“I’ll never remember this,” Eva said.
“Aye, ye will,” Connor replied as he leaned closer. “Here, like this.”
He guided her hand gently, his fingers closing briefly over hers. Eva stilled, then nodded, her breath soft.
“Oh,” she said. “I see it now.”
Connor withdrew his hand, though he felt the loss of her warmth keenly.
He moved the bishop next, explaining its diagonal path.
“So it only goes one way?” Eva asked.
“Aye,” Connor said. “And that limitation is its strength.”
She nodded slowly, then surprised him by confidently pushing a pawn forward.
“Like this?” she asked.
“Just so,” Connor said, pride slipping into his tone.
He watched her as the lesson went on and she relaxed. Her laughter when she made mistakes and teased him made heat rise inside of him.
“I think this game is meant to make folk argue,” Eva said.
“Or challenge one another,” Connor replied.
He showed her the queen last, placing the piece carefully in her palm.
“She’s the strongest on the board,” he said. “She moves where she wills.”
Eva lifted her chin. “As she should be.”
Connor smiled despite himself, thinking how well the piece suited her.
By the time they finished, the candle had burned low, and the board was scattered with half-played moves. He looked at her as she studied it with narrow eyes, rather than confusion now.
“I ken it’s only the beginnin’,” she said, “but I liked learnin’ from ye.”
“And now ye ken the basics,” Connor said, resting his hand near the board, “let us play a real game of chess.”
Eva smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting with quiet excitement.
“Aye, I’ll try, though I daenae promise I’ll be any good.”
“Ye’ll be fine,” he replied. “Just daenae moan when I beat ye.”
She huffed a laugh and reached for a pawn, pushing it forward with care. Connor mirrored her move, the soft click of wood-on-wood echoing in the hushed library. The game settled into a gentle rhythm, neither hurried nor tense.
He saw her glance up at him suddenly, her fingers hovering over a knight. Her expression turned thoughtful, almost shy. Connor waited, sensing there was more she wished to say.
“Ye ken,” Eva began, moving her piece, “This is fun, and I have come to realize, I’ve never really done anythin’ for fun.”
Connor paused, his hand resting on a bishop. “What do ye mean by that, lass?”
She shrugged lightly. “Since I was wee, it’s always been work or care or worry. Helpin’ Maither, watchin’ Jason, makin’ sure we had enough.”
Connor made his move slowly, buying himself a moment. “That’s nay way for a soul to live.”
