Jackal Among Snakes

“Not much has changed,” Argrave said as he read down the list. Anneliese rested her head on his shoulder, reading with him. With their alliance secured, Leopold accommodatingly allowed them to move their agents and things into the mansion. Though many of the people had come, many remained outside for the sake of caution. “All of these families were pretty prominent. It’s no surprise they’re on the Grand Council.”

“You think you’ll be able to get them to support us?” Elenore asked Argrave.

Argrave put the paper down and rose to his feet, looking out the window of Leopold’s mansion. He could see the river that split the city, the waters still alive with boats even this late at night. “Certainly. I know most of them well enough, and these days I think of myself as quite the idealogue.” Argrave scratched at his chin. “I’m more concerned about who might be on the delegate’s side.” Argrave looked to Elenore. “You really have nothing? Who’s missing in Atrus?”

“My agents in Atrus were largely preoccupied with another matter,” Elenore shook her head wistfully. “I don’t know who was sent.”

“And what is that other matter?” Argrave pressed.

“Well…” she paused, turning around. “Levin purged a good majority of my agents in the palace, if you’ll recall. Don’t worry about it, though—all will be fine. Put it out of your mind,” she brushed it off then quickly added, “As for the matter of that marriage Leopold requested, I think I can work something out.”

Argrave frowned as she changed the subject to that. He hadn’t been especially pleased that she’d so readily volunteered to handle the marriage.

“Who?” he pressed, stepping forward.

“A debt of mine. No one you’ve associated with—a southern family swearing fealty to Duke Sumner. Count Suchaz’s daughter.” Elenore shook her head. “He owes me too much to reasonably pay back. I’ll wipe some of his debt for this.”

“You were the one so off-put by his age, now you’ll consign some young woman to this one hundred- and fourteen-year-old man?” Argrave said forcefully.

“You protest,” Elenore noted, turning back around.

Just then a door opened, and Galamon and Durran entered. Durran gazed around wondrously, while Galamon moved to sit on the couch in the room they’d been given.

“Quite a place, wouldn’t you—” Durran said, then trailed off when he caught the confrontation between Argrave and Elenore obviously brewing. “I’m going to go sit,” he dismissed tiredly, stepping past them.

“Would you like to marry Leopold?” Argrave asked her.

“Of course not,” Elenore shook her head. “We talked about this, no? In the face of Gerechtigkeit, it is more compassionate to be dispassionate. This is what the man wants—we give it to him. It’s for the good of the realm. The good of the world.”

“I hate that you’re right,” Argrave shook his head, hands moving about frustratedly. “It’s just… can’t we choose someone who thinks the same thing? Someone who isn’t just being sold off by their parents to settle a debt?”

Elenore put one hand on her waist, the bronze jewelry on her finger clanging as she thought. “Argrave, I don’t think—”

“I think I know someone,” Anneliese cut in.

Argrave turned his head towards her. “Who? I can’t think of anyone we’ve met,” he shook his head.

“You have never met them. She was an old friend of mine back in Veiden,” Anneliese shook her head. “She is… a bit of an eccentric. She was friends with me, after all. I think she’s seventy-two this year. She had strange thoughts about marriage and life. I imagine an arrangement with Leopold might actually entice her, provided he refrains from limiting her freedom.”

Argrave frowned. “Does that… I mean, will Leopold really…”

“You heard him speak of us,” Anneliese said pointedly. “He seems to bear Veidimen no ill will. Indeed, he expressed interest. At the very least, it is worth broaching.”

Argrave stared, a little stunned, then laughed. “Yeah… I mean, yeah,” he turned his head back to Elenore, who seemed to be having similar thoughts as Argrave was.

“Then it’s settled,” Elenore concluded. “For now, we focus on this upcoming Grand Council meeting.”

“Less time for imbuing practice,” Argrave said in resigned dismay, then picked back up the paper he’d discarded. “Guess we focus on currying favor with the one percent.”

#####

Leopold’s powerbase within Relize was not merely a theoretical thing. The man moved efficiently to do exactly as he had promised Argrave.

Generally, the Grand Council met at a building known as the Assembly Chamber of Commerce and Governance. Before a single day had passed, a mysterious accident took place within the Assembly Chamber—there was an unforeseen incident regarding the sewage system, and much of the place would reek of things most foul for a long, long while. Following this tragedy, by letter and by delegate, Leopold volunteered to host the Grand Council in his home.

The patricians of the Grand Council were not blind—they could smell something foul afoot beyond merely the sewage in the Assembly Chamber. Elenore and Leopold collaborated to spread a rumor this was done after the slight of Pedreddin raids on Dandalan ships. Leopold wanted to raise his family’s prestige and ensure a fitting punishment for the Pedreddin family. Before long, that rumor reached all in the city.

And so, in time, Leopold’s suggestion was accepted. They would hold the Grand Council in his home, on the second floor generally reserved for personal meetings with his family. This was a great victory—controlling the grounds that they met would enable Argrave to speak to prospective council members easier and would similarly allow them to suppress Yiasten.

