Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese held her finger up to the air, and her Starsparrow settled atop it as a perch. Argrave looked out where he could see the dust clouds left by the retreating army.

“I think they head to Rovostar’s fiefdom,” Anneliese guessed. “Whitefields. I remember seeing it on the map.”

Argrave nodded. “It’s a poorly defended place, considering it’s both newly constructed and in central Vasquer. But... they still have Enrico of Monticci. And Nikoletta, Mina, those two…?”

“I saw naught of them,” Anneliese shook her head as the bird walked down her wrist, up her arm, and to her shoulder. She reached into her pockets and retrieved some black seeds, feeding the golden Starsparrow.

Argrave sighed. “I’ll tell Elenore to—”

“Tell me what?” a familiar woman’s voice called out.

Argrave turned his head to see Elenore return. He waved to her and greeted, “Sister.” As he watched her, he followed up with, “Are you alright? Look a little…”

Elenore shook her head. “My head is burning. This pain won’t go away anytime soon, I think. I can barely think.”

Argrave shifted on his feet and said guiltily, “I am thankful you did that, you know. You’re the only reason this worked.”

“Levin and Felipe are dead,” Elenore said, locking eyes with him. “They… fell.”

Argrave took a deep breath in surprise. He looked off to the scenery, soaking in the atmosphere for a moment as he processed this information. Reluctantly, he admitted, “Tell you the truth… I’m relieved. What a blessing. I was dreading dancing around that issue with Orion.”

Elenore joined him in looking out across the land. “It’s a net benefit to us. Rovostar’s primary driving force for maintaining cohesion in his ranks just crumbled. He has a lot of personal charisma, but not enough to send his men to their deaths against an overwhelming force with no cause.”

“I’d agree,” Argrave nodded. He could tell she didn’t wish to linger on the subject of Levin and Felipe. “Rovostar in Heroes of Berendar had been a Felipe loyalist, too. After his death, he was still firmly on the Vasquer camp, however. Now…”

“With Sumner having offered his aid, I see nothing preventing the whole of the south from joining us. The north is under Quadreign’s reign, and by extension yours… though I do wonder how firm their grip is. Either way, any weakness they might have can be remedied, and we already have their spellcasters regardless. Durran and Melanie are subjugating the rest of Atrus, and I see no reason why they would have trouble. You, as king, have a great deal of personal fame: the plague, the battle at Castle Cookpot, and now here. Once things settle at the Tower of the Gray Owl…” Elenore looked back to the city. “We’ve won. The only problem, as I see it, is that Duke Enrico is held captive.”

“We were just talking about that,” Argrave nodded. “Do you have any ideas?”

nodded slowly. “If Duke Rovostar’s head is delivered to us, Duke Enrico is

looked at her, raising

Felipe despite everything. He stood by Felipe because of everything,” she said, her voice wavering with emotion. “He would never have changed. He couldn’t have changed. He was indoctrinated, and he believed all he did was justified. It’s no use thinking about it,

his hand on her shoulder and say, “I agree with you. Don’t get worked up. And don’t think

eyes. Her lower lip trembled, and she nodded. “You’re

musingly, then suggested, “We can’t deal with this today. There are more pressing things. Why don’t you get some sleep? You’ve been running about, straining your mind, and riding on horseback for days,

things to do,” Elenore shook her

then pushed her nose. “I can finish things up around Dirracha. Got enough talent at hand to fill the whole

him blankly. “I would lay down on the ground here as a joke, but I’m much too sore.” She sighed. “Fine. Fine, Your Ever Gracious Majesty, sovereign of all Vasquer. I will heed

smiled. Then,

this after battles,” she noted dryly, yet

clutching her head with his hand. She seemed small and fragile after today’s events. Maybe she always had been. “You’ll only

reminded him. “And…

#####

lent to Galamon as he recovered. They all stood about in a dining room, planning things out. The

gauntlet from the table in the dining room. His armor was badly damaged. It had been bent in many places to the point where some of it had to be bent back into place to fit. Still,

noted, eyes, darting around the stone house as though it might cave in. “You tackled that

as he slid the gauntlet on firmly. “Until I

somewhat.” He pounded the man’s shoulder with his fist. “Thanks, friend. As much as I hate to admit it… I do need

with only wounds that could be healed by magic,”

had no part,” Anneliese shook her

at her, seeming a bit disconcerted at her presence. Back when they first spoke, they’d had no times for introductions… but now the duke knew his company and knew their relations to Argrave. He hadn’t protested yet, but it was obvious he wasn’t exactly jumping for joy that the knight-commander and

to Argrave. “I’d like to propose

to the table and tapped his finger against it, testing it.

to discuss what happens after this war—no, rather, how Your Majesty intends to rule his kingdom. I’ve heard rumors of parliament and

so he faced Sumner and said, “You’re getting a bit ahead of things. Rovostar still runs free. I have a plan to deal with that, but it’s still in

his shoulders. “Holding

“Well… considering how many of your men died against that thing, I think it’s only just that they be