Paul III of Montreal

"My dear Boris, I am entrusting you with the most significant mission of your career. You will join our young wonder's team and consult with them on his progress. If they believe that he can be ready immediately, you will then draw up a plan that will allow him to play in the district championship in three months. However, it is important that they think it's their idea, not mine. I will place you as head trainer and you will watch them closely. Do you understand?"

"Yes my Prince. I will carry out your orders to the letter and will show myself worthy of your confidence. Before coming here, I read the last report they prepared on his development. He's moving faster than anticipated..."

"I know, I read it too," the man interrupted with an air of annoyance. "Your mission is to corroborate their statements and proceed as I have directed. You can go now."

Boris did not add anything, satisfied to leave, and performed the expected reverence. He was very happy with himself. Finally, he had brought information vital to the party, allowing him to consolidate his privileged position.

His Prince had seemed to take the news with indifference, but Boris knew better. Not that he had made a gesture or let slip an expression out of the ordinary, the behavior of the Prince was always carefully calculated not to give his opponents any data for analyses. But he had seemed to listen attentively in spite of his bored attitude, where generally the Prince was so distracted that Boris had to repeat his sentences several times.

In the Prince's defense, it was true that the news Boris had previously brought was old and unimportant. This time, however, he had gotten some attention and the Prince had entrusted him with a specific mission that he intended to fulfill with all the zeal he was capable of. He already saw himself at the head of the trainers, preparing the action plan that would lead them to the final and definitive victory. He was perfectly aware that it was not going to be a piece of cake. The current trainers would not like having a player of such low rank as their immediate supervisor, but the backing of the party authorities would quiet them.

There was one thing that briefly disturbed Boris, though. That the Prince gave him the mandate of flushing out the spy and giving accurate status reports about the young Herbert did not pose a problem. But he did find it surprising that the Prince wished to make him the head trainer of the party' s hope. Fortunately for him, Boris was not the kind of person to dwell on questions of that sort for very long. He flipped back to his initial impression that the Prince had recognized exceptional aptitudes in him, and that it was to these that he owed his assignment.

At last, his family would regain its due place. After his grandfather, who had founded the party, and his father, who had been one of its most influential Princes, he was approaching the throne in spite of his limited playing skills.

Boris Illitch Ptsine was the grandson of Piotr Illitch Ptsine. The latter had been one of the founders of the Game Federation. Born towards the end of the twentieth century, he had been a very strong Chess player. Chess was the Game's ancestor. Leaving Russia, he began a professional career in the west that brought him to two consecutive world championships.