Digging his heels in, he did not wait around to find out.
Chapter 27
The steps inside the turret were narrow and difficult to navigate. Lyndal clutched the skirt of her yellow gown, eyes moving from her feet to the light spilling in through the open door above. The dress was the most expensive thing she had ever worn, a fact that made her hands tremble and her feet miss their mark.
Roul caught her arm when her foot slipped from the step for the third time, saying nothing. He did not bother to ask if she was all right, because he already knew the answer. Lyndal had asked him to send word to Astin when she had left the queen, but no one had been able to locate him.
‘Still no news of Fletcher?’ she asked over her shoulder.
‘Not since you asked two minutes ago.’
A few more steps and she was at the top, emerging into blinding daylight and flinching at the sound of a crowd below. She blinked a few times, spotting King Borin and Queen Fayre on the wall walk ahead.
‘Come along,’ the king said, running a hand down his tunic. ‘The merchants have already gathered in the square.’
When Lyndal’s feet stopped, Queen Fayre walked over and took her arm, encouraging her forwards. ‘I will be right beside you.’
‘What are we doing up here?’
Fayre led her to the embrasure, and the moment the merchants caught sight of her, cheers erupted.
‘Some things are better experienced than explained,’ Fayre said, patting her hand before letting go. She gave the crowd a wave. ‘Smile, dear.’
Lyndal took hold of the embrasure to steady herself. ‘What is this?’
The king stepped up beside her, eyes moving over her face. ‘Goodness. You are not going to be sick, are you?’
Probably.‘Can someone please tell me what we’re doing up here?’
Borin peered around her to his mother. ‘I thought you told her.’
‘Told me what?’ Lyndal asked.
‘Mother came to me this morning and suggested we make it official,’ Borin said, looking out at the cheering crowd. He took Lyndal’s hand and placed it on his arm. The crowd responded with deafening applause.
Lyndal stared at her hand resting on the king’s twiggy arm and felt sick.
‘It begins with this moment,’ Fayre whispered into her ear. ‘Look at them. They are counting on you.’
Lyndal could barely draw breath. Her eyes went over her shoulder, searching for Astin. He was not there. Roul stood in his place, watching her with a concerned expression. She looked back at the crowd, eyes moving from face to face, searching for something or someone familiar to anchor herself, but her vision kept failing her.
The king gestured for quiet. ‘I have chosen a queen. Not only for myself but for all of you. I hear your approval loud and clear.’
Lyndal watched his mouth move, trying hard to register the words coming from it. She kept hold of his arm because she did not trust her legs.
The next few minutes passed in flashes of sight and noise. Her future had been decided without her consent—and it was too late to stop it. She looked to Fayre for confirmation of that, her head shaking in place of words.
The queen mother took hold of her spare hand, squeezing tightly. ‘You can do this,’ she mouthed.
She could do this. But did shewantto do this?
Turning back to the crowd, she took in the hope-filled faces of the merchants. They wanted this. Theyneededit.
Lyndal slowed her breathing, slowed everything. She wet her tingling lips and slowly rediscovered her ability to smile. Of course she would do this. She hadplannedto do this before the sun appeared and Astin kissed her.
That kiss had changed her, marked her. It had ruined her. Was she supposed to ignore the fact?
She looked around again. Where was he?
