to calm herself. This was where her thanks were owed, and she didn’t want to start by criticizing his beloved commander, his asshole brother-in-arms. “Yes,” she said again, swallowing back her frustration and trying to put the commander from her mind. “I was actually just looking for you.”
“Were you?”
She nodded. “I heard about the detachment sent out this morning to look for my crown. I just wanted to let you know that… it was more than I ever would have expected, and… I wanted to thank you.”
The corners of his lips turned up. “It’s unlikely we’ll find it, but now that we have its image, it’s possible. When Soren suggested it, I admit I felt a bit of a fool. I should have thought of it myself.”
Wait. It was the lord commander’s idea?
He reached out and touched her arm. “The men will start where I took you. Let’s see what we find.”
She nodded, her mind still spinning. Then she stopped. “My Northmen might not take kindly to Kharavian warriors in the outer reaches.” She couldn’t even get her grandmother and the council to accept her marriage. She certainly wasn’t going to get them to accommodate Shadowmen within the borders.
He smiled. “They won’t even know we’re there.”
Like they’d been there before…
Chapter fifty-four
The afternoon sun waned as Norah walked along the windowed hall, looking out into the courtyard. The sky was alive with colors of purple and orange. It was beautiful. A smile crept across her lips. Sometimes it was easy to believe a good life could be made here, if she let it.
Her mind still churned with everything that had happened. She could let herself dwell on the hardships and the despair, everything she had lost. Or she could look to the good: Mercia was safe and fed, and the threat of war between their kingdoms was gone. Mostly. And marriage to Mikael was not as she’d expected. Maybe she could be happy here.
She turned back toward her sanctuary, but her smile quickly faded when she looked up to see Mikael and the lord commander walking toward her, with Artem just behind. Mikael’s stride was one of purpose. One of anger.
“What business do you send your lord justice on?” he called before he even reached her.
It took her a moment to understand what he’d asked. “It’s a task for the council. Why?”
“What kind of task?” he pressed sharply. His tone made her own defenses raise.
She paused, trying to remember her conversation with Alexander. “I don’t know, he didn’t say. It’s insignificant.”
“Is it, now?”
Why was he so bothered? “What’s this about?”
“He rides for Aleon,” the lord commander snarled.
Norah gaped at Mikael in surprise. “What? That’s not true.” It didn’t make sense.
“Our scouts confirmed it,” Mikael told her.
“He wouldn’t go to Aleon without telling me,” she insisted.
“Well it appears you’re wrong,” the commander said.
Mikael’s eyes shifted to his brute, warning him. He turned back to Norah. “You didn’t know of this?”
She shook her head. “No, there must be some mistake. But even if he is going to Aleon, I’m sure there’s a perfectly rational explanation.”
“What could be a rational explanation for meeting with our enemy?” Mikael asked.
“Aleon isn’t an enemy,” she countered. “They’ve been friends and allies for generations.”
“Of the North,” Mikael stressed. “And let me remind you, that was with the promise of your hand.”
She felt the tension escalating. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. I’ll speak to him when he returns and sort everything out.”
“I’m eager to hear,” Mikael said stiffly.
The commander’s face flashed with anger, clearly offended by Mikael’s tolerance. Artem stood behind them, smug and hostile.
Norah’s stomach turned. What was the council doing? Just as things were seeming to settle, this jeopardized everything.
Norah paced the winter gardens with Vitalia and Serene in tow. She sucked in the chilled air to clear her mind. Why would the council have sent Alexander to Aleon? And why had Alexander not told her? He’d said he hadn’t wanted to burden her more. Perhaps he’d gone to mend the relationship between their kingdoms. The news of her betrothal to the Kharavian king hadn’t been received well by Aleon, understandably. She felt a pang of guilt when she thought of Phillip. He’d have seen her decision as an insult. And he’d done nothing wrong, nothing to break their alliance. She’d just changed her mind. Mikael was the only one who could give her peace.
“Try not to worry, Regal High,” Serene’s voice came from behind. The Mercian title fell strangely on her ears still. Her Kharavian title felt more natural now. “Mercia and Aleon have been friends for a long time, and business between them isn’t uncommon. It could be something rather trivial.”