Jackal Among Snakes

After Dario seemed to vanish, Argrave looked to the Alchemist, hoping the man might have some insight on what had just happened. It seemed that Dario had overpowered the terrifying being, but Argrave needed explanation.

“He used something warped to disrupt my magic. Not just my magic—the ability that Hause bestowed upon me, all those years ago.” The Alchemist held his hand up and clenched it. “I observed him with [Minor Truesight]. The power within him is beyond its scope. Would that Anneliese were here, she might look upon him with the more thorough eyes bestowed by Yinther.”

“Do you think Gerechtigkeit is making his move?” Argrave looked up at him, despite the watching crowd. “Is Dario… someone deluded by him? Tricked?”

The Alchemist retrieved the vial of Gerechtigkeit’s essence extracted from Felipe’s corpse. “This did not react—neither upon seeing him, nor when he called upon whatever power he did. But he is beset by a foreign power, this much I can say for certain.” He looked back to the spot Dario had been standing. “It’s tearing him apart, whatever it is. He’s dying.”

“He started bleeding after he swiped at you,” Melanie reminded them. “Seems like he thinks what he’s doing is worth dying for. Also says a little about who might be standing behind him, if they’re fine allowing their power to whittle him down to dust.”

“I’ll admit…” the Alchemist looked to the senate hall. “I don’t think I can catch him. If he uses that power, I’m powerless before it.” He looked to Melanie. “Your mastery over space might falter, too. And our magic would have no effect. With that strange augmentation on his arms and legs, he would be faster and stronger than all of us. And the more he uses that power, the more he dies—we’d likely be left with a corpse at the end of it all.”

“But it seems he’s going to get in our way.” Argrave grabbed at his chin, frustrated. “He said that he has no wish to fight. There’s a big ‘yet’ that he left unspoken, I think. And I don’t want to fight him.”

Melanie nodded. “The tenor of that conversation was a bit odd. Seemed sympathetic, almost.”

“I’d agree. That’s what’s so damn bothersome about this whole thing.” He shook his head. “We don’t have much time until the senate meeting. Let’s not be late—won’t set a good precedent.”

#####

Anneliese watched as Veidimen longships glided atop the surface of the rippling waters of the eastern ocean. Slowly, they took their place at the docks to Blackgard. As they settled, there was a little unease in the dockworkers. They had grown used to Veidimen traders, yet now, true warships took their place in the city. Still, they were here as allies, not as enemies. And perhaps to prove this, Patriarch Dras was the first to step off the ships. He was followed by several hulking guards, wearing thoroughly enchanted armor. They’d wasted no time in integrating that magic into their people, it seemed.

Anneliese walked out to meet him. “Some years ago, the only reason you would have stepped off a longship to these shores was because you were their conqueror.”

armies, perhaps, in a more foolish, more senseless time.” Dras dipped his head slightly. “I think your current position suits

thank you for coming. We can’t add the Veidimen to the parliament—not yet, while Argrave is

shamanic magic to teleport

welcome you as guests, for now. But you’ve come at an opportune time. Elenore has received word from the distant north. We

looked surprised. “By all

hold of his shoulder. None of the guards reacted—who would dare protest at the patriarch’s adopted daughter touching him? But then they vanished, ferried away by

a marker. She and the patriarch appeared just beside Onychinusa, who sat on a seaside cliff buried in blankets. Her head stirred when they arrived, but then looked back

peering at the water

here, really, and we have no way of defending it adequately. The nearest settlement is many miles away—few people live here.” Anneliese walked to the edge, where

see… square ships. They’ve a sail, and oars…

from down below. “They have a navigator at the front, but otherwise, the whole ship is armored and enclosed. A god aids them, giving them favorable wind and alerting them of treacherous things lurking just beneath the water… glaciers, the like. But

his face. “It’s a marvel it can float. These

the backing of two very powerful gods, one of whom commands a coalition of lesser deities.” Anneliese crossed her arms and looked at Dras. “This is where we’d like to build your fortress. If you look back, there’s a long ravine—it’s a safe, sheltered

his battles. “But these are men, yes? No different from those

you see now are scouting ships. Soon after, transport ships will come, seeking to build a place of safe harbor. And when they encounter opposition, their Imperial Navy will come. Their warships dwarf your longships many times over. And they

the shores of Veiden. Icy. Treacherous. Tremendous glaciers lie just beneath the surface of the water, threatening to gut ships that lack vision.” Dras traced the distant

have been missing something about the why of it,” Anneliese asked, diving for the heart of what

insisted I set aside glory. Though I, and other interpreters of her will, judged that her directives were about glory and supremacy for our people… we were wrong. It was not glory, but rather what is best for our people. This is what she wished.” Dras looked at her firmly. “So, I’ve set aside glory. And I do what

sound very convicted.” Anneliese couldn’t keep some surprise

our movement. Even

#####

the Alchemist’s magic and temporarily incapacitating his form had taken a great deal out of him. He’d be feeling the effects in the days that followed. In his haze, Dario had merely presented the method and recipe to forge dwarven metal to the dwarves without ceremony, and then left. He did not wish to linger overlong, lest Argrave or the

with both the empathy bestowed by her heritage and the Truesight vested in her by Yinther, god of curiosity. He could