"Four-handed chess?" Ebonheim repeated with a blank stare, her gaze lingering on Elmsworth for a moment before turning to the other lords. "What is that?"

Elmsworth raised his head with a soft smile on his face. "It's a game of chess," he said, his voice calm and level, "played by four players instead of two."

"And...what is chess?" She asked again, hoping to stall for some time and collect her thoughts before she made an irreversible decision.

Elmsworth paused and studied her face before continuing. "Chess is a game that the humans created, based on their knowledge and understanding of war, combat, and tactics. It is played by two players in which the objective is to capture all of your opponent's pieces. They made the game as an exercise to train their minds, and as a way for their royalty to test one another in terms of strategic mind games."

"This chess that we play is a variant," Elmsworth continued, "played by four players instead of two, but with similar rules and gambits."

Liselotte's laugh rang out from somewhere overhead before she swooped down into the clearing, gliding close to Ebonheim's group before hovering in midair, her talons clutching a deer. "Hey, snakey," she said to Calyxia, "Are you ready to get trounced again?"

Calyxia's serpents hissed at Liselotte again as she answered with a scowl. "Not a chance," she said through gritted teeth. "Not this time."

With a rumble that resembled a chuckle, Elmsworth reached into the depths of his gnarled barken trunk and retrieved a simple, but intricately-carved wooden box that resembled a larger version of a human chest. With a wave of his hand, he placed the box on a clear patch of ground and opened the lid with a creak.

"It's been a while since this has seen the light of day," Elmsworth rumbled, his amber eyes twinkling.

Ebonheim watched as Elmsworth unfurled a roll of satin cloth to reveal a carved wooden board, its squares alternately dark and light, with pieces of intricately crafted stone scattered about. The Ent's long, nimble fingers delicately picked up the pieces, introducing them one by one to the curious onlookers.

"The King and Queen, lords and ladies of the board, are protected by the noble Knights, the cunning Bishops, and steadfast Rooks," Elmsworth explained, his voice a soothing rustle of leaves in the breeze. "The humble Pawns, though numerous, carry weight and power in numbers."

Ebonheim furrowed her brows, leaning over the board to take a closer look. The Ent explained in detail the rules of the game, illustrating each piece in turn with the appropriate moves and strategies for them. She soaked in his words, listening attentively, while her eyes wandered to the pieces scattered about the board. The concept of the game seemed simple, a dance of wit and strategy between four contenders over hundred-sixty squares.

Her fingers brushed against a queen piece, the stone cool and smooth. She picked it up, admiring the craftsmanship. It was almost as tall as her hand and intricately carved.

Elmsworth set the board down on a flat, open patch of ground, then beckoned for Ebonheim and the other lords to sit around the board.

"Count me in, old tree," Liselotte hopped to Elmsworth's side and perched herself on his shoulder, a predatory gleam in her eyes as she surveyed the board. "If we're talking about war games, I'm in top form."

Calyxia simply nodded, her serpent-like tail coiling around her as she leaned over the board with an anticipatory expression.

Nillen took a step back, his head lowering in a small bow to Elmsworth before turning to Ebonheim. "I think I'll watch this round. Only four may take part in the game, and I wish to see Ebonheim's mettle. So, I will observe from the sidelines."

Elmsworth nodded. "As you wish." With a low hum and a creak, Elmsworth started setting up the pieces on the board, his gnarled fingers moving with surprising dexterity.

Ebonheim watched him, her mind racing to make sense of the symbols and placements. There was a logical pattern to it, she was sure, but it was hard to decipher at first glance. Her mind whirled with thoughts and calculations while Elmsworth placed each piece.

So if a piece moved like this, then it'll be this piece, and if this piece moves then, and so on...

Pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queens, and kings danced across the board in her mind as she attempted to formulate her strategy—but there were many... way too many things to consider. Was this really a game?! This was nowhere near as simple as the games she had played with the children in her village. This was something that Engin would probably task her with in between her lessons.

Ebonheim glanced at her fellow participants, Liselotte and Calyxia, who were watching the setup with various degrees of interest. Calyxia leaned in closer to peer at the board while Liselotte leaned back with a knowing smirk.

