"Obi, the knights can only move diagonal, like this." Picking up his own knight, Qui-Gon waited until the large blue eyes were focused on him before sliding the wooden carving across the board. "You moved yours straight ahead."

"My knight can do that," the seven-year old protested, lip starting to protrude in a definite pout. Small grubby fingers latched around the wooden carving, plopping it down on a random square. "My knight's a special knight."

Steeling himself against wide eyes and trembling lips, Qui-Gon picked Obi-Wan's knight up and set it back. "Obi-Wan, you wanted to learn how to play the game. Are you going to play by the rules?"

"My knight is special," Obi-Wan insisted again. Tugging the piece out of Qui-Gon's fingers he carefully placed it half way across the board.

"Why exactly is your knight special?" Qui-Gon asked with infinite patience.

"He's cute," was the response, green-blue eyes gazing up at Qui-Gon's. The small fingers picked the knight up, waving it under Qui-Gon's eyes. "See? My knight is special."

Qui-Gon sighed as Obi-Wan set the knight down on yet another random square, crossing tiny arms across his chest and staring up. "Your turn," he said with a smile.

Deciding to play by Obi-Wan's rules, Qui-Gon picked up his own knight and set it down on the opposite side of the board.

"No cheating," Obi-Wan insisted at once, snatching Qui-Gon's piece up off the board. "You said knights only move diagagonal."

"Diagonal," Qui-Gon corrected absently. "Obi-Wan, if your knight can move anywhere you want, so can mine."

"No, your knight's not special." Sticking the piece back where it had started, Obi-Wan balled his small hand into a fist and thumped it on the table. "Master, play by the rules."

"Your knight isn't playing by the rules," Qui-Gon retorted, feeling a sudden headache coming on. Obi-Wan's logic was enough to twist knots in his head on a good day. Today . . . today he was driving Qui-Gon mad.

"My knight is cuter than your knight," Obi-Wan said firmly, small fingers petting the piece in question.

"Obi-Wan, they're exactly the same," Qui-Gon said tiredly. Picking up both knights, he held them out to the boy. "They are identical, Obi-Wan."

"Mine's better," Obi-Wan huffed, plucking the piece out of Qui-Gon's large fingers and setting it down on yet another random square. "Are you going to play or not?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, defeated. "I'll play. What can my knight do again?"

"Move digagonal," Obi-Wan said, small face turning up in a smile. "Your turn."

Sighing, Qui-Gon settled back for a losing game.