King Ainslen joins us in this chapter. (Remember this is a first draft before it has seen the editor and therefore it may change.)

“Doom.” King Ainslen Cardiff smiled as he uttered the word and maneuvered a gold-limbed Dracodar warrior across the game board and onto a black square in Queen Terestere’s castle.

The queen pursed her lips and tipped over her dragon king. “Well played.”

“Same to you.” The king analyzed the board, all the pieces he’d lost, and considered the pre...