Page 24 of Niccolo

I was sure it was not a coincidence, although it might appear that way to others.

Instead, I was convinced it was a brilliantly orchestrated series of maneuvers.

Only the training we had gotten from Lars – and Alessandra’s bravery – allowed us to survive the night unscathed.

But that raised the question:

Who had masterminded the attack?

And would he eventually make himself known?

I couldn’t wait.

I wanted to kill the bastard for what he did to Papa…

Right after I congratulated him on his tactical brilliance.

Finally, a foe who could push me to my limits!

My only mistake…

Was in thinking my enemy was aman.

PART II

11

Sofia

My father taught me to play chess. He was a Professor of Game Theory at the University of Turin, which is where I grew up.

‘Professor’ was his official job. He was actually a chess grandmaster, but being a professor was what paid the bills.

When I was six years old, my father would invite graduate students over to our apartment, where they would drink wine and play chess.

I didn’t find out why the graduate students were always males until I was much older.

While my father and his students played, I would sit by the board and watch them move the pieces around. I never said a word.

My father’s students would tease me and ask,Wouldn’t you rather go play with your dolls?

“I don’t have any dolls,” I would inform them, then go back to watching the chess match.

This continued for months – me watching and never saying anything.

Then one day a graduate student named Pietro made an egregious blunder with his knight. He must have had a bit too much wine because he was normally a very good player.

“Why did you movethere?”I asked in exasperation.

Pietro raised one eyebrow as he looked at me. “Because I’m attacking his queen. You know which one the queen is?”

“Duh,” I said. “But now Papa can checkmate you in four moves.”

Pietro burst out laughing –

But Papa stared at me.

“What?” Pietro asked Papa, still thinking it was all quite funny.

---