Jackal Among Snakes

With the Sea Dragon connected to the heart of Vasquer, supply, manpower, and many other limiting factors ceased to be a significant issue in the shore of this distant and cold land. Their spellcasters, spared significant expenditure of magic by virtue of Anneliese’s stalwart frontline defense, worked the earth to build a great fortress. The architects of Relize were exported briefly to oversee things. To come from sea to land was the most difficult prospect, and now that it had been overcome, many things were set in motion.

In five tense hours, a construction of Vasquer adorned the shores of the Great Chu. It was certainly more formidable and defendable than the fortress they had assaulted, but it had taken them five hours to make. Yet now that they had one, they could have many. They had Raccomen, god of space, with his divine servants. The same creatures that constructed the great archway of Merovin could rebuild this fortress anywhere they so pleased. All they needed was sufficient space, and five minutes.

But their foe was more than a match for that speed. On the rugged hills ahead, surrounding the city beyond, countless forts dotted the countryside. Even now, the armies of the Great Chu were mustering to storm against their castle. Already Argrave’s forces were outnumbered, both in the land and in the sky. The assault from divinity had faded, but it was sure to come again.

Defending the castle was not man alone. Law’s Justiciars stood on the ramparts like gargantuan white gargoyles, swords at the ready. Rook and his divine servants—daggers, possessed by spirits—hunted down anything and everything attempting to come near the castle that was no ally to them. With those two deities guarding this place, their position could not easily be broken.

All that said, Argrave would not personally oversee the war effort any longer. In this battle he’d been nothing more than a spellcaster—a potent one, he’d grant himself, but a spellcaster all the same. He had another role altogether, and one that suited him far better. Anneliese would remain behind to command the forces Vasquer, with Galamon commanding all of Veiden. Sometimes the best thing a king could do, Argrave reasoned, was delegate tasks to those best suited to perform them.

Argrave’s job was Emperor Ji Meng.

The emperor stepped back onto the land of his country, looking back at the now-melting frozen ocean in a survey of the battlefield. His eyes looked high at the fortress in front of them, judging. Some twisted part of him hoped the emperor was impressed if only so it’d make him more cooperative. But he said nothing, and focused on Argrave for his direction.

“My man will get in contact with the commanders we’ve just done battle with. Once we’ve established a channel of communication, we’ll arrange a meeting of some kind with those who’re willing. For now, we wait, we reinforce, and we react.” Argrave looked around the coastline.

“Is he dependable, your man?” Ji Meng questioned.

Argrave nodded. “He commanded the wyverns in the battle against your navy. An S-rank spellcaster.”

“He’ll need to be rather dependable. You’ve seen for yourself the formidability of Great Chu defenses. At sea, the Great Chu can falter. At land…” the emperor inhaled proudly. “You’re outnumbered. You’re attacking, rather than defending. Have you heard of the Battle of Red Valley?”

Argrave shook his head.

“Great Chu forces faced perhaps the greatest barbarian king in the history of our nation. Ten miles he chased our army, through a long and desolate valley far to the north. Hundreds of craters were left behind, much like so,” the emperor waved at the blast left behind by their fortress. “Half a million died. Our enemies comprised seven eighths of that figure.”

“The idea, lest you forget, is to establish communication before we have something like that on our hands,” Argrave reminded him, unimpressed.

us,” Emperor Ji Meng shook his head. “My honor guard—they’ll be joining me, as

They’ll join you when you need to look imperial,” Argrave shrugged. “No need for you to speak with them

Argrave’s people as they worked. “Your trust is

From what I understand, honest emperors end up with their heads dashed

you would live a long time on the throne. Do you agree?” Ji

smiled. “I plan to

#####

the text frantically. When he was content it was without error, he rolled it until it was wound enough to fit into a bamboo tube. He fit the letter inside, then put two lids atop the tube that slotted in as if designed to fit there. These lids hummed with

the behest of wind magic. It travelled through a long pipe beneath the well-paved streets of the Great Chu. Cities and cities it passed, transferring to various other pipes without losing speed whatsoever. Then, finally, it slowed, before coming to a rigid stop in another machine rather like the one it had come from. Here,

has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of

and extracted the letter within with remarkable efficiency. Its reader did not read the text before she began walking with purpose to deliver it. She passed through a palatial estate in the heart of a city, where half a

estate, the letter’s carrier entered a courtyard. Eight waterfalls fed eight separate streams that wound through a garden of vibrant fruit-bearing trees. At the center, where the streams converged, there was a peaceful

one bearing the letter greeted, coming to bow humbly and

was a man of Chu ethnicity and heritage through and through, and somewhat small in size. He had a sharp goatee that made him seem quite handsome, and wore elegant clothes that enhanced that to a great degree. He wore spectacles that made his

He set down book gently upon the

servant bowed deeper. “From

without rushing. He read through it slowly and deliberately, the servant waiting by to

the generals in this province,” Zen said calmly as he rolled the letter back. “Tell them to gather up every able-bodied troop they can, and mass them. Should the imperial court request that they mobilize, they

The

raised his finger, and that alone was enough to make the message-bearer freeze. “There’s another message. A message for the

#####

at the person across from him. Sataistador, god of war, looked down upon Argrave

pleased you’ve made it here. I truly

hours ago,” Argrave chided him. “You were

too crowded for a proper meal. If I reveal myself once, the Qircassian Coalition will be able