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.”

glance back to Mina. Almost bitterly, he said, “Speak, then. Stop wasting

Magnus is dead, my prince,” the knight

breath of surprise.

prince, in

Mina set

prince,” the

more details?” Induen inquired, the only genuine emotion on his tone that of

only just now

his clean-shaven chin,

can handle

the papers before her. “It is… I mean, I see no

interrupted in her, his interest lost once he

as soon as things get challenging?”

paused at the door, then turned around. His eyes were frowning, but

but she kept her yellow eyes fixed firmly on the prince

this is challenging?” he

use is off the table,” Mina said, her voice steady. “If

some sort. I

word to Dirracha I’ll be preoccupied with

#####

frenziedly lately?” Anneliese questioned as they sat together in the darkness of night. It felt like they were alone,

gazed at the matrix for [Bloodfeud Bow] with his golden eyes distant, as though hesitating. Then, he

if you overstrain

Argrave bit his lip in contemplation, 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 sighed.

simply too sweet, or

Argrave looked to her and questioned, “Do you think you can help me out? Mentor me,

glancing at the book. “Blood magic…”

just the one I’ve been

as she could. Sitting cross-legged,

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 and ineffectual. He tried to set

second. Argrave sighed and lowered his hand, while 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, her eyes met with

so. Once again, it

supporting herself with her arms. She spaced out, lost in thought and contemplation. Argrave

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 neglect pushing the tower above. It

That was the last thing he thought she’d say. “But what angle am I missing? I

applied is invisible—I can

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