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N iam 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, King Niam.” 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?”

“It’s working for me so far. You’ll also agree to whatever I say to keep your dear, sweet mother safe.”

Mother! “Where is my mother?”

The formerly smug guards averted their gazes. Even if they disrespected Niam, they still respected Mother.

Whreyn poured himself another glass of wine. “Oh, she’s safe. For now.”

A guard ran in, approaching the desk without waiting for an invitation. She whispered into Whreyn’s ear.

His face clouded. He growled, “Well then, find her!”

Ah, so Mother had escaped. Good for her.

Whreyn attempted to get his arrogant control back in order. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide. Don’t try to find the boys. They aren’t here.” To the guards, he said, “Take him to his rooms. Keep him under guard. He’s to go nowhere alone.”

Twenty-four hours. Niam had twenty-four hours to form a plan. If only Rufe were here.

Rufe.

Niam allowed the soldiers to take him from his office and to his rooms. One guard entered with him.

“There’s no need to stay with me. I obviously can’t escape,” Niam growled.

The guard drew close and murmured, “Whreyn offered us a choice of death or serving him. His henchmen threatened our families as well.” He glowered. “They killed any soldiers who wouldn’t comply, but know this. Just because we chose life doesn’t mean we don’t choose you.”

Dare Niam trust this man? “There are loyal soldiers due to return after escorting Commander Rufe to the border. We must warn them.”

The guard nodded. “It will be done.” His eyes turned pleading. “Please don’t give them a reason to hurt you.”

Like they did Willem? Poor Willem. Niam didn’t answer. What had Willem told them? Had he mentioned Rufe? “Do you know where my mother is?”

“No, but I’ll find out if I can. The two guards assigned to your door are Whreyn’s men, so beware. Right now, they need you because the people won’t follow Whreyn. As soon as he no longer needs you…”

“Because my sons and I are out of the way, and his niece supposedly carries my child, making dear Uncle Whreyn regent.” Which seemed the likeliest scenario.

“I don’t know. I’m a simple soldier. But please. Many of us believe in you.” The soldier pressed something into Niam’s hand. “I believe these belong to you.” Niam’s sheath and the dagger Rufe gave him.

The guard turned to leave.

Niam stopped him. “One more thing.”

The guard peered over his shoulder. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

Niam kept his voice calm despite his seething rage. “Please check on poor Willem. He didn’t deserve to be beaten.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Niam stared out the windows toward Renvalle. Please let Rufe be safe.

The door opened and closed. The lock clicked. Trapped.

Thank all the deities! Whreyn apparently didn’t know about the warren of tunnels hidden inside the castle walls.

Mother did.

Niam dragged a trunk to the door, blocking the entrance. It might not slow the guards down for long, but might buy him some time. He dashed into his bedchamber and paused, briefly visualizing an image of Rufe lying naked on his sheets. No time for fantasy now .

He formed a rope of the bedcovers, tied one end to the bed, and dangled the other out of the open window.

A little misdirection never hurt. Niam lifted a brick by the hearth, pressed his foot against the hidden lever, and then returned the brick.

A seldom-used panel by the hearth swung open to reveal darkness.

He reached inside, removed a lantern, used a burning twig from the fire to light the wick, and entered the hidden passageway. A quick hip bump closed the door. Stale air filled his lungs, and dust hung thick. He retrieved a sword kept by the door and secured the sheath and dagger into place.

Where would Mother go if faced with a foe? If she’d escaped, the soldiers would watch the stables. The children. She’d look for the children.

Niam followed the cobwebbed passageway to Uri’s room, lowering himself to study the floor. No footprints. He peered through the peephole. No one. No sounds either.

He aimed the lantern toward Quillan’s room. Footsteps appeared about halfway there, leading to the hidden peephole in the wall of Quillan’s antechamber. Niam drew his dagger, his sword being useless in such tight quarters.

Mother stood in the passageway, face a pale white. She’d dressed in trousers and a tunic, hair tied at her nape. “They’re gone,” she said. “Captain Casseign defied his commander and rescued me, but we arrived too late.”

“Where is Cass now?”

“Making arrangements to get you away from here.”

No! “Do you know where they went? ”

“A group of riders headed north an hour ago, traveling fast.”

North. To Whreyn’s home? “Whreyn is behind this.”

Mother nodded, scrubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands. “That’s what I figured.”

“He wants me to marry his niece, denounce my sons as heirs, and name any son I have with her as my successor.” Niam clenched his fists. Never!

Mother snorted. “Any child you have with her will probably be Whreyn’s. He and his niece don’t have a conventional relationship.”

Which added another layer of evil to Whreyn’s plans, taking his brother’s daughter for his mistress. “We have to get the boys.”

“They’re safe for now.” Mother sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than Niam. “As long as you and the boys live, the people will never accept Whreyn or anyone else.”

