“You’re apologizing?”
Elgar laughed. “Not in your lifetime! Summersrule is only six months away, and I’ll have another chance to repay in kind. But just between you and me, I’m looking forward to seeing Sir Shiny eat some dirt. Sure you won’t have a drink? Send you off to bed right proper?”
Hadrian shook his head.
“All right, go get your beauty rest. I’ll keep the boys as quiet as I can, even if I have to bash a few skulls. Good luck tomorrow, eh?”
Elgar returned to the common room, where at least two of the knights were trying to sing “The Old Duke’s Daughter” and doing a terrible job of it. Hadrian continued to his room, opened the door, and froze.
“Good evening, Hadrian,” Merrick Marius greeted him. He was dressed in an expensive crimson silk garnache. Around his neck was a golden chain of office. Merrick sat nonchalantly at the chamber’s little table, upon which sat the chessboard from the common room. All the pieces were in their proper starting places except for a single white pawn, which was two spaces forward. “I have taken the liberty of making the first move.”
The room was too small for anyone to hide in—they were alone. “What do you want?” Hadrian asked.
“I thought that was obvious. I want you to join me. It’s your turn.”
“I’m not interested in playing games.”
“I think it is a bit presumptuous to consider this a mere game.” Merrick’s voice was paradoxically chilling and friendly, a mannerism Hadrian had witnessed many times before—in Royce.
Merrick’s demeanor distressed him. Hadrian had learned to read a man by his tone, his body language, and the look in his eye, but Merrick was impossible to peg. He appeared completely relaxed, yet he should not be. Although larger and heavier than Royce, Merrick was not a big man. He did not look like a fighter, nor did he appear to be wearing any weapons. If Merrick was half as smart as Royce had suggested, he knew Hadrian could kill him. Given how he had manipulated them on the Emerald Storm, which had resulted in the death of Wesley Belstrad and the destruction of Tur Del Fur, Merrick should further know it was a real possibility, yet the man showed no sign of concern. It unnerved Hadrian and made him think he was missing something.
Hadrian took the seat across from Merrick and, after glancing at the board for only a moment, slid a pawn forward.
Merrick smiled with the eagerness of a small boy starting his favorite pastime. He moved another pawn, putting it in jeopardy, and Hadrian took it.
“Ah, so you accept the Queen’s Gambit,” Merrick said.
“Huh?”
“My opening moves. They are referred to as the Queen’s Gambit. How you respond indicates acceptance or not. Your move has signaled the former.”
“I just took a pawn,” Hadrian said.
“You did both. Are you aware chess is known as the King’s Game due to its ability to teach war strategy?”
Almost without thought, Merrick brought another pawn forward.
Hadrian did not reply as he looked at the board. His father had taught him the game when he was a boy to strengthen Hadrian’s understanding of tactics and planning. Danbury Blackwater had made a board and set of pieces from metal scraps. His father had been the best chess player in the village. It had taken years for Hadrian finally to checkmate him.
“Of course, the game has broader implications,” Merrick went on. “I’ve heard bishops base whole sermons on chess. They draw parallels indicating how the pieces represent the hierarchy of the classes, and the rules of movement depict an individual’s duty as ordained by God.”
Merrick’s third pawn was in jeopardy, and Hadrian took it as well. Merrick moved his bishop, again without pause. The man’s playing style disturbed Hadrian, as he expected more contemplation after Hadrian had taken two of his pieces.
“So you see, what you deem a simple, frivolous game is actually a mirror to the world around us and how we move in it. For example, did you know that pawns were not always allowed to move two squares at the start? That advent was the result of progress and a slipping of monarchial power. Furthermore, upon reaching the opposite side of the board, pawns used to only be promoted to the rank of councilor, which is the second-weakest piece, after the pawn itself.”
“Speaking of pawns… We didn’t appreciate you using us at Tur Del Fur,” Hadrian said.
Merrick raised a hand. “Royce has already scolded me on that score.”
“Royce—he spoke to you?”
Merrick chuckled. “Surprised I’m still alive? Royce and I have a… an understanding. To him I am like that bishop on the board. I’m right there—an easy target—and yet the cost is too high.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“You tricked us into helping you slaughter hundreds of innocent people. Royce has killed for far less.”
Merrick looked amused. “True, Royce usually requires a reason not to kill. But don’t deceive yourself. He’s not like you. The deaths of innocents, no matter how many, are meaningless to him. He just doesn’t like being used. No, I would venture to say that only one murder has ever caused him to suffer remorse, and that is why I’m still alive. Royce feels the scales are not balanced between us. He feels he still owes me.”
Merrick gestured toward himself. “Were you waiting on me? I believe it’s your move.”
Hadrian decided to be more daring and pulled out his queen to threaten Merrick’s king. Merrick moved instantly, sliding his king out of harm’s way, almost before Hadrian removed his hand.
“Now where was I?” Merrick continued. “Oh yes, the evolution of chess, which changes just as the world does. Centuries ago there was no such thing as castling, and a stalemate was considered a win for the player causing it. Most telling, I think, is the changing role of the queen in the game.”
Hadrian brought forward a pawn to threaten the bishop, and Merrick promptly took it. Hadrian moved his knight out and Merrick did the same.
“Originally there was no queen at all, as all the pieces were male. Instead, a piece called the king’s chief minister held that position. It wasn’t until much later that the female queen replaced this piece. Back then she was restricted to moving only one square diagonally, which made her quite weak. It wasn’t until later that she obtained the ability to move the entire length of the board in any direction, thus becoming the most powerful piece in the game—and the most coveted target to trap or kill.”
Hadrian started to move his bishop but stopped when he realized that Merrick’s knight was threatening his queen.
“That was an interesting speech the empress delivered at the feast, don’t you think?” Merrick asked. “Why do you think she did that?”