Cardinal Richelieu plays chess with a greying, mocha colored skinned man, Archbishop Tutu. Rain splatters against the window pane as the low grumble of thunder is heard. Lightning flashes brightly, illuminating the men harshly against the gentle light of the burning lamps.

            Archbishop Tutu sighs as he throws his hand up in defeat as he slumps in his chair. “Cardinal, you wound me sir. Here I thought you were going to go easy on me, old friend,” Archbishop Tutu said with a twinkle in his eye.

            Cardinal Richelieu grins ruefully and replies, “I did try old friend, but habits are hard to break.”

            Archbishop snorts cheerfully under his breath as it turns into a sigh. “Aw, these old bones always ache whenever it rains,” Archbishop Tutu murmured before saying, “And you, old friend?”

            “I don’t believe in aging. If you do enough of it, you’ll die,” Cardinal Richelieu solemnly retorted.

            The two men are silent for a moment before they burst into laughter at the joke. Archbishop Tutu waves his finger at Cardinal Richelieu as Cardinal Richelieu waves his finger back. They laugh for some time as their only interruption is the sound of thunder.

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            Archbishop Tutu sets up the chess board once more and they begin to play, Archbishop Tutu as white and Cardinal Richelieu as black. The only sound heard in the room is that of robes rustling as the pieces move across the board.

            “How are your affairs going Cardinal Richelieu?” Archbishop Tutu asked with a frown as Cardinal Richelieu plucked his knight off the board.

            “Ah, you mean Alyssum?” Cardinal Richelieu dryly replied as he recklessly marched forward and took a bishop as he left his king completely undefended.

            “What else?” Archbishop Tutu said with snort and then thoughtfully as he paused to eye the peaceful man across from him. Even after all these years, Archbishop Tutu found it impossible to read the man before him.

            “The light of the Goddess is spreading and has been very well received by the people and by the King of Alyssum,” Cardinal Richelieu firmly said as he watched Archbishop Tutu walk into his trap and move towards his unguarded king. Having set his trap, Cardinal Richelieu checkmates the Archbishop in three moves.

            Archbishop Tutu throws his hands up in defeat as he climbs to his feet. “Even a servant of the Goddess has his pride. I am retiring for the night, good night Richelieu,” Archbishop Tutu said as he strode away.

            The room grows darker as the lanterns slowly go out one by one. In the darkness, Cardinal Richelieu studies the board with a small satisfied grin, before rising to his feet and staring out into the storm. One could not grow without adversity, never dulling one’s blade.