Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stepped through the door, mindful to duck beneath the doorframes now that he’d returned to the Tower of the Gray Owl after all these months. Within, numerous recognizable people waited for him alongside a large retinue of knights. Mina and Nikoletta sat near each other, but there was an awkward air between them. Stain sat by the windowsill. Elias walked to a table in the center of the room, standing before it with his hands hovering just above the wood.

“Crowded place. Not enough for a party,” Argrave noted as his companions filtered in behind him. “Are you sure we can stay here? And I mean physically.”

“Mina and Nikoletta have a room next door,” Elias nodded.

“Ah,” said Argrave, looking at them pointedly.

Both of them frowned, though one for different reasons—Nikoletta seemed discomforted by his eyes. “You’ve… changed a lot, I see, cousin.”

“Heard that plenty,” he nodded. “We can talk about it later. To business,” Argrave ordered.

“Well…” Elias began, taken off-balance by the speed of the conversation. Eventually, he nodded in agreement, his one good eye fixing on Argrave. “Yes… to the point, then. It would probably be best to lay it out plainly.” Elias cleared his throat. “We’d like you to fight at our side in the war against King Felipe. Not as a commander or common spellcaster—as a claimant. Our claimant, to Diraccha and all the lands of Vasquer.”

The words were somewhat surreal, so Argrave did not have a visceral reaction. He looked back to Anneliese, and she smiled bitterly. Durran nodded intensely just behind her to encourage Argrave, while Galamon merely kept his eyes on the knights of the Margravate throughout the room.

“Your father isn’t blowing steam at the mention of my name?” Argrave turned back.

“My father thinks you succeeded at stopping the spread of the plague,” Elias returned. “And Mina corroborates that.”

“So do I,” Stain finally interjected. “People walking from the northwest are singing about you, Argrave.”

With a shrug, Argrave made his way to a chair and pulled it up to the table Elias stood before. He sat. “Orion did most of the work.” His gaze wandered to Nikoletta. “Claimant? Make her do it.”

“I refused. I don’t want it. Besides, I am a woman, and that alone would stifle support,” Nikoletta shook her head. “I only wish for peace and prosperity in Mateth. I am not made for dealing with court intrigues and management of a vast land. Acting as regent for my father alone stressed me beyond compare. To go beyond that in scale? I would rather not.”

Argrave rubbed his forehead. “What in the hell… why would you think this is a good idea?”

“Your actions the past few months have been tremendous,” Elias told him plainly. “Going to Veiden, allying us with Jast, stopping the plague… and from what you told Nikoletta, it seems you know of a lot of future tragedies. You will be hailed as a hero by the people—and the people, they’re what’s important.”

Argrave placed Induen’s royal signet ring on the table. It depicted Vasquer’s heraldry—a sword, with twin snakes coiled around it. “I killed Induen, you know.”

The room went quiet. Everyone studied him and the ring as though he was joking.

“You heard me,” Argrave continued. “Kin’s End. He was waiting for me there. Ironic name for the town, I suppose, or maybe it was fate. Tried to name me Prince Argrave of Vasquer, offer me great stretches of southern land. Once Induen tried to suggest keeping Anneliese hostage, negotiations broke down. That was the breaking point, but I killed him for… various good reasons,” Argrave summarized shortly.

Everyone stared at him in pure shock. Argrave couldn’t fully describe the emotion he was feeling. He felt pride in his accomplishment supplanted by guilt at that pride. He felt relief at Induen’s death coupled with fear at possible reprisal. He felt both hopeful and deeply uncertain of the future. All of it melded together to create a strange, careless apathy.

Argrave looked from person to person. “I imagine the enthusiasm of your offer has dulled somewhat. King Kinslayer is not as appealing a prospect as the heroic bastard, protector of the weak.”

Nikoletta stood and walked forward to him. “You killed him?” When Argrave nodded, she continued, “You, personally? You used no proxy, like a… a higher ranked mage? A military force?”

“I jabbed an ice spike through his eye about a foot long,” Argrave described succinctly. “After some… magical dueling.”

Nikoletta put her hand on Argrave’s shoulder to support herself from falling. “Gods above… I need…”

One of her knights came over and helped her to find a seat.

“How many… I mean… who saw this?” Mina asked, aghast.

“Few hundred people. A royal knight escaped—Induen sent him for reinforcements. I imagine word will spread very quickly. That’s why I came here,” Argrave spread his arms out.

“Wasn’t he… I mean, I heard Induen was… not weak at all,” Stain noted from the windowsill. “Gods be damned.”

“World’s a better place without him sucking air,” Argrave crossed his arms. “I saw an opportunity. I took it. Induen deliberately orphaned children for pleasure,” he said loudly and deliberately. “Frankly, he got off easy.”

“And you should be so lucky,” Elias said, his voice urgent. “If Felipe catches you, you won’t get off easy at all. All the more reason we should hurry. The Margrave sent us to bring you back—so come back. We can protect you. Moreover, Duke Enrico is prepared to allow—”

“Do not mention that,” Nikoletta cut in. “We are trying to persuade, Elias. Recall what triggered Induen’s demise.”

“…right,” Elias nodded, then stroked his chin briefly. Argrave was perplexed at their exchange, but he could not ask before Elias continued. “The south is prepared to utilize every force at our disposal to safeguard you. So come with us, Argrave.”

“Mmm…” Argrave put his finger to his lips. “I like the sound of ‘dozens of S-rank mages’ better than ‘Parbon Margravate.’ Tempting, but I think not.”

