Page 26 of The Queen and the Half-blood
Lara’s lips thinned, her jubilation fading. Were they angry the wulvers were here? The arrangement didn’t suit her either, but it couldn’t be helped.
Nodding to her people—and trying to overlook their accusing stares—she urged her horse on. Anger sparked then, its heat rolling over her.Ungrateful turds. You’ll thank me one day.
Still scanning her surroundings, for she half-expected a Shee clad in steel armor to leap out from behind a wall or emerge from one of the narrow vennels—walkways that provided shortcuts for those on foot to reach the summit of the fort—Lara crested the top of the crag. Here, the beehive-shaped broch, a smaller version of her own in Duncrag, rose against the sky. The tightly-packed dwellings drew back, and she rode across a wide dirt square before the gates of the broch. Her banner, a white wolf’s head against a field of black, fluttered from the wooden palisade that surrounded the broch. Dark splotches stained the ground up here—blood—although the bodies had been dragged aside. The Marav and wulver dead now lined the northern wall, while a pile of Shee corpses rose on the southern side of the square. Steel scale armor glinted in the sunlight.
Queasiness rolled over Lara, and she swallowed hard.
So many dead—on both sides.
What did you expect? This is only the beginning.If she wished to take back The Uplands, she’d have to do this again, many times over, before she drove the Shee back. She’d have to get used to death.
Tearing her gaze from the corpses, she straightened her spine and focused on the gates ahead.
And when she rode through them, she found the three men who’d led her to victory standing on the steps to the broch: Cailean, Roth, and Alar. A large fae hound, her green coat ruffling in the wind, stood with them. Skaal’s coat was singed in places and clumped with gore. Fortunately, she appeared unhurt.
The chief-enforcer, captain, and the Half-blood were also blood-splattered, and they bore what looked like superficial cuts on their arms and faces, yet their gazes gleamed. Cailean and Roth weren’t happy with her decision, but hopefully, today’s win would ease things a little between them.
Maybe they’d understand why she’d done this.
“Well fought,” she greeted them, pride flushing through her.
Cailean nodded brusquely, and Roth flashed her a tight smile, while Alar inclined his head.
“Where is the Shee commander?” she asked, trying not to let their muted responses bother her.
“Dead inside the broch,” Cailean replied. “He’s on the dais. I think you’ll recognize him.”
Lara tensed. Would she? Sliding her feet from the stirrups, she prepared to dismount. Behind her, she heard the thud of boots hitting the ground then, as one of her Guard swung down from the saddle to help his queen. Irritation flared under her ribs. “It’s all right.” She waved the man away. “I told you I can manage.”
“Allowmethen.”
Lara’s attention snapped right to see Alar descending the steps toward her.
10: SPOILS OF WAR
WATCHING ALAR DRAW near, Lara tensed.
What are you up to?
She was aware that everyone present was observing their interaction.
Warmth flushed over her chest and crept up her neck. Humiliation. All her life, she’d had little privacy. It was part of being born into Albia’s ruling family, and for the most part, she’d accepted it. Her life wasn’t her own. She belonged to her subjects.
But now, she didn’t want to be the center of attention. This arrangement was demeaning enough without Alar putting on a show for them all.
Lara silently bristled as he approached. Two could play this game. She’d made him a promise, but they weren’t yet handfasted. Things could change before then, and she certainly wasn’t in any hurry to set the date. The Half-blood might come to regret looking so smug.
Stopping before her, he held out a hand. “My Queen.” A challenge glinted in those iron-grey eyes.
“Alar,” she replied coolly before taking his hand.
Like the eve before, she noted the warmth and strength in those lean fingers. Moving nearer, he helped her down from her mount before placing a solicitous hand upon her back to guide her up the steps to the broch.
The gesture was innocuous enough, yet Lara stiffened at the contact. Despite the layers of clothing she wore, she felt the heat of his palm against her spine. It was a possessive gesture. Once again, the Half-blood knew he had an audience and was playing up to it.
The urge to tell him to stand back surged up then, but she choked it down. She’d dismissed her council’s advice to make a pact with this man; there was little point in making a scene now. As High Queen, she had to give the outward appearance of dignity, even if she was seething inside.
So, she mounted the steps. The open doorway yawned before her, torchlight flickering beyond. She was vaguely aware of Bree moving to her left side, while Alar remained on her right. Glancing her warder’s way, she marked the rigid set of Bree’s jaw. She wondered then, how it must feel to see so many Shee dead. She might have even recognized some of them.
