As if bookends, two pieces representing Lore Keepers went into the end spaces of the last row. The Lore Keepers bore a great book before them as if it was a weapon—and there was no question in Vilmos’ mind that the book was indeed a weapon in the right hands. He had seen his father, the village counselor, use the book to solve many issues—even heated disputes.

 

On the next row Edward put five figures. “Fools,” he whispered to Vilmos, as he placed the figures on the board in the first, second, forth, sixth and seventh columns, leaving an empty space in front of the swordmasters and explaining this by saying, “Swordmasters need extra space to maneuver, and fools understand this.”

 

Intrigued by the game he had seen old men labor over for long hours, though they had never offered to show him how to play, Vilmos listened to Edward’s every word intently. He paused only to drink as Edward did.

 

Finishing off his mug, Edward went to pour himself another, deciding after he had already filled it to pull the entire keg over next to him so that it would be within arm’s reach. He also filled Vilmos’ half-empty mug before he sat back down.

 

“Drink up Vilmos! It’s good for you,” said Edward laughing. “Are you ready to begin?”

 

Vilmos raised the mug to his lips and smiled, indicating a yes.

 

Edward continued, “All the pieces move differently. It is easiest to remember the moves this way… The king can only move one space at a time but in any direction. The swordmasters may move any number of spaces but must always be adjacent to the king. They revolve around him and rotate around his moves, moving always in direct lines. One must always be in a square touching the king, and the other may be adjacent to the king or the other swordmaster. So you see it is fairly tricky to move these three pieces around the board, particularly as you can only move one piece per turn. So you have to really plan your moves. Are you following me or did I lose you?”

 

Vilmos shrugged. He understood, somewhat. He would wait to play the game and hope he moved correctly.

 

As Edward wanted to clarify this point anyway, he went through a few practice moves with the black king and his swordmasters. He moved the left swordmaster forward one square, indicating that it was still adjacent to the black king, and then he moved the right swordmaster diagonally two squares until it rested before the other swordmaster. Edward indicated why this was a valid move. He then moved the king forward one square. He followed through a number of these simple maneuvers until it seemed Vilmos caught on.

 

“The priest and priestess move diagonally,” Edward said, “in one direction only, any number of spaces on a given turn. Similarly, the keepers may move vertically or horizontally any number of spaces. The fools can only move one space at a time, either forward or backward. That’s how they move…

 

“Now you must just remember this one last, very important rule. Only the king or the swordmasters may pass through the raised squares or stop on them…”

 

Vilmos watched as Edward pointed out the locations of the seven raised squares again.

 

“With one exception— if the king occupies the center raised square, any of the pieces of his color may cross the raised squares, but only for as long as he remains on that space.” Edward stopped to take a heavy swig.

 

“You capture the pieces according to the direction that the piece you are using moves. Except for the fool, the fool only takes pieces that are diagonal to it. That is why he is called the fool, for he is the only piece that captures other pieces opposite from the way that he moves. The king cannot be captured until both his swordmasters are taken from him… So you must take the swordmasters first in order to capture the king and win… Do you understand?”

 

Vilmos thought about what Edward said, confused. In his mind, he moved the pieces around the board. He understood that part of the game, but not how to capture another person’s piece. “But how can you capture the king and win if you have to take the swordmasters first?”

 

“Through sacrifice, Vilmos… Nothing good is gained without sacrifice.”

 

All the pieces in place now, the game progressed, with Edward observing the defense while Vilmos gradually learned the intricacies. Vilmos was enjoying spending the evening in Edward’s company. Edward’s honest, open, goodhearted spirit was exactly what Vilmos needed to fill the empty spaces of his mind and heart.

 

After a short period of moving the pieces back and forth, neither gaining nor losing ground, Edward switched to an offensive posture, and with great precision, not losing a piece, he stripped Vilmos of his five fools.

 

Amazed at how suddenly his pieces had been captured and taken away, for he thought he had been careful, Vilmos became inspired by the strategy involved in maneuvering the pieces. Before, he had been reluctant to attack, yet after Edward’s wave, Vilmos was left with no other choice.

 

Seeking to recoup some of the losses, he ended up sacrificing his pieces instead. In an amazingly short time he was down to only three pieces: a single swordmaster, a priestess and his white king. A few moves later and the game was over. Edward’s boisterous laughter filled the small inn, echoing long along its halls and through its many empty chambers.

 

 “Again?” asked Vilmos.

 

Edward took a long swig from his mug. “Again indeed!”

 

As Edward began to reset the board, Vilmos followed. “They are symbols, aren’t they?” Vilmos asked. “I mean each piece represents something. Right?”

 

“More than that, I’m afraid.” Edward winked at Vilmos. “The history of King’s Mate is as long as time itself, or at least that is what I was told as a boy. I think that you’ll understand it all one day—no, I’m sure you will.”

 

Vilmos was quiet for a time as he placed the remaining pieces on the board. The white king he positioned last—and it was the one piece that intrigued him the most. The crown was too big for the king’s head, and while the other king held a weapon—the scepter had a blade at either tip—the white king’s weapon was sheathed and his hands were empty.

 

“First move is yours,” said Edward. “When you are ready, of course.”

 

Play began when Vilmos moved one of his fools, but Vilmos’ thoughts were less on the game and more on other matters. “You brought me here. Didn’t you, Edward?”

 

“I did. Would you rather I left you to the Followers? They’d not be showing you kindness right about now, I assure you. This realm is not yours—and you should be wary of everything you encounter in it.”

 

“Even you, Edward?” Vilmos looked up from the board.

 

“Especially me,” said Edward as he captured one of Vilmos’ fools.

 

“I thought you were my friend. Do you know the shaman, Xith?”

 

“I do.”

 

“And?” Edward took a deep swig from his mug and then made his next move but didn’t answer. “And?” repeated Vilmos.

 

“I’ll tell you one thing Vilmos, and you remember this clearly—and you remember that I’m the one who told you.” Edward sucked at the air nervously, emptied his mug in one great gulp. “You have no friends in this realm or any other—nor will you ever have any true friends. Those you count as friends will all betray you.”

 

Vilmos blinked several times to be sure he was sitting with the same gentle giant that he had come to know in these past few hours. He found darkness and bitterness in Edward’s words but strangely he wasn’t upset or frightened by them. “Your truth?” asked Vilmos.

 

“It is my truth.” Edward filled his mug and said nothing further.

 

Vilmos turned his attention to the game as well.

 

The two played late into the evening, with Vilmos losing many games and winning none. Eventually his skills and strategies improved though. By the evening’s end he was providing ample challenge for the astute master of King’s Mate.