Page 25 of War King's Treasure

“I hear Rowan York is a just man. Both feared and revered, depending on those you question. I hope to fight under him some day. He rarely travels from the east, though, so I’ll need to wait until King Phillip allows me to go there.”

Gavin understood why Phillip had sent Rory’s father to the opposite side of the country from where he’d delivered his niece and her mother. A place where Gavin knew the occasional raid still took place. Rowan York would have been kept busy at the border. He wondered what lie Phillip had told him to make him never turn his eyes westward.

“Does he have any family?”

Weston shook his head. “None that I know of. Some say he had a brother who was killed in battle, but York is bastard born. Same as me.”

“Well, if things don’t work out with York, let me know,” Gavin offered. “A man should never be judged by what side of the sheets he was conceived on.”

“Thank you, War King.” The boy looked at Gavin with a bit of awe, and Gavin dismissed him with a nod.

“That boy would be eaten alive in the Dread Lands,” Theo warned.

“Some would have said that about us, once upon a time,” Gavin reminded his brother. “The boy’s honest and willing to speak up when others would hold their tongues. It’s commendable.”

“Mmm,” was all Theo offered.

Chapter Eleven

Nori held herself tightly together as the healer worked on her grandfather. Rory had come in moment ago, and the other woman had crossed silently to her side, worry etched on her face as she linked her fingers with Nori’s. With Phillip’s soldiers and the five warriors Gavin had sent with Nori, the room was beyond crowded.

“I’ve cleaned and sutured the wound,” the healer said as she stood.

“He’s okay?” Nori whispered, not wanting to awaken her grandfather who’d drifted off shortly after the older woman had arrived and given him a drink laced with something to help with the pain.

“I’ve done all I can. If he catches a fever or infection sets in…” The woman shook her head. “It’s in the gods’ hands now.” She hefted the bowl of bloodied water and headed toward the door.

Nori didn’t see who ushered out the woman. She moved closer to the bed, taking the chair the woman had vacated and leaning in to rest her head by her grandfather’s.

“You saved my life,” she whispered, knowing the arrow had been meant for her. If Gavin hadn’t tugged her to him at that moment. If her grandfather hadn’t turned when he did. It would be her lying there.

“We’ll keep vigil on your king,” Rory said behind her. Nori glanced back and saw her point at one of the men who’d helped carry Phillip above stairs. “You may stay. The rest of you will guard the door from the corridor.”

None of them argued, not even to challenge the fact the five warriors from the Dread Lands were staying inside. They simply bowed to their unconscious king and filed out of the room, the last one tugging the door closed behind him.

“Don’t think taking an arrow will save you from sharing more about my parents,” Nori warned the too still figure before her. “There’s so much I want to know. Things only you can tell me.”

The door opened behind her, and she knew who was there before he even spoke. She felt it in the way her body relaxed as if his mere presence would make everything okay. Then he was at her side, lifting her to take her place in the chair then setting her on his lap. She wrapped around him, burying her face in his neck as she finally gave way to the tears she’d held inside. He spoke, but her sobs kept her from hearing what he said. All she knew was that he was there, holding her, protecting her. His arms were tight around her, fingers brushing through her hair as she cried until she felt empty.

“I don’t want to lose him.”

“I know,” he said, not giving any false promises.

She forced her gaze up to his. “Was it Robert?”

He nodded, hand cupping her face. “He may not have fired the arrow, but he was definitely behind it. He’ll never get the chance to touch you again.”

“Once word spreads of what he’s done to my grandfather, there will be nowhere he can hide,” she vowed. She was sure even his father wouldn’t try to hide him.

“Cris took a group of warriors and went after him. They’ll bring him back here for justice.”

She nodded at Gavin’s words, throwing up a silent prayer for Cris and the others. Robert had proven beyond a doubt that he wasn’t a man of honor. If Cris were hurt…

“He’ll be fine,” Gavin said, pulling her gaze back to him.

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

“Your worry is easy to read and unnecessary. Cris is no mere soldier. He’s a warrior.”

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