Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave finally dared try his hand at walking once the prospect of lying in his bed began to bore him. With no books to study and only the company of his companions to keep his mind sharp, he eventually did wish to step outside and examine things.

Though he stood firm, Argrave still held onto Anneliese’s arm in case his legs gave way. “Difficult to believe I did this,” he noted, staring at the site of carnage. “Almost as difficult to believe you pulled off that plan of yours with only four knights at your command.”

“It was rather skillful, on both of our ends,” Anneliese nodded.

Argrave laughed at her unabashed confidence but did not contest the point. “I can’t wait to get back to the camp, see if things are working. The disease has been stayed, but it still persists in those that had it. There are ways to ward away the symptoms, regress the disease, but they’re few and far between. I’ll have to…” he stopped.

“What?” Anneliese pressed.

“I was going to say, ‘spread these methods in the southern territories.’” Argrave looked at the great stag’s corpse, where Silvic still knelt. “The fact that she’s still alive… I think Orion is malleable. I think that he… he might…”

“Be a better option than the rebels?” Anneliese finished.

Argrave sighed. “Didn’t say that. It would definitely be an easier time. The south is poised to have a massive disadvantage once winter ends and the war begins in earnest. Ending things smoothly and quickly will save the most lives. Working with Elenore is essential for my plans, but if I can include Orion in that equation? Teach him mercy, leniency, good rule, and basic morality? Steamroll the opposition, unite the continent against Gerechtigkeit?”

Anneliese rebutted neutrally, “But you would have to cooperate closely with his family. He loves Felipe, Induen, and all the others just as much as you. It is why he is as he is.”

Argrave rubbed his fingers together. “I know. Not to mention the ties I’d be severing—Mina, Nikoletta, Elias, and more. All of that, thrown at the foot of the Holy Fool in a desperate gamble that I can make him a good ruler. Frankly… not too fond of religion, holiness, all that. I guess it’s different, here. Gods are indisputably real. Some of them give genuine power—one of them does so right now,” Argrave rubbed at his chest. The magic debt he’d accrued was the largest yet, but with the near exponential growth brought about by his black blood, he couldn’t say it would take the longest amount of time to repay it.

“If you wish me to be honest…” Anneliese adjusted her arms, and Argrave, who’d been leaning on her, adjusted with the movement. “I view the gods like nobles or kings. They have their systems in place, and you might engage with them sometime to get what you want. Elsewise… let them be. Veid is no different—though do not speak a word of this to Galamon.”

Argrave nodded with her words, feeling them resonate somewhat. “Didn’t take you for a cynic, given how calm and kind you are to most anyone.”

to show kindness to those I can relate to,” Anneliese refuted. “It is difficult to relate to a

I do?” he

it,” she told him. “You’ve told me what must be done, and that does not change based on the side you support—we gain a reputation as minor heroes after halting the plague, we gain status by becoming High Wizards in the Order of the Gray Owl, and then we work at winning Elenore to our side.

his face. His skin was not so smooth and unblemished, anymore—he had a scar just above his lip. “I promised Orion

off. “That is something to deal with. Postpone it,

been watching the walls, waiting for signs of Orion’s return or approaching enemies. After sharing a brief glance, Anneliese and Argrave slowly made to where the whistle had come from. Galamon stepped down out of a tower that led up to the top of the wall, and they walked

them

Durran and the Waxknights joined up with them. The mist enshrouding the wetlands had grown lighter and lighter in the time that passed, yet it was still sufficient

typically braided hair was now a bushy obsidian mane that made the giant prince seem all the larger. Most of his armor had worn away, leaving him with few patches of metal atop his underclothes. Despite

walked straight to Argrave and put his hand on his shoulder. The prince had always towered over him, but now more than ever, Argrave felt like a child before him. “Look at you,” he

to escape whatever Orion might suggest of him in

you are proud of me. The enemy is vanquished. As many as could be, at the very least. The armored centaur escaped my grasp once again, and not because of some

“Matesh,” Argrave finished.

I must visit uncle… or what remains of him… in his throne room soon, discuss what must be done.” Orion’s gray eyes finally moved past Argrave’s face,

a determined gait. Argrave tried to move quickly to walk side by side with him, yet his legs very nearly failed him. Anneliese

“Orion, I—”

as he walked. “I have thought much about this, Argrave. You will

compromise,’ he considered as he hurried to catch up, looking for an

Silvic still leaned against the corpse of the wetland spirit Rastzintin. The Plague Jester’s body rested off to the side, somehow spared from the ravages of decomposition as of now. The

The wooden spirit’s light had faded so much it appeared dim in the light of day. Orion appeared like some fell god of war come to judge Silvic, strands of his jet-black hair whipping about from

you to embrace the gods of Vasquer as your own. The one you called child refused, and so I ended her. Yet now… I change my offer. The people here in these wetlands—they were wronged by our conquest. False

it once was. You will teach the people of what once was here, and what was lost. Vasquer will cede this land to you, utterly… so long as you, alone, devote yourself to the pantheon. The swamp folk will be given this land, and they may worship you, follow your customs… so long as you worship