Defender of Hearts by Tanya Bird

Chapter 32

Astin peeled his eyes open as he registered a banging noise. He had fallen asleep. Lyndal stirred in his arms, one bare goddess leg draped over his and the rest of her tucked neatly against him. Light was now filtering in around the shutters, casting stripes of light over her.

‘Lyndal,’ he whispered. ‘Wake up.’

Her eyes blinked open, and the sweetest of smiles spread across her face. ‘Good morning, defender.’

As much as he wanted to lie there bathing in her smile, they needed to deal with whoever was standing outside in the corridor. ‘I need you to get up and answer the door.’ He kissed her rosy cheek. ‘And not look so pleased with yourself. Do you think you can do that?’

She startled when the knock sounded again, harder this time. ‘It’s probably Thornton.’

He kissed her back as she slid from his arms, plucking her robe from a nearby chair. As quietly as he could, he rose and gathered his clothes.

‘You can leave via the solar,’ she whispered, ‘but be on guard in case Eda jumps you at the door.’

Astin stumbled around the room trying to get his boots on. ‘I’m on duty at noon,’ he told her. ‘Try to wait until then before speaking with the queen. I want to be nearby for the fallout.’

‘There may not be any fallout,’ she whispered back. ‘The king may end things himself after last night’s disaster dinner.’

Astin pulled on his second boot and went to kiss her swollen lips.

‘It’s Wright’ came Harlan’s voice. ‘Open up.’

The pair looked at the door, then at each other.

‘He’s going to find out sooner or later,’ Astin said, belting on his weapon.

Drawing a breath, Lyndal went to open the door. ‘Good morning, Commander.’

Harlan looked between them, then stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. ‘I’m not going to ask.’

Lyndal shrugged. ‘I wasn’t going to tell. Is everything all right?’

He crossed his arms and looked at Astin. ‘Your sister came to the gate looking for you. When I couldn’t find you at the barracks, I asked her if I could pass on a message.’

Astin’s eyebrows came together. ‘And?’

Harlan hesitated. ‘She found out where the livestock went. Seems this is bigger than we realised. The animals went to King Edward.’

Astin took a moment to let that sink in.

‘My guess is his mother is driving the entire thing,’ Harlan said. ‘And for reasons I can’t understand, King Borin agreed.’

‘What is it with kings unable to say no to their mothers?’ Lyndal asked, walking off her frustration.

Astin pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Every kingdom and country in Europe is desperate. The demand for healthy livestock has never been higher. Edward will play along in order to get what he needs, as any king in his position would.’

Harlan shifted his weight. ‘Slightly surprising that Borin agreed though.’

‘Chadora’s army might be the most highly trained, but England’s army outnumbers ours six to one,’ Astin said.

Lyndal appeared surprised by that number. ‘While that’s an uncomfortable statistic, it doesn’t change the fact that we have people starving to death while our king hands over the little food we have. If the merchants find out, there will be a revolt like nothing this kingdom has ever seen. No number of defenders will be able to stop them.’

The adjoining door opened, and Eda walked in. She paused when she saw the three of them standing there, her eyes darting between them.

‘Now that it’s officially a family meeting,’ Harlan said, leaning against the wall, ‘do you two want to let us in on what’s happening here? Is there to be a royal wedding or not?’

Eda’s eyebrows lifted. What have I missed?

‘A slight hiccup in wedding plans,’ Lyndal said.

Harlan rubbed his forehead. ‘I gather the “no bride” part is the issue.’

Lyndal crinkled her nose. ‘Turns out we’re ill-suited. Who knew?’

‘Everyone,’ they all said.

There was another knock at the door. ‘It’s Thornton,’ Roul said through it.

Lyndal moved to open the door. ‘Come in. Everyone else has.’

His eyes went to Eda, and he remained where he was. ‘Queen Fayre has requested an audience with you in the solar.’

Astin released a breath. ‘Looks like we don’t have the luxury of time after all.’

‘Good,’ Lyndal said, trying to appear brave. ‘The sooner I break the news, the sooner I can go home.’

‘You’re leaving with me,’ Harlan told Astin, pushing off the wall. ‘You need to be as far away from this castle as possible. One sniff that you’re a factor in this decision and you’ll be drawn and quartered.’

‘He’s right,’ Lyndal said. ‘Go.’

Astin looked at her, his expression serious. He gave a resigned nod. ‘All right. You have this. I’ll see you on the other side of the wall.’

Her nervous smile was the last thing he saw before he exited the room.

Lyndal thought she was prepared when she entered Queen Fayre’s solar, but then she saw King Borin standing by the fireplace. He watched her like a snake as she entered and curtsied.

‘Your Grace. Your Majesty.’

‘It seems we have a quarrel to work through,’ Fayre said, looking between them. ‘I hear some heated words were exchanged last night.’

Lyndal’s gaze drifted to the glaring king. ‘If by heated words, you’re referring to your son almost pulling my shoulder from its socket in his effort to prevent me from leaving, then yes.’

‘You were behaving like a spoiled child,’ Borin spat, moving closer. ‘And then you turned on me like a feral cat.’

‘I said no to going to your bed, and you behaved like a wounded predator.’

Queen Fayre raised a hand, demanding calm with one simple gesture. ‘Let us not get stuck on the details. The question is what is it you both need in order to move forwards?’

Lyndal’s heart was thudding in her ears. That was her cue. Clearing her throat, she said, ‘I no longer want to do this. We’re ill-suited to a partnership of any kind, and marriage would be a disaster for both of us.’

The relief she felt at speaking those words aloud was short-lived. Borin descended on her like a ravenous dog.

