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Concerning Nash...

*This post contains spoilers for The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy.*

As an explanation for my last post: what originally made me suspicious of Nash?

In TIG, there’s a scene where someone is behind Avery’s fireplace scratching/breathing before Oren disabled the secret entrance (p 244-45). This happens a second time when she’s sleeping in Libby’s room:

I slept in Libby’s room again that night. She didn’t. I asked Oren to confirm with her security team that she was okay and on the premises. She was–but he didn’t tell me where. … Late into the night and nearly asleep, I heard something like footsteps. Behind me? Below? The wind whistled outside my window. Gunshots lurked in my memory. I had no idea what was lurking in the walls. (TIG p 274)

Side note: Where was Libby that night? Does anyone know for sure? My assumption was that she was somewhere with Nash.

Anyway, neither book completely addresses the creeper in the walls. After TIG, I assumed it had been connected to Nash because, other than the other three brothers, who else would know the secret passageways? This, however, can be connected instead to Mellie/Eli since they ended up using the passageway for a kidnapping; this scratching could have been them scouting/planning. It wasn’t explicitly confirmed, so I’m not writing off the possibility of it being someone else.

Regardless of who it was, this is what inspired me to reread the books and comb for finer clues. After doing that, I became concerned about the role Nash is going to play in the final book; I don’t quite believe he’ll be an antagonist, but I think we’ll be learning more about his shortcomings.

What are some things we know about Nash?

He travels a lot and returns with people to save. He is aware and responsible about the power dynamic between him and the people he saves.

“Nash is a bit of a nomad. He leaves. He wanders. He finds some hole-in-the-wall place to bartend for a while, and then, like a moth to the flame, he comes back–usually with one or two hopeless souls in tow. As I’m sure you can imagine, there’s plenty of work to be had at Hawthorne House, and Mr. Hawthorne had a habit of putting Nash’s lost souls to work… Nash would never let anything happen with someone he had any kind of power over. He has his flaws–a savior complex among them–but he’s not like that.” (TIG p 84)

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He has a savior complex. This isn’t viewed positively by both Alisa and Grayson.

Alisa: “He has his flaws–a savior complex among them–but he’s not like that.” (TIG p 84)

Grayson shook his head. “He’ll want to save you now.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” I asked.

Another look–and more emotion, heavily masked. (TIG p 271)

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Alisa and him used to be engaged, but it ended. He “scorned” her.

She left without saying a single word to Nash, and he watched her go.

“You be careful with that one,” Mrs. Laughlin advised the eldest Hawthorne brother, once the door had closed. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

…“Don’t go convincing yourself Lee-Lee is consortin’ with the enemy,” Nash told Mrs. Laughlin. “Avery isn’t anyone’s enemy. There are no enemies here. This is what the old man wanted.” (TIG p 62)

“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t let Alisa hear you refer to her as my anything.” (THL p 85)

“That probably makes me a very bad influence, but you need someone. I understand that, Avery. And you don’t want that someone to be a Hawthorne… Call your friend Max. Let her be your person. Not one of them.” (THL p 104-05)

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We are unaware what his role in “the game” is yet. We know he most likely received the same riddle as everyone else in the beginning, but his second letter is undisclosed. Note that whatever is in his second letter stressed him.

Nash slid his gaze to me. “Would I be correct in assuming this has something to do with the gobbledy-gook in my letter from the old man?”

“Your letter,” I repeated, my brain whirring. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Tobias Hawthorne had left Grayson and Jameson with identical clues. Nash too–and probably Xander. (TIG p 152)

Inside there were five envelopes, one with each of our names.

I watched as the boys opened and read theirs. Nash swore under his breath. Grayson stared at his. Jameson let out a broken little laugh. Xander shoved his into his pocket. (TIG p 356)

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The fallout between Alisa and Nash was established by page 21 of TIG when Alisa asked if Avery had had her heart broken by a Hawthorne. Yet, throughout both books, it has never been explained what exactly happened. However, there are some clues that provide a rough outline. Since this has been hinted at for so long, I feel it will be important in TFG.

