Get Nerdy With Me No. 9
Chess Imagery in Legendborn & Bloodmarked
At the Legendborn lodge, the first room Bree enters is a salon by the entrance. She waits there for Nick. It’s a cozy room appointed with a leather couch, fireplace, and four round tables with inlaid chess boards.1
Bree standing alone among empty chess boards is the first (of many) chess reference in the series. It’s a highly symbolic reference too. The boards are not set. These games are not ready to be played. The metaphor to me, is that no one in the Order, including Nick, is ready for Bree to start playing. She’s walked onto a game board that is not set yet and has not even been designed with her in mind as a player. But no matter. She is destined to play on (or destroy) the Order’s game board whether they’re ready or not.
There are two other chess references in Legendborn, both near the end of the story. In Chapter 38 on page 355, Sel describes Nick’s jealousy as a product of his “zero-sum game” mentality. This isn’t a direct chess reference, but chess is a famous zero-sum game. The true chess reference comes from Bree in the final pages:
“I know he’s right. I need a Kingsmage. I am the most important player on the board now.”
Legendborn, Chapter 57, page 488
The late Legendborn chess references are a springboard into Bloodmarked where Tracy Deonn’s chess imagery takes off and deepens.
The last section of Bloodmarked is titled “Only A King.” To me, this invokes a very specific chess scenario. When there’s a bare king or a lone king on the chessboard, that player cannot win because lone kings cannot checkmate. The best outcome that player can hope for is a stalemate.
When there are TWO lone kings on the chessboard, the game is immediately drawn.
Bree and Erebus are two lone kings at the end of Bloodmarked, heading off on their own. I’ve been thinking about how to interpret this ending metaphorically a lot lately.
Are Bree and Erebus in a draw?
How long can the draw last? Will they accept a draw?
Will they start another game?
The other chess references in Bloodmarked include:
William’s and Bree’s big CHESS reference
“Your life is in danger every minute, even when you’re surrounded by a dozen Mageguard. Right now, we all need to keep level heads and play the game.”
I shake my head. “Chess, not checkers.”
“Chess, not checkers.” William clucks. “Head up now, drink your tea.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 9, page 99
Sel’s heartbreaking GAME reference
“Do you wish for something else then?” I press, feeling brave. “Something… healthy?”
“I don’t know if that’s in the cards for me.” He seems poised to protest, then stops, studying me. “If I allowed myself that wish, it would be truly something. But wishes are the dangerous mind games we play with ourselves. The only way to win is not to play.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 52, page 475
Bree repeated and reflects on Sel’s exact words in Arthur’s dream world.
“Wishes are the dangerous mind games we play with ourselves. The only way to win is not to play.
Sel’s words ring truer here than ever.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 58, page 526
The Shadow King’s PRIZE
Bree makes a deal with The Shadow King at the end of Bloodmarked. She chooses to use the word prize. Game language. What sort of game is Bree starting?
“I will go with you, and stay by your side so that you can claim my power as your prize without trouble, if you do me a favor in return.”
Bloodmarked, Chapter 60, page 549
Minor Game References
No time for games, Chapter 4, page 53Shadow games, Chapter 11, page 116
Game plan, Chapter 19, page 190
Adaptability and games (Alice), Chapter 31, page 306
Not a game (Mariah), Chapter 44, page 418
Valec and games, Chapter 45, page 424
Political games, Chapter 51, page 461
Sel’s games, Chapter 51, page 463
Let’s end with a little canny numerical coincidence
A chess board has 32 pieces total.2 The order of the round table has 32 positions total.3
Thanks for reading the 9th installment in my series Get Nerdy With Me, where every day until Oathbound releases on March 4 (14 more days!), I’m deep diving a topic from the first two books in The Legendborn Cycle.
Legendborn, Chapter 9, page 78
Each player in chess starts with 16 pieces.
The 13 Scions, the 13 bonded Squires, the 3 Regents, and the 3 Mage Seneschals.