Page 56 of King's Warrior

Niam lifted onto his toes and dropped a chaste kiss on Rufe’s cheek. “The king’s warrior. Those other things don’t matter to me.”

“They do to your people. What of your sons? I am with you and will do anything to help you.”I love you. No time to ponder the implications now.“But you are king, cousin to the Renvallian consort. You can, and should, do better than me.”

Fire flashed in Niam’s eyes. “So, you’d sit by and watch me make a political match with another?”

“I will do what you need me to, even if my wants and needs don’t match.” Though Rufe’s heart might break in the process.

“You more than anyone should know what it’s like to have your whole world dictated by your birth.” Niam winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that as harshly as it may have sounded. I married my former wife for heirs, and now I have them, yet the demands haven’t ended. Whreyn thinks I rule the people when, in fact, they rule me.” He buried his face in his hands.

The weight on poor Niam pressed down, a nearly tangible thing bowing his shoulders. He’d become king young, losing the benefit of more seasons to learn from his father. Reports and firsthand knowledge spoke of a competent monarch who truly cared for his subjects, making decisions for the good of all.

He’d picked the shrewdest advisors he could find and listened to their ideas. But the crown weighed heavily upon his head, a burden he bore alone, without a partner on the throne next to him. Niam should choose someone worthy to ease the load—anyone but Whreyn’s pick.

Draylon would be lost without his consort, just as Yarif would be without Dray. Together, they formed a bond and ruled Renvalle successfully.

“Yes,” Rufe finally answered, though the words tore his heart out.

A furrow formed between Niam’s eyebrows. “Yes, what?”

Rufe pulled in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Anything to buy himself time. He might be a selfish sonofabitch who wanted Niam all to himself, but he couldn’t compete with the obligations of a king. One day soon, Draylon or Avestan might recall Rufe. Then where would he be?

Rufe couldn’t bear to look at Niam when he said, “Yes, I’d watch you marry another, support you in any way possible. You need a consort.”

Even if it can’t be me.

Rufe didn’t mind Niam’s office with only the two of them, but adding Zanial, Willem, and an endless succession of Lord So-and-Sos, not so much.

“What of the country’s borders?” the onerous old toad currently speaking asked.

“What of the borders?” Rufe asked, fearing the answer he’d get.

“Herix claimed the region of Allafair for their own three generations ago, expanding their territory. I demand they return the land they stole if the empire hopes to bargain with us.”

Rufe shot a raised eyebrow in inquiry at Niam.

“TheyretookAllafair, which had been taken from them a generation prior,” Niam clarified, remarkably keeping the boredom from his tone for the sixth, or possibly seventh, lord making ridiculous demands. All on the day after their return.

“Is Allafair of strategic importance?” Militarily speaking, it might be helpful as a buffer zone between Herix and Delletina, though the need would be moot if Delletina became part of the empire.

Niam shook his head. “No.”

“Are there villages? Delletinians taken by Herix?” In matters of human lives, the empire would intervene.

“No,” Niam and Lord Toad said as one.

“Farmland? Wildlife?”

“Nothing can live there. It’s mostly ice through every season.” Niam pointed to the area on the map, defined by what appeared to be multiple layers of ink from shifting borders.

Fighting over uninhabitable terrain? “Not to be indelicate, but why are you so adamant about useless land?”

Lord Toad drew back as though Rufe had slapped him. “It’s the principle of the thing. The land is ours, and we want what’s ours.”

Rufe palmed his face. “No one lives there. Nothing is there, so how do you even know Herix claimed that piece of earth?”

“Rumor has it they planted a flag bearing their colors!” The man’s face purpled.

Starving people, villages sinking, and this man demanded a worthless piece of earth on principle? “I’ll add it to the list of demands for the emperor.”And listen to him laugh.

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