Sage set the plastic slide puzzle on the arm of my chair, unzipped her black backpack and took out the dark gray computer I’d bought her in November.

That machine was her most treasured possession, loaded with forty thousand historic master games and a powerful tactical engine for her winter tournament prep.

She carried it over to the brick hearth, where the heat from the fire was strongest, and sat cross-legged on the woven rug.

Tai wandered over two minutes later, hands shoved deep in his jeans pockets, and stood right over her shoulder.

“What’s that?” Tai asked, his voice low and mumbled.