Jackal Among Snakes

Elenore looked at the debate raging all around between many different parties, and felt a rather peculiar feeling. She was certain that she was witnessing a historical event of far greater magnitude than even the organization of the parliament. That was merely an institution, and they could rise and fall. But today, they strived to create something that defined the essence of their government henceforth.

Argrave had created a very effective cudgel. By limiting what was to be written to a small document that didn’t dictate law, but rather fundamental aspects of how the citizens of Vasquer were to be treated, he could effectively force the crueler aspects of the heroes gathered to compromise. In the event that they could not obtain superiority over another, they would be far more likely to settle for equality.

Everyone on their side adamantly refused to separate human from elf, as was agreed. They refused to cement the idea of nobility or divine right. Long-standing traditions were challenged, and people were forced to be honest with one another. Beyond mere tribalism, there was very little dividing the races from each other. What few differences existed did not warrant dramatic difference in governance. The majority of these people had made their names known by merit, and the merit of the many demonstrated that superiority could come from any walk of life.

“You’re doing a lot better than I did realizing my dream.”

Elenore was whipped out of her thoughts, and turned to someone. He had the features of the Vasquer family—black hair, gray eyes. He looked upon Argrave with a certain measure of pride. He had the right to be proud, perhaps—he was Felipe I, the founder of their family. He had endured Gerechtigkeit with Vasquer, yet ultimately, his own blood betrayed him and founded a kingdom instead of carrying on his vision.

Elenore had heard Vasquer speak of him many times. Felipe and Vasquer had intended to establish a militant order that loosely governed the region, without much interference other than defense against invaders and raiders. After Gerechtigkeit, they had no regional competition. Their children didn’t care to carry on that vision—rather, they established a hereditary monarchy after their betrayal of their parents.

Elenore regarded him curiously. “How does it feel, to see how things have changed?”

Felipe stared ahead, thinking. “Relieving,” he finally said. “And depressing.”

“…because of Vasquer, I imagine,” Elenore guessed. To miss her by only a few weeks must’ve been unimaginably painful.

“Hmm.” Felipe nodded. “That’s one piece of the puzzle, but you’re missing a lot of context. You don’t get together with someone older than you by millennia and expect to outlive them. I just never assumed it would be me.” He looked over. “You must think I’m a real psycho. Maybe I am. It probably does take a psycho to see a golden feathered serpent and decide ‘yeah, that’s the one.’”

“Uhh…” Elenore sputtered, caught off-guard.

“Frankly, it was an accident that neither of us expected,” Felipe admitted. “I didn’t exactly choose. I got chosen. By fate, the universe, whatever.”

Elenore narrowed her eyes, growing more and more confused. Are children something one does by accident? With people, certainly. But with a snake?

“When accidents happen, you do the best you can. It’s harder to raise children when one of you doesn’t have opposable thumbs, let alone arms, and you’re dealing with the aftermath of the war against the world’s millennial butcher.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. It turned out alright in the end, because you guys came of it. I wish it turned out alright before my little rascal stabbed me, but I’ll take what I can get. Corpses can’t be choosers, despite what these bastards today are arguing about.” He looked at Argrave, who was laughing in the face of the southron elf emperor. “I take none of the credit for you all, by the way. Vasquer did it all. I don’t have more than one kind bone in my body, but somehow, her nature must’ve distilled down to today.”

“She is…” Elenore caught herself. “She was great. I’ve never met someone so warm.”

He looked at her. “She was the best. The very best.” He smiled. “But what you’ve got today… it’s better, in some ways. Our kids hated each other. You two… working together, cooperating… it’s so damned nice. Wish it could’ve been like this with mine. Tried to give them everything they wanted, but all it led to was them wanting more. I yelled at them a lot when they were greedy or immoral. Called them hurtful things. But I never had the heart to actually do anything to stop what I saw them becoming.”

He let out a deep, wistful sigh. “Look at me, dredging up ghosts of the past. We’ve got enough of those here today—I shouldn’t add any more.” Felipe shook his head. “If you want some tired advice from a poltergeist, don’t ever let your siblings go. Hold them tight. And don’t let things fester, go unaddressed, until it’s too late. Say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done. Elsewise, you could lose them.”

Elenore felt tears rise unbidden at the advice, but she blinked fast enough none fell. She nodded with determination. “Yeah. I love them both. I won’t.”

“Thank you. Means a lot. Don’t want my pretty little descendants to get stabbed like I did,” Felipe said sincerely. “And on my end, I’ll ruin anyone and everyone that tries to harm your brother. I’m pretty good at hurting. Sometimes I say mean things, and people cry. But even more often, I swing my hands about and make lights shine, and people die in droves. Some people call that magic. I call it the difference between them and me.”

