A chessboard lay on a small table, the early evening sun creating streaming shadows behind the scattered pieces. Or were they shadows...?
"I have an idea," piped a small voice, followed by a partial sigh.
"Another one?"
Movement in the shadows. "A trick-idea, not a boring idea," said the first voice.
"Oh." Silence. "So will you tell us?"
"Shh," said a third voice. "Don't pester."
"See the chess pieces?"
More stirring, almost like the shadows were nodding.
"They'll come in to play in a while. He likes to let her win, and she tries to beat him. So why don't we help her?"
"Funfun," said the curious voice.
"Very," added the third voice.
Shadows trickled onto the board. Picking up three of the black pieces-the king, a knight, and a castle-they hid them in a drawer. Then, coming back, they wavered, and steadied into the form of the three pieces, taking their positions on the board.
And not a moment too soon. They heard voices in the hall-"Do you want white today?"
"No, I'll keep black. It's easier to keep track of if we stop switching."
"You do that. Who won yesterday?"
"Who do you think, Master Mage?"
A sigh. "Ah. I forget. Good luck, magelet."
Silently, the three "chess pieces" told Sable of their plan. He squeaked.
"What?" said the woman.
"Nothing," replied the darking.
AN: The three darkings in the beginning were Whisper, Rogue, and Numair's darking.
Which brings us to the point of this chapter: Do you people think it would be weird if I called Numair's darking Grasshopper? Because I am completely out of name ideas!
Review Replies: LandUnderWave: I know! Aren't they? Oh, question: Did you get your name from The Wee Free Men? Pink Squishy Llama: Me too! Hedgewitchery: Thanks! stormrider7: I'm glad you like it!
Oh, and before I forget, I do not own Numair, or Daine, or Alanna, or George, or George's "collection." I don't own the idea of darkings either, though I do own Rogue, Whisper, Sable, and Numair's darking.