Pawn (The Pawn Series Book 1)

by Robin Roseau

  Queen Ralalta wasn't impressed with the implication. Her lips thinned, but she said nothing.

  "After all," the man added, "it's not like she's a child of your womb, Your Majesty. She is a foster child, born and raised amongst the savages of Garneer."

  "Not a word, Yallameenara," the queen said hastily, anticipating my outburst before I could fully give voice.

  She huffed. "And what would the racecourse be?"

  "Queen Ralalta!" I protested.

  "Silence," she told me. "I told you if there were repercussions from this, you would pay them."

  Lord Baggar smiled. "The same course she and my son raced," he said. "The one in dispute. Only this time, she shall use a lance properly, and she shall race against me."

  I turned beseeching eyes to the queen, but she ignored me. I didn't think I could win. It had been close the first time, and I bet the father was at least the rider his son was. And I bet he would find time to practice the barrels besides. I couldn't possibly win.

  "Muranna, come here," she said. As Muranna approached, the queen handed the knife to her. "Return this to its original owner and retrieve one hundred gold from that chest, plus whatever value you feel your kiss is worth."

  Muranna took the knife from the queen, walked to the chest and knelt down. She set the knife in the chest and then straightened.

  "If it's all the same to you, Your Majesty," she said. "I don't want anything of theirs. And I wouldn't have placed a value upon my kiss, but there's not enough money in that chest to pay me to kiss him now."

  The audience applauded her words as she moved to stand beside me.

  Lord Baggar sputtered, but said nothing. I watched the queen carefully.

  "Close that chest. While the girls perhaps made mistakes a week ago yesterday, I find the greatest mistakes were your son's. Neither Lady Yallameenara nor Muranna wagered anything they were unwilling to lose. It appears your son has. The item in dispute has been returned, although perhaps with a little more snark than necessary."

  "The honor, your majesty."

  "Yes, you claim your honor is impugned, I presume because your son was soundly beat by a slip of a girl. And now you wish to reclaim that honor by beating her yourself. Very well. We shall hold your honor race, but it shall not be for the contents of that chest. And Lady Yallameenara's wedding hand is not at stake, either. If Lady Yallameenara wins this race, you and your family will vacate my country on the first ship south, and you will never return. If you win this race, then when Lady Yallameenara has turned ten and eight, if he so wishes, I will allow your son to court her, but he will not be the only boy in contention for her hand. This is my only offer. The race will be precisely at noon tomorrow. Now get out of my court." She raised her voice even further. "Lady Malta, please provide Lord Baggar and his son an escort from the palace. Court is adjourned. Girls, you are with me."

  * * * *

  I threw myself at her feet, sobbing, over and over crying, "Thank you. Thank you."

  She lifted me by my elbows and pulled me into a hug. "I wanted to see just how far that animal would take it."

  "Now I understand that word," I said.

  "I wouldn't possibly give you into a household run by that man." She pushed me away. "What were you thinking?"

  "The son was gracious, Your Majesty," I said. "He and his friends were sweet."

  "Well, it seems the apple has fallen far from the tree. Now you listen to me, and you listen carefully. You will beat him. Soundly."

  "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I don't think I can. I told you. Thurmish nearly won. If his father rides better, he'll win. If his father knows how to ride the barrels, he'll certainly win. And I have to use the lance."

  "Have you ever held a lance?" Juleena asked from behind me.

  "No. But I am Arrlottan," I said. "I've held a spear, but an Arrlottan spear, not a Framaran lance. And only the men play such games as tent pegging."

  I turned back to the queen. "I can't win."

  "I think you can. We just need to improve your odds a little." She paused. "I am confused about something."

  "Oh?"

  "Yes," she said. "Why did you say you couldn't match that wager?"

  "I couldn't match that chest," I said. "That had to be at least..." I trailed off. I actually had no idea how much it was.

