Six months

Sylvester’s Pov.

The news.

I sat across from my father, the chessboard stood between us like a battlefield. I tried hard to focus on the game but my mind was elsewhere.

In fact, my mind had been swirling with thoughts ever since I left Marlani’s house that day. At first, I was shocked, but after processing the shock, I just became plain confused.

“Your move,” dad chimed, narrowing his eyes, his brows furrowed in concentration.

The old man invited me for a game of chess whenever he had something important to spill or wanted to get into my head, or both. It was an old family tradition. He often said his dad did it with him as well. But I knew that tradition would die in the hands of Eggust and I.

I moved my pawn to e4, “Dad, I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looked up from the board, his eyes searching mine, perhaps for a clue of what I was about to say. “You’ve never been one to seek for permission, so, go on.”

I hesitat