Page 58 of Highland Lords of War & Thunder: The Prequel

Legion fought to control the anger churning inside him. He had no choice.

“Aye, my queen, I will obey your command.”

Chapter 16

Torden’s Task

Torden and Creagan turned toward the open door as soon as they heard the door across from their chamber open.

Torden expected Legion to enter the room and tell him it was his turn. Instead, Legion walked straight past the small chamber without a glance.

Torden immediately got to his feet. Something was wrong. Legion's expression revealed little, but after all the years they had known each other, he did not need to see anger on the man's face to know it was there. It showed in the rigid set of his shoulders and the way his hands remained clenched at his sides as he strode down the hall.

Creagan came to stand beside Torden, the decanter of wine still in his hand. The amusement he'd worn since they'd entered the castle faded as they watched Legion walk away.

“Legion,” Torden called out.

He stopped but didn't turn.

Torden waited, giving him a chance to say something, anything that might explain what had happened in the queen's solar.

Legion finally looked back at them. “She wants you next.”

That was all he said before continuing down the hall.

Torden watched until he disappeared around the corner.

“It takes a lot to upset the Lord of War,” Creagan said.

Nodding, Torden agreed. “My thoughts exactly.”

Torden looked across the hall at the closed door to the queen's solar. Whatever command Eudora had given Legion, it had disturbed a man who had faced armies without flinching. He didn't particularly care for the thought of discovering what she had waiting for him.

“Go get her,” Creagan said with a slap to Torden’s shoulder.

He scowled at Creagan, then crossed the hall and entered the solar.

Eudora stood near the hearth. She looked as composed as she had when he'd left her, giving no hint of what had passed between her and Legion.

Torden closed the door behind him. “You upset Legion.”

“I gave him his command,” she said, surprised by his concern.

Torden responded with a command of his own unable to keep the deep rumble out of his voice “What did you command him to do?”

“You know I won't tell you.” Her tone turned sharp. “And do not dare command me.”

That it wasn’t a choice he had irritated him and it irritated him even more that he was left to wonder.

Eudora stared at him. “You are the Lord of Thunder. I can hear it in you and when you release it, I imagine your footfalls alone tremble the earth.”

“You have a task for me,” he said, not willing to discuss that with her.

“Legion was unwilling to admit he is the Lord of War. I expect Creagan will be the same, though what he is lord of evades me since my grandmother refused to tell me.”

“And for a good reason. Now the task, tell me, so I may be done with it.”

She walked toward the table where several parchments lay scattered, though she made no attempt to retrieve one.