Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave picked up a ring and poured the well of magic bursting within him into the confines of the inscription wrought into the metal. Imbuing enchantments felt like he was handling red hot liquid metal, pouring it into a cast with his will alone. He attempted to speed it up… yet as one might expect, the magic danced dangerously, and Argrave quickly directed things so as to seal them off. Just as he did so, he was sealed off from the near limitless supply of power springing from the Blessing of Supersession.

“That should be five minutes, Your Majesty,” Galamon said gruffly. “Forty rings, by my count.”

“…I messed this one up,” Argrave set the ring down in a pile alongside many others. Each of the rings had Argrave’s personal symbol on them—the sun, with four snake heads at the edges of four rays.

“Then thirty-nine,” Galamon amended.

“Not good enough,” Argrave shook his head.

“You’ve managed to imbue thirty-nine B-rank enchanted items, Your Majesty. Less than a month ago, you had done zero,” Ansgar reminded him. As Leopold Dandalan’s most trusted son, Ansgar had become a sort of aide to Argrave in the past month. Though sixty-two, he was still quite able on many fronts. Above all, he was trustworthy. “Your efforts are astounding.”

Indeed, one month had passed. It had taken Argrave a month of learning to get to the point to do this. Granted, his time had become much more limited ever since taking on his duties as king, but the point remained. One month, thirty-nine rings. It could be said that it was far above normal production rates… but far below what Argrave wanted with this venture of his.

“…hmm,” Argrave grunted discontentedly. This enchanting business was his sole reprieve from the mundanity of administering things in Relize. Once the politics were well and settled, he felt useless.

“These cast B-rank warding spells, do they not?” Ansgar eyed the rings. “I would advise that you distribute them first to your newly formed royal guard. Perhaps your knight-commander can handle this matter, Your Majesty,” Leopold looked to Galamon.

Galamon had become Argrave’s knight-commander of his royal knights. Indeed, Argrave had his own royal knights, now. Though only twelve, each and all were masters. Galamon had chosen the most skilled out of people in the army. From there, Anneliese had evaluated their loyalty. That number ended in twelve. Argrave disliked bringing them everywhere—even now, they waited outside.

“I had intended to distribute them to meritorious performers in the battlefield,” Argrave said. “Giving them to my guard… might come off as selfish, no?”

“I believe it would show that being loyal and steadfast brings rewards, Your Majesty,” Ansgar disagreed.

Argrave rubbed his chin. “Alright. It’s only twelve—the rest will be distributed as I originally intended. Galamon?”

The elven vampire nodded. “I’ll see they’re handed out.”

Argrave rose to his feet, content. “Alright. Now, before we depart to evaluate the fortress… Leopold’s waiting.”

Ansgar dipped his head. “I believe my father is eager to meet his bride-to-be.”

“I can only imagine,” Argrave said with a droll nod. “Send for Elenore before we meet. I have things to discuss with her, and she should be there when I talk to Leopold.”

#####

“Avoiding a federation in central Vasquer turned out to be an impossibility,” Elenore lamented to Argrave, her voice loud even when she spoke quietly on account of the ward surrounding them, blocking all sound from escaping. “They still remain firmly loyal to Duke Rovostar. In the south they’ve begun to call Rovostar the king’s dog. I underestimated his charisma and capability. They possess a far greater number of spellcasters than we do. That remains… a glaring weakness of ours.”

The two of them walked down the halls of Leopold’s estate, guarded by six guards on each side. Galamon stood just behind the two of them. Even here, these men remained diligent—if they weren’t, their knight-commander quickly corrected their behavior. Galamon took his role seriously. Argrave sustained the ward around them with one hand—he’d learned a spell that allowed the ward to move with him, yet he needed to sustain the spell. Fortunately, it was low-ranking, and his still-growing magic supply accommodated him ably.

“Rovostar is an A-rank mage, isn’t he? Felipe did a good job earning their undying loyalty, it would seem, if they should fight for him crippled and imprisoned,” Argrave shook his head. “Orion still refuses to… change things on that front?”

“Felipe lives, and Orion won’t change that. He keeps the king under house arrest. We can consider ourselves fortunate only in that Orion does not trust Levin, and has arranged similar treatment for him,” Elenore sighed. “But still, things have stagnated somewhat. The central federation of nobles briefly attempted to siege down Dirracha. The walls were meant to withstand devastating spells, though, and Orion has proved an able defender. He sallied from the walls alone and direly injure a Magister of the Order that Duke Rovostar managed to entice to join his side.”

