Borin turned in his chair to speak. ‘We have been discussing the Solar Festival.’
‘More of a debate,’ the king said, eyes on his eldest son. ‘Borin believes it should go ahead, and I do not. Opening the farming borough will only invite trouble.’
‘That is what we have an army for,’ Borin said. ‘I really believe nothing lifts spirits quite like music and a round of gameball.’
Harlan knew the only thing that could truly lift the spirits of the merchants was food.
‘It seems my son has forgotten why the wall is there to begin with. Now he wants to open the gate and invite the merchants in.’
Borin’s lips tightened in a semi-pout. ‘I have not forgotten, and the merchants know well enough by now what happens if they break the law. The Solar Festival is a Chadorian tradition. For many, gameball is the highlight of their year. Nobility versus the beating heart of this kingdom—the merchants.’
It was the crown prince who most looked forward to the game each year. The more violent, the better, as far as his juvenile mind was concerned. The problem was ‘the beating heart of the kingdom’ was malnourished, desperate, and angry.
‘What say you, Warden?’ the king asked.
Shapur cleared his throat. ‘I think letting the merchants into the farming borough will not end well for the livestock, Your Majesty.’
‘Must it always come back to food with these people?’ Borin said, slumping back in his chair. ‘The entire kingdom is doing it tough right now.’
Harlan had an urge to shake him—hard. ‘The market has not had meat, eggs, or butter in weeks. It’s like throwing a carcass before a starved dog and telling it to stay.’
He felt his father’s glare. No one had asked for his opinion.
Borin waved a dismissive hand. ‘It is a feast. There will be food for all.’
The king looked only at Shapur now. ‘Can we do this safely? The merchants outnumber our military twenty to one.’
Borin waited for the warden’s response.
‘If they are fed, they might play nice,’ Shapur said. ‘We will need archers along the wall and hundreds on foot. Best not take chances.’
Harlan looked down. It sounded like they were preparing for war instead of a celebration.
The king ran a hand over his beard. ‘Very well. Let us pray we do not live to regret this.’
Chapter 11
Aknock on the shop door drew Blake from the warmth of her bed much earlier than she would have liked. It was barely light outside as she fought the three locks and tugged the door open, sending the bell crashing to the floor.
‘I thought you were going to fix that,’ Thea said as she entered.
Blake crossed her arms over her nightdress. ‘Everything all right?’
Her neighbour leaned closer. ‘My cousin just came to tell me she saw eggs come in from the farming borough overnight.’
‘Eggs?’ That woke her up.
‘Birtle’s already in line at the market. I suggest you go now and take extra coin. They will not be cheap.’
Blake thanked Thea and went to dress, careful not to disturb her sleeping sisters, then grabbed the coin pouch they kept hidden under a section of wood next to the hearth.
Apparently the entire borough had heard the news of the eggs, because the line was all the way down the street, and the market had not even opened yet. Blake joined the back of the queue.
Defenders strolled up and down the streets, hands resting on their weapons. But there was no fighting among the merchants. No one had the energy for it.
Blake found herself looking out for Harlan. She was doing that more and more lately. Every time the bell at the shop door sounded, she would hold her breath, expecting him to step inside. But he had not been back to the shop since the day he helped her carry the fabric from the port.
That had been six days ago.