  "They were five crown coins," Juleena said. "Jumbled loosely, and it's likely only the top layer were larger coins. I doubt that chest held more than five thousand crowns, and two thousand is more likely."

  The queen smiled. "And so I'll ask again. Why did you say you couldn't match that amount?"

  I stared at her. "That... that... that man tried to buy me for five thousand crowns?"

  "It's worse," Juleena said. "He expected to get you for nothing but bluster."

  * * * *

  I had trouble sleeping, but Muranna said, "Roll onto your stomach."

  "What?"

  "The queen told me to do what it takes to help you sleep. So roll onto your stomach and let me obey the queen's orders."

  I laughed. A moment later, she was kneeling over me and began to massage my back. I was asleep before she finished.

  Still, I woke early -- and nervous. I actually wasn't that worried if I lost, except the queen desperately wanted me to win. But if I lost, two years was a long way away, and letting Thurmish court me wouldn't be all that bad, would it?

  I didn't want to think about Lord Baggar having two years to think of ways to get even. I would be much happier if he left the country. But I felt bad for his family, to be ruled by such a man.

  The sky was barely light, but I rose from the bed, letting Muranna sleep. I wrapped a blanket about me, stepped onto the balcony, and stared out at the ever-moving waters.

  "Well, Mother," I said in Arrlottan. "I miss you. When they took me away, I didn't want to go. But now I wish that you could have come with us." I paused. "I've remembered the words you taught me. I hope I'm saying them correctly." And then I spoke the words, several phrases I didn't understand. They sounded right to me, at least. When I finished, I said, "I miss you, Mama. The queen is very kind, and I have made two good friends here. You would like Juleena and Muranna, but Grandfather would hate both of them, and I think he would hate the kind of woman I'm becoming."

  I sighed. "The queen still hasn't told me what she's going to do with me once I reach my nineteenth summer. She said I will marry. I've met boys here, including the cousin Juleena initially intended for me. I wasn't impressed." I snickered. "I'm a better rider than any of the boys here. Can you imagine that?"

  I talked to my mother for a while longer. I knew she couldn't hear me, but I did it anyway.

  After that, I stayed on the balcony, bundled in the blanket, as from behind the palace, behind me, the sky grew lighter and lighter. I faced west, into what would become the setting sun, and so I didn't see the sunrise directly. But I loved the way the world grew brighter and brighter. This certainly wasn't the first time I'd stood on this balcony in the early morning light.

  Then from my left there was noise, and when I looked over, Juleena emerged onto her own balcony. She immediately glanced my way, and we turned to face each other.

  "Good morning," she called out.

  From our respective balconies, we moved towards each other. "Good morning."

  "Did you sleep?"

  "I did, but now I'm awake."

  "I have a present for you," she said with a smile.

  "Are you going to poison Lord Baggar's horse?"

  She laughed. "No. Even better. Toss on your leathers and come over here for breakfast."

  "Okay."

  I tried to be quiet, but as I was dressing, Muranna woke. She rolled over and watched me. "You're not going to race without me, are you?"

  I turned and smiled at her. "Juleena invited me for breakfast. If you get out of bed, you could join us."

  She glanced outside. "I think I'll stay here. Get me up later, though. I want to watch you beat that horrible man." />
  "You know I'm going to lose, right?"

  "Well, with that attitude, you are."

  I finished dressing then sat down on the edge of the bed. "Have I thanked you for being my friend?"

  She smiled, and we clasped hands. "Often. Have I thanked you?"

  "Often," I said. I squeezed her hand. "Have I told you I love you?"

  "That you haven't done," she said.

  "Huh. I wonder why not." I got up from the bed.

  "Oh, I'll get you for that," she said as I got to the door.

  I paused and turned around, smiling, then growing serious. "I don't love many people. Mama. Juleena and Ralalta. And you."

  She smiled. "I love you, too, Yalla."

  We'd never said it before, but I knew then it was true.

