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.

good job earning their undying loyalty, it would seem, if they should fight for him crippled and imprisoned,” Argrave shook his head. “Orion still refuses to… change things

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 of the Order that Duke

to ask who. Before he

do anything beyond maintain their position. On paper,

royal guards surveyed around the corner, then proceeded once they did. “I suppose I can only hope that central Vasquer will receive our delegation well and stop this madness. I cannot

“Many have turned to low banditry after loss of leadership. Some central nobles outright invade the former lands of Atrus, razing villages and seizing lesser fortifications. The land is… not in a good place. Orion’s coup made so many venues of communication

guilt on her tone. She viewed that fact

north, bolstering our forces in the process… we have to be

merit,” Elenore nodded slowly. “Even if I know you say

“We can work it out later. But before we meet Leopold, I have to ask… how is working with

have status and stay near his side justifiably. Instead, the tribal requested to work

hand, saying, “I know he’s not, at least now. In fact, I see why you wanted him to come with you. He is rather

that right?”

request… granted, this was before you’d assigned him to work with me…” Elenore pointed to her feet, where Argrave only now noticed she wore genuine boots over new wooden prostheses. “Wooden, though with an enchanted metal core. He’s good with his hands, it would seem. That, or he hired

Argrave shook his head. “Well, it seems he likes you well enough. I’m glad of

preparing some scouts for the war… and for personal 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 integrate druidic magic,” Elenore said, voice speeding up as they strayed onto a topic that

imagine,” Argrave noted sarcastically. He dispelled the ward around them. “Leopold should

and Elenore moved closer to Argrave after the ward around them disappeared, crossing

here yet?”

“She

a slight delay. At once, worry festered. He didn’t like being away from Anneliese for long at all. If he were near, he could at the very least

when you part from your fiancée for more than a few minutes,” Leopold noted. “I’m not

wrath 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 was a vulnerability that people might learn to exploit—as a king, he had to

about your fiancée soon enough,” Argrave declared,

Leopold grunted. “We have very

came at the door. Argrave’s royal guard came

this new arrival was a little taller than Anneliese and kept her light gray hair short. She had bright blue eyes that had an almost predatory aspect to them. Argrave regarded her curiously—this was someone Anneliese called friend. He’d

at Argrave 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 embraced

Argrave greeted

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

Great,” she interrupted.

“I do,” Galamon answered.

nodded. “He earns good allies. Speaks to his character.

man I think you should meet. Leopold,” she

He craned his

you hope for a mutually beneficial