Page 71 of King's Warrior

The coldness of the floor on his bare feet kept Rufe alert. Niam had lapsed into soft snores by the time Rufe returned to bed. He brushed copper curls away from Niam’s face, watching him in the low light.

Yes, he’d keep his love in his heart, for now, and forever, and do whatever he could to see Niam happy.

Even if the self-sacrifice left Rufe a broken man.

Chapter Twenty-six

The next few days became lessons in frustration, the universe contriving to keep Rufe away from Niam because of meetings, soldiers, a suspicious advisor, or other duties. He’d yet to meet Casseign’s commander, but he likely mistrusted Rufe, too.

By day, Rufe discussed the finer points of an alliance with the empire to a room full of skeptical nobles, and by night, he lay in his bed, wishing he could go to Niam if they weren’t both under watch.

A shadow followed him wherever he went, but not a very good one, for Rufe spotted the man every time.

He wanted to befriend Niam’s boys and get to know them, but what official reason could he offer, especially now that he was under watch and could only engage in polite conversation with Nera during dinners if permitted to sit near her?

Even though he’d defended the boys and returned to describe the attackers, the locals still regarded Rufe suspiciously. Whispers even reached his ears of his true identity as a military man, which added to the suspicion for some, but might appease others who believed he’d come to help Niam.

And still Whreyn had done nothing outright to be arrested for. Nothing that could be proven. Former Emperor Soland wouldn’t have waited for a reason. Niam wasn’t Soland, thank the goddess.

When not in meetings, Rufe wandered the grounds under a guard’s watchful eyes, of course, and per Rufe’s suggestion, the access tunnel of Niam’s rooms now had guards too. At least with the guard present, the shadowy spy made himself scarce. A very young spy, judging by the mere spattering of peach fuzz on his cheeks and the awkward way he held himself. And his total ineptness at espionage.

Rufe felt isolated enough to consider cornering the spy simply for conversation. Lonely. Not even able to fulfill his sworn duty to protect Niam. He missed Vihaan. Rufe did what he could to investigate potential threats and look into the missing and dead soldiers, though Cass had better access there.

Useless wasn’t a pleasant way to feel. Rufe borrowed a book from the massive library and strolled into the gardens. Maybe reading the history of Niam’s ancestors might provide insight. The guard likely couldn’t read, many soldiers couldn’t, but if he could, he didn’t remark on Rufe reading a book written in Delletinian.

Wrapped in his cloak on his favorite bench in the garden, engrossed in reading, Rufe didn’t notice anyone approaching until someone cleared their throat, at which point he reached for an absent sword.

Uri stood before him, no bodyguards visible.

“Uri! What are you doing out here without your guards?” Rufe asked in Delletinian.

“I saw you sitting out here and wanted to talk. I slipped out a window.” Uri answered in flawless Cormiran, a remarkable achievement given Delletina's isolation from the empire, which made finding good tutors difficult.

“You must be freezing!” Rufe rose, slipped from his cloak, and draped the massive garment over Uri’s shoulders. “Promise me you’ll not do something so dangerous again. It’s not safe.” He resumed his place on the bench.

Uri shrugged one shoulder. “I’m safe with you.” A statement, not a question.

Rufe motioned his guard over. The man dutifully put himself closer to the prince. Now no one could say the boy wasn’t supervised. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Uri sat. “Papa says you’re a dipo…dip…”

“Diplomat?”

“Yes.” Uri gave a decisive nod. “Dipomat.”

“I am.”

“I heard my guards talking. They said you’re a soldier and you’ve killed a lot of men.”

The chills passing over Rufe weren’t necessarily from the cold. How could he explain to a child who shouldn’t hear tales of carnage? He’d not had much experience with children since being a child himself. “Yes, I served with the Cormiran Empire forces until the emperor asked me to negotiate a treaty with Delletina.”

“My guard said the emperor was a greedy old man who’d kill us all.”

“Uri!” Rufe would have words with guards who spoke so carelessly around a child. “Many considered the old emperor a hard man, but he wouldn’t have killed all Delletinians.” Rufe wouldn’t mention how Soland killed Yarif’s father, brother, and countless Renvallians. “However, Emperor Soland is dead. His son, Emperor Avestan Aravaid, now rules in his stead. Emperor Avestan is a kind and honorable man who wishes to establish a good relationship with Delletina and her people.”

“Truthfully?” Hope chased back the shadows on Uri’s face. Too many shadows for such a young boy.

Rufe gave a decisive nod. “Yes. I’ve known the new emperor for a long time, and he’s nothing like his father.”

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