Elenore studied him. He acted like Argrave, in some ways, yet seemed different in many others. Somehow, after only that short exchange, she felt a certain weight on her shoulders feel all the lighter. Knowing that Vasquer had lived with someone like this at her side, even if only for a short time… it made it all the easier to let her go and remember the good times. And already, what anger she held toward Argrave had faded. How could she stay mad at him, after what he’d done for her in the past?

“Alright.” Felipe nodded. “I’ve done my part. If you want, though, I could say a few words to your husband, make sure he never steps out of line.”

Elenore laughed. “No, thank you. Durran’s wonderful. Just… help Argrave, if you would.”

“Look at you. Just as selfless as your mothe—no, your great-great-great-great-grandmother. I’ll do that.”

#####

Though the establishment of a constitution was a rewarding event to some, others did not take it quite so well. In particular, the noble wing of the parliament presided over this entire event with heavy heart, only a small few given permission to participate in open debate. Those few were clearly loyalists to the king rather than to their own faction, though.

But drafting a constitution was not such an easy thing it could happen in a day. Written hastily, it could have fundamental errors that might lead to grave mismanagement or misapplication in the future. At the end of the day, the basis of the document was established—to be called the Three Principles, it was divided into distinct sections.

The first principle was the Principle of Freedoms, which outlined the rights and protections citizens of Vasquer enjoyed. That was agreed to be the focus of the assembled parties, henceforth—outlining how the common citizens of Vasquer ought to be treated. Importantly, it was established that this principle, of all of them, should not be modified or redrafted in any way.

The second principle was the Principle of Governance, dictating the structure of the government. From the beginning, it had been firmly established that this was to be largely untouched by the legendary heroes revived here today. It would require significant mediation over months, as any decent constitution required. Moreover, the government should be a far more malleable thing than certain essential liberties.

The third principle was the Principle of Magic, something that had become rather relevant over the past few days. Its purpose was to decide how magic ought to be practiced, restricting potentially unethical practices like necromancy, illusion magic, or the burgeoning field of psychic magic. It, like the second, was to be set on the wayside, debated and redrafted over the course of months to ensure ethical practice. It had to be open for change, as magic would continue to advance.

Leaving the second and third principles open to further drafting was the only way to ensure compliance from the nobility and the spellcasters, by Elenore’s estimation. But even with only one as the subject of debate, a long, bitter week began. Twenty hours of each day were spent in heated discussion, and each day had at least seven drafts proposed and rejected.

People walked out in rage countless times, yet the prospect of being left out sent them scurrying back to let their voice be heard again. These people would not allow a rival to have a singular voice, and so they swallowed their pride and stuck around. Better to be heard and mocked than to be left out of the council entirely.

Argrave and his companions fought hard against the legends of the past to create something that applied to all people neutrally, and ensured a nation in which any race willing to exist peacefully alongside others was allowed to. The presence of people that held animosity against others turned from a troublesome thing to a boon—if they could not oppress their opposition, they insisted firmly upon equality. After all, from their perspective, if they were made equals, their kind’s innate superiority would naturally prevail.

In the end, despite bringing together some of the brightest and most fiercely independent minds of several millennia… the document was drafted. Not all were happy—few enough were, actually. But it was something that they had agreed on. Why had they agreed to it?

Because it was fair.

#####

Argrave sat at the table with his close family, tapping his foot nervously.

“I don’t know how someone that can call every emperor an idiot multiple times looks this nervous when the draft is heading out,” Elenore commented to Anneliese.

Argrave looked at her. “You’re not nervous? What we’ve worked on for a whole damned week is going to the people.”

“Most of them can’t even read it,” Durran reminded him.

“But it’ll get read eventually,” Argrave argued. “And… hell, I don’t know. What can we even expect from this? It’s a lot different from a movement started among the people—it’s a top-down imposition of liberty. What if it’s not wanted? What if—”

“It’s not law. It’s not legislation,” Elenore interrupted.

“Meaning?”

Anneliese explained, “Meaning, it’s merely the foundation for a very long struggle. The true challenge begins in extrapolating what was written there into the structure of the government, and the magical institutions of the world. We’re sending forth a sentiment that can capture the heart of the people. Once the seed takes root, we can grow the nation we intend, uprooting the power structures of old with something of our design.”

Elenore put her hand atop Argrave’s. “You have another matter to focus on. The Shadowlands. Your mercenaries have had their fee paid. Think only of that, Argrave. I don’t want you to get hurt within thinking of what’s happening here.”

Argrave nodded, pleased to see his sister had set aside her disappointment in him. Finally, after so much time… Argrave, Anneliese, and Durran would venture into the Shadowlands with great heroes at their back. All others would remain behind to maintain the integrity of the Blackgard Union and the Kingdom of Vasquer.

Only a few more days, and the hunt for Traugott would begin.