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.”

studied him and the ring as though he was

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 the breaking point,

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 both hopeful and deeply uncertain of the future. All of it melded together

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

walked forward to him. “You killed him?” When Argrave nodded, she continued, “You, personally? You used no proxy, like a… a higher

jabbed an ice spike through his eye about a foot long,” Argrave described succinctly.

put her hand on Argrave’s shoulder to

over and

mean… who saw this?” Mina

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

Induen was… not weak at all,” Stain noted

without him sucking air,” Argrave crossed his arms. “I saw an opportunity. I took it. Induen deliberately orphaned children for pleasure,” he

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 can protect you. Moreover, Duke Enrico is

Nikoletta cut in. “We are trying to persuade,

stroked his chin briefly. Argrave was perplexed at their exchange, but he could not ask before Elias continued. “The south is prepared to utilize every force at

of ‘dozens of S-rank mages’ better than ‘Parbon Margravate.’ Tempting, but

demand you be given to him. He won’t… at least, I’m relatively sure he won’t attack the Tower, but you

of you. I have a plan. If it falls through, I have other plans. And besides… going to Parbon once again is not in my

Argrave,” Mina pointed out. “A big one. And

and stared down at Argrave. “So…

that? Relax, both of you,” Argrave looked between Mina and Elias. “Give me a

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

two of them had already talked about this

will be your claimant,” Argrave finally said. “Provided my status as a

one good ruby eye

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

she sat. “I told

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

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