Page 105 of King's Warrior

Rufe passed a shrub with broken branches, turning right in the direction indicated. Vihaan fell silently into step beside him.

Rufe wiped away wetness from his face with one hand. Blood. His own or from the man he’d killed? He’d not notice any injuries until the battle-high faded. “Are you hurt?” he asked Vihaan.

“Yes.” Vihaan grinned. “But I won’t show weakness until we’ve killed the last of these cowardly bastards.”

More likely, he wouldn’t show weakness around Casseign.

Two soldiers dressed in Cormiran uniforms appeared. Vihaan lifted a hand. One soldier raised a bow.

Rufe threw himself at Vihaan, knocking him from his feet. The arrow whizzed overhead, thunking into a tree trunk.

Vihaan roared, “Traitorous mongrels!”

The two split, each fleeing in a different direction. Vihaan took off after one.

“No!” Rufe grabbed his arm. “They’re trying to separate us and lead us into an ambush.”

“How do you know?”

“It’s what I’d do. He could’ve gotten one of us. He didn't intend that shot to kill, or we would be dead. Unless the guy is incompetent.” Their own soldiers, turning on them, or possibly enemies in stolen uniforms. Rufe fully intended to use his authority as commander, even if the title was only honorary, and execute them both as soon as they were caught—and they would be caught. Still, they weren’t the priority now, so he didn't need to warn Draylon about the traitors.

Rufe had to find Niam and the princes. No, not merely princes, but his sons. Quillan and Uri were now Rufe’s sons, too, a heady enough thought to send him reeling. A thought for another time. Lots of practice allowed him to push away other concerns, narrowing in on his military training.

Where would Niam go? He couldn’t outrun mounted soldiers. There were no tracking dogs. He’d hide the boys, then hide himself. Maybe not together, but he wouldn’t let them out of his sight.

Rufe scanned the trees. Would they have climbed? No, they would have hidden on the ground. Caves and sinkholes riddled Delletina. Could Niam have found one? There was plenty of brush to allow cover. He listened, letting the breeze cool his overheated flesh.

“Vihaan, are there caves nearby?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

A fox barked in the distance. “Over there.” Rufe pointed with his sword. The fox barked a few more times, enough to point Rufe in the right direction. Something disturbed the creature but wasn’t a threat, or it would simply flee.

A flash of red fur caught his eye. Gone in an instant. One of the many gods worshipped in the empire sometimes took the form of a fox, right? Rufe had never been keen on the major religions. He should’ve paid better attention.

He could call out, but announcing his presence could bring enemies down on them. Could Niam see from his hiding place? Then Rufe noticed the marks on the ground, what appeared to be something digging. The fox? He went to his haunches, brushing away leaves and sticks to reveal a hole.

Not big enough for a man and two boys. Big enough for a boy?

“Quillan? Uri?” Nothing. “It’s Rufe and Vihaan.”

Stirring came from within. Quillan poked his head out.

Immense relief swept over Rufe. Thank the gods and goddesses!

“Is it really you? Get us out! It stinks in here,” Uri cried.

Rufe reached down, took Quillan’s hand, pulled him out, and looked him over while Vihaan retrieved Uri.

A noise from behind pulled Rufe from his crouch, sword in hand. Niam stumbled from some tangled brush, fighting to free his clothes from grasping branches. Twigs caught in his hair, making strands stick up at odd angles. His clothes were torn. Dirt and scratches marred his face.

Never had he looked more beautiful.

Rufe lifted Niam, whirling him around. “Oh, gods, Niam. I worried I’d never see you again. Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Niam wiped at damp eyes the moment Rufe set him down. “It’s you wearing the blood. Are you hurt?”

“Not mine,” Rufe replied.Probably.

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