Page 110 of King's Warrior

The stairs seemed endless, leaving Rufe wondering where they were in the castle. When he’d reached the verge of napping on the stairs, Niam pushed open a door.

“Welcome to the temple of the Nameless Goddess,” he said, stepping out with his lantern held high.

Rufe followed into an octagonal room suitable for about one hundred worshippers, with shutter-covered windows on each wall except for one where an arched doorway stood. Mother said the Unnamed Goddess hailed from another time when the world had yet to divide into kingdoms. Ferunds chose their god of the many available. Rufe followed the God of War and the Unnamed Goddess, for as a bastard son, many felt he didn’t have the right to the name “Ferund” at all. An Unnamed Goddess for an unnamed child.

“How long has this temple been unused?” The lack of reverence for the goddess saddened him.

Niam came to stand next to Rufe while Draylon took the lantern and explored the nooks and crannies of the room. “It's used occasionally, I’m sure. Though she’s fallen from popularity, some still worship her.”

The faceless statue of a woman appeared out of the shadows from the lantern’s glow. Rufe dropped to his knees, bowing his head. No priest taught him the proper prayers, but he opened his heart and poured out his fears and hopes, asking for blessings on his union with Niam. Warmth spread through him.

When he rose, Niam leaned in and whispered, “Oh, I see.” He said nothing else and urged Rufe to follow Draylon with a hand on the small of his back.

If Draylon noticed Rufe’s prayers, he didn’t let on. Maybe he’d known all along who Rufe worshipped besides the God of War. Perhaps he didn’t, but Rufe took comfort in a goddess with few followers, as a child, thinking she’d have more time for him.

A bar sealed the front entrance inside the door, and tightly closed shutters prevented anyone outside from seeing the light. A long hallway led off the main sanctuary. In warm Cormira, the hallway would be open to the outside. Here snow through much of the seasons required changes to the original design.

They found a windowless room at the end of the hallway nearly as large as the sanctuary, with tables for eating and preparing food. Another room, though empty, might have once been an office, leaving six more doors. They found a modest, narrow bed in each, made with clean linens. Yes, Nera definitely sent the faithful or even made the beds herself, not knowing how many she might need to hide.

The beds were too narrow to fit Draylon properly, with his height and broad shoulders.

Rufe glanced from a bed to Niam. It seemed they wouldn’t be sharing tonight, not that he could do more than sleep. A noise sounded behind them, and they all spun, drawing their weapons and returning to the common area. A basket now sat on a table.

Upon closer inspection, the wall contained a sliding portal for worshippers to open and insert offerings. Glorious scents wafted from the basket. Rufe opened the lid to find bread, three bowls and spoons, a bottle of wine, and a container of stew.

They divided the offerings, sat at a table, and ate silently, passing the bottle between them until they’d emptied all the bowls and the wine. Rufe packed the dishes, returned them to the basket, and put it on the table. Tomorrow, wouldn't the worshippers be surprised to find the goddess had accepted the gifts, unaware that Nera sent a basket filled with a meal, not just assorted offerings?

Draylon lit another lantern, leaving the original for Rufe and Niam, and said, “I’m exhausted but will take the first watch if needed.” His hopeful voice suggested a preference for not being needed.

“Mother said this place is secure,” Niam replied. “You can trust in her. There’s a privy on the far side of the office.”

Draylon nodded and ambled from the room.

Rufe yawned, stretching out his back.

Niam approached from behind, enfolding Rufe in his arms. “Not what I’d imagined for your first day in your new home.”

Home. Rufe finally had a home. Not his parents’ or brother’s house, but a home he’d make with Niam. “Nothing in my life ever happens quite to plan.”

“In my mind, I’d explain our bonding to the boys, and we’d have a banquet where I’d introduce you as my consort.”

Consort. Standing before a throng of strangers, being named as someone they must obey. Well, if many soldiers had no problem obeying Rufe, what were a few thousand Delletinian citizens?

“All that matters is I’m with you, and I no longer have to wonder if I could watch you marry another.” Rufe turned in Niam’s arms, pressing their mouths together. His body tried valiantly for arousal, but immediately demanded sleep instead. He couldn’t fight another yawn.

Niam chuckled. “Tonight won’t be a repeat of the bonding night, but I do wish I could hold you.”

Hand in hand, they strode to the bedrooms to discover Draylon had placed two mattresses side by side on the floor of one.Unnamed Goddess, bless Draylon.

Rufe rolled over, wrapping himself around Niam. Somewhere outside, roosters crowed. Morning. The gravity of their situation hit. So much to do and think of to keep his family safe.

His family. He kissed the back of Niam’s neck, taking a moment to enjoy holding his man. If only they could stay in bed forever. No use putting off the inevitable. Rufe rose to start the day, promising he’d take care of his morning erection needs later, and stumbledthrough the darkened hallways to the kitchen, where sunlight peeked in through the shutters.

The table once more yielded a basket of food: boiled eggs, fruit, bread, and cheese, along with a carafe of milk, though different from the cow’s milk he usually drank. Sheep, perhaps? He’d broken his fast with worse.

Draylon joined him at the table, quietly helping himself to the repast. “I expected to be awakened in the night. It’s morning now, and we have no time to waste.”

Pounding came from down the hallway. Rufe charged to the sanctuary, the thudding of Draylon’s boots behind him.

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