Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stood in Elenore’s office, deep inside the parliamentary hall. Orion stood at the doorway, while Anneliese attended to another matter regarding Mial and the other prisoners.

“First among our tasks… distribution of what we’ve stolen from Erlebnis,” Argrave said, reading a paper that Elenore had handed him. “I think I can do this with my listener present. I might even get some satisfaction knowing that we’re dividing the loot from his vault while he listens.”

“I did want to hear your thoughts on that before I made any choices,” Elenore nodded.

“…there’s a lot of stuff,” Argrave confessed. “I was going to ask Hause for help appraising all of it.”

“Don’t you know?” Elenore raised her brows.

“I’m not a machine. I don’t remember all of it,” Argrave defended. “Anyway… the majority of the weapons, we should give to Durran’s god-slaying retinue. He’s dealt with a lot of the baddies, but more of them could still pop up before the toughbastards like Erlebnis and Kirel Qircassia start manifesting. Just make things easy for him.”

“I suggest we set aside some to distribute to the nobility,” Elenore advised. “It will enhance their ability to defend distant territories, while also ensuring their loyalty. These artifacts… what are they truly capable of?”

“One of them could probably put you on par with Galamon, physically,” Argrave said with a shrug. “Others have specific effects. I think… I think one of them might help Valeria. Temporarily. I can finally keep that promise to you, maybe.” He looked at Orion.

The golden-armored knight blinked in shock. “You mean… I might speak to my mother when she is rational?”

“Yep,” Argrave nodded. “Won’t last forever, but it’s a start. From there, I’ll be looking out for other solutions. Non-divine solutions. Unless your stance on divinity changes.”

Orion slammed his fist against his chest hard enough to bend his armor. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Orion’s mother,” Elenore crossed her arms and looked a little pleased. “If one of them might do that… they’ll all be incredibly useful, then.”

“Yeah. We pilfered some other stuff. A dragon egg. I usually sell those, unless I’m playing as—” Argrave cut himself off, hesitant to mention anything related to Heroes of Berendar, even if it was innocuous and vague. “Point is—this’ll take time. Let’s do it while I’m far away, so I can assess things one by one.”

“Okay,” Elenore agreed. “I’d like you to tweak some things about your Domain of Order presiding over the town. It should help make the city safer and more efficient. Crime is basically non-existent. It’s been wonderful, but it could be more.”

Argrave read the paper, where her desired changes listed out for quite some time. “I see that,” he mumbled after a second. “Alright. And then?”

“I’m going to construct a… a mailbox for you, shall we say,” Elenore held her hand out. “It’ll be connected via my blessing from Lira, allowing me to transfer documents to you for you to stamp with your magical signature. Other things, too, but that’s my use for it. We’ll retrieve it after you change the Domain of Order.”

“Alright. And then?” Argrave pressed.

“Just a last-minute census, a few other minor things to deal with, some public appearances, speaking to a few members of parliament… trivial things, but they need to be done. Oh, and I’d like to communicate with the gods in our alliance.”

“Alright. And the last entry… surprise,” Argrave narrowed his eyes, then opened them wide. “Oh. I was in business mode. What’s the surprise?” He paused and shook his head. “Wait—it’s a surprise, duh. You can’t tell me.”

“Precisely,” Elenore took the paper. “Now… let’s get you to work.”

#####

surprise—a private banquet. It wasn’t overly grandiose, but nor was it excessively humble. In other words, precisely the way Argrave liked things. This surprise was a welcome one after the day of tedium he’d endured. The most exciting part had been contacting the gods they’d allied with. Their

Argrave would be sure

joined at Argrave’s invitation. Some of his people were absent by circumstance or choice—Nikoletta and Onychinusa, for instance—but altogether, it felt like a family meal with a family he truly loved. Still, it was difficult to forget the lingering

a little like my last supper before prison.” He left out the next part, saying it

goblet full of wine, while his left arm rested on the backrest of Elenore’s chair proudly and possessively. Elenore didn’t seem to mind. “We’d best

then said after a moment’s pause, “We should make it good for Elenore, too, then. She’s going to have

have the decency to respect my nights, at the very least,” Elenore

second that. For different reasons than her, I imagine,” Durran added, and laughed when

rare showing, he did not wear his golden armor—Argrave’s request. With a neat braid on his black hair and a tight combing of his

for it to be

Ingo?”

said with palpable relief. “It is hard to describe how it feels to simply teach him magic with

dressed in neat white-black outfits

a little straighter, seeming unusually attentive. “Speaking of

before them all. Elenore explained, “A lot of this comes from the first harvest in Blackgard. From the orchards, from the fields, or from the livestock… all of this was grown here in the bounds of this valley.” The servants piled the platters up in the center of the table, refilled glasses with jugs of water or wine as requested,

Melanie said as she reached and retrieved a steak. “Or

that, I’ve imported spices from the Burnt Desert. They’re

the most, yes?” Anneliese asked Argrave, but she seemed to already be certain of the

she’d probably asked Elenore to bring the spices to this dinner. She had probably been

miss you,” he

broke off into their own conversations as they ate, leaving them to their

would hope so,” Anneliese said in half

so, Anne,” he rebutted at

she agreed shyly. “Hause told me that

in closer. “Where is she? I’ll

her calling me that would have resonated. Now… now, not so much. I feel secure. With you. With all the things you built. But even with that security comes insecurity, like it could all

hers. “And I feel like we’re

purpose has always been what you make it, in my belief,” Anneliese responded. “That… that place… it was terrifying, Argrave. Mozzahr, Erlebnis, the White Planes… I think I am finally strong enough to admit that I grow weary of it all,” she looked back at the table. “I want more of this. A quiet place. You,

circumstance demands we fight for it,” Argrave responded. “Only a

as cold and hard as ever.

think you’re capable of disappointing me. If there’s one thing you suck

and I had more planned for us after this… but hearing

at disappointing me,” Argrave went rigid and

your food,” she ordered him, words interspersed

#####

care of everything?” asked the Alchemist. He didn’t look back at Argrave as he dealt with his abode of obsidian. His Pawns swarmed about him,

last goodbyes. He said to the Alchemist, “Didn’t