"That is one way to look at it, certainly," Thrawn acknowledges, setting the king into its appropriate position on the board.

"And he is, indeed, the most well-sheltered of the pieces to start."

Demonstrating that is simple enough, as Thrawn assembles the ranks -- pawns in front, queen next to the king, with bishops, knights, and rooks flanking them in that order.

"But only to start."