The queen is the last piece to move and the first piece to end the game. After the pawns have opened, after the knights have developed, after the board is ready for her.
It took exactly four moves for Damon Tavian to set up the board.
"She defaulted my vote," Renwick repeated in the tone used for 'she burned my house down.' The fury packed so tight it had its own gravitational pull. "Without my authorization. In front of every Alpha on the continent."
He let out a long breath.
MOVE 5: QUEEN
"This was after she lit the entire map," Damon added quickly, like an afterthought. "Nicholas claimed her to protect her and she defaulted Lunaris's vote to him."
The map was the queen. Damon didn't deploy her first. He buried her behind the vote, behind the claim, behind the fury, and let Renwick pull her out himself. A piece your opponent discovers feels like intelligence. A piece you present feels like a pitch.
"She lit up the map," Renwick repeated. "Explain that."
