Jackal Among Snakes

Shortly before the battle between the Imperial Navy of the Great Chu and Argrave’s own forces began, Argrave had word sent off to the delegates of the Blackgard Union—more specifically, to the newly established Merovin. Once word reached the deities, they would be heading to this location. Argrave wanted to deal with the first wave of mortal participants long before they could ever arrive, if only so he could potentially curb the damage the gods might inflict on both sides of the conflict. Sataistador’s report only spoke of sea gods. This attack was meant to establish a foothold—a scouting party, in essence.

When the towering fleet came into sight for these further down, subtle signals spread out across the coastline indicating to Argrave’s allies in hiding that it was their time to get in position. It was evident that the Great Chu navy had scouted some locations that were prime for landing, and so their route was somewhat predictable. Argrave himself descended from the high cliffs and joined up with the towering white dragon, Crystal Wind, and his retinue.

The Great Chu’s Sea Dragon was large enough to accommodate uncountable forces, and among them would be the elite of the elites. They were protecting the life of an emperor reigning over an empire at least a thousand years old. Argrave would ostensibly be assaulting a fortress, and was bringing the people to match.

Argrave and Anneliese were the leaders for this operation. They brought six S-rank spellcasters with them: Rowe the Righteous, Vasilisa of Quadreign, Castro, Onychinusa, and the newly anointed Duchess and Duke of Dirracha, Vera and Hegazar. Alongside their ground troops—elite Veidimen warriors with officers like Grimalt, armed with divine weapons and enchanted gear—it was an incredibly potent force. Argrave wished for Orion and Melanie to come, but he didn’t dare divert them from the protection of Vysenn and Sandelabara. That was just as important as this operation, he felt. Galamon was here, too, and would be taking command of the Veidimen navy.

Argrave walked up to the group of six spellcasters. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“You promised to repair the ruined city,” Vera shook her head, gray hair swaying with the cold northern winds. She fixed her orange eyes on him and continued somewhat accusingly, “I still wonder if you’ve played us. But it’s a weight that was on our shoulders larger than this battle, certainly.”

“And it helps your kingdom as much as it does our economy, I suspect,” Hegazar noted. “We are but humble servants of the king and kingdom.”

Argrave was glad that this greedy couple were cooperative—it was likely because they saw the benefits of being on the king’s good side rather than any genuine altruism, but it had paid out in Argrave’s favor for this battle. With six of the best spellcasters in the kingdom at their side, Argrave felt they could easily match any foreign mages that the Emperor Ji Meng had brought. Importantly, these six were adaptable, and could react to the new styles of their foes well.

“I wasn’t aware that ships that large could even float,” Rowe the Righteous noted, staring out across the ocean past the craggy rocks concealing the naval base. “But my dragon can take us there. And I can help with the rest.”

“I’m glad of that,” Argrave nodded. “Anneliese—everyone is caught up on what to do?”

“Yes.” Her confirmation was confident.

longer felt the need to add anything when he saw her confidence, but people looked at him expectantly, perhaps expecting some of his words as a leader. He obliged, continuing, “In the Great Chu, people view their emperor as a literal son of heaven. This battle is to be the most vicious—and most important—part of this confrontation. If you follow everything Anneliese

Brumesinger. He looked into its golden eyes, pet its black fur, and stashed

them to the dryads. If they were stupid enough not to get the blessing,

set,” Argrave nodded, ignoring her crassness in

over to Galamon. With a word, the two walked away from the crowd. Once they had some distance, he said

not worry about anything outside of your battle, Your Maj—no, Argrave,” he corrected, remembering Argrave’s request to speak

friend a decisive nod. “And what

lead them even after this battle,

yet they lacked the time to say it. Instead, he left saying, “Be safe,

“You as well, Argrave.”

within him, but he pushed it down and walked toward the dragon. He grabbed the horn on its head and lifted himself up, then walked down to take position on its broad back. With a command, everyone followed him up onto

long ago been designated. Shortly after the spellcasters came, taking position just behind Argrave and Anneliese. Rowe took his place on the dragon’s head, and it slowly turned its huge body toward the ocean as it prepared to fly. As Argrave gave one last nod to Galamon, Crystal Wind began to beat its giant draconic wings, and they took to the sky. Argrave saw the Great Chu fleet at the edge of the coast, just where the

Dragon as quickly as its huge frame could

battle, where the fastest among them sent fire and wind to create openings for the troops. The battle had begun, and the ambush seemed successful. But Argrave

the turtle ships as they turned from relying on sails to relying on the strength of the men within. As the dragon neared, spells rushed at them from subtle compartments. Sheer cold erupted from Crystal Wind’s maw as it passed, stopping lesser spells in their track. Onychinusa, meanwhile, split apart into magic and reformed below

the wind, “You

and so Argrave accepted her words calmly. If their foes were using magic of this

dealt with all others. As Argrave watched, he saw eight

called out, signaling

back, the enormity of the fortress dawned at him. This vessel was large enough