So what happened between Alisa and Nash?

Nash broke her heart, according to Alisa, and scorned her, according to Mrs. Laughlin. This makes his amiable act (“Lee-Lee”) toward Alisa feel like salt in the wound. But why did they have a disagreement, and how did it play out? Ultimately, Nash desired to save someone, but Alisa chose not to:

Then he lowered his voice and looked her in the eye. “If you’d wanted to protect her, you could have.”

There were so many layers to that sentence, I couldn’t begin to untangle them…

“I’m not in the business of protecting every sad story that comes along,” Alisa told Nash.

I knew she wasn’t just talking about Libby. (TIG p 285-286)

Why did Alisa choose not to save that “sad story?” Because she aligned herself with Tobias Hawthorne instead. She fulfilled her duty to him, either as a lawyer or family-friend, and acted per his request. When Grayson questions her loyalties, she states:

“When did I become the enemy here? I have only ever done what the old man wanted me to do.” She spoke like those words were being physically torn out of her. “Do you have any idea what that’s cost me?”

It was clear from the tone of her voice that she wasn’t just talking about the will, or me, or anything that had happened in the wake of Tobias Hawthorne’s death. She’d call him “the old man,” the same way they did, when I’d only ever heard her refer to him as Mr. Hawthorne or Tobias Hawthorne before. And when she spoke about what her loyalty to the old man had cost her…

She’s talking about Nash. (THL p 249-50)

What position did Tobias Hawthorne have her take? Most likely something that protected the family. After Emily’s funeral, Grayson says he was told: “Family first. He said that what happened to Emily wouldn’t have happened if I’d put family first.” (TIG p 321). In my opinion, this is an evil thing to say to your grieving grandson after attending the funeral of his ex-girlfriend–who he thinks he killed! By saying something so heavy and didactic, it’s established that this is an important lesson both to Tobias and the story.

If Tobias is such a follower of the “family first” philosophy, then why would he take a position opposite of Nash’s? It seems contradictory to request something that could oppose or hurt Nash–unless whoever that “sad story” was was someone who may have had the power to negatively impact the Hawthornes. It has been established that Tobias will do reprehensible things to protect them:

Not one of you will see my fortune. There are things I have done that I am not proud of, legacies that you should not have to bear. (THL p 265)

“If she was a juvenile,” Xander said slowly, “the record would have been sealed.”

“The old man unsealed it.” Jameson didn’t phrase that as a question. “Anything to protect the family name.”

I could understand why my mother’s mother had called Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune blood money. Had he left it to me in part out of guilt? (THL p 285)

So, he requests Alisa to carry out his will. Did Tobias know it would break them up? Did he ever feel bad about his role in their demise? These aren’t questions regarding the mystery, but more so Tobias’ character. Whatever this request was, it was worth more than Nash’s and Alisa’s relationship. Ouch! I could write so much about how Alisa isn’t a bad person, despite being portrayed as one. Whatever this position was, Alisa most likely tried to explain it to Nash, but he didn’t agree with her reasoning:

Alisa’s eyes narrowed. “You never were very good at listening.”

“Listen doesn’t always mean agree, Lee-Lee.” Nash’s use of the nickname–his amiable smile and equally amiable tone–sucked every ounce of oxygen out of the room. (TIG p 152-53)

From her perspective, he wouldn’t listen to her logic; but from his point of view, he was listening well and just didn’t agree with it.

Also noteworthy: was Nash’s desire to save the “sad story” leading to his relationship breaking apart why Grayson felt frustrated by his savior complex? Is that why he views it negatively? (TIG p 271).

Have other characters viewed Nash in a concerning manner? Sort of.

In the beginning, Nan takes Xander’s arm instead of Nash’s (TIG p 30). This could easily be because Xander is the favorite, but Nan seems to have some scary perception!

