Final answer:
The 'chess players' metaphorically refer to Aztecs during King Montezuma's rule, who protested against the aggression of his people toward the peaceful, unarmed Spaniards led by Cortés.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the other chess players invited the king, it is a metaphorical reference to an incident involving King Montezuma of the Aztecs. The narrative seems to place us during the time when the Spaniards, led by Hernán Cortés, arrived in the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs, under King Montezuma, had initially welcomed the Spaniards peacefully. However, conflict arose, and in this particular scene, Montezuma protested the violent actions of his own people towards the Spaniards who were not bearing arms and were unprotected, as they were not thought to be in combat or a threatening situation at the time. King Montezuma's protest highlights the Aztecs' recognition of the Spaniards' unarmed status and calls out the inappropriate aggression.