[b]"Knight captures rook, check."[/b] Lantus moved a black chess piece forward, eyes narrowed as he surveyed the board. With nothing else to do until his reconnaissance patrols returned, he had challenged Darrian to an impromptu match of chess, seeking to take the man's measure in strategy. And then Lantus had found him wanting. The Exalt was utterly terrible at chess. His play was impulsive, eagerly trading pieces with Lantus for no reason while leaving the rest of his pieces exposed. Soon enough, Darrian's king was left dangerously open, the majority of his pieces decimated. 

[b]"If I may, my lord,"[/b] Lantus kept his tone light and conversational. [b]"If you are intent on repeatedly putting yourself in danger on the front like this often, would it not be prudent to marry and ensure that you have an heir soon? You are a skilled warrior, Exalt, but ill fortune could strike anyone on the battlefield,"[/b] Lantus gestured towards his eye patch as Darrian moved a rook forward to capture the knight that had taken his other rook. But that left him open for the end. [b]"Should the worst come to pass, the exalted blood must be preserved. What say you, Your Majesty?"[/b] The general moved a black bishop forward and threatened Darrian's king, which he had just left open by moving his white rook. The white king was completely hemmed in, with no safe spaces left to move to. [b]"Checkmate."[/b]

___

Alicia was rather flattered by the man's compliment, but kept her composure as befit a noble of her station. [b]"You honor me, sir. I am Alicia of Westshire."[/b] She replied, referring to her father's lands as her origin. However, something the man before her said sparked her memory. Laius...wasn't that the name of Plegia's crown prince? She had heard it both in passing and in her foreign relations lessons, but to have the crown prince of Plegia be such a shameless flirt was stretching the imagination. Still, there was no harm in asking. [b]"Laius of Plegia...is that not the name of Plegia's crown prince?"[/b] Alicia inquired.