‘They are the same thing. He is the reason the role exists at all.’
Lyndal stared at the board, contemplating her next move. ‘What ofhiscommitment? Taking a wife because you told him to is hardly a strong basis for a happy marriage.’ She took a chance and moved her king.
‘A happy marriage? Is that what you want?’
Lyndal drew a breath. ‘That’s what every woman wants.’
Queen Fayre watched her a moment. ‘I thought you wanted meaningful change in our kingdom.’
‘I do.’
Fayre moved one of her pawns. ‘Check.’
Lyndal stared at the chessboard. ‘I’ll never be as good as you.’
‘In chess or the other game you find yourself playing?’
Lyndal looked up. ‘Both.’
Queen Fayre folded her hands in her lap. ‘Give me until the end of the month. I can teach you both. I can even teach you how to handle my son. In time, and with the right woman at his side, he may grow into the man we all need him to become.’ She gestured to the board. ‘It is your turn.’
Lyndal glanced up at the heavy clouds above, then moved her knight.
Fayre moved her queen in response. ‘Checkmate.’
‘How surprising.’ Lyndal sat back, studying the massacre before her. ‘Would we grow to like each other? Is that how it works with arranged marriages?’
Fayre pondered the question. ‘It is more important that you grow to trust one another and remember that you are playing for the same side.’
Lyndal bit the inside of her cheek to stop from speaking.
‘Go on,’ the queen mother said. ‘You want to know if my husband and I were on the same side. Is that it?’
Lyndal nodded.
‘We were for a long time.’
Lyndal bit her lip, unsure how far to probe. ‘Until the day you left?’
Fayre brushed invisible lint off her sleeve, not meeting Lyndal’s eyes for the first time. ‘Oswin was headed down a dangerous path. I could not in good conscience follow him, and I could not stop him. I thought it best to quietly remove myself.’ She finally lifted her gaze. ‘I suppose you think me a terrible mother for leaving my children behind.’
Lyndal shook her head. ‘I don’t pretend to understand the workings of a monarchy, especially one in crisis.’
‘It would have been irresponsible for me to take the princes away. They are this kingdom’s future. The people needed to see them grow up here in order to trust them.’ She paused. ‘But I see now that I stayed away for too long. While I cannot change the past, I can do my best to steer Borin in a different direction than the one his father took.’
They were both silent a moment.
‘Do you really think people will accept a merchant as their queen?’ Lyndal asked.
‘You are notonlya merchant, are you? That is why this arrangement could work.’
‘But the nobility only see a merchant.’
A nod. ‘It is true that you will need to win the nobility over.’
‘I have nothing to buy them with.’
‘You can only buy their cooperation, not their loyalty.’ Fayre’s expression turned serious. ‘You will need to watch your back over these coming weeks. News will spread of the courtship. Some will be unhappy about it.’
