"I feel like something's wrong," Vell said.
"What do you mean?" Sonder asked.
They were playing checkers in the parlor.
Cadre sat nearby, legs pulled up onto the chair, watching the board like it might suddenly get more interesting.
"Shouldn't you be playing chess instead?" she'd asked earlier, dryly. "Isn't that more appropriate for mages?"
Vell hadn't even looked up when he replied simply, "I like checkers more."
So they played. No stakes. No talking for a while.
"I mean, it feels both like I've forgotten something, but I can't remember what, and that something bad has, will or is happening, but I don't know what. Tip of my tongue, edge of my brain, but I can't quite figure it out. Must be old age finally catching up with me. Or it must not be that important."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. He crossed and uncrossed his legs. He crossed and uncrossed his arms. He raised his eyebrows and lowered them.
But still, he couldn't figure out what he thought was wrong.
"Do you have any idea what it could be, Sonder?"
"No." She said, and then asked, "Is it about us?"
"Maybe, most likely. It's probably my business, but that doesn't mean it won't affect you. I mean, if I leave, would you stay?"
Sonder didn't have to think about it. "No, I'd follow."
Cadre spoke. "You think something's going to happen?"
"Something always does," Vell said, "But this isn't doom-saying. It's instinct. It doesn't have to be good or bad, it could be anything. Too few pieces are moving. They will move, eventually. But it won't be me starting it."
"You make it sound so dramatic," Cadre said.
Vell just shrugged. "Maybe it is?"
"Maybe you're just restless?" Sonder offered gently.
"Maybe," he said. But it didn't sound like agreement.
Then, quietly, without ceremony, Sonder jumped one of Vell's pieces and made her final move.
"Game," she said.
Vell looked down. Then up at her. "So it is."