Please let her words be true. “The missing and dead soldiers. Their loyalty to me caused their deaths. Some swore fealty to Whreyn to protect themselves and their loved ones, but are also loyal.”

Mother straightened to her full height, a touch of steel in her voice. “I think he vastly underestimates how much the people love you.”

“We must act.”

“I know.” Mother rolled back her head and stretched her neck from side to side until Niam heard an audible pop. “Whreyn is in bed with Craice. They’ve wanted a war with the empire, thinking they’ll win.” Her grin wasn’t friendly and reminded Niam of what an effective consort she’d been.

“What are you saying?”

“I say they should be careful what they wish for.”

“They’ll be watching the stables.”

This time, Mother’s sinister grin held humor. “Then we won’t go there.” She lifted her own lantern from the floor. “Come. I believe you’re about to take a trip. Extinguish your lantern. We might need to conserve oil.”

Niam snuffed his lantern and followed his mother down a set of stairs he’d not taken since playing there as a child.

She turned a corner, taking a route he’d never traveled before.

More stairs followed. He tried to track their movements and determine where in the castle they were before realizing they’d left the castle and were now in natural caverns within the mountain.

The air in the caverns kept a consistent, though cool, temperature.

A breeze brushed his face. They must be near an exit.

They stopped near what appeared at first glance to be a pile of rocks, but turned out to be cloaks, hats, and gloves and donned the warm garments.

Who had helped Mother arrange all this? Cass?

“Watch your step,” Mother cautioned, stepping from the cave mouth onto a narrow ledge. She wended her way along the track, unperturbed at the treacherous footing.

Lights shone from windows above them, some from the castle itself. Niam had many questions, but they’d all have to wait for later .

Nickering came from somewhere ahead. Rather than slow, Mother picked up speed. Eyes glittered in the lantern light. Two mules waited, one saddled, one laden with packs. A smaller mule stood off to the side, ridden by a somewhat anxious-looking Willem.

“You had a plan?” Niam couldn’t help but ask his mother.

“Darling, I always have a plan.” She patted his cheek, then watched Niam mount the saddled mule. “Go to your cousin in Renvalle. He’ll help you.”

“But what of Delletina?”

Mother gave a predatory smile capable of treeing a bear.

“I’ve often acted in your stead while you were away.

I’ll do so again, ensuring I’m always protected.

Whreyn will never get to me. He might have a following, but so, my son, do we.

With you away, they can’t carry out their plans for a forced marriage, and your sons remain your heirs.

” Mother shrugged, her tone turning nearly gleeful.

“Plus, wondering where you are will surely cause them sleepless nights.”

“But Quillan! Uri!” If any harm came to Niam’s sons… Their sweet faces filled his mind. He’d failed to protect them, and now they were gone.

“Killing them would not go well for Whreyn, and I’ll ensure everyone who listens knows who’s taken them.

I’ll also put a bounty on the heads of any guards who betrayed them.

We’ve tried to rule through respect, not fear, but sometimes you must make an example in times of war.

” A sinister smile crossed her face, one she seldom used, but that presaged danger when she did.

“It might also be to our advantage if you were suddenly to procure a noble spouse. Perhaps a Cormiran one. Getting the emperor’s blessing wouldn’t hurt either.

Now go.” She took his hand and placed a kiss on his fingers. “I love you, son. We’ll get them back.”

Niam took in poor Willem, his bruised face, the emptiness of his eyes. “Willem. As glad as I am to see you, are you sure you’re well enough for this trip?”

“Captain Casseign assures me this is the safest place for me.”

A figure approached from the darkness. Shrouded in a black cloak and mounted on a black mule, he appeared as a shadow. “King Niam.”

Niam recognized the low, melodic voice. “Captain Casseign.”

Casseign nodded, clapping an arm across his chest, over his heart, then wincing. “Your Majesty, I am so sorry I couldn’t save the boys. I heard word of a threat to your mother’s life… My commander tried to detain me, but…” No mistaking the blood matting his hair.

“Are you all right?”

Casseign’s smile appeared grim. “As long as I can protect your family, I will be. I’m afraid I might have a price on my head, though, for desertion.”

“You’ve deserted no one. You are loyal to your king.”

“I have a unit of the best soldiers Delletina offers, all devoted to you. We will see you safely on your journey.”

Tight bands of worry eased from Niam’s chest. “I appreciate your help, Captain. ”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” Casseign turned his mount and started down the path. “Stay close to me, Your Majesty. You too, Willem. You’re not used to the pace we’ll keep. Please inform me if you find yourself in distress.”

Niam didn’t notice the other riders until he started down the track. Silent shapes fell in around him, some leading, some following. Judging by the position of the moon and the stars, they headed directly toward Renvalle.

Beyond lay Cormira.

And Rufe.