The defender glanced sideways at him. ‘She wants the prisoners released. Apparently the butchers were promised a supply yesterday. Now the king is saying it’ll be at least another two weeks.’
‘Half won’t survive another two weeks.’
Thornton nodded. ‘That’s what she’s telling him. And she’sreallytelling him.’
Astin exhaled. ‘She sleep last night?’
‘Nope. She came out twice asking if I could smell smoke, and she won’t let the maid light the fire in her room.’
Astin squinted in her direction, listening.
‘They’re allowed to feel angry,’ Lyndal said, letting go of her skirt. ‘Those people are living moment to moment, and every day no meat arrives brings them another day closer to death.’
As tempting as it was to intervene, Astin knew there were no grounds for it. ‘You go,’ he told Thornton. ‘Commander Wright’s waiting for you in the training yard.’
Roul nodded, then quietly stepped out.
Queen Fayre appeared a moment later, striding towards the pair with a concerned expression. ‘What on earth is going on here? I can hear all the way inside.’
Borin turned in a circle, attempting to calm himself. ‘I will tell you what is going on. Because of you, I have a merchant telling me how to run my kingdom.’
Lyndal shook her head, her green eyes ablaze. ‘It doesn’t make sense. I’ve done the math.’
Borin jabbed a finger at her face. ‘This is not your concern.’
That was enough for Astin. He walked over to them, positioning himself in front of Lyndal. ‘Hand down, Your Majesty.’
Borin’s eyes widened, and his mouth twisted. ‘Is this a joke? I am yourking.’
‘And Lady Lyndal is the job I was assigned. My orders were to protect her as I would a queen, so hand down, Your Majesty. Then I’ll move aside.’ He kept his voice calm.
Borin sniffed and retreated to his mother’s side. Then Astin stepped back.
‘Let us all take a breath. I gather this is about this morning’s riot?’ Queen Fayre asked, looking to Lyndal.
‘We were in the farming borough just a few days ago,’ Lyndal said. ‘Every farm we visited reported higher yields and a decrease in mortality rates year on year. Yet the merchants are getting the same amount of meat as two years prior—which is none.’
The queen mother’s eyes shone with something resembling pride. ‘You really have been paying attention.’
‘It is not simple math,’ Borin snapped. ‘The needs of the merchants have to be balanced with the needs of other boroughs. The nobility require meat also.’
Lyndal stared in disbelief. ‘Yes, I know all about their needs. While the nobility are always complaining about something, I assure you it’s not the lack of meat.’
‘The farmers were supposed to deliver carcasses to the butchers yesterday,’ Fayre said to her son. ‘Why the delay?’
Borin shifted his weight and looked away, which Astin knew meant whatever came out of his mouth next would be a lie.
‘The heifers and ewes are to be kept for breeding. That is how one grows a herd.’
Lyndal blinked in confusion. ‘There must have been some males among them.’
Borin turned to his mother. ‘Do you see the lack of respect? How is this to work when she questions me so?’
Fayre placed a calming hand on his arm. ‘Lady Lyndal is still recovering from a very traumatic experience. Her mind is likely still impaired from the smoke.’ She looked to Lyndal for confirmation.
Lyndal exhaled. ‘Yes. Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’m in need of rest.’ Her tone lacked any conviction, though the dark circles enclosing her eyes did support the lie.
‘So we are done with this conversation now?’ Borin asked. ‘I am a busy man.’
