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Rook Sanda and Rook Datcu approached Ungur’s body. They both stared at me with their rust-filled eyes, a minor light burning in their depths that revealed the vampire blood that polluted their veins and the hatred they felt for me.
Were my own eyes glowing so? I didn’t think they were since no one’s expression seemed to indicate that they did.
“Just the right amount,” King Maximus had said after he’d fed me his blood—not enough to turn me into a Rook, I realized.
Without breaking eye contact, Sanda leaned down and grabbed his cousin by the wrists, while Datcu took hold of his ankles. Lifting him off the floor with ease despite Ungur’s considerable weight, they carried him away, deposited him against the far wall, and returned to their spots. They sat back down with their own Quadrants, their jaws set.
A restless feeling stirring in my stomach, I peered back at Ungur’s discarded body. Was that all he was worth to them? A forgotten corner of the room without even a brief moment to acknowledge his departure?
I didn’t know why that surprised me. The very hall we stood in was designed with only one purpose in mind: death.
Knight Traian came away from his seat and prepared to announce the next match. As he opened his mouth, I turned my back on him and purposely walked toward Ungur.
“Where are you going?” Traian demanded. “Get back here!”
I ignored him, suspecting he might sic his Rook on me, but only a murmur rose in the hall, one that slowly died down as I knelt in front of Ungur and closed my eyes in prayer.
Gods, take this man into your care. Soothe his guilt and forgive his trespasses.
For a short instant, I considered begging for my own forgiveness, but what would be the point of that when more death awaited.
So, I stood and slowly retreated, taking short, backward steps, showing him as much respect as I could under the circumstances.
Finally, I turned and faced the Board again. Everyone was staring at me, except for Marin. He sat among the Pawns in our Quadrant, head bowed, hands clasped on his lap as if he were praying, too.
I walked up to Knight Traian and stopped a few paces away from him. He wore a confused expression as if he couldn’t decide what to feel toward me and what I’d just done.
“Who do you want me to kill next?” I asked, my tone cold to match the words.
“Fourth Pawn Brigita Ashcrag, come forth,” Knight Traian said.
Brigita stood. She stepped forward without hesitation, though her pinched expression made me think she didn’t feel as confident as she tried to appear. Brigita was a tall woman, about ten years my senior. She was muscular like a man and had held the title of Fourth Pawn for over two years, without issuing a challenge to move up in rank.
In my eight weeks here, I’d barely exchanged a word with her. She was disciplined in a stiff way and seemed proud of her post and service to the Vampire Court.
Now, per order of her King, her precious post was in jeopardy—all the succession rules and precious contracts disregarded in favor of his Majesty’s whims and games.
But what did she expect? She was a Pawn, after all.
“Nyro Stonehelm will Challenge Fourth Pawn Brigita Ashcrag,” Knight Traian began. “If Brigita defeats Stonehelm—”
“I’ve changed my mind,” the King said, his deep, rumbling voice reverberating through the hall.
Silence fell like a cleaver. The rhythmic breaths of the spectators, which I’d become accustomed to, came to an abrupt stop. Slowly, hesitantly, all eyes turned to the Black King.
He was now standing, his ghostly Bishops flanking him on each side. His red eyes glowed intensely, even as his face remained impassive, no sign of anger distorting his smooth, pallid features.
“Your Majesty,” Knight Traian said, inclining his head. “Whatever punishment you’ve decided for Stonehelm, I will be delighted to carry it out, if you are gracious enough to give me that chance.”
King Maximus ignored Traian, his glimmering gaze focused solely on me. No one else seemed to dare look him in the eye, while I had no qualms about it. I didn’t fear him, nor respect him.
I hated him.
“I’ve grown bored by this tiresome spectacle,” the King said. “So, I’ve decided Stonehelm shall battle all Four Pawns at once.”