Page 19 of King's Warrior

Well, he wasn’t alone now. Niam answered honestly. “I take lovers occasionally, but I must be careful, or ambitious mothers will start scheming.” His last lover had scarcely left the bed before demanding Niam grant him a title. One enterprising woman tried repeatedly to trap him in a compromising situation, though he’d never touched her. Each such experience wounded him more. Wasn’t he good enough as Niam the man, not Niam the king? Best to guard his heart and reputation. Loneliness beat an arranged marriage to someone he could never love.

Yarif chuckled, pulling Niam from dark thoughts. “Yes, you wouldn’t want some social climbers throwing daughters your way.”

Niam managed a laugh for the sake of his young cousin, who shouldn’t be burdened with Niam’s issues. If he wanted to be honest… “It’s not only daughters I have to worry about.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.Oh.So no, I’m not lonely. Soon I hope to have a dear friend,” — he coughed “cousin,” into his fist — “to visit.” Niam’s voice took on a wistful quality. “It’s been so long since I’ve been out of the kingdom. I’d like to see all the empire's territories, to once more view the oceans from flat land instead of a cliff. Maybe reconnect with our other cousins. Have you seen any of them?”

Yarif shook his head. “Sadly, no. Once Mother died, Father cut all ties with her family. Not by any dramatic act. He just simply stopped inviting them or accepting invitations.”

“I see. He not only cut ties with family, but potential allies. Do you know the first step if you wish to control someone?” A lesson Niam learned the hard way from a former advisor.

“No.”

“You cut them off from anyone who might intervene, anyone the person listens to.” Niam fought not to growl. Yarif didn’t need to know of the treachery of Niam’s former mentor. "The controller deprives the victim of loving guidance and then manipulates the victim until he or she becomes a puppet."

Yarif scrunched his brow, head tipped to the side. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I wonder if your dear emperor had a hand in your father’s fate. I’m told your father hadn’t gone to court in thepast few years. If King Lleval conspired with another in his scheme, the idea didn’t come from me.”

The shock on Draylon’s face spoke volumes. “Yarif, you said your father didn’t include you in any plans.”

“No, he didn’t. So, if this is true, I’d no way to know about it.”

How awful not to trust anyone. Then again, how many people did Niam truly put faith in?

He hid his balled fist in the fold of his tunic. “Unlike King Lleval, I keep up with gossip. I’m also not afraid to admit freely that I have spies in other lands.” He shrugged. “Most, I call uncles, aunts, and cousins, but you get the idea. I also know the emperor has spies in Delletina. Perhaps in my household.

“But let us not talk of such things now, cousin.” Niam crossed an ankle over his knee in a very un-regal pose. “I’d like to hear about you. I understand you’ve recently wed….”

Niam sat before the fire in Rufe’s room, a small table between them, mulling over his meeting with his cousin and Draylon and laying the groundwork for future dealings. They were both known to Rufe. While Niam could use this time to glean information, he’d rather simply enjoy the man’s company.

Niam moved his piece on the gameboard with a smile. “You were telling me about the battle in Renvalle.”

Rufe ran a hand over his newly shaven chin, studying the board. He’d been beautiful while unkempt, in a rugged way. Cleaned up? Absolutely stunning. “The Renvallian military wasn’t equipped to deal with Cormiran troops. The battle ended quickly.”

“The king and his heir?” Many men would gloat over defeating a king. Rufe didn’t.

“The king hid behind his people. At least his heir fought with honor.”

“Did you defeat them personally?” Maybe Niam would be better off not knowing, but something twisted in his mind demanded to know who killed Yarif’s kin.

Rufe shook his head. “I wasn’t there at the time.”

“I see.”

“I encountered Yarif later, determined to protect his younger siblings.” Rufe grinned. “There he was, a little princeling with what most soldiers wouldn’t class as a sword. He kept them at bay. I’ve got to admit, he impressed me.”

An image came to mind of how Yarif must’ve appeared before torture cast shadows on his features. “Yet, he was forced into a marriage with the emperor’s son.”

Rufe’s smile fell. “Yes. I attended. Even then, I saw the advantages of the match. Yarif had the people’s hearts. Draylon had the wherewithal to maintain peace. Yarif knew how to run the kingdom. It was also the best way to protect Yarif’s younger brother and sister. The emperor would have taken them away.”

“Most of my people view Cormirans as brutes.” For good reason, if the emperor used children against their families.

Rufe glanced up then. “Draylon wouldn’t have hurt him. I knew that. And I doubt Yarif would have let him. Like I said, I think they’re well-matched. You didn’t see him, Ned. Draylon was a man possessed. He’d stop at nothing to get Yarif back. Then to see what Illa did.”

What would Rufe say if prodded to reveal more of Draylon and Yarif’s personal lives? “I’ve seen them together. They genuinely seem to care for each other.”

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