Page 113 of Shadow Queen
Soren raised a questioning brow through the eye opening of his head wrap.
“That’s what people will wonder,” she told the commander. “Do you know how you’ll attack?”
Caspian gave an uncomfortable chuckle at her joke.
Soren frowned. “We’ve been trying to assess the North for years. I doubt I’ll have a plan after only an afternoon.”
Norah eyed Caspian in amusement, realizing Soren hadn’t understood she’d asked him in jest.
“But,” the commander said, “I’d start with your mainland city. They lack defenses. You should be building houses of stone. You certainly have enough of it. Stone doesn’t burn.”
“You would burn the city?” Caspian asked.
“To draw the army out.”
“They wouldn’t come,” Caspian said. “They’d stay on the isle to protect the queen.”
Soren shook his head. “No. One Northman at a time—their screams in the air as I peel the flesh from their body. One after another. Then the army would come.” Soren nodded at Norah with a dark eye. “Shewould send them.”
Norah swallowed the bile building in her throat. He was a master at his craft. “Thank you, Captain,” she said, turning to Caspian and breaking the unease. “I can show the lord commander to his chamber.”
Caspian stood for a moment, disturbed. “Regal High,” he finally bowed. “Lord Commander.”
Soren watched him leave.
She scowled at him. “Was that necessary?”
“It was what you were really asking, yes? My perception of your weakness?”
“I congratulate you for finding it—my compassion for human life,” she said irritably.
“And there’s your other,” he said, and she followed his gaze to Alexander, who was leaving the stables with Adrian. She saw Adrian smiling, and Alexander gripped his shoulder warmly. It made her happy to see them as brothers, and she lingered a moment before turning back to Soren.
“I’ll show you to your chamber,” she said with a sigh, resigned.
He followed her through several hallways, to a room looking out at the temple. “You’ll sleep here,” she told him.
“By the temple?”
“You need prayers,” she said shortly. “Many prayers.”
“It’s too far from your quarters.”
Composure, she reminded herself. “Do you not see my struggle? I’m in my own home. You don’t have to sit outside my door or make it more difficult than it already is.”
So much for composure, she thought to herself.
There was a deep rumble in his chest, but he gave a small nod in acceptance. “Fine.”
She moved to leave but paused. “Oh, for the rest of today, I would ask that you stay here. Out of sight.”
“Be confined to my chamber?”
“I just want things to settle, to let tensions calm.”
“Should I wear chains? Would that make your men feel better?”
She looked at him with a sigh, absent of any energy, and turned wearily from the doorway.
