Page 24 of War King's Treasure

“A group of men fled through the gate, still firing arrows as they rode,” Con said as he yanked forward the body of a male, dropping him at the base of the steps. “Cris took ten warriors and followed. They’ll bring them back.”

“Buckingham?” Gavin asked.

“Escaped with the group during the chaos,” Con admitted, rage simmering in his gaze. “We’ll find him and see he pays for the threat to our queen.”

“This one?” Gavin glanced down at the unconscious man.

“He was part of the group who attacked. Miles was close enough to knock him from his mount. We’ll wake him and find out what he knows,” Con stated, and at Gavin’s nod, turned, and hauled away the man.

“Did Miles follow after Cris?” Theo asked.

“I’m here, my king,” Theo’s second called as he joined them.

“Bring me anyone who knows anything about what happened here,” Theo ordered Miles.

“I’m already working on it,” Miles said with a dip of his chin before he strode away, moving swiftly through the gathered men.

“That arrow wasn’t meant for Phillip,” Theo offered quietly at Gavin’s side.

“I know,” Gavin seethed.

“We’ll get them,” Theo said, giving Gavin’s shoulder a hard squeeze.

Gavin growled in agreement as he moved in the direction Con had taken. “If anything happens to Cris, Nori will be mad as hell.”

Theo laughed, pulling Gavin’s gaze his way.

“That’s what you’re thinking?” Theo asked.

“She has a soft spot for Cris,” Gavin admitted, not needing to share that he did, as well.

Cris and Con had been with him since they’d left the keep of the man who’d taken over their training and shown them what hell could be. They’d helped Gavin limp out of there, while the male who’d tortured them all lay broken and bleeding out behind them, his precious keep burning around him. Those who’d taken part in his vicious games and punishments had died that day, as well. They’d died when Theo had returned from the battle he’d been sent to and turned into the fierce bear-like warrior that had earned him his name of The Bear. His brother had taken exception to the games Gavin had been forced into. Games that had included Cris and Con and forged a bond that nothing would break.

He shoved away the memories and focused on the present. Nothing good would come from revisiting the past. There was nothing there for him. The present held everything in the gaze of the woman he’d vowed to protect at all costs. His wife. His queen. Nori.

He shoved open a door, taking the stairs down to the underbelly of Kingsley’s keep, to a rarely used dungeon where only severe punishments were meted out. This was where Gavin would get his answers.

“My king!” One of his warriors called as he led a man forward. “This one says he knows who fired the arrow.”

Gavin took in the young male. He didn’t tremble as most men would. He held his head high, shoulders back as he faced Gain and Theo, who’d stopped with him.

“What do you know?” Gavin demanded.

“The arrow came from one of the men who rode in with Robert Buckingham, War King. They were readying their horses to leave. I don’t know what Buckingham told them, but they were angry.”

“How do you know this?” Theo demanded.

“I was close by when they mounted. Everything happened quickly after that. Buckingham yelled for retribution. They all echoed the cry. Then one of them notched an arrow. He glanced back toward the keep and shot. I didn’t even realize where he aimed until I saw King Phillip go down.”

“It wasn’t Buckingham who fired?” Gavin asked.

“No,” the boy said with a shake of his head. “But his words were the purpose. They fled when the king went down. There’s no need to torture for information, War King. Those with Buckingham are no longer here. All who are left are loyal to King Phillip.”

“What’s your name?” Gavin asked.

“James, War King. James Weston.”

“What do you know of the commander at the eastern border?” Gavin asked. If Weston was surprised at Gavn’s question, he didn’t show it.

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