Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stood atop the newly-built fortress in the Great Chu and watched the troops labor to repair the ships. Many had been badly hit by the brunt of that great wave of ice that had frozen the coastline of the Great Chu. He had spent the night here after a brief visit to a still distraught Sophia, and the ice had either broken from the tides or melted. Now, half a thousand ships that were no longer seaworthy were having that issue remedied.

“It’s done,” Elenore told Argrave, making him jolt.

“What’s done?” he answered back in his mind.

“Durran’s made contact with the Great Chu commanders,” Elenore disclosed somewhat proudly. “Well, correction—he isolated one, and from there, I’ll spare you the details. Doubtless he’d like to tell you his grand feats himself. Rather than parley officially with the troops’ knowledge, they’d like to have a meeting in a secluded place come nightfall.”

“Not shady at all. I think I’ll go alone, without telling anyone where I’m headed,” Argrave remarked sarcastically. “Fine. Where’s this going to take place?”

“A few miles east, there’s a large sea cave in a cove. They intend to meet you within it. Durran’s scouting out the place now, but I suggest you come amply prepared. Even if not all of these commanders intend to try something, one or two may. If I were the imperial court, I’d let the meeting proceed yet try something of my own.”

“A sea cave in a cove. Lots of ways to die in such a place. Would you collapse it on my head? Or maybe there’s already a secret base established there, and they plan to ambush us. Maybe they’ll just make it blow up, like all their fortresses. The possibilities are endless,” Argrave took a deep, uncertain breath.

“…you always try and act funny when you’re worried. It’s unbearable. I’ll look after Sophia, so stop worrying about her.”

After having read his soul, Elenore broke the connection and left him alone in this cold place. Some of his worries did fade at her promise, so he stopped trying to think about how to be witty now and instead focused on how to be witty later, when his wit might save him from the machinations of Ji Meng and all others of this place.

“Where’s Rook…” Argrave walked away with purpose, muttering.

#####

made the hills before them their home, and as more came, their temporary foes were willing to take more risks.

had come. Argrave looked around the cove he’d been bid to travel to. He’d always liked coves, partially because he liked the way the word sounded, but mostly because they always looked rather neat. This one

commanders present?” Argrave asked Anneliese. “Did they bring any

She kept her eyes closed as she said, “They did bring troops, yes, but not a great abundance. I notice no overt traps. From all I can see, this cave is only partially natural. There are strange patterns in the walls, but not carvings. More like…

sea cave,” Argrave reminded her. “It’s got sea in it. Not the

think this place was a salt mine,” Anneliese decided, still linked with her bond. “Tasting the walls… yes. Yes, definitely. It’s a salt mine. I suspect that’s why this cave opened—structural weakness due to mining, plus salt’s typical reaction to water. Still, despite everything, there are no traps that I can see, no

mood? Anyone

high-ranking spellcasters. Just as we could, they could escape via teleportation. We shoulder as much risk as they do. Even still, I’d expect some degree of trepidation in some of them. Perhaps they are merely different from us… regardless, it

protected and scouted for them. The Alchemist was contained within the Ravenstone, ready to aid. Durran and all of his wyvern riders—plus the Order of the Gray Owl Magisters that’d ridden with them—were nearby. Argrave could even see some of the great reptiles despite some

Royal Road, this story should be reported

holding the emperor’s dadao on his shoulder. He looked around before joining them. He spared greeting, saying, “Ordinarily I’d ask you what you know about these

so pleased,” Argrave responded as they look into the cave. “I may know a few. The Great Chu never did something of this scale in Heroes of Berendar, though. You’ll have to forgive my ignorance on this

ocean alongside a smooth pathway. Durran kept the path illuminated with spell light. Just as Anneliese said, deeper within the cave there were strange patterns in the rocks. Argrave thought it might be something else entirely, but as

pillows in a respectful and respectable position, their backs rigid. Two guards kneeled behind each, the points of their drawn swords stabbed in the ground. As for the commanders, their helmets were to

one had at least one guard of the same rank. Their blades were all enchanted to expel magic with extreme force. In the face of this overwhelming force, Argrave removed the black Inerrant Cloak around his shoulders, bunched it up, and placed it beneath his knees as he imitated their

presence was minimal enough that many people—Argrave included—had viewed them as walking katana dispensers, placed

and reached into his breast pocket. He pulled free a wooden token and held it in the air before them. “The emperor has named me Grand Commandant.” He willed some magic into it, and Ji Meng’s magic signature flourished. “You may address me as Grand Commandant

greeted by the passive stone gaze

the son of

of you may disbelieve me as you will, but I can take you to the emperor in due time. The son of heaven has learned that the imperial court is extremely compromised. Perhaps all of you witnessed that days ago, when the gods did battle above our first clash. Or perhaps you had those doubts when word came down from on high