JACKAL AMONG SNAKES-Novel

“Are you… sure this won’t do anything unwanted?” Vasilisa asked. She knelt just before one of the runes on the walls of the pit containing the Flame of the Tenebrous Star.

Argrave crossed his arms as he looked over her. His mind was still on the unexpected and unwanted disturbance from Erlebnis, and so he answered crassly, “Of course I’m sure. Just do it, yeah? We don’t have all the time to be lingering about.”

Vasilisa cast a glance at him, then back at the rune. Then, she snapped her finger. A simple pick of ice dug into the stone, wearing away the rune. Something shifted in the wind almost palpably, and the both of them looked up. The flame, as though freed of a bubble, rose up into the air and through the stone. The Magister rose to her feet, concerned.

“Take it easy,” Argrave assured her. “It’s returning to Quadreign. When we go back—ideally soon—it’ll be there.”

And I’ve got until then to deal with so much. The player character, Ganbaatar, turned vampire hunter… the coup here, and gathering together the spellcasters… and the more secular side of things, with Margravine Sophia and the Drawnwaters. And as for the mystical side…

Argrave was utterly certain Erlebnis was the one that extinguished the flame inside of him. Evidently, he greatly disliked the flame touching the Blessing of Supersession—he disliked it enough to purge it from Argrave’s body and make his displeasure known personally. And Erlebnis’ presence here had been precisely what Anneliese had been looking for to help with her A-rank ascension.

God damn it, Argrave repeated in his head. Well… he didn’t say I couldn’t do it again, he just said he didn’t like it, he coped, wanting to help Anneliese but also grappling with the notion of angering one of the most powerful gods. Most lesser gods were incapable of manifesting or providing blessings. The ‘gods’ of Vasquer had only managed to bless one person—Orion. He was their only gambit.

Erlebnis, though… Argrave knew of many humans and elves besides himself blessed, though admittedly not to the same degree as he was. Those blessed by him were the scholarly and secluded type, fortunately. Even barring the blessing, most gods couldn’t spontaneously manifest their power anywhere as Erlebnis just had. Perhaps Argrave’s Blessing of Supersession had been a conduit. That might’ve been the scariest idea—it meant he was a conduit for an ancient god.

“Argrave,” Anneliese’s voice drew him from his stupor. “We must devote time to think and discuss this later. For now, order must be restored.”

Argrave scratched his chin and was about to nod, but Vasilisa cut in, asking, “You know something about what happened? That soundlessness, that presence? I don’t think anything changed, but it still made me uneasy.”

Argrave bided his time as he thought of his answer, then answered honestly, “Yes. It’s nothing to do with the flame—it’s something to do with me. A certain… protection, I suppose, nullified the flame. It was unexpected, but not harmful to me or the flame.”

Vasilisa only tilted her head as she stared. “More secrets?”

“I can tell you,” Argrave shrugged as though it was no big deal. “It’s a god’s blessing. I don’t share because I like to keep my cards close to my chest… but I think we’re to be allies for a long while, so I don’t see the harm in letting you know.”

The Magister hesitated half a heartbeat, then nodded. “Whatever. I’m going straight back to Quadreign as soon as things are finished up here… maybe even before.” She sighed, then walked towards the stairs. Before she set her foot upon them, she stalled. “Argrave… no, Your Majesty.”

Argrave’s face grew sterner at the formality.

“You’re a crazy mutt,” she declared, letting the words hang. Argrave stared at her, puzzled. “I don’t know how you’ll do as king. And honestly, I don’t know if my sister will agree with what I’ve done…” she shook her head. “But from what I see… I extended my trust, and you didn’t leave me to rot. Might be that’ll change. But every other time I’ve taken a risk like this, I get used and abused. I keep doing it even still, holding out hope that someone decent will come along.”

Vasilisa stopped talking, then put her hand over her face like she was embarrassed. “What in the world am I saying…” she sighed. “I don’t know. Thanks. Thank you. You could be a terrible king, but I think you’re a decent person.”

Argrave chuckled a little. “I hope you’re wrong about the king part. And I didn’t exactly do this selflessly. I practically forced you into a conspiracy against Ivan.”

