jackal-among-snakes-16091326
chapter-255

Levin walked a bridge from the Dragon Palace, heading to a lone tower with a cone roof. Two royal guards stood in front of it. They were large men, just short of Levin’s height, and their golden helmets swiveled as they followed the prince’s approach.

The prince paused just before the door. “She’s awake?” he questioned.

“Yes, prince,” the rightward knight nodded.

Levin nodded curtly and shot his cuffs. He fixed his collar, swallowed, then pushed open the door. In the distance, the sound of chains swaying rattled out. The room was dark, the windows mostly blocked by curtains. Levin stepped within hesitantly, then shut the thick door he’d pushed open.

Levin cast a spell, and a ball of light rose up into the air. A woman ahead flinched and gasped, and tried to crawl away.

“Mother. It’s fine. It’s me,” Levin said, stepping closer very slowly with his hands spread out to show he meant no harm.

Light from his spell illuminated the woman. She was pale, dreadfully thin, and bound in a straitjacket. She had blonde hair, but it was unwashed, matted, and greasy. Her bright blue eyes shone back against the light like sapphires. Felipe had married Valeria because of those eyes, so the tale went—they reminded him of his first wife’s.

“Where’s my husband?” the woman asked. “He’s the king. Once you’re found… cut your losses. Let me go, I can let you live. I can give you a pardon. My husband listens to me. Once you’re found…”

Levin paused, studying her face. Though she had been bound in a jacket to protect her from harming herself, it hadn’t stopped it completely. Her lips had been bitten into tattered shreds. Her fingers couldn’t grow back—she’d eaten those. But her lips could be healed.

Feeling encouraged by her clarity, Levin knelt. “You’re here for your own good, mother. Let me treat your face.”

The woman flinched away as Levin extended his hand… yet when healing magic started to close the cuts on her lip, she gradually accepted things.

“My baby…” Valeria said.

“That’s right. I’m here,” Levin nodded, smiling excitedly.

“Where is Orion? Where is he? Where’s my baby?” she demanded harshly. “I want to see him.”

Levin’s smile morphed subtly, and he looked to the ground, eyes dead. He bit his lips hard enough to draw blood, then shook his head. “I’m going to be leaving, mother. For good.”

Valeria glared at him, bloodshot eyes darting around in a frenzy.

Levin lifted his head up. “I’ve been working together with a coalition of northern nobles unhappy with my father. We’re going to split from Vasquer… form the Kingdom of Atrus. I’m going to be crowned its first king.” Levin clasped his hands together. “Really… never thought to call myself that.”

If the woman he called mother heard and understood him, she hardly showed it.

“But I don’t think this will last. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong… but really, it’s just an excuse not to get involved in the war. These northern nobles, they want to stay out of the fighting. I offered that opportunity. And then, when the fighting dies down… I’ll negotiate a spot in the new Vasquer from a position of strength. Whether Orion’s running things, or Argrave, or Elenore… doesn’t matter.” Levin shook his head, then sat.

“I don’t want to be king. Never expected it. Never sought it,” Levin continued. “But… more and more, I see my father slipping away from what he usually does. He’s losing it. And Argrave… to see his progress… if even he can succeed as he has, I realize now that it’s time for me to do something.”

“My husband will stop you,” Valeria said, pushing away from Levin with her feet. The chains that bound her rung. “Wait. This rebellion of yours… another footnote in our history.”

Levin turned his head back to his mother. “I can get you out of here, mother. I want to help you. Your son wants to help you. If I’m your son… just say it. I’ll help.”

Valeria stopped trying to crawl away. “I saw the lilies dance upon the grave of a dead world. I saw them. I saw the coming terrors. He will end you all. The black one is coming for you. The ground will split for his wrath. Time itself will end. We must be united. Stop!” she screamed manically.

Levin rose to his feet and spoke over her screams, declaring, “Felipe isn’t going to be doing anything. He’s going to wait in this fortress of his, more and more allies forsaking him day by day. I’m going to ruin him. All that he’s had me do over the years—murders, abductions, hiding his sexual escapades, spreading the plague… I kept records of it. Everyone’s going to get their hands on it: incontrovertible proof. His allies will abandon him. His espionage network will wither,” Levin tapped his chest. “And after his vault is emptied, after Relize joins Atrus… he’ll have no money. So… it’s over.”

Queen Valeria started to sob hysterically. Levin clenched his teeth together tightly, looking down at her. Then, with a quiet rage, he turned on his heel and left. He pushed open the great door to the tower, and slammed it shut behind him.

“Come,” he told the royal knights as he passed by. “We’re done.”