Jackal Among Snakes

“Not much has changed,” Argrave said as he read down the list. Anneliese rested her head on his shoulder, reading with him. With their alliance secured, Leopold accommodatingly allowed them to move their agents and things into the mansion. Though many of the people had come, many remained outside for the sake of caution. “All of these families were pretty prominent. It’s no surprise they’re on the Grand Council.”

“You think you’ll be able to get them to support us?” Elenore asked Argrave.

Argrave put the paper down and rose to his feet, looking out the window of Leopold’s mansion. He could see the river that split the city, the waters still alive with boats even this late at night. “Certainly. I know most of them well enough, and these days I think of myself as quite the idealogue.” Argrave scratched at his chin. “I’m more concerned about who might be on the delegate’s side.” Argrave looked to Elenore. “You really have nothing? Who’s missing in Atrus?”

“My agents in Atrus were largely preoccupied with another matter,” Elenore shook her head wistfully. “I don’t know who was sent.”

“And what is that other matter?” Argrave pressed.

“Well…” she paused, turning around. “Levin purged a good majority of my agents in the palace, if you’ll recall. Don’t worry about it, though—all will be fine. Put it out of your mind,” she brushed it off then quickly added, “As for the matter of that marriage Leopold requested, I think I can work something out.”

Argrave frowned as she changed the subject to that. He hadn’t been especially pleased that she’d so readily volunteered to handle the marriage.

“Who?” he pressed, stepping forward.

“A debt of mine. No one you’ve associated with—a southern family swearing fealty to Duke Sumner. Count Suchaz’s daughter.” Elenore shook her head. “He owes me too much to reasonably pay back. I’ll wipe some of his debt for this.”

“You were the one so off-put by his age, now you’ll consign some young woman to this one hundred- and fourteen-year-old man?” Argrave said forcefully.

“You protest,” Elenore noted, turning back around.

Just then a door opened, and Galamon and Durran entered. Durran gazed around wondrously, while Galamon moved to sit on the couch in the room they’d been given.

“Quite a place, wouldn’t you—” Durran said, then trailed off when he caught the confrontation between Argrave and Elenore obviously brewing. “I’m going to go sit,” he dismissed tiredly, stepping past them.

“Would you like to marry Leopold?” Argrave asked her.

“Of course not,” Elenore shook her head. “We talked about this, no? In the face of Gerechtigkeit, it is more compassionate to be dispassionate. This is what the man wants—we give it to him. It’s for the good of the realm. The good of the world.”

about frustratedly. “It’s just… can’t we choose someone who thinks the same thing? Someone who

jewelry on her finger clanging as she thought. “Argrave,

know someone,” Anneliese cut

her. “Who? I can’t

never met them. She was an old friend of mine back in Veiden,” Anneliese shook her head. “She is… a bit of an eccentric. She was friends with me, after all. I think she’s seventy-two this year. She had strange thoughts about marriage and life. I imagine an

“Does that… I mean, will Leopold

“He seems to bear Veidimen no ill will. Indeed, he expressed interest. At

stunned, then laughed. “Yeah… I mean, yeah,” he turned his head

we focus on

in resigned dismay, then picked back up the paper he’d discarded. “Guess we focus on currying favor with the one

#####

a theoretical thing. The man moved efficiently

met at a building known as the Assembly Chamber of Commerce and Governance. Before a single day had passed, a mysterious accident took place within the Assembly Chamber—there was an unforeseen incident regarding the sewage system, and much of the place would reek of things most foul for a long, long while. Following this tragedy, by letter and by

was done after the slight of Pedreddin raids on Dandalan ships. Leopold wanted

with his family. This was a great victory—controlling the grounds that they met would enable Argrave to speak to prospective

and the delegate from Atrus… it was impossible to tell what Yiasten did and did not know. Their family had entered a state of relative lock down—the delegates did not leave, their servants betrayed nothing, and no news of their intents spread beyond their estate. It cut off Elenore’s plans to make early contact. Nonetheless,

and Elenore, Argrave had two keys to the beating heart of Relize. He took full advantage of that. He knew much about

it’s in the blood, their feud. My family will do what it can to keep them separate. Typically, one can only have one family member at a council meeting…

Argrave nodded, already committing

much the same: discrimination is bad for business, after all. We have large minorities within Relize itself, and they are given a vote to decide the

knack for understanding people, and she gives counsel that cannot be rivalled. Besides—I’m told the south misconstrued our engagement as me having ties to Veiden. Business-wise, wouldn’t that be promising for you

acumen… for what it’s worth,”

to me. Your trump card,” he shook his head. “But

lamented. “I suppose this means you won’t be interested in

brow. “What do you speak

bit, Leopold. I’ve been

#####