Defender of Hearts by Tanya Bird

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 she want to do this?

Turning back to the crowd, she took in the hope-filled faces of the merchants. They wanted this. They needed it.

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 had planned to 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?

‘Wave,’ Fayre said. ‘They need to see you happy.’

Somehow, Lyndal lifted her hand and forced a smile. The vocals below vibrated off the walls and drifted up to her.

‘I do not think I have ever witnessed so much adoration for a king,’ Borin said beside her, a grin splitting his face.

‘Imagine how proud your father would be right now,’ Fayre said, knowing exactly what he needed to hear.

‘I gather you all approve of your future queen?’ Borin shouted, taking Lyndal’s hand and presenting her to the merchants.

The crowd responded with more whistles and cheers.

After a few torturous minutes, the king stepped back from the wall and dropped her hand. ‘That was the easy borough. Let us see what the farmers have to say on the matter.’

‘The farmers have no objections,’ Fayre said. ‘They are already gathered, eager to hear the news.’

‘And the nobility?’ Lyndal asked, trying to bring volume to her voice.

‘Tonight they will join us for a feast,’ Fayre said. ‘That way they feel a part of the celebration.’

Borin brushed his fringe forwards and looked at Lyndal. ‘You must dazzle this evening. We cannot afford to lose their favour or respect. Let us not have a repeat of last night’s carriage wreck of a dinner.

‘Come, come,’ Fayre said, gesturing for them to start walking. ‘This is a time for celebration.’

With an impatient grunt, Borin walked off ahead, not bothering to wait for Lyndal. Five defenders marched after him. The cheering below had died, replaced with the hum of conversation.

‘You should have asked me first,’ Lyndal said to Fayre.

‘So that you had time to talk yourself out of it? It was better this way.’

Her eyes went to the queen mother. ‘Better for whom?’

‘For them.’ She pointed to the merchants below. ‘I spoke with your uncle days ago. He gave his blessing once he realised Lady Kendra was not a contender.’

Of course he had. His need to be in favour with the king outweighed her inferior birth.

They fell silent when Astin emerged from the turret, out of breath. He looked around, then stilled when he spotted Lyndal.

‘You will thank me one day,’ Fayre said. ‘Do not keep the king waiting too long.’ With that, she followed Borin, acknowledging Astin with a nod as she passed him.

Lyndal took in his stormy expression as he stared at her. ‘Where were you?’

He came at her, then pulled up six feet away, as though he did not trust himself to come any closer. Roul looked between the pair before wandering farther away to give them some privacy.

‘What the hell is this?’ Astin said, his eyes like two storms.

‘I’ve been trying to find you.’

He linked his hands atop his head. ‘To tell me the happy news? Sorry I missed the big announcement.’

A sob rose in her throat. ‘I didn’t know.’

His hands fell to his sides. ‘You didn’t know what?’

‘The king just announced it. No one asked me.’

He blinked. ‘What didn’t you know? You didn’t know that the most powerful family in Chadora can do whatever the hell they want? You stayed in their home. You joined in their games. What the hell did you think was going to happen?’

Her hands went over her face.

‘You can cry until there’s nothing left inside you,’ he said, tone venomous. ‘The only thing these people care about is that you do it in the privacy of your quarters.’ Shaking his head, he walked off.

‘Wait!’

He turned abruptly. ‘Whatever you’re about to say, I don’t want to hear it.’

She closed the distance between them and lowered her voice. ‘Queen Fayre told me it’s acceptable for a queen to take a lover after having children.’

The disgust and disappointment on Astin’s face made her immediately regret her words.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I don’t know why I said that.’ It was the panic talking, her fear of abandonment. Astin was a man with principles. He would never settle for such an arrangement, nor would she if the roles were reversed.

‘Go,’ he said, his tone defeated. ‘You don’t want to keep the king waiting.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Are you not coming?’

‘No.’

She searched his eyes, confused.

‘Seems we both missed some important news. You see, as of today, I’m no longer your bodyguard.’

Her stomach fell. ‘What?’

Astin did not stick around to explain. He marched away, disappearing into the turret. She listened with her heart in her throat as his footsteps descended the stairs.