"Hm," he replied.  "That's a bit of a strange way of thinking about it, but I suppose that you would be correct, in that very same strange way."  Whether or not it mattered to him if it was the same didn't count in the final analysis of things, it was how<em>she</em>perceived them.<br/><br/>Once the board was reset, the second game started.  This time, duly prepared, he gave as good as he got, and they agreed to the tie and started to reset the board for what was to be, it sounded, their third and final match.  "Sure.  One more game isn't going to hurt."  He took a moment to think over things to do within the city.  "Birthday stuff, huh...?  You might go down to the District of Artisans, or Blades, or Trade.  I bet for someone celebrating a birthday they'd give a discount."<br/><br/>The third game then began.  It was an even match for a long while...but eventually, Yifa won, at the cost of most of her pieces, but she still won.  "Well, seems like the Gods have given you the gift of luck for your birthday."  Ichobaj smiled.  "You seem like a nice girl.  Listen, if the Justicars ever give you trouble, give them my name, okay?"