Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stared at a plaque on the side of the wall. It read ‘Nikoletta of Monticci.’ He carried a stack of documents wrapped by a few strings in his right hand. He felt calm. All of the faces that he saw in the Tower he recognized. Indeed, there was nothing to suggest that anything had changed from the original ‘Heroes of Berendar’ in terms of setting. He had even gleaned the date from passing conversation. It was a month before Acolytes had to submit their research to the Order, and therefore, near a month and a half before the game began in earnest.

While cleaning, he had found a peculiarly well-hidden stack of papers, which now rested in his hands. In the original plot, Induen of Vasquer, Argrave’s half-brother and heir to the throne, used his influence within the Order to steal Nikoletta’s thesis. When her research was stolen, she presumed it lost, and consequently tried to remake it hastily. The remake was deemed a shabby copy of the original copy Argrave held—thus, Nikoletta was expelled.

It would do him no good to gain the enmity of one of the main characters. Nikoletta was the daughter of a duke. Argrave adjusted the stack of papers pulled his gloves tighter across his fingers. Then, he raised his hand to the oaken door and knocked thrice.

He looked around as time passed. People stared at him, he noticed, but they refused to meet his eyes. His reputation was already quite bad, it seemed. After receiving no answer, Argrave knocked again.

More time passed. Argrave wondered if she might be out. He knocked one last time.

The door swung open, and he was greeted by a fierce glare from a very disheveled-looking black-haired woman. Nikoletta had not been expecting his presence, evidently, and she lifted her head up very slowly to look up at him.

“Cousin,” he greeted calmly. Come what may, Argrave always had confidence in his words.

“U-uh…” she fixed her hair and stood with a straighter posture. “Hello, Argrave. I thought you were my friend… forgive my appearance.”

“I am not your friend,” Argrave noted. “How hurtful.”

“That’s… erm.” She took a step back. “I didn—“

“I kid,” Argrave interrupted. “You were expecting Mina of Veden, I presume. That one always seems to hang around you.”

Nikoletta stared at him blankly, eyes wide. Her eyes were a dark, rich pink. Argrave found the color pretty.

“May I come in?” Argrave asked when she did not speak.

Argrave’s words brought her back to attention. “Now isn’t a good time. I’m in the middle of something,” she said firmly, grasping the door as though to shut it.

Argrave had a notion as to what that ‘something’ was—frantically trying to recreate the research that had been stolen from her.

“I would not come here for a social visit,” Argrave said cryptically.

Nikoletta’s hand fell away from the door and she stepped back. She looked at what Argrave was holding, scrutinizing him carefully. After some time, she pushed the door open and gestured. “Come in.”

to duck low enough to pass beneath the door and bumped his forehead. He

so her personality was somewhat determined by player choice. By and large, though, she had consistent personality traits. She had been disorganized in the game, too. That these details aligned made Argrave

was the lack of half-eaten food. Besides Nikoletta’s bed and desk, there was one set of furniture

up a stack of books, clearing room

seat,” she

was a snarling dog, a blank look in his dead

your time, so

glared at him, gaze flitting between the wrapped documents in his hand and his eyes. She wasn’t slow-witted—he had given enough hints for her

tired of dancing around the issue. “Your

it all, you bastard!” she shouted, tearing them from his hands. “I knew it. I

a bastard in a literal sense,” Argrave conceded, pulling his gloves tighter as he stepped back. “Figuratively, though, I must disagree. I also did not steal

You just happened to find them. How am I

Argrave shook his head. “I did not steal them. They were given to me by Induen. My half-brother, your cousin,

a fair distance away and set down the papers on her desk angrily. “You expect me to

his head again. “No, I imagine he has people for that; thieves and such. Why

like you is my cousin,” she said, entirely ignoring his words. “If

tapped his forehead. “I wouldn’t be returning this if I was at fault.

crossing her arms. She sized up Argrave, then sighed and sat at the couch.

clasped his hands together. “As I said, Induen gave that to me as a gift.

been missing for a long while,” Nikoletta countered. “Why return

Monticci. There is no greater stain to your house’s honor and legitimacy than expulsion. If I keep it, I anger Duke Enrico. If I return

her frown slowly deepening. “But why would Induen try and suppress one of the king’s faithful vassals?

my aunt, King Felipe’s sister,

to breathe. “My… father,” he said reluctantly, “is old. Succession is a pertinent issue. Induen is a paranoid man who prefers to crush problems before

noticed only then how tired she looked. Eventually, she lifted her head

that is ultimately the end to the matter. I didn’t come to ask for a favor or broker a deal. I merely

dark pink eyes locked with his gaze, and both were silent for a time. Then, she nodded. “I don’t know if I can thank you,

lockbox. They’re designed to keep things safe, especially precious things that might determine your future livelihood. Gemstones, important documents,

know what a lockbox is,” she said in irritation.

already