“Rook takes Pawn,” said the monk to the king.  They sat together over the chess board every afternoon for weeks debating, discussing, deciding matters of state, often making bargains and agreements under the guise of the loss of the horse, or first rook to go, or whose queen would fall first in matters of greatest importance.   Gus did not consider this to be gambling with church affairs, but rather a means to an end.  And Bert could hide any concessions he made to this new religious order as merely an honorable outcome to a fair wager.

Bert held his finger on the top of another pawn, thinking, and said, “The Queen’s priest, that…”

“Luithard,” prompted Gus.

“Yes.  Luithard.  He does not care for you much, I think.”&nbs...

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