Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 16

Elias trudged up the hill leading to the Monticci estate with heavy steps. Embarrassingly, he had been caught by Argrave’s escort in seconds. He still recalled the giant of a man cornering him, staring him down with those pure white eyes of his. They had the same cold steel glint that he saw in his father’s eyes, sometimes—a war veteran, a man of many battles.

But at least that unfortunate encounter told Elias that Argrave’s escort was not someone from Vasquer. None of Vasquer’s royalty had white eyes. He looked more a mercenary than a knight. Elias was unsure what Argrave intended to do. Consequently, he decided to take the matter directly to Duke Enrico.

He stopped a fair distance away from the gated wall leading to House Monticci’s grandiose estate. Unlike most noble houses in the kingdom of Vasquer, House Monticci resided in a mansion—the city of Mateth was a fortress in and of itself, and House Monticci always prided itself on treating the commonfolk fairer than most houses. What better way to symbolize that than to live in the same area as they?

Elias straightened his clothes and walked up to the gate. Two knights stood on guard, and they watched him passively. A blue swordfish, the symbol of House Monticci, decorated their shield and breastplate. Elias walked to them, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a seal bearing the golden lion of House Parbon.

“I am Elias of House Parbon, heir to Margrave Reinhardt,” he greeted the knights levelly. “I would speak to Duke Enrico on urgent matters.”

The knights out front of the gate straightened. They looked at each other, each trying to puzzle out how to respond. The first to speak wasn’t the knights, though.

“Woah, hey,” came a higher pitched voice from behind the gate. Elias stepped to the side and peered into the estate. Mina walked up to the gate and grabbed the bars. “It’s Elias. Wow, guess the Margrave sent you personally, huh?”

“Mina,” Elias greeted. “I came to speak to the duke.”

At the gate, one of the knights decided to head into the estate, presumably to bring the news of Elias’ arrival and decide whether or not he should be allowed in.

“Why would that be, I wonder?” she asked sarcastically. “Missing a prize horse? Angry dad? Maybe a little bit of both?”

Elias paused, not wishing to admit he’d come here without his father’s permission. He decided to change the subject. “And why are you here, and not in Count Elgar’s territory?”

“Pfft.” She scoffed, and then climbed up the fence until she sat atop one of the stone pillars between the metal bars. Her golden hair reflected the sunlight brilliantly. “I doubt the ninth child—a daughter, especially—will be missed sorely. Nicky’s a lot more fun than any of my family, anyhow.”

“I see.” Elias nodded, and then repeated what he’d told to the knights. “I need to speak to the duke.”

“About what?” Mina pressed.

he

“You’re not

Elias didn’t respond.

so mute. If it is about Argrave, I might

test the waters, if only just. “He met with

a smile. “He and Induen met in the Order of the Gray Owl’s branch here at Mateth, and then Grave walked out caked in poorly-cleaned blood. Nicky thinks that he got

dismissed immediately. “He probably staged

said I was paranoid.” Mina stood atop the pillar and jumped down in front of Elias. “Considering we stumbled into him on accident,

of ill character,” Elias insisted. “He crippled my sister years ago. He stole my

he talked your father into letting him

paused, unable to remember the details of what his

he didn’t comply. I consider it justice. Hilarious justice, at that. I still laugh when I

character. Mina had a reputation as a trickster, but if she was friends with Nikoletta, she could not be disreputable. Elias decided to

escort spotted me in mere minutes. He was a powerful man. Argrave’s clearly not going to be idle, and he has something to

tilted her head. “Grave was talking about the Baretta Troupe Auction, but he suddenly left on ‘urgent business.’ Some kind of magic item was glowing.” Mina sighed. “Listen, Elias, I’ll be honest with you—Nicky has already made up

after talking to Induen, she’s only more committed to that trust. Even if she knew something, I doubt she’d

away, sighing and falling into

Mina continued, raising a finger. “I’ve seen Nikoletta spend fortunes on acts of misplaced charity. She’s given a life's earnings to your average marketplace swindler. She’s misplaced her trust thousands of times before. She’s trusting. I think Grave isn’t such

getting at?” Elias asked, turning

very quickly that being unseen is better than standing out. I can even help keep you

some minor illusion magic. Didn’t seem

use C-rank illusion magic?”

brows. “You’ve

magic at the young age of 19… Of course, Nicky says I should focus on other fields of magic, but elemental magic and stuff like that is

out what he’s up to?” Elias

arms. “I might’ve

and bowed.

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