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“The death jump.” Biko shook his head, tsking loudly through a frown. “Splitting a point on the opening move…”
“The Lover’s Leap,” Idony corrected. “Pali prefers to play a running game. Yes, she’s exposed a blot, but the rewards might be so much greater. A confident and assertive move.”
My brother sniffed, dramatically concerned over our differing strategies.
Idony picked up both dice and shook them between her hands. “Three, one!” She did not gloat as she moved her checkers into a defensive position. “Bar point.”
“See? See?” Biko clapped his hands roughly, then broke out into song. “The lead, Pali, you will not keep, not when you open with the Lover’s Leap!”
I lifted my chin at him before sticking the tip of my tongue between my lips and pulling a face. Biko barked a laugh, while Syndrian huffed. His lips were pressed together as if to hold back laughter, the hint of a dimple shadowing his cheek. His amused expression brought another rush of heat to my cheeks, and I instinctively made an even sillier face.
“Your roll, dear.” Idony handed me the dice, and I clasped them between my hands.
I composed myself, took a deep breath, and looked over the familiar shapes of each checker on the board. My mind relaxed, and I began to see possibilities. Which checkers might make points and with what combination of numbers on a roll. I thought through the options and counted the distance between checkers so I could make a quick decision once the dice landed.
I could feel the heat of Syndrian’s large form shift as he leaned his elbows on the table. Biko tapped a foot nervously on the floor. Idony fanned out her hair, the fire flickering shadows across her face. I rubbed the dice between my palms and held my hands before my chest as if in prayer. Then I rolled.
Six. Five.Again.
“Noooo! How? The gods have favored Pali with good fortune!”
Without hesitation, I moved my exposed checker to share the spot with the one I’d positioned aggressively on the opening roll. A second Lover’s Leap. That meant my one vulnerable checker was now safe. Securely paired and stable, at least until I decided to separate them.
Although my victory wasn’t yet certain, I couldn’t stop smiling. I had a very comfortable lead. Unless my luck or diligence shifted dramatically, all of my pieces stood a very good chance of running to home without ever being caught.
Syndrian said nothing, but his face practically cheered for me. He understood that I’d played a strategy others would not have. If his eyes hadn’t sufficiently conveyed that he appreciated my game, the curve of his lips would have. I licked my lips and then quickly looked away, biting back a proud smile.
I cupped the dice in my hand, an idea forming in my mind. Knuckles & Bones was a pub in the shire of Kyruna. One I’d visited with my parents when I was young, on one of my father’s many business trips to the neighboring shire. The gaming tournament’s hefty pot might not be enough to replace a death mask, but winning might fund another form of escape from my unwanted betrothal.
My mouth went suddenly dry as I realized my betrothal meant so much more than a grim future. A life of secrets and lies. A life as the lady of a manor that was little more than a house of cards—so very fragile and easily toppled.
Whatever idle fantasies I’d enjoyed over the years, once I was a married woman, nothing about my friendships would remain the same. Would my husband refuse me time with these people? People who were technically not family, but estate staff? Would my intended, this crony of my father’s, deny me time with the crofter and his mother? People I loved more passionately than I dared admit? Would the secrets of Biko’s paternity remain hidden, even if my father no longer resided as lord of the Lombard land?
A set of crystal-clear blue eyes beneath curious, narrowed brows met mine. A twitch of concern furrowed Syndrian’s forehead. I had no doubt my worried thoughts were likewise exposed by my expression. But this time, I could not look away from him. My pulse thundered and the game faded away. The voice of Biko and the heavy scrape of his chair against the floor… Idony’s lilting laughter as she scolded her son… The distracted response from Syndrian, who somehow managed to listen to their chatter while locked in an intense staring contest with me.
I swallowed hard, the realization like a lump of stale bread in my throat. Being bound to my parents’ secrets was only one of the reasons I could not abide an arranged marriage. While I may once only have allowed myself to consider a future with my brother’s best friend in my dreams, now that the reality was before me—scant weeks, if not days away—I knew. Knew deep in my soul that I could not willingly marry another. Not when only one could ever have my heart.
My death mask had failed, and I was nearly penniless. But there was a tournament and prize money in Kyruna. No matter the risks I would have to undertake to pursue another escape, with my heart and future on the line…
I was more than ready to take the leap.
ChapterTwo
The good fortune that had carried me through winning three out of five of last night’s games held into the next afternoon. A light breeze from the window tossed the loose hairs that slipped past the hood of my riding cloak, a warm yet practical design custom crafted by my father’s tailor. My mother had several like it for accompanying my father on short journeys.
I’d chosen the one with the simplest design. Dark brown in color, with a deep hood and sleeves unadorned by any trim or edging. While I might stand out in my riding dress, I could not help that I did not own any breeches; my mother resolutely refused to even consider them. I hoped a simple cloak would help me blend in with my fellow patrons and gamblers as much as possible, assuming I was successful in even finding the Knuckles & Bones pub.
I had no idea what type of place to expect, but if gambling, tournaments, and the name of the place provided any hint about the clientele, I suspected a fine day dress and coat would have sent the wrong kind of message. I was not a helpless noble touring the darkest parts of the realm for entertainment. I did not plan to put coins down on any but the games I played. Minding my precious pennies meant I would not waste even a single half silver that I did not hope to win back.
While I couldn’t change my wardrobe, I could be thoughtful about it, and so I donned a plain riding dress and styled my hair beneath a scarf in a simple plait. I hoped my appearance wouldn’t harm my efforts to be welcomed as a serious player.
Around my waist, I secured a leather scabbard with a small dagger. It wouldn’t provide any protection from sea trolls or vengersax, but a show of confidence and a sharp weapon might deter rogues should I encounter any on the road. I carried in my hands a large leather pouch that contained my backgammon board, dice, and pieces, along with several quarter silvers and pennies.
I again buried my death mask deep beneath my mattress with a small prayer for the gods to keep it hidden. Then I strode downstairs, unwilling to wait for Norwin to meddle in my business. The butler was in the main hall, bent over inspecting the angle at which firewood had been stacked beside the hearth.
“I must have a word with that boy…” he muttered under his breath, bemoaning the lack of symmetry of the wood pile but not bothering to adjust it himself.
“Norwin,” I barked unnecessarily loudly. I did everything I could to temper my delight when the man nearly lurched out of his shoes.
