Jackal Among Snakes

Emperor Ji Meng had not been able to learn much about this land he found himself stranded in. His captors kept him well-guarded on the ship that they had taken from him in his failed invasion. Though surrounded by the silk of his personal quarters, they might have well been steel bars. He had thought this fleet indomitable when it departed from the docks of the south. Over land and sea his army travelled, the winds at their back like some divine blessing the whole way. In a day, fortune turned to deep misfortune as he was reminded that he, too, was mortal.

But Ji Meng did not lose his patience. He was kept alive for a reason—a reason that was sure to make itself clear in the days to come. Days became weeks, and weeks a month. Then, finally, a rope descended from the heavens with which he could climb back up. It came in the form of elves. Though wiped out in the Great Chu, various races of their kind persisted in this land he’d intended to plunder. These ones called themselves Veidimen.

The Veidimen leader, Patriarch Dras, sat across from Ji Meng. He was bald, and had sharp white eyes that peered down upon him with authority. These elves all possessed giant stature, but their size meant little when he was already a captive stripped of weapon and armor and forced to drink a draught that suppressed his vital force.

“You’ve met my daughter, but we’ve never spoken,” Patriarch Dras said after he’d introduced himself.

Ji Meng remained still. “Remind me.”

“The queen,” the patriarch said proudly.

Ji Meng narrowed his eyes. Some things were falling into place. This was an alliance of some sort. Perhaps the elves were vassal to the king. It did explain why Argrave gave her the authority to sit and speak next to him as an equal.

“Does she know we’re speaking?” Ji Meng pried. If there was dissent, he might capitalize on it.

“The royal couple suggested this conversation.” Dras placed his big hands on the table before them. “An interesting question, though. You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?”

The emperor was annoyed, but he tried not to show it as he asked, “What is it you want with me?” There didn’t seem to be a single hint of disunity in this whole endeavor. Ji Meng supposed a leader willing to assault an enemy flagship personally would certainly have no trouble earning the trust of those beneath him.

“Argrave suggested that we use you as a claimant in our invasion of the Great Chu.”

Ji Meng’s mind reeled with the news, but he remained calm outwardly.

Dras pointed at him. “If not for your character, it might’ve been a good idea.”

“My character?” Ji Meng repeated.

“I don’t think I could control you. You’ll play along until you have an opportunity to break free. I thought about breaking your spine and cutting off your hands to neutralize you utterly, but then you’d be less effective as a claimant.” Dras set his hands on his knees. “I imagine it’d be hard to accept a cripple as the Emperor of the Great Chu. Thus, revolts. Thus, a less peaceful transfer of power.”

Ji Meng took a drink of the brew in front of him. When silence stretched out, he beckoned. “You’ve got more to say, so just say it.”

Dras began again as if he’d been waiting for permission. “The people that puppeteered your imperial court have acted more prudently than expected. Our mole on the inside was discovered and purged, and their strategy has changed. This entire continent is effectively under siege. We had expected to be launching our counter-invasion by this time.”

“Continental siege?” Ji Meng’s disbelief flavored his tone.

“Yes.” Dras’ nod was troubled. “Even gods can build siege weapons. But unlike, say, a trebuchet… the stones that they sling can bridge continents. And they don’t sling stones, either. They sling magic of devastating proportions that has the potential to wipe out a city.”

heard tales of the cycle of judgment. New cruelties of war were born every millennium under the desperation

been self-sustaining. But it wears us down and diverts us from the

I come in? Unless you wished to consult me for advice, I don’t see the point

a part of them.”

should be grateful for

only now noticed a golden bird watching in the

bird has a clever mind within it,

this place. A bird

The bird chirped again.

more,” Dras prompted him

people that’ve corrupted it, and get vengeance against the gods that’ve enacted this plan. I want to ensure that my family, my lineage, survives, because I love

but the bird stayed silent. The patriarch nodded. “Any other targets of

on Amazon, it's

The suns and the moon, alongside all flies and dragons. I’ll kill the world,” Ji

The bird chirped.

by the joke. “You don’t

answer. “Why even ask? It would take centuries to build a fleet

nodded. He didn’t seem displeased that Ji

to be some intelligence in those eyes. Perhaps it could discern

to his

feet. “There will be more questions to ask, and more answers for you to give. For now, content yourself with this; you will be returning to the Great Chu. And should things go our way, it will

#####

fast overhead swing. Argrave barely caught his brother’s blade with his parrying dagger, pulled it to the side with the guard, and then lashed out with his own sword. Orion sidestepped, then struck out at Argrave’s knee with a kick. Argrave disentangled his dagger to dodge, and metal rattled against metal in the exchange. Orion came again with a thrust, but Argrave slapped the blade aside with his dagger, then watched Orion cautiously. The black-haired brothers circled each other, gray eyes steady and combative. Orion’s gaze broke away first, looking

trainer, had remained rather practical. “Using weapons of blood will

full set of armor that strengthened him in both magical and divine manners. Despite that, Orion’s raw strength still overpowered him. The blessings from Vasquer’s faux-pantheon

enhanced strength and a hardy dagger. That meant something. More importantly, he learned how to contest foes in close quarters. With his blood echoes, he could teleport to any position in a battle

he told

thought of someone else enduring the same sort of lesson from a

#####

the Righteous, master spellcaster of Veiden, said as

thank

you think S-rank magic is something so easily mastered? Do you think I can merely say a word or two and

me. I cannot recall a word you’ve said on the

Rowe smoked from a