It was in True’s turret, as True had demanded his man be close.

They did not take him to the hospital because it was a longer distance from the temple where he’d been wounded.

But regardless, they had an infirmary in the castle that rivaled any hospital, so he’d been seen to as best as they could.

It was just that nothing could be done.

It was with these heavy thoughts, and a dozen others, that he passed the nurse that sat outside the door and entered his friend’s room to see his wife indeed in a chair by his bedside, slumped down, head resting on the wing of the chair, fast asleep.

But his captain was wide awake.

“She needs her bed,” Alfie rasped.

True made his way to Alfie’s side, stopping just beyond Farah’s chair.

He looked down at her, then looked to Alfie.

“You need to rest,” he replied. “Shall I call for a sleeping draught?”

Alfie shook his head.

“Alfie—”

“Get your wife to bed, True.”

“Alfie—”

His friend’s face got hard.

“I will not make you make that decision. I would never do that to you. I will do it myself.”

True knew exactly what he was referring to, and thus bent swiftly to his friend. “We will speak of this later.”

“You claim king,” Alfie stated.

“Yes.”

“He will abdicate?”

True nodded.

“Then you must change the Soldier’s Poison, my king. Do not make the soldier ask permission from his commanding officer. Allow him to do it himself.”

“He always has that choice.”

“There is no honor in that.”

“Alfie—”

“Allow him to do it himself and have honor.”

“The point of making him ask his commanding officer is why we’re having this conversation, brother. You won’t want to ask. You won’t want to make me make that decision. And if you don’t ask, I won’t lose you. And if you don’t ask, you will have the time to learn how to live life differently.”

“You’ve already lost me.”

“I’m standing right here talking to you.”

“I’ll never stand again.”

True fought his flinch and straightened, declaring, “It is too soon.”

“It is too late.”

“You are my brother and I will speak true. To stop these thoughts and your pain, I would have taken that arrow for you, Alfie, doing it on my wedding day.”

Alfie visibly ground his teeth for he knew True did not speak false.

“Do not make me lose you,” True whispered. “I need you.”

“I’m useless.”

“Not even a little bit.”

Alfie looked away, his head ticked, then he muttered, “Hullo.”

True turned and looked down at his bride.

She was awake and watching them.

When Farah saw she had their attention, she said to Alfie, “I need you too. If you’re not around, who’s going to stop Wallace and Luther from bickering?”

To his shock, this made Alfie emit a guttural grunt of laughter before he started coughing and then taking deep breaths to handle the pain.