Page 24 of King's Warrior

“Who are your guests, Niam?” Whreyn asked.

Niam wanted to slap the smugness from his tone. Casseign beat him to the reprimand with a vicious shake to one shoulder. “Address His Majesty with respect.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.” Whreyn kept the sneer in his voice to a minimum.

Niam answered a question with a question, based on reports from his spies. “Right now, you have guests at your manor. Tell me, who are they?”

The surprise on Whreyn’s face lasted a mere moment before being schooled into the usual smirk. “No one you’d know. And point taken. I take it you don’t want your visitors’ presence known.”

Niam had once visited the ocean and witnessed a fisherman land a powerful sea creature with rows of sharp teeth. The creature had nothing on Whreyn’s grin.

Enough was enough. Niam tried for his most authoritative tone. “I’m not marrying your niece, and if you say one thing more, I’ll postpone my departure for the capital and visit your home instead.Think your wife and mistress will mind? How is dear Agatha… and your wife? Do either of them know how close you are to your niece?”

Whreyn paled and increased his step, returning to the safety of the office. He never visited the privy.

The office cleared, Casseign escorted Whreyn and the other nobles from the keep, and Niam summoned his secretary. “Willem, I believe today's visit was a ruse, and Whreyn has some nefarious purpose.”

“When doesn’t he, Your Majesty?” Willem replied.

“I know you have your sources, and keep meticulous records. Look into Whreyn’s properties. I also want you to investigate his finances. His father left him a modest fortune, but lately, he’s been flashing around wealth. Where did it come from? Is there anything I can use against him if I must?”

Willem snorted. “I won’t have to look far for that.”

Only in private would Niam allow such insolence, but Willem portrayed the utmost respect when others were present. With all the lying, simpering courtiers Niam dealt with daily, Willem’s tendency to speak his mind—at least in private—proved refreshing. And useful. “Idon’t trust him.”

“Anyone with any intelligence doesn’t, Your Majesty. Trust me, if Whreyn is hiding anything, I’ll find it.” Willem bowed and left the room.

Next, he summoned Casseign. “Follow Whreyn at a distance. He took the bait and all but admitted he entertains individuals at his estate he doesn’t want named. I want to know if those are foreign visitors. Particularly any Cormirans who might have been involved with Illa Trandores or, goddess forbid, Craicians.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even with such assurances and his best people investigating, a knot formed in the pit of Niam’s stomach.

Dinner was a quiet affair with Draylon, Yarif, Niam, Rufe, and Mother, now that Niam’s guests had recovered enough to gather in the dining room. Once the servants left the room, Mother said, “I have reprimanded Bert for his indiscretion. It seems he wasn’t as tight-lipped with Whreyn as instructed.”

Bert? Niam should’ve known. The boy had always been gullible, and a few flattering words likely made him spill any secrets. Perhaps it was time to return him to his mother, as he didn’t appear to have taken Niam’s earlier warnings to heart. He’d never learn the healer's trade to any level of competence. He lacked ambition, skill, and now, apparently, discretion.

“What indiscretion?” Yarif looked up from his roasted chicken. Poor thing. He still needed to put on a few pounds, though his cheeks no longer appeared hollow.

“It seems Lord Whreyn turned on the charm and wheedled from Bert that we had guests staying at the keep. Since we didn’t return to the capital as expected, Whreyn knew they must be important. He only requested an urgent meeting to discover who we entertained so secretly.” Mother’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I’d hoped to keep your presence a secret.”

Niam should’ve known better than to hold the meeting under the circumstances, but canceling would have further piqued Whreyn's interest. “He always has been the meddling sort. When he returned to our negotiations, he began trying to manipulate me, even though he only suspects your identities.” Niam picked at his meal, shifting in his chair. After a while, he put down his fork and addressed Rufe and Draylon. “While I often call the man a fool, he’s far too insightful for his own good. A man obviously occupied Yarif’s room, and no one but the royal family stays on the upper floors. Even if he hasn’t pieced together who Yarif is, I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time.”

“He knows,” Yarif said, voice small.

“Why? What do you mean?” Niam demanded.

“When Illa abducted me, she kept saying she was going to ‘wren.’ I believe Lord Whreyn might be who she meant.”

Niam’s breath caught in his throat. Had Whreyn stooped so low as to include himself in anassassination plot?

“Then we must be ready to leave,” Draylon replied, staring intently at his consort. “Whatever his purpose, he won’t have you.”

“Agreed.” As much as it pained him to part with his cousin, Niam gave a curt nod. “In addition to his insightfulness, Whreyn also possesses a wagging tongue. We didn’t discuss the matter afterward, as I refused and subtly hinted at sanctions. I only hope he heeds my warnings.” The last thing he needed was wagging tongues at court.

“Why does he oppose you?” Rufe asked.

Niam glanced at Rufe, then willed his gaze away. So much temptation right across the table. Now wasn’t the time. With great effort, Niam pulled his attention away from his lover. “Some nobles enjoy their power and fear if we ever come under the empire’s rule, they’ll lose the advantage of being a tall tree in a small forest. They simply cannot tolerate sharing a larger forest with other taller trees, if you get my meaning.”

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