Jackal Among Snakes

A knight pushed open a set of oak double doors that had the symbol of House Monticci in the center. The swordfish split open, and a small office lay beyond. A few faces turned towards the new entry. Argrave walked in, looking around the room. It was an office and a library in one, and a big round table occupied the center of the room. Many documents were splayed out across the table. Argrave recognized them—they were from the druid’s camp.

Barring Nikoletta and Elias, there were two people present that Argrave did not recognize. This was something that had scarcely happened to him since arriving in Berendar. Most of the civilians in Mateth were untouched by the Veidimen invasion, but the military and leadership were mostly killed. If these two were here, it meant that they had probably died before the game began.

The man at the head of the table was of an average build. He bore a set of gilded armor bearing a blue swordfish at the front, so Argrave recognized him as Duke Enrico of Monticci. Argrave placed him at his early fifties. He had blue hair and the same dark pink eyes Nikoletta had. His hair was wavy and well-groomed, and his beard was trimmed to a sharp point. He was still quite handsome by Argrave’s estimation. A veritable silver fox.

The other was a gruff-looking knight with a scar-lined face. His head was shaved bald. He stepped forward, placing himself between Duke Enrico and Argrave.

The Duke scanned Argrave, head tilted to peer at him from behind the knight. “This is your friend, Nikoletta?”

“Yes, it is.” Nikoletta crossed her arms and nodded.

Argrave wanted to comment that her answer had changed since they first spoke, but he kept quiet.

The Duke continued. “He’s a tall one. Taller than the king, even.” He tapped the table. “Step aside, Knight-Commander Ryger.”

“Duke,” the knight obeyed quickly, taking his place at the table. The doors shut behind Argrave.

“My daughter has been relaying what you’ve told her the past few days,” Duke Enrico started. His voice was calm and steady, with a certain business-like quality to it. “Your information was supported by what you brought with you, and my men retrieved some of the bodies in that camp of… what was the word…”

“Druids,” Argrave supplied.

“Yes. Druids.” The Duke stared at him. “Nikoletta may not question where your information comes from. I, however, am greatly concerned by how you know so much. You knew things occurring in my territory before I did. How did you come to know about this camp of druids?”

Elias turned his head to look at Argrave after the duke had spoken. Clearly he was interested in the answer too.

The knight-commander walked beside Argrave, coming uncomfortably close. He was a fair bit shorter than Argrave, but probably much heavier. Argrave smiled at him, keeping his feet firm.

“Information gathering is one of my strengths,” Argrave answered. “I talk to a lot of people. I walk around a lot. I do things—favors—for people. You can learn a lot if you have time and an open-mind.”

Argrave essentially described what ‘quests’ were in an RPG. Indeed, he had learned most of the game through quests, so it was not a lie. One of the key parts of being convincingly deceptive was learning to deceive oneself.

Ryger looked dissatisfied by Argrave’s answer. The Duke pressed more. “That is not specific. Who, or what, gave you the information?”

Nikoletta grabbed his arm. “Father, please don’t do this.”

The Duke did not look at Nikoletta to respond. “You are too trusting. Thwarting schemes requires considerable caution, and plenty seek to undermine our Dukedom, Nikoletta.”

“You are too paranoid,” Nikoletta shot back. “Argrave could have made us go to war with Parbon, but he chose to risk himself.”

“That is one matter. This is another.”

“Hold on a moment,” Argrave interrupted. “If I know you, Duke Enrico, you were already planning on rallying soldiers as soon as Margrave Reinhardt started moving towards Dirracha.”

Duke Enrico stared for a moment. Somehow, he made dark pink eyes seem fierce. He had a stare that could make Charles Manson run for his money.

“Who or what or where or why—none of that matters,” Argrave continued. “Those documents alone should set you on edge. They document your troops better than you do, I suspect. I know more than I should, and you don’t need to know why that is.”

“The source of information is always important. It helps reveal the intention behind the conveyance of information.” The Duke paused, running a hand across his beard. “But, in this case, you are right. Preparation has never undone anyone. On that note… several people have described that battle you had with the druids. Most called it a massacre, yet you were only two. You are a D-rank spellcaster, yes?”

Argrave shook his head. “Yesterday I was. Today, not anymore.”

That statement elicited a reaction from Elias and Nikoletta. Elias’ eyes widened, but Nikoletta burst out, “You said you were going to rest tonight!”

“I did sleep,” Argrave rebutted. “Besides, I’m a lot better now. No more shivering. Either way, me being C-rank doesn’t matter, as I haven’t had the time to learn any C-rank spells beyond [Wargfire]. I don’t think I will before the Veidimen land, either.”

“I see.” The Duke nodded. “You strategized for the attack on the scouts?”

“Yes,” Argrave confirmed.

“Do you have thoughts on what the snow elves will do?”

“You’re asking my opinion? Why not ask the egghead here?” Argrave pointed his thumb at the knight-commander Ryger. The man’s face deepened into a frown, but he did not say anything. He did not appear to talk much.

“I have asked his thoughts, and now I am asking yours. I prefer to strategize myself. A hobby of mine, mock-warfare.”

Argrave nodded. “Well, has Nikoletta told you what I said before?”

“You believe we are hopelessly outmatched.”

