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.”

risk them telling you, after all.” The former tribal leaned in closely, moonlight shimmering against his

but not out of

dividing their forces because more foes actively antagonize the loyalists,” Durran explained heatedly. “This was

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

a bit. “Instead, you’d have more of our people die fighting a stronger opponent?” He lifted his hands up. “If we win easier, Argrave, much less of our people perish. Our people, with proven

Argrave shook his head.

“Don’t give me that ‘defiled saint’ 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? These people

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

did she think she had to hide what she was doing

advocate that he was

coming to much the

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

Argrave began, but then realized he was just trying to defend

want things to work out between the two of you. 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 went. It was… I don’t know. Maybe she was making everybody hate her before she dove to the other side. Or maybe she was seeing if there was anybody who’d actually stick with her when all she did was test. Test, strain,

looked at him,

don’t think there’s any chance of her… doing what she did,” he said, evidently having trouble saying it

#####

No shame. Only conviction,” Anneliese

feel knowing she

on their bed. Galamon was there, too, standing

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

the usually

on the bounds of what you’re willing to do…” Galamon looked back, white eyes cold. “The

spread the plague in northern lands even once he’d learned

demonstrated today… a leader doesn’t control their subordinates absolutely,” Galamon pointed out. “One of his people likely would have. The news never spread. And we stopped the plague. Something like this changes the culture of the war. Honor

any

about this, Argrave,” Anneliese spoke. “I was unalert. I noticed incongruities, but she had explanations on hand

we’d be able to win without doing something this

her too readily. She chose,” Galamon reminded

“I’ll need to talk to

“What about?” Anneliese pressed.

think we should figure that out,” Argrave looked

#####

opened it—Argrave recognized her. She often attended

was leaning down, turning the cranks on her prosthetic feet to tighten the clamps. Having donned much of the

a dream. She finished her task and stood up. “I have some tea. Mint, sweetened, just as you like it,” she stepped towards a table. “I’m surprised that

head and shut the door behind him. “I don’t