As the pieces returned for another game, Sebastian and Esme ran behind the pawns. One of the knight’s horses tried to bite Esme but she hit it on the nose with her flashlight and it snorted in surprise.

They approached the black castle and looked around it carefully. The black knight next to it raised his sword and was about to strike, but then he was carried off by his stead to help protect the black queen in her assault on the massed white pawns.

“There’s a door,” said Sebastian, “where’s the handle though?”

The castle had a small staircase running around it and Esme started up the steps. She reached the top and shouted “Sebastian, there’s a Trap Door here with a handle”.

Sebastian climbed the steps and they both stared at the trap door. There was a grinding sound and the pawn in front of the castle moved two spaces forwards.

“Quick Esme,“ said Sebastian, “the castle is preparing to move”.

They lifted the trap door and saw some steps full of cobwebs. Without hesitation they started downwards and just in time too. The castle moved away and there means of escape was now blocked.

They were in a narrow corridor with only the flashlight for guidance. Up ahead there was a noise like swords being struck together. The tunnel took a sudden right hand turn and they were within sight of a well lit cavern.

“What on earth are they,” said Esme.

“I am not exactly sure,” said Sebastian, “but they look like living skeletons wearing armour”.

“And with swords” said Esme.

“Esme look over there – there’s a couple of treasure chests”.

“And more over there,” said Esme, playing her flashlight around the darker areas of the cavern. She also picked out some old sails and a net.

The sword fighting stopped – the skeletons had sensed the strange light and turned in their general direction.