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The next morning was the start of the tournament. The
group arrived early to register, Infernus trailing along as merely an observer.
"I'm horrible at chess," the fire Scorchio explained
wryly, "Sabreur is much better."
The convention hall the tournament was taking
place in was like nothing Mharen and Tharen had ever seen. Just a plain room
with white walls and noncommittal floor, the sheer size of it was what set it
off. Lit by artificial lights and easily three times the size of Skarl's throne
room, the sight was breathtaking. While Mharen and Tharen gaped, Sabreur, Steve,
and Infernus - used to seeing such sights - found a space in the line to register.
Eventually the duo joined them and made their way to the table. A female red
Skeith was manning the table, looking slightly bored.
"Registering for the doubles tournament?" she
asked prettily, trying to appear perky.
"Yep," Sabreur replied, scribbling down his
and Steve's name.
"And you?" she asked, turning to Mharen and
Tharen.
Mharen nodded and picked up the pen. It was
the click kind, and for a few moments, Mharen was dumbfounded.
"Funny how your hooves always get in the way
at the most inconvenient times," Tharen grumbled, taking the pen from her and
clicking it out.
"It is not my fault," the Ixi protested.
Tharen signed their names in a flowing elegant
script, then headed over to join Sabreur and company.
"We've got to pick up our matches now," Sabreur
explained, leading them over to another table, "I'm not sure how the tournament
is set up, but every round you'll receive a new opponent. It's designed to have
everyone playing someone of their skill level."
Steve presented their names to the green Gelert
at the table and accepted their matchings, handing out the papers to the group.
"What is this?" Tharen asked, staring at the
paper.
"Your matchings, I just told you."
"No, no, it says… 'E-9'…."
"Oh. That's your table number. See, they're
all labeled. You should be somewhere… over there."
Sabreur pointed and the two followed his gaze.
A sign hung off of one of the numerous identical tables reading 'E-9'.
"Thank you. We will talk to you later - after
the tournament then?"
"Yeah sure. Good luck you two."
The Ixi and Draik bowed and headed off for their
table.
"K-kind of an odd-d pair, eh?" Steve commented.
"I dunno. I guess we are too though."
The two teenage guys went off to find their
respective tables also.
The first round of tournament went well. Mharen
and Tharen had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the play of doubles chess, but
soon caught on. The second round was over for the two in less than twenty minutes.
Their opponents could hardly believe that the two backwards Meridellians had
beaten them so soundly. Third match was similarly a breeze, fourth resulted
in a couple difficulties. Mharen wasn't taking enough pieces for Tharen's liking,
and a squabble resulted between the two that lasted for nearly two more rounds.
Two rounds of a steady stream of insults and banter. Apparently this helped
the duo concentrate and distracted their opponents, for they won the next three
rounds also. Soon only one round was left. It was then they received their final
match.
***
"We are quite firmly lost," a red Kacheek commented.
"We are not lost," Davarain said firmly, "I
know exactly where we are."
"Yes, well, we are in Neopia Central, but where
are Mharen and Tharen?"
The cloud Lupe was silent. The group made quite
an odd sight - a red Kacheek, blue Kougra, fire Uni, and a shadow Gelert all
dressed in armor and carrying weapons - but Neopia was full of odd people and
no one paid particular attention to the Meridillians.
"If I was an exile fleeing for my life," Davarain
mused outloud, "where would I hide?"
The group was silent for a long time.
"I can't believe we lost so quickly," a nearby
green Meerca was moaning to his owner.
The knights didn't pay much attention to the
conversation at first.
"I mean, they're from Meridell. How can some
pets from Meridell be so good at chess? That's a human game," the Meerca continued.
At the words Meridell, Davarain's ears perked
up. Without another word, he strolled over and interrupted the conversation.
His followers merely looked on.
"Excuse me, but what pets from Meridell?"
The owner and pet looked a bit surprised, but
the Meerca recovered quickly.
"Oh, in the chess tournament. We got beaten
first round by an Ixi and Draik. Can't remember their names though, but they
rhymed somehow."
"Mharen and Tharen?"
