Outwitting a King

Andrias looked up from the long scroll he was reading when he heard the small human approaching on her crutch. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her as he lowered his scroll. She was a strange and curious creature in his eyes. She was so happy-go-lucky and yet an unintentional danger to herself. If the rumors were true, then there were apparently more of them in his realm.

"And what are you doing up so late, Master Marcy?" He asked as he slipped his glasses into his pocket and looked down at her.

"I couldn't sleep. There's just so much to see and explore and learn!" She said excitedly as she pulled out a journal from the bag at her side. "What can you tell me about the history of your kingdom's government? Was it always a Monarchy?" She said poised to take notes. He blinked before letting out a deep laugh.

"I take it you are quite the scholar?" He said as he reevaluated her. "If I may?" He held out his hand for her small journal. She handed it over and sat down as he squinted at the pages. He sighed as he had to pull out his glasses again. He delicately turned the small pages. His brow furrowed as he noticed the impeccable attention to detail and meticulous notes. He had gravely underestimated this creature. Could she be a potential threat? Or perhaps a valuable ally?

"What do you think? Did I get it mostly right?" Marcy asked, biting her lip, anxious for his approval. He snorted and handed it back.

"You may have better records of my kingdom in this tiny book than many of our universities." Andrias said, watching her carefully. Was she toying with him? Was her carefree and klutzy nature all an act to lure him into a false sense of security? If so, then why show her cards by sharing her journal with him? He was suspicious of her intentions. He smiled widely to hide his. "Say Master Marcy, have you played Flipwart yet?" Her eyes widened in excitement.

"What's that?" She asked enthusiastically as she stored her journal back in her bag.

"Follow me." He said, getting up and taking a few steps down the hall. He stopped and looked back. She was struggling to keep up. He considered his next move as he waited for her. When she finally reached him she had to take a moment to catch her breath. He frowned and plucked her up by the back of her hoodie and placed her on his shoulder. "I apologize little Master, I forgot your small stature and injured leg." She beamed at him, only making him more confused. He continued down the hallway and turned to enter a grand library. Marcy gasped as she stared around in awe. He strode over to a table with what appeared to be a chess board on it and sat down. He picked her up and put her in the chair opposite him.

"Woah. It's like it's perfectly human sized!" She remarked. Andrias took a moment to process this. The table and chairs had been made to accommodate Leif and Barrel's size in comparison to him.

"I supposed it is." He said, glancing at the empty third chair. He closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't remember the last time all three of them sat together at this very table. He opened them again to see Marcy pouring over the board as she tried to analyze it. "I'll explain the rules and then we can have a practice game before-"

"Oh, I don't need a practice game." She said quickly and looked up at him attentively. His lip twitched.

"Very well." Andrias said, stroking his beard as he launched into an explanation of the rules. He watched as she glanced between him and the board. Was it his imagination or could he see her planning potential strategies? No matter. This would be a test and nothing more. No one had ever been able to beat him at Flipwart. Not since…

"Okay, I think I got it." Marcy said eagerly. She confidently moved her first piece. He responded in kind. Without hesitation she moved the next piece.

"I find that it's helpful to stop and think about what my opponent may be planning before I move." He said, taking his time. Immediately after he made a move Marcy responded.

"I'm thinking all the time." She said looking at the board.

"Of course." He chuckled. This was going to be easy, he thought. He blinked when she captured one of his pieces. How had that happened? It must have been luck. A few moments later he had grown increasingly frustrated as she had nearly wiped him off the board. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were hustling me." He said while struggling to maintain his lighthearted and jovial demeanor.

"I would never." Marcy said, worried that she had upset him. Andrias glanced at her before doing a double take. She looked so sad and scared. He noticed the scowl on his face and quickly softened his expression.

"No, of course not." He said, raising his hands. "It was only a jest!"

"I don't cheat." She said sniffing and wiping her eyes. He was struck with a sudden sense of guilt and pity. He didn't want to see her so despondent. She was only a child after all.

"I'm sorry Master Marcy." He said gently lifting her chin with a massive finger. "I take it that others have used those words to harm you?" She nodded and he sighed. "Do others not play with you because of this?" He gestured to the board and she nodded again.

