The game progressed slowly, with me making cautious moves and Alexander responding with quick, strategic ones. It was clear he’d played this game many times before, while I was just guessing at the best course of action.
“Knight to E5,” I said after a few minutes, moving my piece.
Alexander’s lips twitched. “You just moved your bishop, not your knight.”
I looked down at the piece I’d just moved, then back at Alexander. “Wait, which one is the knight again?”
“The horse,” he said, pointing to the piece shaped like a horse’s head.
“Right.” I felt my cheeks heat. “I knew that.”
Alexander’s expression remained neutral, but there was a gleam in his eyes that might have been something akin to amusement. I moved my actual knight this time, only to watch Alexander immediatel
