Jackal Among Snakes

Elenore, Durran, Melanie, and some assortment of Argrave’s royal guards surrounded a table in a tent. Durran and Melanie were both fully armored, just as the royal knights. Elenore pointed to a crude map of the region—it depicted no terrain, but did roughly sketch what looked to be a choke point in a valley.

“These are the main structures staying our advance,” Elenore’s index and middle finger straddled between two marked points. “They’re located within the edges of the valley and surrounded by high mountains on three of four sides. Thus far, it has been entirely impossible to even begin the process of sieging them. They have old tunnels leading to the other side of the mountains that form uninterrupted supply lines. Unlike the rest of Atrus, the Unhanded Coalition has dealt with the other impediments to the regions past the valley—bandits, claimant lords, et cetera. The lords can afford to supply and replenish the garrison as needed. We don’t have the spellcasters for a proper assault—to attack directly would be to spend thousands of lives.”

Elenore’s finger travelled further up the choke point where a larger marking prevented passage. “This structure, here, is Castle Cookpot. Despite its humble name, we can’t take it before these two fortresses, either. To be pinned here…” she added her other hand to the equation, then formed a triangle. “Any army sieging this place would be pinned on all side. It’s a zone of certain death.”

“So, we go around the mountains, move elsewhere,” Melanie suggested.

“We could. But then we’d starve,” Durran answered before Elenore could say anything, and the princess nodded.

“Precisely so. Without seizing Castle Cookpot, we cannot supply further north. The mountains make the journey difficult. This valley is a very necessary shortcut.” Elenore lifted her head up, eyeless sockets falling upon Melanie. “And that’s where you come in. Durran is already privy to the details, so I’ll spare you the in-depth analysis. But your role is to take a small party around the mountain to disrupt the supply line… and, depending on the situation, perhaps you might even seize the two minor forts through their supply tunnel. From my reports, that side is poorly defended.” Elenore’s back straightened as she stepped away from the diagram. “But primarily… Durran hopes to lure out the Unhanded Coalition so that we might work at ending them.”

Melanie ran a hand through her long red hair, her thumb tracing a scar across her right temple. “I see how it is. You invest what you’re willing to lose, eh? Better a small party than an army. We’re only ten, you said—fewer people that’ll miss us, and fewer complaints lodged to the regent.”

Elenore frowned briefly, but her stoicism quickly took over. “You’ll be travelling with Argrave’s personal guard, eight of them—far from common soldiers.”

“Yet they’re here, not protecting His Majesty,” Melanie rebutted. “How useful can they be?”

Durran suggested, “Fight them yourself, if you want. Test their mettle.” He waved his hand. “They’re standing right there. You’re willing, aren’t you?”

Melanie stared at Argrave’s royal knights as they expressed their willingness. “A fine idea. I think I’ll take them up on that when this is over. But we won’t be fighting them,” Melanie pointed out. “We’ll be fighting the Unhanded Coalition, apparently, who’ve been chipping away at our numbers rather adeptly.”

“I assume you’re wanting ample compensation,” Elenore guessed. “This mission is to be highly publicized in order to weed out informants. You’ll get plenty of prestige. With prestige, no one could complain if you were rewarded in kind. When we conquer Castle Cookpot, I plan on levying the same resistance debt, and you’re welcome to—”

Melanie held up a hand to interrupt and said, “Forget that. I’m not blind to the way things are trending, princess. Durran’s getting a lot of the responsibilities I used to have. I’m losing my position, here. Things are being structured around His Majesty more and more. I didn’t think you’d ever work for someone else’s benefit. I bet wrong, and so I’m being pushed out.”

Durran raised a brow. “You joke around a lot, but I guess you’ve got a head in there after all.”

less time staring at me and more listening to me,” she said with a

but Elenore crossed her arms and said in a harsh tone, “Durran doesn’t have time to listen to you, because he’s listening to me.” She stepped a little closer then demanded, “Just say what

she turned her head. “And to work directly

elbow and then said bluntly, “I can’t

Melanie tilted her head, her red hair falling over her blue eyes. “I think if you wanted that to happen, you could make it happen. What brother would refuse the earnest pleading of his favorite

side, her rhythmic tapping of her finger almost audible in the silence between them. Elenore looked like she swallowed a bitter draught as she finally mustered the word, “That is

her blue eyes veritably shining. “Well, that’s great. I always work

can give you the details of the travel, as I said,” Elenore said. She seemed to pause on those words, mulling over them like something was amiss in what she said. “Ideally, you’ll leave by morning tomorrow. Plenty

first… I think I made a date with these gentlemen, something about ‘testing their mettle.’” She took light strides to the corner of the tent,

away, seeming eager at the proposition. The knights and Melanie traded a bawdy joke. Durran started to step away,

fight,” he pointed

want to watch her?”

be fighting alongside her, it’s prudent,”

see,” Elenore said. “I… maybe

his hand as though to disguise his expression. He shifted his body towards

her head. “I was thinking about another matter I needed you for, but this operation is

nodded. “Well… I’m going.

Elenore sighed. “No. I have some letters I

looked vaguely disappointed but turned and walked away. Elenore looked at the diagram, then muttered, “…willing

#####

out, stepping into a simple log

lightly armored leather she wore. She rose to her feet, going from dignified to statuesque in a few moments. Hers was a beauty difficult to hide, and the man stared for half a second before raising his eyes

her book as a

small group of elites is travelling around the mountain, looking to disrupt supply for the subsidiaries to Castle Cookpot,”

and turned her back to the man, striding away until she placed the table between herself and him. She turned her head and questioned, “Durran and Melanie…

He wiped blood free of his hand. “Durran was one of Argrave’s men,

had a beard that had not