Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave awoke long before Anneliese did, eager to seize the day. He was happy to have established the plan of action they’d be taking the next week or so. All that mattered now was adjusting the attitude of some of the parliamentary seats, performing well should debate arise, and executing things flawlessly.

He and his queen quickly prepared themselves for a long day of politics, then set out to meet with Elenore. Orion guarded them as they slept, but now he switched places with Galamon. They checked Elenore’s room first, but when they found she’d already woken up they went to her office in the parliamentary hall.

“Seems you always wake up before us,” Argrave said as he entered brazenly. Her office here was humbler than it had been in Dirracha, simple stone and wood alone. But it suited her, Argrave thought.

“There’s a lot to do. I don’t sleep well, anyway,” Elenore dismissed. “Ever since that ambush from the Unhanded Coalition deep in Atrus, I’ve been a very light sleeper. Frustratingly so. But, actually…” she trailed off. “No, never mind.”

“No, what were you gonna say?” Argrave insisted, sitting down.

“I…” Some color came to Elenore’s face. “I slept well at the Lionsun Castle, actually.”

“Oh,” Argrave nodded, then smiled when he realized what that meant. “Oooh, I see. Felt safe? Or was it something else you felt, maybe?”

“Not another word.” Elenore fixed him with a glare. “We have much to do. I believe we have a problem brewing.”

“Yeah? Go on,” Argrave leaned back in the chair, though still smiled as he suppressed more teasing.

“There’s a thin line between respect and fear.” Elenore placed her hands on the table. “With the parliament, you earned a lot of leeway from the nobles. With me, you’ve been able to effectively curtail the greater privileges this institution gives them. But this talk about waging war with the Ebon Cult, and consolidating our power further yet with an alliance of a roving horde of southern tribals… after Felipe’s misrule, some nobles are growing concerned by how we’re centralizing power. The standing army, the Stonepetal Sentinels, Artur and his Hall of Enchantment… and now that construction has resumed on Blackgard, we’re building a grand city and stealing peasants from their territory en masse—by their perception, at least. If your status is a scale between respect and fear… it is weighted toward fear. And so, people will test you.”

“Test me?” Argrave repeated. “I’m a good test-taker. Never needed to study.”

“I’m serious, Argrave,” Elenore insisted, maintaining her calm. “People talk about you all the time. They claim you’ve slain gods. I fostered these rumors because I sought a sterling reputation for you; a king is only what people perceive him to be, and so reputation is everything. You are remarkably popular. But save a few we can count on—the Archduchy of the North, the Margravate of Parbon, the Dukedom of Mateth, for example—many of the seats in parliament seek to retain their position. I think we can count on the burghers because they are ecstatic to simply be given a voice in government. That exuberance may fade with time, but the patricians of Relize and the mayors of cities can be counted on. Beyond them…”

nobles still foster ambitions? Really? After all

the Order of the Gray Owl. There is a reason why the Order persisted—it was because people liked

Argrave pointed out. “I’ve done more for Order spell research singlehandedly than any other by pointing them toward forgotten ruins. Hell, the Order of the Rose library

influx of boons cannot last forever. It is stability and security they

it

systems that should be eroded.” Argrave said. “The Order allows Magisters to hoard knowledge. And lineage, bloodlines, nobility… that’s all tripe. Might sound a bit hypocritical

put her hand on his knee. “After Gerechtigkeit is defeated, we have time to erode them without radical, potentially

I had intended to capitalize on the fragility after Gerechtigkeit to enact reforms. But for now… we need to

proposing?” Argrave

from relocating.” Elenore

that,” Argrave insisted. “We’re making this place a fortress to

better. Not just to this, but to all of what they proposed. There are other suggestions.” Elenore looked at him.

waited for Elenore to continue, but he realized that she was genuinely asking him. Meaning… Elenore didn’t have an answer. And

many papers—she had enough work to overwhelm anyone, but seemed as steady as a mountain. “If you can come up with good ways to get them in line, excellent. If not… frankly, Argrave, we have to meet their demands. They’re scared of letting their lives

want anyone to know he was lost in the dark. He took the paper, then rose

me, I’ll be—” Argrave

Yes, I can,” Elenore agreed. “Good luck. I’ll send someone for you, likely at midday. Pour some

#####

solution. Nothing that felt truly right came to mind. Unlike all the other times before, he could fully understand the opposition’s position. Asking someone to surrender rights and privileges was much different than denying their ambition. He had effectively stolen their tax base. And Argrave’s consolidation of power had been especially aggressive. Even Felipe

end, Argrave felt he was wasting him time but coming up with no answer. As consequence, he decided to bring Galamon to overview the training army. They stood on the

eyes wandering the land where the army drilled. The Veidimen honor guard sent by Dras were monstrously

looked at him. “It’s summer, sure, but… is something

stiff and heavy, and things outside your control happen. Snow. Chilling winds. Natural disasters. But winter is a metaphor, too. It exemplifies experience. A veteran is far superior to a well-drilled soldier. You should bear in mind these are summer soldiers when developing