The Platinum Cavalier moved before Aldric gave it the whole command.
It had been paid. That changed the way it waited.
The rider leaned forward in the saddle, lance angled toward Ty's center, while the mount dug its front hooves into the white square. The board under it flexed like wood taking too much weight.
Aldric let the room see that delay before he spoke.
"Platinum Cavalier, jump to F7 and fork the open line."
The knight vanished from G5 and landed on F7 with the ugly logic of its shape. It threatened the Pyromancer Warlord from one side and the wounded Infernal Footsoldier from the other. The lance did not choose yet. It pointed between them and made Ty choose first.
Ty felt the pressure enter his burned hand.
The Pyromancer on D3 was already awake. That mattered. Ty had paid for the piece before Aldric paid the knight, and the bishop's heat still answered him from across the board.
The pawn on D5 had no such help.
