Page 38 of Sword of Rage
The Melenia and Marsden soldiers remained mixed together. However, Ackley pulled a dozen Marsdens to stay at Idina’s side, putting Gytha in charge of them. With his sister well protected, he was able to walk with different soldiers, listening in on conversations, trying to learn as much as he could about Melenia and its people. He checked in with Idina every so often. Harley didn’t leave Owen’s side, seemingly uncomfortable traveling with so many men.
When they stopped around midday to eat, Ackley found his sister sitting alongside Harley and Gytha.
“Should I feel honored that you’re here with me instead of rubbing elbows with your soldiers?” Idina glared at Ackley.
He hadn’t thought his sister would be upset he didn’t walk with her. “I assumed you and Lady Harley could use the time to get to know one another.” Lowering his voice, he asked, “Was Lady Harley so droll you almost fell asleep?” He peered at Harley to see if she was listening in on the conversation.
Harley scowled at Ackley, confirming she’d heard him. He chuckled.
Gytha shook her head.
Owen joined them. “What did you do, Ackley?” he asked as he sat across from Idina. “Why are all the ladies looking at you like that?” He took a bite of his food. “It seems like they all want to kill you.”
“My brother, as always, is just being his charming self.”
Harley finished eating, setting her bowl aside.
Ackley withdrew a game from his bag, placing it before him and setting up the pieces. “Lady Harley, join me in a game of War.”
She peered at the board and pieces. “I don’t know how to play.”
“It’s easy.” It would prove to be an excellent way to assess her, since he suspected her to be more shrewd and intelligent than she let on. “I’ll teach you.”
Harley glanced at Owen who was engaged in conversation with Idina. “All right.”
Ackley quickly explained the game. Each person started with nine pieces on opposite ends of the board. The board was divided into squares, for a total of eighty-one. The goal was to get your pieces to the opposite end of the board. If you landed on an opponent’s piece, you claimed that piece and it went out of play. The person who had all of their remaining pieces to the other end first, won.
Harley’s eyes narrowed as she studied the board. After a minute she said, “Who goes first?”
“You.”
She nodded and made her first move.
Ackley noticed she started with no clear plan in place. She’d move random pieces, watching to see how he responded. After five minutes, he realized she’d shifted strategies and was now mirroring his moves. There were several ways to win. But he didn’t care to win. He wanted to assess her. He switched tactics and started moving his pieces to the middle of the board. Fifteen minutes in, Harley sat there staring at the game.
“Are you going to move?” Ackley asked. “It’s your turn.”
She absently nodded. A minute later, she started making moves on her own, no longer mirroring him. She now shifted most of her pieces together toward the middle. Twenty minutes in, she started sacrificing her pieces. Thirty minutes in, she had two pieces left. One piece slid into the square on his side.
Ackley had about half his pieces on her side. Harley hadn’t taken any of his pieces, but he’d taken seven of hers. She pushed the one piece toward him, wanting to sacrifice it. If he took it, she’d win, so he refused to touch it. She chewed on her bottom lip, narrowing her eyes. He kept moving his pieces toward her side. If she didn’t start taking his pieces, he’d win. Harley moved that one piece back to her own side, where it had started, instead of moving it toward his side. If she moved it to his side, once her last piece was in, she’d win. So why was she moving it back to where it had started?
Ackley let it play out. Once it reached the square at her side, she looked at him. He realized the only way for him to win was to take that piece so his own piece could go there. The second he did, the game would end in a tie because they would be simultaneous winners. He’d never seen anyone force his hand like that before.
“Why?” he asked. She could have just slid that piece to his side and won.
“Why not?” she countered.
“You could have won much sooner,” he pointed out.
“I didn’t think the point was simply to win or lose. Isn’t this about strategy?”
“It is.” He had to hide his smile.
“Sometimes, if you look at things differently or take another approach, there is a way for everyone to win. There doesn’t have to be a loser.” She stood. “Thank you for the game.” She turned and walked away.
Ackley watched her go. She’d confirmed his suspicions. It would be a waste to have Idina use Harley as a confidant. There was a better, more appropriate, position for someone like her.
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