Yet regarding their rivals, and the delegate from Atrus… it was impossible to tell what Yiasten did and did not know. Their family had entered a state of relative lock down—the delegates did not leave, their servants betrayed nothing, and no news of their intents spread beyond their estate. It cut off Elenore’s plans to make early contact. Nonetheless, the stage for the first battle had been set splendidly.

With the groundwork done, all that remained was the actual politics. Between Leopold and Elenore, Argrave had two keys to the beating heart of Relize. He took full advantage of that. He knew much about many of the patricians within Relize, but he wasn’t so foolish enough to think that he could get by coasting on his now months-rusty knowledge.

“These two cannot be sat near each other,” Leopold tapped the document firmly. “It’s best to remember everyone’s last names, ensure they never meet—something about them… it’s in the blood, their feud. My family will do what it can to keep them separate. Typically, one can only have one family member at a council meeting… but many of my children will be attending as servants. They’re good at this game,” Leopold assured.

“Alright. I can do that,” Argrave nodded, already committing the names to memory.

Leopold nodded, straightening his back. “Yes… from all I’ve seen, you’ll be quite good at this. But… and know that I mean no offense, Argrave… is it necessary to bring your fiancée? I have no issue with your elven bride. Most of the patricians are rather uncaring much the same: discrimination is bad for business, after all. We have large minorities within Relize itself, and they are given a vote to decide the District Council every bit the same as any other citizen. Even still… these things are best brought to light slowly. Perhaps Anneliese ought to remain aside.”

Argrave shook his head at once. “Anneliese is invaluable in places like this. She has a knack for understanding people, and she gives counsel that cannot be rivalled. Besides—I’m told the south misconstrued our engagement as me having ties to Veiden. Business-wise, wouldn’t that be promising for you patricians? A whole new business partner?”

“I can attest to Anneliese’s acumen… for what it’s worth,” Elenore contributed.

Leopold stroked his beard. “I suppose I could pitch it like that… and even then, you have that reform you mentioned to me. Your trump card,” he shook his head. “But we trade by sea, not by the ocean. A great mass of land divides the North Sea from the ocean. If it were practical… it would already be happening.”

“That’s a shame,” Argrave lamented. “I suppose this means you won’t be interested in this prospective bride? A prospective trade route with an untapped market?”

Leopold raised a brow. “What do you speak of?”

“Well… let’s talk about Veiden for a bit, Leopold. I’ve been travelling with two Veidimen. I have some ties, you see.”

#####

Ansgar fixed Leopold’s attire diligently. They looked like two elderly brothers, and Argrave stared at the merchant, tapping one finger against his temple. Everything was going well—though the merchant had not outright agreed to taking a Veidimen as a bride and said he would obviously need to meet her first… Anneliese said the idea enticed him greatly. He was a merchant, though, and hid that fact well enough Argrave almost disbelieved her.

“If you keep tapping, your finger might break,” Leopold said, obviously annoyed.

Argrave stopped. “It helps me think.”

“These Grand Council meetings last twelve hours on the least busy days. Today… I’ve enough food for two days. It’s half a party, half a political meeting,” Leopold told him. “I don’t want you to give yourself the runs on account of anxiety.”

Argrave shrugged. “I suppose you’d have me just stop being anxious, like magic. Well… don’t worry. Not sure I can get the runs anymore.”

Leopold laughed just as Elenore entered. “The delegates are with Yiasten. They’re bringing them here,” she told them.

“Suppose that’s proof of things, as though we didn’t have enough already,” Leopold said, pushing away Ansgar’s hands and fixing things himself. He slapped his face lightly and shook his body, and his whole demeanor seemed to change. Altogether, he seemed half a commander.

“As planned… Elenore will remain here and help organize things. It does us no good to have her seen,” Leopold said, slicking his gray hair back with some gel and combing with his other hand. “I will keep things contained in the council room. Ansgar will be my main point of contact with you, keeping you apprised of situations within the meeting. You and Anneliese will be introduced to key figures slowly, and then brought out into the main party when we all agree is the best time.”

“Seems I’m not the only one that’s anxious. How many times have you told us that?” Argrave questioned.

“Well… I can’t imagine my anxiety can compare to yours, even with that trump card of yours. If I fail, I remain a wealthy patrician… nothing really lost other than face. But you… I’m not sure what would be next for you,” Leopold looked back. “I have guests to greet.”

Leopold stepped out, leaving only Ansgar left behind.

“Your dad sure is great at raising the mood,” Argrave noted.

Ansgar looked to Argrave. “Putting his face on the line alone shows how much faith he has in you. He is a merchant—he is predisposed to taking risks. But note that he is a successful merchant. The risks that he takes—they often pay off. And so, it would be best if you are less nervous.”

Argrave nodded. “A good point.” He stepped around, then picked up the black tellerbarret on a chair. He put it over his head and fixed it until it was just right in the mirror. “We look pretty good, Anneliese.”

Anneliese stepped into the mirror’s frame. “Is that so?”

“You know it is,” he shot back, then turned. “Alright. Time for a protracted battle.”