Elmsworth finished setting up the pieces and stepped back to admire his handiwork. "There," he said with a satisfied smile, "the board is set."

Liselotte snickered and jumped from her perch on Elmsworth's shoulder and landed left of Ebonheim. Calyxia positioned herself across from the harpy queen while Elmsworth loomed opposite Ebonheim.

A hush fell over the grove as the game began. Ivera and Serrandyl, who had been watching from the sidelines, circled around Ebonheim with eager expressions on their faces. Aelindra stood beside Nillen in silent conversation.

"State your demands," Elmsworth rumbled, his voice cutting through the silence, "and let us begin."

Liselotte waved a wing before grinning broadly and calling out first. "If I win," she cawed, her wings flaring wide in grandeur, "Calyxia, you'll have to let my harpies roost in your territory for a full moon's cycle. Elmsworth, you will assist with the necessary construction and repairs." She stared at Ebonheim, her grin widening, flashing a row of sharp teeth. "And our lovely Ebonheim," she continued, "will have to come visit my roost when I want her to."

A shiver jolted down Ebonheim's spine as she blinked in shock at Liselotte's statement. "What?!" she sputtered in disbelief. "Hold on! What do you mean by that?"

Liselotte merely laughed and flipped her wings in an exaggerated gesture of dismissal before turning to Elmsworth and Calyxia. "Is that acceptable?"

Elmsworth nodded in silence.

Calyxia's serpent tail flicked irritably. "Fine," she hissed, her cold gaze not wavering from Liselotte's. "But if I win, you'll instruct your flock to hunt for my beastkin for the same period. Elmsworth, you will help with the crops in my fields for the next harvest season." She glanced Ebonheim's way before saying, "And you...well...you'll give me a tour of your village, in detail. If there's any object there that I fancy, you must relinquish it to me."

Ebonheim gulped at Calyxia's proposal. "Anything?" she asked in a low whisper, her voice quavering.

Calyxia gave her a smile that would have frozen blood. "Anything," she repeated, her voice low and sultry, her serpentine gaze cold and steady. "If you want to back out, now's your last chance."

Ebonheim swallowed again and closed her eyes to block out the glares on all sides, letting out a deep breath to calm herself before opening her eyes again. "I'll accept your terms," she said, "I'll visit your roost... and... um... show you around my village."

It was Elmsworth's turn to speak his demand. "If I win," he said as his voice rumbled through the clearing, "All three of you must present me a riddle that I have not heard before, as well as present a new game that is not already part of my collection."

Ebonheim blinked in surprise. "You have a collection?" she blurted out.

Elmsworth tilted his head and gazed at Ebonheim with a knowing look in his eyes. "Of course," he said with a gentle smile, "how do you think we learned to play this game?"

Ebonheim smiled and let out a breathless laugh. "Alright then," she said, "That's much more manageable. I accept." The other two competitors nodded as well, agreeing to Elmsworth's terms.

"My turn, then," Ebonheim said, her golden eyes twinkling with a fierce gleam. "If I win... um, Liselotte and Calyxia will take turns to show me around your respective domains for a day." She glanced at Elmsworth before continuing, "And you must lend me your aid to defend my village should any problem arise—One time is enough."

Liselotte clicked her tongue again, shooting Ebonheim a smirk. "That's fair, I suppose," she said, her feathers fluffing up as though in protest. "A bit boring but... alright."

Calyxia tapped on her chin with a claw, narrowing her eyes in contemplation before nodding again and saying, "It's acceptable."

Elmsworth let out a soft chuckle and inclined his head. "Very well," he said with a wry smile before rising to his full height again. "If it is within my power, I shall assist in your village's defense just once. Now then, let us begin."

----------------------------------------

The game kicked off. The clacking sound of stone against wood echoed throughout the grove as pieces were moved across the board.

Elmsworth's gnarled hand moved first, sliding a pawn forward with the patience of a seasoned player. His move, cautious and safe, contrasted sharply with the sprightly hop of Liselotte's knight. The harpy squawked with delight, ruffling her feathers in delight as the stone piece advanced.

