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.”

looked to the ground, eyes dead. He bit his lips hard enough to draw blood, then shook

glared at him, bloodshot eyes darting

unhappy with my father. We’re going to split from Vasquer… form the Kingdom

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

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,

more and more, I see my father slipping away from what he usually does. He’s losing it. And Argrave… to see his progress… if even he can succeed as he has,

pushing away from Levin with her feet. The chains that bound her

here, mother. I want to help you. Your son wants to help you.

saw the coming terrors. He will end you all. The black one is coming for you. The ground will split for his wrath. Time itself will end. We must be

anything. He’s going to wait in this fortress of his, more and more allies forsaking him day by day. I’m going to ruin him. All that he’s had me do over the years—murders, abductions, 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 abandon him.

Then, with a quiet rage, he turned on his heel and left. He pushed open the great door to the

royal knights as he passed

#####

had a destroyed wheel, and it would take some time for repairmen to arrive as the wheels were enchanted. Well, that alibi was made reality when

transport messages long distances. With her help, she could operate effectively for hundreds of miles near instantaneously. The princess saw the full use of such a thing, and constantly spoke of sending word to Elaine

done by the 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

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 the kingdom. Yet

king’s wrongdoings. Argrave noticed immediately that most 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.

to break free of Vasquer and form an independent realm, or that he would merely retire to a simple

to by mages and paraded this fact to the

told Argrave the girl had been a maid that had been a bit naïve, yet steadfastly loyal and willing to

princess stood before a simple wooden coffin, head turned

open it?” Durran questioned,

within with these items,” Elenore

off, realizing it would be

distant relatives, he’d been to many funerals where other people were sad while he knew