Jackal Among Snakes

“What do we do about this?” Elias began. He sat at a table consisting of Nikoletta, Mina, and Stain. Their guards were absent, and they were in a relatively clean room within the Tower with little in the way of decoration or even windows—a private room, warded to block all sound. Spellcasters were well-educated and engaged in more intrigue than most, so such rooms had a good place within the Tower.

“I think Argrave’s right,” Mina interjected. “Losing Induen… it’s a blessing. I can say having worked with him, he’s an untrustworthy ally… but a far worse enemy.”

Nikoletta crossed her arms. “You shouldn’t have done that for him. It was too dangerous.”

“What does it matter to you what I do?” Mina rebuked defensively.

Elias’ good eye moved between the two of them, obviously hesitant to touch this quarrel at all. “What does this mean for the kingdom? For the future?”

Stain lifted his leg up and left his foot hanging off one of the table’s edges. “I can tell you now—Argrave’s not going to lose any goodwill from the people that matter.”

“What people are those?” Nikoletta pressed, unbothered by his lax nature.

“The people,” Stain finished, pointing two fingers at Nikoletta. “Your everyman has been hating the royal family for a long time, and Induen’s the face of all that. King Felipe’s had him managing things for a while, and all the harsh taxes, all the injustice? Induen made it happen. So, grand scheme of things?” Stain shrugged, leaving the answer unspoken.

Everyone gave half-hearted nods of agreements.

“…but realistically speaking,” Nikoletta cut in, “If this is to affect anyone, it is to be the nobility. There, kinslaying holds the most… negativity. People that hold stock in blood care more when one is willing to spill the blood of their own kin.”

“There’s ways around that,” Mina noted. “Ultimately… if we get on this ahead of time, influence the direction of rumors… Stain?”

Stain raised his head and fixed his brown hair. “What?”

“You could spread rumors that it was self-defense—that Induen intended to kill Argrave. He only acted in self-defense,” Mina posited.

“Sure, sure. And I will. But…” Stain bit his lip as he deliberated on whether or not to say something. “…did he?”

Quiet set in once again.

Elias leaned forward on the table and placed his elbows down. “I think that’s what we should be talking about.”

“Pedantry about who started the fight?” Nikoletta asked incredulously.

“No, no,” Elias shook his head. “Is Argrave who he once was? Is he worth… supporting?”

Stain raised his hand. “Who he once was? Seemed the same to me. Scary bastard through and through, a little manipulative, but ultimately a decent guy.”

“Your father made that judgement already, Mister Firebrand,” Mina leaned back in her chair. “As far as you told me, you’re just here to bring him back. We’ve already got his answer: ‘I’ll do what I want,’ though in more words.”

Nikoletta looked troubled. “Argrave is… different. Whether physically, or the way he talked, he is not what I remember. At core he remains recognizable, but he has a whole different air, attitude, and appearance.”

Elias nodded in agreement. “But… these changes, they might not be negative.”

Everyone considered that for a moment, looking between each other.

“My father doesn’t want to put a puppet on the throne. He’s told me as much himself. Argrave is firm, decisive, and I believe we all agree that he seems an able leader,” Elias looked between everyone, searching for protest. “But Induen was all of these things. Orion is all of those things. Felipe is all of those things. What’s important… is the core. Their heart.” Elias placed his hand to his own.

Nikoletta nodded in agreement, but Mina and Stain seemed to think Elias’ speech was corny and grimaced.

“Our main priority moving forward should be to find more out about Gerechtigkeit,” Elias said. “Argrave is right on that—it is important. My father showed me the evidence, and gods be damned, it’s very important.” Elias pointed a finger to stress his point. “But it’s important to learn why he’s taken on this task. And it’ll be very important to hear what he wants from the future. Elsewise, we might be putting our support behind yet another snake that’s naught but a poison to the land.”

“So, what, talk to him?” Stain furrowed his brows but smiled as though the idea was laughable.

“Yes,” Elias confirmed. “But just as important as Argrave is the company he keeps. So, here’s my suggestion—we should help Argrave with his business here. We should support him as best we can. All the while, we learn everything that we can from him—his plans, his nature, and why he keeps the company he does. It’s clear he trusts only his companions. As such, we should be his companions, his shadows, if only for a brief time.”

“Your grand idea is for us to be his lackeys?” Mina leaned back in her chair.