Liselotte squawked about how she should have gone first with an affronted look on her face. "I'm the queen of the skies, aren't I?" she huffed, crossing her arms, "Why does Elmsworth get to go first?"

"Tradition," Elmsworth replied simply, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Well, I think it's biased," Liselotte shot back, but she leaned over the board, her keen eyes scanning the layout.

"Always trying to steal the spotlight, aren't you, Lise?" Calyxia mused, her voice tinged with amusement as she examined the board. Her move was elegant and precise, sliding a pawn to control the center.

Liselotte glanced at Calyxia and smirked. "Of course," she said as though her behavior was obvious and should not have been questioned. "I am the queen!"

As the turn passed onto Ebonheim, she felt a tingle of anticipation. Her fingers lightly danced over the pieces, selecting one that looked the most promising and moving it forward to a diagonal position on the board, which she hoped was advantageous.

Elmsworth nodded in approval and responded by sliding a pawn forward to counter her move.

The clearing echoed with the sounds of thoughtful murmurs, cheerful banter, and the clinking of stone on wood. Ebonheim's first few moves were clumsy. She was still trying to understand the patterns, and more than once she had to take back a move after Liselotte pointed out a blatant mistake, even after all the preparations she'd done in her mind.

Liselotte's moves were bold and audacious, much like her personality. "Why play it safe when you can soar, right, Caly?" the harpy queen quipped, leaning back with a smirk, her wings rustling behind her.

“Unlike you, Lise, some of us prefer to not let our tails precede our heads,” Calyxia retorted coolly. Her fingers gracefully glided over the board, choosing a piece and moving it with purpose. It was a smart move, Ebonheim noted, balancing defense and offense. Calyxia wasn't one to be easily outflanked.

Elmsworth’s turn arrived like a slow rumble of thunder, a rumination of time and space. His ancient fingers picked up a knight, shifting it to an advantageous position. It was a move that revealed years of practice and patience, just like his nature. His deep-set eyes twinkled with quiet satisfaction.

Ebonheim nodded, analyzing Elmsworth's move with a thoughtful hum as she pondered her response. She had already committed to a move, but now her attention turned to her opponent's game. After a moment of contemplation, she moved her queen forward with a soft thud, catching the other players' attention. The unexpected play drew murmurs of surprise and admiration from the spectators.

Serrandyl wooped from the sidelines, then turned to Ivera. "Is she winning?"

Ivera slowly brought her hands up in a shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine."

The pieces continued to dance across the board, their movements dictating the ebb and flow of the game. Ebonheim felt a thrill run through her as she began to see patterns, to understand the silent dialogue between the players. She saw the potential pitfalls, the traps each player set for the other.

Ebonheim, through the first few rounds of the game, felt a growing sense of attachment towards her pieces. There were the knights, which reminded her of Bjorn and Thorsten, with their brave charges. The bishops were like Hilda and Lira, moving along the diagonals, with an ability to reach places others couldn't. Her king, she decided, was like the village itself, whose safety was paramount to the survival of the game.

With every move and countermove, the battle of the chessboard intensified. The initial playful banter had given way to a palpable tension, an impending confrontation of wills and strategies. Ebonheim's mind whirled as she stared at the board, trying to predict her opponents' moves.

It didn't help that the game, despite the size of the board, was growing increasingly complicated as moves were made and pieces captured.

Calyxia and Liselotte were engaged in their own thrilling duel. Their pieces seemed to mirror their personalities – Liselotte's pieces were spread across the board, daring and unrestrained, while Calyxia's were arranged with a surgical precision, an echo of her meticulous and analytical nature. Their banter was just as sharp.

"Getting a bit backed up there, Caly?" Liselotte's teasing voice cut through the tension like a dagger. "Feeling a bit... squeezed?"

"Just thinking of the perfect move to clip your wings, dear," Calyxia shot back with an icy smile, moving her queen to a strong defensive position, effortlessly blocking Liselotte's advance.

