"Obi, the knights can only move diagonal, like this." Picking
up his own knight, Qui-Gon waited until the large blue-green
eyes were focused on him before sliding the wooden carving
across the board. "You moved yours straight ahead."
"My knight can do that," the seven-year old protested, lip
starting to protrude in a definite pout. Small grubby fingers
latched around the wooden carving, plopping it down on a random
square. "My knight's a special knight."
Steeling himself against wide eyes and trembling lips, Qui-Gon
picked Obi-Wan's knight up and set it back. "Obi-Wan, you
wanted to learn how to play the game. Are you going to play by
the rules?"
"My knight is special," Obi-Wan insisted again. Tugging the
piece out of Qui-Gon's fingers he carefully placed it half way
across the board.
"Why exactly is your knight special?" Qui-Gon asked with
infinite patience.
"He's cute," was the response, green-blue eyes gazing up at
Qui-Gon's. The small fingers picked the knight up, waving it
under Qui-Gon's eyes. "See? My knight is special."
Qui-Gon sighed as Obi-Wan set the knight down on yet another
random square, crossing tiny arms across his chest and staring
up. "Your turn," he said with a smile.
Deciding to play by Obi-Wan's rules, Qui-Gon picked up his own
knight and set it down on the opposite side of the board.
"No cheating," Obi-Wan insisted at once, snatching Qui-Gon's
piece up off the board. "You said knights only move
diagagonal."
"Diagonal," Qui-Gon corrected absently. "Obi-Wan, if your
knight can move anywhere you want, so can mine."
"No, your knight's not special." Sticking the piece back where
it had started, Obi-Wan balled his small hand into a fist and
thumped it on the table. "Master, play by the rules."
"Your knight isn't playing by the rules," Qui-Gon retorted,
feeling a sudden headache coming on. Obi-Wan's logic was enough
to twist knots in his head on a good day. Today . . . today he
was driving Qui-Gon mad.
"My knight is cuter than your knight," Obi-Wan said firmly,
small fingers petting the piece in question.
"Obi-Wan, they're exactly the same," Qui-Gon said tiredly.
Picking up both knights, he held them out to the boy. "They are
identical, Obi-Wan."
"Mine's better," Obi-Wan huffed, plucking the piece out of
Qui-Gon's large fingers and setting it down on yet another
random square. "Are you going to play or not?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, defeated. "I'll play. What can my
knight do again?"
"Move digagonal," Obi-Wan said, small face turning up in a
smile. "Your turn."
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