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.”

stepped forward. He failed to duck low enough to pass beneath the door and bumped his forehead. He cleared his throat in the awkwardness that followed, and

somewhat determined by player choice. By and large, though, she had consistent personality traits. She had been disorganized in the game, too.

the place. Perhaps the only saving grace of this den of wretchedness was the

and picked up a stack of books, clearing room

seat,”

the couch like it was a snarling dog, a blank

out a hand to refuse. “I will not take much of your time, so you can resume what you were doing in short order. Though…

hand and his eyes. She wasn’t slow-witted—he had given enough hints for her to piece things together. She, too, refused

Argrave held the documents out, tired of dancing around

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

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

she half-laughed. “You didn’t steal these papers. You just happened

shook his head. “I did not steal them. They were given to me by Induen. My half-brother, your cousin, the heir presumptive of Vasquer. You may know him, he’s rather

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

imagine he has people for that; thieves and such.

cousin,” she said, entirely ignoring

“Think. Use your head. Jog your noggin.” He tapped his forehead. “I wouldn’t be returning this if I was at fault.

sized up Argrave, then sighed and sat at the

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

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

use me as an Acolyte within the order to suppress you—to suppress House Monticci. There is no greater stain to

at Argrave, her frown slowly deepening. “But why would Induen try and suppress one of the

at her face. “Being descended from my aunt, King Felipe’s sister, marks you as one of very few with a

is a paranoid man who prefers to crush problems before they arise. But I am

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

don’t think. Mark me as the culprit, if you wish. But what was yours once is yours again, and that is ultimately the end to the matter. I didn’t

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

drolly. “If I can suggest something, though—buy an enchanted lockbox. They’re designed to keep things safe, especially precious things that might determine your future livelihood.

lockbox is,” she said

finished her sentence, already