Jackal Among Snakes

“Damn it,” cursed Duke Enrico as he stared out into the distance at his domain. Now that war was upon them, he had donned his plate mail, the blue swordfish of Monticci embedded on its chest. He stood atop the walls of Mateth, right beside one of the giant marble statues, as he stared out at the rising smoke in the distance. “The boy was right, to the word.”

Nikoletta stepped forward to stand beside her father, arms crossed. The two seemed like echoes of each other with their similarly decorated armor—one plate, one leather. “You could not have known. No one knew, besides him.”

“And that’s the mystery. How did he know? Perhaps the royal family’s influence is greater in my domain than I expected. It’s pointless to consider now… henceforth, though, I’ll follow his advice.” He turned back. “Knight-Commander Ryger. Command the mage battalions to center their forces near the docks, preparing to counter magic.”

“At once, duke,” with his voice echoing through his helmet, Ryger bowed and then moved to obey. His heavy armor clanged noisily as he sprinted.

The Duke turned back to Nikoletta. “If we should survive this, I view Argrave as your most promising marriage prospect.”

“What?!” Nikoletta could not help but shout in surprise. “He’s my cousin!”

“He has no force backing him, so he won’t compete with you for control of the duchy when I pass. He’s a bastard, so he should have no issue adopting the name of Monticci. He’s a very promising mage and a brilliant strategist. He’s young. Above all, you like him,” the duke continued, unaffected by her outburst. “As do I.”

“He—” Nikoletta paused, taking a deep breath. “You’ve spoken to him but once, and you ‘like him?’ He’s a friend, nothing more. Worse yet, he’s near identical to Elwind. As I said, he’s already family.”

“That matters little. You have no shared ancestors beyond your mother,” Duke Enrico shook his head. “There should be no issues with your progeny.”

At the mental image her father’s words gave her, she shook her head frantically. “Father, please…!”

“No more discussions. When he returns… if he returns,” Duke Enrico amended, “I will send the proposal.”

Nikoletta opened her mouth to say more, but a voice from behind cut her off.

“Duke Enrico!” a lightly armored gatekeeper ran up, breathing hard.

“Catch your breath, then speak,” the Duke commanded.

The gatekeeper did, and then he took off his helmet and wiped his face with his wrist. “Two people are trying to enter the gate, duke. One of them claims to be Knight Ryles from Barden, bringing urgent news from the village regarding a mage. The other is a female mercenary with a giant sword seeking to help in the defense.”

“Argrave went to Barden,” Nikoletta said immediately.

“Oh!” the gatekeeper exclaimed. “That name was mentioned, young lady Monticci.”

of the Gray Owl to examine both people for magic trickery before they enter.

ran off once again. The Duke retrieved a seeing glass and

of conversation settling between the two as they waited. Nikoletta tapped her finger against her elbow as though to speed up time. She could not deny she was worried. That the knight was alive was a promising thing, but the fact he returned mentioning Argrave specifically could not be a

been more than fifteen

saluted once he’d catch his breath. “Knight Ryles.

what led you to abandon your post?”

of the battle, a spellcaster came to us. He offered the name… I think it was ‘Argrave of Blackward,’ and claimed that he was the duke’s

used that as an

to Nikoletta and turned back to the knight. “And?” the

to the site of the battle. He used this horde to gain parley with the snow elves. He

Duke furrowed his brows, and then ran a hand through his blue hair.

the questions did not head the direction he wanted. “I believe he intended to sail with them to return to Veiden in condition for cooperation killing the

you see them sail away? Defeat the metal creatures?” the duke questioned,

seemed too close to the snow elves, so I thought…” Ryles trailed off, taken aback

“Damn it.

to keep Monticci’s reputation intact. He had gone with the Margrave despite the dangers to keep their House’s relationships stable.

can’t do anything for him now, anyway. He acted alone, but I’ve never seen him act without a plan.

his daughter. After

#####

a fur sack in her right hand. She had cleaned and changed into a more fitting white-fur robe. Ahead, the door was slightly ajar, and a

notes at points. “Bedridden, imprisoned in me. I’m crippled and broken, alive and not free. The sun out my window, it warms me and leaves. No calls and no visits, just me and my dreams. And I’m

was terrible, bluntly put. She pushed open the door and entered.

celebrating. “You look like a Russian princess with the fancy

up to him, sitting on the bedside and hefting the sack atop

ignorance. A Russian princess, hm?” Argrave tilted his head back. “A Russian princess would probably have fair hair, pale skin, fancy fur clothes made right in Siberia, and an undeniable dignity befitting

to study his face for a minute. Then, she pushed the bag she was holding towards Argrave. “Here. I brought preserved fish and meat. Eating rich foods

as he leaned over to grab

lap. Barring a few shelves with nothing on them and a window closed off with a fur blanket, the room

kicked me out,” Anneliese said. “I suspect

of meat with his hands into small, bite-sized pieces. “What, you just gave your account

“Yes,” she confirmed.