"Yes, that's it! Do you know them?"
"I do indeed," the Lupe replied solemnly, "and
I cannot seem to find them. They are… friends of mine."
"Well then. They're probably still at the tournament.
Here, I'll give you directions. The final round should be finishing up here
in another hour or so."
***
"Sabreur? Steve?"
"Y-yes. A s-surprise, no?"
Mharen and Tharen reluctantly took their spots
at the boards.
"How could they have gotten so far?" Mharen
whispered to Tharen as Sabreur and Steve consulted strategy.
"I don't know. Sabreur must be really good though,
to make up for Steve."
"Or perhaps Steve is the better player."
Tharen gave Mharen a stern glance.
"Don't be silly Mharen. He has a stutter, how
bright can he be?"
Steve took the spot opposite Tharen, and Sabreur
took the other side against Mharen. And with all the onlookers concentrating
on the two teams left, competing for the trophy, the game began.
From the first couple moves, it was apparent
to Mharen and Tharen that this would be a hard-fought game. Steve was better
than expected, and Tharen was desperately trying to stay ahead. But it seemed
with every move he made, his position improved for only about three turns, in
which Steve set up a devastating attack, which resulted in the loss of a major
piece.
A quick glance over to Mharen's board revealed
she was in position to take Sabreur's queen, which would give him an extra piece.
He looked at his own board. It was time for a trade-off. He quickly moved his
queen up into an exposed position. Steve quickly jumped on the bait, snapping
up his queen with his queen. Tharen responded with his knight, taking Steve's
queen.
At about that time, Mharen took Sabreur's queen.
The two handed over the taken pieces to each other, and after Steve moved his
rook up to the middle, Tharen confidently placed his new queen on the board.
The Draik settled back with a smug grin. Mharen now had two queens, Sabreur
had one (the queen from Tharen's board), himself one, and Steve none. Steve
appeared unconcerned. He moved his pawn up a space. Tharen ignored it in favor
of bringing his second knight out to a better position. Steve brought his bishop
all the way up next to Tharen's king.
"Check."
The Draik hissed and started to take the bishop
with the king, but stopped. The pawn was protecting that space. He moved his
king right one instead. At which point Steve brought his rook over.
"C-checkmate."
Tharen stared at the board in utter disbelief.
"I… I lost," he said softly.
"G-good game?" Steve said with a grin, holding
out his hand.
Tharen gingerly shook it, still reeling inside
from the unexpected defeat. Mharen didn't even notice that the game was over
until Sabreur tapped her shoulder and pointed to Steve and Tharen's board. She
then sat there for the next five minutes, dumbfounded.
"I can't believe we lost," Mharen hissed to
Tharen afterwards, after the congratulations and 'good game's had been exchanged.
"Second place is fine," Tharen said with a shrug,
looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"No it isn't."
"No. You are right. Next year, it will be different."
"Yes. Next year."
The two abruptly stopped conversation for the
announcer had just proclaimed their names. They headed up to the stage and Tharen
accepted the silver trophy for 'Your hooves are worthless, Mahren.' They stood
off to one side as the crowd roared in applause. Sabreur and Steve were next,
the two looking quite embarrassed to be up in front of the crowd. But Sabreur
accepted the gold trophy and stood next to Mharen and Tharen as the announcer
made his closing remarks. As the crowd trickled off, a new group arrived through
the doors. Mharen and Tharen had their backs turned, about to leave the stage.
"There they are! Villain!" a voice roared from
the entrance.
The two whipped around and stared in disbelief.
"You shall pay for your crimes, Tharen!" Davarain
roared.
"Scatter?" Mharen suggested.
The Draik eyed the group and sized up the odds.
"Yes. Scatter."
The two split up and headed for opposite sides
of the room. The knights similarly split up; three heading for Tharen and the
other two after Mharen. The red Kacheek and the blue Kougra took on the shadow
Ixi. She merely waited for them to get close, smiling confidently. The onlookers
had quickly found a reason to be elsewhere as soon as the knights had entered.
"Well, then. Who is first?" she asked brightly.
To be continued...
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