Jackal Among Snakes

Brium stared down at the area beyond the walls of his tower, Cyprus, pushing a curtain aside to look through the barred window. A great abundance of people stood at attention behind him—most of them were ordinary humans, while two were Vessels. They were all armed for war. The Vessels were in their liquid form, silent and still, water tendrils wound like a snake poised to lunge.

At the walls surrounding the foot of the copper tower, a great blockade waited, tense and cautious. Soldiers formed the bulk of the ward, while the Vessels, some bearing gold and some bearing silver, acted as the commanders. They were organized, divided into three units numbering near two hundred each. The frontliners bore great tower shields burrowed into the ground, mindful of the archers posted on Cyprus’ walls. Those behind the shield-bearers kneeled, watching the walls and the giant gate of the tower between the small cracks in their allies’ shields.

The industry of Sethia had ceased and many of the people came to watch. Unlike the raid at Argent, the guard was organized, deliberately keeping people inside the walls. But even the guards, too, were consumed with curiosity and nervousness, casting glances towards the tower of Cyprus. People resorted to climbing the walls of Sethia to get a better view. The archers atop the city’s walls did not hinder those people.

“It’s like two animals snarling in each other’s face, practically at the throat, yet neither doing anything…” Brium mused. “Neither want the danger. Threatening. Posturing.” The Lord of Copper turned his head back. “Though we aren’t equals. One is a lion.”

“My lord,” Captain Jeralian spoke. “I don’t think we can delay much longer. They’ve been demanding you appear and be judged for near an hour.”

“It isn’t as though we’ll struggle in the fight ahead…” Brium shook his head. “But has he really disappointed me like this? Yarra wouldn’t let him. She’s more than a match for his party.”

“My lord,” continued Jeralian, frustrated. “What should I do?”

“Go and join the garrison,” Brium waved his hands, not even deigning to look back. “It’ll be another hour yet before they genuinely act. Gold and silver—shiny metals and intimidating besides, but ultimately weak and useless. Everything is in place.”

The Captain of the Guard moved off, his order received. Brium continued to watch.

“The Lords of Silver and Gold demand that Brium, Lord of Copper, appear to receive judgement for his heretical ideals!” the commanding Vessels shouted, remaining in physical form to do so.

A man wearing red and gold clothing, his face hidden by a red cloth wrap, also climbed up the walls of Sethia. He looked around, watching the soldiers blockade the gate to Cyprus. He reached into his pocket and pulled free a disc. It was silver, polished to the point it reflected the sun nigh perfectly. He held it level with his face, tilting it up and down in the direction of Cyprus.

The light of the suns above reflected on it, blinking at the archers on the opposite wall of Sethia. Though some were annoyed by the light, one of the archers reacted as though awoken. He stepped away from his companions, looking around, and went to an empty spot on the wall. He retrieved an arrow from a hidden crevice and nocked it silently.

recklessly at the blockade. The arrow sung as it travelled, leaving a noise like windchimes in its wake. A purple

a soldier’s shield, black sand exploded in all directions with tremendous force. Screams of confusion and pain both split the air. The watching crowd in Sethia grew tense with uncertainty, murmuring to each other in shock. A sandstorm started to writhe in the wake of the

the initial confusion settled, a single cry dissolved the uncertainty of

commanding Vessels shouted, moments before their

who followed the first Vessel in assuming their liquid form. Great

not last for long. He turned his head back. “Send the signal,” he directed

affirmative, but both moved at once, one writhing up the tower’s stairs to a higher level. The other moved past Brium, breaking the

gripped one of the broken bars. His fingers swelled as they clenched the metal as though filling up with water. The iron began to

at them as they approached, their job becoming only easier as their targets marched closer. It might have seemed nonsensical. Walls were made to defend—without an

to break walls. The Vessels filled

of torso-thick water struck out in unison. On the first blow, the thick iron gates rung out like giant gongs, each Vessels’ blow leaving inch-deep impacts into the metal. The second blow came, wrenching the gates from the walls. The doors barely remained standing, stone crumbling where the

the attacking soldiers marched through the open gateway. The defenders dropped boiling oil at them through murder holes as they passed. It proved to be of varying effectiveness. Many blocked the assault with their shields, while

parapets and confronting the archers. As soon as the archers spotted the Vessels, they let out a primal screech of fear and ran. The closest chose to jump off the wall rather than

jets of water cutting through any opponents with little resistance. They flowed along the wall, leaving a trail of blood and gore in their wake. Yet as one passed over a grate in the wall, a great geyser of water erupted. The assailant was one of Brium’s Vessels. The ambusher sought out the infant form of its

the woman stepped up to a strange apparatus, grabbing a bag of loose powder and dumping it into a metal cone. She pulled a latch

The sound was deafening, the crude explosion echoing out for miles. The flame was the same size as the tower itself and persisted for only a second or two before dissipating.

not the extent of the forces within the city. Vessels of differing allegiance moved to action, emerging from their estates and businesses to survey the situation and take action. The civilians in the city ran in a frenzy of fear and dread, their reckless stampede worsening the

distant mountains stirring. Flying dots emerged from the rocky peaks, and the people felt their hearts beat faster. Soon, these far-off figures took form, solidity, winged forms resembling a

the black walls of Sethia. The people encased knew

just as the wyverns told the people what approached, actions within the city made it clear that it was not coming—it was

near the entrance of prominent places, waiting for Vessels to walk past. When they emerged, the hiding assassins ambushed their prey, stabbing with their daggers. Each blow landed sent black sand dancing through the air. A great many of the assailants failed—Vessels were difficult

a liquid form. The chiming of the arrows drowned out the panicked screams, and purple runes danced in Sethia. Each arrow exploded just as the first had, killing indiscriminately. Many more civilians were killed than Vessels. Nevertheless, the assault

their allegiance. Though those belonging to Argent and Aurum were more numerous, the servants of Copper were well-organized, obviously anticipating the rebellion. Brium’s men quickly grouped up, seizing a portion of the city that was well-defended. They