Jackal Among Snakes

“Duke Rovostar heads south, Prince Orion, to combat the approaching forces of the south. Though we can still see the dust clouds from their horses, we long ago lost sight of the army itself,” a kneeling royal knight said to Orion. Bandages peeked out from places in his golden armor, marking him as a plagued Waxknight. “We would need to send scouts to confirm where they are precisely.”

Orion patted the man on the shoulder. “I would not risk lives by sending men out on foolish scouting missions. I trust what we can see from the walls of Dirracha,” he assured his man.

The knight knelt a little lower and continued, “Our conjecture, my prince, is that the army of Rovostar heads to reinforce the southern fortresses. By now, the Margrave will be heading out to begin his war. Winter has passed, after all, and the snows melt from north to south.”

Orion nodded. “Good, good. Felipe has stocked this city well enough to last a year with its provisions—even the city’s residents itself can be fed. Distribution fares well, does it not?”

“It does, my prince,” the knight confirmed.

“Excellent. The people will not starve under my watch,” Orion declared. “Carry on. I must visit with Vasquer.”

The knight walked away, leaving Orion alone in the royal palace. At once, he clutched his head.

Ninety-six voices raged against his mind constantly, battering at the walls of his consciousness. Orion had always been whole and hearty and remained so, yet dark circles underneath his eyes indicated both stress and fatigue that were foreign to him. Just as he had gone against his parent, defying the wisdom of the gods, so too had they gone against him.

The gods—for indeed they were still gods, even as deceivers—did not allow Orion a moment of repose. He was acting against their instructions, and for this, he was constantly beset by their pleas and demands. Their whispers became not comfort nor guidance as they had always been, but an insidious punishment. He was kept from sleep, kept from focus.

upon the debt that he owed them, the relationship that they shared. It was like a leash tugging at the neck. Worse

like a balm upon his wounds, some of

binding Vasquer. They were numerous, thoroughly enchanted, and took tremendous effort to remove… but all Orion had

would prepare for its advent. He would mend his shattered family, right all of the wrongs in the

visions shown to him by the great serpent: “If there was ever a line in the sand between good and evil, I

Argrave said, he knew of what was to come and the evil behind it. And now, lost spiritually

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sky like thunder. Then, a mass of red scales slammed against the walls of the castle. Margrave Reinhardt’s wyvern clung to the stone, its breath a low roar of defiance as men on the walls scattered in fear. The Margrave himself stepped atop his mount’s head, gazing at all below with a

an A-rank spell was coming split the air. A great blade of fire manifested, swinging towards the wyvern’s head and the Margrave both. But Helmuth, the dark-haired spellcaster with eyes like purple vortexes, stepped up to defend his liege. His own spell created

like some kind of solar flare. By the time

Bodies fell into the inner courtyard of the castle, some of them in pieces. The Margrave himself rushed

force. Numerous brave men carried a large and sturdy ladder, preparing for an escalade. The ladder

reinforce the point of assault, but mages on the side of the rebels countered

Soon enough, the largest problem became the cramped spaces. One unlucky soul was pushed by those behind him and fell into the

was quick and bloody. Soon enough, the defenders that were not slain surrendered. Highborn captives were quickly isolated, secured, and brought to the courtyard. Spellcasters received the

is ours, Margrave Reinhardt,” one of his knights reported as he walked the walls, his breathing still heavy and his ax still held close at hand. “All our captives

them cruelly. They are men of the realm just as you or me, and we have put them all in a difficult position by our act of rebellion,” the Margrave instructed. “Take five

received his order and stepped away. A knight in gray, a white moon as