The Last Chess Game
arsh wa
the board as if considering his first move. The next, his chair was empty,
staring at Felix's vacant seat, the chessboard between them no
tanding in the shad
." His chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptl
e edge of a single black bishop on the board.
He didn't even move." He pointed a
w, measured breat
appeared. But
eset. His king
said this game doesn't want a
x was taken before he ma
en maybe the only way to s
nervous laugh.
n't think we can afford to find out what
the table. Then, reluctan
-
reset, but Victor n
pieces had vanished as if he had never been part of the
toward Magnus.
esitated, then move
r a split second, Victor swore he saw a shadow
game co
ext. Then Volk
gers brushed against the board's surface-and it was cold. Not j
his move
d shifte
hispering
-
s were louder. No lo
ard them
h
s wat
ped up. "Did anyon
g the arms of his chair. "I th
murmured. Her eyes darken
sed. "Ghost stories wi
rp look. "You think
, a creaking sound echoed t
e. Like footste
nock at
changed glance
Knock
ever was on the other side was
d hard. "Nobody
isper fro
me
ed. "Nope. Ab
p. "If we jus
g against the heavy wood as if som
r rattled. Th
-sil
-
sed, stepping forward aga
ready adjusted t
frowned.
board, then the playe
somethi
d her gaze. Th
ll seven chair
n pl
x were left
dropped. "Wh
his breath. "Feli
is fac
gnu
to where Magnus
there. His piece was
s himself
-
table. "That's impossible. W
uickly. "This isn't just about w
"Magnus played a move. T
dened. "Then why
oice was even,
ame ev
ath shaky. "You're telling me we don't ju
hess. You cannot simply make ran
the weight of the match pressing against his chest.
they really p
este. "You knew abou
ted, but t
" she said. "I just didn't know
ed into fists. "Then
rs stare
unsteady. "What
ked back a
agnus's e
elix's mi
t have a
hearth roared to life again, cast
in the house, a voice
n pl
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