He Invented Chess!

Sissa Ben Dahir was a good man. He also happened to be the king's adviser. He lived in the royal palace in a faraway Muslim land. 

One day, the king came back from a hunt with his people looking grim. Ben Dahir, who was awaiting his master's return, asked. The response was terrible: the royal jester had been killed by a tiger. 

-My lord... What a disaster...

-No good looking to the past- he said sadly, for he was very fond of the jester. 

The next days at the palace were very hard. The king was as sad and unkind as anyone could imagine. Some said he went mad, but Ben Dahir knew it was because of boredom, as the jester had once entertained him all day. And he fell ill.

As he fell ill, then people said he had recovered his sanity.

Ben Dahir visited his king daily in his room. They talked about war and legends. Then, the king said to his adviser:

'I am bored, Ben Dahir. Will you stay with me?'

'Of course' 

The king smiled.

'I invented a game for you' said Ben Dahir.

'Indeed?' said the king.

'Yeah' said Ben Dahir, and he pointed at a squared board and some wooden pieces in a box at his feet. 

'Shall I show you the rules?'

'FIre away, Ben' said the king.

And they played chess all through the evening.