Page 79 of King's Warrior

He appeared far too casual for a man normally obsessed with punctuality. Niam searched the faces of those surrounding him. Some were confused, some paying no attention, but Eoghan radiated smug satisfaction.

Niam shot to his feet and pointed at two of his guards. “Take Eoghan into custody. The rest of you guards, come with me.” He shot out of the room by the family’s private entrance, running across the courtyard, and took the stairs two at a time. Niam might be panicking over nothing and owe Eoghan an apology, but the roiling in his gut said he wasn’t wrong.

He reached the family’s floor and flew down the hall, throwing open the door to the boys’ shared rooms. Nothing. No one in thesitting area, or Quillan’s bedchamber. Niam’s heart seized when he entered Uri’s. Master Wedgeworth lay face down on the floor in a pool of blood, a sword still gripped in his fist. He’d died trying to defend his charges.

Niam kneeled and turned the man over. A gash across his throat told its tale. Niam closed his eyes, breathing out a harsh breath, and turned to the guard nearest him. “Find my sons, and to those who’ve taken them, show no mercy.”

Feet pounded from the room. Two guards remained. “Go look for the boys,” he growled.

“No, Your Majesty. We’re here to protect you.”

“What of my mother?”

“She’s confined to her room under guard,” Willem said, striding into the room. His gaze fell on Wedgeworth. “Poor man.”

Niam tore through the room for any clues, a note, anything. If he confronted Eoghan now, he’d kill the bastard with his bare hands.

His enemies chose now to attack when it might take days to reach help from the empire. “I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them all!” he raged.

“I’ll help you,” Willem said, far too calmly for the sentiment, “but for now, we need to get you to safety until we can find out who’s trustworthy.”

Niam had sent his most loyal soldiers with Rufe to keep him safe. They weren’t due back yet, to keep up the appearance of having escorted Rufe to the border. How many here weren’t loyal?

“Have Eoghan brought to my office. At once.” Niam stormed from the rooms without waiting for an answer, leaving his guards to sprint after him. If any harm came to his sons… He marched to his office, heart pounding. How dare anyone harm his children!

They’d pay for the tutor’s life, too.

Niam threw the door open and marched into his office, stopping cold at the figure behind his desk.

Whreyn sat in Niam’s chair at his great-grandfather’s desk, a glass of wine in hand. “I suppose you’re ready to talk to me now.”

Chapter Thirty

Niam stared in shocked horror at the man who’d dared to take his children. His dark beady eyes and pointed chin gave Whreyn a rat-like appearance, while his overly dyed black hair didn’t do his sallow complexion any favors. Niam glared at the guards around the wall; some smirked, others avoided eye contact. The recent deaths of loyal guards suddenly made sense. More had ridden out with Rufe. If they returned now, Whreyn would undoubtedly force them to join the coup or die.

“Guards! Disarm him!” Whreyn snapped.

A young soldier Niam had known all his life came forward, an apology in his eyes as he held out his hands for Niam’s dagger sheath. Niam reluctantly handed over his weapon.

“What do you want?” Niam growled.

Whreyn grinned. “I want many things,KingNiam.” His sneer made a mockery of the title.

“You can’t take the throne. Too many others have a stronger claim.”Not to mention my sons. If you’ve harmed them….

“Not now, at any rate. For starters, you’re to marry my niece and make her your consort. Any son she bears will be given precedence as heir.”

“What?” Whreyn had to be out of his mind. Not a soul in gossip-range would believe the woman carried Niam’s child. “I’d never do that to Quillan and Uri.”

“Oh, but you will if you ever want to see them again.” Whreyn gave a throaty laugh. “Which you will. You see, I have backing from many nobles who don’t want Delletina to whore herself to the empire. We know your plans and won’t let you follow through.”

“You don’t know my plans. Or my reasoning.” Niam had tried to tell the nobles about the dangers facing the kingdom—they saw only gold.

Whreyn called, “Bring him in.”

The door opened, and brutes hauled a beaten, bloodied Willem through the door. Tears streamed down his cheeks. One eye appeared swollen shut. He wouldn’t look at Niam.

Those bastards! “Do you think brutality is the way to rule a kingdom?”

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