Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave expected to speak to the Patriarch of the Veidimen at their capital, Veiden. They teleported there using [Worldstrider]. Argrave hoped to give Galamon some time to visit with his family. Instead, he was informed that the leader of the snow elves waited at Katla, the portside city that Argrave had first made it to when negotiating with the Veidimen.

Though Argrave was disappointed he could not give one of his close friends the long family visit he deserved, he expected a trip down memory lane might do both him and Anneliese some good. Instead, what he saw was that Blackgard was not the only city that had grown significantly.

Anneliese’s talk about the Veidimen prospering from the trade was not her conjecture. Veidimen vessels were the only to take harbor in these icy waters, and with them alone the oceans were crowded and cluttered. Argrave walked about the docks with a small escort of royal guards bearing divine weapons as they awaited Dras’ arrival.

“King Argrave.” A familiar voice made Argrave turn his head, and he rested his gaze upon Patriarch Dras, flanked by his guards. He was short for a snow elf, dressed in ceremonial white clothes befitting his station, and remained with shaven head and bone white eyes. “And the year-old daughter of mine. In what capacity do you two visit? As family, or as sovereigns?”

“The latter, unfortunately.” Argrave put his hands together as he walked closer. “I have a rather serious proposition to discuss, and little time for anything else.”

“You’ve finally come to the point I have, where time is precious. The missive mentioned you wished Veid to be present as well. Then, come.”

Dras beckoned Argrave onward, leading them through the ever-growing city. The city sprawled wider, and the buildings stood taller. The practical wooden homes had been replaced with stone as though the trappings of man were soon to catch up with them. But the patriarch took them past all of that, into a large new building nestled up beside a tall hill of snow-covered rock. Argrave saw large animal skulls lined up all along it.

“I imagine this will do you little good to prepare you for what questions await...” Dras stepped closer to Argrave. Their honor guards—Argrave’s royal guards and Dras’ personal guard—seemed to be incredibly wary of each other, even though both were Veidimen. “…but Veid has very earnestly wished to speak to you, Argrave. Almost as much as her mortal champion.”

“Alright…” Argrave took little comfort in that. He didn’t think he had done anything especially interesting enough to draw the eye of the goddess of the snow elves. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I suppose, if only because it’d bother Galamon if I weren’t.”

Dras glanced at Argrave. “A little respect can go a long way. A lot of adversity can be avoided.”

“We are well familiar with the value of respect. And this relationship our nations hold is something to be respected. You would agree with this, yes, father?” Anneliese stepped up alongside him.

The word clearly brought him pause, but he accepted it resignedly. “You’re as diplomatic as any daughter I could hope to have. Should I be half as blessed when that day comes…” Dras stopped at a large stone door, and his guards moved to push it open.

They entered inside the building, and as a wide set of stairs descended five steps downward, he realized this place was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Veid sat in the back, in all her divine glory. Her chamber was no throne indicating superiority—she lived as her people did, in fur clothes made for warmth, with weapons made to hunt, and with white eyes that seemed to look for any opening. There were two thrones in their chamber. They were not for king and queen, but rather for god and patriarch.

walking far ahead of Argrave as his guards dispersed to stand by the walls of the room. He sat in the large throne beside Veid, and waited for them patiently. Argrave stepped up with Anneliese and Galamon

think it is.” Argrave smiled and dipped his head. “It must bust be complicated, this leadership situation between you and Dras.” He stood firm and straight. He liked both of those present, but as he said, he was here

leader. It is only by Dras’ grace that I am given this chamber.” She spoke with extreme brevity as she looked between him and

untouched. Still, he inhaled and answered

world under my honorable people. You believe that the conquest itself makes the government dishonorable. This, I do believe: we both want the best for our people. In this way, our perspectives are ice and water; identical in composition, but different

her world, what she did was best for her people. Argrave fiddled with the Ravenstone, then lowered his hand back to his side. It jingled

that one is capable of establishing this honorable government without sullying themselves… governments change as constantly as the world around them. What we establish today might not be all there is tomorrow. If I am to

Galamon informed me

about such things. It was praise, so he could not be upset, but it was still a breach of information. “I’ve learned the power of

Veid nodded understandingly. “I’ve spoken long enough. You had something to discuss

little… short. Would their true conversation come later? Argrave couldn’t answer that, but

do.” Anneliese stood just as firm as the goddess herself, both hands behind her back respectfully. “We’d like to discuss the terms to a deeper alliance

“Not the first time your lack of a navy has hindered your country, is it? There’s a lesson to be learned there.” He tapped the armrest to the

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kingdom of Vasquer, Dras sent the king and queen away without an answer under the pretext

to her without the same sort of deference the others might’ve given her. He had to be this

people without the need for glory, Dras?” Veid walked up to him. “Would you become a footnote

the force of her words that she was divinity for a reason. “I

I, watching you in these years. And now,

been lacking for many years. He could hear the footsteps of the god behind him. Perhaps that

morphed into forging an opportunity for something better. And that opportunity spiraled until he had unified this continent. The boy he was… he did believe in Veid’s message. He had hope for his people, for

vision, whether it meant glory for himself or

to

I will give you guidance. It may taste like bile, but it’s best for our people… and all people. You will not be forgotten, Dras. If you should heed my advice, you will be overshadowed. You will be a great conqueror just as you wish, and when victory finally greets you, the empire you built will become another’s. They will not honor your memory… but they will build upon

“What do you mean?”