Page 79 of The Protector
“They haven’t found Laura, but one of your council members took Athena’s place.”
“What?” My joy evaporated. “Who?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see her. She’s in Khan’s office.”
I turned around and ran down the corridor with Boulder at my heels. My feet wouldn’t move fast enough down the stairs, and he caught up to me. “Stop, Christina.”
“No, this changes nothing. I won’t allow an innocent woman to be held hostage,” I hissed, low.
“Think for a moment. You can’t barge into Khan’s office without a plan.”
I was too upset to think rationally and stormed ahead, Boulder cursing loudly behind me. I didn’t knock on the door or wait for permission to enter, I just walked right in to find the least likely scenario.
Councilwoman Pearl and Khan both looked up at me to see who the intruder was. They were sitting quietly opposite each other with a chessboard between them.
“Councilwoman Pearl,” I cried out. “What are you doing here?”
Khan gave me an annoyed glance but Pearl stood up and moved to take my hands. “May peace surround you,” she said and looked into my eyes.
“May peace surround you too,” I replied and poured all my worry for her into that look.
“What happened?” Boulder asked from the door.
Khan waved him closer. “Pearl here offered herself in exchange for Athena.
“Would you mind if I talked to Pearl alone?” I asked Khan.
“I suppose you could do that, but not until our game is over. It shouldn’t take too long. Chess is a man’s game, after all.”
I caught the minuscule smile on Pearl’s face and felt easier at heart when she met me with a calm and relaxed expression. “Lord Khan is right, it won’t take long. Maybe you could show me the park after we’re done here; it’s a beautiful day.”
Boulder and Khan exchanged glances.
“We’ll see about that,” Khan said.
“Tell you what.” Pearl smiled softly. “If I win, you’ll allow me a walk in the park with Christina.”
He was amused. “I like your optimism, but you won’t win.”
“Then it should be an easy promise for you to make,” Pearl said sweetly.
Boulder and I pulled back but didn’t leave the room as the two rulers returned to their seats and quietly resumed their game.
I never played chess, so all I could do was count the number of pieces that stood on each side of the board. She had seven of his pieces and he had nine of hers.
Khan was quick to make his moves while Pearl took a little longer. When she took his queen, he squirmed in his seat but didn’t say anything.
The game went on for five minutes until he proudly said. “Check.”
“That was a nice move,” Pearl acknowledged in a friendly tone.
“I know.” He looked over to us and smiled with satisfaction. “Told you it wouldn’t take long,” he said.
“Checkmate.” The word came soft and unhurried but made Khan swing his head back to the board and frown.
“What?” he spat out.
Calmly Pearl pointed to her move and he grew visibly paler.
