Jackal Among Snakes

The night came and went very quickly. Argrave and Anneliese spent a lot of time together, but they seldom did so while doing nothing more than enjoying each other’s company. In this manner, the joining ceremony was a precious opportunity that reminded him of the good fortune he’d had in meeting her. Argrave had been complaining about not having a proper wedding, but by the morning he came to realize that this was a far nicer way to celebrate than with expensive pageantry and large groups of people obsessing over the two of them.

They returned in the morning. The Veidimen warriors were eating their rations—salted meat constituted the bulk of that. They were big and fierce, but that meant they ate nearly twice as much as a normal person to maintain that strength. Galamon had assured Argrave that these men were used to dealing with food shortages and foraging, but it still elicited some concern.

After some time to eat of their own, Argrave and Anneliese rejoined with Orion and then met with the patriarch once again. He was with Rowe and Galamon in his tent, dismantling some equipment to pack for their journey back.

“Congratulations,” were Dras’ first words to them as he deconstructed a chair. “The two of you are now husband and wife. Dare I ask what vows you made?”

“Well…” Argrave scratched his ear. “We made a lot of them. Couple hundred, maybe.”

Anneliese laughed quietly in remembrance of last night.

Dras gave confused glances between the two of them, but he prudently shook his head and dismissed it. “Then we’ll be going. The men I promised are yours—the rest will be sailing back to Veiden today.”

“I’m thankful for your support. These men will be well-utilized.” Argrave nodded, then turned his head to Rowe. “And I appreciate your refinement of my A-rank ascension. I think the next time we meet, you’ll be very surprised.”

“Hmm, sure.” Rowe nodded. “I think you’ll still be dragging your feet when next we meet. Or maybe I’ll be looking down at a corpse in a coffin. That would be a little less surprising than your success. Your ascension is an active body reformation—those are the most dangerous kind, you realize. Not many of those are discovered… without incident.”

“I’ve gotten advice from so many people, it’d be embarrassing if I failed,” Argrave shook his head. “And besides, I’ll be doing it in a place that minimizes my risk.”

“Ah, yes. The classic coward’s tactic: take risks only when it’s not risky.” Rowe nodded knowingly. “If you succeed, though…” the old S-rank wizard shook his head, eyes a little wide. “I’ll have to make far fewer jokes at your expense.”

“I question if that day will ever truly come.” Argrave shook his head, and then stepped up to Galamon. “I think it’s time you introduce me to those officers so we can get on the road.”

“Come,” Galamon said, stepping past Argrave.

Along the way, Galamon explained what he’d promised to the day before: namely, the situation in Veiden. It was more or less as Argrave expected it to be. Fear and panic were high, and the problem was exacerbated by occasional assaults of things that fell under the waxing influence of Gerechtigkeit. The same thing prevailed here in Berendar, too, though Veiden was being hit harder—perhaps it was because of their unity, or perhaps there were simply more things for Gerechtigkeit to throw at the Veidimen.

Eventually, they entered into the officer’s tents. The three of them in question knelt on the ground, cleaning up the last of the interior of their tent. When Galamon and Argrave entered, they rose and came to attention. Though uniform in equipment, they all looked a little different.

“This is Bastal.” Galamon gestured towards a white-haired, white-eyed man. He was the smallest of the three and kept his hair long yet bound into a ponytail. “That’s Grimalt.” The next was a shaven man with amber eyes—the largest of the three, standing taller and wider than even Orion. “And then Rasten.” The last was a lithe man with golden eyes and hair. He reminded Argrave of Durran, and not from eye color alone. “Each of these three command a unit of one hundred.”

Galamon looked at the men. “You will call him Your Majesty,” he informed them, then pointed at Anneliese. “And her, Your Highness.”

sir,” the men

“In time, I’ll return as knight-commander. For now, you answer to the king and queen

fighters,” Orion said, voice echoey from

went far beyond what

stagnated there,” Galamon nodded. “I may have insisted

of you. Not just you three, but each and every man beneath you. If you know the prophecy, then you know what comes. And if you know what comes, then you’ll know that what we have is insufficient to fully contest who you know as He Who Would Judge

Majesty,” answered Bastal, quickest

Argrave nodded. “Tell me—what do you

of them hesitated, saying nothing.

with magic?” Argrave

Rasten confirmed. “The man’s a fish in water compared to a baby in the sea. As a matter

that is him. But some of that is this, also.”

crossed his

we need to make a stop at a city called Relize. Each and every one of you are going to be sized for new armor. It enhances your physical prowess,

Disciplined, professional, stoic—these men exuded the same qualities

the men to gather their things

replied asynchronously, then gathered some things efficiently

“I think it will be impossible to find enough large horses to carry these men.

stepped towards the tent’s flap, parting it. Once outside, his eyes wandered the camp. Grimalt barked out an order. And then… it was like a beehive come alive. Their tents could house five, and each group of five worked with startling efficiency to prepare for travel. In one minute, all the fur lining was gone. In the second, everything within was stowed away. In the next, the wooden constructions were dismantled. By the fourth, they were packing these materials away into backpacks. And before the fifth minute

with pride, and Argrave looked at Orion. “Something

just been in moments ago was gone, stripped and packed away. Argrave was very much looking forward to seeing them pitch these

#####

not too long after the men had finished preparing—funnily enough, it took longer for Argrave’s party to prepare than it did the troops. After saying a final farewell to Galamon, they left at midmorning. Along the way, Anneliese and Argrave discussed how best to

then prepared to send those into Dirracha. There, the royal smiths would reforge royal knights’ gear into armor that fit them. For practicality, Argrave requested that the armor not be ridiculous and shiny gold. Orion didn’t like this, but unfortunately for him he’d abdicated to

way of food and such. Rather than disturb the citizenry,

both, Your Majesty, Your Highness, alongside a report,” Ansgar informed Argrave and Anneliese after

what she might’ve sent and

into the city with Orion as his escort, heading towards Leopold’s estate by

“Leopold around?” Argrave questioned.

Your Majesty. Shall I get him for you?” Ansgar gestured towards the

She picked up a breastplate and held it up in the air. As she examined it, he pressed, “These are the

confirmed. “Shall I send for someone to help you wear