“The Tower? You’ll stay here?” Elias sought to confirm. “King Felipe will have this place encircled, and he’ll demand you be given to him. He won’t… at least, I’m relatively sure he won’t attack the Tower, but you won’t be able to leave.”

“You think I did this on a whim?” Argrave looked to him. “I wasn’t expecting to meet any of you. I have a plan. If it falls through, I have other plans. And besides… going to Parbon once again is not in my calendar.”

“You do owe me a favor still, Argrave,” Mina pointed out. “A big one. And I surely won’t forget that fact.”

Elias put his hand on his hip and stared down at Argrave. “So… you refuse our offer. You won’t act as claimant. Won’t even consider it.”

“When did I say that? Relax, both of you,” Argrave looked between Mina and Elias. “Give me a moment to think.”

As Argrave sat there in contemplation, Elias walked away, everyone still reeling from the news of Induen’s death. Anneliese put her hand on Argrave’s shoulder, and he looked up. He put his hand atop her own and returned the resigned smile she flashed him.

The two of them had already talked about this at length. And the conclusion?

“When spring comes… when the fighting begins in earnest… I will be your claimant,” Argrave finally said. “Provided my status as a kinslayer doesn’t make the Margrave rethink things.”

Elias stepped back up to Argrave, his one good ruby eye fixed on Argrave. “You speak seriously? No lies?”

“On my terms,” Argrave put a finger to his chest. “Nikoletta. How much did you gab about Gerechtigkeit?”

“Err…” she looked up from where she sat. “I told my father. It spread to the Margrave, and to Elias.”

“Once things get worse… a title like king or queen has a hell of a lot less meaning. It’ll be a desperate struggle for just about everyone,” Argrave informed them, gaze distant. “If only for the sake of stability after the war, I’ll do it. I can’t promise I won’t abdicate when it suits me.”

“That’s…” Elias bit his lip.

“Hey,” Argrave pointed to Elias. “You have no idea the magnitude of problems that we face. The civil war is just one medium-sized checkbox on my list of ‘shit that’s wrong with the world.’” Argrave tapped his finger against the table. “I’ll fix this kingdom. I’ll make sure it stays fixed. I’ll utilize my status to the best of my ability to stop the world from turning upside down. But when all is said and done?” Argrave threw up his hands. “I can barely comprehend being a king. I can think of a hundred better candidates. I won’t deny wealth and power are enticing, but after all the things I’ve been through, peace and happiness rank a lot higher in my hopes for the future. A king—a good king, which I’m sure you want—that’s a busy job. Early retirement sounds peachy to me.”

Elias seemed cowed by Argrave’s intensity. After he shifted on his feet a few times, he gave a slow nod. “Alright.”

“Alright,” Argrave repeated, finally relaxing.

“It might not matter anyway,” Elias noted tiredly. “Odds are stacked against us. Most of the south was ravaged by plague. A lot of our fighting force died out, and though the harvest went smoothly… saboteurs burn granaries and assassins attack local lords constantly. It’s become a struggle to persuade undecided nobility, while Vasquer does not have the same issue at all.”

“Eh,” Argrave waved his hand half-heartedly. “We’ll win. But I’m starving,” he noted. “Do they have food here?”

“We’ll win? On what basis?” Nikoletta demanded, standing from her chair and stepping up.

“Relax,” Argrave held his hand out. “I told you I have a plan.”

“I want to know why you’re confident,” Nikoletta insisted, crossing her arms. “It’s past time for you to include us in this.”

“I trust Mina to keep quiet, but you expect me to spill my guts about military plans to people notoriously terrible at keeping secrets? In front of half a dozen knights, all of whom may be enemy informants, no less?” Argrave scowled, then rose up until he stood over everyone. “You learn a lot risking your life day-by-day, foremost among those lessons being caution. I expect you to save your indignance for a better time, Nikoletta.”

Nikoletta stepped back from Argrave, not able to meet his eyes. “I-I’m sorry,” she said.

Argrave pushed his tongue against his cheek, now aware he was being unnecessarily intimidating. “Don’t apologize,” he patted her shoulder. “I get your perspective. You’re gambling a lot—all of you,” he said heartily. “Some bastard-turned-kinslayer being your only hope, I can see why you might want a lot of assurances. So let me give you some,” Argrave said, mind pushing past his fatigue as he worked out a speech.

“I won’t go into specifics, for the sake of ensuring they fall through,” Argrave declared, gaze jumping from person to person. “But there are forces within Vasquer that lay untapped—forces which surpass all of what the enemy's got. I know the inner workings of many factions within and without this kingdom. You want assurances? That’s good. Then know this—I want a quick end to this war. I turned down Induen, killed him and four of his royal knights in single combat. That should tell you what I think of Vasquer’s chances,” Argrave pointed around the room.

“When spring comes… I’ll bring a spring of my own. A new beginning, fresh buds that’ll make the south and all of Vasquer flourish like never before. Some people you called ‘enemy’ yesterday… when I return, they’ll be at my back.” Argrave pumped his fist. “The rot within Vasquer’s leadership… I’ll make it fester. So you can focus on building an army, Elias, Mina, Nikoletta—and you can keep it. I don’t need it. I’ll bring an army of my own. And I can damn well guarantee you it’ll be bigger and better. So rest easy. I certainly am,” Argrave finished, taking a good look at everyone’s reactions.

Missed my calling, Argrave concluded. Went to college—should have just been a motivational speaker.

“On that note, I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I’ve got things to do,” Argrave rubbed his eyes. “So, are we done?”

No answer was vocalized, but then Argrave supposed that was answer enough.