Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave walked down cold stone stairs slowly, his big feet forcing him to take the steps slowly lest he fall. He very nearly bumped into Melanie at the bottom. She stood holding an iron gate. Argrave entered, ducking beneath the low-hanging iron bars and entering into the dungeons of Castle Cookpot. Anneliese followed just behind.

The cells had been cleared out a great deal in the past few days on account of their fearmongering efforts in Atrus and beyond. Ruleo’s cell was close, likely so that the guards could keep a close eye on him. Argrave waited for her to fit the key in and unlock it, then looked back as his royal guard spread out across the room.

“Where’s Gala—” Argrave trailed off when he saw the big snow elf rush down the stairs, rejoining them. “What’s wrong?” he asked him.

“Nothing, Your Majesty,” the Veidimen dismissed. When Argrave stared and waited for more information, he elaborated, “Something was broken. No one else seemed to be trying to fix it, so I spoke to someone.”

Argrave shrugged dismissively, then looked to the cell ahead. Opposite him, in the corner of the cell…

#####

Ruleo leaned his body forward against his chains, using them to support his weight. It tugged at his body, but compared to the stake driven through both of his hands, the pressure was nonexistent. The sound of many footfalls made him lift his head up. He saw his keeper, Melanie, holding a torchlight. There was someone huge at the cell door, though. Ruleo focused his failing eyes.

“Good lord…” the man said, stepping within. The shadows changed, and Ruleo’s eyes widened as he recognized Argrave. “Trying times for you, looks like.”

“Heh…” Ruleo managed a laugh as some of the vigor he thought would never return flared. “Got the guts… to talk to me? Never thought I’d see the day.”

Argrave fell to one knee. “It’s taking more guts to smell you than talk to you. I think your hands are infected.”

Ruleo wanted to spit at him. Behind, someone else entered the cell—a vaguely familiar white-haired elf. She stood in the corner, watching.

“Durran told me you gathered necromantic things in an Order of the Rose ruin. That you intended to send them against us to combat Gerechtigkeit’s eventual advent, weaken his arrival,” Argrave began without ceremony.

Ruleo only stared with hate. “What do you want?”

The claimant king sighed. “Do you have any idea where Georgina might have gone after the defeat?” he asked.

“Hard to see through stone. Last I saw, most of her men fell to sword or spell. Might check underneath the corpses you made,” he suggested.

Argrave put one hand atop his knee and clenched. “Guess not. I had hoped having a couple days to think about the coming calamity might make you reasonable.”

Ruleo closed his eyes. “When people leave you in a cell for days to rot, you give up on the hope of a reasonable world.”

Argrave’s voice came quieter as he said, “If I’d known your hands were bound like this, I might’ve given this more priority.”

wrong, Your Majesty. See if you’re so merciful when he’s been trying to kill you for near half a

and asked, “Given we’re talking… is there a way out of this for me?” his voice carried some desperation, and he scolded

“You sent thousands of creatures at Durran, Melanie, and my royal guard. You were planning for worse—having thousands of men

me forever,” Ruleo said gravely. “In fact, that’s about the end of my career

Argrave stared with his cold gray eyes. “Fact of the matter is, I have a rather high

hopes for a royal pardon?” Ruleo narrowed his eyes, suspecting this was another of the sadist’s

height once again, looking back to the white-haired elf. She shook her

when the sky starts to fall. At the same time, you tried to

fear rose, yet he could only laugh in response—a

to visit, but can’t. And with people like you, Melanie, Ganbaatar, all at my fingertips… that’s a fine little team forming. A team I trust to keep you in line until they can catch you up

to lift his head to look the king in the eye but

remain a prisoner, but under less… strenuous conditions,” Argrave said

enslaving me?” Ruleo lowered his head, his strength leaving him. “Given how well you regard

your manager,” Argrave said dryly. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this outcome. Over time, you’ll come

felt

#####

He leaned up against its stomach, almost entirely buried in its thick fur. His face and body were covered in blood, and he wore a ratty shirt with his armor removed and placed off to the side. The man held a salamander in his hand and tore bits of it off, chewing it with a

world are you…? Oh,” someone said, and Durran whipped his head up to spot Elenore. “I see,” she raised her hand to her face, trying to hold

feet quickly. “What are you doing here? I thought you said you’d talk to Melanie and me

stepping in closer with her arms crossed.

blood from his face. “He

the red crescent moon in

He lifted up the salamander in his hand and pointed it at her. “And you made the right choice. Eating these things to fix my fingers is a mistake.

shook her head. “That doesn’t matter.” She stepped closer. “So, can we set aside the stiff conversation?”

pouting. So long as you realize

“…why?” she asked quietly.

Because…” Durran looked for

be dense enough to ignore your teasing forever?” Elenore asked evenly,

smile but came close. “Yes, honestly. I guess the ice

Elenore sighed, saying nothing.

Durran explained. “You’ve had your problems, to put it lightly. Maybe you’re disillusioned in the romance department. I got the distinct impression you weren’t interested in me, so I was thinking about

because I can handle the future fallback,” Elenore said, then turned to look at Durran. “If I’m tied up, it’s even worse. All will want marriage ties to the new king. I had intended to keep that as a constant card. Keep me unwed, unpromised, and chaste. I can utilize the