"Because tonight, sweetheart, I'm going to cook the prosciutto before it goes bad."Because tonight, sweetheart, I'm going to cook the prosciutto before it goes bad. And if I cook chili tomorrow, I can get rid of it at the family dinner the day after that." P'nyssa shrugged. Nickolai found himself easily distracted by the view out on the porch. Chess, he realized, was not a spectator sport, especially not the way it was being played. He knew the rules of chess, but except for an occasional battle with a computer opponent to while away the time, he had never played much. Instead, the view of the ring rising up attracted his eyes. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Aaden said, startling him slightly. "It is," Nickolai agreed. "Maybe you can answer this question. Why?" "Why the Ring?" Aaden asked. Nickolai nodded. "Does there need to be a reason?" "Well, he built it- doesn't he have a reason?" Nickolai asked, pointing in through the glass to where Shardik and Furry sat, staring over the chessboard. "Do you know the hows, first, Nickolai? That's the important question." "They say that Shardik used to be able to travel in time. |