Jackal Among Snakes - Chapter 709

Argrave and Anneliese walked toward Elenore’s large command tent in the early morning. Sophia had been reluctant to see them leave, but they’d persuaded her to rest more. As they walked, Argrave paused.

“Forget something?” Anneliese asked, knowing that look.

“The hand mirror,” Argrave said ponderously. “The bronze one. I’ve no idea where it is.”

Anneliese put a hand on her hip as she thought. “It may be a safe assumption to deem it lost, considering you’ve died twice and every building around us has been razed to the ground.”

“Yeah.” Argrave nodded thoughtfully.

“You hadn’t actually used that it in a very long time,” Anneliese reminded him. “You said it made you feel detached from the world around you.”

Argrave nodded in agreement. “It did, it’s just... maybe we could’ve discovered some mystery from it. Some truth.”

“Not every mystery is worth solving,” Anneliese said with complete conviction. “Not every answer will be satisfying. Sometimes, you won’t find any answer at all. Fortunately, there are a thousand other questions worth answering. You don’t need to focus on the impossible ones.” She gestured. “But you know that. It’s why you denied the Heralds.”

Argrave looked up at the sun rising. “Spent a lot of time asking ‘why’ when I was younger. That question invariably multiplies itself. The only thing that made me move on was changing the question. Not ‘why,’ but ‘why not?’”

“Come on,” Anneliese directed him. “Let’s give it our best, today.”

“Why not?” Argrave smiled, following after her and passing into Elenore’s tent.

On the inside, disorganized pockets of important people had spread out everywhere. Upon their entrance, the atmosphere seemed to shift. All small talk ended, and they slowly made their way to the large table in the center of the room that’d been carved of stone.

There were countless groups represented here, each with their own interests. Ganbaatar, envoy of the elves from the Bloodwoods. Therapont, representative of the surviving dwarves fleeing Mundi. Artur, who’d gathered all surviving spellcasters of Vasquer beneath him. Durran, who stood for his people as much for their friendship. Lorena and her daughter—who did indeed look alarmingly like Anneliese, presently—represented the dragons, both those of the moon and the Gilderwatchers.

Each and all had their own sub-factions, their own individual cultures, viewpoints, and methodology. They had their own ambitions, desires, and needs. They had their own philosophy, most of which had insurmountable differences with those standing just next to them. Most here were leaders in their own right, but all were hesitant to step forward to the head of that table. They were all battered enough dealing with their own problems—to shoulder responsibility for all present seemed so difficult that their fear outweighed their ambition.

For two, though, it felt natural.

Argrave and Anneliese came to the head of the table, near in lockstep. Elenore quietly joined them, though made sure she got little attention compared to them.

“Alright,” Argrave called out, leaning up against the table. “Let’s convene the First Council of the Homeless. Hopefully, it’ll be the last.”

Some amusement cut the tension down in the room, but none were eager to speak first.

“Governments are not static things. It can, and should, be changed. There’s an opportunity to do both. Building the house is a much different task from living in it.” Anneliese gestured at Therapont. “We can build the framework for the transition from an absolute government to one that allows people their voice. And we can see it through.”

Artur laughed. “Sure, you can. The question always remains... will you? In ten, twenty, even a hundred years from now, when you’ve a dozen children running about, and they’re expecting children of their own... could you deprive them of what you built? Could you earnestly step aside?”

“We discussed doing so now,” Argrave said with some amusement. “Taking Sophia, going to some distant, beautiful place... letting the world sort itself out.” He smiled at Anneliese, who offered her hand. “But we know we can do this. And if the alternative is letting this place slide into chaos, we’d rather build a great nation.”

“They’re also essentially immortal, and could likely kill all of us,” Lorena cut in. “The fact they’re even asking is good enough for me.”

“On that cheery note... long live the king,” came an unenthusiastic cheer from Artur.

“Alright. To put it plainly, I’m proposing a triumvirate between myself, Anneliese, and Elenore—King, Queen, and Prime Minister.” Argrave looked between everyone. “Unless anyone has any alternative proposals they’d like to bring up.”

“There are a million others,” Raven said. “But I’m certain this one will work—and quickly. That’s what’s important.”

With that capstone, no objections were raised. Indeed, there was a sense of ease in the room, of certainty. The future of a hundred years seemed uncertain, but for now, all present knew they would be in good, proven hands.

“To what extent will we attempt to govern?” said Orion, breaking his long silence. “Shall our nation span the world?”

“Are you trying to kill me?” Elenore cut in. “Inevitably, they’re going to fob off administration on me. We can’t govern the world—not yet, at least. Nor should we. We’ve no presence anywhere besides here in Berendar and the Great Chu.”

“Then, those two alone?” Orion pressed. “I merely ask because I think it for the best.”

“The Great Chu has a long history of being shattered, only for its people to rebuild it back into the great empire it’s always been.” Argrave crossed his arms. “Of the world, I think they’ll be the best at rebuilding. It’s their culture. We should focus on resettling and governing Berendar alone.”

“Yet my people persist there,” Galamon said. “And Patriarch Dras expended no small effort to maintain his people at the expense of the natives, even amidst the calamity. His designs on their land will not end. The Veidimen remain tightly bound with us. I foresee issues.”

“I... don’t disagree,” Anneliese admitted. “Still, overextension could result in total fracture. We have justification, and we have the history in this continent. In the Great Chu, we were always on flimsy ground.”

Elenore nodded. “Until we’ve solid ground to stand upon, we shouldn’t look to solve the problems of the world. Even if we were able, I’m hesitant. Providing aid where it might be unwelcome could quickly devolve into something ugly for all parties.”

“For the immediate future, at least, we stick to Berendar,” Argrave ruled. “Where do we go from here?”

As more and more people began to speak, Argrave realized they had a long, long task ahead of them. The three years and change he’d spent here would be nothing compared to the long stretch that was coming. It would be plagued with difficult decisions, hard compromises, and unanswerable questions. The fact that they’d already begun was a source of great solace. At the end of the day, this was what living in this world meant.

Argrave was more than ready to go through the complicated endlessness of existence.