The Sealed Room

Astra continued to watch the game unfold. Both sides were trying to consolidate. The Doctor's two knights neutralized most pawn attacks, and the black knight was percariously perched in the corner. However, while he was still there, he hampered the most inviting space for developing the queen, along the left diagonal. Astra could feel the game turning. There was a wealth of possibilities for favourable exchanges, as the rooks were vulnerable to the diagonal attack of the bishop. If only that chain of pawns could be broken...

Fred patiently searched the ceiling, but it was of a non-descript whitewashed material. He was tempted to hack at it, but he had little to hack with, as he had been transported with neither sword nor armour. There were some circular grates in the ceiling, about as large as his hand, with a slight gust of air blowing from them. However, even if he could pry the grate off, there appeared to be little that he could do with the small hole that would open.

Astra commented on the action as Fred was searching. "Black has moved his rook out now, a couple of spaces. Whoever this is is worried about an attack from the queen side. The Doctor is motioning to Fred the Fox, as the bishop. He is moving in front of the queen. The opens up the back row for the white queen. That knight in the corner is doomed."

Fred has counted thirty-two chairs. Was this a coincidence, or was there a chair for every man on the board? What was the purpose of this odd game? It appeared to Fred that this upper level was much like the spectator's gallery on an old-fashioned tennis court, with food and drink and comfortable seating provided. No door though. With the ceiling and walls accounted for, that left just the floor to examine, or maybe under the chairs. There appeared to be some kind of fabric on the floor, like a woven rug. It was nailed to the floor, however, and without his sword, or even a knife, there was no way to pry it up.

Fred looked on the tables for a knife, while Astra updated him. "Black has given up on the knight, and is moving his pawn to the fourth rank in his queen's row. I do not know what he is trying to do, but we may have company soon."

Fred could not find a knife. However, under one of the tables, there was a drawer of some sort, without a lock on it.

The game:
19 KxN R-K3
20 B-Q2 P-Q4

Fred opened the drawer, and found

1. a valuable looking case, with a crushed velvet interior. Inside were hollows in the shape of chess pieces.
2. a candlestick and a scented candle.
3. a pile of silver coins.

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