Jackal Among Snakes

“What reason have I given you to suspect me of attacking people allied to you?” Governor Zen looked at each of them, eyes narrowed.

“None at all. It’s why we have to ask—because we can’t reasonably deduce who you are.” Argrave looked at Zen, stone-faced. “But what we can deduce is that you have sway in the armies here. Elsewise, you’d never have been able to contact us.”

“I don’t see why I’d mitigate that influence by having commanders killed,” Governor Zen shook his head.

“You should stop dodging the question,” Durran chided him. “Straight answers are best.”

“I did answer you. I apologize if I wasn’t clear enough—I’ll endeavor to change that in the future.” Governor Zen dipped his head.

“You knew the name Grand Commandant Sun,” Argrave confronted him. “That’s been shared in a very small circle of people. The commanders are the only ones that can’t be accounted for. You brought your grandson, here, who’s a Gold Scribe at the Grand Imperial Bank—a key person for our plans, if you knew them. That information could only reasonably be gathered from torture of the captured commanders.”

Governor Zen smiled as he drank from his cup, then set it down smiling at Argrave. “Listen… I really like you people. You’re precisely the sort of change the Great Chu needs to see. You have the capacity to enforce; my family has the capacity to allow you a relatively peaceful usurpation. I can tell from our interactions that we would work together incredibly well. We can do this. We can win, together. But we need to discuss how that’s going to look. To begin with, I’d like to suggest this; a marriage between Orion and Ji Li.” He looked at Orion. “You aren’t dissatisfied with my daughter, are you, Prince Orion?”

“I cannot say I’ve given it much tho—”

“Orion,” Argrave cut in, glancing at him. Orion straightened his back, giving a curt and understanding nod. With the diversion ended, Argrave looked back at Zen. “Are you refusing to answer our question?”

“What question?” Zen tilted his head.

Argrave stared at him in silence. Then, he chuckled and took another drink of the clear rice wine Governor Zen had provided. He set it down and dictated, “So, you captured some of the commanders of the Great Chu we were working with and tortured information out of them. I can’t exactly extend them the same umbrella of protection I would to one of our commanders—I barely knew them. But it does cast a certain light on you. Just as this conversation does, it indicates your nature.”

“Torturing commanders…” Governor Zen rubbed the moustache crowning his goatee. “Sounds like something the imperial court would do. Me? All I am is a man that’s had many children and a few successful businesses. Then, I sent these many children and many businesses across the Great Chu, building scale, building prestige, building wealth… point being, I can be a vehicle for complete and total usurpation of the throne.

“You want the Grand Imperial Bank, served on a platter? My grandson can oblige, if he’s taken care of. You want information, even control, on the canals? Together, my two sons manage traffic on the whole east and west of the Great Chu. You want armies? Zen Da has never lost a battle. But better yet, he takes care of his men using my funds, and they all love him for it without question. The imperial harem—my daughter’s been in control of it for decades by this point. And with the Zen family backing you, that control can be gifted to you like a bird in its cage.”

Quietude settled like a heavy smoke in the room. “Orion,” Argrave looked at his brother again. “You were saying earlier?”

Orion came to attention, and started to speak to Governor Zen about his granddaughters. Argrave merely used it as a break from the conversation to speak to Elenore through their connection.

“He’s incredibly slippery,” he half-complained to her through their connection. “If you ever catch him saying ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ I’d be surprised. What is Anneliese reading from him?”

“She says there’s no deception, but he’s so curvy with his answers it hardly matters,” Elenore replied. “He’s incredibly calm, and he truly believes everything that he’s saying. I’m having Stain scour his mansion in disguise. He’s not coming up with anything exceptional. I trust him to ransack properly, so… all we have is this.”

“If this man is important nationwide, can we afford to kill him?” Argrave asked, drinking quietly as Orion continued to discuss his standards in a romantic partner—something which he’d likely never considered until this moment. “Zen’s family must know where he’s gone. He must’ve taken some measures to prepare in case this meeting went poorly. And from what I hear, angering his family would go poorly.”

“I’m only ever more inclined to the idea of killing him now that we’ve spoken. He’s a sophist, through and through, and he’s a quick wit enough that I don’t think we’ll ever get anything out of him with conversation alone. But Anneliese said she has an idea. I suggest we follow her lead.”

“Alright,” Argrave responded back, and the connection faded.

“I suppose I’ve never considered taking multiple wives,” Orion confessed, looking at Zen ponderously. “The idea was once taboo to me. But ever since I was freed of my religion, I suppose it is not so.” His brother’s face contorted in serious consideration, and then brightened as he reached enlightenment. “At the same time, if I were to take multiple wives, I would expect them to take multiple husbands. It would make the agreement more just. And practically speaking, it would allow for a larger family, and thereby more secured alliances.”

The twins laughed, perhaps interpreting Orion’s words as joke when Argrave knew they were wholly serious. The emperor’s daughter remained as stoic and silent as ever, though cast glances to her grandfather constantly.

Anneliese interjected in the first opportunity, asking, “I am curious to hear why you neglected to invite Sophia to this meeting.”

Argrave looked at her, uncomfortable with this subject.

“Argrave’s niece?” Governor Zen looked between them as the laughter died. “I’m sure she is a lovely child. I merely assumed that this meeting would be one for adults.”