Additionally, Avery states my favorite concerning quote about Nash:

“Everyone who lives or works in this house is my concern,” Nash told me. “No matter how many times I leave or how long I’m gone for–people still need looking after. So…” He gave me that same lazy grin. “Your sister know you’re playing hooky?”

“I’ll talk to her,” I said, trying to see past the cowboy in him to what lay underneath.

Nash returned my assessing look. “You do that, sweetheart.” (TIG p 253)

This feels oddly specific and like a huge foreshadow! What is behind the cowboy act? Avery also distrusts Nash because of his proximity to Mellie, and possibly Eli:

I couldn’t stop staring at Mellie. Alisa had told me once that she was one of the ones that Nash had “saved” from unfortunate circumstances. I had no idea what those circumstances were, but it couldn’t be coincidence that both she and her brother had ended up in the Hawthornes’ employ.

How long had they been planning this? (THL p 330)

Now, some concerning things about Nash’s role in “the game”:

As previously mentioned, he most likely received the same first riddle as everyone else, but his second letter causes him to curse under his breath when read. Something about it stressed him out. It seems that Tobias and him had a complex relationship. Nash is implied to have a complicated relationship with Tobias’ birthday tradition:

“Every year on our birthdays…” Nash stared off into the distance. “The old man would call us into his study and say the same three words. Invest. Cultivate. Create.”

… “That’s amazing,” I said, thinking about all the trophies I’d seen in Tobias Hawthorne’s office.

Nash didn’t exactly look amazed. “The old man also laid out a challenge every year,” he continued, his voice hardening. “An assignment, something we were expected to create by the next birthday. An invention, a solution, a work of museum-quality art. Something.”

I thought about the comic books I’d seen framed on the wall. “That doesn’t sound horrible.”

“It doesn’t, does it?” Nash said, ruminating on those words. (TIG p 153)

Whatever annual challenge(s) was laid out for Nash in the past isn’t viewed favorably by him, as shown when Avery says it “doesn’t sound horrible,” to which he responds, “It doesn’t, does it?” This is a small detail, but I can’t think of any reason to include it if it has no purpose since it introduces a complicated dynamic and a displeasure to be resolved. So what did Tobias challenge him with?! I’m dying to know. As a nomad, would he complete this challenge while on the road, or is his nomadic lifestyle related to the challenge(s) laid out by Tobias? Is he searching for something? For someone? Would this hypothetical challenge have something to do with Mellie/Eli/Toby/Eve? So many questions about this! Lastly, is what’s written in his second envelope related to this? I feel that Nash’s underlying role in this story is related to this.

Also, after they solve the first part of the mystery, Nash plays the role of the obscured character once more:

“He needed something to get our attention,” Grayson said. “Something so unexpected, so bewildering, that it could only be seen–”

“–as a puzzle,” Jameson finished. “Something we couldn’t ignore. Something to wake us up again. Something to bring us here–all four of us.”

“Something to purge the poison.” Nash’s tone was hard to read.

… “I told you, kid,” Nash said beside me. “You’re not a player. You’re the glass ballerina–or the knife.” (TIG p 358-59)

What poison-in-need-of-purging does Nash know about? I have a feeling he’s not necessarily talking about their sour relationships over Emily. What could this possibly be referring to? There’s one more thing regarding poison that I want to note: Nash asks Avery “what’s your poison?” when she’s choosing an arcade soda to drink (TIG p 267). This can easily be written off since that’s a common saying, but it’s still a possible connection I want to bring to light.

Lastly, Nash is playing the game, even if he acts like he isn’t.

He states that he’s not interested in the money, but that doesn’t mean he is wholly uninvolved in these circumstances. When Nash discusses the weekly riddles, he states:

“At the beginning of the game, the old man would lay out a collection of objects. A fishing hook, a price tag, a glass ballerina, a knife.” He shook his head in memory. “And by the time the puzzle was solved, damned if we hadn’t used all four.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I was so much older. I had an advantage. Jamie and Gray, they’d team up against me, then double-cross each other right at the end.” (TIG p 154).

