With a simple look, Valeria signalled one of the attendants out of the room. She stood and another attendant came forward and moved her chair into the center of the room next to the stixis board.

“How about a wager?” said Augustus. This could be an opportunity to get what he wanted. He doubted Valeria was more skilled than himself and felt confident in his victory.

“If you win, I have to lend you the gold? Hahaha. No. What do you even have of equal value to put up in such a wager? Move across from my granddaughter already.”

Augustus stood up and an attendant moved his chair so that he could sit down across from Valeria. The attendant that left the room returned and placed a next bag next to each of the two players that held their pieces. He placed his corner pieces and Valeria did the same. He watched her and she in turn only looked at the board.

“Valeria will go first,” said her grandfather. “Move me, move me, so I can see!”

The attendants picked him up by the chair and moved him so he had a very clear view of the board. Augustus looked closely at Valeria. She had pale-pale skin and freckles. She was thin, thinner than Marielle. Augustus could see her collar bones distinctly. Despite her known wealth, she wore clothes that weren't particularly expensive. They were clearly better than the attendant’s clothing but had no sense of regality that the great houses would often wear.

Valeria began placing her pieces and Augustus countered. Playing his usual style. The opening moves felt familiar and then it became clear. He remembered the game with her a few years ago, with his father watching. Back then, she was good but not as good as him, he won with this aggressive style that would throw her off. The start was so similar, then things changed, she seemed more adapted to his aggressive style, but still, he was more familiar with the formations that would result from this type of gameplay. In the end, he was victorious, again. Valeria forfeited before the endgame even began. It was a whimper of an ending. She didn’t seem frustrated, and Voltaire didn’t seem sad or angry, or anything. It was as if the outcome was completely expected, leaving Augustus to wonder what the point of it was. The game felt like a waste of time. Quintus and Heratio were surely bored, sitting quietly in an uncomfortable atmosphere.

“There, are you satisfied?” Augustus looked at Voltaire who pondered the results.

“You are far too aggressive. Such sloppy play.”

“Do you think you could have beaten me? Are you a great player?”

“Maybe there was a time I could have beaten you. But these days, I get frustrated when I play. I admit I would have lost too. Still, I could tell, the way you played wouldn’t hold up against a great player. They would have taken every opportunity you offered and created an insurmountable lead.”

It was a true comment Augustus often received. Castor in particular would scold him about it, but Augustus never saw it the way they did. All Augustus saw was a victory.

“I disagree.”

“Your play is exploitable.”

“It wasn’t exploitable, because it wasn’t exploited. Actually, it was her play that was exploited.”

“A better player would have exploited it. She was merely unfamiliar with dealing with such aggression.”

“Against another player, I might have played differently.”

The game of stixis often was a game of experience. You learned familiar patterns and game states that had an established solution, but Augustus would steer the game toward patterns with no established solution but that he was familiar with. If someone was as familiar as he was in those situations Augustus would be the one at a disadvantage, since he would sacrifice opportunities to navigate the game towards game states he thought he understood better than the opponent. It was exploitable, but a fine strategy, in Augustus' mind, against a weaker opponent. Aggression was best when against an inexperienced opponent.

“There is nothing wrong with caution. I fear you take too many risks for my liking.”

“There is nothing wrong with aggression either. Aggression has its place in strategies, too. If I were to play your granddaughter in a cautious manner, would I have increased my chances of winning? If the answer is no, then the cautious move is to play the way you deem ‘risky’. I am cautious by not allowing her skills to shine. Isn’t it more cautious to quickly injure a wild animal rather than wait for it to hunt you down while you sleep?”

“Your father would be proud of your wisdom.” Voltaire smiled. His hand moved awkwardly, as it often did, but this time it attempted to rest on Augustus’ shoulder. “Will you be a friend to us if you win your struggle?”

“I will remember those who were friends to me, and I will be a friend in return. I will return the favour, I swear it to all the gods.”

“Then I will lend you the gold.”

Valeria abruptly stood up and left without saying a word.

After that was the simple writing and signing of documents. Augustus proved his ownership of his share of the expedition and the terms were clearly laid out. The coins passed inspection and with a bag weighed down heavy with gold Augustus departed, embracing the old Voltaire in farewell as if he were a close friend already.

In the carriage ride back to their manor, Heratio spoke. “That was a dreadfully boring stixis match.”

“It was boring only because you aren’t an avid player,” said Augustus. “Besides, it turned out to be vital to securing the loan.”

“I figured. He was testing you right?”

“More like judging, I think. He knew his daughter wasn’t particularly talented at the game, he was just trying to get a read on me. In the end, I think I convinced him that I would be victorious against my brother.”

“About that, what should we do now?” asked Quintus.

“We must act quickly before Giovannus can react appropriately. I have already prepared the letters. We will call a convocation of the family immediately. Tell the driver not to go to either of our estates. We will head to Pascal’s estate instead.”

The carriage arrived at Pascal’s estate and an attendant was waiting for them to lead the three into Pascal’s reception room.

“You’re late,” said Pascal, tapping his finger on the table.

“Yes, I was forced to entertain him for a bit. It was a small nuisance though since we accomplished our goal. We have the gold.”

“Send the letters,” said Pascal with a smile.