Jackal Among Snakes

Levin walked a bridge from the Dragon Palace, heading to a lone tower with a cone roof. Two royal guards stood in front of it. They were large men, just short of Levin’s height, and their golden helmets swiveled as they followed the prince’s approach.

The prince paused just before the door. “She’s awake?” he questioned.

“Yes, prince,” the rightward knight nodded.

Levin nodded curtly and shot his cuffs. He fixed his collar, swallowed, then pushed open the door. In the distance, the sound of chains swaying rattled out. The room was dark, the windows mostly blocked by curtains. Levin stepped within hesitantly, then shut the thick door he’d pushed open.

Levin cast a spell, and a ball of light rose up into the air. A woman ahead flinched and gasped, and tried to crawl away.

“Mother. It’s fine. It’s me,” Levin said, stepping closer very slowly with his hands spread out to show he meant no harm.

Light from his spell illuminated the woman. She was pale, dreadfully thin, and bound in a straitjacket. She had blonde hair, but it was unwashed, matted, and greasy. Her bright blue eyes shone back against the light like sapphires. Felipe had married Valeria because of those eyes, so the tale went—they reminded him of his first wife’s.

“Where’s my husband?” the woman asked. “He’s the king. Once you’re found… cut your losses. Let me go, I can let you live. I can give you a pardon. My husband listens to me. Once you’re found…”

Levin paused, studying her face. Though she had been bound in a jacket to protect her from harming herself, it hadn’t stopped it completely. Her lips had been bitten into tattered shreds. Her fingers couldn’t grow back—she’d eaten those. But her lips could be healed.

Feeling encouraged by her clarity, Levin knelt. “You’re here for your own good, mother. Let me treat your face.”

The woman flinched away as Levin extended his hand… yet when healing magic started to close the cuts on her lip, she gradually accepted things.

“My baby…” Valeria said.

“That’s right. I’m here,” Levin nodded, smiling excitedly.

“Where is Orion? Where is he? Where’s my baby?” she demanded harshly. “I want to see him.”

subtly, and he looked to the ground, eyes dead. He bit his lips hard enough to draw blood, then shook his head. “I’m going to

bloodshot eyes darting

father. We’re going to split from Vasquer… form the Kingdom of Atrus. I’m going to be crowned

the woman he called mother heard and understood him, she hardly showed

not to get involved in the war. These northern nobles, they want to stay out of the fighting. I offered that opportunity. And then, when the fighting dies down… I’ll negotiate a spot in the new Vasquer from a position of strength. Whether Orion’s running things, or Argrave, or Elenore… doesn’t matter.” Levin shook his head, then

my father slipping away from what he usually does. He’s losing it. And Argrave… to see

Valeria said, pushing away from Levin with her feet. The chains

of here, mother. I want to help you.

saw the lilies dance upon the grave of a dead world. I saw them. I saw the coming terrors. He will end you

hiding his sexual escapades, spreading the plague… I kept records of it. Everyone’s going to get their hands on it: incontrovertible proof. His allies will

with a quiet rage, he turned on his heel and left. He pushed open

the royal knights as he passed by.

#####

for their journey to Relize stopped at a quaint little village a fair distance away from Dirracha. The excuse used was that the cart had a destroyed wheel, and it would take some time for repairmen to arrive

hundreds of miles near instantaneously. The princess saw the full use of such a thing, and constantly spoke of sending word to Elaine to acquire some of these

king’s untimely visit was made after the first day. The damage to Elenore’s network was significant. In essence, Felipe’s attack told the world at large two things—the Bat was not a friend to the king, and the Bat

had effects beyond the body count numbering near fifty. People that were closely entwined with Vasquer and the royal family would be less likely to do business with the Bat, now—she was an open enemy of

of these wrongdoings Levin himself had perpetrated… yet it was the nature of things. The prince departed from Vasquer, claiming he could not bear to support his father anymore after what had come to light. This move completely batted aside the mutually assured destruction

claimant to Vasquer, or that he sought to break free of Vasquer and form an independent realm, or that he would merely retire to a simple estate in the north. Barring that the last one was far-fetched given his knightly escort, Argrave didn’t

had the giant snake tended to by mages and paraded this fact to

for staying. Therese. Elenore told Argrave the girl had been a maid that had been a bit naïve,

princess stood before a simple wooden

it?” Durran

these items,” Elenore

off, realizing

distant relatives, he’d been to many funerals where other people were sad while he knew nothing. It was best to stay quiet, offer nothing more than warmth. So he thought, at