‘I am pleased you took a few days to think things over,’ Queen Fayre said as she moved her bishop along the chessboard. ‘It is a skill to push emotions aside when making decisions.’
Lyndal moved her castle sideways on the board and leaned back in her chair. ‘I basically lay on the floor the entire time staring at the roof.’
‘It is all right for a woman to lie on the floor sometimes—as long as she does not remain there.’ Fayre looked up from the board. ‘I imagine you have lots of questions.’
Lyndal watched her make her move. ‘Questionsandrequests.’
‘Go on.’
She moved her pawn, considering her next words carefully. ‘Firstly, there’s the matter of the almshouse in the merchant borough.’
Queen Fayre laughed lightly. ‘Yes, I have heard all about this almshouse. If you are still here at the end of the month, I shall fund the project myself.’
And just like that, Lyndal had an almshouse. It almost seemed too easy, but then she remembered what she would be giving up to get it.
‘What else?’ the queen mother asked.
The next question had been at the front of her mind for the past few days. ‘The king… is he agreeable to all this?’
Fayre looked up. ‘He trusts me.’
‘That’s not the same thing as being agreeable.’
The queen let go of her bishop. ‘He wants to live a long life without looking over his shoulder all the time. He wants to be liked by his people.’ She placed the piece down. ‘He is agreeable.’
Lyndal chewed her lip. ‘He was rather fond of Lady Kendra.’
‘Yes he was.’
When Fayre did not expand on that, Lyndal said, ‘And you sent her away.’
‘She was a distraction.’
‘She was perfect for him.’
Fayre was silent a moment. ‘It is true, she will make a wonderful wife. But what this kingdom needs is a queen.’
‘Why not Kendra?’
Fayre reached for her cup, taking a sip of water before answering. ‘I think you know why. She can only relate to one portion of the population.’
‘That’s true of me also.’
‘Yes, but you can relate to the largest portion, and more importantly, they can relate to you.’ She tapped a finger on her cup. ‘In time, you will grow accustomed to a more privileged life. Then you will be able to relate to both.’
Queen Fayre was dangling a crown in front of her, a crown she had no business reaching for. Three weeks, the queen mother had told her. Three weeks to get to know the king. Three weeks for him to get to know her. Three weeks to see if they could learn to work together and to gauge the temperature of the kingdom. All going well, Queen Fayre would announce their betrothal to the world.
Lyndal would be Queen of Chadora.
So she had spent three days making a list of everything she could do with a title like that. The almshouse was only the beginning.
‘You have more questions?’ Fayre made her next move.
‘I can barely fathom the life you’re offering, let alone think of intelligent questions.’
The queen lifted her gaze. ‘So much of that life will depend on your resilience and commitment.’
‘Commitment to your son or to the role?’