“If that’s what it takes,” Elias said, nodding completely unoffended. “We must ensure a good future, Mina. I’ll bow to anyone, lick their shoes even, if it might ensure I’ll save people’s lives. I must know Parbon throws its support behind a claimant good for the realm. Even a temporary good king would be better than what other options are before us.”

Stain crossed his arms. “I’m not licking anybody’s shoes, but I’ve done enough bowing to do that decently. Besides, officially, I work for you,” Stain pointed to Elias. “If you want me to do it, I’ll do it.”

Mina did not answer right away—she looked to Nikoletta, waiting for her to speak. Even while they were ostensibly arguing, Mina still valued her friend’s input.

“…I can think of nothing else,” Nikoletta eventually conceded. “Besides, I do not wish to see Argrave dead. If I can help him get what he needs to escape from the Tower, I will.”

“I’m with Nicky,” Mina nodded.

Elias nodded eagerly. “Good. Then let’s put this into action.”

#####

The next morning, Argrave was awoken by a knock at his door. Without giving him time for answer, Elias bolted in.

Anneliese and Argrave stirred. Elias paused after seeing them together, but after a brief scan to be sure he wasn’t intruding on anything, he launched into his message.

“The news is here. It’s spreading like fire over dead grass, Argrave,” Elias said feverishly, his good eye jumping between the two of them. “A legion of ghostly snakes? A thousand giant knights of an age past fighting at your side? What in the gods’ name?”

“What?” Argrave asked tiredly, the word mixed with disbelieving laughter. He threw the blanket off himself and Anneliese and stood up, already fully armored barring his duster.

“People say you conjured ten thousand snakes—ghosts of some sort. Thereafter, innumerable titanic knights joined your side, battering Induen and his knights into the ground,” Elias explained quickly.

“They’re eels,” Argrave said. “Electric eels. Not ghosts.”

Elias held his arms out. “Does that matter? It’s what people think!”

“Well, what do people think? Have you heard people talking?” Argrave insisted.

Elias put his hand to his forehead. “There are so many rumors it’s difficult to keep track of. We’ll have to wait a bit for one to prevail. In the meantime, I’m having Stain spread rumors of his own—that you acted in self-defense.”

“Good,” Argrave nodded, his tired mind awakening. “That’s… good.”

“You must add that Induen killed Argrave’s mother when he was not yet ten,” Anneliese contributed, rising as well. “That is all but common knowledge in Dirracha and many places beyond, but it must reach the people.”

Elias nodded. “Good thinking. It’s a good narrative. I will tell him that,” Elias vowed. “Gods, I… I guess it’s real.”

“You really think I made it up?” Argrave stepped aside and picked up his boots, sitting to put them on. “Well… damn, early day. Any breakfast?”

“Sure, I can get my people to make something,” Elias agreed readily. “Are you planning on going somewhere?”

“Castro will call me, soon. It might be I’m called to an official meeting with all the Magisters and the Tower Master, but I doubt that.”

Elias reached into his breast pocket. “Here,” he pulled free a letter. “It’s a letter of advisement. Give that to Castro.”

Argrave took it, looking at it. It had no wax seal, so he opened it and reviewed its contents. It had magic signatures from Mina, Elias, and Nikoletta, and in brief summary, reminded the Order of its vow of neutrality.

Argrave looked up, brows furrowed in confusion. “Thanks. Every bit helps, I—”

A knock echoed out from the front door beyond the room they stayed in. Argrave chuckled. “That might be the inquisition.”

As Argrave walked to answer the door, Elias stopped him. “Anything we can do to help?”

“Not…” Argrave paused, not expecting such earnest aid. “No, Castro will probably want to meet me alone. Ask Anneliese, though—when I’m not here, she’s the one who takes charge. If anything is needed from you, she can handle the distribution.”

Anneliese stepped to Argrave, holding a thick packet of papers. “We spent all this time preparing this. Best not forget it,” she prodded it against his chest.

“Alright. Good luck,” Elias patted his arm as Argrave took the papers.

Another firm knock at the door drew Argrave from questioning Elias’ actions. He stepped up to the door and answered it.

The brown-haired woman standing there raised her eyes up to Argrave in a near-comical fashion, evidently not expecting to see someone so tall. Argrave examined her in kind—she was not a high-ranking mage, meaning this was a request rather than a demand.

“Wizard Argrave?” the woman asked.

“Yep,” he nodded.

“Tower Master Castro wishes to see you right away. He is on the top floor of the tower, sir.”

Top floor treatment, huh? Stellar. Might be Castro’s apprentice is there.