‘You do not get to make that decision! It is not your choice!’

Fayre stepped in front of Lyndal, forcing him to pull up quickly. ‘I want you to step out of the room and let me handle this. Please.’

The veins in Borin’s neck were bulging. ‘This is what I was saying to you! She thinks she can do as she pleases with no regard to propriety and tradition. And now I have thrown away the respect of the nobility in choosing her as a wife.’

Fayre made herself taller. ‘The nobility will come to respect a king who puts the needs of his kingdom ahead of his own vanity. Now, please, leave us.’

Borin stared hard at Lyndal before striding from the room, slamming the door on his way out.

Lyndal clasped her hands in front of her so the queen would not see that they were trembling.

‘You should not have said that,’ Fayre said, turning to face her properly. ‘It was very confronting for him.’

Lyndal glanced at the door. ‘I can’t marry that man. I’m sorry. He’s made it abundantly clear that he will not support the merchants, queen or not, so I see absolutely no benefit in going ahead with this insane idea.’

Queen Fayre drew a long, calming breath and smoothed back her hair despite not one strand being out of place. ‘You will be in the best position to help, I promise you that. But you must take your time with this. You cannot simply hold out your hand. He will willingly give you all that you desire if you take your time and build rapport first.’

Lyndal’s shoulders fell. ‘He’s cruel.’

‘He can be, yes. He can also be very sweet in the right hands.’

‘These are not the right hands.’ She held them up. ‘I know that now.’

Fayre never looked away. ‘I must ask if this change of heart is really due to your quarrel last night or a certain defender who spent the night in your bedchamber?’

She felt like a pale of ice had been thrown over her. Of course the queen knew. She missed nothing. ‘If you’re suggesting that—’

‘The absolute worst thing you can do right now is lie to me. I am the one person who has your back through this marriage.’

Lyndal looked down at the ground. ‘All right. You deserve honesty. Yes, Fletcher was in my bedchamber last night.’ She swallowed. ‘But I knew before that it would never work with the king.’

Fayre stared at her with motherly disappointment. ‘That is the one and only time that will happen. Are we clear on that?’

Lyndal blinked. Had she not been listening? ‘I just told you I can’t do it.’

‘Whatever doubts you are having, whatever fears you are drowning in, you must fight to rid yourself of them. You have a job to do.’

‘I don’t want it.’

‘That is too bad, because the opportunity for a change of heart has passed. The plan is already in motion, and now it is my job, my duty, to ensure the match is a success.’

Lyndal shook her head. ‘I don’t need to marry him in order to help people.’

With a rare sigh, Queen Fayre walked over to the fireplace and watched the flames. ‘This is what is going to happen. We are going to forget about everything that happened last night. It is done, and we cannot change it. I am going to give my son a long and painful lecture about how he speaks to you and how he treats you. Despite what you are thinking right now, I care very much about your well-being. There will be no violence in your marriage on my watch—I promise you that.’

Lyndal’s breathing quickened as the target shifted in front of her.

‘You are going to tell Fletcher that the affair is over, and you are going to mean it.’

Lyndal shook her head. ‘No.’

‘Yes.’

‘I won’t do it.’

‘Yes you will,’ Fayre said confidently. ‘Because if you do not, I will have Fletcher taken into custody and locked in the tower.’

Lyndal’s arms were heavy at her sides. ‘He has committed no crime. He’s been nothing but loyal to the king, despite everything.’

Sharp eyes assessed her. ‘The king will not see it that way.’

‘I love him.’ The words fell out of her.

‘I do not doubt that for one second given the enormity of the risk you took last night. But whatever fairy tale you have conjured in that optimistic little mind of yours, you must now dismiss it. You are engaged to the king of Chadora.’

Lyndal pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to hold back tears.

‘I am sorry,’ Fayre said, her voice cracking around the edges. ‘I understand the pain you feel. However, this is the safest option for the pair of you. If you really care about him, you will need to tell him you have changed your mind.’

She blinked a few times, her thoughts fragmenting. ‘He won’t believe me. He knows me too well.’

‘You must make him believe you. If he senses you are trapped, he will play the hero and end up dead. If he believes this is your choice, he will return to the king’s side and continue his service.’

Lyndal brushed a hand over her wet cheek.

‘The king will not be made a fool of,’ Fayre said, gently this time. ‘He will have you killed before he ever lets you walk away. I say this not to scare you but to make you see that turning away at this point is not an option. Tell me you understand that.’

Lyndal looked up at the roof as she attempted to stop crying. ‘I understand.’

Fayre patted her arm. ‘The pain will ease, I promise you.’

Lyndal stepped out of her reach, not meeting her eyes.

‘Now I will go speak with my son,’ Fayre said. ‘If you are to be queen, you must be treated as such. He is not accustomed to having to work for a woman’s affection. That is the problem when you grow up being handed all that you desire.’

Lyndal licked tears from her lips, saying nothing.

‘And do not fret about your wedding night,’ Fayre continued. ‘There are tricks to ensure a successful consummation, tricks many women have used before you. He need not know that another beat him to it.’

Nausea rose inside Lyndal. ‘I can’t think about that right now.’

‘Of course not. Take some time to collect yourself. Then go to Fletcher and tell him of your decision.’

Lyndal was still a moment, then finally lifted her gaze. ‘Did you know your son is selling livestock to King Edward?’

It was clear by Fayre’s expression that she had no idea. ‘You are mistaken. King Edward has no hold over Chadora.’

Lyndal lifted one shoulder. ‘I really hope you’re right. Can you imagine the uprising if it were found to be true?’ She left the room without bothering to curtsy.