Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave went to deal with his agenda, but as he spoke to the architects of Relize to end their strike, and as he addressed the concerns of Magisters questioning the direction of the expeditionary parties sent out across Vasquer, his mind was elsewhere. His mind was on helmet Melanie had brought back. More specifically, he dreaded the Ebon Cult it heralded.

There was no mistaking the distinctive masked helmet of the Ebon Cult. The ones given to scouts were undetailed and light, as the masks marked their rank in the hierarchy and helped establish a sense of identity for their wearers. That it had been found meant one thing alone: the cult’s scouts had ventured where Melanie had reached. That was the bare minimum it meant—in reality, their members might have discovered a path to the surface long ago. And without Gerechtigkeit’s meddling to hinder their progress significantly… they might have a huge head start on their invasion of Vasquer.

If this had been Gerry’s plan—to have these two potent nations clash just as all the gods descended, weakening both in a major way—then it was working out.

Argrave sat on his bed with Anneliese hovering near him. They had been staying in the parliamentary complex, alongside other parliamentary seats that decided to stay in Blackgard itself. She had a writing implement and paper both prepared, but she did not write. He stared at the helmet in his hands, thinking hard.

“You feel dread.” Anneliese knelt down before him. “Do we cancel our plans to go to Veiden?”

He looked at her, using her question to put his thoughts back on rails. Apparently, half the reason Galamon was convinced to return to Veiden was because there was something related to the Ebon Cult. They might not even be the same organization, but at the same time…

“Before I became king… I had intended to head down into the abandoned dwarven cities.” Argrave set the helmet on his bed. “There, I would learn and make use of shamanic magic, upgrade my arsenal, defeat Mozzahr and his cult alone while the kingdom focused on preparing for the gods unmolested. But events transpired. I dealt with events in the Bloodwoods, not down there.” He fixed her with a gaze as steady as stone. “Now, we need Galamon’s expertise in war more than anything. I can’t fight this as I’d hoped to.”

“That is a sensible point.” Anneliese’s eyes darted back and forth as she was lost in thought. “We waste time. We may be late, already. Let us go visit the first training session of the army.”

Argrave nodded, rising to his feet. As he made for the door back to the outside, he paused, then turned and grabbed the helmet still on their bed.

#####

They travelled beneath the tunnel spanning the mountains north of Vasquer. It was a busy road, with refugees still coming in en masse, but they still made it through in decent time. Here, the great fortress erected by the Relizean architects stood strong and tall. Argrave, Anneliese, and Orion scaled the massive fortification, heading for the walls. The stairs felt as though they took an hour to climb, and once they arrived the cold winds of high altitudes battered their face.

Rows and rows of Veidimen-style tents filled the vast plains between Blackgard and Relize. But they were not built by Veidimen—they were built by the men of Argrave’s newly formed standing army. Technically, this force had been in existence for two months. Those two months, however, had been filled by back-breaking training to bring all recruits to a physical standard.

dozens of miles with heavy packs, paved the roads between Relize, Blackgard, and Dirracha, collected firewood enough to burn for weeks, and made those wondrously comfortable tents… every single day, for two months. Healing magic made pain nothing more than an inconvenience, and the elves of Veiden took full advantage

to begin proper military training. Argrave remembered the number well, because Elenore had complained countless times about paying this many salaries. Many of these people were working to support their families

expeditionary parties scouring ruins across the kingdom. It was causing something of a boom

unit tactics, weapons, discipline… but more than discipline, they had fervor. They prepared for Gerechtigkeit, just as Argrave did. And

they were ignorant of what

my mind?” Argrave raised a

think,” she shook her head. “After all this time, I

the edge of the fortress, bracing against the parapets. “Thought I was a hotshot, putting my life on the line to fight Gerechtigkeit. But there’s thousands of people just like me, getting ready to be just as good as I am, if

it.” Anneliese stepped closer. “Feeling connected with one’s men makes

Rest assured you are worth fighting for.” Orion pounded his

Argrave grabbed the parapet,

to shoulder their responsibility, so do

walked back towards the stairs. “But instead of moping, I’m going to do something about it before we leave for Veiden.” He paused just before descending. “Let’s visit

#####

into the two entrances—three, if the river was to be counted. There was little life up high in the mountains. At best, there were birds, goats… but little grew on the slick

it was the perfect housing ground for the ancient serpent

travelled them somewhat frequently, asking things of their distant ancestor on a regular basis. Orion would have gone more frequently, but he took

it to something of a peak. At once, Argrave spotted the golden scales of Argrave’s ancestral serpent shining brightly further back. Vasquer crawled forward, winding around various elevated portions of the

Argrave said quietly beneath his breath, reaching his hand out

maternal touch of this ancient Gilderwatcher permeated his mind. It was like a calming tide of exuberance, concern, and satisfaction

to ask Orion to come, next, that she might greet him as well. He pulled his hand away