10

The road from the inn climbed between dark trees and then turned along a ridge. After a while the forest fell away, and Snowfall Manor stood ahead on its rise.

The house was broad and square, with many chimneys and a line of tall windows. Snow lay along the stone balustrades. Smoke rose straight up into the cold air.

Carriages drew up at the steps. A man in a dark green coat and scarf waited at the top, his hair quite white, his posture still upright.

“Welcome to Snowfall Manor,” he said. “I am Dr. Garry Kasparsnow. You have all been very good to come.”

His eyes rested for a moment on Wesley, on Snowell, on you, as though he had expected you in particular. Behind you, Sir Basil bowed. Emily Brent held her music box closer. Someone near the back whispered the name Magnus Carolsen with a touch of awe.

Later, in the great hall, you saw the tree. It reached almost to the rafters. At its crown hung a clear ornament with a pale green light in its centre. Fine wires ran from it into the shadows of the ceiling.

“Our Evergreen Star,” Kasparsnow said. “We shall speak of it.”

Snowell looked up at it for a long moment and said nothing.

On a side table you could see an ancient chess set. You had seen it before, though you couldn't recall exactly when. You did remember, however, that this board belonged to a forgotten time when checkmate existed, but checks did not.

This is a checkless helpmate in 6 moves. Both players cooperate to achieve checkmate, but without checks. Any check that's not a checkmate is against the rules. Consequently, a check is also considered checkmate, and therefore legal, if the only responses are non-checkmating checks! Black moves first, then White. Six moves each. White's last move must be checkmate. Note that the notation underneath the interactive board is not aware of checkless rules. Therefore, it may display "+" instead of "#" when the position is actually checkmate under checkless conditions. Here is the position on lichess. See the Checkless category or Offerspill's Discord server if you're confused.