Jackal Among Snakes

“This is His Majesty Argrave.” The dwarf Trifon bowed toward him while introducing him. The dwarf at the head of the crowd wore a gold wreath just the same as Trifon did. Trifon and Kostis were envoys, diplomats of the senate. The man that they introduced him to was not—he was a senator by the name of Karolos.

“Is this another joke of yours, Trifon?” Karolos’s voice was tight and proud-sounding, and he spoke briskly. Though elderly, he maintained the uniformity of dwarven appearance—short, incredibly curly hair, made gray by age, and utterly clean-shaven on all of his body.

“No joke at all. This man is King Argrave,” Trifon gestured toward him. “My brother…” he bit at his lips as though deliberating whether or not to tell the truth. “He enjoyed his time there so much, he elected to stay longer and foster better relations with their people. And now the king has come here personally.”

The muttering crowd muttered all the faster upon this news. The reception was largely distasteful. Melanie’s pinky tapped the executioner’s blade leaning on her shoulder in annoyance when the dwarf didn’t even mention her.

Karolos shifted on his feet as he looked upon Argrave. In his dark black eyes, Argrave could see the wheels of calculation turning and turning. For him, it was a diplomatic situation that had become considerably more complex. But for Argrave, it was Tuesday.

“Well… I’m not sure why my fellow called you King Argrave, but here, there are no lords.” Karolos gave Trifon some serious side-eye. “No one has blood nobler than another, and royalty is a thing of a bygone era. Can you accept that, Argrave?”

Argrave smiled genially. “It’ll be a refreshing thing. Since we’re so equal and all, this is one of my best retainers, Melanie. Don’t be afraid to speak to her. She can represent me in many matters.” Argrave put his hand atop her head and moved about the wide-brimmed tellerbarret she wore, ruffling her hair. “If it helps, think of her red hair as a ruby wreath you senators might wear. She has that level of authority.”

Melanie grabbed Argrave’s wrist and kept it still with the inhuman strength of her artifacts. Karolos’ view of Argrave shifted as he looked upon the two of them—it was like he started to look at them like a bear rather than a wolf. The senator nodded. “I am Senator Karolos. I’ll be guiding you to our senate hall. The Dwarven Senate is already gathered to meet you. Come along.” The senator walked away.

“Why’d you mess with me?” Melanie complained as she removed her hat and fixed her hair.

“Looked tense, that’s all.” Argrave focused on her, giving the dwarf ample time to get ahead—it wasn’t as though he’d have trouble catching up. “Don’t forget—I brought you here because you were the best fit. You’ve proven yourself in diplomacy before. You’re a master of your blessing. Two counts in your favor. Just do your best.” He beckoned her to follow as he moved after the departing Karolos.

Argrave followed the senator through Mundi. Though the city’s architecture was grand, he started to notice metaphorical cracks in the grand image. For one, nothing here was made for people like him. The tallest of the doors only barely allowed his passageway without ducking. There was no flora whatsoever—perhaps not a surprising thing given the fact they were many miles beneath the surface, yet Argrave did not realize how much life simple bushes and ferns added to a place.

The necessity for food demanded some level of life besides dwarves alone—to that end, there were complex food processing facilities masked by grand buildings of marble. Lava was in common use all throughout the city, even for their food. Their people subsisted off creatures that absorbed heat as energy—magical fungi and all manner of livestock, be it mammalian, reptilian, or insectoid. Their diet was diverse, but so far removed from anything those on the surface knew.

questions…” Karolos noted as

felt no need to waste his words—the senator might pry at his intent

exhibit for the citizens of this republic to gawk at. He had to admit they were a very dignified people. It was

were huge—if the steps weren’t large enough to accommodate that, he’d have to awkwardly bend them to the side so he could fit. And these steps were particularly tiny. Melanie breezed by him as he took

Karolos called out, “Hold on. Before we enter.” Everyone walked up to him. He held up a white tray. “Wearing footwear is forbidden within the senate. You may keep

like a state house, a colosseum, and an art museum all in one. There were other entrances higher up accessible by stairways, but their group entered through the bottom doorway.

floors are cleaned every hour, fret not,” Karolos ensured, though Argrave didn’t think that was Melanie’s concern. “And your feet will be

took his boots off, balancing on one foot as he did each. Melanie resignedly joined him in this task.

shortly followed by Trifon’s and Melanie’s. They proceeded

and will leave when their task

for us…” Melanie trailed off as

he felt his skin being gently pulled in half a thousand places at once. He grimaced, doing his best to rein in his discomfort. When there was nothing more to clean, the creatures left him be, and Argrave stepped out, feet dripping. Behind, Melanie gave him hateful eyes as she followed. She let out a faint noise of displeasure that sounded like

to him, “Watch your step. They might leave poisoned traps on the

be poisoned,” Argrave said in his normal talking

ahead, nodding bitterly.

not paranoid,” Argrave said in a quieter tone. “Not

that was the dwarven senate finally finished its tour as they came to a circular room in its center that had no walls, merely pillars holding it up. Beyond, several hundred marble chairs rose upward, all facing inward

is the senate hall. We’ll address them in the center, there.” He pointed. “Everyone’s already here, from the sound of it.

neck, the gold chain

the room. “We’d like you to head to the

nodded. “Works for

acting as their sky—opened up above them. This room had no ceiling. Tiered steps held chairs rising upward in a circle. It accommodated one thousand chairs exactly, by Argrave’s memory. At the last and highest ring of chairs, there was a wall, rising upward until it ended in a railed balcony encircling them. It made this place seem like a pit. And from there… everyone in the entire city of Mundi could gather to watch the session. And dwarves had come in the thousands to watch this momentous meeting. They were completely silent in respect for this

to the elevated platform, turning about as he declared, “The senate welcomes Argrave, King