Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 195

“At this point, the main challenge is confining the infected to the camps,” Mina spoke to Induen, staring out over the city of Veden from the castle. “People that catch the disease spread it indefinitely. Some people, when it stops spreading, resume mingling into society. Like this, the outbreaks never really stop.”

“Just use force,” Induen shook his head disapprovingly. “It isn’t so difficult.”

Mina looked to him. “Do you think this tiny county has the manpower to force more than half of its residents into refugee camps or within their own homes? And even then, the last thing we wish is for our military to be infected with this disease. That would only exacerbate the disaster.”

“Who said anything about confining them?” Induen’s blue eyes locked with Mina’s, veritably shining.

“Yes, we can kill anyone that disagrees with us, become the rulers of corpses. It’ll be harder to get them to tend the fields that way, I’m sure, but at least we’ll have gotten what we wanted,” Mina challenged him.

Induen’s jaw clenched as he stared at Mina, eyes narrowing with anger. Then, one corner of his mouth split open, and he started laughing dryly.

“You’ve a lot of bravery for one so small,” he noted as his laughter trailed off. “I’ve killed for less.”

Mina stared back at him, not flinching at all. Then, she nodded. “We established this already. You want to kill people for getting sick.”

Even Induen was flabbergasted by her boldness. He only laughed once more, then turned back to the city, watching out. He could not be both amused and angry, and he was more amused than anything.

“Fine. Fine…” he conceded, crossing his arms and leaning against one of the keep’s pillars. “People that resume their tasks despite their sickness—it’s a selfish act, so they’re selfish people. Give them incentive to stay inside, they’ll fall in line. Greed is an easy, base emotion to satisfy.”

“You mean… pay them? Veden is not… exactly…”

Induen considered for half a second, then said, “Promise exemptions from taxes. It’s not an immediate boon, but the promise alone will convince many to obey. You don’t even need to uphold the promise,” he looked to her.

Mina nodded, eyes distant as she considered his idea. “No… no, it’s a good idea. Exemptions will be sorely needed after the devastation from the plague, anyway.”

“It’s the promise that matters—promises enough to get them to do what you want.”

Mina walked over to her desk, then retrieved quill and paper. “Nikoletta told me something, once. Even if you view people as tools, well-maintained tools perform a task all the better.”

Induen bit his lip, a bit displeased at the mention of Nikoletta. He stepped towards Mina, arguing, “If people know there are consequences, they’ll work hard.”

“They’ll only work as hard as they need to avoid consequences,” Mina quickly rebutted. “If people love their ruler, they’ll do what they need to and more. People crave to rise, and as they do so, they’ll bring you up with them. All they need is opportunity and reward.”

Induen stared down at her, but she turned to the document in front of her and began writing in it diligently. The prince opened his mouth once more, but someone entered the door. Induen turned his head back, spotting one of his knights. He strode forward and pushed the man on his chest.

“You don’t knock?” he said coldly.

“An urgent matter, prince,” the knight knelt. “Forgive me.”

at the kneeling knight, then cast a glance back to Mina. Almost bitterly, he said, “Speak, then. Stop

is dead, my prince,” the knight relayed, bowing all the lower.

of surprise. “What?

in the wetlands

He heard Mina set her quill down behind

prince,”

more details?” Induen inquired, the only genuine emotion

now being

of his clean-shaven chin, turning away

Do you think you can handle things? I should probably

then looked to the papers before her. “It

lost once he heard her bumbling. He stepped away, heading for

as things get challenging?” she called

paused at the door, then turned around. His eyes were frowning, but his mouth was widened in a grin. “What

eyes fixed firmly

this is

always use is off the table,” Mina said, her voice steady. “If that isn’t a

some sort. I wonder why that might be?” He stepped right up to his

knight. “Send word to Dirracha I’ll be preoccupied with something for

#####

darkness of night. It felt like they were alone, but in truth, Galamon and Silvic both were close

eyes distant, as though hesitating. Then, he

was that. Yet even still… if you overstrain yourself, you will

yet he did not shut the book. “I’ve got a different sort of bad dream, now, Anneliese. Not about my death. Not the Low Way, not Induen. But…” he

I question if you are simply too sweet, or if you merely

laughed quietly. After, Argrave looked to her and questioned, “Do you think

glancing at the book. “Blood

the one I’ve been studying

away and moved to sit across from him as quietly as she could.

Argrave gave one last look at the whirling matrix conjured from the book and then closed it. He set it aside, then held out his hand. He had seen the matrix enough that it conjured as quickly as any spell might’ve. It hovered in the air, inanimate

Anneliese’s amber eyes stayed locked on where his hand had just been. Her face was as steady as stone for a time, and she said nothing. Eventually,

Once again, it shattered

her arms. She spaced out, lost in thought and contemplation. Argrave waited patiently,

moving it from every direction you can,” she finally said. “It resembles… it is like if you had a tower, and you tried to move only the first floor. You

was the last thing he thought she’d say. “But what angle am I missing? I feel like I’m applying the

applied is invisible—I can only comprehend it when I am the

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