Chapter 12: Bastian

I watched her read, her legs curled on the settee, pillows propped behind her shoulders. "Do you play chess?"

She gave me another treasure I hoarded-her smile. "I play checkers."

"Humph. Chess is the game of kings. I do not play a child's game."

She innocently gazed around the room not looking at me. "I see no kings here."

That was why I enjoyed her so much. She liked teasing me and keeping me on my toes, or talons depending on my form. "I shall teach you and maybe in twenty years, you shall be competition."

"Twenty years?" she scoffed.

"It will take at least that long to train your human brain in the game of warfare."

"Only if I may teach you checkers."

"Humph, when you beat me, I shall learn your silly game."

We moved to the table holding my chess set. The pieces were heavy gold and silver, the board black and white marble. I'd stolen it from a king in a faraway realm. The fool thought he'd captured a dragon. I challenged him to a game for my freedom. He'd agreed, and I won.