"Is he always on the offensive?" Jonas asked curiously, trying to get to the root of why his usual chess teacher seemed so defensive. "I feel like I'm going to be attacked for the littlest things when I talk to him."

Maybe attacked wasn't the right word but he couldn't think of anything else. Freddie seemed to like to latch on to things and nag at them until Jonas couldn't take it anymore. He considered himself a patient man but even his patience got worn out after too long with the American chessmaster.