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.”

He failed to duck low enough to pass beneath the door and bumped his forehead. He cleared his throat in the awkwardness

to be so. Nikoletta was a playable character, 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 more

all over the place. Perhaps the only saving grace of this den of wretchedness was the lack of half-eaten food. Besides Nikoletta’s bed and desk, there was one set

past Argrave and picked up a stack of

seat,”

snarling dog, a blank look in his

hand to refuse. “I will not take much of your time, so you can

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

held the documents out, tired of dancing around the issue.

bastard!” she shouted, tearing them from his hands. “I knew it. I knew that you stole it!” She guarded them in her arms

a bastard in a literal sense,” Argrave conceded, pulling his gloves tighter as

You just

his head. “I did not steal them. They were given to me by Induen. My

set down the papers on her desk angrily. “You expect

he has people for that; thieves

cousin,” she said, entirely ignoring his

calm yet firm. Nikoletta tensed at his voice. “Think. Use your head. Jog your noggin.” He tapped his forehead. “I wouldn’t be returning this if I was at fault. I’m not one for a guilty conscience, and even if I was, I’d

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

his hands together. “As I said, Induen gave that to me

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

It’s a gift, but it comes with an implication. He wishes to use me as an Acolyte within the order to suppress you—to suppress House 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 it, I anger Induen, heir to the throne.

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 legitimate claim to the

Argrave took a second 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 they

only then how tired she looked. Eventually, she lifted her head and mumbled, “…it’s plausible, but… I… don’t know what to

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

time. Then, she nodded. “I don’t know if I can thank you, not for

a tear-filled expression of utmost gratitude,” Argrave said drolly. “If I can suggest something, though—buy an enchanted lockbox. They’re designed to keep things safe, especially precious

is,” she

sentence, already turning around. “If you