There's a brief temptation to open up and try to explain why he has such strong feelings on the topic, that it's more than just an academic exercise or sticking to tradition for its own sake. He quickly quashes it. The fact that there even needs to be such a discussion tells him it's a bad idea to open up so much with a mage. Any mage. They'll only ever see their side, and it's a weakness in him that could be exploited or simply thrown against him hurtfully.

He misses Thrask at times like this. They didn't always see eye to eye. The man had a good heart, and he might have been able to be more of a bridge in the current situation because of his views. He might have been able to explain things better and not gotten defensive. It's hard not to be defensive when all of it is on his shoulders now.

He continues to play with a somewhat cautious strategy punctuated by occasional bold moves or tactical sacrifices for greater gain. "Why did you decide to learn chess?" It's offered when the silence drags for too long.