The Board

By the time we finished training and returned to the town square, the winter sun was sinking behind the rooftops.

Snowmelt from earlier in the day lingered between the cobblestones, cracking into thin ice with each step.

In the square, the stallholders were hurriedly closing up for the day. The smell of grilled meat and sooty smoke drifted through the cold air.

"I'm going to stop by the Church."

I told my companions and headed for the main street.

Feeling a gaze on my back, I turned around and saw Lisa watching me from beyond the crowd.

Lisa clutched the collar of her coat, unable to hide her worried expression.

"It's all right. I'll be back."

At that, the tension left Lisa's shoulders.

The fingers clasped tightly at Lisa's chest loosened, and Lisa finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief...