Jackal Among Snakes

The halls of the Tower of the Gray Owl were filled to the brim with people. They were talking amongst themselves feverishly, most with some degree of relief and nervousness on their faces. Nikoletta of Monticci stood with arms crossed on an empty wall of the tower. Mina of Veden sat at her feet, leaning against the wall in exhaustion.

Nikoletta had spent the month revising the research Argrave had returned to her. Though she wished to find out if Argrave had genuinely been telling the truth—that the crown prince, Induen, had ordered her research stolen—she had no opportunity. Talking with Argrave might illuminate the situation, but she had assumed that might have been exactly what he wanted. She disliked playing into other’s hands.

But the month had passed with utter silence from Argrave’s end. Her friend, Mina, had been caught snooping around his room, but nothing came of it. It was all baffling. At this point, she was just curious what Argrave would submit to the Order to advance from an Acolyte to a full-fledged Wizard.

The door that Nikoletta had been keeping her eyes on swung open slowly. Argrave, wearing the same gray robes as every other Acolyte, ducked beneath the doorframe into the hall. He had been quite pale the last time she saw him, but he was deathly pale now—he looked more like a walking corpse than a man walking. His eyes were sunken with deep black marks beneath them. Despite that, he still bore himself with the same neat dignity he had a month ago.

“Gods. He looks terrible,” Nikoletta said out of surprise.

Mina was roused from her exhausted state and followed Nikoletta’s gaze. “Probably waited till tonight to finish his stuff like I did.” Mina stood, grabbing Nikoletta’s robes to help herself to her feet. “Why don’t I get your sympathy?”

“You also look terrible,” Nikoletta said dismissively. “Happy?”

Mina scoffed. “I wonder if he’ll pass.”

“Worry about yourself.” Nikoletta looked down at the shorter girl.

Mina fixed her messy blonde hair. “I’m always lucky. I’m not worried.”

Nikoletta frowned. “It’s a written submission. You cannot get lucky.”

At the far end of the hall, Argrave walked to the desk where an old man was receiving parcels. Argrave handed the man a fairly thick stack of papers, neatly wrapped in a black ribbon. After a brief exchange of words, Argrave turned away, pulling at the collar of his gray robes. His eyes scanned the room, stopping on Nikoletta. She tensed up at his gaze. His hollow gray eyes only furthered his corpse-like appearance.

Now comes the time for the favor, she said in her head. Argrave walked towards her with long, even strides. Mina grew alert, stepping in front of Nikoletta.

Argrave looked down on the two of them. Even skinny as he was, his height was still somewhat intimidating. Nikoletta kept her dark pink eyes fixed to his gray gaze.

“Your father is sending a carriage to take you back to Mateth,” Argrave said, sparing even greetings.

It was spoken as a fact, but Nikoletta decided it was a question. “Yes, that’s right. Why?”

“I need to go there. May I ride with you?”

“Not going to stay to find out the results early?” Mina asked, stepping between Nikoletta and Argrave.

“It will take a week regardless.” Argrave shook his head. “There is a branch of the Order of the Gray Owl in Mateth. And above all, I am not worried overmuch about the result.”

Nikoletta scrunched up her eyebrows. “Why ride with me?”

will be comfortable, well-protected,

Nicky will be forced to listen to you,” Mina said

unpleasant to hear, Mina? How harsh.” He

a week,” Nikoletta said. “I suspect you won’t be sleeping

salesman with a shady pitch.” Argrave shook his

Nikoletta thought the request over. Certainly, there

I just wish for transportation.” Argrave held his right hand in the air, swearing

friends?

feeling her friend was being over-protective. She kneaded her forehead. “If I

here, eat, and then walk to Mateth. Woe is me, et cetera. It is a long

to Mateth? As a royal bastard, I would assume you have housing in the capital, not

palace is the last place I wish to be right now. I have a great deal of things to do in and around Mateth. To sum them all up, I would say that I am preparing for

appropriately vague,” Nikoletta said with a sigh. “Fine; you may come. But I would be remiss to mention this; if I find you are lying about lacking ulterior motives, you will

out,’” Argrave repeated. “How magnanimous. Thank you, Nikoletta.” Argrave bowed slightly. “I will pack my things.

away, heading back towards

and looked at Nikoletta, shaking her head in dismay. “I’m suddenly

often exaggerated. I don’t

was no obvious mark—it had been nearly a month, after all. Nikoletta doubted there ever

I can tell him he

She crossed her arms and stepped away for a moment, thinking. “If you’re really fine

#####

robes of the academy and back

Mateth must be his first stop. A naval invasion would be occurring there. It was hopeless to prevent, but Argrave was certain that he could stop it before it spiraled out of control. He could perhaps stop it even faster than the player could in-game. Moreover, it was one of the few

in the page to keep it open as he gazed out through the carriage window. A fantasy game world was designed to be pretty, but to see it in person—it was

much of the time, Argrave could only see its eyes, as its fur was all the same

like he’s got some

finger at him. It was a roomy carriage, but they were still quite close together. A duty of knights

his face, the smile he did not know he had fading quickly. He pursed his lips, somewhat annoyed to be drawn

and opened her mouth to speak,

bristling like you’ve just been caught sneaking around in the dark of night, like a cat. You are slow

Mina asked incredulously. She tapped Nikoletta’s

Nikoletta said half-heartedly. At

gone. Argrave pursed his lips briefly, then turned his head back to the

further weakened. For that, he needed personal strength and influence in society. Personal strength was one matter. Influence in society—well, money talks. He

to study. The game was vastly different from reality. In reality, one could not kill people and monsters and suddenly become an

going on a killing spree. Maybe