Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 53

An attendant opened a glass door, bowing humbly. Induen paid the attendant little heed, ducking through the glass structure and entering the greenhouse proper. The place was incredibly beautiful and well-kept. The plants were bright and colorful, yet they did not block off the marble pathway winding throughout the entire place. A small brook wound its way around, letting off faint babbling sound. Small bugs no bigger than a coin flew about everywhere, letting out small sparks of multi-colored electricity.

Induen looked about the place for a moment, expression indiscernible. After fixing his gold-lined black clothes, he waved away the doorman without a word. The attendant bowed once more and shut the glass door. Induen took a deep breath and exhaled, and then walked through the greenhouse.

The path was lined with plant life unending. Small trees with red knobby fruits, strange black plants that shone with purple dew, or blue vines wrapped around a fence with fruits that might’ve passed as grapes… Induen noticed them, but he did not seem awed with them as one might be. He headed towards the center of the greenhouse.

He came to a central square with little plant life and plenty of space for movement. A grand fountain stood in the center, spouting water five feet in the air. Small streams of water branched off it and ran underneath the marble walkway, eventually forming the brooks that lined the rest of the greenhouse. There was a single table by the fountain. It was pink and fanciful, as were the chairs beside it. Two people sat.

Both were female. One of the two people was dressed just the same as the doorman Induen had just left. The other was a beautiful young woman who wore a white and green gown without much adornment. She sat in a strange chair that had handles and two wheels on the side. A blanket covered her legs, and her eyes were wrapped in a white cloth. She had the same obsidian-colored hair that Induen did.

Induen walked closer quietly with his hands behind his back. As he drew closer, he heard the servant speaking. She was reading from a book. The blind woman sat there quietly, listening intently. Induen waited patiently. Eventually, the servant woman noticed him and stood quickly.

“Ah…” she said, surprised. “Princess Elenore, your brother is here to see you.”

Elenore grabbed the table at once, clearly uneasy. “Who?”

“It’s me, sister,” Induen said warmly, stepping forward with his hand on his chest.

“Induen?” she questioned, face brightening. Her expression quickly returned to neutral as though she was hiding her emotions.

“Yes,” Induen confirmed. “Give us a moment alone,” he said towards the servant, voice considerably colder.

“At once, my Prince,” the servant said prudently, walking away from the marble square quickly.

Induen stayed standing for a moment, and then slid into the chair. His sister waited there, her blindfolded face not quite in the right direction. Induen picked up the book the servant had left. “’The Golden Void,’” he read the title, opening the first page.

“It’s a book about economy,” Elenore answered quickly.

“Diligent as ever,” Induen said, setting down the book. “I missed you. How have you been, Elenore?”

“You don’t care. Why do you ask?” She waved a hand in dismissal and crossed her arms, refusing to turn her face towards him. “I’m a cripple, not a lackwit.”

“Hey,” Induen said in protest. “Hey, hey.” He stood from the chair and moved to her chair, placing his hands gingerly on her arms. “Don’t be like that, El. Father was having me do things. You know I’d visit you every day if I could,” he said, trying to calm her down.

“What things?”

“Dealing with the unrest in the capital, communications with the nobles, gathering the troops, preparing the supplies…” Induen shook her gently. “I promise you I wouldn’t ever avoid you.”

finally turned her head to

“I promise,” Induen nodded.

few seconds. After she pulled

chair and sat

out of mind. It’s because of that finger-eating queen of father’s. She didn’t raise the others right.” She pointed to Induen, her finger a little off from his face. “Babies are like… animals. They’re no different than dogs. Somebody has to

head away, gazing out at the fountain as it

causing problems,”

The royal

her head. “Have you

in. “What are you talking

House Monticci in light of the snow elf invasion. ‘The Savior of House Monticci,’ the duke is calling him. Rumor has it

repeated, voice low. “Where did you hear all of

think would happen? You killed his mother. That sort of grudge

“But father—”

still a little kid, I’d give you a good smack.” She shook her head and crossed her legs. “You hate father. I hate him. Everybody hates him, but they’re afraid of him. All it takes to break that fear is one defiance. His days

him,”

But I was weak, so he gouged out my eyes and cut

mentioned what had happened to

keep telling you to rein in your impulses. I told you to stop with those

head into his hands. “I just get

you,” she mocked. “Appreciate that you have the luxury to get angry.

mulled on her words for a

rich. That’ll mend things,

Induen repeated. “What more do you want

she said harshly. “My people tell me father beat you because of your handling of Margrave Reinhardt. He wanted to curb your impulsivity.

his gaze downwards and

hear your sulking,” she chastised. “Well, stop being a baby. I think now is the

look at her, indignant gaze replaced by a fierce intensity. He took a deep breath, digesting what she said. “I’ll tell you what I can, but he’s sending me to the Duchy

has promised them some minor benefits—lands of the defeated, stipends, et cetera. With Mateth essentially crippled, they’re quite close to the north, and the Duke of Elbraille is a coward who doesn’t wish to be the bulwark against Vasquer. That’s common knowledge.

the table and retrieved a stack

Behind the scenes, I’ll arrange one of my agents to set up a meeting between you and the Duchess. She and I have

and

us, not for the king. House Monticci is the weakest it’s been in centuries. Promise the duchess the city. She’ll get her husband in

down a paper. “Even with ten men manning it, the walls of Mateth won’t fall. The Duchy of Elbraille has no navy, so a siege would be the

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