Argrave was surprised and was about to ask who. Before he could comment, Elenore continued.

“Now that the south under Margrave Reinhardt has started to move, they can’t afford to dedicate attention to Dirracha. The force Orion has is too small to do anything beyond maintain their position. On paper, he’s on our side. He’ll surrender Dirracha to us once we arrive. His only condition is sparing Felipe and Levin.”

Argrave stopped as his royal guards surveyed around the corner, then proceeded once they did. “I suppose I can only hope that central Vasquer will receive our delegation well and stop this madness. I cannot understand why they fight so hard for someone so…” Argrave sighed. “No use dwelling. What of the north? What of Atrus? We’re direly insufficient in magic prowess, and they might remedy that.”

“I believe we’ve extracted all we could. Many were hesitant to commit troops to our cause in light of unrest in their regions, but we’ve gotten supplies enough to double our provisions… but as for spellcasters… we remain utterly without support,” Elenore shook her head. “Many have turned to low banditry after loss of leadership. Some central nobles outright invade the former lands of Atrus, razing villages and seizing lesser fortifications. The land is… not in a good place. Orion’s coup made so many venues of communication fall apart, and the situation spiraled…”

Argrave could hear some guilt on her tone. She viewed that fact as her responsibility.

“We have the fortress in Indanus Divide,” Argrave said quickly. “Provided I feel it’s up to standard, that frees us to engage with the north without losing a position to attack central Vasquer. We can restore order in the north, bolstering our forces in the process… we have to be able to get magic users, then. After, we fold on central Vasquer, north and south both,” Argrave suggested. “I imagine Rovostar will have to listen to reason, then, unless he’s a fan of martyrdom. Few people are.”

“It has merit,” Elenore nodded slowly. “Even if I know you say it only to get my mind off my failure.”

Argrave smiled and laughed. “We can work it out later. But before we meet Leopold, I have to ask… how is working with Durran?”

Argrave had been prepared to name Durran something like junior knight-commander—a made-up position to ensure the man could have status and stay near his side justifiably. Instead, the tribal requested to work with Elenore. The man did have some ulterior motives, but it suited Argrave fine. He was quite curious about how things would go.

“I thought he was your watchdog—a trusted eye to keep an eye on me after my big faux pas,” Elenore said. Argrave opened his mouth to protest, but Elenore cut him off with a waved hand, saying, “I know he’s not, at least now. In fact, I see why you wanted him to come with you. He is rather capable,” she said. “Though I would never tell him such. He would be insufferably pleased by that fact.”

“Is that right?” Argrave pressed.

“It is,” Elenore nodded. “He made these at my request… granted, this was before you’d assigned him to work with me…” Elenore pointed to her feet, where Argrave only now noticed she wore genuine boots over new wooden prostheses. “Wooden, though with an enchanted metal core. He’s good with his hands, it would seem. That, or he hired a craftsman to carve it.”

“I doubt it,” Argrave shook his head. “Well, it seems he likes you well enough. I’m glad of it.”

“I’ve had him teaching personnel about druidic magic, preparing some scouts for the war… and for personal use, I admit,” Elenore moved past Argrave’s leading observation. “In essence, we have an advantage of superior espionage over our foes if we can integrate druidic magic,” Elenore said, voice speeding up as they strayed onto a topic that interested her. “It’s nice to have someone capable and trustworthy. I’ve been weaning responsibilities off Melanie and giving them to Durran.”

“Because the labor’s free, I imagine,” Argrave noted sarcastically. He dispelled the ward around them. “Leopold should be here.”

Argrave’s royal guards opened the doors for them, and Elenore moved closer to Argrave after the ward around them disappeared, crossing her arms as though to guard herself. Beyond, only Leopold waited. Argrave stepped in.

“Anneliese isn’t here yet?” Argrave questioned.

Leopold held up a note. “She sent this, Your Majesty,” he said.

Argrave took it, reading it quickly. It spoke of a slight delay. At once, worry festered. He didn’t like being away from Anneliese for long at all. If he were near, he could at the very least ensure that they’d face whatever troubles came together. Apart, things were beyond his control.

“It is rather interesting watching Your Majesty when you part from your fiancée for more than a few minutes,” Leopold noted. “I’m not sure this sort of… dependency, shall we say, is healthy.”

Argrave’s worry turned to wrath at the insinuation… but he kept his wits about him, having reined in some of his impulsive tendencies regarding her. It was something he’d been working on, per Anneliese’s request. He knew as well as she did it was a vulnerability that people might learn to exploit—as a king, he had to keep such things tightly under wrap.

