Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 709: End

Argrave and Anneliese walked toward Elenore’s large command tent in the early morning. Sophia had been reluctant to see them leave, but they’d persuaded her to rest more. As they walked, Argrave paused.

“Forget something?” Anneliese asked, knowing that look.

“The hand mirror,” Argrave said ponderously. “The bronze one. I’ve no idea where it is.”

Anneliese put a hand on her hip as she thought. “It may be a safe assumption to deem it lost, considering you’ve died twice and every building around us has been razed to the ground.”

“Yeah.” Argrave nodded thoughtfully.

“You hadn’t actually used that it in a very long time,” Anneliese reminded him. “You said it made you feel detached from the world around you.”

Argrave nodded in agreement. “It did, it’s just… maybe we could’ve discovered some mystery from it. Some truth.”

“Not every mystery is worth solving,” Anneliese said with complete conviction. “Not every answer will be satisfying. Sometimes, you won’t find any answer at all. Fortunately, there are a thousand other questions worth answering. You don’t need to focus on the impossible ones.” She gestured. “But you know that. It’s why you denied the Heralds.”

Argrave looked up at the sun rising. “Spent a lot of time asking ‘why’ when I was younger. That question invariably multiplies itself. The only thing that made me move on was changing the question. Not ‘why,’ but ‘why not?’”

“Come on,” Anneliese directed him. “Let’s give it our best, today.”

“Why not?” Argrave smiled, following after her and passing into Elenore’s tent.

On the inside, disorganized pockets of important people had spread out everywhere. Upon their entrance, the atmosphere seemed to shift. All small talk ended, and they slowly made their way to the large table in the center of the room that’d been carved of stone.

There were countless groups represented here, each with their own interests. Ganbaatar, envoy of the elves from the Bloodwoods. Therapont, representative of the surviving dwarves fleeing Mundi. Artur, who’d gathered all surviving spellcasters of Vasquer beneath him. Durran, who stood for his people as much for their friendship. Lorena and her daughter—who did indeed look alarmingly like Anneliese, presently—represented the dragons, both those of the moon and the Gilderwatchers.

Each and all had their own sub-factions, their own individual cultures, viewpoints, and methodology. They had their own ambitions, desires, and needs. They had their own philosophy, most of which had insurmountable differences with those standing just next to them. Most here were leaders in their own right, but all were hesitant to step forward to the head of that table. They were all battered enough dealing with their own problems—to shoulder responsibility for all present seemed so difficult that their fear outweighed their ambition.

two, though, it felt

Anneliese came to the head of the table, near in lockstep. Elenore quietly joined them, though

up against the table. “Let’s convene the First Council of the

in the

built up in our lifetime, and countless lifetimes before it, has crumbled. We’re standing in

but already that’s wearing thin.” Elenore placed her thin hands on the table. “We need organization. We need robust, centralized leadership—leadership that can act quickly and

necessity for

maintained the grand city of Mundi for countless years, colonizing the inner earth without issue. Using that same model, we could reclaim this

discontented, some

now… could this disparate group of peoples

been misappropriated; report any instances of this story

“Before long, each of us would gain vested interests that causes stagnation, even rifts. I saw as much in Mundi, meaning

chaotic, I’d aim for a council of sorts.” Ganbaatar looked at Argrave. “But we need decisive

“Argrave’s proven an effective leader during times of intense war. However, is his sort of mentality

fact I search for a diplomatic solution wherever possible. Moreover… I’ve never had singular power.” He looked at Anneliese, then Elenore. “Anneliese has been as much of a leader as I have,

council of some sorts, or the royal three.” He gestured their way. “You might say that I’m a touch biased, but I think our present rulers have more than proven themselves. The idea of waiting for

the ashes? To reclaim a ravaged continent before nature does? To check thousands of ambitions,

the merit in

said glibly. “I’d be pleased if

The Blackgard Union continues. I don’t want to carry on the traditions of nobility, of class structures, of pointless divides between people. All of us are here, now, sleeping on shoddy bedrolls and walking on grass. All should be given equal opportunity to make their way in the world. We have the opportunity to build something from the ground up, and no one should be deprived

know,” Nikoletta spoke up. “Keep the title of king, at least.

was a little opposed to the notion,

and should, be changed. There’s an opportunity to do both. Building the house is a much different task from living in it.” Anneliese gestured at Therapont. “We can

The question always remains… will you? In ten, twenty, even a hundred years from now, when you’ve a dozen children running about, and they’re expecting children of their

said with some amusement. “Taking Sophia, going to some distant, beautiful place… letting the world sort itself out.” He smiled at Anneliese, who offered her hand. “But

kill all of us,” Lorena