“I know you are,” Argrave corrected. “You’re vastly outnumbered, they have Ebonice in large amounts, they’re more experienced, they have detailed information about your capabilities, and their warriors are physically larger. It’s a losing battle.”

“Ebonice?” the Duke repeated.

“It’s an ice that dispels magic. All but the highest-ranking magic breaks on contact with it. Some spells can keep going for a time, but they lose purpose and generally shatter immediately—especially wards. It comes from their region, so they have a lot of it, naturally. My guard Galamon has some—an axe. I can demonstrate it later, but he’s away right now.”

“Our knights aren’t lacking in training,” the knight-commander said, speaking for the first time.

“But with battle experience? Many of these Veidimen are old—hundreds of years old, in fact, with as many battles under their belt. Their leader, Patriarch Dras, conquered all of the other tribes of the region. Their magic isn’t at all lacking compared to ours, either.”

The Duke leaned over the maps on the table. “Then tell me; what do you suggest be done?”

“Their primary disadvantage is that they are at sea,” Argrave stepped forward, walking past Ryger and Elias to stand over the map. “Their longships will try and land on unfortified locations so that their troops can disembark. Hiding traps in the water would be effective—pikes hidden underwater along the coast would force them to jump into the water and swim to shore. I needn’t explain why that’s disadvantageous, I think.”

“My daughter mentioned how you thought they might deploy their mages…” the Duke began.

Their conversation continued, Argrave discussing what he thought and the Duke refining the ideas. Like this, Argrave integrated seamlessly into the battle planning. The morning passed by swiftly.

#####

“…and if they use earth elemental magic as a siege weapon?” The duke pressed, pointing to a diagram of Mateth’s walls.

“It’s not so different from pushing a ladder off the side of the wall, only you need mages to deconstruct the platform. They would have to build it like stairs so as not to make it crumble, and that sort of magic is very costly. The walls are quite tall.”

“What if they use it on the wall itself?”

“The walls of Mateth are enchanted. That can’t happen.”

“You do know too much,” the duke said musingly.

Argrave laughed, stretching and looking out the windows. “Look at that. It’s near midday. Galamon must be back by now, surely… well, if that’s the case, I have to be going.”

“Where?” the duke inquired harshly. It seems he didn’t want Argrave to leave.

“Barden. I have things of my own to prepare.”

“What things?”

The door shot open, and a tired-looking man stumbled into the room. Argrave looked at the man in concern.

“Duke Enrico, my lord,” the man said, huffing. “This just arrived.” He stepped forward, handing a note to the Duke. “Margrave Reinhardt’s knights were attacked. House Parbon has sent missives to all the nobles in Vasquer, seeking support in overthrowing the royal family.”

Elias stepped forward and took the note before the messenger could deliver it.

“I told you it was coming,” Argrave said. “It’s tough, always being right like this.”

“Shut up,” Elias said coldly, hands shaking as he read the note. Then, without another word, he dropped the paper and ran out of the room.

“Elias…!” Nikoletta shouted in vain. The heir to House Parbon left quickly.

“That’s precisely why this invasion is so dangerous,” Argrave commented, sitting in a chair and leaning back casually. “Everyone else will be choosing a side in the battle for Vasquer. No time to devote to the elven Vikings.”

“How can you be so casual? This is… this is terrible!” Nikoletta shouted.

The Duke was silent at this point. He retrieved the letter and read it as Argrave spread his arms wide, asking incredulously, “What? I’ve been telling you this was coming.”

“It’s one thing to say it, it’s another for it to…” Nikoletta sat down as well, clutching her head.

“Anyway, I really should be going now.” Argrave put his hands on his knees and stood up. “Especially now that things are like this.”

“Hold a moment,” the Duke stopped Argrave, putting a hand in front of him.

“No, really, I’ll leave you be. I left my cat in the oven, and my bread needs to be fed…” Argrave insisted, pushing past the Duke’s hand.

“I won’t restrain you, if that’s what you fear,” the Duke assured. “There’s something you should have.”

Argrave stopped. “Oh, the money from the auction? I can’t use that yet, anyway. There’s a place to the south at the city Jast… well, never mind. Not important yet. I can get it later.”

“Auction?” the Duke questioned.

“Don’t worry about that, dad,” Nikoletta butted in. “Argrave, we can talk about that later.”

The Duke gave a fierce glance to his daughter, and she hid her gaze. “We’ll discuss this later. But for you--this. It’s a simple token. If you show this to any of my knights, they will protect you. A simple precaution.” The Duke held out a blue token with a swordfish on it.

“Oh, the Mark of Monticci. Nice.” Argrave took it, reminiscing. It was a game item that had more or less the same effect.

The Duke frowned when Argrave recognized it, but he did not comment. “If indeed this invasion occurs, Monticci will have much to repay you for. The steps you’ve taken… it is worthy of nearly anything.”

“Even that magic ring you’ve got stashed in the basement?” Argrave inquired, recalling an artifact that existed in the game.

The Duke frowned intensely.

“Ah—never mind. We’ll talk about that later. For now…”

Argrave held the token in the air, muttering a ‘thanks,’ and then left quickly. Nikoletta followed him out.

“But… Argrave, we still have to talk—”

Argrave interrupted, holding his hand behind him and waving. “We’ll talk once this is over. No use for money where I’m going.” He stashed the token in his pocket and walked for the exit.