"N-no one w-wants to play with you when they think you cheat." Marcy said, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sorry that you think I am. I promise I'm not."

"Your world," He said, scratching his beard, "I assume it has a game similar to this?"

"Yeah, I'm head of the chess club." Marcy said fidgeting uncomfortably before moving to take his last piece from the board. "We don't have to play again. I understand." She looked up at him, expecting to see him annoyed or angry. Instead he gave his first genuine smile and laughed lightly.

"I know the feeling." Andrias admitted as he stared at the board. "No one plays against me either. Not anymore." She placed her small hand on his. He could feel tears welling up from the truly kindhearted gesture. He fought to keep his face neutral.

"Do you want to play again?" Marcy asked hopefully.

"It would be an honor." He said earnestly. "And this time I'd like to hear your thought process. It seems I still have a lot to learn." Marcy gave a grateful and watery smile as she reset the board. "You go first and then tell me why you made the move you did." She rubbed her chin and did so. Andrias listened carefully as he moved his pieces in response. Her answers went from being short and to the point to long detailed explanations of strategies and probability. After a particularly long explanation he started to yawn. She stopped and blushed self-consciously.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to go on that long. Usually Sasha tells me to shut up before I get carried away." Marcy apologized. Andrias raised an eyebrow.

"Your friend says that to you?" He said disapprovingly.

"No, no. It's okay. She's probably right. I do talk a lot." Marcy said, waving a hand dismissively, trying to avoid eye contact. "Sure, it hurts but she's my friend."

"And what of your other friend?" Andrias asked with growing displeasure.

"Oh, Anne?" She laughed awkwardly, "She never says anything like that but that's probably because she doesn't really listen to what I have to say most of the time."

"These are the friends you're looking for?" He snorted reproachfully. She glanced up at him surprised at how upset this seemed to make him.

"I promise they aren't as bad as I made them sound." Marcy said backtracking. "Sure, Sasha says mean things but she always stands up for me. And yes, Anne doesn't remember anything I tell her but she's always looking out for me." Andrias considered her words as he thought back to Leif and Barrel. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He looked out the library's windows. It was getting late.

"How about you tell me more about them tomorrow, over another game of Flipwart?" He said, smiling at her warmly. She grinned and nodded.

Something shifted in Marcy's dream of this memory.

"I'm so sorry." Andrias's voice echoed sorrowfully. Marcy looked around. The castle library was in a worse state of disrepair then when they had left all those years ago. Marcy's heart raced as she waded through the ankle deep water that now filled the library. She saw a familiar large figure hunched over a table. The sound of splashing water reverberated in the empty room as she ran towards him. She stopped when she saw a board set on the table before her. She glanced up at the hulking wizened newt as she took a seat across from him. There was a low deep rumbling breath as he began to stir.

"Andrias?" Marcy asked hesitantly as she searched his clouded eyes. The figure reached out to move the first piece. She glanced between him and the board before moving a piece in response. All was silent as they moved their pieces across the board. Marcy captured her first piece and there came a deep booming laugh.

"Still as clever as the day we met." Andrias said, looking down at her.

"Andrias." Marcy cried and reached a hand out to take his.

"You've grown so much and yet you're still so small." He smiled. "Whatever happened to those friends of yours?" He asked as they continued their game. Marcy wiped her eyes as she began to tell him. Their game was slow as Marcy tried to stretch it out for as long as she could. All too soon only one of his pieces remained on the board. Marcy hesitated as she started to cry. A colossal finger lifted her chin up. She could see giant tears streaming down his face. "I had always hoped to play another game with you." He said looking into her eyes. "Go on." She took his last piece. He stood up using Barrel's hammer as a cane as he turned to walk away from her.

"Don't go!" She called out desperately. He looked back at her fondly.

"This isn't goodbye forever, it's just for now."

"But what if I never make it back? What if you-" She swallowed, "-you aren't here if I do?"

"Master Marcy." Andrias laughed. "I have much to do in order to repay this world for my past mistakes. I'm not going anywhere. What's another thousand years? Besides, next time we meet you can bring along that child growing inside you." He said pointing to her belly.