Utkanc

After everyone left and I was alone with Alpshar, the atmosphere became somewhat strange—or at least; it felt that way to me. Alpshar rose from the couch at the back and sat at the table.

"Sit, Prince. Although I am well aware of the unpleasant rumors spreading about me in the north, I'm not a barbarian. I won't eat you," Alpshar said.

I pulled the chair across from him and sat down. The Alpshar opened a wooden box-like object on the table and placed it between us. This wooden box, which could open and close, was actually a type of game very common in this world—essentially, this world's version of chess.

"We call this 'utkanc' around here. Do you know how to play, Prince?" Alpshar asked.