“She’s an adult, though.” Anneliese stared at Governor Zen, looking puzzled.

Governor Zen was about to raise his cup to his lips to stall for an answer, but Argrave seized the bottle and started pouring it into Zen’s cup so he could not. The governor stumbled for the first time, saying, “Uhh… well, perhaps there’s a different standard for the term in Vasquer.”

“Sophia’s as old as I am.” Argrave mirrored Anneliese’s faux-confusion as he poured incredibly slowly, drop by drop.

“Your source of information… really quite terrible, confusing such a detail,” Anneliese derided.

“Ahah…” Governor Zen stared at Argrave as he poured the bottle slowly. “Are you alright, King Argrave?”

Argrave poured the rest normally, then set the bottle down. He said nothing, waiting for Anneliese to continue.

“Which son would you marry Sophia to? In a monogamous arrangement,” Anneliese pressed—once again, Argrave grew incredibly uncomfortable at the notion, but he restrained himself.

“Well…” Governor Zen’s head spun, and it sunk in what Anneliese was doing—not only did Zen have a source of information, he thought it was incredibly trustworthy. He’d never considered the notion of a marriage in light of Sophia’s age—not even a betrothal, in fact. “Zen Da has two wives already, and…”

“Zen Bo hasn’t, father,” Zen Ming covered.

“Yes. Zen Bo is on the up-and-up, and hasn’t yet married. He manages the… well, the drainage systems in two major cities,” Governor Zen smiled. “A very important, and well-paid, duty.”

Elenore’s voice cut into his head. “He hasn’t even considered a betrothal. There’s a very large error there. It means he hasn’t factored us into the long-term… which suggests he doesn’t intend for a long-term. I think that’s the best clue we’re to get, alongside what small information we pried from him about his source.”

It seemed they had some answer on what Governor Zen actually was. Argrave laid his hand on the table, making a slight noise, and all present looked at him. “Let me ask again, governor—you won’t consider the emperor as an option in all of this? The notion of putting him back on the throne doesn’t appeal to you?”

Governor Zen looked to relax now that they veered to more comfortable topics. He said quickly, “We might use the emperor for initial momentum. But after we’ve wringed him dry, he should perish unfortunately or fall into the sidelines, having divested the vast majority of his authority to you. I would spearhead you thenceforth from within, hoisting your flag amidst the enemy to propel you and what army you have to complete victory.”

“I have rather specific goals, afterward,” Argrave continued. “Goals regarding the sky tower, the Qircassian Coalition. You can accommodate that?”

“Certainly. The Qircassian Coalition needs to be beaten, if they have their grip in this country. I assume that was a tacit understanding.”

Argrave told Elenore through their connection, “Ask Orion if he’s willing to marry, even if temporarily.”

After a few moments, she replied, “Orion said, ‘my life has always been yours,’ which I presume means yes.”

With his brother’s affirmation, Argrave took a deep courage-gathering breath and looked at Orion. “Brother. It seems you’re to be an emperor.”

“No matter my title, you will always be my liege,” Orion dipped his head.

Governor Zen smiled broadly. “Your decisiveness… it astounds me, Your Majesty,” he said, switching addresses in seconds.

Argrave looked at him. “All I know is that Orion makes the most sense. I can trust him. He’s unwed, and has no apprehensions. The finer details can be worked out over time, but for now… I’d like to start winning, Governor Zen, as you suggested. Can we make that happen?”

“Let’s work out the details of our victory,” Governor Zen raised his cup.

#####

The conversation carried on for some time after the decision was made, clearing up the finer intricacies of their arrangement. Orion’s bride, for now, was settled upon Ji Li, Emperor Ji Meng’s daughter and Zen’s granddaughter who’d taken a vow of silence. Upon reflection, perhaps that vow of silence was something that Zen had mandated, always expecting her to be the chosen spouse. They couldn’t reasonably extract information from her if she remained silent.

“After such an icy accord, I do doubt how true he’ll be,” Elenore told Argrave, long after the meeting. They ate within a room of the Sea Dragon, secluded. “I would sleep easier if he were dead. That holds true for many people, now that I think of it…”

“We only need him to be as true as Ji Meng is,” Argrave reflected.

Elenore stared at him, her head working. She raised her brows. “Are you going to… play them against each other?”

“Ji Meng thought the governor would be his lifeline, I suspect. But I don’t think he was fully aware of how prepared Governor Zen was to overthrow his regime—how much he hates him. If Ji Meng is threatened, and if Governor Zen still has to contend with the emperor… it’ll be harmony in chaos. Ji Meng will have to cooperate. And Zen can’t move easily. Right?” Argrave looked at them, seeking counsel.

“And if Zen’s hate of the emperor is an act and they collaborate against us, it could be an absolutely miserable disaster,” Durran noted.

Anneliese leaned her staff against the wall and stretched. “That’s how it’s usually been; walking on threads. Regardless, I know our next destination.” She and Argrave both locked eyes, then both said simultaneously, “Emperor Ji Meng.”

Argrave sighed. “We can learn if we actually have some pressure on him, now.”

Elenore raised her finger. “I think I have a lead on the information leaks Governor Zen’s been relying on. I’ll look into it. You, meanwhile, make the emperor squeal.”

“My pleasure.” Argrave smiled.