Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave had been to cities in Vasquer like Mateth, Dirracha, Jast, or Parbon. They had awed him, but nothing could really be compared to Relize. Mateth, for instance, was one of the largest trading ports in the kingdom, and probably the largest city in the southern reaches. Even still, its population could not be more than forty thousand. Dirracha was probably near the same number. Jast and Parbon both had difficulties in terms of agriculture, so they were smaller.

Yet Relize… it was a tremendous metropolis. At a point, the cart that Argrave and his company were riding stopped to spend the night, and they had a chance to walk and stretch their legs. Even at that time the city had been awake, dancing lights illuminating its splendor in a subtle, almost mysterious manner. It did not have towering constructions like Jast, nor gigantic walls like Mateth. The city simply sprawled across so much land.

In the morning, the city was revealed in earnest. In the crispness of dawn, half-hidden by sea fog and half-revealed by the early suns, its grand gothic design made it seem like some sort of hidden city. Relize was a place of unimaginable wealth, and as much was reflected in everything down from its material: marble. It was a low-lying seaside city without a wall, wrapping around a great bay and split in two by a river that had to be as wide as the Nile.

Even from afar, one could see the pride of the city—its docks. It was like a continuous marble crescent moon laid flat against the coast, connecting all parts of the city to the bay. One could walk from one edge of the docks to the other, all on one flawless marble path that was probably five miles long. There were countless ships both coming and going from the bay, each of them bearing a multitude of heraldries on their sails. Argrave recognized one sail—six silver stars in a circle on a black field, all connected by a silver chain that converged in the center. It was the Dandalan family’s symbol.

Three gargantuan bridges connected the parts of the city split by the thick river, the largest of which was part of the docks. These bridges were elevated to allow passage for small boats on the river. These boats were plentiful—fishing vessels, vessels with shipments, vessels with other goods… to say the least, business was good.

If Argrave were to estimate the population, he’d place it at around two hundred thousand. Located in the center of northern Vasquer, access to the ocean, a large river with plenty of upstream agriculture… Argrave didn’t think he knew too much about geography, but he could tell why this city prospered as it had. It was a jewel that befit the capital of a nation. Its people were too fiercely self-governing to ever allow that to happen, though, and the Kings of Vasquer were content with their highly defensible city of Dirracha.

“Why are you gawking? Said you’d been here before,” Melanie asked, having walked up to Argrave as he was admiring the city.

“Long time ago,” Argrave shook his head. “It was…”

It was laggy. Place had too many damned NPCs in it. He couldn’t really say that, though.

“Shame we can’t wander,” Argrave looked at Melanie. “Running the docks, looking around… even the warehouses are gilded. There’s Felipe II’s summer residence, too. Nice place.”

“No place quite like it,” Melanie nodded. “You’ll be visiting the Scarlet District, I assume.”

Argrave’s face grew cold, and Melanie laughed at once.

“Guess you really have been there,” Melanie said, planting her zweihander against the ground. “They say every lord visits a brothel. Don’t worry—I won’t tell your lady friend.”

“You’d know, wouldn’t you? Having grown up there and all,” Argrave jabbed, disliking her teasing.

never was, she smiled. “Good comeback. Didn’t think a royal bastard could have banter. Wonder if it’ll last.” She ran her fingers across the plume on her tellerbarret. “Well, anyway, Elenore wanted to

for his cruelty—he had always liked Melanie, and it was a bit uncalled for to bring up her past in such a manner. Anything regarding Anneliese made him have a short fuse, he knew. Before he could apologize, the mercenary woman was already walking away, seemingly unaffected by his cold

made a mental note. In a place like Relize, maintaining her loyalty would be important. Fortunately, Melanie’s rough-and-tumble nature wasn’t merely an act—he imagined she wouldn’t genuinely hold a grudge for

approached, the princess turned

said. “Couple of days

a little off. But I’m black

rose. “Yes. Anneliese told me of it,” she nodded. “I… you’ve done a lot. I realized that long before we met, but

held out a sack to Argrave. He reached out and took it in his hands—it was something metal. Opening it up, a rainbow greeted him—their

and looked back up at her. “I didn’t get you

said. “Told you I could turn a profit in Dirracha—I did. Salvaged my network, contacted old and new people alike. A few enchanters I do business with could use earth magic—shady businesses needed reconstruction after the riots and couldn’t go

as a big sister seemed markedly easier when she casually unloaded this much

own within the city, along with a manifest detailing what each does. My enchanters were quite excited about some of them. I’m sure

forward and hugged her. She was surprised but eased up after a moment. “Lucky

quietly. “Get off me. I’m hot enough from

then moved to sit by

that you tell me what you withheld from me in that message to Vasquer,” Elenore decided,

dimmed somewhat when he

in silence for a few moments, then said,

her. “I’ll answer what I’m

Argrave. Despite his earlier outburst at Therese’s coffin, things had been

you,” Argrave disagreed. “I politely requested you direct inquiries to Anneliese, so that she might

hands on her lap. “How do all of you take this matter, this…

looked at each of them

care,” Galamon said

don’t,” Durran nodded. “I don’t know. Way I figure it, it’s probably just some way of a god implanting a prophecy in someone. Doubt all that