Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave picked up a ring and poured the well of magic bursting within him into the confines of the inscription wrought into the metal. Imbuing enchantments felt like he was handling red hot liquid metal, pouring it into a cast with his will alone. He attempted to speed it up… yet as one might expect, the magic danced dangerously, and Argrave quickly directed things so as to seal them off. Just as he did so, he was sealed off from the near limitless supply of power springing from the Blessing of Supersession.

“That should be five minutes, Your Majesty,” Galamon said gruffly. “Forty rings, by my count.”

“…I messed this one up,” Argrave set the ring down in a pile alongside many others. Each of the rings had Argrave’s personal symbol on them—the sun, with four snake heads at the edges of four rays.

“Then thirty-nine,” Galamon amended.

“Not good enough,” Argrave shook his head.

“You’ve managed to imbue thirty-nine B-rank enchanted items, Your Majesty. Less than a month ago, you had done zero,” Ansgar reminded him. As Leopold Dandalan’s most trusted son, Ansgar had become a sort of aide to Argrave in the past month. Though sixty-two, he was still quite able on many fronts. Above all, he was trustworthy. “Your efforts are astounding.”

Indeed, one month had passed. It had taken Argrave a month of learning to get to the point to do this. Granted, his time had become much more limited ever since taking on his duties as king, but the point remained. One month, thirty-nine rings. It could be said that it was far above normal production rates… but far below what Argrave wanted with this venture of his.

“…hmm,” Argrave grunted discontentedly. This enchanting business was his sole reprieve from the mundanity of administering things in Relize. Once the politics were well and settled, he felt useless.

“These cast B-rank warding spells, do they not?” Ansgar eyed the rings. “I would advise that you distribute them first to your newly formed royal guard. Perhaps your knight-commander can handle this matter, Your Majesty,” Leopold looked to Galamon.

Galamon had become Argrave’s knight-commander of his royal knights. Indeed, Argrave had his own royal knights, now. Though only twelve, each and all were masters. Galamon had chosen the most skilled out of people in the army. From there, Anneliese had evaluated their loyalty. That number ended in twelve. Argrave disliked bringing them everywhere—even now, they waited outside.

“I had intended to distribute them to meritorious performers in the battlefield,” Argrave said. “Giving them to my guard… might come off as selfish, no?”

“I believe it would show that being loyal and steadfast brings rewards, Your Majesty,” Ansgar disagreed.

Argrave rubbed his chin. “Alright. It’s only twelve—the rest will be distributed as I originally intended. Galamon?”

The elven vampire nodded. “I’ll see they’re handed out.”

Argrave rose to his feet, content. “Alright. Now, before we depart to evaluate the fortress… Leopold’s waiting.”

Ansgar dipped his head. “I believe my father is eager to meet his bride-to-be.”

“I can only imagine,” Argrave said with a droll nod. “Send for Elenore before we meet. I have things to discuss with her, and she should be there when I talk to Leopold.”

#####

“Avoiding a federation in central Vasquer turned out to be an impossibility,” Elenore lamented to Argrave, her voice loud even when she spoke quietly on account of the ward surrounding them, blocking all sound from escaping. “They still remain firmly loyal to Duke Rovostar. In the south they’ve begun to call Rovostar the king’s dog. I underestimated his charisma and capability. They possess a far greater number of spellcasters than we do. That remains… a glaring weakness of ours.”

The two of them walked down the halls of Leopold’s estate, guarded by six guards on each side. Galamon stood just behind the two of them. Even here, these men remained diligent—if they weren’t, their knight-commander quickly corrected their behavior. Galamon took his role seriously. Argrave sustained the ward around them with one hand—he’d learned a spell that allowed the ward to move with him, yet he needed to sustain the spell. Fortunately, it was low-ranking, and his still-growing magic supply accommodated him ably.

their undying loyalty, it would seem, if they should fight for him crippled and imprisoned,” Argrave shook

under house arrest. We can consider ourselves fortunate only in that Orion does not trust Levin, and has arranged similar treatment for him,” Elenore sighed. “But still, things have stagnated somewhat. The central federation of nobles briefly attempted to siege down Dirracha. The walls were meant to withstand devastating spells, though, and Orion has proved an able defender. He sallied from the walls alone and direly injure a Magister

about to ask who. Before he could comment,

afford to dedicate attention to Dirracha. The force Orion has is too small to do anything beyond maintain their position. On paper, he’s on our side. He’ll surrender Dirracha to us once we arrive. His only

madness. I cannot understand why they fight so hard for someone so…” Argrave sighed. “No use dwelling. What of the north? What of Atrus? We’re direly insufficient in magic

we could. Many were hesitant to commit troops to our cause in light of unrest in their regions, but we’ve gotten supplies enough to double our provisions… but as for spellcasters… we remain utterly without support,” Elenore shook her head. “Many have turned to low banditry after loss of leadership. Some central nobles outright invade the former lands

hear some guilt on her tone. She viewed that fact

Argrave said quickly. “Provided I feel it’s up to standard, that frees us to engage with the north without losing a position to attack central Vasquer. We can restore order in the north, bolstering our forces in the process… we have to be able to get

if I know you say it only to get

But before

could have status and stay near his side justifiably. Instead, the tribal requested to work with Elenore. The man did have some

to keep an eye on me after my big faux pas,” Elenore said. Argrave opened his mouth to protest, but Elenore cut him off with a waved hand, saying, “I know he’s not, at least now. In fact, I see why you wanted him to come with you. He is

right?”

her feet, where Argrave only now noticed she wore genuine boots over new wooden prostheses. “Wooden,

it seems

use, I admit,” Elenore moved past Argrave’s leading observation. “In essence, we have an advantage of superior espionage over our foes if we can

I imagine,” Argrave noted sarcastically. He dispelled the

for them, and Elenore moved closer to Argrave after the ward around them disappeared, crossing her arms as though to guard herself. Beyond, only Leopold waited. Argrave stepped

isn’t here yet?” Argrave

note. “She sent this, Your Majesty,”

being away from Anneliese for long at all. If he were near, he could at the very least ensure that they’d face whatever troubles

Majesty when you part from your fiancée for more than a few minutes,” Leopold noted. “I’m not sure this sort of… dependency, shall we

at the insinuation… but he kept his wits about him, having reined in some of his impulsive tendencies regarding her. It was something he’d been working on, per Anneliese’s request. He knew as well as she did it

your fiancée soon

grunted. “We have very different perceptions

guard came to attention, and

furs, this new arrival was a little taller than Anneliese and kept her light gray hair short. She

when their eyes met and she stepped into the room. The royal guards regarded Hirnala cautiously but acquiesced to her presence as she advanced at Anneliese’s side. Argrave

Argrave

pulled away, smiling, then turned to her friend. “Hirnala—Argrave, his sister Princess Elenore,

she interrupted. “He serves Argrave

“I do,” Galamon answered.

Speaks to his character. He truly does not mind

“And lastly… the man I think you should meet.

up to the old man immediately. He craned his neck up to keep her

for a mutually beneficial