  * * * *

  I knocked and entered Juleena's rooms. There was a breakfast already laid out, and Juleena was waiting for me, seated on her sofa reading a set of papers.

  Ah, reading. That was something else I hadn't known even existed when I arrived. I could read now, but it was slow going for me. The queen herself had instituted a reading quota for me, and I had to write book reports on the books I read. That wasn't any easier than reading the books, but I did it anyway.

  Juleena looked up. "Muranna isn't joining us?"

  "She said she wanted a little more sleep." I moved closer to the table, eying the available choices.

  "Go ahead," Juleena offered. "I've already got a plate." She gestured at the plate perched on the sofa beside her. I assembled my own choices and joined her.

  We ate quietly for a minute, but then I asked, "Is the queen angry with me?"

  "No. She's not very happy with a diplomat who tried to force a marriage, however."

  "I'm sorry. I made a mess."

  "It was inevitable that someone would take offense at your propensity to win horse races."

  "Why didn't the queen order us to stop?"

  "Because she wanted people to take you seriously. You have developed quite the reputation. But at the same time, the two of you have been exceedingly gracious. You've become quite the topic of conversation."

  "That should bother me," I replied. "A girl of the Arrlotta does not long survive as the center of attention."

  "You are now of Framara."

  "Do you and the queen think I'm, oh, I don't know. Irresponsible?"

  "I think you are ten and six years old."

  "That's not an answer."

  "You're going somewhere with this, aren't you?"

  "You haven't given me any responsibilities. You were only a few years older than I am now, and you were already the high captain of the Queen's Guard."

  She laughed. "Nothing so lofty."

  "You're avoiding my question."

  "You haven't asked a question."

  "I asked if you found me irresponsible, and then I suggested why I was asking."

  "No, we do not find you particularly irresponsible," Juleena said. "You have had ample responsibilities learning all the things you've had to learn."

  "I bet you were in the guard or something by the time you were my age. I bet you were learning to use your sword and to fight."

  "I was. That is not to be your future."

  "Because I'm going to get married off two days after that birthday you made up for me?"

  She laughed. "Because while you are now Framaran, you are also Arrlottan, and we do not train foreign fighters, regardless of our belief she'd never return to her native country. If we taught you, it would be as an exception, and the queen doesn't want to deal with the politics."

  "Oh." I thought about it. "All right. But you're not teaching me any responsibilities at all." I paused. "You're teaching me to be pretty. Does that tell me what to expect?"

  "I wouldn't put it that way." She paused, but she held up a finger, a gesture she did often when thinking about something but not ready to say anything. I sat, eating more of my breakfast. "All right," she said finally. "Were you simply wondering? Or were you inviting greater responsibility?"

  "I'm not sure. Both, I think."

  "All right. You've been learning important things. Even your adventures with Muranna have been important. And that will continue. But you're right. You're ready for more." She paused. "Except."

  "Except?"

  "Unless you were interested in learning a trade, the sorts of responsibilities around the castle are filled by-" She paused.

  "Just say it."

  "People who read faster than most people speak."

  "Oh. And write?"

  "No. No one writes that fast and remains legible. You still write very deliberately, and some might say slowly, but you strive to be legible, and I won't fault you for that."

  "I know what you're saying."

  "I want you and Muranna to start reading to each other at bedtime. Alternate pages. You read a page; she reads a page. While she's reading, you follow along with your eyes. When you can do that comfortably, you're ready to be exposed to more responsibilities."

  "It's hard," I said. "What if I'm never a good reader?"

  "I think it's too soon to worry about that. Try what I've suggested until mid autumn."

  I nodded. "I will. Thank you. I have another question."

  "I may have to start charging you again. It seems you make money faster than I do."

  "I think my primary source of income has come to an end, and I am again reliant on my allowance from your mother."

  "And thus the request for greater responsibility?"

  "No. I just want to know I'm more than an ornament. So my question?" She nodded. "How did the queen know about the knife and everything else?"

