Jackal Among Snakes

“As it turns out… I was right the entire time,” the brown-haired Duke Sumner said with dignified triumph as he looked out across all the nobles of the south arrayed before him. “Argrave was allied with the Veidimen.”

“But wrong in all the ways that mattered.” Margrave Reinhardt, who was standing across from the duke, rebutted. “The snow elves come as our allies, not conquerors.”

A great many sat and parsed through documents, some Veidimen in origin, and many others brought by those in the Order of the Gray Owl. They looked confused and disturbed, as though what they read was some sort of abominable horror fiction. They feared. And the more they read, the more that fear felt justified.

Count Delbraun ran his hands through his ashen hair as he suggested, “That woman behind the king… she must be that dragon rider’s daughter. It explains how the invasion of Mateth ended.” He looked between all present.

“You’re already calling him king.” Duke Reichard of Birall looked up from what he read. He was a rather unassuming and shrewish man that seemed out of place amongst great warriors and spellcasters that comprised the southern nobility.

“Do you think we can afford not to? These snow elves are fierce warriors. As a mage, I can attest that the spell cast was powerful beyond belief.” Delbraun rebuked as he stepped away to the window. “But even despite that alliance… that’s not the extent of his forces.”

The count pranced about the room as he thought aloud. “Making Relize fold, destabilizing Atrus with his brother Levin’s help, and winning all of the far north to his banner… it was masterfully executed. This bid for the throne was probably years in the making. And all for this prophecy. I never thought myself superstitious, and yet… perhaps the great serpent Vasquer chose him.”

“This outcome may have been more organic than that. Why not simply tell his father?” Duke Reichard suggested.

“I heard a rumor,” Elias of Parbon spoke up, his one good eye jumping between the two of them. “That the creature in the throne room… that was King Felipe’s true form. That would explain the drastic change in personality, the years of misrule… and why Argrave couldn’t trust his family for this. His father had already succumbed to Gerechtigkeit.”

Margrave Reinhardt frowned. “Why would Argrave not simply say that?”

“I can think of a dozen reasons why a son wouldn’t want to portray their father as a demon.” Delbraun shook his head. “And it’s beside the point. We have a new king… and a queen, an elven princess of sorts.”

“I’m not sure…” Margrave Reinhardt closed his eyes. “I met them once before. He loves her, I’m certain. It did not seem an arranged marriage.”

“He’s sensible,” Duke Sumner nodded. “Incredibly talented, pretty enough, and of high pedigree; can you ask of more from a woman? Anyone with decent sense would realize the good hand they’ve been dealt and avoid mucking that up. Our new king is sensible.”

a dangerous journey,” Reinhardt pointed

is poised to be the most powerful monarch

previously reticent Duke Marauch

room grew silent, all staring to look at the duke. Some of them didn’t recognize the man: they remembered the Duke of Elbraille being a fat and battered husband, nothing

looked around. “And… he doesn’t want to position the crown as an absolute power forevermore. That’s what this parliament of his is: ensuring that what happened with Felipe

Parbon said plainly, “Gerechtigkeit or not… I’m in full

echoed more than it

the woman

glassware and clinked it against hers. “May the

of the approaching calamity. Margrave Reinhardt stepped away, moving to the window.

nothing more than to break down the door

a pledge before all. That will not be forgotten.” Reinhardt nodded. “And yet… Duke Enrico still

his father in peering out across the city, the

#####

Castro, leaning forth on his

in this situation. I pressed for

His eyes seemed to shimmer, moving between colors as the light danced across the room unnaturally.

gripped his mantle tight as he claimed, “You said more

but never let it be said that I do not heed what the Order votes upon. I have done things I found undeserving for the Order, and I have passed edicts I found distasteful for the Order. But I did all of that in service of our organization,

and took slow, deep breaths. The other Magisters looked between them—the only ones that did not seem to be paying attention were Vera and Hegazar, who muttered in the corner while looking at the cracks in

room because of your adherence to Order neutrality. You visited Mateth to see

my personal beliefs are influencing the way I represent the Order. If I had, I would not have even mentioned the greedy practices we voted for.” Castro shook his head, then

as though you had,” Artur pointed out, laying down on his mantle by this point.

he’s acted out of turn as a leader. There’s only you. I am near

Magisters. They refused to meet his gaze, he found. No matter where he looked… he found no support anywhere. They all looked at him