Lyndal said nothing as she took her next turn.
‘The problem with these kinds of arrangements,’ the queen mother continued, ‘is that they are difficult to end.’ She moved her bishop. ‘I think my son believed it would win him a new friend, but it seems he has forgotten that it is Edward’s mother and her lover who control England at this point—and they are not looking for new friends.’ Fayre leaned back, regarding her. ‘Do you know any kingdom or country that could survive on forty head of cattle right now?’
Lyndal shook her head.
‘Exactly. The moment this kingdom changed its name, raised its banners, built an army, and dismissed their god, we became the enemy.’
‘That’s a lot of enemies at once,’ Lyndal said, moving her castle to the far end of the board.
Fayre watched her. ‘Yourself included. It seems he knows about your little affair.’
‘Yes. I think it’s safe to say the charade is over. Mistakes have been made on both sides, and there’s no coming back from them now.’ Lyndal moved her knight, then sat back.
‘And yet we must,’ Fayre said, taking her move.
Lyndal stared at the chessboard. ‘Your son held a knife to my throat.’ She moved her bishop.
‘Which saddens me enormously. I take that as my own personal failure.’ She used her castle to take out one of Lyndal’s pawns.
‘Surely you’ve figured out by now that your eldest son is not fit to rule. Every merchant knows it, every farmer, every noble. And now King Edward knows it too.’
The queen took another piece from the board and looked up. ‘There are English troops waiting north of the wall. I do not believe for one moment they are here to collect a few head of cattle.’
‘Then why are they here?’
Fayre took her turn before replying. ‘They are here to take Chadora.’
Lyndal swallowed. ‘Will they succeed?’
‘Check,’ Fayre said, placing her knight near Lyndal’s king. ‘We have a strong army.’
‘An army that’s outnumbered.’ Lyndal’s eyes were on the board. ‘An unfortunate time for King Borin to be out of favour with his people, because their arrival feels strangely like liberation.’ She reached for her castle, paused, then moved one of her pawns. ‘Checkmate.’
The queen’s gaze fell to the board, her eyes widening slightly. After a long moment of silence, she sat back. ‘Well, look who finally learned how to win.’
Lyndal waited to see what her next move off the board would be.
‘I want you to manage the merchants for me,’ Fayre said. ‘We need them onside for this fight.’
Fury flickered inside Lyndal. ‘You want me to pacify them until you have the capacity to crush them?’
‘I want you to keep the peace until we have the resources to work through this.’
Lyndal pressed her teeth together. ‘You had the resources. Your son sold them beyond the wall.’
Fayre fell silent again. ‘I really admire and respect you, which is why it pains me to force your hand.’
‘But you’ll do it anyway.’ She brought a hand up to her neck. ‘Let me guess. If I play by your new rules, you’ll let Astin live.’
‘I cannot even promise that now. He attacked the king.’
‘Who had a knife to my throat.’ She saw Fayre swallow. ‘Tell me. What is it you want me to do?’
Fayre tapped a finger on the table. ‘Right now I need you ready to deal with the merchants when the time comes. I need the news of England’s troops contained. If the merchants realise our army is fighting elsewhere, they may take advantage of the situation. And I most definitely need you to stay away from the tower. So I am afraid I must confine you to your quarters in the interim.’
Lyndal’s foot bounced under the table as her mind worked. ‘I see. Well, I have a request also.’
‘Go on.’
