Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave returned with a much smaller entourage than what he’d left with, and he was glad to have it that way. Elenore waited outside Relize with a similarly small escort, and when he looked upon her, he could tell she did not bear happy news. They joined somberly, and Elenore caught him up to speed as they walked through the city.

“Traugott was looking for me?” Argrave repeated, turning to Elenore as they walked through the streets of Relize. They headed for Leopold’s mansion, escorted by his royal guards.

“I’m worried for your safety,” Elenore said. “A man like that is as easy to predict as a grasshopper—namely, not at all.”

“We should first tell Castro that his choice of aid wasn’t exactly stellar,” Argrave said.

“Already done, though I put more politely than that,” Elenore confirmed. “Even still, Durran has been eyeing the shadows like they’re diseased, and I am similarly paranoid.”

“Relax. With vigilance, we can be prepared for anything might try. Traugott’s shadow is only a link to the Shadowlands, another realm beyond this one,” Argrave said evenly. “Beings far greater than you or I roam in that senseless abyss. He can travel short distances, maybe transport the odd object. It’s too much of a risk for him to do much more. His shadow itself has the same offensive capability as a blanket; resist, and you can get out fine.”

Elenore nodded, somewhat comforted by that.

“Anything happen while I was absent? Papers to sign, troubles to solve?” Argrave pressed somewhat hopefully.

Elenore thought for only half a second before responding, “No. Some matters did arise, but I handled them in short order. We can talk details later, but for now… we should talk about safety measures.”

“You seem to have run this place well,” Argrave noted. “That shouldn’t surprise me. All along, you’ve been the engine and the oil for this machine.”

“What do you mean?” Elenore looked to him, perplexed.

“I told you long ago that I wanted you so that you could be regent in my place while I handled other matters,” Argrave told her. “You remember, right?”

“Argrave?” Anneliese asked worriedly, recalling their conversation.

“You want to go into hiding?” Elenore guessed. “I… can certainly run things in your absence, but…”

Elenore paused, hesitant to mention that she’d facilitated his arrival.

“Hiding? Far from it.” Argrave smiled. “I think that’s been my issue, why I’ve felt in such a rut about this upcoming war. I lost a bit of my proactivity. I’m just waiting for reports from you, acting accordingly,” Argrave looked at Elenore. “Not like I’m ungrateful, but…”

an escort… leading armies… it’s unwieldy,” Argrave said, looking around at all around him. He conjured a ward to hide their conversation, then bunched everyone together. “All these resources are weighing me

suggesting…” Elenore stepped back

I can say one thing about that man, it’s that he endeavors to learn things that fascinate him.” He rubbed his hands together as he gained momentum. “We have a problem with our spellcasters. So far, all I’ve done is wait around for old man Castro to send some support… when I’m forgetting how I got here in the first place.” Argrave

as I know, she leaves by ship soon,” Elenore shook her head, then got closer to him

time.” He took a deep

brows rose in shock. “Argrave,

fortresses of central Vasquer, and then heading to Dirracha. Why should I rely on whoever Castro sends to earn support? Have I forgotten how I got

a hesitant nod of

Argrave’s shoulder. “We should discuss this

saying, “Sure, alright—we can talk about it. But I don’t think anything’s missing. I head to Quadreign, work a little magic, and it all falls down like dominoes. Elenore handles the army, that side of things… while I patch up our biggest weakness, solve our issue of lacking spellcasters. Once that’s settled, we reconvene near Vysenn, get that business taken

face betrayed skepticism, Argrave continued, “Rather than me sitting at the helm doing very little at all other than looking handsome, we can be working on two problems concurrently. I deal with the far north, you deal with the near north… and we converge in the middle. What happened in Atrus—it’s something I haven’t been

stayed here thus far because it’s not safe outside of Relize. Even the small journey you just went

the thing,” Argrave nodded. “It isn’t safe. I got some of my best work done

head. “How will it look if you depart for Quadreign on the eve

steeped in disbelief, and so Argrave hurriedly said, “I think Anneliese is right. Let’s go somewhere else, talk about what I had in mind… for starters, let’s talk about how Magister Vasilisa’s presence is a boon and a half. A good thing, too—I

#####

any that were there this early in the morning were likely looking to leave quietly as their

a voice interrupted

a party of three, then raised her head to get a better look at them. They were ridiculously tall, all three. One was a brawny man with long white hair wearing sailor’s clothes. The other was a woman wearing some heavy white furs that concealed most of her. And the third… a man just shorter than the first, with some mass

interested,” Vasilisa said at once, turning back to her drink. “I

Dandalan, elected leader of Relize, had taken a snow elf to wife. Beyond that, the king kept one as company—rumor whirled she was his fiancée, but those mutterings were never confirmed officially. Regardless, elves wandered the docks at Relize frequently, and Vasilisa had seen some of them about. Their goods were in very high demand, foremost among them being fur. The Relizeans certainly did not discriminate how coin entered their pockets, and so these new

“Your house ruled the region as queens before Felipe III came

exposed this man as a mage. She could not say for certain what rank he was, but his magic

bar stool, then turned her whole body. “Speak carefully,” she warned the man. “If you

eyes—they were peculiar. His iris was dull gold and gray at seemingly random points.

interest as best she knew how. “Continue,” she gestured with

in this flame,” the

how?” Vasilisa set one arm on the counter loudly,

Vasilisa,” the man said. “My wife… her ascendency to A-rank may hinge on coming into contact with that flame. As such, I would