Nash took part in Tobias’ games. Avery also states that “Jameson and Grayson used to team up to beat Nash to the finish line, then double-cross each other at the end of the game” (TIG p 271). So, Nash is definitely a player in some way–after all, “there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.” But what is he trying to win? What’s his end goal? Grayson describes how that specific riddle played out:

“To win the game, we had to shatter the ballerina. Jameson, Xander, and I got the next part wrong. We fell for the misdirection. Nash didn’t. He knew the answer was the shards.” There was something in the way he was looking at me. Something I didn’t even have a word for. “My grandfather told us that as you amass that kind of power and money he had–things get broken. People. I used to think that he was talking about his children… But I’m starting to believe we missed the point. I’ve been thinking about the things–and people–that we have broken. All of us.” (THL p 166).

In this new game, are they all falling for a misdirection? All of them, that is, except for Nash? In this instance, what would “the shards” be? (Note: I don’t know what exactly “the shards” are in the original riddle, since the objects were a fishing hook, a price tag, a glass ballerina, and a knife. The only thing that would have shards would be the broken ballerina, so how he broke the ballerina with its own shards escapes me. Unless I’m completely misunderstanding–please let me know!)

This is when we need to begin looking at the glass ballerina and the misdirection knife. Nash tells Avery she is one of these–and both appear on TIG’s cover. The glass ballerina is wrapped in Emily’s necklace and the knife is wrapped in vines (these may be symbolic, or it may just be a design choice). Which one is Avery? I honestly have no clue. Help me decide! Either she’s the ballerina that they need to break, or will be/has been broken by the consequences of power/money, per the grandfather’s lesson. Or, is she the knife with the hidden compartment that serves as a misdirection?

Well, Avery explicitly states “I’m not the glass ballerina… I’m not going to shatter” (THL p 167). So, if you read it with the perspective of Avery being the knife, then chapter 28 of THL is amusing and symbolic, given that the two brothers are tossing the knife back and forth at key moments of conversation, almost as if it’s whoever Avery is dedicated to at that moment. It’s too long for me to type here and fully explain, so read it if you can! Jameson also holds the knife once more when Avery goes to choose him on page 351 of THL. But if the knife is a misdirection, then what does that mean? They both viewed Avery as a mystery when she first arrived–was this wrong? Is focusing on Avery wrong? Does this mean that Nash is the only one focusing on the true objective? In fact, the knife, key, and princess crown (which I assume represents Avery being the heiress) are all tangled in some vines. On the other hand, the glass ballerina is wrapped in Emily’s green necklace. Is the ballerina representative of Emily, a person who was “broken” by the Hawthornes?

Misdirection seems to be a key point of THL. On the American cover of the book is a rook chess piece. There’s also this interaction between Toby and Avery at the climax of the book:

“Queen to rook five,” he told me. That was a chess move–one I’d used on him in our last game, as misdirection.

Misdirection. My brain managed to latch onto that. (THL p 325)

So what is the misdirection? My two main theories are that it either refers to the objectives they’re chasing, the people they’re suspecting (are they not “purging” the right poison?), or even Avery’s relationship with Jamie.

THE TAKEAWAY: Nash, particularly his past fallout with Alisa, will play an important role in TFG. He’s suspicious, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s an antagonist–instead, his character just hasn’t been fully revealed yet!

I think I’ll write something about why Alisa deserves better pretty soon. The book keeps reinforcing the idea that she’s untrustworthy and a possible antagonist–I think this is a misdirection! That would be very in-line with THL’s key motif. Also, I’ll dive into some relationship flags with Avery and Jamie in another post. I really like them together after the second book, but there are some concerning things I’ve noticed nestled in JLB’s writing that may imply they’re not endgame :(. Lastly, I want to post some book cover analyses and theories for TFG based on hints from the past books content and covers.

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