Meanwhile, Elmsworth positioned his pieces entirely for defense, carefully guarding each space on his side of the board with a calm and calculated approach. Ebonheim could tell that his game was quite different from the other two. There was no immediate tension in the way Elmsworth played, no sign of panic or discomfort, only a quiet assurance in his every move, a thoughtful deliberation.

Ivera, fluttered about, peering at the board from every angle, and offering a commentary that was as whimsical as it was insightful. "Careful, Ebonheim! The rook's a sneaky one, don't trust its rigid straight lines!" she’d chirp, her voice a melody of dulcet tones.

"Move your rook, goddess. Claim the open file," Nillen suggested in his soft, kind voice, pointing to an opportunity on the board with his horn.

"Hey! No outside help!" Liselotte piped in with an indignant squawk. "It's against the rules!"

Calyxia tapped her chin with her claw and smirked. "I'm willing to make an exception," she said to Nillen, her eyes glinting in approval.

Ebonheim gulped, her throat going dry as she stared at the board again. With a small huff, she moved another piece. This time, to her surprise, Elmsworth moved his rook to block her.

"Not so easy, is it?" Elmsworth said in a voice as calm as ever.

Just then, Liselotte swooped in, her bishop claiming one of Calyxia’s pawns. “Gotcha!” she crowed, her laughter echoed by Serrandyl from the sidelines.

Calyxia bared her fangs in frustration and hissed at Liselotte again. "You'll choke on those words!" she shot back in a low voice before moving a knight for a counterattack.

Liselotte grinned at Calyxia before returning to her original position and bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Oh, you're the one who'll choke on them!"

With every passing turn, the tension mounted. Pieces were lost, claimed, and sometimes, narrowly saved. Calyxia retaliated against Liselotte with a clever maneuver that left the harpy squawking in disbelief. Elmsworth, ever the patient strategist, steadily fortified his defenses while chipping away at his opponents.

Ebonheim’s eyes darted across the checkered battlefield, her gaze sharp, her mind whirring with calculations. She found a string of potential moves, each cascading into the next, leading her to a particular outcome. She pressed her lips into a thin line, her fingers delicately capturing her bishop and moving it across the board with the confidence of a seasoned player.

The spectators watched in stunned silence as her bishop slid into position, threatening Elmsworth's king, as well as putting a wrench in the power play between Calyxia and Liselotte.

"Oh, I didn't see that coming," Elmsworth admitted, his large barky finger tracing possible escape routes on the board. The usually composed ent looked ruffled, his focus shifting to Ebonheim’s impending threat.

In a corner of the chessboard, Liselotte had maneuvered her pieces into a position that cornered Calyxia's king. "Well, well, dearie. Looks like you're a move away from checkmate." Her voice was filled with a triumphant cackle.

But the looming confrontation was diffused when Ebonheim's move forced Calyxia to abandon her defensive stance. "A game of chess is like a swordfight," Calyxia said, her voice ringing clear and cold. "You must think first, before you move."

Calyxia skillfully moved her rook, nullifying Liselotte’s advantage and countering Ebonheim’s aggressive strategy, all in one stroke.

Elmsworth let out a low chuckle and moved his king a step away from Ebonheim's bishop. "And you must choose your opponent," he said with a wry smile. "Calyxia is as strong as she is cunning."

The game was in its final throws. It was the first time that Ebonheim had participated in such a large, complex game, and she was fighting with everything she had. Sweat trickled down her brow, her breath came in short pants, and her heart pounded against her ribs.

But the game was close.

Very close.

Ebonheim glanced at her pieces again before making another move. A light breeze ruffled her hair as she made her move, her knight jumping across the board.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, every leaf rustling in hushed silence. Ebonheim's move, calculated and bold, put Elmsworth's king in check—a hidden threat, stealthily posed and cleverly concealed until just the right moment.

As Ebonheim's knight gallantly leaped across the board, it revealed an avenue that was previously closed. The newfound path was long and clear, leading directly from Calyxia's vigilant bishop to Elmsworth's king, catching everyone off guard.

Calyxia's eyes widened slightly, her usual cool demeanor replaced with a flicker of surprise. Her gaze followed the path her bishop could now travel, a slow smile forming on her lips as she recognized the shift in power. "A cunning move, Ebonheim," she praised, her voice a soft hiss filled with newfound respect.