“I know,” she nodded. “I’m… a simple woman. Before Vasquer conquered Quadreign… I just let my mother decide what I do. After, I let Diana decide. I’ve got a tendency of following, even if I am supposedly a trailblazer on the path of magic. It’s why I get screwed often, I think.” Her gaze narrowed. “Diana’s not like me, though. She’s one of the shrewdest people I’ve ever met. Keep that in mind.”

Argrave smiled. “I think she’ll be pleased at the prudent choices you made on behalf of your house, then. And I look forward to her recovery, as well.”

Vasilisa’s eyes brightened visibly at those words, then she looked away. “Yeah.” She started walking up the stairs, leaving behind the whispered words, “So do I…”

Her kind but clumsy words struck a chord in Argrave. He’d learned a lot vis-à-vis interpersonal relationships, and instinct was screaming at him that this was an opportunity.

“Hold on,” Argrave called out.

Vasilisa stopped, staring down at Argrave. “Something else?”

“I…” Argrave began, then took a deep breath. “I think I ought to mention something. It’s about your niece… but primarily, that vampire hunter.”

#####

When Argrave finally left the tower with everyone else in tow, they were greeted by a rather gruesome sight. Ivan had been strung up by a pole before the tower. The string was attached to a nail embedded in his head, and gravity wore at his body. Already, the news was spreading of the theft of the flame of Quadreign, and the re-establishment of House Quadreign as the supreme power.

In front of everyone, Vasilisa cut down the pole that held Ivan, and reprimanded the people for their disrespect of the dead—namely, the former margravine, Sophia, who they discovered had been behind this act. Argrave made a strong mental note of this fact. Argrave knew Diana to be shrewd—naturally, the player could cure her in the original game. Argrave had used decidedly different methods, but the point stood. He’d have to make Diana aware of the Drawnwater’s capacity for both treachery and cruelty.

What came after the battle felt infinitely more taxing and long than the fight had been. People were called upon to accept the authority of the Drawnwater family. It was a mundane, but vital, task. Ivan’s administration had been rather lax, so things were facilitated quite easily. It was a difficult thing to spot true dissent in a realm, though, and only time would tell if loyalty persisted to House Quadreign. Diana’s skill as a ruler would be tested. She never became Archduchess of Northern Vasquer in Heroes of Berendar—only time would tell if she was up to the task. For what it was worth, Argrave had faith in her.

Things seemed stacked against them. But Vera and Hegazar… they hadn’t been idle. Argrave had them focus on the magic users. The north had many powerful spellcasters, that was true. Argrave had come here for that very reason. They were powerful because they were the ones that had benefited from the flame of House Quadreign in the past. But now time had passed, and they were looking to start families of their own. The promise of House Quadreign’s resurgence would be ample persuasion to get them in line.

The north would surely become a complex place, politically. But Argrave felt he’d established steadfast proponents here in House Quadreign, and between Diana and Vasilisa, he felt they had ample capability to restore order. On top of that, Gerechtigkeit’s quickly approaching advent would be a cohesive force.

With things settled, Vasilisa intended to return to Quadreign at once to see the flame. Vera and Hegazar would stay put to keep the Drawnwaters in line, while also marshalling spellcasters to swear fealty to the new House Quadreign. Argrave intended to travel with Vasilisa to personally witness Diana’s cure… and potentially do something more with the flame.

But before that… there was something else to do.

Argrave stepped up a flight of decrepit wooden stairs gingerly. They squeaked beneath his and Anneliese’s weight, and then soon after for Vasilisa just behind them. Once there, they stepped past several other doors, heading for one in the back. Once there, Argrave raised his hand and rapped his knuckles against the door thrice.

After a few seconds, the wooden door peeked open. A set of blue eyes peered up at him, surprised by his height.

“Svetlana,” Argrave greeted. “We meet again, but speak for the first time.”

Her eyes widened with recognition, then calmed once she noticed Vasilisa.

“I’d like to speak with you about Ganbaatar, and the… minor disagreement he’s had with a friend of mine.” Argrave said.