Jackal Among Snakes

“The mantle will look splendid on you, prince Levin,” the male tailor complimented, both of them admiring his figure in the mirror.

Indeed, Levin agreed with the assessment. Rather than traditional Vasquer colors, he had elected to don new colors—a rich burgundy, accented by gray and golden buttons. Three days from now, he would form the Kingdom of Atrus, and take the name Levin of Atrus—his new house bore gray and burgundy as its colors. It signified his intention to abandon his claim on Vasquer.

The colors didn’t go quite as well with his physical features as black and gold, but it was more than sufficient. He wore a heavy ceremonial garb, overtop it all a thick royal mantle. Somehow, the tailor had managed to make a gradient on the fabric, from a dark maroon to light on the lower portions. It had cost a fortune… but then, the king’s treasury had ample coin to pay any and all.

“This will do nicely,” Levin adjusted the mantle. He would, ostensibly, only wear this once… perhaps it was a waste. Even still, he did like the way it looked.

A commotion broke out in the hallway, and Levin’s head jerked to the side. The tailor stepped away from Levin, alarmed, and set his scissors down on the nearby table. He stepped to the door, yet before he could open it burst open.

“Bernard! Wait for the soldiers!” a voice called out from deep down the hall, but a fully armored knight burst past. His sword rushed out at the tailor, piercing the unarmored man’s throat easily.

Levin braced himself for combat, staring upon this new assailant. He was a knight of Duke Rizzart, the man whom he’d collaborated with in forming the kingdom of Atrus. Levin was betrothed to his daughter. Either he’d been betrayed, or there was an infiltrator amongst the Duke’s man. He mentioned soldiers, so Levin thought it might be the former.

“I won’t wait,” the man called back to his friend in the hall, pulling his blade free of the tailor. “He’s seeing the tailor, got no weapons... if I get his head, I’ll be moving up in the world. So, little rebel… die nice and easy.”

The other knight joined up with them. Levin eyed them both, eerily calm despite the situation. He grabbed at his royal mantle, unclasping it from his shoulder. One of the knights rushed, preparing to cast a spell. Levin pulled off the mantle and threw it at him, his other hand casting a flame spell to set it alight.

The fiery cloak wreathed the man, and Levin darted towards the table, grabbing the tailor’s scissors. He split them in two, now bearing in hand two improvised knives. The other knight took a cautious stance, ready for Levin, yet the prince ran towards a window. With a spell of wind, he broke the glass. Managing the scissor blade awkwardly, he pinched his fingers together and whistled through them—loud and shrill, it echoed out the window.

“Jump,” the knight suggested to Levin. “Do a flip, even. Might be you live, little wayward prince.”

With his signal sent, Levin faced his two opponents neatly. He placed one finger in the hole on each scissor handle and spun them about, silently taunting his opponents. One of them seemed capable of casting spells, and Levin watched this man warily.

Hide your hand. Wait for an opportunity, he judged even as the man prepared a spell.

cast a simple ward—a quick barrage from the opposing knight broke it. Emboldened, they both

and caught the wrist of the right-side knight as he swung his sword, then jammed the other blade into the knight’s helmet socket. The blade wasn’t long

size to his advantage. The cold metal of his foe’s steel plate made the tackle hurt dreadfully. Landing atop the knight, he pushed past his pain, grabbed the man’s helmet to expose his neck. Levin knifed the man in the neck half a dozen a times, only turning when he

the prince could give no time to the pain. Steel met steel second by second as they clashed, each parrying and attacking with all the ferocity of men who felt they might die. What few breaks each

short of slicing Levin’s face off. The prince stabbed his sword into the man’s knee where the joint of the armor offered entrance. The man was forced to kneel. Levin seized the opportunity, stabbing the man in the neck with the blade of

He gazed down the long hallway, his breathing heavy and his heartbeat erratic. Remembering his place, he healed

the castle, beyond the town… a steady stream of soldiers made their way to the

#####

Felipe that I was the Bat. I assume he wanted to retain the possibility of an alliance between Atrus and us. His second

opposite him. “Fatal,” he repeated. “You’ve killed

he didn’t reject them or execute them. He let them ‘maintain the peace’ in Atrus—a minor task, but it gave them purpose and action in

Argrave. “Just tell us what

moment to collect her thoughts. Before she could, however, Anneliese said, “That time we stopped in the outskirts of Dirracha—you got in contact with Felipe. That was the day we

“The king may have guessed who I was, but he didn’t know. So, Felipe was amenable to working with me,” she explained. “I approached as the aggrieved Bat, insisting the incident had been a misunderstanding. And I offered my help

Argrave through clenched teeth. “Why

pardons to them, a large share of the riches plundered from the royal treasury, and increases in territory. Mostly lies. I doubt he has the capacity to

took a deep breath. “Who?” he

said simply. “Most of the leading nobles of Atrus. Any figures that were key to the kingdom’s cohesion. People were raised to take their place—Duke Rizzart’s brother, for instance, will assume control of the Dukedom of Upper Siluz. Levin may

he’d

spent more time with me to convince Argrave

had to play around your talents, yes,” Elenore nodded. “I felt I had a decent grasp on them. I never lied, not really. And this wasn’t

back to her. “Why did you do this? Why didn’t you bring it up? Do you

sanction it,” she said at once. “And because I knew it would be the most beneficial resolution to Atrus’ problem. And… I did tell you… that