You get the chess set home and set the board on the kitchen table. Slowly you lift the pieces, feeling the heaviness of the crystal. You examine the entire set closely, inspecting each piece for flaws, finding none you become increasingly astonished as every pawn is discovered to be identical, eight blue uniform pawns and eight identical red pawns.
“Amazing craftsmanship,” you mutter to yourself. You inspect each of the major pieces more intensely than you did the pawns, and find uncanny uniformity in each. The Rooks are square towers with intricate etchings of the masonry used to build a medieval castle, the four sides of each piece are distinct, but each Rook has a side that is identical to the three other Rooks, four Rooks, four identical sides. Unease seems to settle over the room as the Rooks are placed on the four corners of the boards.
The Knights are armored warriors with visors pulled down, mounted on powerful looking steeds. The horses muscles seem to quiver with leashed power, the cold smooth crystal gives the illusion of swift, graceful, destructive strength. Each Knight seems to have an aura of stately dignity, courteous death.
The Bishops are plain by comparison to the other pieces, simple robed monks with the hoods pulled up, not quite hiding the face. The only way you can describe the monk’s face is serene, there is serenity and peace with each piece. The robes look as if they are a course cloth and you are shocked as you touch the first of them, the crystal has a rough woolen texture and your fingers are reluctant to release each Bishop and a feeling of emptiness pervades you as you place each on the board.
The Kings are the largest pieces, the red King is bearded, a smallish nose under clear intelligent eyes, the hint of a prominent chin beneath the beard. He wears a simple crown of gold over a chain mail headpiece. It is a regal figure and there is a strong assurance exuded by the piece. Placing the King on the board you choose his opponent to inspect it. Here is the first difference you have found the blue King has a heavy mustache, obscuring the mouth. A strong clean chin is below the coarse mustache, a large nose above. There is a patch over the left eye, the right is again clear and intelligent. A scar runs from the hairline beneath the eye patch to the left cheek. A chain mail tunic covers his chest and arms; around his head is a simple ring of inlaid silver. You feel a calm confidence with this piece and gently place him on his rightful square.
Picking up the red King’s mate you discover a woman of delicate beauty, a small nose and strong cheekbones. She has clear eyes that are unreadable, yet soft. Her bodice is tight and her breasts are modest, a cape covers her bare shoulders, she also has a simple crown of gold on her head and her hair is long and luxurious. You inspect her counterpart and find differences again; the two must be sisters you think. The blue Queens hair is shorter but just as luxurious and her eyes are identical to the red Queen’s but her face is not as full and her beauty strikes you as a bit more bold. She too wears a dress with a tight bodice and her bare shoulders are covered by a hooded cape, the hood flowing down her back. Like her mate she has a ring of inlaid silver encircling her head.
She feels unnaturally warm to your touch and panic unrecognized seeps into your soul. You set her next to her mate and she suddenly glows softly, and then brighter, you notice the red Queen emitting light also. The disquiet in you is palpable, and you feel the panic that is in all your crevices and hidden places. Of their own volition each queen turns to you and the red Queen speaks, “My Lord, you must choose a side for the ensuing battle.”
“Yes mi Lord,” voices the blue Queen, “it is imperative that you choose a side soon, for the stakes of this battle are high indeed.”
“Why must I choose?” you manage to croak.
“It is your soul we battle for, my Lord,” they answer in unison.
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