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.”

bit his lips hard enough to draw blood, then shook his head. “I’m

eyes darting around in a

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

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

really, it’s just an excuse 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.”

king. Never expected it. Never sought it,” Levin continued. “But… more and more, I see my father slipping away from what he usually does. He’s losing it. And Argrave… to

Valeria said, pushing away from Levin with her feet. The chains that bound her rung. “Wait. This rebellion of

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

end you all. The black one is coming for you. The ground will split for his wrath. Time itself will end.

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. His espionage network will wither,” Levin tapped his chest. “And after his

looking down at her. Then, with a quiet rage, he turned on his heel

knights

#####

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 as the wheels were enchanted. Well, that alibi

her Starsparrow to 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

full assessment of the damage 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 at large two things—the Bat was not a friend to the king, and the Bat had been concealing

likely to do business with the Bat, now—she was an open enemy of the kingdom. Yet even so… the public would likely be

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 Elenore had hoped for. Levin got away having pillaged the royal vault, and

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 know which held any truth. Elenore couldn’t parse

avoid leaking to the public that Vasquer had been found. Felipe had the giant snake tended to by mages and paraded this fact

had been a bit naïve, yet steadfastly loyal and willing to get her hands dirty with some simple tasks.

the princess stood before a simple

open it?” Durran questioned,

items,” Elenore gestured towards her jewelry.

nodded. “Forget I…” he trailed off, realizing it would be

what else to do. In a family with many cousins, uncles, and other such 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