Reed was feeling cocky and had even closed his eyes between moves, leaning back on the chair with his feet propped up on the wooden rail. It would be just another few minutes, and he would have beaten Edward at his own game. He didn’t care if Rowen said the man didn’t like to lose. Reed wasn’t going to the dungeon and neither was he ever going to pay fealty to Edward.
“Yer move,” he said with his eyes closed, sunning his face. He’d managed to capture every one of the king’s pieces except for his king now. And in doing so, he played a wicked cat and mouse chase with Edward, enjoying the fact he’d been able to make his father sweat.
He’d purposely stayed sitting down to call out his moves. Each time he did it, the king seemed to doubt his own moves in return. Reed loved it.
“I can’t move,” said the king.
“What do ye mean?” asked Reed, opening his eyes. “Not enough spaces to choose from?” He chuckled since the king had the entire board in front of him.
“You’ve backed me into a corner. If I move, I’ll put myself in check.”
“What?” Reed jumped off the chair, frantically scanning the chessboard with his eyes trying to see where he went wrong.
Knowing where the pieces were hadn’t been the problem. He had a great memory and could have played the game with his eyes closed. Actually, he had played with his eyes closed for a while just to unnerve Edward. He’d even fallen asleep once or twice waiting for Edward to make his move. The problem was that he’d let the game go on too long, wanting to make Edward suffer. Now Edward’s white king was backed into a corner with Reed’s black king on one side and his pawn on the other. It left them in a very terrible predicament. It was Edward’s move and he wasn’t in check. The only problem being, he couldn’t move. If he did, he’d put himself into check just like Edward said. He would be going against the rules.
“We’re at a stalemate,” said the king, nodding to the marshal who announced it to the crowd.
“The game has ended in a stalemate,” said the marshal. “Therefore, no one has lost, and no one has won. The game is a draw.”
All kinds of noise went up from the crowd and Reed just stood there with his mouth open, not knowing what to say. He could have won the game easily more than once today, but he’d prolonged it on purpose. Now, because of his vengeance against his father, he had not won the game.
“What does this mean, Edward?” asked Philippa, getting to her feet.
“It means neither of us won and neither of us lost,” answered Edward.
“Reed, what the hell happened?” asked Rook, running up with Rowen and the rest of Reed’s family and friends.
“Who won?” asked Duff. “Are we goin’ to live in Scotland or is Reed goin’ to rot in the dungeon?”
“Duff, quiet,” Maggie scolded her brother, pulling him to her and staring up at Reed and the king.
“I – I dinna ken,” said Reed, lost for words. Then he turned to Edward and had to humble himself asking the question on everyone’s mind. “What will happen now?”
“Will there be another game?” shouted someone from the crowd.
“Nay,” the king answered, shaking his head. “This game was a stalemate, and that is the way it’ll end.”
“Please, Your Majesty, don’t send him to the dungeon,” begged Maggie.
“Aye, sentence him to death instead,” called out the baron.
“Reed is free to go, as he didn’t lose – even if he didn’t win,” stated the king. “He is pardoned, as I’ve promised. It seems my son and I are both the best players of the game of chess.”
“Thank ye,” said Reed with a nod of his head.
“Are you sure you won’t change your mind about making an alliance with me?” Edward tried once again to persuade him. “It would be beneficial to not only you but also your family. We would all be on the same side and working together, just like a family should.”
Reed looked out to the sea of onlookers, remembering how his brothers, Ross, and his friends, had all been willing to die for him. Mayhap he should make the alliance if it would be beneficial to the rest of them, even if he had to stay in England and pay fealty to Edward to do it. Then he listened to his heart again and knew that he would never be happy here and neither would Maggie or Duff. He turned back to King Edward.
“I’d only consider it under one condition,” he said.
“More conditions,” sniffed Edward. “What is it you want this time, Son?”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about Edward calling him ‘Son’ but didn’t want to think about it just yet.
“Make us yer sons, for real. Claim us – legitimize Rowen, Rook, and me, and I’ll make an alliance with ye and stay in England, and pay fealty to ye as well.”
“Reed,” he heard Maggie say from behind him.
“Is this another of your games?” asked Edward.
“I mean what I say. Will ye legitimize us?”
The king seemed to consider it for a moment while everyone remained quiet, waiting for his answer. Then he let out a breath and answered. “I’m sorry, boys, but I just can’t do that. You’ve raided me for years and everyone knows it.”
“They also ken that ye ordered yer own babies killed at birth,” said Reed.
“True.” He nodded. “Yes, I did, and I regret it now that I’ve seen what exceptional warriors you’ve all become. I’d like to have all of you fight for me instead of against me.”
“Then legitimize us,” Reed told him again.
“Nay, I can’t. I’m sorry, but that just isn’t possible.”
“Then I’ll be headed back to Scotland with Maggie and Duff on the morrow,” said Reed.
“I’ll be headin’ back to Scotland with my wife and daughters as well,” said Ross.
“Not all of your daughters,” the king reminded him.
“Nay.” Ross turned to look at Summer who was standing frozen next to her new husband. “Summer will stay in England as the baron’s wife, as we’ve made an alliance and I will no’ break it.”
“Then so be it,” said Edward, the smile gone from his face. “I will be leaving Whitehaven within the hour. Do I still have your word that you won’t raid me anymore, Reed?”
“Aye,” he said. “The Demon Thief is dead, but a new legend has risen from the ashes.”