Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stared out beyond the hedge maze. He was just tall enough to see over the well-trimmed bushes. Night had fallen, bathing Count Delbraun’s estate in pearly moonlight. The wind had grown colder yet, and Argrave was glad of the golden fur lining his lapel and collar. He pulled his gloves a bit tighter and turned around, watching the last of his company for the banquet take their seats. Count Delbraun sat at one end of the table, back straight as an arrow.

They had moved to a marble terrace just beside the banquet hall. An abundance of greenery made it quite the secluded place, though the plants were kept well enough that the privacy appeared deliberate. The tables and chairs were a gray stone and had been marked with hand-carved floral designs.

Argrave pulled back the chair opposite Delbraun, taking his place at the head of the table. His gaze quickly jumped between Elaine, Stain, Elias, and Helmuth, finally landing at the Count. The man reminded Argrave of Duke Enrico, somewhat—a cold, business-like atmosphere, though Delbraun seemed to lack what little warmth the Duke had.

“To begin with, I’d like to thank you for giving us your time,” Argrave began amiably.

Delbraun stared at Argrave in silence, only blinking and waiting. Stain tapped his nails against the stone table, biting his lips in the quiet terrace. Elias seemed to wish desperately to interject, but he only watched Argrave, eyes pleading.

Being met with all the response a statue might offer, Argrave shifted in his seat. Delbraun was not especially involved in ‘Heroes of Berendar,’ so it was difficult to get an accurate bead on his personality. The player had but a few brief interactions, most of which were insubstantial. In the game, he had remained neutral with Elbraille until the war was all but finished. That told Argrave only of caution.

Argrave tilted his head, meeting Delbraun’s gaze. “Perhaps you would like me to skip the niceties and get to the point, Count Delbraun.”

This got more reaction, but only just—the Count raised an eyebrow.

“Doubtless you’re curious about why Elias would come here. He has no good reason to accept your invitation, ostensibly.” Argrave leaned forward and laid his arms on the table. “I’ll lay it out plainly. This civil war is rather concerning. With Mateth crippled as it is, Jast stands to be the primary military power at the edge between the north and the south.”

The Count held up a hand, a spell matrix swirling about. Argrave knew the Count was a B-rank mage, and so tensed, prepared to move at but a moment’s notice. Looking at the spell, Argrave quickly deduced it was a warding spell. A bubble expanded outwards, enveloping them.

“Some letters of mine were missing,” Delbraun’s gaze fell on Stain. “Something would come of it, I knew.”

“Ahah,” Argrave laughed awkwardly. “I hope you won’t pay that any mind. A necessary act.”

“Is your intent to coerce me, Argrave of Vasquer?” Delbraun’s orange eyes switched back to Argrave, not a hint of fear on his expression despite his words. “You bring an S-rank spellcaster into my domain. As a mage, you can’t be ignorant that people would take notice of a veritable monster walking about. You arrive at my banquet unannounced. If you do intend to coerce…” he closed his eyes and shook his head. “…Imprudent.”

Elias reacted strongly to the word ‘coerce,’ adjusting in his seat and looking urgently to Argrave. Perhaps contrary to Elias’ desires, though, Argrave did not immediately deny it.

“You’re taking a course that’s against the best interest of the realm. That’s why Elias and

the phrase ‘the realm’ made his words ambiguous, and deliberately so on Argrave’s part. ‘The realm’ might mean Vasquer, or it might mean Jast. Argrave trusted that uncertainty

Count took a deep breath and exhaled, gaze

this.” Argrave held his hands out, open-palmed. “You stand at the beginning of a path. Or, better yet, a crossroad,”

unheeding of the righteousness of the situation. I cannot fault you for this—you swore

of his prolonged silence. He cleared his throat and continued, saying, “Correct. I believe it would be in everyone’s best interest to forge a union between House Jast and House Parbon, by way of myself and a woman of

face fell. He looked to Elias, letting

are the oldest house in Vasquer, barring the royal family itself. Over centuries, this place rose from a barren wasteland of black stone into a city of magic famed across the

leaned in. “As one house of wizards surrounded by a thousand others in this land of dense magic, my house learned well when to fight and when to endure. Powers great and small all fell, but when the king chose a Count of this burgeoning city, he named it Jast.” Delbraun

and righteousness, you’d eschew your duty to your people to retain your position?” Argrave criticized. The words were mostly for

Delbraun questioned coldly. “Vasquer has ruled for 872 years. The realm

king is ruthless and uncompromising, sowing misery where he treads. Its heir is worse

fealty to the king,” Delbraun shook his head. “I bear the title of Count

grasps at power to strengthen House Vasquer.” Argrave leaned in, entwining his hands. “Nothing is black and white, Count Delbraun, but do you recall a history where a villain won? Never, considering who writes it.” Argrave unwound his fingers. “Furthermore, should a new king be enthroned, with Parbon as the sole decider, doubtless

and forth slowed for a moment as each stared the other down. Finally, Delbraun asked, “You believe House Parbon to be the

to confess that things looked dire without Jast’s aid or neutrality, but doing

they’ll bear the brunt.” Argrave pursed his lips. “I stopped what was beginning in Mateth before it could spiral out of control. I cannot stop this civil war. I hope that, by facilitating this, the war can end quickly with a crushing

stormed a

“An assassin can achieve much if the receiver is unprepared. If this does not illustrate Vasquer’s

the silence he’d cultivated at the beginning of the conversation, staring at Argrave. His gaze was lost in deliberation, and

wish to speak of coercion?” Argrave continued. “Vasquer has practically forced Elbraille into support. The Duke fears reprisal on account of being so close to the bulk of Vasquer’s power, and Vasquer has leveraged that fear well with minute rewards.”

placed her hand on the table. “The Order of the Gray Owl presently maintains its politically neutral stance under the leadership of Master Castro. Individual mages, however, are free to hold their own allegiances. As are the nobility of

did not look at Elaine, eyes staying locked

I am well aware there exists some hostility between the two of you,” he pointed two fingers at each of them. “Elias, though, is rather impressed by his talents. Should

Delbraun laughed once, a smile splitting his stern demeanor for the first