“Perhaps,” he said casually, guiding a black bishop out on a long diagonal trek to the thrust of the battlefield and taking the life of one white pawn with no more guilt than a chicken devouring a worm.
“It would be a shame to lose any of the white roses,” I said, flicking another white pawn two steps forward. “Which is why I suggested adding new space for flowers.”
The lord nudged a black pawn forward two paces to match mine. “Perhaps we can pick some of the lilies for transplantation during the wedding. Is that what you would like me to say?”
I smiled sweetly. “Oh, but I’m not allowed to go to the wedding.” I guided another white pawn two steps forward. “Apparently.”
“You are, as you so rightly point out to me, a woman. You are free to come and go as you please.” His favored black knight jumped from behind, slaying another white pawn.
“Let’s not lie to each other.” I sent another pawn two steps forward, not pausing to think of the danger it might face. “We are, after all, the only two people who can keep each other company in this castle. Since the rest are silent—or sleeping.”
“It is not my speech that has the power to command your actions.” His knight jumped again, pouncing on another white pawn that hadn’t yet left the last line of defense. “You need only order me not to stop you from going, and you will find yourself able to walk out my front door.”
“And I will also find a knife sent straight into my mother’s chest.” I sent another white pawn two spaces forward without much thought, eager to let it sacrifice itself and get the worthless piece out of my way.
He laughed and sent the black queen out into the battlefield to take the bold white pawn that had ventured too close on its own to the black army. “Well, well. It appears that you are not the only one in this coupling with power.”
I bit down violently on my tongue for a moment. I moved a pawn one step closer to the black stronghold, sending it deeper into danger. “It’s a pity you weren’t born with yours.”
“Was I not?” He sent a black pawn forward one space to take the white pawn head-on.
“I don’t think even being born the lord of the castle equates to the power of the lowliest woman in the village.” I suddenly noticed a white pawn with the opening to take a black pawn off-guard and slew the pawn before it could do any damage.
“Oh, I would have to disagree.” The black pawn that had just recently entered the battlefield avenged its fallen ally by taking the white pawn that had dealt it such a swift blow. “After all, doesn’t everyone in the village say the lord is always watching?”
I wrapped my hand around a white bishop in the last line of defense and paused, a chill running up my arm to my shoulder. I thought of how long my mother suffered, and he hadn’t done a thing until I’d asked. “Watching, perhaps, when it strikes his fancy.”
The lord shrugged and crossed his arms. He wouldn’t take my bait. “In any case, I seem to be the only fool with the wherewithal and the means necessary to stand with his goddess as her equal.”
“As her equal?” I lifted the bishop and moved it one careful step diagonally. “I’m surprised you give me that much credit.”
“I have no choice but to admit your power.” His black queen sped diagonally from one side of the battlefield to another, spearing a white rook without my ever noticing it had been in danger.
I yanked up a white knight and let it leap closer to the action. “And that bothers you, doesn’t it?”
The black queen zipped horizontally and took out the white queen in one blow. How stupid I had been. I had lost my most powerful piece before she even set one foot upon the battlefield.
The lord laughed, but I knew he wasn’t scoffing at my foolish move.
“I have to admit there was quite a lot to celebrate in being so long without my goddess,” said the lord once his laughter subsided. “There was no need to concern myself so much with the needs of another.” In the sunlight, I saw the embroidery on his jacket clearly for the first time. Roses and thorns. “Check.”
So much for the lord’s altruism and concern for the villagers. I picked up the white king and moved him one small, pathetic step forward out of harm’s way. After the pawns, the king was actually the most useless piece, I was glad to notice. Why were all of the other pieces fighting so valiantly to protect this man too powerless to defend himself?
“Well, there was plenty I enjoyed before you found your goddess, too.”
“Whether that is true or not, I am afraid you have lost far less than I.” He left the black queen to hover dangerously close to the white king and entertained himself by sending a black bishop across the field. It felled the white knight that had so recently entered the fight without even one kill to its name.