Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave was welcomed into the city of Ji in a much grander fashion than he’d ever expected. He was bid to enter on horseback with some guards and the entourage he intended to bring into the Palace of Heaven. He didn’t like riding on horses, but he obeyed, and was repaid for it in rather grand fashion. The citizens of the Great Chu lined the streets, flying hundreds of thousands of kites into the air as though in defiance of the ever-ongoing siege from the sky tower. That these people could partake in this wedding without fear spoke to their resilience.

Their cheers were loud enough that Argrave could do nothing but focus on them. They cheered his title, his pseudonym, and even held up banners with the sun on it. They cheered for Anneliese, too, the second most famous member among them after her feats against Dimocles. Near the imperial palace, Argrave could see the Blue Emperor’s corpse displayed boldly. It was a chill he needed to forget the warmth of this welcoming.

Alongside the cheers, Argrave didn’t miss the pleas. The people pleaded, prayed, that his next target would be the sky tower. Even if he had an answer to give them, they were simply too loud for him ever to be heard. He would protect them if he could, but it didn’t depend on his actions alone.

They proceeded through the streets on horseback, over the bridges and the through the streets, until they passed by the palace guard standing by the entrance to the imperial palace. Only there did the noise of the crowd fade.

Palace attendants took their horses, and then Argrave climbed the stairs to the imperial palace with his guests. He didn’t bring an excessive amount of people, but even in these small numbers, this was a potent group. Barring the groom and Raven snug inside the Ravenstone, there was also Anneliese, Melanie, Durran, Galamon, Patriarch Dras, and one person he’d brought a very long way for a small role: his cousin, Nikoletta.

His cousin, heir to the duchy of Monticci, had graciously agreed to come and act as a conversational tool. Unmarried, related to Argrave by blood, she fulfilled what Zen was looking for. But to Argrave, she was an effective barrier; just as Argrave didn’t intend to genuinely consider marriage, he didn’t intend to marry off Nikoletta. Haer presence could nonetheless promote some further control over the negotiation.

As Argrave looked to her, he caught her pink eyes staring at him with an indiscernible expression. In the walk up the long stairs, he asked, “What?”

“You sailed overseas as an invader. Now, the same people you declared war upon are cheering you as you enter their capital city.” Nikoletta shook her head, and her short black hair swayed gently. “It defies reason, that’s all. Doubly so now that I’ve witnessed this city, this empire, and that accursed tower.”

“Feeling nervous? Every inch of this place has been scrutinized,” Argrave comforted. “We’d never bring anyone here if that wasn’t so.”

“Of course I’m nervous.” Nikoletta’s hand grazed her stomach, which he suspected was aflutter. “But I owe you loyalty. My house owes you loyalty.”

polite, reasonable, and quick-thinking.

nodded, trying to steel

the rest of the hall. In the back, he could see the emperor’s throne. It was wrought wholly of silver and decorated with gigantic gems. Rubies cut into the shape of crescent moons and serpentine dragons adorned its armrests

the hundreds of faces within it. Their party was the last to arrive, as had been planned. Orange-robed eunuchs acted as servants to the guests. The attendees—all of whom Argrave knew were members of the Zen or Ji families directly or by marriage—seemed like they belonged here. Dressed grandly, they conducted themselves with the

atop a large pillow on an elevated platform, further raising him up above those

here in the position of honor and

has been appropriated; report any

Ji Meng had prepared for him, leaving his companions behind to join with the crowd and converse, the emperor continued to speak. “Our Grand Commandant has arrived just in time to witness what he will doubtless enjoy for years to come. The artists of the court have prepared entertainment for our return.” As Argrave took his seat just beside Orion and

orange-robed eunuch stepped out and kneeled down. “Firstly, the finest ladies of the capital shall regale the court with musical performances—some singular, others working in pairs, triplets, or more—while the first meal is served. After a tour through the palace, we shall return for vital artistry. Our greatest warriors shall create works of art using spells to commemorate the son of heaven’s return and this joyous

to grace the city with his presence,” the Grand Eunuch continued, and Argrave felt this event was already sounding ridiculously long. “His tour shall end at the Chou Opera House, where its performers will strive to give a performance that recreates even a fraction of the glory of the war won. The day shall end with the wedding ceremony between the unsurpassable

magical artistry, and an opera… it was an excess that surely fit the title of emperor. But with all the time allotted, it game them ample time to maneuver. The politics happening behind the scene wouldn’t give them much time to enjoy the performances for what they were, Argrave suspected. The tour of both

children at an age of majority, so she must’ve been older than him by decades. Tai Si, just as her daughters had, wore a staggering amount

the imperial hall as they waited for the first performance and the first meal to be

you spoke, Grand Commandant, my granddaughter had taken a vow of silence,” Governor Zen began, and

daughter to break it. She was unable to brook protest, you see, unless she did. The girl listens to her parents first,” the empress said, her voice sharp yet endearingly pleasant all the same. “Ji Li?

daughter was under their influence before even her own vows.

Prince Orion. I apologize I did not greet you properly on our first meeting.” She spoke very

I am glad to hear you speak. Other ways of