Ebonheim only grinned in response, a quiet sense of satisfaction filling her as she gave a modest nod of her head. "Thank you, Calyxia," she replied.

Elmsworth, the wise ancient Ent, did not respond immediately. His eyes flickered over the board, looking for possible salvations. The quiet that followed was more oppressive than any clamor, every breath held in anticipation. But even the sage Ent could not deny the inevitable.

With a rueful smile and a tilt of his head, he acknowledged his defeat. "Checkmate, it seems. A splendid play, Ebonheim. And equally splendid cooperation, Calyxia."

"Elmsworth is down, only three remain!" Serrandyl yelled gleefully from the sidelines while Ivera cheered Ebonheim on from her perch on the bough above the board.

Liselotte rolled her eyes before giving Ebonheim a playful thwack on the shoulder. "You've got guts, toying with the old tree like that!" she said with a laugh. "But don't get ahead of yourself!" She moved her rook to capture one of Ebonheim's pawns that was undefended.

Ebonheim let out a puff of air, shaking her head as she chuckled. "I think that was a blunder."

"Wha—" Liselotte was interrupted by Calyxia swiftly moving her queen to the back rank of Liselotte's side. "Oh." The harpy squawked in realization and went into a spirited string of curses that was as colorful as they were creative. "Noooo!" she cried out, flapping her wings in frustration and sending dirt and leaves flying in all directions.

Calyxia shook her head in exasperation, but she had the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "You moved the only piece defending your king just to gobble a pawn," she said with a small snicker, her snakes hissing in delight as they twirled around her face. "How very like you. Checkmate."

Before Calyxia could revel in her victory, the tips of Ebonheim's fingers danced across the board again, gently moving one of her pawns to the promotion square near the center of the board. She grabbed a spare queen piece and slid it onto the vacant space, completing the last step of her plan. "Check. And incidentally..."

Ebonheim’s newly promoted queen stood resolute, gazing across the expanse of the board towards Calyxia's king who was now trapped in the corner of her board.

Calyxia, surprised yet again, studied the move. Her serpentine hair hissed and coiled restlessly, mirroring her inner turmoil. There was nowhere for her king to escape, and no piece to block the queen's attack.

“Well…” Calyxia said, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I didn’t see that coming. You play like an old schemer, Ebonheim.” Her voice echoed with the faintest note of admiration as she laid her king down on the side, surrendering to the inevitable. "Checkmate," she conceded.

A burst of applause echoed through the grove. Serrandyl’s joyous laughter rang through the air, matched by Ivera’s excited squeals and Aelindra's soft clapping.

Elmsworth chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. “And the game is yours, Ebonheim. A splendid end indeed,” he said, nodding in approval. His ancient eyes twinkled, reflecting the giddy euphoria that pervaded the crowd. "You are the winner of this year's game."

Liselotte, meanwhile, was half-screeching, half-laughing. “You sly little goddess! Had us all fooled, didn’t ya?” she said, raising her voice as she laughed again.

Ebonheim blushed and let out a small giggle of her own while bowing her head to her opponents. "Thank you," she said with a sheepish grin on her face. "This was... fun!"

Calyxia gave her a soft smile in return. "Good game," she said as she patted the queen piece in her hands. "I'd love to play with you again sometime."

Nillen stepped forward, his hooves clopping gently against the earth. "Well played, Ebonheim," he said, the low rumble of his voice reverberating in the air like a soft breeze. "That was an outstanding match."

Ebonheim collapsed on her back, the pressure of the game finally subsiding and leaving her lightheaded. Her stomach grumbled loudly, causing her to let out an embarrassed laugh. "And now," she said as she sat up, "I'm starving!"

Liselotte let out a laugh as she flew to the deer she had caught earlier and picked at its innards with a gleefully crunchy sound.

"Uh—" Ebonheim stammered, watching as Liselotte ripped a chunk of raw flesh out of the carcass and swallowed it down in one gulp, blood dribbling down her chin. "Maybe I'll just go find some berries..."