Jackal Among Snakes

Though Argrave had consulted her for advice occasionally throughout this ill-advised trial, after a time, he went deafeningly silent. Elenore contacted him through their connection time and time again without receiving a reply, and her head worked quickly. Was Argrave sulking, despairing? But then, it wasn’t like him not to reply.

When he suddenly returned to them in Blackgard, not saying anything at all, she grew worried. He walked past everyone and entered her office, then walked over near her desk.

“Is it bad, Argrave?” she questioned, standing just behind him. “Just tell me. Tell me how it’s gone.”

Argrave didn’t say anything more. In frustration, she grabbed his arm and pulled, only to catch a faint smile on his face. He turned to look at her.

“Raccomen tried to squeeze more land out of me, but I called his bluff and talked him down to claiming a desert in the Great Chu. Rook just wanted more material wealth—couldn’t talk him out of it, unfortunately, so we’ll have to oblige him once the invasion’s done. Almazora, Veid, and Lira came along without strings attached. Law wanted me to make his faith that of the state, and I obliged, but the way it’s set up, it’s really just a ceremonial title; we’ll tolerate other faiths.

As for the bad… Stout Heart Swan and Yinther won’t be coming. Our huntress just kept the status quo, and Yinther claims to be ill-suited for combat roles. In summary, six winners, two losers. They intend on dividing the spirits gained from this invasion amongst themselves.” He took a deep, proud breath with a smile on his face. “We’d best be preparing for the voyage. You have to receive Lira. She’s going to modify the Sea Dragon to our specifications.”

Elenore felt tension drain from her body. She wanted to hit him for playing around with her this way, but she was too happy to be free of this burden to manifest it as rage. “What exactly happened?”

“I killed it, that’s what. We made a binding agreement in the White Planes to cooperate against the Qircassian Coalition and Erlebnis in a joint invasion. The only other caveat—all of us have to communicate with the others whenever something with Sataistador occurs. It’s for safety.”

“That’s it?” Elenore narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“It’s a pretty good day to be us,” Argrave chuckled, patting Elenore on the shoulder as he walked by. He turned on his heel and walk backwards as he called out joyfully, “Let’s get to work. Now that Lira’s cooperating, I had an idea. Why don’t we make the Sea Dragon into our base of operations? It’s a little unconventional as a home, but I think Sophia would enjoy it. It’s certainly got enough room to be a palace. Might need a little redecorating, a little childproofing… but what do you think?” Argrave stopped at the doorway. “A new palace, prebuilt.”

Elenore could only nod, a little numb and dumb by his enthusiasm. He pointed at her and walked out the door happily. Hearing the results, she’d never been gladder for her advice to be ignored.

#####

rapidly-approaching assault. The turtle ships of the Great Chu were outfitted with Dario’s ballistae one after another until they ran out of space. Lira worked her powers on the Sea Dragon, creating a portal between the gargantuan flagship and a

had swelled to far above twenty-thousand by this point, the majority of them battle-ready. Five thousand had been diverted to the reclaimed Great Chu turtle ships, with a single Chu navigator to teach them how to sail the ship. They’d been armed with dwarven weaponry and dwarven armor, and coupled with support from a hefty magic squad, he thought his troops every bit the equal of the Great Chu’s basic infantry. But it was the battle among the elites that would be uncertain. The Great Chu had countless S-rank spellcasters and officers well equal to Emperor Ji Meng in strength and equipment. Ideally, their dearly departed emperor would be able to harness these elites to their

know the fleet. Eight hundred longships, Dras claimed, each of which could carry fifty warriors. Veiden had twenty-two S-rank spellcasters of varying quality—some had been born the past year or so. With Veid watching over them, they would be indefatigable, and with Galamon commanding them, they’d be able to amply use that power

and Elenore, chewing on a freshly grown apple from an orchard in Blackgard. Something about the fruits grown near the fields imbued with a fruit from the elven realms made them

taken without

reasonably distribute supplies from the Sea Dragon and keep a timely schedule. Separate ships will need to bring enough supplies to last the

he thought,

had that before, but now we’ve spent long enough in this naval base that we’ve gone through much of it. We’ll need a

and lesser deities roaming the countryside, we managed to improve our crop harvest. Your diet might be plain, but

didn’t improve anything,” Argrave said, staring at

that it

freshwater situation is dealt with through magic, so we’ll

then.” Dras looked between each of them. “All I’m wondering

his arms. “You mean your

Dras

do imagine it’s complicated your grand vision, somewhat. You can’t exactly parade around as the noble conqueror that created a great empire from which Anneliese and I

all things, I didn’t think

go off

your plan, your reasoning, and I intend to