Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 216

Argrave stepped through the door, mindful to duck beneath the doorframes now that he’d returned to the Tower of the Gray Owl after all these months. Within, numerous recognizable people waited for him alongside a large retinue of knights. Mina and Nikoletta sat near each other, but there was an awkward air between them. Stain sat by the windowsill. Elias walked to a table in the center of the room, standing before it with his hands hovering just above the wood.

“Crowded place. Not enough for a party,” Argrave noted as his companions filtered in behind him. “Are you sure we can stay here? And I mean physically.”

“Mina and Nikoletta have a room next door,” Elias nodded.

“Ah,” said Argrave, looking at them pointedly.

Both of them frowned, though one for different reasons—Nikoletta seemed discomforted by his eyes. “You’ve… changed a lot, I see, cousin.”

“Heard that plenty,” he nodded. “We can talk about it later. To business,” Argrave ordered.

“Well…” Elias began, taken off-balance by the speed of the conversation. Eventually, he nodded in agreement, his one good eye fixing on Argrave. “Yes… to the point, then. It would probably be best to lay it out plainly.” Elias cleared his throat. “We’d like you to fight at our side in the war against King Felipe. Not as a commander or common spellcaster—as a claimant. Our claimant, to Diraccha and all the lands of Vasquer.”

The words were somewhat surreal, so Argrave did not have a visceral reaction. He looked back to Anneliese, and she smiled bitterly. Durran nodded intensely just behind her to encourage Argrave, while Galamon merely kept his eyes on the knights of the Margravate throughout the room.

“Your father isn’t blowing steam at the mention of my name?” Argrave turned back.

“My father thinks you succeeded at stopping the spread of the plague,” Elias returned. “And Mina corroborates that.”

“So do I,” Stain finally interjected. “People walking from the northwest are singing about you, Argrave.”

With a shrug, Argrave made his way to a chair and pulled it up to the table Elias stood before. He sat. “Orion did most of the work.” His gaze wandered to Nikoletta. “Claimant? Make her do it.”

“I refused. I don’t want it. Besides, I am a woman, and that alone would stifle support,” Nikoletta shook her head. “I only wish for peace and prosperity in Mateth. I am not made for dealing with court intrigues and management of a vast land. Acting as regent for my father alone stressed me beyond compare. To go beyond that in scale? I would rather not.”

Argrave rubbed his forehead. “What in the hell… why would you think this is a good idea?”

“Your actions the past few months have been tremendous,” Elias told him plainly. “Going to Veiden, allying us with Jast, stopping the plague… and from what you told Nikoletta, it seems you know of a lot of future tragedies. You will be hailed as a hero by the people—and the people, they’re what’s important.”

Argrave placed Induen’s royal signet ring on the table. It depicted Vasquer’s heraldry—a sword, with twin snakes coiled around it. “I killed Induen, you know.”

Everyone studied him and the ring as though he

me,” Argrave continued. “Kin’s End. He was waiting for me there. Ironic name for the town, I suppose, or maybe it was fate. Tried to name me Prince Argrave of Vasquer, offer me great stretches of southern land. Once Induen tried to suggest keeping Anneliese hostage, negotiations broke down. That was

pure shock. Argrave couldn’t fully describe the emotion he was feeling. He felt pride in his accomplishment supplanted by guilt at that pride. He felt relief at Induen’s death coupled with fear at possible reprisal. He felt

from person to person. “I imagine the enthusiasm of your offer has dulled somewhat. King Kinslayer is not as appealing

nodded, she continued, “You, personally? You used no proxy, like a… a higher ranked

through his eye about a foot long,” Argrave described succinctly. “After some… magical

on Argrave’s shoulder to support herself from falling. “Gods above…

came over and helped her to find

who saw this?” Mina

reinforcements. I imagine word will spread very quickly. That’s why I came here,” Argrave spread his

I mean, I heard Induen was… not weak at all,” Stain noted

I took it. Induen deliberately orphaned children for pleasure,” he said loudly and deliberately.

be so lucky,” Elias said, his voice urgent. “If Felipe catches you, you won’t get off easy at all. All the more reason we should hurry. The Margrave sent us to bring you back—so come back. We

cut in. “We are trying to persuade, Elias. Recall what

ask before Elias continued. “The south is prepared to utilize every force at our disposal to safeguard you. So

put his finger to his lips. “I like the sound of ‘dozens of S-rank mages’

have this place encircled, and he’ll demand you be given to him. He won’t… at least, I’m relatively sure he won’t

this on a whim?” Argrave looked to him. “I wasn’t expecting to meet any of you. I have a plan. If it falls through, I have other plans. And besides… going to Parbon

do owe me a favor still, Argrave,” Mina pointed out. “A big one. And I surely won’t

his hand on his hip and stared down at Argrave. “So… you refuse our offer. You won’t

looked between

reeling from the news of Induen’s death. Anneliese put her hand on Argrave’s shoulder, and he looked up. He put his hand atop her own and returned the resigned smile

already talked about this at length. And the

Argrave finally said. “Provided my status as a kinslayer

to Argrave, his one good ruby eye fixed on Argrave. “You

my terms,” Argrave put a finger to his chest.

she looked up from where she sat. “I told my father. It spread to the

lot less meaning. It’ll be a desperate struggle for just about everyone,” Argrave informed them, gaze distant. “If only for the sake

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