  "Because I told her."

  "Okay, smarty-pants," I said. "That was an uninformative answer. How did you know?"

  "Because I was there, watching. I didn't know all the details, but I knew enough."

  "How was it you were there watching?"

  "Because I have spies, and when they see you lure a group of foreign boys to the track, they tell me. And then I go to see who you're fleecing now."

  "Oh."

  "And then I assign guards to watch you for the next two days," she added. "And I make sure they're obvious."

  "If they were so obvious, I would have caught you!"

  "They're obvious to everyone else."

  "Are you calling me oblivious?"

  "I'm saying it hasn't been important that you know you're under guard. It's important everyone else does."

  I stared at her. "How much does a guard make a day?"

  She laughed. "You aren't usually out and about all day long, and so it's typically only a few hours. Don't worry about that."

  "I cost the queen money every time I make a wager."

  "Well, not every time, just those times you make a wager with someone I don't trust."

  "Oh."

  She laughed. "Relax. We haven't had to hire extra guards. We would pay them regardless. This gives them something to do that makes them feel useful."

  "They should thank me!"

  "Exactly." And that was the end of that conversation.

  We finished breakfast. Juleena collected both our plates and set them aside. Then she smiled. "So, I promised you a present."

  I clapped my hands. "You give the best presents."

  "I know I do. This one isn't wrapped, so you have to close your eyes." I dutifully closed them, and I heard her move to her closet. She returned a moment later. "Hold out your hands, palms up." I did so, and then I felt a weight settle across them. "Open."

  I opened my eyes to see I was holding a spear, an Arrlottan spear. I stared at it.

  "I thought you might be more comfortable with this than a heavy lance," she explained.

  I thought it likely she was right. "How did you get this?"

  "I have my ways," she said. "It took a bit of time last night, or I'd have given it to you then. You only have a few hours to practice."

  "I don't want Lord Baggar to see me practicing."
/>
  "Which is why you'll do it in the yard near the stable."

  "Zana's hooves will tear the grass to pieces."

  "You're going to practice with Hamper," she said. Hamper was my other horse. "You're going to save Zana for the main event. And perhaps you understand just how much the queen wants you to win today."

  I nodded.

  * * * *

  Juleena walked me down to the stable, and then we both saddled horses. We walked our horses out to the yard, and then I stared.

  Overnight, someone had transformed the yard into a practice area for tent pegging. I couldn't believe it. There wasn't any fruit. Instead, arranged in a variety of ways, there were wooden rings. Some hung from two strings. Some were mounted atop a post. Sometimes the post was only a few inches tall.

  And here and there were waiting castle pages, ready to set the hoops back up as we were finished.

  "Are you starting to believe how much the queen wants you to win, Yalla?" Juleena asked me quietly. "She wants that horrid man gone from our country."

  "He seems like a poor diplomat."

  "He's a bully, and you wouldn't believe how pleased she'll be if you send him back in disgrace."

  "I'll do my best, Juleena. You know I will. But..." I hefted the spear. "This isn't going to be enough."

  "It doesn't need to be. It just needs to help."

  Once on Hamper, she handed up the spear. I felt far more comfortable with the light spear than the heavy cavalry lance I'd had a week ago. I could readily hold it in one hand, and I had far more precise control of it.

  "You ride a loop," Juleena said. "I'm going to show you first." She climbed atop her horse and held out her hand. I gave her the spear. And a moment later, she was riding hard through the race.

  She was good and had clearly done this before. I was impressed. She managed to spear the center of each hoop, although she missed two and had to wheel about for a second go at them.

  There was one that was particularly tricky. It was set up right behind a temporary wall, and to catch it, you first had to ride past the wall and come to a stop, spear the hoop, and then keep going.

  She finished the entire circle then ran around the field, tossing the rings to the pages. They in turn scurried about, replacing all of them. Juleena rode up to me and saluted me with the spear. She was grinning.