“Perhaps you might relate to worrying about your fiancée soon enough,” Argrave declared, setting down the note and stepping closer.

“Hmph,” Leopold grunted. “We have very different perceptions about—”

A knock came at the door. Argrave’s royal guard came to attention, and then Galamon moved to open the door.

Anneliese stood there in her gray enchanted duster, an unfamiliar Veidimen by her side. Wearing light white furs, this new arrival was a little taller than Anneliese and kept her light gray hair short. She had bright blue eyes that had an almost predatory aspect to them. Argrave regarded her curiously—this was someone Anneliese called friend. He’d heard stories from Anneliese, but now he met her. Her name was Hirnala.

Anneliese smiled at Argrave when their eyes met and she stepped into the room. The royal guards regarded Hirnala cautiously but acquiesced to her presence as she advanced at Anneliese’s side. Argrave embraced Anneliese, and Hirnala stood silently off to the side, hands neatly placed before her.

“Welcome back,” Argrave greeted her.

She pulled away, smiling, then turned to her friend. “Hirnala—Argrave, his sister Princess Elenore, and his knight-commander Galamon—”

“Galamon the Great,” she interrupted. “He serves Argrave now?”

“I do,” Galamon answered.

Hirnala nodded. “He earns good allies. Speaks to his character. He truly does not mind his condi—?"

“Not here,” Anneliese interrupted. “And lastly… the man I think you should meet. Leopold,” she introduced.

Hirnala stepped up to the old man immediately. He craned his neck up to keep her eye-contact.

“I’m told you hope for a mutually beneficial partnership,” she said at once.

“…a marriage,” Leopold nodded.

“This is your home?” she looked around.

“It is,” Leopold nodded.

“I am told you are a wealthy man,” Hirnala continued. “I see that is not untrue, judging merely by this place.”

“I can confidently say I am the wealthiest man in this city… and presently its leader, at least during war time,” Leopold said steadily.

Hirnala nodded. “Good. Things are simple, as I see it—I want to live more than simply ‘well.’” Hirnala clasped her hands together. “You are wealthy and present a good business opportunity. We can forge new grounds, establish trade between Veiden and Berendar that makes both of us profit tremendously. There is no more trustworthy bind than marriage, I find—even better if we should have children. I do question if you still can, though.”

Leopold seemed amused by the notion. “I’ve done so enough, and still can well enough. But I question if there is genuinely profit to be had.”

Hirnala smiled. “A good question. We were delayed because of my cargo—a shipment of goods from Veiden, plus a tribute for the king,” her blue eyes turned to Argrave. “Something to make your men a little more equal to the army of the Veidimen. Enough to arm these men, perhaps?”

Ebonice, Argrave realized. That might help their severe deficiency of magic users, and brightened Argrave’s mood tremendously.

“Call him Your Majesty,” Galamon instructed her.

“Your Majesty,” she adjusted quickly, unoffended. “A bit unwieldy… but I will adapt.”

“Let’s see this shipment,” Leopold said, some excitement shining through. “After… we can talk details.”

“Good enough,” Hirnala said. “I hope you don’t expect me to help you walk.”

“I can walk,” Leopold said, stepping forth on his cane with more vigor than Argrave generally saw him with.

Once they left, Argrave looked to Anneliese. “She’s… exactly as you said, huh?”

“The sincerest person I have ever met,” Anneliese nodded. “Not a good thing, often. But still, I am proud to call her my friend.”

“Think they’ll stick?” Argrave questioned.

“Oh, yes. She was practically glowing at all the gold on the walls,” Anneliese nodded. “And it’ll help secure some Ebonice, even if not as much as we need.”

“Good,” Argrave nodded. “We leave to inspect the fortress today. You’ll be fine? You’ve just returned from a fairly long journey.”

“We set out once again. In truth, I am somewhat excited,” Anneliese confessed. “Apprehension, though, looms.”

Argrave nodded. “I know what you mean. I can finally get away from here. Elenore doesn’t need me. She does everything near perfectly, and I just sit around looking big.”

The prospect of a brief getaway from all of this did excite Argrave. He had to admit… he wasn’t built for mundane administration. Moreover, he wasn’t sure he’d make a competent commander in the slightest. As the days went on, he felt stagnant. Hopefully, heading to the Indanus Divide would revitalize him. Certainly, it would set Anneliese on a new path of magic…