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"That I allow you to win? Play with only half h confidence in ht prove interesting if e capture a piece we are granted the privilege of asking soed to comply with the request"

He narrowed his eyes "Such as?"

"Well, I ht ask you to describe your favorite island"

"Seeh"

"Yes, quite, it will be It’ll provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other better"

His gaze leisurely traveled the length of her "I know you quite well, Princess"

"My favorite color? My dearest friend?"

"Lilac Lady Fayrehaven"

She stared at him open-mouthed "How--"

"I’m quite observant"

She desperately wanted to be able to ask questions of hi to play by her rules "Who gave rinned "I accept your rule, but I’ll add one of my ohoever wins lint in his eyes iven her pause if she had ever lost to her brothers She suspected he was going to be quite surprised to discover that she knew her way very well around a chessboard

"I accept your rule Wait here I shall fetch my father’s board and pieces" She hurried to the door, stopped, and looked back over her shoulder "I’"

"We’ll see if you feel the saaze slid to her bed--"and claimed my boon, with or without your father down the hall"

After two seconds of s, she almost tossed a taunt back at him, but decided it would beher would not come easy, if it came at all

She set up the chessboard on the carpet in front of the fireplace While she’d been gone, Tristan had started a small fire to create a cozier atmosphere Now the flames danced and crackled She’d doused all the laaht she knew him, but if she did she’d have not asked hiain; he intended to have her before dawn

They were three moves in before she took his pawn and rolled it saucily between her fingers "How did you acquire your ship?"