Page 60 of Destroyer

"Nico, we are having an important meeting." Edward grumbles. "You can't just walk in here and start playing chess."

"Why? Was you talking to Porter?"

"Well, no."

"Then he and I playing chess is not stopping you meeting." Both Edward and Balen would throw their biological children to the wolves; their only use is to replace them when they are gone. But someone like me is useful to these men alive. Both my grandfather and Edward see my value and would like this situation to end with me alive. Just by being here, I improve the odds of everyone walking out of here alive.

"Porter. This one is your Don. He is the king of your dead elephant men." I point to the king.

"Nico, this set is made from wood. Not ivory." Balen huffs in Romanian.

"Ah. You is dead tree men." I translate for Porter.

"You're king is most important. He doesn’t do much on the board but if you lose him, you lose game, no matter how many other pieces left."

Porter nods, tapping his king to show he understands.

"This is the hand of the king." I point to the queen. "This is the hardworking piece that goes anywhere and does anything. Ruthless and loyal to the king."

"Like Caeo and Gregory?" Porter nods, using two men as an example who are definitely not loyal to the king.

"Meh, if Knox were the king, maybe."

"Knox is the king. Edward quit."

"Technically Edward said words. He is still the king in this game."

"Fine."

"These are the rooks. They are almost as good as queens, or hands. Think of them as the King's children. They can do a lot more than most of the pieces, but they aren't massively useful." My hand moves down the pieces. "There are towers, which are like your section leaders, and you have knights, who are your wild cards. And here at front you have the pawns. The disposable men on ground."

"OK?" Porter frowns, only half realising this is more about the family than the game.

"I'll tell you how they move as we play," I guide him. "First move is your pawn. They run forward, knowing all but one will die. The one who doesn't die can make it across the board and become a queen. That is how the next hand of the King is found." We play for just a moment, each moving our pawns, and I show him how they move forward, and sidestep to 'kill'. It's adorable how Porter puts that word in finger quotes.

"Now my rook here can take down your rook, look. But your Knight would be able to take my rook. But this rook is a girl, so I am deciding that I'm happy with that. So, my king is sending out the rook to kill your rook."

"Oh. Oh. That's Carrie going to kill your mum, and then my horse guy will kill your rook. Yes. But both Kings knew what their rooks and horse guys were doing." I move both the rooks off the table. "Now the Kings are happy and not fighting. They go and play chess with other people." I grab a white chequers piece and put it near my king.

"This is Gregory. He is rook of Carter's king. He knows stuff, because Carter also has deal with Balen. But see how he has the king in check? So here is clever move. The king hasn't moved, and neither has son-rook. So, King can do switch with Son-rook." I switch the two pieces around. "And the king again is safe."

"But… That…?" Porter doesn't understand castling, but he doesn't need to. He just needs to understand the level of betrayal that comes with a father putting his son into the firing line like that.

"This is a very interesting game, but where does it go next, my son?" Balen pretends to care about my game plan.

"Grandson," I correct the arrogant man. "See here this pawn?" I move my only remaining pawn over to Porter's back line. This pawn now becomes important. This pawn is me."

"Good boy," Balen praises. "You have made it back from Edward's side to your real family."

"I become a hand, but not do I change sides." I frown at the man, both of us choosing English for the sake of our audience.

"Your mother was a psychopath. I tried all her life to reign her in."

"Control her," I correct. "Now I wonder if you want to control me."

"You could be amazing in Romania, boy, but I would not take you from the life you have built here. I will make you a place here where you can be strong. You would have everything you ever wanted."

"But I do not work for Romanian chess piece." I shrug off his offer. We are nearly at the master part of my plan.

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