Jackal Among Snakes

“What exactly do I call you now?” Argrave questioned Leopold, his tone somewhat lacking its typical vigor. He genuinely did not know. Relize never gained a leader in ‘Heroes of Berendar.’ This was a new development entirely divorced from what Argrave knew… just as Elenore’s actions were.

The two of them sat alone in the Dandalan patriarch’s study. Things had simply ended up this way. He was unused to being anywhere without Anneliese, but right now he felt fine with it.

“The leader has no title,” Leopold shook his head. “This position has been taken only once before. It has no name because it is fundamentally transitory. The Grand Council would not abide giving legitimacy to the position by assigning it a title—I am merely the leader of Relize.” The aged patrician looked to Argrave. “Soon enough, I’ll be calling you ‘your Majesty.’”

Argrave nodded. “You’ll put the crown on my head, most likely.”

Leopold leaned into his desk. “Less excited than I thought you’d be.” The patrician pulled back a drawer, retrieving a casket. He pried it open with his knife, then retrieved a purple bottle. “Want some wine? This is fine stuff, and I know you have quite a thirst.”

Argrave shook his head. “Enjoy it,” he said somberly. “So, I suspect you’ll be revoking the Rescindment of Profligacy and Corruption?”

Leopold nodded. “On the day of your coronation. Bit of… sleight of hand. Hide something monumental behind something even more monumental.” The man thumbed at the cork, looking around for something to remove it. “First thing… we have to send the Relize magic architects out to that site you spoke of. They’ll examine the mountain and determine if this fortress you intend to construct in Indanus is actually feasible.”

Argrave’s brain cleared for a moment, reminded of his duty. “That’s good. Don’t forget to bring Melan along for that—he owes me.”

“Not sure how you managed that thing with the vampires…” Leopold shook his head. “I’m especially not sure how you got the Wratsons to help you with that. They’re… standoffish. It’s a comforting development, nonetheless. I never knew they had an S-rank mage in their service… they’re the only in Relize, I think…”

“Mmm,” Argrave nodded, not feeling his typical urge to show off or act grandiose. “Leopold. If one of your sons killed someone, what would you do? And not in self-defense, not in passion… but cold-bloodedly.”

Leopold had been fiddling with the bottle’s cork with his knife, but he stopped and looked at Argrave. “What do you mean, ‘if?’ Rex did.”

“Rex?” Argrave repeated.

Leopold nodded. “Yes, Rex. He was… well, he was a grandson, come to think of it… but I loved him well enough to call him my son. His father died in a raid, you see, so I mostly raised him. He…” the patrician paused. “I don’t want to talk about it. This is supposed to be a happy day, you damned fool,” he rebuked. “Shortly put, I disinherited him and turned him over to the Council’s hands.”

“Immediately?” Argrave pressed.

“…no,” Leopold admitted. “It took… some time. Had to change my mind… see him for who he really was. See how I failed. Steel myself.” He shook his head, then stroked his beard once. “Enough of this. Move on.”

Argrave nodded slowly, staring at the windows behind Leopold and into the rushing river.

#####

“I think you should give her a pass,” Durran said to Argrave. “Maybe if you’ve got another natural disaster on your radar, you might show it to her like you showed me that tower falling down. Got me in line, didn’t it?”

Argrave was in no mood for jokes, and he stared Durran eye-to-eye, waiting for the man to speak further. Though they sat in the dining hall, alone at dusk, neither touched the food before them.

Durran’s face hardened slightly when Argrave didn’t even crack a smile. He explained himself seriously, saying, “The people she disposed of… cowards and opportunists. They’d be the first to back out once it came time to fight Gerechtigkeit. She’s established new leaders in Atrus—ones that she chose, ones that can help us.”

“You’d have traitors instead of cowards,” Argrave pointed out frankly. “That’s certainly reliable.”

“Most of them weren’t aware of what Elenore is doing. Even the delegates that came here… they didn’t have any clue of Elenore’s plans. She couldn’t risk them telling you, after all.” The former tribal leaned in closely, moonlight shimmering against his golden tattoos. “And she’s right. Felipe orchestrated this, not

laughed, but not out of

opposition against the crown. They’re further dividing their forces because more

finally spoke his thoughts earnestly. “So, Atrus was staying neutral—good. Fewer people die. More are ready to confront

opponent?” He lifted his hands up. “If we win easier, Argrave, much less of our people perish. Our people, with proven loyalty and

Argrave shook his head.

act,” he said insistently. “I talk with Galamon more than you might think. He talks. I know that you killed those druidic scouts. How was that situation different?

pause. Was the situation different? He thought it was, but he had long ago come to terms with the fact that he’d done that. Maybe his own bias was blinding him to the fact that Elenore had good reason to do what she did,

what she was doing from me, from all

that he was being, couldn’t answer that. “I

coming to much the same conclusion

deceive people—even your allies—to get them to do what you want. You started out deceiving Elenore. You think you have their best interests in heart. Like sister, like brother. You’d be a hypocrite, parting ways

was just trying to defend himself of

I… well, you know me. You know my twin sisters, what they did,” he threw up his hands. “They killed themselves. One in particular… Chinusa. She did some terrible, terrible things to a lot of people before she

him, lost for

any chance of her… doing what she did,” he said, evidently having trouble

#####

guilt. No shame. Only conviction,” Anneliese told Argrave. “She truly believes in what she

she feel knowing she deceived?”

their bed. Galamon was there, too, standing near the door. As ever,

her overmuch, she would not have done it,” Galamon

his head to the usually stoic

war… if you innovate, move the line on the bounds of what you’re willing to do…” Galamon looked back, white eyes cold.

lands even once

never spread. And we stopped the plague. Something like this changes the culture of the war. Honor is needed for the future.

to any depth,

unalert. I noticed incongruities, but she had explanations on hand for each. I allowed myself to grow lax. Getting drunk… what was

head. “It’s my fault. I didn’t convince Elenore that we’d be able to win without doing something this drastic.

too readily. She

the bed. “I’ll need

“What about?” Anneliese pressed.

that out,” Argrave

#####

A woman opened it—Argrave recognized her. She often attended to Elenore.

cranks on her prosthetic feet to tighten the clamps. Having donned much of the bronze jewelry,

him normally, like whatever had happened was all but a dream. She finished her task and stood up. “I have some tea. Mint, sweetened, just as you

shook his head and shut the door behind him. “I don’t need her